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China to launch nationwide activities to promote cultural heritage

Xinhua) 09:05, May 31, 2024

People perform folk dance during activities to celebrate China's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day in Xiasi Ancient Town of Kaili in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 10, 2023. (Photo by Zou Guangxue/Xinhua)

BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- More than 10,000 activities promoting intangible cultural heritage will be held across China around the Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, which falls on June 8 this year, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) on Thursday.

Themed "protecting cultural heritage, passing on civilization," this year's event selects Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province as the host city, said the National Cultural Heritage Administration on the same day.

The promotion activities, including 9,642 offline events, will include exhibitions of video and photography works about intangible cultural heritage, as well as themed lectures and art performances, MCT official Hu Yan told a press conference.

Additionally, local authorities will launch shopping festivals with intangible cultural heritage elements to promote the recovery and development of cultural and tourist consumption, according to the ministry.

Inaugurated in 2006, the Cultural and Natural Heritage Day falls on the second Saturday of June each year. It was established in a bid to create a sound social atmosphere for the protection of cultural heritage and carry forward China's fine traditional culture. A host city is selected each year to hold celebratory events.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Kierra Greer, of Chicago, a masters student in counseling and rehabilitation education, is one of the students obtaining her CADC credentials at SIU, thanks to grant funding from the state. (Photo provided)

SIU uses $186K grant to fully fund training for counselors as drug, alcohol problems rise

by Christi Mathis

CARBONDALE, Ill.  Southern Illinois University Carbondale is training certified alcohol and drug counselors and fully funding their instruction, as part of a new state program to alleviate the shortage of professionals.

After record numbers of drug overdose deaths in Illinois for five consecutive years, the state is providing $3 million to eight Illinois institutions of higher education to recruit and train more behavioral health professionals as substance use counselors. SIU, which received $186,000 for the initial phase of the project, is the only one outside the Chicago metropolitan area.

Drugs and alcohol use disorders are really pervasive, nondiscriminatory and often just not discussed, said Jane Nichols, associate professor and counseling and rehabilitation education program (CARE) director emerita who led SIUs program during the spring semester. We are in an underserved area with too many people needing services and too few trained, licensed and certified counselors to meet that need. The abuse of methamphetamines continues to be a problem in Southern Illinois, as does opioid addiction, cannabis dependence and poly-substance use.

SIU stands separately in Southern Illinois as we are the only university in the region that offers masters level training for licensed mental health counselors with the option of obtaining a substance use disorders and behavioral addictions certificate like this. Were covering an area that just doesnt otherwise get covered. The state is looking to us to provide help so there is real value in this. Im confident this grant will increase the number of people who graduate from SIU as licensed mental health counselors with their certified alcohol and other drug counselor, or CADC, credentials.

The initial phase runs through June 30. The funding agencies plan to continue the program for at least two more years, pending state approval. It is anticipated that SIU and other current recipients in good standing will be supported during that period and can reapply for subsequent years.

Wraparound funding

The Illinois Department of Human Services/Division of Substance Use Prevention and Recovery and the Illinois Certification Board developed the CADC Workforce Program, and they are providing the grant funding in a comprehensive package to reduce financial barriers to education and workforce participation, officials said.

The grant covers tuition, internship stipends, certification-related costs and a variety of other expenses for students in an ICB-accredited training program. In addition, the program helps with job placement, credential renewal, continuing education and more, as well as additional and wraparound support as needed.

This grant has been a huge blessing, said Mikaylah Rodriguez, an SIU masters student in counseling and rehabilitation education. Because of the funding, I dont have to stress about affording tuition and the necessary materials for classes, which frees up time and mental resources that I can now put toward my classes.

Rodriguez, who holds a bachelors degree in psychology, works at SIUs Evaluation and Developmental Center (EDC), to help individuals who are on probation or parole obtain employment.

Many of the people that Ive been serving seem to have charges that could be linked to substance use, she said. My hope after I graduate is to work in the prison system as a mental health and substance use counselor to essentially try to help disrupt the cycle of addiction so that individuals are not stuck in a cycle where substance use leads to reoffending for the rest of their lives.

Kierra Greer, of Chicago, a masters student in counseling and rehabilitation education, also decided to obtain her CADC credentials before graduating in May 2025.

Im interested in becoming a CADC to give hope to those who are feeling like theres no way out of their addiction, Greer, who holds a bachelors degree in psychology, said. My father runs a nonprofit called YANA (You Are Not Alone) House where I get to see firsthand how the clients in the program are rejected by society and labeled due to their addiction. I would like to be a therapist for them, another positive person in their corner, supporting them on their journey to heal.

Greer currently works as a therapist in training for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at SIU. She said the practical experience is valuable and the grant assistance has been priceless.

As a single mom of a 3-year-old, it is difficult to manage both work and school, Greer said. This grant provides financial as well as social support toward helping me reach my educational goals.

Greer was one of three single parents who took advantage of the grant during the first semester, officials said, and SIU quickly found seven students to claim the initial scholarship openings.

I am thankful to Dr. Nichols and the SIU team for their work to pursue and receive this grant as it creates an excellent opportunity for students, said Scott Collins, director of the School of Health Sciences.

Looking ahead

Nichols will continue to oversee the program, and she encourages additional students to apply.

Yancy Cruz-Virella, assistant professor and CARE program coordinator, will be assisting.

SIUs substance use disorders and behavioral addiction certificate program is accredited by the Illinois Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Certification Association, Inc. to prepare students to obtain their Illinois CADC credentials. Students who are working on their bachelors, masters or doctoral degrees in a behavioral health-related degree program are welcome to apply, officials said. Postgraduates who would like to add the certificate to their portfolio are also invited to participate.

The CADC certificate program requires five specific didactic courses along with one prepracticum course to prepare students for their clinical experiences. The students then participate in a 500-hour internship at an Illinois substance use prevention and recovery center. As of fall 2025, SIU will be offering all of the didactic courses online.

Students agree to serve in the field in Illinois for at least two years after earning their certifications.

For more information about the substance use disorders and behavioral addictions certificate or the counseling and rehabilitation education program, visit the websites or contact Cruz-Virella at yancy.cruz@siu.edu or 618-453-8223 or Nichols at jlnichols@siu.edu. Updates about grant and funding availability will be posted on the Counseling and Rehabilitation Education (CARE) website and the SIU School of Health Sciences Facebook page.
VMPL The Park, Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 31: Chennais Amirta Group of Institutions, a leading name in hospitality education for 14 years with over 25,000 placements, expands its horizons with two exciting MoUs. The institution hosted a press meet to share the success of global connections to benefit its students with international exposure and earnings. R. Boomeenaathan, the Chairman of Chennais Amirta Group of Institutions proudly shared the details of the Groups two recent international MoUs titled Forging Global Ties with University College of Aviation Malaysia (UniCAM) and Birmingham Academy Singapore. About the MoU with UniCAM Chennais Amirta has ventured into aviation education by launching an international aviation college by the signing of an MoU with the University College of Aviation Malaysia (UniCAM). The MoU was signed between Mr R. Boomeenaathan, the Chairman of Chennais Amirta and Prof. Dr Capt. Ab Manam Bin Mansoor, the Chairman of UniCAM on May 17, 2024, during a press conference held at The Residency Towers in Chennai. The aviation college offers undergraduate programs (B.Sc. Air Transport; B.A. Aviation; and Diploma in Aviation & Tourism Management) alongside several value-added courses. The curriculum boasts international exposure with a two-year study stint at Chennais Amirta International Aviation College and a one-year study and practice at UniCAM, where the students will be offered internships at the international airport, Malaysia. This unparalleled program aims to equip students with practical skills, global perspectives, and hands-on experience in the dynamic aviation industry. Value Added Benefits Opportunity to study within a high-tech infrastructure of 40,000 Sqft that perfectly simulates an international airport in the heart of Chennai, providing an authentic and immersive learning environment. Potential to earn while studying with part-time positions offering of Rs. 8,000 15,000 per month during the course of the study. Benefit from the add-on courses on Personality Development; Personal Grooming; IATA Training; Spoken English and Hindi. Opportunity to gain work experience at an international airport while pursuing their studies. Job opportunity as Airport Manager, Ground Staff Manager, Air Traffic Controller, Cargo Manager, Aerodrome Officer, Security Officer, First Officer, Flight Attendant, Baggage Handler, Customer Service Executive, Ground Staff, etc. in 60 different departments. About the MoU with Birmingham Academy Singapore: Mr R. Boomeenaathan, the Chairman of Chennais Amirta shared about another landmark international MoU that was signed by him and Mr Ng Joon Peng, the Chairman of Birmingham Academy Singapore at the Taj Club House in Chennai on May 18, 2024. Tri-nation Study: Key Aspect of the Course The MoU between Chennais Amirta and Birmingham Academy Singapore offers the students a unique opportunity to pursue their studies in Hotel Management across 3 countries. During the first year, the students get to study at Chennais Amirta in Chennai to get a Diploma from Birmingham Academy. During the second year, the students get to study at Birmingham Academy in Singapore along with a paid internship of up to SGD 1,500 per month - approximately one lakh INR as internship stipend to get an Advanced Diploma, paving the way for several degree options abroad. During the third year, the students get into the degree programme in the UK for one year at De Montfort University where the students also gain work experience through a paid internship in the UK to earn up to 2,000 per month - approximately two lakhs INR per month as internship stipend. R. Boomeenaathan, the Chairman of Chennais Amirta said that the two partnerships represent a significant leap forward in Chennai Amirtas commitment to delivering world class aviation and hospitality education. C Sumeesh Mohan Assistant Director of Human Resources, Courtyard by Marriott, Bengaluru and Romilla Ghosh Human Resource Manager, The Chancellery Pavilion , Bengaluru commended Chennais Amirta for its exceptional offerings and praised its students for their professional excellence. Chennais Amirta College of Aviation and Hotel Management Chennais Amirta is a leading institution in hospitality education with five campuses in Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Khairatabad and Vijayawada, known for its rigorous curriculum and strong industry connections. In a remarkable achievement, Chennais Amirta students secured 3 Gold, 6 Silver & 1 Bronze at the 2024 IKA Culinary Olympics - Germany, marking a historic first for India in the competition's 124-year history. Recently the students of Chennais Amirta made history once more by securing 2 Gold, 1 Silver and 6 Bronze medals at the Emirates International Salon Culinaire held in Sharjah, UAE, where their works were presented before approximately twenty juries. India has won this gold medal for the first time in 27 years in the history of Emirates International Salon Culinaire. The press meet was graced by the presence of the dignitaries from Chennais Amirta Group of Institutions: Kavitha Nandakumar, CEO; Leo Prasath, CAD; Dr T. Milton, Dean; Banumathi, Head - University Affairs and Deepesh Raj Vice Principal of Bengaluru Campus. For further details contact: 9394400700 (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
Riding on 8.2 per cent GDP growth, along with a record dividend of Rs 2.1 lakh crore from the Reserve Bank of India, the government has the option of lowering the fiscal deficit target of 5.1 per cent in FY25. Government sources told ANI that the decision to lower fiscal deficit target or not will be taken and announced in the main budget in July. They said that with IMD predicting a good monsoon, the agriculture sector growth is expected to be better in the current financial year. The manufacturing sector is also expected to continue its growth momentum. Before 2020, companies had balance sheet issues and the growth was stagnant. Now, they are catching up. "Improved health of banking sector will lead to a growth in bank credit, which will boost growth in FY25. Growth projections indicate India will grow by 7 per cent in FY25." sources said No major economy of the world is even near to India's GDP growth of 8.2 per cent in FY24. India's growth of 7.8 per cent between January-March 2024 is far more than other major economies of the world. Nearest to India is China with 5.2 per cent growth, Indonesia at 5.1 per cent, the United States at 3 per cent, France at 0.9 per cent and the UK at 0.2 per cent are way behind. Japan and Germany showed a negative growth of -0.2 per cent and -0.9 per cent respectively. Sources added that growth momentum will continue in FY25 "Domestic economic activity remains resilient, backed by strong investment demand, upbeat business and consumer sentiments, the robust corporate and bank balance sheets." The growth in the gross value added (GVA) in the agriculture sector was 1.4 per cent in FY24, against 4.7 per cent in FY23. But agriculture played a major role in 8.2 per cent overall GDP of FY24, against the prediction of 7.6 per cent. Source told ANI that agriculture growth of 1.4 per cent is double of 0.7 per cent predicted in February. The manufacturing GVA grew by 9.9 per cent in FY24 due to the low base effect with a negative growth of 2.2 per cent in FY23. Sources further added that GDP data shows that the private non-financial gross fixed capital formation has picked up pace in the past two years, with a growth of 4.6 per cent of compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) in the period of January-March 2024."For the rest of the decade, barring the geopolitical disturbances, private capital expenditure will be an important driver of growth and employment," the source said. Sources indicated that a full economic survey would be published before the main Budget of July. The government, sources said, is tracking shipping rates due to the ongoing Red Sea crisis as shipping disruptions could have implications in capital formation. But there are some downside risks to the economy as well which include the rising retail exposure to stocks through direct stock investments. The derivatives positions keep household savings rate from recovering, but it is not a systemic risk, sources said. The source further said that the government's continued push on capital expenditure and strategic trade agreements like India-EFTA and economic partnership agreement (TEPA) will add to growth prospects in FY25. (ANI)
Actor Bobby Deol and his wife Tania Deol recently celebrated their wedding anniversary. On this occasion, the 'Animal' actor shared a picture with his wife and penned down an adorable wish for her. Taking to his Instagram handle, Bobby Deol posted a picture with her. He wrote in the caption, "Happy anniversary my jaan, you complete me" In the picture, the couple look stunning as they pose for the camera. Tania opted for a gray-hued co-ord set while Bobby chose to wear all-black attire, which he teamed up with a leather jacket. Brother Sunny Deol dropped the heart emojis. Anurag Kashyap mentioned, "Cuties" Preity Zinta also wished the stunning couple on the special occasion. "Happy Anniversary Bob & @taniadeol...Loads of love always" Twinkle Khanna also commented, "Happy anniversary" https://www.instagram.com/p/C7mgyNGNDF0/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Bobby and Tania tied the knot on May 30, 1996. The couple welcomed son Aryaman in 2001 and son Dharam in 2004. Meanwhile, on the work front, Bobby has been on a roll ever since he was featured as an antagonist in Ranbir Kapoor-starrer 'Animal'. In the coming months, he will be seen in several projects including Alia Bhatt's spy film. As per the sources, he will be seen playing a villain in the upcoming untitled film starring Alia Bhatt and Sharvari. "Bobby Deol's inclusion to the YRF Spy Universe is an incredible casting coup by Aditya Chopra! Bobby will become a cold-blooded, menacing villain set to destroy Alia Bhatt and Sharvari in this action spectacle that will blow the minds of audiences," informed a trade source. Alia portrays a female agent in the film, which is helmed by YRF's indigenous director Shiv Rawail. This film also stars Sharvari, who is teamed with Alia as a super agent on a mission. He will also be seen locking horns with Suriya in 'Kanguva'. Recently, the two attended Prime Video's event in Mumbai and spoke highly of each other. Bobby said, "Working with Suriya has always been a dream...He is awesome. He is an amazing actor." Suriya also shared how Bobby added more power to the film with his acting chops. "In the film, we fought but brotherhood was very much between us. He helped us make the film's climax bigger and bigger," Suriya said. The official synopsis of the Tamil film read, "A story that travels 500 years from the 1700s to 2023 is about a hero who has to fulfill a mission left unfinished." Siruthai Siva has directed the film. Disha Patani, Natarajan Subramaniam, Jagapathi Babu and Yogi Babu are also part of 'Kanguva'. (ANI)
Hugh Jackman, who is known for his roles in 'Van Helsing', 'Prisoners', 'Les Miserables', among others, talked about the challenges of reprising his role as Wolverine in the upcoming 'Deadpool and Wolverine' film, reported Deadline. "When I came back to it, it was really fun and I was thrilled. My body was a little sore at the beginning, but I was thrilled that my body was still responding. And I realized how good it is for your brain. But the hardest bit...the food," said Jackman. He's always had trouble bulking up. "I have to eat a lot. For me, for my body type, I'm naturally skinny. To get the size on, that's the hardest bit. That's the bit that does my head in," he added. Earlier, Ryan Reynolds said he "couldn't believe" the physicality he saw from Jackman. "Just the sheer relentlessness that you dedicated yourself towards stunts, choreography. It was the first time I'd ever seen how invaluable a background in song and dance is when you are doing an action movie," he said. "You hit your marks in those fight scenes with speed and confidence, the likes of which I have never seen. I don't care if you were 25, 35, 45 or 55. It was lightning." "Watching you do what just looked like a clinic on stunt work was one of the most impressive things I've ever seen in my life," Reynolds added. 'Deadpool & Wolverine' hits theaters on July 26, reported Deadline. (ANI)
As battleground Sandeshkhali gets ready for polls in the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections, the Election Commission shared a picture of polling personnel on the move from the dispersal centre to the polling station at the riverine island on a boat. "Polling Personnel on the Move in Dhamakhali, Sandeshkhali AC, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal," the Election Commission posted on 'X'. The Chief Electoral Office in West Bengal also shared a few pictures of polling personnel being transported to the North 24 Parganas island. "Polling personnel moving from Dispersal center to the polling station of Sandeshkhali under North 24 Parganas district West Bengal," CEO West Bengal said in a post on 'X'. Earlier, the CEO of West Bengal posted a picture of life-saving jackets being distributed among polling personnel for their journey towards the polling station at the Dispersal center (Dakhin Akratala Rabindra Niketan) at Sandeshkhali 1. Sandeshkhali falls under the Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency, which will be voting on Saturday in the last phase. Apart from Sandeshkhali, the Basirhat constituency comprises six other Vidhan Sabha seats, including Baduria, Haroa, Minakhan, Basirhat Dakshin, Basirhat Uttar, and Hingalganj, covering the entire North 24 Parganas district. The BJP has chosen Rekha Patra, who led the protests against suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan in Sandeshkhali, as the party's candidate. She is pitted against TMC's Haji Nurul Islam and CPIM's Nirapada Sardar. The TMC has fielded Haji Nurul Islam, replacing the incumbent MP and party leader, Nusrat Jahan. Notably, Haji Nurul Islam won the Basirhat Lok Sabha seat in the 2009 Lok Sabha election. The TMC has been the dominant party in this seat, winning three consecutive Lok Sabha elections since 2009. Earlier this year, Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district made headlines when villagers, predominantly women, protested against the ruling TMC and TMC leader Shahjahan. They accused him and his associates of committing atrocities and seizing their land. Several women of Sandeshkhali have alleged "land-grab and sexual assault" under coercion by Shajahan and his aides. Following this, the TMC suspended Shahjahan, the main accused in Sandeshkhali, from the party for six years. He is currently in jail in relation to an attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team during a raid at his home linked to a ration scam. (ANI)
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday offered prayers at Ram temple in Ayodhya and recalled his visit to the holy city as a young 'kar sevak' during the Ramjanmabhoomi movement and in the 1980s and 1990s. "I am very happy that I have come here first time today after Ram Lalla is 'virajmaan' in Ram temple. Before this, I came here when the work (for the construction of the temple) was underway. I also came here as a Kar Sewak. So what I watched on television on January 22, I am able to witness today with my eyes. It's a dream come true, and I am very happy," he said. Fadnavis is on a two-day poll-cum-pilgrimage to Varanasi and Ayodhya ahead of the seventh and last phase of Lok Sabha polls on June 1. The visit assumes political significance as 13 constituencies, including the high-profile Varanasi seat where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is contesting, in Uttar Pradesh are going to polls on June 1. "PM Modi has the blessings of Lord Ram. People believe 'Jo Ram ko laayen hain, janta unko lana chahti hai," he added on Lok Sabha elections. Fadnavis, who led the BJP in the five-phased Lok Sabha polls in Maharashtra for the 48 seats, took two days' break to visit Uttar Pradesh. Polling in Maharashtra was held from April 19 to May 20. The Ayodhya Ram Mandir, steeped in centuries of history and spirituality, holds profound significance for millions of devotees worldwide. Its inauguration on January 22, 2024, marked a historic milestone in India's cultural and religious landscape, eliciting joy and fervour among believers. (ANI)
The arrested accused had provided a structural stability certificate to EGO Media Private LTD for the hoarding that collapsed.

The accused, Manoj Ramkrishna Sanghu (47), who is on the BMC-approved engineer's list, approved the structural stability certificate on April 24, 2023.

According to the sources, the arrested accused had provided a structural stability certificate to EGO Media Private Ltd for the hoarding that collapsed. The accused, identified as Manoj Ramkrishna Sanghu (47), who is on the BMC-approved engineer's list, approved the structural stability certificate on April 24, 2023.

Sixteen people died and 75 were left injured after a massive billboard collapsed due to strong winds earlier in the month.

Bhavesh Bhide, the owner of the company that put up the giant billboard, was arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch from Udaipur in Rajasthan last week and brought to Mumbai. Officials added that police are investigating how Bhide was awarded the hoarding contract and how much he earned.

Mumbai Police registered a case under IPC sections 304, 338, 337, and 34 against owner Bhavesh Bhide and others at Pantnagar police station. Following the incident, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner stated that Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had ordered all hoardings to be checked.

The billboard in the Ghatkopar area on May 13 came crashing down amid strong winds, leaving 16 dead and several more trapped underneath. (ANI)
JD (S) suspended MP Prajwal Revanna, who was arrested in the obscene video case at the Bengaluru Airport soon after he landed, is expected to be taken out for medical examination soon, following which he will be produced before the court. Revanna was brought to the CID office in Bengaluru after he landed at Kempegowda International Airport. He is likely to face a probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in his household. He returned to India from Berlin, Germany, nearly a month after leaving the country on a diplomatic passport and was immediately taken into custody. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka government detained Revanna on his arrival at Bengaluru airport. According to officials, Revanna will be produced in court later today in connection with the alleged obscene video case. The SIT team confiscated two of his check-in bags and took them away in a separate car. Security was stepped up outside the CID office in Bengaluru, and barricades were put outside the office ahead of Revanna's arrival. Revanna is facing a probe by the SIT over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in his household. He returned to India from Berlin, Germany, nearly a month after leaving the country on a diplomatic passport and was immediately taken into custody. Prajwal Revanna, in a self-made video released on May 27, said that he will appear before the SIT on May 31 for questioning. Revanna said that his trip was pre-planned as there was no case against him when the voting was held in Karnataka on April 26 for the general elections. He also alleged political conspiracy against him as he was "growing in politics." The anticipatory bail plea filed by Revanna on May 29 is still pending in court. Revanna's anticipatory bail plea was filed hours after the SIT arrested two prime accused in connection with the case. The arrested have been identified as Naveen Gowda and Chetan, the police said on Wednesday. According to police sources, the accused were arrested when they appeared before the High Court seeking anticipatory bail. Arrested Chetan Gowda and Naveen Gowda allegedly distributed pen drives containing videos of Prajwal Revanna sexually assaulting women. Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday said that a show cause notice was issued against Revanna on May 23 and action to revoke his diplomatic passport was initiated. "MEA has initiated action under provisions in the Passport Act 1967 for revocation of the diplomatic passport of Prajwal Revanna. A show cause notice was issued to the passport holder on May 23, giving him 10 working days to respond to our notice. We are waiting for his response and accordingly, we will take things forward once we hear from him or once the 10-day period expires," he said. (ANI)
Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh inspected the situation on the ground at Imphal's Ima Market and nearby areas along with his Cabinet Ministers. "Inspected the situation on the ground at Ima Market and nearby areas along with my cabinet colleagues and MLAs," Singh said in a post on 'X' in the early hours of Friday. Sharing a video snippet of his inspection, Singh said, "All possible measures are being taken to control the flooding in these areas." In the video, Singh was seen walking through the flooded streets along with his colleagues and taking stock of the situation. Earlier on Thursday, the Chief Minister chaired a meeting with ministers, MLAs, the Chief Secretary, security officials, and all department officials to review the flood situation in the state. "Chaired a meeting with ministers, MLAs, Chief Secretary, security officials, and all department officials to review the flood situation in the state while assessing the ongoing measures to provide necessary aid & assistance to the affected families," Manipur Chief Minister said in a post on X. "Out of the 18 spots where the breach occurred in the embankments of rivers, 17 were sealed, and the flooding in the surrounding areas has been successfully brought under control. The efforts to seal the remaining breach and the work to reinforce the embankments are underway," he added in the post. Heavy rainfall has caused flooding in parts of Manipur, including Imphal, where two overflowing rivers have inundated several areas. This occurred after Cyclone Remal triggered continuous rainfall in the state. Manipur Chief Minister said that the NDRF, Indian Army, and Assam Rifles, along with local authorities, are carrying out rescue operations and saving people from various flood-hit areas of the state. As many as 40 personnel of the NDRF and 6 additional motorboats have also arrived in Imphal to aid the state government in the rescue operations, he added. (ANI)
JD (S) suspended MP Prajwal Revanna, who was arrested in the obscene video case at the Bengaluru Airport soon after he landed is expected to be produced before the Magistrate in the Special Court of People's Representatives within 24 hours of arrest. The anticipatory bail application filed by Revanna earlier is also expected to be considered void as the JD (S) suspended MP has already been arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The SIT may request the court to hand over Prajwal to their custody. Judicial custody will also result in imprisonment. Meanwhile, Bhavani Revanna, mother of Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is accused in the obscene video case, has filed an anticipatory bail in the kidnapping case in which her husband was earlier arrested. Bhavani has moved Karnataka High Court seeking relief from arrest by SIT. The order on Bhavani's anticipatory bail application will be announced today in the Special Court of People's Representatives. If the anticipatory bail application is rejected, it is more likely that Bhavani will be arrested by the SIT. The SIT has also filed an application in the High Court questioning HD Revanna's bail in the kidnapping case of a woman from KR Nagar, Mysore. According to SIT, Revanna should continue to remain in custody until this investigation is over and therefore, the SIT has moved the High Court to cancel the bail. The application will be heard in the High Court bench headed by Justice Krishna S Dixit. The hearing of the petition filed by Revanna to cancel this case will also be held today in the High Court. HD Revanna was arrested earlier in connection with a kidnapping case on April 29. He was granted conditional bail by a special court for people's representatives. Prajawal Revanna who was brought to the CID office in Bengaluru after he landed at Kempegowda International Airport is likely to face a probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in his household. He returned to India from Berlin, Germany, nearly a month after leaving the country on a diplomatic passport and was immediately taken into custody. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Karnataka government detained Revanna on his arrival at Bengaluru airport. The SIT team confiscated two of his check-in bags and took them away in a separate car. Security was stepped up outside the CID office in Bengaluru, and barricades were put outside the office before Revanna's arrival. Revanna is facing a probe by the SIT over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in his household. He returned to India from Berlin, Germany, nearly a month after leaving the country on a diplomatic passport and was immediately taken into custody. Prajwal Revanna, in a self-made video released on May 27, said that he would appear before the SIT on May 31 for questioning. Revanna said that his trip was pre-planned as there was no case against him when he left for Germany. He also alleged political conspiracy against him as he was "growing in politics." Earlier, the SIT arrested two prime accused in connection with the case. The arrested have been identified as Naveen Gowda and Chetan. According to police sources, the accused were arrested when they appeared before the High Court seeking anticipatory bail. Arrested Chetan Gowda and Naveen Gowda allegedly distributed pen drives containing videos of Prajwal Revanna sexually assaulting women. (ANI)
by Xinhua writers Wang Meiqi, Cao Pengyuan, Ren Liying

SHIJIAZHUANG, May 31 (Xinhua) -- For many years, veteran Cuban cultural anthropologist Jesus Guanche Perez viewed China as a distant and intriguing country, but it was only in 2018 that he was able to explore it for himself, thanks to an invitation from a private university.

His opportunity came when the Hebei International Studies University in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, reached out to Guanche Perez via email, asking the established scholar if he would consider joining the university as its vice president.

Having sojourned and worked on several continents, including North America, Europe and Africa, the 74-year-old scholar is deeply invested in the field of cultural anthropology and has earned various titles from academic institutions such as the Cuban Academy of Sciences and the New York Academy of Sciences.

Propelled by a perfect match between his field of interest and professional experience in academia and the position offered by the university, Guanche Perez accepted the tenure after several months' communication, finally embarking on the journey from his Caribbean hometown to the northern Chinese city.

He quickly adapted to the new cultural environment in China and continued his unrelenting pursuit of academic studies.

"From Monday to Friday, you always see him writing for hours in a row on his office desk, except for short breaks and the time to handle administrative affairs," said Yang Zhen, vice president of the Hebei International Studies University.

Guanche Perez's devotion has yielded fruitful results, with a raft of academic works published one after another, including Ethnographic Dictionaries on the Peoples of the World, Latin American and Caribbean Studies on China, Cultural Identities and Diversity: Interculturalism vs Multiculturalism.

In China, he also witnessed the country's rapid development and was impressed by the achievements of its reform and opening up drive, as well as its poverty alleviation efforts.

Gaining first-hand knowledge of China's politics, economy and culture, Guanche Perez became interested in the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and started to incorporate his BRI research into his studies on global history.

The BRI has raised a new conception of cooperation and provided an equal platform for the development of different countries and different peoples, said Guanche Perez.

Under the initiative, China and Latin America continue to deepen trade flows and steadily increase the scale of trade. Since 2012, China has maintained its position as the second-largest trading partner of Latin America, data from China's Ministry of Commerce showed. In 2022, the trade volume between China and Latin America approached 500 billion U.S. dollars, maintaining rapid growth for six consecutive years.

Hailing the progress of China-Latin America cooperation, Guanche Perez said, "This is a favorable result that should grow through the implementation of joint projects."

The BRI is not only limited to economic and technological aspects. More importantly, the initiative has a cultural dimension. "This global project is an example of the strategy to achieve a shared future for humanity featuring lasting peace and increasing sustainability," he said.

Speaking highly of the eight major steps announced by China in 2023 to boost high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, Guanche Perez said, "I see an excellent, brilliant future for this project of the world. It is not only an initiative for China, but an initiative for the world."

Cuba was the first country in the Western hemisphere to establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China. For Guanche Perez, the exchanges and cooperation between China and Cuba are not only an important subject of academic research, but also a cause in which he has actively participated.

From the establishment of a China-Cuba joint BRI research center at Hebei International Studies University to the promotion of academic exchange activities between Chinese and Cuban higher education institutions -- Guanche Perez has provided support and assistance to the best of his ability.

In 2020, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the socioeconomic development of Hebei Province, he received a friendship award from the provincial government.

"This honor is not just for me but belongs to our university as well. It is also a symbol of the brotherhood between Cuba and China," said Guanche Perez during the award ceremony. 
After the Janata Dal (Secular) suspended MP Prajwal Revanna was arrested in the obscene video case, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said on Friday that the authorities will do what is legally required and it seems that Revanna has cooperated with the authorities. Revanna was arrested at Bengaluru airport in the early hours of Friday and was brought to the CID office in Bengaluru. G Parameshwara said, "Prajwal Revanna arrived from Germany at 12:50 am. A warrant was issued earlier for which the SIT has taken him into custody. Further legal action will be taken by the police. I don't have much information on this yet. He had been arrested, the authorities will do what is legally required to be done." "We have already informed that anyone who has trouble can come forward and file a complaint. We have to see what kind of development can happen in the future. Prajwal Revanna seems to have cooperated with the authorities. After all that, they have taken him into custody," Karnataka Home Minister added. Meanwhile, Prajwal is expected to be produced before the Magistrate in the Special Court of People's Representatives within 24 hours of arrest. The anticipatory bail application filed by Revanna earlier is also expected to be considered void as the JD (S) suspended MP has already been arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT). The SIT may request the court to hand over Prajwal to their custody. Judicial custody will also result in imprisonment. The SIT has also filed an application in the High Court questioning HD Revanna's bail in the kidnapping case of a woman from KR Nagar, Mysore. According to SIT, Revanna should continue to remain in custody until this investigation is over and therefore, the SIT has moved the High Court to cancel the bail. HD Revanna was arrested earlier in connection with a kidnapping case on April 29. He was granted conditional bail by a special court for people's representatives. Prajwal Revanna is facing a probe by the SIT over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in his household. He returned to India from Berlin, Germany, nearly a month after leaving the country on a diplomatic passport and was immediately taken into custody. (ANI)
The Delhi High Court on Thursday showed its displeasure to the petitioner, who filed a public interest litigation over the circulation of an FIR copy related to Aam Aadmi Party Swati Maliwal's alleged assault case on social media, several television channels and newspapers. The plea sought direction from social media engines and media organizations not to disclose the name or address other identities of the victim in sensitive matters such as rape/molestation/ POCSO cases. It also sought directions to the respondents or the public at large to pay special attention while dealing/reporting including that of social media with such sensitive ease against victims of rape/molestation/POCSO cases. The bench of Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora after hearing the initial submissions, termed the plea as "publicity interstate litigation" and refused to entertain the plea. The court also questioned the petitioner that when the victim was herself going to all channels and talking about it, who are you to file a PIL? The court later showed displeasure with a lawyer for filing a frivolous plea and warned that we would have to complain against you to the bar council. Noting the adverse remarks from the judges, the petitioner Sanser Pal Singh withdrew the petition. Recently, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Rajya Sabha MP Maliwal, who has filed an assault complaint against Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar, has said she was told that if she files a police complaint, the party will portray her as an agent of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). (ANI)
The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea seeking directions to the Election Commission of India for re-polling at Munger parliamentary constituency, Bihar, where allegedly booth capturing had happened with the connivance of the local administration. A bench of Justices Satish Chandra Sharma and Prasanna B Varale asked the petitioner to approach the High Court. The bench took exception to the petitioner not approaching Patna High Court first and filing the petition in the apex court directly. "Where is the rejection order? Why don't you go to the High Court? Without going to the High Court, you are blaming the High Court. The High Courts are not closed in this country. Please go to the High Court and argue all this before the High court," the bench said. The petitioner Kumari Anita then chose to withdraw the plea. The petitioner alleged booth capturing and rigging of the elections in Bihar's constituency Munger allegedly by the members of the ruling political party JDU along with the aid of the government officials. The petition has sought direction to the ECI to conduct re-polling in multiple booths of Lukhisarai assembly constituency, Mokana Vidhan Sabha constituency, Suryagarha assembly constituency all of which are part of Munger, Bihar. It has sought direction to Election Commission of India for removing District Magistrate Avaneesh Kumar Singh from all the administrative responsibilities and to conduct free and fair elections in the Munger Constituency as well as the free and fair counting of the votes. The Lok Sabha elections in Bihar's Munger Lok Sabha constituency were held on May 13, 2024.(ANI)
Amid the water crisis in the National Capital, Delhi Water Minister Atishi on Friday wrote a letter to Union Minister of Jal Shakti Gajendra Shekhawat seeking his urgent intervention in the matter. In her letter, Atishi said, "As you are aware, Delhi is heavily dependent on water from the Yamuna River to meet its day-to-day demand for water. However, in the last few days, there has been a drastic dip in the water levels at the Wazirabad Barrage as Haryana is not releasing the required amount of water in the Yamuna River. This has resulted in a massive crisis of water in the national capital. Moreover, the temperature in Delhi has touched almost 50 degrees. This has further intensified the demand for water putting an additional burden on the already strained demand-supply chain of potable drinking water in Delhi." She also mentioned that if Haryana does not release adequate water, then plants in Delhi will not be able to function optimally. "If adequate water is not released by Haryana then our plants would not be able to function optimally. And if the water treatment plants do not function optimally, then Delhi will not be able to meet its demand-supply gap. This will have a serious and direct implication on the people living in the national capital. I have already written to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini ji to appraise him of the issue. However, we are yet to receive a response from his office," Atishi said in her letter. The Delhi Minister highlighted that they have formed on-ground teams to take immediate action against those who are found wasting water. "However, these standalone steps will not be sufficient to curtail water scarcity in the national capital. I am writing to request you to ensure that some provision of water is made for Delhi, be it from Haryana or UP or any other state that may be able to spare water, so that the people of Delhi don't suffer. We request your urgent intervention in the issue. The State of Haryana must immediately release Delhi's rightful share of water into the Yamuna River to bring the waters to the normal level of 674.5 feet," the letter to Shekhawat said. Earlier on Friday, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal made an appeal to the centre and the BJP to urge the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to help Delhi meet its water demand. (ANI)
After the arrest of JD(S) suspended MP Prajwal Revanna in an obscene video case today, former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that the SIT probe should be fair and focus on providing justice to the victims. "The law will take its course, the SIT probe should be fair and focus on providing justice to the victims. There are many dimensions to this case. We will wait and see what happens," Bommai told reporters. Prajawal Revanna who was brought to the CID office in Bengaluru after he landed at Kempegowda International Airport is likely to face a probe by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in his household. Speaking on it, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said, "Prajwal Revanna arrived from Germany at 12:50 am. A warrant was issued earlier for which the SIT has taken him into custody. Further legal action will be taken by the police. I don't have much information on this yet. He had been arrested, the authorities will do what is legally required to be done." Prajwal returned to India from Berlin, Germany, nearly a month after leaving the country on a diplomatic passport and was immediately taken into custody. Revanna was brought to Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Bengaluru for a medical examination. After the conclusion of the medical exam, Prajwal was taken to the City civil court where he was produced before the 42nd ACMM court judge. The SIT has also filed an application in the High Court questioning HD Revanna's bail in the kidnapping case of a woman from KR Nagar, Mysore. According to SIT, Revanna should continue to remain in custody until this investigation is over and therefore, the SIT has moved the High Court to cancel the bail. Earlier, the SIT arrested two prime accused in connection with the case. The arrested have been identified as Naveen Gowda and Chetan. According to police sources, the accused were arrested when they appeared before the High Court seeking anticipatory bail. Arrested Chetan Gowda and Naveen Gowda allegedly distributed pen drives containing videos of Prajwal Revanna sexually assaulting women. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party candidate from Ghazipur, Paras Nath Rai slammed the opposition for criticising PM Modi for meditating at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanniyakumari and said has anyone stopped the Opposition from performing meditation. He also exuded confidence that he will come out victorious and the party will win more than 400 seats in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for performing meditation at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanniyakumari and said the pilgrimage site is of high prominence for Indian culture. Speaking to ANI on Friday, Paras Nath Rai said, "I am confident that I will win the elections. I have always worked with full dedication in my life. When I used to teach in college, every year some of my students made it to the list of top performing students in the state." "We will surely win more than 400 seats, no one can stop it from happening...Day by day, the popularity of PM Modi is increasing," he added. BJP's Paras Nath Rai is in the electoral fray against Samajwadi Party's incumbent MP Afzal Ansari, who is the brother of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari. The voting on the seat will take place in the last phase on June 1. The BJP candidate said it is very important to promote the religious sites that are of cultural prominence to the country. Prime Minister Modi is in Kanniyakumari on a spiritual visit. He is meditating at the Dhyan Mandapam, the place where revered Hindu philosopher Swami Vivekananda is believed to have had a divine vision about 'Bharat Mata'. He will continue his meditation till June 1. "It is a site of high importance. It is also the meeting point of the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea...Earlier PM Modi went inside water in Dwarka, went to Kedarnath after elections, only he (PM Modi) can do this, no one else is capable," Rai said. "Some people ask will we get food from Ram Mandir? These sites are at the centre of the country's culture, Lakhs of people from across the country are coming here to worship. Will all of them be on fast? No institution in the country can give as much to the industry as these religious sites; Kashi Vishwanath and Ayodhya," he further added. Refuting the allegations by the Opposition that it is a way for PM Modi to grab attention ahead of the polls, the BJP candidate said, "Has anyone stopped them (Opposition) from performing meditation? Has the Election Commission put a ban on them meditating?" The Prime Minister is known to undertake spiritual journeys at the end of election campaigns. In line with this, he will reach Kanyakumari on May 30 and stay there till June 1. In 2019, he visited Kedarnath, and in 2014, he visited Shivaji's Pratapgarh. The election for 543 Lok Sabha seats is being held in seven phases starting April 19. The counting of the votes will be held on June 4. (ANI)
After being remanded to 14-day judicial custody, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar is planning to file a bail application in connection with the alleged assault on AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal. Advocate Sanjeev Nasiar, the head of Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) legal cell, said on Friday that an application will be filed for his bail in connection with the alleged assault on Swati Maliwal. "Bibhav Kumar has been sent to 14-day judicial custody. He will be kept in Tihar Jail. We will move the bail application soon. We are hopeful he will get bail in 2-4 days," Sanjeev Nasiar told ANI on Friday. Earlier in the day, Delhi's Tiz Hazari court remanded Bibhav Kumar in 14-day judicial custody in connection with the alleged assault on Maliwal. Kumar was produced before the court after the three-day police custody granted on May 28 ended on Friday. He was arrested by the Delhi Police on May 18 in connection with the case. While speaking to ANI on the case on Friday, AAP MP Swati Maliwal hit out at the party, alleging an attempt to portray her as a "villain" and Bibhav Kumar as a "hero" after she made assault allegations against him. Maliwal alleged victim-shaming by the party, adding that her character was "maligned" and she was left "alone in the entire battle." "Bibhav Kumar beat me up very badly in Arvind Kejriwal's drawing room, and as soon as I filed a complaint in this matter, the entire party's resources and leadership were used against me. Every day I was victim-shamed, my character was maligned," Maliwal told ANI on Friday. She further pointed out Bibhav Kumar accompanying Kejriwal during his visit to Lucknow and Amritsar for campaigning in Lok Sabha polls. "As soon as Delhi Police arrested Vibhav Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal himself and the entire party took to the streets to protest against his arrest. An attempt was made to portray that he is the hero and I am the villain," the AAP MP said. Maliwal expressed confidence in the judiciary in the matter and said, "Today I have been left alone in this entire battle just because I have filed a complaint against Bibhav Kumar. I am fighting this battle alone and I will continue to fight till the end. Because I know that what I have said is the complete truth. In this entire battle, my only hope is from the court for justice." Maliwal lodged a formal police complaint against Bibhav Kumar on May 14, a day after the alleged assault took place. A day later, Bibhav Kumar lodged a counter-complaint with the police, accusing Maliwal of gaining 'unauthorized entry' into the CM's Civil Lines residence and 'verbally abusing' him. A case was filed against Bibhav Kumar, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the case based on Maliwal's complaint. Bibhav was arrested by the Delhi Police on May 19. (ANI)
The agricultural sector in Tripura is on the brink of collapse, with betel nut farmers bearing the brunt of the crisis. The Tripura State Committee of the All-India Krishak Sabha (AIKS) has sounded the alarm on the severe economic deprivation facing thousands of farmers in the state. In a deputation meeting with the Director of the Horticulture Department, representatives from the Betel Nut Growers Association under the State Farmers Council presented a three-point demand document. At a subsequent press conference, Pavitra Kar, Secretary of the AIKS Tripura State Committee, described the plight of approximately 25,000 betel nut farmers and their associated bamboo workers. He stressed that the livelihood of lakhs of people is at risk due to government neglect, which has led to a lack of essential cultivation support, including mustard seed shell manure. Babul Debnath, Secretary of the Jute Betel Nut Growers Association, outlined urgent measures needed to save betel nut cultivation. He highlighted the disuse of the largest cold store in the Northeast, built in Nalua during the Left Front government, which has left farmers without storage facilities for their excess production. Debnath also criticised ruling party intermediaries for taking a 10 percent cut from betel prices, further squeezing farmers' profits. Unkoti and Jampui, the main production areas for betel nuts, have seen business worth crores of rupees nearly come to a standstill. Police restrictions and ruling party interference prevent outsiders from accessing these areas, forcing farmers to sell their produce at minimal prices and pushing them into debt. The AIKS has made several demands to the government, which include the provision of easy-term loans for betel growers, government support for betel cultivation, the construction of betel storage facilities under the REGA project, assistance for betel growers affected by natural calamities, the establishment of a training and research centre for betel cultivation, sale of betel through cooperatives in Agartala, the free supply of mustard shell fertiliser and pesticides, discounts on rice and bamboo costs, the inclusion of betel growers under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Samman Nidhi, the construction of greenhouses for betel cultivation, and initiatives to expand betel nut cultivation. The demands also include the provision of free quality betel nut seedlings and government assistance for selling betel nuts within and outside the state. The Director of Horticulture has assured that some measures will be taken to address these issues. The press conference also saw the participation of association leaders Swapan Das, Anil Majumdar, and Mrinalkanti Ghosh, all calling for immediate and decisive government action to rescue the state's betel nut farmers from their dire predicament. (ANI)
The Special Cell of the Delhi Police has arrested a henchman of Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu gang, identified as Yogesh, a resident of Haryana's Jhajjar who was involved in the sensational murder of Surajbhan alias Ballu Pahalwan in Faridabad in January. The team of the New Delhi Range of Special Cell who carried out the arrest was led by Inspector Shiv Kumar and Inspector Satish Rana, under the supervision of ACP Lalit Mohan Negi and Hridaya Bhushan. Yogesh was also wanted in a case of arms trafficking registered at Special Cell, Delhi in February 2024. In that case, a total of 12 semi-automatic pistols were recovered from two Madhya Pradesh-based arm traffickers, meant to be delivered to criminals including Yogesh. On February 4, two persons named Ankit Mishra and Jitender Rajput, both residents of Madhya Pradesh, were arrested with twelve semi-automatic pistols. During their interrogation, it was revealed that some of the pistols were intended to be delivered to a person named Yogesh residing in the Jhajjar district in Haryana. Subsequent raids were conducted to apprehend Yogesh and gather more information about his activities. It came to notice that Yogesh is affiliated with the Kapil Sangwan alias Nandu gang. Further investigations into Yogesh's criminal activities unveiled his involvement in the conspiracy of murder of Surajbhan alias Ballu Pehalwan, in Faridabad in January 2024. Surajbhan alias Ballu Pehalwan, a resident of Deenpur Village of Delhi's Najafgarh came to Faridabad Sector 11 Gym to exercise on the evening of January 30. When he was coming out of the Gym in the evening, the miscreants in a car shot him dead. In this regard, a case was registered on the statement of his wife. In the last week of February, Yogesh fled to Dubai to evade his arrest. He was wanted in this case and his LOC was opened. On May 26, Yogesh was intercepted at Mumbai airport while re-entering India from Dubai in response to a Lookout Circular issued by the Special Cell. He was subsequently arrested in connection with the Arms Act case. During interrogation, Yogesh confessed to his role in the murder of Surajbhan, stating that he and Praveen, a resident of Dev Nagar in Bahadurgarh had conducted reconnaissance of the crime scene on the instructions of Kapil Sangwan and his associate Manish Rathi, both of whom were operating from abroad. (ANI)
A Manhattan jury convicted Donald Trump, the former president and presumptive 2024 Republican nominee on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a case stemming from a New York hush money criminal trial that silenced a porn star, CNN reported. This verdict marks a historic moment as Trump becomes the first president in US history to be convicted of a felony. Prosecutors levelled accusations against Trump, alleging his involvement in an illegal conspiracy aimed at undermining the integrity of the 2016 election and suppressing negative information. Central to the case was the concealment of a hush money payment made to an adult film star. Following the jury's decision, Trump vehemently denounced the trial, labelling it a "disgrace" and decrying it as "rigged." "We didn't do a thing wrong. I'm a very innocent man," Trump asserted, expressing his dissatisfaction after leaving the courtroom. Despite the guilty verdict, Trump maintained his innocence, positioning the upcoming general election as the true measure of public opinion on the matter. "The real verdict is going to be on November 5 by the people," he declared. Trump also directed criticism towards the Manhattan District Attorney and the Biden administration, baselessly claiming their influence over the case. In a separate statement, Trump's legal team vowed to challenge the verdict, but Judge Juan Merchan denied Trump's motion for an acquittal and scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 11. The trial centred on allegations surrounding a hush money scheme involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in connection with this scheme, encompassing 34 felony counts. Before the jury began deliberations, both the defence and prosecution delivered closing arguments, presenting contrasting narratives regarding the payment to Daniels and subsequent reimbursements to Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen. The credibility of Cohen emerged as a focal point during the trial. Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, launched a vigorous attack on Cohen's credibility, likening him to a prolific liar. Blanche sought to discredit Cohen's testimony, particularly regarding a phone call with Trump on October 24, 2016. He argued that Cohen's history of deception rendered his claims unreliable. Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass countered Blanche's arguments, asserting the validity of Cohen's testimony and highlighting corroborating evidence. Steinglass emphasised the significance of testimony from individuals such as David Pecker, the former chief of American Media Inc. (AMI), in supporting Cohen's version of events. Throughout the trial, Steinglass meticulously guided jurors through the evidence, underscoring the consistency of the testimony and documentation presented. He emphasised the intricate dynamics between Cohen and Trump, characterising their communication as often cryptic and fast-paced. Meanwhile, Trump also blamed the Biden administration after being found guilty of 34 felony charges in the hush money trial. "Our whole country is being rigged right now," Trump told reporters after leaving the courtroom. "This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent." He also was defiant in his remarks following Thursday's guilty verdict in his hush money trial. "We'll keep fighting, we'll fight till the end, and we'll win because our country's gone to hell," Trump said, adding, "We don't have the same country anymore, we have a divided mess." "We will fight for our Constitution. This is long over," Trump said outside of the Manhattan courtroom, CNN reported. (ANI)
After receiving the prestigious 'United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year' award for the year 2023, Major Radhika Sen, an Indian woman peacekeeper who served with the UN mission in Congo, highlighted the importance of gender-sensitive peacekeeping. In an impassioned acceptance speech resonating through the halls of the United Nations, she said, "We as peacekeepers should continue to address the needs of all those affected in the conflict and act as a role model for society to implement a gender-sensitive approach for lasting peace." Representing both MONUSCO and her homeland, India, Major Sen's remarks encapsulated the tireless dedication of peacekeepers to fostering inclusive and sustainable peace processes. "This award is special to me as it recognises the hard work put in by all the peacekeepers working in UNESCO's challenging environment," Major Sen expressed, acknowledging the collective effort of her colleagues. Addressing the critical issue of gender equality in conflict zones, Major Sen highlighted the disproportionate impact of conflict on women and girls, emphasising the urgent need to mainstream women in nation-building efforts. Major Sen expressed gratitude for the unwavering support of her engagement platoon and Major Soumya Singh, her second-in-command, as well as the guidance from her contingent and the cooperation of mission stakeholders. She extended heartfelt appreciation to MONUSCO for appointing Captain Cecilia Arzua as a gender advisor and mentor, enriching their contributions. "I encourage the United Nations and member states to tap into the rich network this award has created," Major Sen urged, emphasising the importance of broader engagement in gender-sensitive peacekeeping. Major Radhika Sen of the Indian Army has been awarded the prestigious 'United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year' award for the year 2023. She is the second Indian peacekeeper to receive the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, following Major Suman Gawani, a co-recipient in 2019. This accolade comes in recognition of her outstanding contributions to promoting gender equality and women's empowerment in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Major Radhika Sen was deployed to MONUSCO (the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) from March 2023 to April 2024, where she took charge as the Engagement Team Commander of the Indian Rapidly Deployed Battalion. Meanwhile, at the same programme, "the Secretary General awarded the Dag Hammarskjold Medal to honour Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. His professionalism and dedication will never be forgotten. We stand in solidarity with his family and honour his legacy of service to the cause of peace". (ANI)
Imprisoned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan expressed his deepest regret over trusting former army chief General (retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa while in power, Dawn reported. Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan blamed Bajwa for allegedly orchestrating his imprisonment and criticised Pakistan's political and military leadership. "My only regret is trusting General Bajwa," Imran lamented, accusing him of "creating lies and false narratives" to secure a second extension as the military head. Imran's allegations against Bajwa were detailed, suggesting a meticulous plan by the former army chief. "I am certain that this ordeal was orchestrated by General Bajwa. I hold no one else responsible. He meticulously planned and executed this scheme, presenting himself as a deceitful figure, creating lies and false narratives to cause national and international chaos - all to secure his extension," Imran emphasised, as reported by Dawn. The former premier's sentiments towards Bajwa evolved over time. While he initially approved an extension for Bajwa in 2019, Imran later admitted to Bol News in 2022 that it was a mistake. Imran cited Bajwa's failure to understand the impact of his actions on democracy and Pakistan. When questioned about US involvement in his removal from office, Imran shifted the blame solely to Bajwa. "General Bajwa single-handedly spread stories about me to countries like the US, painting me as anti-American or uninterested in good relations with them," he alleged. Imran's criticism of Bajwa extended to his leadership style, describing him as unpredictable and driven by personal greed. "His insatiable thirst for power rendered him unpredictable," Imran remarked, portraying Bajwa's actions as those of a "bull in a china shop," according to the Dawn report. Throughout the interview, Imran emphasised his commitment to the rule of law in Pakistan and maintained that his imprisonment was unjust. He claimed to have consistently fought for democracy and justice, suggesting that his incarceration was a result of political vendettas orchestrated by Bajwa. Imran's views on the legitimacy of the current government reflected his ongoing political stance. He adamantly refused to recognise the government, citing alleged election rigging and violence. Imran's message to the world resonated with his steadfast commitment to democracy and the people of Pakistan. "This is not just about Imran Khan. This is an attack on democracy and the right to self-determination of 250 million people," he declared, highlighting the alleged suppression of PTI members and the trust deficit between the ruling elite and the people. Despite his imprisonment, Imran remained resolute in his principles, asserting that his popularity stemmed from his honesty and integrity. "They know no amount of money can buy or change me," he affirmed, maintaining his unwavering dedication to the Pakistani people, Dawn reported. (ANI)
According to the ministry's statement, 13 China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 10 China's People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) vessels, and four China Coast Guard (CCG) vessels were seen operating around the nation.

Out of these, 11 aircraft crossed the median line and entered the country's southwestern Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ).

"13 PLA aircraft, 10 PLAN vessels, and 4 CCG vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 11 of the aircraft crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ," Taiwan's MND said in a post on X.

https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1796345854548402663

Earlier, Taiwan tracked 38 Chinese military aircraft, seven naval vessels, and four coast guard ships surrounding Taiwan, between 6 a.m. on Wednesday, May 29, and 6 a.m. on Thursday.

Taiwan responded by monitoring the PLA operations with planes, naval ships, and coastal-based missile systems.

Since September 2020, China has increased its use of grey zone tactics by incrementally increasing the number of military aircraft and naval ships operating around Taiwan.

According to Taiwan News, Grey zone tactics are defined as "an effort or series of efforts beyond steady-state deterrence and assurance that attempts to achieve one's security objectives without resort to direct and sizable use of force."

Despite never having governed Taiwan, China's governing Communist Party considers it part of its territory and has threatened to conquer it by force if necessary.

Despite never having governed Taiwan, China's governing Communist Party considers it part of its territory and has threatened to conquer it by force if necessary. The visit comes days after China conducted 'massive' military drills near Taiwan.

Last week's drills were the largest China had conducted in more than a year, and they occurred just days after Taiwan swore in its new president, Lai Ching-te. (ANI)
On this World No Tobacco Day, the youth across the world called for the tobacco industry to stop targeting them with products that are harmful to their health. The young people also called on governments to adopt policies to protect them from these manipulative practices, including relentless marketing of harmful products. The Member States of the World Health Organization designated May 31 as World No Tobacco Day in 1987, to draw attention to the global tobacco epidemic, and the preventable death and disease it causes. "This year, World No Tobacco Day calls on us all to protect children from the interference of the tobacco industry. Young people across the world are calling for the tobacco industry to stop targeting them with products that are harmful to their health," WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia, Saima Wazed said. "They are calling on governments to adopt policies to protect them from the manipulative practices of tobacco and related industries. This includes the relentless marketing of their dangerous products through social media and streaming platforms," Wazed added. She further emphasised that every year, this day reminds us of the dangers of tobacco and informs us about what the WHO Organization is doing to fight this epidemic. "It informs people around the world about what they can do to claim their right to health, and how to protect future generations. It also shines a light on the business practices of tobacco companies," she said. WHO regional director further highlighted that the tobacco industry's targeting of youth is rampant across the Member States. As a result, 11 million adolescents are using various tobacco products, coupled with the approximate 411 million adult tobacco users, "Our region, unfortunately, has the highest number of adolescent and adult users globally," she added. This industry lures youth by aggressively introducing new nicotine and tobacco products such as electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products. Moreover, these are becoming increasingly popular with the youth in this region. Wazed expressed concern and said, "It is worrying that children and adolescents are regularly exposed to the digital marketing of tobacco products. This is despite having policies and regulations in place to prevent this." She further stressed that the situation is expected to get worse, as youngsters spend more time on social media and other similar platforms. "This multibillion-dollar industry recruits 'new' users to reward their investors even more profits. To achieve this, it preys on children and adolescents through marketing tactics, targeting them with new products," she said. The tobacco industry moves with speed to launch new products, using every means to expand market share before regulations can catch up. Moreover, they continue to oppose evidence-based measures, such as increases in excise taxes, and comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotions and sponsorships. "They even threaten legal action against governments that try to protect the health of their citizens," she said, adding that the response from governments and institutions is lagging. It is imperative that the relevant provisions of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) are implemented in letter and spirit. Also, tools and support are urgently needed to facilitate monitoring and implementation of the WHO FCTC recommendations in 'online' settings. Wazed emphasised that the goal for youth is clear, saying, "We want to prevent and reduce tobacco consumption, nicotine addiction, and exposure to new tobacco products. To do this, we need a multistakeholder approach to frame and implement legislation, policies, regulations and administrative measures. This approach needs to cast a wide net. We should engage with all relevant government departments, UN and intergovernmental organizations, civil society, the private sector, academia, and the community, including students, teachers and parents." Moreover, a generational tobacco ban, leading to a 'Tobacco-Free Generation', would be a huge step forward for our Region, she stressed. For this to happen, the WHO FCTC must be recognized as a legally binding international instrument by all the Member States. This ban will require effective enforcement of existing policies, including confronting tobacco industry interference and institutional corruption surrounding the illicit tobacco trade. Meanwhile, the governments and tobacco control advocates in the region must proactively take an evidence-based stance that pre-empts biased arguments against progressive tobacco control measures. The opportunity to pass a generational ban must be supported by political will, clear foresight, and pragmatic implementation. "Only then can we realize the goal of a 'Tobacco-Free Generation' across our Region in the very near future," she said. (ANI)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised an artillery demonstration drill of "super-large multiple rocket" launchers aimed at South Korea, Pyongyang state media said on Friday. The development comes a day after South Korea said North Korea fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan on Thursday and days after an unsuccessful satellite rocket launch by Pyongyang. Kim directly gave an order to organize the "power demonstration firing" that took place Thursday in response to the South Korean Army's show of force against North Korea's legitimate exercise of its sovereign rights, according to KCNA as cited by Yonhap. The drill aimed to show that North Korea will not "hesitate to carry out a preemptive attack by invoking the right to self-defence," the news agency added. South Korean military said yesterday that it detected the launch of around 10 short-range ballistic missiles from Pyongyang's Sunan area, adding they flew about 350 kilometers before falling into the East Sea, also known as Sea of Japan. The South Korean military also said today that it has detected attempts by North Korea to jam GPS signals for a third straight day. Earlier this week, North Korea sent hundreds of balloons carrying filth and manure into South Korea in what is considered retaliation against Seoul activists' campaign of sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border. North Korea has been pursuing its nuclear and missile programs despite criticism by US, Japan,South Korea and other regional allies and partners. Meanwhile, the United States has condemned North Korea's May 27 and May 29 launches using ballistic missile technology, which it said is "in direct violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs)." These launches, it said, continue North Korea's "reckless behaviour", "which poses a grave threat to the Korean Peninsula, the region, and international peace and security and undermine the global non-proliferation regime," the US State Department said. "We condemn the DPRK regime's decision to divert scarce resources away from the North Korean people toward its weapons programs," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said. The US has also urged North Korea to "refrain from further provocations and accept our call for engaging in substantive dialogue without preconditions." The launches by North Korea coincided with the first visit of Admiral Samuel J Paparo, commander of US Indo-Pacific Command to South Korea. Paparo reiterated the US's commitments to a strong defence relationship with South Korea's armed forces, to extended deterrence, and to trilateral cooperation between the South Korea, Japan, and the US to "enhance interoperability between their respective forces, including defence against illegal missile launches by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea." The US-South Korea combined forces "remain ready and postured to protect" the latter against "any threat or adversary, backed by an extensive range of capabilities, including conventional, nuclear and missile defence," according to a statement. "Utilization of such capabilities is defensive in nature and intended to maintain alliance readiness," it added. The US State Department's Principal Deputy spokesperson said that China has a responsibility to "rein in and influence some of the malign and bad behaviour that we are seeing." Patel was responding in a press briefing to a question on how the United States viewed China's failure to play its role despite North Korea continuous provocations. "We continue to believe that there are countries who have a relationship with the DPRK and have influence with the DPRK that have a responsibility to rein in and influence some of the malign and bad behavior that we are seeing, especially a country like the People's Republic of China, which sits on the UN Security Council. When we're talking about launches that are in violation of certain UN Security Council resolutions, it's of course incredibly concerning," he said. (ANI)
Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif will hold meetings with the Chinese President along with other officials.

"At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an official visit to China from June 4 to 8. The visit will have three segments," Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a press briefing.

The Pakistan PM and Chinese president will hold discussions to upgrade China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. CPEC is a USD 50 billion Pakistani component of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The 3,000 km Chinese infrastructure network project is under construction in Pakistan and aims to connect Pakistan's Gwadar and Karachi ports to China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region by land.

"The two sides will further undertake discussions to strengthen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, upgrade China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, advance trade and investment and enhance cooperation in defence, energy space, science and technology and education," Baloch said.

Besides Beijing, the Pakistan PM will visit the cities of Xian and Shenzhen.

In Beijing, Shehbaz Sharif will meet Xi Jinping and hold delegation-level talks with Premier Li Qiang.

Further, he will also hold meetings with the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress Zhao Leji and heads of key government Department, Baloch said.

Moreover, Shehbaz Sharif will address the Pakistan-China Business Forum in Shenzhen with leading business entrepreneurs and investors from both countries.

"An important part of PM's visit will be meetings with corporate executives of leading Chinese companies, dealing in oil and gas, energy, ICT, and emerging technologies," Baloch said.

He will also visit economic and agricultural zones in China.

Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesperson emphasised that the PM's visit is a manifestation of the iron-clad China-Pakistan friendship characterized by frequent high-level exchanges and dialogues. (ANI)
The event with a focus on adolescent health, was hosted on the sidelines of the 77th World Health Assembly in Geneva, Switzerland.

"The purpose of the event was to share emerging evidence and discoveries, fostering dialogue on pivotal opportunities for investment in maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health and well-being," the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said in a press release.

Apurva Chandra, Union Health Secretary and Head of the Indian delegation emphasized the progress made on this topic and the initiatives taken in this regard.

He noted India's commitment to implement proactive actions for Women's, Children's and Adolescents' health and wellbeing.

The event aimed to advocate for continued and augmented investment, prompting policy adjustments and their ramifications across diverse stakeholders and sectors, while prioritizing the needs of various population groups.

During the event, speakers spoke on various aspects of adolescent health including the need to invest more in this issue.

Hekali Zhimomi, Addl. Secretary, Union Health Ministry; Aradhana Patnaik, Addl. Secretary and Managing Director (NHM), Union Health Ministry and other senior officials of the Union Health Ministry were present on the occasion.

The Union Health Secretary also highlighted India's Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) - I, RCH - II initiatives and the Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram which stressed adolescent health.

"The rolling out of TeleManas was also mentioned as a key initiative taken by India," the ministry stated.

India also emphasised the need for utilizing the right communication strategies to convey to the adolescent audience group. The involvement of youth group representatives was also discussed as an important stakeholder in the planning and implementation of any programme. (ANI)
The 14 Hong Kong pro-democracy figures, including opposition lawmakers, are among 47 individuals convicted of the crime of "subversion of state power" in 2021 and found guilty of participating in the primary elections. They could face life imprisonment.

"It is no surprise that China uses the NSL to silence dissidents," remarked WUC President Dolkun Isa in a statement. "But the sentencing is furthermore evident of the systematic erosion of democracy, fundamental freedoms, and the shrinking space of civil society under the CCP," a press statement issued by the World Uyghur Congress stated.

https://x.com/UyghurCongress/status/1796198073820971496

The NSL, enacted in response to the pro-democracy protests that rocked Hong Kong in 2019, criminalizes acts of 'collusion, terrorism, secession, and subversion,' punishable by life imprisonment.

Critics argue it serves as a tool for Beijing to quell dissent and tighten its grip on the semi-autonomous region.

Standing in solidarity with the pro-democracy figures, the WUC demands their immediate release and urges the international community, including the European Commission, to take decisive action.

Calling for sanctions on those responsible, the WUC stresses the urgent need to address the erosion of democracy and fundamental freedoms.

"With the upcoming global elections, including EU elections," emphasized Isa, "democratic governments need to hold China accountable for its continuous attack on democracy and disregard for human rights."

As the world grapples with these challenges, the call for justice reverberates louder, signalling a pivotal moment in the fight to safeguard democratic principles against authoritarian overreach. (ANI)
US State Department's Special Representative for Global Partnerships Dorothy McAuliffe will travel to India from June 7 to 8. During her visit, she will travel to Kochi to meet participants and deliver closing remarks at the WiSci (Women in Science) South Asia STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and design, and mathematics) Camp, according to US Department of State press release. From June 1-9, this all-girls immersive camp will bring together nearly 100 secondary school girls from India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, the US and Maldives to offer skills-building, mentorship and experiential learning opportunities in various STEAM fields. In a press release, the US State Department stated, "Interactive curriculum and workshops are developed and led by industry experts from the US private sector. WiSci camps advance the U.S. Department of State's gender equality priorities by investing in girls' education and leadership development globally." After her engagements in Kochi, Dorothy McAuliffe will visit various cities in India to meet key stakeholders and discuss partnerships with the US Department of State, according to US Department of State press release. She will also hold meetings with alumni of past Office of Global Partnerships initiatives, including the winners of the 2022 P3 Impact Award and recipients of the Office of Global Partnerships' COVID-19 Private Sector Engagement and Partnership Fund. In a press release, the US Department of State stated, "The WiSci South Asia STEAM Camp 2024 is a collaborative public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of State's Office of Global Partnerships, the UN Foundation's Girl Up, the Caterpillar Foundation." Notably, India and the US enjoy a comprehensive global strategic partnership coveringalmost all areas of human endeavour, driven by shared democratic values, convergence ofinterests on a range of issues, and vibrant people-to-people contacts, according to Ministry of External Affairs. Earlier in April, US Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti, highlighted successful US-India law enforcement cooperation in combating cybercrime and termed the bilateral ties between the two nations, "a multiplicative relationship." While speaking at a special screening of the documentary 'Bogus Phone Operators' in New Delhi, Garcetti underscored the significance of the collaboration between the United States and India in addressing various challenges, including cyber-security threats. The US Embassy in New Delhi organised the special screening of a documentary film on Wednesday that exposes the world of illegal call centres and cybercrime and tech fraud. He said, "This is really a place where we have concerts, discussions, exhibitions...we really encourage you to come back...to really learn about the ways that the United States and India are working together in what I call a multiplicative relationship." He further elaborated on the synergy between the two countries, stating, "It's not India plus the United States, it's India times the United States when we get together. Whether that's in moments of great opportunity like expanding economic opportunities, looking at health issues together, combating challenges like climate change or other things." (ANI)
Elon Musk's X is planning to host a live town hall event with the former President of the United States, Donald Trump, Wall Street Journal reported. X also plans to host a similar town hall event with independent presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy Jr, Wall Street Journal reported citing a person familiar with the plans who said a date for the event has not been finalized. In an appearance on the American news channel NewsNation on Wednesday night, Kennedy confirmed his plans to participate in a town hall, adding that Musk offered the use of the platform, as per the New York Times. The plans are part of a broader push by Musk to make X a centre of political discussion. X is joining with the television network NewsNation to air the events live on both platforms, the person said. With the town hall format, X users will be able to submit questions for the candidates, and so far X is only planning such events for presidential candidates, the person said. Meanwhile, Donald Trump has been considering appointing Tesla CEO Elon Musk for the role of an advisor to him in the White House, as the 2024 Presidential elections draw close, the New York Post reported on Thursday, citing The Wall Street Journal. Although Trump has not finalised the specifics, the two have been in discussions over how Musk may provide "formal input" on matters like the border, the economy, and stopping voting fraud. The third-richest man in the world, Musk, and Trump have just begun to warm up to one another. Citing the WSJ report, the New York Post reported that the two speak on the phone "several times a month." Musk and billionaire investor Nelson Peltz have also discussed with Trump the campaign Musk started in November to persuade corporate executives not to back President Biden, the report stated. (ANI)
The largest, most complete Stegosaurus skeleton is expected to fetch up $6 million when it goes under the hammer on July 17, as part of Sotheby's Geek Week.

Measuring 11.5 feet tall and 27 feet long, the fossil, nicknamed Apex, was described as an "incredibly important discovery" by Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's senior vice president and global head of science and popular culture. Besides its impressive size, she also cites the fossil's excellent preservation, which includes evidence of arthritis, and even skin impressions. It shows no signs of combat or predator-related injuries.

Apex was discovered by Jason Cooper on his own private land in Moffat County, Colorado. His property lies on the famed Morrison Formation, a rich Upper Jurassic deposit that has also yielded fossils of Allosaurus, Dryosaurus, and Diplodocus, among many others. A commercial paleontologist, Cooper has also unearthed the most complete Torvosaurus skeleton, dubbed "Elvis," in 2012.

Sotheby's closely documented Cooper's excavation and preparation of the fossil as part of its "legacy of pioneering Natural History auctions."

Scientists are not impressed, however. University of Edinburgh's Steven Brusatte said in an e-mail to CNN: "If what the auction house is saying is true, and what I'm seeing in these photos is genuine, then this skeleton really does belong in a museum, where it can be conserved, studied by scientists, and put on display to inspire people from all walks of life."

His remark is representative of the paleontological community's opinion on private fossil sales, which has come under the spotlight in recent years following Discovery's release of the series, "Dino Hunters," and Christie's record-breaking sale of Stan, the most complete Tyrannosaurus skeleton, for $31.8 million. Both events happened in 2020. Feared lost to science at the time of its sale, Stan will become the star attraction at an Abu Dhabi museum set to open in 2025.

Before Apex, the most complete Stegosaurus specimen was the London Natural History Museum's Sophie--a much smaller specimen, which, nonetheless, significantly changed our understanding of Stegosaurus. Apex will be part of a free exhibition at Sotheby's New York galleries during Geek Week.
A day after being convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, former US President Donald Trump called the hush money trial "very unfair" and criticised Judge Juan Merchan, calling him "conflicted" in remarks after his conviction, CNN reported. He announced that his legal team would appeal the conviction and called the trial a "hoax." Speaking to reporters from Trump Tower in Manhattan, Trump said, "As far as the trial itself, it was very unfair. We weren't allowed to use our election expert under any circumstances. You saw what happened to some of the witnesses that were on our side, they were literally crucified by this man." Slamming the judge, Trump said, "he looks like an angel, but he's really a devil. He looks so nice and soft. No, unless you saw him in action. And you saw that with a certain witness that went through hell," CNN reported. Criticising the court verdict, he claimed, The people of our country know it's a hoax, they know it's a hoax, they get it." He said, "You know, they're really smart. And it's really something, so we're going to be appealing this scam," ABC News reported. He further said that he had been placed under a "gag order" where he had to pay thousands of dollars in penalties and was threatened with jail. Trump said, "There's never been a more conflicted judge." He said, "Now, I'm under a gag order, which nobody has ever been under -- no presidential candidates ever been under a gag order before. " He said, "I'm under a gag order, nasty gag order, where I've had to pay thousands of dollars in penalties and was threatened with jail." Trump said there were "bad people" were behind his conviction and reiterated his claim that Judge Juan Merchan was "highly conflicted" in the case. He said, "If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone." Trump disputed the characterisation of his crime, saying that he had a legal expense, paying lawyer Michael Cohen and it was mentioned as a legal expense. He said the bookkeeper "correctly marked it down in the books," further adding that it was done "without any knowledge from me." Donald Trump asked, "What else are you going to call it?," CNN reported. He said, "Falsifying business records -- that sounds so bad, to me it sounds very bad." "That's a bad thing for me, I've never had that before," he added. Donald Trump criticised his former attorney and key witness Michael Cohen in his criminal hush money trial. However, he did not mention his name to avoid violating his gag order, according to CNN report. Trump said, "This was a highly qualified lawyer." He said, "Now I'm not allowed to use his name because of the gag order. But you know, he's a sleazebag. Everybody knows that. Took me a while to find out, but he was effective." On Thursday, a Manhattan jury convicted Donald Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a case stemming from a New York hush money criminal trial that silenced a porn star, CNN reported. This verdict marks a historic moment as Trump becomes the first president in US history to be convicted of a felony. Prosecutors levelled accusations against Trump, alleging his involvement in an illegal conspiracy aimed at undermining the integrity of the 2016 election and suppressing negative information. Central to the case was the concealment of a hush money payment made to an adult film star. Following the jury's decision, Trump vehemently denounced the trial, labelling it a "disgrace" and decrying it as "rigged." "We didn't do a thing wrong. I'm a very innocent man," Trump asserted, expressing his dissatisfaction after leaving the courtroom. Despite the guilty verdict, Trump maintained his innocence, positioning the upcoming general election as the true measure of public opinion on the matter. "The real verdict is going to be on November 5 by the people," he declared. Trump also directed criticism towards the Manhattan District Attorney and the Biden administration, baselessly claiming their influence over the case. Trump also criticised the Manhattan District Attorney and the Biden administration, claiming their influence over the case. In a separate statement, Trump's legal team vowed to challenge the verdict, but Judge Juan Merchan denied Trump's motion for an acquittal and scheduled a sentencing hearing for July 11. The trial centred on allegations surrounding a hush-money scheme involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in connection with this scheme, encompassing 34 felony counts. Before the jury began deliberations, both the defence and prosecution delivered closing arguments, presenting contrasting narratives regarding the payment to Daniels and subsequent reimbursements to Trump's former attorney, Michael Cohen. The credibility of Cohen emerged as a focal point during the trial. Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, launched a vigorous attack on Cohen's credibility, likening him to a prolific liar. Blanche sought to discredit Cohen's testimony, particularly regarding a phone call with Trump on October 24, 2016. He argued that Cohen's history of deception rendered his claims unreliable, according to CNN report. Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass countered Blanche's arguments, asserting the validity of Cohen's testimony and highlighting corroborating evidence. Steinglass emphasised the significance of testimony from individuals such as David Pecker, the former chief of American Media Inc. (AMI), in supporting Cohen's version of events. Throughout the trial, Steinglass meticulously guided jurors through the evidence, underscoring the consistency of the testimony and documentation presented. He emphasised the intricate dynamics between Cohen and Trump, characterising their communication as often cryptic and fast-paced. (ANI)
US Defence Secretary Lloyd J Austin III met with his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun on Friday in Singapore and expressed concern regarding the recent provocative activities by China's People's Liberation Army around the Taiwan Strait. During their meeting on the margins of the Shangri-La Dialogue, the US Defence Secy reiterated that China should not use Taiwan's political transition as a pretext for coercive measures, the US Defence Department said in a press release. Shangri-La Dialogue is a platform for government officials, business leaders, and security experts to discuss pressing regional security concerns. The US defense secretary underscored that the United States remains committed to its longstanding one-China policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three US-China Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances. He also reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. "The Secretary made clear that the United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate safely and responsibly wherever international law allows," the release added. He underscored the importance of respect for high seas freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea. He also discussed Russia's unprovoked war against Ukraine and China's role in supporting Russia's defence industrial base. Following this, he also discussed US-China defence relations, as well as regional and global security issues. Secretary Austin emphasized the importance of maintaining open lines of military-to-military communication between the United States and China. Secretary Austin reaffirmed the announcement by President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November 2023 that both sides will resume telephone conversations between theatre commanders in the coming months, and the Secretary welcomed plans to convene a crisis-communications working group by the end of the year. The Secretary also expressed concerns about recent provocations from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), including its direct contributions to Russia's ongoing assault on Ukraine. Today's meeting follows the Secretary's April 16 video teleconference call with the Admiral. Department officials will continue active discussions with their PRC counterparts about future engagements between defence and military officials at multiple levels. Days after Lai Ching-te was sworn in as Taiwan's President on May 20, China launched two-day-long military drills on May 23, surrounding Taiwan in what it called "punishment" for so-called "separatist acts," CNN reported. 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. (ANI)
President Joe Biden announced on Friday that Israel has proposed a "comprehensive new proposal" that provides a roadmap to a ceasefire in the ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza and securing the release of all hostages held by the terrorist group, CNN reported. According to Biden, the proposal, transmitted by Qatar to Hamas, outlines a "roadmap" towards a ceasefire. The initial phase, spanning six weeks, involves a "full and complete ceasefire with the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza" and "release of a number of hostages including women, the elderly, the wounded in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners." This announcement follows Israel's presentation of new ideas regarding hostage and ceasefire negotiations earlier in the week, a diplomatic source familiar with the negotiations told CNN on Tuesday without divulging details regarding these new ideas. Direct talks between Israel and Hamas regarding the release of hostages were paused three weeks ago due to disagreements over certain terms. A statement from the group said that it had shown "flexibility and positivity in dealing with the efforts of the mediators throughout all previous rounds of indirect negotiations." Israel, Hamas said, had used the months of ongoing talks as a cover to continue its war in Gaza. "Hamas and the Palestinian factions will not accept being part of this policy of continuous negotiations in the face of aggression, killing, siege, starvation, and genocide of our people," the Hamas statement said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has maintained that the conflict will persist until Hamas is eradicated entirely. President Biden, who returned to the White House from Delaware earlier on Friday, has refrained from commenting on the situation in Israel for several days. However, he is now engaging in negotiations as efforts continue to secure the release of hostages and broker a temporary ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Earlier in the day, Israel announced its forces had entered central Rafah, a move cautioned against by Biden. The White House described images of the aftermath in Gaza as "heartbreaking" but stated that the incident did not meet the threshold for withholding certain US weapons shipments to Israel. Biden had previously indicated that a significant ground offensive in Rafah could prompt restrictions on US arms to Israel. However, there has been ambiguity surrounding the criteria for such action, leading to frustration and confusion among some observers. White House officials have clarified that a "major ground invasion" of Rafah would trigger a reassessment of US policy. National security spokesman John Kirby explained that such an invasion would involve "tens of thousands of troops or thousands of troops moving in a coordinated set of manoeuvers against a wide variety of targets on the ground in a massive way," CNN reported. (ANI)
The historic conviction of Donald Trump on Thursday, marking the first time a former US president has been convicted of a felony generated significant interest and a fair amount of schadenfreude in China, CNN reported. As an authoritarian superpower on the rise, China has long sought to portray its political system as superior to American democracy. Trump's trial, while serving as a boon to China's narrative, also presents a potential window into something previously unimaginable and dangerous to the ruling Chinese Communist Party: an elected leader held accountable by independent courts and prosecutors, and convicted by a jury of peers. For months, Chinese propagandists have sought to leverage Trump's legal challenges to bolster Beijing's narrative of a declining United States, citing the prolonged legal battle as evidence of the polarisation and dysfunction in American politics. The news of Trump's conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records quickly spread across China's heavily censored social media platforms. On Weibo, often referred to as China's X-like platform, the verdict became the top trending topic, garnering over 120 million views by the afternoon. Comments on the platform reflected a mix of reactions. One top comment under a news brief by state news agency Xinhua urged Trump's supporters to mobilise and storm the Capitol, while another referred to him as "Comrade Nation Builder Trump," sarcastically suggesting his policies were inadvertently aiding China's global ambitions. Throughout his presidency, Trump earned the nickname "Chuan Jianguo," or "Trump, the (Chinese) nation builder," for his isolationist foreign policy and divisive domestic agenda, which some interpreted as beneficial to China's rise. Nationalist influencers on Chinese social media platforms gleefully mocked the verdict, with one blogger boasting 4 million followers suggesting, "It seems that in 2024, a civil war in America is not just a dream!" "Although he is guilty, he can still run for president. A 'criminal' can become president - this is the ridiculous aspect of Western-style democracy," said another. Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of state-run nationalist tabloid Global Times, chimed in on Weibo, remarking that Chinese people were watching the spectacle with amusement. "Naturally, Chinese people are watching the spectacle with amusement," he said on Weibo. "Here's what everyone is most concerned about: First, will Trump actually go to jail? Second, can he still run for president?" However, analysts warn that Trump's conviction could pose a delicate situation for Chinese state propagandists. "On the one hand, it highlights a rotting and fracturing American democracy. On the other hand, it highlights that a former top leader can be arrested, put on trial, judged by jury of peers and convicted, for relatively small acts of corruption," wrote Bill Bishop, a China watcher and author of the Sinocism newsletter. The timing of Trump's conviction, just days before the 35th anniversary of Beijing's Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989, adds to the sensitivity of the issue, according to observers. While Chinese state media outlets have refrained from publishing scathing commentaries, as seen in previous coverage of Trump's legal troubles, analysts predict that the coverage in the days ahead is unlikely to attack Trump directly but rather highlight flaws in the US system. Alfred Wu, an associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, suggests that Chinese state media will tread cautiously in their coverage, aiming to showcase the shortcomings of the US system without directly attacking Trump. "They don't want to attack Donald Trump because if he becomes the president, they know the consequences. Instead, they're likely to use it to showcase the problems of the US system," said Wu, a former reporter in China, CNN reported. (ANI)
Lance Hagen hosts a press conference about his FEC complaint against Rep. Brandon Prichard, R-Bismarck, on May 30, 2024, in Mandan. The complaint alleges Prichard used two super PACs for his personal and financial gain. Standing to Hagen's left are Ken Rensch and Mike Berg, who are running for District 8 House against Prichard and incumbent SuAnn Olson. (Mary Steurer/North Dakota Monitor)

A Bismarck resident has called on the Federal Election Commission to investigate a state representative and two political fundraising organizations for potential violations of federal campaign laws.

The complaint, filed by Lance Hagen, accuses Rep. Brandon Prichard, R-Bismarck, of using two federal super PACs for his own financial and political gain.

Prichard has represented District 8 since 2022 and is running for reelection this year.

North Dakota Rep. Brandon Prichard, R-Bismarck, attends a special session of the Legislature on Oct. 23, 2023. (Kyle Martin/For the North Dakota Monitor)

Hes involved with two super PACs that have raised money for conservative political causes this election cycle. Prichard serves as treasurer of the super PAC YR Victory Fund and executive director of the super PAC Citizens Alliance of North Dakota. According to FEC records, both political action committees were registered in the summer of 2023.

Emails authored by Prichard that Hagen included in his complaint indicate that Citizens Alliance of North Dakota exists to raise money for far-right conservative candidates for North Dakota state government.

Good conservative candidates do not have the funds or resources to defeat radical Democrats, Prichard wrote in a Jan. 10 fundraising email.

In the emails, Prichard also frequently tells voters to support certain North Dakota lawmakers and to unseat others.

Hagen said in his complaint he suspects that Prichard is using Citizens Alliance of North Dakota to help himself and his political allies and to harm his opponents.

These emails typically advocate for various conservative beliefs, but also often contain content that either praises legislators for their conservatism or shames other legislators for their Prichard-defined liberal voting propensities, Hagen wrote. Coincidently, Representative Prichard is always found among the legislators being praised.

Hagen noted in the complaint that, because the organizations are super PACs, also known as independent expenditure-only political committees, it is not legal for them to coordinate with political candidates.

Prichard in a Thursday text to the North Dakota Monitor said he had not received any notice of a complaint.

I always follow the law, cite my sources on bills, and comply with the FEC. There is nothing we have done that is illegal or unethical, he wrote. I think the good old boys club feels threatened that a North Dakota organization is finally calling out how they have sold out the people of North Dakota for their special interests.

In his complaint, Hagen also brought attention to the approximately $120,000 donated last year by the YR Victory Fund to an out-of-state group, Citizens Alliance Political Action Committee. Records show the committee was previously based in Ohio, but recently changed its address to Virginia.

FEC filings indicate most of the YR Victory Funds money went to that out-of-state committee. The YR Victory Fund started with roughly $21,000 in cash-on-hand and raised a total of about $110,000 in donations between July and December 2023.

In a Thursday press conference in Mandan, Hagen called the donations one of his major concerns.

The donations were first reported in February by Forum Communications columnist Rob Port. According to Ports reporting, several donors to the YR Victory Fund were under the impression that their contributions would go to help young Republicans get involved in politics.

Its not clear from FEC records what the purpose of the out-of-state Citizens Alliance Political Action Committee is. Filings show that since July of 2023, the Citizens Alliance Political Action Committee received a significant portion of its donations  more than $350,000  from North Dakota donors, including the YR Victory Fund.

In March, Citizens Alliance Political Action Committee gave $40,000 to the other super PAC associated with Prichard, Citizens Alliance of North Dakota, according to FEC records.

The records also show that money was transferred back and forth between the Citizens Alliance Political Action Committee and another similarly titled entity, Citizens Alliance of America, which is also based in Virginia.

Hagens complaint also highlights a $10,000 payment Prichard received from the YR Victory Fund in July 2023 for administrative services.

I have not seen the YR Victory Funds bylaws but would like to flag this for investigation, Hagen wrote.

Hagen said at the press conference that he mailed the complaint to the Federal Election Commission last week, and has yet to hear back from the agency.

A spokesperson for the FEC said the agency is unable to provide information regarding complaints due to confidentiality requirements. Case files are made public once a complaint is resolved and closed.

Hagen said this is the first time hes filed a complaint with the commission, and that he has nothing against Prichard  he just thinks the situation warrants investigation.

I have nothing to gain by doing this other than I think that, in North Dakota, we need to be held responsible for some of these ridiculous campaign ads that are taking place across the state, Hagen said.

Three Republican candidates running for positions in the Legislature also raised concerns at the press conference: Rep. Pat Heinert, who seeks reelection in District 32, and Mike Berg and Ken Rensch, who are running against Prichard and incumbent SuAnn Olson in District 8.

All three said they had been negatively affected by advertisements they suspect are tied to Prichard, and that they feel are misleading or factually inaccurate. Some legislative ads picture a challenger alongside two Republican incumbents, referring to all three as the Republican team.

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Holly McClaren is shown in a campaign video for Gov. Dan McKee in 2022. (Screenshot from campaign video by Friends of Dan McKee)

A consultant hired by Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos during her 2023 congressional campaign faces criminal charges alleging she knowingly falsified signatures on Matos nomination papers and submitted them to election authorities, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha and Rhode Island State Police Colonel Darnell S. Weaver announced Friday.

The news comes two days after a sealed grand jury indictment charging Holly McClaren with two felony counts of violating nomination papers and two misdemeanor counts of giving false documents to an agent, employee or public official.

McClaren, whose company was hired by Matos campaign during her 2023 primary run for the 1st Congressional District seat, pleaded not guilty to all charges at an arraignment Friday morning n Providence County Superior Court, John Grasso, McClarens attorney confirmed in an interview Friday.

Grasso declined to offer further comment, explaining that he is still waiting to see the documents outlining the states case against his client.

This was a secret indictment, he said. We just found out the charges in court this morning.

Ten months earlier, the state launched a criminal investigation into alleged fraud on Matos campaign signatures. Local election administrators in three separate municipalities had flagged papers submitted by her campaign amid suspicions of forged voter signatures, including some residents who were no longer alive.

Outside the Frank Licht Judicial Complex and Providence Superior Court. (Nancy Lavin/Rhode Island Current)

Matos, who finished fourth in the 11-way, September 2023 Democratic primary, has insisted she was unaware of the forgeries committed by vendors hired by her campaign, and pledged full cooperation with the criminal investigation.

I am glad to learn that the investigation is progressing, and that those involved are being held accountable, Matos said in a statement on Friday. This is a serious crime that was perpetrated against our states free and fair elections, and I look forward to this case being settled and resolved. I will continue to support our justice system in any way I can to ensure the truth comes to light, as well as supporting reforms to the reporting structure to protect our democratic process.

McClaren, 52, is the second person to face charges related to the signature scandal. In April, the attorney generals office charged another campaign worker, Christopher Cotham, with the same four criminal charges as McClaren. Cotham, who was paid through McClarens consulting firm, Harmony Solutions, to collect signatures on Matos behalf, pleaded not guilty at an arraignment in April. A pre-trial conference in his case is scheduled for June 11, according to online court records.

The Matos campaign initially paid $15,000 to Harmony Solutions for three months of work, including signature gathering, during the 2023 campaign. But the contractor was fired after signatures on Matos campaign papers were flagged in July.

McClaren remained elusive after news broke last summer, unreachable by numerous media outlets including Rhode Island Current despite multiple phone calls and visits to her Providence home.

No record of Harmony Solutions, or any other business owned by McClaren, exists in the Rhode Island Secretary of States business database.

McClaren is scheduled to appear in court for a pre-trial conference on Aug. 8.

The scandal set off a chain reaction of reforms around the states requirements for signature gathering and submission by election candidates, as well as how local boards of canvassers report suspicious papers to the state elections panel.

Among the changes: companion bills approved in the House and Senate earlier this week and backed by the Rhode Island Board of Elections that seek to streamline the investigation process, requiring local election administrators to notify state officials in writing about suspected forgery on nomination papers. The legislation also clarifies the process for how the state election panel considers challenges to candidates nomination papers based on alleged fraud. If signed into law, the changes take effect Jan. 1.

The post Former Matos campaign consultant faces criminal charges for alleged signature fraud appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Local governments in Louisiana could soon be allowed to shield business records from public

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A stalled proposal that would allow local governments to withhold economic development records from the public is back in play after a narrow vote in the Louisiana Senate.

House Bill 461 by Rep. Steven Jackson, D-Shreveport, earned approval from senators in a 20-18 vote. It will return to the House for final concurrence on two late-stage changes made Thursday afternoon.

The legislation would allow local officials to declare any records confidential for economic development purposes if they believe their public release would have a detrimental effect on an active business negotiation for projects valued at $5 million or more. Any government expenses related to the negotiations could also be kept under wraps.

The applicable records would be off-limits to the public for 12 months starting once the company is granted confidentiality. If negotiations extend past a year, another 12-month extension could be granted, but no records could be withheld past 24 months.

The bills fate seemed uncertain last week when senators voted 19-19, with opponents concerned it would take away the publics right to know how local officials spend public dollars.

Jackson then teamed with Republican Sen. Jean-Paul Coussan of Lafayette on amendments to the legislation to make the legislation more palatable to one of the senators who opposed it last week, Sen. Glen Womack, R-Harrisonburg.

Womack said the amendments placed limits that addressed some of the transparency concerns he had with its earlier version. One of the changes defines economic development as a project that creates at least 15 permanent jobs, with an increase to 25 permanent jobs for digital media companies, call centers, research and development investments, and corporate headquarters.

The other amendment involves a provision that appears to reinforce existing law. It states a mayor, parish president or other top local official shall not enter into any agreement without an affirmative vote of the local council or governing board consistent with the states Open Meetings Law.

Access to public records is a core element of government transparency and a common tool of investigative journalists, community watchdog groups and engaged citizens to expose government corruption, waste and other misdeeds. All states and the federal government have some version of a sunshine law for government records.

Louisiana lawmakers have gradually chipped away at the states public records law, adopting more than two dozen changes to revoke public access to a long list of government documents since it was enacted in 1940.

Sen. Thomas Pressly, R-Shreveport, voiced strong objections to Jacksons bill last week and continued his opposition during Thursdays debate. He asked why digital media and call centers were among the only kinds of businesses that could be exempted from public records law, and he pressed Coussan to explain what digital media means.

Coussan couldnt provide specific answers, saying only that proponents chose the wording of the amendment. The Police Jury Association of Louisiana is the primary author of the bill, which also found support among the members of the Legislative Black Caucus, to which Jackson belongs.

Coussan and other supporters of the bill have argued it is necessary to allow companies interested in coming to Louisiana to negotiate with local governments without having to reveal their proprietary trade secrets. However, Louisiana law already contains broad public records exemptions for proprietary or trade secret information for any kind of business.

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The Louisiana Legislature has agreed to let the state school board create a program that lets families spend money intended for public schools on private education, but lawmakers deferred deciding for at least a year just how much they want to shell out.

The state Senate provided the last legislative approval needed Thursday for the LA GATOR Scholarship Program, sending it to Gov. Jeff Landry for his anticipated signature.

I made a pledge to enact bold change that improves our education system. Today, with the legislatures help, we did just that, Landry said in a news release after the Senates 23-14 vote. The LA Gator Program puts parents in the drivers seat and gives every child the opportunity for a great education, the governor said. When parents are committed to the value of their childs education, government should never get in the way.

Parents are stuck in neutral for the time being, however, because there is no state money set aside yet for the LA GATOR program. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education has to first create the structure for education savings accounts, then the governor and lawmakers have to agree on how much to allocate toward them. The soonest that could happen is in next years legislative session ahead of the 2025-26 school year.

The program is expected to be launched in phases, starting with students who already receive private school vouchers from the state. They come from low-income families and attend poor-performing schools. As originally conceived, the program in Senate Bill 313 would have provided education savings accounts, or ESAs, to all students by 2028-29.

The potential high cost of a universal education savings account program led some legislators to back away from fast-tracking a program that would have been available to all families, regardless of income, by the 2028-29 school year. Legislative staff calculations put the price at $280 million annually, but the good-government Public Affairs Research Councils estimate placed the figure closer to $520 million.

Louisiana lawmakers have implied that Arizona provides a cautionary tale for hasty ESA program adoption. The 2023-24 school year was the first in which the accounts were made available to families in any income bracket. Its cost has crept close to $1 billion, a 1,400% increase from original projections.

ESA opponents in the Louisiana Legislature tried to add accountability measures to Senate Bill 313, authored by Sen. Rick Edmonds, R-Baton Rouge. They argued the state needed a tool to measure the progress of private schools that accept state resources.

Amendments that would have required ESA holders in private schools to take the same year-end learning assessments as their public school counterparts failed to gain traction.

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The post Louisiana backs spending more public dollars on private schools, but it wont just yet appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Former President Donald Trump speaks in Grand Rapids, Michigan on Biden's border policy on April 2, 2024. (Photo: Anna Liz Nichols)

Many Michigan politicians took to social media following the historic conviction of former President Donald Trump.

U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) acknowledged on her personal X account the historic significance of Trump becoming the first former president to be convicted of a crime.

This is an unprecedented moment, and a sad one for our country: a former president convicted of a series of crimes, Slotkin wrote. Presidents should be leaders we look up to; now, one of them is a convicted felon, found guilty by a jury of his peers. Thats nothing to celebrate.

This is an unprecedented moment, and a sad one for our country: a former president convicted of a series of crimes. Presidents should be leaders we look up to; now, one of them is a convicted felon, found guilty by a jury of his peers. Thats nothing to celebrate. The only good  Elissa Slotkin (@ElissaSlotkin) May 30, 2024

Trump was found guilty Thursday in a New York court of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records aimed at covering up hush money paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election he won.

Responses to the convictions were generally divided along party lines in Michigan, with Republicans standing with Trump and Democrats supporting the trials result.

Trump and some of his Michigan allies reacted to the conviction with fury and criticized the justice system.

The Biden-directed Witch-Hunt is a full-frontal assault on our Constitution, the Michigan Republican Party wrote in a press release. It is a never-before-seen abuse of executive and prosecutorial power against the chief political opponent of the sitting President and the current nominee of the Republican Party.

The party accused Judge Juan Merchan, who handled the case, and President Joe Bidens administration of election interference, saying the trial was an attempt to keep Trump off the campaign trail.

Other Michigan Republicans also hit social media to express support for Trump and anger towards the judicial system. U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Bruce Twp.) said, I stand with President Trump now and I always will on X.

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Tipton) called the trial a travesty, and U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Zeeland) said it was a sham.

Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Porter Twp.) also weighed in on his personal Facebook page.

The use of our legal system as a political weapon perpetrated by these left-wing fanatics is abhorrent, he wrote.

U.S. Senate hopeful Mike Rogers, a GOP former congressman who has been endorsed by Trump, described the trial as an affront to justice in a release. Senate candidate Sherry ODonnell also defended the former president, saying in a release that the trial was an illegal scheme to rig the election.

I am furious about this verdict, and I am deeply worried about the future of our nation when the courts can be so abused, ODonnell said in a release.

While fewer Democratic leaders chimed in about conviction, the Michigan Democratic Party reposted the Biden-Harris campaigns statement on X, which encouraged people to vote in the presidential election, since Trump will still be eligible to run. The party account also posted: 34. Thats it. Thats the tweet, referencing the number of counts Trump was found guilty on.

34. Thats it. Thats the tweet.  Michigan Democrats (@MichiganDems) May 31, 2024

Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes posted a thread on X that began with: Yesterday we saw that even Donald Trump isnt above the law. We also know that convicted or not, the GOP is sticking with a nominee who is not fit to serve. And as Trump grows more unhinged and dangerous, many leading Republicans are only embracing him tighter.

Sam Inglot, the executive director of the liberal organization Progress Michigan, said in a release that the decision to hold Trump accountable was worth celebrating.

In a statement to the Advance, U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens (D-Waterford Twp.) said she honored the judicial decision.

No one is above the rule of law and yesterdays conviction, rendered by 12 fellow citizens, demonstrates that, Stevens said. Our judiciary and our institutions are strong.

Many Democrats countered the claim that the trial was rigged, including Michigan Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) and U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit) on X and Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Flint) in a release.

In this unprecedented moment, its imperative that all Americans respect the decision of the court. Donald Trump received a fair trial and is now going to be held accountable for his crimes. https://t.co/528AarlALP  SML Winnie Brinks (@WinnieBrinks) May 30, 2024

Brinks said Trump received a fair trial and encouraged U.S. citizens to respect the decision of the court. Thanedar called the conviction a win for our justice system and our democracy. Kildee wrote that the former president had due process and a fair trial.

The jury has rendered its verdict, and all Americans should respect the verdict and the rule of law, Kildee said in a release.

Trump is scheduled to be sentenced July 11. Prosecutors have not yet disclosed if they are going to pursue prison time, but conviction carries a penalty of probation to up to four years in prison for each of the 34 counts. The verdict will not prevent Trump from running for president for a second time.

The post Michigan officials weigh in on former President Trumps historic conviction appeared first on Michigan Advance.
New Hampshire will not join the 47 other states that provide records of psychiatric hospitalization commitments for gun background checks  at least for now.

Thursday, Senate Republicans defeated a final attempt to submit that information to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, saying the bill was flawed and would have violated the constitutional right to have firearms. Sen. Daniel Innis, a Bradford Republican, said the bill could have allowed the state to confiscate not only the guns owned by the hospitalized person but also guns owned by other people living in the house.

Sen. Sharon Carson, a Londonderry Republican, also criticized the bills sponsors for not collaborating with gun rights groups in drafting the bill.

Rep. David Meuse, a Portsmouth Democrat, joined Republican Rep. Terry Roy, of Deerfield, in sponsoring a bill that would add some mental health records to the database used for gun purchase background checks.

Its important that their voices are heard, but theyre never included in this process, she said. So please, if youre going to bring things forward, include people who actually own guns and get their opinion.

The bills prime sponsor, Rep. Terry Roy, a Deerfield Republican, is a gun owner, and until this bill, has never backed legislation limiting gun rights. He and House Democratic Rep. David Meuse of Portsmouth filed House Bill 1711 in response to the November fatal shooting of state hospital security officer Bradley Haas by a former patient.

I continue to be a 2nd Amendment advocate, Roy said in a text following the Senate vote. But that does not mean that I cannot take extremely limited, constitutional, life-saving matters into consideration. The two are not mutually exclusive.

Roy, who got his bill through the GOP-controlled House twice, has indicated hell consider reintroducing legislation should he return to the House.

The Attorney Generals Office continues to investigate Haas shooting and has not said how the shooter, John Madore, obtained the gun he used to kill Hass. Madore was shot and killed by a state trooper who responded to the scene.

Madore had his guns confiscated by the police in 2016, following an arrest and subsequent commitment to New Hampshire Hospital. At the time of the state hospital shooting, those firearms were still in police custody, according to the Attorney Generals Office.

The bill was vehemently opposed by gun rights groups, including the New Hampshire Firearms Coalition, which argued the bill would allow an illegal confiscation of firearms without due process. However, the bill would have required a court hearing before guns were confiscated and only if a judge found the persons mental illness posed a danger to themself or others.

Haas family did not testify on the bill or return messages from the Bulletin.

This story was originally published by New Hampshire Bulletin.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH Senate Republicans defeat gun background check bill  again
Analog Tone Factory has announced Tenor saxophonist Jerome Sabbagh's tenth album, 'Heart.' It is his first album as a leader, and on the newly formed label, he runs with pianist and engineer Pete Rende.

'Heart' is scheduled for release on Friday, Aug. 30, on CD, Vinyl, and reel-to-reel.

'Heart' captures a sophisticated, artistic meeting between renowned New York bassist Joe Martin and drummer Al Foster.

"Al is my favorite living jazz drummer, and I've been trying to record with him for a long time," Sabbagh said. "Over the last 12 years, I've sat in on gigs with him and developed a rapport that finally came to fruition with this album.

He shared that he and Martin started playing together around 2003, and he has played with him more than any other bassist. He added that he can do anything, but his priority is to make the band sound great and to ensure everything is locked in on every front.

'Heart' and 'Vintage,' its immediate predecessor, a quartet that includes Kenny Barron, is unlike the music on any of Sabbagh's first eight LPs. They were released on labels such as Sunnyside and Bee Jazz and featured what he described as "original music that doesn't always sound like standards."

On the other hand, Sabbagh uses the vocabulary of swinging mainstream jazz to tell his stories in 'Heart' and 'Vintage,' where he is accompanied by two masters who stimulated his imagination during that period and nourished his early development.

On 'Heart,' recorded in June 2022, Sabbagh and Foster have an album-long conversation while Martin triangulates within the flow, showcasing Sabbagh's warm sound, facile ear, and harmonic flexibility, which attracted employers like Chris Potter, Kurt Rosenwinkel, and Sabbagh (on four previous albums and several hundred gigs).

Furthermore, Sabbagh said that standards and original music are complementary for him, and he has worked hard to connect both sides of my playing. Now, he has a deeper understanding of how he wants to play the saxophone and those tunes.
With one big exception, Ohio Republicans largely condemned Thursday's conviction of former President Donald Trump on 34 felony counts, while Democrats remained mostly silent.

Gov. Mike DeWine's office said he would have no comment on the verdict, a change from DeWine's response in 2001 when then-President Bill Clinton struck a plea deal in the Monica Lewinsky affair.

"It's good to have this behind us," DeWine, then a senator, said at the time. "There was nothing to be gained by seeing the ex-president on trial and having this dragged on for months or maybe years."

Other Republicans weren't so reticent about Trump's conviction, echoing the former president's claims that the trial was politically motivated.

Gov. Mike DeWine had "no comment" on the Trump guilty verdict, his spokesperson said Friday.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost

On his official X page, Yost said the verdict is likely to be overturned, and "it is why we have courts of appeal." Yost called the prosecutor in the case, Alvin Bragg, "disreputable and unethical."

U.S. Sen. J.D. Vance

"This verdict is an absolute miscarriage of justice," Vance said in a written statement. "While the outcome of this trial will no doubt be subject to appeal, its a disgrace to our judicial system that such measures will be necessary.

"The partisan slant of this jury pool shows why we ought to litigate politics at the ballot box and not in the courtroom. Ultimately, I have faith that the 2024 election will be decided by the American people, not corrupt judges and prosecutors."

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan

Jordan, who represents a large portion of north-central Ohio including Delaware, Marysville and Mansfield, went on X to call the trial a "Manhattan kangaroo court" with a "biased judge with an unfair process, designed to keep President Trump off the campaign trail and avoid bringing attention to President Bidens failing radical policies.

"Americans see through Democrats' lawfare tactics and know President Trump will be vindicated on appeal."

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose

"Partisan prosecutor. Activist judge. Sham trial. Bogus verdict," LaRose posted on X. "Its a sad day in America when a political party is so afraid of losing its grip on power that theyre willing to abuse justice to game an election. This will not stand."

Democratic silence

Leading state and local Democrats took DeWine's lead and largely remained mum on the historic verdict.

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and U.S. Rep. Joyce Beatty, representing Ohio's 3rd Congressional District, had no statements on their websites and didn't immediately respond to a requests for comment left with their Columbus offices. Nor did Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther or City Council President Shannon Hardin, both Democrats.

"Council does not plan to weigh in at this time," Hardin spokesperson Nya Hairston said in an email.

Bernie Moreno, Brown's Trump-supported Republican senate opponent in November, said on X that Brown's silence was "cowardly," because the verdict is a "disgrace to America."

"I hope that even Sherrod would have the integrity to publicly condemn such a brazen case of politicization," Moreno wrote.

One exception to mostly silence from Democrats was U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Cincinnati, 1st District, who posted on X: No one is above the law. Not even Donald Trump.

wbush@gannett.com

@ReporterBush

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Gov. DeWine, others, mum on Trump verdict while Republicans blast away
Photos show the final cruise of the USS Leyte Gulf as the US Navy phases out its cruiser fleet

USS Leyte Gulf returned home after its last deployment, concluding nearly four decades of service.

The guided-missile cruiser patrolled the South Atlantic to counter drug trafficking in the region.

The ship is set to be decommissioned in 2027 as the Navy retires its aging Ticonderoga-class fleet.

USS Leyte Gulf completed its final deployment earlier this month, concluding nearly four decades of service.

The guided-missile cruiser returned to its homeport in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 17 after three-and-a-half months in the South Atlantic on security operations and counter drug trafficking in the region.

Photos of the Leyte Gulf's final deployment captured its port visits to Cuba and Brazil, its debut in the inaugural Fleet Week Miami, and the massive drug busts by the ship's crew.

Norfolk, Virginia

The Leyte Gulf departs Naval Station Norfolk for a deployment to the US 4th Fleet area of operations. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anderson W. Branch

On January 28, the Leyte Gulf departed from Naval Station Norfolk to "maintain maritime security and interoperability" in the Caribbean and South America.

The ship was crewed by more than 40 officers and nearly 350 sailors who "continued to display a high level of proficiency and readiness" while the Leyte Gulf spent the fall of 2023 in the Western Atlantic preparing for its last deployment, according to the Navy.

"I admire the resiliency of the crew aboard Leyte Gulf," Vice Adm. Doug Perry, the commander of US 2nd Fleet, said in a statement. "Their commitment to the mission in the South Atlantic enhances maritime security through sustained naval presence."

One final deployment

Sailors wearing lifevests watch the guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf depart Naval Station Norfolk. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Anderson W. Branch

The ship was named after the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the largest naval battle of World War II, in which the US Navy defeated the Japanese navy off the coast of Leyte Island in the Philippines.

Built by Ingalls Shipbuilding, the Ticonderoga-class cruiser was delivered and commissioned in 1987. Propelled by four gas turbine engines, the ship can reach speeds of up to 32 knots and has a displacement of about 9,600 tons.

The Leyte Gulf can carry more than 100 missiles for surface attacks, air defense, and anti-submarine warfare. It is also armed with deck guns, machine guns, and radar-guided air defense guns.

The 567-foot vessel can also accommodate two MH-60R Seahawk helicopters.

Guantanamo Bay, Cuba

Sailors aboard the Leyte Gulf reel in the mooring lines as the ship departs US Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Najwa Ziadi

On its way to the South Atlantic, the Leyte Gulf made a scheduled port visit to the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, in mid-March.

Sea-and-anchor evolution

The commanding officer of USS Leyte Gulf, right, navigates the cruiser alongside the navigator as the ship arrives at US Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Najwa Ziadi

Photos showed the crew aboard USS Leyte Gulf conducting a sea-and-anchor evolution, navigating and maneuvering the ship safely into Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.

South Atlantic

The Leyte Gulf is seen in the distance as sailors intercept a self-propelled semi-submersible drug smuggling vessel in the Atlantic Ocean. US Coast Guard Courtesy Photo/Released

One of the main objectives of the Leyte Gulf's deployment to the South Atlantic was to keep "illegal drugs from reaching the shores of the US and its regional partner nations," according to a statement from the Naval Surface Force Atlantic.

Patrolling the Caribbean

US Coast Guard crew members patrol the Caribbean near USS Leyte Gulf. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Najwa Ziadi/Released

With assistance from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 50, known as the "Valkyries," and the US Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachment team, the cruiser intercepted three vessels in the Caribbean Sea less than a month after it deployed.

Nearly 1,720 kilograms of cocaine were seized in the three interdictions throughout February, worth a total of more than $42 million, according to a Navy statement.

On February 6, the Coast Guard boarding team and the Leyte Gulf's helicopter aircrew recovered 520 kilograms of cocaine. On February 15, they seized 600 kilograms of cocaine and another 600 kilograms of cocaine was recovered less than two weeks later.

"Our Leyte Gulf team was ready when called upon to execute all three interdictions," Capt. Nathan Diaz, the ship's commanding officer, said in a statement. "The successful seizure of more than $42 million in illicit drugs is a testament to the interoperability of our partner nations, the Coast Guard and the Leyte Gulf team."

A massive maritime drug bust

US Coast Guard and US Navy sailors work together to intercept a narco-sub in the Atlantic Ocean. US Coast Guard Courtesy Photo/Released

While patrolling in the Atlantic in late March, a Navy helicopter detected a 55-foot semi-submersible vessel likely smuggling narcotics about 132 miles off the coast of Trinidad and Tobago, according to court documents. The Coast Guard commandeered the boat and detained four individuals aboard.

"Spotting this vessel was like finding a needle in the haystack," Lt. Cmdr. Travis Lee, Leyte Gulf's senior aviator, said in a statement. "I've been doing this for seven years and not once been able to find and acquire such an asset until now."

In its largest drug bust of the Leyte Gulf's deployment, Navy and Coast Guard crews seized about 2,370 kilograms of cocaine  more than 5,000 pounds  in about 100 brick-shaped packages aboard the drug-smuggling boat, which was later used as a target for live-fire training.

The four men  three Colombian nationals and one dual French-Columbian  were indicted on drug trafficking charges by a federal grand jury in Puerto Rico.

Testing its unmanned fleet

USS Leyte Gulf runs small boat operations with manned and unmanned vessels in the Caribbean during Operation Windward Stack. US Naval Forces Southern Command and US 4th Fleet/X

USS Leyte Gulf ran small boat operations in support of the US Fourth Fleet's ongoing campaign to integrate unmanned surface vehicles (USVs) into the US Navy's manned fleet.

Operation Windward Stack aims to achieve the US Navy's long-term vision of building a reliable hybrid fleet consisting of manned and unmanned vessels working together to conduct maritime operations.

Last September, California-based drone company Saildrone first deployed 10 unmanned robotic boats, known as "Voyagers," off the coast of Key West, Florida, to test and refine the unmanned systems.

It is difficult to spot drug-runners across the breadth of the Caribbean Ocean, especially when they are narco-subs whose bulk largely rides beneath the waves. More eyes, the thinking goes, will allow manned ships to detect more suspected drug runners and dispatch ships to intercept them.

The Navy plans to use ocean drones to improve maritime domain awareness "by detecting and quantifying targets that pass within range of the Saildrones' sensors," according to a press release.

The American Bureau of Shipping classifies the 33-foot Voyager as a light warship, which typically operates in riverine, coastal, or littoral environments.

Aside from the Voyager, Saildrone operates two other ocean drone variants called the Explorer and the Surveyor.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Brazilian sailors from Frigate BNS Uniao tour USS Leyte Gulf following a passing exercise at sea in the South Atlantic. US Naval Forces Southern Command and US 4th Fleet/X

While sailing through the South Atlantic, the Leyte Gulf made a scheduled port visit to Rio de Janeiro, where US and Brazilian sailors participated in joint training exercises.

Moored at Base Naval do Rio de Janeiro for a four-day liberty port visit, US sailors worked with the Brazilian navy to "increase interoperability between the two Marines, enhance the level of training and readiness of their ships, and contribute to strengthening cooperation ties between the participating countries," according to the Brazilian navy.

The @USNavy () cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55) has arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil () as part of its deployments with @Southcom.



Her hull is looking a bit rough with rust, but its likely due to the long deployment to South America pic.twitter.com/w539ZYgUzh  SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) April 11, 2024

The @USNavy () cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG-55) conducted exercises with the @marmilbr () frigate F Uniao (F-45) off the coast of Rio de Janeiro. pic.twitter.com/Xw991yuCio  SA Defensa (@SA_Defensa) April 24, 2024

Crews from the Leyte Gulf and Brazilian frigate Uniao conducted several operational exercises, such as "rapid response to the actual use of armaments; interrogation and approach with the ships' Visit and Inspection Groups; and flag communication," according to the Brazilian navy.

The AH-11B Super Lynx, a Brazilian multi-role military helicopter, also ran landing drills aboard the Leyte Gulf.

Miami, Florida

USS Leyte Gulf arriving for Fleet Week Miami. WarshipCam/X

The Leyte Gulf returned stateside to make a debut at the inaugural Fleet Week Miami, which previously took place in Fort Lauderdale for over three decades.

For a week in early May, the vessel docked at Port Miami alongside the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS Bataan, and fellow Ticonderoga-class cruiser USS Normandy. The Coast Guard's medium endurance cutter, USCGC Seneca, also made an appearance.

A display of US naval power

US Navy Master Chief Jason Kutsch, the Leyte Gulf's command master chief, stands in formation during a reenlistment ceremony at a Miami Marlins game. US Marine Corps photo by Staff Sgt. Brett Norman

More than 7,000 sailors and Marines participated in the Fleet Week festivities.

"We've come through, flooding the zone, so that we can engage with the folks of Miami and let them understand what it's like to be part of the sea services," Navy Adm. Daryl Caudle, commander of the US Fleet Forces Command, said in public remarks.

Norfolk, Virginia

Sailors standby to assist the Leyte Gulf's return to Naval Station Norfolk. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Manvir Gill

After three and a half months at sea, the Leyte Gulf returned to a warm yet bittersweet homecoming at Naval Station Norfolk on May 17.

"I admire the resiliency of the crew aboard Leyte Gulf," Vice Adm. Doug Perry, commander of the US 2nd Fleet, said in a statement. "Their commitment to the mission in the South Atlantic enhances maritime security through sustained naval presence."

'A model for maritime teamwork'

Lt. j.g. Alescia Austin greets her family as USS Leyte Gulf returns to Naval Station Norfolk. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Manvir Gill

Perry commended sailors aboard the Leyte Gulf for completing the vessel's final deployment, calling the crew "a model for maritime teamwork" after conducting multiple drug interdictions alongside the Valkyries helicopter squadron and the Coast Guard.

"This is a profound final chapter for one of the Navy's finest ships, and their crew should be proud of all they accomplished," Perry said.

Diaz, the commanding officer of Leyte Gulf, echoed the sentiment, recalling the "generations of sailors who have manned the helm" of the storied warship.

"This ship is full of history. Each period brings its own far-off journeys, along with generations of Sailors who have manned the helm," Diaz said in a statement. "Our last deployment was full of Sailors who made their own mark on the story of this great warship."

"Though our namesake comes from a battle long ago, the US is still performing with a level of combat expertise and professionalism that we've always had as we protect the homeland," he added.

Yorktown, Virginia

USS Leyte Gulf arriving in Yorktown, Virginia. WarshipCam/X

The Leyte Gulf briefly moored at Naval Weapons Station Yorktown for two days to offload ammo before returning home on May 22.

Modernizing its cruiser fleet

USS Leyte Gulf returns to Naval Station Norfolk, marking their final deployment. US Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Manvir Gill

The Leyte Gulf is scheduled to be decommissioned in 2027 as the Navy retires its aging and costly Ticonderoga-class cruiser fleet.

The Navy proposed retiring its aging and costly ships, like the Leyte Gulf, to grow its unmanned fleet and build more modern ships. The proposal drew some early opposition after Congress blocked attempts to retire ships ahead of schedule.

The Navy faces yearslong delays on some of its highly anticipated shipbuilding projects due to supply chain issues and labor shortages.

Lawmakers argued the aging yet operational ships should be kept in active service to prevent a capability gap in coming years, as adversaries like China and Russia grow their own naval fleets, threatening the US' global undersea dominance.

China has already outpaced American shipbuilding, and the US Department of Defense said the country now has the largest navy in the world comprised of nearly 400 vessels and counting.

Correction: May 31, 2024  An earlier version of this article misstated the length of its active service. It has been in the US fleet for approaching four decades.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in a criminal hush money trial on Thursday.

The trial stems from Trump being accused of falsifying business records in order to hide hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star. He is the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime.

Several South Carolina politicians and politicos were quick to react to the news of the verdict from the jurors that came after a six-week trial. Here's what they said.

Barbara Melvin, South Carolina PortsO President and CEO laughs as she sits next to U.S. Rep. William Timmons, left, during the Voice of Business Brunch at University of South Carolina Upstate on Wednesday, May 29, 2024.

U.S. Rep. William Timmons, 4th Congressional District

U.S. Rep. William Timmons, backed by Trump for a second time as he vies for the Republican nomination for South Carolina's 4th Congressional District against challenger Adam Morgan, called the verdict an "abomination."

"The fix was always in  from the DA to the judge, this trial was rigged from the start," Timmons said in a statement. "Trump is leading in every swing state and every single poll. This is election interference in plain sight," Timmons said. "This verdict is an abomination and will be overturned on appeal. The judge cannot incarcerate the former president and current leading nominee for president six months before the election. The judge must allow Trump to remain free while Trump pursues his appeal. Additionally, the Supreme Court needs to take the appeal up on original jurisdiction immediately. Remanding Donald Trump into custody or confining him to home incarceration very well could spell the end of the Republic.

State Rep. Adam Morgan, candidate, 4th Congressional District

State Rep. Adam Morgan (R-Greenville) also responded, saying Trump should appeal.

State Rep. Adam Morgan is greeted by supporters during a rally in support of Morgan's campaign against incumbent, William Timmons, at the Marriott in Greenville, S.C. on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.

"As this trial has unfolded, weve witnessed the continued weaponization of government against President Trump. An unchecked government that targets its political enemies is a travesty. Its wrong. Its un-American and I wont stand for it," Morgan said. President Trump should immediately appeal this case. The American people have seen the lengths that the Biden administration will go to attack its political enemies. We look forward to telling the Biden administration what we think in the November election."

More: How will Donald Trump's guilty verdict hit his reelection bid? Is his political fallout here?

Kathryn Harvey, candidate, 4th Congressional District

Kathryn Harvey, chair of the Spartanburg County Democratic Party and candidate for South Carolina's 4th Congressional District, responded, saying it was too soon to speculate on the verdict's possible impact on upcoming elections.

Kathryn Harvey, Spartanburg County Democratic Party Chair, speaks to members of the media before Gov. Ron DeSantis' Florida Blueprint event at First Baptist North Spartanburg, in Spartanburg, S.C. Wednesday, April 19, 2023.

"We've got an unprecedented year with an unprecedented amount of Democratic candidates running up and down the ballot, and that's by design to make sure that these races don't end in primaries. I think it just remains to be seen how this will impact future races, impact even the ones close like the primaries."

Sen. Lindsey Graham

On X, formerly known as Twitter, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham wrote that he expected Trump to appeal and be elected president in November.

Sen. Lindsey Graham holds a press conference in his downtown Greenville, S.C. office on Friday, March 15, 2024.

"This verdict says more about the system than the allegations. It will be seen as politically motivated and unfair, and it will backfire tremendously on the political Left," Graham wrote. "The Manhattan legal system has become a joke in every sense of the word. This is a mockery of justice. I fear we have opened up Pandoras box on the presidency itself."

U.S. Rep. James Clyburn

James Clyburn, the lone Democrat in South Carolinas congressional delegation representing the 6th district, wrote to X that "the jury has spoken. Justice has prevailed."

U.S. Rep James Clyburn (D-SC) talks before U.S. President Joe Biden at FlexLTD in West Columbia, S.C. Thursday, July 6, 2023.

Yvonne Julian, Greenville County GOP chair

Yvonne Julian, Greenville County GOP party chairperson, said she isn't surprised by the verdict and questioned the legitimacy of the trial. She said the trial is an effort to weaponize the justice system in order to keep Trump out of office.

Yvonne Julian, Greenville County GOP chair, smiles during a watch party at the GOP headquarters in Greenville, S.C., on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024.

"It's clearly just an effort to keep him out of a very corrupted political business. There's no way that someone like Trump would get an honest jury in a city like New York," Julian said. "There's no way that someone like Trump would get an honest jury in a city like New York with the level of criminality in that city itself. A city that most people are fleeing that's full of people who have entered the country illegally."

Julian also said politicians against Trump conspire against him due to jealousy.

More: Donald Trump is now a convicted felon: Can he still run for president?

"Government is their only path to money and partly because they don't have the work ethic. The talent or the honesty to get rich, to get rich the old-fashioned way. Those people resent people like Trump. They resent the fact that he's built a business doing something that adds value for people," she said.

Julian added that she thinks Republican voters will continue to support Trump.

"Trump basically stands for what real Republicans believe in which is not big government but the biggest problem Trump has is exposing the government for both sides, whether it's to the left or right, and that's why he's been attacked."

Nate Leupp, past chairman of Greenville GOP

Nate Leupp, past chairman of the Greenville GOP, and district chairman of the 4th Congressional District, was optimistic about the verdict's impact on the upcoming election.

Nate Leupp has been a well-known and widely covered conservative activist for years. He has served as chairman of the Greenville County Republican Party and is chairman of the 4th Congressional District Republican Party.

"I think it's great. Our ultimate goal is President Trump back in the White House, so I think this verdict is something that helps that end goal. I think polls have shown it, I think the trajectory of the race has shown it, and the general defiance of logic always applies to President Trump in my view," Leupp said.

Leupp added that past moves against Trump have only enlivened his base.

"I think we've already seen the more that Americans feel that there's unjust and unfair prosecution and persecution that it will just drive President Trumps poll numbers higher and higher, which is something I dont think Democrats really guessed when they started this, but I think they know it now."

Leupp noted that he would have ideally had the verdict come after the June 11 primary.

"Im not happy that this takes the eye of South Carolina voters because I do want them to pay special attention for our June 11 primary. But I think our faithful are coming out to vote no matter what, and at least here in the Upstate, most every candidate is a good option," Leupp said.

U.S. Rep. Ralph Norman, 5th Congressional District

Ralph Norman, a Republican representing South Carolinas 5th district, posted to X that the verdict reflects a political witch hunt, and America knows it. Norman backed presidential hopeful Nikki Haley in this years 2024 presidential race, later endorsing Trump after Haley dropped out.

The weaponization of our countrys justice system has come to a head in this verdict. The American people know this lawfare is a DANGER to our democracy.

U.S. Rep. Jeff Duncan, 3rd Congressional District

Jeff Duncan (R-SC 3rd District) urged Trump to immediately appeal.

Im disgusted by the unconstitutional and unprecedented trial that has wrongly convicted President Trump, Duncan said in a statement. From the beginning, we have seen a left-leaning judge strip away the First Amendment rights of President Trump to defend himself as the left waged war on him with charges that no one knew until this week. Additionally, the judge disallowed some witnesses for President Trump which could have clarified business transactions  almost certainly setting this trial up for reversal.

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace, 1st Congressional District

U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC 1st District) posted to X that it was a very dark day for American democracy when the law is weaponized against its own citizens. Trump endorsed her in March in her bid for re-election to Congress.

Mark Burns, candidate, 3rd Congressional District

Mark Burns, a Trump-endorsed Republican candidate for the 3rd Congressional District, said in a video posted to X that the indictments will help in Trumps re-election bid.

America is going to see If they can do it to him, a former President of the United States of America, they can do it to you, Burns said.

Sherri Biggs, GOP candidate, 3rd Congressional District

Sherri Biggs, considered one of the front-runners for South Carolina's 3rd Congressional District, said in a statement that the verdict was a "stain on our nation's history."

"Politicization of our justice system should never happen," Biggs said. "I have stood with President Trump from day one. I still stand with President Trump. We must win the election and restore integrity to our judicial system."

Sen. Tim Scott

Joe Biden, youre fired, Sen. Tim Scott, a Republican who many consider a contender for Trumps pick for vice president, said in a video posted to X.

Absolute injustice. This erodes our justice system, Scott said on X. Hear me clearly: You cannot silence the American people. You cannot stop us from voting for change.

Gov. Henry McMaster

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster posted to X that the trial was a political attack.

We will respond decisively at the ballot box in November and return him to the White House, McMaster said.

Reporters Terry Benjamin II and Samantha Swann contributed.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: South Carolina reacts to Trump verdict: Supporters call for appeal
Tamale, Ghana  On a dusty airport tarmac in the northern Ghanaian city of Tamale, military special operatives from across Africa move stealthily. Shots ring out as they converge on the airport and apprehend armed militants holding it hostage.

It's not a real attack, but just one of the exercises of "Flintlock," the U.S. military's premier counterterrorism training event in Africa, which is now in its 20th year.

Special ops teams from the U.S. military's Africa Command, along with NATO allies, are conducting drills alongside soldiers from countries including Ghana, Ivory Coast, Chad, Mauritania, Nigeria, Libya and Morocco.

In the exercise CBS News witnessed, the elite forces were rescuing hostages from a simulated attack on an airport. It's a very real scenario in the vast North African region known as the Sahel, which is considered the epicenter of the global fight against ISIS and al Qaeda franchises.

A map shows the Sahel region stretching across the northern African continent. / Credit: Getty/iStockphoto

The Sahel stretches from Mauritania in the west through Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, all the way to Eritrea and Djibouti on Africa's east coast, and it is home to the fastest growing and most deadly terror groups in the world.

Ghana is one of the few countries in the region that has managed to dodge the rapid rise of violent extremism  blocking any potential incursions before they reach its borders.

Gen. Frank Tei of the Ghana Armed Forces told CBS News that was vital, because "once you allow terrorist activities in a particular country to fester and blossom, then that place can become a base from which a lot of other terrorist activities can spread across the globe."

That's exactly what the U.S. fears and is trying to help prevent.

The deputy AFRICOM commander, Lt. Gen. John Brennan, told CBS News that the Flintlock exercise is not only about training African forces to defend themselves and combat terrorism, however.

"We offer things that are meaningful in the long term  sharing democratic values, instilling rule of law," he said.

But that hasn't worked out so well over the past decade. There have been 11 coups in the Sahel alone over that period, and at least 14 leaders of those armed government overthrows were trained at Flintlock.

Brennan told CBS News the military tracks these leaders, and while there are strict rules of engagement with any country in which the government has been toppled by a military junta, "the hope is that you keep contact with the military partners and then you pull them away from military-led governments, which never last."

So how can the U.S. ensure the skills taught at events like Flintlock are not later weaponized and used to subvert democracy?

Brennan is quick to point out that executing a coup is a political maneuver, not a military one.

"We teach them how to protect their forces in combat and then conduct successful counterterrorism operations. That has nothing to do with overthrowing a government. It's just some of the people we've trained are military and they're involved in some of the coups," he said. "But history has shown  democracy ends up prevailing in a lot of countries."

Flintlock has expanded to include maritime training  including rappelling onto a moving warship hijacked by armed militants. American forces, along with Italian and Dutch soldiers, put African troops through their paces on a frigate off the Ghanaian coast.

Soldiers rappel onto the deck of a moving warship during the annual U.S.-led Flintlock training exercises for African forces, hosted this year by Ghana, in late May 2024. / Credit: CBS News

This aspect of the exercises is increasingly important, given that the Sahel region runs all the way to the Red Sea, where the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been launching attacks targeting international shipping and U.S. naval vessels.

The annual Flintlock training operation  hosted this year by Ghana  could not have come at a more crucial time for the U.S. military, as American influence is arguably in deep decline across the vast African continent.

The U.S. is up against stiff competition. China offers Africa's national leaders trade agreements and Russia offers military aid, and all with very few strings attached. Washington, meanwhile, has been booted off one key front line in the fight against terrorism, after the more than 1,000 troops AFRICOM had stationed in Niger were ordered to leave the country by September following a coup there last year.

People, some carrying Russian flags, demonstrate in Niger's capital Niamey to show their support for the military rulers who seized power in a coup, on Aug. 3, 2023. / Credit: Djibo Issifou/picture alliance via Getty Images

The U.S. has two military bases in Niger, including a drone command center in the city of Agadez that cost more than $110 million to set up.

Russia quickly stepped in to exploit the power vacuum created by the coup. Mercenaries from the former Wagner Group, now called Africa Corps and run by the Russian government, arrived in Niger in April.

In a scenario that was not long ago unimaginable, the Russian and American forces now occupy opposite sides of the same sprawling air base.

That has sent alarm bells ringing in Washington, and U.S. Ambassador to Ghana Virginia Palmer stressed to CBS News that African nations should understand that Russia's offer of security forces does not come completely without strings attached.

"It's important that our African partners understand that what the Russians are offering is, maybe regime protection  it's certainly not national security," Palmer said.

She said African countries do pay for the services offered by Moscow, and at a cost that "is extraordinarily high."

Niger is rich in uranium, which can be used to make nuclear weapons. What Russia provides is military muscle in exchange for mineral wealth, but unlike the U.S., the deal comes with no potentially tricky human rights questions being asked.

"But time will tell that that decision is probably not a good one," Brennan said. "So, you don't feed your kids ice cream for dinner every night because they want it, right? You feed them vegetables, you feed them spinach, things that are good for them  instant gratification is probably not a recipe for success."

U.S. law restricts the provision of military aid to armed forces believed to be guilty of human rights abuses, but many leaders on the continent accuse Washington of having double standards  saying the U.S. withholds aid from some African nations while giving Israel billions of dollars despite global condemnation of its actions in the war in Gaza.

It's a charge that Brennan disputes.

"I don't think there's a double standard," he told CBS News. "I can tell you our values and the people we do partner with  even after coups  we're still able to influence them."

African countries argue that it isn't just training they need, but resources and modern military equipment if they hope to counter rising extremism.

Brennan stressed that the U.S. carries with it the weight of the entire NATO alliance, unlike its competitors, but he conceded that Washington must "be able to resource our partners appropriately, and really expand the relationship with them ... to help make Africa prosperous, free and a partner of choice."

With Flintlock, the U.S. promises long-term investment in the African continent. But that long-view security strategy is competing for African partnerships amid a fast-growing terror threat, on a battlefield crowded with malign actors.

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Utahs congressional delegation wants to keep RECA going, with concerns about expanding costs

A fireball rises into the sky over Nevada after the U.S. government detonated a 61-kiloton device on June 4, 1953. Nuclear weapons experiments at the Nevada Test Site spread fallout to other states, including Arizona, research and records show. (Getty Images)

Just days before the expiration of a federal compensation fund to help people exposed to radiation from U.S. nuclear weapons development, Utahns in Congress say they are committed to continuing and maybe even expanding eligibility, so long as the cost remains in check.

The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act, or RECA, faces its sunset on June 10 if Congress doesnt act to extend it. Meanwhile, downwinders, uranium miners and cancer patients currently excluded from the act have long called to be included.

Congress potentially has three options, if it takes action.

Utah Sen. Mike Lee has introduced legislation that would extend RECA as-is for two more years. The bill is backed in the House by Reps. Celeste Maloy and Burgess Owens.

Meanwhile, Maloy also supports a bill initially introduced in 2023 by Wyoming Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman that would extend RECA benefits to people who worked in a uranium mine or mill until 1978.

And a third bill from Missouri Republican Sen. Josh Hawley would widely expand the program, allowing residents of Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico and Guam not previously eligible to apply for compensation. Utahns in Congress have balked at the bills price tag.

Utahns who lived in 10 counties  Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Millard, Piute, San Juan, Sevier, Washington or Wayne  for two consecutive years from 1951 to 1958, or during the summer of 1962, and contracted certain types of cancer are currently eligible for compensation, as are people who worked in uranium mines, mills or transporting ore in Utah from 1942 to 1971.

However, research shows that the whole state was exposed to dangerous levels of radiation from nuclear weapons testing. And RECA failed to cover residents who worked in but didnt live in eligible counties.

Maloy, whose district includes areas of southern Utah included in the current version of RECA, told Utah News Dispatch that the states delegation is unified in wanting to ensure compensation continues for downwinders.

Its really important in Utah, especially in my district, that the people who were exposed to radiation because mushroom clouds came over their houses through no fault of their own, they didnt make any choices here, this is something the federal government did, and has admitted culpability for now, this is a debt that they owe to these families, Maloy said. So were working to make sure that the federal government makes good on those promises and makes good on that debt.

While Maloy has said RECA should be expanded to cover all of Utah, she is concerned about finding a right-sized solution for the bill, saying there are wrong-sized proposals that are complicating the debate.

Im not drawing a hard line on what the right answer is yet, Maloy said of the debate between extending or expanding RECA. Im willing to work with my colleagues to make sure we get to the right answer. But that right answer has to include covering the Utahns and others who were exposed from above-ground nuclear testing.

Though the clock is ticking, Maloy said shes reassured that Congress is really good at acting at the last minute. And even if it means accepting a stopgap extension for now, she hopes a right-size solution can be found.

Like Maloy, Rep. Blake Moore spoke favorably about Hagemans proposal to bring uranium miners into the bill, which he called middle ground. Hawleys expansion, however, is too expensive, he said.

We will figure out a way to get this in the right spot, its important enough to people, but we cant do it in a massively expensive way, like the Sen. Hawley (bill) wants to do. Its got to be more toned down, Moore said.

Moore said he is confident it will be reauthorized, even if that doesnt happen by the June 10 deadline.

Rep. John Curtis said that while he currently supports legislation to extend without widely expanding RECA, it would be perfect if the bills could merge, so we bring that support together.

Rep. Burgess Owens noted that when RECA got its last two-year extension, the intent was that Congress would have time to work on who is covered under the act.

And we just cant keep pushing it forward two years and getting nothing out of it, Owens said.

Utah Sens. Mike Lee and Mitt Romney were among those who voted against Hawleys expansion bill when it passed the Senate in March. A spokesperson for Romney on Thursday told Utah News Dispatch that while the senator voted to extend RECA in 2022 and supports continuing it again, the price tag on Hawleys expansion is too high.

The recent Radiation Exposure Compensation Reauthorization Act drastically expanded the eligibility for benefits beyond the geographic center of the federal governments Nevada Test Site and the list of diseases covered by RECA. Without clear evidence linking previous government action to the expanded list of illnesses, and a price tag north of $50 billion, Senator Romney could not support the legislation, said Romney spokesperson Arielle Mueller.

Lee told Utah News Dispatch previously that while he backs continuing support for downwinders, the bill to expand RECA goes too far.

The particular expansion of RECA passed on March 7th, however, stretches the program to include wide geographic areas it was not intended to cover, without sufficient data, and would spend an additional $50 billion in taxpayer dollars without a pay-for to offset the cost to American taxpayers. We should not endanger the RECA program by changing it so drastically, potentially diverting resources from Utahns who deserve compensation, Lee said.

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The post Utahs congressional delegation wants to keep RECA going, with concerns about expanding costs appeared first on Utah News Dispatch.
Creating fresh doubts about the fairness and transparency of coming elections in Venezuela, the Nicolas Maduro regime this week decided to bar 100 observers from the European Union from monitoring the upcoming presidential vote, in a contest so clearly leaning in favor of the opposition that few believe the Venezuelan strongman can win without cheating.

The decision leaves the election set for July 28 with little in the way of independent monitoring. Most of the international observers that have so far been approved by the government-controlled National Electorate Council belong to groups that in the past have expressed some affinity for the socialist government in Caracas or have expressed fewer criticisms.

A possible exception is the U.S. based Carter Center, which is still on the list of observers that will be allowed to monitor the election.

Responding to the Venezuelan governments announcement, the European Union said it deeply regrets Caracas decision

The Venezuelan people should be able to elect their president in credible, transparent and competitive elections, supported by international observation, including that of the European Union, which has a long and distinguished record of independent and impartial observation, the EU said in a press release posted on social media.

The Venezuelan governments decision was announced Tuesday amid fresh evidence of the surging popularity of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, who in a poll published on Tuesday by polling firm Meganalisis has a 50-point lead over Maduro, 61% to 10%.

The Venezuelan regime has been accused repeatedly of committing fraud during elections given the lack of independent controls inside the electoral council. More than 50 countries, led by the United States, declared the Caracas government as illegitimate after concluding that Maduro committed fraud in the 2018 presidential election.

The socialist regime, which disqualified the candidacy of popular opposition leader Maria Corina Machado, had allowed Gonzalez to compete, betting that the unpopular Maduro would have a better chance of defeating someone who at the time was a little known former diplomat.

The situation quickly changed, however, after Machado and other opposition leaders united to back Gonzalez, who immediately became the elections front runner. His original 20-point lead kept growing in the following days as the public became more familiar with Gonzalez.

The popularity gap between the two candidates has been easy to see at street level in recent days. While the rallies held by Gonzalez and Machado in different parts of the country have brought together tens of thousands of followers, the few gatherings held by Maduro under strict security measures have attracted just a few dozen supporters.

Gonzalezs campaign said that the decision to ban EU observers diminishes the chances for holding a fair and transparent election, but stressed that it would not keep Venezuelans from expressing their desire for change at the polls.

This decision will not prevent what we all know will happen on July 28, which is the resounding victory of change represented by the Unity candidate, Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, the opposition movement said in a statement.

The regime resorts to this to avoid submitting to qualified international observation, the campaign said, adding that it wont keep Venezuelans from voting.

So far, the bulk of the observers accepted by the goverment-controlled electoral council to groups that in the past have shown sympathy towards the socialist government. They include representatives of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, an organization promoted by the late Hugo Chavez to counterbalance the Organization of American States; the Inter-American Union of Electoral Bodies and the bloc of Caribbean nations known as CARICOM.
Wakayama, May 31 (News On Japan) - The cherished staples of Japanese dining tables, such as umeboshi, dried fish, kimchi, and mentaiko, are now facing a crisis. The issue stems from the Food Sanitation Law, which was revised six years ago. The catalyst for this change was a food poisoning outbreak in 2012, linked to lightly pickled Chinese cabbage, which resulted in the deaths of eight people in Sapporo and other cities.

In response to this incident, stricter hygiene standards for manufacturing were implemented, requiring farmers to meet specified equipment standards. However, the grace period for compliance ends tomorrow, May 31.

These traditional flavors have been passed down through generations. How can Japan balance preserving its food culture while ensuring safety?

These traditional flavors have been passed down through generations. At Wakayama Prefecture's Aridagawa Town Roadside Station, handmade umeboshi from local farmers have been beloved for over 20 years. These products are not just popular with locals but also sought after by visitors who come specifically to purchase them.

However, the new regulations are posing a significant challenge to the continuation of these traditional practices. The Food Sanitation Law revision now requires farmers to upgrade their facilities to meet new hygiene standards, including lever-operated faucets and waterproof floors, to obtain approval from health authorities. This has placed a heavy financial burden on many producers, especially older farmers who have been making umeboshi at home for decades.

In Wakayama Prefecture, where umeboshi production is renowned worldwide, many farmers are struggling to afford the necessary upgrades. Shimizu, a farmer who has been making umeboshi for over 30 years, expressed concerns about the impact of these regulations on his ability to continue his business. He fears that without the required investments, he may not be able to sell his products anymore.

Despite these challenges, efforts are being made to preserve traditional flavors. For instance, some producers have successfully raised funds through crowdfunding to upgrade their facilities and comply with the new regulations. In Aichi Prefecture, over 1 million yen was collected to support umeboshi producers, helping them to meet the new standards.

As Japan strives to balance food safety with preserving its culinary heritage, the need for supportive measures and subsidies becomes evident. Traditional foods like umeboshi and iburigakko (smoked daikon radish) are not only cultural treasures but also recognized by UNESCO as part of the worlds intangible cultural heritage. Therefore, it is crucial to find ways to support these industries and ensure that these traditional flavors can continue to be enjoyed by future generations.

Source: YOMIURI
Russia has promised military support for Sudan in return for a naval base in the Red Sea, General Yasirr Al Atta, member of Sudans military-led Sovereign Council said.

A series of military and economic deals will be signed, signaling an inroad by Russia in the Horn of Africa, after it managed to strengthen its foothold in the Sahel by offering military support, while taking advantage of rising anti-western sentiment.

Sudan has been mired in a civil war opposing the army to the Rapid Support Force that left nearly half of the countrys 51 million population is in dire need of humanitarian aid.

Russia proposed military cooperation through a logistical support centre, not a full military base, in return for urgent weapons and ammunition supplies, Al Atta said in an interview with Alhadath TV.

We agreed to this but suggested expanding the cooperation to include economic aspects like agricultural ventures, mining partnerships, and port development. Russia agreed to this broader scope, he said.

The UN estimates the death toll since the outbreak of the civil war in Sudan at over 14,000, with no end in sight.
King Mohammed VI, Supreme Commander and Chief of General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces, has awarded Royal wissams to US senior military officials.

The Royal wissams were awarded at a ceremony held at the headquarters of the South Zone General Staff in Agadir on Thursday to Army General Michael Langley, Commander of the US Africa Command (US AFRICOM), and to Major General Todd R. Wasmund, Commanding General of the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF)

Army General Michael Langley was decorated with the Order of Military Merit, Grand Officer Class, and Major General Todd R. Wasmund, was decorated with the Order of Military Merit, Commander Class.

During the ceremony, attended by US Ambassador to Morocco, Puneet Talwar, Sergeant Michael Woods, AFRICOM Officer of Superior Rank was decorated with the Order of Military Merit, Knight Class, and Warrant Officer Heidi Engel, Logistics Planner of the African Lion 2024 exercise was awarded the medal of Military Merit Order, Knight Class.

Speaking at the awarding ceremony, Inspector General of FAR and Commander of the South Zone, Lieutenant General Mohammed Berrid, highlighted the contribution of these American officials to promoting cooperation with FAR.

By awarding these Royal Wisssams, HM the King is also paying tribute to all those who, from near and far, contribute to the continuity and excellence of Morocco-American relations.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, the Lieutenant General Mohammed Berrid and Army General Michael Langley inked a memorandum of understanding on the strengthening of military cooperation between FAR and the US Army.

The high-level Moroccan-American military delegation also visited the various departments of the Oued Eddahab military hospital in Agadir.

Subsequently, a photographic exhibition was inaugurated, retracing the highlights of the twenty editions of the combined Moroccan-American African Lion exercise, which has become an unmissable event where military executives come together to exchange procedures and experiences, particularly in terms of combined joint training.

Alongside the Moroccan and American armies, Some 7,000 armed forces personnel from some 20 countries, in addition to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), are taking part in the African Lion 2024 military maneuvers, which end this May 31.

This twentieth edition of Africain Lion attests to the enduring nature of the cooperation between FAR and the US Armed Forces, reflecting the strong long-standing ties between the two countries.
The plan to build a Chinese naval base in Gabon, as agreed by the countrys ex-ruler Ali Bongo and Beijing in 2023, has stalled after the coup last year, but transitional president Oligui Nguema has cultivated deliberate ambiguity about the projects future, much to the displeasure of the West.

Chinas efforts to seek a military presence in West Africa, allowing it to access the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean for the first time, have long been known to Western intelligence services, and state officials and have also been reported on by media outlets. Still, US officials were reportedly alarmed by then-president Ali Bongos secrete promise he had given to Chinese leader Xi Jinping that Beijing could station military forces in Gabons Port-Gentil. After the coup in August 2023, Chinese diplomats were closely watching Oligui Nguemas first steps, with Beijings recent hard-won deal to create a naval base on Gabons Atlantic Coast effectively put on ice.

As the Wall Street Journal has reported, the United States considers the Atlantic its strategic front yard and sees a permanent Chinese military presence there as a serious threat to its security. Therefore, following the military coup last summer, US diplomats reportedly urged the new regime in Libreville to rebuff Chinese overtures. But according to a recent analysis in The Diplomat, it is yet to be determined how the China-Gabon relationship will continue under interim President Brice Clothaire Oligui Nguema, especially as the US is trying to further undermine this partnership. The fate of the Chinese naval base on Gabons Atlantic coast thus remains shrouded in ambiguity.
Arab and Chinese Foreign Ministers expressed, their support for the efforts of King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al Quds Committee, in defending the Palestinian issue.

This position was expressed in the Joint Communique between China and Arab States on the Palestinian issue, published Thursday by the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum held in Beijing.

Arab and Chinese Foreign Ministers stressed the importance of the role played by King Mohammed VI in this context, according to the joint communique, which also highlighted the efforts made by Bayt Mal Al Quds Agency, the operational arm of the Al Quds Committee.

Head of the Moroccan delegation to the Forum, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita pointed out in an address that the Palestinian question has reached a dangerous turning point following Israeli aggression against Gaza, which caused thousands of civilian casualties, and stressed that King Mohammed VI has repeatedly called for collective action for an immediate ceasefire, the delivery of aid, and the rejection of forced displacement of Palestinians.

Based on the commitment of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to peace, and in his capacity as Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, and in parallel with humanitarian aid, the Sovereign has repeatedly called for collective action () for an immediate, comprehensive and lasting ceasefire, the delivery of humanitarian aid in a fluid manner and in sufficient quantities for the benefit of the inhabitants of Gaza, and the rejection of the forced displacement of Palestinians, said Bourita.

What is happening in Gaza, in addition to its disastrous humanitarian repercussions, represents a real threat to regional security and stability. What is happening in Gaza cannot be accepted, nor passed over in silence. The failure of the international community has an enormous cost, he said, noting that it was this inability that encouraged the Israeli army to bomb a camp housing over 100,000 displaced Palestinians near the town of Rafah, killing and wounding dozens of civilians, in flagrant violation of international law and international humanitarian law.

Similarly, he continued, the inability of the international community has encouraged the transgression of international legality and the violation of all that is tolerable in the eyes of the human conscience, as the King has repeatedly affirmed.

The international communitys procrastination had encouraged the Israeli authorities not to comply with the decision of the International Court of Justice calling on Israel to immediately cease its military operations in Rafah, he added.

The official also affirmed that China, due to its important place within the international community and its balanced and favorable policy towards the various Arab issues, is considered a reliable partner, capable of playing a constructive role in achieving a just and equitable settlement of the Palestinian question, in line with the two-state solution.

On this occasion, Bourita warmly welcomed the important step recently taken by some European countries to recognize the State of Palestine, which he deemed a significant step towards the two-state solution as an inevitable framework for establishing a lasting and comprehensive peace, through the establishment of a Palestinian state on the 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Asharif as its capital.

The Beijing conference, which marks the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Forum, represents an important milestone in bilateral cooperation, with both parties determined to raise their cooperation relations to higher levels.

This conference is expected to highlight by the adoption of documents, including the Beijing Declaration and the Forum Action Plan for 2024-2026.

The Forum provides an opportunity to focus on implementing the consensus reached by the leaders of China and the Arab countries, expanding cooperation between the two sides in various fields, while accelerating the setting up of a China-Arab States community of destiny, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Figures published by Chinas official media reveal that trade between China and the Arab world has grown from $36.7 billion in 2004, the year the China-Arab States Forum was established, to $398.1 billion in 2023. This remarkable growth has consolidated Chinas position as the Arab worlds undisputed leading trading partner for many years.

China has signed cooperation agreements under the Belt and Road framework with all 22 Arab countries. This framework has given rise to over 200 large-scale projects.

In addition, cultural exchanges between China and Arab countries are steadily expanding, with ever-deeper cooperation in language learning and teaching, and frequent bilateral cultural events.
Tunisia has added the final nail in Algerias attempt to create a Maghreb union that excludes and isolates Morocco.

The Algerian president has spoken about a union in the making with Tunisia and Libya due to the inaction of the Maghreb union that also includes Mauritania and Morocco.

Analysts have said that Tebboune was seeking to bring cash-strapped Tunisia and war-torn Libya on board as a prelude to add the self-proclaimed Polisario entity.

While Libyan authorities refused to adhere to Algerias regional scheme, more motivated by hostility to Morocco than with genuine regional integration, Tunisias stand was more ambiguous as the country has deepened its dependence on Algerian cash to an extent that it has been described by observers as a satellite state.

However, the recent appointment by Tunisias President Kais Saied of a new Secretary General of the five-state Arab Maghreb Union, indicates a resounding failure of Tebbounes three-state union.

The founding treaty of the Rabat-based union stipulates that the head of the Rabat-based UMA secretariat general should be of Tunisian nationality. Newly appointed Tarek Ben Salem will succeed Taieb Baccouche.

The new secretary general will have to deal with the reluctance of Algeria to pay its contributions to the Union. Baccouche has previously complained of Algerias withdrawal of its diplomats from the headquarters in Rabat and its failure to pay its due financial contributions.
Japan has welcomed this Friday Moroccos serious and credible efforts within the framework of the autonomy initiative to settle the Sahara issue.

This position was expressed by Japans Foreign Minister, Yoko Kamikawa, during talks in Tokyo with her Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Based on Japans consistent position, Kamikawa referred to the Moroccan autonomy initiative presented on 11 April 2007 to the UN Secretary-General, underlining the serious and credible Moroccan efforts to move the process forward toward a resolution of the Sahara issue, the statement said.

Bourita, who is visiting Japan, welcomed Japans position on the Moroccan Sahara.

At a press briefing following the talks, the Japanese Foreign Minister also pointed out that her country is keen to explore ways to strengthen economic relations with Morocco.

As a gateway to the African market that connects Europe and sub-Saharan countries, Morocco has strong potential in many areas, including business and investment, she said.

In response to a question regarding Nasser Bouritas visit, Kamikawa underlined that Morocco has been working, in recent years, to attract investment, pointing out that Japanese companies are highly interested in Morocco as a base for expanding into the African region.

She underlined that Japan and Morocco have enjoyed a long-standing and friendly relationship based on the friendly relations between the Imperial and Royal families.

Bouritas visit to Japan is an opportunity to further strengthen Japan-Morocco relations and deepen bilateral cooperation, Kamikawa said, adding that it also provides an opportunity to have a candid discussion on regional situations, including the situation in the Middle East.

The Japanese-Moroccan talks highlighted by the signing of a cooperation MoU meant to upgrade partnership between the two countries.

Nasser Bourita expressed hope that the MoU would strengthen further cooperation in a large array of fields, including politics, security, Economy, infrastructures, renewable energies, and food security.

The Moroccan official also conferred with Japanese Minister of economy, trade, and industry Ken Saito.

During the meeting, Bourita presented the high-impact structuring projects of the Atlantic seaboard, notably those underway in the Southern Provinces, such as the Dakhla Atlantic Port, which will ensure cross-border connectivity with sub-Saharan countries.

For his part, Saito praised the economic reforms undertaken Under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, which have enabled Morocco to position itself as a leader in Africa in the automotive, aeronautics, and textile sectors, and second in the pharmaceutical and outsourcing sectors.

During the meeting, the Japanese Minister announced that a Representative of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will be assigned to the Japanese Embassy in Rabat in July, to further boost trade relations between the two countries and promote the establishment of Japanese companies in Moroccos high-potential provinces.

The Japanese official stressed that Morocco, with its diversified and open economy, offers Japanese companies a competitive platform with access to a vast market thanks to its numerous free trade agreements.

The meeting provided an opportunity to explore the new investment opportunities offered by Morocco in high-potential sectors such as green hydrogen, green ammonia and seawater desalination. The two ministers also discussed the issue of food security in the face of the challenge posed by the impact of climate change.

The two ministers welcomed the meeting as an important step in strengthening ties between Morocco and Japan, and opening up new prospects for cooperation in the years to come.
A request for additional enhanced employment area funding for District 177 will only return to the City Council agenda if, or when, financial disputes with subcontractors are resolved, Mayor Brandon Kelliher said Thursday night.

Meanwhille, Rev Development said Friday it has resolved and settled all but three of the liens filed against the project.

Kelliher had broken a tie vote on May 21 to advance the request from Rev Development LLC by a 4-3 vote on first reading. It was set for a second reading at the June 4 meeting.

Thursday, Kelliher said the request would be removed from the agenda after disputes over payments to subcontractors arose over work in the first phase of the District 177 project.

The EEA ordinance changes may return to the City Council agenda only after District 177 developers largely resolve the financial disputes, Kelliher said in a press release. This approach aims to ensure that financial issues are addressed satisfactorily before further council action is considered, thereby protecting the interests of local subcontractors and the broader community.

The mayor said by telephone Thursday night that there is no specific timeline for the request to return to the City Council agenda.

In a written response on Friday, Rev Development LLC co-owner Mike Works said his company and general contractor, New Generation Construction, had reached agreement with all but three subcontractors and that liens would be released no later than the first week of June.

We are close to reaching an agreement with the other subcontractors and expect those liens to be resolved in the next few weeks as the projects are completed, Works wrote.

In making his decision, Kelliher said he talked with local subcontractors as well as Rev Development and NGC in making the decision. Works confirmed Friday morning that he had spoken to Kelliher throughout the process.

I am opposed to the idea that city government should become involved in the day-to-day transactions of private businesses however in this case City Council is able to assist local businesses by creating the opportunity to clear up the financial issues, Kelliher said.

Rev Development had approached the city to request an additional $3.3 million in EEA tax collections to help fund a second phase of construction which included a second multi-use building on the south side of the property.

Rev initially asked for $7.51 million in EEA funding for the first phase of renovating The Mall. That development is nearly complete.

However, in the last week, local subcontractors had voiced concern about not receiving payments from NGC for the first phase of development. That included the 11 construction liens filed by local subcontractors with the Lincoln County Register of Deeds Office.

Eric Wiezorek, owner of King Custom Floors, voiced his concerns on social media over payments received for flooring work at T.J. Maxx. Wiezorek has filed a $91,000 lien.

Works, however, disputed Wiezoreks claims, saying about $71,000 of the contract remained after payments of $225,000.

Unfortunately, there are issues with the work performed by Kingdom in TJ Maxx, Work said. Rev Development is working with TJ Maxx and New Generation Construction to determine the scope of work needed to fix the flooring and we expect to have a more definitive answer within the next 10 days. In the meantime, REV Development is holding back the final payment to Kingdom until flooring problems are fixed to TJ Maxxs satisfaction.

Jay Elliott, a local attorney representing Wiezorek in the case, said he did not have any further comment Friday pending possible litigation in the dispute.
A new crisis for the king of chaos. Photo: Mark Peterson

Donald Trumps most important consolation after a Manhattan jury found him guilty of 34 criminal counts is that he has anticipated this moment for a long time. He was indicted 14 months ago with subsequent criminal indictments following in Florida, in Atlanta, and in Washington. Ever since, he has been running for president as a man under criminal indictment, and coping with that fact has been central to his strategy and message. Indeed, it became clear a long time ago that Trumps endless preoccupation with his failed 2020 stolen-election fables, a backward-facing stance that initially baffled political observers, was actually a way of conditioning voters to view his future treatment by the justice system skeptically, if not with great hostility.

During this years Republican nominating contest, this strategy worked brilliantly, not only insulating Trump from criticism from his rivals about his misconduct in the cases that led to his serial indictments but actually making his alleged criminality a badge of honor. His increasingly shrill attacks on the prosecutors he faced helped boost him to an easy win in the primaries as the hero of conservatives angry at the Democrats and liberal elites seeking to hold him accountable. Now that he has been found guilty in a case brought by a Democratic prosecutor in a dark-blue constituency, to the delight of those liberal elites, Trump can be expected to keep on with the same chest-thumping professions of innocence and victimization (and promises of vengeance) with the Republican Party that has already nominated him dragooned willingly into joining his crusade for vindication.

Theres no particular reason to doubt that Trumps ongoing call for loyalty will continue to work with a Republican base that very badly wants to respond to it favorably. Pre-verdict polls have consistently shown that a significant share of Republicans would reconsider their support for Trump if he were convicted of any crime. But reconsidering isnt the same as abandoning. As a May 5 AP-Ipsos poll showed, most of these voters will likely wind up right back in his camp with any encouragement at all (only 4 percent of Trump supporters said theyd drop their allegiance to him after a conviction, and that may be overstating the reaction given past experience with moments when Republicans seemed to be jettisoning the 45th president  but didnt).

But even if Trump can confidently count on his base of supporters to stay loyal  indeed, perhaps even cling to him more fiercely than ever as the victim of a witch hunt  he must still deal with possible fallout among the small but potentially decisive sliver of swing voters that is open to voting for him but might seriously reconsider voting for a felon. He will need something different from tribal loyalty fed by conspiracy theories to seal the deal in November. For these voters, the key may be to double down on every line of attack on Joe Biden as a feckless incompetent and an active danger to the peace and prosperity of America. Conservative Christian activist Rod Dreher may have identified precisely the right precedent for what the Trump campaign will try to do to assuage concerns over his conviction:

I had this bumper sticker on my Louisiana car in 1991, urging my fellow voters to vote for sleazy Edwin Edwards over ex-KKK leader David Duke. After Trump's felony convictions, I say it's time to bring it back for the fall election. #Trump pic.twitter.com/gK7haOCQYf  Rod Dreher (@roddreher) May 30, 2024

Yes, supporters of the ethically challenged Edwin Edwards frontally attacked concerns he was corrupt by minimizing the significance of his corner-cutting as compared to the dire consequences of letting David Duke become chief executive of Louisiana, and what had been a close race from hell turned into an Edwards landslide. Nobody will ever mistake Joe Biden for David Duke, but the basic idea of suggesting that a little criminality is better than bad leadership could be fruitfully adapted by the Trump campaign. Trumps sentencing (scheduled for mid-July) by Judge Merchan could create some serious logistical problems for him, restricting his movements while reminding voters hes on the wrong side of the law. But he is just lucky that the clock has probably run out for any further criminal convictions prior to Election Day that might make the verdict in Manhattan harder to overlook.

Even if this strategy does not work for Trump and he loses in November, the consequences of the guilty verdict will continue, and not just for the convict. If there was any doubt that Trump will deny and reject an election loss even more vociferously than he did in 2020, it should vanish now. Not only is he deeply invested in the claim that his legal peril represents election interference by Democrats, but he also needs the kind of get-out-of-jail card a return to the White House might offer.
Could Manchin be reopening the door to a last-minute 2024 candidacy? Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

West Virginia senator Joe Manchin has long been a vestige of a bygone age in which relatively conservative politicians, especially from relatively conservative states, were plentiful in the Democratic Party. When the 76-year-old two-term incumbent and former governor announced his retirement from the Senate last November and then passed up an independent presidential run earlier this year, it appeared he would drift off into history as one of the last of his breed. He had very recently even reinforced his tenuous ties to the Democrats he has disrespected regularly by endorsing the partys nominee for West Virginia governor, Steve Williams.

But now, halfway out the door, Manchin has suddenly announced he is switching his voter registration status from Democratic to independent. The timing is almost certainly significant: Today is the final day West Virginia candidates can establish their party status for the 2024 general election. Now, Manchin has until August 1, in theory, to decide whether to abandon retirement and run for another Senate term as an independent, or perhaps abandon Williams and run for governor, a position he held from 2005 to 2010.

Even as an independent, and even if all this waffling over his intentions doesnt offend West Virginia voters, this isnt a particularly good time for Manchin or any other non-Republican to run for statewide office in that state, which Donald Trump won by 42 points in 2016 and 39 points in 2020. His Senate seat will almost certainly be occupied by Governor Jim Justice, a longtime Manchin rival who is himself a former Democrat. Before Manchin announced his retirement, Justice was leading him by double digits in the polls. Loyalty to Williams aside, a gubernatorial run might make more sense: Republican nominee Patrick Morrisey isnt terribly popular; he just won a close and complicated GOP primary; and he lost to Manchin in a 2018 Senate race.

But who knows what Manchin is thinking? Hes been playing Hamlet for a long time, both in West Virginia, where his political future has been a constant topic of puzzled speculation for decades now, and in Washington, where he has thoroughly enjoyed driving his fellow Democrats nuts with his demands for legislative concessions to keep his vote in the party column. Nobody has forgotten his two-year reign as King of America, when Democratic control of the chamber was constantly threatened by Manchin and his sidekick, Kyrsten Sinema (who is also leaving the Senate this year); they did eventually allow Joe Biden some significant accomplishments, but not without quite a bit of pain and angst. Manchin has been a bit of a lame duck since Democrats lost the House in 2022 (while picking up a Senate seat to reduce any one senators leverage), ending the trifecta that gave him his power to make or break legislation. So his drift toward a post-political retirement seemed inevitable  until now.

As we await the final word on Manchins future, his newly independent status adds another member to the odd pack of indies participating in the Senate Democratic Caucus:

Depending how you count Menendez, whos readying to run as an independent (mostly to keep legal options open), senate is now 46 D, 49 R, 5 I (Sanders, King, Sinema, Manchin, Menendez) https://t.co/MHPjP7JjiA  David Weigel (@daveweigel) May 31, 2024

Democrats will mourn the likely loss of his Senate seat, but they may be quite happy to give Joe Manchin a ticket to the political boneyard. The West Virginian, however, will have the satisfaction of saying that he broke up with them first.
Will there be room for Kennedy when Trump and Biden debate? Photo-Illustration: Intelligencer; Photos: Getty Images

The independent presidential candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is at an important juncture that may determine whether it becomes a significant part of the 2024 story or just a footnote. Historically, non-major-party candidacies (at least those since 1912) have begun to lose altitude as Election Day grows closer and potential voters worry about wasting their votes on nonviable options. Kennedy is still struggling to secure ballot access, particularly in presidential battleground states, and he does not appear poised to seriously compete for any electoral votes despite attracting a robust share of the national electorate (an even 10 percent in the RealClearPolitics polling averages and 10.1 percent at FiveThirtyEight).

Another factor potentially marginalizing the Kennedy candidacy is the fact that he is (generally speaking) drawing roughly equal support from voters who would otherwise back Joe Biden or Donald Trump. Though both the major-party campaigns are watching him nervously and occasionally taking shots at him, at present RFK Jr. doesnt seem to be significantly affecting the likely outcome.

All that could change if the first presidential debate, scheduled for June 27 in Atlanta, includes Kennedy along with Biden and Trump. It may not be a coincidence that the only independent candidate ever to secure a spot on the stage with both Democratic and Republican nominees, Ross Perot in 1992, also wound up with the largest percentage of the vote (18.9 percent), even though he dropped out for several weeks in the middle of the campaign season before reentering. For RFK Jr., participating in the unusually early debate sponsored by CNN could be an extraordinarily well-timed tonic for his troops, heading off the summer blahs and boosting his already high name ID.

But theres a big catch: Biden proposed (and Trump accepted) the debates with the understanding it would be a one-on-one matchup with the former president. And CNN promptly established participation criteria (clearly modeled on those previously set out by the now-discarded bipartisan Commission on Presidential Debates) that create clear obstacles to RFK Jr. joining the fray. On the one hand, he has a decent chance of meeting the polling criteria, having already obtained three of the required four specific polls showing him with at least 15 percent of the vote; he needs just one more by the cutoff date of June 20. The much bigger problem, however, is this requirement: Candidates must also appear on a sufficient number of state ballots to reach the 270 electoral vote threshold to win the presidency.

CNN has indicated it will treat Biden and Trump as having met this requirement as presumptive nominees of major parties with 50-state ballot access, even though neither man will officially become nominees by June 20. Kennedy, however, needs to show that states adding up to 270 electoral votes have actually certified his ballot access (mostly subsequent to petitions, though in at least two states, RFK Jr. has obtained minor-party nominations). And hes some distance from that goal, as Forbes explains:

Kennedy has officially gained ballot access in seven states  Utah, Michigan, California, Delaware, Oklahoma, Hawaii and Texas  according to his campaign, which said it has collected enough signatures to be placed on the ballot in nine othersNew Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Idaho, Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio, New Jersey and New York.

Add all those up, and Kennedy has arguably qualified in 16 states representing 229 electoral votes. But thats not the same as being state-certified for ballot access, which can take a lot of time. So even as his campaign scrambles for petitions and fights off obstruction from the major parties (particularly from Democrats, who are clearly trying to minimize Kennedy ballot access), RFK Jr. is challenging CNNs participation criteria (which have been largely replicated by September 10 debate sponsor ABC), as the Washington Post reports:

The presidential campaign of independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Wednesday it had filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission about Kennedys potential exclusion from a planned June 27 debate on CNN between President Biden and former president Donald Trump.

In the complaint, filed Tuesday, Kennedys campaign alleges that Biden, Trump, their respective campaigns and CNN colluded to leave Kennedy off the debate stage. The complaint also alleges that CNNs decision to hold the debate could be tantamount to the network making prohibited corporate contributions to Biden and Trumps campaigns and thus violate the Federal Election Campaign Act.

The campaign-finance argument is clearly a reach, since theres a pretty clear media exception from rules governing corporate contributions. But otherwise, theres no legal principle whereby CNN cant set whatever rules it wants. Team Kennedy is likely working the refs and counting on public pressure to convince CNN to relax its ballot-access criteria on grounds that it creates a double standard benefiting major-party candidates who wont officially qualify for a single ballot before July (when Republicans formally nominate Trump) and August (when Biden will become the Democratic nominee).

Even if Kennedy gets his way with CNN, theres a decent chance the Biden campaign could withdraw its own pledge to participate since it didnt bargain for a three-cornered event (the Trump campaign has not objected to Kennedys participation, which may be an indication as to whose candidacy he is more likely to hurt or help in the end).

Having said all that, its difficult to calculate the effect on the campaign of Kennedy appearing on the big stage. Presumably, a lot of voters know little about RFK Jr. himself beyond his famous name and perhaps his skepticism about vaccines. Exposure to his full panoply of claims that corporations and government agencies are systematically conspiring to poison both people and the planet could turn heads in unpredictable ways. But obviously, he has to grab the biggest spotlight he can, even if it results in voters fleeing from his candidacy with horror or choosing to dismiss politics entirely as a crazy game with no winners.
Photo: Hollie Adams/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Donald Trump hopes that taking a states-rights approach to abortion policy will take this issue off the table for his presidential race. That gambit should fail, for multiple reasons. First, nobody has any reason to trust a hands-off pledge from the man who promised and then secured a Supreme Court that would reverse Roe v. Wade. Hes had a more malign effect on abortion rights than any one person in America, with the arguable exception of Samuel Alito. Second, there are a lot of things short of a legislative ban that a President Trump could do to make life hell for women needing abortion care and those providing it.

But beyond all these ways in which bad national abortion policy might be made under an allegedly state-run legal regime, lets not forget the injustices being performed regularly in Republican-controlled states themselves. Seventeen states currently ban abortion either totally or by six weeks of pregnancy. One of the 14 states with total bans is Texas, the second-largest state with a population of 30 million. This is a state totally controlled by one of the most radical Republican parties in the country, particularly on any issue related to reproductive rights. And without question, Texas Republicans want to make it hazardous for women and their health-care providers, families, and friends to even think about obtaining an abortion. The Texas GOP platform adopted this week makes that abundantly clear.

Lets take a look at some of the language in this platform relating to abortion policy. It begins with the preamble, which includes a pledge to do our solemn duty to protect innocent life. We learn this means banning abortion in the next section of the platform, the partys Principles, the second of which professes belief in the sanctity of innocent human life, created in the image of God, which should be equally protected from fertilization to natural death. Note the reference point of fertilization, not just conception, to make it clear every fertilized ovum should be regarded as equal in legal status to the woman in whose body that ovum is produced. Texas prosecutors havent yet gone after IVF clinics or the use of IUDs or emergency contraception, but it looks like Republicans may be going there eventually.

At first, the omission of any federal right-to-life constitutional amendment in the long section on such amendments seems like a sign of moderation, until you realize Texas Republicans believe the U.S. Constitution already confers absolute fetal rights: We urge lawmakers to enact legislation to abolish abortion by immediately securing the right to life and equal protection of the laws to all preborn children from the moment of fertilization, because abortion violates the United States Constitution by denying such persons the equal protection of the law (Plank 35).

Perhaps the zaniest provision (Plank 95) of the Texas GOP platform mandates anti-abortion education in public schools, which are otherwise banned from any instruction touching on human sexuality (Plank 85). This mandate is incredibly prescriptive:

We support requiring Texas students to learn about the humanity of the preborn child, including life-affirming definitions of life and the study of life, the concept that life begins at fertilization, milestones of fetal development at two-week gestational intervals, use of fetal baby models, witnessing of a live ultrasound, viewing the following videos: Meet Baby Olivia, A Glimpse Inside, and Miracle of Life, and (for high school students) the contents of the Womans Right to Know booklet. In addition, students should receive instruction on the dignity of human life and the principles of equal protection that were instituted in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution.

There are random anti-abortion provisions scattered through the rest of the platform (e.g., Plank 163, which essentially calls for charging physicians performing elective abortions with homicide), until you reach the mother lode, Plank 191, entitled, rather redundantly, Abolish Abortion:

Since life begins at fertilization, we urge the Texas Legislature to abolish abortion through enacting legislation that would immediately secure the right to life and would nullify any and all federal statutes, regulations, orders, and court rulings that would deny these rights. We urge the Texas legislature to enact legislation to abolish abortion by immediately securing the right to life and equal protection of the laws to all preborn children from the moment of fertilization and to oppose legislation that discriminates against any preborn children and violates the United States Constitution by denying such persons the equal protection of the laws, and to adopt effective tools to ensure the enforcement of our laws to protect life when doctors or district attorneys fail to do so.

Keep in mind that Texas already has world-class anti-abortion laws that aim to discourage out-of-state travel to secure legal abortions and authorize private lawsuits against anyone aiding or abetting in abortions, legal or illegal. Apparently, Texas Republicans fear the possibility of loopholes in the forced-birth system.

Believe it or not, the explicit abortion provisions of the Texas Republican platform Ive cited dont make their overall extremism as clear as they really are, as abortion-rights journalist Jessica Valenti explains:

We need to talk about Plank 35 in the Texas GOP platform 

The GOPs platform demands equal protection for the preborn, and for Texas legislation to give fertilized eggs, embryos, and fetuses equal protection of the law.

Actually, this equal protection language is repeated multiple times in the document.

Recall that Plank 191 adopts the abolitionist framework, intended, among other things, to identify radical anti-abortionists with those who fought to abolish slavery. Talk about an Orwellian inversion of language!

Trump and other Republicans can prattle all day long about respecting the autonomy of the states and their voters and legislators in setting abortion policy as though its strictly a matter of common-sense federalism. But you cant talk away the fact that thanks to Trump and the U.S. Supreme Court, women in Texas (and other states) are treated like potential murderers and (if they try to flee to free states) runaway slaves if they seek to exert any bodily autonomy. That is no compromise position  especially because Republicans are clearly looking to eventually outlaw abortion from Maine to California.
Trump departs court after being found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree at Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday. Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

A Manhattan jury has found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts related to his alleged effort to cover up the payment of hush money to Stormy Daniels in the waning days of the 2016 presidential campaign. The 12 jurors, whose identities have been kept confidential by the court, have spent the past six weeks hearing evidence from prosecutors and the defense, including key testimony from Daniels and Michael Cohen. Below are the latest updates on the verdict and aftermath.

Trump leaving court in a motorcade following the verdict. Photo: Mark Peterson

This post has been updated throughout.
Photo: Mark Peterson

The first time I ever took a jury verdict, I almost passed out. I was a brand-new prosecutor, 29 years old, and had just given my first closing argument a few days earlier. Since then, the trial team and I had been whiling away our time, interrupted only by the occasional note from the jury seeking testimony or legal instructions as they deliberated. All of a sudden, we got word from the court clerk: Come on up, we have a verdict.

Let me tell you, theres little in life that causes a burst of uncut adrenaline quite like the arrival of a verdict. I managed (barely) to hold it together as we performed the arcane, dramatic ritual that concludes every criminal trial. The judge brings the lawyers and the defendant back into the courtroom, the security officers take their places, the jury files in solemnly, and the judge asks: Ladies and gentlemen, have you reached a verdict? (Ummm, yes, Your Honor, thats why were all back out here.) As I stood at the prosecution table while the jury took their places back in the box, I felt dizzy and had to use my arms to brace myself.

Moments before the jury read the verdict, my supervisor  a grizzled trial buzzsaw known for his blistering closing arguments  leaned over and whispered to me: Whatever they say, no reaction. Dont move a muscle. I dont know what I wouldve done if not for that last-second command. Maybe I wouldve been sensible enough not to react either way, but Im not sure. As the jury read out its findings  starting with a not guilty on count one, to my horror, but then moving along to a string of convictions  I didnt budge, or breathe, or blink.

The lesson I learned that day and throughout my prosecutorial career, and have come to value even more ever since, is that the jurys verdict is sacrosanct. If a conviction goes our way, we prosecutors dont pump our fists and celebrate, even mildly. And when a verdict goes against us, we dont sulk. When we lose, we stand in and take it. Any emotional reaction, either way, would disrespect the judge, the jury, and, most importantly, the person whose liberty was about to be stripped. Prosecutors get to go to dinner and then sleep at home, no matter what the jury says. The defendant might not.

By any reasonable measure, the jury of Manhattanites who yesterday found former president Donald Trump guilty on all 34 charges did its job, and did it well.

They took on a civic duty from which many others fled; during jury selection, when Judge Juan Merchan allowed potential jurors who did not want to serve essentially to walk out the door, over half the assembled pool headed straight for the exits. The jurors sat through six weeks of testimony, they were by all accounts attentive throughout the trial, and they asked precise, insightful questions of the judge during deliberations. Nobodys truly in position to say if the jury got it right or wrong; they saw the evidence and we didnt  most of us, that is, including those like me who followed every line of testimony as it happened; theres no substitute for seeing it play out live. Reasonable minds could have come out either way, and this jury found that the prosecution carried its burden of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The jurys work, and their verdict, deserve respect.

But that doesnt mean that every structural infirmity around the Manhattan district attorneys case has evaporated. Both of these things can be true at once: The jury did its job, and this case was an ill-conceived, unjustified mess. Sure, victory is the great deodorant, but a guilty verdict doesnt make it all pure and right. Plenty of prosecutors have won plenty of convictions in cases that shouldnt have been brought in the first place. But they won is no defense to a strained, convoluted reach unless the goal is to win, now, by any means necessary and worry about the credibility of the case and the fallout later.

The following are all undeniable facts.

The judge donated money  a tiny amount, $35, but in plain violation of a rule prohibiting New York judges from making political donations of any kind  to a pro-Biden, anti-Trump political operation, including funds that the judge earmarked for resisting the Republican Party and Donald Trumps radical right-wing legacy. Would folks have been just fine with the judge staying on the case if he had donated a couple bucks to Re-elect Donald Trump, MAGA forever!? Absolutely not.

District Attorney Alvin Bragg ran for office in an overwhelmingly Democratic county by touting his Trump-hunting prowess. He bizarrely (and falsely) boasted on the campaign trail, It is a fact that I have sued Trump over 100 times. (Disclosure: Both Bragg and Trumps lead counsel, Todd Blanche, are friends and former colleagues of mine at the Southern District of New York.)

Most importantly, the DAs charges against Trump push the outer boundaries of the law and due process. Thats not on the jury. Thats on the prosecutors who chose to bring the case and the judge who let it play out as it did.

The district attorneys press office and its flaks often proclaim that falsification of business records charges are commonplace and, indeed, the offices bread and butter. Thats true only if you draw definitional lines so broad as to render them meaningless. Of course the DA charges falsification quite frequently; virtually any fraud case involves some sort of fake documentation.

But when you impose meaningful search parameters, the truth emerges: The charges against Trump are obscure, and nearly entirely unprecedented. In fact, no state prosecutor  in New York, or Wyoming, or anywhere  has ever charged federal election laws as a direct or predicate state crime, against anyone, for anything. None. Ever. Even putting aside the specifics of election law, the Manhattan DA itself almost never brings any case in which falsification of business records is the only charge.

Standing alone, falsification charges would have been mere misdemeanors under New York law, which posed two problems for the DA. First, nobody cares about a misdemeanor, and it would be laughable to bring the first-ever charge against a former president for a trifling offense that falls within the same technical criminal classification as shoplifting a Snapple and a bag of Cheetos from a bodega. Second, the statute of limitations on a misdemeanor  two years  likely has long expired on Trumps conduct, which dates to 2016 and 2017.

So, to inflate the charges up to the lowest-level felony (Class E, on a scale of Class A through E)  and to electroshock them back to life within the longer felony statute of limitations  the DA alleged that the falsification of business records was committed with intent to commit another crime. Here, according to prosecutors, the another crime is a New York State election-law violation, which in turn incorporates three separate unlawful means: federal campaign crimes, tax crimes, and falsification of still more documents. Inexcusably, the DA refused to specify what those unlawful means actually were  and the judge declined to force them to pony up  until right before closing arguments. So much for the constitutional obligation to provide notice to the defendant of the accusations against him in advance of trial. (This, folks, is what indictments are for.)

In these key respects, the charges against Trump arent just unusual. Theyre bespoke, seemingly crafted individually for the former president and nobody else.

The Manhattan DAs employees reportedly have called this the Zombie Case because of various legal infirmities, including its bizarre charging mechanism. But its better characterized as the Frankenstein Case, cobbled together with ill-fitting parts into an ugly, awkward, but more-or-less functioning contraption that just might ultimately turn on its creator.

Trump will appeal, as is his right, and hes certain to contest the inventive charges constructed by the DA. I wont go so far as to say an appeals court is likely to overturn a conviction  New York law is broad and hazy enough to (potentially) allow such machinations  but hes going to have a decent shot at a reversal.

No man is above the law. Its become cliche, but its an important point, and its worth pausing to reflect on the importance of this core principle. But its also meaningless pablum if we unquestioningly tolerate (or worse, celebrate) deviations from ordinary process and principle to get there. The jurys word is indeed sacrosanct, as I learned long ago. But it cant fix everything that preceded it. Here, prosecutors got their man, for now at least  but they also contorted the law in an unprecedented manner in their quest to snare their prey.

This article originally appeared in the free CAFE Brief newsletter. You can find more analysis of law and politics from Elie Honig, Preet Bharara, Joyce Vance, and other CAFE contributors at CAFE.com
We are continuously told that Donald Trumps conviction would be epochal, historic. This is perhaps true, but it means much less than we think.

The truth is that politicians get charged with crimes all the time. Many of them are convicted. U.S. Senator Robert Menendez is currently under indictment. Former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich served time in prison and emerged, as many criminals seem to, with a renewed appreciation for Trump.

Even the conviction of a former president is novel only in the American context. Many global heads of state of democratic countries (France, Japan, Israel, etc.) have gone to prison.

In a global sense, Trumps conviction in a court is not just fair but overdue. He has been flouting the law his entire adult life. Trump reportedly believed he enjoyed legal impunity due to his relationship with Manhattans prosecutor, though the basis for that belief has never been established. The extent of his criminality has oddly escaped notice, perhaps overshadowed by his constant offenses against truth and decency, or perhaps because people tend to think stealing is a crime when you aim a gun at a clerk but not when you create phony companies and bilk the Treasury.

Once he ascended to the presidency, Trumps criminality only grew. He issued illegal orders constantly, flummoxing his staff. He attempted (with unrecognized partial success) in turning the powers of the Justice Department into a weapon against his enemy, which was in turn an expression of his criminals view of the law: as an inherently hypocritical tool of the powerful against the weak.

The incongruity of the Manhattan case as the venue for Trumps legal humiliation is that it did not represent his worst crimes, or close to it. The case was always marginal, the kind of charge you would never bring against a regular first-time offender. It was the sort of charge youd concoct if the target is a bad guy and you want to nail him for something.

This, too, is not without precedent. Al Capones conviction for tax evasion is the paradigmatic example (one which fits his own case so closely Trump has felt compelled, seemingly as a kind of Freudian slip, to invoke the comparison). Hunter Biden was charged with lying about drug use on his firearm application, a crime so picayune it makes Trumps conviction for high-money payments look like the St. Valentines Day massacre.

The legal ramifications of this weakness will play out in some indeterminate, possibly terrible fashion. Republicans will seek revenge, and are already demanding it.

Its possible that future criminal charges, all of which have a much stronger basis, will overshadow this conviction. The trouble is that all those trials are delayed, either by Trumpy judges, the indecisiveness of the Justice Department, or missteps by the prosecution.

Trump may win the election, come to power, and quash all the remaining cases. In that case, his Manhattan prosecution could well stand out as a weak-sauce gesture, one he and his allies cite as their rationale to harass Trumps enemies with spurious charges.

If he loses the election, however, then he likely will face trial for attempting to steal the 2020 election, and then stealing classified documents, refusing to give them back repeatedly, and engineering a cover-up. In that case, the hush-money case will live as something not much larger than a footnote, the first pebble in a legal landslide.

Life isnt fair, nor is the legal system. Throughout Trumps life, the unfairness has run overwhelmingly in his favor. The balance of the unfairness remains on his side. He is now officially a criminal, but that is a designation that a fair system would have applied to him long ago.
Photo: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

The phrase convicted felon Donald Trump has a nice ring to it for the many Americans who would like to see the ex-president in jail. But experts say it was always unlikely that Trump would leave the courthouse in handcuffs after his guilty verdict. And Trump will probably remain free on bail in the weeks leading up to his sentencing on July 11  just four days before the Republican National Convention starts.

For Trump, the next month could involve several trips back to New York, where he will sit through the humbling process of inmate review, in which the New York City Department of Probation will interview the incoming felon prior to sentencing. On the 10th floor of the courthouse where he spent the last six weeks, a psychologist or social worker will ask Trump about his mental health, personal history, and employment status. At this point, Trump can also make a case for why he or she deserves a lighter punishment, according to the New York State Unified Court System. Trumps responses and the probation offices interview  including a sentencing recommendation  will be summarized in a report for Judge Merchan.

For Trumps attorneys, the next big deadline comes on June 13, when his defense team and prosecutors will file sentencing memos making the case for what they consider an appropriate punishment. Merchan will take these documents into consideration when he decides on sentencing Trump  a nonviolent offender with no criminal record who was convicted of Class-E felonies, the lowest tier of felonies in New York state.

Each count carries a max sentence of four years in prison, though Merchan will take into account Trumps age and clean criminal record. While experts think any time in prison is unlikely, he could face fines and probation. In his rambling press conference on Friday, Trump announced he would appeal his conviction  a process that would begin after sentencing and would most likely not be resolved until after the election.

Trump will be free to cross the country on his reelection campaign at least until his July sentencing. For now, though, the gag order that barred him from speaking about the witnesses on the case still remains. In his press conference on Friday, Trump appeared to violate the order by referring to a certain sleazebag attorney that was obviously Michael Cohen. If Merchan decides to act on his threat to detain Trump for repeated violations of the order, former Department of Corrections officials told Intelligencer that he could either be held in a cell at 100 Centre St. for a few short hours, or be sent to his own wing with Secret Service protection at Rikers Island if he is to stay the night.

If Trump is sentenced to probation, state law would require him to clear any travel outside of New York with a probation officer, which would certainly complicate his presidential campaign. Experts who spoke with the Washington Post said that if Trump were to be hit with home confinement, the authorities in New York would have to coordinate with officers in Florida to make home detention work. Most likely, he will be able to vote in November; while Florida bars felons convicted in Florida from voting, it respects out-of-state voting restrictions when a felon is convicted elsewhere.

Being convicted isnt all bad news for the former president. Trump has leaned further into the messaging that he is being persecuted in an act tantamount to election interference, and that message appears to be resonating. Though the campaigns claims have not been verified by FEC filings yet, they say Trump raised an historic $34.8 million in the hours since his conviction.
Trump as he hears his 34 guilty verdicts. Art: Isabelle Bourman

When people asked me what it was like inside the courthouse where Donald Trump stood trial, I said it reminded me of covering a political convention. It was a programmed event, with tentpole speakers, like the star witness, Michael Cohen. There was a nominee, chosen by indictment, who swept in each day with a swarm of loyal surrogates. There was press pack, wearing credentials on their lanyards, all writing down the same words, and breathing the same stale air. After final arguments, though, the atmosphere shifted. As the case went to the voters of the jury, it felt more like Election Day, when theres nothing left to do but wait. The reporters hung around the 15th floor of the Manhattan criminal-court building, trading theories and gossip, trying out takes.

The jury of 12 New Yorkers  seven men, five women  seemed to be in no hurry. At the end of their first day of deliberations, May 29, they passed a couple of notes to Judge Juan Merchan, asking for a read-back of some testimony and, more significantly, his jury instructions. The next morning, Thursday, they all filed back into the courtroom and Merchan once again gave his explanation of the law. You couldnt blame the jurors for wanting to hear it a second time.

The scene outside the courthouse. Art: Isabelle Bourman

The Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, had advanced a complex theory of the case, in which one intended crime (a conspiracy to win election via illegal means) was accomplished through a second intended crime (the jury could take its pick from several options, including the violation of federal campaign-finance laws), and concealed through a third crime. The charges Trump faced, 34 counts of falsifying business records, related only to the coverup. The triple bank shot elevated the business-records charge, normally a misdemeanor, into a felony. But it also served a larger justification for the prosecutors, who had been criticized for singling Trump out for a minor offense. It allowed them to say that the case was about something more nefarious than having a sexual encounter with a porn star, or paying hush money through a lawyer, or conspiring with the chief executive of the National Enquirer to keep a candidates secrets.

In his summation, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told the jurors they should analyze the evidence through the prism of three rich and powerful men, high up in Trump Tower, trying to become even more powerful by controlling the flow of information that might reach the voters. In other words, he was saying, the underlying crime was the denial of knowledge.

Going into the trial, many legal commentators  even ones who otherwise hated Trump  questioned whether Braggs theory would hold up. But Merchan had largely accepted it, and his instructions were written in a way that seemed to point in one direction. As Merchan read them to the jury again, Trump sat with his eyes closed. But he belatedly woke up to the fact that the boring stuff was worth his attention. In the afternoon, from the courthouse holding room that he used as his command center, he posted to Truth Social that the instructions were UNFAIR, MISLEADING, INACCURATE AND UNCONSTITUTIONAL. His lawyers had promised to appeal any guilty verdict, and they stood a decent chance on the merits. But for now, Merchans word was law.

Trump has spent this unusual election year treating his court dates as an extension of his campaign. During the primary season, he spent much of his time at two civil trials, one for corporate fraud and the other for defamation. In each case he has adopted his familiar political strategy, picking out his opponents  judges, prosecutors, even a court clerk  and savaging them on social media. Before the criminal trial began, he attacked Merchan as a biased hack, calling attention to the judges (tiny) political donations to liberal causes and the fact that his daughter is a Democratic political consultant. When a gag order, and the threat of being jailed for contempt, finally forced Trump to lay off, he called in reinforcements. It is a political persecution, it is a witch hunt, Donald Trump Jr. told the TV cameras outside the courthouse after watching closing arguments. He then singled out a member of the prosecution team who previously served as an acting associate attorney general. There is a reason one of the people sitting at that desk was the number-three person in Joe Bidens DOJ. I know my father is not allowed to say Matthew Colangelo, because hes been gagged. The president of the United States is not allowed to exercise his First Amendment rights in New York City, in this day and age.

Trump has discovered, however, that the demean-and-destroy strategy that works so well for him as a candidate is less effective within the legal system. Merchan is silver-haired and generally soft-spoken, but his demeanor belied a determination to bring Trump to trial, kicking and screaming. While Trumps legal team successfully managed to tie up his federal cases with appeals and procedural motions, Merchan kept the New York State case running on a tight schedule. He denied the defenses attempts to significantly delay the trial over evidentiary issues. He kept juror selection moving along quickly, and the jurors turned out to be diligent and committed. He held Trump in line. On the second day of jury selection, he noticed the defendant was audibly complaining. I will not tolerate that, Merchan told him. I will not have any jurors intimidated in my courtroom. I want to make that crystal clear. After that, Trump hardly uttered a peep.

Six weeks after the trial began, the case went to the jury. At around 4 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, the prosecution and defense lawyers, as well as Trump, reentered the courtroom, where the reporters in the gallery were lazily passing the afternoon. Merchan came in and gave them a routine update: He would be telling the jury to go home for the day as scheduled, at 4:30. Well give them a few more minutes, he said, before disappearing out the side door. The judge was gone for a little while, and then he returned, with an odd look on his face.

I apologize for the delay, Merchan said. We received a note. It was signed by the jury foreperson at 4:20. Its marked as Court Exhibit Number 7. It reads: We, the jury, have a verdict. From the gallery, there was an audible gasp, and the clatter of laptops. Please, the judge said, let there be no outbursts, no reactions of any kind once we take a verdict.

Eric Trump, the sole member of the defendants family present, stalked out of the courtroom, wearing a stricken expression, and returned a few minutes later. His father sat at the defense table, his arms crossed over his bright blue tie, and then leaned in as his attorney, Todd Blanche, whispered to him behind his hand. He turned up his chin and prepared to take the punch. He stood as the jurors filed into the hushed room without giving him a look. And then the foreman, an Irish immigrant, pronounced him guilty, 34 times over.

Trump and Blanche upon hearing the jury had arrived at a verdict. Art: Isabelle Bourman

Blanche asked, as a formality, for the jurors to be polled. Trump turned to look at them one more time as each was asked if they agreed with the verdict, and each answered: Yes.

Otherwise, Trump showed no visible reaction. The man who never admits defeat or accepts punishment had suddenly been rendered helpless before the law. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, four days before his party convenes for its actual political convention in Milwaukee. On his way out of the courtroom, Trump gave a dispirited, jerky handshake to his son, and then walked out to the press pen to deliver a statement. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial, he said. The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people. If that one goes his way, Trump will return to power, and he will be able to put off any state-court sentence. He will also be able to order the Department of Justice to dismiss his federal cases. Then, if past is prologue, he will turn to payback, and will seek to lock up his own perceived enemies.

Even if he never serves a day in jail, though, the felony conviction assures at least one outcome. This time around, there wont be any conspiracy to hide the truth about the Republican Partys candidate for president. And the American voters will know exactly what they are getting if they elect him president. Donald Trump is a criminal.
Photo-Illustration: The Strategist; Photos: Retailers

I graduated from college a semester early in December of last year, and even though Im currently a junior writer at the Strategist, I just walked across the graduation stage this May. That means Ive got plenty of insight about what makes a good college graduation gift for this years class (an air fryer and a Le Creuset butter dish were on my list). Every grad is different, though, and to supplement my insider knowledge, I chatted with class of 2024 graduates from schools around the country to hear about the gifts theyve already received or have on their wish list currently. Many of the guys I spoke to for this story said theyd appreciate some cash for rent or a nice vacation with their friends. But if youd prefer to give something tangible, below Ive gathered 26 graduate-approved gifts, according to a handful of recent graduates.

Update on July 22, 2024: Updated prices and checked stock for all products.

Tech gifts

Apple AirPods Pro 2 $190 $249 now 24% off $190 If the graduate youre shopping for already has a pair of AirPods, it might be time to upgrade to the AirPods Pro. The AirPods Pro is just a great product, says Jack Weissman, a recent graduate of Columbia University. Its worth the extra hundred bucks. Peace of mind. Better fit in your ears. Doesnt look as weird. I wear them while running, and they dont fall out. Plus, the case has a tracking capability thats not available on the regular AirPods, so your graduate wont have to worry about misplacing his headphones before a meeting. $190 at Amazon Buy $190 at Target Buy

Oura Ring From $299 From $299 For the graduate who hit the gym before the ceremony, consider an Oura Ring. The high-tech accessory tracks everything from heart rate to sleep efficiency to step count, so he can make the most of his workouts every day. Plus, the ring has a subtle appearance, which makes it easy to wear with everything from a collared shirt to a tee. From $299 at Oura Buy

U-Turn Audio Orbit Custom Record Player From $249 While he may have always carried a portable speaker in his backpack throughout college (I recommended the Ultimate Ears Wonderboom 3 in our college students gift guide), setting up a record player in his first (non-college) apartment can feel like a rite of passage. Weissman recommends this customizable record player, which hes owned for more than six years. Weissman, who is a bass player, suggests choosing the Grado Green3 cartridge: I really like listening to the bass in songs and getting to pick that apart, so the cartridge works really well for all the classic rock records that I have, he says. From $249 at U-Turn Audio Buy

Home gifts

Boll & Branch Signature Hemmed Sheet Set - Queen $279 $279 Moving out of the dorms and finally ditching those twin XL mattresses means that hell need some new (and hopefully larger) sheets for his first apartment. I just opened  from my great-aunt and -uncle  a box of Boll & Branch sheets, which are organic and very luxurious, Weissman says. He describes the sheets as soft but crisp, very high quality, well structured, but with a nice, soft hand feel. $279 at Boll & Branch Buy

Material The Copper Set $280 $280 As I spoke to graduates across the country, almost all of them mentioned needing a set of pots and pans for their first apartment. If you can get solid cookware, its worth the initial investment, says Noah Grossman, a recent graduate of Columbia University. Material makes our favorite affordable cookware set, which includes all the basics  a nonstick pan, saute pan, and saucepot. [Editors note: This set is currently out of stock, but you can sign up to be notified as soon as its back.] $280 at Material Buy

Wusthof Gourmet 6-Piece Starter Knife Block Set $195 $220 now 11% off $195 John Morris, a recent graduate of Wheaton College, says that knives are something that I would never really consider buying for myself because theyre expensive. But he received a set this Christmas and was surprised by how much he loved the gift. Having a set of knives that is yours, that you can cook with, and knowing that theyre always going to be sharp and nobodys going to mess with them  was something I was really happy to get, he told me. This is our favorite affordable set of knives. $195 at Wayfair Buy $175 at Amazon Buy

Spicewalla 18 Pack Kitchen Essentials Collection $85 $85 While cooking tools are essential for stocking a new kitchen, the food cant shine without a little spice. I recommend this spice set, which I received as a gift from my parents. Its the base of my adult kitchen spice collection. $85 at Spicewalla Buy

NutriBullet Special Edition NutriBullet Pro 900 $80 $80 If hes a smoothie person, he knows just how quickly the price of smoothies from his local spot can add up. But since a refreshing smoothie doesnt need to break the bank, Elias Gerstein, a recent graduate of the University of Miami, and Grossman both recommend gifting a NutriBullet to recent graduates. I work out frequently, and I think its great for making smoothies, especially during the summer when it gets hot, Gerstein says. Theres nothing better than finishing a workout and making a little strawberry-banana smoothie and just sitting out in the park and enjoying it $80 at Amazon Buy $90 at Walmart Buy

HelloFresh Subscription From $57 Whether hes on the hunt for his first job or taking some time to relax, quick-and-easy meals will be essential. So, if hes cooking-curious but doesnt know exactly where to begin, one of your best bets is a HelloFresh meal subscription, which Yuval Keren has been using since he graduated from Columbia University in December. He most recently cooked ginger soy beef rice bowls, and he recommends looking for promotional deals, which you can find on the home page of the website. From $57 at HelloFresh - US Buy

Bartesian Premium Cocktail and Margarita Machine $440 $440 I think that once you graduate, its time to give up drinking straight out of the Titos handle and start spicing up your craft before you go out, says Gerstein. What easier way to do it than having the pods to make cocktails? He has this Bartesian cocktail machine, which he describes as a Keurig, but for making cocktails, on his postgrad wish list. $440 at Amazon Buy $350 at Wayfair Buy

Fanatics Miami Hurricanes 16oz. Etched Classic Crew Pint Glass $11 $11 Multiple graduates mentioned drinkware of different types as a non-cheesy college memorabilia gift. While shot glasses and whiskey glasses are safe options, you can also give them a pint glass, like this one, with their schools name. I think these are always a nice touch for someones first apartment, Gerstein says. $11 at Fanatics Buy

Clothing and accessories gifts

Tissot PRX Powermatic 80 $725 $725 Four of the guys I talked to for this story recommended gifting a watch, and as Stanford Li, a recent graduate of Columbia University, says, Its a very safe gift because its one of the only pieces of jewelry that men wear. Weissman recommends this mechanical option from Tissot, which he says has an 80-hour power reserve and looks sporty. Its a great watch for someone who wants something that you can dress up or dress down, he says. $725 at Tissot Watches Buy

Serman Brands RFID Blocking Slim Bifold $35 now 14% off $30 Now that hes entering the real world, hell need a sturdy wallet to hold all of his cards. Grossman recommends this option: Its got a pull tab, so you can put the credit cards or your IDs that you use the most often in that, and then you can access it without having to open up the wallet. $30 at Amazon Buy $30 at Amazon Buy

Kavu Rope Sling Bag $60 $60 The graduate who is planning a hiking trip will also appreciate this adjustable shoulder bag that Morris received as a gift for his outdoor treks. Theyre the perfect size for when you dont need to bring a whole lot of stuff, he says. $60 at Amazon Buy From $60 at REI Buy

If he doesnt have a signature scent, consider giving him his first cologne. Yes, picking out a scent for another person can be tricky  but Ive included a few picks from different graduates that hell very likely appreciate (just include a gift receipt, in case). Danny Flores, a recent graduate of the University of Nebraska Omaha, recommends the Valentino Uomo Born in Roma Intense Eau de Parfum Spray, while Gerstein is eyeing the D.S. & Durga Cowboy Grass Eau de Parfum. Lis girlfriend recently gifted him the Mistral Mens Cologne in the scent Bourbon Vanilla. I think most guys probably cant really tell the difference anyway, so just having cologne is nice, Li says.

Food and drink gifts

Chocolate Covered Co. Belgian Milk Chocolate Covered Strawberries - 12 Pack $65 $65 When Flores graduated, he received a mini-cake with the phrase One degree down on it  plus, some chocolate-covered strawberries, which he says you can never go wrong with, especially because you can usually find a local business or Instagram shop offering graduation specials. If youre looking for some strawberries that will be shipped right to your door, consider these, which are hand-dipped in Belgian milk chocolate at the Chocolate Covered Company in Totowa, New Jersey. $65 at Goldbelly Buy

Sticking with the chocolate theme, babka is an excellent option  especially when its from Breads Bakery, which Gerstein says makes the best babka in New York City. Its Martha Stewartapproved, so that should pretty much tell it as it is, he told me.

The Bar Custom Don Julio Tequila Bottle $166 $166 While I recommended a Custom College Bling Bottle for women graduates, the male graduates I spoke to had lots of other ideas for alcohol-related graduation gifts. After all, Flores says, I think college graduates still want to party. He recommends decorating a Don Julio tequila bottle with glitter and a big bow. You can customize this bottle with a personalized engraving. $166 at The Bar Buy

Johnnie Walker Double Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky $47 $47 Grossman prefers Johnnie Walker Double Black Label Blended Scotch Whisky. Its just a really solid whiskey for the price, he says. It doesnt burn going down, it feels really nice, and its got good complexity. Like the Don Julio bottle, this bottle can also be engraved. $47 at The Bar Buy

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The Opelika and Lee County systems are supporting the youth in the community by providing free meals over the summer break for children in need.

Lee County Schools and Opelika City Schools announced schedules during the last week of May that offer free breakfast and lunch to children ages 18 and younger. Both programs will kick off on June 3 as part of a national initiative by the United States Department of Agriculture to combat food insecurity for children during the summer.

"Families are struggling these days with the increase in all the other bills. So we figured if we could make one thing free for them that they didn't have to pay for, that might help somebody pay their power bill or just make gas to go to work every day," said Krystal Patterson, the child nutrition director for Lee County Schools.

Opelika City Schools will offer breakfast and lunch from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Monday through Thursday from June 3 to July 18. The free meal program will be closed on June 19. It will also be closed from July 1 to 4.

The summer feeding program will be offered at Opelika High School for any children ages 18 or younger. They do not have to be students at the school.

"I think it's very important that every child has the opportunity to be fed breakfast and lunch. And I'm very grateful that we're able to do that," said Lynn Lee, the child nutrition program director at Opelika City Schools.

Lee said they anticipate the program serving approximately 350 children at each meal each day.

Lee County Schools will offer free breakfast from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and free lunch from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the following locations:

Beauregard Elementary School

Beauregard High School

Sanford Middle School

Beulah Elementary School

Loachapoka High School

Smiths Station Elementary School

Smiths Station High School

"We essentially have four attendance areas. And we want to make sure that we're not only feeding the kids that are in those schools every day, but that we're offering it to the public to come. So we offer summer school at seven locations. So we also do summer feeding at all seven of those locations," Patterson said.

The meals are being offered on the following dates: June 3 through 6, June 10 through 13, June 17 through 18, June 20, and June 24 through 27. Patterson said the schedule coincides with when summer school is being offered to students at Lee County Schools as well as sporting events, marching band and other summer activities.

Patterson said the only restrictions are that the children must be ages 18 and younger and that the children must eat the meals on campus. If the children are not part of the summer program at the locations, transportation must be provided.

She said they anticipate serving approximately 1,800 students each day during the summer, and that is not including other children from the area that take part in the program. Patterson has been working with Lee County Schools for 18 years and has spent the last seven as the child nutrition director. She said the summer meals program at Lee County Schools was originally offered by the Food Bank of East Alabama, but Lee County Schools opted to take it over three years ago.

"We wanted to open the food up to a little more variety for the students, especially with the prices of food these days. And the fact that we can offer it for them for free, at least for some of the summer. Because this is some of the only food kids get some time is the food that we feed them at school," Patterson said.

The menu for the meals being offered in June can be found here. Both programs are funded by grants from the USDA.
As I said, that is based on the chart, which has been a good way for me to make decisions about this stock in the past, but it is also supported by an analysis of the fundamental factors

On Thursday, as I write, FSLR is trading a little lower, but significantly that drop is coming after hitting its all-time high close. The actual intraday traded high back in 2008 was above $300, but the fact that the stock is turning, even slightly, after trading above $275 convinces me that now is a good time to unload.

That was, in fact, the last time I wrote about FSLR, and I still have the long position that I accumulated during that dipbut I wont have it for long. The stock is at one of those obvious chart points, one that suggests that taking profit here would be a smart move. The clue is in the long-term chart below, and you dont have to be a genius chart reader to see what I mean

Whether you trade actively or are more of a long-term investor, there are some stocks that you just seem to get right a lot more than you get wrong. From both of those perspectives, one of the best for me over the years has been First Solar (FSLR). It is something on which I have made a lot of money and, in a piece that I wrote in October of last year in which I recommended buying it at around $145, I identified why that is so. It is because for some reason, FSLR usually does what the chart suggests it will, or at least what the obvious indicators I look for suggest it will.

Whether you trade actively or are more of a long-term investor, there are some stocks that you just seem to get right a lot more than you get wrong. From both of those perspectives, one of the best for me over the years has been First Solar (FSLR). It is something on which I have made a lot of money and, in a piece that I wrote in October of last year in which I recommended buying it at around $145, I identified why that is so. It is because for some reason, FSLR usually does what the chart suggests it will, or at least what the obvious indicators I look for suggest it will.

That was, in fact, the last time I wrote about FSLR, and I still have the long position that I accumulated during that dipbut I wont have it for long. The stock is at one of those obvious chart points, one that suggests that taking profit here would be a smart move. The clue is in the long-term chart below, and you dont have to be a genius chart reader to see what I mean

On Thursday, as I write, FSLR is trading a little lower, but significantly that drop is coming after hitting its all-time high close. The actual intraday traded high back in 2008 was above $300, but the fact that the stock is turning, even slightly, after trading above $275 convinces me that now is a good time to unload.

As I said, that is based on the chart, which has been a good way for me to make decisions about this stock in the past, but it is also supported by an analysis of the fundamental factors that drive First Solar. One of the biggest of those is the relationship between the US and China, and Im sure some of the gains over the last month or so are down to improvements in that regard. However, if the history of US/China relations shows one thing, it is that the situation at any given time will almost certainly change before too long, and simple logic says that will be the case this time too, for multiple reasons.

First and foremost, we are in an election year, and US politicians will be falling over themselves to come up with policies that are tough on China, one of the few countries that, even in this hyper-partisan environment, both sides see as an enemy, or at least a convenient threat with which to scare voters. That will probably lead to some proposals for tariffs and the like and China is not exactly known for letting things like that go unanswered, even if they are blatantly tactical political moves. A deterioration in relations as the election approaches looks almost inevitable at this point.

The other two factors driving FSLR higher have been a shift in policy in China away from deliberately overproducing solar panels to grab market share, even if that means lower prices and an expectation that AI will benefit the industry. The first of those I completely understand. Obviously higher prices benefit First Solar, but there are two qualifying things here.

First, just because the Chinese government is taking that stance right now, it doesnt mean that they will be doing so in a few months time. Industrial policy in China is as much about geopolitics as it is about economics, and changes to the governments attitude toward individual industries are frequent. Then there is the fact that higher prices will dampen demand. Demand for anything is almost always price sensitive to some extent, but for solar power, which is almost always adopted as a replacement for existing sources of energy, demand is also subject to comparative pricing. So, while the policy shift looks beneficial now, it may not turn out to be advantageous at all.

As for the AI argument for buying FSLR, it leaves me a bit baffled, to be honest.

It seems that these days, the AI effect is cited as a reason to buy anything and everything, but in most cases, the difference between AI and existing computer technology is incremental at best. If the argument is that AI based load management or whatever will be an advantage for First Solar, then I dont see how it could be impactful enough to justify the stock doubling in three months. One could argue that all of that computing power out there will increase the demand for electricity, but again, will that double the business and profits of FSLR?

No matter how I look at it, a P/E of above 29 makes the stock look overpriced, even if there is the potential for pretty good revenue growth over the next year or so. And given that politics and the history of US/China relations both make that growth questionable, now looks like a good time to take my profit on FSLR and look for better uses for that capital.
Israel conducts nearly all of its trade via sea, importing approximately 267,000 barrels of crude oil per day from various sources.

Israel is set to significantly increase the number of oil tankers docking at its Red Sea port of Eilat, driven by the need to bolster energy security amid escalating regional conflicts. This move, however, has sparked substantial environmental concerns due to the potential risks to the delicate coral reefs and surrounding ecosystems.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office has pushed for the relaxation of current restrictions on oil unloading at Eilat, a critical junction between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean. These restrictions were initially imposed by the Environmental Protection Ministry in 2021, which effectively halted an ambitious oil supply agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These curbs were temporarily eased due to the war with Gaza, and now there are plans for a more permanent increase in capacity.

The state-owned Europe Asia Pipeline Co. (EAPC), which operates a strategic pipeline linking the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, seeks to increase the volume of oil transported through Eilat. This pipeline offers an alternative route to the Suez Canal for oil shipments destined for Europe. Despite the strategic importance, the plan faces staunch opposition from environmental regulators and local authorities.

Strategic Necessity Amid Conflict

Israel's decision comes at a time of heightened security concerns, with ongoing conflicts involving Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and threats from Iranian proxies in Yemen and Iraq. These multifaceted threats underscore the urgency for Israel to secure a reliable energy supply to sustain its economy and support military operations.

The recent brief shutdown of Israel's Tamar gas field, a critical energy source, during the onset of conflict with Hamas, highlighted the vulnerability of the nation's energy infrastructure. Additionally, disruptions by Yemeni Houthis in the Red Sea have forced shipping routes to be redirected to Mediterranean ports, complicating logistics and increasing costs.

EAPC's Expansion Ambitions

EAPC's 2020 agreement aimed to transport substantial volumes of UAE oil to Europe via Israel. This deal, following the normalization of relations under the Abraham Accords, anticipated the docking of about 50 oil tankers annually at Eilat, a significant increase from the previous average of two tankers per year. However, the Environmental Protection Ministry's stringent "no additional risk" policy limited this volume to two million tons, stalling the agreement.

The coral reef near Eilat, noted for its resilience to climate change, is highly sensitive to oil spills, making even minor incidents potentially catastrophic. Despite this, a recent report from Netanyahu's office advocates for expanding the volume of oil imported through Eilat, emphasizing the need for flexibility in energy policy amidst security threats.

Regulatory and Environmental Challenges

The Israeli government has directed the Environmental Protection Ministry to develop a plan to manage the risks associated with increased oil deliveries. However, the ministry has voiced strong objections, claiming that its concerns were overlooked and that it lacks the resources to effectively oversee the proposed increases.

Past incidents, such as the 2014 pipeline burst that resulted in a major oil spill in a nature reserve, underscore the environmental risks involved. The Environmental Protection Ministry remains opposed to increasing oil deliveries at Eilat, citing the potential for similar disasters.

Economic and Diplomatic Dimensions

The UAE oil deal holds substantial economic promise, potentially generating around $50 million annually for EAPC. Yet, uncertainties remain about the deal's viability, even if the limitations at Eilat are lifted. Petromal, a unit of Abu Dhabi-based National Holding, a key stakeholder in the deal, has not provided any comments on the current situation.

EAPC Chairman Erez Halfon has welcomed the government's support, emphasizing the strategic importance of EAPC's Eilat facility, particularly in the context of the ongoing conflicts. He warned that without consistent oil deliveries, the facility's reliability and operational readiness could be compromised.

Israel conducts nearly all of its trade via sea, primarily through Mediterranean ports. In 2023, the country imported approximately 267,000 barrels per day of crude oil, predominantly from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Kurdistan.

Future Prospects and Implications

The Israeli government has tasked the Environmental Protection Ministry with conducting a comprehensive survey and presenting a risk management plan within three months. This directive has ignited debates within the government, reflecting the tension between immediate economic and strategic needs and long-term environmental sustainability.

As Israel navigates its complex security landscape and seeks to ensure energy stability, the decision to increase oil tanker dockings at Eilat highlights the broader challenge of balancing economic imperatives with environmental preservation.

In the coming months, the outcome of this policy shift will be closely watched by industry stakeholders, environmental groups, and international partners, as it could set a precedent for how nations manage the competing demands of energy security and environmental protection.

By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com

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The shipping industry is one of the biggest targets for decarbonization planners. As such, it has also been the target for pointed efforts to reduce its fuel consumptionand the emissions that go with it. Lately, however, this has become harder because of other actions by those same planners who want cleaner maritime transport.

Ships, which represent as much as 90% of global trade, consume massive amounts of fuel, and the overwhelming bulk of that fuel is derived from hydrocarbons. The International Maritime Organisation, under pressure from transition-oriented governments, recently approved rules that lower the sulfur content of bunkering, but this has not been seen as enough by those same governments and their NGO advisers.

Meanwhile, some of those concerned governments are making decisions that are, inadvertently, leading to higher emission levels greater risk of fuel spills. For instance, the Red Sea crisis diverted most of the traffic from the Suez Canal to the Cape of Good Hope. The diversion around Africa adds 4,000 miles to the average ships journey between Europe and Asia. This means a lot more additional fuel consumption, too.

Perhaps it would be possible to argue here that the consequences of the Houthis attacks on ships in the Red Sea were not a result of conscious action on the part of governments in Europe and the United States. However, a counterargument could be made that these governments could have made more of a diplomatic effort to end the war between Israel and Hamas.

Yet, while the Red Sea crisis situation is open to interpretation, this is not the case with sanctions on Iran, Venezuela, and Russia. The pointed punitive action by Washington and Brussels has forced oil exporters in the three countries to use tankers that have no link to any Western business entityand with that, lower-quality bunkering.

Reuters recently reported, citing Lloyds List Intelligence, that the so-called dark fleet that transports Iranian, Venezuelan, and Russian oil has grown from 530 tankers a year ago to some 630 tankers to date. These 630 tankers represent 14.5% of the global tanker fleet, and some of them are, according to experts, a disaster waiting to happen.

Tankers carrying sanctioned oil, a Lloyds List Intelligence analyst told Reuters, use the cheapest fuel possible, and this is also the dirtiest fuel around. After all, they are a shadow fleet, which suggests a certain degree of disregard for rules that are not in their operators interest. Ports, however, have the power to enforce these rules, and as a result, ship detentions for the use of high-sulfur fuel have increased in Europe.

This would suggest there is still a way to enforce cleaner fuels on those parts of the shipping industry that dont feel they are bound by the new rules, yet the high-sulfur fuel is not the only problem with the shadow fleet. The risk of spills during ship-to-ship transfers in the open sea is also significant. It is also a direct effect of sanctions aimed at stifling the oil industries of the target countries.

There is more, too. Even for shipping companies that do not deal in sanctioned oil, the IMOs ambition to have cleaner maritime transport is a challenge. Because there does not seem to be a long-term regulatory framework that would motivate ship owners to switch their ships to cleaner fuels.

Methanol, ammonia, and LNG have all been touted as alternatives to petroleum-derived bunkering, but their use requires retrofitting existing vessels with new fuel delivery systems or building all-new vessels that run on one of these fuels. The problem with this is that none of these fuels are being produced at the scale necessary, and none have proved their worth over a longer period of time. As a result, ships keep burning dirty fuels to keep global trade going. This is unlikely to change anytime soon, too. Unless all sanctions are lifted, which is highly unlikely.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
This week saw the Iran-backed Houthis expand their reach, hitting six vessels in three seas, the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Mediterranean Sea. Prior to this, the Houthis had not managed to reach as far as the Mediterranean, which is a rather troubling development for the West.

The attacks came only days after a Houthi spokesman warned of a new campaign targeting vessels heading to Israel from the Mediterranean. The Houthis also threatened to broaden attacks further in the Indian Ocean. This coincides with a meeting between Pentagon officials and their GCC counterparts to drum up more tangible support for U.S.-led efforts to cripple the Houthi campaign of maritime terror. What Washington wants is for the GCC to help intercept Iranian military aid to the Houthis. The Saudis, long embroiled in the civil war in Yemen, where Riyadh and Tehran had carried out a long-running proxy war against each other until a rapprochement and restoration of diplomatic ties just over a year ago. That means the Saudis arent keen to stir things up again in Yemen, or with Iran, making this a dangerous balancing act for the Crown Prince, especially considering that Saudi Arabia doesnt want to be seen to be allowing the U.S. to launch airstrikes on Houthi targets from inside the Kingdom.

For Iran, the Houthi campaign in the Red Sea, and its potential to expand into the Mediterranean, is a bit of leverage it is not going to give up at this time, and the Saudis will do what
A group of 22 Democratic Senators led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer have issued a call on the Department of Justice to investigate a claim made by the Federal Trade Commission that the former CEO of Pioneer Natural Resources had colluded with OPEC to keep oil prices high.

These reports are alarming and lend credence to the fear that corporate avarice is keeping prices artificially high, the group said in the letter they sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland, as quoted by Reuters.

The allegations by the FTC refer to actions taken in 2020 when U.S. crude oil prices took a dive because of lockdowns and briefly dipped below zero, threatening the continued survival of a significant portion of the industry.

We therefore urge the Department of Justice to investigate the oil industry, to hold accountable any liable actors, and to end any illegal activities, the senators also wrote.

FTC accused Sheffield of colluding with OPEC and OPEC+ members to limit production and increase oil prices in comments on its approval of Exxons acquisition of Pioneer. The allegations shook the shale oil world, where several large consolidation deals are awaiting the trade watchdogs approval.

The FTC also made its approval of the merger contingent on Sheffield being banned from joining the board of the combined company.

In response to these claims, Scott Sheffield said earlier this week the trade regulator had scapegoated him.

The FTC is wrong to imply that I ever engaged in, promoted or even suggested any form of anti-competitive behaviour, Sheffield said in his first public response to the allegations.

Publicly and unjustifiably vilifying me will have a chilling effect on the ability of business leaders in any sector of our economy to address shareholder demands and to exercise their constitutionally protected right to advocate for their industries, Sheffield also said, as quoted by the Financial Times.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

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A potential EU tariff of 20% on China-made electric vehicles would cost China $3.8 billion worth of EV exports to the bloc, but it would also cost EU end-consumers noticeably higher prices, Germanys Kiel Institute for the World Economy said in an analysis on Friday.

The EU launched in October 2023 anti-subsidy investigations into EU imports of EVs from China to determine whether the value chains in China benefit from illegal subsidies.

The findings of the investigation will establish whether it is in the EU's interest to impose anti-subsidy duties on EV imports from China, the European Commission said at the time. The EU probe into the Chinese subsidies is ongoing and set to conclude by November, but the bloc could impose tariffs as early as July.

Rumors are circulating that the EU could impose a 20% tariff. If this is the case, the volume of imported EVs from China would fall by 25%. Converted to the almost 500,000 vehicles imported in 2023, this corresponds to an estimated 125,000 units, worth almost $4 billion, Kiel Institutes analysts wrote.

The decline would largely be offset by an increase in production within the EU and a lower volume of EV exports, which would likely mean noticeably higher prices for end consumers, they added.

The analysis doesnt factor in a retaliatory move from China, which has threatened a 25% car tariff on EU and U.S. vehicles with big engines, which will hit higher-end European brands such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW the most.

The trade shift in case of EU tariffs on China-made could also affect German car manufacturers producing in China, Kiel Institute said.

For consumers, this is likely to result in higher prices for electric vehicles because production within the EU is significantly more expensive than in China due to higher energy and material prices and, above all, significantly higher labor costs, Julian Hinz, a trade researcher at the Kiel Institute, said in a statement.

However, it is by no means a foregone conclusion that European car manufacturers will fill the gap, Chinese manufacturers such as BYD could also meet local demand with new plants in Europe.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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Crude oil prices extended a two-day decline into the last trading day of the week pressured by Fed comments on rate cuts and the futures market swinging into contango for the first time since the start of the year, suggesting oversupply.

Brent crude fell from over $84 per barrel earlier this week to below $82 earlier today while West Texas Intermediate fell below $78 per barrel.

The latest slide in prices followed comments made by the president of the Dallas Fed, Lorie Logan, who said on Thursday It's really important that we don't lock into any particular path for monetary policy. I think it's too soon to really be thinking about rate cuts.

Logans comments echoed others, made by the president of the New York Fed, who said, also on Thursday, that current monetary policy was working as intended but the central U.S. bank had not yet gotten to the point where it could start cutting rates since the economy was performing so well.

Rate cuts are considered a major booster for oil demand among traders of the commodity and the absence of intentions to implement some in the worlds largest consumer inevitably dampen demand sentiment. This week, the dampening was reinforced by expectations of weakening oil demand in China as well.

A crude oil inventory build as reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration failed to offset the bearish effects since it was accompanied by builds in fuel inventories, suggesting slower demand.

There is also OPEC+ and its upcoming virtual meeting on Sunday. A significant driver for oil prices ahead will revolve around the upcoming OPEC+ meeting this weekend, Yeap Jun Rong, market strategist at IG Asia, told Bloomberg. Any further cuts may be unlikely and will be seen as a huge surprise.

The market expects OPEC+ to fully roll over its additional voluntary supply cuts into the second half of the year. Anything less will put further pressure on prices in the short term, INGs Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey wrote earlier today.

It would be more difficult for the group to surprise to the upside. Agreeing on deeper cuts would be challenging, particularly when a handful of producers are already producing above their target levels.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 36,224

Xinhua) 09:09, May 31, 2024

Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

GAZA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 36,224, according to a statement by health authorities in the Palestinian enclave on Thursday.

During the past 24 hours, the Israeli army killed 53 Palestinians and wounded 357 others, bringing the total number of injuries to 81,777 since the outbreak of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in October 2023.

Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city.

In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time."

The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents.

Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and around 250 were taken hostage.

Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

Displaced Palestinians are seen in Jabalia, northern Gaza Strip, on May 30, 2024. Local sources reported that Israeli troops have withdrawn from the western and southern regions of Jabalia in northern Gaza, while some soldiers remain in the northern and eastern areas of the city. In a statement, the emergency committee in the northern Gaza Strip urged residents to "be patient and not return to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip at this time." The statement warned that the Israeli army left a large number of drones that continue to fire on residents. (Photo by Mahmoud Zaki/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
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The OPEC+ group is likely to roll over their current production cuts into the second half of 2024 when producers meet online this weekend, according to analysts and market expectations.

The alliance is likely to extend the current 2.2 million barrels per day (bpd) production cuts, four anonymous OPEC+ delegates told CNBC ahead of the crucial meeting.

The group would want to avoid an abrupt change in course amid relatively stable oil prices in recent weeks, one of these delegates told CNBC.

Last week, OPEC said that the OPEC+ alliance would hold its meeting in early June a day later than initially planned, and via a video conference instead of in person. All meetings previously planned to take place in person in Vienna on June 1 will now be held online on June 2.

The three key meetings that will be now held via video conference are the meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC), the panel monitoring market developments and potentially recommending actions to the ministers to take, the meeting of the OPEC ministers, and finally, the meeting of the ministers of the wider OPEC+ coalition.

The fact that the OPEC+ meetings will be held online suggests that the producers in the pact have more or less reached an agreement about how to proceed with the current cuts, analysts have said.

OPEC+ could still opt for tweaks to output policy later this year if summer oil demand is strong and leads to depleting inventories, according to market observers.

The market expects OPEC+ to fully roll over its additional voluntary supply cuts into the second half of the year. Anything less will put further pressure on prices in the short term, ING commodities strategists Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey wrote in a Friday note.

It would be more difficult for the group to surprise to the upside. Agreeing on deeper cuts would be challenging, particularly when a handful of producers are already producing above their target levels.

While a full rollover of the cuts would be important for sentiment and for keeping prices from falling in case market expectations are not met, it is not needed in terms of fundamentals as it will push the oil market into a deep deficit over the summer, a peak demand period, INGs strategists said.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

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The state of Vermont has just enacted a law that would take on oil companies to require them to pay for damage caused by their emissions, in a first such legislation in a U.S. state.

The bill, S.259, An act relating to climate change cost recovery, became law without the signature of Vermonts Republican Governor Philip B. Scott.

The law stipulates that Vermonts state treasurer, in consultation with the Agency of Natural Resources, assess the total cost to Vermonters and the state from the emission of greenhouse gases from January 1, 1995, to December 31, 2024.

Treasurer Mike Pieciak has testified in favor of the legislation and wrote in April 2023 that, As Vermont explores ways to finance the necessary investments to help combat and adapt to climate change, it only seems fair to ask those who most significantly contributed to the problem to help foot the bill, Vermont Public Interest Research Group said in early May when the Vermont Senate gave final approval to the legislation.

In this attempt to make Big Oil pay in the polluter-pays model, Vermont could fail and hamper efforts by other states, and add costs for Vermonters and the state, Governor Scott said in a letter to Vermont State lawmakers.

Taking on Big Oil should not be taken lightly. And with just $600,000 appropriated by the Legislature to complete an analysis that will need to withstand intense legal scrutiny from a well-funded defense, we are not positioning ourselves for success, Governor Scott said.

Im deeply concerned about both short- and long-term costs and outcomes. Just look at our unsuccessful nationally-focused cases on GMOs, campaign finance and pharmaceutical marketing practices. Im also fearful that if we fail in this legal challenge, it will set precedent and hamper other states ability to recover damages.

The American Petroleum Institute (API), for its part, said  per the Associated Press  that it was extremely concerned the legislation retroactively imposes costs and liability on prior activities that were legal, violates equal protection and due process rights by holding companies responsible for the actions of society at large; and is preempted by federal law.

By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com

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Law enforcement officers were working to arrest someone Thursday night near Omaha's South 30th and Jefferson Streets when the person allegedly exchanged gunfire with officers and abducted a women during the incident.

"This is still an active investigation," said Lt. Jeremy Thorson of the Nebraska State Patrol around 11 p.m. "I'm thankful to say that no officers were injured during any of tonight's events."

Thorson said the suspect, whom he identified as Jason Davenport, was at large Thursday night and officers in both Nebraska and Iowa were searching for him.

"We are asking the public for additional help in searching for the suspect tonight that was involved in the incident," Thorson said. He described Davenport as a 42-year-old White man who is about 6-foot 3-inches tall and 170 pounds. A press release said he was from Council Bluffs.

Thorson said that at about 8:15 p.m., troopers were seeking Davenport, who had allegedly fled from a traffic stop the week before, at a residence in the 3600 block of South 30th Street.

"During those attempts, Davenport exited the residence firing a handgun," Thorson said. Troopers and an Omaha police officer fired back.

Thorson said Davenport fled in a gray Ford Fusion after taking a woman, who had been in the residence, hostage. Davenport allegedly drove through nearby Upland Park and the officers lost him.

"Officers from multiple agencies searched the area with assistance from NSP and OPD helicopters, but were unable to locate Davenport, the vehicle, or his hostage," a Nebraska State Patrol press release said.

Law enforcement no longer believe Davenport is in the Omaha neighborhood from which he fled, Thorson said.

"If anyone sees Davenport or the vehicle, please call 911 immediately," Thorson said. He asked members of the public not to approach Davenport.

There were at least six blocks cordoned off in the area shortly before 10 p.m. and more than 20 law enforcement vehicles were on the scene near South 30th and Jefferson.
Political parties participating in the 2019 general elections have said they will not obey the directive of INEC that they should stop campaigns after the postponement of the presidential and National Assembly elections on Saturday morning.

INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu, had on Saturday while giving reasons for the postponement of the elections, said campaigns had ended on Thursday.

But the APCs, the PDP and the Coalition of United Political Parties, on Sunday said they would never obey the order, saying that they would continue their campaigns.

We will continue our campaigns  APC, PDP

A report by the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation, monitored in Kano, on Sunday, quoted the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole and a Director in the Atiku Campaign Organisation, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso as saying the electoral laws allowed for campaigns to go on until 24 hours before polls.

Kwankwaso said, Nobody asked that the elections should be delayed. So, since the elections have been postponed, they (INEC) should allow everybody to campaign.

Everybody knows that what the electoral law says is that campaigns can continue until 24 hours to the elections so, since the elections have been postponed by one week, political parties should continue with their campaigns.

Kwankwaso, who said he was certain nobody was happy with INECs decision to postpone the elections, prayed that such would not repeat itself on Saturday.

To give fillip to its position, the PDP on Sunday said it took the decision to re-open its campaigns after due consideration of the provision of the Electoral Act.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, in a statement, said the PDP rejected what he called the wrongful administrative prohibition of open campaigns by INEC.

He said, Our position is predicated on the clear provision of Section 99 (1) of the Electoral Act, which stipulated that for the purposes of this Act, the period of campaigning in public by every political party shall commence 90 days before polling day and end 24 hours prior to that day.

The clear import of this provision, in the current situation, is that given the postponement of the elections to February 23, the 24 hours requirement for closure of all public campaigns falls on the midnight of February 21.

The BBC reported that Oshiomhole said the electoral law allowed for campaigns until 24 hours before the commencement of polls.

He said, INEC cannot go contrary to what the law says. Everyone knows that campaigns can only be suspended 24 hours to an election, I will continue with campaigns on Sunday (yesterday) because if we dont campaign, people will not come out and vote.

We will tell the people what happened has happened. Let them come out and vote for the President (Muhammadu Buhari). For one week, if we dont talk, people will forget; we will campaign.

CUPP asks opposition parties to resume campaigns for Atiku

On its part, the CUPP asked its members to shun INECs directive and resume campaigns ahead of the Saturdays elections.

CUPP, in a statement by its national spokesman, Imo Ugochinyere, also said Yakubus position was unconstitutional.

He argued that since the presidential election had been moved to Saturday, political parties were at liberty to resume campaigns till midnight on Thursday.

Ugochinyere, therefore, asked members of CUPP to resume campaigns from Sunday (yesterday) and mobilise voters for the presidential candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

We will take final position on electioneering today  INEC

But reacting to the parties defiance to the commissions order, INEC said it would take a final decision on whether or not political parties could resume campaigns for the elections on Monday (today).

The Chief Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Rotimi Oyekanmi, who disclosed this in an interview with one of our correspondents on Sunday, said the meeting of the commissions management would determine whether the electoral body would shift its ground on its earlier decision on campaigns or not.

Oyekanmi in the interview with The Punch said, On the issue of campaigns, the commission will meet tomorrow (Monday) and take a decision on the matter. On the issue of Zamfara State APC candidates appearing on the ballot papers, I have no comments on that at the moment.

Falana faults INEC on campaign ban

However, a Lagos-based lawyer, Mr Femi Falana (SAN), called for the unbundling of INEC. This, he said, would have averted the last-minute postponement of the elections originally scheduled to hold last Saturday.

Falana, in a statement he issued in the aftermath of the rescheduling of the polls, also criticised INECs decision to stop campaigns by parties.

He said political parties were by Section 99 of the Electoral Act allowed to campaign up till 24 hours to the new date of elections.

According to him, with the delay of the elections by one week, political parties campaign period had changed and would only end 24 hours to the elections.

FG forced INEC to postpone elections, says Wike

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said contrary to excuses being fed Nigerians, the Federal Government pressured the INEC chairman to postpone the elections.

Wike, who made these remarks in a statement issued in Port Harcourt on Sunday, said he was sure that Nigerians were shocked to note that despite the assurances from the commission, the elections were postponed.

The governor alleged that the Federal Government had sensed that it was going to lose the February 16, 2019 elections, adding that it allegedly ordered the commission to begin a process of staggering the elections. This, Wike said, would be done by postponing elections in Rivers and other strategic states including Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Kwara to other dates.

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disease control institute law implementation

The Lagos State House of Assembly has urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to ensure proper sensitization of the residents of the state about the dreaded Coronavirus and implementation of existing laws on Cancer and Disease Control Institute.

The issue was raised under Matter of Urgent Public Importance by Hon. Akeem Shokunle (Oshodi/Isolo 1) during plenary on Monday and it was seconded by Hon. Lukman Olumo (Ajeromi/Ifelodun 1).

Shokunle, who chairs the House Committen on Health, stated that it was important that the Governor should sensitize the people of Lagos State on the matter and implement the law passed by the 8th Assembly on Cancer And Diseases Control Institute.

Sanwo-Olu was also urged to direct the State Commissioner for Education to do proper awareness on Coronavirus in all public and private schools in the state.

Speaker Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa of the House, who thanked members for their contributions to the matter, stated that issue of placing a ban on airlines from the countries affected by Coronavirus had to be re-considered due to the economic consequences.

The Federal Government and Lagos State Government are working hand in hand to curb the spread of Coronavirus.

We should commend our State Governor for his efforts on the matter. But, we should call on the Governor to implement the provision of the law on Centre For Cancer and Diseases Control, which was passed in the 8th Assembly.

People, who had contact with the Italian man suspected to have been infected with Coronavurus are being watched. We should standby at all times to reduce or prevent the incursion of such a disease into our state, he said.

Obasa stressed that the state government needed to reach out to many organizations including the local government authorities, CDAs, CDCs, NURTW and others to educate them so that they could pass information to the people.

He advised that people can stop going to mosques, churches and parties for now.

We should wear mask or wash our hands. We can use handkerchiefs when we go to gatherings.

The Commissioner For Education should ensure adequate campaigns in our public and private schools, he said.

Contributing, the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu 1) stated that residents of the state should be urged to comply with all the preventive measures to keep away from Coronavirus.

He added that where any case is suspected, there are telephone lines that have been released for the people to call.

Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti Osa 2) stated that people should stop spreading fake news about Coronavirus.

Yishawu gave an example of where it was reported that the Italian man that was quarantined by the state government over Coronavirus wanted to escape from where he was being kept.

Also speaking, Hon. Abiodun Tobun (Epe1) thanked the state government for their efforts on the matter and advised the people not to spread the disease beyond where it is.

It happened in China and not Nigeria, it is only one case that was reported in Lagos.

We should know how to handle it. We know what happened during the time of Ebola, when the state government curtailed it.

We should take our health with seriousness. We have to take our hygiene seriously and protect ourselves from diseases.

The people should be told the preventive measures. We should also educate our people. Our healthcare centres should use completely disposable materials, and the state government should invest in disposable materials, when handling issues relating to Coronavirus, he said.

Hon. Victor Akande Ojo 1 constituency in his take on the matter,notes that it is high time,they started taking things seriously.

When Coronavirus came it is imperative on federal government to debar people from affected countries access to Nigeria.

It is high time to look inward,to do the needful on the porous borders and boundaries. As state legislators we need a scientist to set in motion research to come up with vaccines.

Hon. Mojisola Macaulay Amuwo Odofin constituency 1, in her own contribution cited the fact that China has close ties with the state legislature.

 I suggest a visit to the Chinese consulate due to the fact that he has paid a courtesy call on the Speaker,when we make the visit we can get information on the travel itinerary of the Chinese citizen in Nigeria.

We should pay a courtesy visit to show our humanitarian posture.

The Deputy Speaker,Hon Wasiu Eshilokun also corroborated the need for sanitizer and other hygiene measures to be maintained.

Others who contributed to the matter included,Hon. Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland 2), Hon. Lukman Olumo (Ajeromi/Ifelodun 1), Hon. Adedamola Richard (Ikeja 2).
Almost everyone has been guilty at some point of "saying the quiet part out loud." The phrase akin to publicly expressing a sentiment that one is expected to keep to oneself, revealing at times an ulterior motive.

You might know you're violating someone's trust, but you're not supposed to acknowledge your chicanery in front of an audience.

Illinois' state legislators didn't outdo themselves this year, but that's no indication of a victory or a job well done. As always, they shame themselves with their ordinary behavior.

The Illinois legislature has Democratic supermajorities in both chambers. Democrats have held the governorship for 17 of the last 21 years. They can run the show on their own, and Republicans complain that's exactly what they're doing.

But they can't meet their own generous deadlines. Again this year, the final votes were made while most of us were sleeping. Lee Enterprises reporter Brenden Moore detailed in his coverage a Republican stunt that forced additional votes on a bill already considered passed.

Holding a superminority that all but eliminates their ability to participate in the legislation pushed through, Republicans requested a late verification of the vote, which required every member to be at their desk or risk their vote being struck.

After 3 a.m. the House chamber appears to have been as disorganized as the aftermath of a house party that ends at a similar hour, leading to the vote failing for absent or faltering Democrats and for Republican Rep. Randy Frese casting a yes only to scurry out the door so his fellow party members could strike his vote.

But instead of outrage at the childlike play masquerading as politics, the participants congratulated themselves. Hours after the vote, Gov. J.B. Pritzker was asked if exhausted legislators passing a large spending bill early in the morning was responsible behavior.

Well, the budget came out about a week ago, so people have had almost a week to look at almost every aspect of it. Thursday, but whatever. There were days and days. People like to say, It came to my desk an hour before we had to vote on it. Thats not true. That didnt happen this year. The fact that they voted on it early in the morning was really a function of everybody wanted to go home. It had been a pretty long couple of weeks for the legislature.

Well, that answers the question without actually answering what was asked. And apparently shows how much lower the bar is than what we thought.

He and the lawmakers who cast their final votes of the session had the opportunity to feign disapproval at the very least, rather than grin at the behavior that proved, as House Speaker Chris Welch said, The House is definitely not boring.

Normally, in a situation like this, those like Pritzker who are caught saying the quiet part out loud make efforts to at least appear concerned enough to pay lip service to making changes.

We won't hold our breath.
The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), Deputy Chief Executive in charge of Administration and Human Resources, Dr. Yaa Pokuaa Baiden (Mrs.) says womens access to equitable healthcare is a fundamental human right.



She thus advocates a collective call to action to develop comprehensivestrategies for womens health access.



She was addressing the 2nd Africa Womens Health Summit held in Accra under the theme, A New Dawn of Partnership for Womens Health.



In her keynote address, Dr. Yaa Pokuaa Baiden (Mrs.) reiterated the need for a renewed synergies between healthcare institutions, the development communityand Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) to realizing the vision of a world where every woman can live a healthy, dignified, and fulfilling life.



To the private sector and NGOs, let us leverage our collective resources to ensure affordability and equitable distribution of essential medicines. Together,by fostering our culture of innovation and collaboration, we can create a future where access to essential medicines and vaccines is not a privilege but a fundamental human right for all women in Ghana. When women have access to quality healthcare, they are empowered to live healthier lives, contribute more fully to their communities, and build a brighter future for themselves and the families.



I can assure you that the National Health Insurance Authority remains steadfast in its commitment to womens health. We are confident that through continued innovation, we can improve the health of all.



To our fellow healthcare institutions, let us share best practices and jointly develop comprehensive strategies for womens health access. To the research and development community, let us work together to accelerate innovative solutions for women-specific healthcare needs.



She highlighted financing womens healthcare, healthcare financing models that suit women, innovative ways which Ghanas National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) has employed to increase access to medicines for women in Ghana, the role of public-private collaboration to effectively increase access to women's health products, potential partnerships between governments, pharmaceutical companies, and non-profit organizations to drive innovation.



She said, Our focus today is on the innovative approaches employed by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to increase access to medicines and vaccines for women across the nation. Through visionary policies, strategic partnerships, and community-centred initiatives, NHIS has emerged as a trailblazer in the quest for universal healthcare coverage and gender-sensitive healthcare delivery.



We at NHIA recognize that better health is intrinsically linked to prosperity, and womens well-being is central to achieving sustainable development.



Dr. Yaa Pokuaa Baiden (Mrs.) delved into some innovative strategies implemented by the National Health Insurance Authority to enhance access to essential medicines and vaccines for women nationwide.



She referenced the introduction of free maternal care, inclusion of Breast and Cervical cancer treatment to the NHIS Benefit Package, inclusion of Family Planning Services and Partnerships as a model to facilitate access to medicines.



Touching on the specifics, she expatiated, Among the pioneering initiatives spearheaded by the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), perhaps none is more emblematic of innovation and impact than the provision of free maternal care. This groundbreaking intervention stands as a testament to NHIA unwavering commitment to ensuring that no woman is left behind in the journey towards safer pregnancies and healthier futures. Under the umbrella of free maternal care, NHIS has dismantled financial barriers that once hindered access to essential healthcare services for pregnant women across the nation.



By covering the cost of antenatal care including routine antenatal medications and medications for managing complications of pregnancy such as eclampsia, postnatal care, and emergency obstetric care, NHIS has transformed the landscape of maternal health, making quality healthcare a reality for women from all walks of life.



This innovative approach not only saves lives but also embodies the principles of equity, dignity, and social justice. By removing the financial burden of maternal healthcare, NHIS empowers women to seek timely and appropriate care during pregnancy and childbirth, reducing the risk of maternal mortality and morbidity. furthermore, free maternal care serves as a powerful catalyst for improving women's health outcomes beyond the maternal period. To ensure that women receive comprehensive healthcare services throughout pregnancy and childbirth, NHIS lays the foundation for lifelong health and well-being, not only for mothers but also for their children and families.



She underscored the importance of the inclusion of breast cancer treatment and a specialist anti breast cancer expensive drug called Herceptin to the NHIS Benefit Package, which has so far benefited over thousand (1000) women, suffering from that disease condition.



In 2018, the Ministry of Health signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Roche to work together to fight breast cancer in Ghana. This culminated in the signing of a supply contract that reduced the cost of Herceptin by 70 percent.thereby, allowing the inclusion of the treatment of breast and cervical cancers to the benefit package, an innovative initiative by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) underscoring its commitment to women's health.



This visionary step represents a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to combat two of the most prevalent and deadly forms of cancer affecting women in Ghana and beyond. By expanding the NHIS benefit package to encompass treatment for breast and cervical cancers, NHIS has not only saved lives but also transformed the landscape of cancer care in the country. For countless women diagnosed with these devastating diseases, access to life-saving treatments such as chemotherapy, and surgical interventions is no longer a distant dream but a tangible reality, thanks to the NHIS.



She added, Prior to this partnership, less than 10 HER2+ breast cancer patients in a year could complete treatment. However, since July 2019, when Herceptin was first made available through the NHIS, approximately a 1,000Ghanaian patients have been able to access this innovative treatment for HER2-positive breast cancer, thanks to the foresight and dedication of NHIA. This represents a profound leap forward in cancer care, offering hope and healing to those facing a diagnosis once considered insurmountable. The NHIA has saved over $ 19 million through this partnership. This approach to cancer care does not only address the immediate healthcare needs of affected women but also addresses the broader systemic challenges that have long hindered access to quality cancer treatment in Ghana.



Herceptin, the brand name of Trastuzumab + Recombinant Human Hyaluronidase, is a breakthrough medication used in the treatment of breast, oesophageal, and stomach cancers. Its inclusion in the NHIS benefit package represents a significant milestone in the ongoing fight against cancer, particularly HER2-positive breast cancer, a subtype known for its aggressive nature and limited treatment options. The inclusion of breast and cervical cancer treatment in the NHIS benefit package reflects a commitment to gender-sensitive healthcare delivery and a recognition of the unique health needs and vulnerabilities of women.



By prioritizing these critical healthcare services, NHIA is taking a decisive step towards closing the gap in cancer care and ensuring that all women can receive timely and appropriate treatment, regardless of their socioeconomic status or geographic location, Dr. Yaa Pokuaa reaffirmed.



She touted the inclusion of Family Planning Services to the NHIS Benefit Package saying. The National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) championed family planning as a vital component of women's health and empowerment. Recognizing the pivotal role of family planning in advancing reproductive rights, improving maternal and child health outcomes, and promoting gender equality, the NHIS in 2021 included Family planning in its benefit package.



Through its network of credentialed healthcare providers, NHIS offers a comprehensive range of contraceptive methods, including injectables, implants, intrauterine devices (IUDs) and tubal ligation at no cost to beneficiaries. By taking up the cost of family planning NHIS ensures that women from all socioeconomic backgrounds have access to a wide spectrum of contraceptive options, empowering them to make informed decisions about their reproductive health and well-being.



She lauded strategic partnerships as a model to facilitate access to medicines.Creation of partnerships between local and foreign pharmaceutical firms has also proven to aid in the acquisition and access to medicines. We must, here, be grateful to such partners as they move away from profit-driven motives to efforts at addressing health equities. This can be seen in the areas of vaccine production and anti-malarias. In so doing remedies to tackle diseases that disproportionately affect women and usually children in developing countries like ours are found. Through these partnerships, essential medicines are not only developed but also made accessible through sustainable distribution channels. The involvement of various stakeholders, including the NHIS ensures that these medicines reach those who need them most. The NHIA has been instrumental in the acquisition of vaccines in country. In 2022 the authority purchased for the Ministry of Health vaccines worth 71 million Ghana Cedis for distribution countrywide.



Dr. Yaa Pokuaa talked about medications on the NHIS medicines list in generic forms.



In its relentless pursuit of equitable healthcare access, the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) has embraced a transformative strategy: the inclusion of medications in their generic names on the medicines list. This seemingly simple yet profoundly impactful approach represents a paradigm shift in pharmaceutical procurement and prescribing practices, with far-reaching implications for women's health and well-being across the nation. By prioritizing generic medications over brand-name equivalents, NHIA has not only reduced healthcare costs but also expanded access to essential medicines for women from all socioeconomic backgrounds. Generic medications, which are bioequivalent to their brand-name counterparts but typically more affordable, offer a cost-effective solution to the rising burden of out-of-pocket healthcare expenses faced by many Ghanaian families.



This innovative approach not only enhances access to essential medicines for women but also fosters a culture of stewardship and sustainability within the healthcare system. By optimizing resource allocation and promoting the use of cost-effective medications, NHIS maximizes the impact of limited healthcare funds, ensuring that every Ghanaian woman can access the medications she needs to lead a healthy and fulfilling life.



She called for tactical Public-Private-Partnership in the journey towards creating a better, healthier future for women everywhere.



As we celebrate the progress made in improving women's health, we must also acknowledge the critical importance of sustained investment in healthcare infrastructure, workforce training, and research to further advance women's health outcomes. African governments can enter into financing agreements with banks/ financial institutions to procure expensive medical and diagnostic equipment in that direction. While we have made significant strides in recent years, much work remains to be done to address the complex and multifaceted healthcare needs of women across the globe. I believe we can achieve this through a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) health financing model.







Dr. Yaa Pokuaa Baiden (Mrs.) celebrated female continuous dominance in the NHIS active membership ratings saying, Official data in 2019 indicated that female members dominated active membership of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) with a national outlook of 58.6 per cent against 41.4 per cent males. From the 2022 National census it indicated that health insurance coverage for women was 90 per cent, an increment from 40 per cent reported for women in the 2008 report.



With these figures, it is evident that the National Health Insurance Scheme cannot be truly effective without tailored solutions aimed at addressing women's specific health needs.



The 2nd Africa Womens Health Summit was spearheaded by a Pan-African consulting firm in Africa known as the Africa Health Business (AHB), in collaboration with Roche, Healthcare Federation Ghana and MSD.



The objective was to address the pressing issues of ensuring equitable access to medicines and vaccines for women's health across the African continent.

Source: Haadiya Amadu Yakubu









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 recent inauguration ceremony of the Board of Governors at Bontrase Senior High Technical School, on Thursday, 30th May 2024, was marred by an altercation involving Gizella Agbotui Tetteh, the NDC Member of Parliament (MP) for Awutu Senya West, who unleashed a torrent of abuse and insults directed at the Headmaster of the school and the District Director of Education, Mr. Isaac Acquah Arhin.



The controversy erupted when Gizella Agbotui Tetteh learned that Mr. Eugene Arhin, the Director of Communications at the Office of the President and the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Awutu Senya West, had been invited to the ceremony.



The MP, visibly upset, accused the Headmaster and Mr. Acquah Arhin of undermining her position by inviting Mr. Eugene Arhin, whom she believed was there to steal her spotlight.



Eyewitnesses reported that Tetteh was heard ranting and raving, using invectives and unpalatable words towards the two officials throughout the event.



Her frustration appeared to escalate whenever she saw Mr. Eugene Arhin, leading to multiple threats to snatch the microphone away from Mr. Acquah Arhin if he did not yield to her demands.



Despite her aggressive outbursts, Mr. Acquah Arhin stood his ground, maintaining his composure and refusing to be intimidated.



The incident reached a peak after the event when Gizella Tetteh continued her tirade, delivering a barrage of insults to Mr. Acquah Arhin in front of shocked onlookers.



Many attendees were taken aback by the MPs uncouth behaviour, expressing their dismay at the lack of decorum displayed by an elected representative.



In stark contrast to the chaotic scenes instigated by Tetteh, the event took a positive turn with an announcement by Mr. Eugene Arhin.



He revealed that officials from the National Projects Office of the Electricity Company of Ghana had been brought in to connect the school to the national electricity grid, a move that was met with rapturous applause from students and teachers alike.



Additionally, Mr. Eugene Arhin donated two computers and six street lights to the school, further lifting the spirits of the school community.



The contrasting behaviours of the two political figures have sparked discussions among the residents of Awutu Senya West, highlighting the stark differences in their approaches to public service and community engagement.

Source: wontumionline.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 Ga State is set to in collaboration with the government (Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development and, the Greater Accra Regional Coordinating Council together with Zoomlion Ghana Limited embark on a massive clean-up exercise aimed at cleaning the capital city, Accra.



The initiative, the Homowo Clean Up Exercise, is part of the activities to mark this year's annual Homowo festival of the Ga people.



His Royal Majesty, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, Ga Manste, has thrown his mighty weight behind the initiative, urging all chiefs and people of Ga State to participate in the clean-up exercises fully. He also called on the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to support the traditional council in the project.



"Let's get to work and get Accra clean and working again," he emphasized.

Ga Manste made the call when the Greater Accra Regional Minster and the Minister of Sanitation paid a courtesy call on him at the Ga Manste palace on Friday, May 31 2024.



The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Nii Titus Glover, assured the Ga Manste of the support from the Regional Coordinating Council to ensure the success of the initiative. He also promised that public education and general sanitation concerns would be intensified during this period.



On her part, Madam Lydia Seyram Alhassan, Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources, commended the traditional authority for taking the lead role in the initiative, adding that their influence would yield positive results.



The objectives of the Homowo Clean Up Exercise include promoting a clean and green environment, enhancing public waste collection and cleansing, promoting public education and law enforcement on cleanliness, and improving public health.



Zoomlion Ghana Limited, the African waste management expert, will provide logistical support for the exercise throughout the programme.



The participation of traditional authority in the clean-up exercise can command community respect and influence, highlight cultural significance, resolve minor conflicts and promote cooperation



The initiative will also include sustainability sensitization, public education, sanitation awards schemes, and monthly clean-up days.



The expected impact of the project includes reducing pollution and health risks, promoting tourism, reducing public health care costs, and environmental damage mitigation.

It is also expected to increase community pride and sense of ownership, raise awareness and public education and improve visual appeal.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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

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The World Bank has pledged $250 million to support Ghana's financial sector stability through a five-year project.



In a statement, the World Bank said the loan, approved on May 30, 2024, will be provided by the International Development Association (IDA), a World Bank arm dedicated to assisting low-income countries.



This project aligns with Ghana's Financial Sector Strengthening Strategy (FSSS) and aims to address the impact of th

e country's Domestic Debt Exchange Programme (DDEP) on banks and financial institutions.



The project will support the FSSS by contributing to financial stability through the recapitalization of viable Banks and Specialized Deposit-taking Institutions (SDIs) impacted by the DDEP.



"The financial system is the lifeblood of Ghana's economy," said Robert R. Taliercio, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. "This project will strengthen financial stability by providing solvency support to banks and institutions affected by the DDEP, ensuring continued access to essential financial services for Ghanaians."



The funds will be channelled through the Ghana Financial Sector Stability Fund (GFSF), established by the government to support struggling institutions. This project prioritizes immediate assistance to eligible undercapitalized banks and financial institutions, with provisions for future support if needed.



"The World Bank's support aims to mitigate short-term shocks and promote long-term resilience in Ghana's financial sector," explained Carlos Leonardo Vicente, Senior Financial Specialist and Team Lead for the project. "Financial stability is crucial for protecting Ghanaians and preserving jobs."



This initiative complements other World Bank programs in Ghana, including the Development Policy Financing series and the IMF's Extended Credit Facility. These programmes focus on broader economic reforms and enabling financial institutions to operate profitably. The World Bank also supports projects focused on economic recovery and job creation, such as the Ghana Development Financing Project.



The World Bank's International Development Association (IDA) has a long history of assisting low-income countries. Since its inception in 1960, IDA has provided financial assistance to 114 countries, with a particular focus on Africa.



Read the entire World Bank statement below;



World Bank Supports Ghana to Strengthen its Financial Sector



WASHINGTON, May 30th, 2024  The World Bank today approved a $250 million International Development Association (IDA)* credit for a five-year Ghana Financial Stability Project. The project will support Ghanas Financial Sector Strengthening Strategy (FSSS) by contributing to financial stability through the recapitalization of viable Banks and Specialized Deposit-taking Institutions (SDIs) impacted by Ghanas Domestic Debt Exchange Program (DDEP).



The financial system is critical to the functioning of the Ghanaian economy, providing critical services to households, firms, government, and supporting economic growth. To address the severe impact of the DDEP on financial institutions, the Government established the Ghana Financial Sector Stability Fund (GFSF) to provide solvency support to banks, pension funds, insurance companies fund managers and collective investment schemes.



This project will contribute to Ghanas financial stability, by providing solvency support to banks and SDIs impacted by the DDEP through the GFSF. said Robert R. Taliercio, World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Through direct support to banks and SDIs, the project will benefit Ghanas financial sector and the economy by supporting the access of depositors and other financial consumers to savings, payments, and other core financial services provided by adequately capitalized banks and SDIs.



The Ghana Financial Stability project is expected to immediately benefit eligible undercapitalized but viable banks and SDIs and become accessible to other banks and SDIs that may need support in the future due to potential new losses and providing a backstop against unexpected losses.



The World Bank Groups support aims to help address short-term shocks to improve prospects for long-term sustainable development and long-term resilience against future shocks. The project promotes financial stability, a key requirement to protect people and preserve jobs, said Carlos Leonardo Vicente, Senior Financial Specialist and Team Lead.



The project complements the World Banks Development Program Financing series and the IMF-Extended Credit Facility, which support reforms to improve the macroeconomic environment and enable financial institutions to operate profitably and generate internal capital. It also complements other World Bank funded projects aimed at economic recovery and job creation in Ghana, such as the Ghana Development Financing Project which supported the establishment of the Development Bank of Ghana and provides long-term financing to small and medium enterprises and small corporates.



*The World Banks International Development Association (IDA), established in 1960, helps the worlds poorest countries by providing grants and low to zero-interest credits for projects and programs that boost economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve poor peoples lives. IDA is one of the largest sources of assistance for the worlds 74 poorest countries, 39 of which are in Africa. Resources from IDA bring positive change to the 1.3 billion people who live in IDA countries. Since 1960, IDA has provided $458 billion to 114 countries. Annual commitments have averaged about $29 billion over the last three years (FY19-FY21), with about 70 percent going to Africa. Learn more online: IDA.worldbank.org. #IDAworks.









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Jessie Fuentes, who works providing people with canoes and kayaks, walks along the Rio Grande with the sun pushing the temperature into the 90s on July 6, 2023. The death certificates of more than 2,300 people who died in the United States last summer mention the effects of excessive heat, the highest number in 45 years of records, according to an Associated Press analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. With May already breaking heat records, 2024 could be even deadlier. Credit: AP Photo/Eric Gay, File

David Hom suffered from diabetes and felt nauseated before he went out to hang his laundry in 108-degree weather, another day in Arizona's record-smashing, unrelenting July heat wave.

His family found the 73-year-old lying on the ground, his lower body burned. Hom died at the hospital, his core body temperature at 107 degrees.

The death certificates of more than 2,300 people who died in the United States last summer mention the effects of excessive heat, the highest number in 45 years of records, according to an Associated Press analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. With May already breaking heat records, 2024 could be even deadlier.

And more than two dozen doctors, public health experts, and meteorologists told the AP that last year's figure was only a fraction of the real death toll. Coroner, hospital, ambulance and weather records show America's heat and health problem at an entirely new level.

"We can be confident saying that 2023 was the worst year we've had from since ... we've started having reliable reporting on that," said Dr. John Balbus, director of the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Last year, ambulances were dispatched tens of thousands of times after people dropped from the heat. It was relentless and didn't give people a break, especially at night. The heat of 2023 kept coming, and people kept dying.

"It's people that live the hot life. These are the ones who are dying. People who work outside, people that can't air-condition their house," said Texas A&M climate scientist Andrew Dessler, who was in hard-hit southern Texas. "It's really quite, quite grim."

Dallas postal worker Eugene Gates Jr., loved working outdoors and at 7:30 a.m. June 20, the 66-year-old texted his wife that it was close to 90 degrees. He kept working in the heat that felt like 119 degrees with the humidity factored in and finally passed out in somebody's yard. He ran a fever of 104.6 degrees and died, with the medical examiner saying heat contributed to his death.

"The way that my husband died, it could have been prevented," said Carla Gates.

"There's just very low awareness that heat kills. It's the silent killer," said University of Washington public health scientist Kristie Ebi, who helped write a United Nations special report on extreme weather. That 2012 report warned of future dangerous heat waves.

Ebi said in the last few years, the heat "seems like it's coming faster. It seems like it's more severe than we expected."

DEATHS DOWN SOUTH

Last summer's heat wave killed differently than past ones that triggered mass deaths in northern cities where people weren't used to the high temperatures and air conditioning wasn't common. Several hundreds died in the Pacific Northwest in 2021, in Philadelphia in 1998 and in Chicago in 1995.

Nearly three-quarters of the heat deaths last summer were in five southern states that were supposed to be used to the heat and planned for it. Except this time they couldn't handle it, and it killed 874 people in Arizona, 450 in Texas, 226 in Nevada, 84 in Florida and 83 in Louisiana.

Those five states accounted for 61% of the nation's heat deaths in the last five years, skyrocketing past their 18% share of U.S. deaths from 1979 to 1999.

At least 645 people were killed by the heat in Maricopa County, Arizona, alone, according to the medical examiner's office. People were dying in their cars and especially on the streets, where homelessness, drug abuse and mental illness made matters worse.

Three months after being evicted from her home, 64-year-old Diana Smith was found dead in the back of her car. Her cause of death was methamphetamine and fentanyl, worsened by heat exposure, Phoenix's medical examiner ruled.

"In the last five years, we are seeing this consistent and record kind of unprecedented upward trend. And I think it's because the levels of heat that we have seen in the last several years have exceeded what we had seen in the last 20 or 30," said Balbus, of the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity at the Department of Health and Human Services.

UNRELENTING HEAT

Phoenix saw 20 consecutive days of extreme heat stress in July, the longest run of such dangerously hot days in the city since at least 1940, according to the data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Phoenix wasn't alone.

Last year the U.S. had the most heat waves since 1936. In the South and Southwest, Last year was the worst on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

"It was crazy," said University of Miami tropical meteorology researcher Brian McNoldy, who spent the summer documenting how Miami broke its daily heat index record 40% of the days between mid-June and mid-October.

Houston's Hobby airport broke daily high temperature marks 43 times, meteorologists said. Nighttime lows set records for heat 57 times, they said. That didn't give people's bodies chances to recover.

Across five southern states, the average rate of emergency department visits for heat illness in the summer of 2023 was over double that of the previous five summers, according to an analysis of data from the CDC.

THE DEATHS

Experts warned that counting heat mortality based on death certificates leads to underestimates. Heat illness can be missed, or might not be mentioned.

They pointed to "excess death" studies for a more realistic count. These are the type of long-accepted epidemiological studies that look at grand totals of deaths during unusual conditionssuch as hot days, high air pollution or a spreading COVID-19 pandemicand compare them to normal times, creating an expected trend line.

Texas A&M's Dessler and his colleague Jangho Lee published one such study early last year. According to their methods, Lee said, about 11,000 heat deaths likely occurred in 2023 in the U.S.a figure that would represent a record since at least 1987 and is about five times the number reported on death certificates.

Deaths are also up because of better reporting, and because Americans are getting older and more vulnerable to heat, Lee said. The population is also slowly shifting to cities, which are more exposed to heat.

THE FUTURE

In some places, last year's heat already rivals the worst on record. As of late May, Miami was on track to be 1.5 degrees warmer than the hottest May on record, according to McNoldy. Dallas' Murphy pointed to maps saying conditions with a broiling Mexico are "eerily similar to what we saw last June" so he is worried about "a very brutal summer."

Texas A&M's Dessler said last year's heat was "a taste of the future."

"I just think in 20 years, you know, 2040 rolls around ... we're going to look back at 2023 and say, man, that was cool," Dessler said. "The problem with climate change is if if it hasn't pushed you over the edge yet, just wait."

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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How the Atlantic Ocean circulation would change as it slowed. Credit: IPCC 6th Assessment Report

When people think about the risks of climate change, the idea of abrupt changes is pretty scary. Movies like "The Day After Tomorrow" feed that fear, with visions of unimaginable storms and populations fleeing to escape rapidly changing temperatures.

While Hollywood clearly takes liberties with the speed and magnitude of disasters, several recent studies have raised real-world alarms that a crucial ocean current that circulates heat to northern countries might shut down this century, with potentially disastrous consequences.

That scenario has happened in the past, most recently more than 16,000 years ago. However, it relies on Greenland shedding a lot of ice into the ocean.

Our new research, published in the journal Science, suggests that while Greenland is indeed losing huge and worrisome volumes of ice right now, that might not continue for long enough to shut down the current on its own. A closer look at evidence from the past shows why.

Blood and water

The Atlantic current system distributes heat and nutrients on a global scale, much like the human circulatory system distributes heat and nutrients around the body.

Warm water from the tropics circulates northward along the U.S. Atlantic coast before crossing the Atlantic. As some of the warm water evaporates and the surface water cools, it becomes saltier and denser. Denser water sinks, and this colder, denser water circulates back south at depth. The variations in heat and salinity fuel the pumping heart of the system.

If the Atlantic circulation system weakened, it could lead to a world of climate chaos.

Ice sheets are made of fresh water, so the rapid release of icebergs into the Atlantic Ocean can lower the ocean's salinity and slow the pumping heart. If the surface water is no longer able to sink deep and the circulation collapses, dramatic cooling would likely occur across Europe and North America. Both the Amazon rain forest and Africa's Sahel region would become dryer, and Antarctica's warming and melting would accelerate, all in a matter of years to decades.

Today, the Greenland ice sheet is melting rapidly, and some scientists worry that the Atlantic current system may be headed for a climate tipping point this century. But is that worry warranted?

To answer that, we need to look back in time.

Greenlands ice loss, measured from the Grace and Grace-FO satellites. Credit: NASA

A radioactive discovery

In the 1980s, a junior scientist named Hartmut Heinrich and his colleagues extracted a series of deep-sea sediment cores from the ocean floor to study whether nuclear waste could be safely buried in the deep North Atlantic.

Sediment cores contain a history of everything that accumulated on that part of the ocean floor over hundreds of thousands of years. Heinrich found several layers with lots of mineral grains and rock fragments from land.

The sediment grains were too large to have been carried to the middle of the ocean by the wind or ocean currents alone. Heinrich realized they must have been brought there by icebergs, which had picked up the rock and mineral when the icebergs were still part of glaciers on land.

The layers with the most rock and mineral debris, from a time when the icebergs must have come out in force, coincided with severe weakening of the Atlantic current system. Those periods are now known as Heinrich events.

As paleoclimate scientists, we use natural records such as sediment cores to understand the past. By measuring uranium isotopes in the sediments, we were able to determine the deposition rate of sediments dropped by icebergs. The amount of debris allowed us to estimate how much fresh water those icebergs added to the ocean and compare it with today to assess whether history might repeat itself in the near future.

Why a shutdown isn't likely soon

So, is the Atlantic current system headed for a climate tipping point because of Greenland melting? We think it's unlikely in the coming decades.

While Greenland is losing huge volumes of ice right nowworryingly comparable to a midrange Heinrich eventthe ice loss will likely not continue for long enough to shut down the current on its own.

Icebergs are much more effective at disrupting the current than meltwater from land, in part because icebergs can carry fresh water directly out to the locations where the current sinks. Future warming, however, will force the Greenland ice sheet to recede away from the coast too soon to deliver enough fresh water by iceberg.

The strength of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation, or AMOC, is projected to decline 24% to 39% by 2100. By then, Greenland's iceberg formation will be closer to the weakest Heinrich events of the past. Heinrich events, in contrast, lasted 200 years or so.

Instead of icebergs, meltwater pouring into the Atlantic at the island's edge is projected to become the leading cause of Greenland's thinning. Meltwater still sends fresh water into the ocean, but it mixes with seawater and tends to move along the coast rather than directly freshening the open ocean as drifting icebergs do.

That doesn't mean the current isn't at risk

The future trajectory of the Atlantic current system will likely be determined by a combination of the decelerating but more effective icebergs and the accelerating but less influential surface runoff. That will be compounded by rising ocean surface temperatures that could further slow the current.

So, the Earth's pumping heart could still be at risk, but history suggests that the risk is not as imminent as some people fear.

In "The Day After Tomorrow," a slowdown of the Atlantic current system froze New York City. Based on our research, we may take some comfort in knowing that such a scenario is unlikely in our lifetimes. Nevertheless, robust efforts to stop climate change remain necessary to ensure the protection of future generations.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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The Great Barrier Reef, seen from a scenic flight near Airlie beach, Queensland. Credit: Ayanadak123, Wikimedia Commons.

Research led by the University of Hawaii at Manoa Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) has led to a new tool for forecasting coral disease that could help conservationists step in at the right times with key interventions. Ecological forecasts are critical tools for conserving and managing marine ecosystems, but few forecasting systems can account for the wide range of ecological complexities in near-real-time.

Using ecological and marine environmental conditions, the "Multi-Factor Coral Disease Risk" product predicts the risk of two diseases across reefs in the central and western Pacific and along the east coast of Australia. An article introducing the new tool was published in Ecological Applications.

The tool can be accessed through the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coral Reef Watch program, and can help end users detect early changes in the environment and better protect coral reef ecosystems.

"Partnering with NOAA Coral Reef Watch, our team developed ecological forecasts to predict the times and conditions when coral disease outbreaks are most likely to occur," said Principal Investigator and HIMB Interim Director Megan Donahue.

"We are really excited about this new tool," said lead author, Jamie Caldwell, of High Meadows Environmental Institute at Princeton University. "Users can employ this tool to make decisions about how to manage coral health, similar to how we use weather forecasts to decide how to pack for an upcoming trip."

Jamie Caldwell conducts a coral health survey on Hawaii Island. Credit: Courtney Couch

More than half a billion people depend on Earth's coral reefs, and ensuring their resilience in the face of many threats is an ongoing challenge for managers. Tools like this help ensure these vital ecosystems survive.

Understanding localized risks

Insights gleaned from the tool can help managers better understand localized risks of coral disease and develop timely strategies for intervention.

"A key project element was the consultation with and input from coral reef managers from across the Pacific, including here in Australia," said Professor Scott Heron, a collaborator from James Cook University. "We've also provided several training sessions in the various aspects of how the tool is used so that stakeholders in the varying locations have the best opportunity to inform effective reef management."

Mesophotic coral ecosystems, such as this one found at 230 feet in Maui's 'Au'au Channel, are populated with many of the same fish species found on shallow reefs. Credit: NOAA and Hawaii Undersea Research Laboratory

Coral reefs are the most biologically diverse, species-rich marine ecosystem on Earth. They are culturally significant to Indigenous people throughout the world, and they provide food, jobs, recreation, medicine and coastline protection from storms and erosion. While disease is a natural part of marine ecosystems, increased runoff, global climate change and a slough of human impacts stress corals and cause disease.

The Multi-Factor Coral Disease Risk Product was developed by HIMB, in close collaboration with NOAA Coral Reef Watch, James Cook University, University of Newcastle and University of New South Wales.

More information: Jamie M. Caldwell et al, MultiFactor Coral Disease Risk: A new product for early warning and management, Ecological Applications (2024). DOI: 10.1002/eap.2961 Journal information: Ecological Applications
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

While Peggy McClintick and wife Sally Tuchman slept, an unexpected visitor prowled in their Agoura Hills yard.

McClintick checked her phone around 3:30 a.m. to find a notification that a person was detected by a security camera at her Agoura Hills home.

The alert didn't arouse much suspicion. The camera had been triggered at 11:30 the night before; it could have been caused by someone in a nearby driveway.

She decided to check the footage anywayand "completely freaked out."

Their Ring camera had captured video of a mountain lion leaping easily from a small yard covered with artificial turf onto a cement wall.

The big cat perches there for a moment, appearing to take in the neighborhood, before gracefully walking along the wall.

It jumps off and is swallowed by the night.

When McClintick saw the video, she woke up Tuchman, and they stayed awake the rest of the night going over the implications of what they had seen.

It's not unusual for one of them to walk their roughly 20-pound goldendoodle, Ollie, in that exact spot at that exact time. It's dark as they round the corner until a motion sensor light switches on.

"We feel like we have to now completely change our habits, like we cannot take him out after dark on that side yard anymore," Tuchman said this week. "Because it's very closed in."

For days, walking Ollie there in daylight, "I just would stand there, just look at that spot that she was on and just absolutely panic," she said, "because it is so close to our everyday lives."

The couple refer to the cougar as "she" based on the video, which they believe shows a female mountain lion.

McClintick and Tuchman's home is less than a mile from an expansive urban wildlife crossing being built over the 101 Freeway in an effort to provide safe passage for cougars and other critters.

The Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing is intended to provide a genetic lifeline for isolated lions in the Santa Monica Mountains, which have shown defects from inbreeding and could face extinction without intervention.

Jeremy Wolf, an Agoura Hills City Council member, said the recent video of the mountain lion instilled in him a sense of hope that the crossing would have a positive impact.

"The main star showed up," said Wolf, who has long been involved with the project. "They're around there."

In about a year and a half, when the corridor is expected to be completed, "it will have a crossing to be able to get back and forth," he added. "For it to be that close that soon, it filled me with hope and inspiration to really continue championing the project."

Last week, the final girder was installed on the crossing, completing the foundation and marking a construction milestone.

Wolf alerted the National Park Service and the National Wildlife Federation about the sighting. McClintick and Tuchman reported it to the Cougar Conservancy.

The lion does not appear to be wearing a collar or tag, indicating it's not being tracked or studied by scientists.

McClintick was Wolf's music teacher growing up, and she sent him the mountain lion videoknowing his enthusiasm for the subject.

McClintick said she and Tuchman see the crossing as a good thing, even as they recover from the shock of having a big cat so close to their living quarters.

"We just feel we have to coexist, right?" she said.

She didn't think a wild animal would jump into their yard, however, which didn't seem that easy to access, even for those with four muscular legs. It's steep on the other side of the wall depicted in the video.

"I was proven wrong," she said. "I guess wild animals do jump into your backyard."

2024 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Emerging market multinational corporations (EMNCs) have been in the headlines recently due to TikTok's travails in the United States. The US Senate voted in late April to ban TikTok in the United States if its owner, the Chinese tech firm ByteDance, fails to divest the popular video app, with Republican Senator Marco Rubio saying it had been "dangerously short-sighted" to allow the Chinese Communist Party to control one of the most popular apps in the US.

SMU Associate Professor of Strategy & Entrepreneurship at Lee Kong Chian School of Business, David Gomulya, who has conducted a comprehensive review of EMNCs and their political connections, said that "on paper, TikTok is not owned by the Chinese government but how can anybody disprove there's no pressure or influence from the Chinese government? It's just not black and white."

"Now everyone is waiting with bated breath to see what happens with TikTok. If the US really forces them to change owners, what will the reaction of the Chinese government be?", Professor Gomulya said in an interview with the Office of Research ahead of the US Senate vote.

His paper, "Politically connected EMNCs in a (de)globalising world: A review and future research directions," highlights how emerging market multinationals have become large, significant global players that are often supported by relation-based and/or equity-based political connections to their home country governments "that present both opportunities and challenges."

The work is published in the journal International Business Review.

Is it all poliTik(Tok)s?

Although the paper does not mention TikTok specifically, it is clearly a good example of the challenges presented by political connectionsreal or perceivedwith a foreign government which is considered by another country to be potentially hostile, particularly when it comes to overseas investments.

Professor Gomulya said the study came about due to his interest in geopolitical issues between Washington and Beijing.

Some Chinese companies, he said, had been unable to make acquisitions in the US because of their political connections, "but we didn't want the review to be overly narrow and focused on that. So we widened it to emerging market multinational companies. We contrasted our paper with the existing research on more advanced market multinational corporations (AMNCs) which have been written about to a greater extent."

TikTok is not the only emerging market MNC which has run into difficulties abroad. The Federal Communications Commission in the US is now reportedly moving to prevent Huawei, ZTE, and several other foreign companies deemed to pose national security concerns from certifying wireless equipment.

"The issue's even bigger than just political connections," Professor Gomulya said. "There can be 'perceived' political connections, even though none arguably exist. In our paper we talk about how political connections can be a resource or a liability. From a resource-based view, it can reduce the risk of entering another country because they have the backing of the host country. But it depends on the context."

He and his co-researchers from China's Nankai University, Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, the National University of Singapore, and IMD Business School, found that the effect of political connections had been mixed. "Current studies often provide a fragmented view, with a focus disproportionately centered around state-owned enterprises (SOEs)," the paper states.

"This absence of a holistic conceptual framework makes it challenging to draw broad insights or compare the impacts of various types of political connections across different contexts," it continues, adding that 'addressing this research gap represents a critical step forward in achieving a more nuanced understanding of the multifaceted roles of different political connections in shaping firms' overseas expansion."

Based on content analysis, the researchers narrowed down some 1,271 papers to 74, applying a context-mechanism-outcome framework "for clarity," after organizing the studies according to frameworks such as institutional theory, transitional cost theory and resource dependence theory.

In their view, context matters and this drives the mechanisms. Then, "depending on the processes at play, the outcomes may follow accordingly."

As to whether political connections are more of a liability than a resource, Professor Gomulya said context plays a major role. "If we have political connections between two friendly countries it could be a benefit, as you have the backing of the home country and the resources that come with that. But if it's between two not-so-friendly countries then, of course, it's a liability," he said.

For instance, Chinese companies entering Russia's car and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sectors could be expected to receive a more positive reception that in the US. But, he cautioned, it's not as simple as one country versus another.

Professor Gomulya said, "We also look at the different levels of practice in terms of the context at the micro level within the firm, at the meso level of the industry, and the macro level of the larger political forces that are at play. I think this paper could be very useful for people to understand the geopolitical complexities that are ongoing right now."

Looking back to look ahead

In terms of the paper's research agenda, in addition to conducting a comprehensive review of EMNCs and political connections, the researchers propose potential directions and pose questions for future research, plus identify underdeveloped themes such as deglobalization.

"Deglobalization is interesting because it can mitigate some of the complexities, although many questions remain. For example, to what extent is the world deglobalized into different camps? Maybe political connections don't count in the sense that people just trade in their own clusters like BRICS+ (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, plus Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates)," Professor Gomulya said.

"We hope scholars can move past this, reduce this unnecessary friction, and work together again to create the win-win analysis that we've seen in the past. That's why, I think, they need to learn how to manage this political connection and keep business as business."

He points out that in the US, the people who stand to lose out from TikTok's problems are not only shareholders but also influencers who have invested time and money in attracting advertising and endorsements.

"If they lose those, what's the alternative? Everyone has their own agenda, but we feel there are unnecessary concerns or worries about political connections when they're probably not warrantedalthough I am sure there are cases where they are warranted."

From time to time, governments may even try to block their own firms from making investments overseas. Professor Gomulya cited the example of DiDi, a Chinese company like Uber, which had wanted to list on the New York Stock Exchange. This time it was Beijing which had issues with the move rather than Washington, he said, "as the Chinese government felt it could be used later by the US."

"So it's complicated and the concerns can come from the host country or the home country. But, overall, as management scholars, we feel that those who lose could be shareholders or stakeholders who cannot maximize their potential returns."

While many of the papers reviewed focused on China, Professor Gomulya said they deliberately did not want to frame this simply as a China versus the US issue.

He added, "The flavor of the month could be a given country, but in the future that might change. However, we believe concerns about political connections would still be valid. I keep using the examples of Chinese companies because they're on the front pages of newspapers every day, at least at the moment."

"We hope the paper is timely and will stimulate some debate on this issue. At least it may encourage more scholars to study this topic as we've reviewed the literature and they don't have to start from scratch. We've given them a head start so they can begin from where we are now, hopefully."

More information: Dongdong Huang et al, Politically connected EMNCs in a (de)globalising world: A review and future research directions, International Business Review (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.ibusrev.2023.102196
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Existing fossil fuel projects are sufficient to meet projected energy demands in a global transition to net zero emissions, finds a new study by researchers from UCL and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).

Their policy paper, published in Science, argues that stopping new fossil fuel projects is a crucial step for countries to achieve their climate goals. It recommends that governments legislate to ban new fossil fuel projects as this is easier politically, economically and legally than closing operational projects early.

The researchers analyzed the projected future global demand for oil and gas production, and for coal- and gas-fired power generation, under a range of modeled scenarios that limit climate change to 1.5 Celsius above pre-industrial levels.

The team found that existing fossil fuel capacity is sufficient to meet the energy demands under these scenarios while the planet transitions to clean and renewable energyand that new fossil fuel projects are not necessary.

The research extends work by the International Energy Agency which found in a 2021 report (updated in 2023) that no new fossil fuel extraction projects are needed in the transition to net zero emissions by 2050.

The research team's new work expands on this by analyzing a broad range of scenarios compiled for the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's (IPCC) Sixth Assessment Report that limit climate change to 1.5C above preindustrial levels. Their analysis found that in addition to not needing new fossil fuel extraction, no new coal- and gas-fired power generation was needed.

The research comes at a time of growing contradictions between rhetoric and practice concerning the energy transition. In December 2023 at COP28, UN member nations announced that they agreed in principle to work towards "transitioning away from fossil fuels in energy systems."

However, since that proclamation was announced, the global production and use of fossil fuels has continued to expand, with many governments and fossil fuel industry players claiming that new fossil fuel projects will be needed during the transition to Net Zero. The new UCLIISD research contradicts that claim.

The researchers go on to recommend a 'no new fossil fuels' policy, that would mean preventing new projects for the exploration and extraction of any coal, oil or natural gas reserves. It would also prevent the construction of any new fossil fuel power plants.

Synthesizing evidence from economics, political science, and law, the authors find benefits of this approach for the feasibility of the transition: stopping new projects is less costly, faces fewer legal hurdles, and is politically easier than trying to phase-out existing capacity early.

Drawing lessons from historical processes of social-moral norm change, the researchers find that governments, by banning new fossil fuel projects, and civil society, by advocating such bans, can help to build a global norm against new fossil fuel projects.

Lead author Dr. Fergus Green (UCL Department of Political Science) said, "Our research draws lessons from past shifts in global ethical norms, such as slavery and the testing of nuclear weapons. These cases show that norms resonate when they carry simple demands to which powerful actors can be held immediately accountable.

"Complex, long-term goals like 'net zero emissions by 2050' lack these features, but 'no new fossil fuel projects' is a clear and immediate demand, against which all current governments, and the fossil fuel industry, can rightly be judged. It should serve as a litmus test of whether a government is serious about tackling climate change: if they're allowing new fossil fuel projects, then they're not serious."

Co-author Dr. Steve Pye (UCL Energy Institute) said, "Importantly, our research establishes that there is a rigorous scientific basis for the proposed norm by showing that there is no need for new fossil fuel projects. The clarity that this norm brings should help focus policy on targeting the required ambitious scaling of renewable and clean energy investment, while managing the decline of fossil fuel infrastructure in an equitable and just way."

Co-author Greg Muttitt (Senior Associate, IISD) said, "Our research draws on a large range of scientific evidence, including climate scenarios from the IPCC, but its message to governments and fossil fuel companies is very simple: There is no room for new fossil fuel projects in a 1.5C-aligned world. Achieving the Paris Agreement goals means governments need to stop issuing permits for new fossil fuel exploration, production, or power generation projects."

Co-author Olivier Bois von Kursk (Policy Advisor, IISD) said, "No new fossil fuel projects are necessary to meet the 1.5C-aligned energy demand. Representative 1.5C scenarios show that a significant share of existing fossil fuel capital stock will become stranded if we are to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

"Establishing a 'No New Fossil' norm increases the likelihood of staying within the 1.5C limit while minimizing the economic, political and legal challenges associated with 'stranding' fossil fuel capacity."

More information: Fergus Green et al, No new fossil fuel projects: The norm we need, Science (2024). DOI: 10.1126/science.adn6533 Journal information: Science
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The UArizona-managed Large Binocular Telescope on Mount Graham is the only one of its kind, with two 27-foot mirrors mounted side by side. A powerful adaptive optics system compensates for blurring introduced by atmospheric turbulence, making it one of the most powerful Earth-based observatories in the world. Credit: NASA

New images of Jupiter's volcano-studded moon Io, taken by the Large Binocular Telescope on Mount Graham in Arizona, offer the highest resolution of Io ever achieved with an Earth-based instrument. The observations were made possible by a new high-contrast optical imaging instrument, dubbed SHARK-VIS, and the telescope's adaptive optics system, which compensates for the blurring induced by atmospheric turbulence.

The images, to be published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, reveal surface features as small as 50 miles across, a spatial resolution that until now had been achievable only with spacecraft sent to Jupiter. This is equivalent to taking a picture of a dime-sized object from 100 miles away, according to the research team.

SHARK-VIS allowed the researchers to identify a major resurfacing event around Pele, one of Io's most prominent volcanoes. According to the paper's first author, Al Conrad, the eruptions on Io, the most volcanically active body in the solar system, dwarf their contemporaries on Earth.

"Io, therefore, presents a unique opportunity to learn about the mighty eruptions that helped shape the surfaces of the Earth and the moon in their distant pasts," said Conrad, associate staff scientist at the Large Binocular Telescope Observatory. The Large Binocular Telescope, or LBT, is part of Mount Graham International Observatory, a division of the University of Arizona Steward Observatory.

Conrad added that studies like this one will help researchers understand why some worlds in the solar system are volcanic but not others. They also may someday shed light on volcanic worlds in exoplanet systems around nearby stars.

Slightly larger than Earth's moon, Io is the innermost of Jupiter's Galilean moons, which in addition to Io, include Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. Locked in a gravitational "tug of war" among Jupiter, Europa and Ganymede, Io is constantly being squeezed, leading to frictional heat buildup in its interiorbelieved to be the cause for its sustained and widespread volcanic activity.

By monitoring the eruptions on Io's surface, scientists hope to gain insights into the heat-driven movement of material underneath the moon's surface, its internal structure and ultimately, on the tidal heating mechanism responsible for Io's intense volcanism.

Io's volcanic activity was first discovered in 1979, when Linda Morabito, an engineer on NASA's Voyager mission, spotted an eruption plume in one of the images taken by the spacecraft during its famous "Grand Tour" of the outer planets. Since then, countless observations have been made that document Io's restless nature, from both space and Earth-based telescopes.

Jupiter moon Io, imaged by SHARK-VIS on Jan. 10, 2024. This is the highest resolution image of Io ever obtained by an Earth-based telescope. The image combines three spectral bands  infrared, red and yellow  to highlight the reddish ring around the volcano Pele (below and to the right of the moon's center) and the white ring around Pillan Patera, to the right of Pele. Credit: INAF/Large Binocular Telescope Observatory/Georgia State University; IRV-band observations by SHARK-VIS/F. Pedichini; processing by D. Hope, S. Jefferies, G. Li Causi

Study co-author Ashley Davies, a principal scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said the new image taken by SHARK-VIS is so rich in detail that it has allowed the team to identify a major resurfacing event in which the plume deposit around a prominent volcano known as Pele, located in Io's southern hemisphere close to the equator, is being covered by eruption deposits from Pillan Patera, a neighboring volcano. A similar eruption sequence was observed by NASA's Galileo spacecraft, which explored the Jupiter system between 1995 and 2003.

"We interpret the changes as dark lava deposits and white sulfur dioxide deposits originating from an eruption at Pillan Patera, which partially cover Pele's red, sulfur-rich plume deposit," Davies said. "Before SHARK-VIS, such resurfacing events were impossible to observe from Earth."

While telescope images in the infrared can detect hot spots caused by ongoing volcanic eruptions, they are not sharp enough to reveal surface details and unambiguously identify the locations of the eruptions, explained co-author Imke de Pater, professor emerita of astronomy at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley.

"Sharper images at visible wavelengths like those provided by SHARK-VIS and LBT are essential to identify both locations of eruptions and surface changes not detectable in the infrared, such as new plume deposits," de Pater said, adding that visible light observations provide researchers with vital context for the interpretation of infrared observations, including those from spacecraft such as Juno, which is currently orbiting Jupiter.

SHARK-VIS was built by the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics at the Rome Astronomical Observatory and is managed by a team led by principal investigator Fernando Pedichini, assisted by project manager Roberto Piazzesi.

In 2023, it was installed, together with its complementary near-infrared instrument SHARK-NIR, at the LBT to fully take advantage of the telescope's outstanding adaptive optics system. The instrument houses a fast, ultra-low-noise camera that allows it to observe the sky in "fast imaging" mode, capturing slow-motion footage that freezes the optical distortions caused by atmospheric turbulence, and to post-process data to an unprecedented sharpness.

Gianluca Li Causi, data processing manager for SHARK-VIS at the Italian National Institute for Astrophysics, explained, "We process our data on the computer to remove any trace of the sensor's electronic footprint. We then select the best frames and combine them using a highly efficient software package called Kraken, developed by our colleagues Douglas Hope and Stuart Jefferies from Georgia State University. Kraken allows us to remove atmospheric effects, revealing Io in incredible sharpness."

SHARK-VIS instrument scientist Simone Antoniucci said he anticipates new observations to be made of objects throughout the solar system.

"The keen vision of SHARK-VIS is particularly suited to observing the surfaces of many solar system bodies, not only the moons of giant planets but also asteroids," he said. "We have already observed some of those, with the data currently being analyzed, and are planning to observe more."

More information: Observation of Io's Resurfacing via Plume Deposition Using Ground-based Adaptive Optics at Visible Wavelengths with LBT SHARK-VIS, Geophysical Research Letters (2024). DOI: 10.1029/2024GL108609. On arXiv: arxiv.org/abs/2405.19604 Journal information: Geophysical Research Letters , arXiv
Liz Teitz covers environmental news and the Hill Country for the San Antonio Express-News. She writes about the San Antonio Water System, news in New Braunfels and Comal County and water issues around Central Texas. She can be reached at liz.teitz@express-news.net.

Liz joined the Express-News in June 2023. She has been a reporter for eight years, covering housing, government, education and other topics for the Ouray County Plaindealer, Hearst Connecticut Media Group and the Beaumont Enterprise. Liz grew up in Rhode Island and graduated from Georgetown University.
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The Chassigny meteorite in cross-polarized light. This meteorite is dominated by the mineral olivine. Grains are roughly 0.5 millimeters across. Credit: Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego

Mars has a distinct structure in its mantle and crust with discernible reservoirs, and this is known thanks to meteorites that scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and colleagues have analyzed on Earth.

Meteorites that formed roughly 1.3 billion years ago and then ejected from Mars have been collected by scientists from sites in Antarctica and Africa in recent decades. Scripps Oceanography geologist James Day and his colleagues report May 31 in the journal Science Advances on analyses of the chemical compositions of these samples from the red planet.

These results are important for understanding not only how Mars formed and evolved, but also for providing precise data that can inform recent NASA missions like Insight and Perseverance and the Mars Sample Return, said study lead Day.

"Martian meteorites are the only physical materials we have available from Mars," said Day. "They enable us to make precise and accurate measurements and then quantify processes that occurred within Mars and close to the martian surface. They provide direct information on Mars' composition that can ground truth mission science, like the ongoing Perseverance rover operations taking place there."

Day's team assembled its account of Mars' formation using meteorite samples that all came from the same volcano, known as nakhlites and chassignites. Some 11 million years ago, a large meteor impact on Mars sheared away parts of the planet and sent the rocks hurtling into space. Some of those landed on Earth in the form of meteorites, with the first of these being discovered in 1815 in Chassigny, France and then in 1905 in Nakhla, Egypt.

Since then, more such meteorites have been discovered in locations including Mauritania and Antarctica. Scientists are able to identify Mars as their place of origin because these meteorites are relatively young, come from a recently active planet, have distinct compositions of the abundant element oxygen compared to Earth, and retain the composition of Mars' atmosphere measured on the surface by the Viking landers in the 1970s.

Nakhla meteorite. Image measures four centimeters across. Credit: Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego

The team analyzed the two keystone nakhlite and chassignite meteorite types. Nakhlites are basaltic, similar to lavas erupting in Iceland and Hawaii today, but are rich in a mineral called clinopyroxene. Chassignites are almost exclusively made of the mineral olivine. On Earth, basalts are a main component of the planet's crust, especially under the oceans, while olivines are abundant in its mantle.

The same is true on Mars. The team showed that these rocks are related to each other through a process known as fractional crystallization within the volcano in which they were formed. Using the composition of these rocks, they also show that some of the then-molten nakhlites incorporated portions of crust close to the surface that also interacted with Mars' atmosphere.

"By determining that nakhlites and chassignites are from the same volcanic system, and that they interacted with martian crust that was altered by atmospheric interactions, we can identify a new rock type on Mars," said Day. "With the existing collection of martian meteorites, all of which are volcanic in origin, we are able to better understand the internal structure of Mars."

The team was able to do this because of the distinctive chemical characteristics of nakhlites and chassignites, as well as the characteristic compositions of other martian meteorites. These reveal an atmospherically altered upper crust to Mars, a complex deeper crust and a mantle where plumes from deep within Mars have penetrated to the base of the crust, while the interior of Mars, formed early in its evolution, has also melted to produce distinct types of volcanoes.

"What's remarkable is that Mars' volcanism has incredible similarities, but also differences, to Earth," said Day. "On the one hand, nakhlites and chassignites formed in similar ways to recent volcanism in places like Oahu in Hawaii. There, newly formed volcanoes press down on the mantle generating tectonic forces that produce further volcanism."

"On the other hand, the reservoirs in Mars are extremely ancient, separating from one another shortly after the red planet formed. On Earth, plate tectonics has helped to remix reservoirs back together over time. In this sense, Mars provides an important link between what the early Earth may have looked like from how it looks today."

Besides Day, Marine Paquet of Scripps Oceanography and colleagues from the University of Nevada Las Vegas and the French National Center for Scientific Research contributed to the study.

More information: James Day et al, A heterogenous mantle and crustal structure formed during the early differentiation of Mars, Science Advances (2024). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adn9830. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adn9830 Journal information: Science Advances
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

As the threat of wildfire worsens in California and across the world, a growing number of federal agencies, nonprofit organizations and tech companies are racing to deploy new technology that will help combat flames from a whole new vantage point: outer space.

New satellite missions backed by NASA, Google, SpaceX, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and other groups promise to advance early wildfire detection and help reduce fire damage by monitoring Earth from above.

Collectively, the roster of big names, billionaires, government groups and nongovernmental organizations reflects a considerable interest in using new technology to solve some of humanity's biggest problems.

Among them is the Earth Fire Alliance, a global nonprofit coalition that recently unveiled its vision for a constellation of more than 50 satellites that will focus specifically on wildfires and their ecological effects.

Known as FireSat, the orbiting surveillance network will scan the globe every 20 minutes in search of wildfire activityanalyzing the landscape across six spectral bands that can spot signs of fires through clouds, smoke, darkness and extreme sunlight, according to the organization. The first three satellites will be launched and operational by 2026.

"It's really a game-changer when it comes to resource allocation, because now we have this really high-fidelity picture that's very, very granular of every single fire, which will ultimately help us better deploy resources in a much more efficient manner," said Chris Anthony, an Earth Fire Alliance board member and former chief deputy director at Cal Fire.

Data and images gathered from FireSat will not only inform crews about the location of fires, but also how hot they are and how fast they are movinghelping to guide firefighting, emergency operations and evacuations, Anthony said.

He noted that during his career battling blazes, he often wondered when California would use its reputation as a global hub of technology and innovation to tackle the issue of wildfires.

"With every large wildfire we haveand the emissions and the carbon that's released in that smokeI feel like we're in this negative feedback loop, which is going to be really hard for us to get out of," he said. "And I strongly believe that technology and innovation is a core component of our ability to turn this ship in the other direction. I mean, we have toI don't think we have a choice."

Indeed, while California has enjoyed two relatively tame fire seasons thanks to back-to-back wet winters, the threat has not dissipated.

The state has experienced the majority of its largest, deadliest and most destructive blazes since the year 2000, according to data from Cal Fire. The state's worst wildfire year on record, 2020, saw nearly 4.4 million acres burn and the state's first million-acre fire, the August Complex.

Experts say wildfires here are expected to grow larger, faster and more frequent in the years ahead due in part to warmer and drier conditions driven by human-caused climate change, as well as vegetation buildup and forest management practices. Similar trends are expected globally, where wildfires are projected to increase 30% by mid-century, according to the United Nations.

Earlier this year, Texas experienced its largest wildfire on record, which burned through more than a million acres, claimed two lives and killed at least 7,000 cattle.

Last year, a relentless procession of fires seared more than 45 million acres across Canada and sent noxious smoke billowing into parts of the United States and all the way to Europe.

"Even though California has been at the epicenter of so many large and destructive fires, it is becoming super clear that the wildfire problem that we have right now isn't just a California, or a Western states, problem, but it is truly a global issue that we need to resolve," Anthony said.

The Earth Fire Alliance's satellites will join similar missions from NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The agencies announced this week that they will soon launch GOES-U, the last in their series of four advanced weather satellites, which provide continuous monitoring of much of the Western Hemisphere.

Roughly the size of a small school bus, the GOES-U satellite was designed and built in partnership with defense contractors Lockheed Martin and L3Harris.

It will lift off on June 25 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, and will provide rapid data for tracking severe storms, including destructive wildfires and their smoke, as well as tropical systems, floods, lightning, snowstorms, dense fogs and other hazards, officials said.

"NOAA's geostationary satellites are an indispensable tool for protecting the United States and the 1 billion people who live and work in the Americas," Pam Sullivan, director of NOAA's Office of Geostationary Earth Orbit Observations, told reporters Wednesday.

GOES-Uwhich will be renamed GOES-19 once in orbitwill scan the Earth every 10 minutes, and can zoom in to track dangerous storms and hazards with 30-second updates, she said.

It will also carry the first operational compact coronagraph that will help detect space weather for early warnings of disruptions to power grids, communications and navigation systems. Earlier this month, a powerful geomagnetic storm prompted some reports of such impacts.

The GOES series will play a critical role in hurricane tracking, but perhaps its "biggest game-changing aspect" is its ability to detect wildfires, said Dan Lindsey, a program scientist with NOAA.

"We knew it could detect fires, of course, but it is able to do this in a much more impressive way than we foresaw," Lindsey said. He said the GOES series has already detected fires the size of a small barn, but the new imaging tools will have four times better spatial resolution on its fire detection band.

"This is important because it allows us to get the word out to emergency responders, firefighters and take care of those fires as quickly as possible," he said.

Experts are also experimenting with more terrestrial technology to combat conflagrations, including the use of artificial intelligence tools to fight wildfires in California.

One programa Cal Fire partnership with UC San Diego's ALERTCalifornia system announced last yearincludes more than 1,000 high-definition cameras across the state that use AI to scan the landscape and alert fire crews to burgeoning blazes.

The system is already proving effective, with its pilot program flagging dozens of fires before 911 calls came in, officials said.

Still, space is its own frontier which brings with it its own set of challenges. Rocket launches are known to emit considerable planet-warming carbon dioxide, along with black carbon, methane and other pollutants.

Last fall, a United Nations report also warned of new risks from growing space debris including roughly 8,300 satellites and 35,000 other tracked objects that are circling the Earth, many of which are used for weather monitoring, early warning systems and global communications.

Too many orbiting objects run the risk of collision, which could set off a chain reaction that takes those systems offline, the report said.

But new regulations and designs are helping to mitigate some of those risks, said Brian Collins, interim executive director at Earth Fire Alliance. The potentially life- and property-saving benefits of the technology are also part of the balance.

A new economic report published by the alliance and the consulting firm Mandala Partners found that early detection of fires could reduce annual direct fire damage costs by approximately $1.2 billion across the U.S., Australia and Southern Europe. Wildfires in the U.S. alone cost about $11.3 billion annually, with property damage accounting for a large part of thata trend that has already seen some insurers flee the Golden State and other fire-prone regions.

Indirect costs from fires in the U.S. could be as large as $415 billion annually, including labor productivity losses and health costs, the report found. Almost half46%of the wildfire costs are borne by local communities and businesses.

The Earth Fire Alliance's suite of satellites will fly at a lower orbitabout 370 miles from Earth compared with NOAA's 22,000 milesaffording even more granular information in real time, Collins said.

"We view it as complementary to the big, heavy lift systems that NOAA and NASA produce," he said. "Knowing where a fire ison this side of the road or that side of a road, or on one side of a hill or anotheris very important to the ecosystem and to the first responders."

The Earth Fire Alliance raised $12 million in its early round of investments, and is on its way to securing an additional $50 million to $60 million to get the first three satellites into space, he said. The full constellation of 50 or more satellites will require about $300 million to $400 million, some of which will come from partnerships.

The alliance's supporters include Google.org, the Environmental Defense Fund, the Minderoo Foundation and the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation.

It made sense to tackle the issue of wildfires through the nonprofit structure, which can move more nimbly than government agencies that are tied to specific funding cycles, Collins said. However, data captured by FireSat can be integrated with NASA and NOAA and will be provided to all users for free.

"The reason for the organization was largely those two thingscapturing a budgetary process, and interest and passion that can move a little quicker," he said. "This was a nice blend to fill a gap of a capability while advancing the mission."

Anthony, the former Cal Fire chief, said the FireSat program will not only help guide attacks on ongoing fires, but also provide an added layer of intelligence around prescribed fires, or fires that are intentionally set to clear vegetation and preserve forest health. For instance, the tools can help assess the right time to apply prescribed fire, track the fire's intensity and integrate it with fire modeling.

The thousand-mile view afforded by the satellites will mark a new era of firefighting tools with a fidelity and resolution that have never been seen before, Anthony added.

"You can understand anything if you can see everything," he said.

2024 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Sentinel-5 in front of the vacuum chamber after a successful test campaign. Credit: STFC RAL Space

The first Sentinel-5 instrument has left RAL Space for integration onto the MetOp-SG A satellite, where it will contribute to improved monitoring of air quality, changes in the ozone layer, and emissions from wildfires.

After spending almost nine months in vacuum at RAL Space, the first Sentinel-5 instrument has been successfully delivered by Airbus Defense and Space to the European Space Agency (ESA).

ESA's Sentinels are a family of Earth observation missions that support the European Union's Copernicus climate monitoring program. These satellites and instruments carry a range of state-of-the-art technologies for land, ocean and atmospheric monitoring.

Sentinel-5 will be integrated on the first MetOp Second Generation (MetOp-SG) satellite. The six MetOp-SG satellites will be launched in three consecutive pairs, with each pair containing a suite of instruments that will provide key data for improved weather prediction and climate monitoring. Sentinel-5 will contribute to the improved monitoring of air quality, changes in the ozone layer, and wildfire emissions.

The RAL Space team has been working closely with Airbus Defense and Space as customer and prime contractor for the Sentinel-5 instrument program to prepare the instrument for a lengthy thermal vacuum test campaign, to ensure it will survive the harsh conditions of space.

The instrument is now on its way to Toulouse, France, where it will be integrated onto the spacecraft. After launch, both the spacecraft and the instrument will be operated by EUMETSAT, the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites.

Oliver Hayward, Airbus Supply Chain Resident to RAL supporting the Sentinel-5 project, said, "The delivery of the protoflight model to Airbus Toulouse is a fantastic achievement for everyone involved throughout this long and challenging project, kicked off in 2014. This project reflects the incredible technical capabilities of the European space community, including the UK, and continues to demonstrate our combined abilities to deliver on our commitments.

"We thank the RAL team for their unwavering focus and energies in overcoming the challenges faced in order to deliver this successful test campaign with the Airbus project team, and congratulate them on their own achievements with this significant European space program. A job well done."

Mark Diffenthal, Sentinel-5 project manager at RAL Space, added, "I'd like to congratulate the RAL Space and Airbus teams for this milestone. While RAL Space had already completed campaigns for Sentinel-4 and instruments for Sentinel-3, each one has its own capabilities and requirements for a successful campaign.

"Sentinel-5 presented a unique set of challenges that everyone has worked hard to solve. Getting to this stage has been a huge achievement for everyone involved, and we're really pleased to see the instrument safely on its way to Toulouse."
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NASA astronaut Victor Glover trains for the ISS External Microorganisms spacewalk in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory pool at NASAs Johnson Space Center in Houston. Credit: NASA

Space, the saying goes, is hard. And the farther humans go, the harder it can get.

Some of the challenges on missions to explore the moon and Mars include preventing microbial contamination of these destinations, navigating there safely, protecting crew members and hardware from radiation, and maintaining and repairing equipment.

Research on the International Space Station is helping NASA scientists develop tools and processes to ensure success on these important missions. Here are highlights from some of the investigations making space a little easier.

Tracking tiny stowaways

Bacteria and fungi live in and on all humans and all around us on Earth. Most of these microorganisms are beneficial or harmless but introducing them to other celestial bodies could adversely affect our ability to study ecosystems on those other worlds.

Crew members will conduct a spacewalk to collect samples near space station life support system vents for ISS External Microorganisms, an investigation to assess whether the orbiting laboratory releases microorganisms into space. Results could provide insight into the potential for organisms to survive and reproduce in space and help researchers determine which microbes would most likely contaminate other planetary bodies visited by crewed missions.

A miniature, hand-held digital microscope designed to make in-flight medical diagnoses, the Moon Microscope, also can test water, food, and surfaces for contamination. The device images samples at high resolution and processes data on web-enabled devices such as phones or tablets. Multiple users can access the microscope simultaneously, and some applications run autonomously.

Astronaut Alexander Gerst of ESA (European Space Agency) tests the Sextant Navigation device. Credit: NASA

Getting there and back

Spacecraft must have sophisticated high-tech systems for navigating. Sextant Navigation tests the function of sextants in microgravity as an emergency backup navigation technique for Artemis and other future exploration missions. These mechanical devices have guided navigators for centuries, and Gemini and Apollo missions demonstrated they were useful for astronauts.

Refining radiation detection

Missions beyond low Earth orbit increase exposure to radiation, which can pose a hazard to human health and interfere with equipment operation. As NASA prepares for future missions, providing adequate protection is vital.

The Hybrid Electronic Radiation Assessor, or HERA, was built to serve as a primary radiation detection system for the Orion spacecraft, which will carry crews into orbit around the moon. The International Space Station Hybrid Electronic Radiation Assessor investigation modified the system to operate on the space station to provide researchers input for use on future exploration missions.

ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Thomas Pesquet holds a mobile unit for the ESA-Active-Dosimeters experiment. Credit: NASA

Artemis HERA on Space Station further modified the radiation detection system so researchers could continue to evaluate the hardware in the space radiation environment prior to Artemis II.

Active-Dosimeters, an investigation led by ESA (European Space Agency), tested a wearable system to measure radiation exposure to crew members on the space station and how it changes with the station's orbit and altitude. Data from the wearable dosimeter improved radiation risk assessments and could lead to better protection for astronauts, including the ability to quickly respond to changes in exposure throughout future exploration missions.

Robot helpers

On future exploration missions, robotic technology can help crew members with basic tasks, monitor and maintain equipment, and conduct operations such as sample collection, reducing the need to expose astronauts to harsh environments.

Expedition 63 Commander Chris Cassidy sets up an Astrobee robotic assistant, one of a trio of cube-shaped, free-flying robots. Credit: NASA

Expedition 67 Flight Engineer Samantha Cristoforetti practices robotics maneuvers on a laptop computer. Credit: NASA

Integrated System for Autonomous and Adaptive Caretaking demonstrates using autonomous robots to transfer and unpack cargo and to track and respond to maintenance issues such as leaks and fires, which could protect valuable equipment and reduce costly repairs on future missions. The investigation uses the space station's Astrobee and Robonaut robots.

Multi-Resolution Scanning uses the station's Astrobees to test sensors and robotics to support automated 3D sensing, mapping, and situational awareness functions. On future Gateway and lunar surface missions, such systems could automatically detect defects and conduct remote maintenance and autonomous operation of vehicles such as rovers.

Surface Avatar evaluates crew operation of multiple autonomous robots in space. The investigation also assesses crew member responsiveness to feedback on the consoles used to operate robots remotely, which supports design of effective setups for operating robots on the ground from a spacecraft orbiting above. Results contribute to the development of other uses of robotic assistance such as returning samples from Mars and asteroids.

Provided by NASA
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

From the moment immigrants set eyes on acquiring citizenship in their host countryespecially when they accept it as a nationality of higher statusthey already begin to identify with the particular nation. Furthermore, they simultaneously grow attachment to its culture as they distance themselves from their original one.

These are the conclusions made by a Swiss research team after surveying 400 immigrants from Portugal who had already acquired Swiss citizenship, wished to acquire Swiss citizenship, or did not want to acquire Swiss citizenship. Their findings are published in the journal Social Psychological Bulletin.

People belong to particular social groups depending on their gender, ethnicity, profession, or nationality. Often, these groups are perceived as having a specific social status within the society which affects evaluations of individuals in the group.

For example, a Portuguese immigrant in Switzerland may be perceived as of lower status, because they belong to a group that is less valued than the host population. In addition, this low status is often combined with other features of low-status group memberships, such as having a profession that is poorly paid and of lower status in the context of employment.

On these lines, a research team from Switzerland decided to study how Portuguese immigrants in Switzerland negotiate between their multiple identities, in terms of their sentiments towards both their home and host culture. This depends on whether they have acquired Swiss citizenship or wish to acquire it.

The team further explains that they were particularly interested in Portuguese immigrants, because they are currently the third-largest immigrant population in Geneva, and are also overrepresented in manual labor. Compared to other European immigrant groups in the country, they are also earning the lowest mean salary.

Among the major findings of the team was that it was not necessary for immigrants to have already acquired Swiss citizenship for them to identify as Swiss. Rather, it was "already the desire or wish to join a group that leads the individuals to ready themselves for joining the group through an increase in identification with the desired group."

Curiously, things changed when it came to the immigrants identifying with Portuguese. Compared to both, the Portuguese who had already acquired Swiss citizenship and those who were not interested in applying for it, the immigrants who anticipated to qualify for citizenship showed the weakest attachment bond with their home country.

According to the researchers, this phenomenon can be interpreted as a strategy of "assimilation to the host society" in the sense that the surveyed immigrants had a strong desire to make it clear for the community they wish to join, and, moreover, that it is their preferred one. However, as soon as they achieve it, they start to regrow more attachment to their original group.

As for the engagement and interest in cultural practices, results were similar to those concerning identity. Interest in Swiss practices is reported to increase when the immigrants desired to acquire Swiss citizenship or had actually become Swiss nationals. Meanwhile, their interest in Portuguese practices decreased.

While the scientists did not find an effect of citizenship and presumed social status on attitudes towards immigration in general, their findings suggest that immigrants who have become Swiss nationals or wished to become ones, were more unlikely to engage in collective actions with other Portuguese.

"Overall, these findings let us conclude that individuals psychologically manage their identities," says the team.

"They approach the high-status identity (Swiss nationality), when they wish to be part of it, or are already part of it. At the same time, immigrants seem to start distancing themselves from their original, andin the host countryless valued identity, by showing lower levels of attachment, lower interest in cultural practices and support for other Portuguese in Switzerland."

"Thus, these changes in identity management are not a consequence of officially becoming a citizen in the host country. Rather, they can be considered a sign of the psychological preparation to one day become a member of a higher valued group," the researchers conclude.

More information: Marion Chipeaux et al, Anticipated and achieved individual mobility amongst Portuguese immigrants in Switzerland: Social identity adjustment and inter-minority relations, Social Psychological Bulletin (2024). DOI: 10.32872/spb.9465

Provided by The Polish Association of Social Psychology
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Black tip reef shark in Bardi Jawi Indigenous Protected Area, captured on baited remote underwater video stations during monitoring activities. Credit: Australian Institute of Marine Science

AIMS scientists have partnered with Indigenous communities in the remote Kimberley region of Australia's northwest to monitor culturally important fish populations on coral reefs and incorporate the variability in data to better inform sea country management.

Monitoring data collected over small areas and short timeframes carries a level of uncertainty, particularly when monitoring fish that move between areas and habitats. Bardi Jawi Rangers, who oversee the Bardi Jawi Indigenous Protected Area (IPA), rely on these data to make management decisions. A new study by AIMS scientists explores a novel way to communicate this uncertainty when presenting results to the Rangers and the community.

The paper is published in the journal Ambio.

AIMS fish ecologist and lead co-author Dr. Kathy Cure said Traditional Owners who look after sea country across remote northern Australia are forming more partnerships with science organizations to monitor the health of marine habitats and combine Traditional Ecological Knowledge with western science and technology.

"Especially important in these partnerships is how we, as scientists, communicate results from monitoring activities. Marine environments in northwest Australia are incredibly dynamic due to the movement of fish between habitats and changes from year to year influenced by variations in juvenile recruitment, habitat condition, productivity and oceanographic conditions," she said.

Monitoring on sea country

Bardi Jawi sea country is rich in biodiversity. It features a mosaic of different habitats, such as tidal pools, mangroves, seagrass and algal beds, and coral reefs.

AIMS and the Bardi Jawi Rangers co-designed a monitoring program, merging the expertise of AIMS coral reef and fish monitoring scientists with Traditional Ecological Knowledge.

The Rangers received training in different monitoring techniques and technologies, including baited remote underwater video stations (BRUVS), which are a common fish-surveying tool. The diverless method allows for long-term records of fish communities at each location.

Kevin George, Bardi Jawi Senior Cultural Ranger and community Elder, said that Bardi Jawi people are concerned that fish are threatened by an increase in recreational fishing.

"We want to make sure that this food source is available for younger generations. Knowing what and how many culturally important fish species are in certain areas supports a key conservation goal set out in the sea country management plan," he said.

Estimating trends for sea country

Natural variability in a marine habitat is revealed when monitoring the same location over a period of time. Sharing this information between scientists, Traditional Owners and decision makers can be challenging.

The team of AIMS scientists used Bayesian statistics to reliably estimate and convey the natural variability monitoring results revealed.

AIMS statistician and lead co-author Dr. Diego Barneche explains that some monitoring data, like that collected using BRUVs, can carry uncertainty. Fish are mobile and the mosaic of habitats in the Kimberley makes it more complex. This uncertainty needs to be carefully reported, which is why the researchers used Bayesian statistics.

"In our study we wanted to quantify how certain we might be that coastal fish numbers in Bardi Jawi sea country had changed, or stayed the same, over the past five years. In Bayesian statistics, we can calculate the chances of each of those scenarios, instead of making very simplistic "yes" or "no" statements," Dr. Barneche said.

"Bayesian statistics offers an intuitive approach to express how confident we are about something, based on our existing knowledge and the data we have collected."

Sharing results on sea country

AIMS scientists provided results using a variety of presentation formats to Elders, decision makers and the broader Bardi Jawi community. During these activities, which included workshops, short film productions and co-presentations at national science conferences, scientists evaluated how results from the monitoring program were understood, interpreted, and accepted.

"We found communicating monitoring results as a health category, and including a probability estimate for all possible health categories in the Bardi Jawi Healthy Country Plan, offered an intuitive way to show both uncertainty and credibility, providing a stronger basis for more accurate decision-making from monitoring data," said Dr. Cure.

The Bardi Jawi people have a long history of managing their fisheries using traditional methods, such as seasonal catch restrictions. However, with increasing pressures on their sea country, monitoring data may play an increasingly important role.

Senior cultural Bardi Jawi Ranger Kevin George said it's inevitable that we're going to have more visitation.

"It's the right time for Bardi Jawi people to monitor and engage with research scientists to gather information. Using both Bardi Jawi traditional knowledge and modern science, we can assess how healthy our reefs and fish stocks are so that we are able to put in place management for the marine park to be able to serve its purpose for everyone," he continued.

"The monitoring program has been a fantastic learning experience for all the Bardi Jawi community. We feel engaged, informed and empowered," said Kevin.

Into the future, the importance of monitoring data may increase to assist in the decision-making and management for both the IPA and Bardi Jawi Gaarra Marine Park.

This research is part of the Northern Australian Marine Monitoring Alliance (NAMMA), and is a partnership with Bardi Jawi Rangers and Traditional Owners, and the Kimberley Land Council.

More information: Katherine Cure et al, Incorporating uncertainty in Indigenous sea Country monitoring with Bayesian statistics: Towards more informed decision-making, Ambio (2024). DOI: 10.1007/s13280-024-01980-2 Journal information: AMBIO
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:

(A) Hand sample of type 1 stromatolite demonstrating layered structures. (B) X-ray microcomputed tomography (CT) X-Z cross-section image of type 1 stromatolite exposing denser internal laminations (red). Color bar represents range of CT values corresponding to CT density; blue = void. (C) Thin-section micrograph illustrating micritic crust at surface of stromatolite. (D) Millimeter-scale lithified sediment grain layers (yellow arrows) and fused grains (green arrows). (E) Grains infested with microborings near outer rims and fused at grain contacts (green arrows). (F) Acicular needle aragonite cements (AA) formed around the grain (G) rims. Credit: Geology (2024). DOI: 10.1130/G51793.1

Stromatolites are the earliest geological record of life on Earth. These curious biotic structures are made of algae carpets growing toward the light and precipitating carbonates. After their first appearance 3.48 Ga ago, stromatolites dominated the planet as the sole living carbonate factory for almost three billion years.

Stromatolites are also partially responsible for the Great Oxygenation Event, which drastically changed the composition of our atmosphere by introducing oxygen. That oxygen initially wiped out stromatolites' competition, enabling their prominence in the Archean and early Proterozoic environment. However, as more life forms adapted their metabolism to an oxygenated atmosphere, stromatolites started to decline, popping up in the geologic record only after mass extinctions or in difficult environments.

"The bacteria are always around, but they don't usually get the chance to make stromatolites," explains Volker Vahrenkamp, the author of a new study in Geology. "They are largely outcompeted by corals."

In modern times, stromatolites are relegated to niche extreme environments, such as hypersaline marine settings (e.g., Shark Bay, Australia) and alkaline lakes. Until recently, the only known modern analogue to the biologically diverse, open shallow marine settings where most Proterozoic stromatolites developed was the Exuma Islands in the Bahamas.

That is, until Vahrenkamp discovered living stromatolites on Sheybarah Island, on the northeastern shelf of the Red Sea in Saudi Arabia. Vahrenkamp was studying tepee structuressalt crust domes that can be seen from spacewhen he happened upon the unassuming stromatolite field. The discovery was surprising, but luckily, Vahrenkamp is one of the few people to have previously seen stromatolites in the Bahamas.

"When I stepped on them, I knew what they were," explains Vahrenkamp. "It is 2000 km of carbonate platform coastline, so in principle it is a desirable area to look for stromatolites . . . but then, it is the same in the Bahamas, and yet there is only one small area where you find them."

Sheybarah Island is an intertidal-to-shallow subtidal setting, with regularly alternating wetting and drying conditions, extreme temperature swings between 8 C and >48 C, and oligotrophic conditionsmuch like the Bahamas. Since similar environmental conditions are widespread across the Al Wajh carbonate platform, there might be other stromatolite fields nearby. Vahrenkamp and his team have started this exploration work, but stromatolites are small, about 15 cm across, and thus are difficult to spot until one gets very close.

There are several hundred stromatolites in the Sheybarah Island field. Some are well-developed, perfect textbook examples. Others are more sheet-like, with a low relief. "Perhaps they could be juvenile," hypothesizes Vahrenkamp, "but we don't know what a baby stromatolite looks like. They must start small, but we don't know."

Part of the issue is that we don't know how fast stromatolites grow. Dating them is very hard, because they contain two different carbonate components that are virtually impossible to separate: the newly microbe-precipitated one, which is of interest, and carbonate sand present in the environment, which is misleading. Currently, Vahrenkamp's team monitors the field monthly to record any visual changes. Soon, there might be an attempt to transfer some Sheybarah Island stromatolites to an aquarium and grow them therean exciting experimental prospect.

Vahrenkamp's discovery affords us the opportunity to better understand the formation and growth of stromatolites. This will provide insights into early life and ocean evolution on Earth and may even assist us in the search for life on other planets such as Mars. What would life look like on Mars, and how would we recognize it? Looking at stromatolites, which were the first life forms on Earth, before our planet even had an oxygenated atmosphere, is a most promising avenue.

More information: Volker Vahrenkamp et al, Discovery of modern living intertidal stromatolites on Sheybarah Island, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, Geology (2024). DOI: 10.1130/G51793.1 Journal information: Geology
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This years newcomer in the race for the Democratic nomination to challenge U.S. Rep Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd, has a lot in common with his competitors.

Joe Salerno, 62, of Lower Township, is an engineer, like his opponent Carolyn Rush, 62, of Sea Isle City, and he has a law degree and an interest in civil rights law like his other opponent, Tim Alexander, 58, of Galloway Township.

Both Rush and Alexander ran in 2022 for the nomination, which Alexander won, but he lost the general election with 40% of the vote to Van Drews 60%.

After Jan. 6 (2021), I made up my mind (to run), and after Van Drew won by such a wide margin in 2022, said Salerno, of the North Cape May section of the township, in an interview this week.

Most recently, Salerno wrote software for private markets and sold his business to S&P Global, he said. He self-funded the start of his campaign with a $450,000 loan, according to Federal Election Commission filings.

The three are part of the first class of candidates to be on a primary ballot in New Jersey that lacks the county line, and Rush had a big part in getting rid of it.

Rush, recently retired from Lockheed Martin, joined U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd, in suing to end the line and won in federal court. That forced last-minute changes to ballot designs for the primary.

It levels the playing field. Now I have a fair chance of winning, Rush said Friday. I dont know if I have a better chance, but I have a fair chance, and that is the most important thing to me in a democracy.

Instead of grouping candidates for all offices under one slogan, allowing those endorsed by the county committee to be listed together under endorsed candidates for president and other higher offices, names are listed in random order under the office sought.

Overall I dont have a problem with the lines going away. I wish the court had allowed a time frame for people to be educated on the process, said Alexander, a former law enforcement officer and current civil rights attorney who got the endorsement of the Atlantic County Democratic Committee.

Alexander likely would have benefited had the county line continued.

Vote-by-mail ballots are in the mail; here's what they look like in 'office block' The new "office block" format for vote-by-mail ballots is easy to read, according to Atlantic County Clerk Joe Giralo, and going out to voters on about 20,000 vote-by-mail ballots now.

He also said the change isnt drastic enough to really make elections fair.

Getting rid of lines without taking big money out ... means if you have more money you can get your name out, Alexander said.

That benefits the rich, he said, and disadvantages those without the same financial resources.

Its a good first step, but it would be much better if there were caps on how much money can be invested (in a campaign), Alexander said.

Alexander has loaned his campaign $10,000.

Alexanders top three issues are affordability, womens rights  particularly codifying abortion rights in federal law  and getting assault weapons off the streets.

Affordability has to be the number one priority, Alexander said, since the district is home to the three poorest counties in the state, where good jobs are desperately needed.

As a former police officer, a gun owner and gun rights advocate, we need to get assault weapons off our streets, he said, defining them as weapons that fire high-velocity rounds that can pierce a bulletproof vest.

Cape May County Democrats decide not to endorse in the primary With races for the Democratic nomination for Senate and the House of Representatives, Cape May County Democrats have decided not to endorse candidates before the June primary.

Rushs top priority is restoring womens reproductive rights, she said.

The best way would be constitutional, but it would take a very long time, Rush said, so she plans to push for a federal law guaranteeing women the right to abortion and other reproductive freedoms.

If such a law gets overruled by the Supreme Court, she said, a constitutional amendment would be necessary.

We should get started sooner rather than later. Historically (amendments) take five to 10 years, Rush said.

She said she is already working with American Promise to get a constitutional amendment passed to allow for limits on campaign spending, in the wake of the Supreme Courts Citizens United decision that said campaign spending is speech.

We are spending way too much money trying to put people in office, then they are beholden to whoever puts money in their pockets and you dont get good legislation, Rush said.

Her second priority is curbing climate change by reducing dependence on fossil fuels, and her third is building an economy in South Jersey that works better for the middle class.

Salerno does not have a strong sense of how the lack of a county line will affect his chances, he said.

Atlantic County Democrats back Andy Kim for Senate, Tim Alexander for House of Representatives Atlantic County Democrats gave ringing endorsements Sunday to U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd, in the upcoming Senate race and to congressional candidate Tim Alexander.

Its my first time through. I try to present myself in the best light to Democrats, then to all in the district, Salerno said. Whatever the rules are, Im happy to play by them. After the fact I can think about it.

Salerno, who said he went to law school later in his career and fell in love with constitutional and civil rights law, said his three top issues are protecting a womans right to abortion with federal legislation to restore the rights of Roe v. Wade, threats to democracy from former President Donald Trump and his followers, and improving the economic conditions of the district.

I want to make clear to people of the district how dangerous it is to have a congressman who doesnt think for himself ... who is just pleasing President Trump, he said. There is no telling how far Van Drew would go.

Salerno said Van Drews change of stance on abortion is a good example. For years as a Democrat, Van Drew was pro-choice, Salerno said, but is now pro-life after switching parties in 2019 because the Democrats insisted he vote to impeach Trump and he refused.

The abortion issue has been something of a gift to Democratic candidates. Republicans pro-life stance has strongly motivated many independents to vote for Democrats, according to political analysts.
DES MOINES  Contraception for sexual assault victims will be covered by a state fund for crime victims, but abortions will not, Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird said Friday.

The policy is one of a half-dozen revealed by Bird during a news conference to announce her offices completion of a 17-month review of and 28-page report on state victim services programs.

I agree that Plan B contraception prescriptions for victims to prevent pregnancy should be reimbursed, Bird said. However, Iowa will not use public dollars to pay for abortions for assault survivors.

Under Birds predecessor, Democratic Attorney General Tom Miller, Iowa providers  mostly hospitals and pharmacies  were reimbursed for contraception and abortions delivered to sexual assault victims. The services were covered by the states Crime Victim Compensation Program, which is funded by fines, penalties and restitution paid by criminals, as well as by federal resources and other criminal justice system sources. No state tax sources fund the program.

After defeating Miller in the 2022 election and becoming Attorney General in 2023, Bird, a Republican and vocal opponent of abortions, halted the reimbursement of contraception and abortions for sexual assault victims while her office reviewed victim services programs.

During the 17-month review, there was one request for reimbursement for an abortion for a sexual assault victim in Iowa and 362 requests for reimbursement for contraception totaling $14,904.35, according to Birds office. Bird said those pending claims for contraception will be reimbursed, as will all future claims.

Victims were able to receive contraception and abortions during the review period; only the reimbursements to providers were paused.

I want to make it clear that not one victim was denied services due to the audit. Not one victim was delayed in receiving services due to the audit, Bird said.

Plan B contraception delays or halts ovulation, preventing a pregnancy from occurring, the Food and Drug Administration says.

Victim advocates, including the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault and Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence, had urged Bird to continue using the programs funds to cover emergency contraception and abortion. They say cost should never be a barrier for rape victims seeking medical care.

A spokesperson for the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence said Friday afternoon that the organization was reviewing the report and Birds new policy, and the Iowa Coalition Against Sexual Assault did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa, representing the organization that provides reproductive health care services, including abortions, issued a statement criticizing the new policy.

For months, Attorney General Bird unnecessarily denied reimbursement for hundreds of sexual assault survivors, turning them into political pawns, Mazie Stilwell, director of public affairs for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa, said in the statement.

Politicizing sexual assault survivors is absolutely reprehensible and sickening. These are real people who are vulnerable and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Although state-paid emergency contraceptives will resume, those in need of abortion care will now have to shoulder the cost. This is the last thing survivors should have to worry about. Its not right, and we must demand better from the people elected to represent us.

State Auditor Rob Sand, a Democrat, issued a statement accusing Bird of creating a politically motivated policy.

For a year, Iowas Attorney General inflicted even more trauma on rape victims just for politics, he said in his statement. We know because her report doesnt provide a single legal or financial reason to have withheld payments for emergency contraception.

Assault victims advocates react

Jacinda Bunch, a sexual assault nurse examiner for the Johnson County sexual assault response team, said the last 17 months have been frustrating and created anxiety among patients and providers.

I am just glad that we finally have a determination and can move forward, and we know that were going to get reimbursed, she said.

She noted it is very rare occurrence that a victim would need or request an abortion. Im just happy we can do the majority of the care that we need to do, she said. Thats why emergency contraception is really important so we dont get to later stages where an abortion might be necessary.

Katy Rasmussen, coordinator for the Johnson County Sexual Assault Response Team, said she was relieved to hear state payments for emergency contraception will be reinstated.

Offering emergency contraception to our patients is an integral part of the exam, and all of our patients deserve to have this option without worrying about how they will cover this cost, she said.

Rasmussen said the 17-month pause put a huge burden onto programs that did not have other options for covering the cost.

For us, we were very worried about how we would find the funding to cover this cost, Rasmussen said. Luckily Johnson County was willing to step up and provide some funding, but not every program had that support. Hopefully, the changes they make based on the audit were worth the struggle.

Counties taking action

Polk and Johnson counties set aside funding to help cover those expenses in their area while the state program remained in question.

To date, roughly $2,500 has been spent in Johnson County.

Initially, hospitals and pharmacies either agreed to cover the cost or held off on submitting claims while awaiting the outcome of Birds audit. But once a year had passed, the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics decided to go forward with billing Johnson County for the costs it had been holding.

Some hospitals still are sending bills to the Attorney Generals Office. Some have agreed to cover the cost for patients. And many victim advocates are exploring fundraising options to pay for it.

Records requested from AGs office

Before Fridays news conference, the Attorney Generals Office did not answer questions from The Gazette about the scope of the audit, how it was conducted, why it was taking so long, what was delaying the release of the report and when a decision would be made.

The Gazette had requested more than two months ago a copy of the audit and other documents related to the review. The Attorney Generals Office provided those documents Friday, and stated it withheld release as the findings and report had yet to be finalized. Iowa Code excludes preliminary documents from being made public.

Also in the victim services report

Bird announced other new policies, including what she described as fixes to victim notification systems, boosted incentives for sexual assault nurses and improved tracking of rape kits.

Bird said her offices review showed:

A shortage of sexual assault nurse examiners, or SANE nurses, leading to long wait times for victims  up to eight hours in Polk County. Bird recommends doubling exam payments to SANE nurses and reimbursing them for their travel.

Prosecuting attorneys have been unable to update the status and location of sexual assault evidence collection kits, known as rape kits. The Attorney Generals Office has updated the program to ensure prosecutors can update the status of kits.

A notification system designed to alert victims when their abuser is served a protective order and when that order is about to expire was no longer operating. Bird said she hired a staff member to launch a new protective order notification system.

A notification system designed to alert victims when their abuser is released from custody had been producing inaccurate alerts. Bird said her office has worked with partners to correct the messages and ensure alerts are accurate.

Rasmussen said being a sexual assault nurse examiner involves additional training and ongoing education, often unpaid and potentially at great cost to the nurse doing the training.

I think increasing the pay will help ease the burden of these training costs as well as show that the work we do is valued, she said.

The full report can be viewed on the Iowa Attorney Generals website.
Annasofia Scheve covers trending news for the Express-News. She can be reached at Annasofia.Scheve@express-news.net.

Annasofia has bachelor's degrees in journalism and political science from the University of Missouri. She is an Ohio native, and wrote for Cincinnati Magazine and the Cincinnati Enquirer before joining the Express-News in 2023.
The family of Cayden Addison, 7, says he is a fighter looking for a miracle so he beat leukemia.

His mother, Courtney Addison of Chesapeake, said her son has been a huge inspiration to their family despite dealing with leukemia on and off for the past four years, but he needs a bone marrow transplant.

Kids are so resilient, Addison said. You probably would never know (that hes sick) because hes such a tough kid. Hes just your typical 7-year-old little boy.

Cayden  the nephew of Richmond rapper Nickelus F  takes chemotherapy medications daily and sees his oncologist every other week, but needs to find a suitable donor so he can get a bone marrow transplant.

The Addison family is doing whatever it takes, including partnering with Triple Crossing Beer for a donor drive from noon to 3 p.m. Sunday at 1101 Winterfield Crossing in Midlothian.

A simple cheek swab is all that is needed to be placed on the National Marrow Donor Program registry, which could result in finding a match for Cayden.

The family is particularly seeking African American donors ages 18 to 40, as they provide the best path to a match, but anyone willing to get tested is asked to attend Sundays event. Potential donors who cannot attend in person are asked to text CAYDENCFC to 61474 to receive a kit in the mail so they can administer a swab.

Ive just been trying to get the word out, trying to host events, trying to get as many people as possible to test, Addison said. The more people that test, the more likely well find a match.

Cayden was diagnosed with leukemia at age 3 in April 2020, just after the COVID-19 lockdowns began in the U.S.

It was terrifying, Addison said. We were trying to stay out of the hospital but had to spend a lot of time in the hospital. (COVID) caused a lot of challenges for sure.

Cayden underwent two years of chemotherapy that ended in April 2022. He went into remission but relapsed in February 2023. He did another round of chemo, followed by immunotherapy, which uses a patients immune system to fight cancer.

Following those treatments, the family traveled to North Carolina so Cayden could go through a cycle of CAR T-cell therapy, in which a patients T cells are changed in a lab to help attack cancer cells.

After the cancer cells started to return, Cayden had another CAR T-cell therapy cycle. At that point, the plan was for him to receive a bone marrow transplant, with the CAR T-cell therapy designed to place him in remission and allow him to be more receptive to the transplant.

Caydens mother, father and older brother were tested, but were only half-matches. At one point, a match for Cayden was found, but later became unavailable for unknown reasons.

It was very frustrating and devastating because its really hard to find a good match, Addison said.

As the search for a match continues, Cayden is receiving support from numerous people, including his uncle.

Nickelus F made an Instagram post last weekend about Caydens situation, which has received more than 3,000 likes. He described his nephew as a beautiful child, smart beyond his years, and full of energy.

Nickelus has also written lyrics detailing his familys ordeal.

The Instagram post, thats been super powerful, Addison said. I was personally touched that he was able to do that, and I was also touched that he put it into his songs.

His family said that while Cayden does not always feel his best, he is able to live his life with few restrictions, showcasing his funny personality, going to school and playing.

It really puts things in life into perspective, his mother said. It really has shown me the importance of being present, to slow down and just be present with my kids and enjoy them.

From the Archives: The construction of the Richmond Convention Center
St. Francis Medical Center has completed a $108 million expansion, a response to the rapid growth in Chesterfield County. Leaders from the Bon Secours Health System held a ribbon-cutting on Thursday.

The Midlothian hospital gained 55 beds, a new intensive care unit, and more space for staff and patients. The expansion comes to a county that increased by more residents between April 2020 and July 2023 than any other county or city in the state.

We want to make sure we have whats needed to take care of those people, said Joseph Wilkins, president of St. Francis.

Its the latest element of growth to the areas health care industry, which aims to serve a growing and aging population in greater Richmond.

The project began in 2018 when St. Francis asked the state health department for a Certificate of Public Need to expand. Despite the pandemic, the expansion opened on time and on budget, Wilkins said. Though the construction is done and the rooms filled with beds, some units will not open for a couple of weeks.

The hospital converted a wing known as Tower A from two stories to four. The expansion represents 110,000 square feet of new space.

Now with 185 total beds, St. Francis has 42 more surgical and medical beds that can house cancer patients, those recovering from orthopedic surgery and those undergoing heart monitoring. It has four new intensive care unit beds for the sickest patients and nine new obstetrics beds for newborns and their mothers.

The hospital built a new department for observation, in which patients who have dizziness or chest pains can be watched for 24 hours while doctors rule out serious ailments.

St. Francis also renovated 70,000 square feet of existing space, built a new intensive care unit and neonatal intensive care unit, implemented a pharmacy, relocated an MRI and added 85 parking spaces.

The $108 million expense was paid for through health system operations. Jones Lang LaSalle was the project manager, Skanska the general contractor and Gresham Smith the architect.

On the multi-specialty telemetry unit, where patients receive heart monitoring, the rooms are big, which helps employees, said Justina Hamilton, the director of nursing. In a hospital room, items tend to accumulate  patients belongings, supplies and machines  and the rooms get crowded quickly.

More space means staffers and patients are less likely to bump into things.

Im a little biased, but I think this is a beautiful space, Hamilton said.

The 24-bed unit on the third floor has a staff of 11 dedicated nurses, technicians and other employees, plus physicians who treat patients throughout the hospital.

The expanded hospital is designed to serve a county whose population increased by 18,565 residents between April 2020 and July 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. St. Francis is also the closest hospital for some residents in Powhatan, Amelia and other counties.

Bon Secours, a nonprofit health system that is part of Ohio-based Bon Secours Mercy Health, owns four other hospitals in the area  Memorial Regional Medical Center in Hanover County, St. Marys Hospital in Henrico County, Richmond Community Hospital in Richmond and Southside Medical Center in Petersburg.

In recent years, Bon Secours has added urgent cares and freestanding emergency rooms across the area, and its next freestanding ER will break ground in Hanover this summer. St. Francis emergency room oversees the freestanding locations at Westchester and Chester.

The areas other two systems are looking to expand as well. VCU Health is planning a significant redevelopment of its downtown campus, and HCA Healthcare has added freestanding ERs and urgent cares.

Earlier this spring, the states Department of Environmental Quality proposed fining St. Francis $33,000 for improperly handling pharmaceutical waste. According to the agency, the hospital mixed hazardous waste with regular trash and failed to destroy leftover addictive medications such as valium, among other instances of wrongdoing.

The hospital is continuing to move forward with an action plan accepted by the state, said Joey Trapani, the hospitals chief operating officer.

Top five weekend events: Richmond Greek Festival, Charged Up Fest, Ashland Strawberry Faire Richmond Greek Festival Charged Up Fest Groovin' in the Garden Ashland Strawberry Faire Scotts Addition Pridefest
Beto Altamirano addresses supporters during his mayoral campaign launch event at The Friendly Spot on Saturday, June 1, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News From left, Josephine Cordova-Stevens, Paola Fernandez, and Polett Coss share a laugh in the shade at mayoral candidate Beto Altamiranos campaign launch party at The Friendly Spot on Saturday, June 1, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Mayoral candidate and tech entrepreneur Beto Altamirano waves to supporters during his campaign launch event at The Friendly Spot on Saturday, June 1, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News With sweat dripping down his face, Luke Ybarra, 8, holds up a campaign sign for mayoral candidate Beto Altamirano during the campaign launch event at The Friendly Spot on Saturday, June 1, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Beto Altamirano addresses supporters during his mayoral campaign launch event at The Friendly Spot on Saturday, June 1, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Beto Altamirano addresses supporters during his mayoral campaign launch event at The Friendly Spot on Saturday, June 1, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News Anna Ferandes, wife of mayoral candidate and tech entrepreneur Beto Altamirano, watchers her husband speak during his mayoral campaign launch event at The Friendly Spot on Saturday, June 1, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News The sun beats down on Beto Altamirano as he addresses supporters during his mayoral campaign launch event at The Friendly Spot on Saturday, June 1, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Political outsider Alberto Beto Altamirano has entered the mayors race, ending months of speculation that he would run for the open seat in 2025.

The tech entrepreneur released a two-minute, 20-second video Friday followed by a packed launch event Saturday at Southtowns The Friendly Spot Ice House.

Im not a politician. Im an entrepreneur, Altamirano told the crowd of well over 200 people. As an entrepreneur, I learned to get things done. As a small business owner, I learned to find solutions to the challenges ahead, to roll up my sleeves and get to work.

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The challenges the city faces include broken infrastructure, rising cost of living, homelessness, under-funded schools and public transportation, he said.

What has prevented us from addressing these issues head-on is not the lack of sound policy or sensible plans  it is a system that was not designed for the working class, he said. It is the pettiness of some of our leaders in City Hall. It is this disconnect of some of our leaders from the everyday struggle of our residents of San Antonio.

Altamirano, 34, is the youngest person to enter what is shaping up to be a crowded race. Hes the first candidate from outside City Hall and will attempt to reverse San Antonios pattern of electing City Council members to the mayors office.

Two sitting council members  District 8 Councilman Manny Pelaez and District 9 Councilman John Courage  have already launched campaigns to replace Mayor Ron Nirenberg, who cant seek reelection due to municipal term limits. District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda is expected to enter the race, and District 4 Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia is mulling a run.

Other potential contenders from outside City Hall include Rolando Pablos, former Texas secretary of state, and Gina Ortiz Jones, former under-secretary of the U.S. Air Force and a two-time Texas congressional candidate.

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Phil Hardberger, who served from 2005 to 2009, was the last mayor to come from outside council  and the first outsider in decades to hold the citys top office.

Unlike Altamirano, Hardberger wasnt a political novice. He was elected to the San Antonio-based Fourth District Court of Appeals in 1994 and retired as chief justice in 2003.

Altamirano has tapped roofing magnate Mike Beldon to be his campaign treasurer, the same role Beldon played for Hardberger  and whose backing helped the former justice gain inroads with San Antonios business community.

Beldon also served as treasurer for Julian Castros successful 2009 mayoral bid and for Ivy Taylors successful 2015 mayoral runoff campaign.

Beldon met Altamirano through former Councilman Reed Williams and said he was immediately impressed. Williams was one of several people who introduced Altamirano at his launch.

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Hes got the personality, the skill set, high energy  I think he could do a great job of leading council, Beldon told the Express-News.

I expect with the number of candidates youre going to have, there will be a runoff and so the question is, do I think he can get enough votes to get in the runoff and then win? Beldon said. I think so. I think people who meet him are going to like him a lot.

Another factor working in Altamiranos favor is that hes prepared to put a lot of money into his own campaign, which Ive never seen before, Beldon said.

Altamirano told the Express-News that he will to loan his campaign $100,000  and more, if needed.

That would help him circumvent San Antonios stringent contribution caps, which limit individual donors and political action committees from giving more than $1,000 per contribution cycle.

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Veteran campaign strategist Kelton Morgan, who worked on Nirenbergs successful 2017 mayoral campaign and 2019 re-election campaign, estimates it will take candidates up to $300,000 to run an effective 2025 mayoral campaign that will get them into a runoff.

Not Henrys candidate

Altamirano made a name for himself in San Antonios burgeoning tech scene. Forbes named Altamirano to its 2018 30 Under 30 list of social entrepreneurs.

He co-founded Irys Technologies (formerly CityFlag) in 2017, which designed the mobile app that the city of San Antonios 311 system debuted in 2018. He is the companys chief executive officer.

Late last year, Irys bought one of the citys oldest cybersecurity and information technology companies, Diversified Technical Services Inc., for an undisclosed amount. At the time, Altamirano told the Express-News that Irys made about $7.5 million in revenue in 2022, and that government contracts accounted for 80% of its revenue.

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Altamirano told the Express-News that he would step down as CEO, if elected. He is also considering stepping aside and naming one of his co-founders interim CEO so he can devote his full attention to the campaign.

Former Mayor Henry Cisneros invested in Irys in 2017, which is how Altamirano got on his radar. Cisneros had worked with Irys co-founder and chief financial officer Eduardo Bravos father, who is a past president of the Association of Mexican Entrepreneurs.

I do think Beto is a very promising figure, Cisneros said. He has a fantastic educational preparation for public service. His business acumen is well demonstrated by the success of his company.

I think a lot of him, almost as if he was a family member, Cisneros added.

But that doesnt mean that the former mayor is going to be endorsing Altamirano  or anyone else.

Since leaving the mayors office in 1989, Cisneros has only made one mayoral endorsement. He backed Castro, whose mother, Rosie, was a grade school classmate.

Cisneros son, John Paul Cisneros, attended Altamiranos Saturdays event, in town from New York.

Henry Cisneros is quick to add that despite what some have said, Altamirano is not Henrys candidate.

Hes his own person and hes going to make his own path, but I certainly admire the talent and see the potential to make a major contribution in our society over the years, Cisneros said.

Still, there are many similarities between Cisneros and Altamiranos paths to municipal politics. Both earned masters degrees from Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government. Cisneros was a White House Fellow, while Altamirano completed a White House fellowship during college at the University of Texas at Austin. Cisneros was 33 years old when he ran for mayor.

But unlike Cisneros, Altamiranos move to San Antonio in 2013 wasnt a homecoming. He grew up in the Rio Grande Valley city of Mission.

Altamirano also has far less name ID than Cisneros did when he launched his campaign during his second term on City Council.
Jose Maria Morelos residents nervous with growing fire less than two kilometers away

Jose Maria Morelos, Q.R.  A forest fire just two kilometers away from the community of San Isidro Poniente is threatening to reach resident homes and the Balaan Kaax Reserve.

Residents in the area are also concerned about a change in wind direction that could send those same flames their way. Neighbors in San Isidro Poniente say they are concerned about the proximity of a forest fire that has been burning for days.

The community has asked the National Forestry Commission (Conafor) and Civil Protection to intervene, since now, the flames can be seen from their doorstep.

The growing fire is less than two kilometers away from the populated area. It is also posing a risk of devouring the regions Balaan Kaax Reserve, a natural protected area by the federal government and an important tourist spot.
Public liquor sales on hold this weekend during Mexican elections

Riviera Maya, Q.R.  Public liquor sales will be prohibited as of midnight June 1 due to the June 2 elections. More than 1.4 million people across the state of Quintana Roo are registered to head to the polls June 2 to vote for new mayors, state deputies and a new country president.

As per law, the public sale of liquor will be prohibited for 48 hours while people vote.

The Municipal Treasury, in support of the State Secretariat of Finance and Planning (Sefiplan), will carry out surveillance operations around the state to ensure compliance with the Dry Law provision.

The objective of the government measure, Sefiplan reports, is to preserve public order and the safety of people during the electoral process.

While the sale of alcohol is prohibited in public stores, restaurants in tourist areas are able to serve alcohol with food.

According to Quintana Roo Sefiplan head Martha Parroquin Perez, the temporary alcohol sale restriction will start at midnight Saturday, June 1 and be lifted Sunday at midnight, June 2.

The Dry Law or Ley Seca, is enforced across the entire country during elections. This year, more than 100 million Mexican nationals are registered to vote in the 2024 elections.
Secretary of the Navy locates two boats carrying 51 foreigners off Isla Mujeres coast

Isla Mujeres, Q.R.  Two boat loads of foreigners were located Thursday off the coast of Isla Mujeres. The two boats were seen approximately four nautical miles (7 kilometers) north of the coast.

The Secretary of the Navy reported the locating and subsequent rescue of those on board the boats took place Thursday morning. A total of 51 foreigners were found between the two makeshift vessels.

In a statement Thursday afternoon, the Secretaria de Marina reported that they, through the Mexican Navy acting as Coast Guard from the Ninth Naval Region, rescued 51 foreigners who were aboard two smaller artisanal vessels off the coast of the state of Quintana Roo.

This action was carried out after receiving an emergency call in the Command and Control Room of the Ninth Naval Region reporting two smaller vessels with a total of 51 crew members on board, which were approximately four nautical miles away (7 kilometers) north of Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo.

Due to the above and with the objective of safeguarding human life at sea, the departure of an Interceptor Patrol from the Ninth Naval Region and two Defender-type vessels from the Naval Search, Rescue and Maritime Surveillance Station (ENSAR) of Isla Mujeres was ordered in order to go to the designated area to rescue the crew members.

A total of 51 people were located traveling in two homemade boats off Isla Mujeres. Photo: Secretaria de Marina May 30, 2024.

The rescued people were treated by Naval Health personnel for their medical examination and were found to be stable and in good health. They were transferred to the Advanced Naval Station of Puerto Juarez, where they were handed over to the authorities of the National Migration Institute (INM) to carry out the corresponding legal procedures, they said.
His name will never be as widely recognized as it ought to be, but Nicholas Winton is one of the authentic heroes of the last century. Born in 1909 in Hampstead, London, Wintons parents were Jewish, but he was brought up in the Church of England. He had achieved conventional, comfortable success as a stockbroker in London when, as the storm clouds of World War II were gathering, he felt compelled to intervene in an unfolding human catastrophe.

In 1938, Winton was drawn into service with the British Committee for Refugees from Czechoslovakia, whose mandate was to provide transport from Prague to Great Britain for refugees who had been driven from their home countries by the Nazis; a majority of the refugees were Jewish. Upon his arrival in Prague, Winton initiated the expansion of the organizations mission to provide transport for the children of refugees, whose status was all the more precarious given the inevitability of Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia.

In all, 669 children were saved thanks to the courageous intervention of Winton and his colleagues, the backing of the British government, and the pure and simple compassion of the British publicwho stepped up financially and to make their own homes available to the children. The press has long written of Winton as being akin to the British Schindler, a reference to Oskar Schindler, the German industrialist whose heroic actions averted the deaths of more than 1,200 Jews in the Holocaust.

Of course, 31 years ago Steven Spielberg brought Schindlers extraordinary story to widespread attention in one of the great works of modern cinema, Schindlers List. This year, Winton (who died in 2015 at age 106) was himself made the leading figure in a feature film, One Life, which premiered earlier this spring in the U.S. and is currently available to stream. It stars Johnny Flynn as Winton during the time of his work in Prague, and Anthony Hopkins as the man decades later, in the late 1980s, when his deeds began to become better known, at least in Britain. As directed by journeyman television helmer James Hawes, One Life lacks the profound artistry of Spielbergs masterpiece but serves a noble purpose nonetheless: clearly, elegantly, and unpretentiously, the film educates audiences on a life worth remembering, celebrating, and emulating. These days, how often can you say that a mainstream film, starring an actor as famous as Hopkins, seeks to edify rather than merely entertain?

The first hour of the film unfolds in flashbacks showing the stylish, well-heeled 29-year-old Winton encountering firsthand the deprivations of the refugees in Prague, especially the numerous childrensome with families, some without. Despite the cold, gray gloom, some cannot manage to suppress their innocence; one girl walks behind Winton as he surveys a refugee camp, laughing and inducing him to break off portions of a chocolate bar he has with himfirst to her, then to a multitude. Yet the situation is grave. The childrenwe have to move them, Winton says to Doreen Warriner (Romola Garai), an admirably matter-of-fact worker at the British Committee for Refugees from Czechoslovakia. Says the man who arrived yesterday, she retorts.

All the same, Winton, Warriner, and their colleagues essentially have no choice: confronted with the suffering and impending death of children, the proper response is to act. Back home, Winton calls upon his mother, Babette (Helena Bonham-Carter), from whom her son apparently acquired his pugnacious sense of purpose. Upon encountering a recalcitrant bureaucrat in the British immigration office, Babette says: Young man, I have something to tell you. Sit down. In movies, of course, such characters always follow orders, but one senses that the real-life Babette likely had this very same moral authority. (An interesting historical fact: Bonham-Carters maternal grandfather, Eduardo Propper de Callejon, was a Spanish diplomat who forged exit visas during the war to save thousands of Jews in occupied France from deportation to the death camps.)

Lushly photographed by Zac Nicholson and designed with an eye for period detail, there are pleasing montages of the flurry of paperwork Wintons effort produces: letters typed, pictures glued, envelopes stuffed, checks received. Other passages of the film have something of the excruciating tension of Fred Zinnemanns 1977 masterpiece Julia, starring Jane Fonda as a possibly fictionalized but nonetheless morally commanding version of Lillian Hellman, who consents to carrying money to support efforts against Hitler in Germanyan endeavor plagued with near-misses and almost-calamities in scenes as gripping as any thriller.

As the young Winton and his mother, Flynn and Bonham-Carter make for a sharp, steady mother-son duosure of their purpose, steadfast in their causebut as the aged, 70-something Winton, Hopkins conveys an entirely different quality: his Winton seems preoccupied, distant, possessed by memories of the children he saved or attempted to save, whose pictures he retains in countless files that have swallowed his house and, especially, in a dedicated scrapbook. (An X over a childs photo indicates that he or she has been placed in a British foster home; its absence indicates the opposite.) Winton says, at one point, that he tries to suppress his imagination for fear of what happened to the children he was not able to save. As he proved in James Ivorys The Remains of the Day and countless other films, Hopkins can express crushing regret better than nearly any other modern screen star.

What does Winton have to regret? Of course, he regrets not shepherding more children to safety, especially those on one train in particular unable to make its journey to safety. This is hard for those of us who lead comfortable lives to comprehend, but if you see mass human suffering up close, how can you possibly judge when youve done enough to alleviate it? Is there even such a thing as doing enough? It is a credit to the screenplay by Lucinda Coxon and Nick Drake that the film prompts such questions in the viewer.

For its final half hour or so, One Life shifts to the late 1980s, when Winton is cajoled into appearing on episodes of the BBC program Thats Life!, a kind of newsmagazine-style show that aired from 1973 through 1994. There, in a surprise, Winton finds himself in the company of the now-grown children he helped savefirst one such child, then an entire studio-full. Winton seems as bewildered as anyone by such a reunion taking place on live television, especially on a program as trivial as Thats Life! appears to have been, but he comprehends that the show is popular enough to virtually assure that their story will not be forgotten. (Why shouldnt popular culture be marshaled for public good?) When Wintons wife, Grete (Lena Olin, whose warmth and openness makes for a striking contrast to Hopkins natural reserve), sees her husband on television, embraced by one of the survivors, she is filled with something deeper than pridean appreciation, perhaps, of what it must mean to express thanks for the saving of ones life, and to receive thanks for the saving of anothers life.

In short, One Life is that rarest of films: one that should be seen to be learned from.
City officials are withholding documents about a recently revealed conflict of interest for one member of the Roanoke City Council, and the council member isnt answering questions either.

Last week, Councilwoman Vivian Sanchez-Jones abstained from voting on a $5,900 budget amendment for the school division. The schools received some grant money, and the city council accepted that funding, as is standard.

But Sanchez-Jones, who works as a student support specialist for Roanoke City Public Schools, read a statement that said she had a personal interest in the item. It caused questioning from Mayor Sherman Lea.

Because Im employed by the school board for the city of Roanoke, Sanchez-Jones said. I will refrain from participation in this matter.

City Attorney Tim Spencer told the city council that Sanchez-Jones should now refrain from participating in any discussions or votes solely about school funding. But she can still participate in discussions about the citys overall budget, which includes school funding as a part of the vote.

This is a result of the recent question dealing with the school funding, Spencer said. We got a report back from them that  on individual appropriations of just school funds, as well as on the funding formula  that she should refrain.

The Roanoke Times requested a copy of the report Spencer mentioned to the city council. But in a letter, Spencer wrote that the document was exempt from Virginias Freedom of Information Act.

The City will not be releasing this information, Spencer wrote. Since it is considered attorney-client privilege and work product.

Sanchez-Jones did not respond Thursday to additional attempts to reach her, after she also did not reply to a phone call or text message seeking comment last week.

The grant money that Sanchez-Jones refrained from voting on is barely a sliver of the schools more than $250 million upcoming budget. It represents far less than 1% of that budget.

In years past, school-employed city council members voted on school funding matters without issue, including Sanchez-Jones.

So what changed?

Like Spencer mentioned last week, Sanchez-Jones new conflict disclosure follows a recent change to a longstanding school funding agreement in Roanoke.

Previously, the school board received 40% of most local tax revenue plus whatever surplus was collected from those local tax pools. After the change is enacted, surplus funds will instead be considered for other city projects, rather than given exclusively to the school division.

The council voted 5-1, with Sanchez-Jones also abstaining, on that funding formula change, despite public opposition from the school board.

Come the next city council meeting after that vote, Sanchez-Jones and Spencer revealed her new conflict of interest disclosure for any and all matters solely related to school funding.

People who spoke in opposition to the school funding change said they were concerned it could cause future friction between school board and the city council.

Whether the Sanchez-Jones situation is already one example of heightened tensions remains unclear.

Its new, Lea said during the city council meeting last week. Mrs. Sanchez-Jones has been voting on this all year.
A wrongful death lawsuit against the medical provider for the Western Virginia Regional Jail has been settled for $850,000.

The family of Lisa Mariel Lemond filed the lawsuit in July against Wellpath, a Nashville-based company that provides health care to inmates at the jail west of Salem.

Lemond died of sepsis at the age of 32 after employees of Wellpath failed to properly diagnose her condition and have her promptly transferred to a hospital, the lawsuit claimed.

Judge Robert Ballou approved the settlement Friday after a hearing in U.S. District Court in Roanoke.

Wellpath did not admit liability, but agreed the settlement was just and reasonable under the facts and circumstances of this case, an order from Ballou stated.

Lemond died July 23, 2021, of pulmonary septic emboli due to tricuspid valve endocarditis, an autopsy determined. She had been taken the night before to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital  too late to save her from a condition she had shown symptoms of nearly three weeks earlier in the jail, the lawsuit alleged.

The lawsuit claimed that Wellpath deprived Lemond, a drug offender who was in jail on a probation violation, of her constitutional right to receive adequate medical care while incarcerated.

In a separate order Friday, Ballou dismissed the jail as a defendant in the lawsuit. Attorneys for the jail had argued that it is not a health care provider and therefore cant be sued for medical malpractice. The lawsuit contained no allegations of negligence against the jail or its employees, and Lemonds family did not object to the dismissal.

Under a settlement agreement approved by Ballou, $307,444 will go to Lemonds mother and $153,722 to her sister. The rest of the $850,000 will be used to pay for their attorney fees, legal costs and medical expenses.
Robert Eugene Hawes was charged with three counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child in 2021. He went to trial last week and before the jury could render their not guilty verdicts on the three counts he was charged with, he committed suicide. Courtesy of the Hawes family

Jurors deliberated the case against Robert Eugene Hawes for most of May 24 but needed more time. They came back Tuesday from the Memorial Day weekend and reached a verdict in a couple of hours.

That morning, though, Hawes, 57, killed himself and never learned that the jury had found him not guilty of all three counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child.

More Information If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988. There is also an online chat at 988lifeline.org

Confused jurors were thanked and dismissed before they could tell the court that they had acquitted him, his lawyer, Monica R. Khirallah, said.

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By then, the judge and prosecutors had been informed by a shocked Khirallah that Hawes might have shot himself at home. First responders confirmed the death and state District Judge Michael E. Mery declared a mistrial as the jury was wrapping up.

On Thursday, the Bexar County Medical Examiners Office ruled the death a suicide by a gunshot to the head.

Hawes had been indicted in 2021 on the first-degree felony, online court records indicate. He was accused of abuse at different times from 2008 to 2021, ending when the alleged victim was still younger than 17.

Hawes could have faced up to life in prison if convicted. Free on bond, he had already been tried in October 2022, with the jury unable to agree after 16 hours of deliberation, Khirallah said.

The risk of going to trial (again) was so grueling and overwhelming, Khirallah said. Its so tragic, and you add another layer of not guilty, it makes it even more so.

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After the 2022 mistrial, Robert began exhibiting tremendous mental health issues, Khirallah said. He said he couldnt do another trial.

But when they discussed options for plea agreements, Hawes wasnt willing to accept them, maintaining his innocence, she said.

On May 20, a jury was selected for the retrial. Testimony began the next day in the 144th District Court. On May 24, the jury deliberated from 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., adding to the stress, Khirallah said.

Some of Hawes relatives were in court Tuesday morning, but he was not. As the jury deliberated, Khirallah said, she received a call from Hawes wife, who told her she had heard a gunshot coming from the garage of their home. Khirallah called 911 and EMS responded around 9:30 a.m.

Mery declared a mistrial. Khirallah said the jury forewoman contacted her later, wanting to know what happened and telling her the panel was about to alert the court that it had reached a verdict.

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The Bexar County District Attorneys Office moved to dismiss the charges against Hawes and closed the case on Wednesday. Pete Gallego, communications director for the DAs Office, confirmed in an email Tuesday afternoon that the case ended in a mistrial but said he could not comment further.

A mistrial if deceased is the correct remedy, said Senior District Judge Sid Harle, who runs the Fourth Administrative Region and has been on the bench for 36 years. Its rare, and this was the first time hes seen it during jury deliberations, he said.

When the jury forewoman heard that Hawes took his own life, she asked if Khirallah wanted to know what the panel had decided, the lawyer said.

Not guilty on three counts, she said. And thats when you are just sick. It was absolutely tragic, and obviously she (the forewoman) needed closure, Khirallah said. It felt good talking to her.  Our citizens are working hard when called for jury duty. They take it seriously.

Reached Friday, the forewoman grew emotional as she confirmed Khirallahs account and said she was exasperated the verdict couldnt be announced in court so Hawes could clear his name.

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We spent so much time on a very serious case. No one took it lightly, and for us to arrive at a unanimous decision, its important the public know, she said, later adding that Hawes suicide doesnt change my mind one bit  he was not guilty.

Khirallah said Hawes had sent her a text Monday night, using a meme to describe his anxiety.
Rhyma Castillo is a trending reporter for the Express-News and a member of its Digital Go Team. She can be reached at rhyma.castillo@express-news.net.

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

In her free time, she enjoys painting, drawing, cooking, hiking, climbing, gardening, playing video games, cuddling with her cats, and making music with her band.
Just a few minutes after the judge for New York v. Donald Trump told those in his courtroom they could leave for the day, the jury members came back and informed Justice Juan Merchan that, actually, theyd already come to a verdict. And Fox News was ready for this moment. Your World With Neil Cavuto directed its camera to the empty front doors of the Manhattan Criminal Court, and Cavuto asked contributor Francey Hakes what she thought. Although she acknowledged that the verdict was probably not for the president, she further noted that its difficult to know what the jury is going to do in an extraordinary case like this, where theres so much unconstitutional thumb-on-the-scale by the judge and bringing charges by a district attorney that dont make any legal or judicial sense.

From there on out, the tenor of how MAGA world would react to the verdictno matter where it landedwas determined. The judge, the case, the jury, and everything else was corrupt and criminal, and Donald Trump was not. Im very, very strongly hoping that the jury saw through the smoke and mirrors that the prosecution put forth, thatof course the jury doesnt understand that the presidents Sixth Amendment were very severely and clearly violated in this case, legal analyst Rebecca Rose Woodland chimed in on Fox. Over on Truth Social, Dinesh DSouza ReTruthed Trumps complaint (at 4:15 p.m.) about how his CIVIL RIGHTS HAVE BEEN TOTALLY VIOLATED WITH THIS HIGHLY POLITICAL, UNCONSTITUTIONAL, AND ELECTION INTERFERING WITCH HUNT. Meanwhile, Townhall.com put scare quotes around the word trial in its related headline. Rep. Elise Stefanik posted that she was praying for President Trump and his family. Donald Trump Jr. teased a forthcoming Rumble livestream about this bogus, banana republic lawfare.

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Related From Slate Someone Check on Don Jr. The Republicans Are Absolutely Losing It. Read More

So, of course, when the 34 guilty charges were read out just after 5 p.m., the MAGA-verse had its reactions ready to go. Such bullshit, moaned Trump Jr. on Truth Social. Catturd announced we were living in a Post justice America and bravely volunteered to crawl through 10 miles of rattlesnakes now to vote for Trump. Country artist Lee Greenwood began hawking his God Bless the USA Bible right away. DSouza referred to the trial as a sham. Before Trump himself could even weigh in on the digital forum, accounts like the Citizen Free Press posted his IRL postverdict remarks, including his insistence that this was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt.  Im a very innocent man.

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The Donald himself posted after 5:30 p.m., naturally to share a Fox News clip in which former Bush administration official (and torture apologist) John Yoo lamented what the result could mean for the presidency and our constitutional system and wondered whether Republican state attorneys general should start persecuting Democrats.

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Back on Fox News, former Judge Jeanine Pirro (whos been in the courtroom for a bit of this trial) claimed that Trumpthe strongest man Ive ever methad fallen victim to a jury pool that was 80 percent or 90 percent anti-Trump. Other panelists and hosts bemoaned a system that was allegedly stacked against Trump with a Soros-backed judge who was on the side of prosecutors in thrall to President Joe Biden. And yes, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is also Soros-backed, per Fox.

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Tucker Carlson, sitting on X/Twitter in likely envy of his former newsroom colleagues, managed to make all this a part of his wildly racist great replacement theory: Import the Third World, become the Third World.  Hell win the election if hes not killed first.

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A graphic again started traveling around Truth Social regarding alleged Democratic crimes that were never investigated even as Trump was indicted. (Yes, it includes the illegal server at Clintons house.) On the platform, Stefanik, Trump Jr., Kari Lake, Sen. Marco Rubio, Citizen Free Press, and Trump himself all shared links to the candidates WinRed donation page, which briefly crashed due to a flood of postverdict traffic (and youd better believe that Fox News kept emphasizing this fact). Catturd predicted that Trump will now win 2024 in a Reaganlike landside. Trump lawyer Alina Habba called the court result an atrocity and asked followers to pray for our nation, while Trump adviser Kash Patel looked forward to Hunter Bidens upcoming trial and asked Congress to subpoena the judges daughter.

The Biden campaign itself did not say anything on Truth Social about the verdict; its most recent post from Thursday featured an old clip of Omarosa confirming a now-Slate-confirmed scoop about Trump using anti-Black racial slurs behind the scenes of The Apprentice. According to the Wall Street Journal, the value of Trump Medias stock plunged as the verdict was announced, and overall shares were down at least 6 percent during after-hours trading. Tough luck for the long-term bet on Trumps electoral prowess.
One of the rights most common rhetorical responses to the prosecutions of Donald Trump has been to say something like if they can do it to him, theyll do it to you! (Trump just said it himself at a Friday morning Trump Tower press conference at which he also brought up, for some reason, an accusation that Congo is releasing prisoners into the United States.) The idea is to remind conservative voters about the threat of Liberal Big Government Tyranny, and its probably an effective way to activate the Republican base even if, as this tweet points out, it doesnt quite make sense:

"if they can do it to trump they can do it to you" oh wow I didn't realize that regular ppl could be arrested . good to know  america's lounge singer (@KrangTNelson) August 9, 2022

A related idea that has exploded into increased circulation since Thursdays jury verdict is that Republicans should take revenge for Trumps conviction by putting Democrats in jail too. Heavily bearded right-wing media star Matt Walsh was one of the first to call for this kind of retaliation, demanding a Biblical 10-to-1 imprisonment ratio of high-ranking Dems, although his brain seems to have been too clouded by red mist to actually name any high-ranking Democrats besides the president. (Hunter Biden is not active in Democratic politics.)

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Donald Trump should make and publish a list of ten high ranking Democrat criminals who he will have arrested when he takes office. First on the list should be Joe Biden. Second should be Joe Biden's crackhead son.  Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) May 30, 2024

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Kamala Harris! Kamala Harris is the vice president, Matt! Nancy Pelosi, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez  I could probably think of at least two or three others.

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Bush administration lawyer John Yoo is calling for retaliatory prosecutions too, although, as Jonathan Chait points out, Yoos argument manages to get the golden rule wrong, which is a bit embarrassing for someone whose job is supposed to be knowing what laws say. So is Sean Davis, the head of the right-wing Federalist website, and thats ironic, because a top-down system of prosecution-demanding is not federalism. Every states voters should be able to make their own decisions about putting One to 10 Democrats to Be Named Later in the pen.

But lets take these calls with the seriousness they deserve for a minutei.e., a Friday-afternoon blog post level of seriousness. While it doesnt seem like it would be fair to put Democrats in jail for literally nothing, perhaps a compromise could be reached of putting any Democrat whos done what Trump did in jail. (Note that Trump will not be sentenced until July, might not be sentenced to any imprisonment at all, and could delay house arrest or going to jail by appealing his conviction.)

Namely, Democrats should face retaliatory imprisonment if they made nondisclosure payments to a pornographic actress to prevent her from sharing an allegation of an extramarital affair at a time when such allegations could have been politically damaging, then created fictitious transaction records to hide evidence of the payment.

It seems like a fair trade. If they could do it to him, they should be able to do it to youthats what justice being blind really means.
Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 of 34 felony counts in New York court on Thursday afternoon. That would be an absolute day-ruiner for most people. But dont worry: Hes hanging in there.

We didnt do a thing wrong. Im a very innocent man, and its OK, Trump told the press after the verdict was read. Im fighting for our country, Im fighting for our Constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now. The real verdict, he said, is going to be Nov. 5. (Thats Election Dayhell be on the ballot, running for the presidency. Of all things!)

Other Republicans of repute, however, are distinctly not doing OK.

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Donald Trump Jr. is not doing OK. He described the verdict as such bullshit, posted that the Democrats have succeeded in their years long attempt to turn America into a third-world shithole, and said of the sentencing hearing scheduled for July 11, four days before the start of the Republican National Convention, Theyre not even trying to hide the ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!!!

Having suitably cleared his throat, he then got down to business by posting a fundraising link and tweeting out his livestream, where he would be Taking Your Questions Live for as long as it takes.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has finally patched things up with Trump after a bruising primary, performed the ever-so-subtle jab of immediately releasing a lengthy prewritten statement about Trumps guilty verdict the instant it was read. It is often said that no one is above the law, DeSantis wrote, but it is also true that no one is below the law. Something to chew over when you cant fall asleep this evening.

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How are the vice presidential hopefuls presenting themselves? New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, a member of House Republican leadership, is presenting herself in italics (luckily not visible in the embedded tweet version here). Its too painful on the eyes to look at for more than a few seconds at a time, but all of the requisite adjectives and proper nouns appear to be there.

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My statement on the rigged verdict in the New York City Biden Trial against President Trump:



Todays verdict shows how corrupt, rigged, and unAmerican the weaponized justice system has become under Joe Biden and Democrats. I fully support President Trump appealing this decision  Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) May 30, 2024

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Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance echoed his pal Donald Trump Jr.s talk of election interference.

This decision is a disgrace to the rule of law and our Constitution.



Dems invented a felony to "get Trump," with the help of a Soros funded prosecutor and a Biden donor Judge, who rigged the entire case to get this outcome.



This isn't justice, it's election interference.  J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) May 30, 2024

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South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott went with a video insta-reaction. Thats why hes the betting favorite, folks. Since hes not a guy who raises his voice or gets that visibly angry, watching him feign it is a delight. Unbelievable! he says. Un-fricking-believable!

Absolute injustice. This erodes our justice system.



Hear me clearly: You cannot silence the American people. You cannot stop us from voting for change.



Joe Biden  youre fired. We the People stand with Donald J. Trump. pic.twitter.com/lqylAh1Bze  Tim Scott (@votetimscott) May 30, 2024

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Florida Sen. Marco Rubio compared the trial and its outcome with the show trials in Cuba under the Castro regime, which hed heard about growing up. Show trial isnt too creative, but well give him a B-minus for the personal touch.

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South Dakota Sen. John Thune, meanwhile, is in the running to replace Mitch McConnell as the next Senate Republican leader. And he wanted to make clear, at 6:55 p.m., that he would have been publicly mad much earlier had the dang plane Wi-Fi worked.

Ive been on a flight, but just landed and saw the news. This case was politically motivated from the beginning, and today's verdict does nothing to absolve the partisan nature of this prosecution. Regardless of outcome, more and more Americans are realizing that we cannot  Senator John Thune (@SenJohnThune) May 30, 2024

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Among those few Republicans who actually have interesting calculations to make here is Larry Hogan, the Republican Senate nominee in Maryland. Despite being a strong candidate as Republican Senate candidates in Maryland go, he still has to find a way to win all Republicans in the state while winning over another million or so Biden voters. His reaction, then, was lacking a certain crispness in its plea that we all be nice to one another.

Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leadersregardless of partymust not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation  Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) May 30, 2024

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Trump and his campaign have, for the most part, given Hogan some leeway to say what he needs to say to remain competitive in Maryland. But the Trump campaigns top adviser, Chris LaCivita, didnt let this one slide. You just ended your campaign, he responded to Hogan.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, meanwhile, checked the box.

What else? Heres one more The REAL verdict is Nov. 5which, sure!to send you home.
Read our ongoing coverage of Donald Trumps first criminal trial here.

Donald Trump may have been convicted on Thursday, but theres a long road ahead before he might face any punishment.

Soon after a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to adult film actor Stormy Daniels, Trumps lead defense attorney, Todd Blanche, went on CNN and pledged to challenge the verdict. I think the timing of this trial was really unfair to President Trump. Theres so much publicity around the witnesses and leading up to the trial. On Friday, Trump piled on, holding a rambling news conference where he railed against the jurors, judge, and his guilty verdict. This is a scam. Theres a rigged trial. It shouldnt have been in that venue. We shouldnt have had that judge, Trump said.

Meanwhile, Justice Juan Merchan has scheduled Trumps sentencing for July 11, but the appeals process could take years to play out in the courts. (And yes, Trump can still run and serve as president.) To understand what might happen next, we asked Glenn Danas, an appellate expert and partner at Clarkson Law Firm, to break down the road ahead. This conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity:

Shirin Ali: Blanche went on CNN and said he would first challenge the jurys verdict and then file a formal appeal. What does that mean?

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Glenn Danas: Its called a post-conviction briefing, and you can file a motion asking the court to vacate the jurys award, saying that it was totally unsupported or irrational. Those kinds of motions dont have a very high chance of succeeding, but theyre typically made to preserve issues for further appeal.

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After Trump has been sentenced, his legal team can file a direct appeal to the First Judicial Department of New Yorks Appellate Division, and theyll also have 30 days to do that. And they can bring up all of the issues that they haveeither with trial testimony, that it was prejudicial, or with failure to have allowed any evidence that Trump wanted to put on in his defense, or with jury instructions. All that can be raised and has to be raised in their appeal to the First Department.

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I should say that the post-verdict briefing is quite likely to push out the deadline to file the appeal. When theres a post-verdict briefing, if its not summarily rejected, the prosecution can respond to it, and the court could set a hearing on it. This would all likely push back both the sentencing and the deadline to file an appeal.

What options does Trump have to file an appeal to the jurys verdict?

There are a couple of different ways that one can appeal. A direct appeal, which is what Trump will be filing if the post-verdict motions are not successfulwhich they probably wont bewill happen after his sentencing. It will have to be limited to issues that are actually in the record and were properly preserved. Generally, if one is going to appeal an evidentiary rulingthat the court either let in something it shouldnt have or it failed to let in something that it should have, anything along those linesthose rulings had to have been preserved for appeal by a contemporaneous objection. If Trumps legal team didnt object to something in a timely wayusually that means orally during a criminal trial and sometimes it can be by written motionthen its waived and cant be appealed. They have to have been in the record, and thats also the case for legal arguments.

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Im not certain how much was objected to regarding, lets say, the jury instructions, but that would have to have been objected to at the time to preserve it for appeal. All of those issues have to be in the record to be appealable and are the basis for a potential success before the Appellate Division. The same would apply if Trump is saying Stormy Daniels testimony was unfair to him. In order for his defense attorneys to actually use her testimony as grounds for an appeal, Trumps attorneys had to have objected to her testimony during the trial.

Its really quite rigorous and part of why being a criminal defense lawyer is difficult. Part of the skill involved is being able to think on ones feet and make those objections in a timely and accurate way to preserve them for appeal.

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Will Trump have to pay a bond or face any type of punishment while his appeal plays out?

In a civil appeal, lets say you lose a trial and theres a monetary award against you. One would have to file a bond in order to stay the execution of that judgmentotherwise, while the appeal was pending, the defendant could execute on it and force you to pay whatever it is that you just lost. In the criminal context for Trump, theres no money damages against him, so the issue will really be whether whatever hes sentenced to is stayed pending the appeal. I think its unlikely that hes going to get any incarceration time, given he doesnt have a record and that these were nonviolent crimes. But if he were sentenced to any amount of jail time, he would then have to make a motion to the sentencing court asking to be released on his own recognizance or to be allowed a cash bail option in order to avoid going to jail or prison, pending the appeal.

How long could this appeals process take?

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Its hard to say exactly, but the first layer of the appeal, which is just to the First Department, I would expect to take about a year. If that appeal is unsuccessful, then after about a year, he would have an opportunity to file whats called a leave application with the New York Court of Appeals, which is confusingly the name of New Yorks highest court. The lowest court was where Trump was just convicted and is called the Supreme Court. The middle layer court is called the Appellate Division.

Since the Court of Appeals is the highest court, they dont take cases as of rightso after Trumps first layer of appeal, he may not get another appeal. He would have to ask the New York Court of Appeals to allow him to appeal, and if they grant his leave application, only then can he actually file an appellate briefing, saying, I was denied my constitutional rights under either the New York Constitution or the U.S. Constitution. He can also say there was some sort of failure to follow criminal procedure. The Court of Appeals would typically decide the leave application after three to five months, and if granted, then the appeal could take probably another year, maybe a little less. And if the Court of Appeals decision is adverse to Trump, he could then file a petition for certiorari in the U.S. Supreme Court, and the basis for that would have to be limited to the U.S. Constitution, rather than New York law or the New York Constitution.

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Related From Slate OK, the Right Does Have a Good Point About Donald Trump Here Read More

If Trump wins the November election, as president, can he overturn a state conviction against him?

I think this would be an issue that constitutional scholars would have different ideas about, whether the pardoning power or the clemency power extends to him. I dont believe that he would actually be able to vacate the conviction.

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If Trump is elected, but in jail, I think its more likely that he could allow himself to get out of jail. But I dont believe that he would be able to vacate the conviction on the basis of him being in jail without the New York governor or the New York Court of Appeals agreeing to it first.

What do you think the likelihood of success is for any Trump appeal of this jurys verdict?

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When theres any resolution against a criminal defendant, saying, Were going to appeal this!its very common and doesnt really mean much. In Trumps case, of course theyre going to say this. Its really at the first level that theres a fairly high possibility or relatively high possibility of getting a reversal or a vacatur. After this first layer, when the appeal moves on to the New York Court of Appeals or the United States Supreme Court, the odds are much, much lower.

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If I were betting, I would put it at maybe a 40 percent likelihood of succeeding at the next levelwhich is when the appeal initially goes to the First Departmenton at least one of the many bases that theyre going to assert. Theyre probably going to have a dozen bases that theyll figure out for appeal. If that level is unsuccessful, then I think that his odds before the New York Court of Appeals would be probably in the single digits, maybe at 10 percent, at most. And then if it goes to the Supreme Court, in this case, I would put it much lower than that, at probably 1 percent likelihood of success.
Celonis prioritizes the well-being & advancement of its female employees, recognizing their invaluable contributions to the organizations success

Celonis implements a comprehensive up-scaling program for all employees, ensuring continuous skill enhancement. A recent global event in Madrid gathered the entire workforce for intensive training and challenges. These challenges, tailored to various teams, foster collaboration and skill development. Moreover, Celonis offers certifications for every new product release, ensuring employees stay updated. Employees also get the opportunity to work closely with new products, contributing to innovation and product enhancement. This approach not only motivates employees but also ensures they remain at the forefront of product development and company success.Celonis is dedicated to promoting gender diversity and inclusion within its workforce, with women constituting approximately 36 percent of the organization. The company actively strives for a more balanced representation, aspiring for a 50:50 gender ratio. Celonis fosters an environment where all genders are treated equally, extending support to the LGBTQ community. At the heart of Celonis culture lies its dedication to fostering the empowerment of women within the workplace. Through various initiatives and policies, the company creates an inclusive environment where women feel supported and valued. From flexible work arrangements to leadership programs tailored for women, Celonis prioritizes the well-being and advancement of its female employees, recognizing their invaluable contributions to the organizations success.Also, with initiatives such as parental leave and mentorship programs, the company strives to create a supportive environment for all employees. Women are encouraged to pursue leadership roles, with promotions even while on maternity leave, a testament to Celonis commitment to equality.Celonis approach to talent development extends beyond hiring to en-compass continuous upskilling and empowerment. Through programs like Lead at Celonis and global training initiatives, employees are equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in their roles. Lateral hiring is encouraged, and internal talent is groomed for future leadership positions, ensuring a vibrant and multi-skilled team.Furthermore, Celonis is committed to fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth. Employees have access to a wide range of training and development opportunities, including online courses, workshops, and certifications. The company also encourages employees to pursue higher education and advanced degrees, providing support and resources to help them achieve their goals.As Celonis continues to expand its global presence and customer base, the company remains focused on innovation and excellence. Recent milestones such as Series D funding underscore Celonis potential for continued growth and success. With a steadfast commitment to its vision and values, Celonis is poised to shape the future of process intelligence. In light of this, the companys future roadmap includes plans to further enhance its Process Intelligence platform, with a focus on advancing AI capabilities, expanding into new markets, and deepening its partnerships with customers and technology providers. By staying at the forefront of technological innovation, Celonis aims to empower organizations worldwide to achieve their full potential.In conclusion, from its humble beginnings as an academic project to its current position as a global leader in process intelligence, Celonis continues to redefine the boundaries of possibility. With a dedicated workforce, a culture of diversity and inclusion, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, Celonis is not just transforming processes, its shaping the future of business.
Pantomath not only has gender diversity in the workplace, but it also prioritizes onboarding people with special situations & also those who might otherwise be considered difficult to work with

In terms of upskilling and advancement, Pantomath provides its team members with access to numerous on the-job training programs. It organizes various training and discussion forums amidst daily operations, while team members have the opportunity for job rotations within the organization. Pantomath's team is diverse in terms of age and gender, fostering a cohesive environment conducive to organi-zational success.Notably, the company's expert HR team and HR software play a significant role in matching the right talent with the right job. The organization is experiencing rapid growth and employs various methods to recruit new talent, including internal promotions, lateral hiring, and aggressive recruitment drives. To identify suitable candidates Pantomath collaborates with consultants, maintains a comprehensive HR database, and utilizes an AI platform to generate leads for HR and sales. The company's in-house data and technology enable it to attract and nurture top talent effectively.Pantomath is committed to aligning job roles with the interests of its team members and is prepared to modify roles based on individual preferences if necessary. It provides substantial support to cultivate an open work culture and offers top-notch facilities, flexible work arrangements, and stock-based compensation plans to attract and retain top talent. Moreover, the company supports its team members with personal needs such as maternity leave, higher education, and caregiving responsibilities, while focusing on individual growth and career development."Many highly skilled individuals from globally renowned organizations have joined our team in the last 6-8 months, and they are excited about our work culture. We have even observed that many people who left our organization have joined us back, which underscores the distinctiveness of our workplace experience. Our goal is to be a partner, not only with our clients but also within the team. We share the culture of sharing, teamwork, and brainstorming and thats what makes an impact in what we do best. Our HR policy focuses on individual needs to promote personal and professional growth and career development for each team member. Every team member is given the opportunity to research, explore, generate and share ideas for the greater good of the organization and inculcate leadership qualities in our team", says Mahavir Lunawat.Pantomath not only prioritizes gender diversity in the workplace but also emphasizes working with individuals who may otherwise be considered challenging to work with. For instance, the company has a special HR initiative that engages with superannuated and individuals with disabilities, employing a specific approach to effectively harness their potential. Regarding gender diversity, Pantomath strives to maintain a healthy balance of both genders among its project leaders."Our HR department is highly supportive and accommodating. We believe in fostering a positive work environment, offering provisions for remote work and courses on stress management. We organize various recreational activities and training programs and celebrate significant events of all religions", shares Mahavir.Pantomath is on a continuous journey of improvement, with HR being a focal area. It dedicates itself to HR and innovation daily to enhance its processes. Currently, the company is introducing new compensation plans, revising incentive models, and implementing educational and skill development programs. Additionally, it has implemented a 360-degree feedback mechanism to facilitate ongoing improvement and innovation, ensuring the continued strengthening of its programs."We believe that the financial services sector is experiencing rapid expansion, and we are committed to staying ahead of the curve with our technological advancements. Moreover, we are confident that our endeavours will be aided by ample talent and resources", concludes Mahavir.
The DPB city transport operator will retain its location near Eurovea.

The former building of the Allianz insurance company in Bratislava (centre). The yellow building on the left is used by DPB and will now remain. (Source: Sme - Marko Erd)

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The United States Embassy, which plans to relocate from its currrent site in Bratislava's old town to a new building near the Eurovea shopping centre, is no longer interested in acquiring city-owned land on Olejkarska Street currently occupied by the Bratislava Public Transport Company (DPB). Bratislava City spokesperson Peter Bubla and the embassy confirmed this to the Sme daily. As a result, DPB will continue to operate out of the Olejkarska Street site.

A year ago it was reported that the embassy wanted to consolidate the whole block between Dostojevskeho, Olejkarska, Pribinova and Krupkova Streets and was negotiating with the city to that end. It now seems to have decided to build only on the land it acquired in 2022, which is currently occupied by the former building of the Allianz insurance company.

The project for the new embassys building is awaiting plan and scope approval and its proposed architectural design is not yet known.

Related article

Related article Bratislava has prolonged the rental of land by US Embassy Read more

Building a new embassy

The embassy estimates that construction could begin six to eight years after the approval and planning phases are complete.

Not much is otherwise known about the project.

It will be reviewed by the city as a standard planning authority, said Bubla.

Problematic fence

The current US Embassy is located on Hviezdoslavovo Square in the city centre. It was surrounded by a security fence after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. This security area now takes up part of the square.

The US Embassy fence on Hviezdoslavovo Square. (Source: Sme archive)

The three-metre high fence has been criticised by several local politicians because it does not fit the historical character of the square. It was even designated an illegal construction in the past. The embassy later rented the space. According to its 2019 contract, the embassy pays the city almost 500,000 a year for the fence.

Moving the US Embassy to the area near Eurovea would allow us to provide a new, modern, 21st-century embassy that would better develop bilateral relations between the US and Slovakia, the embassy said.
A selection of short feel-good stories from Slovakia.

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Every week The Slovak Spectator brings you a selection of three short stories from across Slovakia from which pessimism and negativity are absent.

Sneakers from Partizanske are popular with celebrities

Ryan Reynolds wearing Novesta sneakers. (Source: Reprophotography Instagram)

Popular Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds has a piece of Slovakia in his wardrobe.

For years, he has been wearing sneakers that were produced by the shoemaking company Novesta, situated in Partizanske, western Slovakia, the Dobrenoviny.sk website reported.

The firm has even published a video showing the actor wearing them.

The companys history dates back to the 1930s, when shoemaker Jan Antonin Bata opened a factory in Partizanske (the town was even, briefly, renamed Batovany in the 1940s). It made shoes with rubber soles, such as gym shoes, working and sport shoes, and rubber boots for the army.

The original Novesta company ended production in 2007, after going bankrupt. The brand and the factory were then bought by Slovak shoemaker Vulkan in early 2010. The revived brand now remains one of the last purely European shoemakers still operating in its original premises and using its original production methods. The company uses materials like cotton, linen and natural rubber, according to the official Novesta website.

Novesta shoes have other famous fans abroad. Apart from Reynolds, they have been worn by musician Liam Gallager, actor Ashton Sanders, rapper Kendrick Lamar and model Georgia May Jagger. The sneakers even appeared on the title page of prestigious Rolling Stone magazine, Dobrenoviny.sk wrote.

Young scientist wins international competition

Michal Lajciak won the international science competition. (Source: Stredna priemyselna skola Dubnica nad Vahom)

A project by a talented young student from a secondary technical school in Dubnica nad Vahom, western Slovakia, has triumphed in a global competition.

Michal Lajciak, who is only 17 years old, won the Robotics and Intelligent Machines category of the Regeneron ISEF 2024 (Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair 2024) competition, which took place on May 11-17 in Los Angeles, and involved 1,699 students from 67 countries from across the globe.

The talented young scientist created a control system to direct robotic swarms using a neural network algorithm. Subsequently, he made his own experimental hardware on which he tested the software solution, while processing his own graphical interface for further simulations and creating an application for robotic swarms where they can reconfigure production lines, the MY Povazska regional newspaper reported.

My victory at ISEF means a dream come true for me, but also achieving a goal that I had set before the preparation, said Lajciak, as quoted in a press release of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV). New opportunities are now opening up for me, where to move, either in the form of studies or developing the project further into the business sphere.

Volunteers set new record for trees planted

Volunteers plant trees in the Slovak mountains every year. (Source: Lidl Slovensko)

Dozens of volunteers have broken a record for the number of trees planted in a single day.

They managed to plant 10,000 new trees near Maluzina, in the Low Tatras, a mountain range in northern Slovakia. The event was part of the Water for Trees initiative, running under the auspices of the retailer Lidl.

At the same time, the two millionth tree was planted in the Tatra mountains today as part of this project, which has been helping Slovak forests for years, said record-keeper Igor Svitok, as quoted by the TASR newswire. As a result, the total planting area exceeded 800 hectares.

Lidl spokesperson Tomas Bezak added that the project is carried out in cooperation with the state-run company Lesy SR, to which they have donated 185,000 young plants this year.

Five feel-good stories published by The Slovak Spectator to read:

Political meme of the week

(Source: Facebook/Zomri)

Caption: Currently the most watched programme on TV Markiza.

The satirical website Zomri has published a meme that reacts to the current turmoil at Slovakia's most-watched TV station, private broadcaster TV Markiza. On Sunday, May 26, the host of the popular political talk show Na Telo, Michal Kovacic, talked on air about the pressure to soften coverage of politicians that he and his colleagues from the station's news team have faced since getting a new boss last December. Several media reported on the tense situation at the broadcaster earlier this year. After making his comments, Kovacic's political talk show was cancelled until further notice, and his access to TV Markiza premises was restricted. Trade union members at TV Markiza then announced a strike alert, after the management of the broadcaster refused to accept their demands, which included that the show be restored with Kovacic as host. They say they are ready to strike if their conditions are not met.

You can send me your tips for good news stories about Slovakia or funny memes at: radka.minarechova@spectator.sk. Thank you!
30. May 2024 at 23:45 I Modified at 31. May 2024 at 20:49

Premier's adviser criticises 'political' NGOs, mansion with Georgian alcohol, and new embassies.

The Sokolska Residence apartment complex in Bratislava, where Prime Minister Robert Fico resides, is surrounded by security personnel. (Source: TASR - Jakub Kotian)

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Good evening. Here is the Thursday, May 30 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

Before we continue, I would like to tell you about our brand new newsletter, Slovak Roots, where we engage with the descendants of emigrated Slovaks and explore the less-known regions of eastern Slovakia, among other topics. If you are interested in learning more, you can sign up here.

PM Fico discharged from hospital

The Sokolska Residence apartment complex in Bratislava, where Prime Minister Robert Fico resides, is surrounded by security personnel. (Source: TASR - Jakub Kotian)

Prime Minister and Smer leader Robert Fico is already at home.

Several media outlets have reported that he was transported from the hospital in Banska Bystrica, central Slovakia, to his Sokolska Residence flat in Bratislava's Old Town on Thursday evening.

Fico has been recovering from serious gunshot wounds in the hospital after a pensioner attacked him in Handlova, western Slovakia, on May 15. On Thursday, the hospitals director Miriam Lapunikova said that Fico might be released from the hospital soon.

On Wednesday, Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Robert Kalinak (Smer) said that the most serious injuries concerned the digestive tract, and part of the locomotor system. According to him, both Ficos arm and his other leg were already all good. Early on, Smer MP and Ficos chief adviser Erik Kalinak said that Ficos small intestine had been shot through five times.

According to the Sme daily, the prime minister will be taken care of at the St. Michal Hospital in Bratislava, which falls under the Interior Ministry. Additionally, a doctor should visit the prime minister at his home. While the premier rests at home, the attacker remains in a psychiatric ward at a military hospital in Trencin, western Slovakia.

Ficos return to his duties is expected to take several months.

Related: Michal Simecka (PS), deputy speaker of parliament and opposition leader, has called on Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok (Hlas) to address several serious questions, two weeks after the attack on PM Fico. These questions pertain to the possible misconduct of the security forces, the leak of the premiers medical report and the recording of an interview with the attacker,and the question of who will bear responsibility. At the same time, the Progresivne Slovensko party rejects the ruling coalitions attempt to blame the opposition and the media for the attack.

MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE

Politics: PMs adviser Dalibor Jurasek believes that NGOs serve American interests.

PMs adviser Dalibor Jurasek believes that NGOs serve American interests. Police: The police inspectorate proposes to file charges against a group of NAKA investigators handling top corruption cases.

The police inspectorate proposes to file charges against a group of NAKA investigators handling top corruption cases. Travel: A mansion once owned by Sissis lady-in-waiting is home to a rare chapel, and Georgian alcohol.

A mansion once owned by Sissis lady-in-waiting is home to a rare chapel, and Georgian alcohol. Bratislava: A vintage sale, organ music and events for children are just some of the recommendations in the latest edition of Top 10 events in Bratislava.

If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you.

FEATURE STORY

Devin Castle recalls sad history of Iron Curtain

The Irin Curtain under the Devin Castle (Source: UPN archive)

Devin Castle, near Bratislava, hosts the display Attention, Border! Devin as part of the Iron Curtain in 1948-1989. It does not shy away from controversial topics. The Bratislava City Museum opened it to mark this years 35th anniversary of the fall of the communist regime in Czechoslovakia.

3 FREE BRATISLAVA EVENTS

Discussion with publishers

Bratislava City Gallery, Mirbach Palace (Source: https://www.gmb.sk/en/detail/mirbach-palace)

The Slovak Literary Centre has invited three publishers from abroad, who are interested in original Slovak literature, to visit the country and talk about how they manage to promote books from a small country on large book markets.

IN OTHER NEWS

A portion of TV Markizas employees have gone on strike alert as of Thursday , explaining that TV Markizas management has not met their request to make a pledge in writing that the 'Na telo' political programme will be allowed to continue with the same host and free editorial structuring. Last Sunday, Na telo host Michal Kovacic delivered an unauthorised soliloquy, in which he told the viewers about an alleged ongoing effort by the management to censor both the news reporting and political programmes. Subsequently, the programme was cancelled and the presenter was told that there was no job for him. (TASR)

, explaining that TV Markizas management has not met their request to make a pledge in writing that the 'Na telo' political programme will be allowed to continue with the same host and free editorial structuring. Last Sunday, Na telo host Michal Kovacic delivered an unauthorised soliloquy, in which he told the viewers about an alleged ongoing effort by the management to censor both the news reporting and political programmes. Subsequently, the programme was cancelled and the presenter was told that there was no job for him. (TASR) The Migration Office has initiated the process of cancelling the temporary refuge for Ukrainian Artem Marchevsky , who was included on the EUs sanctions list on Monday, May 27. (SITA)

, who was included on the EUs sanctions list on Monday, May 27. (SITA) The government at its session on Wednesday approved the re-establishment of Slovak embassies in both Australia (Canberra) and Belgium (Brussels). Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer) emphasised the economic dimension of diplomacy and the potential of the developed Australian economy in the field of cooperation. He also pointed to efforts to ensure proper care for the large Slovak expatriate community and assistance for Slovak nationals in Australia. Similar reasons apply to the embassy in Brussels, he added. (TASR)

Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer) emphasised the economic dimension of diplomacy and the potential of the developed Australian economy in the field of cooperation. He also pointed to efforts to ensure proper care for the large Slovak expatriate community and assistance for Slovak nationals in Australia. Similar reasons apply to the embassy in Brussels, he added. (TASR) A body of a Slovak student in the fifth year of the STUs Mechanical Engineering Faculty was found lifeless in his room in the Mlada Garda dormitory in Bratislava . (Aktuality)

. (Aktuality) A fire broke out on Zatisie Street in Bratislava-Ruzinov on Thursday. A bus that had been converted into housing was on fire. (JOJ)

A bus that had been converted into housing was on fire. (JOJ) The Judicial Council voiced its disapproval of the criminal prosecution of retired judge Jarmila Urbancova and judge Otilia Dolakova for bending the law, new Judicial Council chair Marcela Kosova announced on Thursday. As Kosova pointed out, according to the amended Penal Code, it is not possible to continue the prosecution of any judge over the crime of bending the law when the Judicial Council disagrees with it. Urbancova remains to be charged with corruption. (TASR, Sme)

A fish pass on the Turiec river in Martin, central Slovakia. (Source: TASR)

WEATHER FOR FRIDAY: A cloudy day. Rain, showers and thunderstorms are expected during the afternoon. The daytime temperatures will be between 20C and 26C. A thunderstorm warning has been issued for Friday and Saturday. (SHMU)

MAY 31 NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Petrana, Petronela.

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The new season in the High Tatras brings new restrictions and rules, learn Slovak with bears, and another security incident, this one involving Pellegrini.

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Good evening. Here is the Friday, May 31 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes.

Martina Simkovicova is bothered by depictions of the human body, LGBT+ flags in books

The books criticised by Minister Simkovicova. (Source: InTYMYta publisher/hovormesrespektom.sk/TSS)

Martina Simkovicova does not approve of some of the titles that have been awarded as the Most Beautiful Books of Slovakia. The culture minister, in a video flimed at the Bibiana International House of Art for Children, the institution that oversees the competition, focused on a book about respectful communication with LGBT+ people titled "Let's Talk About Ourselves with Respect" (Hovorme o sebe s respektom), and on an educational publication about intimacy for parents and young people called "Me at Your Age...!" (Ja v tvojom veku...!)

She criticised their design, stating they do not meet the criteria for children's perception due to their illustrations of human anatomy and explanations of various types of rainbow flags.

"By their design, they absolutely do not meet the criteria that should probably be met for a child's eye, for that child's sensitivity," said the minister as she flipped through the pages of the books, where there are simple illustrations of the human body including sexual organs, and explanations of the meanings of various types of rainbow flags. She compared them unfavourably to the well-known novel "Gulliver's Travels" (which is not actually a children's book) and questioned their suitability for children.

Petra Flach, a neighbour of Simkovicova's who was entrusted with leading Bibiana after the minister fired the previous director in March, announced during the evaluation of the competition that she would "thoroughly evaluate" a recent reform of the awards. She found it "interesting" that the new status resulted in the two books being among the ten awarded books. "Whether this should be part of education, I certainly don't think so here in Bibiana," Flach said.

MORE STORIES FROM THE SLOVAK SPECTATOR WEBSITE

Business: German manufacturer Evonik has opened a new plant to make biosurfactants in Slovakia. It marks a groundbreaking leap in sustainable chemistry that the firm says will revolutionise household and industrial products.

German manufacturer Evonik has opened a new plant to make biosurfactants in Slovakia. It marks a groundbreaking leap in sustainable chemistry that the firm says will revolutionise household and industrial products. Travel: Summer season in the High Tatras is about to start, but before you set out on a hike it might be worth checking the park's new rules and restrictions.

Summer season in the High Tatras is about to start, but before you set out on a hike it might be worth checking the park's new rules and restrictions. Health: Bratislava's long-awaited national hospital project sparks debate, after new government plans generated diverse opinions.

Bratislava's long-awaited national hospital project sparks debate, after new government plans generated diverse opinions. Good news: This week's selection of feel-good stories reports on Hollywood actor Ryan Reynolds donning Slovak sneakers, the 17-year-old Slovak who's won an international scientific competition, and a new record for tree planting!

If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, why not buy our online subscription with no ads  a monthly print copy of The Slovak Spectator will be sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you!

FEATURE STORY FOR THE WEEKEND

The Slovak Spectator editor who survived a close encounter with bears, and even improved his Slovak

Do not be nepozorny while hiking alone. (Source: Pexels)

As summer season in High Tatras opens, tourist will flock to the mountains and forests, just as bears wake up from their winter hibernation.

A former editor of The Slovak Spectator once ran into a bear family. Learn some useful Slovak vocabulary, while reading his amusing Goldilocks and the Three Bears-style story  and find out what the Slovak word nepozorny (in the photo description above) means.

EVENT FOR THE WEEKEND

Never mind the time machine: Devin is re-enacting the past!

The kind of welcome that awaits visitors this weekend at Devin Castle. (Source: Pexels)

Diversify your weekend by going back in time to the era of Roman soldiers, Turkish archers and knights! Devin Castle, near Bratislava, will host an event where visitors can witness re-enactments of battles, mediaeval tournaments, period dances and songs.

IN OTHER NEWS

Two weeks after the attack on Prime Minister Robert Fico, another security threat emerged involving President-elect and Hlas party leader Peter Pellegrini. A video was published by the tabloid daily Plus 1 Den that showed a child wearing a balacklava with a toy gun outside the Bratislava residence where Pellegrini lives on May 30, prompting a security scare. The father of the child, who was driving a car containing the child, claimed it was just a game  but the authorities are treating it as a serious incident. It is not known who sent the video to the editors. The Penta financial conglomerate, which owns the tabloid, has been distributing a free version of the newspaper, Plus 1 Den Special, to a million households in Slovakia since October 2022. The paper has heavily criticised the OLaNO (since renamed 'Slovakia') party, which was the largest party in the 2020-2023 governing coalition, while promoting the Pellegrini's Hlas party and its leaders, in particular Pellegrini himself.

A child with a toy gun outside the residence where future Slovak president Peter Pellegrini lives. The house belongs to Pellegrini's close friend and Hlas MP Peter Nahlik. (Source: TASR)

The government has decided to terminate its 500,000 contract with Gerulata Technologies, a disinformation detection company owned by Michal Trnka. The move has been described as part of a public finance consolidation. The contract, signed before last year's elections, faced criticism from Smer representatives due to Trnka's family connections. Trnka's father, Miroslav, is one of the founders of the Eset company, which Smer had falsely accused of trying to manipulate last year's elections. Michal Trnka stated that Gerulata initiated the termination because the contract would not be fulfilled, and would have tied up its resources.

The move has been described as part of a public finance consolidation. The contract, signed before last year's elections, faced criticism from Smer representatives due to Trnka's family connections. Trnka's father, Miroslav, is one of the founders of the Eset company, which Smer had falsely accused of trying to manipulate last year's elections. Michal Trnka stated that Gerulata initiated the termination because the contract would not be fulfilled, and would have tied up its resources. General Prosecutor Maros Zilinka met with Chinese Ambassador Cai Ge. Zilinka expressed pleasure at China's interest in developing cooperation between their prosecutorial authorities, emphasising that active communication and correct relations with foreign partners are key to effective collaboration, especially in areas like anti-corruption and transnational organized crime.

Zilinka expressed pleasure at China's interest in developing cooperation between their prosecutorial authorities, emphasising that active communication and correct relations with foreign partners are key to effective collaboration, especially in areas like anti-corruption and transnational organized crime. Amnesty International Slovakia is urging the Slovak government to advocate for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza. Director Rado Sloboda called for a halt to arms exports to Israel and for transparency regarding such exports. Despite the International Court of Justice ordering Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah, the Israeli Army has continued its attacks on the southern Gazan city, prompting Amnesty to appeal for urgent action to alleviate civilian suffering and enforce the court's measures.

Director Rado Sloboda called for a halt to arms exports to Israel and for transparency regarding such exports. Despite the International Court of Justice ordering Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah, the Israeli Army has continued its attacks on the southern Gazan city, prompting Amnesty to appeal for urgent action to alleviate civilian suffering and enforce the court's measures. Customs officers at Vienna Airport seized 52kg of truffles, worth around 6,500, which were being taken from Kosovo to Slovakia. Citing unsafe storage conditions, they said the edible fungi would have to be destroyed. The truffles, which were detected by their strong odour, were not registered in the EU food shipment system and failed to meet import control standards.

A total of 21 firefighters respond to the fire of simple dwellings on the street Za jarkom in Stropkov, eastern Slovakia, on Friday, May 31, 2024. (Source: TASR)

WEATHER FOR THE WEEKEND

General cloud cover with scattered showers, rain and locally intense storms are possible in some areas. Patchy fog may also occur in the morning, so take extra care when driving. Expect daytime temperatures ranging from 18C to 26C. A level one storm warning has also been issued for Saturday. (SHMU)

NAME DAY IN SLOVAKIA: Saturday - Zaneta, Sunday - Xenia, Oxana, Monday - Karolina.

Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us.

P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk.

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A Manhattan jury has found Donald Trump guilty at his hush money trial, marking the first time a former U.S. president has been convicted of a crime.

The jury delivered their verdict after a month-long trial that included 22 witnesses. Trump was convicted on all 34 counts brought against him.

Trump faced 34 charges in connection with payments made to former porn star Stormy Daniels.

Prosecutors claimed that Trump falsified his company's business records to keep stories about marital infidelity from becoming public during his 2016 presidential campaign. He denied any affairs and said he broke no laws.

Daniels gave the jury a detailed account of an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in a Nevada hotel in 2006.

She said she accepted $130,000 from Cohen in the final weeks of the election to buy her silence about the story.

Former tabloid publisher David Pecker also testified.

He answered questions about checkbook journalism and his part in squashing for unflattering stories about Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Former Trump personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen was the prosecution's star witness.

He laid out how the payment to Daniels was made. The defense attacked Cohen's credibility and got him to admit on the stand that he had stolen from the Trump Organization.

Trump chose not to take the stand in his defense but repeatedly told reporters and supporters at rallies that the case against him was "election interference" and politically motivated.

Judge Juan M. Merchan had threatened to jail the former president during the trial for repeated violations of a gag order to keep him from talking about witnesses and jurors in the case.

This is a developing story and will be updated.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/clooney-foundation-project-targets-russian-journalists-with-secret-arrest-warrants-1118714459.html

Clooney Foundation Weaponizes Project for Secret Arrest Warrants Against Russian Journalists

Clooney Foundation Weaponizes Project for Secret Arrest Warrants Against Russian Journalists

Sputnik International

Anna Neistat, the Legal Director of the Clooney Foundation for Justice's Docket Project, revealed that the organization is seeking to obtain secret arrest warrants for Russian journalists in Europe.

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2024-05-31T12:04+0000

anna neistat

russia

dmitry polyanskiy

world

sputnik

margarita simonyan

dmitry kiselev

kiev

european union (eu)

europol

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Neistat explained that some European countries have laws against "war propaganda" in their criminal codes."We are submitting requests to initiate criminal proceedings in countries where this provision exists in the criminal code," Neistat told the US state-controlled 'Voice of America' radio (listed as a foreign agent in Russia). Neistat added that no requests have been submitted yet, and the names of the journalists targeted by the project have not been disclosed. She mentioned that the focus is on "the most prominent Russian propagandists.""We are asking prosecutors to issue secret arrest warrants... so the names are not revealed," she added. "We want these individuals to travel to other countries and be arrested there. Its better if they are left guessing rather than receiving a clear warning."However, Neistat acknowledged that no cases have ever been initiated under the "war propaganda" articles in the criminal codes of the relevant countries.The project is also considering approaching the International Criminal Court (ICC) to hold journalists accountable and investigate their involvement in "incitement to genocide." Neistat noted this would be a legally complex process, requiring evidence of the crime. Moreover, the court is currently dealing with a large number of cases.Western countries overlook the persecution and murder of Russian journalists and threats against them from the Kiev regime.Dmitry Polyanskiy, Russia's First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, stated that the Kiev regime openly boasts about its involvement in the killings of Russian journalists. He mentioned recent deaths at the hands of Ukrainian special services, including Darya Dugina, Vladlen Tatarsky (real name Maxim Fomin), Oleg Klohov, Sputnik war correspondent Rostislav Zhuravlev, Rossiya-24 war correspondent Boris Maksudov and Izvestia war correspondent Semyon Yeremin. Polyanskiy added that the West deliberately turns a blind eye to these crimes by Kiev.Additionally, Russian law enforcement authorities have uncovered Kiev's plans to commit terrorist acts against several Russian journalists, including Vladimir Solovyov, Margarita Simonyan, Dmitry Kiselev, Olga Skabeeva and Yevgeny Popov.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20231220/reporters-without-borders-fails-to-explain-disregard-of-russian-correspondents-deaths-1115695916.html

russia

kiev

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/houthis-attack-us-aircraft-carrier-in-red-sea-after-us-uk-strikes---movement-member-1118716029.html

Houthis Claim Red Sea Attack on American Aircraft Carrier After US-UK Strikes

Houthis Claim Red Sea Attack on American Aircraft Carrier After US-UK Strikes

Sputnik International

Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as Houthis, has launched missile and UAV attacks on a US aircraft carrier in the Red Sea in response to the bombing of the country, Houthi political office member Hezam al-Asad told Sputnik on Friday.

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Late on Thursday, US and UK military aircraft carried out 13 strikes on positions the Houthis in three provinces of Yemen after a series of attacks on US ships in the Red, Arabian and Mediterranean seas. A source in Al Hudaydah authorities told Sputnik at least two people were killed and 10 others were injured in the strikes. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on Friday that the US and the UK attack on the Red Sea province of Al Hudaydah killed 16 people and wounded 41 others, including civilians. "In response to US and UK air strikes on some cities and civilian targets in Yemen, which killed and injured more than 58 people, most of whom were civilians, the USS Eisenhower aircraft carrier was attacked in the Red Sea with a large number of ballistic, cruise missiles and drones," the movement member said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240525/us-expends-530-munitions-1-bln-fighting-houthi-hellfire-raining-down-on-its-carrier-group-1118634310.html

united kingdom (uk)

red sea

yemen

arabian sea

mediterranean sea

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/houthis-threatens-to-hit-targets-in-red-arabian-seas-after-us-uk-strikes-on-yemen-1118714744.html

Houthis Threatens to Hit Targets in Red, Arabian Seas After US, UK Strikes on Yemen

Houthis Threatens to Hit Targets in Red, Arabian Seas After US, UK Strikes on Yemen

Sputnik International

Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as Houthis, threatened to "respond directly and immediately" to US and UK strikes on Yemen by hitting targets in the Red and Arabian seas, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said on Friday.

2024-05-31T11:27+0000

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world

yemen

united kingdom (uk)

middle east

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houthis

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"The Yemeni Armed Forces will not hesitate to respond directly and immediately to every new aggression on Yemeni territories, by targeting all sources of threat and all hostile American and British targets in the Red and Arab Seas," the spokesman said in a statement.Late on Thursday, US and UK military aircraft carried out 13 strikes on positions the Houthis in three provinces of Yemen after a series of attacks on US ships in the Red, Arabian and Mediterranean seas. A source in Al Hudaydah authorities told Sputnik at least two people were killed and 10 others were injured in the strikes. Al Masirah TV broadcaster reported on Friday that the death toll had risen to 13 adding that over 30 were injured.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/us-uk-aircraft-carried-out-13-strikes-on-houthi-targets-in-yemen---sources-1118710374.html

yemen

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/is-biden-escalating-towards-wwiii-to-improve-his-election-chances-1118708687.html

Is Biden Escalating Towards WWIII to Improve His Election Chances?

Is Biden Escalating Towards WWIII to Improve His Election Chances?

Sputnik International

The Biden administration announced that it would allow Ukraine to strike inside of Russia, a significant escalation that could be aimed at prolonging the war past the election.

2024-05-31T01:22+0000

2024-05-31T01:22+0000

2024-05-31T04:39+0000

joe biden

jeremy kuzmarov

germany

russia

ukraine

sputnik

nato

analysis

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The decision came after weeks of numerous European countries also permitting Ukraine to strike inside Russia without the restriction of keeping the attacks near Kharkov including France and Germany, which had been publicly lobbying for the US to lift those restrictions.The decision is part of a string of escalations by NATO countries who are risking a global nuclear holocaust to keep Ukraine on life support for a little while longer. Like previous escalations, this latest change in policy by NATO countries will not change the reality on the battlefield but will move the world closer to a catastrophic confrontation that could end civilization as we know it.Not unlike his close personal friend, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden is growing evermore unpopular at home. According to recent polls, Biden is the most unpopular US President at this point in his first term since the 1940s. It is also conventional political wisdom in the United States that an ongoing war is usually a boon to a Presidents approval rating. That was the case for both Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush.Biden also cannot afford another foreign policy defeat, having been embarrassed in Afghanistan where his withdrawal was horrifically botched and in the Red Sea, where he has proven unable to lift the Houthi blockade of shipping lanes. As long as the war in Ukraine continues, Biden doesnt have to admit defeat, as political cartoonist and co-host of Sputniks The Final Countdown pointed out on Thursday.With Pro-Palestinian protests occurring across the country and large majorities of the country now, Biden finds himself in a perilous position. A recent poll found that 20% of Democratic and Independent voters in swing states said that his handling of Gaza makes them less likely to vote for him, more than enough to swing the election.Kuzmarov noted that while it hasnt been as vehement or quick as in Palestine, US public sentiment has soured on the Ukraine war as well. So I dont know if this is a winning strategy politically if thats what hes after.While other NATO countries led the way in lifting their restrictions on striking inside Russia, they too are facing political unrest at home and possible defeats in EU Parliament elections next month. In France, President Emmanual Macrons ruling coalition is losing badly to the Rassemblement National party and the Socialist party is nipping at their heels for second place.Meanwhile in Germany, the Alternative for Germany party, an obscure party not too long ago, has moved into second place in the country.Leaders in those countries could likewise be trying to keep Ukraine afloat for a little longer and avoid a humiliating defeat before the elections.The leadership [in Europe is] adopting aggressive policies against Russia and supporting Ukraine to the hilt and aligning with the United States in this war, said Kuzmarov, noting that Slovakia is a notable exception and their leader was targeted in an assassination attempt.It has also been reported that some European countries have granted permission to the Ukrainians to use F-16 fighter jets over the territory of Ukraine. The jets are capable of carrying missiles that hold nuclear warheads.Therefore, we cannot help but view the supply of these systems to the Kiev regime as a deliberate signaling action by NATO in the nuclear sphere. They are trying to convey that the US and NATO are ready to go to any lengths in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Sputnik, adding that he hopes that the joint military exercises between Belarus and Russia, which included practice with non-strategic nuclear warheads, would serve as a sobering reminder to our opponents of the catastrophic consequences of further escalation up the nuclear ladder.With leaders in the West seemingly hellbent on either provoking World War III or moving as close to the line as possible in a futile attempt to improve their poll numbers, it falls on the people to force their leaders to change course.Hopefully these movements grow and I think we may see more protests and we may see protesters who are protesting the Israel-Palestine [conflict], make the connection between rotten policy there and the West and rotten policies in many other regions in the world, including this real danger spot, Kuzmarov predicted, calling for a broader movement equivalent to the 60s movements or something [even] bigger, which really is needed because the leaders are off the rails.Writing in his substack, The Gray Zone journalist Aaron Mate agreed. [I]t would also be in everyones interest to end this proxy war between the worlds two nuclear powers. But as they continue to mount the escalation ladder, Biden and his aides are clearly not thinking about the rest of us down below.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240415/americans-approval-of-bidens-handling-of-gaza-conflict-drops-to-new-low---poll-1117940898.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/top-hungarian-diplomat-criticizes-nato-plans-to-let-ukraine-strike-inside-russia-1118702619.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/sergey-lavrov-full-interview-us-missile-threats-strategic-partnership-with-china-ukraine-conflict-1118689147.html

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us provocations in ukraine, ukraine strikes inside russia, biden election chances, world war iii, us risking world war 3, ukraine updates
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/massive-tariffs-on-russian-and-belarussian-grain-imports-will-hurt-eu-farmers-1118715547.html

Massive Tariffs on Russian and Belorussian Grain Imports Will Hurt EU Farmers

Massive Tariffs on Russian and Belorussian Grain Imports Will Hurt EU Farmers

Sputnik International

The EU's prohibitive tariffs on grain products from Russia and Belarus will only hurt the bloc's own farmers, as preferential supplies from Ukraine continue, Arkady Zlochevsky, Russian Grain Union President, told Sputnik.

2024-05-31T15:40+0000

2024-05-31T15:40+0000

2024-05-31T17:51+0000

analysis

russia

grain

belarus

tariffs

ukraine crisis

arkady zlochevsky

russian grain union

european union (eu)

ukraine

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The EU decision to levy prohibitive tariffs on grain products from Russia and Belarus is nothing but a smokescreen, while the blocs own farmers shall continue to suffer from continued preferential supplies from Ukraine, Russian Grain Union President Arkady Zlochevsky told Sputnik.Brussels officials are "making the best of a bad business," he noted, wanting to be seen as trying to limit the negative impact of EU-mandated Ukrainian grain dumping on farmers in Central and Eastern Europe.So they will kill off our [Russia's] direct supplies, which never affected farmers' sales," he stressed. But as Ukrainian low-cost, duty-free grain will continue to saturate the EU market, it will further depress prices for local farmers.Amid widespread protests by farmers that have raged since the EU-Ukraine preferential trade regime was adopted, Brussels is suggesting these new tariffs will alleviate farmers' grievances, said the expert."Russia, by definition, has never engaged in dumping in Europe," he added.He also pointed out that while durum wheat  used to make spaghetti and other pasta  were a major part of Russian exports to the EU, it was oilseeds that accounted for the main bulk and cost of imports.Zlochevsky argued that the tariffs will not have much effect on world prices, adding that the EU will continue to buy the products from other sources, such as Canada. Farmers in countries including Poland, Romania, Bulgaria and Slovakia have suffered from the glut in Ukrainian grain. The grain expert said the new EU measures against Russia and Belarus will fall wide of the mark."All that was needed was to level out the terms for the supply of Ukrainian and all other grain to the European market," noted the pundit. "Introducing the same duties, quotas, etc. The European commission's proposal to raise tariffs on Russian and Belarussian exports of cereals, oilseeds and derived products like vegetable oil to the bloc were unveiled in the wake of the EU summit on March 21 and 22.The tariff hike from zero to swingeing levels was imposed despite Russian cereals only making up a small share of total EU imports.Cereals transiting through the EU to other regions, such as North Africa, would be exempt from the measures, European commissioners said, claiming that would prevent the tariffs from undermining global food security,Zlochevsky told Sputnik at the time that officials in Brussels would be shooting themselves in the foot by imposing the tariffs.He added that the EU backing for Ukraine will continue to backfire on the bloc's farmers.Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova responded to the EU proposal by warning the measures will only worsen the world food situation."Is this her way of worrying about starving countries? How will such measures contribute to world food security? They will not. They will only exacerbate the world food situation already brought to absurdity by the West," Zakharova wrote on Telegram.The EU now accounts for just two percent of Russias global grain exports, Russian agricultural market research firm SovEcon has estimated. Eurostat figures show that Ukraine, accounts for a much larger share of the bloc's imports.Russia's export volumes can be easily redirected to more promising markets such as the Middle East and Africa, experts have told Sputnik.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240322/raising-eu-tariffs-on-russian-belarusian-grain-to-aggravate-world-food-situation---moscow-1117481059.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240320/eu-will-shoot-itself-in-the-foot-with-tariffs-on-russia-belarus-grain-imports-1117449809.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240524/russias-share-in-global-wheat-export-to-surpass-25-in-2024-1118617085.html

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eu tariffs on grain from russia, belarus, brussels to levy tariffs on grain imports from russia and belarus, grain disputes with poland, russia's grain exports, russia's wheat exports, eu prohibitive tariffs on russia's grain, tariffs on russian wheat, agricultural products, global grain trade, world grain exports, grain export forecast, international grains council, grain market report, grain exports, agricultural season, tons of grain, the world food situation, what is the world food situation,
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/moscow-has-right-to-take-proxy-war-with-nato-global-as-bloc-greenlights-strikes-deep-into-russia-1118717071.html

Moscow Has Right to Take Proxy War With NATO Global as Bloc Greenlights Strikes Deep Into Russia

Moscow Has Right to Take Proxy War With NATO Global as Bloc Greenlights Strikes Deep Into Russia

Sputnik International

The Biden administration joined with the leaders of Germany, Nordic countries and the Baltic states on Thursday by lifting formal restrictions on the use of NATO long-range strike systems sent to Ukraine to target areas deep inside Russia. Sputnik asked a leading European defense commentator about the moves political and strategic implications.

2024-05-31T14:24+0000

2024-05-31T14:24+0000

2024-06-01T18:05+0000

analysis

vladimir putin

joe biden

jens stoltenberg

russia

ukraine

kiev

nato

army tactical missile system (atacms)

white house

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Russian officials blasted Washington and its allies on Friday over the escalation of the Ukrainian proxy war through NATO countries' decision to approve long-range attacks on Russia, with both the Kremlin and the Foreign Ministry pointing out that the alliance never shied away from allowing its proxies in Kiev to target the Russian hinterland.We are aware that attempts to strike Russian territory with American-made weapons are already being made. This is sufficient for us, and it clearly demonstrates the extent of the United States involvement in this conflict, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Friday.Separately on Friday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed that allies had approved long-range strike weapons deployment, and said the bloc expects Kiev to use these arms in a responsible way in line with international law.Former Russian president and deputy Security Council head Dmitry Medvedev said Friday that Russia would proceed from the fact that all long-range weapons used by Ukraine are directly controlled by military personnel of NATO countries, and emphasized that this is not military assistance, but participation in a war against us which constitutes a possible casus belli.Earlier this week, President Putin warned that NATO countries should be aware what they are playing with when it comes to approving long-range attacks on Russia via Ukraine. They must remember that these are, as a rule, states with a small territory, with a very dense population. This is a factor they should keep in mind before talking about striking deep into Russian territory, Putin said.US officials told the New York Times on Thursday that the White House shifted its position on Kievs use of Western-sourced strike systems to attack the Russian hinterland in connection with setbacks on the Kharkov front, and indicated that the first attacks using American-made weapons could begin within hours or days.Ukraine has amassed an array of NATO equipment with which to attempt its long-range strikes, including the British-French Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missile system, which has a range of between 250 and 560 km, and the US Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), ranged at 160-300 km and fired using HIMARS and MLRS precision rocket artillery installations.The Big QuestionThe Russian offensive near Kharkov has been used as a reason to change Western policy, Mikael Valtersson, a former Swedish Armed Forces officer and military observer specializing in air defense, told Sputnik.Valtersson expects the military consequences of NATOs green light for Kiev to be minor, since Ukraines military has a limited number of long-range strike systems.Then theres the experience Russian Air Defense Forces have amassed over the past two years in fine-tuning their equipment specifically to target projectiles like the ATACMS and Storm Shadow.Still, the threat posed by the long-range missiles is not insignificant, particularly given Kiev's willingness to use them in the past to target civilian areas in the Donbass and the Russian city of Belgorod.The big question, according to Valtersson, is how involved the Western powers will be in targeting and other preparations for the attacks.Both the lifting of restrictions and increased Western help to attack targets within [Russia] will be an escalation from the West. An important question is what the Russian response will be. In my opinion, the Western countries could be seen as participants in the conflict and therefore legitimate targets for Russian military responses, Valtersson warned.In the final analysis, Valtersson calls the US and NATO decision a very unfortunate step in a direction that might end up in a direct global conflict between Russia and the West, and one that will strengthen the animosity among the Russian population against the West, and be seen as a clear signal of Western hostility towards Russia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/washington-to-allow-ukraine-to-hit-russia-with-uss-himars-gmlrs-artillery---reports-1118716946.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/us-weapons-already-used-in-attempts-to-strike-russian-territory---kremlin-1118714119.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/houthis-threatens-to-hit-targets-in-red-arabian-seas-after-us-uk-strikes-on-yemen-1118714744.html

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how will russia respond to attacks using nato weapons, is nato supply of weapons to ukraine dangerous
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/robert-kennedy-jr-says-russian-electronic-weapons-puts-us-to-shame-1118709175.html

RFK Jr. Admits Russian Electronic Weapons Technology Puts US to Shame

RFK Jr. Admits Russian Electronic Weapons Technology Puts US to Shame

Sputnik International

US presidential candidate Robert Kennedy Jr. said that Russias military means to conduct electronic warfare have put the United States to shame.

2024-05-31T00:31+0000

2024-05-31T00:31+0000

2024-05-31T07:09+0000

world

us

john f. kennedy

russia

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"They have electronic weaponry that is dwarfing Americas. That's why these offensive weapons have all failed in Ukraine because the Russians have stunned the world because of the sophistication and capacity of their electronic warfare. It really puts us to shame," Kennedy said in an interview on the sidelines of a Bitcoin conference in Austin, Texas, on Thursday. RFK Jr. stated that a couple of years ago, the US Defense Department conducted modeling exercises which determined that Russia's defensive weapons were more effective than those of the United States.The Defense Department also conducted a study about what would happen in a direct nuclear exchange with Russia and concluded that 90 million Americans would die within the first 20 minutes, he said. The politician also noted that the 35th US president, his uncle, John F. Kennedy, had set up a direct communications line with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.On Wednesday, the Kennedy campaign announced that it had filed a complaint with the US Federal Election Commission (FEC) alleging that President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump, and the corporate media outlet CNN had violated US election laws.. The Kennedy team claims CNN unlawfully colluded with the Biden and Trump teams to schedule a debate that would only include them.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240511/russias-electronic-warfare-creates-problems-for-us-precision-weaponry-in-ukraine---reports-1118382017.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/russia-plans-significant-grain-exports-targets-53-million-tons-of-wheat-1118713778.html

Russia Plans Significant Grain Exports, Targets 53 Million Tons of Wheat

Russia Plans Significant Grain Exports, Targets 53 Million Tons of Wheat

Sputnik International

Russia is set to export up to 70 million tons of grain, including around 53 million tons of wheat, in the current agricultural season from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024, Vice-Prime Minister Dmitry Patrushev announced at the All-Russian Grain Forum.

2024-05-31T10:37+0000

2024-05-31T10:37+0000

2024-05-31T10:37+0000

russia

grain

russia

grain exports

wheat

wheat exports

vladimir putin

nikolai patrushev

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"In this season, we plan to deliver up to 70 million tons of grain to global markets, of which approximately 53 million tons will be wheat," Patrushev said.Patrushev had previously mentioned these export goals during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in February.Authorities are maintaining their export forecast despite challenging weather conditions in Russia and late frosts in early May.Patrushev emphasized that Russia has established itself as a reliable export partner and is not only maintaining but increasing its exports.The Vice-PM also stressed that the authorities prioritize domestic market needs. Despite difficult conditions, the Russian grain harvest forecast this year remains unchanged.In the 2022-2023 agricultural year, grain exports totaled 60 million tons, with wheat accounting for around 47 million tons. Previously, the Ministry of Agriculture had estimated exports at 65 million tons for the 2023-2024 season.The grain harvest is forecast at 132 million tons, a figure the Minister of Agriculture, Oksana Lut, confirmed in late May, stating there are no plans to revise that estimate.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240423/russias-grain-supplies-to-china-reach-125mln-in-january-march-1118071068.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/russia-ranks-as-worlds-no4-biggest-economy-based-on-purchasing-power-parity-1118711623.html

Russia Ranks as Worlds No.4 Biggest Economy Based on Purchasing Power Parity

Russia Ranks as Worlds No.4 Biggest Economy Based on Purchasing Power Parity

Sputnik International

The World Bank on Thursday updated the data on purchasing power parity indicators. They show that already in 2021 Russia accounted for 3.8% of global GDP, ahead of Japan (3.7%) and Germany (3.4%).

2024-05-31T13:09+0000

2024-05-31T13:09+0000

2024-05-31T13:09+0000

russia

russia

japan

germany

world bank

economy

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The World Bank on Thursday updated the data on purchasing power parity indicators. They show that back in 2021 Russia had accounted for 3.8% of global GDP, outshining Japan (3.7%) and Germany (3.4%). Russian GDP at PPP in 2021 reached 5.7 trillion dollars, while the numbers for Japan and Germany were 5.6 trillion and 5.2 trillion dollars, respectively. In 2022-2023, according to calculations by RIA Novosti, Russia clung to the positions it had achieved with 6 trillion and 6.45 trillion in those respective years, compared to 5.9 trillion and 6.3 trillion for Japan, and 5.5 trillion and 5.9 trillion for Germany. China leads with 35 trillion, followed by the US with 27.4 trillion and India with 14.6 trillion. In February, it was reported that Russia became the first and foremost economy in Europe and the fifth in the world in terms of purchasing power parity. However, the calculations were based on data from 2017. On Thursday, the World Bank updated them with information for 2021.Russian President Vladimir Putin had previously established the goal of positioning Russia as the fourth-largest economy in the world in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP). In line with this objective, the Cabinet of Ministers was tasked with developing and implementing measures to achieve this goal by March 31, 2025.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240519/russia-in-worlds-top-ten-economies-since-start-of-century--analysis-1118529890.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/russia-ukraine-swap-75-for-75-pows-in-uae-brokered-deal-1118713548.html

Russia, Ukraine Swap 75-for-75 POWs in UAE-Brokered Deal

Russia, Ukraine Swap 75-for-75 POWs in UAE-Brokered Deal

Sputnik International

The Russian Defense Ministry has confirmed that thanks to negotiations, 75 Russian servicemen have been returned from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime. In exchange, 75 Ukrainian prisoners of war were handed over.

2024-05-31T10:12+0000

2024-05-31T10:12+0000

2024-05-31T10:21+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

russia

ukraine

kiev

russian defense ministry

russian aerospace forces

defense ministry

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"On May 31, 2024, as a result of the negotiation process, 75 Russian servicemen, who were in mortal danger in captivity, were returned from the territory controlled by the Kiev regime. In return, 75 prisoners of war of the Ukrainian armed forces were handed over" the ministry said.The freed Russian soldiers will be delivered to Moscow by military transport aircraft of the Russian aerospace forces, the ministry said, adding that they would receive medical treatment and rehabilitation in the defense ministry's medical facilities."All released servicemen will be provided with necessary medical and psychological assistance. During the return of Russian servicemen from captivity, the United Arab Emirates provided humanitarian mediation," the Defense Ministry added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240208/russia-ukraine-conduct-100-for-100-prisoner-swap-with-uae-mediation-1116672956.html

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russia, ukraine swap, russian defense ministry, russian servicemen
Key facts about China-Arab relations

Chinadaily.com.cn) 09:11, May 31, 2024

Editor's Note: The 10th Ministerial Meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum will be held in Beijing on Thursday, aiming at enhancing political mutual trust, expanding practical cooperation, promoting deeper coordination on international affairs, as well as deepening and substantiating the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future.

Since 2004 when China and Arab countries established the forum, China's relations with many Arab countries have developed from "partnership" to "strategic cooperative relationship" and then to "strategic partnership". In 2022, both sides agreed to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era.

Here are some facts that mark the development of China-Arab relations.

20

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. Within the framework of the forum, 19 mechanisms covering various fields have been established and 85 outcome documents of various kinds have been issued.

WANG XIAOYING/CHINA DAILY

14

China has established comprehensive strategic partnerships with 14 Arab countries and the League of Arab States. China is also the largest trading partner of Arab countries as a whole.

[Photo/Xinhua]

22

China has signed Belt and Road Initiative cooperation documents with all 22 Arab countries and the League of Arab States.

The Central Business District in eastern Cairo, Egypt. XINHUA

200

More than 200 cooperation projects under the Belt and Road Initiative have benefited nearly 2 billion people on both sides.

1

The league was the first regional organization to launch a data security cooperation initiative with China and to issue a joint statement on implementing the Global Civilization Initiative.

3

Three Arab countries have become new members of BRICS, namely Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates. They officially became members of BRlCS starting Jan 1.

Visitors check out an exhibition hall at the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization Local Economic and Trade Cooperation Demonstration Area in Qingdao, Shandong province, in May 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

6

Six Arab countries have become new dialogue partners of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). The SCO granted the status of Egypt, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia in 2022, and Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain in 2023.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
A former Hamas hostage said she was motivated to visit the nation of South Africa despite its government accusing Israel of "apartheid" earlier this year.

Although Sapir Cohen said she was warned several times not to visit the Palestinian-sympathetic country, it made her visit "all the more critical," she said, according to the Jerusalem Post. "I wanted to share the truth of October 7 and to campaign for the release of all hostages including my boyfriend Sasha Trupanov."

Trupanov was featured in a hostage video released Tuesday by The Al-Quds Brigades. "In the next few days, you will hear the truth of what happened to me, as well as the other prisoners in Gaza," he said.

Upon her return this week, Cohen described her trip as "a very positive experience," during which she delivered a speech to 600 people, including South Africa's Rabbi Warren Goldstein, as well as German and Israeli officials.

Saul Jassinowsky, who helped organize the visit, said, "South Africa's warm and Zionist Jewish community and the country's natural beauty offer Sapir a warm and safe embrace. It is a special place for former hostages to visit and exhale after experiencing unimaginable trauma. We are working tirelessly to bring out more hostages in the future and facilitate whatever we can do for them."

Jewish National Fund Chairman Michael Kransdorff reaffirmed Jassinowky's sentiment, stating, "The South African Jewish community and many sectors of South African society stand with Israel. We are doing all we can to raise awareness of the hostages and to secure their release."

Earlier this year, South Africa accused Israel of apartheid against Palestinians.

During a hearing at the International Court of Justice in February, South African ambassador to the Netherlands, Vusimuzi Madonsela, said his country, "bears a special obligation, both to its own people and the international community, to ensure that wherever the egregious and offensive practices of apartheid occur, these must be called out for what they are and brought to an immediate end," the Associated Press reported.

Israel denied the accusations.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/russian-aerospace-forces-belarusian-air-force-strike-targets-in-joint-drills-1118712559.html

Russia, Belarus Display Air Power Striking Targets in Joint Drills

Russia, Belarus Display Air Power Striking Targets in Joint Drills

Sputnik International

Russian Aerospace Forces, Belarusian Air Force Strike Targets in Joint Drills

2024-05-31T09:15+0000

2024-05-31T09:15+0000

2024-05-31T10:35+0000

military

belarus

russian aerospace forces

su-24

mi-24

russian defense ministry

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"Russian Aerospace Forces' Su-30SM multi-role fighter jets, Su-24 front-line bombers, Mi-24 helicopters, Mi-8 helicopters took part in a joint flight-tactical exercise with the forces and means of the Air Force and Air Defense Troops of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus. As part of the activities carried out at the aviation training grounds, the crews deployed aviation means of defeat against the intended targets," the ministry said in a statement. The air forces of Belarus and Russia are conducting joint tactical flight drills on the territory of Belarus from May 27-31. The drills involve aviation military units, units of anti-aircraft missile and radio engineering troops of the armed forces of Belarus, crews of reconnaissance, and combat aviation of the Russian aerospace forces. The main efforts during the drills are aimed at solving the tasks of protection of state and military facilities against air attacks.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240426/how-russian-nuclear-umbrella-shields-belarus-from-nato-and-minions-1118130566.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/swiss-conference-on-ukraine-differs-from-chinas-demands-world-expectations---beijing-1118712672.html

Swiss Conference on Ukraine Differs From China's Demands, World Expectations - Beijing

Swiss Conference on Ukraine Differs From China's Demands, World Expectations - Beijing

Sputnik International

The plan for a conference on Ukraine hosted by Switzerland differs from Chinas demands and worlds expectations, that is why it is difficult for Beijing to partake in the event, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday.

2024-05-31T09:18+0000

2024-05-31T09:18+0000

2024-05-31T09:52+0000

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"There is a clear discrepancy between the conference agenda, China's demands and the general expectations of the international community, making it difficult for China to participate in this meeting," Mao told reporters. China's demands for a peace conference that is fair and impartial and not directed against any party are reflected in the consensus on a political solution to the Ukraine crisis recently released jointly with Brazil, and they also reflect the common concerns of the international community, especially developing countries, the diplomat said. A peace conference on Ukraine must be recognized by both Moscow and Kiev, otherwise it will be difficult to play a significant role in restoring peace, the spokeswoman said. China appreciates Switzerland's efforts to host the first summit to resolve the Ukrainian crisis and will continue to contribute in its own way to peace negotiations, maintaining interaction with all parties, Mao added.Earlier in the day, Reuters reported, citing sources, that China had confirmed it will not take part in a peace conference on Ukraine in Switzerland in June, where Russia was not invited.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240530/zelenskys-office-instructs-ukrainian-officials-to-criticize-us-china-leaders---reports-1118709017.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/ukraine-advocates-are-fighting-for-its-destruction-1118709485.html

Ukraine Advocates Are Fighting for Its Destruction

Ukraine Advocates Are Fighting for Its Destruction

Sputnik International

Advocates of continued funding to Ukraine, both in positions of leadership and ordinary citizens are actually fighting for the destruction of the country they claim to be supporting.

2024-05-31T02:54+0000

2024-05-31T02:54+0000

2024-05-31T03:37+0000

analysis

volodymyr zelensky

ukraine

russia

joe biden

kiev

russian ministry of defense

opinion

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On Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin signaled that he is open to talks with Ukraine and its Western benefactors, building off an agreement that was nearly reached in Istanbul, Turkiye at the start of the conflict. However, Russia also insists that the territory its soldiers fought and died for since that time will remain in Russian hands.Ukraine and its Western supporters have repeatedly insisted that Ukraines 1991 borders be restored, an impossible ask even at the start of the war that has only appeared more deluded as time has gone on.Support for Ukraine comes in two main forms. There is the political and military support provided by Western nations, and there is public support, which has been waning but still includes a vocal contingent online who has named themselves NAFO. While the so-called NAFO Brigades are useless to Ukraine on the battlefield, they have been useful in manufacturing consent for the wars and providing political cover for politicians who are spending on Ukraine rather than their own countries.They are also advocating for the continued destruction of the very country they claim to be protecting. While they sit safely in their Western countries, typing Russophobic slurs through their keyboards and virtually patting other fellas on the back, actual Ukrainians are attempting to flee the country at an astounding rate.Polish media estimated that around 80,000 Ukrainian men of military age have entered the country since February 24, 2022, when the restrictions against men leaving Ukraine came into effect in the country. Ukraine claims that it has caught some 13,000 men attempting to illegally cross the border.In April, the Kiev regime ended consulate services for Ukrainian men abroad, a brazen attempt to force war refugees to the frontlines. This is on top of the countless videos posted on social media of Ukrainian men inside the country trying to avoid the draft, fighting with recruitment officers, and wearing old man masks in an attempt to go unnoticed.These are clearly men who do not want to fight and die for a cause that even Western military analysts say is a lost cause. Yet Western leaders and the NAFO troll farms gleefully send them to their deaths, while proclaiming that they are the ones supporting Ukraine.There is no other conflict in the world where this is the position, explained Marcetic. That the country where troop morale is low as it is in Ukraine, has suffered the kind of casualties that it has theres no other conflict where you have those conditions and the response is lets keep this going indefinitely because therell be more enemy forces killed.Ukraine has suffered more than half a million casualties in the conflict according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. The country is also swamped in foreign debt and will likely have to spend more than $500 billion reconstructing the country.Meanwhile, the Kiev regime has halted elections past Zelenskys legal term while banning religious sects, political parties and media outlets, all for what US President Joe Biden calls the defense of democratic values.Noting that most of the ordinary people who support Ukraine in the West were likely well-meaning, Marcetic hopes that they wont be so easily fooled by Bush-era-like invocations of democracy and freedom to justify wars in the future.The people at the top have very different ulterior motives. For them, Ukraine is a piece on the chessboard and they have been used, basically, as an expendable pawn in this conflict.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240427/ukraines-decision-to-adopt-new-mobilization-law-made-under-us-pressure---reports-1118148092.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240330/ukraine-being-destroyed-from-within-by-zelensky-government-corruption--ex-diplomat-1117647839.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/ukraine-firing-us-arms-at-russia-will-push-moscow-to-expand-buffer-zone---ex-us-army-col-1118721590.html

Ukraine Firing US Arms at Russia Will Push Moscow to Expand Buffer Zone - Ex-US Army Col.

Ukraine Firing US Arms at Russia Will Push Moscow to Expand Buffer Zone - Ex-US Army Col.

Sputnik International

Permission by the US and its allies for the Zelensky regime to use Western weapons to strike Russia will not prevent a Ukrainian defeat in the conflict, but will force Russia to expand a "buffer zone" to stop attacks on its border areas, US Army Lt. Col. and veteran international consultant Earl Rasmussen told Sputnik.

2024-05-31T15:46+0000

2024-05-31T15:46+0000

2024-05-31T15:46+0000

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volodymyr zelensky

joe biden

russia

ukraine

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In a major policy shift, Biden authorized the use of US weapons against military installations in Russia. A State Department spokesperson insisted that the authorization was limited to what they called "counter-fire purposes" in Kharkov region. The US has not authorized the use of long-range missiles, including ATACMS, inside Russia, the spokesperson told Sputnik on Thursday. "This will not change the ultimate outcome of the conflict, which Russia is destined to win," Rasmussen said. While the Pentagon most likely was trying to limit the shift, recent statements by former Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland and Secretary Antony Blinken clearly showed that there was strong lobbying going on in the background to change the US position, Rasmussen observed. "It is possible that secretly Ukraine was allowed already or at least Western intelligence and targeting information has likely been used on earlier strikes," he said. "Yes, it is an escalation and most likely Russia will counter in some way."US policy makers continue to blunder forward with ever more dangerous decisions which unfortunately will likely end in a direct conflict or potentially worse, Rasmussen warned. Rasmussen noted that he has mentioned for several years that "we are moving down a dangerous path. That path is not getting any safer, if anything it is becoming more treacherous." As situations continue to escalate in the Middle East and Asia, history will not look favorably on the current group of Western leaders as they lead their countries into the abyss, Rasmussen said. Russia is thus forced to create a buffer zone because of Ukraine's continued deadly shelling of Belgorod, he warned.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/moscow-has-right-to-take-proxy-war-with-nato-global-as-bloc-greenlights-strikes-deep-into-russia-1118717071.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/ukrainian-military-loses-over-35000-troops-in-may---russian-defense-minister-1118711758.html

Ukrainian Military Loses Over 35,000 Troops in May - Russian Defense Minister

Ukrainian Military Loses Over 35,000 Troops in May - Russian Defense Minister

Sputnik International

Ukraine's armed forces lost more than 35,000 servicemen and over 290 tanks in May this year, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said.

2024-05-31T07:43+0000

2024-05-31T07:43+0000

2024-05-31T08:24+0000

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"The Russian Armed Forces are systematically depleting the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. In May, the enemy suffered losses of more than 35,000 troops and 2,700 units of various weapons. Among them were 290 tanks and armored combat vehicles, including four Abrams, seven Leopards, and 12 Bradleys. In addition, 11 planes and four helicopters were shot down, while 730 field artillery and multiple rocket launchers were destroyed," Belousov said at a meeting of the CSTO Council of Defense Ministers in Almaty on Friday. According to him, "deprived of the opportunity to seize the initiative on the battlefield, the Kiev regime continues to demonstrate to its Western sponsors its ability to damage the Russian Federation by hitting civilian infrastructure."In May, the Russian Armed Forces intercepted more than a thousand unmanned aerial vehicles, over two hundred and fifty HIMARS and Vampire missiles, over 80 Hammer guided bombs, 50 ATACMS operational-tactical missiles and eight SCULP cruise missiles, the minister said.Russian military took control of 28 settlements in the military operation zone in May and forced Ukrainian troops to retreat eight to nine kilometers (five to six miles) in important areas in the Kharkov region, the minister said.Ukraine is Plotting Sabotage With Help of NATOUkraine is preparing sabotage with the participation of NATO advisers and specialists, and Western weapons are being used to cause harm to civilians in Russia, Andrei Belousov said.All attempts to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia are futile, the minister added.The Russian armed forces repelled a massive attack on the Crimean Bridge with 10 ATACMS missiles earlier this week, the Russian Defense Minister said."Literally the night before yesterday there was the most massive attack by 10 ATACMS missiles on the Crimean Bridge with a flight time of less than two minutes. All the missiles were shot down. As a result, hundreds of lives were saved," Belousov said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240319/media-makes-rare-acknowledgement-of-heavy-ukrainian-losses-1117417702.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/us-senator-manchin-says-ends-ties-with-democratic-party-registers-as-independent-1118718655.html

US Senator Manchin Dumps Democratic Party, Registers as Independent

US Senator Manchin Dumps Democratic Party, Registers as Independent

Sputnik International

US Senator Joe Manchin said on Friday that he is ending his ties with the Democratic Party and registering as an independent.

2024-05-31T14:57+0000

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"My commitment to do everything I can to bring our country together has led me to register as an independent with no party affiliation," Manchin said in a statement via the social media platform X. In November, Manchin said that he will not pursue reelection to the US Senate in 2024, where he has represented the state of West Virginia as a Democrat. In January, Manchin co-sponsored the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity (REPO) for Ukrainians Act to provide additional assistance to Ukraine by using assets confiscated from Russia. Russian officials have said the confiscation of Russian sovereign assets amounts to theft in violation of international law.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240528/democrats-deeply-concerned-about-biden-reelection-prospects---reports-1118666404.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/us-uk-aircraft-carried-out-13-strikes-on-houthi-targets-in-yemen---sources-1118710374.html

US, UK Aircraft Carry Out 13 Strikes on Houthi Targets in Yemen - Sources

US, UK Aircraft Carry Out 13 Strikes on Houthi Targets in Yemen - Sources

Sputnik International

US and UK military aircraft carried out 13 strikes on positions of Yemen's Shia movement Ansar Allah (Houthis) in three provinces of Yemen after a series of attacks on US ships in the Red, Arabian and Mediterranean seas, sources in local power bodies told Sputnik.

2024-05-31T04:44+0000

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US and British fighter jets carried out a series of simultaneous strikes on the barracks and equipment of the Yemeni Ansar Allah group in Sanaa (central Yemen), Hodeidah province in the west of the country and Taiz province in the southwest, sources in the three provinces said. The intensive attacks on Yemen came after Houthi leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi said the movement had carried out attacks against more than 100 Israeli, US and UK vessels in the Red, Arabian, Mediterranean seas and the Indian Ocean since November last year, with ten vessels coming under Houthi attacks this week. The death toll from US and UK strikes on the province of Al Hudaydah in Yemen has risen to 13, while over 30 people were injured, Al Masirah TV broadcaster reported on Friday.Earlier, a source in Hodeidah province authorities told Sputnik that at least two people were killed and ten others were injured as a result of the attack. Yemen's Houthi rebels vowed in November 2023 to attack any ships associated with Israel until it halts military actions in the Gaza Strip. The attacks prompted the United States to form a multinational coalition, which includes the United Kingdom among others, to protect shipping in the area of the Red Sea, as well as to strike Houthi targets on the ground.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240528/houthis-attack-3-us-israeli-ships-in-red-sea-indian-ocean---spokesperson-1118656556.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/washington-to-allow-ukraine-to-hit-russia-with-uss-himars-gmlrs-artillery---reports-1118716946.html

Washington to Allow Ukraine to Hit Russia With US's HIMARS, GMLRS, Artillery - Reports

Washington to Allow Ukraine to Hit Russia With US's HIMARS, GMLRS, Artillery - Reports

Sputnik International

The United States will allow Kiev to use the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) rockets, as well as artillery for attacks on the Russian territory and the Kharkov region, The Wall Street Journal has reported, citing US officials.

2024-05-31T13:42+0000

2024-05-31T13:42+0000

2024-05-31T13:42+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

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On Thursday, US State Department spokesperson told Sputnik in a statement that President Joe Biden had greenlighted Ukrainian strikes using US-supplied weapons inside the Russian territory for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkov region of Ukraine, but has not authorized the use of long-range missiles, including ATACMS, inside Russia.On Monday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that Ukraine's right to self-defense includes the right to strike legitimate military targets outside the country. Stoltenberg also confirmed that he favors lifting restrictions on the use of Western weapons on "legitimate targets" on the territory of Russia. The opinion of EU leaders on the issue is divided.Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that attempts to strike Russia with US weapons were already being made. President Vladimir Putin warned NATO allies earlier this week that they should realize "what they are playing with" when they allow Ukraine to use long-range Western weapons to strike deep into Russia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/us-weapons-already-used-in-attempts-to-strike-russian-territory---kremlin-1118714119.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/west-thoroughly-involved-in-ukraine-conflict-widening-war---ex-us-official-1118710529.html

Paul Craig Roberts: Western Involvement Escalates Ukraine Conflict

Paul Craig Roberts: Western Involvement Escalates Ukraine Conflict

Sputnik International

The West is thoroughly involved in the ongoing Ukraine conflict and is also widening it, former US Assistant Treasury Secretary Paul Craig Roberts told Sputnik.

2024-05-31T05:05+0000

2024-05-31T05:05+0000

2024-05-31T09:13+0000

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Roberts pointed out that the Ukraine conflict has been widening ever since it started with the West sending every weapon to Ukraine that initially it said it would not. A State Department spokesperson told Sputnik that Biden has greenlighted Ukrainian strikes using US-supplied weapons inside the Russian territory for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkov region of Ukraine, but has not authorized the use of long-range missiles, including ATACMS, inside Russia.Roberts went on to say that although Russia has won in its stated goal of liberating Donbas, that region is not the endgame for the West. Ukraine has received billions of dollars in donations and loans from its allies since Russia launched its special military operation in February 2022. The United States alone has provided more than $100 billion in military, economic and humanitarian aid. Russia has repeatedly warned countries supplying weapons to Ukraine that it sees military shipments as legitimate targets.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/ukraine-advocates-are-fighting-for-its-destruction-1118709485.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/why-houthis-dont-fear-the-reaper-everything-we-know-about-militias-air-defenses-1118720010.html

Why Houthis Dont Fear the Reaper: Everything We Know About Militias Air Defenses

Why Houthis Dont Fear the Reaper: Everything We Know About Militias Air Defenses

Sputnik International

Yemens Ansar Allah (lit. Supporters of God) fighters, better known as the Houthis, have shot down another US Reaper drone. How has a militia hailing from... 31.05.2024, Sputnik International

2024-05-31T17:38+0000

2024-05-31T17:38+0000

2024-05-31T17:38+0000

military

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kub

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The United States and Britain have lashed out over the Houthis embarrassing takedown of another of Americas $31 million apiece MQ-9 Reaper drones, killing at least 16 people (most of them civilians) and injuring 35 others in large-scale overnight airstrikes in Sanaa, Hodeidah and Taiz provinces late Thursday night.Houthi Political Bureau member Ali al-Qahoum vowed that the militia would retaliate with a painful response to the US-UK acts of aggression, and warned that the American-British coalition will not be able to ward off our responses.Nasruddin Amer, another member of the Houthi Political Bureau, said that even if the whole world attacks Sanaa, we will never abandon Gaza,  a reference to the militias ongoing partial-blockade of the Red and Arabian Seas to Israeli, Israeli-linked and allied commercial shipping in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Israeli military operation in the besieged Gaza Strip.Another Drone Bites the DustThe US-UK attacks came less than 48 hours after the Houthis shot down another Reaper drone  their sixth since the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli crisis last October, on Wednesday. Footage posted to social media showed a Reaper laying on its belly in a desert somewhere in Marib province, its tail assembly partially broken, but the drone otherwise intact, with a group of militiamen, two of them barefoot, standing on top of the wreckage.The drone featured no visible markings, indicating that it was likely used by the CIA  which has been flying unmarked Reapers over Yemen since the 2000s, first against suspected al-Qaeda* terrorists in the countrys southeast, and then against the Houthis after the Shia militia established control over much of western Yemen, including Sanaa, in early 2015.Since then, the Houthis have racked up an impressive tally of downed Reapers, including:Put another way, between 2017 and the present, the militia has taken down a combined $279 million worth of Reapers, becoming by far the biggest threat to Americas killer drone program apart from accidents and mechanical failures.Other Aircraft Lost or Damaged by the HouthisReapers arent the only US and NATO-made aircraft proving vulnerable to the Houthis, who have engaged in a long slog against a coalition of Gulf countries attempting to restore Yemens ousted government since March 2015. According to a tally published by Islamic World News this week, Reapers make up less than a tenth of the Western aircraft, manned or unmanned, that have been shot down or damaged fighting Ansar Allah and other actors in Yemen. Others include:How Did the Houthis Get Their Air Defense Prowess?Modern-day Yemen got its start in the development of air defenses thanks to the Soviet Union. Moscow signed treaties of friendship and cooperation with both the Yemen Arab Republic (which makes up most of Houthi-controlled Yemen today) and the Peoples Democratic Republic of Yemen, a separate state in what is today southern Yemen, in the 1960s.Accompanying diplomatic support and major economic and infrastructure assistance, friendship with the USSR meant weapons  including sophisticated ballistic missile, coastal defense, anti-tank, and anti-air missile tech. The latter included:The USSR also provided Yemen with an array of surveillance and target acquisition radars, including:Simple, Durable Soviet SAMs Perfect for Yemens Difficult EnvironmentDuring the Soviet period, our military specialists and advisors were widespread in Iraq, in Yemen, in Libya, Lt. Gen. (ret.) Aytech Bizhev, the former deputy commander of the CIS Joint Air Defense System, recalled to Sputnik, commenting on the pervasiveness of Soviet air defenses in Yemen.The Kub proved particularly durable in Yemen thanks to its simplicity and reliability, Bizhev noted.The expert added that the Houthis have apparently found ways to convert their Soviet-era anti-aircraft missiles to use pure kerosene instead of traditional propellants  which require specialized factories and technical knowhow to manufacture.Technology TransfersConsequently, the Houthis appear to have boosted their air defense capabilities with a little help from their Iranian friends. To be clear: Tehran has officially rejected claims by the US and Britain that its been providing arms to the Yemeni militia, calling such allegations little more than a pretext used by Washington and London to advance their short-sighted political plan and to justify and validate their illegal and aggressive actions against Yemen.That said, Iran has not shied away from providing technical assistance to its Axis of Resistance partners, with Iranian semi-official news agency Tasnim publishing a bombshell report this week confirming that Irans technical knowhow for the production of anti-ship missiles is now at the disposal of the Yemeni military forces.What this means for Houthi air defenses is the provision of missile technology (but not ready-made missiles), with independent observers spotting what appear to be Yemeni-made copies of Iranian missiles like the Taer medium-range missile system, Iranian-designed radars like the Matla ul-Fajr-2 and Kashef-2, Misagh-2015 MANPADS and the unique Saqr-1 hybrid anti-aircraft missile and loitering munition.Given Iranian familiarity with an array of Soviet air defense systems thanks to decades of cooperation with Russia in this field, it cant be ruled out that Iranian specialists may have given the Houthis important tips for the modernization of their aging Soviet SAM and radar systems, although direct evidence on such efforts have not been publicized, for obvious reasons.Technology Means Nothing Without People to Use ItThe Houthis have amassed plenty of experience against NATO weaponry, including Reapers, using both older equipment and equipment modified and modernized by domestic and foreign specialists, but the militia's SAMs would mean nothing without the experienced fighters who man them, former DoD analyst and retired US Air Force Lt. Col. Karen Kwiatkowski told Sputnik."These guys are experienced using older equipment, but using it against some of the modern stuff. I know the night vision and infrared targeting - they have ways of tracking these Reapers and using their capabilities basically to the maximum extent possible. So it's really testimony to what happens when you have an experienced set of soldiers or air defense experts," Kwiatkowski said.The Houthis have also proved their engineering prowess, and it would be a mistake to underestimate the militia's proficiency in the modification and examination of equipment, including captured weaponry, Kwiatkowski said.The Pentagon has shown a dangerous tendency to underestimate its adversaries, with the Houthis proving no exception, Kwiatkowski said.* A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/houthis-attack-us-aircraft-carrier-in-red-sea-after-us-uk-strikes---movement-member-1118716029.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/houthis-threatens-to-hit-targets-in-red-arabian-seas-after-us-uk-strikes-on-yemen-1118714744.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240525/us-expends-530-munitions-1-bln-fighting-houthi-hellfire-raining-down-on-its-carrier-group-1118634310.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240515/houthis-have-defeated-american-goliath---uk-media-1118452721.html

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More than 40 years after schoolchildren waiting for a bus found the body of a dead infant, Vermont State Police say they have identified the baby's parents and closed the case with no charges.

On April 1, 1982, a group of children waiting for a school bus on what was then called Mill Hill Road, now Gillespie Road, in Northfield found the body of a baby boy just off the road. At the time, the Northfield Police chief requested the assistance of the Vermont State Police.

Although the infant was found to be full-term, Vermont Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Paul Morrow was unable to determine whether the baby died before or after birth. Morrow identified "existing medical conditions," but was unable to determine whether they were the cause of death.

Although the death was not officially classified as a homicide, state police said they continued treating it as such until it could be definitively ruled out. Baby Doe was named Matthew Isaac by Rev. Frank E. Wisner III at St. Mary's Church in Northfield, and a funeral was held.

There were no leads on the baby's true identity or parentage. DNA testing was not available in 1982, but blood and tissue samples from the baby's autopsy were kept on file.

In 2020, Vermont State Police partnered with Parabon NanoLabs, a Virginia-based DNA technology company, to analyze the evidence again. They found a female's DNA sample "from swabs of the infant and items he had been found bundled in." In December 2021, Parabon identified a possible biological mother and father.

The parents were located in Maine, and with assistance from Maine State Police, the Vermont State Police obtained DNA samples that confirmed they were Matthew Isaac Doe's parents.

Vermont State Police said the parents agreed to provide statements. The father, who was not named, told police that he had left Vermont in 1982 and had no knowledge of the pregnancy or the deceased infant.

The mother told police that she did not known she was pregnant. When she began to feel abdominal pain she initially thought she was ill, but soon realized she was in labor. She said she labored alone for several hours and lost consciousness. When she came to, she found she had delivered a baby boy, but the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, and he was dead.

She said she wanted to give the baby a proper burial, and carried him into the woods to find a place. She said she became scared when she thought she heard voices and turned to run away but slipped. The baby fell from her arms and she continued running, never to return to the area.

Although the woman admitted improperly disposing of the body, Washington County State's Attorney Michelle Donnelly determined the statute of limitations had run out, and no charge was filed.

Because no criminal charges were filed, police said the names of Matthew Isaac's parents would not be released.

--with reporting by TMX
Delayed Hanover strayed from The Meadowlands for a week in lieu of an afternoon at Plainridge Park on Thursday, May 30 and ended up leaving with a win and a new seasonal mark of 1:52 after touring the facility in the meets fastest trotting of the year.

Jay Randall left from post four with Delayed Hanover in the top $27,397 Open Handicap Trot and took a quick and easy two-length lead to the quarter in :27.2. With the field single file in chase, the pair then set a moderate tone of :56 to the half before Marquis Lafayette (Bruce Ranger) made a first-over move at five-eighths and advanced to within a length of the leader at the three-quarters. But one length was as close as anyone would get as Randall fed Delayed Hanover some line and allowed him to close it out. With the whip on his shoulder and his hands in his lap, Randall was just a passenger as Delayed Hanover swelled up and bolted down the lane. Delayed Hanover put space between himself and the field with every stride and ran away with a 4-1/2-length victory in an eye-popping 1:52.

Owned by Reid Wissner and trained by Kevin McDermott, Delayed Hanover ($3.80) notched his first win in only seven 2024 starts.

In the secondary featured $23,288 conditioned trot, Wild Way (Bruce Ranger) yielded the lead to Cruising Tom (Matty Athearn) past the quarter and then sat the trip as Pembroke Honcho (Heath Campbell) pushed the issue with the leader from five-eighths to the top of the stretch. Thats where Ranger dipped inside Cruising Tom and out-brushed him to the line by a head in 1:56.

Owned by William Hartt, Wild Way ($7.60) recorded his fourth win of the year. Lance Hudson trains the winner.

Bruce Ranger ended the day with a driving grand slam while Domenico Cecere tallied two training wins, making each the leader in their respective category for Thursday.

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Monday, June 3 with post time at 4 p.m. and the card will feature a $1,519 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 in race six.

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)
Jeffery P cut comfortable fractions on top, leaving him with enough in reserve to fend off a late challenger and capture the $26,301 Open Handicap Trot on Thursday, May 30 at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows.

When Ronnie Wrenn Jr. gave Jeffery P a leisurely :58 half, that pretty much doomed the back markers. About the only credible threat remaining was Killer Instinct, who pulled the pocket into the final turn and attacked the leader. But the nine-year-old Full Count-Betty Jean gelding needed only moderate urging from Wrenn to defeat Killer Instinct by 1-1/4 lengths in 1:55. Commander Frank and Buck Nome dead-heated for show.

Ron Burke trains Jeffery P, who now has won 49 races and $551,736 in his career, for Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and Phillip Collura.

The victory was one of six wins for Wrenn on the 13-race card, including four for Burke.

Elsewhere on Wednesdays card, Miloandhunter, who began his career with 56 straight losses, ended his futility streak when he took a $12,329 conditioned pace in 1:58.2 for Justin Walters, trainer Steven Walters and owner Mike Gillock.

The Friday, May 31 card at The Meadows features a pair of stakes for three-year-old colt and gelding trotters: a $145,572 USD leg of the Pennsylvania Sire Stakes and a $100,000 USD leg of the PA Stallion Series. On the wagering front, the 13-race program offers an $819.82 carryover in the Pick 5 (Race 9). First post is 5:10 p.m.

(Meadows Standardbred Owners Association)
The Ontario Sires Stakes (OSS) 50th Anniversary Celebration tour heads to The Raceway at Western Fair District on Friday, May 31 with four $20,000 Grassroots Series divisions for three-year-old pacing colts featured on the Camluck Classic undercard.

The Grassroots races are slated for Races 3, 4, 11 and 12, while the $150,000 Camluck Classic Invitational Pace is scheduled for Race 10 on the 12-race card.

Race 3 features the 2023 Grassroots two-year-old pacing colt point leader, D A Mcdreamy, and last years two-year-old pacing colt Grassroots Final winner, Enforcer.

D A Mcdreamy has draw post seven and will be driven by James MacDonald for trainer Shawn Steacy. Bred by Ashley Wilson and Dean Wilson of Kerwood, Ont., the McWicked-Sports Beayty colt is owned by Katherine Steacy and Landmark 16 Racing Stable of Lansdowne, Ont., Theodore Davis of Ohsweken, Ont. and Angela Haskell of Guelph, Ont.

Enforcer is trained by Gregg McNair and will have Tyler Borth in the bike from post two. Bred by Seelster Farms of Lucan, Ont., the Big Jim-Rough N Ready colt races for the ownership group of Aaron Waxman from Carlisle, Ont., Alan Alber of Thornhill, Ont. and David Jarvis of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.

Another horse to watch in the Race 3 division is post five starter Vis A Vis Bluechip, a Bettors Delight-Sunnynseventyfive gelding bred by Blue Chip Bloodstock of Wallkill, New York. Vis A Vis Bluechip is trained and driven by Paul Davies, who also co-owns with his wife Nicole.

Vis A Vis Bluechip is coming off back-to-back wins at The Raceway, both times with Davies driving. The level of competition he will be facing on Friday will be steeper with D A Mcdreamy and Enforcer in the stakes field, but Davies believes his horse has an advantage with track familiarity.

I know [Vis A Vis Bluechip] can get around the track, said Davies. I dont know if [D A Mcdreamy and Enforcer] have ever been there before, so anything can happen. Its a pretty tight half-mile track and some horses dont adjust to it as well as others.

As part of the OSS 50th Anniversary Celebration, fans coming out to enjoy the races will also be able to view photos and memorabilia from seasons past along with giveaways, activity books for the young ones and a timeline illustrating the 50-year history of the OSS.

In advance of the Anniversary Celebration, noted Canadian harness racing writer and historian Robert Smith compiled a brief history of The Raceway at Western Fair District.

Post time for the first race of the evening Friday at The Raceway is 5:50 p.m. Click here for a program with information on entries and wagering advice. If you are unable to attend in person, visit The Raceway website for streaming information. Wagers can be placed via HPIBet.

(With files from Ontario Racing; Photo of Vis A Vis Bluechip winning last year at Woodbine Mohawk Park)
Alliance Police and other authorities located an Alliance woman who had been missing since late Tuesday.

In a press release, the department said Patricia L. Eichhorn had been located late Thursday afternoon. The woman had been missing after leaving her residence at about 10:30 p.m.

Earlier this week, the Nebraska State Patrol issued an Endangered Missing Advisory for the 75-year-old woman, who suffers from Alzheimer's. Details about where the woman was located weren't released, but the department indicated that the woman had been found safe. She suffered from dehydration and was receiving medical treatment.

"We are grateful for the efforts and support of everyone involved in the search and rescue mission," the department said in its release. "At this time, we kindly ask for privacy for Patricia and her family."

Alliance Police Chief David Leavitt told the Star-Herald many volunteer groups had been out in the community, searching for the woman. A grid search using city employees was also organized Thursday afternoon. He said a lot of territory had been covered with drones and police had been through the city numerous times. In a post on the Alliance Police Department Facebook page, the Nebraska State Patrol's Drone Unit and it's Airwing Unit were thanked for their assistance. The Nebraska State Patrol and Box Butte County Sheriff's Office were also noted as having assisted the department.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is appealing a federal judges dismissal of a civil rights lawsuit against BNSF Railway Company alleging a female train conductor faced a barrage of sexual harassment on a near daily basis while working at the Alliance railyard.

An attorney in the EEOCs Kansas City office filed a notice of appeal on Friday.

The judge had granted the commission the ability to proceed with its case even after Rena Merker, the woman at the heart of the case filed in 2021, died in January.

In a 59-page order in April, U.S. District Judge Brian Buescher concluded the EEOC could continue to prosecute the action despite her unfortunate death. But he also concluded that BNSFs motion for summary judgment, must ultimately be granted.

He concluded that the EEOCs claim for harassment was not actionable as a matter of law.

The court reaches this conclusion even though the alleged actions of Merkers coworkers were inappropriate, boorish, and even vile. Nothing in this decision should be taken as condoning or excusing such behavior; rather, this decision recognizes that the law sets a stringent and context-specific standard for actionable harassment, Buescher wrote.

Merker testified that she was subjected to numerous incidents of harassment ranging from comments about her body, to suggestive statements and come-ons, to rumors that she was sleeping around, to disparaging comments about women in general or their presence in the workplace.

The parties dispute whether Merker testified to 11 instances (by BNSFs count) or at least 30 instances (by the EEOCs count) of harassing coworker contacts during Merkers employment with BNSF, the judge said.

She also testified about being exposed to sexual or otherwise offensive graffiti in locomotives, train cars and BNSF terminal buildings.

In the lawsuit, attorneys for the EEOC said that from October 2011 through the filing of the lawsuit, Merker was subjected to sexual and derogatory comments and slurs about women, to the circulation of nude pictures, and to other sexual and hostile actions toward female employees.

They alleged that, although Merker notified management of the unwanted offensive sexual comments and behavior, BNSF failed to take prompt, effective remedial action to end the harassment.

Buescher said there is no question that Merker was subjected to abusive language, gender-related jokes, and occasional teasing.

Nor can there be a serious dispute that Merker described vile or inappropriate behavior. Nevertheless, the conduct toward Merker in the record does not rise to the level of an actionable hostile work environment as a matter of law, he wrote.

BNSF argues that Merker asserted that she was subjected to daily harassment beginning in 2011, but that she did not report it to BNSF until after she filed her EEOC charge nearly six years later in January of 2018.

They say the few incidents that she did report before and after January 2018 were easily rejected as too sporadic.

On the other side, the EEOC argues that the test is whether the conduct was uninvited and offensive and Merker testified that she found it offensive, obnoxious, crude and the conduct of pigs.

Buescher said that whether it qualified as unwelcome harassment as required would be an issue for trial, but the case failed for other reasons. He said BNSFs most critical challenge was the absence of a continuing violation after March 23, 2017, the date alleged in the amended complaint.

The judge said case law makes it clear that employment context also matters. For instance, conduct that might be severe or pervasive in an office setting might not rise to that level in a rougher and more physical workplace in which the vast majority of the employees are of the same sex, such as the Alliance railyard.

Buescher said the EEOC raised specific incidents in 2017 and 2018, which he said, included boorish, offensive, and wrong-headed comments by male co-workers.

But they are at most sporadic, he said.

The judge said the evidence of sexual graffiti was a somewhat closer question on whether it was, as a whole, a hostile work environment. But, while offensive, it was not severely hostile or abusive, Buescher said.

And he said BNSF was entitled to summary judgment, meaning a close to the case.

The EEOC now will appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse the decision and let the case go to trial.

According to her obituary, the Rushville woman had worked for BNSF for 12 years as a conductor. While there, Rena was an advocate for Womens Rights on the railroad and was responsible for the railroad making many positive changes in the working conditions for women.
Region 22 Emergency Management Director Tim Newman will soon leave the Panhandle for a new career opportunity, effective June 20.

Newman began his career in his teens with a volunteer fire department in Alabama before joining an ambulance service. That job led to his first visits to an emergency operations center, setting him on the path he would follow in the years to come.

He eventually became an assistant emergency manager in Kansas, then moved to Scotts Bluff County to take his current position in 2015.

Ive really enjoyed my time here. Newman said of the last 9 1/2 years he has served in the area. Ive made a lot of good friends and very good professional relationships that Im going to miss a lot.

Some of the memorable events that took place during Newmans time in Scotts Bluff County included numerous wildfires, the 2017 eclipse and the 2019 blizzard.

Out of all the emergencies Newman responded to, he said that his most vivid memories of his time in Nebraska will be of the people and communities that made an impact on him.

When we came here, I didnt know anybody. I came here specifically for the job, he said. But in these nine and a half years, Ive made hundreds of friends and acquaintances. I cant go anywhere in town without someone recognizing me or me recognizing someone. I didnt even have that in the small town I grew up in in Alabama. Ive been blessed to know a lot of good people here, and I hope that they realize just how special their own community is.

Newman said he hopes his assistant, Ashley Hopkins, will be selected to fill his position as interim while the county seeks a permanent replacement.

Shes very capable of taking care of the job, he said.

Meanwhile, Newman will start his new job as emergency response director in Seward County, Kansas, on July 1.

The Region 22 emergency management director position has been posted on the Scotts Bluff County website, and applications will be accepted through July 1. The job requires certification with the State of Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, or ability to obtain basic certification as an Emergency Manager within six months of hire through the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency, among other requirements.

In parting, Newman offered his thanks to all the people and organizations that made his time in western Nebraska personally and professionally fulfilling.

Ive really appreciated all the support Ive received from the community, the response community and the government agencies Ive worked with and for, he said.
A Minneapolis police officer was killed in an ambush when he responded to a call of a double shooting at an apartment building and began giving medical aid to a man who appeared to be a victim, but who turned and fired on the officer, according to reports.

Jamal Mitchell, 36, who had been on the force for less than two years, died in an exchange of gunfire Thursday, the Associated Press reported.

"I've seen the video, and he was ambushed," Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said at a news conference Thursday evening. "I'm using the term for a reason."

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called Mitchell a "courageous hero."

"Today, he made the ultimate sacrifice to protect and save the lives of others. His life, his service and his name will forever be remembered in the City of Minneapolis," Frey said. "Our hearts go out to Officer Mitchell's family and loved ones, to the families of the victims of this senseless tragedy and to the members of our extraordinary police department who are grieving."

Mitchell, a father and fiance who had been honored on his third day on the job for rescuing a couple from a house fire, was responding to calls about a double shooting at an apartment building, the AP reported.

As he neared the scene, Mitchell noticed two people who appeared to be injured and got out of his cruiser to help them.

One of the men shot Mitchell.

Another officer exchanged gunfire with the shooter, who was killed despite lifesaving efforts, the police department said.

The police officer received non-life-threatening injuries. Another person, believed to be a bystander, was injured, as was a firefighter.

When officers reached the apartment, they found two people who had been shot. One was dead and the other was taken to a local hospital in critical condition. The mayor cautioned that the investigation is continuing.

He asked people to "be patient with us as we do not know all the facts yet. We want to make sure that the investigation is completed and that we're doing it the right way."

Mitchell was the first officer fatally shot in the line of duty in more than 20 years.
At COMPUTEX 2024, MediaTek will showcase new products and technology demonstrations, featuring highlights in AI, Smart TVs, Chromebooks, IoT and more, in addition to a keynote by Vice Chairman and CEO Dr. Rick Tsai about how MediaTek can enable ubiquitous AI.

At this years show, MediaTek will debut two new chipsets with powerful performance and support for the latest AI enhancements across multiple verticals: the Kompanio 838 SoC for premium Chromebooks, and the Pentonic 800 SoC for 4K premium smart TVs and displays.

Additionally, MediaTek Vice Chairman and CEO Dr. Rick Tsai will be giving a keynote at COMPUTEX 2024 to explore how AI will continue to transform mobility, transportation, the smart home, enterprises, and industrial environments. Dr. Tsai will deliver his keynote speech on Tuesday, June 4 at 13:30 Taiwan time at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center Hall 2 in Taipei, Taiwan.

At this years COMPUTEX, we are highlighting our expanding leadership in exciting product categories, such as AI, automotive, IoT, TVs, Chromebooks, and wireless connectivity, among many others, said Joe Chen, President and COO of MediaTek. Through upgrading user experiences in our latest chipsets, this is a wonderful opportunity to show our growth in these critical segments of technology.

MediaTek Kompanio 838: Amplifying productive working, learning and creativity

The octa-core Kompanio 838 packs outstanding performance and multitasking capabilities into a highly efficient SoC that enables all-day battery life for thin and light Chromebooks. This new chipset supports DDR4 and LPDDR4X to meet a wider range of OEM requirements, and doubles memory bandwidth compared to previous generations to provide considerably more data throughput.

To support the latest AI enhancements, Kompanio 838 enables a dedicated AI processor, the MediaTek NPU 650, to offer more interactive and higher quality multimedia with unparalleled power efficiency. MediaTek NPUs are designed for efficient image data processing, capable of quickly executing complex computations.

The built-in next-generation MediaTek Imagiq 7 series ISP upgrades professional quality HDR imaging, dual camera support, and low-light capture, improving photo and video quality even in challenging lighting conditions.

With hardware accelerated AV1 video decoding, the Kompanio 838 lets users seamlessly stream 4K content, while also enhancing picture quality. It supports up to two 4K displays simultaneously to give users more display real estate. The Kompanio 838 also supports MediaTek Filogic Wi-Fi 6 and 6E technology to offer dual-band and tri-band connectivity options to Chromebooks with speeds up to 1.9Gbps, while also offering more reliable connectivity thanks to the 22 antenna and enhanced security with WPA3 support.

The finely tuned balance of power and efficiency the Kompanio 838 brings to Chromebook is a key point of innovation in our portfolio as we seek to bring powerful, affordable and accessible computing to more users around the globe, said John Solomon, VP and GM, ChromeOS and Google for Education. Together, were bringing thin and light Chromebooks with helpful AI features to even more customers.

The need for energy efficient devices capable of multitasking continues to grow and we are committed to empowering students and teachers with tech devices and solutions that enhance learning in the classroom and beyond, said Benny Zhang, Executive Director and General Manager of Chromebooks in Lenovos Global Innovation Center, Intelligent Devices Group. Lenovo and MediaTek have a long-standing partnership focused on delivering performance and value, and we look forward to bringing the Kompanio series chips to our upcoming Lenovo Chromebooks.

MediaTek Pentonic 800: Powerful AI Engine with Industry-leading Image Enhancement

The MediaTek Pentonic 800 delivers best-in-class video, audio, and cloud gaming experiences. The SoC is ideal for a variety of 4K displays, including smart TVs, smart monitors, commercial displays, and embedded large displays. Compared to the previous generation chip, MediaTeks AI processor offers 50% faster AI processing performance and reduces up to 60% bandwidth usage. The powerful NPU supports a variety of MediaTek AI-powered display technologies, including AI-Super Resolution 3.0, AI-Contrast 2.0, AI-Picture Quality Scene Recognition 2.0+, and AI-Picture Quality Object Recognition 2.5+. These technologies significantly improve upscaling, enhance picture quality, and eliminate noise, among many other enhancements for streaming and gaming. To further optimize gaming, Pentonic 800 supports variable refresh rate (VRR) up to 4K2K 165Hz.

Also, the Pentonic 800s hardware video decoding engine supports popular key codecs such as HEVC, AV1, AVS3 High Profile, and VVC (H.266) for high quality 4K video playback. The chip also supports MEMC, TCON, and high-resolution audio. OEMs have the flexibility to add MediaTeks Filogic Wi-Fi connectivity solutions to provide reliable high-speed connectivity with low latency. Additionally, MediaTeks Filogic Wi-Fi/Bluetooth combo solutions provide seamless connectivity between screens and peripherals, such as game controllers and wireless headsets.

During Computex, MediaTek will be exhibiting at a private booth, demonstrating how the company is bringing intelligence everywhere from Chromebooks to IoT devices, smartphones, smart TVs, routers, tablets, vehicles, and beyond.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

A trio of engineers at the University of Glasgow has designed and built an AI-based drone system that can assist in search efforts for hikers lost in the wilderness. Jan-Hendrik Ewers, David Anderson, and Douglas Thomson have published a paper describing their efforts on the arXiv preprint server.

Hiking in the Scottish Highlands has become a popular activity over the past several decadesthe rugged landscape offers a wide variety of vistas and the remote locations allow hikers to get back to nature. But such hiking can be hazardoushikers can get lost, or injured. Many find themselves in need of assistance every year. Because of that, emergency teams use both traditional and modern techniques to find those who are lost or have become disabled for some reason.

In recent years, searchers have begun to use dronestheir higher vantage point allows for covering more land more quickly than searching on foot. It also helps spot things that searchers may not be able to see from the ground, such as trodden brush. In this new effort, the team at the University of Glasgow wondered if adding AI to drone technology could improve the search for lost hikers.

To find out, they created an AI model using data sets showing the paths taken by people who were lost and then found by search parties around the world. They also added pertinent data, such as age, reason for hiking, whether they were alone, walking, or on horseback or some other type of transport.

They noted geographical information regarding both the path taken by those who were lost and where they were found, such as rivers, streams, roads or open ground. They then added data specific to Scotland's geography. They ran the model millions of times, each representing a simulated search, until it narrowed down the most probable paths a lost hiker would take. The drone would then be instructed to search those paths first.

In testing their system against traditional approachessuch as using "the lawn mower" sweeping techniqueused to find actual hikers, the new approach found lost hikers more often19% of the time as compared to 812% of the time. The researchers suggest more data should make their system more accurate and eventually result in a tool that could be used to save lives.

More information: Jan-Hendrik Ewers et al, Deep Reinforcement Learning for Time-Critical Wilderness Search And Rescue Using Drones, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2405.12800 Journal information: arXiv

 2024 Science X Network
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The four nuclear reactors and cooling towers are seen at the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Friday, May 31, 2024, in Waynesboro, Ga. Credit: AP Photo/Mike Stewart

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Friday called for more nuclear reactors to be built in the United States and worldwide. But the CEO of the Georgia utility that just finished the first two scratch-built American reactors in a generation at a cost of nearly $35 billion says his company isn't ready to pick up that baton.

Speaking in Waynesboro, Georgia, where Georgia Power Co. and three other utilities last month put a second new nuclear reactor into commercial operation, Granholm said the United States needs 98 more reactors with the capacity of units 3 and 4 at Plant Vogtle to produce electricity while reducing climate-changing carbon emissions. Each of the two new reactors can power 500,000 homes and businesses without releasing any carbon.

"It is now time for others to follow their lead to reach our goal of getting to net zero by 2050," Granholm said. "We have to at least triple our current nuclear capacity in this country."

The federal government says it is easing the risks of nuclear construction, but the almost $17 billion in cost overruns at Plant Vogtle near Augusta remain sobering for other utilities. Chris Womack is the CEO of Southern Co., the Atlanta-based parent company of Georgia Power. He said he supports Granholm's call for more nuclear-power generation, but he added that his company won't build more soon.

"I think the federal government should provide a leadership role in facilitating and making that become a reality," Womack said. "We've had a long experience, and we're going to celebrate what we've gotten done here for a good little while."

Friday's event capped a week of celebrations, where leaders proclaimed the reactors a success, even though they finished seven years late.

On Wednesday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp floated the idea of a fifth Vogtle reactor. Although the Republican Kemp rarely discusses climate change, he has made electric vehicles a priority and has said new industries demand carbon-free electricity.

"One of the first questions on their minds is: Can we provide them with what they need?" Kemp said. "We can confidently answer 'Yes!' because of days like today."

The new Vogtle reactors are currently projected to cost Georgia Power and three other owners $31 billion, according to calculations by The Associated Press. Add in $3.7 billion that original contractor Westinghouse paid Vogtle owners to walk away from construction, and the total nears $35 billion.

Electric customers in Georgia already have paid billions for what may be the most expensive power plant ever. The federal government aided Vogtle by guaranteeing the repayment of $12 billion in loans, reducing borrowing costs.

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden's administration held a meeting to promote nuclear power, saying it would create a working group to ease the challenges that dogged Vogtle.

The Biden administration promised that the military would commission reactors, which could help drive down costs for others. It also noted support for smaller reactors, suggesting small reactors could replace coal-fueled electric generating plants that are closing. The administration also pledged to further streamline licensing.

Granholm said that she believed others could learn from Vogtle's mistakes, like starting construction before plans were completed. She also predicted additional models of the Vogtle reactors, which were the first of their kind built in the United States, could be built at lower cost.

"So the question is, how do you learn from the new design in the second and the third and the fourth and the fifth plant? If you don't vary the design, it gets 30% less expensive every time you build it," Granholm said.

In Michigan, where Granholm was a Democratic governor, she announced in March up to $1.5 billion in loans to restart the Palisades nuclear power plant, which was shut down in 2022 after a previous owner had trouble producing electricity that was price-competitive.

But with much of the domestic effort focused on building a series of smaller nuclear reactors using mass-produced components, critics question whether they can actually be built more cheaply. Others note that the United States still hasn't created a permanent repository for nuclear waste, which lasts for thousands of years. Other forms of electrical generation, including solar backed up with battery storage, are much cheaper to build initially.

In Georgia, almost every electric customer will pay for Vogtle. Georgia Power owns 45.7% of the reactors. Smaller shares are owned by Oglethorpe Power Corp., which provides electricity to member-owned cooperatives, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and the city of Dalton. Utilities in Jacksonville, Florida, as well as in the Florida Panhandle and parts of Alabama also have contracted to buy Vogtle's power.

Regulators in December approved an additional 6% rate increase on Georgia Power's 2.7 million customers to pay for $7.56 billion in remaining costs at Vogtle, with the company absorbing $2.6 billion in costs. That is expected to cost the typical residential customer an additional $8.97 a month in May, on top of the $5.42 increase that took effect when Unit 3 began operating.

___

This story has been updated to correct the amount of cost overruns to build two reactors at the Vogtle nuclear plant in Georgia. It was almost $17 billion, not $11 billion.

 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
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From Lemvig Biogas's large plant in the background, biogas is transported to the white domes and on to DTU's reactor in the blue container. Here the first green methanol has been produced. Credit: DTU

One of the promising alternatives to fossil fuels is methanol, in which the global shipping and logistics company Maersk, among others, is investing for its future fleet of container ships. However, there is a problem when it comes to methanol. Today, 99% of methanol production is based on coal and natural gas, and that's as far from green as it gets. DTU has contributed to developing a new method for producing biogas-based methanol.

"When methanol is produced from biogas, methanol is green because it comes from a renewable source. Biogas is a product of degraded waste from households, agriculture, and production," explains Associate Professor Philip Fosbl, DTU Chemical Engineering, one of the researchers behind the project.

In the autumn of 2022, the technology was installed in a 40-foot container at Lemvig Biogas, and a year later the plant produced the first liters of methanol.

Methanol without hydrogen added

Traditionally, green methanol is produced from CO 2 by adding hydrogen. The hydrogen is obtained through a process called electrolysis, where water molecules are split into hydrogen and oxygen. But electrolysis requires a large energy supply in the form of electricity, and although electricity prices have fallen, it is still so expensive that this form of methanol production cannot compete with methanol produced from fossil sources. DTU's new method does not require the addition of hydrogen to form methanol.

"We take biogas and turn it into synthesis gas, and then we take the synthesis gas and turn it into methanol. And we have a plant that can recycle and use CO 2 together with hydrogen and produce even more methanol," says Fosbl.

Biogas typically consists of two-thirds methane and one-third CO 2 . Synthesis gas consists of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. To get from biogas to synthesis gas, a catalyst is required to make the process happen, and usually problems arise with deposition of coal on the catalyst. But using a new and innovative catalyst, DTU researchers eliminate this problem.

Since hydrogen is produced by the formation of synthesis gas, there is no need to add hydrogen to produce methanol. However, since biogas contains one-third CO 2 , you need to recirculate CO 2 together with hydrogen from the synthesis gas in order to also convert CO 2 into methanol. This process is brand-new and patented, and is one of the secrets of great efficiency. The finished product consists of 95% pure methanol, and 99.9% can be achieved if additional hydrogen from another source is added. Overall, the method has been a breakthrough for green methanol production.

"I do believe we're the first ever to demonstrate that you can produce methanol from biogas," says Fosbl.

The key word is flexibility

The large biogas plants have generally focused on producing biomethane for the gas grid. The technology DTU researchers are working on here is also intended for small biogas plants that cannot send their biomethane into the gas grid. Instead, they are forced to burn the biogas for heat or electricity production.

There are also biogas plants that are located at too great a distance from hydrogen producers, and therefore do not have the opportunity to convert CO 2 into biogas via hydrogen input. There are many such plants not only in Denmark, but also in Germany, where there are about 10,000 of these smaller biogas plants, and here the new technology can be extremely attractive, says Fosbl. For the DTU researcher and his colleagues, it has been crucial to create a methanol plant that was flexible, because future needs can change quickly.

"Our plant is designed to operate in a future where you adapt to changing needs. We can operate with different feed gases and switch very quickly," he says.

This means you can occasionally utilize the entire biogas, so both methane and CO 2 are converted to methanol. Sometimes you can only produce methanol from methane, and other times you can choose to make methanol only from CO 2 , while the methane is utilized for gas production. This makes it incredibly flexible, explains Fosbl.

If biogas cannot be disposed of for the gas grid, there will also be a need for storage. And converting the biogas into liquid in the form of methanol is an obvious solution, as it occupies a much smaller volume, and then the biogas plants themselves can store the fuel over a longer period of time.

Methanol produced from biogas is much cheaper than traditional e-methanol produced from CO 2 and hydrogen. But it is still more expensive than methanol produced from coal and natural gas. One solution that Fosbl envisions is to tax black methanol for a period of time, making it more expensive than green methanol. In this way, green methanol can become profitable to produce, and as production methods are developed, green methanol will become competitive on normal market terms.

Next steps

The methanol plant that is now up and running is a demonstration plant. This means that it is no longer just on a laboratory scale, but has "moved into reality," as the DTU associate professor phrases it. It can produce 400 liters of methanol daily if it runs 24/7, but the daily production has been less than 100 liters because production has only run during the daytime.

"The big breakthrough is that we've been able to do this without any breakdowns," states Philip Fosbl, who explains that the longest continuous production period has been 72 hours. The next milestone will be production for 500 hours straight.

The plant at Lemvig Biogas can convert 10 m3 biogas per hour. The next step will be upscaling to 200 m3 per hour, equivalent to a full-scale commercial facility. But this requires large-scale support.

"The research project we have carried out has a budget of just under DKK 20 million, but the next scale-up can easily cost in the region of DKK 100 million, so it's obviously something that requires public support," says Fosbl.

The project has so far been supported by the Danish Energy Agency's Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Programme (EUDP), which has included three partners in addition to DTU. Pentair Union has headed the construction of the processing plant, while the demonstration plant was built by Elplatek. Lemvig Biogas has supplied biogas to the demonstration plant.

When DTU's technology is fully developed, it will be able to produce up to 60,000 tons of methanol from a typical large Danish biogas producer. With an annual requirement of 750,000 tons of methanol for Maersk's future fleet of 25 methanol-powered container ships, it will require a large number of biogas plants just to cover this need.
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Peter Schaldenbrand, a Ph.D. student in the Robotics Institute poses next to CoFRIDA. Credit: Carnegie Mellon University

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University's Robotics Institute (RI) have developed a robotic system that interactively co-paints with people. Collaborative FRIDA (CoFRIDA) can work with users of any artistic ability, inviting collaboration to create art in the real world.

"It's like the drawing equivalent of a writing prompt," said Jim McCann, an associate RI professor who runs the RI's Textiles Lab. "If you're stuck and you don't know what to do, it can put something on the page for you. It can break the barrier of an empty page. It's a really interesting way of enhancing human creativity."

CoFRIDA builds on past work with FRIDA, a multilab collaboration in the School of Computer Science.

Named after the artist Frida Kahlo, FRIDA (Framework and Robotics Initiative for Developing Arts) can use a paintbrush or a Sharpie to create a painting from a human user's text prompts or image examples. The project was founded by Jean Oh, an associate research professor in the RI and head of the Bot Intelligence Group (BIG), jointly with McCann and Ph.D. student Peter Schaldenbrand.

To support a more collaborative artistic creation experience, RI Ph.D. student Gaurav Parmar and Assistant Professor Jun-Yan Zhu joined the FRIDA team to develop CoFRIDA. The new system allows users to provide text inputs to describe what they want to paint. They can also participate in the creation process, taking turns painting directly on the canvas with the robot until they've realized their artistic vision.

"CoFRIDA requires a higher level of intelligence than the original FRIDA, which creates an artwork alone from start to completion," Oh said. "Co-painting is analogous to working with another person, constantly needing to guess what they want. CoFRIDA has to understand the human user's high-level goals to make that user's strokes meaningful toward the goal."

Credit: Carnegie Mellon University

Co-painting is by its nature collaborative, and developing data that trains a robot to collaborate is difficult and time-consuming. To get around this complication, CoFRIDA uses self-supervised training data based on FRIDA's stroke simulator and planner.

The researchers created a self-supervised, fine-tuning dataset by having FRIDA simulate paintings that consisted of a sequence of brush strokes, from which some strokes could be removed to produce examples of partial paintings.

The team had to determine how to remove elements from drawings in the training data while leaving enough of the image for CoFRIDA to recognize it. For example, researchers took away details like the rim of a wheel or windows in a car but left the outline of the vehicle.

"We tried to simulate different states of the drawing process," Zhu said. "It's easy to get to the final sketch, but it's quite hard to imagine the intermediate stage of this process."

Using the dataset of partial and complete paintings, the researchers fine-tuned a text-to-image model, InstructPix2Pix, that enabled CoFRIDA to add brush strokes and work with existing content on the canvas. This approach, which relies on data created using CoFRIDA's brush simulator, means that generating a painting incorporates the robot's real constraints, such as its limited set of tools.

Outside the lab, researchers hope CoFRIDA can teach people about robotics and expand creativity, encouraging people who may doubt their artistic abilities. CoFRIDA can also help make users' visions come to life or take the artwork in a whole new direction.

"If you start from a very simple sketch, CoFRIDA takes the artwork in vastly different directions. If you ask for six different drawings, you'll get six very different options," Schaldenbrand said.

"It's nice to be able to make decisions at a high level because it makes me feel like an art director. The robot makes these low-level decisions of where to put the marker, but I get to decide what the overall thing will look like. I still feel in control of the creative process, and in a world where artists fear replacement by AI, CoFRIDA as an example of a robot designed to support human creativity is incredibly relevant."

Researchers hope further work can integrate personalization into CoFRIDA, giving users even more control over the style of the finished product.

The team's paper, "CoFRIDA: Self-Supervised Fine-Tuning for Human-Robot Co-Painting," won the Best Paper Award on Human Robot Interaction at the 2024 IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation (ICRA) in Yokohama, Japan. An accompanying CoFRIDA demonstration was a finalist for the Best Demo at the ICRA EXPO. The paper is available on the arXiv preprint server.

More information: Peter Schaldenbrand et al, CoFRIDA: Self-Supervised Fine-Tuning for Human-Robot Co-Painting, arXiv (2024). DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.2402.13442 Journal information: arXiv
Pope Francis has apparently put his pontifical foot in his mouth again, this time with a sexist comment deriding gossip as a "women's thing," according to an Italian website that often critically reports on the Vatican.

Francis made the comment Thursday with a group of newly ordained priests in Rome, according to a story published on Il Silere Non Possum, just two days after he aplogized for using a gay slur, the Guardian reported.

In the latest blunder, he referred to women's "chiaccchiericcio," or chatter.

He reportedly advised the new priests in a closed-door meeting to refrain from "badmouthing" in their parishes and among their congregations, adding: "Gossip is a women's thing."

He reportedly added: "We wear the trousers."

Marco Perfetti, director of Il Silere Non Possum, said the site had audio of the remarks, which were backed up by other sourceson the scene.

"We have the recording of the pope saying this," he said.

There was no immediate response from the Vatican.

On Tuesday the Pope apologized after the Italian media reported that he had used a homophobic slur while talking to bishops about admitting gay men into seminaries.

He said he never intended to offend.
OpenAI on Thursday disclosed that it took steps to cut off five covert influence operations (IO) originating from China, Iran, Israel, and Russia that sought to abuse its artificial intelligence (AI) tools to manipulate public discourse or political outcomes online while obscuring their true identity.

These activities, which were detected over the past three months, used its AI models to generate short comments and longer articles in a range of languages, cook up names and bios for social media accounts, conduct open-source research, debug simple code, and translate and proofread texts.

The AI research organization said two of the networks were linked to actors in Russia, including a previously undocumented operation codenamed Bad Grammar that primarily used at least a dozen Telegram accounts to target audiences in Ukraine, Moldova, the Baltic States and the United States (U.S.) with sloppy content in Russian and English.

"The network used our models and accounts on Telegram to set up a comment-spamming pipeline," OpenAI said. "First, the operators used our models to debug code that was apparently designed to automate posting on Telegram. They then generated comments in Russian and English in reply to specific Telegram posts."

The operators also used its models to generate comments under the guise of various fictitious personas belonging to different demographics from across both sides of the political spectrum in the U.S.

The other Russia-linked information operation corresponded to the prolific Doppelganger network (aka Recent Reliable News), which was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) earlier this March for engaging in cyber influence operations.

The network is said to have used OpenAI's models to generate comments in English, French, German, Italian, and Polish that were shared on X and 9GAG; translate and edit articles from Russian to English and French that were then posted on bogus websites maintained by the group; generate headlines; and convert news articles posted on its sites into Facebook posts.

"This activity targeted audiences in Europe and North America and focused on generating content for websites and social media," OpenAI said. "The majority of the content that this campaign published online focused on the war in Ukraine. It portrayed Ukraine, the U.S., NATO, and the E.U. in a negative light and Russia in a positive light."

The other three activity clusters are listed below -

A Chinese-origin network known as Spamouflage that used its AI models to research public social media activity; generate texts in Chinese, English, Japanese, and Korean for posting across X, Medium, and Blogger; propagate content criticizing Chinese dissidents and abuses against Native Americans in the U.S.; and debug code for managing databases and websites

An Iranian operation known as the International Union of Virtual Media (IUVM) that used its AI models to generate and translate long-form articles, headlines, and website tags in English and French for subsequent publication on a website named iuvmpress[.]co

A network referred to as Zero Zeno emanating from a for-hire Israeli threat actor, a business intelligence firm called STOIC, that used its AI models to generate and disseminate anti-Hamas, anti-Qatar, pro-Israel, anti-BJP, and pro-Histadrut content across Instagram, Facebook, X, and its affiliated websites targeting users in Canada, the U.S., India, and Ghana.

"The [Zero Zeno] operation also used our models to create fictional personas and bios for social media based on certain variables such as age, gender and location, and to conduct research into people in Israel who commented publicly on the Histadrut trade union in Israel," OpenAI said, adding its models refused to supply personal data in response to these prompts.

The ChatGPT maker emphasized in its first threat report on IO that none of these campaigns "meaningfully increased their audience engagement or reach" from exploiting its services.

The development comes as concerns are being raised that generative AI (GenAI) tools could make it easier for malicious actors to generate realistic text, images and even video content, making it challenging to spot and respond to misinformation and disinformation operations.

"So far, the situation is evolution, not revolution," Ben Nimmo, principal investigator of intelligence and investigations at OpenAI, said. "That could change. It's important to keep watching and keep sharing."

Meta Highlights STOIC and Doppelganger

Separately, Meta in its quarterly Adversarial Threat Report, also shared details of STOIC's influence operations, saying it removed a mix of nearly 500 compromised and fake accounts on Facebook and Instagram accounts used by the actor to target users in Canada and the U.S.

"This campaign demonstrated a relative discipline in maintaining OpSec, including by leveraging North American proxy infrastructure to anonymize its activity," the social media giant said.

Meta further said it removed hundreds of accounts, comprising deceptive networks from Bangladesh, China, Croatia, Iran, and Russia, for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behavior (CIB) with the goal of influencing public opinion and pushing political narratives about topical events.

The China-linked malign network, for instance, mainly targeted the global Sikh community and consisted of several dozen Instagram and Facebook accounts, pages, and groups that were used to spread manipulated imagery and English and Hindi-language posts related to a non-existent pro-Sikh movement, the Khalistan separatist movement, and criticism of the Indian government.

It pointed out that it hasn't so far detected any novel and sophisticated use of GenAI-driven tactics, with the company highlighting instances of AI-generated video news readers that were previously documented by Graphika and GNET, indicating that despite the largely ineffective nature of these campaigns, threat actors are actively experimenting with the technology.

Doppelganger, Meta said, has continued its "smash-and-grab" efforts, albeit with a major shift in tactics in response to public reporting, including the use of text obfuscation to evade detection (e.g., using "U. kr. ai. n. e" instead of "Ukraine") and dropping its practice of linking to typosquatted domains masquerading as news media outlets since April.

"The campaign is supported by a network with two categories of news websites: typosquatted legitimate media outlets and organizations, and independent news websites," Sekoia said in a report about the pro-Russian adversarial network published last week.

"Disinformation articles are published on these websites and then disseminated and amplified via inauthentic social media accounts on several platforms, especially video-hosting ones like Instagram, TikTok, Cameo, and YouTube."

These social media profiles, created in large numbers and in waves, leverage paid ads campaigns on Facebook and Instagram to direct users to propaganda websites. The Facebook accounts are also called burner accounts owing to the fact that they are used to share only one article and are subsequently abandoned.

The French cybersecurity firm described the industrial-scale campaigns  which are geared towards both Ukraine's allies and Russian-speaking domestic audiences on Kremlin's behalf  as multi-layered, leveraging the social botnet to initiate a redirection chain that passes through two intermediate websites in order to lead users to the final page.

Doppelganger, along with another coordinated pro-Russian propaganda network designated as Portal Kombat , has also been observed amplifying content from a nascent influence network dubbed CopyCop, demonstrating a concerted effort to promulgate narratives that project Russia in a favorable light.

Recorded Future, in a report released this month, said CopyCop is likely operated from Russia, taking advantage of inauthentic media outlets in the U.S., the U.K., and France to promote narratives that undermine Western domestic and foreign policy, and spread content pertaining to the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war and the Israel-Hamas conflict.

"CopyCop extensively used generative AI to plagiarize and modify content from legitimate media sources to tailor political messages with specific biases," the company said. "This included content critical of Western policies and supportive of Russian perspectives on international issues like the Ukraine conflict and the Israel-Hamas tensions."

TikTok Disrupts Covert Influence Operations

Earlier in May, ByteDance-owned TikTok said it had uncovered and stamped out several such networks on its platform since the start of the year, including ones that it traced back to Bangladesh, China, Ecuador, Germany, Guatemala, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Serbia, Ukraine, and Venezuela.

TikTok, which is currently facing scrutiny in the U.S. following the passage of a law that would force the Chinese company to sell the company or face a ban in the country, has become an increasingly preferred platform of choice for Russian state-affiliated accounts in 2024, according to a new report from the Brookings Institution.

What's more, the social video hosting service has emerged as a breeding ground for what has been characterized as a complex influence campaign known as Emerald Divide (aka Storm-1364) that is believed to be orchestrated by Iran-aligned actors since 2021 targeting Israeli society.

"Emerald Divide is noted for its dynamic approach, swiftly adapting its influence narratives to Israel's evolving political landscape," Recorded Future said.

"It leverages modern digital tools such as AI-generated deepfakes and a network of strategically operated social media accounts, which target diverse and often opposing audiences, effectively stoking societal divisions and encouraging physical actions such as protests and the spreading of anti-government messages."
Student-Created LMS Integration Wins Entrepreneurship Challenge

The Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship, a nonprofit focused on entrepreneurship education, has announced the winners of its Midwest Regional Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, an annual Shark Tank-style pitch event in which local high school students compete for seed capital to fund innovative business ideas.

Taking first place and a $1,500 cash prize was Ariana Whitaker from Thornwood High School in Chicago, for DigiPlan, an app that integrates with learning management systems to gamify assignment completion and enhance productivity. The app uses a student's course and extracurricular information to provide a customized schedule, including a plan to limit distractions and procrastination. When students complete an assignment, they receive points that eventually add up to a reward.

Other awardees were:

Second place ($1,000): Raahi Pachbhai from St. Louis Science Center, for Lights On, a charitable nonprofit that creates adaptive clothing and prosthetics for people with physical disabilities;

Third place ($500): Tywon Barber from Beloit Memorial High School in Wisconsin, for Ty's Tech Repair, an IT services shop for computer repairs, upgrades, basic hardware replacement, and software issue resolution, where teenage interns gain hands-on experience under the guidance of a lead technician;

Fast Pitch People's Choice winner ($250): Jaylin Metcalfe of Thornwood High School; and

Runners up ($100 each): Ay'ana Singleton of Cleveland Metropolitan Remote School and Sayana Scott of Saint Louis Science Center.

The winners will compete as finalists in the National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge, taking place in New York on Oct. 10.

"We are extremely proud of all of our youth who have competed across the Midwest," said Dr. Scott Nasatir, executive director of NFTE Midwest, in a statement. "These young entrepreneurs are not only creating innovative ideas to solve complex problems, but they are also extremely passionate about improving their local communities, which makes us so proud of them, their teachers and families!"

For more information, visit the NFTE site.
Republican delegates on May 24, the second day of the Texas GOP Convention, in San Antonio. Christopher Lee Abraham George, of Collin County, was seen with delegates after being declared the new chairman of the Texas GOP at its convention in San Antonio. Christopher Lee Republican delegates on the second day of the Texas GOP Convention in May in San Antonio. Christopher Lee Republican delegates to the Texas GOP Convention in San Antonio. Christopher Lee Delegates on the second day of the Texas GOP Convention in May in San Antonio. Christopher Lee Republican delegates from Texas were seen debating legislative issues on the second day of the Texas GOP Convention on May 24, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. Christopher Lee

Texas Republicans have a clever idea to guarantee they remain in power, even if their candidates cant win the popular vote in statewide elections.

Delegates to the state party convention have ratified a new platform that would change how statewide officials, from governor to land commissioner, are chosen. To take office, a candidate would have to win the popular vote in a majority of Texass 254 counties.

The proposal, akin to the federal Electoral College, would give voters in Loving County, population 64, more power than those in Harris County, where 4.7 million people live. King County, with 265 people, would wield a vote equivalent to Bexar, with 2 million.

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Does this sound like a political party that has won every statewide election for 26 years? Or a party that has confidence in its electoral future?

This shameless bid for autocracy comes as many Republicans recognize a demographic reality: Hispanics are the majority, and soon, residents of Democrat-controlled big cities will outnumber the older, whiter, rural voters who make up the GOP base.

Given a choice between recruiting more people of color or rigging the system, delegates at the Republican convention in San Antonio chose to change the rules. This way, only candidates popular with rural voters can win statewide office.

After all, there is plenty of precedent for this kind of thing.

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Political historians quickly remind us that the United States has never been a true democracy. From the beginning, the founding fathers gave some voters more weight than others to determine our nations future.

Their most shameful compromise was counting enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for the purpose of allocating congressional seats. Enslavers in Southern states knew Northern states would dominate the national legislature unless Black lives mattered at least a little bit.

The intellectual hypocrisy of simultaneously treating someone as sub-human and yet insisting they count for political representation is galling. Then theres the U.S. Senate.

Today, 18 states with populations smaller than Houston elect 36 senators. But thats not enough power, so the cloture rule gives those 36 senators the power to block any legislation they dont like. Wyoming votes carry far more power than Texas votes.

Lastly, there is the anti-democratic Electoral College. States are allotted electoral college votes based on two senators plus the number of representatives in the House, and the winner typically takes all. Votes cast in Delaware, therefore, have greater weight than Californians. Five presidents have won the White House while losing the popular vote as a result.

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Texas Republicans, therefore, see plenty of precedent for their anti-democratic proposal. Why not elect statewide officials based on the number of counties they win?

Many readers will scoff at the idea that such a radical change has a chance of becoming law, and I hope they are correct. But as a longtime observer of Texas politics, I remember when a near-complete abortion ban and the permit-less carrying of pistols in public spaces seemed absurd.

Outrageous ideas can become law, especially in places where a single party controls all the levers of power for decades. The Republican Party of Texass 50-page platform supplies plenty of fodder for dystopian fiction writers looking for inspiration.

Republicans want to require Bible lessons, servant leadership training and Christian self-governance in public schools. They also want elected judges to give the party platform primacy, even where it contradicts state or federal law.

As a student of Texas history, I am fascinated by the partys commitment to white supremacy. The platform calls for protecting Confederate monuments erected by Ku Klux Klan activists and demands the U.S. military restore base names that honored enslavers and traitors.

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If these reindeer games strike you as unconstitutional, youre probably right. Thats why the GOP platform calls for a Convention of the States to rewrite the Constitution. If that doesnt work, new Republican Party Chairman Abraham George and Vice Chair D'rinda Randall have promised a referendum on Texas seceding from the United States.

Lastly, the party rules state that any elected Republican not advancing these ideas will face censure. The party has already penalized several reasonable Republicans, including House Speaker Dade Phelan and Rep. Tony Gonzales of San Antonio.

This is not my grandfathers Republican Party, focused on small government, low taxes and free markets. Conventional wisdom says the holier-than-thou activists will eventually push the GOP too far to the right, and Republicans will lose elections.

These new measures are designed to ensure that doesnt happen.
Fresh off of a resoundingly successful Mothers Day All White Boat Ride to and crusade in Bequia, May 12, award-winning, pre-eminent Caribbean gospel artiste evangelist Bridget Blucher on Saturday, May 18, brought the house down during the 20th Anniversary Gala, at Antuns, in Queens Village, Queens, New York, of the United Vincie Cultural Group of Brooklyn (UVCGB).





Evangelist Blucher, rocked the honours ceremony with hits from her wide repertoire.





Patrons were electrified and mesmerized spiritually, as the Florida-based, Vincentian-born gospel icon belched out "Im a Child of God, "Rivers of Babylon, "Cant Sit Down, "Underneath the Blood, "Let Me See, "Lift Up Jesus, "Hallelujah Anyhow, "Bigger Than All My Problems, among others.





"I call it ministry, UVCGB President and Founder the Rev. Dr. Roxie Morris, who was born in Vermont but raised in Campden Park, told THE VINCENTIAN afterwards. "Her ministry is always anointed.





"She knows how to lead others in authentic worship, added the newly-installed pastor of Hope Restored Tabernacle, Inc., an evangelical church in the Brownsville section of Brooklyn. "Bridget does not perform; she ministers.





During the five-hour-long ceremony, UVCGB honoured Evangelist Blucher, as well as seven others: UVCGB member, former vice president and guitarist Geoffrey Holder; Laverne McDowald-Thompson, former president, now vice president, of the Council of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Organizations, U.S.A., Inc. (COSAGO), the Brooklyn-based umbrella Vincentian group in the US; Sherrill-Ann Mason, chairperson of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Diaspora Committee of New York, Inc.; videographer and photographer Lesley Richards; renowned graphic artist and former Caribbean Tourist Organization (CTO) New York staffer Annette Stowe; Vaughan Toney (posthumously), late president and chief executive officer of the Friends of Crown Heights Educational Centers in Brooklyn; and journalist Dr. Nelson A. King.





UVCGB members also performed at the event, holding patrons in ecstasy with their signature "Keep the Culture Alive.





Evangelist Blucher, the daughter of the late Bishop (Pointer) Decosta Blucher and his wife, the late Rev. Frances Blucher, of New Grounds, Evangelist Blucher said shes always had "a passion for singing.





At a tender age, she said she became involved in the church youth and community choirs, spreading the gospel through songs in her native land.





Today, Evangelist Blucher said she, in a very unique way, spreads the word of God through songs filled with "a rhythmic Caribbean essence.





She said she makes it "safe to laugh, dance and worship while, at the same time, sending the clarion message of Jesus and His love in song.





Her God-given talent has propelled her to the top of the charts in the Caribbean and globally, she admits.

As of result, she said she was elected the first Caribbean Gospel Cultural Ambassador for her country.

Evangelist Blucher said her versatility is evident in her recording of songs in Twi, the major language in Ghana, West Africa.





The evangelist said she travels the globe, constantly ministering in places like Africa, Central America, Europe, Canada, United States and the Caribbean, and that she ministers "clearly and consciously to the needs of congregations and audiences at conferences, concerts and crusades.





With over 15 albums produced to date and 50-plus original songs, Evangelist Blucher said she has graced the stage with popular gospel artistes, such as Cece Winans, Yolanda Adams, Vicki Winans, Alvin Slaughter, Shekinah Glory Ministry, Israel and New Breed, and has also toured with Lynda Randle from the Bill Gaithers.





The gospel artiste extraordinaire has won over 20-plus Caribbean Music Awards and recognition for her community and global services.
Paula-Anne Moore pointed to the CAPE Chemistry exam under scrutiny as having questions which educators with a PhD in chemistry found almost impossible to solve as the wording was problematic, unclear and/or could have more than one answer. (Photo source: Barbados Today)

Not for the first time, has the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) been the target of criticism about it being "fatally flawed in the structuring and administration of exams.





The most recent finger-pointing arose in response to a concern expressed about one of the councils examinations in this year CAPE exams, and rumours about leaked exams.





In an interview on Trinidad and Tobagos CNC3s The Morning Brew programme, Caribbean Coalition for Education Redress (CCER) spokeswoman Coordinator of the Group of Concerned Parents of Barbados - Paula-Anne Moore, said there is something fundamentally wrong with the governance of CXC by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) body, suggesting that an overhaul of the examination council is desperately needed.





"The children are demoralised, frustrated, disgusted by the lack of care and concern that is being demonstrated, Moore said.





Since the start of the May-June 2024 exam period, according to the CCER, and it listed the following: the distribution of the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) Principles of Accounts Paper II, at unnamed regional centres; this years Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) Chemistry Paper II in which, according to reports, 25 to 30 per cent of exam questions were unrelated to CXCs prescribed list of objectives for the unit.





Since the CCER statement, an online petition has been launched, and has garnered support by over 2500 teachers and students demanding a re-adjustment of the marking criteria for this years exams.





"There are challenges but year after year we have the same issue again. It is not good enough. Collectively we are letting down our children. And frankly, parents, teachers, governments and CXC, we are all responsible for the mental damage and the harm to education and career prospects we are perpetuating against our children, Moore said.





Moore, who is also a parent advocate from Barbados claimed that despite concerns being raised by the public yearly, CXC continues to ignore their pleas. This, she adds, has prompted some to opt out of the regions exam process while strongly pleading for CXC to be scrapped and for the reinstalment of Cambridge exams throughout the region.





"People have said, Enough is enough. Fifty years after CXC, they want a new organisation, they want to go back to Cambridge. Parents that can afford it, have left the public-school sector and theyve gone private to other exam bodies, she said.





Moore continued her call for there to be an independent review of the examining body as well as a panel to ensure CXC follows global best practices for administering exams but cautioned that this cant happen if CARICOM governments do not intervene and allow CXC to have diplomatic immunity.





"I personally, as a proud CARICOM citizen would like our indigenous body to remain and do better. But it seems as if they are unwilling or perhaps unable to change course, admit there is a problem and fix the problem, Moore admitted.




Stewart Haynes, NIS Director, is satisfied with the reforms taken recently to ensure the viability of the NIS.

The National Insurance Services is assuring Vincentians that they will be protected come what may. Stewart Haynes, NISs Director, highlighted the need for Reform a topic of discussion.





Stewart retraced the stages of social services with the National Provident Fund (NPF) in 1970. That last until 1986, replaced by the National Insurance Services.





Haynes looks at "adequacy of pension, affordability of contributions, and financial stability as pillars of the NIS. Increased pension payments over times have seen the NIS letting off more money that it receives, Haynes stated.





That scenario hastened the need for money making moves by the NIS. Haynes indicated that the "lever of benefit adequacy was touched.





Adjustments in contributions





Adjustments are being made to the NIS operations that Haynes hopes will strengthen the NIS.





By 2030, contributions will increase from 10 percent to 15 percent. The Director recalled meetings with stakeholders to ensure that persons who contribute receive benefits when they retire.





From June 1, 2024 workers pay 5.5 percent as their NIS contribution while the employer pays 6.5 percent. That amount rises January 1, 2025 when employers pay 7.5 percent and workers 6.5 percent.





The pattern continues January 1, 2027 when employers pay 8 percent and workers 7 per cent.





Those persons who make voluntary contributions, are also part of the increased payments.





Their rate is 10.84 percent from June 1, 2024. One percent goes on yearly from January 1, 2025 to 2027 taking voluntary contributions to 13.84 percent.





Further one per cent additions are earmarked for self-employed persons. They pay 11.5 percent from June 1, and one percent increase takes effect January 1, 2025, 2026, and 2027, making the contribution 14.5 percent.

The NIS staff has been meeting citizens to ensure that the public knows what the NIS is doing.





"We operate an open door policy, he indicated and plans are afoot to inform the nation on matters as they happen.





Director satisfied with reform





Haynes is satisfied that the Reform is a process for social security and he is insisting that investment at the local, regional and international scale must be part of the NISD sustainability drive.





The NIS outline is to "craft reform solution that reflects our Vincentian realities and peculiarities.





The mission is to engage the people and show NIS commitment to "protecting you in times of uncertainty, according to Haynes.





The NIS raised minimum pension from $70, per week to $80 per week.





The NIS plans to make unemployment benefits part of their operation from January 2025. That comes in the light of the Covid outbreak in 2019.
Vanessa Zambrano holds a photo of her with her father Alirio Zambrano in April 2022 before his release later that year. Marie D. De Jesus/Staff photographer

Two members of the so-called Citgo 6, are suing the Houston-based oil company for what they claim was its complicity in their unjust capture, detainment and torture in Venezuela. Brothers Alirio Jose Zambrano and Jose Luis Zambrano were held in Venezuela for nearly five years before they were freed to return to Texas in 2022.

Their suit alleges Citgo, indirectly owned by Venezuelas state-owned oil company PDVSA, used them as scapegoats, sacrificing them to President Nicolas Maduros regime by tricking them into a business trip to Venezuela on false pretenses. Citgo knew the six executives would be arrested and jailed as part of Maduros purge campaign, orchestrated to deflect blame from Maduro for the nations flagging finances and mismanaged oil and gas assets, the lawsuit claims.

The brothers were subjected to forced nudity, physical abuse and starvation and were deprived of water, sunlight and sleep, according to the lawsuit. Family members compared the men to Holocaust survivors, the suit says, noting they were so emaciated that they were unrecognizable to their own families. The pair are seeking $400 million in damages.

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Citgo said in a statement that it sympathizes with the Zambranos but denies that the company conspired with Venezuelan leaders who jailed the men. The CITGO 6 were our senior-most executives, and neither they nor CITGO, the company they led, are responsible for the arbitrary acts of Maduros repressive regime.

Tomeu Vadell, another Citgo 6 detainee imprisoned by the Venezuelan government in 2017 and released in 2022, sued Citgo last year, claiming the company was responsible for his five-year detention. He was seeking in excess of $100 million from the company.

A U.S. District Court in Delaware is preparing to auction shares in Citgos Houston-based parent company, PDV Holdings, which is wholly owned by Venezuelas state-owned oil company PDVSA. The court aims to use the proceeds to pay back billions of dollars in expropriation judgments against the Venezuelan government that have been mounting since it seized the foreign assets in 2007. The auction could happen as early as July.

Companies that are bidding in the Citgo auction should be aware of its liabilities related to the Citgo 6, Randy Sorrels, the Zambranos attorney, said in an interview.

This suit would have been brought whether they were auctioning off their assets or not, Sorrels said. That said, any potential buyer will also have to buy the liabilities as well the assets. And we think this is a very significant liability.

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The Zambranos lawsuit draws parallels between Maduros inner circle and the leadership at Citgo, making the case that they set the six up as part of a political stunt.

The Zambranos allege the company withheld documents that would have disproved the Venezuelan governments charges that the men had restructured Citgo debt in ways that were unfavorable to Venezuelas state-owned oil company.

Calixto Ortega Sanchez, a member of Maduros inner circle and Citgos former vice president of finance, helped fabricate claims against the Zambranos, they allege in court filings. Citgo ousted its general counsel and a board secretary in 2017 after they presented evidence supporting the men, the suit states.

After the men were captured, the suit says Citgo withdrew previously paid bonuses from their personal bank accounts.

In a statement, Citgo said company leadership has supported both Jose Luis Zambrano and Alirio Jose Zambrano and their families in significant financial, and other, capacities.

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The company was clearly complicit, said Mark Jones, a fellow at Rice Universitys Baker Institute specializing in Latin American studies.

Jones, who has not reviewed the litigation, said the problem for the Zambranos is theyre at the tail end of a long line of people who claim to have been wronged by Venezuela and want a piece of its crown jewel. Houston-based oil giant ConocoPhillips alone is seeking to recover more than $11.8 billion, court documents show, raising questions about how much of the more than the $20 billion sought by Venezuelas creditors can reasonably be squeezed from Citgo.
Police say they are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of one of their colleagues.





Corporal #118 Vanley Bruce of the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) tragically lost his life in a vehicular accident on Sunday, May 26, 2024.





According to a police report, at approximately 9:56am police received information about a vehicular accident in Hopewell involving Corporal Bruce.





"Preliminary reports indicate that his motor vehicle went over a bridge on the Hopewell Public Road and ended up in a river. The incident occurred while Corporal Bruce was on his way home, said the police report.





A video circulating on social media showed Bruces overturned vehicle resting on its roof in a stream of water.





Reports are that a number of residents went to the scene with all intention of offering assistance, but "backed off when they observed that what appeared to be the lifeless body of Cpl. Vance in the vcehicle.





A post-mortem examination determined that Corporal Bruce died as a result of multiple traumas due to the motor vehicle accident, and cardiac tamponade, a condition in which extra fluid builds up in the space around the hear, outing pressure on the heart and prevents it prevents it from pumping well.





The RSVGPF said it extends its heartfelt condolences to the widow, children, friends, and colleagues of Corporal Bruce during this difficult time. "He was a dedicated member of our organization and served with honor and distinction. He will be remembered and honored with a full military funeral.
Elroy Boucher, President/PSU has strongly refuted allegations by Minister Montgomery Daniel that he (Boucher) and other PSU officials stormed the government printer compound.

Elroy Boucher, President of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Public Service Union (PSU) has denied allegations that he and other members of the executive stormed the compound of the Government Printery.





The PSU President made the comment at a press briefing on May 28 during which he sought to clear the air on comments made by Montgomery Daniel on May 22, in his (Daniels) capacity as Prime Minister (Ag).





Daniel said then that he had received a call on May 16 that the President of the PSU "basically stormed the government printery. So, I inquired and was informed that he (Boucher) had requested a meeting with the authorities because he had interest in the workers at the printery.





He added that a date and time had been set, between 12 and 1 p.m.  when it was customary for the workers to be on their lunch break.





But, according to Daniel, the PSU President showed up at 1:30 p.m.





"And my understanding is that instead of apologizing for his lateness, he went on to the compound, into the building and disrupted work at the printery, Daniel contended.





However, Boucher denied all the allegations made in the statement by Daniel.





Firstly, he refuted the claim that he and the other executive members stormed the building.





"I am not sure Montgomery Daniel understands what is the meaning of storming a building, Boucher told members of the media.





He described Daniel as being "dramatic because storming a building referred to many individuals forcefully and violently entering a building or compound, "but there were about seven executive members and himself, he said.





"Its not 100, its not 50 and the workers were waiting, Boucher continued.





Further, he refuted the comment made by Daniel which suggested that a time and date had been agreed to by the PSU and officials at the printery.





"That is untrue...we did not request a meeting, so there could be no agreement to hold a meeting at a particular time, said Boucher.





He continued saying that the Government Printer was informed about the start of the meeting and according to Boucher, the time provided for the start of the meeting was 1:30 p.m.





"Anything other than that may have been the decision taken by the Cabinet Secretary or the Government Printer, which really has or had no impact on us because we were determined, at the staffs instructions, to have the meeting at 1:30 p.m., Boucher explained.





And that was why, he said, the union did not make any formal request for permission for the May 16 meeting.

The meeting was requested by the workers at the printery, Boucher said, and there was no disruption of work as was suggested by Daniel in his comment.





The Union head further contended that there was no interaction between the Government Printer and himself.

In fact, Boucher purported, the Government Printer never came down and had any sort of discussion with him, preferring to remain on the upper floor.





"So, the entire conversation held by the Honourable Montgomery Daniel is filled with nothing but untruths, and somewhat melodramatic, Boucher concluded.
The Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) has indicated that it has mounted investigations into two recently declared homicides.





A police report said that following the results of a post-mortem examination performed on the body of 42-year-old Ronaltho Bute of New Montrose, that concluded that his death was a result of blunt trauma to the head, the RSVGPF has elevated the case to a homicide investigation.





Bute was discovered deceased on April 30, 2024, in a residence located at Walker Piece, New Montrose. He was identified by a family member.





The body, initially unidentified and in a state of partial decomposition, was found by the homeowner during a routine property inspection. The presence of a foul odor led to the discovery.





A police report of May 23 meanwhile, disclosed that the SVGPF has launched an investigation into a homicide that occurred on May 22, 2024, involving a 58-year-old resident of Pauls Avenue.





Preliminary reports indicate that the deceased, Mr. Lenny John, was admitted to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital (MCMH) on May 22, 2024, following an altercation in which he sustained a stab wound to the chest. Despite medical intervention by a team of Doctors, Mr. John later succumbed to the severity of his injury.




(TBTCO) - Gia xang dau trong nuoc hom nay (10/10) uoc du bao co the uoc ieu chinh tang manh. Theo o, gia xang trong nuoc co the tang tu 950 - 1.250 ong/lit; gia dau diesel co kha nang tang khoang 820 - 1.050 ong/lit. Tren thi truong the gioi, gia dau giam sau khi du lieu cua Hoa Ky cho thay luong dau tho du tru tang, nhung muc giam bi han che boi rui ro gian oan nguon cung cua Iran do xung ot Trung ong va con bao Milton o Hoa Ky.
Oman has announced that the plan for building six new airports across the country is gathering pace with the work on the consulting designs currently under way, reported Muscat Daily.

These new airports are set to begin operations between 2028 and 2029, stated the report, citing a senior official.

"Through this planned expansion, Oman aims to increase the number of airports in the country to 13, facilitating domestic aviation and bolstering tourism," stated Naif bin Ali al Abri, the Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority, while addressing the media on the sidelines of the Future Aviation Forum in Riyadh.

"With the completion of these projects, we are expecting a significant surge in airport passenger traffic, projected to reach 50 million by 2040 from the current 17 million," he noted.

The upcoming airports are strategically planned to attract more international traffic and bolster logistics and tourism in specific regions, stated the top official.

These new facilities will connect passengers with Omans industrial areas in Sohar, Salalah and Duqm, he added.
iyris, (formerly RedSea), a leading Saudi agritech company that advances commercial farming in difficult farming environments, has raised $16 million, Series A funding to empower farmers to sustainably mitigate the impact of climate change, address food security concerns and achieve key UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The round was led by Ecosystem Integrity Fund (EIF), a San Francisco-based climate and sustainability fund, supporting high-growth companies. It was supported by current and new institutional investors including Global Ventures, Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF), Kanoo Ventures, Globivest, and Bonaventure Capital.

Proceeds will support increased sales coverage and delivery of iyris strong international sales pipeline for SecondSky greenhouse covers and nets. It will also fund continued development of its innovative heat blocking products and resilient plant genetics.

John Keppler, Executive Chairperson of iyris, said: "We are building a great company, making it easier for farmers to grow fresh produce in increasingly difficult climates. There are few problems more challenging than feeding the world sustainably.

iyris is assembling the necessary toolkit to help farmers improve crop yields with less resources.

In just a very short time, we have brought our products to market and proven that they work. But we have a lot left to do and completion of our Series A fundraise enables us to take the next steps in expanding sales of our drop-in solutions for heat blocking and crop resilience to our grower customers around the world.

Sasha Brown, partner at EIF, said: EIF has been studying the impact of increasingly extreme weather on agriculture. iyris suite of products is tailored for growers in harsh and volatile conditions, who have been underserved historically by AgriClimate Tech innovation.

These growers, who often operate on thin margins, have few options to better manage their farms to reduce the risk of crop loss, increase yields, and reduce water and energy consumption.

We have invested in iyris because we believe there are few companies that have such tremendous potential to become a critical partner for a mass market of growers, as they seek to adapt their operations to withstand and mitigate changing climate.

The technologies being deployed at scale by iyris were originally developed by leading scientists and professors at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia.

The first technology  iyris SecondSky  available in multiple greenhouse coverings and shade nets, minimises the stress and impact of near infrared heat radiation on plants while allowing the spectrum of light that plants need for photosynthesis.

This is revolutionary in the agriculture industry delivering more resilient, productive and profitable crops in regions, where climate change and excessive heat limit sustainable, productive growth.

iyris is selling SecondSky polycarbonate, polyethylene, nets, and soon to be launched shade screens, to customers growing fresh produce in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Mexico and North America.

Additionally, iyris has developed plant genetics via a novel hybridization process that has the potential to breed resiliency to salinity, heat and drought across a broad range of crops, ensuring stress resistant, dependable food production.

The technology is already demonstrating exciting results with some of the worlds largest tomato growers in large-scale open-field trials.

Serving a global market of $6 billion in recurring annual sales for greenhouse covers, iyris solutions deliver tangible benefits to the planet, and growers - via extended growing seasons, increased yields and resource savings, while bolstering local, regional, and global food supply chains.

Farmers in iyris target markets benefit from single crop cycle payback periods for technology investments from the iyris portfolio.

iyris platform of proprietary technologies reduces energy and water consumption by up to 90% in their target markets. The winner of the esteemed Davidson Prize, SecondSky by iyris, the transparent heat-blocking greenhouse roof - alone - has delivered reductions in energy usage by over 40% and water consumption by 30% at customer installations.

iyris was advised by Kirchner Group and King & Spalding.  TradeArabia News Service
Introducing a unique multi-sensory healing experience, Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital has opened at Al Qusais bringing a 126-bed advanced care facility integrating over 30 specialties under one roof.

Inaugurated by Sheikh Rashid Bin Hamdan Al Maktoum, this modern tertiary care spans 335,000 square feet and aims to serve the healthcare needs of both local and international patients, aligning with Medcare's commitment to UAEs Vision 2031, which aspires to position the country among the top 10 globally for quality healthcare.

Sheikh Rashid commented: Under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, the healthcare sector has made tremendous progress over the last few decades, driven by his vision for Dubai to have one of the best healthcare sectors in the world. With world-class healthcare institutions bringing global talent and expertise to serve the evolving needs of the regional population, we are glad to present Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital to the citizens of the world.

Evolving demographics

Dr Azad Moopen, Founder Chairman of Aster DM Healthcare, added: With the evolving demographics in the UAE, there is an increasing demand for specialised and personalised care among the affluent population. The strategic location, offering easy connectivity to the Mena region and Africa for over a billion people, is making Dubai an emerging destination for medical tourism. The new Medcare Royal Hospital, situated close to Dubai International Airport and premium residential communities, will help meet this growing demand. We will soon establish five Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in Cardiology, Neurology, Oncology, Gastroenterology, and Nephrology which will go a long way to offer the most advanced world-class care and access to our best doctors."

Alisha Moopen, Managing Director and Group CEO, Aster DM Healthcare GCC, stated: "Taking off on our promise Well Treat You Well, we have designed Medcare Royal to provide a holistic, multi-sensory healing experience. We believe that it is when you are unwell that you need to be pampered - a chef who understands your idea of comfort food, a musician who plays to heal, a perfumer who creates fragrances that soothe you, a floral designer who places bright, colourful smiles in your room every day, a housekeeper who will use only the finest linen for you to rest on, and most importantly, a team of outstanding, empathetic doctors and nurses. Curating the right environment will go a long way to help patients heal faster and ensure better outcomes in more ways than one."

The Medcare Royal Hospital, strategically located near the bustling Dubai International Airport, is the fourth Medcare Hospital in Dubai and the fifth in the UAE, further enhancing Medcares existing network of healthcare facilities including 18 premium Medcare Medical Centres.

83 doctors

The hospital has opened with 83 doctors bringing in international experience from the Western, South-Asian, and Arab world, alongside Emirati medical specialists. It currently offers Cardiac Sciences, Neurosciences, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, Internal Medicine, Endocrinology, Pulmonology & Sleep Lab, Rheumatology, Nephrology & Dialysis Unit, Paediatrics, Neonatology, Oncology, Psychiatry, Geriatrics, ENT & Skull Base, Dermatology & Aesthetics, Orthopaedics, Urology, Gastroenterology& Endoscopy Unit, Dentistry, General Surgery, Vascular Surgery, Bariatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Anaesthesiology, Home Care, Emergency Care, Radiology, Physiotherapy & Rehabilitation. The hospital will soon introduce quaternary care services such as organ transplantation, radiation oncology, and robotic surgery. This will be Aster DM Healthcares 10th hospital in UAE, in addition to 103 clinics and 258 pharmacies.

Dr Shanila Laiju, Group CEO, Medcare Hospitals & Medical Centre, remarked: "Our mission at Medcare Royal Speciality Hospital extends beyond the delivery of world-class medical care. We are combining top-notch clinical excellence with the best-in-class service experience, an unparalleled blend which will provide the best healing experience to every patient. As our flagship hospital, Medcare Royal is set to revolutionise healthcare delivery in the region."

Medcare is also enhancing healthcare provision at the new hospital through extensive digitalisation, facilitating seamless, accessible, and flexible care and patient management. This includes features like instant appointment booking through various digital channels, as well as allowing patients to manage their appointments instantly from their smartphones.

TELEMEDCARE

TELEMEDCARE services offer remote consultations with doctors from the comfort of patients' homes. Furthermore, the hospital implements AI-enabled diagnostics and a real-time disease management program to monitor lifestyle diseases effectively. The continuum of care platform fosters post-discharge patient engagement, enabling ongoing support and communication.

Moreover, the hospital integrates advanced healthcare systems with premium hospitality experiences, aimed at enhancing the inpatient room experience. The facility takes a holistic approach to well-being that includes digital innovations catering to non-medical needs, a gourmet fine dining experience, signature aromatherapy, and luxury rooms equipped with modern amenities.

The hospital will also provide well-trained, certified service professionals to patients, ensuring they receive a truly royal experience.--TradeArabia News Service
Royale cocktail at Aye Candy in Spring Branch George Villa

Customers can find Bandista at the Four Seasons Hotel  behind a bookcase. To get to Meo Bar in the Heights, you have to pass through Tex-Asian restaurant Wokker and lift a framed photo of a cat to ring a doorbell. At Monarca Modern Mexican Cocina in The Woodlands, patrons can find an entrance to Gus through a door where the keyhole is covered with an illustration of an eye.

Aye Candy, which opened June 4 in Spring Branch at 1849 Bingle, joins a long list of speakeasies in Houston, but it is the first with a candy shop theme.

We wanted to bring an adult escape to the neighborhood, said owner Cristy Velasco in a statement. We felt a true cocktail bar of this nature was desired, so we figured why not create one.

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In a city full of top-notch bars, some recognized as among the best in the country, this former home to an insurance office has transformed into a den for craft cocktails in a sleek space where adults are encouraged to dress up for a night out.

HOUSTON EATS: The Chronicles top 100 restaurants

The bar at Aye Candy in Spring Branch opens June 4, 2024

The newest bar in town comes from the Velasco family, who bought the Spring Branch property over a quarter century ago and ran an insurance company out of it.

Cristy Velasco decided the neighborhood, which has attracted buzzy restaurants over the past few years, could use an upscale bar. She partnered with her mother, Mely Velasco, and brother, Rafael Velasco, to open Aye Candy. The "aye" in the name means wow in Spanish.

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Customers have to enter through a room designed to look like an old-school candy shop before finding Aye Candy. There are baby blue shelves lined with jars of candy.

Inside Aye Candy, dim lighting sets the mood. Velvet-covered seats beckon, and gold-framed artwork is scattered throughout the bar, which is only open to patrons 25 and older. Theyre also encouraged to dress up, since hats, flip flops and jogging shorts arent allowed, according to a press release.

MORE FROM BAO ONG: This new West Houston Japanese store is home to some of citys best selection of Asian snacks

Cocktails span classics and more creative options at Aye Candy

Aye aims to mirror underground bars in Mexico City, where theres upbeat music and people drink cocktails deep into the night, according to Cristy Velasco.

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The bar will offer classic cocktails, as well as more creative ones, some even garnished with candy.

Favorites like an Old-Fashioned get a touch of vanilla. The Watermelon High is made with reposado tequila, fresh watermelon and lime juice topped off with fire bitters. A cocktail dubbed the Gold Escalade is made with mezcal, pineapple juice and lime juice.

There will be wines on the menu in addition to charcuterie boards for food. A host will sell candy.

Aye Candy hours are 5 p.m.-midnight Tuesday-Wednesday and 5 p.m.-2 a.m. Thursday-Saturday. Happy hour is offered 5-7 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday. There is complimentary valet parking.

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Saudi Arabia and the Netherlands discussed the ways to cooperate in transferring the modern technology used in the petrochemical industry and developing new products that meet the needs of the region and the world, at a high-level meeting in Amsterdam, a report said.

The Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources, Bandar bin Ibrahim Alkhorayef, who is on a visit to the Netherlands, held discussions with officials of major companies there to enhance industrial cooperation between the two countries, Saudi Press Agency said.

The discussions included reviewing promising opportunities to localise specific industries in the kingdom in vital sectors, such as vehicles, petrochemicals, and food.

Alkhorayef met with officials of Nouryon Company, which specialises in petrochemicals, and discussed the ways to cooperate in transferring the modern technology used in the petrochemical industry and developing new products that meet the needs of the region and the world.

The minister discussed with Lamb Weston Company, which specialises in the food industry, the opportunities for developing a value-added food industry in the kingdom

Alkhorayef also discussed with officials of the Akzo Nobel Company, which specialises in paint products, the opportunities for expanding paint production to meet the growing demand in the Saudi market.

The minister discussed with the VDL Nedcar Group, which specialises in the vehicle industry, the opportunities for establishing a factory to localise the manufacture of commercial vehicles and trucks which operate on hydrogen fuel cells in the kingdom.  TradeArabia News Service
The UAE has underscored the need to boost efforts to implement the GCC Joint Municipal Action Plan 2024-2030 which aims to enhance the wellbeing of communities and fine-tune operational frameworks to foster sustainable communities.

Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment told the 27th Meeting of the Committee of Ministers responsible for Municipal Affairs in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries in Doha, Qatar: "The world confronts numerous challenges that necessitate practical solutions in municipal operations. The leadership of the GCC states are committed to the establishment of comprehensive economically, socially and environmentally integrated systems."

Dr Al Dahak said: Municipal action is a cornerstone for achieving these goals by engaging all sectors and individuals within our vast GCC community. In the UAE, all municipalities collaborate closely to synchronise collective efforts. The progress of municipal work is streamlined for successful execution of projects in order to achieve the proposed objectives. This commitment is aligned with the broader Gulf municipal framework that endeavours to fulfil the aspirations of our people and communities.

The meeting was chaired by Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiya, Minister of Municipality of Qatar and President of the current session.

Key role of municipalities

Dr Al Dahak lauded the significant role played by the municipalities of the GCC countries across various domains. She extended gratitude to the Secretariat General of the Gulf Cooperation Council for facilitating collaborative efforts among the various member states. She also expressed confidence in the ongoing cooperation and advocated the implementation of initiatives outlined in the GCC Joint Municipal Action Plan 2024-2030 in the forthcoming years.

The meeting covered various topics related to municipal work, such as Developing legislation and municipal control mechanisms. The UAE played an active role in this discussion, with significant contributions from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment's work team.

It also addressed several other topics and discussed the GCC Joint Municipal Action Plan 2024-2030. Discussions centred on implementing decisions previously made by the GCC Supreme Council regarding strategic urban planning and the urban environment related to municipal fields.

The Gulf Building Code as well as monitoring the execution of prior decisions by the Committee of Ministers responsible for Municipal Affairs regarding the Gulf Municipal Week were discussed at length. The meeting also brought into focus the agreements with specialised organisations serving the municipal sector; the Gulf Municipal Work Conference; the GCC Municipal Award; and highlighting of the Gulf municipal initiatives in regional and international forums.

Endorsements

The meeting endorsed the following documents: The Guide for the Use of Solar Panels in Buildings in the GCC Countries; The Guide to Procedures for Towing and Seizing Abandoned and Damaged Vehicles and Broken-Down Vehicles in the GCC Countries; and The Guide to the Requirements for Public Health Pest Control Facilities in the GCC Countries. These guides were prepared by the UAE in close collaboration with all local-level municipalities and pertinent stakeholders from other GCC countries.

The meeting confirmed the dates for several significant events such as the third edition of the Gulf Municipal Week to take place in Kuwait in 2025; the thirteenth Gulf Municipal Works Conference in 2026; and the launch of the sixth session of the GCC Municipal Award 2025-2026. Additionally, the title of the award was officially established as Best Practices in Sustainable Urban Planting.--TradeArabia News Service
Lucid Group, maker of the worlds most advanced electric vehicles, has announced its expansion into the UAE with the opening of its latest retail location in Dubai.

Located at the urban open-air destination City Walk, the Dubai Studio is Lucids second retail space in the Middle East and underscores the company's commitment to bringing its unrivalled electric vehicle experience to more drivers across the globe.

The expansion of Lucid into the UAE is a significant milestone for the company, said Faisal Sultan, Vice President and Managing Director, Middle East at Lucid. The region continues to build momentum in its shift towards sustainable energy, emerging as a key market in EV ownership. With our studios in Riyadh and now in Dubai, we look forward to providing drivers in the Middle East and its surrounding areas with the innovative and dynamic experience of the award-winning Lucid Air.

Studio experience

Every studio offers a digitally oriented luxury experience tailored to each customers preferences, whether they visit in person, make inquiries entirely online, or combine the two. Lucid studios allow customers to experience the brand and learn about its products in settings that highlight the company's distinctive design style.

Visitors will get a close insight into the award-winning Lucid Air, underscoring the companys unique aesthetic and providing an opportunity to delve deeper into Lucids products and technology, all designed and engineered in its home state of California.

Located in the heart of Dubai, the newest Lucid Studio marks the companys growing footprint in the Middle East and commitment to delivering exceptional electric vehicles across the region. With the opening of the new studio, Lucid now has a total of 38 studio locations worldwide.

Additionally, Lucid will inaugurate its first service centre in the city, located in Dubai Investment Park, offering comprehensive service support to the country.--TradeArabia News Service
Saudi Aramco, the worlds largest integrated energy and chemicals firm, aims to raise up to $13.1 billion in a secondary public offering next month, by selling a 0.64%, or 1.545 billion shares.

The offering will commence on June 2. The price range is expected to be between SR26.70 and SR29 ($7.12-$7.73) per share, raising between $11 billion and $12 billion.

The value of the offering may increase to $13.1 billion at the upper limit if the greenshoe option is exercised. This allows the sale of 1.7 billion shares, or a 0.7% stake, enabling bankers to use these shares to stabilise the offering price.

Biggest IPO

Aramco raised $25.6 billion through its initial public offering (IPO) in December 2019, which was the biggest IPO in history.

The book-building period for institutional investors starts on June 2 and will end on June 6. Aramco plans to conduct several meetings with institutional investors for five days, beginning June 2.

Nearly 154.5 million shares, representing 10% of the offering, will be allocated to retail investors.

The government will receive all of the net proceeds of the offering but will reimburse Aramco for all fees, costs and expenses it incurs in connection with the offering.

Accordingly, the company will not receive any of the proceeds of the offering and the offering will not result in any dilution of the shares of the other shareholders of the company.

Advisors and offering syndicate

M Klein and Company and Moelis & Company UK LLP are acting as Independent Financial Advisors (the IFAs) for the offering.

Citigroup Saudi Arabia, Goldman Sachs Saudi Arabia, HSBC Saudi Arabia, JP Morgan Saudi Arabia Company, Merrill Lynch Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Morgan Stanley Saudi Arabia and SNB Capital Company are acting as joint global coordinators and joint bookrunners (the Joint Global Coordinators) for the Offering.

Al Rajhi Capital, Riyad Capital and Saudi Fransi Capital are acting as domestic joint bookrunners for the Offering (together with the Joint Global Coordinators, the Bookrunners).

SNB Capital Company is acting as the Lead Manager of the Offering. Alinma Bank, Alrajhi Banking and Investment Corporation, Arab National Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi, Riyad Bank, Saudi Awwal Bank and Saudi National Bank are acting as the receiving entities for the Offering. Merrill Lynch Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is acting as the stabilising manager (the Stabilising Manager) for the offering.--TradeArabia News Service
In a strategic move aimed at expanding its presence in the Middle East and fostering stronger ties with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) has announced the opening of its inaugural representative office in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

This milestone marks a significant step in South Korea's efforts to tap into the Saudi market following a favourable annual tourism performance with international tourists, and a recent considerable growth rate in tourism from Saudi Arabia and the GCC countries.

Appointed as the marketing and PR representative for Korea Tourism Organization in Saudi Arabia, Aviareps, is a prominent global leader in tourism, aviation, hospitality representation, and communications that boasts a network of 70 offices across 65 countries.

It will spearhead efforts to raise awareness about South Korea as an ideal travel destination for Saudi travellers looking for a fantastic holiday destination with the greatest allure in culture, cuisine and cost.

In addition to that, the new office will educate travel agents on the destination, and expand the inclusion of South Korea in Saudi Arabias tour operators' portfolios.

With ambitious goals aimed at increasing visitor numbers from Saudi Arabia and the wider region, boosting spending, and extending stays, both organisations are poised to contribute to the growth of international arrivals from Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries.

The timing of this partnership couldn't be more opportune for South Korea's travel industry; following a remarkable rebound in foreign tourism in 2023, with numbers reaching 63% of pre-Covid levels.

Ju, Lee, Executive Vice President of the International Tourism Division, Korea Tourism Organization, said: Korea is rapidly emerging as a premier destination for travellers from Saudi Arabia and the wider region, offering a delightful fusion of premium travel experiences, unique shopping districts, and rich cultural and culinary experiences.

Korea Tourism Organization, in partnership with governmental bodies and tourism stakeholders in Korea, is fully dedicated to enriching the tourism landscape and the industrys offerings for Saudi travellers, as well as for Saudi-based travel agents and outbound tour operators.

Recognising Aviareps' remarkable expertise and extensive experience in the travel industry, we have selected them as our perfect partner for collaboration in the Middle East.

Glenn Johnston, Vice President Middle East & Global Public Affairs at Aviareps, said: It is a distinct honour for us to serve as the official Marketing and PR representative office of Korea Tourism Organization in Saudi Arabia. Korea is a thrilling travel destination renowned for its cultural richness, bustling shopping scenes, and the undeniable allure of K-culture, all set to enchant Saudi travellers.

With unique family travel packages and a particular resonance among the adventurous youth, Korea is poised to become the preferred destination for both families and young travellers alike; offering extraordinary adventures and delightful stays for all.

"Our dedicated teams in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East are implementing a comprehensive marketing strategy and PR campaigns to further fuel the growing interest in Korea. Our focus lies in spotlighting exclusivity, opulence, and premium experiences  perfectly aligned with the discerning taste and aspirations of the Saudi traveller.  TradeArabia News Service
More than 1,500 participants, including industry leaders, government officials and members of the media, will take part in International Air Transport Associations (IATA) Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit, taking place for the first time in Dubai, UAE, from June 2-4 2024.

Leaders of the global airline industry are gathering for the 80th edition of the event that is being hosted by Emirates Airline.

Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy for the United Arab Emirates, is expected to welcome delegates to Dubai with an opening keynote speech to the AGM.

Dubais world-leading connectivity places it at the crossroads of the planet. And it will soon be the centre of the airline industrys leadership as it hosts the 80th IATA Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit, said Willie Walsh, IATAs Director General.

We look forward to hosting our industry colleagues in Dubai, Emirates home and hub. This is a city that has forged its place in global aviation and prospered, thanks to its visionary leaders and progressive policies that recognise air transports role as a key economic enabler.

In line with this, last year aviation contributed 27% to Dubais GDP and supported $37 billion in gross value added.

There are always exciting new developments in Dubai, and I hope visiting delegates will get to a chance to experience this buzzing city and the UAEs renowned hospitality for themselves, said Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline.

World Air Transport Summit

The World Air Transport Summit (WATS) immediately follows the AGM for a comprehensive programme addressing the critical issues facing aviation.

The commitment to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050 will top the agenda of the 80th IATA AGM and World Air Transport Summit. We will explore solutions to accelerate progress, particularly with the production of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and the potential for carbon removals, said said Walsh.

Well also take stock of our progress on safety, financial sustainability, and other key industry topics. Its important that we put these challenges on the table so that all stakeholders, including governments, have a clear understanding of what airlines need to connect people and economies safely, efficiently, and ever more sustainably.

The popular CEO Insights Panel moderated by CNNs Richard Quest will feature:

 Vanessa Hudson, Group CEO and Managing Director, Qantas

 Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline

 Scott Kirby, CEO of United Airlines

 Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic Airways

Key topics to be addressed in the WATS include:

 A Big Picture view of challenges facing the airline industry with changing energy markets, an increasingly complex global geopolitical situation, and shifting supply chains/trade patterns.

 The potential for AI in aviation

 Advancing sustainability with SAF and carbon removals

 How aviation and tourism can work better together, and

 The prospects for air cargo

A programme highlight will be the fifth edition of the IATA Diversity and Inclusion Awards. These awards recognise organisations and individuals who are making a leadership contribution to the 25by2025 initiative to improve the gender balance in aviation.

The benefits of global connectivity is a topic that will underpin the entire programme.

 Globally aviation directly employs 3 million people and is a key enabling part of the travel and tourism value chain which supports some 320 million jobs and accounts for about 10% of all economic activity. Moreover, air cargo delivers $8.3 trillion of trade annuallysome 35% of total trade.

 For Dubai, Oxford Economics estimates that aviation contributed 27% to Dubais GDP and supported $37 billion in gross value added in 2023. This is projected to increase to $53 billion dollars in 2030, in line with Dubais growth.

 Aviation contributes to achieving 15 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDGs).  TradeArabia News Service
C.F. Richardson, the editor and founder of the Black newspaper The Houston Informer, urged Black readers in 1924 to "stay woke" and pay attention to opportunities to make their lives better. Houston Informer At far left, Stay Woke is the headline of Houston Informer editor C.F. Richardsons column for the May 24, 1924 edition of the paper. Houston Informer

I imagine few people know the term "stay woke," which has become a conservative battle cry against any diversity efforts, has roots in Houston, one of the nation's most diverse cities.

The evidence appears on the front page of a 1924 edition of the Houston Informer, a prominent Black newspaper in Texas, with an article titled, "Stay Woke."

It's a discovery recently made by classical music historian Paul Schleuse, a Houston native and Rice University graduate. During the pandemic, he researched the history of Houston's Black classical musicians for his new book. After reading Richardson's article, Schleuse looked up references to "woke" and "stay woke," but found no mention of it before the 1930s. It's certainly not in most history books.

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"The person that does not 'stay woke' will soon find himself or herself not only bringing up the rear, but actually trailing even the rear," wrote the paper's founder and editor C.F. Richardson, who urged Black readers to pay attention to opportunities to make their lives better.

The earliest use of the term "woke," or "stay woke," is often attributed to social activist Marcus Garvey, or to blues musician Huddie "Lead Belly" Ledbetter in a song about nine Black teens falsely accused of raping two white women in 1931 with his lyric, "best stay woke."

In his column, Richardson calls it "the latest" slang but notes the term has much significance. His article also points to a limited view of civil rights, Schleuse said.

Being woke, he said, is understanding that America has always had groups that were struggling and fighting for their rights, for recognition and justice.

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"There's this simplistic view of American history that there was the Civil War, the Reconstruction, and then the Jim Crow era," said Schleuse, an associate professor of music at Binghamton University in New York who is white. "From a white perspective, there's typically no awareness of civil rights. You might learn about the civil rights of the 1950s and 60s, but the fight for civil rights has always been the American experience. I'd like to see more attention paid to that." .

Another important part of Schleuse's discovery is the role the Houston Informer, a newspaper founded in 1919 to cover the Black community, had in affecting change in the city.

Richardson, the publisher, often was critical of the nation's continued violence against Black Americans and the city's discriminatory policies. According to the Texas State Historical Association, his editorials angered white supremacists and segregationists, but he remained ever-focused on using his journalism to bring change.

The legacy of the Houston Informer has impacted my own life. I was a journalism intern as a college student at the paper under the tutelage of then-editor George McElroy, who had been the first Black columnist at the Houston Post. He stressed the importance of asking tough questions and being prepared. His daughter, Kathleen McElroy, a former editor at the New York Times, is a tenured University of Texas journalism professor.

Schleuse said delving into the history of "woke" has helped expand his knowledge and perspective of Houston.

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"I've become more aware of how history, as it is written, has shaped the way people look at what it means to be American and what it means to be a part of a democracy. I'm a historian of classical music, which is about as elitist and as white as you can get, but there is a real need to do some reparative work and retell histories that include everyone."

It's unclear to me how "woke," this positive term used in Black culture as a call to action, has become a weapon against Black people and other marginalized groups, including the LGBTQ community.

Most people don't know what it means, really. The war on "wokeness" is a mockery meant to undercut social justice consciousness. It's an effort to bury our story  the joys and pains  deep into the ground.

But those who know the history understand that being woke is rooted in the fight for freedom and justice and what it means to be American.
PHOENIX  Losing GOP candidate Abe Hamadeh, his lawyers and political supporters are now on the hook for more than $200,000 in legal fees for what a judge called groundless and unjustified litigation.

In a new order, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Susan Pineda said Hamadehs efforts to set aside his loss in the 2022 attorney generals election to Democrat Kris Mayes were without legal justification.

The judge took a particular slap at attorney Ryan Heath for taking the cases at all.

She said once he agreed to represent Hamadeh and the others who sued on his behalf, he had an obligation to conduct a reasonable investigation to determine whether these were viable claims. That included looking at prior lawsuits on the same issues, she said.

He either did not do so or he chose to ignore the history of litigation that followed the 2022 general election, including the prior unsuccessful cases filed by his client, Pineda wrote in ruling that the people Heath sued on Hamadehs behalf, including the Secretary of States Office and Maricopa County, are entitled to recover their legal fees.

Heath said this isnt the end of the matter.

All I have to say is that Im looking forward to the appeal, he told Capitol Media Services.

None of this ends Hamadehs ongoing legal battle to have the results overturned or the election rerun in Maricopa County. In a separate case, he still is seeking Arizona Supreme Court review of his contention he was denied a fair trial.

Pineda threw out Heaths parallel legal claims in March, saying there was no legal basis for Hamadehs contention that Maricopa County improperly included some early ballots in its count of the 2022 election.

The judge pointed out he raised the same signature verification issue in two prior cases and he had lost the exact same issue before another superior court judge in the state. Here, she said, his decision to mount a second identical challenge to the Maricopa County process is groundless and unjustified.

Pineda also noted that the procedure being used to verify signatures was public knowledge before the 2022 election. Yet Hamadeh chose not to sue until after the results were in showing he lost to Mayes by 280 votes.

Challenges concerning alleged procedural violations of the election must be brought prior to the actual election, the judge wrote. By filing his action after the completion of the election, petitioner asks the court to overturn the will of the people, as expressed in the 2022 election.

Pineda also found flaws with Hamadehs quo warranto claim that Mayes is holding office illegally. In essence, this is a concept in common law where there can be a challenge to whether someone is holding office illegally.

State law allows such challenges only by the attorney general  in this case, Mayes  or by the person who claims title to the office.

However, the person claiming title to the office must show that he is entitled to the office, Pineda said.

But here, the judge said, Hamadeh asked that the ballots in Maricopa County be recounted and recertified after eliminating what he contends were those that should not have been included. Alternately, Pineda said, he asked for a new election.

He surmises, without proof, that he received the most legal votes for the office of attorney general, the judge said. That is insufficient to obtain the relief sought.

The judge also assessed legal fees in a parallel case brought by Heath to throw out the results of the race for attorney general.

This one, however, was filed not on behalf of Hamadeh but for Cochise County Supervisor Tom Crosby and David Mast, were previously involved with efforts by Republican Kari Lake to overturn her loss in the 2022 gubernatorial race to Democrat Katie Hobbs.

Pineda said they had no standing to sue as there was no basis for their claim that they had somehow been injured by the process used by Maricopa County.

Heres how the legal fees ordered by Pineda divide up:

Hamadeh, Heath and his law firm owe: $39,742 to the Secretary of States Office; $16,643 to the Attorney Generals Office; $39,960 to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and Maricopa County Recorders Office.
Don Parker walks past the collapsed front porch at his home, that currently has just a small generator providing limited power, on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Houston. Parker lost power May 16 due to storm damage to his individual equipment that CenterPoint doesn't take responsibility for. The lights never came back on; he has applied for FEMA aid to help with repairs, he said. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

A patchwork of households across the Houston area has languished without electricity two weeks after a derecho windstorm tore down equipment connecting them to CenterPoint Energys power lines, even as much of the region returned to normal.

CenterPoint was unable to restore power for up to 2,500 homes and businesses in the days after the May 16 storm until property owners fixed damage to equipment many did not realize they owned. Some Houstonians were able to pay for rapid repairs, which ranged from $600 to more than $10,000, according to homeowners and local electricians. Those unable to absorb the unexpected expense were left in the dark as they waited for federal and nonprofit aid.

Knowing that there's power that could be literally working right outside your home but not having a connection is tremendously frustrating, said Rafael Lemaitre, a spokesman for the renewable energy coalition Power Up Harris County who lost power to his own Oak Forest home from household-level damage. It was a several thousand dollar repair. That could be a huge obstacle for low-income or disadvantaged homeowners.

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The number of customers experiencing localized outages dropped to 350 Friday morning from 1,300 Wednesday afternoon as CenterPoint turned its focus to individual repairs, spokesperson Logan Anderson said. The count includes those without power not only because of damage to customer-owned equipment but also due to damage to line fuses and transformers or to trees on power lines, she said.

IN THE DARK: Houston threatened by sweltering heat after storm's destruction and ongoing power outages

Fifth Ward resident Don Parker was still without power Friday and expected to stay in the dark until he could drum up thousands of dollars to fix the front of his house. The derecho punched holes in his aging roof and pulled down his covered front porch, taking with it the curved weatherhead, the point where power enters a home.

Wires from a generator are strung along the floor of Don Parkers home, that currently has a small generator providing limited power, on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Houston. Parker lost power May 16 due to storm damage to his individual equipment that CenterPoint doesn't take responsibility for. The lights never came back on; he has applied for FEMA aid to help with repairs, he said. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

CenterPoint told Parker the fix was on him. The 58-year-old, facing a cancer scare and no steady job, turned to the Federal Emergency Management Agency for help. He said it approved a grant of just over $2,000 on Sunday, promising the funds two weeks later.

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I know its not going to be enough, but what can I say or do? Parker said. This is scaring me to death.

Fresh thunderstorms kept rolling through as he waited for the funds, living on a small generator and scaling his own walls to adjust the plastic tarps that blocked water from pouring into the home he and his fiance shared with his aging mother.

FEMA has validated more than 89,000 applications for aid in the region and has approved more than $21 million in individual assistance funds as of Wednesday, according to a statement from Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. Affected Houston-area residents can apply at disasterassistance.gov.

Electrician William Burns said his company, Right Touch Electrical, has completed hundreds of jobs repairing customer-owned equipment in the past few weeks, primarily in the hardest-hit areas such as the Heights, Cypress and Spring. Homeowners in older neighborhoods with overhead power lines were disproportionately affected when compared with those with power lines buried underground, a practice that started in the 1970s, Burns said.

The power meter of Maria Solers home is shown on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Houston. Solers home lost power May 16 due to storm damage. She recently regained power. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

For neighborhoods with overhead lines, CenterPoint owns the lines and the meter; the customer owns the electrical panel, circuit breakers, meter box, weatherhead and the riser, which is the conduit that gets the wiring high enough to connect to CenterPoints equipment, Burns said. For neighborhoods with underground lines, those buried lines are owned by the customer, he said.

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Homeowners with newer equipment often had less expensive repairs, while some with older hardware required a $120 city permit or even an equipment upgrade to meet compliance with the newest standards, adding to costs, Burns said. Most of his company's quotes have ranged from $600 to $6,000, but some repairs could run as high as $10,000 for homes that needed internal wiring ripped out, he said.

Most repairs take his team under a day to complete, Burns said. When the homeowner gets power back, however, depends on when CenterPoint crews are able to circle back to the area after customer-owned equipment has been fixed.

We had a job (where) CenterPoint was there in the area, and we needed to rush to get it done before they left. Because before they left, they were going to hook it up. If they left, it was like, who knows when they're going to come back? Burns said.

It took nearly two weeks for Cloverleaf resident Maria Soler to afford an electrician and get CenterPoint to reconnect her power.

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Maria Soler stands in her living room near one of the many fans she is using to cool the interior on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Houston. Solars home lost power May 16 due to storm damage. She recently regained power, but is limiting her energy use to fans and a window air conditioning unit. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer

After storm winds toppled a nearby tree and utility pole, yanking the wiring from the side of her home, electricians quoted her more than $5,500 for the repair. She said her small pension and Social Security checks would never cover the cost and that past experience with FEMA turned her off asking it for help.

I still owe them at least five more years from (2001 Tropical Storm) Allison that I pay monthly, Soler said. The equipment fix was hardly the 71-year-olds only cost from the latest storm: She lost a fridge full of food and more than three months worth of insulin for her diabetes, with no simple way to get more.

A church friend found electricians who finally patched up her wiring for $900 on Monday  but Soler said CenterPoint was still reluctant to reconnect her, saying she should have paid to bring her old weatherhead up to code and would be cut off again if she did not.

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Don Parker sits in the living room of his home, that currently has a small generator providing limited power, on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Houston. Parker lost power May 16 due to storm damage to his individual equipment that CenterPoint doesn't take responsibility for. The lights never came back on; he has applied for FEMA aid to help with repairs, he said. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Tonette Long wipes her brow as she sits in the living room of Don Parkers home that currently has just a generator providing limited power on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Houston. Parker lost power May 16 due to storm damage to his individual equipment that CenterPoint doesn't take responsibility for. The lights never came back on; he has applied for FEMA aid to help with repairs, he said. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Don Parker stands in his front yard looking at the collapsed porch at his home, that currently has just a generator providing limited power, on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Houston. Parker lost power May 16 due to storm damage to his individual equipment that CenterPoint doesn't take responsibility for. The lights never came back on; he has applied for FEMA aid to help with repairs, he said. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Don Parker uncovers a generator he is using limited power at his home in 5th Ward on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Houston. Parker lost power May 16 due to storm damage to his individual equipment that CenterPoint doesn't take responsibility for. The lights never came back on; he has applied for FEMA aid to help with repairs, he said. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Maria Soler sits in her living room with her cats on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Houston. Solars home lost power May 16 due to storm damage. She recently regained power, but is limiting her energy use to fans and a window air conditioning unit. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Arthur Davis stands in one of the rooms of his apartment that suffered damage during last weeks storm on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Houston. A tree fell on the top of his apartment, causing damage from water leaking through the roof. Brett Coomer/Staff photographer Paths of power This graphic illustrates what CenterPoint Energy owns and what the customer owns in homes serviced by overhead or underground power lines. KEN ELLIS/Staff

While others waited for FEMA funds, one Houstonian took to GoFundMe on Saturday to help her 89-year-old neighbor, living alone and relying solely on Social Security benefits, raise $12,000 to make electrical repairs and bring power back on Wednesday.

To offset damage costs for some residents, the United Way of Greater Houston and the Greater Houston Community Foundation partnered on the Greater Houston Disaster Alliance fundraising campaign, which has raised over $1.9 million. The alliance will award funding to local nonprofits as early as next week, with about 75% allocated for home repairs, said Mary Vazquez, vice president of community outreach at United Way of Greater Houston.

Vazquez encouraged residents unable to afford electrical equipment repairs to apply for FEMA aid and consider the agencys program offering temporary hotel stays.

We know that the needs are great, and that's why we are actively fundraising to make sure that we can get some additional support on the ground, she said.
Randy Krehbiel Tulsa World Staff Writer Follow Randy Krehbiel 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

Correction: This story originally misidentified one of the veto override votes as successful. The story has been corrected.

The Oklahoma Legislature took up seven veto overrides in the final days of the session that ended Thursday, with five of them successful.

On Wednesday, the House and Senate reversed Stitt on Senate Bill 102, by Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, a somewhat controversial measure that hikes benefits from the Oklahoma Police Pension and Retirement System while also raising employee and employer contributions.

The bill was sold as a recruitment tool for law enforcement agencies and backed by the Fraternal Order of Police, but skeptics say it mainly benefits officers nearing retirement. Stitt, in his veto message, said it will damage the funds long-term viability.

Two overridden measures deal with health insurance.

House Bill 1712, by Rep. T.J. Marti, R-Broken Arrow, prohibits insurers from refusing to cover durable medical equipment prescribed by a medical care provider.

HB 1979, by Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, restricts the conditions placed on vision care providers by insurers, especially prepaid plans.

The vetoes and subsequent overrides fit into a longstanding disagreement between Gov. Kevin Stitt and the Legislature, especially the House, over preferred provider insurance models.

In both veto messages, Stitt said the measures weakened provider networks and would likely lead to higher costs. Some lawmakers think the networks wield too much leverage and squeeze providers.

Also enacted over the governors vetoes were SB 1438, by Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, which allows a 1.25% recovery fee for heavy equipment, and HB 2687, by Rep. John George, R-Newalla, which adds new certified law officers hired by the Attorney Generals Office or the Military Department to the state police pension fund.

The Senate voted to override SB 1210, by Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Midwest City, which would have allowed county assessors to use photos taken from fixed wing aircraft for appraisal purposes, but the attempt came up short in the House.

Likewise, the Senate voted to override the veto of Democrat-authored legislation, SB 1751, by Sen. Jo Anna Dossett, D-Tulsa, but the motion failed to muster the required two-thirds vote in the House. SB 1751 would have required guardians of incapacitated adults to receive training specific to the condition of the person for whom they are caring.

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Steve Metzer Tulsa World Capitol Bureau Staff Writer Follow Steve Metzer Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

OKLAHOMA CITY  A final vote in the House of Representatives put a state budget for fiscal year 2025 over the finish line on Thursday.

Lawmakers sent the $12.47 billion spending plan to Gov. Kevin Stitt as they brought an end to the four-month legislative session.

The bill, which passed through the Senate on Tuesday, cleared the final hurdle in the House with a passing vote of 80-17.

House Budget Committee Chairman Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, listed several highlights of the plan. He said appropriations amount to 5.39% less than what was appropriated in fiscal year 2024. Even so, the plan includes an overall 2.2% increase in spending for state agencies.

He said the budget includes record funding for the formula used in financing public education, increases for CareerTech aimed at strengthening workforce development, investments in transportation and aerospace, increases in health care provider pay rates, financing for a judicial pay raise, and increased funding for sheriffs departments.

The budget also includes $350 million to address deferred maintenance needs at colleges and universities, state parks, and other state facilities. Additionally, Wallace said it pads state savings to set a record of some $4.7 billion.

Wallace pointed out, too, that budget makers had to account for impacts on revenues resulting from the elimination this year of the states portion of the sales sales tax on groceries.

In a meeting with reporters, Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said he was proud of the spending plan and especially of the work of lawmakers to make the budget-making process as transparent as possible.

We set some goals at the beginning of the session, and we have hit all of those markers of success, Treat said. We delivered the largest tax cut in state history through the grocery tax, provided a transparent budget process (and) kept a billion dollars in cash free and clear from all the other savings accounts.

House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, expressed disappointment that the Legislature wasnt able to deliver on an income tax cut.

I would have liked to have seen the personal income tax cut be part of the budget, but that was not going to happen. We had to move on (after) the Senate made it very clear that they wouldnt hear it, McCall said. Hopefully, that will be at the top of the agenda (for) those members coming back to the 60th Legislature next year.

Prior to the spending plans final passage through the House, several lawmakers rose to debate its merits.

Reps. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, and Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater, raised questions about decisions to increase state savings by an additional billion dollars and whether that money might more wisely have been committed to investments in things like criminal justice reform, education, affordable child care and food programs for children in need. Ranson said she has repeatedly been told by fellow lawmakers that more would be done to address such needs next year.

When is next year going to be this year? she asked. I think we can do more, and I think Oklahomans deserve us to do more.

Others, including Reps. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa, and Jason Lowe, D-Oklahoma City, reiterated concerns raised previously about funding for Langston University consistently lagging behind funding for other institutions, especially the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University. Lowe asserted that Oklahomas only historically Black university has been underfunded over the years by more than $400 million and that the state may be in violation of federal law over its commitment to the university.

Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, said there are missed opportunities in every budget but that lawmakers succeeded overall in producing a plan to benefit Oklahomans.

Hilbert noted a continuing commitment to a Legacy Capital Fund envisioned to allow the state to self-finance expensive maintenance and other projects in the future. He also referenced record funding allocated to the states formula for financing schools and tens of millions of dollars in funding for vital infrastructure projects, including levee system upgrades in Tulsa County.

Senate Democrats were less enthusiastic.

Were still not investing enough in our public schools, while diverting even more public money to private schools. Weve missed opportunities to provide greater access to health and mental health care, Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, said.

Floyd pointed out, too, that despite the commitment expressed by Republicans to transparency in this years budget process, Democrats were excluded.

Sen. Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, who is set to lead Senate Democrats next year, said many bills pushed by Republicans will undermine the rights of Oklahomans.

Politicians took away voters power by passing changes to our initiative petition, she said. Thats going to keep a lot of state questions from ever making the ballot.



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Loc Troi Group Joint Stock Company announced on Thursday that it had won bids to supply a total of 100,000 metric tons of rice to Indonesian state procurement agency Perum Bulog, but the bid price stands at US$563 per metric ton, down $16 against the starting rate, causing concerns over local rice market instability and losses facing farmers.

The bids will generate over US$55 million in profit for the group.

In particular, Loc Troi Group won two bid packages with a combined volume of 60,000 metric tons, while one of its affiliates secured a tender to export 40,000 metric tons of rice to Indonesia.

Perum Bulog announced on May 22 that Loc Troi and Dai Tai Hi-tech Farming JSC, a unit of Loc Nhan Food JSC, which is a member of Loc Trois ecosystem, won bids of 100,000 metric tons of rice out of the total 300,000 metric tons.

The entire volume is set to be delivered to the Indonesian agency within two months.

Loc Troi Group is operating 10 rice processing plants with a total capacity of 10,000 metric tons daily to make it ready to conduct the shipment.

The company pledged to buy rice from farmers at a higher price than the rate set on the local market.

Many firms and experts said that when a company signs a rice exporting agreement at a high price, farmers will benefit from the deal as problems related to rice consumption can be addressed.

However, low bid prices might lower farmers income and affect the local market.

A representative of a Kien Giang-based company specializing in rice export told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that offering a high or low bid price is the right of firms.

However, if such companies win bids at low prices, the domestic prices of rice will become unstable.

The representative presented two scenarios for enterprises winning bids at low prices. Firstly, these firms will suffer losses after exporting rice to the buyers.

The other scenario is that these local exporters will purchase rice from farmers at low prices.

Rice exporting bids won at low prices will take a heavy toll on domestic rice rates and the local rice market, the representative affirmed.

Expressing worries, a representative from the Vietnam Food Association highlighted potential repercussions on rice export prices should Loc Troi Group and its subsidiary proceed to sell rice to Indonesia at significantly reduced rates.

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More new-generation Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Parks (VSIPs), designed to be greener and better aligned with Vietnams development trends and priorities, will be established in Vietnam, according to Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.

The Singaporean PM was speaking on a phone call with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh on Wednesday, during which the two leaders discussed the fruitful cooperation between the two countries, particularly in terms of economic development.

VSIPs are considered a symbol of the successful economic partnership between the two countries, and Wong shared intentions to promote the development of new-generation VSIPs in Vietnam that are greener and better suited to Vietnams development priorities.

PM Wong also said Singapore desires to work with Vietnam to effectively implement the Framework Agreement on Connecting the Two Economies and Vietnam-Singapore Green Economy - Digital Economy Relations, especially in clean energy and carbon credits, in order to bring bilateral cooperation to a new level.

He pledged to continue encouraging Singaporean businesses to expand their investments in Vietnam in a manner that helps improve the FDI quality and prioritizes the high technology, digital economy, circular economy, clean energy, semiconductor, and artificial intelligence spheres.

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (C) and other senior Vietnamese officials are seen at the PMs phone talk in Hanoi with his Singaporean counterpart Lawrence Wong on May 29, 2024. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

PM Chinh affirmed that Vietnam is interested in leveraging the VSIP model and will create favorable conditions for more new-generation VSIPs to operate in the country.

Since the first VSIP was established in Binh Duong Province in 1996, there have been 14 additional VSIPs developed in 10 provinces and cities in Vietnam, attracting a total investment of nearly US$20 billion and creating jobs for more than 300,000 people, according to local media.

PM Chinh stressed that Singapore is an important regional and global partner to Vietnam.

The Vietnamese government plans to coordinate closely with Singapore to continue developing the countries strategic partnership in order to promote dynamic relations in ASEAN and serve as a model for intra-bloc cooperation mechanisms, Chinh stated.

PM Chinh thanked the Singaporean government for its efforts in training Vietnamese government officials at all levels.

He proposed that the two sides strengthen defense and security cooperation, build a national data center, promote cooperation in such areas as finance, education, training, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges

The Singaporean leader affirmed Singapore would continue to support mutual visits and meetings at all levels, especially annual meetings between the two PMs, so as to strengthen friendship and political trust.

Regarding regional issues, the two countries agreed to strengthen ASEAN solidarity and support Laos to successfully assume the ASEAN chairmanship role in 2024.

The two leaders also emphasized the importance of focusing on the sustainable development of ASEAN sub-regions, including the Mekong sub-region, to contribute actively to ASEAN's self-reliance, prosperity, and growth.

The Vietnamese premier extended a cordial invitation to PM Wong and his spouse for an official visit to Vietnam in the near future, which Wong graciously accepted.

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NEW YORK -- Donald Trump became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime on Thursday when a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.

After two days of deliberation, the 12-member jury pronounced Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts he faced.

Trump watched the jurors dispassionately as they were polled to confirm the unanimous verdict.

Justice Juan Merchan set sentencing for July 11, just days before the Republican Party is scheduled to formally nominate Trump for president ahead of the November 5 election.

The crime of falsifying business documents carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, though those convicted often receive shorter sentences, fines or probation. Incarceration would not legally prevent him from campaigning, or taking office if he were to win.

He will not be jailed ahead of sentencing.

The verdict plunges the United States into unexplored territory ahead of the November vote, when Trump will try to win back the White House from Democratic President Joe Biden.

Trump, 77, has denied wrongdoing and an attorney representing him said they would appeal as quickly as possible.

"This was a disgrace," Trump told reporters afterwards as he proclaimed his innocence and repeated his complaints that the trial had been rigged against him.

"The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people," he said.

Trump gave a thumbs-up sign through the tinted window of his SUV as his motorcade left the courthouse. Trump supporters stood in a park opposite the courthouse along with journalists, police and onlookers.

Opinion polls show Trump and Biden, 81, locked in a tight race, and Reuters/Ipsos polling has found that a guilty verdict could cost Trump some support among independent and Republican voters.

The case had been widely regarded as the least consequential of the four criminal prosecutions Trump faces. But the verdict looms large now as it is likely to be the only one before the election with the others delayed by procedural challenges.

The jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business documents after sitting through a five-week courtroom presentation that featured explicit testimony from porn star Stormy Daniels about a sexual encounter she says she had with Trump in 2006 while he was married to his current wife Melania. Trump denies ever having sex with Daniels.

Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen testified that Trump approved a $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels in the final weeks of the 2016 election, when Trump faced multiple accusations of sexual misbehavior.

Cohen testified that he handled the payment, and that Trump approved a plan to reimburse him through monthly payments disguised as legal work.

Trump's lawyers hammered Cohen's credibility, highlighting his criminal record and imprisonment and his history of lying. Merchan also cautioned jurors to examine his testimony carefully.

The relatively short amount of time jurors needed to reach a verdict was a sign that they thought there was enough evidence to back up Cohen's testimony, said George Grasso, a retired New York judge who attended the trial.

A source familiar with the Trump campaign's inner workings said the verdict was expected to prompt him to intensify deliberations on picking a woman as his vice presidential running mate. His campaign website labeled him a "political prisoner" and urged supporters to donate.

Biden campaign: No one above the law

Biden's campaign said the verdict showed that no one was above the law and urged voters to reject Trump in the election.

"There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box," the campaign said in a statement.

The White House declined to comment.

Trump's fellow Republicans quickly condemned the verdict. "Today is a shameful day in American history," House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said in a prepared statement.

The jury notified the court they had reached a verdict at 4:20 p.m. (2020 GMT) and the foreperson read out all 34 guilty counts shortly after 5 p.m.

Trump lawyer Todd Blanche asked Merchan to throw out the guilty verdict, arguing that it was based on the unreliable testimony of Cohen. Merchan denied his request.

A Trump appeal is likely to focus on porn star Daniels' salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter as well as the novel legal theory prosecutors used in the case, but he faces long odds, legal experts said.

"We are going to appeal as quickly as we can. We will seek expedited review of this case," Trump attorney Will Scharf told Fox News.

As a standalone crime, falsifying business documents is normally a misdemeanor in New York, but prosecutors in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office elevated it to a felony on grounds that Trump was concealing an illegal campaign contribution.

They had the burden of proving Trump guilty "beyond a reasonable doubt," the standard under U.S. law.

"We did our job. (There are) many voices out there. The only voice that matters is the voice of the jury, and the jury has spoken," Bragg said.

Jurors heard testimony of sex and lies that have been public since 2018, although the charges themselves rested on ledger accounts and other records of Cohen's reimbursement.

It was known as the "zombie case" because Bragg brought it back to life after his predecessor opted not to bring charges.

If elected, Trump could shut down the two federal cases that accuse him of illegally trying to overturn his 2020 election loss and mishandling classified documents after leaving office in 2021. He would not have the power to stop a separate election-subversion case taking place in Georgia.

Trump has pleaded not guilty in all the cases, and has portrayed his various legal troubles as an effort by Biden's Democratic allies to hurt him politically.

Former President Donald Trump appears in Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Photo: Reuters

Former President Donald Trump arrives at Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Photo: Reuters

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump arrives for jury deliberations in his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in New York City, U.S., May 30, 2024. Photo: Reuters

A supporter of former U.S. President Donald Trump stands along a sidewalk as Trumps motorcade arrives at Manhattan criminal court for the 2nd day of jury deliberations in New York City, May 30. Photo: Reuters
The South Korean government has decided to grant non-refundable aid of US$200 million for Vietnams social and economic development for the 2024-27 period, the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) announced on Thursday.

KOICA President Chang Won Sam made the announcement at his meeting with Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son in Seoul, during Sons working visit to the country from May 30 to June 1 at the invitation of his South Korean counterpart Cho Tae Yul.

The KOICA leader affirmed that the Korean government is very interested in, and wishes to promote, the South Korea-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership in general and Vietnams economic and social development in particular.

Appreciating Vietnam as a strategic partner in official development assistance (ODA) cooperation, the Korean government has decided to provide the Southeast Asian country with $200 million in non-refundable aid through KOICA to contribute to Vietnams social and economic development in 2024-27, Chang said.

The aid will be allocated to projects in digital transformation, environment, climate change response, healthcare, education, and public governance, according to the president.

KOICA will make the first disbursement of $52 million this year, he added.

Minister Son told the KOICA leader that Vietnam highly appreciates the funding sources provided by the agency in the past, especially non-refundable aid from the Korean government through KOICA, as they have significantly contributed to infrastructural development and peoples livelihood improvement.

The minister suggested that KOICA continue to expand ODA loan provision for Vietnam into new fields that match Vietnams development priorities, including semiconductor engineer training, green economy, circular economy, creative innovation, high-tech agriculture, and humanitarian assistance.

KOICA should consider coordinating with the Korea Export-Import Bank (KEXIM) in the implementation of South Korean ODA-funded projects in Vietnam to improve efficiency in the use of ODA loans, Son proposed.

He also asked KOICA to urge the South Korean government to make an official commitment to supporting a power supply project for rural communities in northern Dien Bien Province from the national power grid.

Minister Son highly appreciated the exchange and experience sharing programs carried out by KOICA in recent times, saying they have helped strengthen the friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples.

Vietnam and South Korea established diplomatic relations in 1992 before upgrading their ties to a strategic partnership in 2009 and then to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2022.

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What you need to know today in Vietnam:

Politics

-- State President To Lam received ambassadors and charges d'affaires from ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste in Hanoi for a courtesy visit and congratulations at the Presidential Palace on Thursday afternoon. Lam was sworn in as Vietnam's state president on May 22.

Society

-- The owner of the two dogs dragged behind a pick-up truck through the streets of Da Nang in central Vietnam has apologized, stating that it was unintentional, with V.T. expressing his regret on his personal Facebook page after the incident caused an uproar on Thursday morning.

-- The Ho Chi Minh City Public Transportation Management Center announced on Thursday the suspension of a bus driver who deliberately ran a red light, and the case has been referred to traffic police for further action regarding the violation.

-- Hanoi Children's Palace, with an investment of over VND1.3 trillion (US$51 million), is set to be inaugurated and become operational after three years of construction. Located in the CV1 lake park section of the Cau Giay-Nam Tu Liem new urban area, the project covers nearly 40,000 square meters and is currently being finalized for its upcoming official opening.

-- On Thursday, the Ministry of Transport issued a directive requiring the Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam and airlines to strengthen the strict control of ticket prices and to explore solutions for reducing airfare costs.

-- To comprehensively evaluate Van Tien Cave, which has an underground stream, and to investigate other unexplored caves reported by locals, the Quang Tri tourism sector has proposed inviting the British Royal Cave Association for a survey. On Thursday, Ho Van Hoan, deputy director of the Quang Tri Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, announced that the department had submitted a proposal to the Quang Tri Provincial People's Committee to survey Van Tien Cave in Tria Village, Huong Son Commune, Huong Hoa District.

-- For about a month now, the withering of trees has been occurring in several districts of Ho Chi Minh City, much to the regret of the residents, with a sudden wave of dried-up trees observed along the streets, such as approximately 35 trees completely withered on Luong Ngoc Quyen Street in Ward 5, Go Vap District.

Business

-- In May 2024, Vietnam welcomed nearly 1.4 million international visitors, a more-than-50-percent increase from the same period last year, bringing the total to 7.6 million for the year, with Chinese tourists surpassing South Korean visitors at 357,000 and 351,000 respectively, according to official figures.

-- Ho Chi Minh City ranks third in Southeast Asia for startup ecosystem value, with an economic impact of up to $5.22 billion, following Singapore and Jakarta, according to the Global Startup Ecosystem Report by Startup Genome.

Lifestyle

-- Recently, a photo of a Dao mother traveling across Vietnam on a motorbike with her four-year-old son went viral online, with many praising her adventurous spirit.

World News

-- "Donald Trump became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime on Thursday when a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election," Reuters reported.

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Anticipation builds for China's approach to global security in Shangri-La Dialogue

Xinhua) 10:15, May 31, 2024

SINGAPORE, May 30 (Xinhua) -- China's Global Security Initiative (GSI) can not only play a role in promoting more multipolar global governance but also serve as a framework for conflict mediation and dispute resolution, experts said ahead of the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue scheduled from Friday to Sunday in Singapore.

Bringing together defense ministers, senior officials, business leaders and security experts worldwide, the dialogue will discuss security challenges across the Asia-Pacific region.

Drawing significant attention, the Chinese delegation will elaborate on China's approach to global security, including the GSI that highlights the country's commitment to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.

The China-proposed GSI holds significant importance in fostering a robust security and development environment in the region, Zhong Tianxiang, a regional media professional, told Xinhua in Singapore.

The people of this region are looking forward to China's GSI making a positive contribution to building a community with a shared future for mankind, as well as global peace and well-being, he said.

China's GSI has the potential to significantly promote stability and cooperation in today's volatile world, said Anna Malindog-Uy, vice president of the Manila-based think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute.

By advocating mutual respect, sustainable security, and multilateralism, the GSI can contribute to mitigating bloc confrontations and fostering a more harmonious international environment, which is the dire need of Asia-Pacific with the world's largest and fastest-growing economies and crucial maritime trade routes, Malindog-Uy said.

Conversely, experts said, the Western security concept, represented by the United States, often overly emphasizes self-security, neglecting the aspect of common security.

Bambang Suryono, president of the Jakarta-based think tank Nanyang ASEAN Foundation, said the bilateral and multilateral cooperation frameworks established by the United States to maintain its dominance in the Asia-Pacific region pose a significant threat to regional peace and stability.

Senior Colonel Zhang Chi, an associate professor at the National Defense University of China, stressed a noticeable rise in U.S. strategic anxiety.

Zhang, also a member of the Chinese delegation to the Shangri-La Dialogue, added that the Chinese delegation will effectively use the international multilateral platform to further promote China's GSI, as well as the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Seven plenary sessions, two ministerial round-table meetings and six simultaneous special sessions will be held during the three-day dialogue, with the participation of more than 550 delegates from over 40 countries and regions.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court before his trial in New York, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts for falsifying business records to conceal an affair with porn star Stormy Daniels. (Justin Lane/Pool Photo via AP) JUSTIN LANE/Associated Press

There was something almost quaint about the particulars of the Donald Trump hush-money case that ended Thursday with a guilty verdict: a time capsule from a bygone era when political candidates assumed their transgressions still carried consequences.

After all, Trumps rationale for paying off porn star Stormy Daniels was that their lurid affair  which she reportedly was shopping around to news outlets and that he denies took place  would do irreparable damage to his 2016 presidential campaign. His former fixer Michael Cohen confirmed as much. Cohen testified that the payments to Daniels were made shortly after the leak of the Access Hollywood tape of Trump boasting about grabbing womens genitals, suggesting the campaign feared Trump could not withstand another October surprise in a close race against Democrat Hillary Clinton.

So in the final days of his campaign, he sought to bury the Daniels tryst the same way any wealthy lout would: with cold, hard cash. He directed Cohen to funnel $130,000 to Daniels by siphoning the cash from his family business and falsely labeling the transactions as legal expenses. Well never know whether doing so saved him from defeat that year, but its fair to say this was just the beginning of Trump corrupting the electoral process behind the scenes.

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Four years later, his attempts at election interference would be far more grandiose. Armed with the power of the presidency, a legion of supporters in denial about his decisive loss to Joe Biden and an inner circle of obsequious aides and advisers eager to overthrow democracy, he would hatch an insidious plot to keep him in the White House. What happened next  a violent insurrection at the Capitol  was one of the most disgraceful events in American history and put the danger of a possible second term in stark relief.

How far would he go if he got another crack at leading the country?

That we even had to entertain such a hypothetical speaks to the steady erosion of norms and values that both parties once claimed to cherish. In no sane universe should Trump have a second chance. Congress had two opportunities to extinguish his flame, send him back to Trump Tower with his tail between his legs, a disgraced president that the annals of history would frown upon as a cautionary tale for our fragile democracy.

Of course, those impeachment attempts failed, giving the Republican Party a chance to test just how short our collective memories are. The party leadership easily couldve disavowed him in favor of a fresh face for the GOP, one who could ably take on Biden, who, despite a mountain of accomplishments, is perceived as weak.

Alas, the GOPs pact with Trump is apparently signed in blood. Even the few Republicans who spoke out against him in the wake of Jan. 6 quickly came running back. Now its as if they never left.

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Combing through GOP politicians' statements after Trumps conviction is to witness an exercise in delusional sycophancy. Youd expect the shameless boot-lickers such as Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham to spin the verdict as the result of a sham trial in a rigged system. When respected voices in the so-called party of law and order  looking at you, John Cornyn  parrot these ridiculous statements, its fair to question just how far Republican leaders are willing to debase themselves just to regain power.

Even those clinging to the prospect of a reversal of the verdict based on the lack of specificity in jury instructions are tethering their integrity to a technicality, not any evidence exonerating Trump or proving wild conspiracy theories that he was framed by the Biden administration. And no, this verdict isnt based solely on the word of confirmed liar Michael Cohen. It was based on reams of documents and corroborating testimony.

Still, you dont have to be a political pundit to understand that the gravity of the hush money case was far less than Trumps other alleged crimes. For those of us waiting on real accountability for Trump, the New York verdict provides cold comfort. The felonies he was convicted of are all of the low-tier, non-violent variety, each carrying a maximum sentence of four years. The fact that this is Trumps first conviction, hes old, and hes running a national campaign for president will likely weigh on the scope of Judge Juan Merchans sentence. One thing both presidential campaigns, and constitutional scholars, agree on: Trump can return to the White House with a felony conviction.

If theres any hope to be gleaned from Trumps conviction, its that the myth of the Teflon Don has shattered. For all his bluster that he could murder someone on Fifth Avenue and walk away scot-free, it had to be humbling for him to be treated like any other perp in a Manhattan courtroom, with no TV cameras for him to preen for. Only his frumpy visage immortalized by bizarre courtroom sketch caricatures. Even Trumps post-conviction statement lacked his usual bite, a low-energy burst of recycled Trumpisms  rigged, disgraceful trial, country gone to hell, etc.  which played like a sad trombone.

And yet, this verdict isnt the death blow his opponents have longed for. It remains to be seen whether our justice system can navigate the absurd uncharted territory of a felonious ex-president fighting off 54 other criminal charges across three jurisdictions. Its an open question whether Biden will even attempt to weaponize Trumps criminality. After all, if theres anyone who can spin a felony conviction as an act of martyrdom, its Trump. Naturally, within minutes of his conviction, his campaign sent out a fundraising pitch on his TruthSocial platform. And he claims the money is rolling in, more than $34 million since the verdict.

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I am a political prisoner! Trumps post read.
The Asia Investment Facility under the European Union, together with the French government through its French Development Agency (AFD), and the government of Vietnam on Thursday signed a financial agreement to develop Hanois transport system and extend its metro line No. 3.

Under the agreement, the EU will provide 10 million (US$10.8 million) in support for the research and preparation of investment to extend metro line No. 3, as announced by the European Commission for International Partnerships.

Following the extension, metro line No. 3, which originally spans 12.5 kilometers between Nhon Station in Bac Tu Liem District and Hanoi Railway Station in Dong Da District, will be expanded by 8.7 kilometers from Hanoi Railway Station to Hoang Mai District.

This expansion of metro line No. 3 is meant to address critical infrastructure, transportation, and environmental challenges arising from Hanois rapid urbanization.

The first phase of the project involves funding a feasibility study for the extension, followed by updates to Hanois urban transport master plan and enhancement of management capabilities.

Through this project, the EU is supporting plans to develop Hanois transport system and extend metro line No. 3, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen said.

It is an excellent example of the EUs Global Gateway investment strategy.

We are working together with partner countries, like our good partner Vietnam, to develop sustainable infrastructure that brings concrete benefits to the local people and stimulates the local economy, while tackling climate change and pollution.

Construction on Hanois metro line No. 3, connecting Nhon Station with Hanoi Railway Station, commenced in September 2010, funded by France's official development assistance (ODA) loans.

The initial total investment for the project was VND18.4 trillion ($723 million), with completion originally slated for 2016, according to online newspaper Vietnamnet.

However, the project has faced repeated delays since 2015, missing the deadline 11 times.

Recently, due to ongoing challenges, the Hanoi Peoples Committee extended the implementation deadline to the end of 2027.

Additionally, they revised up the total investment to VND34.8 trillion ($1.37 billion), representing an 89.1-percent increase from the initial estimate.

After over a decade of construction, the elevated segment of the route spanning from Nhon Station to Cau Giay District reached testing phases and is slated for operation soon.

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The coastal city of Da Nang in central Vietnam recently got a facelift thanks to a series of sidewalk renovations along popular tourist routes.

So far, renovations to the sidewalks and technical infrastructure along Pham Van Dong Street, which connects the Han River Bridge to Bien Dong Park in Son Tra District, have been completed.

This project is part of the citys plans to renovate sidewalks on seven roads by adding opaque white concrete tiles interspersed with gray tiles.

An aerial view of the newly revamped Pham Van Dong Street in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre

According to the Da Nang Department of Transport, these types of tile have a high bearing capacity and are able to withstand the weight of vehicles.

The tiles are highly durable and the colors do not fade, making them a welcome addition to the Da Nang cityscape.

Tactile tiles have also been installed on the sidewalks to assist the visually impaired.

The sidewalk is paved with opaque white concrete tiles and gray tiles on Pham Van Dong Street in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre

Plans are also in place to repair and upgrade eight roads in Hai Chau District.

This initiative aims to enhance the stability of sidewalks and road surfaces, as well as ensure traffic safety and ease for both residents and tourists.

According to local resident and business owner Thu Binh, damaged sidewalk tiles made commuting through the coastal city particularly difficult.

An aerial view of the newly revamped Pham Van Dong Street in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre

Foreign tourists often walk through the city to look for restaurants and hotels, Binh said.

The sidewalk renovations have given the area a new life.

It not only enhances the overall ambiance but also adds appeal to nearby residences and shops.

An intersection of the newly revamped Pham Van Dong Street in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre

Cars are parked along the newly revamped Pham Van Dong Street in Da Nang City, central Vietnam. Photo: Truong Trung / Tuoi Tre

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As first tipped by TV Tonight, Theo and Nathan Saidden are taking their Superwog characters to Netflix.

The Saiddens will write, direct, produce and star in a new standalone series, Son of a Donkey. Production has started in Melbourne, also produced by Princess Pictures.

In Son of a Donkey, we meet Theo just as he moves out of his home to claim his independence  until hes faced with the harsh realities of adulthood. From driving fines and daddy issues to internet scams and a lot of therapy, Theo and his best friend Johnny get up to their usual antics as they come to terms with whats most important: family.

Theo and Nathan Saidden say, Were so happy to announce our new show with Netflix. This will be the wildest show weve ever made. Theres new characters, bigger ideas, more action, more craziness. Its just so exciting to be working with a service that puts us on screens all around the world.

Mike Cowap, Executive Producer for Princess Pictures says,Weve been proud to support Theo and Nathan on their evolution from short online comedy to half hour episodes and now to the most ambitious season-spanning epic story to date. All shot through with their larger-than-life characters and trademark irreverent, slapstick humour. Theyve already earned a passionate fan base outside of Australia, but with their first Netflix series were excited to see that grow exponentially.

Que Minh Luu, Director of Content ANZ, says, Son of a Donkey is a heady mix of absurd satire, laughs and profanity that delivers a uniquely Australian type of show we cant wait to bring to Netflix audiences everywhere. Its a pleasure to collaborate with Theo, Nathan and the team at Princess Pictures who take making comedy extremely seriously, and with enormous pride in writing these fan-favourite characters.,

Caroline Pitcher, VicScreen CEO, says, Were thrilled to support Theo and Nathan Saidden in bringing their unique brand of humour to a global audience with their new series, Son of a Donkey, supported through VicScreens Victorian Screen Incentive. This new series will continue to engage Victorian talent, creating 215 jobs and is set to inject over $5.5m into Victorias economy. We cant wait for audiences around the world to experience this exciting new show.

The series is supported by VicScreen through the Victorian Screen Incentive (VSI).
The South Australian Film Corporation has appointed Leanne Saunders as Head of Production and Development.

One of New Zealands most experienced and respected producers and production executives, she comes to the SAFC from the New Zealand Film Commission where she has served for the past eight years as Head of Development and Production with titles such as After The Party, The Convert, We Are Still Here, Went Up The Hill and The Power Of The Dog.

Prior to the NZFC, she was a film producer including launching Piki Films with Taika Waititi and Carthew Neal, producing Hunt for the Wilderpeople and co-launched Piki Sprint, in recognition of indigenous models led by Indigenous creators.

SAFC CEO Kate Croser said, We are delighted to welcome Leanne Saunders to the SAFC as our new Head of Production and Development. Leanne brings great depth and breadth of knowledge and experience and impressive networks across film, television, finance, script and development, as well as a passion for engaging in future industry and audience trends. We are confident she will bring great value to both the agency and the wider South Australian screen sector, and we are excited about her eagerness to support and empower the full range of content and creators that we embrace at the SAFC. We look forward to welcoming her to the team, and to South Australia.

Leanne Saunders said: I am excited to join the SAFC team, and share their vision for SA talent and businesses. I particularly acknowledge the agency commitment to First Nations First, and the work done to this point. The screen history, creative talent and environment of South Australia is diverse and unique and I feel privileged to be in the next chapter in the story of the agency going forward. It is testament to the talent and acumen of South Australian creators that they continue to make impact across genre and platform both domestically and on the global stage. I look forward to engaging with the sector to identify ways we can continue to support and enhance their achievements.

She begins on Monday 24 June, 2024.
Mexico's two leading presidential candidates  Claudia Sheinbaum, the former Mexico City mayor backed by current President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his ruling party, Morena; and Xochitl Galvez, an opposition senator and tech entrepreneur representing a coalition of parties  have made security a major pillar of their presidential campaigns. Houston Chronicle

Yesterday, in less time than it took for me to browse nordstromrack.com, choose my wedding heels and place my online order, I cast my vote in Mexicos landmark election. For my first time ever voting in an election, the experience was decidedly anticlimactic. There were no pins proclaiming I Voted, no red-white-and-green flags and no indelible ink stain on my thumb to prove I did my civic duty. It was just me and my laptop, and a tequila shot that felt more bittersweet than celebratory.

I suppose I should feel more excited about participating in whats being called a historic election. Not just because its the biggest in my home countrys history, with over 20,000 contested posts, and the first to allow citizens abroad to vote online, but also because, for the first time ever, the two leading presidential candidates are women. No matter what happens on Sunday, June 2, when over 100 million citizens in Mexico are set to vote in person, the future of Mexico is female.

Both candidates  Claudia Sheinbaum, the former Mexico City mayor backed by current President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his ruling party, Morena; and Xochitl Galvez, an opposition senator and tech entrepreneur representing a coalition of parties  have made security a major pillar of their presidential campaigns.

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Yet I have no illusions about much changing for Mexican women whose day-to-day lives are marked by perpetual fear. Fear of being catcalled or raped while walking down the street. Fear of the police who are meant to protect you. Fear of never making it back home  or of returning to a house where violence has made a home. Fear of becoming the next victim of femicide, murdered for the crime of being a woman.

University of Houston professor and a native of the Mexican border city of Matamoros, Cristina Rivera Garza knows that fear well. In 1990, her 20-year-old sister, Liliana, was found dead in her apartment in Mexico City. An arrest warrant was filed for Lilianas ex-boyfriend, Angel Gonzalez Ramos, but he was already gone. Hundreds of thousands of men have gotten away with murdering a woman in Mexico with complete impunity.

Three decades later, Cristina finally brought herself to open up the boxes of Lilianas belongings, unearthing her letters and diary entries. The result is Lilianas Invincible Summer, which earned Cristina a Pulitzer Prize this year. Originally published in Spanish, the genre-defying memoir chronicles Cristinas futile search for justice within Mexicos labyrinthine criminal justice system and documents the many complex layers of who Liliana was, in Lilianas own voice.

I spoke with Cristina this week about femicide and what this weekends election will mean for Mexican women. Our conversation has been lightly edited for length and clarity.

Q: What compelled you to begin writing this book so long after your sisters murder?

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A: It took me 30 years because this was a time of personal mourning that I had to work through. But also because it took our society more or less that amount of years to generate the kind of precise, compassionate language strong enough to recount stories of gender-based violence  not from the point of view of the perpetrators or of the patriarchy, but from the point of view of the women themselves and their family and friends.

Q: Your sisters murder was originally labeled a crime of passion and it wasnt until 2012 that the term feminicidio entered the Mexican penal code. But in the U.S. femicide still isnt part of the legal discourse; those crimes are labeled a homicide. What role does language play in processing hate crimes, and in finding justice?

A: In countries like Mexico or Honduras, about 10 women are murdered daily by their intimate partner. Those numbers are not much better in the United States, where each day three women are killed by their intimate partner. That worsened tremendously during the pandemic. This is a worldwide phenomenon not confined to Mexico. As Argentine anthropologist Rita Segato puts it, we are witnessing a war on women.

Strong womens movements have generated the type of language that allows women to identify danger and to protect themselves, such as feminicidio and the clear-cut feminicida, designating a man who murders women on account of their gender. Such language isnt well-developed in English.

When you dont have that kind of language, you cannot fight against the crime. We can only fight against what we can name. There is much more to be done in the English-speaking side of the world to engage in a profound, critical conversation about gender-based violence.

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High-heeled shoes from a victim of femicide are pictured next to crosses during a protest against the murder of more than 600 women in the last four years, in Ecatepec, State of Mexico, on March 13 , 2016. RONALDO SCHEMIDT/AFP via Getty Images

Q: Why does the issue persist in Mexico, despite clearly naming the crime?

A: Even with a book that has won international awards, and the time and resources my family has invested into investigating my sisters murder, still the Mexican bureaucracy has done nothing. The frustration and rage is enormous. Its what so many families in Mexico go through.

Corruption and impunity go hand in hand. Impunity has taught femiciders that they can get away with crimes. Its also important to call attention to civil society. Im thinking of neighbors, friends and colleagues of femiciders who turn a blind eye rather than denounce the perpetrator. We need to do more at the institutional level in terms of delivering justice, but also within our communities to remind ourselves daily that we shouldnt tolerate womens suffering.

People attend an International Women's Day demonstration against gender-based violence and femicide, on March 8, 2022 in Mexico City, Mexico. Future Publishing/Future Publishing via Getty Imag

Q: It is almost certain that Claudia Sheinbaum will win. Do you think having a female president like her would translate to progress for Mexican women?

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A: The fact that we have two females leading the race for presidency is quite momentous. My mother was born in 1943 in a country in which she could not vote legally. Women were granted the right to vote in 1953. So 70-some years after the fact, we now have two women leading the race for the presidency. This is important.

But Im dismayed by the lack of emphasis on womens issues by both candidates. These arent minor issues. These should be central to the agenda of the next woman president of Mexico.

Q: Why should Mexicans living in Texas participate in the election? Why does it matter?

A: Ive always voted, and I often cross the border to vote in Mexico. Even when none of the candidates are to my liking, I still vote. We have to exercise our rights, which were usually won the hard way.

As weve seen in the U.S., rights that we have won are not necessarily going to be there forever. We have to continue fighting for them and defending them. The only way to defend our democracy is to participate in it.

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Voting is important, but even more important is maintaining a vigilant attitude and participating in the political life of Mexico both within and beyond the national borders. Regardless of who becomes the next president, it is the responsibility of civil society to keep them honest.
The Jefferson Memorial. babryce/Getty Images

Few arenas have become as politicized in recent years as local school boards. Debates prompted by mask mandates, Black Lives Matter protests and LGBTQ education, among other issues, have brought culture war partisanship to local elections and board meetings. And responsible pedagogy is often the first casualty.

A fitting example of this dynamic took place at a recent Conroe Independent School District board meeting. Conroe ISD, the 10th largest school district in the state, is located in Montgomery County, north of Houston. Their May 14 meeting included a discussion concerning potential textbooks, all of which received approval except one: a biology textbook that allegedly had several problems that required correction.

The issues presented by board member Tiffany Baumann Nelson matched broader disputes roiling the entire nation: She objected to the textbooks referring to COVID as a disease, expressed uneasiness at its highlighting the importance of vaccines, and encouraged the publisher to accompany its section on evolution with more information on intelligent design.

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But it was another issue in the section on chromosomes that has a particular, if surprising, relevance to the community. To show the scientific usefulness of the Y chromosome, the textbook explained how scholars were able to use DNA evidence to confirm that Thomas Jefferson fathered a child with his enslaved servant, Sally Hemings.

I really feel like thats completely inappropriate to speak of a Founding Father in that way, Nelson insisted. She moved for the section to be removed before the textbook could be adapted by the district. (You can hear her remarks at the 2:22:30 mark on the video of the board meeting.)

That Jefferson had a sexual relationship with Hemings, an enslaved woman, is nearly universally accepted by credible scholars. Those who, like Nelson, object to basic historical facts due to a jejune commitment to hagiographic Founders worship are both drawing from historical ignorance as well as perpetuating a dangerous form of toxic nostalgia. Their inability to mention  let alone confront  difficulties posed by the past only corrupts our curriculum in the present.

But the absurdity is multiplied by the ironic fact that the Jefferson/Hemings historical connection was pioneered by a Conroe public schools alum.

In 2022, Annette Gordon-Reed posed outside the Conroe ISD school named in her honor. Gordon-Reed, a Conroe High grad, won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for her work on Jefferson and the Hemings family. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

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Gordon-Reeds pathfinding did not end there. While a student in Conroe, she became obsessed with Thomas Jefferson, the author of the Declaration of Independence and third president of the United States. She was particularly struck by the debates over whether Jefferson fathered children with Hemings, and why historians frequently dismissed Black testimony in favor of dismissals that came from Jeffersons white children and defenders. (Many in academia would have agreed with Nelsons assertion that it was inappropriate to disparage Jefferson with the line of inquiry.)

So, once a trained lawyer and law professor, Gordon-Reed laid out the evidence in a 1997 book, Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy, that persuasively debunked longstanding defenses against Jeffersons paternity. The work reignited scholarly debate, and a DNA study the very next year  the same study Nelson feels is inappropriate to teach students  confirmed her findings.

Nor did Gordon-Reeds work end there. In 2008 she produced The Hemingses of Monticello: An American Family, a magisterial work that resurrected the lives of the Hemings family. It demonstrated that an enslaved familys story was just as appropriate for American history as the family that enslaved them. The book won the Pulitzer Prize in history.

And yet even with this recognition, some on Conroes school board still regard the fruit of her scholarly career as beyond the pale. The mere mention of Jefferson and Hemings relationship in a biology textbook is said to be completely inappropriate. The school district still requires further integration, after all.

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Nelsons objection, especially absurd for the Conroe context, is just another example of how partisan politics and an entrenched cultural ideology can blind curricular development and corrupt local school decisions.

In the end, in close votes, the board chose to turn off several of the segments Nelson disliked in the electronic version of the textbook  but it allowed the Jefferson/Hemings passage to stay.

Id recommend that Tiffany Baumann Nelson and those who voted with her read Annette Gordon-Reeds books. But I fear that, upon reading them, the books would merely be banned from school libraries for being inappropriate.
Thousands of windowless apartment rooms like this one have been built near the University of Texas at Austin. Juan Miro

In the past few years, the city of Austin has approved the construction of thousands of windowless rooms in new apartment buildings next to the University of Texas at Austin.

Last month, the Austin City Council finally voted to ban the construction of windowless bedrooms.

As a UT professor, I see this ban as a belated but welcomed development. In 2021, some of my students started to tell me that they did not have a window in their room. I was shocked because, as a practicing architect, I had always assumed that windowless bedrooms were illegal.

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Some students started to share with me photographs of their rooms and what dozens of students have described as their terrible experiences living in them.

A common complaint is messed-up circadian cycles and the development of depression and fatigue. They try to avoid their rooms as much as possible. One student told me about experiencing unbearable loneliness and claustrophobia caused by the four solid walls. Another one lamented waking up with anxiety every morning.

In major cities around the world, windowless bedrooms are illegal. A percentage of the rooms floor area, set in each citys building code, determines the minimum window size. In New York City, every bedroom must have a window area at least 10% the size of the rooms floor area; in Madrid, 12%; and in Mexico City, 15%.

In Austin, the number has been 0% until the recent ban.

A UT student's room. Juan Miro

Why? Austin, like Houston and most cities in the U.S., follows the International Building Code, and this code has a glaring loophole. Its lighting section states: Every space intended for human occupancy shall be provided with natural light by means of exterior glazed openings in accordance with Section 1204.2 or shall be provided with artificial light in accordance with Section 1204.3.

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The word or leaves the door open for some developers to interpret the code to mean that natural light is optional.

To protect themselves against those developers, cities such as Chicago and Washington, D.C., have closed the loophole by simply replacing or with and in their adopted codes, which Austin has now done as well.

Unfortunately, developers have already exploited the loophole and built thousands of windowless bedrooms that soon will no longer be legal to build but will be legal to continue to be leased.

Windowless rooms have not resulted in lower rents for students in Austin despite student housing being very profitable, and more so when windowless rooms are allowed.

How come? Because a bulky building, with interior rooms away from the facade, can capture more interior space with a smaller ratio of exterior walls, which are more expensive to build than interior walls.

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Students stuck in windowless rooms try to cope with room decoration, circadian rhythm LED lighting, mental therapy or medication.

For example, an exchange student from Spain who had unknowingly leased a windowless room contacted me asking for help. She told me that, since such things are illegal in her hometown of Barcelona, it never crossed her mind that the room she had leased before arriving in Austin could be windowless.

She described her anxiety and deteriorating mental health after just a few days in her unit. When I wrote on her behalf to her building manager requesting a room with a window, they responded: We do not promise windows in any of our rooms. Like other buildings in the Austin area, windows are not promised. Shockingly, their leases do not disclose the absence of windows either.

UT, a top-tier public university, has failed its students by not providing enough university housing and by remaining silent during the students campaign to ban windowless rooms.

Architects have failed students too by willingly designing windowless rooms. In doing so, architects have ignored one of the core guidelines of the American Institute of Architects: to consider the physical, mental, and emotional effects a building has on its occupants.

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The terrible experiences of students living in windowless rooms in Austin should serve as a cautionary tale for the city of Houston, Windowless rooms should be banned to protect vulnerable populations, including students, low-income people and seniors, from the same distress.

In the meantime, instead of hoping that each city will amend its codes locally, I am working to close the loophole at the source  the International Building Code.

It is a slow and bureaucratic process, but ultimately, the message should be clear: Having natural light in buildings should be a human right, not a developers choice.
By Nellie Peyton and Thando Hlophe

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The biggest winner in South Africa's election this week may be former President Jacob Zuma, whose newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party has exceeded expectations and emerged as a major factor in the African National Congress' sharp drop in support.

MK is not going to win the election and is unlikely to be a coalition partner, analysts say, while Zuma is barred from standing for parliament because of a conviction for contempt of court.

But the party, which advocates nationalising land and banks and scrapping the constitution, is on course to unseat the ANC by a landslide in the populous province of KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma's home region.

With results from about 64% of polling stations in, MK was in third place on Friday with 11.8% of votes. The ANC had 41.9%, down from 57.5% in the last 2019 election, looking set to lose its majority for the first time in 30 years.

In KwaZulu-Natal - strategically significant due to the main ports of Durban and Richard's Bay - MK was leading with about 44% to the ANC's just under 19%. Durban handles around 60% of trade to and from South Africa while Richard's Bay is the largest coal export facility in Africa.

Political analysts attributed MK's success largely to Zuma's popularity, which is rooted in his humble roots and anti-establishment stance.

An anti-apartheid veteran and Zulu traditionalist who sometimes dons leopard skins at public events, Zuma was forced by the ANC to quit the presidency in 2018 following a string of corruption scandals.

His presidency was defined by what South Africans call "state capture" after an inquiry pointed to systemic corruption enabling business people to plunder state resources.

Zuma denies this.

His successor Cyril Ramaphosa vowed to clean up the ANC, but critics say many have found his leadership too timid and constrained by consensus-building. Ramaphosa's government has also struggled with chronic power shortages and dysfunctional ports, that are partly due to a legacy of corruption under Zuma.

As early results rolled in on Thursday, MK supporters sang and danced outside Durban City Hall, in KwaZulu-Natal.

"Mr. (Zuma) did not get enough time to govern. I decided to follow him again because I know when he promises to do something he does," said voter Phumzile Chiya, 52.

RADICAL POLICY SHIFT

MK's platform appeals to voter frustration over racial and economic inequality that has persisted since the end of apartheid.

Like the Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, which has 9.5% of votes so far, MK rails against "white monopoly capital" that it says controls South Africa.

It calls for a referendum on the constitution and proposes a new parliamentary system including an upper house composed of hereditary traditional leaders like Britain's House of Lords.

It would also expropriate "all land without compensation" and transfer it to the state or custodianship of aristocratic traditional rulers, for use by Black farmers.

An ANC plan to expropriate land - most of which is in white hands - failed to get the required two-thirds of votes to go through parliament in 2021, with the main opposition Democratic Alliance and right-wing Freedom Front Plus as well as the EFF voting against it.

"I used to vote for the ANC, but since (Zuma) said he wants to reclaim the land and to change the country's constitution I saw that it was a good move," said Dumisani Xulu, a pastor in Durban.

MK's rise has caught the ANC off guard.

Asked if there had been any surprises in the election results so far, the ANC's Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane told Reuters: "KwaZulu-Natal".

If it were not for MK, the ANC might have retained its majority nationally, said Oscar Van Heerden, researcher and author of books on the ANC. The main opposition DA has only marginally more support than in the last election, as it struggled to shake off its image as a party of South Africa's privileged white minority and appeal more to Black voters.

"A lot of people that are disaffected in South Africa ... want to see a much more radical policy orientation than what the ANC could provide," Van Heerden said.

While a potential coalition between the ANC and MK is possible, analysts deemed this unlikely due to MK's probable demands, such as replacing Ramaphosa and absolving Zuma's legal issues. Zuma is due to stand trial next year for corruption charges related to a 1990s arms deal.

(Reporting by Nellie Peyton in Johannesburg and Thando Hlophe in Durban; Additional reporting by Anait Miridzanian; Editing by Tim Cocks and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)
MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Kremlin on Friday shrugged off a French decision to keep Russia away from the 80th anniversary celebration of World War Two's D-Day landings after the Russian foreign ministry accused the West of seeking to "erase" the Red Army's wartime role.

The French presidency said on Thursday that Russia would not be invited to the events next week given what Paris called Moscow's war of aggression against Ukraine. It also rejected Russia's assertion that France was failing to honour the Soviet contribution to defeating Nazi Germany.

Dozens of heads of state and government, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and U.S. President Joe Biden, are due to attend the D-Day anniversary events in France, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has attended in the past.

More than 150,000 Allied troops launched the air, sea and land D-Day landings in Normandy on June 6, 1944, an operation that ultimately led to the liberation of western Europe from Nazi Germany.

The Soviet Union lost more than 25 million people in what it calls the Great Patriotic War and Moscow marks the victory over Nazi Germany with an annual military parade on Red Square.

When asked about the French snub, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia was hard at work planning its own celebrations for next year's Victory Day, which will mark the 80th anniversary of the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany.

"Next year, you know, is an extremely important year for us", Peskov told a news briefing. "This is our main priority in terms of memorial actions".

DECISIVE SOVIET ROLE

On Victory Day this month, Putin said "arrogant" elites in Western countries had forgotten the decisive role the Soviet Union played in defeating the Nazis.

Echoing his comments, Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova this week accused Western countries of presenting D-Day as "the main event that decided the outcome of World War Two".

"Of course, nothing is said in the West about the fact that no landing in Normandy would have been possible without the successes of the Red Army. They are trying not only not to remember, but to erase it", she told a press briefing.

France on Friday dismissed such criticism, saying it had always honoured the "decisive contribution" of Soviet forces in defeating the Nazis and would pay tribute again next week within the framework of the D-Day anniversary celebration.

Putin, who casts the Ukraine conflict as part of a wider battle with the West, has sometimes likened what the Kremlin calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine to the Soviet Union's struggle against Nazi Germany, a comparison rejected by Kyiv and the West, which say Putin is engaged in an illegal colonial-style land grab.

(Reporting by Reuters; Writing by Lucy Papachristou; Editing by Andrew Osborn and Gareth Jones)
Why scientists say we need to send clocks to the moon  soon

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Perhaps the greatest, mind-bending quirk of our universe is the inherent trouble with timekeeping: Seconds tick by ever so slightly faster atop a mountain than they do in the valleys of Earth.

For practical purposes, most people dont have to worry about those differences.

But a renewed space race has the United States and its allies, as well as China, dashing to create permanent settlements on the moon, and that has brought the idiosyncrasies of time, once again, to the forefront.

On the lunar surface, a single Earth day would be roughly 56 microseconds shorter than on our home planet  a tiny number that can lead to significant inconsistencies over time.

NASA and its international partners are currently grappling with this conundrum.

Scientists arent just looking to create a new time zone on the moon, as some headlines have suggested, said Cheryl Gramling, the lunar position, navigation, and timing and standards lead at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. Rather, the space agency and its partners are looking to create an entirely new time scale, or system of measurement that accounts for that fact that seconds tick by faster on the moon, Gramling noted.

NASA is working with its international partners to come up with a method for tracking time on the moon, seen here from Kars, Turkey, on May 18. - Omer Tarsuslu/Anadolu/Getty Images

The agencys goal is to work with international partners to set up a new method of tracking time, specifically for the moon, that space-faring nations agree to observe.

A recent memo from the White House also directed NASA to map out its plans for this new time scale by December 31, calling it foundational to renewed US efforts to explore the lunar surface. The memo also asks that NASA implement such a system by the end of 2026, the same year the space agency is aiming to return astronauts to the moon for the first time in five decades.

For the worlds timekeepers, the coming months could be crucial for figuring out how to accurately keep lunar time  and reach agreements on how, when and where to put clocks on the moon.

Such a framework will be crucial for humans visiting our closest celestial neighbor, Gramling told CNN.

Astronauts on the moon, for example, are going to leave their habitats to explore the surface and carry out science investigations, she said. Theyre also going to be communicating with one another or driving their moon buggies while on the lunar surface.

When theyre navigating relative to the moon, Gramling said, time needs to be relative to the moon.

A brief history of Earth time

Simple sundials or stone formations, which track shadows as the sun passes overhead, mark a days progression just as the shifting phases of the moon can log the passing of a month on Earth. Those natural timekeepers have kept humans on schedule for millennia.

But perhaps since mechanical clocks gained traction in the early 14th century, clockmakers have grown ever more persnickety about precision.

Exacting the measurement of seconds also grew more complicated in the early 1900s, thanks to Albert Einstein, the German-born physicist who rocked the scientific community with his theories of special and general relativity.

Shown here is the old marble sundial at Palace Paco de Sao Miguel in Evora, Portugal. Sundials have kept humans on schedule for millennia. - Geography Photos/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

Darn that Einstein guy  he came up with general relativity, and many strange things come out of it, said Dr. Bruce Betts, chief scientist at The Planetary Society, a nonprofit space interest group. One of them is that gravity slows time down.

General relativity is complicated, but in broad terms, its a framework that explains how gravity affects space and time.

Imagine that our solar system is a piece of fabric suspended in the air. That fabric is space and time itself, which  under Einsteins theories  are inextricably linked. And every celestial body within the solar system, from the sun to the planets, is like a heavy ball sitting atop the fabric. The heavier the ball, the deeper the divot it creates, warping space and time.

Even the idea of an earthly second is a humanmade concept thats tricky to measure. And it was Einsteins theory of general relativity that explained why time passes slightly more slowly at lower elevations  because gravity has a stronger effect closer to a massive object (such as our home planet).

Scientists have found a modern solution to all the complications of relativity for timekeeping on Earth: To account for imperceptible differences, they have set up a few hundred atomic clocks at various locations across the globe. Atomic clocks are ultra-precise instruments that use the vibration of atoms to measure the passage of time, and those clocks  in line with Einsteins theories  tick slower the closer to Earths surface they sit.

The readings from atomic clocks around the world can be averaged for a broad but accurate as possible sense of time for planet Earth as a whole, giving us Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC. Still, occasionally leap seconds are factored in to keep UTC in line with slight changes in Earths speed of rotation.

This methodical keeping of time helps make the modern world go round  metaphorically speaking, said Kevin Coggins, deputy associate administrator and program manager for NASAs Space Communications and Navigation Program.

If youve researched time on the Earth, you realize it is the critical enabler for everything: the economy, food security, trading, the financial community, even oil exploration. They use precise clocks, Coggins said. Its in everything that matters in modern society.

German-born physicist Albert Einstein, pictured here in 1939, developed the theories of special and general relativity. - MPI/Archive Photos/Getty Images

Space, time: The continual question

If time moves differently on the peaks of mountains than the shores of the ocean, you can imagine that things get even more bizarre the farther away from Earth you travel.

To add more complication: Time also passes slower the faster a person or spacecraft is moving, according to Einsteins theory of special relativity.

Astronauts on the International Space Station, for example, are lucky, said Dr. Bijunath Patla, a theoretical physicist with the US National Institute of Standards and Technology, in a phone interview. Though the space station orbits about 200 miles (322 kilometers) above Earths surface, it also travels at high speeds  looping the planet 16 times per day  so the effects of relativity somewhat cancel each other out, Patla said. For that reason, astronauts on the orbiting laboratory can easily use Earth time to stay on schedule.

For other missions  its not so simple.

Fortunately, scientists already have decades of experience contending with the complexities.

Spacecraft, for example, are equipped with their own clocks called oscillators, Gramling said.

They maintain their own time, Gramling said. And most of our operations for spacecraft  even spacecraft that are all the way out at Pluto, or the Kuiper Belt, like New Horizons  (rely on) ground stations that are back on Earth. So everything theyre doing has to correlate with UTC.

Astronauts at the International Space Station can use Earth time to stay on schedule.. - NASA

But those spacecraft also rely on their own kept time, Gramling said. Vehicles exploring deep into the solar system, for example, have to know  based on their own time scale  when they are approaching a planet in case the spacecraft needs to use that planetary body for navigational purposes, she added.

For 50 years, scientists have also been able to observe atomic clocks that are tucked aboard GPS satellites, which orbit Earth about 12,550 miles (20,200 kilometers) away  or about one-nineteenth the distance between our planet and the moon.

Studying those clocks has given scientists a great starting point to begin extrapolating further as they set out to establish a new time scale for the moon, Patla said.

We can easily compare (GPS) clocks to clocks on the ground, Patla said, adding that scientists have found a way to gently slow GPS clocks down, making them tick more in-line with Earth-bound clocks. Obviously, its not as easy as it sounds, but its easier than making a mess.

For the moon, however, scientists likely wont seek to slow clocks down. They hope to accurately measure lunar time as it is  while also ensuring it can be related back to Earth time, according to Patla, who recently co-authored a paper detailing a framework for lunar time.

The study, for the record, also attempted to pinpoint exactly how far apart moon and Earth time are, as estimates have wavered between 56 and 59 microseconds per day.

Clocks on the moons equator would tick 56.02 microseconds faster per day than clocks at the Earths equator, according to the paper.

Lunar clockwork

What scientists know for certain is that they need to get precision timekeeping instruments to the moon.

Exactly who pays for lunar clocks, which type of clocks will go, and where theyll be positioned are all questions that remain up in the air, Gramling said.

We have to work all of this out, she said. I dont think we know yet. I think it will be an amalgamation of several different things.

Atomic clocks, Gramling noted, are great for long-term stability, and crystal oscillators have an advantage for short-term stability.

You never trust one clock, Gramling added. And you never trust two clocks.

Clocks of various types could be placed inside satellites that orbit the moon or perhaps at the precise locations on the lunar surface that astronauts will one day visit.

As for price, an atomic clock worthy of space travel could cost around a few million dollars, according Gramling, with crystal oscillators coming in substantially cheaper.

But, Patla said, you get what you pay for.

The very cheap oscillators may be off by milliseconds or even 10s of milliseconds, he added. And that is important because for navigation purposes  we need to have the clocks synchronized to 10s of nanoseconds.

A network of clocks on the moon could work in concert to inform the new lunar time scale, just as atomic clocks do for UTC on Earth.

(There will not, Gramling added, be different time zones on the moon. There have been conversations about creating different zones, with the answer: No, she said. But that could change in the future.)

The atomic clock CS2 is seen at the Physical Technical Institute PTB, the German National Metrology Institute, in northern Germany on April 11, 2008. Atomic clocks are ultra-precise instruments that use the vibration of atoms to measure the passage of time. - Focke Strangmann/AP

The new time scale would underpin an entire lunar network, which NASA and its allies have dubbed LunaNet.

You can think of LunaNet like the internet  or the internet and a global navigation satellite system all combined, Gramling said. Its a framework of standards that contributors to LunaNet (such as NASA or the European Space Agency) would follow.

And you can think of the contributors maybe as your internet service provider, Gramling added.

Creating such a framework means bringing a lot of people across the world to the table. So far, Gramling said, conversations with US partners have been very, very positive.

Its not clear whether NASA and its partners on this effort, which include the European Space Agency, will get a buy-in from nations that arent among US allies, such as China. Gramling noted those conversations would be held through international standard-setting bodies, such as the International Astronomical Union.

A whole different mindset

Accurate clockwork is one matter. But how future astronauts living and working on the lunar surface will experience time is a different question entirely.

On Earth, our sense of one day is governed by the fact that the planet completes one rotation every 24 hours, giving most locations a consistent cycle of daylight and darkened nights. On the moon, however, the equator receives roughly 14 days of sunlight followed by 14 days of darkness.

Its just a very, very different concept on the moon, Betts said. And (NASA is) talking about landing astronauts in the very interesting south polar region (of the moon), where you have permanently lit and permanently shadowed areas. So, thats a whole other set of confusion.

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured this view of Malapert Massif on March 3, 2023. The lunar mountain is a potential landing site for Artemis III, a NASA mission that could launch as soon as 2026 and put astronauts on the moon for the first time in decades. - NASA/GSFC/Arizona State University

Itll be challenging for those astronauts, Betts added. Its so different than Earth, and its just a whole different mindset.

That will be true no matter what time is displayed on the astronauts watches.

Still, precision timekeeping matters  not just for the sake of scientifically understanding the passage of time on the moon but also for setting up all the infrastructure necessary to carry out missions.

The beauty of creating a time scale from scratch, Gramling said, is that scientists can take everything they have learned about timekeeping on Earth and apply it to a new system on the moon.

And if scientists can get it right on the moon, she added, they can get it right later down the road if NASA fulfills its goal of sending astronauts deeper into the solar system.

We are very much looking at executing this on the moon, learning what we can learn, Gramling said, so that we are prepared to do the same thing on Mars or other future bodies.

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By Tannur Anders, Bhargav Acharya and Nqobile Dludla

MIDRAND, South Africa (Reuters) -South African parties geared up for coalition talks on Friday as the governing African National Congress (ANC) looked set to fall well short of a majority for the first time in 30 years of democracy.

While the party of the late Nelson Mandela looked likely to remain the largest political force after Wednesday's election, voters appeared to have punished the former liberation movement for years of economic decline, which have left many in poverty.

With results in from nearly 70% of polling stations, the ANC had 41.8% of votes, a precipitous drop from the 57.5% it secured in the last national election in 2019.

The pro-business Democratic Alliance (DA) was in second place on 22.6%. uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), a new party led by former president Jacob Zuma, was at 12.2% and eating into ANC support, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma's home province.

MK has overtaken the Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), currently the third biggest party in parliament, which was sitting on 9.5%.

Political parties' share of the vote will determine the number of seats they get in the National Assembly, which then elects the next president.

That could still be the ANC's leader, incumbent President Cyril Ramaphosa. However, an embarrassing showing at the polls risks fuelling a leadership challenge -- but the ANC's Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane said he would not resign.

"Nobody is going to resign ... Collectively, all of us, we still are confident that he (Ramaphosa) has to remain the president of the ANC," she told reporters at the results centre.

"The leadership of the ANC will meet, structures of the ANC will be consulted. For now we are not talking to anybody," she said.

Analysts said that at this stage in the vote count the ANC could not claw back up to win a parliamentary majority but it may still end up gaining more than 42% of the vote.

"The real question is 42% or 44%," Reza Omar, strategic research director at Citizen Surveys, told Reuters.

"Limpopo, Eastern Cape and North West are ANC strongholds and some votes still have to be counted from these provinces."

The ANC had won every previous national election since the historic 1994 vote that ended white minority rule, but over the last decade South Africans have watched the economy stagnate, unemployment and poverty climb and infrastructure crumble, leading to regular power outages.

'DOOMSDAY COALITION'

Speculation was intense about which party or parties the ANC may approach to form a coalition and remain in government, or what other negotiations might be going on behind closed doors.

DA leader John Steenhuisen said calls would start over the weekend and his first move would be to meet other members of the Multi-Party Charter (MPC), an alliance of 11 opposition parties that was formed before the election, to see whether it could be expanded.

"The election (has) taken place now, we've got to play the hand that the voters have given us so we will look at a variety of options that will exist," he told Reuters.

There was no clear path for MPC member parties to collectively secure more than 50% of the vote share and seats in parliament, unless it enlisted one of the EFF or MK, which seemed highly unlikely. The DA, the biggest party in the MPC, has denounced those parties as extremists and said an alliance between them and the ANC would be a "doomsday coalition".

Before the election, Steenhuisen did not rule out partnering with the ANC to block such a coalition, although the DA has consistently denounced the ANC and said it wanted it out of power.

The MK meanwhile said it could partner with the ANC but not if Ramaphosa remained its leader.

"Who do we engage with? Patriotic organisations that want to ensure change. That are progressive...not the ANC of Cyril Ramaphosa.

"It doesnt mean that we wont engage with the ANC but not the ANC of Cyril Ramaphosa," MK spokesman Nhlamulo Ndhlela told Reuters.

The uncertainty impacted the government bond market, with prices of the country's main internationally traded bonds down as much as 1.3 cents on the U.S. dollar. The falls were the third in a row and left the bonds at their lowest level in almost a month.

Investors and the business community have voiced concern over the prospect of the ANC entering a coalition with the EFF, which is calling for the seizure of white-owned farms and the nationalisation of mines and banks, or with Zuma's MK which also talks about land confiscation.

By law the election commission has seven days to release full provisional results, but election officials have said they are planning for a Sunday announcement.

(Additional reporting by Bate Felix; Writing by Alexander Winning and Estelle Shirbon; Editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise, Ros Russell and Toby Chopra)
Ukraine can use German weapons against Russian border strikes, Berlin says

BERLIN (Reuters) -Germany said on Friday that Ukraine could use weapons supplied by Berlin to defend itself against attacks launched from just inside Russia against the Kharkiv region, insisting this did not make it a party to the conflict.

Germany agreed with its allies that Kyiv may use the weapons to defend itself against strikes from positions in the immediately adjacent Russian border area, a government spokesperson said.

"We are jointly convinced that Ukraine has the right, guaranteed under international law, to defend itself against these attacks," the spokesperson said in a statement.

"To do so, it can also use the weapons supplied for this purpose in accordance with its international legal obligations; including those supplied by us."

The comments are the most explicit acknowledgement yet of an apparent quiet shift in German policy, which comes as Moscow is claiming territorial gains in a cross-border offensive on the region surrounding Ukraine's second biggest city, Kharkiv.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday called for every step to be weighed up.

"We must avoid the big war, the war between Russia and NATO," he said at a Catholic Church event in the central state of Thuringia.

"At the same time, we must ensure that Ukraine can defend its independence and sovereignty," he added.

The Berlin statement came after days of scrutiny of Scholz's government over whether such a move would risk Germany being labelled a party to the war, escalating tensions with Russia.

Scholz said last year there was a consensus with Ukraine it would not use Western-supplied weapons to attack targets in Russia.

But he appeared to change tone in a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, saying Ukraine had "every possibility under international law for what it is doing".

German officials have declined to divulge specifics on how it would like Ukraine to deploy Western-supplied weapons, wary of rhetoric that could ratchet up tensions at a time when Russia is threatening tactical nuclear strikes against Ukraine.

The majority of weapons already delivered to Ukraine by Germany are not suitable for attacks on Russian positions well behind the frontline. Self-propelled howitzers, for example, can engage targets at a distance of up to 56 km (35 miles), but are not deployed in the immediate vicinity of the front.

France, Britain and the United States have supplied Ukraine with weapons with greater target ranges. The city of Kharkiv is 19 miles (30 km) from the border with Russia.

Berlin's statement came a day after U.S. officials suggested President Joe Biden had quietly shifted policy to allow Kyiv to fire U.S.-supplied weapons at military targets inside Russia that are supporting the Kharkiv offensive.

Previously Biden had steadfastly refused to let Ukraine use American weaponry for strikes inside Russia.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Prague on Friday also spoke in favour of Ukraine using weapons provided by Western countries to strike legitimate military targets inside Russian territory.

A Kremlin spokesperson said on Friday that it was already aware of attempts by Ukraine to strike targets on Russian territory with weapons provided by the United States, which is by far the largest arms donor to Kyiv.

(Reporting by Friederike Heine, Matthias Williams, Sarah Marsh, additional reporting by Holger Hansen, Editing by Rachel More, Gareth Jones, Kirsti Knolle, Ros Russell)
The scalp is an area where melanoma may develop, but it can often go unnoticed. (Getty Images)

After a rather wet spring, many Britons are hoping to enjoy a sun-drenched summer. But with rates of melanoma reaching an all-time high, sun protection and regular checks are more important than ever.

According to new figures by Cancer Research UK, 20,800 people are expected to be diagnosed with melanoma this year - representing an increase of almost a third in 10 years.

The rise in cases can be seen across all ages, but adults over 80 saw the biggest increase in melanoma diagnoses, jumping by 57% over the past decade.

It comes as new research commissioned by Swedish cider brewery Kopparberg, in collaboration with Melanoma Fund, revealed that although people are much more aware now about the risks of UV exposure, there are still a number of knowledge gaps among Britons.

In a survey, more than half of Brits said they were unaware that sun damage can occur even on cloudy days, while 71% said they did not realise it could also happen through clothing.

However, the study by Kopparberg - which has launched its own SPF50 sunscreen in partnership with the Melanoma Fund to be available across select UK pubs this summer - also found a significant increase in awareness about the risks of sun exposure.

More than two-thirds of Brits (79%) surveyed said they take sun protection seriously, with half (50%) taking it more seriously now compared to five years ago. Younger people were most likely to take this view, with 83% agreeing this was the case.

SPF30 was revealed to be the most popular level of SPF among Brits, with 40% opting for it. However, nearly a third (30%) said they preferred the higher SPF50+ protection instead, indicating an increased interest in protecting oneself from harmful UV rays.

More than half of those surveyed said they had a better understanding of the risks associated with skin cancer and sun damage. In addition, 44% of Brits said they wanted to protect themselves from the effects of sun exposure.

Michelle Baker, CEO of Melanoma Fund, said in a statement: Melanoma is dangerous yet mostly preventable with considered sun safety practices. This includes seeking shade, wearing protective clothing, and applying SPF30+ sunscreen, especially during the sun's peak hours from 11am to 3pm.

Staying hydrated is crucial, and if you are drinking alcohol, alternating it with water can help maintain hydration levels under the sun. Our mission is to empower active lifestyles by preventing all types of skin cancer, which is why we're excited to partner with Kopparberg to address this issue and promote responsible drinking habits this summer.

Applying sunscreen regularly is a must, no matter what your skin colour or type is. (Getty Images)

While staying protected when youre out and about in the sun is extremely important, it may surprise you to know that there are some areas of the body where melanoma can develop, even if its not regularly exposed to sunlight.

These are the seven spots on your body you should be aware of, even if the sun doesnt shine there.

On or in the genitals

Melanoma that develops on and around the genital area is rare. According to Cancer Research UK, only around three out of 100 vaginal cancers are melanoma, while penile melanoma accounts for only 0.1% of all cases, says Melanoma Focus.

In the case of vaginal melanoma, most people will not experience symptoms. Your doctor or nurse may find the cancer, if it develops, during a routine cervical screening test or vaginal examination. Other tests to diagnose it may include a biopsy, blood tests, MRI scan, CT scan, and ultrasound scan of lymph nodes in the groin.

When it comes to penises, melanoma may be found in the tip of the penis or the foreskin. It can sometimes be found in the shaft or on the scrotum, and can affect men of any age but is most common among men over 60. Symptoms may be similar to other symptoms of types of cancer, or have a non-related cancer cause, and should always be checked out by a GP.

Under the nails

While rare, melanoma can develop under the fingernails. (Getty Images)

A form of melanoma called acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) can appear under the nails. According to Melanoma UK, this type of skin cancer is most common among people with darker skin and of Asian descent, but can also appear on all skin types.

Signs of ALM under the nails can manifest as a new streak in a nail that is not caused by an accident or bruise, or a nail streak that has damaged the fingernail. Nail streaks appear as dark, narrow stripes under the nail. However, not all nail streaks are melanoma and many people have nail streaks that are harmless.

ALM usually develops on the thumb or big toe, says Melanoma UK. However, it can occur under any fingernail or toenail. As the ALM grows, your nail might begin to crack or break altogether.

Palms of the hands and soles of the feet

ALM can also occur on the palms of the hands and soles of the feet. It typically looks like a dark spot of skin surrounded by your normal skin colour, with a clear border between the dark skin and the lighter skin around it. This is one of the most noticeable characteristics of ALM. However, some spots may be reddish or orange in colour, which are known as amelanotic (non-pigmented) melanoma.

Warning signs of ALM include a changing spot in or connected to a mole on the foot or hand; an irregularly-shaped growth on the foot or hand that is changing, growing, or has an unusual colour; or an elevated, thickened patch growing on the sole of the foot or palm of the hand.

While most skin cancers are related to sun exposure, ALM can occur to anyone and may be due to a genetic risk factor in some people. It can go unnoticed for longer, which means this type of cancer usually spreads and becomes more aggressive before it is treated.

On the scalp

A doctor or dermatologist can help examine your scalp. (Getty Images)

Skin cancer can develop on the scalp, with sun exposure being the most common cause. It often develops unnoticed as it is hidden under hair and is not a part of the body you can see easily.

You can get different types of skin cancer on the scalp, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Melanoma is the rarest of the three, but the most aggressive and has a greater chance of spreading as it is easy to miss. It may appear in different forms, including sores, ulcers and moles, or as bumps that may grow and bleed.

In the ears

It is rare to develop melanoma on the external ear, and even rarer for it to affect the inner ear. However, warning signs of melanoma on this part of the body include abnormal changes to the skin on the ear, including lumps or bumps; a sore that wont heal; new marks, spots or moles; marks with abnormal or changing colour, texture, shape or size; and marks that ooze, bleed, or are scaly, itchy or painful.

Inside the mouth

As melanoma develops from the cells that give skin its colour, it is not very common to develop melanoma in the mouth. According to Cancer Research UK, around one of every 100 oral cavity cancers are melanomas.

Read more about skin cancer:
HA NOI  Falls in large-cap stocks weighed on the market on Thursday, causing the VN-Index to fall for a second consecutive day.

The VN-Index on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) finished the day at 1,266.32 points, down 6.32 points, or 0.5 per cent.

On the southern bourse, the breadth was negative as 186 stocks ticked down while 130 increased and 60 ended flat. Liquidity remained high, fluctuating nearly VN26 trillion (US$1 billion), up slightly from the previous trading session, equivalent to a trading volume of one billion shares.

The VN30-Index, tracking the 30 biggest stocks on the HoSE by market capitalisation, also dropped 4.73 points, or 0.37 per cent, to 1,279.29 points. The number of decliners surpassed gainers in the VN30 basket by 21 to eight, while one stock ended flat.

Banking, real estate and manufacturing industries dominated the market. Leading the downturn was the Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (VCB) as shares of the lender tumbled more than 1.3 per cent, erasing more than 1.6 points from the VN-Index.

It was followed by the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID) and Vingroup Joint Stock Company (VIC), down 1.85 per cent and 2.82 per cent, respectively, contributing to a decrease of more than two points of the VN-Index.

Other stocks influencing the downturn were PetroVietnam Gas Joint Stock Corporation (GAS), down 1.34 per cent, Hoa Phat Group JSC (HPG) which dipped 1.22 per cent and Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MBB), down 2.02 per cent.

However, losses were capped by gains in some pillar stocks, led by Vietnam Rubber Group - Joint Stock Company (GVR), which was up over 3.1 per cent, Mobile World Investment Corporation (MWG) increased by 3.8 per cent and Masan Group Corporation (MSN) rose 2.93 per cent.

The Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX) index also finished lower on Thursday afternoon, declining 0.06 per cent to 244.01 points.

During the session, more than VN2.7 trillion worth of shares were traded, equivalent to a trading volume of nearly 143 million shares on the northern bourse.

Foreign investors in the afternoon increased buying by about 172 per cent compared to the morning session, reaching VN1.1 trillion but also increased selling by 28 per cent to VN1.6 trillion. The net selling level for the whole day was high, reaching VN1.3 trillion on HoSE. The VN30 basket of shares had a net withdrawal of VN1.1 trillion.  VNS
Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg speaks during a press conference announcing 14 criminal charges of public corruption against seven individuals stemming from Houstons waterline repair and inspection contracts, Friday, May 31, 2024, in Houston. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer

A former employee of Houstons Public Works Department has been arrested for allegedly taking bribes from vendors and funneling city dollars to herself through a shell company.

Public Works first suspended Patrece Lee, a former manager of the departments water operation, in November 2023 after a KPRC report alerted the city of possible conflicts of interest in her handling of emergency contracts for water leak repairs. The internal probe later turned into a criminal investigation.

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Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg announced at a Friday news conference that her office has filed 14 charges against seven defendants, including Lee, her brother and the vendors involved.

Lee, who faces four charges of bribery and abuse of official capacity, has been arrested. An attorney has not yet been assigned to her case.

The others will turn themselves in or be arrested in the coming days, Ogg said.

According to the charging document, Lee allegedly steered city contracts to companies that would then hire her own company, KB3 Construction, for consulting services, amount (ing) to little more than kick-backs. In return, she promised to help these vendors obtain larger and better contracts and get paid faster.

From January 2023 through November 2023, Lee allegedly pocketed $322,000 from four different vendors through this scheme, the charging document said.

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Investigators also accused Lee of funneling over $400,000 of city dollars directly to LCI, a company owned by her brother Andrew Thomas, while never disclosing her relationship with Thomas. She then immediately transferred at least $380,000 of the payments to her own company, according to the charging document.

Assistant District Attorney Mark Levine said a lot of the money has been spent. Ogg added some of the money went toward the purchase of new cars.

All of the normal checks and balances were averted, and that is a recipe for corruption, Ogg said. The damage of public corruption in the big picture is the publics loss of trust in government to be responsible stewards of their money.

Mayor John Whitmire, who co-hosted the news conference with Ogg, has long promised to root out corruption and conflicts of interest at City Hall. During his mayoral campaign last year, he cited this specific case as an example of ethical concerns during former Mayor Sylvester Turners administration.

Facing steep financial challenges ahead, the mayor said he does not intend to ask voters for more tax revenues this year specifically because he is not yet confident he has eliminated all inefficiencies and corrupt practices from the citys operations.

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Ive already sent word to all of my department heads, Were watching. Dont even think about cutting corners or playing favorites, the mayor said, adding he plans to scrutinize the Houston Housing Authority, the Metropolitan Transit Authority and the Houston Airport System next.

I assured the public we wouldnt ask for additional revenue until we can guarantee that we (have) removed conflicts of interest and public corruption, Whitmire added.

Randy Macchi, Public Works chief operating officer, said the department is in the process of evaluating how to improve its contracting process to prevent similar incidents from happening in the future.

LEADERSHIP CHANGE: Mayor Whitmire replaces Public Works Director Carol Haddock in latest major City Hall shakeup

Since emergency purchases are typically subject to less scrutiny than regular contracts, one solution, Macchi said, is to invest more in routine waterline repairs to reduce the need for emergency repairs.

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Additionally, in this instance, Lee was the only person responsible for verifying vendor information. Macchi said he would ensure that, in the future, there will always be more than one employee in charge of the process for better checks and balances.

Three Public Works employees have been terminated as a direct result of this case, Macchi said.

The investigation is still ongoing, with the Texas Rangers conducting an independent review. Officials encouraged any witnesses to reach out to the Texas Rangers at 281-517-1400 with information.

There are certainly more witnesses, Levine said. The only way we stop public corruption is with the public coming forward.
HA NOI  More than 30 per cent of Vietnamese consumers are interested in purchasing electric vehicles (EVs), according to a recent Deloittes global automotive consumer study.

The main drivers for the interest are reduced operating costs, climate change concerns, and personal health benefits. Driving experience is also an important factor.

According to the study, about 49 per cent of Vietnamese people still favour petrol and diesel, an increase of around one per cent compared to last year.

Meanwhile, the number of users interested in battery electric vehicles (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) accounts for 16 per cent and 17 per cent, respectively.

Regarding hybrid vehicles (HEV), only about 9 per cent of Vietnamese are interested in this vehicle line, two or three times lower than other countries in the region such as Thailand, Singapore, the Philippines, Malaysia or Indonesia.

The majority (48 per cent) of EV owners in Viet Nam still rely primarily on charging at home. However, a significant proportion (20 per cent) now regularly charge at their workplace, which is the highest rate among the surveyed countries. Around a third (32 per cent) of current Vietnamese EV owners use public charging stations or on-street charging.

Southeast Asian countries are now prioritising a roll out of public charging stations, driven by concerns about 'range anxiety' - the fear of running out of battery power.

If EV owners cannot charge at home, they need reassurance that a public charge point is conveniently close by.

The study stressed that this issue requires strategic vision to maximise profits from investing in building a national public charging system.

The data on electric vehicle (EV) charging times shows how long drivers would be willing to wait at public charging stations to charge their vehicle from empty to 80 per cent.

Approximately 37 per cent of EV users are willing to wait between 21 and 40 minutes, 31 per cent of users expect the charging process to take between 10-20 minutes and only 10 per cent of users are willing to accept waiting up to 10 minutes.

According to Deloitte, the suggestion that charging an electric vehicle takes the same amount of time as filling a fossil fuel tank is exaggerated. In reality, consumers in most Southeast Asian markets are willing to wait more than 10 minutes to charge their vehicles.

The report concludes that, when it comes to pure electric vehicles (EVs), consumers in Southeast Asia are mainly concerned about insufficient charging station infrastructure, charging times and vehicles suddenly running out of charge, along with costs.

In the Vietnamese market, the three biggest issues that users are concerned about regarding EVs are travel distance, battery charging time and knowledge about electric vehicles.

Only about four per cent of Vietnamese consumers are concerned about the limitations of brands and models available in the domestic electric vehicle market. This indicates that while there may be fewer choices compared to more established markets, it is not a primary concern for most consumers. VNS
HA NOI  Amid the recent boom of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, Viet Nam's information security faces new risks. It is essential to quickly research these issues to find solutions that will prevent negative impacts.

This viewpoint was heard at Viet Nam Security Summit 2024, the sixth conference and expo for cybersecurity, in Ha Noi on Thursday.

The annual event on information security is organised under the auspices of the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), the Authority of Information Security (AIS) and IEC Group.

It's a prestigious forum for experts to share perspectives, visions and solutions to ensure database security in the era of advanced AI.

Speaking at the event opening, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Pham uc Long affirmed that ensuring information security requires synchronous coordination between organisations, businesses and Government agencies.

This cooperation not only opens up opportunities to share information and experiences, but also enhances our ability to respond quickly and effectively to threats, he said.

To ensure safety amidst the AI boom and other rapidly emerging technologies, agencies and organisations need to clearly understand and conduct comprehensive assessments of the current state of information systems, deploy information security systems at different levels and fully implement information security measures, said Long.

Last year, cyber attacks caused estimated losses of up to US$8 trillion across the globe, equivalent to nearly $21 billion per day.

That number is expected to continue increasing, and will likely hit $9.5 trillion this year.

Every 11 seconds, an organisation is attacked by ransomware. At the same time, more than 353 million people have been affected by data breaches, with a global average cost reaching $4.45 million.

These are telling numbers, especially during the boom of AI technology, summit participants heard.

Speaking at Viet Nam Security Summit 2024, Tran ang Khoa, AIS Deputy Director, said that forms of online fraud are now very diverse, which poses a risk to users.

Cyber information security is a "mandatory" requirement, not a "selection", noted Khoa.

All ministries, branches and localities need to organise the inspection and assessment of compliance with laws on information security, with priority given to compliance with regulations on ensuring information system by level and protecting personal information and data, he added.

He also highly recommended prioritising inspection and evaluation for units, organisations, and businesses that were assigned to manage and operate key or multiple shared information systems.

Warning about the risks from AI applications and cybersecurity challenges, Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the National Population Data Centre under the Ministry of Public Security, was concerned about the potential invasion of privacy by facial and voice recognition surveillance technology.

The growth of AI and issues related to its ethics and responsibility have not yet had a common voice globally, he said.

Therefore, to solve this problem, it is necessary to complete rules for AI to stay ahead of the trend, and issue ethical regulations on the process of developing, producing, applying and using AI, he added.

There should be research, development and application of AI that must go hand in hand with cyber safety and security, he said.

In addition, the AIS also recommended effective use of digital platforms, including digital platforms that have been launched at previous information security events.

Within the framework of the Viet Nam Security Summit 2024 event, a free management and detection and early warning platform for information security risks was officially launched for organisations and businesses.

The platform is expected to contribute to improving cybersecurity protection for organisations and businesses in Viet Nam.

In parallel with the plenary session and thematic seminars, the Cyber Security Exhibition also took place with the participation of more than 50 leading security solution providers such as Viettel Cyber Security Company, Cloudflare, Sophos, Opswat and CMC.  VNS
HA NOI  A delegation of the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa led by Secretary of its Party Committee Nguyen Hai Ninh attended a seminar between Vietnamese businesses and US firms, investment funds and groups in New York during their working visit to the US from May 29-30.

Speaking at the seminar, Tran Hoa Nam, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee, introduced the localitys potential and advantages to US businesses, emphasising that Khanh Hoa prioritises attracting investment in developing three pillars of high-quality services such as tourism, finance, trade, logistics, education - training and urban development; processing, manufacturing, energy, information technology and telecommunications, and supporting industries, and large-scale agriculture.

Secretary Ninh said that Khanh Hoa identifies the US as one of the main markets where it wishes to expand cooperation for mutual development and attract more US investors to projects in its three key economic zones.

On this occasion, representatives of several US and Vietnamese enterprises shared their investment and business experiences in Khanh Hoa, with focus on the Van Phong Economic Zone, and discussed cooperation and investment opportunities.

During their stay, the Khanh Hoa delegation had a working session with the permanent delegation of Viet Nam to the United Nations, during which Ninh expressed his hope that the delegation will continue to support the province's delegation in signing a memorandum of cooperation with Boston citys administration, and assist it in establishing connections with US businesses in the fields of refining and petrochemical technology, logistics, urban development, high-class tourism, semiconductor technology, education - training, and high-quality human resources.  VNS
HA NOI  Benchmark indices moved in different directions on Friday as blue-chip stocks saw a withdrawal in capital while the foreign bloc continued net selling.

On the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE), the VN-Index decreased 4.6 points, equivalent to 0.36 per cent, to 1,261.72 points. This marks its third straight day of decline.

According to Saigon-Hanoi Securities JSC (SHS), the market is under increased selling pressure as the VN-Index approaches a significant resistance level, leading to continued volatility.

The market breadth on the southern bourse was in negative territory as 176 stocks increased while 149 stocks decreased. Liquidity decreased 27.5 per cent, with transaction value reaching VN18.7 trillion (US$732 million). This was equivalent to a trading volume of 771.1 million shares.

The VN30-Index, tracking the 30 biggest stocks on HoSE, also ticked down 3.32 points to 1,275.97 points, down 0.26 per cent. In the VN30 basket, up to 18 ticker symbols fell, nine increased and three ended flat.

In particular, Vietcombank (VCB) posted the biggest loss and led the markets downtrend. The lender's shares dropped 1.58 per cent, erasing nearly two points from the VN-Index. Notably, the bank was the biggest loser in the VN-Index over the past three consecutive trading days.

Other stocks influencing the downturn were Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BID), down more than 1.2 per cent, Vietnam Rubber Group - Joint Stock Company (GVR), which dipped 2.36 per cent and PetroVietnam Gas Joint Stock Corporation (GAS), which decreased 1.23 per cent.

The index pared losses thanks to weak bottom-fishing demand. Hoa Phat Group JSC (HPG) was the biggest gainer with an increase of 1.24 per cent, contributing more than 0.5 point to the VN-Index. It was followed by Vingroup Joint Stock Company (VIC), up nearly one per cent.

The Ha Noi Stock Exchange (HNX) index also finished lower on Friday afternoon, declining 0.38 per cent to 243.09 points.

During the session, more than VN1.4 trillion worth of shares were traded, equivalent to a trading volume of nearly 78 million shares on the northern bourse.

On the other hand, foreign investors extended their net selling spree as they net sold over VN1.4 trillion on HoSE. They also net sold VN4.4 billion on HNX.  VNS
HA NOI  Tourism activities in all destinations across the country have become vibrant as summer comes, prompting localities to gear up various events for the peak season.

HCM City held the second Vietnamese banh my Festival in mid-May and is about to organise the second River Festival from May 31 to June 9.

The south-central province of Khanh Hoa plans to hold the Nha Trang Sea Festival while Binh inh, another province in the south-central region, will host a series of summer tourism activities.

The Hue Festival Week in central Thua Thien - Hue Province is to take place in June. Meanwhile, the Festival for Peace, slated for the same month, is expected to draw visitors from far and wide to the central province of Quang Tri.

Many new tourism products have also been introduced, including night tours at the Cuc Phuong National Park in the northern province of Ninh Binh.

The Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) is stepping up tourism promotion domestically and internationally on its websites and social networks, highlighting outstanding destinations such as Can Tho - a city of canals in the Mekong Delta, Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in Ninh Binh Province, Hoi An ancient city in central Quang Nam Province, terraced rice fields in the northwestern region, and poetic a Lat City in the Central Highlands province of Lam ong to offer local and international travellers fresher, friendlier, and more attractive glances at the country.

The authority reported that in the first five months of this year, Viet Nam has welcomed nearly 7.6 million international arrivals, a rise of 64.9 per cent year on year and 3.9 per cent from the pre-COVID-19 period. At the same time, the tourism sector has served 52.5 million domestic travellers. Tourism earnings are estimated at VN352.2 trillion (US$13.83 billion).

The Republic of Korea remained the largest market for Vietnamese tourism during the period with 1.9 million visitors, accounting for 25.7 per cent of the total foreign arrivals, followed by China, 21.2 per cent.

Strong growth has been seen in the number of tourists from Asia (73 per cent) and Europe (57.1 per cent) thanks to the favourable visa policy applied since August 15 last year, the VNAT said.  VNS
SYDNEY  Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Pham Hung Tam received John Bryant, an Australian veteran who participated in the May 1968 battle at So Ga, So Hoi and ong Tram bases, north of Thu Dau Mot town (now in Binh My Commune, Bac Tan Uyen District) the southern province of Binh Duong.

Bryant shared his journey with several Australian and US veterans in their efforts to find possible burial places of Vietnamese martyrs who died in this battle.

After more than 15 years, with tireless efforts and support from the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defence and Binh Duong province, 20 sets of Vietnamese martyrs' remains were found and buried at the provincial martyrs cemetery.

The war veteran said he had been touched when returning and directly participating in the search for and gathering of remains of Vietnamese martyrs in Binh Duong, adding that he was very grateful for the love of the Vietnamese people, especially the love of the martyrs' relatives for Australian veterans.

In the near future, Bryant plans to return to Viet Nam to continue contributing to the search for martyrs' remains.

Ambassador Tam showed his thanks for the veterans sentiment and efforts in support for the gathering of martyrs remains in the southern province.

He proposed Bryant encourage other Australian veterans to join this work to contribute to the two peoples friendship.  VNS
SEOUL  Vietnamese Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son on May 31 met with Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Han Duck-soo as part of the formers official visit to the East Asian country.

Han noted his belief that Sons visit will be an important basis to promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The PM also expressed his good sentiments towards Viet Nam, and congratulated the country on its remarkable socio-economic achievements, and increasing position and role in the region.

The Korean Government attaches importance to the bilateral relationship and considers Viet Nam a key partner in its foreign policy in the region, he affirmed.

The two sides shared the view on the need to strengthen cooperation, maintain regular high-level exchanges and contacts, effectively implement cooperation mechanisms and dialogues, step up economic ties practically, enhance collaboration in culture, education, tourism and labour, and people-to-people exchange, maintain coordination at multilateral forums, and foster coordination in regional and international issues of shared concern.

Son also congratulated the RoK on its achievements, and affirmed that the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue the close coordination with its Korean counterpart and other competent agencies of the two countries to beef up the bilateral relations in a more practical and comprehensive manner and in the spirit of the agreement reached by the two countries high-ranking leaders, focusing on the implementation of the action programme to realise the comprehensive strategic partnership.

Son used the occasion to thank the RoK for its active cooperation with Viet Nam, helping the Southeast Asian country fulfill its role as coordinator for the ASEAN-RoK relations for 2021-2024.

He called for the RoKs support and experience sharing in the organisation of the Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) summit Viet Nam will host in 2025, as well as the East Asian countrys continued support for Viet Nams and ASEANs stance on the East Sea issue.

Viet Nam always keeps a close watch on, backs and stands ready to contribute to the process of denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula, Son stressed.

The same day, Son held talks with his Korean counterpart Cho Tae-yeol, during which the guest emphasising Viet Nam's consistent policy of promoting bilateral cooperation, making it more substantive, comprehensive and sustainable.

He suggested the RoK keep doors open for Vietnamese goods to enter its market and assist Vietnamese firms to join global supply chains of Korean businesses more intensively, contributing to raising two-way trade to US$100 billion in 2025.

The minister also called on the country to improve the quality of and expand investments in Viet Nam, particularly in semiconductors, digital transformation, green transition, renewable energy and high technology; further consider providing big loans with preferential conditions for Viet Nam's key infrastructure projects and others on climate change; deepen cooperation in labour, tourism, education and people-to-people exchange; and offer more scholarships to Vietnamese students.

Cho pledged to maintain close cooperation with the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, covering the implementation of the above-said action programme, and suggested Viet Nam create a favourable environment for Korean investors, while intensifying supply chain cooperation in essential minerals, developing LNG power plants, and hydrogen production.

The host minister spoke highly of Viet Nams role as coordinator of the ASEAN-RoK relations for 2021-2024.

Both highlighted the importance of the East Sea (internationally known as the South China Sea) to peace, security and stability in the region, and agreed to continue supporting the resolution of disputes in the waters by peaceful means in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).  VNS
HA NOI  In observance of World No Tobacco Day on May 31, the Ministry of Health (MoH) has launched a media campaign aimed at preventing the use of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products to safeguard children and public health.

This year's theme, initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO), is 'Protecting children from tobacco industry interference.'

Deputy Minister of Health Tran Van Thuan reported a significant increase in electronic cigarette use among students aged 13 to 17, rising from 2.6 per cent in 2019 to 8.1 per cent in 2023.

In those aged 13 to 15, usage more than doubled from 3.5 per cent in 2022 to 8 per cent in 2023.

WHO emphasised that this day is an opportunity for young people worldwide to raise awareness and demand that the tobacco industry stop targeting children and adolescents with harmful products.

It also calls on governments to implement strong tobacco control measures to protect youth from tobacco advertising, including on social media and digital platforms.

MoH's campaign not only aims to raise awareness but also to take concrete actions to prevent and reduce the use of new tobacco products in the community, particularly among teenagers, who are the most vulnerable group.

"We will focus on raising public awareness about the harms of heated tobacco and electronic cigarettes, and encourage parents, schools, and the community to work together to protect the younger generation," minister Thuan said.

In implementing the National Strategy for Tobacco Harm Prevention and the recent directive from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on strengthening the management of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products, numerous practical activities have been carried out by ministries, organisations and localities. These activities include the campaign 'Vietnamese youth say no to tobacco and electronic cigarettes.'

MoH calls on agencies, organisations and the entire community to continue engaging in practical activities and enhancing communication to build a smoke-free environment and strictly enforce the Law on Tobacco Harm Prevention.

Schools are urged to intensify education and organise extracurricular activities to equip students with the knowledge to protect themselves from the allure of new-generation tobacco products.

Parents should talk to their children about the risks of electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco, helping them understand and confidently say no to these products.  VNS
HA NOI  Ambassador ang Hoang Giang, Viet Nams Permanent Representative to the UN, has spoken highly of UNICEFs support for the nation in protecting and promoting childrens rights, particularly those related to education, health care, nutrition, and vaccination.

Receiving Director of UNICEFs Public Partnerships Division June Kunugi in New York on May 30, Giang affirmed that as child care and protection are a leading priority in its socio-economic development strategy, Viet Nam has devoted necessary resources for child development.

He expressed his hope that UNICEF and Kunugi, who will take up her role as Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific this summer, will continue assisting Viet Nam to mobilise resources, develop policies, and enhance specific and practical cooperation programmes and plans to achieve more positive results in this regard while helping the National Fund for Vietnamese Children realise the targets on children.

Kunugi, for her part, expressed her impression of and commended the achievements that Viet Nam has recorded during its nearly 40 years of oi moi (Renewal), describing them as a foundation for the country to reap encouraging results in child care and protection.

UNICEF highly values Viet Nams proposed resolution on the International Day of Play, which was recently adopted by the UN General Assembly, she said, affirming that the organisation will join hands with the group of core countries to organise the first celebration on June 11 to make it a meaningful event for the comprehensive development of children across the globe.

The two sides concurred to work together for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Viet Nam - UNICEF partnership. They will also discuss measures to improve UNICEF operations' efficiency in mobilising resources, implementing programmes and projects, and promoting cooperation and coordination in Asia-Pacific. VNS
HA NOI  A nationwide charity programme to support children with disabilities in 10 highland border provinces has been launched in Ha Noi on Friday.

The programme, entitled 'Supporting children with disabilities to go to school', will be jointly implemented by the Vietnam Fund for Disabled Children, Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in coordination with the Vietnam Disabled Children Relief Association and the National Humanitarian Electronic Information Portal 1400.

The programme aims to mobilise resources from agencies, organisations and people nationwide to raise funds for at least 1,000 gifts for children with disabilities in difficult circumstances who are able and willing to attend school. The 10 highland border provinces include Cao Bang, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Lai Chau, ien Bien, Quang Ninh, Kon Tum, Gia Lai, ak Lak and ak Nong.

The organising committee plans to provide VN2 million for each child to help students pay tuition and living expenses or buy equipment for their studies in the next school year.

In addition, the programme also aims to raise awareness among the community, the public and local authorities about the equal right to education for children with disabilities.

There are currently about 8 million people with disabilities nationwide, of which more than 2.26 million are children. More than 90 per cent of children with disabilities lack access to at least two basic social services such as education, health care, nutrition, housing, clean water, sanitation, information, social integration and safe living environment, according to the Vietnam Fund for Disabled Children.

All kind hearts across the country can support the campaign by texting TEKT to 1407 at the National Humanitarian Portal 1400. Each SMS will add VN20,000 (US$0.9) to help children with disabilities have the opportunity to go to school. The texting programme will run from May 25 to July 23, 2024.

Donors can also support directly with a transfer to the Vietnam Fund for Disabled Children's bank account. A note or label for the transfer should read 'TEKT'. The Fund's receiving accounts are as follows:

Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam - Vietcombank

Account name: Fund for Disabled Children

Account number VN: 00110 0381 4022 - CIF: 481 3569

USD account number: 00113 7381 4041 - CIF: 481 3569

Swift Code: BFTVVNVX 001

Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade - Vietinbank - Hai Ba Trung Branch, Ha Noi

Account name: Foundation for Vietnamese Disabled Children

Account number: 121000034371

Thuong Tin Commercial Joint Stock Bank - Sacombank - Binh Chanh Branch, HCM City

Account name: Foundation for Vietnamese Disabled Children

Account number: 0600952684663

Donors can also send school supplies and equipment to support children with learning disabilities at the headquarters of the Vietnam Fund for Disabled Children:

Southern Office: 184 Nam Ky Khoi Nghia, District 3, HCM City.

North Office: 20th Floor, HCMCC Building No. 249A, Thuy Khue Street, Tay Ho District, Ha Noi. VNS
Ro launched its GLP-1 Supply Tracker that will notify patients when a GLP-1 drug is back in the market, including the location of the pharmacies where it would be available.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a limited supply notice for Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro due to its popular demand for patients.

Read Also : California Lawmakers Advance Proposals for AI Regulation Amid Increasing Deepfake Issues

GLP-1 Supply Trackers Alert Patients for Medication Availability

These days patients are having a hard time filling their prescriptions due to the limited supply of GLP-1 drugs. These drugs are known for being popular for patients with diabetes and those who push for weight loss.

"The GLP-1 shortage challenges are exacerbated by a lack of accurate, up-to-date, and accessible GLP-1 supply information. Patients deserve better," said Ro co-founder and CEO Zachariah Reitano.

The GLP-1 Supply Tracker relies on data from Ro's nationwide supply and user-generated reports. The company also gets the latest updates from the FDA to create real-time alerts for patients.

How GLP-1 Supply Tracker Works

The GLP-1 Supply Tracker will allow patients to sign up and be authorized to receive alerts once their medication is available. Patients will receive vital information like what drug is available and where it is available.

Moreover, the tracker will also give patients the chance to report important details. Users can create reviews specifying the drug, dose, and pharmacy where they got or failed to get stock. The data collected from patients will be added to the pool of sources of the company.

Eli Lilly, the maker of Zepbound and Mounjaro, is also creating the same tool. The company shared that they are currently working to update the supply website with heat maps to assist patients where they can buy their medications within the area.
HA NOI  Ha Noi will issue Judicial Record Certificates via the VNeID application free of charge for citizens from June 1 in order to encourage residents to use the app for these procedures.

On May 15, the capital Peoples Council issued Resolution No. 11/2024 stipulating support for fees related to providing judicial record information via the VNeID application within the city.

During the pilot perios, between April 22 and May 29, the department received 5,235 applications and dealt with 2,961 applications via the VNeID application.

However, the department encountered some technical difficulties.

To facilitate transaction processing, the department had assigned FPT Corporation to address the errors.

On Thursday, the citys Justice Department worked with the Ministry of Public Security, the Peoples Committee of Ha Noi and other relevant agencies to finalise technical procedures.

Issuance of Criminal Record Certificates via the VNeID application provides citizens with an additional method to request a Criminal Record Certificate, alongside issuance through the public service of the city (https://dichvucong.hanoi.gov.vn), the postal service system and direct request at the One-stop shop of the Department of Justice.

Issuance of Criminal Record Certificates via the VNeID application is eligible for Vietnamese citizens with level-2 electronic identity accounts.

Criminal Record Certificates issued electronically via the VNeID application have legal validity equivalent to the original paper Criminal Record Certificate.

VNeID is a mobile phone app developed by the National Population Data Centre under the Ministry of Public Security to replace traditional documents and provide utilities serving digital citizens, digital government and digital society.  VNS
Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Tran Quoc Phuong and Herve Conan, AFD's general director

On May 30, at the headquarters of the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), Deputy Minister Tran Quoc Phuong and Herve Conan, general director of the French Development Agency (AFD), signed an agreement for a technical assistance project titled "Investment preparation of Hanoi Metro Line 3 extension project, section Hanoi station - Hoang Mai and supporting the research and construction of an integrated urban transport system for urban railway projects".

The signing ceremony was witnessed by leaders of the Department General of International Partnerships under the European Commission, the Delegation of the European Union to Vietnam, the French Embassy, and representatives of numerous ministries and agencies.

The technical assistance is worth 10 million in non-refundable aid, and will fund feasibility studies for an extension to Hanoi Metro Line 3 from Hanoi station to Hoang Mai. It will also support the research and construction of an integrated urban transport system with railway projects.

Phuong, on behalf of the Vietnamese government, expressed his thanks to the EU, the government of France, and AFD for accompanying and supporting Vietnam in implementing its climate commitments and reducing emissions, the energy transition, and improving quality of life.

He said the cooperative relationship would help meet the country's socioeconomic development goals and build Hanoi into a cultured, civilised, and modern city.

By signing the agreement today, the MPI, in collaboration with ministries and agencies, will carry out projects and use the EU fund in accordance with the goals set forth, and we look forward to close support from the EU and AFD to enhance the effectiveness of funding," Phuong said.

Myriam Ferran, deputy director general of the Department General of International Partnerships under the European Commission, said, "10 million in non-refundable aid for this project aims to contribute to low-carbon emissions and energy transition in urban transport infrastructure in Hanoi. This matches with the EU's Global Gateway to narrow the gap between global investments, and the EU's commitment to becoming loyal partner of Vietnam in climate action, energy transition, and sustainable development."

Myriam Ferran, deputy director general of the Department General of International Partnerships

Olivier Brochet, French Ambassador to Vietnam, highly appreciated Hanoi's socioeconomic development, but also said this raises numerous challenges such as traffic, pollution, and quality of life. That is why the French government has mobilised funding for the development of transport infrastructure towards a low-carbon economy.

The French government has mobilised funding for the first phase of Hanoi Metro Line 3 (Nhon - Hanoi Railway Station section), which will be put into operation soon.

"Technical assistance for the second phase will be approved soon under the management of AFD. This will develop urban railways in Hanoi, increase multi-modal connectivity, and enhance mobility for people in the capital, while gradually reducing the volume of personal vehicles in inner city areas and cutting air pollution. The common goal is to increase the attractiveness not only of public transport but also of the city itself," the ambassador emphasised.

Duong Duc Tuan, Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee, thanked the partners for their interest and support for Hanoi, and committed to creating favourable conditions during the project implementation process.

"Hanoi will also mobilise maximum resources and support to ensure the project runs on schedule, with high quality and efficiency, contributing to the sustainable development of the capital," Tuan said.

Vietnam, France cooperate in digital transformation, public service reform Vietnamese Minister of Home Affairs Pham Thi Thanh Tra held talks with French Minister of Public Transformation and Service Stanislas Guerini in Hanoi on November 30.

France to build 'beyond' planned six new nuclear plants France is set to build eight new nuclear plants on top of six already announced, the energy minister has said, arguing more reactors are needed to hit carbon reduction targets.
A drug haul in Bangkok, Thailand (Photo: AFP)

Hano  Officials from the Greater Mekong sub-region countries have agreed to crack down on drug trafficking as synthetic drug markets in the region continue to grow.

The agreement was reached at the Senior Officials Committee Meeting of the Signatories to the Memorandum of Understanding on Drug Control in the Greater Mekong Sub-region that took place in Vientiane, Laos on May 28-29.

Participants heard a report titled "Synthetic Drugs in East and Southeast Asia: Latest Developments and Challenges 2024" which pointed to an escalation in drug trafficking.

Lao Deputy Minister of Public Security Khamking Phuilamanyvong said the Lao Government has intensified action to tackle the drug problem and remains committed to working with other regional countries in this regard.

The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the sub-regional action plan and raised an initiative on joint efforts to tackle synthetic drugs in the region.

Border guards honoured for drug trafficking busts The Ministry of National Defence held a ceremony in Hanoi on May 27 to honour border guards for their exceptional achievements in combating drug-related crimes and smuggling.
At the "From 'Brown' to 'Green' - Innovating in Transition" session held at the ACCA Asia-Pacific Forum by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) on May 28 in Hanoi Jonathan Back, CFO of Ayala Energy, expressed an optimistic outlook for the renewable energy sector in Vietnam.

"Since we entered this market six years ago, the Vietnamese government has implemented numerous favourable policies for the development of renewable energy," Back said. "With a strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuel power plants and promote renewable energy, the Vietnamese government has introduced incentive policies for renewable energy project developers, including the highly regarded feed-in-tariff mechanism."

The presence of seven renewable energy plants in Vietnam serves as clear evidence of Ayala Energy's confidence in Vietnam's clean energy goals.

"The countries where we operate are places where our group believes there are many favourable factors for renewable energy. I am very optimistic about the future of the renewable energy sector in Vietnam," Back added.

Nguyen Hoa Cuong, deputy director of the Central Institute for Economic Management under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, gave an example of Quang Ninh province as an example of the green transition.

"Quang Ninh is a northern province with distinct advantages in coal production and coal-fired power plants. However, in the past five years, it has also been a leader in business environment rankings, competitiveness, and digital economic development indices," he said. "The story of Quang Ninh is a microcosm of the broader changes occurring across Vietnam. This demonstrates that we have undergone a transformation, where economic development no longer relies primarily on natural resources but on high-tech industries, green energy, and a commitment to sustainable development."

Additionally, Cuong highlighted the long-term national strategy for comprehensive green development issued by the government.

"Vietnam made a historic commitment at COP26 with the strong goal of achieving net-zero emissions. Accordingly, Vietnam has initiatives to mobilise the strength of the entire society to build a green economy, supported by the concerted efforts of the government, localities, the domestic business community, and foreign direct investment," he said.

Green workforce crucial to a green economy The Vietnamese government is targeting green growth with policies and international commitments towards the green economy. Nguyen Cong Thuy, founder and CEO of HRDC, discusses the influence of the green workforce on sustainable development.

'Green skills vital' for green transition Organised by the United Nations in Vietnam on August 11, this years International Youth Day focussed on the role of education and highlighted the importance of teaching green skills to young people, so they can move towards a brighter, greener, and more sustainable future for Vietnam.
In recently published financial statements, it was revealed that sales expenses for Cuu Long Fish JSC in the first quarter were $850,000, a more than two-fold increase on-year. This was mainly due to the higher costs of materials, packaging, and shipping. Of these, shipping costs skyrocketed to $380,000 from $143,000.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), a series of large shipping companies such as Yang Ming Line, One, Evergreen Line, HMM, and Maersk collected additional fees due to changing routes between Asia and Europe to avoid the Suez Canal and the Red Sea area.

"This is the new challenge for seafood businesses in 2024. If tensions in the Red Sea region continue to escalate, it could increase transportation costs, and input material prices for aquaculture and processing, affecting the competitiveness and profits of seafood enterprises," said Truong Dinh Hoe, VASEP general secretary.

Since January, shipping fees to the US, Canada, and the EU have increased significantly compared to last year. Specifically, shipping to the west coast of the US increased from around $1,000 to nearly $3,000 per container, while shipping to theeast coast saw a larger raise from around $1,500 up to $4,500.

The cost of shipping containers to the EU has also seen a sharp increase since the end of last year. The cost to ship to Hamburg is now $4,350, more than double the cost in December.

Since February, a price framework for services such as pilotage, bridges, wharves, mooring buoys, loading and unloading, and seaport towing has been applied, increasing port service costs by 10 per cent.

At the same time, numerous foreign shipping firms have announced a 10-20 per cent increase in terminal handling charges (THCs). The Vietnam Shippers Association said these increases are three-times higher than the adjusted THCs at Vietnams seaports.

In addition to the THCs, the Vietnam Ship Agents and Brokers Association (Visaba) said that foreign shipping firms were also collecting several other types of surcharges, including fees for document handling, fuel, container cleaning, sulphur emission reduction, and container balancing fees. These surcharges are decided by the firms, without discussion or agreement with customers.

"Vietnamese shippers don't negotiate or sign shipping contracts directly, they are done through agents, so they have to accept all surcharges that shipping firms enforce to ensure delivery," said Nhu Dinh Thien, Visabas deputy general secretary.

"Shipping lines control transportation, while Vietnamese businesses are too small to raise their voice, so they struggle to win favourable terms when signing contracts with foreign partners," said Nguyen Thanh Cuong, deputy general director of maritime logistics firm Vfracht Danang.

He added that most shipping companies often raise prices to compensate for their own losses in freight rates, as surcharges on some shipping routes are currently higher than the actual cost of shipping. Typically, the freight rate to Chinese seaports can be zero, but the THCs can run to about $120 per 20-foot container and $180 per 40-foot container.

"Vietnams container loading and unloading fees are the lowest in the region, generating huge profits for foreign shipping lines because of the large difference between THCs and loading and unloading prices," Cuong said. "It is therefore necessary to regulate the ratio between loading and unloading prices at seaports and THCs."

Despite the numerous challenges, such as rising freight rates and US dollar valuation, the textile industry still has to import up to 60 per cent of its production materials. Tran Nhu Tung, vice president of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, said, "It's not just the garments and textiles sector, other industries are adjusting and reconsidering the volume of orders they are receiving."

Nguyen Van Thu, chairman of G.C Food JSC, speaking about some of the problems her industry is facing, said, "Shippers give priority to orders from easy-to-deliver markets such as Japan, China, and South Korea. They are cutting down or even temporarily freezing orders in distant markets such as the US, Europe, and the Middle East."

Truong Dinh Hoe from VASEP said that seafood processing enterprises were also increasing exports to China and considering the Indian market. "These markets have a lot of potential with a combined population of nearly three billion along with diverse consumer needs, from medium to high-end segments," he said.

Exporters struggle with escalating shipping costs Undergoing turbulent an 2023 with fewer order, sinking revenues, and reduced profits, exporters are facing further obstacles from early 2024 amidst the soaring shipping costs.

Businesses start to feel impact of Red Sea shipping crisis The Red Sea shipping crisis may put a squeeze on Vietnam-based businesses as it lingers on with no foreseeable end in sight.
In April, Thanh Cong Textile Garment Investment Trading JSC (TCG), based in Ho Chi Minh Citys Tan Phu district, raked in nearly $12 million in revenue and more than $907,000 in post-tax profit.

Its revenue was up 13 per cent, while its profit spiked 399 per cent on-year.

TCGs leadership revealed that as of now the company has clinched about 88 per cent of its order capacity for the second quarter (Q2), and 83 per cent for Q3.

At the companys 2024 AGM in April, TCG set a target of reaching $154.4 million in full-year revenue, up 12 per cent on-year, and $6.7 million in full-year post-profit, up 21 per cent on-year.

After the first four months, the company had reached 33 per cent of the revenue target and half of its profit target.

Several other units in the sector also eyed inspiring results in the first quarter of this year.

In the group of businesses with revenue surpassing trillions of dong (more than $40 million) per year, Garment 10 Corporation saw the most impressive rebound, with revenue and profit surging 25 per cent and 29 per cent on-year, respectively.

At Song Hong Garment Corporation, in Q1, the companys revenue picked up nearly 21 per cent to $32 million, and post-tax profit soared 75 per cent on-year to around $2 million.

Bui Viet Quang, the companys general director, however, said that although the export order intake had rebounded, the price factor had not been as positive, and a complete rebound was more likely in 2025.

Our companys 2024 business plan was rooted on safety amid uncertainties in the global market. Foreign partners in the EU and US market still face headwinds, putting pressure on pricing, said Quang.

In fact, the textile apparel sector witnessed signs of rebound from Q4 last year. The general picture, however, has delivered mixed performances.

Hanoi Textile Garment Corporation saw a 20 per cent drop in revenue, extending its losing streak to eight consecutive quarters.

By the end of March, the company had incurred over $5.6 million in cumulative losses, eating up 66 per cent of its charter capital.

The situation of Garmex Saigon, a unit with nearly half a century behind it, is even more critical.

Besides cumulative losses amounting to $3 million  a fairly high level over its $13.7 million charter capital, the company saw almost empty revenue in Q1.

During the period, Garmex Saigon counted just $5,400 in revenue and incurred $487,000 in losses.

The company has temporarily ceased production due to lack of orders.

Its headcount fell from nearly 3,800 labourers in late 2021 to a mere 35 employees in late 2023.

This year, Garmex Saigon aims to reach $2.1 million in revenue, and $6.5 million in other incomes. After deducting expenses, its profit would come to $1.6 million.

To expand income sources, the company has sought permission for fresh lines in its business registration certificates to include retail of drugs and medical devices, wholesale of houseware, transportation, and warehousing.

The textile and apparel sector generated $40.3 billion in export value in 2023 and aims to count $44 billion this year.

However, with difficulties in terms of order intake and challenges from meeting the requirements for greening the sector from export partners, many business leaders plan to step into new fields aligning with the trend for medium- and long-term development.

Apparel groups anticipate ongoing rocky progress India and Bangladesh are competing with Vietnam for garment orders, but China is the most formidable rival, while Cambodia and Myanmar are emerging as new exporting nations.

Shipping firms eye rosier future Vietnam's import-export sector is showing signs of improvement amid rising demand from major markets such as the United States and Europe. Since early July, world markets have witnessed a recovery in sea freight prices, a signal to many that the shipping industry has overcome the challenging times of the previous eighteen months.

Textile apparel exporters proactive in tackling issues Global economic headwinds herald a challenging year ahead for textile apparel export, forcing firms in the sector to embrace flexible remedies.
Even the the TikTok ban bill has been passed into law, the issue is far from over. The social media giant is already fighting the ban with a lawsuit and will have until the divestment deadline to win it. It has also disputed rumors about the potential solution to the ultimatum of the US government.

TikTok Clarifies Source Code Split Rumor

Reports floated the idea that TikTok is working on a way to split its source code to allow for a US-only recommendation algorithm. To add to that, it is said that the company has been working on it since last year, but this turned out to be false.

The independent recommendation algorithm could potentially assuage the growing suspicion of the US government that not only is TikTok being used to monitor US citizens, but the Chinese government is also using it to spread propaganda.

Unfortunately, this is not the case. TikTok responded to the reports saying that the story published is "misleading and factually inaccurate." The X post also mentioned that what others claim TikTok was doing was not possible.

"[T[]he 'qualified divestiture' demanded by the Act to allow TikTok to continue operating in the United States is simply not possible: not commercially, not technologically, not legally. And certainly not on the 270-day timeline required by the Act."

TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes told The Verge: "While we have continued work in good faith to further safeguard the authenticity of the TikTok experience, it is simply false to suggest that this work would facilitate divestiture or that divestiture is even a possibility."

With this news, it means that TikTok's sole way of keeping the app from being banned in the US is to win its lawsuit in court. Otherwise, the app would be gone once the deadline arrives, which is by January 19th next year.

Read Also : TikTok is Suing the US to Block Looming Nationwide Ban

There's Still the Option of Selling

TikTok has already tried separating US data from its parent company ByteDance through Project Texas, which addresses risks such as data access by the Chinese government and content distribution, but that obviously did not pan out the way TikTok had hoped.

If the company cannot or continues to refuse to separate the recommendation algorithm for the US, then it might have to resort to selling the US business to an American company or individual. However, ByteDance is not too happy about that option as well.

It already said that it "doesn't have any plans to sell TikTok" in its official Toutiao account, which is a social media platform owned by the parent company, as per BBC. That again leaves the company giant with the lawsuit, which they will have no other choice but to win.

If not, then TikTok will eventually be banned from the US, which will surely have a huge effect considering how big the platform has gotten over the years. For one, it has been used for business and work by many content creators and SMBs. There are even those who only operate within the social media platform.
The Japanese space agency announced that it lost contact with the Akatsuki, the sole Venus spacecraft that is active in the planet's orbit.

According to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Akatsuki's contact was lost last April due to an "extended period of low attitude stability control mode."

Read Also : SpaceX Aims Next Starship Rocket Launch on June 5, Outlines Lessons From Flight 3

JAXA Attempts to Reconnect With Akatsuki

The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS)reported that the agency is still making efforts to reestablish communication with the spacecraft. The Venus Climate Orbiter, better known as Akatsuki, was launched into space in 2010.

Since then, the spacecraft has been studying the dynamics of Venus such as the weather patterns, cloud physics, and the surface conditions of the planet. The spacecraft initially failed to enter Venus' orbit due to an engine failure but was revived in 2015.

"We will inform you about future plans once they are fixed. Thank you for your warm support," the Akatsuki team shared. The spacecraft must have a stable orientation to point its antenna and communicate properly again with Earth.

Akatsuki Discovers Unexpected Observations on Venus

Over the years, the spacecraft has successfully collected science data from the mysterious planet of Venus. For instance, Akatsuki provided detailed information on the super-rotation phenomenon which explained the faster rotation of the planet's atmosphere.

The spacecraft also discovered the existence of gravity waves and thermal tides on the planet which affected Venus' surface. Akatsuki also sent images of the planet through infrared imaging, giving the scientists a better understanding of the planet's situation.

JAXA engineers will continue to rescue and attempt to reconnect with the spacecraft. Regardless of the outcome, NASA and other space agencies are already working to send another mission to study Venus.
Maybe because its San Francisco Design Week, the coming days are full of ways to bring art into your life and homefrom marketplaces at Heath and MMclay to an auction benefiting the Hospitality Houses Community Arts Program and Head West in Hayes.

Lest we forget the art of food and drink, some seriously rich items are on the menu: rainbow bagels from Tony Gemignani, donuts from Dynamo, specialty pork dishes from Left Bank Brasserie, plus brunch, whiskey and amaro.

Out in the community, Pride and Filipino Independence Day events are starting up. Lets celebrate!

Treasure Island is starting its own sunset movie experience, hosted by Gold Bar Distillery. (Jared Erondu)

Make it a movie night. Enjoy a waterside screening of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade on Treasure Island at sundownconveniently held in proximity to both the ferry and a whiskey tasting room; Monday, 6:30pm. // Gold Bar Distillery, 1 Avenue of the Palms (Treasure Island); tickets at eventbrite.com







Devour a free stack of "the gayest pancakes ever" ($24 value) when you join 7x7 Social Club and then make a reservation for dinner at Hilda and Jesse during Pride month; open for dinner Monday, Thursday, and Friday. // Hilda and Jesse, 701 Union St. (North Beach), hildaandjessesf.com





Go bananas, in the literary sense. Odd Salon brings together wild, wacky, absurd, and preposterous stories from the odd corners of science and culture under the theme "Bananas"; Tuesday, 6:30pm to 10pm. // Public Works, 161 Erie St. (Mission); details at eventbrite.com





Pop bottles of Billecart-Salmon at Tasting Houses special six-course small plate bubbly pairing with award-winning chef Julian Silvera. Learn about each Champagne and the history of the seven-generation, family-run winery; Tuesday, // Tasting House, 368 Village Ln. (Los Gatos); tickets ($250/person + tax & gratuity) are available at tastinghouse.com .

Thank you to our partners at Tasting House.

You can catch Fred again.. (again). Hes still hanging around the Bay and performing at Stanford for anyone who missed his surprise stop in SF; Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday at 7pm. // Frost Amphitheater, 351 Lasuen St. (Stanford, CA); tickets at live.stanford.edu





Welcome a summer of jazz. The annual San Francisco Jazz Festival begins this week and over nine days brings endless show options to see Grammy Award winners and local legends of jazz, funk, soul, swing and more; Wednesday, through Sunday, June 16. // Schedule and tickets at sfjazz.org





Start your bidding on dozens of original works by local and national artists in a live auction to benefit the Community Arts Program at the Tenderloins Hospitality House. Funds will go toward securing a permanent home for a studio and gallery space on Market Street; Wednesday at 6pm. // Saint Josephs Arts Society, 1401 Howard St. (SoMa); details at thheauction.org





Brush up on your botanicals and liqueurs. Explore amaros like Campari, Fernet-Branca, and more in a tasting class with local drinks expert Camper English; Wednesday, 7pm to 9pm. // Bourbon & Branch, 501 Jones St. (Tenderloin); details at beverageacademy.com

The most delicious way to support Pride: rainbow bagels from Dago Bagel. (Tony Gemignani)

Eat the rainbow (for Pride). Together with legendary SF drag queen Donna Sachet, pizza phenom Tony Gemignani is slinging limited-edition rainbow bagels to benefit the Rainbow Honor Walk; Thursdays through Sundays in June. // Dago Bagel, 728 Vallejo St. (North Beach); order via doordash.com





Party downtown in a new tradition. Downtown First Thursdays returns again. You know the drillDJs, drinks, food and vendors galore; Thursday, 5pm to 10pm. // 2nd St., between Market St. and Howard St.; details at dftsf.com





Examine the world with Kara Walker. Ahead of her new installation at SFMOMA in July and an essay collection, the renowned artist joins Doreen St. Felix in conversation; Thursday at 7:30pm. // City Arts and Lectures, (Hayes Valley); tickets at cityarts.net





Start National Donut Day off right. Yes, its a real day and you get to honor it with mini donut flights of three new vegan flavors from Dynamo: yuzu orange chocolate, coconut key lime and vanilla guava; Friday at 7am. // Dynamo Donut and Coffee Marina Kiosk, 110 Yacht Rd. (Marina); pre-order for pickup at dynamo-donut-coffee.square.site

Fete and pig out. A French tradition, La Fete du Cochon is a culinary celebration of all things pork. Left Bank Brasserie is hosting all weekend long with special, dare we say succulent, menu additions; Friday through Sunday. // Left Bank Brasserie, 55 Webster St. (Oakland); details at leftbank.com





Check out the art and retail scene in Ingleside. Walk your way through the Ocean Avenue Art and Wine Walk to pop into local businesses, sip global wines, and enjoy art specially commissioned for the event; Friday, 5pm to- 7pm. // Ingleside; participating vendors and tickets at eventbrite.com





Kick off a Kyoto-centric celebration. Heath is bringing Japanese artisans into the shop nearly all month long for Craft from Kyoto. Join the opening party or pop in for weekend workshops; Friday, through Thursday, June 27. // Heath San Francisco, 2900 18th St. (Mission); details and tickets at heathceramics.com





Don't miss a truly special, limited-time collaboration: Alonzo King's Lines Ballet takes the stage at the SF Symphony, directed by legend Petar Sellars; Friday through Sunday. 7x7 Social Club members receive discounted tickets. // Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. (Civic Center), sfsymphony.org







Party for Pride and honor the legacy. A festive party held in partnership with the Tenderloin Museum and San Francisco Pride will feature the creators behind a new play that shares the story of the seminal 1966 Comptons Cafeteria Riot; Friday at 5pm for a walking tour, 6pm to 9pm for the festivities. // Tenderloin Museum, 398 Eddy St. (Tenderloin); tickets at eventbrite.com





Traverse the citys most famous trail. For the fifth anniversary of the Crosstown Trail, walk some or all the 17-mile trek that takes you through the heart of the city; Saturday at 9am. // Lands End Lookout, 680 Point Lobos Ave. (Sea Cliff); details and RSVP at eventbrite.com

Try Che Fico for brunch. The beloved Italian spot is expanding with daytime hours and bringing sweet and savory twists to classicsthink blueberry focaccia, Bomba Marys and pizza, of course; Saturdays and Sundays, 10am to 1:30pm. // Che Fico, 838 Divisadero St. (NoPa); reservations at chefico.com





Elevate your Saturday with a rooftop party. Dance the day away with an unstoppable lineup of DJs at the iconic bank-turned-venue The Hibernia; Saturday, 1pm to 9pm. // The Hibernia, 1 Jones St. (SoMa); tickets at eventbrite.com







Shop with intention. Pottery studio MMclay is hosting a pop-up marketplace recognizing "Intentional Living through Culinary Connections," with collaborators including Charles Phan of Slanted Door, Hendersons Harvest Wine, and goods by Citta, Estelle Colored Glass, and JBrody & Co.; Sunday, 11:15am to 4:30pm. // MMclay, 69 Gough St. (Hayes Valley); details and RSVP at sfdesignweek.org





Check a quirky-as-hell, totally iconic event off your Bay Area bucket list: The 65th Annual Monterey Artichoke Festival is back with live music, chef demos, a 'choke-eating contest, and the crowning of the next Artichoke Queen; Saturday and Sunday. 7x7 Social Club members get BOGO tickets. // Monterey County Fair & Event Center, 2004 Fairground Rd. (Monterey), artichokefestival.org





Come out for your Filipino friends. Join the Filipino Independence Day Festival for a celebration of freedom and heritage with live performances, Filipino dishes, and recognition of cultural traditions; Sunday, noon to 5pm. // District 6, 428 11th St. (SoMa); RSVP at eventbrite.com





Head West in Hayes. Your favorite West Coast market is bringing nearly 100 vendors to take over the neighborhood offering homemade gifts, vintage finds, and the best of the local handmade scene; Sunday, 11am to 5pm. // Patricia's Green and Hayes Valley; details at headwestmarketplace.com
A messy refrigerator or freezer can quickly turn into a dark hole of mystery  How old is that jar of pickles? Is that hamburger meat from this year?  particularly compared with the organizational fantasies on social media.

Keeping track of whats in your fridge and freezer not only makes life simpler, its a money-saving must for older adults who may be cooking for one or two instead of a whole family, are on a budget or prefer to spend their money on things other than food that will go to waste.

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The best way to do that? Focus on efficiency, food safety and an organizational system that works for your household, experts say.

Everything doesnt have to be Pinterest pretty all the time, says Carolyn Rogers, owner of Neat Nerd Solutions in Atlanta. I think the main thing to keep in mind with your refrigerator  and probably anything else  is that you can find what youre looking for easily and that its neat to your level of satisfaction.

Here are seven tips to get your fridge and freezer organized.

Deirdre Rooney/StockFood

Keep portion sizes in mind when you store food

Be realistic about what you can finish. If youre a batch cook, put the extra chili in the freezer, with a label and the date, says Christine Hradek, a state specialist in human sciences with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. Dont put it in the fridge where theres a chance that its going to get past four days, she says. Freeze food in smaller containers, especially if you live alone, so you dont have to defrost big portions you cant finish, says Meredith Carothers, public affairs specialist with the U.S. Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service.

Another benefit: Smaller containers are more easily shifted in your fridge or freezer if you need to fit something else in, Rogers says. If you do need to maneuver, if something unexpected is in, its easier to maneuver something and try to fit something smaller than a very large container.
Aiming to get consumers shopping again, some retailers are slashing prices this summer on thousands of everyday items.

For older shoppers, especially those on fixed incomes, that will be welcome news, particularly when it comes to groceries. Since the pandemic, food-at-home prices are up 25 percent. More than 9 million older adults face food insecurity, meaning they struggle to access and afford adequate food.

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Aldi, Target and Walmart are advertising broad price cuts, including on groceries. But determining which store has the best bargains for you can be difficult without scouring their websites, perusing their aisles and calculating the unit price to get an apples-to-apples comparison.

An arduous task, to say the least, but one AARP didnt shy away from. Armed with a list of 30 popular items, we went shopping on New Yorks Long Island to see which store had the cheapest groceries. Here are the results.

The Winner: Aldi 

Aldi, which has 2,381 locations in 39 states and territories, including California, Florida, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania,Texas, and Washington, D.C., was the clear winner. From bananas to salmon, the basket at Aldi cost $66.11, compared with $67.63 at Walmart and $83.62 at Target. Agnes Sollecito, a 62-year-old retiree from Floral Park, New York, does her food shopping mainly at Aldi, lured by the low prices. She plans her meals by the bargains she finds at the store. Its definitely cheaper, says Sollecito, pointing to two pineapples in her shopping cart. These are $1.79.



Aldi recently announced plans to reduce prices on over 250 items, including picnic supplies, barbecue essentials, travel-ready snacks and healthier foods, that it expects will save customers $100 million through Labor Day. A similar campaign saved customers $60 million last year, according to the company. Aldi pointed to persistent inflation as why it expanded its price reductions this year. Prices have clearly come down since last year. The same basket of goods cost $90.91 in May 2023.
Facebook is reportedly trying to secure more users back into the platform as younger users flock away from TikTok amid its looming ban in the US.

According to Bloomberg, Facebook's parent company, Meta, has been revamping the social media's feed with a "broader array of posts and videos" to better appeal to younger users.

Since the White House passed the law banning all ByteDance-owned apps in the US, Facebook has reported a steady increase in users, along with revenues and ads, from the US and Canada.

Instagram's user count also experienced a huge jump as Gen Zs and Gen Alphas moved towards a more stable platform.

To accommodate more users coming from TikTok, Meta has been prioritizing its "Recommendation" algorithm.

The company has also released Reels to ease users familiar with TikTok's short video format on Facebook's feeds.

Also Read : Facebook's Poke Feature Has Sees an Increase in Uses After Years

Looming Ban Haunts TikTok's Growth

While still the most commonly used app in the US, there is no denying that the looming ban has halted TikTok's growth over the past months.

TikTok's ad and e-commerce sales noticeably slowed down last March as Congress pushed the ban on all ByteDance apps in the US, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Sources told the WSJ that the platform's American userbase growth has started to stagnate, either due to its previous issues or the upcoming ban on the app.

A recent survey from Axios has also shown a downward trend in people's trust in TikTok as more lawmakers came forward to denounce the current state of the app, primarily safety and security concerns.

Legislators argued that US users' data on TikTok could be exposed to the Beijing-based ByteDance and the Chinese government.

TikTok has repeatedly refuted the accusations, claiming that all data and algorithms from its US platform are stored in Texas-based Oracle's cloud servers.

Despite market uncertainties, TikTok repeatedly insisted that it would not sell its US division to an American company as advised by lawmakers and instead try to secure its position through the legal court.

Related Article : TikTok's US Growth Slows Down Amid Calls for Nationwide Ban

Facebook Still Have an AI Infestation Problem

Moving to Facebook may seem a good alternative, but the platform is far from perfect.

As other people have noted, Facebook is currently infested with bot accounts farming engagements and likes through AI-generated images.

Thanks to Facebook pushing its algorithm to users' feeds, the AI posts continue to pop in people's recommendations due to artificial interactions.

The platform also remains the primary hotbed of disinformation as "fake news" and political misinformation surge with the upcoming 2024 Elections.
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(Photo : Unsplash/Yucel Moran )

According to a lawsuit filed by a Morgan Stanley executive who helped Musk secretly amass shares in the social media firm, Elon Musk allegedly ignored the US Securities and Exchange Commission's (SEC) repeated warnings about the obligations of disclosing his Twitter stake in 2022.

Musk Being Fully Aware of The Twitter Stake Disclosure

According to the lawsuit, Elon Musk and his associate Jared Birchall were aware of and discussed the rule requiring disclosure of more than a 5% stake in Twitter, citing testimonies from two men in an investigation by the SEC.

Musk Benefiting From Defrauding Investors

In an amended lawsuit filed on Tuesday in a Manhattan federal court, a Twitter investor accuses Elon Musk of defrauding investors by postponing the disclosure of his Twitter stake to acquire shares at lower prices. The Oklahoma firefighter's pension fund claimed that Musk saved over $200 million by increasing his Twitter stake secretly, to the disadvantage of particular investors.

Musk and Birchall enlisted an unnamed managing director at Morgan Stanley to devise a covert trading strategy, as per the lawsuit. The strategy aimed to conceal Musk's acquisition of Twitter stock and enable him to purchase shares at prices lower than their actual value.

READ ALSO: Musk's X Lost in Legal Battle as Judge Dismissed Hate Speech Tracking Lawsuit Against Non-Profit Researchers

Neither Musk nor Birchall were available to make an immediate comment. In a statement, Morgan Stanley clarified that it is not a defendant in this lawsuit.

As per the lawsuit, the Morgan Stanley executive consistently urged Birchall to seek legal advice regarding the 5% disclosure requirements. Birchall allegedly informed the executive that legal consultations had taken place, although this was not true until he had accumulated a stake of over 9% in Twitter on April 1, 2022.

Musk's Being The Busiest Person in The Planet

In October 2022, Musk ultimately purchased Twitter for $44 billion and changed the company's name to X.

The lawsuit claimed that despite repeated warnings from the Morgan Stanley executive about the necessity of obtaining legal advice, Birchall and Musk knowingly chose not to disclose their knowledge, as it would have significantly increased the cost and public visibility of Musk's purchases. Musk's legal team had previously asserted that their client, being "one of the busiest people on the planet," might have inadvertently failed to disclose information.

Series of Musk's Federal Negligence

The lawsuit characterized the violation as the latest instance in Musk's history of neglecting federal securities laws and showing contempt for the SEC and its regulations.

Musk and the top US markets regulator have been engaged in a longstanding feud, dating back to 2018 when Musk tweeted about having "funding secured" to privatize the electric carmaker Tesla.

Musk asserted that his tweet was intended to inform investors rather than deceive them. He added that his goal was to publicly disclose his interest in taking Tesla private to prevent the news from being leaked selectively. Musk further explained that he had already discussed his interest with the Tesla board and Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund.

RELATED ARTICLE: Elon Musk's Legal Battle Continues As Ex-Twitter Executive Demands Unpaid Severance Over a Breach of Contract

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Academy report urges more focus on consumption side of carbon emissions

10:21, May 31, 2024 By Zhou Wenting ( China Daily

The Chinese Academy of Sciences unveiled its 2024 Report on Consumption-based Carbon Emissions on Wednesday, highlighting the need for a more scientific and rational global carbon accounting system that considers both production and consumption emissions.

The report sheds light on the significant impact of consumption-based carbon emissions in a globalized economy, where emissions are no longer limited to production processes. It emphasizes that understanding and addressing consumption-based emissions is crucial.

Analyzing data from 1990 to 2019, the report reveals a critical trend: developed countries tend to have higher consumption-based carbon emissions than production-based emissions, while developing countries exhibit the opposite pattern. This underscores the importance of accounting for emissions from a consumption perspective.

Focusing on the carbon emissions triggered by consumption behaviors, the report calls for a coordinated approach to accounting for both production and consumption emissions. It advocates a more scientific and equitable distribution of global carbon reduction responsibilities, stressing the need to refine methodologies, improve data quality, and enhance international cooperation.

"International trade has had a great impact on carbon emissions of developing countries," said Wei Wei, one of the leading researchers who prepared the report and vice-president of the academy's Shanghai Advanced Research Institute. "The export of carbon-intensive products to developed countries boosted their economic growth and employment, but it also led to production-based carbon emissions generally higher than those on the consumption side.

"Consumption-based carbon accounting focuses on emissions driven by consumption behaviors, providing a comprehensive calculation of greenhouse gas emissions across different regions or industries. This approach helps clarify the carbon footprint of economic activities and better delineate the responsibilities of producers and consumers, promoting fairness and justice."

The report highlights that from 1990 to 2019, consumption-based carbon emissions in major developed countries consistently exceeded their production-based emissions. In contrast, major developing countries saw their production-based emissions outpace those from consumption. Non-OECD countries, primarily developing nations, experienced a growing gap between production and consumption-based emissions, widening from 1.47 billion metric tons in 1990 to 4.17 billion tons in 2019.

In China, consumption-based carbon emissions have consistently been lower than production-based emissions, with the gap increasing from 700 million tons in 1990 to 1.8 billion tons in 2019.

China's export trade reduced its embodied carbon intensity by 83.3 percent between 1990 and 2019, providing more green and low-carbon products globally. In 2021, China shouldered 100 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions through the steel raw materials trade and 250 million tons through photovoltaic product exports.

Amid the pressing challenge of global climate change, the report calls for a scientific and rational distribution of carbon reduction responsibilities. It recommends strengthening research on consumption-based carbon accounting methodologies, expanding product coverage, and developing a comprehensive "top-down" and "bottom-up" carbon accounting system.

"We must coordinate production and consumption-based accounting to scientifically allocate global carbon reduction responsibilities," Wei said.

Zhang Xiliang, director of the Institute of Energy, Environment, and Economy at Tsinghua University, also called for the adoption of consumption-based methods to clarify the roles of producers and consumers in carbon emissions.

"The governance of global environmental and climate change in a united response should consider equity in addition to efficiency," Zhang said.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
(Photo : Unsplash/alban )

Google on Thursday announced a $2 billion investment in Malaysia, with some of the money being used to construct its initial data center and cloud region in the country, responding to increasing demand for AI and cloud services.

Google Promoting Its Cloud First Policy in Malaysia

Ruth Porat, president, CFO, and CIO at Alphabet and Google, stated that the investment builds upon their partnership with the Government of Malaysia to promote its Cloud First Policy and implement top-tier cybersecurity standards. She further mentioned that this investment represents Google's most significant contribution to Malaysia over its 13 years of operation.

Google's Investment in Data Centers

While the data center will support Google's digital services like Search, Maps, and Workspace, the cloud region will offer services to both public and private sector entities.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim praised Google's investment as a vote of confidence in Malaysia's governance and economy. The company is expected to contribute $3.2 billion to the economy and create 26,500 jobs by 2030. These investments come at an opportune time for Anwar, as he aims to strengthen his position amidst a formidable Islamic opposition.

Google also stated that the new hubs will be established at a business park in central Malaysia, in Selangor state, to address the increasing demand among Malaysian students and educators for cloud services and AI literacy programs.

Malaysia is set to join eleven other nations as a host to a Google data center. This Malaysian hub of Google Cloud is designed to serve a wide range of entities, including large corporations, startups, and government agencies, and willintegrate into Google's already expansive network of 40 regions and 121 zones across the globe.

Tech Industry's Investments to Keep Up with AI Demand

This announcement follows Microsoft's earlier this month declaration of its plan to invest $2.2 billion in Malaysia for the development of new cloud and AI infrastructure, along with investments in Indonesia and Thailand earlier this year.

READ ALSO: Apple Continues Expansion in Asia, Opens First Store in Malaysia Amid Rising Competition with China

Google and Microsoft, among other tech giants, have also committed billions of dollars to Southeast Asia to seize the growing demand for AI and cloud computing services.

Google Wants to Move Up The Global Chain

The surge in AI adoption has driven an increase in demand for cloud computing services and data centers, essential in providing the necessary infrastructure for storing data and running applications or services.

YB Senator Tengku Datuk Seri Utama Zafrul Aziz, the minister of investment, trade, and industry, stated in a press release that Google's $2 billion investment in Malaysia will notably propel the digital aspirations outlined in the New Industrial Master Plan 2030. The minister also emphasized that Google's investments will empower manufacturing and service-based industries to utilize AI and other advanced technologies to move up the global chain.

Anwar met with Porat and other business leaders during his visits to the US last year.

RELATED ARTICLE: NVIDIA's Next Frontier, Vietnam Expansion on AI Revolution

 2017 Jobs & Hire All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Bold & Bae Fashion, a Mumbai-based startup in the womens apparel sector, has launched a unique initiative to keep girls in school by addressing menstrual health and hygiene concerns. Determined to ensure that no girl misses out on education due to lack of access to sanitary pads and proper menstrual hygiene, Bold & Bae has partnered with various schools in Mumbai, including Gandhi Memorial English High School & Junior College (Kamla Nagar), BSIAS School (Dharavi), and Mother Teresa School (Dharavi). This initiative marks the beginning of the companys long-term commitment to this cause.

An alarming 60% of girls in India remain absent during their periods or drop out of school permanently due to various challenges. This statistic underscores the critical condition of underprivileged girls, and Bold & Bae Fashion is dedicated to changing this.

Smita Thorat, Co-Founder of Bold & Bae Fashion, stated, At Bold & Bae Fashion, our mission is to Keep a girl in school by addressing health and hygiene concerns, thus empowering her through education. Our brand, driven by values of being Fearless, Empowering, and Inclusive, is committed to making a tangible difference in the lives of women.

Access to sanitary pads and menstrual hygiene products is every girls basic right. We at Bold & Bae Fashion are dedicated to supporting underprivileged school girls by providing menstrual hygiene products. Our mission is to ensure that no girl misses out on her education just because she cant afford something as basic as sanitary pads. Through this program, we aim to empower young girls to stay in school, pursue their dreams, and build a brighter future for themselves and their communities, Thorat added.

Under this mission, Bold & Bae donates a pack of sanitary pads every time a purchase is made on their website. The company has partnered with several NGOs to support this initiative, including recent collaborations with Nanhi Pari and the Mother Teresa Memorial Social Welfare Trust to raise awareness about menstrual hygiene.

So far, Bold & Bae has donated sanitary pads to over 1,000 girls and conducted awareness sessions on the importance of practicing good menstrual hygiene. During these sessions, the team interacted with the girls, sharing valuable knowledge about menstrual hygiene. The gratitude and happy smiles of the girls truly made their day.

Bold & Bae aims to provide sanitary pads to as many girls as possible across India. The company is seeking collaboration opportunities with relevant partners to continue their efforts in contributing to society. Bold & Bae Fashion considers CSR activities integral to its mission and will persist in collaborating with various NGOs to empower women through education. This ongoing initiative aims to impact millions of girls across India.
Cashaa, a prominent neo-bank in crypto businesses, has announced that its Founder and CEO, Kumar Gaurav, has stepped down from his position. While Kumar has not yet disclosed his immediate plans, it is anticipated that he is preparing for even greater endeavours. Under Kumars leadership, Cashaa evolved from a Bitcoin startup into a major player in the banking sector for crypto and high-risk businesses. His departure marks the end of an era at Cashaa, characterised by groundbreaking innovations.

This development comes as Cashaa strategically shifts its business model, discontinuing banking services for crypto and other high-risk businesses to focus on introducing an alternative to bank accounts for the masses worldwide to increase crypto adoption. The account will focus on increasing the adoption of Cashaas native token, CAS.

Amjad Raza Khan, formerly the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), has been internally promoted to Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The company has already begun the corporate restructuring for the release of its global Cashaa account.

Reflecting on his journey, Kumar Gaurav stated, Founding Cashaa has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life, filled with challenges and triumphs. From the early days of utilising Bitcoin arbitrage to facilitate fee-free transfers to becoming a neo-bank for crypto businesses, our mission has always been to innovate and serve the crypto community. Despite numerous challenges we built a resilient organisation that has facilitated the movement of billions of dollars for crypto businesses without facing any security breaches or regulatory sanctions.

I am proud of what we have accomplished, from being recognized among the top blockchain companies to building a community of over 500 crypto businesses. The journey has been tough, but our dedication to compliance and security has always been our guiding principle. Amjad has been with us as one of the co-creators and is now ready to take Cashaa forward. Cashaa accounts are now ready to serve the masses under the leadership of Amjad, he added.

Kumar Gaurav began his career as an Engineer and in 2012, he developed the navigation system for Ferrari. Later he worked as an IT Manager for Molina e Bianchi Industries (2014-2016) while pursuing a Masters in Management from Politecnico di Milano. During his masters, he also co-founded the first Italian peer-to-peer insurance company, called Darwinsurance, which was later acquired by Esedra, one of the biggest Italian insurance brokers.

He also established the Auxesis Group in 2014, driving blockchain innovation in partnership with governments and top Fortune companies.

In 2016, with the mission to bring the benefit of Bitcoin to masses he created Cashaa. His goal was to provide low-cost financial solutions for people living abroad, who were often overcharged by traditional money transfer companies. He harnessed Bitcoin arbitrage to enable fee-free cash transfers, reaching over 172 cities. Despite initial challenges and limited banking access, Kumar led Cashaa through remarkable milestones.

In 2017, he received an extraordinary status (O-1) from the USA for his contributions to blockchain technology. Subsequently, Cashaa released a white paper on an evolved and inclusive financial system, raising over $30 million while maintaining strict AML compliance. In 2019 Cashaa started issuing accounts to unbanked crypto business and by 2021 it had one of the biggest communities of crypto business including industry leaders such as Binance, Polygon, Litecoin, Kraken and hundred more.

Kumar has also been recognized with other accolades, including being listed among the Top 100 Most Influential People in Blockchain by Rise Global (2016-2018) and being nominated among the Worlds Top 50 Innovators by the UK. In 2021, he was honoured as the Best Crypto Entrepreneur in the Middle East at the UAE-India Partnership Summit and received the Golden Excellence Award in 2023 from H.E. Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, a Senior Member of the Emirates Royal Family and Minister for Tolerance and Coexistence of the UAE. As a respected thought leader in the FinTech space, Kumar has also been invited to share his insights at prestigious global forums such as Money 2020, TechCrunch Disrupt, the European Parliament, and Ivy League universities.

Amjad Raza Khan, who has been with Kumar throughout this journey, expressed his admiration and respect for Kumars vision and dedication. Kumars passion and relentless pursuit of innovation have laid a strong foundation for Cashaa. His leadership has been instrumental in driving Cashaas extraordinary growth and success. Working alongside him, Ive acquired invaluable industry insights that surpass what any leading institution could provide. I am honoured to continue building on his legacy and steer Cashaa towards new heights. Together with Saswat Das, our COO, I am committed to expanding our wallet services and making Cashaa a household name across key markets.

With Amjad Raza Khan at the helm, the companys immediate plans include launching the Cashaa account, a crypto alternative to traditional bank accounts that encompasses all standard banking features including storing, spending, earning, and borrowing.

Users from over 200 countries can benefit from the Cashaa wallet, with the initial rollout focusing on Europe, UAE, India, Indonesia, Turkey, South Africa, and Kenya, where users will be able to purchase crypto with their local currencies. These efforts will be accompanied by extensive marketing and customer outreach initiatives aimed at broadening Cashaas reach and impact.
In a strategic reshuffle at Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), four dynamic leadersShiva Krishnamurthy, Harman Dhillon, Arun Neelakantan, and Vipul Mathurhave been appointed to pivotal roles within the organization.

Anuradha Razdan, Executive Director of HR at HUL and Chief Human Resources Officer for Unilever South Asia, highlighted the distinctive principle that sets Unilever apart and fuels the companys growth: "leaders build leaders." This ethos fosters unity and ensures a continuous leadership pipeline within HUL.



Shiva Krishnamurthy has taken on the role of Executive Director of Food and Refreshment at HUL. Previously, he was the Vice President of Foods and Beverages for Unilever South Asia. Over the last decade, Krishnamurthy's leadership has elevated HUL to the pinnacle of India's tea market. He orchestrated the launch of the Brooke Bond Red Label 6-Pack Band, India's first transgender band, which earned the prestigious Glass Grand Prix at Cannes. He also drove innovation for the Radiant brand in Southeast Asia's home care market.

An XLRI Jamshedpur alumnus, Krishnamurthy joined HUL in 2000 after a brief stint with PepsiCo and initially worked as an area sales manager on the Customer Development team.



Harman Dhillon is the Executive Director of Hindustan Unilever Limited's Beauty and Wellbeing division and the General Manager for Unilever's Beauty and Wellbeing division in South Asia. Harman is a seasoned business leader with expertise in strategic thinking, consumer insights, brand development, P&L management, and team leadership. She has a proven track record in launching and growing major beauty and personal care brands across South Asia, North America, and Europe.

Previously, as Skin Care Head, she led HULs premiumisation efforts and revitalized brands like Lakme. As VP of Hair Care, she launched Dove Hair and TRESemme in India, spearheading successful campaigns such as Dove Stop the Beauty Test and Clinic Plus Meri Beti Strong. She also managed the global TRESemme business from London.

Harman joined HUL in 2006 from Tata Administrative Services and continues to drive innovation and growth in Unilever's Beauty and Wellbeing division.

Appointed Chief Digital Officer of HUL in January 2024, Arun Neelakantan has been instrumental in guiding HULs digital transformation and growth strategy across South Asia. He has established the foundation for HULs digital agenda throughout the value chain and identified critical growth opportunities. Under his leadership, HUL has accelerated its transition to an intelligent enterprise by enhancing digital capabilities, fostering cross-functional ecosystems, and consolidating core competencies. Neelakantan's holistic approach to media, marketing, and commerce has uncovered specific opportunities in emerging channels and businesses, driving HULs and Unilevers growth agenda in the region.



Vipul Mathur will join HULs Management Committee as Executive Director of Personal Care on June 1, 2024. A graduate of the Indian Institute of Management  Calcutta, Mathur began his career at HUL in 2003 as a management trainee.

With over 20 years of experience in customer development and marketing across the nutrition, personal care, and home care sectors, Mathur has demonstrated exceptional leadership. His successful tenure in the laundry segment from 2012 to 2017 and again from 2020 to 2021 included leading Wheels rural and mobile marketing initiatives and launching Indias first mobile radio platform, Kan Khajura Teshan, which won a Cannes award. As Category Head, Mathur transformed the Liquids division, driving profitable and competitive growth. He also contributed to the Global Tea Leadership team, collaborating with international teams to secure new blends and create award-winning campaigns for Brooke Bond. In his recent role as Vice President for Modern Trade and eCommerce, Mathur strengthened HULs omnichannel strategy and advanced portfolio transformation in high-growth emerging channels.
Post the astounding success of Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond and Murder in Mahim, JioCinema Premium is set to add another gripping original series, Gaanth, to its diverse repertoire of original content. Gaanth, premiering on 11th June, stars Manav Vij, Monika Panwar and Saloni Batra in key roles. The series is premised on an unsolvable and bone chilling case that blurs the lines between reality and perspective.

Gaanth takes viewers to the eerie streets of East Delhi, where a strange case of mass suicide captures both media and police attention. As the 40-year-old disgraced Police Inspector Gadar Singh (played by Manav Vij) gets the charge of the gritty case, he is determined to get to the root of the crime and find the truth. The mystery deepens with the introduction of a psychiatric intern Sakshi Murmu (played by Monika Panwar), who possesses a unique gift for perceiving patterns invisible to the human eye. Singh and Murmu form an unlikely partnership to unravel the mystery of the peculiar crime scene- seven bodies hanging from seven ropes in a cramped, hazy corner of a house. While the world perceives the situation differently, these two sleuths, in their quest for the truth, uncover a crypt buried in the past, leading them deeper into a web of crimes spanning decades. Together they uncover layers of the case intertwined with media sensationalism, religious beliefs, superstitions, and social psychosis. A Tipping Point Series, Gaanth is produced by Ajit Andhare, created by Soham Bhattacharya, and directed by Kanishk Verma.

Manav Vij said, I have always been a fan of psychological thrillers. They make you think deeply, transforming you into an investigator as you unravel the mystery in your mind. When I was offered Gaanth, I realized it wasn't just about playing a cop in a crime thriller; the character had intricate nuances. Gadar Singh is profoundly layered, struggling with inner demons while pursuing the ultimate truth behind the eerie crime. After filming, it took some time for me to detach from the character. Despite the challenges, playing such complex roles is immensely rewarding.

Monika Panwar shared, Its always exciting to be part of stories that are different and also give you a chance to think and experiment. Gaanth is special as I play a caring psychologist in a dark thriller. I feel my character brings much-needed positivity to the show. Life has been slightly unfair to her, and she willingly gets involved in a murder investigation while discovering sides of herself that were long hidden.

Actor Saloni Batra also added, Being in a uniform automatically instils a sense of responsibility in your mind, especially, for a show like Gaanth which entirely circles around the investigation of a brutal crime. After reading the script, I was extremely excited to get into the skin of the character, since it was completely different from what I had done before. I had to work on the body language, the tone, her relationship with seniors and colleagues around and most importantly, her back story. I had a great time working on these nuances. Manav sirs presence enhanced and got to life every moment for me because of his sincerely beautiful energy and the camaraderie we shared, which let me be my most vulnerable. He helped me a lot with his insights and experiences.

Unlock the web of crimes with, 'Gaanth', premiering on 11th June on JioCinema Premium.
P&G Shiksha, renowned for its impactful CSR initiatives in India, recently launched its compelling #StandUpForLearningGaps campaign. This initiative aims to shine a spotlight on the critical issue of learning gaps affecting millions of children nationwide, as highlighted by the National Achievement Survey 2021.

In an exclusive interaction with Adgully, Abhishek Desai, Vice President - Brand Operations and Category Leader for Grooming, P&G India, delves into the campaigns intricacies, providing insights into its innovative approach and strategic collaborations.

Desai explains that the campaigns fresh approach with a stand-up act in its 2024 film stems from the need to make the concept of learning gaps more relatable and recognizable. He emphasises on the importance of creating a supportive environment for children to ask for help without feeling pressured or compared to others.

Desai further states that the campaign was developed in partnership with Leo Burnett, leveraging their expertise to convey the message effectively. While specific details of the media mix are undisclosed, Desai hints at a multimedia approach aimed at reaching a diverse Indian audience.

Conceptualised by Leo Burnett, the film starts with Rahul Duas stand-up comedy event featuring two memes, where a journalist poses basic math questions to kids. The kids misconceptions lead to laughter in the audience. Dua then asks, Would you laugh if it was your child? This moment prompts the audience to see the incorrect answers as signs of learning gaps.





Desai elaborates, We knew we needed to make the concept of learning gaps more understandable and recognizable. We wanted more and more parents, guardians, teachers, and well-wishers to be aware of learning gaps.

As a parent, I know we all want whats best for our children. This year is all about a gentle reminder to be aware of the science of potential learning gaps, because we dont usually understand it. It is not about pressurizing kids or comparing them to others. It is about creating a supportive environment where they feel comfortable asking for help if they need it. A study asserts that more than half of primary school students face some form of learning gap, he points out.

Despite the potential controversies surrounding stand-up comedy, P&G is focused on leveraging humour as a realization tool. As Desai says, It is a powerful tool, but we understand it needs to be handled with care. The campaign uses humour to shed light on the issue, identify learning gap symptoms, and encourage the audience to stand up for addressing these gaps.

Desai further says that a Forbes report found a recent video of a child incorrectly answering a journalist to be among the top ten most searched memes in India in 2023.

We are using lifelike situations through this campaign and leveraging humour to engage the audience, helping them realize the learning gaps. The key message hits home when you ask the question, Would you laugh if this was your own child? The first time this question was posed to me, I felt a punch, and it took me some time to absorb it, he shares.

Adding further, Desai affirms that P&G Shiksha is committed to storytelling and narrative-building to connect with audiences on a deeper level. He mentions the ongoing buzz on social media, with advocates and opinion leaders driving awareness of learning gaps.

While he doesnt reveal specific future plans, Desai does emphasise on P&G Shikshas dedication to addressing learning gaps and supporting education in India. The campaign reflects P&Gs long-standing commitment to making a meaningful difference in communities, with plans to continue elevating on-ground support and spreading awareness through innovative initiatives.
Responding to public concerns, the Public Works Department (PWD) in south Karnataka has launched a campaign to remove unauthorized advertisements from state highways and district roads. This initiative follows numerous complaints about the safety hazards these signs pose.

On May 18th, PWD's chief engineer for the south zone, Duragappa K, directed officials to identify and take down illegal advertisements. The crackdown will target districts including Bengaluru, Kolar, Chikkaballapur, and several others under the PWD's southern jurisdiction.

The move comes after Bengaluru's municipal body, BBMP, banned advertising displays. This led to a surge in unauthorized advertisements on roads surrounding the city. Public complaints allege that these signs distract drivers and contribute to accidents. To address these concerns, the PWD has taken decisive action to improve road safety by eliminating all unauthorized advertisements.
Usha International, Indias leading consumer durables company, launched a new TVC for its iChef Air Fryers, marking the beginning of a comprehensive 360 media campaign for the hero product. Themed "Crafted for your Lifestyle," the campaign highlights how the Usha iChef Air Fryers address the needs of today's hectic routines, resonating with individuals striving to eat healthy, but finding it a challenge to prepare meals quickly, seamlessly bridging the gap between convenience and nutrition.

The 30-second TV commercial, shot by Illusionist Films, highlight the unique features of the iChef Air Fryer as the star of the show, replete with a borosilicate glass bowl and illuminated chamber as it churns out crispy samosas sans oil, vibrant grilled greens, and gooey lasagne, each promising a tantalizing journey of flavour. This tableau of delectable dishes highlights the versatility and innovation of modern cooking with the Usha iChef Air Fryer, inviting viewers to step into a world of culinary delight and wholesome goodness.

The campaign which kicks off on June 1, 2024, has a robust TV media plan including spots during the morning and evening prime time across all top English news channels as well as leading South news channels and is being aired in English, as well as vernacular languages  Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Malayalam  to maximize viewership and establish a strong connect with the target audience. This will be followed by a print campaign in leading newspapers in select cities and will be complemented with a digital campaign across leading social media and digital platforms, ensuring comprehensive coverage and engagement.

The user-friendly Usha iChef Air Fryer, with its advanced technology and precision engineering, allows for the creation of nutritious dishes that cater to the fast-paced needs of modern life. This campaign is intended to educate customers about the advantages of owning an iChef smart Air Fryer, highlighting its unique design, borosilicate food-grade glass bowl, illuminated chamber, digital touch panel, and variety of oil-free recipes it can cook.
Women-Led Arrest: Suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna Taken into Custody 2

As soon as the suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna landed at the Bengaluru airport in the wee hours of Friday, there was a posse of women police personnel led by women IPS officers waiting to execute the arrest warrant against him in sexual assault cases.

Three cases have been registered against him after a huge cache of leaked videos purportedly showing several women being sexually abused by Prajwal.

The 33-year-old grandson of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, who is seeking reelection as an NDA candidate from Hassan, fled the country on April 27 and returned in the early hours of Friday.

Soon after he alighted from the plane from Munich in Germany to Bengauru, he was received by women in Khaki, sources in the SIT said.

During the procedure of executing the arrest warrant, he was flanked by the women police who were led by two IPS officers, Suman D Pennekar and Seema Latkar. The Hassan MP was then taken in a jeep in which only women police were there. They took him to the CID office.

It was a conscious call to send all women officers to arrest Prajwal, sending home a message that the JD(S) leader exploited his seat and power as an MP with women. The same women have authority to arrest him through all legal proceedings, a source in the SIT said.

There was also a symbolic message to the victims that women officers were not afraid of anyone, the source said.
A 4,300-acre Baldwin County property described as a hunters paradise, with riverside expanses of lowland hardwood forest and upland pine tracts, has sold to an out-of-state buyer for $11 million.

The property, called Fort Pierce, has been described as one of the largest privately held, recreational properties ever to go on the market in Alabama. It lies west and southwest of the Tensaw community, north of Stockton on Ala. 59, with a portion of its western edge bounded by a bend of the Alabama River. Its about a 40-minute drive from Mobile.

Once a corporate retreat belonging to Scott Paper, it was bought in 2000 by Paul H. Parham II, a prominent business and civic leader in Jackson, Ala. Parham died in 2014 and Tim James Jr., who handled the listing for Jon Kohler & Associates, said it has been on and off the market in the decade since.

James said the buyer in the $11 million sale is an individual from the Northeast. The buyer is basically an investor from the northeast that has been acquiring properties in the Southeast for the last few years, he said. This was their first purchase in Alabama.  They are just looking to diversify their existing business interests up in the northeast. Timberlands a big focus of theirs.

James said that as far as he knew, the new owner didnt have plans for development that would alter the character of the tract.

Fort Pierce has improvements that emphasize its use as a hunting property.Courtesy of Jon Kohler & Associates

Youve got institutional timberland tracts that sell relatively often that are large scale, said James. This is a different asset class, this is a recreational property, recreational timberland property. That it has a river frontage that adds to that recreational component. I mean, its the dream, its the dream recreational tract because you got a great mix.

Youve got 1,700 acres that are bottom land, hardwood along the river that can flood. And then youve got 2,600 acres of upland plantation, pine plantation areas, that cannot flood. And this area is just very well known for [having a] really high site index that grows trees really well. Being able to have a place with both bottom land and uplands of this size in Baldwin County, within an hour to the Gulf Coast, is unique to say the least.  I cant say if its the largest recreational tract sale in the last several years, but it is one of the largest in the state for sure.

The sale price of $11 million was below the one-time asking price of $13 million. However, James said the sale, after a decade on and off the market, illustrates an upward trend.

I can just say that we are seeing unbelievable changes in the marketplace, he said. The recreational land market is as strong as weve ever seen it. We continue to set not only price records but volume records and sales year after year, it just keeps going up. The buying pool has expanded nationally and even internationally.

Water access at Fort Pierce includes a boat ramp.Courtesy of Jon Kohler & Associates

We represent four Southern states, Alabama, Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, he said. Alabamas a hot spot. I think were the beneficiary of kind of what happened during COVID and then just the political dynamics going on, where youve got people getting out of high tax states and high crime and those sorts of things.
UPDATE: ALEA canceled the missing alert shortly after 5 p.m. Friday. No other details were released.

EARLIER: Authorities are asking for the publics helping in finding a 31-year-old who has been missing from Jefferson County since Tuesday.

The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency issued a Missing and Endangered Alert on Friday.

Kheana Bell, who authorities say now goes by the name Jayden Rozaieski, may be living with a condition that could impair judgment.

Rozaieski was last seen at noon May 28 in the Center Point area, wearing a black shirt and light blue shorts.

Rozaieski is 5-feet, 11-inches tall, and weighs 142 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Jefferson County Sheriffs Office at 205-325-1450 or 911.
More than 80 dogs were found in unlivable conditions inside a Gadsden home during a warrant roundup in east Alabama.

The Gadsden Police Department on Thursday served nearly 200 warrants as part of Operation No Show.

The warrant roundup is an ongoing effort to target individuals with failure to appear warrants from Gadsden Municipal Court, and it also led to charges of animal cruelty.

About 10 a.m., officers went to the home at 1106 High Street in Gadsden to try to serve a warrant.

Once inside, they found what they described as inhumane conditions as well as 84 dogs inside the residence.

Gadsden police rescued 84 dogs from a house at 1106 High Street in Gadsden. One person has been charged and more arrests are expected.(Gadsden Police Department)

The scene was immediately secured, and animal control units were dispatched to help.

Police officials said the homes condition was unlivable and the dogs did not have proper food, water, or care. Some are potentially suffering from disease.

Animal Control has worked with the Humane Society Pet Rescue and Adoption Center to take charge of the animals, and HSPRAC is looking for donations for their care.

Alex Smith, of Gadsden, has been charged with animal cruelty, and additional charges are pending for other residents of the house.

This is a sad situation but a fact of life, said Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford, who rode with officers on the warrant roundup. Some of the citizens of Gadsden live in less-than-ideal conditions, but this is animal abuse, plain and simple, and it will not be tolerated.

The Etowah County Sheriffs Office and the Etowah County Drug Unit assisted in the operation.
An Alabamian who will lead the North Atlantic Treaty Organization mission in Sarajevo received recognition Friday at the Alabama National Guard headquarters in Montgomery.

Brigadier Gen. Matthew Valas is the new commander and the senior military representative in the NATO operations to support Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Gov. Kay Ivey and Alabama National Guard Adjutant General David Pritchett took part in ceremony to promote Valas from colonel to brigadier general.

Pritchett praised Valas as a true, lead by example soldier with vast experience in special forces, as state training officer for the Alabama Army National Guard, and other areas.

Asked about his promotion and new leadership role with NATO, Valas said, Its about the people that get you there more than it is you getting there yourself. And working with people that are willing to get you through, give you the hard answers that you need when you need them and being willing to accept those hard truths when you need to hear them.

Valas served as a commander of special operation forces in Iraq and in Afghanistan. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army War College and received his commission as an infantry officer from Hofstra University in 1988.

His biographical information on the program for Fridays ceremony included a long list of military credentials in infantry, artillery, Ranger School, and others.

Valas said points in his career that could have been setbacks have pushed him outside his comfort zone and made him a stronger leader.

I was turned down for multiple roles, Valas said. But I trusted in those leaders that said we have plans for you to do other things.

So, hard feedback, hard truth is what you need in life, Valas said. And you have to be willing to receive it, reflect, kind of blame yourself.

Valas credited the Alabama National Guard, which has about 12,000 soldiers and airmen, for having a wide range of options to train in different fields.

Theres so much opportunity here to do what you like and what you think you can enjoy and how you choose to contribute, Valas said. And you can do it and have a full career in the Alabama National Guard. It just seems to be that thats what the state is. Theres abundant opportunity. Theres room for growth. Its everywhere you turn in Alabama, its growth. And so the Alabama National Guard is another piece of that.

Valas takes command of a mission NATO has pursued in Bosnia and Herzegovina since the early 1990s, working to promote peace and stability in a region that has historically been torn by conflict.

Among NATOs objectives in Bosnia and Herzegovina, according to the website of NATOs Sarajevo headquarters, are increasing the ability of the armed forces to protect citizens, improving training, increasing transparency and civilian oversight of the military, fully integrating women into the military, and developing civil emergency and disaster management capabilities.

Bosnia Herzegovina, you can read the history books, Valas said. The Balkans at large are a contentious region. And NATO has demonstrated their commitment since their war 30 years ago.

Our commitment there is to support the defense and security reform for Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Months after the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos had the same legal status as children, the nations largest Protestant denomination is set to vote on whether to take a stand against in vitro fertilization.

Alabama Chief Justice Tom Parker cited verses from the Bible and Christian theologians in his Feb. 16 concurring opinion that sparked national debate and left lawmakers scrambling to keep the states in vitro fertilization clinics running.

Parker argued that the court was merely enforcing a principle that has deep roots that reach back to the creation of man in the image of God, Parker said, quoting the Book of Genesis. He also quoted a Bible verse in which God told the prophet Jeremiah, Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.

When the Southern Baptist Convention meets in Indianapolis June 9-12, members are expected to vote on several resolutions, including one that would condemn IVF because it creates more embryos that can be implanted. The resolution states embryos would be left frozen and unquestionably destined for eventual destruction.

In Vitro Fertilization most often engages in the destruction of embryonic human life and increasingly engages in dehumanizing methods for determining suitability for life and genetic sorting, based on notions of genetic fitness and parental preferences, the resolution reads.

We call on Southern Baptists to love all of their neighbors in accordance with their God-given dignity as image bearers and to advocate for the government to restrain actions inconsistent with the dignity and value of every human being, which necessarily includes frozen embryonic human beings, the resolution continues.

There are less than 13 million Southern Baptists, the denominations lowest number since the 1970s, but it remains the nations, and states, largest Protestant denomination. The SBC has 753,653 members in 3,164 Southern Baptist-affiliated churches in Alabama.

Southern Baptists believe that Christians should in general oppose IVF because by its very nature it separates procreation from sex and treats children as products rather than people, SBCs Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission wrote earlier this week. It is morally ambiguous enough to be problematic and should be discouraged as a matter of wisdom and prudence.

However, Southern Baptists believe children, no matter how they were conceived or even where they are located (in or outside the womb), are full image bearers of God and possess inherent dignity and worth. No discussion, debate, or decision on the ethics of IVF can or should ever diminish the value of children created through this process.

Around the time of the Alabama IVF ruling, Andrew T. Walker, a professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, called for the adoption of an official resolution addressing IVF at the SBCs next convention.

When you consider the moral goods that Scripture holds as inseverable for where conception ought to occur, IVF is ruled out, Walker posted on X.

Walker and R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, proposed the resolution, The New York Times reports.

Walker told The Times he could not predict how the proposed resolution would be received.

What remains to be seen, he said, is how well understood IVF is, which our resolution seeks to remedy. But I trust Southern Baptists to do the right, noble, and consistent thing when all the facts are known.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport will receive $4 million as part of a grant program from the Federal Aviation Administration.

The money will go toward crack repairs and joint filling on the existing terminal apron, and shifting and reconstructing an existing taxiway.

The money is one of 90 airport-related infrastructure grants across 34 states announced Friday by the Biden Administration, totaling $186.7 million.

The projects are funded under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Airport Infrastructure Grants (AIG) program, part of $25 billion included in the law for airport improvements, such as terminal expansions, baggage system upgrades and runway safety enhancements.

Traffic at the airport was up 11% over the previous year in April. Last year, BHM saw more than 3 million passengers, which was 14% more than 2022.

BHM offers nonstop service to 20 airport destinations in 17 cities around the country.
Four men were rescued Thursday by the Coast Guard after their 28-foot catamaran capsized, throwing all of them into the water without floatation devices, officials said.

Coast Guard District 8 received a call just before 2 p.m. Thursday from the Coast Guard National Command Center advising that an SOS signal from a satellite communicator had been received.

The on-duty personnel were able to link to the satellite device and communicate with one of the four men, who said the boat had capsized and he and the others were in the water without flotation devices.

A MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter that was already airborne was diverted to the location of the four men. Simultaneously, a 45-foot Coast Guard response boat was launched from Dauphin Island to assist. In addition, three more helicopters, all MH-65 Dolphins, which were engaged in training exercises were sent to the location of the capsized boat.

Ultimately, one of the Dolphin helicopter crews arrived first and hoisted all four men aboard before flying them to the Aviation Training Center in Mobile.

No injuries were reported.
A Florida sheriff on Friday fired a deputy who fatally shot a Black airman at his home while holding a handgun pointed to the ground

Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden fired Deputy Eddie Duran, who fatally shot Senior Airman Roger Fortson on May 3 after responding to a domestic violence call and being directed to Fortsons apartment.

Body camera video shows that when the deputy arrived outside Fortsons door, he stood silently for 20 seconds outside and listened, but no voices inside are heard on his body camera.

He then pounded on the door, but didnt identify himself. He then moved to the side of the door, about 5 feet away (1.5 meters). He waited 15 seconds before pounding on the door again. This time he yelled, Sheriffs office  open the door! He again moved to the side.

Less then 10 seconds later, he moved back in front of the door and pounded again, announcing himself once more.

Fortson, 23, opened the door, his legally purchased gun in his right hand. It was at his side, pointing to the ground. The deputy said Step back then immediately began firing. Fortson fell backward onto the floor.

Only then did the deputy yell, Drop the gun!

Aden said Duran was wrong to fire his weapon.

This tragic incident should have never occurred, Aden said in his statement. The objective facts do not support the use of deadly force as an appropriate response to Mr. Fortsons actions. Mr. Fortson did not commit any crime. By all accounts, he was an exceptional airman and individual.

No phone number could be immediately found for Duran. Email and phone messages seeking comment from his attorney John Whitaker were not immediately returned.

According to a sheriffs report, after the shooting when other deputies arrived to render aid, Duran walked into the breezeway outside the unit and struck a wall with his right fist, saying F---.

An investigator later asked him why he did that, and he said he thought that he was about to get shot.

It was, um, just kind of letting out whatever, you know, built up emotion and frustration, he said, according to the internal report. It was just one of these things where, you know, as Im standing there thinking Im about to get shot, Im about to die, he said.

Once said and done, it was just all the emotion going, Oh my God, like just let it out, he said.

A criminal investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is ongoing.

The apartment where Fortson lived is about 8 miles (13 kilometers) from Hurlburt Field, where Fortson was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron as a special missions aviator serving on an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship. One of his roles was to load the planes 30mm and 105mm cannons during battles. He earned an Air Medal with combat device, which is typically awarded after 20 flights in a combat zone or for conspicuous valor or achievement on a single mission.

He had no criminal record.

Sabu Williams, president of the Okaloosa County NAACP, applauded Adens action.

We appreciate what the internal investigation has shown and what the sheriff has done to this point, Williams told The Associated Press. We dont think this is the end of it, obviously.

He said the NAACP has a good relationship with the Republican sheriff.

Some of us may have wanted things to happen a lot quicker, but I know due diligence has to take place, Williams said.

From 2003 through 2014 Duran served in the U.S. Army, with a military career that included a combat deployment to Iraq in 2008, according to the sheriffs investigative report on the Fortson shooting.

He had worked in military intelligence, and then moved into military law enforcement. He received an honorable discharge, the report states.

After serving in the Army, Duran began a law enforcement career in Oklahoma, where he worked as a police officer and canine officer from 2015 to 2019. He also served as a fire marshal for the Altus, Oklahoma, fire department around 2016-2017, according to the report.

Duran joined the sheriffs office in July 2019, but resigned two years later. He rejoined the sheriffs office 11 months ago.
UPDATE: This post was updated at 11:46 a.m. Friday with some more data from the New York Division of Criminal Justice Services.

What kind of sentence could former President Donald J. Trump face?

Its one of the big questions now that Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican Party presidential nominee, stands convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in his efforts to quash mid-campaign stories about sexual trysts.

In the hour following the verdict, experts seem split on whether Trump will face jail time as punishment.

But they almost agree that facing jail time and actually doing it are completely different things.

Hardly anyone sees Trump serving his hush money sentence  whatever it is  before voters decide on his political future in November. Thats based on the strong likelihood Justice Juan M. Merchan would release Trump on bail pending the completion of appeals, which are expected to run well into 2025.

Trump, for his part, made clear Thursday that he is already playing the long game.

The real verdict is gonna be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here today, he told reporters after the verdict came down. Everybody knows what happened here.

For now, Trumps sentencing is tentatively scheduled for July 11.

That will follow completion of a pre-sentence investigation and a process in which both prosecutors and defense will get to put forth their own recommendations for appropriate punishment to Merchan. But the judge makes the call.

Recent history shows that jail time is not the norm for this charge.

Courts in New York City had a total of seven felony convictions where the business records charge was the top count in the five years between 2018 and 2022, according to data kept by the New York Division. of Criminal Justice Services.

In only one of those cases was a defendant sentenced to jail time.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg didnt immediately weigh in on whether he will ask the judge for a prison sentence during a Thursday evening press conference, according to CBS News, saying his team will speak instead in court filings.

Unlike in Pennsylvania, where judges start with a sentencing matrix designed to fit the particulars of the case before them  including the defendants prior record and a score assigned to the gravity of the offense  and judges must clearly explain variations up or down from those guidelines, New York judges have a little more discretion at the start of the process.

The statutory maximum term for New Yorks falsifying business records charge is one and one-third years to four years in prison. But Merchan could also assign a definite prison sentence of up to one year, or a wide variety of non-incarceration sentences, ranging from probation to community service or a fine.

Some doubt Trump will ever face prison time.

I dont think theres going to be a sentence of incarceration. Id be very surprised, said Cheryl Bader, a Fordham University law professor said Thursday.

Bader said thats based in part on the circumstances of Trumps particular case.

He has no prior felony convictions on his record, she noted, and the falsifying business records charges are graded as Class E felonies, or the lowest category of felony in New York State.

And then theres the fact that Trump is 77 years old.

Not to mention the logistical difficulty of jailing a former president who is entitled to a Secret Service detail.

One wild card is the idea that Merchan would want to somehow hold Trump to a higher standard because he is a former president. But that would be out of character, Bader said, for how Merchan has attempted to run the trial so far  which is to say he seems to have gone out of his way to keep things normal.

I think the judge has done a very good job of staying within what are the normal criminal procedures and process, and that under a lot of scrutiny and pressure, she said.

Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to the coverup of a $130,000 hush money payment that was made to the porn star Stormy Daniels in the days leading up to the 2016 election.

The state data shows that while incarceration for the business records charge is not common, it is not unheard of:

Of 48 cases statewide in which the business records count was the top charge for a felony or misdemeanor conviction in 2022, just 15 of those defendants  fewer than one in three  were sentenced to jail or prison. (2022 is the last full year for which data was available.)

Neither was a New York City case.

In all other cases, the defendants received a time-served sentence  meaning they werent ordered to serve any more time than they already had since their arrest, not applicable in Trumps case; probation, fine or some other type of release.

In 2021, only 19 of 71 such defendants statewide got incarceration terms.

But all cases are different, and one legal expert commenting on CNN Thursday had a different take about Trumps possible fate.

Karen Friedman Agnifilo, a former chief deputy in Manhattan district attorneys office, said there are reasons Trump could find himself in the minority of cases where a low-level felony conviction brings jail because of some specific aspects of this case:

He has three other criminal cases pending in three other juridictions;

His personality may prevent him from showing any remorse, and;

Hes already been fined 10 times by Merchan in this case for violating certain gag orders.

Given those factors, Agnifilo said, a generic defendant would absolutely fall within that 10 to 30 percent (of defendants) who would be sentenced to prison.

Because his name is Donald Trump, who knows what will happen. But those are the exact factors that any judge in New York State would take into consideration, she said.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia announced Friday he has switched his registration to independent, raising questions about his political plans since the move could help his chances should he seek elected office again in a state that has turned heavily Republican.

Manchin, 76, has often been at odds with the Democratic Party and an obstacle to many of President Joe Bidens legislative priorities. But he played a central role in helping Biden get a landmark climate change and health care bill over the finish line in 2022.

He had already announced in November that he wouldnt seek re-election to the Senate, giving Republicans a clear path to picking up his West Virginia seat in their bid to retake the majority next year.

Manchin has served in the Senate since 2010 and is the chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He said in a statement that over the past 15 years he has seen both major political parties leave their constituents behind for partisan extremism while jeopardizing our democracy.

Today, our national politics are broken and neither party is willing to compromise to find common ground, Manchin said. To stay true to myself and remain committed to put country before party, I have decided to register as an independent with no party affiliation and continue to fight for Americas sensible majority.

Manchin will continue to caucus with Democrats and keep his chairmanship, according to a person familiar with his thinking who was granted anonymity to share his plans. The move helps Democrats preserve their slim 51-49 majority in the Senate.

Still, facing potential retirement from politics, Manchin appears to be keeping other options open.

He has long wanted to switch his party affiliation to become an independent, according to a second person familiar with the situation who was granted anonymity to discuss it. But a looming deadline in West Virginia forced the issue.

Candidates must file their political affiliation 60 days prior to a Aug. 1 deadline to run in this years election.

Now registered as an independent, Manchin still has time to mount another Senate race or a potential run for governor, a position he held from 2005 to 2010.

He had gone back and forth for months before announcing he wasnt running for reelection to the Senate. Many questioned whether he could win against the immensely popular Gov. Jim Justice, the Republican Senate nominee who Manchin helped recruit to run for governor as a Democrat in 2016. Justice switched to Republican at a rally with then-President Donald Trump not long into his first term.

Should the Senate candidates stumble, Manchin could be poised to try to keep his seat. But a run for governor could be more favorable.

Manchin has defeated the Republican nominee for governor, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, once before, in 2018. That Senate campaign was Manchins toughest in his three-plus decades in West Virginia politics. He defeated Morrisey by just over 3 percentage points.

Steve Williams, who is the Democratic nominee for governor and the mayor of Huntington, said last week he doesnt believe Manchin intends to enter the gubernatorial race, adding that theyve been friends for decades.

West Virginia Democratic Party officials said Friday Manchin did not give them a heads up he was switching to independent. In a statement Friday, state Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin said he was disappointed.

While the senator has been one of the most independent senators in the country, and has sometimes opposed the Democratic agenda, well always be grateful for his votes to impeach President Trump, to create the January 6th Commission, and his warning that, if re-elected, Trump will destroy democracy in America, he said.

Manchin first entered the Senate after winning a special election following the death of Robert C. Byrd in 2010. The states political tilt has changed dramatically since then.

Registered Democrats outnumbered Republicans during Manchins first two Senate campaigns, but those numbers have flipped. Now, about 40% of registered voters are Republicans, compared with 31% for Democrats and about 24% with no party affiliation.

Both chambers of the Legislature have Republican supermajorities, and Trump overwhelmingly won the state in 2016 and 2020.

Manchin had also flirted with the possibility of running for president as a third-party candidate, but decided against that in February, saying he didnt want to be a spoiler.

Manchin, the last in a line of powerful Senate Democrats from West Virginia who promoted coal interests at the national level, has increasingly lamented the two-party system in the past year. During a tour of a Charleston stamping plant in October, he said he identified more with independents than either party.

Dont worry about the D or the R, worry about the person  who is that person? he said. There can be a good D and a bad D and a good R and a bad R, but the identity  I like more the independent identity.

Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report. Willingham reported from Charleston, W.V.
New details are emerging about the shooting death of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor early Saturday at the hands of catalytic converter thieves in downtown Los Angeles.

No arrests have been made in the killing, which has sparked shock and outrage. Wactor, 37, played Brando Corbin on General Hospital from 2020 to 2022. He also had roles on shows, including Westworld, Criminal Minds and Station 19.

Here a breakdown of what we know:

The shooting

Wactor was killed around 3:25 a.m. while leaving a rooftop bar where he worked with a colleague. He encountered three people near Pico Boulevard and Hope Street trying to steal his cars catalytic converter, authorities said. One of the thieves shot Wactor before fleeing.

His co-worker, Anita Joy, posted details about those final moments of him dying in my arms in the streets of DTLA in the dark hours of 3 am on Instagram.

We cautiously approached the men, questioning what they were doing, at first thinking the car was being towed. We were no threat and Johnny kept his cool as he always did, simply stating that it was his car and for them to leave. Hands open to his sides in peace.

Johnny was between me and the man who shot him  as I heard the shot ring into the night, he forcefully tumbled back into my arms and as I grabbed for him, I shouted, Hunny, you ok?!

And he only responded, Nope! Shot! We toppled onto the street, where I pushed my legs under him and tried to hold his body up while screaming for help and screaming at him to stay with me.

Her account fits with an LAPD narrative released about the shooting.

When Wactor arrived at his vehicle, he was confronted by three individuals who had Wactors vehicle raised up with a floor jack and were in the process of stealing the catalytic converter, authorities said in a news release. Without provocation, the victim was shot by one of the individuals. The three suspects involved were wearing all dark clothing and driving a dark-colored sedan.

Joy closed her post by saying: My heart is shattered with his loss but I believe l have gained the best guardian Angel out there.

The investigation

Law enforcement sources say police are trying to pull fingerprints from Wactors car and are looking for videos from the area. They also are checking to see if there are connections to other nearby catalytic converter thefts.

LAPD investigators say they have seen an uptick in violence when such thieves are confronted.

Catalytic converters thefts

Catalytic converters, which control exhaust emissions, are typically found in the undercarriage of a vehicle and contain precious metals including rhodium, palladium and platinum. Thieves can make hundreds of dollars selling them to auto parts suppliers or scrap yards, where they can be melted down and the valuable metals extracted.

Thefts of catalytic converters skyrocketed in California during the COVID-19 pandemic, which some attributed to increased economic distress. The trend prompted new state laws that make it illegal for recyclers to buy the parts from anyone other than the vehicles legal owner or a licensed dealer and increased penalties for buyers who fail to certify that a catalytic converter wasnt stolen.

___

2024 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
About a week after a former Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary provost was indicted on a charge of falsifying records, school officials confirmed that a staff member told another employee to make a report of sexual assault go away.

The indictment and allegations at the Fort Worth theological school are the latest development in the U.S. Department of Justices investigation into sexual abuse and misconduct at Southern Baptist Convention-affiliated organizations.

Matt Queen, former interim provost at Southwestern Baptist, was indicted May 21 after he failed to inform the FBI of a conspiracy to destroy evidence in the investigation and instead produced falsified records, according to a news release from the United States Attorneys Office for the Southern District of New York.

According to a statement posted Wednesday by seminary President David Dockery, a Southwestern Baptist dean, Terri Stovall  who was referred to as employee 1 in the indictment  was the staff member who documented the report of a student committing sexual assault in November 2022.

Stovall followed institutional procedures and notified the chief of the campus police, who took no further action, the statement says. The chief is no longer employed with Southwestern Baptist. The Burleson Police Department arrested the student who was accused of sexual assault.

In January 2023, Stovall discussed the document she prepared regarding the assault with Heath Woolman, who was the seminarys chief of staff at the time, and Queen. It was in this confrontation that Woolman told Stovall to make the document go away, according to Dockerys statement.

As of August 2022, all Southwestern Baptist employees were made aware of the DOJs investigation into SBC organizations, Dockery said. Employees were also told to provide any relevant documents in response to a subpoena.

Dockery said in the statement that Woolman denied telling Stovall to make the document go away. Queen also initially told authorities and Dockery that he did not hear Woolman instruct Stovall to get rid of the document, according to the release.

For nearly five months we operated within the tension of knowing that employees in whom we had confidence had differences of recollection regarding the January conversation, the statement reads.

It wasnt until a follow-up interview with authorities in June 2023 when Queen admitted hearing Woolman give Stovall the instruction to destroy the document.

Queen, who had pleaded not guilty to the indictment, resigned as interim provost shortly after and was placed on administrative leave. Woolman has not been charged in the investigation.

Woolman resigned as the schools chief of staff on May 5, 2023, to accept a pastoral position. Dockery says that knowing what he knows now, he would have not vouched for Woolman as he previously did to help him earn his current position. Woolman is currently pastor of Fruit Cove Baptist Church in St. Johns, Florida.

If asked to provide the same recommendation today, and based on information received subsequent to that time, I would not be able to provide the same recommendation, Dockery said.

This episode is a matter of deep regret to me, Dockery said. I am, however, grateful that several employees in whom I placed great trust acted responsibly, especially Terri Stovall. I commend the service and integrity of these employees. We remain resolute to continue to cooperate fully with the Department of Justice in all aspects of this investigation.

2024 Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Visit star-telegram.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Huntsville is one of the top 20 cities in the U.S. seeing people move in, according to moving and storage company Pods.

In a recent listing, Pods ranked Huntsville 16th for the most people moving in. Myrtle Beach, S.C./Wilmington, N.C. topped the list, followed by Ocala, Fla.; Houston, Texas; Greenville-Spartanburg, S.C., and Charlotte, N.C.

Huntsville was not ranked last year, and Atlanta, Johnson City, Tenn.; Dover, Del. and Greensboro, N.C. also made their first appearances on the list.

Pods says its seeing more people move to the Southern Appalachian region, which includes Alabama and states such as Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Reasons include affordability, food culture, recreation opportunities and quality of life.

While Florida is still a retirement destination, Pods says people are moving in droves to the Carolinas, Tennessee and Georgia.

Where are people moving from? For the second straight year, Los Angeles tops the list, followed by San Francisco, South Florida, Long Island, N.Y. and Austin, Texas.

Austin is seeing migration because of affordability and housing prices after years of steady increases.
Two north Alabama men have been sentenced to federal prison as part of a series of cases involving multi-million-dollar health care fraud and kickback conspiracies.

U.S. District Court Judge L. Scott Coogler sentenced Brian Bowman, 42, of Gadsden, to eight years in prison, and Jason Max Akin, 46, of Florence, to three-and-a-half years in prison.

Bowman pleaded guilty to health care fraud conspiracy in December 2021, related to his work at Dr. Mark Murphys medical practice, North Alabama Pain Services.

In May 2023, Akin pleaded guilty to health care fraud in connection with the fraud at Watson Rx Solutions.

According to Bowmans plea agreement, he marketed electro-diagnostic testing to medical providers such as Murphy, and was paid a kickback for each test doctors ordered. Bowman received nearly a million dollars in kickbacks from QBR, a Huntsville-based electro-diagnostic testing company, for Murphys orders alone. Bowman also marketed high-reimbursing specialty prescription drugs to providers and received payments for the prescriptions he generated.

Mark Murphy, 66, and his wife Jennifer, 66, both of Lewisburg, Tennessee, were found guilty of drug distribution, fraud, and kickback crimes. The Murphys operated North Alabama Pain Services, which closed its Decatur and Madison offices in early 2017.

According to Akins plea agreement, he was part owner, worked as a pharmacy technician, and helped run sales operations at Watson Rx. Akin paid Bowman and his sales group to generate specialty drug prescriptions from doctors that would be billed to and paid by health insurance plans.

Among the people Akin paid to generate prescriptions were urine collectors who were employed by Bowmans lab company to collect urine at doctors offices for drug screens, and who also marketed Watson Rx prescriptions to patients.

These crimes cost taxpayer-funded insurance programs millions of dollars and exploited vulnerable patients in north Alabama, said U.S. Attorney Prim Escalona. The sentences send a vital message: health care fraud and kickbacks are serious crimes and will not be tolerated. Thank you to our prosecutors and law enforcement partners for their hard work and dedication on this case.
Law enforcement officials in Kansas are asking for help as they attempt to find where an Alabama man missing for 36 years is reportedly buried.

The Butler County (Kansas) Sheriffs Office is searching for the grave of Ricky L. Nelms, a Moulton man who reportedly disappeared in 1988.

The investigation developed out of a missing person case that developed a decade after Nelms disappearance.

In July 1997, the Butler County Sheriffs Office took a missing person report on Franklin Punkie Harrod.

Three people were later convicted of Harrods murder, but his body was never found.

Last year, Butler County Sheriff Monty Hughey directed detectives to investigate further into finding the location of Harrods remains. At that time, they became aware that Nelms might also have been buried in the county - reportedly only a few feet away.

According to the Butler County Times Gazette, a person confessed to burying Harrods body in a rural area in southern Butler County, and also to burying Nelms in the same location in 1988.

Nelms was reported missing to Sedgwick County authorities by his mother in July 1988, after they hadnt heard from him since February of that year.

Nelms had left Alabama to take a roofing job in Wichita. His case remains unsolved.

Anyone with information is asked to contact investigators at crimetips@bucoks.com, or by calling (316) 322-8817 or 866-484-5924.
This is a guest opinion column

It has been more than 40 years since Congress has mustered the courage to tackle the uncertain future of Social Security.

As the decades drifted by, the program racked-up more than $22.5 trillion in promises to current voters that it does not expect to keep. Given the importance of the program in the lives of constituents back home, these statistics should be a top concern lawmakers in Washington. Yet, our politicians barely seem to notice.

The driver of the gap between Social Securitys ability to promise and its ability to pay has been Congressional inaction. Since 1983, more than two-thirds of the problem in the finances of the venerated program stems from the passage of time. This is the cost of twiddling thumbs and pointing fingers.

If Congress continues to follow the path of legislative neglect, about half of those turning 80 today will be turning 89 in 2033 as the program slides into insolvency.

In a recent interview with NewsMax for example, Senator Tuberville (R-AL) said Most people wont get Social Security. Its just unfortunate. It was a tax that was levied on the American people years ago, sold a bill of goods. Separately, he attributed this gloomy prospect to the mismanagement of the money contributed by taxpayers.

While that language suggests the rickety finances of this program have his undivided attention, there is virtually no record of the Senators efforts to effect change in the trajectory of programs finances since he arrived in Washington.

If Senator Tuberville truly believes that most people will not get Social Security, where is his legislation to address the financial imbalances? If he honestly believed that the money had been siphoned away from the program by Washington insiders, he would have, at a minimum, requested the Congressional Research Service produce a report to determine who took the money and how much was lost.

The sad fact is when politicians want to duck and weave around the issue of Social Security, they blame the nameless forces of malfeasance. In this case, someone broke into the vault and spent the money set aside for hard working Americans.

For its part, the Social Security Administration produces clear documentation debunking the notion that the money was used to pay for other government priorities. The agencys reports show that every penny of the FICA tax ever collected from Americans has been distributed to eligible retirees.Any member of Congress who doubts that information has a duty to step-up and call for an investigation.

Of course, no one would make such a request because everyone understands that the allegations are an intellectual snipe hunt.There is no research that suggests most people, or even a majority of people, will not get Social Security benefits when they retire. There is no research that suggests that any of the money under the Social Security Administrations management has been siphoned off to pay for other things. In fact, the program hasnt produced a penny of excess cash to spend on other priorities in nearly 15 years.

Ironically enough, the emotionally charged rhetoric of politicians like Senator Tuberville only makes the possibility of reform more difficult. Washington has been playing this game for 40 years, and the voters have lost year in and year out as a result.

While Senator Tuberville is not the problem, his comments serve as a clear warning to voters that lawmakers have grown exceedingly comfortable with the politics of the status quo. In a better world, every member of Congress, regardless of party, would honor the moral obligation to research the long-term stability of a program on which millions depend, and put those efforts to work in a give and take discussion that is grounded in fact.

Sufficient unto insolvency is the misery thereof. There is no need to make-up concerns.

Brenton Smith is policy adviser on Social Security for the Heartland Institute, a think tank in Arlington Heights, Ill.
The Alabama congressman who tweeted a picture of the controversial Appeal to Heaven flag minutes before reports of a verdict in the Donald Trumps New York trial said his post was in support of the flag and not a reaction to the then-upcoming verdict.

In a statement to AL.com Thursday night, Moore, a Republican from Enterprise, said he displays the Appeal to Heaven flag outside his Washington office.

Displaying the Appeal to Heaven flag represents my reliance on God rather than the government for freedom and protection, and that shouldnt be controversial, Moore said. Democrats often want to twist history to fit their narrative, but George Washington commissioned this flag as a symbol of the colonists reliance on God to save them from the Kings tyranny and our First Amendment allows me to fly it proudly.

Minutes before reports circulated that the New York jury reached a verdict in the falsifying business records case, Moore tweeted a photo of the Appeal to Heaven flag:

The photo was not accompanied by any comment by Moore.

The flag has drawn attention after the New York Times reported that flag was flying over the New Jersey beach home of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito last summer. The paper previously reported an inverted American flag was flown at Alitos Virginia home after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Both flags were carried by rioters who violently stormed the Capitol in January 2021 echoing Trumps false claims of election fraud.

The Appeal to Heaven flag has in recent years come to symbolize sympathies with the Christian nationalist movement and the false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Trump. According to Americanflags.com, the pine tree on the flag symbolized strength and resilience in the New England colonies while the words Appeal to Heaven stemmed from the belief that God would deliver the colonists from tyranny.

Alito said he was unaware that the upside-down flag was flying above his house until it was called to his attention. As soon as I saw it, I asked my wife to take it down, but for several days, she refused, he wrote in nearly identical letters to Democrats in the House and Senate.

Alito said his wife made the decision to fly the Appeal to Heaven flag.

About an hour after his Appeal to Heaven tweet, Moore posted a statement on the Trump guilty verdict, which he called a sad day for America.

This verdict is a travesty of justice in a kangaroo court, and it proves Joe Bidens sole focus is not to help the American people, but instead to weaponize against his political opponents to help his reelection during a failing administration, he said.
On May 20, the day Taiwans new president Lai Ching-te was sworn in, China provocatively sailed seven warships near the island and flew six military planes into its airspace. Three days later, China began Joint Sword 2024A, a military drill simulating a complete blockade. The island was menaced by some 20 warships maneuvering at high speed and dozens of warplanes whizzing overhead. Some planes and ships were armed with live missiles and conducted mock missile strikes.

Lai believes  as do many strategic experts  that Chinas ambition to annex Taiwan is an ever-present threat. In fact, Chinese defense officials brazenly called the two-day exercises a strong punishment to combat the arrogance of Taiwan independence and test the ability to jointly seize power, launch joint attacks, and occupy key areas.

The U.S. must therefore step up to the plate to defend Taiwans vibrant democracy. There are at least three reasons for doing so. First, a China-controlled Taiwan will intensify Chinese aggression in the area, compromising Americas regional allies. Second, not supporting Taiwan will send allies the message that they cannot depend on America. Third, Taiwan leads in semiconductor manufacture and emerging AI technologies; a Chinese invasion or takeover by other means could ravage the global economy by upending the microchip supply chain.

The immediate provocation for Joint Sword 2024A was Lais election and his inaugural speech. Lais Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) asserts that Taiwan is a sovereign nation, so China favors the rival Kuomintang (KMT). In the speech, Lai urged China to end political and military intimidation, pledging to neither provoke nor yield to Beijing. He said the two sides of the Taiwan Strait were not subordinate to each other. China refers to him as a dangerous separatist who will lead Taiwan to war and decline.

Saber-rattling, gnawing incursions, threats, and commercial sanctions are a staple of the Chinese playbook for dealing with countries seen as rivals. Chinese fighters violate Taiwanese airspace almost daily. Cyberattacks originating in China  increasing of late  have always targeted Taiwans government websites. And days before Lais inauguration, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) sanctioned five Taiwanese political commentators and declared three U.S. companies unreliable  Boeing, General Dynamics Land Systems, and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems.

More insidious, though, are Chinas strategies of political warfare, exploitation of the legal ambiguity of Taiwans status at the United Nations, the creation of a fifth column, and what a joint report of the American Enterprise Institute, Coalition Defense of Taiwan, and Institute for the Study of War calls a short-of-war coercion course of action.

President Xi Jinping may have called for deepening war and combat planning to increase the chances of victory in actual combat, likely driven by his desire to wrest full control over the military. But the CCP recognizes that a kinetic war over Taiwan would be unwise. For it would put China in direct confrontation with the U.S., Japan, the Philippines, South Korea, Australia, and the North Atlantic Alliance. Such a war would also be unnecessary. For the CCP believes that the weiqi strategy of winning without fighting  using hybrid methods and a coercion campaign  will be both appropriate and effective.

Accordingly, China wages political warfare through propaganda and disinformation, winning over elites who command influence, political subversion, and economic actions. By manipulating information, it aims to change public perception and attitudes. Disinformation is fed to vulnerable audiences, sowing confusion and diminishing resistance to the CCP. For this, it also uses cyber-ops and pliable media groups. Wealthy Taiwanese with financial interests in China are co-opted to leverage influence. And fringe political parties and organizations are funded to spread pro-CCP narratives.

Lawfare works at several levels, from the international downward. Taiwans status at the United Nations is a subject of legal ambiguity. The U.N. General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 1971 says that the representatives of the government of the Peoples Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the U.N. There is no mention of Taiwan  officially known as the Republic of China  or its status or right to self-determination. China has mischaracterized the resolution as affirming that there is only one China, and in 2007, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon strengthened this claim by declaring that the U.N. considers Taiwan for all purposes to be an integral part of the Peoples Republic of China. China could use this interpretation to use force for the unification of Taiwan and prevent U.S. action in the islands defense.

At the local level, China engages in gray zone ops. These include aerial and maritime encroachments on Taiwanese territory to erode the concept of sovereignty and security; ship inspections in or near Taiwanese waters, amounting to a virtual blockade; and kinetic provocations on Taiwans offshore islands. Besides, China uses import bans and denial of market access and investment incentives against Taiwan and its partners.

A robust fifth-column network has been established by China inside Taiwans national security apparatus and political system, according to the Global Taiwan Institute. High-ranking retired generals are invited to China and influenced to spread defeatist propaganda and erode confidence in the Taiwanese military. From 2008 onward, the network was expanded to include civil society groups, students, workers, cultural groups taking part in cross-strait programs. Organized criminal gangs, too, were drawn in. Between 2000 and 2006, 62 espionage cases were reported, and in 2023, a retired major revealed a 10-officer spy network. Besides cyberattacks, these colluders could easily be deployed to sabotage power and water supply and telecom networks.

Finally, the short-of-war coercion plan, which, according to the joint report, is aimed at solving the problem of continued resistance to unification. It was created over the course of a year, examining previous and ongoing coercion campaigns, and covers a wide range of actions designed to decrease the Taiwanese governments power and dampen the publics desire for autonomy. These include cyber warfare to scupper infrastructure and isolate the public.

The plan strongly banks on America hesitating to come to Taiwans aid for fear of alienating China and endangering Sino-American trade and other economic activities. According to the report, China believes that if America remains uninvolved, the confidence of the Taiwanese will be shattered, for they will realize that the rest of the world will not intervene either. This, it hopes, will make the Taiwanese amenable to unification.

According to the report, the best way to contain Chinas ambitions is for the U.S. and Taiwan to strengthen their ties and forcefully pursue an information war to counter Chinas campaign of pressure, manipulation, and misinformation.

Lai proudly spoke of Taiwans accomplishments as a democracy and an independent economic power. Calling for support from other democracies, he said, Let us work together to show the world our determination to protect democratic Taiwan. So far, the U.S. has not responded vigorously to bolster his message of strength. It must, lest its allies  and all free countries  think they cannot rely on the U.S.s support if their freedom is challenged.

It has been reported that Taiwans chief semiconductor manufacturer, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which supplies microchips to Apple, Nvidia, Qualcomm, and many other electronic giants and other manufacturers worldwide, has installed remote kill switches to render its machines inoperable in the event of a Chinese attack.

Taiwan, which makes more than 90% of the worlds microchips, counts on America to ensure that it does not have to flip the kill switches on those machines  and that China does not flip the kill switch on Taiwans democracy.

Image: Free image, Pixabay license.
The Biden administration has been arguing with itself over its support of Israel in its war against Hamas in Gaza. Secretary Antony Blinken, in particular, seems to take both sides, claiming variously that Hamas must be destroyed, that Hamas cannot be destroyed, that the Biden administration isnt telling Israel how to fight the war, and that Israel must totally withdraw from Gaza. Now the administration wants to signal that it is happy to send Israel weapons while withholding (among other things) 500- and 2,000-lb. bombs and JDAM kits that convert those bombs into precision weapons.

But the current existential threat to Israel comes from Lebanon, and the Biden administrations fixation on Gazan civilians is leaving Israel fatally vulnerable.

To bolster its case that its commitment to Israels security is ironclad, the administration (correctly) points out the success of destroying almost all of the 300 missiles launched at Israel by Iran, many by U.S. and other military forces. President Biden evidently believes that this, and the success of Iron Dome in thwarting missile attacks from Gaza, means that Israel is fully secure against external threats and needs at most simply to rebuild and strengthen the Gaza border fence. This explains why Biden advised Israel to take the win and not respond militarily to Irans attack, and why President Biden told CNNs Erin Burnett that his ironclad commitment to Israels security is completely fulfilled by shipments of missile defense munitions.

However, the missile threat from Hezballah is nothing like that from Gaza, or even Iran. Writing in Forbes, Eric Tegler points out that Hezballah had an arsenal of more than 130,000 rockets in 2018, mostly short-range but including anti-ship missiles and some longer-range ground missiles that can strike Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Since then, the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies estimates that arsenal had grown to 150,000 to 200,000 projectiles. The Arrow and Davids Sling elements of Israels missile defenses are not designed for this threat; only the Iron Dome and the yet-to-be-deployed Iron Beam (laser-based) systems are.

And, whereas Iran chose to launch 300 projectiles in one attack from hundreds of miles away, FDD estimates that Hezballah can sustain launch rates of 3,000 to 4,000 projectiles a day, at least initially. FDD estimates that perhaps ten percent of these will evade the Iron Dome, meaning 300 to 400 warheads striking targets in Israel daily. Moreover, within a few days, Israels reserves of Iron Dome interceptors would be exhausted, raising the daily successful strike rate tenfold.

Despite the good intentions and pledges of the United States, it is powerless to defend Israel against this threat in the same way as it did against the Iranian attack. There will be no time to move ships and planes into position into range to intercept these rockets, nor would those assets be effective against them anyway. U.S. jets and shipboard systems had time to detect and intercept ballistic missiles and drones during their flight from Iran and Yemen, but the flight time and trajectory of short-range missiles from Lebanon render the U.S. assets useless for Israels defense, though they might help defend Israels eastern flank against an Iranian attack coordinated with Hezballah.

Even now, as Dov Lieber reports in the Journal, 60,000 Israelis remain displaced from their homes near the Lebanese border. Israeli missile defenses are inadequate to protect their communities from a continual string of attacks from Hezballah. In the eight months since October 7, Hezballah has fired 4,500 rockets into Israel  but in a full-scale war, it could launch that many in less than 48 hours.

Nor can the Biden administration (or the IDF, for that matter) rely on the notion that there would be intelligence forewarning of a full-scale Hezballah attack. Israels television network Kan reported that an IDF assessment before Oct. 7 deemed it likely that a surprise attack by Hezballah over the northern border would succeed in overrunning many border villages and even IDF bases before reinforcements could arrive. The head of military intelligence at the time, Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva, said that it would not be possible for such an attack to be conducted with complete surprise; shortly thereafter, Hamas accomplished exactly that and overran kibbutzim and IDF bases. Haliva has since resigned.

Israel must assume that its first confirmation of a Hezballah attack will be a barrage of several thousand incoming missiles. According to the FDD, because so many of Hezballahs missile launchers are highly mobile, the only way for the IDF to counter this threat once war breaks out is to carry out an invasion of south Lebanon, beginning with intensive bombing raids into Lebanon to destroy Hezballahs missile stockpiles and other military installations. Hezballah, like Hamas, has constructed underground tunnels and bunkers that can be destroyed or disabled only with heavy bombs, including 2,000-lb. bombs. Israels survival depends on its ability to deliver the maximum number of these bombs to Hezballah targets in the shortest possible time.

Clearly, the Biden administration does not understand this imperative. In his CNN interview, President Biden confirmed that his administration has paused shipment of bombs and JDAM kits, and even said artillery shells would be held back if Israel entered Rafah in force. In his zeal to mollify critics of his policy toward Israel and Gaza, and to shake the epithet Genocide Joe, he wants to cripple the IDFs capabilities to conduct offensive war. Israel, he seems to believe, should be happy to be the target of rocket, missile, and drone fire from all sides, since it will lose only a few civilians and soldiers as a consequence  something he sees as a win.

Should Hezballah initiate a war with several thousand missile launches a day, it would become immediately apparent that no missile defenses could adequately protect Israel for attacks on that scale, and equally apparent that U.S. missile defense assets would be useless in that situation. However, even if President Biden immediately ordered expedited shipment of offensive munitions to Israel for use against Hezballah, it would be too late for them to be delivered in time to suppress Hezballahs attacks. If the Biden administration forces Israel to deplete its stockpiles of bombs in its campaign in Gaza, the IDF will not have enough bombs to conduct a sustained suppression campaign against Hezballah.

The doomsday scenario in this situation would be Iran taking advantage of Israels combat with Hezballah to launch a much larger and stealthier missile strike on Israel. The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) says, Iran possesses the largest and most diverse missile arsenal in the Middle East. Iran Watch estimates that Irans ballistic missile arsenal alone numbers over 3,000.

Would President Bidens ironclad guarantee of Israels security extend to U.S. military strikes on Lebanon, or would the president simply ask Secretary Blinken to shuttle between Beirut and Jerusalem? What would the president do if Iran launched not 300 missiles and drones toward Israel, but 3,000? It will be better for the United States to see to it that Israel has the munitions it needs to defend itself  which necessarily means the munitions it needs to conduct offensive operations against its enemies.

Image via Pexels.
On Thursday May 30, a New York court led by Judge Juan Merchan convicted a U.S. President of 34 felony counts. Trump was not the first President to be arrested -- that honor belongs to Ulysses S. Grant when he was arrested in 1872 by a black police officer for speeding his horse and buggy through the streets of D.C. Trump is not the first Presidential candidate to be convicted -- that honor belongs to Socialist candidate Eugene V. Debs in 1918. The political prosecutions of candidate Trump bode ill for our most cherished civil right: freedom of speech. On the same day Trump was convicted, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in favor of the free speech rights of the National Rifle Association. Liberal justice Sonia Sotomayor correctly inferred the proud civil rights tradition of the United States stating: The First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech, directly or, as alleged here, through private intermediaries. The Supreme Court consistently rules that political speech lies at the heart of the most famous American civil right of freedom of speech as noted by Supreme Court justice Anthony Kennedy in 2010: If the First Amendment has any force, it prohibits Congress from fining or jailing citizens, or associations of citizens, for simply engaging in political speech. Pursuing political prosecutions of candidates in order to interfere with an election is dangerous and likely to boomerang rhetorically upon those seeking their own ends in this abuse of power.

In 1918, Socialist candidate for the Presidency Eugene V. Debs made a speech near Canton, Ohio against World War I and the policies of President Woodrow Wilson:

They have always taught you that it is your patriotic duty to go to war and slaughter yourselves at their command. You have never had a voice in the war. The working class who make the sacrifices, who shed the blood, have never yet had a voice in declaring war.

The Ohio crowd responded often during his speech with enthusiastic applause. At his trial conducted by the Federal government for near-certain indictment, his attorneys waived the right to bring witnesses but instead allowed Debs to speak directly to the jury:

There is not a single falsehood in that speech. If there is a single statement in it that will not bear the light of truth, I will retract it. I will make all of the reparation in my power. But if what I said is true, and I believe it is, then whatever fate or fortune may have in store for me I shall preserve inviolate the integrity of my soul and stand by it to the end.

After receiving a 10-year federal sentence for his speech he was ultimately transferred to the U.S. Federal penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia. Democrat president Woodrow Wilson said of Debs:

This man was a traitor to his country and he will never be pardoned during my administration.

Campaigning from his jail cell, Debs received nearly one million votes. His campaign buttons read For President, Convict No. 9653. After Republican president Warren Harding released him from prison by Christmas 1921, Socialists garnered less than 30,000 votes in the 1924 election against the Republican winner Calvin Coolidge. The conviction and jailing of Debs did not reduce his public appeal and arguably the political overreach of Woodrow Wilson enhanced the voting for the Socialist candidate.

In the 1950s, the United States faced a near social panic about the real threat of communist infiltration. As in the case of Debs, the political organs of the United States considered engaging in legislative acts to endanger core civil rights like those found in the First Amendment. Truman warned then with regard to pending legislation:

Once a government is committed to the principle of silencing the voice of opposition, it has only one way to go, and that is down the path of increasingly repressive measures, until it becomes a source of terror to all its citizens and creates a country where everyone lives in fear. ...if the Bill of Rights were to be broken down, all groups, even the most conservative, would be in danger from the arbitrary power of government.

In 1996, Atlanta police detained and kidnapped the only black Republican candidate for President from the grounds of a local TV station hosting a Republican Presidential candidate debate from which Alan Keyes was excluded. Keyes compared Atlantas civic behavior to that of the Soviet Union. Keyes was handcuffed, driven to the top of a distant city parking garage and dropped off by Atlanta police in order to prevent him from protesting his exclusion from the presidential debate. He was never charged with a crime. The Democrat mayor of Atlanta, who personally picked up Keyes, apologized for the citys conduct.

Federal prosecutor Jack Smith is presently prosecuting Republican President and leading Republican candidate for 2024 Donald Trump for violating the 1917 Espionage Act: The men and women of the United States intelligence community and our Armed Forces dedicate their lives to protecting our nation and its people. Our laws that protect national defense information are critical to the safety and security of the United States, and they must be enforced. Violations of those laws put our country at risk. Smiths prosecution alongside the ideological projects of the prosecutors in New York, and Georgia jeopardize the core civil right of freedom of speech by allowing the government to selectively prosecute political rivals and silence speech by political opponents. The Justice Department is showing itself to be a partisan organization that views its operations of law enforcement to be subordinate to an ideological goal that is the defense of the Democrat Party and its hold upon the executive branch. The American public should not cooperate with this plain election interference and evident violation of among our most precious civil rights: freedom of speech. The prosecution, conviction, and imprisonment of U.S. Presidential candidates is not unprecedented, but it does not insure the reduction in political power or appeal to any such candidate. These encroachments are the truest threat to our democratic republic.

Dr. Ben Voth is a professor of rhetoric and director of debate at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. His is author of The Presidential Rhetoric of Woodrow Wilson, Warren Harding, and Calvin Coolidge: The Centennial of the Modern American Presidency. He is among the professors who rank U.S. Presidents for C-SPAN.
A difficult concept to explain to ordinary people is that some people and some ideas are unadulterated evil, not just in their implementation but in their conception. Most of us are unfamiliar with evil because we spend much time and effort staying as far away as possible. Theres also an impulse to humanize others. Many want to believe the best in people and trivialize or gloss over readily observable behaviors that might lead to seeing a person as evil. People misinterpret evil acts as separate and apart from having an evil soul.

Hitler is a perfect example of pure evil despite a superficial handful of humanizing qualities. For example, he loved dogs. Blondi was Hitlers favorite dog. You can find many pictures of Blondi, frequently taken by his paramour, Eva Braun, along with pictures of Hitlers inner circle yucking it up, just like ordinary people.

Please make no mistake about it: evil Hitler had his soft spots for his dog Blondi, Eva, and especially, little children whom he adored. At the same time, he sent ten-year-olds to defend Berlin before the fall, armed with hand grenades to blow themselves up and hopefully a Soviet or two, not to mention the millions of children sent to the gas chambers. Evil. Irans mullahs sending young children in front of the Iranian Army to step on and explode mines also comes to mind.

Image by AI.

Privileged Americans and Europeans no longer understand that evil roams the world, driven by people who care not for your child, parents, or you. Your value to them, if they see any, is as a consumer, a subject, or even as one of their soldiers they can co-opt to their evil designs.

There was a great story on 60 Minutes the other night about Cuban espionage agents embedded in the U.S. government. Ana Montes, a highly placed agent in our State Department, worked for Cuba for almost 20 years. When you listen to her, she reveals no remorse for her damage to our country. She was a true believer, responsible for several dead American assets. That is evil.

If people are working for an evil causewhether they identify as a freedom fighter, Woke individual, humanist, truth-teller, or whatever pop culture phraseology they may care to use when they work for the Devilthe core evil of that cause rubs off on them. Certainly, redemption is possible, but the siren song of engaging in evil acts for supposedly good causes is not a form of protesting, no matter how much your cute little college coed thinks it is. Nor is revisionist history that seeks to reform evil people. Groups like Hamas or individuals like Hitler, Marx, or AOC parroting the party line of evil agendas will always be as evil personally as the essential evil that they espouse. I dont care if Hitler loved Blondi. It does not change his status one iota.

Evil exists when lies predominate, as is the case, for example, when all you hear about Israel is the suffering its causing, as if Israel has nothing better to do than starve Palestinians for fun. Politicians and the media keep lying about Israel causing a humanitarian crisis when the only useful aid to Gaza is coming through Israel because Egypt blocked its crossing into Rafah once Israel, despite Bidens best efforts to stop it, invaded Rafah and exposed the underground traffic corridor to Egypt. Egypt isnt getting blamed for starving Gazans; Israel is. In reality, theres plenty of food in Gaza because we keep sending food. Hamas and other armed groups then steal the food and resell it. But the propagandists lie, so evil spreads and draws in the weak-minded.

Evil also exists when we lie to ourselves about who people really are. While many people may not support the war in Ukraine, especially given how Ukraine is a money laundering country, that doesnt make Putin a good man. Putins history in Russia reveals an evil man who considers murder an effective tactic against his political opponents.

And, of course, nothing defines evil better than the minority of people who seek and hold inordinate power over other peoples lives and act on their behalf with the false belief that they know better. The centrality of all variations of Marxism is the epitome of evil, and not just Democrats but those Republicans who speak the language of freedom and individuality but hue to the same demigod that too many of todays Democrats do as well. The greatest failure of both is that they hold us all in contempt, and we allow them to do so for the favors they grant to buy our loyalty.

Rarely is anything 100%. Hitler loved children and his dogs. Putin portrays himself as the savior of Western culture, and elite cabals around the world promise to help the people even as they only amass power to help themselves. Elitists everywhere control the means and money necessary to portray themselves as thought leaders, populists, and benevolent philanthropists. Public figures whose god is to remain in power will do anything: lie, cheat, or steal to stay in power and will align with whatever least tasteful groups and individuals they must. Senator Menendez, whatever he once was, is just one of several in power who got burned when they started believing in their invulnerability.

Evil is contagious and virulent. We must be on guard to ensure we neither tolerate nor allow it to spread. The worst damage weve experienced societally, especially for our children, was to tolerate evil in our midst as a substitute for morality, hard work, and a requirement to sink or swim on our own. Allowing us to become blind to what a good life requires sees us all complicit. We dare not let evil lead to the normalization of deviance.

God Bless America.

Author, Businessman, Thinker, and Strategist. Read more about Allan, his background, and his ideas to create a better tomorrow at www.1plus1equals2.com
On Memorial Day, during the Annual Ashli Babbitt Freedom March in D.C., I had the chance to speak with Hanna Rosin, who was covering the march for the Atlantic magazine with fellow reporter Lauren Ober.

As I tried to explain while we were walking, Ober and Rosin have an extraordinary opportunity. They can be the first journalists to share with their half of America the epic story of January 6  the true story, that is. I cautioned, however, that as MSNBC learned the hard way, there are powerful people who do not want that story told.

The ignorance about January 6 is staggering. The tourists near the Peace Monument where the march began just looked confused. They all know who George Floyd was, but most, I am sure, had not a clue about Ashli Babbitt.

Ashli, 35, was the 14-year Air Force veteran shot and killed by the Capitol Police on January 6. The corporate media have no interest in sharing her story and even less in telling the story of Rosanne Boyland. Few, even on the right, know about Rosanne. A year younger than Ashli, Rosanne was the second woman killed by police action on January 6 and the woman whose death MSNBC vainly tried to investigate.

As the marchers, perhaps 50 strong, proceeded eastward toward the D.C. jail down Massachusetts Avenue, the neighbors alerted Ober and Rosin to the character of the D.C. jury pool. Many, virtually all white, volunteered their disgust at the caravan, some in very colorful language. I was particularly impressed at how well young D.C. women have mastered the F-bomb.

The Atlantic has as its motto Exploring the American idea through ambitious, essential reporting and storytelling. Of no party or clique since 1857. This is not exactly true, but in contrast to CNN or the New York Times, as Rosin conceded, The Atlantic has at least the potential to be unpredictable.

After leaving the march  I had a flight to catch  I texted Ashli Babbitts mother, Micki Witthoeft. Had a long talk with Hanna from the Atlantic. You never know when the media might crack. Replied Witthoeft, Weve been talking with her partner Lauren for months  she follows us to the courthouse  hearings  even CPAC  because youre right, you never know.

I handed Rosin a copy of my newly released book, Ashli: The Untold Story of the Women of January 6. Given the depth of their reporting, she and Ober will have no excuse not to read it. When they do, they will confront the towering wall of official disinformation that has shielded America from the truth these last three-plus years.

Rosin was unaware of MSNBCs futile attempt to crack that wall. As I explained, network anchor Ayman Mohyeldin had an inside track on the death of Rosanne Boyland. He attended high school with Rosannes brother-in-law, Justin Cave. Cave and his liberal wife Lonna wanted help in exposing what they saw as the diabolic seduction of Rosanne by President Trump and the elusive QAnon. Mohyeldin was eager to oblige them.

Soon enough, however, Mohyeldin discovered that the plot line he hoped to follow was a red herring. The real story would lead him beyond the MSNBC pale and down a rabbit hole whose end he would never quite reach. Without his effort, however, little would have ever been known about Rosannes tragic death.

As the evidence clearly showed, Rosanne got caught up in a scrum at the front of the tunnel entrance on the west side of the Capitol. The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) took the offensive, spraying the protesters with a chemical irritant, which left many of them breathless. The police then pushed the lot of them down the makeshift steps set up for the impending inauguration.

Rosanne found herself at the bottom of this human pile, desperate for air, until pulled out from under by the other protesters. As Roseanne lay at the tunnel entrance, either dead or dying, MPD officer Lila Morris picked up a tree branch, raised it up, and struck Rosanne over the head at least three times before the branch snapped and flew out of her hands. For her heroism, Morris was rewarded with a trip to the Super Bowl a few weeks later.

The media paid little attention to Rosannes death. Those few who bothered to report on the incident suggested she had been trampled by a riotous mob. Not one outlet investigated the tragedy. Nor did any journalist protest the official ruling from the complicit D.C. medical examiners office. Its pathologists waited until the very last day of the ninety-day reporting window to claim that Roseanne died of acute amphetamine intoxication.

The Boylands were appalled by the report. At the time, the only drug Rosanne was taking was the Adderall prescribed for her ADHD. For the authorities, the drug overdose ruling smeared Rosanne and, by extension, tainted all other protesters. The autopsy report also cleared the police of any wrongdoing. The DOJ did not bother to speak to a single eyewitness or review the beating that was captured on video. For its part, the voluminous House subcommittee report did not mention Rosanne's name, not even in the footnotes.

Although reluctant to see the larger picture, Mohyeldin was getting a glimpse into the workings of D.C. justice. He and his team contacted the medical examiner several times, but all our requests were denied, he lamented in MSNBCs five-part podcast on Rosanne. The trampling, the riot, the video evidence, none of this was even mentioned in the official autopsy report.

Of note, too, the relevant body cam footage in Rosannes death was strategically withheld. As Mohyeldin admitted, We requested the officer in questions body camera footage, but we were denied. Rosannes father Bret Boyland applied through the Freedom of Information Act for Morriss bodycam footage and was denied as well.

In the concluding chapter of his podcast, American Radical, Mohyeldin met with Lonna Cave for the final time. The Boylands, it was clear, no longer trusted his motives. They hoped to learn more about Rosannes fate. He wanted to learn more about QAnon. The podcast series ended inconclusively, with him guilt-tripping Rosannes sisters for not saving Rosanne from dangerous conspiracy theories designed to entrap vulnerable people like her.

I have to wonder how Rosin and Ober will conclude their series. They are investigating a historic injustice, the greatest mass injustice here at home since Japanese internment. My book lays out the larger story in undeniable detail. They have done enough spade work on their own to provide the necessary color. Better still, on their side of the aisle, they have no competition.

The question remains as to whether Rosin and Ober will find the courage to follow the truth where it leads. Mohyeldin did not  could not, really. At MSNBC, too much truth can kill a career. But at The Atlantic, where writers pride themselves on essential reporting and storytelling, there may be hope, at least a glimmer thereof. As Ashlis mom observes, You never know.

Jack Cashills Ashli: The Untold Story of the Women of January 6, is now available for purchase.

Image via Pxhere.
In his initial run for Pennsylvania governor, it was Josh Shapiros support of educational scholarships that helped get him the commonwealths top job in Harrisburg. Once the ballots declared Shapiro the winner, the new governor, whose children never spent a day in public school, rolled over for the teachers union and vetoed the scholarship legislation.

Like Clinton and Obama before him, Shapiro has an aversion to public education. All three underscore how Democrats will sacrifice their voters children for the teachers unions but certainly not their own.

Another attempt at legislating for scholarships that would provide funding for public school students has risen like a phoenix after being left for just another Pennsylvania roadkill bill thanks to Shapiros veto.

In May, the Pennsylvania Senate Education Committee voted 8-3 to advance the bill.

These scholarships would enable low-income students from poorly performing public schools to attend private schools. It is a unique situation where the funding would have its own appropriation and would not touch public school funding.

It isnt just Pennsylvania but from sea to shining sea that the American public educational system should have the plug pulled. The problems are many as they are complex: plummeting test scores, overt indoctrination, school shootings, bullying and teachers who have no power over any of this but are excoriated for it.

Then there are the teachers unions that prioritize their own interests over the interests of the children in their care.

Until we come to terms with all this, we need to stop pretending reform is conceivable.

Solutions include choices: charter and private schools, parochial schools, homeschooling, and voucher and scholarship programs. The only choice Democrats offer any family is to terminate their childs beating heart. The time is long overdue for providing parents the right to decide what education is best for their child.

Polling from the Commonwealth Foundation reveals 77% of Pennsylvania voters support the scholarship legislation. This includes 94% of Blacks and 83% of those with income below $40,000. With only 34% of Philadelphia students proficient in English, and 15% in math, why wouldnt they?

There should be an exclusive circle in Dantes Inferno for politicians who park their progeny in private schools, while voting against school choice for their constituency.

Iowa implemented universal school choice, irrespective of zip codes and income. Politicians love to break up monopolies, so what about the monopoly of public education?

The teachers unions abhor scholarships, vouchers, you name it. Will Shapiro dance to the unions tune again or will he show ethical courage, rather than become another profile in political expediency?

Democrats grease the rails in the race-to-the-bottom throughout the public education industrial complex as they refuse to give minorities the key that will free them from their dependency chains.

It takes political will to break the teachers union and fix our failing education system. A quality education should never be a consequence of political wrangling.

I am told Shapiros future includes running for president. The only way that can happen for a Democrat is with full union support. Shapiro needs to find a way to kill the bill while blaming Republicans.

Provided the bill fails, Republicans need to shout this from the rooftops, nationwide. This proves Democrats are nothing but a hand puppet of the teachers unions and other special interest groups who could care less for what is best for their constituency.

School choice for every K-12 student in America where the monies follow them is a must. Competition produces more educational options that will result in better educated children, which benefits everyone.

This cant happen soon enough.

Image: Kelly Hunter via Flickr
As you may know, Mexico will have an election on Sunday and Dr. Claudia Sheimbaum is projected to become the nation's first woman and Jewish president. She'll replace President Lopez-Obrador and let's see what happens next. On one hand, they are from the same party so continuity is promised. On the other hand, they have different personalities. He loves attention but she is very restrained.

No matter what, the most brutal election campaign continues or another candidate is dead.

Here is the story:

A mayoral candidate in Mexico was assassinated in the middle of a campaign rally late Wednesday  with disturbing video showing a gunman shooting him in the back of the head at point-blank range. Alfredo Cabrera was gunned down in front of hundreds of supporters in the town of Coyuca de Benitez in the southern state of Guerrero as he was making the final stop of his campaign, officials and local media said. Footage of the ordeal showed Cabrera shaking hands with a supporter just seconds before his attacker brazenly approached from behind and pointed the firearm at his head. The gunman then fired off a slew of shots as terrified supporters screamed out.

For those counting, he is Number 36.

Most of the candidates who were killed were running for mayor or town councils.

Why small town mayors or councils? They are easier to assassinate because these candidates do not have the security around them. More importantly, these small towns are the routes to move drugs or people.

The election is on Sunday. Will there be a Number 37? Probably so, and a problem that the new president is going to have to do something about.
Up until now, Democrats have loved felons. The advent of Soros district attorneys and the criminal justice "reform" movement has turned felons into Democrat heroes. Just ask George Floyd.

But they've done a 180 now, screaming from every mountaintop that President Trump is a 'felon,' which is highly questionable given that the case they hit him with stands a good chance of being thrown out on appeal.

But they're happy enough about it, given that they achieved their political aim, which was to be able to call Trump a 'felon' and peel off a few GOP votes from him ahead of Election Day. That might be all they want from this ridiculous and patently illegal political prosecution. "Felon!" "Felon!" "Felon!" Out they shout it, as if they hadn't been lionizing real felons for the past decade or more as their role models.

The 'felon' appellation is an interesting one because President Trump is in good company.

Crummy dictatorships the world over have been felon-izing their political opponents, in what's a perfected art.

Start with Alexei Navalny, who recently died in a Russian Gulag in the country's far north for ... making fun of Russia's dictator, Vladimir Putin, and exposing his corruption. Navalny was convicted of "fraud," same as Trump was, and later, "extremism." His real crime was challenging the establishment and becoming popular with the people as a result. Trump is in his company and God forbid he suffer the same fate, which is entirely possible if he's jailed. By the wildest of coincidences, the Russians actually adopted the New York technique of claiming "the cameras were off" when high profile Jeffrey Epstein turned up dead in prison, calling it a suicide.

Trump also joins Lech Walesa of Poland for the 'felon' title. Walesa was arrested and jailed in Poland in 1981, shortly after dicator Wojciech Jaruzelski declared martial law on the entire country based on his protests for free trade unions. Dictators declare national emergencies based on "threats to democracy" and it doesn't take long for them to just round their political opponents up.

Trump also joins Vaclav Havel of the Czech Republic, back when it was Czechoslovakia for the title of "felon." Havel had been banned, blacklisted and gagged for years for speaking and writing about the ruling communists' corruption of language, and finally, was imprisoned four times by the communist Soviet puppet regime for challenging the regime. Sound like anyone you know in the states? Certainly the dynamic of harassment and then imprisonment suggests a parallel.

There are also a lot of figures in Cuba President Trump joins with as a "felon," all good company. Oswaldo Paya was thrown into hard-labor prison to cut sugar cane for speaking out in support of Prague Spring of 1968. After that, they circled him, throwing his associates in prison in the "Black Spring" of 2012, and tailing him wherever he went, until finally, Cuban agents rammed his car into a tree, killing him and calling it "an accident." Huber Matos a longtime guerrilla comrade of Fidel Castro's who was imprisoned for two decades for "treason and sedition" for calling on Castro to live up to his promise of "democracy." Dr. Oscar Biscet was imprisoned for 25 years for organizing a petition drive to call for democracy in that hellhole, with additional time for talking to someone at the U.S. embassy. Cuban punk rocker Gorky was imprisoned for "dangerousness." Two Cuban rap artists, Maykel Castillo El Osorbo and Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara, were thrown into prison for five- and nine-year terms recently for composing a popular song that very obliquely challenged the government called "Patria y Vida." The regime called it contempt, public disorder, and defamation of institutions and organizations, heroes and martyrs, and gave Castillo extra time for draping a Cuban flag around his back during a song. The general gist of this is clear as regards President Trump. They like to get them on technicalities and throw out long prison sentences as punishment.

Closer to home, Trump joins Martin Luther King, Jr., who was another "felon" who drew draconian sentences for challenging the establishment on civil rights for black people. They got him 29 times, sometimes for protesting, but also on technicalities such as driving 30 miles an hour in a 25 mph zone in Alabama, and driving in Georgia without a valid license which had been held up only because Georgia officials hadn't bothered to issue him the one he applied for, while his valid Alabama license was ignored. He got "probation" for that except his lawyer didn't tell him, so then for organizing a sit-in in Georgia he got four months' hard labor as a probation violator. Sound draconian? Sound a little over the top? Sounds a lot like the kinds of treatment President Trump has garnered at the hands of Democrats, who also did this to King.

And let's not forget Dinesh D'Souza, the popular conservative filmmaker who effectively lampooned President Obama in various projects. He was imprisoned with a long term on a minor campaign donation to a schoolmate violation, in a civil offense that has rarely or never been prosecuted as a crime, just a civil offense meriting a fine. But since D'Souza was "special," he got a prison sentence. Let's just say the Democrats have had practice.

And speaking of D'Souza and several of the others listed, does anyone notice that they all like to target artists? Trump is an effective performing artist with a long history of television acting, so there's a pattern here among the world's dictators -- to put the artists first as these hacks' cast 'felons.'

Trump once again is in good company.

The other thing we notice is that some of the worst court cases where the dissident is imprisoned in a draconian way on a seemingly unrelated technicality are the American ones -- that of D'Souza and King. There's been a lot of practice on this front to achieve that ever-coveted 'felon' label for dissidents who challenge the establishment. Democrats in this regard are honing to an old tradition.

There are also arguable comparisons to Nelson Mandela of South Africa, Mohandas Gandhi of India, Daw Aung Sang Suu Kyi of Burma, that poor guy they stuck on an amusement park island off Singapore for ridicule purposes, the seven dissidents who ran against Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua who ended up in prison on tax, fraud and dangerousness-type charges for having the temerity to run for president against him, Nicolas Sarkozy of France who was jailed on some technicality they normally don't jail people for, and Luiz Inacio "Lula" da Silva of Brazil who was also imprisoned on graft charges that all of them are doing, by his political opponents. Venezuela has imprisoned presidential candidates on technicalities, too, if not driven them into exile.

Two others are also worth comparisons -- Maria Corina Machado of Venezuela, who challenged the regime and was disqualified from running for president, as well as Jair Bolsonaro of Brazil who got the same treatment. Both are just upstream of prison terms as "felons," which will also likely happen, same as it's happened to Trump.

Felon? They are all felons, too. Maybe Democrats should pull back from that term, given the kinds of political leaders this name has been hung on in just the recent past.

Lastly, let's not forget whose feast day this was when this happened -- St. Joan of Arc of France, whose "crime" was standing up for France and leading it to victory, taking instructions from a Heavenly source as she heard it. She was convicted in a rigged kangaroo courtroom of "heresy" and wearing men's clothes (to prevent being raped for being around soldiers). They burned her at the stake 593 years ago, the same day Trump's rigged kangaroo trial ended.

Trump is not the same as St. Joan of Arc, but as Democrats bellow 'felon,' from their kangaroo court, we can only recall that Trump, once again, is in good company.

Image: Picryl, via Wikimedia Commons // public domain
After the trial verdict against President Trump yesterday, Joe Biden is hunkering down.

This comes after much noise was made about Joe Biden planning a "presidential address to the nation" on President Trump's Stormy Daniels hush-money trial outcome, which seemed pretty Hugo Chavez-ish. A national address for something that skeevy? And not done as candidate Joe Biden, which would be about par, but as President Joe Biden, seated from behind the presidential desk? Chavez used to break into all national television sets to address the nation on how he got diarrhea in the bathroom.

So what happened to Bidens big press conference last night??  Sebastian Gorka DrG (@SebGorka) May 31, 2024

What Biden would have said is anyone's guess, other than he would have been gloating, which Chavez liked to do to his political opponents, too.

Yet somehow, Biden has gone dead on this. He's "mum," as the TODAY Show reported.

Here is the White House statement, announced through a spokesman so low-level I've never heard of him:

We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment, said Ian Sams, a spokesman for the White House Counsels Office. https://t.co/nDORdFkuek  The Washington Times (@WashTimes) May 31, 2024

And that wasn't some mistake, there also was this this morning:

Crooked Joe Biden  the most corrupt president in American history  takes no questions as he shuffles back to D.C. from Delaware.



He's joined by Hunter, who boarded off-camera. pic.twitter.com/Cxix9pTmNi  RNC Research (@RNCResearch) May 31, 2024

There were scattered reports that the White House was celebrating the verdict last night, but no giggling for the public this morning.

If anything, they are trying to sweep this verdict under the rug and change the subject to the Middle East and other matters far from the kangaroo court verdict the public is talking about.

Which suggests that maybe they realize that their own role in coordinating the prosecutions of their political opponent might just become an issue in the campaign. After all, if you've rigged the trial, rigged the jury, gotten your man in there to orchestrate events, as Molly Hemingway noted here, maybe you don't want the public waking up and paying attention to how corrupt it all is and how despicable you really are.

Or maybe they're getting really bad internal polls about Biden's election prospects now that this travesty of justice has happened. More gloating about this makes Biden even more unpopular than he already is. He may even be hearing from voters calling up the White House comment line.

Or maybe he's getting word about President Trump's fundraising success, raising some $34 million overnight from smalltime donors, and doesn't want Trump's name anywhere in front of the public to be thinking about him.

Whatever it is, Biden's joy at the conviction in private is being paired with Biden's desperate bid to change the subject in public, not wanting to comment at all on the matter.

That sounds desperate. When you don't dare comment on the top story of the day, the one you orchestrated yourself, it's pretty obvious you're a candidate in trouble.

Let's hope that Biden keeps going downhill with voters.

Image: Twitter video screen shot
Former president Donald Trumps conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records marks a historic and troubling moment in American politics. As the first American president to be convicted of a crime, Trumps case raises significant questions about the politicization of the justice system, the double-standard in the application of justice, and its impact on the nations democratic processes.

The verdict came after a six-week trial, with the jury returning a unanimous decision in less than two days. The conviction centers on allegations that Trump misclassified hush money payments to adult film actress Stephanie Clifford to influence the 2016 presidential election. Despite the conviction, Trump has vowed to appeal, describing the trial as a rigged decision and an act of political persecution. This sentiment resonates with many, who see this as an example of the justice system being used as a political weapon.

President Trumps attorney has pledged to appeal the conviction swiftly. New York Supreme Court justice Juan Merchan has set the sentencing hearing for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention, where Trump is expected to be formally designated as the GOP presidential nominee. Importantly, Trump is not barred from running for president, even as a convicted felon.

Outside the courtroom, Trump blasted the conviction, pledging to contest it. This was a rigged decision right from day one. And we will fight for our Constitution, he said. These words reflect a deep-seated frustration with what many perceive as a biased legal system.

The Biden campaign responded to the conviction, asserting that no one is above the law. However, this narrative is seen by Trumps supporters as a thinly veiled attempt to leverage the legal system for political gain. The notion that Trumps actions warrant such unprecedented legal scrutiny, whereas other political figures face little to no accountability, underscores the perceived double-standard.

This trial and the conviction are not isolated incidents, but part of a broader pattern of legal actions against Trump. He faces three other prosecutions in the District of Columbia, Georgia, and Florida related to his efforts to contest the 2020 election results and his handling of classified documents. Many see these cases as part of an orchestrated effort to undermine his political career.

Republicans have been swift to condemn the decision. House Speaker Mike Johnson called it a shameful day in American history, highlighting the political nature of the charges and the questionable credibility of key witnesses, like Michael Cohen, who has a history of lying to Congress and prosecutors. Sen. Rand Paul described it as a sad day for America, while Rep. Jim Jordan labeled the verdict a travesty of justice.

Moreover, some legal experts have raised concerns about the judges jury instructions, suggesting that they may have been biased and led the jury to render a guilty verdict. This only adds to the perception that the trial was not conducted on a level playing field.

Whereas Trump faces extensive legal scrutiny, the Biden Crime Family, as some experts have called it, seems to get a pass. The millions of dollars received from Ukrainian dealings, which raises serious questions about conflicts of interest and potential corruption, has not been subjected to the same level of investigation or prosecution. Additionally, the cocaine found in the White House earlier this year, during a period when Hunter Biden was an overnight guest, was dismissed in less than a week, despite his well documented history of drug addiction. This disparity in how justice is applied further erodes public trust in the legal system.

Some Democrats celebrated the conviction, reiterating the message that no one is above the law. However, this sentiment rings hollow to those who see the justice system being selectively applied to target political opponents.

The prosecutions case hinged on the testimony of Michael Cohen, a disbarred lawyer and convicted felon. The defense argued that Cohens credibility was severely compromised, given his history of dishonesty and personal vendetta against Trump. Despite this, the jury found the prosecutions narrative convincing enough to convict.

Some court observers have gone so far as to compare the current state of the American republic to that of a banana republic, where political opponents are targeted and legal systems are manipulated for partisan ends. This comparison underscores the severity of the situation and the urgent need for reforms to restore faith in the justice system.

The broader implications of this conviction extend beyond Trumps political future. It sets a concerning precedent for the use of legal mechanisms to settle political scores. This trial has amplified the already polarized political climate, fueling distrust in the justice system.

In my book, Trump and the Jews, I explore how Trumps bold policies and actions have strengthened Americas relationship with its allies, including the state of Israel. During his term in office, Trumps moral clarity in combatting the enemies of Israel and the United States was always greatly appreciated in the State of Israel. As citizens of a democracy on steroids, most Israelis see through this blatantly political verdict against Trump. If Americas justice system has any lasting value, the verdict will be overturned upon appeal.

David Rubin is the former mayor of Shiloh, Israel and a noted author and speaker on Israeli politics and security. Mayor Rubin and his son were victims of a terror attack, leading to David founding the Shiloh Israel Childrens Fund, dedicated to healing the trauma of children who have been victims of terrorist attacks.

Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
On Memorial Day, my wife and I attended a concert by the Sarasota Concert Band in Philippe Estate Park. I learned that the band had been conducting this concert for many years. In fact, it was the band leader/conductors 25th year leading the Memorial Day concert. Some shade and a little breeze made the Florida weather, which had been hot, very accommodating.

Boy Scouts presented the flag, and we were treated to Souza marches, military anthems, and even a little Rodgers and Hammerstein and Irving Berlin. All in all, a very patriotic and pleasant experience.

In addition to the music, the band leader took the occasion to speak to us about compromise. He spoke at some length about the necessity and virtue of political compromise. One could see how strongly he felt about the matter, and he didnt seem amenable to compromising on that view. He even returned to compromise in his closing remarks, exhorting us to contact our representatives and demand that they find ways to compromise on issues.

Of course, ones thoughts turned to the issues we confront today to imagine how positions of opposing sides could be resolved by compromise. Consider the Israel-Hamas/Palestinian differences. The Hamas/Palestinian side wants to kill all the Israelis (and the rest of the Jews, among others); the Israelis dont want to be killed. What is compromise? Kill only half?

But lets bring our considerations closer to home, to issues that undoubtedly concern the band conductor and to issues that should be more manageable. The President swore an oath to defend the United States. He immediately violated his oath, encouraging, aiding, and abetting the invasion of the country. The invaders have been a net cost of tens of billions of dollars when the country already has a burdensome debt. The invaders have brought crime and disease. Most of the invaders are military-aged men, and many come from countries and areas that want to destroy America. The director of the FBI has warned that the invaders pose a serious threat of significant terrorist activity.

The Democrats offered a compromise solution to the invasion of our borders -- limit the invasion to 5,000 people a day. That is 1,825,000 invaders every year in addition to the more than 10,000,000 who have already breached our borders during their administration. (Set aside the Democrats compromise offer did not contain any effective mechanism to enforce the limitation.)

Is there a basis for a counteroffer, or compromise, in this situation? What do you think the men we were memorializing during the concert would think about a compromise that allows 5,000 (1,000? any?) people to invade America every day?

Compromise is virtuous sounding and seductive. It can make honest men think modest attenuation of their principles is necessary and acceptable. But compromise only works when both sides have the same basic objectives. It doesnt work when the objective of one side is to kill the other or to fundamentally change America.

And thats the problem in America today. Following the band conductors pollyannaish lecture wont save Israel or America. One side will prevail. Will it be yours?

Image: Pixabay
Google is entering a multi-faceted, strategic technology partnership with Magic Leap, a company that released the Magic Leap 1 AR headset in 2018, and the Magic Leap 2 in 2022.

Googles partnership with Magic Leap could combine transparent display tech with Android XR

Magic Leap said that the partnership would combine its leadership in optics and manufacturing with Googles technology platforms.

Notably, Google was also an initial investor in Magic Leap leading a $542 million funding in 2014. Googles CEO Sundar Pichai also joined the board of directors of Magic Leap at the time. He left the position in 2018 due to his busy schedule.

Samsung is also working on a VR headset in partnership with Google that will use video passthrough tech instead of a transparent display, just like the Apple Vision Pro. Googles role in this partnership is reportedly developing the software for Samsungs hardware. However, its not clear what is going to be the case with Magic Leap. Google didnt announce XR at I/O 2024. Instead, it focused on bringing virtual experiences to Google Maps.

According to the latest rumor, Google is not working on its own hardware, but partnering with an OEM for the development. Later Google also laid off employees from its augmented reality hardware team. According to a report from Reuters, Googles new partnership with Magic Leap will not hurt its existing partnership with Samsung for the virtual reality headsets.

Unlike Apple or Samsung, Magic Leap has been focusing on actual AR products despite limitations

Magic Leaps first product failed to meet the companys sales expectations due to the limitations of a transparent optics technology and the $2300 high price tag. The company expected to sell more than a million units of the product. However, in reality, they only managed to sell 6000 units in the first 6 months.

Later in 2029, the company shifted its strategy to enterprise and launched a new $3000 bundle paired with business warranty and support. The Magic Leap 2 launched back in 2022 is still the best transparent headset on the market.

With the latest partnership, Magic Leap is expected to benefit from Android XR and AR services offered by Google. However, according to 9to5Google, the partnership could also offer Google access to Magic Leaps transparent display technology.
It seems that the new Instant Hotspot feature of Android will not be compatible with Samsung phones. This means that you will not be able to set your Galaxy mobile device as a passwordless hotspot to quickly share data connection with any Android or Chromebook using this option. However, there are still alternatives for these cases.

Google just announced the latest Android feature drop update. Lets remember that Android feature drops are different from Pixel feature drops. The first brings new features to Android devices of all brands, while the latter only brings exclusive features to Pixel devices. One of the most interesting improvements is the Instant Hotspot feature.

Androids Instant Hotspot is not compatible with Samsung phones

As its name suggests, Instant Hotspot allows you to set your Android device to quickly share data connection with your other devices without entering a password. A similar feature has been available in Chrome OS for a while now under the name Instant Tethering. However, the latest Instant Hotspot also supports tablets, which is especially useful for Wi-Fi-only models when you need to connect them to the internet and there is no Wi-Fi network available.

That said, Androids Instant Hotspot will not work on Samsung devices. As spotted by Android Authority, Google itself confirmed this in the blog section dedicated to the feature. The reason behind the lack of support from the South Korean giant is unknown. However, the company has its own alternatives.

Samsung has its own alternative, but only for the Galaxy ecosystem

One UI includes the Auto Hotspot feature that serves a similar role. However, it is only compatible with devices in the Galaxy ecosystem. Perhaps it was Samsung itself that decided to make its products incompatible with Instant Hotspot to give prominence to Auto Hotspot and its own products.

So, Samsung devices can only share data connection without a password with Samsung tablets and phones. On the other hand, Samsung devices can share data connection without a password with Chromebooks using the Chrome OS Instant Tethering feature. In the case of Windows PCs, Galaxy devices can do it using Link to Windows.

Instant Hotspot will arrive through a Google Play Services update. It will be available on all devices running Android 11 and higher. Except, of course, for Samsung products.
One of the biggest issues with AI is the effect on creators. Many creators around the world are having their data scraped to train AI models. This is all being done without any sort of compensation. Well, the U.S. DOJ (Department of Justice) wants AI companies to compensate creators for their data.

Ever since DALL-E hit the scene, countless artists had their work scraped to train the very AI models that threaten to make them irrelevant. This is a major problem across all industries, and the companies doing this have been getting away with it for much too long. It doesnt help that companies like Deviant Art (you know, a company thats supported artists for several years) are using artists data to train their models.

The DOJ wants AI companies to compensate creators

Right now, this is a large executive move performed by the government, so it will take some time to move forward. In any case, the government is one of the very few forces that can go up against the major trillion-dollar companies governing the tech industry.

Johnathan Kanter, the chief antitrust enforcer at the DOJ issued a warning to AI companies on Thursday. There are probably thousands of AI companies on the planet, but companies like Google, Apple, Microsoft, OpenAI, Meta, Anthropic, and Amazon come to mind. If firms in the AI ecosystem violate the antitrust laws, the antitrust division will have something to say about that, Kanter stated.

What incentive will tomorrows writers, creators, journalists, thinkers and artists have if AI has the ability to extract their ingenuity without appropriate compensation? he continued. The people who create and produce these inputs must be properly compensated.

The warning didnt mention any specific action toward the companies, and it didnt refer to any specific action that would bring forth the DOJs wrath. However, the warning was mostly to let companies know that the department has this on its mind. This could be a good thing for creators in the States, so well need to see where this goes.
TikTok has categorically denied the report that it is working on splitting its source code to create a US-only algorithm. The company labeled the report as misleading and factually inaccurate. The ByteDance-owned social media app said it is simply not possible to create a separate recommendation algorithm for its US users, certainly not within the 9-month timeline provided under the new law.

TikTok confirms it isnt splitting its algorithm for the US

Last month, US President Joe Biden signed a bill that would ban TikTok in the country for security reasons unless ByteDance sells its US operations to a domestic company. The Chinese firm has until January 2025 to decide, though it has already said that a sale is not an option. Instead, it has sued the US government over the possible ban.

TikTok says the law is unconstitutional and violates the First Amendment rights of American citizens. Several TikTok creators who earn a livelihood from the app have also supported the company, filing a similar lawsuit against the US government. These lawsuits aim to block the law, allowing the platform to continue operations in the country under ByteDances ownership.

In the meantime, Reuters reported that TikTok is working on a version of its recommendation algorithm that works separately from the apps Chinese version, Duoyin. The company has tasked hundreds of engineers with separating millions of lines of code so that the US version of the platform has its unique algorithm with no link to any information about its Chinese users.

According to the publication, which cited unnamed people with direct knowledge of the matter, the work has been ongoing since late last year but it would take another year to complete the split. The report suggested TikTok is open to selling its US arm if it loses the court battle. Since the platform wouldnt fetch much without its algorithm, it is seemingly working on creating one.

TikTok says this is false

However, this may not be true, if we are to believe TikToks latest statement. In a post on X, the company said, The Reuters story published today is misleading and factually inaccurate. As we said in our court filing, the qualified divestiture demanded by the Act to allow TikTok to continue operating in the United States is simply not possible: not commercially, not technologically, not legally. And certainly not on the 270-day timeline required by the Act.

In a separate statement to The Verge, the company reiterated that the report about splitting the recommendation algorithm is 100% false. While we have continued work in good faith to further safeguard the authenticity of the TikTok experience, it is simply false to suggest that this work would facilitate divestiture or that divestiture is even a possibility, it said. Time will tell what happens to TikTok in the US when the January 2025 deadline arrives.
Election campaign day nine: Starmer gives Abbott green light to stand

Sir Keir Starmer finally gave his verdict on whether Diane Abbott can stand as a Labour candidate on July 4 after his previous refusal to do so led to mounting tensions in the party.

Here are the key moments from day nine of the campaign:

 Starmer seeks to settle Abbott row

The Labour leader said Ms Abbott is free to defend her long-held Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat as a Labour candidate, ending speculation she could be barred.

He will be hoping his long-awaited decision  which is expected to be ratified by Labours National Executive Committee on Tuesday  puts an end to accusations of an anti-socialist crackdown that has dominated his campaign.

Left-wing campaign group Momentum declared it a huge victory, but in a sign the row is far from over demanded Chingford Corbynista Faiza Shaheen is reinstated as a Labour candidate.

The Tories claimed Angela Rayner is pushing Sir Keir around, after his deputy first threw her weight behind Ms Abbotts candidacy.

There was more selection drama as Labours Beth Winter accused the party leadership of imposing think tank boss Torsten Bell as Welsh Labours Swansea West candidate, calling it an affront to democracy.

(PA Graphics)

 What Labour actually wanted to talk about

Sir Keir said there was no Labour without Scotland as he made his pitch to voters north of the border.

A major plank of the offer to Scottish voters is establishing GB Energy  a state-owned energy company based in Scotland.

The policy gained former chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallances backing while Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mocked it as being just a logo.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer flanked by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and shadow energy security secretary Ed Miliband at the Port of Greenock (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

At a campaign rally alongside Ms Rayner, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and shadow net zero secretary Ed Miliband, Sir Keir urged Scots to send a government to Westminster, not a message.

First Minister John Swinney claimed Sir Keir is offering no change at all.

 Picture of the day

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak bottle-feeding a lamb during a visit to Rowlinsons Farm in Gawsworth, Macclesfield (Jonathan Brady/PA)

 Sidestepping Trump

Political leaders carefully sidestepped questions on whether they would work with convicted former US president Donald Trump if he returns to the White House.

Mr Sunak said Mr Trumps trial is not my focus while Sir Keir called it an unprecedented situation, but said Labour will work with whoever is elected president.

 Quote of the day

 Social media moment of the day

As the parties ramp up their use of social media humour and memes, Labour is claiming the Tories are trying to get its TikToks removed from the site.

A post by the official Labour Party account suggests that the Tories are actively trying to get our TikToks taken down because they have nothing to offer the country.

It also encourages viewers to annoy a Tory by sharing the post with some key Labour policies, suggesting Conservatives should try and think of some policies that dont sound like dodgy chat gpt suggestions.

 Whats happening tomorrow?

Mr Sunak is campaigning in the North East.
Labours deputy leader has branded Government levelling up efforts a scam and a sham.

The party has pledged to power up every corner of Britain if it wins at the General Election, as Angela Rayner took aim at the Conservatives proposal to wind up the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) by 2028 and plough the funding into a new national service scheme.

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) warned earlier this week that wealthier areas of the UK stand to receive a substantial increase in net funding if the next government was to plough money previously reserved for levelling up into military or civic opportunities for 18-year-olds, while poorer areas like Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales, Cornwall and the Tees Valley could together lose out on hundreds of millions of pounds.

Labour has announced Ms Rayner will set off on a 5,000-mile battle bus tour on Saturday to promote its new power up agenda.

The deputy leader said: No more desperate gimmicks or promises that cant be met. This changed Labour Party will do the hard yards to get our economy growing. We will power up our towns and cities, and release Britains untapped strengths.

Ms Rayner added: For 14 years the Tories have failed to do what they promised and held back Britains potential. Levelling up was a phoney gimmick which has now been abandoned to fund mandatory national service. It was a scam and a sham, and we should call it what it is.

She also said: We will deliver growth wherever youre from, more money in your pockets, and hand people control over what matters to them.

(PA Graphics)

Under the heading deliver growth in every corner of the country, the party has pledged to roll out Local Growth Plans alongside a new industrial strategy and its proposed Green Prosperity Plan.

A second pledge, to put more money in peoples pockets, re-states the partys ambition for a fiscal lock  a revised charter of budget responsibility with power handed to the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) to independently publish a forecast rather than be requested to do so by the government.

The final pledge to give people control over what matters to them features a wide-ranging ambitions around access to GP appointments and to breathe life back into our high streets and neighbourhoods including introducing a community right to buy.

The party said in a statement that a Take Back Control Act will help to establish a new, clear framework for devolution, structures for local and national leaders to work better in partnership together and with the communities they represent, and a presumption towards pushing powers outside of Westminster and into the hands of those who know how to put them to the best use.

The Prime Minister has defended his partys levelling up efforts on the campaign trail.

Speaking in Penzance earlier this week, Rishi Sunak said: I am absolutely committed to levelling up in Cornwall and you can see our track record.

(PA Graphics)

He claimed investment in high streets, hospitals and transport infrastructure are all examples of the investment that is going into levelling up here in Cornwall and that will always continue under a Conservative government led by me.

Mr Sunak also defended his partys plan for a national service scheme  to cost 2.5 billion, paid for using 1 billion from a crackdown on tax avoidance and evasion and 1.5 billion by winding up the UKSPF.

He said: This modern form of national service will mean that young people get the skills and the opportunities that they need which is going to serve them very well in life.

But some think tanks have pushed back on the policy.

David Phillips, IFS associate director, said: Rather than being targeted at poorer areas and aimed at levelling up, the funding would be spread across the country based on where 18-year-olds are undertaking their military or community service.

The scheme may therefore create opportunities for young people across the UK but would mean hundreds of millions less in funding for community and economic development in Wales, Cornwall and the North and Midlands of England.

Matthew Lesh, of the pro-free market Institute of Economic Affairs said: Young adults are being penalised economically while losing their autonomy to make decisions about their lives and bodies.

A new form of infantilisation extending from restrictions on childhood freedom  that begin with less unsupervised time for children  is moving into young adulthood.
A kimono specially commissioned by a design museum has been created for Taylor Swift as she prepares for the Scottish leg of her tour.

The star is due to perform for three consecutive nights at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, from Friday June 7 until Sunday June 9.

It comes as part of her The Eras tour, which began in March last year and ends in December 2024 and will see the singer perform a total of 152 shows across five continents.

A kimono inspired by Taylor Swifts music is on display in the Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk exhibition at the V&A in Dundee (Jane Barlow/PA)

Ahead of her stint in Scotland, design museum V&A Dundee commissioned Glasgow School of Art graduate KellyDawn Riot to create a special kimono dress that encapsulates all of Taylor Swifts albums over the years.

The colour schemes on the kimono are associated with each of the artists 11 albums, with appearances from various animals and plants in relation to her song lyrics.

It will go on show to the public from this Saturday as part of the Dundee museums latest exhibition, Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk.

Museum content manager Chris Keatch takes a closer look at a kimono inspired by Taylor Swifts music (Jane Barlow/PA)

Museum officials have said they hope to give the kimono to Ms Swift while she is in Scotland.

Chris Keatch, content manager at V&A Dundee, said: Collaborating with KellyDawn Riot to create The Eras Tour Kimono has been a great way to celebrate this exciting pop-culture moment in Scotland, and we hope it sparks lots of joy and curiosity for Swifties and all our visitors whilst its on display at V&A Dundee from today until Thursday.

We are really hoping to send the kimono to Taylor as a gift.

VisitScotland helped us get in touch with Murrayfield Stadium, who have also been very helpful in looking into whether the kimono can be shared with Taylors tour promoters.

Museum content manager Chris Keatch examines the kimono inspired by Taylor Swifts albums (Jane Barlow/PA)

He added: Our current exhibition Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk reveals how the kimono, often thought of as a static unchanging garment, has always been a dynamic item of fashionable dress that has been restyled consistently throughout its history, influencing modern fashion and popular culture, from samurai style and geisha chic, to rock stars and Star Wars.

With many Swifties designing and creating their own eras tour outfits, we couldnt pass on the chance for V&A Dundee to join in and celebrate The Eras Tour in Edinburgh.

Designer, KellyDawn Riot, said: There was so much inspiration to draw on when creating this hand-illustrated print inspired entirely by Taylor Swifts music.

Fans will be able to spot lots of lyric references within the pattern on The Eras Tour Kimono, including a homage to her love of felines with a crescendo of colourful cats covering the back of the kimono.

This was such a fun project to work on and I cant wait to hear what people think when they come to see it at V&A Dundee.
Ken Clarke

Breaking news! Technophobe Ken Clarke has now got a mobile telephone. But its just as hard to get hold of the former Cabinet minister. Hello, this is Ken Clarkes voicemail, he tells callers. Youre very reckless ringing up because I tend to collect these about once every six months so dont rely on my having received any messages that you leave after the tone. Leave a message if you like  you never know, you might be lucky. Bye! This is progress though. In 2019, when as a MP he was the decisive vote to get Rory Stewart on to the Conservative leadership ballot, he went AWOL and was only tracked down by the smell of his cigar smoke.

Bills last word

When Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton appeared before the European Scrutiny Committee last week, Sir Bill Cash fitted in one last clash with his old Remainer nemesis over the future of Gibraltar before quitting the Commons after 40 years. When the Foreign Secretary said plans for the Rock would not compromise sovereignty, Cash said: Well, weve been through that one. Cameron hit back: I am not satisfied that Im not right about it. Cash replied: Well, perhaps were not either. Cameron replied: Right, but I didnt want to leave you with the last word on that one. Cash said: That is quite difficult to achieve. Cameron added: I am always up for it, Sir Bill. And that was that.

The bionic peer

Quadruple amputee Craig Mackinlay quit as a Tory MP last week after Rishi Sunaks early election scuppered his plans to fight an autumn campaign without his arms or legs as he continues his recovery from sepsis. Mackinlay  who was welcomed back to the Commons with a standing ovation from MPs  had hoped to be a Parliamentary campaigner on sepsis. He might still get his wish, with Government figures now suggesting him for a peerage. The bionic peer has a certain ring to it.

Pounds secret

Ex-Labour MP Stephen Pound once got a letter in his parliamentary postbag from a young woman who said: I dont want anything from you but I think youre my dad. The pair then met, the former seaman told GB News. explaining, It was extraordinary, because we started finishing each others sentences. It turned out when I was 17 and her mother was 17, wed had a relationship and I was at sea immediately afterwards. I didnt know that her mother was pregnant, I didnt know that shed had a baby and I didnt know that the girl was put up for adoption. This caused ripples in his own family. Pound said: My daughter was delighted she suddenly had three sisters. My son thought, Crikey Dad, you were a bit of a lad back in the day! I said Look it was the 1960s: we were all at it.

Rishis two fingers

How does Rishi Sunak  who famously does not eat for 24 hours at the start of each week  maintain his energy levels? The Prime Minister keeps a KitKat to hand, nibbling at one finger of the chocolate bar. He then stows away the remaining finger for later. With self-discipline like this perhaps the PM can pull off a poll-defying election victory after all?

Amis Smallbone

Best-selling writer Peter James wreaked revenge on fellow novelist Martin Amis after the latter snubbed him at an awards ceremony. James studied alongside Amis at a Brighton crammer. The pair met again at the awards do years later, by which time Amis, who died last year, was a celebrated literary figure. James told the launch this week for his new book They Thought I Was Dead: I asked if he remembered me and he said no and that I only remembered him because he was famous. Snubbed, I decided to take my revenge and created a character called Amis Smallbone whose manhood is ridiculed by a prostitute. Dont cross Peter James!

Chaos in Burlington House

King Lud and his two sons - Adam Dant

Happy news at the Society of Antiquaries of London, which has been granted a new 999-year lease to remain at Burlington House in Mayfair from the Government after years of being threatened with eviction. Artist Adam Dant and royal portraitist Dan Llywelyn Hall are marking this happy news with an exhibition of elaborate artworks inspired by works from the Societys historic collection. One work by Dant depicts the lineage of Prince Harry all the way back to the Greek God Zeus and thus to Gaia and Chaos. Everyone starts somewhere, Adam.

I spy

The Rev Richard Coles finds the positive even in a cancelled train. He tells The Oldie: Rail replacement bus services are actually good. One  they get you there. And two  you can look into peoples houses. Hes got a point.

Peterborough, published every Friday at 7pm, is edited by Christopher Hope. You can reach him at peterborough@telegraph.co.uk
Mr Biden has proposed new staff to ease the migrant backlog and to police the border - David Peinado/Anadolu via Getty Images

Joe Biden is reportedly planning to launch a scheme to deport illegal migrants to Greece or Italy in a similar vein to the UKs Rwanda policy.

According to CBS News, which cited two people familiar with the governments plans, the Biden initiative is designed to discourage people from travelling to the US-Mexico border.

The US presidents plan comes weeks after his rival Donald Trump was reported to be considering a similar plan, involving resettlement to Guatemala or Panama.

Britain last month passed a law that is set to see asylum seekers flown to live in Rwanda.

The Biden plan would involve Greece and Italy welcoming migrants processed at immigration offices that the Biden administration set up last year in four Latin American countries to screen migrants who hope to reach the US.

The centres, officially known as Safe Mobility Offices, allow certain migrants in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Guatemala to apply to come to the US or other countries legally.

Under the new arrangements, Greece and Italy would join Canada and Spain in resettling some of those processed at the offices. One of the sources said Italy and Greece would likely accept a relatively small number of migrants, roughly 500 or fewer each.

Diplomatic discussions with other countries

A spokesman for the State Department said the Safe Mobility Offices have enabled a six-fold increase in the number of refugees resettled from the Western Hemisphere.

Given the success of the program, the spokesman added, we are in diplomatic discussions with other countries about joining this initiative to expand lawful pathways for resettlement but have no additional information to share at this time.

On May 20, US officials met with diplomats from Canada, Italy, Spain and the countries hosting the Safe Mobility Offices to discuss the initiative, according to internal Department of Homeland Security documents. In an interview with CBS News last week, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas appeared to refer to the reported agreement with Greece.

We work with Canada, Spain, and just recently, Greece, to build lawful pathways for individuals to arrive in their countries, out of the hands of smugglers who just seek to exploit these individuals for profit, said Mr Mayorkas.

Italy has not responded but Greece categorically denied the report.

The CBS report is untrue. There is neither an agreement nor a request from the US to resettle legal immigrants in Greece. Greek immigration policy is clear and effective, despite international difficulties, said Dimitris Kairides, the Greek immigration and asylum minister, told SKAI 100.3 radio.

We are in a pre-election period, it is not a politically neutral time, some may want to make an impression.

Earlier this month, Trumps team was reported as saying he hoped to have a full plan for illegal migration ready to launch on the first day of his presidency if he wins the US election in November.

The scheme could involve illegal migrants from El Salvador or Honduras being sent to Guatemala, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The scheme is thought by some advisers to be a solution to the US migrant crisis, which saw more than 2.4 million people attempt to cross the southwestern American border in 2023.

Trump has made a mass deportation policy a central feature of his 2024 campaign, declaring that he hopes to remove almost 20 million people  6 per cent of the US population.

The former president has also pledged to revive his plans for a border wall and endorsed the use of the National Guard on the Texas border by Greg Abbott, the states Republican governor.

The UK announced its Rwanda scheme in April 2022, but it has been mired in legal difficulty after being challenged in the courts.

Last month, the Government passed legislation to declare that the East African nation was a safe country to send migrants to in an attempt to shut down appeals by human rights charities.

The first flights are scheduled to take off at the end of June or early July, but Home Office sources have suggested the planes may have fewer than 10 passengers because of ongoing litigation.

The US and UK have similar issues with long backlogs in migrant processing, which experts have warned create additional incentives for migrants to make the dangerous crossing over the English Channel or the Rio Grande.

Mr Biden has proposed new staff to ease the migrant backlog and to police the border.

The issue is expected to be one of the major debates of the presidential election campaign, with Trump claiming that illegal migrant animals are responsible for violent crime.
Kharkiv has endured heavy shelling by the Russian army - GETTY IMAGES

Joe Bidens U-turn on the firing of American weapons inside Russia will make it easier for Ukraine to defend itself, said President Volodymyr Zelensky

US officials said on Thursday that President Joe Biden had secretly lifted restrictions on Ukraine using certain American-supplied weapons against targets inside Russian territory, but only to defend the under-fire Kharkiv region.

This is a step forward toward (the) goal ... of making it possible to defend our people who live in the villages on the border, Mr Zelensky told reporters in Stockholm where he took part in a Ukraine-Northern Europe security summit.

Biden had come under increasing pressure from a desperate Ukraine to ease his ban, but had so far resisted amid fears it could drag Nato into direct conflict or even a nuclear standoff with Moscow.

The Kremlin accused the West on Thursday of entering a new round of escalations in tensions.

02:51 PM BST

Thank you for following todays live blog

Thank you for following our live coverage of the war in Ukraine.

Well be back soon with the latest updates from the conflict.

02:14 PM BST

Stoltenberg says Nato members have relaxed rules around its weapons

Jens Stoltenberg, Natos secretary-general, said alliance members had eased restrictions on the use of Western weapons by Ukraine to strike military targets inside Russia.

Ukraine has the right to self-defence and also striking legitimate military targets in Russia, he told reporters at a news conference.

Mr Stoltenberg added that Russia had used its territory to stage an attack on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, meaning it makes sense for Kyivs forces to need to strike over the border.

We need to be vigilant, we need to adapt and evolve our support to Ukraine, he said.

01:21 PM BST

Stoltenberg urges Nato allies to commit to 40 billion a year for Ukraine

Jens Stoltenberg on Friday urged Nato allies to commit to spend at least 40 billion a year on supporting Ukraine to ensure long-term backing for the war-torn nation.

He said the figure was roughly what the alliances member states had provided Kyiv over the course of the full-scale invasion.

We must maintain at least this level of support each year for as long as necessary, Mr Stoltenberg, Natos secretary-general, said after a meeting in Prague.

The official had previously proposed a $100 billion war chest for the alliance to continue arming Kyiv and training its troops.

Outlining his latest plan, Mr Stoltenberg said the cash should be raised equitably across the alliances 32 members, possibly using GDP to calculate to fair contributions.

12:59 PM BST

US Treasury No. 2 warns China over support for Russia

Deputy US Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo said that Washington and the European Union must deliver a message to China that its firms face a choice between doing business with US and EU economies or equipping Russia with dual-use goods.

It had to be made clear that Chinese firms can either do business in our economies or they can equip Russias war machinery with dual-use goods. They cant continue to do both, he said on a visit to Berlin.

12:26 PM BST

Ukrainian drones strike Russian radar system, according to report

Ukrainian drones have reportedly struck another Russian radar system, this time in Crimea.

If confirmed, the attack on the $100-million Nebo-SVU radar reported by Ukraine Pravda would be the latest by Ukraine on Russian radar systems.

On Monday, Ukraine hit a radar station near the border with Kazakhstan, a Ukrainian intelligence official said.

12:12 PM BST

Boris Johnson is always with me, says Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelensky has said he doesnt miss Boris Johnson because the former prime minister is always with him.

The Ukrainian president described Mr Johnson as a good friend who really helped Ukraine.

The pair struck up a close bond in the early days of Russias full-scale invasion and spoke almost every day.

Since standing down as prime minister, Mr Johnson has made numerous trips to Kyiv and joined international efforts to prepare Ukraine for Nato membership.

Asked if he missed Mr Johnson in an interview with the Guardian, Mr Zelensky said: He does not give me the opportunity to miss him. He is always here.

11:55 AM BST

Watch: Aftermath of missile strike on Kharkiv

Russian strikes killed three people in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, authorities said on Friday.

With Russia having retaken the battlefield initiative in recent months, Ukraine had doubled down on calls to permit it to use longer-range US weapons to attack Russian territory - something Washington had resisted over fears it could drag Nato into direct conflict with Moscow.

But that calculus changed after Russian forces launched a fresh offensive in the Kharkiv region this month.

11:16 AM BST

EU plotting to start conscription, claims Orban

Viktor Orban, Hungarys prime minister, claimed on Friday that there was a plot to carry out an EU conscription drive amid fears of a war with Russia.

It would mean that someone else could decide about the blood of Hungarians, he told the Good Morning, Hungary radio show.

Such thoughts should be quickly dismissed; the seed must be removed from the soil before it can sprout.

The Hungarian leader  who is seen as Vladimir Putins closest ally in Europe  blamed the plan on Manfred Weber, a German conservative MEP, who is president of the centre-right EPP group.

But Mr Orbans accusations are seen as absolutely baseless and part of his wider row with Nato over the alliances support for Ukraine.

10:58 AM BST

Germany tells Ukraine it can use its M270 rocket launchers to strike Russia

Germany has told Ukraine it can use M270 rocket launchers donated by Berlin to strike Russian soil, the Telegraph understands.

The M270  which has also been donated by Britain  is a tracked version of the American-supplied Himars system.

German officials have also told counterparts in Kyiv that German-made self-propelled 155mm artillery howitzers can be used on cross-border strikes on military targets inside Russia.

It came after an agreement during talks with the Quad group of Britain, America, France and Germany, sources said.

Steffen Hebestreit, the German chancellors spokesman, said: Ukrainians are fighting for their country and their freedom. Many countries around the world are supporting them politically, economically and with military equipment and weapons.

10:41 AM BST

Ukraine returns to Russia bodies of 45 Russian servicemen, RBS says

Ukraine has handed over to Russia the bodies of 45 Russian servicemen as part of a swap, the RBS news outlet cited lawmaker Shamsail Saraliyev as saying.

10:24 AM BST

Ukraine can use German weapons to defend Kharkiv border region, Berlin says

Germany suggested Ukraine could use weapons supplied by Western countries to defend itself against attacks on Kharkiv launched from just inside Russia

We are jointly convinced that Ukraine has the right, guaranteed under international law, to defend itself against these attacks, the spokesperson said.

To do so, it can also use the weapons supplied for this purpose in accordance with its international legal obligations; including those supplied by us.

10:07 AM BST

Moscow says Nato chiefs comments confirm Western weapons used to hit Russia

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenbergs comments on Western arms supplied to Ukraine show they have been used against targets on Russian soil all along, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Friday.

Zakharova was commenting on Stoltenbergs remarks about there being no restrictions on Kyivs use of British Storm Shadow cruise missiles and some other weapons supplied by Nato countries.

09:51 AM BST

Oil depot on fire after Ukraines air strike in Russias Krasnodar

An oil depot in the Krasnodar region was on fire and people were injured after Ukraines air strike early on Friday targeting oil facilities, the governor of the southern Russian region said.

The situation is more serious in the Temryuk region - the infrastructure of the oil depot there was damaged by an air strike: three tanks with petroleum products are damaged and burning, Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on the Telegram messaging app.

The fire is being extinguished now... Unfortunately, there are injured among the employees of the oil depot.

09:26 AM BST

Russian missiles kill three in Kharkiv

Russian missiles hit three sites in Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, killing at least three people and injuring 16, local officials said early on Friday.

Accounts of the attack said the missiles hit a five-storey apartment block, a shop in a three-storey building and a sewing factory.

Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said the attacks on the citys Novobazarskyi district, used the double tap technique that has occurred recently, delivering a second strike soon after an initial attack on a given site.

People look on as Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of the shelling of a residential building in Kharkiv - SERGEY KOZLOV/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

He said that, according to preliminary information, S-300 missiles were used.

The third, fourth and fifth floors are destroyed, stairwells were destroyed, facades were destroyed, Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov told public broadcaster Suspilne, describing damage to the apartment building.

Mr Syniehubov said at least two children were among those injured in the attack, which occurred at about midnight local time. He warned that residents could be trapped underneath rubble left by the strike.

09:05 AM BST

Moscows nuclear threats over Ukraine are no bluff

Senior Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday that Russia was not bluffing when it spoke of the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine and that its conflict with the West could escalate into an all-out war.

In a post on his official Telegram channel, Medvedev said Moscows conflict with the West was developing according to the worst-case scenario and that no one can rule out it escalating to the last stage.

Medvedev was commenting after four US officials told Reuters on Thursday that Joe Biden had quietly authorised Kyiv to launch US-supplied weapons at military targets inside Russia that are supporting an offensive against the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

08:53 AM BST

China says difficult to attend Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland

China said Friday it would be difficult to attend a conference on the war in Ukraine slated to take place in Switzerland next month.

The arrangement of the meeting still falls short of Chinas requirements and the expectations of the international community, making it difficult for China to attend, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said.

Ukraine is trying to whip up attendance at the June peace conference, where it hopes to win broad international backing for its vision of the terms needed to end Russias war.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged China to take part.

But Beijing insisted on Friday that any such summit would need the participation of Russia, which Ukraine has rejected.

China has always insisted that the International Peace Conference should have the recognition of Russia and Ukraine, equal participation of all parties and fair discussion of all peace plans, Ms Mao said.

Otherwise, it is difficult for the conference to play a substantive role in restoring peace, she said.

08:32 AM BST

Pictured: Soldiers receive treatment in Donetsk

As fighting rages in the direction of Chasiv Yar, Donetsk, soldiers from the frontline are receiving medical treatment.

A Ukrainian soldier receives treatment from army medics at a stabilisation point - Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images

Ukrainian army medic shows shrapnel remains, extracted from wounded Ukrainian soldiers - Diego Herrera Carcedo/Anadolu via Getty Images

08:10 AM BST

Russia threatens to remove children from their parents in anti-war dissent crackdown

Russia has threatened to remove children from their parents in an anti-war dissent crackdown.

Children have been forced to flee the country, face jail sentences and be placed in orphanages as the pressure piles on parents who dare to question the Kremlin.

Amnesty International said that the very bond between children and their parents that is being shamelessly exploited to crush dissent.

In this politically motivated assault on children, schools and teachers have become tools of persecution and arbitrary interference by the state, Oleg Kozlovsky, Amnestys Russia researcher, said.

He added that schools were indoctrinating children with false government-mandated narratives.

In many cases known to Amnesty, commissioners for childrens rights did not intervene in the politically motivated persecution of children or advocate for their right to freedom of expression.

07:54 AM BST

Russian MP promises asymmetric response to attacks with US arms

Russia will retaliate asymmetrically to Ukrainian attacks on its territory using weapons provided by the United States, the RIA news agency cited Andrei Kartapolov, the head of the Russian lower houses defence committee, as saying on Friday.

Kartapolov said Joe Bidens decision to allow limited missile strikes inside Russia with US weapons would not impact Russias military operation in Ukraine.
Joe Biden said his plan was 'Israel approved' and it was now up to Hamas to agree to it - REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein

Joe Biden outlined a comprehensive deal to bring the fighting in Gaza to an end on Friday and appealed directly to ordinary Israelis and Palestinians to accept it.

Putting himself at the centre of the long-running ceasefire negotiations for the first time, the US president urged those who wanted peace to make their voices heard, saying it was the best way to end the conflict.

Its time for this war to end, for the day after to begin, he said.

The new plan is similar to the deal that collapsed three weeks ago amid claim and counterclaim from both sides.

It was an approved Israeli proposal, Mr Biden stressed, made up of three phases which would lead to cessation of hostilities permanently and the rebuilding of Gaza.

He said it was now up to Hamas to come to the negotiating table and for the Israeli leadership to stand by its proposal.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan. And will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some are even in the government coalition. Theyve made it clear. They want to occupy Gaza. They want to keep fighting for years and hostages are not a priority for them. Well, Ive urged leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes, Mr Biden said.

War has continued to rage in the ravage Gaza Strip - OMAR AL-QATTAA/AFP via Getty Images

The first phase of the deal would last for six weeks. It would include a full and complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, and the release of a number of hostages including women, the elderly and the wounded in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

At the same time Palestinian civilians will return to their homes and neighbourhoods in all areas of Gaza, including in the north; and humanitarian assistance would surge with 600 trucks carrying aid into Gaza every single day, Mr Biden said.

During the initial six-week phase, Israel and Hamas would negotiate the necessary arrangements to get to phase two, which is a permanent end to hostilities, the president added.

Finally, in phase three, a major reconstruction plan for Gaza would commence, and the final remains of hostages whove been killed will be returned to their families. Thats the offer thats now on the table.

Mr Biden acknowledged that negotiating the precise terms of the second part of the deal in the initial six weeks would be difficult but insisted that it could be done.

The US, Egypt and Qatar would work to ensure that those negotiations continued until an agreement was reached, he said.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire would become permanent, Mr Biden said.

It is a deal that brings all the hostages home, ensures Israels security, creates a better day after in Gaza without Hamas in power, and sets the stage for a political settlement that provides a better future for Israelis and Palestinians alike, he added.

In another shift of gear, Mr Biden warned the Israelis they risked further isolation if they failed to grasp the moment.

Israeli troops in Gaza. The country has been urged to end its conflict - Israeli Army/AFP via Getty Images

Israel no longer faced a major threat from Hamas as at this point, Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another October 7, he said.

To the people of Israel, let me say this...You cant lose this moment, indefinite war in pursuit of an unidentified notion of total victory, draining the economic, military, human and human resources and furthering Israels isolation in the world. That will not bring hostages home, that will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas, that will not bring Israel lasting security.

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, echoed the presidents words.

With a new hostage agreement on the table, Hamas must accept this deal so we can see a stop in the fighting, the hostages released and returned to their families and a flood of humanitarian aid into Gaza, he said in a social media post.

As weve long argued, a stop in the fighting can be turned into a permanent peace if we are all prepared to take the right steps. Lets seize this moment and bring this conflict to an end.

The office of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, confirmed that he had authorised negotiators to present proposal for return of hostages held in Gaza.

The Gaza war will not end until all goals are achieved, including the return of all hostages and the destruction of Hamas, the statement added.
Former British ambassador to Mexico, Jon Benjamin, points a semi-automatic weapon at a Mexican staff member. Photograph: Subdiplomatic/X

The British ambassador to Mexico was quietly removed from his post earlier this year after he pointed an assault rifle at a local embassy employee, it emerged when footage of the incident was posted on social media.

The Financial Times reported that Jon Benjamin was on an official trip to Durango and Sinaloa, two states with strong organised crime groups, when he looked down the guns sights at a colleague, who gestures uncomfortably in the five-second clip.

The firearm presumably belonged to the security detail accompanying the diplomat, who was sacked soon after the incident in April.

The video was released by an anonymous account on X, formerly known as Twitter. In a context of daily killings in Mexico by drug dealers, he dares to joke, wrote the account.

Mexico has seen more than 30,000 homicides a year for the last six years  one of the highest homicide rates in Latin America  as organised crime groups fight to control territory and businesses across the country.

Benjamin, 61, is no longer listed as the ambassador on the UK government website.

Benjamin became UK ambassador to Mexico in 2021, having previously held posts in Chile, Turkey, Ghana, Indonesia and the US over a career of almost four decades.

The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment by the Guardian, but told the FT: We are aware of this incident and have taken appropriate action. Where internal issues do arise, the FCDO has robust HR processes to address them.

Diplomatic relations between the UK and Mexico, Latin Americas second-largest economy, have tended to be cordial and uncontroversial. They have been negotiating a new free trade agreement since 2022.

This Sunday Mexican voters appear all but certain to elect Claudia Sheinbaum as their first female president, taking over from her popular predecessor of the same party, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

The campaign trail has been blighted by violence, with more than 30 candidates killed and hundreds more dropping out as organised crime groups vie to install friendly leaders.

On Wednesday  the final day of the campaign  a gunman filmed himself shooting dead the opposition mayoral candidate Jose Alfredo Cabrera in the town of Coyuca de Benitez, Guerrero, before in turn being gunned down by bodyguards.
The 'abusive practices' include charging extra for carry-on baggage and guaranteeing seats next to family - izusek/E+

Budget airlines in the EU are facing a crackdown on hand luggage fees after a court issued 150 million (128 million) in fines over the practice.

Four airlines have been penalised by Spain for abusive practices towards their passengers, including charging extra for carry-on baggage and guaranteeing seats next to family and friends.

Ryanair, EasyJet and Spains Vueling and Volotea were all fined by the countrys consumer rights ministry yesterday.

The fines will be seen as a challenge to budget airlines business models, which hinge on charging rock-bottom fees for tickets and adding supplements for things such as larger carry-on bags.

Flag-carrier airlines tend to include these in their fares, arguing their generally higher prices are simpler for consumers to understand.

The ruling has caused a wave of potential lawsuits across the bloc that could result in add-on fees being banned on EU-registered airlines.

Test Achats, a Belgian consumer campaign group, said on Friday that it had filed a complaint with the countrys authorities against several airlines which charge extra prices for reasonably sized hand luggage.

This prevents passengers from easily comparing prices, said a spokesman, because it is only at the end of the process that the passenger sees the real price they will have to pay for their trip.

The four airlines can appeal against the decision, first with the ministry and later in the Spanish courts.

Spanish consumer groups welcomed the fines, with Ruben Sanchez, general secretary of the FACUA consumer association, saying passengers should start trying to claim back money they spent on charges now deemed to be abusive.

A spokesman for the European Consumer Association (ECA) hailed the Spanish ruling as a strong signal.

Airlines unfair policies on carry-on hand luggage need to stop. Too often, consumers arrive at the airport only to be told they have to pay extra for hand luggage or because their bags dont conform, said the ECA.

Ryanair was also fined for charging 20 for printing boarding cards for passengers, which Spanish authorities deemed to be an unreasonable fee.

An airline trade body hit back against the fines, saying EU law allowed them to set their own prices and fees.

Javier Gandara, chairman of Spains airline association, said that the four companies were preparing appeals against the fines, branding the penalties disproportionate.

Mr Gandara said that all airlines allowed passengers to carry a small item of hand baggage aboard, adding that EU law let them charge a supplement for suitcases over a certain size.

In our country, some 50 million passengers a year travel without carrying a trolley suitcase, and they will be the most affected by this prohibition as they will have to start paying for a service they do not need, he said.

Despite the EU ruling, British holidaymakers may not see immediate price drops on flights to the Costa del Sol.

Britain stopped short of banning similar excess baggage fees this month, despite Rishi Sunak commissioning a formal review into extra charges a year ago.

UK-registered airlines will still be allowed to charge extra for hand luggage or for booking a seat next to loved ones under the new Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act.

However, the act outlaws the hiding of add-on fees until the online check-out stage of buying a ticket, as many airlines currently do.

So-called drip pricing  advertising a fare, but then requiring passengers to pay extra for items or services offered as standard in the past  was described by Spanish officials as an unfair commercial practice that hinders the comparability of offers and the decision-making of consumers, causing them significant economic damage.

Many airlines charge passengers for cabin luggage despite a 2014 EU court ruling saying hand baggage of a reasonable size and weight is an essential element of travel and should not generate additional charges.
31 May 2024 at 10:05 am

Donald Trump speaks outside the courtroom after a jury convicted him of felony crimes for falsifying business records - Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool

Donald Trump has vowed to keep fighting after he was found guilty of all counts in his New York hush money trial.

Mr Trump looked furious after he left the courtroom where he became the first former president to be convicted of a crime.

He declared to reporters outside the Manhattan courthouse on Thursday night that he was a very innocent man and said America has gone to hell.

Repeatedly lashing out at Juan Merchan, who presided over the case, as a conflicted judge, he claimed: This was a rigged disgraceful trial.

The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people, he said, referring to the date of the presidential election. A criminal conviction does not disqualify him from running for president or taking office if elected.

We didnt do a thing wrong. Im a very innocent man... our whole country is being rigged right now.

Mr Trump, 77, now faces possible jail time over his convictions for covering up payments to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, to buy her silence over an alleged affair. He will be sentenced on July 11.

Immediately following the verdict there were chaotic scenes outside the courthouse as Trump supporters and anti-Trump demonstrators clashed on the street.

A Trump supporter shouts at anti-Trump demonstrators in front of the Manhattan Court - GETTY IMAGES

Demonstrators for and against the former president clashed in heated scenes - REUTERS

Eric Adams, the New York mayor, said that city police officers would be ready to respond to any and all circumstances, including large-scale protests.

Some of Mr Trumps supporters in the Republican Party  for whom he is the nominee for Novembers presidential election  on Thursday rallied to support the former president.

Marjorie Taylor Greene, the congresswoman for Georgia who has been one of Mr Trumps fiercest defenders on Capitol Hill, tweeted an image of an upside down US flag, which is frequently used by Right-wing Americans to signify political dissent.

The flag was waved by some of Mr Trumps supporters when they stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, has declared that Donald Trumps conviction marks a shameful day in American history.

Mr Johnson, who has allied himself closely with the former president, claimed Trump had been found guilty on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon - referring to Michael Cohen.

He added: This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one... The American people see this as lawfare, and they know it is wrongand dangerous.

President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdictand he WILL WIN!

Trump supporters outside his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida on Thursday night - REX

Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally and senator for South Carolina, said: This verdict says more about the system than the allegations.

Congratulations, progressives, said Utah senator Mike Lee. Youve just guaranteed Trumps election.

Some of Trumps detractors in the Republican Party were also highly critical of the trial outcome.

Texas senator John Cornyn, who had distanced himself from the former president after the Capitol attack, said this verdict is a disgrace, and this trial should have never happened.

He added: Now more than ever, we need to rally around @realdonaldtrump, take back the White House and Senate, and get this country back on track.

Major Republican donors backed Mr Trump on Thursday. Casino billionaire Miriam Adelson and hotelier Robert Bigelow vowed to send more money to the former president and Mr Bigelow, who has already given over $9 million to an outside group supporting Mr Trump, said the criminal proceedings were a disgrace.

Im sending President Trump another $5 million as I promised him, Mr Bigelow said.

Elon Musk, the billionaire, tweeted that the verdict was troubling. Mr Musk was on Wednesday linked with a possible role in a future Trump administration.

Troubling indeed.



The American people as a whole should decide who is president.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 31, 2024

Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group, the owner of social networking site Truth Social, slumped nearly 9 per cent in after-hours trading on Thursday.

Hillary Clinton posted an image on Instagram of a mug that features a cartoon of her drinking from and the words turns out she was right about everything.

Democrats, who began fundraising off the news within minutes of the verdict, reacted with joy to the jurys decision.

Trump toadies are going to attack the jury and the court because they have a plan to dismantle our democracy and it relies on everyone believing the justice system is rigged, posted Chris Murphy, a senator for Connecticut.

It isnt. Donald Trump committed a crime. He got caught. He got convicted. Thats the rule of law.

03:38 AM BST

Thats all for today

Thanks for following our live blog on Donald Trumps hush money trial.

The former president was found guilty by a New York jury on all 34 charges of falsifying business records, following weeks of testimony.

Mr Trump, who is staring down the barrel of potential jail time, will be sentenced by Judge Juan Merchan on July 11.

He is due to give a press conference on Friday morning at 11am ET (4pm GMT) at Trump Tower.

03:05 AM BST

Smug mug: Hillary Clinton releases new merchandise

Hillary Clinton posted an image on Instagram of a mug that features a cartoon of her sipping and the words turns out she was right about everything.

She shared the post after Mr Trumps guilty verdict. The former Democratic nominee said the mug just happened to be finalised today.

02:47 AM BST

Poll: Will verdict benefit Trump or Biden in election?

02:29 AM BST

Trump may regret attacking judge before sentencing

Former federal prosecutor Mitchell Epner said Mr Trump may regret attacking Judge Juan Merchan in the weeks before he is sentenced.

One thing that I can tell you based on 30 years of doing this, is if Justice Merchan decides that Donald Trump should go to prison, it is very, very, very difficult for Donald Trump to avoid going to prison, he told The Telegraph.

Mr Epner, who is a partner at law firm Kudman Trachten Aloe Posner, added: Donald Trump may come to regret his decision to attack the man with the discretion to decide whether or not he goes to prison in the most personal and vituperative fashion possible and attack his daughter in the same way.

02:21 AM BST

Trump guilty verdict fires up Republican donors

Major Republican donors have rallied behind Mr Trump, pledging millions of dollars to support him in his run for president.

Robert Bigelow, who has already donated over $9 million to an outside group supporting the former president, called the criminal proceedings against Mr Trump a disgrace.

Im sending President Trump another $5 million as I promised him, Mr Bigelow told Reuters.

Following Mr Trumps conviction, Don Tapia, a former Trump ambassador to Jamaica, said he and a small network of family and friends with whom he donates, aimed to give over $1 million to the pro-Trump spending group MAGA Inc in coming weeks.

Were going to go all-in for him, he said.

I just donated $300k to President Trump



The timing isn't a coincidence https://t.co/LDU4nJ8FBx  Shaun Maguire (@shaunmmaguire) May 30, 2024

A Silicon Valley tech investor, Shaun Maguire, posted on X after the verdict that he had donated $300,000 to support Mr Trump.

I believe our justice system is being weaponised against him, he said.

02:12 AM BST

Trump Social shares plunge

Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group, the owner of social networking site Truth Social, slumped on Thursday after Donald Trumps conviction.

Trump Medias stock was down about 9 per cent in after-hours trading on Thursday as news of the verdict emerged.

02:06 AM BST

Elon Musk reacts to Trumps verdict

Mr Musk said the former presidents verdict was troubling indeed.

Troubling indeed.



The American people as a whole should decide who is president.  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 31, 2024

01:59 AM BST

Stormy Daniels emotional after verdict, says lawyer

Stormy Daniels lawyer, Clark Brewster, told CNN his client was pretty emotional following Mr Trumps guilty verdict.

He said he has not yet discussed what his hopes are for sentencing with Ms Daniels.

She was pretty emotional. A lot of mixed emotions. Obviously, its a sad time for anyone to have a conviction like this. Its momentous to the country and it hit her hard. She knows how hard the jurors worked and the oath that they took. And we have to respect that. No man is above the law and we have to respect the system. But she has empathy. She also did her duty, came to court and told the truth and was exposed to cross-examination.

01:50 AM BST

Biden campaign launches fundraising drive

Joe Bidens re-election campaign has already begun fundraising on the back of Mr Trumps guilty verdict.

The US presidents official White House spokesman, Ian Sams, released a brief statement shortly after the jury in Manhattans verdict was released.

We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment, he said.

There's only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box.



Donate to our campaign today: https://t.co/aJXS9oti0a  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 30, 2024

White House aides suggested the US president would not be directly addressing his Republican opponents conviction.

However, Mr Bidens campaign began fundraising over the shock verdict within hours of it being handed down.

Read the full story by Rozina Sabur here.

01:13 AM BST

In pictures: Chaos as Trump is found guilty

Trump supporters and anti-Trump demonstrators clash outside the Manhattan court - Reuters

Crowds gather at Trump Tower after the guilty verdict - Getty Images

Demonstrators react as Mr Trump is convicted - AFP

12:59 AM BST

Tension as wifi cuts out minutes before verdict

The tension in courtroom 1530 was tenfold when the wifi cut out just minutes before the jury foreman stood up to deliver Trumps guilty verdict.



Some desperate reporters pleaded unsuccessfully with strict police officers to let them get out their phone to use its hotspot.

Others were told no when they begged to run to the overflow room in the hope of regaining connectivity.

12:48 AM BST

Inside the courtroom: Trump stared ahead red faced as the jury delivered history

Donald Trump sat emotionless, staring blankly ahead as he awaited his fate.

The former president had been chatting cheerily moments earlier as another day of deliberations was drawing to a close.

He now faced a jury ready to deliver a verdict that could change the course of history.

Guilty, the foreman told the packed crowd in the stale room 1530 of Manhattan Criminal Court.

Then he repeated it again. And again. And again. 34 times to be precise.

Donald Trump after the verdict was read - Justin Lane/EPA/Bloomberg

Trump, now red in the face, had become the first ever former US president to be convicted of a felony.

The judge thanked the jury, the court was dismissed, and just like that the man who many polls say will win Novembers election was a criminal.

Read the full story by Susie Coen here.

12:38 AM BST

Trump can still run for president

Trumps conviction will not bar him from running for office.

Socialist Eugene Debs ran his presidential campaign in 1920 from a federal jail in Atlanta.

He was serving 10 years for sedition having encouraged people not to fight in World War One.

Debs still won nearly a million votes.

12:14 AM BST

Trump doubles down on political prisoner claim

A text message has just been sent out to Donald Trump supporters: I was just convicted in a rigged trial! I am a political prisoner!

12:03 AM BST

Former fixer just did it for guilty Donald Trump

Sitting just a few feet away from the man he once so adored, Michael Cohen twisted the knife.

And he expressed to me: just do it, the former lawyer said in his thick, Long Island accent, relaying the moment Donald Trump directed him to pay off a porn star.

Prosecutors had built up to the moment, before calling the final  and somewhat questionable  witness who now stood before them.

Read the full article from Susie Coen here.

11:59 PM BST

Pictured: Trump raises fist in defiance outside Trump Tower

Donald Trump holds up a fist as he arrives back at Trump Tower after being convicted in his criminal trial - TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images

11:57 PM BST

Prosecutors dont rule out requesting Trump prison sentence

Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, refused to rule out requesting a prison sentence for Donald Trump in a post-verdict press conference, Rozina Sabur writes.

Asked if he would request a prison term, Mr Bragg said: The judge scheduled sentencing for July 11th. We will speak in court at that time.

11:54 PM BST

Steinglass asked about masterful prosecution

Joshua Steinglass, a prosecutor, fails to suppress a smile and goes red when a reporter refers to his masterful and flawless arguments.

Alvin Bragg turns to him but Mr Steinglass gestures to his boss to answer the question for him.

11:53 PM BST

Trump unlike any other defendant in American history

Alvin Bragg said of Donald Trump: This defendant may be unlike any other in American history.

But we arrived at this trial in the same manner as every other case that comes through the courtroom doors. By following the facts and the law.

11:52 PM BST

Bragg pays tribute to team of prosecutors

Speaking at a press conference, Alvin Bragg turned to the prosecutors standing around him and said: I want to thank this phenomenal prosecution team embodying the finest traditions of this office - professionalism, integrity, dedication and service.

They are model public servants and I am proud and humbled to serve side by side with them.

11:48 PM BST

Manhattan DA releases statement after Trump conviction

Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney who brought the case against Donald Trump, said in a statement:

Donald Trump is guilty of repeatedly and fraudulently falsifying business records in a scheme to conceal damaging information from American voters during the 2016 presidential election. Over the course of the past several weeks, a jury of 12 every day New Yorkers was presented with overwhelming evidence  including invoices, checks, bank statements, audio recordings, phone logs, text messages, and direct testimony from 22 witnesses  that proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Mr. Trump illegally falsified 34 New York business records. Mr Trump went to illegal lengths to lie repeatedly in order to protect himself and his campaign. In Manhattan, we follow the facts without fear or favor and have a solemn responsibility to ensure equal justice under the law regardless of the background, wealth or power of the accused. The integrity of our judicial system depends on upholding that principle.

11:46 PM BST

Trump verdict is big win for New York prosecutors

Duncan Levin, an ex-New York prosecutor, was full of praise for the thorough case built by his former colleagues in the Manhattan district attorneys office.

The case was deeply corroborated, with testimony not built around one person but with texts and emails and phone records, he told The Telegraph.

The prosecution case was methodical, and the jury clearly paid attention.

The defendant did everything he could to undermine the administration of justice, engaged in criminal contempt on ten occasions, and yet the system still gave him a trial that was fundamentally fair. That is a big win for the prosecution.

11:43 PM BST

Trump: Im a political prisoner

Donald Trumps campaign website has been redesigned to claim that the former president is a political prisoner.

Is this the end of America? the caption reads underneath.

I was just convicted in a RIGGED political Witch Hunt trial: I DID NOTHING WRONG!

Donald Trump has redesigned his website to call himself a political prisoner

11:39 PM BST

Trump returns to Trump Tower

Donald Trump has returned to Trump Tower after being found guilty of falsifying business records in his hush money case.

The former president waved, pumped his fist - a gesture he has made repeatedly outside court in recent weeks - and mouthed thank you to supporters.

11:37 PM BST

Pictured: Trump reacts as guilty verdict is read out - 34 times

Donald Trump reacts as he is found guilty in his "hush money" criminal case - REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg

11:35 PM BST

Finally some accountability

Protester Susan Ryan was standing outside Manhattan Criminal Court holding a sign saying convicted Don when the jury delivered its guilty verdict.

The writer, from New York, said was pleased there has finally been some accountability.

Ive been following Trumps rise to power, she told The Telegraph. Some of us have been protesting Trump for years.

Ms Ryan said she decided to come down to the Lower Manhattan courthouse after she finished work, after being unable to attend yesterday.

I walked into the park and they said theres a verdict. Im very happy, she said.

11:34 PM BST

House Speaker: This is a shameful day

Mike Johnson, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has declared that Donald Trumps conviction marks a shameful day in American history.

Mr Johnson, who has allied himself closely with the former president, claimed Trump had been found guilty on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon - referring to Michael Cohen.

He continued: This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one... The American people see this as lawfare, and they know it is wrongand dangerous.

President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdictand he WILL WIN!

My statement on President Trump trial verdict:



Today is a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon. This was a purely political  Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) May 30, 2024

11:20 PM BST

The truth matters, says Cohen

Michael Cohen said in a statement: While it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters.

He went on to thank his lawyers for their invaluable guidance and support throughout this process.

Cohen was the last witness called by the prosecution in the trial, where he was cross-examined for three days by the defence.

In one bruising encounter, he was repeatedly accused of lying by Todd Blanche about a key phone call where he allegedly finalised a hush money payment with Donald Trump.

11:10 PM BST

Trump: Vote for me to save America

Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: VICTORY ON NOVEMBER 5TH. SAVE AMERICA!!! He is referring to the date of the presidential election.

11:07 PM BST

Pictures: Trump leaves Manhattan court in motorcade

Donald Trump's convoy leaves after his Guilty verdict in New York

Donald Trump heads home after being found guilty in Manhattan Criminal Court

11:03 PM BST

Trump comments outside court in full

Donald Trump spent a short time conferring with family and supporters before speaking to media gathered outside the 15th floor courtroom. He said:

This was a rigged trial, a disgrace. They wouldnt give us a venue change. We were at 5% or 6% in this district and this area. This was a rigged disgraceful trial and the real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here. Im a very innocent man. Its okay. Im fighting for our country. Im fighting for our Constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now. This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent. And I think its just a disgrace, and well keep fighting and fighting till the end and well win because our country has gone to hell. We dont have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess. Were a nation in decline, serious decline, millions and millions of people pouring into our country right now from prisons and from mental institutions, terrorists, and theyre taking over our country. We have a country thats in big trouble, but this was a rigged decision right from day one. With a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case. Never. And we will fight for our Constitution. This is long from over.

10:58 PM BST

Guilty on all counts: Michael Cohen reacts to former boss conviction

10:57 PM BST

Pictured: Trump flanked by family and lawyer after being found guilty

Donald Trump after a jury found him guilty of all 34 felony counts in his criminal trial - JUSTIN LANE/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

10:53 PM BST

Biden campaign: No one is above the law

Michael Tyler, the communications director for Joe Bidens re-election campaign, has released a statement:

In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator on day one and calling for our Constitution to be terminated so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence  and the American people will reject it this November.

Joe Biden is yet to personally comment on Donald Trumps conviction.

10:48 PM BST

Circus scene outside court

It is a circus outside Manhattan Criminal Court today.

There is a swarm of journalists speaking to cameras, a helicopter circling above and a mass of protestors mixed with interested onlookers.

The crowd is surprisingly quiet. There are no cheers or boos.

One is holding a sign with a picture of Mr Trump alongside the words: SHMUCK! Vote Trump out.

10:46 PM BST

Trump heading home from court

Donald Trump is entering his motorcade and is now heading home. He has made the journey from Manhattan Criminal Court many times, but this will be the first as a convicted felon.

10:42 PM BST

Jury took just over nine hours to find former president guilty

Donald Trump has been found guilty in his hush money trial of falsifying business records to buy the silence of a porn star, a historic verdict that could influence the US elections.

Trump was convicted at a New York trial that centred around payments made to Stormy Daniels to catch and kill her story before the 2020 election.

He becomes the first former president to be convicted of a crime, as a jury of 12 New Yorkers took nine and a half hours to convict him on all 34 counts.

Trump is almost certain to appeal his conviction, which does not disqualify him from running for office or serving as president if elected.

He will be sentenced by Judge Juan Merchan at a later date. The most severe punishment he can receive is four years in prison for each count, which would likely run concurrently, although experts believe a non-custodial sentence is more likely.

10:40 PM BST

Pictured: Trumps reaction

Trump speaks to the press after he was convicted

Trump walks to make comments to members of the media after being found guilty on 34 felony counts

10:40 PM BST

Pictures: Crowds wave signs outside courthouse where Trump was convicted

People react after former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was convicted in his criminal trial outside of Manhattan Criminal Court - KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images

People react outside Manhattan criminal court to the verdict in former U.S. President Donald Trump's criminal trial - REUTERS/Mike Segar

A man brandishes a "guilty" sign after the verdict in Donald Trump's criminal trial is read out - REUTERS/Mike Segar

10:28 PM BST

Trump furious as court dismissed

Donald Trump plodded slowly out of the courtroom when court was dismissed.

He grabbed his son Erics hand, held it for a second and then continued on.

His face was completely red and his fury was palpable.

10:26 PM BST

Trump vows: This is not over

Donald Trump vowed to keep fighting and said he would fight to the end.

Our countrys gone to hell we dont have the same country anymore, he told reporters. We have a divided mess.

He concluded: We will fight for our Constitution. This is far from over.

10:25 PM BST

Im a very innocent man

Donald Trump spoke to media after leaving the courtroom, repeatedly lashing out at Justice Juan Merchan.

This was a rigged disgraceful trial - the real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people, he said, referring to the date of the presidential election.

We didnt do a thing wrong Im a very innocent man... our whole country is being rigged right now.

10:18 PM BST

Trump to be sentenced on July 11

Todd Blanche asks for sentencing in mid to late July given Donald Trumps full calendar of other criminal trials. Mr Trump will be sentenced on 11 July at 10am.

10:17 PM BST

Trump lawyer: Jury must have accepted Cohens testimony

The jury has been dismissed.

Todd Blanche tells the judge theres no way and no basis this jury could have reached this verdict without accepting the testimony of Michael Cohen.

For that reason combined with the fact there was no evidence linking Donald Trump to the charges other than Cohen.

10:16 PM BST

Jury confirm verdict

The court clerk has asked every member of the jury if that is their verdict.

They all gave the same answer: yes.

10:10 PM BST

Trump guilty on all charges

Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 counts he faced.

He becomes the first US president in history to have been convicted in a criminal trial.

Mr Trump, 77, is sitting at the defence bench motionless, staring ahead blankly as the verdicts are read out.

10:10 PM BST

Trump guilty on all counts

Donald Trump has been found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree.

10:09 PM BST

Trump motionless as verdict read out

Donald Trump is sitting at the defence bench motionless, staring ahead blankly.

10:06 PM BST

Reading the tea leaves

What can we infer from the time the jury spent deliberating?

This was a legally complex case and the jurors asked for some testimony to be read back as they deliberated for almost 10 hours.

Donald Trumps team had been hopeful of a mistrial. A guilty verdict requires unanimity from the 12 jurors and there were some signs that one juror appeared sympathetic to the defences arguments in court.

The fact that they have reached a verdict means all 12 are in agreement on the 34 counts.

Some legal watchers speculate that the deliberation time indicates that Mr Trump has been found guilty on at least some charges, but we just dont know if that is the case.

What we can tell you is that the defence table has gone from smiling to sour looks, according to reporters in court.

Mr Trump and his lawyers all look quite sombre and tense. The former president has his arms crossed across his chest.

10:05 PM BST

Jury is led into courtroom

Judge Juan Merchan is back on the bench, court is back in session. The jury is being led back into the courtroom.

10:02 PM BST

Where is Biden?

Joe Biden is currently at his home in Delaware, about 200 miles from New York City.

The US president spent the day with his family to mark the ninth anniversary of his son Beaus death from brain cancer.

A senior White House official said there are no plans for the president to respond to the Trump verdict at this time.

Mr Biden faces a dilemma over how to respond to the outcome when it falls.

Mr Trump has repeatedly called it a rigged case and claimed it was brought by Democrats attempting to thwart his 2024 bid.

Mr Biden risks political blowback if he is seen to exploit the case.

10:02 PM BST

What was Donald Trump charged with?

Donald Trump has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records, in the criminal case where the jury is due to deliver their verdict within minutes.

Of those charges, 11 relate to invoices submitted by Michael Cohen, 11 relate to cheques paid out to him, and 12 are entries on the Trump Organisations ledger.

Falsifying business records is normally classed as a misdemeanour in New York. However, Mr Trump has been charged with a felony because prosecutors allege he did so to influence the result of the 2016 presidential election.

Read the full list of criminal charges Donald Trump faces here.

09:56 PM BST

Jury spent 9.5 hours deliberating

The jury of 12 men and women spent a total of 9.5 hours deliberating the charges over the course of two days before reaching a verdict.

09:53 PM BST

Trump in court waiting to hear his fate

Donald Trump is in the courtroom ready to hear his fate.

The Republican 2024 candidate is sat at the defence table with his arms crossed.

His lawyer, Todd Blanche, is whispering in his ear.

09:51 PM BST

Jury reaches a verdict

Hello and welcome to The Telegraphs live blog.

The jury in Donald Trumps historic criminal trial has reached a verdict and will be returning to the Manhattan courtroom shortly.

Susie Coen, our US reporter who has been in court each day, explains the four possible outcomes for the former US president.

You can read more about them here while wait for the jury to return.
Leigh Milner had no pain relief apart from an injection of local anaesthetic that had no time to take effect while in labour, leaving her traumatised - Geoff Pugh for The Telegraph

Leigh Milner had one requirement for her upcoming birth: she wanted epidural pain relief. I dreaded being in agony and knew Id enjoy my pregnancy if I could avoid suffering during labour, she says. Following the advice from my National Childbirth Trust [NCT] course, I put my epidural request at the top of my birth plan in block capitals and bold type. Then I laminated it.

Few birth plans make it out of the hospital bag, and Milners glossy manifesto was no exception. On February 1 2023, two weeks before her due date, Milner, 34, was rushed into hospital with high blood pressure and suspected pre-eclampsia.

Pre-eclampsia is a serious condition that can be fatal to both mother and baby, so the hospital said Milner needed to be induced right away. As the midwife prepared for me this, I asked for an epidural, says Milner, who works as a news presenter for BBC Look East. The midwife batted me off with a number of excuses, telling me I needed to be on the labour ward, it was too busy  there would be time to do it later.

The midwife broke Milners waters, and her labour progressed with shocking speed. The pain was immediately so brutal that I threw up on the way to the labour ward, she says. I was screaming that I wanted my epidural, begging the staff over and over again. They came up with all sorts of reasons to delay: that they needed to get the results of a blood test, and that certain forms had to be signed.

The gas and air machine on the unit was broken and Milner was offered only paracetamol. When a monitor indicated that the babys heart rate was dropping, Milner was prepped for a caesarean. She desperately wanted to avoid surgery, and steeled herself for one last push  to aid her delivery, she was given an episiotomy, or a surgical cut to the perineum. Milner had no pain relief apart from an injection of local anaesthetic that had no time to take effect. Theo was born safely, weighing 6lb 4oz, but Milner was traumatised.

The whole thing was medieval, she says.

Over the next few months, Milner suffered flashbacks and nightmares about the pain she experienced, to the extent she needed therapy. I later had a meeting with the hospital, and they told me I should have been offered an epidural at the time I was induced, she says. They said there had been no need for this mysterious blood test. Im 100 per cent certain I would not have suffered all this distress if Id had an epidural.

Pain-relief politics

The issue of pain relief in childbirth has always been political  and now it is entering the election race. In their manifesto, released this week, the Green Party remarked on the escalation of medical interventions, and their disapproval of such. We will work to reduce the number of interventions in childbirth and change the culture of the NHS so that birth is treated as a normal and non-medical event, they said.

According to guidance released in 2012, natural childbirth, as defined by the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists includes births without induction, without the use of instruments, not caesarean sections, spinal or epidural anaesthetic before or during delivery.

If the Green Party had their way, mothers-to-be like Milner would be even less likely to receive pain-relief.

This flies in the face of better news about the health consequences of epidurals. Last week, the issue was in the news again: a report published in the BMJ revealed that women who had epidurals during labour were a third less likely to develop life-threatening conditions such as sepsis or heart attacks after giving birth than those who did not.

An epidural is a type of local anaesthetic given into the lower back, which numbs the nerves that carry the pain impulses from the birth canal to the brain. The idea is to numb the sensory nerves, which affect pain, but not the movement nerves that affect feeling, says Dr Fiona Donald, the president of the Royal College of Anaesthetists. The range of anaesthesia can vary: patients can vary from feeling nothing, to a sense of tightening when their contractions take place, she says. A few hospitals offer mobile epidurals where the patient is free to move around.

The procedure is safe, says Donald, though by its very nature, an epidural makes a birth more medicalised. It has to be given by an anaesthetist, the patient needs to be in bed, attached to a drip and have one-to-one midwife care in case their blood-pressure dips too much, she says. The babys heart rate also needs to be monitored.

There is a one in 10 risk of the anaesthetic failing, as well as a small risk of negative consequences such as a postdural puncture headache (which happens in around 1 per cent of births) and one-in-10,000 chance of permanent nerve damage.

Fiona Gibb is director of professional midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives. Different areas operate under different guidelines, but epidurals are usually given when a woman is in established labour  having three contractions in the space of ten minutes  and her cervix is around 3 to 4cm dilated, she says. Epidurals are also often given before an induction.

In certain scenarios, epidurals can be contraindicated  not performed because it may be harmful to the mother. This can happen if the woman has certain pre-existing medical conditions such as low blood clotting levels, has cardiac instability, or has had spinal surgery, says Gibb. An epidural might also be contraindicated if the baby is descending quickly, or the woman is not able to lay still or sit upright.

Otherwise, according to Gibb, all women should have the choice to have an epidural, as long as the hospital can provide a safe, clinical environment.

However, as Milner discovered, many labouring women find they do not have access to adequate pain relief. Statistics show that, despite the safety and effectiveness of the procedure, significantly fewer epidurals are given in the UK than in other Western nations.

A 2020 report in Anaesthesia, the journal of the Association of Anaesthetists, revealed just 22 per cent of women who gave birth in the UK between 2007 and 2020 received an epidural. This compares quite starkly with the United States, where between 70 and 75 per cent of women have epidurals. In France, its 82 per cent.

Even before the Green Party edict, epidurals came with oddly political connotations. In some middle-class circles, it almost seemed a badge of honour to not need an epidural. Childbirth education organisations such as the NCT seemed opposed to  or at best ambivalent  towards them. There was the sense that epidurals were the gateway to all manner of unpleasant interventions such as a ventouse or forceps delivery or  the biggest failure of all!  an emergency caesarean section.

New mum coffee mornings were full of the sense that, the more pain relief you had requested, the more you had failed. Do you feel less of a mother because you didnt breathe your baby out in a cloud of lavender oil? Good, you deserve it.

This approach now appears  thankfully  outdated. Its not true that epidurals make an intervention more likely, says Donald. Though its also the case that the local anaesthetic is less strong than it used to be. A 2018 Cochrane Review paper found that: the need for an assisted vaginal birth no longer appeared as an outcome when adjusted for modern anaesthesia approaches.

Maxine Palmer is a former antenatal practitioner and head of service development at the NCT. While she defends the notion that an epidural given too close to birth can slow down the pushing stage, she accepts there has been a culture change within the organisation.

The cascade of intervention was incorrectly correlated, she says. The evidence is now clearer as to what causes birth complications, especially as epidurals are now given at a lower dose. The NCTs main task is to educate women to understand their pain relief options and have a flexibility of mindset in the context of the clinical situation.

Resource constraint

So why, despite this culture change, are women still struggling to get sufficient pain relief? An investigation by The Telegraph as recently as 2020 identified six NHS trusts where women pleading for pain relief were refused it, with one woman talking about a cult of natural childbirth.

Palmer of the NCT denies any nefarious plan on the part of midwives. Its true that in this country we have more of a culture of vaginal birth than places like the US, she says. In other countries, births are more medicalised: you cant have gas and air in America, for example. There is also far more of a culture of birth litigation in the US, though it is getting worse here. Trusts are now spending a third of their budget on claims where a birth has gone wrong.

According to Palmer, the main reason we arent getting epidurals is because of resource constraint  there simply arent the midwives or the anaesthetists available for the personalised care needed for the epidural process. This was beginning to brew before the pandemic, she says. People were starting to leave the profession, and now they arent being retained. It started to stabilise in 2023, but after that we had the Ockenden Report. (The Ockenden Report found a string of catastrophic failures in the maternity services at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, leading to the death of more than 200 babies.) Since then, more resources are going into safety concerns than the continuity of care, says Palmer.

For while the number of epidurals is going down, the number of caesareans and inductions is rising. NHS figures from 2022 revealed 35 per cent of births in the previous year were through a caesarean, up by a quarter in the past decade. This is partially because of complex births related to ageing and increasingly overweight mothers-to-be. Plus, if a first baby is born by C-section, their sibling will almost certainly enter the world in the same way. Then there is the renewed emphasis on safety since the maternity unit scandals, meaning that pregnant women are now able to elect a caesarean section, even if this is not for medical reasons.

For those who have had difficult births, Gibb suggests it can help to later reflect on their labour with the help of a hospital professional. This can be an informal chat with their midwife, some areas offer a programme, which is a dedicated clinic, she says.

New mother Milner made use of her Reflections appointment at the Essex hospital where she had her son, but for her this was ultimately a case of too little, too late. After my awful experience giving birth to Theo, I will question every decision in my next pregnancy, she says. In fact, I am almost certainly going to opt for a planned C-section. Lots of my mum friends feel the same way. We no longer trust the NHS.
Prof Amit Patel (pictured with his daughters) suffered internal bleeding - MEN MEDIA

A doctor died after a surgery for a rare condition that he was an expert on, a coroner has ruled.

Professor Amit Patel told doctors he was suffering from a deadly immune reaction called HLH when he was admitted to Wythenshawe Hospital.

A pioneer in stem cell transplantation, he had formed national guidance on the condition and sat on a panel to which the most serious cases were referred.

Despite his warnings, staff at the hospital in Manchester told him that he was the least unwell person on his ward and did not qualify for intensive care.

Should never have been recommended

The medical staff then met with the specialist HLH panel - many of whom knew Dr Patel - and a procedure was recommended to look inside his lungs.

But the procedure left Dr Patel, who also had a blood clot disorder, with massive internal bleeding and he died, aged just 43.

On Thursday, after a long-running inquest at Manchester Coroners Court, coroner Zak Golombek ruled the procedure had led to his death and should never have been recommended.

Dr Patel, a father of two, was classed as one of the countrys most knowledgeable doctors at Christie Cancer Hospital, the inquest heard.

Dr Patel told his wife that he was 'going to die'

He was admitted to the hospital in August 2021 with flu-like symptoms suspected to be linked to a throat infection.

Dr Patel recognised that he had HLH, or Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, a condition when immune cells become overactive and attack the body, but medical staff ignored his pleas.

He told his wife Im going to die here, the inquest heard.

The panel recommended an endobronchial ultrasound-guided biopsy (EBUS), where doctors look inside the lungs to diagnose lung disorders, including inflammation.

Likely transected or ruptured

But medics were not informed before the procedure that Dr Patel had also developed a blood clotting disorder, known as disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC).

The procedure left Dr Patel with less than a 10 per cent chance of survival after a blood vessel was likely transected or ruptured, the inquest was told, and he died in October 2021.

Coroner Zak Golombek ruled that Dr Patel was not allowed to properly consent to the procedure.

He said: The consenting process was too proximate in time to the procedure starting. This did not allow Professor Patel to compute, digest, and discuss the evolving clinical picture and the procedure itself, he added.

Professor Patel was not treated like an ordinary patient. In spite of his undoubted wealth of medical knowledge, he was primarily a husband and a father and was not given the opportunity to consider the procedure itself, and its effects on his clinical course.
However, one White House official has said that the policy in terms of using long-range Atacms missiles 'has not changed' - U.S. Army/Avalon

Ukraine could strike troops, air bases and logistics hubs inside Russia after Joe Biden authorised American weapons to be fired across the border.

The partial lifting of the ban on firing US-supplied weapons into Russia, which applies only to the defence of Kharkiv and does not change a ban on long-range deep strikes further inside Russia, comes nearly a month into the Kremlins cross-border offensive.

Ukraine was unable to break up Russian troops concentrations or conduct effective counter-battery fire when the attack on Kharkiv began on May 10 because, unlike most other Russian offensives over the past two years, it was launched from across the border.

The American move followed a plea from Jens Stoltenberg, Natos secretary general, and after key European allies including Britain, France, Germany and Sweden partially or fully lifted their own restrictions on firing donated weapons into Russia.

British, European and Ukrainian sources said the rapid change in the rules was directly related to the Kharkiv offensive.

It is thought that American-supplied Himars will likely prioritise Russian artillery and launch sites for Lancet attack drones - JUNI KRISWANTO/AFP

Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at the International Institute of Strategic Studies, said: The attack will have been supported by artillery and rocket launchers inside Russia.

Ukraines targets: Artillery, tanks and airfields

So not being able to engage with western supplied long-range weapons, things like GMLRS [Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System] and Atacms make it much more difficult to deal with those targets. Its really simple.

Andrey Zagorodnyuk, a former Ukrainian defence minister, said: Regarding what they are going to strike, it is also quite simple: simple equipment, artillery units, tanks, etcetera, but also, but also the larger targets such as some command and control posts, if they know where they are and logistics you know, airfields.

When I say logistics it means like rail cars which carry heavy vehicles, tanks and so on, that are transported by rail and then unloaded. The same kind of thing they would strike in occupied Donbas or Crimea.

The immediate focus will be on the 20-mile stretch of countryside between the city of Belgorod and the border from which the latest Russian offensive launched on May 10.

Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the foreign policy research insititue, a US think tank, said American-supplied Himars and European artillery will likely prioritise Russian artillery and launch sites for Lancet attack drones.

These launch sites have been enjoying considerable success and able to operate largely with impunity from inside Russia, he said.

Ukraine could also preemptively target a large Russian force that has been spotted mustering around the village of Graivoron, about 30 miles further west. It is feared that the force may be preparing for an attack on the Sumy region.

Further afield, several airbases will come within range of British and French Stormshadow missiles. The Baltimor airbase at Voronezh, home to a Russian SU-34 squadron, is probably the most significant of those possible targets.

The Ukrainians have also been given permission to use air defence missiles to shoot down enemy aircraft which pose a threat. Given the shortage of air defence missiles and the near impossibility of intercepting glide-bombs in flight, destroying aircraft on the ground may, however, be the only realistic way to challenge Russias increasing dominance of the skies.

There is still some confusion over the remaining restrictions on Ukraines army. After the news of Bidens reversal broke on Thursday, one White House official said that the policy in terms of using long-range Atacms missiles has not changed.

That might mean that the White House has authorised GMLRS but not Atacms strikes across the border. But even that would make a difference.

Yes, Russia does degrade [GMLRS] accuracy with electronic warfare jamming, they have become a little less accurate [since they arrived in 2022]. But they have played a very important role for Ukraine, and Ukraine is an artillery-centric army, said Mr Lee. If they cant use this kind of really important ground-based fires capability it affects how Ukraine fights.

The rapid adjustment of long-standing Western policy follows mounting anxiety about Russian offensives this summer. The attack on Kharkiv forced Ukraine to redeploy forces from what is thought to be the central Russian effort in Donbas. However, so far, that does not appear to have enabled a major Russian breakthrough.

Putins response

Vladimir Putin claimed last week that using precision western weapons for long range strikes inside Russia would amount to a Nato attack on Russia and could warrant an appropriate response.

Nato countries, especially smaller ones, should remember that as a rule they have small territories with very dense populations, the Russian president said. Thats a factor they should keep in mind before talking about strikes deep in Russian territory.

Dmitry Suslov, a member of the Moscow-based Council for Foreign and Defence Policy think tank, on Wednesday called for a demonstrative nuclear weapons test to deter the West from lifting the strike restrictions.

Asked about those threats, Mr Stoltenberg said on Friday: This is nothing new. It has ... been the case for a long time that every time Nato allies are providing support to Ukraine, President Putin is trying to threaten us to not do that, he told reporters on Friday.

And an escalation  well, Russia has escalated by invading another country.

Keir Giles, fellow of the Russia and Eurasia Programme at Chatham House, believes Russias current nuclear rhetoric is a long way below the threshold of genuine threat.

Ive sat next to Suslov at a Nato conference. Hes been saying this kind of thing for years  since long before the full scale invasion.
Scientists believe that many severe learning difficulties are one disease caused by a malfunctioning gene - Westend61

A faulty gene is likely to be responsible for many severe learning difficulties, scientists believe after a study they hope will lead to diagnosis tests on the NHS.

On Friday, British experts will apply to have RNU4-2 gene variants added to NHS screening tests, and they have already told several families that their childrens learning difficulties are likely being driven by the mutation.

Severe learning difficulties are intellectual disabilities that occur when the brain does not develop or function properly, leading to below-average intelligence and mental ability and a lack of skills needed for daily living. It often goes hand in hand with conditions such as autism or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

But there are no laboratory tests with diagnosis based on an assessment of development, communication, behaviour and social skills.

Scientists now believe that many severe learning difficulties are one disease caused by the malfunctioning gene, and estimate 10,000 and 20,000 cases in Britain could be the result of mutations.

Immediate impact

Dr Andrew Mumford, professor of haematology at Bristol Royal Infirmary, one of the researchers, said: Its astounding that we have discovered a genetic illness that is likely to affect that many people.

This could have an immediate impact. Many families have been on a diagnostic odyssey trying to find an explanation for their childs condition.

There is obviously a spectrum where at one end there is a profound intellectual disability, often autism or behavioural problems, with severe motor or sensory disability, while at the other its mild.

This is the real power of genetic testing, to tell families what is going on, to understand the risk to future children, to know what to look out for and to enable families with the same condition to contact each other for mutual support.

Researchers made the discovery while carrying out genetic analysis using whole-genome sequencing data from 77,539 participants enrolled in the 100,000 Genomes Project, a large UK genetic database created to help researchers identify mutations responsible for diseases with unknown causes.

They discovered that many people with intellectual disabilities had mutations in RNU4-2  a gene involved in chopping up and connecting sections of the genetic code together to form instructions, a crucial part of cell biology.

The link was validated using three other large databases, and researchers found 73 cases overall suggesting the gene was driving the neurodevelopmental problems.

Although many of the people with the mutation were found to have severe learning problems, sometimes accompanied by seizures or microcephaly (small heads) others had relatively mild symptoms, and were still able to hold down jobs and live independently.

The gene appears to have mutated spontaneously in most cases, with only a handful of instances where it had been inherited.

More treatable

Dr Ernest Turro, associate professor of genetics and genomic sciences, at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, said: It appears to be one of the most common of the neurodevelopmental disorders caused by errors in a single gene.

We dont understand precisely why this particular mutation seems to recur over and over again, why it is that DNA replication seems to make this particular error over and over, but that is very striking as well.

But it also comes with some benefits potentially in the future, because it means that it will be potentially more feasible to develop a therapy that focuses on those effects individuals who have that particular variant so makes it potentially more treatable in the future.

Not only would a genetic diagnosis help people understand the cause of the disorder, it would also reassure parents that they would not pass on the problem to future children.

The research was published in Nature Medicine.
A plan by Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, would reduce the time served by prisoners from the current halfway point in their sentences to around 43 per cent - Paul Cooper

Thousands of prisoners could be released under legislation being prepared for the incoming government amid fears that jails could run out of space by the election.

Under a plan by Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, which could be enacted within weeks, a nationwide scheme would be initiated to enable the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) to release thousands of prisoners earlier in their sentences.

Officials believe the only measure that could prevent the criminal justice system grinding to a halt would be to reduce the time served by prisoners from the current halfway point in their sentences to around 43 per cent.

Modelling shows this would be the most effective medium-term solution to the overcrowding crisis by generating thousands of spare places. It would replace the current ad hoc early release scheme where governors can free prisoners up to 70 days before their due date.

Governors and prison service officials have warned ministers the scheme cannot be extended further as the numbers eligible that could be safely released into communities over 70 days would be minimal and it could reduce some jail terms to just weeks.

Internal forecasts suggest the 70-day scheme may stop being effective within the next six weeks because more criminals are being sent to jail than released. It means that the MoJ will be back in a position where there will be no spaces left for convicted criminals sentenced by the courts.

We are preparing legislative measures so whoever comes in on July 5 can deploy them when they come into the department, a Government source said.

Mr Chalk is also consulting government lawyers over what executive powers he could use to ease the crisis if the prisons were to run out of space before the election. Without Parliament sitting, he cannot introduce the emergency legislation that would ease the crisis.

Officials within the MoJ accept that dropping sentences below halfway will be politically unpalatable for an incoming Government but they say they can see no other more effective option and will argue that an incoming Labour Government would be able to blame it on the previous Tory administration.

It would be restricted to prisoners on determinate sentences, who are not dependent on decisions by the parole board to release them. It would likely exclude sex offenders, convicted terrorists, category A prisoners and all violent offenders serving four or more years.

Sue Gray, Labours chief of staff, is understood to have identified prison overcrowding as potentially the most pressing problem on a s--t list of crises if Labour forms the next government.

Another option such as scrapping short sentences under 12 months is likely to be considered but it would take longer to have an effect and would only release an estimated 3,000 spaces, significantly fewer than those from reducing the sentence tariff from 50 per cent to 43 per cent.

Delaying trials to reduce the flow of criminals into jails by cutting sitting days for judges would have a damaging effect on justice given the already lengthy delays due to unprecedented case backlogs.

Mr Chalk and a number of other ministers are also understood to be backing changes to planning laws that would give Government departments the right to override local objections and fast-track critical infrastructure such as prisons.

Planning delays have pushed back the construction of new jails by at least a year, prompting Mr Chalk to tell The Telegraph earlier this year that it was completely unacceptable for the Government to be unable to roll out essential infrastructure because of sclerosis in the planning system.

Shabana Mahmood, the Shadow justice secretary, has described the state of the jails as a national emergency and said Labour would use planning laws to say the construction of new buildings must be completed as a matter of urgency.

Ms Mahmood said: The state of our prisons is a national scandal - and now it also looks to be a national emergency. The blame for this mess lies squarely at the door of the Conservatives.

Tom Wheatley, president of the Prison Governors Association, has called for the release dates to be reduced from 50 per cent to 40 per cent but called for a royal commission into the criminal justice system including who we want to be in prison and for how long.
IEA forecasts suggest most installations of heat pumps will serve existing buildings rather than newbuilds. Composite: Guardian Design/Getty Images/Alamy

The belief that heat pumps will work only in newbuild homes is still widely held.

The number of heat pumps installed every year across the EU is expected to surge by the end of the decade as governments take aim at household carbon emissions.

By 2025 heat pump installations in the EU are expected to climb from 2m a year in 2021 to more than 4m, according to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA). This global energy watchdog predicts that by 2030 annual installations could reach almost 7m.

Crucially, these forecasts suggest the majority of installations will be in existing buildings rather than modern properties. By the middle of the decade more than half of all new heat pump installations will be in existing buildings, and by the end of the decade almost three times more will be installed in existing buildings compared with newbuilds.

The findings underline a key concern in the heat pump roll out  can heat pumps really work in older buildings, or should they be reserved for newly built properties?

The claim

In the UK the belief that heat pumps only work effectively in modern buildings has fuelled concerns that Britains large stock of Victorian and pre-second world war homes will scupper the governments aim to install 600,000 a year by 2028.

A report commissioned in 2021 by the Energy and Utilities Alliance (EUA), a trade body that represents gas boiler manufacturers, in partnership with four gas network companies, said heat pumps would be impractical for up to 54% of British households who were using gas to heat their homes.

The report analysed 22.7m properties and claimed that for between 8m to 12m there would be limiting factors with replacing gas boilers with heat pumps. Homes might be poorly insulated or built with solid brick walls, which would be difficult to insulate. The report also included homes with limited space for heat pumps, such as high-rise flats and mid-terrace houses.

Critics of heat pumps argue that a quick blast of fossil fuels can deliver a surge of heat for even a leaky house, whereas heat pump, which rely on a constant flow of gentle warmth to build to the desired temperature, struggle in homes that do not have good insulation.

The EUA, which subsequently denied deliberately fuelling public misinformation about heat pumps, said the high cost and inconvenience of undertaking a full home insulation retrofit for a heat pump meant this was an option for a minority of properties.

The science

Research published in 2022 by the Energy Systems Catapult (ESC), an independent research and technology organisation set up by the UK government, appears to dispel this claim.

The group ran a project aiming to install heat pumps in up to 750 homes across the country  from south-east Scotland and Newcastle to the south-east England  to test the technical and practical feasibility of a large-scale rollout of heat pumps into existing British homes. It found that properties including Victorian terrace houses and 1960s flats could have a heat pump successfully installed.

The project has not identified any particular type or age of property that cannot have a successful heat pump installation. The suggestion that there are particular home archetypes in Britain that are unsuitable for heat pumps is not supported by project experience and data, the ESC report said.

The ESC is expected to report back on how well the heat pumps have performed under real-world conditions after the 4 July general election.

The Fraunhofer Society, Europes largest application-oriented research organisation, finds that heat pumps outperform gas boilers even in buildings more than 100 years old. It monitored about 300 heat pumps over a period of 20 years.

In one study between 2018 and 2019, the institute monitored buildings between 15 and 150 years old that had been partially or fully refurbished with energy saving measures as well as being fitted with heat pumps. It found air-source heat pumps achieved an average seasonal performance rating of 3.1, meaning they were more than three times more efficient than a gas boiler.

The rating was only slightly higher than the previous study undertaken a decade earlier that found heat pump systems in mainly older, non-renovated, buildings had an average performance rating of 2.6.

The ESC report did not include how much insulation work was undertaken by the households before installing a heat pump. But separate government research suggests it may be less costly than gas lobbyists would argue.

A study for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero in 2021 found the move to very low or even zero-carbon home heating could be undertaken without necessarily carrying out extensive deep retrofit work.

It found: Homes can convert to electric heating at a cost far lower than the accepted wisdom and with no threat to comfort. Additionally, greenhouse gas emissions would fall very dramatically as a result.

The caveats

For older buildings energy efficiency upgrades  such as loft and wall insulation, or replacement of old radiators with larger models and underfloor heating  may need to play a role in mitigating the challenges of installing a heat pump.

Flats or terrace homes with limited outdoor space may need to consider wall-mounted or rooftop options. For all housing types there will need to be space inside for a hot water tank, often where the old boiler used to be.

The extent to which costly home upgrades can make or break the success of a heat pump installation is complex.

The studies that support installing heat pumps in all housing types come with caveats too. The ESC noted that it was not able to install as many heat pumps as it hoped in properties built before 1945 because of the greater challenge in designing successful systems for older homes. Still, it managed to install 163 heat pumps in pre-1945 properties, clearly showing that such challenges are manageable, it said.

Finally, the caveat at the heart of applying heat pump research to any individual experience is the quality of the installation work. A heat pump system that has been incorrectly installed, perhaps with the wrong size heat pump, will always fall far short of even the most rigorous scientific field studies.

The verdict

Claims that the majority of the UKs housing stock is not suitable for a heat pump appear to be overblown.

While some older homes will undoubtedly pose challenges to installers, field studies have shown that these challenges are not insurmountable. For example, basic insulation in older properties could improve energy efficiency. And flats in high-rise blocks with limited outdoor space could be connected to a heat network using other sources of low-carbon waste heat, or even large-scale heat pumps.

There has never been a single heating solution to fulfil the needs of all housing types in the UK and other European countries, and the case with heat pumps will be no different. But for the majority of homes it could be the easiest route towards a low-carbon future.
Flags of (L-R) Norway, South Africa, Palestine, Ireland, and Spain, are raised at an entrance of Ramallah city in the occupied West Bank - ZAIN JAAFAR/AFP

Ireland played into the hands of Hamas by recognising Palestine as a state so soon after Oct 7, an Irish senator has said.

Ned OSullivan added that it was highly ironic that many of the people condemning Israeli violence also celebrated IRA terrorists.

The senator is a member of the centre-Right Fianna Fail party, which is part of Irelands coalition government.

He told the Seanad, the upper house of the Irish parliament, that the government was right to formally recognise Palestine earlier this week but he had serious reservations about the timing of the decision.

There is every danger that Hamas is perceiving it right now as a reward for what it carried out on October 7, he said referring to the terrorist attack on Israel.

Let there be no doubt about it: Hamas began this current conflict. This current round of an age-old conflict was started by Hamas.

It sickens me to see the video clips of what they did to young, vibrant women out celebrating a concert. They were humiliated, degraded, raped.

He added, Unfortunately, Hamas got cheers for doing that from a large sector of the Palestinian community. I think that must be borne in mind by the pro-Palestinian lobby here.

Simon Harris (L), Ireland's prime minister, with Michel Martin (R), Ireland's minister of foreign affairs, during a press conference to recognise the state of Palestine - PAUL FAITH/AFP

Mr OSullivan said he did not support the level of Israeli violence in Gaza. If he did he would be immediately accused of being genocidal, he said.

That is what happens if one lifts ones head above the parapet and offers even a slightly different perspective that is not approved of by the pro-Palestinian lobby and the pro-Hamas lobby, both of which are very strong in their voice in this country at the moment, he added.

Israel reacted furiously to Dublins decision to recognise Palestine, which was announced last week and carried out this week.

It accused the Irish government of rewarding terrorism and summoned Irelands ambassador to Israel before making her watch videos of the Oct 7 terror attack.

The IRA was never the people of Ireland and Hamas is not the people of Palestine, said Simon Harris, the Taoiseach, in response to the Israeli criticism.

Protesters outside Leinster House in Dublin calling for sanctions to be imposed on Israel - Grainne Ni Aodha/PA

Mr OSullivan also attacked Sinn Fein, the former political wing of the IRA, for its vociferous support of Palestine.

A great number of the people who are most vociferous in their condemnation of the violence and atrocities being perpetrated in Gaza have no problem countenancing commemoration services for the Provisional IRA, he said.

He said the IRA massacred thousands of people in our own country, including thousands of people of the Catholic faith.

We seem to have a fixation for violence in one specific geographic location only, he added.

Sinn Fein are Fianna Fails political rivals in European elections next week and a general election which must be called by March next year.
German police have shot a knifeman who stabbed six people in Mannheim during a live stream by a prominent critic of Islam.

A video that captured the entire attack showed bystanders stepping in to try to stop the attacker, but he broke free and stabbed a police officer in the back before being shot by another officer.

The first victim was named as Michael Sturzenberger, a 59-year-old hard-Right blogger who once compared the Koran to Hitlers Mein Kampf.

German media reports said the officer was in critical condition, while Mr Sturzenberger received surgery for wounds to his face and leg, which were not life-threatening.

Mannheim's market square was cordoned off following the knife attack - Rene Priebe/dpa via AP

The attack, with the knifeman pictured on the left, was captured on video

Mr Sturzenberger was taking part in a demonstration by the Citizens Movement Pax Europa (BPE) in Mannheims market square at around 11.30am local time when he was attacked.

The activist and blogger was formerly the press spokesman for the CSU, the Bavarian sister party of the opposition CDU.

He has previously come under scrutiny from anti-extremism authorities in Germany between 2013 and 2022, and has convictions for insulting the police and inciting hatred.

He was fined for calling Islam a cancer in a blog post before being acquitted, and was successfully prosecuted for saying all Muslims were potential terrorists at a rally.

Footage of the attack, shared on social media, showed the attacker, a bearded man with glasses, attacking another man close to a van and posters for the demonstration in the square. As people ran to help, the man attempted to get away from his attacker but was pursued and stabbed.

Bystanders intervened to try stop the knifeman

Both men fell to the ground, where the knifeman continued his assault, appearing to stab his victim in the body and leg. More bystanders ran to help and the attacker lashed out at them with his blade.

An officer entered the melee and the knifeman stabbed him in the back before he was shot at close range by another officer as more police arrived on the scene.

One of the bystanders threw the dropped knife away from the attacker, who could be seen lying prone on the cobbled square. The square is in the middle of the centre of Mannheim, a city of 300,000 inhabitants.

The attacker was shot by police and arrested

A rescue helicopter was deployed during the incident, which police described as a large-scale operation. They said that three people were wounded, including the police officer, and that the attacker had been arrested after he was shot. They are investigating whether the motive was political.

Stefanie Kizina, the BPE treasurer, told the German tabloid Bild: This was not an attack, but an act of terror. The attack happened before the event even started  it must have been planned well in advance. Criticism of religion must be allowed  it is a core element of the European Enlightenment.

Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, said he was appalled by the footage of the attack and called for the perpetrator to be severely punished.

Michael Sturzenberger was prosecuted for saying all Muslims were potential terrorists at a rally

Mr Sturzenberger first came to public attention through a petition against the construction of a mosque in Munich and standing for election on anti-Islam platforms.

A former journalist, he became the press spokesman for the centre-Right CSU but was radicalised after a friend died in the 2008 Islamist terror attacks in Mumbai.

He joined the now defunct Die Freiheit party and spoke at rallies for the anti-Islam Pegida movement.
Diane Abbott arrives at Hackney Town Hall to cheers from her supporters on May 29, 2024

If you are not a Labour supporter  which, even now, a few readers of this column may not be  you probably do not feel instinctive sympathy for Diane Abbott. Sir Keir Starmers calculation was that most floating voters he is courting lack that sympathy and would therefore support him in preventing her candidacy in this general election.

His calculation might have been right. Sir Keir is a late, but fervent convert to the Blairite view that, to succeed, a Labour leader must always defeat, suppress or, at the very least, ignore the wishes of his partys hard-Left. History suggests this works. But now, in Ms Abbotts case, we shall never know, because he had to back down.

You can see why Sir Keir thought he could get away with it. His repudiation of his predecessor, in whose shadow cabinet he zealously served, seems to be working. It looks good, to wider public opinion, that he not only marginalised Jeremy Corbyn, but got him out of the Labour Party altogether. It marks a decisive break with the most shameful period in Labour history.

Even if Mr Corbyn succeeds in getting re-elected in Islington North, standing as an independent, he will return to the Commons much as he entered it more than 40 years ago (I remember watching from the press gallery as he came into the chamber tieless, an extreme rarity in those days). Now, as then, he is a burbling, boring bigot with little political weight.

So why is the case of Diane Abbott different? She is, after all, a Corbynista, soft on the IRA, soft on Putin, hard on Israel. Like Mr Corbyn, she has sought to downplay anti-Semitism as a form of racism. It was after she had crassly compared, in a letter to The Observer, prejudice against Jews with that against redheads, that she lost the party whip. They [Jews] are not all their lives subject to racism, was how she, incredibly, put it. They could not be, you see, because both Jews and redheads are white.

Personally, I disagree with the often-stated view that Ms Abbott has improved race relations in general. I fear she has helped sour them by being relentlessly negative about white-majority society. I sense that her identification with victimhood has damaged her own happiness. When I was an undergraduate at Cambridge, where she was a couple of years above me, I knew her slightly as a warm, ebullient person, enjoying a great universitys many privileges. In later decades, the twinkle diminished. A certain grumpiness appeared.

Nevertheless, it is something to be Britains first black woman MP and now the longest-serving black MP of either sex. Unlike almost anyone else in Parliament, Diane Abbott is what you could call pre-commemorated. Her portrait already hangs on the Westminster walls. She is a role model taught in schools. Some of her speeches are anthologised.

By the same token, she has been exceptionally reviled, the biggest single target of hostile social media against MPs. She did not deserve such attacks and has faced them bravely.

Somehow, Sir Keir neglected this psycho-drama. His desire to be rid of Diane Abbott was understandable, but he misread how others react when a powerful white man seems to pick on a black female icon. He also misread her own attitude. She was, until this week, quite prepared to retire. She is 70, and for years has not been very well. Her diabetes affects her powers of concentration and levels of energy.

For all her rebellions, Ms Abbott is what Tories used to call rank Labour: couldnt be anything else, would be shattered if kept out  rather like a Christian denied communion. After 37 years in the House, she was disposed to leave peacefully but only  the key point  with honour. Such a Nunc dimittis was widely expected. Even the tributes paid to her by allies this week had a valedictory note. One such, by Angela Rayner, spoke of Ms Abbotts right to leave on her own terms. Anas Sarwar, the Scottish leader, called her a historic figure.

Yet the leadership dishonoured her. The disciplinary investigation into her Observer letter finished in December. She had apologised and done the prescribed two-hour course on how not to be anti-Semitic, yet no release came. This week, she at last got the party whip back, but the unattributable press briefing was that she would no longer be a Labour candidate. Sir Keir said the candidacy decision would be taken by the Partys National Executive Committee (NEC) next week.

This apparent injustice fired up Diane fans and her constituency association. She responded by pre-empting the NEC and announcing to a crowd of supporters that she wanted to be MP for as long as possible and by any means possible. Her blood was up.

Following Ms Rayners public support on Thursday for Ms Abbotts right to be a candidate, on piled not only the usual suspects, but also several trade unions and Mr Sarwar. Given the NEC timetable of a meeting on Tuesday, there was space for plenty more trouble.

The story would by then have dominated a week of the campaign. Labours hard-Left/Gaza mob was finding allies in a much wider section of the party who felt Ms Abbott was being ill-used. Sir Keir decided at Friday lunchtime that concession was the better part of valour. He backed down, so poor old Ms Abbott, having prevailed, must fight yet another election.

This is an exhilarating moment for the Conservatives, who until then had watched helpless as Sir Keir had shot to bits their all-time favourite story  that Labour is a prisoner of its Left.

Instead, Sir Keir looks first ungracious, even vindictive, and then weak. He showed a want of diplomatic skills and took refuge in process (We must wait for the NECs decision), which never works in the heat of an election campaign. Perhaps Rishi Sunaks decision to go to the country earlier than expected was a shrewd one after all. The Tories have many more last-minute candidacies to fill than Labour, but it is Sir Keir, not they, who is mishandling the ensuing rows (I use the plural, because he faces a couple of lesser cases too).

I was fascinated by a letter in yesterdays Times from the unlikely source of Jonathan Aitken, the once-disgraced Conservative minister now redeemed as a clergyman. He has been a friend of Ms Abbott since 1983, when she was an obstreperous union shop steward at TV-AM and he was its chief executive. In Parliament, they were paired. Mr Aitken, now the family pastor, is godfather to Ms Abbotts son, and a close enough friend to visit her in hospital and chat frequently on the phone.

In his letter, Mr Aitken concluded that Sir Keir should either lift the proposed ban on her candidacy or give her a promise that, if he becomes prime minister, he will nominate her for a life peerage. It is a piquant thought that all this great Left-wing firebrand really wants is a seat in the House of Lords. I sense he knows the woman he is dealing with much better than Sir Keir does.

When I heard the news of the Starmer capitulation, I rang Mr Aitken for his reaction. He laughed: Well, given Harriets Harmans retirement, Diane will be the next Mother of the House: I believe shes interested in bringing a little order to its own disciplinary procedures
Both AA and RAC have called for return of hard shoulders on smart motorways - Geopix / Alamy Stock Photo

Labour has watered down its pledge to scrap smart motorways, saying it will carry out a review of the controversial roads if it wins the general election.

The party has previously called on the Government to restore hard shoulders to smart motorways, branding the highways as not fit for purpose and putting lives at risk.

Yet on Thursday Louise Haigh, the shadow transport secretary, would only commit to a review of the controversial highways.

Labour will review the evidence to determine whether existing smart motorways are fit for purpose, and will deliver a new, comprehensive road safety strategy to save lives and make our roads safer for everyone who uses them, she said.

Last year, after Rishi Sunak cancelled plans to double the number of smart motorways across the country, Ms Haigh called on ministers to scrap smart motorways altogether by reinstating the hard shoulder.

Smart motorways consist of converting the hard shoulder into a live running lane, replacing it with safety laybys every mile and a half.

Ms Haigh said in April last year: The public know what ministers still refuse to accept: smart motorways, coupled with inadequate safety systems, are not fit for purpose and are putting lives at risk.

She added: Thats why Conservative ministers should reinstate the hard shoulder on existing smart motorways and carry out an urgent review of the inadequate safety systems and evidence.

The Government is spending 900 million upgrading current smart motorways with new laybys to allow broken-down drivers to safely pull over.

Labours watered-down pledge comes as the AA called on both main political parties to scrap all 14 existing smart motorways.

Edmund King, president of the motoring organisation, said that the dangers of smart motorways outweighed the benefits.

Breaking down in a live lane on a smart motorway makes car occupants sitting ducks and has cost too many lives, said Mr King.

This fatally flawed design, no matter how good the technology, means drivers are made to play Russian roulette and pray they wont be hit.

First rolled out 18 years ago, smart motorways have been linked to 50 avoidable deaths from crashes and other accidents  and have cost the taxpayer in excess of 3 billion.

Mr Sunak announced in April last year that the planned roll-out of new smart motorways would be halted, but did not address the future of the existing ones.

Currently there are about 250 miles of smart motorways across the country, making up just over 7 per cent of the motorway network.

The AAs call to scrap the remaining 14 smart motorways was immediately backed by Sarah Champion, the Labour candidate for Rotherham and a long-time campaigner against smart motorways.

She said: All of the evidence shows reinstalling the hard shoulder is the most effective way to keep motorists safe.

I sincerely hope the next government listens to the facts, not National Highways, when making this lifesaving choice.

I strongly back the AAs campaign and hope common sense wins out.

Smart motorways were a cut-price answer to the problem of congestion on the countrys main highways.

Instead of widening roads and building new lanes, smart motorways saw the hard shoulder converted into a running lane, carrying traffic instead of acting as a refuge for broken-down cars.

National Highways, which is responsible for motorways in England, uses overhead gantry signs to signal to drivers which lanes are open and which are closed to traffic.

The first smart motorway trial, rolled out in 2006, involved so-called Emergency Refuge Areas (ERAs) being built on the M42 in Birmingham every 400-500m.

These are laybys that stricken cars can safely pull over into, away from fast-moving traffic.

Later smart motorways such as the M1 and stretches of the M25 had these ERAS spaced at 2,500m (1.5 mile) intervals instead, however.

Critics have said that the intervals between ERAs are too long and risk the lives of drivers and passengers in broken-down cars, forcing them to run for their lives to reach the safety of the roadside verges.

When he halted plans to double the number of smart motorways around the country last year, Mr Sunak said: All drivers deserve to have confidence in the roads they use to get around the country.

Many people across the country rely on driving to get to work, to take their children to school and go about their daily lives, and I want them to be able to do so with full confidence that the roads they drive on are safe.

According to the AA, 38 per cent of breakdowns on smart motorways happen in live lanes where traffic is still running.

Mr King, the AA president, believes the solution to the smart motorway problem is as simple as reopening the hard shoulders and permanently setting overhead signs to close the former running lanes.

On the all-lane-running sections, reinstate the hard shoulder with a red X and new lane markings. This would bring them in line with the dynamic hard shoulder sections, he said.

Labour, the Conservative party and the Liberal Democrats were all contacted for comment.
Lord Lucan will be the subject of a new podcast - Hulton Archive

Whoops of excitement in the tabloids this week with a new hook upon which to hang thousands of new words and a podcast about Lord Lucan. This November it will be 50 years since the aristocrat disappeared following the murder of the familys nanny, Sandra Rivett, and an assault on his wife, Veronica. The Mail has got its hands on a previously unseen document compiled by the original investigating officer, Detective Chief Superintendent Roy Ranson. The file is titled Regina v the VII Earl of Lucan and was the basis upon which Lucan would be tried as soon as he turned up and was arrested. Ranson expected it would happen within days of the murder at the Lucan family home in Belgravia on November 7, 1974. Except Lucan didnt turn up. He disappeared and was never seen again.

There have been countless documentaries and dramas on the subject and, as we approach a grim anniversary, old-school hacks are rubbing their hands with glee at another chance to retell the story.

As always, it is nostalgia that fires up interest. There are the exquisite nuggets of the story itself: the rarity of an aristo accused of murder, the bedraggled sight of Lady Lucan fleeing to the Plumbers Arms screaming Murder, murder!, the juxtaposition of PC Plod versus the toffs (those toffs, the Lucan circle of friends  John Aspinall, James Goldsmith et al  refusing to say a word aside from expressing total loyalty to Lucan), the letters Lucan wrote while on the run, the borrowed car found at Newhaven. And the Cluedo-like instruments of murder: lead piping and a US mail bag; into which, apparently, he planned to put his wife - presumably mistaken for the nanny, who was thus bludgeoned to death in the basement of 46 Lower Belgrave Street.

That and so much more has been ruminated on over the years. But the story has also inspired opportunities for Fleet Streets finest to go looking for Lucan. On a rainy Tuesday in April, with the features cupboard looking a little empty, numerous journalists over the years have looked to Lucan as a tree of endless juicy fruit.

And today, as journalism changes with the winds of the digital revolution (most poignant this week with the demise of the once great Evening Standard; remember its six daily editions ending with the coveted West End Final?) hacks grab at the Lucan story as a memento of Fleet Streets good old days. Thrilling days of hot metal, of a building shaking as the press started to print the first editions, of the boozy drinking dens and, particularly, of the time when a hack could spend days, weeks even, on some pootling story, where the main aim was plenty of long lunches with 1,200 words, max, punched out at the end.

Lord Lucan and his then future wife Veronica Duncan in October 1963

Of the most accomplished of this art was Garth Gibbs of the Daily Mirror. Gibbs revelled in what The Guardian on his death in 2011 described as 30 years of fruitless journalistic endeavour. Gibbs was stirred by the Sunday Express editor John Junor, who once said: Laddie, you dont ever want to shoot the fox. Once the fox is dead there is nothing left to chase.

Thus Gibbs looked for Lucan in South Africa, Macau, Hong Kong, the Bahamas, Paraguay, New Zealand, Melbourne and Barbados. I regard not finding Lord Lucan as my most spectacular success in journalism, Gibbs once said. Of course, many of my colleagues have also been fairly successful in not finding Lord Lucan. But I have successfully not found him in more exotic spots than anybody else.

As Gibbs deck-bound colleagues were bound to note, there was never a sighting of Lucan in Newport or Hull.

I, myself, have also been on the Lucan bandwagon, although Gibbs would not have approved. My contribution was quite productive in that in August 1998 I grabbed the first ever interview on the subject with Lucans son, George Bingham. It made the front page of the Daily Mail over two days. His brilliant mind and sense of humour had somehow sustained him since his father vanished when he was aged seven.

Any idea where he is? I once asked him in the wake of a new, ludicrous sighting in Goa in 2003. Last I heard, Botswana, he said, but it was a very bad line, I cant be sure.

In fact, George has long been convinced his father died soon after the events of November 1974 and he has been decidedly circumspect as to his assumed guilt.

Of the coroners court verdict in 1975 on the death of Sandra Rivett (the verdict: murder, by Lord Lucan), George told me in 1998: I found inconsistency after inconsistency  it was a mad melodrama, a sort of theatre of the absurd. My father may have been dim, or may have been mad, but no-one would reinforce lead-piping with bandage to kill someone. Use a candelabra, a revolver, a rope, a knife, poison. But of all the weapons in the Cluedo set, as any plumber will tell you, you would not use soft lead piping.

Despite being legally declared dead, Lord Lucan's body has never been discovered - Hulton Archive

Seeking release, a re-brand indeed, from the saga, George, with his wife Anne-Sofie, now runs the luxury brand Lucan Fashion. Maybe their site will get some hits in the coming days as the Trial of Lord Lucan podcast is released and newbies to the story hit Google. And if hes found guilty, the journos will need a re-trial as, sadly, Lucan was declared dead in 2016 and, now pushing 90, is unlikely to fetch up in a bar in Tahiti.

Meanwhile, those of us who feast on the story will continue to hope for no resolution, no discovery of a body, and no end to this extraordinary mystery.
Just 4.3% of MEPs in the parliaments last mandate were from racial and ethnic minorities  which falls drastically short of the estimated 10% of the EU population who identify as such. Photograph: Julien Warnand/EPA

The European parliaments failure to fully reflect the EUs diverse population has caused an identity crisis, campaigners have said, just days ahead of a vote that is expected to elect even fewer Black, Asian and minority ethnic MEPs.

In an analysis shared exclusively with the Guardian, the European Network Against Racism found that in the parliaments last mandate, just 4.3% of MEPs were from racial and ethnic minorities  a proportion that falls drastically short of the estimated 10% of the EU population who identify as such.

The wide gap was exacerbated by Brexit, with the departure of the UK MEPs in 2020 sending the proportion of racialised minorities in the European parliament tumbling to 3.5%  just 25 of 705 MEPs, according to a 2020 analysis.

I think this really tells us a lot about our democracy, said Nourhene Mahmoudi, an advocacy and policy adviser with the antiracism network. Europe is living in an identity crisis because the European parliament, from the research and data that we have collected, does not represent the entire European population.

In practice, say campaigners, this gap means people with lived experience of problems such as racism and inequality are often not at the table during key European discussions, hindering efforts to create policy that addresses the needs of the EUs varied population. This disparity poses fundamental questions about the democratic legitimacy of the institutions, particularly the European parliament, said Mahmoudi.

With polls suggesting support for far-right and nationalist parties will surge in Junes European elections, campaigners are bracing for a political landscape that they fear could further stigmatise marginalised communities  and with fewer MEPs of colour in parliament.

Data collected by the antiracism network showed a stark contrast between leftwing and centre parties, where in many cases some efforts have been made to include minority ethnic candidates on party lists, and rightwing parties, where this level of representation was low and in some cases completely absent.

Certain political factions, such as the far-right Identity and Democracy group of MEPs, lack any representation from racialised minorities.

Mahmoudi stressed, however, that representation in the European parliament needed to go further than merely ticking boxes if it wanted to truly create a more equal Europe.

Diversity and political representation is vital, said Mahmoudi. But at the same time, we have to recognise that representation alone or tokenised and shallow representation does not guarantee progress in combatting racism.

In recent years campaigners have watched as far-right parties exploit diversity rhetoric and put forward minority ethnic candidates in an attempt to further their own agenda. When racialised individuals espouse far-right ideologies, they legitimise and justify policies that perpetrate harm against minorities, said Mahmoudi. This is what we call diversity-washing.

It is a tactic that complicates the question of how to best tackle the parliaments wide diversity gap. Campaigners pointed to various approaches, from strengthening civil society organisations, to tackling the systemic racism that often impedes political participation and making the EU and its institutions more accessible to its citizens.

Another strategy lies in tackling Europes identity crisis, said Mahmoudi. I think that Europe needs to courageously, and really honestly, address its colonial past and understand that the racism we are living today comes from the actions of the past.

The antiracism network has also sought to build bridges with allies who recognise that addressing racism is key to strengthening democracy across the EU. True representation means understanding that racism isnt just a problem faced by racialised individuals  its a systemic issue that permeates the democratic fabric of European society, she said.

So even if this problem affects minorities, its not only their responsibility to address it. Its everyones responsibility.
The notice will remain in place while further investigations are carried out by Thames Water - Tony Kershaw / SWNS

More than 600 homes in a Surrey village face going without water for up to seven weeks after tests carried out by Thames Water showed contamination from a nearby fuel leak.

The company said results on Thursday indicated a possible deterioration in quality of drinking water in some areas.

A total of 616 houses in Bramley have been given the precautionary instruction not to use their water supply for drinking, cooking or brushing their teeth  though they can continue to use it to shower and wash their hands.

It comes after the collection and assessment of drinking water in the village following a historical leak from a petrol station which suggested the fuel had permeated water supply pipes.

The notice will remain in place while further investigations are carried out and replacement pipes installed, which could take up to seven weeks, although the water company is hoping to significantly speed up the process.

It comes after the collection and assessment of drinking water in the village following a historical fuel leak from its petrol station.

The notice will remain in place while further investigations are carried out, Thames Water said.

Water stations

The utility company added that letters and bottled water will be delivered to affected properties on Thursday evening.

Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, said bottled water stations were being set up in the village.

Residents have been forced to go to collection stations to pick up bottled water - Tony Kershaw / SWNS

Bramley is part of the South West Surrey constituency, represented by Mr Hunt for the Conservatives until Parliament was dissolved on Thursday.

He said he had spoken with the UK Health Security Agency, Thames Water, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, a local councillor and Asda - which operates a petrol station on the site of the fuel leak.

Mr Hunt is running for re-election in the new seat of Godalming and Ash which will replace his former constituency.

Complaints from locals about the fuel leak date back to 2021 and Mr Hunt said it posed a risk to the broadband and telephone services of 880 BT customers as the companys ductwork passes the site.

Chris Hardstone, landlord of the Jolly Farmer, in Bramley, claimed he had been complaining about the fuel issue since 2021 and the lack of clean water was driving customers away.

The 67-year-old has run the pub with his brother Steve, 66, for 40 years.

He said: Back in 2021, our cellar just stank of fumes - and this petrol smell was wafting up into the bar.

It took ages to get people to come and have a look, but when they did, we had people checking for gas leaks, for fire safety.

We were told initially it was mould  but it wasnt of course. It was a leak from the petrol station.

Mr Hardstone said that they had to close the hotel part of the pub as a result  meaning they lost out on business.

These issues meant we had to close our accommodation section down, so we lost business there, he said.

And of course, when word goes around that the local pub stinks of petrol, that affects business too.

Thames Water has said it is 'in the process' of delivering bottled water to those affected - Tony Kershaw / SWNS

Tess Fayers, Thames Waters operations director for the Thames Valley and home counties, said: We are asking 616 Bramley properties not to drink the tap water following recent water sampling results.

The health and safety of our customers is our number one priority, and we would like to reassure residents that this is a precautionary measure.

We are in the process of delivering letters and bottled water to the affected properties.

We are also identifying locations to set up bottled water stations and we will share this information with our customers as soon as possible.

We are already on site in the village proactively replacing sections of our pipes on Horsham Road to reduce the risk to our customers.

Thames Water said it was replacing sections of its pipes in Bramley - Tony Kershaw / SWNS

A Waverley Borough Council spokesman said: We are working closely with Thames Water and other agencies to try and mitigate the impact on residents, and we will support residents wherever possible.

An Asda spokesman said: We are continuing to work closely with Thames Water and other partners to address the issues we inherited after acquiring the Bramley PFS site.

We recognise the impact this has had on the residents of Bramley and share their frustrations.

We are committed to working with all parties to resolve this situation as quickly as possible.

A boil water notice was put in place for about 17,000 households in Brixham, Devon, earlier this month after a parasite outbreak caused by a contaminated water supply.

The number of confirmed cases of cryptosporidium has now reached 100, the UK Health Security Agency said on Thursday.

Thousands of homes in Surrey were left without water in November following Storm Ciaran, with more than a dozen schools forced to close.
Britain first permitted Kyiv to use its weapons against military targets two months after Russia's invasion - AP Photo/Pavel Golovkin

The head of Nato has praised Britain for leading the way in allowing Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike military targets inside Russia.

Speaking ahead of a second day of alliance talks in Prague, Jens Stoltenberg said there was nothing new about Western governments relaxing rules on their military donations to Kyiv.

This is nothing new, the Nato secretary-general told reporters. Allies have for many years, or since this war started back in 2022, accepted that their weapons are used also for strikes against legitimate targets inside Russia.

For instance, the United Kingdom has provided Storm Shadow cruise missiles for a long time without any restrictions.

Britain first publicised that its weapons could be used against military targets over the border in April 2022, two months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Storm Shadow missiles are believed to be behind a string of strikes on Russia

In recent weeks, European governments have followed suit by permitting the use of Western missiles on Russian soil.

Late on Thursday night, Joe Biden bowed to international pressure and allowed American weapons to be used to strike Russia to defend the north-eastern city of Kharkiv, roughly 25 miles from the frontier between the two countries.

Moscow is massing troops on the border ahead of a long-awaited summer offensive.

The White Houses decision to reverse its long-standing ban on cross-border strikes was plagued by fears the move could drag Nato into a wider conflict with Russia, a nuclear superpower.

But Mr Stoltenberg insisted on Friday that fears of escalation were unfounded given Russias failure to follow up on its rhetoric.

It has always been the case for a long time that every time Nato Allies are providing support to Ukraine, President Putin is trying to threaten us not to do that, he said.

The day of the invasion, he gave a speech where he threatened all countries that were going to provide any support to Ukraine, that that was dangerous and that will have consequences.

He added: Its Russia that has escalated by invading another country, and Russia has escalated just last week by opening a new front, where they are hitting Ukraine from inside Russia. Of course, to assume that Ukraine should not hit back is in no way reasonable, because Ukraine must be able to defend their territory.

More than 10 Nato allies have now vocalised their support for using Western weapons on military targets inside Russia, including France, the Netherlands, the Baltic states, Poland, the Czech Republic, Finland and Sweden.

Italys foreign minister Antonio Tajani told reporters on Friday that Rome could not follow suit because of its domestic constitution, adding that Italy is not at war with Russia, but helping Ukraine to defend itself.
The Democratic Alliance, led by John Steenhuisen, seen here casting his vote next to his daughter Caroline in Durban, is South Africas largest opposition party. Photograph: Rian Salie/Democratic Alliance/EPA

South Africa is facing the uncertain possibility of a coalition government after a collapse in support for the ruling African National Congress party in Wednesdays election meant it probably will not reach the 50% vote share needed for it to rule on its own. Here is a guide to the three main contenders for coalition partners:

Democratic Alliance

South Africas biggest opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), campaigned on the slogan Rescue South Africa, with a controversial election advertisement that featured the national flag burning.

The DA, which runs the Western Cape province that includes Cape Town, is economically liberal and its pledges included a balanced approach to privatising state-owned companies. Many black South Africans mistrust the cobalt blue-branded party, believing it favours the interests of white people. DA leaders say it is a non-racial party.

Its leader, John Steenhuisen, became a DA city councillor in the port city of Durban at the age of 22. He has not ruled out a coalition with the ANC, saying he wants to save South Africa from a leftwing doomsday coalition of the ANC, MK and EFF.

Steenhuisen, 48, took over as leader in 2019 after his black predecessor, Mmusi Maimane, resigned, claiming that his efforts to win over more black voters had been undermined.

uMkhonto we Sizwe

Related: South Africa: Zumas new party upends election as ANC reels from vote collapse

The uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party was only launched in December and looks set to be South Africas third-largest party after it capitalised on the enduring popularity of its leader, the former president Jacob Zuma, particularly in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal. This was despite Zuma being barred from standing in the election due to a 2021 prison sentence for contempt of court.

The MK said it wanted to get a two-thirds parliamentary majority so it could move from constitutional democracy to parliamentary supremacy. It also wants to increase the power of traditional leaders, nationalise banks and expropriate land without compensation, dating South Africas prolonged period of national shame back to 1652, when the first Dutch settlement was established.

Zuma, 82, joined the ANC as a teenager and became its intelligence chief during apartheid. He was president from 2009 to 2018, when he was forced to resign amid allegations of state capture.

A judicial inquiry alleged that Zuma replaced competent officials with loyalists and influenced the awarding of large contracts, in order to benefit business people. He is also due to go on trial next year over allegations that he accepted bribes in a 1999 arms deal. Zuma has always denied corruption allegations.

Economic Freedom Fighters

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) was founded in 2013 by the former ANC youth leader Julius Malema after he was expelled from the ruling party for sowing division. Known for its red beret-wearing members and disruptive parliamentary protests, it describes itself as anti-imperialist and inspired by Marxism.

EFF policies include taking land from white farmers and nationalising mines, banks and other strategic sectors, without compensation. It says that apartheid did not end in 1994, arguing that the democratic settlement left the economy in the hands of white monopoly capital, a message that resonates in a country where four in 10 adults are unemployed.

Malema, 43, is the son of a domestic worker from Limpopo, north of the capital Pretoria. A charismatic speaker, Malema has also drawn attention for his expensive cars and houses. In 2015, a court threw out corruption charges related to government contracts. Malema had denied the allegations, labelling them a government conspiracy against him.
Paul Whitehouse is a co-presenter of the BBC show Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing - Sam Gibson/BBC

Paul Whitehouse has thrown his support behind a campaign for women to be let into The Flyfishers Club.

The comedian and co-presenter of the BBC show Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing said he backed angler Marina Gibsons call for an end to the clubs men-only rule.

Marina is a brilliant angler. Her casting is exquisite - it makes me look like an old elephant. She is an extraordinary angler.

Of course she should be allowed into the b------ Flyfishers Club.

He added: Im not a member. Im not a member of the Garrick either.

The Garrick Club recently changed its rules to allow women to join after the publication of its all-male membership prompted embarrassment.

Marina Gibson, a fly-fishing instructor and guide, has asked to be allowed to join the all-male club

Whitehouse made his comments at the Hay Festival where he appeared on stage with John Bailey, one of Britains foremost anglers and a consultant on the BBC series.

Mr Bailey said of The Flyfishers Club, which is based in Mayfair and has 600 members: I was a member and I did drop out, partly over this issue which has been very controversial for years.

It is a last bastion of the red corduroy trouser brigade.

The club was founded in 1884 as a gentlemens club for fly fishers and past members include Arthur Ransome, author of Swallows and Amazons.

The club president told The Telegraph that the admission of women is under discussion and could be put to a vote. The last time it was discussed by the general committee, in 2013, it was not put to a vote and the men-only rule remained in place.

Another woman angler, Lucy Mantle, chairman and co-founder of the City Flickers fly-fishing club, has called the ban on women increasingly anachronistic and archaic and said it perpetuated the idea that angling is a pastime for old fogeys.

The club based in Mayfair was founded in 1884 as 'a gentlemen's club for fly fishers'

Mr Bailey also lamented the lack of freedom in modern childhood, which he said was a barrier to children learning to enjoy life on the river.

When we were kids we just had ultimate freedom to do whatever we wanted in the summer holidays. I feel sorry for kids these days because they are not allowed to do anything unless there is an adult five metres away from them, he said.

Every kid in my primary school in Stockport in 1959 went fishing. Its one thing saying Oh, there are so many other attractions, like phones but I think its because really kids arent allowed to do anything else.

The Hay Festival takes place close to the River Wye, which was downgraded to unfavourably declining by Natural England last year due to pollution from sewage and intensive chicken farming.

Mr Bailey said: Somehow, in the space of eight or nine years, weve turned the River Wye from one of the most glamorous rivers in Europe to a stinking ditch.

We were all brought up to believe that probably the worst-treated rivers were in areas of industry and high population numbers.

I went last week to look at the River Dane in Greater Manchester and its right by the M6, there are railway lines going over it, the roar of traffic is everywhere - and its magnificent.

There is ranunculus weed everywhere, there are insects its a brilliant river.

Over the last few years things have seemed to become inverted. So many conurbations have got great rivers, whereas the rural rivers which you tend to think are going to be the best ones, are in actual fact not.
Alice Kuhnke, a Swedish MEP, says she and other Black colleagues were stopped and asked for ID but their white counterparts were not. Photograph: Bloomberg/Getty Images

As a newly minted member of the European parliament in 2019, Alice Kuhnke swiftly learned to keep her ID badge handy. Sometimes the request to see it would come just moments after she had swiped it to enter a building, other times she would be stopped hours later as she made her way to meetings.

Six months into the job, she mentioned the stringent security measures over coffee with a few colleagues. They said Are you serious? Ive never been stopped.

Kuhnke, a Black MEP from Sweden, put the same question to her Black colleagues. The answer confirmed what she had suspected: Some of them had been stopped.

It was one of her first hints of what it meant to work in a European parliament that is profoundly out of step with the demographic reality of Europe. While racialised minorities make up an estimated 10% of the EUs population, MEPs from these groups accounted for just 4.3% of the total lawmakers in the last mandate, according to analysis by the European Network Against Racism (ENAR).

With less than a week to go before EU citizens elect the more than 700 members of the European parliament, the anti-racism group has warned that the institution is failing to reflect diversity in the EU  and they fear this could get worse if a wave of new far-right MEPs are elected to the parliament.

This disparity poses fundamental questions about the democratic legitimacy of the institutions, particularly the European parliament, said Nourhene Mahmoudi, an advocacy and policy adviser with ENAR.

That view is echoed by MEPs on the ground. Its very much pale and male, in all honesty, said Magid Magid, a former MEP from the UK. The lack of diversity was exacerbated by Brexit, which resulted in nine MEPs of colour, including Magid, leaving in 2020.

The consequences of this dissonance are far-reaching, from potentially undermining the parliaments ability to address issues such as inequality to diluting its ability to craft inclusive policies that meet the needs of all EU residents.

What is probably happening, according to a recent study based on interviews with 140 MEPs and staffers, is normalised whiteness in the parliament is helping perpetuate racism, leaving those who seek to confront discrimination feeling as though they are shouting to a brick wall, in the words of one interviewee.

Several interviewees described the parliament as a place where European whiteness operates as an unchecked privilege, underpinning power relations, said Johanna Kantola, a professor at the University of Helsinki. Its an unquestioned norm. And when it is so normative, it is difficult to see or difficult to question.

For Magid, the lack of diversity negatively affected his daily interactions as an MEP. There were times when my presence was met with surprise and scepticism, he said. It really reflected the underlying bias that minorities and people of colour dont belong in these spaces.

Magid made headlines in 2019 after he was asked to leave the parliament on his first day as an MEP. Several other MEPs shared similar experiences. Sometimes people ask me to use another door, or they explicitly told me: Sorry, this is only for MEPs without asking if I was an MEP, said Mohammed Chahim, from the Netherlands.

While he described his overall experience as an MEP as positive, Chahim was left rattled last year as suspicions swirled over allegations that Morocco and Qatar had bribed EU politicians and staffers to promote their interests.

Despite never having intervened on any matter related to Morocco, word reached Chahim that some had wondered whether he had been involved. And that felt really humiliating, he said. To reduce me to this ethnic background, based on the place where my parents were born, and not on my behaviour or debates that I took part in.

In 2020, as protests sprang up around the world over the death of George Floyd at the hands of police in Minnesota, Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana found herself in the spotlight after what she described as a traumatising and humiliating encounter with police in Brussels.

Herzberger-Fofana, Germanys first MEP of African origin, said she was brutally pushed against a wall by four officers, who ordered the septuagenarian to stand with her hands up and legs spread as they searched her bag. Throughout it all, police refused to believe she was an MEP. They didnt know that there are Black MEPs, thats why they didnt believe I was an MEP, said Herzberger-Fofana.

The European parliaments press service said it was unable to provide detailed comment on the discrepancy between racialised MEPs and the reality of Europe. The European parliament does not collect nor keep any statistics based on ethnicity or race of MEPs, it said in an email.

Patricia Caro Maya, one of four Roma MEPs in parliament, said the failure of the EUs institutions to reflect the racial reality of Europe eroded and delegitimised the EU project.

To draw a parallel, would we talk about a feminist agenda or womens rights in parliament if there were no women in parliament pushing this agenda? she asked. It would be impossible. And if those talks happened without any women, they would be contradictory. Its exactly the same.

Kuhnke said the lack of diversity would take on even greater importance as EU lawmakers turned their attention to crucial issues such as the regulation of artificial intelligence, pointing to the growing body of work that has laid bare the biases and racism that exist within AI tools. If we are not aware of this racism, then this can develop into a nightmare.

In recent years, as the presence of the far right in EU institutions has grown, several MEPs said they had been forced on to the offensive. Caro Maya pointed to an incident in April, when a far-right MEP from Italys Lega party seized on International Roma Day to rehash the harmful anti-Roma tropes long used by her party to gain votes.

It was extremely violent, it felt as though I had been punched, said Caro Maya. But the difference between verbal and physical violence is that verbal violence is allowed in the parliament, and I had to suffer through that.

Ozlem Demirel, an MEP from Germany who was born in Turkey, said she had also found herself at times facing off against those who seek to spread stereotypes about migrants for electoral gain. The far right, in particular, always says that migrants and asylum seekers are criminals or so on, she said. And I could always answer: Youre talking about people like me as criminals. Stop agitating and stirring up prejudices.

Amid polling that suggests far-right and hardline conservative parties are poised to made gains in the next EU parliament, few were optimistic that the EU would be able to effectively tackle the deficit of racialised MEPs in the coming years.

Instead, they highlighted tepid gains being made as some political parties, particularly those on the left, increasingly recognise the importance of representation in their candidate lists. The fact that people can get used to an MEP called Mohammed or Samira or Magid is a first step, said Chahim.

Caro Maya cited the serious risk political parties were taking if they refused to include communities such as Roma  Europes largest ethnic minority  on their electoral lists. It cannot be that, at a time when the European Union is more at risk than ever of returning to the totalitarianisms that it was created to prevent, that it fails to reflect what Europe actually looks like, she said. People need to feel represented, thats how you get them to vote. If not, theyll just stay at home.
Water companies have complained of a "vicious cycle" of fines

The crusade for net-zero carbon emissions tends to overlook environmental matters of arguably much more immediate interest to the public. While ministers and officials draw up complex and expensive plans to restructure Britain along decarbonised lines, voters would be forgiven for thinking that issues like the state of the nations waterways are neglected.

Many of the countrys water companies, responsible for the water and sewage infrastructure, are in financial trouble, and regulators are reported to be considering a new recovery regime to help them escape a vicious cycle of fines that could worsen their difficulties. This could give the companies less stringent targets for reducing leaks and the amount of sewage pumped into rivers and seas. In return, the suppliers would be expected to invest more money in infrastructure improvements.

Any move that looks like it is giving the water firms an easier time is bound to be controversial, given the level of hostility that has grown towards the privatised utilities. Some critics have already reacted furiously, arguing that it would turn Ofwat, the regulator, into a lackey of the companies. However, any plan for improving the water quality of Britains rivers and seas needs to be realistic about the costs involved. Customers are unlikely to be happy if they are passed on in considerably higher bills.

At the very least, there should be a reassessment of whether the many billions now spent each year on environmental policies are being directed towards the publics priorities. Practical improvements should surely come ahead of abstract targets.
The decision to ground the vintage planes came after a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire crashed in Lincolnshire - Bav Media

The RAFs fleet of Spitfires will be grounded for D-Day, the Ministry of Defence has said, with flypasts at Trooping the Colour also in doubt.

The five Spitfires  along with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) Hurricanes, Chipmunks, Dakota and Lancaster  will remain grounded during the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day next week.

The aircraft were grounded last Saturday after a BBMF Spitfire crashed in Lincolnshire, killing Squadron Leader Mark Long.

An RAF spokesman said: At this stage the cause of the accident remains unknown. Therefore, after extensive consultation between the Chief of the Air Staff and relevant senior RAF officers, it has been decided to continue the pause in flying for the BBMF.

As always, flight safety remains the RAFs primary concern. Therefore, BBMF flying will only resume when it is safe and appropriate to do so. As a result, regretfully, BBMF aircraft are not expected to be able to participate in the forthcoming D-Day 80 Commemorations over June 5 and 6.

A Spitfire had also been scheduled to carry out flypasts over a ferry carrying D-Day veterans to France on June 4. RAF sources said an A400M transport aeroplane, instead of a BBMF machine, would overfly the ferry.

Air Force sources did not rule out the possibility that the BBMF grounding would extend to the Kings official birthday, which is marked during the annual Trooping the Colour parade in London, due to be held on Saturday June 15. The BBMF sent its Lancaster, two Hurricanes and a Spitfire to last years parade.

The Red Arrows are scheduled to fly over Portsmouth on June 5, when the National Commemorative Event for D-Day will take place. The jets will also carry out a flypast over Normandy on June 6, marking the 80th anniversary itself.

It is understood that a Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet, which has been specially painted in a D-Day era colour scheme, will also be in France for the commemorations.

The Spitfire that crashed last weekend, with the military serial number MK356, flew over the beaches of Normandy during D-Day in 1944, and shot down a German Messerschmitt on June 7.

Experts from the Defence Accident Investigation Branch are examining the wreckage of the Spitfire, and RAF sources said on Friday that an expedited formal investigation, known as a service inquiry, was taking place.

Squadron Leader Long is understood to have made a Mayday radio call immediately before the aircraft crashed.

Sources said he took off from RAF Coningsby, in Lincolnshire, as normal, but the aircraft crashed within about a minute of takeoff.

Air traffic controllers heard the mayday call and are understood to have watched the crash happening from the control tower.

Sources familiar with BBMF engineering practices said the flights aircraft were some of the best maintained in the world but highlighted the age and provenance of some spare parts.

Squadron Leader Longs family paid tribute to the father of two, saying he was cherished and deeply missed by us all.
Fujitsu's flawed Horizon IT system is expected to continue operating in branches until the end of the decade - UNPIXS

Fujitsus scandal-hit Horizon system is set to continue running in Post Office branches for another five years.

The Japanese companys faulty software was behind shortfalls being incorrectly reported on sub-postmasters accounts, leading to more than 900 being wrongfully prosecuted over a 16-year period.

While the Post Office had been searching for a replacement for the software by next year, it has now emerged that Fujitsu is expected to continue operating in branches until the end of the decade.

The extension of the firms deal, reported by Computer Weekly, comes months after Fujitsu said it would not apply for any work with new government customers.

A leading sub-postmaster campaigner suggested that the multinational firm should donate any profits to victims of the Horizon scandal.

Richard Trinder, who runs the 900-member strong campaign group Voice of The Postmaster, told The Telegraph: We want the new system to be the right one when it does come in, so we understand that there needs to be a new system.

However, it would have been nice to see Fujitsu do this work for free and donate the 180 million to victims of the scandal.

He added: It is a possibility that people will be put off buying post offices if they know Horizon software is still installed.

Sub-postmasters celebrate a legal victory in 2021. Now the system at the heart of the injustice is likely to remain in place for years - Yui Mok/PA

The current Fujitsu contract was set to conclude by March next year, the deadline by which the Post Office had hoped to replace its IT system.

However, it was reported this week that it had pushed that deadline back to 2030 and requested 1 billion of extra public money from the Treasury as it struggled to develop an in-house system of sufficient quality.

Fujitsu is understood to be keen to cut ties with the Post Office and is not willing to sign on beyond March 2025 without a credible plan to end the beleaguered arrangement.

If the Japanese firm was to pull its services, the Post Office would have to find another supplier to manage the Horizon system or bring its management in-house.

However, neither of these options are considered to be economically viable by the Post Office, according to Computer Weekly.

It is understood that Fujtisu has told the Government it would agree to extend its contract on the basis of a previous one-year expense, which cost the Post Office 36 million.

If this were to continue for five years, then Fujitsu would receive 180 million, though it is thought that the firm may prefer to renew on a rolling yearly basis instead of committing to a five-year contract.

It comes after Fujitsu promised not to bid for any more government contracts while the Post Office Horizon IT inquiry was ongoing.

A Downing Street spokesman said in January, when asked whether the Government would stop awarding contracts to Fujitsu: In general, we consider companies conduct as part of the formal procurement process.

So once the full facts have been established by the inquiry, we will make further judgments but its important we allow that process to take place.

The same month, Alex Burghart, the Cabinet Office minister, told Parliament that Fujitsu had written to the Cabinet Office voluntarily undertaking not to bid for government contracts while the inquiry is ongoing, unless, of course, the Government ask them to.

Campaigner Richard Trinder suggests people may be put off buying post offices if they know Horizon software is still there

The Horizon scandal was drawn to public attention earlier this year when an ITV series, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, dramatised sub-postmaster Alan Batess fight for justice as he campaigned on behalf of more than 500 victims, achieving a High Court victory against the Post Office in 2019 which proved it was responsible for phantom losses.

Addressing MPs weeks after the series aired in January, Paul Patterson, the boss of Fujitsus European arm apologised to victims of the scandal and their families, describing it as an appalling miscarriage of justice.

He said the firm would engage with government on compensating affected sub-postmasters and said: I think Fujitsu more recently, as weve understood more, we have clearly let society down and the sub-postmasters down.

Downing Street said earlier this year that Fujitsus position on compensation would depend on the conclusions of the Post Office Inquiry, which is set to conclude later this year and report back in 2025.

A No 10 spokesman said: Our position is that once the inquiry is able to establish the facts and sets them out, those who are found responsible will be held to account, whether that is legally or financially, but again, I cant prejudge that independent work.

In May, Paula Vennells, the former Post Office chief executive, repeatedly apologised to victims of the scandal and their families as she gave evidence to the inquiry, breaking into tears on several occasions during three days of hearings.

Next week, the inquiry will hear from the organisations current general counsel Ben Foat, who has previously responded on the Post Offices behalf on late disclosure issues.

Alice Perkins, the former Post Office chairman, who is married to Jack Straw, the former foreign secretary, will give evidence on Wednesday and Thursday.

A Post Office spokesman said: Working in collaboration with postmasters, we are continuing to drive forward development and expand our pilots for the introduction of a new system that is fit for the future across our 11,500 branches.

We are determined to get this right, and with such a large network, careful planning and extensive testing are of overriding importance ahead of full roll-out.

We are also investing to ensure the successful operation of our existing technology, including extending commercial relationships with suppliers where this is required, as this will ensure postmasters and customers have continuity while we develop the new system.

Fujitsu was approached for comment. The Cabinet Office declined to comment.
Facebooks owner, Meta, no longer lets British political parties target adverts even at precise parliamentary constituencies. Photograph: Dominic Lipinski/PA

Dont expect to see Cambridge Analytica-style microtargeted political adverts driven by personal data during this general election: the tactic is now considered by many to be an ineffective red herring and is increasingly being blocked by social media platforms.

The digital strategist Tom Edmonds said Facebook had banned political campaigns from using many of the tactics deployed in past contests. Running a campaign aimed at 500 people didnt earn them much money and just got them loads of shit, he said.

Edmonds, who ran digital campaigns for the Conservatives in the 2010s, said this general election would instead be defined by parties spending tens of millions on online adverts designed to reach as many people as possible. Its got to the stage of being like TV advertising  its top-level messaging.

Microtargeting is based on the idea that adverts are more effective if they are hyper-relevant to a persons precise interests and political views. In theory, political parties could use Facebook user data to send one advert to a Lib Dem-voting dog owner who dislikes cycle lanes and is concerned about bin collections, and show a completely different advert to their Tory-leaning neighbour of the same age and gender who is mainly worried about the state of the NHS and immigration.

There was particular focus on the tactic in the wake of victories for Donald Trump and the Brexit campaign in 2016, especially after reporting in the Guardian and the Observer about the now defunct Cambridge Analytica. The political consultancy made big claims about its power to swing elections and change minds through targeted political campaigns, often aided by data that it had improperly gathered from Facebook users.

Much has changed since then, according to Sam Jeffers, of Who Targets Me, who has been tracking online advertising in the UK for the last decade. He said Meta, the owner of Facebook and Instagram, no longer enabled British political parties to target adverts even at precise parliamentary constituencies. Labour are just picking a load of places in the country and saying show this to everyone. The Tories arent even doing any regionally targeted stuff on Facebook at the moment, he said.

There are doubts within academia about the effectiveness of the old approaches of seeking ultra-niche audiences. Ben Tappin, a research fellow at Royal Holloway, University of London, said his research had found mixed evidence for the claim that microtargeting changes voters minds. As a result, he said, microtargeting may be something of a red herring.

This change in approach for UK political adverts  from ultra-niche targeting to smothering the internet with the same messages  has been accelerated by a little-noticed change in the law. Last year the Conservatives doubled the amount of money that can be spent by each party during a general election campaign to 34m, enabling the best-funded parties to be less picky about how they spend their money.

Most of this increase is expected to go on an unprecedented online ad splurge, with Labour and the Tories each expected to spend tens of millions on online adverts over the next five weeks. Labour is already burning through more than 100,000 a day on Facebook and Instagram adverts, according to Who Targets Me analysis, with even more money spent buying adverts around Google search results. Smaller political parties such as the Liberal Democrats, Greens and SNP face being overwhelmed and are spending only a few thousand pounds on their campaigns.

Tappinsaid online adverts targeted at supporters of a particular political party could be more effective. But he and his colleagues found that microtargeting of political messages according to multiple demographic factors such as age, gender, education, ideology or moral values had limited impact.

Instead, he suggested a more effective technique for parties could be to test hundreds of different adverts and then pour large sums of money into the ones that resonate with large numbers of voters.

Tappin accepted there were real concerns among the public about microtargeting, especially given Cambridge Analyticas gathering of social media data without their awareness or consent. But these worries may have led to people overstating the actual power of microtargeting to swing elections.

He said: I think the jury is still out on whether campaigns can use detailed information about individuals to deliver highly personalised ads that more effectively persuade them. Im sure some campaigns are trying to do this, but my reading is that we dont have clear evidence on whether or not its an approach that actually works in practice.
Sir Keir Starmer with Diane Abbott when they held the Brexit and Home Office portfolios in Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet - Mark Kerriso/Alamy Stock Photo

Whats wrong with Starmer? one voter demanded to know as a Labour candidate proffered a leaflet emblazoned with the partys core pledges.

Hes always changing his mind, the voter grumbled, in a scene that has become familiar to activists and would-be MPs hitting doorsteps across the country.

The subject of their ire was not a matter of party policy, but rather the Labour leaders high-profile mishandling of the Diane Abbott case.

Over the past week, it is a conversation that candidates have found themselves drawn into time and time again as they tried in vain to plug their key messages.

Sir Keir finally bowed to weeks of pressure, both external and more importantly internal, on Friday, and agreed to let the veteran Left-wing MP stand for his party.

The whip has obviously been restored to her now and she is free to go forward as a Labour candidate, he told broadcasters during a trip to Scotland.

Unenthusiastic endorsement for Abbott

His unenthusiastic endorsement came just hours after he had refused to back Ms Abbotts candidacy at a press conference to launch his green energy plans.

The climbdown was a rare defeat for Sir Keir, who has ruthlessly reformed his party and squeezed out Jeremy Corbyn supporters since taking charge four years ago.

In many ways, it was the result of the runaway success of what Left-wing activists have dubbed a purge led by Morgan McSweeney, the leaders all-powerful chief of staff.

On this occasion, the Labour leadership reached too far in trying to take out a high-profile MP for whom even Tory opponents have expressed some admiration and sympathy.

Sir Keirs defiance finally wilted on Friday following three days of ferocious questioning over two media reports which threw his version of events into doubt.

On Tuesday morning, the BBC broke the news that the National Executive Committees investigation into Ms Abbott had concluded last December.

That undermined the Labour leaders core argument that he had no control over Ms Abbotts case because it rested with the partys governing body.

Left-wing activists reacted with fury, with the news prompting one member of the NEC to tell The Telegraph that it showed Sir Keir had been lying.

Restoring whip failed to end tensions

Labour responded that evening by restoring the whip to the veteran backbencher in the hope that allowing her back into the party would quell their rage.

But just minutes later their efforts to contain the story were derailed once again as The Times reported that a decision had been taken to bar her as a candidate.

Sir Keir was forced on to the back foot and spent the next day, which was supposed to be Labours big day on the NHS, having to repeatedly deny the allegations.

But he was unable to shake the story from the headlines, and cracks in the partys position began to emerge as shadow ministers were grilled on the airwaves.

Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, told reporters he was not particularly comfortable with the way that the case had been handled.

The coup de grace came on Thursday when, as the Labour leader attended his partys election launch in Wales, his deputy directly defied him.

In a series of broadcast interviews, Angela Rayner heavily criticised the partys approach and said she saw no reason for Ms Abbott to stand as a candidate.

Sir Keir was confronted with her comments whilst he was doing a huddle with journalists in Abergavenny, at which he lavished praise on Ms Abbotts record.

That evening and the next day, in Scotland, the leader and deputy spent hours together on the campaign trail before Sir Keir announced his U-turn.

Candidates ambushed on doorstep

It came after news filtered back to Labour HQ that its candidates were being similarly ambushed by voters on the doorstep.

A candidate said activists had become demotivated by the way the row over Sir Keirs treatment of her had overshadowed the launch of the campaign.

The leadership failed at the first hurdle and it wasnt even a Tory trap, the candidate told The Telegraph, adding: This was entirely self-inflicted.

At the same time the Labour leader was warned that his treatment of Ms Abbott, a staunch pro-Gaza advocate, risked further alienating Muslim voters.

A group representing Muslim members of the party reached out privately to Sir Keirs office, and urged him to rethink his refusal to endorse her candidacy.

Their feedback was echoed by focus group findings, published just hours before the Labour leaders U-turn, which showed the row had cut through to voters.

More in Common said voters thought he had been underhanded in his treatment of Ms Abbott and that this was a demonstration of weakness.

Sir Keir will also have feared the ramifications of letting the dispute rumble on for any longer given the way it was exposing the Left-Right split within his party.

He had faced months of dissent from Left-wing figures within the ranks over the suspension of Ms Abbott for more than a year following an anti-Semitism row.

Sunaks snap election provoked crisis

But it was the decision by Rishi Sunak to call a snap election that forced his hand by kick-starting the candidate selection process in dozens of constituencies.

Among those still without a Labour candidate was Hackney North and Stoke Newington where Ms Abbott had sat as an independent since her suspension last April.

It is one of the safest Labour seats in the country, boasting an unassailable 33,000 majority, and would have been a significant prize for a Starmer loyalist.

Left-wing activists feared a stitch-up, with a centrist ally being parachuted in, and swiftly mobilised a campaign to see off such a threat.

A petition was launched by a group of Left-wing members, which was handed to Sir Keir after amassing 15,000 signatures within a matter of days.

John McDonnell, who served alongside her in Mr Corbyns shadow cabinet, was first out of the blocks as he backed calls for her to be reinstated.

Other backbench MPs swiftly followed, including Jess Phillips, who warned the Labour leadership that their battle with the Left was a fight not worth having.

As Sir Keir returned home from Scotland on Friday night, he will have hoped his decision to support Ms Abbotts candidacy means the story finally moves on.

But he may also have taken a moment to reflect on a harsh lesson learnt about the extent of his power over his own party  and the limits to which he can push it.
Katherine Fletcher is standing for re-election in South Ribble - DAVID WOOLFALL

A Tory parliamentary candidate has said excrement was put through the letterbox of her constituency office.

Katherine Fletcher, who is standing for re-election in South Ribble for the Conservatives, said the act was an attempt to bully me.

She added that a volunteer discovered the substance and police are looking into the matter.

In a video posted to X on Thursday, Ms Fletcher said: Today the police are at my office because somebody has put excrement through the letterbox.

One of my volunteers had to find that this morning.

Now, I understand that women get more than their fair share in political environments, but this attempt to bully me will not work because it is not the decent or right thing to do.

Im working hard for South Ribble. Ive delivered loads - I want the opportunity to do more.

And so to the bully that did this: not the right person.

 Women in public life get more than their fair share of s*** but really ????



To the bully trying to intimidate me during this election

 wrong person to try it on with



 the #southribble police are now looking for you pic.twitter.com/5AZsvcckDP  Katherine Fletcher SR (@K_Fletcher_MP) May 30, 2024

A 31 million package to boost security measures for politicians - including providing MPs with a dedicated police safety liaison - was introduced by the Government in February.

It came amid heightened tensions caused by protests around the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

Justice minister Mike Freer, who is not standing at the General Election because of threats to his safety, said the extra cash was not actually going to the root cause of why people were targeting MPs.

Ms Fletcher, who served as transport minister and minister for women under Liz Truss in 2022, has represented the South Ribble constituency in Lancashire since 2019.
The House speaker, Mike Johnson: Today is a shameful day in American history. Photograph: Michael Brochstein/Sopa Images/Rex/Shutterstock

Donald Trumps conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records set off a political firestorm in Washington on Thursday, with Republicans furiously lambasting the verdict as a miscarriage of justice while Democrats commended New York jurors for rendering a fair judgment in one of the most historic trials in US history.

Republicans unsurprisingly rallied around Trump, reiterating their baseless allegations that the Biden administration had engaged in political persecution of the former US president.

Related: Donald Trump found guilty of hush-money plot to influence 2016 election

Today is a shameful day in American history, said Mike Johnson, the Republican House speaker. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one. The weaponization of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden administration, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents.

Congressman Jim Jordan, the pugnacious rightwing Republican chair of the House judiciary committee, similarly bemoaned the verdict as a travesty of justice, adding: The Manhattan kangaroo court shows what happens when our justice system is weaponized by partisan prosecutors in front of a biased judge with an unfair process.

Some of Trumps advisers and family members were even more blunt in their assessment of the verdict. Such bullshit, Donald Trump Jr, the former presidents eldest son, wrote on Twitter/X.

A number of Trumps allies predicted the conviction would be reversed on appeal and would only mobilize Republican voters in the election, while at least one lawmaker suggested the verdict would set a dangerous precedent.

This verdict says more about the system than the allegations. It will be seen as politically motivated and unfair, and it will backfire tremendously on the political left, said Republican senator and close Trump ally Lindsey Graham. I fear we have opened up Pandoras box on the presidency itself.

Meanwhile, Democrats were more muted in their response to the verdict, framing the jurors decision as a reflection of the strength of the US justice system.

In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain, said Michael Tyler, the Biden campaign communications director.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, the Democratic chair of the Senate judiciary courts subcommittee, argued the verdict confirmed that Trump was not fit to lead the greatest nation in the world.

Its only in honest courtrooms that the former president has been unable to lie and bully his way out of trouble, Whitehouse said. Americans trust juries for good reason.

Senator Chris Coons, a Democratic members of the Senate judiciary committee, added: I commend the jurors for their service and urge all Americans, no matter their party affiliation, to accept and respect the outcome of this trial.

Hillary Clinton posted an image on Instagram of a mug with her cartoon outline sipping from a mug and the phrase turns out she was right about everything on it. The New Yorker also debuted a cartoon for the front cover of their upcoming magazine, showing handcuffs being put on Trumps exaggeratedly tiny hands.

Eric Adams, the New York mayor, tweeted that the NYPD would be ready to respond to any and all circumstances, including large-scale protests.

After dismissing the verdict as a disgrace, Trump immediately turned his conviction into a campaign issue, sending a fundraising email to supporters describing himself as a political prisoner.

But with your support at this moment in history, WE WILL WIN BACK THE WHITE HOUSE AND MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! the email read. WE MUST MAKE JOE BIDEN REGRET EVER COMING AFTER US!

The National Republican Senatorial Committee also issued a fundraising pitch after the jury issued its verdict, attacking the trial as a witch-hunt.

Joe Biden himself declined to offer any comment or reaction to the verdict on Thursday; Ian Sams, spokesperson for the White House counsels office, said in a statement: We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment.

But Bidens campaign team made it clear that the president would continue to prosecute his own case against Trump as the country looks ahead to November.

Todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality, Tyler said. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.

Official statement from Donald Trump: pic.twitter.com/tvEu7Z81VI  Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) May 30, 2024

Trump issued a rambling statement on Thursday night calling himself a very innocent man and describing the trial as rigged. He blamed the Biden administration and what he called a Soros-backed district attorney for the verdict, a reference to billionaire George Soros who is a common target of right wing conspiracy theories and outrage.

This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. Its a rigged trial, a disgrace, Trump stated. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial.


Joe Biden warned on Friday that it was reckless and dangerous for anyone to claim Donald Trumps criminal conviction was the result of a rigged trial, as the former president hit out at the verdict against him and Republicans maligned the integrity of Americas justice system.

Donald Trump hit out furiously on Friday morning at the new status of felon conferred on him by a New York jury, whose guilty verdict made him the first former US president ever to become a convicted criminal.

On Friday afternoon, Biden began a White House talk about the war in Gaza with remarks on criticism from Trump and the right wing about the historic trial that had concluded in New York the day before.

The US president said: It is reckless, it is dangerous, it is irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged, just because they dont like the verdict. The US justice system has endured for nearly 250 years and is literally a cornerstone of America.

He added that the system and the justice it produced should be respected.

And we should never allow anyone to tear it down, simple as that, thats America, Biden said.

The war of words came a day after Trump was found guilty of all 34 charges he had faced. On Friday morning, the ex-president painted himself as a victim of injustice in a rambling and often incoherent appearance at Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, at which he labelled his opponents fascists and blamed his legal plight on Joe Biden.

Trump was unanimously convicted by a jury of falsifying business records in a criminal hush-money scheme to influence the outcome of the 2016 election.

Related: Id enjoy seeing him go to prison: voters react to guilty verdict in Trump trial

Speaking at Trump Tower in Manhattan to cheers from his supporters, Trump set the tone immediately by declaring himself innocent and revisiting populist election-campaign warnings.

He said: If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone.

The event had been billed as a press conference, but Trump took no questions.

Instead, he lapsed into a 30-odd-minute monologue that hammered on familiar, inflammatory themes. He criticized the trial and peppered the speech with falsehoods and conspiracy theories that threatened bad things to come if he were not returned to the White House this November, including anti-immigrant rhetoric.

Meanwhile, his legal team had already embarked on a counter-offensive to the criminal conviction, aimed at overturning Thursdays verdict.

With the 2024 presidential election campaign propelled deep into uncharted territory, Todd Blanche, Trumps attorney, went on national television to make a spirited though measured defense of his client, vowing to lodge an appeal.

The jury found that Trump falsified documents related to hush money paid to Stormy Daniels, shortly before the 2016 presidential election, to silence her story that she slept with him earlier in his marriage to Melania Trump.

Appearing on NBC, Blanche insisted Trumps defense had not been given a fair shake during the trial.

Were going to appeal and were going to win on appeal, Blanche told NBC Todays Savannah Guthrie. Thats the goal. The goal is  to appeal quickly and hopefully be vindicated quickly.

Trump now faces the prospect of rewriting the record books further, if he were to be sent to jail when the judge, Juan Merchan, sentences him on 11 July, four days before the Republican national convention in Milwaukee, where Trump is scheduled to be officially anointed as the partys presidential nominee for this Novembers election.

Some analysts predict that the prospect of a custodial sentence has risen because of Trumps repeated breaking of gag orders during the six-week trial and his condemnation of Merchant as corrupt and conflicted after Thursdays verdict.

But Blanche played down that possibility, pointing to Trumps advanced age and his previous lack of a criminal record.

The Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, who led the case against Trump and also was attacked by the former president, has yet to announce whether he will request a prison sentence.

Trump pointedly linked his prosecution and the verdict with Biden, whom he labelled the Manchurian candidate and the worst president in our history, as well as stupid and dishonest.

They are in total conjunction with the White House, the DoJ, just so you understand, this is all done by Biden and his people, he said, referring to the legal team that led the prosecution and presumably Merchan, whom he called  among other things  a tyrant.

The presidents re-election campaign team had commented on Thursday. Michael Tyler, the Biden campaign communications director, said: No one is above the law. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain.

Trump and his campaign said that since the verdictthey have raised more than $30m.

Inbox: Trump team says theyve raised $34.8 million since the guilty verdict. pic.twitter.com/5ypr31SWwS  Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) May 31, 2024

Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, said Trumps false accusations that the case was orchestrated by Biden raised the spectre of further political violence at a time when supreme court rulings are awaited on the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by a mob trying to reverse the last presidential election result.

The real concern here is not that Trump would be able to stir up his base and get loads more votes, because there arent loads more votes to get, he said. The real question is will Trump continue to feed this sense of persecution, making phony charges that Bidens orchestrating all this.

Thats not the way our system works. But he has ruined public confidence in our election system, and hes now ruining public confidence in our judicial system. The man is the worst thing that has happened to American democracy in my lifetime.

Trump trial coverage: read more
Jon Benjamin aims the rifle in a still from the video

The British ambassador to Mexico has been sacked after he aimed a loaded assault rifle at an embassy employee.

Jon Benjamin was visiting Durango and Sinaloa, two northern Mexican states ravaged by drug cartel violence, when the incident happened.

In a video posted to social media, Mr Benjamin is seen picking up a gun and pointing it at the colleague, who was travelling with him in an official vehicle.

Foreign officials visiting dangerous parts of Mexico typically travel with armed staff for protection.

Large swathes of the country, especially near the US border, and in southern Mexico, near Guatemala, are effectively controlled by the cartels and virtual no-go zones for the authorities.

The drug gangs frequently terrorise local populations, but it is rare for foreign diplomats to be targeted.

Mr Benjamin, a career diplomat with four decades of service, was dismissed in April, the Financial Times reported.

Video posted on social media

A five-second video of the incident was posted on X, formerly Twitter, this week from an anonymous account, apparently run by a disaffected embassy worker.

Mr Benjamin is no longer listed as ambassador on the UK Government website, and the embassy is now being led on a temporary basis by his former deputy.

The former ambassador is believed to remain an employee of the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. He joined the diplomatic service in 1986, and has previously served in Ghana, Indonesia, Turkey and the US.

The Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office has been asked to comment.

Mexico has long been the scene of ferocious bloodletting as the cartels battle security forces and each other for control of the routes into the United States for cocaine, fentanyl and cannabis, as well as illegal migrants.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who is nearing the end of his six-year term, vowed to reduce the bloodshed by addressing the social and economic root causes of the violence and avoiding violent shootouts with the cartels.

He calls that policy hugs not bullets. But critics accuse him of complacency, and even complicity with the cartels.

The UK and Mexico have long had friendly but not close relations. There is significant trade in the auto, food and drink sectors, and Mexico, especially its Caribbean beaches, is a popular destination for British tourists, especially in the winter.

Britain trying to strengthen ties with Mexico

Since Brexit, successive British governments have been trying to grow the commercial relationship with Latin Americas second-largest economy.

Mexico is a member of the CPTPP trade deal, encompassing 11 mainly Pacific countries including Australia and Japan. The UK joined the pact last year.

Whitehall has also been trying, since 2022, to negotiate a bilateral trade deal directly with Mexico. But limited progress has been made so far, in part because Mexico has been focused on its elections, in which the presidency and all 629 seats in both houses of congress are at stake.

Claudia Sheinbaum, a protegee of Mr Lopez Obrador, has a huge lead in the polls and is widely expected to become Mexicos first female president, following campaigns marked by widespread violence.

At least 20 candidates and another 40 party activists have been murdered as the cartels seek to influence the results, especially at the municipal level.
Diane Abbott stands with supporters who, along with unions, call for her confirmation to stand as a candidate - Alishia Abodunde/Getty Images Europe

Sir Keir Starmer faced a backlash over his treatment of Diane Abbott this week, as he was accused of West Wing politics.

On Friday, however, he announced that Ms Abbott will be a Labour candidate in the General Election, seemingly bowing to pressure from members of his cabinet.

Ms Abbott was given back the Labour whip on Tuesday -- but it was then reported she would not be allowed to stand at the upcoming general election, following her suspension from the party last year.

She warned Sir Keir on Wednesday night that she would not be intimidated as she vowed to remain the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington.

The majority of readers who took part in The Telegraphs exclusive poll voted against Diane Abbott being allowed to stand as a Labour MP, with many arguing that the party should not be seen to endorse previous comments shed made or backtrack on their initial decision.

However, other readers suggested she has been treated unfairly by Sir Keir, with many questioning his leadership and how this could affect his election campaign.

If Diane Abbott had any integrity about her, she would retire gracefully

Reader Ray Collins supports Sir Keir putting his foot down, adding that Diane Abbott has repeatedly said stupid things throughout her career and has been allowed by some leaders to get away with it.

Expanding on this, reader Andrew Kevill argues that Ms Abbott should be judged on her performance, which has nothing to do with the colour of her skin.

A lot of people will be glad to see the back of her because she has made a laughing stock of herself over the years, as well as occasionally coming across as quite nasty, Andrew adds.

He points out: Keir Starmer is also busy electioneering and she has of course become a pawn in his farcical attempt to show that he has cleared his party of anti-Semitism.

Reader J Troughton summarises that Ms Abbott should retire gracefully after 37 years as an MP.

Surely, she hopefully is intelligent enough to appreciate the damage that she would do to the Labour Party by standing as an independent candidate.

This is an appalling case of double standards

Wes Streeting said he was not particularly comfortable with the treatment of Diane Abbott on Wednesday. The shadow health secretary is the most senior figure in the party to voice his concerns about the handling of Ms Abbotts case.

Reader Iain Donnelly agrees: Ive no time for Abbott for all of the aforementioned reasons, but she is the first British black woman MP and has endured years of abuse for it. The way they have treated her is an absolute disgrace.

Similarly, reader Chris OConnor says that the Labour Party has treated Diane Abbott unfairly and points out: She has been a good and loyal servant of the Labour Party and a very good constituency MP over many decades. She should be allowed to run for Labour at the election. Anything less is a bit cheap and unworthy. Go Diane!

For Norma Desmond, the situation doesnt make sense: Diane Abbott appears to have been made neither fish, nor fowl, nor good red herring. She has had the Labour whip restored but cannot stand as a Labour candidate in her constituency?

Meanwhile, Jacqui Jay argues that this is an appalling case of double standards.

She continues: I hope she stands as an independent and wins, purely to teach whomever made this stupid decision a lesson.

Sir Keirs actions pour fuel on the fire that will eventually engulf him

Tom Harris joined the conversation when he criticised Sir Keirs handling of the situation. He stated that the Diane Abbott saga has not been his finest hour, but that he should not cave in out of fear of a rebellion or criticism.

Reader M. J. A. Church suggests that Sir Keirs actions pour fuel on the fire that will eventually engulf him.

From his mentioning of Margaret Thatcher in his speeches, to the fact that he is chummy with Blair and Mandleson, they believe that hell be gone as Labour leader by Christmas.

With an alternative view, reader Gav Green believes Sir Keir has actually made a very good decision and sent a powerful message to the grievance mob. He hopes this is the beginning of the end of obscene wokeness and the blow has been dealt with by Labour - which actually makes it stronger.

Meanwhile, reader Donald Pump holds a similar view and concludes: Attacking Corbyn, Abbott, and the Labour left always looks good for their leader, as Tony Blair demonstrated many times. The difference now is that Keir Starmer follows it through with action.
Ms Abbott has been an MP for 37 years and was the first black woman elected to Parliament - Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Sir Keir Starmers hopes for a flying start to his general election campaign were brought down to earth by the row over whether Diane Abbott would be allowed to stand as a Labour candidate.

The party whip was returned to Ms Abbott after she had been suspended and investigated over an anti-Semitism row.

However, claims then emerged that she had nevertheless been barred from being a Labour candidate at the upcoming general election on July 4.

Ms Abbott responded with dismay, and Sir Keir was accused of leading a purge of Left-wing candidates.

Senior party figures called for the veteran MP to be allowed to stand, including Angela Rayner, the deputy leader, and Anas Sawar, the Scottish Labour leader.

For days, Sir Keir denied that Ms Abbott had been barred from standing and insisted no decision had been taken.

Then on Friday, he said she was free to be the partys candidate for Hackney and Stoke Newington, the constituency she has held for 37 years.

So, how did the row start and what happens now?

What did Diane Abbott say?

The 70-year-old Labour politician was suspended from the party over comments about the Jewish community in a letter she wrote to The Observer on April 23 2023.

Ms Abbott, who had served as Jeremy Corbyns shadow home secretary, suggested that although white people with points of difference might encounter prejudice, they had not been subjected to the same racism as black people.

She equated discrimination against Jewish people to the prejudice felt by redheads.

It is true that many types of white people with points of difference, such as redheads, can experience this prejudice, she wrote.

But they are not all their lives subject to racism. In pre-civil rights America, Irish people, Jewish people and Travellers were not required to sit at the back of the bus.

The comments were made in response to an article by Tomiwa Owolade that cited Jewish people among those most likely to experience racist abuse.

The issue of anti-Semitism has long plagued the Labour Party, with Sir Keir vowing to tear out the poison after taking over as leader from Mr Corbyn.

How did Labour respond to her comments?

Labour came under pressure to take action, with Tory MP Grant Shapps, then energy secretary now Defence Secretary, asking: Keir Starmer, are you actually going to do anything?

The party condemned Ms Abbotts deeply offensive remarks and confirmed that the whip had been suspended pending an investigation.



Ms Abbott apologised for any anguish caused and suggested errors arose in her initial draft letter to the newspaper.



I wish to wholly and unreservedly withdraw my written remarks and disassociate myself from them, she wrote on Twitter.

The errors arose in an initial draft being sent. But there is no excuse and I wish to apologise for any anguish caused.

What happened this week? Will she stand as a Labour MP?

On Tuesday, BBC Newsnight reported that the year-long investigation into Ms Abbott had concluded in December 2023, despite Sir Keir saying as recently as March that there was an ongoing independent process.

Newsnight reported that Ms Abbott had taken a two-hour online anti-Semitism awareness training course following a ruling from the Labour national executive committee.

Claims then emerged that although the whip was to be restored to Ms Abbott, party leadership had decided she would not be able to stand for Labour on July 4.



Labour sources told The Telegraph that senior figures in the party had been trying to reach a soft landing for the MP whereby she can go with grace  suggesting they had hoped she would choose to retire from politics once the whip was restored.

It provoked a major backlash within the party, with Sir Keirs leadership and handling of the case questioned by MPs, unions and members of Labours ruling committee.

Ms Abbott vowed to remain the MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington, suggesting if she was not allowed to stand as a Labour MP, she might choose to run as an independent.

Sir Keir denied for days that Ms Abbott had been barred from standing as a Labour MP and said that no decision has been taken.

However, on Friday he told reporters: The whip has obviously been restored to her now and she is free to go forward as a Labour candidate.

Who supported Ms Abbott?

Ms Abbott gained the support of a large number of Labour MPs including senior party figures.



Sir Keir faced a direct challenge to his authority from Ms Rayner who said her Left-wing veteran colleague should be allowed to fight the election.

Labours deputy leader broke ranks to say she could not see any reason why Ms Abbott should not stand for the party and said she was not happy about disgraceful anonymous briefings on the matter.

Other senior figures within Labour, such as Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, and Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London , as well as Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, also expressed support.

What does this mean for Ms Abbotts political career?

Ms Abbott became a Labour MP for Hackney and Stoke Newington in 1987 and served as a shadow Cabinet minister under Mr Corbyn from 2016 to 2020. She is both the first black woman elected to Parliament and the longest-serving black MP, being of British-Jamaican heritage.

Following Sir Keirs comments, sources told The Telegraph that Ms Abbott would be the partys candidate in Hackney North and Stoke Newington on July 4.

However, Ms Abbott is yet to comment and could still decide to retire.
Nicki Minajs upcoming Amsterdam show has been cancelled after the US rapper was arrested in the Netherlands last weekend, the concert promoter has said.

The 41-year-old was detained at Amsterdams Schiphol Airport last Saturday for hours on suspicion of trying to take soft drugs out of the country.

The delay forced her to postpone her show at Manchesters Co-op Live Arena that was due to take place that evening, with the concert later being rescheduled to June 3.

Minaj had been due to return to Amsterdams Ziggo Dome on June 2, but concert promoter Mojo has said the concert will no longer take place due to the events of last week.

OK guys, I was JUST RE-ADVISED that we actually CAN NOT do any other date for the make up #gagcityMANCHESTER date besides JUNE 3rd. So JUNE 3rd is the new official date for all ticket holders who originally had tickets to the MAY 25th #Manchester show. I apologize for all the  Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) May 27, 2024

Due to the events of last week, the Nicki Minaj show on Sunday, 2nd June at Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam will no longer be taking place, a statement on the promoters website said.

Tickets will be refunded at the point of sale.

On Monday, Minaj wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that she had been told the only date her cancelled Manchester show could be moved to was June 3 and apologised for all the inconvenience caused to fans.

She added: I really hope you can make the #JUNE3rd show. Itll be really special.

The US rapper said she spent around six hours in custody at Schiphol Airport last Saturday before being able to fly to the UK.

Fans were let into the newly-opened Manchester venue at around 7pm ahead of show, before promoter Live Nation announced at around 9.40pm that it was to be postponed.

Dutch police said a woman aged 41 was arrested on Saturday after allegedly trying to take what it described as soft drugs from Schiphol Airport to another country.

A later update from the force said it had released the suspect and she can now move on after paying a fine.

After the delay, Minaj praised fans for being a class act during the last-minute postponement, and invited them to her hotel in the centre of Manchester before speaking to the crowds outside.

The music star, who is known for the songs Starships, Super Bass and Anaconda, livestreamed her arrest on social media and claimed drugs found in her luggage did not belong to her.

She performed at Birminghams Resorts World Arena on Sunday, Londons O2 on Tuesday and Glasgows Ovo Hydro on Wednesday.

Minaj recently announced a second America leg of her Pink Friday 2 World Tour which will kick off in September.
A grandmother who was fighting for her life in hospital when a healthcare assistant fraudulently used her bank cards said she was in absolute disbelief that the worker could prey on her vulnerability.

Hazel Longhurst, 65, was a cancer inpatient at St Bartholomews Hospital in the City of London when 33-year-old Mira Solmaz, who was supposed to take care of her, used her cards in 2021.

There was around 1,660 worth of fraudulent purchases, City of London Police said.

Solmaz, of Mare Street, Hackney, east London, has been sentenced at Southwark Crown Court after admitting a series of offences including fraud, possession of articles for use in fraud and money laundering.

Retired palliative care nurse Ms Longhurst said she had worked in the NHS my whole life and I couldnt believe that someone like that could be employed.

Ms Longhurst, of Rayleigh in Essex, said she had received text alerts from Tesco Bank warning of unusual activity on her account but initially thought they were a scam.

Ms Longhursts daughter Melanie Turner, 43, said it takes a very certain type of person to prey on the vulnerable (Sam Russell/ PA)

Her daughter Melanie Turner, 43, believed it was a phishing scam as she thought her mothers cards were safely locked in a cupboard at hospital.

However, the bank sent a letter to Ms Longhurst warning of unusual activity, which was opened by Ms Turner who urged her mother to check that she still had the cards but they were not there.

Ms Turner said she tried to cancel the two cards  with Tesco Bank and Halifax  but as she was not the account holder and did not have power of attorney she was limited in what she could do, and her mother had to do it.

Ms Longhurst said she spent hours on the phone getting the cards cancelled from her hospital bed, at a time when the pandemic was causing disruption to services.

I was in absolute disbelief that somebody who worked for the NHS, somebody who was in the caring system could do this to a very vulnerable person, said Ms Longhurst.

I was extremely ill. They didnt think I was going to pull through.

I was fighting for my life. I was in there a long time.

She said that the nurses at the hospital were wonderful and were upset, they were crying when they found out what had happened.

She said that out of their own pocket a couple of the nurses bought me some food as, with her cards cancelled, she was unable to order snacks.

Ms Longhurst said of Solmaz: What an evil person to do that.

She praised City of London Police, who she described as amazing.

She said that without their perseverance someone like this could still be targeting vulnerable people and doing what they did to me and others.

Her daughter Ms Turner, a civil servant, reported the incident to police on April 7 2021.

Within a day or two they had contacted me back and took it very seriously, she said.

They made me aware mum wasnt the only person this was happening to.

They were already investigating a case. They took all the details and just acted immediately.

She said she was shocked when she learned the cards had been used by former healthcare assistant Solmaz.

I think when you are fighting for your life or youve got a loved one whos fighting for their life, nothing exists outside of that, said Ms Turner.

Theres so many emotions that youre going through. To know somebody preys on that vulnerability

She said that at the time she was not able to see her mother due to Covid-19 restrictions which was very hard.

I couldnt protect her, I couldnt be there, I couldnt make sure she had the things she needed and that everything was going as it should have been going, she said.

She added that her mother had to spend time and energy on the phone to the banks when she should have been focusing on getting better.

Because of the nature of the illness and some of the medications that mum was on, there were periods of time when she was unconscious and periods of time when she was conscious but again very vulnerable, said Ms Turner.

When mum had to go through the process of trying to make phone calls and be on hold and dealing in an official capacity with the banks it was very, very hard for her  very distressing.

That sort of thing takes energy away from the fight that youve got going on.

You need to be mentally in a place where you are fighting for your life so thats where you want to be focusing and trying to heal yourself and get better and think about whats going on or resting even, and she wasnt able to do any of that.

She said that no one in hospital should have to be looking over your shoulder the whole time.

I think it takes a very certain type of person to prey on the vulnerable, said Ms Turner.

Thats something we as a society should meet with zero tolerance really.

She added: I dont think that if youre doing that crime youve got a conscience, so I dont think somebody would feel bad about what theyve done, so we fall on the state to make sure that that person is punished for that type of crime.
Rishi Sunak has vowed to protect British interests abroad after the RAF carried out strikes against Houthi rebels.

British and US forces struck Houthi targets in Yemen in the fifth combined operation since January.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed it had carried out strikes against the Iran-backed group on Thursday, as a response to attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The joint British-US airstrikes killed 16 and wounded 35 others, the rebels said this morning, according to AP reports.

This is the highest publicly acknowledged death toll by the rebels from the multiple rounds of strikes carried out over their attacks on shipping, the news agency said.

In a statement on Friday morning, the Prime Minister said: Last night the RAF successfully conducted a fifth set of strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen alongside the US.

These strikes were conducted to further degrade the military capabilities of the Houthis and to prevent further attacks on international shipping.

The strikes were taken in self-defence in the face of an ongoing threat that the Houthis pose.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak discussing the strikes (Yui Mok/PA)

Asked whether this new round of strikes risked escalation with Iran, who back the Houthis, Mr Sunak said: We have always said that we will not hesitate to protect British interests abroad and at home.

There is an ongoing threat that the Houthis pose, 197 attacks since November, all our intelligence indicates that previous sets of strikes have been successful in degrading military capabilities of the Houthis: targeting supply, command and control launch sites for missiles and there is also a risk in inaction that would damage the global economy and further risk our international security.

The MoD said intelligence had confirmed two locations near Hudaydah, around 142 miles from the capital Sanaa, as being involved with the attacks, with buildings thought to house drone ground control facilities and storage for very long range drones.

Surface-to-air weapons used to impede coalition operations to safeguard shipping in the region were also believed to be on site.

A set of Houthi facilities at Ghulayfiqah, further south on the Yemeni coast, were also identified as being involved in the command and control of the groups anti-shipping campaign.

RAF Typhoon FGR4s conducted strikes on the target buildings at the three locations, using Paveway IV guided bombs.

Paveway IV weapons being loaded by Weapon Technicians (Cpl Tim Laurence RAF/ UK MOD Crown copyright/PA)

The MoD said the utmost care was taken in planning the strikes to minimise any risk to civilians or non-military infrastructure.

This is the fifth time the US and British militaries have conducted a combined operation against the Houthis since January 12.

The Houthis have stepped up attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in recent months, demanding that Israel ends the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians.

The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 hostage.

Houthi rebels have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the US Maritime Administration.

The attacks have disrupted shipping routes in the region.
When my dog was diagnosed with tumors on her throat, the vet told me there was very little we could do, and gave her only a few months to live. Even though we tried everything we could think of to treat our beloved pup, nothing we did made a difference. So it was especially beautiful to watch the dog in this video, who appears to overcome a tumor on his face so big, it looks almost like a second head. As with our dog, the doctors only gave this good boy a few months, but years later, hes defying the odds and living his best life.

Spoiler warning: get your tissues ready.

View the original article to see embedded media.

In this somewhat graphic video, we learn the triumphant story of Bear, a dog who was originally rescued with a three-and-a-half pound tumor dangling from his face. He had lymphoma and carcinoma, and the vets the rescue consulted said he probably only had a few months left to suffer with this extreme condition.

Related: Pit Bull With Cancer Takes Her First and Last Trip to the Beach and We Can't Stop Crying

Nevertheless, they got the poor pup surgery, and over two years later, hes doing great. Sure, he may have a bit of a permanent head tilt from his ordeal, but it just makes him look curious and adorable.

However, the price of these treatments was not cheap. The rescue estimates that over forty thousand dollars was spent on the animals care and recovery.

Why Pet Insurance?

That is also why vets often say the animal doesn't have long to live, points out one person in comments, because even if they could save the life, they know most of the times the owners cannot afford it. So don't blame the vets.

And its true. Very few people carry pet insurance for their beloved animals, and vet bills can soon become far more than nearly anyone can afford. In many cases, the only option for owners is to surrender their sick pets or allow them to be euthanized.

We were lucky to have invested in pet insurance for our dog, or we would never have been able to afford the treatments that she needed at the end of her life. And even though they werent successful in her case, I was grateful that we at least had the safety net to give it a try. (We used the insurance company Trupanion, though its only one of a wide variety available.) I was so pleased with the policy on our dog, that I made sure to buy policies on our cats as well.

It may seem like an unnecessary expenseuntil youre hit with a big vet bill, especially as your pet gets older.

Why is Cancer in Pets So Hard to Treat?

Though many dogs with cancer are successfully treated, like Bear here, and go on to live long and happy lives, the survival rates are much lower than with humans, and the treatments are not as well-studied. The reason for this is because so few pets with cancer end up getting any kind of treatment compared to their human counterparts, as mentioned above. Often, it is too far out of their owners budgets, and their people opt to just try to make them comfortable, or even have them put down.

Theres a smaller sample size to see what works, and a lot fewer funds to go into research.

After going through my own dogs experience, I could not be happier to watch Bear triumph over his.

Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos.

Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips.
Will Smith has reflected on the instant chemistry he had with co-star Martin Lawrence as the pair celebrate almost 30 years of the Bad Boys franchise.

The US actors arrived outside the TCL Chinese Theatre for the Los Angeles premiere of Bad Boys: Ride Or Die on a double decker bus with Smith using a microphone to involve the audience lined along the streets saying: When I say bad, you say boys.

Smith greeted the delighted crowd, signing autographs and taking pictures before walking the blue carpet alongside a marching band and his co-stars to celebrate the fourth film in the franchise.

Will Smith arrives at the premiere of Bad Boys: Ride Or Die (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

His wife Jada Pinkett Smith also made an appearance in support of the actor, alongside their children Jaden and Willow, Smiths son Trey from his former relationship with Sheree Zampino and Pinkett Smiths mother Adrienne Banfield-Norris.

The Los Angeles premiere comes more than two years after Smith stormed the stage and slapped comedian Chris Rock during the 2022 Oscars ceremony in response to a joke Rock made about Jada.

Smith accepted the best actor Oscar for his role in King Richard later in the ceremony.

From left to right, Trey Smith, Willow Smith, Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, Jaden Smith and Adrienne Banfield-Norris arrive at the premiere of Bad Boys: Ride Or Die (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

The upcoming Bad Boys film is the fourth instalment of the US police action comedy franchise starring Smith and Lawrence as two detectives in the Miami Police Department, Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett.

It was definitely love at first sight, Smith said, reflecting on meeting Lawrence for the first Bad Boys film in 1995.

Martin had this script, so Martin actually brought me into Bad Boys and from the first time we sat and we talked, the chemistry was just magic.

From left to right, Martin Lawrence, Joe Pantoliano and Will Smith arrive at the premiere of Bad Boys: Ride Or Die (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Lawrence said of his co-star: Hes a brilliant mind, hes a genius, he has a good heart and soul and he just wants the best, not only for himself but for people, hes a people person.

Smith later said on the carpet: At the centre of this franchise is an idea, ride or die, and that is a real concept about loyalty and friendship and support, that resonates deeply with people.

Everybody wants somebody like Mike or Marcus by their side.

Tiffany Haddish arrives at the premiere of Bad Boys: Ride Or Die (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Those also reprising their roles in the franchise include Vanessa Hudgens, Alexander Ludwig, Joe Pantoliano and Paola Nunez, while new cast members include Ioan Gruffudd, Eric Dane and Tiffany Haddish.

On the blue carpet, Haddish described co-star Smith as her ride or die.

The first film by director Michael Bay premiered in 1995 before the sequel, again from Bay, was released in 2003.

The last installment came in 2020 from directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah, who have returned to helm the fourth film.

Jada Pinkett Smith arrives at the premiere of Bad Boys: Ride Or Die (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)

Fallah said: Will and Martin, the chemistry they have is magical, I cant explain what it is but its there.

For us as directors, we dont really need to direct them, we are just siting there watching them playing and having fun  so its an honour to direct the best duo of cinema for us.

El Arbi said the directing pair were a little bit more relaxed for their second film in the franchise, although filming was postponed for six months during the actors and writers strikes in Hollywood last year.

Bad Boys: Ride Or Die will be released in the UK on June 5.
Sir Keir Starmer has distanced himself from his deputy Angela Rayner and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar by refusing to say if he wants Diane Abbott to stand again for his party.

The Labour leader declined to join Ms Rayner and Mr Sarwar in backing the veteran left-wingers Labour candidacy in the General Election.

Ms Rayner said she did not think theres any reason why Ms Abbott should not stand, while Mr Sarwar later said: I agree with Angela.

Labours deputy leader Angela Rayner is backing Diane Abbott (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Appearing alongside the two senior party figures at a campaign event in Scotland on Friday, Sir Keir reiterated that no decision has been taken on Ms Abbott when asked whether he agreed with them.

Ms Abbott was suspended from Labour last year after she suggested Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice, but not racism, sparking a long-running process which saw her sit as an Independent MP.

Ms Abbott, the first black female MP, had the Labour whip restored this week, but it was briefed out that she might be barred from running as a Labour candidate on July 4.

Sir Keir has repeatedly said that a decision will be made by the partys ruling National Executive Committee (NEC).

Diane Abbott had the Labour whip returned this week (Ian West/PA)

Asked whether he was sticking to that line at the Inverclyde event, the Labour leader replied: No decision has been taken. So thats the factual position. No decision to bar Diane.

Obviously shes got the whip back and shes been a trailblazer for many years, but the fact remains no decision has been taken.

Sir Keir stressed that his party has fantastic candidates across the country, including many black candidates, when asked to respond to criticism by a senior lawyer who investigated claims of racism within Labour.

Martin Forde KC told the Guardian that the party was underestimating the impact its treatment of Ms Abbott was having on voters, and that the row was leaving some black voters without a political home.

Id say weve got fantastic candidates across the country, including many black candidates, leading candidates, Sir Keir said.

Were either going to get more of the chaos and division under the Tories or were going to turn a page with Labour and when we started selecting our candidates, I was very clear with the team, I wanted the highest quality candidates on the pitch for the task ahead.

Watch my speech to launch Labours first steps for change in Scotland.https://t.co/IdDYTdORdE  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) May 31, 2024

Labour has faced claims of a purge of left-wing candidates.

As well as the questions surrounding Ms Abbott, the suspension of Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who was MP for Brighton Kemptown, and the decision not to endorse candidate Faiza Shaheen in Chingford and Woodford Green have also come in for criticism.

Ms Shaheen has said she is in shock and feels she is the victim of a huge injustice after not being endorsed as the Labour candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green.

In response, Ms Abbott said: Appalling. Whose clever idea has it been to have a cull of left wingers?

Ms Shaheen was blocked after liking a series of social media posts on X, formerly Twitter, that allegedly downplayed antisemitism accusations.

Faiza Shaheen, pictured with Jeremy Corbyn, was not endorsed by the party (Gareth Fuller/PA)

In a possible sign she could run as an Independent, she said this is not the end of my story, and she also revealed she would speak to her legal team about Labours decision.

Labour deputy leader Ms Rayner denied there was a purge, but said I dont think theres any reason why Ms Abbott should not stand and the row over her future was not a great look.

Mr Sarwar also weighed in, saying I agree with Angela that there was no reason Ms Abbott should not stand.

He told BBC Breakfast: Weve had the disciplinary process, and shes had the whip restored.

Its now for the NEC to do the endorsements of candidates and I hope people will recognise that Diane Abbott is a trailblazer, someone with a strong history in the Labour Party.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said he agreed with Ms Rayner on Diane Abbott (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Shadow science secretary Peter Kyle suggested to Times Radio that Labour was responding to a situation Ms Abbott had got herself into.

He also said Labour was trying to resolve the situation in a way which is dignified, but later told GB News that the party should not have to apologise for raising the standards of its members following the spate of deselections.

Mr Russell-Moyle cannot stand in the July 4 election after being suspended by Labour over what he called a vexatious and politically motivated complaint against him.

Meanwhile, Labour is celebrating former Tory MP Mark Logan joining the party.

Mr Logan, who represented Bolton North East until Parliament dissolved ahead of the election, said the Conservatives were unrecognisable from the party he had joined.

(PA Graphics)

Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, told Sky News he was disappointed by his former colleagues decision to quit the Tories.

Im disappointed, and of course were disappointed when those things happen, but the big picture here, and theres a lot at stake here, over and above what Mark Logan may or may not decide to have done, is the future of our country, he said.

As campaigning continues, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will visit the North West of England, following an announcement by the Conservatives to crack down on fly-tippers with points on their driving licenses.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has refused to say if he wants Diane Abbott to stand again for his party.

Ms Abbott was suspended from Labour last year after she suggested Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice, but not racism, sparking a long-running process which saw her sit as an Independent MP.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland on Friday during a visit north of the border, Sir Keir refused to be drawn on whether he wants Ms Abbott  the first black female MP  to stand again, but praised her as a trailblazer.

Diane Abbott has had the whip returned to her, no decision has been taken to bar her from standing and the NEC will come to a decision in due course, he said.

Keir Starmer is visiting Scotland on Friday (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Asked if he would like her to be a candidate, Sir Keir added: Ultimately, that will be a matter for the NEC but no decision has been taken.

He continued: She, of course, was a trailblazer for years, she faced many challenges which she overcame in her political career.

His comments come as Labour have faced claims of a purge of left-wing candidates.

As well as the questions surrounding Ms Abbott, the suspension of Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who was MP for Brighton Kemptown, and the decision not to endorse candidate Faiza Shaheen in Chingford and Woodford Green have also come in for criticism.

And Ms Shaheen said she is in shock and feels she is the victim of a huge injustice after not being endorsed as the Labour candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green.

In response, Ms Abbott said: Appalling. Whose clever idea has it been to have a cull of left wingers?

Ms Shaheen was blocked after liking a series of social media posts on X, formerly Twitter, that allegedly downplayed antisemitism accusations.

In a possible sign she could run as an independent, she said this is not the end of my story, and she also revealed she would speak to her legal team about Labours decision.

But Sir Keirs deputy Angela Rayner went further and said I dont think theres any reason why Ms Abbott should not stand and the row over her future was not a great look.

But Ms Rayner told the Guardian she did not think it was a purge.

Faiza Shaheen, pictured with Jeremy Corbyn, was not endorsed by the party (Gareth Fuller/PA)

I dont know the details of the individual cases but I do know that we put a robust system in place around vetting and dealing with serious allegations that are made in the party.

We had to do that because when me and Keir took over the party was failing.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar also weighed in, saying I agree with Angela that there was no reason Ms Abbott should not stand.

He told BBC Breakfast: Weve had the disciplinary process, and shes had the ship restored. Its now for the NEC to do the endorsements of candidates and I hope people will recognise that Diane Abbott is a trailblazer, someone with a strong history in the Labour Party.

Shadow science secretary Peter Kyle suggested to Times Radio that Labour was responding to a situation Ms Abbott had got herself into.

He also said Labour was trying to resolve the situation in a way which is dignified, but later told GB News that the party should not have to apologise for raising the standards of its members following the spate of deselections.

Mr Russell-Moyle cannot stand in the July 4 election after being suspended by Labour over what he called a vexatious and politically motivated complaint against him.

Ms Shaheen is consulting lawyers after the huge injustice as she was not endorsed as the Labour candidate to take on former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith.

This comes as former Tory MP Mark Logan joined the party.

Mr Logan, who represented Bolton North East until Parliament dissolved ahead of the election, said the Conservatives were unrecognisable from the party he had joined.

Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, told Sky News he was disappointed by his former colleagues decision to leave the Tories.

Im disappointed, and of course were disappointed when those things happen, but the big picture here, and theres a lot at stake here  over and above what Mark Logan may or may not decide to have done  is the future of our country, he said.

As campaigning continues, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will visit the North West of England, following an announcement by the Conservatives to crack down on fly-tippers with points on their driving licenses.

Sir Keir is meanwhile in Scotland, unveiling the logo and website for Labours proposed publicly-owned energy company GB Energy, and promising Scottish voters a decade of national renewal.
Donald Trumps trial is not my focus, Rishi Sunak has said when asked if he would work with the convicted former US president if the Republican returns to power.

The Prime Minister refused to comment on the ex-presidents hush money trial conviction when asked by reporters.

A New York jury found Mr Trump guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who said the two had sex.

The former president, the first to be convicted of felony crimes, insisted he was a very innocent man and claimed without evidence the trial was rigged.

Asked whether he was willing to work with a convicted felon in the White House if he wins Julys election, the Prime Minister said: You wouldnt expect me to comment on another countrys domestic politics or judicial processes.

Im focused squarely on the election here at home, talking to people across the country about the choice at our election.

Thats my focus.

Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 counts following his trial (Jeenah Moon/Pool Photo via AP)

When pressed for a response while on the campaign trail in Bury, Mr Sunak told reporters that the US had always been a key partner and ally of the United Kingdom.

Referring to the latest joint airstrikes on Houthi rebels, he added: Ive always had a good relationship with my opposite number, any British prime minister should prioritise that.

As you saw from the action that we took overnight, together with our American allies, that partnership is strong.

When pushed on the original question, Mr Sunak said: Of course I respect the justice system of the United States.

He added: I wouldnt also comment on judicial processes while theyre ongoing in our own country, because theres a separation between politicians and judicial systems, and we should let judicial systems do what they need to do independently of politics.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said this was an unprecedented situation.

Speaking at a campaign event in Inverclyde, he said: First and foremost we respect the courts decision in relation to the decision in the Trump case.

He added: We will work with whoever is elected president thats what youd expect.

We have a special relationship with the US that transcends whoever the president is, but it is an unprecedented situation, there is no doubt about that.

And theres a long way yet to go I think in relation to what happens next.

Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary and a close ally of Mr Sunak, described Mr Trumps conviction as extraordinary.

Asked if the Prime Minister would trust Mr Trump following the guilty verdict, Mr Stride told Times Radio he would not comment on the judicial process in the US.

But he added: What Im absolutely sure of is that whatever the outcome of the election  and I very much hope that Rishi is back in Number 10 for all sorts of reasons that we may come on to  that we will have a good and enduring continuingly positive relationship with the United States, whoever is going to be president in November.

Thats a relationship which, as you know, goes back many decades, so its always been solid and has always been to our advantage, and to the advantage of America in her leadership of the West.

Labours shadow science secretary Peter Kyle said his party would focus on preserving the UK and USs relationship.

He told Times Radio: Its a special relationship and we need to focus on preserving that for future generations. So there are things that transcend the governments of any day.

Britain and America work incredibly closely on defence, security, intelligence, and of course the economic ties are numerous and incredibly important to both countries.
China denounces U.S. deployment of mid-range missile system in Philippines

Xinhua) 11:00, May 31, 2024

BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese defense spokesperson on Thursday denounced the deployment of a mid-range missile system by the United States in the Philippines, saying the moves of the two countries have put the whole Asia-Pacific region under the threat of U.S. weaponry.

"The Chinese side is highly vigilant against and firmly opposed to this," said spokesperson Wu Qian in response to a media query regarding the deployment of the U.S. Typhon Mid-Range Capability missile system in the Philippines under the excuse of military exercises.

Wu noted that it is the first time the U.S. has deployed a mid-range missile system overseas and to the Asia-Pacific since the end of the Cold War.

What the U.S. and the Philippines did has caused a great risk of war and will seriously impact the security architecture and undermine peace and stability in the region, said Wu.

Noting the mid-range missile system is a strategic and offensive weapon reminiscent of the Cold War, he said the U.S. attempts to turn back the wheel of history, provokes bloc confrontation, strengthens military alliance, and squeezes the security space of other countries. This will break strategic balance in the region and create new tension and antagonism.

Wu said that the Philippines chooses to tie itself onto the U.S. chariot, which severely deviates from the guiding principles for ASEAN countries.

By doing so, the Philippines also severely undercuts the principles of the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia and undermines the ASEAN-led architecture of regional cooperation.

"Those who invite wolves into their house will get bitten, and those who pull chestnuts out of the fire for others can only get themselves burnt," said Wu, urging the U.S. and the Philippines to respect the security concerns of regional countries and immediately stop such dangerous acts.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Elopement weddings were once considered unconventional, but have been rising in popularity. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

British couples are increasingly thinking about ditching the big white wedding for a more unconventional way of getting hitched - eloping.

Google searches for elopement weddings have soared by more than 80% over the past year, while interest in elopement wedding packages in the UK have also increased by 85%. More people are also becoming interested in smaller, more intimate weddings, with searches growing by 89%.

The surge in interest in elopements comes after a number of high-profile celebrities revealed they also got married in secret. Most recently, Furiosa star Anya Taylor-Joy revealed she eloped in New Orleans with her now-husband Malcolm McRae.

Other celebrities who have eloped in recent years include Chris Evans and Alba Baptista; Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup; Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck; and Lily Allen and David Harbour.

A new survey by wedding decoration experts Ginger Ray explores the reasons behind why so many engaged couples are choosing to slip away to get married without all the fuss.

Watch: Amanda Seyfried 'would love' to wed again in big ceremony

Soaring costs

The main driver behind elopement weddings is the cost of living crisis, the survey found. More than a third (32%) of respondents said financial constraints were the primary factor that steered them away from a traditional wedding ceremony and reception.

This was echoed in research by The Wedding Travel Company, which commissioned a survey involving 2,000 UK adults and found that 81% of Brits believe the cost of living crisis impacted the amount of money theyd be able to spend on a wedding in the next two years.

Data from Hitched.co.uk shows that the average cost of a wedding has increased to 20,700, a major increase from 17,300 in 2021. With so many couples worrying about finances, it is perhaps little surprise that more people are eloping to avoid the high cost of a wedding.

Need for adventure

Its not all doom and gloom that is leading Britons to elope. Ginger Rays survey found that 31% of engaged couples said they wanted to incorporate adventure and exploration into the occasion.

The company added that this finding underscores the burgeoning interest in unconventional travel among contemporary couples.

A separate report by The Wedding Travel Company highlighted that 33% of Brits would prefer to get married abroad, with 59% saying that better weather was a reason for getting married outside of the UK.

Eloping comes with a sense of adventure and excitement. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Meanwhile, 46% said they liked being able to combine their wedding with a holiday, while 41% said there is better scenery abroad. More than half (56%) also said it was more affordable to get married abroad than in the UK, with the average cost of a wedding in Cyprus with 25 guests reaching around 7,000.

Luke Nathan, co-founder of The Wedding Travel Company, said: "Couples are facing balancing having the wedding they want, with being strict on the guest list based on what they can afford.

"Typically people who have weddings abroad invite less people, but they reap the benefits like better weather and cheaper costs. Or, theyre choosing to elope to locations like Las Vegas."

But despite this, Ginger Rays research found that a significant proportion (77%) of British couples are planning to elope within the UK, with Wales being the top choice, followed by London and Scotland.

Ditching tradition

Some couples are simply keen to step away from tradition by choosing an elopement instead. 28% of respondents who are planning to slope said they were doing so purely to deviate from customary norms and expectations.

This trend is particularly popular among Generation X couples, which Ginger Ray says mirrors their inclination towards individualism and self-expression.

Other ways that couples are going against tradition include where gifts are concerned, according to Hitched.co.uk. The wedding experts found that 80% of people said asking for cash as a wedding gift is acceptable, and that 50% of guests would prefer to give the couple cash.

Read more about sex and relationships:
WASHINGTON (AP)  The Air National Guard intelligence unit involved in the massive classified documents leak by an airman last year has been recertified and will return to its mission on Saturday after months of investigations, improvements and inspections, the Air Force said.

The 102nd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group was suspended in mid-April 2023 after Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira was arrested over leaking highly classified military documents about the war in Ukraine and other national security secrets.

Gen. Kenneth Wilsbach, who heads Air Combat Command, approved the recertification of the unit after an inspection team did a final review, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said Friday. She said Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall concurred with the decision.

A team from the 480th Intelligence Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, spent two weeks watching the unit do its mission as the final step in the review process.

In a statement Friday, the Massachusetts National Guard said the airmen look forward to returning to their mission.

With the knowledge gained from this challenging experience, we welcomed the opportunity to help identify problems with Air Force processes that could jeopardize the safe handling of classified information in both the active duty and reserve components, the Guard said, adding that the Wing implemented changes to ensure any unauthorized disclosure of classified information doesn't happen again.

The ISR group is part of the 102nd Intelligence Wing, based at Otis Air National Guard Base in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. As part of the recertification process, the Wing put in a new organizational structure to improve oversight of the group's operations, made a number of required changes in other security procedures and fixed other problems that were identified in an investigation by the Air Force inspector general, Stefanek said.

The leaks raised questions about how a single airman could remove documents undetected, why there were no security procedures in place to prevent it and how the documents lingered online for months without anyone realizing it. There are strict rules for the handling of top secret information across the military.

The inspector general's investigation, released last December, found a wide range of security failures and concluded that multiple officials intentionally did not take action on Teixeira's suspicious behavior. The Air Force disciplined 15 personnel in connection with the problems, ranging from removing people from command posts to other non-judicial actions, such as putting letters in service members' files.

According to the review, personnel had access to classified documents without supervision and there were instances when Teixeira was caught violating security policies but those who caught him took no action.

Teixeira worked as a cyber transport systems specialist, essentially an information technology specialist responsible for military communications networks. He was part of a three-person crew that had unsupervised access at night to an open storage facility to perform maintenance inspections.

He pleaded guilty on March 4 to six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information under the Espionage Act. The 22-year-old acknowledged illegally collecting some of the nations most sensitive secrets and sharing them with other users on Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games.

The plea deal calls for him to serve at least 11 years in prison, and his sentencing is scheduled for September in Boston.
A day after bonding out of jail for allegedly being a "serial slingshot shooter," an 81-year-old California man died from heart disease, according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office.

Prince Raymond King died naturally on May 29 due to atherosclerosis, also known as atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, which occurs when fats, cholesterol and other substances build up on the artery walls, according to Mayo Clinic.

King was arrested May 23 after a search warrant was conducted in his neighborhood, the Azusa Police Department wrote in a Facebook post. Ball bearings and a slingshot were founding King's home, the department's post continued.

Pictured is an Azusa police vehicle in the neighborhood of 81-year-old Prince Raymond King, an alleged 'serial slingshot shooter.'

King was being held at the Los Angeles County Jail but was released on May 28, according to inmate records. His next court date was scheduled for June 17, 2024.

During King's initial court appearance on Tuesday, a judge ordered him to stay 200 yards away from the homes and people he was accused of shooting the ball bearings at, The Guardian reported.

Why did Azusa police execute a search warrant to find the 'serial slingshot shooter?'

Azusa police executed the search warrant after learning about a "quality of life issue" in the neighborhood, according to the Facebook post. The department's "lengthy investigation" concluded that "during the course of 9-10 years, dozens of citizens were being victimized by a serial slingshot shooter," the post continued.

No one was injured from King's alleged actions, Azusa police Lt. Jake Bushey told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

The investigation into the slingshot incidents began years ago, but the department could never narrow down a suspect, Bushey said, according to the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

It is unclear how Azusa police identified King as a suspect, but the department ultimately figured out that most of the ball bearings were launched from his backyard, according to Bushey, the San Gabriel Valley Tribue reported. Other ball bearings were shot from a "nearby neighborhood," the lieutenant said.

Were not aware of any kind of motive other than just malicious mischief, Bushey said, adding that the shots were not random, the San Gabriel Valley Tribune reported. The lieutenant noted how he did not know why particular properties or people were targeted.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Alleged 'serial slingshot shooter' died 24 hours after bonding out
The Biden administration has shifted its stance on Ukraines use of U.S.-supplied weapons in Russia in its fight against Putin's invasion, in a limited capacity, amid calls for looser restrictions for Ukraines ability to strike in Russian territory.

The guidance approved by President Biden following recommendations from senior officials took effect Thursday. It allows Ukraines use of counter-fire capabilities against targets across the border that Russia is using to attack the Kharkiv region from, according to a source familiar with the decision.

The President recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S.-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them, a U.S. official stated, noting that the policy against the use of ATACMS, or long-range strikes, inside Russia is unchanged.

Ukrainian soldiers prepare to fire a multiple launch rocket system.

Europe AP via Scripps News

Pentagon to give Ukraine $300 million in weapons

International allies have called for reconsideration of restrictions as Ukraine has faced Russian attacks against Kharkiv.

We need to consider those national restrictions especially in the light of the nature of the fighting now taking place in the Kharkiv region where the Russians can be protected by the national border which is more or less the same as the front line, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said earlier this week, while noting it was a decision for individual allies to make.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken first publicly indicated a potential policy shift, pointing to the adaptability in U.S. support Wednesday.

As the conditions have changed, as the battlefield has changed, as what Russia does has changed in terms of how its pursuing its aggression, escalation, weve adapted and adjusted too, and Im confident well continue to do that, Blinken told reporters.

But the start of considerations dates back nearly three weeks to when Russia launched its renewed offensive across the border toward the Kharkiv region in early May.

Firefighters hose down a fire as a lifeless body lies under the rubble after a Russian missile hit

World AP via Scripps News

Russia smashes train tracks in a battered Ukrainian border region where children are being evacuated

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Charles Q. Brown agreed to make a recommendation to Biden after meeting virtually with the Ukrainians just three days after the start of the new offensive, in which the Ukrainians made a request to use U.S.-supplied weapons against locations across the border aiding the offensive, according to a source familiar with the decision.

President Biden agreed when the recommendation was made to him two days later that Ukraine be able to use the weapons to defend against Russias offensive, according to a source familiar.

The president carried out follow-up conversations, and asked his team to finalize details and to continue to go over the proposal, but was clear that Ukraine should be able to counterstrike. Blinken also backed the proposal after returning from Kyiv.

Last week, President Biden gave the green light to the policy after the officials met once more. The administration remained quiet about the decision due to operational security, according to an official who suggested the timeline was more compressed than the time it typically takes for a policy like this.

Officials had previously maintained that they do not encourage the use of U.S. weapons to strike within Russia, though Austin said in response to a question posed by Scripps News last week that the aerial dynamics a little bit different.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Europe AP via Scripps News

Ukraine says it foiled Russian plot to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

The U.S. does not restrict Ukraines use of U.S.-supplied weapons against Russian aircraft posing an imminent threat to Ukraine, according to a U.S. official, which includes Russian airspace. Officials have noted Ukraines previous successful operations with Western weapons against Russian aircraft.

However, the Biden administration continues to face criticism for the pace of decisions in aid for Ukraine.

This is a step forward, but perhaps its better described as a half-step forward. Its part of the continuing pattern of administration caution, John Herbst, former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and senior director of the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center, said, pointing to the limits on the use of longer-range weapons.

The administration announces all the restrictions that remain and that does not smack of bold policy and that limits the impact of what Ukraine can do, he said.

Herbst doesnt rule out further changes, but believes the comments from allies may have influenced the administrations decision.

The administration has maintained that its efforts to rush assistance are working. An official pointed to stalled Russian progress and confidence that Russia wont be successful in taking Kharkiv.
The Colorado Legislature sent a bill to the governor this week that seeks to limit childrens social media use by requiring, among other actions, a pop-up notification that informs young users of when they use a social media platform for an extended period of time.

The bill is the latest state effort to regulate social media use amid widening fears that heavy usage is harmful for children. Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, who has previously voiced concerns over state regulation of social media, has not yet indicated whether he will sign the bill, and a spokeswoman said he was reviewing the final version sent to him on Tuesday. The bill passed the Democratic-controlled legislature in April by comfortable margins.

If the bill is signed into law, it would require social media platforms to display a notification to users who are under 18 who have spent an hour on the platform over a 24-hour period, or are active between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The notification would include information about their engagement in social media that helps the user understand the impact of social media on the developing brain, and the mental and physical health of youth users. It would repeat at least every 30 minutes after the initial notification.

The bill would require the notifications to be in effect starting on January 1, 2026.

Democratic state Sen. Lisa Cutter, one of the bills sponsors, said the pop-up notifications would be covered under the states Consumer Protection Act, and if a company doesnt comply, the attorney generals office could slap it with a huge penalty of $20,000 per violation.

The bill also calls for the creation and maintenance of a resource bank of existing evidence-based, research-based scholarly articles and promising program materials and curricula pertaining to the mental and physical health impacts of social media use by youth, internet safety, and cybersecurity.

The resource bank would be created by a group of people knowledgeable about the intersection of youth and social media, including kids, parents and educators. The materials would be publicly available beginning on July 1, 2025.

Polis has previously voiced concerns about state regulation of social media, telling NBC News Meet the Press in December that he thinks the responsibility belongs to the parents, not the government.

Democratic state Rep. Judy Amabile, one of the bills sponsors, said in March that the bill would give parents and teens resources to make informed decisions about excessive social media usage and the dreaded doom scroll.

Were working to encourage healthier social media habits among our youth by giving them the tools they need to make smart decisions about their own social media usage and prompting our kids to take a break from their phones, Amabile said.

Healthier Colorado, a nonprofit public health organization, conducted research on social media and its impact on youth mental health, which led the group to support the legislation.

The apps, by design, are very addictive, Kyle Piccola, Healthier Colorados senior director of communications, said. And so, we knew that we wanted to get involved somehow, pass something to at least start the conversation on how can we turn this ship around, because we know that teens are suffering from the overuse and the problematic use of social media.

But TechNet, a technology advocacy group that opposes efforts to regulate social media companies, said that although children deserve a heightened level of protection online, it would rather have families, instead of the government, regulate social media usage.

TechNet will continue to work with the General Assembly to ensure that future legislation upholds the First Amendment, does not conflict with any other relevant federal law, and avoids burdening lawful speech, said Ruthie Barko, TechNets executive director for Colorado and the Central US.

Several other states have proceeded with efforts to regulate kids social media use. In March, Florida moved to restrict social media access by banning those under the age of 14 from having their own social media accounts and requiring age verification for those who visit sexually explicit websites. States, including Arkansas, California, Louisiana, Ohio and Utah, have also pushed similar bills to regulate tech platforms.

Legal challenges have been filed in response to some of those efforts. In February, a federal judge temporarily blocked Ohios law, which seeks to regulate kids access to social media platforms, over concerns about its breadth and the likelihood that it could infringe on teens First Amendment rights to access information online. And last year, another federal judge temporarily blocked Arkansas law.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
May 31, 2024 at 4:20 AM

Bruhat Soma is the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee champion after a dramatic tiebreaker between the two top spellers in the event.

The 12-year-old was crowned Thursday night after correctly spelling 29 words in 90 seconds in whats known as a spell-off.

He beat Faizan Zaki, who spelled 20 words in 90 seconds.

Bruat said he prepared just in case he found himself in a spell-off.

"Well, I was pretty nervous, but like I knew I've been practicing the spell-off for like the whole past year, maybe like six months at least," he said.

This is the second time the winner of the Bee was determined by a spell-off. Harini Logan won the 2022 Scripps National Spelling Bee in the same fashion.

Bruhat is a seventh-grade student at Turner/Bartels K-8 School in St. Petersburg, Florida.

He previously competed in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 2022 and tied for 163rd place. Bruhat returned in 2023 and tied for 74th place.

"It's been really exciting," Bruhat said. "Once I entered Bee Week, I was like, 'I have to win this, there's no other option. Like, I really have to win this'  and now I'm so happy that it's happened!"

The seventh-grader has a lot of interests beyond spelling, including playing basketball and badminton.

Faizan, 12, is a sixth-grade student at Rice Middle School in Dallas.

He previously competed in the 2019 Scripps National Spelling Bee and tied for 370th. He returned in 2023 and tied for 21st place.

Spellers who advanced to the semifinal round pose with their medals in the Scripps National Spelling Bee

Scripps Spelling Bee Maya Rodriguez

Scripps Spelling Bee's head judge brings history, encouragement to spellers

With 245 competitors, this was the largest field of spellers since the 2019 Bee. They ranged in age from 8 to 15 years old.

The Bee, which takes place in National Harbor, Maryland, had spellers representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia. There were also 12 spellers representing the Bahamas, Canada, Germany, Ghana, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

All spellers walked away with the experience of a lifetime, but the winner is also taking home $50,000 in cash, a commemorative medal and the famous Scripps Cup, along with numerous other prizes.

Scripps News is a subsidiary of the E.W. Scripps Company, which runs the Bee on a not-for-profit basis.
GAZA (Reuters) -Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Friday said it had a positive view of the contents of a three-phase ceasefire proposal announced by U.S. President Joe Biden for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.

"Hamas confirms its readiness to deal positively and in a constructive manner with any proposal that is based on the permanent ceasefire and the full withdrawal [of Israeli forces] from the Gaza Strip, the reconstruction [of Gaza], and the return of the displaced to their places, along with the fulfilment of a genuine prisoner swap deal if the occupation clearly announces commitment to such deal," the group said in a statement.

Hamas' position signals a change in attitude from the group, which in recent months had accused the U.S. of siding with Israel and obstructing attempts for a ceasefire.

"Hamas sees Biden's position now more focused on pressuring Israel to return to negotiations with a different attitude, or they (Israel) could risk clashing with the Americans," a Palestinian official close to the mediation efforts told Reuters.

Rifts between Biden and Netanyahu over red lines in Gaza has set up a potential showdown between the two leaders, raising questions about whether the U.S. might restrict military aid if Israel continues its offensive in the now-devastated enclave.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said that Israel had authorized negotiators to present a Gaza truce deal after Biden revealed details of the ceasefire plan.

Palestinian health authorities estimate more than 36,280 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel attacked the enclave in response to an Oct. 7 Hamas assault in southern Israel. The Hamas attack killed around 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies.

(Reporting by Nidal Al Mughrabi and Ahmed Tolba; Writing by Adam Makary; editing by Deepa Babington)
Chad Daybell was found guilty Thursday of first-degree murder and conspiracy charges in the deaths of his first wife and two children of his second wife in a case Idaho prosecutors claim was fueled by power, sex, money and apocalyptic spiritual beliefs. Daybell could face the death penalty.

Daybell had pleaded not guilty to the charges in the deaths of his first wife, Tammy Daybell, and the children of his second wife, Lori Vallow Daybell - 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow. Wearing a light blue shirt and yellow tie, Daybell showed no emotion as the verdict was read just after 2 p.m. local time.

Authorities have said they believe Tylee and JJ were killed in September 2019  the month they were last reported to have been seen  and that Tammy Daybell was found dead in her Idaho home on October 19, 2019, a few weeks before Chad Daybell married Lori Vallow Daybell. Tammy Daybell was initially believed to have died in her sleep.

Law enforcement found the remains of Tylee and JJ on Chad Daybells Fremont County property in June 2020, authorities said.

The state is seeking the death penalty. That phase of the case began Thursday afternoon, with Judge Steven Boyce giving jurors preliminary instructions. Proceedings were to resume Friday morning.

After the verdict, JJs grandfather, Larry Woodcock, told reporters, Its a sad day. JJ would have been 12 years old, guys. For what?

Woodcock remembered the victims, and asked the same question, over and over.

What did they accomplish? Nothing. What did they do? They destroyed families, Woodcock said of Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell.

But the defendants, Woodcock said, could not destroy the memories relatives have of the victims. They cant take that, he added, growing emotional at one point. When he heard the jury verdict in court, he said, he felt like he couldnt breathe.

Deliberations began Wednesday and lasted for a little more than two hours. Deliberations resumed just after 8 a.m. local time on Thursday.

After deliberating about two hours, the jury asked the court for a missing instruction related to the first-degree murder count in the death of Tammy Daybell. They resumed deliberations shortly after receiving the instruction from the court.

Idaho prosecutors claim the killings were fueled by power, sex, money and apocalyptic spiritual beliefs. The prosecutors wrote in a court document that each homicide was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel, manifesting exceptional depravity.

Defense attorney John Prior in closing arguments Wednesday said there wasnt enough direct evidence against Daybell and others were responsible for the deaths.

His wife, Vallow Daybell, was convicted by a jury in May 2023 of the murder of her children and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She also was convicted of conspiring to kill his former wife, Tammy Daybell. Vallow Daybell has appealed her convictions to the state Supreme Court, with her legal team raising the issue of whether she was mentally competent to stand trial.

Sex, money and power were key focuses in the trial

During opening statements, the prosecutor and defense attorney painted contrasting portraits of the defendant.

The state described him as a power-hungry and grandiose man who would stop at nothing for what he considered his rightful destiny. His defense lawyer portrayed Daybell as a religious man driven into an unfortunate relationship by a beautiful, vivacious woman who knew how to get what she wants.

Two dead children buried in the defendant Chad Daybells backyard, prosecutor Rob Wood said in his first words to the jury.

The next month his wife is found dead in their marital bed. Seventeen days after the death of his wife, Tammy Daybell, this defendant is photographed laughing and dancing on a beach in Hawaii at his wedding to Lori Vallow, a woman who was his mistress and the mother of the children buried in the graves on his property. Three dead bodies.

When Daybell had a chance at what he considered his rightful destiny, Wood said, he made sure that no person and no law would stand in his way.

His desire for sex, money and power led him to pursue those ambitions, the prosecutor added. And this pursuit led to the deaths of his wife and Loris two innocent children.

Tammy Daybell was initially believed to have died in her sleep, and Chad Daybell remarried less than three weeks after her death in 2019.

Prior, the defense attorney, said Daybells life began to change after he met Vallow Daybell, a beautifully stunning woman who starts giving him a lot of attention and eventually lured him into an inappropriate and unfortunate extramarital relationship.

Vallow Daybells two children from a previous marriage were last seen on different days in September 2019. Tylee Ryan was a normal, vibrant teenage girl who loved her friends and her little brother JJ, who was on the autism spectrum and required special care, according to Wood.

In late November 2019, relatives asked police in Rexburg, Idaho, to do a welfare check on JJ because they hadnt talked to him recently. Police didnt find him at the familys house but did see Vallow Daybell and Daybell, who said JJ was staying with a family friend in Arizona, according to authorities.

When police returned with a search warrant the next day, the couple was gone. They were ultimately found in Hawaii in January 2020.

In June 2020, law enforcement officials found the remains of Tylee and JJ on Daybells property in Fremont County, Idaho. Vallow Daybell and Daybell were indicted on murder charges in May 2021.

Tylee was believed to have been killed between September 8 and 9, 2019, and JJ between September 22 and 23, according to prosecutors.

We are filled with unfathomable sadness that these two bright stars were stolen from us, and only hope that they died without pain or suffering, the families of the children said in a statement after the remains were found.

During the preliminary hearing, Wood said Daybell helped hide evidence. Those bodies were concealed, one of them was destroyed, they were located on Chad Daybells property, Wood said.

Prior, however, argued the state didnt come close to having enough evidence to prove Daybell concealed the bodies of JJ or Tylee. Theres been no indication of any evidence that this act took place on the night of the 22nd or 23rd, or whatever day it was, Prior said.

Couple believed they were religious figures

During opening statements, Wood described Chad Daybell as a seemingly ordinary man who wrote books about the apocalypse, a person who craves significance and worked as a sexton in a graveyard.

In October 2018, Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell met at a religious conference in Utah and he began to craft an alternate reality where his obsession for glory was rooted in her adoration for him, Wood told jurors.

Soon, Wood said, they viewed their spouses and even their children as obstacles that stood in their way.

Anyone who opposed them were labeled sometimes as dark spirits or even zombies, the prosecutor said.

During opening statements, Prior described his client as a religious man who wrote books about his faith, premonitions, good and evil, and the coming of the end of things when his savior, in his mind, is going to come back.

Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell called themselves James and Elaina and believed they were religious figures and had a system of rating people as light or dark, a prosecutor told jurors during Vallow Daybells trial.

The state accused the couple of using their doomsday religious beliefs to justify the killings. In particular, Daybell and Vallow Daybell exchanged texts about Tammy Daybell being in limbo and being possessed by a spirit named Viola, according to the indictment.

People close to the couple said they had been involved in strong religious ideologies.

In addition, Daybell was connected to a religious doomsday prepper website called Preparing a People, which described itself as a series of lecture events focusing on self-reliance and personal preparation. The publishers of the site said they decided to pull content featuring either Daybell or Vallow Daybell after the childrens disappearance.

Defense points to Vallow Daybells brother

Prior told the jury about Vallow Daybells now-deceased brother, Alex Cox, who died in December 2019, and his history of violence  including the shooting and killing of Vallow Daybells former husband, Charles Vallow, in July 2019.

The Maricopa County medical examiner in Arizona said Cox died of natural causes, CNN affiliate KPHO/KTVK reported.

Alex Cox was Loris protector, Prior said. Alex Cox would do anything and everything to protect, aid and assist Lori Vallow  Whenever there was a problem or a threat to Lori Vallow, you will hear testimony that Alex Cox came to the rescue.

DNA and forensics experts suggested Coxs fingerprint was found on plastic wrapped around JJs body, Daybells defense attorney said.

No DNA or hair belonging to Chad Daybell was found with the childrens bodies, and the exact cause of Tammy Daybells death could not be determined, Prior said.

How it compares to Vallow Daybells trial

After Vallow Daybells indictment and not guilty plea in 2021, a judge ruled she was incompetent to stand trial, but she was deemed fit to proceed with trial after spending nearly a year in a mental hospital. Vallow Daybell has maintained her innocence.

When Vallow Daybell was sentenced last year, she denied having killed her children and cited religious texts and beliefs.

She said she had spoken to Jesus, her children and her husbands wife after their deaths and said they were happy and extremely busy in heaven.

Jesus Christ knows that no one was murdered in this case, Vallow Daybell said. Accidental deaths happen, suicides happen, fatal side effects from medications happen.

Judge Steven W. Boyce said at the sentencing hearing: I dont believe that any God in any religion would want to have this happen.

The judge said she justified the killings by going down a bizarre, religious rabbit hole. And clearly you are still down there.

Vallow Daybell has appealed her convictions to the state Supreme Court, with her legal team raising the issue of whether Vallow Daybell was mentally competent to stand trial.

CNNs Sarah Dewberry contributed to this report.

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California is home to some of the most overpriced housing markets in the nation, a new housing study reveals.

A total of 11 California cities landed on a list of the top 100 housing markets in the United States created by Florida Atlantic University.

Every month, the university uses data from Zillow and other sources to rank the cities housing markets as overpriced or underpriced based on the average home value compared to the expected price.

Atlanta led Aprils Beracha and Johnson Housing Market Ranking with a 41.3% average housing premium. This means homes in the Georgia city are being sold for 41.3% above what they should be priced.

Detroit took second place with a housing premium of 40.8%, followed by Cape Coral, Florida, in third place with housing premium 37.6%.

Only one California city cracked the top 20 of the Beracha and Johnson Housing Market Ranking.

Modesto landed at No. 17 on the list with a housing premium of 32%.

It is hoped that knowing the premium or discount ... will enable more informed decision making by buyers, sellers, real estate professionals and (policymakers) within that market, researchers from Florida Atlantic University wrote on the site.

California cities with the most overpriced housing markets

These California cities were among the top overpriced metropolitan areas in the country as of April 30, according to Florida Atlantic Universitys Beracha and Johnson Housing Market Ranking:

No. 17 | Modesto

Average home value: $466,035

Expected home price: $353,206

Average housing premium: 31.94%

No. 36 | Stockton

Average value: $542,583 Expected price: $426,860 Average premium: 27.11%

No. 45 | Riverside

Average value: $581,267 Expected price: $467,964 Average premium: 24.21%

No. 50 | San Diego

Average value: $957,094 Expected price: $769,252 Average premium: 24.42%

No. 52 | Bakersfield

Average value: $351,385 Expected price: $284,659 Average premium: 23.4%

No. 58. | Fresno

Average value: $397,214 Expected price: $325,286 Average premium: 22.11%

No. 78 | Sacramento

Average value: $584,289 Expected price: $499,795 Average premium: 16.9%

No. 82 | Oxnard

Average value: $874,666 Expected price: $753,009 Average premium: 16.2%

No. 85 | Los Angeles

Average value: $961,667 Expected price: $845,956 Average premium: 13.7%

No. 86 | San Jose

Average value: $1,633,092 Expected price: $1,434,668 Average premium: 13.8%

No. 98 | San Francisco

Average value: $1,187,716 Expected price: $1,161,573 Average premium: 2.3%

How did Florida Atlantic University come up with rankings?

Florida Atlantic University used data from Zillow and other housing market data providers to analyze the top 100 most overpriced or underpriced metropolitan areas in the U.S.

Locations were then ranked according to their average housing premium or discount.

The Beracha and Johnson Housing Market Ranking is compiled monthly.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
(Ellen Surrey / For The Times)

Reeling from an unrequited relationship with a bartender-actor and tired of being a broke substitute teacher-actor, I decided to take a full-time teaching job in Pacoima. I was filled with trepidation and wondered if I was ready to give up my acting dreams to become a junior high English teacher. Like any endeavor that I set my mind to, I gave it my all despite the relentless sarcasm and procrastination of my students.

One day during class, a whole stack of newspapers was delivered to my room. I didnt order them or want my rowdy students getting their hands on them so they could make paper airplanes and who knows what else. All of a sudden the seventh grade math teacher, Steve, came running into my room looking for that stack of the Los Angeles Times. I asked him to leave me one copy that I could read on my lunch break and told him he could take the rest. Apparently he used them for some kind of financial literacy lesson.

Every week after that, he would bring me one copy. I wanted to believe that Steve's actions were a cute and kind gesture. But at 30 years old, I was jaded and thought that he was being manipulative as a way of trying to get a date with me. I was both right and wrong.

Read more:Never shout in a bar on a first date again. Here are 11 alternative L.A. date night spots

Because I was the newbie at the school, I wanted to get to know everyone, so I organized a dinner with my colleagues at a fun rock n roll sushi bar on Lankershim Boulevard. Steve was obsessed with sushi so he attended, and we sat across from each other, vibing to the blaring music and talking and flirting all night. Tokyo Delve's was just crazy that night with great rock music, and I went wild and danced on the chairs. I hoped that my co-workers  especially Steve  didn't think I was too overzealous.

At the end of the evening, Steve and I hugged, and later I told our mutual friend, I think Steve is so cute. Will you give him my number? He laughed and said he would be happy to play matchmaker.

Steve called the following week and left a voicemail message asking me out for the weekend. I called him back to say yes. Then I didnt hear anything from him. I thought that this quiet, unassuming teacher would be different from the bad-boy actors and musicians whom I usually dated and that he would actually follow through. I was disappointed, and my mom and I commiserated over the possibility that I had met another noncommittal dude.

It turns out Steve had unexpectedly gone on an adventure with his brother and later apologized to me. I gave him another chance.

Read more:L.A. Affairs: Whats the secret to staying young? Having a musician boyfriend with good hair

Im so glad I did. After our first date in Pasadena, we were inseparable. We introduced our dogs to each other, and both sets of families got along so well. When my landlord announced that he was selling his home and I would need to move out of the guesthouse, Steve valiantly offered that I could move into his home. But we had only been dating for three months.

Things were tough at first as we didnt really know how to establish boundaries or communicate well. He hated that I left granules of detergent all over the washer and garage floor. I was exasperated that he could not cook anything at all  not even scrambled eggs!

Those things aside, nobody has made me laugh like Steve does. He's warm and caring and would do anything for anyone in his life. I once joked early in our relationship: Wow, youre mature, kind, responsible and loving, so you must not be the one for me!

I wasnt used to being treated with respect and kindness, and he certainly wasnt used to this crazy, vibrant rock n roller chick who loved going to concerts at the Forum and the Troubadour and eating pizza at the Rainbow.

We found a way to make our opposites attract and got married on July 8, 2000, at a gorgeous outdoor restaurant in Ojai after three years of dating. Steve's proposal was cute and unconventional. He got down on one knee and encouraged my little dog, Destiny, to run to me. On her collar was the engagement ring.

Read more:L.A. Affairs: I almost kissed my ex-boyfriend. Did I have feelings for him again?

Initially we werent sure we wanted children but later we decided that we had so much love and compassion to give so we gave it a try. After three brutal miscarriages, we were exhausted physically and emotionally. Many of my friends were having babies and were joyous from creating their new families. It just didnt seem fair that two strong, loving teachers who gave so much to the world could be so relentlessly devastated for two years.

Steve and I always found Las Vegas to be our special oasis where we could forget about our worries. In January 2002, we stayed at what used to be the Hard Rock Hotel. We bought tickets to see my favorite band, Aerosmith, from the front row at the Joint. It was exhilarating and just what we needed to make ourselves whole again.

Read more:L.A. Affairs: I found love in a truly hopeless place. Yes, the office

As for expanding our family, my OB/GYN suggested taking progesterone for the fourth try. That really would be my last attempt at getting pregnant. It worked and resulted in our beautiful rainbow baby, Logan! She's now a stunning, feisty, compassionate 21-year-old who gives us indescribable joy.

Steve is retired from teaching, but I found my passion in teaching and still go to work every day trying to instill knowledge and influence the lives of my amazing high school students. I dont leave the laundry room a mess anymore, and Steve makes the most scrumptious scrambled eggs.

The author is an English teacher at Mission View Public Charter in Valencia. She lives with her husband, daughter Logan (when home from college) and two dogs in Valencia. She's on Facebook: facebook.com/keri.leiner

L.A. Affairs chronicles the search for romantic love in all its glorious expressions in the L.A. area, and we want to hear your true story. We pay $400 for a published essay. Email LAAffairs@latimes.com. You can find submission guidelines here. You can find past columns here.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Lauren Elkin's debut novel is set in an attractive part of Paris - Pascale Gueret

Anna, a French psychotherapist, wants things. She wants to sleep with her bisexual and beautiful neighbor, Clementine, and with her ex-boyfriend, Jonathan, the one who broke her heart. She wants not to go to work. She wants the ugly brown tiles from her kitchen removed, the ones with the owls that stare into her soul. She wants a baby, vaguely. She recently miscarried, and shes not so much grieving as she is morosely cheating on her husband David while hes away in London for work.

Annas chic home in the Belleville neighbourhood of Paris is being renovated, the exterior shrouded and resurfaced, the kitchen remodelled. This not only gives Lauren Elkins first novel its title, Scaffolding, but also its central metaphor for the support needed when women try to remake the domestic space into something better suited to them. On the streets outside chez Anna, women are protesting sexism by painting slogans on the walls such as We are the Voice of Those Who are Now Voiceless. Is Annas plight simply one example of how women are reimagining their lives in a time of political awakening?

Lauren Elkin, critic and memoirist, is not the first contemporary novelist to try to merge the personal and the political, and capture the effects that larger feminist progress is having on how women consider what they want. But by opening with an epigraph from Helene Cixous, one of the best to create art at this intersection, Elkin inadvertently shows the large gap between what its possible to achieve here and what Scaffolding actually does.

Halfway through Annas story, we jump 50 years back in time to a different couple living in the same Belleville apartment. They, too, are cheating on each other, arguing about having a baby, and remodelling their kitchen. Florence, the 1970s wife, chooses the owl tiles that will later vex Anna. I think this is supposed to imply that some things are eternal, such as sex, death and a womans desire to replace one kind of flooring with another. But this interlude, as it switches in perspective between Florence and her husband Henry, becomes a mere jumble of sex, cigarettes and philosophy; then were thrown back to the modern day.

Elkin uses the cultural signifiers of these professionals  a lawyer, a shrink; another shrink, another lawyer  to gesture at who they are. There are chevroned hardwood floors, a Saarinen tulip table, the Documenta art exhibition, yoga classes, butcher-block countertops. My belongings, Anna calls them. My be-longings. Yes, yes, its social capital. Elkins preferred reader has at least skimmed Bourdieu.

Scaffolding is published by Chatto & Windus - Sophie Davidson

But when it comes to figuring out why Anna is so adrift, why Clementine finds her irresistible anyway, why Jonathan stubbornly persists in Annas heart, why Florence is in this novel at all  thats mushier. Anna is, when able to leave bed, a Lacanian psychologist. This gives Elkin space for seemingly profound statements, as she drags the reader through the muck of the modern womans dissatisfaction. Anna, for instance, considers Lacans way with deranged disorders, disorganised, deregulated desires. Yet Elkins characters just want to have sex with beautiful people to whom they arent married. If someone in this novel did have a deranged desire, it would radically enliven the whole thing.

Elkin tries to suggest that Annas sexual exploration is political. At one point, the latter asks herself: Am I thwarting patriarchy? But other protests  more economic and less convenient to Annas journey of self-discovery  are only mentioned in passing: We talk about everything thats happened in Paris, from terrorists to Nuit debout to gilets jaunes. Discussing the unfortunate lives of those displaced by war and neoliberalism is just foreplay.

Perhaps the biggest failing of Scaffolding, however, is that Elkin, an American expat who lived in Paris for years, cannot write a French character convincingly. This even goes for Anna. It isnt that its impossible for a French-American woman to be infected with the naive maudlin affect that plagues so many Anglophone millennials. But practically all her references are American. She reads The New Yorker; she notes a neighbours New Yorker tote bag; she lends a neighbour a book by Janet Malcolm, former New Yorker staff writer. In fact, Annas references rarely escape the New Yorkers orbit, although I should concede that she also watches The Wire and mentions a song by Taylor Swift.

It soon becomes a general problem: Henry, for his part, is little more than a cliched louche misogynist. Hundreds of pages into Scaffolding, I knew far more about these peoples taste in television shows and home furnishings than I did about their interiority. And, I began to think, the kind of person who prefers taste to character is someone who likes using one to disguise their lack of the other.

Scaffolding is published by Chatto & Windus at 16.99. To order your copy, call 14.99 or visit Telegraph Books

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A high school teenager reportedly spent his entire senior year without a permanent place to live. But against all odds, he graduated and was crowned valedictorian of his class.

Elijah Hogan was just 8 years old when he lost his mother, and has spent the last year and half in the New Orleans Covenant House youth homeless shelter, according to WDSU News. And despite the obstacles and adversity that comes with being in that living situation, Hogan wanted to set a positive example for all the other youth experiencing similar situations.

"This goes out to all African American children, teens included," he told WDSU's Shay O'Connor. "Despite where you are or the area you are in  even though it may look bad and down  there are moments where there will be people who will give you a guiding hand to help get you through. So, take that opportunity."

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Missouri fifth grader raises enough money to pay his entire school's lunch debt

Hogan reportedly graduated from Walter L. Cohen High School with a nearly perfect 3.89 grade-point average and had many to thank for his accomplishment, including the Covenant House.

"Without their help, I wouldn't have been here where I am," he told WDSU. "[The other] is my family members. Despite them being out of state, I still have connections with them."

As for future aspirations, Hogan has reportedly accepted a full-ride scholarship to attend Xavier University in Ohio this fall and plans to study graphic design. Covenant House New Orleans congratulated him in a post on social media, saying "We're so proud of you!"
HENRIK MONTGOMERY/TT - Getty Images

Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia awarded ABBA the prestigious Royal Order of Vasa at Stockholm Royal Palace today.

The Order of Vasa, an order of chivalry, was given to ABBA's Bjorn Ulvaeus, Anni-Frid Lyngstad, Agnetha Faltskog and Benny Andersson "for very outstanding contributions in Swedish and international music life." At the ceremony today, King Carl Gustaf said, "The order you get today is Swedens thanks for your exceptional efforts."

HENRIK MONTGOMERY/TT - Getty Images

Today marks the first time the royal orders of knighthood were handed out since 1974. Between 1974 and 2023, royal orders were restricted to foreigners only. According to professor Dr. Martin Sunnqvist, "The orders were not formally abolished, but were reduced significantly in importance. Only the need for international diplomatic exchange kept the chapter of the orders and the organisation around it functioning." Only at the end of 2022 did the Riksdag, Sweden's parliament, agree to reinstate the orders for Swedish citizens. Sunnqvist writes, "In the new system, the general public will be encouraged to nominate persons to be considered for knighthoods."

United Archives - Getty Images

ABBA's career launched at the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest, where they won with their song "Waterloo." (ABBA is an acronym for the first letters of the band member's first names: Agnetha, Bjorn, Benny, and Anni-Frid.) In the years since, they've become one of the most successful pop groups of all time.

In 1999, their music was adapted into a stage musical, Mamma Mia!, which has since been made into a film (in 2008). A sequel Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018), also featured ABBA's music. Watch a trailer for that film, here:

A third Mamma Mia movie is reportedly in the works; star Meryl Streep recently shared at Cannes that she wants to do it, and that the producers "have an idea."

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May 31, 2024 at 11:36 AM

(Reuters) -Tesla is recalling 125,227 vehicles in the U.S. due to a malfunction in its seat belt warning system, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said on Friday.

The regulator said the vehicles failed to comply with the federal safety requirements, as their seat belt warning light and audible chime may not get activated as intended when the driver is unbelted.

The recall affects certain vehicle models such as 2012-2024 Model S, 2015-2024 Model X, 2017-2023 Model 3 and 2020-2023 Model Y.

Tesla will release an over-the-air software update to fix the issue, NHTSA said.

(Reporting by Surbhi Misra in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri)
The Texas Supreme Court issued a decision Friday allowing a lawsuit challenging the state's multiple abortion bans to continue, but the court refused to block the bans as the legal challenge continues.

The lawsuit was filed last year by women who say their lives were put in danger due to the state's bans. Initially starting with five plaintiffs, the lawsuit now includes more than 20 women who say their care was impacted by the bans.

Texas has several abortion laws in effect prohibiting nearly all abortions, except in medical emergencies, which the laws do not define. Women filing the lawsuit said they were denied care despite having dangerous pregnancy complications.

PHOTO: Anti-abortion rights demonstrators protest during a Women's March in Austin, Texas, Oct. 8, 2022. (Montinique Monroe/Bloomberg via Getty Images, FILE)

While the lawsuit will be allowed to continue in a state trial court, the Supreme Court did not allow a temporary injunction on the bans while litigation continues. Lower court Judge Jessica Mangrum had granted the injunction against the bans as they relate to medical emergencies and fatal fetal diagnoses and denied the state's request to throw out the case before the case was heard by the state Supreme Court.

In the court opinion issued Friday, justices pushed back against the claims made by women in the suit.

"Texas law permits a life-saving abortion. Under the Human Life Protection Act, a physician may perform an abortion if, exercising reasonable medical judgment, the physician determines that a woman has a life-threatening physical condition that places her at risk of death or serious physical impairment unless an abortion is performed," Texas Supreme Court Justice Jane Bland wrote in the court's majority opinion.

"The law permits a physician to intervene to address a woman's life-threatening physical condition before death or serious physical impairment are imminent. Because the trial court's injunction departed from the law as written without constitutional justification, we vacate its order," the majority opinion said.

MORE: Lawsuit challenging Texas abortion bans appears before state Supreme Court

The Supreme Court also found that the trial court had overstepped by permitting abortions "for any 'unsafe' pregnancy."

"All pregnancies carry risks. The law limits permitted abortions to address life-threatening conditions "aggravated by, caused by, or arising from a pregnancy." While merely being pregnant may increase a mother's risk of death or injury, pregnancy itself is not a 'life-threatening physical condition' under the law," the court wrote.

"In differentiating ordinary risks attendant to pregnancy -- those that can be treated short of an abortion -- from conditions for which the law permits an abortion, the Legislature drew the line at 'life-threatening physical condition.' Because the trial court's order opens the door to permit abortion to address any pregnancy risk, it is not a faithful interpretation of the law. A trial court has no discretion to incorrectly interpret the law in ordering a temporary injunction," the court wrote.

The court also wrote that the trial court's block of the bans as it relates to medical emergencies "departed from the law as written without constitutional justification," the majority opinion said.

"Texas law permits a life-saving abortion. A physician cannot be fined or disciplined for performing an abortion when the physician, exercising reasonable medical judgment, concludes (1) a pregnant woman has a life-threatening physical condition, and (2) that condition poses a risk of death or serious physical impairment unless an abortion is performed," the court wrote in its opinion.

"A physician who tells a patient, 'Your life is threatened by a complication that has arisen during your pregnancy, and you may die, or there is a serious risk you will suffer substantial physical impairment unless an abortion is performed,' and in the same breath states 'but the law won't allow me to provide an abortion in these circumstances' is simply wrong in that legal assessment," the court's majority opinion said.

Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement, "This ruling does not provide any real clarity to doctors, and it is deeply offensive to the women we represent -- they are completely written out of the opinion as though they don't exist or matter. Of course women on death's door should have the most basic right of bodily autonomy to protect their life and health."

PHOTO: Amanda Zurawski speaks during a news conference held by members of the Pro-Choice Caucus and Democratic Women's Caucus at the U.S. Capitol on March 7, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images, FILE)

However, the court opinion recognized that at least some of the women filing the suit had life-threatening conditions.

"The State does not contest that at least some of these complications present life-threatening conditions for which an abortion may be indicated," the court said.

The admission comes months after the state Supreme Court declined to allow Texas woman Kate Cox to receive an abortion for a pregnancy with severe anomaly and large risk of debilitating health complications, including loss of fertility.

In explaining why it found that one of the plaintiffs, Dr. Damla Karsan, has standing to file the lawsuit, the court cited a letter sent to Houston hospitals by the state attorney general threatening liability if they allowed Karsan to provide Cox with an abortion. Before the Supreme Court declined to let her get an abortion, a lower court judge had ruled that Karsan could provide her with an abortion in Texas.

"We conclude that the Attorney General directly threatened enforcement against Dr. Karsan in response to her stated intent to engage in what she contends is constitutionally protected activity. A state official's letter threatening enforcement of a specific law against a plaintiff seeking relief from such enforcement is a sufficient showing of a threat of enforcement to establish standing to sue," the court wrote in its opinion.

MORE: Women suing Texas over abortion bans give emotional testimony

The lead plaintiff in the case, Amanda Zurawski, described in her testimony last year going into sepsis after doctors said they could not induce labor because her fetus still had a heartbeat.

Zurawski said she was told she had an incompetent cervix, premature dilation of her cervix and would miscarry. Her water broke later that evening but she did not miscarry until three days later, she said.

"I went from feeling physically OK to shaking uncontrollably. I was freezing cold even though it was 110 degrees out. My teeth were chattering violently. I couldn't get a sentence out. My husband Josh asked me how I was feeling on a scale from 1 to 10. I didn't know the difference between 1 and 10 -- which one was higher," Zurawski said.

In reacting to the ruling Friday, Zurawski said in a statement, "Every day, people in Texas are being told that they have no options. It's sickening and wrong. Our Courts should acknowledge all of our suffering and vindicate our fundamental rights to reproductive autonomy. We should not need to beg elected officials for our right to control our own bodies."

Texas Supreme Court keeps abortion bans in place, allows lawsuit to continue originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Some things take time to sink in. But dont expect committed Donald Trump voters to suddenly waver because their candidate is now a convicted felon.

Just an abuse of the justice system, Billy Pierce, a semi-retired consultant and Trump backer in Hartsville, South Carolina, said shortly after the former president was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in his Manhattan hush money trial. Biden and Democrats cant win the 2024 election in the polls, so they use prosecution of Trump to try to keep him out of office. This verdict will not hold up through appeals, he added, repeating Trumps false claims about President Joe Biden being behind the New York prosecution.

Andrew Konchek, a commercial fisherman and Trump supporter in New Hampshire, responded to the verdict with sarcastic references to former President Bill Clintons personal scandals. Theres no direct evidence and from who, Cohen? Whos a habitual liar and has been disbarred? I smell some bullshit, he added referring to the prosecutions star witness, former Trump fixer Michael Cohen.

Another Trump backer in New Hampshire, Debbie Katsanos, texted during the jury deliberations. I see no crime, she said. Certainly at a felony level. I am sorry to say I cant trust the justice system when its being used in a political way.  Yes, no one is above the law, when a law is broken they should be held accountable. Im just not seeing it in this case.

Iowa Trump supporter Chris Mudd, who owns a solar energy business, said his backing of the former president is solid.

I do think the verdict is bad for America, Mudd said in a text. Cant believe this is happening in this country.

Betsy Sarcone was a Nikki Haley voter in the Iowa caucuses and late last year said she would vote Biden if it ended up a Biden-Trump rematch. But she has shifted dramatically since the caucuses.

Ive been following this sideshow semi closely, she said after the jury verdict that gave Trump a place in history as the first former president or presumptive party nominee convicted of a felony. This does not impact my plans to vote Republican. I dont even like Donald Trump and this was a witch hunt, made up crimes on the part of the judge and DA. It will never stand on appeal.  I actually dont think it will hurt him. People are so sick of the sideshows to distract/avoid/gaslight people away from the real problems in this country. To be clear, Im still not a Trump fan, but its pretty clear these cases are being motivated politically.

Pierce, Konchek, Sarcone and Katsanos are all participating in a CNN project to follow the 2024 election through the eyes and experiences of voters who live in key battlegrounds or are part of key voting blocs. We will check back as news of the historic 34 count conviction sinks in, and as the former president prepares to be sentenced in July  days before he is to be officially nominated for president at the Republican National Convention.

But our conversations before and during the trial were eye opening: the overwhelming majority of the Trump supporters in our voter groups viewed the cases against the former president  especially the Manhattan one  as politically motivated. (The former president pleaded not guilty in this and three other looming criminal cases.) Even many Republicans who are not Trump fans share the view that he is being unfairly targeted. Biden supporters, on the other hand, saw the verdict s as Trump finally being held accountable for what they see as a lifetime of cheating and lying.

Matt Vrahiotes, a Christian conservative who runs a fruit winery in Hall County, Georgia, was troubled by the charges in the Manhattan case: falsifying business records to hide hush money payments to an adult film star, allegedly to help the 2016 Trump campaign.

I mean it sounds crazy, its sounds like an irresponsible person, an irresponsible thing to do, Vrahiotes said in April. But theres a lot of things going on with both candidates, and a lot of things that are morally in question for both of them, so, its really hard for me to say, oh dont like one candidate because of whats going on, versus promoting another. You know, you got to let the trial go through, youve got to let the judge decide whats right and whats wrong, and Ill go from there.

Jan Gardner, a Trump backer who lives in Dunwoody, an Atlanta suburb, said before the verdict that he has lost faith in the justice system.

Do we feel that some of the things that go on, that theres a double standard? Gardner asked, mentioning Hillary Clinton, who, in his view, was treated differently than Trump.  I have questions about the  how much in honesty and how much power can buy you things.

Republican and likely Trump voter Devin McIver said he did not closely follow the trial but would not be putting time or energy into thinking about Trump being found guilty, writing in a text that he believes he was better off when Trump was president.

Uneasy about Trump, but not sold on the Manhattan case

We hear the unfairness argument a lot in our travels, even from Republicans who are Trump critics.

Linda Rooney is a Haley supporter from Media, Pennsylvania, wrestling with whether to cast a reluctant Trump vote or write in the former South Carolina governor or someone else.

Rooney has mixed feelings about Trump being convicted, telling us she didnt think the case had merit but saying shed love to see him behind bars but for one of the many other things hes done. Like the White House records case or January 6.

She said she hoped that with the conviction, Trump would bow out of the race on his own now and let someone more suitable run  like Nikki Haley. But she acquiesced, I dont think its in Donald Trump to bow out.

Similarly, fellow Pennsylvania voter Irma Fralic, who voted for Haley in the primary, sees politics behind the Manhattan case.

The current trial in New York, its totally political, Fralic told us last week at her Montgomery County home. I looked briefly at some of those things, and it just doesnt hold water.

Former Trump voter Joan London had a mixed take on the convictions.

She was a Republican for more than 40 years, switching her registration to independent after casting a vote for Haley in the April Pennsylvania primary. She left the GOP because of Trump.

London, an attorney, said she expected a more mixed verdict because President Trump didnt sign all of the checks that were at issue, and Michael Cohens past history of lying and stealing.

Still, London said, This verdict has no impact on my voting plans. Still no plans to vote for either Trump or Biden.

Celebration and some caution among Biden voters

Darrell Ann Murphy offered a reaction typical of the Biden supporters in our voter groups.

Wow! A great day, said Murphy, who lives in Northampton County, Pennsylvania. Finally hes found guilty!! Friends texting me like crazy all happy. Lots of Biden voters I talk to.

Pat Levin, another Biden voter in Northampton County, said of the verdict: It supports and reinforces I believe in the rule of Law. It supports my attitude towards the limits of executive power. It reinforces my belief in the tenets of democracy. They have a strong judicial system. I am enormously grateful to this jury and its seriousness of purpose.

David Moore is a registered Republican in Nogales, Arizona, but plans to vote for Biden because he cannot support Trump.

He responded to the verdict with a question: Can he still run if hes in appeals?

Yes, the conviction does not preclude Trump from running.

Im not counting chickens, Moore said. A lot of folks around me seem very happy about it. Im curious to see how this all goes.

Recent University of Michigan graduate Jade Gray was a co-president of the College Democrats on campus. From the minute he was elected it was historical for all of the wrong reasons, she said of Trump. Being the first president who is a convicted solidifies that legacy. This is what accountability looks like. I know its said a lot, but no one is above the law and Trump has repeatedly shown himself to be a crooked, untrustworthy person.

Nanette Mees, a Republican but Trump critic who lives in suburban Loudon County, Virginia, offered this: Personally I am thrilled he was found guilty and pray that there are no big riots because of his followers.

And Joanna Brooks, a Black voter who runs a yoga studio in suburban Milwaukee, described herself as shocked but happy.  Its bizarre to me that this wouldnt necessarily impact his run for presidency. He will appeal and play victim and his supporters will probably love him all the more.

Deep divide among voters

The sharp divide was again evident as more reactions from voters flowed in Friday morning.

Trump supporter Rachel Kulak, a Christian conservative who lives in the Richmond, Virginia, suburbs called the verdict deranged and part of a justice system she views as warped by Democrats.

Biden cannot win in 24 so we have weaponization, lawfare against Trump, Kulak said, comparing the case to political prosecutions in Russia and Venezuela. To not be able to trust the legal system according to our own laws, to know that it is not blind but being used to further the agenda of ruining our country, we are in a dangerous place. I do not recognize America for America anymore.

Attorney Priscilla Forsyth of Sioux City, Iowa, was a Haley supporter in the Iowa caucuses but said Trump has her complete support now.

I am very sad about what this has done to our criminal justice system and very angry that the system I have given 38 years of my life to was perverted into an attempt to destroy a political opponent, Forsyth said. I feel it was a travesty of justice and it makes me sick to my stomach.

Never Trump Republicans and Democrats, however, voiced gratitude at the convictions.

Angela Lang, a community organizer in Milwaukee, said the convictions might help her canvassers when they encounter voters who are considering voting for Trump.

These are more facts to talk about when we talk to voters, Lang said. One of our ambassadors mentioned that we have to make sure people know about this and what this actually means. Its not just he slept with a porn star, its deeper and how it tried to impact the 2016 election.

Zoila Sanchez, a Las Vegas real estate agent who describes herself as a Reagan Republican, said she followed the trial closely.

Although I believed he was guilty, I thought he might be acquitted due to his remarkable luck, Sanchez said. I am pleased that our legal system has once again prevailed.

This story has been updated with additional reaction.

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Former President Donald Trump. David Becker/Getty Images

Donald Trump's campaign quickly fundraised off of his status as a convicted felon.

"I'm a political prisoner," a graphic on Trump's campaign website read.

President Joe Biden's campaign also fundraised shortly after the verdict was announced.

Former Donald Trump's campaign sought to immediately capitalize on the fact that he is now a convicted felon.

"I'm a political prisoner," a graphic on Trump's campaign site read after a Manhattan jury found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election.

Trump is not a prisoner yet. Justice Juan Merchan has set sentencing for July 11. It is possible the former president could avoid prison time, though he could also be sentenced to time behind bars.

"I was just convicted in a RIGGED political Witch Hunt trial: I DID NOTHING WRONG," the graphic continued.

President Joe Biden's campaign, which mostly avoided commenting on the proceedings, also jumped at the opportunity.

"There's only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box," Biden's political account posted on X. "Donate to our campaign today:"

In the past, Trump's legal struggles have juiced his fundraising. The former president's campaign turned his mugshot into merchandise and now offers signs showcasing it at his rally.

Before Thursday, no former president had ever been convicted of a crime. Trump is also the first former president to face a criminal indictment.

Polling has shown that some voters may been influenced by the verdict, but that was all theoretical until the verdict came in.

This is a breaking news story. Stay with Business Insider for more updates.

Read the original article on Business Insider
This illustration shows an artist's impression of the Venus Climate Orbiter, nicknamed Akatsuki, orbiting Venus.

Humanity's only mission in Venus is in limbo after a Japanese spacecraft went dark last month, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency confirmed.

The JAXA space agency said it lost communication with the Venus Climate Orbiter spacecraft that circled the terrestrial planet.

The probe, named Akatsuki, lost connection in late April during operations after difficulty maintaining attitude, JAXA said on its website. The spacecraft was in a control mode that failed to provide high accuracy for a long period of time.

Officials have been unable to restore service through various measures but the agency said they are "currently working on restoring communication."

Probe already exceeded designed lifespan

The probe has already surpassed the 4.5-year lifespan it was designed to have since its 2010 launch. Officials are currently deciding how they want to approach the probe's later stages of operation.

"We are currently considering our future response. We will announce our policy as soon as it has been decided," JAXA said in the update.

Japan's first space probe launched in May 21, 2010, aboard an H2-A rocket heading for Venus. It entered the planet's orbit by Dec. 7, 2015 after a previous attempt in 2010. The spacecraft's goal was to confirm lightning in thick clouds and search for signs of active volcanism.

Akatsuki is the only operational probe at Venus. The other two solar orbiters that fly by Venus, including one made by NASA and another by the European Space Agency, were not intended to examine the planet.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Japan spacecraft Akatsuki, the only Venus mission, goes dark
YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. Geghard Scientific and Analytical Foundation has issued a statement addressing Azerbaijani president Ilham Aliyevs recent statement that Armenia should itself recognize the barbarities committed in Khojali and apologize to us.

The statement reads as follows:

Recently, Azerbaijani leader Ilham Aliyev visited occupied Ivanyan (Khojaly) village and announced that Armenia should itself recognize the barbarities committed in Khojali and apologize to us.

In the period of the Artsakh movement, Khojali occupied a strategically important position. Between 1988 and 1991, the Azerbaijani population of Khojali hindered the movement of Armenians and cargo transportation, carried out kidnappings of Armenian residents, and engaged in looting and shelling of Armenian villages. During that time, attacks from Khojali and Shushi on Armenian settlements (particularly the capital, Stepanakert) with various weapons were incessant. Therefore, the liberation of Khojali and Shushi gained vital importance for the liberation forces of Artsakh.

In February 1992, during military operations, Armenian forces provided a humanitarian corridor for the Azerbaijani residents of Khojali to leave the settlement. However, near the settlement of Shelli, close to Aghdam, militants of the National Front of Azerbaijan shot the Azerbaijanis who were leaving Khojali and then desecrated the corpses. This circumstance was documented by Chingiz Mustafaev, an Azerbaijani TV journalist.

Days after these events, Azerbaijan presented the incident as a "genocide" of the civilian population carried out by Armenians. As of now, Azerbaijan continues to spread the fabricated theses on this incident.

The fact that these atrocities were organized by Azerbaijanis is evidenced not only by the survivors of Khojali but also by the former leader of Azerbaijan, Ayaz Mutalibov, in an interview with the "Nezavisimaya Gazeta" newspaper. According to him, the barbarism in Khojali was orchestrated by certain forces to discredit him and force his resignation. In fact, for the sake of internal political intrigues, Azerbaijanis did not hesitate to kill their own people.

In fact, in Sumgait, Baku, Gandzak, Artsakh, and other territories under their control, Azerbaijanis, especially the genocidal regime of Ilham Aliyev, carried out massacres against Armenians. The leader of Azerbaijan himself should apologize and accept the will of the Artsakh Armenians to live freely and independently in their homeland.
YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. At the initiative of the National Center of Aesthetics named after Henrik Igityan, within the framework of the Crossroads of Cultures program, representatives of the art sphere from Iran, Georgia, France, Italy and Switzerland will come to Armenia. At a press conference convened at the Armenpress press center, the director of the center VahanBadalyan noted that the artists will hold master classes, roundtable discussion and meetings in several cities of Armenia.

We have already held this project for the second year. This year it is quite extensive in terms of expected events. I will say that the geography of participation has also expanded. The main goal is to bring our colleagues, artists from other countries to Armenia, to make our country a real crossroads of cultures. Last years experience showed that the project is a good reason for new connections and cooperation, said Vahan Badalyan.

This educational and creative project will be implemented in Yerevan, Vanadzor and Goris. This is a great opportunity for art lovers of the region to get acquainted with foreign artists and their work, to present the national cultural traditions and opportunities of this region.

Choreographer and dancer Daniela Delerchi from Italy is in Armenia for the first time and is looking forward to the upcoming events with great enthusiasm.

As a choreographer, I am interested in Armenian artists and their work. My workshop is based on contemporary dance. We will present the peculiarities of Armenian and Italian culture through dance, said Daniela Delerchi.

In addition to dance, the program also includes puppetry, museum studies, and theatre. The project will be a true crossroads of cultures for art historians and art lovers from five countries. Playwright and director from Switzerland Lucy Haughey is in Armenia for the first time and emphasizes new opportunities for cooperation.

It is a great honour for me to be in Armenia. This is my first visit, and I hope to establish strong ties with local artists, exchange experiences. Communication is very important in is very important in theatre, said Lucy Haughey.

From May 31 to June 17, the projects guests will be in Yerevan and regions. In addition to master classes, a number of familiarisation visits to Armenias cultural heritage are planned for them.
YEREVAN, 31 MAY, ARMENPRESS. The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan today announced the launch of the application for the second cohort of the exchange program for Armenian journalists. In partnership with World Learning and the Poynter Institute, a global leader in journalism, the U.S.-Armenia Professional Partnership in Journalism (PPJ) Program, will enable 54 Armenian journalists to visit the United States in a training program to improve their understanding of disinformation, strengthen their reporting skills, and cultivate relationships with U.S. journalists and media outlets.

By providing journalists with the resources and connections to support their professional development, this exchange will promote journalisms role in a free society and encourage Armenian journalists and media organizations to adopt approaches to build resilience to misinformation, said U.S. Ambassador to Armenia Kristina Kvien

The PPJ Program will include four cohorts of professional fellows:

18 print/online journalists (Spring 2024),

16 broadcast journalists (Autumn 2024)

10 editors (Spring 2025),

10 media managers (Autumn 2025).

The program combines World Learnings expertise in international education and exchange with Poynters expertise in the craft of journalism to foster sustainable networks between U.S. and Armenian journalists and media outlets, said Vlad Spencer, Manager of Global Exchanges at World Learning. By participating in these exchanges, Armenian journalists and media professionals will return home with new ideas, expanded professional networks, and increased knowledge of how investigative journalism can advance civil society and inform the public."

Each exchange will feature customized training, workshops, and mentoring opportunities extending past the end of the training. Ten selected fellows will be placed for fellowships with U.S. media organizations for an additional month. Finally, $20,000 in targeted assistance will be awarded to four of the 10 fellows media organizations in Armenia to adopt approaches to build resilience to misinformation and promote journalisms role in a free society.

For 50 years, Poynter has delivered for journalists the things they need at the moment they need them," said Aaron Sharockman, Poynter's Vice President for Sales and Strategic Partnerships. "We are so excited to welcome 54 Armenian journalists to our offices in the United States, to hear their stories and their challenges, and to hopefully send them back to their newsrooms better equipped to serve their audiences and community."

Applications are now open for broadcast journalists to apply for the second cohort, scheduled to take place from October 12-26, 2024. For more information, visit https://www.worldlearning.org/program/u-s-armenia-professional-partnership-in-journalism-program. Additional opportunities to apply for the exchange will be announced later this year.

The U.S.-Armenia Professional Partnerships in Journalism program is funded by the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan and implemented by World Learning and the Poynter Institute for Media Studies. For press inquiries on the PPJ Program, please contact the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan.
YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. The town of Alaverdi, significantly affected by the recent flood, on Friday welcomed more than 40 members of the diplomatic representations operating in the Republic of Armenia. They toured the damaged parts of the community to witness firsthand the efforts to eliminate the consequences of the disaster.

During the press conference held in the Alaverdi community hall, the Armenian Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures and head of the operational staff, Gnel Sanosyan, mentioned that there have been numerous meetings with foreign partners over the past few days.

Sanosyan added that they have heard from various foreign partners about their willingness to provide support in both professional, expert and other directions.

According to him, the diplomats may not have fully grasped the true scale of the disaster beforehand, but upon visiting the disaster zone, they naturally drew conclusions that could lead to the development of specific support programs.

"That support can be expressed in various ways, from providing experts to conducting inventory work. The inventory is multi-layered and covers many areas. The number of beneficiaries is significant due to the extensive damage to private property. Community property has also been significantly damaged, so we will need various forms of support, including financial assistance. In addition to rehabilitation efforts, we should also implement preferential programs to encourage business and promote agriculture in the disaster zone. This will help people to recover and resume their business activities," said Sanosyan.

''In addition to the fact that an operational headquarters has been created, which works in an emergency mode and coordinates the works carried out in both Lori and Tavush regions, one of the functions is to record everything and transfer it to the republican commission," said the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures and head of the operational staff, Gnel Sanosyan.
Palo Alto Networks top partners across Australia were honoured at the vendors NextWave Partner Gala Dinner Awards in Sydney last night.

According to Palo Alto Networks, the awards recognise the outstanding achievements and contributions of Palo Alto Networks partners towards securing the digital future of customers against cyber threats.

At Palo Alto Networks, our partners are integral to our success and Im proud to have celebrated their achievements last night, said Janet Docherty, Palo Alto Networks director for channel sales and alliances for Australia and New Zealand.

Australia remains one of the most targeted countries globally by cybercriminals but thanks to the effort from our partners, we are able to reach more organisations and help them safeguard their businesses.
New Delhi: As the final act of a long, rancorous and incendiary campaign for the Lok Sabha polls concluded, the saffron slogan Ab ki bar 400 paar could possibly be eluding the BJP-led NDA. While the BJP seemed confident of returning to power for the third consecutive time, low voter turnouts and factional fights in the hinterland have etched deep worry lines across the saffron forehead.

Sources revealed that before the sixth phase, senior BJP leaders and chief ministers held a meeting to assess the party's performance and decided to go all out to woo voters and galvanise party workers in the last remaining phases. Both the BJP and INDIA alliances are going all out to attract voters in Purvanchal (eastern Uttar Pradesh) in the hinterland in the last phase of polling on Saturday. Analysts have indicated that unless the Opposition manages to dent the BJPs sway over the Hindi heartland, the party is poised to romp home comfortably.

Of the 225 Lok Sabha seats in the Hindi heartland, the BJP had won 119 seats in 2019. As many as 57 Lok Sabha constituencies in eight states, including Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab and the Union territory of Chandigarh will go to the polls in the seventh and final phase on Saturday. Polling for the remaining 42 Assembly constituencies in Odisha will also take place simultaneously.

Despite its confidence about returning to power, the BJPs campaign underwent a significant transformation after the first two phases. Sensing that the anticipated enthusiasm for the construction of the Ram Mandir had not materialised and the development narrative (Viksit Bharat) had failed to gain traction with voters, the BJP pivoted sharply towards a more polarised approach. The party chose the Hindi heartland, the stronghold of Hindu nationalism, to launch a frontal attack on the minority community.

However, on the eve of the last phase of polling, opinion appears to be divided within the saffron camp over its electoral performance in Uttar Pradesh. While a section of BJP leaders fear that the party could lose at least 10-15 Lok Sabha seats in UP, others maintained it would yet again decimate the Opposition and bag nearly 70 seats in the state. The Opposition, on the other hand, has been claiming that theres a silent wave in favour of the Akhilesh Yadav-led Samajwadi Party. Besides the Muslim consolidation in favour of the INDIA bloc, a section of political experts felt the SP could also eat into the Jatav and non-Jatav vote banks of the Bahujan Samaj Party. During the 2019 general election, the BJP had won 62 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP.

While Rahul Gandhis victory in Rae Bareli appears to be a foregone conclusion, speculation is rife over the high-profile Amethi Lok Sabha seat, where BJP firebrand Smriti Irani is pitted against the Congress K.L. Sharma. The BJP strategists who initially predicted a comfortable win for Ms Irani are now talking of a close fight. On Saturday, all eyes will be on Varanasi, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is facing a challenge from Congress state unit president Ajay Rai. In 2014, Mr Modi decimated the AAPs Arvind Kejriwal by winning by a margin of around 3,70,000 votes. In 2019, Mr Modi trounced Samajwadi Partys Shalini Yadav by over 4,50,000 votes. Thirteen Lok Sabha seats, including Mr Modis Varanasi, will go to the polls in the final phase in UP on Saturday.

Delhi, with seven Lok Sabha seats, has emerged as a high-stakes battleground for the BJP after the arrest of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy scam and his subsequent release on interim bail. A section of BJP leaders felt the move to arrest Mr Kejriwal before the elections could adversely affect the BJPs 7-0 tally.

Unlike 2019, the BJP is apparently struggling to retain its clean sweep in Rajasthan. During the last general election, the BJP won 24 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in the desert state. One seat was won by BJP ally Rashtriya Loktantrik Party. If BJP insiders are believed, due to factional fights, the BJP was struggling in at least four seats. A section of party leaders pointed fingers at the BJPs former chief minister, Vasundhara Raje, for quietly sabotaging the partys prospects in the state. Similar predictions were being made by saffron spin doctors in Haryana, where the party is in trouble in at least two seats. In 2019, the BJP won all the 10 Lok Sabha seats in Haryana.

In Bihar, while the BJP is expected to retain most of the 17 seats it won during the 2019 polls, its ally, Nitish Kumars JD(U), could be slipping down the ladder. Sources revealed the JD(U) was struggling to retain the 16 seats it won last time. Nitishs loss could affect the NDA overall tally, a senior BJP leader said.

Ahead of the elections, some opinion polls had given an edge to the BJP in West Bengal. The Trinamul Congress managed to catch up as the polls closed in. However, the sudden resurgence of the CPI(M) in West Bengal seems to have complicated the electoral strategies of both the BJP and the TMC. The CPI(M)s growing influence threatens to erode the voter base of both outfits. In 2019, while the CPI(M) failed to open its account, the TMC won 22 of the 42 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The BJP stunned political pundits by winning 18 seats. The Congress won the remaining two seats.

Nine Lok Sabha seats going to the polls in West Bengal on Saturday were won by the TMC in the last general election. The Lok Sabha seats going to polls in the last phase are Kolkata (Uttar), Kolkata (Dakshin), Jadavpur, Diamond Harbour, Barasat, Bashirhat, Jaynagar, Dum Dum and Mathurapur. While BJP leaders claimed the party would improve its tally by winning at least 22 Lok Sabha berths, the TMC was confident of reducing BJP to a single digit.

In Odisha, with 21 Lok Sabha seats, the BJP won eight seats, BJD 12 and Congress one in 2019. The BJP is not only confident of increasing its tally but some leaders claim it will win at least 19 Lok Sabha seats.

Things look somewhat tricky for the BJP in Maharashtra, with 48 Lok Sabha seats. This could also be the state that could make or break the BJPs chase for a brute majority. In 2019, with the Shiv Sena as its ally, the BJP-led NDA won 41 Lok Sabha berths. After Uddhav Thackerays Shiv Sena split with the BJP and formed a government with secular parties, the BJP was accused of masterminding a split in both the Shiv Sena and the NCP. Local BJP leaders said after the Uddhav Thackeray government was toppled, public sympathy is shifting towards the Shiv Sena and Nationalist Congress Party. Party insiders suggest that leveraging Prime Minister Modis popularity and influence is crucial for the BJP to challenge the rising support for Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar.

Of the 13 Lok Sabha seats in Punjab, the BJP is struggling hard to retain its two Lok Sabha berths, which the party won in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

If the BJP has to retain its 2019 tally of 303 of 543 Lok Sabha seats or increase its numbers, it must not only retain its grip on the Hindi belt and the western and eastern parts of the country, but also eat into the Oppositions vote bank in South India. A fierce battle is raging between the BJP and the Opposition to win a majority of 130 seats in this region.

Of 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, the BJP had won 25 in 2019. But with a strong Congress government in the state, the BJP is facing a tough fight in at least five to seven seats, a party leader said. Of 17 Lok Sabha seats in Telangana, the BJP hopes to improve its tally from four to 10 seats. In Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, the BJP has repeatedly failed to make any inroads. In Tamil Nadu, relying heavily on the performance of state unit chief K. Annamalai, a former IPS officer, the BJP is trying to counter the DMKs sub-nationalism with its brand of cultural nationalism. In Andhra Pradesh, while the BJP is trying to reap electoral gain by latching on to N. Chandrababu Naidus TDP, the Congress, led by Y.S. Sharmila, sister of YSRCP leader Jagan Mohan Reddy, is looking for a revival. In UDF and LDF-dominated Kerala, the BJP has pinned its hope on two Lok Sabha berths -- Thrissur and Thiruvananthapuram -- where the party has fielded actor Suresh Gopi and Union minister of state Rajeev Chandrasekhar respectively.
The roadside tamarind trees were fair game

We shot at them with catapults and down came

A shower of brown fingers -- the ripe fruit

Sour but tasted sweet -- as it was loot.

The trees of mangoes blossomed in private yards

Protected by their owners and often canine guards --

No catapults and no thieving boys could climb

To steal the fruit we all consider sublime

Thus, tamarind and mangoes must each know their worth

As do we -- the rich or wretched of this earth!

From Gulley Bol, by Bachchoo

Trains, meetings, appointments were cancelled -- people werent. Till now.

Though cancelling someone brings to mind eliminating them gently, it doesnt mean that. It merely means shutting them up.

And so it was with Diane Abbott, who was suspended from membership of the Labour Party when she wrote in a national newspaper that black people were historically subject to graver forms of racism than Jews, Irish people, Travellers or redheads. I firmly believe this was a matter for debate, not an offence leading to cancellation.

Diane has, this week, been reinstated in the Labour Party and returns to Westminster as a Labour MP -- but! Yes BUT the deal to reinstate the whip may involve her not standing as a Labour candidate in the general election to be held on July 4.

Labour says no such deal was done. If it was, I am unhappy on her behalf.

Not only on her behalf -- on behalf of the cause of free opinionation, if not free speech. Obviously, free speech must not be allowed to spill over into threats or abuse. There may sometimes be a thin line between holding an opinion, expressing it and someone characterising that opinion or speech as offensive and meriting cancellation.

Two recent cases are studies in which this distinction is in question. To my mind, they are both unfair and wildly discriminatory against women of ethnic minorities in Britain.

Case one is that of the journalist and broadcaster Sangita Myska, who had a programme on the popular radio channel LBC. It was a talk show on which she interviewed politicians, people we have taken to calling celebrities and anyone in the news. In April, Sangita had as her guest Avi Hyman, an Israeli government spokesman.

The gist of Sangitas questions were about Israels bombing of the Iranian embassy in Damascus. The fellow Avi denied that there was any attack on an embassy, insisting that the bomb was aimed at an Iranian anti-Israeli terrorist leader. Sangita argued vigorously against Hyman, who has in the past maintained that the State of Israel owns (by Gods gift, I expect) the land from the Euphrates in Iraq to the Nile in Egypt. In all the interchange, robust though it was, I could discern no offence.

And yet, Sangita was promptly cancelled by LBC. Dismissed and replaced by a presenter with distinctly over-the-top right-wing inclinations.

Case two is that of the journalist and broadcaster Geeta Guru-Murthy. She wasnt quite cancelled but was certainly compelled by the BBC, for whom she works, to publicly humiliate herself.

The story: The extreme right-wing politician Nigel Farage, who as the former leader of the UKIP and Brexit parties and now the honorary president of its successor the Reform Party, is avowedly anti-immigration. Its his political careers central policy. This career includes standing for public office -- five of those as a parliamentary candidate -- and failing in all of them. In a speech in support of Reforms election campaign in Dover, he quoted the Polish Prime Minister as saying that aggressive young males were entering Poland as immigrants. My Polish is non-existent, so I cant assess how much of the quote was lost or enhanced in translation.

Geeta, insightfully, understood the sub-text of this quotation. Farage meant that admitting young Muslim men into Europe, including, mainly, into Britain, was inviting terrorists and endangering the population. On her programme on the BBC, she characterised Farages words as customary inflammatory language.

Nigel, who is spending most of his time supporting his friend Donald Trump in America, knew exactly what he intended his Dover audience to conclude from his characteristically anti-immigrant stance. He disingenuously complained on the social media that Geeta had contravened the BBCs impartiality rule. The cowardly BBC succumbed and forced Geeta into making an abject apology on air.

No doubt Farage might maintain that some of his best friends are immigrants and this might be true as the Tory ex-minister Priti Patels father, Sushil Patel, an immigrant from Africa, stood as an anti-immigration candidate for Farages UKIP in Hertfordshire.

Cancellation is not reserved for ethnic females. The writer J.K. Rowling and some academics who maintain that transgender people have the right to call themselves whatever they choose and live as free citizens in whatever role they adopt, but that gender is unchangeably assigned at birth, have also been challenged and variously cancelled.

I certainly have the right to assert that the earth is flat and I am free to join an aggressive campaign of the Flat Earth Society, but none of that changes the approximately round shape of the earth.

My safety from cancellation, despite all the above, is that I dont work for any broadcasting organisation and am not an MP and I am confident that the owners and editors of the Asian Age and Deccan Chronicle are not cancellation-wallahs.

Oh dear wait and see.
Production rose 73 per cent in the last 14 years. in a special report, The Daily Star explains that tobacco cultivation is very profitable, but comes with many negative effects on human health, as well as the environment since it is a major cause of carbon emissions, deforestation, and water pollution via pesticides.

Rome (AsiaNews/Agencies)  Despite Bangladesh's goal of becoming a tobacco-free country by 2040, a goal backed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and the common front of mayors that emerged in 2023 at a rally in Cox's Bazar, tobacco production per hectare rose by 21 per cent in the last five years, 73 per cent in the past 14 years, this according to The Daily Star.

In a long in-depth analysis published today, World No Tobacco Day, the Bangladeshi newspaper reports that the rise reflects big tobacco companies push for higher profits. But this comes with major risks, not only for smokers, but also for the environment, especially the soil and water.

Output has increased constantly in recent years. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE), this was made possible by higher yielding varieties, along with an intensive use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.

However, a 2017 report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) found that the more intensive use of fertilisers in these varieties is more harmful for the environment and farmers.

In 2016, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina promised to impose stricter tobacco controls to bring the country into line with the 2003 WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Although the effects of tobacco on human health are well-known (cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and respiratory illnesses), its impact on the environment are almost unknown.

The various effects of tobacco production can negatively affect soil fertility, contaminate water, and pollute the air on such a scale that it poses a much greater risk than the production of any other crop.

Tobacco is also a major cause of carbon emissions and deforestation: 300 cigarettes are equivalent to 1 tree.

Bangladesh is the 12th largest tobacco grower in the world as of 2020, according to the University of Bath, United Kingdom.

In 2022/2023, 65,227 tonnes of tobacco were produced on 26,475 hectares (65,421 acres) of land, that is 1 per cent of the country's arable land.

Although the sector is good for the Bangladeshi economy, as a major sources of tax revenue and exports, it carries high risks, such as the reckless use of pesticides. Combined with the natural characteristics of the plant, this can change the natural composition of water and soil.

As farmers often apply excessive chemical fertilisers and pesticides provided by the big tobacco companies for higher yields, the soil loses fertility and the nearby water turns toxic, according to a scientific study done in Kushtia, a major tobacco growing district, writes The Daily Star.

The effects on water are also not negligible. According to a 2022 WHO report, a single cigarette requires about 3.7 litres of water in its life cycle through cultivation, production, transportation, use, and disposal.

Tobacco needs eight times more water than crops like tomatoes and potatoes. The drinking water needs of one person can be met for an entire year with the amount of water used in producing, consuming, and disposing of a single kilogram of tobacco.

According to The Daily Star, The 2015 study in Kushtia shows that various hazardous residues, including 1,3-dichloropropene and aldicarb sulfoxide and aldicarb sulfonic toxic elements that come from pesticides, can enter the drainage aquifer and surface water and turn the water toxic.

One example is the Halda River, in the south of the country, where tobacco farming has compromised aquatic life, including some fish species.

Local farmers say they are aware of the risks. The Daily Star interviewed seven of them in Bandarban and Khagracchari, all of whom confirmed the negative effects on the environment and their health.

Yet they are attracted to tobacco farming because of the high profit margin compared to other crops made possible by the cash, input and technical support from tobacco companies, explains the paper.

According to a study by the Policy Research Institute, tobacco farmers earnings are 30 per cent higher than those of those who grow other crops.

These growers are contracted with large tobacco companies, first and foremost British American Tobacco (BAT), the main player in the sector.

According to the company's own data, almost 52,000 farmers were contracted in 2023, up from 30,000 in 2018, confirming the countrywide trend.
by card. Stephen Chow Sau-yan *

The bishop penned his thoughts about the "sensitive date, which is taboo in Hong Kong, in an article published yesterday by the diocesan weekly Sunday Examiner. In it, the bishop remembers the life sapping event that took place 35 years ago in Beijing on 4 June 1989. Although impossible to forget, he suggests to look at it through the eyes of Gods unconditional love who forgives even those who are not yet courageous enough to ask for it.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews)  The eve of 4 June, the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre, is upon us. This is a particularly sensitive date in Hong Kong, where the authorities have made any public commemoration impossible, to the point that no one dares mention it.

Only a few days ago, more people were arrested in connection with a Facebook page dedicated to the memory of the vigils that took place every year until 2019 to mark the anniversary.

This year, pro-Beijing groups are setting up stands in Victoria Park, where memorial rallies were once held, until 5 June to mask the emptiness of forbidden memory".

Against such a backdrop, Card Stephen Chow Sau-yan, bishop of Hong Kong, published this thoughts in the diocesan weekly Sunday Examiner to mark the 35th anniversary, which we publish below.

Shortly after his appointment in 2022, the prelate gave an interview to Mondo e Missione.

I joined Amnesty International[*] before 1989, he said on that occasion. The incidents of 1989[] made a big impression on me, putting me in touch with my identity as a Chinese. My personal story and that of the Chinese people were connected by that event.

We are once again very near to that time of the year. I would like to say something that conveys sadness and hope, co-existing in the life sapping event that took place 35 years ago in the capital city. No matter how much some might want this event to be settled, it remains unsettling for many. The human psyche is complex and has a will of its own, not an existent that always readily follows external demands. Maybe this is what makes us humans not always predictable, but profoundly interesting with unknown potentials.

What happened 35 years ago has left a deep wound in parts of our psyche, though it has been buried and scarred over. Yet, it remains a sore spot that requires proper attention for healing. And I am praying for that closure to happen. Having said that, I understand that we must not wait but to move on. A healthy life should not be stuck in a dark space of unending sorrows and resentment.

However, this does not mean I can forget what I saw and felt ever so deeply on that night and the following weeks. Even though my memories are no longer vivid, my heart has feelings that remain alive, particularly around this time of the year.

My faith, nonetheless, prompts me to forgive whoever and whatever. Maybe it is through forgiveness that the different parties can move beyond finger pointing and the painful I will never forgive mindset. With forgiveness already available, reconciliation and healing may stand a better chance of becoming a reality.

Our God is a God of unconditional love. His forgiveness is always available for those who need it but are not yet courageous enough to ask for it. Gods unconditional love for us is overwhelmingly expressed through the passion and death of his only Son, even when we are living in a state of unconfessed sinfulness.

Thankfully, it is through this self-sacrificial act of love that we are aware of our need for Gods forgiveness. And with the resurrection of the Son, we can enjoy a new beginning. Precisely because Gods forgiveness does not require our repentance, we can also learn to proactively forgive. Even though to forgive does not mean to forget, it does offer a pre-condition for our inner freedom and a brighter future for all.

Before I finish my reflection on this fateful time of the year, allow me to share a prayer with you here. Should you also feel inspired, I would be honoured to have you join me in prayer.

Oh, the Lord of history!

In prayers I have walked with the victims and their families in the past 35 years;

With no lack of occasional reflections and fluctuating sadness that seems unending at times.

Yet at the same time, I am holding fast to my hope in the risen Lord who has gone through death himself.

Now, I come before you in prayer.

In faith and hope, I entrust you, Lord, with the countrys democratic development. You who are forever just and wise.

Let me put on your yoke and learn from you.

That I may have a glimpse through your goodness and humility, the eternal desire of life.

Moving forward in love, supporting each other in addressing our contradictions, let us enjoy the beauty of trinitarian communion.

Oh Lord, please guide us! Please walk with us, the people of China!

Amen.

+ Cardinal Stephen Chow, SJ

[*] The cardinal is no longer a member of Amnesty International.

[] Tiananmen Square movement and its violent repression.
by Fady Noun

The celebrations in Zalhe, Christian centre of the Bekaa, an opportunity to return to talk about the crisis that has hit the country. For Christians (and non-Christians) in Lebanon, the presidential vacuum (since October 20222) is worse than the plague. It compromises the political entity itself, as the Greek Catholic archbishop emphasises. The rediscovery of faith against the trend towards secularisation.

Beirut (AsiaNews) - With the fervour of the early days, we pray that God will heal our beloved country from a disease even more malignant than the plague, a disease that is corroding its entity and its unique formula.

This is the cry of alarm raised yesterday by the Greek Catholic Archbishop of Zahle, Mgr Ibrahim Ibrahim, on the occasion of the feast of Corpus Christi, the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ. An anniversary that the important Christian centre has proudly commemorated since 1825, the year in which a procession of the Blessed Sacrament miraculously saved Zahle from a very serious plague epidemic.

As chance would have it, this cry is echoed - albeit unintentionally - by the warning issued on the same day by Jean-Yves Le Drian, President Emmanuel Macron's envoy to Lebanon, at the end of yet another failed mediation: if a head of state is not elected as soon as possible, it could be the end of political Lebanon, declared the former French foreign minister, while recalling that the country of the cedars has been without a president since the end of Michel Aoun's term in October 2022.

Addressing the faithful gathered in front of the seraglio building, Bishop Ibrahim stressed that the lack of a head of state compromises not only an office that remains vacant, creating a vacuum, but the entire Christian presence in Lebanon and the very destiny of the homeland.

In this regard, the prelate added, we must consider it a national duty to give our unwavering support to the Lebanese army and security forces as an irreplaceable instrument of internal security and stability. In this regard, it is worth mentioning that the army commander, General Joseph Aoun, is one of the three serious candidates in the presidential elections.

The Archbishop of Zahle also defended the principle of the intangibility of bank deposits and the condemnation of the main perpetrators of this sectoral crisis. He then called for a fair distribution of high state offices among all communities [Christians, Shiites, Sunnis, Druze] and demanded that Corpus Christi be officially proclaimed a public holiday in Zahle.

Significant historical event

The capital of the Bekaa, with its 52 churches, has considered itself a Eucharistic city since two centuries ago (1825), on the advice of a dream, the then archbishop Aghnatios Ajoury, managed to organise a procession of the Blessed Sacrament. An event that wound through the streets of the city, saving it from a plague epidemic that was raging in the region at the time.

This miracle is a historic event that left its mark on the general consciousness of the population, explains Georges Okais, a Greek Catholic MP and local member of the Lebanese Forces. The festival, adds the politician, is part of our spiritual heritage. Without it, Zahle would lose its identity.

Founded in the 18th century, the city has always had its own personality. With its 120,000 inhabitants, it is the largest purely Christian city in the Arab world. Located on the edge of the Bekaa plain, its importance grew in the 1700s when it became a railway crossroads and an important trading centre for goods and agricultural products between Beirut, Damascus and the hinterland.

Throughout history, the Greek Catholic bishop of Zahle has traditionally played a unifying role. Linked to the great families of the area, he has always had a say in affairs and matters concerning the city, as well as being the head of the Church.

Corpus Christi in Zahle is characterised by separate processions of all the churches present, both Catholic and Orthodox, which is unique in Lebanon. Starting at dawn, these separate processions converge on the city's seraglio, before uniting and spreading their monstrances throughout the neighbourhoods to the delight of the faithful of all ages, who come individually or in organised groups.

There is no shortage of confraternities, colleges, scout groups, Caritas volunteers, neighbourhood marching bands, etc., as well as residents who wait - dressed in full regalia - for the processions to pass under their balconies or by their places of rest.

The day begins at the crack of dawn and ends at the end of the ceremony around noon, in a joyful and festive atmosphere, with its devotional load. Lastly there is the solemn mass followed, for those still fasting from the morning, by the first coffee.

The service is broadcast live on its social channels by Zahle TV and is followed closely by the large Greek Catholic diasporas in Brazil and Canada, for an event that unites the inhabitants of Lebanon with expatriates and overseas migrants from all over the world.

Belonging means following in the footsteps of those who came before us, creating our own history and forging our own identity, says Nevine Hajj-Chahine, a historian married to a large landowner in the area. Somewhere, adds the Christian scholar, in this dominant trend of secularisation, we realise that the world is once again ordered according to a higher order, and I think this is wonderful.
by Steve Suwannarat

Thousands are camped at the airport, especially from Bangladesh and Nepal, waiting. The old quota system has been cancelled. Some 15 countries with specific agreements with Malaysia are involved. Foreigners are expected to cover about 15 per cent of the labour force by next year.

Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews)  New immigration rules have come into effect today in Malaysia, geared towards meeting the countrys developmental and labour needs. As a result, recruitment agencies and businesses will have less leeway in hiring foreign workers.

The new measures include a temporary freeze on foreign worker entries as of 1 June under the old quota system. This explains the rush of arrivals at the capital's airport ahead of tomorrows deadline, with special flights, especially from Bangladesh and Nepal, and thousands waiting at the airport.

Under the new rules, the government will be able set manpower levels before making any decision to expand existing quotas, according to Home Affairs Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

The new rules apply to migrants from 15 countries with which Malaysia has signed specific agreements. He goal is to cover 15 per cent of its total workforce in 2025.

The business community and migrant advocacy groups have criticised the new policy, concerned that too many restrictions will just add more red tape to the process.

Already under the old rules, thousands of workers were unable to get an entry visa for lack of proper documentation or discovered upon arrival that they had exceeded the quota.

In March, when the authorities decided to change course, some 2.17 million immigrants were present in the country, this according to official figures.

The new measures include a commitment to improve facilities for immigrants at Kuala Lumpur International Airport, with more desks to deal with bureaucratic procedures.

Water and food will also be provided given the long waits and medical examination requirements at the airport.

Bangladeshi authorities have expressed concern about the new rules. Since they signed a new agreement with their Malaysian counterparts in 2020, some 400,000 Bangladeshis have moved to the Southeast Asian country, the second in the world for the number of Bangladeshi migrants.

(Photo: Human Rights Watch)
News of the day: China abolishes preferential tariffs on imports of 134 Taiwanese products. Modi goes to meditate in a temple for 45 hours at the end of the election campaign. Illegally mined gold from Africa passes through the United Arab Emirates. South Korea wants to send a spacecraft to the moon by 2032.

PHILIPPINES

Despite the Philippine government's efforts to expand its fishing capacity, fish production in the country has reportedly decreased by between 60 and 80 per cent due to the degradation of the marine environment and intensive exploitation. This was denounced by Jonathan Anticamara of the Institute of Biology at the University of Philippines (UP). Government agencies provide thousands of boats and ships, but these are left lying around empty, said Anticamara.

CHINA-TAIWAN

China announced that it will remove preferential tariffs on 134 import products from Taiwan, blaming the island for continued discriminatory bans on goods from the mainland. The categories include machine tools and industrial chemicals. The new duties will come into effect on 15 June. The news comes just as the defence ministers of the People's Republic of China and the United States meet in Singapore today for the first time in 18 months in a face-to-face meeting in which they look forward to an easing of tensions around Taiwan.

RUSSIA-CHINA

A number of large Russian metal companies have begun selling production in China with payments in cryptocurrencies, circumventing international sanctions and using stablecoins linked to the US dollar, Bloomberg reports based on anonymous sources, according to which most of the transactions are carried out via Hong-Kong.

INDIA

With his election campaign over, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last night began a 45-hour meditation period at the famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu. He is meditating in the dhyan mandapam, the meeting point of the Indian Ocean, the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea at the place where Swami Vivekananda meditated in 1892 to gain a clear vision of India's future. Tomorrow India holds the last of seven election days that will determine the composition of the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament. The results will be released on 4 June.

SOUTH KOREA

President Yoon Suk Yeol said yesterday that South Korea will promote a space project to send an exploration vehicle to the Moon by 2032 and plant a national flag on Mars by 2045. Yoon unveiled a 100 trillion won (.5 billion) investment plan by 2045 during the opening ceremony of the new national space agency, the Korea AeroSpace Administration, in Sacheon, about 300 kilometres south of Seoul.

MALAYSIA

Kuala Lumpur International Airport is experiencing four to nine times the average number of migrant worker arrivals these days, as employers rush to let them in ahead of a visa squeeze set for 31 May. Videos circulating on social media show droves of migrant workers in the gate area of the two airport terminals, some of them sitting and lying on the floor. According to local media, there are about 2.17 million foreign workers in Malaysia.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

Over the past decade, the United Arab Emirates has been the main destination for tens of billions of dollars of gold smuggled illegally from Africa. This is according to a new report by the NGO Swissaid. According to data collected in 2022 alone, 435 metric tonnes of gold, worth more than USD 30 billion, were smuggled out of Africa, mostly extracted by artisanal or small-scale miners. Of this amount, about 405 tonnes of gold passed through the United Arab Emirates.
Tinder's The Green Flags Study

Tinder Green Flag Study Suggests Men & Women Want the Same Things While Dating

The Story

Have you ever felt like women are a completely different species from men?

If so, youre not alone. Much is made of the differences between genders. But a new study by Tinder suggests that, when it comes to dating, men and women may be more aligned than they realize.

RELATED: The Things Successful Guys Do on Tinder

The Snapshot

Tinders latest study, which theyre calling the Green Flags Study, polled 8,000 people from the U.S., the UK, Canada and Australia, and turned up a host of fascinating new data points

RELATED: What Are Green Flags in a Dating Context?

For instance, over half of both male and female respondents said they were looking for a romantic relationship, while over 90% each complained about the difficulty of dating.

Over three-quarters of both male and female respondents said they were seeking equal partnerships  but fascinatingly, while just under two-thirds of women believed men were primarily seeking casual sex, just over a quarter of men actually fit that description.

The study also noted that men and women were getting mixed up when it came to notions of chivalry. For instance, recognizing that women may feel less safe after dark, 59% of women felt that a guy making sure they got home alright counted as modern chivalrousness.

The Lesson

Of the study, Dr. Sara Konrath, a social psychologist at Indiana University, said it, reveals assumptions that young people have about each other: men and women are misjudging each others intentions in stereotypical ways.

Such stereotypes can be damaging to relationships, she notes. Staying curious and asking questions can help dig beyond the surface and lead to deeper connections.

RELATED: The Differences Between Men and Women

So next time you match with someone  try approaching the conversation with these statistics (and an open mind). It just might help you land a really good date.

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31 May 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

The European Unions offensive remarks and groundless accusations against the Republic of Azerbaijan are a clear testimony of the declining trust towards its leadership and institutions in Brussels.

In a comment, an American expert in the Caucasus and Central Asia Peter Tase told this for Azernews.

"Azerbaijan has a greater level of consciousness towards the full respect of human rights, more than the 27 EU member nations combined! Baku is in the avant-garde of shaping and improving democratic standards as well as respecting human rights. The people of Azerbaijan take special pride in defending the rights of Minorities and ensuring the integration of all 67 different ethnic groups living across the nation. The EU bureaucrats heavily intermingled into uncharted territory are seriously tarnishing Brussels role in solving pending geopolitical matters in Europe and the world."

Touching on the recent biased statement of the EU representative against Azerbaijan as well as the human rights situation in the country, Tase called Stanos thoughts on the country slander.

"Peter Stano, Spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy of the European Union (EU) has traditionally voiced unfair and completely false statements against the Republic of Azerbaijan and its democratically elected leadership. I have visited and lived in Azerbaijan regularly since 2014 and have witnessed firsthand how Azerbaijans institutions diligently fulfill all requirements of UN and EU towards respecting Human Rights across the nation," the expert said.

During his stay in Azerbaijan, he expressed that he was satisfied with all the subtleties, from the attitude of the people toward him to the management of legal mechanisms in the state structures.

"I have had the privilege to visit hospitals, universities, jails, schools, and Cultural Centres, from Heydarabad to Ismayilli and from Qabala to Oguz city; my entire experience and scholarly research in Azerbaijan have been outstanding and exceptional. My interaction with the people of Azerbaijan was always memorable due to the fact that I could see in their faces the decades-long suffering from not being able to return to their home villages in Garabagh and the other seven districts adjacent to this region," Peter Tase added in his comment.

Further to his comment, the American political expert said that there are serious mistakes in the political course of the EU regarding the South Caucasus and Azerbaijan in particular. He added that Europe is linked with the Armenian diaspora based on certain financial interests.

"EU is making a geopolitical mistake as it maintains a growing animosity and hostility towards the hard-working and peace-loving people of Azerbaijan. It is clear that various groups of interest with connections to the French government and Armenian diaspora organizations in Europe are certainly behind Mr. Stanos inflammatory rhetoric that has been surprisingly intensive over the past year," he concluded.

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Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1

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31 May 2024 16:25 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

"The World Bank plans to discuss monetization of carbon emission quotas with Azerbaijan."

Azernews reports that Florian Kitt, the World Bank's energy specialist, said this during the second annual report meeting of the Azerbaijan Rapid Technical Assistance Facility (AZTAF) funded by the European Union (EU) and managed by the World Bank (WB).

As I mentioned earlier, carbon and climate finance will be key to making the energy transition more affordable. We recently held our first workshop to look at the landscape of carbon and climate finance around the world. Admittedly, if you do not work deeply in this area, this picture can sometimes be quite confusing," he said.

According to him, there are several instruments such as carbon taxes and carbon markets.

"We are trying to find an optimal solution for Azerbaijan together with the government. Our goal is not to simply copy the experience of others, but to develop an approach that will be effective for the country and its economy. As part of the development of an energy transmission project called Azure, which involves the connection of one gigawatt of wind and solar power plants, we plan to discuss with the government the possibility of monetizing carbon dioxide emissions. At the same time, we will take into account the current legislation of Azerbaijan to ensure the successful implementation of the project," he noted.

Florian Kitt also added that the World Bank is ready to support Azerbaijan in increasing the efficiency of the heating system.

"Approximately 30 percent of energy consumption in the world falls on the share of buildings. In Azerbaijan, this figure is close to 38 percent only in the residential sector. If we add industry and other sectors, the indicator will reach 50 percent. The average energy consumption of buildings in Azerbaijan is close to 0.85 gigajoules," he said.

Kitt noted that the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Azerbaijan presented a plan of future measures to increase the efficiency of the heating system.

"We are ready to provide support in solving these issues, and as the World Bank, we are ready to discuss and provide financial support in the form of loans to the project in this direction," he said.

In addition, Florian Kitt said that carbon and climate finance play a key role in supporting the ambitious strategy of the Azerbaijani government to expand the use of renewable energy.

"Energy efficiency is the most accessible and fastest measure to reduce rapidly growing energy consumption due to the increase in heating, cooling and the use of cars. It can help reduce costs, allocate funds for other types of economic activity and support Azerbaijan's energy sector diversification strategy", - he said.

The energy expert noted that wind, solar, geothermal and bioenergy are areas that require special attention.

"We appreciate the support of our European partners who agree on the importance of promoting these themes in order to successfully implement Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and transition to a new economic framework based on renewable energy rather than oil and gas," he added.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
31 May 2024 17:23 (UTC+04:00)

Nazrin Abdul Read more

Elchin Amirbeyov, the Representative of the President of Azerbaijan for special tasks, noted the widespread interest among many countries to provide financial assistance for Azerbaijan's demining efforts, Azernews reports.

"Among these countries, Saudi Arabia stands out as a significant participant. We anticipate positive news in the near future. Additionally, our partners from neighboring regions are poised to contribute to these endeavors. Notably, the European Union leads the way as the primary donor in this domain and has expressed readiness to escalate its support," he added.

"However, Armenia's reluctance to furnish accurate information regarding mined areas remains a concern. The data provided thus far has been inadequate and ineffective. We remain hopeful that Armenia will respond to our request with more precise information. Such cooperation holds the potential to serve as a confidence-building measure between the parties," emphasized E. Amirbeyov.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Honored Artist of Azerbaijan Asmar Narimanbayova has represented the country at the International Art Symposium, which was held in the city of Kumanovo, North Macedonia, Azernews reports.

According to her, the symposium was held by the coordinator and organizer, artist Miki Tendrafilovski, as well as Vlazko Stojcevski with the support of the National Institution of the Cultural Center Traiko Prokopieva-Kumanovo.

"The symposium brought together interesting, talented and diverse artists on one site, a very pleasant creative exchange took place. There are many historical places and monuments in North Macedonia, which also encouraged creativity," Narimanbayova said.

During the symposium, artists created works, shared experiences, and held discussions about art.

A total of ten artists representing Azerbaijan, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkiye, Ukraine, and Bulgaria took part in the event.

Collective exhibitions were organized as part of the symposium. The first exhibition featured works by four artists - Asmar Narimanbayova (Azerbaijan), Mahpeyker Yonsel (Turkiye), Tatyana Didenko (Ukraine) and Mika Tendrafilovski (North Macedonia).

At the second exposition, all participants of the international art symposium demonstrated their art works.

Note that Asmar Narimanbayova was born in a family of eminent artists. Her father Togrul Narimanbayov, was a world-famous Azerbaijani artist, while her mother Elmira Huseynova was a sculptor.

Asmar grew up in the atmosphere of love to art, music and literature. She is an artist full of light, wide and enthusiastic soul. While creating works in different styles starting from fauvism to impressionism, then from post impressionism to cubism and expressionism, the artist has found her individual creative manner of the letter, the original color sensation acting as a composition dominant. She has been characterized for her bold and engaging style.

Colors in her artworks fill the form with dynamics and saturate her canvas with the strong energy.

Narimanbayova's works are displayed in exhibitions, international festivals and symposiums all over the world.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
31 May 2024 15:33 (UTC+04:00)

Laman Ismayilova Read more

Azerbaijan Writers' Union has hosted a book presentation "Qadir Aslan-80" published on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the writer, publicist, Honored Journalist Qadir Aslan, Azernews reports.

The leadership of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union, well-known science, culture and public figures participated in the presentation ceremony.

Before the event, the chairman of Azerbaijan Writers' Union, People's Writer Anar Rzayev met with Qadir Aslan and said that the Azerbaijan Writers' Union highly appreciates his rich creativity.

Conveying good and sincere wishes for the anniversary, Anar Rzayev presented Qadir Aslan with an honorary membership card of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union.

Next, the commemorative book "Qadir Aslan - 80" was presented to the readers in the Natavan club of the Writers' Union.

Secretary of International Relations and Translation Affairs of the Azerbaijan International Relations and Translation Affairs Salim Babullaoglu, who spoke at the ceremony, noted that the book features Qadir Aslan's fundamental articles as well as opinions and pleasant memories of well-known science, education, culture and public figures regarding the rich creativity of the jubilee were printed in the book.

Stating that Qadir Aslan has multifaceted creative possibilities, S. Babullaoglu presented a congratulatory letter and a commemorative gift prepared on behalf of the secretariat of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union to the jubilee.

Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Press Council, Deputy Chairman of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union Rashad Majid expressed his gratitude to the Azerbaijan Writers' Union and personally to the author of the book, Salim Babullaoglu, for the release of such a valuable book, which includes Qadir Aslan's work.

"The book reflects the creative life of Qadir Aslan. Qadir Aslan's professional journalistic activity is still important and necessary for us today. I can say with full responsibility that the professional journalistic activities of Gadir Aslan can be shown as an example to the present and future generations," said Rashad Majid.

Congratulating the writer-publicist on his jubilee, Rashad Majid Qadir presented Aslan with an honorary diploma of the Press Council.

Honored Artist Rafiq Hashimov, Deputy Chairman of Azerbaijan Television and Radio Broadcasting Closed Joint Stock Company, Professor Almaz Ulvi, editor-in-chief of Ulduz magazine Gulu Agses and other well-known figures spoke about the artistic and social merits of Qadir Aslan's work at the event.

At the ceremony, Qadir Aslan expressed his gratitude to the staff of the Azerbaijan Writers' Union for the high value given to his work and the publication of such a valuable book about him.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @lmntypewriterrr

Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
31 May 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00)

The Great Return to the lands of Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur, freed from occupation, continues.

According to the order of President Ilham Aliyev, the next migration caravan has been sent to the city of Lachin under the "Great Return" program.

According to Azernews, the next migration caravan consisting of families temporarily settled in hostels, sanatoriums, pioneer camps, unfinished buildings, and administrative buildings in different areas of the republic left on May 31 from Garadagh district of Baku city. At this stage, another 20 families - 68 people - were moved to Lachin city. Thus far, 513 families, i.e. 1906 people, have been permanently settled in the city of Lachin.

As a result of the victory won by the brave Azerbaijani army under the leadership of President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Muzaffar Ilham Aliyev, it was possible for IDPs to return to their homeland voluntarily, safely and with dignity after 30 years. Residents of Lachin, who returned to their homeland, thanked President Ilham Aliyeva and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for being surrounded by comprehensive state care. They also expressed their gratitude to the brave Azerbaijani Army, our heroic soldiers and officers, who saved our land from occupation, and wished mercy to our martyrs who died on this road, and patience to their families.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
31 May 2024 12:59 (UTC+04:00)

Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait has sent a letter of congratulation to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28-Azerbaijan's Independence Day.

Azernews presents the letter:

"His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Your Excellency,

I am pleased to extend to you my sincere congratulations on the anniversary of the national holiday of your friendly country - the Independence Day.

Taking this opportunity, I express my wish for the continued development of the existing strong relations between our friendly countries and peoples.

Dear Mr. President, I wish you long life, good health, and continuous progress and prosperity to the friendly people of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Respectfully,

Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait"

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31 May 2024 13:19 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

The four directions of the Administrative Agreement on the Azerbaijan Rapid Technical Assistance Facility (AZTAF) are nearing completion, Azernews reports that this was stated by the World Banks country manager for Azerbaijan, Stefanie Stallmeister, during the second annual report meeting on AZTAF, which is financed by the European Union (EU) and managed by the World Bank.

"AZTAF is a technical assistance program funded by the EU and implemented by the World Bank. The program was created in close cooperation with the Azerbaijani government and the Ministry of Economy as the main partners, as well as consultations with other state institutions. AZTAF aims to support the key goals and priorities of national development as outlined in Azerbaijan's socio-economic development strategy for 2022-2026," she said.

Stallmeister noted that the activities of AZTAF in providing technical assistance directly support the implementation of the measures and main directions of this strategy.

"The program covers a broad spectrum of topics, from energy efficiency to women's entrepreneurship and 'smart' villages, encompassing a total of nine areas. It is encouraging that all nine areas, which we will learn more about today, are actively promoted towards achieving development goals, and four of these measures are already nearing completion," she added.

It should be noted that the AZTAF program was launched to support the Azerbaijani government in achieving the development goals of the "Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
31 May 2024 15:15 (UTC+04:00)

Fatima Latifova Read more

Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov met with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir, within his official visit to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Azernews reports.

During the meeting, the prospects of cooperation in the fields of defense and military, as well as the issues of cooperation between the specialized institutions of the two countries in the field of defense industry were discussed.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov emphasized the importance of mutual visits and close contacts for cooperation in the military-technical field between Azerbaijan and brother Pakistan.

The importance of bilateral military exercises for enhancing the effectiveness of activities between the Armed Forces of the two countries, as well as conducting an exchange of experience among the respective military branches, and the significance of trilateral military drills in the Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Pakistan format was noted.

Minister Jeyhun Bayramov also informed his interlocutor about the peace agenda and normalization process between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the recent agreements reached in the process of returning 4 villages of Azerbaijan and delimiting a certain part of the border.

During the meeting, other bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest were exchanged.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
31 May 2024 17:01 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

"The partnership between the European Union and Azerbaijan is placing a strong emphasis on the "green" transformation."

Azernews reports that Duhot Hubert, Deputy Head of Unit at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations said this.

Speaking at the 3rd International Humanitarian Demining Conference on "Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for a Safe and Green Future," Hubert highlighted the opportunities for cooperation and support in economic transformations linked to green initiatives.

"The EU has developed an Economic Investment Plan for the region, including Azerbaijan, and is ready to invest in economic transformation. I believe Azerbaijan has great potential in this area," he added.

The European Union has expressed its unwavering commitment to actively support Azerbaijan in its mine clearance activities, Duhot Hubert, Deputy Head of Unit at the European Commission's Directorate-General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations, said at the 3rd International Humanitarian Demining Conference on Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for a Safe and Green Future."

Mine action remains an EU priority in Azerbaijan, as we witnessed firsthand in Zangilan, stated Hubert. He highlighted the importance of international support and cooperation with global donors, proudly acknowledging the European Union and its member states as the primary international contributors to mine action efforts.

The recent launch of the Team Europe mine action initiative in early May serves as a testament to the EUs commitment to aiding Azerbaijan, he noted. This platform aims to expand EU support and recognizes mine action as a pivotal component of Azerbaijan's socio-economic agenda and the region's overall development, he said.

Hubert further emphasized that mine action is just the beginning of a long-term process, with the EU also focusing on supporting the economic recovery and environmental transformation of the affected region.

The conference participants were impressed by the swift progress of restoration work in Zangilan, he added.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
31 May 2024 20:18 (UTC+04:00)

By Farman Aydin, AZERNEWS

It is unfortunate to say that many forces in the Russian State Duma are worried about the progress towards peace in Armenian-Azerbaijani relations. Konstantin Fyodorovich Zatulin, who repeatedly supported the separatist elements involved in the crimes in Garabagh in his speeches and always did not back down from his biased position against Azerbaijan, is one of them. Although he went into hibernation mode for a long time, in recent days he appeared on the headlines again with his empty and incoherent comments on regional issues because he was very much worried about the positive trend emerging in the peace process.

Today, there is no excuse or means left for Zatulin to ignite the conflict and slow down the negotiation process. The time for him and other anti-peace and anti-Azerbaijani-spirited rhetoricians like him is long over. However, this politician, who was resurrected in the political arena, continues to toxicate the environment with his venomous speeches.

Zatulin, in addition to embodying some nasty characters, is also a skilled liar. This talent was genetically transferred to him from the Armenian separatists, whom he constantly defended. Although it is not yet known what gender he carries in his blood, some of Zatulin's behavior reflects more separatist Armenian symptoms. This biased politician, who could not find any valid excuse, started interfering in the issue of the "churches" which is topical in Armenia.

It should be recalled that during the occupation, Armenians built several churches in the territories of Azerbaijan with the desire to create artificial historical monuments. It has been confirmed by historians that some of those churches belong to ancient Albanian churches. Other fake churches were completely demolished. Despite this, the Armenian lobby has begun to discuss the issue on a global scale to further escalate the post-conflict in the region. The Armenian lobby, which claims that these churches were vandalized, based on the photo images of various types of satellite maps, is still trying to draw the attention of conflict enthusiasts like Zatulin to the region by exaggerating the issue. This was not a successful step. It just caused some activation of harmful elements against the region.

The ongoing processes in Armenia are clear to everyone. On the one hand, there is the church, and on the other hand, the former clan members and former leaders of Armenia hiding behind them - figures accused of crimes, such as Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan.

Zatulin's provocative views against Azerbaijan at the 6th meeting of the Lazarev Club in Moscow directly exposed his position. He claims that Azerbaijan allegedly "Albanizes" Armenian churches. Although he does not know exactly about it, and acts according to the instructions he received, the decisions made by Azerbaijan in its sovereign territories are "crimes". That is, according to Zatulin, the decision made by Azerbaijan on the historicity of a fake church is considered illegal. By disrespecting international law, Zatulin just shows his ignorance and also contradicts the principles of mutual relations between Russia and Azerbaijan. In addition to ignoring the position of the Russian state towards Azerbaijan, he also tries to undermine the stability in the South Caucasus.

Does Zatulin not know how many Russians, Armenians, and thousands of ethnic minorities live in peace in Azerbaijan?

Zatulin is just looking for a topic with the meager numbers presented by the Armenians. However, the real issue is the atrocities committed by Armenians in Garabagh for 30 years, turning mosques into piggeries and cattle sheds and destroying historical monuments. He continues the same political course as the pro-Armenian Western, particularly French politicians with sick imaginations. However, he forgets that being in such a position and against Azerbaijan has not yet benefited anyone in the political realm. It is clear that the blind eye of his insight made him get stuck in the tangled web of politics and forget that one day he will disappear from the world of politics like the ones before him.

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Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
30 May 2024 18:40 (UTC+04:00)

Alexander Stubb, President of the Republic of Finland, made a phone call to Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, on May 30, Azernews reports.

During the phone conversation, they exchanged views on Azerbaijan's chairmanship of COP29 and political issues in the region.

The President of Finland confirmed his participation in COP29 in response to President Ilham Aliyevs invitation.

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31 May 2024 18:41 (UTC+04:00)

Katerina Sakellaropoulou, President of the Hellenic Republic has sent a letter of congratulation to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in connection with the Independence Day of Azerbaijan.

Azernews presents the letter:

His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Excellency,

On behalf of the people of Greece and on my own behalf, I would like to extend to you my sincere congratulations on the occasion of the Independence Day of Azerbaijan, and wish the people of Azerbaijan prosperity and progress.

I am confident that the cooperation and dialogue between Greece and Azerbaijan will be expanded for the mutual benefit of our countries, based on the protection of the principles of the UN Charter and respect for international law.

Please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration, as well as my best wishes on the occasion of your country's national holiday.

Sincerely,

Katerina Sakellaropoulou

President of the Hellenic Republic

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31 May 2024 23:35 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

China and 5 Central Asian states  Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan  have established a mechanism for cooperation in the field of emergency management, Azernews reports.

At a meeting held in Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China, a memorandum of understanding on the creation of a cooperation mechanism was signed.

According to the document, the parties announced the creation of a working group on cooperation in the field of emergency management. This mechanism will serve to expand practical cooperation between the six countries.

The parties also approved a plan of cooperation in the field of emergency management for 2024-2026.

---

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31 May 2024 21:50 (UTC+04:00)

By ALimat Aliyeva

The Chinese authorities are imposing restrictions on the export of technologies, software and equipment used in the aviation industry, Azernews reports.

Export restrictions will come into force on July 1, according to a joint statement from the Ministry of Commerce, the General Customs Administration (GTU) and the Central Military Council of the People's Republic of China. They will affect, in particular, aircraft engines, gas turbine engines, as well as polyethylene fiber used in military and aviation equipment.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce explains such a step for reasons of national security, noting that export restrictions are not aimed at any individual countries or regions.

Companies wishing to export products and technologies subject to restrictions will have to request permission from the Ministry of Trade.

According to GTU data cited by the South China Morning Post newspaper, the United States, Germany and Saudi Arabia occupied the top three places in the list of the largest importers of Chinese products for the aviation sector in January-April 2024.

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31 May 2024 19:02 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijans Minister of Defense, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov met with a delegation led by Chief of the Main Intelligence Department of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkiye, Colonel General Ismail Gunaydin, who is on an official visit to the country, Azernews reports.

Minister Zakir Hasanov emphasized that sincere relations between the heads of state have a positive impact on the sphere of military cooperation as on other spheres.

Expressing satisfaction with his visit to the fraternal country on May 29-30 this year at the invitation of Minister of National Defense of Turkiye Yasar Guler, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov commended the organization of the EFES-2024 multinational exercise in Turkiye and servicemens professionalism.

Colonel General Ismail Gunaydn, in his turn, thanked for the hospitality. He noted that the friendly and fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye are based on mutual trust and support.

During the meeting, the sides discussed the current state of and prospects for the development of cooperation in the military and military-educational spheres, as well as emphasized the importance of events held within the Azerbaijani-Turkish High-Level Military Dialogue Meeting.

Then First Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan  Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, Colonel General Karim Valiyev met with the Turkish delegation.

During the meeting at the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, the sides hailed the current state of bilateral military cooperation between two countries. They underlined the importance of such meetings in expanding mutual cooperation between the two fraternal countries.

The sides also exchanged views on a number of issues of mutual interest.

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Officials Warn More Than 20 Sickened by Mussels Collected on North Oregon Coast

Published 5/29/24 at 3:25 a.m.

By Andre' Hagestedt, Oregon Coast Beach Connection

(Cannon Beach, Oregon)  More than 20 people have become sick after eating mussels that were harvested from the north Oregon coast, found in a stretch from Hug Point near Cannon Beach down through Short Beach next to Oceanside. They were sickened by a naturally occurring biotoxin called paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) that has been found in mussels all the way from Seal Rock up through Washington coast border. (Above: Seal Rock, Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

Just as Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) closed off that area to mussel harvesting, Oregon Health Authority (OHA) officials discovered the illnesses.

Now Oregon officials are urging you to throw out all mussels that were acquired in that region: on most of the northern half of the coast, from roughly Waldport up through Astoria.

Some of the cases have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported, said OHA in a report.

Clatsop County (which includes Cannon Beach, Seaside, Gearhart, Warrenton and Astoria) sent out a health alert as well.

Throw away any mussels picked since Saturday from Washington border to Seal Rock State Recreation Site south of Newport, OR., said Clatsop County in its alert.

That was also a statement made by OHA.



Oceanside

On May 23, Oregon coast officials closed off mussel harvesting from Seal Rock through Cape Lookout (which is between Pacific City and Oceanside.) Test of the shellfish had shown levels of PSP were above the safety limit. Just a few days later, tests called for the closure of the rest of the north coast.

Mussel harvesting remains safe from about Waldport southward through the California border. That area includes Yachats, Florence, Reedsport, Coos Bay, Bandon, Port Orford, Gold Beach and Brookings.

OHA said anyone experiencing any of the symptoms of PSP should seek medical attention immediately, if they have also consumed mussels from the Oregon coast.

These symptoms include numbness of the mouth and lips, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and in severe cases, shortness of breath or irregular heartbeat. Much more serious cases with large doses of toxin can include poor muscle control, clumsiness or slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, loose or floppy limbs, mental status changes, and respiratory failure.

You can also call the Oregon Poison Center at 800-222-1222.

OHA epidemiologist Emilio DeBess said do not give these mussels to pets, either.

We have two messages: If you have any mussels gathered since Saturday from beaches within the area of coastline that ODFW and ODA closed to harvesting - that you are preparing for a meal or keeping in the freezer for a later time - throw them out now and do not feed them to pets, he said. There is no antidote for PSP  treatment involves supportive care and, if necessary, respiratory support.

PSP can be deadly, especially for children. Appropriate medical care can lessen the risk of death.

Do not attempt to cook them: you cannot get rid of the poison that way. You also cannot taste the biotoxin.

PSP is a foodborne illness caused by saxitoxins produced by marine algae and caused by eating shellfish contaminated with the naturally occurring biotoxin, including scallops, mussels, clams, oysters and cockles, as well as some fish and crabs, DeBess said.

The symptoms often show up within 30 to 60 minutes after a person eats them.

Those more than 20 individuals who got sick acquired the mussels at either Hug Point or Short Beach over the weekend.



ODFW

OHA said it expects more people will show up with the toxin.

Razor clamming and crabbing are unaffected by PSP at this time, although there is another biotoxin (domoic acid) that has closed off razor clamming from Port Orford to the south.

Bay clams and crabs are still safe and available for harvesting along the entire Oregon coast.

Commercial harvesting of mussels in Oregon are not affected, meaning all seafood found in local stores is safe.

Also see:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:



Oregon Department of Agriculture Recreational Shellfish Biotoxin Closure:



Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Shellfish and Biotoxins:



Oregon Health Authority Fish and Shellfish Consumption Resources:

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Mystery on N. Oregon Coast After Calls for Help Heard at Oceanside, Possible Missing People

Published 5/27/24 at 9:15 p.m.

By Andre' Hagestedt, Oregon Coast Beach Connection

(Oceanside, Oregon)  Since the early hours of Monday, the Netarts-Oceanside Fire District has had a bit of a mystery on its hands. Around 4 a.m., volunteers had a small group of people come into the fire station and report hearing calls for help around Maxwell Point  the promontory that juts out from Oceanside. (Photos courtesy Netarts-Oceanside Fire District: responders put yellow tape and notes for the bike owners to call them)

Shortly after, fire district volunteers discovered two bikes leaning up against the fence by the beach access, and they've been left unattended since at least Monday afternoon. After a good deal of searching, responders on the north Oregon coast were unable to find anyone or signs of an incident.

They are currently asking the public if anyone that had been in the Oceanside area that day and saw anything to report it to Tillamook County Sheriff's Office at 503-815-1911.

Netarts-Oceanside fire chief Jeff McBrayer told Oregon Coast Beach Connection Monday evening it's all very weird.

Someone heard calls for help coming from the rocks, McBrayer said. We don't know exactly where: they just said between Oceanside's beach and Tunnel Beach. From the rocks, is all we know. We don't have an exact pinpoint.



Photos courtesy Netarts-Oceanside Fire District

The pair of bikes were apparently still there later in the afternoon, McBrayer said. He had not been been able to check back in the evening because of so many calls: fire volunteers had been extremely busy this holiday.

We wrapped yellow tape around them, left a note to the owners to call in if these were their bikes, McBrayer told Oregon Coast Beach Connection. We don't know if they were on the rocks or in the water. They just said 'the point.' 

Fire volunteers conducted their own search, arriving on scene with their rescue truck and soon other authorities arrived.

We conducted a search of Tunnel Beach, Oceanside Beach and the tunnel, McBrayer said.

The US Coast Guard deployed a search vessel from Garibaldi and a helicopter from Astoria.

They searched for about two hours, McBrayer said.

The US Coast Guard also searched Lost Boy Beach, a hidden section of Oceanside between Tunnel Beach and Short Beach which has had a history of presenting its own dangers.



Photo Oregon Coast Beach Connection showing the point as it usually is: under water.

He noted currents were moving away from this general area.

Tunnel Beach is a place known for its dangers. It's a thin slice of a beach that is right up against a soaring cliff with only about 50 feet of beach at the most. The tip of Maxwell Point sometimes gets wayward explorers and people often figure out rather quickly this is a dangerous spot when they get splashed by waves.

In the past, there have been incidences of the tunnel getting covered by a landslide and visitors on the other side needing rescue. One such incident in the '90s included a man who managed to climb his way up the cliff and get help.

In late 2020, one group of people were caught behind a landslide and required rescue. Famed Tunnel on Oregon Coast Covered by Rockslide; Some Needed Rescue. MORE PHOTOW BELOW:

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Epoch News is reporting:

Former President Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, as a jury of 12 unanimously returned their verdict on May 30 after less than two days of deliberation. With this result, President Trump becomes the first ever American president to be convicted of a crime.

As the verdicts were read, President Trump sat still, didnt show emotion, and looked straight ahead.

President Trumps attorney has previously vowed to appeal a conviction expeditiously.

Judge Juan Merchan set the sentencing hearing for 10 a.m. on July 11. This is four days before the Republican National Convention where the former president is set to be formally designated as GOP nominee. President Trump is not barred from running for president as a convicted felon.

President Trump blasted the decision, pledging to contest the conviction.

This was a rigged decision right from day one. And we will fight for our Constitution, he said outside the courtroom.

Jury Reaches Verdict in Trump NYC Trial

The verdict comes after a six-week trial with 22 witness testimonies. Closing arguments were made on May 28, and the jury began deliberations shortly before noon the next day. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg had charged President Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, a class E felony.

Prosecutors alleged that President Trump fraudulently misclassified hush money payments to adult film actress Stephanie Clifford as part of an attempt to interfere with the 2016 presidential election.

President Trump has repeatedly called the criminal case political persecution and an act of election interference. He faces three other prosecutions in Washington, Georgia, and Florida over his efforts to contest the 2020 election results and handling of classified documents.

White House Defends Use of Trump Trial for Campaign

The Biden campaign responded to the conviction, saying that today we saw that no one is above the law,

Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain, Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director Michael Tyler said in the statement.

But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.

The White House spokesperson Ian Sams, in a post on X, formerly Twitter, declined to comment on the verdict, other than saying, We respect the rule of law.

Meanwhile, Republicans were swift to condemn the decision.

Today is a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), said in a statement posted on X.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) called it a sad day for America, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) called the verdict a travesty of Justice.

Some Democrats celebrated the conviction, reiterating the message that no one is above the law.

Donald Trump is a convicted felon. This verdict is not a win for any single person. Its a win for an idea. The idea that we all follow the same rules. The rule of law won today, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) posted on X.New York Fraud Law

Manhatten prosecutors charged President Trump with felony-level business records falsification, which requires the fraud to be carried out to commit or conceal another crime.

Prosecutors alleged that the secondary crime is a New York election law that criminalizes conspiracy to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means.

The unlawful means identified by prosecutors were violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act, the falsification of other business records, or violations of tax laws. Judge Merchan ruled that the jury did not have to unanimously agree on what the unlawful means was.

The prosecution also did not have to prove that the secondary crime was in fact committed.

The jury was instructed on the concept of accessorial liability, which explains that President Trump did not have to commit the crimes himself to be held criminally liable.

Competing Narratives

During closing arguments on May 28, defense attorneys spent two and a half hours trying to convince the jury the government had failed to prove its case.

Defense attorney Todd Blanche reminded jurors that key elements of the casePresident Trumps knowledge and involvement, and the method for the allegedly misclassified paymentshinged on ex-lawyer and witness Michael Cohen, who shared personal reasons for wanting to see his former boss punished.

He lied to Congress. He lied to prosecutors. He lied to his family and business associates, Mr. Blanche said of Mr. Cohen, calling him the MVP of liars. He asked jurors to question whether Mr. Cohen truly seemed the type to do work for President Trump for no pay in 2017 and 2018, after receiving a $525,000 salary during his decade at Trump Organization.

Prosecutors spent five hours, twice the time the defense took, to recap their case and try to convince the jury there was overwhelming evidence.

Prosecuting attorney Joshua Steinglass acknowledged their flawed witnesses, arguing the government didnt choose Mr. Cohen to be their key witness, but that President Trump chose him to be his fixer. He claimed Mr. Cohen was the only alleged coconspirator to have paid for his role in a scheme to influence the election, and his animosity toward the former president was only to be expected.

He made his bed. But you can hardly blame him for making money from the one thing he has left, which is his knowledge of the inner workings of the Trump Organization, Mr. Steinglass argued.

He pointed to a secret recording Mr. Cohen made of his boss, capturing a truncated conversation, and the contract Mr. Cohen signed to secure a story that he believed would damage the Trump campaign, arguing this showed a cavalier willingness to hide this payoffthe intent to defraud.34 Records

The 34 records in question included 11 checks issued to Michael Cohen, formerly a personal attorney to President Trump, totaling $420,000 over 11 months in 2017, along with their corresponding invoices and vouchers. The additional single record is due to a lost check that necessitated the creation of a replacement to pay Mr. Cohen.

Mr. Cohen testified that he paid $130,000 to Stephanie Clifford, better known as adult performer Stormy Daniels, in a non-disclosure settlement agreement, to prevent the publication of a story that then-candidate Trump believed would hurt his campaign.

Ms. Clifford claimed she had a story about a sexual encounter with Mr. Trump in 2006, and that media outlets were interested in this story after an Access Hollywood tape of Mr. Trump recorded via a hot mic was released. At trial, Ms. Clifford testified about this alleged sexual encounter, which President Trump has denied.

Mr. Cohen testified that he made this payment in 2016 with the understanding that his employer, then-candidate Trump, would reimburse him. The deal was closed less than a month before the election, and Mr. Cohen testified he originally intended to delay payment until after the election, after which he claimed his boss said it would not matter if the story was published and thus the $130,000 would no longer need to be paid.

On the witness stand, Mr. Cohen painted the picture of urgency in mid-October 2016, when representatives for Ms. Clifford pressed him for payment and said he only wanted to make his boss happy. He testified that, with Mr. Trumps approval, he made the payment.

He also testified to being intensely angry later that year, when he discovered his bonus had been cut by two-thirds from what he typically received.

It prompted discussions with former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, who purportedly drew up plans to reimburse Mr. Cohen $130,000 for the payment to Ms. Clifford and $50,000 for an earlier payment to Red Finch, which he said he still hadnt been reimbursed for. The sum was then doubled to $360,000 to account for taxes, and Mr. Weisselberg added $60,000 to supplement Mr. Cohens bonus.

Prosecutors had claimed Mr. Weisselbergs grossing up the figures for tax purposes was evidence he intended to camouflage reimbursement as income.

This $420,000 was then paid to Mr. Cohen via monthly checks throughout 2017. At trial, prosecutors sought to show that President Trump had caused false records to be entered when Mr. Weisselberg, acting as a co-conspirator, directed his comptroller Jeffrey McConney and bookkeeper Deb Tarasoff to process these payments.

President Trump was not directly charged with conspiracy, and prosecutors had no burden to prove either the goal or the state of mind behind any alleged conspiracy.
Newsweek is reporting:

President Joe Biden has suggested he will appoint progressive justices to the Supreme Court if he wins a second term in the White House in November.

"The next president, they're going to be able to appoint a couple of justices... Look, if in fact we're able to change some of the justices when they retire and put in really progressive judges like we've always had, tell me that won't change your life," he said during a campaign rally in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

The conservative justices appointed by his rival, former President Donald Trump, are "already gutting voting rights, overturning Roe, decimating affirmative action, and so much more," Biden said. "Are we going to let that happen? We can't."

Newsweek has contacted the Biden and Trump campaigns for comment via email.

The comments serve as a warning about the high stakes of November's election, given Trump's appointment of three justices in one term in office cemented the Supreme Court's 6-3 conservative majority.

Two of the court's conservative justicesClarence Thomas and Samuel Alitoare in their seventies, while Sonia Sotomayor, a liberal, will turn 70 next month.

If Biden wins in November and has the opportunity to nominate justices to replace any who retire, his appointments could affect the country for decades.

Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, has promised to appoint more conservative justices if he wins back the White House.

"You know many presidents never get the opportunity to appoint a Supreme Court justice. I had three, they are gold," he said at an event in 2023. "And maybe we'll get three or four more. Can you imagine? Let's have seven. Let's have seven or eight or maybe even nine."

Biden's comments on Wednesday were part of a renewed effort to mobilize Black voters ahead of November's election. Black voters helped secure Biden's 2020 win, but some polling has suggested Biden is losing support among the key demographic.

At Girard College, a boarding school with a predominantly Black student body, Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris thanked Black voters for sending them to the White House in 2020 and argued that their agenda has massively improved the lives of Black Americans.

Biden pointed to his appointment of Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black female justice on the Supreme Court as a "promise made and a promise kept."

"Because you voted, I was able to keep my commitment to appoint the first Black woman on the United States Supreme CourtJustice Ketanji Brown Jackson," he said.

"And I appointed more Black women to the federal circuit courts than every other president in American history combined."

Harris also pointed to the lasting impact of Trump's presidency on the nation's highest court, saying he had "handpicked three members" of the Supreme Court "with the intention that they would overturn Roe vs. Wade," the landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide.

"And as he intended, they did," Harris said. "If he wins a second term, I promise you: He's going to go even further. So, all of this is to say, who sits in the White House matters."
Now that Kamala Harris has been coronated the Democratic Socialist designee for nomination as their candidate for President of these United States, after that political party's contrived primary process "democratically" elected Joseph R. Biden: What are your feelings about this party's progressive posture within their self-styled exercise of "Saving Democracy for America," and how truly critical the outcome of this presidential election will be?

8.7% I am ecstatic that this "Democracy's" First partially Black, First partially Indian, First female Co-Parent, and this nation's primary necessity is to her elect our First woman president.26.09% I really do not care about all these "Firsts." I will continue to pray, and work for this Representative Republic to elect someone competent, and brilliantly patriotic to be our next president.65.22% I will never vote for any politician that "first" does not have the core values to understand how dire this Constitutional Republic's situation has become.
Primary care physicians in the West saw a 15.1% increase in pay from 2019 to 2023, according to the Medical Group Management Association's "Provider Compensation and Productivity Data Report."

The report, released May 28, included 2023 data from more than 211,000 physicians and advanced practice providers.

Here's how physician pay changed from 2019 to 2023 by region:

Eastern

Primary care: 14.7%

Surgical specialist: 18.1%

Nonsurgical specialist: 12.6%

Advanced practice providers: 10.9%

Midwest

Primary care: 12.9%

Surgical specialist: 9%

Nonsurgical specialist: -3.4%

Advanced practice providers: 12.5%

Southern

Primary care: 15.1%

Surgical specialist: 10.2%

Nonsurgical specialist: 8.3%

Advanced practice providers: 13.8%

Western

Primary care: 15.1%

Surgical specialist: 10.2%

Nonsurgical specialist: 8.3%

Advanced practice providers: 13.8%






Hundreds of nurses at University Hospitals are facing a decrease in pay as the Cleveland-based health system pivots from its COVID-19 pandemic model, cleveland.com reported.

A spokesperson told Becker's the pay adjustment is effective June 16 and applies to 350 Enterprise Staffing Services nurses.

"UH's Enterprise Staffing Services is an in-house staffing agency formed in response to the once-in-a-lifetime global health pandemic that stretched our resources and workforce to the extreme," a UH statement shared with Becker's said. "During the pandemic, hospitals across the country (including UH) increased their use of agency nurses to fill gaps in staffing with government funding assistance, with agency costing up to twice as much or more than our hospital-based full-time nurses.

"Nurses are the heartbeat of our health system and we will never be able to thank them enough for their commitment and dedication to our patients during the pandemic. Unfortunately, the pandemic care model is not sustainable in today's environment."

The statement said those affected by the pay adjustment, representing 1% of the health system's workforce, will still be paid about twice the national average.

Pay for staffing services nurses on night shift will decrease from $75 to $65 an hour, a 13% cut, UH said, according to cleveland.com, which obtained a health system memo related to the change. Pay for staffing services nurses on day shift will decrease 8%, from $60 to $55 an hour.

Pay for a new staffing services job without benefits will be $75 per hour for night shift, and $65 per hour for day shift, UH said in the memo, which also encouraged staffing services nurses to apply for other health system roles, according to cleveland.com.

"As we continue to exit from our pandemic model, external nursing staffing agencies and internal hospital nurse staffing agencies nationwide are adjusting pay accordingly," UH's statement said. "We have provided cutting-edge, compassionate care to our neighbors in Northeast Ohio since 1866. We're taking the appropriate steps to ensure we can continue fulfilling our mission for future generations."
Rehoboth McKinley Medical Center in Gallup, N.M., was recently hit with a $68 million malpractice verdict and a district court judge has ordered the hospital to put up a bond of more than $100 million before it can file an appeal, Source NM reported May 31.

Rehoboth McKinley, which recently took $5 million from the city of Gallup and McKinley County to make payroll, has struggled to stay afloat after years of financial difficulties and alleged mismanagement, according to the report. As of February, it had a negative net worth of $25.7 million.

The $68 million malpractice verdict  which includes $59 million in punitive damages  was awarded to a man who underwent a botched hernia surgery that left him with lifelong complications.

An appeal of the verdict could take more than three years, so the court has ordered the hospital to come up with more than $100 million for the expected length of the appeal, according to Source NM. The hospital will need to put up a bond worth $68 million for the judgment, about $6 million in pre-judgment interest and tens of millions in post-judgment interest that will accrue over the next three years.

The court's bond requirements, coupled with Rehoboth McKinley's precarious financial position, could have far reaching implications for the hospital, including potentially seeking bankruptcy protection, laying off workers or ceasing operations altogether, Larry Montano, an attorney representing the hospital, told the court.

During a May 29 meeting with the Gallup City Council, Rehoboth McKinley Interim CEO Bill Patten said he is hopeful that the hospital has landed on a strategy to come up with the money to satisfy the court order and survive this challenging period.

"I don't believe that either the plaintiff or the plaintiffs attorneys want to be responsible for closing us," Mr. Patten said, according to the report. "In essence, if the judgment as initially handed out  is not changed, that's what would happen."

Becker's has reached out to the hospital and will update this story as more information becomes available.
CMS has awarded Fishersville, Va.-based Augusta Health with its 2024 Health Equity Award, AHA News reported May 30.

The independent, nonprofit community hospital was recognized for its efforts to eliminate health disparities via a primary care mobile clinic program first launched in 2022. The program serves patients living in rural areas or low-income neighborhoods in urban settings.

In its first full year, Augusta Health recorded more than 1,700 primary care visits among 825 patients at 17 different locations, including churches, homeless shelters and community centers. The hospital also partners with community organizations to provide social services for patients, such as housing or food support.

CMS first launched its Health Equity Award in 2018. The award recognizes organizations that have significantly reduced disparities in healthcare quality, access or outcomes in the communities and populations they serve.
Cincinnati-based Mercy Health has named Nikki Hutchison CFO of its Lima (Ohio) market.

Ms. Hutchinson assumed the role May 20, according to a May 31 Mercy Health news release shared with Becker's. She replaces Tim Rieger who is retiring on July 12.

Ms. Hutchinson has been with Mercy Health for 16 years and most recently served as the senior financial analyst for the Lima market, according to the release.

"Nikki has an ability to collaborate across all aspects of our business while ensuring alignment with our objectives," Mercy Health  Lima CEO Ronda Lehman said in the release. "That paired with the invaluable insights shes made from her time with us make her a great asset to our leadership team."
Chinese military key force in UN peacekeeping operations: spokesperson

Xinhua) 11:02, May 31, 2024

BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has become a critical element and key force in UN peacekeeping operations and will contribute more to world peace and development, a Chinese military spokesperson said on Thursday.

Wu Qian, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to a media query related to the PLA's relevant contributions, as Wednesday marked the 22nd International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

Noting that China upholds peace and honors its commitment with real actions, Wu said China has actively participated in UN peacekeeping operations and is the largest troop-contributing country among the permanent members of the UN Security Council.

In recent years, the PLA has built an 8,000-strong peacekeeping standby force and has deployed over 50,000 peacekeepers to over 20 countries and regions, Wu said.

The spokesperson added that currently, over 1,700 PLA peacekeepers are performing their duties in six mission areas, including South Sudan and Lebanon, contributing to world peace and common development.

China's armed forces in April 1990 dispatched five military observers to the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization and has since then become a participant in UN peacekeeping operations.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Advocate Health co-CEO Jim Skogsbergh stepped down from the organization May 31. Before his departure, Becker's caught up with him to capture his takeaways and advice on seven topics core to health system CEOs  in his signature straightforward style.

Mr. Skogsbergh joined Advocate Health Care, then headquartered in Oak Brook, Ill., in 2001, assuming the role of president and CEO a year later. At the time, the organization was a $2.5 billion, eight-hospital nonprofit system with 24,500 employees. Under his leadership, it underwent several transformations and two significant mergers, including its 2022 combination with Charlotte, N.C.-based Atrium Health that culminated in the $31.7 billion system it is today.

Mr. Skogsbergh's departure is well planned. A timeline was established for him to serve as co-CEO alongside Eugene A. Woods for 18 months following the merger of Atrium and Advocate Aurora in 2022.

Born and raised in the Midwest, Mr. Skogsbergh is described by many as a deeply inquisitive thinker and clear communicator. Becker's caught up with him in the week before his departure to capture his thinking and advice when it comes to prioritizing patient safety, strategic plans, building executive teams, assessing partners for M&A, co-leading an organization as CEO, and engaging with the local community.

Here are Mr. Skogsbergh's insights in his own words, which have been lightly edited for clarity.

1. Prioritizing patient safety

"This was back when Lee Sacks, MD, was chief medical officer of Advocate Health Care. One day, early on in my tenure as president and CEO, we said, 'Let's decide what we want to be known for. Let's decide what's going to be our legacy, and let's work towards that.'

"We put a lot of things up on the board. You can talk about being the biggest, you can talk about being the best service, so on and so forth. We obviously landed on safety and health outcomes. Everything else is in second place. Everything else. Now, some of those are a very close second. You have to do well financially if you're going to do good in your communities, et cetera. But we said early on, this is where we're going to plant our flag: safety and health outcomes.

"We are first and foremost a safe clinical enterprise. That clarity around who you are, what you believe in and what you want to accomplish is critical. For us, it's safety and health outcomes, and everything else is in second place.

"The other thing that's good about that clarity is people then hold you accountable to what you say. 'Oh, you believe in safety and health outcomes? Then why aren't we doing this, this and this?' I have loved that about our organization. People will challenge me, and I love that. There's a certain accountability that comes when you declare yourself, and we declared ourselves around safety and health outcomes. It has served us immensely well."

2. 5- or 10-year strategic plans

"I've always thought strategic plans were always fungible and flexible. You have to be ready to pivot. The world moves at different speeds at different times and in different directions. I think it's good to have a sort of a big-picture grasp of where you're going, but be willing to adjust your course to get there.

"I laugh when I hear '10-year strategic plan.' I just don't think the world works that way. But the notion of being clear about where you want to go I think is critical, and then how you get there is the flexible part."

3. Building a great executive team

"I have always hired for values and spirit rather than skill set, necessarily. I think skills are something that can be acquired, learned and taught. Now, having said that, believe me: The people we hire are unbelievably skilled. It's not like we took folks that didn't have any experience, but for me it's really the heart.

"Do you care deeply? Do you put the organization first? Do you put people first? Are you building people up? What's your personal style? Do you praise in public and criticize in private? Because that's the way we want to do things.

"I don't know that anybody ever bats a thousand in terms of selection, but for the most part, I think we've chosen very, very well. First of all, the leadership team that I surrounded myself with? They're all smarter than me. You want that. I think you have to be surrounded by people smarter than you, people who challenge you and cause you to rethink, back up, slow down and think more deeply.

"I've always thought that two heads are better than one and three heads are better than two. In our team meetings, we're very much a team, no matter what the topic was. We might be talking about our financials, but I expected our human resource leader, our mission and spiritual care leader, and our strategy leader to weigh in just like our chief financial officer would weigh in. That way, the right hand knows what the left hand is doing, and we all benefit from some really smart people and some good thinking."

4. Finding and assessing partners

"I think the most critical piece is worldview. Where do you think healthcare is going? Where do we think healthcare should go? What's your big-picture worldview? The other criteria that we always looked for was commitment to safety and quality, being a great employer and community citizen, and diversity, equity and inclusion.

"How quickly or how deeply does the board get involved early on in merger discussions? Is the board fully engaged? If not, it's kind of a bad sign. We've learned that over time. You really want to have a fully engaged board.

"I'll tell you, I think the absolute most critical piece for successful partnership is the ability and the willingness to compromise. If you've got to have your way on every matter, then that is not a partnership. You've got to have win-win solutions, not win-lose, which are oftentimes the case.

"Obviously financial health was important, or I should say the ability to get healthy financially. Years ago, when Condell Medical Center [in Libertyville, Ill.] became part of Advocate, Condell was on the brink of bankruptcy and defaulting on their bonds because they were out of contract with Blue Cross of Illinois. But we knew that we could get them back into Blue Cross of Illinois, and if that was the case, then we could turn that around and become successful. Condell is very successful today. It's a great addition to Advocate Health, and the service and quality of care we provide there is just outstanding. So it's not about being healthy right now, but the ability to get healthy from a financial point of view.

"There are all kinds of criteria, but the most important I think is worldview. Where do you think healthcare is going? And do you believe in value-based care or do you believe in fee for service? The more I do, the more I get  we think that's a problem. That's not our mantra. We want to be paid for the good work that we do. When you find partners that see the world the same way, you solve differences quicker and easier and you can move a lot faster."

5. Co-leading as co-CEO

"Well, first of all, I don't think it's for everybody. I think you've got to have a pretty healthy sense of both humility and ego. What I mean by that is I was always confident enough that it didn't bother me to share the spotlight or share the decision-making. Again, two heads are better than one.

"But I also think that you need some humility to be willing to do that, to say, 'Hey, I'm not quite sure that that's the direction I would go, but I'm willing to give it a try if you feel that strongly about it.' That sort of humility is pretty important.

"I also think those [shared arrangements] should be perhaps time limited. I'm not saying that there's an amount of time that's right. When I approached [Gene Woods, former CEO of Atrium Health] about coming together and creating one organization, I told him my timeframe and I said, 'Listen, we're going to be co-CEOs for the next 18 months. Let's announce my timeframe when we announce the deal, because that immediately puts you in the driver's seat.'

"And I said, 'I'm not the least bit concerned about being a lame duck.' That's not me. That's not my style. So that's something that I think served the organization well right away."

6. Payer relationships

"Very, very challenging. I think that we both need each other. The sooner we kind of get down to business, recognizing that we both need each other to be successful, then the sooner we can get to the important matters at hand.

"I have always thought our biggest threat to our organization was not another organization. It was really a stroke of a pen. I worried about what was going on at the statehouse, in Washington, D.C., and I was worried about our contracts. I mean, the stroke of a pen can have a huge influence over the organization. I always felt like most of the other problems we could figure our way out of. I wasn't always like that, but after a while, you get some confidence and say, 'Listen, if we end up zigging when we should have zagged, we will reroute and get back on course.'

"I think the payer relationships are something that you need to invest in. You need to become partners. I don't know that there's enough of a partnership mentality out there today. I think part of that is because the payers are so large  they're just so large, and the market share and presence is so vast and great. It's always been kind of a conundrum to me that there's great concern about healthcare organizations that have 30%, 40% market share, and you're looking at payers that have 70%, 75% and 77% market share. That's odd to me. But that is the world that we live in.

"We need to work together to be successful, for both parties. And if you've got that spirit of, 'Hey, let's work together and figure out a win-win situation,' then I think that's a pretty tenable position."

7. Community engagement

"There are many people out there who I admire and respect that are doing great jobs, leading their organizations. All of them would say when it comes to community relations, you got to listen. "You've got to engage the people that live in the community to achieve solutions to the challenges that they face.

"This notion that I'm from Washington, D.C., and I'm here to help you just doesn't sell, nor should it. It's all about boots on the ground, listening, listening, listening, and then the willingness to pilot and try something. 'Hey, that didn't work. We've not gotten the results that we were expecting. It's time for us to pivot and do something else.' That is better instead of sticking with, 'Well, we've decided what our course is and we're going to stay the course.'

"But the biggest thing is listening. You want to build community relationships. You got to have boots on the ground in the community, and you got to listen to the people who are impacted by the decisions that you're making."
Portland-based Oregon Health & Science University and Legacy Health have signed a binding, definitive agreement to unite as one health system under OHSU Health.

The combined system would comprise 12 hospitals, more than 32,000 employees and be one of the largest providers of services to Medicaid members in Oregon.

"Increased demand and capacity restraints are keeping patients around the region from accessing the services OHSU Health is uniquely capable of providing," OHSU President Danny Jacobs, MD, said in a May 30 news release. "As a single, integrated system, we can better ensure patients receive the right level of care at the right facility without having to travel outside the region, whether its complex cancer care on Marquam Hill or behavioral health treatment in Northeast Portland."

OHSU will invest about $1 billion over 10 years to support primary- and community-based services that will be part of the combined system. The investment will expand clinical programs, locations and care models across Oregon and Southwest Washington while maintaining and growing services, such as preventive medicine, population and public health.

Following transaction close, a Legacy community foundation independent of OHSU will receive funds equal to Legacy Health's cash less its debt and a negotiated withhold, for making grants in support of health, health care and health equity in our communities.

After the merger closes, Legacy will direct its net cash on hand and investments  above outstanding debt  to a new independent foundation, which will promote physical and mental well-being and address healthcare inequity, including social determinants of health and behavioral health.

Leaders of both health systems said they are working with their employees to ensure a smooth transition and effective planning for operational integration, pending regulatory approval.

The Oregon Nurses Association, which represents 18,000 nurses and healthcare professionals, said the proposed merger is a pivotal moment for healthcare in Oregon and has far reaching implications for patients, workers and communities.

"As it becomes Oregon's largest healthcare employer, OHSU must commit to maintaining and improving healthcare coverage and benefits for the more than 30,000 healthcare workers who serve Oregonians across the state and are critical to this merger's success," ONA said in a statement. "OHSU must also commit to honoring Oregon's best-in-the-nation hospital safe staffing law and following the staffing plans and decisions from its internal staffing committees. These dual commitments are necessary to preserve and increase Oregonians' access to healthcare and raise quality standards for all Oregonians."
The Committee of Interns and Residents, a local of the Service Employees International Union, has reached a tentative labor contract with New York City on behalf of 2,300 resident physicians and fellows at NYC Health + Hospitals.

The union announced the agreement May 28 after nine months of negotiations.

It includes pay on par with peers in private safety-net hospitals as well as greater annual investments in their union Patient Care Trust Fund, according to the SEIU local.

The tentative deal must still be approved by the union members. If it is approved, physicians will receive an immediate 9.27% raise retroactive to 2021 followed by an additional 3% raise in December and a 3.25% raise in December 2025, according to The City.

The website also said the tentative deal includes an "equity adjustment" to increase starting salaries up to more than $76,000, as well as ratification bonuses.

"It is our collective power that pushed the mayor to finally do the right thing and support our wellness, education and patient care with these amazing wins, which will most importantly ensure that new doctors are supported when they start next month!" Kings County pediatrics resident Dr. Salma Sadaf said in a news release. "But this was not just about wages; it was about respect, acknowledging our contributions, and ensuring we can continue to care for our patients without being buried under the financial burden. Because we came together, we won, and this will in turn benefit our patients and is exactly what H+H stands for."



Becker's has reached out to NYC Health + Hospitals and will update this story if a comment is received.
Members of Fox Chase RNs and Techs United, an affiliate of the Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals, have approved their first union contracts.

The contracts cover 400 nurses and 135 technical specialists at Philadelphia-based Fox Chase Cancer Center, part of the Temple University Health System, according to the union.

According to the union, the contracts include commitments to establish a new Joint Nurse Practice Committee and a new Joint Practice Committee for technical professionals; one week of paid parental leave as of July 1, 2025; and across-the-board wage increases of at least 3.25% in year one, 3% in year two, and 3% in year three, in addition to pay bumps based on years of experience. Full-time and part-time employees will also receive one-time ratification bonuses of $1,250 and $625, respectively, less applicable withholdings.

"I am beyond ecstatic to have come to an agreement with Temple Hospital/Fox Chase on our first union contract," Rossana Caputo, RN, a Fox Chase phone triage nurse, said in the release. "We unionized last year because we wanted to be heard as nurses and to ensure that our hospital is safely staffed. This contract represents a big first step toward the latter, which is critical for better patient outcomes. I am proud to have been on the bargaining committee and to have been involved since the beginning of this long road of voting a union in and finally ratifying a contract."

Becker's has reached out to Temple and will update this story if a comment is received.
There is ongoing dialogue about the nursing shortage in the U.S., but part of the conversation may be getting lost, says Olga Yakusheva, PhD, a professor at the University of Michigan School of Nursing in Ann Arbor.

Dr. Yakusheva, along with Robert Longyear, CEO of Avenue Health, a healthcare service company, argue that what healthcare needs is a new hospital funding model. According to their collaborative research, which was published May 20 in Health Affairs, "unbundling" nursing care from hospital care and treating it separately in government reimbursement models.

"When we need legal advice, we pay a lawyer; when we see a doctor, the doctor sends us the bill," Dr. Yakusheva said in a University of Michigan Q&A shared with Becker's. "But when we need bedside nursing care, instead of consumers paying nurses directly, hospitals bundle these costs in with other expenses in the hospital bill  sheets, food, cafeteria workers, etc."

Instead, Dr. Yakusheva says billing for nursing separately would create an incentive for hospitals to invest in more sustainable levels of nursing staff, but it would mean a higher price tag.

"Our model unbundles nursing care from the hospital charge and pays for it separately. This way, hospitals that invest in sustainable levels of nurse staffing and a safe environment can charge more for nursing care," she said during the Q&A. "Hospitals that understaff and underinvest in their nurses get paid less, and can no longer put that money toward other uses. This eliminates the opportunity for hospitals to earn a short-term financial gain by cutting nursing jobs or spending."

Separating the nurse payment from a facility general payment could also make it easier to see how much the nurses earn and establish "transparency and accountability for resource allocation toward nursing care that patients and families need," she said.
Drugmaker Novartis filed a lawsuit May 29 against the state of Maryland over a new law that forbids manufacturers from "taking certain direct or indirect actions to limit or restrict the acquisition or delivery of a 340B drug."

The 340B drug pricing program has been in place since 1992 to allow qualifying hospitals and clinics that treat low-income and uninsured patients to purchase some drugs at a discounted rate between 25% and 50%.

In its complaint, Novartis alleges the Maryland law  which is slated to take effect July 1  conflicts with the purpose of the federal 340B drug pricing program, rendering it "unconstitutional."

"Once the law becomes effective on July 1, 2024, Novartis will risk violating Maryland law merely by continuing to implement a contract pharmacy policy that has already been

expressly declared lawful by other federal courts applying the federal 340B law," the filed complaint reads. "If H.B. 1056 is not enjoined, Novartis will continue to suffer severe irreparable harm and loss of its constitutional rights on an ongoing basis. Novartis therefore requests a preliminary injunction enjoining enforcement of H.B. 1056 pending a decision on the merits."

The Maryland Attorney General's Office said it has no comment on the matter.

Several manufacturers, 25 to be exact, now impose some type of 340B restrictions. According to 340B Health, the comprehensive list of drugmakers that now impose some type of restrictions for 340B participants includes: AbbVie, Amgen, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Bausch Health, Bayer, Biogen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bristol Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, EMD Serono, Exelixis, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Organon, Pfizer, Sanofi, Teva, UCB and United Therapeutics.

A recent, similar case in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Washington, D.C. Circuit sided with drug manufacturers.
Timothy Jacisin, PharmD, a senior pharmacist at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, N.J., has been selected to join a national taskforce commissioned by the group responsible for accrediting pharmacy residents. He will help expand standards that protect pharmacists who identify as LGBTQ+.

His selection for the taskforce was not made via traditional pathways, but came after the accrediting organization, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists published updated residency standards in 2022 that, for the first time, incorporated guidelines on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Dr. Jacisin noticed the revisions made no mention of LGBTQ+ pharmacists or residents, and along with a colleague, penned a letter to the editor of the American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy calling for it to be addressed.

"As a gay man myself, one of the things I was nervous about with residency was the fact that I could go anywhere in the country, and I wasn't sure what standards or protections there were," Dr. Jacisin stated in a May 30 blog post. "I wanted to be able to identify that I had a boyfriend (who is now my husband) and that we would be moving together wherever I matched."

The October 2023 letter called for "additional outreach opportunities to include lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual-centered applicant outreach as a similar core metric of residency standards."

"While a previous publication identified key questions and topics LGBT pharmacy residency candidates may want to consider during the residency application process, the new residency standards do not address needs related to LGBTQ+ individuals," the letter states.

After writing the letter, Dr. Jacisin and his colleague received a reply from the ASHP inviting the two to participate on its taskforce for accreditation of pharmacy residents and work with them to update the guidelines  which is ongoing.
Chris Powell acknowledges that he does not have the answer to eliminate violence against workers in healthcare settings. As he puts it, "No matter what we do or resources or education we provide, as long as doors are open to people in crisis, there will always be violence."

In fact, one recently released report found violence against nurses hit an all-time high. Amid this trend, healthcare associations have supported legislation to strengthen safety protections for healthcare workers.

Mr. Powell told Becker's he realizes no one person or approach will eradicate the issue. However, he also realizes the recognition of and response to the issue should be a focus at Aurora, Colo.-based UCHealth, where he has served as chief security officer since August 2022.

"The most important piece is communication from the front-line worker to leadership and from leadership to the front-line worker," he said. "We have to be open, honest and transparent about what we do as a healthcare industry, what we do as an organization, and based on that, what our risk factors are from experiencing workplace violence.

"We're taking people on their worst day and we're putting them into an environment they're not familiar with. And that instills fear. There's fear about illness, injury, disease. There's fear of the cost of healthcare, the time they're missing from work, their ability to provide for their loved ones, or they're experiencing something with their loved ones, so there's this fear, there's this anxiousness."

Additionally, he pointed out, those in the healthcare setting  including workers, patients and family members  are all human.

"We have bad days, whether we have a flat tire or got pulled over for speeding or were late. Maybe we had a conflict with a loved one at home, or we're just generally having a bad day," he said. "And when you put those ingredients into the cauldron, it has the capability to become volatile."

With all this in mind, UCHealth rolled out its SAFE program in 2023. The first letter encourages workers to "stop" amid their duties.

"I don't think it's a word we tell our healthcare workers enough. We push them for patient experience," Mr. Powell said. "We push them for HCAHPS scores. We push them for appointments so we see more people. It's a rush. Our nurses on the floors are looking to get vitals, and the medications, and they're going, going, going. When you move at such a rapid pace, you're more prone to making an error.

"So the first thing we tell them is it's OK to stop.  If for any reason you feel unsafe, you're stopping for safety."

He said this pause allows workers to "assess" their environment. Whether people appear to be angered or frustrated, for example.

The SAFE program then encourages workers to "familiarize" themselves with the room, who the patient is, where the patient is, and "any complicated factors that might cause an escalation of behavior," Mr. Powell said.

"This includes looking at ourselves," he said "Putting ourselves in a position where we always have an opportunity to escape should there be an escalation or attempt of physical violence. We repositioned our rooms in primary health settings where the provider is closest to the door and not tucked in a corner."

The last part of the SAFE program encourages workers to "enlist help," meaning bring someone or multiple people into the room with them.

In addition to the SAFE program, UCHealth, which includes 33,000 employees, 14 acute-care hospitals and hundreds of physicians in Colorado, Southern Wyoming and Western Nebraska, provides employees with one hour of training from the Crisis Prevention Institute. This is in-person training and provides techniques employees may use to remove themselves from potentially violent situations.

Mr. Powell said the training ensures "that we're all given this information. Communication and education and for people to realize violence is not OK, and it's not part of my job. And I need to raise my hand, I need to speak out."

Employees at the health system may report incidents of violence through UCHealth's patient conduct review board, which can review specific situations, such as whether there may be better resources for a patient's mental health and social needs at another facility.

No 'volcanic eruption'

No specific event led to UCHealth's response efforts around workplace violence, according to Mr. Powell. But his views and the perspective he brings to his role were shaped by his personal experiences. He served in the Navy for 20 years and, before joining UCHealth, worked as director of public safety and security at Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare.

"I was a provider at the bedside for 20 years," he said. "Then I've been a patient in the bed who wasn't a bowl of peaches. I've been the loved one at the bedside when my wife and I mourned the loss of our children.

"There are a lot of things to this from a personal experience that aren't that sentinel event that drives a person toward a path.  So there wasn't a sentinel event or volcanic eruption that made us [at UCHealth] respond this way. This is just a continuation of what we've seen, and we know the investments that have been made in the past have not been enough."

Overall, he sees addressing workplace violence as similar to a gumbo.

"You can't just talk about the shrimp and give you a good picture. We have to talk about the roux and the rice and everything else that goes into this for a good picture to be painted so people have an understanding," he said. "We want to solve this with an electronic learning or a 15-minute huddle, but we can't. This is a continuous and a persistent pursuit toward educating, communicating, recognizing, responding to, reporting and recovering from workplace violence."
The former AIB branch in Newcastle

An ex-bank branch in a Co Down coastal town looks set to be turned into a shop, amid new plans.

The AIB branch, formerly First Trust, sits on Main Street in Newcastle. Its been empty since 2021.

Now, plans have been submitted for a change of use from use as a bank to a retail unit on the ground floor.

In 2021, AIB has announced it was closing eight of its branches in Northern Ireland.

The other branches which shut included Bangor, Coleraine, Glengormley, Kilkeel, Lisburn, Lurgan, and Omagh.

Meanwhile, a former Ulster Bank branch in Belfast looks set to be transformed into a gym.

Energized Fitness, which is a personal fitness gym, is planning to open at the former Ulster Bank in Dunmurry.

The business has been based close by at the Kingsway Shopping Centre, but the current lease is set to end soon.

The nature of the building required for use as a gym is best suited to a single level floor space with an area between 100 sq m to 400 sq m, depending on the client base size of the gym business, a supporting statement alongside a fresh planning has said.
The four members of Swedish pop quartet Abba have received knighthoods in Swedens King Carl XVI Gustaf.

The Order of the Vasa was handed out for the first time in almost 50 years.

Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad became Commander of the First Class of the order for very outstanding efforts in Swedish and international music life.

Sweden has several orders, including the Royal Order of Seraphim, which is awarded to heads of state and foreign royals, and the Royal Order of the Polar Star that is given to foreign citizens.

Swedens King Carl Gustaf and Queen Silvia presented the awards (Henrik Montgomery/TT News Agency via AP)

The Royal Order of Vasa, which is given in recognition of personal efforts for Sweden or for Swedish interests as well as the successful performance of public duties and assignments, was dormant until late 2022, when it was reactivated after regulations opened the Royal Orders to Swedish citizens again.

Earlier this year, candidates were nominated by the public and the Swedish government, and the King approved the nominees that included the four Abba members.

The orders were awarded during a solemn ceremony at the Royal Palace in the gilded Vita Havet Assembly Rooms. The monarch handed them the order in a red box while a diploma was given to them by Queen Silvia.

The order you get today is Swedens thanks for your exceptional efforts, the monarch said before handing out the awards to 13 exceptional Swedes.

Abba celebrate winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest (Robert Dear/AP)

Andersson, Faltskog, Lyngstad, who now uses the last name Reuss, and Ulvaeus received the order in an event that was aired live on Swedish TV.

A Eurovision victory in 1974 with the song Waterloo turned Abba into a musical juggernaut, with their melodic disco pop selling hundreds of millions of records worldwide.

The stage musical Mamma Mia! based on the bands songs is 25 years old and spawned two movies.

The Swedish band members have not performed together live for four decades but released a comeback album, Voyage, in 2021. The digital Abba-tars opened in London in 2022.

Two other recipients were 2023 Nobel Prize winners French-Swedish physicist Anne LHuillier, and Svante Paabo, who won the coveted award in physics and medicine. They were both made Commander Grand Cross of the Royal Order of the Polar Star for outstanding research efforts.
Rock star The Edge delighted young Northern Ireland tech start-up leaders with a surprise appearance in Belfast to check out their work.

The U2 guitarist, whose real name is David Howell Evans, visited Ormeau Baths to meet some of the technology enthusiasts in his role as chairman of Endeavor Ireland, a global not-for-profit organisation.

The organisation supports and helps accelerate high-impact entrepreneurs by connecting them with talent, capital and a worldwide peer and mentor network.

The companys board includes Rosaleen Blair, deputy chair of Kainos, and hotelier Paddy McKillen, with The Edge holding the role of founding chair.

Tuesdays visit to Belfast came just months after five founders of Northern Irelands most exciting start-ups were selected to take part in the mentorship programme.

They are currently in the midst of a five-month programme set up by Endeavor.

Rosaleen Blair from Endeavour meets Ormeau Bath tech leaders

The five who were selected include Belfast-born Ryan Donnelly, co-founder of AI governance platform Enzai, which has been described as Northern Irelands first possible unicorn  a company which is worth a billion pounds. The start-up, which was born in Belfasts Ormeau Baths, made headlines last year after it raised $4million in funding in just over two years.

The rocker was joined in his Belfast trip by Rosaleen Blair, founder of Alexander Mann Solutions and member of the boards of Kainos and Endeavor Ireland, alongside the Endeavor Ireland team, including managing director Rory Guinan and Ellen Ryall, senior associate.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Ms Blair said she could sense the heartbeat of Belfasts tech sector.

I was so impressed by the breadth and quality of the talent we met, she said.

It was really energising; the passion and commitment from the founders was palpable, and there was a heartbeat to the place.

Seeing the quality of the entrepreneurs along with their comradeship and support for each other was inspiring.

I have had the privilege to work in the Northern Irish market for over 10 years, so it didnt come as a surprise to me to see the quality of the talent.

However, its great to see the ambition of these founder entrepreneurs in scaling and growing their businesses on an international basis, which is exactly what Endeavor is about.

One of the founders honoured by Endeavor Ireland, Ryan Donnelly, also echoed her remarks, adding he was grateful that someone like The Edge wants to come to Belfast to see what is on offer.

Something special is happening in the north at the moment; people are founding companies that can compete on a global stage, said Ryan, who is the founder of Enzai.

Back in the day, Belfast was the number one centre for linen and shipbuilding.

This is a new generation at the cutting edge of technology.

The Edge wants to come up and spend time here, for which we are very grateful, but it is also a testament to what is going on in the north now.

It does feel like something special is happening.

The Edge speaks to tech founders in Belfast

Fellow founder Mark Dowds, who is the CEO of Responsible, a company which campaigns for fashion sustainability, said he was shocked at The Edges visit.

I was taken aback, as were the other founders who participated in the Scale Up programme, by the Endeavor folks, especially The Edge and Rosaleen, taking the time to come to Ormeau Labs and showing a genuine interest in learning about the Northern Irish tech ecosystem, he said.

There is so much collaboration happening across the island of Ireland  the timing is great for what Endeavor is doing with its Scale Up programme.

The visit from The Edge and the Endeavor team comes after Endeavors announcement in February that five Northern Ireland-based founders were selected for its Scale Up programme for Northern Ireland, which the Belfast Telegraph exclusively reported.

News Catch Up: Wednesday 29th May 2024
I was standing in Ukraine in a graveyard not far from the front line, and all these fresh graves with all the flowers on them and Im just saying to myself, whats this all about?
Review: Belfast chippy is an institution and my favourite in NI

John Copeland - of John Longs chip shop - knows his food, even if he refuses to be viewed as a gourmet

Fish and chips at Long's fish and chip shop, Belfast

Joris Minne Fri 31 May 2024 at 14:50

There are so many levels of eating out. Theres posh with friends, wine and a good maitre d; theres street food where discovery and excitement are introduced through cooks from around the world doing their thing out of an oven or a griddle in the back of a stall or van; and theres classic curries and Chinese nights out.
Number 14 is conveniently located to local amenities such as shops, churches and schools

The Belfast Road property sits on approximately three acres and enjoys the peaceful nature of the surroundings yet is only a short drive away from the M1 Junction.

This detached family residence sits on a level site with excellent outlook over the local countryside and the Mourne Mountains.

114 Belfast Road, Magheralin

Number 114 offers extremely well-presented accommodation. The historic property has been designed, completely renovated (1992/93), extended (2006) and maintained and improved by the present owners to an extremely high specification.

The entrance hall has the original solid wood staircase to first floor and decorative touches including cornices and ceiling rose.

Kitchen

The drawing room is home to a feature fireplace with white marble hearth and surround, cast iron inner surround, gas fire inset with a feature picture rail.

The dining room also has a central fireplace, this one an antique with top mirror fire surround.

Double French doors from the sunroom lead to the patio area while this space has an impressive vaulted pine ceiling with exposed oak beams.

The propertys solid oak fitted kitchen has a Rangemaster cooker, integrated dishwasher and fridge and ceramic sink with stainless steel mixer taps. A custom fireplace with reclaimed brick and incorporated wine rack add to the inviting atmosphere.

Sitting room

The adjacent utility room is plumbed for an automatic washing machine and American-style fridge/freezer, with space for a tumble dryer and dishwasher. Within is access to the integral double garage and small roof space. A skylight maximises the volume of light entering the room. Theres also a study with access to patio area and shower room, the latter of which has a walk-in shower cubicle and tiled flooring.

A laundry, cloakroom and WC complete the downstairs offering.

On the first floor, the principal bedroom has access to an ensuite (with Mira power shower) and walk-in dressing room with built-in Sliderobes. Theres also an emperor-sized bed with bedside cabinets and headboard.

There are an additional three bedrooms, two with laminate wooden flooring and one with new carpet. Two have Sliderobes and all have decorative touches.

The family bathroom is home to a four-piece suite with a Charlotte pedestal wash hand basin, Mira power shower and hand-painted wood panelled bath with brass mixer taps.

Dining room

Externally the integral double garage has a range of high and low level units and built-in workbench and units. The detached double garage is newly built, with insulation in the flooring, roof and walls.

There is also a summer house with tiled flooring, power and light. A metal staircase leads to the first floor.

The pillared entrance to the property leads to a driveway bordered by lawns and mature poplar trees. There is extensive car parking within the paved Donegal granite setts courtyard.

Number 14 is conveniently located to local amenities such as shops, churches and schools.

Asking price is 625,000. For more information contact Robert Wilson Estate Agents (Moira) on 028 9261 3100.
A Derry man who was jailed for conspiring to illegally traffic migrants into the UK is wanted in Northern Ireland for the alleged attempted murder of his ex-partner, Dublin High Court has heard.

Stephen Andrew McLaughlin (44) was sentenced to nine years imprisonment in 2016 for conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK in August 2014, in a scheme that was discovered after an Afghan man died of a heart attack in a lorry container. Authorities in the UK are seeking his extradition for breaching the terms of his licence after his release from prison.
UK

Comet last seen by Neanderthals could be visible over the weekend
A new law in Northern Ireland granting anonymity to sex offence suspects is incompatible with press rights to freedom of expression, a High Court judge ruled today.

Mr Justice Humphreys declared it was beyond Stormonts legislative competence to introduce the controversial Act which has the chilling effect of imposing a criminal sanction on public interest journalism.
The firearms, classified as Front Venting Blank Firing (FVBF) weapons are readily convertible to fire live rounds and are illegal in the UK.

Dozens of firearms and three tasers were found during searches of Mr Paul's home in Castldawson.

Investigators discovered Mr Paul had been buying the weapons, including the 32 firearms, from a website in Spain.

Nathan Stephen Paul (32) received a suspended jail sentence for buying convertible blank firearms from Spain and having them shipped to Northern Ireland.

Mr Paul pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of prohibited weapons and one count of selling firearms within the UK at Londonderry Crown Court back in January.

A Co Londonderry man who purchased convertible blank firearms from Spain and had them shipped to Northern Ireland has avoided jail.

Nathan Paul, of Glenshane Road, Castledawson, was handed a two-and-a-half year prison sentence, suspended for three years.

The 32-year-old was arrested by National Crime Agency (NCA) officers back in December 2019 after dozens of guns and three tasers were found during searches of his home.

He pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of prohibited weapons and one count of selling firearms within the UK at Londonderry Crown Court on January 26, 2024 before being sentenced on Friday.

Investigators discovered Mr Paul had been buying the weapons, including the 32 firearms, from a website in Spain and selling them online for profit.

The weapons, classified as Front Venting Blank Firing (FVBF) can be converted to fire live rounds and are illegal in the UK.

Mr Paul had posted an advert online advertising the weapons.

Officers were able to link him to courier orders made after sales were executed.

The firearms, classified as Front Venting Blank Firing (FVBF) weapons are readily convertible to fire live rounds and are illegal in the UK.

Read more Lyra McKee murder trial: Footage of gunman firing fatal shots played in court

A further five weapons were recovered by police after information was passed on by the NCA.

NCA Branch Commander David Cunningham said: This operation saw the NCA seize a significant number of weapons from Paul who was selling these illegal items at a profit to buyers online.

Our work with forces throughout the UK has also seen others who have purchased weapons from Paul brought to justice.

The NCA will continue to work with partners in the UK and internationally to prevent dangerous weapons being imported and reaching those who may use them to commit further offences and cause serious harm.

The NCA and Guardia Civil, which has jurisdiction in Spain for the national control of firearms, has been jointly working on Project Vizardlike to combat the threat since 2019.

More than 703 firearms have been recovered in the UK resulting in 74 arrests and leading to 51 convictions .a

The NCA has also conducted raids on 133 premises in the UK.

Investigators discovered Mr Paul had been buying the weapons, including the 32 firearms, from a website in Spain.

PSNI Detective Superintendent Avine Kelly, from the forces Organised Crime Branch said: Illegal firearms are synonymous with violence. In the hands of organised crime groups, they bring fear, intimidation and control.

This seizure, along with todays conclusion, is a positive step towards keeping people safe, and an excellent example of working in partnership.

I would appeal to anyone with information, or concerns, about illegally held firearms to contact us on 101.

PPS Assistant Director Martin Hardy added: The PPS worked in close partnership with the National Crime Agency in respect of its investigation to build a strong prosecution case which resulted in guilty pleas.

A large volume of evidence submitted to the PPS was examined by an experienced senior prosecutor and we will continue to work with our enforcement partners to robustly prosecute firearms offences where the Test for Prosecution is met.
Footage from the final moments of Lyra McKees life has been shown at the trial of three men accused of murdering the journalist (Chiho Tang/Oranga Creative/PA)

Footage from the final moments of Lyra McKees life has been shown at the trial of three men accused of murdering the journalist.

Police video of a gunman firing a handgun, including the shot which killed Ms McKee, was played during the trial at Belfast Crown Court on Friday.

Ms McKee, 29, died after being struck in the head by a bullet as she stood close to police vehicles while observing rioting in the Creggan area of Londonderry on the night of April 18 2019.

Jordan Devine arrives at Laganside Court, Belfast, where he and two other men have been charged with the murder of Belfast journalist Lyra McKee (Liam McBurney/PA)

The New IRA claimed responsibility for the authors murder.

Peter Cavanagh, 35, of Mary Street, Derry; Jordan Gareth Devine, 23, of Bishop Street, Derry; and Paul McIntyre, 56, of Kells Walk, Derry, are charged with murder.

The prosecution has said it is clear none of the three fired the shot which killed Ms McKee, but were engaged in a joint enterprise to encourage and assist the gunman.

The three also face a number of other charges, including riotous assembly, possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent, as well as possession of, and throwing of, petrol bombs.

McIntyre is additionally charged with membership of a proscribed organisation.

Violence had flared in Derry on the evening Ms McKee was killed after police entered the Creggan area to conduct searches.

The no-jury trial was shown video footage from a PSNI evidence-gathering vehicle in Fanad Drive after police had been attacked with petrol bombs.

Prosecuting barrister David McDowell told the court that Ms McKee can be seen watching the disorder in the footage.

He said: Just before 23.03 hours, cheering can be heard which causes the camera to pan back to the corner of the crossroads.

The first shot is fired five seconds later.

Lyra McKees sister, Nichola Corner, and her husband, John Corner, arrive at Laganside Court (Liam McBurney/PA)

He added: That first shot prompts the police evidence gathering camera to pan in on a gunman on the corner from where the attack on police had been carried out.

He can then be seen firing a second shot from a handgun.

Mr McDowell said there then appeared to be three misfires.

He added: He then succeeds in firing two further shots.

It is only after the fourth shot, some 20 seconds after the first, that screaming can be heard indicating that Ms McKee has been struck by a bullet.

This tends to indicate she was struck by one of the last two rounds, most likely the final shot.

Mr McDowell added: The driver of the evidence gathering vehicle reports that at around 23.00 hours he saw the crowd turn their attention in the direction of the shots.

He then saw a gunman appear at the junction and fire at least four shots towards the police vehicles.

He saw that a woman who had been standing to the side of one of the police Land Rovers had fallen to the ground and he heard another woman screaming for help.

Assistance came from police and members of the public.

Paul McIntyre arrives at Laganside Court, Belfast, where he and two other men have been charged with the murder of Belfast journalist Lyra McKee (Liam McBurney/PA)

The barrister told the court that officers in Land Rovers had reported hearing bullets strike their vehicles.

The court was then played footage from a mobile phone which had been seized by police.

Mr McDowell said this showed, in the moments before the shooting, four masked men walk to the scene, one carrying a handgun.

He said: A few seconds later police send up a flare when it is realised that Ms McKee has been injured.

She was taken to hospital in one of the police Land Rovers but death was confirmed just after her arrival.

The barrister said other mobile phone footage showed two masked men, who the prosecution claim are Devine and McIntyre, picking up items from the ground in the aftermath of the shots being fired.

He said: On subsequent examination of the scene four spent (bullet) cases were recovered.

In other words, what those two men were picking up were not spent cartridge cases.

The inference can therefore be drawn that the items being picked up by the men were live rounds of ammunition, ejected from the weapon after the misfires.

He said another masked men, who the prosecution claim to be Cavanagh, was seen beside the gunman as the shots were being fired and then walking off in the same direction.

Peter Gearoid Cavanagh arrives at Laganside Court, Belfast, where he is on trial over the murder of Lyra McKee (Liam McBurney/PA)

Mr McDowell said: It is submitted that the actions of McIntyre, Devine and Cavanagh are demonstrative of their involvement in a joint enterprise to possess and fire the weapon with the requisite intent for murder.

That is, they offer intentional encouragement or assistance to the possession and use of the weapon with that intent.

He added: It is apparent that none of the three fired the gun, but instead that they intentionally encouraged or assisted the gunman to fire the gun with the requisite intent.

Seven other men are on trial on a number of charges, including rioting and throwing petrol bombs.

They are: Joseph Patrick Barr, 36, of Sandringham Drive, Derry; Jude Forest Coffey, 26, of Gartan Square, Derry; William Patrick Elliott, 57, of Ballymagowan Gardens, Derry; Joseph Anthony Campbell, 23, of Gosheden Cottages, Derry; Patrick Anthony Gallagher, 32, of John Field Place, Derry; Christopher Joseph Gillen, 43, of Balbane Pass, Derry; and Kieran George McCool, 55, of Ballymagowan Gardens, Derry.

Earlier on Friday, the court heard that an MTV crew filming the riot earlier in the evening were told the disorder had been set up for the camera.

TV presenter Reggie Yates and the MTV crew were in Derry filming a documentary on republicans opposed to the Northern Ireland peace process on the day of the shooting.

They were filming in the period leading up to traditional republican commemorations in the city to mark the 1916 Easter Rising against British rule in Dublin.

In one clip played in court a woman approaches the MTV cameraman and tells him that the disorder had been set up for the camera.

Mr Yates then decided to withdraw his camera crew from the area.

Lyra McKees sisters, Joan Hunter (left) and Mary Crossan, arrive at Laganside Court, Belfast (Liam McBurney/PA)

He is heard in the footage saying: We have seen a lot and you could argue that weve seen enough.

If people are saying we are inciting it maybe we should pull it down I think it is time to call it a night.

Several members of Ms McKees family attended the court on Friday.

The trial will resume on Tuesday.
Crash on A2



UPDATE: The below incident has now been cleared, although knock-on delays remain back to Big Barn leaving Bangor.





A crash is causing delays in north Down heading towards Belfast. The collision occurred on the A2 Belfast Road around Ballymenoch Park in Holywood, causing knock on delays back to Seahill. The road is down to one lane as police attend the incident.
The two PSNI officers were involved in arresting Sean Graham massacre survivor Mark Sykes, who was later released unconditionally

Police Federation for Northern Ireland chairman Liam Kelly has said the PSNI is in the deepest resourcing crisis since its inception (Peter Morrison/PA)

The Army and police outside Sean Graham bookies on the Ormeau Road after the atrocity in 1992

UUP leader Doug Beattie has called on the PSNI Chief Constable to apologise to two junior police officers wrongly disciplined for arrests at a Troubles atrocity commemoration after they won internal appeals against the sanction.

Mr Beattie has also called on Jon Boutcher to investigate whether any offences have been committed by First Minister Michelle ONeill who wiped her WhatsApp messages before giving evidence at the Covid-19 Inquiry.

The Army and police outside Sean Graham bookies on the Ormeau Road after the atrocity in 1992

The Upper Bann MLA said UUP councillor Diana Armstrong wrote to the PSNI chief a number of weeks ago raising concerns about deleted WhatsApp messages and highlighted the Ormeau Road incident which happened during a wreath-laying ceremony in February 2021.

"It is now time for the current Chief Constable to take this issue by the scruff of the neck, apologise to the police officers involved and look to see if any offences have been committed by those who wiped their phones of potentially vital evidence which they were told to keep, Mr Beattie said.

Earlier this month Ms O'Neill, whose WhatsApp messages from the period in question were wiped from the devices issued to her as deputy First Minister, told the inquiry that she accepts the messages should not have been deleted.

Some of those messages may well have related to conversations she was having with the former Chief Constable," Mr Beattie told the Belfast Telegraph.

"We need to get to the bottom of that.

A PSNI spokesperson said: We can confirm all necessary internal processes within the Police Service of Northern Ireland have now concluded.

They cited legislation in Northern Ireland dictates that misconduct proceedings must remain private "meaning we are unable to provide details of the internal proceedings.

The PSNI did not comment on whether Jon Boutcher has apologised to the officers or if he intends to do so when asked by this newspaper.

The chair of the Police Federation for Northern Ireland (PFNI) said it had every confidence from the outset that this would be the final outcome to what was a protracted process.

"It was clear early on that there were no criminal actions by either officer and now we have the final validation that there was no misconduct behaviour either.

The internal disciplinary processes have at last concluded with no misconduct findings or sanctions being imposed.

"Any ancillary matters relating to learning and performance are also now concluded.

Police Federation for Northern Ireland chairman Liam Kelly has said the PSNI is in the deepest resourcing crisis since its inception (Peter Morrison/PA)

The PFNI, which represents rank and file officers, provided legal representation for both officers involved in addition to providing support.

Mr Kelly said he was always convinced that the actual evidence would verify that theyd carried out their duties in a professional manner in what was difficult and testing circumstances.

We collectively have been appalled by the amount of misinformation, baseless rumours and irrational conjecture around this incident, he added.

I am more confident following the acceptance of Mr Justice Scoffields related judgment that the senior management in PSNI will in future properly and fairly apply the public interest test when considering such matters.

"The misconduct exoneration for the second officer is most welcome by him and his colleagues and allows for this sorry episode to be finally put behind them.

It comes almost a year after a high court judge ruled that the officers were unlawfully disciplined to allay any threat of Sinn Fein abandoning its support for policing in Northern Ireland.

Mr Justice Scoffield quashed decisions to suspend one probationary constable and re-position his colleague following an outcry at how police handled the service marking an anniversary of the Sean Graham bookmakers attack.

Five people were murdered and nine others wounded when loyalist gunmen opened fire inside the betting shop in south Belfast.

Mr Beattie described the PSNI handling of the incident as a very a sorry affair as he called on Jon Boutcher to say sorry to the officers involved.

It has been badly handled by the police, which showed a politically motivated response in the immediate aftermath of the incident, he said.

"Warning signs at every level, including through the courts and Police Ombudsmans Office were simply ignored and at the heart of it all were two police officers wrongly suspended for doing their job.

The two PSNI officers were involved in arresting Sean Graham massacre survivor Mark Sykes, who was later released unconditionally

Mr Beattie criticised the PSNIs decision to issue written warnings which were overturned with help from former senior police officer Jon Burrows.

"After three years and three months the police officers have been cleared of any wrongdoing, something that should have been achieved as far back as 2021, he added.

However, this should not be the end of the matter. It is clear that there were messages and notes between the Chief Constable and the then deputy First Minister in regard to this incident.

"Some of these notes and messages may well have been on the now First Minister's phone in the form of WhatsApp messages which were wiped before the Covid enquiry was able to recover them.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (third left) and his wife Akshata Murty (centre) during his visit to Stanmore in northwest London, while on the General Election campaign trail (Photo: Chris J Ratcliffe/PA Wire)

When Rishi Sunak took the podium to deliver his prime ministers speech at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester last October, there was little he could say that hadnt already been leaked to the media.
Jim Allister Traditional Unionist Voice Party Leader pictured at the manifesto launch Friday in the Dunadry Hotel. Picture by Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press.

The TUV will not be running a candidate in Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the General Election, leaving the UUPs Diana Armstrong as the sole unionist on the ballot paper.
A garda has been deployed in Belfast to support immigration investigations following concern about people entering the country illegally through Northern Ireland.

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris confirmed that a member of the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) has been stationed in Belfast as part of engagement with stakeholders in the area.

In his monthly report to the Policing Authority, the commissioner said the bureau is focusing investigations on preventing abuse of the Common Travel Area.

It is also investigating people who facilitate the illegal smuggling of people across the border.

Mr Harris said gardai are also returning people to the UK who have entered Ireland illegally and not claimed international protection.

People have been detected illegally travelling across the Irish border using a variety of modes of transport including buses, trains and taxi as well as private and rental cars.

Mr Harris told the authority that the GNIB had conducted 20 days of action in the last quarter of 2023 and the first three months of this year.

This consists of significant checkpoint operations on the M1 motorway, which have resulted in the inspection of 172 vehicles and 102 people being detected entering the state without the requisite visas or identity documents.

Immigration Enforcement Teams from the UK Home Office in Northern Ireland and Britain assisted the action.

During these operations all persons entering Ireland illegally were refused leave to land (RLTL) and returned to the UK by ferry from Dublin Port to Holyhead.

A small portion were returned to Belfast, where it was confirmed that they were resident in Northern Ireland.

Additionally, he said the GNIB has established an operation to identify and prosecute non-nationals that enter the state with no documents.

To date there have been 101 prosecutions, with more than 60 convictions.
Police forensic officers at the scene of the shooting at Kingsland High Street in Hackney, east London (James Manning/PA)

Detectives have appealed for information from Turkish and Kurdish communities as a nine-year-old girl continues to fight for her life following a reckless shooting while she ate dinner at a restaurant with her family.

On Friday, the Metropolitan Police issued an image of the motorbike used in the attack in Hackney, east London, which left the child with critical injuries.

The force said two men, aged 44 and 42, who were sitting outside the restaurant during the incident on Wednesday evening, were also injured and taken to hospital for treatment.

One may have suffered life-changing injuries, Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway said.

A third man, aged 37, has since been discharged from hospital.

Addressing the girls condition, Mr Conway told reporters: We remain in close contact with our colleagues in the NHS who have worked around the clock to provide urgent care to the victims, including the young girl, who Im very sad to say remains in a critical condition.

He said specialist family liaison officers continue to support the girls family.

Giving details of the motorbike used in the attack, Mr Conway said: We know that the offender fired from a motorbike at approximately 9.20pm on Wednesday evening.

The bike was a Ducati Monster with a white body, red chassis and red wheels.

Our officers have now established that the motorbike was previously stolen in 2021 from a property in Wembley.

At the time of the shooting, the bike was displaying the registration plate DP21 OXY.

The motorbike used during the shooting (Metropolitan Police/PA)

I want to hear from anyone who might recognise it  Im particularly keen to hear from you if you saw it on the day of the incident.

Mr Conway described the shooting as reckless and appealed to the Turkish and Kurdish communities in north and east London because the three men injured in the incident have connections to those communities.

He said: This shocking attack will have had an element of pre-planning.

This means there are people out there who know something which may be crucial to our investigation.

Gun crime has no place on the streets of London and this reckless act has left a young child fighting for her life.

We are specifically reaching out to our Turkish and Kurdish communities, particularly in north and east London, who I know are shocked and appalled by this crime.

This is because the three men who were shot have connections to those communities.

Anyone with information is asked to call 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer at a launch event for Labours six steps for change  their doorstep offer to Scots  at the Beacons Art Centre in Custom House Quay, Greenock (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Sir Keir Starmer finally gave his verdict on whether Diane Abbott can stand as a Labour candidate on July 4 after his previous refusal to do so led to mounting tensions in the party.

Here are the key moments from day nine of the campaign:

 Starmer seeks to settle Abbott row

The Labour leader said Ms Abbott is free to defend her long-held Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat as a Labour candidate, ending speculation she could be barred.

He will be hoping his long-awaited decision  which is expected to be ratified by Labours National Executive Committee on Tuesday  puts an end to accusations of an anti-socialist crackdown that has dominated his campaign.

Left-wing campaign group Momentum declared it a huge victory, but in a sign the row is far from over demanded Chingford Corbynista Faiza Shaheen is reinstated as a Labour candidate.

The Tories claimed Angela Rayner is pushing Sir Keir around, after his deputy first threw her weight behind Ms Abbotts candidacy.

There was more selection drama as Labours Beth Winter accused the party leadership of imposing think tank boss Torsten Bell as Welsh Labours Swansea West candidate, calling it an affront to democracy.

(PA Graphics)

 What Labour actually wanted to talk about

Sir Keir said there was no Labour without Scotland as he made his pitch to voters north of the border.

A major plank of the offer to Scottish voters is establishing GB Energy  a state-owned energy company based in Scotland.

The policy gained former chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallances backing while Prime Minister Rishi Sunak mocked it as being just a logo.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer flanked by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and shadow energy security secretary Ed Miliband at the Port of Greenock (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

At a campaign rally alongside Ms Rayner, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and shadow net zero secretary Ed Miliband, Sir Keir urged Scots to send a government to Westminster, not a message.

First Minister John Swinney claimed Sir Keir is offering no change at all.

 Picture of the day

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak bottle-feeding a lamb during a visit to Rowlinsons Farm in Gawsworth, Macclesfield (Jonathan Brady/PA)

 Sidestepping Trump

Political leaders carefully sidestepped questions on whether they would work with convicted former US president Donald Trump if he returns to the White House.

Mr Sunak said Mr Trumps trial is not my focus while Sir Keir called it an unprecedented situation, but said Labour will work with whoever is elected president.

 Quote of the day

 Social media moment of the day

As the parties ramp up their use of social media humour and memes, Labour is claiming the Tories are trying to get its TikToks removed from the site.

A post by the official Labour Party account suggests that the Tories are actively trying to get our TikToks taken down because they have nothing to offer the country.

It also encourages viewers to annoy a Tory by sharing the post with some key Labour policies, suggesting Conservatives should try and think of some policies that dont sound like dodgy chat gpt suggestions.

 Whats happening tomorrow?

Mr Sunak is campaigning in the North East.
Sir Keir Starmer has not yet shaken claims he is culling the left wing of his party as a former Tory MP who has joined Labour called it a broad church.

Mark Logan, who represented Bolton North East for the Conservatives until Parliament was dissolved on Thursday, said he is quitting the Tory party to back Labour at the General Election.

He said he will not stand for re-election but will vote for Labour and join the party.

Mark Logan (UK Parliament/PA)

Asked if Labour must be moving to the right to attract people like him, he told Sky News: I think the great thing with the Labour Party today is that its a broad church incorporating people from the right of politics and also from the left of politics.

The partys election campaign has been overshadowed for two days by accusations that the leadership is attempting to purge left-wingers.

The accusations were sparked by uncertainty over whether Diane Abbott will be allowed to defend her seat and then the suspension of Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who was MP for Brighton Kemptown, and the decision not to endorse candidate Faiza Shaheen in Chingford and Woodford Green.

Diane Abbott (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Ms Abbott had the party whip restored after an investigation into comments about racism, but said she was dismayed by reports that she could be barred as a candidate.

She has said she wants to fight to retain her seat as long as it is possible.

Sir Keir has repeatedly said no decision has been taken about whether Ms Abbott, who in 1987 became the first black woman elected to Parliament, will be allowed to defend her Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat.

But his deputy Angela Rayner went further and said I dont think theres any reason why Ms Abbott should not stand and the row over her future was not a great look.

But Ms Rayner told the Guardian she did not think it was a purge.

I dont know the details of the individual cases but I do know that we put a robust system in place around vetting and dealing with serious allegations that are made in the party.

We had to do that because when me and Keir took over the party was failing.

Mr Russell-Moyle cannot stand in the July 4 election after being suspended by Labour over what he called a vexatious and politically motivated complaint against him.

Ms Shaheen is consulting lawyers after being the victim of a huge injustice as she was not endorsed as the Labour candidate to take on former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith.

Sir Keir welcomed Mr Logans switch to Labour, saying: Voters across the country are looking to Labour for change. I am pleased Mark Logan has taken the decision to vote for Labour at this upcoming General Election.

After 14 years of Tory failure, voters are returning to Labour because they can see that we are a changed party and back in service of working people. Its time to stop the chaos, turn the page and rebuild Britain.

Sir Keir recently faced an internal backlash for accepting Tory defector Natalie Elphicke, the former MP for Dover, into the party despite her support for Brexit and accusations over her role in lobbying ministers over her then-husband Charlies sexual assault case.

(PA Graphics)

Mr Logans decision comes as a blow to Rishi Sunak as he battles to stay in No 10.

The Prime Ministers party is unrecognisable from the party he joined a decade ago, Mr Logan told the BBC.

The Conservative Party said it would select a new candidate in due course.

Also on Friday:

 Mr Sunak will be campaigning in the North West.

 Sir Keir will be in Scotland, where he is launching the logo and website of Great British Energy and promising Scottish voters a decade of national renewal.

 The Conservatives are pledging to punish fly-tippers with points on their driving licences and to kick anti-social tenants out of social housing after three strikes.
Campaigners say beavers are key allies in tackling the nature and climate emergencies (Peter Cairns/PA)

Nearly three-quarters of Scots want public bodies to step up action to boost the countrys population of beavers, research suggests.

Polling by Survation on behalf of the Scottish Rewilding Alliance found 73% of respondents said public bodies should identify more sites on their land where beavers can live.

The alliance believes Government agencies are not delivering on ministers call to encourage efforts to move beavers into new areas.

The group says Scotlands nature agency, NatureScot, which issues lethal control licences, has so far failed to lead on beaver relocations to its national natural reserves.

The alliance also says Forestry and Land Scotland (FLS), the countrys largest manager of public land, has yet to welcome a single beaver to a site beyond the species current range.

It says this perceived lack of delivery has resulted in more than two years of inaction and indecision as well as missed economic opportunities for local communities.

Beavers were driven to extinction in Scotland some 400 years ago, before their official reintroduction in 2016 and recognition as a protected species in 2019.

The animals create wetlands that benefit other wildlife, soak up carbon dioxide, purify water and reduce flooding.

They can also bring economic benefits to communities through eco-tourism, supporters argue.

Kevin Cumming, the Scottish Rewilding Alliances deputy convener, said of the Survation research: This is overwhelming public support for bringing back beavers to suitable habitat.

The alliance describes beavers as a biodiversity-boosting, flood-reducing, habitat-creating species (PA)

Government bodies that manage land on behalf of the public need to listen and move ahead on reintroducing these key allies in tackling the nature and climate emergencies.

Cairngorms National Park Authority is showing what can be done, with beavers released at several sites and plans for more over the next five years.

Our other public agencies need to play catch-up with the Cairngorms and end their own go-slow approach to restoring this biodiversity-boosting, flood-reducing, habitat-creating species.

The alliance says relocations should be prioritised when landowners have problems, with lethal control licences only issued as a genuine last resort.

It also advocates paying farmers for having beavers on their land.

Farmer Tom Bowser, from Argaty near Doune in Perthshire, has reintroduced several beavers to his family farm under licence, saving them from culling.

He said: The beavers have only brought us benefits. Their dams in what was once a flood-prone part of our farm have saved us real money in annual track repairs, because we just dont see floods there anymore.

The alliance estimates NatureScot has identified more than 100,000 hectares of woodland where beavers could establish territories, while Scotlands Government bodies manage 10% of public land between them.

It argues bolder action on beaver reintroduction is especially needed from FLS, which manages around 640,000 hectares of Scotland, including many waterways known to be highly suitable for beavers.

A NatureScot spokesperson said: NatureScot is very supportive of Scotlands Beaver Strategy, and we share the publics desire to see beavers expand into appropriate areas.

We already host beavers on our land at Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve (NNR) and some beavers are known to be present around our Flanders Moss and Tentsmuir NNRs. We expect more beavers to arrive naturally at Tentsmuir and potentially at Loch Leven NNR.

However, a significant proportion of the land we own or manage is either not suitable habitat for beavers (being coastal, peatland or mountain) or would only support a small, isolated population. In addition, many sites are not owned by NatureScot but are managed under Nature Reserve Agreements and would be subject to landowner permission.

In our view efforts should be focused on larger, strategic catchment-based applications with multiple release sites rather than seeking to establish isolated populations that will require ongoing population and genetic management.

Consequently, we have been concentrating on helping others to develop proposals for more favourable locations while continuing to consider where NNRs could contribute to such strategic applications.

A huge amount of work has been happening on the ground since September 2022 and our 2023 report of beaver management, which is due to be published later this summer, will report a continued trend of fewer beavers being lethally controlled.

This is due to NatureScot staff working hard with land managers, the Beaver Trust and Five Sisters Zoo to trap and translocate beavers from conflict areas wherever possible.

The last survey of the Tayside beaver population in 2020/21 highlighted that the beaver population in Scotland is continuing to expand rapidly, with at least 251 active beaver territories and an estimated 954 individuals.

There have since been three breeding seasons and populations have also been restored to more areas, including Loch Lomond and the Cairngorms, playing an important role in helping to improve biodiversity and respond to the climate emergency in Scotland.

The Scottish beaver population is now likely to be in excess of 2000 beavers and we expect to carry out further survey work next winter.

A spokesperson for FLS said: We are involved in beaver translocations across Scotland and all our releases  other than the original Knapdale trial  are within range as defined by NatureScot.

However, where translocations are proposed outwith range, considerable degrees of consultation and preparation are required and we have just concluded an consultation exercise on a proposal to translocate beavers to Glen Affric.

For good reason, there have now been two rounds of consultation for Glen Affric. The second consultation, partly required because of a change to the scope/scale of the original proposal, was overseen by an external party and has highlighted that several practical, management and monitoring processes need to be defined and agreed on before we could progress to a licence.

We have taken advice from NatureScot and, based on their feedback, believe these matters must be addressed before we can make a decision on making for a licence application.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: We will continue to support the identification and expansion of beaver populations.

We also recognise that appropriate management and mitigation is important to those affected.

We will continue to work with local communities to ensure that beavers are reintroduced into areas that maximise biodiversity and wider environmental gains and avoid potential negative impacts.
Many voters in Britains most rural constituencies are worried about climate change and support net zero and local renewables, polling suggests (Steve Parsons/PA)

Many voters in Britains most rural constituencies are worried about climate change and support net zero and local renewables, polling suggests.

A survey for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit think tank (ECIU) backs up other polling showing Labour pulling ahead of the Tories in their traditional heartlands, with 35% of the vote.

That compares with 30% for the Conservatives  down from 50% in 2019.

And it finds more than half of voters in rural seats (58%) support new onshore wind in their local area, while 64% back a solar farm  with even higher levels of support among those who have swung from the Conservatives to Labour.

But the poll of more than 2,000 people by More in Common shows that those in 30 of the most highly rural constituencies across England, Wales and Scotland think both main party leaders need to show more respect for communities like theirs.

The polling quizzed people in seats including Rishi Sunaks Richmond and Northallerton constituency, former prime minister Liz Trusss South West Norfolk seat and Westmoreland and Lonsdale, seat of the former Lib Dem leader Tim Farron.

It revealed rural voters are more concerned over climate change, and more supportive of net zero  a goal to end the UKs contribution to global warming by 2050 by cutting emissions to zero overall  than the country as a whole.

And swing voters heading from the Tories to Labour were even more supportive of climate action  although those abandoning the Conservatives in favour of Reform UK were less so.

Nearly three quarters of voters in the most rural seats (73%) are concerned about climate change, compared to 70% of people nationwide, while 68% of those in the countryside supported the UKs net zero target, compared to 65% in polling that represents the country as a whole.

A train runs along the mainline in front of newly harvested fields near Darlington, County Durham (Owen Humphreys/PA)

Conservative voters in 2019 who are planning to back Labour this election have even higher levels of concern (81%) over climate change, and more than three quarters (77%) supported net zero.

Just 47% of those going to Reform were worried about climate change, and 44% backed net zero.

Rural communities have noticed the impacts of climate change in their local areas, with two thirds (66%) seeing more frequent or severe flooding, and more than half (55%) have seen crop damage from extreme weather.

The polling also found more than three quarters (78%) wanted to see government schemes which help farmers shift to environmentally friendly practices  much higher than the 59% in the national sample.

Nearly two thirds of rural voters (63%) support some farmland being converted to nature reserves or woodland to protect wildlife from flooding caused by climate change, and 60% backed such a move to protect people.

And eight in 10 of those polled thought farmers should grow food sustainably to increase wildlife and reduce pollution, even if it means food becomes a bit more expensive, compared to just one in 10 who thought they should just grow food as cheaply as possible.

The polling also had a warning for the party leaders, with just 21% thinking Rishi Sunak respects communities like mine, compared to 56% who thought he did not.

Meanwhile just over a quarter (26%) thought Sir Keir Starmer respected communities like theirs and 41% thought he did not.

Tom Lancaster, land, food and farming analyst at the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit, said: It makes total sense that voters in the most rural seats show high levels of support for net zero, when they see first hand the impacts of climate change on farming and wildlife, and are often at greater risk of flooding.

Sometimes characterised as less concerned about climate change, this polling shows in fact that rural people see it as a major concern.

Rather than being blockers, rural voters also demonstrate strong support for the policies needed to tackle climate change, such as more funding for greener farming, and strong support for renewable energy in their area.

To win the respect of voters in these new electoral battlegrounds, all political parties are likely to need a strong offer on climate change, and should be wary of finding themselves on the wrong side of the debate from voters in these vital rural seats, he said.
Donald Trump sought to move past his historic criminal conviction on Friday and build momentum for his bid to return to the White House, with fierce attacks on the judge who oversaw the case, the prosecutions star witness and the criminal justice system as a whole.

Speaking from his namesake tower in Manhattan in a symbolic return to the campaign trail, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee delivered a message aimed squarely at his most loyal supporters.

Defiant as ever, he insisted without evidence that the verdict was rigged and driven by politics.

Were going to fight, Trump said from the atrium of Trump Tower, where he descended a golden escalator to announce his 2016 campaign nine years ago next month.

The machinations during the final, dramatic weeks of that campaign ultimately led to the charges that made Trump the first former president and presumptive presidential nominee of a major party to be convicted of a crime, exposing him to potential prison time.

While the guilty verdict has energised Trumps base, fuelling millions of dollars in new campaign contributions, it is unclear how the conviction and his rambling response will resonate with the kinds of voters who are likely to decide what is expected to be an extremely close November election.

They include suburban women, independents, and voters turned off by both candidates.

Trump cast himself as a martyr, suggesting that if this could happen to him, they can do this to anyone.

Im willing to do whatever I have to do to save our country and save our Constitution. I dont mind, he said, as he traded the aging lower Manhattan court where he spent much of the last two months for a backdrop of American flags, rose marble and brass.

Its a very unpleasant thing, to be honest, he added. But its a great, great honour.

A New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges (Julia Nikhinson/AP)

President Joe Biden, responding to the verdict at the White House, said Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself and attacked his rhetoric.

Its reckless, its dangerous, its irresponsible for anyone to say this is rigged just because they dont like the verdict, Mr Biden said.

Trump has made his legal woes the centrepiece of his campaign message as he has argued, without evidence, that Mr Biden orchestrated the four indictments against him to hobble his campaign.

The hush money case was filed by local prosecutors in Manhattan who do not work for the Justice Department or any White House office.

A Manhattan jury on Thursday found Trump guilty of 34 charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn star who said the two had sex.

A crowd gathers across the street from Trump Tower (Julia Nikhinson/AP)

Despite the historic ruling, a convicted Trump sounded much the same as a pre-convicted Trump, as he delivered what amounted to a truncated version of his usual rally speech.

He said the verdict was illegitimate and driven by politics and sought to downplay the facts underlying the case.

He said he would appeal.

Its not hush money. Its a non-disclosure agreement, he said. Totally legal, totally common.

When Trump emerged from the courtroom immediately after the verdict on Thursday, he had appeared tense and deeply angry, his words pointed and clipped.

His lawyer, Todd Blanche, who was with him at Trump Tower but did not speak, said in an interview later on Friday that he had been shocked by how well Trump took the verdict.

Hes not happy about it, but theres no defendant in the history of our justice system whos happy about a conviction the day after, he said.

But I think he knows theres a lot of fight left and theres a lot of opportunity to fix this and thats what were going to try to do.

But by Friday, he seemed more relaxed, especially as his remarks evolved into a version of his usual rally speeches, complete with acted-out stories and exaggerated hand gestures.

Donald Trump spoke in the atrium of Trump Tower, where he descended his golden escalator to announce his 2016 campaign nine years ago (Julia Nikhinson/AP)

He did not take questions from reporters, marching off as supporters assembled in the lobby cheered.

Trump has portrayed himself as a passionate supporter of law enforcement and has even talked favourably of officers handling suspects roughly.

But he has spent the last two years attacking parts of the criminal justice system as it applies to him and raising questions about the honesty and motives of agents and prosecutors.

In his disjointed remarks, Trump attacked Mr Biden on immigration and tax policies before moving to his case, saying he was threatened with jail if he violated a gag order.

He cast intricate parts of the case and trial proceedings as unfair, making false statements and misrepresentations as he went.

Trump said he had wanted to give evidence in his trial, a right that he opted not to exercise.

Doing so would have allowed prosecutors to cross-examine him under oath.

He raised the spectre on Friday of being charged with perjury for a verbal misstep, saying: The theory is you never testify because as soon as you testify  anybody, if it were George Washington  dont testify because theyll get you on something that you said slightly wrong.

Testing the limits of the gag order that continues to prohibit him from publicly criticising witnesses including Michael Cohen, Trump called his former fixer, the star prosecution witness in the case, a sleazebag, without referring to him by name.

He also blasted the judge in the case, saying his sides chief witness had been literally crucified by this man who looks like an angel, but hes really a devil.

He also circled back to some of the same authoritarian themes he has repeatedly focused on in speeches and rallies, painting the US under Mr Biden as a corrupt and fascist nation.

His son Eric Trump and daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, joined him, but his wife, Melania Trump, who has been publicly silent since the verdict, was not seen.

Outside, on Manhattans Fifth Avenue, supporters gathered across the street flew a giant red Trump or death sign that flapped in front of a high-end boutique. A small group of protesters held signs saying Guilty and Justice matters.

On Friday morning, Trumps campaign announced it had raised 34.8 million dollars (27.3 million) from the time the verdict was announced to midnight.

That is more than one million dollars for each felony charge and more than his political operation raised in January and February combined.

Just under 30% of that money came from donors who had not previously given to the campaign through the online platform, they said.

Trump and his campaign had been preparing for a guilty verdict for days, even as they held out hope for a hung jury.

On Tuesday, Trump railed that not even Mother Teresa, the nun and saint, could beat the charges, which he repeatedly described as rigged.

His top aides on Wednesday released a memo in which they said a verdict would have no impact on the election, whether Trump was convicted or acquitted.

The news nonetheless landed with a jolt. Trump listened as the jury delivered a guilty verdict on every count. Trump sat stony-faced while the verdict was read.

His campaign fired off a flurry of fundraising appeals, and allies rallied to his side.

One text message called him a political prisoner, even though he has not yet found out if he will be sentenced to prison.

The campaign also began selling black Make America Great Again caps, instead of the usual red, to reflect a dark day in history.

Aides reported an immediate rush of contributions so intense that the platform the campaign uses for fundraising, crashed.

In the next two months, Trump is set to have his first debate with Mr Biden, announce a running mate and formally accept his partys nomination at the Republican National Convention.

But before that Trump will have to return to court on July 11 for sentencing. He could face penalties ranging from a fine or probation up to prison time.
Senior figures in the Republican Party have reacted with fury after a New York jury convicted former US president Donald Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records to influence the 2016 election.

House Speaker Mike Johnson described the verdicts as a shameful day in American history and said the charges were purely political, while Ohio Senator JD Vance said the verdict was a disgrace to the judicial system.

Steve Scalise, the number two ranked Republican in the House of Representatives, said the decision was a defeat for Americans who believe in the critical legal tenet that justice is blind.

Former president Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court during jury deliberations (Steven Hirsch/New York Post/AP, Pool)

Within minutes of the verdict being read, Republicans who have been divided over support for their presumptive presidential nominee found common ground in attacking the judge, the jury and President Joe Biden, even though the conviction came on state charges in a Manhattan court.

The jury found Trump falsified records in a scheme to influence the election through hush money payments to an adult film actor who had said she had sex with the former president.

The Republican reaction echoed Trumps language, who said after the verdict was announced that it was a rigged, disgraceful trial. He is expected to quickly appeal.

A lone Republican voice, former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, said before the verdict that the public should respect the verdict and the legal process.

At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders  regardless of party  must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship, posted Mr Hogan, who is running for the Senate in Maryland. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law.

Other Republicans seized on Trumps attacks on the judge and the system in the New York trial and three other cases  local and federal charges in Atlanta and Washington that he conspired to undo the 2020 election, and a federal indictment in Florida charging him with illegally holding on to top-secret records after his presidency.

This verdict says more about the system than the allegations, said South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who has been one of Trumps most frequent allies.

Republicans, including some of his detractors, shared their criticism in posts on X, formerly Twitter, in press releases and TV appearances.

Texas Senator John Cornyn, who had distanced himself from the former president after the January 6 2021 Capitol attack of Trumps supporters said this verdict is a disgrace, and this trial should have never happened.

Now more than ever, we need to rally around @realdonaldtrump, take back the White House and Senate, and get this country back on track, said Mr Cornyn, who is running to replace Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell when he steps down from the post after the November election. The real verdict will be Election Day.

South Dakota Senator John Thune, who is also running to be leader and has also been critical of Trump, said the case was politically motivated from the beginning, and todays verdict does nothing to absolve the partisan nature of this prosecution.

As expected, Democrats rejoiced and tried to blunt the Republican attacks.

Trump toadies are going to attack the jury and the court because they have a plan to dismantle our democracy and it relies on everyone believing the justice system is rigged, posted Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy.

It isnt. Donald Trump committed a crime. He got caught. He got convicted. Thats the rule of law.
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Would anyone be able to pick you out of the crowd at your place of work or in your neighborhood and identify you as a Christian? Can people definitively say, I know he/she is a Christian, or I know he/she is a follower of Jesus? What makes you look, act, think and speak differently than those whom you work and live with? Today, the Christian faith has not only come under attack, but many Christians themselves have become complacent and too willing to compromise their beliefs.

Unfortunately, Christians are known more for what they are against than what they are for. In the U.S., in particular, we have adopted, for the most part, a barely recognizable form of Christianity that almost completely ignores the teachings given by the Bible by the man we say we want to follow and be like: Jesus. Here are six teachings of Jesus that followers of Jesus should be taking more seriously.

On forgiveness.

Our lack of obedience leads to our constant need for forgiveness. Scripture tells us, Be gentle and ready to forgive; never hold grudges. Remember that the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others (Colossians 3:13), but forgiveness is a concept many Christians struggle with. Jesus died on the cross for our sins. God has forgiven our inexcusable behavior, so if we are to have the stamp of Christ on our lives, that would include forgiving the inexcusable behavior of others towards us. We must be honestly repentant and truly sorry for the hurt we have caused God and others. We must not ask for forgiveness just because the Bible tells us. While this is a good starting place, we have to know and feel in our hearts that we need to be forgiven and to forgive.

On blessing others.

The Bible tells us, Love your enemies and bless those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44). While Jesus encourages us to sacrifice ourselves and speak kind words of blessings to those who disagree with most, for many Christians, that isnt always how we respond to others. There is always new controversy taking place in the Church. This can involve one group of Christians disagreeing with another group of Christians, and the outcome of this situation ends with those taking to the internet to write slanderous posts about the other. This is not Jesus way and is absolutely contrary to what He would do. Instead of cursing those who offend us or we dont agree with, Jesus calls us to speak blessings over them, even if the only thing we want to do is curse them out.

On witnessing.

One of the key elements of Christianity is being open and willing to share your faith with others, but the practical way of doing that is often a struggle. Many Christians dont share their faith out of fear of being ridiculed, disapproved and persecuted by the world. We hesitate to share, and fear-based thoughts begin to show up. How do we tell others about God in an effective way? Some people think of sharing their faith as a commandment enforced by knocking on doors and throwing Bibles. Fortunately, this is not what God commands. We serve a loving God who didnt design sharing your faith as a way to condemn others. We can witness to others by spreading Gods love and approaching witnessing with the right attitude and state of mind.

On condemnation.

Many Christians spend a lot of time addressing the people that God is opposed to and who He condemns. They also spend time addressing how to shift from a place of condemnation before God to a position of grace through believing the right things about Jesus. They will also talk about those who disagree or live contrary to their understanding of what is righteous as those who are under condemnation from God. But when you take a close look at Jesus life and teachings, we see that He not only befriended, loved and affirmed some of the societys most despised and vile people, but also chastised the religious leaders who condemned for their sin. Jesus said, I have not come into the world to condemn it but to save it (John 3:17). It appears that Jesus spends very little time telling sinners theyre wrong or speaking words of condemnation over them, but rather extending love and grace to those who have steered off the path and need God most.

On time with God.

Jesus said, Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (Matthew 11:24). As Christians, we know that prayer is a key part of our relationship with God but it isnt always a part of our regular practice. Many Christians struggle with making adequate time for God through prayer and communication. We live in a fast-paced world, and while many Christians say God is the most important in their life, many struggle with fitting God into their daily agendas. Our lives dont always reflect that God is at our center. Whats special about a solid relationship with God is that when we face a struggle, we know where our help comes from.

On salvation.

One of the clearest messages throughout all four Gospel accounts is that we enter the Kingdom of God by living in obedience to the Law of Christ. Throughout the Gospel, Jesus makes very clear statements that condemn those who think they will be saved because they say the right things or do the right religious rituals. Jesus responds to those who believe they are religious and deserve Heaven by saying that their outward religiosity is detestable and the only thing God desires is that they exercise their faith by obeying the command of God  to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly. We enter His Kingdom by doing Gods will, through loving God and neighbor. Looking or acting religious isnt a qualifier.

In the Bible, God tells us, Simply let your yes be yes and your no be no. Anything beyond this comes from the evil one (Matthew 537). On your faith journey, you will take more than one detour from Jesus. But in spite of those situations, your stubbornness, your self-righteous arrogance and a litany of other shortcomings, God loves you. If you dont feel as close to Him as you once did, it isnt God that has moved, but you that has moved.

Lesli White is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth with a Bachelors degree in Mass Communications and a concentration in print and online journalism. In college, she took a number of religious studies courses and harnessed her talent for storytelling. White has a rich faith background. Her father, a Lutheran pastor and life coach was a big influence in her faith life, helping her to see the value of sharing the message of Christ with others. She has served in the church from an early age. Some of these roles include assisting ministry, mutual ministry, worship and music ministry and church council.
The Philippine president urged China and the United States to manage their rivalry responsibly.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers the keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore, May 31, 2024.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. used his keynote address at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore on Friday to criticize Beijings assertive moves in the South China Sea and to call for responsible management of the U.S.-China rivalry.

Speaking to an audience of about 600 international security experts and senior government officials, Marcos condemned assertive actions that aim to propagate excessive, baseless claims through force, intimidation and deception.

While he did not name a specific country, China and the Philippines have been at loggerheads over reefs within the Philippines exclusive economic zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea also claimed by China.

China Coast Guard ships have been accused of harassing and preventing Filipino fishermen and law enforcement agencies from operating in the disputed waters.

China Coast Guard ships fire water cannons toward a Philippine resupply boat heading to the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, March 5, 2024. [Adrian Portugal/Reuters]

Beijing claims historic rights over 90% of the South China Sea despite protests from other littoral states, including the Philippines. An international tribunal in 2016 rejected all Chinas claims but Beijing has refused to recognize the ruling.

The life-giving waters of the West Philippine Sea flow in the blood of every Filipino, we cannot allow anyone to detach it from the totality of the maritime domain that renders our nation whole, Marcos said to a round of applause in the auditorium, using the name Manila gives to South China Sea waters within its EEZ.

When asked by an audience member whether a red line would be crossed if the China Coast Guard killed a Filipino, the president responded in the affirmative.

If a Filipino citizen is killed by a willful act, that is, I think, very, very close to what we define as an act of war and therefore we will respond accordingly, he said. And our treaty partners, I believe, also hold that same standard.

Marcos, who took office in 2022, added that differences amongst nations must always be solved peacefully, through legal and diplomatic processes and never through the threat or use of force.

Peace and stability

Marcos said the vision of the 10-member Association Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) for peace, stability and prosperity remains for now a distant reality, with illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive actions continuing to violate our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction.

He also called for restraint in the Taiwan Strait, explaining that by virtue of his countrys geographic proximity to the island and the presence of Filipinos in Taiwan, the Philippines has legitimate interests in cross-strait issues.

The Filipino people have a long history of fraternal bonds with the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Peace and stability must prevail, Marcos said.

He called on the two worlds major powers  China and the United States  to manage their rivalry in a responsible manner as their contest is exacerbating flashpoints and has created new security dilemmas.

But Chinas influence in the region is a permanent fact, he allowed, and the United States is a stabilizing presence crucial for peace in the Asia-Pacific region.

Marcos is the first Filipino head of state to address the Shangri-La Dialogue, which has been held annually by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, IISS, since 2002, and is considered one of Asias most significant security gatherings.

His policies toward the United States and in the South China Sea, meanwhile, have been deemed by many commentators to be a striking U-turn from those of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who was seen as more friendly toward China.

Under Marcos, Manila and Washington recently signed a deal that gave the United States access to a total of nine Philippine military bases.

Marcos stance on the South China Sea has almost certainly got him this prime-time speaking slot, because hes such a game changer in how the strategic situation plays out, said Ray Powell, director of the SeaLight project at Stanford University.

Manilas latticework

However, Marcos speech was not only about the South China Sea, since the president also likely wanted to look balanced, Powell said.

He also wants to be seen as having other partners other than the U.S., the maritime expert said, pointing to what observers call a latticework of expanded ties that Manila has forged with U.S. allies and partners in the region.

Shahriman Lockman, an expert in Southeast Asian maritime security at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Malaysia), said he believed Marcos had a made conscious effort to give ASEAN sufficient prominence in the speech.

Marcos was primarily casting the Philippines as an ASEAN member rather than an ally of the U.S., Lockman said, noting that Marcos called ASEAN centrality a core element of his foreign policy and spotlighted Manilas other regional alliances.

Marcos speech has been depicted by Chinese analysts as not helpful to the situation in the South China Sea.

Ma Bo, an associate professor from the School of International Studies at Nanjing University, told the state-run tabloid Global Times that the tone for this years forum is to emphasize tensions in the South China Sea and cast blame on Beijing.

Ma was quoted as saying that Marcos speech would only add fuel to the fire.
Analysts said first in-person talks between Lloyd Austin and Dong Jun would yield little but break the ice.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun (center) walks out after a bilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue meeting in Singapore, May 31, 2024.

Defense chiefs from China and the United States met in Singapore on Friday at a security forum in an encounter aimed at improving communication between the two powers amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.

Dong Jun and Lloyd Austin had a one-hour meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security forum, being held this year from May 31 to June 2.

Few details emerged from the closed-door meeting but Chinese defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said that Dong and Austin discussed Taiwan, the war between Russia and Ukraine, and the conflict in Gaza during talks he described as constructive.

Wu told reporters that the Chinese minister warned the U.S. against interfering in Chinas affairs with Taiwan.

A U.S. spokesman said that Austin expressed concern about recent provocative PLA activity around the Taiwan Strait, referring to the Chinese military by its official name, the Peoples Liberation Army.

He reiterated that the PRC should not use Taiwans political transition  part of a normal, routine democratic process  as a pretext for coercive measures," the spokesman, Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder, said in a statement, referring to the Peoples Republic of China.

A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the meeting marked an important step in opening lines of communication.

The official said Austin also brought up Chinas nuclear, space and cyber developments.

Dong is the third Chinese defense minister  after Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe  that Austin has seen in three consecutive years at the Shangri-La Dialogue as secretary of defense, but the second minister that hes held talks with as Li declined the offer of a meeting in 2023.

The two defense chiefs had a conversation via video last month to discuss bilateral relations, as well as regional and global security issues.

Military ties between China and the U.S. have been fraught with problems that show no sign of abating as Beijing ramps up aggression against the democratic island of Taiwan and the Philippines in the South China Sea.

The U.S., at the same time, has also been holding military exercises with allies in the region to emphasize its free and open Indo-Pacific doctrine.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (center) walks out after a bilateral meeting with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun on the sidelines of the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue meeting in Singapore, May 31, 2024. [Vincent Thian/AP]





Analysts said that the Dong-Austin meeting, the first in-person talks between defense chiefs since 2022, indicates an attempt to restore communication and mend ties by both sides, but they had very low expectations for much more.

Lyle Goldstein, director of Asia Engagement at Defense Priorities, a U.S. think-tank, told RFA that he had long advocated for more sustained, widespread, longer and deeper engagement between the U.S. and Chinese military establishments.

But what we have now is very narrow, only at the very top level, and extremely brief, he said. It's better than a handshake, but not by much.

Such in the spotlight engagements also tend to push the already truncated meetings into gotcha moments where leaders aim for soundbites to impress the audience at home, said Goldstein, a China expert who spent 20 years at the U.S. Naval War College.

Friction points

Both Austin and Dong plan to speak at the Shangri-La Dialogue to outline their countries approaches to global and regional security.

Austin is due to speak on Saturday and Dong on Sunday.

The Chinese admiral, who took office in December after a major shake-up at Chinas ministry of national defense, is expected to take a tougher stance against trouble-stirring by countries from outside the region, according to Chinese media.

On Thursday, a ministry spokesperson condemned the U.S. deployment of an intermediate range missile system during recent Balikatan military drills in the Philippines, saying it brought risk of war in the region.

There are a host of friction points between the U.S. and China on the security front, the most prominent of which include Taiwan, the South China Sea, and Ukraine, said Alexander Vuving, professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii.

In Vuvings opinion, both China and the U.S. would seek to use the Shangri-La Dialogue to strike the weak points of the other.

China will likely portray the U.S. as an interventionist that stirs up tensions everywhere it gets involved, from Taiwan to the South China Sea to Ukraine to Gaza, the political scientist said.

The U.S. will heavily criticize Chinas coercive actions, especially over Taiwan and in the South China Sea. It may also criticize Chinas non-transparent practice regarding Ukraine and bases in Cambodia, he added.

During the teleconference in April, the Pentagon chief underscored the importance of respect for high seas freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea to his Chinese counterpart.

The Shangri-La Dialogue, held by the International Institute for Strategic Studies since 2002, has become a major platform for government officials and security experts to discuss regional security.

Chinese experts, however, take a dim view of the forum. Chinas state-run tabloid Global Times quoted unidentified analysts as saying that while the conference presented opportunities for Beijing to set the record straight, it could also be a stage where Western countries use to launch malicious accusations against China.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to deliver a keynote speech on Friday evening, in which he will talk about the South China Sea and other challenges that his country faces.
Thailands Labor Ministry is requiring migrant workers to return to Myanmar to extend their stay.

Migrant workers from Myanmar test the quality of monitors as they work on a TV assembly line at a factory in Bangkok, July 22, 2019.

Burmese migrant workers in Thailand worry that a new visa policy requiring them to apply for an extension of their stay from Myanmar will expose them to conscription into the juntas military forces, according to aid groups.

Under the Peoples Military Service Law, enacted by the junta in February, men between the ages of 18 and 45 can be drafted, after junta forces suffered battlefield defeats to rebel forces.

The announcement triggered a wave of killings of administrators enforcing the law and drove thousands of draft dodgers into rebel-controlled territory and neighboring Thailand.

In April, the Thai Labor Ministry announced that workers from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos working under a government visa sponsorship program would have to return to their home countries to extend the terms of their four-year contracts when they expired.

Ye Min, with the Aid Alliance Committee, which assists Burmese workers in Thailand, confirmed the new visa requirements in an interview with RFA Burmese.

He said he believed Myanmars junta had requested the policy as part of its conscription drive.

Normally, workers can renew their books in Thailand, and work at their same workplace  they prefer this system, said the aid worker, who is also a leader of the Migration Health Assessment Center.

However, they now have to return home for an extension after they have worked in Thailand for four years due to pressure from the Myanmar junta.

Myanmar migrant workers enter Mae Sot, a border town of Thailand under the MoU system via the Myawaddy township of Kayin state, May 11, 2022. [Myanmar Labor Attache Office via Facebook]

Ye Min noted that many Burmese migrants in Thailand were supporting or actively participating in Myanmars anti-junta movement. He suggested that the junta may have pressured Bangkok into making the new requirements part of a bid to cut supplies and support to the rebellion.

A migrant who works at a chicken-processing plant in Lop Buri, Thailand, told RFA on condition of anonymity that two groups of workers from Myanmar at his plant had already returned home after their contracts expired.

[The contract] of another group of Myanmar workers is set to expire on June 13 or 14 and they will be sent home, said the migrant, who declined to be named due to security concerns.

About 26 workers have already returned home in two groups. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of workers will have to go back.

Returnees at risk

On May 1, the junta activated the mandatory military services law and its labor ministry announced that young men would no longer be allowed to work abroad.

Kyaw Ni, the deputy labor minister of Myanmars shadow National Unity Government, or NUG, told RFA his administration had requested that the Thai government allow Burmese migrant workers to continue working inside the country without having to return home.

Attempts by RFA to contact the juntas labor ministry and the Myanmar Labor Attache Office in Bangkok about the new requirements went unanswered Friday.

The Aid Alliance Committees Ye Min said it was extremely risky for migrant workers to go back to Myanmar.

Its not easy to re-enter Thailand within one or two months, so its a very risky system for repatriated workers, he said.

Aung Kyaw, of the Thailand-based Labor Rights Foundation, told RFA that his group had also called on the Thai government to allow the migrant workers to continue living there on humanitarian grounds.

The migrant workers will be forced into conscription if they are in the age range, he said. The junta is on the attack both day and night, so the lives of these migrant workers are at risk in the country.

On May 1, in observance of World Labor Day, labor groups rallied in Bangkok to demand that workers be allowed to apply for extensions to their four-year work contracts from within Thailand.

RFA Burmese, part of Radio Free Asia, a news organization affiliated with BenarNews, produced this report.
Thai customs officers and police at Central Investigation Bureau headquarters in Bangkok inspect telecommunications equipment and SIM cards confiscated during a recent crackdown on call center gangs in this photo released May 31, 2024.

Thai police have busted members of a transnational call center gang that targeted Thais with millions of fake calls and messages, causing billions of baht in losses tied to peoples private information, officials said Friday.

The seizure of more than 100 SIM boxes in at least one raid was the largest such haul in Thai history, Police Lt. Gen. Jirabhop Bhuridej, the Central Investigation Bureau commander, told reporters without saying when the crackdown occurred. He said the SIM boxes were used to deceive victims.

If fully operational, these could make simultaneous calls from 3,200 numbers, connecting to call centers in neighboring countries to simultaneously scam people within seconds. In one day, this could amount to millions of numbers, Jirabhop said, noting that three Vietnamese and four Burmese nationals were arrested.

The criminals can call from anywhere, making calls to Thailand through internet signals that are converted at a single gateway we discovered into home phone signals, he said.

Previously, authorities said that some 79 million fraudulent calls and text messages sent to unwitting Thais had resulted in people losing more than 53.8 billion baht (U.S. $1.46 billion) through releasing their personal information to the scammers.

Jirabhop said police found the SIM boxes installed at two locations in Bangkok and six in nearby Nakhon Pathom province.

We cannot determine exactly how many call center gangs there are or who controls them all, but in the past, we have captured Thais, Chinese and Vietnamese in various places within Thailand and at the borders of neighboring countries. Everything is scattered and disorganized, he said.

From March 2022 to February 2024, there were 463,712 reported cases of cyber crime, including phone scams, data from the Royal Thai Police show.

In early 2024, Thai police conducted two raids on phone-scam operations.

In March, 51 foreigners and 12 Thais were arrested during a raid in the southern city of Nakhon Si Thammarat, during which 192 computers and 854 mobile phones were seized.

Last month, police reported capturing a key Chinese mastermind behind another call center gang, who was allegedly responsible for over 30 cases related to transnational organized crime.

We have traced the financial pathways of this gang including bank accounts, cryptocurrencies, and various online wallets amounting to around 70 billion baht ($1.9 billion). We have already seized some of the assets and will continue to pursue further leads, Jirabhop said at the time.

Thai police display boxes of fraudulent SIM cards confiscated during recent raids in this photo released May 31, 2024. [Handout/Thai Customs Department]



In Chiang Mai, an employee at a beauty clinic urged others to be wary of text messages from unknown sources.

These days, I waste a lot of time dealing with these SMS scams, said Wantana Hindet, 44. Im still fortunate not to have my money stolen like others in the news. We have to be very cautious.

Avoid clicking on any links attached to these messages. It only takes one mistake to face potentially devastating consequences, Wantana told BenarNews. Its really scary because if you slip up just once, your entire bank account could be drained.

Office: Thais top targets for scam calls in Asia

In Thailand, the number of scam calls has grown at an alarming rate, according to the Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC).

Thais received the most scam calls and SMS in Asia, totaling 78.8 million instances, an increase of over 18% from 2022. This includes 20.8 million fraudulent calls and 58 million scam SMS. On average, each person received 7.3 calls from call center gangs and another 20.3 SMS, said Danucha Pichayanan, the offices secretary-general.

Scammers are using increasingly sophisticated techniques and leveraging personal information to tailor their strategies to specific targets, according to Titinun Suttinaraphan, marketing director for Southeast Asia at Gogolook/Whoscall, a company providing security services for smartphones.

This poses a significant threat to the privacy and financial security of the Thai people, Titinun told BenarNews.

In a single day, 217,047 Thais fell victim to scammers, with a 22% increase in fraudulent calls and a 17% increase in scam SMS compared to 2022, which is contrary to the improving trend in the Asian region, Titinun said, referring to 2023.

The Asia Scam Report, which surveyed 20,000 phone users from 11 Asian countries, found that in 2023, respondents encountered phone scams at least once a week. Thailand remained the most targeted country, according to 88% of those answering the survey, followed by Malaysia (82.7%), Hong Kong (81.3%) and Vietnam (80.2%).

Methods constantly adapting

Nuttakorn Vititanon, a lecturer at Chiang Mai University who conducted a research project on online threats, said phone-scam operations had picked up during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The methods of deception are constantly adapting to the situation, but a common tactic across many countries is impersonating government entities. Scammers either intimidate victims or lure them with the promise of benefits, using fake links or links that allow remote control of the victims smartphone to transfer money from banking apps or steal various information, he told BenarNews.

Apart from posing as government officials, scammers often impersonate delivery services, banking institutions or offer fake prizes. Scammers also use areas in neighboring countries along the Thai border as their base, Nuttakorn said.

Many countries are tackling SMS scams by requiring sender registration  a counter-measure that prevents unregistered users from sending messages, he said.

The government should mandate that service providers continually develop security technologies, not just request their cooperation, Nuttakorn said.

Network providers must take a more proactive approach. They should utilize AI technology to screen scam SMS or fake links from fraudsters and regularly report their progress in addressing this issue to the public.

Thai police interview suspects who are wearing light green shirts and sitting with their backs to the camera at bureau headquarters in Bangkok, March 22, 2023. [Thai Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau via AP]

Regarding the governments efforts, Wong-akuea Boonson, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Digital Economy and Society (DE), said the ministrys primary tactic was to crack down on fake SIM cards, which are crucial tools for scammers.

The DE has discussed cooperation with the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to consider criteria for blocking SMS from unidentifiable senders. This matter will be further discussed in an upcoming meeting of the Committee for the Prevention and Suppression of Online Crime, Wong-akuea told BenarNews.

The NBTC announced that individuals possessing 101 or more SIM cards must register and verify their identities by Feb. 14. As a result, 2.58 million numbers were verified, while 2.49 million numbers remained unverified  of those 1.48 million were suspended.

We are implementing strict measures for new SIM card registrations in accordance with the NBTCs identity verification criteria to prevent SIM cards from being used for illegal activities. The DE is also working to raise public awareness about scam tactics and encourage people to be cautious when encountering suspicious situations, Wong-akuea said.

Trairat Wiriyasirikul, the commissions acting secretary-general, said the commission had begun implementing measures to suspend telecommunication signals in border areas to prevent scammers operating from neighboring countries.

In early May 2024, the signal strength of 13 base stations was reduced, and the antennas pointing outward from Thailand to neighboring countries were switched off at 84 stations. The NBTC will continue these efforts as phone scams pose a significant threat to the countrys economy and society, he told BenarNews.
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BENNINGTON  The last of three Massachusetts gang members who shot up a residence as part of a drug territory dispute in Bennington has taken a plea deal with prosecutors.

Caleb Rivera, 19 at the time of his arrest, pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of felony aggravated assault with a weapon while knowingly attempting to cause bodily harm and an unrelated felony charge of aggravated vehicle operation without owners consent. In exchange for the guilty pleas, the initial charge of attempted murder was changed, and a petty larceny charge was dismissed.

Riveras plea deal calls for an 8-9-year sentence, all suspended, except for three years to serve, with a five-year probation, which he will serve in his hometown of Springfield, Massachusetts, right after his prison time in Vermont ends.

The negotiation, according to defense attorney Frederick Bragdon, concentrated on changing the wording of the aggravated assault with a deadly weapon to with a weapon, a different charge allowing a different Vermont statute with a reduced penalty. He also negotiated for Riveras five-year probation period to be served in Massachusetts, his home state. Rivera has no prior criminal record.

According to police affidavits in the case, Bennington police were dispatched to 715 Main Street in Downtown Bennington a few minutes before midnight on September 22, 2022, for reports of numerous gunshots fired.

Rivera, known in gang circles as whiteboy, and two other members of the Plainfield gang located out of Springfield, Massachusetts, were allegedly competing for drug territory with a rival gang called the 0block gang (later identified as the 03 gang). They were spotted on surveillance video approaching the residence. 12-13 shots are then heard in two separate volleys. One of the individuals is then seen running away towards the Morgan Street Cemetery across the street.

Police questioned six individuals inside the residence, with one telling investigators there was a knock on the door, followed by the door being kicked in. The shooting began soon after. The three individuals were identified as Rivera, Jon (Slime) Nazario, and Miguel (Miggs) Perez-Agramonte, all from the Springfield-Chicopee areas of Massachusetts.

A search warrant execution days later at 546 Main Street turned up large amounts of drugs, money, and several firearms inside a trap apartment, a residence that drug dealers take over from an addict. Miguel Perez-Agramonte was arrested at the scene. While in custody, Perez-Agramonte admitted to an earlier drug-related shooting on Barber Street in Bennington in September 2022 and then to the shooting at 715 Main Street.

Perez-Agramonte told investigators that he and two others were there to kick out members of the rival gang. Perez-Agramonte said that the men had entered the stairwell of the residence when the rival gang opened fire on them. All three individuals fired back with Ghosties: untraceable, cheaply made copies of firearms produced with 3-D printers that use authentic barrels and magazines. They then fled the scene in separate directions, with Perez-Agramonts telling police he ran across the street to the Morgan Street Cemetery, where he ditched the firearm against a wooden fence.

Police later found a loaded polymer 9mm pistol with no serial number inside the Morgan Cemetery across from the shooting, just where Perez-Agramonte told police he had ditched it. Later, search warrants obtained by investigators turned up text conversations between the then suspects referencing the shooting incident.

Perez-Agramonte and Nazario have already entered into plea deals with prosecutors for similarly reduced charges, with both receiving similar sentences.

Rivera, the last of the suspects to plead guilty, was facing a possible life sentence for the attempted murder if found guilty at trial. Conditions of his probation after he serves three years in Vermont include drug testing, warrantless searches, possible electronic monitoring, and participation in treatment programs.

This is a situation where we are thankful that no one was actually hurt, said Prosecutor Jared Bianchi during the change of plea hearing. This sentence addresses, for a long period of time, supervision, incarceration, and, hopefully, rehabilitation for Mr. Rivera in Massachusetts. Had the circumstances been just a little different, we might have been looking at a whole different outcome.

Ultimately, the complex issues that drove this case are still very present in our community, Bianchi went on to say. We can arrest people like Rivera every day, but those driving factors of demand will still be here. My hope is that Mr. Rivera, after his incarceration, engages in those services available so that we can one day get to the point of healing what is the underlying cause of all of these issues and not wind up here tomorrow with someone else with these same or similar charges.

Riveras official sentencing after he pleaded guilty was delayed due to the court schedule. A sentencing hearing after the change of plea has not been scheduled in the case as of Wednesday afternoon. He continues to be held without bail at the Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport, VT. It is unclear where he will serve out the remainder of his sentence.
A Raymour & Flanigan furniture store is moving into the former Bed Bath and Beyond in Pittsfield. The store is expected to open early next week, with ribbon-cutting and grand opening celebrations set for later in the month.
The Berkshire Co-op Food Market in Great Barrington, among other sources, sells peppercorns by the ounce.
Joe Durwin is a local historian specializing in research on residential and commercial properties for owners in Berkshire County. He can be reached at info@berkshirehomehistory.com
GREAT BARRINGTON  It was shortly after a performance of Youre A Good Man, Charlie Brown that Benjamin Gross had his eureka moment.

Gross had been playing in the pit band for a middle school production of the play at W.E.B. Du Bois Middle School when he was approached by a young trumpet player just after the final curtain fell. The trumpeter was a fourth grader with a simple question: Can you teach me how to improvise?

Gross, an accomplished jazz drummer and student of the genre, was taken aback by the question. He was a junior in high school, still trying to learn himself  although hed been playing jazz gigs for almost three years at that point.

At first, he was hesitant  I dont know what Im talking about, he said. Then, he thought about it for a moment; why not give it a shot?

So, he hopped behind a piano, told the young student they were going to play in the key of B flat, and let his imagination run wild from there. He showed the trumpeter the scale, stressing that it didnt matter how much space he placed between them or what order he played them in.

Use these notes any way that you can, and play your heart out, Gross said.

The resulting solo sounded great, Gross said, and the young trumpeter brought intensity to make it all work.

Gross said it was the moment that everything clicked for him  the moment he realized he wanted to teach music for the rest of his life.

Before, I was freaking out, Gross said. I was like I have no idea what Im doing, I cant teach you this. But when I saw their reaction like oh my god, I just soloed  I just created that. Seeing that reaction made me realize this was more natural to me than I thought.

Gross is the recipient of the 2024 Daniel Pearl Berkshire Scholarship, an award meant to honor the legacy of Daniel Pearl, the former Wall Street Journal reporter who began his career with The North Adams Transcript and The Berkshire Eagle. Pearl was kidnapped and killed in 2002 by terrorists in Pakistan while serving as the South Asia bureau chief in Bombay.

Pearl had a passion for investigative journalism, and for music  he was a classically trained violinist, who also played the guitar and mandolin. The scholarship is awarded each year to a local high schooler who has an appreciation for journalism or music.

Gross, a resident of West Stockbridge originally born in Nepal, will graduate from Monument Mountain Regional High School in just a few days, with plans to study music and music education at Syracuse University. The scholarship will provide him with $2,000 to assist in the cost of his education.

Gross talent for percussion was discovered by his mother  as a toddler, he began drumming on pots and pans. From there, he started taking lessons and developing his repertoire, eventually falling in love with jazz greats such as Tony Williams of the Miles Davis Quintet, Nate Smith of the Fearless Flyers and big band great Gene Krupa.

Gross has spent his high school career in the jazz band, marching band and concert band at Monument Mountain. Simultaneously, hes played in jazz ensembles outside of school, including his group The Interns, which had a long-term residency at the local restaurant Prairie Whale this school year.

In addition to his talent for percussion, Gross also volunteers at Hevreh of Southern Berkshire as a music teacher and youth leader. At Monument Mountain, he established the Students of Color Association to help foster a sense of belonging among students of color at the school.

In large part, Gross values the freedom of expression that music provides. As he develops his own distinct voice and style, he plans to use it to call attention to issues that he cares about both locally and abroad, such as racism and all the isms and phobias that are in the world that tear us apart.

He also wants to ensure that the next generation coming up has the toolkit to express themselves, too. In an essay written during the scholarship process, Gross wrote that the two things that bring him joy and purpose were "playing the drums and helping kids find their rhythm."

"The world is at its best when everyone can contribute their unique sound," Gross wrote. "And my contribution to the world is ensuring those voices are heard, encouraged and played loudly."

Gross thanked his music teachers in the Berkshire Hills Regional School District, including Jacob Keplinger, Matthew Schneider and Julie Bickford, for the support that they have lent him over the years. He hopes to continue that cycle as a professional, and pass down what hes learned.

I would hope one day to be that person in some random kid's life, or a bunch of kids lives, Gross said. I want to be able to be there for them in the same way that my teachers have been for me.
The Adams annual town meeting last year drew more than 100 elected representatives. Those town meeting representatives will again have the chance to decide budget and Greylock Glen questions at Monday's town meeting.
Kids swim at Windsor Lake in North Adams on Labor Day in 2023. In anticipation of summer, Berkshire Family YMCA CEO Christian Bianchi urges caregivers to actively promote water safety.
Stewart Edelstein, a Stockbridge resident, is author of several books, including Dubious Doublets, The Covid-19 Zeitgeist: Fifty Essays, and An Alphabetical Romp Through the Flora of Berkshire Botanical Garden from Agave to Zinnia.
Hancock has submitted a home-rule bill to exempt it from paying tuition gaps for school choice students Hancock is the first in line for home-rule legislation that would exempt the town from a state law that's been on the books for 30 years but has apparently never been followed.

Its bad enough when the rules dont make sense. Its worse when they seem arbitrarily enforced. Worse still when an arbitrary and questionable rule impacts public schools in oft-overlooked rural corners of the commonwealth.

So we share the confusion and concern felt by some Berkshire education officials in the wake of an announcement from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that landed like a bombshell in a handful of commonwealth school communities. As reported earlier this week in The Eagle, several superintendents were shocked when the state informed them that their districts taxpayers would be on the hook for tuition costs for choiced-in students to a small towns elementary school who then go on to attend secondary school in another district.

Take Hancock, for example, a small town with one elementary school. Like other smaller districts without their own secondary schools, the town has a tuition agreement for middle and high school education with a neighboring district  in Hancocks case, Mount Greylock Regional School District. Hancock Elementary School also accepts school choice students who live in other districts, and the states school choice law holds that those students who are enrolled as choice students at the elementary school have the right to attend Mount Greylock Regional School like kids from Hancock.

But because of a little-known subsection in that law, Hancock must pay the tuition gap for students who dont live in town or in Mount Greylocks district but choice into Hancock Elementary and go on to the Williamstown middle and high school. That gap  $17,254 to send a student to Mount Greylock minus the $5,000 school choice tuition paid by the students home district  amounts to $12,254 per student per year for Hancock to shoulder. It was little-known even to regional education officials, including multiple Berkshire superintendents who say this rules enforcement is new to them, which led to their unpleasant surprise at DESEs correspondence about it earlier this year.

The rule applies to 10 districts that have tuition agreements. Four of them are in the Berkshires: Hancock; Richmond Consolidated School; Northern Berkshire School Union, which serves Clarksburg, Florida and Savoy as well as Franklin County towns Monroe and Rowe; and Farmington River Regional School District, which serves Becket, Otis and Sandisfield as well as Tolland of Hampden County. So while Berkshire County contains only five percent of Massachusetts 300-plus public school districts, 40 percent of the school communities impacted by this rule are in the Berkshires.

Its not only highly inequitable in regional impact but nonsensical, burdening taxpayers of small towns like Hancock or Richmond with paying for out-of-district students to attend out-of-district schools. It makes one wonder whether this was a policy decision, in both its original creation and relatively recent enforcement, driven by Eastern Massachusetts leaders with little to no knowledge of districts with tuition agreements and what this means for those school communities.

Rural districts already face unique and tall challenges. Why saddle them with more? If its to save on state aid dispersed, this seems penny-wise and pound-foolish, given the fact that the tuition gaps in play are disruptive to smaller districts but little more than a rounding error in the scope of the states total education expenditures.

Some superintendents surmise its an effort by the state to spur regionalization efforts, particularly in smaller districts like those affected here that might have one sparsely attended elementary school (which is why they often rely on school choice) and no middle or high schools. DESE officials have denied this is their motive, and we hope theyre truthful. Whatever the intent, though, we fear such an ill-considered move still might have a detrimental effect on future regionalization efforts. As weve consistently argued, smart consolidation considerations must be part of the discussion for seeking school sustainability in more rural districts. But the state should nudge that conversation with more carrots than sticks, and this development is only going to leave a bad taste in many school communities mouths if and when wise regionalization opportunities appear.

Hancock already has said it would cease accepting choice students since this development makes it fiscally unrealistic to do so. (The town has forwarded a home rule bill that would exempt it from the tuition gap obligation, which requires approval from the Legislature.) Its reasonable to expect other towns to follow suit, a development that could undermine participation in and the ostensible purpose of the states school choice system.

If were to follow the logic of this rule now hanging like a sword of Damocles over smaller districts that depend on choice students, its worth asking a broader question about the philosophy of school choice in Massachusetts: What is the purpose and expected outcome of financially penalizing districts that lose school choice students and districts that attract them? That riddle folded into the states school choice law wont be untangled soon.

In the near term, the Legislature should take up Hancocks home rule bill in informal session to resolve that towns immediate problem, and also consider devoting some attention in the next formal session to ironing out this issue disproportionately impacting smaller districts that are less able to weather the financial shock.
How can you help someone whose faith is in pieces? When a Christian you love questions beliefs you hold dear, is it possible to walk with them through faith deconstruction?

As someone who experienced the collapse of my faith (and its eventual renewal), Im deeply grateful for believers who want to come alongside and help. The gift of your presence can make Christs love tangible.

If youve never walked through deconstruction yourself, however, you may struggle to know just how to help. Understanding the terminology is a good place to begin.

Understanding Faith Deconstruction

No two deconstruction stories are the same. From the initial crisis to an eventual landing place and every detail in between, each story is as unique as the individual living it. Adding to the issues complexity, theres no single, agreed-upon definition.

In general, faith deconstruction is the rethinking of ones foundational beliefs. Beyond this, the range of definitions varies widely.

Some Christians compare it to literary and philosophical deconstruction, a practice developed in the 1960s. In those fields, modern readers reinterpret older works based on the belief that truth is relative. When applied to Christianity, this type of deconstruction often leads to significant theological shifts, sometimes even leading to deconversion. Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett seem to have this perspective in mind when they define faith deconstruction as a postmodern process of rethinking your faith without regarding Scripture as a standard.

On the other end of the spectrum, Grace Ruiter compares faith deconstruction to a necessary renovation project. She describes it this way, If you think of Christian faith as a home, pursuing tough questions about your faith is a bit like tearing away the carpeting and knocking out the drywall to see the bones that lie beneath. It pulls apart your beliefs to reveal what theyre made of and what holds them together. This definition aligns with my own deconstruction experience.

When discussing deconstruction with your loved one, its wise to start by understanding how theyre using the term.

Related article: 6 Times Deconstruction Really Is a Good Thing

Common Denominators in Deconstruction

While each deconstruction story is different, there are often some commonalities. Based on my own experience and the stories Ive witnessed, here are some realities youll want to keep in mind.

Deconstruction Is Painful

For many of us, deconstruction comes on the heels of a traumatic experience. My faith imploded when I learned of the betrayal of a trusted spiritual leader. Though I hadnt seen him in years, his teachings had shaped my spiritual formation. His betrayal wounded me, and his double-life caused me to question nearly everything I believed.

In addition to the pain from the actual crisis, the journey through deconstruction felt intensely lonely. I was ashamed of my questions and doubts, of the depression that took up residence in me during that season. I was afraid to let people into my process lest they see the mess Id become. It was easier just to quietly withdraw.

Your loved one may be carrying a very deep wound. Theyre trying to figure out where to go from here and how to make sense of what theyve experienced. By offering the gift of your presence, you can provide a haven through the lonely process.

Deconstruction May Be Unavoidable

Like many others who deconstruct, I didnt flippantly decide to dismantle my faith. Besides abandoning Christianity altogether, I truly had no other option. My faith was broken and starting over was my only hope for its survival.

As I evaluated my belief system with fresh eyes, I recognized a tangled mess of truth and lies  transactional Christianity that left me exhausted, opinions held because a teacher told me so, Scripture misinterpreted and taken out of context. Deconstruction offered the overhaul my faith required.

Your loved one is likely deconstructing because they must. By supporting them through the process, you can extend a lifeline that gives the option of holding onto faith.

Deconstruction Impacts People Differently

When Gods good gifts are instead used to harm, surprising triggers can result.

Because my faith crisis came after a leaders betrayal of trust, to this day I struggle with trusting those in positions of spiritual authority. In other situations, when Gods Word was used to shame, manipulate, or control, those affected may have great difficulty reading the Bible or hearing it taught. In situations where harm occurred in a church setting, those wounded in this way may find it impossible to go to church right now  even a different church altogether.

Your loved one may experience triggers that surprise you. When you extend love and compassion, you create space for them to heal at their own pace.

Deconstruction Is a Process

Where your loved one is today is not necessarily their final destination. Theyre asking questions and seeking answers, but dont assume where theyve landed is where theyll stay.

My faith deconstruction started over a decade ago. Along the way I discovered its more of a journey than an arrival point. As Paul David Tripp put it, We should all be deconstructing our faith. We better do it. Because our faith becomes a culture, a culture so webbed into the purity of truth, its hard to separate the two.

Healthy faith is curious  always growing, always aware of how much we dont yet know, always on guard against lies masquerading as the truth.

Your loved one is in process (as we all are). When you love them where theyre at, you keep the door open for an ongoing relationship.

4 Ways to Support Your Loved One through Deconstruction

Micah 6:8 describes qualities that are dear to Gods heart. They can also provide reference points for relating to your loved one.

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

1. Do Justly

Many a deconstruction story begins with some sort of injustice. Maybe your loved one or someone they care about was harmed. Perhaps theyve heard one too many stories about yet another church scandal. Whatever the situation, your loved one is likely trying to make sense of it within their worldview.

Affirm their desire for truth and justice. Their heart cry echoes the heart of God. Resist the temptation to rationalize their concerns. Dont express doubt or downplay their story. This will only add to their pain. Instead, hold gently the concerns theyve shared with you.

2. Love Kindness

In the Bibles original Hebrew, the word used in Micah 6:8 for kindness means loyal love. The same word shows up in Proverbs 19:22a, What a person desires is unfailing love. This need for consistent, merciful love is especially strong during deconstruction.

Consider how Jesus received the hurting people who came to him. He looked them in the eyes, noticed their struggle, and welcomed them to spend time with him. He didnt hold them at arms length until they figured out the right theology or cleaned up their messes. No, he wept with them and listened to their stories. He loved them right where they were.

This is still Gods heart for people today. Ask him to fill you with his loyal love and to help you see your loved one through his eyes. Allow kindness to characterize your conversations so they feel valued, honored, and loved.

3. Walk Humbly

Part of deconstruction involves asking messy questions, questions rarely voiced within the walls of a church building. While this may make you uncomfortable, verbalize your willingness to listen and your desire to understand your loved ones perspective. Make room for curiosity and affirm the concerns behind their questions.

While we recognize truth is not relative and historical Christianity rests on some essential basic tenants, we must also acknowledge that gray areas exist. Christians come to different conclusions on secondary and tertiary topics. Its important to hold your convictions with confidence and humility, acknowledging that believers with different perspectives may have valid Biblical basis for their beliefs. This allows room for differences within the faith community. It validates other Christian voices and shows that genuine faith can exist outside the structure of one specific denomination. Ultimately, it allows your loved one to take a different position on non-essential issues and still hold on to Christ.

4. Trust the Holy Spirit

While faith deconstruction can be alarming, you can rest in the awareness that God is at work behind the scenes. He loves your friend or family member more than any human ever could. He wants a relationship with them and is drawing them in with his kindness (Romans 2:4). No, you cant guarantee the outcome, but you can trust that his heart is for them.

So, when youre tempted to correct uncomfortable questions or take control of their process, choose instead to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry (James 1:19). If God leads you to speak truth or share your perspective, do so with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). Allow Gods perfect love to displace any fear within your heart so you can speak and act with love.

How to Pray for Your Loved One

More than anything, your loved one needs your prayers, especially in these two areas:

1. Pray They Will Experience Christ

Deconstruction is extremely personal. Your loved one is reevaluating beliefs theyve held at their core. God alone knows the depth of transformation taking place. He sees every hidden wound and hears each unspoken question. He longs to meet them with compassion.

The Living Bible paraphrases Matthew 12:20-21 beautifully as it depicts Jesus heart for the hurting. He does not crush the weak or quench the smallest hope; he will end all conflict with his final victory, and his name shall be the hope of all the world.

This describes how I experienced Christ when my faith fell apart. Where I expected him to be disappointed in me (as I was in myself), I sensed mercy and open-hearted welcome instead. He dazzled my weary, wounded soul with his grace. Grace Id sung about and talked about since I was a church kid. Grace far greater than Id dreamed possible.

The person of Christ held me in the faith. Not well-defined doctrines or convincing arguments. Not creeds or checklists or even the fear of judgment.

Jesus himself is present in deconstruction, inviting people to bring their wounds and their questions and find healing and hope in him.

Your loved one needs to experience Christ. Whether they recognize this need or not, you can pray they will encounter him in soul-mending, faith-building ways.

2. Pray That Deconstruction Leads to Reconstruction

Deconstruction can be beautiful if it leads to restored faith. Just as renovating a historical building is a valuable endeavor, the Christian faith is worth rebuilding when its fallen into disrepair. But tearing out whats rotten and throwing away whats broken is only part of the process.

God desires to rebuild your loved ones faith  not just as it was, but as he designed it be so they can flourish.

Before deconstruction, my faith was driven by duty. Try harder was my subconscious mantra. I wondered at Jesus promise of soul rest, and I secretly doubted he really had abundant life to offer. During deconstruction, he replaced the lies that led me to burnout and taught my soul to rest. He set me on a life-long quest to know his heart and deepened my relationship with him along the way.

Your loved ones faith needs renewal, too. Pray that as they deconstruct, God himself will rebuild a flourishing faith.

May Gods Spirit guide you as you walk with your loved one through deconstruction, giving you understanding, helping you offer support, and teaching you how to pray for them.

Photo credit: Getty Images/izkes
Advancements in cutting-edge innovative technologies and the increasing availability of data have enabled various domains of the biotech and pharma industries to leverage resourceful approaches in driving progress, maintaining competitive advantage and accomplishing the ultimate goal of improved patient outcomes. Deep tech ventures, also referred to as hard tech as opposed to regular digital platforms, primarily focus on the fundamental core issues of a business. For India to become an innovation hub, with concerted transformative efforts of leaders and experts in life sciences, biotech, pharma, and healthcare, deep tech is pivotal. Experts opine that the next wave of startups from India, which is already gaining considerable traction, would be on deep tech and IP-based devices. Let's take a closer look at Indias deep tech startup landscape and the vision of a successful deep tech ecosystem.

Scientists and industry experts define deep tech ventures as those startups or companies that expressly work on innovations that are based on existing substantial scientific, technological, or engineering discoveries and breakthroughs. Deep tech startups operate around the idea of providing palpable solutions to complex problems in existing health solutions, as well as in business models and operations, to pave the way not only for improved products and innovative scientific methodologies but also bring about large organisational changes in the pharma and healthcare sectors.

Industry leaders also delve deeper into describing deep tech ventures as those that work to identify certain physical constraints of industries that have not been solved for decades and then focus on developing/improving the physical product(s) using big data and digital platforms based on advanced technologies. It seems like a consensus among industry players operating at various levels that even though the proportion of deep tech startups among new businesses may be lower, their impact will tend to be noteworthy, as their science and business models, harbouring a forward-looking objective, could help to tackle big problems.

The speedy growth and evolution of computational approaches, systems biology, Artificial Intelligence (AI), quantum computing, etc., combined with ease of access to computing and the trend shifting towards data-driven science, are paving the way to overcome barriers to scientific innovation. This seems to have set the stage for the establishment and development of diverse deep tech startup ventures in India.

According to the India Deep Science Tech analysis report published by Ankur Capital & Tech Sprouts, it is the right time to build in India for the world  With its efficient capital use, competitive talent pool, and large domestic markets, India offers an ideal ecosystem for developing and scaling deep science tech solutions. As per a 2021 report published by Nasscom, India is home to over 3000 deep tech startups, which make up 12 per cent of the Indian startup ecosystem. This is a rapidly growing sector with a 53 per cent CAGR over the last decade. Approximately $2.7 billion in funding was raised by the deep tech startup ecosystem in 2021, and over 30 mergers and acquisitions in this space occurred in 2021 alone.

There are multiple areas within the life sciences sector where India is seeing the emergence and growth of deep tech ventures. Experts weigh in that the nascent drug discovery ecosystem in India has the potential to take huge strides by leveraging AI, where the ultimate gains are in the form of significantly reduced costs and timelines for a potentially superior product delivered. A recently published analysis by Loestro Advisors opines that such advances help in leveling the playing field from a resources standpoint and enable smaller, under-resourced players to pursue cutting edge scientific innovation. While the use of AI for drug discovery is becoming increasingly popular within this niche, other areas of focus include immunotherapies (like CAR-T), novel therapeutics (like CRISPR, stem cells), genomics and proteomics, novel drug delivery systems, small and large molecule therapeutics (biologics, peptides).

Trending areas

According to Ankur Capital report, the Indian deep science AI companies have predominantly focused on spectral image and genomic data analysis for applications ranging from diagnostics to robots. Indias biotechnology sector has seen a significant rise in investments following COVID-19. The data from the report states that nearly $900 million was allocated between 2013 and 2023, driven by a focus on therapeutics, diagnostics, and sustainable agri-food technologies. Key investments include Molbio Diagnostics and Bugworks.

Multiple reports by industry experts and researchers in the past few years demonstrate that in the life sciences sector, deep tech is being utilised in several areas like computational pharmacology, in silico clinical trials, synthetic biology, synthetic data, generative AI, genomics and multi-omics-powered targeted therapeutics, nanomedicine, blockchain technologies. Additional fields being cited as a part of deep technology by experts also include robotics, quantum computing, and 3D printing. There has been an upward trend in R&D-intensive sectors. While other technologies have been coming up at significant pace and depth, AI stands out as the consistent facilitating technology of the last decade.

From the perspective of funding priorities, trends in deep tech ventures are being shaped overall, in India as well as globally. Sharing his insights, Dr Amandeep Singh, Project Lead, MP Advisors, San Francisco, California said, Given that the macroeconomic conditions are not very favourable, VCs are focused on some subcategories of life sciences deep tech that either have less regulatory challenges, give a chance for early cash flow, or address a very large challenge. In the areas of personalised medicine and diagnostics, OMIC technologies are becoming crucial as the drugs become increasingly specific. Deep tech technologies that aid in diagnosis are hot in space. In the pharma sector, antibody and protein engineering fields saw the highest funding in 2023. This is directly related to synthetic biology and drug discovery field, with impact going beyond biopharma to agro-industry, industrial enzymes, food industry and more.

Data-centric startups that are building proprietary niche biology datasets, like pathology-EHR-Claims linked datasets for a particular disease area and companies that are building deep tech driven robotics to automate biopharma R&D are also some of the dominating trends in the deep-tech ventures.

He further added that in the healthcare space, the focus will be on aspects like workflow automation and remote patient monitoring utilising AI health chatbots, sensor-based detection of disease progression using AI, etc. where technologies that improve back-end processes like patient intake, triaging, and summarising patient history, etc. to give back the time to doctors.

Startups in India - a glance

Several deep tech startups in India in the life sciences space are showing promising growth trajectories. ImmunoACT, an IIT Bombay spin-off company, incubated at SINE is focussed on driving Indias first CAR-T cell therapy NexCAR19, which is a recent success story stemming from a deep science venture. Eyestem, a C-CAMP incubatee, is working on scalable cell replacement therapies in ophthalmology. C-CAMP, one of the largest innovation centre and incubator for startups in India, is home to seven such deep tech startups that have been making significant strides in their respective areas.

Achira, a Bengaluru-based medical technology company, focuses on developing innovative, point-of-care (PoC) testing solutions. Achira has developed its proprietary lab-on-chip platform to perform rapid, multiplexed assays. Bugworks, a C-CAMP resident incubatee, aims to discover novel biopharmaceutical assets for treating antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections and oncology solutions using a systems biology approach.

String Bio, another Bengaluru-based company, has developed a platform - SIMP (String integrated methane platform)  to deliver methane from wastes and natural resources using engineered microorganisms. Pandorum Technologies Pvt Ltd develops platforms to manufacture personalised homo-chippiens and human organs on demand. CogniAble, supported by the Division of Electronics Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at the Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, was founded by researchers and scientists from the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi along with paediatricians, psychologists, and BCBAs from India and USA.

CogniAble brings affordability, accessibility, and high-quality management solutions for neurodevelopmental disorders like autism right to the clients doorstep. Another deep tech startup at EECS, IISc is Mimyk that is building intelligent and immersive solutions and simulation platforms for medical procedures. These systems are powered by AR/VR, Robotics, and visual computing technologies. Mimyk is co-founded by EECS and Mechanical alumni.

Hyderabad-based D-Nome aims at democratising molecular diagnostics with their cell-free synthetic bio tech enabling rapid, accurate & scalable diagnostics and other platform applications. Their proprietary D-LAMP diagnostic technology enables deviceless nucleic acid amplification. MedGenome, the Gene Box are other examples of successful ventures in the area of deep data analytics-based genetic and genome science for diagnostics, precision medicine and predictive healthcare.

What will DeepTech startups need?

According to the Nasscom report Indias DeepTech startups  poised for impact, about 60 per cent of deep tech startups cited their two main challenges to be talent and market access; and 55 per cent of deep tech startups seek to engage with academia for research guidance.

Skills and talents required for deep tech startups are very niche and specific, and conscious measures to bridge the gap between talent demand and existing skilled workforce can boost the countrys deep tech ecosystem. Entrepreneurs, industry experts, and leaders aim to bridge this gap through various shifts in the sectors infrastructure, such as launching initiatives to boost industry-academia alignment, reskilling employees with technical skills to keep up with evolving trends and uplifting the expertise to convert their strong knowledge base in science and technology to commercial products.

Prof. Ajay Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor to the Government of India, emphasised a couple of factors that will be crucial in achieving future preparedness in the emerging domains of science and technology. Capacity building, boosting R&D, having in place conducive policies and regulations to encourage innovation while safeguarding society from potential risks. He also added that global collaborations and a stronger Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Regime can help boost the technological and innovation landscape in India, thus fostering its DeepTech start-up ecosystem.

An increased focus and investment in achieving future preparedness in technology, along with an already flourishing biotechnology research and entrepreneurship landscape may help Indias deep tech startup ecosystem to develop and grow.

Jaswinder Chadha, President & CEO, of Axtria Inc., shared his views on strategies for scale-up and product commercialisation for Indias deep tech startups focussed on precision medicine and personalised healthcare areas of therapy. As the focus of pharma companies shifts from generic drugs to specialty medicine, deep tech startups have significant opportunities in niche areas like precision medicine and personalised healthcare. Conducting a thorough market analysis and identifying target customer segments are vital for these startups. Collaborating with industry experts who understand customer needs and the healthcare environment can provide valuable insights and guidance throughout their journey.

With resources stretched thin, startups must make careful decisions from the start. One of the most critical areas for initial investment is data infrastructure. Given the regulated nature of the data, setting up the right security, anonymity, and process for handling the data is essential. The amount of structured and unstructured data available from many sources has exploded, making it easy to acquire masses of fragmented data that can be difficult to manage and enrich in the future. Strict data governance, along with the right infrastructure, is the key, and giving your customers the confidence that you know how to handle their patients data is required for success.

Investments

According to the findings published in Nasscoms 2022 report Indias DeepTech Startups  Poised for Impact, access to seed capital and dedicated deep-tech thematic funds seems to hold benefits for new and upcoming deep-tech startups. According to Ankur Capital & Tech Sprouts report, investment in deep science tech startups has consistently doubled every three years since 2010, with projections to surpass $10 billion by 2029, indicating robust growth and investor confidence. Also, the number of investment rounds exceeding $5 million has doubled every three years; and since 2017, follow-on rounds have outpaced fresh funding, demonstrating increasing investor interest and commitments in the deep tech sectors.

AI and biotechnology lead funding

AI and biotechnology have historically dominated India's funding landscape (80 per cent of total investments since 2010), with advanced materials gaining momentum in recent years. Recent years have seen a notable increase in follow-on funding for early AI ventures, with 2022 witnessing five investments exceeding $10 million, underscoring a growing interest despite a slowdown in fresh investment.

Experts believe that investments in the deep tech space will be highly rewarding for investors, owing not only to their societal and market impact but the yet untapped potential of the sector as new technological advances come to the forefront with rapid rates.

Considering the inherent characteristic of demand for the large early-stage funding for R&D and prototype development, combined with deep tech startups lengthy life cycle, Dr Amandeep Singh shared that a good strategy for investment in this sector would be phased funding. Implementing a staged investment approach that aligns with key developmental milestones usually flies well with investors. Startups should plan what are the key milestones in development, and what funds, timelines, and resources would be needed for each phase. For an asset-focused startup, proof of concept at the activity stage or preclinical data, and clinical trial initiation phase act as key milestones. For a SaaS/software company, it can be the launch of an MVP, the addition of a second offering, and so on, he said.

In line with this, Rema Subramanian, Co-Founder & Managing Partner of Ankur Capital said, Entrepreneurs should focus on what is the money that will be required for achieving (the next) milestones, further adding that if a startup stays undercapitalised to reach the milestone, follow-up rounds of funding may become an issue.

Adding another dimension, Dr Vishal Gandhi, Founder & CEO, BioRx Venture Advisors said that monetisation is a very important part of any startup ecosystem. The importance of inducing a distinctive mindset of a vision and motivation to cover not just technological milestones, but also carry out organisational shifts and milestones where entrepreneurs should hold the passion to monetise themselves.

On strategies to boost the deep tech startup landscape, Dr Amandeep Singh opined, Aim for revenue, aim for global markets, keep your IP in the US. Even if you build in India, also register an entity in US that holds your IP. While this seems trivial, many VCs feel more comfortable investing in the US.

Commenting on whether the traditional mergers and acquisitions (M&A) strategy would benefit deep tech venture space, instead of sticking to a deep tech startup ecosystem, Rema Subramaniam added that M&A is a very important part of any startup ecosystem, as every innovation may not go on to become a stand-alone large business. Not every kind of business may not get the kind of capital required to reach that stage in a market even though the innovation is great. So, there may be various disruptive innovations that may have gotten buried in the M&A process, but overall, M&A is a crucial part of any startup ecosystem, including the deep tech sector, she added.

Dr Amandeep Singh elaborated, An M&A path has several advantages, such as access to the deep knowledge of navigating existing commercial frameworks including market channels and know-how regulatory guidelines, which can be beneficial in scaling operations. However, the M&A path is only successful when there is a greater than 90 per cent match between the DNA of companies. If the goals and priorities of two companies are different, it is better to just collaborate with larger companies. The best path for a startup is to stay agile, continuously refine its go-to-market strategy, and achieve a sizeable scale while catering to the dynamic needs of the sector. Any startup should consider an M&A before reaching saturation in an S-curve, where increasing the scale anymore is going to be very difficult without raising large capital or believes that growth will not be possible without a large partner.

Innovation in deep tech-biotech ventures is forming an exciting new landscape for Indias life sciences sector. It remains to be seen how the future of deep tech in India shapes up and how the deep tech sector shapes Indias biotech landscape.

Shivani Thakar

shivani.thakar@biospectrumindia.com
India, home to the worlds largest livestock population of 535 million according to the 20th Livestock Census 2020, faces a significant challenge: the growing burden of animal diseases. This situation has prompted an urgent response from both global pharmaceutical and biotech organisations, which are tirelessly researching and developing innovative methods to cure and contain these diseases. Pharmaceutical companies are focused on creating new drugs to treat suffering animals, while biotech firms are spearheading the development and manufacturing of vaccines to prevent diseases before they strike. Let's examine the key players involved in putting India on the global map for livestock health solutions.

In India, leading companies such as Indian Immunologicals Limited (IIL), Hester Biosciences, and Biovet are at the forefront of this crucial work. They are collaborating with premier research and academic institutions not only in India but also in countries like the USA, UK, and Australia to develop new vaccine entities to combat complex diseases.

Besides there are other animal vaccine companies such as Zoetis, Inc., Elanco India Private Limited, Merck Limited, Ceva Animal Health India Pvt Ltd, Biomed Healthcare, Globion India Private Limited, Biovet Pvt Limited, Brilliant Bio Pharma Pvt Ltd, Indovax Private Limited etc. which are providing the best solutions to the Indian livestock industry.

These efforts extend to partnerships with global companies to develop vaccines tailored for various domesticated animals, including pets, cattle, pigs, goats, and sheep. This collaborative approach ensures that India remains a pivotal player in the global fight against animal diseases, continuously working to improve animal health and safeguard livestock, which is essential for the country's economy and food security.

According to Dr K Anand Kumar, Managing Director of Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL), the demand for animal vaccines in the country is huge and IIL is standing in the forefront to meet this demand. In fact, IIL stands as the market leader in veterinary and human biologicals in India, producing over 150 vaccine products and hugely catering to the National Animal and Human Health Immunisation programme.

At present our goal is to enhance the quality of livestock in the country, but at the same time we also want to utilise our technological capabilities for the benefit of the people. Keeping this in mind, IIL operates one of the largest veterinary vaccine manufacturing plants globally and possesses robust infrastructure and cold chain distribution capabilities, allowing us to effectively reach both domestic and international markets, says Anand Kumar.

A few highlights of some of vaccine manufacturing companies that are majorly catering to the animal healthcare needs are as follows:

Indian Immunologicals Limited

Currently, IIL is a significant player in the animal health market by offering a variety of therapeutic products for livestock and companion animals to enhance their productive and reproductive status along with prophylaxis against certain diseases. The product portfolio comprises vaccines, formulations and nutraceuticals. Additionally, it also markets generics and over-the-counter (OTC) products that are available at veterinary retail stores across India.

In 2022, IIL announced expansion of operations in New Zealand through its subsidiary Pristine Biologicals NZ. During the same year it announced that it will invest about Rs 700 crore to set up a new animal vaccine manufacturing facility in Genome Valley, Hyderabad to meet the vaccine security of the nation against economically important diseases such as Foot and Mouth disease (FMD) and other emerging diseases. The facility will create total employment for around 750 people.

At present IIL is exporting 150 different types of vaccine for both animal and human to more than 50 countries across the globe. It is also notable here to highlight that IIL is the first Indian company which has developed rabies vaccine through tissue culture, and is credited for developing the world's first vaccine for porcine cysticercosis, a tape worm like parasite usually found in pigs.

Some of the important animal vaccines that are in pipeline for development at IIL include Marker Vaccine for infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis and Multicomponent Clostridial Vaccine.

Not just IIL, there are also a host of pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing firms like Biovet, Hester and others which are equally catching up to cater to the demands of the animal vaccine segment in India.

Biovet

For instance, Biovet, which is a subsidiary of Bharat Biotech, has invested Rs 200 crore for establishing First Biosafety Level-3 PlusAg Vaccine manufacturing facility at Malur in Karnataka. The company is expanding and upgrading its existing infrastructure to manufacture Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in animals. The company has successfully manufactured BioFMD-Oil Vaccine to cure and prevent various clinical signs like fever, profuse salivation, Nasal discharge, Vesicle on tongue, lip, and dental pad in cattle, sheep, goat and pigs.

In addition to FMD vaccine, the company is also manufacturing other vaccines like Bluetongue Disease Vaccine, Haemorrhagic Septicaemia Disease Vaccine, Johne's disease Vaccine and Black Quarter Disease Vaccine etc, which are all catering to prevent and cure various diseases in Animals.

Highlighting about the companys facilities, Narayan Singh, Managing Director of Biovet Pvt Ltd observed that the company is a leader in FMD vaccine production and it has established a world class facility at the Malur in Karnataka. We have invested Rs 150 crore for setting up a world class facility for manufacturing FMD vaccine. At Biovet our R&D division is engaged in the development of products and processes, and in transferring the technologies to the production section. The focus is on inventing and developing vaccines for new infectious, emerging and reemerging diseases of animals at economical and affordable prices, says Singh.

From a one-product company, Biovet is now growing to a multi-product company because of its in-house R&D and process development. Biovet in collaboration with national and international organisations is bringing in the latest concepts and methods in product development.

For ensuring biosafety, the company has set up Indias 1st and Worlds 2nd BSL-3 + Ag Production Animal Facility, this Global Standard Facility was set up with an investment of Rs 150 crore. It is also a BSL-3 + Ag Large Animal Testing Facility located at Bengaluru, in Karnataka.

Hester Biosciences

Another major animal vaccine manufacturer in India, Hester Biosciences provides preventive medicines to various categories of animals. The company was founded by Rajiv Gandhi, CEO and Managing Director in 1997. The company which had started by releasing a single vaccine then has today grown into Asias largest vaccine producers, exporting various animal vaccine products to different countries globally.

The companys product portfolio includes Inactivated Vaccines, Live Vaccines, and animal and poultry healthcare products. Hester has recorded considerable growth by contributing to the National Animal Immunisation programme in India. Recently, all states in India have initiated an immunisation programme targeting Lumpy Skin Disease through the Goat Pox Vaccine; this has helped the country gain good profits. However, the company had faced some hurdles in the exports of animal vaccines to international markets due to a decline in demand.

Apart from catering to vaccines for cattle, sheep, goat and pet animals, Hester Biosciences is also contributing heavily for the poultry sector. Apart from catering the animal vaccine needs of India, Hester has also established its unit in Africa and began production in 2021 and meeting the unmet demand of the African animal sector.

In addition to catering to the domestic demand in India, we are also exporting our animal vaccines to various countries where there is a huge demand. Particularly, Africa, as a continent, is still an untapped market for immunisation of animals against diseases. Africa has a huge gap in demand and supply as there are only a few animal vaccine manufacturers in the entire continent. Tanzania has the third-largest herd of domestic livestock in the world. We not only see this as a wonderful opportunity for growth, but also as a way to promote better health for human beings through healthier animals, said Rajiv Gandhi, CEO and Managing Director, Hester Biosciences.

Today, Hester Biosciences has emerged as one of Indias leading animal healthcare companies and is the second largest poultry vaccine manufacturer in the country.

Growing Burden of Livestock Diseases

The India animal health market size reached Rs 80 billion in 2023. Looking forward, IMARC Group expects the market to reach Rs 160.5 billion by 2032, exhibiting a CAGR of 7.8 per cent during 2024-2032. The growing occurrences of zoonotic diseases, the increasing investment by the government authorities to enhance animal healthcare, and extensive research and development (R&D) activities conducted by key players are some of the major factors propelling the market.

Diverse segments contribute to India's animal healthcare market, with livestock comprising 51 per cent, poultry 35 per cent, companion animals 8 per cent, aquaculture 5 per cent, and other animals 1 per cent. Key vaccines, such as those targeting Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), Brucellosis, and FMD, are in high demand, reflecting the nation's commitment to combating prevalent animal diseases and ensuring food security.

The sector's expansion is fueled by increasing demand for animal-derived products, including eggs, dairy, and meat, alongside a growing affinity for companion animals. As the prevalence of animal diseases rises, so does the imperative for robust vaccination programmes, positioning India for sustained growth in this domain.

A proactive governmental stance, epitomised by initiatives like the 'National Animal Disease Control Programme,' further amplifies opportunities for growth in the animal healthcare sector. Through strategic investments and collaborative efforts, India is poised to not only meet domestic demand but also emerge as a prominent player in the global arena of animal vaccination, shaping the future of veterinary healthcare on a worldwide scale.

Indian Animal Vaccine Industry Growth

The Animal Vaccine Industry in India is experiencing significant growth, driven by various factors such as the rising prevalence of zoonotic diseases, growth in the livestock population, increasing demand for animal products, a burgeoning pet healthcare market, and growing investment in research and development (R&D) for drug and vaccine development. Under government initiatives like "One Health," there is a concerted effort to tackle health threats through an intersect oral approach, emphasising the interconnectedness of animals, the environment, and human health. Regulatory bodies like the Veterinary Cell of the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and research institutions like the Indian Institute of Veterinary Institute (IVRI) play crucial roles in overseeing and advancing the animal health sector.

The Veterinary Cell of CDSCO is responsible for regulating animal health products in India, ensuring their safety, efficacy, and quality. Technical reviews for product registration of farm and companion animals are conducted by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying, while the Department of Fisheries oversees aqua products. The IVRI is instrumental in researching and evaluating biologicals in the veterinary sector.

According to a TechSci Research report, the Indian animal vaccine market stood at $235.52 million in 2023 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 5.02 per cent from 2025 to 2029. This robust growth can be attributed to several factors, including the increasing prevalence of animal diseases and heightened awareness about animal health among livestock and pet owners.

The rise in various animal diseases is a significant driver for the animal vaccine market in India. Increased awareness among livestock and pet owners about the importance of animal health, coupled with government initiatives promoting veterinary care, are also contributing to market growth. Furthermore, substantial investments in R&D are propelling advancements in biotechnology, leading to the creation of more effective and safer animal vaccines.

"In a country like India, where livestock is integral to the economy, animal health is crucial," observed Dr Ravinder Reddy, Vice Chancellor of P V Narasimha Rao Veterinary University in Hyderabad. "Livestock directly impacts the livelihood of millions, particularly in rural areas where agriculture and pastoral activities are the main income sources. Healthy livestock contributes to food security by providing essential products such as milk, meat, and eggs."

Strong Demand & Continuous Innovations

The animal vaccine industry in India stands at the cusp of growth, yet faces several challenges hindering its full potential. Regulatory complexities, inadequate infrastructure, and limited awareness about preventive healthcare among animal owners are among the hurdles. Storage costs and a shortage of skilled personnel further complicate matters, especially in rural areas with unreliable electricity supply.

However, amidst these challenges lie opportunities for collaboration and advancement. Initiatives like "One Health" and the National Animal Disease Control Programme offer avenues for cooperation. Strengthening regulatory frameworks, enhancing R&D capabilities, and leveraging technological innovations can pave the way for overcoming obstacles and unleashing the industry's full potential.

Technological advancements, notably in artificial intelligence and big data analytics, have revolutionised vaccine development. These breakthroughs have accelerated the creation of highly effective vaccines, bolstering disease prevention and control efforts.

Despite challenges, the animal vaccine industry in India is set for significant growth. Factors such as rising demand for animal products, increasing pet ownership, and growing awareness about zoonotic diseases are driving this trajectory. With supportive government initiatives and a conducive regulatory environment, India is poised to emerge as a global leader in animal vaccination and pharmaceuticals.

In conclusion, sustained investment in R&D and biotechnology will propel the industry forward, offering innovative solutions for animal health. As key players continue to develop effective vaccines, India's role in global animal health will strengthen, benefitting both livestock and human populations alike.

Amguth Raju

hyderabad@mmactiv.com
Researchers have found that the AstraZeneca vaccine is linked to Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis

A potential disruption has recently emerged in many parts of the world, in the form of a new family of COVID-19 sub variants, being dubbed as the FLiRT variant. As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the US, this Omicron offshoot which is being called FLiRT is based on the technical names for the amino-acid mutations, i.e. amino phenylalanine (F) replaces leucine (L), and arginine (R) is replaced by threonine (T).

In particular, KP.2 which is one of the several variants being referred to as FLiRT variants, is dominating the COVID-19 infections lately. While medical experts in the US are not raising much concern over this new development, the government in Singapore has issued a health advisory asking people to wear masks again.

According to news reports in India, infections have recently become dominant in Maharashtra with over 70 per cent of samples tested for genome sequencing found to have KP.2 variant, with the reports having been shared with the central and state health departments for further action.

If we consider this new situation to be a summer wave of COVID-19, one does wonder if another shot of vaccine would be required to calm this down. Amidst this uncertainty, another round of news is flashing that multinational pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca is withdrawing sales of its COVID-19 vaccine globally, since there is a surplus of more updated vaccine options that target new variants of the virus.

While the company states that this is a business decision, a response to the declining sales of the older vaccine since other options are more relevant, it comes at a time when the vaccine has come under scrutiny for causing side effects.

Researchers have found that the AstraZeneca vaccine, sold in India under the brand name Covishield by Pune-based Serum Institute of India (SII), is linked to Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombocytopenia and Thrombosis (VITT), a blood clotting disorder. According to the scientists from Flinders University in Australia, who recently shared their study in the New England Journal of Medicine, VITT emerged in 2021 during the pandemic, particularly after the use of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, which is based on adenovirus vectors.

According to media reports, soon after AstraZeneca announced the global withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine, SII gave the statement that the firm had stopped the manufacturing and supply of additional doses of Covishield since December 2021. In fact, to shift the focus from these ongoing concerns on the COVID-19 vaccine and its related side effects, AstraZeneca has apparently gone ahead to announce the launch of a new COVID-19 prevention drug.

Covaxin is also under the scanner, based on a recent study by Banaras Hindu University (BHU). Nearly one-third of the individuals who received Bharat Biotech's Covaxin reported 'adverse events of special interest,' or AESI, according to a one-year follow up study conducted by a team of researchers at BHU.

Nearly 50 per cent of 926 participants in the study complained of infections during the follow-up period, predominated by viral upper respiratory tract infections.

In response to these findings, the Hyderabad-based vaccine manufacturer found this study to be inconsistent, marred by lapses. Bharat Biotech has been asserting that its COVID-19 vaccine has demonstrated excellent safety track record in several studies.

After reviewing multiple cases of side effects post vaccination, doctors in India have been urging the government to review the science behind all the COVID-19 vaccines, including Covishield and Covaxin.

An active surveillance and monitoring mechanism appears to be a need of the hour to ensure vaccine adverse events are identified as early as possible, and not ignored.

Dr Manbeena Chawla

Executive Editor

(manbeena.chawla@mmactiv.com)
Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia


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British actress Daisy Ridley has spoken about her joy at shining a light on a determined and resilient woman whose achievements have been forgotten.

Ridley plays competitive swimmer Gertrude Trudy Ederle in Young Woman And The Sea, which follows her journey to become the first woman to swim across the English Channel in 1926.

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It feels amazing to play someone who has been forgotten, Ridley, 32, told the PA news agency at the UK gala screening in London.

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We all know there are many women who have been forgotten to history who have done amazing things, so to be able to tell the story of at least one of them is amazing.

To play someone who was so determined and resilient 100 years ago, told from all sides that she couldnt do it and she did it  and then the psychological barrier that she broke for other women to think it was possible to.

Its hard to overstate her importance in sport  and the fact that she had the biggest parade ever in New York, and its never been seen again.

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(left to right) Sian Clifford, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Jerry Bruckheimer, Daisy Ridley and Jeanette Hain attend the gala screening of Young Woman And The Sea at the Curzon Mayfair in London (Ian West/PA)

Director Joachim Ronning said the film was 10 years in the making.

I was very clear from the beginning of this projectI wanted to do this as real as we could, to go out on the ocean and have Daisy Ridley swim in the real ocean, he told PA.

Making movies is challenging but it adds complexity to it when youre out there and what Im hoping is it somehow informed us, just a little bit, how it truly felt.

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Obviously, we were not out there risking our lives but I hope that the audience can somehow feel that we did it as real as we could.

Joachim Ronning, Daisy Ridley and Jerry Bruckheimer attend the gala screening of Young Woman And The Sea (Ian West/PA)

Ronning also said he didnt know the story before embarking on the project, which is based on the book titled Young Woman And The Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered The English Channel And Inspired the World by Glenn Stout.

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I think that was the thing that baffled me, that such a seismic event when it happened, has been completely lost in time, 51-year-old Ronning told PA.

I almost felt the responsibility to tell this remarkable story to my daughters, to a modern audience, and somehow bring her back as best I could.

The film also stars Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Stephen Graham, Kim Bodnia, Christopher Eccleston and Jeanette Hain.

Young Woman And The Sea will be released in select cinemas on Friday.
US actor Jeremy Renner is the latest star to join the cast of Rian Johnsons whodunit Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.

The Avengers star is continuing his comeback after a serious snowploughing accident last year which left him with more than 30 broken bones.

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The 53-year-old was injured while trying to help his nephew on January 1st, 2023, who was trying to free his car from the snow when the plough began to roll down the hill, according to a police report.

The next Benoit Blanc mystery, the follow-up to Knives Out and Glass Onion, is called Wake Up Dead Man. pic.twitter.com/pdDXRDmwcI  Rian Johnson (@rianjohnson) May 24, 2024 Advertisement

Renner will join Daniel Craig as returning detective Benoit Blanc in the new murder mystery, set for release in 2025.

Previously announced cast members include British actor Josh OConnor, who starred in Challengers and The Crown, Irish star Andrew Scott from Ripley and Fleabag, Scandals Kerry Washington, Fatal Attraction star Glenn Close and Cailee Spaeny of Priscilla.

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Last week, filmmaker Johnson announced on X that the film is about to go into production while plot details are yet to be revealed.

After his accident, Renner was airlifted to hospital in Reno, Nevada, and spent some time in an intensive care unit (ICU).

Known for playing Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the actor was seen in drama series Mayor Of Kingstown after he recovered from his injuries, while Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery is reportedly his first film since the incident.
Nicki Minajs upcoming Amsterdam show has been cancelled after the US rapper was arrested in the Netherlands last weekend, the concert promoter has said.

The 41-year-old was detained at Amsterdams Schiphol Airport last Saturday for hours on suspicion of trying to take soft drugs out of the country.

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The delay forced her to postpone her show at Manchesters Co-op Live Arena that was due to take place that evening, with the concert later being rescheduled to June 3rd.

Minaj had been due to return to Amsterdams Ziggo Dome on June 2nd, but concert promoter Mojo has said the concert will no longer take place due to the events of last week.

OK guys, I was JUST RE-ADVISED that we actually CAN NOT do any other date for the make up #gagcityMANCHESTER date besides JUNE 3rd. So JUNE 3rd is the new official date for all ticket holders who originally had tickets to the MAY 25th #Manchester show. I apologize for all the Advertisement  Nicki Minaj (@NICKIMINAJ) May 27, 2024

Due to the events of last week, the Nicki Minaj show on Sunday, 2nd June at Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam will no longer be taking place, a statement on the promoters website said.

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Tickets will be refunded at the point of sale.

On Monday, Minaj wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that she had been told the only date her cancelled Manchester show could be moved to was June 3rd and apologised for all the inconvenience caused to fans.

She added: I really hope you can make the #JUNE3rd show. Itll be really special.

The US rapper said she spent around six hours in custody at Schiphol Airport last Saturday before being able to fly to the UK.

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Fans were let into the newly-opened Manchester venue at around 7pm ahead of show, before promoter Live Nation announced at around 9.40pm that it was to be postponed.

Dutch police said a woman aged 41 was arrested on Saturday after allegedly trying to take what it described as soft drugs from Schiphol Airport to another country.

A later update from the force said it had released the suspect and she can now move on after paying a fine.

After the delay, Minaj praised fans for being a class act during the last-minute postponement, and invited them to her hotel in the centre of Manchester before speaking to the crowds outside.

The music star, who is known for the songs Starships, Super Bass and Anaconda, livestreamed her arrest on social media and claimed drugs found in her luggage did not belong to her.

Minaj recently announced a second America leg of her Pink Friday 2 World Tour, which will kick off in September.
ESB has raised a "serious safety incident" with the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) after three skydivers flew through the Poolbeg chimneys in Dublin as part of a PR stunt.

Red Bull skydivers Marco Furst, Marco Waltenspiel and Max Manow jumped from a helicopter over Dublin Bay, at a height of 1,280 metres, early on Friday morning.

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A video shared by Red Bull Ireland on X showed the trio making their decent, passing between the iconic chimneys before landing on Shelly Banks Beach.

Dublin, like youve never seen it before    The Red Bull Skydive Team completed the first-ever wing suit flight through Dublins most iconic landmark, the Poolbeg Chimneys at 253 km/h   : Marco Fuerst , Marco Waltenspiel & Max Manow#RedBull #GivesYouWiiings pic.twitter.com/uBoDslzVfZ  Red Bull Ireland (@redbullIRE) May 31, 2024

Having become aware of the skydive, ESB said in a statement: "The Poolbeg chimneys, while no longer in use, are part of an operational site with regular maintenance and works being carried out."

"ESB is currently undertaking work on the chimneys. As part of these works, there are steeplejacks working on one of the chimneys with ropes hanging from that chimney presently.

"There was potential for a very serious safety incident for the skydivers involved, as well as the workers on the chimney."

ESB added that it has raised the issue with the Irish Aviation Authority and the Health and Safety Authority.
Garda "manning issues" mean an order for the arrest of a man allegedly trespassing at an electricity substation cannot be executed until next week, the High Court has heard.

On Wednesday, Mr Justice Mark Sanfey ordered the arrest of Glen Oglesby, who claimed he had been living in a caravan on the ESB-owned substation site at Gloucester Place Upper in Dublin's north inner city because he said he had nowhere else to go.

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The ESB says the site is unsafe for human habitation and sought the arrest order over Mr Oglesby's continuing failure to obey an earlier order that he remove the caravan.

The case returned before the judge on Friday, when John Punch SC, for the ESB, told the court that gardai have said the order would not be processed until next week "due to manning issues".

Garda Superintendent Cormac Brennan, of Store Street Garda station, was in court to explain the position if the judge wanted to hear from him, Mr Punch said.

The judge said he did not see the point because the Garda Commissioner was saying it is an operational matter, however, he added he was "a little disappointed" that his order will not be acted on until next week.

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Mr Punch said Mr Oglesby, who has not appeared in court since he did so first on May 3rd, had been given "a huge amount of leeway" and every opportunity provided to him to remove his caravan.

The "ball now was firmly in the Garda Commissioner's court", he said.

The judge said his concern was that this site was dangerous, and it was not the normal trespass handled by the court.

If gardai execute the warrant earlier, Mr Oglesby can be brought before the judge sitting over the weekend, Mr Justice Sanfey said. Otherwise, he himself would deal with it next week, he added.
Consumers are on track to achieve over 150 million drinks containers returned since the launch of the Deposit Return Scheme on February 1st, including over 75 million in May alone.

Mays total return figures exceed the first three months of the scheme combined.

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With one more day left ahead of the end of the schemes four-month transition period, the milestone figure of 150 million containers returned will be reached by the end of Friday, May 31st.

As of May 30th, 149.8 million drinks containers have been returned to date by consumers.

The scheme is now averaging 2.5 million containers returned daily in May, a significant rise from the two million containers returned to the entire month of February.

From Saturday, June 1st, onwards, only drinks containers displaying the Re-turn logo can be legally sold to consumers.

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Bottles and cans on which deposits were paid before June 1st, 2024, can still be returned to any Deposit Return Point.

Vouchers must be redeemed in the same store from where they were issued.

They can be spent against in-store purchases or exchanged for cash at a checkout. While there is no expiry on vouchers, Re-turn advises consumers to use them promptly to avoid misplacing them.

Speaking at the end of Irelands transition period, chief executive of Re-turn, Ciaran Foley, said: Our goal has been to ensure a smooth transition period as we launch the Scheme in its fullest form.

"We are delighted to see the growth to date in the average numbers of containers returned, and we expect to see this continue as we move out of the transition period.

"The cooperation of producers, retailers and the public has significantly contributed to the success of Ireland's Deposit Return Scheme so far. Together, we are taking important steps towards a more sustainable future."
The trial of three men accused of the murder of Lyra McKee has been shown footage of petrol bomb attacks on police on the night the journalist was killed.

Ms McKee (29) died after being struck in the head by a bullet as she stood close to police vehicles while observing rioting in the Creggan area of Derry on the night of April 18th, 2019.

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The New IRA claimed responsibility for the authors murder.

On Friday, the trial at Laganside Courthouse in Belfast was shown further documentary footage filmed by MTV prior to the shooting, which, the prosecution claims shows the three men accused of Ms McKees murder taking part in earlier attacks on police.

TV presenter Reggie Yates and the MTV crew were in Derry filming a documentary on republicans opposed to the Northern Ireland peace process on the day of the shooting.

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Jordan Devine arrives at Laganside Court where he and two other men have been charged with the murder of Belfast journalist Lyra McKee (Liam McBurney/PA)

They were filming in the period leading up to traditional republican commemorations in the city to mark the 1916 Easter Rising.

Peter Cavanagh (35), of Mary Street, Derry; Jordan Gareth Devine (23), of Bishop Street, Derry; and Paul McIntyre (56), of Kells Walk, Derry, are charged with Ms McKees murder.

The three also face a number of other charges, including riotous assembly, possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent, as well as possession of, and throwing of, petrol bombs.

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McIntyre is additionally charged with membership of a proscribed organisation.

Violence had flared in Derry on the evening Ms McKee was killed after police entered the Creggan area to conduct searches.

Paul McIntyre arrives at Laganside Court (Liam McBurney/PA)

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Prosecuting barrister David McDowell KC showed the no-jury trial at Belfast Crown Court unedited MTV clips of PSNI Land Rovers being attacked by masked men throwing petrol bombs.

He said the prosecution contend that Cavanagh, McIntyre and Devine were among the group who took part in the sustained attack on police.

The court was shown footage of large crowds of young people in the area with Mr Yates commenting in the clip: I think the only reason there arent more petrol bombs coming is because the boys have run out.

He added: There are literally kids out here watching it, getting off on it, excited by it and, you could argue, inspired by it.

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This is so normal to these kids here that you have got parents bringing their children out to watch, teenage girls eating their dinner while they watch this.

Later, Mr McDowell played another MTV clip which showed a woman approaching the cameraman and telling him that the disorder had been set up for the camera.

Mr Yates then decided to withdraw his camera crew from the area.

He is heard in the footage saying: We have seen a lot and you could argue that weve seen enough.

If people are saying we are inciting it maybe we should pull it down.I think it is time to call it a night.

Peter Cavanagh arrives at Laganside Court (Liam McBurney/PA)

Seven other men are on trial on a number of charges, including rioting and throwing petrol bombs.

The trial was later shown a clip of the MTV crew beginning to leave the area in which Mr Yates is heard saying: This feels like it could go in so in many different directions.

Coffey (also known as Jude McCrory), who was accompanying the presenter, is heard to say I hope you dont miss any more camera opportunities.

Several members of Ms McKees family attended the court on Friday.
A serial burglar who broke into two homes while the occupants were present, entering the bedroom of a 21-year-old student and stealing car keys from her bedside locker as she slept, has been sent back to prison just a week after being released after the Court of Appeal found that his original sentence was too lenient.

Wayne OCallaghan (35), of Brooklodge Grove, Glanmire, Cork, was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment with the final four months suspended by Judge James McCourt at Cork Circuit Court on November 21st, 2023, for burglary at an address at Vienna Wood Villas, Glanmire, Cork on October 1st, 2022.

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He was further sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for the unauthorised taking of a car from Marwood Close, Riverstown, Glanmire, Cork on September 30th, 2022, with both sentences to run concurrently.

OCallaghan had pleaded guilty to both offences, and three further charges of trespass with intent at other residential properties in Marwood Close on September 30th, 2022, were also taken into account.

The court heard OCallaghan had been released from prison last week.

Quashing the original sentence at the Court of Appeal on Friday and resentencing OCallaghan to five years in prison, Ms Justice Tara Burns said the court was of the opinion that the original headline sentence of three years for burglary and 15 months in respect of the unauthorised taking identified by the sentencing judge was simply too low and represented an error in principle.

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The judge noted there were a number of aggravating factors in the case.

Ms Justice Burns said OCallaghan had entered the property in Glanmire through a faulty locked door and went into the downstairs bedroom, where a 21-year-old woman was sleeping alone at the time, and took the keys of her car from the locker next to where she slept.

He then took the vehicle, which contained her laptop worth 3,000, from the driveway.

Ms Justice Burns said CCTV footage showed OCallaghan entering three other neighbouring premises on the same occasion.

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Just after 1am that night, he entered another residential property, where three family members were sleeping, through an unlocked door.

He stole a number of items from the house, including Apple watches and iPhones, car keys and a purse containing 100. The total value of the goods taken was over 2,700.

Addiction

Ms Justice Burns noted that the respondent had started abusing drugs in his early teens and was labouring under a significant drug addiction at the time of the offending.

The judge said the court was of the view that an appropriate headline sentence in respect of burglary was one of seven years imprisonment. Taking mitigating factors into account, including his early guilty plea, the court would reduce this to five years in prison.

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A two-year sentence was imposed for the unauthorised taking charge, with both sentences to run concurrently.

During Fridays hearing, the State argued that the original sentence imposed was too lenient and should be increased.

Aoife OLeary BL, for the Director of Public Prosecutions, said the trial judge had erred in failing to attach appropriate weight to the aggravating factors in the case and in particular failed to have appropriate regard to the relevant previous convictions of the respondent.

OCallaghan has 68 previous convictions, including 15 for burglary, two for robbery and 12 for unauthorised taking of motor vehicles.

Antoinette Simon BL, for OCallaghan, submitted that the sentencing judge carefully considered the applicable case law in determining the ultimate sentence, which was one that was within the margin of appreciation afforded to him.
TUV leader Jim Allister set his priority as reunifying the United Kingdom as he unveiled candidates for the upcoming UK General Election that included several former DUP members, including former Stormont health minister Jim Wells.

Mr Wells, a DUP member for 47 years, will stand in South Down for TUV/Reform UK, while former DUP director of policy Dr Dan Boucher will run in South Belfast and Mid Down; and ex-DUP representative on Mid and East Antrim council David Clarke will contest the race in north Belfast.

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Mr Allister confirmed he would run in his own constituency of North Antrim.

TUV/Reform UK hopes to stand in 15 out of Northern Irelands 18 constituencies. It unveiled 13 candidates on Friday and said it was still in the process of identifying candidates in Foyle and West Tyrone.

It had already decided not to run in North Down to clear a path for independent unionist Alex Easton and, on Friday, Mr Allister said candidates would also not run in Fermanagh and South Tyrone  where the sole unionist is now set to be the UUPs Diana Armstrong  and Upper Bann.

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TUV candidates for the Westminster election (Liam McBurney/PA)

In Upper Bann, Mr Allister said he did not want to do anything that might assist Sinn Fein taking the seat from the DUPs Carla Lockhart. He said the relative strength of Ms Lockharts position on post-Brexit trading arrangements was a factor in the decision not to stand against her.

The TUV, which did not stand candidates in the 2019 general election, has struck an alliance with Reform UK that will see candidates run under a joint banner in this campaign. Reform UK has pledged financial support to the TUV for campaigning activities.

At the candidate launch event in Co Antrim, Mr Allister restated his opposition to the deal the DUP struck with the UK government over post-Brexit trade barriers that paved the way for the restoration of devolution at Stormont in February.

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He said the Safeguarding the Union command paper had not removed the partitioning border in the Irish Sea that, he insisted, had separated Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

Earlier in the week, newly confirmed DUP leader Gavin Robinson conceded the deal had been oversold and acknowledged more cautious realism had been required.

Mr Allister alleged Mr Robinson had his fingerprints all over the deal, as he accused the DUP of signing up to arrangements that had effectively ended the United Kingdom as an entity.

Reunification of the United Kingdom and equal citizenship is the overriding demand of TUV/Reform UK, he said.

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This nation needs to be reunified. Some might aspire to the unification of Ireland. We demand the reunification of the United Kingdom.

Mr Wells quit the DUP in 2022 having not been re-selected as a party candidate in that years Assembly election. He has been supportive of TUV policies since.

The former Executive minister said he was absolutely disgusted with the direction the DUP had taken in the last two years as he claimed the deal that restored Stormont was unravelling.

Im giving the people of South Down a chance to vote to show their unhappiness with whats been going on, he said.
Israeli forces are operating in central parts of Rafah as part of an expanding offensive in the southern Gaza city, the military said.

Israel launched its ground assault into the city on May 6, triggering the exodus of around one million Palestinians from the city and throwing UN humanitarian operations based in the area into turmoil.

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However, US President Joe Biden said Israel has not crossed the red lines of a full fledged invasion that he has urged them against.

Fridays statement by the Israeli military suggested its forces have been operating in most parts of the city, and have found weapons and tunnels used by the militants.

In its first weeks, the Israeli assault focused on Rafahs eastern districts and in areas close to the border with Egypt.



More than one million Palestinians have fled Rafah (Jehad Alshrafi/AP)

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Israeli troops seized the Rafah crossing into Egypt on the first day of the offensive and have since claimed control over the Philadelphia Corridor, a road running the length of the Gaza-Egypt border on the Gazan side.

Earlier this week, Israeli troops also moved into Rafahs western district of Tel al-Sultan, where heavy clashes with Hamas fighters have been reported by witnesses.

In its statement on Friday, the military said its troops in central Rafah had uncovered Hamas rocket launchers and tunnels and dismantled a weapons storage centre.

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It did not specify where in central Rafah the operations were taking place but previous statements and witness reports have pointed to raids in the Shaboura refugee camp and other sites near the city centre.

Israel has said an offensive in Rafah is vital to rooting out Hamas fighters in its militarys campaign to destroy the group after its October 7 attack on southern Israel.

Palestinians who fled the city have scattered around southern and central Gaza, most of them living in squalid tented camps.

Up to around 300,000 people are believed to remain in the area, some of them still in the central parts of the city, a UN official said.

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Shaina Low, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Refugee Council, a humanitarian group that operates in the area, said most have flocked to rural areas west of the city near the coast  an area that has seen deadly Israeli strikes and shelling in the past week.
Top US leaders have invited Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu to address Congress, a show of wartime support for the longtime ally, despite mounting political divisions over Israels military assault on Gaza.

The invitation from House speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, and Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, has been in the works for some time.

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I am honored to invite Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress. pic.twitter.com/rYKx0Z1p93  Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) May 31, 2024

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No date for the speech was set.

It comes as the Israel-Hamas war, after the October 7th attack by the militant group, has caused widespread concerns in the US and abroad over Israels conduct and the extensive civilian death toll.

A speech by Mr Netanyahu would almost certainly expose election-year divisions in the US, where a growing number of Democrats have turned away from the prime minister, while Republicans draw ever closer to the Israeli leader.
Ukraine can use German-supplied weapons to defend against Russian attacks from positions just over their joint border, officials in Berlin have said.

The move marks a significant policy change that came a day after US president Joe Biden gave Kyiv the green light to strike back with American weapons at Russian military assets targeting the countrys second-largest city of Kharkiv.

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A German government statement noted that in recent weeks Russia has prepared, coordinated and carried out attacks on Ukraines north-eastern Kharkiv region in particular from areas just over the border in Russia.

Together we are convinced that Ukraine has the right under international law to defend itself against these attacks, the statement said. For this, it can also use the weapons delivered for that purpose in accordance with its international legal commitments, including the ones delivered by us.

People react after a Russian missile attack in Kharkiv (Andrii Marienko/AP)

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A Russian onslaught this month in the north-eastern Kharkiv region, including a Russian aerial bomb attack on a large construction supplies store that killed 18 people on May 25, has forced the evacuation of thousands of people and has stretched Ukraines depleted forces.

The Kremlins bigger and better-equipped army is exploiting Ukrainian shortages in troops and ammunition after a lengthy delay in US military aid. Western Europes inadequate military production has also slowed crucial deliveries of military aid to Ukraine.

Mr Bidens decision allows for US-supplied weapons to be used for counterfire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them, one Washington official told The Associated Press.

But the officials stressed that the US policy calling on Ukraine not to use American-provided ATACMS or long-range missiles and other munitions to strike offensively inside Russia has not changed.

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The German announcement came hours after Russian ballistic missiles slammed into an apartment block in Kharkiv and killed at least four people.

Russia launched five S-300/S-400 ballistic missiles at Kharkiv overnight, Ukraines air force said.

Firefighters responded after the missile strike (Andrii Marienko/AP)

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One of them struck a residential building close to midnight and was followed by another missile 25 minutes later that hit first responders, according to regional governor Oleh Syniehubov. At least 25 people were injured, he said.

Ukrainian officials have previously accused Russia of targeting rescue workers by hitting residential buildings with two consecutive missiles  the first one to draw emergency crews to the scene and the second one to wound or kill them.

The tactic is called a double tap in military jargon. Russia used the same method in Syrias civil war.

Apart from Kharkiv, Moscows troops are pressing in the Donetsk region further south and are assembling a force for an expected attack in the Sumy region further north, according to Ukrainian officials.

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The restrictions until now on the use of Western weapons have frustrated Ukrainian officials as the military has been unable to order hits on Russian troops massing across the border  Kharkiv city is only 12 miles from Russia  or Russian bases used to launch missile attacks.

The question of whether to allow Ukraine to hit targets on Russian soil with Western-supplied weaponry has been a delicate issue since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion on February 24 2022.

Western leaders hesitated to take the step because it runs the risk of provoking Russian president Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly warned that the Wests direct involvement could put the world on a path to nuclear conflict.

But as Russia has recently gained the battlefield initiative in some parts of 600-mile front line, some Western leaders are pushing for a policy change allowing Kyiv to strike military bases inside Russia with sophisticated long-range weapons provided by its Western partners.

The German announcement brought a furious response from Moscow, with Dmitri Medvedev, the deputy head of Russias Security Council, saying: Ukraine and its Nato allies will receive such a devastating response that the alliance wont be able to avoid entering the conflict.

He also repeated Russian warnings that the steps being taken could set Nato and Russia on the path to a nuclear confrontation. Its not an attempt to scare or any sort of a nuclear bluff, he added.

Russias newly appointed defence minister Andrei Belousov claimed on Friday that Russian troops are advancing in all tactical directions, including in the Kharkiv region where he said they have pushed Ukrainian forces back by as much as five miles.
Chinese, foreign scientists discuss cooperation on agricultural innovation to ensure food security

Xinhua) 11:03, May 31, 2024

BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Agricultural scientists from 15 countries and several international organizations gathered in Beijing on Wednesday to discuss how to further strengthen cooperation to promote the green, high-quality and sustainable development of agriculture through sci-tech innovation, and ensure global food security.

It is necessary for agricultural scientists to work together and share their knowledge and experience to deal with challenges in global food security and sustainable agricultural development such as climate change and resource scarcity, Wu Kongming, president of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), said at a symposium jointly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Bill &Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF)

With the support of the NSFC, the CAAS launched cooperation with the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) in 2011, focusing on the exploration and utilization of excellent traits in crops and livestock, as well as the analysis of disease resistance mechanisms. Cooperation and exchanges were also carried out in areas such as dryland agriculture, agricultural economy and agricultural information, according to Wu.

With funding from the BMGF, the CAAS initiated a project to breed new rice varieties named "Green Super Rice", which have been introduced to 18 countries and regions in Asia and Africa to help reduce hunger and increase the incomes of farmers, Wu said.

"Through cooperation with the BMGF, we have shared China's successful experience in early warning of crop pests with developing countries, helping Africa establish a practical agricultural plant protection testing system," said Wu.

China has also helped African countries such as Mali and Nigeria establish and improve their rice seed industry and research systems with China's experience in rice breeding, Wu added.

"We hope to work with our partners to provide new and effective solutions for ensuring world food security, promoting global poverty reduction and sustainable agricultural development through innovation and application of science and technology," Wu said.

The symposium, held by the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning of CAAS, has attracted agriculture experts from countries including France, Britain, Belgium, Egypt, Brazil and Burundi, as well as international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the CGIAR.

Focusing on topics such as agricultural information technology, innovative seed research and development, and Sino-Africa agricultural cooperation, the two-day symposium aims to discuss the agricultural technological innovations and their promotion and application in key regions around the world, build platforms for international cooperation and exchange, and promote the global green development of agriculture.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Diane Abbott is free to stand as a Labour candidate in the upcoming UK General Election, party leader Sir Keir Starmer has said after a days-long row over her political future overshadowed Labours campaign.

On Friday, Mr Starmer gave the green light for her candidacy, after his previous refusal to make a judgment led to growing tensions in the party.

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Mr Starmer told reporters during a campaign visit to Scotland: The whip has obviously been restored to her now and she is free to go forward as a Labour candidate.

Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar at a launch event for Labours six steps for change in Scotland (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

He praised the Labour veteran as a trailblazer, saying: Diane Abbott was elected in 1987, the first black woman MP.

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She has carved a path for other people to come into politics and public life.

For days, Mr Starmer declined to say whether Ms Abbot would be defending her Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat on July 4th, as he faced claims of a purge of left-wing candidates.

Labours deputy leader Angela Rayner said I dont think theres any reason why Diane Abbott should not stand (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

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Ms Abbott was suspended from Labour last year after she suggested Jewish, Irish and Traveller people experience prejudice, but not racism, sparking a long-running process which saw her sit as an Independent MP.

She had the Labour whip restored this week, but it was briefed that she might be barred from running for the party in the General Election.

Labour sources said Ms Abbott will be the Labour candidate in her long-held London constituency.

Labours ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) is expected to ratify the decision when it meets on Tuesday.

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Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said he agreed with Ms Rayner on Diane Abbott (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

Mr Starmer declined to say whether he had spoken to Ms Abbott on Friday, but it is understood he has not.

Earlier in the day, the Labour leader was still insisting that no decision had yet been taken, distancing himself from his deputy Angela Rayner and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, who had both backed Ms Abbotts candidacy.

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Ms Rayner said I dont think theres any reason why Ms Abbott should not stand, with Mr Sarwar later saying: I agree with Angela.

Mr Starmer will be hoping that his taking a stance will draw a line under the matter, after questions about internal Labour Party affairs dominated the opening days of his election campaign.

He reportedly did not express his view on Ms Abbotts future at his earlier campaign rally near Glasgow to avoid overshadowing his announcement of a green energy transition under a Labour government.

Mr Starmer was earlier this week accused by Ms Abbott of an appalling cull of left-wingers.

The suspension of Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who was MP for Brighton Kemptown, and the decision not to endorse candidate Faiza Shaheen in Chingford and Woodford Green have also come in for criticism.

Faiza Shaheen, pictured with Jeremy Corbyn, was not endorsed by the party (Gareth Fuller/PA)

Ms Shaheen said she was in shock and felt she was the victim of a huge injustice after not being endorsed as the Labour candidate in her north London seat.

She was blocked after liking a series of social media posts on social media site X that allegedly downplayed antisemitism accusations.

Supporters of Ms Shaheen are expected to hold a rally in her constituency later on Friday, with organisers saying they were appalled by her treatment.

A Conservative Party spokesperson said: Angela Rayner is pushing Keir Starmer around.

Under pressure, hes showing hes a weak leader whos losing control of the Labour Party.

That makes it even clearer that you dont know what youre going to get if Keir Starmer becomes prime minister, apart from higher taxes on you and your family.

As campaigning continues, UK prime minister Rishi Sunak was visiting a farm in Cheshire, following an announcement by the Conservatives to crack down on fly-tippers by adding points to their driving licences.
Donald Trump sought to move past his historic criminal conviction on Friday and build momentum for his bid to return to the White House, with fierce attacks on the judge who oversaw the case, the prosecutions star witness and the criminal justice system as a whole.

Speaking from his namesake tower in Manhattan in a symbolic return to the campaign trail, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee delivered a message aimed squarely at his most loyal supporters.

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Defiant as ever, he insisted without evidence that the verdict was rigged and driven by politics.

Were going to fight, Trump said from the atrium of Trump Tower, where he descended a golden escalator to announce his 2016 campaign nine years ago next month.



A New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges (Julia Nikhinson/AP)

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The machinations during the final, dramatic weeks of that campaign ultimately led to the charges that made Trump the first former president and presumptive presidential nominee of a major party to be convicted of a crime, exposing him to potential prison time.

While the guilty verdict has energised Trumps base, fuelling millions of dollars in new campaign contributions, it is unclear how the conviction and his rambling response will resonate with the kinds of voters who are likely to decide what is expected to be an extremely close November election.

They include suburban women, independents, and voters turned off by both candidates.

Trump cast himself as a martyr, suggesting that if this could happen to him, they can do this to anyone.

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Im willing to do whatever I have to do to save our country and save our Constitution. I dont mind, he said, as he traded the aging lower Manhattan court where he spent much of the last two months for a backdrop of American flags, rose marble and brass.

Its a very unpleasant thing, to be honest, he added. But its a great, great honour.

President Joe Biden, responding to the verdict at the White House, said Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself and attacked his rhetoric.

Its reckless, its dangerous, its irresponsible for anyone to say this is rigged just because they dont like the verdict, Mr Biden said.

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A crowd gathers across the street from Trump Tower (Julia Nikhinson/AP)

Trump has made his legal woes the centrepiece of his campaign message as he has argued, without evidence, that Mr Biden orchestrated the four indictments against him to hobble his campaign.

The hush money case was filed by local prosecutors in Manhattan who do not work for the Justice Department or any White House office.

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A Manhattan jury on Thursday found Trump guilty of 34 charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn star who said the two had sex.

Despite the historic ruling, a convicted Trump sounded much the same as a pre-convicted Trump, as he delivered what amounted to a truncated version of his usual rally speech.

He said the verdict was illegitimate and driven by politics and sought to downplay the facts underlying the case.

He said he would appeal.

Its not hush money. Its a non-disclosure agreement, he said. Totally legal, totally common.

When Trump emerged from the courtroom immediately after the verdict on Thursday, he had appeared tense and deeply angry, his words pointed and clipped.

His lawyer, Todd Blanche, who was with him at Trump Tower but did not speak, said in an interview later on Friday that he had been shocked by how well Trump took the verdict.

Hes not happy about it, but theres no defendant in the history of our justice system whos happy about a conviction the day after, he said.

But I think he knows theres a lot of fight left and theres a lot of opportunity to fix this and thats what were going to try to do.

But by Friday, he seemed more relaxed, especially as his remarks evolved into a version of his usual rally speeches, complete with acted-out stories and exaggerated hand gestures.



Donald Trump spoke in the atrium of Trump Tower, where he descended his golden escalator to announce his 2016 campaign nine years ago (Julia Nikhinson/AP)

He did not take questions from reporters, marching off as supporters assembled in the lobby cheered.

Trump has portrayed himself as a passionate supporter of law enforcement and has even talked favourably of officers handling suspects roughly.

But he has spent the last two years attacking parts of the criminal justice system as it applies to him and raising questions about the honesty and motives of agents and prosecutors.

In his disjointed remarks, Trump attacked Mr Biden on immigration and tax policies before moving to his case, saying he was threatened with jail if he violated a gag order.

He cast intricate parts of the case and trial proceedings as unfair, making false statements and misrepresentations as he went.

Trump said he had wanted to give evidence in his trial, a right that he opted not to exercise.

Doing so would have allowed prosecutors to cross-examine him under oath.

He raised the spectre on Friday of being charged with perjury for a verbal misstep, saying: The theory is you never testify because as soon as you testify  anybody, if it were George Washington  dont testify because theyll get you on something that you said slightly wrong.





Testing the limits of the gag order that continues to prohibit him from publicly criticising witnesses including Michael Cohen, Trump called his former fixer, the star prosecution witness in the case, a sleazebag, without referring to him by name.

He also blasted the judge in the case, saying his sides chief witness had been literally crucified by this man who looks like an angel, but hes really a devil.

He also circled back to some of the same authoritarian themes he has repeatedly focused on in speeches and rallies, painting the US under Mr Biden as a corrupt and fascist nation.

His son Eric Trump and daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, joined him, but his wife, Melania Trump, who has been publicly silent since the verdict, was not seen.

Outside, on Manhattans Fifth Avenue, supporters gathered across the street flew a giant red Trump or death sign that flapped in front of a high-end boutique. A small group of protesters held signs saying Guilty and Justice matters.

On Friday morning, Trumps campaign announced it had raised 34.8 million dollars (27.3 million) from the time the verdict was announced to midnight.

That is more than one million dollars for each felony charge and more than his political operation raised in January and February combined.

Just under 30% of that money came from donors who had not previously given to the campaign through the online platform, they said.

Trump and his campaign had been preparing for a guilty verdict for days, even as they held out hope for a hung jury.

On Tuesday, Trump railed that not even Mother Teresa, the nun and saint, could beat the charges, which he repeatedly described as rigged.

His top aides on Wednesday released a memo in which they said a verdict would have no impact on the election, whether Trump was convicted or acquitted.

The news nonetheless landed with a jolt. Trump listened as the jury delivered a guilty verdict on every count. Trump sat stony-faced while the verdict was read.

His campaign fired off a flurry of fundraising appeals, and allies rallied to his side.

One text message called him a political prisoner, even though he has not yet found out if he will be sentenced to prison.

The campaign also began selling black Make America Great Again caps, instead of the usual red, to reflect a dark day in history.

Aides reported an immediate rush of contributions so intense that the platform the campaign uses for fundraising, crashed.

In the next two months, Trump is set to have his first debate with Mr Biden, announce a running mate and formally accept his partys nomination at the Republican National Convention.

But before that Trump will have to return to court on July 11 for sentencing. He could face penalties ranging from a fine or probation up to prison time.
Donald Trump is returning to the campaign trail a day after he became the first former or current US president to be convicted of a crime.

The Republican presidential hopeful will stage a news conference at Trump Tower in Manhattan hours after he was convicted of trying to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actress who claimed they had sex.

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His lawyers and supporters described him as defiant and ready to fight the 34 guilty verdicts which they claimed are illegitimate and driven by politics.

No former US president or presumptive party nominee has ever faced a felony conviction or the prospect of prison time but Mr Trump is expected to keep his legal troubles central to his campaign.

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He has long argued without evidence that the charges against him were orchestrated by Democratic president Joe Biden to try to keep him out of the White House.

There is nobody who is more defiant, said Trump spokesperson Jason Miller hours after the verdict was read. Hes ready to get out there and start fighting again.

On Friday, his campaign announced it had raised $34.8 million as donations poured in after the verdict. That is more than one million dollars for each felony charge and more than his political operation raised in January and February combined.

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Mr Trump and his campaign had been preparing for a guilty verdict for days, even as they held out hope for a hung jury.

On Tuesday, Mr Trump claimed that not even Mother Teresa could beat the charges, which he repeatedly labelled as rigged.

His top aides on Wednesday released a memo in which they insisted a verdict would have no impact on the election, whether Mr Trump was convicted or acquitted.

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People react to the guilty verdict in New York (Julia Nikhinson/AP)

Mr Trump, his team and reporters at the courthouse had been under the impression that the jury on Thursday would wrap up deliberations for the day at 4.30pm. Mr Trump sat smiling and chatting with his lawyers as the proceedings seemed to be coming to a close.

Instead, Judge Juan Merchan announced that a verdict had been reached. Thirty minutes later, Mr Trump listened as the jury delivered a guilty verdict on every count. He sat stony-faced while the verdict was read.

His campaign later fired off a flurry of fundraising appeals and Republican allies rallied to his side.

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One text message called him a political prisoner even though he has not yet found out if he will be sentenced to prison. The campaign also began selling black Make America Great Again caps to reflect a dark day in history.

Mr Trump faced Manhattan criminal court (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP)

Aides reported an immediate rush of contributions so intense that WinRed, the platform the campaign uses for fundraising, crashed.

Trump campaign spokesperson Brian Hughes cited the outpouring as a sign that Americans have seen this sham trial as the political election interference that Biden and Democrats have always intended.

November 5th is the day Americans will deliver the real verdict, he said.

However, Democrats welcomed the verdicts and praised the US justice system.

Trump toadies are going to attack the jury and the court because they have a plan to dismantle our democracy and it relies on everyone believing the justice system is rigged, Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy said.

It isnt. Donald Trump committed a crime. He got caught. He got convicted. Thats the rule of law.

Judge Merchan set sentencing for July 11th, just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where Republican leaders are expected to formally make him their nominee.

Donald Trump, far left, watches the jury foreperson deliver guilty verdicts (Elizabeth Williams via AP)

The charges of falsifying business records carry up to four years behind bars, though Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg would not say on Thursday whether prosecutors intend to seek imprisonment, and it is not clear whether the judge would impose that punishment even if asked.

The conviction, and even imprisonment, would not bar Mr Trump from continuing his bid to return to the White House.

While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial and ultimately today in this verdict in the same manner as every other case that comes through the courtroom doors, by following the facts and the law and doing so without fear or favour, Mr Bragg said after the verdict.

The trial involved charges that the former US president falsified business records to cover up a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels.

The 130,000 dollar payment came from his former lawyer and personal fixer Michael Cohen to buy Ms Daniels silence during the final weeks of the 2016 race in what prosecutors allege was an effort to interfere in the election.

When Mr Cohen was reimbursed, the payments were recorded as legal expenses, which prosecutors said was an unlawful attempt to mask the true purpose of the transaction.

It is unclear how much Mr Trumps campaigning schedule will ramp up in the days ahead.

He held only a handful of public campaign events as the trial unfolded, despite the fact that he had Wednesdays, as well as evenings and weekends, to do what he wished.

He is set in the next two months to have his first debate with Mr Biden, announce a running mate and formally accept his partys nomination at the Republican National Convention.
UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer finally gave his verdict on whether Diane Abbott can stand as a Labour candidate on July 4th after his previous refusal to do so led to mounting tensions in the party.

Here are the key moments from day nine of the campaign:

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Starmer seeks to settle Abbott row

The Labour leader said Ms Abbott is free to defend her long-held Hackney North and Stoke Newington seat as a Labour candidate, ending speculation she could be barred.

He will be hoping his long-awaited decision  which is expected to be ratified by Labours National Executive Committee on Tuesday  puts an end to accusations of an anti-socialist crackdown that has dominated his campaign.

First we were told the investigation into Diane was ongoing - it wasn't.



Then it was an independent process nothing to do with Starmer - it wasn't.



Then it was a matter for the NEC, nothing to do with Starmer - it wasn't.



Lie after lie, all to cover a dirty factional purge. Advertisement  Momentum  (@PeoplesMomentum) May 31, 2024

Left-wing campaign group Momentum declared it a huge victory, but in a sign the row is far from over demanded Chingford Corbynista Faiza Shaheen is reinstated as a Labour candidate.

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The Tories claimed Angela Rayner is pushing Mr Starmer around, after his deputy first threw her weight behind Ms Abbotts candidacy.

There was more selection drama as Labours Beth Winter accused the party leadership of imposing think tank boss Torsten Bell as Welsh Labours Swansea West candidate, calling it an affront to democracy.

(PA Graphics)

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What Labour actually wanted to talk about

Mr Starmer said there was no Labour without Scotland as he made his pitch to voters north of the border.

A major plank of the offer to Scottish voters is establishing GB Energy  a state-owned energy company based in Scotland.

The policy gained former chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallances backing while UK prime minister Rishi Sunak mocked it as being just a logo.

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Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer flanked by Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and shadow energy security secretary Ed Miliband at the Port of Greenock (Stefan Rousseau/PA)

At a campaign rally alongside Ms Rayner, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and shadow net-zero secretary Ed Miliband, Mr Starmer urged Scots to send a government to Westminster, not a message.

Scottish first minister John Swinney claimed Mr Starmer is offering no change at all.

Picture of the day

UK prime minister Rishi Sunak bottle-feeding a lamb during a visit to Rowlinsons Farm in Gawsworth, Macclesfield (Jonathan Brady/PA)

Sidestepping Trump

Political leaders carefully sidestepped questions on whether they would work with convicted former US president Donald Trump if he returns to the White House.

Mr Sunak said Mr Trumps trial is not my focus while Mr Starmer called it an unprecedented situation, but said Labour will work with whoever is elected president.

Quote of the day

Social media moment of the day

As the parties ramp up their use of social media humour and memes, Labour is claiming the Tories are trying to get its TikToks removed from the site.

A post by the official Labour Party account suggests that the Tories are actively trying to get our TikToks taken down because they have nothing to offer the country.

It also encourages viewers to annoy a Tory by sharing the post with some key Labour policies, suggesting Conservatives should try and think of some policies that dont sound like dodgy ChatGPT suggestions.

Whats happening tomorrow?

Mr Sunak is campaigning in the North East.
A man stabbed several members of a group that describes itself as opposing political Islam on a central square in the German city of Mannheim on Friday, authorities said.

Six people were wounded, including a police officer who intervened.

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Police ended the attack by shooting the assailant, who was also wounded.

The attack happened shortly after 11.30am on the Marktplatz, a central square in the south-western city of Mannheim.

The assailant stabbed people attending an event organised by the Pax Europa group, wounding five members of the organisation, police and prosecutors said in a statement.

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Police and firefighters went to the scene (Rene Priebe/dpa via AP)

The police officer was stabbed several times from behind in the head, they added.

Another officer fired a shot at the assailant, bringing an end to the attack. The wounded were taken to various hospitals, where some of them underwent operations.

Several hours later, authorities said they could not give information on the severity of the injuries. They also said the assailants identity had not yet been established.

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Pax Europa describes itself as an organisation that informs the public about the dangers posed by the increasing spread and influence of political Islam.

It said that Michael Sturzenberger, an anti-Islam activist who is one of its leading figures and has spoken at its events, was among those wounded.

Police shot the attacker, who also was hurt (Uwe Anspach/dpa via AP)

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German interior minister Nancy Faeser said that it is up to the investigation to determine a motive.

She said in a statement that if the investigation shows an Islamist motive, that would be another confirmation of the great danger from Islamist acts of violence that we have warned of.

Thomas Strobl, Ms Faesers regional counterpart in Baden-Wurttemberg, where Mannheim is located, said that we cant say anything yet about the perpetrators motive.

German chancellor Olaf Scholz posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the pictures from Mannheim are terrible and that violence is absolutely unacceptable in our democracy.

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Mannheim, a city of about 300,000 people, is south of Frankfurt.
Britain's Princess of Wales is to miss a Trooping the Colour rehearsal as it was confirmed King Charles will take part in his official birthday celebrations.

Kate will not inspect the troops at the event known as The Colonels Review on June 8th, held seven days ahead of the famous ceremony which has marked the sovereigns birthday for more than 260 years, it is understood.

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But it remains unclear whether Kate, who is undergoing chemotherapy after a cancer diagnosis, will attend Trooping the Colour, a major fixture in the British royal calendar.

She appealed for time, space and privacy for her family when she announced on March 22nd she was being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer.

The royal family wave to the crowds following the 2023 Trooping the Colour ceremony (Victoria Jones/PA)

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The Prince of Wales gave a positive update about his wifes treatment during a visit to the Isles of Scilly earlier in May, saying shes doing well when questioned by a hospital administrator.

During the Trooping ceremony, held on Horse Guards Parade in Whitehall, it is understood King Charles will carry out the review of the Guardsmen and officers from an Ascot Landau carriage with Britain's Queen Camilla.

The change from last years ceremony, where Charles inspected the troops on horseback, reflects earlier Buckingham Palace briefings where it was highlighted that each engagement by Charles would be reviewed and adaptations made when advised by doctors.

Lieutenant Colonel James Shaw, Brigade Major of the Household Division, who designed this years Trooping spectacle, said confirmation of Kings presence was wonderful.

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Charles rides on horseback along The Mall following the Trooping the Colour ceremony in 2023 (Yui Mok/PA)

He said: Firstly, thats fantastic news but, secondly, that means we have to step our game up even more.

Its just wonderful. I think the Kings service at the moment is an inspiration to us all, hes our Colonel-in-Chief so the birthday parade needs to be even better than normal.

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Charles had been carrying out a busy programme of engagements since it was announced just over four weeks ago he would be returning to public facing duties.

Rishi Sunaks decision last week to call a surprise summer UK general election has meant the monarchy has postponed any engagements which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign.

Charles is likely to travel by carriage with Camilla during the traditional procession to and from Horse Guards Parade, and is expected to watch the Trooping ceremony seated on a dais, rather than on horseback.

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(left-right) the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal during the Trooping the Colour ceremony. Aaron Chown/PA

The colour which will be trooped past the massed ranks of guardsmen and officers will be from Number 9 Company, Irish Guards.

Kate will be represented at the Colonels Review by General James Bucknall who will act as the chief inspecting officer of the day in the princess absence.

Republic, the anti-monarchy group, has said it will stage the latest in a string of protests near Buckingham Palace on the day of Trooping the Colour.

Graham Smith, Republics chief executive officer, said: Rather than see royals wear uniforms, rank and medals theyve not earned, lets put real military personnel front and centre.

Instead of celebrating this undemocratic institution, lets celebrate the people of this great country.
Russian ballistic missiles have slammed into an apartment block in Kharkiv, killing at least four people, Ukrainian officials said.

The night-time attack came a day after President Joe Biden gave Kyiv the green light to strike back with American weapons at Russian military assets targeting Kharkiv, which is Ukraines second-largest city.

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Russia launched five S-300/S-400 ballistic missiles at Kharkiv overnight, Ukraines air force said.

One of them struck a residential building close to midnight and was followed by another missile 25 minutes later that hit first responders, according to regional governor Oleh Syniehubov. At least 25 people were injured, he said.



People react after the Russian missile attack (Andrii Marienko/AP)

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Ukrainian officials have previously accused Russia of targeting rescue workers by hitting residential buildings with two consecutive missiles  the first one to draw emergency crews to the scene and the second one to wound or kill them.

The tactic is called a double tap in military jargon, and Russia used the same method in Syrias civil war.

A Russian onslaught this month in the north-eastern Kharkiv region, including a Russian aerial bomb attack on a large construction supplies store that killed 18 people on May 25, has forced the evacuation of thousands of people and has stretched Ukraines depleted forces.

Apart from Kharkiv, Moscows troops are pressing in the Donetsk region further south and are assembling a force for an expected attack in the Sumy region further north, according to Ukrainian officials,

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The Kremlins bigger and better-equipped army is exploiting Ukrainian shortages in troops and ammunition after a lengthy delay in US military aid. Western Europes inadequate military production has slowed crucial deliveries of military aid to Ukraine.

Mr Bidens decision allows for US-supplied weapons to be used for counterfire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them, one Washington official told The Associated Press.



Firefighters responded after the missile strike (Andrii Marienko/AP)

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But the officials stressed that the US policy calling on Ukraine not to use American-provided ATACMS or long-range missiles and other munitions to strike offensively inside Russia has not changed.

That restriction has frustrated Ukrainian officials as the military is unable to order hits on Russian troops massing across the border. Kharkiv city is only 12 miles from Russia and Russian bases used to launch missile attacks.

The question of whether to allow Ukraine to hit targets on Russian soil with Western-supplied weaponry has been a delicate issue since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion on February 24 2022.

Western leaders have hesitated to take the step because it runs the risk of provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly warned that the Wests direct involvement could put the world on a path to nuclear conflict.

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But as Russia has recently gained the battlefield initiative on some parts of the 600-mile front line, some Western leaders are pushing for a policy change allowing Kyiv to strike military bases inside Russia with sophisticated long-range weapons provided by its Western partners.
Slovakias populist prime minister Robert Fico has been released from hospital where he was treated after an assassination attempt.

Miriam Lapunikova, the director of the clinic in the central city of Banska Bystrica, said on Friday that Mr Fico was taken to his home, where he continues to recover from the attack.

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Ms Lapunikova thanked Mr Fico in a statement for being a disciplined patient.

Mr Fico was shot in the stomach as he greeted supporters on May 15 in the town of Handlova, about 85 miles north east of the capital, Bratislava.



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Video showed him approach people gathered at barricades and reach out to shake hands as a man stepped forward, extended his arm and fired five rounds before being tackled and arrested.

Mr Fico underwent five hours of surgery to treat multiple wounds he suffered in the shooting, followed by another two-hour operation two days later to remove dead tissue..

The countrys Specialised Criminal Court in the town of Pezinok ordered the suspect, who has been charged with attempted murder, to remain behind bars.

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Prosecutors told police not to publicly identify the suspect or release details about the case.

Government officials originally said they believed it was a politically motivated attack committed by a lone wolf but later announced that a third party might have been involved in acting for the benefit of the perpetrator.

Mr Ficos government has made efforts to overhaul public broadcasting  a move critics said would give the government full control of public television and radio.

That, along with his plans to amend the penal code to eliminate a special anti-corruption prosecutor, have led opponents to worry that he would lead Slovakia down a more autocratic path.
A Tory parliamentary candidate has said excrement was put through the letterbox of her constituency office.

Katherine Fletcher, who is standing for re-election in South Ribble for the Conservatives, said the act was an attempt to bully me.

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She added that a volunteer discovered the substance and police are looking into the matter.

 Women in public life get more than their fair share of s*** but really ????



To the bully trying to intimidate me during this election

 wrong person to try it on with



 the #southribble police are now looking for you pic.twitter.com/5AZsvcckDP  Katherine Fletcher SR (@K_Fletcher_MP) May 30, 2024 Advertisement

In a video posted to X on Thursday, Ms Fletcher said: Today the police are at my office because somebody has put excrement through the letterbox.

One of my volunteers had to find that this morning.

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Now, I understand that women get more than their fair share in political environments, but this attempt to bully me will not work because it is not the decent or right thing to do.

Im working hard for South Ribble. Ive delivered loads  I want the opportunity to do more.

And so to the bully that did this: not the right person.

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(PA Graphics)

A 31 million package to boost security measures for politicians  including providing MPs with a dedicated police safety liaison  was introduced by the UK government in February.

It came amid heightened tensions caused by protests around the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

Justice minister Mike Freer, who is not standing at the UK general election because of threats to his safety, said the extra cash was not actually going to the root cause of why people were targeting MPs.

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Ms Fletcher, who served as transport minister and minister for women under Liz Truss in 2022, has represented the South Ribble constituency in Lancashire since 2019.
Donald Trump has confirmed he will appeal the guilty verdict that made him the first US president convicted of a crime, though he will have to wait until after his sentencing on July 11th before taking that step.

In rambling remarks at the Trump Tower lobby in Manhattan where he announced his first presidential run in 2015, Trump repeated his complaints that the trial was an attempt to hobble his comeback White House bid and warned that it showed no American was safe from politically motivated prosecution.

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"If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone," Trump said in an unscripted 33-minute speech. Applauded by supporters, Trump, the Republican candidate in the 2024 election took no questions from reporters.

Thursday's guilty verdict catapults the United States into unexplored territory ahead of the November 5th vote, when Trump (77) will try to win back the White House from Democratic President Joe Biden (81).

The charge he was convicted of, falsifying business records, carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison. Others convicted of that crime often receive shorter sentences, fines or probation, but the judge in the case said during jury selection that Trump faces a potential jail sentence.

Incarceration would not prevent Trump from campaigning, or taking office if he were to win.

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Trump will not be jailed ahead of his sentencing, which comes just days before the Republican Party is due to formally nominate him as its presidential candidate at its convention in Milwaukee.

After two days of deliberation, a jury of New Yorkers found Trump guilty of all 34 criminal counts he faced for falsifying documents to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in the final days of his successful 2016 campaign.

Trump still faces three other criminal prosecutions - two for his efforts to overturn his 2020 election defeat - but the New York verdict could be the only one handed down before Americans vote as the other cases have been tied up in legal wrangling. Trump has pleaded not guilty in all four cases, which he says are politically motivated.

A source familiar with his campaign's inner workings said the verdict was expected to prompt him to intensify deliberations on picking a woman as his vice presidential running mate.

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Partisan divisions

Reactions to the verdict were sharply, even bitterly, partisan with Democratic lawmakers praising the result and many Republicans embracing Trump's assertions the prosecutions are a politically motivated attempt to prevent his return to power.

House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said his fellow Republicans would stand by Trump and predicted the U.S. Supreme Court would overturn the verdict.

"President Trump is longer just an individual," he said on Hugh Hewitt's radio program. "He is a symbol of fighting back against this corruption of our system."

National opinion polls show Trump locked in a tight race with Biden, and one in four Republican respondents in an April Reuters/Ipsos poll said they would not vote for him if he were convicted of a felony by a jury.

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Strategists from both parties questioned whether the verdict would have a significant impact on the race.

On pro-Trump corners of the internet, some supporters called for riots, revolution and violent retribution.

Others said the verdict was a final breaking point. "You can't get away with everything," said Randy Drais, a retiree who voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020.

Trump's campaign said it raised $35 million from small donors after the verdict, nearly double its previous daily record. Several major Republican donors said they would continue to donate to Trump's campaign despite the conviction.

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Biden urged Americans to vote against him in November.

"Theres only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box," he said on social media after the verdict.

Explicit testimony

The jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business documents after a trial that featured explicit testimony from Daniels about a sexual encounter she says she had with Trump in 2006 while he was married to his current wife Melania. Trump denies ever having sex with Daniels.

Trump's former fixer and lawyer Michael Cohen testified that Trump approved a $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels in the final weeks of the 2016 election, when he faced multiple accusations of sexual misbehaviour.

Cohen testified that he handled the payment and that Trump approved a plan to reimburse him through monthly payments disguised as legal work.

Falsifying business documents is normally a misdemeanour in New York, but prosecutors in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office elevated the case to a felony on grounds that Trump was concealing an illegal campaign contribution.

If elected, Trump could shut down the two federal cases that accuse him of illegally trying to overturn his 2020 election loss and mishandling classified documents after leaving office in 2021. He would not have the power to stop a separate election-subversion case taking place in Georgia.
Gather25 | Shore Fire Media

On March 1st, 2025, Gather25 will bring together Christians across the world for 25 hours of prayer, worship, repentance, and commissioning on an unprecedented scale. Using technology and AI, connecting the global Church across a single 25-hour period is now a reality for the first time. Gather25 promises to be more than just an event; it is anticipated to mark a pivotal moment for the story of the global Church in history.

Gather25 is a significant undertaking led by an alliance of Christian organizations and ministries, aiming to mobilize the 2.5 billion Christians, from every denomination and every continent, that make up the worldwide Church in the shared mission of reaching the 5.5 billion people who dont yet know Jesus. A growing list of organizations including YouVersion, The Bible Project, illumiNations, 24-7 Prayer International, Global 2033 and many others are partnering with regional partners and ministries to make Gather25 possible.

Recent advances in real-time, simultaneous translation technology will mean that the live music, powerful teaching, prayers, and international stories of hope cross language barriers and reach people across all continents. The event will be hosted in-person and virtually from six continents, and through television broadcasts, radio and live streams, Christians can join from their homes, theaters, and local churches anywhere in the world, or at one of the live broadcast sites.

Jennie Allen, founder and visionary behind Gather25, says, For the first time in history, the entire global Church is actually able to gather. So we are inviting all 2.5 billion people who love Jesus to come together to pray, to see stories of the church, and to commission them to become missionaries wherever they are to reach the ends of the earth.

Dr. Charles Mugisha, Co-Founder of Africa New Life Ministries and lead pastor of New Life Bible Church Rwanda, says, Gather25 is an opportunity for Gods people to become one, with Christ at the center. For 25 hours well be hearing stories of Gods power across the earth and worshipping with our great family of Jesus followers. There are billions of people and many people groups, who dont know the love of God  my prayer is that Gather25 would ignite a new commissioning of the church under the power of the Holy Spirit so that every soul would be reached with the love of God.

This global gathering cannot happen without local churches, ministries and leaders. Gather25 invites Christians from all over the world to save the date, March 1st, 2025, and invite others to join as well.

Find out about Gather25, and sign up for more resources at: gather25.com

About Gather25:

Gather25 is a historic, worldwide gathering, inviting every Christian  of every denomination  from every continent  to come together on March 1st, 2025 for 25 hours of prayer, worship, repentance and commissioning. The mission is to mobilize the worlds 2.5 billion Christians to share the Gospel with the 5.5 billion people who do not know God. Through live-streaming technology and AI, Gather25 will connect with Christians in homes, in churches, in stadiums, or on their phones, across six continents, with each continent hosting a portion of the 25 hours. The original vision for Gather25 was cast by Jennie Allen.

Learn more about Gather25 at gather25.com.

Facebook: Gather25

Instagram: @gather25

YouTube: @gather25

TikTok: @gather_25

Please find further information and frequently asked questions here: gather25.com/faqs

Hear Gather25s mission, here: youtube.com/watch?v=p27d9ZcFEqo

About Jennie Allen:

American author, speaker, and visionary of Gather25 Jennie Allen, has been inviting women from around the world to follow Jesus and to disciple others to do the same for over a decade through IF:Gathering. With a dream and vision to gather the global Church, Jennie began assembling a team for Gather25 in 2023.

Find out more about Jennies ministry: jennieallen.com
Steve Bridgmon performs during The 29th Annual ICM Awards on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at the Grand Ole Opry House. | Photo by Rene Green for the ICM Awards.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 29, 2024)  The 29th Annual ICM Awards took center stage tonight at the iconic Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN. This prestigious event celebrated the best and brightest talents in Christian Country music, bringing together artists, musicians, and fans to honor exceptional achievements in the genre. The evening was a dazzling display of performances and accolades, highlighting the profound impact of inspirational country music on its audience.

The event showcased outstanding performances and heartfelt tributes, as well as the recognition of exceptional talent within the industry.

Renowned journalist Megan Alexander from Inside Edition and standout American Idol contestant Zachariah Smith co-hosted the event, bringing their charisma and enthusiasm to the stage.

Throughout the evening, the winners of "The 29th ICM Awards" were announced, recognizing individuals and groups who have made significant contributions to Christian Country music. The event was highlighted by stellar performances from Firm Foundation, co-host Zachariah Smith, Kali Rose, Steve Bridgmon, Todd Tilghman, Cody McCarver, Billy & Marija Droze, Delnora, 2nd Mile, Andrew Marshall & Clare Cunningham, Eternal Vision, Bruce Hedrick, Justin Todd Herod, Britnee Kellogg, and Eli Bennett & Rosemary Siemens.

In a poignant moment, Dennis Agajanian took the stage to pay homage to his late friend, Charlie Daniels, with a heartfelt performance of "The Devil Went Down To Georgia." The honor, presented by Tommy Brandt and his family, culminated in an emotional presentation of the "Power Award" to Charlie's wife, Hazel Daniels, and son, Charlie Daniels, Jr.

"It is a joy to honor these exceptional artists who continue to inspire and uplift audiences around the world with their music and message at "The 29th Annual ICM Awards" tonight at the iconic Grand Ole Opry House," said Diane Parten, President of the Inspirational Country Music Association. "Their talent, passion, and commitment to spreading positivity through music are truly deserving of recognition. The night was full of powerful performances, inspiring testimonies and unforgettable moments. Special thanks to our hosts Megan Alexander and Zachariah Smith for such an outstanding job!"

The 29th Annual ICM Awards was a testament to the power of inspirational music to unite people and spread messages of faith, hope, and love.

See below for the complete list of winners from The 29th Annual ICM Awards."

Entertainer of the Year: Todd Tilghman

Male Vocalist of the Year: Steve Bridgmon

Female Vocalist of the Year: Kali Rose

Duo/Duo Performance of the Year: Weston and Christy Hinson

Vocal Group of the Year: Eternal Vision

Inspirational Song of the Year: "God Did That" by Cody McCarver

Songwriter of the Year: Paul Staggs

Living Legend Award: William Lee Golden

Video of the Year: "The Power of a Second Chance" by Justin Todd Herod

Musician of the Year: Dennis Agajanian

Comedian of the Year: Cornbread the Comic

Radio Station of the Year: Today's Christian Country

Radio Personality of the Year: Glen Campbell

New Artist of the Year: Brandon Rowell

Music Evangelist of the Year: Bruce Hedrick

Producer of the Year: Chris Golden

Promoter of the Year: Reed Promotion

Inspirational Album of the Year: "All Is Well" by Suzzette Michaels

Inspirational Power Award: A Tribute to Charlie Daniels

The Sound Of Small Town America Finale Winner: [Insert Winner's Name]

The 29th Annual ICM Awards are produced and presented by the Inspirational Country Music Association.

For more information about the ICM Awards and to view the full list of winners, please visit www.inspirationalcountrymusic.com.

About the ICM Awards:

The ICM Awards, presented by the Inspirational Country Music Association, celebrates excellence and achievement, honoring those who inspire and uplift audiences through Christian Country music. With a mission to recognize and support artists and industry professionals, the ICM Awards strives to promote positive messages and values through the power of music.
Theyre experienced investors who have lived through property cycles and have the ability to look past the current headwinds, he said. Generational change Other families are divesting their assets as part of estate planning. Back in 1975, one local family bought their first property on the blue-chip retail strip of Church Street in Brighton. They paid just $70,000 for 60 Church Street, which is now rented to mens retailer Gazman. Records show buying a piece of Church Street went up quickly. By 1980, it cost them $210,000 to buy the brand new 5/50 Church Street, which is now leased by Bendigo Bank. They are both going to auction on June 28. 60 Church Street, Brighton.

In 1987, the family bought 81 Kingsway in Glen Waverley for $575,000. The Kingsway shopping precinct has been completely transformed since the 1980s. It goes to auction on June 28. Loading Yields on both strips are running at the sharp end of around 3 per cent which puts the prices at more than $5 million for the Brighton properties and north of $3.5 million for Kingsway. Stonebridges Hage said rents on these strips are getting towards $2000 a square metre. Were seeing potential buyers coming through already pricing rental growth into the values. Theres a lot of interest, even from international retailers, he said.

Scapes office Fresh office space is up for grabs in a corner of the CBD opposite RMIT University and the State Library despite Melbournes glut of empty towers. Student accommodation developer and operator Scape is looking for tenants for 10,000 square-metres of new office space in the podium of the 56-storey tower it is building on top of the new State Library underground railway station. Render of the projected Scape tower, State Library Exchange, at 393 Swanston Street. High building costs and 17 per cent office vacancy rates has put the kybosh on most new office projects in the CBD, but Scapes 1000 student accommodation units in the mixed-use tower underpins the project.

A new report from property valuation group Herron Todd White shows there is little new office supply coming up, as high vacancy rates and building costs have stalled development. Just 68,000 square metres of new supply are due in 2024, with 81,500 square metres expected in 2025 and 117,000 square metres scheduled for 2026 and beyond. ETC, a new agency set up by Edward Knowles and Tony Landrigan, are running the leasing campaign for the State Library Exchange tower. Its next door to a 38-storey student accommodation tower Scape has already built on the corner of Franklin Street. Construction starts this year, with completion expected in 2027. While the foreign student and private college market has taken a hit from the federal governments cuts to immigration, the major universities are still potential tenants. Knowles said there are plenty of other potential occupiers in the market looking for about 10,000 square metres in well-located buildings. The REA group, long based in Cremornes Silicon Yarra is looking for 8-10,000 square metres and the City of Melbourne is also looking for a similar size space. Meanwhile, law firm Slater & Gordon, which had been scouting new locations last year, has made a move out of the CBDs west end, moving into the top floors of GPTs 530 Collins Street.

17 bidders A local private investor has snatched the Coles Bentleigh supermarket from a strong field of 17 bidders which also included the retailer. The $25 million-plus deal indicates strong competition for the 40-year-old freestanding building which is ready for a revamp and comes with room for further development. Coles Bentleigh, 2-6 Bent Street. Its understood second round offers for the 2331-square-metre supermarket came in at more than $25 million and a yield under 4 per cent. In the hands of one family for more than 40 years, the 2-6 Bent Street supermarket was sold with a lease which has Coles paying both land tax and maintenance costs.

Its in the heart of the Centre Road shopping strip, on a 3388-square-metre site opposite Bentleigh railway station, and returns $984,619 a year in rent. Gross Waddell ICR agents Alex Ham, Danny Clark, Michael Gross and Glenn Ye did the deal but declined to comment. Loading Keen to develop new supermarket properties, with leases more to their liking, major retailers Coles and Woolworths have been active buyers of their existing freeholds. Last year, Coles paid $17.2 million for a supermarket in Hampton on a 2.7 per cent yield. In other recent deals, Fitzroys sold three small suburban supermarkets for a total of $15 million and yields ranging between 5 and 6 per cent. Agents Chris Kombi and Ervin Niyaz sold the strata-title Aldi supermarket at Gladstone Park shopping centre sold on a 6 per cent deal while colleagues Chris James and Tom Fisher sold Albert Parks independent supermarket Gum Tree Good Food at 87-89 Dundas Place for $4.9 million. Another Gum Tree supermarket at 422 New Street, Brighton sold on a 5.2 per cent yield.
Why do I feel ashamed? In 2019, Sylvia Chou, an accountant based in Sydney, also fell victim to an investment scam. Within three months, she lost $2.6 million to a fake endorsement fund for the popular television show Shark Tank. The first thing that comes to your mind is, How could I be so stupid?  Chou says. Im an accountant, so I always work with numbers, yet I fell into an investment scam. It damages your reputation. It has taken me a really long time to come back from that. Sylvia Chou believes being scammed damaged her personal and professional reputation. Credit: Rhett Wyman Dan Auerbach, chief executive of Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney, says responses like Chous are common because it often feels like a personal failing rather than a crime inflicted on them.

People can internalise the incident, believing that they should have seen the warning signs or been more cautious. This self-blame is compounded by societal expectations of vigilance and intelligence, leading individuals to feel they have somehow fallen short, he says. Chou has experienced this stigma first-hand, with some blaming or criticising her rather than the scammer. On Facebook, strangers would write things like, Im glad my accountant is smarter, and Im glad youre not my financial planner. Every comment was sharp and brutal, she says. Meanwhile, my parents say responses from bank representatives exacerbated their feelings of embarrassment. The banks blamed us even though its their duty of care to keep our money safe. That enhances the feelings of shame and guilt we already felt. People can internalise the incident, believing that they should have seen the warning signs or been more cautious. Dan Auerbach, chief executive of Associated Counsellors & Psychologists Sydney This kind of victim blaming can cause some to avoid speaking about their experience altogether, which in turn makes it harder for others to realise how common it is to fall victim to scams, says Brad Ridout, the manager of cyberpsychology at IDCare.

Many people think of scam victims as naive or gullible  But the truth is no one is immune to scams, and thinking that you are immune is likely to put you at increased risk of falling for one, Ridout says. A scam usually says more about the skill of the scammer than it does about any perceived weakness in the victim, Ridout adds. Scammers use emotional manipulation techniques to exploit cognitive biases that we all have and are using increasingly sophisticated technology to deceive and persuade us. How can I overcome these feelings? Andrew Campbell, associate professor of cyberpsychology at the University of Sydney, says victims should avoid blaming their intelligence, and instead focus on how they can help prevent this from happening to themselves and others. Letting your family, friends and colleagues know youve experienced a scam should be the first step in coping with the event, Campbell says. Theyre likely not going to judge you because once they hear your story, chances are theyll be focused on your wellbeing and how to support you moving forward.

Loading Deputy chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Catriona Lowe says reporting scams to authorities (including the police, banks and the consumer watchdog) can also help people come to terms with the ordeal, as experts within the field reiterate how sophisticated scams have become, and how many others are dealing with similar situations. Scammers like to use a technique called divide and conquer, where they isolate people from their support networks and work on those feelings of shame and guilt. But reporting it will show you that youre not alone, Lowe says. Finally, healthcare professionals, as well as services such as Beyond Blue or Lifeline, are available for those struggling emotionally. Ridout says IDCare is also in the midst of launching a new cyberpsychology service that will connect emotionally affected scam victims to local mental health specialists.

Loading How family and friends can help When Kaelia Skeates, a 33-year-old from Adelaide, lost $2000 to a gift card scam two years ago, her initial concern wasnt the money she lost, but what others would think of her. I had some initial apprehension in telling my friends and family. I feared things like victim blaming, like if they asked me how I let myself be scammed  I would find myself justifying everything I did. Luckily for Skeates, she was ultimately met with support, but not everyone is as fortunate. Chou, for instance, fell out with her children following the scam.

Loading Auerbach says its imperative for family and friends of scam victims to create safe, non-judgmental spaces, and allow the victim to lead discussions. Acknowledge the victims emotions and validate their experience, Auerbach says. The victim might ask you whether what they did was foolish or reckless. At these times, its critical not to reinforce the shame. Rather than assessing their behaviour, its better to stay with the persons experience and to acknowledge how devastating and disempowering it is for the person. Skeates also suggests considering the tone of the conversation, which should be gentle and open. Though its common for loved ones to lean on phrases like so many people are scammed now, Skeates says this could minimise their experience. It can sound like your scam isnt important because everyones getting scammed, she says. Find that balance between normalising language and messages like, Scams are so sophisticated these days. It doesnt matter what demographic you are, anyone can be scammed. 
I thought I was dead, she says. And if I had already died, and didnt exist, if I took my own life that it didnt matter, I was dead anyway. Loading Recently, Robb recalled his wife asking to hold hands to make sure I am real. Up to one in five Australian women experience depression and anxiety in the period before or after birth, and about one in 10 experience obsessive-compulsive disorder in the perinatal period, statistics from the Centre of Perinatal Excellence and the national perinatal mental health service PANDA show. Beeston was at the high end of the mental ill-health scale and writes that, though she has adored her now primary school-aged son from the beginning, in the early days of her illness she perceived him as a mythical creature.

Im on my way home from work when my baby turns into a dragon. We are standing at the lights of a busy intersection, waiting to cross the road, she writes. Its not the first time its happened. As well as hallucinations, Beeston was menaced by intrusive thoughts, something research shows happens to anywhere between 70 per cent and all new mothers  but is rarely discussed. Beeston, with Henry as a toddler, says the symptoms of post-natal psychosis are among the things women arent told before they become mothers. Almost all mothers will have an intrusive thought about something happening to their baby, like walking down the stairs and dropping the baby, or being on a balcony and the baby falling over, says Beeston. And then 50 per cent of mothers will experience an intrusive thought about actually harming their child, even though we know from a growing body of research that there is no correlation between mothers having these and actually harming their baby.

Such jarring thoughts are incredibly distressing, she says, but mothers are not told this is so common they are likely to experience it. Women need to be able to talk about this stuff, so theyre not suffering in silence, Beeston says. Loading You think, Theres something terribly wrong with me as a person, and its only something were starting to talk about now. It can be a sign of anxiety or depression [both of which she had while ill] but it can be something that just exists, as well. Beeston says that while she was in a mother-baby psychiatric ward she tried to find a book that could help her understand what can go on with emotions and the psyche due to perinatal mental ill-health, and that her book, Because Im not Myself You See, aims to fill the gap she identified. Though difficult to revisit a time when her mind was unmoored, Beeston says a joyful aspect of it has been the many grateful responses she has been receiving.

Women in other professions have written to me and said, I also work in a job where you feel you cant talk about what youre going through, says Beeston. I had a police officer contact me  Ive had messages from doctors, nurses, other health professionals. People just say I feel seen, or I thought it may not resonate with me [because Beestons illness was so severe] but I can see myself in some of the changes that come with the transition to motherhood. Beeston, with Henry, has helped develop a free app for mothers to track their mental health and wellbeing. Since her illness, Beeston has shifted her career, to work in research and creating online content for the Centre of Perinatal Excellence. She helped to create its free, parental mental health app, Ready to CoPE, which has had 32,000 downloads in its first six months and will be translated into 10 languages. CoPE chief executive Dr Nicole Highet said Beestons book would help other women finding the transition to motherhood challenging by building understanding that mental ill-health was not unusual and can be healed.

While only 1 to 3 per cent will experience postpartum psychosis like Beeston, many women feel isolated when they have perinatal anxiety or depression and dont feel they can discuss it. Loading One of the biggest challenges is that people feel so alone in their experiences, and that compounds what theyre going through, says Highet. Reading stories of other peoples experiences straight away makes them feel less alone and realise the importance of getting help. PANDA chief executive Julie Borninkhof said cultural norms about becoming a parent always being positive, as well as marketing and social media depictions of parenting, can create a skewed version of what to expect. We still hear from really functional parents who are experiencing significant distress, and theyre scared to share their story, Borninkhof said.

People still feel if they expose their vulnerability or express poor parenting theyre going to have their babies taken from them. A lot of it is based on phenomenon of women being able to self critique and think the worst of yourself  [but] weve seen a significant increase in people talking about perinatal mental health and emotional health during the perinatal period, and I am really heartened by that. On Monday, PANDA launched its new 24/7 chatbot, which directs those needing mental health support to specific services on its website so they can get support outside business hours. Borninkhof said the chatbot was designed to meet increasing demand for parental mental health support, and that 57 per cent of parents accessing PANDAs mental health checklist do so after helplines close, at 7.30pm. If you need help call Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636, Lifeline 13 1114 or PANDA 1300 726 306.
BRYAN MURRAY HUGHES December 12, 1937-May 13, 2024

Lieutenant-Colonel Bryan Murray Hughes was a man of many qualities and very few flaws. His family and many friends and former colleagues recently celebrated his life spanning 86 years.

Bryan Hughes, born in Morningside, Brisbane, was an old boy of Church of England Grammar School, known to its alumni as Churchie. Being a Queenslander, he naturally played rugby and excelled at it, captaining an undefeated team in 1955.

On leaving school, Bryan entered the Royal Military College Duntroon from which he graduated in 1959, and was commissioned into the Royal Australian Armoured Corps.

In the next 20 years, Bryan saw active service in Malaya with the British Royal Dragoons and in Vietnam as a liaison officer to the US Army 11th Cavalry, and as a staff officer, HQ Australian Forces, Saigon. In that period, he experienced several close calls, one in particular when he transferred from an armoured personnel carrier to a helicopter. Moments later the APC hit a mine killing his comrades.
A popular Balwyn cafe and bar parklet has been ordered to shut down after local traders complained about it taking up three car parks.

Bin 3 opened the parklet outside its cafe and bar on Belmore Road during the COVID-19 pandemic, dubbing the area  with its umbrellas, white picket fence and fake grass  The Birdcage after the exclusive enclosure at Flemington Racecourse.

Bin 3 cafe and cellars owner Tom Mornement with customers on Friday afternoon. Credit: Penny Stephens

Customers use the parklet to sit outside and have a coffee during the day or a glass of wine in the evenings.

Every Thursday, Friday, Saturday is full of a nighttime, Bin 3 co-owner Tom Mornement said.
I actually genuinely love it, Im not just trying to plug the family business, Valmorbida says of Johnnys Green Room, which has just been refurbished, with Karen Martini brought on as a culinary director. She chooses some of her favourite foods from the menu for us to share, starting with zucchini fritte  wedges of deep-fried zucchini topped with cod roe, anchovies and dill. Zucchini fritte at Johnnys Green Room. Credit: Chris Hopkins Theyre really yum, Valmorbida says. Theyre like little pizzas. She gestures to me to start cutting into a large ball of burrata cheese, which oozes onto a plate of thickly sliced heirloom tomatoes.

Valmorbida started Pidapipo in 2013 after identifying a gap in the market in Melbourne for Italian-style gelato. There wasnt much; it was all just the big mounds of gelati, industrial pastes, packaged fruits, artificial ingredients and all of that, she says. There wasnt anyone that was doing it like they do in Italy. Loading She has grown the business to three stores (in Carlton, Windsor and the CBD) along with the Pidapipo Laboratorio in Carlton, all of which she runs with her brother, Jamie Valmorbida. Valmorbida was born in Melbourne, the middle child of John and Michelle Valmorbida, and while she attended the exclusive all-girls schools Loreto Mandeville Hall and St Catherines in Toorak, she also spent her summers working at King & Godfree.

We all worked here on summer holidays, she says. I was behind the deli or stacking shelves, that sort of thing. Growing up, Valmorbida remembers visits to her grandparents home town in Italy, and large family gatherings with her extended Lebanese family on her mothers side and her Italian family on her fathers side. Calamari spiedini at Johnnys Green Room. Credit: Chris Hopkins Food was massive in our family and everything revolved around food, she says. Mum and Dad both related through that a lot  although they were different cultures, they were very similar in terms of hospitality and food, and always having people over and the importance of food. So we were brought up with that same philosophy. We share a plate of golden yellow calamari spiedini, bouncy and crisp and doused in lemon juice.

When Valmorbida was growing up, the familys favourite foods to make included Lebanese classics like vine rolls, labne made from strained yoghurt, and kibbeh (a mixture of bulgur wheat, onions, and minced beef); while on the Italian side of her family, Valmorbidas nonna, Elsie, was the best at making gnocchi. Loading Probably everyone says that about their nonna, she laughs. She started studying interior design at Monash University, but quickly realised her passion lay in food. I was just always obsessed with cooking and food, and always watching cooking shows and never doing my homework, but I never considered it as a career, she says. I just wasnt feeling the interior design thing and just one day, I thought: Maybe this can be my career, cooking.

Valmorbida says her parents have always been supportive, but when she announced she was quitting her interior design course to go to cooking school, they cautioned her. Both Mum and Dad have been amazing in that theyve always let us follow our dreams and do whatever we want to do, she says. That was the first time they probably did say something like, Are you sure you know what youre getting yourself into? The most unglamorous, intense thing you can possibly choose? Cousins Luca Sbardella, Jamie Valmorbida and Lisa Valmorbida at the King & Godfree deli and wine store in 2015. Credit: Luis Enrique Ascui Despite their reservations, Valmorbida says her parents were still supportive, backing her to enrol in the Cordon Bleu course in Sydney. Once there, she loved every minute of it, despite the teachers putting a lot of pressure on students to prepare them for fast-paced work in commercial kitchens.

I remember one teacher always yelling at you to hurry up, she says. The teacher saying youll never last in the kitchen, in the real world. Part of the course involved doing work experience in a kitchen, so Valmorbida went to work at Donovans in St Kilda and stayed there for two years. Heirloom tomato and burrata at Johnnys Green Room. Credit: Chris Hopkins Its 150 people at one time seated, so it is really intense and quite old-school in the way it is run, she says. Lots of pressure and dont show your weakness and just get on with it and work 70-hour weeks and dont have a day off, dont complain, just get the work done and make sure it is perfect. But Valmorbida says when the opportunity came up to redevelop King & Godfree, she and her brother thought a gelateria would work well.

She found an Italian gelato school, Carpigiani Gelato University in Bologna, and went there to learn the skills and secrets of gelato-making. Loading It was surreal, she says. The standard of what they were teaching you in the school was amazing. Italians, it is just part of their blood and there is no alternative to doing things in the best possible way. Valmorbida learnt the rules around how much fat, sugar and solids are used to achieve a gelato classification, and then set about getting some work experience at gelato stores in Italy. I came back [to Australia] and just knew this is what I wanted to do, she says. I just loved perfecting and obsessing over one concept and making it the very best.

Valmorbida took the plunge and bought a gelato machine  which cost around $30,000 to $40,000  and set about making eight initial flavours. It was a big commitment, and I was so young  it was pretty scary, she says. Pidapipo set itself apart with a Nutella fountain inspired by the chocolate fountains Valmorbida saw in Italy, and a Nutella swirl flavour that came about by accident when the store ran out of ingredients and Valmorbida cracked open some of the decorative tubs. Its now such a key thing about what we do and our most popular flavour, she says. Valmorbida had to shepherd the business through Melbournes COVID-19 lockdowns, relying on takeaway and delivery orders.

As you go along, you learn and you get more confidence, she says. All of us are quite entrepreneurial. Dad definitely is, and then my sister, my brother and I are all very entrepreneurial. Weve got strong opinions. Were both full, but the dish we keep picking at is a creamy stracciatella cheese topped with wedges of cucumber and melon. Cucumber and green melon at Johnnys Green Room. Credit: Chris Hopkins Its refreshing and light on a warm day, and just the type of food Valmorbida wants to eat now that shes pregnant with her first child. I love melon, she says. And now that Im pregnant Im just obsessed with fruit, all that I want is fruit.

As we eat, she discusses the logistics of keeping her fast-growing business on track as she gets ready for life with a baby in tow. Now Im just ready for it to all happen, she says. You are mentally just ready, youve had enough. When I next speak to Valmorbida, two weeks after the birth of her baby, she is on three months maternity leave, having handed the Pidapipo reins to her brother. She says its hard to let go, even temporarily. I still get that, like, emotional feeling when I see that theres a queue, she says. Even in winter, I think who are these people lining up in their winter coats and beanies eating gelato?
West Coast are just weeks away from getting their forward-line dream team out on the park, and it spells bad news for Jake Watermans Coleman Medal prospects.

Jake Waterman. Credit: Getty

Ruckman Matt Flynns inclusion for Saturdays AFL clash with St Kilda at Optus Stadium means Bailey Williams will finally get his wish to spend more time in attack.

Williams, who has been forced to shoulder the role of undersized ruckman across the first 11 rounds, will join Waterman, Ryan Maric and Jack Darling as the big marking targets up forward.

Skipper Oscar Allen, who has been sidelined with a knee injury since round one, is on track to return after the clubs mid-season bye.

Waterman has been a revelation in attack for the Eagles this year, kicking 30.12 across 10 games to shoot into the Coleman Medal race.

But with Williams now free to play in attack and superstar forward Allen just weeks away from joining him there, the in-form Waterman will have to share the spoils.

For coach Adam Simpson, thats a good situation to be in. He told reporters today:

The objective is to win. We dont want to just have to kick it to Jake to score. I dont think were out there to win the Coleman for Jakey, I think we want to get a really good forward line that is connected and spreads the load. Trying to get the best out of everyone is our goal, knowing that not everyone can be the guy that kicks four or five.

Flynn, who crossed from GWS at the end of last year, suffered a serious hamstring tear that required surgery just weeks out from the start of the season.

The 26-year-old returned via the WAFL last week, and he faces a huge challenge when he confronts in-form Saints ruckman Rowan Marshall.

Marshall is averaging 20.6 disposals, 26.5 hitouts and 5.9 clearances per game this season.

Given Flynns lack of match fitness, Simpson has the option of using Flynn and Williams as a one-two ruck punch against Marshall this week.

But its not a long-term tactic Simpson is willing to employ:

I havent seen that work a lot to be honest, the two ruck situation. I think our long-term goal was Bailey as a forward that pinch-hits in the ruck, and not a double ruck combo. I dont know what that looks like tomorrow. It might be a bit of both tomorrow. But I think long term, you need a ruck who is your ruck, and then you need a forward who can pinch-hit.

St Kilda (3-8) have lost six of their past seven games to crash out of finals contention.

West Coast (3-8) have been a force at home, but their road woes were exposed in last weeks 99-point loss to Adelaide.

AAP
Melbourne, held by Greens leader Adam Bandt, would cross the Yarra River to take in traditional Liberal-leaning suburbs such as Prahran and South Yarra. That would have a flow-on impact on Wills, held by Labors Peter Khalil, which would absorb Greens-voting areas such as Brunswick East and Fitzroy North. The neighbouring seat of Cooper, held by Ged Kearney, would also take in Greens-leaning suburbs such as Clifton Hill. Loading ABC electoral analyst Antony Green estimated that under the proposal, Khalils margin against the Greens would be slashed from 8.6 per cent to 2 per cent. Khalil was already facing a tough battle after former state Greens leader Samantha Ratnam said she would stand in the seat. Ben Raue, analyst for The Tally Room website, estimated Kearneys margin would fall from 8.7 per cent to 7.4 per cent.

While Labor faces a struggle to keep seats, the redistribution plan has also notionally changed the electorate of Menzies. Liberal Keith Wolahan won the northern Melbourne seat with a margin of 0.7 per cent in 2022, but its proposed boundaries would make it a Labor seat on a margin of about 0.3 per cent. In WA, the new seat of Bullwinkel  named after Vivian Bullwinkel, who was the sole Australian survivor of the 1942 Bangka Island massacre  would be created in Perths eastern suburbs and across into the wheat belt areas near Northam. Large parts of Hasluck, held by Labor, would go into the new seat, as would areas in the Liberal-held Durack, Canning and OConnor. Based on voting patterns at the 2022 federal election, when it enjoyed an unprecedented 10.6 per cent two-party preferred swing in WA that helped it net four Liberal-held seats, Labor would hold Bullwinkel on a 3.3 per cent margin.

The margin for Labors most senior MP in the state, Resources Minister Madeleine King, would increase in her seat of Brand to 17.1 per cent from 16.7 per cent. First-time Labor MP Tania Lawrences margin in Hasluck would rise to 10.3 per cent from 6 per cent. Liberal defence spokesman Andrew Hastie, considered by many within the Coalition as a potential future leader, would have his margin in the south-eastern outer-suburban seat of Canning halved from 3.6 per cent. The proposed boundaries would increase the margins for Zaneta Mascarenhas and Patrick Gorman in the Labor-held seats of Swan and Perth, both of which have been targeted by the Liberal Party.

One of the biggest surprises of the 2022 election was the victory by Labors Sam Lim, a former dolphin trainer, in the safe Liberal seat of Tangney in Perths southern suburbs. The redistribution would marginally increase his margin to about 3 per cent. The boundaries of the seat of Curtin, won by teal independent Kate Chaney from the Liberal Party in 2022, would barely alter. Loading Both major parties regard Bullwinkel as a key target, with some calculations showing while it would be a Labor seat based on the 2022 election results, it would go to the Liberals on the 2019 poll outcome. Gorman, an assistant minister and former Labor state director in WA, said the proposed new seat was notionally Labor and he wanted to ensure it would be safe for Labor at the election.

Contests could tighten Some Labor sources, who asked to remain anonymous to speak freely, said the proposed redistribution might make it more difficult to hold some of their seats, such as Swan and Hasluck, at the next election. In Melbourne, the sources acknowledged that the seat of Wills would become harder to hold, in part because strong Labor polling booths would move out of the electorate and into neighbouring Maribyrnong, a safe seat held by Government Services Minister Bill Shorten. Logic says Wills is now a lot Greener, one Labor source said. The seat of Deakin, held by Liberal frontbencher Michael Sukkar, is seen as an even contest between Labor and the Liberals.

One view within the Labor Party is that the overall effect would be to make it harder for the Liberal Party under Peter Dutton to form a government. The Liberals, however, responded to the redistribution plan by noting the impact the loss of Higgins would have on the government. Loading The Melbourne seat of Chisholm is now seen as a tighter contest and a target seat for the Liberals, given estimates that the Labor margin in that seat would be whittled down to 3 per cent. Kooyong was the subject of conjecture on Friday afternoon because of the Electoral Commissions plan to relocate some relatively safe Liberal areas into independent MP Ryans electorate.

While this might improve the Liberals chances of reclaiming the formerly blue-ribbon seat, previously held by former treasurer Josh Frydenberg, observers were cautious about how this might play out. Former Liberal MP Jason Falinski said Frydenberg should reconsider whether to contest Kooyong for the Liberals. I think that Josh would be silly not to be looking at the new boundaries and not be reconsidering his decision last year not to recontest, he told Sky News. I think that Kooyong is almost a certain pick-up for the Liberal Party now. Objections to both proposals can be made to the electoral commission by June 28.
Sam Altman, chief executive officer of OpenAI. Credit: Bloomberg Toner, who is in her early 30s and is an AI policy researcher, graduated from Melbourne Girls Grammar with a perfect VCE score. She joined OpenAIs board in late 2021 after stints in China, where she studied its AI industry, and Washington DC, where she helped form Georgetowns Centre for Security and Emerging Technology, a think tank focused on AI and national security, where she still works today. Her subsequent departure from OpenAIs board was widely characterised at the time as a showdown between ethics and profits. Between slowing down or speeding up. Instead, Toner says there was board mistrust and that Altman had created a toxic atmosphere; claims that Altman and board chair Bret Taylor have denied. For Toner, it is critical that governments  including Australias  play an active role and tech companies not be left to their own devices or trusted to self-regulate whats quickly becoming a massively important sector.

As of right now, however, its a losing argument. This month, Googles AI-based search variously told users to eat at least one small rock a day, to thicken pizza sauce using 1/8 of a cup of non-toxic glue, and to stare at the sun between five and 15 minutes a day. Companies like Google and Meta are hoping generative AI will supercharge their platforms. Credit: Reuters Its unpredictable technology that clearly isnt ready for prime time, but it doesnt matter. Were quickly entering an era in which technology companies - predominantly US-based heavyweights like Google, Meta, Nvidia and OpenAI - are racing to build generative AI into every product and service we use, even if the results are wrong or nonsensical.

Companies like Google and Meta are hoping generative AI will supercharge their platforms, making them far more engaging  and useful  than they were before. And theres a lot of money at stake: it is estimated generative AI will be a $2 trillion market by 2032. Loading Most of Googles billions of global users may not have used a chatbot before, but will soon be exposed to AI-generated text in its answers. Similarly, many of the images you scroll through on Facebook, or see in the pages of The Daily Telegraph, are now generated by AI. This week, an image spelling out All Eyes on Rafah was shared by more than 40 million Instagram users, many of whom would have had no idea it was likely generated by artificial intelligence. AIs rapid ascent into the zeitgeist is reminiscent of bitcoins rise five years ago. As with bitcoin, everyone is talking about it, but no one really understands how it works. Unlike bitcoin, however, generative AIs potential, as well as its impact, is very real.

According to Toner, no one truly understands AI, not even experts. But she says that doesnt mean we cant govern it. Helen Toner (left) with tech journalist Casey Newton and researcher Ajeya Cotra at Vox Medias Code Conference last year. Credit: Getty Researchers sometimes describe deep neural networks, the main kind of AI being built today, as a black box, she said in a recent TED talk. But what they mean by that is not that its inherently mysterious, and we have no way of looking inside the box. The problem is that when we do look inside, what we find are millions, billions or even trillions of numbers that get added and multiplied together in a particular way. What makes it hard for experts to know whats going on is basically just, there are too many numbers, and we dont yet have good ways of teasing apart what theyre all doing. How AI works

The deep neural networks are complex systems that power large language model chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, Llama and Lamda. Loading Theyre effectively computer programs that have been trained on huge amounts of texts from the internet, as well as millions of books, movies and other sources, learning their patterns and meanings. As ChatGPT itself puts it, first you type a question or prompt into the chat interface. ChatGPT then tokenises this input, breaking it down into smaller parts that it can process. The model analyses the tokens and predicts the most likely next tokens to form a coherent response. It then considers the context of the conversation, previous interactions, and the vast amount of information it learned during training to generate a reply. The generated tokens are converted back into readable text, and this text is then presented to you as the chatbots response.

Apart from the war over ethics and safety, there is another stoush brewing over the material used to train the likes of ChatGPT. Publishers like News Corp have signed deals to allow OpenAI to learn from its content, while The New York Times is suing OpenAI over alleged copyright infringement. For now, the chatbots are working with limited datasets and in some cases faulty information, despite rapidly popping up in every classroom and workplace. A recent RMIT study found 55 per cent of Australias workforce are using generative AI tools like ChatGPT at work in some capacity. Primary school teachers are creating chatbot versions of themselves to work with students, and ad agency workers are using ChatGPT to create pitches in minutes, work that would have taken hours. The deep neural networks are what power large language model chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, Llama and Lamda. Parliamentarians are wondering how to react. Some 20 years after Mark Zuckerberg invented Facebook, the Australian parliament is grappling with the prospect of enforcing age verification for social media. Decades into the advent of social media we are still coming to terms with its effects and how we might want to rein it in.

People close to the technology, including Toner, are warning governments to not make the same mistake with AI. They say theres too much at stake. Loading Some argue the nations parliament is also already years behind grappling with artificial intelligence. Science and industry minister Ed Husic says he is keenly aware of the issue: hes flagged new laws for AI use in high-risk settings and has appointed a temporary AI expert group to advise the government. Researchers and industry members say those efforts have lacked urgency, however. A senate committee on the adoption of the technology in May heard that Australia has no laws to prevent a deepfake Anthony Albanese or Peter Dutton spouting misinformation ahead of the next federal election. Im deeply concerned at the lack of urgency with which the government is addressing some of the risks associated with AI, particularly as it relates to Australian democracy, independent senator David Pocock told this masthead.

Artificial intelligence offers both opportunities and huge risks. Pocock wants specific laws to ban election-related deepfakes while others, including Australian Electoral Commission chief Tom Rogers, think codes of conduct for tech companies and mandatory watermarking would be more effective. Either way, theres a broad consensus that Australia is far behind other jurisdictions when it comes to grappling with both the risks and opportunities presented by AI. Simon Bush, chief executive of peak technology lobby group AIIA, fronted the Senate hearings and pointed out that Australia ranks second-largest globally in adopting AI across the economy according to several surveys. Industry and science minister Ed Husic speaking at a recent AI Summit. Credit: Oscar Colman The rest of the world is moving at pace, he said. This is a technology that is moving at pace. We are not.

The most recent federal budget allocated $39 million for AI advancement over five years, which Bush says is a negligible amount compared to the likes of Canada and Singapore, whose governments have committed $2.7 billion and $5 billion respectively. For Bush, the narrative around fear and Terminator-esque imagery has been too pronounced, at the expense of AI adoption. He wants Australia to help build the technology its citizens will inevitably end up using. Loading Australians are nervous and fearful of AI adoption, and this is not being helped by the Australian government running a long, public process proposing AI regulations to stop harms and, by default, running a fear and risk narrative, he told the senate committee hearing. Toner says, however, that Australia, as with other countries, should be thinking about what kind of guardrails to put around these systems that are already causing harm and spreading misinformation. These systems could change pretty significantly over the next five, 10 or 20 years, and how do you get ready for that? Thats definitely something we need to grapple with.
Johannesburg: The African National Congress (ANC) lost its parliamentary majority in a historic election result on Saturday that puts South Africa on a new political path for the first time since the end of the apartheid system of white minority rule 30 years ago.

With more than 99 per cent of votes counted, the once-dominant ANC had received just over 40 per cent in Wednesdays election, well short of the majority it had held since the vote of 1994 that ended apartheid and brought it to power under Nelson Mandela.

MK Party supporters celebrate in Mahlbnathini village in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Credit: AP

The final results are still to be formally declared by the independent electoral commission that ran the election, but the ANC cannot pass 50 per cent. At the start of the election, the electoral commission said it would formally declare the results by Sunday.

The loss of support for the ANC will usher in momentous change for the country. The ANC has been dominant for all 30 years of the countrys democracy and it is the only governing party many people have known.
Trump exited the courthouse in his motorcade, smiling out the window at his fans as he typically does. But days of predictions from his allies that the case would end in a hung jury or even in an acquittal did not come to pass. Loading The outcome seemed almost unthinkable to the Trump team as recently as last summer, according to several people with knowledge of the discussions. Back then, the conventional wisdom among Trumps lawyers was that the New York case would never see daylight. Trumps lawyers spent relatively little time thinking about it. Instead, they focused on the cases they viewed as far more serious and perilous: in particular, the two federal cases brought by special counsel Jack Smith.

The Trump team liked its chances in the Florida documents case  with a perceived friendly judge and a friendly jury pool, the sources with knowledge of the discussions said. But the team was pessimistic about the Washington trial, in which Trump would face charges of scheming to hold onto power through lies and intimidation. There, they met a judge, Tanya Chutkan, who seemed to them as hostile as the citys residents, who overwhelmingly vote Democratic and had a close-up perspective on the violence that was committed on the former presidents behalf at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Trumps lawyers thought that the Washington trial would surely be held before the election, and they didnt like their chances. Then, their delay tactics  and moves made by Smiths team  meant that the two federal cases were stalled. And the New York trial was suddenly the first one on deck. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks to the media after a jury found former president Donald Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Credit: AP Some close to Trump noted an irony: Inside the Manhattan district attorneys office, the hush-money case was nicknamed the zombie case. It kept being killed off and then resurrected, according to Mark Pomerantz, who had worked in the office but resigned in early 2022 after the new district attorney, Alvin Bragg, declined to immediately proceed with prosecuting Trump. Bragg was sceptical of relying on the testimony of Michael Cohen, who had pleaded guilty to lying to Congress, and people close to Trump assumed that Bragg was being pressured into a prosecution that he never truly believed in. But here the case was  back on the calendar, set for an April trial, just three months before the Republican National Convention. And the former president and New Yorker was forced to face a jury in a city that widely despises him. He will now be sentenced on July 11, just a few days before the start of the convention where he is set to be nominated for a third time.

In private conversations with his advisers in recent days and weeks, Trump  who was found liable by two civil juries in the last year-and-a-half in Manhattan  had often seemed resigned to the notion that he would be convicted in this case. He has insisted privately that the verdict can play to his political advantage, just as the indictments energised and consolidated his support in the Republican primaries. He has telegraphed for almost a year now his playbook for managing the fallout. Former president Donald Trump arrives back at Trump Tower after leaving the courthouse in Manhattan. Credit: Getty Images Trump and his allies on Capitol Hill and in conservative media assiduously prepared their audiences to be outraged, whatever the outcome. There was no need for talking points to be distributed. Everyone knew what to think and what to say. Minutes after the verdict, Trumps allies said roughly the same thing in simultaneous posts on social media: This was a threat to the US system of justice. His allies whom he endorsed were asked by his team to post on social media in support of him. And one of his top advisers warned on the X platform that a Republican candidate for the Senate had ended his campaign after having urged people to respect the verdict.

Trump has asserted, relentlessly and without evidence, that the Manhattan charges are part of a sweeping conspiracy against him, orchestrated by President Joe Biden and unnamed henchmen around him. His allies, chief among them his former strategist, Steve Bannon, have already called for congressional Republicans to issue subpoenas to anybody involved in any of the prosecutions of Trump. For over a year, Trumps political campaign and legal woes have been completely entwined. Yet while his indictments empirically helped him in Republican primaries  boosting his standing in the polls and turbocharging his online fundraising  its less clear what effect a conviction might have for the broader electorate to whom Trump must appeal to win in November. Loading The publics views of Trump have long been remarkably stable. Trump holds a lead over Biden in five of the six closest swing states, according to the latest New York Times/Siena College polls of the states likely to decide the presidential election. Most swing-state voters said they were not paying much attention to the trial, but Trump has an opening among undecided voters, who were about evenly divided on whether he could get a fair and impartial trial.

Working in Trumps favour is the fact that, of the four criminal cases Trump is facing, voters across the country consider the hush-money charges to be the least serious. In a national poll taken a month into the trial, Quinnipiac University asked voters if Trumps conviction in the case would influence their vote. Just 6 per cent of his supporters said that a conviction would make them less likely to vote for him. While the share is small nationally, such voters could be decisive in closely fought states. Voters have short memories and even shorter attention spans, said Neil Newhouse, a Republican pollster. Just as the former presidents two impeachments had faded from memory, he said, a guilty verdict in the hush-money trial may be overshadowed by the first presidential debate. Theres nothing that has come out in this trial that has been a shocker or a surprise to throw this back into the court of public opinion, Newhouse added. Loading Its almost a certainty that the conviction will intensify what is already a burning Republican anger across the country. In a Fox News poll taken during the trial, the vast majority of Trumps supporters said he was not being treated fairly by the legal system, and half said he had done nothing wrong regarding the payments.

So many Republican voters  even those who were maybe lukewarm on Trump  have been angry in a way Ive never seen our base  more angry than after the 2020 election, more angry than after any impeachment trial, Republican senator J.D. Vance said. Theres a sense of personal resentment, added the senator, who is on a shortlist to be Trumps running mate. Here is this symbol of American law and order  the courtroom  weaponised against the only candidate who ever gave a damn about them. Nobody is working harder to stoke that MAGA fury than Trump. On Wednesday, the day after actor Robert DeNiro joined Biden campaign staff for a news conference outside the lower Manhattan courthouse, Trump regaled reporters about how his supporters had shouted down DeNiro. He got MAGAd. He got MAGAd yesterday, Trump said in the hallway outside the courtroom. He got a big dose of it.
Exactly. Because now the presidential election is guaranteed to be a vote not only on Trump and Joe Biden but on the entire US system. Which suits Trump perfectly. From the outset, he has campaigned as an implacable opponent of the US system. And as a martyr for change  make America great again. In his very first speech in 2015 announcing his candidacy, after descending the golden escalator, Trump said: Our country is in serious trouble. We dont have victories any more. We used to have victories, but we dont have them. And: The American dream is dead ... The US has become a dumping ground for everybody elses problems. On the day he took office he promised to end a state of American carnage. Yet he implicitly admits to failure because recently, he described an American hellscape of bloodshed, chaos and violent crime. Hes called himself a political dissident struggling against an illegitimate deep state and a corrupt elite which is leading the US into servitude and ruin. He compared himself to the martyred Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, murdered in a Putin gulag. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks to the media after a jury found former president Donald Trump guilty. Credit: AP Photo/Seth Wenig

The sudden death of Alexei Navalny has made me more and more aware of what is happening in our Country, he posted in February. Open Borders, Rigged Elections, and Grossly Unfair Courtroom Decisions are DESTROYING AMERICA. WE ARE A NATION IN DECLINE, A FAILING NATION! he wrote. He speaks darkly of the enemy within as a greater danger than any foreign foe. Even more extraordinary, hes compared himself to Jesus Christ, the ultimate martyr to a pure cause. And after his conviction on Friday (Australian time), he described himself as a political prisoner suffering for the American people: In the end, theyre not coming after me. Theyre coming after you  and Im just standing in their way. Trumps former campaign strategist Steve Bannon stated his aim succinctly in 2013. Declaring himself a Leninist, Bannon said: Lenin wanted to destroy the state, and thats my goal too. I want to bring everything crashing down, and destroy all of todays establishment. The president of a Democrat think tank, Will Marshall of the Progressive Policy Institute, says: Like Lenin on the eve of the Russian Revolution, Trump evidently believes the worse conditions in the country are, the better for him. Give him credit for being a radical political innovator: no one ever ran for president before by bemoaning how rotten America has become.

Dont just listen to the rhetoric  look at the actions. By urging the mob to descend on Capitol Hill to disrupt the certification of the 2020 election, Trump sought to overturn a fair and legitimate election. Hes been charged with four criminal offences over this, but any trial wont begin until after the November election, if ever. And the future? Would he condone the use of violence once more to try to overturn an election? A reporter last month put to him: You said, I think were going to win and there wont be violence. What if you dont win, sir? Loading Trump: Well, I do think were gonna win, and if we dont win, you know, it depends. It always depends on the fairness of an election. He said nothing to discourage violence in the event he were to lose. None of this has done anything to diminish his appeal to the electorate. He has remained consistently competitive in the polls. Polls half a year away from an election have little predictive value, but they do attest to the devotion of his followers. His hold on them is cult-like. If anything, they make him the frontrunner, ahead of Biden in the election-deciding battleground states.

If the American people elect Trump president for a second term, they will be doing so very deliberately, in full knowledge of the man, his character and his record. The self-described very innocent, very stable genius is intimately familiar to the electorate. Now that hes been convicted of crimes in a courtroom, fraudulently concealing a hush-money payment to a former porn actor, will it make a difference to his support base? If anything, his MAGA base will see it as confirmation of the elite conspiracy against him, and it will arouse them. Loading Remember hes survived two impeachments and four sets of criminal indictments without any appreciable damage to his support level. Although he is well behind Biden in the fundraising stakes, the guilty verdict on Friday appears to have prodded some big donors into opening their vaults to him. Trump boasted in 2016: I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldnt lose voters. It seemed outlandish at the time, but every development since makes it less so.

He has survived every imaginable scandal and outrage from grabbing women by the pussy to exploring bleach as a COVID cure and praising some neo-Nazis as very fine people, even suggesting that the police shoot Black Lives Matter protesters in the legs. The criminal conviction over the hush-money case could well deter some centrist or independent voters from flirting with the idea of a vote for Trump. But it will not discourage his base. How can this be? Do they support his plan to overturn the American order, perhaps even endanger the very survival of democracy? The emerging answer seems to be yes. Hes running as a revolutionary radical in a country where a record three voters out of four say it is heading in the wrong direction. And the MAGA movement is with him all the way. Theyve lost hope in an America that no longer offers a dream for ordinary working people; they are invested in a vengeful destroyer who promises to inflict a nightmare on a despised elite. Why would they be upset that hes been convicted as a criminal by a system they want him to destroy? Trump is, of course, eminently beatable. He lost the last election, after all. But if the American people turn out for Trump in full knowledge of who he is and what he represents, they will be wittingly voting for a criminal committed to reshaping American democracy in his own autocratic image. The image of King Donald.
But we cant take this trust for granted, because we know the big banks are right now trying to undermine our sector in some ways, he said.
The broker would generally turn around and go: You're better off going to your bank to do it, because unfortunately they know that they're going to get 100% clawback on the deal, Fernihough said.
Media Advisory: Leaders from IBM, M&T Bank, Moog, other companies to discuss AI and industry

BUFFALO, N.Y.  The University at Buffalo chat series exploring artificial intelligences evolving role in society will continue Friday morning as business leaders discuss how they are utilizing the technology.

The event, titled Exploring the Future of AI for Maximum Industry Impact, will feature officials from IBM, Linde, Rich Products, Moog and M&T Bank, as well as UB leadership.

Where: UBs Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life Sciences, 701 Ellicott St., on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

Schedule:

9-9:30 a.m.  AI research demonstrations involving biomedical engineering, climate change and materials science.

9:30-10:30 a.m.  Keynote address by Dario Gil, senior vice president at IBM and director of IBM Research. Gil leads more than 3,000 researchers in hybrid cloud, AI, semiconductors, quantum computing, exploratory science and other fields.

10:30-11:30 a.m.  Panel discussion moderated by Kemper Lewis, dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. In addition to Gil, other panelists include:

Allison Brashear, vice president for health sciences and dean of the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Jose Pinto, director of Lindes Americas Digital Team.

Mihir Rajopadhye, chief data and analytics officers at Rich Products.

George Small, chief technology officer at Moog.

Chris Tolomeo, senior vice president, head of banking services at M&T.

Noon to 12:30 p.m.  AI research demonstrations involving, pharmaceutical science, computer science and engineering, and other fields.

Background: The UB | AI Chat Series began last fall. It has included discussions with SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr., National Science Foundation Director Sethuraman Panchanathan and others.

It comes as UB plays as increasingly larger role  regionally, nationally and globally  pursuing AI for the social good. That includes being home to Empire AI, a $400 million statewide consortium and supercomputing center to be located on UBs North Campus. Empire AI includes SUNY, CUNY, private colleges and universities, and private foundations.
Since the plan was announced earlier this year, the company said it had held seven months of formal and informal discussions with the UK trade unions about the major transformation. Photo: Bloomberg

A steelworkers' union has announced plans to proceed with industrial action of around 1,500 Tata Steel employees based at Port Talbot and Newport Llanwern in Wales in protest against the Mumbai-headquartered company's job cuts associated with the closure of old blast furnaces.

Unite the Union said on Thursday that its workers will begin working to rule as well as taking part in a continuous overtime ban from June 18 to severely disrupt and delay the company's operations and order book unless the company rows back on the closure. It is calling for the Indian steel major to halt its plans until the July 4 General Election, when it expects the UK's Conservative Party led government will make way for the Opposition Labour Party.

Tata's disastrous deal with the current government would only see its other overseas operations take advantage of the coming boom in green steel at the expense of South Wales, said Unite general secretary Sharon Graham.

Now that we will have a new government in July, Tata can no longer ignore Labour's call to wait for the GBP 3 billion UK Steel Investment Fund, a commitment secured by Unite, she said.

Tata Steel said it was naturally disappointed with the move and reiterated its concerns around the ballot procedure.

We have written to Unite Union twice during the ballot process, and again this week, to notify them of significant irregularities in the ballot process they have undertaken. We will continue to review and consider our legal next steps, said a Tata Steel spokesperson.

It follows Tata Steel's decision in April to proceed with the closure of two old blast furnaces as part of a GBP 1.25-billion investment to transition to a state-of-the-art Electric Arc Furnace at its Port Talbot steelworks in Wales.

Since the plan was announced earlier this year, the company said it had held seven months of formal and informal discussions with the UK trade unions about the major transformation which preserves 5,000 jobs and secures future steel supplies. It is also expected to create more indirect jobs in engineering and construction and reduce CO2 emissions by 5 million tonnes each year.

The Tata Steel spokesperson added, "While the GBP 1.25 billion commitment with the UK government will ensure a long-term viable future for low-CO2 steelmaking in the UK, our current business is unsustainable, today reporting losses of GBP 364 million in 2023/4 more than GBP 1 million a day. By restructuring our UK operations we will be able to sustain the business as we transition to new electric arc furnace technology. We believe we have a very exciting future ahead, providing the high quality, low-CO2 steels that our customers in the UK and overseas are so desperate for. Our ambition remains to move forward at pace with a just transition, and to become the centre of a future green sustainable industrial ecosystem in the UK."
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CAMEROUN :: BAT calls for Progressive Regulation to Achieve Smoke-Free Cameroon on World Vape Day

BAT, a leading tobacco and nicotine products company, advocates for a regulatory framework that encourages adult smokers to switch to smokeless alternatives.. BATs recommendations are designed to accelerate progress towards achieving a smoke-free world.

30 May 2024, Cameroon  On World Vape Day, BAT West and Central Africa calls for implementing sustainable regulation for smokeless nicotine and tobacco products, such as vapour products, to achieve a smoke-free Cameroon. To realise the harm reduction potential offered by smokeless products, appropriate regulation is required to encourage adult smokers to switch, protect consumers with stringent safety standards and prevent underage access.

BAT has proposed four principles for effective and impactful regulation relating to smokeless tobacco and nicotine products: Access to consumer-relevant products: regulations should also allow a wide range of smokeless alternatives to ensure that consumers can access these alternatives and make informed choices about switching based on the available scientific evidence. Adult-only Consumer: the use and sale of smokeless tobacco and nicotine products by and to the underage should be prohibited by law. Product Quality and Safety: robust and properly enforced quality and safety standards should be at the heart of regulation, to protect consumers. Robust Enforcement: Regulation should provide enforcement authorities with the necessary powers to apply penalties and sanctions to those who fail to comply with regulations, particularly those who supply non-compliant products and provide product to those who are underage.

Yarub Al-Bahrani, Managing Director, BAT West & Central Africa, said:

Providing adult smokers with reduced risk alternatives to make informed choices is crucial both for countries looking to reduce their smoking rates and for global public health more broadly. Whether or not governments can take advantage of these products and maximise their harm reduction potential depends as much on the implementation of progressive, risk-proportionate regulation as it does on changes in consumer behaviour.

Countries that have implemented regulations that recognise the harm reduction potential of smokeless products and support their use for adult smokers have experienced a decline in smoking. The UK, US and Japan are all reporting their lowest smoking rates on record, while Sweden is on track to declaring itself smoke-free this year, 16 years ahead of the 2040 EU target. This is largely a result of widespread awareness, regulated availability, and usage of smokeless alternatives, such as vapour products, heated products and nicotine pouches.

There are widespread misconceptions about the risk of smokeless products compared to smoking. These discourage many smokers who dont quit smoking from switching to these smokeless products. The science is clear: well-stewarded smokeless tobacco and nicotine products have a considerably lower-risk profile than smoking. Its the toxicants released by the burning of tobacco that cause the harm associated with smoking, added Yarub.

BAT aims to create A Better Tomorrow by Building a Smokeless World. This commitment is demonstrated in various ways, including the Companys investment of more than 231,221,700,000 CFA FRANC a year in the development of smokeless tobacco and nicotine products which are sold across 75+ markets globally.
If theres one car that can be considered as the king of reinvention, its the Hyundai Santa Fe. In the five generations its been around, e...
How anxious was McCallie Director of Tuition Assistance and Enrollment Planning Mercy Kealey to earn her United States citizenship on Wednesday after spending the past 57 years in this country as a registered alien?

I got up at 5:15, said the Signal Mountain resident. I was at Memorial Auditorium at 6:50 (a.m.). The ceremony didnt start until 11. Now I feel free, very free.

From the time she first came to this country from Cuba in 1967, Kealey said, I never felt like I belonged. Anytime I traveled, they always made me feel less (the folks she had to deal with entering another country).

Still, she made no plan to become a citizen until a McCallie admissions team trip to Canada in 2020. At the age of 58, having worked at McCallie for 17 years, she decided she would no longer carry a green card. She would do the work necessary to become a U.S. citizen. On Wednesday, as the Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Auditorium filled with family and friends supporting 398 people from 88 countries earning their naturalized citizenship papers, Kealey was the lucky 11th person in line to receive hers.

I couldnt believe it when I was told Id be No. 11, said Kealey afterward. Thats my lucky number. The letter K is the 11th letter in the alphabet. I was so pleased.

She was also pleased that shed be able to add her maiden name Rodriguez to her official name, which will forevermore be Mercy Rodriguez-Kealey, since registered aliens are not allowed to have three names.

To further liven the occasion and make it special, as many as 25 fellow McCallie faculty and staff showed up to support her.

I was overwhelmed, she said of the outpouring of affection, which included her co-workers waving miniature American flags and giving the traditional McCallie one-clap salute when both Kealey and the 10 whose names were called in front of her crossed the stage. Everything in life is timing. It was not my time before, but now it is my time.

One of those former McCallie staffers was Troy Kemp, who drove up from Atlanta and his current job at Ron Clark Academy.

I hired Mercy, said Kemp. Shes like family. I dont know what I would have done without her. She went above and beyond the call of duty so many times. Shes been like an aunt to my son. There was no way I was missing this special moment for her after all shes done for me.

There was one semi-funny moment as Kealey exited the stage to her cheering sections one-clap salutes and flag-waving.

As she made her way down the steps from the stage, she stumbled and fell two steps from the bottom. Soon enough she was back up, arms spread wide and a big smile on her face, as if to assure folks, Im OK.

But one couldnt help but wonder if the Stars-and-Stripes high heels she ordered two days earlier from Amazon _ officially known as Patriotic Pumps _ were the culprits.

She ordered them Monday night and they were at our door on Tuesday, said her husband, Mike. She saw a newscaster wearing them on TV on Monday and said, I have to have them.

Becoming a naturalized citizen is far from an easy process. Kealey estimates she studied 50 hours or more for the citizenship test, which consists of answering six questions correctly _ no misses allowed _ from a pool of 100 questions.

But to return to the beginning, to March 22, 1969, her initial path to Miami from Havana was terrifying for a 4-and-a-half-year-old.

Mike Kealey pulls up the picture on his cellphone. Its Mercy preparing to board the plane with her mom, dad, and little sister for Miami. In the picture, shes holding a doll, the only possession she was allowed to bring.

But theres a story behind that doll, a sad one, said Mike. Just as they were about to board the plane, the Cuban soldiers took it from her, tore the arms off, and broke it to pieces, thinking it might be hiding money or jewelry.

Fortunately, her family heard about it and another doll was waiting for her in America.

Still, for 57 years, Kealey felt like a visitor in this country. She couldnt vote. She couldnt travel freely to or from the United States. She couldnt, well, be free. As she talked early Wednesday afternoon about what shes most looking forward to as a citizen, she said There are no words to describe the joy I feel knowing I will wear a little "I voted" sticker next election.

When she returned to McCallies campus around noon, a party was underway in her honor in Caldwell Halls Millis-Evans Room, complete with chicken and waffles and cakes decorated with American flags.

Before she knew it, her friends, her new fellow citizens, began a chant of U-S-A, U-S-A.

As Kealey entered Canada four years ago, a border official there told her, You cant be a woman without a country.

From Wednesday on, she wont be. Shell be as red-white-and-blue as her Patriotic Pumps.
The Sullivan Band kicks off the 2024 Nokian Tyres Summer Nights Concerts Friday, June 7, at the Rhea County Courthouse.

The band combines members from Dayton, Spring City and Chattanooga, and the band plays mainly in Southeast Tennessee.

The band includes Matt Sullivan, vocals and lead guitar, Jeremiah Sullivan, vocals and bass guitar, Bobby Sullivan, vocals and keyboards, Gary Shelton, rhythm guitar, and Chris Gordon on drums. The group blends the broad influences of classic rock, southern rock, rockabilly, country, Motown and blues into their own special sound.

Last year we had an awesome turnout, Jeremiah said. We were really surprised. I hope as many of our fans will come out this Friday to see us, and I hope we made some new fans last year.

Among the bands favorite covers are Merle Haggards Working Mans Blues, Marvin Gays Lets Get It On, Bad Companys Cant Get Enough of Your Love, and ZZ Tops LaGrange, and of course, Sharp Dressed Man.

The Sullivans always put on a great show and offer a great evening of great music for the whole family, said Rick Dye, Rhea Heritage Preservation Foundation president. Were pleased to welcome this great local group back to open this summers schedule, and I'd love to see their fans fill the courtyard.

Music starts at 7 p.m., but food and beverage vendors will be on hand earlier. Bring a lawn chair or blanket to enjoy an evening of music under the shade trees on the courthouse lawn in downtown Dayton.

Nokian Tyres sponsors the event as part of its commitment to serving the community where it operates an award-winning production factory, producing all-season and all-weather tires for the North American tire market. It won Company of the Year honors from the Chattanooga Regional Manufacturers Association in 2021, and it was the first Rhea County company to earn the prestigious Tennessee Governors Environmental Stewardship Award for its environmental efforts. Nokian Tyres recycles or reuses all production waste generated at the factory.
The Tennessee Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden issued this statement following Thursday's conviction of President Donald Trump:

"This is a sad day for America. Between the actions of a partisan District Attorney, flawed and unproven charges, a trial overseen and influenced by a non-elected judge, a jury pool from one of the most Democrat districts in the country, and a convicted liar as the star witness, the last month has only served to remind Americans why strong leadership is needed in the White House.

"Despite todays events, the American people will issue the final verdict on all of these actions when we elect President Trump on Nov. 5. The Democrat Party must be held accountable for their continued use of lawfare.

"Its time for every conservative Republican to wake up, participate, donate, and get involved because today has reminded us of the stakes of the 2024 election."


A family lost their four dogs in a house fire Friday morning in Hixson.

A man working in his garage heard his neighbors smoke detectors alerting in his house. He immediately called 911 to have the fire department respond and investigate the home.

The Dallas Bay Volunteer Fire Department responded at 11 a.m. and arrived on the scene reporting no smoke showing from the residence. Chief Markus Fritts, Dallas Bay VFD approached the home, looked through the front door windows, and noticed heavy smoke in the home. Firefighters forced entry in the home and found heavy fire and smoke downstairs.

Firefighters conducted an immediate search and found four dogs unconscious. They quickly extracted the dogs and conducted CPR on all four of them. Unfortunately, they were unsuccessful and the dogs succumbed to their injuries from smoke inhalation.

Chief Fritts reported around $80,000 of damages.

No injuries were reported but HCEMS was on the scene for potential injuries to the firefighters.

The Hamilton County Sheriffs Office will be investigating the cause of the fire. The American Red Cross was requested to assisted their emergency needs.
Anna Duggar's first tweet in nearly two years came in support of former president Donald Trump, who was found guilty in his hush money case on May 30.

Anna Duggar resurfaced on social media on Thursday with a tweet in support of former president Donald Trump, who has been found guilty on all counts in his hush money trial.

Anna Duggar slammed for her support of Donald Trump

Donald Trump leaves court in Manhattan after he was convicted in his criminal trial on May 30, 2024 | Mark Peterson / POOL / AFP

Who knew it only took twelve votes to prematurely deliver the win for a presidential election?!?! #TrumpHasWon, Anna wrote in reaction to the May 30 guilty verdict in Trumps hush money case.

Anna is married to disgraced 19 Kids and Counting star Josh Duggar, who is currently serving 12 years on child pornography charges. She has maintained a relatively low public profile since her husbands conviction in December 2021. Thursdays message on X was her first post since June 2022, when she wrote about road-tripping to visit her bestie  aka her husband  who is incarcerated in a Texas prison.

Annas latest post came shortly after a jury in New York City found Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in order to cover up payments made to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star with whom Trump had a sexual encounter in 2006. The historic verdict marks the first time a former president has been convicted of a crime.

Reaction to Annas post was swift.

I guess youre an expert on married men paying hush money to porn stars, one person replied, referring to Joshs alleged relationship with adult performer Danica Dillon. In 2015, Dillon accused Josh of assaulting her during a paid sexual encounter.

You should know something about felons, another person responded.

Girl, just delete this and go back into hiding, one commenter suggested.

The Duggar family has supported Trump in the past

So far, no other members of the Duggar family have publicly reacted to the verdict in the Trump trial. But several have shown their support for him in the past.

In 2017, the official Duggar family Facebook page praised the then-president, noting that evangelicals such as themselves played a huge role in his election. We all know that we need to see our country turn back to God, the post added.

In 2019, Joshs younger brother Justin Duggar mowed a message of support for Trump into the grass at the familys Arkansas home.

The Duggar familys rise to national prominence began in politics. Patriarch Jim Bob Duggar served in the Arkansas House of Representatives for three years and ran for U.S. Senate in 2002. He failed to win the Republican primary, but photos of him and his wife Michelle Duggar campaigning with their many children caught the attention of national media, eventually leading to a series of TV specials and the TLC shows 19 Kids and Counting and Counting On.

Josh Duggar was active in Republican politics

At one point, Jim Bob and Michelles eldest son Josh was heavily involved in Republican politics. He worked for the conservative Family Research Council and hobnobbed with politicians such as Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum. But in 2015, he admitted to molesting several of his siblings when he was a teenager. Then, his name was exposed in a hack of the cheating website Ashley Madison. Josh resigned from his role with the Family Research Council and took a job running his familys used car lot in Arkansas. It was there that he was arrested in 2021 on charges of possessing material depicting child sexual abuse.

Despite his many scandals and controversies, Anna has remained loyal to her husband, whom she married in 2008. The couple has seven children.

How could this happen in my marriage? Josh was my first love, she said in 2015 in the wake of the Ashley Madison revelations. I knew that my only hope was to cling to my faith. Because I knew if I went off of what I was feeling, I would turn a mess into a disaster.

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Paul McCartney said The Beatles rarely turned on each other three to one. He recalled the first time this happened to him.

Paul McCartney was the only one to push back against his Beatles bandmates when they wanted to appoint Allen Klein as their new manager. John Lennon was the biggest supporter of Klein, and George Harrison made it clear he backed him too. McCartney believed he could delay Kleins appointment, but a vote by his bandmates put a stop to his hopes.

Paul McCartney felt betrayed by his Beatles bandmates

During a Friday night recording session, Klein visited The Beatles and told them he needed their contract with him signed immediately. He claimed he had a board meeting the following morning. McCartney pushed back, wanting to take the weekend to review the deal. When Lennon accused him of stalling, McCartney said he had a right to wait until Monday to sign.

I said, Well Im not going to [sign it now]. I demand at least the weekend. Ill look at it, and on Monday. This is supposed to be a recording session, after all, McCartney recalled in the book All You Need Is Love: The Beatles in Their Own Words by Peter Brown and Steven Gaines. I dug my heels in, and they said, right, well, were going to vote it.

The Beatles | Harry Hammond/V&A Images/Getty Images

Initially, this didnt worry McCartney. While he knew Lennon and Harrison supported Klein, he believed Ringo Starr would side with him.

I said, No, youll never get Ringo to, McCartney recalled. I looked at Ringo, and he gave me this sick look like, Yeah, Im going with them. Then I said, Well this is like bloody Julius Caesar, and Im being stabbed in the back!

According to McCartney, this was the first time any Beatle had been outvoted in this way.

Its the first time you realize in our whole relationship that whenever we voted, we never actually had come to that point before  three were going to vote one down, he said. That was the first time, and they all signed it, they didnt need my signature.

He later had a major fight with Ringo Starr

McCartney felt betrayed by Starr at that moment, but he was outraged with his bandmate during a later meeting. After The Beatles broke up, Lennon, Harrison, and Starr wanted McCartney to delay the release of his debut solo album. They wanted the bands final album, Let It Be, to come out first. Starr went to McCartneys house to deliver this message to him.

They eventually sent Ringo round my house at Cavendish with a message: We want you to put your release date back, its for the good of the group and all this sort of s***, and he was giving me the party line, they just made him come round, so I did something Id never done before, or since: I told him to get out, McCartney said, per the book Paul McCartney: Many Years From Now by Barry Miles. I had to do something like that in order to assert myself because I was just sinking.

Though all three Beatles supported the decision, it was once again Starr who delivered the upsetting news.

Paul McCartneys bandmates eventually came to understand his point of view

McCartney believed his bandmates had wronged him in their dealings with Klein. Several years later, he likely felt vindicated when they parted ways with Klein. Harrison began to feel disenchanted with Kleins management after he mishandled funds for the Concert for Bangladesh. Lennon and Starr grew to feel the same way, and they all severed their working relationships with Klein by 1973.

John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison | Kaye/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

There are many reasons why we finally gave him the push, although I dont want to go into the details of it, Lennon said, per the book The Beatles Diaries Volume 2: After the Breakup. Lets say possibly Pauls suspicions were right  and the time was right.

Klein sued the three former Beatles, and they settled the lawsuit out of court in 1977.
In a surprise discovery, Flinders University nanotechnology researchers have produced a range of different types of gold nanoparticles by adjusting water flow in the novel vortex fluidic device  without the need for toxic chemicals.

Flinders University Professor of Clean Technology Colin Raston with the vortex fluidic device he invented. Courtesy Flinders University

The green chemistry lab work on nano gold formation also led to the discovery of a contact electrification reaction in water in the device  which resulted in the generation of hydrogen and hydrogen peroxide.

In a new article in Small Science, Australian and overseas scientists collaborated on the developing size and form of gold nanoparticles from various VFD processing parameters and concentrations of gold chloride solution.

Through this research, we have discovered a new phenomenon in the vortex fluidic device. The photo-contact electrificiation process at the solid-liquid interface which could be used in other chemical and biological reactions, says Flinders PhD Badriah Mazen B Alotaibi, who led the study.

We also have achieved synthesis of pure, pristine gold nanoparticles in water in the VFD, without the use of chemicals commonly used  and thus minimising waste, says Mr Alotaibi.

This method is significant for the formation of nanomaterials in general because it is a green process, quick, scalable and yields nanoparticles with new properties.

Gold nanoparticles size and shape are critical for a range of applications  from drug delivery to catalysis, sensing and electronics  due to their physical, chemical and optical properties.

The vortex fluidic device, devised a decade ago by senior author Flinders University Professor Colin Raston, is a rapidly rotating tube open at one end with liquids delivered through jet feeds. Different rotational speeds and external application of light in the device can be used to synthesise particles to specification.

Researchers around the world are now finding the continuous flow, thin film fluidic device useful in exploring and optimising more sustainable nano-scale processing techniques, says Professor Raston.

In this latest experiment, we hypothesise that the high shear regimes of the VFD led to the quantum mechanical effect known as contact electrification, which is another exciting development.
Eight decades after his death at Pearl Harbor, the remains of a young sailor were identified by the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, which is part of the U.S. Department of Defense.

Military officials used advanced forensic techniques to confirm the identity of a 19-year-old man named David Walker from Norfolk, Virginia.

Walker was a mess attendant aboard the USS California, one of the 19 U.S. ships that were destroyed when Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

At the time, Pearl Harbor served as the U.S. naval base on Oahu, a Hawaiian island. The strike took the lives of around 2,400 people, including Walker.

He was one of 25 unknown crew members on the USS California buried in Hawaii. In 2018, those bodies were dug up and examined.

Through DNA and dental analyses, scientists at the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency were able to figure out Walkers identity. The agency is responsible for identifying missing military personnel.

Later this year, Walker will be buried in the Arlington National Cemetery. At the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, a rosette will be placed next to his name on the Walls of the Missing to demonstrate that he has finally been found.

Walker had been attending I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, Virginia when he dropped out and joined the U.S. Navy. He was one of the few Black service members on the ship.

There were only a handful of jobs that were open to African American service members in the Navy, and mess attendant was one of them, said Sean Everette, a spokesperson for the agency. Back then, the Navy was still segregated.

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Illustration by Christianity Today / Source Images: Courtesy of Gillian M. Bediako

What Luther and Calvin are for evangelical Christians globally, Kwame Bediako is for many African evangelicals. From his dramatic conversion in 1970 to his death in 2008, Bediako was the primary architect of and inspiration for theological work that grappled with the realities of African culture.

On this 20th anniversary of the publication (by Orbis Books) of some of Bediakos most influential essays in Jesus and the Gospel in Africa: History and Experience, his memory still reverberates across the continent, as indicated by the seven reflections collected below on his ongoing influence.

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Born and raised in Ghana, Bediako was a professing atheist studying existentialist literature as a doctoral student in Bordeaux, France, when an awareness of Christ as the truth powerfully overwhelmed him while he was showering. He finished his degree in French literature but turned his powerful mind to the Bible and theology, later completing a second doctorate in Aberdeen, Scotland, under missiologist Andrew Walls, who called Bediako the outstanding African theologian of his generation.

Bediako attended the First International Congress on World Evangelization in Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1974, meeting other prominent Majority World evangelicals including Rene Padilla, Samuel Escobar, and Vinay Samuel. At that time, he conceived the idea of a research center on the relation between the gospel and African culture. With support from his denomination, the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, that vision was realized as the Akrofi-Christaller Institute of Theology, Mission and Culture (ACI) in 1987.

While self-consciously evangelical, Bediako sought connections between the gospel and African traditional religion. He argued that the gospels success in Africa shows clearly that the form of religion once held to be farthest removed from the Christian faith [i.e., African animism] had a closer relationship with it than any other.

Bediako contended that Jesus Christ speaks to us in terms of our human heritage. In one of his essays, he argued eloquently from the New Testament, especially the Book of Hebrews, that Christ was our elder brother fulfilling the mediatorial function that African traditional religion ascribed to ancestors.

While rejecting claims of radical continuity between African religion and Christianity, Bediako also differed from the emphasis on radical discontinuity associated with Nigerian Byang Kato, first general secretary of the Association of Evangelicals in Africa. That tension between Bediakos and Katos views on the interaction between the Christian faith and African culture persists today and appears in two of the reflections presented below.

Ebenezer Yaw Blasu, research fellow, Akrofi-Christaller Institute, Akropong, Ghana

I first met Kwame Bediako in 1988, when I was a Presbyterian student pastor. He was busy sorting books in what is now ACIs Zimmerman Library. In our brief conversation, he exhorted me to ensure Africanness in my ministry. I listened, but without enthusiasm. At the time, my main theological inspirations were Karl Barth and John Macquarrie, who did not say anything about indigeneity in doing theology.

In 1990, I was invited to speak at an evangelistic outreach in Ottawa, Canada, on the role of Christianity in transforming indigenous cultures. Suddenly, Bediakos earlier exhortation resonated in my mind. As if by divine intervention, I ran into him in Accra on my way to the airport. He excitedly handed me a new book he had published, Jesus in African Culture: A Ghanaian Perspective. Reading this book while in flight highly informed my message and contributed significantly to its success. For the first time, I spoke as an African evangelist outside Africa, to the glory of God.

Bediako believed that the theological education curriculum in Africa should equip Christian leaders for their task by connecting them with the redeeming, transforming activity of the living God in the African setting. If Africa is now a heartland of Christian faith, he insisted at a 1996 workshop, then a positive affirmation of African Christianity, and not merely an African reaction against the West, should be the driving force in curriculum development.

Kwames work has liberated my mind by establishing the undeniable truth that Christianity is not a Western religion, nor are Westerners the final arbiters of Christian theology and faith. Genuine theology needs contextual inputs, including those from indigenous or grassroots experiences. Hence, African Christianity needs to and can produce African theologies that contribute to the theological thinking of world Christianity.

Seblewengel Daniel, director, East African Sending Office, SIM, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Kwame Bediako was my PhD supervisor. His lectures were both intellectually stimulating and spiritually nourishing. He was equally committed to the deep rootedness of the Christian faith in the Scriptures and its authentic indigenous expression.

Bediako strongly advocated for a continuous engagement between gospel and culture. He asserted that people should engage their pre-Christian heritage with confidence in the power of the Spirit to guide and illuminate them. Conversion, he said, is not abandoning ones heritage altogether and taking on a foreign identity but turning to Christ with the totality of ones being. The divine encounter, therefore, will enable one to be an authentic African Christian.

Kwame was a charismatic preacher and teacher. The depth of his knowledge about and commitment to the church in Africa was beyond description.

Professor Bediako was very warm toward his students and had a delightful sense of humor. He took great interest in our lives and the lives of our family members. He made time to visit students in their homes, and he and his wife, Mary, invited us to their home for meals.

I value his unwavering dedication to empowering female theologians. He intentionally pursued affirmative action in his institute by appointing women to higher leadership positions.

Aiah Foday-Khabenje, former general secretary, Association of Evangelicals in Africa; country director, Children of the Nations, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Kwame Bediakos groundbreaking work Theology and Identity framed theology in terms of self-identity as a foundation and hermeneutical tool for theological reflection. Jesus and the Gospel in Africa is a collection of articles on how Christ could be the answer to the questions Africans ask about issues relevant to their context, in contrast to the questions raised by missionary Christianity from the West. It demonstrates how God can speak to Africans in African idioms and through hearing in African mother tongues what God has done.

Bediakos theological beliefs were inspired by his personal experience and how some church fathers practiced their faith in the context of the Greco-Roman culture. Bediako believed that it was possible for people to connect with Christ through their cultural beliefs, without the gospel having to reach Africa through Western missionaries.

One might assume that Bediakos quest was simply about putting an African face on theology, providing Christian truth with contextually sensitive illustrations and applications. However, these aspirations for African theology were more complex and diverse than contextualization. They also involved an attempt to identify a correlation between Christianity and African culture, or between African traditional religions and the Christian worldview. This aspect of his project has raised doubts about the orthodoxy of his approach.

Diane Stinton, associate professor of world Christianity, Regent College, Vancouver, Canada

Under Bediakos supervision of my PhD studies on contemporary African Christologies, I came to appreciate his enduring contributions to theological scholarship. He highlighted Africas role in Christian history, recovered the importance of primal religions to the flourishing of African Christianity, insisted on an integral identity for African Christian believers, integrated African Christianity into mainstream studies of Christian history and theology, and emphasized vernacular and informal expressions of theology.

After completing my PhD, I helped to launch a masters degree program in African Christianity at Daystar University in Nairobi, inspired by its equivalent at ACI and graced by Bediakos inaugural lecture in 2006.

A central conviction within Bediakos scholarship and ministry was the tremendous significance of mother-tongue Scriptures in Africa. Against the denigration of African languages, cultures, and religions by many Western interpreters, Bediako followed his mentor Andrew Walls in seeing African Christianity as a living demonstration that the gospel is infinitely translatable.

Bediako exemplified what Kenneth Cragg called integrity of conversion. He exhibited an all-encompassing faith that gathers up the broken fragments of our historya phrase from a Kenyan Anglican Communion prayer that he loved to quoteand places them before Jesus to be redeemed.

Kayle Pelletier, lecturer, South African Theological Seminary, Sandton, South Africa

As a seminary student sensing Gods call to theological education in Africa, I took a course on African traditional religion (ATR). There, I encountered Kwame Bediako for the first time. In the early 2000s, Bediako was one of the few African theologians whose work was readily accessible.

Now, after 20 years of doing theological education in Zimbabwe and South Africa, I find myself returning to Bediako to better understand why Africa remains such a syncretistic religious environment even though Christianity has been on the continent for more than a century.

Responding to derogatory Western estimations of ATR, Bediako rightly placed value on the primal religious conditions that enabled the gospels acceptance in Africa. Bediako sought to define an authentic African Christian identity through the African peoples pre-Christian religious experiences and beliefs. However, connecting similar, continuous elements of pre-Christian beliefs with Christian beliefs has only exchanged Western philosophical and cultural influence on Christianity for African influence, contributing to a syncretistic, tradition-accommodating gospel. Scripture, through which we must interpret any pre-religious culture imbued with general revelation, transforms belief and practice into its biblical image, creating an authentic Christian identity for all.

Nathan Chiroma, principal, Africa College of Theology, Kigali, Rwanda

As a young African theologian (originally from Nigeria), I attended two of Kwame Bediakos seminars in Ghana. He encouraged me, as a young African theologian, to cultivate in-depth theological contemplation ingrained in my African background. Through his works and life, he gave me the confidence and inventiveness with which to approach theology.

One of Bediakos significant contributions to African theology was the concept that African Christians can practice genuine Christianity within their own cultural expressions, dispelling the myth that Christianity is solely a Western or white mans religion. He provided me with a model for doing theology in a way that is true to the gospel and the African context, challenged me to traverse the intricacies of religion and culture from a biblical perspective, and prompted me to reassess my preconceptions about African Christianity that had been taught from a Western perspective.

Bediako profoundly influenced many African theological institutions, originally established by foreign missionaries, that taught Western concepts out of step with our African context. His writings have been instrumental in transforming schools to better align with our local perspectives. In addition to redefining the bounds of African Christianity, his dedication to contextual theology has promoted a more inclusive and representative theological debate.

Casely Essamuah, secretary, Global Christian Forum, and Ghanaian native

Before his conversion, Kwame Bediako was an atheist who had arrived at his conclusions intellectually and with such conviction that he couldnt keep them to himself. After his conversion, he believed that an intellectual life without reference to the living God and the living Christ was futile.

Bediako pursued scholarship in a community that had prayer and worship at its center. He saw scholarship as an opportunity for service and enlarged vision, not merely to please the academy but to equip local church leadershence, his insistence that ACI should be located in Akropong, the heart of Presbyterianism in Ghana, and not Accra, the political and educational capital of Ghana. Furthermore, the institute also requires that all masters and doctoral theses must have abstracts in local languages. It is no wonder that the center he initiated continues to thrive and flourish in his absence.
Among the former presidents antagonists and admirers alike, there is a great deal of calling evil good and good evil.

Timothy A. Clary / Getty

The homepage of The New York Times announced the conviction of Donald Trump on 34 felony charges Thursday afternoon in the kind of large-scale, black letter headline we typically associate with yellowed century-old newspapers declaring war has come. TRUMP GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS, it blared above a photo of the former president looking weary in some crowded public space.

Scrolling down the page a little, youd have found a link to one story noting the historicity of this moment and a link to another story detailing each of the 34 charges. Together on the homepage, the headline of the first paired with a bulleted summary of the second made for a strange juxtaposition: Donald Trump has become Americas first felon president, it said, and below that, a bulleted list: 11 counts related to invoices, 12 counts related to ledger entries, 11 counts related to checks. Wait, invoices? This isnt exactly the crime of the century.

And that highlights the core problem with the most common responses to this verdict in our political discourse: Among Trumps antagonists and admirers alike, there is a great deal of calling evil good and good evil (Isa. 5:20).

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I doubt this is deliberate dissembling. The most animated reactions Ive observed have not been calculatedquite the opposite, in fact. Outside the chattering class especially, those responses have looked like organic outbursts of elation and schadenfreude, or else indignation and resentment. On both sides, I believe that most people sincerely see their reactions as stands for justice. But even with innocent motivation, this is a kind of moral confusion.

Lets start with Trumps opponents, among whom there was great rejoicing when the verdict dropped. But what, exactly, is the nature of the crime? Unlike Trumps Georgia indictment, which I find morally and legally compelling, the crimes of which Trump has been found guilty in New York are arcane and ethically unintuitive.

This case has been widely summarized as concerning payments Trump and associates made to conceal his affairs with two porn stars. Thats part of it, but thats not the crime, because it is not illegal to have affairs with porn stars or to pay to keep adulterous liaisons secret.

What Trump has actually been convicted of, in brief, is violating a New York State law against falsifying business records to conceal his willful violation of federal campaign finance law (as well as some other laws) that would have required him to disclose the multi-step payment process to hide the stories of the affairs so that his 2016 presidential campaign would not be harmed by public knowledge of his infidelity.

The charges are felonies instead of misdemeanors, as records falsification charges normally would be, because the falsification is supposed to have covered up another crimea crime for which Trump was never charged, let alone convicted.

If that strikes you as at once tortured and surprisingly mundane, you are not alone in that instinct. When Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg first released the charges last year, they were met with almost universally raised eyebrows among the mainstream and even left-leaning legal commentariat.

Politico, hardly a pro-Trump rag, dubbed the whole thing a head-scratcher. CNN commentator Fareed Zakaria called it a case of trying the right man for the wrong crime. Voxs Andrew Prokop made a detailed case that, though Trump is no sterling adherent to the rule of law (true), this is a politicized prosecution: a fishing expedition focused on an obscure or technical matter using a novel legal theory and spearheaded by an elected political opponent of the defendant.

I rehearse all that to say: This verdict does not deserve to be called good. Maybe its technically legally correctI dont have the legal expertise to say. But even if thats true, this conviction looks to be the result of a case motivated far more by political rivalry than a real interest in justice and the rule of law.

We dont know yet what Trumps punishment will be (sentencing is scheduled for July 11), but in the unlikely event that he is actually imprisoned for this nonviolent crime, a response of elation would be not just unseemly but unjust (Prov. 24:17, 1 Cor. 13:6).

Now lets turn to Trumps supporters. The former president has denied the allegations of adultery and concealment of that evil. But he previously admitted to at least one of the payments on multiple occasions, and Rudy Giuliani also publicly discussed it when he was Trumps lawyer. And given Trumps very public history of commentary (and photoshoots) making his sexual proclivities known, his denials are questionable, to say the least.

Trump has spent decades both naturally attracting and deliberately crafting a reputation as an immoral, impure or greedy person known for his lechery, obscenity, foolish talk, and coarse jokingall things, it should go without saying, that are improper for Gods holy people (Eph. 5:35). Does anyone believe his denials of the porn star affairs?

Frankly, I doubt even his most enthusiastic voters buy it. He is transparently not a man of good character. He is not the kind of man about whom these allegations seem implausible. I am fortunate enough to know many such men, as I expect you are. If the same allegation were made against them, my response would be complete incredulity. Id laugh. But Trump? His words say no, but his entire public character says yes. The whole thing is tawdry and shameful, and associating with it is liable to corrupt our character too (1 Cor. 15:3334).

In short, it may well be fair to say Trump is a victim of a certain injustice here, as many on the right have charged. Looking at the legal questions, Im inclined to agree. But that does not make him an embattled hero worth following and defending. Examining Trump through a moral lens, it should be vanishingly easy to say his life does not deserve to be called good.

As Christians, of course, we confess that there is no one who does good, not even one, that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus (Rom. 3:12, 2324).

Looking at Trumps travailssome undue but many wrought by his own handthat confession should move us not so much to elation or indignation, schadenfreude or resentment. It should move us to humility, to recognize that we are no less in need of redemption. What good is it for someone to gain a major court victory or even the presidency, yet forfeit their soul?

Bonnie Kristian is the editorial director of ideas and books at Christianity Today.

Correction: An earlier version of this story was incomplete in explaining who made the hush money payments.
Daguan county in SW China's Yunnan turns bamboo resources into money

People's Daily Online) 13:14, May 31, 2024

As the first bamboo shoots emerged from the soil, Luo Kunheng, a bamboo grower arrived at his bamboo forest with a team of workers to begin the harvest season.

"On the day production reached its peak, my bamboo shoots fetched 11,000 yuan (about $1,517.55)," said Luo.

Luo, a 38-year-old resident of Xisha village in Mugan township, Daguan county, Zhaotong city, southwest China's Yunnan Province, was left disabled at a young age due to illness. His venture into bamboo cultivation gave him an opportunity to transform his life.

Luo Kunheng smiles while holding freshly harvested bamboo shoots. (People's Daily Online/Fu Hao)

Since 2018, Luo has contracted a total of 1,640 mu (about 109.33 hectares) of land for bamboo cultivation. He said that this year alone, he has already earned 80,000 yuan from selling bamboo shoots.

Luo is one of the farmers in Daguan county who have profited from the bamboo industry.

The county, located in a mountainous area, previously suffered from poverty and lacked significant industries.

Photo shows a bamboo forest in Mugan township, Daguan county, Zhaotong city, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Fu Hao)

The bamboo variety cultivated in Daguan county, known as Qiongzhu, thrives in high-altitude regions with abundant rainfall and limited sunlight. Daguan county has emerged as a significant production hub for this particular bamboo variety.

Over the past nearly six years, Daguan county has given key support to the bamboo industry, recognizing it as a major player in promoting green development, consolidating poverty alleviation efforts, and driving rural revitalization.

The county has encouraged local villagers to plant bamboo around their houses, as well as along abandoned slopes and under taller trees. At the same time, the county has also allocated funds for road construction, organizing training sessions on bamboo farming, and introduced and developed bamboo processing factories.

The planting area of Qiongzhu bamboo in Daguan has reached 1.02 million mu, representing over 70 percent of the global total planting area of this variety. Prior to 2018, bamboo shoots were sold at approximately 4 yuan per kg, but today, the price has increased to between 12 and 14 yuan per kg.

Photo shows bamboo shoots in a bamboo forest in Daguan county, Zhaotong city, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo/Tang Yingping)

Daguan county has established bamboo industrial parks to attract processing companies, facilitating the transportation of bamboo raw materials to nearby industrial parks.

Workers process bamboo shoot products at a food company in Daguan county, Zhaotong city, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Fu Hao)

In March 2023, a food company was established in Mugan township. The company mainly produces bamboo shoot products such as peeled bamboo shoots.

"We operate daily, excluding weekends and holidays. We are experiencing a significant increase in orders, with many coming from clients outside the province. It took us just one year to surpass the designated size. The company's projected output value for the next year is expected to reach 70 million yuan," stated Cheng Gongyi, head of the food company.

Photo shows bamboo furniture and bamboo handicrafts in Daguan county, Zhaotong city, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Fu Hao)

The Qiongzhu bamboo in Daguan is an ideal raw material for making handicrafts and furniture.

"Before, bamboo poles were primarily utilized as firewood or for constructing bamboo fences," said Ou Xianqin, chairman of a bamboo culture company in Daguan county. Prior to establishing the company, Ou and her husband worked as migrant workers outside Daguan.

In 2018, the couple returned to their hometown to take part in a training session for technical workers in the bamboo industry. Following the training, they made the decision to capitalize on the business opportunity by venturing into bamboo processing.

Through efforts made by various sides, the company's bamboo products gradually gained market recognition. In 2023, the company's sales volume surpassed 15 million yuan.

The bamboo industry has provided opportunities for local people to work near their homes.

Tang Rongmei, 36, works at a bamboo processing company in Daguan county. As a skilled worker, she now earns a monthly salary of 8,000 yuan, a significant increase from 2,000 yuan when she first joined the company.

Tang Rongmei works on a bamboo bookcase at a bamboo processing factory in Daguan county, Zhaotong city, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (People's Daily Online/Fu Hao)

According to data from the bamboo industry development center of Daguan, the county has fostered 18 bamboo processing companies, 21 collective economic organizations related to bamboo, and 82 farmers' cooperatives and family farms. The comprehensive output value of the bamboo industry has now exceeded 2 billion yuan.

Photo shows lush bamboo forests along mountain slopes in Daguan county, Zhaotong city, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo/Tang Yingping)

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Church leaders mobilized prayer for parliament and state elections, knowing the question wasnt whether Hindu nationalists would win but the size of their mandate.

Elke Scholiers / Stringer / Getty / Edits by CT

As Indias monumental elections finally come to an end this week, all eyes are on the extent of the mandate that will be handed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist party. Especially among the subcontinents estimated 28 million Christians, for whom the result will test whether religious freedom and secularism will be preserved in the worlds largest democracy.

Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been in power since 2014. During this time, monitoring groups have documented an alarming increase in incidents of violence, discrimination, and harassment targeting religious minoritiesespecially Christians and Muslims. Hindu extremist groups, emboldened by the BJPs ideology of Hindu supremacy or Hindutva, have systematically perpetrated abuses ranging from physical assaults to false accusations of forced religious conversions, used as a pretext for persecution.

A massive survey by the Pew Research Center reported that in 2019, about 49 percent of Hindu voters in India backed the BJP, which secured the party a majority in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Indias parliament, and granted Modi a second term as head of state.

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Not who wins, but by how much

The 2024 Indian general election, which started collecting votes on April 19, will conclude on June 1 after being conducted in seven staggered phases. The prolonged election process has drawn criticism from opposition parties alleging it favored the BJPs money power. Meanwhile the Election Commission of India has come under criticism for failing its constitutional duty and is seen by many observers as compromised.

At stake is the composition of the 543-seat Lok Sabha, which will determine whether Modi is handed a clear mandate for a third consecutive term. While most polls have indicated a BJP victory is likely, the extent of its mandate will be crucial to the concerns of religious minorities.

An outright majority in parliament, particularly the three-quarters majority that Modi has stated he is aiming for, could embolden the BJP to pursue sweeping changes, including a nationwide anti-conversion law, a nationwide Uniform Civil Code (UCC), andas the opposition allegeschanging and de-secularizing Indias constitution.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a paramilitary organization which is the ideological parent of the BJP, had made clear its displeasure with the current constitution, ratified in 1949. Some analysts believe the RSS has always wanted to change it to Manusmriti, an ancient Hindu text containing laws that champion caste and gender discrimination.

The BJP will implement M. S. Golwalkars statement in spirit and word, said A. C. Michael, a former member of the Delhi state minority commission, quoting the former RSS leaders statement:

The foreign races in Hindus than must either adopt the Hindu culture and language, must learn to respect and hold in reverence Hindu religion, must entertain no idea but those of the glorification of the Hindu race and culture, i.e., of the Hindu nation and must lose their separate existence to merge in the Hindu race, or may stay in the country, wholly subordinated to the Hindu Nation, claiming nothing, deserving no privileges, far less any preferential treatmentnot even citizens rights. [Derived from We, or Our Nationhood Defined (Bharat Publications, Nagpur, 1939)]

BJP representatives, such as Anantkumar Hegde from Karnataka state, have previously stated that the party needs to secure 400 seats in the Lok Sabha in order to enable the rewriting of the constitution.

Conversely, a relatively poor showing could force a course correction by the BJP toward more inclusive policies, mindful of the potential backlash if it continues down the path of disenfranchising the nations more than 200 million Muslims, Christians, and other religious minorities.

Personally, I do not think that the BJP will win, C. B. Samuel, a prominent Bible teacher, told CT. But if it does, the same scenario will largely continue regarding the persecution of Christians in the states where it is going on now.

Invisible Christian voters, concrete concerns

Consequently, many Indian Christians remain deeply apprehensive about the BJPs agenda, citing the escalating marginalization of their community in recent years under the partys rule.

Despite numbering over 22 million, the Christian community in India remains largely invisible and underrepresented in the nations political sphere, with their concerns and demands going unaddressed due to a lack of strong parliamentary voice, John Dayal, a senior Christian political analyst, told CT. The ongoing 2024 general elections are poised to once again render their presence inconsequential.

Samuel disagrees. We may not matter [as a national voting bloc], but we are not invisible. It all depends on the region and the state that you are taking into consideration, he said. In the North East and Kerala, Christians do matter. So the BJP plays it per their convenience so that they can take advantage of the situation.

A key concern among Christians is the potential for a Modi-led BJP government to pursue policies detrimental to their rights and standing, including implementing nationwide a version of the anti-conversion laws currently active in 12 of Indias 28 states. But Christian leaders have also expressed concerns about the steady erosion of constitutional values and Indias secular ethos during Modis premiership.

While the BJP has historically provided minimal representation to religious minorities such as Christians and Muslims, those communities now fear that a decisive BJP victory could embolden the party to establish Hindu supremacy at the cost of secular democracy and minority rights.

Thus, sources told CT that Indian Christians have organized prayer for the 2024 elections like never before.

The Christian community is fervently praying these days, said Michael. There is an urgent desire for this government to be ousted. Christians are gripped with fear that if this government stays in power, attacks on their community will escalateleading to even more severe threats to their safety and religious freedom.

Samuel, a leader in several prayer movements, agrees that Indian Christians are praying but is cautious in assessing why they are doing so. He said it depends on their level of education on the issues.

It is true that Christians are quite concerned, he said, citing the frequent news of persecution of fellow believers, including violence in the state of Manipur where many churches were burned. It is largely because of these issues that people have committed to pray.

He also believes that access to information plays a key role. Most of their information comes from mainstream media, which does not give much information except to toe the government line. The other source of information is their own experience, said Samuel. So they may have limited understanding of other crucial national issues impacting democracy, minority rights, and marginalized groups beyond their own communities.

What encourages me is that these prayer movements and mobilizations are church-based, he said, and many churches throughout the nation have made it a significant part of their Sunday worship services.

Christian outreach, by Hindu nationalists

Aware of the significance of the state-level Christian vote bank in places such as Kerala, where Christians comprise almost 20 percent of the population, the BJP mounted an extensive outreach effort ahead of the elections. Modi himself made concerted efforts to appeal to the southern states Christian community.

The prime minister visited Kerala five times this year, while the BJP held outreach initiatives such as the Sneha Yatra (Love Journey) aimed at connecting with and appealing directly to Christian leaders and congregations throughout the state.

However, the BJPs overtures have been met with a divided response from church hierarchies. While some Christian leaders have engaged with the ruling party, giving the BJP clear support, many have remained firmly opposed, citing concerns over the partys anti-minority rhetoric and policies that could undermine the secular ideals upon which India was founded.

The BJP has still not realized that they cannot impact the Christian community in Kerala, Jacob Ninan, a local evangelical Christian leader, told CT. Earlier attempts where some Christian leaders, including Catholic bishops, made some statements that were construed to be favoring the BJP backfired miserably, primarily because of happenings in Manipur and the persecution of Christians in the rest of India.

Some church leaders are gravitating towards the BJP due to their vested interests, George Gonsalves, a political analyst based in Kerala, told The Tablet. Such interests are believed to include seeking government patronage or resolving longstanding legal disputes involving issues such as misappropriation of property or clergy misconduct cases.

In Kerala the BJP will not be successful, said Ninan. A majority of Christians here have an understanding of what they stand for. They are not going to vote for the BJP but will vote instead for a party which upholds constitutional values.

I spoke to the Kerala Christians I know, especially after some Christian leaders gave statements favoring the BJP, said Samuel. They say that it does not matter what the leader says because we do not vote on the basis of religion.

Critical battleground states

For Indias Christians, who officially make up 2.3 percent of the population of 1.4 billion, certain state elections coinciding with the general elections have become crucial battlegrounds that will influence their future rights and status in the nation. These elections, which select representatives for state legislatures, are currently taking place in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, West Bengal, and Sikkim.

Odisha, in eastern India, remains haunted by the horrific anti-Christian violence in 2008 that claimed over 100 lives and destroyed thousands of homes and churches. The BJP has fielded Sukanta Panigrahi, a veteran member of the RSS, as its candidate in the states crucial Kandhamal district, which was the epicenter of the pogrom. His candidacy has raised fears of further marginalization for the local Christian population, who have already faced escalating violence and persecution in recent years.

Panigrahi is a hardcore RSS pracharak, or evangelist. He was fielded as the BJP candidate during the last general elections as well, but he did not win, Ajay Singh, a national award-winning Catholic priest and human rights activist, told CT.

The BJP is trying very hard to defeat the Biju Janata Dal, which has been in power in the state for the longest time, and there is a 5050 chance on many seats. It would be a tough fight and the general perception is that this could be anybodys game, he said.

When questioned as to what a probable win by the BJP would mean for local Christians, he did not mince his words. It would be trouble for Christians and other religious minorities if the BJP wins Odisha state elections, he said. Definitely Odisha would be further polarized on religious lines. They are fully capable of creating another Kandhamal.

In Andhra Pradesh, the BJP has accused the present government of minority appeasement for financially supporting Christian pilgrimagesa move that has drawn backlash from hardline Hindu groups aligned with the partys ideological base. The present leader of the state is a Christian and is seeking re-election, but has been targeted by the BJP and opposition parties for allegedly encouraging Christian conversions and not paying enough attention to the issues of the local Hindu community.

The Andhra Pradesh Council of Churches has allegedly urged Christian support for the incumbent chief ministerial candidate, calling him a devout Christiana move that could prove crucial in a closely contested election. The RSSs Organizer magazine reported on and criticized the same.

Other states such as West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, and Sikkim are also having their state elections, and in West Bengal the BJP hopes to give a tough fight to the incumbent state leader, Mamata Banerji, who is seen as a defender of constitutional values and secularism.

The Arunachal Pradesh state elections have become a battleground after the Arunachal Christian Forums endorsement of candidates from the opposition Congress party drew accusations of religious manipulation from BJP leaders. This has brought to the fore broader apprehensions within the Christian community regarding the ruling partys stance on their rights and religious freedoms.

Key issues for Christians in Arunachal Pradesh include the abolishment of the states current anti-conversion law, demands for recognition and support for Christian institutions, and calls for exemption from proposed national policies such as the Uniform Civil Code.

The present chief minister made a statement about repealing the anti-conversion law in Arunachal, but some local groups opposed this and so the proposal did not go ahead, said Tagang Gelo, general secretary of the Nyishi Baptist Church Council, the largest Christian body in Arunachal Pradesh. We have given a note to the government for repealing the law as well as opposing any possible implementation of the UCC.

Gelo told CT that it looks likely that the BJP will form the state government in Arunachal again. But he cautioned that any changes in the federal government would have a major effect on the survival of the state government, as Arunachal is largely dependent on Delhi.

Although Uttar Pradesh, Indias most populous state and a stronghold for the BJP, is not holding state elections at present, it sends the highest number of representatives to the Lok Sabha. How its residents vote in the general election is likely to influence its upcoming state election in 2027 and shape the states politics overall.

Pews research indicates that among Hindu voters, the BJP received its highest vote shares in the North (68%) and Central (65%) regions of India, which include the capital, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. In contrast, 46 percent of Hindu voters in Indias East and only 19 percent in its South reported voting for the BJP.

The Christian minority in Uttar Pradesh has witnessed widespread repression under the states stringent anti-conversion laws. These laws have been routinely weaponized by Hindu nationalist groups to disrupt prayer gatherings and level false charges of forced conversions against innocent congregants.

The modus operandi involves Hindu vigilante groups disrupting Christian prayer gatherings and services, colluding with compliant police forces to arrest worshipers on trumped-up charges of attempting to forcibly convert individuals to Christianity.

For now, the Indian Christian community continues to pray and trust God for the peace and prosperity of their nation. But mobilizing prayer was not easy, says Samuel.

One of the challenges that we faced in mobilizing people to pray for these elections was overcoming the theological notion that Gods will would prevail regardless of our prayers, he told CT. Many were taught in churches that whether we prayed or not, God would establish the leadership he desired. This teaching made it difficult to convince people of the importance of praying fervently for righteous governance.

We had to emphasize that while God indeed places leaders in authority, he also calls us to pray for those in power and does not necessarily approve of every individual holding office, said Samuel. The position itself may be sanctioned, but God can and does speak against those who abuse their authority or act wickedly. Overcoming this theological hurdle was crucial in rallying people to pray purposefully for elections that would yield godly leaders.
Home News 10 Evangelical reactions to Trump's guilty verdict: 'A very sad day'

Several notable Evangelical leaders have reacted to a Manhattan jury's decision to convict former President Donald Trump on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the case of The People of New York v. Donald J. Trump.

The jury reached their decision Thursday, more than a year after Trump was indicted based on allegations that the Trump campaign paid porn star Stormy Daniels in the weeks leading up to the 2016 presidential election. Trumps former attorney-turned-adversary Michael Cohen testified to the United States House of Representatives in 2019 that his former boss asked me to pay off an adult film star with whom he had an affair, and lie to his wife about it, which I did.

Cohen presented a House committee with a copy of the $130,000 wire transfer he sent to Daniels attorney during the closing days of the campaign so she would maintain her silence about her affair with Mr. Trump. In 2021, the Federal Election Commission voted not to pursue charges against Trump for violating campaign finance law.

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Supporters of Trump have maintained that the charges against the former president related to the so-called hush money payments constitute election interference in light of his status as the leading Republican candidate and presumptive opponent of President Joe Biden in the 2024 presidential election, which is just over five months away.

Leaders in the Evangelical community, which has constituted an important part of the former presidents base throughout his political career, weighed in on Thursdays verdict. Here are 10 reactions from high-profile Evangelicals.
Home News Christian lifeguard sues LA County Fire Department over LGBT pride flag mandate

An Evangelical Christian lifeguard is suing the Los Angeles County Fire Department, claiming religious discrimination after he was allegedly punished for refusing to fly an LGBT pride flag at his beachside lifeguard facility last summer.

Jeffrey Little, who has served Los Angeles County for 22 years, declined to hoist the Progress Pride flag at his lifeguard facility in Pacific Palisades at Will Rogers Beach, which includes a stretch called Ginger Rogers Beach that is frequented by the gay community.

In March 2023, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution mandating that all county-operated facilities fly the Progress Pride flag during June. This would include lifeguard facilities because they fall under LACoFD jurisdiction.

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The Progress Pride flag features the traditional rainbow design of the pride flag but also includes additional stripes representing black, Latino and transgender-identifying individuals.

According to the complaint filed May 24 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, the LACoFD first granted Little's request for a religious accommodation to the flag mandate on June 19, 2023, but rescinded it two days later, on June 21.

Little requested the exemption because he "adheres to traditional Christian beliefs regarding the moral illicitness of same-sex activity, the immutability of sex regardless of gender identity, and the view that all people are children of God regardless of their skin color," according to the complaint.

"The views commonly associated with the Progress Pride flag on marriage, sex, and family are in direct conflict with Captain Little's bona fide and sincerely held religious beliefs on the same subjects," the suit added.

Little was subsequently subjected to retaliation and harassment when his supervising officers demanded that he raise the Progress Pride flag despite his Christian convictions, the complaint further alleges.

"You are an LA County employee, that's the only thing that matters," Division Chief Fernando Boiteux allegedly told him. "Your religious beliefs do not matter."

Little was also allegedly taken off his role in the LACoFD's background investigation unit, and someone in the Department informed unauthorized people about his religious accommodation request. After news of his request leaked, Little and his two daughters were targeted with a death threat, the complaint said.

Attorneys from the nonprofit Thomas More Society representing Little allege violations of his rights under the First Amendment and federal and state law.

The LACoFD declined to comment on the case, telling CP it cannot comment on personnel issues or any ongoing litigation.

Attorney Paul Jonna, who represents Little, told The Christian Post that he hopes Little's case will set a precedent by which other Christians who object to such displays can be protected.

"I think we're seeing employers across the country  but especially here in southern California with Los Angeles County's directives  that are not only having the government promote the pride flag, have the pride flag flown, but now they're forcing certain employees to handle the flag and raise the flag," Jonna said.

"For a devout Christian to ask for an accommodation not to have to personally raise the flag is such an easy accommodation, such a simple solution," he said. "Just have someone else raise the flag. Devout Christians need to have protections in place. There needs to be strong precedent in place protecting them, and the law already provides for that protection."
Home News Mother sentenced to life in prison for killing 3-year-old son, used Bible to justify abuse

A 30-year-old mother in England has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of 25 years for the murder of her 3-year-old son after she attempted to justify weeks of abuse preceding the child's death by saying the "the Bible advised it.

During the trial at Newcastle Crown Court, evidence emerged that Christina Robinson, from Tamworth, Staffordshire, subjected her son, Dwelaniyah, to a prolonged period of cruelty, utilizing a bamboo cane for beatings, which she justified using biblical scripture as guidance, The Telegraph reported.

This scripture, she claimed, sanctioned physical chastisement to correct a child's behavior. Robinson's defense centered around these religious beliefs linked to the Black Hebrew Israelite movement, a faith she adheres to.

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The movement's members, comprising those who believe African Americans are descendants of the ancient Israelites from the Bible, adhere strictly to their interpretations of the Bible, which they believe to be the literal word of God. Some groups also incorporate elements of the Torah into their religious practices. However, not all groups within the movement share the same doctrines, and beliefs can range from orthodox to more Christian-influenced interpretations.

Justice Garnham, presiding over the trial, condemned Robinson's actions, highlighting the brutal nature of the offenses, including an incident where she scalded her son in boiling water after he soiled himself. This act reportedly caused severe burns to 20% of his body, primarily affecting his lower limbs. Robinson did not seek medical help, likely because it would have revealed the abuse due to the obvious nature of his injuries to case workers.

The culmination of this abuse was a fatal head injury that Robinson inflicted on Nov. 5, 2022, in their home in Ushaw Moor, Durham, by shaking or possibly throwing Dwelaniyah against a hard object, as concluded by a post-mortem examination, which confirmed that the child had suffered multiple non-accidental injuries over a period.

A police support officer, Paul Gilroy, who responded to an emergency call at Robinson's home, told the court that he arrived alongside the paramedics, as reported by ITV. He observed a little boy wearing a nappy, his legs wrapped in blood-stained bandages. As the paramedics attended to her son, Robinson remained mostly silent and passive. When questioned by the ambulance crew about the incident, she claimed ignorance of what had transpired. Gilroy noted her demeanor as surprisingly calm and seemingly unpanicked.

The court heard from prosecutor Richard Wright that the violence was often inflicted for minor misbehaviors that Robinson perceived as severe offenses deserving harsh physical punishment.

"These beatings were administered as punishments for behavior that was objectively trivial," Garnham noted, according to The Telegraph.

After the sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Simon Turner expressed his distress over the case.

"Dwelaniyah was a defenseless little boy who had his life ahead of him, but this was cruelly taken away by his own mother  someone he should have been able to trust, someone who should have cared about him," Turner was quoted as saying.

Evidence presented at the trial indicated that Robinson was engaged in an extramarital affair while her husband was stationed at a military base near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, over 240 miles away. The court heard that Robinson was pregnant at the time of the murder, having used a sperm donor, and was also pursuing another relationship she had initiated online.

The court dismissed Robinson's claims that she didn't intend to kill her son and rejected any suggestion of sadism in her actions, instead attributing the motive to a misguided adherence to her religious beliefs about discipline. Robinson, representing herself after parting ways with her legal team, continued to deny her guilt and insisted on her innocence.
Home News Muslims who tortured Christian laborer to death in Pakistan remain unprosecuted

LAHORE, Pakistan  With suspects in a homicide case pressuring the victims relatives to make false statements, police in Pakistan are declining to arrest them in the case of a Catholic tortured to death by his Muslim employers, sources said.

Sonia Shahid, widow of 35-year-old Shahid Masih and mother to their six children, said her husbands employers tortured him on May 8, resulting in his death 10 days later, because they wrongly suspected he had stolen goats from their farm in the Bhikkhi area of Sheikhupura District, Punjab Province.

After 12 goats were stolen on April 7-8 and police were unable to find the thieves, the farm owners began to accuse Shahid Masish and another Christian worker, Faryad Masih, of the theft, and on May 8 asked police to take Faryad Masih into custody, Sonia Shahid said.

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On that day she was working inside her servants quarters on the farm of Rana Nazar and his brothers when she heard the screams and cries of her husband, she said.

When I came to my quarter to check, I was horrified to see at least seven men armed with weapons, including Rana Nazar, Rana Ejaz, Rana Ramzan, Rana Aftab and three others beating Masih with batons, Sonia Shahid told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. My husband kept pleading his innocence, but they dragged him to their outhouse where they tied him up and continued to torture him. They broke his teeth and fingers and then poured a bottle of acid into his mouth. When I tried to stop them, they beat me as well as our children who had followed me there.

The assailants stopped torturing Shahid when they saw his condition deteriorating, she said.

I begged them to take him to the hospital, but they refused and left him there, she said.

She and other family members managed to take him to a local government trauma center, but doctors there advised them to take him to Lahore due to his critical condition. With no ambulance available, they took him in a taxi to the Mayo Hospital in Lahore.

When the doctors there examined Masih, they told us that the acid had caused massive damage to his internal organs, and the nature of his injuries was also very serious, Sonia Shahid said. We could only plead with them to do their best and save his life, but Masih couldnt survive and died after 10 days, on May 18.

Their attorney, Kashif Naimat, said the suspects have evaded arrest by taking captive, threatening and pressuring Sonia Shahids relatives.

The accused detained Sonias father, Munir Masih, another brother, Saqib, and nephew Shahzad in their custody and pressured them to tell police that they [the Muslim employers] had not murdered Masih, Naimat told Christian Daily International-Morning Star News. The latter three were in the fields when the incident happened, but they succumbed to the threats and pressure when the accused offered to waive off their loans and also gave them other monetary incentives.

He added that the suspects have also used Sonia Shahids father to offer money to her to withdraw the case.

Sonias father told her that the Rana brothers were ready to give 3.5 million Pakistani rupees [US$12,526] to the family as compensation if she withdraws the case against them, Naimat said. However, Sonia and her husbands family have rejected the offer.

He said that Sonia Shahid had stated in a First Information Report registered on May 19 that the suspects were holding her family members hostage at that time in an attempt to prevent her from registering a murder case against them.

Sonia Shahid, her brother Naveed Masih, and her sisters husband Farrukh Naeem are three eyewitnesses of the assault, and they are standing by their testimonies, he said.

We have held several meetings with senior police officials and urged them to arrest the accused and interrogate them in light of the statements recorded by the eyewitnesses, Naimat said. However, the false testimonies recorded by Sonias three relatives have given the local police an opportunity to protect the accused landlords.

The attorney said it would be a grave miscarriage of justice if the influential suspects were allowed to get away with the murder of a poor Christian laborer.

Its not uncommon for powerful people to use their money and influence to protect themselves from prosecution, neither it is uncommon for the weak to surrender to pressure and threats, he said. It is the polices duty to ensure that the weak are not manipulated by the powerful accused, especially when they belong to vulnerable communities, and that justice is served on merit.

The grieving widow said her husband was the sole breadwinner for the family, and that they were now dependent on her elderly father-in-law, Rafaqat Masih, who earns 400-500 rupees (less than US$2) per day working as a daily wage laborer.

I appeal to the government and senior police officials to give us justice, she said. None of the accused have been arrested so far despite the registration of a case. They are offering us financial compensation, but we want justice only.

Her husband was an honest man, and the family does not want his tragic death to go in vain, she said.

I also appeal to my Christian brothers and sisters to help us as we have no financial resources and are facing a huge challenge in meeting both ends, she 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.

Originally published at Christian Daily International-Morning Star News
Home News Scotland sees spike in abortions, more babies killed due to disabilities: report

Scotland saw an increase in abortion procedures in 2023, including an increase in the number of abortions due to a fetal diagnosis, such as Down syndrome, according to a recent report.

Public Health Scotland released statistics Tuesday on the number of reported abortions in the country, drawing its data from the Termination of Pregnancy Submissions Scotland system.

The public health entity reported an increase in abortions in 2023 compared to 2022, with last year having 18,208 pregnancy terminations compared to 16,608 in 2022.

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Data was divided into different grounds for which an abortion was performed. This included Ground E, which is defined as when a pregnancy is terminated because there is substantial risk that, if the child were born, it would suffer from such physical or mental abnormalities as to be seriously handicapped.

Ground E includes abortions performed because the unborn baby was diagnosed with Down syndrome, Spina Bifida, Edwards syndrome, or other genetic conditions.

According to the downloadable statistics, in 2023, there were 285 abortions performed on the basis of Ground E, a slight increase to the 274 performed for this reason in 2022, and well above the 201 performed for this reason in 2014.

Of the Ground E abortions, 48 were performed in 2023 because of Down syndrome, which was a slight decline compared to the 59 performed for the same reason in 2022.

The leading reason for abortions in Scotland last year was Ground C, which includes abortions performed before 24 weeks gestation that include risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman.

Of terminations performed last year, 17,893 were due to Ground C, an increase from the 16,313 performed for this reason in 2022, and well above the 11,698 performed in 2014.

The Society for Protection of Unborn Children, a pro-life group based in the U.K., released a statement denouncing the increase in abortions, especially as there was a reported increase in minors seeking terminations.

Abortion has surged yet again in Scotland, most alarmingly among girls aged 16 and under who Public Health Scotland disingenuously list as women. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) defines any person under 18 as a child, stated the SPUC.

SPUC will not forget these precious lives. Each boy and girl had a right to life that was cruelly taken away from them. We will not abandon those lives still threatened by abortion. SPUC will continue to give a voice to the voiceless.
Home News Texas Supreme Court rejects challenge to state abortion ban

The Texas Supreme Court has rejected a challenge to the states abortion law by a group of women and a doctor who claim the provision allowing for legal abortions is not clear enough.

In a unanimous decision released Friday, the state Supreme Court ruled in Texas v. Zurawski et al that the exceptions, as currently written in Texas state law, are broad enough to allow for an abortion if the mother is facing a medical emergency.

The women, who had allegedly experienced severe complications in their pregnancies, argued that the state law, as written, had contributed to their problems by denying them "life-saving" abortions.

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Texas bans all abortion procedures except for those performed in the event of a life-threatening medical emergency for the pregnant woman.

Justice Jane Bland authored the court opinion, writing that Texas law permits a life-saving abortion and that the law does not require that a womans death be imminent or that she first suffer physical impairment.

The law does not require the life-threatening physical condition to have already caused damage before a physician can act to preserve the mothers life or major bodily function, wrote Bland.

Guidance about a laws application outside of a redressable injury is a proper undertaking for the other two branches of government. The Legislature anticipates and shapes the future.

Justice Debra Lehrmann authored a concurring opinion, writing that she hoped the ruling will provide physicians with much-needed guidance about what the law requires.

As the Oklahoma and North Dakota Supreme Courts have already concluded based on analogous state constitutional provisions, a general abortion ban cannot survive constitutional scrutiny unless it excepts the limited instances of life-saving and health-preserving circumstances, wrote Lehrmann.

A womans right to access life-saving medical care without undue interference by the government is deeply rooted in our history and tradition, essential to our Nations scheme of ordered liberty, and enshrined in the explicit language of the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton celebrated the ruling, taking to his X account to vow that I will continue to defend the laws enacted by the Legislature and uphold the values of the people of Texas by doing everything in my power to protect mothers and babies.

The Center for Reproductive Rights, a pro-choice group that helped to represent the plaintiffs, denounced the Texas Supreme Court decision, arguing that it failed to provide proper clarity on exemptions.

This ruling utterly fails to provide the clarity Texas doctors need for when they can provide abortion care to patients with serious pregnancy complication without risking being sent to prison, said CRR President Nancy Northup in a statement.

Pregnancy complications should be managed by doctors, not courts and politicians. We are enormously proud of the women in this case who stood up to Texas unjust law. We will continue to pursue every available legal avenue to address the suffering happening in Texas and are currently assessing what, if anything, remains of our clients claims in this case.

The lawsuit was initially filed in March of last year, with lead plaintiff Amanda Zurawski claiming that, while she had a condition that meant her baby would not survive, she had to wait until she was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of sepsis before she could have an abortion.

I am outraged on behalf of my fellow plaintiffs who the Court deemed not sick enough, said Zurawski in a statement after the ruling, as reported by The Associated Press. We all deserve bodily autonomy. Every day, people in Texas are being told that they have no options. Its sickening and wrong.
Home News 'The Chosen' severs ties with Angel Studios, claims breach of contract

"The Chosen," a popular crowdfunded series about the life of Jesus Christ, is ending its relationship with Angel Studios and accused the distributor of breaching their contract. Angel Studios said it plans to pursue an appeal of the contract termination.

Dallas Jenkins, the creator of the popular series that launched on Angel Studios app in 2019, released a video message Wednesday sharing details behind the program's decision to sever ties with the distribution company.

While expressing gratitude for Angel Studios' role in getting his show up and running and the "total creative freedom and ownership" awarded to him as a result of their partnership, Jenkins lamented that "we were responsible for immeasurably more than any of us expected in order for this show to survive."

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"This became even more true when, after charging you to watch the show didn't work, we decided the show should be free, and Angel came up with the pay-it-forward model where you can choose to pay for the show for yourself and others so it could be free around the world," he added. "Of your pay-it-forward contributions, less than half of it actually came to us, somewhere around 40%. The rest went to marketing and Angel Studios."

Jenkins explained that "The Chosen" was "solely responsible for the financing of future seasons, as in every dollar for production came from our side."

"We had to form a company for all of this," he added, referring to The Chosen LLC. "Our company is responsible for and must pay for all of our legal stuff, including the fact that we're a public company that must report to the [Securities and Exchange Commission]."

In a statement to The Christian Post, Angel Studios disputed Jenkins' assertion that only 40% of the pay-it-forward contributions went to "The Chosen," insisting that "the deal was a 50/50 split after expenses."

Jenkins said the company has grown to include more than five dozen full-time employees, saying, "In order to meet the demands and pay our employees, we financed that solely with our gift sales, not the production money that was coming in through pay-it-forward."

Examples of gift sales cited by Jenkins include "books, DVDs and apparel."

Jenkins said "The Chosen" reached "a new agreement with Angel Studios in 2022," which "allowed us to shift our relationship to Come and See, the nonprofit whose mission includes getting 'The Chosen' to the world and financing our production."

"When you donate to Come and See, 100% of your donation goes to the production and marketing and international translations of 'The Chosen,'" he asserted. "Come and See has guaranteed that future seasons will be financed and on schedule but of course, we still need your help in making that happen. Gift sales and licenses with third parties, such as other streamers and broadcasters, will continue to financially sustain our overhead and growth as a company."

Jenkins maintained that "shortly after the agreement, Angel Studios breached our contract on multiple occasions to the extent that we believed it should be terminated, which would dissolve our relationship with Angel."

Jenkins detailed how he had engaged in private arbitration with Angel Studios and stressed that neither "The Chosen" nor Angel Studios filed a lawsuit.

"We simply had an arbitrator decide whether or not the contract had been breached and should be terminated," he said. "We didn't come to the decision lightly but it was our decision to terminate the contract and ask an arbitrator to rule on the termination."

Jenkins reported that the arbitrator "comprehensively affirmed our position" in a Tuesday ruling "and agreed that the contract had been breached in multiple and material ways." As a result of the arbitrator's finding, "the contract is indeed terminated and 'The Chosen's relationship with Angel Studios is effectively over."

In a statement shared with CP, Angel Studios CEO Neil Harmon said Angel Studios "is honored to have been instrumental in the founding and unbelievable growth of The Chosen."

He credited "[o]ur long hours of hard work over the last 8 years by teams of programmers, marketers, translators, licensing experts, and innovators" with helping to make it "the worldwide success that it is today."

"Sadly, The Chosen, Inc. chose to terminate its agreement with us. We hope that one day the agreement will be restored  and we plan to pursue the appeal provision that Angel and The Chosen agreed to as the process for resolving disagreements privately," Harmon said.

Due to "The Chosen" cutting ties with Angel Studios, viewers will have the option to watch the series on a social media livestream, "The Chosen" app or on DVD, not the Angel Studios app.

Jenkins said that season 4 of "The Chosen" will be available on "The Chosen" app next week, with the first episode dropping on Sunday and the second episode coming out on Thursday. Two episodes of season 4 of "The Chosen" will be released per week over the next several weeks.
Home News Nearly 20K oppose LGBT pride flags being displayed on London street

Nearly 20,000 people have signed a petition protesting plans to display Progress Pride flags along one of London's most famous thoroughfares.

The petition was launched by Christian Concern ahead of the display planned for LGBT pride month in June.

It is common for shops, train stations and other public spaces to be decked out in pride flags every June.

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Progress Pride flags differ from traditional pride flags with the inclusion of brown, black, light blue and pink stripes. These additional stripes represent people of colour, trans people and those living with HIV/AIDS.

The petition to Westminster City Council calls the flags "divisive" and "gaudy" and says they are "completely inappropriate for this historic, iconic street at the centre of London."

"Each June, our neighbourhoods are swamped with Pride flags as councils, shops and other businesses signal their support for LGBTQ+ ideology. It's time to stop this," the petition reads.

"Rainbow flags are bad enough  but 'Progress Pride' flags add transgender stripes  a movement that has done untold damage to gender-questioning children in recent years."

It adds that the flags "make everyone who doesn't support the whole LGBTQ+ agenda feel unwelcome."

"They send the message that Christians, and others with historic beliefs about sexuality and gender are not welcome," the petition reads.

This article was originally published by Christian Today.
Supreme Court NRA Ruling, Gen Z Rejects Traditional Morality, Jerry Seinfeld On Masculinity

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Top headlines for Friday, May 31, 2024

In this episode, we dive into comedian Jerry Seinfeld's reflections on the decline of traditional masculinity and social hierarchies in America. We also cover the Supreme Court's unanimous decision protecting entities from being compelled to sever ties with the NRA.

Additionally, we discuss the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary President's regret over past administrative actions, and explore why Generation Z is less inclined to believe in the inherent goodness of humanity despite rejecting traditional moral viewpoints.
Home Opinion An attitude of gratitude

Like many of you, I have experienced a multitude of emotions as I have experienced yet another Memorial Day holiday. It is a great credit to our nation that we embrace the memory of those who have given the last full measure of devotion to defending our nation in times of national peril.

Many years ago while I was living in England, I was touring an ancient Anglican church. Inside the church was a memorial to Englands war dead, under an inscription that read, In Englands hour of greatest peril, they sacrificed all their tomorrows! How heartbreakingly true! Just so, as we honor Americas war dead as well as those who were willing to die to protect us, we need to remember and be grateful that we have always had men and women who were willing to step forward and risk sacrificing all their tomorrows to protect our freedom and safety.

Every year at Memorial Day Weekend, and other times as well, I think of my high school classmates and friends (Class of 1965) who died before their 21st birthday serving in Vietnam. I thought about them when I became a husband, a father, and uncle, etc. They would never live to experience those joys. We all owe a debt of gratitude to all our veterans, especially those who died in service. And we owe a debt to all their loved ones who continue to mourn the loss of a husband, a father, a brother, an uncle, a nephew, a wife, a mother, a sister, an aunt, a niece, etc.

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This past weekend I had the privilege of watching the marvelous movie Saving Private Ryan once again. I was reminded of what a monument to the movie-making art it is. The fictional character Private James Ryan, a U.S. Army private, took part in the D-Day mission of Normandy on June 6, 1944. George Marshall, the U.S. Army Defense Chief discovers that all three of Pvt. Ryans brothers have been killed in combat. He decides to send a search team to find Ryan and send him home to his mother.

Army Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) is selected to lead the rescue team. Despite long odds, they locate Pvt. Ryan, who refuses to leave his fellow soldiers. So Capt. Millers rescue team decides to stay and fight alongside Pvt. Ryans unit. In the ensuing battle, several of Millers rescue team are killed. As Capt. Miller is dying from his wounds, he challenges Pvt. Ryan to earn this.earn it.

He was challenging Pvt. Ryan to go home and live a life worthy of the sacrifice that has been made to save his life and return him to his mother.

In reality, we all should accept this challenge to earn it. Many thousands of our fellow citizens have laid down their lives on the altar of freedom to preserve our liberty.

Such sacrifice incurs obligations and responsibilities. To ignore such selfless sacrifice is to be guilty of the grossest kind of ingratitude.

Let us all rededicate ourselves to living lives worthy of their sacrifices. And may we never cease to thank their loved ones for their sacrifices as well.

May God continue to bless the United States of America!
Home Opinion Atheist Alex O'Connor presses Jordan Peterson on Exodus, Christ's resurrection

Atheist Alex O'Connor recently visited with Jordan Peterson. O'Connor told the famous psychologist, You've spent more time in Exodus than probably anyone I've ever met in person ... When people suddenly say to you, But do you think it really happened? Peterson immediately intervened, Well what the Hell does that mean?

O'Connor gently pressed Peterson on the historicity of the Exodus. He said, When somebody says, Did the Exodus story happen? Did the Jews enslaved in Egypt break free of their slavery and move to the Promised Land across the desert for 40 years? Did that happen? You have also said of the Exodus specifically, It's still happening. Peterson replied, Yes.

O'Connor said this type of response is inappropriate, and then asked, Do you believe that these people in that time period actually did this in such a way that for instance might show up in an archaeological report? Peterson responded, I think the simplest answer is, Probably, but we don't know. The psychologist incorrectly stated that we don't know if the Exodus was an actual historical event. There are plenty of Jews, Christians and others who know for a fact that the Exodus truly took place.

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O'Connor essentially wanted to see whether Jordan Peterson believed what the Apostle Paul believed about the Exodus. During a sermon Paul firmly stated, Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers and made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt. With mighty power He led them out of that country and endured their conduct forty years in the desert (Acts 13:16-18). Paul was certain the Exodus took place.

And Jesus knew better than anyone that Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt. Jesus told some Jews in His day, If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me (John 5:46). The historical figure of Moses and the historical event of the Exodus are as certain as the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 20:1-21). The Apostle John wrote, For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17).

O'Connor also asked Peterson about Christ's resurrection. If I went back in time with a Panasonic video camera in front of the tomb of Joseph of Arimathea, would the little LCD screen show a man walk out of that tomb? Peterson said, I would suspect yes. O'Connor then said, When somebody says, Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead? It doesn't seem clear to me why you're not just able to say, It would seem to me yes. Peterson responded, Because I have no idea what that means. And neither did the people who saw it.

Really? The followers of Christ who spent time with their risen Lord didn't know what His resurrection meant? The fact of the matter is that they absolutely understood what it meant. The Messiah rose from the dead just as He had prophesied, (see John 2:19) and it confirmed everything Jesus had said about Himself and His eternal Kingdom.

When explaining Scripture in his catechisms, Martin Luther employed the following question: What does this mean? Imagine Jordan Peterson writing his own religious catechism and asking the question, What does Christ's resurrection mean? It seems Peterson's answer would be, We have no idea what it means.

Jordan Peterson's spiritual journey would obviously benefit greatly from having personal confidence in the historicity and biblical significance of Christ's atoning death on the cross and His resurrection from the dead. Christian faith looks outside ourselves (extra nos) for salvation and trusts in the work Christ finished on the cross 2,000 years ago.

Paul wrote, For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than 500 of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep (1 Corinthians 15:3-6).

Christian faith has always been rooted in the one-time, all-sufficient sacrifice for our sins on the cross, (see Hebrews 10:10-14) and Christ's resurrection from the dead on the third day. Jordan Peterson will never know what Christ's resurrection means unless he accepts its historical validity and spiritual significance.

It would sure be ironic if God uses an atheist like Alex O'Connor to help Jordan Peterson get off the fence and place full confidence in the historical events of the Exodus and the resurrection of Christ. Kudos to Alex for pressing the key historical questions so explicitly. It is not the first time Peterson has been asked some excellent questions regarding his interpretation of Exodus, as I pointed out in my CP op-ed, Will John Lennox Lead Jordan Peterson Out of Egypt?

Imagine Moses saying, The Exodus probably happened, but we don't know for sure. And imagine the Apostle Paul saying, The eyewitnesses to Christ's resurrection are not sure what it means. Spiritual confusion and historical doubt are enemies of Christian faith. And this is why I believe the risen Messiah would kindly instruct Jordan Peterson with the same guidance He gave to Thomas: Stop doubting and believe (John 20:27).
Home Opinion The woke right just proved the Constitution is alive and well (part 2)

When last we checked in with the woke right Christian nationalists at American Reformer, contributing editor Mike Sabo was arguing that the U.S. Constitution is "a dead letter" and chastising the (null set of) people who are claiming it is "Holy Writ."

This, of course, is ridiculous on both counts. But what's even more ridiculous is that the woke right articulates this argument while simultaneously disproving it.

Exhibit A: Satan display-destroyer Michael Cassidy. He is the former congressional candidate from Mississippi who traveled to the Iowa State Capitol in December and tore down a Satanic Temple of Iowa statue of Baphomet.

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Cassidy was facing a felony hate-crime charge and up to five years in jail for his actions. But Christian nationalist Ben Zeisloft, editor of The Republic Sentinel, recently reported that Cassidy instead pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal mischief "in exchange for the dismissal of the hate-crime enhancements and the payment of a fine."

Zeisloft reported that Polk County Democratic Attorney Kimberly Graham, whom he stated "indirectly received some $300,000 in campaign contributions from an entity funded by George Soros," had filed the hate-crime enhancements against Cassidy. Cassidy's attorney, R. Davis Younts, celebrated the deal: "It is because of the people that came to his aid and an outstanding legal team that we were able to back the prosecutors into a corner and get this resolution."

What's more, Younts said, "Forcing the prosecutors to drop the hate crime is a huge victory for Cassidy and for religious freedom.

On the one hand, that's a great outcome for Cassidy. On the other hand, what incredible irony.

Zeisloft has stated online: "I have seen a handful observe that we are not living under the letter of the Constitution as written ... I happen to agree." In saying so, Zeisloft seems to be echoing the claims of Sabo that the constitution is effectively "a dead letter."

Yet Zeisloft's story about Cassidy clearly shows the opposite is true. The left didn't prevail on the draconian charge of a hate crime, free American Christians rose up to help Cassidy get the charge dropped in his hour of need (by contributing to his legal fund), and the entire episode was, according to Cassidy's attorney, a "huge victory for Cassidy and for religious freedom."

The Constitution's First Amendment turns out to be alive and well, after all.

But Sabo and Zeisloft aren't the only ones on the woke right declaring the extinction of the Constitution. Controversial pastor Doug Wilson's Canon Plus streaming platform also has jumped into promoting its alleged demise.

A recently released video clip from the platform's "The Wade Show with Wade" was titled, oh-so-subtly: "Yes, the Constitution is Dead." It makes sense that such a claim would appear on a Wilson media platform. Wilson is pastor of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho, and Canon Press  founded by his church  was the publisher that released Stephen Wolfe's manifesto, Case for Christian Nationalism, in 2022.

Wilson reposted the "Yes, the Constitution is Dead" clip on X, commenting, "The Constitution is dead. Long live the Constitution." But Wade's monologue was far from a rational argument proving the Constitution is dead. Rather, he delivered a mangled cornucopia of unsound premises and conclusions that didn't follow from them, punctuated by a dizzying spasm of graphics, all delivered at the pace of a caffeine-fueled auctioneer. Hardly the payoff that the catchy title promised.

Not only that, but proclaiming "the constitution is dead" is a rather odd pronouncement for anyone in Wilson's world to be making. Just last year, three people who attended Christ Church's 2020 pandemic Psalm Sing  protesting the city of Moscow's COVID-19 restrictions  won a $30,000 settlement from the city after suing over the violation of their First Amendment rights.

One of the victors in that legal showdown was podcaster Gabriel Rench, who  curiously enough  also represents both Michael Cassidy and his attorney, R. Davis Younts, as his "media speaker" clients at Pengo Media.

That "dead" constitution certainly has a way of roaring back to life right when woke right Christian nationalists need it.

Yet another woke right figure also demonstrates the hypocrisy of this movement on claims of the constitution's death. Nate Fischer, a co-founder of American Reformer, proclaimed on X that the constitution and its principles are "long gone," but he later posted a news story about Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor hinting at more upcoming "right-wing bombshell" rulings from the bench. Fischer's response? "The administrative state is facing an inevitable demise."

But wait. The woke right consistently says that all is lost. There's no more hope for the Constitution. It's dead, and the left has won. So how can the Supreme Court threaten the administrative state  and even hasten its "inevitable demise"  if the Constitution, as Fischer claimed days earlier, is "long gone?"

It just goes to show that woke right are perfectly willing to claim that the Constitution is dead even as they demonstrate, in both their lives and by their own words, that it really isn't dead at all.

And there is plenty of other evidence to show that the Constitution, though often under siege or wounded, hasn't yet suffered any fatal blows.

The Supreme Courts rulings on religious liberty in the last few years alone show that the Constitution continues to win the day on this fundamental freedom:

Furthermore, the daily activities of the woke right prove just how well the Constitution still works for all of us. Our churches are open and legal, we can proclaim the Gospel, we can petition our government, we still have trials by jury, and we are not subject to cruel or unusual punishment, among myriad constitutional protections.

That's why I answered Doug Wilson the way I did a few days ago when he contacted me on X and asked, "Janet, are we living under a dictatorial regime now?" I responded: "No, we're living in a humanly corrupted constitutional republic. But when you can preach freely, speak freely and own guns, you're not in a dictatorial regime."

Announcing the death of the Constitution may help to draw views on woke right streaming platforms and websites, but it's useless to keep shouting such an absurd falsehood at the top of their lungs when the music of their own freedoms keeps drowning it out.
Global Christian community invited to gather in 25 hours of prayer and worship

In what is shaping up to be a pivotal moment in the mission of the global church, Christians from around the world will make use of the latest advances in technology to gather together from all the corners of the Earth. On 1 March 2025, believers from every denomination and every continent will join together in prayer, worship, repentance, and commissioning across a 25-hour period.

Gather25 will be made possible through the collaboration of organisations including YouVersion, The Bible Project, OM, 24-7 Prayer International, the World Evangelical Alliance, Alpha Course and many others who will work alongside regional partners and ministries to deliver an unprecedented global event.

Hosted in-person and virtually from six continents, Gather25 will use television broadcasts, radio, and live streams to enable Christians anywhere in the world to take part from their homes, theatres, and local churches or attend one of the live broadcast sites in person.

Taking advantage of the latest breakthroughs in real-time, simultaneous translation technology, Gather25 will make live music, teaching, prayers, and international stories of hope and faith available in multiple languages, reaching believers from all over the world.

"For the first time in history, the entire global Church is actually able to gather. So we are inviting all 2.5 billion people who love Jesus to come together to pray, to see stories of the church, and to commission them to become missionaries wherever they are to reach the ends of the earth," said Jennie Allen, the founder and visionary behind Gather25.

Each continent will take a turn hosting a portion of the 25 hours, allowing local churches, ministries, and leaders to share stories of what God is doing in their part of the world. They will also be able to lead times of worship, and inspire their congregations to go out and share the Gospel with a world that needs it desperately.

"Gather25 is an opportunity for God's people to become one, with Christ at the centre. For 25 hours we'll be hearing stories of God's power across the earth and worshipping with our great family of Jesus followers," said Dr Charles Mugisha, Co-Founder of Africa New Life Ministries and lead pastor of New Life Bible Church Rwanda.

"There are billions of people and many people groups, who don't know the love of God  my prayer is that Gather25 would ignite a new commissioning of the church under the power of the Holy Spirit so that every soul would be reached with the love of God."
Notre Dame cross welcomed by Christian world

The reinstallation of the cross at Notre Dame Cathedral has been welcomed by Christians across the world.

The iconic cross at the apse of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, which remarkably survived the devastating fire of 2019, was reinstalled late last week following meticulous restoration efforts by skilled ironworkers from Normandy.

Measuring 12 metres and weighing 1.5 tonnes, this cross is a symbol of resilience and faith, being the only part of the choir roof that withstood the flames.

The reinstallation marks a significant milestone in the extensive restoration project that has engaged around 250 companies and hundreds of craftsmen, architects, and professionals. The collective aim is to reopen the cathedral by December this year.

The fire that struck on 15 April, 2019, caused catastrophic damage, including the collapse of Notre Dame's spire and part of its roof. Five years later, significant repairs have been achieved, notably with the reinstallation of the spire's lead-covered needle. Yet, much of the cathedral remains enveloped in scaffolding. The spire alone is surrounded by 70,000 pieces of scaffolding, weighing a total of 600 tonnes, indicating the immense scale and complexity of the restoration efforts.

Notre Dame Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site and a profound symbol of Christianity, once welcomed 12 million visitors annually. The fire was a severe blow, but the global community responded with overwhelming support, pledging over $1 billion for the rebuilding efforts. Investigations into the fire concluded that an electrical short circuit was the most likely cause.

The dedication and craftsmanship involved in restoring Notre Dame reflect a global commitment to preserving this historic Christian landmark for future generations.

As the restoration progresses, the reinstallation and raising of the cross will serve as a powerful reminder of faith, resilience and Christian renewal.
Who is my neighbour?

Jewish academic and Hebrew scholar Irene Lancaster reflects on what it means to 'love your neighbour as yourself' from the Jewish perspective.

Who exactly is my 'neighbour', as in the Levitical injunction to 'Love your neighbor as yourself?' In his book Judaism is about Love, Shai Held takes the straightforward view that the Levitical text is talking about fellow Israelites, i.e. fellow Jews. Further, the full injunction states 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You must rebuke your kinsman, but incur no guilt because of him. Don't take vengeance or bear a grudge against the children of your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the Lord.'

This passage is very difficult, because it is not completely clear which four types of people are being addressed. Shai translates 'brother' as 'kinsfolk'. 'Children of your people' can also mean 'countrymen', with ben meaning far more than simply 'son'. So according to Shai, these first three terms refer to members of one's own people, 'fellow participants in Israel's covenant with G-d.' Therefore, it appears that the term 'neighbour' follows suit.

Whereas it is true that nowadays that from a Jewish perspective, a 'fellow participant in Israel's covenant' may well be a convert to Judaism, broadening the scope of family, tribe, people and therefore neighbour, at that time the idea of 'conversion' was not the same as today.

However, even when we apply the narrowest interpretation of the person termed 'neighbour' who we must 'love', this does not at all signify that we must hate, or remain indifferent to, everyone else. If we have followed the story of the Jewish people thus far, we have noticed in the earlier books of Genesis and Exodus that loving members of your family, including mother, father and siblings, let alone wider family, can be difficult enough. The brothers are constantly falling out and in the books of Joshua and Judges we will see that the tribes don't exactly always get on with each other, to put it mildly, with often dire results.

Therefore, and this must be emphasized, it is simply not true, as so many have stated, that the Biblical injunction to 'love your neighbour' is in the Jewish interpretation nothing more than a prime example of Jewish narrowness and tribal exclusivity, while Christianity embraces the whole world. This conclusion would be unfair in the extreme, especially given the tremendous religious and cultural treasures offered to the world for thousands of years by Jews and Judaism, including huge acts of charity, often in the face of huge antisemitism, leading to expulsions and executions.

I would like to argue instead that the Hebrew Bible is teaching us that once we have managed to love our immediate family and kinsfolk, warts and all, only then can we really learn to love those who do not necessarily adhere to the same point of view as ours, but share enough common ground to be regarded as 'neighbour'. The modern world, at least in the West, tends the other way, with people often embracing peoples who live, or have come from, abroad, from a hugely different culture, with which we share very little, if anything, in common.

Traditional Judaism always works from the centre outwards. By contrast, it appears that this tendency has been turned on its head by many, for whom family is an inconvenience at best, whereas the 'other' must be embraced. In my experience, the only Western exception to this generalization is the State of Israel for whom family is sacrosanct (including among non-observant individuals); the old are revered; and a new baby is an occasion for huge rejoicing. But then, Israel is not really a Western country in many ways.

So if we have defined 'neighbour' as 'a fellow participant in Israel's covenant with G-d', who, exactly is the 'stranger'? And can the 'stranger' ever become a 'neighbour'? Again, contemporary norms may differ from Biblical categorizations, but 'stranger' in this context does not mean 'everyone else'.

In the Hebrew Bible, 'stranger' is a technical term referring to someone who hasn't taken on the covenant, but who resides among the inhabitants of the Land of Israel, known as Bnei-Israel, and is therefore expected to conform to at least basic accepted norms. Later, two distinct groups of 'strangers' are defined. One keeps the seven Noachide laws incumbent on gentiles. The other group may go further and actually commit to becoming 'a fellow participant' in the entire covenant.

It appears to many that in the last thirty years at least, the Western approach to the 'stranger' has failed. In the UK, for example, entire swathes of people live in their own areas, which have become 'no-go zones'. In these 'no-go zones', newer residents often follow religions, traditions, or ways of life that are not simply different but, in many cases, incompatible with societal norms in the host country.

Moreover, many of these 'strangers' expect their own norms, often based on tribal practices prevalent in their ancestral places of birth, to be observed by everyone else, and especially in the political arena. We can see examples of this tendency playing out at the moment during our own general election period.

It was, for example, pretty upsetting to view a video of the Deputy Leader of the Opposition, swathed from top to toe in garb she wouldn't wear elsewhere, and in her own constituency and my home city, of Greater Manchester, promising to the noticeably all-male gathering that once her party returns to power, she would see to it that Gaza is no longer 'occupied' and that she personally would make sure that there will be a 'two-state solution'.

Such chutzpah, mingled with fear, is typical now in our own country, where the newest incomers are permitted by the elite to run the show. As Bari Weiss has stated in a recent Ted Talk, 'the fringe are [now] calling the shots' and much of this is based on 'race essentialism'. In other words, as a minority person I must be oppressed and if you disagree with me on anything, including foreign policy issues which have nothing to do with me, then you yourself will be tainted as a racist. Another word for this type of fringe group behaviour in the Western world is 'bully-boy tactics'. And it is prevalent.

No wonder that, currently, hundreds of UK Jews are taking serious steps to leave this country as soon as possible. And yet, Jews, first arriving here 2,000 years ago with the Romans, then again 1,000 years later with the Normans in 1066, subsequently expelled in 1290 and finally allowed in again by Cromwell in 1656, have every reason to be concerned by the contemporary misinterpretation of the Biblical meaning of 'stranger'.

In contrast to many contemporary 'strangers', Jews opted in writing almost 2,000 years ago, that in diaspora the law of the land would be obeyed to the letter but, importantly, Jews have taken the term 'stranger' to mean not 'imposer' but a person who integrates without assimilating completely. In the largest diaspora community, Jews have gone further and rightly feel that they have helped to build up the United States of America and are therefore part of what America is all about. Therefore American Jews still express the fervent wish to help other 'strangers' who might also emigrate to their shores.

Alas, however, Sephardi Jew, Emma Lazarus' 'huddled masses yearning to breathe free' seem to be in a minority. Many recent immigrants to those shores, as to those in Europe, including in the UK, arrive with an often racialized sense of huge entitlement, which, encouraged by the powers that be, plays itself out in political parties, churches, universities, and, most of all, in the streets. And this is not a sudden phenomenon; it has been growing exponentially for a number of decades, resulting in the rot which many of us are experiencing today.

What has transpired in the last thirty years is not only a certain amount of 'difference' which is inevitable, but a huge clash of cultures, in which the host community, if there is such a thing, has taken on the newest set of immigrants with huge enthusiasm, while treating the Jewish community with utter contempt, and, since 9/11 at least, an increasing amount of hatred and hostility.

And this is largely, I would argue, partially due to a misunderstanding of the term 'stranger', as well as the term to 'love'. 'Love' in Hebrew denotes an amount of preference or special favour which, the West, taking Christian interpretations to their extreme, has translated into 'universal benevolence'.

By contrast, most Hebrew Bible scholars see concern for the 'stranger' as being akin to concern for the 'vulnerable', which many of the contemporary minorities certainly aren't, because they have managed to take on the organs of power pretty quickly and actually now very often run the show. As stated above, 'the fringe are now calling the shots.'

In any case, it is not only the 'stranger' who may be vulnerable, but also the poor, the widow and the orphan and others who are down on their luck. Many of these in the contemporary UK are not 'strangers' as such, but nevertheless feel 'alienated', because they see that their neighbourhoods have been taken over and that their life chances are now nil. The command to love the stranger, therefore, 'is not an act of universalization but rather a response to a particular condition of vulnerability.'

In an interesting footnote that readers of this website are likely to disagree with (p 427: 96), Shai cites Professor of Jewish Studies, Joel S Kaminsky, who argues that 'in contrast to the radical ethics articulated by Jesus, Leviticus upholds a much more realistic ethic ... Much of the brilliance of the Hebrew Bible's theology is its keen awareness of working within the real limitations we humans have.' In addition 'the extraordinary standards of behaviour demanded by both Jesus and Paul, in contrast, are a function of their belief that the end-time was near.'

Whether or not most Christians agree with this conclusion, it is undoubtedly the case for Jews that the Hebrew word for 'stranger' does not mean what is commonly understood today by the word 'stranger'.

The contemporary understanding of the sterm 'stranger' is based for many of us in our reading of the French classic 'L'Etranger' (1942) by the great 20th-century existentialist, Albert Camus (1913-60). This novel was for a long time the set text for 'O' Level French when French was still a compulsory subject at most schools in this country.

Here, the main character is completely alienated; a white citizen in African Algeria; a French citizen in a mainly Muslim environment, he is alienated from society in general, and most of all, from himself. This type of alienation  what we might now call 'depression' - is not at all what the Hebrew 'stranger' is all about.

In fact the Hebrew ger lends itself to the idea that eventual 'conversion' might take place (not that it is necessary). However, in Biblical Israel, if the ger simply accepts and practises basic norms, then he or she is allowed to reside in the country, with access to rights enjoyed by the majority population.

In other words, therefore, loving the 'stranger' means to love anyone who is vulnerable. This is because G-d Himself loves the vulnerable. We are enjoined to walk in G-d's ways. This is why we must love the vulnerable. This love is demonstrated by providing food, clothes (Deuteronomy 10:18) and, according to Maimonides (1135/38-1204: Mishneh Torah Treatise on Charity), a job, to those who are without. Nowadays, one would probably add an education for life, and not simply for the elite.

But the Talmud is already there, encouraging parents to give their children a thorough education from age five, including teaching them how to swim, as well as instructing them in a trade. These sources teach the art of argumentation without resorting to violence!

Some religions teach total obedience; others teach how to be judgemental. Others preach being 'open to all.' In my own experience, Judaism teaches the art of imbibing both one's own culture and the culture of the environment (often the same thing), as well as the art of polite but assertive disagreement.

As the Dalai Lama has stated, 'The Jews have learned the secret of survival in exile, and we should learn their secret from them.' Alas, given the drastic reinterpretation of what it means both to be a 'neighbour' and a 'stranger', I fear that it is possibly too late for most Jews living in the contemporary diaspora.

In the realm of the Jewish mystics, many of whom were more idealistic than most Jews who had to earn a living in the real world, 'a virtuous person ... loves every person, Jew and non-Jew alike.' This was according to Kabbalist, Rabbi Chaim Vital (1542-1620), who lived in the holy city of Zfat in northern Israel (currently under daily bombardment from Hezbollah in Lebanon).

This thought was expanded by Israel's first Ashknazi Chief Rabbi under the Mandate, Rav Kook (1865-1935), living in Jerusalem. He states that for a person who loves G-d, 'it is impossible not to be filled with love for every creature, for the abundance of G-d's light shines in all of them, and all of them are revelations of G-d's sweetness.'

This may well be the case, but in his official position as head of the Asheknazi Jewish community, Rav Kook boycotted the British Governor General who permitted the Hebron Massacre of Yeshiva students and their families to take place in 1929. Moreover, Rav Kook himself was the butt of scorn and derision of a number of British authorities stationed in Jerusalem from 1922 and who were taken aback at Rav Kook's lack of compliance and refusal to conform. Then, as now, the British were simply not used to this assertive behaviour from Jews.

So, it may be the case that traditional Jews living in their own country can afford this sweeping statement of positing love for everyone  and even a la St Francis  including in this type of love all living creatures, i.e. animals, if not plants. But, for every traditional Jew, non-compliance with the norms of the society in which you wish to reside (leading in many cases to a complete breakdown of law and order) should result in that person being treated as an outcast, or criminal, rather than as a 'stranger' in the sense of a ger, and that person should, for the sake of the majority, be accepted neither as a neighbour nor a stranger in the Biblical sense.

So, to sum up, loving one's neighbour as oneself really appears to mean loving one's neighbour who is 'as oneself'. This does not necessarily mean coming from the same background, family, religion, ethnicity or country. This does mean from the Jewish perspective, however, accepting basic norms of Judaism without necessarily converting.

I hope in my next article to develop this theme and offer some definitions of different types of Biblical 'stranger', with examples from contemporary life.

In the meantime, however, Biblical teaching does not impose on us the duty of care to those who want to destroy us. A 'stranger' can be compared to a guest in our home. A guest who completely takes over our home would probably get short shrift. But by that time, it might well be too late.

In the words of the great Swiss novelist and playwright, Max Frisch (Bidermann und die Brandstifter 1958), by the time things have reached this stage, our home may well have been burned down to a cinder. Bidermann is the ordinary person and die Brandstifter are those who, under the very nose of the ordinary person, would set everything alight.

If we in the West do not want to go up in flames, it might be a good idea to adopt some of the Biblical views of love, neighbour, stranger and commitment. This is what is meant by 'fellow participants in Israel's covenant with G-d.'
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It started, arguably, with a Truth: a Donald Trump Truth Social post, one Saturday last March, in which he stated that he would be arrested three days later, in New York, on charges that he illegally covered up hush money payments to silence the porn star Stormy Danielss claims of an affair ahead of the 2016 election. The post kick-started a media circus that persisted through the actual date of his arrest two and a half weeks later; news coverage endlessly weighed the historic nature of the story and the political ramifications over footage of Trumps plane on the tarmac in Florida, Trumps plane en route to New York, Trumps motorcade making its way to court. Amid all the excitement, some observers expressed skepticism about what at least one legal pundit called the stripper case: as to whether the proceedings would be all that interesting, or whether the prosecutions legal theory would stand up in court. The Washington Posts editorial board declared the indictment a poor test case for prosecuting a former president. The charges had not, at that point, been unsealed.

Fast-forward to last month, and the circus started up again as Trumps trial in the case got underway; initially, the coverage felt a bit half-hearted in some quarters, but it soon cranked into full gear. Fast-forward to this week, when the trial wrapped up and Jury Watch began. Jurors asked to re-hear portions of testimony and the judges instructions; media observers debated what it might signify. There was speculation that one juror who had smiled at Trump during the trial might hold out on prosecuting him, and, if so, that they might be the same juror who indicated during the selection process that they get their news from Truth Social. As deliberations continued, cable networks timed how long theyd been going on (not that they could agree on when to start and stop the clock). On air, the phrase tea leavesa cliched reference to predicting an events outcome based on signs that may or may not mean anythingwas heard more times than on a Bigelows factory floor, David Bauder, of the Associated Press, noted. Seeking someanyinsight, CNN brought on various jury consultants and a juror who had served during the corruption trial of Rod Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois. Cameras outside court broadcast nothing to thousands of people.

Suddenly, yesterday afternoon, we learned that the jury had reached a verdict. After half an hour or so more on the Bigelows factory floorWhat might the timing of the verdict mean? Would the jury reappear looking jovial or somber?the verdict came down, and score boxes appeared on-screen where the jury timers had been. Since cameras are banned in New York courtrooms, it fell to news anchors to read out the result for each of the thirty-four felony counts that Trump faced. They did so, as the New York Times noted, with the rapid-fire cadence of an auctioneer: Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty Guilty.

Various text-based publicationsfrom Rolling Stone to the Drudge Reportquickly splashed the word this many times for effect; others settled for using it once, in a font size reserved for wars, election results, or, as of now, post-presidential convictions. The New Yorker and Time magazine quickly released covers that showed, respectively, Trump presenting tiny hands to be cuffed and Trumps flattened face staring up in shock at a judges gavel. In the hour or so after the verdict, CNN told viewers that it was remarkable (nine times), historic (eight), and unbelievable (three). Viewers were also treated to live footage of Trump speaking outside of courtThis was a rigged, disgraceful trial.Im a very innocent manand of his motorcade.

Meanwhile, right-wing media figures fulminated with an entirely predictable zeal. They said things like: We have gone over a cliff in America. (Jeanine Pirro on Fox.) [The jurors] can never go anywhere without worry about being harassed[prosecutors] have essentially ruined people for doing their civic duty. (Carl Higbie on Newsmax.) Revolution is in our DNA. We are fighters. And I hope its only at the ballot box. (Pirro again.) Its not President Trump theyre trying to destroytheyre trying to destroy you. (Steve Bannon on Real Americas Voice.) Donald Trump should make and publish a list of ten high ranking Democrat criminals who he will have arrested when he takes office. (Matt Walsh on X.) Import the Third World, become the Third World. Thats what we just saw. (Tucker Carlson on X.) [The verdict] feels almost preordained, like a Kabul wedding. (Greg Gutfeld on Fox.) We are going to get back up, were going to regain our strength, and then were going to vanquish the evil forces that are destroying this republic. (Jesse Watters on Fox, and X.) If Trump doesnt win, were gonna become Russia, and the Soviet Union, and a banana republic. (Rod Blagojevich, to Watters, on Fox.)

Back in the US, actual journalists were similarly quick to turn their eyes from The Historic to What Might Happen Next, albeit without all the visions of apocalyptic hellfire (for the most part). Will Trump go to prison? (Unlikely, at least anytime soon, the consensus seemed to hold; Trump is certain to appeal, and will not likely be incarcerated while that process plays out.) Will he still be allowed to run for president as a felon? (Yes, Eugene V. Debs said, while, presumably, spinning furiously in his grave.) Will he still be able to vote for himself for president as a felon? (The answer to this one seems to be: it depends.) This is uncharted territory, the Posts Philip Bump noted, as every person in the media has said at least once over the past three years.

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Bump was writing, specifically, about how the verdict might affect voters behavior come November. The answer, he concluded, is unsatisfying: No one knows. Not that a little thing like this stopped various news organizations, pundits, and pollsters from trying to work it out. Guilty or not guilty, Trump verdict wont sway most voters, poll shows, a PBS headline read even before the verdict. Will Trumps guilty verdict hurt him? Read this story (not the polls), a Politico headline countered afterward. A Newsday headline, citing experts, suggested that Trumps conviction is likely to have little impact on the race. Call me a cynic, Pucks Tara Palmeri wrote, but it feels likely this moment will have faded from memory six months from now, and wont be much of a factor for voters who somehow still havent made up their minds between Trump and Biden. Other pundits declared this sort of thinking the prevailing narrative, then sought to knock it down, arguing variously that the verdict could yet prove determinative in a close race and that it will carry weight beyond the election. (Wild, I know.) Still othersincluding the Posts editorial board, still stating that the case was neither the most important nor the most legally compelling against Trumpsettled for noting that, either way, the voters will now decide.

Indeed, this fact seemed to offer a rare point of consensus between mainstream media and its not-so-funhouse right-wing counterpart yesterday. It was an apparent point of consensus, too, between the Trump and Biden campaigns. As the trial began to wrap up earlier this week, the latter organized a press conference, fronted by Robert De Niro among others, outside the courthousethe chief locus of the media circus in recent weeks, and one that had previously been monopolized by Trump and his allies. When a reporter asked a campaign spokesperson why theyd decided to finally show up, they replied, Because you all are here. Indeed, figures in Bidenworld have reportedly been frustrated of late that so much media attention has been lavished on Trump and his trial. They think voters care more about various policy issues, per Politicoand that next months debate will be a far more important moment to jostle the race.

Is that a truth to end on? We dont yet know that eitherthough we do know that the verdict isnt really the end of this case, just as Trumps Truth Social post last March wasnt really the beginning of it. We know that the circus will move on; that different sets of tea leaves will be read; that pundits confident interpretations of them will continue to be embarrassingly wrong; that more motorcades will be televised. For now, the only other thing thats certain is History. Say it one more time, for those at the back.



Other notable stories:

Recently, the Australian edition of the Daily Mail published a photo showing Andrew Forrest, a mining mogul, kissing a woman in a park in Paris; the womans identity was unclear, but the Murdoch-owned Australian subsequently identified her as Leila Benali, an energy minister in Morocco, where Forrests company has business interests. Benali has since denied that she is the woman in the photo. According to Le Monde, the Moroccan press has been quick to demand answers over the storya double standard, some critics believe, with its coverage of male politicians alleged conflicts of interest.

And Le Monde spoke with Laurence Allard, a French researcher, about an AI-generated image of the slogan ALL EYES ON RAFAH that has gone massively viral online since an Israeli strike on the Gazan city killed dozens of people last weekend. The image has been effective because, unlike the reality, its a smooth, polished image, with a soft palette, like an advert for summer camp, Allard said. All eyes are on Rafah, but no eyes have actually seen it. Thats the paradox of it. The article is available in English here.

ICYMI: Ten big questions on AI and the news

Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, The New Yorker, and The Atlantic, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop.
Cantor Fitzgerald sued the firm that hosts some of its most critical and sensitive data, claiming IT Convergence Inc. tried to extort money from it.

According to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in New York state court, Cantor sought to migrate its data to Oracle Corp. from ITC, which had hosted it since 2013, starting on June 1. The data includes financial books and records for Cantor and affiliates including Newmark Group and BGC Group.

Instead of cooperating, ITC seized the opportunity to extort Cantor by demanding an immediate wire transfer of more than $700,000 in invented costs and fees that Cantor never owed, the suit alleges.

Because Cantor had no alternative, it gave into ITCs extortion, the Wall Street firm said in its suit.

$17,000 Rehearsals

ITC didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Cantor is seeking the return of $761,400 it paid to ITC, as well as almost $2.3 million in damages.

Cantor says it decided to switch to an Oracle platform when its ITC contract expired in mid-2024. As preparation for this transition, the firm wanted to rehearse the process, just as actors and technicians rehearse a play many times before opening night.

According to the suit, Cantor viewed the rehearsals as work covered by the its contract with ITC. But the data services provider said it would only participate in the rehearsals if it was paid $17,000 for each one, Cantor said.

After three rehearsals, Cantor says it told ITC on April 30 that it planned to begin the full backup on May 17. ITC allegedly responded that, due to maintenance, no one at the data firm could release Cantors data then.

Upon information and belief, this representation was false, Cantor claims.

Renewal Deadline

ITC tried to push the backup to May 31, which Cantor says was problematic because the data needed to be in place in time for its affiliates to prepare their quarterly filings. Moreover, Cantor says that date was also the deadline for it to renew or not renew its ITC contract for another year.

According to the suit, ITC offered to produce the backup on May 17, as originally requested, but only through a cloud backup that would cost $250,000. ITC also demanded an extra $460,000 before it would produce the backup.

Faced with no other way to avoid a significant disruption to the business of its affiliates, Cantor made the extortion payments, wiring ITC a total of $710,000, according to the filing.

But the firm said it made clear to ITC that it didnt believe the money was actually owed. Cantor said one of its lawyer wrote to ITC on May 17 promising to bring legal action.

Top photo: Ethernet cables connect into a server at 42 Wolfsburg, the Volkswagen AG (VW) sponsored coding school, in Wolfsburg, Germany, on Thursday, March 11, 2021. Volkswagens software strategy  involving more than $30 billion in investment and multiple projects and partnerships  is critical to catch up to Tesla Inc. and counter the risks posed by Apple Inc. and Alphabet Inc. Photographer: Stefanie Loos/Bloomberg.

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio -- A Speedway employee reported at 2:11 a.m. May 22 that she was assaulted by a customer and was bleeding from the face.

Responding officers found the suspect yelling at the employee and immediately detained him.

The employee said the man only had 82 cents to pay for a $1.29 pack of cigars and was insisting that she pay the difference for him.
In a time when it seems that ultra-partisanship is the order of the day in Washington, it is refreshing to see lawmakers working together, setting an example for how our system is supposed to work.

That is the case with Domenic and Eds Law, legislation sponsored in the Senate by Ohio Republican J.D. Vance along with Sens. Mike Braun, an Indiana Republican, and Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat.




5
There's strong demand from employees for coverage and smaller employers would like to be able to do it, but there are trade-offs, said Shawn Gremminger, president and chief executive of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, a nonprofit purchaser-led organization. Companies have to consider the impact on wages or other benefits they might like to offer. "The company money has to come from somewhere," he said.

A survey last October of 205 companies by the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans found that 76% of respondents provided GLP-1 drug coverage for diabetes, versus only 27% that provided coverage for weight loss. But 13% of plan sponsors indicated they were considering coverage for weight loss. Covering these drugs, however, is harder for smaller employers, many of whom rely on off-the-shelf plans offered by their insurance carriers. While there are plans that cover GLP-1 drugs, the cost can be prohibitive for many small businesses.

The blockbuster obesity drugs, called GLP-1 agonists, cost roughly $1,000 per month on average  and they are typically taken for a long time . Access to these weight-loss drugs is coming from an increasing number of sources in the marketplace, drug makers are ramping up production , and use cases continue to increase, with clinical trials showing benefits for conditions from sleep apnea to heart disease risk . But many of the 100 million American adults who are obese can't afford to pay out of pocket for drugs like Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and Eli Lilly's Zepbound, and are turning to their employers for help.

Small businesses employ roughly half of the workers in the U.S. labor market, and they have been adding jobs at a faster pace than large employers. Since the first quarter of 2021, small-business hiring accounted for 53% of the 12.2 million total net jobs created across all employers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, consistent with the longer-term trend .

Companies are increasing access to new blockbuster weight-loss drugs for employees, but size of employer may make a big difference in early access. Small businesses and their workers are often stuck between a rock and a hard place when it comes to this burgeoning health insurance coverage market.

In some cases, small employers, even if they want to cover weight-loss drugs, are simply priced out of the market and they may have to accept they can't offer the coverage they would like to.

"Given the price of these drugs, you have to do the cost-benefit analysis and for a lot of small companies  even some larger ones  they just can't do it," Gremminger said. "No matter how much they want to."

Here are a few issues for small business employers and employees to understand in accessing expensive weight-loss drugs as part of job benefits.

Annual benefits deals are being brokered now. Open enrollment season for health insurance doesn't occur until the fall, but employers should be having renewal discussions with their benefits broker or agent now, and that conversation should include weight-loss drugs. Small business employers should be telling a broker they would like to be able to provide weight-loss drugs for employees, and ask for help in finding the right carrier or the right plan, said Gary Kushner, chair and president of Kushner & Company, a benefits design and management company.

The market is changing quickly. Last year, an insurance carrier asked about covering weight-loss drugs may have said no, but it's worth asking the carrier again because they may have been forced to make changes to their offerings for competitive reasons, said Kate Moher, president of national employee health and benefits for Marsh McLennan Agency, which advises employers on plan designs and benefits programs. "You should be asking the question every year," she said.

Insurance premiums may rise. To gain access to weight-loss drugs, many small businesses may have to switch insurance carriers, and probably pay more. "It most likely will be more expensive if one is not covering the drugs and the other is," Kushner said.

Employers also have to decide how much of that can be reasonably passed to employees, without unduly burdening workers who may never need these drugs. "If 20% of your population takes it, everyone's premium goes up by whatever percentage that is to cover the cost," Gremminger said.

Small businesses should consider a 'captive health' plan. Generally speaking, any business with at least 50 employees might consider working with a captive health insurance plan like Roundstone, ParetoHealth, Stealth and Amwins, Moher said. These businesses allow groups of companies who couldn't self-insure  the approach most large corporations take  to pool resources and design a group health plan together.

This approach may allow a small business and its employees more flexibility, Moher said, but owners still have to weigh the costs and there are requirements to qualify. It's also not something businesses can change every year like they could when working with a traditional insurance carrier. "It's a long-term play; you can't jump in and out," Moher said.

These plans are designed for the long-term because, as member-owners, the participants all agree to spread the risk, an approach that can keep costs down over time and decrease volatility. But if business owners are looking for a quick-fix or prefer to wait and see how the market develops over the next year, it's probably not the right model.

A GLP-1 drug standalone coverage option could also work for some small businesses. Companies like Vida Health, Calibrate, Found Health and Vitality Group provide these offerings separate from an employer's primary carrier, Gremminger said. Employers need to do the math to determine whether it could be more cost effective, and whether the option truly suits their employees' needs based on the offerings.

Use an FSA to help cover weight-loss drug costs. If insurance coverage options aren't an effective solution today, small employers may have a few other ways to help employees defray the cost of weight-loss drugs. They might consider, for instance, making contributions to employees' flexible spending accounts or health savings accounts. They could also consider a health reimbursement arrangement, or HRA, which is an employer-funded plan that reimburses employees for qualified medical expenses.

However, there are strict rules and requirements for each of these options. For example, with an FSA, the IRS limits an employer's contribution based on how much the employee contributes, and this still isn't likely to suffice to cover the cost of these drugs long-term. "Does it help? Sure. Does it solve the problem? No," Kushner said.

It's also not a move to make without first getting sign-off from legal counsel. "You need the guidance of your ERISA attorneys to make sure you meet all the criteria," Moher said. "It's a creative way of doing it, but you have to make sure you're meeting all of your compliance requirements."

Right now, the end result can be very discouraging for small businesses and their employees given the costs and limited options, but it's also important to know that there are 20 or so drugs in the approval pipeline. Once they get approved, costs are likely to come down, Moher said. "This is something that may be a short-term thing until we get more GLP-1 drugs approved."
2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV Jeep

NEW YORK  The first all-electric Jeep SUV for the U.S. will be the 2024 Wagoneer S, starting at about $72,000 when it's scheduled to go on sale this fall. The Stellantis -owned brand revealed the vehicle and pricing Thursday, portraying it as a "new chapter" for the quintessential American SUV brand that has struggled with domestic sales in recent years. "This represents a lot. It is the first global [all-electric vehicle] built in North America, designed in the U.S. ... for the world," Jeep CEO Antonio Filosa told CNBC during an interview after revealing the vehicle. "It is a milestone in our history." Filosa, who started leading Jeep in December, said the brand is in "fantastic shape" but it's in the midst of a "transition like all the automotive brands nowadays" involving electrification. Despite a slower than expected adoption of EVs in the U.S., Filosa said the brand is not worried about consumer adoption because its additive to the Jeep's lineup, which will continue to offer traditional gas-powered SUVs, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and "extended-range" electric vehicles starting next year.

Jeep Wagoneer S EV concept Michael Wayland / CNBC

A "Launch Edition" of the Wagoneer S will initially be available with a 400-volt, 100-kilowatt-hour battery pack capable of more than 300 miles on a single charge, 600 horsepower and 617 pound-feet of torque for a 0-60 mph acceleration of 3.4 seconds. It is capable of charging from 20%-80% in 23 minutes using a DC Fast charger, according to the company. Jeep also revealed a Trailhawk off-road performance concept of the EV, which Filosa said "hopefully soon will become a product." Filosa said less expensive models of the Wagoneer S will start being released roughly six months after the Launch Edition. The $71,995 starting price of the Wagoneer S EV sits between gas-powered versions of the Wagoneer, starting at about $63,000, and more luxurious Grand Wagoneer, starting at roughly $92,000. Jeep also will introduce a new unnamed midsize SUV next year to replace its discontinued Cherokee, Filosa said.

2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV Jeep

He also said the company will release electric, extended-range versions of the traditional gas-powered Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer in 2025. The technology, which uses an engine as a gas-powered generator in addition to EV batteries, is expected to debut on the upcoming Ram Ramcharger pickup truck.

U.S. EV offensive

The Wagoneer S is the beginning of what Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares this week called the automaker's EV offensive for the U.S., including six to eight all-electric vehicles this year. "There is a huge amount of opportunities here in the U.S. We are just starting the offensive of our electrification," Tavares said Wednesday during a Bernstein investor conference. For Jeep, the Wagoneer S is expected to be followed by a Wrangler-inspired off-road vehicle called the Recon later this year and a new roughly $25,000 EV "very soon," Tavares said Wednesday without disclosing additional details.

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares holds a news conference after meeting with unions, in Turin, Italy, March 31, 2022. Massimo Pinca | Reuters

For years, Tavares has been outspoken about the company being forced to produce EVs, which cost 40% more, due to regulatory requirements and not consumer demand. On Wednesday, he described EVs as a "cost-cutting exercise" to ensure the vehicles are profitable. The EVs are a shift for Jeep in the U.S., where the brand has been focusing on plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, or PHEVs, such as its Wrangler and Grand Cherokee SUVs. The plug-in vehicles accounted for 17.5% of Jeep's sales this year. Filosa said Jeep, which is currently No. 1 in PHEVs in the U.S., expects to continue growing sales of those vehicles in addition to the upcoming EVs. "Electrification to us so far has been working very, very well. Basically," he said during the reveal event, "we built the PHEV industry. We own this part of the market.

Jeep Wagoneer S Trailhawk EV concept Michael Wayland / CNBC

Stellantis' total PHEV U.S. sales last year was nearly 143,000, up 124% compared to 2022. Leading the way was Jeep, including 67,429 Jeep Wrangler and 45,684 Jeep Grand Cherokee "4xe" SUVs. Jeep is using 4xe badging as a play on the brand's off-road reputation combined with electrification, including EVs and PHEVs.

Wagoneer S

The Wagoneer S is Jeep's first "global" EV, according to the company. The Jeep brand's first EV model called the Avenger, a small SUV starting at about 35,000 euros, or about $37,800, went on sale last year in Europe. The Wagoneer S, which will be produced at a plant in Mexico, is based on Stellantis' large EV platform, which is expected to underpin eight vehicles for the company from 2024-2026.

2024 Jeep Wagoneer S EV "R-Wing" Jeep

Despite sharing the "Wagoneer" name with Jeep's current gas-powered model, the five-passenger, two-row EV shares little with its three-row traditional internal combustion engine counterpart other than some Jeep styling. The most notable difference on the exterior is a more modern interpretation of the brand's iconic seven-slotted grille, which the EV doesn't actually need for cooling. It's indented and the slots are solid and interconnected with one another compared to seven separate slots. "We reinvented the traditional seven-slot grille," said Ralph Gilles, Stellantis head of design. "I am so damn proud of this." The Wagoneer S also features a large "R-Wing," an open spoiler on the back of the SUV. Gilles said the goal was to not make a "jellybean" like many EVs with good aerodynamics currently being sold in the U.S. The Wagoneer S is far less boxy that the gasoline model, assisting in it in being the most aerodynamic Jeep ever produced by the brand, the company said.

Stellantis design chief Ralph Gilles during the unveiling of the Jeep Wagoneer S EV on May 30, 2024 in New York City. Michael Wayland / CNBC
Bill Ackman, Pershing Square Capital Management CEO, speaking at the Delivering Alpha conference in New York City on Sept. 28, 2023.

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman is selling a 10% stake in Pershing Square, aiming to eventually take his investment firm public.

Ackman's firm is raising $1.05 billion in a funding round, worth 10% of the management company and implying a valuation of $10.5 billion, according to a source familiar with the matter. Investors on the deal are institutional and family offices who prefer to remain anonymous, the source said.

The Wall Street Journal first reported on the moves. Pershing Square declined to comment.

With the funding round, the hedge-fund manager is eyeing an eventual initial public offering in the U.S., but he hasn't hired bankers or started that process officially yet, the source said.

Two years ago, Ackman named Ryan Israel chief investment officer, marking the first time the billionaire hedge-fund manager appointed someone else to run day-to-day investing for the firm. Ackman serves as CEO, with ultimate control over decision-making, although he has said that Israel would be his successor to run the firm if he got hit by a "pie truck."

Pershing Square had $18.6 billion in total assets under management as of the end of April. Most of its capital is in Pershing Square Holdings, a closed-end fund that trades on European stock exchanges.

Ackman has become one of the world's most prominent hedge-fund investors after years of market-topping returns and vocal activist campaigns. He also gained a wide following on social media platform X with 1.2 million followers, commenting on issues ranging from antisemitism to the presidential election.

Earlier this year, Ackman unveiled plans to offer a new investment vehicle listed on the New York Stock Exchange, a move to leverage his following among Main Street investors. He is launching a publicly traded closed-end fund, investing in 12 to 24 large-cap, investment-grade, "durable growth" companies in North America.

The popular investor's hedge fund held only six stocks at the end of March, including Alphabet, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Hilton Hotels . It posted a 26.7% gain last year.

In 2022, Ackman quit activist short selling, a practice he engaged in that led to one of the most colorful battles in Wall Street history against Herbalife.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (L) leaves a meeting at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore on May 31, 2024, as part of his attendance at the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue summit. The US and Chinese defence chiefs will hold rare direct talks in Singapore on May 31, offering hopes for more military dialogue that could help prevent disputes over Taiwan and other flashpoint issues from spinning out of control.

SINGAPORE  U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed concern over China's naval activity in the Taiwan Strait to his Chinese counterpart Admiral Dong Jun on Friday, reiterating the stance that China "should not use Taiwan's political transition ... as a pretext for coercive measures."

The meeting between the two on the sidelines of the Shangri-La summit in Singapore was the first in person talk between Chinese and U.S. defense chiefs since November 2022.

CNBC witnessed the two delegations walking out of the meeting venue, but neither Dong nor Austin responded to reporters' questions.

According to a readout from the Pentagon, Austin said that the U.S. remains committed to its "one China" policy. He also told Dong that the U.S. will continue to "fly, sail, and operate  safely and responsibly  wherever international law allows."

Austin also reaffirmed the announcement by U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping in November that both sides will resume telephone conversations between theater commanders in the coming months, as well as welcoming plans to convene a crisis-communications working group by the end of the year.

Chinese defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told reporters during a news conference that the meeting allowed the two sides to gain a better understanding on Taiwan, adding there were "positive effects."

Wu also highlighted "one meeting cannot fix all the problems in a military to military relationship, but having a meeting is better than no meeting at all." He also added that more communication is necessary and will help to stabilize the military to military relations.

He said the two defense chiefs also discussed Russia's war in Ukraine and the Gaza conflict. The Pentagon readout mentioned Austin and Dong discussed North Korea's provocations, such as its contributions to Russia's war in Ukraine.

Friday's meeting follows a video teleconference call between Austin and Dong in April. The Pentagon said U.S. Department of Defense officials "will continue active discussions with their PRC counterparts about future engagements between defense and military officials at multiple levels."

 CNBC's Lin Lin contributed to this report.
President Joe Biden on Friday called former President Donald Trump's reaction to his conviction in New York on criminal hush money charges "reckless" and "dangerous."

"It's irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged, just because they don't like the verdict," Biden said at the White House, hours after Trump held a press conference at Trump Tower in Manhattan condemning the criminal case.

Trump, 77, was convicted Thursday in Manhattan Supreme Court of 34 felony counts related to a scheme to conceal hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. During his press conference Friday, Trump said of his prosecution in New York state court, "This is all done by Biden and his people. This is done by Washington."

Biden, who is set to face Trump in the November election, said his Republican opponent's conviction reaffirmed "the American principle that no one is above the law."
Binance's billionaire founder Changpeng Zhao has reported to a low-security federal prison in Lompoc, California, according to the Bureau of Prisons website.

Zhao was sentenced to four months in prison in April after pleading guilty to charges of enabling money laundering at his crypto exchange.

The sentence handed down to the former Binance chief was significantly less than the three years that federal prosecutors had been seeking for him. The defense had asked for five months of probation. The sentencing guidelines called for a prison term of 12 to 18 months.

When asked for confirmation of his prison location, Zhao's defense team at Latham and Watkins pointed to the Bureau of Prisons website.

"I'm sorry," Zhao told U.S. District Judge Richard Jones before receiving his sentence, according to Reuters.

"I believe the first step of taking responsibility is to fully recognize the mistakes," Zhao reportedly said in court. "Here I failed to implement an adequate anti-money laundering program.  I realize now the seriousness of that mistake."
In this article BTC.CM= Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT

Omer Taha Cetin | Anadolu | Getty Images

A major thesis around bitcoin ETFs was that financial advisors needed regulated funds like them to direct their wealthy clients to invest in bitcoin. Almost six months after the launch of those ETFs, there are few signs that advisors are clamoring for the funds. Many remain just as averse to bitcoin now as they were before. That doesn't mean the ETFs were a failed experiment, however. For one, bitcoin ETFs have been hailed as the most successful ETF launches in history, with BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) reaching $20 billion in assets under management this week, even with advisors sitting out. "It's something I'm researching because I think eventually I will recommend it, I'm just not there yet," Lee Baker, founder and president of Apex Financial Services in Atlanta, said in an interview. "For myself and other advisors, if we get more of a track record, it increases the likelihood that it ends up in the client portfolios." CNBC spoke with a dozen members of CNBC's Advisor Council, which includes Baker, to learn why so many financial planners are still down on bitcoin and bitcoin ETFs, and what could cause them to change their tune. It comes down to two main things: time in the market and regulatory compliance. "When [bitcoin] gets more regulated, you will see more adoption," said Ted Jenkin, founder and CEO of oXYGen Financial in Atlanta. "That being said, even if there isn't regulation, if over time this can prove to be as stable of an asset as a technology firm would be  because my viewpoint on this is it's early technology more than it is money  you'll see more adoption."

Most of the advisors said they're neither initiating conversations nor fielding client inquiries about the ETFs  and most don't have more than one client who has made an allocation to the funds. Of those advisors, some are proactively educating themselves about bitcoin investing, while others  often those with an older, more traditional and conservative client base  are more dismissive. Some of these advisors work with younger clients who have a greater appetite for risk and a longer investment time horizon. They say that their clients were already interested and educated in crypto exposure before this year, and that the arrival of ETFs hasn't motivated them to jump in. Performance review At 15 years old, bitcoin is in a maturity phase comparable to that of a teenager  it has big potential but still comes with a lot of volatility. Bitcoin is up more than 59% this year, and about 230% from its 2022 low that deepened during the collapse of FTX. In the past three, five and 10 years the cryptocurrency has gained 85%, 704% and 10,854%, respectively. It's also suffered several 70% drawdowns over the years, which not all investors could stomach. Many hope consistent flows into bitcoin ETFs over the years can lower that volatility, but for now, it's still a deterrent for some. "Financial advisors now have a way to give clients access [to bitcoin] that's safe, reliable and regulated," said Bradley Klontz, managing principal of YMW Advisors in Boulder, Colorado. "I love it  that it's a tool in our toolbox for clients who want it. I just don't see, right now, most firms recommending it because they're not recommending any asset class, or any particular asset, that has that much volatility." Rianka Dorsainvil, co-founder and co-CEO of 2050 Wealth Partners, said that most of her clients prioritize stability and long-term growth over high-risk opportunities, and that the "relatively early stage of bitcoin ETFs in the financial landscape and the ongoing volatility associated with bitcoin" are primary factors keeping bitcoin ETFs out of her investment strategies. Cathy Curtis, founder of Curtis Financial Planning in Oakland, California, said that she doesn't know if bitcoin will ever be a stable asset class but that she would consider adding it to client portfolios if it showed stable returns over at least 15 years. "If it proved itself to be a true diversifier along equities, for example, maybe," she said. "The history of that asset has not shown me that." Apex Financial's Baker pointed out that investors have decades of software and tools to show them how a certain percentage of a given bond, ETF or other asset in a portfolio might enhance returns or increase volatility and more.
A NatWest Group Plc bank branch in the City of London, UK, on Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024.

The British government has sold 1.24 billion pounds ($1.58 billion) worth of shares in NatWest Group back to the lender, it said on Friday, decreasing its stake to about 22.5% from nearly 26% previously.

The London-listed bank bought back 392.4 million shares from the government in an off-market purchase at 316.2 pence a share, as part of its existing contract with the state.

Shares in NatWest were up 0.8% at 318.7 pence in early trading. They have gained about 45% this year.

Britain, which had proposed a retail offer in NatWest before a general election was called for July 4, said last week it was "working through internal due process" when asked to clarify the possible impact of the election on the planned retail offer.

The heavily anticipated stock sale is a key milestone in the bank's full privatization.

The government's stake in the former Royal Bank of Scotland, which was bailed out in 2008 at the height of the global financial crisis, was once as high as 84%.

By March this year, it was no longer a controlling shareholder in the lender after its stake dipped below 30% after the sale of stock to institutional investors.

The state's plan, which involves selling shares in the market and runs until August 2025, had not been paused in connection with the off-market purchase, the government said on Friday.

The settlement of the off-market purchase will occur on June 4, the government said in a statement.

Last month, NatWest reported first-quarter profit that fell by a less than expected 27%, having weathered a sector-wide squeeze on income.
In this article TSLA Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT

Elon Musk attends the 2024 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on April 13, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Taylor Hill | Getty Images

Top proxy advisor Institutional Shareholder Services on Friday recommended Tesla shareholders vote against the reapproval of CEO Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package and withhold their support from the reelection of News Corp . scion James Murdoch to the automaker's board. Tesla's shareholder meeting is scheduled for June 13. The report, a copy of which was obtained by CNBC, comes after the other influential proxy advisor service, Glass Lewis, also recommended shareholders vote against Musk's pay package. Tesla's board is seeking shareholder approval to reinstate Musk's pay after a Delaware court voided the package earlier this year. ISS said "cautionary" shareholder support was merited for Tesla's plans to reincorporate out of Delaware and into Texas, although the proxy advisor also warned that there are concerns over how Tesla's board decided to reincorporate and over the "unknown" nature of Texas' business law framework. The proxy advisor recommended support for some shareholder proposals that Tesla management opposes, including one that would declassify Tesla's board. A classified or staggered board is considered by some advisors to be an effective defense against a takeover bid. "At a mega-cap company like Tesla, what is perhaps even more relevant to shareholders is that a staggered board can hinder shareholders from holding directors accountable for poor responsiveness," ISS said of its support for the declassification proposal.

Pay package push

Tesla has been courting shareholder support in both time-tested and novel ways. The company engaged communications firm FGS Global and proxy solicitor Innisfree M&A to win votes, and has bolstered apparent grassroots support from its large network of social media influencers. The company also launched a website, VoteTesla.com, and has offered shareholders the chance to win a tour of Tesla's Gigafactory facility in Austin, Texas. Tesla seeks shareholder approval for Musk's payday and concurrently to reincorporate out of Delaware and into Texas. The company has characterized the Delaware Chancery Court ruling that overturned Musk's stock package as unfriendly to shareholders, noting the value that Musk has created for investors. "Over the last several years it has become clear that Delaware is no longer the right jurisdiction for us," Tesla Chair Robyn Denholm said in a letter to shareholders earlier this week. Tesla has adopted tactics other companies have used in contested shareholder meetings, whipping votes and launching a concerted public relations effort to win support. While Tesla is not facing any sort of meaningful organized opposition to its efforts to reincorporate or reapprove Musk's pay package, some shareholders have come out against it. Billionaire Leo Koguan has repeatedly said he will vote against the package. Koguan says he owns around 0.75% of Tesla shares, worth around $4.9 billion.

Proxy advisor pull

A general view of the Tesla gigafactory in Austin, Texas, Feb. 28, 2023. Go Nakamura | Reuters
European stocks closed higher Friday as investors digested fresh euro zone inflation data and its implications for next week's European Central Bank rate decision.

The regional Stoxx 600 index was provisionally 0.28% higher as markets closed. Sectors were mostly in positive territory, with utilities adding 1.04% while tech lost 1.48%. The Stoxx 600 benchmark finished the month of May 2.3% higher, its biggest gain since March, Refinitiv data showed.

British retailer JD Sports trailed near the bottom of the pan-European benchmark, dropping as much as 12% before paring losses slightly, after it reported a fall in first-quarter U.K. sales.

Euro zone inflation rose to 2.6% in May, slightly higher than the 2.5% analysts had predicted, fresh data from statistics agency Eurostat said Friday. The uptick comes as the European Central Bank is widely expected to cut interest rates at its June 6 meeting, the first reduction since 2019.
Floating Storage Regasification Unit (FSRU) ship "Hoegh Esperanza" is guided by tug boats during its arrival at the port of Wilhelmshaven, Germany, December 15, 2022.

The European Union's upcoming 14th sanctions package against Russia must do more to choke off energy exports and clamp down on circumvention by third parties, an advisor to the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told CNBC.

Vladyslav Vlasiuk said it was also vital to tighten export controls on critical technologies used within Moscow's military equipment. He noted that EU states would need to work more cohesively for sanctions to stand a chance of crossing the line by the end of next month as planned.

"The most critical aspect of the 14th sanctions package is its adoption by the end of June, but some member states currently pose a challenge to this," Vlasiuk said via email Thursday.

The EU's special envoy for the implementation of sanctions, David O'Sullivan, was in Kyiv on Thursday to discuss the latest sanctions package amid ongoing pushback from member states such as Hungary. Among the proposed measures is a ban on Russian liquified natural gas, or LNG, exports and a crackdown on sanctions circumvention via countries including Kremlin ally Belarus.

The new energy proposals would not bar Russian LNG imports to the EU, but would prevent the bloc from reexporting them to other markets, choking off a key trade route for Russia.

Nataliia Shapoval, a member of the Yermak-McFaul International Working Group on Russian Sanctions, a think tank which advises on EU sanctions, said the LNG proposals were an attempt to restrict both Russia's current and future energy revenues.

"LNG is the leverage that Russia still maintains," Shapoval, who is also head of the KSE Institute, said over the phone.

Russia said Wednesday that such a ban would hurt the EU more than it would damage Russia, and that some LNG supplies were already being redirected to China and India.

"The ban on imports and transit is currently being discussed within the framework of the EU structures, will lead to another round of rising prices for raw materials, including for European consumers, financial costs for European companies, will create new risks to international energy security, and will negatively affect the functioning of transport and logistics corridors," Dmitry Birichevsky, director of the economic cooperation department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, said, according to a Google-translated report from Russia's Ria Novosti news agency.

Shapoval noted, however, that gas supplies were much more difficult to direct without European infrastructure than, for example, oil. Ports in France, Belgium and Spain are critical for the gas' trans-shipment to Asia.
Philippines' President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivers a speech during the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on May 31, 2024.

Should a Filipino citizen be killed in the South China Sea via an incident with the Chinese Coast Guard, it would "almost certainly" be a red line, according to Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

Marcos was delivering the keynote at the Shangri-La address in Singapore when he was asked a question if a "red line" would be crossed if Chinese Coast Guard water cannons killed a Filipino sailor, and under what circumstances would the U.S.-Philippines Mutual Defense Treaty be invoked.

The president said should such an incident happen by willful action, it would "increase the level of response [by the Philippines]," and come "very, very close to what we define as an act of war."

He added that "our treaty partners I believe, also hold that same standard," with regard to any joint action that will be undertaken in support of any such incident in the Philippines.

In late March, the Philippines accused a China Coast Guard vessel of utilizing its water cannon on a Filipino ship travelling to the Second Thomas Shoal, injuring three Filipino sailors. In response, China's coastguard said it had taken necessary measures against Philippine vessels intruding in its waters.

Earlier that month, the China Coast Guard was accused of a water cannon attack that left four Filipino crew members injured by broken glass.

Manila deploys resupply missions to the shoal to supply a small garrison of troops living aboard an aging warship deliberately run aground in 1999 to protect Manila's maritime claims.

Beijing claims almost all of the South China Sea as its waters, despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that said that China's claims has no basis under international law. China has refused to recognize that outcome.
Here are Friday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Oppenheimer initiates Beazer Home at outperform Oppenheimer said shares of the homebuilder are compelling. "We are initiating coverage of Beazer Homes (BZH) with an Outperform rating and $37 price target." Morgan Stanley reiterates Costco as overweight Morgan Stanley raised its price target on the stock to $855 per share from $780 following earnings. "We view COST as among the best compounding growth stories in Retail." Wells Fargo reiterates Nvidia as overweight Wells said it's standing by shares of Nvidia. "Our Overweight rating is based on our positive stance on Nvidia's competitive positioning in gaming GPUs and expanding growth opportunities in data center, [high performance computing], and emerging / expanding AI opportunities (autonomous vehicles, healthcare, robotics, etc.)." Seaport upgrades Wynn to buy from hold Seaport said investors should buy the dip in shares of the casino company. "While Wynn has fared somewhat better than some of its peers (i.e., LVS and MGM), the decline is unwarranted, in our view, with Wynn having delivered strong Q1 results in Macau and showed continued resilience in Las Vegas." Bank of America reiterates Apple as buy Bank of America said it's bullish on an iPhone with artificial intelligence features. "We maintain our Buy rating on Apple for its multi-year upgrade cycle, gross margin upside and secular services growth." Wells Fargo upgrades Edison International to overweight from equal weight Wells said regulatory outcomes are improving for the California utility. "We upgrade EIX to OW and increase our [sum of the parts]-based PT to $86/sh from $72." Jefferies reiterates Tesla as hold Jefferies said that Tesla's auto advantage is shrinking for now. "A stagnant Tesla is a lesser threat to other OEMs until EV demand accelerates again." Bank of America reiterates Qualcomm as buy Bank of America raised its price target on the stock to $245 per share from $180. "Qualcomm is well-positioned in large computing market." Bank of America reiterates Dell as buy Bank of America said it's sticking with its buy rating on the stock following earnings. "We reiterate Buy given that we are still in the early stages of AI adoption with continued strong pipeline and momentum around AI servers, where we think DELL will be able to capture higher AI margins over time." JPMorgan upgrades Hormel to neutral from underweight JPMorgan said it sees a more balanced risk/reward for shares of the maker of Spam. "In addition, we believe most of Hormel's core businesses are improving thanks to better innovation and higher ad spending. Retail segment sales were soft this quarter but some of the volume decline came from lower-margin whole bird turkeys and contract." Wolfe upgrades Fifth Third to outperform from peer perform Wolfe called the Cincinnati-based regional bank a "steady" performer. " FITB is a stable operator that we expect will block and tackle its way to generating the greatest alpha in our Regional Banks coverage over the next 12 months." New Street initiates PayPal at buy New Street said it's bullish on shares of PayPal. "Almost nine months in, new CEO Alex Chriss is looking to pivot PayPal to value (from price) and better leverage its unique two-sided (consumer/merchant) advantages it has over competitors, Adyen, Stripe & even Apple Pay." Citi initiates Lionsgate at buy Citi said it's bullish on shares of the movie company. "We are initiating coverage on Lionsgate Studios with a Buy rating and a $14 target price. LION has a long, successful track record as a pure play content company." UBS upgrades Bilibili to buy from neutral UBS said the China internet company's earnings showed a "solid ad performance." "Despite the challenging macro landscape, Bilibili's Q1 advertising revenue jumped 31% YoY, faster than any of its online media peers." Morgan Stanley reiterates Rivian as overweight Morgan Stanley said the electric vehicle company is well-positioned. "We see Rivian as uniquely positioned within autos (other than Tesla) on scaling a fully integrated software stack critical to unlocking the AI opportunity at a market value 1/60th that of Tesla." Morgan Stanley reiterates Nio as overweight Morgan Stanley said it's standing by its overweight rating on shares of Nio. "Our recent checks also suggest order momentum stayed solid lately with weekly order run-rate of around 6k." JPMorgan upgrades NetApp to neutral from underweight JPMorgan upgraded the data infrastructure company following earnings. "We are upgrading shares of NetApp to Neutral from Underweight prior as our concerns around gross margin headwinds from a backdrop of rising memory prices has not transpired with the company executing robustly to manage the headwinds through pre-buy of memory while driving a richer portfolio mix in relation to higher margin all-flash drives." Cantor Fitzgerald initiates Rubrik at overweight Cantor said it's bullish on shares of the data security provider. "We believe Rubrik is the right Data Security & Resilience asset to invest in as the technology architecture is highly differentiated, built for the modern cloud era." Rosenblatt initiates Quad/Graphics at buy Rosenblatt initiated the graphic design company at a buy and said shares are cheap. "We launch coverage of Quad/Graphics with a BUY rating, and $7.50 price target, seeing a company that, despite a difficult extended run as a public equity, is now trading at such a low level that a constructive value argument is compelled by cash generation, property value and a proven ability to manage debt in the face of headwinds." Wells Fargo reiterates Tesla as underweight Wells said the automaker has "weak" fundamentals. "Despite the headline spin, TSLA's fundamentals look weak with volumes slowing & the 0.99% U.S. Model Y financing offer likely implying a large price cut."
The artificial intelligence boom is fueling demand for power, with many tech companies rapidly developing infrastructure as they compete for dominance. Power needs are only set to rise in the coming years, as large language models require a lot of data center capacity. Data centers house vast amounts of computing power needed for AI workloads, and are intense power-guzzling workhorses. But the need for power goes beyond data centers and other infrastructure, according to Goldman. "AI innovation has not only driven the demand for technology infrastructure, such as semiconductors, data centers and cloud services, but also the demand for power in manufacturing and AI computation processes," it said in a May 24 note. Goldman cited studies which showed that AI data centers can consume up to 10 times the energy of their regular counterparts. ChatGPT search queries are also estimated to be six to 10 times more power-intensive than regular Google searches, the Wall Street bank added. Goldman also expects "surging" electricity consumption in Asia, especially in "tech-exposed" markets such as China, Taiwan, South Korea and India. "For China, the economy is rebalancing towards areas of higher productivity and greater self-sufficiency," said Goldman. "One of the core strategic growth objectives is achieving technological self-sufficiency, which involves more policy support to the technology sector and the advancement of AI and the digital economy." China is making progress in energy self-sufficiency, which requires renewable energy systems equipped with sufficient energy storage capacities and smart grid transmission capabilities, Goldman noted. Taiwan's tech industry extends across a "comprehensive global AI supply chain," with tech manufacturers consuming a "substantial" amount of power. It's a similar story in South Korea's economy, Goldman noted, with high-tech manufacturing in areas such as semiconductors and memory chips and consumer electronics. "For India, apart from computational demand from software & services companies, an uptick in foreign companies relocating their supply chains from China is boosting power demand," the bank added. Power and electricity stock basket Against that backdrop, the bank introduced what it called its power and electricity basket of stocks, comprising 50 stocks across China, South Korea, Taiwan, India and Australia. It covers the supply chain of electricity-related business, including power generation or transmission, electric equipment and energy commodities. Among other areas, it excludes solar manufacturers in China, owing to U.S. tariffs. "The basket is positioned to leverage the growing power demand driven by tech manufacturing and data centers, as well as advancements in electricity transmission capacities," said the bank. The stocks in the basket have at least $10 million in average daily trading volume and have performed well since early 2023, according to Goldman. Here are some of them.  CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.
In this composite image a comparison between Former Boxer Mike Tyson (L) and Jake Paul (R). Tyson and Paul will face off in a July 2024 fight.

Mike Tyson's Netflix -streamed fight with Jake Paul has been postponed after the 57-year-old Tyson fell ill on a flight last weekend.

Tyson and Paul said Friday that they will announce a new fight date next week. They were scheduled to meet July 20 in Arlington, Texas.

Tyson fell ill on a flight from Miami to Los Angeles last Sunday, and his flight was met by first responders. Tyson's camp attributed the episode to an ulcer problem.

"During a follow up consultation on Thursday with medical professionals on his recent ulcer flare-up, the recommendation is for Mike Tyson to do minimal to light training over the next few weeks and then return to full training with no limitations," the fight's promoters said in a statement.

Tyson hasn't fought professionally since June 2005, but he has been training regularly for several years. He fought Roy Jones Jr. in an entertaining exhibition in November 2020.

Tickets already purchased for the fight at the Dallas Cowboys' home stadium will be honored on the new fight date, promoters said.

The 27-year-old Paul is a YouTube star who has forged a successful prizefighting career mostly by taking on mixed martial artists and journeymen boxers.

"I fully support postponing the event so Mike Tyson has no excuses come fight night," Paul said. "My fans know I don't want to face Iron Mike at anything but his best, but let there be no mistake: When he steps into the ring with me, I will be ready to claim my W with a sensational finish."
CHICAGO  Pfizer on Friday said its drug for an advanced form of lung cancer showed promising long-term results in a late-stage trial, which may help establish it as the new standard treatment for the condition.

The company's medicine helped patients live longer without seeing their cancer progress, and most people experienced that benefit for over five years. The drug, called Lorbrena, also cut the risk of the cancer progressing in patients' brains.

Lorbrena is already approved in the U.S. for treating adults with advanced non-small cell lung cancer who have a mutation in a gene called ALK. Only about 5% of all non-small cell lung cancer patients have the mutation, which causes cancer cells to grow and spread abnormally.

But that translates to 72,000 people who are diagnosed with that specific form of lung cancer each year worldwide, according to a release from Pfizer. That cancer is typically aggressive and often affects younger people, the company added.

More broadly, non-small-cell lung cancer is a common form of the disease.

Lorbrena is specifically approved as a first-line treatment for that form of lung cancer, meaning patients who take it have not received any other therapy. But Pfizer's drug isn't currently considered the standard  or the most appropriate and widely used  treatment for the condition.

The company thinks the new five-year data on the drug will change that.

"In cancer medicine in general, you always want to give the best medicine upfront first. So that's why we believe this data  will lead to [Lorbrena] becoming a standard" first-line treatment in this specific form of lung cancer, Chris Boshoff, Pfizer's chief oncology officer, told CNBC in an interview.

The new five-year data is from the same phase three trial that led to Lorbrena's U.S. approval. Pfizer will present the results on Friday at the American Society of Clinical Oncology annual meeting in Chicago, the largest cancer research conference in the world. The data was also published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Nearly 300 people in the trial either received Lorbrena or Pfizer's older lung cancer drug Xalkori. At the five-year mark, 50% of patients in the trial were still receiving Lorbrena compared with 5% of people receiving Xalkori.

In the trial, Lorbrena after five years cut the risk of cancer progression or death by 81% compared with Xalkori.

Around 60% of patients treated with Lorbrena were alive without seeing their cancer progress after that same period. That compares with 8% among those who took Xalkori.

Dr. David Spigel, chief scientific officer at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute, called those results "the best we've ever seen" during a briefing with reporters ahead of the ASCO conference.

"We have not seen anything close to this. Other great drugs that are available  have not reported the kind of durable, progression-free survival events of this magnitude," Spigel said, referring to the rate of people who remained alive without seeing their cancer progress.

He noted that there are no head-to-head trials that compare Pfizer's Lorbrena with competing lung cancer drugs, including one called alectinib and another called brigatinib.

All three are called ALK inhibitors, which are designed to block the mutations in the ALK gene associated with abnormal cancer cell growth. Lorbrena is considered a newer, third-generation ALK inhibitor, while the two competitors are second-generation.

But Spigel added that "it's hard to believe" that Lorbrena would perform worse head-to-head against those drugs.

Pfizer's other drug Xalkori is also an ALK-inhibitor, but it is no longer used in the U.S.

Lung cancers with the "ALK-positive" mutation are also especially adept at spreading to the brain. Roughly a quarter or more of patients can develop brain metastases  when cancer cells spread from their original part of the body to the brain  within the first two years of being diagnosed.

Lorbrena slashed the risk of the cancer progressing in the brain by 94% compared with Pfizer's old drug. Only four of the 114 patients taking Lorbrena developed brain metastases within about 16 months, compared with 39 out of the 109 taking Xalkori.

Lorbrena is effective at preventing and treating brain metastasis because it can cross a membrane called the blood-brain barrier and enter the brain, something not all drugs can do.

Spigel called that another "impressive finding" since progression in the brain is "quite awful for patients and something we try desperately to prevent or treat."

No new safety issues were reported for Lorbrena. The most common side effects included swelling, weight gain, cognition and mood changes and high cholesterol in the blood, among others.

But Spigel called the cognitive issues associated with Lorbrena "unusual" since it is not seen with its competitors.

In a note on Thursday ahead of the data release, Leerink Partners analyst Dr. Andrew Berens said he believes Lorbrena's central nervous system side effects are partly why it is often used as a second rather than first-line treatment for this advanced form of lung cancer. Those changes to cognition and mood result "in a lower patient quality of life," he said.

But Pfizer's Boshoff said once physicians use Lorbrena for the first time, they become comfortable managing any specific side effects associated with the drug.

He noted that educating physicians about how to manage adverse effects will be an important part of Lorbrena's "relaunch" following the release of the new data.
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BEIJING  In three years, China's capital city of Beijing has taken rapid steps toward letting robotaxis operate closer to the city center. This month, the city began allowing tests of robotaxis with human staff inside to run the 40-minute route between a major high-speed train station and a suburban area to its south. That route between Beijing South Railway Station and the suburb of Yizhuang is set to open a public-facing robotaxi service in the next week or two, Ning Zhang, vice president at Pony.ai and head of its Beijing research and development center, told CNBC in an exclusive interview Thursday. He cited pending government permits. By the end of this year or early next year, Zhang expects the train station route will be fully driverless, with no human staff inside. The latest route marks a significant expansion of robotaxi operation from the outskirts of Beijing toward the city center. The capital is laid out with highways, nicknamed "rings," in concentric circles around the city center.

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The Yizhuang suburb is outside the fifth ring road. Beijing South Railway Station is inside the third ring road. Zhang said there is a perception that Beijing would not allow robotaxis past the fifth ring road. "Now, we are breaking that boundary," he said. "This is a big progress, and because Beijing is willing to make so great a move, it's going to be a very good example, showcase for the entire China," he said. In November 2021, Beijing city allowed robotaxi operators Pony.ai and Baidu's Apollo Go to collect fares for public-facing rides in Yizhuang, a first step toward eliminating the cost of the driver. Less than two years later, Beijing authorities allowed the robotaxi companies to remove human staff from some public-facing cars and still charge fares. Users can hail the taxis using designated apps. Beijing authorities in late February expanded the operational area for staffed, public-facing robotaxis to Daxing International Airport, which is near Yizhuang. In addition to Pony.ai and Baidu, AutoX and WeRide received the operation permits, according to a government release.

Robotaxi operator Pony.ai has begun testing rides with human staff inside between a suburb of Beijing and a major high-speed train station. CNBC | Evelyn Cheng

By the end of this year, Zhang expects the city will allow robotaxi operation around Beijing Capital International Airport to the north. Subsequent expansion is set to cover the city's four other railway stations, he said. For Pony.ai, he anticipates more than 50 fully driverless taxis will operate in Beijing by the end of this year. In the next two years, he expects Beijing will allow robotaxis to run between the sixth and fourth ring roads regardless of city district. That will require Pony.ai to get ready by the end of 2025 for a robotaxi fleet on the scale of 1,000 vehicles, he said, noting the startup is working with Toyota to mass produce the cars. Once there are 500 to 1,000 robotaxis in one city, Zhang said the operation can break even. With scale, he expects business growth is "going to be exponentially fast in the later years." That also depends on the pace of regulatory support. In three to five years, Zhang expects Beijing will allow robotaxis throughout the city.

Robotaxis in the U.S.

Global interest in robotaxis has meanwhile picked up, with Alphabet's Waymo expanding its operations on the West Coast. In April, Elon Musk announced that Tesla will reveal its robotaxi on Aug. 8. When asked about Musk's plans, Zhang said Pony.ai hoped that Tesla's involvement in the industry could help "reshape" transportation. But in his view, he said that Tesla's Full Self Driving technology was better for assisted driving rather than a fully driverless system. As for other Chinese robotaxi operators, Zhang doesn't expect fierce rivalry for the next few years while the nascent industry is still in the process of gaining traction. Baidu said that Apollo Go operated about 826,000 rides in the first quarter, up from 660,000 rides in the year-ago period. As of April 19, cumulative rides have surpassed 6 million. During Baidu's latest earnings call, CEO Robin Li said the company expected its robotaxi business to narrow losses for the rest of the year, according to a FactSet transcript. He added that Baidu's newest robotaxi vehicle costs less than $30,000 when excluding the battery.
Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat from West Virginia, speaks during an interview at an Economic Club of Washington event in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2021.

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, who has spent his entire decadeslong political career as a Democrat, said Friday he is leaving the party and registering as an independent, raising speculation about whether he may run for another Senate term or for governor this fall.

"To stay true to myself and remain committed to put country before party, I have decided to register as an independent with no party affiliation and continue to fight for America's sensible majority," Manchin said in a statement.

Manchin's move was first reported by longtime West Virginia radio host Hoppy Kercheval. Despite his party change, Manchin will continue to caucus with Senate Democrats, his office said.

Last November, Manchin announced he would not seek a third term in 2024 but his decision to change parties will re-open questions about his political future.

The deadline for an independent to register to run for office in West Virginia this year is Aug. 1, according to the secretary of state's office.

Manchin, 76, served as West Virginia governor from 2005 to 2010, when he won a special election to fill a Senate seat left vacant by the death of legendary Democrat Robert Byrd. Manchin won a full Senate term in 2012 and a second term in 2018.

But he won that race over Republican state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey by a little more than 20,000 votes, or 3 percentage points, as the state shifted ruby red, propelled by Donald Trump's rise in 2016. In 2020, Trump captured nearly 70% of the vote in West Virginia.

Earlier this month, current Gov. Jim Justice, backed by Trump, won the Republican nomination for Senate and had been favored to succeed Manchin in the fall. But Manchin's surprise move could scramble that race if he decides to run for re-election as an independent.

A more likely scenario is that Manchin seeks his old job as governor  a potential race that would pit him in a rematch with the GOP nominee, Morrisey, as well as against the Democratic nominee, Huntington Mayor Steve Williams.

If he is considering an independent bid for either office, Manchin had until June 1 to change his party affiliation; West Virginia state law allows the secretary of state to refuse to certify a candidate if they were registered to vote with a different party within 60 days of filing to run for office.

Manchin becomes the second Senate Democrat in recent years to switch their party affiliation to independent. In late 2022, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona announced she was leaving the party and becoming an independent. She later said she would not seek a second Senate term.

For years, Manchin had been perhaps the most conservative member of the Senate Democratic Caucus, burnishing a reputation for going his own way and relishing his role as a thorn in the side of Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and his own party leadership.

And while he voted with Biden on major legislative initiatives, including the Inflation Reduction Act and CHIPS and Science Act, Manchin has been an outspoken critic of the current president on numerous occasions, particularly on energy issues.

Last year, Manchin, the chairman of the Senate Energy committee, threatened to join Republicans in voting to repeal the IRA, Biden's signature climate change law that the senator had helped negotiate, over objections to how the law was being implemented by the administration.

And in 2022, Manchin demanded that Biden apologize for urging the closure of coal-fired power plants and a shift to clean energy, calling his comments "divorced from reality."

Throughout this election cycle, Manchin had flirted with launching a third-party bid against Biden, a prospect that would have significantly damaged the incumbent Democrat in the general election against Trump. But the senator, in February, announced that he would not take on such an endeavor.

"I will not be seeking a third-party run. I will not be involved in a presidential run," Manchin said during a speech at the time. "I will be involved in making sure that we secure a president that has the knowledge and has the passion and has the ability to bring this country together."

Kercheval, the prominent West Virginia radio host, said on his Friday radio show as the news broke that the development was a big blow for Democrats in the state, but one that isn't necessarily a big surprise. "Manchin has been toying with this independence for a long time. Even though he's a Democrat, he's been operating in Washington like an independent for a while," Kercheval said.

Kercheval noted that, amid speculation that Manchin might reverse course and run for governor, the move to re-register as an independent "keeps his options open for another 60 days."

"He may not run for anything, and I don't think he will," Kercheval added. "But Manchin is known to change his mind and this does keep his options open."
Voters during the South Africa general elections on May 29, 2024 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Live updates of partial results from South Africa's parliamentary election reappeared on the electoral commission's website, following a glitch of at least two hours.

The prints are closely watched amid early indications that the country's governing African National Congress, the liberation party of Nelson Mandela, could lose its parliamentary majority for the first time in the 30 years since it assumed governance.

The electoral commission's portal was briefly blank at 06:08 a.m. London time, but once more displayed results by 08:23 a.m. in London, according to CNBC monitoring.
Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading: Dell Technologies  The software stock plunged 18% after executives cautioned that its gross margins could face more pressure in 2025. Lionsgate Studios  Shares rose 3% after Citi initiated coverage of the film studio at a buy rating. The bank cited Lionsgate's decision to spin off its Starz business as a potential catalyst for further margin expansion. Zscaler  Shares added 9% after the cloud security company posted a fiscal third-quarter earnings and revenue beat. Zscaler reported adjusted earnings of 88 cents per share on revenue of $553 million, while analysts polled by LSEG had expected earnings of 66 cents on $535 million in revenue. Nordstrom  The Seattle-based department store operator saw shares jump 5% after the company posted solid quarterly sales growth and stuck by its full-year forecast . Its off-price chain, Nordstrom Rack, outperformed Nordstrom's flagship brand with comparable sales rising 7.9% year over year. Nordstrom fell short of Wall Street's quarterly earnings expectations, however. Gap  The clothing retailer soared 29% after posting fiscal first-quarter earnings per share of 41 cents, higher than the 14 cents analysts surveyed by LSEG had expected. Gap's revenue of $3.39 billion also beat the $3.29 billion forecast. Ambarella  Shares soared 21% after the chipmaker announced that it expected revenues to continue growing in fiscal 2025, citing robust artificial intelligence demand as a catalyst. Ambarella reported a first-quarter earnings loss that beat analysts' expectations and revenue that came in line with consensus. Marvell Technologies  The stock plunged 10% after the chipmaker missed first-quarter earnings expectations. Marvell reported earnings per share of 24 cents on $1.16 billion in revenue, missing the 25 cents in earnings per share on revenue of $1.17 billion analysts had expected, according to LSEG. MongoDB  Shares plummeted 24% after the technology company trimmed its second-quarter guidance as well as its forecast for the full fiscal year. MongoDB said it expected to earn 46 cents to 49 cents per share on $460 million to $464 million of revenue, while analysts polled by LSEG had called for $470 million of revenue and earnings of 58 cents per share. The company beat earnings and revenue expectations for the April quarter, but still saw slower-than-expected consumption growth. SentinelOne  The cybersecurity company dipped 13% after issuing a revenue outlook that was weaker than analysts had forecast. SentinelOne expects its revenue to fall between $808 million to $815 million in 2024, which was lower than the $817 million forecast by LSEG. VF Corporation  The apparel and footwear company surged 8% after announcing Sun Choe will assume the global brand president role of Vans beginning in late July. Choe was previously chief product officer at Lululemon. Cooper Companies  The medical device firm added 5% after posting a fiscal second-quarter adjusted earnings beat, although its revenue fell below analysts' expectations. Cooper also increased its guidance for both its full-year earnings and revenue outlooks. Paycom Software  The stock fell 9% after the payroll company announced an executive shake-up. Paycom promoted strategic advisor Randy Peck to chief operating officer and disclosed the resignation of co-CEO Christopher Thomas. First Solar  Shares slipped 2% after Mizuho downgraded the solar technology firm to neutral from buy. Analyst Maheep Mandloi highlighted that strong pricing power already seems to be reflected in the stock's price at the moment.  CNBC's Hakyung Kim, Yun Li, Jesse Pound and Pia Singh contributed reporting.
The Florida federal judge overseeing the criminal classified documents case against former President Donald Trump has been the target of more than 1,000 complaints in just one week this month raising allegations of her handling of the case, a top appeals court judge revealed in an order.

The complaints against Judge Aileen Cannon have come to light amid renewed criticism by some legal observers and Trump opponents that she is slow-walking the criminal case against the former president to ensure it does not go to trial before the presidential election.

"Many of the complaints" against Cannon filed with the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals "request that the Chief Circuit Judge remove her from the classified-documents case and reassign the case to a different judge," Chief Judge William Pryor wrote in a May 22 order posted on the appeal court's website.

And "many of the complaints against Judge Cannon also question the correctness of her rulings or her delays in issuing rulings in the case," Pryor wrote.

Those complaints filed since May 16 "appear to be part of an orchestrated campaign," according to Pryor, whose appellate court reviews cases arising from federal district courts in Florida, Georgia and Alabama.

Public critics of Cannon have noted her delays in ruling on multiple pending motions, granting hearings to Trump's lawyers on legal issues that might otherwise be easily addressed through court filings, and criticizing filings by special counsel Jack Smith's prosecutors.

Trump, who appointed Cannon to the bench, is charged in the case with crimes related to withholding classified government records at his Mar-a-Lago club residence in Palm Beach, Florida, after he left the White House, and trying to hide them from officials who sought their recovery.

The presumptive Republican presidential nominee, who has pleaded not guilty in that case, on Thursday was convicted by a state court jury in New York of 34 felony counts related to a 2016 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Pryor, in his May 22 order about the complaints, wrote that he "has considered and dismissed four of those orchestrated complaints as merits-related and as based on allegations lacking sufficient evidence to raise an inference that misconduct has occurred."

He also wrote that neither he nor the appeals court's Judicial Council has the authority to remove Cannon from the case under the Rules for Judicial-Conduct and Judicial-Disability Proceedings.

"Although many of the complaints allege an improper motive in delaying the case, the allegations are speculative and unsupported by any evidence," Pryor wrote.

"The Complaints also do not establish that Judge Cannon was required to recuse herself from the case because she was appointed by then-President Trump."

The chief judge also wrote that before May 16, "multiple Complaints of Judicial Misconduct or Disability" were filed against Cannon, who sits in Fort Pierce, Florida, federal court, "raising allegations in connection" with Trump's criminal case.

"Some of those complaints have been acted upon, and others will be acted upon in due course," Pryor wrote, without revealing the nature of those actions.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a press conference, the day after a guilty verdict in his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, at Trump Tower in New York City on May 31, 2024.

Former President Donald Trump angrily denounced his criminal hush money trial in rambling remarks Friday, a day after a New York jury convicted him on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

Trump called the case "very unfair" as he cycled through many of his previously voiced criticisms of trial judge Juan Merchan, the prosecutors, witnesses and the charges in Manhattan Supreme Court.

"These are bad people," Trump told reporters at Trump Tower, where he launched his first Republican presidential campaign nine years earlier.

"This can't be allowed to happen to other presidents," he said. "It should never be allowed to happen in the future, but this is far beyond me."

"This is bigger than Trump, this is bigger than me, this is bigger than my presidency."
The European Union's upcoming 14th sanctions package against Russia must do more to choke off energy exports and clamp down on circumvention by third parties, an advisor to the office of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told CNBC.

Vladyslav Vlasiuk said it was also vital to tighten export controls on critical technologies used within Moscow's military equipment. However, he noted that EU states would need to work more cohesively for sanctions to stand a chance of crossing the line by the end of next month as planned.

"The most critical aspect of the 14th sanctions package is its adoption by the end of June, but some member states currently pose a challenge to this," Vlasiuk said via email Thursday.

The EU's special envoy for the implementation of sanctions, David O'Sullivan, was in Kyiv Thursday to discuss the latest sanctions package amid ongoing pushback from member states such as Hungary. Among the proposed measures is a ban on Russian liquified natural gas (LNG) exports and a crackdown on sanctions circumvention via countries including Kremlin ally Belarus.

Nataliia Shapoval, a member of the Yermak-McFaul International Working Group on Russian Sanctions, a think tank which advises on EU sanctions, said the LNG proposals were an attempt to restrict both Russia's current and future energy revenues.

"LNG is the leverage that Russia still maintains," Shapoval said over the phone.

Russia said Wednesday that such a ban would hurt the EU more than it would Russia, and that some LNG supplies were already being redirected to China and India. Shapoval noted, however, that gas supplies were much more difficult to direct without European infrastructure than, for example, oil.

She added that the EU was currently playing a "cat and mouse game" to determine which critical components were propping up Moscow's military might and should therefore be banned.

 Karen Gilchrist
"There is an element of unpredictability that is very unsettling, and I understand where [Buffett] is coming from, but I think it is really hard to avoid cyber risk entirely," Glombicki said. He added though that there has still been no significant litigation that assigns culpability or tests the boundaries of the policies, and until the courts hear some culpability cases, some insurers may proceed more cautiously.

"Right now [cybersecurity insurance] is still a viable business model for many insurers," Glombicki said. It is still a tiny market, representing only one percent of all policies issued, according to Glombicki. Because the cybersecurity business is so small, it gives insurance companies latitude to implement various policies to see what is working, and what isn't, without a tremendous amount of exposure.

Industry analysts generally say while some of Berkshire's caution is warranted, the general state of the cybersecurity insurance marketplace is stabilizing as it becomes profitable. And Gerald Glombicki, a senior director in Fitch Rating's U.S. insurance group, points out that Berkshire Hathaway is issuing cybersecurity policies despite Buffett's caution. According to Fitch's analysis, Berkshire Hathaway is the sixth-largest issuer of such policies. Chubb, which Berkshire recently revealed a big investment in , and AIG are the largest.

"There's no place where that kind of a dilemma enters into more than cyber," Buffett said. "You may get an aggregation of risks that you never dreamt of, and maybe worse than some earthquake happening someplace."

"That aggregation potential can be huge, and not being able to have a worst-case gap on it is what scares us," he said.

Cyber insurance has become "a very fashionable product," Jain said at the annual meeting. And it's been a money maker for insurers, at least to date. He described current profitability as "fairly high"  at least 20% of the total premium ending up in the pockets of insurers. But at Berkshire, the message being sent to agents is one of caution. A primary reason is the difficulty in assessing how losses from a single occurrence don't spiral into an aggregation of potential cyber losses. Jain gave the hypothetical example of when a major cloud provider's platform "comes to a standstill."

One of the messages that Warren Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway's top insurance executive, Ajit Jain, sent to investors during the company's recent annual shareholder meeting in Omaha was that cyber insurance, while currently profitable, still has too many unknowns and risks for Berkshire, a huge player in the insurance market, to be fully comfortable underwriting.

The problem with writing many policies, even with a $1 million limit per policy, is if a "single event" turns out to affect 1,000 policies. "You've written something that in no way we're getting the proper price for, and could break the company," Buffett said.

While some notable leaders, like former Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff  who now runs a global security risk management firm  have called for a government cybersecurity backstop of some sort, most experts don't believe that is needed right now. Glombicki says that while the feds are looking at what role they can play, intervention likely won't happen until an incident prompts it.

Any government involvement "will probably happen after a big, expensive cyber-incident," he said. "After September 11, the government put together a terrorist risk program. In cyber, we have not yet seen an attack of that scale. We are still in the stage of thinking about possible approaches."

Cyber insurance data shows growth and market confidence

While the number of cybersecurity policies being written is small now, analysts don't expect it to stay that way.

"Rates are declining, which shows stability in the market," said Mark Friedlander, a spokesman for the Insurance Information Institute. According to its data, cyber premiums are estimated to double over the next decade. In 2022, premiums totaled $11.9 billion. By 2025, Friedlander says, they are expected to double to $22.5 billion and increase to $33.3 billion by 2027.

"This is clearly one of the fastest-growing segments of insurance. More companies are writing cybersecurity policies than ever before," Friedlander said, attributing confidence among insurers to more sophisticated underwriting and stabilizing rates. He cited a 6% decline in cybersecurity insurance rates in the first quarter of 2024, following a 3% decline in 2023, as a clear signal that insurers feel more confident about jumping into the business.

"Most commercial insurance, like auto and property, have all been increasing, so the decline is significant. It is a sign of stability and a decline in claims severity," Friedlander said.

And more insurers are entering the market because they have the tools and data to price the risk. "If you can do it at sound rates, you will write that coverage," Friedlander said.

'You're losing money'

Buffett and his top insurance lieutenant don't agree. It's the insurance "loss cost"  what the cost of goods sold could potentially be  that has Berkshire on the fence with a bigger move into cyber insurance. Jain said losses have been "fairly well contained" to date  not exceeding 40 cents on the policy dollar over the past four to five years  but he added, "there's not enough data to be able to hang your hat on and say what your true loss cost is."

Jain said that in most cases agents at Berkshire are discouraged from writing cyber insurance, unless they need to write it to satisfy specific client needs. And even if they do, Jain leaves them with this message: "No matter how much you charge, you should tell yourself that each time you write a cyber insurance policy, you're losing money. We can argue about how much money you're losing, but the mindset should be you're not making money on it. ... And then we should go from there."

Google Cloud says the risks are being overstated

There is a perception that cyber risk is rapidly changing and, therefore, too unpredictable to underwrite in a systematic way, says Monica Shokrai, head of business risk and insurance at Google Cloud. But she added that the perception doesn't match reality, and that the risk can largely be managed.

"We don't hold the same view as Warren Buffet on the topic," she said. In Google's view, the majority of cyber losses can be prevented or mitigated through basic cyber hygiene.

"By understanding security, you can get to a place where your controls are in a much better place, where the risk is more manageable," Shokrai said. Devastating attacks from nation-states, meanwhile, are in a separate category and have been rare. Insurers are already inoculating themselves from potential risk by making exclusions for certain catastrophic events. Many cybersecurity policies have coverage exemptions for nation-state attacks.

"What they are trying to do is remain resilient and solvent in the event of a widespread event; what they have done to manage that is put in exclusions," Shokrai said, and those include critical infrastructure, cyber war, and other widespread disruptive events.

Ambiguities and subjectivities remain. What if someone is the victim of a cyberattack from a foreign-based gang that isn't officially tied to a nation-state but may have received some ancillary logistical support? Can an insurance company invoke a nation-state exclusion? Shokrai says categorizing how to attribute an event is the topic of much debate between insurance companies. "That is a big debate between insurance companies; it is an important distinction that needs clarity," Shokrai said.

Some experts say it is the ambiguity surrounding the industry's margins that has investors like Buffett and insurance players like Berkshire spooked. But so far, the business has proven to be sound overall. "It is still a viable business model for many insurers," said Josephine Wolff, an associate professor of cybersecurity policy at The Fletcher School at Tufts University, who has been studying the evolving market for the past several years. But she added that a belief that the business is viable doesn't mean things are not constantly changing, pointing to the recent ransomware surge over the past couple of years that saw large payouts by insurance companies  though notably still not enough to make the business unprofitable for most issuers.

Cyber insurance helps make the entire ecosystem safer, according to Steve Griffin, co-founder of L3 Networks, a California-based managed services provider that specializes in cybersecurity. Policies require companies to adhere to certain cyber standards to attain coverage, and the more businesses that sign up for coverage, the safer the entire system becomes. And if a business knows they'll be denied a claim if they don't have some basic cybersecurity safeguards in place, that acts as an incentive to put them in place.

Berkshire does believe the business will grow, it just isn't sure at what cost. "My guess is at some point it might become a huge business, but it might be associated with huge losses," Jain said.

"I will tell you that most people want to be in anything that's fashionable when they write insurance. And cyber's an easy issue," Buffett said. "You can write a lot of it. The agents like it. They're getting the commission on every policy they write. ... I would say that human nature is such that most insurance companies will get very excited and their agents will get very excited, and it's very fashionable and it's kind of interesting, and as Charlie [Munger] would say, it may be rat poison."

While Griffin understands Buffett's caution, he sees a generational divide over the risk outlook, and is optimistic about the cybersecurity insurance sector.

"Probably Warren Buffet would have called cybersecurity insurance an opportunity when he was younger," he said.

Correction: Cybersecurity insurance rates declined 6% in the first quarter of 2024, following a 3% decline in 2023. An earlier version of this article misstated the 2023 decline.
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Chinese cities launch auto trade-in programs to invigorate consumption, offering boost for new-energy vehicle sector

Global Times) 13:16, May 31, 2024

Hangzhou, the capital of East China's Zhejiang Province, unveiled an action plan on Thursday to boost consumption via automobile trade-ins. The plan set an ambitious target of exchanging 80,000 vehicles by 2027, which will help to achieve a new energy vehicle (NEV) penetration of over 50 percent.

This move comes as China is ramping up efforts to accelerate structural optimization in the automobile industry and unleash its vast market potential. It is also the city's latest endeavor to drive consumption and foster high-quality economic growth, analysts said.

The action plan outlines the implementation of a consumer goods trade-in program, targeting durable items with high demand and significant stimulus effects. As well as automobiles, it includes household appliances, home furnishings, and e-bikes, aiming to introduce more high-quality consumer goods into people's lives.

China's local governments at various levels have rolled out multiple incentive policies to promote large-scale automobile trade-ins recently, following the State Council's call in March for large-scale equipment renewals and consumer goods trade-ins.

Shenzhen in South China's Guangdong Province also introduced on Monday a slew of new measures to promote the upgrading of automobile consumption, including support for NEV purchases and development of the second-hand car market.

These efforts aim to accelerate the growth rate of consumer goods sales in Shenzhen to more than 7 percent in 2024, advancing the city's ambition to become a globally influential consumption hub, according to an action plan released by the local government.

Wenzhou in East China's Zhejiang Province announced a consumer goods exchange policy on May 24, offering incentives for NEV purchases, including subsidies ranging from a minimum of 2,000 yuan ($276.41) to a maximum of 10,000 yuan.

China has also unveiled measures to gradually lift restrictions on NEV purchases in various regions, according to a decarbonization action plan released on Wednesday, which is set to offer another major boost to the NEV industry.

The plan includes major steps to reduce carbon emissions in the transport industry, with concrete plans for infrastructure upgrades and the promotion of NEVs. Industry observers said it will inject new impetus into the country's consumption market and speed up the high-quality development of China's economy.

In April, China's NEV retail sales reached 674,000 units, up 28.3 percent year-on-year, while the domestic retail penetration rate rose to 43.7 percent. In addition, from January to April, China's passenger vehicle exports increased by 37 percent year-on-year, with NEV exports up 26.8 percent year-on-year, accounting for 27.9 percent of April's car exports, showcasing the growing demand from both the domestic and the global market.

China's NEV market also saw significant growth in sales in May. From May 1 to 26, NEV retail sales rose 27 percent year-on-year to 574,000 units, and cumulative retail sales this year have risen 32 percent year-on-year to 3.025 million units, according to industry data released on Wednesday.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Liang Jun)
The ease of accessing online tools for self-diagnosing mental health conditions has surged in popularity, prompting experts to issue warnings about the potential dangers associated with self-diagnosis.

The proliferation of online screening tools, coupled with the rise of artificial intelligence and virtual assistants like ChatGPT, has enabled more individuals to attempt self-diagnosis. While some may seek professional help after receiving a positive result, experts emphasize the risks involved in relying solely on self-diagnosis.

Dr. Hopolang Matee, a clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia, has noted concerns about the repercussions of not seeking medical assistance post-self-diagnosis. These include misdiagnosis, heightened anxiety, and the unauthorized purchase of medications online without a prescription.

The report "Implications of Online Self-Diagnosis in Psychiatry," published in the journal Pharmacopsychiatry, underscores various risks associated with self-diagnosis, including the potential for incorrect or hazardous diagnoses, increased patient anxiety, and the dissemination of unfiltered advice on social media.

Carla Khalil, a clinical neuropsychologist from The Valens Clinic Dubai, has warned against the dangers of self-medication following self-diagnosis, citing the risks of selecting incorrect medications or dosages, overlooking harmful drug interactions, and fostering addiction and dependency.

"Self-medication after self-diagnosis poses significant risks including choosing the wrong medications or dosages, overlooking harmful drug interactions, and opening a risk to addiction and dependency, which can exacerbate symptoms or cause adverse reactions," Khalil explained, The National News reported.

The prevalence of mental health conditions has witnessed a notable increase globally, with diagnosed anxiety and depression rising by 25 percent, as reported by the World Health Organization in 2022, a trend attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic's impact.

Despite the availability of online resources, experts caution against the reliability of self-diagnosis, particularly among teenagers. Dr. Khalil attributed the surge in self-diagnosis to increased access to online information, coupled with a desire for autonomy in healthcare decisions and a lack of trust in traditional healthcare systems.

While self-diagnosis may empower individuals to take control of their health, Dr. Khalil stressed the importance of using self-diagnosis as a starting point for discussions with healthcare professionals, rather than a definitive conclusion.

The dangers of misdiagnosis extend beyond incorrect treatment choices. Misinterpreting symptoms of conditions such as ADHD or bipolar disorder can delay proper diagnosis and exacerbate symptoms, leading to potential consequences like substance abuse or self-harm.

For many individuals, accessing official diagnoses remains a challenge due to affordability and accessibility barriers.

Heidi Frost, a resident of Dubai, expressed her concerns to The National, noting the significant cost associated with an official assessment, stating, "I can think of 50 different things I could spend $5,000 on." She emphasized her preference for concrete evidence and official labels, but also acknowledged the inconvenience of scheduling appointments and undergoing repetitive questioning, adding, "I've never met a questionnaire I can't argue with."

Experts have emphasized the importance of credibility in seeking information and support for mental health concerns, advising individuals to consult peer-reviewed articles and credible resources. Additionally, exploring community health centers, free clinics, and online support groups can offer valuable guidance and coping strategies while navigating mental health challenges.
First-time director Subhadra Mahajans film Second Chance will premiere at the 58th edition of Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic, to be held from June 28 to July 6, 2024. Karlovy Vary, about 100 km west of capital Prague, is a city of about 50,000 residents at the confluence of two rivers, one of which, Tepla, is a warm-water river; the area has several hot springs  the city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, among the Great Spa Towns of Europe.

Angry Indian Goddesses (2015) which featured in the Toronto International Film Festival. She also worked on Last Film Show, Indias official entry to the 2023 Oscars. Mahajan, who studied film at St Xaviers in Mumbai, has long collaborated with filmmaker Pan Nalin, co-writing(2015) which featured in the Toronto International Film Festival. She also worked on, Indias official entry to the 2023 Oscars.

Second Chance draws on Mahajans personal experience, living between Mumbai and her home in Himachal Pradesh. The story revolves around the protagonist Nia, who after experiencing a major trauma in her young life, retreats to the family home in the Himalayas where time, nature and unlikely friendships aid healing.

Set in the Pir Panjal ranges of the Himalayas and shot in black and white, the film features local actors Dheera Johnson, Thakri Devi and Kanav Thakur, all from Kullu, and the actors speak English, Hindi and Kullavi in the film. The decision to shoot in black and white was taken, the director explains, to emphasize both the interior journey of the protagonist and the unique winter landscape of the Pir Panjal ranges. The filmmaker explains that the theme of the film is healing, through an inexplicable process nudged along by close relationships and a connection with nature. The decision to shoot in black and white was taken, the director explains, to emphasize both the interior journey of the protagonist and the unique winter landscape of the Pir Panjal ranges. The filmmaker explains that the theme of the film is healing, through an inexplicable process nudged along by close relationships and a connection with nature.

This film will be among 12 films in the Proxima Competition section of the festival, which, according to the festival website, offers space to filmmakers waiting to be discovered.

---

*Freelance journalist
Look, Im not someone whos of the melodramatic view that all art has to have deep, insightful meaning. Its an exhausting opinion, not to mention its usually held by someone who thinks Ronald McDonald  but fat  is a scathing social critique. Ooh, the Statue of Liberty with a gun! From the mind of which rebel did such world-shattering imagery come?

That said, its also obvious that art is indeed powerful, just like the poster in your dorm room said. In fact, some works are powerful enough that they threaten the physical powers that be, sometimes resulting in the banning of their display. Which, in itself, is a pretty dumb move because theres no better way to make sure everybodys deeply considering whatever you just banned. Instead of a gallery wall, that same painting is now in newspapers across the globe. Good job!

Don't Miss

To that end, here are five pieces of artwork that a government banned or destroyed

5 Mao, Andy Warhol Andy Warhol If youre looking to make a bit of art thats going to be banned in at least one country, theres not a better subject than Chinas Chairman Mao. China has a long history of censorship, one thats currently resulted in the banning of images of Winnie the Pooh because of his resemblance to President Xi Jinping. Both bans are a little questionable, given that if youre assuming any representations of your leader are automatically negative, it feels like theres some proof in that pudding. One such bit of art that wasnt allowed within Chinese borders were the paintings that Andy Warhol did of Mao. Theres not any outstanding message in them, at least in literal terms. Its just the usual Warhol spread of pop-color reproductions of a portrait, the same treatment given to Marilyn Monroe and others. The point of contention seems to be that it looks like Mao is wearing lipstick. Advertisement Which, sure, I guess you could read that as disrespectful, but again, you have to think it would invite less criticism of the leader to just put the thing up.

4 X Portfolio, Robert Mapplethorpe Robert Mapplethorpe Though some of his work is now unfortunately coffee-table book fodder for pervs who want to come off as cultured, Robert Mapplethorpe was a genuinely controversial artist in the 1970s and 1980s. Given that the subject of much of his photography was queer culture, combined with the fact that Mapplethorpe himself was a victim of the AIDS epidemic, its not surprising that hackles were high. What brought it to a head was a posthumous exhibition of his work including the X Portfolio. The images in this collection wouldnt be Instagram-friendly today, and they were even less so in the 1980s. The focus was sadomasochism within gay culture, and as youd guess, the pictures were heavy on leather and dick. It put the art world and the prude population at odds, since suddenly society had to decide what to do if a photo that was undeniably important art just so happened to feature a man pissing in another man's mouth. Advertisement The Corcoran Gallery in Washington, D.C. canceled the exhibition altogether, and when it went up at the Cincinnati Contemporary Arts Center, the museum found itself in a court of law fighting obscenity charges. Advertisement

3 Sibathontisele, Owen Maseko Owen Maseko Its a horrible catch-22 that oppressive governments naturally inspire revolutionary art thats destined to be censored by the subjects. Of course, as Ive mentioned, that might be the artists intent. The governments in question seem never to learn that destroying art is the best way possible to make sure people give it more than a passing glance. Thats exactly what the Zimbabwean government did to an exhibition by artist Owen Maseko. Advertisement They didnt have much work to do proving that the pieces were anti-government. They pretty explicitly referenced massacres in Matabeland, war crimes carried out on the instruction of President Robert Mugabe. Governments, as everyone knows, really hate it when you point out war crimes they did. When the exhibition opened, it was raided by police and the artworks were covered with newspapers. But not before pictures were taken to be used in the extensive media coverage of the incident.

2 Paintings by Zehra Dogan Advertisement Zehra Dogan Turkish artist Zehra Dogan found out just how dramatically a single painting can change someones life when she earned the ire of the Turkish government. She painted a watercolor that transformed a government image from a Turkish bombing, turning the government vehicles into dark monsters. The government was definitely not a fan, and came after her with wholly overboard levels of fervor. The painting itself was destroyed, but they didnt consider that enough. Advertisement Dogan was imprisoned for the creation of the painting, and spent three years in Turkish prison. She was eventually acquitted and freed, partly thanks to works by the Old Navy of street art, Banksy. Ill give him begrudging respect for that, even if the art itself was predictably dumb  a jail cell made of tally marks. The walls are simply resplendent with the fragments of my blown mind!
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Whaaat??? How can anyone survive that? By all the laws of politics the Trump campaign should today be a smoking ruin.

He's a felon. He's a criminal  and he is the first president in US history to be convicted of such ostensibly serious offences.

Every time that jury foreman pronounced the word 'Guilty' in the Manhattan court on Thursday, he should by all normal logic have been dealing a death-blow to Donald Trump's hopes of regaining the White House.

He said it not just once but 34 times. This was no ordinary political assassination. This was a machine-gun mob-style hit-job on Trump.

This was no ordinary political assassination, writes Boris Johnson. This was a machine-gun mob-style hit-job on Donald Trump, pictured yesterday

When the news flashed up on the world's screens, there were commentators in studios everywhere whose voices audibly trembled with excitement. For a brief intoxicating moment it was as if they truly believed they had got him.

It looked as though the great global coalition of fastidious anti-Trumpies had finally found the bazooka big enough to penetrate the pachydermous Presidential front-runner.

As Trump left the courtroom, we were invited to contemplate a parade of delirious images: Trump in handcuffs, Trump doing the perp walk to the cells; Trump in an orange jump suit; Trump meeting retribution in the showers of some appalling penitentiary.

My Oh My, they hugged themselves. It was all too magnificent. You could tell by the sheer size of the GUILTY headlines in the Left-liberal media  the breathless awe of the TV reporters  that they viewed this as a truly seismic moment, a once-in-a-generation political event.

It was HISTORIC, they all said. HISTORIC. Because there was now a real chance that Trump could actually be incarcerated  at the crucial moment in the Presidential election, when he is nailed on as the Republican candidate.

Surely no one would vote for a convicted felon  let alone one who might actually begin his term of office in the New York correctional facility in Sing Sing. Surely this was the end of his poll lead, they said.

Surely this was the end of his run altogether...

And then the first poll appeared.

To the evident amazement of the pundits it appeared that most voters were indifferent to the verdict  by quite a large majority. But at least in the poll I saw there was an astonishing 15 per cent who were now more likely to vote for him, after the conviction, than they were before.

Again, you look at that kind of polling data, and you say, Whaaat? Week after week Trump has been forced to sit in that Manhattan court room. He has been subjected to all sorts of indignities and embarrassments, not least the unnecessarily extended and lubricious testimony of porn star Stormy Daniels.

He has now been found guilty on all counts  and yet more than one in six of all voters now says they are more likely to vote for him. What is going on?

I suppose Trump's critics will say that his supporters have been brainwashed. The Left will say that his Teflon invulnerability is just evidence of the way he has corrupted politics.

They will say that the Trumpies are mad, wrong, flat-earthers and Roswell believers. Well, I disagree.

As it happens, I sympathise with the Trump supporters in their view of this trial, and its verdict. I didn't like what happened in Washington on Jan 6 2021 when rioters stormed the Capitol. I believe that Trump should have conceded to Joe Biden immediately.

But in the end the American Constitution worked, and there was a peaceful and timely transition of power from one administration to the next.

Insofar as there is any attempt to corrupt the democratic political process, to me it is in the attempts of his enemies to use lawfare  cases like this one  to keep Donald Trump off the ballot, and to deprive the American people of the chance to vote for him.

That is why those 34 guilty counts have done nothing  so far  to shift the dial, and I doubt very much that they will.

The American people have looked at this case, and in spite of all the portentous claims about its HISTORIC importance, they have concluded that it was, by and large, a load of stunted-up old nonsense.

Then prime minister Boris Johnson meets then US president Donald Trump at the UN in 2019

The issue was not whether Stormy Daniels was telling the truth about her relations with Trump, or how much she was paid to keep quiet. The issue was whether there was any reliable evidence that Trump knew that the payments necessitated some dodgy accounting in one of his businesses.

Whatever else it showed, the trial revealed that there was almost zero such evidence  except for the testimony of a proven liar called Michael Cohen. The New York prosecutors were mysteriously able to winkle Cohen out of prison  where he was doing time for other crimes  and persuade him to testify against Trump.

It was nakedly political. It was completely artificial. The Democrat prosecutors thought they were being so clever: tripping Trump up over this technicality  like collaring Al Capone for tax evasion, they probably told themselves.

Except that everyone with any common sense can see what I consider their real motives, how they were combing the rule book for stuff to use against Trump, how they went trawling for witnesses to testify against him, no matter how tainted or how biased.

The vast mass of American voters could see what I believe was really happening: that the liberal elites were just appalled at Trump's continuing popularity and his ability to connect with voters  and they were using anything they could find to derail his campaign.

That is why the anti-Trump lawfare is backfiring, and I believe Senator Lindsey Graham is right when he says it will do more to strengthen Trump than to harm him.

The Left-liberal lawyers have been immensely foolish. They have been using the very techniques  confected legal proceedings  that are used by tyrannical governments around the world to keep their opponents tied up and unable to contest elections.

New Yorkers who oppose Trump take to the streets in Manhattan to celebrate his conviction

It is one of the oldest tricks in the anti-democratic handbook. If you can't defeat a candidate at the ballot box, get the lawyers on to it and paper him or her with writs.

When we see this happening in Africa, or in Russia, we denounce it as authoritarian and corrupt.

Well, the American people have looked at it, and decided that the methods and the motives are fundamentally the same.

Whatever his detractors may say, I believe that Donald Trump  at his best  could offer the world the strong, confident leadership that it needs.

On the most important geo-strategic issue of our time, the freedom of Ukraine, he has the energy and coherence to ensure we get the right answer: the defeat of Putin, and a clear message to the world, especially China, that aggression does not pay.

If you look dispassionately at his time in office, both on the domestic and international front, it was far more successful than his Left-wing critics allow. They should not be using legal tricks like this to prevent him from receiving the judgment that really matters  the verdict of the people.

Whatever they may claim now, that is exactly what his opponents were hoping these cases would achieve. More fool them.

By pursuing these cases, they have helped to make his victory more likely, not less.
With the election campaign just a week old, we have already seen a plethora of dubious assertions, backed by equally dubious statistics.

Rachel Reeves' claim that putting VAT on private school fees would raise enough to fund 6,500 new state sector teachers springs immediately to mind.

But for the sheer scale of self-delusion involved, nothing matches Labour's plan to 'make Britain a clean energy superpower', launched in Scotland yesterday.

There was a sense of the absurd from the start when Sir Keir Starmer arrived to preach his carbon reduction sermon by gas-guzzling private jet. He appeared not to appreciate the irony.

The claims made in the policy document are truly fantastic. Cut bills by 1,400 a year, 50,000 new jobs in Scotland alone, mass insulation, zero-carbon by 2030.

With the election campaign just a week old, we have already seen a plethora of dubious assertions, backed by equally dubious statistics

The first step would be to create a new quango (because that always works), supported by a National Wealth Fund of up to 8.3billion. But as Sir Keir keeps telling us we have no national wealth, where will the money come from?

Topping up already high levies on oil and gas firms may raise a fraction of it but certainly not all. The rest can come only from higher taxes or more borrowing.

Also, how many jobs will be lost in the oil and gas sectors as this transformation takes shape? The SNP puts the figure at 100,000.

Trade unions, too, expressed their disquiet. GMB chief Gary Smith describes the strategy as 'bad for investment, jobs and national security'. Unite says it is not 'viable' and urges Sir Keir to reconsider.

Rachel Reeves' claim that putting VAT on private school fees would raise enough to fund 6,500 new state sector teachers springs immediately to mind

And what of the inevitable public opposition to covering the countryside with wind turbines and solar panels? Labour says it will 'back the builders, not the blockers'. So will they ride roughshod over local objections to these eyesores?

Then there's the cost of replacing domestic gas boilers with massively expensive and often less efficient air source heat pumps.

No doubt Sir Keir and energy spokesman Ed Miliband can afford one, but many hard-pressed families can't.

This country is already a world leader in carbon reduction, even though we produce just 1 per cent of global greenhouse gases. Between 1990 and 2023 we became the first major economy to halve emissions and we are rapidly increasing renewables. The Government hopes to reach Net Zero by 2035.

This is the sensible course. Racing to that target by 2030 would create genuine hardship and almost certainly crash the economy. It is simply untenable.

Like so many of Sir Keir's policies, it looks fine on paper but unravels at first contact with reality.

The divided states

Whatever your view of Donald Trump, his felony conviction by a New York court is profoundly damaging to Western security.

It exposes once again the deep fracture in American society, with one half celebrating the guilty verdict and the other believing it to be a cynical stitch-up designed to torpedo Trump's election chances.

Whatever your view of Donald Trump, his felony conviction by a New York court is profoundly damaging to Western security

It exposes once again the deep fracture in American society, with one half celebrating the guilty verdict and the other believing it to be a cynical stitch-up designed to torpedo Trump's election chances

Given the perilous state of the world, we need America to be strong. Right now, it looks weak and hopelessly divided.

The verdict will not prevent Trump running for President, but that means the choice for leader of the free world could well be between a convicted felon and an elderly man clearly past his intellectual prime.

How unedifying. Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping and the rest of the world's tyrants must be rubbing their hands with glee.
They erected a banner declaring that a Trader Joe's would arrive in 2025

A group of high school seniors has successfully tricked their town into thinking they'd soon be getting a Trader Joe's by erecting a banner declaring that the beloved grocery chain was 'coming soon.'

Like many high schools around the U.S., Northeast High School's graduating class in Pasadena, Maryland, traditionally pulls an annual prank on its community, which has 24,000 residents.

This year, they got up the hopes of many residents with a fake banner announcing that a Trader Joe's location would be up and running by spring of 2025.

While Trader Joe's does have 10 out of its nearly 600 locations in the Old Line state, sadly, none are in the town of Pasadena - though the closest location in, Annapolis, is just under a 25-minute drive away.

A town got its hopes up that they'd be getting a Trader Joe's in spring of 2025 after high school seniors placed a fake sign near an empty lot

Word soon got around on social media that the whole thing had been a prank - though even those fooled appreciated the joke

Were passers-by to scan the QR code on the fake banner, they were taken to the music video for Rick Astley's Never Gonna Give You Up - also known as being Rickrolled - a telltale sign that the promise of a Trader Joe's was a mere illusion.

Maryland local Marlena Calobong broke the news of the Trader Joe's hijinks on Facebook, writing: 'To my Pasadena friends Yesterday the Senior class of our local high school pranked the ENTIRE town!

'They hung a banner in front of an empty grocery store property that said 'Coming Soon: Trader Joes' with a QR code that Rick-Rolls you ('Never gonna give you up' by Rick Astley).

'The whole town was abuzz yesterday morning, thinking we were getting a Trader Joe's!

'AND again this morning to find out it was just a prank Well, they got us all!!! That was a good one!!!'

And this news left people devastated.

'Lol disappointing but oh well. All in good fun I guess,' one person commented.

'Kids can be so cruel,' a second joked, adding a laughing-face emoji.

Trader Joe's has 10 of its nearly 600 national locations in Maryland - but the closest one to Pasadena is in Annapolis, a little under a 25-minute drive away

Local realtor Alyssa Smith admitted she was among those to be fooled - and congratulated the seniors on the deftly executed prank

'Nice clean prank! Way to go!' a third praised.

Yet another continued to hold out hope, however, chiming in: 'I have a weird feeling traders will get wind of how thrilled everyone on fb (Facebook) was yesterday to be getting one in our area that they will put one in here. Just sayin.'

Local realtor Alyssa Smith took to TikTok to applaud the seniors, admitting she, too, had been fooled by the signage.

'Well played, Northeast High School seniors,' she commended the students.

'If you are a victim of the senior prank that a Trader Joe's was coming to Pasadena, raise your hand,' she added with her own hand raised.

She further explained they'd put the banner in the 'Mars parking lot, which has been empty for ages.'

Alyssa may have been referring the former location of the now-defunct Mars Supermarkets. According to Supermarket News, Mars closed its Pasadena location in 2015.

She further speculated that the kids perhaps had accepted some intergenerational guidance on the project, given the aspect of the Rickroll - an internet prank dating back to the aughts.

'These kids had to have had help from older millennials or Gen Xers because how do they even know what a rickroll is?' she speculated.

'I mean, come on. Too funny.'
Charles Spencer's youngest son tends to keep his name out of the spotlight, but in a new interview, British aristocrat Ned Spencer dismissed claims he's a 'nepo baby' and said he'd worked 'almost too hard' to reach his career as a DJ.

In an interview for Tatler's July edition, Earl Spencer's son, formally, known as the Hon Edmund Spencer, told all of his tearaway life as a student DJ. 'I'm so different, it's crazy,' he said.

Meanwhile rejecting ties to his privilege, the 20-year-old nephew of Princess Diana, has launched a surprisingly successful career in DJing while studying as a student at Oxford Brookes University.

Though the Spencer estate is not only more than 500 years old and comes with 13,000 acres of land, the potential heir of the estate, denied all suggestion that he had banked in on his family's wealth.

When asked about his quick success as a barely 20-year-old performing in popular clubs and venues, he said: 'I like to think I've got to this place because of just me.

Ned Spencer pictured next to his father, Charles Spencer, and his wife Karen, in 2012

'I've worked really hard. Almost too hard.

It's up to me now I am my own person I control what I do. Just let the music do the talking.'

Earlier this year, his father posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, to a ticket link to his youngest son's upcoming show. He wrote: 'My son Ned is DJ at the below event - tickets are available here.'

My son Ned is DJ at the below event - tickets are available here: -https://t.co/H1YBFrdq3q pic.twitter.com/5JAwjmHeYR  Charles Spencer (@cspencer1508) March 17, 2024

Having spent most of his life sheltered from the media, Ned isn't as recognisable as some of his siblings who chose to lend their life to the spotlight.

Half sisters from Charles' first marriage to Victoria Aitken, including Lady Kitty Spencer, 33, Lady Amelia Spencer, 31, and Lady Eliza Spencer, 31, are far more outgoing with their media presence.

The young DJ is one of nine siblings and half siblings, whom he his presumably close to since he has joined sister, Eliza and Amelia on several holiday to St Tropez and Ibiza.

He also said he regularly sees his three half brothers, Iscount Althorp from his father, 30, and Jonah, 27, and George Freud, 28, his mother's sons from her marriage to Matthew Freud.

Ned also has two younger siblings, his sister Lady Lara, 18, and half-sister Lady Charlotte Diana, 11, who is Charles's daughter with his stepmother Karen Countess Spencer.

Ned, who is formerly known as Hon Edmund Spencer, started DJing while at university and now hopes to build his career from it

Ned performing at a venue in London. Earlier this year, his father posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, to a ticket link to his youngest son's upcoming show

Ned's younger sister also prefers to step away from the spotlight though she was spotted in a rare appearance giving her father a cuddle at his book launch after the Earl shared the photo on his Instagram earlier this year.

Unlike his siblings' obvious media presence, the Earl's son insisted that even many of his friends don't know his true identity.

When asked in the interview why he had chosen to change his first name for his on stage performances, the Gen Z aristocrat said: 'I don't want to use anyone's name for my benefit. It's a moral thing.'

Ned's response to the suggestion that his family's heritage had given him a leg up, was that this was impossible since DJing was too 'different' from Althorp, his father's Northampton estate.

Despite denying the privileges afforded by his father's vast estate, the young was willing to admit he found sanctuary in the Northampton estate and explained he'd been juggling between studying there and partying.

Ned, pictured covering a DJ set, admitted he didn't want to completely change his name for performing because it might be too embarrassing

The young DJ sharing his upcoming performance dates.

Because of his lifestyle choice, Ned said he used Althorp as a retreat from heavy weekends and DJ shifts that start in the middle of the night.

Ned is a student at Oxford Brookes university studying Events Management. He said he hoped to turn his interest in live music into a fully fledged career.

On LinkedIn page, he described having :'...worked at Festivals, performed live DJ sets, and helped manage several DJ/ club nights.'

The youngster has performed at several venues including a sold out night at Corsica Studios, a popular nightclub in south London, as well as Ministry of Sound nightclub.

Though much his audience are under the influence of alcohol at the events, Ned claimed his needs were far simpler, requiring that only the music is 'good'. The DJ even said he's not interested in drinking alcohol.

Ned's father, Charles Spencer, met his second wife, Caroline Hutton, in Ned's university city of Oxford in 1989. The two connected after a successful date where the two enjoyed a hot chocolate together in the city.

They couple were engaged six later though their marriage only lasted eight years before he remarried Caroline, the mother of Ned. However, his marriage to Caroline fell through and the two were divorced six years later in 2007 when Ned was just three.

Following their split, Ned spent his childhood yo-yoing between his father's house in Althorp and his mother's Notting Hill home where he currently lives.

Though, the 20-year-old isn't grateful for the bed and board at his mother's central London home and said he hates the busyness of city life.

Luckily for the Earl's son, he was able to spend much his younger years at leafy Bradfield College, a private school near Reading.

A far cry from his parents first date, the DJ aspiring son spent many hours performing so thousands of sweating dancing bodies at all kinds of venues in London and Oxford. The youngster is also due to perform at Reading, Boomtown, and Parklife this year.

Though much his audience are under the influence of alcohol at the events, Ned claimed his needs were far simpler, requiring that only the music is 'good'. The DJ even said he's not interested in drinking alcohol.
A woman has laid bare her chilling encounter with sexual predator and killer Victor Paleologus, who was known for luring in multiple woman by offering to make their Hollywood dreams come true as he posed as a film producer.

In 2003, Victor roamed the Century City mall in Los Angeles looking to spot a beautiful woman who would soon fall victim to his deadly scheme.

It was then that he met 21-year-old Kristine 'Kristi' Johnson and enticed her with an audition to become the next Bond Girl. However, just two weeks after meeting Victor, Kristi's lifeless body was found by hikers in a nearby ravine.

Nearly three decades later, Kristi's story will feature in a new episode of Dateline that will air on Friday night, with another woman speaking about her chilling interaction with Victor.

In an exclusive clip shared with DailyMail.com, key witness Alice Walker speaks out for the first time on the NBC show in a sit-down interview with Keith Morrison.

Alice Walker has laid bare her chilling encounter with a sexual predator and killer Victor Paleologus, who was known for luring multiple woman into traps

Alice recalls the eerie encounter she had with Victor and how she later came to discover the killer was preying on her at the same time as Kristi.

She said during their 'very strange' meeting she 'did this walk in circles' and then Victor had her 'cross my legs and then... poke one ankle over the other ankle.'

'And it was just very important that my ankles were really, really tight,' she added.

Upon hearing her story, Keith responds, 'That's strange,' with Alice echoing: 'Very strange.'

In a voice over, the reporter adds: 'But not frightening... yet. Then Victor told her she would have to come back again when the director was available, and so a few days later, she did.

'But, there was still no director and this time, it got a little weird. When he told her to try on the neck tie he had brought with him.'

Alice then continues her story: 'So what I did is, he put the necktie on, and I put my thumb in front of the knot so that he couldn't tie a necktie on me for real. And I just kept my finger there....'

Keith questions: 'You really did that?'

Now, a new episode of the podcast is set to detail another woman's terrifying brush with death (the building where Alice met with Victor)

The trailer for the episode begins with a sit-down interview with Alice and Keith

She replied: 'Yeah, I took the necktie off, I went to leave. He said, "Well let's try again in a day or two. I'll see what the schedule is."'

The clip also shows the spot where Victor lured Alice to.

Friday night's episode will also include interviews with another key witness Cathy DeBuono.

In 2003, Victor roamed the Century City mall in Los Angeles looking to spot a beautiful woman who would soon become victim to his deadly scheme

Alice's shocking story became even creepier when she discovered what the man she had met had done to Kristi.

Before she was found dead, Kristi's roommate told investigators that the aspiring star 'was very excited when she came home because she was going to audition for a James Bond clip.'

Former prosecutor Ronald E. Bowers shed further light on the details of Kristi's exchange with the man she met at the mall, previously telling Oxygen's Real Murders Of Los Angeles: 'She was told if she had a white blouse, black miniskirt, nylons and stiletto heels, that would really impress.'

The man also told Kristi the job would pay $100,000.

Kristi had worked as a makeup artist but when she went off to the supposed audition she had been working at a cell phone company, the Los Angeles Times reported.

On February 15, she headed up to the Hollywood Hills in her white Mazda Miata and stopped to ask directions.

Kristi's mother Terry Hall reported her daughter missing after she failed to show up to work two days later.

To figure out what happened to the 21-year-old, a tip line was established for the public to call in with any information about Kristi.

Kristine 'Kristi' Johnson (pictured with mom Terry Hall) was just 21 when a stranger approached her at an LA mall and told her he was film producer looking for the next Bond girl

He arranged to meet her in the Hollywood Hills for the audition. Just over two weeks later, Kristi's body would be found by hikers in a nearby ravine. She's pictured left and right as a child

Hundreds of calls flooded in, including from three women - one of whom was Susan Murphy - who recalled a similar story to Kristi's.

Susan told investigators that she had been at the same mall where Kristi had been on January 24 when she was sought out by a man who asked her to audition for a Bond movie.

Another detail that stuck out was Susan revealed she was also asked to wear an identical outfit described by Kristi to her roommate.

Wary of the situation, Susan took her boyfriend when she met the man for a second time the following day.

When they requested identification from him, the man, who would eventually be identified by Susan as Victor, ran off.

Other women who came forward had near identical experiences to Susan and Kristi, and their stories matched his pattern of criminal history.

For example in 1989, Victor, posing as a Columbia Records executive, attacked Christine Kludjian, then 21, in a hotel room after he invited her to a music industry party.

She was able to escape and Victor was handed three years' probation for false imprisonment by violence.

Tragically for Kristi (seen as a child), almost three weeks after she first met Victor, hikers found her body in a Hollywood Hills ravine on March 3

Nearly a decade later, in 1998, he was accused of the attempted rape of a 24-year-old woman, again luring her in with the opportunity to appear in a Bond film. He was sentenced to prison time, but was released on parole in 2003 after spending three years and five months behind bars, the LA Times reported.

But tragically for Kristi, almost three weeks after she first met Victor, hikers found her body in a Hollywood Hills ravine on March 3.

Her hands and ankles had been tied up, and she had been strangled.

Victor dodged the possibility of the death penalty when he pleaded guilty in 2006 to murdering Kristi.

Instead, the then 44-year-old was sentenced to 25 years to life.

In July 2023, a group organized to honor the 21-year-old, known as Justice For Kristi, campaigned to block her killer's potential release on parole.

Almost 20 years after he was imprisoned, Victor was scheduled for a parole hearing.

'Paleologus doesn't deserve freedom and a second chance to endanger another innocent victim. Before Kristi's murder, he demonstrated how chronically dangerous he is when in 1998, he was convicted of rape of Heather Maher,' the group said in a statement at the time.

'He served five years at Men's Colony in San Luis Obispo and was released on January 20, 2003.'

Eventually, the killer waived his right to a parole hearing and will not be eligible again until 2025.

'What a weight off of my back this is,' Kristi's mom Terry told Oxygen.com after hearing the news.

'It's interesting, sometimes in life you don't realize what a big burden you're carrying until it's lifted from you.'

Friday's special episode of Dateline entitled The Girl With The Hibiscus Tattoo will air on NBC at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.
Each of the nine countries Natalie visited cost her no more than 250 per trip

A savvy globetrotter has shared her ingenious way of exploring the world for less than 1000 - claiming her European travels cost less than taking the train around the UK.

Natalie Barrett, 41, from Leeds, longed to break free from her mundane Monday to Friday routine, and would regularly spend hours trawling the internet to source the best deals for a few nights abroad.

But, with the average trip costing around 1,000 per person, as well as needing to take a large amount of annual leave at work each time, the process became more draining for Barrett than enjoyable.

However, the digital platform manager has now mastered the art of budget-friendly trips, allowing her to visit nine countries in just five months - and it only cost her 800.

In total, Barrett has managed to visit Switzerland, Spain, Albania, Denmark, Sweden, North Macedonia, the Czech Republic, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina in less than a year.

Natalie Barrett, 41, from Leeds, has shared her ingenious way of exploring the world for less than the cost of a train ticket in the UK. Pictured in Copenhagen

Pictured: Barrett's trip to Bosnia. Barrett has now mastered the art of budget-friendly trips, allowing her to visit nine countries in just five months - and it only cost her 800

Pictured: Barrett's trip to Dubrovnik

Barrett, who frequently shares her travel experiences and tips on Instagram under the handle @travelmorewithnat, aims to inspire others to seize the opportunity to travel without breaking the bank.

She said: 'I loved the idea of being able to travel and experience a taste of a location in a day for relatively little money.'

Barrett's impressive strategy revolves around being flexible with travel dates and taking advantage of midweek flights, which are often the cheapest.

She explained: 'To get the best deal, I look at what flights are coming up cheapest and if it's a place I want to go to or haven't been before. I can usually be flexible on dates, which really helps to find the bargains.

'I often travel midweek, as that is when the cheapest flights are; although my annual leave allowance is limited, so for future trips I'm trying to find some weekend dates.'

Barrett, who used to go abroad up to three times a year, usually travels with her boyfriend, her sons or to meet up with long distance friends - but now, she prefers to take trips solo.

The financial comparison is stark - according to LNER, the average return train ticket from Leeds to Newton Abbot costs 390.60 in standard class.

In contrast, the savvy mother spends no more than 150 per person for her international trips - bar one single journey.

Pictured: Natalie Barrett's trip to Dubrovnik. Barrett's impressive strategy revolves around being flexible with travel dates and taking advantage of midweek flights, which are often the cheapest

Pictured: Natalie Barrett's trip to Struga

Pictured: Natalie on her trip to Alicante. The savvy mother spends no more than 150 per person for her international trips - bar one single journey

Pictured: Natalie Barrett's trip to Prague

Pictured: Natalie on her trip to Alicante

For instance, her journey to Geneva and Montreux cost a mere 115, covering parking, flights, train travel, and food and drink. A similar trip to Alicante set her back only 72.

In Copenhagen and Malmo, she spent a total of 150, while a visit to Prague was just 110.

Even trips that included hotel stays, such as her visits to Tirana and Struga, remained budget-friendly at 103, while her visits to Dubrovnik and Mostar, including flights and hotels, cost her 250 altogether.

She said: 'Each trip tends to be between one or two days, otherwise the costs start to rack up with accommodation and more meals, as well as sightseeing to factor in.

'I try and visit more than one country if staying longer than day, which works out better value than visiting each location on separate trips.

'I'll usually take my own breakfast, snacks and even a packed lunch to save on costs, or get cheaper to-go food rather than have a sit down meal.'

So far, Prague tops her list of favorite destinations, with Alicante close behind. Looking ahead, Barrett plans to visit Belfast, Romania, Monaco, Brussels, and Milan, with day trips to Lake Como, Verona, and Bergamo - all for less than 500 in total.

The mother claims that her solo trips have given her a new lease of life, adding: 'My quality of life has improved so much, travel is definitely good for the mind.

Pictured: Natalie Barrett's trip to Montreux

Pictured: Natalie on her trip to Alicante

Pictured: Natalie Barrett's trip to Tirana. Trips that included hotel stays, such as her visits to Tirana and Struga, remained budget-friendly at 103

Pictured: Natalie Barrett's trip to Dubrovnik

'I get so much enjoyment out of the planning and being away, exploring new places and getting some sunshine. It helps physically too. I get backache from my desk job, so being on my feet walking more helps so much.'

Barrett insists she would 'love' to visit places in the UK more often, but is usually thrown off by extortionate costs, adding: 'In the UK, a day out in London would cost far more than any of these trips for me, with peak train tickets costing 250+ alone.'

'I'd love to see places like Devon and Cornwall, but the length of travel and price of accommodation especially there always puts me off when youre not guaranteed good weather and places to stay cost several hundreds of pounds a night when Ive looked.

'Its far cheaper and faster to go abroad and you have much better chance of sunshine.'

Meanwhile, Jack's Flight Club has revealed how you can visit 30 destinations across seven countries from New York to Venice... using only 25 days of annual leave and spending just 1,358 on planes and trains.
A schoolgirl from the Irish tween rapper group who sent the internet into meltdown with their 'song of the summer' has said she is 'in shock' by how much the track has blown up online.

'The Spark' was released by Rhyme Island, a rap group made up of 30 nine to 12-year-olds from the outskirts of Cork, earlier this month and has since racked up at least eight million views.

The group was created by the non-profit creative hub Kabin Studio and the government initiative Creative Ireland. As well as local performers, the song also features child refugees living in Lisdoonvarna, County Clare.

The school children's song has since been featured on social media websites such as TikTok and Instagram, with thousands of people making their own clips to the song and even joking that this should have been Ireland's Eurovision entry.

Sophia McNamara, who is 11 years old, performs under the name Miss Sombrero and is one of the children who sang on the track.

She told the Irish Independent: 'There are so many people watching it, I am in shock, my brain is like "wha!" Famous people have commented on it  it's been unreal.'

Sophia McNamara, who is 11 years old, performs under the name Miss Sombrero and is one of the children who sung on the track (pictured)

Garry McCarthy, creative director of Kabin Studio, told the outlet: 'We knew it was a belter and the video was class. We knew it would get a bit of traction locally or nationally but werent expecting this. This is crazy.'

The two-and-a-half-minute music video, which sees children dancing on a bus, running through the streets and dancing in a club, opens with the cheeky lyric: 'Think you can stop what we do? I doubt it.'

The young performers later rap: 'We got the energy, we'll tell you all about it. I searched for my spark and I found it.'

In the video, the children went to a rave-like setting and donned bucket hats, gold chains and colourful clothing as they sang enthusiastically into the camera.

Sophia said they had a smoke machine and bubbles in the venue, The Pav, which has a massive stage. 'We got ice cream in town and it was just such a lovely day,' she said.

Speaking about the clothing choices, the schoolgirl said she got a plain white hat and enjoyed drawing all over it with paint markers.

Sophia said they had a smoke machine and bubbles in the venue, The Pav, which has a massive stage

She can be seen in the music video rapping the first verse, where she says: 'Making bangers at a young age, my pen setting fire to the page'

She can be seen in the music video rapping the first verse, where she says: 'Making bangers at a young age, my pen setting fire to the page, I'm gonna show you how to rock that stage.'

The music video, which was filmed in a single day, was released ahead of Ireland's national day of children's creativity on June 15 - but has become a surprise hit on social media.

After being picked up by local media, the music video caught the attention of author and Observer columnist Seamas O'Reilly, who shared it with his 97,000 followers.

He gushed: 'Some Irish primary school kids made a tune and there is zero legitimate reason for it to go this hard, holy s**t.'

The author's rave review has since amassed over 75,000 'likes' and prompted the video to be shown to over 8million viewers.

'This should have been Ireland's Eurovision entry,' one fan replied. Another added: 'Holy hell, I didn't think a day would ever exist when I would want the sound of a bunch of bratty kids yelling, injected directly into my veins.'

A third gushed: 'Sounds like a Dizzee Rascal track!' Meanwhile, a fourth replied: 'I pressed play fully expecting this to be a joke and for it to just be okay but WHAT THIS IS ACTUALLY A BANGER?!'

The music video, which was filmed in a single day, was released ahead of Ireland's national day of children's creativity on June 15

Pictured: The Spark music video. In the video, the children went to a rave-like setting and donned bucket hats, gold chains and colourful clothing as they sang enthusiastically into the camera

Over on TikTok, musician The Refuge Psystem also dubbed it the 'song of the summer'.

Speaking to The Guardian, producer Garry McCarthy said: 'The response has been amazing. The kids energy and positivity has inspired people. Its a really catchy song.'

The producer said the group had the idea for the song in March during one of the studio's weekly workshops.

He explained how the children then developed the verses and chorus during their Easter camp.

After being picked up by local media, the music video caught the attention of author and Observer columnist Seamas O'Reilly, who shared it with his 97,000 followers

The author's rave review has since amassed over 75,000 'likes' and prompted the video to be shown to over 8million viewers

Following this, the Kabin Studio team took the song to the refugee centre in Lisdoonvarna, where they finished it off with the young performers living there.

The producer revealed that the children write songs every week at Kabin Studio but The Spark 'just happened to go a little further'.

Cruinniu na nOg - which translates as the 'national day of children's creativity' - will feature over 1,000 free events for children and teenagers across Ireland on June 15.
The daughter of Princess Martha Louise of Norway has broken down in tears while speaking about her father Ari Behn's suicide nearly five years ago.

Maud Angelica Behn, 21, appeared on her mother's HeartSmart Conversations podcast as a guest, where she spoke of her regrets over her father's suicide on Christmas Day 2019.

She burst into tears as she said she had 'so much love for him that I could not show him'.

Maud was just 16 years old when her author father took his own life. A week after his death, she gave a rousing speech about mental health support at his funeral which saw her given a 'bravest woman in Norway' award by a Norwegian magazine. To this day, she said people still stop her in the street and thank her for the speech.

Speaking four-and-a-half years later, Maud told her mother and co-presenters of the podcast, Mari Manzetti and Lilli Bendriss, how the death still affects her to this day.

Since her father's death, Maud's mother Martha Louise has found love again with controversial American Shamanic Healer Durek Verrett - and eventually stepped down as a working royal due to scrutiny levelled at her beau for his controversial views about modern medicine.

Maud Angelica Behn of Norway, pictured, broke down in tears during a conversation about her father who died by suicide while she was a guest on the podcast HeartSmart Conversations

Maud Angelica Behn (centre), Leah Isadora Behn (left) and Emma Tallulah Behn (right) leave at the Cathedral of Oslo, on January 3, 2020, after attending their father's funeral alongside their mother, Princess Martha Louise (second back)

Speaking on the podcast, Maud said: 'My dad committed suicide on Christmas and since he was an author, there was a public funeral and I really wanted to give a speech.'

'It was a week until the funeral after I heard the news so I had to write the speech in that time in the worst mental space.

'In that moment, I felt like I had been more nervous to do school projects than at the funeral because I felt like my need for doing this was stronger than fear.

'I knew that if I didn't do the speech, I would regret it for the rest of my life because I really wanted to have that moment to say goodbye to my dad.'

Maud said she was inspired by the tragedy of her father's death to give a speech that she hoped might help others who were either be struggling with their own suicidal thoughts, or have also lost a person to suicide.

'I also appreciated that mum could also be right beside me during the speech because it's hard not to cry when giving a speech like that and she was able to be beside me.'

In a heartwarming moment, Maud confessed how grateful she was that her mum had been with her to help her grieve.

She then thanked all her loved ones for rallying to support her. 'I love crying!' she added, praising its powers of release.

After her father died, Maud (pictured) explained that she had started making origami birds to help her to grieve soon after her father died, an experience she called 'meditative'.

After her father died, Maud explained that she had started making origami birds to help her to grieve, an experience she called 'meditative'.

During her sorrow, she remembered hearing a line that resonated with her experience. 'Grief is love without a place to go'.

'There's many painful things about my dad's death but one of the most painful things was that I had so much love for him that I couldn't show him,' she said before breaking down in tears.

'Sometimes I do think of heaven and that he's watching over me and sometimes I can feel him on the other side but other times it's painful that he isn't physically here.'

During the conversation, she was comforted by her mother, Martha Louise, who considers herself deeply spiritual and even 'clairvoyant'. Her mother told her a heartwarming anecdote where she saw her deceased former husband where he was finally at rest.

After her father's death, Maud's upset eventually turned to anger. She realised how devastated she was that she wouldn't be able to gift any of the birds to her late father.

Nevertheless, she never stopped making the birds and ended up leaving them all over her school. Many of them were picked up and taken home by her classmates and other locals as a symbol of sympathy.

The three daughters of Ari Behn, pictured, mourning their father's death as their mother holds two of her children under her arm

'It was really healing for me because I could take something painful into art, into something beautiful that I could use my pain for creation.'

The 21-year-old has continued to express herself through creative outlets ever since her father died and now experiments with her own image.

Last year, she shaved her head and has recently dyed her hair green. Maud described treating herself as a piece of art she likes to dress for her own image.

Maud now honours her father in many ways including using his old typewriters and listening to jazz, his favourite kind of music, which hadn't managed to get into when he was alive.

Mr Behn was best known for his marriage to Princess Martha Louise of Norway, Maud's mother however, at the time, their marriage was shrouded in criticism. Mr Behn was deemed an unsuitable match for the former princess since he as a self-styled Bohemian author and artist.

They married in a lavish ceremony at the historic Nidaros Cathedral in Trondheim in 2002 but chose to flee to London ten years later following sustained scrutiny of their married life.

After their wedding, the couple had three children together Maud Angelica, 21, Leah Isadora, 19, and Emma Tallulah. Princess Martha Louise of Norway is the only daughter of King Harald V of Norway and Queen Sonja. She has a brother, Crown Prince Haakon.

Official royal family photograph celebrating Crown Prince Haakon (Up 2nd L) 45th birthday with his family, while he poses beside Princess Martha Louise (Up L), Crown Princess Mette-Marit (Up C), Princess Ingrid Alexandra (2nd R), Maud Angelica Behn (R), (Bottom L-R) Prince Sverre Magnus, Queen Sonja and King Harald V, in July 2018

However, Martha-Louise and Ari began divorce proceedings in 2016 because, as Princess Martha said, they had 'grown apart from one another' and 'no longer meet like we did before'.

At time, she said: 'We have tried everything over a long period of time, and when we still can't meet where we did before, it's impossible for us to continue,' she said reports Norway's News in English.

In an interview with the BBC last year Martha spoke about her first husband and the 'cristicism' he faced.

She said: 'His mental health depended a lot on him getting criticism in the media.

'But I am not saying it was anyone's fault. It is always how you handle criticism. The press took self-criticism after he died, that they were perhaps a little harsh towards him, and that he only received criticism and was actually a very nice person.'

After the divorce Mr Behn wrote a book Inferno, which critics described as 'oozing with despair and sadness' and describes his struggles with mental health, headaches, hallucinations and difficulty breathing.

Pictured: Princess Martha Louise's husband-to-be Durek Verret with his celebrity client Gwyneth Paltrow

Since the death her husband, Princess Martha Louise has become engaged to Durek Verrett, an American businessman who is a friend of Gwyneth Paltrow's.

The relationship has been another controversial chapter in the Norwegian royal's life as Mr Verrett's controversial opinions were thrust into the limelight when their romance became public.

Eyebrows were raised when the Princess first began dating Verrett, who holds some controversial and pseudoscientific views, including that cancer in children can be caused by 'being unhappy'.

In November 2022, Princess Martha announced she was stepping down as a senior member of the Royal Family in a move labelled 'Norway's Megxit'.

In an interview with the BBC last year, she praised her parents, King Harald and Queen Sonja, for keeping the dialogue open while she made her decision and they worked out the details about how the arrangements would work.

When asked about her decision in comparison with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who also stepped down as senior royals, she spoke about her 'amazing' family, including King Harald and Queen Sonja, and how the dialogue between them has always remained open.

If you are struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, you can contact the Samaritans online or call their 24/7 hotline 116 123
Queen Letizia of Spain was all smiles as she attended a book fair in Madrid today - despite the recent release of a bombshell book which claimed her husband King Felipe was left 'crushed and destroyed' by her alleged infidelity.

The mother-of-two, 51, looked the epitome of elegance in a white suit teamed with a vibrant green shirt and her favoured white trainers as she stepped out solo in the Spanish capital.

Letizia waved to onlookers and looked at ease as she toured the 83rd Book Fair of Madrid, held from 31 May to 16 June, in the city's Retiro Park.

The former journalist - who usually attends the annual event solo - appeared utterly engrossed in the contents of the fair, showing herself to be something of a bookworm as she browsed some of the stalls set up.

Her appearance comes after journalist Jaime Penafiel, 91, launched a fresh attack on the European Queen with his new book 'Letizia's Silences', which was was published in Spain this week.

Queen Letizia of Spain was all smiles as she attended a book fair in Madrid today - despite the recent release of a bombshell book which claimed her husband King Felipe was left 'crushed and destroyed' by her alleged infidelity

Following his first best-selling book 'Letizia & I' (which alleged that Letizia had an affair with her ex brother-in-law Jamie del Burgo), the veteran royal reporter claims in his latest work that Felipe was 'aware' of his wife's alleged infidelity 'in real time'.

This isn't the first time Letizia has been seen since the book's release; the Spanish King and Queen put on a united front when at a board meeting with the patrons of The Gallery Of The Royal Collections in Madrid yesterday.

In January, Jaime Penafiel was sacked by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo after 20 years following a series of damaging allegations made in his first book 'Letizia & I'.

His best-selling book alleged that Queen Letizia had an affair with her ex-brother-in-law Jamie del Burgo. The Spanish Royal Household refused to comment on the claims at the time.

In his latest work, Jamie claims that Felipe was 'aware that Letizia was cheating on him in real time' as her bodyguards have an obligation to report on her whereabouts.

The author alleges that bodyguards joined Queen Letizia on a trip she took to New York in 2011 with her 'lover' Jaime del Burgo, whom she had dated before meeting Felipe.

The author wrote: 'That day [in New York], she was accompanied by her faithful escorts, who, without a doubt, any, they would pass a report to the Ministry of the Interior or [the Palace of] Zarzuela.'

Following this, Jaime claims that Felipe has been left 'crushed and destroyed' by his wife's alleged cheating.

The mother-of-two, 51, looked the epitome of elegance in a white suit teamed with a vibrant green shirt and her favoured white trainers as she stepped out solo in the Spanish capital

The former journalist - who usually attends the annual event solo - appeared utterly engrossed in the contents of the fair, showing herself to be something of a bookworm as she browsed some of the stalls set up

Letizia kept her hair straight and down while opting for a smattering of glamorous makeup

Letizia waved to onlookers and looked at ease as she toured the 83rd Book Fair of Madrid, held from 31 May to 16 June, in the city's Retiro Park

Her appearance comes after journalist Jaime Penafiel, 91, launched a fresh attack on the European Queen with his new book 'Letizia's Silences', which was was published in Spain this week

Spanish Queen Letizia during opening of Madrid Book Fair today

The royal reporter - who worked for Hola! magazine for 20 years - claims that Felipe has been 'plunged into hell' by his wife's supposed 'betrayal' and 'wants to get out'.

Elsewhere in the book, Jamie labels Queen Letizia 'cold, emotionally immature and passive aggressive' and makes unsubstantiated claims she is 'hated' by King Felipe's family.

Jaime Penafiel, 91, was sacked by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo after 20 years earlier this year following the publication of first book on the Queen called 'Letizia & I'.

The book sent shockwaves through the Spanish Royal Family after the author alleged that the Queen had a romantic relationship with her ex-brother-in-law Jaime del Burgo. The Spanish Royal Household refused to comment on the claims at the time.

Following his dismissal, the veteran journalist has now written another book - called 'Letizia's Silences' - which begins by delving into her early romance with King Felipe.

In the opening chapter, the author sensationally claims that 'everything in Letizia's world has been broken' as a result of alleged 'deceit, adultery and betrayals'.

The author goes on to say Queen Letizia has a 'cold, indestructible and determined' aura about her and that the royal's silence on the recent allegations signify her 'emotional immaturity'.

Jaime claims the royal 'resorts to silence as a way of controlling and punishing other people'.

This isn't the first time Letizia has been seen since the book's release; the Spanish King and Queen put on a united front when at a board meeting with the patrons of The Gallery Of The Royal Collections in Madrid yesterday

Queen Letizia's ex brother-in-law Jaime del Burgo (left) with his ex-wife Telma when they were still married in 2014

He then goes on to claim that Letizia's 'passive aggressive' behaviour towards King Felipe is the reason her 'mother-in-law [Queen Sofia] and sisters-in-laws [Infanta Cristina and the Duchess of Lugo] hate her so much'.

In the following chapter, Jaime alleges that King Felipe fell in love with his future wife while watching her present the news.

TIMELINE OF DEL BURGO'S CLAIMS ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH SPAIN'S ROYAL FAMILY Pre-2000 - Letizia Ortiz, who was a newsreader at the time, meets Jaime del Burgo - the son of a politician - and the pair start dating

- Letizia Ortiz, who was a newsreader at the time, meets Jaime del Burgo - the son of a politician - and the pair start dating 2001 - Letizia and King Felipe meet on the site of a oil spillage. Jaime claims he was planning to propose when she told him about her new royal romance

- Letizia and King Felipe meet on the site of a oil spillage. Jaime claims he was planning to propose when she told him about her new royal romance 2003 - Letizia and Felipe announce engagement.

- Letizia and Felipe announce engagement. 2004 - The couple marry at Almudena Cathedral in Madrid. Jaime claims he was asked to be a witness during the ceremony

- The couple marry at Almudena Cathedral in Madrid. Jaime claims he was asked to be a witness during the ceremony 2005 - The couple welcome Princess Leonor

February 2007 - Letizia's sister Erika suddenly passes away

- Letizia's sister Erika suddenly passes away April 2007 - Princess Sofia is born. During one of her pregnancies, Jaime claims Letizia sends him a selfie confessing her love.

- Princess Sofia is born. During one of her pregnancies, Jaime claims Letizia sends him a selfie confessing her love. 2 010 - The couple reportedly profess their love for one another and allegedly meet with lawyers. Jaime claims they looked at properties in the US to move to. He also claims Letizia suggested they use a surrogate in LA to have a baby

- The couple reportedly profess their love for one another and allegedly meet with lawyers. Jaime claims they looked at properties in the US to move to. He also claims Letizia suggested they use a surrogate in LA to have a baby 2011 - Jaime claims Letizia ends their relationship over the phone

- Jaime claims Letizia ends their relationship over the phone 2 012 - Jaime marries Letizia's sister Telma. The couple relocate to New York

- Jaime marries Letizia's sister Telma. The couple relocate to New York 2014 - Telma and Jaime announce their separation Advertisement

Reports on how the royal couple got together have varied over the years - with some claiming they were introduced at dinner party while others allege they first met when Felipe visited an oil spillage site in Northern Spain.

When they began dating, Jaime claims Letizia would 'test' Felipe's feelings for her by travelling frequently.

In 2002, the future Queen flew to Santo Domingo to report on the annual Ibero-American Summit - which Jaime describes as Letizia putting Felipe's intentions 'to the test'.

Weeks later, the author claims Letizia flew to Costa Rica as a 'strategy' to secure the future King of Spain.

He explained: 'It was a strategy, because that absence was a real torment for the very much in love Felipe, who conceived distance as the worst of evils, coming to understand [Spanish poet] Lope de Vega when he said that "the beginning of absence is like the end of life."'

Following this, Jaime says Letizia was certain of the strength of Felipe's 'total love' for her and returned to Spain 'bossy and manipulative'.

What's more, the author claims that Felipe assured Letizia that he could 'cut short' any news outlet reporting on their romance.

During one of Felipe's visits to Letizia's Valdebernardo apartment, Jamie alleges that the journalist confided in royal about how she used to work as a cigarette stewardess while living in Mexico.

He also predicted the couple, who have maintained what the mainstream Spanish press have described as a dignified silence in the face of ongoing infidelity claims by Jaime del Burgo, would follow in the footsteps of Felipes parents Juan Carlos and Sofia.

Spains former king is now living in exile in Abu Dhabi after corruption investigations he was caught up in left his reputation in tatters although he returns to his homeland from time to time.

Later in the book, Jaime alleges that Felipe and Letizia are living separate lives and 'just keeping up appearances in public'.

Following its publication today, Spanish publication El Nacional Cat published a review claiming that Jaime Penafiel is 'determined to end the Queen's career' and described him as 'one of Letizia's biggest enemies.

In 'Letizia & I', the Queen's former brother-in-law Jaime del Burgo makes the unlikely claim that he was planning to propose to Letizia - who was a newsreader at the time - on the night that she told him that she was dating a high-profile man in Spain.

Letizia reportedly told him that she had 'met someone who would oblige her to quit her profession', which Jaime said led him to deduce her mystery partner was Felipe.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia and their parents on the couple's wedding day in May 2004

Veteran journalist Jaime Penafiel, 91, attends event in Madrid in December 2018. The author has confirmed he is no longer employed by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo

What's more, the royal's ex-brother-in-law also made the far-fetched claim that he 'dealt' with Letizia's pre-nuptial agreement and helped to front the cost of the Queen's family's wedding outfits.

He is quoted as saying: 'When the wedding with Felipe came round, I dealt with the pre-nuptial agreement as you know, amongst other things.

'I also had to pay Letizia's family's expenses because [former King] Juan Carlos refused to pay or even go halves with me. So with the help of my friend Felipe Varela, I dressed her mum, grandmother and her sisters. And with the help of Jaime Jason, her father, grandparents and a cousin.'

Jaime also makes the incredible claim that the Queen asked to see him the night before the wedding at the exclusive El Latigazo restaurant in Madrid - where she asked him to 'never leave' her.

Following his dismissal from Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the veteran journalist has now written another book - called 'Letizia's Silences' - which begins by delving into her early romance with King Felipe

He sensationally claimed: 'When we met, she took hold of my hand and asked me why I had never asked her to marry me. Obviously I didn't reply. I encouraged her as best I could. The last thing she said to me before we said goodbye to each other in that restaurant was a request: 'Never leave me.''

Jaime - who says the Queen nicknamed him her 'yogi pal' - claims he still had a romantic relationship with Letizia even after the wedding in 2004. He also claims he has kept 'photographs, videos, mobile phones' and text messages as evidence.

In the book, Jaime sensationally claims that Letizia whispered that she loved him when they were lying in a hammock by a pool at her home following Princess Leonor's birth.

One of the most damaging claims Jaime reportedly makes is that Queen Letizia suggested they have a child together using a surrogate in Los Angeles.

Around this time, Jaime claims that he confronted Letizia after photos of her kissing Felipe appeared on the covers of Spanish magazines.

He claims the Queen told him: 'I had to do it to protect us.'

He says in the book Jaime del Burgo told him Felipe and Letizia had a 'difficult relationship' and told him: 'Felipe uses me as a good man because he felt incapable of calming her down.'

After Letizia allegedly ended the 'relationship' in August 2011, Jaime claims that a female friend told him to get in touch with the Queen's sister Telma.

The following year, the pair got engaged after just two months of dating. However, the couple divorced 2014 following two years of marriage.
Her father, Stan Maples, passed away at 82 on Wednesday, May 29

Maples, 60, posted a photo to Instagram of herself with her dad earlier this week

Donald Trump's ex-wife Marla Maples has revealed that her father Stanley has died - sharing the heartbreaking news just one day after her former spouse was found guilty on 34 felony charges in his historic hush-money trial.

Marla, 60, who was married to Trump, 77, for six years from 1993 until 1999, took to Instagram today to confirm that her father, Stanley Maples, passed away on Wednesday at age 82.

The loving daughter shared an old video of her father singing her a hymn on her birthday a few years, while praising his 'beautiful spirit' in the touching tribute.

'This was just a couple of years ago at a friends cabin for my birthday. We were all gathered around sharing stories and Dad got up to sing for us' she revealed in the caption.

'Just wanted to share a bit of his beautiful spirit and his love for God with you now as we prepare for his Life celebration tomorrow.'

Donald Trump 's ex-wife Marla Maples has revealed that her father Stanley has died at age 82 just days after she asked for 'prayers' for his 'heart and mind health'

The 60-year-old's devastating news was shared just one day after her ex-husband (seen together in 1991) was found guilty on all 34 felony charges in his historic hush-money trial

Marla went on to reveal that her father's funeral service will take place on Saturday at a church in Cohutta, Georgia, while asking for loved ones to send donations to the church in lieu of flowers.

Stan's passing came two days after Marla thanked her followers for their 'prayers' for her father, revealing that he had been suffering some health issues with his 'heart and mind'.

Sharing a photo of herself and her father posing together in a medical facility, the ex-wife of the former president wrote it was 'so great' to be with her father and that she was praying for his health.

In the post, Maples wrote it was 'great' to spend time with her father, adding she was going to 'continue to support his heart and mind health,' whilst praying for a 'miracle.'

She continued the post, mentioning alternative medicine, while lamenting the fact that older generations - like her father - find it challenging to accept the idea of being treated by anything non-pharmaceutical.

'I do my best to bring the [naturopaths] and caring physicians and RNs together to find solutions,' she wrote.

'The world is waking up,' Trump's mistress-turned-second wife continued. 'But it takes such patience, listening and ongoing study.'

She then thanked people for their prayers.

Maples appeared to have a close relationship with her father, often sharing photos of the time they spent together on social media

Stan passed away at 82 on Wednesday, May 29, not long after Maples, 60, opened up about his health issues in an emotional Instagram post

Maples appeared to have a close relationship with her father and was his caregiver, often sharing photos of the time they spent together on social media.

In a video posted in March, Maples called caring for her father a 'priceless gift.'

'Never underestimate the time spent creating joy with those we love,' she captioned the clip of her father playing pool.

'I know well the challenges of caregiving for those who cared beyond measure for us,' she continued.

'Moments like this with my dad is a timeless reminder of the fun younger days spent together as we reawaken the competitive spirit.'

At the beginning of the year, Maples implied she would be supporting her ex-husband, who is currently the frontrunner for the Republican nomination.

'I try not to be political, but I love this country, and I know this family is in it for our country,' she said at the time.

'I believe I'm going to do my best to help this country in any way I can.'

On Thursday, former President Trump was found guilty by a jury of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the so-called 'hush money' trial in New York on Thursday.

Trump covered up $130,000 in payments to porn star Stormy Daniels to hide extramarital affairs and now faces the unlikely possibility of jail time.

Maples and Trump began their relationship in the late '80s, about a decade into his first marriage to Ivana Trump.

Maples and Trump shares one daughter, Tiffany Trump, 30. They are pictured celebrating Tiffany's wedding to Michael Boulous in 2022

At the beginning of the year, Maples (seen with Trump in 1992) implied she would be supporting her ex-husband, who is currently the frontrunner for the Republican nomination

They married in 1993, a few months after their daughter, Tiffany, was born.

However they separated after just four years of marriage - a time frame that meant Maples was only entitled to a small portion of the money she would have received if they'd stayed wedded for five years.

According to the former couple's leaked prenuptial agreement, Trump only offered Maples $1 million if they separated within five years and another $1 million to purchase a house.

He would also pay $100,000 in child support to Tiffany every year until she turned 21. If she got a full-time job or joined the military or Peace Corps, he would stop the payments completely.

Trump included an extensive confidentiality agreement that wouldn't allow Maples to publish 'any diary, memoir, letter, story, photograph, interview, article, essay, account or description...whether fictionalized or not' that had details of their marriage.

Their divorce was finalized in 1999, and Trump went on to marry his third wife and future first lady, Melania Trump, nee Knauss, in 2005. They welcomed their son, Barron, the following year.

After the couple divorced in 1999, Maples moved to Southern California to raise Tiffany.
A South Korean chef has shared how he keeps heads of lettuce fresh for 'over 60 days'.

The chef, who goes by Mr Rice, learned the secret hack from his grandmother and religiously uses it.

He simply chops off the stem, soaks a paper towel in drinking alcohol then attaches it to the lettuce. He then stores it in an airtight bag in the fridge.

Thousands were impressed by the simple trick, while others said they have been using it on lettuce and a variety of other fruits and vegetables for years.

'This lettuce is 60 days old and still fresh,' Mr Rice said, showing the leafy green vegetable from his fridge.

A chef chops off the lettuce's stem, soaks a paper towel in drinking alcohol then attaches it to the lettuce, and stores it in an airtight bag in the fridge

'If you dont have liquor, you can use water - but alcohol is better because it stops the lettuce from rotting,' Mr Rice, who lives in America, said.

He stuck the wet paper towel on the head of lettuce and then put it inside a plastic vegetable bag and sealed it using a handmade stopper.

For the stopper, Mr Rice took the head of a bottle, pulled the bag through it, and fastened the bottle cap on top for prevent air from getting in.

'This seal will last you more than 60 days!' he repeated.

A mum has impressed thousands after sharing her money-saving hack for keeping lettuce fresh and crispy for 10 days by wrapping it in tin foil

For those who want shorter term storage options, a savvy mum previously shared the simple way she kept a head of iceberg lettuce fresh and crisp in the fridge for 10 days.

The woman simply wrapped the lettuce in aluminium foil to stop it from spoiling to reduce both food waste and her grocery bills.

'Wrap your lettuce in foil and place in fridge. This lettuce been in fridge for 10 days, she said in a post to the Simple Savers Facebook group.

'Still fresh, maybe even fresher than when I bought it.'

Al-foil can keep food fresher for longer as it protects the food from airborne bacteria and fungi spores and helps retain moisture so the food doesn't dry out as quickly.

It also works well with food in the freezer as it's more airtight around the food.

Others said they have used tin foil on other fresh produce items like celery, cucumber, capsicum and spring onions.

'I wrap my lettuce in tin foil and also put strawberries in an airtight glass jars. They last weeks and as good as the day you buy them,' one said.

'Also don't cut it with a knife unless absolutely necessary. That's what turns the edges brown. I never use a knife on my lettuce,' another added.
A flight attendant has revealed the secret reason why cabin crew greet customers when they board planes - and it's not just to be polite.

Rania, from Austria, is a stewardess at budget Hungarian airline Wizz Air.

The professional said cabin crew are asked to say 'hello' to every passenger so they can gauge if they are fit to fly.

Flying while ill or drunk is a health risk because it can cause disruptions and impact the safety of everyone on board.

'Did you know that your flight attendant greets you not only out of politeness, but also to check whether you are too drunk or sick to fly?' Rania said.

Rania, from Austria, is a stewardess at budget Hungarian airline Wizz Air

A flight attendant has revealed the secret reason why cabin crew greet customers when they board airplanes

'It's also to see who could help us in an emergency.'

Crew members are trained to look for ABPs (able-bodied persons).

ABPs are those who are ideally travelling alone, do not have mobility issues, can speak English (or the local language), and look like they are fit enough to be able to open emergency doors.

Many passengers shared their shock at the news.

'I knew [they] were judging me! But I thought it was to see if I looked like a security threat,' a man said.

'So this is why they all stare directly into my soul as soon as I step foot on the plane,' another noted.

'I always tell [cabin crew] that Im a nurse, they are so thankful for that,' a woman added.
A jaw-dropping before and after plastic surgery transformation has left social media users speechless, after a man is pictured looking decades younger post surgery.

Images from plastic surgery clinic in Istanbul, Turkey, showing a middle-aged man become unrecognisable after facial surgery have been viewed by 37.3M on X, with commentators divided over whether or not the results could be real.

Social media user @D_Radiance, who posted the images to X, wrote: 'No, Turkey surgeons are f*****g wild with their eight surgeries at once this man came back looking 30 years younger.'

In the original Instagram post by the plastic surgery clinic @estemedistanbultr it claims the patient 'Michael' has had a combination of facial surgeries from facelifts to rhinoplasties, also known as nose jobs.

But social media users have questioned if they are just being 'trolled' and joked that he has just 'got a new head' or transformed 'into his own grandson'.

 Slide me  In a post of patient Michael, pictured, the clinic claims he has had a ' facelift , necklift, lower eyelid blepharoplasty, upper blepharoplasty, buccal fat removal, rhinoplasty, and hair transplant procedures'

Dr Mikhail also believes the patient has had some jaw surgery to achieve a more angular look, which isn't listed on the Instagram post

MailOnline approached the Istanbul clinic for comment on the remarkable case  and a number of other similarly breathtaking makeovers on their page  but received no response.

In the clinics Instagram post about 'Michael', which has 15.5k likes, it claims the patient has had a 'facelift, neck lift, lower eyelid blepharoplasty, upper blepharoplasty, buccal fat removal, rhinoplasty, and hair transplant procedures.'

We spoke to top plastic surgeons and asked: could such dramatic changes in appearance really be achieved by the operations they're claimed to have undergone?

They said they were 'skeptical'. Bristol based consultant plastic surgeon Dr Nigel Mercer, who specialises in facial reconstruction surgery said the 'skin quality' of the after pictures were suspicious.

'If you look at the texture of his skin in the before picture you can tell that man has either been a smoker or he is quite old.

'In the after picture he has the skin of a 35 year old and that's not possible,' he told MailOnline.

He added that facial hair disguises scars from a facelift, but suggests the difference in his brow shape implies other surgeries or editing is at play.

Mr Mercer said: 'His eyebrow shape before and after is completely different. This can happen to some extent with facelift surgery, but just looking at the difference between his upper lid and the third part of his brow is a hell of a change.

'His face is a completely different shape, and I can't believe you can do that with just buckle fat removal, which is removal of the fat pads in the cheeks to create of slimmer more angular facial appearance.'

London-based NHS plastics surgeon Mark Mikhail said: 'Even in a dystopian world where it was possible to do this [with surgery] they would have had to do more operations than they claim to have done.'

Comparing the unbelievable transformation to the 1997 thriller Face Off, he said the flawless skin, eye colour changes and lack of scars are some of the big giveaways that these images have been heavily photoshopped.

'They say he's had a face lift but there is no scar. With a facelift you have to make a cut around and behind the ear and when you pull the face back you end up bringing the side burn right next the ear,' added Dr Mikhail.

'Men usually have a fingers gap between their ear which can disappear and he has still got that in the after pictures.'

Dr Mikhail also believes jaw surgery would have been necessary to achieve a more angular look in the after picture, which isn't listed on the Instagram post, and that his lower neck, which would not have been part of the neck lift, also has better skin quality, suggesting the images have been edited.

 Slide me  An Instagram post by the clinic shows the before and after pictures of patient Miss Dilek. In the post, which has 26.5K likes, the clinic claims the pictures show the results after 'two years of rhinoplasty face lift and blepheroplasty surgeries'

Another Instagram post by the same clinic shows the shockingly different before and after pictures of patient 'Miss Dilek'.

In the post, which has 26.5K likes, the clinic claims the pictures show the results after 'two years of rhinoplasty face lift and blepheroplasty surgeries'.

Social media users questioned if the post was a joke and other suggested she would need a new passport after such a transformation.

'These pictures are wildly different, these are not the same people,' Dr Mikhail said.

'Even with the surgeries they have said. The skin quality is totally different and her eyes are different colours,' he added.

Experts say the lighting in the images make it almost impossible to tell if it is the same women and suggest the pictures have been highly edited

Dr Mercer is also 'very skeptical' that the two before and after images are of the same woman.

'She does look completely and utterly different, there is no doubt about that. The main thing that makes us look old is our skin and the transformation of her skin is absolutely phenomenal,' he said.

In the first image the patient has brown eyes and in the second she has blue. But it's not just the change in eye colour that make surgeons suspicious.

Dr Mercer explains it's hard to compare the eye shapes because she is looking in opposite directions.

Although there is no mention that she has had lip filler, both Dr Mercer and Dr Mikhail point to the obvious difference in the shape and fullness of her lips.

'Her upper lip can only be done with a lip lift, but I can't see any scars from a lip lift,' Dr Mercer said.

'Her upper lip is a fraction of the height that it was before. If you do a lip lift directly if you lose the white roll of the lip which is really quite well formed in her and the lower lip is completely different,' he added.

However, it is the lighting of this image that makes it almost impossible to decipher if it is the same person.

Dr Mercer said: 'With before and after's you need to have the same lighting. Here the after pictures are bleached out. That's what Madonna uses on tour because the bright white light bleaches up all the color of the skin takes up all the shadows.

'So, before with no makeup on, and then this one after with makeup on, it could potentially be the same person. But it's been highly, highly edited.'

But Dr Mercer warns that even if it is possible to achieve these dramatic transformations, these surgeries can be high risk especially when travelling abroad.

He said: 'There are some very good surgeons in Turkey, but there is also a lot of significant business practice of people being sold a conglomeration of things.

'It is relatively high risk surgery and it is not the sort of thing you can have done by flying in and getting surgery and then getting back on an aircraft to fly back again.

'If you get a lot of facial swelling you should not fly for at least three weeks to a month. Any problems, any infections or breathing problems should be dealt with before you come home.'
Americans and Canadians are travelling thousands of miles across the globe to a plastic surgery clinic in Turkey which has astonished people with its impossibly good client transformations.

Incredible before-and-afters of patients have gone viral on social media, with some clients who appear to have aged backwards several decades.

But the results are so good it has led many to question whether or not they are actually legitimate, including multiple plastic surgeons DailyMail.com spoke to who said they feared the images had been enhanced with artificial intelligence.

DailyMail.com also spoke Dr Eli May, the lead surgeon at the Istanbul clinic who claims that the 2,000 radical before and after images shared online are 'undoctored'.

Este Hospital claims Michael underwent a total of seven procedures: facelift, neck lift, lower eyelid blepharoplasty, upper blepharoplasty, buccal fat removal, rhinoplasty, and hair transplant procedures, to achieve the look on the right

A women in a hijab, referred to as Miss Dilek, was pictured two years after a rhinoplasty, face lift and blepharoplasty surgeries, according to Este's Instagram

The amazing metamorphoses are simply the result of several cosmetic procedures, each with the ideal outcome, the Este Hospital Dental Treatment and Aesthetic Surgery told DailyMail.com.

But surgeons have accused the establishment of crafting images using artificial intelligence; the lack of visible scars and inconsistences in ear shape in the photos is 'suspicious', they say.

One of the most astonishing transformations is alleged patient Michael, who Este Hospital claim underwent a total of seven procedures: facelift, neck lift, lower eyelid blepharoplasty, upper blepharoplasty, buccal fat removal, rhinoplasty, and hair transplant procedures.

Blepharoplasty is a type of surgery that removes excess skin from the eyelids.

Professor Siwei Lyu, a computer scientist at the University of Buffalo, New York, and an expert in AI, told DailyMail.com that the photos of Michael have telltale signs that 'seem to suggest AI generation'

Professor Siwei Lyu, a computer scientist at the University of Buffalo, New York, and an expert in AI, told DailyMail.com that the photos of Michael have telltale signs that 'seem to suggest AI generation.'

He pointed to a suspicious looking dark line on the right hand side of Michael's neck, and a fuzziness under Michael's left earlobe.

Professor Lyu also said that unless the plastic surgery replaced the ears entirely, the two people have very different ear shapes, known as auricular biometrics, that 'are unique to an individual person.'

'It is likely that these are not the same person,' Professor Lyu said.

Este does not mention any adjustments to Michael's ears.

Dr Elie Levine, a plastic surgeon in New York City, also agreed the ears look odd.

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'The preoperative earlobe is a lot more plump and it is hard to lose weight in the earlobes,' he said.

Dr Levine told DailyMail.com that the fact there were no visible scars on the man's face is concerning, because 'you get spectacular scars after face and neck lifts.'

'The fact that I am looking at this picture and I can't even see a hint of a scar is a little concerning,' he said.

Dr May, a surgeon at the clinic, explained that he takes the before photos on his iPhone on the day of surgery.

The after pictures are sent in by patients, he explained, and are not digitally enhanced by the clinic.

Michael, from Canada, had also had gastric sleeve surgery done at another clinic, a week before Dr May performed the facial surgeries. The surgeon suggests his weight loss may have contributed to the dramatic change in appearance.

'Most of these patients lose minimum 35-40 kilogram in between the before and after photos,' he said.

Another miraculous transformation is a women named Miss Dilek, who is seen two years after a rhinoplasty, face lift and blepharoplasty surgeries, according to Este's Instagram.

According to Este Hospital, Mariam had laser skin resurfacing and facelift as well as neck lift surgeries, upper and lower blepharoplasty procedures, fat injections and a rhinoplasty

Nadya is pictured two years after her rhinoplasty, V shape jawline, cheek lift, under eye bag rejuvenation and temporal lifting procedures, according to Este Hospital

But the photos show a remarkably youthful, smooth face and different eye color.

Dr Levine said this transformation is 'suspicious', and the after picture appears to have 'undergone a filter significantly'.

The eye color change could be a contact lens, he said, but added 'that is a lot to ask.'

Because the side of the woman's head is covered, you cannot see a lot of the surrounding face, so there may be significant scarring which is not visible, Dr Levine said.

Dr May said that while clients send in the before and after photos, the clinic gives some instructions on how to take them.

The person has to be one meter away from the camera and use bright natural light during the day.

He also said that the photos posted on the Instagram are taken at least a year after surgery, because that is how long it takes for the surgeries to fully heal.

A rhinoplasty at Este Hospital costs $4,000 USD, while a face lift is priced at around $6,000 USD, according to Medical Departures, a site that compares prices at medical clinics around the world.

Dr David Hill, a plastic surgeon from Chicago, told DailyMail.com that while the results look 'remarkable', 'it is actually attainable.'

Dr Hill said the giveaway that Michael is the same person in the before and after is his iris  the colored part of the eye.

'If you look at his left iris, it has some trademark color changes that are the same in the before and after. That's probably the biggest thing for me, that makes it likely to be the same patient,' he said.

'This transformation is certainly attainable with plastic surgery, even though it's remarkable and identity changing.'

Sousa underwent a nose job and V-shape jawline surgery. Este claimed two years passed between the sets of photos

Dr Hill did not rule out that the 'after' photos were edited, however, and said it is 'hard to say whether it is exactly a representation of how that gentleman looks in real life.'

'A lot of times, the less reputable clinics will do photoshopping or touch up work to make the scars less visible, or to make things look even better,' he said, adding that this can give potential clients false expectations.

'It is possible that they did do touch up work on the photo, despite having an incredible before and after.'

A lot of clinics will use different lighting, angles, hairstyles and make-up to make the difference in the photos more stark and the after photo more appealing.

Social media users also suggested the 'before' pics could be manipulated to look worse, for instance by using a wide angle lens to make features such as the nose look bigger.

Dr Levine also noted that a lot of the rhinoplasty photos are taken very close to the person, so that the nose looks wider, and the eyes and cheeks look abnormal.

'If you take an after at a more appropriate distance, [the abnormalities] are no longer there.'

The 'after' photos 'definitely' have filters on them, which make the patient's skin look much brighter and gets rid of imperfections such as hollow eyes.

The patients 'may have undergone rhinoplasties, and good rhinoplasties, but the before picture is intentionally made to look terrible,' Dr Levine said.

Dr Levine said that a lot of the transformations on Este's page 'probably are true', but added 'if you met a patient after their procedure they wouldn't look quite as they do in the pictures.'

Este Hospitals has been contacted for comment.
Thousands of NHS patients will get personalised cancer vaccines over the next year in what has been hailed a 'landmark moment' for cancer care.

Doctors believe the treatments  which are custom built for patients to stop their cancer returning  will herald a new era in fighting the disease.

With dozens of vaccines in the pipeline, the NHS is launching a 'world-leading' scheme which will 'matchmake' hospital patients with clinical trials.

This will fast track anyone wanting to take part in groundbreaking research to their nearest clinical site wherever they are in the country, with experts hoping they will one day become standard care.

Elliot Pfebve, a 55-year-old father of four, became the first patient to receive a bowel cancer vaccine on the NHS, getting his first dose at University Hospitals Birmingham in March.

Elliot Pfebve (pictured), a 55-year-old father of four, became the first patient to receive a bowel cancer vaccine on the NHS, getting his first dose at University Hospitals Birmingham in March

Coventry University lecturer Elliot Pfebv (centre) had no cancer symptoms and was diagnosed through a routine health check with his GP

Pictured, research nurses Ria (left), Hayley (right) and Dr Victoria Kunene (centre), a consultant medical oncologist at the Queen Elizabeth hospital in Birmingham

Early results of the vaccine, made by BioNTech, will be presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology's annual conference in Chicago tomorrow.

It is one of several trials involving vaccines for skin, bowel and lung cancer showing preliminary results at the world's largest cancer conference this week.

Dozens of patients have started receiving vaccines through the 'cancer vaccine launch pad', with thousands expected to enroll by 2026.

Father of four becomes first patient to receive a bowel cancer vaccine on the NHS Coventry University lecturer Elliot Pfebv, 55, had no cancer symptoms and was diagnosed through a routine health check with his GP. Following blood tests, the father of four was sent to Manor Hospital in Walsall and triaged to a hospital ward where he was given blood transfusions. A CT scan and a colonoscopy confirmed he had bowel cancer in May 2023 and required surgery to remove the tumour and a 30cm section of his large intestine. He was referred to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for initial rounds of chemotherapy and to take part in the clinical trial. He said being part of this trial had been 'a really important decision' for himself and his family'. He said: 'Having been through the difficulty of diagnosis and debilitating chemotherapy, it felt wonderful to be able to take part in something which could lead to a new way of treating cancer. 'If it is successful, it may help thousands - if not millions of people, so they can have hope, and may not experience all I have gone through. I hope this will help other people. 'The team at Birmingham have been absolutely fantastic and have helped me through the whole process so I knew exactly what to expect. 'They've helped me every step of the way and whatever the outcome of the trial, I'll always be grateful to them.' Advertisement

Chief executive Amanda Pritchard said the NHS was in a 'unique position to deliver this kind of world-leading research at size and scale.'

She said: 'Seeing Elliot receive his first treatment as part of the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad is a landmark moment for patients and the health service as we seek to develop better and more effective ways to stop this disease.

'Thanks to advances in care and treatment, cancer survival is at an all-time high in this country, but these vaccine trials could one day offer us a way of vaccinating people against their own cancer to help save more lives.'

More than 30 hospitals have signed up to take part in the cancer trials, which include melanoma, prostate, head and neck cancers and bowel to date.

As new treatments come online, doctors expect to start testing similar vaccines for common cancers including breast and lung on UK patients.

The process uses genetic material  RNA  from a patient's tumour to develop the vaccine, which is then given to the patients via a series of infusions at hospital.

In the same way traditional vaccines use part of the virus to prevent disease, these use harmless proteins from the surface of cancer cells, known as antigens.

When these antigens are introduced into the body, it should stimulate the immune system to produce antibodies against them, which then kill the cancer cells.

Unlike traditional vaccines, cancer tumours are individual to each patient so must be tailored to each patient.

While trials are funded by drug-makers so free for the NHS, this kind of personalised treatment is unlikely to be cheap should any of the vaccines get the go-ahead by regulators.

Last year, the Government signed an agreement with BioNTech to provide up to 10,000 patients with precision cancer immunotherapies by 2030, making it a world-leader in the field.

The NHS launch pad is helping to accelerate the identification of eligible patients for those trials in England.

The concept of vaccinating against cancer has been around for decades, but only now has it become a realistic prospect for shrinking tumours thanks to new technology such as genome sequencing.

With all cancers driven by genetic mutations that help them attack cells, grow and spread, scientists hope this method could one day be used against all cancers.

Alongside BioNTech, companies including Moderna and Merck are also in talks to set up cancer vaccine trials in the UK.

Working in partnership with Genomics England those who take part will have a sample of their cancer tissue and a blood test taken before undergoing traditional treatment, such as chemotherapy.

If they meet the eligibility criteria, they can be referred to their nearest participating NHS site up to 12 months after their initial treatment finishes.

The process uses genetic material  RNA  from a patient's tumour to develop the vaccine, which is then given to the patients via a series of infusions at hospital

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Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer at the NHS, said this is 'a very important development in the future treatment of cancer'.

He said: We see this as something which is likely to become more and more important for us and in a way of treating people which is quite different to what we've done previously with things like chemotherapy, which although it can reduce the chances of some cancers coming back is far from universally effective and of course has a lot of side effects.

'We obviously need to wait to see the results of the trials. But the preliminary data certainly are starting to look very promising.

'That's one of the reasons why we've committed time and effort and resource into setting up this system to make sure that we get the evidence as quickly as possible.'

Executive Director of Research and Innovation at Cancer Research UK, Iain Foulkes, said: Its incredibly exciting that patients in England are beginning to access personalised cancer vaccines for bowel cancer.

'This technology pioneers the use of mRNA-based vaccines to sensitise people's immune system and in turn detect and target cancer at its earliest stages.

'Clinical trials like this are vital in helping more people live longer, better lives, free from the fear of cancer. If successful, the vaccine will be a game changer in preventing the onset or return of bowel cancer.'
One in 20 people infected with mild Covid in the first wave of the pandemic were left with lingering symptoms up to three years later, research has suggested.

US scientists found respiratory and neurological issues were the common problems still reported by those struck down with the virus in 2020.

And the researchers, who tracked more than 135,000 Americans with Covid, also discovered a 34 per cent higher risk of problems with all organs among people hit hardest with Covid and hospitalised.

Experts today labelled the findings an 'important new lesson' and warned the virus 'should not be trivialized'.

It comes as separate research also suggested Covid booster jabs are just 52 per cent effective at preventing infection after four weeks. By five months this stands at 20 per cent.

Dr Ziyad Al-Aly, a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University and senior author of the study said: 'We aren't sure why the virus's effects linger for so long.

Latest ONS data on Covid infections shows more than 80 per cent of Brits suffer a runny nose when infected. A loss of taste or smell  one of the original tell-tale signs of the virus  accounts for just under a fifth of all symptoms logged

It comes as Covid cases continue to slowly increase across the UK , after infection rates dwindled over the spring. Earlier this month, health chiefs issued an alert over a new variant, nicknamed FLiRT, they had begun monitoring. It makes up around 30 per cent of new cases in the UK currently

'Possibly it has to do with viral persistence, chronic inflammation, immune dysfunction or all the above.

'We tend to think of infections as mostly short-term illnesses with health effects that manifest around the time of infection.

'Our data challenges this notion. I feel Covid continues to teach us  and this is an important new lesson  that a brief, seemingly innocuous or benign encounter with the virus can still lead to health problems years later.'

He added: 'Addressing this knowledge gap is critical to enhance our understanding of long Covid and will help inform care for people suffering from long Covid.'

US Government data suggests up to 10 per cent of people infected with virus have experienced long Covid.

Often self-diagnosed, the term was coined for a number of symptoms following Covid infection, which can persist for months or even years after the initial infection.

What is long Covid ?

Most people with Covid feel better within a few days or weeks, but those with long Covid take much longer to recover. The symptoms include: Fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of smell and muscle aches. It can also cause: Memory problems, a tight chest, insomnia, heart palpitations, dizziness, joint pain, pins and needles, tinnitus, stomach aches, loss of appetite, high temperature, a cough, rashes and depression. Source: NHS Advertisement

Around 1.9million people in the UK are reported to suffer with it, with the term covering everything from fatigue and breathlessness to muscle and joint pain.

The researchers analyzed data from 114,000 veterans with mild Covid who did not require hospitalisation, over 20,000 patients hospitalised with the virus and 5.2million veterans who never received a Covid diagnosis.

All were enrolled in the study between March and December 2020.

Over a follow-up of three years, they found the risk of long Covid stood at 23 per cent one year after infection.

This fell to 16 per cent or roughly one in six after two years.

Concerningly, they also found that among those who weren't hospitalised, Covid had contributed to 10 lost years of healthy life per 1,000 people, three years after infection.

By comparison, those who were hospitalised with Covid had lost 90 years of healthy life per 1,000 people.

In the US, heart disease and cancer cause around 50 years of lost healthy life, while strokes contribute to roughly 10 years, per 1,000 people.

Writing in the journal, Nature Medicine, the researchers, said: 'Although preventing severe disease is important, strategies to reduce the risk of post-acute and long-term health loss in people with mild Covid are also needed.'

However, they also acknowledged the study mainly involved veterans who were 'mostly older', white and male and may not be reflective of other populations.

Participants also contracted the virus in 2020  an era predating Covid vaccines  suggesting their infection may have been more severe.

Dr Al-Aly added: 'Covid is a serious threat to the long-term health and well-being of people and it should not be trivialized.

'Even three years out, you might have forgotten about Covid, but it hasnt forgotten about you.

'People might think they're out of the woods, because they had the virus and did not experience health problems.

'But three years after infection, the virus could still be wreaking havoc and causing disease or illness in the gut, lungs or brain.'

It comes as separate research also suggested Covid booster jabs targeting the Omicron variants prevented infection in just over half of people.

Often self-diagnosed, the term 'long Covid' was coined for a number of symptoms following Covid infection, which can persist for months or even years after the initial infection. Around 1.9 million people in the UK are reported to suffer with it, with the term covering everything from fatigue and breathlessness to muscle and joint pain

Writing in the New England Journal of Medicine, US researchers found effectiveness stood at 52.2 per cent after four weeks and prevented hospitalization in 66.8 per cent of cases.

But infection prevention fell to 32.6 per cent after 10 weeks and just 20.4 per cent after 20 weeks.

By comparison, effectiveness at preventing hospitalization decreased to 57.1 per cent after 10 weeks.

Dr Danyu Lin, study lead author and professor of biostatistics at University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, said: 'The relatively low effectiveness of the XBB.1.5 vaccines against the JN.1 subvariant, together with the waning effectiveness over time, underscores the need for new vaccines targeting the JN.1 strain.'

The JN.1 variant, dubbed Juno, has been dominant in the UK and USA for the past few months.

Covid cases have continued to slowly increase across the UK, in recent weeks after infection rates dwindled over the spring.

Earlier this month, health chiefs issued an alert over a new variant, nicknamed FLiRT, they had begun monitoring.

It makes up around 30 per cent of new cases in the UK currently.

FLiRT also accounts for roughly a quarter of new cases in the US, surveillance data suggests.

Virologists are using the term FLiRT to describe a family of different variants  KP.2, KP.3, JN.1.7, JN.1.1, and KP.1.1. They are all descendants of Juno.

But ministers have repeatedly said that they won't resort to imposing lockdowns unless a doomsday variant.

A wall of immunity among the population  built up by repeated waves of infection and vaccine rollouts  has given officials confidence to consign pandemic-era measures to history.

Spikes in Covid cases can still cause mass illness across the country, sparking chaos in schools, the health service and public transport.

Officials also no longer track the prevalence of the virus in the same way they used to, as part of the Government's ushering in of pre-Covid normalities.
The government has sold another chunk of the UK's NatWest shares, as the bank continues its long return to full private ownership.

NatWest told shareholders on Friday that the Government had sold more than 392million shares in an off-market transaction at 316.2p a piece, reflecting a tiny premium of around 0.5 per cent to their closing price of 314.75p on Thursday.

The latest sale raised more than 1.24billion and reduces the taxpayers stake in the lender from 26 per cent to approximately 22.5 per cent.

Rishi Sunak's Government hopes to sell the UK's remaining NatWest stake by the end of 2026

The sale comes amid concerns that plans revealed in the Spring Budget to sell the Governments entire remaining stake to retail investors later this summer were off, with a NatWest share sale derailed by a looming UK General Election.

Taxpayers still hold a large stake in NatWest after the Government was forced to bail out the lender during the 2008 financial crisis.

At its peak, the Government owned 84 per cent of the bank but current plans would see its holding entirely sold down by the end of 2026.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt had lined up M&C Saatchi to launch a 1980s-style Tell Sid advertising campaign to boost investment in Londons stock market.

But it will now be for the next Government to decide whether to revive the sale and the poll-leading Labour party has yet to commit to following through with the plans should it win on 4 July.

NatWest intends to cancel around 222million of the shares it has purchased from the Government and to hold the remaining 170million in treasury.

The bank said holding these shares in treasury gives it the ability to quickly and cost effectively cancel or re-issue them at a later date, and may provide the company with additional flexibility in the management of its capital base.

NatWest chief executive Paul Thwaite added: This transaction represents another important milestone for NatWest Group, building on recent momentum in the reduction of HM Treasury's stake in the bank.

We believe it is a positive use of capital for the bank and for our shareholders and represents further progress against the ambition to return NatWest Group to full private ownership.

'Our focus remains on delivering for our customers which will, in turn, deliver for our shareholders and the UK economy.

NatWest shares opened up 0.41 per cent at 317.5p on Friday morning. They have added more than 40 per cent since the start of the year.
Quadrise shot to the top of the small-cap movers list after the alternative fuel developer added another top name to its rapidly expanding roster of clients.

Morocco-based fertiliser and phosphate giant OCP is the latest to announce a trial, following the announcement in April of a binding agreement between Quadrise, shipping company MSC and Cargill, the crops and food transportation business.

Quadrise is emerging as an intriguing small-cap play in the alternative fuels market. Its MSAR product and BioMSAR biofuel sister product have been designed to reduce the huge emissions pumped out by the shipping business and help its transition to greener alternatives.

House broker Shore Capital Markets said of Quadrise: 'The companys opportunity in the marine sector with MSC alone could be worth a multiple of its current enterprise value in potential annual revenues if only a small percentage of the shipping companys overall fuel demand switched to MSAR or bioMSAR'.

Quadrise helps reduce the huge emissions pumped out by the marine and shipping sector

The shares rallied 70 per cent this week in response to this latest round of client acquisitions, bringing the stocks year-on-year performance above 100 per cent.

The AIM All-Share Index dipped around 0.7 per cent in the shortened four-day trading session while in the blue-chip space, the FTSE 100 entered Friday around 63 points, or 0.75 per cent, lower.

Both indexes staged a bit of a late-week recovery following a bearish first half with equities across the board spooked by rising bond yields.

Looking at other top small-cap risers, digital transformation company TPX Impact rocketed up 33 per cent on the back of a bullish three-year forecast.

This year's revenue growth should be up 20 per cent to 84million, said the group, while adjusted EBITDA margins are expected to be in the middle of the guidance range of 5 to 6 per cent.

In the mining sector, Golden Metal Resources added 28 per cent thanks to a promising update from the US-focused mineral exploration companys 100 per cent owned flagship Pilot Mountain Project

Golden Metal said it is accelerating development of the project, using its current Mineral Resource Estimate as the initial basis for planning.

Kodal Minerals shares went up by a fifth after providing an update on its Bougouni Lithium Project in Southern Mali.

The company reported that the manufacture of a DMS processing plant and crushing circuit is progressing as scheduled, with equipment shipping from China to West Africa expected to begin in early June.

Prospex Energy was another top riser, adding 24 per cent throughout the week thanks to a promising update on its 37 per cent-owned Selva Malvezzi concession in Italy.

Scotsman and Yorkshire Post owner National World's Thursday trading update, which showed an 18 per cent year-on-year increase in sales, sent shares on a 12 per cent intraday rally.

Kromek Group shares rose 18 per cent as the company announced it would report record revenues and positive EBITDA, surpassing market expectations.

The radiation and bio-detection technology leader experienced strong commercial momentum in the second half of the year, which was fuelled by multi-year contracts in advanced imaging and CBRN detection.

Turning to the fallers, Longboat Energy was among the worst performers this week, dipping over 57 per cent come Friday.

Longboat conceded that production ramp-up at one of its concessions 'has been disappointing to date despite an increase in production from 2023', while 'progress has been frustratingly slow' at another site.

In the biotech space, Renalytix AI shares slid 22 per cent. The group announced a management change, with James Sterling stepping down as chief finance officer. An interim CFO has been put in place while Renalytix seeks a replacement.

MicroSalt shares fell 17 per cent on Thursday after the low-sodium salt producer published its first results since its IPO in February.

Microsalt said the rollout with new B2B customers 'has been slower than hoped' in 2024. However, shares staged a 12 per cent recovery on Friday.

Finally, what should we make of pharmacogenetic testing company Genedrives 6million equity round?

Retail and institutional investors jumped into the heavily discounted share offering, with the open offer seeing a 94.4 per cent take-up, generating 2.03million, although the retail offer undershot the target by raising 1.89million.

Genedrive was initially hoping to raise 3.5million via the retail offer conducted on Peel Hunts REX platform.

A mixed bag then. Shares dipped 16 per cent throughout the week.
Being on hold in a telephone queue might be one of the most frustrating elements of modern life.

While the sophistication of artificial intelligence has grown rapidly, some of us still spend hours waiting on the phone.

For anyone trying to get answers on their tax affairs, it is even more frustrating.

A recent National Audit Office (NAO) report found that customers spent nearly 800 years on hold waiting to speak to HMRC in a single tax period.

Netcompany CEO Andre Rogaczewski thinks HMRC needs to go further with its digitisation

It hopes to push people online, but increasingly complicated tax affairs means more people are left waiting.

Now it has penned a contract with digital company Netcompany to improve its customer services division.

We spoke exclusively to Netcompany chief executive Andre Rogaczewski about what he thinks a fully digital tax office might look like.

Cutting call wait times requires 'balance'

Andre Rogaczewski has significant experience in dealing with tax offices across Europe.

His firm, Netcompany, recently joined Accenture, Capgemini and IBM in securing a contract with HMRC to help digitise its customer services division.

The deal could not come at a better time for the tax office, which has come under fire for its worsening customer service capabilities.

The average waiting time increased from 11:24 minutes to 13:48 minutes between 2019/2020 and 2022/23.

In the first 11 months of 2023/24, customers waited on average, 23 minutes on hold. It will be a big task for Rogaczewski and his team to overhaul the system.

'It's difficult to talk about the exact situation at HMRC [but] if you have digital services that people are not using, as of yet, and physical services like call centres, which are experiencing more people calling in you will have problems.

'Can we get back to a situation where it comes down to five minutes?

'The answer is of course you can and isn't that something we all should aim for, and something citizens will expect in the future?

'I think it's doable and possible, but also it requires you to balance these things'.

It is this balance that HMRC seems to struggle with. Currently, the system is a mishmash of basic online services and long waiting times to speak to an adviser.

It is understandable, though. While it might be easy to speak to a chatbot for fairly trivial matters, when it comes to tax people want to get it right the first time.

Rogaczewski concedes that 'we have a tendency to want to talk to a physical human being.'

He adds: 'It takes time to get a state of mind or maturity level where the citizen feels secure and safe, and tax authorities have all the capabilities online needed to answer it well.'

He points to his native Denmark as an example, where most citizens are comfortable using online service.

'Of course there are complex cases but for 95 per cent, they feel happy with the online service. It took some years to create both the capabilities and the trust.'

HMRC 'not alone' in its challenges

While Denmark might be a success story, Rogaczewski stresses that where HMRC finds itself is not unique.

'We work with tax and customs across Europe and most countries have the same challenges

'Most countries have the ambition to move services into a more digital channel and be able to answer more personally.'

He says most tax offices are overwhelmed by the impact of frozen income thresholds - which bring more people into higher tax brackets and more people are having to engage directly with the tax system.

'I guess most of us feel more safe by calling in and asking about that specific situation.'

The Netcompany boss thinks the UK is not behind any other country, 'on the contrary, I think the level of ambition is higher.

'If you look into what HMRC wants to accomplish [and] the idea of continuous, quarterly feedback instead of yearly feedback is a great one. We don't have that in Scandinavia.'

HMRC's critics will say that ambitions and targets are only useful if they are actually met in good time.

In 2016, HMRC announced its flagship digitisation programme, Making Tax Digital, requiring businesses and individuals to keep digital records and report their income quarterly.

It was meant to maximise tax revenue, save the Government cash and improve customer service.

But in the seven years since HMRC rolled out the programme, which has gone 1billion over budget, there has been little improvement.

Last autumn, HMRC chief executive Jim Harra said customer satisfaction for the online services help desk fell from 29.4 per cent to 24.7 per cent annually.

Satisfaction for the self-assessment webchat also fell, from 76.2 per cent to 70.1 per cent annually.

There's nothing we can't do, theoretically, digitally... [but] Rome wasn't built in a day

If it is struggling with the basics, like keeping waiting times down, how can customers be sure that they'll receive a good level of service online?

For Rogaczewski, the answer lies in further digitisation.

'There's nothing we can't do, theoretically, digitally. If you have a complex organisation and you have access to the exact information about the person, by logic digital services are just as good or even better as any adviser.'

'It's not going to happen tomorrow, it will still be a combination of some services being digitally available but hopefully over time, six months by six months, year by year, you will experience that digital services are getting better Rome wasn't built in a day.'

HMRC will have some way to go in rebuilding trust among its customers, and pushing people towards chatbots could alienate them further.

Rogaczewski thinks it is merely a step towards progress: 'I lived in the 70s and 80s and people say it was a great time. It wasn't.

'I think [people] tend to forget progress over 20/30 years and you like to think of it from week to week or month to month. Life has changed a lot in the last 20 years for most people in Europe.

'When the internet came it was a huge revolution. Did we have Airbnb, could we order food? It came gradually over 10/15 years. Now we can't imagine a world without it.

Ordering food or accommodation is a transactional service, though. As he admits, tax affairs are slightly more complicated and providing personalised answers are crucial.

'We need more chatbots'

For Netcompany, the answer is not fewer chatbots but more.

'Eventually in most countries, you won't need expensive advisers in order to make sure [people] don't pay too much.

'Timing wise you need to make sure you have enough of the personal advice and the digital capabilities in order to strike that balance It takes time.

'People are sitting in call centres basically answering questions that have been put to them before. It can be a pattern recognised by a computer system even better than by human beings.

'It's not the future for Europeans, we simply can't afford it and people expect definite, accurate, personalised answers.

HMRC says that in the last tax year, it received more than 3 million phone calls on things that can be done online: resetting an online password, getting a tax code and getting a National Insurance number. It equates to almost 500 people working full-time on their queries.

It will be Netcompany's chief challenge when it starts work with HMRC in the summer.

Further digitising will face pushback from taxpayers who are keen to speak to humans.

'When people start criticising and asking why we're digitising so fast why don't we just hire more people in call centres I need to say that's definitely not the right way to go.

'The only way forward for Europe and the UK is to digitise in an intelligent manner and then use human beings.

'We need them so that they can smile and explain to us, we don't need people to do the calculations or look up things that machines are better at.'

Does this mean that we could reach a point in 10 years where everything is a chatbot? Andre seems to think so.

'There will be cases where you still prefer human beings the personal aspect will never disappear, but the facts will be found much easier.

'I think the first steps in any tax office, and also for HMRC, is to make sure that 70-80 per cent of all citizens can self-service in an efficient manner, and trust goes up.

'I am certain that we have to, and we will, get there.'
Self-represented, has drafted and lodged the appeal himself

Bruce Lehrmann has lodged an appeal to overturn a damning defamation judgement that saw him branded a rapist - and he's representing himself.

Lehrmann lost his defamation case against Network Ten and Lisa Wilkinson on April 15 when Federal Court Justice Michael Lee found on a balance of probabilities that he had raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in 2019.

In the findings, Justice Lee branded the former Liberal staffer a liar with a 'tenuous' attachment to the truth, whose testimony could only be believed if it could be corroborated with someone else.

Referencing the former Liberal staffer's failed rape trial in 2022, the judge quipped: 'Having escaped the lion's den, Mr Lehrmann made the mistake of coming back for his hat.'

Along with a shattered reputation, Lehrmann faced bankruptcy after the judge ordered he cover his opponent's legal fees - which have topped $2.5million.

Daily Mail Australia can now reveal Lehrmann drafted, lodged and served the notice of appeal himself before the deadline on Friday afternoon, rather than instructing solicitors doing it on his behalf, because he is self-represented.

Lehrmann, a second-year law student, has asked for a new judge to set Justice Lee's decision aside and enter a judgement in his favour, and for Ten and Wilkinson to pay for the primary proceedings and the appeal.

It comes just one day before Ms Higgins ties the knot with her long-term boyfriend, David Sharaz, at a $20million estate on the Gold Coast.

Bruce Lehrmann is pictured outside the Federal Court on April 15, after his defamation loss

The appeal comes one day before Brittany Higgins and her fiance David Sharaz (pictured together) get married

Lehrmann was represented by defamation firm Mark O'Brien Legal during the initial proceedings, which lodged the original claim on his behalf last February and worked for him on a no win, no-fee basis.

The former Liberal staffer did not want to comment when contacted on Friday, however, it is understood financial pressures played a key role in his decision to push ahead with the appeal without an instructing firm.

Top Sydney barrister Guy Reynolds SC provided him with a 20-page memorandum of advice for the appeal on a pro-bono basis.

Former crown prosecutor Margaret Cuneen SC - who successfully represented ex-Wallaby Kurtley Beale during his sexual assault case - has also been tipped to help with the matter, along with Steven Whybrow SC.

Lehrmann may have to provide security costs ahead of any appeal. Failure to pay could result in the appeal not going ahead.

Daily Mail Australia understands four grounds for appeal have been identified in the notice, including that Justice Lee denied Lehrmann procedural fairness, and findings in relation to the truth defence were contrary to the evidence.

He will claim there were credibility issues with Ms Higgins' evidence, specifically in relation to an image of a bruise she initially claimed was caused during the rape, before she said it could have occurred earlier in the night when she fell over.

Further arguments are also understood to be that Justice Lee constructed and misconstrued the rape imputations, and Lehrmann should have been awarded damages.

Lisa Wilkinson and her barrister Sue Chrysanthou SC are pictured outside the Federal Court in April, after winning the defamation case

Lisa Wilkinson is pictured delivering her Logies speech, which resulted in Lehrmann's criminal trial being delayed

During the initial proceedings, Lehrmann had made an application for aggravated damages over Wilkinson's Logies speech in 2022.

In the speech, which was broadcast nationally eight days before Lehrmann's criminal trial, Wilkinson referred to Ms Higgins as a proven victim of rape rather than an alleged victim.

The speech resulted in the rape trial being rescheduled over concerns jurors may have watched the broadcast, or read the media commentary, and formed on opinion about Lehrmann.

Justice Lee found that Wilkinson's conduct in delivering her Logies speech was 'improper and unjustifiable', and agreed with Lehrmann's submission that the speech undermined his right to a fair trial.

However, he did not award the former staffer any damages.

After the judgement in April, Ms Higgins released a statement on Instagram saying she felt vindicated: 'I was raped. No judgment was ever going to change this truth.'

'I lived with the shame, humiliation, and fear of what telling my story would mean for my life and career, like so many other victim-survivors.'

If Lehrmann's appeal is successful, Ms Higgins may not be able to refer to him as her 'rapist'.

Lehrmann launched defamation action last year over a February 2021 episode of The Project, during which Ms Higgins aired her rape claims for the first time in an interview with Wilkinson.

He was then tried in a month-long hearing in the ACT Supreme Court in October 2022 but the matter was discontinued after the trial ended due to juror misconduct.

Two months later, the ACT Director of Public Prosecutions dropped the matter altogether citing concerns for Ms Higgins' mental health.

Lehrmann wasn't named in The Project broadcast but claimed friends and colleagues were able to identify him as Ms Higgins' rapist.

He has consistently denied raping Ms Higgins.
A 'triple threat' of surging flu, Covid and respiratory syncytial virus detections across NSW has prompted health authorities to call on people over the age of 65 to get their free influenza vaccine.

The NSW Health Respiratory Surveillance Report, released on Thursday, revealed a 27 per cent increase in influenza notifications and a 23 per cent increase in COVID-19 notifications week-on-week.

However, NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said despite the rapidly increasing flu transmissions, with cases expected to 'quickly increase' in the next few weeks, vaccine rates were not where they needed to be.

'Less than half of people aged 65 and over in NSW have received their influenza vaccine this year, and we really need to see that number go up, especially as people in this age group are among those most at risk of severe illness,' Dr Chant said.

'We expect the number of influenza cases to quickly increase in the weeks ahead so now is the time to get vaccinated if you haven't already done so.'

NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said people over the age of 65 should get their flu vaccine, with 'less than half' of that age group currently jabbed. Picture NCA NewsWire/ Gaye Gerard

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park repeated calls for vulnerable Aussies to get vaccinated.

'What we are seeing is a triple threat of flu, Covid and RSV cases circulating at high rates among the community,' he said.

'I want to reiterate to the community to stay up to date with your vaccinations, in particular the over 65s - it really is the simplest and yet most effective way to protect yourselves and the community.'

In order to reduce pressure on hospital emergency rooms, Mr Park urged people with non-life threatening conditions to contact NSW HealthDirect on 1800 022 222 to speak to a registered nurse.

Mr Park also called on people to stay at home if unwell, or 'mask up' if they need to go out.

Children aged between six months to five years, pregnant women, Aboriginal people from six months of age, and people with chronic health conditions are also advised to take the free shot.

Vulnerable people including older Australians and young children were urged to get the flu shot. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

The report also found rates of Covid-19 notifications were increasing across all ages and most Local Health Districts.

'In the last week, there continued to be high COVID-19 notification rates in those aged 90 and over,' it said.

'LHDs with smaller populations, such as Far West LHD, experience greater variability in notification rates.'

Incidents of RSV were also high in children between two and four. However, reports of positive cases were stabilising in children under two years of age.

Rates of notifications increased by 4 per cent week-on-week.

A separate spotlight was also placed on pertussis (whooping cough) and pneumonia.

The highest rates of whooping cough were identified in children aged five to 14 years of age, with cases appearing to increase.

Notification rates between 2022 to 2024 showed a rapid increase, with one per 100,000 people recording the virus in 2022, and 10.8 cases per 100,000 people in 2023.

Year to date in 2024, that figure has already shot to 85.4 notifications per 100,000 people.

Pneumonia, a potentially deadly infection of the lungs, is also of concern to health authorities, leading to 'unseasonably high' emergency room presentations in children and young adults, particularly people aged five to 16.
After languishing on Death Row for almost 25 years, convicted murderer Richard Moore (inset) now faces an agonising decision - choosing how he will be executed. The 59-year-old American has less than a week to pick his fate for fatally shooting a shop assistant in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, during a botched robbery in September 1999. Jail officials have told him he has three options : death by firing squad, electric chair, or lethal injection. If he can't make up his mind come Friday, he will be electrocuted by default on November 1. And as Moore mulls over how he will ultimately end his life, his Death Row dilemma has once again thrust the debate over state-sanctioned executions back into the spotlight. Although deemed 'humane' methods of death, each of his options come with their own nightmarish risks, which could see Moore facing a tortuous and excruciatingly painful end.
A weather presenter who revealed this week she is quitting the BBC says she was paid 50 percent less than a male colleague.

Abbie Dewhurst announced she was stepping down after a 'glorious' eight-year long stint with the corporation in an emotional post on social media this week.

But in another social media post the 30-year-old, who joined BBC Yorkshire as a staff weather presenter in May 2016, highlighted the huge pay gap between her and a male colleague when she started.

In a post on social media site TikTok to mark International Women's Day on March 8, Abbie took aim at her employer's gender pay gap and male-dominated managers.

She said: 'I'm a female weather presenter, of course I was paid almost 50% less than my male colleague when I first started.

Weather presenter Abbie Dewhurst, who revealed this week she is quitting the BBC, says she was paid 50 percent less than a male colleague

In a post on social media site TikTok to mark International Women's Day on March 8, Abbie took aim at her employer's gender pay gap and male-dominated managers

In The TikTok post, Abbie Dewhurst revealed the disparities she sees between herself and her male colleagues in the industry

'I'm a female weather presenter, of course 90% of the people I meet regarding career progression are men.'

While Abbie didn't name the male presenter, she is understood to be referring to long-term BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire weather presenter Paul Hudson, 53.

While the BBC doesn't disclose most staff salaries, jobs site Glassdoor estimates weather presenters earn an average of 84,000.

Last year, the Mail on Sunday revealed the corporation employs 45 weather forecasters, 22 national and 23 regional, funded through the 169.50 licence fee.

Abbie shared a number of photos reminiscing about some highlights during her role, which included a tandem bike ride with Peter Levy for Children in Need in 2017, reporting from Wimbledon and hosting a show on national radio.

She wrote on Instagram: 'The only thing crazier than landing your dream job is handing your notice in for it... A long, emotional caption so buckle up.

'Eight years ago today I walked into BBC Yorkshire as a staff weather presenter for the first time and, in spite of the initial 2.30am alarms, have been living my actual dream in this amazing corporation ever since.

She reluctantly added that 'all good things must come to an end' before telling her friend and colleagues 'there aren't enough thank yous in the world to everyone who has made this journey so marvellous'.

Abbie explained she first joined the BBC as 'an excited 22-year-old (what a baby I was) and have spent eight glorious years waking up before the sun'.

In that time she said she has 'met some wonderful people, a handful of which will become lifelong friends'.

Abbie (pictured with colleagues) posted this week that 'all good things must come to an end' before telling her friend and colleagues 'there aren't enough thank yous in the world to everyone who has made this journey so marvellous'

Abbie worked for BBC Yorkshire and Lincolnshire for eight years

Abbie said at the end of her post: 'It's been a privilege that's not lost on me. The future is looking bright'

'We've been through a global pandemic, royal events both good and bad, extreme heat, devastating floods, General Elections, I've been thrown down a hill in a soap box in Bradford, hosted a show on national radio, reported from Wimbledon, covered stories about pigs and viral social media videos and most memorably, took part in a Children in Need tandem bike ride with Peter Levy.

'I'll share more in the next few weeks around the future but felt it apt on my eight-year weather anniversary to take a look back and reminisce on what really has been a dream come true.'

Abbie ended the post by saying: 'Thank you for welcoming me onto your screens, into your radios and onto your phones.

'It's been a privilege that's not lost on me. The future is looking bright.'

Abbie also shared a picture in her post revealing she had initially been rejected from the BBC after applying for a work experience role, before she eventually landed a permanent job in 2016.

Since announcing the news earlier this week, Abbie said she had been 'overwhelmed' by the 'lovely messages' from viewers.

She added: 'Thank you so much for the outpouring of love!'

Abbie returned to work this morning as she took to X, formerly Twitter to share a video of her segment on the BBC's Looking North programme, with the caption: 'Sunshine to start but not for long'.

Abbie lives in Leeds with her husband Jake Goldby and their eight-year-old rescue dog Ruby.

The BBC presenter announced in August 2020 that she had tied the knot with Jake two years after they got engaged in 2018.

The ceremony took place on August 8, after it was postponed by just over nine weeks as a result of the Covid-19 lockdown.

Abbie took to X at the time to tell her followers about the delay. She wrote: 'Today, my prom date and I were supposed to marry in the Italian countryside.

'We might not be married but we are so lucky to be surrounded by incredible people who have sent so much love.

'We'll have one hell of a party when we can - as my grandad said, 'Love will always win' '

A BBC spokesperson earlier htis week on hearing she was leaving said: 'Abbie will be sorely missed by colleagues and viewers alike.

'She's had eight fantastic years with us and we wish her the best of luck in the next chapter.'

In response to her equal pay post, the spokesman said: 'The video is clearly a take on a viral trend posted for International Women's Day back in March.

'Abbie has a great relationship with the BBC and we take equal pay very seriously as our progress in this area demonstrates.

'The BBC's gender pay gap is less than 5%.'
The heroics of HMS Black Joke, a Royal Navy clipper that waged a fearless five-year war to put an end to the slave trade, are worthy of a Hollywood action movie.

She was once a slave ship herself, sailing under the Brazilian flag and known as the Henriqueta. But when the British captured her in 1827, this brave little vessel was transformed into the scourge of mercenary slavers who traded in human beings.

Her crew took unimaginable risks to hunt down Spanish and Portuguese ships and free the men, women and children crammed below decks in conditions of horrific misery.

On the last day of January 1829, Black Joke sighted a Spanish vessel, the El Almirante, sailing toward Havana in Cuba. She gave chase. And she kept on chasing for 31 long hours, until she came within firing range of the Spaniard.

El Almirante sported 14 cannon to Black Joke's two but, after 80 bloody minutes of broadsides, the British prevailed and 466 African slaves were set free  at a cost of six wounded sailors, of whom two subsequently died.

Landsec, the commercial owner of Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth, has turned down plans for a statue honouring the ships and their crews that set African slaves free

Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth is the Royal Navy's hometown

In another engagement two years later, Black Joke (named after the filthy lyrics of a street ballad, the sort enjoyed by sailors through the centuries) captured a 300-ton ship called the Marinerito, also flying the Spanish flag, and saved 496 slaves.

One sailor, Midshipman Pierce, had his hat blown off by a musket ball, before he was knocked overboard by a sword thrust. Yet he hauled himself back on to the deck by clambering up a sheet of trailing canvas, and rejoined the fight.

When the battle was over, the rescued slaves showed their gratitude with songs. Perhaps they were able to express their thanks in words, too, since a good many British sailors 200 years ago were African-born themselves  escapees from the slave trade who could act as translators.

We should all be proud of this noble, humanitarian action, part of the Royal Navy's anti-slavery campaign carried out for most of the 19th century. Yet a proposal for a memorial has now been refused in the Royal Navy's hometown.

Landsec, the commercial owner of Gunwharf Quays in Portsmouth, has turned down plans for a statue honouring these ships and their crews. This week it announced that, after consulting its 'employee diaspora network', it had decided the tribute was out of keeping with the 'inclusive environment' and lacked 'sensitivity to what is a very emotive topic and dark part of our history as a nation'.

In other words, Landsec is afraid of looking racist, though it is apparently not concerned about revealing its utter ignorance of history.

Presumably, the 'diaspora' refers to people of African descent. Some of them may be the distant descendants of slaves.

But they might also include descendants of those African slavers, and the traders who dragged their fellow Africans to the coast for sale to Europeans  as they had been doing for centuries, first to the Romans and then to the Arabs.

So why on earth would they or anyone else regard a statue as 'non-inclusive' and 'insensitive' for commemorating the Royal Navy's heroic anti-slavery West Africa Squadron? Why would they not want this important, admirable part of the truth about Britain's history remembered?

Black Joke sighted a Spanish vessel, the El Almirante, sailing toward Havana in Cuba. She kept on chasing for 31 hours, until she came within firing range. After 80 bloody minutes of broadsides, the British prevailed and 466 African slaves were set free

British cruisers destroyed an African slave trading village after the United Kingdom outlawed the Atlantic slave trade in 1808

The obvious reason is that it's a story of white Britons doing good to black Africans. As such it distracts from the Black Lives Matter-inspired mission to keep our focus absolutely fixed on the evils of African enslavement and on British guilt for it.

Any celebration of how Britain fought against the slave trade disturbs the politically advantageous, comic-book narrative of unremitting black victimhood at the hands of white oppressors.

Landsec's response exactly echoes the one I received earlier this week from the Kelvingrove Museum in Scotland. On Monday I wrote an eight-page letter to the museum's manager in protest against the travesty of history represented by its display, 'Glasgow  City of Empire'.

In this display, every possible association between Glasgow and slavery is highlighted. But as for the city's world-leading role in the abolition of slavery, what has the Kelvingrove got to say?

Nothing at all.

In answer to my complaint, Duncan Dornan, head of museums at Glasgow Life, which runs Kelvingrove, defended the display, saying that it had been designed in response to extensive discussions with 'diverse communities'.

By 'diverse', we can assume he meant 'non-white ethnic minorities'. What he implied was that these communities all think the same thing about Britain's imperial record... and that what they think represents the only acceptable view.

The fact that there's a diversity of opinion within ethnic minorities, that the average non-white Briton knows no more about history than their white counterparts, and that certain ethnic minority activists have political reasons for deliberately distorting our understanding of the past  none of this seems to have crossed his mind.

After abolishing slave-trading throughout her empire in 1807, Britain took the lead in suppressing slavery at sea and on land, worldwide, over the course of the following century.

One sailor whose diary has survived, Midshipman C. Henry Binstead aboard the HMS Owen, described a voyage in the 1820s. 'Upwards of 200 rescued slaves are lying about, most of them sick. There are also several bad cases of fever amongst our own crew,' he wrote. 'Many large whales and sharks are about us, the latter is owing to the number of poor fellows that have lately been thrown overboard.'

A week later Binstead recorded that he had lost one of his closest friends, Midshipman Richard McCormick  'a most amiable young man beloved by all his messmates. He died of the African Fever [probably malaria], which had attacked him while away in the boats up the Old Calabar River [in Nigeria].'

Royal Navy ships, sometimes 30 or more, were stationed for decades off the coast of West Africa, to disrupt the export of slaves. At its height, the West African Squadron employed 13 per cent of the Royal Navy's manpower.

By 1845, the Slave Trade Act authorised the Navy to treat as pirates Brazilian ships suspected of carrying slaves, to arrest those responsible, and to have them tried in British admiralty courts.

Royal Navy ships sometimes even entered Brazil's harbours and on one occasion exchanged fire with a fort.

In 1850 Brazil yielded to the pressure, enacted legislation outlawing the slave trade, and began to enforce it rigorously.

It is estimated that, between 1807 and 1860, the Royal Navy's West Africa Squadron alone seized about 1,600 slave-ships and liberated 150,000 African slaves. In the process, more than 2,000 sailors lost their lives.

Economic historian David Eltis says the cost to British taxpayers of transatlantic suppression alone was at least 250,000 per year  billions in today's values. The British spent almost as much attempting to suppress the trade between 1816 and 1862 as they got in profits over the same length of time leading up to 1807.

The American political scientists Chaim Kaufmann and Robert Pape conclude that Britain's effort to thwart the Atlantic slave trade was 'the most expensive example [of costly international moral action] recorded in modern history'.

Some would argue there was an obvious commercial advantage to Britain in disrupting our European rivals' slave trade. But Kaufmann and Pape found the real driving force was not economic but religious: in the churchgoing 19th century, moral duty counted for more than any financial incentive.

The British were among the first people in history to repudiate and abolish slave-trading and slavery  at colossal cost in money, diplomatic effort, naval resources and lives.

Rather than kowtow to the distorted, biased agenda of the BLM movement, imported from the U.S., Landsec should try to copy the moral courage of HMS Black Joke's heroic sailors  and salute one of the noblest episodes in our national history.
Donald Trump's criminal trial related to the hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels was just the first of four criminal cases against the ex-president to go to trial.

A New York jury found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records on Thursday. Judge Juan Merchan set a July 11 sentencing date.

When Trump's defense lawyer Todd Blanche requested the sentencing take place in mid to late July he even referenced the other cases against the ex-president.

Trump, who is the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, also faces charges stemming from Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into election interference and the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol as well as charges for mishandling classified documents in Florida.

Separately, Trump, 77, faces charges for election interference in Georgia.

In total, Trump faced 88 criminal counts including the 34 he was convicted of on Thursday in New York. That leaves another 54 counts.

Trump has pleaded not guilty on all charges.

Trial dates for the three other criminal cases have not yet been set.

Donald Trump leaving the Manhattan criminal courtroom after being found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in New York

Trump Classified Documents Case

In Florida, Trump is facing one of two federal cases brought against him by Special Counsel Jack Smith.

The charges there relate to the classified documents found at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate after he left office in 2021.

Trump's classified documents case could be stalled through the election

The Justice Department charged Trump with 40 felony counts, including the willful retention of classified documents, obstruction of justice and false statements from allegedly trying to impede the investigation.

In August 2022, the FBI seizing boxes containing documents with classified markings, mixed with other documents.

The trial was initially scheduled for May 20, but earlier this month, Trump-appointed District Judge Aileen Cannon delayed it indefinitely citing the need to resolve pre-trial issues in the case.

Federal Election Interference Case

The other case brought by Smith in Washington, DC stems from Trump's alleged effort to overthrow the 2020 election including the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.

Trump is facing four counts including conspiracy to defraud the United Sates, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of or attempting to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy against rights.

It is arguably the most serious of the four cases against the ex-president.

Special Counsel Jack Smith brought an election interference case against Trump in Washington, DC and a case regarding the mishandling of classified documents in Florida.

District Judge Judge Tanya Chutkan overseeing the case and the DC Circuit Court of Appeals have both ruled Trump is not immune from prosecution.

Arguments over immunity were heard before the Supreme Court, but the country's highest court is not expected to release its decision until the end of its term in late June or early July.

If the court sides with Trump, it could bring an end to the case. The justices seemed skeptical of total immunity during oral arguments, but their decision could lead to further delays.

Once the decision is released, the district judge has already assured Trump that he would have two months of pretrial preparation before a trial moves forward.

It suggests the earliest the case could take place is in September, right as the 2024 campaign season kicks into high gear.

Georgia Election Interference Case

Trump facing 10 counts in a separate election interference case in Georgia stemming from the 2020 election.

The ex-president and 18 co-defendants were accused of trying to overturn his loss in the state. Four of the co-defendants plead guilty after reaching plea deals with prosecutors.

Charges include violating the state's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law.

Trump's lawyers and his 14 remaining co-defendants have been fighting to have the case brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis thrown out over alleged misconduct.

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis brought the election interference case against Trump in Georgia

Willis had proposed a trial start date of August 5, but it has been delayed due to the effort to disqualify her over an affair she had with Special Prosecutor Nathan Wade.

Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee ruled that Willis could continue to prosecute the case she brought as long as Wade stepped down, which he did hours later.

However, a Georgia appeals court agreed to review the lower court ruling earlier this month.

The move seems likely to delay the case.
Serious failings by the Probation Service led to a double killer being housed next door to an elderly woman who he went on to murder, a review has found.

A senior probation officer has been given a formal warning over the 'flawed decision' to move Lawrence Bierton, who had previously killed two elderly sisters, to the sheltered housing complex.

Bierton, 63, beat neighbour Pauline Quinn, 73, to death with a wooden coffee table at her bungalow in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, in November 2021 when she refused to give him money for alcohol.

At the time of the killing, he was on licence after being jailed for life in 1996 for murdering sisters Aileen Dudill, 79, and Elsie Gregory, 72, at their home in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.

Justice minister Edward Argar has now disclosed two reviews of the case found serious failings. In a letter to Brendan Clarke-Smith, Tory candidate for Bassetlaw, Notts  seen by the Mail  he said the 'principle failing' was the decision to let Bierton live at the Rayton Spur complex, given it was for older residents.

Pauline Quinn, 73, was beaten to death with a wooden coffee table at her bungalow in Worksop, Nottinghamshire, in November 2021

Lawrence Bierton, 63, asked his neighbour for money for alcohol but when she refused, he killed her

A serious further offence review found a senior probation officer approved the housing despite police warnings about the risk of Bierton 'living in close proximity to elderly people'.

Ms Quinn's brother, Peter Gould, 73, said: 'Because of the Probation Service's decision, my sister is dead. It broke my heart.'

Handing Bierton a whole-life order at Nottingham Crown Court in December, Mr Justice Pepperall said Ms Quinn was 'entitled to expect better, and the system plainly failed her'.

After Bierton's sentencing, the Probation Service said a staff member had received a formal warning and changes had been made in the management of serious offenders. A spokesman added a full case review was shared with Ms Quinn's family, but would not be released.
In terms of headline figures, there is little comfort for the Conservatives in the poll we publish today. Labour remains 20-plus points ahead and Rishi Sunak still trails behind Sir Keir Starmer on the question of who would make the better PM.

Fewer than half of those who voted Conservative in 2019 are certain to do so again and, perhaps most damningly, Labour is the more trusted to run the economy.

But in the bleak landscape is a small beacon of light. Only four in TEN respondents to the poll, carried out for Lord Ashcroft, had fully decided where to place their cross on July 4, showing Sir Keir has not yet sealed the deal.

Although the campaign so far has hardly fired the nation, the Tories are at least coming up with some eye-catching policies.

The National Service proposal sparked an important debate about how to improve opportunities for young people, and permanent tax relief on the state pension will play well with older voters.

Rishi Sunak still trails behind Sir Keir Starmer in the polls on the question of who would make the better PM

Already two-thirds of people don't believe a Starmer government would improve the country, suggesting his seemingly unassailable poll lead is in fact butter soft

The myth of Labour unity is also unravelling with Diane Abbott's treatment causing a backlash

Labour, by contrast, has offered only negativity, with a succession of shadow ministers trotting out anti-Tory slogans while giving no detailed vision of their own.

They clearly intend to say as little as possible about what they would do if elected, hoping widespread disaffection with the Conservatives will be enough to see them over the line. But with five weeks of campaigning to go, the voters will surely tire of such evasiveness.

Already two-thirds don't believe a Starmer government would improve the country, suggesting his seemingly unassailable poll lead is in fact butter soft.

The myth of Labour unity is also unravelling. The apparent ousting of Diane Abbott from her Hackney seat has created a powerful backlash  not least from deputy leader Angela Rayner, who says she is 'not happy' at the callous way the veteran Left-winger has been treated.

And confusingly, despite purging the Corbynistas, Sir Keir publicly declares himself to be a Socialist.

So what are his true politics? Is he for free market or state control? Lowering the tax burden or raising it? Standing up to striking unions or caving in? His election mantra is 'change'. But to what?

There are signs Mr Sunak's more open approach is paying off. The poll shows he is seen as significantly more honest than his opponent and with the national debates coming up, he can capitalise on this.

But as well as exposing the shiftiness of his opponent, he needs to provide positive reasons why he deserves another term. On the economy, migration, NHS, tax cuts, defence, and security he must be bold and adhere to strong Conservative values.

Many 2019 Tory voters have lost their faith. Rishi's overriding mission is to coax them back into the fold.

Praise from a tyrant

How American students must be bursting with pride at Ayatollah Khamenei heaping praise on their 'honourable' anti-Israel protests and occupations. They are now, he said, 'a branch of the resistance'.

As supreme leader of Iran, Khamenei presides over a theocracy which brutalises women, executes dissenters, crushes free speech, and sponsors terrorism.

Its sinister religious police beat one female student to death for refusing to wear the hijab, while having others flogged for 'violating public morals'.

As we pass the milestone of 1,000 demonstrations in the UK, do those involved ever stop to consider the barbarity of the regime they are standing with?
Now that former President Donald Trump is a convicted felon he could lose some of his individual liberties, possibly including his ability to vote and own firearms.

Thursday afternoon in a New York courthouse, a 12-person jury found Trump guilty of 34 felonies related to falsifying hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.

The former president's sentencing is expected to take place on July 11.

What happens at that hearing will be critical to what rights Trump will retain and what liberties he may be stripped of.

Former President Donald Trump walks to make comments to members of the media after a jury convicted him of felony crimes for falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election. As a felon, he could loses certain individual liberties depending on his sentence

In Florida, where Trump lives, it is notoriously difficult for felons to regain their voting rights.

But since the Sunshine State defers to other state's disenfranchisement rules, Trump would be able to cast a ballot assuming he is not behind bars during election day, which is the New York rule Florida would enforce.

So, if Trump escapes jail time during his sentencing, he will be able to vote, likely for himself, in the November election.

Blair Bowie, an attorney working with the Campaign Legal Center, told NBC News 'the only way he wouldnt be able to vote is if he is in prison on Election Day.'

Still, Trump faces up to a maximum of four years in prison on each count, meaning he could be stripped of his ability to vote depending on if he is actually sentenced to prison.

Legal experts tell DailyMail.com that it is highly unlikely he will serve any jail time as a non-violent first offender.

Former President Donald Trump leaves the courtroom after getting convicted of 34 felony counts

The former president could lose his right to vote and own firearms if he is sentenced to more than a year of prison time at his July 11 sentencing

And Trump could appeal any decision to send him to prison until after the election, meaning he would not be in prison at the time of his and Biden's presumptive rematch, therefore enabling him to vote.

Overall, the odds that Trump will not be able to vote in November are exceedingly slim, maybe close to zero.

Trump could also lose his right to bear arms.

According to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), individuals 'convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year,' lose their ability to own guns.

So if Trump spends over a year behind bars, he can say goodbye to his Second Amendment rights.

The former president could also be barred from serving on a jury, though it would be highly unusual for him to sit on one in the first place.

According to Florida law, individuals convicted of a felony are not allowed to serve as jurors until their civil rights are restored.

However an individual's civil rights can be restored 'upon completion of all terms of sentence including parole or probation,' meaning Trump could regain his right to sit on a jury if he wants.

An Anti-Trump protester reacts outside the courthouse after former US President Donald Trump was found guilty during his criminal trial

A Pro-Trump protester breaks down in tears outside the courthouse after former US President Donald Trump was found guilty

Felony convictions also restrict individuals from receiving security clearances, such as top secret authorization.

Although if Trump is elected president in November, even as a convicted felon, he would receive the highest level of clearance available despite his criminal record.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, former White House Director of Strategic Communications, called that fact 'wild' in a post on X Thursday.
Inside the New York courtroom where Donald Trump was convicted on all counts in his historic criminal trial, there was so much tension it felt like you were watching a movie.

From my seat in the third row, directly behind Trumps advisors and lawyers, I had a clear view of the former president shaking his head in disgust when the first of 34 verdicts were read out.

As he walked out of the 15th floor courtroom a newly convicted man, his son Eric extended his fist and Trump met it in a fist bump.

The former President had a face like thunder and a pout that did little to hide his fury at being found guilty on all counts of falsifying business records.

Inside the New York courtroom where Donald Trump was convicted on all counts in his historic criminal trial, there was so much tension it felt like you were watching a movie

The reading of the verdict couldnt have been scripted better to crank up the tension - right down to a surprise twist at the end.

At 4.15pm on Thursday everyone began to return to the courtroom for what we thought was the end to the day.

Judge Merchan said he planned to send the jury home at 4.30 and for the next 15 minutes, everyone including Trump, more than 100 journalists and the prosecutors sat in the courtroom on the 15th floor, waiting.

Trump was laughing and joking with his lawyer Todd Blanche at the defense table. At one point Blanche was laughing so much he put his hand over his face.

But just after 4.30pm the mood changed dramatically when Judge Merchan said the jury had sent a note, their fourth.

They had a verdict.

As he walked out of the 15th floor courtroom a newly convicted man, his son Eric extended his fist and Trump met it in a fist bump

There was a loud gasp in the room and the tension shot through the roof.

Judge Merchan told everyone in the court there should be no outbursts when the verdict came in.

The jury note asked for 30 minutes to fill out the form - which ran to 40 pages - and so we had to wait again.

Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan District Attorney, came in and sat in the public gallery.

The six alternate jurors filed in and sat in front of him.

Now Blanche was putting his hand to his face again - this time nervously.

Just after 4.30pm the mood changed dramatically when Judge Merchan said the jury had sent a note, their fourth. They had a verdict

The former President had a face like thunder and a pout that did little to hide his fury at being found guilty on all counts of falsifying business records

As the time ticked by, a female clerk in the well of the court closed her eyes and took a few breaths in and out.

Reporters struggled with the patchy wifi and one journalists computer ran out of batteries.

Suddenly Judge Merchan came back in and called in the jury.

Eleven court security officers stood guard along with four Secret Service agents as the jury filed back in, walking just over 1ft away from Trump as he stood at the defense table.

Nobody looked him in the eye.

Judge Merchan told the jury he had received their note timed at 4.20pm. He asked the foreman if they had reached a verdict, and he said yes.

The foreman, a former waiter who works in sales for a cosmetics company, stood up and took a microphone that was passed to him.

A court officer read out the first count to him and asked him: How say you?

To a stunned silence in the courtroom, the foreman said: Guilty.

The officer read through two more counts, and each time the foreman said the same, guilty.

Trump shook his head as the third was read out.

The officer read through two more counts, and each time the foreman said the same, guilty. Trump shook his head as the third was read out

The court officer went through each of the 34 counts and each time the verdict was the same: guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty.

The foremans voice only wavered once, but otherwise he spoke in a clear voice that was heard around the world.

Trump stared ahead as the verdicts mounted up, apparently stunned or unsure what to make of the decision.

The judge asked the jury if it was indeed their verdict and they said yes in unison.

Then each was asked if that was their verdict and the replied in turn 'yes it is' or 'yes'.

As phones buzzed with updates showing the verdict, Judge Merchan paid tribute to the jury and hailed their dedication and hard work

He said they were involved and engaged and said you gave this matter the attention it deserved;

In a hopeless hail mary, Blanche asked for the judge to enter an order of acquittal.

He said: Theres no basis and no way this jury could have reached this verdict without believing the testimony of Mr Cohen, referring to Trumps former personal lawyer Michael Cohen.

Trump holds his fist into the air as he greets a waiting crowd in Manhattan outside Trump Tower

Blanche said: We believe he lied, there was perjury committed

Judge Merchan denied the request.

Blanche asked for a sentencing date in mid or late July as Trump faces a three day hearing in the documents case in Florida in late June and they would 'not be able to focus on this matter' if it was before then.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass did not object and the judge set sentencing for July 11th at 10am

The judge inquired about Trumps bail status and prosecutors said that there he was released on his own recognizance. Judge Merchan said that would continue.

Trump stood up, fist bumped Eric and walked out with the angry scowl on his face.

By the time he had got outside the courtroom doors he had recovered his senses, blasting the verdict as rigged in one of his customary tirades.
The US Consulate and several Victorian MPs have been vandalised in a targeted attack by pro-Palestinian activists who have vowed a national day of action.

Police are investigating the incident and allege that the incident occurred from 4am on Friday.

The offices were covered in red paint, with three confirmed offices hit belonging to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus, NDIS Minister Bill Shorten and the American Consulate on St Kilda Road in Melbourne.

The vanadalised office of Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus in Mordialloc

The office of Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus (pictured) was among those vandalised

The office of Bill Shorten in Moonee Ponds has been vandalised

On the outside of Mr Shortern's office, the words 'Bill blood on your hands. 40,000 dead' have been written.

'You are complicit in genocide,' it states.

The offices targeted include St Kilda Road in Melbourne, Main Street in Mordialloc, Hall Street in Moonee Ponds and High Street Northcote.

'Join us as we take a stand against the weapons industrial complex in Naarm,' the protest flyer said.

'As Rafah burns, we shine a light on the complicity of the ALP government and the corporations that facilitate genocide.'

Disrupt Wars, a pro-Palestine organisation, said protesters will target 'gutless' Labor MP's 'peacefully'.

It's understood that police and the Victoria Department of Parliamentary Services issued a warning to electorate offices on Thursday.

The warning states the agencies 'have become aware of public advertising calling for a co-ordinated day of national protest action  directed specifically at Labor MPs at state and federal level'.

'There is potential for federal and state electorate offices located in close proximity to each other to be concurrently or sequentially impacted,' the warning reads.

'In light of this information, please take precautions to safeguard both yourself and electorate office staff.'

It comes after federal Labor and the Coalition both opposed the Greens motion in the House of Representatives to recognise Palestinian statehood on Wednesday morning.

Just five MPs voted for the motion, including four lower house Greens MPs and Tasmanian independent Andrew Wilkie, with 80 opposing.

Protest organisers released a list of all the lower house MPs that voted against the motion.

Police are urging anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
E-scooter riders have been warned they will no longer be given leniency after hundreds were caught riding on footpaths and without helmets.

Officers fined almost 300 riders over a two-day crackdown earlier this month in Melbourne's CBD and at major transport hubs.

Some 137 e-scooter riders were fined for failing to wear an approved helmet and 73 for riding on a footpath, which police described as 'extremely dangerous'.

One rider will face court after refusing an oral fluid test while 12 were fined for failing to obey a traffic light and three for carrying a passenger.

Almost 300 e-scooter riders have been fined during a two-day crackdown in Melbourne's CBD. (pictured, riders in Melbourne)

E-scooters can only be ridden on shared paths and roads with a speed limit up to 60km/h but any scooter capable of exceeding 25km/h is restricted to use on private properties.

SCOOTER RULES ACROSS AUSTRALIA NSW, WA and SA: Riding an electric scooter is currently illegal Victoria, ACT, Northern Territory and Tasmania: E-scooters less than 200-watts are permitted to be ridden, only at a maximum speed of 10km/h Queensland: According to the Department of Transport and Main Roads, electric scooters are legal but can only be ridden on paths Source: Mondaq Advertisement

They are permitted on a trial basis with the state government due to introduce a permanent scheme from October.

Police are focusing on e-scooter rider behaviour in the CBD and built-up areas due to concerns from the community, Assistant Commissioner Glenn Weir said.

'While the majority of people do use e-scooters responsibly, unfortunately we're seeing too many riders continue to disregard the rules when it comes to e-scooters,' he said

'The time for leniency is over, the e-scooter rules under the government trial have been in effect for some time now, so there is no excuse for not knowing what you can and can't do on an e-scooter.'

Acting Inspector Michael Tsaloumas said too many collisions had been caused by riders travelling on footpaths, with some suffering serious injuries.

'Riders must adhere to the rules, including not riding on the footpath and wearing a helmet at all times ,' he said.

'Those who don't will be held to account and face significant penalties.'

E-scooters have been allowed in public since 2021 in Ballarat and 2022 in the city, with data showing riders took some eight million trips during that period to April 2024.

The Australian Medical Association has previously called for stricter rules after a Royal Melbourne Hospital study revealed 247 riders and nine pedestrians involved in collisions had been treated for injuries in 2023.
Angela Rayner yesterday insisted there was 'no fiddle' when she registered her children as living at a different address from her own.

Labour's deputy leader has been mired in controversy for months following claims that she may have broken the law by providing different addresses to different authorities before entering Parliament in 2015.

Greater Manchester Police dropped an investigation into her living arrangements earlier this week.

HM Revenue and Customs is also reported to have dropped a separate investigation into whether she avoided paying capital gains tax when she sold the home in Stockport in 2015.

Speaking to Sky News yesterday, Ms Rayner rounded on the Conservatives for lodging a complaint about the issue with the police, saying that the ensuing investigation had left her feeling 'tainted' and had 'clipped her wings' at the start of the General Election campaign.

Angela Rayner yesterday told Sky's Beth Rigby there was 'no fiddle' when she registered her children as living at a different address from her own

Ms Rayner said the ensuing investigation had left her feeling 'tainted' and had 'clipped her wings' at the start of the General Election campaign

Greater Manchester Police announced it had dropped an investigation into her living arrangements earlier this week

Experts have suggested she should have paid up to 3,000 in capital gains tax on her property in Stockport, Greater Manchester, after neighbours claimed it was effectively a second home during a six-year period in which they say she was living at her husband's house a mile away.

Ms Rayner bought the former council home in Vicarage Road in 2007, before becoming an MP.

She married Mark Rayner in 2010, and when the couple re-registered the births of their two sons that year they provided his address in nearby Lowndes Lane.

But Ms Rayner remained on the electoral roll at Vicarage Road until 2015 when she sold the house, with a profit of 48,500.

She has always insisted the Vicarage Road home was her 'principal property', and that she and her then-husband had 'separate finances'.

Yesterday she said she had registered her children at Mr Rayner's property for sentimental reasons, as he had wanted them registered in the house where he had been born and still lived.

'There was no fiddle or anything like that,' she said. 'It was purely because he wanted this record for his children.'

Ms Rayner also appeared to indicate that she lived at his property for more than a year around the time she was elected as MP for Ashton-under-Lyne in 2015.

'I was there for a good 14, 16 months before I moved to Ashton in the April,' she said.

She said it was 'wild' that 12 police officers were involved in investigating her case.

'That's quite a thing for a working class person to have the police on to you,' she said. 'It taints you.'
Donald Trump's eldest son has declared the US a 'third world s**thole' in an hours-long Twitter meltdown after his father's felony conviction.

Former president Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records after a very brief deliberation and will be sentenced on July 11.

Donald Trump Jr, 46, tweeted 'bulls**t' at 5.09pm on Thursday as the verdict was read out in Manhattan Criminal Court, and elaborated minutes later.

'Guilty on all counts. The Democrats have succeeded in their years long attempt to turn America into a third-world s**thole. November 5 is our last chance to save it,' he claimed.

There is no evidence for Trump's daily claim that the prosecution was orchestrated by President Joe Biden or anyone in his administration.

Donald Trump's eldest son Donald Jr waves from his father's motorcade as it travels between Trump Tower and Manhattan Criminal Court

Trump Jr declared the US a 'third world s**thole' in a hours-long Twitter meltdown after his father's felony conviction

Trump Jr's next move was to make the similarly unsubstantiated claim that the trial amounted to election interference.

'Sentencing is 4 days before the GOP Convention...They're not even trying to hide the ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!!!' he wrote.

The sentencing date is exactly six week from the date of his conviction, which is standard for criminal cases and can be pushed back by the judge.

Trump Jr continued with his father's well-worn complaints about the case, this time about Judge Juan Merchan and his daughter Loren's job at a political consulting firm that in the past did work for Democratic candidates.

'This case was rigged from the start. Remember, the same hacks in the media demanding Justice Alito recuse himself because of a flag, have zero problem with the corrupt judge in this case being a donor to Joe Biden or his daughter making millions from Democrats!' he wrote.

The slur that Merchan is 'corrupt' is also unsupported by any evidence.

Former president Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records after a very brief deliberation and will be sentenced on July 11

Trump Jr's reference to US Supreme Court Justice Alito involves an upside-down American flag flying outside his house in the days after the January 6 insurrection, and the 'Appeal to Heaven' flag last year.

The flags are associated with the debunked conspiracy theory Trump and his fans continue to support that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

Some of Trump's opponents called for Alito to recuse himself from any cases related to Trump's own alleged election fraud, for which he is being prosecuted in Georgia.

Alito has refused to recuse himself.

Trump Jr returned to this theme in a later tweet: 'Because Merchan was never an impartial Judge who cared about the rule of law. He's a full blown Democrat activist and Biden donor.'

Trump Jr then declared 'this is what a 3rd world Banana Republic looks like' - a line many of the ex-president's supporters used in the hours after the verdict.

A banana republic (not the clothing chain) is a country with an economy almost entirely dependent on exporting its natural resources.

Typically, the country is in the tight grip of a ruling class that exploits the rest through close cooperation with the monopolies doing the exporting.

Trump Jr then shifted to a more hopeful, forward-looking tone, rallying his father's supporters towards the presidential election.

'We're going to defeat The Swamp and Save America on November 5th,' he wrote.

'The left is willing to destroy our Republic to stop Trump and keep their power - On November 5th - Let's show them that we won't let them get away with it!'

Trump Jr's reference to US Supreme Court Justice Alito involves an upside-down American flag flying outside his house in the days after the January 6 insurrection, and the 'Appeal to Heaven' flag last year (pictured)

Some of Trump's opponents called for Alito to recuse himself from any cases related to Trump's own alleged election fraud, for which he is being prosecuted in Georgia

Finally, Trump Jr retweeted a post comparing Trump's conviction to the assassination of John F Kennedy in terms of historical importance.

'This is 100% right,' he wrote.

The charges Trump faces each carry a maximum potential sentence of up to four years in prison.

The trial included five weeks of dramatic evidence and 22 witnesses being quizzed on the stand.

The case is the first time a former US President has faced a criminal trial.

Trump is the presumptive Republican presidential candidate and is set to take on Joe Biden in November's election.

It means the verdict could upend the 2024 White House race and prove a pivotal moment in the history of the United States.
Former President Donald Trump made history Thursday by becoming the first ex-president to ever be convicted of a crime.

But polling data from NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist that dropped earlier in the day showed a common theme across party lines and demographics.

Voters are ambivalent about the outcome of the case.

Two-thirds of voters - 67 percent - told pollsters that a guilty outcome of the Trump hush money case would have no impact at all on their vote in the fall.

The group most likely to decide Trump and President Joe Biden's fate - that of independents - cared even less.

On Thursday, former President Donald Trump became the first ex-president in U.S. history to become convicted of a crime as he's also his party's presumptive 2024 presidential nominee

Polling data from NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist that dropped earlier Thursday showed a common theme across party lines and demographics - that. most Americans' votes wouldn't change if Trump was found guilty

The survey found that 74 percent of independents said a guilty verdict wouldn't change their vote.

That number is compared to 65 percent of Democrats and 64 percent of Republicans.

Additionally, 25 percent of Republicans answered that they would be more likely to cast a ballot for Trump if he was found guilty in the hush money case.

Late Thursday afternoon a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments paid to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Overall, just 15 percent of voters said they'd be more likely to vote for him if this outcome occurred, while 17 percent said they'd be less likely.

The Marist survey was conducted from May 21 to May 23 when the hush money trial was already underway.

Voters shrugged when asked if Trump being found guilty would impact their general election vote, a survey released Thursday indicated

An earlier PBS NewsHour/NPR, Maris poll, which was released on May 1, found the electorate largely uninterested in the trial then too.

In that survey, 55 percent of Americans said they were paying little to no attention to the hush money trial.

That poll also found that 45 percent of Americans said the Trump investigations are unfair and designed to obstruct the 2024 presidential election.

In both surveys Biden held a slight lead over Trump nationwide - 50 percent to 48 percent - which is in the poll's plus or minus 3.7 percent margin of error.

Recent swing state polls, however, show Biden trailing Trump in a number of battleground states.
A former British PoW has met 'Putin's top target' as the fighter presented Ukraine's military intelligence chief with a copy of his book.

Aiden Aslin, 30, met the man Vladimir Putin most wants to assassinate on Thursday - Ukrainian military intelligence chief Lt-Gen Kyrylo Budanov, 38.

Aslin - then fighting for Ukraine - was captured by Russian forces in April 2022 after the fall of Mariupol and was sentenced to death by the Russian-controlled Donetsk People's Republic for 'mercenary activities'.

But Aslin was freed in September 2022 and allowed to come home the UK.

He has since returned to Ukraine and presented a copy of his book to Budanov - whose GRU military intelligence directorate is behind dozens of attacks on Putin's forces, including Thursday's multiple strikes on occupied Crimea.

Former British PoW, Aiden Aslin (right), 30, today met the man Vladimir Putin most wants to assassinate - Ukrainian military intelligence chief Lt-Gen Kyrylo Budanov, 38 (left)

'I had the immense pleasure and distinct honour of meeting the illustrious Kyrylo Budanov,' said Aslin

Aslin added: '[Budanov] played a pivotal role in securing our release, personally overseeing every detail of our case. In a moment of deep gratitude, I presented him with a copy of my book, expressing my heartfelt thanks for his extraordinary efforts on our behalf'

'I had the immense pleasure and distinct honour of meeting the illustrious Kyrylo Budanov,' said Aslin.

'He played a pivotal role in securing our release, personally overseeing every detail of our case. In a moment of deep gratitude, I presented him with a copy of my book, expressing my heartfelt thanks for his extraordinary efforts on our behalf.'

The book - Prisoner of Putin - recounts Aslin's time as a PoW in Russian occupied Ukraine.

The GUR said: 'During the meeting, Aiden presented a book to Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov.

'The head of the GUR of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine presented the British volunteer with a signed flag of the International Legion, which Aiden will hand over to his comrades in arms.'

The meeting comes as Ukraine is seeking more foreign fighters to come to its aid in holding off Russia's counteroffensive.

Russia's FSB has been revealed as being behind the attempted assassination of Budanov who has won wide respect among Western intelligence and military chiefs for his unconventional tactics in holding off Putin's numerically superior armed forces.

The FSB also sought to kill his wife Marianna, 30, by poisoning with 'arsenic and mercury'.

Budanov has been called the man Putin most wants to assassinate due his success in scoring painful blows on the dictator's forces.

Aslin who was held as a prisoner of war for six months before being released in 2022, is now in the embattled Ukrainian city of Avdiivka - a key frontline hellhole in the war

Aslin was captured by Russian forces in April 2022 after the fall of Mariupol and was sentenced to death by the Russian-controlled Donetsk People's Republic for 'mercenary activities' and activities to overthrow the 'constitutional order

British citizens Aiden Aslin (L) and Shaun Pinner (R) and Moroccan Saaudun Brahim (C) attend a sentencing hearing at the Supreme Court of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) in Donetsk, eastern Ukraine, on June 9 2022

The book - Prisoner of Putin - recounts Aslin's time as a PoW in Russian occupied Ukraine

It comes after Russian forces shelled a five-storey apartment building on Thursday in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, triggering a fire and causing damage, officials said, warning that residents could be trapped under rubble.

'A fire has broken out. People could be under the rubble,' Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said of the attack, which occurred at about midnight local time.

Mayor Ihor Terekhov said several strikes had occurred in the area after the initial hit and reported a series of explosions.

Ukrainian army chief Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi said on his Facebook page on Thursday that Russia is bringing army units into the Kharkiv region from other parts of Ukraine to supplement forces in the two main flashpoints of fighting, the towns of Vovchansk and Lyptsi. Syrskyi said that Ukraine has also moved reserve troops into the area.

Ukraine's GUR military intelligence operation said on Thursday that sea drones destroyed two Russian KS-701 patrol boats in the Black Sea off the Russia-annexed Crimean Peninsula. Russian officials didn't immediately comment.

Mr Aslin (pictured), of Newark, Nottinghamshire, said his motivation to return was his love for his adopted country of Ukraine despite his brush with death

Ukrainian firefighters conduct an extinguishing efforts and continue cooling works at the site of a Russian shelling on the residential areas of the town of Lyman, Donetsk Oblast on Ukraine on May 29, 2024

Fire fighters work on putting out the fire broke out after the Russian rocket attacks, which injured 7 people, in the village of Mala Danilivka in Kharkiv district of Ukraine on May 30, 2024

Ukrainian rescuers work at a site of a rocket hit to the riding hall of the Equestrian Center of the Veterinary Academy in Mala Danylivka village near Kharkiv, Ukraine, 30 May 2024

The air force said that the overnight attacks included eight S-300 ballistic missiles, 11 cruise missiles and 32 Shahed drones. All the drones and seven of the cruise missiles were shot down, the air force said, but didn't provide further details.

Russia's Defense Ministry said that its air defenses shot down eight US-made ATACMS missiles over the Azov Sea, which borders both Russia and Russia-held Ukrainian territory.

One person was wounded by a drone explosion in Russia's Belgorod region, which borders Kharkiv and comes under daily attack from the Ukrainian side.

A lengthy delay in US military aid and Western Europe's inadequate military production has slowed crucial deliveries to the battlefield for Ukraine, and Russia has exploited the delays to make advances in the Kharkiv region.

Russian missiles and bombs also have pummelled Ukrainian military positions and civilian areas, including the power grid.
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg thanked the jury of 12 who convicted Donald Trump on 34 counts, crediting his team of prosecutors while refusing to say whether he would seek prison time for the former president who has relentlessly attacked him.

'I did my job. Our job is to follow the facts and the law without fear or favour' said Bragg, responding to criticism of the case.

It was a long-awaited turn in the spotlight for Bragg, who Trump has ridiculed as 'fat Alvin' and called 'Soros-backed.' The DA smiled at times as he finally got to address the media about the high profile case.

Bragg showed restraint in his remarks, but still managed to take a victory lap and cracked a smile while praising a team that managed to secure the first ever conviction of a former president.

Asked if his office would object to any effort by defense lawyers to stay a potential jail sentence for the former president  which experts call unlikely  Bragg responded, 'Im not going to address hypotheticals.'

Asked if his team would seek prison time for Trump, Bragg responded, 'We will speak in our court filings as weve done throughout this proceeding,' he said. Legal experts have said a sentence of probation is far more likely for the first-time, non-violent offender.

'I did my job,' said DA Alvin Bragg after a jury convicted former President Donald Trump on 34 counts. Behind him to his left is Matthew Colangelo, a former DOJ official who Trump uses to accuse President Biden of being behind the case. To his right is prosecutor Joshua Steinglass

Asked if he had any response to Trump repeatedly targeting him, Bragg said simply: 'I do not.'

'This defendant may be unlike any other in American history. But we arrived at this trial and this verdict in the same manner as every case that comes through the courtroom doors, by following the facts and the law and doing so without fear or favour, said Bragg.

He heaped praise on his team, even after some legal experts criticized the decision to rely on federal campaign finance statutes to get around statute of limitations issues on misdemeanor charges of falsifying business records.

Bragg's predecessor, Cy Vance, Jr. and the feds had declined to bring charges against Trump for a period of time.

It came after Trump following the verdict called it a 'rigged trial' and a 'disgrace.'

'I want to thank this phenomenal prosecution team embodying the finest traditions of this office, professional, integrity, dedication and service. They are model public servant and Im proud and humble to serve side by side with them,' he said.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump called his trial a 'disgrace' minutes after jurors found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records

He repeatedly steered his comments back to the jury, who called a group of 'everyday New Yorkers.'

'I want to thank this phenomenal prosecution team embodying the finest traditions of this office, professional, integrity, dedication and service. They are model public servant and Im proud and humble to serve side by side with them,' he said.

A reporter asked prosecutor Joshua Steinglass about a 'masterful' prosecution. He only smiled, while Bragg talked up his team again while smiling broadly.

Bragg shared his 'enormous gratitude' and made a joke about the closing arguments that Steinglass let run beyond four hours.

Mr. Steinglass  I think some of you probably saw him speak for a little bit the other day,' Bragg said, earning laughs. 'So he's done his job as as this team,' he said.
A metal detectorist struck gold after digging up a Bronze Age sword in a 'really unusual' discovery.

John Belgrove, 60, had become separated from the main group of treasure hunters while at a rally in the village of Stalbridge, Dorset in 2020 and was heading to high ground to look for them when he made the 'find of a lifetime'.

His device activated as he walked along and when he dug down he uncovered a complete rapier sword dating back to 1,400BC, making it over 3,500 years old.

The 2ft long copper bronze relic had been deliberately broken into three pieces and placed in the ground alongside the ashes of a wealthy landowner.

The sword is so rare, that only two have been found in Britain before but both were incomplete. It is believed to be of such national importance that the British Museum would like to have it.

John Belgrove, 60, had become separated from the main group of treasure hunters and was heading to high ground to look for them when he made the 'find of a lifetime'

It was found in the village of Stalbridge, near Sherborne, Dorset in 2020 and dates back to 1,400BC, making it over 3,500 years old

The sword is so rare, that only two have been found in Britain before but both were incomplete. It is believed to be of such national importance that the British Museum would like to have it

The hilt or handle had unusually been cast in bronze and was shaped to mimic a wooden handle.

It had similarities with solid-cast hilts of Nordic swords from Scandinavia even though it was another 2,100 years before the Vikings came to Britain.

Only two similar rapier swords have been found in Britain before and they were incomplete.

As well as the rare rapier, a palstave axe head and a decorative arm bangle was also given as an offering in the ceremonial burial.

The Dorset Museum raised 17,000 to buy it with the proceeds being shared between John and the landowner

John, a retired pensions consultant from Purley, Surrey, paid 20 to go on the rally on private farmland.

He said: 'There was a group of between 40 to 50 detectorists there and they had searched the land before but they were excited because some new land had been opened up for the rally.

'I tagged along and didn't know anyone there. Somehow I got left behind and lost and so I walked to high ground in a field and that is when I got a strong signal for this find of a lifetime.

'It was clear there was metal there but I thought it would just be an old can or something.

'I dug about eight inches down and found an odd-shaped object that was caked in clay.

'I didn't know what it was at the time but it turned out to be a solid hilt of a sword, an exceptional item.'

John, a retired pensions consultant from Purley, Surrey, paid 20 to go on the rally on private farmland

It had similarities with solid-cast hilts of Nordic swords from Scandinavia even though it was another 2,100 years before the Vikings came to Britain

The Dorset Museum raised 17,000 to buy it with the proceeds being shared between John and the landowner

He then found the two broken sections of the blade along with the axe head and the bangle.

John said: 'I knew when I saw the axe head that it was a Bronze Age hoard. They are quite common.

'My head was in a spin.

'This was a single deposit made by or for a high status individual at the time.

'The blade of the sword was still sharp, the view of the British Museum is that it was deliberately broken and deposited in the ground as part of a ritual burial and offering.'

In the Middle Bronze Age there would have been a farming community and settlement in the area.

It was long before the Durotriges inhabited Dorset and built Maiden Castle, one the the largest Iron Age hill forts in the country, and 1,400 years before the Romans arrived.

Elizabeth Selby, director of collections at Dorset Museum, said: 'This hoard is incredibly special. The rapier sword is really unusual because of the cast bronze handle. The bracelet decoration was quite unusual as well.

'There aren't really any comparable objects like the rapier so to be able to acquire these items is really important for us.

'Finds like this tell us about how people were travelling, meeting and exchanging ideas with others on the continent in the centuries before the Roman invasion.

'There was a farming community there and these people generated enough wealth to be able to barter for or exchange objects that others had made.'
Were YOU involved in the brawl, or did you witness it yourself?

Two Spanish waiters who were injured in a violent brawl by British 'stag do' tourists in Majorca have exclusively told MailOnline about the moment they were set upon by the allegedly drunken thugs.

Eight British men were hauled before a court in Palma yesterday evening after several staff and two police officers were hurt in the fracas at the Balneario Illetas beach club restaurant in Calvia, the municipality where party resort Magaluf is located, at 7.30pm on Wednesday.

In exclusive footage obtained by MailOnline, four British men  some of whom were barefoot and still in beachwear - were seen being bundled out of a civil guard van in handcuffs and brought into the courthouse in Palma by armed cops.

The four men in the second Civil Guard van, arriving around 5.30pm local time (4.30pm BST), used their T-shirts to cover their faces and said nothing as they attended a hearing that took place behind closed doors.

It is thought the other four men were brought to the courthouse earlier in the day.

Spanish waiter Nacho, 42, (pictured) told how the British holidaymakers quickly turned 'aggressive' when staff challenged them

Four British men being bundled out of a civil guard van and brought into the courthouse in Palma after they were involved in a violent beach brawl in Majorca on Wednesday

Restaurant staff grappling with tourists - some of whom were British - who started a fight at a Majorcan beach-side restaurant on Wednesday

Nacho told of the dramatic moment he became embroiled in the fracas, when he saw his boss and another colleague attacked when they went to the beach to try to stop the fighting

Some of the men were seen walking out of the courthouse last night.

Shocking online footage of the brawl shows people flung to the ground as beach bar staff tried to intervene and break up the chaos, which apparently erupted after workers asked the group to stop throwing rubbish in the sea.

Six local police and members of the Civil Guard were scrambled to the scene to arrest the Brits, but were reportedly confronted with further violence.

Local officials said they had rarely seen such violence from detainees who were said to have tried to flee after they were targeted by officers.

Speaking to MailOnline, a Spanish Civil Guard spokesman declined to name the men who were arrested but said three were aged 30, one aged 29, two aged 28, one aged 26 and another aged 24.

A waiter injured in the clashes has claimed how the British holidaymakers soon turned 'aggressive' when staff challenged them about their 'rude' behaviour and throwing rubbish on the sand and in the sea.

Married father-of-one Nacho, 42, who did not wish to give his surname, told MailOnline the beach brawl was 'like a battle' which saw him repeatedly punched and later caught in a headlock by one of the Brits.

Eight British men were arrested in Majorca following the brawl outside the restaurant. They were pictured getting handcuffed on some steps at the beach club restaurant before being taken away by police. The fight resulted in a waiter and two police officers being injured

He said: 'From early in the morning they were having drinks on the beach, for celebration.

'When I came to restaurant to work it was about 4.00pm, but they were there about 10 in the morning.

'They stay drinking, but then they start disturbing the other clients and dropping trash and bottles and things like that over the sand and the sea.

'The fight started with that, the trash, because they were throwing trash into the sea, and our colleagues had gone in for a dip because they finish their work, and they tell them to stop.

'Then they [the British men] start to laugh about him and insult him and some things like that.

'Finally they, the group, start to hit him. Then more colleagues go to the beach to try to stop and then they [the British group] start to hit everybody.'

Nacho said tensions arose prior to this when some of the Brits and their wider group tried to go into the beach club's high-end restaurant while in their soaking wet beachwear.

He said: 'We start to say you cannot do this, just take your shoes and wear a t-shirt please.'

'They don't obey us, so I think they were angry for that.'

He said he became embroiled in the fracas when he saw his manager and another colleague attacked as they went to the beach to intervene in the clashes.

Cops led the group into the Palma court, where they will attend a hearing behind closed doors

The group were filmed in a massive brawl on a beach in Majorca on Wednesday

He added: 'For a while, 30 seconds maybe, the fight stop a little bit.

'I was stood in the restaurant at this pointThen I saw them hit my boss and the rest of people so that's when I decide to go down to the beach to help.

'I try to stop the fight, in as far as I can, it was quite difficult. There was the big man in the shorts he starts to hit me, you can see in the video.'

'He was hitting in my head, in the back of my neck.'

Nacho was sent back to the restaurant by his boss, but the nightmare simply continued, he said.

'When I was in the restaurant the big man start to blame me and he say to me, saying 'F*** you Spanish people' and another girl also start to blame me.'

Nacho said on facing up to the Brit, his was suddenly grabbed from behind by someone else, which he says has left him with a nasty bruise on his shoulder.

He added: 'All the time they don't want to stopit was like a battle.'

'I have to say in 25 years in working in restaurants in Costa del Sol and here in Majorca I've never seen a situation like that.'

The accused arrived handcuffed in shorts and T-shirts in two police vans this afternoon

One woman was filmed being knocked to the ground as she tried to stop the brawl

Asked how he felt about British holidaymakers coming to Spain, he blamed 'English' tourists' for the problems, adding: 'Often here in Magaluf, when it's a big fight, it's English involved, not Scottish, not Irish, not Wales.

'I have no problems with the British people, because I work in restaurants a lot of time, I have got a lot of English friends, good people, I don't like to blame.'

Another waiter hurt in the fight told MailOnline how he worries about returning to work in case other tourist brawls happen.

The man, who did not want to be identified for fear of losing his job, claimed the group spent 1,500 in the restaurant eating and drinking before the chaos erupted.

He said: 'They were good, fine, having fun. But it all started when they started to go to the bathroom, without clothes.

'We told them 'you have to wear shoes, you have to wear the shirt, you are bringing a lot of sand and in the bathroom there's a lot of water and if you fall and you have pain or you hurt, we've got a problem'.

He said the group got 'mad' at this before returning to the beach, where some of the bar's waiters had finished their shift and were enjoying beers and a swim.

'One of them [the staff] then went for a swim next to the British people and the British people were throwing trash into the water.

A woman, who was knocked over during the brawl, is helped up by a member of staff

The Brits fighting, apparently after being told by locals to stop throwing litter in the sea

'This worker told them 'please don't throw trash on the water' and they were like 'no, just do your f***ing job, we don't care' whatever.

'They were drunk, and they get very mad and they start to hit him.'

The waiter claimed the worker then shouted to his colleagues for help but they were also set upon by the angry Brits.

He said: 'They were going in there to separate them. But when they arrived, the English started to hit them.

'I saw the fight from the restaurant, and I went to the reception and I start to call the authorities, when I saw a colleague of mine, a woman [go] flying in the sand.'

On intervening, the waiter said a 'big man' in the British group hit him, adding: 'He hurt a lot of people'.

'When I get down there, another one [Brit] told me, 'do your f***ing job, you are dead'.

'I was like 'what in the world did I do to you?' I just arrived, is it because I am staff and I look the same. I don't understand anything.

As many as eight were arrested after the mass brawl, with three people left injured

People were pushed and shoved at a Majorca beach on Wednesday after a fight broke out between British tourists and restaurant staff. The tourists, who were said to be on a stag do, were seen throwing cans of beer into the sea. The brawl erupted after being told to stop by the waiter

'Then after the man said what he said to me, I turned aroundand then someone hits me.'

The waiter told how he was knocked to ground during the attack and said he is still in pain now.

He claimed he saw the British men hurting the women with them as they tried to pull them away from the fight.

He added: 'I can't think how this can happen. I think it's important to say, I think this is the same thing we are having here in these past weeks.

'All this news we are having is because of this sort of tourism. We are the workers, we don't want this. We want good quality tourism.'

He warned that when tourists 'come here to drink a lot, it has these types of consequences.'

The waiter said he felt fearful of returning to work, adding: 'When I see tourists like this, I think 'What do we have now?' It could happen now [again].'

But rather than wishing ill on his attackers, the waiter said he felt 'bad' for them 'because of this reputation of the English people'.

He added: 'I want this problem to be solved. Now we are seeing a lot of [anti-tourist] demonstrations, there's going to be more, that's why I don't feel good [about this], because maybe this will be the point of no return.'

He told how a relative working at another hotel on the island said it had received messages from British tourists asking if it is 'safe for them to travel here'.

The brawl in Majorca comes amid a backdrop of ongoing anti-tourist protests on the island, as locals attempt to clamp down on disruptions caused by holidaymakers.

Last Saturday, around 15,000 people took to the streets of Palma to protest against overtourism, with those marching seen holding placards reading 'tourists go home'.
Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group, the owner of social networking site Truth Social, plummeted Thursday after former President Donald Trump was convicted in his hush money trial.

A New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex.

Trump Media's stock dropped nearly 9 percent in after-hours trading Thursday as news of the verdict emerged.

The stock, which trades under the ticket symbol 'DJT,' has been extraordinarily volatile since its debut in late March, joining the group of meme stocks that are prone to ricochet from highs to lows as small-pocketed investors attempt to catch an upward momentum swing at the right time.

Earlier this month, Trump Media reported that it lost more than $300 million last quarter, according to its first earnings report as a publicly traded company.

Truth Social stock dropped 9 percent after Trump's guilty verdict - which means the former president stands to lose $532 million in the value of his shares

It was trading at $48.44 after the closing bell. It had closed at $51.12 during regular hours on Thursday, which gave it a valuation of $9 billion.

The former president owns 65 percent of the company and the stock price drop would amount to a $532 million decline in the value of Trumps shares, according to Forbes.

Trumps net worth was $7.8 billion as of market close at 4 p.m. ET, making him the 334th-richest person in the world, according to Forbes calculations.

A majority of Trumps fortune stems from his $5.9 billion stake in Trump Media - which looks to lose $5.4 billion at the after hours share price.

A jury of seven men and five women at Manhattan Criminal Court deliberated for nearly 10 hours before convicting the former President of 34 charges of falsifying business records on Thursday.

It was the first time a former U.S. President has faced a criminal trial and the verdict could upend the 2024 White House race, proving a pivotal moment in the history of the United States.

The verdict comes after five weeks of dramatic evidence and 22 witnesses being quizzed on the stand.

The 34 charges Trump faces each carry a maximum potential sentence of up to four years in prison. A sentencing date is set for July 11 at 10am ET.

Prosecutors told of a plot by Trump to 'corrupt' the 2016 election by hiding a $130,000 hush money payment by his 'fixer' Michael Cohen to porn star Stormy Daniels.

The former president owns 65 percent of the company and the stock price drop would amount to a $532 million decline in the value of Trumps shares

Daniels alleged that she and Trump had sex a decade earlier, which he has denied.

The case featured explosive evidence by Daniels and lifted the lid on the 'catch and kill' practices of the National Enquirer tabloid, which bought stories that could be damaging to Trump and suppressed them.

But the actual criminal charges concern something more prosaic - the reimbursements Trump signed for Cohen for the payment.

The reimbursements, paid by Trump in monthly installments, were recorded as being for legal expenses.

Prosecutors say that was a fraudulent label designed to conceal the purpose of the hush money transaction and to illicitly interfere in the 2016 election.

Defense lawyers argued that Cohen actually did substantive legal work for Trump and his family and was paid for it.
Blades and BB guns are being sold on Chinese retailer Temu without age checks, a shocking documentary has revealed.

In the UK it is against the law to sell blades to consumers under the age of 18 and even foreign-based companies need to verify the ages of customers buying restricted items.

However, a new Channel 4 documentary has uncovered that the company - which sells products at dirt-cheap prices - is still not complying with these regulations.

The Truth About Temu: Dispatches also revealed a host of other concerns with Temu - including the discovery of alarming levels of dangerous metals in products aimed at children.

Using the app which has around 15 million UK users, investigative reporter Ellie Flynn ordered a saw and two BB guns.

Blades and BB guns are being sold on Chinese retailer Temu without age checks, a shocking documentary has revealed

In the UK it is against the law to sell blades to consumers under the age of 18 and even foreign-based companies need to verify the ages of customers buying restricted items

Using the app which has around 15 million UK users, investigative reporter Ellie Flynn ordered a saw and two BB guns

She said: 'No questions asked, I've managed to get hold of a really really sharp saw.

'I bought these items without being asked to prove my age.'

According to the documentary, six months ago the consumer group Which also bought age-restricted weapons from Temu and the company vowed to review its processes to prevent similar cases from occurring again.

However, as Ellie concluded in the programme: '[This] has obviously not happened yet if I could buy them without any checks.'

When contacted for comment by Channel 4, Temu said: 'We have been testing an age-verification system in the UK and expect to roll it out soon.'

Temu generates profits by cutting out the middleman, with the merchants sending the item directly to the buyer.

Concerns had previously been raised over its practices after it controversially offered shoppers enormous discounts in return for use of their personal data, and a father claimed his 11-year-old daughter had suffered third-degree burns using nail glue bought from the site.

Ellie purchases different items from the website in the program and puts them through rigorous testing along with checking the legitimacy of products approved by external organisations.

Six months ago the consumer group Which also bought age-restricted weapons from Temu and the company vowed to review its processes to prevent similar cases from occurring again

Ellie bought a gold chain for 2.97 and said it did not list the ingredients online

The clasp of the gold chain contained 17mg per kg of lead and the trigger had 26.7mg per kg of lead

She bought a silver effect necklace for 2.17, a gold effect chain for 2.97, and a children's jacket jacket for 11.09. None of the items listed any ingredients on the website.

Ellie sent these items off to a toxicology lab for testing to see whether the materials used in them were safe.

The rules on selling bladed items in the UK

It is illegal to sell most knives or any weapons to anyone under the age of 18. In Scotland, you are allowed to sell cutlery and kitchen knives to 16 and 17 year olds. It is also illegal to carry most knives or any weapons in public without a 'good reason'. If the knife or weapon is not banned, some examples of good reasons include using it for work, for religious reasons or as part of any national costume. Source: GOV.UK Advertisement

But the findings shocked Laurence Harwood, a professor of organic chemistry, University of Reading, who said he was 'very concerned' about the contents of the items.

The silver necklace contained 10 times more lead than is legally allowed in the UK. The gold chain also had the harmful metal in the clasp of the jewellery piece.

The clasp contained 17mg per kg of lead and another part had 26.7mg per kg of lead, much higher than what is permissible and two times more lead than what is allowed in the UK.

Professor Harwood said: 'When lead builds up in the body, often over months or years, even small amounts of lead can lead to serious health problems [such as] reduced sperm count, miscarriages [and] stillbirth.'

The gold chain also had 27 times more Cadmium than the UK allows, a metal that with prolonged exposure, has been linked to kidney damage and bone degradation, according to the documentary.

The children's jacket that Ellie bought from the site had 82.5mg per kg of antimony in brown material and 33.6mg per kg in the leather part of the jacket.

Professor Harwood said: 'These are absolutely unacceptable higher levels of antimony. Over a long period of time this could have very, very bad effects on the body, in particular the nervous system.'

He was most concerned about this material, despite there being no restrictions on how much antimony can be used in clothes.

He added: 'I'm very concerned [by these results]. Children younger than six are particularly vulnerable to lead poisoning and this could have all sorts of effects on mental development and physical development.

Professor Laurence Harwood was very concerned about the findings and said exposure to toxic metals can severely impact your health

Ellie said the Temu app has spinning wheels and prizes on to engage their customers (stock image)

'In pregnant women, it can cause stillbirth. It can cause neurological issues in old and young alike.'

In response to these findings, Temu told Channel 4 that their tests did confirm some items exceeded acceptable limits for heavy metals, that these have been permanently removed and that they were working with the merchants involved.

It stated: 'We aim not just to meet the minimum legal requirements but to exceed them and will continue to devote significant resources to improving consumer protection.'

Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith has expressed concern over Temu - not only for the 'gambling-like' elements of the app, but also for the personal data belonging to Brits.

He said: 'I think the Temu system is based on gambling technology. Instead of gambling on the outcome of something, [you] are gambling to get cheaper products.

'It's based very much on the way gambling companies work to get you addicted to their products.'

Temu also presented its customers with an 'offer' to get a 50 voucher, but the catch was that you had to agree to permanently hand over considerable amounts of personal data.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: 'The Chinese government demands data from Temu, from any Chinese company, [and] under the national security law, they are obliged to hand it over.

'I believe almost all of these companies, like Temu, are data-harvesters. One of their prime purposes is to sift data, first of all collect it and then pass it on to the intelligence services.

'[They] will then sift through to see if there is anything of interest, anybody of interest, any job that someone is in which is interesting.

Channel 4 Dispatches investigative reporter Ellie Flynn sets out to explore the quality and safety of its products

Concerns have been raised about Temu after 11-year-old Chloe Norris was left in hospital after her father bought her an at-home manicure set from the online outlet

'The job of the government is to defend people from that kind of theft of their personal data. The UK is slow on the pickup on this.'

Temu said that its data practices are clearly stated in its terms and conditions on its website.

But when Ellie goes online to read how her data will be used and stored, it flashes up for just seconds before it redirects her back to the login page.

She said: 'Alarm bells are sounding, why won't they let you read the terms and conditions?'

UK consumer rights laws, even foreign companies that market their products to the UK market need to make their privacy policies viewable, according to the documentary.

Temu later said it had found a bug 'affecting a small number of users' and that it had now 'been fixed'.

MailOnline has contacted Temu for further comment.
The foreign aid budget will no longer be used to pay for hotels for asylum seekers if Labour gains power, Keir Starmer yesterday vowed.

The Opposition leader said spending cash on the accommodation was 'the definition of the ill use of taxpayers' money' and promised to 'turn that around'.

But asked whether that would be Labour policy from day one, he said: 'We can't clear the hotels in 24 hours, that's not realistic.'

More than a quarter of the overseas aid budget was spent on asylum costs in the UK last year, Foreign Office figures show.

The statistics revealed that 4.3billion of its foreign aid budget went on supporting refugees and asylum seekers, a 16 per cent increase on 2022.

Sir Keir Starmer addresses a Welsh Labour general election campaign event in Wales on May 30

The Labour leader serves ice cream in South Wales

The Home Office said it had spent 15billion on development last year, including on humanitarian aid in Gaza.

Asked whether he would pledge to no longer spend the foreign aid budget on domestic asylum costs, Sir Keir said: 'Absolutely. If we were to carry on with this Government, we would have the best part of 100,000 asylum seekers in this country, none of whom are being processed.

'That means none of them can be returned, because until you're processed, you can't be returned - even if you've got no right to be here - (and meanwhile they are) being housed in hotels at the taxpayer's expense.

'I don't think that's right. And yes, we want to turn that around.'

But he added: 'I'm not going to pretend to you that we can do that in the first 24 hours.'

Sir Keir was asked after shadow foreign secretary David Lammy said the money for asylum hotels is being taken away from the foreign aid budget, which he said would help prevent migrants from making the journey in the first place.

David Lammy speaks at a general election campaign event in Abergavenny in Wales on May 30

In a speech in Wales, Mr Lammy said: 'The numbers of people crossing the Channel in small boats has surged under the Tories, whilst tens of thousands remain in asylum hotels permanently in limbo, with no prospect of removal due to the Government's failed Illegal Migration Bill.

'And this not only causes disorder across our country, but as shadow foreign secretary, I've seen it from the other side.

'It takes more than 3billion off of our overseas aid budget, which would stop them coming in the first place.

'The Rwanda scheme that government has put forward is nothing more than a shameless gimmick.'
Donald Trump's loyal aide Margo Martin showed her dedication to the former president following his conviction and echoed the message that the real verdict will come on election day.

Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts after a very brief deliberation on Thursday, which his team promptly turned into a rallying cry for campaign donations.

Margo, who serves as Trump's deputy communications chief and has become a star in her own right, repeated that message on her Instagram account.

'This is the final battle. With you at my side we will demolish the deep state, we will expel the warmongers from our government, we will drive out the globalists, we will cast out the communists, the Marxist and fascists,' Trump said in a campaign video shared by Margo.

Donald Trump's loyal aide Margo Martin (pictured) showed her loyalty to the former president following his conviction

Margo, who serves as Trump's deputy communications chief, posted a campaign video asking for donations on her Instagram story

'We will throw off the sick political class that hates our country, we will rot the fake news media and we will liberate America from these villains once and for all.'

She then posted a video of Trump waving outside of Trump Tower as he returned from court after being told the verdict with the caption 'November 5, 2024' with AC/DC's Hells Bells audio.

The Trump campaign announced it faced intermittent crashing due to the number of small donations pouring in after he was found guilty of 34 felony counts in his hush money trial.

'The American people see through Crooked Joe Biden's rigged show trial,' they wrote.

'So many Americans were moved to donate to President Trump's campaign that the WinRed pages went down.'

She posted a video of Trump waving outside of Trump Tower as he returned from court after being told the verdict with the caption 'November 5, 2024'

The glamourous 28-year-old stood by her boss throughout his trial in Manhattan, often seen in a slew of elegant ensembles

A spokesperson for the campaign said in a statement: 'Our fundraising link is getting so much traffic it's having intermittent delays. This outpouring is massive and reflective of what we've said all along: the American people see this sham for what it is, and they're ready to support Pres Trump in his fight to save our nation.'

The site returned to normal shortly after.

Margo also shared a post from the ex-president and newly convicted felon announcing he will hold a press conference Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

The glamourous 28-year-old stood by her boss throughout his trial in Manhattan, often seen in a slew of elegant ensembles.

Margo has been capturing the attention of the nation in recent months as she has been photographed alongside the former President.

She has also been snapped heading into court and leaving Trump Tower - showing off her stylish outfits each day.

She has also been snapped heading into court and leaving Trump Tower - showing off her stylish outfits each day

Margo, an Oklahoma native, previously served as the deputy director of communications for Trump's Save America PAC

Last week she was pictured putting on a leggy display as she wowed in a white tweed mini skirt and chic blue button-down while heading to court.

On May 14, Margo and Trump attended the Formula One race together in Miami.

Margo was first propelled into the spotlight last year, after a reporter actually mistook her for Donald's wife Melania Trump, 53, as she entered the United States Courthouse in Miami for Trump's arraignment in a previous case.

At the time, Fox News anchor John Roberts showed a clip of her walking into the government building and telling viewers before hand, 'We have some video that we want to play out here, Melania Trump entering the courthouse just a short time ago.'

A chyron at the bottom of the video said 'Melania Trump arrives at Miami court.'

However, DailyMail.com had reported earlier that Melania was in New York at the time, as she was spotted exiting Trump Tower and heading to John Frieda's hair salon.

A little while later, John announced on air that he had made a mistake, confessing, 'Apparently that was not Melania.'

He continued: 'A day like today with so many comings and goings, it's easy from a distance to mistake two people.'

She was one of the few to remain on with him beyond his White House tenure, and his since become a key part in his team

On May 14, Margo and Trump attended the Formula One race together in Miami

Almost instantly afterwards, the world was buzzing with speculation about the identity of Melania's doppelganger.

Margo, an Oklahoma native, previously served as the deputy director of communications for Trump's Save America PAC.

During his time in office, she was hired as his press assistant - and she was famously the communications aide who gave the final press lid for the Trump administration.

She was one of the few to remain on with him beyond his White House tenure, and his since become a key part in his team.

Margo now serves as his deputy director of communications and is often spotted with him at various events, including a variety of parties held at his Florida home at Mar-a-Lago.
The former Post Office IT chief has insisted he will give evidence over the subpostmaster scandal after the Horizon inquiry was told he could not be found.

Mike Young accused former Post Office boss Paula Vennells of trying to put the blame for the wrongful convictions of subpostmasters over missing money on the faulty Horizon IT system.

Mr Young was in charge of computer systems for the Post Office between 2008 and 2012, when many postmasters were wrongly accused of stealing.

Ms Vennells, 65, last week said the IT boss was one of the five people responsible for the scandal while giving evidence at the Horizon IT inquiry.

Mr Young told The Mirror: 'Paula needs an out. She's using me and four others. Hey, she's got to do what she thinks is right for her.'

Mike Young (pictured) accused former Post Office boss Paula Vennells of trying to put the blame for the wrongful convictions of subpostmasters over missing money on the faulty Horizon IT system

Mike Young was in charge of computer systems for the Post Office between 2008 and 2012

Former Post Office boss Paula Vennells said the IT boss was one of the five people responsible for the scandal

Ms Vennells arriving at the Horizon IT inquiry at Aldwych House on May 24

He added: 'She was the CEO.' He added: 'I don't bear any responsibility for the Post Office scandal.'

Activist subpostmaster Alan Bates last night said he was disappointed by Mr Young's comments, adding: 'They are all passing the buck.'

Chair Sir Wyn Williams said the inquiry had been 'unable to trace' Mr Young. Ms Vennells said she does not 'know what he's doing now'.

Mr Young has reportedly been working for a research project funded by the taxpayer and run by the University of Exeter's business school.

He added: 'I've spoken to the enquiry well before last week. The back office doesn't know what the front office has done. I've reached out.

'They reached out to me on the 2nd of April, I replied on the 2nd of April.'

It comes as Ms Vennells cried again last week while giving evidence at the Horizon IT inquiry after insisting that she 'loved' the company.

The shamed former CEO told the hearing in London that there are 'no words' that will make the 'sorrow and what people have gone through any better'.

Activist subpostmaster Alan Bates last night said he was disappointed by Mr Young's comments

Ms Vennells arriving at the Horizon IT inquiry at Aldwych House on May 24

Ms Vennells - who insisted she 'worked as hard as I possibly could' - broke down in tears, after doing the same on the first day of her evidence.

She became emotional as she told the inquiry: 'I loved the Post Office, I gave it I worked as hard as I possibly could to deliver the best Post Office for the UK.

'What I failed to do was I failed to recognise  the imbalance of power between the institution and the individual. I let these people down - I am very aware of that.'

Ms Vennells was accused of being in 'la-la land' and responsible for her own downfall during questioning by Edward Henry KC, a lawyer representing subpostmasters.

She added that she lost all employment after the Court of Appeal passed a judgment which ultimately led to a number of subpostmaster convictions being overturned.
The Greens senator who likes to pull others up for making mistakes - using the senate committee system as a star chamber - has once again made a mistake of her own, getting her numbers wrong during a senate committee hearing this week.

Senator Barbara Pocock was using her platform to attempt to lambast the Bureau of Meteorology for a cost blowout, when she mistakenly accused the department of a $55billion dollar overspend rather than $55million.

With a wry smile, she corrected her mistake - but it isn't the first time the former economics professor has got her figures in a twist.

A month ago Daily Mail Australia revealed Senator Pocock's $99,900,000 gaffe when she grilled government officials over a 'missing' $100million payment which didn't actually exist, compounding the error by tweeting about it.

The payment she mistakenly referred to was in fact $100,000 not $100million, and while the senator claimed 'key milestones had not been properly met', both the government department and the service provider denied this.

Not good with numbers? Senator Barbara Pocock (pictured) has again got her numbers wrong

The Greens Senator eventually deleted her inaccurate tweet but only after questions from Daily Mail Australia.

The senators latest arithmetic mistake may also be a false allegation, with the Bureau of Meteorology challenging the way she described the costs being referred to. Questions have been taken on notice.

The senator also used a radio interview on the ABC in July last year to claim partnerships such as the big consultancy firms do not pay payroll tax in Australia.

However this is simply not true either. These firms do pay payroll tax on their employees like any other business.

Mistakes happen right? Former economics professor Barbara Pocock (pictures) keeps making mistakes

This week a NSW parliamentary committee handed down its report into the consulting profession.

The Greens on that committee are recommending payroll tax be applied to partners in big consulting firms, not just employees, something that doesn't apply to any other partnership arrangement in any other profession.

It would represent double taxation.

At least the NSW committee has reported back in a timely fashion, however, unlike its federal colleagues. T

The NSW committee started its enquiries long after Pocock's senate committee was formed and began its hearings - yet has now reported back before it.

The senate committee has delayed handing down its report on no less than four separate occasions. It was due to report back today but appears to have now delayed doing so for a fifth time.

That is despite it claiming reforms in the sector are 'urgently needed'.
Melbourne man said he was 'humiliated' by call with his bank

A gay sex worker was left 'humiliated and disrespected' after his bank blocked him from taking credit card payments from his clients.

Victorian man Matthew Roberts had been charging clients using a portable EFTPOS machine for years, with about half preferring to pay using a card.

When Mint Payments changed their partner company from Bendigo Bank to First Data Merchant Solutions in 2022, he was asked to reapply for the service.

During a call with a junior employee, Mr Roberts said he was discriminated against for his profession and blocked from reapplying.

'I was asked about my occupation, there was a dead silence, and then the phone hung up,' he told news.com.au.

Victorian man Matthew Roberts (pictured) had been charging clients using a portable EFTPOS machine for years before he was asked to reapply for the service - and was denied

'Sex workers across the country face a dilemma. They can lie and be treated fairly or tell the truth and almost certainly face discrimination.

'I chose to tell the truth, and the discrimination came thick and fast. I was physically shaking. I felt humiliated and disrespected.'

In June 2022, Mr Roberts wrote to the Chief Manager of Mint Payments asking for confirmation about why he had been banned from the service.

The reply from Mint Payments stated: 'According to the contractual terms and conditions of our current acquirers, we are unable to provide our service to you.'

Mr Roberts said his anger motivated him to take legal action against the company with the goal of inspiring 'cultural and policy' change in the industry.

Maurice Blackburn launched a discrimination case against Mint Payments and its acquirer First Data Solutions Australia on behalf of Mr Roberts.

The application stated that there was no reason for sex workers to lie about their professions, with sex work being decriminalised in Victoria in 2022, and that is is all illegal to discriminate against someone because of their occupation.

Bridie Murphy, a senior associate in Maurice Blackburn's social justice practice, said the denial of financial services, often referred to as 'de-banking', has been a significant problem for sex workers.

'In an increasingly cashless economy, de-banking has serious implications for anyone who runs their own business including sex workers,' she said.

'This case is a timely reminder that it is unlawful to discriminate against someone because of their job.'

A letter from Mint Payments stated: 'According to the contractual terms and conditions of our current acquirers, we are unable to provide our service to you.'

In late 2023, Mr Roberts resolved his case on the conditions that both First Data Solutions Australia and Mint Payments do not restrict their services to sex workers and consider their applications on their merits, not their profession.

Both companies agreed to give employees training on discrimination laws.

Mr Roberts said other sex workers had been forced to give up their businesses due to de-banking.

He said he is proud to be a sex worker and stand up for his industry's rights.

'I'm in the industry because I love the work that I do, and that's never going to change,' Mr Roberts said.
A woman lay dying for three days in a crashed car next to her boyfriend's body, an inquiry has ruled.

Lamara Bell, 25, could have survived if police had acted on a 101 call around five hours after the smash in July 2015, a judge ruled as he blasted Police Scotland's 'organisational failure'.

But the officer who took the call failed to log the report that a car had been seen in bushes at the bottom of an embankment beside the M9 near Bannockburn, Stirlingshire.

Sergeant Brian Henry had taken a written record of the call but did not log the information on the force computer system and there was no procedure for cross-checking whether action had been taken.

Instead, a badly injured Ms Bell was left in the wreckage beside the body of John Yuill. Police only responded following a second call three days later when a local farmer saw the Renault Clio and found the mother-of-one pleading for help. She died in hospital four days later.

Sheriff James Williamson said Ms Bell would have suffered 'almost incomprehensible' pain before her death.

In his determination after a fatal accident inquiry (FAI) into the incident, the judge said: 'The failure of Police Scotland to properly risk assess the call handling procedures and have a system of reconciliation was an organisational failure. An organisational failure which led to the safety of the public being compromised and to the events of July 5, 2015.'

Lamara Bell, 25, could have survived if police had acted on a 101 call around five hours after the 'devastatingly powerful collision' in July 2015 - but instead she was left in the wreckage beside the body of John Yuill, 28

File photo from 2015 of police searching the scene at Junction 9 of the M9 near Stirling

Images show the car before the crash beside the M9 near Bannockburn

Police Scotland repeated their apology to the families of Mr Yuill and Ms Bell and said that 'significant improvements' have been made to call handling systems since 2015, which are now 'incomparable' to the systems in place at that time.

The inquiry heard Mr Yuill suffered unsurvivable injuries in the crash but Ms Bell would probably have survived if she had received medical treatment on July 5, albeit with a long-term neurological deficit.

But there was 'no criticism' of Mr Henry, now retired, who volunteered to do overtime at Bilston Glen, arriving into what the sheriff described as a 'confused, fractious working environment'.

Instead, he said: 'Brian Henry was inadequately trained and left largely unsupervised to operate a system that allowed for human error to go undetected.

'His human error going undetected meant that Lamara Bell was left in a vehicle by the side of a major motorway in Scotland suffering devastating injures.

'These injuries, together with the delay in rescuing and treating her, led to her death.'

Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: 'Lamara Bell and John Yuill's deaths were a tragedy and my first thoughts today are with their family and friends.

'Police Scotland failed Lamara and John in 2015 and I repeat the personal apology made previously to their loved ones. We did not keep them safe in their time of need as was our duty and for that I am truly sorry.

'We have fully participated with all inspections, investigations and inquiries established since July 2015 to identify what went wrong and to do everything we possibly can to stop a terrible incident such as this being repeated.

'Sheriff Williamson's findings highlight the significant improvements which have been made to our call handling systems. How we respond to 999 and 101 calls now is incomparable to how we dealt with them in 2015.

'None of these provide consolation to Lamara and John's loved ones, but I can give them my assurance that lessons have been learned and that the relentless improvement of service delivery lies at the heart of everything we do.

'We are studying the determination in detail for any learning which will form part of this continuous improvement.'

The crashed car was discovered on July 8, 2015 after another member of the public rang police to report seeing it and emergency services went to investigate.

Sheriff Williamson found the incident was not the result of one individual failure by Police Scotland but 'more than one and these failures took place over a lengthy period of time, during which the opportunity to resolve them was lost'.

Gordon Yuill, father of John Yuill, heard how failings by Police Scotland had 'materially contributed' to the death of Lamara Bell, following the crash on the M9 in 2015

The FAI came after the family of Ms Bell was awarded more than 1million in damages from Police Scotland in a civil settlement in December 2021.

In September 2021, the force was fined 100,000 at the High Court in Edinburgh after it pleaded guilty to health and safety failings which 'materially contributed' to Ms Bell's death.

Sheriff Williamson said Ms Bell's suffering over a period of three days, when she was severely injured but conscious, is 'almost incomprehensible'.

He said that since the incident in 2015, the police Contact, Command and Control Division (C3 Division) has been transformed into an 'efficient, tightly-controlled and sophisticated complex of service centres all capable of communicating with each other on a unified IT network' that is better able to serve and protect the public than in 2015.

He said: 'It is not risk-free. It still has a susceptibility to human failure, but the risk of human failure and that failure going undetected is now marginal.'
Pair spent the trial sniping at each other with increasingly vicious barbs

Hollywood actor renewed his feud with Trump soon after the trial verdict

Robert De Niro has celebrated his archenemy Donald Trump being convicted of 34 felonies after trading insults throughout the trial.

The Hollywood actor has a long-running feud with the ex-president and convicted criminal and was more than happy to stick the boot in.

But he admitted he was concerned for his safety as one of the more visible and strident Trump critics, given the passion of his millions of supporters.

De Niro weighed in on the jury's verdict in the 'hush money' trial on a day Trump ridiculed him with a deep fake online video.

Robert De Niro has celebrated his archenemy Donald Trump being convicted of 34 felonies after trading insults throughout the trial

'I think justice was served,' he told Variety at an event for his new film Ezra.

'This never should have gotten to this stage,' the actor, who did voiceover for a Biden campaign ad, added and agreed the verdict could affect the election.

'I don't want to be talking, but I am so upset by it. I have to say something. This is my country. This guy wants to destroy it. Period. He's crazy.'

De Niro, when asked if he ever feared for his safety, said he did - but refused to be intimidated by Trump or threats from his fans.

'You think about that. It makes me more angry, but I have to be afraid to be intimidated. And that's why I said, you're not going to intimidate us,' he said.

'People are fed up, they're going to fight back. That's not what we're about in this country.

After calling De Niro a 'wacko' after his rant outside Manhattan criminal court, Trump posted a deepfake video that manipulated the actor's voice to call himself 'washed up'.

Trump gestures to the media and the crowd outside of Trump Tower after a jury found him guilty on all 34 counts in his criminal trial

Trump posted the video from his Truth Social account. It features De Niro at a press conference organized by the Biden campaign outside the Stormy Daniels trial, with the same honking car alarm that accompanied the original.

Only this time, the Academy Award winner calls himself a 'scared little man' and a 'sicko' with 'lots of skeletons in my closet'.

It also insults his stature, calls Trump a 'real man,' and includes crude references to gay sex.

'I don't know why they made this podium so high. I told them I'm coming straight from the bathhouse and didn't have my platform shoes with me,' the actor says in a manipulated voice that resembles his own.

'I'm speaking to you today because I'm a scared little man, a washed up actor with lots of skeletons in my closet.

'People like me need Joe Biden and power not because he's any good, but because he enjoys the same sick perversions.'

Former President Donald Trump posted a 'deep fake' video that manipulated actor Robert De Niro's voice to have him ridiculing himself

The manipulated Goodfellas and Godfather Part II actor then says he only gets to 'pretend to be tough and powerful on a movie set'.

'If Donald Trump was in front of me right now I'd punch myself right in the face, get down on my hands and knees...' the deepfake version of De Niro says, with a crude reference in the video posted by the former president.

The deepfake also includes a nod to DeNiro's performance in 'Meet the Parents,' saying if Trump gets reelected 'sickos like me will be permanently banned from the circle of trust.'

The crude video comes after DeNiro hammered Trump at the New York press conference, after doing voiceover for a video that savaged the former president as a 'clown' and a would-be 'dictator.'

'I love this city I don't want to destroy it. Donald Trump wants to destroy not only the city but the country and eventually he could destroy the world,' he said.

Former President Donald Trump gave a review of Robert De Niro's performance outside of his hush money case overnight Wednesday on his Truth Social website

He said if Trump gets reelected he would never relinquish power.

'I can tell you right now. He will never leave. He will never leave. You know that. He will never leave,' De Niro said.

He was heckled by Trump supporters during the appearance.

'We New Yorkers used to tolerate him when he was just another grubby real estate hustler masquerading as a big shot,' De Niro said of Trump.

'A two-bit playboy lying his way into the tabloids. A clown.'

'But this city is pretty accommodating. We make room for clowns,' the actor continued.

'But not a person like Trump, who will eventually run the country, that does not work and we all know that.'

Trump campaign spokesman Jason Miller followed up with his own press conference slamming De Niro as a 'washed up actor.'
One Idaho high school student has protested her school's book ban by handing the superintendent a copy of 'The Handmaid's Tale' during her graduation ceremony.

Annabelle Jenkins gave West Ada Superintendent Derek Bub a graphic novel adaptation of the famous book during the Idaho Fine Arts Academy commencement on May 23 - but he refused to take it.

'The Handmaid's Tale' is one of 10 books the West Ada School District removed from shelves in December, according to Idaho EdNews.

Jenkins posted a TikTok, that has since garnered millions of views, showing the moment she defiantly handed Bub the book.

'I just realized that I did not want to walk across that stage and get my diploma and shake the superintendent's hand. I just did not want to do that,' Jenkins told KTVB.

Annabelle Jenkins gave West Ada Superintendent Derek Bub a graphic novel adaptation of 'The Handmaid's Tale' during the Idaho Fine Arts Academy commencement on May 23

Jenkins posted a TikTok, that has since garnered millions of views, showing the moment she defiantly handed Bub the book

'I got up there and I got the book out. I kind of showed it to the audience really quick. He crossed his arms like this and he wouldn't take it.'

Wearing a maroon cap and gown, Jenkins walked across the stage shaking the hands of every person before Bub, then took a copy of the book out when she approached him.

Bub began to hold his hand out, but when he saw the graphic novel but his hand down and refused to accept it. Ultimately Jenkins placed the book at Bub's feet and continued off the stage.

Jenkins said her protest came out of frustration over the book ban and not feeling like students had a say in the matter.

'I don't like to be the center of attention or do things just to like get a reaction. So when I do things, I want it to be very purposeful. I want people to know that this is something deeply, deeply important to me,' Jenkins said.

'My goal was never to be disruptive or mess up the ceremony. And I really don't believe that I did. I mean, at the end of the day, I think that that was my time on stage and that was my moment and that was something that was important to me to do.'

Wearing a maroon cap and gown, Jenkins walked across the stage shaking the hands of every person before Bub, then took a copy of the book out when she approached him

Bub began to hold his hand out, but when he saw the graphic novel but his hand down and refused to accept it, so she placed it at his feet

The West Ada School District told the Idaho Statesman that Jenkins' gesture 'unfortunately overshadowed the celebratory occasion.'

'While we respect the right to voice concerns, it is important to maintain the focus on the achievements and hard work of our students during such significant milestones,' spokesperson Niki Scheppers said.

In April, Republican Gov. Brad Little signed a bill that will require school and public libraries to move material deemed 'harmful to minors' to an adults-only section or face lawsuits.

The bill is similar to one vetoed by Little last year. If a community member complains that a book is harmful to minors, the library has 60 days to address it or children or their parents can sue the facility for $250 in damages. The new law uses Idaho's current definition of 'obscene materials,' which includes any act of homosexuality.

In a letter to the Legislature, Little said he shares the desire to keep 'truly inappropriate library materials out of the hands of minors' but he said was disappointed lawmakers didn't to more to protect children from 'the harms of social media.'

Jenkins said she her protest came out of frustration over the book ban and not feeling like students had a say in the matter

The Idaho Library Association warned that the law uses vague and subjective definitions of what constitutes material that is harmful to minors and said it could result in significantly limited access to information for the public.

The West Ada School District pulled the 10 books out of a list of 44 titles based on ratings from BookLooks.org, a website created by 'concerned parents' in Brevard County, Florida.

The books were reviewed by a committee made up of the district's library coordinator, chief academic officer, curriculum director, two secondary principals and one secondary English teacher

Several librarians were invited to participate in the review, but 'all opted out, declining to participate in the process,' Scheppers said.

The other books removed include 'A Stolen Life' by Jaycee Dugard, 'Water for Elephants' by Sarah Gruen, two books by Sarah J. Maas and two by Rupi Kaur.
Yet another high school is part of an investigation after a list ranking female students on their appearance circulated on social media.

The Instagram post - which has now been deleted - ranked some students from Foxwell State Secondary College at Coomera on the northern Gold Coast into categories such as 'abduction material', 'one night stand', 'average' and 'unrapeable'.

Investigations by the Queensland Department of Education are underway.

'The department will conduct a full investigation into the incident of this vile post and any state school student found responsible will be held accountable for their actions,' a spokesperson said.

The Instagram post - which has now been deleted - ranked some students from Foxwell State Secondary College (pictured) into categories such as 'one night stand', 'average' and 'unrapeable'

'Anyone with any knowledge or information is encouraged to contact and provide it to the school.'

The spokesperson said the school was made aware of the post on Wednesday and acted immediately to have it removed.

'At this stage there is no indication the post was made by a member of the school community,' they added.

A mother of a 16-year-old girl who attends the school and was included in the post said she was deeply disturbed by the incident.

'I just don't know how people think that is OK to make up these categories and then put young girls in them,' she added.

'It's just horrifying.'

Her daughter was one of about 17 students included in the post.

She said the original had been deleted but the material was still being shared.

'It's such a vulnerable age to be having to deal with this  I don't know how these girls are going to get over it or how long it's going to take' a mother of one student said about the social media post (stock image)

'It's everywhere, people have screenshotted it and reposted it on their Facebook or Instagram,' the woman told ABC News.

'It's such a vulnerable age to be having to deal with this  I don't know how these girls are going to get over it or how long it's going to take.'

Police are also looking into the incident, a spokesperson confirmed.

It's the latest vile list ranking female students found in Aussie high schools in the last month.

On May 16, a demeaning list ranking the supposed promiscuity of teenage girls was found at a school in Melbourne.

The list, which was was found scrawled on the back of a bathroom door in the girl's bathroom at Brentwood Secondary College, a co-ed school in Glen Waverley, listed girls while describing them as 's***s'.

Only a day prior, a separate list was found at McClelland College in Frankston in Melbourne's south-eastern suburbs.

A student created the list rating female students who attend the high school by their looks and was created on a computer belonging to the student.

Brentwood Secondary College was roped into the demeaning list scandal after seven students were ranked by who are the 'biggest s***s' (pictured)

On May 1, a list was posted to social media by students at Victoria's Yarra Valley Grammar School ranking their female peers from 'wifey' to 'unrapeable'.

The shocking list featured photos of female students and ranked them from best to worst as 'wifeys', 'cuties', 'mid', 'object', 'get out' and 'unrapeable'.

Queensland's education department has offered counselling to impacted students and families.

Anyone with any information on the post is encouraged to contact Foxwell State Secondary School.

The Kids Helpline: 24-hour support on 1800 55 1800

Lifeline: 24-hour support for all Australians on 13 11 14
Liberal America has delivered a guilty verdict gut-punch: Number 45 is now a convicted felon  and his frothing, foaming foes are as smug as they are predictable.

MS-DNC, the Clucking Nitwit Network and the histrionic hens of The View were all as giddy as Taylor Swift mid first-kiss.

After six weeks of foreplay, cameras trained 24/7 on the blank walls of the Manhattan courthouse, these juvenile jackjaws let their orgasmic orations explode into guilty goo.

Following just 12 hours of deliberation, New York's 12 ordinary men called time, and CNN's doughty Dana Bash delivered her expert insight:

'The nation is now holding its breath [] you're going to have a former President, sitting in a courtroom listening to what 12 ordinary people decided.'

Thank you, Justice Brandeis!

Hallelujah, sang MSNBC's Rachel Maddow  who praised an 'impeccable' trial as the 34 counts rolled in.

And woke Hollywood saw God!

Right off the phone with raging Robert De Niro, red-headed lady-monster Kathy Griffin  of Trump severed head fame  said she was crying 'tears of joy.'

Hallelujah, sang MSNBC's Rachel Maddow  who praised an 'impeccable' trial as the 34 counts rolled in.

Right off the phone with raging Robert De Niro, red-headed lady-monster Kathy Griffin  of Trump severed head fame  said she was crying 'tears of joy.'

Also soaking up the celebration juice, DA 'Get Trump' Bragg and his rictus-grinning lawfare lackies waddled up to the press podium.

How do you feel about your 'masterful and flawless' prosecution, asked one particularly bum-sucking journo. Put your panties back on, mister!

Working woman of the hour, Stormy Daniels, relayed her 'empathy' for Convict Don via her lawyer which was about as believable as Pinocchio Cohen's treacherous testimony.

Meanwhile, across the flaming Rubicon, former Trump adversary Megyn Kelly was spitting stiletto fire, and speaking for right-thinking Americans everywhere:

'The country is disgraced. Alvin Bragg should be disbarred. They will rue the day.'

Go get 'em, Meg!

Nor was Coiffed Caitlyn Jenner a happy camperette. America's greatest Olympian (let's be honest, she could take Michael Phelps in a fistfight) seethed at the 'outrageous' proceedings.

Soaking up the celebration juice, DA 'Get Trump' Bragg and his rictus-grinning lawfare lackies waddled up to the press podium.

And even Meatball Ron DeSantis managed to pull on his high heels and trot out a yawn-a-thon statement condemning the 'Kangaroo court'.

And what a circus of rabid animals it has been.

It wasn't just washed-up dog De Niro finger-waving and barking outside the courthouse at Trump supporters. ('You are gangsters, f*** you!')

No, pre-verdict Thursday we saw a big-breasted MAGA maniac arrested for smashing her woman weapons against an anti-Trump troll.

As cops dragged her off, it felt rather like the beginning of a low-rent adult film but, then again, hasn't this whole charade?

A British couple holidaying in humid Manhattan seemingly wandered into the raving rabble only to receive shouts of, 'F*** the Queen!'

Pre-verdict Thursday we saw a big-breasted MAGA maniac arrested for smashing her woman weapons against an anti-Trump troll.

Meatball Ron DeSantis managed to pull on his high heels and trot out a yawn-a-thon statement condemning the 'Kangaroo court'. And what a circus of rabid animals it has bee

And an unemployed  unemployable  man in a prison jumpsuit and rubber Trump mask danced like an ape.

This madness has now taken a deeply disturbing turn, our politics too crazy to quantify.

Republicans vowing to move to Somalia (moving to Canada is SO Amy Schumer) will no doubt stay long enough to grudge-vote Biden out the Oval in November.

But today, no victory was won.

What every millionaire, mumma or Average Joe collecting belly button lint must realize is  if they can do it to him, they can do it to you, too.
Boston's woke Democratic mayor Michelle Wu has been labeled 'tone-deaf' and 'unserious' for her plan to give young children and undocumented citizens the power to vote on the city's budget.

During a City Council committee hearing on Tuesday that reviewed her 2025 fiscal budget, Wu announced that the new budgeting voting process is open to the undocumented and children as young as 11 years old.

After the meeting, enraged Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn wrote a letter to Renato Castelo, the director of the Office of Participatory Budgeting, and expressed his concern with Wu's decision.

'Allowing children to decide the usage of taxpayer dollars would do just the opposite, and be viewed as tone-deaf, unserious and wholly inappropriate by my constituents,' Flynn wrote in the letter, reviewed by the Boston Herald.

Michelle Wu announced that children as young as 11 and undocumented citizens to vote on Boston's participatory budget

'During this time of great fiscal uncertainty  with a study warning that remote work policies and the citys declining commercial property values may cost us $500 million in revenue annually, as well as a subsequent proposal to also tax commercial property at a higher rate  now more than ever, it is critical that we show the taxpayers of Boston that we take our financial responsibilities seriously,' Flynn added.

Although participatory budgeting, when community members decide how to allocate funds for a public budget, was approved in 2021, residents will, for the first time, be able to weigh in on how the Massachusetts city spends their money.

Starting in July, the Office of Participatory Budgeting will start to collect community project ideas from residents.

By the end of September, Wu will pick the top 15 community proposals before the public votes and narrow it down to five options, in person next January.

During the hearing, city officials said that the five chosen projects will be earmarked in the FY26 budget. The Boston mayor already allocated $2million for the initial phase of the process.

Chief Financial Officer Ashley Groffenberger told the Boston Herald that the office originally started the fiscal year with around $4million, but due to funds that rolled over from the last two budget cycles, some of the money has been spent on 'operational expenses,' including staff salaries.

Groffenberger added that the administration plans to bring in $2million for the participatory budgeting plans.

Other councilors expressed curiosity and asked if there were plans to increase the annual project funding budget in upcoming years as multiple community groups petitioned Wu to allocate one percent of the budget- approximately $40million- for the participatory budget plan.

While many disagree with Wu's newest plan, other councilors agreed with her decision with hopes that it would bring more youth participation and civic engagement

In response, both Castelo and Groffenberger said that the decision will be made by the mayor and the Council, adding that they think $2million is a suitable amount to start with each year.

Along with Flynn, Councilors Erin Murphy and John FitzGerald expressed their concerns over Wu's recent decision.

FitzGerald said that with the new plan, residents will have more control over budgetary powers than the Council.

Flynn is pushing to decrease the allocated amount for the participatory budget by $1.2million for the fiscal year.

The city counselor wants to instead invest in the Boston Police Crime Lab so they can hire more staff to help with the lab's pile up of sexual assault kit testing.

He also wants to allocate funds for the city's Inspectional Services Department to help improve its pest control inspections.

While many disagree with Wu's newest plan, other councilors agreed with her decision with hopes that it would bring more youth participation and civic engagement.

Councilor Liz Breadon said: 'I really do think this is a huge opportunity to develop civic engagement.'

'I do hope that it will lead to a more engaged citizenry going forward,' she said, adding that it would give children and residents the opportunity to learn how to vote.

Wu, who has been mayor of Boston since November 2021, recently announced that she was looking for some of the most basic offenses to be completely off-limits to prosecution.

She argued for charges including shoplifting and disorderly conduct to be beyond the reach of prosecutors along with other serious crimes, including the receiving of stolen property and driving with a suspended license.

But Wu's progressive outlook goes even further with the 39-year-old seemingly comfortable with offenders that commit 'quality of life' crimes getting off scot-free.

They include the breaking and entering of property, wanton and malicious destruction of property, minor's in possession of alcohol and drug possession including the distribution of marijuana and non-marijuana types.

Wu wants shoplifting, larceny and disorderly conduct to not be prosecuted. Pictured, an unidentified man breaks the windows of a store in Boston in May 2020 (file photo)

Wu said she is in favor of certain crimes forgoing prosecution. The offenses are all on a 'do-not-prosecute' list (pictured) that was created by former Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins

Those who commit such violent crimes would receive a little more than a slap on the wrist.

The offenses are all on a 'do-not-prosecute' list that was created by former Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins.

Rollins, who later joined the Biden administration but resigned amid ethical violations, had advocated for the non-prosecution of more 'low-level' offenses.

In a 2021 Boston Mayoral Candidate Questionnaire, from Progressive Massachusetts, a nonprofit organization that tracks and ranks how progressive elected officials, Wu was asked if she supported Rollins list.

'Do you support the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office's do-not-prosecute list and expanded approach to dealing with such low-level offenses? YES/ NO?' Progressive Mass asked in its survey.

'Yes,' Wu responded.

When Wu was asked if she supported closing the Boston Police gang database, Wu again said yes.

As mayor, Wu, who is the city's first female and first Asian American to assume the role, has promised to reallocate police funds to other city priorities and believes in demilitarizing law enforcement, opposing the use of tear gas, rubber bullets, and attack dogs.
China to host AIPPI World Congress for first time in October

Xinhua) 13:24, May 31, 2024

BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- China will in October host the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) World Congress for the first time since the association was formed 127 years ago.

The event, slated to take place from Oct. 19 to 22 in Hangzhou City, east China's Zhejiang Province, is expected to attract 1,500 delegates from over 80 countries and regions, Zhao Ping, spokesperson for the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, told a press conference on Thursday.

China's hosting of the 2024 AIPPI World Congress reflects the international recognition of its commitment to intellectual property (IP) protection, Zhao said, noting expectations that the event will foster exchange and cooperation between the Chinese and international communities in the field of IP protection.

China has strengthened its IP protection steadily to encourage innovation and build an improved business environment.

Thanks to solid efforts to crack down on the infringement of IP rights, the country has reported robust growth in both its number of patents and its IP trade over recent years.

China held approximately 4.02 million valid domestic invention patents by the end of 2023, making it the first country in the world to pass the 4-million mark.

From 2013 to 2023, the average annual growth rate of China's total trade in IP royalties was 9.4 percent. And last year, its total trade volume of IP royalties reached 53.7 billion U.S. dollars.

AIPPI was one of the first non-governmental international IP organizations. The AIPPI World Congress is held annually and has become one of the most well-attended and influential gatherings in the field of IP.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Mica Miller's best friend recalled a chilling conversation she had with Mica's husband and pastor John-Paul Miller just after he'd announced to his followers that his wife had died.

Miller, 30, was discovered in Lumber River State Park in Robeson County, North Carolina, on April 27, just days after she had served husband John-Paul Miller, 44, also known as 'JP', with divorce papers. Federal, state and local officials are still investigating.

Charlotte Korn, Mica's best friend, is speaking out in a YouTube video about a phone call she had with John-Paul the day he told the congregation at Solid Rock at Market Common Church in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina that Mica died.

Korn found it odd that she was so high up on the priority list to call, especially since she'd already known Mica had died but what he said after exchanging pleasantries stunned her.

'He said she was supposed to go to work and so she went and bought a gun, then drove up to Lumberton. I thought she was going to see you.'

Mica Miller's best friend Charlotte Korn recalled a chilling conversation she had with Mica's husband and pastor John-Paul Miller just after he'd announced to his followers that his wife had died

Korn made it clear that there was no plan for Mica to visit her, which she says 'sent a shiver down my spine because it felt like she was watching her.'

She believes that John-Paul was in fact tracking Mica's movements and has had her tracked in the past.

'He has had a habit of stalking her. That's what it sounded like to me.'

Korn has said she will 'absolutely' testify the same things she's said in interviews if asked at trial.

Mica, 30, was found dead in Lumber River State Park in North Carolina on April 27 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

She was revealed to have taken her own life days after serving Miller with divorce papers, and officials have ruled her death a suicide.

But Mica's friends and family have since urged authorities to investigate her death further while publicly calling for 'justice for Mica' and local cops have brought in the FBI to help.

Robeson County Sheriff's department confirmed that in the early stages of the investigation they had reached out to the FBI and US Attorney's office for help in probing Mica's death.

Korn believes that John-Paul was in fact tracking Mica's movements and has had her tracked in the past

Mica, 30, was discovered in Lumber River State Park in Robeson County, North Carolina , on April 27, just days after she had served husband John-Paul Miller, 44, also known as 'JP', with divorce papers

In a statement the department said: 'Based on the information gathered during the investigation and jurisdiction reasons, the Sheriff's Office has requested the assistance of both agencies.

When contacted by DailyMail.com, the FBI office in Columbia, South Carolina, confirmed that they had been in contact with Robeson County Sheriffs office but could not give any further information.

The investigation continues to surround Miller's husband John-Paul after it was revealed earlier Monday that he penned a poisonous email to his estranged wife before her death saying he wanted to 'attack and cause pain'.

John-Paul Miller is accused in court documents of grooming Mica for years before they wed, committing her to hospital to steal her car, and cheating on his first wife with underage churchgoers.

In affidavits filed by Mica's family, they express their concern over her relationship with Miller who has been described as a 'wolf in sheep's clothing' and a 'false prophet' by those who know him.

The pastor gave an emotional 20-minute speech at a memorial service at Solid Rock Church on May 5.

Weeks before her death, Mica had shared a video speaking about abuse within marriage as claims emerged that she was being harassed and was 'afraid for her life'.

She said: 'Today my heart's a little heavy. I've had lots of women that have reached out to me about situations of abuse, and I just want to tell you what a lot of people have told me lately, because I think I forgot.

In an emotional Facebook video shared on March 22 (pictured) Mica offered her support to victims of abuse, reminding them that they 'don't have to stay'

'But you are the bride of Christ before anybody else's, male or female, it doesn't matter what gender you are, abuse is abuse.'

The pastor sent a series of disturbing text messages intimidating and threatening his wife and her family during a bitter argument, nearly two years before their marriage broke down.

When contacted by DailyMail.com, the FBI office in Columbia, South Carolina, confirmed that they had been in contact with the Robeson County, North Carolina, Sheriff's office but could not give any further information.

The investigation continues to surround John-Paul after it was revealed that he penned a poisonous email to his estranged wife before her death saying he wanted to 'attack and cause pain'.

If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts or actions, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 988 or 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
A furious local resident has taken to social media to rip into a contractor caught mowing a strip of grass in the evening.

The resident who lives on Sydney's Northern Beaches shared the footage of a man using a ride-on mower to cut a nature strip at the northern end of Mona Vale Road late on Tuesday night.

'So it's OK now to mow the lawns at 10.10pm on a Tuesday night?' he captioned the Facebook post.

'Some of us have to get up at 5am.'

Noise from power tools and equipment is not allowed between 8pm to 7am from Monday to Saturday, according to the Northern Beaches Council website.

A council spokesperson said the mower appeared to be on a medium strip managed by Transport for NSW (TfNSW).

'Council conducts all mowing within the hours of 7am-5pm,' the spokesperson added.

'Should residents be experiencing noise issues in their neighbourhood, Council welcomes residents to make a complaint direct to Customer Service.'

Many social media users agreed it was never acceptable to mow the lawn so late, especially on a weeknight.

'There are excessive noise limitations set... make a complaint to your local council,' one woman wrote.

Footage was shared online of a man using a ride-on mower at the northern end of Mona Vale Road at about 10pm on Tuesday

'Totally illegal! You called the cops right?' a second asked.

'That's ridiculous,' one person posted.

'That's a valid complaint,' another added.

Others were a little more lenient, suggesting the man may have had a reason to mow so late.

'If you drive along the main roads at night you'll see them mowing at that time,' one local said.

'There are parts that make it difficult to do during the day, so they have no choice.'

Another wrote: 'If it's a one-off, who bloody cares?'
A young American man 'painstakingly' drew up plans to join ISIS and kill US soldiers with suicide drones and exploding cars, prosecutors allege.

Jibreel Pratt, 25, stashed a gun and ammunition in a wall of his house in Detroit and had a phone hidden in a container of dog food.

He taped himself pledging his life to terrorism, bought plane tickets to the Middle East, acquired weapons and gear, and wrote a goodbye letter to his family.

Pratt's horrifying scheme was meticulously scrawled on 30 handwritten notes titled 'my personal plans', prosecutors wrote in court documents.

'He sketched and sent tactical diagrams for fighting against and using explosives in doorways to kill American soldiers,' they wrote.

Jibreel Pratt, 25, 'painstakingly' drew up plans to join ISIS and kill US soldiers with suicide drones and exploding cars, prosecutors allege

'And on two separate occasions, Pratt sent shadowy crypto payments to fund ISIS operations, including the funding of an 'istishhadi' (or martyrdom) brother.'

Other plans allegedly included using suicide drones and remote-controlled cars packed with bombs - all cooked up in his grandmother's basement.

Pratt allegedly detailed his desire to create a 'specialized unit for intelligence based operations' that would 'kill or kidnap without detection' to an undercover FBI agent posing as an ISIS recruiter, beginning in February 2023.

He pitched plans for ISIS to 'operate in the shadows' and use his IT skills to create an 'intelligence arm',' the court documents alleged.

'He planned to travel to the Middle East, join the terrorist organization, and serve ISIS as a leader. He was also willing to create a terrorist cell here.'

Pratt's horrifying scheme was meticulously scrawled on 30 handwritten notes titled 'my personal plans'

Pratt allegedly bragged to the ISIS recruiter he would 'be a big asset' for ISIS, knew how to hack cryptocurrency and had a computer hacking skill called 'penetration testing', which meant to 'breach companies' systems.

He allegedly sent Bitcoin payments of $350 and $546 to ISIS via the fake recruiter in March and May last year, believing they would help ISIS operations.

Pratt was allegedly financing his planning with a crypto fraud scheme that amassed $102,000 in unexplained Bitcoin.

'Pratt had sporadic employment over the last few years, but was still able to accumulate several firearms, ammunition, combat gear, an apartment and sophisticated computer equipment,' prosecutors alleged.

By August last year he told the undercover agent 'I am ready to leave this place, for good' and was amassing cash for his trip to the Middle East.

'In Pratt's own words, he planned on 'leaving everything behind' because 'these people are savages. Like rabid dogs',' prosecutors wrote.

Instead, the FBI arrested him at Detroit Airport on August 26 and charged him over the crypto scam, and released him on bail.

Pratt allegedly detailed his desire to create a 'specialized unit for intelligence based operations' that would 'kill or kidnap without detection'

'DELETE EVERYTHING... I WAS CAPTURED AND NOW RELEASED. I WILL CONTACT YOU SAFELY SOON,' he wrote to the fake recruiter when he made bail.

Days later he wrote: 'The future is uncertain, I need to leave brother.'

'He told the (informant) that his 'drive and determination has not lowered butincreased'... (and) warned that 'I am no longer worried about these people, if anything, they should be worried about me',' prosecutors wrote.

'He wanted to 'grow' ISIS to even 'bigger heights' than when it had unleashed savage tyranny across the Middle East.'

Pratt also 'targeted and doxed a citizen who he mistakenly identified' as the FBI agent who arrested him.

He redoubled his efforts and booked a Delta Airlines flight to Istanbul, Turkey, and had photos taken for a fake passport.

Then he wrote goodbye letter to his family, later found hidden in Islamic books on his windowsill, including his father and 'PawPaw'.

'Take care of yourself and be safe. Things were just not working out for me no matter what I did or tried,' he wrote to his father.

'We all have our own paths in life while mine could be cut short, I just hope one day you come to know true Islam so we can meet in Jannah.

'If not, I love you and it was nice meeting you and the many laughs.'

During a search, they found the hidden weapons, including an AR-style semiautomatic rifle (pictured) and a handgun

Before he could get on the plane, police swooped on Tuesday and arrested him.

During a search, they found the hidden weapons, including an AR-style semiautomatic rifle and a handgun.

Pratt allegedly bragged to the undercover agent that 'he was packing' and once threatened to shoot a man who confronted him at a petrol station.

'The fact that Pratt has not yet fulfilled his goal of traveling to fight for ISIS does not lessen his danger to the community,' prosecutors alleged, applying to keep him behind bars.

'Quite the opposite. Pratt told the (informant) that he wanted to 'start here... and create the cell here' because 'if my job is related to cells, we should establish here prior to my departure.

'Pratt's statements are powerful evidence of his dangerousness, and he provided them unfiltered to the ISIS source.

'Pratt's running dialogue with the ISIS source is overflowing with Pratt's violent plans and is ample evidence of his danger to the community.'

Pratt is charged with attempting to provide material support and resources to a terrorist organization and faces 20 years' jail for each count if convicted.
They discovered the child was sitting on top of live maggots in the stroller

Cops found drug paraphernalia and an ashtray in their child's stroller

A Kentucky couple has been arrested after police found their baby sitting in a maggot-infested stroller with drugs inside.

Tiffany McCord, 34, and Thomas Parker, 30, were approached by Madisonville police on Friday when neighbors complained about the 'suspicious' couple.

The couple and their child were found walking into an abandoned house on West Arch Street and Pride Avenue, reported WEVV.

Parker fled when cops approached and left McCord and her baby in the stroller at the scene.

Police said they found a plastic bag containing suspected synthetic drugs right next to medicine for the child in a purse attached to the stroller.

Tiffany McCord (pictured), 34, and Thomas Parker, 30, were arrested after police found their baby sitting in a maggot-infested stroller with drugs inside

McCord was arrested and denied the drugs belonged to her, only claiming a diaper bag that contained an ashtray, lighter, and a small plastic baggie were hers reported WFIE.

She did admit to using marijuana one day earlier.

An ambulance was called to attend to the child's medical needs and when officers picked the baby out of the stroller they made a gruesome discovery.

They found the child was sitting on top of a pile of live maggots in the stroller.

The next day Parker was arrested on an outstanding warrant and told police he is the father of the baby and cares for the child with McCord.

Parker (pictured) fled the scene but was arrested one day later and told police he is the father of the baby and cares for the child with McCord

He denied owning any of the drugs, but said he was asked to clean the babys stroller and only cleaned part of it.

Parker is charged with wanton endangerment is being held at Hopkins County Jail on $3,500 bond. His next court hearing is scheduled for June 7.

McCord is facing drug trafficking, wanton endangerment and possession of drug paraphernalia charges.

She is being held on $2,500 bond and has a court date scheduled for June 7.
A police officer and two people were killed in a horrific mass shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota Thursday.

The dangerous incident broke out in the city's Whittier neighborhood around 5.30pm as officers responded to shots fired at an apartment complex in the 2200 block of Blaisdell Avenue South.

The Minneapolis Police Department said that when they arrived, they were 'immediately met with gun fire.'

Police identified the deceased officer as Jamal Mitchell, 28. Another officer was hospitalized and several others were injured.

The unidentified suspect is also dead, authorities said. One of the victims died at the scene, while another suffered catastrophic injuries.

A mass shooting in Minneapolis, Minnesota left a police officer and two people dead on Thursday night. Several others were injured, including another officer

Police identified the deceased officer as Jamal Mitchell, 28. He's been remembered as a 'courageous' son, father and fiance

Another person believed to be an innocent bystander was shot when officers arrived. The condition of the surviving officer was not immediately made clear but they are expected to recover.

A resident near the scene told 5 Eyewitness News that she heard five 'loud pops' go off before she saw people running from a man with a gun.

The woman said that she soon realized that gunshots were being fired before multiple police officers responded to the area and told people to stay inside.

Other witnesses reported hearing dozens of shots ring out. As of 6pm, police blocked off part of the area and asked residents to avoid the scene.

A firefighter also suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

Another officer was hospitalized and several others were injured in the Thursday shooting

Drew Evans with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension said that Mitchell was 'ambushed' while he tried to provide medical assistance to two men who were injured.

Mitchel and the other officer were taken to Hennepin County Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

'He was courageous in every action that he did,' Katie Blackwell, Assistant Chief of Operations at the Minneapolis Police Department said.

'He was a wonderful human being. He had only been at our department about a year and a half and he was exceptional in every way,' Blackwell added.

Mitchell has been remembered for his brave work in the police department, including when he rescued an elderly couple from a burning home in February 2023, CBS News reported.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said that it was only Mitchell's third day on the force when he saved them.

Other witnesses reported hearing dozens of shots ring out. As of 6pm, police blocked off part of the area and asked residents to avoid the scene

The condition of the surviving officer was not immediately made clear but they are expected to recover. (pictured: Minneapolis police officers gathered outside of Hennepin County Medical Center)

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said the city 'lost a hero in police officer Jamal Mitchell.'

'This officer gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect and save the lives of others. His life, his service, and his name will forever be remembered in the City of Minneapolis.'

'[Mitchell] was a hero, a son, a father, a fiance, an officer who was so deeply committed to protecting and serving, he would run towards danger when the rest of us would run away.'

'We will never forget what he did for the people of our city. The lives that he protected, the lives that he saved,' Frey added.

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz said: 'The State of Minnesota stands ready to provide any resources necessary. Praying for all the first responders on the ground working to keep the community safe.'

The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is investigating the shooting.
The boss of notorious Sydney gang Brothers 4 Life has been found guilty of running a drug syndicate from inside one of Australia's most heavily guarded prisons.

A three-week trial wrapped up last week against Bassam Hamzy, 45, with the jurors delivering their verdict on Friday after a week of deliberations.

He has been found guilty of one count of commercial drug supply and one count of knowingly dealing with the proceeds of crime, reports The Daily Telegraph.

Hamzy's cell is within the high risk inmate unit of Goulburn's Supermax jail, but he was able to still run the meth operation by using code words with fellow prisoners and drug runners.

He has been in jail for more than two decades for various offences including shooting a teenager dead outside a Sydney nightclub.

Bassam Hamzy (pictured), 45, boss of the Brothers 4 Life gang has been found guilty of running drugs from jail

Hamzy is held in the high risk inmate unit of Goulburn Supermax jail (pictured)

Hamzy had already been to trial for the meth syndicate in 2023 but jurors were unable to reach a verdict and so a retrial was held this month.

Prosecutors told the court 450g worth of methylamphetamine had been sold in Wollongong between October 2017 and February 2018 in deals co-ordinated by Hamzy.

Two men involved in those deals, who were members of Brothers 4 Life, would later give evidence against him in court.

They are known only as 'Witness A' and 'Witness I' for their own protection.

The court heard both men were given indemnity from prosecution in exchange for their testimony.

Lawyers for Hamzy argued at least one of the men had turned on him for no other reason than it benefitted him, however, the jury did not buy it.

The court heard Hamzy received $14,000 for the drug deals.

He is serving sentences for unconnected offences until at least 2035 and will return to court in August for sentencing on the drug charges.
A 'daddy's little girl' has been identified as the teenage motorist who tragically died after losing control of her car and ploughing into a tree.

Selina Bennetts Ly was killed instantly when she veered off the road on Horsley Drive at Wetherill Park in Sydney's west just after 11pm on Thursday.

Four of her friends, two boys aged 16 and 17, and two girls, aged 17 and 19, were taken to Liverpool and Westmead hospitals for further treatment.

Their injuries are not considered life threatening.

Ms Bennetts Ly's heartbroken father Sok told the Daily Telegraph he 'wished' he had the chance to tell her how proud he was.

'I'm not sure what to say right now, she loves to spend time with me every time I go out she will come along,' he said.

Selina Bennetts Ly was killed instantly when she veered off the road on Horsley Drive at Wetherill Park in Sydney 's west just after 11pm on Thursday night

The teenage girl died and four others were rushed to hospital with serious injuries after the car ploughed into a tree overnight (pictured, firefighters at the scene)

'She loves computer games, she's a big lover of pets. Selina is daddy's little girl who never once has spoken back and always respects me.'

'I can say I'm really proud of her. I just wish I had the chance to.'

It's understood she was driving on a provisional licence.

Fairfield Police are investigating the incident and have asked anyone with information or dashcam footage to contact Crime Stoppers.

'Police will prepare a report regarding the woman's death for the information of the coroner,' a spokesperson for NSW Police said in a statement.

It comes after three members of the same family were killed in a horror crash between a car and a tanker near Brisbane on Thursday morning.

Steven Wheeler, 54, and his parents Bob Wheeler, 84, and Magret, 81, were declared dead at the scene following the collision at about 5.45am.

Three members of the same family were killed in a horror crash between a car and a tanker near Brisbane on Thursday morning (pictured, police at the scene)

The male driver of the semi-trailer, 52, suffered minor injuries and was rushed by paramedics to Kingaroy Hospital in a stable condition.

On Tuesday night, two close friends were killed after a suspended driver crashed into their motorbike in Greenacre in Sydney's west.

William Brown, 26, and his passenger Doey Choi, 24, were thrown several metres after a Toyota Corolla turned at a busy intersection at about 7pm.

Despite the efforts of paramedics both Brown and Choi died at the scene while the driver was taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition.

More than a dozen people have died on NSW roads in two weeks.
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Sir Keir Starmer has declared Diane Abbott CAN run as a Labour MP after mounting criticism over the veteran left-winger's treatment threatened to derail the party's election campaign.

Mr Starmer intervened this afternoon after he was repeatedly asked about Ms Abbott at campaign events while senior Labour MPs including his deputy Angela Rayner called for her return.

Meanwhile, as the first full week of campaigning nears it end, a new poll suggests more than half of voters have yet to make up their minds five weeks out from election day.

Our live coverage of the campaign trail has now ended but see below for a recap
Donald Trump was last night found guilty on all counts in his historic criminal trial related to 'hush money' payments meant to silence porn star Stormy Daniels.

The jury of seven men and five women at Manhattan Criminal Court deliberated for nearly 10 hours before convicting the former President of all 34 charges he was facing of falsifying business records.

It was the first time a former U.S. President has faced a criminal trial and the verdict could upend the 2024 White House race, proving a pivotal moment in the history of the United States.

Speaking outside the courthouse, a visibly crestfallen Trump labelled the verdict a 'disgrace' and the trial 'rigged by a conflicted judge', before going on to insist he would continue to fight the conviction and subsequent sentencing ahead of the November election.

'The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people and they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here.

'I think it's just a disgrace. And we'll keep fighting and fight till the end, and we'll win because our country's gone to hell,' he said.

Now, MailOnline explains what happens next.

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump leaves Manhattan Criminal Court after he was convicted in his criminal trial in New York City, on May 30, 2024

Former U.S. President Donald Trump pumps a fist as he returns to Trump Tower after the verdict

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump reacts as the verdict is read in his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, at Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. May 30, 2024 in this courtroom sketch

Can he stand for president?

Yes.

There is no part of America's constitution that bars convicted felons from running for President, meaning Trump could well be voted in as the 47th President of the United States in November.

He is, however, the only former or serving US president to be found guilty of a crime, and also the first major-party presidential nominee to be a convicted felon.

Is he still allowed to vote?

Yes - for now.

In Florida, where Trump lives, it is notoriously difficult for felons to regain their voting rights.

But he was convicted in New York, and the Sunshine State generally defers to others' disenfranchisement rules for residents convicted out-of-state.

This means that Trump would be able to cast a ballot, provided he is not behind bars on election day - this is the New York rule that would be enforced in Florida.

That leads us on to the next question...

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and lawyer Alina Habba after he was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records during his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court May 30, 2024

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom during his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024

Will he go to jail?

Maybe.

Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

But it will be up to Justice Juan Merchan to decide whether his punishment will include jail time.

Legal experts told the Mail it is unlikely that Trump will be slapped with a prison sentence, given that he is a non-violent first offender.

But it is possible, albeit unlikely, that the Republican party nominee could ultimately end up in a jail cell.

The Trump team has vowed to appeal the conviction.

He will now face the Appellate Division in Manhattan, and possibly the Court of Appeals, and will remain free on bail while he does so.

What sentence can he get?

The charges on which Trump was convicted each carry a maximum potential sentence of up to four years in prison.

If he was given the maximum sentence for every single guilty count he would face a very lengthy prison sentence - but legal experts agree there is no chance of this happening.

Lawyers believe the most likely outcome of the trial would be a hefty fine, given that Trump had never committed a crime prior to his guilty verdict in this case.

But the former President is certain to appeal any sentence that is handed down.

Supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump cheer as his motorcade leaves Manhattan Criminal Court after he was found guilty in his hush-money trial on May 30, 2024

Anti-Trump demonstrators gather to celebrate Donald Trump's conviction near Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024

What did he actually do?

The case revolved around allegations that Trump tried to 'corrupt' the 2016 election by hiding a $130,000 hush money payment by his 'fixer' Michael Cohen to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Prosecutors say that was a fraudulent label designed to conceal the purpose of the hush money transaction and to illicitly interfere in the 2016 election.

Daniels alleged that she and Trump had sex a decade earlier, which he has denied.

The case featured explosive evidence by Daniels and lifted the lid on the 'catch and kill' practices of the National Enquirer tabloid, which bought stories that could be damaging to Trump and suppressed them.

But the actual criminal charges concerned the reimbursements Trump signed for Cohen for the payment.

Stormy Daniels, a key witness in the trial, with Donald Trump in 2006

The case revolved around allegations that Trump to 'corrupt' the 2016 election by hiding a $130,000 hush money payment by his 'fixer' Michael Cohen (right) to porn star Stormy Daniels

The reimbursements, paid by Trump in monthly instalments, were recorded as being for legal expenses.

Prosecutors said that was a fraudulent label designed to conceal the purpose of the hush money transaction and to illicitly interfere in the 2016 election - hence the charges of falsifying business records.

Trump's lawyers meanwhile argued that Cohen actually did substantive legal work for Trump and his family, and his fees were therefore recorded as legal expenses.

Ultimately, the jury agreed with the prosecution and found Trump guilty on all counts.

When will he be sentenced?

Judge Juan Merchan set Trump's sentencing date for July 11.

That date falls just four days before the start of the Republican National Convention, in Milwaukee where he is set to formally accept the GOP presidential nomination.

Trump, as the nominee, is expected to address the convention in person on its final night.

But these plans could be scuppered should Trump be given a prison sentence.

Donald Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11th

Dozens of Trump supporters gather in front of Trump Tower following Trump's hush money trial verdict in New York, United States on May 30, 2024

What about his other legal cases?

Trump's criminal trial related to the hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels was just the first of four criminal cases against the ex-president to go to trial.

The former president also faces charges stemming from Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation into election interference and the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, as well as charges for the alleged mishandling of classified documents in Florida.

In total, Trump faces 88 criminal counts including the 34 he was convicted of on Thursday in New York. That leaves another 54 counts that the president and his legal team must defend at some point in the future.

Trump has pleaded not guilty on all charges.

But trial dates for the three other criminal cases have not yet been set, meaning they are unlikely to interrupt election proceedings.
A Chinese international student who fatally stabbed his girlfriend at least 75 times in a 'rageful' attack inside her Sydney apartment has been jailed for up to 20 years.

Weijie He, 24, killed 19-year-old Liqun Pan with two knives and a hammer in her Wolli Creek flat on June 27, 2020, before he jumped from the fourth floor of the apartment block in a suicide attempt.

He pleaded guilty to the murder in October 2022, after a long period of rehabilitation due to multiple severe injuries sustained in the fall.

On Friday, NSW Supreme Court Justice Julia Lonergan jailed He to a maximum of 20 years with a non-parole period of 13 years for the 'extremely violent' attack.

Weijie He, 24, killed 19-year-old Liqun Pan (pictured) with two knives and a hammer in her Wolli Creek flat on June 27, 2020, before he jumped from the fourth floor of the apartment block in a suicide attempt

'He clearly intended to kill her, this is very serious offending,' Justice Lonergan said in handing down the sentence.

Police found Ms Pan in the foetal position in a pool of blood with 37 stab wounds to her head and face, and 10 to her back including one wound so deep it breached the spine, the court was told.

There were also strangulation injuries and defensive wounds to the hands of the victim, whom Justice Lonergan said must have been in 'abject terror' during the 'unimaginable' chase and struggle.

He's heavy use of cannisters of the drug nitrous oxide - hundreds were found at the crime scene - could mean he was in a transient delusion at the time, but if so it only marginally reduced the conduct's seriousness, Justice Lonergan said.

It was 'appallingly self-indulgent' for He to use the drug to escape reality and his responsibilities but 'this is what the offender did,' the judge said.

The 'rageful' attack may also have been He, a struggling student and the son of wealthy Chinese parents, taking out on the victim his own failings 'like so many men that murder their domestic partners'.

He had coercively controlled Ms Pan over two years including getting her to sign a contract that insisted she get rid of acne, not go to bars or clubs and always have him as the background of her phone, the court heard.

Police found Ms Pan in the foetal position in a pool of blood with 37 stab wounds to her head and face, a court heard

'There's no sign of remorse,' Judge Lonergran said of the killer, who is now confined to a wheelchair and received the sentence via a Mandarin translator.

The judge said she took into account the hardship He would have in jail given his numerous disabilities as a mitigating factor on sentence.

The impact of the killing on the victim's family, who came from a small village in rural Guangdong province, had been 'crushing and immeasurable', the court was told.

They were heartbroken by the untimely death of Ms Pan who was described as a woman of 'kindness and affection'.

With time served, He will be eligible for parole on January 19, 2034.

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He sexually assaulted four women between 2003-4

A man once dubbed the 'inner west rapist' will spend the next decade behind bars after being linked to a string of attacks in the mid-2000s through family DNA.

Darren Kennedy was sentenced to a non-parole period of 13 years for sexually assaulting four women in suburban Sydney between December 2003 and March 2004.

The 54-year-old watched on via a video-link as Judge Jennie Girdham handed down her sentence at Downing Centre District Court on Friday.

Darren Kennedy was sentenced to a non-parole period of 13 years for sexually assaulting four women in suburban Sydney between December 2003 and March 2004

Kennedy sexually assaulted four women over four months in Sydney's inner west and eastern suburbs

He pleaded guilty to 13 charges in May 2023, including four counts of sexual intercourse without consent, two counts of taking a person to obtain advantage, being his sexual gratification and offences of indecent assault.

Judge Girdham included a separate offence of possession of child abuse material in her sentence after 174 videos and 43 images were found on his phone following his arrest.

In December 2003, Kennedy carried out his first attack on a 43-year-old woman at her Croydon home.

The victim awoke to him crouching in her bedroom. He was wearing gloves, holding a pillow over his face and shone a torch into her eyes.

She was told to 'just be quiet', 'not to look at him' and to lift up her nightie.

His victim was forced to perform oral sex in a sitting room, Kennedy telling her to 'count to 20 and don't tell anyone', the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The 54-year-old, once dubbed the 'inner west rapist', apologised to the victims in a letter addressed to the court describing his own actions as 'deplorable and monstrous'

Less than a month later, in January 2004, Kennedy found his next victim as she was walking home from a night out in Bondi, in Sydney's east.

He grabbed the 23-year-old and dragged her into a laneway, forcing her to the ground.

The young woman screamed and struggled before Kennedy put a hand over her mouth and told her to 'shut the f**k up'.

Kennedy then raped the woman and fled the scene, telling her 'not to look back'.

His third attack was on a 17-year-old schoolgirl at her family home in Bexley, also in January 2004.

She awoke to him climbing through her bedroom window before he then stroked her face.

He put a gloved hand over her mouth and told her to be quiet and look away.

In a desperate attempt to alert her family, the teenager asked Kennedy if she could use the toilet.

The rapist then forced her to climb out of her bedroom window and told her to go to the toilet outside.

Kennedy then shoved her against a brick wall as she cried out for help.

Pictured: A police COMFIT of the 'inner west rapist' Darren Kennedy from 2004

A 51-year-old woman was Kennedy's fourth victim.

In the early hours of the morning in March 2004, the woman was packing her luggage for a flight to her son's wedding.

The rapist waited outside the woman's Marrickville home, and once outside, approached her and told her he 'just wanted to touch her boobs'.

He then raped her twice and pulled her nightie over her head.

After the sickening attack, Kennedy thanked her victim and told her to count to 100 as he left.

He added she 'didn't want to spoil her son's wedding by telling anyone', the court heard.

Kennedy was arrested at his home in November 2021 following a forensic review which traced the attacks to him through a family DNA match to matter retrieved from several of the crime scenes

A police strike force was established in March 2004 to investigate attacks spread across a range of suburbs, including Croydon and Marrickville in Sydney's inner west and Bondi in the east.

But the probe was suspended in 2005 after they were unable to track the offender down.

The case was reopened in February 2020 and a forensic review in November 2021 traced the attacks to Kennedy through a family DNA match to matter retrieved from several of the crime scenes including on a torch, rug and victims' clothing.

Kennedy was arrested at his home five days later and has remained in custody ever since.

All of the victims, who ranged in age from 17 to 51, were vulnerable and unable to defend themselves, Judge Girdham said.

They were left 'humiliated and degraded' in the attacks, she added.

'The offending was abhorrent - it was cruel and dehumanising,' Judge Girdham said.

'To reflect the actual harm caused (in a sentence) imposes an impossible task.'

In victim-impact statements, some of the women variously described struggling with post-traumatic stress and ongoing problems with trusting people 20 years later.

In a letter addressed to the court, Kennedy apologised to the victims, describing his own actions as 'deplorable and monstrous' and adding that his thoughts were 'ragged and broken' at the time of the offences.

Judge Girdham noted that Kennedy was struggling to cope with his own traumatic past of childhood abuse and that his earlier experiences distorted his views of sexuality.

Kennedy was sentenced to a maximum of 17 years and four months in prison. He will be eligible for parole in November 2034.

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Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev has given his strongest warning that the invasion in Ukraine may end up in a nuclear disaster, after US president Joe Biden lifted restrictions on Ukraine using American weapons for direct attacks on Russian soil.

Two US officials confirmed that the US has lifted the restrictions, after officials from the White House, the US military and the State Department spent weeks discussing Ukraine's usage of the weapons behind closed doors.

Ukraine will only be allowed to use the weapons to defend the northeastern Kharkiv region, which is currently bearing witness to a drawn-out brawl for control of the region.

Russia was furious at the news of the US' decision, launching strikes on the city of Kharkiv, the second-largest in Ukraine, that killed three people and wounded 23 others, including two children.

Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's security council, also vowed that his nation would strike at such Western weapons in Ukraine or elsewhere if they are deployed from third countries.

'This is not 'military assistance' at all, but participation in a war against us. And such actions of theirs may well become a casus belli,' said Medvedev.

Ukrainian gunner Vasyl Zozulia removes a smoking shell casing after firing the gun

Russian President Vladimir Putin (pictured) talks during an award ceremony at the Kremlin

'No matter how much retired NATO farts chatter that Russia will never use non-strategic nuclear weapons againstUkraine, and even more so in individual NATO countries, life is much worse than their frivolous reasoning,' he said.

'A few years ago, they insisted that Russia would not enter into an open military conflict with [Ukraine], so as not to quarrel with the West.'

This was a miscalculation as the current war shows.

'The use of tactical nuclear weapons can also be miscalculated, although this would be a fatal mistake,' said Medvedev, who was Russian president with his finger on the nuclear button from 2008 to 2012.

'After all, as the President of Russia rightly noted, European countries have a very high population density.

'And for those enemy countries whose lands are further than the coverage area of tactical nuclear weapons, there is finally a strategic potential.

'And this, alas, is not intimidation or a nuclear bluff.

'The current military conflict with the West is developing according to the worst possible scenario.

'There is a constant escalation in the power of applicable NATO weapons.

'Therefore, today no one can rule out the transition of the conflict to its final stage.'

Zelensky's office, meanwhile, praised Biden's decision as something that would 'significantly boost' Ukraine's fightback.

Spokesperson Sergiy Nykyforov said Ukraine had received 'positive signals from diplomatic channels about the limited use of US-supplied weapons' in the region bordering Kharkiv. 'It will significantly boost our ability to counter Russian attempts to mass across the border,' he added.

He gave the comments to a small group of media following an interview that Zelensky gave to British media, to clarify that some restrictions on the types of weapons Ukraine could use on Russian territory would remain, but without elaborating further.

The US, along with the rest of the West, had largely resisted Ukraine's pleas to be given permission to use Western missiles on Russian targets, anxious that this would draw NATO too close to the conflict.

But ahead of a NATO meeting in Prague on Thursday, the bloc's chief Jens Stoltenberg had said repeatedly that it was time for members to reconsider limits on strikes inside Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron had also insisted this week that Ukraine be allowed to 'neutralise' bases in Russia used to launch strikes.

And today, Germanysuggested Ukraine could use weapons supplied by Western countries to defend itself against attacks launched from just inside Russia against the northern border region around the city of Kharkiv in accordance with international law.

Germany discussed with allies the fact that Russia has carried out strikes on the Kharkiv region from positions in the immediately adjacent Russian border area, a government spokesperson said in a statement.

'We are jointly convinced that Ukraine has the right, guaranteed under international law, to defend itself against these attacks,' the spokesperson said.

'To do so, it can also use the weapons supplied for this purpose in accordance with its international legal obligations; including those supplied by us.'

As the West further deliberates the matter, Kharkiv police warned that residents could still be trapped underneath the rubble of buildings downed by the strikes.

'A man and a woman were killed as a result of an enemy munition hitting a multi-storey residential building... The fourth and fifth floors of one of the building's sections were completely destroyed,' police said in a statement, adding that another munition killed a guard at a civilian production facility.

Firefighters put out a fire an apartment building damaged in the Russian missile attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine

As the West further deliberates the matter, Kharkiv police warned that residents could still be trapped underneath the rubble of buildings downed by the strikes

Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv is located just across the border from Russia's Belgorod and regularly comes under attack from Russian missiles

Regional Governor Oleg Synegubov noted in a Telegram post that an emergency medic was among the wounded, adding: 'The enemy again used a double strike tactic, while medics, rescuers and law enforcement officers were already working on the spot.'

Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov said there had not been 'a single military person, not a single military object' present.

Ukraine's second-largest city, Kharkiv is located just across the border from Russia's Belgorod and regularly comes under attack from Russian missiles.

Russian strikes that hit a hardware superstore in the city last weekend killed 16 people.

On the other side of the border, in Russia's southern Krasnodar region, an oil depot was damaged in an aerial attack, its governor said Friday morning, noting that a major drone incursion elsewhere in the region had been repelled by air defences.

'The situation is more serious in Temryuk district - the oil depot infrastructure there was damaged by an air strike. Three tanks with petroleum products were damaged and are on fire,' Governor Veniamin Kondratyev said on Telegram, adding some workers had been wounded.
A man has been charged with murder and arson a week after emergency services were called to a house fire in Canberra, where a body was discovered.

ACT Police and ACT Fire and Rescue were called to a house fire at Giltinan Place, Holt, at about 2.50am on May 22.

When the fire was extinguished, the body of a 36-year-old man was found inside the home.

The body of a 36-year-old man was found in a fire at a Canberra home last week. Picture: ABC News

Police launched an investigation into the suspicious fire. Picture: ABC News

Police launched an investigation into the suspicious blaze and arrested a 38-year-old Canberra City man at a Northbourne Avenue home at about 7.30am on Thursday.

Cops allege he purchased accelerant which was used to assist in setting the house on fire.

It will be further alleged in court that the two men knew each other and the house was set on fire due to a dispute between the pair.

Police will also allege the man should have known someone would have been in the home at the time of the arson, and therefore the charge of murder is appropriate.
A mother who sent her young son off to his first overnight school camp was left with just a lock of his hair after he drowned in a swimming pool.

Cooper Onyett, eight, drowned at Belfast Aquatics Community Pool and Fitness Centre in Port Fairy, Victoria, in May 2021.

The Victorian Education Department and the pool's management have since pleaded guilty to breaching occupational health and safety laws by failing to do everything they could to ensure Cooper's safety.

During sentencing at Warrnambool's County Court on Friday, a heartbreaking victim impact statement written by Cooper's mother, Skye Meinen, was read out by Judge Claire Quin.

'I got to comb his hair the way he liked it, and took one last look at my final baby before I kissed his forehead goodbye,' Judge Quin read, her voice shaking, The Age reported.

Eight-year-old Cooper Onyett drowned during an overnight school camp in May 2021 which his mother, Skye Meinen, (pictured together) said left her with 'torment and emptiness'

Cooper drowned at Belfast Aquatics Community Pool and Fitness Centre in Port Fairy, Victoria, and Judge Claire Quin found health and safety legislation had been breached

'At the end of the day, we only came home with a lock of his hair, some feet and handprints, his bag of belongings we sent with him and a lot of torment and emptiness.'

Judge Quin fined the education department $100,000 for its 'serious' breach of workplace safety laws, while the management of Belfast Aquatics was fined $80,000.

The judge found the department failed to relay information about Cooper's swimming ability that his mother provided on the school's consent form.

Parents were sent permission slips and medical forms before the trip and Ms Meinen stated that Cooper was a beginner with little or no experience swimming.

However, Merrivale Primary School never passed on information about students' swimming abilities to the pool before sending 28 young students there.

Judge Quin said the education department has shown remorse for the incident, while policies had since been put in place so the information parents give on permission slips will be passed onto relative parties.

'The failure to provide the information to [the pool staff] in this case was a serious breach,' she told the court.

'The department's plea of guilty is indicative of remorse  [and] of sincere condolences and an acknowledgement of the enormous impact on the family and friends of Cooper, the school and local community in general.'

Cooper (pictured with his mum and brother Jett) died after attempts to resuscitate him at the pool failed

Ms Meinen said she was only able to bring her son's backpack, hand and foot prints, and a lock of his hair home after their final goodbye

Cooper had been among the children identified as weak swimmers at the camp and was spotted multiple times outside the shallow area by staff who asked him to return to it.

Another swimmer who was with her daughter later saw the boy floating underwater and initially thought he was holding his breath before realising something was wrong.

Cooper died after attempts to resuscitate him at the pool failed.

Since Cooper's drowning the education department now requires schools to assess students' swimming abilities prior to the water activity being carried out.

'I was informed that parents can now be confident the information they provide to the school regarding their child's swimming abilities will be provided to the relevant party involved in the swimming activity, [and] that there have been broader improvements generally to the guidance and resources as well,' Judge Quin said.

'As far as this breach is concerned, the issue has been fully addressed.'
Keir Starmer tetchily dismissed more questions about Diane Abbott's fate today as Labour's leader in Scotland signalled support for a mounting revolt.

Sir Keir faced another grilling on the veteran left-winger and mounting factional infighting in the party as he took his campaign north of the border.

Amid rising fears that the row could dent his election hopes, Sir Keir said 'the fact remains that no decisions have been taken' when asked whether Ms Abbott would be blocked from standing at the election. The ruling NEC has to confirm decisions on candidates by early next week.

Earlier, Labour's leader in Scotland Anas Sarwar told Sky News he 'agrees with' Angela Rayner - who yesterday said she thought the veteran left-winger - Britain's first black female MP - should be allowed to run.

Mr Sarwar, who appeared with Sir Keir to launch the energy policy this morning, described Ms Abbott as an 'historic figure in the Labour Party', while stressing that it was 'ultimately a decision for the NEC'.

'I think the NEC should make a decision quickly,' he added.

Shadow cabinet minister Peter Kyle also risked inflaming tensions, saying Labour is 'responding to a situation that Diane herself got herself in to'.

In other developments today:

Sir Keir confirmed he had taken a private plane from Wales to Scotland, despite Labour attacking Rishi Sunak over his travel;

Despite describing himself as a vegetarian, Sir Keir joked he was coming back to Scotland for the tandoori salmon;

Polls suggest the Tories are making little impact on Labour's lead despite broad support for new policies.

Keir Starmer faced another grilling on the veteran left-winger and mounting factional infighting in the party as he took his campaign north of the border

Mr Sarwar, who appeared with Sir Keir to launch the energy policy this morning, described Ms Abbott as an 'historic figure in the Labour Party', while stressing that it was 'ultimately a decision for the NEC'

Keir Starmer heaped praise on 'trailblazer' Diane Abbott (pictured) today as he faces a revolt on claims the veteran left-winger is being blocked from standing at the election

Close allies Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn have accused Sir Keir of trying to purge the Left of the party

Pouring petrol on the dispute yesterday, Ms Rayner told Sky: 'I don't think there's any reason why Diane Abbott shouldn't stand as an MP.

'She's been an inspiration to many people who see that actually she has been a trailblazer.

'Now people from her background and people who look like her have a place in our politics. And she's been able to demonstrate that. You can see the difference on our benches.'

Ms Rayner also said it was 'not a great look' to see Ms Abbott being 'briefed against'.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride twisted the knife today, repeating the Tories' attack line that 'if Keir Starmer can't deal with Diane Abbott, how on earth is he going to deal with Vladimir Putin?'

The Labour Left has vented fury at an apparent bid by the leadership to purge Corbynites and parachute some of Sir Keir's most loyal allies into plum seats.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland today, Sir Keir said: 'Diane Abbott has had the whip returned to her, no decision has been taken to bar her from standing and the NEC will come to a decision in due course.'

Asked if he would like her to be a candidate, Sir Keir added: 'Ultimately, that will be a matter for the NEC but no decision has been taken.'

He also praised the MP as a 'trailblazer'. 'She, of course, was a trailblazer for years, she faced many challenges which she overcame in her political career,' he said.

A clamour is growing for Sir Keir to neutralise the bitter spat over Ms Abbott, who has represented Hackney North and Stoke Newington for nearly four decades.

Ms Abbott, who was elected to Parliament in 1987, has said she wants to fight to retain her seat 'as long as it is possible'.

She was suspended by the party last year for suggesting Jewish, Irish and traveller people experienced prejudice but not racism.

After apologising and undergoing training on anti-Semitism, she had the party whip restored this week, meaning she could stand as a Labour candidate. But reports suggested that she would be barred from standing again for her seat.

Ms Abbott - a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn - said there was an 'appalling cull' of the Left of the party. Former leader Mr Corbyn lost the Labour whip after he said a highly critical report on the scale of anti- Semitism within the party had been 'dramatically overstated'.

He launched his campaign to stand as an independent in his Islington North seat on Wednesday.

Ms Abbott also risked falling foul of Labour rules against supporting rival candidates by retweeting a message hailing Mr Corbyn's decision to run.

Meanwhile, his supporter Lloyd Russell-Moyle was suspended by Labour and told he could not stand again in his former seat of Brighton Kemptown. The former MP blamed a 'vexatious and politically motivated complaint' against him.

Faiza Shaheen was not endorsed as the Labour candidate for Sir Iain Duncan Smith's marginal seat of Chingford and Woodford Green. She was blocked after liking a series of social media posts that allegedly downplayed anti-

MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle said he has been suspended by the party over what he called a 'vexatious and politically motivated complaint'

Faiza Shaheen, Labour's candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green in northeast London, told Newsnight that the party was pulling her candidacy for allegedly liking a series of Tweets that downplayed antisemitism accusations

Semitism accusations and may run as an independent. She is consulting lawyers.

The Momentum campaign group, which was set up to support

Mr Corbyn's Labour leadership, criticised Sir Keir's comments about candidate selection.

'This is a laughable defence and no one's buying it,' a spokesman said. 'Plain as day, Keir Starmer is purging Left-wingers. He is pushing out independent-minded women of colour.'

It came as several Sir Keir allies were parachuted into key seats.

Josh Simons, director of the Labour Together group, was selected in Makerfield. Luke Akehurst, the secretary of Labour First, was selected in North Durham.
A mystery fire has destroyed part of a Russian mountain palace frequented by Vladimir Putin.

The inferno broke out at a secret hideaway that is said to be equipped with an extensive underground nuclear bunker.

The Altai Mountain bolthole also has the dictator's facility for the 'barbarian' extraction of deer blood from antlers for 'medicinal' baths intended to boost sexual potency and restore youth.

One of the buildings at the remote compound - where Putin once entertained former Italian premier Silvio Berlusconi - was totally destroyed by the fire.

The extent of any damage to the main residence at the complex is unclear.

The cause of the blaze is yet to be established, but it comes after months of 'sabotage fires' at key Russian facilities triggered by Ukrainian drone strikes and foes of Putin's brutal war against Kyiv.

A mystery fire has destroyed part of a Vladimir Putin palace in the Altai Mountains

Firefighters are seen working to extinguish the blaze in the Altai Republic

Putin is seen alongside stags on his visit to the Sayano-Shushenksy reserve in 2013

Vladimir Putin's palace in the Altai Mountains, reported to be equipped with a secret nuclear bunker

Officials refused to comment on the fire, the Sirena news outlet reported.

But pictures showed the raging flames at the sprawling compound, which is officially owned by Gazprom but is one of an array of luxury palaces around Russia used by the Russian President.

The fire was revealed by blogger Amyr Aitashev and activist Aruna Arna.

Ordinary Russians cannot go near the elite hideaway, named Altai Yard.

Security say it is 'a specially protected facility intended for the recreation of senior officials of the state'.

But opposition investigators are certain the vast estate nestled amid stunning mountain scenery in the Altai Republic is linked to Putin.

There were reports of a hi-tech bunker being built at the facility for the use of Putin and his family in the event of nuclear war.

The palace is in the Ongudaysky district of the Altai Republic, a region of Siberia bordering Mongolia, China and Kazakhstan.

Observers have noted multiple ventilation points in the grounds surrounding the mountain hideout, and a high voltage line linked to an ultra-modern 110-kilovolt substation, enough to power a small city.

During construction, vast German tunnel diggers were reported to have been at the site.

In the complex is a maral deer farm where antlers are sawn off Siberian stags so Putin and his cronies can take blood baths.

The ancient tradition is seen as a testosterone-driven elixir to improve male potency, but also as bringing multiple health benefits.

There is also a theory it slows ageing in women, but there is a lack of medical evidence as a cure for ailments.

Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) toasts during an awarding ceremony at the Kremlin on May 30, 2024, in Moscow

Opposition investigators are certain the vast estate nestled amid stunning mountain scenery in the Altai Republic is linked to Putin

Observers have noted multiple ventilation points in the grounds surrounding the mountain hideout, and a high voltage line linked to an ultra-modern 110-kilovolt substation, enough to power a small city

Vladimir Putin's palace in the Altai Mountains, reported to be equipped with a secret nuclear bunker

Ahead of one Putin visit 70 kilograms of stag antlers were prepared for the Russian leader 'to take blood baths'.

Animal rights campaigners have slammed the use of electric saws with no anaesthetic to cut off the deers' magnificent velvet antlers at such breeding stations.

Observers say the creatures are left 'bewildered' and 'shellshocked' by the brutal practice.

The Russian president is thought to have been introduced to the blood baths by his former defence minister Sergei Shoigu, who is now security of the Russian security council.

Irina Novozhilova, president of Russian Animal Protection Centre 'Vita', labelled the practice medieval.

'Ancient people did believe that they could cure themselves with the help of animal body parts.

'In medieval times people also believed in curative substances. I recall stories about bloody Countess Bathory who enjoyed taking baths in the blood of young girls.

'And King James I of England regularly took baths with animal blood.

'Both these facts sound wild nowadays, but you can build a parallel to these legal red deer farms.'
Alton Towers crash amputee Leah Washington has jetted off on her dream honeymoon with her partner Joe Pugh nine years after the pair were involved in a horror smash on the theme park's The Smiler rollercoaster.

The couple tied the knot in a dazzling ceremony at a country house hotel in Yorkshire last weekend before flying to Majorca where they posted snaps of themselves enjoying the sunshine.

They got engaged during a romantic getaway to Italy in 2022, before Leah, 26, enjoyed a hen do with a dozen close friends and family in the Algarve, Portugal last year.

Leah posed confidently in a white bikini while wearing her prosthetic leg, which she removes before taking a dip in the pool. The couple are understood to be flying back to the UK today.

Doctors were forced to amputate her left leg in order to save her life after the horror smash saw Leah and Joe sustain life-changing injuries when the carriage they were in smashed into a second stationary car at around 50mph.

Leah Washington and her new husband Joe Pugh were involved in a horror crash on The Smiler ride at Alton Towers theme park nine years ago

Leah, 26, posed confidently while wearing a white bikini and prosthetic leg as she celebrated her honeymoon in Majorca

Taking to social media to update their followers and wellwishers, the couple posted several loved-up pictures as they thanked the public for their support.

Before leaving, Leah, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, said: 'What an amazing couple of days! Since getting married on Saturday, the amount of messages and love shown toward us has been overwhelming!

'We want to thank our family, friend's, bridesmaid and groomsmen for making our day so memorable and worth the 2 years of planning. Now time to celebrate on our mini moon.'

And Joe wrote on his social media: 'What an amazing couple of days! Since getting married on Saturday, the amount of messages & love shown towards us has been overwhelming.

'We want to thank our family, friends, bridesmaids & groomsmen for making our day so memorable and worth the two years of planning. Now time to celebrate in Majorca for the next couple of days.'

But the couple's wedding was far from always on the cards: in the aftermath of the Alton Towers crash, which saw Leah lose a leg and Joe smash both kneecaps and lose the ability to move one of his fingers, the couple drifted apart.

Then aged just 17 and 18, they overcame their struggles and have since got married in a beautiful ceremony surrounded by friends and family.

Taking to social media to update their followers and wellwishers, the couple posted several loved-up pictures as they thanked the public for their support

Joe Pugh (left) and Leah Washington (right) tied the knot in a dazzling ceremony this week, nine years after the horror Alton Towers smash. Pic from Emily Jayne Weddings

Leah, 26, from Barnsley, South Yorkshire, lost a leg in the smash on The Smiler ride at Alton Towers. Pic from Emily Jayne Weddings

Leah stunned in a dazzling white dress bedecked in jewels and carried a voluminous bouquet of white roses.

Her now-husband Joe opted for a simple black tuxedo, with a single matching white flower adorning his buttonhole.

Images from the intimate ceremony, which the Mail was granted exclusive access to, showed the couple celebrating with family friends as they shared a kiss outside the wedding venue.

Leah previously shared how she and her friends were caught up in last summer's air traffic control chaos on the return from her hen party.

She had shared several clips of her hen party singing, dancing and downing shots at a beach club in the Algarve in August.

Her fiance Joe even ordered 15 pink shots for the group from the club, later joking he was setting up expectations for his stag party, which was yet to come.

The couple got engaged during a romantic holiday away to Italy in 2022.

Images from the intimate ceremony showed the couple celebrating with family friends as they shared a kiss outside the wedding venue. Picture from Emily Jayne Weddings

Leah Washington and Joe Pugh shared news of their engagement to Instagram while abroad in 2022

Leah has been outspoken about her recovery since the crash on social media, sharing clips of her participating in various sports, partying and even modelling

Leah took to Instagram to share adorable snaps of the couple during the trip, as well as the substantial diamond rock which sat on her finger.

Speaking previously about how their relationship suffered in the aftermath of the tragic incident, Leah told Ok!: 'If you'd told either of us during the weeks that followed our horrific accident at Alton Towers that we'd be planning our wedding now, I don't think we'd have believed it.'

Leah has been outspoken about her recovery since the crash on social media, sharing clips of her participating in various sports, partying and even modelling.

In a post last year, she wrote: '8 years since my life flipped, how time has flown!

'A brief little journey from then until now, a 17 year old girl thinking what was going to happen next, under confident after surgery & struggling to think positive

'Fast forward 8 years and I feel the best I have in a long time, planning my dream wedding, feeling continued improvements in my fitness & us of my prosthetic along side the support from my friends, family & followers.'

An investigation into the 2015 accident concluded that the crash was due to human error; an engineer had wrongly restarted the ride while a stationary carriage was on the track in front of it.

The couple beamed as Leah shared their exciting news to her 25,000-strong Instagram following

Leah shared a photo of her sparkling diamond ring alongside perfectly manicured nails during the couple's trip to Venice

Alton Towers crash amputee Leah Washington pictured shortly after the incident, in hospital

Alton Towers owner Merlin Attractions were fined 5million for health and safety breaches which were blasted by Judge Michael Chambers QC as a 'catastrophic failure'.

At least 16 were injured and five people were seriously hurt.

They were fined an initial 5million, and interim payments have covered Leah and Joe's medical and physio bills to date - but the pair have also submitted a 'substantial' compensation claim.

Leah's 60,000 prosthetic leg - which contains a microprocessor knee - will need replacing every few years, which will amount to hundreds of thousands of pounds over her lifetime.

She still suffers from crippling pain and fatigue after standing for lengthy periods of time.

A second woman, Vicky Balch, from Lancashire, was also forced to undergo a leg amputation after the crash.
Donald Trump's trial was a 'sham' and he will fight the guilty verdict, his supporters and advisors have said, after the ex-president became the first in US history to be convicted of a crime in a historic day for America.

A Manhattan jury found the real estate tycoon guilty of all 34 charges he was facing of falsifying business records to conceal a hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels, the porn star who said she had sex with Trump in 2006.

The felonies could land Trump in jail for a maximum of four years when he is sentenced by Judge Juan Merchan on July 11, though legal experts anticipate that he is more likely to get a hefty fine.

The Republican presidential candidate has slammed the trial as a 'disgrace' and alleged it was 'rigged by a conflicted judge', a claim he has not provided evidence to support, and has vowed to fight the conviction.

Now, a chorus of Trump's supporters have doubled down on his claims - labelling the trial a political witch hunt and 'show trial' staged by the Biden camp ahead of November's US election.

Former US President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom during his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30

Trump supporters and anti-Trump demonstrators clash outside the Manhattan criminal court following the announcement of former US President Donald Trump's verdict

Trump supporters outside of Trump Tower after the former USA president was found guilty in 'Hush Money' Trial

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump reacts as the verdict is read in his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, at Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. May 30, 2024 in this courtroom sketch

Brian Lanza, Trump's former communications director, said he was 'not surprised at the verdict' due to Manhattan being a predominantly blue county.

'It's Manhattan, it's New York, this is a place that's sort of stretched the law to try to go after Trump,' he told the BBC's Today Programme.

'They picked a jury that was... you know you call it a representation of your peers but any place that is 92 per cent Democrat is truly not a representation of Donald Trump's peers.'

Despite his former boss's conviction, Lanza said Trump remained a strong contender in the presidential race and argued he may even have been strengthened further in the eyes of voters.

'Do people see this trial and walk away with a negative impression of how it's been operated, I think you have to say yes,' he said, arguing that the former president's popularity had increased since the trial began.

Trump's legal team has indicated that he will appeal against the verdict, having argued that it was impossible to compile an unbiased jury in a city that voted overwhelmingly against him in 2020.

'They wouldn't give us a venue change,' Trump said in a furious speech outside the courthouse. 'This was done by the Biden administration in order to remove and to hurt opponents.'

Last week, a panel of New York State appellate judges denied Trump's appeal to the trial, which had already been underway for six weeks, out of Manhattan to another New York county.

While Trump complained about not being allowed to move venue, commentators pointed out that the venue was set in Manhattan as the charges fell within its jurisdiction.

Stormy Daniels, a key witness in the trial, with Donald Trump in 2006

Trials can, on occasion, be changed to another county or district. One reason this could be for, according to the American Bar Association, is if a case has received widespread pre-trial publicity and one of the parties makes a request for change to secure jurors who haven t already formed an opinion about the case.

Trump and his campaign had been preparing for a guilty verdict for days, even as they held out hope for a hung jury. On Tuesday, Trump railed that not even Mother Teresa, the nun and saint, could beat the charges, which he repeatedly labeled as 'rigged.'

'There is nobody who is more defiant,' said Trump spokesman Jason Miller on Fox News hours after the verdict was read. 'He's ready to get out there and start fighting again.'

Trump supporters hold up flags and placards as one shouts at a police officer outside Manhattan Criminal Court

Trump campaign spokesman Brian Hughes cited the outpouring as a sign 'that Americans have seen this sham trial as the political election interference that Biden and Democrats have always intended.'

Trump's daughter Ivanka made a show of support last night as she posted a throwback picture of her as a baby sitting with her father with the caption 'I love you dad'.

Texas governor Greg Abbott hit out at it a 'Kangaroo Court' with a verdict that he said 'will never stand on appeal'.

'Americans deserve better than a sitting US President weaponizing our justice system against a political opponent all to win an election,' he said in a tirade on social media, adding 'we must FIRE Joe Biden in November.'

Ivanka Trump posted an adorable snap on social media following her father's tough day in court

Responding to last night's news, Biden wrote on social media: 'There's only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box.'

Meanwhile Trump's former political opponent Hilary Clinton appeared to react to the news as she spoke at an event in Washington DC yesterday, joking 'anything going on today?' as she took to the stage.

It comes after talk show host Megyn Kelly predicted 'tit-for-tat' indictments of anyone from President Joe Biden and his wife Jill to former presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton.

'This is ridiculous. What a sad day. The country's been disgraced. That's what's happened,' she began.

'We made it almost 250 years without doing this. And now, because of falsified business records, we've convicted as a felon a former president of the US.'

Anti-Trump demonstrators gather to celebrate Donald Trump's conviction near Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024

Supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump cheer as his motorcade leaves Manhattan Criminal Court after he was found guilty in his hush-money trial on May 30, 2024

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and lawyer Alina Habba after he was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records during his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court May 30, 2024

Trump sat stone-faced while the verdict was read as cheering from the street below could be heard in the hallway on the courthouse's 15th floor where the decision was revealed after more than nine hours of deliberations.

As the verdict was read yesterday, GOP allies rallied to Trump's side.

But the presidential candidate is set to face an awkward dynamic as he returns to the campaign trail tagged with convictions.

There are no campaign rallies on the calendar for now, though he traveled Thursday evening to a fundraiser in Manhattan that was planned before the verdict, according to three people familiar with his plans who were not authorized to speak publicly.

He's expected to appear Friday at Trump Tower and will continue fundraising next week.

After the verdict came through, aides reported an immediate rush of contributions so intense that WinRed, the platform the campaign uses for fundraising, crashed.

The campaign began selling black 'Make America Great Again' caps to reflect a 'dark day in history.'

Trump's campaign is now pitching their candidate as a 'political prisoner', despite evidence to support their claims that the trial was 'rigged' and sentencing not yet carried out.

Protesters and counter-protesters come face to face outside of Manhattan Criminal Court where former US President Donald Trump's trial was held

The falsifying business records charges carry up to four years behind bars, though Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg would not say Thursday whether prosecutors intend to seek imprisonment.

It is also not clear whether the judge - who earlier in the trial warned of jail time for gag order violations - would impose that punishment even if asked.

The conviction, and even imprisonment, will not bar Trump from continuing his White House pursuit.

Trump faces three other felony indictments, but the New York case may be the only one to reach a conclusion before the November election, adding to the significance of the outcome.

Though the legal and historical implications of the verdict are readily apparent, the political consequences are less so, with it yet to be seen how voters will react to a convicted felon being on the ballot.
The images of their blood-soaked teenage daughters being leered over by Hamas terrorists shocked the world and brought negotiators back round the table.

Now the mothers of the five youngest women still held hostage in Gaza have come together for their first ever joint interview to demand diplomats finally bring them home.

'While we sit here in this nice light our girls are being kept hostage', Ayelet Levy-Shachar tells the Daily Mail from the Hostage Forum offices in Tel Aviv.

Her daughter, Naama, 19, was seen in the footage pleading with the terrorists alongside fellow captives Liri Albag, 19, Daniela Gilboa, 20, Karina Ariev, 19, and Agam Berger, 19, on October 7.

Each of their mothers made the agonising decision to release the horrifying three-minute Hamas Go Pro video in a desperate bid to get politicians to fight for them.

The mothers of the five youngest women still held hostage in Gaza have come together for their first ever joint interview to demand diplomats finally bring them home.

The images of their blood-soaked teenage daughters (pictured) being leered over by Hamas terrorists shocked the world

It shows the young women limping, injured and bloodied as their hands are bound. They are lined against the wall by Palestinian terrorists having been taken from Nahal Oz base during their mandatory National Service as unarmed observers.

'You dogs, we will step on you.' One screams at the girls. Another of the terrorists is seen pointing at the girls calling them 'Sabaya', an ancient islamic term that can mean female sex slave, before leering over Karina in her snoopy pyjamas, saying: 'You are so beautiful.'

Dr Levy-Shacher said: 'It's been eight months Our girls are still subjected to their violence, it's obvious. You don't see sexual violence in the video but we are fearful of it.'

The Daily Mail first highlighted the girls' plight in January by publishing still images from the footage which went viral and saw their cases raised at the UN and The Hague.

It sparked global condemnation and saw the mothers introduced to world leaders including Rishi Sunak and David Cameron.

The Daily Mail first highlighted the girls' plight in January by publishing still images from the footage which went viral

While the mothers share the horror at the images coming out of Gaza, they fear the world is forgetting the unimaginable suffering of their darling daughters

The mothers all say they are living with guilt

But despite their promises to get them home, five months have passed and they remain in Gaza.

Daniela's mother, Orly, 48, directly addressed the British leaders she met.

'Mr Sunak, Mr Cameron we met just a few months ago - I didn't even think we would be here for eight months and my daughter still isn't home,' she said.

'I am begging you, please, do whatever you can. You have the power, you are world leaders, you can do it.'

While the mothers share the horror at the images coming out of Gaza, they fear the world is forgetting the unimaginable suffering of their darling daughters.

Ms Gilboa said: 'When you ask for a ceasefire you have to ask for all the hostages to be released - it can't be separate.'

Dr Levy-Shacher agrees. 'People are calling for a ceasefire, but what should a country do in order to protect itself to return its innocent civilians and people that are there?' she said.

The women fear that hostages are being forgotten

They said the video's release was an attempt to get leaders back to the negotiating table

Each of the mothers asked that the politicians negotiating a deal finally answer their prayers and bring their loving daughters home

'What is the right thing to do? Do we not have a right to defend ourselves to bring our girls home? Remember this is a terror attack that started on October 7th and while we sit here in this nice light our girls are being kept hostage.'

The mothers all say they are living with guilt. 'When I eat, when I shower,' says Karina's mother, Ira, 44.

Before the shower reaches a warm temperature for those first few moments I think of her and what she is going through.' says Ms Gilboa.

'If I am preparing a sandwich for school for my little boy, I think soon I will be making it for Naama', Dr Levy-Shacher says. 'If I am folding laundry, I think soon I will be doing Naama's.

'Everything I do, I think of her all the time and miss being with her and doing things with her and for her.'

Shira Albag, 51, whose daughter Liri's face is etched with terror, said she is trying not to imagine the sexual violence.

Liri Albag, 19 (centre), is heard in the video trying to tell the Hamas gunmen she can speak English, with the terrorists screaming at them to be quiet and sit down

19-year-old Agam Berger (right) is seen, her face covered in blood. In the video she is asked where she is from. 'Israel, Tel Aviv,' the terrified girl responds

'I am trying not to think about this, but you cannot not', says Ms Albag. 'But we also heard what was going on from the hostages that were released, we understand what is going on in there.'

The full 13 minutes could not be shown because of the levels of violence and Ms Ariev, Ms Gilboa, and Agam's mother, Meirav, 48, say they haven't got it in them to watch any of it.

'I didn't see the film, it's very difficult for me to see Agam in this impossible situation,' Ms Berger said.

'You see only the picture of her with blood in her mouth, it's very difficult for me. I need to be strong for her.'

Ms Gilboa has also tried to avoid it.

'I didn't have the strength, it's too much for my soul,' she says. 'But it was viral and it was everywhere so I saw some of the pictures from the movie, but I avoided it. It is too hard for me.'

But Dr Levy-Shacher and Ms Albag watched it together. The GP said: 'At first I was reluctant to watch the video, it was Shira, Liri's mum, who said, 'Let's go watch together.'

A group of Hamas terrorists are seen gathered in the footage, with the terrified young women sat with their back against a wall

Karina, still in her Snoopy pyjamas, is seen being bundled into the back of a truck by the Hamas gunmen in the video that was released today

'By then I knew that Naama was speaking in this video. I really did want to see her face and to see her speak. And I see her bloodied, injured face but very close and familiar in the frames.

'You see her saying "I have friends in Palestine", referring to her being part of a peace organisation.

'She's begging for her life. And that's what I see - I see her strength and I see her vulnerability. And I miss her watching that, I just miss her so much.'

Ms Albag says that she wants to see everything despite it being really hard.

'I decided to watch everything, I saw Liri, and I saw the fear in her eyes,' she says.

'But I also saw that she is brave - she is trying to speak with them and understand, she is asking if someone speaks English. Maybe if she talks to them she can save herself or her friends.'

The women fear that hostages are being forgotten and the video release was an attempt to get leaders back to the negotiating table.

Early in the video, the young women are seen pinned against the wall with their hands tied

Naama Levy, pictured in this poster distributed by the campaign calling of the Israeli government and Hamas to bring the terror group's hostages home, was one of the five young Israeli women who were seen in the video

Karina Ariev (left) and Daniela Gilboa (right) are also seen in the chilling video. Just hours before the clip was recorded, the group of five young women had been taken from the Nahal Oz base on the Gaza border doing mandatory national service as observation lookouts

Ms Albag says: 'We didn't start the war, they attacked us Saturday morning, they raped, murdered and killed young women and children.

'The video of our daughters is a reminder of what happened that day. You see young women, still in their snoopy pyjamas, beaten and threatened that they would be shot.

'People do not realise that our girls were sitting there, in their safe room, surrounded by the dead bodies of friends for three hours.'

Ms Ariev, whose husband and daughter described the footage to her, said: 'You see the terrorists in the video praying, in front of the girls.

'I do not know which God they are praying to? Which God permits this? There are little girls there, captive, babies and old people.'

Dr Levy-Shachar adds: 'The prayers seem like an act of humiliation, to show their power over these young women.'

The mothers are saying they are clinging to hope after receiving a sign of life two months ago. They don't know the nature of the evidence, just that the girls are alive.

This family handout photo shows 19-year-old Naama Levy, one of the five young hostages seen in the video that has been released by their families

Naama Levy (second right) and her siblings are pictured on holiday together in Italy two years ago. Left to right: Michal, 16, Omri, 12, Naama, 19 and Amit, 21

Ms Gilboa and Ms Kariev say that the last they saw of their daughters was late January when Hamas released a psychological video featuring another female hostage Doron Steinbrecher.

'Before the video, Hamas released a photo with 'Time is Running out' , then my brother told me there was a video and I screamed,' says Ms Gilboa.

'I only saw it once, it's very hard for me to see any photos of before October 7 and after.

'I try to save my soul, not to see pictures and videos of any kind.

'I am avoiding to keep myself strong. If I see these videos I will be finished.'

But despite avoiding the worst of the footage, the last eight months are taking an unfathomable toll on the women.

'I tell myself once she is back, I will deal with my own emotional situation,' Ms Gilboa says.

'For now I have a goal to bring her home.'

(L-R) Ilay David, brother of hostage Evyatar David, Gal Gilboa Dalal, Nova survivor and brother of Guy Gilboa Dalal, and Amit Levy, brother of Naama Levy, speaking at the Embassy of Israel in London with young family members of hostages currently being held in Gaza, May 20

Naama Levy's oldest brother Amit Levy (pictured right), 21, who now advocates for the hostages tells MailOnline that the video made him feel stronger emotions than feeling sick

Ms Berger finished by addressing her daughter, in the slim hope that somehow her words might reach her adored 19-year-old who she has been fighting every day to free.

'Agam, you are coming back just a little bit more before you come home,' she says.

'Don't forget what you wrote about in your diary when you were 19 years old, that you are sure God is with you in every step.

'Be sure that God is with you there, guarding and protecting you, continue to pray to give power to others and keep your Jewish identity, don't be afraid you have the power in you.'

For each of the mothers, they ask that the politicians negotiating a deal finally answer their prayers and bring their loving daughters home.
French prime minister Gabriel Attal has told voters 'don't be like the British who cried after Brexit,' ahead of the European elections next week, claiming that illegal immigration and economic strain across the channel is more pressing than ever.

In an interview with RTL radio on Thursday, Attal warned that voters choosing the far right risk being like the Brits, citing recent UK polls that showed British voters would choose to remain in the European Union if there were to be a repeat of the 2016 referendum.

'A large majority of British people regret Brexit and sometimes regret not turning out to vote, or voting for something that was negative for their country,' he said.

'Today there is more illegal immigration than ever in the UK since they left the European Union. There are massive economic difficulties in the UK because they left the [EU].'

Marine Le Pen's far right party, Rassemblement National, or National Rally in English, is performing strongly in the polls in France.

French PM, Gabriel Attal, has said French voters looking to choose the far-right in the upcoming European elections risk becoming like British who are 'crying since Brexit'

Marine Le Pen's far right party, Rassemblement National, is performing strongly in the polls.

Its president, Jordan Bardella, is polling at more than 30%, solidly ahead of the support for member of the European parliament, Valerie Hayer.

Hayer was picked by French president Emmanuel Macron to be his centrist party's leading candidate in the European elections, which will be held in June.

While Le Pen's party stopped backing a 'Frexit' several years ago, and has since said she wants France to remain in the EU, Attal apprised that the far-right party was chasing policies that would lead to France not being able to remain in the EU.

He said that if the far right operated in the European parliament, it 'could have the capacity to block European institutions, which would lead to very dangerous consequences for our country'.

'When you say you are not going to respect the rules of the single market any more, not pay Frances dues and stop respecting most of the treaties, the reality is that we are no longer in the EU,' he said.

Back in 2022, Macron accused Le Pen of having a secret 'Frexit' plan to follow Britain out of the European Union and create a right-wing alliance with Poland and Hungary.

The head of state had made the claim in the middle of an election campaign, in which polls threatened his role as France's leader.

'She wants to leave but dare not dare say so, and that's never good' said Mr Macron, as he discussed his bitter rival's policies towards the EU at a rally in eastern France.

'She says that she wants an alliance of nation states, but she is going to find herself in a corner and she is going to try to come up with an alliance with her friends,' he added.

Attal, who has been called by critics Macron's 'mini me', has taken centre stage in the campaign against Le Pen's party.

At just 34, he is France's youngest ever PM.

A recent poll showed Le Pen's Rassemblement National significantly ahead on 33.5%, compared to Macron's Renaissance party, which fell on 16%. The Socialist Party was narrowly behind at 14%.
Shocking video footage has shown the moments after a horror shooting in Hackney, London this week which left a nine-year-old girl fighting for her life and three men injured.

The footage reveals the chaos at Evin restaurant after a shooter pulled up on a motorbike and let off a round of bullets as families ate dinner at the popular Turkish restaurant.

Members of the public can be seen tending to one of the victims on the ground, while others speak on the phone or ask where the emergency services are.

Emotional cries can be heard in the background as one victim is seen lying on the floor.

The five-second rampage left the girl fighting for her life while three men, aged 26, 37, and 42, sitting at the table in front of her were also hit in the incident, which unfolded at around 9.20pm.

Footage recorded in the minutes after the shooting showed people gathered around a victim on the ground

CCTV obtained by MailOnline shows the shooter slowly approaching Evin's on Kingsland High Street before coming to a stop outside

Police said the girl suffered a gunshot wound and remains in hospital in a critical condition. The three men, who are not believed to have known the child, are in stable condition, but one potentially faces life changing injuries.

In a heart-wrenching account of the brutal shooting the owner of the Evin bistro revealed how the girl's mother crumpled in shock when she saw her daughter shot.

Gazi Degirmenci told MailOnline: 'The girl was not with the three men outside, she was sitting at a table behind them.

'The girl was with her family, her mum and dad and two other children. She was part of a five or six person group.

'The mother was in a really bad way, as you can imagine, really bad, really bad.

'We tried to help as much as we could, we tried to stop the bleeding. We gave her water, and we called the ambulance and police.

'I'm not sure that if our efforts helped. But we helped as much as we could.

'The mum was in a really bad state. I don't want to try to remember how she was, it's too upsetting. Can you imagine being in her shoes? It's an unimaginable horror.

Several men attempted to help one of the male victims before paramedics arrived

Others gathered outside the restaurant called emergency services or asked where ambulances were

A look at where the shooting occurred in Dalston last night as a motorcyclist fired shots towards the diners

'It's so painful, we are so upset about what happened to that child.

'I'm not sure about who the three men sitting in the front are, and if it's some sort of gang war. But the biggest tragedy is clearly the child.'

The crime bears the hallmarks of a shooting in 2003 which tragically killed two innocent young women in Birmingham.

The mother of 17-year-old Letisha Shakespeare, Dr Marcia Shakespeare, who campaigns on gun violence, told the Today programme: 'As soon as I heard the news I was very saddened to hear that there was a shooting in Hackney and that there were three males involved as well as a nine-year-old girl who was also shot.

'It just brought back the memories of when Letisha was shot.

'It's very important because a lot of crime, particularly firearms, are fuelled by serious violence, drug debts and feuds, but what's going on around us in the underworld many innocent people are getting caught up.

'It's very disturbing that 21 years later we are still battling drive-by shootings.'

She added: 'Do not take violent crime off the agenda because it's too often that charities who try to obtain funding to try and tackle and diffuse violent crime, they are stopped because something else comes in.

'It's put on the back burner... but it hasn't gone away.'

At a press conference yesterday, Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway pleaded for people to come forward with information. He began his statement by saying 'it saddens me deeply' to say that 'three men and a nine-year-old girl were shot when a firearm was discharged from a motorbike'.

He added: 'I know that local people will be extremely concerned by this incident. We share that concern and an urgent investigation has been launched to identify and apprehend those responsible.'

Detective Conway said: 'As with any child, she was an innocent victim of the indiscriminate nature of gun crime.

'Our thoughts are with her and her family and they are being supported by specialist officers.'

Forensic officers pictured outside Evin restaurant, where a horror drive-by shooting took place

Forensic officers pictured outside Evin restaurant, where a horror drive-by shooting took place

Three adults and a child were found with gunshot injuries at the scene. They have all been taken to a major trauma centre

An eye-witness filmed the large group of people who were gathered outside Evin restaurant

Previously, horrifying footage had shown the moment the shooter pulled up outside the restaurant on a motorbike before letting off five or six shots.

Eyewitnesses told how diners dived under tables in a bid to escape the bullets, but said the little girl who was hit had been playing on chairs behind the intended targets at the time.

Detective Conway said: 'The investigation is at an early stage and we are keeping an open mind as to the motive. We are keen to identify other witnesses who were in the area around the scene at the time of the shooting.

'Similarly, if you were in the Kingsland High Street area at the time of the shooting and have information or footage from a phone or other device, please share that with us.

'This is a fast-moving, complex investigation, and we will be working closely with our Specialist Crime colleagues to establish the full facts in the coming days.

'Locally, people can expect to see a significant police presence in this area, including armed officers, to provide reassurance and support. We will also continue our unrelenting focus on suppressing violence, gun crime, and the offenders who endanger our communities.

'Events such as these are rarely spontaneous. Someone knows who is responsible for this shooting that has left a little girl fighting for her life.'
Three-year-old attacked by dog at park in Adelaide

The owner of a dog that tore skin off the cheek and mouth of a toddler at a park has apologised for fleeing the scene.

Basam Hafiz's three-year-old son was playing on the equipment at Pennington Reserve, in Adelaide's north, when he was attacked by a Tenterfield terrier at about 4.30pm on Wednesday.

The toddler was taken to the Women and Children's Hospital and underwent surgery, with his family fearing he may be left with permanent scars.

The dog's owner, Jeb Stubberfield, immediately grabbed his dog and left the park following the attack - before emergency services arrived.

Mr Stubberfield has since apologised and admitted he should have stuck around to check the youngster was okay.

Basam Hafiz's three-year-old son was playing on the equipment at Pennington Reserve, in Adelaide's north, when he was attacked by a Tenterfield terrier at about 4.30pm on Wednesday

The dog's owner, Jeb Stubberfield, immediately grabbed his dog and left the park following the attack before emergency services arrived

'I just panicked. It's very unfortunate, I'm very sorry, I wish I could take it back. I should have manned up and stayed around,' the dog owner told Seven News.

The owner said his dog had been eating something from the grass when the toddler went to pet him, causing him to attack.

'It's an unfortunate circumstance to be quite honest,' Mr Stubberfield said.

'I'm just very apologetic to the child obviously, firstly, and the family to put them through this pain.'

The dog was given to the man as a gift five years ago while he was struggling with anxiety and depression.

The young boy has undergone surgery with fears his facial injuries may leave permanent scarring

Basam Hafiz, the father of the young boy, said he was 'pretty upset'

Mr Stubberfield is now concerned his dog may be taken away by the local council and euthanised.

The three-year-old spent a night in hospital and is now recovering at home.

Mr Hafiz said: 'I was pretty upset and I still am very upset because if you look at it, it's half his face and he's only a child,'

Earlier, a police spokesperson said investigations were underway with the City of Charles Sturt Council inspectors.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the City of Charles Sturt Council for comment.
An evil controlling student nurse who was given a suspended sentence for abusing her boyfriend had a final taunt for him as she appeared in court to face justice - turning up with a 400 Marc Jacobs handbag she made him buy.

Sarah Rigby, 41, from Winford in Cheshire, put 40-year-old Gareth Jones through nine months of hell by telling him to eat salad, wear a hat and eat toothpaste because she convinced him he was fat, balding and had bad breath.

She made him spend around 40,000 on her during her twisted relationship with him - and forced him to go to Harrods while on a trip to London.

As she clawed at his arm so hard he bled, she told him: 'We are not leaving until you buy me something expensive.' And he did - purchasing a 400 Marc Jacobs bag she wore on her arm as she appeared at Chester Crown Court earlier this month.

Rigby, who has been handed a 20-month suspended jail sentence, subjected him to months of abuse - stopping him from showering or using the toilet, and making him sleep on the floor as a form of punishment.

Police later said was one of the worst examples of coercive control in a relationship they had ever seen.

Gareth Jones, 40, (pictured) was subjected to a campaign of abuse by his girlfriend Sarah Rigby

Sarah Rigby pictured outside court. She would turn up with a 400 Marc Jacobs bag she made him buy for her at Harrods (pictured)

Mr Jones says Rigby clawed his arm so roughly at the department store (pictured) that he bled beneath his jumper

Gareth Jones and Sarah Rigby sitting in the Shard on a trip to London. He believes he spent as much as 40,000 on her during their toxic relationship

Mr Jones said his controlling girlfriend marched him into Harrods while on the trip and demanded that he 'buy (her) something expensive'

He added that, had he stayed any longer, his situation would have 'ended up a lot worse' - but he found the courage to call the police

He told ITV News: 'We were on a weekend away in London, and basically I was told to go into Harrods, and I... had my arm grabbed, and clawed so deep that I actually started bleeding underneath my sweater.

'I was told: "We are not leaving this shop until you buy me something expensive."

'I think it was probably close into the region of between 30,000 and 40,000 (that I spent in total).'

Mr Jones added: 'I thought probably that if I'd stayed in [the relationship] any longer, that things would have ended up a lot worse for me.'

When asked why he stayed in the relationship, he said: 'It does become the normal for you.'

Mr Jones met Rigby on dating site Plenty of Fish, after which she said she began 'love bombing' him - making over-the-top gestures of affection.

e later moved into her house, for which she demanded he paid 700 rent despite her father owning the property.

And despite this he was made to keep his belongings in her garage - and was regularly kicked out and forced to stay with his parents. He was too scared to eat with them - lest she smell food on his breath.

He said the 'constant' belittlement and abuse made him feel 'nervous, degraded and worthless', completely destroying his confidence.

She also attacked him regularly, kicking, biting, scratching and clawing him. In one incident, she hurled a glass candle holder at his face, leaving him with a scar on his nose.

'Whilst I was with Sarah, my relationship with friends and family became strained. I was isolated from everyone,' he said previously.

'I was extremely nervous about ringing my parents as my phone would constantly be checked so I would delete all evidence of this and had to create a code word with my mum, so that she knew Sarah was not around and could speak more freely.

'I was constantly being watched and was not allowed to have any personal telephone conversation unless in Sarah's presence.

Mr Jones said he feels that had the perpetrator been a man, the sentence would have been 'completely different'

Gareth Jones says Sarah Rigby checked his phone on a regular basis and insisted on having access to his passcodes and passwords

Behind the smiling photos, she made him eat salad, wear a hat and eat toothpaste because, in her view, he was fat, balding and had bad breath

'My phone was also checked on a regular basis by Sarah and I had to provide my pass-code to her and passwords to email accounts so she could check anything at anytime.

'If I had contacted any friends or family I was controlled in what I was and wasn't allowed to say to them.

'I think I will always be emotionally scarred by the effects the abuse that I've suffered.'

Twisted Rigby even made up claims Mr Jones attacked her, demanding compensation from him under the threat of police action. She wouldn't even give him a key to the house they shared.

'She made it clear she was his financial priority and told him that he was legally obliged to pay for everything,' prosecutor Frances Willmott said.

'She accused him of being a nightmare to live with, said he had poor habits and did not let him use the toilet in the house; insisting he went to the toilet at the library or the pub.

'She would only let Mr Jones shower every few days and not change his clothes yet would also tell Mr Jones that he smelt.'

Mr Jones lost four stone over the course of the warped relationship - eventually contacting police in March 2022 after speaking to a men's domestic abuse helpline.

Police later urged Rigby to return the victim's possessions including his work computer and sentimental items, but she repeatedly denied she had anything to return.

In interview she falsely claimed Jones had been violent, coercive, controlling and manipulative towards her.

In mitigation, defence counsel Jade Tufail said Rigby had been diagnosed with PTSD due to an undisclosed 'trauma' she suffered in her childhood.

But the judge Recorder Eric Lamb told Rigby: 'Your conduct has led to a substantial detrimental effect upon Mr Jones, who even today when speaking of the impact of the relationship upon him was plainly close to tears and in great distress when speaking on where the relationship had left him.

'There were multiple methods of controlling or coercive behaviour intended to humiliate and degrade him.'

Sarah Rigby, 41, (pictured) made Mr Jones eat salad, wear a hat and swallow toothpaste and mouthwash in the wrongful belief he was fat, bald and had halitosis

Rigby's abuse against Mr Jones included stopping him from showering or using the toilet in the house

Rigby was given a 20-month suspended jail sentence, a 35-day rehab order and a five-year restraining order preventing her from contacting Mr Rigby or his parents.

Following the sentencing last week, Cheshire Constabulary's DC Sophie Ward said: 'This is the worst case of controlling and coercive behaviour I have ever seen.

'Many people think that only women can be victims of controlling and coercive behaviour, but as this case demonstrates, that is not always the case and there is help available.'

Nicky Inskip, senior crown prosecutor, added: 'Her treatment of him did not represent the normal ups and downs of a relationship. It was coercive, controlling and criminal.

'She admitted her guilt in the face of overwhelming evidence and has now been sentenced. We hope this is of some comfort to the victim.'

But Mr Jones believes Rigby got off easy because she is a woman.

'I feel that if it was a man, then it probably would be a completely different outcome,' he told ITV News.

One in three domestic abuse victims is a man, according to the latest official statistics.

Charity ManKind says around a fifth of male victims do not tell anyone they are a victim of abuse - likely because of the stigma associated with being a male victim of coercive conduct.
Anthony Albanese has sidestepped questions on Donald Trump's conviction, saying it was a 'matter for the US' where he could still be re-elected as president later this year.

But the Prime Minister said there would be no effect on Australia's relationship with the US whether Mr Trump or incumbent Democrat President Joe Biden won in November.

'I'm certainly not worried about our relationship with the United States because it's a relationship between our peoples based upon shared values of democratic principles,' Mr Albanese said on Friday.

Anthony Albanese has sidestepped questions on Donald Trump 's conviction

Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records over cover up money he paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election

Earlier Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she wouldn't comment on Mr Trump, but reiterated that 'we have a very strong relationship and that will continue'.

The presumptive Republican nominee was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records over cover up money he paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.

Mr Trump's criminal conviction won't disqualify him from running as a presidential candidate, according to US law, making it entirely possible he will appear on the ballots come November 5.

Mr Albanese said it would not be 'appropriate' to offer his opinions about the court proceedings of other countries, although he acknowledged there would be 'a lot of public focus on this verdict.'

'This is a decision of the US court that we don't comment (on) where we're not participants in court processes of other countries,' Mr Albanese said in Sydney shortly after the verdict was delivered in a New York court.

'The presidential election later this year is a matter for the people of the United States.'

Asked if Mr Trump would be permitted to visit Australia with a criminal conviction, Mr Albanese replied: 'I'm not going down that rabbit hole.'

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton offered a more detailed reaction to the verdict which happened live while he was appearing on breakfast television.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton offered a more detailed reaction to the verdict

'If you look back to 2016, he won no electoral votes in New York. He's despised there. There's obviously two tribes here and the one tribe who detest him and hate him,' Mr Dutton told Channel Nine's Today show.

'And you saw some of the emotion in some of the interviews, just then. And the other tribe, love him and adore him, and for different reasons on both sides.

'All it will do is reinforce the views on both of those camps. But obviously it will make for an even more exciting election, I suppose, in November.'

In a statement posted on X, Greens Leader Adam Bandt urged Australia to reconsider its relationship with its closest ally.

'Donald Trump is unfit to be President and would be a disaster for the USA, Australia & the world if he is elected again,' Mr Bandt said.

Education Minister Jason Clare said the announcement was 'the biggest news in the world' but followed Mr Albanese's lead to refrain from directly commenting on Mr Trump's conviction.

'Obviously it's a decision for the American people to make later this year about who the next president,' he added.

Asked about what the ruling meant for Australia, deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley said relations between the two countries were 'more important and bigger than any one individual.'

'Irrespective of who the president is or the prime minister is or which party's in office, the ties that bind our two countries together are strong and everlasting,' she said.

Donald Trump's sentencing has been scheduled for July 11.

He faces fines of up to $7,500 and a maximum of four years in prison for each of the 34 felony counts he was convicted of, however experts believe jail time would be unlikely because he's a first-time offender.
A drunk British man has been arrested at a Spanish airport after being drunk on board and trying to open the door mid-flight.

Spanish police were waiting on the tarmac when the plane touched down in Alicante-Elche Miguel Hernandez Airport, and arrested the 28-tear-old man, who was said to have been so drunk that he did not realise the plane was still in the air.

Passengers helped the crew to restrain him during a brawl in which he reportedly became aggressive and compromised the safety of the flight.

The incident happened on Thursday on board an Easyjet flight which had left Gatwick airport for Alicante-Elche in Spain, according to Spanish newspaper Informacion.es

The Brit had already been disturbing the other passengers with his drunken behaviour.

(File image of Alicante coastline) A drunk British man has been arrested at Alicante airport after being drunk on board and trying to open the door mid-flight

As the plane neared its destination, the man allegedly tried to open a door to 'get off quicker' after not realising the aircraft had not yet landed.

This resulted in the pilot having to call the control tower to request the presence of the Civil Guard on touch-down, Informacion.es reported.

'Apparently, the traveller boarded already drunk but his condition worsened during the flight, since the altitude enhances the effects of alcohol. At one point, he got into a fight with other travellers, whom he attacked after insulting and provoking them. When the company's onboard personnel intervened, he also tried to hit them,' said Informacion.es

'And not only that. In the midst of a brawl, he tried to open the plane door to get off, without being aware that they were in mid-flight, and then tried to access the cabin. Finally, the passenger helped the crew to immobilise him and, as soon as the aircraft landed in El Altet, the Civil Guard entered and detained him.'

According to the Spanish Aviation Safety Agency, the London to Alicante flight route sees the second most amount of on-flight incidents. Last year alone there were 184 complaints.

Intoxicated Brits are said to be responsible for the majority of these episodes.
Lego fans have blasted organisers of a 'nothing short of extraordinary' Brick Fest Live event which promised a 'myriad of activities and exhibits' featuring the Scandinavian designed plastic blocks.

Images posted on the organiser's website showed a small child kneeling on a carpet of multi-coloured plastic blocks looking to the sky with his two fists raised. The child looks as if he may be exalting a higher being, or maybe in considerable pain with his entire weight on dozens of the loose blocks.

A second image shows a young girl playing with Lego.

According to the organiser's website, which has since been pulled from the internet, at the centre of the event is an 'awe-inspiring collaborative masterpiece' which 'evolves' during the event.

 Slide me  Visitors were promised a large venue filled with Lego models. The reality in the NEC last week was somewhat different

It the promotional material on the Brickfest Live website, this child is shown kneeling on thousands of Lego blocks while looking towards the ceiling with clenched fists

Another promotional image shows a girl working on a mosaic

Children were told they could build their own cars to race along a large track

Much of the floorspace of the venue was supposed to be made up of large life-size displays

Children attending the event build their own creations which are then used as part of the central display.

The marketing blurb promised attendees the ability to 'unleash your creativity' and to 'bring your imaginative visions to life using countless LEGO bricks'.

However, those attending the event in Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre complained about the lack of activities.

Brick Fest Live was founded in the United States.

 Slide me  Visitors said the Brick Fest event in Birmingham's NEC failed to live up to expectations

The Birmingham event promised those visiting the NEC the ability to see 'life-size models' and becoming involved in creating a Guinness World-Record-setting floor mosaic.

The organisers also promised people attending they could race cars they have built down a 35ft long derby ramps.

Also, Lego fans were promised the chance of buying rare merchandise.

The event had three UK venues this month, appearing at the Royal Highland Centre in Edinburgh, the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes and finally at the NEC in Birmingham.

In the US, Brick Fest begins a tour on June 1 in Indianapolis and Columbia, South Carolina, before moving to Hampton in Virginia and Hillsboro in Oregon.

Visitors to the NEC quickly compared the event to the disastrous Willy Wonka Glasgow experience.

Those attending the event in the NEC complained that the venue was 'half empty'.

One disappointed father wrote under BlockPartyUK's Youtube video: 'Drove from Sheffield with my 10-year-old who was so excited to see rare lego, custom minifigs etc. Could've cried for him when we had walked around the whole thing and he asked but where the lego stalls were.'

Another added: 'We drove over 2hrs from Leeds and as soon as we stood at the entrance I was amazed how bad it looked, having walked round it was even worse.

'We spoke to the organisers and complained and was given an email to send a message to about getting a refund as it wasn't as advertised as you say.'

The NEC website states tickets were priced at 18 for general admission, 25 for flex admission and 35 for VIP. An event description for Brick Fest Live read: 'For the first time ever, the world's largest hands-on LEGO event of its kind catapults from the US to make its UK debut at the NEC Birmingham this Spring.

'Brick Fest Live will be in Birmingham on 25-27 May, with over a million LEGO bricks on display and ready for play.

'Brick Fest Live allows families to enjoy mind-blowing creations from all over the world made entirely of this timeless toy. Children and adults will be amazed by life-sized LEGO models and hands-on building activities assembled to set the imagination free. Brick Fest Live will also feature a marketplace where avid builders will be able find rare collectibles not available anywhere else.'

Guests attending Brick Fest Live were told they could acquire hard-to-find Lego merchandise

They were advised that specialists would be on site to help them with their projects

An automated reply from BrickFest's UK group read: 'Thank you for reaching out to Brick Fest Live and for your patience as we address your concerns. We sincerely appreciate you bringing this matter to our attention and apologize for any disappointment you experienced at our UK event.

'Your feedback is important to us, and we want to ensure that you receive the assistance you need.'

Brick Fest Live organisers said in a statement: 'Brick Fest Live originated in the US, where it's been highly successful for nearly a decade. In the last month, there have been tens of thousands of guests that have been through this event in Edinburgh and Milton Keynes, with children and families taking part in this interactive, hands on festival.

'Where many have given us positive feedback, we are aware that Brick Fest Live is potentially not delivering for adult level enthusiasts, and there are elements of the show that are not of satisfaction for this sector of customers.

'We're reading all customer feedback and dealing with comments. We're working quickly to pass customer feedback onto the creators of Brick Fest Live, so that they can take those observations on board, to deliver future events that live up to all customer expectations.'
A 'pale and malnourished' woman was found on the floor during the raid

He would record attacks on a spy hole camera installed into items such as a pen

Nicholas Moxham was found guilty of rape, sexual assault and other offences

This is the moment a sick rapist, who recorded his attacks on sex workers with secret cameras, was bundled into a police van.

Bodycam footage from Greater Manchester Police showed Nicholas Moxham being placed into custody for his slew of 'depraved' offences against women.

The 52-year-old was later found later guilty of a numerous offences, including rape, prostitution, slavery and sexual assault.

When police descended on his home in August 2021, one woman was found 'pale and malnourished' lying under a duvet on the floor of his living room.

Safeguarding measures were put in place to protect the woman immediately, according to police.

Nicholas Moxham (pictured) was bundled into the back of a police van after a warrant following reports of a man named 'Nick' spending time with sex workers emerged

Moxham of Briarfield Road, Heaton Chapel, has been found guilty of a slew of offences, including rape, prostitution, slavery and sexual assault

The sex offender also tried to discard any evidence, tossing a hard drive from his bedroom window as police arrived.

Investigations unearthed the depraved rapist would attack women in his home and sometimes while they were unconscious.

Authorities also discovered spy hole cameras, storage devices as well as other hard drives.

Authorities were alerted to Moxham after witness reports of a man named 'Nick' lingering around homeless shelters and spending time with sex workers emerged.

Moxham recruited six women as sex workers, whilst also organising others to meet up at his home address as well as another property in Longsight, Manchester.

The rapist would use spyhole cameras installed in items such as pens to film his sickening attacks on his victims.

Numerous videos were found of Moxham raping or sexually assaulting women.

Moxham, of Briarfield Road, Heaton Chapel, was found guilty of a total of 32 charges after a five-week trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.

When police descended on his home in August 2021, one woman was found 'pale and malnourished' lying under a duvet on the floor of his living room

Moxham would use spyhole cameras installed in items such as pens (pictured) to film his sickening attacks on his victims

Among his charges included rape, attempted rape, voyeurism, assault by penetration, controlling prostitution for gain and requiring a person to perform forced of compulsory labour.

Detective Sergeant Lee Attenborough described the case as 'one of the most horrific and upsetting,' his team has worked on.

Branding Moxham as a 'controlling and predatory sex offender', he added: '[He] thought he was untouchable, denying his horrendous crimes right to the very end, forcing his victims to go through the ordeal of a trial.

'He showed absolutely no regard for any of his victims, some of whom won't even know they were targeted due to the calculated and covert methods he used to take advantage.

'His offending was well-planned and continued whilst he was under investigation, even boasting to one of his victims that he was too clever for police.'

'His victims have been extremely brave, and I can only commend them for coming forward to give evidence against Moxham.

Moxham (pictured) will be sentenced for the 32 charges he has been found guilty of in July

He added: 'I know this hasn't been easy, but thanks to their courageous actions, Moxham is off our streets and will now face a considerable time behind bars.

'I know that reporting crimes like this can be incredibly difficult and traumatic, but we would urge anyone who has suffered violence or controlling behaviour of any type to come forward.

'If anyone has been affected by this case or believes they may have been targeted, we have specialist officers who can help.

'We are determined to bring offenders to justice and make Manchester a safer place for everyone.'

Moxham will be sentenced for his crimes in July.
D-Day veterans who fought the Nazis in WW2 have backed Rishi Sunak's year-long National Service scheme for 18-year-olds - branding Gen Z as 'pretty useless' and in dire need of some 'discipline'.

The veterans include 99-year-old Mervyn Kersh who was part of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps which helped supply the 153,000 troops who took part in the famous landings.

He was only 19 at the time of D-Day on June 6, 1944, but would go on to take part in the Allied advance across Europe and the liberated Nazi concentration camps.

Mr Kersh told MailOnline: 'It (National Service) should never have stopped. The youth today, to generalise, are pretty useless.

'Certainly don't have any idea of service, or National Service, based on what I've seen anyway. And that includes my grandson. I think it is a very good idea, it teaches some discipline, some self discipline, it is always good.'

D-Day veteran Mervyn Kersh said National Service 'should never have stopped' and labelled the youth of today as 'pretty useless'

The Jewish veteran was part of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps which helped supply the 153,000 troops who took part in the famous landings

Mr Kersh (pictured) was only 19 at the time of D-Day but would go on to take part in the Allied advance across Europe and the liberated Nazi concentration camps

Pictured: Troops from the 48th Royal Marines at Saint-Aubin-sur-mer on Juno Beach, Normandy on D-Day, June 6, 1944

Mr Kersh, who landed on the Normandy beaches himself a few days after the first landings, was awarded the Legion d'Honneur, France's highest order of merit for his participation in the campaign in 2015.

The Jewish man was also honoured in 2020 by Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his 'tireless efforts' in teaching young people about the war.

Another veteran who backed the reintroduction of National Service was 98-year-old Royal Navy gunner Les Underwood.

He had been put on a Merchant Navy ship to help protect it while it made the journey to Russia, but the ship was diverted and ended up in the middle of D-Day.

The Londoner helped unload the ships supplies to the Allied troops while guns were firing overhead.

He said: 'I think National Service should be brought back. Because when you go in as a boy and you come out as a man.

'And you learn there are bigger people than you. You think when you are young like I was you are the king of the world - but you are not. '

Les Underwood, 98, was a Royal Navy gunner during D-Day. He said National Service should be brought back because 'you go in as a boy and you come out as a man'

The Londoner helped unload his ship's supplies to the Allied troops while guns were firing overhead

Mr Underwood (pictured) had been put on a Merchant Navy ship to help protect it while it made the journey to Russia, but the ship was diverted and ended up in the middle of D-Day

British troops at Juno Beach on D-Day in 1944

Many historians describe D-Day as the 'beginning of the end' of the Second World War

A third veteran who has come out in support of National Service is 97-year-old Marie Scott who was a member of the Women's Royal Naval Service (Wrens).

She was only 17 at the time of D-Day, and was one of some 700 people who worked as a radio transmitter at Fort Southwick in Portsmouth - the communications centre for D-Day.

She overheard what was happening on the beaches as she listened to radio messages from soldiers on the frontline

The mother-of-three said: 'The discipline of service life is good for you because it makes you realise you can't take people and things, even the environment, for granted. You can't do that.

'You have to be self-reliant, it teaches you that. I think it is good.'

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 into the Armed Forces between 1949 and 1963.

Mr Sunak's new National Service plan is designed to help combat the rising threat posed by countries such as Russia and China.

Mr Kersh agrees with the goal and said Britain should be prepared to face up to the threats posed by hostile countries.

Marie Scott, 97, was a member of the Women's Royal Naval Service (Wrens) during D-Day. She supports the reintroduction of National Service because the 'discipline of service life is good'

Mrs Scott was one of the 700 people who worked as a radio transmitter at Fort Southwick in Portsmouth - the communications centre for the invasion

Mrs Scott was only 17 at the time of D-Day. She overheard what was happening on the beaches as she listened to radio messages from soldiers on the frontline

In total D-Day was the largest amphibious invasion in history, with 153,000 troops, supported by 10,440 aircraft and 6,330 ships being involved. Pictured: Canadian soldiers land on Courseulles beach in Normandy, on June 6, 1944

He added: 'If you want peace, you've got to be prepared for war. If you are prepared for war, no one will attack you.

'Not that you will go to war, but that you are ready for it. Ukraine is learning that lesson now, and all the other countries in Europe are gradually learning it. Be prepared. No one attacked me when I was in the army because I was prepared.

'Bullies will always attack those who are unprepared, and that is a national lesson we should learn.'

In total D-Day was the largest amphibious invasion in history, with 153,000 troops, supported by 10,440 aircraft and 6,330 ships being involved.

The forces were roughly divided across five beaches: Gold and Sword were attacked by British troops, Juno by Canadian, and Omaha and Utah by the US.

The Allies took approximately 10,250 casualties on D-Day, with around 4,440 killed.

Many historians describe D-Day as the 'beginning of the end' of the Second World War.

The three veterans were speaking at a D-Day commemoration event held by the Taxi Charity for Military Veterans and financial firm CBOE on Thursday.

Allied soldiers begin to arrive en-masse with vehicles and equipment on D-Day

U.S. reinforcements wade through the surf from a landing craft in the days following D-Day

The Allies took approximately 10,250 casualties on D-Day, with around 4,440 killed. Pictured Graves at the Bayeux War Cemetery, the largest Second World War cemetery of Commonwealth soldiers in France

Their comments come after Rishi Sunak divided opinion when he announced the compulsory policy of National Service for all 18-year-olds if the Conservatives win the General Election last week.

Under the bombshell plan, 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Mr Sunak said at the time 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.'

Sweden, Norway, France and Denmark are among the countries to have reintroduced a modern version of national service recently.
Man jailed for two years and eight months

A teacher has been jailed after he groomed a female student for more than a decade, had sex with her when she was still a teenager and eventually married her.

Now in his late 60s, the man, who cannot be identified, faced New Zealand's Napier District Court this week after he was found guilty of sexual connection and committing an indecent act with a girl aged 12 to 16.

The pair first met when the young girl started her first year at an Auckland high school in 2007 when she was just 12 and he was 50 years old.

He began to pay her special attention and, from the age of 13, he touched the young student on her hips and bottom, the New Zealand Herald reported.

A teacher has been jailed after he groomed a young girl when she was just 12-years-old, and went on to marry her (stock image)

When she moved schools the two remained in contact and the girl started spending more time at the teacher's house.

Over time, the contact become more sexualised and progressed to the point that the female student was naked.

They dated for two years while she was underage from 2008 to 2010.

The court heard that the teacher waited until the young girl was 16 to have her move in with him and begin having sex as he feared he would otherwise go to jail.

Initially a secret, the relationship was discovered by the girl's mother who eventually accepted it - and the pair moved from Auckland to Hawkes Bay.

When she was 22, the pair married but the relationship soon broke down.

The woman moved to Australia and reported the teacher to NSW Police in 2021, resulting in his arrest in New Zealand the following year.

The court heard the woman had dropped out of school and battled with addiction. She and the teacher had used cannabis together on occasion.

Judge Richard Earwaker said the teacher's sexualised treatment of the girl was 'premeditated criminal behaviour'.

'You were a teacher. She was 12 to 15. You were a person of authority she looked up to,' he told the court.

Judge Earwaker sentenced the teacher to two years and eight months in prison. He was also placed on the child sex offender register.
A sausage dog died in agony on the operating table after a vet botched a routine procedure in front of the pet's traumatised owner, an inquiry has found.

Dr Leo Cantwell has been found guilty of five counts of serious unprofessional conduct by a formal disciplinary inquiry following his surgery on seven-year-old Oska in Melbourne in 2022.

Oska's owner, Sofie Giuiri, had taken her dog to Dr Cantwell for an enema, where liquid is flushed into the rectum, but after just 30 minutes Oska died on the table.

The enema was conducted so poorly that a 'fast flowing gush' of poo began streaming out of Oska's mouth before he entered cardiac arrest, the inquiry found.

Oska's owner, Sofie Giuiri, had taken her dog for an enema, where liquid is flushed into the rectum, but after just 30 minutes Oska died on the table

Dr Cantwell had failed to give Oska any painkillers and persisted with the procedure even when he appeared 'distressed and uncomfortable', documents obtained by The Herald Sun showed.

Ms Giuiri lodged a complaint with the Veterinary Practitioner's Registration Board of Victoria, which suspended Dr Cantwell's registration in 2022.

Further action wasn't taken until now after the Board reportedly fought to keep details of Oska's death a secret.

'My dog was my best, best friend. He was very active, he was very cute  and very, very loving,' Ms Giuri told the Herald Sun.

Ms Giuri was in the room by her pet's side as Dr Cantwell performed the procedure.

A three-member disciplinary panel established in the wake of Ms Giuri's complaint that Dr Cantwell's conduct was 'a substantial departure' from professional veterinary standards.

'The departure was neither trivial, nor was it of momentary effect and it placed the health and safety of Oska at significant risk,' the panel found.

Dr Cantwell only stopped the procedure after Ms Giuiri yelled at him because Oska had become unresponsive, the panel found.

It added that Dr Cantwell's attempts to resuscitate Oska were substandard.

Dr Cantwell had failed to give Oska any painkillers and persisted with the procedure even when he appeared 'distressed and uncomfortable'

He had also failed to properly communicate with Ms Giuri, obtain proper consent, and keep proper records of Oska's death, the Vet Board found.

Dr Cantwell only told the panel that his record keeping 'could have been better' when asked for his explanation.

Ms Giuiri is now making sure that Oska's story is heard by other pet owners after spending the last two years waiting for the Vet Board to publish its findings.

The Board spent approximately $25,000 in legal fees trying to prevent any documents about Dr Cantwell's suspension from becoming public.

The Vet Board claims that it is an offence to it to release any information relating to Dr Cantwell.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal will now determine if the Board acted lawfully by refusing to release documents relating to the case.

Dr Cantwell's clinic has since been sold to new owners.
Keir Starmer today insisted he 'respects the court's decision' to convict Donald Trump - but stressed he would 'work with whoever is elected president'.

On the election campaign trail in Scotland, the Labour leader suggested there had been due process despite the former president furiously claiming that the trial was 'rigged'.

Rishi Sunak gave a blunter no comment response, saying Mr Trump's travails in the US were 'not my focus'.

A New York jury has found Mr Trump guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, who said the two had sex.

But Mr Trump, the first ex-president to be convicted of felony crimes, insisted he was a 'very innocent man'.

Keir Starmer today insisted he 'respects the court's decision' to convict Donald Trump. Rishi Sunak dodged questions insisting the former president is 'not my focus'

A New York jury has found Mr Trump (pictured) guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels , who said the two had sex

At a campaign event in Inverclyde, Sir Keir said: 'First and foremost we respect the court's decision in relation to the decision in the Trump case.'

He added: 'We will work with whoever is elected president  that's what you'd expect.

'We have a special relationship with the US that transcends whoever the president is, but it is an unprecedented situation, there is no doubt about that.

'And there's a long way yet to go I think in relation to what happens next.'

Challenged on whether he was willing to work with a convicted felon in the White House if he wins July's election, Mr Sunak said: 'You wouldn't expect me to comment on another country's domestic politics or judicial processes.

'I'm focused squarely on the election here at home, talking to people across the country about the choice at our election.

'That's my focus.'

Nigel Farage, a close ally of Mr Trump, said the former president was being made into a 'modern day martyr'.

'It's enormous but when you look at the fact that the jury was chosen from a district that only had 10 per cent Republican support, you begin to understand the sheer politicisation of the American judicial system,' he told GB News.

'Any fair American can see that this whole case was concocted from day one. They knew exactly what they were doing. They got this judgement and I have to say, that I now think, I really do genuinely think that Trump is now going to win the presidency by a very big margin because people realise things are rotten in America.'

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride, a close ally of Mr Sunak, described Mr Trump's conviction as 'extraordinary'.

Mr Stride told Times Radio he would not comment on the judicial process in the US.

But he added: 'What I'm absolutely sure of is that whatever the outcome of the election  and I very much hope that Rishi is back in Number 10 for all sorts of reasons that we may come on to  that we will have a good and enduring continuingly positive relationship with the United States, whoever is going to be president in November.

'That's a relationship which, as you know, goes back many decades, so it's always been solid and has always been to our advantage, and to the advantage of America in her leadership of the West.'

Shadow science secretary Peter Kyle said his party would focus on preserving the relationship between the UK and US.

He told Times Radio: 'It's a special relationship and we need to focus on preserving that for future generations. So there are things that transcend the governments of any day.

'Britain and America work incredibly closely on defence, security, intelligence, and of course the economic ties are numerous and incredibly important to both countries.'
A TikTok video of her altercation with the staffer has racked up 16 million views

The Cannes red carpet security guard who was filmed clashing with Kelly Rowland and other attendees is being sued by a Ukrainian model, who claims she was 'brutally' restrained by the official.

Sawa Pontyjska says she has also filed a legal complaint against organisers of The Cannes Film Festival because of the alleged assault.

Pontyjska, who is a presenter for FashionTV, told BBC News she was trying to enter the premiere of the French film Marcello Mio with a legitimate ticket when she was restrained.

This is the same premiere that Kelly Rowland was attending when she engaged in a spat with the staffer.

Documents posted by the model reveal that she has accused staff of 'physical assault and psychological damage,' as well as harm to her reputation, and is seeking 100,000 euros (85,000) in damages.

Sawa Pontyjska says she has filed a legal complaint against organisers of The Cannes Film Festival because of the alleged assault

In the video, the model is seen at the top of the stairs to the Palais des Festivals, with the infamous guard putting her arms around her

Pontyjska posted a video of the altercation to her TikTok page on May 21 and it has already racked up more than 16 million views.

In the video, the model is seen at the top of the stairs to the Palais des Festivals, with the infamous guard putting her arms around her.

There is a struggle between the two as the staff member is seemingly trying to usher her inside, but the model is trying to escape her grasp.

Pontyjska pulled away and dropped to the ground before trying to walk away, back down the steps.

However, she was met with more security guards and taken inside the building.

She told BBC News: 'I was trying to escape from this lock. I went down and I started to run away on the stairs because it was the way back [out].

'She was trying to push me in[side], so nobody can see what she's doing with me. Then she kicked me out through the back door.'

The model added that she had a ticket like everyone else and was not doing anything wrong.

There is a struggle between the two as the staff member is seemingly trying to usher her inside, but the model is trying to escape her grasp

In her legal complaint, she says she was 'violently challenged' in front of 'thousands of people,' causing her 'acute pain' and 'psychological trauma'

The now notorious security guard's first viral run in was with Rowland, who had been attending the same premiere

She claims she has since attempted to contact organisers to request an apology but is yet to receive a response.

In her legal complaint, she says she was 'violently challenged' in front of 'thousands of people,' causing her 'acute pain' and 'psychological trauma'.

The now notorious security guard's first viral run-in was with Rowland, who had been attending the same premiere.

As Kelly made her way up the famous steps, she appeared to engage in a verbal dispute with a member of security after she held up her arm to guide her into the venue.

Footage from the altercation shows a furious Kelly visibly scolding the staff member as she held up her finger to admonish the woman in front of the crowd in attendance.

The security guard appeared to frantically respond to Kelly, who even turned back to continue her tirade as she made her way up the rest of the steps.

Kelly has since spoken out about the incident and claimed there were other women who did not look like her that were treated differently and insisted she was just standing her ground.

'The woman knows what happened. I know what happened,' she said. 'And, I have a boundary. And I stand by those boundaries and that is it.'

'There were other women who attended that carpet, who did not quite look like me, and they didnt get scolded or pushed off or told to get off.'

Just days later, another ugly spat broke out involving the same member of staff and Dominican actress Massiel Taveras

Taveras was attempting to unfurl a Jesus-themed dress on the red carpet, but struggled to untangle it and grew irate at the staffer

Just days later, another ugly spat broke out involving the same member of staff and Dominican actress Massiel Taveras.

The star was on the red carpet last weekend, preparing to unfurl a huge gown with a depiction of Jesus on it, but appeared surprised to be stopped by the security guard.

Footage of the spat showed the actress being stopped by the female security guard who was sticking out her arm.

As other staffers helped lay out the dress while Taveras waved to fans, she grew angry as the security guard kept her arm out in front of her posing.

The two exchanged a few words on the red carpet as staff pulled the train up the stairs before Taveras took the end of the dress from another guard and threw it to the floor in frustration.

The female security guard kept her arm close to Taveras as she escorted her up the stairs, although it is unclear what the reason was for the guard to tail her so closely.

When she reached the top of the stairs, Taveras - who was previously crowned Miss Dominican Republic and competed at Miss Universe - struggled to unfurl the train of her dress.

This led her to berate the security guard when she tried to step in, throwing her arms up in frustration.

Most recently, the usher once again come under fire for 'disrespecting' Korean actress YoonA by blocking her red carpet photos

After the dress finally disentangled, Taveras waved to her fans - but the female security guard kept her arm across the actress, and appeared to jostle her towards the entrance.

That move sparked an angry reaction from Taveras as she shoved the security guard away from her, before sticking up her finger and scowling at her.

Most recently, the usher once again came under fire for 'disrespecting' Korean actress YoonA by blocking her red carpet photos.

The K-pop star-turned-actress, 33, was preparing to pose for pictures on the iconic red stairs when she was stopped by the security guard.

Although the actress didnt express her anger outwardly, her facial expression looked visibly annoyed and uncomfortable as she was rushed off the stairs by the female staffer.

The usher has not been publicly identified, but she is known to be a local Frenchwoman on a short-term contract with the week-long Festival.

Following the Kelly Rowland spat, colleagues of the security guard at the center of the Cannes spotlight insisted to DailyMail.com that she was acting appropriately and was 'only doing her job.'

'She was an usher working under a lot of pressure to keep people on the carpet moving, so as to stop crowds building up,' said a Festival staff veteran, who has been working in the resort every May for 20 years.

'There was no pushing or shoving, or scolding,' he said. 'Security and safety are the priorities, along with keeping to strict timetables set according to contracts  even the celebrities have to stick to the rules.

'Lots of ushers are involved, and they always act professionally and with politeness.

'In this case, the usher was certainly only doing her job  she didn't do anything wrong.'

According to the BBC, festival organisers have not responded to requests for comment.
A property billionaire is planning to dive more than 12,000ft underwater in a custom-made submarine to prove underwater exploration is safe - almost a year on from the Titan disaster that killed five doing the same thing,

Larry Connor, 74, is reportedly so undeterred by the OceanGate disaster last June that he was on the phone to a rival firm days after it happened asking it to build a better submersible.

Mr Connor, a NASA-certified private astronaut, has no fears about the Triton 4000 submarine he will share with its manufacturer's co-founder, Patrick Lahey despite last year's tragedy, which counted three British citizens among the dead.

The newly designed underwater exploration vehicle reportedly costs a cool 15million - and will have presumably overcome the presumed flaws that saw the OceanGate Titan implode before it reached the ill-fated liner.

Businessman Mr Connor is no stranger to chasing adrenaline: he competed in the 2004 24 Hours of Le Mans endurance race, is a private pilot involved in aerobatic competitions and an experienced submariner.

Ohio real-estate investor and businessman, Larry Connor (left) says he is signed up for an expedition to the Titanic. He is pictured with Triton Submarines boss Patrick Lahey after they travelled to more than 20,000ft beneath the ocean surface in another Triton sub

Thrillseeker Larry Connor is no stranger to risk - he is a private pilot, racing driver and an astronaut (pictured: his Axiom Space portrait)

They will use the Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer to explore the ocean depths. It was used to film the BBC's Blue Planet series

The bow of the Titanic. The infamous ocean liner has sat in the Atlantic Ocean for 112 years since striking an iceberg

The announcement of the voyage comes less than a year after the OceanGate Titan (pictured) imploded in the ocean as it dove to the Titanic, killing all on board

Triton clients have already made various dives this year, from exploring the Mariana Trench, the Great Barrier Reef, and the Arctic Ocean (Pictured: a Triton 660 AVA sub)

But as for when he and Mr Lahey will dive to see the Titanic, there is no date in sight.

The Triton 4000/2 Abyssal Explorer - so named for the depth in metres (13,100ft) it will be capable of diving to - will only be deployed once its manufacturers are certain it can withstand the extreme pressure at such a depth.

'While the ocean is extremely powerful, it can be wonderful and enjoyable and really kind of life-changing if you go about it the right way,' he told the Wall Street Journal.

'Patrick has been thinking about and designing this for over a decade. But we didnt have the materials and technology. You couldnt have built this sub five years ago.'

Triton - and Mr Connor - do have experience in commissioning submarines capable of withstanding the extreme conditions of the world's ocean depths.

Its experimental Triton 36000/2 sub took him to one of the deepest known points of ocean in the world, the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean. He dived to depths below 20,000 feet three times in five days in April 2021.

There is wariness, however, about the new vessel after the OceanGate disaster last June which killed the firm's chief executive, 61-year-old Stockton Rush, and four others.

British-Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood, 48, and his son Suleman, 19, British businessman Hamish Harding, 58, and Paul-Henry Nargeolet, 77, a former French navy diver were all killed.

Oceangate's Titan was only safely certified for 1,300 metres (4,300ft), far short of where it needed to be to reach the Titanic wreck. The company had insisted the vessel was capable of deeper dives.

The implosion was so sudden and violent that experts have concluded those inside would have died quicker than their brains could process what was happening.

Rush was known for his cavalier approach to submersibles - the Titan was controlled with a modified Logitech game controller that was designed to be used for playing PC games - and investigations are ongoing into the disaster.

Rush, prior to his death, dismissed concerns about safety standards on the Titan as 'baseless cries', reports the BBC, and once told a podcast of his approach to protective measures: 'At some point, safety is just pure waste.'

British explorer Hamish Harding was among those killed in the 'catastrophic implosion' on the Oceangate Titan submarine

French Navy veteran PH Nargeolet (left) was in the sub along with Stockton Rush (right), CEO of the OceanGate Expedition

Shahzada Dawood (right) and his son Suleman (left) were killed in the Oceangate disaster

Triton, meanwhile, says its subs have an 'unblemished safety record' and are rigorously tested to international safety standards.

And both the company, and the Triton 4000/2, have a strong CV. The BBC used Triton subs of the same type Larry Connor hopes to use when filming underwater wildlife documentary series Blue Planet.

'As a platform, the Triton Abyssal Explorers capabilities are simply unmatched,' reads a description on the Triton website.

The firm's marketing director Sophie Bentham-Wood previously told the Mail: 'Everyone realizes the deep ocean is no place for compromise  therefore, the need for programs to solely employ submersibles with full classification certification in their operations is not an option, but a prerequisite.'

Mr Lahey, who has more than four decades of experience in underwater exploration, previously described Stockton Rush's appetite for high-profile travellers on his submarines as 'quite predatory' in an interview with The Times.

And the risks associated with underwater exploration carry personal heft for him: he was close friends with Paul-Henry Nargeolet, killed on the Titan.

Paying tribute to Nargeolet, a close friend he called 'PH', Mr Lahey added: 'Its a terribly sad thing that his life ended that way but PH knew the risks. I told him in very candid terms why he shouldnt be out there. He understood.

'I believe PH thought in some way that by being out there he could help these guys avoid a tragedy but instead he ended up in the middle of one.'
Hillary Clinton appeared triumphant as she delivered a not-so-subtle response to her former political rival Donald Trump being found guilty in a criminal trial.

'Anything going on today?' she said with a wry smile as she took to the podium at the Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards in Washington DC, shortly after the jury reached its verdict in Trump's hush money trial.

Her audience immediately responded with applause and laughter as they caught her apparent reference to the trial in Manhattan, with Clinton assuring them: 'Well, I have to tell you, there's nowhere I'd rather be than right here.'

Dubbed 'Crooked Hillary' by Trump throughout his 2016 election campaign, the former Democrat candidate is likely feeling vindicated after Trump became the first ex-President to be convicted of a crime in US history.

After the jury delivered its verdict, a smug Clinton took to Instagram to poke fun at her former opponent - sharing a picture of some merch emblazoned with the slogan 'turns out she was right about everything'.

Hillary Clinton appeared triumphant as she responded to her former political rival Donald Trump being found guilty in a criminal trial

The white mug depicts a cartoon Clinton sipping some tea, with the former Secretary of State explaining in the caption: 'We recently had some new merch made based on a phrase I hear a lot. The design happened to be finalized today.'

Clinton advertised the ceramic cup, which retails for $22.00, as 'a pretty great mug to sip tea from'.

She promoted it to followers saying that proceeds from its sale would go towards 'defending democracy' through her non-profit organization Onward Together.

The former First Lady founded the political action group after losing out to GOP candidate Trump in the 2016 election.

During campaign rallies, Trump called Clinton 'guilty as hell' and his supporters chanted 'lock her up' after she was embroiled in a political scandal about using a private email server for classified emails.

After a years-long FBI investigation, it was determined that her server did not contain any information or emails that were clearly marked classified, though many were later designated as such retrospectively.

Trump, who is now running for the presidency a third time, has also been pushing his merch, with fundraising efforts going into overdrive after his guilty verdict was delivered yesterday.

Republican Trump and Democrat Clinton were rivals in the 2016 presidential election

Clinton had a wry smile as she commented on the verdict at the start of her speech to the Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards

After the verdict came through, aides reported an immediate rush of contributions so intense that WinRed, the platform the campaign uses for fundraising, crashed.

The campaign began selling black 'Make America Great Again' caps to reflect a 'dark day in history.'

Speaking outside the courthouse after the verdict was delivered, Trump declared: 'I'm a very innocent man and it's okay, I'm fighting for our country. I'm fighting for our constitution.

'Our whole country is being rigged right now. This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent.

'I think it's just a disgrace. We'll keep fighting, we'll fight to the end and we'll win.

'There's only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box. Donate to our campaign today,' Biden said on social media after the verdict.

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump reacts as the verdict is read in his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, at Manhattan state court in New York City, U.S. May 30, 2024 in this courtroom sketch

While Democrats are celebrating the guilty verdict, major Republican donors have rallied behind Trump, pledging millions of dollars to support the first convicted felon running for US president.

Many conservative donors already viewed the New York case, which Trump accused of falsifying business records to conceal a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, as political persecution.

Supporters echoed Trump's claim that the trial was designed to weaken him ahead of the November 5 election against President Biden - claims prosecutors have dismissed as untrue.
Detectives may face another hurdle in their investigation into the disappearance of Samantha Murphy if her loved ones don't know her iPhone passcode.

The mother-of-three's phone was found on Thursday near Slaughterhouse Road, south of Buninyong, near Ballarat in Victoria.

The 51-year-old vanished without a trace on the morning of February 4 when she left her home for a run in Ballarat East.

While her remains have not been found, the recovery of her phone has been seen as a major milestone in the investigation, with detectives seen hugging and cheering after it was located covered in mud beside a dam.

Even if the phone has been damaged in the four months since Ms Murphy was last seen, the data will reportedly still be accessible.

But investigators may face trouble accessing the phone if nobody can provide the right passcode.

Detectives may face another hurdle in their investigation into the disappearance of Samantha Murphy if her loved ones don't know her iPhone passcode

The phone of the mother-of-three was found on Thursday near Slaughterhouse Road, south of Buninyong, near Ballarat in Victoria

According to Apple: 'Devices locked with a passcode are protected by passcode encryption, and Apple can't help remove the passcode lock without erasing the device.

'For security, Apple requires and verifies legal documentation before we can assist with a deceased person's account.

'This generally includes a death certificate, and may also require a court order or other documentation. The requirements vary by country and region.'

Her phone may be able to provide medical data from the time of her disappearance.

It comes after Ms Murphy's husband Mick said he instantly knew the phone belonged to his wife.

Mick Murphy (pictured in April) says he instantly recognised an iPhone found beside a dam as belonging to his missing wife Samantha, who is believed to be dead

Police called Mr Murphy moments after the iPhone was discovered.

Mr Murphy told 9News he immediately knew it was his wife's.

The phone was found beside a dam 5km from the phone tower where the device last pinged before falling silent.

The device is believed to have been found by a police tech detector dog.

In a statement issued shortly after the mobile phone was found, police said they had located some 'items of interest' during the search for the missing mum.

The phone, along with other items found in the search, underwent forensic testing with sources confirming to the device belonged to Ms Murphy.

Samantha Murphy (pictured with her husband Mick) vanished without a trace after she left her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East, Victoria, on the morning of February 4

The breakthrough sparked hushed celebrations between investigators, who were seen quietly high-fiving, hugging and shaking hands (pictured)

Officers located the mud-splattered mobile phone in a wallet at the water's edge of a dam at a property south of Buninyong, approximately 14km from Ms Murphy's home

The owner of the property near the dam, who wished to remain anonymous, said police contacted him about three weeks ago asking for permission to access his land.

The man said officers returned on Wednesday where they told him they were going to perform a line search along the road.

'A dog found something on the banks and they came up and asked me and my wife to make a statement,' he said.

The man said police were interested in the levels of his dam.

'I haven't seen anything suspicious out there. We don't have cameras. But yeah I believe one of those tech dogs found it,' he said.

The man said detectives came and spoke to him about a month after Ms Murphy vanished, but only returned again in recent weeks.

'They just asked me if I'd seen anything suspicious,' he said.

Daily Mail Australia understands police are still searching for Ms Murphy's missing watch and headphones, or a possible murder weapon (pictured, a map of previous search areas)

Daily Mail Australia understands police are still searching for Ms Murphy's missing watch and headphones, or a possible murder weapon.

In early March, almost five weeks after Ms Murphy's disappearance, local man Patrick Orren Stephenson, 22, was charged with her alleged murder.

Police allege Stephenson 'deliberately attacked' Ms Murphy in Mount Clear, about 7km into her run on a route she had done 'countless' times.

Stephenson, who has no connection to the Murphy family, was charged with murdering the mother-of-three on March 7.

He is yet to enter a plea and will next front court on August 8.
A knifeman stabbed a well-known Islam critic, a police officer and several bystanders at an anti-Islam rally in Germany amid a frenzied attack that was livestreamed on YouTube this morning.

The shocking spree unfolded in Mannheim city centre where anti-Islam campaigner Michael Stuerzenberger was speaking at an event of the Citizens' Movement Pax Europa (BPE) - a group that advocates against the 'Islamisation' of Europe.

Chaos broke out at the event when a man dressed in a dark hooded jacket, green shirt and tracksuit bottoms tackled Stuerzenberger to the ground and violently swung a large blade at him, prompting terrified screams from onlookers.

Other BPE members sprinted over and tried to drag the knifeman away, but the would-be killer wriggled free and dove on top of the bloodied victim to plunge the weapon in for a second time.

Police descended on the scene almost immediately - but not before the attacker had left two people lying on the floor, blood pooling on the cobblestones.

One officer then made a potentially fatal mistake.

Amid the confusion, he waded in and jumped on one of the victims, seemingly having mistaken him for the aggressor.

This misread of the situation gave the bloodthirsty attacker a chance to circle behind and ram his blade into the policeman's neck.

Chaos broke out at the event when a man dressed in a dark hooded jacket and tracksuit tackled a BPE member to the ground and began violently swinging a large blade at him

The bespectacled and bearded attacker is clearly seen holding a blade several inches long

The shocking spree unfolded in the city of Mannheim where anti-Islamist campaigner Michael Stuerzenberger was speaking at an event of the Citizens' Movement Pax Europa (BPE). Stuerzenberger is seen in an Instagram post linking to the YouTube livestream moments before the attack

The man believed to be Stuerzenberger (right) tumbles to the ground following the initial attack as other BPE members push the knifeman away

But the attacker broke free and turned his blade on other bystanders, including a police officer

Blood smears are seen on the floor as the knifeman rounds on another victim

The savage blade is clearly seen in this grab from the YouTube live stream

His colleagues were heard screaming 'throw the knife away!' - but with the knifeman not responding to any orders the officers opened fire from near point blank range and sent him crashing to the ground.

The attacker and his victims were rushed to hospital, while the shocking incident was quickly labelled a terror attack by the BPE.

Stefanie Kizina, treasurer of the BPE, told BILD: 'This was not an attack, but an act of terror. The attack happened before the event even started, it must have been planned well in advance.

'Criticism of religion must be allowed, it is a core element of the European Enlightenment!'

The horrific attack was captured in its entirety by a cameraman who was livestreaming the event on the BPE's YouTube page.

The stream was quickly taken down but it concluded with paramedics arriving on scene to administer vital first aid to at least three victims who had collapsed to the floor.

Mannheim Police offered a brief statement online in the wake of the attack but gave no information on the condition of the victims.

'There is currently a major police operation on the market square in Mannheim. A rescue helicopter is also in use. No further information can be given at this time,' the statement read.

Forensic investigators are deployed to the scene in Mannheim market square

The aftermath of the stabbing is seen in Mannheim

The knifeman did not respond to officers' orders and was shot at near point-blank range

It was evident well before the attack that Stuerzenberger, 59, was aware violence could break out.

Speaking at the rally on livestream before he was set upon by his attacker, the activist was heard explaining how the event would 'de-escalate' if there was a prospect things could turn violent.

Stuerzenberger been assaulted at previous rallies, most notably in 2022 when he was punched in the face by an enraged Muslim in the city of Bonn.

'We want to first see if we can manage a sensible discussion as always, of course we will de-escalate if it gets heated.

'There was a staunch Muslim there earlier who was pretty agitated and he shouted, ''you don't belong here you are worse than the AfD''...

'We still have democracy here, we have freedom we have our basic laws, our values and that is what we have to defend,' he said, referencing the professed desire of some hardline Islamic groups in Germany who have advocated for the introduction of Sharia law in their districts.

Islam and immigration have become contentious issues in Germany in recent months, particularly amid the rising popularity of right-wing political entities, primarily the 'Alternative for Germany' (AfD) party.

Bystanders attempt to drag the knifeman away. One of his victims is seen with wounds to his thigh

A bystander attends to one of the knifeman's victims

Police officers flooded the scene checking on the victims and the attacker who was shot and collapsed to the ground

Debris is seen piled around the scene of the crime

View of the crime scene after a knife attack in the city centre in Mannheim, Germany, 31 May 2024

Germany has been a major destination for refugees, especially since 2015 when Chancellor Angela Merkel - who famously declared in 2017 that Islam was 'not the source of terrorism' - opened the country's borders to over a million asylum seekers.

The move was highly divisive, praised by many liberal commentators as a morally just, humanitarian policy but slammed as dangerous and short-sighted by more conservative mouthpieces.

It also fuelled the growth of anti-immigration groups like the BPE, which was founded in 2008, and Pegida, an organisation founded in Dresden in 2014 to protest what its members saw as the failure of government to counter the arrival and influence of Islam in Germany.

But the influx of migrants and a rise in the number of incidents involving refugees have triggered more intense debate as of late.

The AfD has capitalised on these concerns and made anti-Islam and anti-immigration messages the cornerstone of its campaigns.

In 2017, the party's founder, Alexander Gauland, explicitly vowed to fight an 'invasion of foreigners' and was lambasted by more centrist and leftist commentators.

But the party's popularity has grown rapidly - the AfD enjoyed significant success in Germany's state elections in October, winning its biggest-ever share of votes in the powerful state of Hesse and gaining a significant portion of votes in Bavaria.

View of the crime scene after a knife attack in the city centre in Mannheim, Germany, 31 May 2024. According to the police, a man attacked a well-known critic of Islam in the centre of Mannheim

View of the crime scene after a knife attack in the city centre in Mannheim, Germany, 31 May 2024

Islam is currently the second largest religion in Germany after Christianity, with between 3 million and 4.7 million adherents according to most estimates.

In 2017, Pew Research Centre predicted that as much as 20 per cent of the population in Germany could be Muslim by 2050 if immigration continues apace.

Changing demographics and the introduction of new values has been a source of anxiety for some living in Germany. A study by the Criminal Research Institute of Lower Saxony found that 67.8 per cent of surveyed students believe that the Qur'an is 'more important' than the laws in Germany.

Nearly half of them (45.6 per cent) think that 'Islamic Theocracy is the best form of government'.

And more than a third (35.3 per cent) said that they can understand violence against people who insult Allah or the prophet Mohammed.
This is the moment a cocaine baron who was one of the UK's most wanted fugitives was brought to justice for executing a music boss in a drive-by shooting.

Nana Oppong, 43, has been jailed for at least 38 years today for the brutal murder of Robert Powell.

The father-of-three was shot eight times - in front of his two adult sons - as he left a party in the early hours of June 13, 2020, outside Hills House in Roydon, Essex.

Also known as Fox, the 50-year-old was the manager of UK rapper Dutchavelli who had a top ten hit with Stormzy.

Two female bystanders, who were also caught in the crossfire, were injured and taken to hospital, according to Essex Police.

Described by a judge as an 'extraordinarily dangerous man', Oppong fled the UK after the vicious and planned hit. He was later found hiding in the back of a lorry heading to Morocco in September 2022.

Oppong was then extradited back to the UK to stand trial for his crimes alongside his accomplice Shah, 40, last June. His co-conspirator, Israar Shah had previously escaped to Spain.

Before they took the manager's life, Oppong and Shah lay in wait as they prepared to release a shower of bullets on Powell. Among the vehicles involved in the calculated attacked was a Ford Kuga fitted with cloned number plates.

Nana Oppong, 43, one of the UK's most wanted fugitives - has been jailed for at least 38 years today for the brutal murder of Robert Powell

He gunned down father-of-three and music boss Robert Powell (pictured) as he left a party in the early hours of June 13, 2020, with his two adult sons

A Prius, driven by Shah circled the private function several times, acting as a lookout for Mr Powell prior to the hit.

A Vauxhall Zafira also appeared to be driving in convoy with the Prius both to and from the crime scene after the calculated attack occurred. After rushing away from the scene of the crime, both the Kuga and Zafira were transported to an industrial estate in Epping.

The court heard Oppong was trying to locate Powell several weeks prior to launching his attack.

Described by the prosecution as a 'high-level drug dealer who is familiar with guns and violence,' Oppong regularly communicated his plans via an Encrochat device.

'So how do we plan to do this if you intent to do this? I'm sick of the acting bro. It's f- annoying,' one message read.

The killer and his team decided against killing Powell at an outdoor block party in Beckton, east London due to police presence.

Oppong, along with Israar Shah, 40, were convicted of murdering Mr Powell at Woolwich Crown Court.

Mr Justice Bennathan believed it was likely Oppong was the gunman while he described Shah as a 'useful idiot'. As he passed the sentence, he told Oppong: 'You are an extraordinarily dangerous man. You were living a wealthy lifestyle on the back of other's misery through the supply of drugs. In 2010 a friend of yours shot two men dead and you being present at the scene lied to protect the murderer.'

Oppong orchestrated the vicious hit, with his accomplice Israah Shah circling in Prius outside the private function - acting as a lookout

The Prius, Vauxhall Zafira and Ford Kuga were all involved in the crime, with two of the vehicles being transported to a nearby industrial estate in Epping following the shooting

Oppong, of Stratford, East London and Shah, of Brentwood, Essex, denied but were convicted of murder and possession of a weapon with intent to endanger life

Oppong also denied but was convicted of wounding with intent, in relation to a female bystander, and possession of a prohibited weapon.

He earlier admitted conspiracy to supply class A drugs, namely five kilos of cocaine, between 13 March 2020 and 12 June 2020.

Oppong was previously accused of organising the murders of Eugene Brown, 27, and Patrick Ford, 36, at his own 30th birthday party at the Sugar Lounge in Forest Gate in 2010.

But he walked free after two Old Bailey juries failed to decide whether he was involved in the shootings.

Oppong denied but were convicted of murder and possession of a weapon with intent to endanger life - he will serve a minimum of 38 years behind bars

Israar Shah, of Brentwood, Essex (pictured)also denied but was served a life sentence with a minimum of 26 years

He was accused of stabbing Ashley Latty, 25, to death at a private party in Dagenham, east London, in May 2014.

Mr Latty was knifed in the chest, back and heart when Oppong's gang attacked him with 'venomous, hate-fuelled force'.

Oppong, was cleared of murdering Mr Latty, 25, but convicted of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm for his role in the attack and jailed for four years in 2015.

Oppong received a minimum sentence of 38 years, whilst Shah was handed a life sentence and will serve a minimum of 26 years behind bars.

The two killers showed no trace of emotion as they were led from the dock.
Scotland's police chief has been accused of 'virtue-signalling nonsense' after apologising to the LGBTQI+ community for enforcing laws which 'criminalised love'.

Chief Constable Jo Farrell said she was sorry for 'recent and historical injustices' suffered by 'lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, and intersex' people.

In social media posts, she said she was 'sorry for the serious and long-lasting physical and mental pain and harm caused' by policing which 'contributed to mistreatment and prejudice'.

Police Scotland chief constable Jo Farrell has been accused of 'virtue-signalling nonsense'

But former senior officers accused Ms Farrell of engaging in a bizarre publicity stunt and said her apology had 'further alienated officers and staff'.

In a clip posted on Facebook and social media platform X, Ms Farrell said: 'I want people from all communities to see policing as a potential career.

'It is a matter of deep regret that these principles, over a period of decades, have not always applied to the LGBTQI+ community.

'As Chief Constable, I apologise for the injustices and discrimination that members of the LGBTQI+ community in Scotland have faced.' Ms Farrell added: 'Laws which criminalised love and identity were wrong. Policing must recognise and reflect upon our role in enforcing them.'

Her comments come after former chief constable Sir Iain Livingstone said Police Scotland was institutionally racist and discriminatory  a view backed by Ms Farrell when she replaced him.

Members of the public called Ms Farrell's apology an 'absolute joke' and 'pathetic'.

Commenting on Facebook, former chief superintendent Dave Marshall dismissed the apology as 'predictable virtue-signalling nonsense from a poorly performing Chief Constable'. He later told the Mail: 'Rather than engaging in this type of hollow virtue-signalling, the Chief Constable should focus on making Scotland's communities safe from crime and anti-social behaviour.'

Martin Gallagher, a former superintendent with Police Scotland, said: 'I am at a loss to understand the timing of this apology or what the content was expected to achieve.'

Writing on X, Roddy Dunlop, dean of the Faculty of Advocates, said the Chief Constable was 'apologising for past laws', adding: 'The duty of the police is and always has been to enforce the law  not to question or apologise for it.'

Last December, a watchdog disclosed that potential police recruits had withdrawn their job applications after Sir Iain's claims.

Craig Naylor, His Majesty's Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland, said Sir Iain's statement had left many officers feeling 'disenchanted'.
Alexandra Allee Zammit Green

An 11-year-old girl has been missing for 24 hours, with police appealing for help finding her.

Alexandra Allee Zammit Green was last seen at a home on Glebe Street in Glebe in Sydney's inner west at about 10pm on Thursday.

Her family reported her missing and are concerned for her welfare.

Allee is white, about 150cm tall and is thin. She has brown hair that is often worn in a bun and has brown eyes.

She was last seen wearing a black shirt with pink and white chequered pyjama pants.

Allee is known to frequent the Glebe and Sydney CBD areas.

Anyone with information into her whereabouts is urged to call police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
The intended targets of a botched gangland hit in east London have told of their heartache that an 11-year-old girl was caught in the crossfire.

Three alleged members of a notorious Turkish criminal gang were injured in an horrific drive-by shooting in Hackney on Wednesday night.

The men  part of the London-based Bombacilar [Bombers] mob  suffered superficial flesh wounds, including shots to the shoulder and legs.

One of the victims is understood have been recently released from jail and was wearing an electronic tag on his leg as part of the terms of his probation.

But the gangsters, who are well-known among the Turkish community in Hackney, have told of their grief and shame that an innocent schoolgirl was hit by a stray bullet and is now fighting for her life in hospital.

Members of a notorious 'Turkish crime gang' were the intended victims of Wednesday's drive by shooting in Hackney on Wednesday night

The criminals were sitting at a table outside the Evin restaurant on Kingsland High Street

The gunman, who was on a stolen motorbike, sprayed the front of the restaurant with bullets - at least one of which hit the innocent girl who was having dinner inside with her family

The men who were the intended target are tough men, gangsters, the owner of one Turkish cafe told MailOnline.

They are well-known around here.

Each one of them knows the nature of their business and that it is dangerous. I suppose you could say that they expect violence.

But they do not expect innocent people to become caught up in their business, especially not children.

I have spoken to the men and they are very upset about what happened to the little girl.

CCTV footage captured the moment of the attack, showing the motorbike slowdown before the rider opens fire

The motorbike was abandoned on Colvestone Crescent in Dalston

They feel a mixture of grief and shame that she has been hurt because of their business.

The botched assassination was allegedly ordered by a rival criminal gang known as the Tottenham Turks.

The two groups have been engaged in a bitter turf war for more than 20 years over control of Londons lucrative heroin trade, it is understood.

Turkish gangs have been fighting each other here in London for more than 20 years and the police have done nothing to stop it, a customer at another Turkish cafe told MailOnline.

The police seem to be happy to turn a blind eye to this violence as long it is only between the two gangs.

But now that a young girl has been caught up in the violence I suppose the police are going to be forced to do something about it.
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - The World Bank has approved new funding to help Kenya address short-term fiscal pressures and simultaneously accelerate a more prosperous, green, and inclusive future
King Charles and Queen Camilla made a surprise appearance at Epsom Downs Racecourse today to watch a horse bred by Queen Elizabeth II in a 500,000 race.

The monarch and his wife prepared to cheer on Treasure in the Betfred Oaks at 4.30pm, rated eighth favourite by bookmakers at odds between 18/1 and 26/1.

They attended Epsom's Ladies Day as fellow racegoers looked forward to seeing a royal runner bid for Classic glory after Treasure was declared for the Group 1 Oaks.

The prize money for today's race totals 541,035 for the top six positions out of the 12 runners. A first prize of 311,905 will go to the winner - then 118,250 for second, 59,180 for third, 29,480 for fourth, 14,795 for fifth and 7,425 for sixth.

The owner normally receives about 75 per cent of a race's prize money, while the remaining 25 per cent is generally split between the trainer (10 per cent), the jockey (10 per cent) and then the final 5 per cent to stable staff and racing charities.

Also today, Charles and Camilla presented a trophy after the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup, a race they watched from the stands which was won by 9-4 chance Luxembourg ridden by Ryan Moore, with 7-4 shot Emily Upjohn finishing fourth.

Treasure was bred by Elizabeth II and is a daughter of stallion Masterscraftsman and Shimmering Light, which was placed for the late monarch in two races in 2017.

Trainer Ralph Beckett said they 'decided to have a go at the Oaks as the ground should be in her favour', adding that he had been 'very pleased with her progress'.

King Charles and Camilla watch the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Epsom Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

King Charles and Queen Camilla prepare to present the trophy to Luxembourg ridden by Ryan Moore after they won the 3/10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom this afternoon. Pictured left is Holland Cooper's founder and managing director, Jade Holland Cooper

King Charles waves to the crowds during his appearance at Epsom Downs Racecourse today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the trophy to jockey Ryan Moore after he won the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup with Luxembourg on Ladies Day at Epsom Racecourse today

King Charles and Camilla watch the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles arrives at Epsom Downs Racecourse this afternoon for Ladies Day

King Charles and Queen Camilla prepare to present the trophy to Luxembourg ridden by Ryan Moore after they won the 3/10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom this afternoon

King Charles and Camilla watch the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Epsom Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

King Charles and Camilla watch the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles arrives at Epsom Downs Racecourse this afternoon for Ladies Day

The Jockey Club director Sandy Dudgeon with King Charles III at Epsom this afternoon

Queen Camilla arrives at Epsom Racecourse with Charles this afternoon on Ladies Day

King Charles and Camilla watch the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles arrives at Epsom Downs Racecourse this afternoon for Ladies Day

King Charles and Camilla watch the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles arrives at Epsom Downs Racecourse this afternoon for Ladies Day

King Charles and Camilla watch the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles III smiles after the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom this afternoon

King Charles and Camilla watch the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

Treasure on the way to winning on her racecourse debut at Nottingham on October 18, 2023

The King and Queen have arrived at @EpsomRacecourse to watch their horse, Treasure, who was bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II, race in the Classic #BetfredOaks pic.twitter.com/nPhS80Py78  Lizzie Robinson (@LizzieITV) May 31, 2024

The handler also described Charles, 75, and Camilla, 76, as 'such enthusiastic owners and it is great to be training such a nice filly for them who is running in a Classic'.

The race set off after a rendition of the national anthem, which was sang as the King and Queen watched on.

The King's horse Treasure started off strong, settling in third position and standing out from the all brown pack in grey.

But he struggled to keep up with a strong pack and finished in eleventh place.

Elizabeth II landed five Classics in all, with Carrrozza her first Epsom Oaks heroine in 1957 before Dunfermline in 1977.

Dunfermline was the last to carry the royal colours to victory in a British Classic.

The horse won not only the Epsom Oaks but also the St Leger at Doncaster in what was Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee year.

Charles and Camilla enjoyed a memorable first Flat season last year, with Desert Hero winning at Royal Ascot before finishing third in the St Leger.

Treasure won on her racecourse debut at Nottingham in October last year before finishing fourth behind stablemate You Got To Me in the Lingfield Oaks Trial on her reappearance three weeks ago.

King Charles and Camilla watch the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the trophy to jockey Ryan Moore after he won the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup with Luxembourg on Ladies Day at Epsom Racecourse today

The Jockey Club director Sandy Dudgeon with King Charles III at Epsom this afternoon

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles waves to the crowds as he attends Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend the Derby Festival at Epsom Racecourse today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles watches on at Epsom Downs Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

King Charles waves to the crowds as he attends Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the presentation for the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup on Ladies Day at Epsom Racecourse today

King Charles arrives at Epsom Downs Racecourse this afternoon for Ladies Day

King Charles III smiles after the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom this afternoon

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Epsom Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the trophy to trainer Aidan O'Brien after Luxembourg won the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup on Ladies Day at Epsom today

King Charles III smiles after the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom this afternoon

King Charles and Camilla watch the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Epsom Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

King Charles III smiles after the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom this afternoon

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles III smiles after the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom this afternoon

King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the grandstand on Ladies Day at Epsom Downs today

King Charles arrives at Epsom Downs Racecourse this afternoon for Ladies Day

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the trophy to jockey Ryan Moore after he won the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup with Luxembourg on Ladies Day at Epsom Racecourse today

King Charles and Camilla watch the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles waves to the crowds as he attends Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey today

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Epsom Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the grandstand on Ladies Day at Epsom Downs today

King Charles III presents the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom Racecourse today

King Charles attends Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey today on Ladies Day

King Charles III presents the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom Racecourse today

King Charles and Camilla watch the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles attends Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey today on Ladies Day

King Charles arrives at Epsom Downs Racecourse this afternoon for Ladies Day

King Charles waves to the crowds as he attends Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey today

King Charles and Camilla watch the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

Mr Beckett was initially keen to wait until the Ribblesdale Stakes at Royal Ascot with Treasure.

But a subsequent change of heart means she will join You Got To Me and the first and third from the Cheshire Oaks, Forest Fairy and Seaward, to give him a formidable quartet as he goes in search of a third victory in the race.

'We had been thinking Treasure was more a filly for Royal Ascot this time last week, but with the way the ground is now at Epsom, we decided to have a go at the Oaks as the ground should be in her favour,' said the Kimpton Downs handler.

'I have been very pleased with her progress since her reappearance at Lingfield. The King and Queen are such enthusiastic owners and it is great to be training such a nice filly for them who is running in a Classic.'

Mr Beckett added: 'It will be very exciting to have a runner in a Classic for the King and the Queen.'

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Epsom Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles III smiles following the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom this afternoon

The Jockey Club director Sandy Dudgeon with King Charles III at Epsom this afternoon

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles attends Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey today on Ladies Day

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the grandstand on Ladies Day at Epsom Downs today

King Charles III smiles following the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom this afternoon

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles and Camilla watch the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles III smiles following the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom this afternoon

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Epsom Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles III smiles following the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom this afternoon

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the grandstand on Ladies Day at Epsom Downs today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles III smiles following the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom this afternoon

King Charles attends Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey today on Ladies Day

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the grandstand on Ladies Day at Epsom Downs today

King Charles III looking at the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom this afternoon

King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the grandstand on Ladies Day at Epsom Downs today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

Queen Camilla watches the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Epsom Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the grandstand on Ladies Day at Epsom Downs today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles attends Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey today on Ladies Day

King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the grandstand on Ladies Day at Epsom Downs today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla present the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup today

King Charles watches the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the grandstand on Ladies Day at Epsom Downs today

King Charles arrives at Epsom Downs Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the grandstand on Ladies Day at Epsom Downs today

King Charles and Camilla watch the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles attends Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey today on Ladies Day

King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the grandstand on Ladies Day at Epsom Downs today

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Epsom Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the grandstand on Ladies Day at Epsom Downs today

Queen Camilla arrives at Epsom Downs Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

King Charles III and Queen Camilla in the grandstand on Ladies Day at Epsom Downs today

King Charles and Camilla watch the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Epsom Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

King Charles III presents the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom this afternoon

King Charles arrives at Epsom Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

King Charles III presents the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom this afternoon

King Charles and Camilla watch the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Epsom Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

King Charles III smiles after the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom this afternoon

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Epsom Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

King Charles watches the 3.10pm Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom today

King Charles III smiles after the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup at Epsom this afternoon

King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Epsom Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

Queen Camilla arrives at Epsom Racecourse this afternoon on Ladies Day

John Warren, racing adviser for Charles and Camilla, is excited by the prospect of seeing the famous colours on show in the Oaks once more.

On the reasoning behind the decision to run at Epsom, he told Nick Luck's Daily Podcast: 'I think it was the piece of work she did on Saturday.

'Ralph had never discounted her completely out of the Oaks because luckily there is a decent gap between the Oaks and the Ribblesdale this year.

'It's three weeks or 20 days or whatever, so the plan was in principle to go there (Royal Ascot), but with Ralph having such a good form line with the lovely fillies that he has in his yard at the moment, he was sort of getting the impression that she was just becoming a late burn as it were.

'She's a big, rangy filly, who did well as a two-year-old to win on her only start in very deep ground. She didn't do it overly impressively, but did win well enough.

A racegoer on Ladies Day of the Betfred Derby Festival at Epsom Downs Racecourse today

A group of racegoers shelter under their umbrellas after they arrive at Epsom today

Racegoers arrive for Ladies Day at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey today as rain falls

Racegoers pose for a selfie on Ladies Day at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey this mornign

Hold onto your hats, ladies! Racegoers were left battling the windy weather at today's event

Glamorous guests showcase their fashion prowess at the racecourse in Surrey today

Armed police officers on Ladies Day at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey this morning

Two racegoers looked less than satisfied with the British weather as rain starts to fall in Surrey

Racegoers on Ladies Day of the Betfred Derby Festival at Epsom Downs Racecourse today

Glamorous racegoers don all their finery to descend on Epsom Racecourse this morning

Ladies Day is the chance for racegoers to show off their style and creative flair at Epsom today

Racegoers arriving for Ladies Day on the opening day of the Epsom Derby Festival today

Two women beam as they pose with their cans of drink at Epsom Downs in Surrey today

Two women pose with their hats during the Derby Festival at Epsom Downs Racecourse today

Racegoers arrive for Ladies Day at Epsom Downs Racecourse in Surrey today as rain falls

'This spring she has developed into a pretty imposing, impressive, physical. And as she started to mature in the spring, Ralph started talking about Oaks trials rather than novices or what have you so she's progressed really well.

'She's unexposed and is one we are very much looking forward to and in particular on that little piece of work she did. It was only over six furlongs, so what can you say in real terms? But she worked impressively enough on Saturday, so Ralph thought with three weeks before the Ribblesdale, why not give it a go?'

Warren feels underfoot conditions will suit Treasure, who will be ridden by James Doyle, but admitted to having doubts about whether her stamina will stand up to the test of the mile and a half.

He added: 'I think we've been looking forward to watching the weather forecast very closely because she won on heavy and her action would make you think that she will probably enjoy a bit of cut in the ground.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles watch at Epsom Downs Racecourse on June 2, 1993

Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales with Princess Anne at Epsom on June 4, 1986

Elizabeth II leading in her Epsom Oaks winner Carrozza with Lester Piggott on June 7, 1957

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles at the Epsom Derby with the Royal Family in 1979

'If you take the favourite (Ylang Ylang) out of it, who is very high-class, a lot of the remainder are not dissimilar to her in that they are young and unexposed horses who are just maturing and I guess there's always hope when you see something.

'She looked as if she was going to give them a good run for their money at Lingfield, but then just fell in a bit of a heap and I think she really needed that race.

'We're realistic to know that it's an open race and she's a 16-1 shot or whatever she is, but the biggest concern is whether she is a genuine stayer or not.

'In the 14 family members that make up her immediate family, only two in the third generation, Darshaan and Dubawi's dam, stayed a mile and a half at that level, so she's not particularly bred to be a proper galloper over a mile and a half.

'That was the only thing at Lingfield as when she looked busy she then just slightly tailed off a bit in the last 150 yards. Was it a matter of the complete fitness or was it a matter of not being a proper, genuine, staying mile-and-a-half filly?'
Bill O'Reilly has said president Joe Biden should pardon his son Hunter and Donald Trump in order to heal the nation.

The former Fox News star appeared on NewsNation's Cuomo on Thursday to discuss Trump's conviction in his New York hush money trial, and warned the verdict could bring 'violence.'

'President Biden should pardon Donald Trump of any and all crimes and suggest publicly that governor [Kathy] Hochul do the same thing,' O'Reilly told Chris Cuomo.

'And then  President Biden should pardon his son Hunter. That would throw the whole acrimonious system into absolute chaos.'

O'Reilly said that while Biden could 'bring down the level of hatred... he wont, because he doesnt have the "fiber" of Gerald Ford.'

Bill O'Reilly has said president Joe Biden should pardon Donald Trump and his son Hunter in order to heal the nation

President Ford famously pardoned his predecessor Richard Nixon in 1974 following his resignation from the White House.

The pundit then clarified there was no equivalency between the two legal cases: 'Im not measuring [Hunter] Biden against Trump. Im telling Biden whats best for the country.'

Hunter Biden currently faces federal charges for possessing a pistol for 11 days after lying about his drug use. He's also accused of evading $1.4 million in federal income taxes.

Aside from his conviction on Thursday, Trump is facing a federal trial in Florida over classified documents found in his home. He's also facing trials in DC and Georgia for trying to overturn the 2020 election.

O'Reilly also put the jury system into question, recalling how it worked for OJ Simpson in the infamous 1994 double murder trial.

'The jury system isn't infallible... they're human beings, they carry prejudices and bias into the court room,' he said.

Trump is facing a federal trial in Florida over classified documents found in his home. He's also facing trials in DC and Georgia for trying to overturn the 2020 election

Hunter Biden currently faces federal charges for possessing a pistol for 11 days after lying about his drug use. He's also accused of evading $1.4 million in federal income taxes

O'Reilly also went after Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, saying the case against Trump 'is not the Teapot Dome scandal. Its not Watergate. Its not even Monica Lewinsky and Bill Clinton.'

'We all know this is a low-level beef,' he added.

Trumps conviction on 34 felony counts marks the end of the former presidents historic hush money trial, but the fight over the case is far from over.

Now comes the sentencing and the potential for a prison sentence. A lengthy appellate process. And all the while, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee still has to deal with three more criminal cases and a campaign that could see him return to the White House.

After more than nine hours of deliberations over two days, the Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in the case stemming from a hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign.

The Biden campaign issued its own statement not long after the verdict. 'In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law,' communications director Michael Tyler said

Trump angrily denounced the trial as a 'disgrace,' telling reporters hes an 'innocent man.'

The Biden campaign issued its own statement not long after the verdict.

'In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law,' communications director Michael Tyler said.

'Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain.

'But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box.

'Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.'

By contrast, the White House kept its distance: 'We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment.'

Former President Donald Trump and his attorney Todd Blanche (right) exit the courthouse

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg thanked the jury of 12 who convicted Donald Trump, crediting his team of prosecutors while refusing to say whether he would seek prison time for the former president who has relentlessly attacked him.

'I did my job. Our job is to follow the facts and the law without fear or favor' said Bragg, responding to criticism of the case.

Asked if his office would object to any effort by defense lawyers to stay a potential jail sentence for the former president  which experts call unlikely  Bragg responded, 'Im not going to address hypotheticals.'

Asked if his team would seek prison time for Trump, Bragg responded, 'We will speak in our court filings as weve done throughout this proceeding,' he said.
A photo of a teenager who went missing more than half a century ago has been 'aged' by police to show what she would look like today.

Tina Whittamore was just 15 when she went for a walk in Luton, Bedfordshire, on May 31, 1971, and never came back.

The grainy black and white image, released today to mark the 53rd anniversary of her last confirmed sighting, is based on a photo of her taken shortly before she disappeared.

She is believed to have been in other locations since then, including London in the 1990s, but the trail has gone cold.

Detective Sergeant James Morgan, of Bedfordshire Police, said: 'We realise this is a case from many years ago but we never give up trying to find people reported as missing.

A photo of Tina Whittamore, who went missing in 1971, has been 'aged' by police in a fresh appeal for information on the 53-year-old case. The left picture was taken shortly before her disappearance, age 15, and on the right is an estimation of what she would look like now

'Cases such as these are reviewed on an ongoing basis and are reopened if any new information is shared with us. We would just like to know that Tina is safe.'

Tina, who was born in Leighton Buzzard with the surname King in 1955, would be 68 today.

She had been living in Kempston but was staying at the Whitaker Mother and Baby Unit in Luton when she walked out.

Police said the teenager, who was 5ft 2in tall with light brown hair and brown eyes, was last officially seen at about 2.30pm.

But in September that year, Thames Valley Police issued a missing person report for a woman named Christine King, 18, who had gone missing from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire. It was later established she and Miss Whittamore were the same person.

Information has also come to light that she lived and worked in Soho and Notting Hill in London in the 1970s.

The Metropolitan Police believe she was in a London hospital in 1990 but discharged herself before her identity was confirmed.

A year later it was reported she was sleeping rough in Notting Hill. There have been no fresh sightings since.

A force spokesman confirmed Ms Whittamore had 'done nothing wrong'.

He said: 'She was a child when she went missing and there have been no reliable sightings since then, so the case has remained open.

'There were concerns because of her age [when she left] and there's been nothing to alleviate those concerns.

'There's no immediate concern for her welfare and she hasn't done anything wrong. It's just an old case and we're trying to see if we can solve it.'

Ms Whittamore's mother has died since she went missing and the status of her father is unknown.

The spokesman could not confirm why Ms Whittamore was in the mother and baby unit or whether she had a living son or daughter.

The original photo was 'aged' by experts at the National Crime Agency, on request from Bedfordshire Police after it conducted a review of old cases.

She can be identified by a slight squint in her left eye and sometimes dyes her hair blonde or wears a wig, Bedfordshire Police's Missing Persons team said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the force and quote reference MPL/109/10.
Pope Francis has been accused of another gaffe after he made a sexist remark about women during a private talk with priests, leaving attendees stunned when he told them: Gossiping is for women.

The comments made at a conference for trainee priests in Rome were originally reported on a religious website called Silere non possum  Latin for I cannot remain silent.

Pope Francis  who stepped into his role as the head of the Catholic Church in 2013  made a similar comment last year when he told another group of priests to wear the trousers and know how to say things as they are.

Back then he added: 'Gossiping is a plague, it helps no-one.'

The latest remark prompted leading Italian womans magazine Donna Moderna, or Modern Woman in English, to write in its coverage: 'What on earth is happening in the Vatican?.

Pope Francis has been accused of making a sexist remark after he was heard saying that 'gossiping is for women'

The Pope's latest coments come just days after the Pope was forced to apologise after using a homophobic slur in a closed-door meeting

It comes just days after the Argentine pontiff was forced to apologise after using an offensive slur used to describe gay men at another conference.

He was quoted as saying there was too much f*****try' in the Catholic Church, telling a closed-door meeting at an episcopal conference at the Vatican that homosexual men should not be allowed into colleges to train for the priesthood.

Bishops at the meeting were reportedly taken aback by the language the 87-year-old used to make the statement.

The alleged comments, which seem to go against recent moves to amend seminary admission rules, came as a surprise to some in the church as the Pope is known for taking a more liberal view than his predecessors on LGBT issues.

The Vatican later said: 'Pope Francis is aware of the articles which were recently published about a conversation behind closed doors, with the bishops of the Italian Conference of Bishops.

The Pope has never intended to offend or express himself using homophobic expressions and offers his apologies to those who felt offend by the use of the term, which as reported by others.

As he has said on various occasions, in the Church there is space for all, for all. No-one is useless, no-one is superfluous, there is space for all.

There was no immediate response from the Vatican on the latest gaffe when MailOnline contacted them for comment.
Faiza Shaheen has claimed her 'pro-Palestine' views saw her ousted as a Labour general election candidate as the row over Sir Keir Starmer's 'purge' deepened.

The academic, known as the 'Chingford Corbynite', had been preparing to take on Tory MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith in his Chingford and Woodford Green seat on 4 July.

Ms Shaheen had been Labour's candidate in the north east London constituency at the 2019 general election, when she came within 1,300 votes of Sir Iain.

But she was dramatically blocked by Labour officials from running for the party again in the seat in five weeks' time.

She has threatened the party with legal action following her exclusion by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC).

In a social media post last night, she attacked Labour's decision to endorse Shama Tatler - who has now been chosen as the party's candidate in Chingford and Woodford Green.

Ms Shaheen wrote: 'Really?! Wow a Brent councillor with no history here at all.

'They would rather lose than have a left pro Palestine candidate. This is offensive to my community.'

In another post this morning, Ms Shaheen also revealed some of the social media activity she claimed was used to justify the NEC's decision.

'People are asking so here are some of the tweets that were used against me and that I had to answer for in my NEC panel meeting earlier this week,' she wrote.

'They've briefed a different story about what happened, but they wanted me out and used very thin grounds to do it.'

Allies of Ms Shaheen are planning a rally in support of her outside a Tesco near Highams Park Tube station tonight.

Faiza Shaheen has claimed her 'pro-Palestine' views saw her ousted as a Labour general election candidate as the row over Sir Keir Starmer 's 'purge' deepened

Ms Shaheen has threatened the party with legal action following her exclusion by Labour's ruling National Executive Committee (NEC)

The academic, known as the 'Chingford Corbynite', had been preparing to take on Tory MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith in his Chingford and Woodford Green seat on 4 July

In a social media post last night, Ms Shaheen attacked Labour's decision to endorse Shama Tatler - who has now been chosen as the party's candidate in Chingford and Woodford Green

Ms Shaheen shared screenshots of her past posts on X, formerly known as Twitter.

These included her criticism of Labour's 2021 decision to readmit Trevor Phillips, now a Sky News presenter, back into the party, and her 'liking' of messages sent by the Green Party and Green Party candidates.

She explained that she 'liked' a post by Green Party council candidate Griffin Carpenter as 'an old colleague of mine', adding: 'This was 2014 before I even joined the Labour Party.'

'Majid is a friend,' she added in relation to her 'liking' of a post by former Green Party MEP Magid Magid.

Ms Shaheen has previously claimed she was given five-and-a-half hours' notice of an NEC panel meeting on Tuesday to discuss her social media activity.

It was reported by BBC Newsnight that Ms Shaheen was also confronted over allegedly 'liking' a series of posts that played down anti-Semitism accusations.

According to the programme, one post said: 'Every time you say something even mildly critical of Israel, you're immediately assailed by scores of hysterical people who explain to you why you're completely wrong, how you're biased against Israel.

'Moreover, you can't easily ignore them because those are not just random people.

'They tend to be friends or people who move in the same circles as you. Those people are mobilised by professional organisations.'

Ms Shaheen told Newsnight she does not remember liking the post in question.

'I know what's wrong with it, of course, the line that's there about 'they're in professional organisations', it plays into a trope and I absolutely don't agree with that and I'm sorry about that,' she said.

'And I expressed that I was sorry in that meeting yesterday over my crying baby but that's one tweet.

'I've organised an interfaith vigil with a local Rabbi after the attacks, Hamas's attack.'

Allies of Ms Shaheen are planning a rally in support of her outside a Tesco near Highams Park Tube station tonight

Ms Shaheen's exclusion as a general election candidate comes amid a huge row over Labour's treatment of veteran MP Diane Abbott.

The former shadow home secretary has had the Labour whip restored following a long investigation into her comments about Jewish people.

But there is still confusion about whether she will be allowed to stand as an election candidate for the party.

Ms Abbott has held the Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency for Labour since 1987.

Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who was MP for Brighton Kemptown until Parliament was dissolved this week for the general election, was this week blocked from standing as a Labour candidate over an allegation about his behaviour.

Critics have accused Sir Keir of overseeing a 'purge' of Labour's left-wing candidates before the 4 July vote.

Former party leader Jeremy Corbyn last night told Sky News: 'The one thing they all have in common, the people that have been purged, is that they're on the left of the party and have all spoken out in favour of an immediate ceasefire and permanent ceasefire in Gaza.'

Sir Keir yesterday denied he was blocking left-wing candidates from standing for Labour on 4 July.

Asked if that was the case, the Labour leader replied: 'No. I've said repeatedly over the last two years, as we've selected our candidates, that I want the highest quality candidates. That's been the position for a very long time.'
Bombara killed mother and daughter before taking his own life

The killer who murdered a mother and her teenage daughter before taking his own life had a 10cm cyst on his brain and had been acting 'aggressively' towards hospital staff in the weeks before the tragedy, a medical worker has claimed.

New details about Mark Bombara's health have come to light after he stormed the home of Jennifer Petelczyc, 53, in Floreat, Perth, on the afternoon of May 24.

He was looking for his ex-wife who had been staying at Ms Petelczyc's home but when he couldn't find her, he fatally shot the 53-year-old and her daughter Gretl, 18, before turning the gun on himself.

A health worker, who chose to stay anonymous, has since claimed Bombara likely wouldn't have been discharged from hospital if staff knew about his large gun collection at home, given the change in his behaviour in recent months.

An anonymous healthcare worker from Perth claimed double-murderer Mark Bombara, 63, (left with ex-wife) had a 10-centimetre cyst on his brain and had been acting aggressively

After being discharged Bombara fatally shot Jennifer Petelczyc, 53, and her daughter Gretl, 18, (pictured) in their Floreat home in Perth before turning the gun on himself around 4.30pm on May 24

'If they were sending someone home to 13 guns, with a cyst that large and displaying that behaviour ... there would have been a discussion with police,' they told WA Today.

The healthcare worker claimed Bombara's behaviour got so bad that staff recommended that his driver's licence be suspended on medical grounds.

'He was appearing volatile, which can be an impairment of a brain injury. That had only been identified in the past couple of months and these sort of things build up over time. He was a very unwell man,' they continued.

The worker said Bombara also had two mini-strokes in January.

Bombara was admitted to hospital after the first stroke, known as a transient ischemic attack, before returning weeks later having suffered another one.

The worker claimed other health professionals and family members raised concerns about Bombara's increasingly aggressive and erratic behaviour in recent months.

They said health workers should be able to check online databases to see if patients showing risky behaviour were licenced gun holders.

'We need mandatory reporting, and improved ability to assess risk - we need to know if people have firearms,' they said.

The North Metropolitan Health Service, which cared for Bombara, said his mental health was reviewed at the time and 'no signs of reduced mental capacity [or] aggression' were found.

'Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital treated Mr Bombara in early May for a series of small strokes,' the health service's acting chief executive Joel Gurr said.

'While he was in our care, the treating team reviewed his mental health and determined there were no signs of reduced mental capacity, aggression or suicide risk.

'Mental health clinicians routinely make referrals to Police if they have concerns a patient is assessed as being aggressive or at risk to others, but in this case, the patient did not present with any behaviors that would trigger this process.'

Bombara's daughter, Ariel, released a statement of her own on Tuesday, where she blamed WA Police for dismissing her family's concerns about his behaviour leading up to the murder-suicide.

The healthcare worker said Bombara suffered two mini-strokes in early May

Ariel Bombara (pictured) released a statement on Tuesday which levied some blame onto WA Police who she claims ignored her family's concern over Bombara's behaviour

Bombara was known to police but did not have a history of violence and was not being monitored.

She said she spoke with police three times between March 30 and April 2, after she and her mother fled the family home on March 28 'in fear of our lives'.

'On each occasion I alerted officers to my father's guns, and told them my mother and I felt there was a real and imminent threat to our lives,' she wrote.

'I specifically mentioned that there was a Glock handgun which was unaccounted for. My understanding is this ultimately would be one of the weapons my father used to take the lives of two innocent women.'

Ariel also asked police for a 72-hour temporary protective order which was denied.

'We were told no and that there was nothing police could do about the situation at that time,' she said.

Bombara owned 11 guns under a recreational shooter's permit and two pistols under a collector's licence, one of which was used to kill Ms Petelczyc and her daughter.

Police Minister Paul Papalia said Bombara had no prior convictions or any record of a violence restraining order against him.

Mr Papalia said Bombara became known to police after his ex-wife asked for officers to be present at the home while she packed her belongings due to 'Family Domestic Violence [FDV] related matters'.

'But none of those had been reported to police and he was not known to the police in any other way other than her approaching them at that time,' Mr Papalia said.

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A 70-year-old trans woman has appeared in court accused of murdering her husband with a samurai sword.

Retired LGBT rights worker Joanna Rowland-Stuart was charged with killing husband Andrew at their flat in Brighton.

Mrs Rowland-Stuart, who says she is deaf, confirmed her name through a sign language interpreter.

Emergency services were called to the 15th floor flat on Lavender Street in the Kemptown area of the city on Monday evening.

Mr Rowland-Stuart, believed to have been murdered with a samurai sword, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Retired LGBT rights worker Joanna Rowland-Stuart, 70, has appeared in court accused of murdering her husband at their flat in Brighton earlier this week

Her husband Andrew, also 70, is believed to have been killed by a samurai sword

She has worked for the Brighton and Hove LGBT Community Safety Forum and as a Transgender rep with civil service LGBT group Proud.

Detective Chief Inspector Alex Campbell, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: 'This is a fast-moving investigation and our enquiries are ongoing as we seek to establish the full circumstances which led to Andrew's tragic death.

'Our thoughts remain with his loved ones at this difficult time.

A spokesman for Sussex Police said emergency services responded to the incident in Lavender Street, Kemptown, shortly after 7.30pm on Monday, May 27

Detective Chief Inspector Alex Campbell, of the Surrey and Sussex Major Crime Team, said: 'We are urging the public not to speculate, but to come forward with any information which may be able to assist us'

'In the meantime, we are urging the public not to speculate, but to come forward with any information which may be able to assist us.'

A spokesman for Sussex Police said emergency services responded to the incident in Lavender Street shortly after 7.30pm on Monday, May 27.

Mrs Rowland-Stuart was remanded in custody to appear again in Crown Court next week.
A New York City mom who has voted Democrat for 40 years claims she will vote for Donald Trump despite his criminal conviction.

Madeline Brame, who lost her son to a stabbing attack in 2018, attended Trump's rally in the South Bronx last week to show her support for the presumptive Republican nominee for president.

She said she has turned away from the Democratic party after her son was murdered, as she blames progressive Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for 'going soft' on his killers.

Brame told WABC: 'Alvin Bragg - the way he let two of my son's killers walk. He dropped gang assault and murder charges against two of my son's killers.

'I've been in this fight for about six years and we support Trump because we know that he cares about the issues that happen here in this community even to the point where he's shown up here today in the south Bronx... the dirty South Bronx, that is full of crime and poverty... and he's actually here.'

Madeline Brame, who lost her son to a stabbing attack in 2018, attended Trump's rally in the South Bronx last week

She said she has turned away from the Democratic party after her son was murdered. Donald Trump holds up a fist as he arrives back at Trump Tower after being convicted

While Brame made the comments before Trump was convicted, she took to social media to express that the jury's decision has not changed her mind about the Republican.

Brame said on X: 'Obscene amounts of our tax dollars were spent on this trial but @ManhattanDA doesnt have money to take murder cases to trial.

She added: 'No matter the verdict, we have but 1 job to do VOTE their as*** OUT! Up and down the line. Game over!'

Brame's son Hason Correa, a 35-year-old father of three and Army veteran, was assaulted by a group of people he did not know in Harlem in 2018 and stabbed to death during an altercation outside an apartment building.

She has blamed Bragg for going 'soft' on the perpetrators.

Two of Correa's attackers struck a plea deal with Manhattan prosecutors and one has already been let off on time served.

Four siblings - Christopher, James and Mary Saunders and Travis Stewart - were initially arrested for the killing.

She blames Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for 'going soft' on her son's killers

Madeline Brame speaks at the sentencing of Christopher Saunders in 2018

James Saunders pleaded guilty to gang assault and second-degree murder and was sentenced to 20 years.

Christopher was convicted of gang assault and sentenced to 20 years to life.

Stewart and Mary Saunders pleaded guilty to gang assault, with Stewart sentenced to seven years and Mary to 14 months, which she had already served.

Other Trump supports online expressed similar reactions to his criminal conviction on all counts in new York Thursday.

Medical journalist Nicole Saphier said on X: 'Alvin Bragg says "white collar crime is the core of what the New York district attorney does."

Other Trump supports online expressed similar reactions to his criminal conviction on all counts in new York Thursday

'Violent crimes against every day New Yorkers? Not so much.'

Republican lawmakers reacted with immediate fury on Thursday as a New York jury convicted former President Donald Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records to influence the 2016 election, speaking out with near unanimity in questioning the legitimacy of the trial and how it was conducted.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said it was a 'shameful day in American history' and the charges were 'purely political.'

Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance said the verdict was a 'disgrace to the judicial system.' And Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican, said that the decision was 'a defeat for Americans who believe in the critical legal tenet that justice is blind.'

Brame's son Hason Correa, a 35-year-old father of three and Army veteran, was assaulted by a group of people he did not know in Harlem in 2018 and stabbed to death

Two of Correa's attackers struck a plea deal with Manhattan prosecutors and one has already been let off on time served

Within minutes of the verdict being read, Republicans who have in the past been divided over support for their presumptive GOP presidential nominee found common ground in attacking  with few specifics  the judge, the jury and President Joe Biden.

The conviction came on state charges in a Manhattan court; as the nations top federal official, Biden has no say in what happens in the New York City courtroom.

The jury found that Trump falsified the records in a scheme to influence his presidential election through hush money payments to a porn actor who had said she had sex with Trump.

Few Republicans mentioned the details of the case but many echoed his repeated assertions that it was a 'rigged, disgraceful trial.' He is expected to quickly appeal.

Former President Donald Trump and his attorney Todd Blanche (right) exit the courthouse

There is no evidence that the trial was rigged. Trumps defense has complained about a $15 donation Judge Juan Manuel Merchan made to Biden in 2020 and his daughters job as a Democratic political consultant, but the judge rejected Trumps lawyers request for a recusal and said he was certain of his 'ability to be fair and impartial.'

And the guilty verdict only improved the former president's standing with likely voters ahead of the 2024 election, according to an exclusive snap poll for DailyMail.com.

Of those who said the 34 guilty counts had changed their view of Donald Trump, 22 percent said they now had a more favorable rating compared with 16 percent who said they viewed him more negatively.

That six-point net positive result is another sign of the way the businessman-turned-politician seems able to ride out crises that would sink anyone else.
The chief financial officer (CFO) of Costco, Gary Millerchip, has spoken up about the store's long-standing hot dog deal.

Millerchip, who became Costco's CFO in March 2024, revealed the retail store chain's plans for the $1.50 frank and soda combo - a topic that has piqued the interest of customers and economists alike as sky-high inflation continues to raise the price of everyday goods.

CNN reporter Nathaniel Meyersohn created an X post on May 30 revealing what Millerchip had to say about the future of the beloved combo.

'Costcos new finance chief today: "I also want to confirm the $1.50 hot dog price is safe,"' Meyersohn tweeted.

Previous suggestions that the hot dog price may be increased led to death threats from the former CEO - but new finance chiefs often come with new strategies and cost-cutting efforts.

Costco's new chief financial officer (CFO) Gary Millerchip confirmed o May 30 that the $1.50 price for its hot dog and soda combos will not change

CNN reporter Nathaniel Meyersohn leaked the news in an X posted he created yesterday. Millerchip was announced as Costco's new CFO in February 2024

Millerchip's announcement regarding the status of Costco's hot dog and soda combo comes just one month after its employees began a crackdown on customers' access to the stores' food courts, and as other food chains field complaints that once-affordable fast food has become a luxury.

Costco's $1.50 hot dog and soda combo is a popular meal deal at the retail store chain's food courts, and its price has stayed the same since 1985.

The decision for the retail chain to not change the price is what R5 Capital retail analyst Scott Muskin told ABC 7 was 'branding' and a way of reminding customers of what Costco is.

However, Costco's former CEO, W Craig Jelinek, recalled a conversation with another one of the chain's previous CEO's James Sinegal about the status of the combo prices.

'I came to (Sinegal) once, and I said, "Jim, we cant sell this hot dog for a buck fifty. We are losing our rear ends," Jelinek said during a 2018 interview with 425 Business.

'And he said, If you raise the effing hot dog, I will kill you. Figure it out."'

The company decided to figure it out and it seemingly worked in its favor since former CFO, Richard Galanti, claimed that the company sells 130 million hot dogs a year in 2022.

Despite this, the company still decided to crack down on access to its outdoor food courts, which began in its locations on April 8.

The $1.50 hot dog and soda combo has been a popular meal deal at Costco locations for nearly 40 years and its price has not changed since 1985

One of the new rules that led social media users to start heated debates on X was that Costco employees would need to request to see a customer's membership card before they allow them to make a food court purchase.

Costco locations with food courts even posted signs explaining what customers needed to do to buy something from one of its food courts - purchase a membership.

The company offers two different memberships that potential customers can purchase on their website.

Anyone who becomes a Costco Gold Star Member will receive two membership cards, a 100 percent satisfaction guarantee, and the option to shop online or at any of its store locations for $60 a year.

Those who wish to receive more benefits can become Costco Executive Members, which includes service discounts and an annual 2 percent award.

One downside for customers is that the Executive membership will cost a whopping $120 a year.

X users have praised the continuance of the hot dog and soda combo, and one person called it 'the most stable commodity on Earth' in a tweet,

Others have been focused on the food court situation, with one person claiming in a tweet that their nearest location still allows non-members to eat there.

The combo price confirmation came just one month after the company began a crackdown on access to Costco food courts

New rules were implemented at Costco food court locations on April 8, requiring employees to ask for membership cards before allowing a guest to purchase items

'Costco doesn't make money off the food court, the hot dog being the best example,' an X user wrote yesterday.

'The fact that a grocer can afford to draw in customers doing that while making profits in other areas doesn't mean it's a restaurant.'
Sir Keir Starmer was today branded a 'massive hypocrite' after he travelled by private jet between Wales and Scotland while on the general election campaign trail.

The Labour leader defended his decision to fly between the two countries as the most 'efficient' way to make the journey.

But he was accused of being two-faced following his party's repeated criticism of Tory leader Rishi Sunak's own use of private jets.

Labour have previously accused the Prime Minister of attempting to live like an 'A-list celebrity' by making journeys within the UK via helicopter and private jet.

Sir Keir confirmed he had taken a private plane to Inverclyde today after campaigning in south Wales the day before.

Sir Keir Starmer was today branded a 'massive hypocrite' after he travelled by private jet between Wales and Scotland while on the general election campaign trail

Labour have previously accused the Prime Minister of attempting to live like an 'A-list celebrity' by making journeys within the UK via helicopter and private jet

The PM used a chartered aircraft to travel to Inverness last week while campaigning in the general election

The Tories mocked Labour's logo for their 'Great British Energy' plan as lookin like 'something U-turning in on itself'

The Labour leader said: 'We did use a private jet because we needed to get very quickly to Scotland from Wales yesterday.

'And we have to use the most efficient form of transport in the middle of a very, very busy general election campaign.

'We offset the carbon, we always do whenever we use transport in the air.'

He added: 'We've got five weeks to take our argument to the country, I need to get across the country to speak to as many people as possible, and from time to time we have to do it as efficiently as possible.'

Labour has previously criticised Mr Sunak for using private jets and helicopters to travel around the country, describing him as 'out of touch'.

Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has also promised to crack down on 'Tory ministers' private jet habit' if Labour comes to power, targeting ministers' use of chartered flights to travel abroad.

The PM has similarly said using private jets is 'the most efficient use of my time' when challenged over his flights.

A Tory source said: 'Not for the first time Sir Keir has been shown up as a massive hypocrite'.

Sir Keir was in Greenock on Friday to launch both Labour's 'six first steps for Scotland' and the logo for the proposed GB Energy as part of the party's general election campaign.

Labour's plan for GB Energy would see a publicly-owned company, headquartered in Scotland, that would invest in domestic renewable energy projects.

Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden said: 'Nothing better illustrates Starmerism than the fact Sir Keir has flown on a private jet to Scotland, to launch a stock logo of something U-turning in on itself, for an energy company which won't produce any energy.

'That's not a plan to keep our energy secure and our country protected from Putin.'

During the election campaign, Mr Sunak has fuelled suggestions he is trying to play down his multi-millionaire image by taking a slightly more economic approach to domestic travel.

The PM rocked up in Inverness last week in a chartered aircraft. But the Eastern Airways Jetstream 41 was a prop plane with no business or first class seating.

Instead it had 29 economy seats. And its specifications stated it was built in 1993, when the PM was just 12 or 13 years old.

Mr Sunak travelled to the South West this week by sleeper train from London, although he was reported to have made the journey back by private helicopter.
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The world was rocked after former President Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 felony charges for falsifying business records.

The jury of seven men and five women at Manhattan Criminal Court deliberated for nearly 10 hours before convicting the former president.

It was the first time a former U.S. President has faced a criminal trial and the verdict could upend the 2024 White House race, proving a pivotal moment in the history of the United States.

Read DailyMail.coms live coverage after Donald Trump was found guilty:
Keir Starmer today dramatically caved into a huge backlash by declaring Diane Abbott can stand as a Labour candidate at the election.

The Labour leader moved to end days of bitter factional infighting by declaring that the veteran Left-winger is 'free' to represent the party.

Sir Keir faced another grilling on the festering tensions as he took his campaign to Scotland this morning.

Amid rising fears that the row could dent his election hopes, Sir Keir said 'the fact remains that no decisions have been taken' when asked whether Ms Abbott would be blocked from standing at the election.

But Labour's leader in Scotland Anas Sarwar heaped more pressure on by making clear he 'agrees with' Angela Rayner - who yesterday said she thought Ms Abbott - Britain's first black female MP - should be allowed to run.

The ruling NEC takes the final decision on candidates, but Sir Keir's supporters have a majority - meaning he can effectively control the outcome.

Sir Keir said: 'The whip has obviously been restored to her now and she is free to go forward as a Labour candidate.'

He praised the Labour veteran as a 'trailblazer', saying: 'Diane Abbott was elected in 1987, the first black woman MP.

'She has carved a path for other people to come into politics and public life.'

Labour sources said Ms Abbott will be the Labour candidate in her long-held constituency and the NEC is expected to support her candidacy.

In other developments today:

Sir Keir confirmed he had taken a private plane from Wales to Scotland, despite Labour attacking Rishi Sunak over his travel;

Despite describing himself as a vegetarian, Sir Keir joked he was coming back to Scotland for the tandoori salmon;

Polls suggest the Tories are making little impact on Labour's lead despite broad support for new policies.

Keir Starmer faced another grilling on the veteran left-winger and mounting factional infighting in the party as he took his campaign north of the border

Mr Sarwar, who appeared with Sir Keir to launch the energy policy this morning, described Ms Abbott as an 'historic figure in the Labour Party', while stressing that it was 'ultimately a decision for the NEC'

Keir Starmer heaped praise on 'trailblazer' Diane Abbott (pictured) today as he faces a revolt on claims the veteran left-winger is being blocked from standing at the election

Close allies Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn have accused Sir Keir of trying to purge the Left of the party

Mr Sarwar, who appeared with Sir Keir to launch the energy policy this morning, described Ms Abbott as an 'historic figure in the Labour Party', while stressing that it was 'ultimately a decision for the NEC'.

'I think the NEC should make a decision quickly,' he added.

Shadow cabinet minister Peter Kyle also risked inflaming tensions, saying Labour is 'responding to a situation that Diane herself got herself in to'.

Pouring petrol on the dispute yesterday, Ms Rayner told Sky: 'I don't think there's any reason why Diane Abbott shouldn't stand as an MP.

'She's been an inspiration to many people who see that actually she has been a trailblazer.

'Now people from her background and people who look like her have a place in our politics. And she's been able to demonstrate that. You can see the difference on our benches.'

Ms Rayner also said it was 'not a great look' to see Ms Abbott being 'briefed against'.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride twisted the knife today, repeating the Tories' attack line that 'if Keir Starmer can't deal with Diane Abbott, how on earth is he going to deal with Vladimir Putin?'

The Labour Left has vented fury at an apparent bid by the leadership to purge Corbynites and parachute some of Sir Keir's most loyal allies into plum seats.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland today, Sir Keir said: 'Diane Abbott has had the whip returned to her, no decision has been taken to bar her from standing and the NEC will come to a decision in due course.'

Asked if he would like her to be a candidate, Sir Keir added: 'Ultimately, that will be a matter for the NEC but no decision has been taken.'

He also praised the MP as a 'trailblazer'. 'She, of course, was a trailblazer for years, she faced many challenges which she overcame in her political career,' he said.

A clamour is growing for Sir Keir to neutralise the bitter spat over Ms Abbott, who has represented Hackney North and Stoke Newington for nearly four decades.

Ms Abbott, who was elected to Parliament in 1987, has said she wants to fight to retain her seat 'as long as it is possible'.

She was suspended by the party last year for suggesting Jewish, Irish and traveller people experienced prejudice but not racism.

After apologising and undergoing training on anti-Semitism, she had the party whip restored this week, meaning she could stand as a Labour candidate. But reports suggested that she would be barred from standing again for her seat.

Ms Abbott - a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn - said there was an 'appalling cull' of the Left of the party. Former leader Mr Corbyn lost the Labour whip after he said a highly critical report on the scale of anti- Semitism within the party had been 'dramatically overstated'.

He launched his campaign to stand as an independent in his Islington North seat on Wednesday.

Ms Abbott also risked falling foul of Labour rules against supporting rival candidates by retweeting a message hailing Mr Corbyn's decision to run.

Meanwhile, his supporter Lloyd Russell-Moyle was suspended by Labour and told he could not stand again in his former seat of Brighton Kemptown. The former MP blamed a 'vexatious and politically motivated complaint' against him.

Faiza Shaheen was not endorsed as the Labour candidate for Sir Iain Duncan Smith's marginal seat of Chingford and Woodford Green. She was blocked after liking a series of social media posts that allegedly downplayed anti-

MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle said he has been suspended by the party over what he called a 'vexatious and politically motivated complaint'

Faiza Shaheen, Labour's candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green in northeast London, told Newsnight that the party was pulling her candidacy for allegedly liking a series of Tweets that downplayed antisemitism accusations

Semitism accusations and may run as an independent. She is consulting lawyers.

The Momentum campaign group, which was set up to support

Mr Corbyn's Labour leadership, criticised Sir Keir's comments about candidate selection.

'This is a laughable defence and no one's buying it,' a spokesman said. 'Plain as day, Keir Starmer is purging Left-wingers. He is pushing out independent-minded women of colour.'

It came as several Sir Keir allies were parachuted into key seats.

Josh Simons, director of the Labour Together group, was selected in Makerfield. Luke Akehurst, the secretary of Labour First, was selected in North Durham.
The elderly man famed for terrorizing his quiet California neighborhood with his slingshot has been found dead in his home six days after he was arrested.

Officers found Prince Raymond King, 81, known as the 'serial slingshot shooter' deceased inside his $640,000 bungalow in leafy Asuza, Los Angeles, on Wednesday.

Neighbors complained for years about their cars, windows and properties being smashed by tiny metal ball-bearings. Police arrested King last week after raiding his home and uncovering a slingshot.

'Officers got the dispatch regarding a death investigation,' the Asuza Police Department told DailyMail.com on Friday. 'Upon arrival at the 500 block of Soldano Avenue they located King deceased and there was no signs of trauma or foul play.'

It's not known whether King died from natural causes or suicide. Coroners are investigating the cause of death, the department said.

Officers found Prince Raymond King, 81, known as the 'serial slingshot shooter' deceased inside his $640,000 bungalow in leafy Asuza on Wednesday

When police raided the 81-year-old's home last Thursday, they found King with a slingshot and several metal ball bearings.

'We're not aware of any kind of motive other than just malicious mischief,' Lt Jake Bushey from Asuza Police said at the time.

'It's been ongoing for many years because we just didn't identify who the suspect was.'

Police began investigating after the first report in 2015, after some victims found BB-sized holes in their properties and others had whole windows shattered.

King, who was famed for terrorizing his quiet LA neighborhood with his slingshot has been found dead in his home (pictured) in Asuza, police have said.

Residents plagued for a decade by a slingshot hoodlum in the leafy LA suburb of Azusa were shocked to see police raid the home of their elderly neighbor

Neighbors who had given up hope of an end to the torment were delighted to see police department's Directed Enforcement Unit swoop on the elderly man's home.

'I've actually seen him shoot the slingshot before,' one told NBC News.

'He's never shot at us or anything but a lot of neighbors, I couldn't believe that he was arrested by a SWAT team and stuff yesterday, it was pretty crazy.'

'Many times I would come outside and I would find like little BBs on the ground by my front door,' said another, 'so I'm very glad that the person was caught.'

Azusa Police did not reveal how many ball bearings had been recovered, but they said most of the shots were fired from King's garage and another location in the neighborhood.

Dozens of potentially lethal ball bearings were recovered in the raid on his home

Police said the attacks originated mainly from the garage area of King's home

'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,' they wrote.

'The unknown suspect broke windows, windshields and almost stuck people with ball bearings.

'Today, DEU investigators served a search warrant in the neighborhood where the incidents were occurring.

'Ultimately, suspect Prince King of Azusa was arrested. During the search, ball bearings and a slingshot were recovered from his residence.'

'They broke the back window of my husband's car, probably the same guy,' wrote Lupe Lopez in response to the police's Facebook post. 'His dirty hobby cost us $700!'

Residents told NBC they had suspected for years who was menacing their neighborhood

King was taken from Los Angeles Central Jail to Citrus Municipal Court on Tuesday where he was charged with felony and misdemeanor counts of vandalism.

He was released on his own cognizance but barred from going within 200 yards of his own home except to pick up medications, and has been banned from possessing any weapons - including slingshots.

King had been due back in court on June 17.
U.S. defense officials have said they are not aware of any attacks on USS Eisenhower after Yemen's Houthi rebels claimed to have launched a barrage of missiles at the aircraft carrier in the Red Sea.

Houthi general Yahya Saree said the attack was in retaliation against 'American-British aggression' - airstrikes overnight which killed 16 people and wounded 41 others, including civilians, according to the group.

Winged and ballistic missiles were used in the attack on the US warship, the military spokesperson said without providing evidence, adding that 'the hits were accurate and direct'.

He warned that the rebels would 'meet escalation with escalation', and vowed that their forces would 'not hesitate to respond directly and immediately' to 'all hostile American and British targets in the Red and Arabian Seas.'

The U.S. and British militaries said they launched strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on Thursday to deter the militant group from further disrupting shipping in the Red Sea.

The U.S. Central Command said coalition forces had hit 13 targets in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen.

Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree said the attack was a response to recent US and UK-led bombing operations

The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower aircraft carrier transits the Strait of Gibraltar, October 28, 2023

Houthi supporters hold up their weapons during a protest in solidarity with the Palestinian people, in Sana'a, Yemen, May 24, 2024

The British defence ministry said the joint operation targeted three locations in the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, which it said housed drones and surface-to-air weapons.

British and American fighter jets as well as U.S. ships hit a wide range of underground facilities, missile launchers, command and control sites, a Houthi vessel and other facilities, according to officials.

Also struck were eight uncrewed aerial vehicles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen that were determined to be presenting a threat to US and coalition forces.

It marks the fifth time the US and British militaries have conducted a combined operation against the Houthis since January 12.

The US has also been carrying out almost daily strikes to take out Houthi targets, including incoming missiles and drones aimed at ships, as well as weapons that were prepared to launch.

According to the Houthis, the strikes targeted the port of Salif, a radio building in Al-Hawk district, Ghalifa camp and two houses.

Houthi-allied Iran condemned the strikes as 'violations of Yemen's sovereignty and territorial integrity... international laws and human rights', Iranian state media reported.

Mock Houthis-made drones and missile are on display at a square in Sana'a, Yemen, May 29, 2024

Houthi military helicopter flies over the Galaxy Leader cargo ship in the Red Sea in this photo released November 20, 2023

'The aggressor U.S. and British governments are responsible for the consequences of these crimes against the Yemeni people,' Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said.

The Houthis in recent months have stepped up attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden , demanding that Israel end the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians.

The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 hostage.

The Yemeni group have so far launched more than 50 attacks, killed three sailors, seized one vessel and sunk another, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.
Teflon Don rides again, according to an exclusive snap poll for DailyMail.com which found that the guilty verdict in Manhattan only improved the former president's standing with likely voters ahead of the 2024 election.

Of those who said the 34 guilty counts had changed their view of Donald Trump, 22 percent said they now had a more favorable rating compared with 16 percent who said they viewed him more negatively.

That six-point net positive result is another sign of the way the businessman-turned-politician seems able to ride out crises that would sink anyone else.

In a tight election, it could be enough to get him across the finish line.

'I think it was a waste of taxpayer money and will help propel Trump to a victory,' said a 42-year-old hip hop DJ from Illinois, who voted for Joe Biden in 2020.

J.L. Partners polled 403 likely voters immediately after Thursday's guilty verdict to assess its impact on the November election. The results suggest a slight bump for Trump

In particular, the numbers show a four-point net positive impact among independent voters, the group that could decide who is the next president in November.

At the same time, the Trump campaign said it had enjoyed a fundraising bonanza in the hours after the verdict, bringing in $34.8 million from small dollar donorsnearly double its record daily haul.

Our poll was conducted in the hours after a jury foreman at Manhattan criminal court announced 34 guilty verdicts.

J.L. Partners used an online panel of 400 likely voters to assess the impact on the election.

Respondents were asked to explain their opinion.

Not surprisingly, many Trump fans denounced the trial as a 'sham' or a 'witch hunt,' using the candidate's own language.

But plenty of people who voted for him in 2020 said they were horrified by what it said about the man.

'For a Republican like myself it's all very embarrassing,' said a retired electrician in North Carolina, one of the battleground states. 'It's like finding out your sister is a prostitute.'

In contrast, 2020 Joe Biden supporter in the swing state of Arizona said: 'I just think it was a railroad job, even though I am not a fan of Trump. It's totally ludicrous.'

Donald Trump raises his fists in the air as he returned to Trump Tower on Thursday evening

Trump supporters wept outside the courthouse after the guilty verdict came down

No former president or presumptive party nominee has ever faced a felony conviction or the prospect of prison time. It takes the nation into uncharted territory.

James Johnson, who conducted the poll, said Trump might be waking up as convicted felon but he was winning over the voters who matter.

Our snap poll of a representative sample of likely voters shows that for most Americans the trial has not changed their deep-set views of Trump,' he said.

'But amongst those who are open to changing their mind, people feel more positive by a margin of 6 points. That is outside of the margin of the error of the poll and we are saying that is significant.

'It extends to Independent voters too. Look at the explanations and it is clear why: people feel it was a politically motivated trial and view Trump as a "fighter" against what they see as injustice.

'We will see how it translates into the voting intention polls in the coming days and weeks. But going by this poll we might not see much change in terms of the fundamentals of this race.'

But the campaign and Trump's allies had been preparing for a guilty verdict for days.

They repeatedly denounced the hush money prosecution as political and as a 'kangaroo court.'

The Trump campaign believes most people had tuned out of coverage of the trial and voters were more worried about the economy and their bank accounts than accusations of falsified invoices and ledger entries.

Donald Trump listens to the jury foreman deliver the guilty verdict

Trump opponents celebrated the result outside the courthouse

'This was a rigged, disgraceful trial,' said Trump on Thursday after he left court.

'The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people.'

Last year, Trump saw his standing in the polls improve with each of four criminal indictments.

His Fulton County, Georgia, mugshot became a key part of fundraising and merchandise pushes.

Even so, the verdict seemed to come as a shock.

The court was winding down for the day on Thursday, with the jury about to be sent home when it handed a note to the court saying its verdict was ready.

Trump had spent the time huddled with lawyers, aides and friends, including developer Steve Witkoff.

Trump's son Eric was with him in courtroom 1530 on Thursday afternoon for the verdict

Trump returned to Trump Tower on Thursday evening and is due to address the world's media from the building's atrium on Friday morning

When he returned to the courtroom, waiting for the verdict, he chatted with lead lawyer Todd Blanche, looking as if he was unconcerned that his fate had been decided.

But he looked deflated as he left court, his head slightly stooped. He briefly clasped hands with son Eric.

His campaign swiftly swung into action, with a flurry of fundraising emails. Aides reported a deluge of contributions that crashed WinRed, the platform it uses for raising money.

'From just minutes after the sham trial verdict was announced, our digital fundraising system was overwhelmed with support, and despite temporary delays online because of the amount of traffic, President Trump raised $34.8 million dollars from small dollar donors,' said Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, Trump Campaign senior advisers.

'Not only was the amount historic, but 29.7 percent of yesterday's donor's were brand new donors to the WinRed platform.'
The fundraiser is payback for GOP wannabe Rick Becker's campaign stunt

The transgender TikToker Dylan Mulvaney has found an unusual way to get one back against the Republican who duped her into taking part in a stunt to boost his political campaign.

Mulvaney says she will donate all the proceeds she raises from the celebrity video messaging service Cameo this month to help children in war-ravaged Gaza.

The 27-year-old says this is payback against North Dakota House candidate Rick Becker, who commissioned Mulvaney to record a Cameo post to smear a rival in the GOP primary.

In her new post, Mulvaney refers to Becker as a 'conservative politician' who was 'using the video to bully his opponent.'

'I would like to use their hate and ignorance to do something of better use by using my Cameo to raise money for Save the Children, which is an organization that currently has operations set up in Gaza,' Mulvaney says.

In her new TikTok post, Dylan Mulvaney says she had 'no idea' that Republican House candidate Rick Becker would use the Cameo video as a campaign stunt

'And 100 percent of my cameo profits for the next month will be donated to Save the Children.'

Mulvaney also called for a 'permanent ceasefire' in Israel's assault on Hamas militants in Gaza  which has killed some 36,000 Palestinians, according to the strip's health chiefs.

Mulvaney became a boogeyman for conservatives during her promotional tie-up last year with Bud Light, which many saw as the latest example of an all-American brand bowing to LGBTQ+ wokery.

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Becker hired Mulvaney through the Cameo service to troll his opponent in North Dakota's Republican primary contest against the state's Public Service Commissioner Julie Fedorchak earlier this month.

'Hi Julie!' Mulvaney said in the ironic Cameo clip, 'I wanted to make you this video because your friend Rick told me that you have a huge job change coming up.'

'From what I understand, you just spent like 10 or more years in North Dakota like basically saving the planet and like promoting green energy and reducing harmful coal plants,' Mulvaney said.

'You are now going to the DC zoo to be working with rhinos! Babe, that is insane.'

Mulvaney was seemingly unaware that the Cameo would be used in the GOP House race  and of the double meaning of RINO (Republican in Name Only).

The scripted references to Fedorchak's anti-coal policies were set to hurt her among Republican voters in the mining state.

In her new post, Mulvaney says she had 'absolutely no idea the intent behind it.'

U.S. House candidate Rick Becker has commissioned Dylan Mulvaney to congratulate his opponent on 'moving to D.C. to work with the rhinos' in a Cameo clip

Becker is running against Julie Fedorchak, a North Dakota public service commissioner

She acknowledges that she is the 'most gullible person in the world.'

Mulvaney's Cameo page says that her proceeds this month will help Save Children's operations in Gaza.

It's not clear how much this is likely to raise. Mulvaney charges $50 per video recording.

Becker, a MAGA Republican, has on social media taken tough lines against transgenderism, which he calls a 'mental illness,' and the war in Gaza.

On social media, he has said Israel should 'obliterate and fully exterminate Hamas.'

Still, he does not appear to object to providing aid to children in the bombed-out Palestinian territory.

Becker and Fedorchak are both running in a primary to replace Rep. Kelly Armstrong, who is vacating the seat to run for governor, in the state's only House seat.

The June 11 primary also includes attorney and former 2018 Miss America Cara Mund and state party-endorsed Alex Balasz.

Mulvaney achieved internet stardom in 2022 by launching her hit TikTok series, Days of Girlhood, in which she documents her transition from a young man to a 'girl.'

She's made millions of dollars by endorsing cosmetics, fashion and other products, appeared with President Joe Biden at the White House, and appeared alongside Hollywood celebrities.

Last April she posted a video to promote a Bud Light giveaway, saying the company had sent her a tallboy can with her face on it to celebrate her sex change.

This irked conservatives, who said a favorite beer had 'gone woke.'

Dylan Mulvaney drinks a Bud Light in a video posted April 1, 2023 on the influencer's Instagram

Dylan Mulvaney arrives at the 2024 Race To Erase MS Gala at Fairmont Century Plaza on May 10, 2024

They railed on social media and boycotted the drink, costing parent company Anheuser-Busch $400 million in sales  a 13.5 percent slump.

The fallout led to a devastating stretch for Bud Light, where it suffered repeat double-digit revenue drops on a near-weekly basis.

Mulvaney went on to earn $2 million from promotional work last year, landing deals with Nike and Mac, and she appeared at the Golden Globes in January.

She was in December named on Forbes' 30 under 30 list.

The magazine praised her for withstanding the Bud Light fall-out and Mulvaney slammed the beer company for throwing her to the wolves.
Rishi Sunak was facing mounting woes today as he attempted to keep the Conservatives' general election campaign on track.

The PM suffered a blow when Aaron Bell, who was Tory MP for Newcastle-under-Lyme until Parliament was dissolved this week, said he won't be standing on July 4.

Mr Bell announced his bombshell decision despite having joined Mr Sunak on the campaign trail in Stoke-on-Trent just days ago.

In a second setback for the PM, a former Tory MP who lost the whip over sexual assault claims performed a U-turn and said he would now stand as an independent.

Julian Knight was the Conservative MP for Solihull from 2015 to 2022.

He was stripped of the party whip in December 2022 after it was revealed he was being investigated by police over a claim of serious sexual assault.

Mr Knight previously said he would not seek re-election in his constituency, but he today announced he would stand against the Tories in the West Midlands seat.

The news comes after Mark Logan, the former Conservative MP for Bolton North East, last night revealed his defection to Labour.

Meanwhile, a new poll showed the Tories are still 25 points behind Labour - despite strong support for the striking policies Mr Sunak has recently unveiled.

Rishi Sunak, pictured on a visit to a farm in Gawsworth, Macclesfield, was facing mounting woes today as he attempted to keep the Conservatives' general election campaign on track

The PM suffered a blow when Aaron Bell, pictured (centre) on the campaign trail with Mr Sunak in Stoke-on-Trent this week, said he won't be standing on 4 July

In a second setback for the PM, former Tory MP Julian Knight - who lost the whip over sexual assault claims - performed a U-turn and said he would now stand as an independent

The news came after Mark Logan, the former Conservative MP for Bolton North East, last night revealed his defection to Labour

Mr Bell, who has represented Newcastle-under-Lyme since the 2019 general election, said his decision was due to 'personal and family reasons'.

When he joined Mr Sunak on the campaign trail in Staffordshire earlier this week, he gave no indication of his intention to step down.

Mr Bell is the 79th former Conservative MP to stand down, which is the highest number in modern political history, surpassing the previous post-war record of 72 Tories who stood down ahead of the 1997 election.

In an open letter posted on Facebook, he said: 'It is with a very heavy heart that I have decided not to contest the forthcoming general election, for personal and family reasons. Being an MP has taken a considerable toll on me.'

Mr Bell, who acted as an assistant whip since November last year, added he was proud to have served in Mr Sunak's Government, and thanked his wife and three children for their support and 'sacrifices'.

Mr Knight sat as an independent MP until Parliament was dissolved this week ahead of the General Election.

He was stripped of the Tory whip shortly after Mr Sunak became PM when it was revealed he was being investigated by police over a claim of serious sexual assault.

Both the Metropolitan Police and Essex Police dropped their probes into Mr Knight, who has always denied the allegations, but the Conservatives did not restore the party's whip to him.

He posted on Twitter, formerly known as X, this afternoon: 'After discussions with family, Conservative members and constituents I have decided to run as an independent in the forthcoming election.

'Solihull deserves more than a whips-appointed candidate who doesn't get the issues.

'It's important that having been forced out of the party after an entirely false allegation, which is now being investigated by police for perversion of the course of justice, it's important to make a stand.

'People should not lose their position because of a false allegation.'

Mr Knight's decision to run against the Tory candidate in the newly created Solihull West and Shirley seat causes a headache for Mr Sunak.

He added: 'I will be campaigning on local issues  the election is over and Rishi has proven a disastrous campaigner so in a Parliament dominated by Labour, Solihull would be best served by an independent.'

The latest YouGov tracker poll ahead of the General Election found the Conservatives on just 21 per cent, with Labour on 46 per cent.

The advantage was down two points overall since the beginning of the week, but the change was within the margin of error.

The effective standstill will be a disappointment as high-profile Tory policy announcements on tax cuts for pensioners and axing 'rip off' degrees received backing.

Compulsory national service was endorsed as an idea by 57 per cent of over-65s - a target group for the Tories - although by just 18 per cent of 18-24 year-olds.

Meanwhile, there are signs that Reform has gained support after a series of high-profile interventions from Nigel Farage.

The latest YouGov tracker poll ahead of the General Election found the Conservatives on just 21 per cent, with Labour on 46 per cent

Keir Starmer's advantage was down two points overall since the beginning of the week, but the change was within the margin of error

There are signs that Reform has gained support after a series of high-profile interventions from Nigel Farage

Although the Brexit champion has decided against standing for a seat on 4 July, he has been hammering home messages on immigration - including brutal clashes with Piers Morgan last night on the BBC's Question Time programme.

YouGov found Reform's support had risen from 12 per cent to 15 per cent in the past few days.

So far there have been few signs of the narrowing in the polls that CCHQ have been hoping for, although five weeks of the campaign remain.

Mr Sunak will be desperate to land solid hits on Keir Starmer when they face off in the first TV debate on Tuesday.

Research by JL Partners shared exclusively with the Daily Mail found only four in ten have 'definitely decided' how to vote.

But in a sign of the mountain the Tories still have to climb, the survey gave Labour a 23 point lead.

Overall, it put Labour on a 47 per cent vote share, with the Tories on 24 per cent, and Reform UK on 11 per cent.

The poll also suggests Sir Keir Starmer and Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves are more trusted with running the economy than the PM and Jeremy Hunt.

And the Labour leader is named as the best prime minister by 37 per cent to 19 per cent  though nearly half of all voters say they do not know.

He is, however, perceived as 'dull' and 'indecisive', while Mr Sunak is branded 'out of touch' and 'out of his depth'.

Nearly two thirds  63 per cent  of voters expect the election to result in a Labour majority, with just 5 per cent predicting a Tory majority.

Overall, only 42 per cent of those surveyed said they had definitely decided how to vote, while 27 per cent said they were leaning towards a party but may change their mind.

Some 13 per cent said they were 'completely undecided' but would probably vote, 13 per cent said they 'probably won't vote', while 5 per cent 'don't know'.

And only 54 per cent of 2019 Conservatives voters switching to Labour say they have definitely decided how to vote.
Nineteen heroic Ukrainian defenders of Snake Island were liberated today in a PoW exchange with Russia.

They became an international symbol of Ukrainian resistance at the start of the brutal war some 27 months ago, after telling a Russian warship: 'Go f*** yourself.'

They were among 75 from each side swapped in a new release deal.

On the Ukrainian side it also included defenders of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant which briefly fell under Russian control, and fighters from Mariupol.

The returnees were seen singing a patriotic song led by former PoW Konstantin Mirgorodsky as they were driven to meet their families after release from detention in Russia.

A Ukrainian serviceman shouts 'Glory to Ukraine' after returning from captivity during POWs exchange in Sumy region, Ukraine

Ukraine returned 75 prisoners, including four civilians, in the latest exchange of POWs with Russia

This is only the fourth prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia since the invasion began in February 2022

Many were seen weeping tears of joy upon returning to Ukraine

Snake Island (pictured) in the Black Sea hit the headlines at the start of the war when heroic defenders famously radioed an approaching Russian cruiser to 'Go f*** yourself'

Upon arrival, they whooped and cheered as they joined their loved ones in Ukraine.

Some knelt and kissed the ground, while many wrapped themselves in yellow-blue flags.

They hugged one another, breaking into tears. Many appeared emaciated and poorly dressed.

One emotional returnee today was Ukrainian policewoman Maryana Chechelyuk, 24, who had been feared dead after being held in Olenivka detention centre where dozens of Ukrainians PoWs died in a massacre.

The young police officer had been in the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol when defenders surrendered to Putin's forces.

She was separated from her younger sister and taken to a brutal filtration camp.

In August 2022 human rights activists expressed alarm over her fate in Russian hands.

Snake - or Zmiyinyi - Island in the Black Sea hit the headlines at the start of the war when heroic defenders famously radioed an approaching Russian cruiser to 'Go f*** yourself'.

Nineteen heroic Ukrainian defenders of Snake Island were liberated today in a PoW exchange with Russia

The 19 men taken from Snake Island (pictured) were released as part of a prisoner swap with Russia

Volodymyr Zelensky (pictured) said today: 'Throughout all of this time, we have not stopped working for a single day to bring everyone home from Russian captivity.'

Ukrainian defenders on the island spent more than 800 days in Russian captivity.

The Russians grabbed the island but later retreated in a humiliating setback for Vladimir Putin which was styled bizarrely a 'gesture of goodwill' by Moscow.

The Russian vessel - the Moskva, flagship of the Black Sea Fleet - was later sunk in a Ukrainian missile strike, perhaps Putin's biggest single setback of the war.

The strategic rock outcrop was visited by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to mark the 500th day of the war.

He said today: 'Throughout all of this time, we have not stopped working for a single day to bring everyone home from Russian captivity.

'We remember every person.

One emotional returnee today was Ukrainian policewoman Maryana Chechelyuk, 24, (pictured) who had been feared dead

Ukrainian defenders on the island spent more than 800 days in Russian captivity

It was the first PoW exchange since February

The prisoners of war were greeted by their friends and families

They were seen singing songs on the bus ride back to their loved ones

'We are making every effort to find each and every one of our people. I am grateful to the team responsible for the exchanges.'

Zelensky said when he visited the island: 'This small piece of land in the middle of our Black Sea is a great proof that Ukraine will return to itself every part of its territory.

'I want to thank you from this very place.

'Victories to each of our soldiers for these 500 days, our armed forces, our intelligence.'

He praised all the Ukrainian services for the defence of the country against Putin's invaders.

'We are moving forward Thank you to each and every one of you.'

The captured soldiers whooped and cheered when they returned home

The same number of Russians, 75, were also returned home in a swap brokered by the United Arab Emirates.

It was the first PoW exchange since February, and only the fourth prisoner swap this year and the 52nd since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. It included a total of 150 POWs and the United Arab Emirates helped negotiate this latest exchange, the Foreign Ministry in Kyiv said.

The two sides have traded blame for what they say is a slowdown in the swaps.

Ukraine has in the past urged Russia to swap 'all for all' and rallies calling for the release of POWs take place across Ukraine weekly. A Ukrainian official at the headquarters coordinating the exchanges, Vitalii Matviienko said that 'Ukraine is always ready.'

Tatyana Moskalkova, Russia's human rights ombudsperson, said earlier this week that Kyiv was making 'new artificial demands,' without elaborating.
Some of the Republicans who previously risked their political careers to vote to impeach Donald Trump say the conviction against him in New York on Thursday was flawed.

In 2021 seven GOP Senators and 10 House Republicans voted to convict and impeach Trump for inciting an insurrection. Trump, in turn, unleashed hellfire on them in the 2022 primaries and only two remain in the House.

Only one in the Senate - Lisa Murkowski, Alaska - had been up for reelection.

Here's what they have to say about Trump being found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records for hush money payments to Stormy Daniels:

Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., said: 'Given the way the defense was conducted, the trial was managed, the jury was instructed, and the DA's desire to fulfill a campaign promise, the guilty verdict was not surprising.'

Some of the Republicans who previously risked their political careers to vote to impeach Donald Trump say the conviction against him in New York on Thursday was flawed

He went on: 'The jury was led to believe that two misdemeanors make a felony and that a state court could enforce federal law. None of this seems right. The rule of law should apply equally to both parties. I disagree with the verdict.'

Cassidy has been unafraid to criticize Trump in the past. He's repeatedly called on him to drop out of the running and called the race a 'sorry state of affairs' in March.

In April Trump knocked him right back. 'One of the worst Senators in the United States Senate is, without question, Bill Cassidy, A TOTAL FLAKE,' he wrote on Truth Social.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, one of the Senate's most prominent moderates, insisted the case was political.

'It is fundamental to our American system of justice that the government prosecutes cases because of alleged criminal conduct regardless of who the defendant happens to be. In this case the opposite has happened. The district attorney, who campaigned on a promise to prosecute Donald Trump, brought these charges precisely because of who the defendant was rather than because of any specified criminal conduct,' she said in a statement.

'The political underpinnings of this case further blur the lines between the judicial system and the electoral system, and this verdict likely will be the subject of a protracted appeals process,' she warned.

Collins said she would not endorse Trump even after if he is the GOP nominee.

The rest of the Senate GOP who voted to convict were largely quiet.

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, declined to comment. He's previously said it is 'embarrassing' for lawmakers to show up in front of the courthouse to defend Trump, but that President Biden should have pardoned his political opponent.

A pair of senators who voted to impeach Trump said they did not agree with the verdict in the Trump hush money case

'He should have fought like crazy to keep this prosecution from going forward,' Romney said, referring to Biden. 'It was a win-win for Donald Trump.'

'I do. ... You may disagree with this, but had I been President Biden, when the Justice Department brought on indictments, I would have immediately pardoned him. I'd have pardoned President Trump. Why? Well, because it makes me, President Biden, the big guy and the person I pardoned a little guy.'

But, he said of the string of lawmakers traveling to the Manhattan courthouse to appear with Trump: 'I think its a little demeaning to show up in front of a courthouseand particularly one where were talking about an allegation of paying a porn star. Its really very difficult to watch...Theres a level of dignity and decorum that you expect of people who are running for the highest station in the land and going out and prostrating themselves in front of the public to try and, apparently, curry favor with the person whos our nominee is a little embarrassing.'

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, could not be reached for comment. Sens. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., Ben Sasse, R-Neb., and Richard Burr, R-N.C., have since retired.

Rep. Peter Meijer, R-Mich., who narrowly lost his 2022 primary to Trump-endorsed John Gibbs who then lost to a Democrat, expressed disappointment in the ruling on X.

He retweeted a series of warnings: 'This is wrong, it's dangerous, & it's inevitably going to take us to ever-darker places where those of us who believe in clear, written law applied impartially are ever more isolated.'

'Gonna be wild when Trump appeals a conviction based upon questionable legal theories all to the way to the Supreme Court and you suddenly realize why the Left has been methodically laying so much groundwork in advance trying to tar SCOTUS as corrupt,' read another retweet.

Former Rep. Justin Amash, the lone Republican to vote to impeach Trump in 2019 over his phone call with Ukraine, wrote on X: 'Set aside the politics. Todays verdict is an affront to the Rule of Law and a perversion of justice. Bragg weaponized the legal system to indict Trump on charges that never would have been brought against anyone else. This selective and abusive prosecution will further undermine confidence in our Constitution and divide America. It must not stand.'

Amash did not run for reelection in 2020 but launched a brief run for Senate this year that he's now suspended.

Former Reps. Adam Kinzinger, Ill., who led the January 6th committee, praised the ruling in multiple posts on X. 'Justice is fair and equal. Don't break the law,' he said.

The jury of seven men and five women made their decision as the former President faced 34 counts of falsifying business records. His sentencing date is set for July 11.

It comes after five weeks of dramatic evidence and 22 witnesses being quizzed on the stand.

The case is the first time a former U.S. President has faced a criminal trial.

The Trump team has vowed to appeal the conviction. He will now face the Appellate Division in Manhattan, and possibly the Court of Appeals, and will remain free on bail while he appeals.

The charges Trump faced each carried a maximum potential sentence of up to four years in prison.

Jurors had the option of convicting Trump of all counts, acquitting him of all counts, or delivering a mixed verdict in which he was found guilty of some charges and not others.

Falsifying business records would typically be a lower-level misdemeanor, but his charges have been raised to felony level because of a second crime: attempting to influence the 2016 election.

The judge could consider the unprecedented nature of the case and choose not to put a former president and current candidate behind bars.
A Manhattan jury's guilty verdict on 34 counts isn't the end of Donald Trump's legal struggle in the Stormy Daniels case  it is just the beginning of what will be a lengthy appeals process.

Trump, whose lawyers dragged out a subpoena for tax information for years while he was in president and who have successfully delayed federal cases in Washington, D.C. and Georgia, have already said they will appeal.

Legal experts say it could be years until they are done.

'We'll keep fighting. We'll fight til the end and we'll win, because our country's gone to hell,' a defiant Trump said Thursday shortly after the verdict came in.

During a half hour statement at Trump Tower Friday, Trump touched on two areas that his team will raise on appeal  the location of the trial and the judge.

We wanted a venue change where we could have a fair trial. We didn't get it,' he fumed. 'We wanted a judge who wasn't conflicted,' he said.

That process is certain to extend beyond the November elections, and could run beyond a year.

Former President Donald Trump blasted the verdict and attacked the judge as 'conflicted.' His lawyer Todd Blanche, r, has said there were 'unfair' and vowed to fight the verdict 'vigorously'

Trump's move to appeal will come within weeks, said lawyer Todd Blanche.

'We have motions due in a couple weeks in front of Judge Merchan, which we're going to vigorously fight,' he told CNN.

He didn't tip his hand, but said there were 'Things that happened during the trial that we think just made the trial unfair, including the testimony of Ms. Daniels. If that is not successful then as soon as we can appeal, we will,' he said.

He was referencing testimony by the former porn star that got into highly personal areas. She testified that Trump did not wear a condom during their 2006 sexual encounter, which Trump denies ever happened.

She even described the 'missionary' position of the alleged sex, and said she spanked Trump with a magazine during their encounter in a Lake Tahoe hotel room.

Judge Merchan expressed surprise when Trump's team complained about the testimony that they hadn't raised more objections.

Trump himself referenced 'salacious' parts of the trial that had 'nothing to do with the case.'

Blanche would file notice of appeal within weeks. The entire process could drag on for more than a year

Trump blasted Judge Juan Merchan for allowing 'salacious' testimony by porn star Stormy Daniels

The appeal process follows a criminal trial that ran five weeks. Any Trump sentence that is imposed would almost certainly be put on hold pending appeal

Trump on Friday complained about 'salacious' testimony by porn star Stormy Daniels. Legal experts believe that is an area Trump's team will raise on appeal

Trump's next move will be at the Appellate Division Courthouse of New York State, First Department. He could also try to involve the U.S. Supreme Court

Retired New York Judge George Grasso agreed Trump's team would raise that issue on appeal.

'Theyre going to claim that the testimony of Stormy Daniels was too salacious, outside the bounds, prejudiced the jury,' he told Reuters.

Trump's next step will be to turn to the Appellate Division, First Department to try to overturn his 34-count conviction.

One upside beyond the chance of reversing the decision: Trump can almost certainly suspend any prison sentence pending the appeal.

He must inform the court of his intention to appeal within 30 days of Thursday's verdict.

'We are going to appeal as quickly as we can,' Trump lawyer Will Scharf told Fox News. 'We will seek expedited review of this case.'

Trump's team isn't ruling out trying to bring the case to the U.S. Supreme Court, which decided to intervene in his Washington, D.C. election interference case by hearing his claims of presidential immunity.

'Actually, Trump could get this up to the U.S. Supreme Court and ultimately prevail, John Yoo, a former Justice Department official during the George W. Bush administration, told Fox News.

President Joe Biden even addressed Trump's right to appeal during remarks at the White House, where he defended the jury process and condemned Trump's 'reckless' decision to call the trial 'rigged just because you don't like the verdict.'

He said Trump has the 'opportunity to appeal that decision just like everyone else has that opportunity. Thats how the American system works,' he said.
Locals in a picturesque Surrey village have voiced fears that a 'do not drink notice' issued by Thames Water could be in place for weeks.

A total of 616 homes in Bramley, south of Guildford, have been told their water is currently unsafe to drink following the discovery of hydrocarbons  a chemical compound which forms the basis for crude oil, natural gas and coal.

Samples collected on Thursday after a fuel leak from the village petrol station suggested 'a possible deterioration in quality' of drinking water 'in some areas'.

Residents said they have been forced to travel to the village library to collect bottled water - including a mother who needs water to feed her disabled daughter.

It comes as locals in Devon are still boiling tap water following a parasite outbreak in their water supply, with cases of infection now reaching 100.

Residents in Bramley have been forced to travel to the village library to collect bottled water after a fuel leak at a nearby petrol station - including Sian Jones (pictured) who needs water to feed her disabled daughter

SURREY: Residents collecting water from a collecting point in the village

SURREY: Thames Water staff distribute bottles water in Bramley, Surrey where the petrol station is believed to be the source of water pollution in the village

Sian Jones, 58, said: 'My 20-year-old daughter is disabled and needs to be fed through a feeding tube.

Households in Bramley have been issued the following 'do not drink' notice:

Don't drink the tap water yourself or give it to pets Don't prepare or cook food using tap water Don't use tap water to brush your teeth Don't use tap water even after boiling You can use tap water to wash and to flush the toilet after use Advertisement

'That requires water, and so this is a pain.

'The concern also is that this was caused by a leak from 2016 - so have we all been drinking water with low levels of petrol for a while?

'We don't know when this started for sure. So it's definitely a worry in terms of the health impact.'

Thames Water has been regularly collecting and assessing water samples in Bramley following a historical fuel leak at the petrol station.

She added: 'If it all gets cleaned up and the water gets working - and the petrol station stops poisoning us all - then happy days.

'But we don't know when that's going to be.'

Mother-of-three Victoria Seagrim, 45, is also worried about the health impacts - particularly as her daughter has been ill for the past week.

She said: 'My 13-year-old has been nauseous and vomiting recently, so I'm obviously now thinking, is this because of the water?

'Of course, it could be a coincidence - but we just don't know.'

Ms Seagrim said she had to rush down to the library to collect water in the middle of her working day.

Sian Jones in Bramley, Surrey where the petrol station is believed to be the source of water pollution in the village

SURREY: The petrol station that has caused the leak meaning local residents cant drink the water in Bramley

SURREY: A Thames water van drives past the petrol station which is believed to be the source of water pollution in the village

SURREY: Bramley residents at a bottled water station after being told not to drink tap water

A Bramley resident carrying bottles of water from a water station

'I work full-time but I've had to come down here to get water - particularly as the kids are on half term and they all drink about three litres a day,' she said.

'It's stressful because we don't know when it will be fixed. It could be days - could be weeks.

'We also don't know how long the water has been contaminated. How long have we been unknowingly drinking it?'

Heather Aitken, 72, had similar concerns. She said: 'To get a message saying, "Don't drink the water" It's shambolic. That shouldn't be happening in a First World country.

'It's a huge health concern. I feel particularly sorry for the people with young kids.'

Ms Aitken also said that the water wasn't the only thing the petrol station is affecting.

She said: 'The petrol station - and all the works - is causing these ridiculous traffic jams.

'So I live on the high street - and I'm also disturbed by all the fumes. We're breathing it all in and it's awful.

'The thing is - none of us want the petrol station to be reinstated. We don't need it. We have other ones. So it's causing all these issues and no one wants it.'

SURREY: Thames Water staff distribute bottles water in Bramley, Surrey where the petrol station is believed to be the source of water pollution in the village

SURREY: Residents must collect water from stations after a suspected fuel leak saw them issued with 'do not drink' warnings

SURREY: A local woman speaking to a Thames Water worker at a bottled water station in Bramley

SURREY: Residents getting water from a collection point in Bramley today after a fuel a leak

Another local, who did not want to be named, agreed. 'I'm moving out of the village because of the constant traffic caused by all the works,' he said.

'It's a shame because I love it here - and I try to support all the local businesses because they're being affected by the loss of footfall, but it's just unsustainable.'

Households in Bramley have been warned not to drink their tap water or use it for cooking, or brushing their teeth, but they can continue to use the water to shower and wash their hands.

Two bottled water stations have been set up in the village at Bramley Community Library and Artington Park and Ride and will be open until 9pm tonight.

The warning threatens to be an election setback for Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, the MP for the constituency.

The Conservative MP yesterday had a call with the UKHSA, DEFRA, Thames Water and Asda who acquired the village petrol station.

SURREY: Thames Water has been regularly collecting and assessing water samples in Bramley following a historical fuel leak from the village petrol station (pictured) now operated by ASDA

SURREY: Thames Water tests revealed hydrocarbons in the supply following a previous fuel leak. Pictured: The ASDA petrol station

A map depicting the village of Bramley, south of Guildford, where the 'do not drink' notice has been issued by Thames Water

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Mr Hunt held a meeting with Thames Water CEO Chris Weston in April to discuss water outages, slow compensation payments and sewage spills. He is due to hold another public meeting in June.

It comes as cases of cryptosporidium, a parasite that primarily infects people through faeces-contaminated drinking water has now reached 100.

Most of the infections are in Devon but outbreaks have also been reported in Oxfordshire and Worcestershire over the past two months.

The most serious outbreak relates to faecal-contaminated drinking water in Brixham, Devon, which started earlier this month.

However, dozens more Brits, including children, have fallen severely ill since the end of March after outbreaks at petting farms.

Whole streets in Brixham have been infected with victims forced to endure days of diarrhoea and agonising stomach cramps, with one sufferer even comparing them to 'childbirth.

SURREY: Households in Bramley have been warned not to drink their tap water or use it for cooking, or brushing their teeth, but they can continue to use the water to shower and wash their hands

A total of 616 homes in Bramley, (pictured) south of Guildford, have been told their water contains high levels of hydrocarbons, making it unsafe to drink

Residents have been forced to boil water for over a week to make it safe to drink, with some shops running out of bottled supplies due to panic-buying.

The source of the outbreak appears to be damaged air valve in the water supply line which 'may have allowed animal waste or contaminated groundwater to enter the local supply'.

While faecal contaminated water is the classic way people get infected with cryptosporidium there are other ways you could be struck down with the bug.

One of these is direct contact with infected animals, a fate that potentially seems to have befallen dozens of Brits in recent months.

A spokesperson for Thames Water said: 'Thames Water would like to reassure its customers that the village water supply has been safe to drink up to this point, as confirmed through its rigorous water testing, which has also been subject to regular review working alongside UKHSA throughout this period.'

DEVON: South West Water handing out emergency rations of bottled water to anyone affected by the Cryptosporidium outbreak in Torbay

DEVON: Locals in Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and north-east Paignton in Devon were all told to boil water as a precaution

DEVON: Bottled water has been supplied to residents in Brixham following an outbreak of cryptosporidium in the water supply

DEVON: South West Water unloading crates of bottled water to distribute to locals in south Devon

DEVON: Staff from South West Water at the scene of the outbreak at Hillhead Farm in Brixham

Tess Fayers, Operations Director for the Thames Valley and Home Counties said: 'We are asking 616 Bramley properties not to drink the tap water following recent water sampling results.

'The health and safety of our customers is our number one priority, and we would like to reassure residents that this is a precautionary measure. We are in the process of delivering letters and bottled water to the affected properties.

'We are also identifying locations to set up bottled water stations, and we will share this information with our customers as soon as possible.

'We are already on site in the village, proactively replacing sections of our pipes on Horsham Road to reduce the risk to our customers.'

An Asda spokesperson said: 'We are continuing to work closely with Thames Water and other partners to address the issues we inherited after acquiring the Bramley PFS site. We recognise the impact this has had on the residents of Bramley and share their frustrations. We are committed to working with all parties to resolve this situation as quickly as possible.'

Meanwhile, Britain's greatest beauty spots and most stunning waterways are being continually polluted by water companies who say it is 'not cost beneficial' to upgrade the network to prevent leakage in half of all cases, MailOnline can reveal.

DEVON: Hillhead Reservoir, the underground reservoir where the outbreak of bacteria is thought to have originated

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In the last year alone, beauty spots in Cumbria, the Cotswolds, Cornwall and Sussex have all seen enormous sewage spills blighting the lives of residents and desecrating the natural environment.

Earlier this month, it was revealed million of litres of raw sewage had 'illegally pumped' into Lake Windermere in the Lake District after a fault.

Data analysis by MailOnline shows water firms decided there was 'no cost beneficial solution' to prevent 280 discharge sites in England that, due to lack of capacity, pumped untreated sewage into rivers and seas for hundreds of hours last year.

The 280 sites across the country comprise 48 per cent of 582 offending sites - which discharged for a total of nearly 375,000 hours last year - where a decision on whether to resolve the issue or not has been made.
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With a string of chart-topping hits including Dancing Queen, Waterloo and Mamma Mia, they remain one of pop music's most enduring bands.

And today ABBA were reunited as they were honoured with a prestigious knighthood in their home country of Sweden.

More than 40 years since their last performance, Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad were awarded the royal Order of Vasa as 'Commander of the First Class' for 'very outstanding efforts in Swedish and international music life'. The first time in 50 years that the first Order of the Vasa was handed out.

The order, which is given in recognition of personal efforts for Sweden, as well as the successful performance of public duties, had been dormant until late 2022, when it was reactivated after regulations opened the Royal Orders to Swedish citizens again.

ABBA's Eurovision victory in 1974 turned the band into a pop juggernaut. This year, the band is celebrating 50 years since their Eurovision win, which set their successful music career in motion.

The group's melodic disco pop has sold around 400million records worldwide while the hit stage musical 'Mamma Mia!' based on their songs is now 25 years old and has spawned two Hollywood movies starring Meryl Streep, Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth.

Meanwhile, the ABBA Voyage concert opened in London in 2022, an immersive experience with 'Abbatars', or augmented reality versions of the band, performing their greatest hits on stage.

The name ABBA is an acronym of the members' first names: Agnetha Faltskog, Bjorn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad.

Reunited: Pop quartet Abba pose outside the Royal Palace in Stockholm before receiving Royal Vasa Order from Swedish king and queen for their contribution to the country's cultural scene

Abba pictured together in the grounds of the Royal Palace in Sweden before collecting knighthoods

Agnetha Faltskog arriving at the Royal Palace in Stockholm to receive the Vasa Order from King Carl XVI Gustaf on Friday

The order is given in recognition of personal efforts for Sweden, as well as the successful performance of public duties

This was the first time in 50 years that the first Order of the Vasa was handed out

Abba stand alongside eachother as they are awarded the Royal Vasa Order by the Swedish monarch

The Royal Order of Vasa was awarded to a total of 13 Swedes, which included two 2023 Nobel Prize winners: French-Swedish physicist Anne L'Huillier, and Svante Paabo, who won the coveted award in physics and medicine

This year, the band is celebrating 50 years since their Eurovision win, which set their successful music career in motion

Iconic music group Abba is photographed collecting their knighthoods

The four members of Abba music group are seen smiling after collecting their knighthoods today at the Royal Palace in Stockholm

Earlier this year, candidates were nominated by the public and the Swedish government, with King Carl XVI Gustaf approving the nominees that included the quartet

King Carl XVI Gustaf and queen Silvia award the Royal Order of Vasa to Abba member Bjorn Ulvaeus at the Royal Palace in Stockholm on Friday

Taken in 1974 in Stockholm, picture shows music group Abba posing after winning the Eurovision song contest with their song 'Waterloo', which placed their music on the global stage

Earlier this year, candidates were nominated by the public and the Swedish government, with King Carl XVI Gustaf approving the nominees that included the Abba quartet.

The monarch handed out orders to '13 exceptional Swedes,' including two 2023 Nobel Prize winners: French-Swedish physicist Anne L'Huillier, and Svante Paabo, who won the coveted award in physics and medicine.

The ceremony took place at the Royal Palace in Stockholm.

Throughout the majority of its existence, the band was made up of the two married couples of Faltskog and Ulvaeus, and Andersson and Lyngstad.

After the former couple announced they were getting divorced in January 1979, Abba fans were left reeling. While both insisted the divorce was amicable and said fans should not worry, Bjorn turned up with a new girlfriend - TV presenter Lena Kallersjo - just 'days' after they separated.

However, Agnetha later said she needed counselling after the divorce left her feeling 'mangled'.

Two years later, in 1981, Bjorn married Lena Kallersjo - just six months after being granted a divorce from Agnetha - and he had another two children with his second wife. The pair divorced in 2022 after 41 years and two children together.

ABBA: Agnetha Faltskog (front left), Bjorn Ulvaeus (back right), Benny Andersson (left), and Anni-Frid Lyngstad (front right)

Chart-toppers: Agnetha with husband Bjorn, left, and Abba bandmates Anni-Frid and Benny, right, in 1975

Reclusive: Agnetha Faltskog, pictured on the island of Ekero, near Stockholm, in 1999

And in the same year, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad's marriage - which began in 1978 - also fell apart, resulting in a divorce.

After a tour, they returned to the studio in 1982, but realised that with both couples divorced, it was no longer any fun being Abba.

Faltskog, a single mother, felt guilty because of the time she had to spend away from her children while on tour.

She also suffered from overwhelming anxiety and her fear of flying - prompted by a terrifying experience on a private jet when the band was caught in a storm - got more severe and became a phobia of all travel.

And she found the fans terrifying, believing their 'shouting, boiling, hysterical' screaming was born of hate rather than admiration.

She would have terrible daydreams in which they set upon her and consumed her. After Abba broke up, Agnetha retreated. For years afterwards she didn't even listen to music.

The pain of the split was immortalised in the hit The Winner Takes It All, and many fans have wondered over the years if Bjorn was being deliberately cruel in asking his ex-wife to sing the tragic lyric: 'Tell me does she kiss like I used to kiss you?'

In 1990, Agnetha married for a second time  to divorced Swedish surgeon Tomas Sonnenfeld. The marriage was conducted, at Agnetha's insistence, in secrecy, and became public knowledge only after it disintegrated three years later.

ABBA legends Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson revealed they could still be heard at Glastonbury as they spoke at Monday's Q&A for the second anniversary of Abba Voyage

Every night the digital avatars perform their show in front of a 10-piece live 'hero' band (pictured) and it's been suggested they could perform at Glastonbury in ABBAs place

The iconic hologram show has pumped 322million into the British economy - with more than a million tickets bought at up to 181.50 each

For many years after Abba's break-up, Anni-Frid looked for family happiness.

She briefly moved to London before settling in Switzerland where, in 1992, she married a member of one of German's royal houses, becoming Her Serene Highness Princess Anni-Frid of Reuss.

But tragedy was never far away. In 1998, her daughter, then 30, was killed in a car crash in New York,

The following year she lost her third husband, Heinrich Ruzzo Prinz Reuss von Plauen, to cancer.

For months afterwards she disappeared from public life and later spoke of how her faith in God had helped her overcome the trauma.

But, in recent years, she has found contentment, living happily in the Swiss mountain resort of Zermatt with WHSmith heir Viscount Hambleden.

Despite the band's tetchy relationships, Bjorn and Benny revealed this week that ABBA could still be heard at Glastonbury, five years after insisting they wouldn't reform for the festival.

In recent years, the band - which also features Agnetha Faltskog and Anni-Frid Lyngstad - have been appearing on stage as holograms at the groundbreaking Abba Voyage show in London.

Every night the digital avatars perform their show in front of a 10-piece live 'hero' band. And Bjorn and Benny have suggested the hero band could recreate the experience at Glastonbury.

Following their 1980 divorce, Benny took up with Swedish TV personality Mona Norklit, to whom he has been married since 1981 and with whom he has a son, Ludwig

The remaining two members of the group, Benny (far right) and Anni-Frid (second from right), married in 1978 after a nine-year relationship but sadly divorced in 1981

Bjorn married Lena Kallersjo just six months after the divorce and they split in 2022, having also had two children (pictured in 2003)

During Monday's Q&A for the second-anniversary celebration of Abba Voyage, host Pete Paphides suggested that the Abba Voyage live band could go to Glastonbury, to which Bjorn replied: 'Oh yes!'

As the crowd cheered him on, Bjorn continued: 'I think that's a brilliant idea' as Benny added: 'you'd need to ask the band.'

Texas' Sharleen Spiteri then asked the songwriting duo if they'd ever considered playing with the hero band during a Voyage show, with Benny confessing: 'Definitely. Maybe if they play Glastonbury and need an extra piano player'

Bjorn previously revealed it wouldn't be possible to take the full ABBA Voyage experience - complete with avatars - on tour. Asked by NME last year if it could feature at Glastonbury, Bjorn shared: 'I don't think that's possible, yet. It might be in the future.

'As it is, it's too complicated because the lighting, the sound, the visuals, everything is integrated and it's so complicated.'

As for the real life members of ABBA, there's no chance of seeing them on the Pyramid Stage. Quizzed about it on Radio 2's Zoe Ball Breakfast Show in 2019, Bjorn said: 'Oh no, it's a straight, straight no.'

'We recorded some new songs and you'll probably hear them next year, at least one of them, but that's quite a different thing from going through the hassle of rehearsing and  just one show, it would be the same as doing a whole year of tours,' he said. 'It would take 10 years out of our life.'
A policeman who served for four decades in the force has been jailed for 20 years after sexually abusing his two young stepdaughters.

The 64-year-old's shocking crimes were aired in the Adelaide District Court, where it was heard he abused the girls from when they were aged six to 12.

He denied the offending but was found guilty by a judge on two counts of maintaining an unlawful sexual relationship with a child and one count of aggravated assault.

The policeman, who can't be identified, is from regional South Australia, and the court heard that his role in the force left the girls feeling they had nobody to report the abuse to.

A policeman with four decades in the force has been jailed for 20 years after sexually abusing his two young stepdaughters (stock image)

'This was serious offending against two girls who had a right to your protection. Your abuse of them is a breach of trust,' Judge Gordon Barrett said, The Advertiser reported.

'Although you are a person of otherwise good character, your occupation as a police officer was part of the reason why the girls felt that they could not complain about what you were doing.

'Effectively, they thought there was no-one to complain to.'

The former policeman was sentenced to a minimum of 16 years behind bars, and is forbidden from contacting either of the girls in any way.

The man has since become engaged to a woman he met on a dating app, although the pair are yet to meet in person.

The former cop has lodged an application to appeal the conviction.

A court hearing has been listed for November.
The cause of death of a ten-year-old boy has been revealed by police.

Sammy Teusch, from Greenfield, Indiana, died by suicide on May 5 and according to his family, was being bullied up until the night he passed away. He was laid to rest on May 15.

In the investigation release sent to DailyMail.com from the Greenfield Police Department, Chief of Police Brian Hartman detailed their findings.

'It is a sad and devastating time for our Community due to the traumatic and tragic death of a 10 year old child,' the statement began. 'My heart and prayers go out to the family and friends of this child as well as the community and the first responders who were on scene. This is a day the family, community, and first responders will never forget.'

The statement also confirmed what the public had known but dreaded to hear - that Sammy's death was in fact a suicide.

The cause of death of a ten-year-old Sammy Teusch from Greenfield, Indiana has been deemed as a suicide

The ten-year-old boy took his own life after suffering horrific bullying at school, with his family saying he had warned officials 20 times about the ongoing abuse

'The Hancock County Coroner has completed their investigation and ruled this death asphyxiation by strangulation, suicide,' the statement read.

Officials treated the investigation as criminal case, but charges were not filed.

'The Greenfield Police Department has finalized our investigation into the death of the child and there will be no criminal charges filed with the Hancock County Prosecutor.'

Hartman acknowledged the impact Sammy's death has had on their small town, as well as the search for blame to find answers behind the tragedy.

'Over the last couple of weeks, there has been a lot of blame and finger pointing. Any time there is a tragic event, we, as a society, want to place blame on someone or something to help take away the pain we are experiencing and get some understanding. There is enough blame that we all probably own some of this,' he said in the statement.

The family said they complained to the school about the bullying 20 times, but Greenfield Community Schools superintendent Dr. Harold Olin told WTHR that no bullying report was ever submitted by the parents or by Sammy.

Olin added that school administrators and counselors had been in regular contact with the family, but declined to offer specifics of these discussions.

However, Hartman confirmed that school records showed otherwise.

'Through our investigation it is believed there was some bullying taking place in this child's life. Through our investigation the child did encounter some bullying at school, school records show these incidents were addressed,' the statement read.

The chief of police confirmed that the bullying took place within school walls and while Sammy was at home.

'It was also found that bullying was taking place outside the school and sometimes in a place where the child should have felt safest,' the statement read.

In a eulogy from Sammy's funeral service, his neighbor said the 10-year-old seemed popular among the local kids and was often seen with 'the biggest grin on his face'

Sammy's father Sam embraces a pastor at his son's funeral service, where a neighbor recalled the boy 'seemed to suck the darkness out of every corner in the room'

Hartman said that bullying is not just an issue in Greenfield, but is an epidemic nationwide.

'Bullying is an issue in our society, whether you are a child or an adult. No one is allowed to be different or have a different opinion anymore without someone somewhere being disrespectful and saying hurtful things,' the statement read.

'We as a community need to understand we have a problem, no matter the reason for this tragic and untimely death. We have children who feel their lives are so bad that it is not worth living. We need to come together and give these children a life worth living.'

He also said that children face a number of stressors at such a young age, and oftentimes are ill equipped to handle it.

'We as a society place so much pressure on them through social media, sports, school work, having to get a job, as well as helping around the house that we forget they are just kids and have their own stress and so little life experience to deal with it all.'

Pictured: A memorial dedicated to Sammy after his shock suicide

The harassment allegedly escalated to an incident on the school bus where Sammy ridiculed for his glasses and beaten up. The week before his death, Sammy's parents said he was cornered by bullies in the bathroom

A new precedent has been set by the police in regards to how reports of bullying will be handled and documented.

'If you or your child feel they are being bullied at a Greenfield Community School and are afraid to report it to the school, for whatever reason, please contact a Greenfield Police Department School Resource Officer. This will be documented in a CAD Report and the school resource officer will follow up with the school administration,' the statement read.

'Again, my heart and prayers go out to the family, friends, community and first responders. May you find some peace.'

The child's parents Sam and Nichole said he was subjected to both physical and emotional bullying at his school, and was being tormented daily up until the night he passed away.

They explained that the bullying started last year when he was in elementary school, and followed him to Greenfield Intermediate School.

Sammy's parents Nichole and Sam said that the bullying started last year when he was in elementary school, and followed him to Greenfield Intermediate School

Speaking to 21alive, his grandmother Cynthia (pictured) said: 'They can't just say they have zero tolerance because that doesn't mean there is zero tolerance about bullies'

His father told local NBC affiliate WTHR: 'They were making fun of him for his glasses in the beginning, then on to make fun of his teeth. It went on for a long time.'

The harassment allegedly escalated to an incident on the school bus where Sammy ridiculed for his glasses and beaten up. The week before his death, Sammy's parents said he was cornered by bullies in the bathroom.

'I have his broken glasses sitting over there in a memorial shrine that my kids made,' his father told local CBS affiliate WTTV.

Sammy's family said the bullying occurred even when Sammy was at home via Snapchat, despite him having limited access to his phone.

''I'm going to beat you up. I'm going to beat you up when you get to school.' Saying mean things about his (mom), which would really, really set him off,' his father told 21alive.

'[The school] knew this was going on. They knew this was going on,' Sam added.

Speaking to 21alive, his grandmother Cynthia said: 'They can't just say they have zero tolerance because that doesn't mean there is zero tolerance about bullies.

'Their zero tolerance means that they don't have responsibility for it. People trust their kids to the school, but now that trust is breaking down.'

Greenfield-Central Community School said in a statement: 'The death of Samuel Teusch is tragic, and it has left our school corporation and larger community in tremendous grief. Our hearts pour out to the family at this time.

In an email statement to DailyMail.com, Deputy Chief Charles McMichael of the Greenfield Police Department said that Teusch's bullies could face criminal charges (Pictured: Greenfield Intermediate School)

'Sammy was a student in Greenfield-Central for the last year and a half. He finished his 3rd grade year at Weston Elementary School in May of 2023, and he was a 4th grade student at Greenfield Intermediate School during the current 2023-24 school year.

'We were made aware of his death on Sunday afternoon, and we dispatched our crisis response team to both Greenfield Intermediate School and Greenfield Central Junior High School (where he has two siblings) to start the week.

'Our staff in Greenfield-Central has worked with the Teusch family quite a bit over the last 18 months. Contact between school personnel and the parents was frequent.

'The parents did report the manner of death as a suicide, and we are investigating their claims related to bullying.

'While the investigation continues, we are primarily focusing our resources on meeting the immediate needs of the students we serve in Greenfield-Central Schools.'
Cara Mund, who won the Miss America contest in 2018 and is running as a Republican for North Dakota's at-large House seat in Congress, slammed Donald Trump for his felony conviction.

Her attack on Trump puts her in a small group of Republicans who aren't supporting the former president.

'Proud to be the ONLY ND Republican Candidate not worshiping a convicted felon during this election,' the beauty pageant winner posted on X Thursday evening.

'Ill be the voice of ND, not Donald Trump. Ill be the leader who helps move the party back to law and order,' her statement continued, adding 'Ill be on the right side of history!'

Thursday afternoon in a New York courthouse, a 12-person jury found Trump guilty of 34 felonies related to falsifying hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Miss North Dakota 2017 Cara Mund is crowned as Miss America 2018 by Miss America 2017 Savvy Shields during the 2018 Miss America Competition Show at Boardwalk Hall Arena on September 10, 2017 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Mund, who is running for Congress in North Dakota, slammed former President Donald Trump for being convicted of 34 felonies Thursday

Mund has been outspoken during her campaign that she is not in support of the former president, saying 'I will not worship him.'

'At the end of the day, Im not representing Donald Trump. Im representing the people of North Dakota,' Mund has said previously.

In 2022, Mund ran unsuccessfully for office against Rep. Kelly Armstrong, R-N.D., for the state's at-large House seat.

Currently, Mund is polling well behind pro-Trump candidate Julie Fedorchak, according to the North Dakota News Cooperative.

Though the race is still wide open ahead of the June 11 primary as the GOP field is crowded and many voters remain undecided.

Another GOP congressional candidate, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, stopped short of bashing the former president for his criminal conduct, though he did urge voters to respect the case's outcome.

'Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process,' he wrote in a statement Thursday.

Mund, 30, was the first Miss America winner from North Dakota

Cara Mund via her campaign Facebook page

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump walks to speak to the press after he was convicted in his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City

Trump has repeatedly denied that he committed any crimes

'At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leadersregardless of partymust not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship.'

'We must reaffirm what has made this nation,' the statement concluded.

Hogan is running for the Senate as a moderate Republican in his solidly blue home state where he was a popular two-term governor.

And the former Maryland governor has said that if elected Republicans will not always be able to count on his vote, highlighting how moderate he is.

His call for a measured response to the verdict was met with fury by Trump's camp.

'You just ended your campaign,' Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, shot back.
Former President Donald Trump is headed back out on the campaign trail after being convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, and his campaign warns President Biden 'buckle up.'

Trump became the first former U.S. president to ever be convicted of a crime in history. His sentencing is scheduled for July 11.

The ex-president and presumptive Republican presidential nominee is holding a press conference at Trump Tower in Manhattan at 11am ET.

It is his first event since the New York jury found the presidential hopeful guilty.

For seven weeks, Trump has been largely stuck inside the Manhattan criminal court to stand trial. His campaign events took place mostly on weekends and Wednesdays when court was not in session.

But his campaign said that is all about to change.

Donald Trump returning to Trump Tower after a jury found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records

'Crooked Joe Biden and the Democrats confined President Trump to a courtroom for more than eight hours a day for more than six weeks, and hes still winning,' Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt told Fox News Digital.

'Now that he is fully back on the campaign trial, Biden and the Democrats better buckle up,' she added.

Despite being in court the majority of his time, Trump held a rancorous rally last week in the Bronx, a county where he received less than 16 percent of the vote in 2020.

He also held another rally earlier this month on the beach in Wildwood, New Jersey.

But the president has regularly expressed frustration that the trial was keeping him from the campaign trail.

Trump to hold press conference at Trump Tower in first event after his conviction

On Friday morning, his campaign announced it had raked in a whopping $34.8 million after the verdict came in, nearly double the biggest day ever recorded for the Trump campaign on the GOP fundraising platform WinRed.

'From just minutes after the sham trial verdict was announced, our digital fundraising system was overwhelmed with support,' said Trump campaign senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles in a statement.

They noted the massive haul came in despite temporary delays online due to traffic. It even caused the ex-president's website to temporarily crash.

'Not only was the amount historic, but 29.7% of yesterday's donor's were brand new donors to the WinRed platform,' they said. 'President Trump and our campaign are immensely grateful from this outpouring of support from patriots across our country.'

Trump leaving the courtroom after being found guilty on all counts in his hush money trial. The ex-president said the real verdict would be Election Day

After the verdict came in, Trump said the 'real verdict' will be on November 5 which is Election Day.

The New York case was the first to go to trial. Trump is facing three other criminal cases with a total of 54 counts against him.

He is accused of mishandling classified documents in the Special Counsel Jack Smith case out of Florida after hundreds of documents including ones with classified markings were removed from his Mar-a-Lago estate after he left office.

He is also charged in two election interference cases including one out of Washington for trying to overturn the 2020 election and the attack on January 6, 2021 and another in Georgia on allegations he tried to overturn the state's 2020 election results.

Trial dates for the other cases have not been set and his team as been successful in delaying start dates.
Nigel Farage has said he is now 'more certain' of Donald Trump beating Joe Biden in November's presidential election following the Republican nominee's felony conviction.

Trump yesterday became the first former President in US history to be found guilty of a crime after a Manhattan jury convicted him on 34 charges of falsifying business records to conceal a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Now Farage, a staunch ally of Trump, has hit out at the trial on GB News, labelling it a 'disgrace' and claiming that the jury and judge were 'politicized'.

Echoing claims made by the Trump camp that the trial was 'rigged', Farage said the Biden administration and judiciary had 'massively overplayed their hand'. Prosecutors have dismissed such accusations as untrue.

Farage, who is the honorary president of Reform UK, announced last week that he would not be standing in the UK general election on July 4 as he instead wanted to focus on supporting Trump in his campaign for the White House.

Farage, who is the honorary president of Reform UK, announced last week that he would not be standing in the UK general election on July 4 as he instead wanted to focus on supporting Trump

The apparent first meeting between Trump and Farage back in 2016 when the former Apprentice host was in the midst of his first presidential campaign

The former European parliament member and UKIP leader said he has 'absolutely huge regrets' that he did not stand as an MP - which he said he would have done had the vote been in six months rather than six weeks' time.

But, he said, 'of course I'm going to stand up to defend Donald Trump... because I believe the world, uncertain as it is, will be a much safer place with him in the White House than Joe Biden.'

He also pointed to an apparent surge in support for the GOP nominee after the news broke, highlighting, as Trump's team has, that his donation page 'crashed' amid an influx in traffic.

Farage did admit however that those who support Trump would back him, while those who are against him would welcome Thursday's verdict and see it as the judicial system functioning.

'The real key thing is what happens to those in the middle,' he said. 'My guess is, fair minded Americans will feel this is not showing their country in a positive light and this is probably the biggest election boost he could have had.'

Trump and Farage have been campaigning together for years and are known to be good friends, with both men consistently heaping praise on each other.

The American real estate tycoon called Farage a 'handsome guy' at an Iowa campaign rally in January, and went on to wish his ally a happy 60th birthday last month.

'You're a historic figure as a prophetic leader, and I know that the people of the UK are grateful for your patriotism and service,' the 77-year-old said in a gushing video message.

Stormy Daniels, a key witness in the trial, with Donald Trump in 2006

'I'm very much looking forward to watching what your next move is going to be, it's going to be an interesting one,' he added. 'You're not done yet and hopefully the best is yet to come.'

Speaking in January, Farage again said he expects Trump to win in November. 'Inside the Westminster bubble you're all concerned about his foibles,' he claimed, 'out where real people live nobody gives a damn.'

Trump's legal team has indicated that he will appeal against Thursday's verdict, having argued that it was impossible to compile an unbiased jury in a city that voted overwhelmingly against him in 2020.

'They wouldn't give us a venue change,' Trump said in a furious speech outside the courthouse. 'This was done by the Biden administration in order to remove and to hurt opponents.'

Last week, a panel of New York State appellate judges denied Trump's appeal to the trial, which had already been underway for six weeks, out of Manhattan to another New York county.

While Trump complained about not being allowed to move venue, commentators pointed out that the venue was set in Manhattan as the charges fell within its jurisdiction.
The wig is knotted and ill-fitting. The calf-length black skirt is rather frumpy  and the less said about what's been stuffed down the front of the green polo shirt, the better.

All told, the muscular 44-year-old man looks rather sheepish  not to say ridiculous  standing beside two heavily armed guards metres from the Ukrainian-Romanian border.

A resident from the town of Zolotonosha, he had hoped to escape Ukraine, which does not allow men aged between 18 and 60 to leave the country, by using his sister's passport and unconvincingly disguising himself as a woman.

Yet he will now surely be sent to the front. The cross-dresser, captured on military video last month, is among a growing number of Ukrainian men desperately trying to dodge the draft by fleeing the country.

A 44-year-old man dresses in women's clothes and a wig in an attempt to evade conscription

As Ukraine endures its third year of war, it is finding itself increasingly outmanned and outgunned by Russia, whose forces are currently battering the defenders' second city, Kharkiv.

Two weeks ago new mobilisation laws came into effect, forcing all eligible men aged 18-60 to update their personal details with the military. The age of conscription was lowered from 27 to 25 (the upper limit is 60), certain medical exemptions were scrapped and draft-dodgers face tougher sanctions. It has proven to be politically poisonous.

To avoid conscription, some have attempted to illegally cross the heavily policed Ukrainian borders by foot, others are paying thousands of pounds for forged 'white ticket' exemption papers confirming they are unfit for service. Many are hiding in plain sight vowing that they would rather go to prison than fight on the eastern front.

At least 33 men have drowned trying to cross the freezing Tysa river into Romania since the war began.

On May 7 alone, three men  one aged just 20  died while trying to escape this way.

In Kyiv, one man with dual nationality who asks to remain anonymous, tells me he has tried to leave Ukraine twice using his Australian passport  but was turned away at the border by authorities.

Police are aware of almost 100,000 men that are attempting to evade the draft by failing to visit their local army recruitment centres having been served their call-up papers.

So far, 20,000 draft-dodgers have been caught by authorities who prowl streets, train stations and gyms in search of eligible men to send to the front.

Sabrina Miller travels to Ukraine as it endures the third year of Russia's invasion

The issue of conscription has become increasingly fraught for president Volodymyr Zelensky, who in December claimed that army commanders were demanding 500,000 new recruits to replenish Ukraine's battered frontlines.

Roughly one million men currently serve in the Ukrainian armed forces, where the average age of a soldier is around 43  but best estimates suggest tens of thousands have been killed since the full-scale war began in February 2022.

As the late-spring sun beats down on Ukraine's iron-hearted capital city, it is hard not to notice the scars of war.

The streets seem bereft of healthy young men. Wailing rocket sirens cut through the quiet night air and the rusting remains of buildings, struck by missiles or debris, are ignored by passersby.

Women are both worn and worried: most of their husbands, brothers and sons are risking their lives on the frontlines.

But some men - such as Olexandr, a 33-year-old engineer - are determined to avoid the draft.

Photographer Jamie Wiseman and I discreetly meet him on a wooden park bench opposite the National University of Kyiv.

'I am very concerned for my own life,' he explains. Olexandr believes that the war was started by 'politicians who cannot agree with each other and it is ordinary people like me who are being asked to pay with our lives'.

'My friends who have already served on the front lines have been disabled for life by this fighting.

'I have heard horror stories about newly mobilised soldiers who are not being given proper equipment and are being told to fundraise the money to buy it themselves.'

Women are both worn and worried: most of their husbands, brothers and sons are risking their lives on the frontlines. But some men are determined to avoid the draft, Sabrina Miller writes

A street in the country's capital is painted with a sign calling for those of fighting age to sign up

Such rumours are seized on by Russian propagandists who post videos on social media sites including TikTok and Telegram claiming that Ukrainian officials are corrupt or that Ukraine is losing the war  in order to shatter morale and divide society.

These posts will often suggest that Ukrainian commanders do not care about the lives of soldiers, that Ukrainians should evade conscription or that the West has betrayed their country.

One TikTok video, which has almost 150,000 views, claims that the 'Russian City of Mariupol' is thriving since Putin's forced seizure in May 2022 and that residents are much happier now they have been 'liberated' from Ukraine.

Other clips  promoted by fake accounts or 'bots'  show pictures of sprawling Ukrainian military cemeteries to frighten potential recruits and discourage them from serving.

Olexandr, who moved from Mariupol to Kyiv three months before the start of the war, has not updated his personal details, so officials cannot track him on government databases.

Men are detained while trying to escape conscription by crossing the border out of Ukraine

'Because I moved here quickly I am invisible. My company, which is responsible for giving my information to the military authorities, won't register me with them because they don't want to lose me as an employee.

'But I am always worried that I may be stopped by authorities and forcibly sent to the front.'

Increasingly, thuggish recruitment officers have been spotted brutishly forcing men to enlist.

A video shared widely on Ukrainian Telegram channels shows a gang of masked officers in khaki military uniforms violently dragging a man off a public bus into a waiting van.

Another video filmed in Kyiv shows a group of at least four police officers  two wearing high-vis jackets  roughly snatching a young man off the streets and bundling him into a blacked-out car.

Olexandr claims these videos show military officials 'kidnapping' civilians and forcing them to join the army. (The Mail has not been able to verify his claims.)

To avoid a similar fate, he takes extensive personal security measures to mitigate the risks of being detected, stopped or seized by the authorities.

As we're talking, missile sirens ring through the streets of Kyiv warning residents to seek shelter.

Nobody flinches, despite the fact the children's playground just behind us was struck by rocket debris a few months earlier.

Ukraine's losses have been heavy. Estimates suggest tens of thousands have been killed since the war began in February 2022

'Every morning I wake up at 6.30am and I check the Telegram channels which warn people where recruitment officers are so I know which streets to avoid,' says Olexandr.

'My work sends a car to pick me up from my home and drive me straight to the office along a discreet route.

'I only leave late at night when the recruitment officers have gone home. But I feel desperate and depressed when I think about this war. It is unlikely I will avoid the draft forever. It is sad to think about how long this war will last for.'

Like Olexandr, draft-dodgers are using Telegram, an encrypted messaging app, to track the locations of recruitment officers in a bid to avoid them.

One channel called 'Call Up Notices Ukraine', which has more than 240,000 subscribers, warns that 'one crocodile' (the code word for an army officer, due to the green colour of their uniform) and 'two eggplants' (the code word for police officers) are loitering in the shade in the district of Lukyanivka.

We head there and watch as two men in high-vis jackets and one man in camouflage army uniform approach, surround and interrogate young men as they exit a McDonald's, before letting them go.

Olexandr worries that the government is becoming increasingly undemocratic and is slowly eroding the rights of ordinary people.

Marichka, 23, a cafe owner, dreams of becoming a paramedic in the military. 'I despise the men dodging the draft,' she says. 'It's the obligation of every man over 25 to fight in this war and to do their bit for the nation'

'I am not a politician but we must look for the answers,' he says. 'Even with the support of our allies it will still be impossible to reclaim the territory we have lost. Getting just a small amount of land back will cost a huge number of lives. Maybe people are afraid to say this out loud - but I am not.'

His views are shared by Max*, 33, who is also refusing to fight. Jamie and I meet him in a cafe in downtown Kyiv.

Max - a project manager who tries to obscure his face with his hooded top  has seen first-hand the brutalising toll that war can take on a family.

'My father served in Afghanistan in the 1980s and when he came back home it was clear he had PTSD. In 2014 he developed a severe alcohol problem.

'Before his death the following year he told us that all the soldiers in Afghanistan were committing war crimes because it was what they were instructed to do.

'It taught me that you don't need to trust the state, especially when it comes to your health and your life. When I look at [our] soldiers I feel respect but I also feel a lot of pity for them; for how the state behaves towards them; for how they have been manipulated - and for how the Government does not support them or their families.'

But many Ukrainians feel resentment towards those refusing the draft through cowardice or selfishness, and failing to defend Ukraine against Putin's bloodlust.

At Background Camp, a military training centre in a secret location outside Kyiv, 30 recruits openly tell me of their bitter frustration towards draft-dodgers.

As we drive down the bumpy dirt track towards the facility, drones hum above our heads and the crackle of gunfire echoes in the background.

As we arrive, a military advisor from the US is patiently teaching trainees how to hold a gun. It is the first time most of them have picked up a weapon.

New recruits at Background Camp, a military training centre in a secret location outside Kyiv

Among the recruits is Marichka, 23, a cafe owner, who now dreams of becoming a paramedic in the military.

Practising loading and reloading her AK-47 assault rifle, she is one of the 43,000 women in the Ukrainian armed forces.

'Lots of my friends are fighting on the frontline,' she tells us, 'some of whom have died. I had a feeling that I wasn't doing enough, which is why I volunteered.'

For those who haven't signed up she is unsparing.

'I despise the men dodging the draft,' she says. 'It's the obligation of every man over 25 to fight in this war and to do their bit for the nation. And we cannot afford for people not to help and to avoid their responsibility.'

But she is under no illusions as to life on the frontline.

'Only after I have spent time washing away the blood of fallen soldiers, will I truly understand the horrors of combat.'

With no end in sight for the war, many fear that the draft age will be lowered yet again and that women may soon be forced to enlist, as the men are.

Widening the recruitment net will help fill the trenches, but as recent experience has shown, it will burden jails and morgues too, as more people attempt to flee the war, or die trying.

*Some names have been changed.
Sen. Joe Manchin switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Independent on Friday, a move that suggests he could be thinking about another run for elected office.

The switch gives the lifelong conservative Democrat the opportunity to run for Senate or in the governor's race without a party label in increasingly red West Virginia.

Manchin said he would not run for re-election and said he supported Democrat Steve Williams for governor, but running as an independent could be a work-around. Earlier this year he flirted with the idea of a run for the presidency on an independent ticket.

Manchin blamed the switched on 'partisan extremism.'

Speculation has swirled that Manchin, who was governor from 2005 to 2010, could make a last-minute bid for his old seat.

Sen. Joe Manchin switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Independent on Friday, a move that suggests he could be thinking about another run for elected office

'Today, our national politics are broken and neither party is willing to compromise to find common ground. To stay true to myself and remain committed to put country before party, I have decided to register as an independent with no party affiliation and continue to fight for Americas sensible majority.'

Manchin has several more weeks to decide whether to mount another bid for the Senate or to run for his old seat in the gubernatorial race.

Gov. Jim Justice, a Manchin rival, won the GOP primary for Senate and is heavily favored in November.

Manchin will be the fourth independent who caucuses with Democrats after Sens. Bernie Sanders, Vt., Angus King, Maine and Kyrsten Sinema, Ariz.

Before Friday he was the state's only congressional Democrat.
One of the men blasted in a drive-by shooting in east London that has left a nine-year-old girl fighting for her life was jailed for his part in an horrific acid attack just yards from the latest crime scene, it can be revealed.

Mustafa Kiziltan was sentenced to 36 months prison for his part in the unprovoked chemical assault of a Good Samaritan outside a gay bar in Dalston in May 2018.

On Wednesday night Kiziltan was shot in the leg in an apparent gangland shooting outside the Evin Bistro in Hackney that also targeted two others. The nine-year-old girl was hit in the crossfire and remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Five years earlier, he was part of a nine-strong gang that squirted acid at a passer-by when he intervened in a homophobic attack outside the Dalston Superstore night club, that is next door to the Evin Bistro in Kingsland Road.

The witness was set upon when he began filming the thugs kicking and stamping on a man curled up on the floor.

Mustafa Kiziltan was sentenced to 36 months prison for his part in the unprovoked chemical assault of a Good Samaritan outside a gay bar in Dalston in May 2018

The gang, pictured, were jailed for a total of 57 years and 10 months: Top row: Huseyin Onel, Guven Ulas, Mehmet Tekegac, Mustafa Kiziltan. Bottom row: Yasam Erdogan, Onur Ardic, Serkan Kiziltan and Turgut Adakan

His co-conspirator Huseyin Onel sprayed acid in the mans eyes while others launched a vicious attack upon him.

And the gang homophobic abuse at their victims from the windows of their car as they drove away, Wood Green Crown Court was told.

The thugs were jailed for a total of 57 years and 10 months.

Mustafa Kiziltan pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced to 30 months prison.

His younger brother Serkan, also pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced to 18 months.

And today Serkan Kiziltan confirmed that his brother Mustafa was one of the three men shot outside the Evin Bistro by a motor bike assassin on Wednesday night.

The young girl was hit after a motorcyclist sprayed members of the gang who were sitting outside Evin bar in Hackney during the drive by shooting

Several members of the gang were hit, but some bullets passed through the restaurant, hitting the young ngirl

One member of the gang has suffered 'life-changing injuries' according to the Metropolitan Police. A 37-year-old man has been discharged from hospital

Police said the high powered motorcycle involved in the shooting was stolen in Wembley in 2021

He told MailOnline: My brother is in hospital. He was shot. I dont want to talk about it.

A family friend added: Mustafa was at the Evin cafe on Wednesday night. He is one of three men that was shot. I believe he was shot in the leg. He is hospital now.

Metropolitan Police Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway said a nine-year-old girl remains in critical condition in hospital.

The child was having dinner with family in a restaurant in Hackney and was injured when shots were fired from a motorbike outside, with three men also hurt.

Speaking to reporters in Hackney on Friday, Mr Conway said the bike, which has since been recovered, was a Ducati Monster with a white body, red chassis and red wheels.

The motorbike had been reported stolen from the Wembley area of London in 2021 and at the time of the shooting had the registration plate DP21 0XY.

Mr Conway appealed for anyone who has information on the bike to come forward, adding: 'There are people out there who may know something that may be crucial to our investigation.'
Angela Rayner today admitted she's a 'Marmite' politician but insisted she was an 'electoral asset' in Labour's bid to win power.

The party's deputy leader is attempting to move on from the months-long row over her past living arrangements.

Ms Rayner this week saw Greater Manchester Police conclude their probe into her former housing situation, with the force saying they are taking no further action.

HMRC and Stockport Council also cleared the politician amid claims she may have broken electoral law or dodged tax over the 2015 sale of her former council house.

Following the conclusion to the police investigation, Mr Rayner is now preparing to hit the general election campaign trail on her very own battle bus.

Angela Rayner, pictured at a Labour election campaign event in Greenock, Scotland, today, admitted she's a 'Marmite' politician

Labour's deputy leader is attempting to move on from the months-long row over her past living arrangements

'I'm going to be powering up my battlebus and going up and down the country making the case for a Labour government,' she told the Guardian.

'I love campaigning and getting out to speak to ordinary people and I really feel like this is a time where people are calling out for change.'

The Labour deputy leader has blasted the Tories for 'desperate tactics' in reporting her to police over the claims about her living arrangements.

She said she was a particular target because the Conservatives see her as a threat ahead of the 4 July election.

Admitting she is a politician that people either love or hate, Ms Rayner added: 'They know I'm an electoral asset to our core vote. You know, I am Marmite.

'Some people would say that they don't like what I stand for, but I think most people do know that I stand for fairness, and I stand for giving people opportunity.'

Ms Rayner, who will be standing as Labour's parliamentary candidate again in Ashton-under-Lyne, admitted the last few weeks have been tough.

She had promised to quit as Labour's deputy leader if she had been found to have committed a criminal offence.

'It was very difficult personally, because I've never been in trouble and I've always tried to do the right thing,' Ms Rayner added.

'While I was confident, it's also demoralising when your opponents use this as a tactic to try and stop you from carrying out your work.

'It was a complete distraction from the issues that face people of this country.'

Ms Rayner insisted she lived primarily in her own home, in Vicarage Road, Stockport, while her then husband, and father to two of her three children, lived a mile away.

This was contradicted by former neighbours, who said she lived with her husband and children.

It prompted questions over whether she failed to pay capital gains tax on the sale of the house she owned, and also about her council tax arrangements and registration on the electoral roll.
Donald Trump repeatedly touted an exclusive DailyMail.com poll in his first major speech since his guilty verdict.

The poll showed him receiving a six-point boost among voters in the hours after being convicted in his historic hush money trial.

In remarks lasting over 30 minutes Trump said: 'This is bigger than Trump, and bigger than me, and bigger than my presidency.

'And the people understand it because I just see a poll came out - The Daily Mail. The first one came out, done last night right after the verdict, where I'm up six points.

'Six points from what we already were. We were leading fairly substantially. We're up six points in the Daily Mail poll.'

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at Trump Tower in New York the day after a guilty verdict in his criminal trial

Guilty verdict gives Donald Trump a SIX-POINT bump in approval ratings according to snap Daily Mail poll

He added: 'Maybe other polls come out and say something differently. But a lot of people have predicted it. The public understands what is going on. This is a scam. This is a rigged trial.'

Later in his speech, Trump added: 'The other thing, a poll came out. The first poll. Maybe others will be bad. But the poll just came out a little while ago, The Daily Mail.

'Does anybody read The Daily Mail? They have a good poll. I like it today. The Daily Mail just came out with a poll and it has Trump up six points in the last 12 hours. Six points since this happened.'

Trump was returning to the campaign trail with a news conference at Trump Tower in Manhattan in the same atrium where he descended the golden escalator to announce his 2016 campaign.

He was speaking a day after becoming the first former U.S. President to be convicted in a criminal trial.

In his remarks he slammed Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the case.

He said: 'You saw what happened to some of the witnesses that were on our side.

'They were literally crucified by this man who looks like an angel but he is really a devil.

'He looks so nice and soft. People say he seems like such a nice man. Unless you saw him in action.'

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower, Friday, May 31, 2024, in New Yor

Crowds gather in front of Trump Tower prior to a press conference by former U.S. President Donald Trump on May 31, 2024 in New York City

Protesters hold placards outside Trump Tower in New York City, on May 31, 2024 before former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a press conference

Trump was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records on Thursday.

A jury found he did so in an attempt to illegally influence the 2016 election by hiding a $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

She claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Trump a decade before that, which he denied.

The 34 counts each carry a possible maximum sentence of up to four years in prison.

Trump will be sentenced by Judge Merchan on July 11, just four days before the Republican National Convention.

He could face penalties ranging from prison to a fine or probation.

A Trump-themed flag is flown by supporters across the street from Trump Tower before former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a press conference

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump reacts as the verdict is read in his criminal trial

Margo Martin, Donald Trump's deputy communications chief, who was at court during the trial

In his speech Trump added: 'If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone. They are bad people, in many cases I believe sick people.

'We have a president and a group of fascists that don't want to do anything about it. They want to raise your taxes by four times. They want to stop you having cars.'

Trump added: 'We're going to fight. I'm wired in such a way that a lot of people would have gone away a long time ago.'

He also slammed the 'nasty gag order' the judge had imposed on him, and claimed it came from Joe Biden.

He said: 'I'm the leading person for president and I am under a gag order by a man that can't put two sentences together. This is all done by Biden and his people. This is done by Washington.'

Despite the gag order. which bars him from criticizing trial witnesses, Trump slammed the prosecution's star witness Michael Cohen as a 'sleazebag'.

Trump called Biden the 'dumbest president we have have ever had.'

He added that it was a 'really unpleasant thing' to be convicted but 'it's my honor to be doing this it really is, we're going to do what we have to do.'

Stormy Daniels, the porn star at the center of the case

Former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal who also featured in the case

His son Eric Trump and daughter-in-law Lara Trump joined him for the news conference.

But his wife, former First Lady Melania Trump, who has been publicly silent since the verdict, was not there.

Outside, on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, supporters gathered across the street flew a giant red "TRUMP OR DEATH" sign.

The former president claims the case against him was orchestrated by his Democrat successor to try to keep him out of the White House.

Trump spokesman Jason Miller said: 'There is nobody who is more defiant. He's ready to get out there and start fighting again.'

On Friday morning, Trump's campaign announced it had raised $34.8 million as donations poured in after the verdict.

Former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a news conference at Trump Tower, Friday, May 31, 2024, in New York

Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump's son Eric Trump and daughter-in-law Lara Trump listen as he speaks during a press conference

That amounted to more than $1 million for each felony charge he was convicted of.

It was also more than his political operation raised in January and February combined.

Trump campaign spokesman Brian Hughes cited the outpouring as a sign 'that Americans have seen this sham trial as the political election interference that Biden and Democrats have always intended.

'November 5th is the day Americans will deliver the real verdict!'

Trump and his campaign had been preparing for a guilty verdict for days, although they held out hope for a hung jury.

On Tuesday, Trump said that not even Mother Teresa could beat the 'rigged' case.
House Republicans are demanding that Trump hush money prosecutors Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Matthew Colangelo testify before Congress.

The pair who successfully secured a guilty verdict against the former president Thursday have been requested to appear before the GOP-led House Weaponization Committee on June 13.

Former president Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts related to falsifying business documents to conceal hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.

'BREAKING [Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio,] will demand Alvin Bragg and Matthew Colangelo to appear for hearing on June 13, 2024 to testify about the unprecedented political prosecution of President Trump,' the committee posted on X.

Matthew Colangelo worked on the New York attorney general's investigation of the Trump Organization before joining the Justice Department

In a Friday letter addressed to Bragg, Jordan wrote: 'This hearing will examine actions by state and local prosecutors to engage politically motivated prosecutions of federal officials, in particular the recent political prosecution of President Donald Trump by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.'

The chairman also sent an identical letter to Colangelo.

Jordan, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee in addition to the Weaponization Committee, has already begun an investigation into Colangelo, saying his case against Trump was 'politicized.'

'New York County District Attorney (DANY) Alvin Bragg is engaged in one such politicized prosecution, which is being led in part by Matthew B. Colangelo, a former prosecutor in your office and subsequent senior Justice Department official in the Biden administration,' Jordan wrote in a May 15 letter to New York Attorney General Letitia James.

He claimed that Colangelo has an 'obsession' with investigating Trump 'rather than prosecuting a crime.'

'Given the perception that the Justice Department is assisting in District Attorney Braggs politicized prosecution, we write to request information and documents related to Mr. Colangelos employment at the New York Attorney Generals Office.'

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (C) speaks as Manhattan prosecutor Joshua Steinglass (L) listens during a press conference held after former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts in his criminal trial

Trump has alleged that Bragg campaigned to be DA on the premise that he would prosecute Trump and his businesses

Colangelo was a high-ranking Department of Justice official in Biden's administration before leaving to join the Manhattan DA's office in December 2022.

He has worked on multiple cases involving Trump and his organizations.

And one legal observer, former U.S. Deputy Assistant Attorney General John Yoo, told DailyMail.com earlier this month that Colangelo has long wanted to nail Trump for a crime.

'Moving from [The Justice Department] to the Manhattan DAs office must mean that someone is a true believer,' said Yoo, who served in the George W. Bush administration and now teaches law at the University of California at Berkeley.

'It suggests that the prosecutor here is after the man, Trump, and not the crime, said Yoo.

Colangelo's move from DOJ to the Manhattan DA's office was technically a demotion, Yoo said, adding the move was highly 'unusual.'

After all, justice is supposed to be blind. And indeed, Colangelos career step-down has raised concern.

'Joe Biden's former #3 official at the Department of Justice left DC to help go after President Trump in New York,' wrote Republican Senator Tom Cotton on social media in April as the case began.

'All the Democrat-led prosecutions of Trump are as concocted as they are political.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Venezuelan socialite Michelle Troconis has been sentenced to 20 years for conspiring to murder Connecticut mother-of-five Jennifer Dulos in 2019.

Judge Kevin A. Randolph made the ruling at Stamford Superior Court on Friday following an emotional hearing where Jennifer's teenage children called for the maximum sentence of 50 years - while Troconis' daughter pleaded for leniency.

Police say Jennifer was brutally attacked by her estranged husband Fotis Dulos in her New Canaan, Connecticut home after she returned from dropping their five children at school on May 24, 2019.

Fotis was charged with her murder but killed himself ahead of trial, leaving the kids orphaned. In March 2024, his former mistress and glamorous Venezuelan TV host Troconis, was found guilty of helping him dispose of bloodied clothes.

One of Jennifer's eldest sons, Theodore Dulos, 18, blasted Troconis as 'evil, violent, and most definitely a coward' and demanded she tell them where their mother's body is at the sentencing hearing on Friday.

His twin, Petros Dulos, said Troconis had 'helped destroy' their family, while 15-year-old Christiane Dulos called her 'the reason kids at school look at me with pity' while calling for the maximum jail term of 50 years.

Venezuelan socialite Michelle Troconis (center) who conspired to kill Jennifer Dulos has broken down in tears as the murdered mother-of-five's teenage son gave a heartbreaking tribute

The sentencing is being live-streamed, but Judge Kevin A. Randolph forbade the media from broadcasting images any of the teenagers.

Cameras instead showed Troconis, 49, sobbing as each of the Dulos children spoke, and Judge Randolph appearing to fight back tears as the defendant's own 17-year-old daughter Nicole pleaded for leniency for her convicted mother.

Judge Randolph sentenced Troconis to 20 years behind bars for conspiracy to commit murder, 'suspended after 14.5 years to serve five years probation'.

She was also given five years for each of the lesser charges: tampering with physical evidence, conspiracy to tamper with evidence, and hindering prosecution - though these terms will be wrapped into the 20-year sentence.

But it's not the end of the story - Troconis' lawyer Jon Schoenhorn said she maintains her innocence and will be appealing the verdict, which he claimed was based on 'emotion and speculation'.

The case has drawn widespread attention - Jennifer was a member of a wealthy New York family and a niece by marriage of fashion designer Liz Claiborne, while Fotis was a luxury home builder originally from Greece.

Jennifer uncovered Fotis' affair with Troconis in March 2017, and their children were aged between eight and 13 at the time she disappeared.

Fotis and Jennifer were embroiled in acrimonious divorce and child custody proceedings when she vanished on May 24, 2019. Her children - Petros, Theodore, Constantine, Christiane and Cleopatra Noelle - have waited five years for justice.

Jennifer, 50, was brutally attacked by her estranged husband Fotis Dulos in her Connecticut home when she returned from dropping their five kids at school, and his new lover Troconis helped conceal the crime . Fotis killed himself before facing trial

Addressing Troconis at her sentencing hearing on Friday, Theodore said: 'You will spend the next however many years behind bars, and this will give you the time to think about what you have done.

'Every day, you will wake up in a small cell with not much to do. You have many years to contemplate what you know you have done.

'If you have just the least bit of humanity, I suggest that you let all of us know exactly what happened that day and where my mother is.

'Do the right thing, Michelle, admit to your family what you did instead of trying to keep your family pride.'

'I will never forgive you for what you have done, and until you give us more answers, you will be considered evil, violent, and most definitely a coward,' he added.

Appealing to Judge Randolph to impose the maximum jail term, Theodore added: 'An appropriate sentence, your honor, would be 50 years - 10 years for every child that lost a mother that day. May my mother rest in peace.'

Theodore Dulos, 18, blasted Troconis as 'evil, violent, and most definitely a coward' and demanded she tell them where their mother's body is, while his twin Petros said she had 'helped destroy' their family. (Pictured: Theodore as a child with his mother Jennifer)

'Michelle Troconis to me is the reason I feel completely lost and alone at night when I cannot sleep,' Jennifer's daughter Christiane, 15, told the court at Troconis' sentencing hearing on Friday. (Pictured: a photograph of Christiane and Jennifer shown to the court)

Christiane also called for the maximum jail term, adding: 'Even though Michelle may not have been holding the weapon, I truly believe she had a lot more to do with everything than she is letting on.

'Michelle Troconis to me is the reason I feel completely lost and alone at night when I cannot sleep.

'She is the reason I have blocked out my childhood, and that day so much I can barely remember it.

'She's the reason kids at school look at me with pity, the reason my teachers say guardians are not parents, the reason I have had to sit and watch as the people who care for me break down, the reason my siblings move through life with a huge piece of them lost.'

'Mom and dad are words that only bring trauma and grief,' she added. 'I will never again share those simple moments that mean everything.'

Jennifer's eldest son, Petros, was only 13 at the time of her death. Now aged 18, he told Stamford Superior Court Troconis had 'helped destroy' his family. (Pictured: a photograph shown to court of Jennifer and Petros when he was a child)

The sentencing is being live-streamed, but Judge Kevin A. Randolph forbade the media from showing any of Jennifer's children on camera. Cameras instead showed Troconis breaking down in tears as Petros Dulos spoke

Petros Dulos urged Judge Randolph not to let Troconis' role as a mother sway his decision.

'Your honor, I understand that sitting over there is a mother with a child, and a family who love her,' the 18-year-old said.

'My mom once had that. We once had that. She helped destroy it. That woman appeals to our sympathy under the guise of being a mother. She has desecrated the meaning of that word for me.

'The defendant's actions in conspiring to murder my mother have had irreparable effects on my life, many that I'm still figuring out each and every day,' he added.

'I have been left with a hole inside of me that I know I will never be able to fill.

'Losing my mother tore me from the joyful innocence of my youth and made me confront the horrors of the world at an early age.

'I want to end with a lesson my mom taught me: leave everything the same or better than you found it. Michelle Troconis, you did the opposite and you should be punished.'

Police say Jennifer was brutally attacked by her estranged husband Fotis Dulos on May 24, 2019. He killed himself ahead of trial, but in March this year jurors found his glamorous girlfriend Troconis guilty of helping conceal the horrific slaying

Arrest warrants link Dulos (left) and Troconis (right) to videos of trash bags being dumped in areas where Jennifer's blood was later found on clothing and other items

The Dulos children also paid heartbreaking tribute to their mother, who was a writer.

Petros said she was 'everything' to him, but during her acrimonious divorce, he 'became very bitter with everyone - especially mom, because she was always trying to help me.'

'This meant that I hurt the person closest to me because I didn't know how else to voice my pain,' he said.

'The defendant's actions mean that I will never be able to tell my mom how sorry I am for not being a better son when she needed me.

'I will never be able to tell mom how proud of her courage I am, most importantly how much I love her. This fact haunts me every day.'

Christiane blasted Troconis for having an affair with their father which destroyed their family.

'My dad, the person who I looked up to, was doing something awful, and it was with Michelle. Our lives completely changed from then on...

'It occurred to me then that this was why we were no longer a family.'

Troconis rubbed her eyes and sobbed as she sat between her lawyers while they listened to the Dulos children speak.

Jennifer Dulos' mother, Gloria Farber, reads a victim's impact statement during the sentencing hearing for Michelle Troconis, in Stamford Superior Court in Connecticut May 31, 2024

Pictured: a photograph shown to court of Gloria with Jennifer in her youth

Jennifer's mother, Gloria Farber, 88, who gave heartbreaking testimony earlier in the trial, said her daughter's friends had been helping take care of her five orphaned children in 'blended families'.

Gloria added that her daughter 'lived in fear of her life and fear that her husband might abduct her children' during her final years.

Jennifer's older sister, Melissa Farber, remembered her as a 'beautiful and precious baby sister' who was a 'talented writer and a beautiful person'.

She also recalled feeling 'shaken to the core' on the day Jennifer died before they even heard the devastating news.

'At 8.45 in the morning of May 24, 2019, I awoke with a startle,' Melissa told the court. 'I did not realize at this time that my sister Jennifer's life was ending, but there was something in me that was shaken to the core.'

Jennifer's friend of 46 years, Kiki Davis, told the court she had been helping take care of the Dulos children over the last five years, spending half her time at her Charlotte, North Carolina home and half at the Dulos' home in New York City.

'Michelle Troconis' actions and perhaps lack of actions greatly impacted me daily as I'm now the closest thing to a mother these five may ever have again,' Davis told the court.

'My friend Jennifer should be in my shoes hugging her children each morning... they should feel, not remember, her unconditional love.'

Michelle Troconis (left) and Fotis Dulos (right) were living together in his Farmington CT home at the time of Jennifer's disappearance on May 24, 2019

Jennifer Dulos (left) vanished on May 24, 2019, amid a divorce from her husband Fotis (right), who was later charged with her murder. Fotis killed himself in January 2020, leaving his new lover Michelle Troconis to face trial alone for allegedly helping him conceal the killing

The prosecutor blasted Troconis for her 'failure to show any remorse'.

Troconis' daughter Nicole, 17, expressed condolences for the Dulos children who she said she 'enjoyed spending time with' when they crossed paths on a family holiday in Miami.

'Michelle isn't just my mother. She's my best friend, my rock and my guiding light,' the teenager told the court as her voice cracked with emotion.

'If you asked me who I want to be, my unhesitant answer would be: I want to be just like my mom.

'She's a perfect example of kindness, thoughtfulness and selflessness.'

'I never had the chance to meet Jennifer nor did my mother ever speak ill of her,' Nicole added.

'My heart goes out to the kids, and I earnestly hope that one day we all discover peace within our hearts.'

Pictured: Michelle Troconis remonstrating with her lawyer at her sentencing hearing at Stamford Superior Court on Friday

Pictured: an image of Jennifer Dulos shown to the court at Troconis's sentencing hearing at Stamford Superior Court on Friday

Judge Randolph appeared to fight back tears as he heard the teenager's testimony.

Jennifer's children - Petros, Theodore, Constantine, Christiane and Cleopatra Noelle - who are now aged between 13 and 18 - now live with Gloria and their nanny Lauren Almeida in Manhattan.

Prosecutors accused Fotis of killing Jennifer in her New Canaan, CT home after she returned from dropping their children off at school, and they alleged that Troconis helped him dispose of her bloodied clothing in several garbage bags.

Jennifer's body was never found, but Judge William P. Osterndorf declared her 'officially dead'.

The weeks-long trial heard evidence from officers, forensics experts, and the family and friends who were due to meet with Jennifer on the day she died.

A blood-soaked bra that cops recovered from a trash can that the State alleges Fotis Dulos, with the help of his lover Michelle Troconis, disposed of evidence in

Gruesome images of blood splatters in the garage and kitchen of Jennifer's New Canaan home were shown to the jury as experts detailed how Fotis' DNA was found at the property.

Surveillance footage of Fotis and Troconis in a car making stops to dump several rubbish bags in trash cans miles away from the property was also shown in court.

Police said Troconis' DNA was detected on the trash bags and on some of the bloodied items of clothing belonging to Jennifer inside the bags.
A police officer has been seriously injured after being dragged under a car during a tactical stop in Leeds. The incident happened close to the Wykebeck Arms public house in the city.

Footage shows the officer being dragged by the car after the driver attempted to escape, reversing over a green central reservation.

The terrifying footage showed the officer attempting to open the car door to detain the driver who made an effort to escape.

The suspect's car had been followed by police and intercepted in a tactical stop.

Despite being boxed in, the suspect attempted to escape, dragging one officer underneath his car.

A police officer was seriously injured after a Seat Ibiza attempted to flee after being boxed in by officers in Leeds, West Yorkshire

West Yorkshire Police said: 'Shortly after 1.15pm today, a Seat Ibiza failed to stop for a roads policing unit and was pursued before being brought to a stop a few minutes later on Selby Road, Leeds.

'The occupants of the vehicle were arrested and whilst being detained a police officer sustained injuries and was taken to hospital.

'Enquiries remain ongoing which necessitated the road being closed for a short time.

'A second vehicle not involved in the pursuit was also damaged in the incident.'
Donald Trump unleashed the full force of his fury on Friday at the judge, prosecutors and witnesses who made him the first former president to be found guilty at a criminal trial.

Yet among Republicans, the overwhelmingly feeling was sadness rather than anger.

An exclusive J.L. Partners poll for DailyMail.com asked 403 likely voters to describe their emotional reaction to the verdict in Trump's hush money trial.

'Sad,' was the most mentioned word followed by 'sadness,' 'angry,' and 'disappointed.'

'I just can't believe they found him guilty,' said a 47-year-old Republican woman from Arizona, one of the critical swing states. 'There are more important things to worry about right now.'

J.L. Partners poll for DailyMail.com asked 403 likely voters to describe their main emotion when they heard the verdict in Trump's hush money trial

Democrats, unsurprisingly, welcomed the verdict. 'Happy, happiness, relief, joy, elation,' dominated their word cloud of results.

Overall, the responses mirror a nation divided by politics.

But they also show Trump could benefit from a bump in favorability. The results showed that 22 percent of respondents said they viewed him more favorably, while 16 percent said they saw him less favorably.

Drill into the reasoning and there are a range of views that explain that snapshot finding.

'Our country should be embarrassed at how he was treated as president,' said female retail supervisor from Ohio, who voted Trump in 2020.

And for every Republican who expressed anger there were others who spoke in more measured tones, or who voiced embarrassment.

'For a Republican like myself it's all very embarrassing. It's like finding out your sister is a prostitute,' said a retired electrician from North Carolina.

'I feel that it was an untimely chain of events that were unfortunate and were brought on due to his campaigning for reelection,' said a 41-year-old independent voter, who also plumped for Trump last time around.

James Johnson, co-founder of J.L. Partners which conducted the survey, said it was notable that sadness came ahead of fury among Republicans.

Donald Trump expressed his fury at the verdict during a speech at Trump Tower Friday

Democrats and Independents expressed happiness as the number one emotion

Trump supporters outside Trump Tower on Friday as the former president gave his speech

'People fearing an angry surge of Trump voters onto the streets or political violence have misunderstood who the vast majority of Trump voters are,' he said.

'Most of his voters are not reacting with anger but sadness, at a system they feel is rigged against the former president.

'Grief can be a powerful thing though, and it is likely to rally support for Trump with his base.'

The crowd that gathered outside the Manhattan courthouse in support of Trump on Thursday looked as if it was mourning. Some burst into tears as the verdict was announced before the gathering descended into gloomy silence.

The opposing crowd expressed glee.

'No one is above the law no matter who you are that's my view,' said a stay-at-home mother in Pennsylvania.

J.L. Partners polled 403 likely voters immediately after Thursday's guilty verdict to assess its impact on the November election. The results suggest a slight bump for Trump

Donald Trump listens to the jury foreman deliver the guilty verdict

A 48-year-old general contractor in Ohio said: 'I believe Donald Trump will continue to make a mockery of the American legal and political systems. He's a clown with a captivated audience.'

Last year Trump went up in the polls with every new criminal indictment.

And his Fulton County, Georgia, mugshot became a key part of fundraising and merchandise pushes.

In the days leading up the verdict, Trump's campaign aide and allies began preparing the ground for a guilty finding.

They repeatedly denounced the hush money prosecution as political and as a 'kangaroo court.'

When it finally came on Thursday evening, it triggered a fundraising bonanza.

The Trump campaign said it raised nearly double its record daily haul in the hours after the jury delivered its verdict.

'From just minutes after the sham trial verdict was announced, our digital fundraising system was overwhelmed with support, and despite temporary delays online because of the amount of traffic, President Trump raised $34.8 million dollars from small dollar donors,' said Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, Trump Campaign senior advisers.
A lonely Brit who had been single his whole life has wed a Ukrainian woman he met after helping her when she fled the war-torn country.

Guy Wilson, 49, tied the knot with Karyna Kulyk, 34, on Tuesday after a whirlwind romance.

The happy couple even got a blessing before their nuptials from the Archbishop of Canterbury. Justin Welby was by chance visiting their parish before the wedding.

The pair met when Mr Wilson was volunteering in his hometown last January.

Ms Kulyk, 34, made her way to the UK to escape her war-ravaged country with her son Serafim, now seven.

Mr Wilson admitted he lacked confidence and struggled to find the one his whole life. He believed he was never going to meet anyone because of it.

Guy Wilson, 49, (left) tied the knot with Karyna Kulyk, 34, (right) on Tuesday

The pair met when Mr Wilson was volunteering in his hometown last January

The happy couple even got a blessing before their nuptials from the Archbishop of Canterbury

Mr Wilson had been single his whole life weds Ukrainian woman he helped after she fled war after whirlwind romance

But after almost five decades of being single, an unexpected turn of events led Mr Wilson, of Chepstow, South Wales to meet Ms Kulyk.

Mr Wilson told What's The Jam: 'Love always finds a way.

'In my case, I thought I knew where my life was going but suddenly a world event changed all that.'

'I'm so thrilled we found each other.

'Girls were a new thing to me at my age and my mum and dad never expected me to meet anyone.

'But 18 months on, I have a fiance and a seven-year-old little boy who wants me to adopt him - it's been a whirlwind!'

Ms Kulyk, of Mezhova, near Donetsk, Ukraine was forced to leave her life behind after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

After leaving her home on the front line, the last thing Ms Kulyk expected was to fall in love with a kind stranger.

Ms Kulyk, Mr Wilaon and her son Serafim are pictured together

The couple are seen together with Ms Kulyk's son, who is seven

During her evening shifts, Mr Wilson selflessly offered to babysit Serafim and get to know Ms Kulyk's son

The pair met when Mr Wilson was volunteering in his hometown last January

She said many members of her family had to stay in Ukraine and can hear shells fire every day.

Ms Kulyk said: 'When I came to the UK, I had my son and my suitcase.

'I had to leave everything else behind.'

Mr Wilson added: 'When I watched the news, I was horrified.

'I never dreamt I would meet a Ukrainian and all of a sudden you fall in love with a person from this place.

'You never expect to meet someone from a war zone.'

Mr Wilson met Ms Kulyk while volunteering at the St Briavel's Ukrainian Support Hub in the Forest of Dean.

He is a member of The Chepstow Rotary Club which supported the charity by giving warm clothing and financial support and offering lifts for new families that moved to the area.

After another volunteer asked Mr Wilson to give Ms Kulyk a lift for a day trip, the pair hit it off instantly.

As they started to spend more time together, their friendship began to grow into something more romantic.

After another volunteer asked Mr Wilson to give Ms Kulyk a lift for a day trip, the pair hit it off instantly

A grab of when Mr Wilson proposed to his wife

Ms Kulyk, who previously worked as a lawyer in Ukraine, found a job in the UK waiting tables.

During her evening shifts, Mr Wilson selflessly offered to babysit Serafim and get to know Ms Kulyk's son.

After dating for several months, Mr Wilson said his life was transformed for the better and the relationship has helped with his clinical depression.

On New Year's Eve, he was ready to commit and proposed to Ms Kulyk with his mother's engagement ring on a beach in Rock opposite Padstow, Cornwall.

Mr Wilson said: 'I wanted to ask permission to marry Karyna.

'So I wrote to her Dad, who is living near the frontline using Google translate.

'The answer was ''Finally!''

'I planned the proposal on the beach and timed fireworks to go off when I popped the question.'

The wedding in Chepstow was a small ceremony with just 40 guests attending as Ms Kulyk's family were unable to attend because of the war.
The View doesn't usually film live on Fridays, but the hosts gathered today

The View hosts have reacted to the criminal conviction of former president Donald Trump - which excited Joy Behar so much that she wet herself.

While the ladies of The View don't usually film the show live on Fridays, they all gathered today to react to the Republican's guilty verdict in his Manhattan hush money trial.

'I was at Costco buying 10 boxes of Keurig coffee,' Joy shared with viewers.

'My watch started to buzz, and I got so excited, I started leaking a little bit.'

However, it was Whoopi Goldberg who opened the show, happily stating: 'Yes, Im here on a Friday, because this is a very unique moment in history.'

The View hosts have reacted to the criminal conviction of former president Donald Trump - which excited Joy Behar so much that she wet herself

As the crowd cheered, the Oscar-winner added: 'Thats why were all at the table. Im going to say something youve never, ever heard me say before: Donald John Trump is a convicted felon.'

Alyssa Farrah Griffin, the only non-liberal in the group, said she expected the outcome but was 'somehow shocked' by the guilty verdict. Griffin worked in Trump's White House as director of strategic communications

'My first thought was that I feared for the safety of the judge and the jury,' the lone conservative said.

'We live in a moment of violent political rhetoric. Knowing Donald Trump , theres something in him that thinks hes untouchable. I dont think he thought it was going to come down this way.'

Goldberg also responded to Trump's claim that the trial was 'rigged.'

'He was in that courtroom because of what he did, and those jurors were chosen by both sides,' she said.

While the ladies of The View don't usually film the show live on Fridays, they all gathered today to react to the Republican's guilty verdict in his Manhattan hush money trial

Trumps conviction on 34 felony counts marks the end of the former presidents historic hush money trial

'This was not a Biden thing. Had he just paid the money [to Stormy Daniels], he would have been fine.

'If he hadn't tried to sneak some checks, he would have been fine, but he didn't do that. Instead he was cheap, and that's what you get.'

Ana Navarro, meanwhile, thanked Stormy Daniels for the trial's outcome, while adding that she considered it a 'somber day.'

'I can't believe where we are in our democracy,' she lamented.

Sarah Haines, on her part, recalled feeling like something punched her in the chest when she learned of the guilty verdict.

'It was somber news because we're living in a country where we have a former president convicted and who's also running for office,' Haines said.

Trumps conviction on 34 felony counts marks the end of the former presidents historic hush money trial, but the fight over the case is far from over.

Goldberg also responded to Trump's claim that the trial was 'rigged'

Ana Navarro, left, thanked Stormy Daniels for the trial's outcome, while adding that she considered it a 'somber day'

Now comes the sentencing and the potential for a prison sentence. A lengthy appellate process. And all the while, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee still has to deal with three more criminal cases and a campaign that could see him return to the White House.

After more than nine hours of deliberations over two days, the Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in the case stemming from a hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign.

Trump angrily denounced the trial as a 'disgrace,' telling reporters hes an 'innocent man.'

The Biden campaign issued its own statement not long after the verdict.

'In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law,' communications director Michael Tyler said.

'Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain.

'But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box.

Former President Donald Trump and his attorney Todd Blanche (right) exit the courthouse

'Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.'

By contrast, the White House kept its distance: 'We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment.'

The guilty verdict only improved the former president's standing with likely voters ahead of the 2024 election, according to an exclusive snap poll for DailyMail.com.

Of those who said the 34 guilty counts had changed their view of Donald Trump, 22 percent said they now had a more favorable rating compared with 16 percent who said they viewed him more negatively.

That six-point net positive result is another sign of the way the businessman-turned-politician seems able to ride out crises that would sink anyone else.
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) aircraft are 'not expected' to fly in D-Day commemorations.

The celebration, loved by the Queen, has been canceled following an investigation into the death of a pilot in a Spitfire crash, the RAF has said.

Squadron Leader Mark Long was killed when the Spitfire he was flying crashed in a field near RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

Police and emergency services rushed to the scene on Langrick Road just before 1.20pm on Saturday but Mr Long was declared dead at the scene.

Mr Long's family said he 'lived his life with an unwavering passion' and 'will be cherished and deeply missed' in a statement.

An RAF spokesperson said earlier this week that a temporary pause was in place while an investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Squadron Leader Mark Long, (pictured) died when his Spitfire crashed within a few minutes of takeoff during a Battle of Britain memorial flight near RAF Coningsby

The Queen and Prince Philip watching a D-Day commemoration flyby on the balcony of Buckingham Palace

Battle of Britain Memorial Flight aircraft are 'not expected' to fly in D-Day commemorations following the death of Mr Long (File image)

The Royal family on the balcony, watching a Royal Air Force flyby as part of the Trooping The Colour Parade as crowds gather around (File image)

Tributes left for Mark Long who was tragically killed in a Battle of Britain memorial flight

RAF bosses said their Spitfires, a Lancaster bomber and other wartime planes would remain grounded next week.

Avro Lancaster Crew: 7 - pilot, flight engineer, navigator, bomb aimer/nose gunner, wireless operator, mid-upper and rear gunners Wingspan: 102 ft Maximum speed: 282 mph Year built: 1941 Year retired: 1964 Advertisement

They had been due to play a key role in the 80th anniversary commemorations of the landings.

Senior officials said the decision was taken regretfully but that the cause of last weekends crash remained unknown and it would be too risky to fly the other historic aircraft.

Flypasts at the Trooping the Colour also remain in doubt.

The crashed Spitfire was part of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight which had been due to perform at events in Portsmouth and in France next week.

The 80-year-old plane crashed shortly after taking off from RAF Coningsby In Lincolnshire on Saturday, killing pilot Squadron Leader Mark Long, a married father of two.

An investigation has begun into the cause of the crash, but has yet to pinpoint what went wrong.

It is understood senior defence officials ruled the entire BBMF fleet should remain grounded while the investigation continued, because of the potential risk to pilots and public safety.

The BBMF has five other Spitfire fighters, two Hurricane fighters, one Lancaster bomber, two Dakota transport planes and two post-war Chipmunk trainers. It had not been announced which of the aircraft would have taken part in next weeks 80th anniversary events, including a flypast over the ferry taking veterans to France

On Friday, the RAF said the cause of the incident 'remains unknown', so a decision has been made to continue the pause in flying for the BBMF.

Supermarine Spitfires Crew: 1 Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in Maximum speed: 370 mph Year built: 1936 Year retired: 1961 Advertisement

As a result, BBMF aircraft are not expected to be able to participate in the D-Day 80 commemorations on June 5 and 6.

An RAF spokesperson said: 'On May 25 2024 a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF) crashed in the vicinity of RAF Coningsby, resulting in the tragic death of the pilot, Sqn Ldr Mark Long.

'The Defence Air Investigation Branch (DAIB) are continuing their investigation.

'At this stage, the cause of the incident remains unknown and therefore, after extensive consultation between the Chief of the Air Staff and relevant senior RAF officers, it has been decided to continue the pause in flying for the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF).

'As always, flight safety remains the RAF's primary concern, therefore BBMF flying will only resume when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

'As a result, regretfully, BBMF aircraft are not expected to be able to participate in the forthcoming D-Day 80 commemorations over June 5-6 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.

The Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth flew in 'missing man' formation (pictured) to remember their colleague

Squadron Leader Mark Long had flown Spitfires for four years and was due to take over the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight in 2025

The scene where the pilot died in a crash during a Battle of Britain event near RAF Coningsby

Sqn Ldr Mark Long pictured reading a map on an RAF airplane

The location where the Spitfire crashed in a field on on Langrick Road at RAF Coningsby

Spitfire and Hurricane planes flying in formation over Kent. The aircraft are some of the few remaining and often fly in commemorative ceremonies such as the D-Day celebrations (File image)

Only a few dozen airworthy Spitfires remain, including six that belong to the BBMF.

Hawker Hurricanes Crew: 1 Wingspan: 40 ft Maximum speed: 340 mph Year built: 1935 Year retired: - Advertisement

Tributes to Mr Long have also flooded in from The Prince and Princess of Wales, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer.

And on Tuesday, Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth flew in 'missing man' formation to remember their former colleague.

At the time of his death, Mr Long was in his fourth season with the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

Officer Commanding Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, Squadron Leader Mark Sugden, said: 'In life, we are occasionally privileged to meet incredible people like Mark.

'Mark touched the hearts of everyone that he met, always prioritising the needs of others before himself.

'The epitome of a military fighter pilot, he personified the very best of the Royal Air Force and the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.

'We were lucky to have him as part of the team and part of our BBMF family.

Squadron Leader Long, 43, had just taken off from RAF Coningsby when he sent a Mayday message over his radio, the most severe distress message.

A 1951 De Havilland. The single engine aircraft will no longer be taking part in the D-Day commemorations (File image)

Sources said his aircraft crashed about a minute after take-off and that he could not have escaped in time. He died at the scene.

Douglas Dakota Crew: 4 - pilot, co-pilot, navigator, radio operator Wingspan: 95 ft Maximum speed: 224 mph Year built: 1941 Year retired: - Advertisement

The Spitfire  a Mk IX built in 1944, was involved in D-Day and shot down an enemy aircraft  was overhauled during the winter and had been signed off as safe to fly.

Mr Long was born in Bury St Edmunds and graduated Initial Officer Training in 2003.

He was then sent to RAF Linton-on-Ouse to fly the Tucano aircraft before gaining his 'wings' in 2003.

His Advanced Flying Training was on the Hawk and he was selected to take on the role of an instructor.

Mr Long later converted to the Harrier GR7/9 and was posted to RAF Cottesmore, Rutland.

In 2012, Mr Long joined the Typhoon Force and was assigned to RAF Coningsby.

In 2016, he was the Typhoon Display Pilot and his primary role was to teach student pilots how to operate the jet.

The MoD said that alongside his instructional duties, Mr Long also helped defend UK sovereign airspace by undertaking Quick Reaction Alert duties in the UK, Falkland Islands and while on Baltic Air Policing Operations in Lithuania.

The crash was the first fatality involving a BBMF aircraft since its creation in July 1957. Its mission is to keep the historic aircraft in airworthy condition to commemorate those killed in the service of the country, and to inspire future generations.

To commemorate Mr Long three Typhoon jets have performed a special flypast.

Typhoon aircraft from RAF Lossiemouth flew in 'missing man' formation to remember their former colleague yesterday.

The base shared the clip to X with the caption: 'In remembrance of Squadron Leader Mark Long. Per ardua ad astra [through adversity to the stars - motto of the RAF].'

De Havilland Canada DHC-1 Chipmunks Crew: 2 Wingspan: 34 ft Maximum speed: 138 mph Year built: 1946 Year retired: 1996 Advertisement

Sqn Ldr Long had flown Typhoons too - at RAF Coningsby - and took to Instagram just weeks before the memorial show to share his excitement.

In a post dated March 4, the Squadron Leader shared videos of Hurricane and Spitfire aeroplanes in flight with the caption: 'We are only a few weeks away from getting back flying in these iconic aircraft. Cannot wait!!!'.

Flowers have been laid at RAF Coningsby in the days since by dozens of air enthusiasts, including Tony who said: 'A Hurricane was going to take off after the Spitfire but his flight was aborted.

'It is too difficult to estimate the speed.

'I couldn't clearly see the spot it came down but pictures show it was right beside a house and a tractor so no doubt other people witnessed it too. It is a terrible tragedy.'

The man, who lives locally, told how he often took his stepson to watch the planes in action at the airfield.

He paid warm tribute to the pilot as a 'remarkable and wonderful man' and thrilled children with his 'pep talks.'

He recalled: 'At the end of a flight Mark would always make a point of coming up to the big wire fence and give the kids a pep talk through it.

'He'd still be in his uniform, and he'd still have his flight maps pinned to his trousers, above the knees and would pass them to the children through the fence.

'I didn't know him personally but I knew him by reputation as a great pilot and a remarkable and wonderful man.

'He always made time to speak to people so I had to come here today to pay my respects.

'He told the kids that it was dream to become a pilot but he had failed four or five times.

'His message to them was never to give up and that you can always live your dream.

'It is such a terrible tragedy that it was to end in this way for him.'
Damion Moon, 33, had three run-ins with shoplifters over a few weeks

A shop worker who was sacked for trying to challenge brazen shoplifters in a city supermarket has said the decision is 'bizarre'.

Damion Moon, 33, had run-ins on three separate occasions with shoplifters at an East of England Co-op in Norfolk over a few weeks.

Mr Moon, a team manager of seven and a half years, said he couldn't believe he was penalised for trying to protect the shop.

His attempts to stop shoplifters has led to him being dismissed, as he had not followed the company's procedures, with an appeal of this decision being rejected too.

He said: 'Co-op were just so cold in how they handled it - said I was fired and walked me out the door - like I was one of the criminals.

'It's disgusting really - there's no mandatory training for when you receive drunken or abusive behaviour.

Damion Moon (pictured), 33, had run-ins on three separate occasions with shoplifters at an East of England Co-op in Norfolk over a few weeks

'People can just walk in, steal whatever they want and leave again - there's nothing stopping a big group coming in and ransacking the place.

'But if you try to actually help protect the shop or anyone, you get dismissed.'

The company dismissed Mr Moon on May 15 after a disciplinary hearing focused on 'serious breaches' of security policy and procedures and failure to follow a reasonable management request.

Mr Moon said: 'I told them in my disciplinary hearing that it has been a bad week with three unprecedented incidents.

'On March 16, there was only myself and another colleague in the store. I was checking stock and looked at the cameras to tell my colleague I was going to take a break.

'I saw a man behind the kiosk filling his coat up with tobacco so I rushed out and my colleague was trying to stop him from taking anymore.

'I tried to de-escalate the situation by standing behind him but Co-Op said I blocked his exit so he couldn't leave and that was a serious security breach.'

In an incident on March 22, one of Mr Moon's colleagues was hit by a shoplifter after they successfully stole bottles of wine.

Mr Moon explained: 'A woman was filling her bag up with wine and smashed a bottle.

'I heard security on my headset and saw she was attempting to leave. As one of my colleagues confronted her, she was hit in the face during the altercation.

'Another colleague of mine asked if she should go after the shoplifter and even though I didn't tell her to go, she went anyway.

'I was told I'd put her life at risk by allowing her to leave the shop.'

In the last incident on March 29, Mr Moon was told that by taking three steps out of the shop to tell a shoplifter he had been banned, he had breached security.

He said: 'I noticed someone had been taking snack items, boxes of cereal that sort of thing.

'I took three steps out the shop to tell him he would be reported and would be banned from the store. They said it was a security breach.

'These shoplifters know they can get away with it so that's why they come and do it. There's nothing stopping them from turning up in one big group and raiding the place.'

Mr Moon lodged an appeal against his dismissal on May 22 - and was told on Tuesday that it had been denied.

He said: 'They said you knew the policies and we're not going to overturn the decision.

'It's bizarre that I would be penalised for trying to protect the shop.

'I've got a clean record and never had disciplinary before.

Mr Moon had been a team manager of the branch in Norfolk (pictured) for seven and a half years

'I told them its unfair - they never spoke to me about the incidents individually, they put all of them into one hearing.

'I've not had the mandatory training to deal with abuse and drunken behaviour - their training is make your presence known and don't approach, but what do you do when someone is assaulted or someone gets behind a kiosk?'

Mr Moon added that he has applied for universal credit to cover his loss of earnings.

He said: 'I'm lucky that I have savings to tide me over but I have bills to pay, rent and a car. If I don't find work in the next couple of months I could end up losing everything.'

An East of England Co-op spokeswoman said: 'While we're unable to comment on individual cases, we prioritise people over property.

'The safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and customers is one of our top priorities, and our policies are designed to protect them both.

'Failing to follow these procedures can put everyone at risk.

'We regularly remind our colleagues of these policies and the support available to them, but they shouldn't put themselves, or others, in harm's way when dealing with shoplifting.'
This video is no longer available

This video is no longer available

The life of a nine-year-old girl shot in a botch gangland assassination attempt at a restaurant in east London hangs in the balance as she fights for her life on a ventilator, it has been claimed.

The youngster was shot in the head and surgeons at a London hospital where she is being treated have so far been unable to remove the bullet.

Grandmother Mary, from India, is quoted by the New Indian Express newspaper saying: 'The child is on the ventilator.

'Even after major surgery, the doctors haven't been able to remove the bullet.

'Another major operation is scheduled after two days.

This is the motorbike used during the shooting of four people on Kingsland High Street in Hackney, east London, on Wednesday

Footage recorded in the minutes after the shooting showed people gathered around a victim on the ground

'We are praying to God for her survival and full recovery.'

The grandmother revealed that the girl's parents were both IT professionals who do not live in the capital.

The family had come to London to meet up with family friends and went to the restaurant in Hackney for dinner on Wednesday evening when the youngster was caught in the crossfire.

Yesterday detectives appealed to members of London's Turkish and Kurdish communities for information about the 'reckless' shooting in which the girl was caught in the crossfire.

The Met also released a photograph of the stolen Ducati Monster that the gunman was riding when he pulled up at the Evin Bistro in Dalston and fired five shots.

Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway said: 'We know that the offender fired from a motorbike at approximately 9.20pm on Wednesday evening.

'The bike was a Ducati Monster with a white body, red chassis and red wheels.

A look at where the shooting occurred in Dalston last night as a motorcyclist fired shots towards the diners

An eye-witness filmed the large group of people who were gathered outside Evin restaurant

This is a photo issued by the Metropolitan Police of the motorbike used during the shooting of four people on Kingsland High Street in Hackney, east London, on Wednesday

CCTV obtained by MailOnline shows the shooter slowly approaching Evin's on Kingsland High Street before coming to a stop outside

Police tape at the scene of a shooting at Kingsland High Street, Hackney, east London, where three adults and a child have been injured

'Our officers have now established that the motorbike was previously stolen in 2021 from a property in Wembley.

'I want to hear from anyone who might recognise it  I'm particularly keen from you if you saw it on the day of the incident.'

He added: 'We are specifically reaching out to our Turkish and Kurdish communities, particularly in north and east London, who I know are shocked and appalled by this crime.

'This is because the three men who were shot have connections to those communities.'

Meanwhile it has emerged that one of the men blasted in the drive-by shooting was jailed for his part in an horrific acid attack just yards from the latest crime scene.

Mustafa Kiziltan was sentenced to 36 months prison for his part in the unprovoked chemical assault of a Good Samaritan outside a gay bar in Dalston in May 2018.

On Wednesday night Kiziltan was shot in the leg in the gangland shooting outside the Evin Bistro that also targeted two others. The nine-year-old was also hit and remains in a critical condition in hospital.

Five years earlier, he was part of a nine-strong gang that squirted acid at a passer-by when he intervened in a homophobic attack outside the Dalston Superstore night club, that is next door to the Even Bistro in Kingsland High Street.

The witness was set upon when he began filming the thugs kicking and stamping on a man curled up on the floor.

Three adults and a child were found with gunshot injuries at the scene. They have all been taken to a major trauma centre

Forensic officers pictured outside Evin restaurant, where a horror drive-by shooting took place

The thugs were jailed at Wood Green Crown Court for a total of 57 years and 10 months.

Mustafa Kiziltan pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced to 30 months prison. His younger brother Serkan also pleaded guilty to violent disorder and was sentenced to 18 months.

Yesterday Serkan Kiziltan confirmed that his brother Mustafa was one of the three men shot outside the Evin Bistro by a motor bike assassin on Wednesday night.

He told the Mail: 'My brother is in hospital. He was shot. I don't want to talk about it.'

A family friend added: 'Mustafa was at the Evin cafe on Wednesday night. He is one of three men that was shot. I believe he was shot in the leg. He is hospital now.'
Trump lost. So has America.

Not that you would know it from most of yesterday's news coverage, so-called reporters and journalists practically levitating over 34 guilty verdicts in a trial that was nothing but a political hit job.

You can dislike Donald Trump, as I and so many others do, and still find yourself outraged.

This case  which the feds declined to prosecute  was falsely, flimsily predicated on 'election interference'.

Want to talk election interference? How about keeping the GOP nominee for president off the campaign trail for nearly two months? Or scheduling his sentencing just four days before the Republican convention?

To all the progressives who are gloating and cheering  well, live it up now, because you've probably just handed Trump another four years.

To all the progressives who are gloating and cheering - well, live it up now, because you've probably just handed Trump another four years.

America is diminished by this. We are becoming smaller and pettier with no reversal in sight.

This is a loss beyond legality. It's hard to take pride in a nation that not only abides this but revels in it.

Not for nothing did Trump's website crash yesterday. Working people, struggling in this economy that Biden insists is gangbusters, are donating in outrage. Trump's campaign raised a mind-blowing $34.8 million within hours of the verdict.

His polling went up by six points according to a snap survey by DailyMail.com.

How's that for a Pyrrhic victory?

These are the people who turned out by the thousands for Trump, in the Bronx last week, who now see in him what they know all too well: Profiling and targeting by a crooked criminal justice system.

Now Donald Trump is the unlikely hero of the downtrodden, while Joe Biden begs and bullies the black community for their vote.

The part of the electorate that otherwise would have sat this one out  who wants to get out of bed to choose between two old men, flawed candidates no one really wants?  will look at this persecution of Trump, the weaponization of our judicial system, and cast a vote not for Trump but against what has been done to him.

Here's what Trump said after the verdict, no longer the swaggering showman but downcast, defeated, frustrated  and calm.

This was a new Trump, one we haven't seen before: Composed. Tonally on-target. Meeting the moment.

'This was a disgrace,' he said. 'This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt The real verdict is going to be November 5, by the people'.

Truer words.

Not for nothing did Trump's website crash yesterday. Working people, struggling in this economy that Biden insists is gangbusters, are donating in outrage. Trump's campaign raised a mind-blowing $34.8 million within six hours of the verdict.

Apparently not one juror could look Trump in the face as the 'guilty' verdicts were read out, instead looking away or at the floor. They knew what they had done.

Apparently not one juror could look Trump in the face as the 'guilty' verdicts were read out, instead looking away or at the floor.

They knew what they had done.

But these jurors, many well-educated, simply could not bear returning to their families, jobs and polite society in deep-blue New York City without convicting Donald J. Trump.

'Everybody knows what happened here,' Trump said. 'We didn't do a thing wrong. I'm a very innocent man. And it's okay. I'm fighting for our country, I'm fighting for our Constitution We'll keep fighting. We'll fight till the end, and we'll win'.

But the mainstream media was raring and ready to go, presenting this verdict as a fait accompli, the end of Trump  as if it won't be overturned on appeal, as if his conviction won't be vacated.

The whole trial was a farce, a sideshow, and utterly unbefitting of the world's last great superpower.

The charges were brought by Alvin Bragg, a feckless district attorney responsible for soft-on-crime policies that are destroying this once-great metropolis.

A two-time convicted felon set a fellow subway rider on fire last week  his second attack this year, the first chasing three men with a lit object at a Chelsea subway station.

Yet this guy was roaming the streets rather than behind bars.

Turns out DA Bragg can get a conviction when he really sets his mind to it.

And here was the liberal media celebrating him as a hero!

The sanctimonious Lawrence O'Donnell, on MSNBC, compared this lazy sloth of a DA to David against Goliath, a humble man who grew up in Harlem's 'Strivers' Row'.

Bragg took his victory lap with a presser, Biden functionaries smirking in the background, outrageously claiming that this verdict was the result of 'following the facts and the law, and doing so without fear or favor'.

Please! This entire trial was brought with 'favor'  to Biden and the Dems, against Trump and MAGA.

Bragg took his victory lap with a presser, Biden functionaries smirking in the background, outrageously claiming that this verdict was the result of 'following the facts and the law, and doing so without fear or favor'. Please!

Not politically motivated?

Explain Biden sending one of his own comms guys down to the courthouse with Robert De Niro on Wednesday, the actor injecting himself into the face-painting, boob-flashing crowd with a speech no one asked for, calling Trump a 'loser' and a 'clown'.

The lack of self-awareness is truly astounding.

After the verdict, The New Yorker magazine immediately unveiled its next cover, Trump with tiny hands getting cuffed.

Rachel Maddow had her all-star panel ready to go, everyone brimming with elation, self-satisfaction, congratulating each other for offering totally objective coverage before welcoming the prosecution's star witness, Michael Cohen.

For theater of the absurd, this was unbeatable. Maddow treated this cheap suit, with his inelegant speaking voice and crude thought processes, as if he were a top mind, a potentate  his 'saga Shakespearean', she told us.

This is the same woman who spent an hour of airtime rending her garments, and attempting to self-soothe, after the Mueller Report found no evidence of 'Russian interference' in the 2016 election.

Cohen is a convicted felon, an admitted liar and a thief who stole $30,000 from Trump while in his employ, and whose bitterness at not following Trump to the White House has been his animating force ever since.

But sure: let's treat him like the Rosetta Stone.

Same for Stormy Daniels, the prosecution's second most important witness, whose story conveniently changed on the stand.

No longer the spitfire porn-star she. No, Stormy was now some kind of a victim who 'blacked out' during what she called her mediocre, unprotected sex with Trump, accessorizing her tale of woe with unnecessarily prurient details like the alleged involvement of 'spanking'.

Christmas morning for much of the media, otherwise clutching its proverbial pearls at the notion of suppressed stories.

Let's talk about suppressed stories. Ashley Biden, in a legal filing weeks ago, admits that her diary is real  a diary containing the entries 'Was I molested. I think so' as well as 'Showers w/ my dad (probably not appropriate).'

Aside from this publication, there has been a complete media blackout on Ashley's diary.

'Without fear or favor'? It's all such self-serving garbage.

Stormy Daniels's story conveniently changed on the stand. No longer the spitfire porn-star she. No, Stormy was now some kind of a victim who 'blacked out' during what she called her mediocre, unprotected sex with Trump.

Hunter Biden's trial, we've been told, is a political hatchet job too.

And Joe's family, taking millions from China and other countries  what makes Biden think a President Trump won't turn around and weaponize his DOJ against him?

A dangerous precedent has been set. If Biden were truly presidential, he'd have insisted that his justice department drop the case.

Instead, he took to Twitter immediately after the verdict and began panhandling.

'I hate to ask,' he began. I'm sorry  when has a Biden ever hated to ask for money?

Biden is sorely mistaken if he thinks Trump's conviction helps him win.

A devastating story in Politico this week reports that Democrats are in 'full-blown freakout' over Biden's chances.

'Donors ask me on an hourly basis about what I think,' one Dem adviser said, adding that it's 'so much easier to show them [data] so, while they read it, I can pour a drink.'

Get ready to drown those sorrows, Dems.

When the first presidential debate takes place on June 27, the first question for Donald Trump will surely be: 'As a now-convicted felon, how can you possibly hold the office of President of the United States?'

Liberal America still doesn't get it. They have learned nothing from 2016. This verdict, and much of the media's obvious glee and biased coverage, just got Trump re-elected.

And they'll say they never saw it coming.
Melania, Ivanka and Barron Trump are among the family members who have gathered at Trump Tower but didn't appear at Donald Trump's press conference, where he railed against his conviction in a case tied to a hush-money payment made to a porn star to keep quiet about their affair.

The former first lady has remained silent during the trial and the verdict of 34 guilty counts against her husband. Ivanka posted a message of love to her father on her social media.

But Melania and their 18-year-old son are at their New York home, where Trump has camped out dealing with his Manhattan trial.

Ivanka Trump and husband Jared Kushner also are at Trump Tower, DailyMail.com has learned, as the family gathers around their patriarch in the wake of his conviction.

Eric Trump, who has been in court most days with his father, and his wife Lara Trump, the co-chair of the Republican National Committee, where present at the press conference when the former president railed about the case.

Lara shared a video on social media of her and Eric's two children hugging Donald Trump and giving him handmade drawings. The video appeared to be shot in the Trump apartment in Trump Tower.

Melania Trump and Barron Trump - seen above at Mar-a-Lago at Easter - are at Trump Tower

Melania and son Barron are the only members of the Trump to either not appear in court with the former president or to post supportive messages on social media.

Don Jr., Eric and Tiffany all made courtroom appearances. Ivanka Trump posted a four-word message on Instagram Thursday night in support of her father: 'I love you dad.'

The former first lady was last seen in public with Donald Trump on May 17th, when their son Barron Trump graduated from high school.

Meanwhile, Trump railed against his conviction.

'This is a case where if they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone. These are bad people,' he said.

He also admitted that he had gotten 'very upset' with his lawyers.

And he e called Judge Juan Merchan the 'devil.'

Trump's sentencing is scheduled for July 11. He faces probation or up to four years in prison.

Stephanie Winston Wolkoff told CNN, she expects to see Melania at her husband's sentencing, acting as a 'distraction.'

Wolkoff worked with Melania in the White House in the early years of the Trump administration. The two had a friendship going back to their New York days but fell out during Trump's presidency. They no longer speak and Wolkoff wrote a tell-all memoir about her time with the Trumps.

'I do believe she will show up and it will be the art of distraction. It will shine a bright light on Melania when it's needed the most, when other things are happening in Donald's life needs to be shaded,' Wolkoff said.

Eric and Lara Trump watch Donald Trump's press conference

Ivanka Trump is also at Trump Tower to support her father

'This is a case where if they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone. These are bad people,' Donald Trump said

Trump will be sentenced four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where he will formally accept the GOP presidential nomination.

It's unclear if Melania will attend the convention or address it as she did in 2016 and 2020. Barron Trump was originally selected as a delegate from Florida but Melania later announced he would not be serving as one due to 'prior commitments.'

She did not elaborate on what those commitments were. Barron Trump graduated from high school earlier this month. The Trumps have not said where he will go to college or what his future plans are.

All the other Trump children - except for Ivanka - are delegates to the convention.

The New York case involved Donald Trump paying off porn star Stormy Daniels to silence her during the 2016 election over claims of an affair.

Trump denies sleeping with Daniels, who claimed it happened back in 2006, shortly after Melania had given birth to Barron.

But Trump's fixer at the time, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels $130,000 during the election to keep her quiet about the story.

Trump was convicted of falsifying business records when it came to reimbursing Cohen for the payment.

When the payment was revealed in 2017, Melania was said to be blind sided.

She let her feelings be known by canceling on Trump, refusing to go with him to the World Economic Forum in Davos even though she was scheduled to attend. Instead she decamped behind the walls of Mar-a-Lago, their Palm Beach estate.

But Melania Trump was believed to be following the media coverage of the trial. She also, however, was believed to see it as her husband's problem and not hers.
A pub landlord in a picturesque Surrey village hit by water issues linked to a fuel leak says the problem is driving customers away.

Hundreds of people in Bramley near Guildford in Surrey have been told not to use their water supply over contamination fears.

It comes as locals in Devon are still boiling tap water following a parasite outbreak in their water supply, with cases of infection now reaching 100.

Thames Water introduced a precautionary 'do not drink' notice to 616 homes yesterday.

It said it had been carrying out additional water sampling in Bramley since October last year 'following a historical fuel leak from the village petrol station'.

A statement said: 'The do not drink tap water advice follows results received today indicating elevated levels of hydrocarbons.'

SURREY: Thames Water staff distribute bottles water in Bramley, Surrey where the petrol station is believed to be the source of water pollution in the village

Residents in Bramley have been forced to travel to the village library to collect bottled water after a fuel leak at a nearby petrol station - including Sian Jones (pictured) who needs water to feed her disabled daughter

SURREY: Residents collecting water from a collecting point in the village

Speaking on Friday, Chris Hardstone, landlord of the Jolly Farmer, claimed he had been complaining about the fuel issue since 2021.

The 67-year-old has run the pub with his brother Steve, 66, for 40 years. Chris said: 'Back in 2021, our cellar just stank of fumes - and this petrol smell was wafting up into the bar.

'It took ages to get people to come and have a look, but when they did, we had people checking for gas leaks, for fire safety.

Households in Bramley have been issued the following 'do not drink' notice:

Don't drink the tap water yourself or give it to pets Don't prepare or cook food using tap water Don't use tap water to brush your teeth Don't use tap water even after boiling You can use tap water to wash and to flush the toilet after use Advertisement

'We were told initially it was mould - but it wasn't of course. It was a leak from the petrol station.'

Mr Hardstone said that they had to close the hotel part of the pub as a result - meaning they lost out on business.

'These issues meant we had to close our accommodation section down - so we lost business there,' he said.

'And of course, when word goes around that the local pub stinks of petrol, that affects business too.'

Bottled water stations have been set up in the village. Locals have been asked not to use their water supply for drinking, cooking or brushing their teeth.

However, they can continue to use the water to shower and wash hands, Thames Water said.

Sian Jones, 58, said: 'My 20-year-old daughter is disabled and needs to be fed through a feeding tube.

'That requires water, and so this is a pain.

'The concern also is that this was caused by a leak from 2016 - so have we all been drinking water with low levels of petrol for a while?

'We don't know when this started for sure. So it's definitely a worry in terms of the health impact.'

Thames Water has been regularly collecting and assessing water samples in Bramley following a historical fuel leak at the petrol station.

Sian Jones in Bramley, Surrey where the petrol station is believed to be the source of water pollution in the village

SURREY: The petrol station that has caused the leak meaning local residents cant drink the water in Bramley

SURREY: A Thames water van drives past the petrol station which is believed to be the source of water pollution in the village

SURREY: Bramley residents at a bottled water station after being told not to drink tap water

A Bramley resident carrying bottles of water from a water station

She added: 'If it all gets cleaned up and the water gets working - and the petrol station stops poisoning us all - then happy days.

'But we don't know when that's going to be.'

Mother-of-three Victoria Seagrim, 45, is also worried about the health impacts - particularly as her daughter has been ill for the past week.

She said: 'My 13-year-old has been nauseous and vomiting recently, so I'm obviously now thinking, is this because of the water?

'Of course, it could be a coincidence - but we just don't know.'

Ms Seagrim said she had to rush down to the library to collect water in the middle of her working day.

'I work full-time but I've had to come down here to get water - particularly as the kids are on half term and they all drink about three litres a day,' she said.

'It's stressful because we don't know when it will be fixed. It could be days - could be weeks.

'We also don't know how long the water has been contaminated. How long have we been unknowingly drinking it?'

Heather Aitken, 72, had similar concerns. She said: 'To get a message saying, 'Don't drink the water' It's shambolic. That shouldn't be happening in a First World country.

'It's a huge health concern. I feel particularly sorry for the people with young kids.'

Ms Aitken also said that the water wasn't the only thing the petrol station is affecting.

She said: 'The petrol station - and all the works - is causing these ridiculous traffic jams.

'So I live on the high street - and I'm also disturbed by all the fumes. We're breathing it all in and it's awful.

'The thing is - none of us want the petrol station to be reinstated. We don't need it. We have other ones. So it's causing all these issues and no one wants it.'

SURREY: Thames Water staff distribute bottles water in Bramley, Surrey where the petrol station is believed to be the source of water pollution in the village

SURREY: Residents must collect water from stations after a suspected fuel leak saw them issued with 'do not drink' warnings

SURREY: A local woman speaking to a Thames Water worker at a bottled water station in Bramley

SURREY: Residents getting water from a collection point in Bramley today after a fuel a leak

Another local, who did not want to be named, agreed. 'I'm moving out of the village because of the constant traffic caused by all the works,' he said.

'It's a shame because I love it here - and I try to support all the local businesses because they're being affected by the loss of footfall, but it's just unsustainable.'

Households in Bramley have been warned not to drink their tap water or use it for cooking, or brushing their teeth, but they can continue to use the water to shower and wash their hands.

Two bottled water stations have been set up in the village at Bramley Community Library and Artington Park and Ride and will be open until 9pm tonight.

The warning threatens to be an election setback for Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, the MP for the constituency.

The Conservative MP yesterday had a call with the UKHSA, DEFRA, Thames Water and Asda who acquired the village petrol station.

SURREY: Thames Water has been regularly collecting and assessing water samples in Bramley following a historical fuel leak from the village petrol station (pictured) now operated by ASDA

SURREY: Thames Water tests revealed hydrocarbons in the supply following a previous fuel leak. Pictured: The ASDA petrol station

A map depicting the village of Bramley, south of Guildford, where the 'do not drink' notice has been issued by Thames Water

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Mr Hunt held a meeting with Thames Water CEO Chris Weston in April to discuss water outages, slow compensation payments and sewage spills. He is due to hold another public meeting in June.

It comes as cases of cryptosporidium, a parasite that primarily infects people through faeces-contaminated drinking water has now reached 100.

Most of the infections are in Devon but outbreaks have also been reported in Oxfordshire and Worcestershire over the past two months.

The most serious outbreak relates to faecal-contaminated drinking water in Brixham, Devon, which started earlier this month.

However, dozens more Brits, including children, have fallen severely ill since the end of March after outbreaks at petting farms.

Whole streets in Brixham have been infected with victims forced to endure days of diarrhoea and agonising stomach cramps, with one sufferer even comparing them to 'childbirth.

SURREY: Households in Bramley have been warned not to drink their tap water or use it for cooking, or brushing their teeth, but they can continue to use the water to shower and wash their hands

A total of 616 homes in Bramley, (pictured) south of Guildford, have been told their water contains high levels of hydrocarbons, making it unsafe to drink

Residents have been forced to boil water for over a week to make it safe to drink, with some shops running out of bottled supplies due to panic-buying.

The source of the outbreak appears to be damaged air valve in the water supply line which 'may have allowed animal waste or contaminated groundwater to enter the local supply'.

While faecal contaminated water is the classic way people get infected with cryptosporidium there are other ways you could be struck down with the bug.

One of these is direct contact with infected animals, a fate that potentially seems to have befallen dozens of Brits in recent months.

A spokesperson for Thames Water said: 'Thames Water would like to reassure its customers that the village water supply has been safe to drink up to this point, as confirmed through its rigorous water testing, which has also been subject to regular review working alongside UKHSA throughout this period.'

DEVON: South West Water handing out emergency rations of bottled water to anyone affected by the Cryptosporidium outbreak in Torbay

DEVON: Locals in Brixham, Boohay, Kingswear, Roseland and north-east Paignton in Devon were all told to boil water as a precaution

DEVON: Bottled water has been supplied to residents in Brixham following an outbreak of cryptosporidium in the water supply

DEVON: South West Water unloading crates of bottled water to distribute to locals in south Devon

DEVON: Staff from South West Water at the scene of the outbreak at Hillhead Farm in Brixham

Tess Fayers, operations director for the Thames Valley and Home Counties said: 'We are asking 616 Bramley properties not to drink the tap water following recent water sampling results.

'The health and safety of our customers is our number one priority, and we would like to reassure residents that this is a precautionary measure.

'We are in the process of delivering letters and bottled water to the affected properties.

'We are also identifying locations to set-up bottled water stations and we will share this information with our customers as soon as possible.

'We are already on site in the village proactively replacing sections of our pipes on Horsham Road to reduce the risk to our customers.'

A Waverley Borough Council spokesperson, said: 'We are working closely with Thames Water and other agencies to try and mitigate the impact on residents, and we will support residents wherever possible.'

An Asda spokesperson said: 'We are continuing to work closely with Thames Water and other partners to address the issues we inherited after acquiring the Bramley PFS site.

'We recognise the impact this has had on the residents of Bramley and share their frustrations.

'We are committed to working with all parties to resolve this situation as quickly as possible.'

Meanwhile, Britain's greatest beauty spots and most stunning waterways are being continually polluted by water companies who say it is 'not cost beneficial' to upgrade the network to prevent leakage in half of all cases, MailOnline can reveal.

DEVON: Hillhead Reservoir, the underground reservoir where the outbreak of bacteria is thought to have originated

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In the last year alone, beauty spots in Cumbria, the Cotswolds, Cornwall and Sussex have all seen enormous sewage spills blighting the lives of residents and desecrating the natural environment.

Earlier this month, it was revealed million of litres of raw sewage had 'illegally pumped' into Lake Windermere in the Lake District after a fault.

Data analysis by MailOnline shows water firms decided there was 'no cost beneficial solution' to prevent 280 discharge sites in England that, due to lack of capacity, pumped untreated sewage into rivers and seas for hundreds of hours last year.

The 280 sites across the country comprise 48 per cent of 582 offending sites - which discharged for a total of nearly 375,000 hours last year - where a decision on whether to resolve the issue or not has been made.
An army veteran whose daughter went missing more than 40 years ago has attempted to hand back his military medals at Downing Street in a protest against failings in the police investigation.

Richard Lee's daughter Katrice disappeared near a British Army base in Paderborn, Germany, on November 28 1981 - her second birthday.

Successive appeals have failed to yield any information about Katrice's whereabouts.

The former warrant officer, who served in the army for 30 years, made a journey from Hartlepool to Downing Street by bus with a group of supporters and fellow veterans.

Mr Lee said he was 'not going away' until he received answers from the Ministry of Defence (MoD). 'I haven't got answers yet,' he added.

Former warrant officer, veteran Ritchie Lee from Hartlepool, who served in the army for 30 years, attempts to hand back his army medals to 10 Downing Street

Katrice Lee was celebrating her second birthday on November 28, 1981, when she disappeared from a supermarket close to a British military base in Paderborn, West Germany

'The MoD and the Royal Military Police know they've failed my daughter's case since 1981.

'With what's going on today, when everybody is aware of the blood contamination scandal, they're aware of the Hillsborough disaster, it's rather sad that all these institutions are more concerned about their reputation than just being open, honest and telling the truth.'

Mr Lee attempted to return his Northern Ireland general service medal and another awarded to him for 30 years of service but was told he could not do so as they were classed as 'personal belongings'.

He said the medals were 'meaningless' and will now be writing to the master of arms at the Houses of Parliament to hand them back there.

Katrice was on a shopping trip with her family at a supermarket near the military base, where her father was serving, when she disappeared.

Mr Lee believes his daughter was abducted and has requested an independent or public inquiry into the handling of his daughter's case.

He said he did not want to 'become another Mr Bates, like the Post Office, the common man, and my case is swept under the table and forgotten about'.

In 2012, the Royal Military Police re-opened its inquiries under the title Operation Bute after apologising for failings in the initial investigation.

A section of a river bank near where Katrice was last seen was excavated in 2018 as part of renewed investigations, but nothing was discovered.

Mr Lee said he was hopeful he may see his daughter again but would not want to force her away from her new life.

'I wouldn't turn around and say to the public that I would take her away from the life that she knows,' he added. 'I would like to hold her and say, "ey up, pet - I'm your dad".'

Mr Lee said he was 'not going away' until he received answers from the Ministry of Defence (MoD)

Mr Lee attempted to return his Northern Ireland general service medal and another awarded to him for 30 years of service

In 2019, a woman was handed a suspended jail sentence after setting up a Facebook profile impersonating Katrice.

Military police also arrested a man in connection with the disappearance and began searching a terraced house in Swindon, Wiltshire. The man was later released without charge.

Mr Lee said a meeting with then prime minister Boris in 2022 was an 'ambush' organised at the last minute in which nothing meaningful was discussed.

An MoD spokesperson said: 'Our thoughts and sympathies remain with Katrice Lee's family and if anyone has any new information relating to the disappearance of Katrice, they can contact us on 0800 616 888.

'The Defence Serious Crime Unit became operational on December 5 2022 and assumed primacy of the investigation into the disappearance of Katrice Lee. It would be inappropriate to comment on the investigations made by the Royal Military Police and the German police between 1981 and 2022.'

Katrice was last seen wearing a blue duffle coat with a green fur hood, a green and blue pinafore dress, red wellies, and a white blouse with a blue collar and cuffs.
Long before Donald Trump's hush-money trial concluded, I predicted that his conviction was a forgone conclusion  despite the obvious weakness of the case against him.

Had the prosecution been brought in another part of the country, or even in another part of New York State, which was more fairly balanced with anti and pro-Trump voters, I am in little doubt that the outcome would have been different.

But instead, on Thursday, Trump became the first former president to be found guilty of a crime  convicted on all 34 flimsy counts of 'falsifying business records.'

Why? Because this case was tried in Manhattan, where practically every man on the street wants to keep one Donald Trump out of the White House.

Perhaps the most important function of an independent jury in criminal trials is to keep a check on the biases of prosecutors and judges.

But for this constitutional protection to work, jurors must not be biased themselves against a defendant.

It's quite apparent that this essential protection was absent.

Long before Donald Trump 's hush-money trial concluded, I predicted that his conviction was a forgone conclusion  despite the obvious weakness of the case against him.

Had the prosecution been brought in another part of the country, or even in another part of New York State, which was more fairly balanced with anti and pro-Trump voters, I am in little doubt that the outcome would have been different.

Nor did this case seem to be based on the evidence or the law. In fact, I saw no credible evidence of a crime.

The case brought by District Attorney Alvin Bragg  elected to 'Get Trump'  was so woefully weak on the facts and the law that it makes Trump's conviction even more dangerous.

It now means that future prosecutors can concoct extremely weak cases against political opponents and be assured of a conviction  albeit if they just pick the right venue and select the right jurors.

This trial was without precedent.

Never in American history has anyone ever been prosecuted for  as Trump's defense argued was the case  erroneous bookkeeping made by a company underling who failed to disclose the payment of 'hush money'.

What there is plenty of precedent for is... the payment of hush money.

Since the 1790s when Alexander Hamilton paid to keep his adulterous affair secret, many such payments have been made by politicians across the spectrum.

The case brought by District Attorney Alvin Bragg was so woefully weak on the facts and the law that it makes Trump's conviction even more dangerous.

And of course, none of these will have been disclosed on corporate forms  which would defeat the point of keeping something secret  and no one has ever been prosecuted for failing to make such a disclosure.

The infamous conversation between Stalin and the head of his KGB Lavrenty Beria is often quoted: 'Show me the man, and I will find you the crime.'

This prosecution was even worse because, though DA Bragg tried desperately to find a crime with which to charge Trump, he failed to find one, as did his predecessor Cyrus Vance.

So Bragg went a dangerous step further than Stalin ever did: he made up a crime.

He found a misdemeanor that was past the statute of limitations  making a false bookkeeping entry on a corporate form  and magically converted it to a felony that was within the limitation period by alleging that the false entry was intended to cover up another crime.

Throughout the trial, many people inferred that crime to be an alleged attempt at election interference. But Bragg never actually explicitly stated that.

In his closing instructions, Judge Juan Merchan exposed his already apparent bias once more  telling the jurors that they didn't actually have to agree on the specifics of Trump's unlawful behavior.

The infamous conversation between Stalin and the head of his KGB Lavrenty Beria is often quoted: 'Show me the man, and I will find you the crime.'

In fact, the prosecution didn't tell the court what Trump's other 'crimes' were until their closing arguments on Wednesday  by which point the defense had no opportunity to respond.

And even then, the supposed crimes outlined were vague.

In his closing instructions, Judge Juan Merchan exposed his already apparent bias once more  telling the jurors that they didn't actually have to agree on the specifics of Trump's unlawful behavior.

How could someone defend themselves against such vague allegations?

It was at this moment that I became convinced that the jury would find him guilty.

And that conviction may well mark the beginning of a new era of partisan weaponization of our justice system.

DA Bragg has demonstrated how easy it now is to get a conviction against a political opponent. Other ambitious DA's are likely to follow suit. And the ultimate losers will be the American public.
READ MORE: The ten most dangerous states in America ranked

The city was ranked the safest by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

State officials announced the ranking during a press conference on May 29

Employees at Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection announced the safest city in the world for tourists earlier this month.

Several officials associated with the world's safest city for tourists held a press conference on May 29 to announce its ranking.

Conference attendees included the city's chief of police, its mayor, and a member of the state senate.

The world's safest city this year according to the ranking is Honolulu - a top tourist destination in Hawaii that officials say uses collaborative efforts to ensure it remains 'a safe and secure place for residents and travelers.'

The company found it to be the safest after making a list of popular cities from travel websites, requesting survey takers who visited the areas to rank them on safety, and adding in ratings from the safe-cities index, GeoSure Global, and Numbeo.

Honolulu was ranked the safest city in the world for tourists earlier this month by employees from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection

Officials associated with the state of Honolulu announced the city's ranking in a press conference on May 29

Honolulu is the largest city in Hawaii, and it's the home of its State Capitol, according to the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

A news release published by the Hawaiian Tourism Authority indicated that more than 753,000 tourists visited Honolulu in April 2024 who altogether spent to $1.51 billion during their stay.

Officials at the May 29 press conference emphasized that the safety of tourists and residents has always been a priority.

'There is nothing more important than ensuring our residents have safe communities for them to live, work and play, which in turn reinforces travelers connections with Hawaii as a safe and secure destination they will return to,' said Mufi Hannemann, President and CEO of the Hawaii Lodging & Tourism Association.

Chief Arthur 'Joe' Logan of the Honolulu Police Department also credited the Safe and Sound Waikiki strategy and the Honolulu Weed and Seed initiative, which are dedicated to helping keep individuals safe and lower the city's crime rate.

'This recognition is a testament to everyone here about making Honolulu as safe as possible, as well as every other community on Oahu,' said Prosecutor Steve Alm.

'From the community organizations and neighborhood boards to each individual, its about collaboration and working together.'

Honolulu was also ranked as the safest city for its health measures, women/LGBTQ+/BIPOC safety, and safety from violent crime.

A news release published by the Hawaiian Tourism Authority indicated that more than 753,000 tourists visited Honolulu in April 2024

Honolulu is the largest city in Hawaii, and it's the home of its State Capitol as well as the Department of Health and the Department of Transportation

The State of Hawaii Department of Health in Honolulu regularly posts news releases about public health on its website, and a section dedicated to COVID-19 updates is even available.

One of their recent reports detailed the approval of the Navy Closure Task Force  Red Hill Air Quality Monitoring Plan.

According to the department, it will be implemented while primary tanks at the Red Hill Bulk Storage Facility are getting cleaned and vented.

The plan aims to meet the Department of Health's requirements in protecting public safety.

Hawaii was rated one of the safest states for LGBTQ+ members by Safe Home on May 29, and there are at least two LGBTQ+ liaisons who are police officers in Honolulu.

The violent crime rate in Honolulu has risen this year, but it has a low murder and non-negligent manslaughter rate.

Nearly 1,000 violent crimes have been reported in Honolulu so far, and as of May 31, only 14 of them are murder and non-negligent manslaughter offenses.

The State of Hawaii Department of Health in Honolulu regularly posts news releases about public health on its website, and a section dedicated to COVID-19 updates is even available

Terrorist attacks are rare in Hawaii, but Honolulu was ranked second place in the top 10 safest cities from terrorism by Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection.

Like several other police departments in the US, there is a terrorism unit that's connected to the Hawaii Department of Defense.

However, the State of Hawaii Office of Homeland Security in Honolulu released a new strategy plan that was partially inspired by the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention (TVTP).

This program implements several strategies for tourists and residents, including training on topics such as domestic terrorism, support for threat assessment teams, and communicating with with resource providers who prevent violence.

Honolulu was only ranked number three in the safest cities for road transportation in the US, but a factor that may be a reason why it's still highly ranked is the Department of Transportation's Safe Community Program.

The program's page describes it as a program that is 'committed to reducing the number of senseless deaths and injuries on Hawaiis roads.'

The program also has strong relationships with four police departments in Hawaii and traffic safety advocates.

According to recent statistics, there have only been 11 fatalities in Honolulu County, and only one of them was from a car accident.
Donald Trump has branded the guilty verdict in his hush money trial as a 'scam' and called America a 'fascist state' as he launched attacks at Joe Biden and the New York state justice system in his first speech following his conviction.

The former president launched into attacks on the 'tyrant' judge in his criminal trial during a fiery 40 minute rant from Trump Tower in Manhattan on Friday as he returned to the campaign trail.

Trump was found guilty of 34 felony charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels who had alleged the two had sex. No former president or presumptive party nominee has ever faced a felony conviction or the prospect of prison time.

The defiant GOP hopeful said his lawyers would be 'appealing this scam' conviction and alleged the trial was 'all done by Biden and his people'. He branded Biden as 'the dumbest president we've ever had' and slammed the Democrat for putting him under a gag order when he 'can't put two sentences together'.

But Biden hit back, calling Trump 'reckless' and 'irresponsible' for claiming his trial was 'rigged' just because he 'didn't like the outcome'.

Republicans and Trump's foreign allies have rallied behind him and complained about the alleged unfairness in the case, including Britain's Nigel Farage - a Brexit campaigner who previously campaigned with Trump - who branded the verdict as 'disgrace' and claimed 'Trump will now win big'.

Donald Trump (pictured at Trump Tower today) spoke to reporters at his namesake tower in Manhattan on Friday, vowing to appeal the 'scam' guilty verdict in his hush money trial and launched attacks at Joe Biden for the 'rigged' case

Trump (pictured during his his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024) was found guilty of 34 felony charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels who had alleged the two had sex

After weeks of primarily speaking from an aging courthouse in Manhattan, Trump returned to campaign mode Friday in the atrium of his Trump Tower, the brass and rose marble lobby where he descended his golden escalator to announce his 2016 campaign nine years ago next month.

Trump initially started attacking Biden on immigration and tax policies before pivoting to his case, growling that he was threatened with jail time if he violated a gag order.

Speaking to reporters, he argued the verdict in his criminal trial was illegitimate and driven by politics and sought to downplay the facts underlying the case.

'It's not hush money. It's a nondisclosure agreement. Totally legal, totally common,' he said.

In a message aimed to galvanize his supporters, he cast himself as a martyr, suggesting that if it could happen to him, 'They can do this to anyone.'

'I'm willing to do whatever I have to do to save our country and save our Constitution. I don't mind,' he said. 'So we will continue the fight.'

He also launched into attacks on the judge in his criminal trial and continued to undermine New York's criminal justice system.

He branded Judge Juan M Merchan as a 'tyrant', claiming he 'wouldn't allow us to have witnesses, you wouldn't allow us to talk, you wouldn't allow us to do anything.'

'We're going to be appealing this scam,' Trump added. 'We're going to be appealing it on many different things.'

Trump's supporters gathered outside Trump Tower before the former president and Republican presidential candidate held a press conference after being found guilty over hush-money charges

A supporter of Donald Trump waits outside Manhattan Criminal Court for his motorcade to pass after the guilty verdict announced against the former president on Thursday, May 30, 2024

Supporters of President Joe Biden demonstrate outside Trump Tower on Friday, May 31, 2024

He went on to blame Biden for the trial, claiming the Democrat's administration had been working 'in conjunction with' the Department of Justice.

'This is all done by Biden and his people,' he said, adding: 'I am under a gag order from a man who can't put two sentences together, given by a court.

'This is done by Washington, and nobody has ever seen anything quite like it.

'And I am not allowed to talk about it... but you are allowed to talk about it and I hope you do.'

He reiterated that the trial had been 'rigged', criticized how his defense's request for a venue change was refused and alleged that 'witnesses on our side were literally crucified'.

'It they can do this to me they can do this to anyone,' Trump said at the start of his address. 'These are bad, sick people.'

Although he had appeared tense and deeply angry, his words pointed and clipped, when he emerged from the courtroom immediately after the verdict Thursday, Trump appeared more relaxed during Friday's address.

He defaulted into his standard rally mode, complete with acted-out stories and did not take any questions from reporters.

He said that he was 'honored' to face trial and said he would continued to fight, despite having been found guilty on all 34 counts against him.

'We're going to fight,' Trump vowed. 'I'm wired in such a way that a lot of people would have gone away a long time ago.'

The guilty verdict has seemingly fired up Trumps' allies with Nigel Farage, (pictured on May 30, 2024) a Brexit campaigner who previously campaigned with Trump, branding the verdict as 'disgrace' and claiming 'Trump will now win big'

Attorney Alina Habba (L) looks on as former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City

He picked apart intricate parts of the case and trial proceedings as unfair, alleging that the $130,000 payment to his former aid Michael Cohen to silence Daniels was a just a 'legal expense' and 'standard stuff'.

'Hush money, hush money,' he said. 'It's not hush money, it's a non-disclosure agreement. Totally legal, totally common. Everyone has it.'

Trump said he wanted to testify - a right that he opted not to exercise - and raised the specter of being charged with perjury for a verbal misstep.

He said: 'The theory is you never testify because as soon as you testify - anybody, if it were George Washington - don't testify because they'll get you on something that you said slightly wrong.'

Testing the limits of the gag order that prohibits him from publicly critiquing witnesses including Cohen, Trump called his former fixer, the star prosecution witness in the case, 'a sleazebag'.

He claimed the prosecution wanted to know if he was 'a bad boy here, bad boy there' and argued that Daniels' 'salacious' testimony of their alleged sexual encounter had 'nothing to do with the case'.

He also circled back to some of the same authoritarian themes he has repeatedly focused on in speeches and rallies, painting the US under Biden as a 'corrupt' and 'fascist' nation.

Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower on May 31, 2024 in New York City

Glass doors to Trump Tower reflect a flag showing support for former President Donald Trump across the street on Friday, May 31, 2024

Trump supporters outside Trump Tower wave a banner supporting his 2024 White House bid

A supporter of former President Donald Trump waves an inverted American flag during a demonstration outside Trump Tower on Friday, May 31, 2024

He argued that under Biden there were 'record levels of terrorism pouring into our country', alleging the so-called terrorists have come into the US with tents, propane tanks, and cell phones.

'They've never seen anything like it,' he said. 'It looks like they're building an army.'

Trump alleged that the 'great veterans' living in America are 'living on the streets like dogs' while illegal migrants are 'living in luxury hotels and cities all over our country run by Democrats'.

He added: 'Our kids can't have a little league game anymore because we have tents and migrants living on the fields.'

He also repeatedly touted an exclusive DailyMail.com poll in his first major speech since his guilty verdict. The poll showed him receiving a six-point boost among voters in the hours after being convicted in his historic hush money trial.

In remarks lasting over 30 minutes Trump said: 'This is bigger than Trump, and bigger than me, and bigger than my presidency.

'And the people understand it because I just see a poll came out - The Daily Mail. The first one came out, done last night right after the verdict, where I'm up six points.

'Six points from what we already were. We were leading fairly substantially. We're up six points in the Daily Mail poll.'

His son Eric Trump and daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, joined him, but his wife, Melania Trump, who has been publicly silent since the verdict, was not seen.

Outside, on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue, supporters gathered across the street flew a giant red 'TRUMP OR DEATH' sign that flapped in front of a high-end boutique.

A small group of protesters held up signs that said 'Guilty' and 'Justice matters.'

Donald Trump, pictured in a courtroom sketch, reacts as the verdict is read in his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, at Manhattan state court in New York City on May 30, 2024

Donald Trump, far left, watches watches as jury foreperson #1 delivers guilty verdicts with judge Juan Merchan listening on the bench in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday

Biden returned to Washington from Rehoboth Beach Friday to take a meeting with the Belgian prime minister and welcome to the White House the Kansas City Chiefs.

Friday morning the White House announced that the president would be addressing the situation in the Middle East, but Biden started his remarks by tackling the Trump verdict first - saying he wanted to discuss 'what happened yesterday in New York City.'

'The American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed,' Biden said.

He grinned though didn't respond when asked about Trump's claims his Democratic opponent is making him a 'political prisoner.'

'Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself, it was a state case not a federal case and it was heard by a jury of 12 citizens, 12 Americans, 12 people like you,' the president continued.

Biden noted that like 'millions' of other juries 'this jury was chosen the same way every jury in America was chosen.'

'There was a process that Donald Trump's attorney was part of, the jury heard five weeks of evidence - five weeks - and after careful deliberation the jury reached a unanimous verdict,' Biden said.

'They found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts,' the president said, adding that Trump would also be given the chance to appeal 'just like everyone else.'

'That's how the American system of justice works,' Biden said.

'And it's reckless, it's dangerous, it's irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged, just because they don't like the verdict,' the president added.

Biden pointed out how the justice system has endured for nearly 250 years and should be 'respected.'

'And we should never allow anyone to tear it down, it's as simple as that,' the president said.

'That's America, that's who we are, that's who we'll always be,' Biden said, adding a 'God willing' on the end.

President Joe Biden called former President Donald Trump 'reckless' and 'irresponsible' in his first comments responding to the ex-president's historic guilty hush money verdict

Biden grinned though didn't respond when asked about Trump's claims his Democratic opponent is making him a 'political prisoner'

Former President Donald Trump complained about the unfairness of the hush money case from Trump Tower earlier Friday

On Friday morning, Trump's campaign announced it had raised $34.8million as donations poured in after the verdict. That's more than $1million for each felony charge and more than his political operation raised in January and February combined.

Trump and his campaign had been preparing for a guilty verdict for days, even as they held out hope for a hung jury.

On Tuesday, Trump railed that not even Mother Teresa, the nun and saint, could beat the charges, which he repeatedly labeled as 'rigged.'

His top aides on Wednesday released a memo in which they insisted a verdict would have no impact on the election, whether Trump was convicted or acquitted.

The news nonetheless landed with a jolt. Trump listened as the jury delivered a guilty verdict on every count. Trump sat stone-faced while the verdict was read.

His campaign fired off a flurry of fundraising appeals, and GOP allies rallied to his side. One text message called him a 'political prisoner,' even though he hasn't yet found out if he will be sentenced to prison.

The campaign also began selling black 'Make America Great Again' caps, instead of the usual red, to reflect a 'dark day in history.'

Aides reported an immediate rush of contributions so intense that WinRed, the platform the campaign uses for fundraising, crashed.

The $34.8million raised Thursday did not include what Trump collected at his in-person fundraiser or any donations that continued to come in online Friday.

Trump's foreign allies, from Hungary's Viktor Orban to Britain's Nigel Farage, also rallied to his defense saying his trial was politically motivated, while others reacted cautiously, aware they may have to work with him as president again soon.

'Solidarity and full support for @realDonaldTrump, victim of judicial harassment and a process of political nature,' said Italy's Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, who heads the anti-immigrant League party.

Farage said on X: 'This verdict is a disgrace. Trump will now win big.'

Trump (pictured today) on Friday complained about 'salacious' testimony by porn star Stormy Daniels. Legal experts believe that is an area Trump's team will raise on appeal

Donald Trump watches as Stormy Daniels is questioned by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger during his criminal trial on May 7, 2024 in this courtroom sketch

Trump on Friday publicly critiquing witnesses including Michael Cohen, (pictured leaving court on May 20, 2024 after giving his testimony) calling his former fixer, the star prosecution witness in the case, 'a sleazebag'

During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump repeatedly clashed with traditional allies, in Europe and beyond, over trade, defense spending and many other policies. The relationship was often uneasy, with old allies unsure how to deal with Trump.

If he won another term, Trump would likely install loyalists in key positions, allowing him more freedom to enact isolationist policies and enforce his foreign policy priorities, current and former aides and diplomats have said.

Trump himself has offered few clues about what kind of foreign policy he would pursue next time around, beyond broad claims like ending the Ukraine war in 24 hours or saying he would not want to protect NATO members from a future attack by Russia if those countries' contributions to the defense alliance were lagging - which worried traditional allies.

Possibly with that backdrop in mind and with sentencing and a likely appeal by Trump yet to come, many in Europe and elsewhere simply did not react publicly after the New York jury found him guilty of falsifying business records to cover up a hush-money payment to a porn star.

The European Union's foreign policy arm declined to comment. Those who did react were cautious.

'There's sentencing still to go and possible appeal, but we respect the court process,' said British opposition leader Keir Starmer, whose Labour Party leads the polls ahead of an election in July.

'We have a special relationship with the US that transcends whoever the president is, but it is an unprecedented situation, no doubt about that.'

Guilty verdict gives Donald Trump a SIX-POINT bump in approval ratings according to snap Daily Mail poll

Yorhimasa Hayashi, chief cabinet secretary in Japan said: 'We would like to refrain from commenting on matters relating to judicial procedures in other countries.

'The Japanese government is not in a position to make comments with presumption about the impact on the presidential election. In any event, we are closely monitoring related developments and will continue to gather information.'

The Kremlin had no such qualms, saying Trump's guilty verdict showed that all legal and illegal means were being used in the United States to get rid of political rivals.

And some in the EU also made their support for Trump clear.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose own brand of nationalism and repeated clashes with partners isolates him in the EU, said: 'Let the people make their verdict this November! Keep on fighting, Mr. President!'

Strategists from both major US parties, voter interviews and the Trump campaign have cast doubt on just how much a conviction could cost him at the polls.

While the guilty verdict against him Thursday and his vow to fight appeared to motivate his base of supporters, including those who began pouring donations into his campaign, it's unclear if any of this will help him with independent voters who'll be decisive in the November election.

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower, Friday, May 31, 2024, in New Yor

Eric and Lara Trump watch Donald Trump's press conference at Trump Tower on Friday

Protesters hold placards outside Trump Tower in New York City, on May 31, 2024 before former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a press conference

Trump is expected to keep his legal troubles central to his campaign. He has long argued without evidence the four indictments against him were orchestrated by Biden to try to keep him out of the White House. The hush money case was filed by local prosecutors in Manhattan who don't work for the Justice Department or any White House office.

Trump, who has painted himself as pro-law enforcement and even talked of how officers might handle suspects roughly, has spent the last two years attacking parts of the criminal justice system as it applies to him and raising questions about the honesty and motives of agents and prosecutors.

He is set in the upcoming two months to have his first debate with Biden, announce a running mate and formally accept his party's nomination at the Republican National Convention.

But before he goes to Milwaukee for the RNC, Trump will have to return to court on July 11 for sentencing. He could face penalties ranging from a fine or probation up to four years in prison.
Sunny Hostin's daughter Paloma has sparked backlash online after posting a controversial pro-Palestine message.

The StopAntisemitism X account highlighted a SnapChat post by 18-year-old Paloma, who just graduated from Fieldstone, an elite $63,000-a-year high school in New York City.

On a selfie, Paloma wrote: 'Now that I got my diploma: From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.'

The phrase - referencing the land from the River Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea - is considered by many to be a call for the end of the state of Israel.

Paloma, whose grandfather is Jewish, added: 'And to all the mfs who screenshotted my stories and showed them to your parents trying to get me suspended or expelled, look at me now.'

The StopAntisemitism X account highlighted a SnapChat post by 18-year-old Paloma, who just graduated from Fieldstone, an elite $63,000-a-year high school in New York City

After her pro-Palestine post was released on X, Paloma, who is headed to Cornell in the fall, posted a statement explaining her words.

'After the elation of graduating from high school, it struck me that we are living in very serious times.

'I woke up feeling very heavy about the humanitarian catastrophe in the Middle East. Both sides have endured unimaginable loss and suffering. Today, my prayers are with everyone affected by these tragedies.'

A source close to the situation told DailyMail.com that Paloma did not realize the connotation of the phrase 'from the river to the sea.'

Students in the US have become galvanized by the war in Gaza, where over 30,000 have been killed after Hamas attacked Israel in October, killing over 1,200.

After her pro-Palestine post was released on X, Paloma, who is headed to Cornell in the fall, posted a statement explaining her words

Paloma Hostin and Sunny Hostin at the premiere of Hocus Pocus 2 in 2022

The demonstrations have included the question of whether certain phrases  including 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free!'  cross the line into antisemitism.

Jewish students have reported feeling unsafe on their campuses as activists increasingly target anyone they believe to be associated with Israel.

Earlier this month, leaders of three large public school systems strongly denied allegations that they let antisemitism run rampant in their schools.

As part of a series of hearings on antisemitism, a House Education and Workforce subcommittee sought testimony from leaders of the New York City Public Schools, the Berkeley Unified School District in California and the Montgomery County Public Schools in Maryland.

The first of the antisemitism hearings to focus on K-12 education comes amid a wave of pro-Palestinian student protests that have washed across dozens of US universities and a growing number of high schools.

Sunny pictured with her son Gabriel, who goes to Harvard, and her daughter Paloma

Sunny's husband Emmanuel Hostin pictured with their daughter Paloma in a post shared in February 2023

Republican lawmakers peppered the school leaders with questions about what they consider anti-Semitic. Asked if the phrase 'from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free' is anti-Semitic, all three generally said yes, though with some equivocation.

'It is if it is calling for the elimination of the Jewish people in Israel,' Berkeley Superintendent Enikia Ford Morthel said.

'And I will also say that I recognize that it does have different meanings.'

Both New York City and Montgomery Public Schools are subjects of Education Department civil rights investigations into allegations of antisemitism. Both cases center on whether the districts responded to harassment of students in a manner consistent with Title VI, which prevents harassment based on shared ancestry.

Last year, Sonny revealed that her daughter Paloma was born with Brown syndrome - a rare condition which limits the movement of the tendon that attaches to the outside of the eye.

Pro-Palestine demonstrators rally, holding placards expressing their opinions outside of the John A. Paulson Center at New York University on May 3

Police arrest protesters during pro-Palestinian demonstrations at The City College Of New York

Sunny said her daughter has special devices to help her read, as she declared: 'It's not anything to be ashamed of.'

Sunny, who also has son Gabriel, 21, with her husband Emmanuel, opened up about the condition as she addressed the moment Paloma rang her live on air midway through an interview with Arnold Schwarzenegger.

She said: 'I've worked for about six months to get her an accommodation so that she could get longer time on her ACTs for reading, she just needs the extra time. And she just got her ACT score back and she just scored in the top ten per cent of the country and so she forgot and she immediately texted.'

Sunny, who switched her phone off when it started ringing mid-interview, confirmed she turned it back on during the commercial break to see a text message from Paloma.

'She finally got her accommodation!' Sunny said, sounding delighted. 'Children that have certain disabilities, you know it's not anything to be ashamed of and we're not ashamed of it. We've been advocates for her and she blew it out of the water and that is why my phone rang!'

Sunny's son Gabrial is a student at Harvard.
Labour's Left was crowing tonight after Sir Keir Starmer dramatically caved to a huge backlash by declaring Diane Abbott can stand as a party candidate at the election.

The Momentum group, which was set up to support former leader Jeremy Corbyn, hailed a 'huge victory' over Labour's current leadership.

'You come at the queen, you better not miss,' they declared, following days of chaotic confusion over Ms Abbott's political future.

'Diane Abbott has been bullied and abused her whole career. Starmer tried to force her out. She held firm - and won. This is a huge victory.'

Ms Abbott was the first black female MP and has represented her Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency since 1987.

The veteran politician remained coy about her immediate plans tonight, telling LBC: 'My local party selected me as their candidate in 2022.

'But I will not be the official candidate until I'm endorsed by the Labour National Executive Committee (NEC) at its meeting on Tuesday. So I am not saying anything until then.'

Sir Keir earlier moved to end days of bitter factional infighting by declaring that Ms Aboott is 'free' to represent the party on 4 July.

The Labour leader faced another grilling on the festering tensions as he took his general campaign to Scotland this morning.

Amid rising fears that the row could dent his hopes of winning power, Sir Keir said 'the fact remains that no decisions have been taken' when asked whether Ms Abbott would be blocked from standing at the election.

But Labour's leader in Scotland, Anas Sarwar, heaped more pressure on by making clear he 'agrees with' party deputy Angela Rayner - who yesterday said she thought Ms Abbott should be allowed to stand.

The ruling NEC takes the final decision on candidates, but Sir Keir's supporters have a majority - meaning he can effectively control the outcome.

Sir Keir said: 'The whip has obviously been restored to her now and she is free to go forward as a Labour candidate.'

He praised the Labour veteran as a 'trailblazer', saying: 'Diane Abbott was elected in 1987, the first black woman MP.

'She has carved a path for other people to come into politics and public life.'

Labour sources said Ms Abbott will be the Labour candidate in her long-held constituency and the NEC is expected to support her candidacy.

In other developments today:

Sir Keir confirmed he had taken a private plane from Wales to Scotland, despite Labour attacking Rishi Sunak over his travel;

Despite describing himself as a vegetarian, Sir Keir joked he was coming back to Scotland for the tandoori salmon;

Polls suggest the Tories are making little impact on Labour's lead despite broad support for new policies.

Keir Starmer faced another grilling on the veteran left-winger and mounting factional infighting in the party as he took his campaign north of the border

Mr Sarwar, who appeared with Sir Keir to launch the energy policy this morning, described Ms Abbott as an 'historic figure in the Labour Party', while stressing that it was 'ultimately a decision for the NEC'

Keir Starmer heaped praise on 'trailblazer' Diane Abbott (pictured) today as he faces a revolt on claims the veteran left-winger is being blocked from standing at the election

Close allies Diane Abbott and Jeremy Corbyn have accused Sir Keir of trying to purge the Left of the party

Mr Sarwar, who appeared with Sir Keir to launch the energy policy this morning, described Ms Abbott as an 'historic figure in the Labour Party', while stressing that it was 'ultimately a decision for the NEC'.

'I think the NEC should make a decision quickly,' he added.

Shadow cabinet minister Peter Kyle also risked inflaming tensions, saying Labour is 'responding to a situation that Diane herself got herself in to'.

Pouring petrol on the dispute yesterday, Ms Rayner told Sky: 'I don't think there's any reason why Diane Abbott shouldn't stand as an MP.

'She's been an inspiration to many people who see that actually she has been a trailblazer.

'Now people from her background and people who look like her have a place in our politics. And she's been able to demonstrate that. You can see the difference on our benches.'

Ms Rayner also said it was 'not a great look' to see Ms Abbott being 'briefed against'.

Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride twisted the knife today, repeating the Tories' attack line that 'if Keir Starmer can't deal with Diane Abbott, how on earth is he going to deal with Vladimir Putin?'

The Labour Left has vented fury at an apparent bid by the leadership to purge Corbynites and parachute some of Sir Keir's most loyal allies into plum seats.

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland today, Sir Keir said: 'Diane Abbott has had the whip returned to her, no decision has been taken to bar her from standing and the NEC will come to a decision in due course.'

Asked if he would like her to be a candidate, Sir Keir added: 'Ultimately, that will be a matter for the NEC but no decision has been taken.'

He also praised the MP as a 'trailblazer'. 'She, of course, was a trailblazer for years, she faced many challenges which she overcame in her political career,' he said.

A clamour is growing for Sir Keir to neutralise the bitter spat over Ms Abbott, who has represented Hackney North and Stoke Newington for nearly four decades.

Ms Abbott, who was elected to Parliament in 1987, has said she wants to fight to retain her seat 'as long as it is possible'.

She was suspended by the party last year for suggesting Jewish, Irish and traveller people experienced prejudice but not racism.

After apologising and undergoing training on anti-Semitism, she had the party whip restored this week, meaning she could stand as a Labour candidate. But reports suggested that she would be barred from standing again for her seat.

Ms Abbott - a close ally of Jeremy Corbyn - said there was an 'appalling cull' of the Left of the party. Former leader Mr Corbyn lost the Labour whip after he said a highly critical report on the scale of anti- Semitism within the party had been 'dramatically overstated'.

He launched his campaign to stand as an independent in his Islington North seat on Wednesday.

Ms Abbott also risked falling foul of Labour rules against supporting rival candidates by retweeting a message hailing Mr Corbyn's decision to run.

Meanwhile, his supporter Lloyd Russell-Moyle was suspended by Labour and told he could not stand again in his former seat of Brighton Kemptown. The former MP blamed a 'vexatious and politically motivated complaint' against him.

Faiza Shaheen was not endorsed as the Labour candidate for Sir Iain Duncan Smith's marginal seat of Chingford and Woodford Green. She was blocked after liking a series of social media posts that allegedly downplayed anti-

MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle said he has been suspended by the party over what he called a 'vexatious and politically motivated complaint'

Faiza Shaheen, Labour's candidate for Chingford & Woodford Green in northeast London, told Newsnight that the party was pulling her candidacy for allegedly liking a series of Tweets that downplayed antisemitism accusations

Semitism accusations and may run as an independent. She is consulting lawyers.

The Momentum campaign group, which was set up to support

Mr Corbyn's Labour leadership, criticised Sir Keir's comments about candidate selection.

'This is a laughable defence and no one's buying it,' a spokesman said. 'Plain as day, Keir Starmer is purging Left-wingers. He is pushing out independent-minded women of colour.'

It came as several Sir Keir allies were parachuted into key seats.

Josh Simons, director of the Labour Together group, was selected in Makerfield. Luke Akehurst, the secretary of Labour First, was selected in North Durham.
King Charles has threatened to sever ties with Prince Andrew if the disgraced duke continues to refuse to leave Royal Lodge for his new home in Frogmore Cottage, a friend of the King has claimed.

The duke, who no longer has official duties after being forced to quit over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, shares the 30-room, 30million mansion with his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York.

The King has long been trying to get his brother - who has no apparent source of income - to leave the Windsor mansion amid rumours the Prince of Wales is keen to take up residence in the property to reflect his role as heir to the throne.

While sources close to the King said he is willing to pay for his brother to live comfortably out of his private funds from the Duchy of Lancaster, the level of funding needs to be appropriate.

A friend of the King told The Times: 'Unfortunately, if Andrew refuses to leave within a reasonable time frame, then the King may be forced to reassess the whole package of support he provides and the duke would be required to fund the lion's share of his security, accommodation and lifestyle costs all on his own - which, given the sums involved, is highly unlikely to be possible in the long term.

'Everyone is mindful of his well-being, and has his best interests at heart, but there are limits of patience and tolerance.'

Prince Andrew has refused to leave Royal Lodge (pictured) having lived in the mansion for almost 20 years

The Duke of York has lived at the 30-room mansion since he took over the lease in 2003

Andrew has reportedly refused to leave the property, leaving King Charles tired and frustrated

Frogmore Cottage (pictured), which was previously occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan, was suggested as a possible alternative but the Duke does not want to move

King Charles has long been trying to get his brother Andrew to leave the Windsor mansion

Andrew refuses to leave Royal Lodge having lived there for nearly 20 years

Following the King's continued attempts to evict Andrew from Royal Lodge, a friend of Charles said: 'As things stand, life at Royal Lodge is set to become increasingly cold and uncomfortable for the duke.'

Claims emerged last year that Andrew could not meet the 400,000-a-year upkeep of Royal Lodge, which is thought to be worth 30million.

It was reported that the duke was told he would have to leave the property.

He was granted 'a stay of execution', it was reported in October, after he did a deal with the King to carry out the repair works on the 19th century, Grade II-listed property.

But the state of the mansion's exterior has since been exposed, with pictures which are said to show that it is still in need of some work potentially sparking a new row.

Andrew downsizing to live at Frogmore Cottage would make a significant saving, with friends of the King saying he would continue to pay for mobile security, but would not have to provide static security for the building.

Those with knowledge of Frogmore Cottage - which used to house the Duke and Duchess of Sussex - said it is in good condition thanks to the work carried out by Harry and Meghan before their move to the US.

Recent photos have revealed the state of Prince Andrew's 30-room mansion which has fallen into disrepair amid an ongoing feud between the Duke and Charles.

Andrew first moved into the large mansion in 2004 and now lives there with his ex-wife Sarah.

The stunning royal property is set among trees and woodland at the heart of Windsor Part, just three miles south of Windsor Castle

King Charles has long been trying to get his brother to leave Royal Lodge

Frogmore Cottage was previously occupied by Prince Harry and Meghan

He signed a 75-year lease, paying 250 a week and agreeing to maintain the vast property.

Part of the terms of this alleged deal with his older brother was that he would carry out repair works on the 19th century, Grade II-listed house, but these do not appear to have been done yet.

It was reported that Andrew, who was forced to quit royal duties over the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, may have his royal allowance of 249,000 cut, making it difficult for the Duke to fulfill his promises.

He reportedly told his friends that such a drastic change to his finances would mean he would not be able to cover the costs of the estate.

Despite his possible money worries, sources close to the Duke said back in January: 'Andrew is going nowhere. He has a cast iron lease.'

The Mail revealed last year that the King had offered his younger brother a more modest property but Andrew reportedly saw this as a 'demotion' too far.

The Royal Lodge sits in the heart of Windsor Park, three miles south of Windsor Castle and is part of the Crown Estate.
Tributes poured in for Pelletier, who leaves behind a wife and two young sons

Tributes have poured in for a Connecticut state trooper who was killed in a freak accident during a routine traffic stop.

Trooper Aaron Pelletier, 34, died on Thursday when he was struck by a passing truck while he inspected another vehicle on the I-84. He leaves behind a wife and two young sons.

Investigators arrested Alex Oyola-Sanchez that afternoon after he allegedly failed to stop following the collision, with cops claiming that he was on a dizzying array of drugs at the time.

At a press conference, Colonel Daniel Loughman, Aaron's commanding officer, described Pelletier as a 'dedicated and compassionate professional' who was a 'role model for younger officers.'

Trooper Aaron Pelletier, 34, leaves behind a wife and two young sons after being struck and killed on Thursday along I-84

Suspect Alex Oyola-Sanchez allegedly fled the scene after the crash, and cops claimed that he admitted to taking a dizzying array of drugs beforehand including fentanyl and cocaine

Connecticut state police said Pelletier was working an overtime shift as part of a high-visibility highway enforcement grant that was intended to reduce the number of fatalities on highways, reports NBC Connecticut.

The trooper and father-of-two had pulled over a driver after noticing they were not wearing a seatbelt. As he was stood outside his vehicle speaking with the driver, a red pickup truck swerved into his path.

The truck, allegedly driven by Oyola-Sanchez, drifted with two wheels over the right dividing line, before sideswiping Pelletier's vehicle and killing the trooper.

He was pronounced dead at the scene following the collision just after 2:30pm.

The suspected driver sped away from the scene, police said, but was arrested shortly after when he was forced to pull over due damage to his truck from the crash.

A witness reportedly called 911 and confronted the driver, and Oyola-Sanchez admitted he knew he had to stop, according to WFSB.

A huge police presence descended on the scene after Pelletier's tragic death

Late Thursday afternoon, hundreds of state troopers and local police officers formed a procession to where Pelletier was killed and escorted his body away from the scene

Following Oyola-Sanchez's arrest, he allegedly told cops that he had ingested a slew of drugs before the crash, beginning with fentanyl and cocaine.

He reportedly said he was intent on taking 'all the cocaine' and used over a dozen bags at one time. Before the crash he reportedly said he woke from a nap to buy a pill, which he believed to klonopin, from a drug dealer on the street.

Oyola-Sanchez allegedly said he then drove to work, and the next thing he remembered he was being flagged down by the witness after striking the trooper.

Investigators said he showed symptoms of gait ataxia - a stagger in his walk - and a field test at the hospital noted that he was severely impaired.

He was arraigned from his hospital bed and charged with second-degree manslaughter, driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and a number of other motor violations including failure to renew registration and driving without insurance.

Late Thursday afternoon, hundreds of state troopers and local police officers formed a procession to where Pelletier was killed.

The long line of lights and sirens escorted his body to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, before it is scheduled to be moved to a funeral home in Southington, Connecticut.

Tributes poured in for the father-of-two, as a friend said they 'can't believe this is our reality right now'

Colonel Daniel Loughman, Aaron's commanding officer, described him as a 'dedicated and compassionate professional' who was a 'role model for younger officers'

Tributes flooded in for Trooper Pelletier following his death, with Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont ordering flags to fly at half-staff in his honor.

He leaves behind his wife Dominique and their two young sons, Troy and Zachary.

A friend said on Facebook that after hearing the news of his death, they 'can't believe this is our reality right now.'

'My heart is shattered,' they said. 'I was hoping this was a bad dream... Your laugh and smile were infectious and this is so unfair! We will miss you everyday.'
The family of a man and his 12-year-old son who died after going missing hillwalking in Glencoe have paid tribute to a 'caring and loving father' and husband and 'energetic, loving boy'.

Tom Parry, 49, and his son Richie, 12, were hiking in the Scottish Highlands on Tuesday and had been due to return home to Cheshire on Wednesday.

However, the pair were not seen or heard from and rescuers searching recovered two bodies from Stob Coire Nan Lochan, Glencoe at around 7.25pm on Wednesday.

They have now been formally identified as Mr Parry and his son Richie from Cheshire.

Police said there are no suspicious circumstances and their deaths are being treated as the result of a fall.

Their family have released a tribute to the pair in a statement issued through the police.

Tom Parry, 49, and his son Richie (pictured), 12, were hiking and had been due to return home to Cheshire on Wednesday

However, the pair were not seen or heard from and rescuers searching recovered two bodies from Stob Coire Nan Lochan, Glencoe at around 7.25pm on Wednesday. Pictured: Tom Parry

The pair were hiking in Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands on Tuesday

Gemma Parry said: 'Tom was a caring and loving father to his children and a loving husband to me, his wife Gemma. Richie was an energetic, loving boy who loved his quizzes, maths, and sports. He always cared for others as well no matter what'.

'We would like to take this chance to thank the Scottish and Cheshire police as well as the mountain rescue service along with all the other emergency services involved in finding Richie and Tom'.

'We would also like to say to the press to give me and my family some privacy during this time of grieving'.

'We would also like to thank to thank the community of Alsager and all of our family friends who have helped us and supported us throughout this time'.

'Tom and Richie will be sadly missed and never forgotten.'

Inspector Katy Duncan said: 'Our thoughts remain with the Parry family at what is a very difficult time for them.

'We would like to thank everyone who responded to our appeal, to all emergency services and Mountain Rescue volunteers.'

Their family have released a tribute to the pair in a statement issued through the police

A report has been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team were among those involved in the search.

In a post on Facebook the team said: 'We are deeply saddened by this outcome and our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the Parry family at this time.'

Officers previously confirmed they had found Mr Parry's car in a carpark in Glencoe where they stopped on Tuesday to go hillwalking.

Glencoe Mountain Rescue said the father and son were experienced hillwalkers.

A close friend of Mr Parry, who said he first met him when the pair were at primary school together in Ipswich, previously asked for prayers for Gemma and the rest of Tom and Richie's loved ones.

Bart Seaton-Said, who now lives in Brisbane, wrote online: 'Tom was in so many ways a heroic soul. He was loyal and sensitive to others and faced obstacles with fortitude. This world is the less for his passing.'

He added: 'Tom and I met aged five at St Margaret's C of E Primary School in Ipswich.

'Later, at Ipswich School we became close companions and have remained in touch. I was to be best man at Tom and Gemma's wedding but had been sent to Brisbane by the Society of St Francis just before Tom requested this so was unavailable to tell tales of our misspent youth, on that occasion.

Glencoe Mountain Resue said the father and son (pictured) were experienced hillwalkers

Officers previously confirmed they had found Mr Parry's car in a carpark in Glencoe where they stopped on Tuesday to go hillwalking. Pictured: Glencoe

'Tom and I spent many hours behind several pints of English ale at the Moon and Mushroom Pub in Swilland.

'This very particular Suffolk pub is the closest in my mind to Tolkein's Prancing Pony as ever there was. Tom and Gemma and two children graciously joined my 40th birthday lunch there ten years ago.'

A business colleague of Mr Parry's also previously said their deaths had come as a 'huge shock.'

Nigel Howle, who runs a public relations firm, said Mr Parry had been walking in the Highlands with his son several occasions.

He was a former client and expert in market research, Mr Howle said.

'I recall Tom as a very kind, courteous man,' he said. 'Tom was extremely knowledgeable around the subjects of market research. Rest In Peace Tom and Richie.'
President Joe Biden on Friday called on Hamas to take a peace deal offered by the Israelis, saying 'it's time for the war to end.'

He outlined a three-phase plan that would begin with an immediate ceasefire, release all the hostages and conclude with the rebuilding of Gaza.

'Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another October 7th,' Biden said in remarks in the East Room of the White House, urging the terrorist group to 'take the deal.'

'This is truly a decisive moment,' Biden said. 'Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a cease-fire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it.'

'It's time to begin this new stage,' he noted. 'It's time for this war to end and for the day after to begin.'

'This is truly a decisive moment,' President Biden said. ' Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a cease-fire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it.'

The war began with Hamas' sudden attack on Israel on October 7th, killing more than 1,200 Israelis and abducted about 250. Israel says around 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of around 30 more.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government responded with an attack on the Gaza strip, where the Hamas group lives.

Biden made his plea for a peace deal as Israeli forces advanced into central Rafah, pushing deeper into the southern Gaza city, filled with at least a million Palestine refugees, despite international backlash and pressure from allies to scale back the attack.

'Israel as offered a comprehensive new proposal. It's a roadmap to an enduring cease fire and the release of all hostages,' the president said.

He outlined the three phases:

The first would last six weeks and would include a cease fire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all 'populated areas of Gaza,' and the release of 'a number' of hostages, including women, elderly, the wounded. Some of them are Americans.

It would also include the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, returing the remains of hostages who had been killed, 600 aid trucks a day and the start of talks for phase two.

Phase two is a 'permanent end to hostilities,' Biden said, adding that there are many details still to negotiate still. It also would include an exchange of all remaining living hostages.

The ceasefire in phase one would run longer than six weeks if negotiations are still ongoing.

The third phase would be reconstruction of Gaza.

Biden vowed the 'United States will work with our partners to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza' and 'to help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war.'

Palestinians carry some salvaged belongings as they leave the Jabalia refugee camp

Israeli tanks move along the border with the Gaza Strip on May 29

Earlier peace talks were stymied by a central sticking point: A demand from Hamas for guarantees that the war will end and Israeli troops will withdraw from Gaza completely in return for a release of all the hostages.

It's a demand Israel rejects.

Meanwhile, the United Nations has warned the people of Gaza face famine. They've also seen the mass destruction of their homes, hospitals and infastructure.

Israel's recent invasion of Gaza has cut off the flow of food, medicine and other supplies needed by the Palestinians.

They have also seized the entire border between Gaza and Egypt, where the humantarian aid was coming through.

Israel argues Hamas terrorists hide among the general population, making the destruction necessary.

Israel's campaign in the nearly eight-month war has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians and wounded more than 80,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
A former health care assistant has been jailed for 15 months after she used credit cards belonging to cancer patients.

Mira Solmaz of Hackney, east London, used the credit cards of cancer patients she was supposed to take care of during the Covid lockdown and when they were unable to see their family, Southwark Crown Court heard.

On Friday, Solmaz, 33, who previously pleaded guilty to five counts of fraud and three counts of possession of articles for use in fraud, was sentenced to a total of 15 months imprisonment.

In April 2021, Hazel Longhurst, a cancer inpatient at St Bartholomew's Hospital, became aware her cards were being used despite being in hospital at the time. Her daughter made a police report in April 2021.

Approximately 1,500 of fraudulent purchases were made on these cards, the court heard.

Mira Solmaz, 33, used the credit cards of cancer patients she was supposed to take care of during the Covid lockdown and when they were unable to see their family, Southwark Crown Court heard

Ms Longhurst, 65, who had worked in the NHS for more than 40 years, largely as a district nurse, delivered her own victim impact statement as Solmaz was sentenced.

She told Solmaz: 'I was diagnosed with a rare condition which was very severe aplastic anaemia, and this led to life-threatening complications.

'There were periods where I was unconscious and the most physically vulnerable a person could be. Whilst in this condition I was targeted by the accused who had assumed I would not live.'

Her daughter reported the 'suspicious activity' and her family discovered the cards had been stolen, she told the court.

Ms Longhurst added: 'She (her daughter) was in panic and fear as up to this point herself and all my family were unable to visit me as Covid restrictions were in place.

'She feared I would be a target for further crime whilst I was so vulnerable and meant to be cared for.'

Ms Longhurst said she was in 'utter disbelief and shock' when she regained consciousness to learn about what had happened.

She said: 'I felt violated and vulnerable and became paranoid of any staff entering my room. This had a great impact on my recovery.'

Ms Longhurst, who spent many years working in palliative care, told Solmaz: 'I have worked for the NHS for over 40 years and also know how devastating this was for the nurses and staff caring for me.

'Nurses were apologising. They all felt under suspicion and sad for me and my family having to deal with that.

'This crime is so predatory and cruel and has certainly affected my trust in people.'

Solmaz was seen dabbing away at tears as she sat in the dock.

Hazel Longhurst, a cancer inpatient at St Bartholomew's Hospital, said Solmaz had left her feeling 'violated and vulnerable'

In December 2020, Todd Mallonee, who was also a cancer inpatient at St Bartholomew's Hospital, noticed his credit card and 60 cash plus other items missing. His wife contacted police on January 2021. Some 360 of transactions on these cards were linked to Solmaz, the police said.

Mr Mallonee died in April 2021, aged 48.

Solmaz bought Apple AirPods, which she described in Whatsapp messages as 'a new year's present' to herself, as well as dental treatments for her partner, the court heard.

There were also clothes from New Look, and she messaged that she had 'given myself some therapy'.

Among the items Ms Longhurst's card was used to pay for was a case for the AirPods she had bought with Mr Mallonee's card and more than 500 that went to bailiffs to cover an unpaid penalty.

She also used the patient's card at Deliveroo, Sainsbury's and to pay for fares on London's transport network.

The court heard that images were also found on Solmaz's phone, hidden behind an app made to look like a calculator.

These related to cards belonging to three other people, including a nurse whose credit card was stolen while she was at work at the Royal London Hospital.

Judge Gregory Perrins said Solmaz's actions had been a 'calculated decision' which breached the trust of cancer patients, including someone who was terminally ill, whom she was supposed to support during their hospital stay.

He told Solmaz: 'You were enthusiastically using these cards,' adding: 'Your partner was urging restraint, but you were the one who was insisting on use.'

In regard to Mr Mallonee, the judge said: 'The fact that he had to deal with this offence and the police while he was dying of cancer must have been profoundly distressing for him.'

Solmaz had also previously pleaded guilty to one count of entering into a money laundering arrangement, but no separate penalty was applied on this charge.

Prosecutor Vivek D'Cruz said: 'These were simply appalling offences. They were cruel, cynical and ruthless in the way they targeted cancer patients at St Bartholomew's Hospital.'

Charlotte O'Connor, defending, said things went 'catastrophically wrong' for Solmaz after she got married - a relationship that did not work out.

Ms Longhurst's daughter, Melanie, reported the 'suspicious activity' and her family discovered the cards had been stolen, the court heard

She described Solmaz as an 'extremely damaged young woman (who) is trying to address the complex mental health issues that she has'.

Ms O'Connor added: 'Perhaps the greatest punishment is that she will not be able to work again in the sector that she extremely loved and was well thought of (in) for a number of years.'

After sentencing, City of London Police Detective Constable Stacie Cottrell said: 'Mira Solmaz violated the trust and confidence of two vulnerable patients placed in her care, where the families of the victims expected their loved ones to be looked after.

'I would like to extend my condolences to Todd's family and friends. I'm saddened that he wasn't able to see Solmaz brought to justice.'
A mother broke down in court as the father of her six-year-old son was found guilty of his manslaughter, after beating and abusing him for months before he died.

Christopher Gregor, 31, was found guilty following a four-week trial where jurors heard from witnesses over what led to the death of Corey Micciolo in 2021.

As the guilty verdict was read out, Corey's mom Breanna Micciolo broke down in tears while Gregor stared at the ground.

Part of that trial including surveillance footage showing Gregor increasing the speed and incline on a treadmill, causing Micciolo to fall several times.

The little boy died weeks later, and Gregor's legal team insists he died of infection despite medical experts' findings that he suffered blunt force trauma.

The jury rejected a murder charge but instead convicted him on a lesser charge of aggravated manslaughter, which comes with 10 to 30 years behind bars.

Gregor reacts as the jury reads the guilty verdict to aggravated manslaughter on Friday

Micciolo died on April 2, 2021, after complaining of nausea and shortness of breath. He suffered several seizures upon arriving at the hospital and died an hour later

Micciolo's mother Breanna Micciolo cried as Gregor was found guilty of aggravated manslaughter of their son

Gregor had originally only been charged with child endangerment in relation to the surveillance video.

It wasn't until almost a year after his son died that he was formally charged with murder after the medical examiner initially ruled the death to be undetermined.

According to the Ashbury Park Press, the autopsy report was later amended and listed the death as a homicide.

Defense attorney Mario Gallucci had argued that he died of natural causes, specifically a 'rapidly spreading infection,' and previously asserted that he came down with pneumonia.

But his allegations draw a stark contrast to the testimony of a forensic pathologist who spoke on the fifth day of the trial.

According to Dr. Thomas Andrew, Corey died from blunt impact injury of the chest and abdomen with laceration of the heart. Andrew testified that the manner of death was homicide.

Another doctor, Anat Feingold, was called as a witness on May 22 after being hired by the prosecution to review medical records.

Feingold, who specializes in pediatric infectious diseases, said there was no evidence that Corey had suffered from an infection before his death.

'My conclusion was there was no evidence that Corey had an infectious disease at any point, and certainly that that was not the cause of his death,' Feingold said.

Closing arguments began on Wednesday after Gregor declined to testify in his own defense.

Gregor's attorney asserted that prosecutors failed to present any witnesses or experts who could prove the boy died in the way medical officials maintain.

Mentions of the treadmill video cropped up frequently throughout the proceedings.

'What kind of father would do this to their son?' asked Christine Lento, an assistant Ocean County prosecutor. She noted that Gregor could be seen increasing the incline on the machine.

Micciolo broke down in tears while Gregor stared at the ground as the verdict was read out

The case drew national interest after video surfaced of Gregor forcing the six-year-old to run on a treadmill, even picking him up and placing him back on the machine after he fell

Gregor's defense attorney, Mario Gallucci, claimed the little boy 'died from natural causes,' specifically 'a rapidly-spreading infection'

Gallucci, in turn, claimed that Corey was 'operating that treadmill all by himself,' noting that he 'kept getting back up on the treadmill.'

However, Lento countered that Corey was 'more afraid of his father than getting back on that machine.'

The prosecutor asserted that Corey did not die of infection.

'It's not pneumonia,' Lento said. 'The defendant lacerated Corey's heart, lacerated his liver, and Corey's lungs were bruised. This is why Corey died.'

Gregor and Breanna shared custody of the six-year-old before his death. Lento claimed Gregor inflicted blunt force trauma on the little boy because his mother returned him to Gregor's house 14 hours late.

One day earlier, Micciolo had taken Corey to his pediatrician and two different medical centers, believing Gregor was abusing him.

None of the physicians found any infection or signs of pneumonia, Lento said.

'The evidence shows there was nothing wrong with Corey when he was returned to the defendant at 9 am on April 2, eight hours before Corey died,' she asserted.

On the morning of April 2, 2021, Micciolo dropped Corey off at Gregor's home. It would be the last time she saw her son alive.

Breanna Micciolo, pictured testifying on April 30, took the little boy to a pediatrician and two different medical centers shortly before his death on the belief that Gregor was abusing him

Corey's mother shared sickening images of the abuse she claims was inflicted by the father to social media, including black eyes and bruises across his body

She claimed to have reported Gregor to the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency more than 100 times in a span of 18 months, but nothing was done. She has since sued the agency for failing to act

Micciolo's bid for emergency custody of her son was denied the day before Corey's death on the advice of DCCP, despite at least one caseworker viewing the treadmill video and photographing injuries on Corey's body

On the morning of April 2, 2021, Micciolo dropped Corey off at Gregor's home. It would be the last time she saw her son alive.

The woman told police she last heard from Gregor that afternoon, when told her that he was taking Corey to the hospital but didn't mention which one.

The little boy had complained of nausea and shortness of breath, according to a probable cause affidavit. He suffered seizures soon after arriving at Southern Ocean Medical Center and died an hour later.

Surveillance footage captured nurses and a doctor appearing to comfort Gregor as he collapsed in a chair outside his son's hospital room.

But he left 27 minutes before Corey died, as Lento pointed out in court. 'He casually gets in his car and drives away without hesitation,' she said.

On the morning of April 2, 2021, Micciolo dropped Corey off at Gregor's home. It would be the last time she saw her son alive

Police caught up the 32-year-old in Alcoa, Tennessee, two days after Corey's death. Gregor had been speeding, and one officer noted in bodycam footage that he was 'shaking like a leaf.'

Gregor denied trying to cross the border, instead telling officers that he had turned around in Arkansas and was heading home.

He said he had driven for 20 hours straight and made it to somewhere near the Arkansas-Texas state line before turning and traveling another five hours to Nashville.

Gregor also made comments about Corey, saying, 'If he didn't have a drug-addicted mother, then he'd still be alive.'

Gregor then indicated that Micciolo was somehow linked to Corey's death.

'When he got home, I knew something was wrong in my gut,' Gregor said.

He referred to Micciolo as 'a special kind of dirtbag' and accused the woman and her family of planting marijuana on him once before, leading to a prior arrest in New Jersey.

At the time of Corey's death, the boys mother and Gregor shared joint custody. Micciolo said she reported Gregor to the New Jersey Division of Child Protection and Permanency over 100 times in a span of 18 months, but no action was taken.

She has since sued the agency for failing to act in time to save her son's life.

When Micciolo brought Corey to his pediatrician the day before his death, she did so at the suggestion of a DCPP caseworker. Corey told the doctor about the treadmill incident, and his account was later relayed to police.

In the footage, officers can be seen searching him as Gregor agrees to allow officers to search his vehicle

According to the affidavit, Gregor 'made him run on the treadmill really fast' because he was 'mad.' The document notes that Corey mentioned falling and hitting his head.

At least one DCPP caseworker viewed the video. The same caseworker saw and photographed Corey's injuries before Micciolo requested an emergency hearing the day before her son died.

However, a judge denied Micciolo's request for emergency custody on the advice of the agency.

DCPP eventually substantiated two of the allegations of abuse. That development came last December, 20 months after Corey's death.

Gregor only entered the boy's life when he was five-years-old, and on their first meeting, Corey allegedly returned home to his mother with a 'busted lip', according to Jersey Shore Online.

Micciolo didn't believe Gregor's excuse that he accidentally kicked their son while playing soccer, but said a DCPP caseworker accepted it and didn't investigate.

For over a year after that first meeting, she claims that Corey was routinely abused by Gregor, and reportedly suspected the father was using as treadmill as a punishment tool during their visitations.

During that time, his LinkedIn profile says he worked as a realtor and math teacher, with his past work experience also including volunteering at mental health hotline Crisis Text Line for six months in 2015.

Before his arrest, Gregor lived at a sprawling New Jersey estate valued at over $1 million, online records show.
A couple who neglected their baby son in the months before his death are facing jail.

Stephen Angell, 44, and Laura Stevenson, 46, subjected Stephen Angell Jnr to harrowing mistreatment and he became 'exceptionally thin' before he died.

Traces of the class C drug diazepam were found in his milk bottle.

Stephen's cause of death could not be determined but doctors had requested he be monitored 'very closely', and social work records showed concerns had been raised about his welfare while he was still alive.

Angell and Stevenson, of East Kilbride, denied any wrongdoing but were convicted of wilfully neglecting Stephen between August and November 2018 after a trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

Laura Stevenson (left), 46, subjected Stephen Angell Jnr to harrowing mistreatment and he became 'exceptionally thin' before he died

Stephen's (pictured) cause of death could not be determined but doctors had requested he be monitored 'very closely', and social work records showed concerns had been raised about his welfare while he was still alive

The court heard that the baby had been hungry and dirty when he was examined by medical professionals and there were concerns his parents were not meeting his nutritional needs.

Professor Charlotte Wright said Stephen jnr was 'exceptionally thin' when she examined him.

During one exchange, Stevenson and Angell were advised to increase the amount of baby formula they were feeding Stephen, but Angell replied: 'If it isn't broke, don't fix it.'

Dr Adrienne Sullivan said she examined the baby in October 2018 amid concerns over his failure to gain weight.

She said that his hands, feet and armpits were dirty, and he had long nails and a smell of body odour which was 'unusual'.

She had concerns about nutrition after he gained 100g in three days under medical supervision but was struggling to gain weight at home.

In evidence, Dr Sullivan said: 'There has been a failure to provide Stephen with adequate nutrition to provide the adequate gain that you would expect from a child who is being bottle fed.

'If you don't get enough to eat then you don't have enough building blocks to grow, you don't have the building blocks for your brain to develop. I recommended the health visitor monitor him very closely.'

In a report, health visitor Ann-Marie Hamilton also wrote: 'He still appears hungry following a feed but parents don't appear responsive to this.'

Stevenson had also once got drunk and left her son with a woman who was disabled and 'morbidly obese' and had gone to bed, the jury heard.

Stephen jnr was later discovered soaked in urine in the woman's arms by her horrified daughter.

Depute fiscal John Coogan told jurors the presence of drugs in a baby bottle summed up the case against the pair.

He said: 'The presence of diazepam inside the bottle presents an utterly compelling picture that baby Stephen was exposed to the risk of ingesting drugs and that is against a background of both accused being told of the importance of a sterile bottle.'

During one exchange, Stevenson and Angell were advised to increase the amount of baby formula they were feeding Stephen, but Angell replied: 'If it isn't broke, don't fix it'

Defence lawyers claimed that both Angell and Stevenson were being scapegoated by health care professionals.

George Gebbie, defending Angell, said: 'He was desperate for the healthcare professionals to give him the right advice and it seems that from the evidence they just wouldn't listen.'

Sheriff Colin Dunipace deferred sentence on both defendants until July for reports and continued bail.

Scottish Conservative health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said: 'The tragic death of Stephen Angell jnr following months of despicable mistreatment is deeply upsetting.

'Those responsible must now be held to account for their crimes.'
At midnight on Thursday, time ran out for those wishing to offer an opinion on a Yorkshire firms plan for a 40million tourism venture on the banks of Loch Lomond.

If an attraction known as Flamingo Land  complete with monorail, waterpark, budget hotel and brewery  does not sound entirely in keeping with the natural splendour of Scotlands largest loch, it is now too late to register a view.

Those who missed the deadline can at least take comfort in the knowledge the public has spoken in numbers.

Indeed, with objections standing at more than 90,000, this is arguably the least popular application in Scottish planning history.

The chairman of the local community council, Lynne Somerville, for example, has characterised the proposal as a living hell in the making for the town of Balloch in Dunbartonshire.

Loch Lomond an internationally renowned area most associate with beauty and peace.

Others describe it as an assault on the natural environment.

Travel writers from outside Scotland have pitched in, one saying the plan is totally inappropriate for an internationally renowned area most associate with beauty and peace.

Many point out that the site earmarked for Flamingo Land is in one of Scotlands two national parks  and further, that Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is the authority that rules on the applications success or failure.

These two factors alone should seal its doom, they say. And yet the prospect of a Yorkshire theme park opening a sister attraction by the bonnie banks appears very real  terrifyingly so, according to the campaign group Save Loch Lomond.

How is this even happening? they ask. Loch Lomond is deemed a national park so just what does that mean?

The second of those questions is now being asked right across Scotland.

What does it mean to be a national park?

And, as the SNP government seeks to designate at least one more rural area as a national park in the next two years, shouldnt the answer be known before it goes any further?

Simply, if one of them is giving credence to a widely denounced holiday campus on the doorstep of a scenic treasure, what are national parks for?

Around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs, the common understanding was national parks were supposed to protect the natural environment of areas of outstanding beauty.

That has given way to an increasingly widespread belief that they are there to bring in tourists  even at the expense of the environment.

And much of the rest of Scotland, it seems, is watching askance.

In Lochaber, for example, a campaign group is trying desperately to persuade the Scottish Government not to name it as a national park.

Overwhelmingly , the people Ive spoken to dont want to be in a national park, and 100 per cent of landowners are against it, says one group member, Debbie Carmichael, who lives in Fort William. They have seen whats happened in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.

Its the last thing we need, say equally vocal opponents of a bid to create a Tay Forest national park.

Many farmers in Galloway and East Ayrshire  another of the five candidates  are adamant their area should not be chosen, saying yet another layer of bureaucracy would be highly unwelcome.

Scottish Borders Council is the most prominent objector to the bid for its area to be chosen as a national park.

It voted overwhelmingly not to support it, with one councillor describing the proposals as half-baked and incoherent.

Only Loch Awe in Argyll, the final contender, has remained largely unencumbered by campaigns to torpedo its bid.

A slew of other areas quietly dropped out of the bidding process after it became clear there was little appetite among their communities for national park status.

They include Skye and Raasay, Affric and Loch Ness, Ben Wyvis and Glen Affric.

Why all the hostility? It seems the examples already set by Scotlands two national parks  Loch Lomond and The Trossachs (LLTNP) and the Cairngorms are the answer.

Campaigners complain of highly bureaucratic bodies soaking up tens of millions of taxpayers cash every year, only to inflict harms on the people who actually live there.

They cite lack of accountability, an authoritarian attitude among national park boards and eyewatering sums spent on projects with little public benefit.

Months ago, it emerged a Scottish Government grant of more than 1.1million was spent on making the LLTNP headquarters in Balloch more climate friendly  despite the building being only 16 years old and trumpeted back in 2008 as green to its core.

The work included installing a heat pump which alone cost 584,314.

If schemes such as this have raised eyebrows locally, the current Flamingo Land application has been noticed across the country.

It dates back to 2018 when Flamingo Land Ltd submitted plans for a development including a hotel, craft brewery and leisure centre, which was met with a tide of opposition and a petition that gathered 55,000 signatures.

It withdrew these plans and redrafted them, putting in an updated application in 2020.

This time there was a 60-bedroom apart-hotel, a budget hotel, 104 self-catering lodges, a water park and spa, restaurants, a cafe, a pub and childrens play and picnic and barbecue areas.

The plan for a 40million tourism venture on the banks of Loch Lomond with a waterpark, budget hotel and brewery

Completing the picture in the resort, officially known as Lomond Banks, was the futuristic monorail.

Flamingo Land was at pains to point out this was not a theme park.

Yet, if anything, the objections were even more vociferous. This time a petition organised by the Scottish Greens attracted 85,000 signatures.

The National Trust for Scotland was among the formal objectors, citing loss of native woodland.

Ramblers Scotland said the complexs location at the gateway to a national park was wholly unsuitable.

Environmental watchdog Sepa pointed out much of the site was on a designated flood plain.

Locals protested on a raft of issues including traffic impact, loss of green space and the promotion of tourism over the environment.

There was uproar in Balloch last month when West Dunbartonshire councillors voted neither to support nor oppose the application in principle  for the decision does not lie with them.

They were accused of cowardice and failure to represent the people they were elected to serve.

Now all eyes turn to the body that can kick the proposal into touch. But will it? And now, many are asking, why was it given control of planning matters in the first place?

It is a power Cairngorms National Park does not enjoy.

Speaking anonymously, one LLTNP board member suggests the national park is looking favourably on the tourist resort.

The source says: Our national parks were designed to support local economies, manage millions of visitors and protect the natural environment for the benefit of current and future generations.

This is not happening in Loch Lomond and it is a national scandal.

The board member adds: The Lomond Banks proposal takes in all the available land in Balloch. The proposal is to sell off all our open green space and sell off all of our woodlands and destroy many more trees.

Far from protecting the natural environment, the member said, the plan would exacerbate our biodiversity crisis and seriously harm Balloch wildlife.

If the critique makes Flamingo Land sound like a non-starter, why is the board member breaking ranks and offering advice to Lochaber National Park No More, the campaign seeking to ensure this area is never designated as one?

Why are Loch Lomond residents, including former councillors and community leaders in dialogue with this group, underlining the pitfalls of national park status?

According to the groups PR adviser Media House, its because they believe the LLTNP has put tourism before environment throughout its 22-year-history.

Previous pledges, such as creating a dark sky park and protecting quiet, tranquil spaces have been dropped, they say, and irreparable environmental damage caused when permission was given for the Cononish gold mine, near Tyndrum, which last year went into administration.

Simply, says Sally Page, a former Conservative councillor in West Dunbartonshire, the area would have been much better off without national park status.

She says: The stated aims and protection and conservation of the environment comes first  and yet time and time again we see it doesnt seem to come into their decisions.

She adds: They have got this hugely exaggerated sense of their own importance job titles and uniforms and now this huge refurbishment of their head office. I would really, really question what good it has brought.

Similar questions are being asked in the Cairngorms where, to the horror of local farmers, beavers were introduced after NatureScot gave the park authority a licence to do so.

The farmers case has been taken up by Inverness and Nairn MSP Fergus Ewing who, in an article for the Sunday Herald, wrote: When the park was first created, locals were assured their cultural heritage and way of life would be preserved.

Now its no longer a priority. Most folk then believed that visitors facilities would improve. Instead they have become worse.

Believe me, the Cairngorms National Park is just not popular among large swathes of the local population in my constituency.

Mr Ewing says no new national park should be created without a referendum of the people living there to establish whether they actually want it.

All of which leaves the Scottish Greens in a curious position.

They are among the most vocal opponents of Flamingo Land, yet remain passionate supporters of new national parks.

Indeed, it was a condition of the recently collapsed Bute House Agreement that a new national park be opened in 2026.

If schemes as objectionable as Flamingo Land come from national parks, wonder campaigners, why open more?

Its absolutely laughable, says Debbie Carmichael, whose family have crofted near Fort William for generations.

Its quite a schizophrenic approach. Lorna Slater is all about how good national parks are and yet it is a national park trying to put in Flamingo Land.

The final decision on the controversial proposal will be made, says LLTNP, at a public meeting, the date of which has yet to be set.

In a statement, it said: The National Park Authority carries out all of its responsibilities with a view to achieving the right balance between its four statutory aims.

This includes balancing the social and economic development of its communities with conserving and enhancing natural and cultural heritage.

The site of the proposed development, complete with monorail, is by the banks of Loch Lomond

Responding to accusations of high-handedness, the statement said 11 members of its board were either locally elected residents or councillors from the local authorities in its area.

It added: Significant engagement takes place with communities throughout the year, particularly on the important visitor management role played by the authority to ensure the 450million tourism economy and over four million annual visitors enjoy the area safely and responsibly.

On the headquarters refurbishment, the park authoritys chief executive Gordon Watson said the building was rated as excellent against the industry standard for sustainability in 2008.

As for Flamingo Land, it says an estimated 200 full and part-time jobs will be created.

Jim Paterson, development director for the project, said: Our economic case for bringing about 40million of sustainable investment and jobs, shaped by the feedback by both the local community and key stakeholders alike, has prevailed in helping us reach the next phase of the planning process.

The decision now lies with LLTNP. Will it put Flamingo Land to the sword? Or, by waving it through, will it risk killing the nations appetite for national parks?
Robert De Niro will no longer be honored at the National Association of Broadcasters award ceremony following his anti-Trump rant outside the former president's criminal trial.

The Oscar-winning actor, 80, was set to be handed the group's Leadership Foundation's Service to America Award next week.

But the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has rescinded the award after De Niro hit out at Donald Trump in a press conference in support of Joe Biden outside Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday.

'I owe this city a lot. And that's why it's so weird that Donald Trump is just across the street because he doesn't belong in my city,' he told reporters.

The NAB which describes itself as 'proudly bipartisan' said De Niro would no longer be attending their event.

Robert De Niro will no longer be honored at the National Association of Broadcasters award ceremony following his anti-Trump rant outside the former president's criminal trial

The Oscar-winning actor, 80, was set to be handed the group's Leadership Foundation's Service to America Award next week

'This event is proudly bipartisan, uniting those from across the political spectrum to celebrate the impactful work of local broadcasters and our partners,' an NAB spokesman told The Hill.

'While we strongly support the right of every American to exercise free speech and participate in civic engagement, it is clear that Mr. De Niro's recent high-profile activities will create a distraction from the philanthropic work that we were hoping to recognize.

'To maintain the focus on service of the award winners, Mr. De Niro will no longer be attending the event.'

It comes days after De Niro said he joined the Biden campaign because it was the only way to 'preserve our freedoms'.

'I don't mean to scare you. No, wait, maybe I do mean to scare you,' he told reporters.

'If Trump returns to the White House, you can kiss these freedoms goodbye that we all take for granted.'

The actor cast himself as the true New Yorker and mocked Trump's history of sometimes-unsuccessful business ventures and self-promotion, saying Trump was looking to 'destroy' the city.

'We New Yorkers used to tolerate him when he was just another crappy real estate hustler masquerading as a big shot,' De Niro said.

'I love this city. I don't want to destroy it. Donald Trump wants to destroy not only the city but the country, and, eventually, he could destroy the world.'

He said if Trump gets reelected he will never relinquish power.

'I can tell you right now. He will never leave. He will never leave. You know that. He will never leave,' De Niro said.

But the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has rescinded the award

It comes after De Niro hit out at Donald Trump in a press conference in support of Joe Biden outside Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday

Former President Donald Trump gave a review of Robert De Niro's performance outside of his hush money case overnight Wednesday on his Truth Social website

Last week, the Biden campaign released a new ad that was narrated by De Niro sharply criticizing Trumps presidency and plans if hes reelected.

Trump labeled De Niro a 'wacko' following his rant outside Manhattan Criminal Court and posted a deepfake video that manipulates the actor's own voice to call himself 'washed up.'

The former president posted the video from his Truth Social account where the actor calls himself a 'scared little man' and a 'sicko' with 'lots of skeletons in my closet.'

It also insults his stature, calls Trump a 'real man,' and includes crude references to gay sex.

'I don't know why they made this podium so high. I told them I'm coming straight from the bathhouse and didn't have my platform shoes with me,' the actor says in a manipulated voice that resembles his own in the video blasted out by Trump to his followers.

'I'm speaking to you today because I'm a scared little man, a washed up actor with lots of skeletons in my closet. People like me need Joe Biden and power not because he's any good, but because he enjoys the same sick perversions,' it says.

The manipulated 'Goodfellas' and 'Godfather Part II' actor then says he only gets to 'pretend to be tough and powerful on a movie set.'

'If Donald Trump was in front of me right now I'd punch myself right in the face, get down on my hands and knees ...' the deepfake version of De Niro says, with a crude reference in the video posted by the former president.

DailyMail.com has contacted the NAB for comment.
When she was consecrated in 2018, Scotland's first female bishop knew there was limited time in which to make her mark.

The Right Reverend Anne Dyer was 61 and widely expected to retire at 65. 'I'm only going to be bishop for a few years,' she said. 'I'm going to make it count.'

Few would have doubted her resolve. Her appointment as Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney was a watershed moment for the Scottish Episcopal Church  one which she painted as a triumph for women over the orthodoxy which held that roles such as this were the domain of men.

Her time in post may be short but the records would reflect that this straight-talking Yorkshirewoman was a trailblazer who shattered the glass ceiling on female clerical ambitions.

By now, at the age of 67, she might have expected to be settled into retirement, her place in Anglican history secure.

Bishop Dyer has clashed with clergy in her diocese

Yet she remains, in name at least, the bishop of the diocese. As for her place in history, it is assured for all the wrong reasons.

Currently suspended, her time in post has been marked by turbulence and division, allegation and counter-allegation and an intractable crisis at the heart of Scotland's third largest Christian church.

A battle has raged throughout her tenure and, indeed, appears to have extended it. The bishop continues to put up vigorous resistance to 'individuals seeking to force her from office'.

Now, in what may prove the final act in the long-running saga, Bishop Dyer is to face a disciplinary tribunal over complaints about her behaviour.

She is accused of three 'canonical offences' relating to 'conduct unbecoming of a member of the clergy, which brings or is likely to bring the church into disrepute'.

Bishop Dyer now has a month to enter her plea ahead of the hearing in Edinburgh in September.

According to the church, these tribunals are normally held in public and disposals in the event of a guilty verdict can include 'removal from office' and 'disqualification from holding office'.

Although the alleged offences have not been specified, they are the latest of a multitude of accusations aimed at the bishop in recent years.

She is said to have driven one underling to the brink of suicide. Her 'unyielding and intimidating' behaviour shattered the confidence of those working below her, it was claimed. She has even been accused of falsifying church accounts.

Bishop Dyer responds that she is the victim of a relentless smear campaign waged upon her by 'a small handful' who are opposed to female bishops or who challenge her views on same-sex marriage.

To the charge that she is a bully, the Oxford-educated churchwoman has responded that, on the contrary, she is the one being bullied.

Bishop Dyer now has a month to enter her plea ahead of the hearing in Edinburgh in September

Indeed, she insisted she once had to lock herself in the vestry to protect herself from an 'intimidating and threatening' church organist.

But is there an element in this unedifying conflict of the bishop's words coming back to haunt her?

Speaking in happier times about her leadership style, she told a reporter: 'When I was at university, I wanted to fit in. I was a good girl and I didn't rock the boat. These days, well, these days I do.'

Her boat rocking, argue some, brought mutiny and prompted several to abandon ship.

Will it now result in the bishop being forced to walk the plank?

Whatever the rights and wrongs of what came later, there is no question that Bishop Dyer took over a diocese that was not wholly supportive of her appointment.

After it twice failed to draw up a shortlist of at least three suitable candidates, she was installed by the church's College of Bishops, prompting seven of the 14 priests in the diocese to sign a protest letter which said parachuting her in was 'divisive and disrespectful'.

Some baulked at her support for same-sex marriage  in a previous role in East Lothian she had officiated at several such ceremonies  and there was disquiet about her non-driver status in an area with a huge rural hinterland.

Yet there was support, too, for the down-to-earth bishop who came across in interviews as a relatable wife and mother, proudly wore make-up and confessed to being a Game of Thrones fan.

She once recalled turning to meet the gaze of those gathered in St Andrew's Cathedral in Aberdeen to witness her consecration.

'There were women sat there with tears rolling down their faces,' she said. 'They were crying because the moment had finally arrived, the first female bishop.'

She once recalled turning to meet the gaze of those gathered in St Andrew's Cathedral (pictured) in Aberdeen to witness her consecration

She spoke candidly of what she saw as society's expectations of women in the workplace.

'I think when a woman is in a professional role, society can want her to negotiate herself into the space quietly. She should take up the least space in the room. I have never done that, and I find myself making a stand these days.

'When I am in a meeting as the only woman, there will be a pause as people wait to see who will make the tea. I will never, ever make the tea. One of the men can do that.'

There had been 'awful moments', she said, when people had told her in the frankest of terms she was 'unacceptable' in the role due to her gender.

'I am polite and I smile. I thank them for sharing their opinion with me. Then I have a huge cry on my own.'

And yet, according to her critics, Bishop Dyer was herself capable of devastating frankness.

In 2022, a dossier sent to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator included the claim that her bullying pushed an employee to the brink of suicide.

It is said an underling was forced to go on sick leave after being continually 'derided, ridiculed and demeaned' by the bishop.

The bullying was 'widespread and substantiated', it alleged, and the diocese failed to take action to safeguard staff from it.

That dossier followed an independent review in 2021 by former Church of Scotland moderator Professor Iain Torrance which found she presided over a culture of 'systemic dysfunction' and 'bullying'

It called for her to step down immediately.

Yet another report, this time by independent human resources expert Sarah Grey, was also critical of Bishop Dyer.

It found her refusal to mediate with church organist Chris Cromar 'difficult to reconcile with the Christian values espoused by the church'.

Claims by the report author that the bishop had tried to influence Ms Grey's findings only exacerbated tensions.

Ms Grey said: 'I don't think my report was what the bishop wanted it to be. I think I was expected to toe the line.'

Much of the unpleasantness in the diocese can be traced back to a practical concern.

The heating system in St Andrew's Cathedral needed major repairs and would have to close for a time.

The Bishop's plan was to merge its congregation with St Mary's in Aberdeen's Carden Place.

This was a blow for St Andrew's organist and director of music Mr Cromar, who suspected he was being sidelined in the merger.

The Bishop's plan was to merge its congregation with St Mary's in Aberdeen's Carden Place

Similarly affected was provost of St Andrew's Dr Isaac Poobalan, the only person of colour to hold high office in the diocese.

The bishop installed herself as provost of St Mary's, which became the church's acting or 'pro-Cathedral' and, when Dr Poobalan was offered an honorary canonry at St Mary's, he declined it.

As one of the reports into the bishop's conduct pointed out, Dr Poobalan was widely regarded as a 'good and holy man' and an 'outstanding priest'.

He was not a signatory to the open letter protesting at the bishop's appointment and, indeed, had encouraged those who did sign it to reconcile with their bishop.

He also organised a meal to help Bishop Dyer network in Aberdeen.

It was Mr Cromar who broke ranks first. Fearing that he and the cathedral's musical traditions were about to be swept aside, he affirmed his position as director of music and threatened to whistleblow on the chaotic merger if need be.

Incensed, the bishop instructed Dr Poobalan to collect Mr Cromar's keys to St Mary's and ensure he did not attend worship there the next day. But he showed up anyway.

According to Professor Torrance's report, witnesses described Mr Cromar disinfecting his hands and coming forward to receive communion from the horrified bishop.

At the benediction, he turned to address the congregation but, before he could speak, he was drowned out by the blast of the church organ.

Meanwhile, the bishop withdrew to the vestry.

Similarly affected was provost of St Andrew's Dr Isaac Poobalan (right), the only person of colour to hold high office in the diocese

Her recollection of events was rather different. In an email to Dr Poobalan the next day, she wrote: 'His intimidating and threatening manner to me at communion was unforgivable. He also attempted to address the congregation without my permission.'

She went on to berate Dr Poobalan for his failure to keep Mr Cromar in check.

'It was your duty as Christ's priest to ensure that his threats were withdrawn. You did little to try to achieve this. Your actions and failure have therefore left me no option but to suspend your licence as assistant priest at St Mary's pro-Cathedral with immediate effect.'

The churchman later said the bullying he experienced gave him nightmares.

He launched a formal grievance against the bishop and said in a written submission: 'My health and wellbeing have been stretched to the limits of my capacity to cope.'

After investigating, the Scottish Episcopal Church determined that she had been 'over-hasty' in suspending Dr Poobalan and reinstated him.

Yet the church rejected the conclusion of the report it commissioned Professor Torrance to compile, which stated baldly: 'I cannot recommend the continuation of a tenure in which I fear that more people will be made to feel diminished and discouraged.'

Its seven bishops  including Bishop Dyer  concluded mediation was, after all, the way forward and she remained in post.

She said in 2022: 'It is very clear that our diocese is not well. This is publicly known, sad to say. Now is the time to commit ourselves to getting well.'

That came after a 122-page dossier about her conduct was sent to the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR).

In an email to Dr Poobalan the next day, she wrote: 'His intimidating and threatening manner to me at communion was unforgivable'

In it, a former trainee priest is understood to have claimed she became so disillusioned by Bishop Dyer's treatment of staff that she joined the Church of Scotland.

Months later, she was suspended after the Scottish Episcopal Church received formal complaints from two people alleging misconduct but this was lifted hours later after the bishop appealed the decision.

Within days, another formal complaint was submitted.

The situation was fast running out of control. Senior Anglican figures openly questioned the lifting of the suspension, with one suggesting it 'only served to make the Scottish Episcopal Church appear even more incompetent'.

Weeks later, the Episcopal Synod rejected her appeal  meaning her suspension resumed  whereupon her lawyer said she was now considering legal action.

Callum Anderson of Levy & McRae told The Times: 'Since January 2021, Bishop Dyer has been obliged by the processes of the Scottish Episcopal Church to remain silent, despite a relentless campaign of anonymous and inaccurate media briefings from a small cabal of church members.'

Since then another dossier has landed on OSCR desks alleging Bishop Dyer presided over 'misleading and untrue accounts'.

The Rt Rev Anne Dyer, Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney been accused of bullying - but claims to be the victim of sexism

A spokesman for her said the claims were both 'false and malicious'.

If mediation may have been the answer back when the bishop and the church organist were at odds, few surely believe it is now.

The church said a number of complaints against Bishop Dyer were lodged with the church's procurator in November.

It added: 'The procurator, Paul Reid, KC, has now decided to take three of those complaints to a hearing before the clergy discipline tribunal, and Bishop Dyer has been formally notified of this decision.'

And so a church court hearing awaits Scotland's first female bishop on September 10, while acting bishop, the Right Reverend Dorsey McConnell, fulfils the duties she is suspended from carrying out.

Will the healing commence after that? Or will still deeper wounds be opened?
Pakistan to collaborate with China to spur green transition, say Pakistani experts

Xinhua) 13:27, May 31, 2024

ISLAMABAD, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani officials and experts are of the view that the country needs to collaborate with China under the framework of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to expedite green transition, promoting low-carbon development and countering adverse impacts of climate change.

China's technologies and low-cost products in fields like new energy have become a driving force for global energy transition, helping countries to achieve carbon neutrality and reduce carbon footprints, the experts said while addressing a seminar on the greening of CPEC organized by the Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI), an Islamabad-based think tank.

Speaking on the occasion, Abid Qaiyum Suleri, executive director of the SDPI, said that under the new phase of CPEC, Pakistan would focus on replacing conventional methods of production and businesses to offset carbon emissions.

"Green metals are important components, including lithium, nickel, and others, as these metals help in the development of electric vehicle batteries. Pakistan and China can work together to explore green metals under CPEC," he said.

Commenting on the increased tariff on China's green energy transition technology from the United States, Suleri said that the competing nations are increasing tariffs on China's green products to protect their local manufacturers, highlighting that it could have implications for the world.

"On the one hand, countries around the globe are making efforts for carbon reduction to counter the climate change crisis, while on the other hand, more taxes are being levied. That's exactly the opposite, it can hamper global efforts towards low-carbon and climate-resilient pathways," he added.

Suleri also stressed upon promoting green diplomacy for borderless promotion of green technologies and transfer of technology.

During the first phase of CPEC, China invested billions of dollars in Pakistan's energy sector including coal, renewable and hydropower projects, said Shah Jahan Mirza, a senior official of the Ministry of Energy.

Pakistan would develop numerous renewable energy projects in the next phase, he said.

Muhammad Badar Alam, chief executive officer of the Policy Research Institute for Equitable Development, a Pakistani think tank working for climate justice and clean energy, said that Pakistan has been facing a serious economic, environmental, and financial crisis, and CPEC will help Pakistan in addressing concerns through its environment-friendly and sustainable initiatives.

Launched in 2013, the CPEC, a flagship project of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative, is a corridor linking Gwadar Port in southwest Pakistan's Balochistan province with Kashgar in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, which highlights energy, transport, and industrial cooperation in the first phase, while the new phase expands to the fields of agriculture and livelihood.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Labour could win an unprecedented almost 500 seats in the election amid a Tory wipeout, according to a bombshell study.

The first mega poll of the general election campaign, involving more than 10,000 people, forecasts the party will secure between 476 and 493 seats as Prime Minister Rishi Sunak struggles to shift public opinion.

The study by experts Electoral Calculus and Find Out Now, shared exclusively with the Daily Mail, finds that the Tories are on course to be reduced to a derisory rump of between 66 and 72 MPs.

It would be the party's worst election defeat in history.

The forecast Labour victory would hand party leader Sir Keir Starmer a whopping majority of more than 300.

The study by experts Electoral Calculus, shared exclusively with the Daily Mail, finds that the Tories are on course to be reduced to a derisory rump of between 66 and 72 MPs

James Daly (left), the Conservative candidate for Bury North, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (right) on a train on May 31

From left to right: Anas Sarwar, Sir Keir Starmer and Ed Miliband at the Port of Greenock on May 31

It would be a bigger landslide than that enjoyed by former Labour PM Sir Tony Blair in 1997 (419 seats) and the largest win by any party in modern parliamentary history.

Were the projections to materialise, Labour would likely enjoy at least a decade in government as no party with such a huge majority has lost the subsequent election.

It lays bare the gargantuan uphill battle Mr Sunak is facing to turn Tory fortunes around before polling day on 4 July.

Eighteen Cabinet Ministers are likely to be among the Tory casualties, according to the study, including Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden, Home Secretary James Cleverly and Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary.

The analysis shows how the Tories are being outflanked on multiple fronts, including Labour and Reform in the so-called 'Red Wall' in the Midlands and North and by the Liberal Democrats in 'Blue Wall' home counties seats across the south.

While Reform is not projected to win any seats, it puts the party on 12 percentage points, meaning it will split the Right-leaning vote in dozens of seats and allow Labour to waltz through the middle.

The Liberal Democrats are forecast to pick up 10 per cent of the vote and win between 39 and 59 seats due to their support being less thinly spread, potentially giving them just seven MPs less than the Tories.

Labour are on 46 percentage points and the Tories on 19 per cent, according to the poll.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, pictured at a cake stall in Burrs Country Park, has struggled to shift public opinion

The forecast Labour victory would hand party leader Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) a whopping majority of more than 300

Electoral Calculus used the multilevel regression and poststratification (MRP) method for its study, considered to be more accurate than conventional polling, but also factored in other surveys to reduce margins of error and hone the results.

A range of seat victories was predicted for each party due to uncertainties around to what extent voters may vote tactically.

About half of Labour, Lib Dem and Green voters are likely to vote tactically if their favourite party is unlikely to win the seat, and they would share their vote with one of those other parties.

But in a blow for Mr Sunak, Less than a quarter (22%) of Reform supporters are likely to vote tactically to support the Conservatives.

Mr Sunak ruled out an electoral pact with Reform this week to stop the Right-leaning vote being split.

In Scotland, Labour and Lib Dem voters will support each other tactically, the study found, making things even harder for the Tories.

In a further blow for Mr Sunak, seven in ten voters said they get either 'very bad' or 'bad' value for money from the Tory Government amid the highest tax burden for 70 years.

More than half of voters also said they were 'much worse' or 'slightly worse' off than a year ago, suggesting the Government has not done enough to ease the cost-of-living crisis.

Martin Baxter, CEO of Electoral Calculus, said: 'Our survey shows that Labour's poll lead, which is larger than Tony Blair's in 1997, would mean an even bigger Labour landslide.

Labour, headed by Keir Starmer (pictured), are on 46 percentage points and the Tories on 19 per cent, according to the poll

It would be a bigger landslide than that enjoyed by former Labour PM Sir Tony Blair (centre) in 1997 (419 seats) and the largest win by any party in modern parliamentary history

'With less than five weeks to go, Rishi Sunak has to hope that all the polls are overstating Labour's strength, that Labour weakens under the scrutiny of the campaign, and that he can re-attract former supporters who have gone to Reform or plan not to vote.

'Conservative MPs up for re-election might wonder if things would be better for them if they hadn't got rid of Boris Johnson.' Mr Johnson won a majority of 80 against former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in 2019.

Until Parliament was dissolved this week, the Tories had 348 seats to Labour's 200 and the Liberal Democrats' 15.
Laken Riley's heartbroken mother was seen sobbing in court today as the undocumented migrant accused of the 22-year-old's murder pleaded not guilty.

Jose Ibarra, 26, is charged with murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping and other crimes in the February killing of the nursing student.

On Friday the Venezuela native, dressed in a button-front shirt and dark slacks, was shackled and wearing a translation headset as he appeared in court alongside his lawyers, public defenders John Donnelly and Kaitlyn Beck.

Several of Rileys family members were present for the hearing and left the courthouse without commenting to reporters.

Riley's mother Allyson Phillips began crying as Ibarra entered the courtroom, as reported by Fox News.

Riley's mother Allyson Phillips began crying as Laken Riley's alleged killer Jose Ibarra entered the courtroom on Friday

Jose Ibarra, 26, is charged with murder, aggravated assault, kidnapping and other crimes in the February killing of the nursing student

Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge H. Patrick Haggard said he hopes to hold a trial in the fall.

The 10-count indictment accuses Ibarra of hitting the Augusta University College of Nursing student in the head, asphyxiating her and pulling up her clothing with the intent to rape her.



The killing immediately became a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration because Ibarra, who is from Venezuela, entered the US illegally in 2022 and was allowed to stay to pursue his immigration case.

Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, blamed Rileys death on President Joe Biden and his border policies.

Rileys death gave traction to a Georgia bill requiring jailers to check the immigration status of people in their custody and to apply to help enforce federal immigration laws.

Prosecutors claims Ibarra inflicted blunt-force trauma to her head and 'asphyxiated Riley in a manner unknown to jurors'

On Friday Jose Ibarra was shackled and wearing a translation headset as he appeared in court alongside his lawyers, public defenders John Donnelly and Kaitlyn Beck

When he signed the bill, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, a Republican, said it 'became one of our top priorities following the senseless death of Laken Riley at the hands of someone in this country illegally who had already been arrested even after crossing the border.'

Rileys body was found February 22 near running trails after a friend told police she had not returned from a morning run, and police have said her killing appeared to be a random attack. Ibarra was arrested the next day and has been held in the Athens-Clarke County Jail without bond since then.

The indictment charges Ibarra with one count of malice murder, three counts of felony murder and one count each of kidnapping, aggravated assault, aggravated battery, hindering an emergency telephone call, tampering with evidence and peeping Tom.

Prosecutors claims Ibarra inflicted blunt-force trauma to her head and 'asphyxiated Riley in a manner unknown to jurors.'

Rileys body was found February 22 near running trails after a friend told police she had not returned from a morning run

The indictment also states that Ibarra 'seriously disfigured her head by striking her head multiple times with a rock' and concealed a jacket and gloves, leading to the evidence tampering charge.

On the day of Rileys killing, Ibarra had allegedly peered into the window of an apartment in a university housing building, invading the privacy of a person whose name was redacted, which is the basis for the peeping Tom charge.

He allegedly went inside one of the university's apartment complexes 'for the purpose of becoming a peeping tom in that he did peep through the window and spied upon and invaded [the employee's] privacy.'
Joe Biden's political operatives may be popping champagne in the White House over Donald Trump's guilty verdict.

But they should be deeply concerned.

Trump's historic conviction will only make it harder for Team Biden to win over black voters, who are already abandoning the Democratic ticket in droves.

And without the overwhelming support of the black America  Biden's campaign is toast.

Ask any voter  regardless of race  exactly what Trump has been found guilty of and you're likely to receive a blank stare in response.

That's because no one  let alone a former president  has ever been prosecuted for this supposed offense.

And, more than most, black Americans know when something smells legally rotten.

The vile legacy of slavery, the cruelty of Jim Crow, the horrors of the Tuskegee experiments and the gross unfairness of the 1994 federal crime bill which triggered a mass incarceration crisis, have all imbued black culture with a deep skepticism of the big state.

It's not lost on black folk  more highly incarcerated in America than any other race  that the US legal system appears to have it out for Donald Trump, too.

Trump's historic conviction will only make it harder for Team Biden to win over black voters, who are already abandoning the Democratic ticket in droves.

It's not lost on black folk  more highly incarcerated in America than any other race  that the US legal system appears to have it out for Donald Trump, too.

Meanwhile, Biden wants black people to believe that he's their white savior fighting against supposed systematic bias when his justice system  in fact  seems to be part of the problem.

A New York Times/Siena poll in May found that 23 percent of blacks in the six battleground states key to winning the presidency now say that they are leaning towards Trump.

Only 9 percent of black voters backed Trump in the 2020 election.

Perhaps equally as surprising was the scene in the Bronx earlier this month when Trump showed up to campaign in the deep-blue district and was greeted by hundreds of supporters.

His message then, as it has always been: If you love me, I love you. All Americans can board the 'Trump Train'.

Contrast that with Biden's increasingly desperate outreach to the black community, which consists of little more than race-baiting and fearmongering.

'[Trump] is the same guy who wanted to tear gas you as you peacefully protested George Floyd's murder,' he told a crowd at a boarding school for black students as young as 6-years-old this week.

He delivered a similar screed - perhaps, more age-appropriate but just as craven - to graduates at Morehouse College earlier this month:

'It's natural to wonder if the democracy you hear about actually works for you. What is democracy if black men are being killed in the street? What is democracy if a trail of broken promises still leave black communities behind?'

Indeed, Mr. President.

But who exactly is responsible for this illusory 'democracy' that you describe?

Donald Trump hasn't spent his life in politics. You have  and your record is spotty.

Black Americans also won't soon forget that Joe Biden has lied repeatedly about his role in the civil rights movement.

'[Trump] is the same guy who wanted to tear gas you as you peacefully protested George Floyd's murder,' he told a crowd at a boarding school for black students as young as 6-years-old this week. (Above: Biden speaks during a campaign rally at Girard College).

'It's natural to wonder if the democracy you hear about actually works for you. What is democracy if black men are being killed in the street? What is democracy if a trail of broken promises still leave black communities behind?' (Above: Biden at Morehouse College).

'When I marched in the civil rights movement I marched with tens of thousands of others to change attitudes,' Biden said during his 1987 presidential campaign.

Months later he retracted those claims as he dropped out of the race and admitted to plagiarizing the political speeches of others and embellishing his resume.

'I was not an activist. I worked at an all-black swimming pool in the east side of Wilmington, Delaware,' Biden confessed. 'I was not out marching. I was not down in Selma, I was not anywhere else.'

Throughout his decades-long career in the Senate, Biden was friends with men who fought against desegregation like Dixiecrat Strom Thurmond and former-Klansman Senator Robert Byrd.

Kamala Harris called him out for it on the 2020 Democratic primary debate stage.

'You also worked with [former segregationist senators] to oppose busing,' Harris spat at Biden, referencing his opposition to federally mandated busing of minority students to high-performing schools.

Today, Harris stands at Biden's as his Vice President, joining him in calling Trump the bigot.

That's all to say nothing of then-senator Biden's sponsorship of the infamous 1994 federal crime bill which is still largely responsible the mass incarceration crisis among black men in America.

As a former Democrat, I was blind to this reality for decades.

But what made me finally wake up to the real Joe Biden was the moment he was confronted by Charlamagne tha God during the 2020 presidential campaign.

Black Americans also won't soon forget that Joe Biden has lied repeatedly about his role in the civil rights movement.

'You also worked with [former segregationist senators] to oppose busing,' Harris spat at Biden (above), referencing his opposition to federally mandated busing of minority students to high-performing schools.

'I tell you what,' he told Charlamagne, 'if you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black!'

Biden was later forced to walk back that statement, saying 'I was much too cavalier.' But his flippant remark is forever etched into my memory.

The truth is that Biden has a long record of using race as a wedge to divide and manipulate Americans.

Adam B. Coleman is founder of Wrong Speak Publishing. Follow him on Substack: adambcoleman.substack.com

As they say, when someone shows you who they are, believe them.

Well, to my mind, Biden has shown himself to be a condescending racist who pretends to be a friend to black Americans only when it's time to vote.

None of this is to say that Trump is flawless. I don't agree with all his policy positions. And I may not support him come November.

But I know one thing for certain  I won't be pulling the lever for Biden.

I guess that means I ain't black.

Right, Joe?
The stricken wife of rodeo star Spencer Wright has sent a desperate message to fans after their son Levi almost drowned in a toy tractor accident.

Levi, 3, has spent over a week clinging to life after medics feared he was left brain dead when he drove his toy tractor into a fast-moving river in Utah.

In an update on Thursday, his mother Kallie took to Facebook to dispel theories from fans about her son's recovery, as she said: 'This has consumed us, please for one second don't think we haven't fully done our homework, it has been nonstop!'

The family previously said they were taking the recovery 'one step at a time', with Levi undergoing a number of MRI's and scans since the tragic accident.

Kallie Wright has taken to Facebook 'to get things off my chest', and told fans 'please for one second don't think we haven't fully done our homework' over his recovery

Levi snuck away from his family in the toy tractor (pictured), and his mother reportedly dove into the river to save him after he disappeared under the currents

The tragic accident unfolded on May 21 when Kallie was outside watching Levi playing on his tractor trailer. She momentarily went back into her home to check on her nine-month-old.

When she returned moments later, Levi was nowhere to be found, and she frantically dove into the raging Beaver County river to search for her son in the torrent.

Kallie called first responders and they found Levi in the creek around a mile downstream. He was airlifted to Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City.

The Wright couple braced themselves for the worst, saying they planned to 'stop care and hold him close until his last breath on earth' after doctors said he was unlikely to survive.

But two days later a miracle occurred as Levi awoke from his coma Thursday night.

In her Facebook update, Kallie said she felt the need to tell fans about Levi's recovery, mainly to 'get things off my chest.'

Spencer Wright's son, Levi, has been in a critical condition for more than a week after driving his tractor into Beaver River close to their home in the south-west Utah town of Milford

Kallie shared an update on her son's recovery and told fans to stop chiming in with 'nonstop' advice on his recovery

'I'm going to address one thing that has been brought up continually and that is the Hyberbaric Chamber therapy for brain injuries,' she wrote.

'1. Hyberbaric chamber therapy is not an option if a child is on a vent like Levi. He has to be medically stable enough first to even have that option. He is not medically stable enough to leave this place.

'2. If he can't breathe on his own (manage his airways) a trach would be required which is a device that goes through a man made hole in the throat with a tube leading to the lungs. Now think about that!

'On top of that he will require an NG tube (a feeding tube through his nose) and long term potentially a gtube which requires surgery and another man-made hole through his side.

'3. Spencer and I have spent the last week, exploring these and other therapies and what we are finding & feeling is for our situation those therapies can't bring Levi to where he would be happy should they even become an option.

'HIS happiness comes before ours, period.'

The mother concluded that while many people have chimed in with their thoughts on what they should do, ' please for one second don't think we haven't fully done our homework, it has been nonstop!'

In another update the day prior, she said doctors attempted to 'wean sedation but (Levi) did not handle it well.'

The family previously said they were fearing the worst as Levi was left almost brain dead by the tragic accident

Rodeo star Spencer Wright's wife has said they are feeling hopeful about their three-year-old son's recovery from a brain injury after he plunged into a fast-moving river

Photos on social media show Kallie cradling her son as they both lay in his hospital bed with his father standing nearby.

Kallie has shared a number of updates on her son's recovery, and on Sunday she wrote: 'This is an experience, I pray deep in my soul you never have to know the way I am beginning to.

'This is a roller coaster that you go on unwillingly & blindfolded, you do not know what's coming next. You just get to wait & ride it out. We are taking it day by day.'

She shared the type of brain injury her son may sustain, and the unknowns that are ahead.

'The term 'Brain Injury' is very broad, there are ranges and different severities. No two brain injuries are alike, even if the accident is similar. No two brains recover or don't recover the same.

'There is a lot Medical Professionals don't know, but what they do tell you is based off legitimate medical literature and history.'

Spencer has also spoken out to encourage fans to donate money for a boy of the same age who is being treated for sepsis caused by meningitis in the room next door to Levi.

Three-year-old Taysen Baum has suffered blood clots, strokes and a brain injury triggered by the infection. His parents, like Levi's, are praying for a miracle their boy will survive.
Pursed lips, bitten gloves and a very nervous wince... clearly the King and Queen struggled to rein in their feelings during a day at the races.

The couple were on the edge of their seats as they watched their horse Treasure race in the Oaks at Epsom's Ladies Day yesterday.

With tempting odds of 18/1, there were hopes Treasure would echo the success of other horses bred by the late Queen Elizabeth II. Two of her horses were ridden to victory in the prestigious Oaks  Carrozza in 1957 and Dunfermline in 1977.

Treasure is a daughter of stallion Masterscraftsman and Shimmering Light, which was placed for the late monarch in two races in 2017.

However there was to be no royal win this year, with Treasure finishing 11th out of 12 runners.

The couple were on the edge of their seats as they watched their horse Treasure race in the Oaks at Epsom's Ladies Day yesterday

Queen Camilla was pictured looking tense as she watched Treasure race today

Camilla watched on as the race unfolded, with Treasure originally starting off strong

The prize money for the race totalled to 541,035 for the top six positions out of the 12 runners - with 311,905 going to the winner.

Trainer Ralph Beckett, who met the King and Queen before the race, said: 'I think they enjoyed themselves and hopefully there will be other days for [Treasure].'

He added they 'decided to have a go at the Oaks as the ground should be in her favour', adding that he had been 'very pleased with her progress'.

The handler also described the King and Queen as 'such enthusiastic owners and it is great to be training such a nice filly for them who is running in a Classic'.

A rendition of the national anthem was sang - as Charles and Camilla watched on - before the race began.

The King's horse Treasure started off solidly, settling in third position and standing out from the all brown pack in grey.

However, the pack was strong and after a struggle to keep up Treasure finished eleventh.

However, the pack was strong and after a struggle to keep up Treasure finished eleventh

Trainer Ralph Beckett described the King and Queen as 'such enthusiastic owners and it is great to be training such a nice filly for them who is running in a Classic'

Charles and Camilla enjoyed a memorable first Flat season last year, with Desert Hero winning at Royal Ascot before finishing third in the St Leger.

Treasure won on her racecourse debut at Nottingham in October last year before finishing fourth behind stablemate You Got To Me in the Lingfield Oaks Trial on her reappearance three weeks ago.

Earlier in the day, the King and Queen presented the trophy to Luxembourg ridden by Ryan Moore, the winner of the Holland Cooper Coronation Cup after watching the race from the stands.

They then made their way to the Royal Box where Camilla wrapped up against the cold in a 630 coat from Camilla And Marc and a ribboned hat designed by Philip Treacy.

The King, who is also expected to attend Trooping the Colour this month, returned to public duties in April after being diagnosed with cancer in February.
Chilling posts from Donald Trump's supporters calling for murder last night stoked fears of violence in the wake of his criminal conviction.

In an echo of the January 2021 insurrection, which saw supporters of the former President march on the Capitol, one online message called for armed activists to 'go to Washington and hang everyone'.

Other Trump supporters said it was 'time to start capping [shooting] some Lefties' and suggested that 'somebody should take care of' the judge who presided over the case.

In a stark warning, veteran pollster Frank Luntz said that in 35 years he had never seen the country so 'polarised and so toxic'.

He told Sky News: 'All this has done is divided America even further.

Chilling posts from Donald Trump 's supporters calling for murder last night stoked fears of violence in the wake of his criminal conviction

Supporters raise Trump-themed flags across the street from Trump Tower today

Protesters hold placards outside Trump Tower in New York City, on May 31

Trump (pictured during his his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024) was found guilty of 34 felony charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels who had alleged the two had sex

Donald Trump, pictured in a courtroom sketch, reacts as the verdict is read in his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, at Manhattan state court in New York City on May 30, 2024

In an echo of the January 2021 insurrection (pictured), one online message called for armed activists to 'go to Washington and hang everyone'

Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest inside the US Capitol on January 6, 2021

During the Capitol riots, supporters of the former President march on the Capitol

'We see no evidence in the focus groups that people are moving away from Donald Trump, no evidence they have moved towards him.'

Mr Luntz warned that undecided voters did not believe the former President should be given a custodial sentence, adding that some feared it would turn him into a 'martyr'.

He added: 'They're afraid there will be riots in the street, there is real concern this case could bring a level of violence that we haven't seen ever in American democracy'.

Trump has been priming his supporters to reject the verdict since the beginning of the trial, which he has labelled 'rigged' and part of a 'witch-hunt' against him.

But the fury after the guilty verdict on Thursday shocked analysts who monitor far-Right websites.

They were alarmed by posts on Trump's own Truth Social platform and two other websites which backed him: Patriots.Win and the Gateway Pundit.

One said: 'Bad stuff happens to judges in their driveways.'

On messaging app Telegram, a user said that 'all involved' should be hanged and called for a military tribunal for the judge and prosecutors.

Donald Trump, far left, watches watches as jury foreperson #1 delivers guilty verdicts with judge Juan Merchan listening on the bench in Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday

Trump's supporters gathered outside Trump Tower before the former president and Republican presidential candidate held a press conference after being found guilty over hush-money charges

Donald Trump (pictured at Trump Tower today) spoke to reporters at his namesake tower in Manhattan on Friday, vowing to appeal the 'scam' guilty verdict in his hush money trial and launched attacks at Joe Biden for the 'rigged' case

Former President Donald Trump complained about the unfairness of the hush money case from Trump Tower earlier Friday

A supporter of Donald Trump waits outside Manhattan Criminal Court for his motorcade to pass after the guilty verdict announced against the former president on Thursday, May 30, 2024

Supporters of President Joe Biden demonstrate outside Trump Tower on Friday, May 31, 2024

On Patriots.Win, a user wrote: 'Someone in NY with nothing to lose needs to take care of (Judge Juan) Merchan. Hopefully he gets met with illegals (migrants) with a machete.'

Another user said: 'Trump should already know he has an army willing to fight and die for him if he says the words... I'll take up arms if he asks.'

Jacob Ware, a co-author of the book, God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America, said the violent language used by Trump's followers was testament to the former President's 'iron-clad ability to mobilise more extreme supporters to action, both at the ballot box and through violence'.

A snap poll by YouGov after the verdict found that 50 per cent of Americans agreed with the verdict, 30 per cent disagreed and 19 per cent were not sure.

But the results went sharply on party lines, with 86 per cent of Democrats believing Trump was guilty, compared to just 15 per cent of Republicans.

On Capitol Hill, the reaction from Democrats was muted and anxious. Bianca Balint, a Democrat from Vermont, said: 'I know many of us are concerned about the possibility of violence... We'd be foolish not to worry.'

Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower on May 31, 2024 in New York City

A supporter of former President Donald Trump waves an inverted American flag during a demonstration outside Trump Tower on Friday, May 31, 2024

Protesters hold placards outside Trump Tower in New York City, on May 31, 2024 before former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump holds a press conference

Trump supporters outside Trump Tower wave a banner supporting his 2024 White House bid

But many Republican lawmakers sided with the man who seems set to lead their party into the next presidential election.

Mike Johnson, the House Speaker, said: 'This is a purely political exercise. The people know this is wrong and the people are outraged.'

Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader, said the verdict would be overturned on appeal.
Labour would leave the North to 'rot', the Mayor of Teesside warns today.

As the Conservatives announced hundreds of millions of pounds in levelling-up cash for towns across the country, Ben Houchen said Sir Keir Starmer 'hasn't learned the lesson' of the past when 'for years, the North East was taken for granted and left to rot by the Labour Party'.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner will today brand the Government's levelling-up agenda a 'phoney gimmick' as she pledges to 'power up every corner of Britain'.

But writing in the Mail today, Lord Houchen says a 'committed approach to devolution, introduced by Boris (Johnson) and continued by Rishi (Sunak), has been instrumental in turbocharging local growth' in areas that had been neglected by Labour for decades.

Lord Houchen, the only Tory mayor to hold on to power in last month's local elections, writes: 'Levelling up isn't just about the cash, though this has been a critical part of this Government's commitment to our area. It is also about the influence we now have over government policy which for years, Westminster has had a monopoly.

Ben Houchen said Sir Keir Starmer 'hasn't learned the lesson' of the past when 'for years, the North East was taken for granted and left to rot by the Labour Party'

'But Labour hasn't learnt its lesson. They still operate on a centralised model where everything is to be dictated from their head office.'

His comments come as ministers unveil a new package of funding to help regenerate communities across the country.

Michael Gove today publishes a list of 30 towns which will each receive 20 million for local projects if the Conservatives win the next election. The list is likely to provoke controversy as 70 per cent of the towns listed in England and Wales are in constituencies held by the Conservatives at the last election.

The list includes communities in a string of constituencies where the Tories are desperate to hold on, such as Redditch, Corby, Bognor Regis and Ilkeston, which was the first place visited by Mr Sunak after calling the snap election.

It also includes the north Derbyshire town of Dronfield, in the constituency of levelling up minister Lee Rowley, and Newtown, in the Welsh constituency of Mr Sunak's close parliamentary aide Craig Williams.

Unlike most previous rounds of levelling-up funding, the successful towns have been decided without having to submit bids setting out how they would use the cash.

Sources said the towns had been chosen on the basis of factors such as life expectancy and workforce productivity. But the preponderance of Tory winners is likely to fuel accusations of US-style pork barrel politics.

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner will today brand the Government's levelling-up agenda a 'phoney gimmick' as she pledges to 'power up every corner of Britain'

Ms Rayner last night accused ministers of 'yet another reckless unfunded spending commitment, sure to be broken as quickly as it was made'. But Tory sources said the 600 million cost could be funded from the proceeds of a crackdown on tax avoidance.

The Prime Minister said the cash injection would 'transform' communities which are the 'beating heart of our country... reviving their high streets, growing their local economies and making people feel proud of the place they call home'.

Mr Sunak said Labour's record in government 'shows they don't care about towns  neglecting their needs, allowing them to decline and focusing instead on cities'.

Labour has said that the funding ring-fenced by the Tories to pay for the investment into towns is the same funding that is being used for their pensions announcement and National Service plan.

Ms Rayner added: 'Everywhere you look, communities up and down the country are feeling the impact of 14 years of Tory decline: boarded-up shops, soaring bills and a widening wage gap with London.

'Labour will turn the page on the Conservatives' chaos by boosting growth in every corner of the country, putting more money in people's pockets, and giving them control over what matters.'
Megyn Kelly and Dan Abrams ended up yelling at one another in a blistering, five-minute long argument over Donald Trump's guilty verdict in New York on Thursday.

Kelly, 53, who has a long history of falling in and out with the former president, appeared as a guest on Dan Abrams Live on NewsNation to react to the news of the day.

After admitting the jury had no choice but to convict based on what was presented, she spent about a minute and a half trashing the judge and Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg.

Abrams, 58, then argued that people could debate whether it was 'morally' or 'legally' wrong but that there was 'wrongdoing' on Trump's behalf, to which Kelly demanded to know what he meant.

'Number one, it's paying $130,000 to a porn star to keep her quiet, can we at least agree that's wrong? For a minute, I'm talking about morality vs. legality,' Abrams said.

Megyn Kelly and Dan Abrams ended up yelling at one another in a blistering, five-minute long argument over Donald Trump's Thursday guilty verdict in New York

Journalist @megynkelly joins Dan to debate Trump's guilty verdict. Kelly predicted a guilty verdict and says she believes the jury "followed the instructions that the judge gave them." pic.twitter.com/fa8lUTMMTK  Dan Abrams Live (@danabramslive) May 31, 2024

Kelly responded by saying that it was a private matter and that she didn't know what kind of marriage Donald and Melania Trump had, the same way she was unaware of what kind of marriage the Clintons had.

'I don't mind the sex, I'm talking about the $130,000 to keep her quiet to protect his campaign,' Abrams retorted.

Kelly insisted there was nothing wrong, arguing, 'So when somebody runs for office, they just lose the right to privacy?'

Abrams then asked, 'When you're doing it to protect the campaign and you're spending money on it, you are now crossing the line into legal problems, right?'

Kelly said that he was wrong but Abrams wasn't done.

He tried to back up, asking: 'You don't think he falsified business records either?'

'I don't know what he did,' she said, to which Abrams became somewhat annoyed.

'What does that mean? We just had a whole trial, we heard every detail of this,' he said incredulously.

Kelly, who has a long history of falling in and out with the former president, appeared as a guest on Dan Abrams Live on News Nation to react to the news of the day

Kelly said that it was a private matter and that she didn't know what kind of marriage Donald and Melania Trump had, the same way she was unaware of what kind of marriage the Clintons had

'I don't think he wrote down "hush money payment to Stormy Daniels," nobody who paid hush money would write down such a thing. I think he - or someone at the Trump organization - wrote down "legal expenses" from the drop down Adobe menu and that made as much sense because hush money wasn't an option,' she said.

'He was paying his lawyer, who paid the money to Stormy Daniels, and he was reimbursing him, though he denied that on the stand.'

'I don't think there's anything wrong with doing that. I think you pay your lawyer money... you could easily classify that as a legal expense.'

Abrams, close to laughing, responded: 'No matter what it's for, right? Even if it's illegal conduct, you can just put it as a legal expense.'

'There's nothing illegal about paying hush money for an NDA,' Kelly responded.

'There's not, but when you're doing it to protect your campaign, it is,' said Abrams.

That's when the argument devolved, with Abrams and Kelly - both of whom have law degrees - seemingly unaware to what the other was referring.

Kelly asked, 'No, what law are you citing?'

Abrams argued that people could debate whether it was 'morally' or 'legally' wrong but that there was 'wrongdoing' on Trump's behalf

Trump supporters react as a verdict was reached in the criminal trial of former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump

Abrams responded, 'Campaign finance law.'

'Wrong! You don't know what you're talking about, you're wrong,' said Kelly, with Abrams then demanding an explanation.

'This has been wrong from the start, it does not amount to a campaign contribution if it is the kind of payment that could ever be made outside the campaign.'

'That's not the standard,' Abrams said, saying 'court after court' has said the standard is substantiality.

With Kelly continuing to say 'you're wrong,' Abrams ended the segment saying, 'We're going to have to agree to disagree.'

The world was rocked after former President Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 felony charges for falsifying business records.

The jury of seven men and five women at Manhattan Criminal Court deliberated for nearly 10 hours before convicting the former president.

It was the first time a former U.S. President has faced a criminal trial and the verdict could upend the 2024 White House race, proving a pivotal moment in the history of the United States.

He faces sentencing July 11 though his legal team has promised to appeal the verdict.
A top police officer has been accused of fuelling confusion over hate crime legislation after wrongly claiming that incidents will never be flagged up during job applications.

Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs told the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) that hate incidents which fall short of a crime but are of possible concern would never appear during any form of Disclosure Scotland check.

But his spokesman later admitted that, in a small number of cases, names of people accused of such incidents will be logged on a secret police database  and could be disclosed when people apply to work with children or the elderly.

Tory MSP Murdo Fraser  who was blacklisted on the database after criticising the SNPs transgender policy on social media  said: Police Scotland seem to have got themselves into a state of complete confusion over their policy of recording non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs).

Even the deputy chief constable hasnt been clear about the impact of the policy.

Assistant Chief Constable Alan Speirs has been accused of fuelling confusion over hate crime legislation

Their previous, unlawful policy had to be changed as it was contrary to human rights, but when even senior police officers dont seem to understand the impact of the new policy, how can the public have trust in it?

At an SPA public board meeting last month, Mr Speirs said details of people accused of hate incidents  which do not meet the threshold for criminality  will not be passed to Disclosure Scotland during employment checks.

A Police Scotland spokesman said Mr Speirs had meant only to say the incidents would never be flagged up for standard disclosures  a less rigorous check.

A spokesman for Disclosure Scotland said the recording of NCHIs is an operational matter for police but confirmed provisions allow for the police to provide other relevant information about people applying for enhanced disclosure.
President Joe Biden brushed off claims by Donald Trump that the New York hush-money trial was politically-motivated and orchestrated by the White House.

'I didn't know I was that powerful,' Biden quipped when asked about it.

The president also said he wasn't worried he may end up in court one day like Trump.

'Not at all. I didn't do anything wrong. The system still works,' he said.

Republicans have been trying to tie Biden to his son's Hunter business dealings, claiming they were working together to enrich the family. Biden has said repeatedly he wasn't involved in his son's work.

The president, who answered a few questions from Fox News' Peter Doocy as he left an event celebrating the Kansas City Chiefs' Super Bowl win, also said he had 'no idea' if the conviction would help Trump in the election.

President Joe Biden brushed off claims by Donald Trump that the New York hush-money trial was politically-motivated and orchestrated by the White House

A new poll from DailyMail.com post-conviction show Trump had gained six points in his race against Biden.

'The other thing - a poll came out. The first poll. Maybe others will be bad. But the poll just came out a little while ago [by] the Daily Mail. Does anybody read the Daily Mail? They have a good poll. I like it today,' Trump said at his press conference on Friday.

'The Daily Mail just came out with a poll and it has Trump up six points in the last 12 hours. Six points since this happened. Who thought this could happen,' said Trump to applause among his supporters gathered at Trump Tower.

'Because the people of our country know it's a hoax. They know it's a hoax. They get it. They are really smart and it's really something.'

Earlier Friday Biden called Trump 'reckless' and 'irresponsible' in his first comments responding to the ex-president's historic guilty hush money verdict.

He later grinned though didn't respond when asked about Trump's claims his Democratic opponent is making him a 'political prisoner.'

Biden returned to Washington from Rehoboth Beach Friday to take a meeting with the Belgian prime minister and welcome to the White House the Kansas City Chiefs.

Friday morning the White House announced that the president would be addressing the situation in the Middle East, but Biden started his remarks by tackling the Trump verdict first - saying he wanted to discuss 'what happened yesterday in New York City.'

'The American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed,' Biden said.

Biden grinned though didn't respond when asked about Trump's claims his Democratic opponent is making him a 'political prisoner'

'Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself, it was a state case not a federal case and it was heard by a jury of 12 citizens, 12 Americans, 12 people like you,' the president continued.

Biden noted that like 'millions' of other juries 'this jury was chosen the same way every jury in America was chosen.'

'There was a process that Donald Trump's attorney was part of, the jury heard five weeks of evidence - five weeks - and after careful deliberation the jury reaced a unanimous verdict,' Biden said.

'They found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts,' the president said.

The Democrat said that Trump would also be given the chance to appeal 'just like everyone else.'

'That's how the American system of justice works,' Biden said.

'And it's reckless, it's dangerous, it's irresponsble for anyone to say this was rigged, just because they don't like the verdict,' the president added.

Former President Donald Trump complained about the unfairness of the hush money case from Trump Tower earlier Friday

Biden pointed out how the justice system has endured for nearly 250 years and should be 'respected.'

'And we should never allow anyone to tear it down, it's as simple as that,' the president said.

'That's America, that's who we are, that's who we'll always be,' Biden said, adding a 'God willing' on the end.

Trump has pushed that the 34 felony counts are the result of a politically motivated prosecution to meddle in the 2024 election where he'll again face Biden on the ballot.

Most of the Republican Party has sided with Trump, complaining about the unfairness of the case.
Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama's mother, died 'peacefully' on Friday morning at the age of 86, her family has revealed.

Mrs. Obama paid tribute to her mother in a statement on X later that evening.

'My mom Marian Robinson was my rock, always there for whatever I needed. She was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share she passed away today,' the former first lady wrote.

The family also made a separate statement around the same time.

'There was and will be only one Marian Robinson. In our sadness, we are lifted up by the extraordinary gift of her life. And we will spend the rest of ours trying to live up to her example,' the Obama family said.

Michelle Obama paid tribute to her mother Marian Robinson who has died at the age of 86

Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama 's mother, has died at the age of 86. The pair are pictured in 2012

Mrs. Robinson became known to Americans across the country as the country's first grandmother after son-in-law, Barack Obama, won the 2008 presidential election.

Despite living in the White House for his entire eight years in office, she kept a low profile.

Robinson would attend holiday events and even go on trips overseas.

She would occasionally be seen at concerts in the East Room.

But she was spent most of her time with her granddaughters, Sasha and Malia who were just even and 10-years-old at the time.

In 2018, Michelle Obama shared a never-before-seen photo with her mother in celebration of her memoir Becoming

Michelle Obama, far right, is seen standing with her daughters, Sasha, second from left, and Malia, far left, and her mother, Marian Robinson, during the 2013 inauguration ceremony for her husband Barack Obama

From left, Malia, Sasha Obama, Marian Robinson, and then-first lady Michelle Obama and President Barack Obama seen at the 2015 Christmas tree lighting ceremony

'I felt like this was going to be a very hard life for both of them,' she later said in a CBS News interview, speaking about her daughter and son-in-law Barack.

'I was worried about their safety, and I was worried about my grandkids. That's what got me to move to D.C.'

The family's statement on Friday realized just how integral she was to the family.

'We needed her. The girls needed her. And she ended up being our rock through it all,' they said.

'She relished her role as a grandmother. ... And although she enforced whatever household rules we'd set for bedtime, watching TV, or eating candy, she made clear that she sided with her 'grandbabies' in thinking that their parents were too darn strict,' the family added.

In the CBS interview, Robinson says how it was a 'huge adjustment' being waited on by White House. staff - but she eventually convinced them to let her do her own laundry.

In a throwback photo for Mother's Day, Michelle Obama is pictured with Robinson and her brother Craig

Michelle Obama, left, is seen together with her parents Fraser and Marian Robinson

Robinson was born in Chicago in 1937 and grew up in the city's South Side.

She married Fraser Robinson, who died in 1991 from multiple sclerosis.

Together they raised Michelle and their son, Craig Robinson.

The former president once called his mother-in-law 'the least pretentious person I know.'

'Rather than hobnobbing with Oscar winners or Nobel laureates, she preferred spending her time upstairs with a TV tray, in the room outside her bedroom with big windows that looked out at the Washington Monument,' the family said in its statement on Friday.

'The only guest she made a point of asking to meet was the Pope.'

'At every step, as our families went down paths none of us could have predicted, she remained our refuge from the storm,' the Obama statement said.

'On Election Night in 2008, when the news broke that Barack would soon shoulder the weight of the world, she was there, holding his hand.'

Former president Barack Obama credited Robinson with keeping his daughters grounded during their time in the White House.

'She's down to Earth and she doesn't understand all the fuss,' he said in an interview on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

'In our sadness, we are lifted up by the extraordinary gift of her life. And we will spend the rest of ours trying to live up to her example', the family said in a statement

The former first lady was particularly close to her mother.

Robinson introduced her daughter in 2008 during the Democratic National Convention.

Only weeks ago, Michelle paid honored her mom on Mother's Day.

She announced an exhibit at the Obama Presidential Center Museum in Chicago would be named after her.

'In so many ways she fostered in me a deep sense of confidence in who I was and who I could be by teaching me how to think for myself, how to use my own voice, and how to understand my own worth,' she said in a video.

'I simply wouldn't be who I am today without my mom.'
Labour's green energy plans were branded 'a con' yesterday as experts warned they were 'not plausible' and would send bills soaring.

Sir Keir Starmer launched his policy initiative on the election campaign trail in Scotland, claiming it would save households up to 300 on their energy bills by the end of the next parliament.

But critics said it would mean taxes or bills having to be drastically hiked before falling again due to the sums needed to achieve his vision by 2030.

Last night Energy Secretary Claire Coutinho told the Mail: 'Labour still can't explain to the public what this policy actually is because they do not have a plan, placing Britain's energy security at risk.

'GB Energy is just another ideological vanity project by [shadow energy secretary] Ed Miliband that will triple families' bills and put public sector unions in charge of Britain's energy security.'

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, Sir Keir Starmer and shadow secretary of state for energy security and net zero Ed Miliband at the Port of Greenock while on the General Election campaign trail on Friday

Union leaders turned on Sir Keir about the policy, warning it could cost thousands of jobs because his plan involves not issuing any new licences for gas and oil drilling in the North Sea. Labour also wants to decarbonise the electricity network by 2030, something experts said was 'pretty much impossible' and a pledge that's 'too good to be true'.

Under the party's plans if it wins the general election, it would set up a new publicly owned company  Great British Energy  with the aim of investing in homegrown power sources.

It is aimed at cutting the UK's dependence on energy from hostile, foreign countries such as Russia and boosting domestic energy supplies.

The company would invest in domestic power sources, with the aim of cutting energy bills. Early investments by Great British Energy will include wind and solar projects across the UK, as well as making Scotland a world leader in new technologies such as floating offshore wind farms and hydrogen.

Labour plans to fund the company, which will have its HQ in Scotland, through a windfall tax on big oil and gas firms, with an initial 8.3billion capitalisation over a parliament. Sir Keir said it would help 'turn the page' on the cost-of-living crisis by lowering energy bills, adding: 'The choice at this election is clear: higher bills and energy insecurity with the Conservatives, or lower bills and energy security with Labour.'

Sir Keir launched his policy initiative on the election campaign trail in Scotland, claiming it would save households up to 300 on their energy bills by the end of the next parliament

Under the party's plans if it wins the general election, it would set up a new publicly owned company  Great British Energy

But ministers and experts blasted Labour, suggesting its plans could actually exacerbate the cost-of-living crisis due to the huge sums needed to invest in the green infrastructure needed by 2030  which would be passed on to householders in higher bills or taxes.

Sir Keir claimed it would not lead to job losses and that he would not allow a repeat of the mistakes which hammered many Scottish communities when large parts of the coal industry were shut.

But he faced repeated questions about the threat to jobs. This week, the Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce said the next UK government will have just 100 days to save 100,000 jobs by taking action to restore confidence in the oil and gas sector. Speaking at yesterday's event, Sir Keir said: 'We're not turning off the taps... oil and gas is part of the mix for decades to come.'

During an interview on BBC Good Morning Scotland, he said: 'I do reject that analysis [that jobs would be lost]. In fact, I'm absolutely convinced that the transition could bring more jobs to Scotland and jobs that would last for decades.'
Canadian serial killer Robert Pickton has died aged 74 after being attacked in prison where he was serving a life sentence.

The notorious murderer took female victims to his pig farm during a crime spree near Vancouver in late 1990s and early 2000s, and fed their bodies to the animals.

The Correctional Service of Canada said Pickton, an inmate of Port-Cartier Institution in the province of Quebec, died in hospital following injuries in the May 19 assault involving another inmate.

He was one of Canada's most notorious serial killers and his case made international headlines.

A 51-year-old inmate was in custody for the assault on Pickton, police spokesman Hugues Beaulieu said earlier this month.

Canadian serial killer Robert Pickton, who took female victims to his pig farm during a crime spree near Vancouver in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has died after being assaulted in prison

Pickton is shown at his trial taking notes nearly two decades ago. He was eventually convicted in 2007 on six counts of second-degree murder

Robert 'Willie' Pickton was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2007, with the maximum parole ineligibility period of 25 years, after being charged with the murders of 26 women.

Police began searching the Pickton farm in the Vancouver suburb of Port Coquitlam more than 22 years ago in what would be a years-long investigation into the disappearances of dozens of women from Vancouver's seediest streets, sex workers and drug addicts abandoned on the margins of society.

The remains or DNA of 33 women were found on the farm. Pickton once bragged to an undercover police officer that he killed a total of 49 women.

During his trial, prosecution witness Andrew Bellwood said Pickton told him how he strangled his victims and fed their remains to his pigs.

Health officials once issued a tainted meat advisory to neighbors who might have bought pork from Pickton's farm, concerned the meat might have contained human remains.

Pickton and his brother operated a drinking club frequented by bikers and prostitutes near their pig farm outside Vancouver

Royal Canadian Mounted Police investigators move debris on a pig farm February 19, 2002 in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia

During his trial, prosecution witness Andrew Bellwood said Pickton told him how he strangled his victims and fed their remains to his pigs

Cynthia Cardinal, whose sister Georgina Papin was murdered by Pickton, said Pickton's death means she can finally move on from her sister's murder.

'This is gonna bring healing for, I won't say all families, I'll just say most of the families,' she said.

'I'm like  wow, finally. I can actually move on and heal and I can put this behind me.'

Vancouver police were criticized for not taking the cases seriously because many of the missing were sex workers or drug users.

Canada's correctional service said it was conducting an investigation into the attack on Pickton.

'The investigation will examine all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the assault, including whether policies and protocols were followed,' the service said.

'We are mindful that this offender's case has had a devastating impact on communities in British Columbia and across the country, including indigenous peoples, victims and their families. Our thoughts are with them.'

Dozens of the women Pickton, now-74, is suspected of having murdered during his decades of homicidal violence

Forensic workers collect evidence in the early 2000s at Canada's largest crime scene, accused mass murderer Robert Pickton's pig farm

Pickton had six confirmed victims: Sereena Abotsway, Mona Wilson, Andrea Joesbury, Brenda Ann Wolfe, Papin and Marnie Frey.

'Earlier today, I was made aware of the death of an inmate at Port-Cartier Institution,' Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said.

'At this time, my thoughts are with the families of the victims of this individual's heinous crimes.'

At the time of Pickton's sentencing, British Columbia Supreme Court Justice James Williams said it was a 'rare case that properly warrants the maximum period of parole ineligibility available to the court'.
We are used to seeing royal women in formal skirts, expensive gowns or, from time to time, even jeans.

Yet even today, leather, is likely to raise an eyebrow or two.

It was Princess Diana who first led the way when she wore bright scarlet trousers for a theatre outing in 1987.

Leather has slowly and stylishly been infiltrating royal wardrobes ever since...

Diana, Princess of Wales

Princess Diana made a memorable entrance at Her Majesty's Theatre in 1987 - thanks to her striking leather trousers

Always one to break the mould, Princess Diana made a memorable entrance at Her Majesty's Theatre in the West End in 1987 - thanks to her striking leather trousers.

For a performance of Phantom of the Opera, the royal paired her vibrant trousers with a voluminous bomber jacket, showcasing her distinctive style.

Queen Letizia of Spain

Queen Letizia of Spain has reached for her Hugo Boss leather trousers on three occasions. Above: During an outing in Barcelona in November 2022

A staple in Queen Letizia's wardrobe, these Hugo Boss trousers have been worn by her on three separate occasions.

Made from genuine leather, they incorporate a flattering high waist and a slim, cropped leg.

The rich berry hue offers a welcome splash of colour, without being overly conspicuous.

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex

Meghan Markle impressed in a pair of form-fitting leather trousers at a 2016 Suits event in New York

Meghan Markle is known for her appreciation of leather in its various forms, ranging from biker jackets to pencil skirts.

In 2016, she impressed at a Suits event in New York, wearing a pair of form-fitting leather trousers.

She completed her polished ensemble with nude lace-up heels and a swipe of red lipstick.

Charlene, Princess of Monaco

Princess Charlene showed off her edgy flair in Philip Plein trousers at the 2017 Princess Grace Awards gala

Princess Charlene of Monaco demonstrated her edgy flair at the 2017 Princess Grace Awards gala.

For the occasion, the royal chose faux leather Philip Plein trousers, a Prince of Wales checked bustier and classic court shoes.

To finish her outfit, she draped a double-breasted blazer across her shoulders.

Princess Eugenie

Princess Eugenie exuded glamour as she arrived at Casa Cruz restaurant in Notting Hill in 2020

After employing stylist Olivia Buckingham, Princess Eugenie quickly transformed into a style maven.

The royal showed off her newfound glamour during an excursion in Notting Hill in 2020.

Her outfit featured a pair of faux leather leggings, which proved perfect for the swanky location of Casa Cruz restaurant.

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands

Queen Maxima of the Netherlands lived up to her style reputation at the meeting of NLgroeit at Centraal Beheer

Beloved for her bold fashion choices, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands did not disappoint in this plum-coloured ensemble.

She teamed a Zara polka dot blouse with cropped leather trousers, completing the look with suede court shoes for a meeting in 2019.

Zara Tindall

Zara Tindall paired sleek leather trousers with a suede trench coat for a visit to the races in April

Zara Tindall was the epitome of chic during a recent visit to Cheltenham Racecourse.

The daughter of Princess Anne opted for sleek leather trousers, paired with a suede trench coat by Fairfax and Favor.

Adding a touch of sophistication, she accessorised with a Camilla Rose Millinery headband, LK Bennett boots and an Aspinal of London bag, resulting in a flawless aesthetic.
The Princess of Wales will not undertake a planned military review ahead of Trooping the Colour next month as she continues to recover privately following her cancer diagnosis.

There has been no word yet from Kensington Palace as to whether she will join the Royal Family for the King's official birthday celebrations on Saturday June 15, including their traditional Buckingham Palace balcony appearance.

Insiders have long emphasised that every cancer 'journey' is individual and believe speculation over whether Kate will attend key events such as

Trooping create unnecessary pressure at a time when she has asked for space and privacy.

It means the Princess of Wales will miss what would have been her first Colonel's Review, which had been due to take place at the end of next week.

The Princess of Wales will not undertake a planned military review ahead of Trooping the Colour next month as she continues to recover privately following her cancer diagnosis

There has been no word yet from Kensington Palace as to whether Kate will join the Royal Family for the King's official birthday celebrations on Saturday June 15, including their traditional Buckingham Palace balcony appearance

The event is a dress rehearsal for Trooping and would have seen her take the salute as the new Colonel-in-Chief of the Irish Guards, who are presenting their colours to the King this year.

Buckingham Palace did yesterday confirm the Daily Mail's exclusive story in March that King Charles planned to attend Trooping and review the soldiers from a carriage, on doctor's advice, with Queen Camilla.

He has previously taken part on horseback but it has been deemed prudent, given the length of the ceremony and the unpredictable weather, for him to be seated in an Ascot landau.

His Majesty is still undergoing treatment for his own unspecified cancer diagnosis.

He has now been given permission by his doctors to undertake more forward-facing public duties, although officials have stressed they need to carefully review each potential engagement, with adaptations made where necessary to prioritise his recovery.

While palace officials have been forced to cancel a number of public engagements in light of the General Election, key national and ceremonial events such as Trooping are not affected.

There was confusion in early March after the Ministry of Defence jumped the gun and published a statement on its website saying that the princess would be reviewing her troops, without seeking approval from Kensington Palace.

A few weeks after the MoD was forced to back down, the princess put out a moving video message in which she revealed that tests carried out after a successful abdominal operation revealed that cancer had been present.

Details of her cancer have not been disclosed but she has said that she was having 'preventative chemotherapy'.

Kensington Palace said it is confident the princess will make a full recovery.
New Mexico has become a human trafficking hot bed, thanks in part to state laws that force cops to let suspected human smugglers go simply because they won't pull over, DailyMail.com can reveal.

The sheriff in the town of Lordsburg described his community as being caught in a perfect storm with its proximity to the Mexican border- just 40 miles north.

The remote region also has limited sources and the few law enforcement officers there have to deal with state laws the sheriff says tie their hands.

'You could call it the perfect place to smuggle migrants,' Hidalgo County Sheriff William Chadborn told DailyMail.com.

The top cop in the small community near the Arizona-New Mexico state line on has seen a huge increase in drug and illegal immigrant smuggling since he took office in 2022.

Lordsburg is part of the Border Patrol's El Paso Sector, which includes all of southern New Mexico and Texas' sixth largest city. It's the third busiest sector in the US-- behind San Diego (1) and Tucson (2.)

Border Patrol agents in Las Cruces, New Mexico caught a smuggler in the desert trying to drive around a Border Patrol checkpoint, the feds tweeted May 7. The driver was transporting 22 illegal immigrants

Human smuggling in New Mexico have fueled migrant crossings in the El Paso sector to 180,723 from from October to April, according to Border Patrol statistics.

Its not something that we've normally dealt with,' he explained.

When US authorities in neighboring Arizona set up check points to stop smugglers, the coyotes- as they're known in Spanish- will simply drive a few miles east to New Mexico, to drop off their human cargo, Chadborn told DailMail.com.

'Last year, we had two incidents where smugglers drove like idiots until they crashed. As soon as you turn the (squad) lights on, they run. If they stop, the doors fly open and the migrants run into the desert.'

State lawmakers passed the Safe Pursuit Act over a decade ago, severely limiting when police in the state could chase a suspect who refused to pulled over for police.

Officers in this isolated part of the Land of Enchantment hadn't really needed to chase suspects, until the border crisis exploded in 2021.

Illegal immigrants come in from Mexico into southeast New Mexico to get picked up by smugglers, so the migrants can be transported further into the US to their final destinations.

Sheriff William Chadborn is the top cop in Hidalgo County, New Mexico

Border Patrol agents in Las Cruces and Deming, New Mexico, worked with local cops to stop a smuggler, the federal agency tweeted May 20

A group of 14 migrants were taken into custody in the joint New Mexico and Border Patrol operation

A tractor-trailer involved in the May smuggling incident was seized, the agency said

Cops will often blatantly see groups of migrants being picked up in the desert on the side of the road, or they will see a vehicle with the telltale signs of human trafficking: a car overloaded with people, driving too fast.

'Theyre hiring 14, 15 year-old kids to pick up (migrants,) and they dont know how to drive,' the sheriff said of the drivers.

The teens get recruited in Phoenix through social media.

With the promise of a fast payday for a quick drive to New Mexico, teenagers cross state lines to locations sent to them via encrypted apps like Snapchat and WhatsApp.

'A lot of them dont even have license. When they wreck or do something else, nothing happens to them.

Chadborn added that often federal prosecutors don't take up criminal cases against underaged smugglers.

Illegal immigrants who are successfully picked up by their smuggler are taken to a stash house, like these women who were found in Las Cruces in early May by US Border Patrol

Stash houses in New Mexico, like the one pictured above, have become very common in the Las Cruces area. Border Patrol says it has found 178 stash houses with 1,729 apprehensions in the El Paso Sector, which Las Cruces is part of

Illegal immigrants are kept in dirty and cramped quarters in stash houses in New Mexico, Border Patrol sources tell DailyMail.com

Even if they do and the minors are convicted, the charges or convictions are often wiped from their record when they reach the legal age of 18.

But the biggest problem, the sheriff says, if that even when his deputies know a driver has illegal immigrants in the car with them, they only thing they can do is attempt a traffic stop and hope the driver complies.

If the driver speeds off, the cops just let them get away.

'Now they all run. We're handcuffed by New Mexico law which does not allow for pursuits,' he said.

The Safe Pursuit Act was passed with the intention of virtually eliminating high speed chases between police and criminal suspects that often result in deadly wrecks of the people involved, and in the worst case scenarios, of innocent bystanders.

In Texas, a grandmother and her 7-year-old granddaughter were killed in the town of Ozona as they were headed to buy ice cream one March 2023 afternoon.

71-year-old Maria Tambunga and 7-year-old Emilia Tambunga died March 13, 2023 in a crash that involved a human smuggler evading arrest, authorities said

The impact of the crash with the smuggler left the grandmother and granddaughter unrecognizable, their loved ones described. They were sitting at a red light at an intersection in the granny's red truck when the smuggler plowed into them

A smuggler carrying illegal immigrants in his truck filmed himself driving over 100 miles per hour while being chases by Texas cops-- who are allowed to pursue drivers suspected of transporting illegal immigrants.

Doing so is federal crime. The Lone Star State has also made it a state crime to transport migrants who crossed the border without authorization.

In New Mexico, it's not a state crime.

Cops in that state can only give chase with few exceptions, if a person's life is in imminent danger or if the driver is believed to be driver under the influence.

Hidalgo County Sheriff William Chadborn was elected to his post in 2022. He serves the community in and around Lordsburg, New Mexico.

New Mexico officers have also been stripped of qualified immunity, a legal protection cops have in most states to protect them from criminal charges or lawsuits.

Chadborn's department is currently dealing with two lawsuits: one for a smuggling case where they did give chase, and second smuggling case where they did not pursue the driver.

But as migrants and dangerous drugs like fentanyl are increasingly smuggled into the country through the town, Chadborn is increasingly concerned one of his residents will be hurt or killed.

'One had one incident where one smuggler wrecked and hit another driver head on and he had a bunch of fentanyl in the car,' he recalled.

'Its hard to serve the people that elected you.'

With limited options, Chadborn says they do what little they legally can to stop smugglers: set out tire spike strips or call Arizona authorities and let them know a carload is headed their way.

The migrants headed to New Mexico are not the asylum-seekers who cross the international boundary and immediately look for Border Patrol agents to surrender to.

They're migrants are from countries that do not qualify for asylum, like Mexico, or are migrants from around the globe who might have criminal records.

These border jumpers hope to evade US authorities all together.

Just this week, the head of the Border Patrol tweeted about so-called 'special interest migrants' from Morocco who entered the country through Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

Six 'special interest migrants' from Morocco were stopped from coming into the country in New Mexico this week, the chief of the Border Patrol revealed this week

A Mexican man wanted for murder and with a long rap sheet was caught trying to sneak into New Mexico in March. 'This is whats known as an aggravated felon. He does not belong in the U.S., let alone in your communities,' Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens said

Special interest migrants or aliens is foreigner who could pose a national security risk to the United States, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

'The ones we are seeing here are the ones we really need to be watching for,' the sheriff stated.

He described the harsh trek migrants would need to make to get to Lordsburg on foot-- a grueling 40 to 60 miles through the unforgiving desert that could take several days.

'Theyre pretty desperate to not be know, to not be seen. That tells me that thats the ones we dont want here,' Chadborn explained.

In New Mexico, the Border Patrol has also caught several other illegal immigrants with serious criminals records, including gang members and murder suspects.

('US Border Patrol) agents in Deming, NM arrested a Mexican national (with) prior convictions for 1st Degree Murder, Battery, Stalking, & Probation Violations,' Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens posted to social media in March.

'This is whats known as an aggravated felon. He does not belong in the U.S., let alone in your communities.'
The veterinarian who confirmed the immaculate conception of a stingray at a North Carolina aquarium has shared new details about Charlotte's pregnancy.

The Aquarium & Shark Lab announced in February that Dr Rob Jones was among two people who verified Charlotte had conceived without a mate.

Dr Jones, founder of The Aquarium Vet in Australia, told DailyMail.com that he was only sent still ultrasound images in January and thought they showed egg casing of what was a possible pregnancy - but not a confirmation that was the case.

I asked if they had seen any movement in the ultrasound and did not get a reply, he said while explaining that he never suggested a shark had mated with the animal, which was the North Carolina facilitys conclusion in February.

The Hendersonville aquarium also revealed Thursday that Charlotte has developed a rare reproductive disease and a scientist told DailyMail.com that the animal was likely never pregnant but is dying of the illness that made her ovaries swell.

Dr Jones, founder of The Aquarium Vet in Australia, told DailyMail.com that he was only sent still ultrasound images in January and thought they showed egg casing of what was a possible pregnancy

He continued to explain that he suggested that it could be parthenogenesis, but never confirmed it to be true

DailyMail.com has attempted to contact Aquarium & Shark Lab several times and has yet to receive a response.

Larry Boles, director of the aquarium science program at Oregon Coast Community College, told DailyMail.com that older stingrays, such as Charlotte, are prone to reproductive tract disease that engorges the uterus and leads to death if untreated.

'The latest video showed the animal in very poor body condition,' said Boles.

'The narrative is no longer defendable. I dont think she will live longer, and I think it is too late for care.'

Brenda Ramer started Team ECCO Ocean Center and Aquarium, also known as The Aquarium & Shark Lab, in 2009.

Before the big move, Ramer was a teacher for Henderson County for nearly 10 years - it is unclear what grade or subjects she taught.

Financial data for Team Ecco shows they generated $169,00 in revenue in 2022, but had $202,00 in expenses and $110,000 in liabilities.

Charlottes story began in September when aquarium staff noticed she was swelling on her top.

The team said they thought it could be cancer, but after performing ultrasounds, they realized she was pregnant with multiple pups and announced the news in a Facebook post on February 6.

'Our stingray, Charlotte, is expecting! We have held this close to our hearts for over 3 months. We have ultrasound images confirmed by two supporters: Dr. Robert Jones, the Aquarium Vet out of Australia, and Becka Campbell, PhD candidate at Arizona State Univ. The really amazing thing is we have no male ray,' the post reads.

Brenda Ramer started Team ECCO Ocean Center and Aquarium, also known as The Aquarium & Shark Lab, in 2009. Before the big move, Ramer was a teacher for Henderson County for nearly 10 years

The team said they thought it could be cancer, but after performing ultrasounds, they realized she was pregnant with multiple pups and announced the news in a Facebook post in February

Campbell has not been identified.

Since [January], I have not given any further advice or been involved with the facility, Dr Jones said.

It has all turned very messy and to be honest, I do not want to be involved any further.

Ramer said in a video posted on Facebook that Charlotte had bite marks when they determined she may have been pregnant.

'We thought sharks bite when they mate,' she said. 'There is a potential that she mated with one of these one male sharks. We have very unique joo-joo going on here.'

However, it is impossible for sharks and stingrays to produce an offspring because the animals do not have enough genetic features, including chromosomes.

'I spent some time defending them from the idea of the shark, thinking it was born out of ignorance,' said Boles. 'But I was being naive at the time.'

'I dont know [Ramer's] motivation, but before this went public she was advised that the animal was sick.'

Boles told DailyMail.com that Charlotte has been at the facility since at least 2015 and is likely 15 to 16 years old, making her susceptible to a reproductive illness.

Financial data for Team Ecco shows they generated $169,00 in revenue in 2022, but had $202,00 in expenses and $110,000 in liabilities

Researchers with the South-East Zoo Alliance for Reproduction & Conservation in Florida studied nearly 50 aquarium-housed south stingrays in 2019, finding 65 percent of them had developed uterus issues.

'Reproductive disease, characterized by cystic ovaries, unovulated eggs and, often, an enlarged uterus, is prevalent in older conservation-managed female stingrays,' the team shared in the study.

The illness is brought on by high levels of estrogen among unsuccessful pregnancies.

Currently, there are no established treatment protocols for cystic ovaries in stingrays.

Veterinarians have used different methods to treat this particular stingray including draining the fluid, using hormonal therapy and treating with antimicrobial agents.

'I dont think she will live longer, and I think it is too late for care,' said Boles.

'I want her to get care but think of it this way. If I have my uncle staying in my house and hes ill for six months and I finally take him to the hospital, I have neglected care.'

He continued to explain that if this is a failed pregnancy, then complications have arisen that also require medical attention - such as remove a dead fetus.

After Ramer shocked the world with claims of a 'shark daddy,' the narrative changed to parthenogenesis, a type of asexual reproduction, which would be the first case observed in a round stingray.

The last time the world heard about Charlotte before Thursday was on May 17 - but that was after the aquarium posted a bizarre message that it deleted shortly after

Because the mysterious virgin birth gained attention worldwide, the aquarium began sharing updates just twice a week on Facebook and Instagram.

The last time the world heard about Charlotte before Thursday was on May 17 - but that was after the aquarium posted a bizarre message that it deleted shortly after.

'After talking with Charlotte we agreed she should write her own update later today... as trying and hard as all these events have been on us, please look to her side,' part of the post read, which was riddled with spelling and grammar mistakes.

However, the story has been that Charlotte became pregnant in September, which means she has been carrying pups for at least eight months.

Bradley Wetherbee, a professor in the department of biological sciences at the University of Rhode Island, told DailyMail.com that the gestation period for stingrays is about four to five months.

'[At this point,] it makes you think something is wrong. This isn't a nine-month pregnancy, the baby is dead and no longer there.'

He continued to explain that if an ultrasound was done, the technician could measure the size of the pups, just like they do with humans, and give an estimation of birth.

'It is a little suspicious, but I would be really surprised if they cooked this whole thing up,' Wetherbee said.
READ MORE: The ISS has sprung a leak! Russian part of space station is losing air

Boeing's Starliner is set for its first launch on Saturday, but a NASA contractor has warned the mission could be 'catastrophic.'

The capsule, set to take two astronauts to the International Space Station, is leaking helium due to a faulty valve in the control jet that helps adjust the craft in orbit.

Erin Faville, president of ValveTech has urged NASA to 're-double safety checks and re-examine safety protocols to make sure the Starliner is safe before something catastrophic happens.'

While NASA and Boeing staff announced Wednesday that they were 'go' for launch, Faville did not express a similar degree of optimism when contacted by DailyMail.com.

'I warned,' Faville said. 'I will choose to let it play out.'

The first manned mission of Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is set to launch Saturday, after an earlier attempt was scuttled over a leaking valve on one of its oxygen tanks. One NASA contractor who urged the US space agency to delay the launch, has not expressed optimism

Two veteran astronauts, Suni Williams (left) and Butch Wilmore (right) will take off for the ISS on Monday night aboard Boeing's Starliner

In a press release issued on May 8, Faville stated that 'as a valued NASA partner and as valve experts, we strongly urge them not to attempt a second launch due to the risk of a disaster occurring on the launchpad.'

Faville expressed particular fears that the another leaky valve  which had been discovered on the upper-stage liquid oxygen tank of the Atlas V rocket as the craft was preparing to blast off  could have led to an explosion on the launchpad.

That malfunction was detected on May 6 before Starliner was set to launch, forcing a scrub for the day.

Such an incident would have been fatal both to 'astronauts and to the people on the ground,' Faville said in her statement, as provided by her company's legal counsel.

Faville clarified that she has not been calling for a permanent stop to the Starliner launch, nor to Boeing's project itself, both integral parts of NASA's Commercial Crew Program (CCP), but simply for an aggressive and robust safety review before launch.

'It is unfortunate that some of my comments were taken out of context to imply otherwise,' she said in a second press release.

Boeing has been testing its CST-100 Starliner since 2011, experiencing failure after failure, including an onboard clock error that prevented it from docking with the ISS during its first-ever unmanned voyage to the space station in December 2019.

For its first manned mission, if launched Saturday or on a back-up date, Starliner will carry two NASA astronauts, both former Navy test pilots, to the orbiting laboratory.

Pictured, a flag bearing the mission logo for Boeing Starliner's first crewed test flight, waving above at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, on May 3 2024, just days before the cancelled launch

Above, a NASA/Boeing artist's concept of the Boeing CST-100 Starliner as it would dock with the International Space Station (ISS), following a presumed successful launch Saturday

The leaking valve on the capsule is reportedly no larger than a shirt button and quite thin.

Officials compared it to a rubber washer used around the opening of a kitchen or bathroom sink faucet.

NASA and Boeing's teams said that the Starliner's service module has 28 reaction control system thrusters in total  designed to aid the crew in precisely steer their spacecraft for 'on-orbit maneuvering' near the space station.

Steve Stich, program manager for NASA's CCP, said he is confident 27 out of these 28 thrusters are working properly, free of leaks or other issues.

The highly anticipated and much-delayed manned test flight has come amid increased scrutiny on Boeing's more terrestrial, commercial aerospace activities, including Senate testimony from former Boeing quality engineer Sam Salehpour.

'Despite what Boeing officials state publicly, there is no safety culture at Boeing,' Salehpour told Senate investigators during open hearings last month.

Multiple models of Boeing passenger jets have faced door plug blowouts, mid-air engine fires, and two deadly crashes which killed 346 people, as the scandal-hit company also contends with its own plunging stock price amid the legal fallout.

But, with its Starliner, Boeing has hoped to one day compete with billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk's SpaceX for a larger slice of NASA's lucrative contracts.

The leaky 'pressure regulation' valve on the oxygen fuel tank, which led to this month's delays and safety reviews, was a component not in Starliner itself but in the Atlas V rocket that would launch the spacefaring capsule into orbit.

The Atlas V had been supplied by United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture between Boeing and fellow defense contracting giant Lockheed Martin.

Boeing's Starliner will take off for the ISS attached to the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida (pictured). The leaky 'pressure regulation' valve that led to this month's delays was a component not in Starliner itself, but in the Atlas V rocket

According to NASA, ULA ultimately 'decided to remove and replace' the valve on the oxygen tank, citing irregular fluctuations that appeared to be beyond correction.

But that process led to other reviews ahead of this second launch attempt, during which the team discovered the leaking helium valve on one of the Starliner's own thrusters, the space agency said.

NASA's associate administrator, Jim Free, expressed confidence during an open call with reporters last Friday, regarding the collaborative efforts to ensure the ongoing safety of the Starliner project's astronauts and other personnel.

'It's our collective job to ensure we can fly this test flight safely and successfully,' Free said. 'We're never moving too quick that we are compromising safety.'

Stich, the program manager for NASA CCP, noted that the weeks-worth of thorough safety tests and repairs are what had discovered this separate leak on the helium valve within the Starliner service module.

But this leak does not pose a danger for this mission, according to Stich. Enough safeguards and back-ups are in place, built into the surrounding systems to continue with the second launch, as he told reporters.

'I would say that the ascent timeframe is not going to put a lot of stress on this particular seal,' Stich said on last Friday's conference call.

'I would say the reason we're confident [includes] two different aspects of confidence in flying with the leak,' he noted.

'One, we characterized the leak through various pressure cycles and the leak is relatively stable,' Stich explained, adding that 'a couple of bounding analyses' and other tests of systems around the leak bolsters confidence that the system will hold.

Boeing, NASA and ULA have together spent 'the past couple weeks on testing for the Atlas V and Boeing's Starliner' according to NASA associate administrator Free.

The Starliner was supposed to liftoff last summer carrying two astronauts, but was delayed due to issues with the parachute and wiring systems. Pictured: Suni Williams (left) and Butch Wilmore (right)

Above, a 'crew access arm' pictured before it is swung into position allowing astronauts to board Boeing's CST-100 Starliner which has been positioned on the launchpad at Space Launch Complex 41 this week ahead of the NASA/Boeing Crew Flight Test

Two veteran NASA astronauts who have logged a combined 500 days in space over the course of two previous missions each to the ISS were selected to pilot Starliner for this first crewed flight: Barry 'Butch' Wilmore and Sunita 'Suni' Williams.

Wilmore is designated as the commander, with Williams as pilot.

Starliner is designed to fly autonomously, as in its maiden voyage, but the astronauts can assume control of the spacecraft, controlling those 27 thrusters if necessary.

And the planned test flight will include both Wilmore and Williams practicing their maneuvering of the vehicle themselves while on course for the ISS.

Once they arrive at the ISS, the two astronauts expect to spend a week with the resident crew: currently four US astronauts and three Russian cosmonauts.

Wilmore and Williams will then coast back to Earth for a parachute and airbag-assisted landing onboard Starliner somewhere in the southwestern desert of the United States - the first time the airbag system has been used for a NASA crew.

The flight would also mark the first crewed voyage to space using an Atlas since this famed class of rocket first sent astronauts, including John Glenn, on orbital flights for NASA's Mercury program in the 1960s.
Light from JADES-GS-z14-0 has taken around 13.5 billion years to reach us

NASA's James Webb telescope has found the most distant galaxy in the universe  giving an astonishing glimpse into the distant cosmic past.

Called JADES-GS-z14-0, the galaxy's light has taken around 13.5 billion years to reach us  so the light started its journey just 300 million years after the Big Bang.

The newly-found galaxy measures 1,600 light years across  meaning light takes 1,600 years to travel from one end of it to the other.

Experts say JADES-GS-z14-0 is 'remarkable for how big and bright it is', with vast amounts of light being produced by its young stars.

The $10 billion James Webb telescope  which can 'see back in time'  has also found the second-most-distant galaxy in the universe, called JADES-GS-z14-1.

Using the NASA James Webb Space Telescope, scientists have found a record-breaking galaxy observed only 300 million years after the big bang

James Webb's infrared capabilities allow it to 'see back in time' to the Big Bang, which happened 13.8 billion years ago. Light waves move extremely fast, about 186,000 miles (300,000 km) per second, every second. The further away an object is, the further back in time we are looking. This is because of the time it takes light to travel from the object to us

How does James Webb see back in time? Light needs time to travel across the vast distances of space to reach us. Although light moves extremely fast (about 186,000 miles per second), the vastness of the universe means light can take billions of years to get from one galaxy to another. When the light from a distant galaxy finally reaches James Webb telescope (which is positioned relatively near our sun), the light reveals a 'snapshot' of the galaxy as it appeared as it started its journey billions of years ago. In effect, James Webb can see back in time - potentially looking a galaxy that no longer exists. Advertisement

Brant Robertson, astronomer at University of California, Santa Cruz and co-author of a new study, called the discovery 'completely unanticipated'.

'It is likely to be seen as the most significant extragalactic discovery with the James Webb space telescope to date,' he said.

'This galaxy [JADES-GS-z14-0] is truly a gem, and it points at more hidden treasures in the early universe.'

James Webb telescope  which is in space orbiting our sun  is often described as being able to 'see back in time', and although it sounds fantastical, it really is true.

Because the universe is so vast, light from one galaxy can take billions of years to reach another galaxy.

When the light from a distant galaxy finally reaches us, the light reveals a 'snapshot' of the galaxy as it appeared as it started its journey billions of years ago.

In this case, the light from JADES-GS-z14-0  newly detected by the telescope  started its journey around 13.5 billion years ago, said co-author Dr Francesco DEugenio, astrophysicist at the University of Cambridge.

At the time, the distance between JADES-GS-z14-0 and where our galaxy (the Milky Way) would eventually form was only 2 billion light years.

Galaxy JADES-GS-z14-0 existed just 300 million years after the big bang (which happened around 13.8 billion years ago)

The James Webb Space Telescope orbits the Sun, 1 million miles away from the Earth at what is called the second Lagrange point or L2. When the light from a distant galaxy finally reaches James Webb telescope (which is positioned relatively near our sun), the light reveals a 'snapshot' of the galaxy as it appeared as it started its journey billions of years ago

But because the universe has since greatly expanded, the distance between JADES-GS-z14-0 and the Milky Way is now more like 34 billion years.

'If we were able to freeze time right now and put a ruler between us and GS-z14-0, we would measure a distance of approximately 34 billion light years  that's how much space has been added,' Dr DEugenio told MailOnline.

Around 13.5 billion years ago, the universe was in its infancy, according to the expert.

'Most of ordinary matter was in the form of cold gas,' Dr DEugenio said.

JADES-GS-z14-0, the galaxy's light has taken around 13.5 billion years to reach us  so the light started its journey just 300 million years after the Big Bang (which was 13.8 billion years ago)

How does James Webb know the light is 13.5 billion years old? Different chemical elements leave distinctive imprints on the light, at different colours. By decomposing the light of this galaxy into its constituent colours (a spectrum), astronomers can study the imprint of chemical elements on the light from distant galaxies. In JADES-GS-z14-0, there is a strong signal from hydrogen, the most common element in the universe. Dr Francesco DEugenio said: 'We know from laboratory experiments that this imprint must have been originally emitted in the far ultraviolet. 'Snce then, the expansion of the universe 'reddened' this colour to infrared wavelengths, where JWST can observe it. 'By comparing the observed (infrared) colour to the laboratory (ultraviolet) colour, we can infer how long ago the light was emitted. 'Amazing quality of JWST data makes this an unambiguous result; there's no question the light is that old.' Advertisement

'In some places, this gas was compressing and forming stars, i.e., the first galaxies, like JADES-GS-z14-0.

Most of this gas was chemically very simple, being composed of only hydrogen and helium (and traces of lithium).

'These were the only three elements in the primordial universe, while every other element like carbon, oxygen, iron, etc. was made in the core of stars and later disseminated inside and around galaxies by stars dying as supernovae.'

By the time light from the most distant galaxies reaches Earth, it has been stretched by the expansion of the universe and shifted to the infrared region of the light spectrum, which Webb is equipped to detect with unprecedented clarity.

Many of the most luminous galaxies produce the bulk of their light via gas falling into a supermassive black hole.

But the team says the large size of JADES-GS-z14-0 means that the light must be produced by young stars.

Astronomers first spotted JADES-GS-z14-0 in early 2023, but they needed further observations to be sure it really was a record-breaker rather than a 'confounding oddball'.

Meanwhile, the second-most-distant galaxy in the universe (JADES-GS-z14-1, at 33.6 billion light years away) is smaller in size.

'From its colours we can also say it's really a galaxy and not an accreting supermassive black hole,' Dr DEugenio said.

Over the last two years, scientists have used James Webb to explore what astronomers refer to as 'cosmic dawn'  the period in the first few hundred million years after the big bang where the first galaxies were born.

These galaxies provide vital insight into the ways in which the gas, stars, and black holes were changing when the universe was very young

Since coming online in 2022, the Webb telescope has ushered in a new era of scientific breakthroughs, peering farther than ever before into the universe's distant reaches.

It revealed its first set of images in July 2022, including a dying star cloaked by dust and a 'cosmic dance' between a group of galaxies.

Other astonishing images include the 'Pillars of Creation', Neptune's rings, a 'cartwheel galaxy' and a stellar nursery known as the Tarantula Nebula.
Microsoft's latest AI-powered tool is giving your computer a 'photographic memory'  but experts are concerned it could come at a cost to your privacy.

The new tool, called 'Recall', automatically takes screenshots of your laptop every few seconds that you can browse through later.

Microsoft says the screenshots are stored locally on your computer and can't be accessed by the tech giant's staff, or any remote hacker.

However, experts have shared concerns that it could be make it easier for people to get personal information from your device if it falls into the wrong hands.

Dr Kris Shrishak, an adviser on AI and privacy, called the tool a potential 'privacy nightmare'.

Microsoft is the latest tech giant to make its pitch for being the leading AI company, unveiling new PCs built around its Copilot AI assistant earlier this month

How does Recall work? According to Microsoft, Recall takes images of your active screen every few seconds. These snapshots are encrypted and saved on your PC's hard drive - and the company insists no-else can see them. You can use Recall to locate the content you have viewed on your PC using search or on a timeline bar that allows you to scroll through your snapshots. Advertisement

"The mere fact that screenshots will be taken during use of the device could have a chilling effect on people,' he told the BBC.

James Bore, tech expert at consultancy Bores Group, said the snapshot tool 'could capture information that might otherwise not be saved', like passwords, credit card details or login details.

If the laptop falls into the wrong hands, a perpetrator could 'gain access to the user's session and get the information'.

'The main thing for me would be making sure it's very easy to activate and deactivate, and ideally automating that deactivation as much as possible,' Bore told MailOnline.

However, Bore believes Microsoft when the firm says no-else can see the screenshots, as 'the consequences of lying about something like that massively outweigh any potential benefit'.

Recall is exclusive to Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft's new line of Windows laptops that's powered by its Copilot AI assistant, unveiled earlier this month.

According to Microsoft, Recall is intended to 'solve one of the most frustrating problems we encounter daily'  refinding webpages on a computer.

With Recall, users can locate the content they've viewed on their device using search, or on a timeline bar that allows them to scroll through the screenshots

With the tool, users can locate the content they've viewed on their device using search, or on a timeline bar that allows them to scroll back through the screenshots.

'With Recall, you can access virtually what you have seen or done on your PC in a way that feels like having photographic memory,' the tech giant says.

It adds that Recall can be turned on and off at any time, but the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said it is contacting Microsoft for more information on Recall's safety measures.

An ICO spokesperson said: 'We are making enquiries with Microsoft to understand the safeguards in place to protect user privacy.

Microsoft is the latest tech giant to make its pitch for being the leading AI company, unveiling new PCs built around its Copilot AI assistant earlier this month. Pictured, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella

'We expect organisations to be transparent with users about how their data is being used and only process personal data to the extent that it is necessary to achieve a specific purpose.

'Industry must consider data protection from the outset and rigorously assess and mitigate risks to peoples' rights and freedoms before bringing products to market.'

In response to the criticisms, Microsoft told MailOnline in a statement: 'We always appreciate the perspective of the security research community as we all work to protect the ecosystem.

'We built this feature with security in mind and have multiple layers of security in Windows to prevent compromise.

'We also leverage Windows encryption and access control technology to protect sensitive data against attack.

'We are committed to providing our customers with the information and resources they need to make informed decisions based on their preferences.'

Microsoft unveiled Copilot last autumn as it heralded 'entering a new era of AI' that changes how we 'benefit from technology'.

Earlier this year it was revealed Microsoft would be adding a dedicated AI button on its computers  and many users were not happy about it.

The new line of Windows laptops feature this AI button on the keyboard for quickly accessing the Copilot chatbot.
A Florida man has discovered the remains of a prehistoric monster that could be 10 million years old.

Alex Lundberg, 29, was diving with his friend near Venice Beach when he pulled a four-foot mastodon tusk from 25 feet below the surface.

The tusk turned out to from a mastodon - a distant relative of the woolly mammoth - that lived 10 million years ago, Lundberg said.

An expert at the Bradenton's Bishop Museum of Science and Nature verified the discovery which is considered 'super rare' because only prehistoric shark teeth and broken pieces of mammoth tusks are typically found in the area.

Lundberg will need to report his findings the Florida Museum of Natural History to determine if it has any scientific value.

Mastodon tusks that are typically only a few inches in length have sold for as low as $20 to $350, but Lundberg speculated that the value of his 60-pound tusk is about $5,000.

Alex Lundberg (left) was diving with his friend, Blair Morrow (right) near Venice Beach when he discovered a four-foot mastodon tusk

Alex Lundberg (pictured holding the mastodon tusk) said he hopes he can keep the fossil and was surprised it remained intact as he pulled it from the water

The part-time scuba diver and fossil hunter said it was surreal that the mastodon tusk didn't break apart when he removed it from the sea floor.

'When I first saw it I only saw a small strip of exposed in the sand,' Lundberg told DailyMail.com.

'When started fanning away the sand I saw the cross section of it and realized it was full tusk.

'We made a sling out of a beach towel and kind of hoisted it over the side of the boat,' he continued.

'It's absolutely surreal that it came up in one piece, didn't break apart at all.'

Lundberg has searched for fossils near Venice Beach for five years where the area is known for thousands of fossilized shark teeth that are estimated to be roughly 10 million years old.

However, although he previously told USA Today that the tusk was likely laying under the sea for 10 million years, Lundberg told DailyMail.com that he estimated 'the tusk is anywhere between 10,000 and 500,000 years old based on other fossils we've recovered from that area.'

Speaking about the tusk, Lundberg told Tampa Bay News: 'This is once in a lifetime, is what I've been told.'

The tusk (pictured) weighed about 60 pounds and is likely millions of years old

The mastodon lived 5.4 million years ago up until 10,000 years ago when it went extinct. It is a distant relative of the modern-day elephant

Mastodons are an extinct relative of modern elephants that were widespread across North America up until about 10,000 years ago.

The fossils are typically commonly found in well-preserved Pliocene age deposits from 5.4 to 2.4 million years ago and the subsequent Pleistocene age that lasted from 2.5 to 11,000 years ago.

Mastodon fossils including tusks, bones, and skulls are common in just four states across the US: Indiana, Colorado, California and New York - making its appearance in Florida incredibly unusual.

There are only about one dozen full mastodon skeletons that have been found in Florida, compared to more than 140 in New York State alone.

Lundberg said it may have taken so long to uncover the fossil because the Florida coastline had changed since the Pleistocene age.

'The sand is constantly shifting and exposing and covering new areas. Especially after cold front and big storms,' he said.

'Weve searched that spot for years before and we got lucky that day.'

The tusk was located about 25 feet below the water off the coast of Venice Beach, Florida

Alex Lundberg (pictured) will need to share his findings with the Florida Museum of Natural History which will decide if the tusk is scientifically significant or if he can keep it

'All paleontologists are looking for that kind of diamond in the rough,' Hunter Windham, an education specialist with Bradenton's Bishop Museum of Science and Nature told Tampa Bay.

'The great thing about Florida, especially if you're looking for animals that were around during the last ice age, is that the coastline extended way further out than today. So these animals were walking on dry land up to 50 or 60 miles out to the Gulf of Mexico relative to us today,' he added.

Lundberg will need to share his findings with the Florida Museum of Natural History after his Florida Fossil Collecting permit expires in six months.

At that time, the museum will decide if the tusk is scientifically significant or if he can keep it but he remains hopeful that it can stay in his family.

Mastodon fossils are typically commonly found in well-preserved Pliocene age deposits from 5.4 to 2.4 million years ago and the subsequent Pleistocene age that lasted from 2.5 to 11,000 years ago. Pictured: Lundberg's dog hovers over the mastodon tusk

'It's just been kind of rolling around on the ocean floor for at least the last 10 million years,' he told USA Today.

'Its scientific value is limited, it's just more of a cool display piece at this point.'

In a separate interview, Lundberg told Tampa Bay: 'I told my girlfriend, this tusk is going to go to our kids and our grandkids, like, this is a family tusk now. It's part of the family.'
The launch was called off on May 6 at the last minute due to a rocket glitch

Starliner is finally set to shuttle astronauts to the International Space Station

It's been more than 10 years in the making and cost Boeing more than a billion dollars.

But crisis-hit company's reusable spacecraft Starliner is finally set to shuttle astronauts to space for the first time this weekend.

As long as there are no more last-minute setbacks, Starliner will launch atop an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral in Florida at 12:25 EST (17:25 BST) on Saturday.

On board will be two NASA astronauts, Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, who will be transported to International Space Station (ISS) and spend about a week there before heading home.

The so-called 'crew flight test' (CFT) will be streamed live on NASA TV, available on YouTube and the agency's website.

Is Boeing's Starliner finally set to launch this time? Starliner is pictured here on May 30 atop a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket

On board will be two NASA veteran astronauts, Butch Wilmore (left) and pilot Suni Williams (right) who will spend about a week on the ISS

Boeing's Starliner: Key specs Manufacturer: Boeing Applications: ISS crew and cargo Launch mass: 13,000 kg Crew capacity: Up to 7 Diameter: 15 feet (4.56 metres) Design life: 210 days docked Advertisement

Famous for manufacturing commercial airplanes, Boeing has been under heavy scrutiny in recent months after a chunk of fuselage blew out of one of its new 737s.

The firm has been blocked from increasing production of the plane as it addresses ongoing safety issues.

It seems some experts are concerned about Starliner too, as one NASA contractor has warned the mission could be 'catastrophic' on the basis that the craft has sprung a leak.

However, Boeing seems confident that the launch will take place as planned on June 1.

On Thursday, Boeing posted a video on X of Starliner and its rocket moving into position at Space Launch Complex-41, Cape Canaveral, ahead of the launch.

In a statement on its website, Boeing said team members are now conducting the final checks and preparations for the crew flight test (CFT).

'These crucial hours leading up to the crew flight test (CFT) launch will involve a series of meticulous inspections and tests, demonstrating the precision and care taken to ensure the vehicles readiness and safety,' the firm said.

Starliner first reached orbit in 2019 and successfully docked with the ISS in 2022  but on both occasions there were no people on board.

The cone-shaped spacecraft can take seven passengers, but for this first crewed flight it's only taking two.

A crewed flight is a whole other order of magnitude in terms of safety and any failed launch could be catastrophic for the costly project.

After years of delays, Boeing's Starliner spaceship is finally set to ferry astronauts to the International Space Station on June 1, 2024, marking a crucial step for both the US aerospace giant and NASA's commercial outsourcing strategy. Pictured, May 30, 2024

In a statement on its website, Boeing said team members are now conducting the final checks and preparations for the so-called 'crew flight test' (CFT)

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft is pictured approaching the ISS in May 2022, during 'Orbital Flight Test 2' (no humans on board)

Starliner is lifted at the Vertical Integration Facility at Space Launch Complex-41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, April 16, 2024

Boeing's Starliner launches December 2019 First uncrewed flight. Reached orbit but failed to dock with ISS May 2022 Second uncrewed flight. Successfully docked with ISS May 2024? Tentative date for first crewed flight to ISS Advertisement

According to reports, Boeing has had to take nearly $900 million (700 million) from its earnings to cover the cost of Starliner including $410 million in 2020 but the project's total amount now allegedly stands at $1.4 billion (1.1 billion).

Boeing is one of three companies participating in NASA's Commercial Crew Program  an initiative to fly teams of astronauts to the ISS on behalf of the space agency.

Established it 2011, the program was intended for NASA to outsource the development of vessels that can perform the journey, rather than NASA engineers doing it themselves.

NASA awarded fixed-price contracts of $4.2 billion to Boeing and $2.6 billion to SpaceX in 2014, during a period when the US had to rely on Russian Soyuz rockets for rides to the ISS.

Elon Musk's SpaceX, so far the most successful member of the program, performed its first crewed launch to the ISS back in May 2020, using its Crew Dragon spacecraft.

SpaceX is due to perform its ninth crewed launch to the ISS for NASA in the summer  and will perform several more after this as part of the program  while rival Boeing lags behind.

Starliner's Crew Flight Test was initially scheduled to occur in 2017, but various delays pushed the launch of the mission to no earlier than July 2023.

Pictured, SpaceX boss Elon Musk with the firm's Crew Dragon spacecraft. NASA hopes to certify Boeing's Starliner as a second 'taxi' service for its astronauts to the ISS - a role that SpaceX has provided since 2020

Destination: Underside view of the International Space Station (ISS) in November 2021, which maintains an orbit approximately 250 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth

However, last July passed without any launch and in August Boeing confirmed a crewed launch won't be happening until March 2024 at the very earliest.

The flight was then pushed back to May 6  but the launch was called off with less than two hours left in the countdown due to a rocket glitch and rescheduled for June 1.

Boeing staff will be desperately hoping blast off actually happens this time and that the two astronauts reach the ISS safely.

The third contracted company is Sierra Space, whose 'Dream Chaser' vehicle can land horizontally on a runway like a traditional aircraft.

According to Sierra Space, which is based in Louisville, Colorado, Dream Chaser has just completed 'rigorous' tests at NASAs Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio.

It's been shipped to NASAs Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of its inaugural launch to the ISS, likely sometime this summer.

Even though the ISS is due to be commissioned at the start of next decade, NASA said it still wants two competing launchers that can ferry astronauts there.
Another major airport is set to ditch the 100ml liquid rule in time for the school summer holidays, but others are set to miss the June 2024 deadline.

Airports in the UK are getting ready to introduce new luggage scanners that will mean passengers no longer have to remove liquids and electronic items from their bags.

Current rules state that liquids can only be carried in containers of up to 100ml, and came into place in 2006 in the wake of a terror scare.

Bristol Airport has announced plans to ditch the rules, with its new scanners set to be rolled out by June 14, just in time for the summer school holidays.

This means tight restrictions around 100ml liquids will be scrapped, allowing travellers to take more with them when they travel both abroad and domestically.

The West Country airport has spent 11.5m on the new devices, with every British airline given the deadline of this summer.

Bristol Airport has announced plans to ditch the rules, with its new scanners set to be rolled out by June 14, just in time for the summer school holidays

It is hoped the new technology will shorten queues seen at airports. Pictured: Bristol Airport during the Easter getaway rush

Graeme Gamble, chief operating officer at Bristol Airport, told Bristol Live: 'We are delighted all customers travelling from Bristol Airport will benefit from state-of-the-art technology being introduced at security.

'The new equipment will reduce customer stress and inconvenience as the need for 100ml liquids to be placed in clear, plastic bags and removed from hand baggage will no longer be required.

'The new process delivers a much more customer friendly security operation using the latest technology and providing enhanced screening, allowing customers to keep personal items in their hand luggage.'

It follows Birmingham who earlier this week became the first major airport to scrap the 100ml liquid hand luggage rule in time for the half-term weekend.

The new technology will slash waiting times by allowing passengers to leave laptops and liquids in their carry-on baggage

Birmingham Airport will become the first major UK airport to implement the new scanners which will scrap the need for the 100ml liquid rule

Some smaller airports - London City, in the Docklands, and Teesside Airport in Darlington - have already installed the new technology, but the vast majority are yet to.

This means holidaymakers across the country will still face long waits at most major airports this summer, with London Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester unlikely to be ready to roll out the new scanners. It is understood they now have until June 2025.

Gatwick has said it hopes to have all remaining scanners installed by the first three months of next year, a time frame similar to that of Stansted and Manchester.

Luton and Bristol airports are aiming to follow Birmingham in introducing the scanners by June, with Bristol investing more than 10million in security equipment.

Several airports already have the technology installed in some security lanes, but have not yet implemented them across the board.

Under new plans, all UK airports will be kitted out with 3D scanner technology which can produce more detailed images, meaning passengers can pass through airport security with containers holding up to two litres of liquid in their hand luggage.

The new technology will work by allowing staff to rotate, tilt and zoom in on each 3D image, allowing them to better inspect the contents without passengers having to remove them from their bags.

A June 2024 deadline was previously set by the Department of Transport for all airports to introduce the new CT scanners, however almost none of the major travel hubs are likely to meet this date.

In 2006 police foiled a terrorist plot to bring down at least seven transatlantic flights with liquid explosives disguised as 500ml drinks bottles.

The Al-Qaeda bomb plot saw terrorists attempt to take home-made mixtures of chemicals concealed as ordinary drinks bottles onto a number of US and Canada-bound flights departing from London.

An immediate ban on all liquids except baby milk in carry-ons was put into effect in both the UK and the US, but was relaxed in November 2006 to the 100ml liquid limit.

Speaking of the innovative technology, Nick Barton, chief executive of Birmingham airport, told The Times: 'The existing scanner is like a large domestic washing machine.

'The new machines are the size of a Ford Transit.'
Alesha Dixon has made her long-awaited return to music with the release of single Ransom and an accompanying music video.

The single samples Jamaican reggae artist Ini Kamoze's track Here Comes The Hotstepper, and comes nine years after the release of her last album.

Produced by Supa Dups, the music video was shot in cities Port Antonio and Kingston in Jamaica, where Alesha's father Melvin hails from.

The Britain's Got Talent judge said: 'I wanted a sample that was super familiar. Known and loved by all races, I wanted to fuse my commercial persona with my roots, the music I grew up on and still love that is such a big part of who I am.

'Being in Jamaica feels like home and it has both a spiritual calm as well as a bass line thumping around every corner!'

Alesha Dixon has made her long-awaited return to music with the release of single Ransom, nine years after her last album (pictured in the music video)

The single samples Jamaican reggae artist Ini Kamoze's track Here Comes The Hotstepper, with the star sharing the challenges she's faced recording music as an independant artist

Alesha is no longer signed to a music label and spoke about the difficulties that brings.

She told The Sun: 'It's expensive putting out music. I'm an independent artist so it's a lot, energetically, for me to put myself back out there. At this point in my life and career, it's just about what makes me feel good.'

Alesha will perform Ransom at the last BGT semi-final on Friday.

Her last-released song was 2021's non-album single War and her last album was Do It For Love in 2015.

Do It For Love spawned inside the top 20 of the UK Independent Albums chart and also charted on the UK Albums and UK Album Downloads charts.

Since bursting onto the music scene in the early 2000s with ground-breaking girl group Mis-Teeq, Alesha has released a string of hits such as Breathe Slow and The Boy Does Nothing.

In addition to music and BGT, Alesha is an esteemed children's author.

Her latest book, Luna Wolf 2: Code Danger, continues to inspire young readers across the UK.

Alesha said: 'I want my girls to see their mummy on stage, to experience the joy and passion I have for music. I don't want to live with any regrets. This new project is all about authenticity and pushing myself beyond my comfort zone.

On Friday, Alesha will follow days of semi-final performances by the cast of musicals The Lion King, & Juliet, and Frozen, and Calum Scott.

Celebrating 25 years in London, the West End cast of feel-good musical MAMMA MIA! will be closing this year's series of Britain's Got Talent in style on Sunday at the grand finale.

Alesha, whose father hails from Jamaica, flew to the Caribbean country to film a stunning music video, which she dropped with the single

The Britain's Got talent judge is no longer signed to a music label and spoke on the difficulties that brings

She told The Sun: 'It's expensive putting out music. I'm an independent artist so it's a lot, energetically, for me to put myself back out there'

Alesha will perform Ransom at the last BGT semi-final on Friday. Her last-released song was 2021's non-album single War and her last album was Do It For Love in 2015

The West End cast is led by Mazz Murray, Kate Graham, Nicola Dawn-Brook and MAMMA MIA! I Have a Dream winners, Stevie Doc and Tobias Turley.

In each live semi-final, the most popular act, as voted for by the public, will head straight to the final, with a second act chosen by the judges from the second and third most popular public vote.

Each act will give the performance of their lives in a bid to win the 250,000 prize money and a slot in the Royal Variety Show.

Britain's Got Talent's last live semi-finals airs Friday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX. The grand finale will take place on Sunday 2nd June at 7:30pm.
THE SYMPATHIZER

SKY/NOW

Rating:

Heads-up: even if you didnt know you wanted one, heres a drama to make you think. The Sympathizer covers a slice of relatively recent history  the Vietnam War and its aftermath  that isnt our history and isnt told from an American perspective.

For those of us raised on Vietnam stories such as Apocalypse Now or Platoon, or even the satirical comedy of Tropic Thunder, this is a very different, refreshing take.

The thriller-cum-black-comedy-satire  not a description I use very often  is based on a Pulitzer prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, and was co-created and directed by the South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook (winner of 2022s Best Director prize at Cannes for his compelling romantic mystery Decision To Leave).

The Sympathizer stars Hoa Xuande (left) as a police chief known only as the Captain while Robert Downey Jr (right) plays four different characters, including the CIAs Claude

Mostly delivered in English with occasional subtitles, it stars Robert Downey Jr, fresh from his Best Supporting Actor Oscar in Oppenheimer, and Killing Eves fabulous Sandra Oh.

The rest of the cast is mostly south-east Asian with a relatively unknown Aussie actor of Vietnamese descent, Hoa Xuande, outstanding as our anti-hero: a police chief known only as the Captain.

We first meet him in a North Vietnamese re-education camp, under pressure to confess, before flashing back to South Vietnam a few months prior to the fall of Saigon.

Here, we discover that the Captain is a double agent working in cahoots with the US (Downeys CIA agent, Claude) while also passing information to the North Vietnamese Communist army.

It turns out that the Captain has a Vietnamese mother, a French father and a past as a student in California; its this tension that appears to inform his decision to betray, well... everybody.

By the end of the first episode, Saigon has fallen and in the emotional and physical chaos the Captain is en route to a new life in Los Angeles. At which point (not having read the book), I found myself very keen to know where on Earth  other than Los Angeles  we would be heading. And if I havent yet done enough to persuade readers that this could be your kind of telly, my apologies.

The Sympathizer is a show that needs a helping hand in that respect  especially, I think, for British audiences  however it will more than reward those viewers who want to embark on the journey.

UK writer Kathryn Flett (pictured) gave The Sympathizer a 4-star review

While I found the first episodes back-and-forth fairly hard to navigate (not to mention revealing of my ignorance of aspects of the war), by the second hour I was entirely hooked.

Each episode, incidentally, is almost a stand-alone chapter with its own tone; a device that will not only (cleverly) keep viewers on their toes but also keep them wondering what the scene-stealing Robert Downey will be doing next, because (heres the mild spoiler!) he plays four different characters, including the CIAs louche Claude.

Ultimately, though, despite ever-watchable Downey (Sandra Oh is terrific, too), its Hoa Xuandes show  and what a star he turns out to be.

Brilliant benedicts unmissable

ERIC

NETFLIX

Rating:

In this unmissable six-part thriller, Benedict Cumberbatch is brilliant as unlikeable New Yorker Vincent Anderson. Creator of a Sesame Street-style kids TV puppet show called Good Day Sunshine, Vincent is married to Cassie (Gaby Hoffman), father to nine-year-old Edgar (Ivan Morris Howe) and an alcoholic bully.

The first time Vincent lets his son walk to school alone, Edgar goes missing. The press is swiftly all over the breaking story  Vincents father is a wealthy NY property developer and philanthropist, and the prominent family are already at loggerheads.

Eric (pictured) is a giant furry puppet recalling Monsters, Incs Sulley

Meanwhile, Michael (Ozarks McKinley Belcher III)  the NYPD cop assigned to the investigation  has his own secrets.

Unfolding against the politics, corruption, social and sexual mores of the 1980s, the shows New York backdrop both looks and feels convincingly drawn; its written by the fantastic British screenwriter Abi Morgan (The Iron Lady).

And the debut appearance of the titular Eric  a giant furry puppet recalling Monsters, Incs Sulley  ensures that anybody who, perhaps, grew up the only child of warring parents (and retreated into their imagination in order to cope) will find this wonderful cliche-busting series powerfully moving, too.

Oh the joy of Jessica...

Stephen Merchants The Outlaws (BBC iPlayer) is back for a third series. I find its balance between humour  great one-liners are often thrown away  and wannabe thriller to be slightly skewed.

In The Outlaws, Jessica Gunning (pictured) plays Diane, the community payback officer in charge of a motley bunch of law-breakers

But its good to be reminded how brilliant Jessica Gunning (Baby Reindeers Martha) is as not-as-smart-as-she-thinks-she-is Diane, the community payback officer in charge of a motley bunch of law-breakers.

Travelogues in which fish-out-of-water celebs try local delicacies or hike while making arch observations to camera are predictable  and we got all this in the first of a new series of The Misadventures Of Romesh Ranganathan on BBC2.

But what made it interesting was that he was grappling with a country  Uganda  in which the cultural chasm between his beliefs and his hosts was more unbridgeable than the scenic Kyambura Gorge. Find out how he fared on BBC iPlayer.
'Bette Midler is a proud Jew and hates what Susan is doing,' an insider said

Susan Sarandon has alienated her Fabulous Four co-stars, according to sources

Susan Sarandon's hardline support for Palestine has caused drama behind the scenes of her upcoming film The Fabulous Four, DailyMail.com can reveal.

Tensions have flared between the actress and her co-stars, including Jewish actress Bette Midler, and the studio, who are 'furious' and unimpressed with her continued staunch pro-Palestine activism that has already landed her in hot water in recent months, according to close sources.

The comedy film, which stars Sarandon, Midler, Megan Mullally, and Sheryl Lee Ralph, is set to be released on July 26, by Bleecker Street.

The plot will follow three longtime friends who travel to Key West, Florida to be bridesmaids in a surprise wedding for their other close pal, played by Midler.

But despite playing a group of loving gal pals on screen, insiders tell DailyMail.com that the relationship between Sarandon and her co-stars was fraught on set after she persisted with her controversial campaign following her previous anti-Semitic remarks.

Susan Sarandon's pro-Palestine activism has caused a rift between her and her Fabulous Four co-stars, insiders tell DailyMail.com

Sarandon drew widespread outrage after saying Jewish people were 'getting a taste of what it feels like to be Muslim' after the October 7 attack, during a November 17 pro-Palestine rally in New York City (pictured)

'Bleecker Street is furious at Susan for the way she's been carrying on. So is Bette, who is a proud Jew and hates what Susan is doing,' a film insider told DailyMail.com.

'Sheryl is upset at her too, as is Megan Mullally, the whole crew and cast are. It's a mess.

'Her co-stars are disappointed that so many people worked so hard on it, and now Susan is ruining it for everybody.'

Sarandon has made headlines in recent months for her participation in several anti-Israel protests since Hamas's terror attack on Israeli civilians on October 7.

She drew widespread outrage in the weeks following the bombing when she claimed Jewish people were 'getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country.'

The Thelma and Louise star later apologized for her remarks but has since carried on with her very public anti-Israel stance.

The drama surrounding her controversial views eventually carried over on set, where the atmosphere became so frosty, it even saw the 77-year-old actress isolated from the rest her co-stars, according to the source.

There were 'no direct confrontations' between the four despite the tension, but the crew were told to keep Sarandon 'separate from the others'.

'Bette gave her the cold shoulder. The others, including Sheryl, were not thrilled with her either,' said the insider.

'Susan always had a crew member watching over to make sure she didn't sprout her vitriol.'

An inside source claimed Sarandon's continued activism has upset her co-stars, including Bette Midler, 'who is a proud Jew and hates what Susan is doing'

Sheryl Lee Ralph and Megan Mullally, who star alongside Sarandon in the upcoming film, are also said to be unimpressed with the actress

Sarandon, 77, was seen wearing a keffiyeh scarf as she joined Squad member Rashida Tlaib in a protest on Capitol Hill demanding for the US to stop 'funding genocide' in February

The insider continued: 'It was very tense. She said everyone else was kind with each other, but they definitely kept Susan apart from all.

'Susan did not eat lunch or dinner, or pal around with the other women, cast, and crew. She stayed in her trailer mostly.'

DailyMail.com has contacted Bleecker Street for comment.

The Fabulous Four began filming last fall, around the same time of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas.

Sarandon would spark widespread outrage just weeks later while speaking at a November 17 pro-Palestine rally in New York City.

'There are a lot of people afraid of being Jewish at this time, and are getting a taste of what it feels like to be a Muslim in this country, so often subjected to violence,' she said in a statement that would quickly draw backlash and be deemed anti-Semitic.

The controversy resulted in the Academy Award-winning actress being dropped by her Hollywood representative, United Talent Agency, which is run by Jewish CEO Jeremy Zimmer. UTA had represented Sarandon since 2014.

She later issued an apology calling the 'phrasing' of her remarks 'a terrible mistake'.

But the veteran left-wing activist has since continued participating in protests and rallies, reportedly joining in on chants 'from the river to the sea,' a battle cry used by pro-Palestinian activists and Hamas alike that many view as an anti-Semitic call for the destruction of Israel.

In a more recent incident captured on camera on April 24, Sarandon was heard denying the violent crimes that have been committed by Hamas against civilians amid the ongoing war, to an Israeli activist

Susan Sarandon is seen at a pro-Palestine rally in New York City in November. She attended another over the weekend, where she was seen chanting 'from the river to the sea,' which has been branded an anti-Semitic phrase that calls for the destruction of Israel

She later took to Instagram to issue an apology over her controversial and anti-Semitic remarks at the November 17 event

In a more recent incident captured on camera on April 24, Sarandon was heard denying the violent crimes that have been committed by Hamas against civilians amid the ongoing war, to an Israeli activist.

The woman, Keren Picker, can be seen approaching Sarandon the street and pointing out that Hamas has repeatedly turned down proposals for a ceasefire.

A defiant Sarandon replies: 'Do you know why? Because they're terrible deals.'

She then goes on to reference reports about 'babies in ovens' and 'rapes' in Gaza and branding them 'myths.'

Earlier this year Sarandon joined Squad member Rashida Tlaib at a protest on Capitol Hill, demanding for the US to stop 'funding genocide.'

She made a statement to members of the press during the February 15 event, organized by the left-wing anti-war women's organization CODEPINK, calling for a ceasefire.

'There's never been peace that's been attained through violence,' Sarandon said, ironically just three months after making her controversial remarks seemingly justifying the attack.

Sarandon arrived at Capitol Hill wearing a red keffiyeh scarf in support of Palestine.

'We have to have a permanent ceasefire and save the lives of all those people that are now just being shot at like fish in a barrel,' she said at the time.

Her demonstration comes after a $95billion foreign aid package was passed by the Senate including $14.1 billion for Israel's war against Hamas.
Richard Wilkins and his son Christian are exploring the intricate dynamics of celebrity family relationships in their new podcast The Apple and The Tree.

And their debut episode features none other than iconic Australian pop duo The Veronicas, who candidly discuss topics that are often considered taboo.

'Someone in the early days, I can't remember who it was, said "You wouldn't want to talk to (the Veronicas) about their mum",' Richard, 69, told 9honey.

Lisa and Jessica Origliasso's, 39, mother Colleen, tragically passed away in 2021 after battling progressive supranuclear palsy and Lewy body dementia.

And although many interviewers would shy away from the sensitive subject, the Wilkins men did not.

Richard Wilkins, 69, (left) and his son Christian, 29, (right) are exploring the intricate dynamics of celebrity family relationships in their new podcast The Apple and The Tree

'In the first 10 minutes we were talking about their beautiful mother, everyone's tearing up, it was just gorgeous,' Richard shared.

His son Christian, 29, emphasised the podcast's aim to foster a safe and friendly environment where famous families can open up about personal issues.

'A PR might be like, "Don't go there", but because they do feel safe, they're happy to talk about that,' the 29-year-old said.

Their debut episode features none other than the iconic Australian pop duo, The Veronicas' Lisa and Jessica Origliasso's, 39, who candidly discussed topics that are often considered taboo

Lisa and Jessica Origliasso's, 39, mother Colleen, tragically passed away in 2021 after battling progressive supranuclear palsy and Lewy body dementia and although many interviewers would shy away from the sensitive subject, the Wilkins men did not

Richard added: 'We want to get personal, but we've never abused the privilege. We've never crossed that line.'

The podcast will feature an episode with father-son duo Jimmy Barnes and David Campbell.

Blue Wiggles, Anthony and Lucia Field are also expected to join the series.

The podcast is streaming on 9Now, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
The Outlaws (BBC1)

Rating:

Stephen Merchant is a lucky chap. Despite a tight budget, his crime caper The Outlaws has welcomed back its A-list superstar  not Christopher Walken, of The Deer Hunter, but Baby Reindeer's Jessica Gunning.

When this ensemble comedy-drama, about a bunch of petty felons mixed up in a drugs heist, first aired in 2021, Gunning was a respected character actress, best-known for the supernatural Arctic thriller Fortitude.

But her role as demented stalker Martha in the biggest Netflix hit of the year has supercharged her career.

She now has every right to demand Oscar-worthy scripts and multi-million-dollar fees.

Merchant, who created The Outlaws, didn't need to be told she was his standout comic performer.

Despite a tight budget, Stephen Merchant's crime caper The Outlaws has welcomed back its A-list superstar  not Christopher Walken, of The Deer Hunter, but Baby Reindeer actress Jessica Gunning

When this ensemble comedy-drama, about a bunch of petty felons mixed up in a drugs heist, first aired in 2021, Gunning was a respected character actress, best-known for the supernatural Arctic thriller Fortitude

As the supervisor of a community service programme  part jobsworth, part fantasist  she is given all the best lines.

'Less attitude, more servitude,' she ordered the band of bumblers in high-viz jackets paying their debt to society.

'Crime costs, and here's your invoice.'

This time, she has acquired an acolyte, Stan (Harry Trevaldwyn). 'Stan is a homosexual, which does not matter,' she announced.

'Stan is also my protege, which is a French word for minion.'

'Isn't minion already a French word?' piped up Merchant's character, Greg.

Apart from Walken, absent without explanation, most of the gang are still working together, mucking out at a city farm in penance for minor legal infractions.

Gunning's insufferably pompous Diane is no longer a 'community payback officer'  she's been elevated to the heady heights of PCSO, or volunteer policewoman.

In Diane's mind, she's already an ace detective, like her heroines Cagney and Lacey.

FINGER-PICKING OF THE NIGHT We Are Lady Parts (Ch4), a romcom about an all-female Muslim punk band, featured a version of Don McLean's Starry, Starry Night, and Melanie's What Have They Done To My Song, Ma. It's a 1970s folkie revival! Advertisement

The fact she fails to notice a corpse wrapped in plastic and lying at her feet simply underlines the joke.

How the body got there is too complicated to explain, but it involves a lot of captions announcing that a scene is set '24 hours earlier' or 'six months later'.

For reasons unclear, The Outlaws has become much raunchier. Most of the female characters get sex scenes.

Eleanor Tomlinson, as the posh It Girl Lady Gabby, spends half her time in green silk undies with her tongue wrapped around her girlfriend's tonsils.

'I am hornier than a Viking's hat,' she declares. Whenever she comes up for air, there's a good deal of panting and moaning.

On the other side of the bedroom door, her flatmate Greg is on a video conference call, wearing pyjama bottoms below a jacket and tie.

Despite the new technology, this gag feels as dated as a Robin Askwith movie  Confessions Of Working From Home.

Jessica Gunning's role as demented stalker Martha in the biggest Netflix hit of the year has supercharged her career. Pictured: Gunning as Diane in The Outlaws

Rhianne Barreto as bookish student Rani is also hopping into hotel beds at the first excuse, but then, she's no longer the innocent naive of previous series... she's had a full personality transplant, in fact, and become an ice-cold psychopath who thinks nothing of stabbing a druggie henchman to death with a steak-knife.

They grow up so fast these days.
Dave Fishwick is reportedly joining the cast of Strictly Come Dancing 2024.

The Bank Of Dave star, 52, has allegedly signed up for the new series, which kicks off in September.

And finally making his 'dreams come true', Dave recently 'signed the dotted line to confirm his place after being a approached by BBC bosses earlier this year'.

Dave, who left school at 16 without any qualifications, has loaned more than 27 million to people and businesses since setting up a community bank.

According to The Sun, a source said: 'Dave is a real community hero and the best of British.

Dave Fishwick, 52, is reportedly joining the cast of Strictly Come Dancing 2024, which kicks off in September

And finally making his 'dreams come true', Dave recently 'signed the dotted line to confirm his place after being a approached by BBC bosses earlier this year'

'Strictly think his inspiring back story will win him new fans on and shine a spotlight on the amazing work he has done for people and business in Lancashire.

'Dave has told his friends he has accepted and cannot wait to get started. For Dave its a dream come true. He is a working-class man who did well for himself and decided to use his success to help others.'

His bank Burnley Savings and Loans, which is still going strong today, operated on a not for profit basis and all surplus money went to good causes.

From his desk at his small headquarters in Burnley town centre, Dave has loaned thousands of locals to cover everything, from funeral expenses to IVF.

The down to earth businessman's extraordinary life was recently captured in the recent biopic called Bank of Dave which trended number one on Netflix.

James Bond star Rory Kinnear played him in the feel good film which also starred Bridgerton's Phoebe Dynevor.

It's a captivating feel good story that caught the eye of Hollywood scriptwriters, who have turned Dave's battle with the banking giants into a big-budget biopic.

Speaking to the Mail Online previously, he said: 'People who rob banks go to prison, but banks who rob people get paid bonuses and get bailed out.

Dave, who left school at 16 without any qualifications, has loaned more than 27 million to people and businesses since setting up a community bank

A source said: 'Dave is a real community hero and the best of British. 'Strictly think his inspiring back story will win him new fans on and shine a spotlight on the amazing work he has done for people and business in Lancashire.

The down to earth businessman's extraordinary life was recently captured in the recent biopic called Bank of Dave which trended number one on Netflix (Rory Kinnear (centre) plays Dave)

'The truth is, we've been badly served by the banks in the past and we need change. Banks that are too big to fail are just too big to exist.'

'I like going home. I like my own bed, and being around family,' he says.

'When I've had a really tough day  and I've had plenty of tough days  I open my front door, I can smell apple pie, and my wife, Nicola, will have run me a bath with a bottle of beer there. What can be nicer? Burnley is where I'm from, where my pals don't care who I am, and rightly so.'
Whitney Port dropped in on Instagram on Thursday to share a new post with her 1.4 million followers.

The 39-year-old former reality television personality  who vacationed in Hawaii in March  displayed her svelte physique in a series of photos and video clips.

The mother-of-one showed off her abs in two stylish cream-colored bikinis as she reflected on the month of May.

In a caption, she wrote, 'Was going to do a best of May outfit roundup, then I just started choosing my favorite moments from May and here we are. Best everything of May. <3'

The first post in her carousel featured the entrepreneur strutting in a triangle bikini top with flower-like embellishments.

Whitney Port dropped in on Instagram on Thursday to share a new post with her 1.4 million followers

The 39-year-old former reality television personality displayed her svelte physique in a series of photos and video clips

She credited the designer of her swimsuit, as well as her fitness trainer.

'This @lareveche bikini that I wore in Mexico & and abs by @pilates_by_amanda @coreclubpilates,' she wrote.

Included in the selection of snaps was a capture of Whitney in a strapless blue dress.

'Wasnt sure about this dress when I tried it on but woah, I was wrong,' she added before tagging @lesuperbecalifornia.

The influencer also noted that she enjoyed a getaway to Mexico for a '@coreclubpilates retreat.'

In another clip that showed her walking down a sidewalk, the star wore a striped Zulu and Zephyr dress, calling it 'so comfy.'

She also gave a glimpse at her at-home beauty routine as she used an ice roller gifted to her by The Skinny Confidential.

Whitney additionally shared an image of her son Sonny, who will turn seven in July, writing, 'Crazy hair day for my little babe.'

The mother-of-one showed off her fashion sense as she reflected on the month of May

She also gave a glimpse at her at-home beauty routine as she used an ice roller gifted to her by The Skinny Confidential

The former MTV personality also listed @zuluandzephyr as the designer of her striped dress and @hatattachny for her purse

Whitney shared an image of her son Sonny, who will turn seven in July, writing, 'Crazy hair day for my little babe'

Port shares Sonny with her husband Tim Rosenman, 42, whom she married in 2015.

Last summer the LA native addressed fans' concern over her striking weight loss and vowed going forward, 'My health will be a priority.'

She shared that she was underweight, but not intentionally.

Whitney noted that she didn't let social media 'comments about looking too thin' bother her until Rosenman 'brought it to my attention, as a good husband should.'

'He said it's not just something strangers are spewing. He has been worried about me,' Port wrote via an Instagram Story at the time.
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Longtime partners Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale held hands as they arrived at the premiere of their new film Ezra in New York City on Thursday.

The couple have been together for nearly 12 years and live in the trendy Boerum Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn with their two sons.

But Rose and Bobby happily ventured to NYC's 57th street to attend a screening of the comedy-drama at the DGA Theater this week.

The Bridesmaids actress, 44, wowed in a sexy black dress with a sheer lace bodice.

Her jaw-length brunette hair was voluminous and she rocked a sultry brown eyeshadow look for the event.

Longtime partners Rose Byrne and Bobby Cannavale held hands as they arrived at the premiere of their new film Ezra in New York City on Thursday

The Bridesmaids actress, 44, wowed in a sexy black dress with a sheer lace bodice

Her hands were decked out with shiny silver and gold statement rings.

Bobby looked sharp in a fitted tan suit styled with a plain white T-shirt.

The Boardwalk Empire star, 54, threw on brown leather lace-up dress shoes to complete his red carpet outfit.

He sported a hint of stubble and his salt-and-pepper hair was softly combed back with gel.

Rose was caught gazing at Bobby lovingly during their time in front of cameras.

Directed by Scandal star Tony Goldwyn, Ezra follows divorced standup comedian Max (Cannavale) who ventures on a cross-country road trip with his autistic son Ezra (William A. Fitzgerald) as they're faced with 'crucial decisions' about the young boy's future, as per IMDb.

Rose plays Max's ex-wife Jenna in film, which hits theaters Friday, May 31.

It also stars Academy Award-winners Robert De Niro and Whoopi Goldberg. Other notable stars include: Vera Farmiga, Rainn Wilson and Geoffrey Owens.

The project is being distributed by Bleecker Street and the script was penned by screenwriter Tony Spiridakis.

Rose and Bobby happily reunited with their co-stars and the film's crew at Thursday's red carpet premiere.

They appeared in several group photos with Goldwyn, Fitzgerald, De Niro and Bleecker Street CEO Andrew Karpen.

Rose and Bobby have been busy promoting Ezra this week, which included a stop at The View on Monday.

Her jaw-length brunette hair was voluminous and she rocked a sultry brown eyeshadow look for the event

The couple have been together for nearly 12 years and live in the trendy Boerum Hil neighborhood of Brooklyn with their two sons

But Rose and Bobby happily ventured to NYC's 57th street to attend a screening of the comedy-drama at the DGA Theater this week

Bobby looked sharp in a fitted tan suit styled with a plain white T-shirt

During the sit-down, the couple provided rare insight on life at home with their two sons Rocco and Rafael by sharing how they try to 'resolve conflict' between the boys.

Bobby admitted to the show's hosts that it can be a 'juggle' because their kids were born just '20 months apart,' and despite rarely speaking about his personal life, he did divulge that he and Rose are trying their best to help their sons 'regulate' their emotions.

When host Sara Haines asked which one of them is the disciplinarian, Rose quickly replied: 'We rotate, it's a rotation,' before adding: 'I mean, like any parent you're always navigating every day with your kids and trying to understand where they're at and help them regulate and find out what inspires them.'

Bobby then said: 'I have three sons. Rose and I have two sons together and I have an almost 30-year-old son, so I have a lot of experience looking into these guys' eyes. It's funny, Rose just used the word "regulate" because that's a popular word right now in our house, trying to figure out how to get them to regulate... it's a lot of, "eyes here, eyes here please."'

The Watcher actor continued: 'It's just a juggle. Our kids are 20 months apart, so it's constantly dealing with competition and one will take one for a walk and the other one takes the other one to the other room and tries to conflict resolve that way.

'We just try to stay on the same page as much as you can and then talk about it, like probably most people do at the end of the night,' Bobby continued.

'You're sitting there and putting your cream on your elbows, "hey, what about that thing that happened"... that's me by the way!' he laughed as he imitated moisturizing his elbows before adding: 'And you do the recap at the end of the night.'

The Boardwalk Empire star, 54, threw on brown leather lace-up dress shoes to complete his red carpet outfit

Rose and Bobby happily reunited with their co-stars and the film's crew at Thursday's red carpet premiere

Tony Goldwyn, Robert De Niro, Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, Tony Spiridakis, and Bleecker Street CEO Andrew Karpen gathered for a group photo

Ezra hits theaters Friday, May 31

Rose and Bobby, who welcomed their sons in February 2016 and November 2017, are notoriously private about their family life.

But they did reference their boys in a December 2019 interview with Vanity Fair when they spoke about why they work together so often.

'It starts out as a very pragmatic thing,' Bobby said at the time. 'You have the kids, the kids are getting bigger, and you don't want to spend the time apart.'

The duo, who already refer to each other as 'husband' and 'wife' have just collaborated yet again and play a divorced couple in the new movie Ezra.

Referring to their latest film during his interview on Today on Monday, Bobby revealed: 'The nice thing about this is like we shot it here in New York and New Jersey, and the kids know where we are at all times when we're working together so that's nice.

'Our life is really just... aside from raising the kids, it's just scheduling, everything is scheduling. And so we try our best to really stay together, we always say, "We've got to keep the band together," so we take the kids with us wherever we go and we try and work here as much as we can.

'So whenever there is an opportunity to work together, we know that we're gonna have the kids close by and it sort of all revolves around that. But it's always a good time working with Rose, she makes me laugh like no one else.'

Directed by Scandal star Tony Goldwyn, Ezra follows divorced standup comedian Max (Cannavale) who ventures on a cross-country road trip with his autistic son Ezra (William A. Fitzgerald) as they're faced with 'crucial decisions' about the young boy's future, as per IMDb

. Rose plays Max's ex-wife Jenna in film

It also stars Academy Award-winners Robert De Niro and Whoopi Goldberg

However, the conversation took an awkward turn when Today host Craig Melvin attempted to probe Bobby about whether or not he and Rose would ever get married.

Craig said: 'I read that she gave an interview last year where she said, "The wedding is imminent, it's going to happen...,"' to which Bobby replied: 'She said that? I didn't see that interview.'

'Do you want me to read it to you?' Craig replied as Bobby fired back: 'Nah, that's alright!' before bursting out laughing and admitting: 'We're good,' as he shrugged his shoulders and glanced around the studio looking rather uncomfortable before adding: 'Yeah, sure.'

Craig clearly took the hint and said: 'Okay, alright,' before quickly wrapping up the interview and telling Bobby: 'Film looks good, again. Bobby Cannavale, always a pleasure.'
Kate Ritchie has a tough year - splitting with her boyfriend Chevy Black and dealing with the aftermath of a terrifying stalker ordeal.

But the former Home and Away star appeared happy as she stepped out to attend Nova FM's Singles Ball at Taronga Zoo on Thursday.

The radio host, 45, looked half her age as she led arrivals in an elegant yet glitzy black mini dress which feature a silver flower feature at the bust.

But it was the single she matched with on the night that really made Kate glow.

A handsome man by the name of Will asked Kate for a dance, which seemed to make her night.

Kate Ritchie (pictured) was matched with a handsome man called Will as she attended Fitzy, Wippa and Kate Ritchie's Singles Ball in Sydney on Thursday night

Kate, who late last year parted with boyfriend Black, looked smitten as she joined him on the dancefloor.

The radio star, who co-hosts Nova FM's Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie, was earlier approached by Will as he held a single red rose.

The video of the romantic moment was shared to the Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie Instagram.

Dressed in a chic black suit with a bow tie, Will looked nervous as he went up to Kate while she was talking with friends at a table.

The radio star, who co-hosts Nova FM's Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie, was earlier approached by Will (pictured) as he held a single red rose. The video of the romantic moment was shared to the Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie Instagram

The pair appeared to instantly hit it off

Giving her his rose, he introduced himself and the two left the table to get to know each other better.

Fans of the breakfast radio show went wild in the comments to the Instagram post.

'Awww he's a little bit cute. Good pick Kate. Australia's very own Will & Kate,' wrote one follower.

Kate looked half her age as she led arrivals in an elegant yet glitzy black mini dress with a gorgeous silver flower feature at the bust

'He's actually pretty nervous. Good on you mate! Go get her,' another remarked.

'Omg they are the cutest!! Please date him Kate,' wrote one more.

Earlier in the night, Kate arrived at the ball looking stunning in her sexy ensemble.

She showed off her slender pins in the dress which she paired with sheer hosiery

As she left her car she held a luxurious black coat with fur lapels.

She was also spotted warmly welcoming her co-anchor Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald with a hug as they entered Taronga's Gilli Rooftop.

Kate's potential budding romance comes after she called time on her relationship with boyfriend Black, nine months after they went Instagram official.

As she left her car she held a luxurious black coat with fur lapels

The pair, who would often put on on public displays of affection while out and about in Coogee, split late last year.

At the time, Kate fueled breakup rumours by sharing a reflective post to Instagram which captured her living her best life with a girlfriend, and no mention of Black.

The pair looked to be going from strength-to-strength after debuting their relationship in February 2023 with pictures of a romantic picnic.

She also boosted her height with a pair or patent black leather heels

Kate later took her romance to the next level by introducing Chevy to her mother Heather and daughter Mae.

However, by the end of that year, Kate was single again.

Novas Fitzy & Wippa with Kate Ritchie airs across Sydney every weekday from 6am to 9am.

She was also spotted warmly welcoming her co-anchor Ryan 'Fitzy' Fitzgerald with a hug as they entered Taronga's Gilli Rooftop
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Robert De Niro attended the premiere of his new feature film Ezra in New York City on Thursday  just hours after former president Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his hush-money trial.

Days earlier, De Niro, 80, had a heated exchange with a group of pro-Trump protestors, with a source telling DailyMail.com that he 'will never stand down' in speaking up against Trump.

He also declared at the time that Trump should 'absolutely' go to jail if found guilty.

And now, with Trump potentially facing time behind bars, De Niro looked in high spirits as he greeted his co-stars at Thursday's event at the DGA New York Theater.

He was photographed smirking while chatting with people on the red carpet before he made his way into the screening.

De Niro looked dapper in a relaxed, black blazer layered over a forest green polo shirt and dark blue trousers.

Robert De Niro attended the premiere of his new feature film Ezra in New York City on Thursday  just hours after former president Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his hush-money trial

He was photographed smirking while chatting with people on the red carpet before he made his way into the theater

Donald Trump is the first former president in U.S. history to ever be convicted of a crime. A New York jury found the ex-president and presumed Republican presidential nominee guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records and he will be sentenced on July 11; pictured Thursday in court

Later, he was also seen posing on the red carpet alongside his co-stars Bobby Cannavale, William A. Fitzgerald, Rose Byrne, as well as writer Tony Spiridakis and director Tony Goldwyn.

At one point, the Goodfellas actor had a cheery interaction with Spiridakis on the red carpet as they greeted each other and shook hands.

On the red carpet, De Niro was also seen joining Goldwyn, the Scandal actor-turned-director, and Spiridakis, the screenwriter behind Ezra.

For the premiere, Goldwyn, 64, looked handsome in a gray blazer with a subtle, green checkered pattern and matching, slim-fitting trousers.

Complementing De Niro's look, he also paired gray and green with a navy blue polo shirt, completing his look with shiny dress shoes.

Cannavale, 54, dressed sharp as he sported an oversize tan blazer with the matching trousers and a white T-shirt.

The Third Watch star donned shiny, lace-up oxford shoes.

On the red carpet, he also posed with his longtime partner, who also acted with him again as they starred as ex-lovers and Ezra's parents in the new film.

The real-life couple and on-screen partners were also seen holding hands, mirror each other's contagious smiles and staring sweetly into each other's eyes at the premiere.

Days earlier, De Niro, 80, had a heated exchange with a group of pro-Trump protestors , with a source telling DailyMail.com that De Niro ' will never stand down ' in speaking up against Trump

De Niro looked dapper in a relaxed, black blazer layered over a forest green polo shirt and dark blue trousers

At one point, the Goodfellas actor had a cheery interaction with Spiridakis on the red carpet as they greeted each other and shook hands

On the red carpet, De Niro was also seen joining Goldwyn, the Scandal actor-turned-director, and Spiridakis, the screenwriter behind Ezra

The trio had a funny exchange and shared a laugh together

The legendary actor wore another reiteration of his signature look, which comprises of slouchy jackets and low-key underlayers

For the premiere, Goldwyn, 64, looked handsome in a gray blazer with a subtle, green checkered pattern and matching, slim-fitting trousers. Complementing De Niro's look, he also paired gray and green with a navy blue polo shirt, completing his look with shiny dress shoes

Cannavale, 54, dressed sharp as he sported an oversize tan blazer with the matching trousers and a white T-shirt. The Third Watch star donned shiny, lace-up oxford shoes

For the special occasion, Byrne, 44, put on a glamorous display in a striking black gown with a sheer, lace bustier-style bodice.

The Neighbors star accessorized with large statement rings and wore sultry makeup look with a peachy gloss to complement her edgy-chic look.

Later, the couple joined some of their castmates Fitzgerald, De Niro and Ezra director Goldwyn for a group photo.

The group also brought in Spiridakis for a snapshot as they all showcased their wide grins.

Later, Fitzgerald jumped out of the group photo and Andrew Karpen, CEO of independent film company Bleecker Street distributing Ezra.

The comedy drama follows the story of a stand-up comedian named Max Bernal and played by Cannavale.

Max lives with his father (De Niro) as he struggles to co-parent his autistic son Ezra (Fitzgerald) with his ex-wife (Byrne).

When Ezra's parents are forced to confront difficult decisions about their son's future, Max decides to take his son on a cross-country road trip, which has a 'transcendent impact on both of their lives.'

On the red carpet, he also posed with his longtime partner Byrne

The pair, who have co-starred opposite each other before, play ex-lovers and Ezra's parents in the new film

The real-life couple and on-screen partners were also seen holding hands, mirror each other's contagious smiles and staring sweetly into each other's eyes at the premiere

For the special occasion, Byrne, 44, put on a glamorous display in a striking black gown with a sheer, lace bustier-style bodice

The Neighbors star accessorized with large statement rings and wore sultry makeup look with a peachy gloss to complement her edgy-chic look

Later, the couple joined some of their castmates Fitzgerald, De Niro and Ezra director Goldwyn for a group photo

The group also brought in Spiridakis for a snapshot as they all showcased their wide grins

Later, Fitzgerald jumped out of the group photo and Andrew Karpen, CEO of independent film company Bleecker Street distributing Ezra

Ezra received a special advanced screening in April hosted by Tribeca ahead of its premiere in theaters on Friday, May 31.

Peter Gallagher, 68, was also spotted in attendance at the premiere.

The Grace and Frankie star wore a deep blue, tweed blazer layered over a matching polo shirt. He also sported gray jeans with a brown leather belt.

He was later seen posing for a photo with Goldwyn.

Goldwyn was also seen with Claire Danes, 45, and Hugh Dancy, 48.

For the premiere, the four-time Golden Globe winner put on a chic display in a bomber jacket with dark teal, satin sleeves for her statement piece over her otherwise, all-black outfit.

Danes looked stunning as she modeled a black flowing blouse with wide-leg pants and sandal heels.

She accessorized with a chunky silver chain necklace and wore a bold pink lip.

Peter Gallagher, 68, was also spotted in attendance at the premiere. The Grace and Frankie star wore a deep blue, tweed blazer layered over a matching polo shirt. He also sported gray jeans with a brown leather belt

He was later seen posing for a photo with Goldwyn

Goldwyn was also seen with Claire Danes, 45, and Hugh Dancy, 48

For the premiere, the four-time Golden Globe winner put on a chic display in a bomber jacket with dark teal, satin sleeves for her statement piece over her otherwise, all-black outfit

Her husband of 15 years went for a business casual look as he sported a gray, V-neck sweater underneath a dark blazer. The Hannibal actor wore light khaki pants and completed his look with dark brown oxford shoes

Her husband of 15 years went for a business casual look as he sported a gray, V-neck sweater underneath a dark blazer.

The Hannibal actor wore light khaki pants and completed his look with dark brown oxford shoes.

For the premiere, actress Tara Westwood put on a sultry display as she modeled a plunging leather dress with a sheer pleated skirt and a floor-sweeping train.

She also donned tall, platform boots to match and carried a structured, leather clutch to complete her all-black ensemble.

For the premiere, actress Tara Westwood put on a sultry display as she modeled a plunging leather dress with a sheer pleated skirt and a floor-sweeping train.

In juxtaposition, Laila Robins, 65, sported a fun bright color as she rocked a seafoam green blazer with flared trousers.

The True Crimes actress wore a V-neck T-shirt underneath and also donned gold sandal heels.

Sophie Sumner, 34, was also seen in attendance at the Ezra premiere wearing a black denim jumpsuit with a strapless, corset-inspired bodice.

Danes looked stunning as she modeled a black flowing blouse with wide-leg pants and sandal heels. She accessorized with a chunky silver chain necklace and wore a bold pink lip

She also wore matching silver jewelry to go with her statement necklace

For the premiere, actress Tara Westwood put on a sultry display as she modeled a plunging leather dress with a sheer pleated skirt and a floor-sweeping train. In juxtaposition, Laila Robins, 65, sported a fun bright color as she rocked a seafoam green blazer with flared trousers

The model wore a pair of white booties in contrast and rocked a bold red lip.

Emma Myles, 36, wore a colorful paisley-patterned dress covered in bright florals and completed with a red bow around the waist.

The Orange Is the New Black actress wore red sandals to match and opted for a peachy, monochromatic makeup look.

Kathy Najimy, 67, also made a special appearance at the premiere wearing a black dress with flowing sleeves.

The Hocus Pocus actress and activist was pictured posing in front of a movie poster for the movie.

Scott Foley, 51, also attended the premiere to support his former Scandal co-star Goldwyn and brought along his 14-year-old daughter Malina.

The Scrubs actor sported a dark gray polo shirt with light-colored trousers at the premiere.

The New York City premiere comes amid De Niro's ongoing feud with Trump, but he appeared carefree as he joined his castmates at the event.

Sophie Sumner, 34, was also seen in attendance at the Ezra premiere wearing a black denim jumpsuit with a strapless, corset-inspired bodice. Emma Myles, 36, wore a colorful paisley-patterned dress covered in bright florals and completed with a red bow around the waist

Kathy Najimy, 67, also made a special appearance at the premiere wearing a black dress with flowing sleeves. The Hocus Pocus actress and activist was pictured posing in front of a movie poster for the movie

Scott Foley, 51, also attended the premiere to support his former Scandal co-star Goldwyn and brought along his 14-year-old daughter Malina

On the same day of De Niro's movie premiere, the jury also reached a verdict and found the entrepreneur guilty of all 34 counts.

Earlier this week on Tuesday, the Taxi Driver star held a news conference and spoke in front of a crowd at the Manhattan courthouse, the location of Trump's trial.

'The fact is whether he's acquitted, whether it's hung jury, whatever it is, he is guilty, and we all know it,' he said about the former president. 'I've never seen a guy get out of so many things, and we all know this. Everybody in the world knows this.'

When he was asked if he thought Trump should be in jail, De Niro replied: 'I sure do. Absolutely.'

Then, the actor squared off with Trump supporters outside the former president's hush money trial too.

After calling him a 'clown' who wants to 'destroy the world,' a group of protestors started heckling him and chanting: 'Your movies suck!'

The altercation also stirred a response from the former president himself as Donald Trump called De Niro a 'wacko' and ridiculed him using an AI deepfake video.

Ahead of the Ezra premiere, a source told DailyMail.com that De Niro 'will never stand down' against Trump despite facing fury from his supporters.

The movie star is not worried about the 'haters' who 'spewed vulgarities' at him and is 'more than confident' his rants against the former president will not stop him from finding work in Hollywood.

The insider also said De Niro plans to 'continue to fight for his convictions.'

'He has done so much in Hollywood that if anyone didn't want him on a project because of his political beliefs, he wouldn't want to be on the set anyway.

'He's 80 years old, he has his beliefs, and he is set in the way he runs his life. Not that anyone is, but nobody should ever feel bad about him career-wise moving forward because he is happy with how it has turned out and will continue to be.'

They added that Robert wasn't worried about retaliation from MAGA fans, and that he felt 'living in fear' would 'result in them winning in his eyes.'
Teresa Giudice, 52, took her Instagram story to share snaps of her daughter Milania's pre-prom celebration alongside her date and friends on Thursday.

The 18-year-old star  who recently crashed her brand new $60K Mercedes in New Jersey  looked like her Real Housewives of New Jersey matriach after major makeover for school prom.

Her floor-length off-the-shoulder white gown was decorated in sparkly beading and fringe on the shoulder straps as it hugged her petite frame.

She paired the look with white heels and shimmering chandelier earring as well as silver rings and bracelets.

Milania's big bouncy brunette locks were parted to the side and lightly curled while posing up a storm with her hand on her hip.

Teresa Giudice , 52, took her Instagram story to share snaps of her daughter Milania's pre-prom celebration alongside her date and friends on Thursday. The 18-year-old star  who recently crashed her brand new $60K Mercedes in New Jersey  looked like her Real Housewives of New Jersey matriach after major makeover for school prom

The Bravo star's date, Christian, rocked a black suit and tie with his wavy locks parted down the middle.

The pair snapped photos in front of a massive collection of balloons that read 'Prom.'

They smiled while putting on one another's pin and corsage before heading to the dance.

Milania's close friends and their parents tagged along for the special pre-prom celebration held at the Giudice residence.

Teresa also shared clips of the cookies, sodas, sandwiches and snacks she had prepared for her daughter and her closest pals.

As the school year come to a close, Milania has officially decided to attended the University of Tampa.

The star's famous mother decorated her home with the school colors and merchandise.

'Congratulations on the University of Tampa! I love you so much and I am so proud of you! I cant wait to see what you accomplish within your four years, make mommy proud,' Teresa wrote in her dedicated post.

In the two snaps the mother and daughter duo were sat side-by-side on a bed adorned with red, black, white and grey balloons.

Countless hoodies and other merch items were also pictured in font of them

Teresa shares Milania with ex-husband Giuseppe 'Joe' Giudice, 51. They are also parents to Gia, 23, Gabriella, 19, and Audriana, 14.

Her floor-length off-the-shoulder white gown was decorated in sparkly beading and fringe on the shoulder straps as it hugged her petite frame

Teresa took her Instagram story to share snaps of her daughter Milania's pre-prom celebration alongside her date and friends on Thursday

The 18-year-old reality star reality star  who recently crashed her brand new $60K Mercedes in New Jersey  looked radiant in a white off the shoulder gown with a long slit

The Bravo star's date, Christian, rocked a black suit and tie with his wavy locks parted down the middle

The pair snapped photos in front of a massive collection of balloons that read 'Prom'

The mother-daughter duo have always been close and are each other's so-called 'best friend'

As the school year come to a close, Milania has officially decided to attended the University of Tampa; Teresa and Milania pictured on May 20, 2024

Teresa shares Milania with ex-husband Giuseppe 'Joe' Giudice, 51. They are also parents to Gia, 23, Gabriella, 19, and Audriana, 14; Teresa, Milania and Joe pictured on January 16, 2024

The Giudice family had a reunion of sorts this past December when Teresa and her husband Luis 'Louie' Ruelas traveled with all four of her daughters to the Bahamas to meet up their father for a holiday celebration, as reported by People.

Joe and Teresa ended up separating after they both served prison time on federal fraud charges.

After Joe finished up 41 months in prison he was deported to his native Italy in 2019, even though he lived nearly his entire life in the U.S.

The former couple subsequently divorced in 2020 and then Joe moved to the Bahamas, where his daughters take turns visiting him.
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Claire Danes cozied up to husband Hugh Dancy on Thursday evening at the Ezra premiere in New York City.

The 45-year-old actress and her actor beau, 48, kept close on the red carpet as they posed for photos.

Danes, who welcomed a baby girl with her partner last summer, looked radiant during the rare date night.

The former My So Called Life star was clad in a sleek, black, wide-leg jumpsuit that she topped with an elevated black track jacket.

Each side of the collar was adorned with a silver-toned brooch, and the mother-of-three added a coordinating chain link necklace.

Claire Danes cozied up to husband Hugh Dancy on Thursday evening at the Ezra premiere in New York City

The 45-year-old actress and her actor beau, 48, kept close on the red carpet as they posed for photos. Danes, who welcomed a baby girl with her partner last summer, looked radiant during the rare date night

Claire's straight, blonde, shoulder-grazing locks were styled in a side part with one portion tucked behind her ear.

Her face was aglow in a palette of soft, pink-toned makeup that served to accentuate her signature features.

The beauty, who began her career as a child actor, complemented her getup with small silver-toned earrings and matching rings.

She flashed a glossy red pedicure in her open-toe black heels, which peeked out from under her floor-sweeping trousers.

For his part, Hugh looked spiffy in khaki pants, a dark gray V-neck sweater, black blazer, and chestnut brown dress shoes.

His full, dark, gray-speckled beard was neatly trimmed and his hair was cropped above his ears.

Danes and Dancy tied the knot in 2009 and in addition to their nearly one-year-old daughter  whose name has not been revealed  they share sons Cyrus, 11, and Rowan, six in August.

They announced they were awaiting the arrival of their third child in January 2023.

The former My So Called Life star was clad in a sleek, black, wide-leg jumpsuit that she topped with an elevated black track jacket

The couple posed with actor and Ezra director Tony Goldwyn, who looked great in a patterned gray suit

The couple posed with actor and Ezra director Tony Goldwyn, who looked great in a patterned gray suit

The couple posed with actor and Ezra director Tony Goldwyn, who looked great in a patterned gray suit.

Also in attendance at the star-studded affair was Robert De Niro, who stars in Ezra alongside Bobby Cannavale, Goldwyn, and Rose Byrne, among others.

The 80-year-old Hollywood vet appeared to be in good spirits as he greeted his co-stars at Thursday's event at the DGA New York Theater.

He was photographed smirking while chatting on the red carpet before he made his way into the screening.

De Niro looked dapper in a relaxed, black blazer layered over a forest green polo shirt and dark blue trousers.

He rounded out the look with a pair of matte black leather loafers.

The Goodfellas sensation was clean-shaven for the screening and his white-gray hair was cut short.

Robert plays a character named Stan in the Bleeker Street dramedy, which premieres in theaters on May 31.

Also in attendance at the star-studded affair was Robert De Niro. The 80-year-old Hollywood vet appeared to be in good spirits as he greeted his co-stars at Thursday's event at the DGA New York Theater

De Niro looked dapper in a relaxed, black blazer layered over a forest green polo shirt and dark blue trousers

The Goodfellas sensation was clean-shaven for the screening and his white-gray hair was cut short. He was photographed smirking while chatting on the red carpet before he made his way into the screening

Robert fielded questions from a reporter on the red carpet

Goldwyn and De Niro with Tony Spiridakis, who wrote the script for Ezra

The trio engaged in lively conversation on the red carpet

Ezra follows a stand-up comedian named Max (played by Cannavale) as he confronts his personal challenges while raising a son with autism (played by William A. F Fitzgerald).

Max co-parents with his ex-wife (played by 44-year-old Byrne) and father (played by De Niro).

Bobby, 54, looked typically handsome and fashion-forward in a beige suit and crew neck white shirt.

He punctuated the getup with shiny black dress shoes and sported a very light shadow of a beard.

His full head of salt and pepper hair was cut short on the sides, with the top kept in longer tufts.

The New Jersey-bred actor made a splashy appearance on the red carpet with longtime partner Rose.

The silver screen siren, who hails from Australia, was dressed in a sleeveless black dress with a lacy bodice that teased her cleavage.

Bobby, 54, looked typically handsome and fashion-forward in a beige suit and crew neck white shirt

The New Jersey-bred actor made a splashy appearance on the red carpet with longtime partner Rose. The silver screen siren, who hails from Australia, was dressed in a sleeveless black dress with a lacy bodice that teased her cleavage

Rose had the look of love on her face as she gazed up at Bobby

Byrne also flashed her taut tummy in the sheer look, which boasted mini skirt underneath a long, flowy skirt overlay.

She beamed as she posed for cameras in front of the event's step-and-repeat backdrop.

The Bridesmaids star looked glamorous with her blonde highlighted bob haircut arranged in a side part and wispy waves.

Her visage was aglow in warm-toned makeup that included a subtle smoky eye, blush, and a glossy pink finish on her pout.

The longtime entertainer flaunted a short, brick red manicure as she donned multiple chunky statement rings.

The script for Ezra was penned by Tony Spiridakis, who has a son  director Goldwyns godson  with autism.

It was important to Goldwyn, per Yahoo, to cast a boy who is on the autism spectrum in real life.

The lovebirds have been romantically involved since 2012

The Bridesmaids star looked glamorous with her blonde highlighted bob haircut arranged in a side part and wispy waves

L-R Robert De Niro, Rose Byrne, William A. Fitzgerald, Bobby Cannavale, Tony Goldwyn, and Tony Spiridakis

Of performing his breakout role, 15-year-old Fitzgerald confessed, 'It didnt really feel that hard'

Ezra follows a stand-up comedian named Max (played by Cannavale) as he confronts his personal challenges while raising a son with autism (played by William A. Fitzgerald); L-R Goldwyn, De Niro, Cannavale, Byrne, Spiridakis, and Bleeker Street CEO Andrew Karpen

'There was not one moment when we considered casting a neurotypical actor to play Ezra,' the director told the publication.

He added, 'Tony wrote the script. It was inspired by his relationship with his own autistic son, and so we knew we had to do that.'

Of performing his breakout role, 15-year-old Fitzgerald confessed, 'It didnt really feel that hard.'

He explained, 'Seeing how 90% of the time I have scenes with Bobby, we had a little script system called "Be With Bobby," and that kind of kept me on my feet. It was like a "Be With Your Scene Partner" system.'

Cannavale emphasized, 'You cant go wrong if you just be with the person.

'Sometimes actors make it more difficult than it actually is. If you do your homework, you should just be able to just be and live with the person and be in the space. And thats harder than it looks sometimes, but this guys like a pro.'

Actor Scott Foley, 51, was joined by 14-year-old daughter Malina

Actress Laila Robins, 65, turned heads in a mint green pantsuit

Actress Tara Westwood wore a plunging black look and added combat boots. Meanwhile, model Sophie Sumner arrived at the premiere in a strapless black jumpsuit with sparkly stitching

In addition to directing the movie, Tony also plays Byrne's boyfriend in the film.

And as he reflected on casting Fitzgerald as the son in the film, Goldwyn said: 'You just know when you see it sometimes.'

He pointed out that shoots can be particularly difficult for neurodivergent actors as he shared, 'Every person on the autism spectrum has certain sensitivities and certain things theyre comfortable with and uncomfortable with, as everyone does, but even more so if youre autistic.

'And we knew we were going to accommodate that,' he explained, noting that there was an autism casting consultant named Elaine Hall who had a hand in finding Fitzgerald.
Jessica Hart has flaunted her incredible post-baby body in a series of sizzling photos.

The Australian model, 38, took to Instagram on Thursday with a photoshoot from Miami, Florida.

Showing off her slender frame, the blonde beauty, who welcomed her second child Glorious in 2022, posed by a pool in a black Victoria's Secret bikini.

One picture showed the Sydney-born supermodel, who now lives in the US, descending into a pool with her head back revealing her eye-popping assets.

In another image, the mother-of-two is seen walking along a seaside and hanging off a palm tree while showing off plenty more tanned flesh.

Jessica Hart has flaunted her incredible post-baby body in a series of sizzling photos. The Australian model, 38, took to Instagram on Thursday with a photoshoot from Miami, Florida. Pictured

The blonde beauty, who welcomed her second child Glorious in 2022, showed off her slender frame as she posed in a black Victoria's Secret bikini

In the caption, she wrote 'Ready.For.Summer!' followed by the hashtags '#bringit' and '#miami.'

Jessica's fans went wild in the comments, praising her 'perfect' and 'stunning' figure.

'So stunning girl,' wrote one, while another said, 'The definition of perfection.'

In the caption, she wrote 'Ready.For.Summer!' followed by the hashtags '#bringit' and '#miami.' Jessica's fans went wild in the comments, praising her 'perfect' and 'stunning' body

'She's back,' said another, while someone else remarked, 'Hope you have the best summer ever, beautiful.'

'Your body shape is beyond description,' gushed another fan.

Jessica is currently based in Los Angeles with her NASCAR driver fiance James Kirkham, with whom she shares two children.

Jessica commemorated Glorious' birth with a heartfelt Instagram tribute after giving birth to him in February 2022.

Glorious is Jessica's second child with her fiance, who also has an eight-year-old daughter, Wren, from a previous relationship.

Jessica is currently based in Los Angeles with her NASCAR driver fiance James Kirkham, with whom she shares two children. Pictured: James and Jessica with James' daughter Wren, and their first child Baby

The former Victoria's Secret model announced her she was expecting her second child in June 2021, confirming she was six weeks pregnant.

Her happy announcement came just seven months after she and James welcomed their daughter.

The lovebirds made headlines when they named their little girl Baby, after the popular character from 1980s film, Dirty Dancing.

'My legal name is Jessica-Rae after my mother Rae and I wanted Baby to have something relating to me in her name as, naturally, she takes Kirkham as a last name,' she told her fans.
Model and TV personality Rachael Finch appeared downcast on Friday after fiercely defending herself against critics who slammed her behaviour at her daughter's recent school cross-country race.

Rachael raised eyebrows last Friday when she uploaded a video of herself jogging behind daughter Violet, eight, while screaming words of encouragement as she competed against her peers.

The Miss Universe Australia winner-turned-fitness influencer looked in low spirits as she stepped out the front of her Sydney home.

The mother-of-two was makeup free and dressed down in a turtleneck jumper and a pair of tight leggings that showcased her enviable figure.

She completed the casual look with white socks and Nike slides, while her brunette locks were slicked back into a bun.

Model and TV personality Rachael Finch appeared downcast on Friday after fiercely defending herself against critics who slammed her behaviour at her daughter's recent school cross-country race

Rachael responded to those who criticised her approach to parenting in an Instagram video on Thursday and insisted she was just 'motivating her child to do her best'.

'Just a quick message to anyone wanting to criticise or personally attack me for wanting to support, encourage and motivate my child to do the very best that she can do,' she said.

'Just a couple of things. One, check your facts. And two, check back in eight or so years when Violet is an adult to see the progress.'

The Miss Universe Australia winner-turned-fitness influencer looked in low spirits as she stepped out the front of her Sydney home

Popular influencers Amy, Kate and Sophie Taeuber took aim at the mummy blogger on their Outspoken podcast earlier this week.

'I first saw people talking about this online before seeing the video, and at first I was like, "Oh, she's probably just one of those supportive parents." But this was the next level,' one sister said.

'I don't understand how this school let her run behind her child during the race. Surely it would have been really off putting for the other kids?' another agreed.

The mother-of-two was makeup free and dressed down in a turtleneck jumper and a pair of tight leggings that showcased her enviable figure

Rachael raised eyebrows last Friday when she uploaded a video of herself jogging behind daughter Violet, eight, while screaming words of encouragement as she competed against her peers

Rachael responded to those who criticised her approach to parenting in an Instagram video on Thursday and insisted she was just 'motivating her child to do her best'. Pictured with her daughter Violet and son Dominic

One sister pointed out that there would have been plenty of children running behind Rachael, given that Violet placed 12th out of 100.

'Can you imagine the other mums there seeing this? [They'd be asking], "Why the hell is she allowed at the school on the course?"' another added.

While the triplets commended Rachael for showing interest in her daughter's school activities, they claimed her behaviour that day 'seemed a bit odd'.

'Just a quick message to anyone wanting to criticise or personally attack me for wanting to support, encourage and motivate my child to do the very best that she can do,' she said

Popular influencers Amy, Kate and Sophie Taeuber took aim at the mummy blogger on their Outspoken podcast earlier this week

'It seems like she's vicariously living through her child because this seemed to be one of her dreams,' one podcaster said, as another agreed: 'Oh, it was very difficult to watch.'

One sister insisted: 'I would be pretty p**sed off if I was a parent at this school.

'[Imagine if] I'm very excited for my child to be competing in this race, but I'm thinking, "Well, no wonder my child didn't do so well when they've got the advantage of having their mum there breathing down their neck, telling them to keep going."'
Terri Irwin has opened up about whether she will date again after tragically losing her husband Steve Irwin in 2006.

Terri, 59, insisted she has no plans to get back into the dating market as she sweetly described her relationship with her late husband as her 'happily ever after'.

'I totally got my happily ever after,' the American-Australian conservationist told Us Weekly earlier this month, before attending the Steve Irwin Gala in Las Vegas.

She said no man could measure up to the late Crocodile Hunter, who died in Queensland at the age of 44 after a stingray lodged its barb in his chest.

'While there are a lot of wonderful men in the world, can you see another Steve Irwin? I just can't,' Terri said.

Terri Irwin has opened up about whether she will date again after tragically losing her husband Steve Irwin in 2006

She said no man could measure up to the late Crocodile Hunter, who died in Queensland at the age of 44 after a stingray lodged its barb in his chest

'I'd be like, "I love that you're a librarian and the Dewey Decimal System is cool, but I got to go jump a crocodile and do that." Forget that,' she added.

Terri was married to zookeeper Steve for 14 years before his tragic death in September 2006 and they share two kids, daughter Bindi, 25, and son Robert, 20.

His two children, who work with Terri at Australia Zoo, stepped out in Las Vegas earlier this month to honour their late father at a charity gala.

On May 11, they joined their mother at the Bellagio Resort & Casino to attend the Steve Irwin Gala to support the Wildlife Warriors conservationist organization.

The money raised at the fundraiser will help to find Steve's 'conservation work worldwide', according to the family's website.

Terri was married to zookeeper Steve for 14 years before his tragic death in September 2006 and they share two kids, daughter Bindi, 25, and son Robert, 20

On May 11, Robert and Bindi joined their mother at the Bellagio Resort & Casino to attend the Steve Irwin Gala to support the Wildlife Warriors conservationist organization

The exclusive event featured a 'khaki deck' ballroom, a live auction and 'roving animals'.

Dress code was 'black tie with a 'touch of khaki' and guests were treated to three-course meal.

The Aussie family have decided themselves to raising awareness for conservation and continuing Steve's legacy.

Steve was killed when he was barbed by a stingray on September 4, 2006, at Batt Reef near Port Douglas in far north Queensland.

The tragic news sent shockwaves across Australia and around the world as his fans grieved the tragic loss.
Eric Dane was every inch a proud father while bringing his daughters along to the premiere of his latest film Bad Boys: Ride or Die on Thursday.

The 51-year-old Euphoria actor  who likes to spend quality time with his daughter when not on set  stars in the film alongside veteran actors Will Smith and Martin Lawrence.

He rocked a black button up and black dress pants paired with dark loafers and a blue tee while posing up a storm.

His signature buzzed silver hair and trimmed goatee were in full display as he put his arms around his teenage daughters.

The Grey's Anatomy star is set to play the role of the villain as a rogue banker in the film when it hits theatres on June 5.

Eric Dane was every inch a proud father while bringing his daughters along to the premiere of his latest film Bad Boys: Ride or Die on Thursday

The actor, 51, rocked a black button up and black dress pants paired with dark loafers and a blue tee while posing up a storm

His oldest daughter, Billie, 14, looked like mom Rebecca Gayheart's mini me.

She wore her blonde locks in defined curls and let her face framing pieces fall out.

She accessorized with a dainty gold necklace and various silver rings while she carried a black purse.

Her younger sister, Georgia, 13, chose a black top and skirt.

Also walking the carpet at the Bad Boys: Ride or Die premiere were actors Will Smith, Martin Lawrence and Angela Simmons.

In the fourth installment of the Bad Boys franchise, Smith plays Detective Mike opposite of Lawrence who acts as Marcus Miles.

Eric shares his two teenage daughter with ex-wife Rebecca Gayheart who he married back in 2004.

Rebecca filed for divorce from Eric in 2018 yet the split was never finalized. She has kept his last name on her Instagram account.

His oldest daughter, Billie, 14, looked like mom Rebecca Gayheart's mini me

Her younger sister, Georgia, 13, chose a black top and skirt

Eric shares his two teenage daughter with ex-wife Rebecca Gayheart who he married back in 2004; Seen on June 03, 2017 in Brentwood

Rebecca filed for divorce from Eric in 2018 yet the split was never finalized. She has kept his last name on her Instagram account; Rebecca, Eric, Billie and Georgia seen on June 11, 2016 in Brentwood

However, Eric and Rebecca have fans holding out hope for the pair to get back together after being spotted together on multiple occasions.

The exes were seen holding hands during a trip to Cabo with their children in January, almost five years after filing for divorce following 14 years of marriage.

They first raised eyebrows over the summer when they fueled reconciliation rumors by posting snaps from their family trip to France.
Nearly 20 years after they starred in an outrageous TV movie musical, Neve Campbell and brother Christopher reunited on the Reefer Madness red carpet.

Neve, 50, who was spotted getting dinner in Santa Monica recently, hit the red carpet at The Whitley in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Neve starred as Miss Poppy in the Showtime TV musical movie, which debuted in April 2005, while her brother Christian, 52, played Jimmy Harper.

Christian is now one of the producers on this new limited eight-week engagement, which commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Showtime film.

Christian, his wife America Olivo and original Reefer Madness musical cast members Kristin Bell and Alan Cumming will produce with original creators Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney and director Andy Fickman.

Nearly 20 years after they starred in an outrageous TV movie musical, Neve Campbell and brother Christopher reunited on the Reefer Madness red carpet

Neve, 50, who was spotted getting dinner in Santa Monica recently, hit the red carpet at The Whitley in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Neve starred as Miss Poppy in the Showtime TV musical movie, which debuted in April 2005

Neve's brother Christian, 52, played Jimmy Harper, and is now one of the producers on this new limited eight-week engagement, which commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Showtime film

The loving siblings also posed alongside their mother Marnie Neve on the red carpet, along with Christian's wife America Olivo.

Neve hit the red carpet in a stunning green leopard print dress with a plunging neckline and a black belt around her waist.

She accessorized with a ring and a bracelet on her right arm, along with a thin necklace dangling from her neckline.

The Scream star completed her look with silver heels as she posed with her brother and mother in a rare outing with them all together.

Christian hit the red carpet in a blue-grey vest and white shirt over a light grey suit coat for the outing.

He completed his look with dark blue jeans and white Adidas sneakers as he hit the red carpet.

The original Reefer Madness was a 1936 propaganda film originally produced by a church group to warn of the dangers of marijuana.

The film went largely unnoticed until 1972, when Keith Stroup, founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) discovered the film in the Library of Congress archives and bought a print for $297.

Neve hit the red carpet in a stunning green leopard print dress with a plunging neckline and a black belt around her waist

Christian hit the red carpet in a blue-grey vest and white shirt over a light grey suit coat for the outing.

She accessorized with a ring and a bracelet on her right arm, along with a thin necklace dangling from her neckline.

The loving siblings also posed alongside their mother Marnie Neve on the red carpet, along with Christian's wife America Olivo

The film became a cult classic, with Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney creating a stage musical based off the film that opened in Los Angeles in 1998 and was subsequently turned into the 2005 movie musical that the Campbell's starred in

He began showing the film on college campuses, where it became an unintentional satire and became extremely popular in cannabis culture.

The film ultimately got the attention of New Line Cinema's Robert Shaye, who realized the film didn't have a proper copyright.

He ultimately obtained an original print from a collector and began screening it nationwide, making what was described as 'a small fortune' for the studio.

The film became a cult classic, with Kevin Murphy and Dan Studney creating a stage musical based off the film that opened in Los Angeles in 1998 and was subsequently turned into the 2005 movie musical that the Campbell's starred in.
Several members of the Spice Girls were left 'furious' this week after unflattering details from a conversation emerged in court documents, according to reports.

Mel B, Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton are said to have been left red-faced after a private conversation between the group was leaked in a defamation case.

According to The Sun, Mel B told her bandmates Geri and Emma that 'charity doesn't pay the bills', during an apparent discussion about reuniting for a gig.

The publication reported that the leaked messages - which were revealed as part of a defamation case in the United States on Wednesday - have infuriated the stars.

It is expected that the embarrassment will continue over a catty exchange between the three band members over their now close-pal Victoria Beckham.

Several members of the Spice Girls were left 'furious' this week after unflattering details from a conversation emerged in court documents, according to reports

It is expected that the embarrassment will continue over a catty exchange between the three band members over their now close-pal Victoria Beckham

While the group are seemingly thick as thieves again now, there is apparently a string of emails gossiping about the way Victoria acted at the Viva Forever! West End musical premiere on December 11, 2012.

The fashion designer delayed the curtain call of the West End musical based on the Spice Girls' biggest hits by 15 minutes after getting stuck in traffic.

Once she arrived, she decided to set separately from the rest of the group, taking her seat two rows behind the other women with her husband David and their kids.

According to the publications insider, Victoria's snub did not go down well with Mel B in particular.

The move came just months after the group lauded 'girl power' and reunited as a five-piece at the London Olympics closing ceremony.

It has also been reported that they called in legal assistance in case Victoria tried to stop them from going ahead with a potential tour.

Years later, Mel B, Geri and Emma are said to have planned a comeback - which never happened - without Victoria and Mel C.

It is awkward timing for the group, who now on seemingly good terms after recently celebrating Victoria's 50th birthday together at her party in London.

Mel B , Geri Halliwell and Emma Bunton are said to have been left red-faced after a private conversation between the group was leaked in a defamation case

While the group are seemingly thick as thieves again now, there is apparently a string of emails gossiping about the way Victoria acted at the Viva Forever! West End musical premiere on December 11, 2012 (the group pictured without Victoria)

Hopefully the emergence of a group chat between Geri, Emma and Mel B won't cause any tension between the pals.

The report claims that after Mel commented that 'charity doesn't pay', Geri told her that she 'hopes nobody ever hacks your texts'.

Mel allegedly responded: 'Why? My texts are fine,' before adding: 'Like I said charity doesn't pay the bills everyone knows that.'

The source said: 'This is highly embarrassing for the girls as it doesn't exactly chime with their core messages. But obviously it was a fair few years ago now and they've all kissed and made up since then.

'Just look at how happy they were together celebrating Victoria's 50th birthday back in April, belting out their greatest hits together after a few drinks. The hatchet is well and truly buried.'

MailOnline contacted a representative for the Spice Girls for comment.

The fashion designer delayed the curtain call of the West End musical based on the Spice Girls' biggest hits by 15 minutes after getting stuck in traffic

Once she arrived, she decided to set separately from the rest of the group, taking her seat two rows behind the other women with her husband David and their kids

The leak will be unwelcome news to Geri, who has already been engulfed in a leaked messages scandal with her husband Christian Horner earlier this year.

On Wednesday, Geri made her first public appearance alone on at the Hay Festival where she is promoting her latest book, Rosie Frost and the Falcon Queen.

Geri beamed as she held a signing for her new novel which features main character Rosie, the star describes as 'a new kind of hero for today's young readers.'

One onlooker said: 'Geri looked really smiley and happy. She was having her photo take with loads of kids and even two female police officers who had used their lunch break to meet her.

'There were lots of people queuing to see their favourite Spice Girl.'

Before her talk the former Spice Girl hung out in the festival's authors tent alongside the BBC football pundit, Gary Lineker.

According to an insider, Geri was in great spirits asking the staff 'thousands' of questions, taking interest in fellow speakers and asking for copies of books - in particular, one about the importance of mushrooms.

However, she refused to address her anguish over leaked flirtatious messages which her husband of nine years, Red Bull boss Christian, allegedly sent to a female colleague when asked by the Mail.

In February he found himself under investigation following an accusation of 'inappropriate behaviour', for which he was later cleared.

The woman, in her 40s, went to HR at the Formula 1 team after she received the messages from Horner, often late at night.

She accused him of 'coercive behaviour' but an internal inquiry chaired by an unknown KC appointed by Red Bull cleared him. Horner has strongly denied any wrongdoing.

On Wednesday, Ger i made her first public appearance alone on at the Hay Festival where she is promoting her latest book, Rosie Frost and the Falcon Queen

She refused to address her anguish over leaked flirtatious messages which husband of nine years, Red Bull boss Christian, allegedly sent to a female colleague, when asked by the Mail
Race Across The World's secret auditions involve hopefuls getting as far away from London as they can in just 60 minutes with no phone or money.

The audition process is designed to imitate what the wannabe contestants would face on a real series of the hit BBC show.

Producers have revealed they also 'interrogate' the motivations of would-be contestants to make sure they are not just taking part for the 20,000 prize money or to boost their social media following.

The shows line producer Maria Kennedy told The Telegraph: 'They are not normal TV contestants, and they wouldnt apply for anything else.'

Producers aim to select people who enjoy the freedom to adventure, but insist they don't step in to help - no matter how bizarre the contestant's decisions are.

The audition process is designed to imitate what the wannabe contestants would face on a real series of the hit BBC show. Pictured: The series four cast

The latest series of Race Across The World involved five teams of two tasked with racing to the island of Lombok in Indonesia via a series of checkpoints. Pictured (L-R) Stephen & Viv, Sharon & Brydie, Eugenie & Isabel, James & Betty & Owen & Alfie

The fourth series winners Owen and Alfie were crowned during Wednesday night's episode after a gruelling eight week challenge

Once selected for the series, contestants appear as teams of two and compete against four other teams to race across a section of the world using only the budget of a one-way plane ticket.

To make things more difficult, they also have to give up their smartphones, credit cards and access to the internet.

But the brains behind the show know its possible because they test out the routes first by sending out two researchers on the same journey with the same tight budget.

Each contestant pair has a director and a producer/camera operator with them at all times. They also have a local fixer and medical support which follows them from about an hour behind.

A series director and a camera crew are also on hand to carry out the sweeping drone shots and establishing shots needed to make the show look good on TV.

The crew travelling with the contestants don't get any special treatment and have to sleep and travel in the same tough conditions as their subjects.

Producers aim to select people who enjoy the freedom to adventure, but insist they don't step in to help - no matter how bizarre the contestant's decisions are. Pictured: The case of series four

Each contestant pair has a director and a producer/camera operator with them at all times. Pictured: Series four winners Owen and Alfie

But once they get to a checkpoint in the journey, everyone is given 48 hours to rest and recover.

While at the checkpoints, psychologists are available on video chat to talk to the contestants and make sure theyre not suffering. This care continues when the show begins to air to help them deal with the media pressure that can come with the spotlight.

Since launching on BBC2 in 2019 the show has been a big hit, with the first two episodes of most recent series bringing in 7.1 million viewers across 28 days.

Viewers have continued to be gripped as the winners of the fourth series were crowned during Wednesday night's episode after a gruelling eight-week challenge.

The five teams were tasked with racing to the island of Lombok in Indonesia via a series of checkpoints, with friends Alfie and Owen ultimately taking the win.

Eugenie and Isabel (pictured) were pipped to the post by winners Owen and Alfie

Wednesday night's episode saw a nail-biting ending to the 15,000km race across Eastern Asia as two pairs approached the finish line neck and neck

However, while the challenge appears undoubtedly tough on screen, previous contestants and crew members have lifted the lid on the behind-the-scenes secrets.

Series four winner Alfie, 20, confirmed that the teams can stay in secret hotels for up to two days at each checkpoint - which isn't aired during the episodes.

Alfie spilled the gossip in a Facebook group dedicated to the show, revealing that they had to stay in the hotel for 'safety reasons'.

He said: 'It does change depending on finishing times to make sure nobody leaves at an utterly ridiculous time - mainly for safety'.

Meanwhile, series two contestant Jen, who took part with her husband Rob, also revealed the teams are accompanied by members of the crew at all times.

While she insisted there 'isn't much viewers don't get to see', the two producers who travel with the teams aren't revealed to viewers on screen.

The race ended with a dramatic sprint along the beach as best friends Alfie and Owen reached the check-in book in first place, claiming the 20,000 prize

Jen also revealed that there is a 'local fixer' and a medic travelling about an hour behind them in case of an emergency.

She told the i: 'You are always with two crew members and a medic, with a local fixer close behind. The crew really don't contribute, despite what people think  however nonsensical our decisions might be.

'I remember crossing into a different time zone and almost missing a vital transport link, and the crew just had to roll with it. It's the same with our jobs directory  all genuine jobs on offer in the local areas, simply compiled.'

When asked if it was really as hard as it seems on screen, Jen said: 'People always ask me if it was really as hard as it seemed. In short, YES. I was convinced that once the cameras stopped rolling, they'd wheel out the buffet cart and hand over the keys to the luxury hotel, but heck was I wrong. I really did have to sleep in that hammock. In my case, ignorance was bliss.'

Jen told how the crew travelled with them constantly and there always had to be space for them on various points of transport such as buses.

She explained that they were only able to travel if at least one member of the crew was able to come with them, but insisted this never impacted their route.

Executive producer Mark Saben told the BBC: 'They had to do the same journey as them, sleeping alongside them on the bus.

'So they were almost like a family, with its ups and downs. And while we had done recces, the teams found bits of the world which were totally surprising.'

After arriving at the second last checkpoint in Jakarta within just 12 minutes of each other, both Alfie and Owen and Isabel and Eugenie were eager to get out in front for the final leg

Mark informed Broadcast that visas and vaccines for 'every conceivable country' are arranged in advance, with 'every likely bus and train option, cost and connection' being researched.

He said 'It's all very well doing it theoretically, looking at timetables and things' before adding 'but until someone does it for real, you don't know where the difficulties might lie.

'We drew up protocols that set rules for how the teams could hitchhike, travel at night and cross borders safely.'

Despite having a fixer and a medic at hand, Mark revealed that they are instructed to keep their distance to make their experience feel authentic.

He said 'How they made their journey was up to them. This meant as a production we had to react to their decisions, however nonsensical.

'It was a nightmare for production management as the competing contributors decided how and where to go. You cannot underestimate how challenging the journey could be at times.'

MailOnline have reached out to Race Across The World for comment.

Both pairs met each other multiple times on their journey from Jakarta to Lombok (pictured), before needing to travel by boat to a tiny Island off the coast at the exact same time

Wednesday night's episode saw a nail-biting ending to the 15,000km race across Eastern Asia as two pairs approached the finish line neck and neck.

After arriving at the second last checkpoint in Jakarta within just 12 minutes of each other, both Alfie and Owen and Isabel and Eugenie were eager to get out in front for the final leg.

Both pairs met each other multiple times on their journey from Jakarta to Lombok, before needing to travel by boat to a tiny Island off the coast at the exact same time.

After finding speedboat rides, the pairs darted off across the sea before getting ready to run the rest of the way on foot.

The race ended with a dramatic sprint along the beach as best friends Alfie and Owen reached the check-in book in first place, claiming the 20,000 prize.

Closely behind the school friends were mother and daughter duo Eugenie and Isabel, who finished just eight minutes later.

In third place were beloved brother and sister Betty and James - who arrived a day later after overcoming a dwindling budget and mishaps.

The dramatic final scenes saw Alfie and Owen dart along the beach in Indonesia surrounded by gleaming tropical waters before arriving at the book to find they had won the race

Married couple Stephen and Viv finished in fourth, with a whopping 180 left of their budget.

The dramatic final scenes saw Alfie and Owen dart along the beach in Indonesia surrounded by gleaming tropical waters before arriving at the book to find they had won the race.

'We've done it,' they screamed, before hugging each other.

Owen said proudly: 'We came, and we saw, and we succeeded.'

'Best moment of our lives,' Alfie added. 'Undeniably. Can't believe it.'

Eugenie and Isabel opened the book to find they had been beaten by the boys by minutes.

Eugenie and Isabel opened the book to find they had been beaten by the boys by minutes

Eugenie said: 'We did it. We've come in a good second. If we were to lose to anybody, we always said that we would want to lose to Alfie and Owen.'

The next day, 24 hours and 34 minutes later, Betty and James arrived at the finish line, before Stephen and Viv made it six hours later.

They finished in third, but fans were concerned that Betty and James wouldn't make it to the finish line due to their dwindling budget.

The brother-sister duo won the hearts of the nation in what has been hailed 'the most moving TV moment of the year' as Betty opened up to James about her health condition for the first time.

The pair had a strong fanbase of people rooting for them in the race, which saw five couples race from Japan to Indonesia.

But as the contestants began the final leg in Wednesday's episode, Betty, 25, and James, 21, panicked when they realised they had just 155 left to finish the race.

This was compared to the duo in last place, married couple Stephen and Viv - who set off from Jakarta to the finish line in Lombok with over 500 pocketed.

The next day, 24 hours and 34 minutes later, Betty and James arrived at the finish line

Stephen and Viv made it six hours later, finishing in fourth place

They finished in third, but fans were concerned that Betty and James wouldn't make it to the finish line due to their dwindling budget

But as the contestants began the final leg in Wednesday's episode, Betty, 25, and James, 21, panicked when they realised they had just 155 left to finish the race

Fans of Betty and James took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their concern for the pair's race.

They wrote: 'I don't mind who wins, I just want Betty and James to get to the finish,';

'I swear to god if Betty and James aren't able to complete the race...,'; 'Betty and James until the finishing line,';

'I will be GUTTED if Betty and James don't make it to the end they're AWESOME!'; 'How are Betty and james gonna do this on 5% budget'; 'I'm scared Betty and James won't make it to the end,';

'No way Betty and James are getting to the end even though they are working to get money,';

'Betty and James checking their budget in an hours time,'; 'It's a shame this isn't live because Betty and James are so lovely and could do with a 'go fund me'. I really hope they can complete the race.'

Fans of Betty and James took to X, formerly Twitter , to express their concern for the pair's race

Betty, 25, and James, 21, who admitted they weren't that close before appearing on the show, have bonded while travelling together across Eastern Asia

Viewers were in tears in last week's penultimate episode when James broke down after his 'brave' sister opened up about the health condition which has left her without a womb.

Betty discussed her rare congenital disorder, known as MRKH, and revealed to viewers she discovered age 16 she did not have a uterus and only one kidney.

MRKH - or Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser Syndrome - is a rare condition that affects the female reproductive system and is characterised by an underdeveloped vagina and uterus.

Betty and James, who admitted they weren't that close before appearing on the show, have bonded while travelling together across Eastern Asia.

During a particularly candid conversation, Betty confided in James about how living with MRKH has affected her and the way she sees the world.
Eamonn Holmes' family aren't shedding any tears over the breakdown of his marriage to Ruth Langsford after 'never taking' to his second wife.

The presenter married his first wife Gabrielle Holmes in 1985 and they separated in 1996, during which time they welcomed Declan, 35, Rebecca, 33, and Niall, 31.

Apparently the reason some of Eamonn's relatives didn't warm to Ruth during their relationship was 'partly out of loyalty' to the mother of three of his children.

An insider told the Daily Mail's Alison Boshoff: 'Eamonn's Catholic family didn't really see eye-to-eye with Ruth, but he was totally bowled over by her.'

Given Eamonn' comments about Ruth flatly refusing to entertain the idea of a move back to Northern Ireland, it sounds as if the feeling might have been mutual.

Eamonn Holmes ' family aren't shedding any tears over the breakdown of his marriage to Ruth Langsford after 'never taking' to his second wife

The presenter married his first wife Gabrielle Holmes in 1985 and they separated in 1996, during which time they welcomed Declan, 35, Rebecca, 33, and Niall, 31.

Apparently the reason some of Eamonn's relatives didn't warm to Ruth during their relationship was 'partly' out of loyalty to the mother of three of his children (pictured out this week wearing her wedding rings)

Eamonn revealed he could one day move back to Northern Ireland and marry a 'local girl' in a resurfaced interview after his split from Ruth.

The GB News host has endured a difficult period in recent years that has seen him lose his mother, job, his beloved Belfast home, and now his wife Ruth.

Speaking on NVTV's Conversations With Gerry Kelly in January, the presenter told how his home will always be in Belfast and he may move back to Northern Ireland.

He said: 'Ruth wouldn't come back to Northern Ireland. Yes, because of her family and also because she's English and she sees life around London and things, whereas I can't stand London. So we have a different outlook on things like that.'

Eamonn then thought about a future without his wife as he added: 'Maybe Ruth will be run over by a bus or something, who knows?

'If I get another wife I might come back, get a local girl. That's awful talking about Ruth being run over by a bus, that's awful.'

The couple tied the knot in 2010 after dating for 13 years - and said that despite their separation, they are 'determined to stay friends'.

It brings to an end one of Britain's best known TV power couples after 27 years together, 14 of which were spent in wedlock.

Eamonn revealed he could one day move back to Northern Ireland and marry a 'local girl' in a resurfaced interview after his split from Ruth

The GB News host has endured a difficult period in recent years that has seen him lose his mother, job, his beloved Belfast home, and now his wife Ruth (pictured in 2022)

Eamonn said: 'Ruth wouldnt come back to Northern Ireland. Yes, because of her family and also because shes English and she sees life around London and things, whereas I cant stand London' (pictured in 2009)

They are parents to son Jack, 22, while Eamonn also has children from his previous marriage.

Eamonn and Ruth said in a statement they were 'determined to stay friends' after spending most of their professional lives together.

However, sources say Ruth 'orchestrated' the statement, which Eamonn refused to sign off on prior to its release.

Sources told Mail+ that Eamonn is devastated about the split and that the break-up has 'very much been orchestrated by Ruth'.

Eamonn reportedly told friends that he 'didn't want to get involved' and that 'Ruth can do what she wants but keep me out of it'.

But from being a joint effort  the statement citing their work commitments taking their marriage 'in different directions' was in fact arranged by Ruth, with Eamonn, refusing to play a part in its release.

Work again contributed to his first divorce after the broadcaster's commute from his family home in Belfast to film GMTV in London took it's toll.

Writing in his 2008 memoir This Is My Life: The Autobiography Eamonn said: 'By that stage [Gabrielle and I] tended to be apart during the week because of my job, and I had no trouble with that - though Gabrielle obviously did'.

'I always believed absence would make the heart grow fonder and, in fact, the commuting heightened my desperation for her, made the time less bearable and longer. But it gave my wife a life of her own, with her children, and come weekends I was intruding on it, y'know'.

He also hinted that following his father's death in 1991 and his long periods away, his partner began to grow distant and he lacked 'emotional support' at home.

'Gabrielle was increasingly indifferent and I didn't know why. I needed her close, I needed her to reach me and ease my pain, but she had concerns of her own, principal of which was an impending birth.'

Eamonn is now a grandfather after son Declan and his wife Jenny welcomed daughters in November 2023 and 2021.

Two years after his split from Gabrielle, Eamonn met Ruth after being introduced by a mutual friend at GMTV.

And despite them feeling an instant connection, he ensured it was the nation's best-kept secret, as he did not publicly confess his love for her for two years.

Eamonn even refused to hold Ruth's hand in public or attend events together for the first few years of their relationship in a bid to stay respectful to his ex.

And while some at the time believed the secrecy to be unnecessary, Ruth only fell harder for her man.

Work also contributed to his first divorce after the broadcaster's commute from his family home in Belfast to film GMTV in London took it's toll (pictured on GMTV in 1994)

Gabrielle is the mother of his three eldest children, Declan, 35, Rebecca, 33, and Niall, 31 (pictured with sons Declan and Niall)

Eamonn pictured with daughter Rebecca (R) and son Jack (L) who he shares with Ruth

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.'

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.

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.
Alison Hammond has continued to showcase her incredible weight loss after previously gaining a stone while filming last year's The Great British Bake Off.

The TV personality, 49, has been looking nothing short of sensational while hosting This Morning over half term with Dermot O'Leary, 50.

As well as sipping into figure-hugging jeans Alison has also been displaying her curves in a string of chic dresses.

Amid her body transformation, the broadcaster opted to sell off her old size 26 clothes earlier this year in aid charity in memory of her late mother, who passed away from Liver Cancer in 2020.

Alison, who replaced Matt Lucas as a co-host of Bake Off in 2023, explained how she now has a strict rule on cake tasting after previously putting on weight while filming.

Alison Hammond, 49, has continued to showcase her incredible weight loss after previously gaining a stone while filming last year's The Great British Bake Off

Alison looked sensational during her latest appearance on This Morning

Alison pictured on The Great British Bake Off in 2023

Ahead of the new series the TV presenter originally said she only agreed to join the show 'for the cake' - but now she's realised she has to curb the tasty treats.

Alison has decided to self-impose a limit of sampling only winners' creations and those bakes which are awarded Paul Hollywood's famous handshakes.

Alison told the Off Menu podcast: 'I just started filming Bake Off. I've never seen the tent so cold. It was freezing, absolutely freezing. I had my thermals on underneath my dress.

'But I love that show for the cake. People don't realise I am literally there for the cake. After every bake you're allowed to taste every bake and last year I put on a stone.

'It's taken me a year to take that stone off.

'So now I'm only eating if they get a handshake or the winner of a section. But anything else sorry, I'm not going there.

'As soon as it goes in my mouth I swallow it - I love it.

'He might not do a handshake in a show - he only does a handshake every so often, but if he does a handshake I'm going to taste that cake without a doubt.

As well as sipping into figure-hugging jeans Alison has also been showcasing her curves in a string of chic dresses

Amid her body transformation, the broadcaster opted to sell off her old size 26 clothes earlier this year in aid charity in memory of her late mother, who passed away from Liver Cancer in 2020 (pictured in April)

Alison pictured 2021

'If there's no handshakes there'll be no cake that I'm tasting.'

When flogging her old clothes Alison shared a snap of herself on Instagram donning a glamorous lime jacket with feather-trim embellishments and an elegant silk black dress.

The caption read: 'Alison Hammond Has Cleared Out Her Wardrobe. 100% of the proceeds go to the British Liver Trust!'

Commemorating her beloved late mother who passed away from liver cancer, Alison has partnered up with renowned vintage and pre-loved clothing website Reliked.

Alison has self-imposed a limit of sampling only winners' creations and those bakes which are awarded Paul Hollywood 's famous handshakes (Paul giving a handshake)

The presenter listed a wide range of items from XXXL to XL size, going from sporty items to chic velvet pumps.

The numbers' prices variate form as little as 3 all the way to 230, which is the current most expensive item listed.

Proving her mixed fashion taste, she sold glamorous pieces like a 48 animal print faux fur maxi coat from Asos, which costed originally 48.

Another stunning garment from her give-away wardrobe was a 24 bright purple Monsoon collared jumper, and much more.
Domenica Calarco has updated her fans after taking a break from social media to seek treatment at a mental health facility.

The Married At First Sight bride, 31, posted to Instagram Stories, offering a lengthy explanation of what she has been going through.

'It's been a while since we last spoke! I wanted to reach out and update you on why I've been offline recently. Over the past few weeks, I've been focusing on my mental health and seeking the help I need in a specialised mental health facility' she began.

'It hasn't been an easy decision, but I know it's the right one for my wellbeing' Dom continued.

Dom said she wanted to express deepest gratitude' to those who have been supporting her.

Domenica Calarco (pictured) has updated her fans after taking a break from social media to seek treatment at a mental health facility

'Please know that I'm taking the necessary steps to prioritize my mental health, and I'm looking forward to returning to social media when I'm ready. In the meantime, I ask for your continued understanding and support' she said.

'Thank you again for being such an incredible community. Your kindness does not go unnoticed, and I am endlessly grateful.'

Last month, the podcaster revealed the 'sad' reason she has stopped sharing life updates with her followers.

She posted to Instagram to explain her recent absence, saying she is dealing with the aftermath of a breakup.

The Married At First Sight bride, 31, posted to Instagram Stories, offering a lengthy explanation of what she has been going through

'I'm sure you guys have noticed I've been a bit MIA on the gram the last few weeks,' Calarco began her message.

Domenica conveyed the weight of her emotional journey with a nod to Taylor Swift.

'I've never felt anything more than when Taylor Swift said; lights camera, b*tch smile!' she wrote.

The outspoken podcast host said she has struggled with facing daily life since the split.

'Having to get up every day, and pick myself up, get to work and keep myself going has been the most challenging experience I've gone through in quite a while,' she explained.

'It's been a while since we last spoke! I wanted to reach out and update you on why I've been offline recently. Over the past few weeks, I've been focusing on my mental health and seeking the help I need in a specialised mental health facility' she began

'It's hard to 'show up' on social media when my tank is on empty.'

She then reassured of her fans of her imminent return to Instagram, once she has taken the necessary time to heal and rediscover herself.

'I promise I'll be back soon, just got to find myself again,' she concluded.

Domenica has never showed her partner on social media.

She previously revealed the pair met each other years ago, and he's actually friends with her ex-husband who she married prior to the experiment.

This mystery man, named Jack, of course is not be confused for her MAFS husband Jack Millar.

'No, no sight of my special man,' Dom said when asked about his online presence.

'Purely because he just doesn't feel comfortable. It's not something he wants to be involved in. I completely respect that.'
Eric, a new series starring Benedict Cumberbatch, was released on Netflix on Thursday - with fans already praising the the star for his role.

The show follows the story of New York puppeteer Vincent (Cumberbatch) who is also the creator of a fictional children's television show, Good Day Sunshine.

However, he struggles to keep himself and his life together after his nine-year-old son Edgar goes missing on the way to school.

Vincent's inner demon - nurtured by his childhood neglect and current woes - then manifest as a 7-foot-tall, furry hallucination named Eric.

While the series is not based on a real life story, inspiration for the show comes from creator Abi Morgan's own experiences of living in New York.

Eric, a new series starring Benedict Cumberbatch , was released on Netflix on Thursday, following the story of leading New York puppeteer Vincent

Inspiration for the series' plot is said to have come from creator Abi Morgan's own experiences of living in New York (Abi pictured on May 15)

Inspired by cases of missing children across the UK and US

Speaking in an interview with RadioTimes ahead of the show's release, Morgan, 56, cited personal experiences of encountering cases of missing children in the UK and US as something that helped her to write the show.

Morgan said: 'Well, I mean, weirdly actually, I think growing up in the UK in the '80s, I remember being haunted by those stories of children who had gone missing, and then when I went to New York, I looked after a young boy in New York in the mid-'80s.

'While I was out there, I saw the milk carton kids and the missing persons. So that has always been very haunting.'

She added that Eric was not based on a real or specific case that she had witnessed herself but that she wanted to explore the time period of 1980s New York.

Morgan also said that she wanted to bring attention to instances of children going missing not just in New York - but in towns and cities across the world.

She continued: 'I guess that's the kind of callout at the centre of the show, is that we all want to live in that world - but unfortunately, there are monsters in the most surprising places.

'I guess that's what's at the heart of Eric, this quest for a father to find his son, but also a man who's then having to explore the monsters in himself and the city he's grown up in.'

Fans have already been quick to praise Benedict Cumberbatch for his performance in the new series, which dropped on Netflix on Thursday

In the Netflix production notes for the series, Morgan also informed the platform of research she had undertaken regarding pertinent social issues in the 80s, highlighting the outbreak of AIDS, and topics such as homelessness and institutional racism.

She also drew a comparison between the contemporary struggles faced by citizens living in 1980s New York - such as strikes and corruption within the New York Police Department - as being evident, in her eyes to that of the Metropolitan Police in the UK.

Morgan was also full of praise for Netflix for being open to airing a show that explores the case of a missing person.

She explained to Netflix: 'When I pitched the idea of a New York puppeteer on a quest to find his missing son, with a seven-foot-tall blue monster in tow, it's to Netflix's eternal credit that they jumped on board.'

Morgan added: 'Eric is a deep dive into the '80s Big Apple, grappling with rising crime rates, internal corruption, endemic racism, a forgotten underclass, and the AIDS epidemic, exposing the divisions rife between parents searching for their child, a detective battling with a system that is broken, and a lost boy who may never come home  and asks where the real monsters lie. With puppets lots of puppets.'

Speaking about the show in an article published on the official Netflix website, Cumberbatch said that he perceived Vincent's journey to be a 'huge odyssey to go on in six episodes.'

Delving into the character of Vincent, he added: 'He starts to bring home his vanity, his idiosyncrasies, his ego, and all kinds of toxic behavior, which affects how he overlooks his kid and how abrasive he is in a marriage which has [already] had 10 years of pretty tumultuous moments of infidelity, arguing, and disconnection'.

Elaborating on the decision to make Benedict unrecognisable from more familiar looks in his previous roles, director Lucy Forbes said: 'That's why his hair is grown out, he's got a beard, and we put glasses on him'.

'Not only for the time period, but also to make him feel like Vincent as much as possible.'

Eric is available to stream on Netflix now.
Jack Black sent a sweet message to Australian school students after they invited him to watch them perform School Of Rock.

The Hollywood actor, 54, was invited by students from Melbourne's Ringwood Secondary College to watch their live show version of his smash hit 2003 film.

The students extended Jack an invite to attend their rehearsals after learning that he is soon set to arrive in Melbourne for his band Tenacious D's Australian tour.

Their online plea quickly went viral and even garnered the attention of Jack himself as he sent the students a heartfelt video message in response.

He gushed: 'Ringwood Second College, you're doing School Of Rock?! I love it! love it, so touched, so moved by your video and the fact that you're going to rock.

Jack Black (pictured) sent a sweet message to Australian school students after they invited him to watch them perform School Of Rock

The actor, 54, was invited by students from Melbourne's Ringwood Secondary College to watch them rehearse for their school production as they sent him an Instagram message

'You know it's been 20 years since I made that movie? It's still my favourite movie I ever did and I love that you guys are going to rock it.'

However, he went on to tell them that he sadly wouldn't be able to attend their rehearsals because of his busy touring schedule.

Bursting into song, he added: 'But I just wanted to remind you that there's no way you can stop the School Of Rock!'

Ringwood Secondary College's students had invited Jack to watch them rehearse School Of Rock: The Musical in an Instagram video shared earlier this week.

The school's production director Lauren Rowe explained on Sammy J's ABC show how they put the invite out after a student realised Jack would be in Melbourne at the same time as their rehearsals.

They were left blown away when Jack - who starred in 2003's School Of Rock (pictured) - replied to their callout, sending them a gushing message but unfortunately declining the invite

In a video shared by the school, the students said: 'We'd like to formally invite you to pop by one of our rehearsals during the time you're here so we can give you some unfinished homework as part of that rock assignment.'

The students went on to 'beg' Jack to attend as they asked him to 'grace' them with his presence, before ending their message by chanting his name.

The school were left blown away by Jack's response as they shared his video message to their Instagram page, sending their followers wild.

Jack's band Tenacious D are set to take to the stage for a sold-out show at Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena on July 20 as part of their Spicy Meatball Tour.

The band will also perform in Sydney, Newcastle, Brisbane and Adelaide, before heading over to Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand at the end of July to wrap up their tour Down Under.
Q+A has been under fire for many months amid talk the show is set to be axed.

However ABC has denied those rumours, with ABC managing director David Anderson telling a Senate Estimates Committee that the network is considering the program's future, TV Tonight reports.

'It's important that the ABC does that and actually brings people together and holds conversations. We are looking at what it is that we might be able to do for the future if there is something we can do for that program' Anderson said.

When asked if the series could be axed, he replied, 'No, I wouldn't say it's on the chopping block, Senator. Certainly with my background in television, you are always looking at programs, you're always looking at, "Is there a better way of doing something?" You should never be defensive about needing to improve.'

Anderson went on to admit that the ABC is considering different ways of producing the show n future.

Q+A has been under fire for many months amid talk the show is set to be axed. Q&A is currently hosted by ABC breakfast radio presenter Patricia Karvelas (pictured)

'If I look at Q+A, is there another way of doing that format still having a program like Q+A, but is there is there a different way of doing it?

'If anyone's got any innovative ideas that might help refresh a long-standing program that you've got, I think you pursue it. That's all I'm saying. It's not on the chopping block at the moment.

Last year, calls mounted for the low-rating program Q&A to be scrapped for good as the show is slammed as 'one-sided, uninteresting and rarely funny'.

Political commentator Peter Van Onselen said in November that the program would not be missed if it didn't return to ABC's roster in 2024.

However ABC has denied those rumours, with ABC managing director David Anderson telling a Senate Estimates Committee that the network is considering the program's future but does not plan to cancel it

In an opinion piece for The Australian, Van Onselen said Q&A - currently hosted by Patricia Karvelas - had received 203,000 views nationally at the time of writing his article that month.

The program had received 59,000 viewers in Sydney, 81,000 in Melbourne, 25,000 in Brisbane, 25,000 in Adelaide and just 19,000 in Perth at that time.

Van Onselen said it was time for Q&A to be 'scrapped altogether'.

'With numbers this woeful coupled with how out of touch with mainstream Australia the program has become, it really needs to be put out of its misery,' he wrote.

'There have been enough failed reboots to justify finally axing it.'

Political commentator Peter Van Onselen (pictured) said in November that the program would not be missed on Australian screens if it didn't return to ABC's roster in 2024

The commentator said cracks started to appear after Tony Jones (pictured) stopped hosting after a decade in the role from 2008 to 2019

Hamish MacDonald (pictured) replaced Tony Jones as a host in 2020 but resigned in July 2021 after overwhelming personal abuse and trolling on social media

The commentator said cracks started to appear after Tony Jones stopped hosting after a decade in the role from 2008 to 2019.

'It wasn't all that long ago that the program was vibrant and interesting, with discussions well led by former host Tony Jones,' Van Onselen wrote.

'I remember appearing on it at the time. Ratings regularly hit the one million mark, which precipitated the discussion about changing its time slot.'

Van Onselen lashed the show for not being informative enough and hosting discussions that were 'one-sided, uninteresting and rarely funny'.

David Speers hosted from 2021 to 2023 alongside Virginia Trioli (pictured) and Stan Grant

It was later announced Stan Grant (pictured) would permanently host the show from August. However, less than a year later the host resigned in May 2023

He claimed it was the ABC's 'stubbornness' that was saving the show from being axed for good but that a replacement would be welcomed.

Hamish MacDonald replaced Jones as a host in 2020 but resigned in July 2021 after overwhelming personal abuse and trolling on social media.

After Macdonald resigned in 2021, Q&A was presented by three rotating hosts - Stan Grant, David Speers and Virginia Trioli until July, 2022.

It was later announced Stan Grant would permanently host the show from August 1.

However, less than a year later the host resigned in May 2023 after receiving 'grotesque racist abuse' and threats to his safety.

Q&A is currently hosted by ABC breakfast radio presenter Patricia Karvelas.
Coronation Street's Chris Harper has revealed the heartbreaking reason he agreed to reprise the role of evil paedophile Nathan Curtis in the ITV soap.

The actor, who also plays Geoffrey Franklin in Call The Midwife, last appeared in the show in 2017 when the character groomed and raped teen Bethany Platt in one of Corrie's most controversial storylines.

Now Chris has explained how he jumped at the chance to return to the cobbles, as Bethany comes face to face with Nathan following his release from prison, after he learned how often victims run into their rapists in real life.

Telling The Mirror: 'Coronation Street promised to keep Bethany's story alive and I want to do the same'.

'People who have been groomed can quite literally bump into their rapist in the frozen food aisle of the supermarket without any warning.'

Coronation Street 's Chris Harper has revealed the heartbreaking reason he agreed to reprise the role of evil paedophile Nathan Curtis in the ITV soap

The actor, who also plays Geoffrey Franklin in Call The Midwife , last appeared in the show in 2017 when the character groomed and raped teen Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon pictured) in one of Corrie's most controversial storylines

Now Chris has explained how he jumped at the chance to return to the cobbles, as Bethany comes face to face with Nathan following his release from prison, after learning how often victims run into their rapists in real life (pictured on the show in 2017)

Adding: 'Although there is legislation in place for a victim to be told when someone is out of prison, the Maggie Oliver Foundation told our producers that quite often victims are not informed because the system is under-resourced'.

He went on to reveal that he was left devastated when hearing the stories from victims when preparing for the role, so much so he has become a patron of S.H.E UK, a charity who helps victims of sexual abuse.

Nathan returned to Weatherfield as part of Lauren Bolton's murder storyline after she went missing in February with Roy Cropper in the frame.

However viewers have now discovered that Joel Deering (Calum Lill) is in fact the killer following a harrowing flashback, with the solicitor now hoping to pass the blame onto paedophile Nathan.

It comes after ITV bosses faced 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.

Fan favourite and oddball Roy, who is on remand in prison after being charged with murdering troubled young female character Lauren.

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.

He went on to reveal that he was left devastated when hearing the stories from victims when preparing for the role, so much so he has become a patron of S.H.E UK, a charity who helps victims of sexual abuse

Nathan has returned to Weatherfield as part of Lauren Bolton's murder storyline after she went missing in February with Roy Cropper (David Neilson) in the frame

However viewers have now discovered that Joel Deering (Calum Lill, left) is in fact the killer following a harrowing flashback, with the solicitor now hoping to pass the blame onto paedophile Nathan

He was also brutally attacked in prison by a terrorist called Griff, who is friends with Laurens dad. He pulled 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.

It comes after ITV bosses faced 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

Christopher Jeffries (left) was wrongly accused of murdering Joanna Yeates (right) in Bristol in December 2010

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.

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.
Married At First Sight's Ridge Barredo has shared a sweet video of himself and his 'wife' Jade Pywell after he moved in with her on the Gold Coast.

Daily Mail Australia revealed earlier this week that Ridge, 27, had quit his job as a psychiatric nurse in NSW and relocated to move in with his TV bride Jade, 26.

And on Friday, MAFS intruder groom Ridge took to Instagram to officially share the news with his 111,000 followers as he posted a sweet video of himself and Jade.

In the footage, Ridge packed on the PDA with Jade as he lifted her into the air and kissed her in the kitchen of their new shared home in the Gold Coast.

The couple, who met at the altar on the 2024 series of MAFS, looked happier than ever as they cosied up to one another after Ridge's big move.

Married At First Sight's Ridge Barredo took to Instagram on Friday to announce to his 111,000 followers that he has moved to the Gold Coast to be with his 'wife' Jade Pywell. Both pictured

The reality TV star shared a sweet video of himself and Jade packing on the PDA in the kitchen of their now-shared home after his big move from Sydney to the Gold Coast

In an accompanying caption, Ridge gushed over his girlfriend Jade and her daughter Victoria, eight, as he shared his delight over relocating to live with them.

He penned: 'We really did go from 'can't wait to see you next' to 'see you at home.' After 6 months I've finally made the move to the GC to be with my girl.

'It hasn't been the easiest of roads with the ups and downs and all the rest of it but we did actually make it.

'I've finally settled in here and I'm so excited to continue to grow our lives together with little V #lovewins.'

Jade commented on his post: 'Glad you're here with us. Now I only have to check your location to see how far you are from home.'

Daily Mail Australia revealed earlier this week that Ridge, 27, had quit his job as a psychiatric nurse in NSW and relocated to move in with his TV bride Jade, 26

The couple recently revealed they hope to have children soon so they can give Jade's daughter Victoria (all pictured) some younger siblings to play with

Ridge hosted a farewell lunch in Sydney on Saturday, before officially driving to the Gold Coast with Jade.

The couple also revealed their plans to start a family last month amid their whirlwind post-MAFS romance.

They said they hope to have twin babies in the near future so they can give Jade's daughter Victoria some younger siblings to play with.

'Boy and girl twins! I'll definitely be waiting for another ring before we have any kiddies,' Jade told New Idea magazine.

The loved-up couple have constantly featured in each other's social media posts since hitting it off on the dating experiment earlier this year.
Katie Price's mucky mansion in Sussex was left looking a sorry state on Friday after the ex glamour model finally moved out earlier this week.

The 2m property, which the 46-year-old purchased in 2014, had piles of rubbish stacked on the driveway along with an array of vehicles seemingly abandoned by the star.

As well as Katie's Barbie pink Range Rover - which was the recent victim of an acid attack - there was also a horse trailer and dozens of children's toys.

There were numerous wooden fences broken with the 10-acre grounds left overgrown and the pool's water having turned green.

Katie, who was pictured moving out on Tuesday, is forking out almost 5,000 per month for her new property after being forced to leave the Mucky Mansion amid double bankruptcy woes.

Katie Price's mucky mansion in Sussex was left looking a sorry state on Friday after the ex glamour model finally moved out earlier this week

The 2m property, which the 46-year-old purchased in 2014, had piles of rubbish stacked on the driveway along with an array of vehicles seemingly abandoned by the star

As well as Katie's Barbie pink Range Rover - which was the recent victim of an acid attack - there was also a horse trailer and dozens of children's toys

Property pictured in 2018

The huge family home, which includes a double garage and open-plan kitchen, will be Katie and her five children's new house.

However, after checking out her new property, confused fans queried how she has been able to afford the 4,995 monthly payment amid her financial issues.

They asked: 'Double bankrupt. Where did the money come from?'; 'For someone who is bankrupt how can she afford it?'; 'How can she afford that property if she's bankrupt!'

It was revealed on Tuesday that Katie would finally leave her infamous 'Mucky Mansion', with removal vans arriving at the sprawling home.

And later that day, pictures showed her new Tudor-style home in Sussex as the vans dropped off boxes of her belongings at the property.

The removal team were seen carrying Katie's things into the garage of her new home - which the reality star will move into with her five kids.

Katie said that she couldn't 'wait to get out' of her Mucky Mansion - which she bought in 2014 from Tory peer Francis Maude - as she revealed vandals 'threw acid on her Pink Range Rover' on Saturday night.

Removal vans arrived at the sprawling estate in Sussex on Tuesday, as Katie and her five kids prepare to move out.

There were numerous wooden fences broken (Pictured today)

With the 10-acre grounds left overgrown and the pool's water having turned green

Katie was pictured moving out on of the property on Tuesday

She is now reportledy forking out almost 5,000 per month for her new home

She was forced to leave the Mucky Mansion amid double bankruptcy woes

The new family home (pictured) which includes a double garage and open-plan kitchen, will be Katie and her five children's new house

Three large removal trucks were pictured on the driveway, while workers started loading them with furniture.

Explaining the situation, she shared on Instagram: 'Due to acid attack on my car at my house I've now been advised by authorities not to stay at Mucky Mansion anymore'.

An insider told The Sun: 'Katie has been dreading this day for so long but now it is here, she can't wait to leave.

'The house has caused her so much grief and was too much to handle on her own. With work and the kids it all became too much in recent years. And she's convinced it's haunted.'

Katie confirmed for the first time on Thursday that she's finally moving out after she was served an eviction notice to leave the property.

But Katie has now revealed that she is looking forward to leaving the house after taking to Instagram on Sunday to share a video of her car covered in splatters of a substance which has eroded the paint.

Over the video Katie could be heard saying: 'It's nice to know someone in the night has come to throw acid all over my car, everywhere, all on my car. Thank you whoever that was.'

Katie also included text on the clip which read: 'Scumbags outside my house on my private property. I can't wait get out of this house in a few months' time.'

Katie confirmed for the first time on Thursday that she's finally moving out of her Mucky Mansion after she was served an eviction notice to leave the property

She previously revealed that she was looking forward to leaving the house after taking to Instagram to share a video of her car covered in splatters of a substance which has eroded the paint

Katie is now dating Married At First Sight star JJ Slater and the pair say they are 'in love'

MailOnline has approached Katie's representatives for comment.

On Thursday, Katie revealed she will soon be collecting the keys for a new home and denied recent reports she was looking to move her family into a caravan.

After nine years, Katie says she 'can't wait' to relocate and admits, 'I've had nothing but bad memories in that house', insisting moving will be the start of a new chapter in her life.

In March, she became bankrupt for a second time after she failed to pay her taxes, saying the reason she has debts is because she went through a 'breakdown.'

Speaking on the Stripping Off podcast with Matt Haycox, Katie said she wasn't even aware of the second bankruptcy, insisting, 'I will pay it, but it just has to be when I've got it.'

The former glamour model was declared bankrupt for a second time in March over an unpaid tax bill

Earlier this month it was revealed the former glamour model had reportedly been informed by lawyers she would have to move out of the property in in Dial Post, West Sussex, by May 29, after two eviction notices appeared outside her home

Taking to Instagram on Monday, Katie shared a clip showing a huge pile of things in her living She said: 'Yeah, you should always pay your tax, this and that. But obviously, I went through a breakdown so then I didn't pay tax and that's sort of where the bankruptcy thing has come from.'

Katie has been given until June 26 to leave the Mucky Mansion, which became the subject of a Channel 4 documentary when she attempted to install life back into the property for the last time .

During an Instagram live he confirmed there will be no further renovation shows based around the house, saying, 'Is there going to be anymore Mucky Mansions shows? No.'room that she was set to sell

She was served an eviction notice on April 24 and told to leave by the end of May but has been given an extension by her mortgage provider.

Katie was due to give evidence at the High Court over her finances last month but failed to turn up because she was on holiday in Cyprus with boyfriend JJ.

The 'Mucky Mansion' earned its nickname following years of damage to the property, including flooding, burglaries, mould and even reports of it being haunted.

On Wednesday, Katie celebrated her birthday and was presented with a cake by JJ, who joined her on stage as she tours with her podcast The Katie Price Show.

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, JJ revealed he's already thinking about proposing to Katie and he sees their 14-year age difference as 'irreverent.'
Dave Bautista, 55, shared an astonishing throwback snap to when he was 16 years old and had none of the tattoos that now cover his body.

In his 30s, he embarked on a successful career in pro wrestling and MMA, before becoming a movie star at age 45 in Guardians Of The Galaxy.

Over the course of his adult life, his arms and torso gradually became blanketed with tattoos, including the Greek and Philippine flags in honor of his heritage.

But in the flashback he posted to Instagram this week, he stood in a swimsuit in front of an ocean view, revealing he had no body art at the time.

The picture was taken near the end of a rough childhood blighted by poverty and crime - during which he himself got arrested in his early teens.

Dave Bautista , 55, shared an astonishing throwback snap to when he was 16 years old and had none of the tattoos that now cover his body

Dave experienced a difficult upbringing that included stints in the more dangerous neighborhoods in and around Washington, DC.

When he was a little boy, a corpse was discovered on his front lawn and he watched a shooting victim die in the street in front of his home.

He, his sister, and some of the other children in the neighborhood were 'all standing around looking at this poor guy who was dying,' Dave recalled later in his memoirs. 'I think some of us were even telling jokes.'

Dave confessed: 'By the time I was 13, I started getting in a lot more trouble for skipping school. I also got arrested for petty stuff. I'd get detention or juvenile hall, but the punishment wasnt severe; I never spent more than a day in jail.'

He insisted he 'wasn't stealing or breaking the law to get back at anyone or because I was mad or anything like that. I was stealing because all my friends were doing it. It was no big deal. It just wasnt out of the norm. It was what you did.'

Dave added: 'It wasnt that I was stealing cars or doing dope or anything really, really bad. But I was definitely a thug, and everyone was afraid of where I was headed.'

By age 17 he was on his own, and he drifted eventually into a career as a nightclub bouncer until he engaged in a brawl at work that resulted in another arrest.

He finally escaped poverty in his 30s, when he launched his wildly successful run in pro wrestling and became a four-time World Heavyweight Champion.

Dave experienced a difficult upbringing that included stints in the more dangerous neighborhoods in and around Washington, DC; pictured in recent years on Instagram

He finally escaped poverty in his 30s, when he launched his wildly successful run in pro wrestling; pictured at WrestleMania Goes Hollywood in Los Angeles in 2005

By the mid-2000s, he was also slowly building an acting career, culminating in his rise to international movie stardom in the 2014 film Guardians Of The Galaxy (pictured)

By the mid-2000s, he was also slowly building an acting career, culminating in his rise to international movie stardom in the 2014 film Guardians Of The Galaxy.

Amid a cast that included Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel, Dave featured as the hulking Drax The Destroyer.

The movie triggered Dave's lucrative run in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including in Avengers: Endgame, the second highest-grossing motion picture of all time.

He has also dipped his toe in a number of other franchises, including the Knives Out film series and the Dune movies starring TImothee Chalamet.

Dave has a wide array of projects currently in the pipeline, including a turn as Beowulf in the upcoming film Grendel, based on a novel that flips the Old English epic to tell the story through the eyes of its villainous monster.
Blake Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds couldn't keep their hands off each other as they attended their friend Taylor Swift's Eras Tour show in Spain on Wednesday.

The Gossip Girl star, 36, and The Proposal actor, 47, were spotted in the VIP section at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid where they kissed and cuddled in front of the stage.

They were joined by their three daughters, James, nine, Inez, seven, and Betty, four, for the show, with Swift giving the youngsters a shout out during the show.

Taylor strummed her guitar and said: 'I have to say that on Folklore, some of my favourite characters are named James, Inez and Betty.'

Swift's song Betty on Folklore references all three girls in the lyrics.

Blake Lively and husband Ryan Reynolds couldn't keep their hands off each other as they attended their friend Taylor Swift 's Eras Tour show in Spain on Wednesday

The couple were joined by their three daughters, James, nine, Inez, seven, and Betty, four, for the show, with Swift (pictured on stage) giving the youngsters a shout out during the show

Lively and Reynolds welcomed their fourth child in February 2023, but the name of their youngest daughter has not been revealed publicly yet.

Earlier this month Reynolds shared he would finally be attending the three-hour concert during an appearance on Today with Hoda & Jenna.

'I'm about to go to the Madrid show. This will be my first because this last year and a half I've been trapped in a nonstop work bubble and it's a problem.'

'My wife and kids have been to five of them, five or six now. They love it, they're obsessed.'

Swift, 34, Lively, and Reynolds have been close friends for years and her 2017 Reputation album features James' voice on the song 'Gorgeous.'

In 2023, Swift made a special gesture to Lively's two daughters during the Philadelphia stop of her Eras Tour.

Reynolds previously revealed that their children had no clue Taylor was famous after growing up with her in their lives.

He admitted on Sirius XM: 'I think what's most exciting for them is that for the longest time they just thought Taylor's just like an aunt, like a friend of Mommy and Daddy that's very, very close, almost family.

'And then they went to a concert one day and were like, "Ohhhhh, this isn't a hobby."'
Imogen Anthony has gone to the dark side.

Kyle Sandilands' ex has ditched her signature blonde locks for a raven hairdo and she's clearly loving her new look.

The model, 33, showed off her updated hair in a post to Instagram on Friday, in which she worked her angles with the long, wavy, black locks.

'I've stayed in the dark for a bit now, so it's time to brighten the mood but I'll be back sooner than you know because love it here' she wrote in her caption.

Imogen further explained that the look was only temporary, as she was wearing a wig from the brand Milk & Honey.

Imogen Anthony (pictured) has gone to the dark side

Kyle Sandilands' ex has ditched her signature blonde locks for a raven hairdo and she's clearly loving her new look

Her fans loved the updated hairdo, with one person commenting, 'Love this colour on you'.

Another admirer enthusiastically agreed, writing, 'I love this colour hair on you. Really suits you'.

It comes after Imogen left nothing to the imagination as she turned up to Australian Fashion Week in a very revealing ensemble.

She attended the INJURY show during Australian fashion's biggest week of the year wearing a high concept dress and headpiece by designer LeMAine.

The 'blood dress' featured splatters of bright red resin stuck to sheer fabric that revealed Imogen's eye-popping assets.

Imogen explained that the look was only temporary, as she was wearing a wig from the brand Milk & Honey

Meanwhile, the matching headpiece covered the model's hair entirely, and obscured most of her face, adding to the gory look of the outfit.

Anthony wore matching blood red strapped heels and accessorised with a first aid bag.

Imogen recently opened up about marriage and baby plans with her partner Harley Jones.

Back in 2022, the model sent her followers into a frenzy when she shared photos of herself appearing to tie the knot with Jones at the Little Chapel of Hearts in Las Vegas.

It comes after Imogen left nothing to the imagination as she turned up to Australian Fashion Week in a very revealing ensemble

The nuptials weren't legally binding and it appears Imogen wants to keep it that way.

Speaking to Daily Mail Australia at Australian Fashion Week, the social media star ruled out a 'real-life wedding' and said the couple won't be starting a family anytime soon.

'No, I'm unconventional. That's how I roll,' she said. 'I'm not in any rush for anything like that. I'm in no rush to have kids.'

However, she didn't completely rule out the idea of babies in the future.

'Maybe one day. It's not out of the picture, out of the question. I'm just not, I ain't racing. I'm good,' she added.

She and her ex-boyfriend Kyle were together for eight years but he never popped the question to the former model.
Ruth Langsford sent fans into a frenzy on Friday as she advertised Tesco's dine in for two deal amid her divorce from Eamonn Holmes.

The presenter, 64, took to Instagram to share a video of herself rustling up fish and chips, complete with wine, from the supermarket as she revealed she was making dinner for herself and beloved mother Joan.

Yet fans appeared to miss this part of the video as they took to the comments section to share: 'I would do anything to be your dine in for two guest. Please! (I love you)'; 'The trouble is, who is the other person going to be?'; What's poor Eamon having'.

Many were quick to clear up any confusion in the comments, with one fan noting: 'The people asking questions, passing comments and giving advice. Talking more about her business than she is. Be as classy as Ruth guys.'

Ruth's video comes following claims Eamonn's family 'never took' to Ruth.

Ruth Langsford sent fans into a frenzy on Friday as she advertised Tesco's dine in for two deal on Instagram on Friday amid her divorce from Eamonn Holmes

TV power couple Eamonn and Ruth's split was announced on Saturday, with a statement claiming work commitments had taken their lives 'in different directions' (pictured in 2014)

The presenter married his first wife Gabrielle Holmes in 1985 and they separated in 1996, during which time they welcomed Declan, 35, Rebecca, 33, and Niall, 31.

Apparently the reason some of Eamonn's relatives didn't warm to Ruth during their relationship was 'partly out of loyalty' to the mother of three of his children.

An insider told the Daily Mail's Alison Boshoff: 'Eamonn's Catholic family didn't really see eye-to-eye with Ruth, but he was totally bowled over by her.'

Given Eamonn' comments about Ruth flatly refusing to entertain the idea of a move back to Northern Ireland, it sounds as if the feeling might have been mutual.

Eamonn revealed he could one day move back to Northern Ireland and marry a 'local girl' in a resurfaced interview after his split from Ruth.

The GB News host has endured a difficult period in recent years that has seen him lose his mother, job, his beloved Belfast home, and now his wife Ruth.

Speaking on NVTV's Conversations With Gerry Kelly in January, the presenter told how his home will always be in Belfast and he may move back to Northern Ireland.

He said: 'Ruth wouldn't come back to Northern Ireland. Yes, because of her family and also because she's English and she sees life around London and things, whereas I can't stand London. So we have a different outlook on things like that.'

The presenter, 64, shared a video of making a fish and chip dinner, complete with wine, from the supermarket as she revealed she was making dinner for herself and beloved mother Joan

Fans appeared to miss the part of the video where she mentioned her mother as they took to the comments section to share their thoughts

The presenter married his first wife Gabrielle Holmes in 1985 and they separated in 1996, during which time they welcomed Declan, 35, Rebecca, 33, and Niall, 31.

Eamonn then thought about a future without his wife as he added: 'Maybe Ruth will be run over by a bus or something, who knows?

'If I get another wife I might come back, get a local girl. That's awful talking about Ruth being run over by a bus, that's awful.'

The couple tied the knot in 2010 after dating for 13 years - and said that despite their separation, they are 'determined to stay friends'.

It brings to an end one of Britain's best known TV power couples after 27 years together, 14 of which were spent in wedlock.

They are parents to son Jack, 22, while Eamonn also has children from his previous marriage.

Eamonn and Ruth said in a statement they were 'determined to stay friends' after spending most of their professional lives together.

However, sources say Ruth 'orchestrated' the statement, which Eamonn refused to sign off on prior to its release.

Sources told Mail+ that Eamonn is devastated about the split and that the break-up has 'very much been orchestrated by Ruth'.

Eamonn reportedly told friends that he 'didn't want to get involved' and that 'Ruth can do what she wants but keep me out of it'.

But from being a joint effort  the statement citing their work commitments taking their marriage 'in different directions' was in fact arranged by Ruth, with Eamonn, refusing to play a part in its release.

Eamonn revealed he could one day move back to Northern Ireland and marry a 'local girl' in a resurfaced interview after his split from Ruth

The GB News host has endured a difficult period in recent years that has seen him lose his mother, job, his beloved Belfast home, and now his wife Ruth (pictured in 2022)

Eamonn said: 'Ruth wouldnt come back to Northern Ireland. Yes, because of her family and also because shes English and she sees life around London and things, whereas I cant stand London' (pictured in 2009)

Work again contributed to his first divorce after the broadcaster's commute from his family home in Belfast to film GMTV in London took it's toll.

Writing in his 2008 memoir This Is My Life: The Autobiography Eamonn said: 'By that stage [Gabrielle and I] tended to be apart during the week because of my job, and I had no trouble with that - though Gabrielle obviously did'.

'I always believed absence would make the heart grow fonder and, in fact, the commuting heightened my desperation for her, made the time less bearable and longer. But it gave my wife a life of her own, with her children, and come weekends I was intruding on it, y'know'.

He also hinted that following his father's death in 1991 and his long periods away, his partner began to grow distant and he lacked 'emotional support' at home.

'Gabrielle was increasingly indifferent and I didn't know why. I needed her close, I needed her to reach me and ease my pain, but she had concerns of her own, principal of which was an impending birth.'

Eamonn is now a grandfather after son Declan and his wife Jenny welcomed daughters in November 2023 and 2021.

Two years after his split from Gabrielle, Eamonn met Ruth after being introduced by a mutual friend at GMTV.

And despite them feeling an instant connection, he ensured it was the nation's best-kept secret, as he did not publicly confess his love for her for two years.

Eamonn even refused to hold Ruth's hand in public or attend events together for the first few years of their relationship in a bid to stay respectful to his ex.

And while some at the time believed the secrecy to be unnecessary, Ruth only fell harder for her man.

Work also contributed to his first divorce after the broadcaster's commute from his family home in Belfast to film GMTV in London took it's toll (pictured on GMTV in 1994)

Gabrielle is the mother of his three eldest children, Declan, 35, Rebecca, 33, and Niall, 31 (pictured with sons Declan and Niall)

Eamonn pictured with daughter Rebecca (R) and son Jack (L) who he shares with Ruth

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.'

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.

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.
Taylor Swift sure seems to have had a swell time while in Spain.

On Friday the songbird took to social media to express the joy she felt over performing during her Eras Tour dates in Madrid.

Swift performed at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on Wednesday, May 29 and Thursday, May 30.

'I LOVE YOU FOREVER MADRID!!!' the hitmaker began her note, after pals Blake Lively and her husband Ryan Reynolds were seen kissing at her show.

'No ability to convey my thoughts other than to just YELL that,' added the 34-year-old.

'We just got to spend 2 magical nights dancing and singing with the most electrifying, passionate crowds and I'll never forget a second of it. I can't thank you all enough. See you Lyon!'

On Sunday she will perform with Paramore in at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon, France.

Taylor Swift sure seems to have had a swell time while in Spain. On Friday the songbird took to social media to express the joy she felt over performing during her Eras Tour dates in Madrid

Swift performed at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid on Wednesday, May 29 and Thursday, May 30. The crows on May 29 seen

This comes as Swift added more special guests for her London Eras Tour concerts.

The pop superstar is already bringing Paramore with her, but she has now confirmed Mette will play Wembley Stadium on June 21, Griff on June 22, and Benson Boone on June 23.

She shared on Instagram: 'I just found out Fortnight is #1 on the UK airplay chart!!!! You guys are amazing and I can't wait to see you so soon! Thought this might be a fun time to announce the first group of opening acts I'll be adding to the London shows, going on before Paramore.

'I chose artists whose music I love listening to, and I can't wait for them to add an extra jolt of excitement to our shows at Wembley Stadium in June.'

An overjoyed Griff, 23, gushed: 'TAYLOR SWIFT HAS INVITED ME ON THE ERAS TOUR!!!!!! 8 yr old me who had fearless on repeat wouldn't believe this. So unbelievably grateful to Taylor for all the love she's shown me and my music. See you at Wembley on June 22nd (sic).'

Mette, 32, commented: 'It's a new ERA for ya girl Opening the 'Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour' on June 21st at Wembley Stadium in London. Thank you @taylorswift13  Never been so excited in my entire life!!! #TSTheErasTour (sic).'

'I LOVE YOU FOREVER MADRID!!!' the hitmaker began her note

'No ability to convey my thoughts other than to just YELL that,' added the 34-year-old

'We just got to spend 2 magical nights dancing and singing with the most electrifying, passionate crowds and I'll never forget a second of it,' she also said

;I can't thank you all enough. See you Lyon!' ended her note

Benson, 21, penned on his Instagram Story: '@taylorswift so excited to be part of the show thank you for having me. (sic)'

Taylor is also playing additional shows at the venue between June 15 and 20.

The unveiling of her additional support acts comes after Taylor recently confessed she regrets missing out countries such as Portugal on her previous tours and admitted she won't make the same mistake again.

Taylor performed in the country for the first time over the weekend when she took her 'The Eras' tour to Lisbon on Friday (24.05.24) and Saturday (25.05.24), and admitted she felt bad about failing to include the country on her previous treks.

On Sunday she will perform with Paramore in at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon, France

Swift on stage during Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour at Santiago Bernabau Stadium on May 29 in Madrid

During the Friday night show, Taylor told the audience at Estadio da Luz: 'My big regret was that we didn't get to take all of those tours to all of the places where I wanted to take them. And we absolutely should have come to Portugal on every single tour. This is not a mistake I will ever be making again. We are always going to come to Lisbon.'

After wrapping up the pair of gigs, Taylor later took to social media to express her gratitude to the Portuguese fans, writing: 'It's official, I left my [heart] in Lisbon.

'My first time in Portugal and you all made me feel like I was right at home. I'll seriously never forget the way you treated us, the overwhelming love and passion and hands in the air and dancing and how you screamed every lyric!! Muito obrigada [thank you very much].'
Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin reunited for their 18-year-old son Moses' high school graduation in Los Angeles this Friday.

The former couple got married in 2003 and separated in 2014, in what Gwyneth famously described as a 'conscious uncoupling.'

They have since both found love elsewhere - Gwyneth in her marriage to Glee co-creator Brad Falchuk, and Chris with Fifty Shades Of Grey star Dakota Johnson.

However, throughout their years apart, Chris and Gwyneth have remained friendly co-parents to Moses and their daughter Apple, 20.

Both exes appeared to be in bright spirits as they celebrated their son's graduation, where Gwyneth was seen giving Moses a warm hug.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin reunited for their 18-year-old son Moses' high school graduation in Los Angeles this Friday

Gwyneth was accompanied by her actress mother Blythe Danner, who has featured in such movies as Meet The Parents and The Prince Of Tides.

She was also joined by Brad, who is best known for his writing collaborations with Ryan Murphy, including Glee and American Horror Story.

Dakota was unable to attend the ceremony, as she was in New York City filming her upcoming romantic comedy Materialists.

For her son's big day, Gwyneth cut a summery figure in a simple pink dress that highlighted her trim frame and plunged to offer a hint of cleavage.

Wearing her signature blonde locks down in sumptuous waves, the Oscar-winning actress lent the look a splash of dazzle with a gold heart medallion.

She ensured she was safe from a drop in temperatures by wrapping herself in a brown knit cardigan, bringing the outfit together with sandals.

Chris meanwhile exuded formal English chic at the graduation, arriving in a full suit and tie and accessorizing the look with a pin.

He radiated good cheer and bonhomie, grinning broadly as he chatted with his daughter before heading into the festive event.

Apple modeled a stylish polka dot dress that emphasized her lithe frame, and let down the wavy flaxen hair that has drawn floods of comparisons to Gwyneth.

Both exes appeared to be in bright spirits as they celebrated their son's graduation, where Gwyneth was seen giving Moses a warm hug

Gwyneth was accompanied by her actress mother Blythe Danner , who has featured in such movies as Meet The Parents and The Prince Of Tides

For her son's big day, Gwyneth cut a summery figure in a simple pink dress that highlighted her trim frame and plunged to offer a hint of cleavage

Chris meanwhile exuded formal English chic at the graduation, arriving in a full suit and tie and accessorizing the look with a pin

He radiated good cheer and bonhomie, grinning broadly as he chatted with his and Gwyneth's daughter Apple, 20, before heading into the festive event

Apple cut a stylish figure in a white polka dot dress that emphasized her lithe frame, and let down the wavy flaxen hair that has drawn floods of comparisons to Gwyneth

She was also joined by Brad, who is best known for his writing collaborations with Ryan Murphy, such as Glee and American Horror Story

Gwyneth ensured she was safe from a drop in temperatures by wrapping herself in a brown knit cardigan, bringing the outfit together with sandals

The event comes less than a month after Gwyneth admitted to her mounting anxiety over the prospect of becoming an empty nester

In the years since they broke up, Gwyneth and Chris the exes have drawn plaudits for how harmoniously they have brought up their children

The graduation comes weeks after Gwyneth admitted to her mounting anxiety over the prospect of becoming an empty nester.

Moses, her youngest child, is headed off to Brown University in Rhode Island - across the country from what Gwyneth has called her 'forever house' in Montecito.

'Its kind of giving me a nervous breakdown, if Im honest,' she confessed at an event for her wellness brand Goop, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

'I started being like: "Oh my God, and I need to quit my job and I need to sell my house and I need to move." Its sort of putting things into turmoil,' she said.

'My identity has been being a mother. Apples going to be 20 in May. So Ive oriented my whole life around them and their schedules and when school starts.'

She explained: 'You start to let go in increments when theyre driving themselves around or doing certain things. It is a slower process.'

Gwyneth added: 'I feel really lucky because I have a close group of mom friends and we all raised our kids alongside one another. So were kind of in it together.'

When she and Chris first split in 2014, she inspired widespread mockery by referring to their separation as a 'conscious uncoupling.'

Chris' girlfriend Dakota Johnson was unable to attend the ceremony, as she had to be in New York to film her upcoming romantic comedy Materialists (pictured Thursday on set)

Gwyneth gushed over her son last month when she wished him a happy 18th birthday, hailing his 'sensitivity and brilliance and quiet humor'

Moses, her youngest child, is headed off to Brown University in Rhode Island - across the country from what Gwyneth has called her 'forever house' in Montecito

'Its kind of giving me a nervous breakdown, if Im honest,' she confessed at an event for her wellness brand Goop, according to The Hollywood Reporter

Gwyneth added: 'I feel really lucky because I have a close group of mom friends and we all raised our kids alongside one another'

However in the intervening years, the exes have drawn plaudits for how harmoniously they have brought up their children in spite of their divorce.

Gwyneth recently shared how important it was to her and Chris to have an amicable co-parenting relationship for Apple and Moses' sake.

She explained that she and Chris 'both really did not want to have them experience the divorce as a trauma,' in a cover interview with Bustle.

'We knew that it would be hard, of course, but we didnt want them to ever feel in the middle, or that one of us was slagging off the other one.'

The wellness mogul disclosed: 'At that time, I did a very me thing, which was when I knew I wanted to get a divorce, I did this data collection of talking to adults who had been products of a broken home.'

She revealed: 'Every single one of them said: "I didnt care that my parents got divorced. That wasnt it. But the fact that they wouldnt speak to each other, that they couldnt both sit at a dinner table for my birthday"

'They said that was the most awful thing. You could see they held it with so much hurt and anger. I was like: "Thats what Im never going to do." And we really didnt.'
An iconic soap star looked worlds away from when he first found fame as he was spotted breaking a sweat while hauling barrels of beer in Cheshire on Friday.

The actor-turned-beer enthusiast, 46, who TV buffs will remember for his clean cut image, looked unrecognisable with his new rugged look.

As he dragged produce and barrels into his craft beer establishment, the shop owner sported a relaxed blue hooded zip up jacket and some black shorts.

With his slicked back man bun and stubbly beard, the screen star looked drastically from his luminous blond locks and clean shaven appearance.

But can you guess who he is?

An iconic soap star looks worlds away from when he first found fame as he was spotted breaking a sweat while hauling barrels of beer in Cheshire on Friday

That's right, i's Adam Rickitt. The soap star , appeared in Coronation Street as Nick Tilsley and Hollyoaks as Kyle Kelly, and last year appeared in Doctors

That's right, it's Adam Rickitt.

The soap star, appeared in Coronation Street as Nick Tilsley and Hollyoaks as Kyle Kelly, and last year appeared in Doctors.

But what the star may be most known for is his iconic 1999 music video I Breathe Again where he appeared nude in a glass box while being inspected by doctors.

And while his acting career is still churning along in the background, Adam has recently opened a craft beer bottle shop in Cheshire.

But long laborious hours of running his own beer establishment has meant that he has had quite the hunky transformation.

His slicked back hair now conceals his new long mousy brown locks - a far cry from his long 90s straightened tresses.

In between acting gigs, Adam opened the craft beer shop, gin specialist and 'micro bar', called Dexter and Jones, in Knutsford with his GMB presenter wife, Katy.

And while his acting career is still slowly churning along in the background, Adam has recently opened a craft beer bottle shop in Cheshire

But long laborious hours of running his own beer establishment has meant that he has had quite the hunky transformation

Adam starred in Coronation Street as Gail Tilsley's son Nick from 1997 to 1999 and then again in 2004 before appearing as Nancy Osborne's fiance Kyle Kelly in Hollyoaks from 2017 until 2020.

After departing Corrie the first time, Adam set himself on the path of a solo singing career.

I Breathe Again was Adam's debut track and it reached number five in the UK charts, selling 76,500 copies.

But after his album only managed to reach number 41 he was unceremoniously dropped by his record label.

In August, Adam appeared to channel the music video as he went nude for a slew of Instagram snaps.

He posed in a stone villa during his sun-soaked holiday and joked 'beer made him' strip off for the saucy shoot.

The star may be most known for is his iconic 1999 music video I Breathe Away where he appeared nude while being inspected by doctors

Adam starred in Coronation Street as Gail Tilsley's son Nick from 1997 to 1999 and then again in 2004

He then appeared as Nancy Osborne's fiance Kyle Kelly in Hollyoaks from 2017 until 2020

In August, Adam appeared to channel his famous music video as he went nude for a slew of Instagram snaps

He captioned the post: 'I apologise...but guess what...it's a tradition!'

It was revealed in July that Adam is set to make a return to the screen in BBC soap Doctors, after bagging a new role.

An insider told The Sun: 'Adam was amongst the best soap actors in the country so it was only a matter of time before he landed a new role.

'He's really excited to get started on Doctors and bosses cant wait to see how viewers react to him.

'Adam has spent a lot of time working on his bar but is in a position to get back to acting now.'

MailOnline contacted the BBC for comment at the time.
A Bargain Hunt team was left astonished on Friday's episode after learning how much profit they made from a silver sterling brooch.

Host Caroline Hawley went down to Exeter to meet the two pair of contestants in the latest instalment of the BBC show.

As the two squads battled it all out in a bid to get the best bargains for antiques and sell them at auction for higher prices, one team in particular was stunned by the incredible profit they made.

Mother and daughter Karen and Katrina had their eye caught by two small enamel brooches, apparently not too expensive - until the real value emerged later on.

Expert Ben Cooper watched their back with a series of expert advice, and told the duo the items could be from the 1940s or 1950s roughly.

A Bargain Hunt team was left astonished on Friday's episode after learning how much profit they made from a silver sterling brooch

As the two squads battled it all out in a bid to get the best bargains for antiques and sell them at auction for higher prices - one team in particular was stunned by the incredible profit they made

It didn't take too much indecision as they eventually opted for one brooch that looked of higher quality.

The gorgeous antique had a cerulean blue intricate floral pattern, and a 925 mark inside which meant it was made of silver sterling.

The brooch was being sold for 30, but expert Ben negotiated a 1 discount.

Auctioneer Tim Weeks was very pleased to hear the mother and daughter duo only paid 29, and estimated they could sell it for around 40 to 50.

'Fabulous buy, fabulous!' Tim exclaimed.

But the family squad wasn't ready for the public's reaction once they put the item on auction - with people online rushing to offer 50 with no hesitation.

Both were left gobsmacked, with mum Karen jumping around with excitement and Katrina left speechless.

The offers kept increasing significantly leaving the pair to giggle, and Katrina had to tell her mum to 'shhh' at some point.

Mother and daughter Karen and Katrina had their eye caught by two small enamel brooches, apparently not too expensive - until the real value emerged later on

The gorgeous antique item they chose displayed a cerulean blue intricate floral pattern, and a 925 mark inside it which meant it was made of silver sterling

Auctioneer Tim Weeks was very pleased to hear the mother and daughter duo only paid 29, and estimated they could sell it for around 40 to 50

But the family squad wasn't ready for the public's reaction once they put the item on auction - with people online rushing to offer 50 with no hesitation

Both were left gobsmacked, with mum Karen jumping around with excitement and Katrina left speechless - but ultimately it was the blue team to win with a larger profit margin

Some fans were left unimpressed by how things unfolded on the episode, with many viewers sharing their thoughts on X

The winning team was left astounded when the antique brooch eventually sold for nevertheless than 120, bringing them a net profit of 91.

Despite the incredible profit, it was the adversary blue team to win as they earned a total profit of 104, whereas Karen and Katrina made 100.

Yet, some fans were left unimpressed by how things unfolded on the episode, with many viewers sharing their thoughts on X.

'They never used to scream and shout at the aution. I dont think it was allowed #BargainHunt,' lamented one.

'Blue team are not really bringing much to the table - not offering much opinion on what to buy #bargainhunt'; 'Stop bloody shouting. #BargainHunt';

'Well that was a pleasant surprise from blue lady, very restrained. Just no need for screaming. #bargainhunt'; 'Bet the Reds thought they'd won #BargainHunt'.

The BBC show has announced a huge shake-up just earlier last week, bringing in a new presenting line up for the new season.

Roo Irvine, Danny Sebastian, and Caroline Hawley have joined the show as regular hosts, according to The Express.

But, if you're a big fan of the longstanding hosts, there's no need to worry as the original four presenters - Natasha Raskin Sharp, Christina Trevanion, Eric Knowles, and Charlie Ross - won't be going anywhere.

Instead, the bigger and better team of seven are set to front the popular reality game show series, as contestants battle it out to find treasure among trash at car boot sales.

The experts will take it turns stepping into the role of host on a rotational basis throughout the series.

Fans will recognise the three familiar faces of the new presenters as they have actually fronted the show before, however now they will be taking the lead more regularly.

Bargain Hunt has been a cornerstone of British daytime TV ever since it first aired two decades ago in March, 2000.

The show was originally hosted by David Dickinson between 2000 and 2004, before he was succeeded by Tim Wonnacott.

Ever since its launch, viewers have tuned in regularly to see teams donning blue and red fleeces battle it out to see who can bag the biggest profit.

Antiques fanatic Roo, 44, is set to present upcoming episodes on Friday and Monday - she was initially discovered when BBC Antiques Road Trip visited her in her antique shop in Scotland in early 2015.

Talking about being on the presenting team, Roo said: 'I love every second of it! Its a fabulous presenting team with each person bringing their own personality and style, so its a real honour to join such a line-up!

'I feel like a conductor in an orchestra made up of experts, contestants and crew, and the joy lies in bringing them all together in harmony to make our very own Bargain Hunt music!

Roo, real name Arusha, said: 'As a presenter, I feel it is very much my responsibility to make sure everyone has the best, easiest, smoothest and most fun day possible.

'When everyone finishes up for the day, and there are big smiles and laughter all round, that is the best feeling for me.'

Danny Sebastian, who is gearing up to host the show this month, admitted being asked to join the team was a 'dream come true'.

The presenter first made his Bargain Hunt debut as an expert in 2017, and he has previously hosted Cbeebies Junk Rescue and the series Street Auction.

He gushed: 'Being asked to present Bargain Hunt is such an honour and a pleasure. Its a great, fun, exciting show thats aired all over the world. I mean come on talk about the cat that got the cream!'

Meanwhile, Caroline Hawley said she is 'thrilled and honoured' to be part of the Bargain Hunt presenting team.

She exclaimed: 'It is fantastic to have this amazing role within the Bargain Hunt family where I have been an expert for many years. It is a challenge which I have taken to, with relish!

'It is the best fun ever to spend time with talented experts and crew, and fabulous, enthusiastic teams all on the hunt for bargains.'

The expert initially got involved with the programme in the summer of 2013 after already working on the BBCs Flog It! for a year.

The BBC show has announced a huge shake-up just earlier last week , bringing in a new presenting line up for the new season

Antiques fanatic Roo, 44, is set to present upcoming episodes on Friday and Monday

Caroline Hawley said she is 'thrilled and honoured' to be part of the Bargain Hunt presenting team

Danny Sebastian, who is gearing up to host the show this month, admitted being asked to join the team was a 'dream come true'

Antique expert Eric Knowles (pictured 2023), who hails from Nelson, Lancashire, will continue hosting the programme

The show's youngest presenter, Natasha Raskin Sharp (pictured 2021) also won't be going anywhere

Christina Trevanion will also continue to present the series

Charlie Ross boasts a staggering 50-year career in the business ever since he became an auctioneer in 1963 - he will continue to front the show on a rotational basis

With a career that has lasted over three decades, Caroline opened the doors of her very own antiques shop in 1983 named Penny Farthing Antiques.

Similarly to other Bargain Hunt presenters she has also made appearances on Flog It and Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.

She added that her favourite part of the role is 'the social element and 'meeting new people'.
Rekindled romance: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez sent the pop culture sphere into a frenzy by rekindling their romance after 17 years apart; Ben and Jennifer pictured on July 3

2001

Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez first met on the set of their film Gigli in December 2001.

The movie, upon its eventual release two years later, won seven Razzies and was branded 'unwatchable' by some critics.

It garnered $7.2m in the box office against a reported $55m budget. Yet all was not lost, as the film brought Bennifer closer together.

The beginning: Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez first met on the set of their film Gigli in December 2001

SEPTEMBER 2002

Reunited: While they were yet to know about their looming box office failure, Bennifer were in front of the camera once more in 2002 as they reunited to shoot the 2004 movie Jersey Girl

While they were yet to know about their looming box office failure, Bennifer were in front of the camera once more in 2002 as they reunited to shoot the 2004 movie Jersey Girl.

The movie was where their love was cemented and the couple's romance was born.

Their name was in fact born on-set, as Jersey Girl director Kevin Smith said: 'Bennifer' is trending.

'It's a name I first gave the kids during 'Jersey Girl' pre-production, before the world found out they were dating...

'I'd later drop the name in an interview with the @nytimes. Shortly thereafter, it appeared in the article and then entered the vernacular.'

2002 ONWARD

The duo made their red carpet debut at the premiere of her movie Maid In Manhattan.

From red carpet appearances to Juicy Couture tracksuits, they soon became one of the world's most photographed couples thanks to their Hollywood good looks and glamorous style.

NOVEMBER 2002

Engaged: Ben popped the question to Jennifer in 2002 during a visit to see his family in Boston - leading to a delighted surprise; Ben and Jennifer pictured in 2003

Ben popped the question to Jennifer with an eye-popping 6.1-carat pink solitaire diamond from Harry Winston during a visit to see his family in Boston - leading to a delighted surprise.

She described the proposal, saying: 'It's just a blanket, a quilt of rose petals, all over the whole entire house. So many candles, and vases, bouquets.

'And my song I'm Glad was playing... I walk in and I was just like overwhelmed. I wasn't expecting it, and I was just like 'Oh my God.''

Ben then revealed his mother Christopher Anne Boldt helped him with the proposal, after which Jennifer said: 'I just started sobbing. Crying. I was like 'Oh! My God!''

She went on: 'I had cried a lot over sadness over the years. And for the first time in my life, I cried incredible purging tears of happiness...

'It was the most cleansing feeling and the most wonderful feeling I had ever had.'

Later that month, Ben appeared in Jennifer's Jenny From The Block music video including one scene - designed to look like a stealth paparazzi video - showing the actor caressing her famous derriere.

Not content with a video cameo, Jennifer dedicated her sensual and gushing track Dear Ben from her third studio album This Is Me... Then to her husband-to-be.

SEPTEMBER 2003

Postponed: Days before their wedding, the couple astounded fans when they announced a postponement; Ben and Jennifer pictured in 2003

Days before their highly-publicized wedding, the couple astounded fans when they announced a postponement due to increasingly feverish media attention.

Their statement read: 'Due to the excessive media attention surrounding our wedding, we have decided to postpone the date...

'When we found ourselves seriously contemplating hiring three separate 'decoy brides' at three different locations, we realized that something was awry...

'We began to feel that the spirit of what should have been the happiest day of our lives could be compromised.

'We felt what should have been a joyful and sacred day could be spoiled for us, our families and our friends.'

JANUARY 2004

The couple confirmed their split with a simple statement.

Jennifer's representative announced: 'I am confirming the report that Jennifer Lopez has ended her engagement to Ben Affleck.

'At this difficult time, we ask that you respect her privacy.'

2004 - 2005

Later that year, Jennifer sought comfort in her longtime friend, Marc Anthony, explaining: '[I wanted to] find someone who could make me feel loved and wanted in my loneliest hour...

'Thinking back, maybe deep down I knew that this was a Band-Aid on the cut.'

She married the singer that June and went on to have twins with the star in 2008. She divorced Marc in 2014.

Ben meanwhile wed actress Jennifer Garner in 2005 and they share three children, Violet, 15, Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, 9. The couple split in 2018.

Later in 2004, Jennifer sought comfort in her longtime friend, Marc Anthony and they wed in June (pictured in 2006) Ben meanwhile wed actress Jennifer Garner in 2005 and they share three children, Violet, 15, Seraphina, 12, and Samuel, 9. The couple split in 2018

2012

Ben made it clear that they very much remained friends, when he told The Hollywood Reporter: 'We don't have the kind of relationship where she relies on me for advice but we do have the kind of relationship where there'll be an e-mail saying, 'Oh, your movie looks great'...

'I remember when she got American Idol. I said, 'This was really smart. Good luck.''

'I respect her. I like her. She's put up with some stuff that was unfair in her life, and I'm really pleased to see her successful.'

2014

Two years later, Jennifer told Huffington Post: 'I would do it all over again, I think. I really would. Even the relationship part.

'I just feel like everything is part of your story and your journey and is meant to be and helps you grow if you're willing to look at it, and I'm willing to look.'

2016

Struggles: On making their relationship work, Jennifer detailed why things struggled for the pair

On making their relationship work, Jennifer detailed why things struggled for the pair.

She said: 'I think different time different thing, who knows what could've happened, but there was a genuine love there, We didn't try to have a public relationship...

'We just happened to be together at the birth of the tabloids, and it was like, 'Oh my God.' It was just a lot of pressure.'

APRIL 2021

After being proposed to in 2019, Jennifer unexpectedly called off her engagement to MLB star Alex Rodriguez in April.

'We have realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so. We will continue to work together and support each other on our shared businesses and projects,' read a statement the pair released at the time.

Done! After being proposed to in 2019, Jennifer unexpectedly called off her engagement to MLB star Alex Rodriguez (pictured) in April

Shortly after, Ben was seen arriving at Jennifer's home in a white Escalade SUV that is said to belong to the Hustlers star. He was later seen being dropped off by the singer's security.

They had also reportedly enjoyed several meet-ups at the the Hotel Bel-Air around the same time.

TMZ reported that Affleck had reached out to J-Lo via email while she was in the Dominican Republic shooting her rom-com Shotgun Wedding earlier this year.

The pair are said to have continued communicating until Jennifer wrapped up filming in late April, with numerous sources stating that they were 'just friends.'

MAY 2021

Ben whisked his former flame Jennifer away on a private jet this past weekend for a romantic getaway trip to a luxury ski resort in Montana, where the actor is understood to own a chalet.

In exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com, the former couple appeared relaxed and at ease around one another as they sat side-by-side in an SUV, with the Good Will Hunting star in the driver's seat, amid rumors he's been spending time at the singer's LA mansion on multiple occasions.

In pictures of the pair arriving back to LA, both Ben and Jennifer looked dressed for comfort as they stood close together while exiting the private plane following the short trip, where they had packed a considerable amount of luggage.

Rekindled: In exclusive pictures obtained by DailyMail.com, Ben, 48, and Jennifer, 51, appeared relaxed and at ease around one another as they then sat side-by-side in an SUV in Montana

Sources claimed to E! that the pair spent 'about a week' together at the club, and they 'were alone' during their stay.

Following their getaway, Jennifer made several trips to Los Angeles to spend time with Ben, before the Academy Award-winner jetted off to Miami, Florida to spend time at Lopez's home.

During his stay in Miami, Ben was seen hanging out on Jennifer's balcony smoking cigarettes before joining the superstar for a gym session.

Sources told In Touch that Ben and Jen 'looked madly in love' during their gym date and 'were clearly picking up where they left off in their relationship years ago.

The insider added: 'They even shared a kiss on the gym floor and were super playful with each other between sets.'

May 31, 2021 - Rekindled romance CONFIRMED

After weeks of speculation and sources claiming the pair had taken their friendship to a 'romantic' level, Ben and Jennifer confirmed the news for themselves during a romantic date night in West Hollywood.

During the outing, Jennifer and Ben had their arms wrapped around one another while waiting to be seated at Wolfgang Puck's new restaurant located at the swanky Pendry hotel

The 51-year-old On The Floor singer had her head nestled into the 48-year-old Academy Award-winner's neck as he held her closely with one arm.

JUNE 2021

Relocating? Jennifer sparked rumors that she may relocate from Miami to the West Coast for Ben when she was seen touring school in the LA area for her twins Max and Emme, 13; Ben and Jennifer pictured in July

Jennifer sparked rumors that she may relocate from Miami to the West Coast for Ben when she was seen touring school in the LA area for her twins Max and Emme, 13.

A source told The Sun at the time that Lopez was 'looking towards LA' and that her Miami house reminds Lopez too much of her ex and Los Angeles is perfect for a fresh start as it's convenient for her TV work and photoshoots, which more often take place on the west coast.

In the meantime, Jennifer hunkered down in her $28million mansion in LA and enjoyed several visits to Ben's Brentwood home throughout the month. He also seen leaving her Bel Air abode on several occasions.

Proving their rekindled passions, Jennifer and Ben were spotted kissing one another on June 15 as they attended JLo's sister Lynda's 50th birthday dinner in Malibu.

Also present were Max and Emme, who Ben was seen bonding with during the family gathering at Nobu restaurant.

SUMMER 2021

Blending families: With their relationship in full force, Jennifer and Ben have been working to blend their families

Further blending their families, Ben and Jennifer decided to enjoy a day out at Universal Studios Hollywood ahead of the Fourth Of July holiday.

The couple, who walked with arms wrapped around one another, were joined by Lopez's twins, as well as Affleck's nine-year-old son Samuel.

They would then jet out of Los Angeles to celebrate the Fourth Of July in the Hamptons, along with Lopez's daughter Emme and a pal.

On Thursday, July 15, Ben was spotted driving his girlfriend around as he helped her on her 'hunt for a mega-mansion' in Los Angeles, according to TMZ, further fueling rumors that she plans to relocate to be closer to the actor.

JANUARY - MARCH 2022

With their rekindled relationship moving from strength to strength, Ben and Jennifer began their 'hunt for a mega-mansion' in the Los Angeles area.

They were photographed on a number of occasions checking out sprawling properties across the city.

In late March, TMZ reported that the happy couple are 'in escrow' on a massive $50M mansion with 10 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms in swanky Bel Air

On March 23, Ben supported his pop star girlfriend at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles, where she was honored with the coveted Icon Award.

He was seen sitting in the audience with Jennifer's daughter Emme, 14, and his young son Samuel, nine.

Major moment: On March 23, Ben supported his pop star girlfriend at the iHeartRadio Music Awards in Los Angeles, where she was honored with the coveted Icon Award

APRIL 2022

Following days of speculation - after she was seen with a huge sparkler on her finger - Jennifer confirmed that she was engaged to Ben for the second time in their relationship.

She confirmed the news in a newsletter shared to her official website on Friday, April 8, which included a touching video that showed her getting emotional as she gawked at her engagement ring.

Earlier in the day, just hours before the news broke, Ben and Jennifer was captured touring real estate spaces in Santa Monica. The On The Floor singer was NOT wearing her engagement ring at the time.

Emotional: She confirmed the news in a newsletter shared to her official website on Friday, April 8, which included a touching video that showed her getting emotional as she gawked at her engagement ring

JULY 16, 2022

Jennifer and Ben tied the knot in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022 which was three months after becoming engaged again and 20 years after the actor first got down on one knee.

The Selena actress, 52, confirmed they said 'I do' on her newsletter On The JLo, where she shared details of their intimate wedding held at the Little White Wedding Chapel.

The newsletter was signed 'Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Affleck' and included candid selfies of the newlyweds and video of the couple preparing for their special day, including one of Ben getting ready inside the chapel's bathroom and photos of J.Lo in her wedding dress.

'We did it. Love is beautiful. Love is kind. And it turns out love is patient. Twenty years patient,' she wrote in her post.

Just married! Jennifer and Ben tied the knot in Las Vegas on July 16, 2022 which was three months after becoming engaged again and 20 years after the actor first got down on one knee

Newlywed bliss! The newsletter was signed 'Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Affleck' and included candid selfies of the newlyweds and video of the couple preparing for their special day, including one of Ben getting ready inside the chapel's bathroom

'And this was my wedding changing area!' Ben, wearing a white suit, declared as he held the camera up to a scratched-up mirror

Blushing bride! JLo wore a quaint white dress in video posted to her newsletter. She appeared to be wearing two different white dresses in her post

'Exactly what we wanted. Last night we flew to Vegas, stood in line for a license with four other couples, all making the same journey to the wedding capital of the world. Behind us two men held hands and held each other. In front of us, a young couple who made the three hour drive from Victorville on their daughter's second birthdayall of us wanting the same thing for the world to recognize us as partners and to declare our love to the world through the ancient and nearly universal symbol of marriage.

'We barely made it to the little white wedding chapel by midnight. They graciously stayed open late a few minutes, let us take pictures in a pink Cadillac convertible, evidently once used by the king himself (but if we wanted Elvis himself to show, that cost extra and he was in bed).

'So with the best witnesses you could ever imagine, a dress from an old movie and a jacket from Ben's closet, we read our own vows in the little chapel and gave one another the rings we'll wear for the rest of our lives. They even had Bluetooth for a (short) march down the aisle. But in the end it was the best possible wedding we could have imagined. One we dreamed of long ago and one made real (in the eyes of the state, Las Vegas, a pink convertible and one another) at very, very long last.

'When love is real, the only thing that matters in marriage is one another and the promise we make to love, care, understand, be patient, loving and good to one another. We had that. And so much more. Best night of our lives. Thank you to the Little White Wedding chapel for letting me use the break room to change while Ben changed in the men's room.

Mr and Mrs: JLo shared details of their special day and signed the statement from 'Mrs. Jennifer Lynn Affleck'

Here comes the bride! JLo did several twirls as she showcased her white dress

VIP! Jennifer's 14-year-old Emme looked thrilled to be attending the nuptials

'They were right when they said, 'all you need is love'. We are so grateful to have that in abundance, a new wonderful family of five amazing children and a life that we have never had more reason to look forward to. Stick around long enough and maybe you'll find the best moment of your life in a drive through in Las Vegas at twelve thirty in the morning in the tunnel of love drive through, with your kids and the one you'll spend forever with. Love is a great thing, maybe the best of things-and worth waiting for.'

The content included a video of Ben preparing for their nuptials inside the chapel's pink bathroom.

'And this was my wedding changing area!' Ben, wearing a white suit, declared as he held the camera up to a scratched-up mirror.

Big day: The A-lister took a selfie before a scratched-up mirror as he prepared for his special day

Could be more glamorous! Affleck showed off the pink bathroom he was getting ready in

Jennifer, however, had more luxurious accommodations. She wore a chic yet simple chic dress with her hair styled in waves as she got glammed up inside an elegant bathroom.

'I feel amazing, excited,' Jennifer said before doing several twirls in her dress.

The bride appeared to be wearing two different white dresses in her post - the sleeveless frock and a more traditional lace garment which flashed some cleavage. She tucked a veil into her cascading waves.

The couple collectively known as 'Bennifer' obtained a marriage license in Clark County, Nevada on Saturday and exchanged vows in a 'super small' ceremony.

Jennifer will also be taking Affleck's last name. The Clark County Recorder's Office shows the pop star will be changing her name to 'Jennifer Affleck.' The marriage certificate, however, has yet to be filed.

Marriage officiants have 10 calendar days to submit the certificate to their office for filing, according to the Clark County Clerk's Office.

Marital bliss: Lopez shared a shot of herself lying in bed to her Instagram Story on Sunday and added the Barbra Streisand track Sadie, Sadie in the background

AUGUST 2022

Ben and Jennifer tied the knot for a second time in a breathtaking wedding ceremony at his $8.9 million Georgia 'plantation' mansion surrounded by family, friends and A-List celebrities in August of 2022.

The celebrity couple known as 'Bennifer,' wowed the audience with Lopez wearing a stunning white, Ralph Lauren couture gown complete with long train and veil, while Affleck looked sharp in complementary white and black tuxedo.

Photographs shot from above showed the picture-perfect A-listers embracing one another through smiles at a waterside jetty, outside their enormous mansion, and while walking along a snowy white altar set up especially for the day.

Ben and Jennifer tied the knot for a second time in a breathtaking wedding ceremony at his $8.9 million Georgia 'plantation' mansion surrounded by family, friends and A-List celebrities in August of 2022

The pair's happy reunion came 20 years after they first dated and got engaged, only to call-off their wedding in fall 2003, blaming excessive media attention.

The couple was followed down the aisle after their nuptials by close friends and family, including their children from Jennifer's third husband Marc Anthony, as well as Affleck's first wife Jennifer Garner.

Garner was notable for her absence, with Affleck's brother Casey also declining to attend after saying he had prior parental commitments in Los Angeles.
A proposed measure to supply BART and other Bay Area transit agencies with much-needed funding is dead for this year, lawmakers said. Laure Andrillon/Special to the Chronicle

Bay Area lawmakers abandoned a plan to place a tax measure to fund BART, Muni and other Bay Area transit agencies on the 2026 ballot, vowing to try again next year.

State Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and state Sen. Aisha Wahab, D-Fremont, said in a statement Friday that state officials need more time to work out differences in Senate Bill 1031 and plan to reintroduce similar legislation in 2025.

The announcement came a week after SB1031 passed the California Senate, but the proposal still faced significant obstacles.

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SB1031s main aim was to authorize the nine-county Bay Area to place a 30-year tax measure on the 2026 ballot that would raise up to $1.5 billion annually for transit operations. BART officials are placing all their chips on the public approval of a regional tax measure to avert a fiscal cliff that could destabilize train service.

The regions largest operators  including BART, Muni, AC Transit and Caltrain  project huge operating shortfalls stemming from a precipitous decline in transit ridership since the pandemic. Those large deficits will begin within the next three years as the agencies exhaust whats left of the federal and state subsidies that have kept transit service running.

The legislation also would have required the state to complete a study on whether some of the Bay Areas 27 transit agencies should merge. It also sought to compel agencies to follow through on specific reforms for transit riders or risk losing state funding.

But despite its aim to bail out the regions largest transit systems from financial collapse, SB1031 appeared to have courted more opposition than support from transit agencies and Bay Area politicians.

Some transit agencies opposed the bill because it required a consolidation study that could lead to mergers. Officials in Santa Clara County, meanwhile, pledged to campaign against the tax measure spelled out in SB1031 if it made the ballot. South Bay officials said the proposed measure would have endangered the reauthorization of local sales taxes that heavily subsidize the Valley Transportation Authority, Santa Clara Countys transit operator.

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While we worked very hard to advance SB1031 in order to empower the Bay Area to chart a sustainable transportation future, it has become clear to us that we need more time to build a consensus on how to structure a regional measure that protects Bay Area transit service into the future, Wiener and Wahab said in a statement.

BART and other transit agencies hurtling toward a fiscal cliff can still try to pass a tax measure in 2026 if state lawmakers authorize it next year.

BART officials say the tax measure is their only hope of plugging annual operating deficits approaching $400 million starting in fiscal 2027, which begins July 2026.

Jeffrey Tumlin, director of the SFMTA, told the Chronicle last week that the agency would begin planning for Muni service cuts if the effort to pass SB1031 failed this year.

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Pregnant Hailey Bieber shared her skincare routine while traveling aboard a private jet in a new tutorial video on social media.

The model, 27, who is expecting her first child with husband Justin Bieber, 30, recently returned to her YouTube channel after a three month break.

In her most recent upload, the Rhode Skin founder kept her look simple, wearing a gray sweatshirt .

Her dark blonde bob was pulled back from her makeup free face with a wide black headband.

She accessorized with a large B pendant encrusted with diamonds.

'HBs hydration routine at 31,000 feet ' the company shared on Instagram listing each step and product.

Pregnant Hailey Bieber, 27, shared her skincare routine while traveling aboard a private jet in a new tutorial video on social media

Here she showed off her pregnant belly while in a short top this week

' peptide glazing fluid to draw in water,  face oil for lasting moisture,' and a ' sheet mask to seal it all in,' followed by a '  swipe of peptide lip treatment.'

It was unclear if the face oil and the sheet mask were new Rhode products as neither was listed on the website at the time of publication.

Fans were a bit confused about it a well. 'Whats the face oil?' was a question many had.

'Whats the details on the mask pleasseeee,' asked others.

As she was going through her mile-high skincare routine, the entrepreneur wore the gorgeous new diamond ring she recently received from her husband on her left hand.

The custom piece from Solow & Co. features a large oval-cut diamond set on a simple gold band, according to People.

Hailey and Justin tied the knot in a quicky ceremony at the New York City courthouse in 2018.

the Rhode Skin founder kept her look simple, wearing a gray sweatshirt . Her dark blonde bob was pulled back from her makeup free face with a wide black headband as she applied the first step - 'peptide glazing fluid to draw in water'

The Rhode Skin founder seemed to be introducing two new products not yet available, using 'face oil for lasting moisture,' and a 'sheet mask to seal it all in'

The mom-to-be, who announced she was expecting her first child with husband Justin Bieber earlier this month, wore the gorgeous new diamond ring she recently received from the pop star on her left hand

They held a more formal ceremony for friends and family later than year in Bluffton, S.C. at the Montage Palmetto Bluff.

The couple announced they were expecting their first child together earlier this month, when they shared photos of what appeared to be a vow renewal ceremony in Hawaii.

In a May 2023 interview with The Sunday Times, the cover model revealed the negative comments she and Justin receive on social media made her worried about having children of her own.

'I want kids so bad but I get scared. It's enough that people say things about my husband or my friends. I can't imagine having to confront people saying things about a child,' she said at the time. 'We can only do the best we can to raise them. As long as they feel loved and safe.'
A global orange shortage has sent prices skyrocketing - and it means your morning orange juice could taste different later this year.

Orange juice manufacturers are looking at blending in the juice of other fruits - such as pear, apple and grape - to cut costs.

It emerged this week that the harvest is expected to be down 24 percent on last year, and is on course to be the worst since the late 1980s.

News of that pushed up the price of orange juice concentrate that food companies buy to make drinks. It hit record high of $4.95 a pound - twice what it was a year ago.

Tropicana is the US's biggest juice company. A 52 fluid ounce bottle is $4.29 at Target., up around 30 cents on earlier in the year.

Harry Campbell, a commodity market data analyst at research group Mintec, said that soaring orange juice prices have forced manufacturers to consider alternative fruit.

Orange juice is set to cost more this year due to the shortage of oranges - which could also mean mandarins are used as an alternative

Harry Campbell said that soaring orange juice prices have forced OJ manufacturers to consider alternative fruit juices

'A lot of them will be changing the quantities of juice they are putting in their blends to drop the orange juice and increase other juices, such as pear juice, apple juice, grape juice, so they are less reliant on the orange juice,' Campbell told CNBC via telephone.

The spike in prices is largely due to declining output in Florida, the primary US producer, and disease and extreme weather events in Brazil, which accounts for about 70 percent of global production.

Brazilian orange trees have also been hit hard by citrus greening, a disease that causes fruits to be partially green, small, misshapen, and bitter. Brazil is on track for its worst orange harvest sice 1988-89

'There are three main factors driving the soaring price of orange juice: drought, disease, and demand,' Ted Jenkin, CEO and co-founder of oXYGen Financial, told FOX Business.

In addition, Florida has been devastated by hurricanes and the greening disease,.

'This is a crisis,' Kees Cools, president of the International Fruit and Vegetable Juice Association (IFU), told the Financial Times.

'We've never seen anything like it, even during the big freezes and big hurricanes.'

Brazilian orange trees have also been hit hard by citrus greening, a disease that causes fruits to be partially green, small, misshapen, and bitter. This is a farm in Sao Paulo

In the past, orange juice makers have managed to avoid long-term shortages by freezing juice stock, which can be preserved for up to two years.

Frozen orange juice - which s good for two years - has been used in the past when there are shortages.

But this frozen stock is running low after three years of falling supply forced much of it to be used already.

Cools also said juice makers may have to switch to other fruits.

Mandarin would be an option since its trees are less susceptible to the greening disease. But switching could take time.
Two recently published books provide in-depth examinations of pivotal South Asian political landscapes

I have just finished a book pertaining to election-related data in India and another to Bangladesh and its ties with this country. Chambers Book on Indian Election: Facts (Hachette, India) authored by Kingshuk Chatterjee and Surbek Biswas, an academic and a senior journalist respectively, goes beyond statistics. Figures are integrated into a narrative that encompasses the countrys political and electoral journey since the time of the British Raj and the elections held during it. Post-Independence, it dwells on the functioning of institutions like the Parliament, State legislatures and the judiciary, placing figures in context of an unfolding account of electoral battles, their results and the underlying political currents running throughout the country. It is a heaven-sent for not only scribes but political party functionaries, activists, poll-forecasters, to name a few, who scramble for data with the advent of elections, and, of course, scholars and researchers, hunting for information at all times for doctoral theses or other projects.

Interspersed with the narrative are interesting pieces of not generally remembered information, such as Gian Singh Rarewala being the first non-Congress chief minister of any state in India. He became chief minister of Patiala and East Punjab States Union (PEPSU) at the head of a United Front Government on April 22, 1952. It is a book worth keeping on the shelf.

Transformation, Emergence of Bangladesh and Evolution of India-Bangladesh Ties (Knowledge World and Indian Council of World Affairs), is by a distinguished former officer of the Indian Foreign Service, Pinak Ranjan Chakravarty. It traverses a long time-span from the pre-historic period to the present. While providing an illuminating account of the historical circumstances shaping Bangladeshs emergence and cultural, religious, social and political ethos, the narrative contains several avoidable errors. For example, Chakravarty says that Siraj-U-Doula (the last independent nawab of Bengal) was tortured and brutally killed in prison by Mir Madan, Mir Jafars son. Siraj was killed on July 2, 1757, under orders from Mir Miran, Mir Jafars son. Mir Madan fought loyally for Siraj in the battle of Palashi and died in combat.

Again, Chakravarty writes, The Hindu College in Calcutta came up in 1817 CE and the Serampore College in 1819 CE. The Serampore missionaries also introduced Bengali periodicals and newspapers like Deek Darshan and Samachar Darpan, which were vehicles for campaigning against Sati. The Bengali Bhadralok class was created with such activities.

The emergence of the Bhadralok was a much more complex phenomenon. In Elite Conflict in a Plural Society: Twentieth Century Bengal, J.H. Broomfield has described the Bhadralok as A socially privileged and consciously superior group, economically dependent on landed rents and professional and clerical employment. The factors contributing most to their rise were the Permanent Settlement (1793), which created a class of zamindars and rentiers, the spread of English education, the expansion of British administration which created opportunities for Indians in the bureaucracy and the establishment of a juridical system, networks of medical administration and engineering services, which led to the rise of the professions.

All this deserves mention because Muslim Bhadralok, emerging in the wake of their Hindu predecessors, played an important role in Bangladeshs liberation struggle and its post-independence politics. While the two leading political parties, Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), are led by Sheikh Hasina and Begum Khaleda Zia, both Bhadramahilas (women Bhadralok), the leaders of the organisational layers below them are mainly Muslim Bhadralok.

Its stumbles notwithstanding, the book provides much useful information and insights into the emergence of Bangladesh and the evolution of India-Bangladesh relations with their stormy and sunny interludes. It also provides an exhaustive account of Bangladeshs increasingly contentious internal politics. The books narrative ends before elections to the countrys National Parliament on January 7, 2024, which were boycotted by the BNP and which the AL won securing 224 out of the 300 seats in contest.

Sheikh Hasina, however, has to grapple with the adverse economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine War and the increasing spread of fundamentalist Islam in Bangladesh. The first has led to discontent against her Government. The second, which threatens the secularism embedded in Bangladeshs constitution, led to the rise of terrorist outfits resorting to violent acts, the most outrageous of which was the attack on the Holey Artisan Bakery, a restaurant in a posh Dhaka neighbourhood, in which 20 persons, including an Indian, were killed, on July 1, 2016. Sheikh Hasina has squelched the terrorist outfits but has to deal with kid gloves organisations like Hefazat-e-Islam preaching fundamentalist Islam.

Her ascent to power for the second time as prime minister in 2009, initiated a continuing friendly chapter in India-Bangladesh relations. Nevertheless, pressures on both countries are many and neither can take things for granted. Chakravartys narrative is enriched by his ringside view of events both as Indias Deputy High Commissioner (1999-2002) and High Commissioner (2007-09) to Bangladesh. His book needs to be read, over and over again, by all those interested in India-Bangladesh ties which, in turn, have an important bearing on South Asian geo-politics.

(The author is Consulting Editor, The Pioneer. The views expressed are personal)
Amid acute shortage of water in the national Capital, the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP Government approached the Supreme Court on Friday, seeking its intervention to direct neighbouring States, including Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, to immediately release the additional raw water provided by the Himachal Pradesh to Delhi through the Wazirabad Barrage, to enable urgent mitigation and resolution of the ongoing water and sanitation crisis here.

The plea, filed by Delhi's Water Minister Atishi, has made the Centre, BJP-governed Haryana and Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh parties to the petition and said access to water is essential for survival and one of the basic human rights.

The move comes as Delhi grapples with a severe water crisis, which has affected millions of residents. The BJP lambasted the Kejriwal Government, terming it mismanagement and an artificial water crisis created by the Kejriwal Government while Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made an appeal to the BJP-led Governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to provide water relief to Delhi amidst the ongoing heatwave.

Highlighting the severe water demand caused by the relentless heat, Kejriwal called for a united effort, urging political collaboration over conflict while criticising the Delhi government, Delhi BJP president Virendraa Sachdeva said water crisis in Delhi is a result of mismanagement of Kejriwal.

BJP candidate from New Delhi Lok Sabha seat, Bansuri Swaraj, also said the AAP Government has created an artificial water crisis.

Delhi Water Minister Atishi has also requested the Centre to ensure a provision for the release of spare water from either Uttar Pradesh or Haryana to address the national Capital's unprecedented water crisis. In a letter to Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Atishi said there has been a drastic dip in the water level at the Wazirabad barrage during the last few days as Haryana is not releasing the required quantity in the Yamuna.

The water crisis in Delhi comes at a time when maximum temperature in the national Capital is inching close to the 50 degrees Celsius mark. The minimum temperature is nearly 30 degrees Celsius, 2.8 degrees above normal.

"Access to water is one of the basic human rights of an individual. Not only is water essential for sustenance, but access to water also forms an essential component of the guarantee of dignity and a quality of life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution. The current water crisis, which may only get worse given peak summers and ongoing water shortage, violates the right to a dignified and quality life of the people of the NCT of Delhi, who are unable to access even adequate clean drinking water," the Delhi Government said in its petition before the Supreme Court.

Atishi in her plea, contending that the filing of "this petition has been necessitated by an acute heatwave and an issuance of a red alert in the NCT, with temperatures soaring to a record-breaking high of 52.9 degrees Celsius."

The plea reads that the Petitioner (Delhi) Government has already devised a solution to meet the increased demand for water in the national capital - the State of Himachal Pradesh, Respondent No. 2, has agreed to share its surplus water with Delhi, as per a pre-existing MOU signed in 2019."

It further stated that since Himachal Pradesh does share a physical boundary with Delhi, this water needs to be released to the national Capital through the Wazirabad barrage, which is located in the State of Haryana, Respondent No.1. Therefore, Respondent No.1's facilitation and cooperation, which is not being provided as on date, is imperative.

According to DJB data, there has been a constant decline in water supply over the past week, with the supply levels logged at 984mgd on May 23, 983.2mgd on May 24, 980.73mgd on May 25, 969.32mgd on May 26 and 966.16mgd on May 27, all below the 1,000mgd supply mark. The Wazirabad Barrage in north Delhi forms the primary holding area where raw water is lifted for the Wazirabad and Chandrawal treatment plants, but dwindling water levels have impacted areas that feed these plants.
Women cops greet' Prajwal upon return

Suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, facing sexual abuse allegations, was arrested on Friday upon his return from Germany, a month after he left the country in the wake of explicit videos of his alleged actions doing the rounds in Karnataka's Hassan.

In a clear messaging by the SIT probing the allegations, a team of women police personnel 'welcomed' Prajwal upon his arrival here, as they were deputed to execute a warrant and take him to the CID office for interrogation.

After evading summons and staying out of the country for a little over a month, the 33 year-old grandson of JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda landed at Bengaluru past midnight from Germany's Munich, only to be arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) minutes later and whisked away for questioning.

The NDA Lok Sabha candidate from Hassan, facing allegations of sexually abusing several women, was arrested after completing the due process, and further legal procedures will follow, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said. Prajwal's advocate said the former was extending full cooperation to the SIT probe and cautioned against any media trial in the case.

During the procedure of executing the arrest warrant, he was flanked by the women police personnel who were led by two IPS officers, Suman D Pennekar and Seema Latkar. He was then taken in a jeep in which only women police were present. They took him to the CID office.

The MP was later taken for medical examination under tight security. The SIT is also contemplating a potency test on Prajwal. A potency test is done to ascertain if a rape accused is capable of committing sexual assault on victims.

Meanwhile, Prajwal's advocate, Arun G, too met him. "I went to speak to him. He has told the media that he has come forward to cooperate with the investigation. So he has requested that there be no media trial. Let there be no negative campaign unnecessarily," Arun said.

Deve Gowda had recently issued a 'stern warning' to Prajwal, asking him to return to the country and face probe into the sexual abuse allegations, while asserting there will be no interference from him or other family members into the enquiry.

Denied court relief, Kejriwal is proud of going to jail'

With only two days left for his interim bail to end, AAP convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said he will surrender before the police at Tihar Jail on Sunday. The AAP chief said he feels "proud" that he is going to jail to "save the country from dictatorship". "I will surrender the day after tomorrow. I will leave my house at around 3:00 pm to surrender. It is possible that this time they will torture me more, but I will not bow down", Kejriwal said.

AAP convener is currently out on interim bail, claiming his body has lately shown symptoms of a serious disease. In an emotional video message to the people of Delhi on Friday, Kejriwal, who is supposed to surrender at Tihar Jail on Sunday, June 2, asserted that the work being done in Delhi by his Government will not stop.

"We are all fighting dictatorship together. If something happens to me to save the country, if I even lose my life, do not be sad," said Kejriwal who was arrested in Delhi excise policy case.

He assured the Delhiites that all facilities available to them, including 24-hour free electricity, treatment, bus ride for women will continue.

"We are all fighting dictatorship together. If something happens to me to save the country, if I even lose my life, then do not be sad," Kejriwal said.

He said the Supreme Court had given me 21 days to campaign for the elections.

"Tomorrow 21 days are getting over and I have to surrender the day after tomorrow. I will go back to Tihar Jail the day after tomorrow. I don't know how many days these people will keep me in jail this time. But my spirits are high. I am proud that I am going to jail to save the country from dictatorship. They tried to break me in many ways, tried to bow me down, tried to silence me. But they did not succeed," he said.

The AAP supremo said when he was in jail they tortured me in many ways. "They stopped my medicines. I have been a serious diabetic for 20 years. For the last 10 years I have been getting insulin injections daily. I get injections in my stomach four times every day. In jail, they stopped my insulin injections for many days and my sugar reached 300, 325 (mg/dL). If the sugar remains so high for so many days, then the kidney and liver get damaged. I don't know what these people wanted, why did they do this," he said.

Mentioning about the unexplained weight loss during his incarceration, the AAP convener said during his 50 days stay in jail he lost 6 kilogram of weight.

"When I went to jail, my weight was 70 kilogram. Today it is 64 kilogram. Even after being released from jail, my weight is not increasing. Doctors are saying this can also be a sign of some major disease in the body. Many tests need to be done, ketone level in my urine has also increased a lot," he said.

Assuring the people of Delhi that all the facilities available to them will continue even in his absence, Kejriwal said, "You take care of yourself, I worry a lot about you in jail. If you are happy, then your Kejriwal will also be happy. I will not be among you, of course, but you don't worry, all your work will continue. Wherever I am, inside or outside the jail, I will not let the work of Delhi stop. Your free electricity, Mohalla clinics, hospitals, free medicines, treatment, free bus travel for women, 24 hours electricity and all other works will continue. And after returning, I will also start giving Rs 1,000 every month to every mother and sister," he said.

Making an impassioned appeal to the Delhiites who stood by him in difficult times to look after his aged and ailing parents, the AAP national convenor said, "I have always fulfilled my duty as a son of your family. Today I want to ask something from you for my family. My parents are very old, my mother is very ill and I worry a lot about them in jail. Take care of my parents after I am gone, pray for them, pray to God. Prayers have great power. If you pray for my mother daily, she will definitely remain healthy," he said.
Severe heatwave sweeping Northwest and Central India is increasingly becoming a public health crisis in India with around 71 people succumbing to heat-related illness especially sunstroke since March 1 till date even as Uttarakhand and Jammu region reported forest fires adding complexity to the ongoing situation on Friday.

The reports of deaths and illness cases due to heatwaves continue to surface every day. Tragically, on Friday, as several pockets of Northwest and Central India turned into a baking pan with temperatures soaring as high as 45 degrees Celsius, it proved fatal particularly to the polling personnel.

The Jammu and Kashmir Disaster Management Authority (JKDMA) which is mobilising resources, including drones, to combat the fires has issued an extreme forest fire risk warning for the coming week as temperatures soar and the dry conditions persist.

Fourteen people, including 10 polling personnel lost their lives to heatwave in the last 24 hours in Bihar alone, while four persons succumbed to sunstroke in Jharkhand.

In the eastern State 1,326 people were hospitalised due to the health risks posed by the intense heatwave. Uttar Pradesh's authorities also reported the death of 13 poll personnel in poll-bound Mirzapur district following fever, high BP. However, Principal of Maa Vindhyavasini Autonomous State Medical College Raj Bahadur Kamal said the exact reason is yet to be ascertained.

The deceased include seven Home Guard jawans, three sanitation workers, one clerk posted at the Chief Medical Officer's office, one chakbandi adhikaari (consolidation officer), and one peon in the Home Guard team, according to PTI reports. Meanwhile, the situation in Uttarakhand too is alarming as it has started battling another series of forest fires after a brief lull, affecting over 1,300 hectares and causing significant environmental damage.

Since November 2023, there have been 1,167 forest fire incidents in the State, claiming six lives and injuring five people, as per the officials.

On Thursday, at least 24 people died of suspected heatstroke in India's eastern States of Bihar and Odisha, and the heatwave in the region is expected to continue until Saturday, authorities said. Delhi, which recorded a temperature of 45.4 degrees Celsius on Friday afternoon, reported its first heat-related death this week and is also facing an acute water shortage.

Experts, however, cautioned that death and heat-related illness data might represent only a fraction of the actual impact, highlighting the severe health consequences of humid heat in Northwest and Central regions.

As the intense heatwave wreaks havoc in Bihar, where temperatures soared to 47.1 degrees Celsius in Buxar, the State Government has shut down schools and educational institutions until June 8 and has initiated ex-gratia payments to the families of the deceased.

Till mid-May , the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) had reported 32 confirmed and 28 suspected heatstroke deaths, emphasising the severe health risks posed by the extreme temperatures.

On May 22, two individuals succumbed to suspected heatstroke in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan's Kota, adding to the staggering 16,344 suspected heat stroke cases reported since March 1, with 486 cases documented on that single day.

In the absence of correct data, the number of deaths and cases of illness due to the extreme heat events are not known. For instance, the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences has reported 6,751 heatwave deaths between 2009 and 2022. In contrast, the NDMA recorded 11,090 deaths in the same period.

India has been experiencing a blisteringly hot summer, and a part of Delhi recorded the country's highest ever temperature at 52.9 degrees Celsius this week, though that may be revised with the weather department checking the sensors of the weather station that registered the reading.

While temperatures in Northwestern and Central India are expected to fall in the coming days, the prevailing heatwave over East India is likely to continue for two days, said the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The deaths of 10 people were also reported in the Government hospital in Odisha's Rourkela region on the same day, authorities said, prompting the State Government to suggest residents against outdoor activities between 11 am and 3 pm when temperatures peak.

In Rajasthan, the Government on Thursday announced that five people had died from heatstroke and added that reports about a higher toll being circulated in the media were "beyond facts".
Senior AAP leader and Delhi Water Minister Atishi has urged the BJP led Central Government to ensure a provision for the release of spare water from either Uttar Pradesh or Haryana to address the national capitals unprecedented water crisis.

In a letter to Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Thursday, she claimed, There has been a drastic dip in the water level at the Wazirabad barrage during the last few days as Haryana is not releasing the required quantity in the Yamuna. She added that this has resulted in a massive water crisis in the national capital while highlighting that the temperature in Delhi has touched almost 50 degrees Celsius. This has further intensified the demand for water, putting additional burden on an already-strained demand-supply chain of potable drinking water in Delhi, she said.

Atishi visited the Wazirabad barrage on Thursday and found that the water level at the pond was 670.3 feet against a normal of 674.50 feet. Mentioning that this reduction has a serious impact on the water production capacity of water treatment plants in Delhi, she said, I am writing this letter to bring to your kind notice the unprecedented water crisis situation that the national capital of Delhi is facing. As you are aware, Delhi is heavily dependent on water from the Yamuna river to meet its day-to-day demand.

She stated that if adequate water is not released by Haryana, Delhis water treatment plants will not be able to optimally function. And if the water treatment plants do not function optimally, then Delhi will not be able to meet its demand-supply gap. This will have a serious and direct implication on the people living in the national capital. I have already written to Honble Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini ji to appraise him of the issue. However, we are yet to receive a response from his office, she said.

Highlighting that people from all parts of the country migrate to the national capital in search of a better future, she said, It is our collective responsibility as a nation to ensure that the people of Delhi get the water they need.

Further, she stated, I am writing to request you to ensure that some provision of water is made for NCT of Delhi, be it from Haryana or Uttar Pradesh or any other state that may be able to spare water, so that the people of Delhi dont suffer.

The Delhi government and its citizens will be forever grateful to you if you could kindly intervene and help us solve this crisis. It is imperative that the state of Haryana must immediately release Delhis rightful share of water into the Yamuna river to bring the waters to the normal level of 674.5 feet, she added.

Atishi also said the Delhi government is making all possible efforts to encourage people to use water wisely. A multi-departmental approach is being undertaken to ensure that there is no water wastage. We have formed on-ground teams to take immediate action against those who are found to waste water. However, these standalone steps will not be sufficient to curtail water scarcity in the national capital, Atishi added.
The residents of Delhi continue to face an acute water crisis this summer, with scenes of long queues and people struggling to secure even a basic supply in several areas.

Delhi BJP leader Virendra Sachdeva accused the AAP Government of corruption, alleging mismanagement and wastage of water.

Sachdeva claimed, Haryana is providing water, but by the time it reaches Delhi, 53 per cent gets wasted due to mismanagement.

The BJP leader said the government knows Delhi faces such issues during the summer season and asked why it did not come up with a summer action plan to address the issue.As temperatures soar to nearly 50 degrees Celsius, the demand for water has risen significantly, leaving many desperate and frustrated. The residents in several areas of Delhi are lining up with their plastic containers, anxiously waiting for the water tankers.

Vibha Devi, a resident of Geeta Colony, shared her plight: I stand in line from 4 am, but due to the crowd, I cant reach the water tanker...Its hard to get water.

Asked whether she manages to get water, she said, Sometimes we get water, sometimes we dont. When we dont, we have to buy it from outside and use it sparingly.

Speaking about the insufficient supply of water tankers, another local Gajendra Pratap Singh said, Tanker comes in our area, but its only half full since they need to deliver the other half somewhere else, and for this half, we stand in line from early morning. The frustration is evident among the residents, who jostle for their share as soon as the tanker arrives.

Expressing concern about the problems faced by them, another local Neelam said, We dont even have water to drink. Every day, people are fighting for water as there are thousands waiting in line for three to four hours, but the demand is not being met. Many of them do not get water even after standing in queues with pipes and buckets, she added.

Another local Sabnam echoed similar sentiments and said there are thousands of people waiting for half a tanker of water. Weve been standing in line since 3 am, but theres no water for anyone, she added.

Many people are also taking to social media to complain about the water problem in their areas. Nitesh Singh, a banker living in South Delhi, tagged the government in his post on X, highlighting the severity of the crisis.

He wrote, Dear Sir, I am from Jawahar Park, Khanpur, South Delhi. We are facing a water supply crisis, not even getting a tanker for survival. This is very painful. We regularly call the concerned personnel of DJB, but they are not listening. This is forcing my society and many families to leave Delhi.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made an appeal to the Centre and the BJP to urge the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to help Delhi meet its water demand.

The entire country is experiencing unprecedented heat, leading to a water and electricity crisis. However, water demand has surged while supply from neighbouring states has decreased. We must solve this together.

BJP protests wont help. I urge everyone to set aside politics and work together to provide relief. If BJP can secure some water from Haryana and UP for Delhi, it would be greatly appreciated. Lets unite to provide relief during this heatwave, he wrote on X.
Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) General Secretary, Supriyo Bhattacharya has targeted the Election Commission and BJP by holding a press conference on Friday. He said that the last phase of voting will be held in the Country on June 1. He has attacked the Modi government at the Center by cornering the Election Commission. He also said that this is the first time in the history of India that a general election has lasted for such a long time.



Bhattacharya said that the 2024 general election has been held for a full 82 days. Accusing the BJP, he said that the purpose of prolonging the election was only to divide the people by spreading hatred among the people. The language used by the star campaigners of BJP is shameful. The public will give a befitting reply by voting. It is worth noting that voting is to be held on June 1 on the remaining three Santhal seats in Jharkhand, which include Godda, Rajmahal and Dumka, he added.



The party General Secretary said that this is not just an election, but a fight for one's rights. He said that this election is a question of the identity of the indigenous, tribals, minorities, farmers, laborers, women, youth of Jharkhand and the way BJP's arrogance speaks in Santhal Pargana, Adani's looting is going on, we have to vote against him. He said that how the society can be divided, it was seen in Santhal Pargana. Accusing BJP, he said that they have divided not only the society but also the family. He claimed that the India Alliance government will be formed on June 4 and we are eagerly waiting for it.



Bhattacharya said that tomorrow there is voting on 3 seats of Santhal. He appealed to the voters to vote in maximum numbers. If possible, there should be 100 percent voting. No matter how hot it is, leave your homes and go to the polling booths to vote. Carry enough drinking water with you, but definitely vote, he added.
The Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Friday launched a scathing attack against the AAP led Delhi Government over the water crisis, while calling the attitude of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his Government irresponsible

In a letter, he said, For the last few days, Delhi Governments extremely irresponsible attitude regarding water has been seen in Delhi. Today, women, children, old and young people are seen running behind tankers for a bucket of water, risking their lives. Probably no one would have imagined that such heart-rending scenes would be seen in the countrys capital. But, the government is blaming other states for its failures. The promise of 24-hour water supply in Delhi by the Chief Minister has proved to be a hoax till now.

While claiming that Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are continuously supplying their allotted quota of water to Delhi, he claimed, Despite this, the biggest reason for the terrible shortage of water in Delhi today is that 54 per cent of the water being produced has no accounting. 40 per cent of the water is wasted during supply due to old and dilapidated pipelines. Despite thousands of crores of rupees being spent by the Delhi government in the last ten years, neither the old pipelines could be repaired or replaced, nor enough new pipelines laid. The worst part is that this water is stolen and sold to the poor people by the tanker mafia.

Highlighting the disparity between the distribution between the rich and the poor, he said, It is unfortunate that while on one hand, 550 litres of water is being supplied per person on an average in the rich areas of Delhi, only 15 litres of water is supplied per person on an average in the villages and slums.

He further stated, I have been told that even today, except Wazirabad, all the water treatment plants in Delhi are producing more water than their capacity. The Wazirabad treatment plant is not able to work to its full capacity because the reservoir of the barrage, where the water coming from Haryana is stored, is almost completely filled with silt. Due to this, the capacity of this reservoir, which used to be 250 million gallons, has reduced to only 16 million gallons.
Papa Jake Larson, 101, who fought during D-Day in World War II, sits on a private airplane at Signature Aviation at San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport in Oakland on Friday before flying out to attend ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the event. Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle Papa Jake Larson, 101, who fought during D-Day in World War II, sits on a private airplane at Signature Aviation at San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport in Oakland on Friday before flying off on a trip to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the event in France. Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle Captain Robert Luckey with Wheels Up, a private jet operator, speaks with Kurt Larson, the eldest son of Papa Jake Larson, 101, who fought during D-Day in World War II, as Kalynn Larson, granddaughter of Papa Jake and friend Jack Gant look on at Signature Aviation at San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport in Oakland on Friday. Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle

A 101-year-old World War II veteran from Martinez jetted off from Oakland on Friday to return to Normandy, where 80 years ago he dodged machine-gun fire and helped run the U.S. Armys operations on Omaha Beach each night after it was taken.

Jake Larson, known to friends and family as Papa Jake, settled into a leather seat on a private jet at San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport and spoke briefly with the Chronicle before takeoff. He referred to himself as the luckiest man in the world for surviving the invasion.

While he vividly remembers the assault, a turning point in the war, Larson focused on those who died on the beaches of Normandy.

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Every one of the people I was with are gone, he said. Ive got their memories and I thank them  all those people who gave their lives so that I could come back.

Papa Jake Larson, 101, who fought during D-Day in World War II, holds his hands while sitting on a private airplane at Signature Aviation at San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport in Oakland on Friday. Larson said he was excited about attending the events celebrating the Normandy invasion. Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle

With the help of his grandkids, Papa Jake has also become somewhat of a social media star, posting pictures and videos of his World War II memories and his life to TikTok. His account, @storytimewithpapajake has more than 800,000 followers.

Larson was headed first to Eureka to pick up George K. Mullins, another Normandy survivor from California, before making a four-hour flight to Atlanta. A dinner to honor the men and about 50 other Normandy veterans was scheduled for the weekend before the group boarded a chartered flight to Normandy.

An international ceremony Thursday will commemorate the 80th anniversary of the June 6, 1944, invasion  the largest amphibious invasion in history. More than 4,000 Allied troops were killed on D-Day, including more than 2,500 Americans. The ensuing Battle of Normandy claimed another 73,000 members of the Allied forces.

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About 200 veterans will join a host of world dignitaries, including President Joe Biden, for the ceremony.

Papa Jake Larson, 101, who fought during D-Day in World War II, speaks about his experience in the military while sitting on a private airplane at Signature Aviation at San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport in Oakland on Friday. Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle

Wearing a blue button-down shirt embroidered with his name and U.S. Army WWII, Larson recounted parts of his military career, which started at the age of 15 in Hope, Minn., after he and a cousin lied about their ages in order to enlist.

No examination, no ID checks of any kind, we were in the service, he recalled. We were just kids.

Six years later, he was running onto Omaha Beach, dodging gunfire and shrapnel without being wounded. He was promptly assigned to oversee the operations of Omaha Beach during the night shift, a job he maintained through the Battle of the Bulge.

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Although this is Larsons third trip back to Normandy  he also attended commemorations of the 75th and 78th anniversaries  he said he woke up on Friday with his heart racing with excitement at the events ahead.

Papa Jake Larson, 101, who fought during D-Day in World War II, wears a hat covered in pins and memorabilia while sitting on a private airplane at Signature Aviation at San Francisco Bay Oakland International Airport in Oakland on Friday. Larson has become a social media star on TikTok with the help of his grandchildren. Jungho Kim/Special to the Chronicle

He said he was most looking forward to visiting with two French children he met at parades on a previous trip and who have visited him in Martinez.

I fell in love with them and they fell in love with me, he said. The only thing they could say in English was We love you, Papa Jake. 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath led the election campaign in Uttar Pradesh by holding rallies and roadshows across the state.

Prime Minister Modi campaigned for 58 Lok Sabha candidates through 32 rallies across UP and held roadshows in five cities, including Varanasi.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed 205 public meetings and roadshows nationwide, with 159 of them in Uttar Pradesh alone.

Bharatiya Janata Party president Nadda held nine rallies in UP while Union Home Minister Amit Shah held 38 rallies and roadshows in the state.

The election notification was issued on March 16, and the BJP leaders immediately began their campaigns. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath kicked-off the partys campaign with a conference in Mathura, followed by Prime Minister Modis first rally in Meerut on March 31.

Despite the intense summer heat, all prominent BJP leaders, including the prime minister, vigorously campaigned in UP over the past two and a half months.

During the campaign, Prime Minister Modi engaged with the public not only through rallies but also via roadshows, and interacted with BJP workers through the NaMo App, and Nari Vandan conferences.

Similarly, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath participated in public meetings, roadshows, and various conferences, including 13 prabuddhajan (intellectuals), womens lawyers and worker conferences. Yogi addressed 16 joint rallies with Prime Minister Modi and participated in five roadshows with him.

Prime Minister Modi held his last rallies in Mirzapur, Ghazipur and Bansgaon on May 26, while Chief Minister Yogi conducted his final roadshow in Gorakhpur on Wednesday. On the last day of campaigning, Modi campaigned in Punjab, while Yogi campaigned in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

Throughout the campaign, Prime Minister Modi and Chief Minister Yogi held joint rallies in various constituencies including Saharanpur, Pilibhit, Meerut, Amroha, Aligarh, Agra, Etawah, Barabanki, Mohanlalganj, Basti, Dumariyaganj, Sant Kabir Nagar, Ghazipur, Lalganj, Mirzapur and Robertsganj.

The two leaders also held roadshows together in Ghaziabad, Bareilly, Kanpur, Ayodhya and Varanasi.

Over the past two and a half months, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath held 205 public meetings nationwide, with 159 in Uttar Pradesh alone. His demand extended beyond the state, as he held 46 rallies across 16 states, including Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan and Chandigarh.
The national Capital witnessed temperatures soaring to 50 degrees celsius for the sixth continuous day on Friday as Mungeshpur area, which has recorded 53 degrees celsius on Thursday, recorded a roasting temperature of 49.6 degrees celsius.

In the areas in the northwest border of Delhi like Mungeshpur, Narela and Najafgarh, temperature hovered around 50 degrees celsius for about a week. In Narela, the maximum temperature recorded was 49.4 degrees celsius, while in Najafgarh it was 49.2 degrees celsius.

Albeit, bringing respite to the heat stricken public of Delhi, reeling under temperature soaring more than 45 degrees celsius consistently and prevailing heatwave conditions for the past few days, light rain and thunderstorm have been forecast on Friday for the city. While, the maximum temperature recorded at the Safdurjung station, considered as a parameter for the whole of Delhi, is 45.8 degrees Celsius, 6 degrees above the normal, the minimum temperature settled at 27 degrees celsius according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Humidity was recorded at 23 per cent at 6:30 pm.

The IMD predicted a partly cloudy sky with heat wave to severe heat wave conditions with the possibility of a dust storm. There is a possibility of thunderstorms with very light rain drizzle accompanied with gusty winds with speeds of 25 to 35 kmph.

Amid the roasting temperature in the national capital, Delhiites have been grappling with issues of water shortage and power cuts due to unprecedented summer heat with temperatures hovering around the 50 degrees Celsius mark in parts of the city. Residents have been facing such water crises across various parts of the national capital, including Chanakyapuris Sanjay Camp area and East Delhis Geeta Colony. Videos on social media show desperate citizens rushing at the sight of tankers to fetch water for their survival. Another one showed people lining up outside the Delhi Jal Board (DJB)s water emergency counter to book tankers. People living in the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) area, Patel Nagar, North and South Delhi, including areas like Mehrauli and Chattarpur, are also facing similar issues.

Upon the issue of water shortage, both the ruling AAP led Delhi government and BJP are face to face with the former approaching the Supreme Court over the alleged non release of Delhis water share by Haryana. The BJP, in turn, are blaming Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for creating this crisis by doing corruption.

Meanwhile, the Delhi University on Thursday said 25 water coolers will be installed at various spots on the premises to address the ongoing water crisis on the campus. The decision was taken in a meeting of Delhi University Students Union (DUSU) representatives and DU officials, according to a statement.

A student delegation led by DUSU Secretary Aparajita met Vice Chancellor Yogesh Singh to present a memorandum detailing various campus-related demands. The memorandum highlighted the urgent need for clean and cold drinking water, particularly in the Faculty of Arts, Central Library, and North Campus hostels.

Recognising the severity of the ongoing heat wave in the national capital, Singh instructed the installation of 25 water coolers across the campus. He also assured the student delegation that the university would take immediate and further necessary steps to improve campus facilities.

Additionally, in a statement, the JNUSU announced that the Jawaharlal Nehru University can also set up water collection centres and check dams within the campus in view of students long standing demand to address the issue of water scarcity at the university.
BJP state in-charge and chief whip in Rajya Sabha Dr. Laxmikant Vajpayee today claimed victory of NDA on all 14 Lok Sabha seats of Jharkhand. He also launched a big attack on the state's thugbandhan government and IndI bloc.

Dr. Vajpayee said that two revolutions are important in Jharkhand, which include Bhagwan Birsa Munda's Ulgulan and Amar Shaheed Sidhu Kanhu's Hul. He said that June is the month of Santhal Hul revolution. Santhal society is ready to do Hul for Congress JMM free Jharkhand.

Vajpayee said that due to politics of appeasement, clouds of crisis are looming over the existence of Santhal society. Bangladeshi intruders have not only changed the demography but also looted both land and conscience. The unique culture is the identity of Santhal society, which is being tried to be eliminated under the protection of the state government. JMM Congress RJD Thugbandhan are erasing the identity and identity of Santhals due to vote bank. Said that to save its power, the Indi Thugbandhan has mortgaged Santhal Pargana to the intruders.

He said that the land of the tribal society is being looted by the intruders through love jihad. Ration cards, Aadhaar cards, voter IDs of the intruders are being made under the protection of Congress JMM.

He said that on the other hand, there is a naked dance of corruption. Mines, minerals, stones, coal and sand are being looted. Everyone knows that scams worth more than one thousand crores have been exposed in Sahibganj district alone. Today, former Chief Minister Hemant Soren, who is involved in corruption, is in jail. Government minister Alamgir Alam is in jail. Many IAS officers are in jail. And many are seen standing in the queue to go.

He said that leaders of the Indi Alliance are doing both theft and bragging. They are misleading the public by linking corruption to caste, religion and community. Whereas the public is understanding their cunning very well. Vajpayee said that today the public is seeing the development works of the Modi government, whether it is establishment of AIIMS in Deoghar, airport or railway facilities, construction of highways, construction of bridge in Sahebganj on river Ganga. On the other hand, they are remembering the development works done by the BJP in the state government.

He said that the public has tested the intentions and policies of the Congress-JMM government. The public has understood that JMM-Congress wants power only to loot and earn money, whereas BJP is determined and dedicated for development. The public has full faith in Modi's guarantee.

He said that the way lakhs of people gathered in the scorching heat to listen to Modi ji's rallies, that scene is enough to understand the mood of the public. The BJP leader said that the Hul that will be done from the land of Santhal through votes on 1st June will be against corruption, loot, love jihad, land jihad, infiltration, appeasement.

Dr Vajpayee said that after June 4, the action against corruption and corrupt people will be intensified in the country, BJP will never allow Jharkhand to become a land of loot and infiltration. Infiltrators will be selectively thrown out.

He said that the countdown of the corrupt, useless and loot-involved state government of Jharkhand will begin. The fight for power will come to the fore in the Indy Thugbandhan. Hemant Soren is in jail, Champai Soren is in power and Kalpana Soren ji is on the way to power. Amidst this struggle, the path of a strong and honest NDA government dedicated to development in the state will also be paved. State General Secretary Manoj Kumar Singh, State Media in-charge Shiv Pujan Pathak and Spokesperson Avinesh Kumar Singh were also present in today's press conference.
Executive Chairman, Jhalsa of Jharkhand High Court, Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad took cognizance of the case of deceased Baleshwar Oraon in the Angada-witch hunting incident published on Thursday in the newspaper and has ordered the District Legal Services Authority, Ranchi to immediately meet the family of the deceased and provide necessary assistance.



In the light of this instruction, Judicial Commissioner-cum-Chairman, DLSA, Ranchi, Diwakar Pandey ordered the DLSA Secretary to immediately form a team and provide legal assistance to the victim's family. In the light of this order, Secretary District Legal Services Authority, Ranchi Kamlesh Behera formed a team, in which Dulari Kumari, Panel Advocate, PLV, Baby Sinha and Tara Minj have been appointed.



Sinha and Minj met the victim's family and gave information about the free legal assistance provided by DALSA.



Ranchi DALSA will provide assistance to the victim's family for the case and Advocate Dulari Kumari has been appointed by the DLSA for legal assistance to the victim's family. Also, the injured Shanichariya Devi, wife of the deceased, was given proper treatment at Ranchi Sadar Hospital and her Ayushman card was also made from Sadar Hospital under Ayushman Bharat Health Scheme.



The process of compensation for the victim was taken forward by DLSA, Ranchi under the Jharkhand Victim Compensation Scheme. As per the instructions of the Executive Chairman, JHALSA, the DLSA Secretary himself met the victim's family and provided a cheque of Rs 10,000 as interim compensation to the family of the deceased. Apart from this, the process of making widow pension of the deceased's wife and job cards of the three sons under the welfare scheme of the government was also taken forward.



The Block Development Officer (BDO) Angada Block, Jaipal Soye, present on the spot, assured to provide employment to the three sons of the deceased under MGNREGA.



In reference to the incident, legal awareness was also organized among the villagers in Jarga village, village, Tetri Toli of Angada block under the leadership of DALSA Secretary, where Soye, Angada Police Station In-charge, Chamra Minj, Panel Advocate, Dulari Kumari, Village Head-Christina, PLV-Baby Sinha were present. Behera said that witch hunting is a superstition; there is a provision of punishment for it in the law. Do not harass anyone in the name of witch hunting; it is a serious crime, which DALSA is moving forward to end by running awareness programs from time to time.



The BDO said that such an incident is condemnable. People are harassed in the name of witch hunting, which is absolutely wrong. DALSA always creates awareness on this subject through various programs, which is commendable. Angada Police Station Officer said on the spot that we are alert to prevent recurrence of such incidents and strict action under law will be taken against those involved in such crimes.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Friday asked his party workers, candidates and office-bearers to remain "vigilant" against the "lies" of the BJP and "its exit polls."

In an appeal in Hindi on X, Yadav wrote, "Today I am making an extremely important appeal to you. All of you should remain fully alert, vigilant and cautious during the voting tomorrow and also in the days after the voting, till the counting of votes is over and you receive the certificate of victory. Do not get misled by the BJP."

In the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections, polling will be held in 13 Lok Sabha seats of Uttar Pradesh on June 1 between 7 am and 6 pm.

Yadav went on to allege that the BJP will start spreading lies once the polling is over on Saturday.

"Actually I am making this appeal because the BJP people have made a plan that as soon as the elections are over tomorrow evening, they will start getting their 'media group (media mandali)' to say on various channels that the BJP has got a lead of around 300 seats, which is completely false," Yadav wrote.

He went on to caution the party workers to not believe any such claim and alleged that the BJP can "rig the counting".

"In such a situation, the question will arise in your mind that what will the BJP get by lying for two-three days when the INDIA alliance government is going to be formed. In answer to this, let me tell you that by spreading such lies, the BJP people want to demoralise all of you, so that your enthusiasm is reduced and you people do not remain alert and active on the day of counting," he said.

Taking advantage of this, the BJP can rig the counting in connivance with some corrupt officials, he added.

Yadav went on to remind the workers about the poll rigging in the Chandigarh mayor election.

"Remember, those BJP members who can have the audacity to rig the Chandigarh mayor election in front of the cameras installed by the court, can resort to any kind of fraud to win the election. That is why this alertness is necessary," he added.

"That is why it is a special appeal to you people that you should not get influenced by any BJP's 'exit poll' and remain fully alert. Maintain your confidence and stand firm," he said.

Yadav finally wrote to his party candidates, office-bearers and workers to remember the basic mantra of victory -- "voting and being cautious". He asked them to celebrate the victory of the Constitution, democracy and the people of the country only after getting the certificate of victory.

The SP and alliance partner of INDIA bloc are contesting on 62 seats in UP. The Congress on other hand has fielded its candidate for 17 seats while for one seat (Bhadohi), the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) has fielded its candidate.
Thirteen Lok Sabha seats, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Varanasi, will go to polls in the last and seventh phase of the general elections on Saturday.

Polling in the state, which sends 80 members to the Lower House of Parliament, is being held in all seven phases of the election.

The bypoll for the Duddhi (ST) assembly constituency in Sonbhadra district will also be held on Saturday. Six candidates are contesting from the seat that fell vacant after BJP MLA Ram Dular's disqualification following his conviction in a rape case.

The parliamentary seats where polling will take place are Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Bansgaon (SC), Ghosi, Salempur, Ballia, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur and Robertsganj (SC), spread across 11 districts.

Uttar Pradesh is a seeing a direct contest between the BJP-led NDA and the coalition of INDIA bloc members Samajwadi Party and Congress.

Besides Prime Minister Modi, who is a seeking a third term from Varanasi, there are 143 candidates in the fray.

Among the prominent Lok Sabha seats are Varanasi, Gorakhpur, which has been represented by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath five times, Chandauli, Maharajganj and Mirzapur from where Union ministers Mahendra Nath Pandey, Pankaj Chaudhary and Anupriya Patel are contesting, respectively, Ghazipur from where the late Mukhtar Ansari's brother Afzal Ansari is in the fray and Ballia from where former prime minister Chandrashekhar's son Neeraj Shekhar is contesting.

Campaigning for the 13 seats in Uttar Pradesh ended on Thursday evening.

Of the 144 Lok Sabha poll candidates in this phase, 134 are men and 10 women candidates. There are 11 general category and two SC reserved seats.

Prime Minister Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh were among the star campaigners for the NDA. The INDIA bloc saw Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and his wife Dimple Yadav canvassing for candidates of the alliance, with roadshows in Varanasi and Gorakhpur.

While Gandhi contested the polls from Rae Bareli in the fifth phase on May 20, Akhilesh Yadav was fielded by the SP in Kannauj that went to polls in the fourth phase on May 13 and Dimple Yadav from Mainpuri where voting was held in the third phase on May 7.

During campaigning, the BJP alleged that the INDIA bloc would bring in Muslim reservation and put the "Babri lock" on Ayodhya's Ram temple, if voted to power. The opposition alliance urged people not to vote for the BJP to "save" the Constitution and democracy.

BJP's key allies NISHAD Party and Om Prakash Rajbhar's SBSP have candidates in this phase. Ally Apna Dal (Sonelal)'s Anupriya Patel is seeking reelection.

Mayawati's BSP has also fielded candidates, including in Varanasi and Gorakhpur.

State Chief Electoral Officer Navdeep Rinwa said there are 2,50,56,877 voters in the 13 Lok Sabha seats in the seventh phase, including 1,33,10,897 men, 1,17,44,922 women and 1,058 transgender people.

Polling parties left for their respective centres on Friday, he said.

Rinwa said carrying mobile-phone or wireless set inside a polling booth is prohibited on the day of polling, June 1. In view of the heat, adequate quantity of ORS and medical kits will be kept at polling stations along with arrangements for cold water and proper shadem he said.

Voting will be held from 7 am to 6 pm on Saturday.
Prajwal Revanna, the suspended JD(S) MP facing sexual abuse allegations, was arrested on Friday upon his return from Germany, a month after he left the country in the wake of explicit videos of his alleged actions doing the rounds in Karnataka's Haasan.

In a clear messaging by the SIT probing the allegations, a team of women police personnel 'welcomed' Prajwal Revanna upon his arrival here, as they were deputed to execute a warrant and take him to the CID office for interrogatrion.

After evading summons and staying out of the country for a little over a month, the 33 year-old grandson of JD(S) supremo and former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda landed here past midnight from Germany's Munich, only to be arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) minutes later and whisked away for questioning.

The NDA Lok Sabha candidate from Haasan, facing allegations of sexually abusing several women, was arrested after completing the due process, and further legal procedures will follow, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said.

Prajwal's advocate said the former was extending full cooperation to the SIT probe and cautioned against any media trial in the case.

"Prajwal Revanna landed around 12.40-12:50 am from Germany's Munich. As there was an arrest warrant against him, SIT accordingly arrested him and took him into custody and further legal procedures they will follow today," Parameshwara said.

Speaking to reporters here, he said, "...Naturally he should have cooperated to the arrest. His immigration papers were cleared and he was brought out (of airport). As he had a diplomatic passport, things happened easily. After completing all the due process, he was arrested," he added.

Asked if the government will appeal to more victims to come forward following his arrest, Parameshwara said, "We have already said, those who have faced trouble from him to come forward and give complaints to SIT and police, and we will provide them all kind of protection. We will have to wait and see further developments."

The SIT, sending out a message, deputed an all-woman police team to execute the warrant against Prajwal.

Soon after he alighted from the plane from Munich, he was received by women in Khaki, sources in the SIT said.

During the procedure of executing the arrest warrant, he was flanked by the women police personnel who were led by two IPS officers, Suman D Pennekar and Seema Latkar. He was then taken in a jeep in which only women police were present. They took him to the CID office.

"It was a conscious call to send women officers to arrest Prajwal, sending home a message that the JD(S) leader exploited his seat and power as an MP with women. The same women have authority to arrest him through all legal proceedings," a source in the SIT said.

There was also a symbolic message to the alleged victims that women officers were not afraid of anyone, the source added.

The MP was later taken for medical examination under tight security. Escorted by female police officials, he was taken to Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital here.

The SIT is also contemplating a potency test on Prajwal. A potency test is done to ascertain if a rape accused is capable of committing sexual assault on victims.

Meanwhile, Prajwal's advocate, Arun G, met him here.

"I went to speak to him. He has told to the media that he has come forward to cooperate with the investigation. So he has requested that there be no media trial. Let there be no negative campaign unnecessarily," Arun said.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Prajwal, he said the Hassan MP is before the SIT to give the fullest cooperation.

"Prajwal said -- I have come forward, the whole purpose of me coming to Bengaluru or before SIT is that I have to stand by my words. I have come forward. I will give the fullest cooperation -- these are his words," he added.

The advocate said he had explained to Prajwal about how the court procedures would work.

Prajwal had on May 29 filed an anticipatory bail plea at the Principal City and Sessions Court for Elected Representatives, which issued a notice to the SIT to file objections before posting the hearing for Friday.

In the first case registered against him at the Holenarasipura Town police station in Hassan on April 28, Prajwal is accused of sexually harassing a 47-year-old former maid. He is listed as accused number two, while his father and Holenarasipura MLA, H D Revanna, is accused number one.

Prajwal has been so far booked in three cases of sexual assault. There are also charges of rape against him.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has served a show-cause notice to Prajwal asking why his diplomatic passport should not be cancelled as sought by the Karnataka government in view of allegations of sexual abuse against him.

Deve Gowda had recently issued a 'stern warning' to Prajwal, asking him to return to the country and face probe into the sexual abuse allegations, while asserting there will be no interference from him or other family members into the enquiry.

The JD(S) supremo had reiterated that his grandson should be given the harshest punishment under the law "if found guilty".

Prajwal's uncle and former Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy too had repeatedly appealed to his nephew to return to the country from abroad and face the probe.

JD(S) has suspended Prajwal Revanna from the party following the allegations.
At least 28 people, including women and children, were killed on Wednesday in Pakistan after a speeding passenger bus veered off the road and fell into a ravine in the remote Balochistan province, according to media reports.

The bus, heading from Turbat to Quetta, fell into the ravine near Washuk town, around 700 kilometres from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province. The accident was a result of overspeeding, according to the report, which said that women and children were among the deceased.

The accident took place after the tyre of the passenger bus burst, Geo News reported quoting rescue officials.

About 22 people sustained injuries in the accident.
To understand how the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection became mired in accusations of favoritism and preferential treatment for well-connected builders, start with one chimney and two old friends, John Pollard and Ed Sweeney.

Back in 2016, landlord Sal Salma had paid Pollard, the founder and CEO of SF Garage Co., almost $300,000 to strengthen the foundation and do other work at a century-old apartment building on Lombard Street that he had bought in hopes of adding three more rental units.

The work, including a seismic retrofit, had commenced that year and was supposed to take a few months. But by late 2018 the renovation work still wasnt done, and Salmas tenants were fed up with living in a construction zone.

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A building inspector visited the property and issued Salma a notice of violation stating that Pollards work on the chimney had left it unsafe. The designation meant Salma couldnt charge rent until the violation was addressed, and opened him up to potential legal action by tenants.

But when an increasingly desperate Salma asked Pollard to fix the chimney, he said, Pollard responded by threatening to summon city building inspectors to other properties Salma owned to look for possible violations that would cause him even more trouble. He later said Salma would need to pay more to fix the issue.

Salma refused to pay for work he believed was already covered by the contract. As the violation went uncorrected and DBI prepared to hold a hearing about the propertys fate, Pollard reached out to Sweeney, then a high-ranking official at the department.

He asked Sweeney to postpone the meeting.

What followed was a quintessential San Francisco story about how the line between government and the governed can be notoriously blurry  and nowhere has that been more evident than among the building department and the builders it regulates. Neither Pollard nor Sweeney have been accused of criminal wrongdoing in Salmas case, but their actions are indicative of the importance of personal relationships in the citys much criticized permitting process.

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Salmas experience came amid a bruising FBI investigation into corruption at City Hall. The probe found alarming practices at DBI, such as rubber-stamping building plans in exchange for bribes. Investigators also uncovered conflicts of interests, improper relationships and nepotism that they said crossed ethical lines.

One corrupt structural engineer employed the son of Tom Hui, the former top official at DBI. A developer who spent years bribing plan checkers also employed a building inspectors daughter  and gave the bureaucrat a $260,000 interest-free loan.

The FBI investigation led to charges against three former DBI employees and prompted Huis resignation, as well as to convictions of prominent developers, a prolific permit expediter and a former president of the Building Inspection Commission.

After the FBI investigation, the city attorneys office conducted its own probe and found that Huis leadership set an unethical tone at the department.

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Pollard and Sweeney, who was one of three deputy directors at DBI until he retired in 2020, were not named in the FBI investigation. Sweeney is now working as a consultant for local property owners. Pollard is developing properties in San Francisco and Sonoma County.

The city attorneys office, which handles civil cases and does not file criminal charges, told the Chronicle it is investigating Pollards work as part of its own examination of municipal corruption in San Francisco. Pollard, Sweeney and Hui did not respond to requests for comment.

Impasse over repairs

Sal Salma points out shoring for a chimney at his property on Lombard Street in San Francisco. Salma has had issues with a contractors work at the property, which has caused a dispute between him and the city. Benjamin Fanjoy/The Chronicle

Before he started doing business with Pollard, Salma, had built a successful San Francisco real estate company with his wife after immigrating to San Francisco more than 60 years ago. Through a separate entity he started with his three children, Salma purchased the apartment building on Lombard Street near Russian Hill in 2015. The century-old building had six tenants but needed a lot of work, including a soft story retrofit to make it earthquake-resistant.

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The next year, Salma and Pollard drew up a contract for the needed repairs for $352,000. Pollards company agreed to complete the work two to three months from the start of the project.

Workers descended on the property in April 2016. They ripped up concrete and laid rebar and installed plumbing. But the work slowed to a crawl, and Pollards employees ultimately disappeared, Salma told the Chronicle. Salma continued to try to get Pollard and his crews to complete the work they promised to do, according to a lawsuit he filed against Pollard and SF Garage Co. in 2022. The lawsuit is still pending in San Francisco Superior Court.

In May 2018, Pollard noted in an email to DBI that his firm had been off the job for the past 8 plus months.

Salma, who was fighting cancer, had turned the project over to his children. His daughter, Rhanda Salma, said she and her two siblings sent email after email trying to get Pollard to finish the work.

It didnt make any sense to us, she said.

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With the buildings tenants growing weary of living in a construction zone and the Salmas concerned about Pollards work, a DBI inspector visited in November 2018. Thats when he cited the property, declaring it unsafe and saying that the chimney was not properly supported. He ordered it shored up within 24 hours.

Attorneys for the Salmas sent a letter demanding Pollard finish the work. Salma said that during a subsequent December 2018 meeting, the contractor threatened to summon building, plumbing and electrical inspectors to Salmas other properties to look for code violations.

In the work they had done before vanishing, Pollards crews had removed the base of the chimney, installed a steel plate under a former fireplace, and done some shoring. Pollard and his engineer disputed that the work they had completed was unsafe.

Two weeks later, with the situation unchanged, DBI inspectors scheduled a directors hearing, which would allow the department to issue an order of abatement requiring Salma to fix the problem.

The day before the hearing, Pollard emailed Sweeney, using Sweeneys personal email account, and asked him to delay the hearing, DBI records show. DBI typically allows homeowners or their representatives one 30-day delay. The following day, the department granted a postponement.

But for reasons that remain unclear, DBI would postpone the hearing three more times. It didnt hear the case until November 2019, nine months after the original date.

The lack of any resolution during that time prevented Salma from charging rent, he said, adding to the hundreds of thousands of dollars he estimates the dispute has cost him.

In August, Pollard, who Salma said had demanded more money for months, sent him an invoice for $122,000, a document he shared with the Chronicle. Salma told his children not to pay. He believed the pattern of delays and requests for more money would continue and were part of a pressure campaign by Pollard, a claim he also made in his lawsuit against the builder. But in September 2019, they paid Pollard $87,000, hoping that would end their problems. Instead, Salma said, Pollard remained a no-show.

Two months later, DBI held its hearing on Salmas case. It labeled the building a public nuisance and fined Salma $2,500. Meanwhile, tenants of the building sued both Salma and Pollard over the delays and unsafe conditions. Salmas company ultimately paid about $27,000 to relocate the tenants, emptying the building, and agreed to a confidential settlement to resolve their lawsuits.

After the tenants complaints, the Salmas attorneys sent a letter to Pollard asking him to bring an inspector to the property to clear up the chimney dispute. Pollard agreed, with one condition. We are more than happy to have an inspector come out, if (your) clients get caught up on two outstanding bills, Pollard wrote in June 2020, referring to $35,000 he said the Salmas still owed him.

Then, in September 2020, the impasse suddenly ended when Salma filed a complaint against Pollard with the state contractor licensing board, which has the power to revoke a contractors license.

Pollard and DBI sprang into action.

San Francisco contractor John Pollard discusses soft story retrofits on apartment buildings in 2016. Liz Hafalia/The Chronicle 2016

Pollard traded a slew of communications with Sweeney over the next few days, according to a log of phone records obtained by former San Francisco Planning Commissioner and developer Dennis Richards and his business partner as part of a 2020 lawsuit against Sweeney and DBI. The suit accused the department of filing violation notices on one of Richards projects as retaliation after he publicly criticized the departments preferential treatment of Pollards projects.

On Sept. 18, 2020, DBI issued a permit to address the chimney violation; Sweeney personally checked off on two parts of the permit. A week later, a DBI inspector visited Salmas site and abated the violation.

The inspector said in a deposition in a lawsuit filed by a Salma tenant that when he visited the property, he found that the chimney was, in fact, properly shored.

Yet when investigators from the licensing board later toured Salmas property, they discovered a host of problems with Pollards work. In 2022, the agency formally accused Pollard of not performing contractually agreed upon work and of doing work that was shoddy and deviated from industry standards  work Salma would have to spend additional funds to complete and repair.

The board determined that Pollard had abandoned the project before completing the contracted work, saying he failed to properly frame windows, had not installed a closet and failed to install radiant heating and skylights. They also cited a ceiling that wasnt built, missing structural supports and dry rot in the structure, among other issues.

There was some substantial work left incomplete, there was a list of work not performed to standard, and a list of issues, that work literally deviated from approved plans, Brian Melvin, a supervising special investigator with the board, said in an interview.

The board revoked SF Garage Co.s license, which prevented Pollard from obtaining a license for or supervising any other construction business in the state. It suspended its judgment pending a four-year professional probation and ordered Pollard to pay the cost of the settlements Salma had made with his tenants as well as whatever judgment might ultimately be issued in Salmas still-unresolved lawsuit against him. The board also ordered him to pay the cost of the investigation and post a $50,000 cash bond for the four years of his probation.

Not one single nail or weld was added from the date they gave me the violation to the day I went to the state, Salma said. Three days after we filed our complaint, Pollard went to his friends at DBI and they approved everything.

Intricate relationship

Its not surprising, experts said, that friendships might develop between builders and the officials they routinely see. But DBI rules mandate that employees avoid conflicts of interest. Its employee code of conduct warns employees that they must enforce compliance with building codes equally and neutrally for all customers, without consideration of any relationship, special interest, political association, other affiliation or lack thereof.

The relationship between Sweeney and Pollard crossed a boundary, experts who reviewed the Chronicles reporting said, adding that they believed Sweeney should have recused himself from projects on which his close friend was working.

Ed Sweeney, right, of the city Department of Building Inspection, watches work being done on a Lombard Street cottage in 2009. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

The scope of the relationship between the two men is detailed in depositions, other court records, and a letter Sweeney wrote to a federal judge on Pollards behalf after the builder was convicted of tax fraud in 2013.

Sweeney told U.S. Judge William Orrick that he and Pollard first met while the builder was working on a project across from his Glen Park home in 2004 and they quickly became friends. Later, Pollard performed engineering work on Sweeneys home and hired Sweeneys son.

Over the years, Sweeney often confided in Pollard about issues involving his son. Pollards support was instrumental in helping us through this time, he wrote in the letter. Phone records from Richards suit show that Pollard and Sweeney traded phone calls and texts more than 1,300 times during a three-year period starting in 2018. At DBI, Pollard was able to walk right into Ed Sweeneys office when other people need(ed) appointments, Matt Greene, now the departments acting deputy director of inspection services, said in a July 2021 deposition.

A current employee and a former employee said they often jokingly asked the builder when he was going to get his own facility access badge.

In January 2018, Sweeney forwarded Pollard an office-wide message with information about the reassignment of inspectors within the department. Its official, Sweeney wrote in an email. I know keeping quiet isnt your specialty.

In a deposition in September 2021, Sweeney said the email, which surfaced during the Richards lawsuit, was just a joke, because Pollard did not like several of the inspectors, so I was going, Hey, heads up. 

Former DBI employee Chris Schroeder, who has sparred with the city over other allegations of impropriety at DBI, said Pollard had so much power that he could choose whoever he wanted to do inspections and plan checks. People felt intimidated by Sweeney if they didnt follow what Pollard wanted.

Another current DBI employee confirmed Schroeders view of Pollards clout.

In an earlier case, Schroeder accused now-Director Patrick ORiordan of favoring politically connected developers. The city attorney investigated and said Schroeders allegations and similar ones from another whistleblower were not credible.

More than 20 DBI staffers work as plan checkers assigned to the departments plan review team. A Chronicle review of Pollards permits in 2019 found that then-DBI employee Cyril Yu checked off on more than half his plans. Yu recently pleaded guilty to accepting bribes from a local developer.

Sweeneys relationship with Pollard attracted ORiordans attention. He said under oath that in 2017 or 2018 he contacted the city attorneys office after hearing several inspectors claim that Sweeney was giving Pollard preferential treatment.

Pollard openly bragged about having clout at City Hall, where he interacted with city politicians and bureaucrats, according to Barbara Savitz, a client who sued Pollard after the project he worked on turned into a costly disaster. She dropped the case, she said, because of its expense.

He was very reassuring, she said, at a time when building homes was hard to do.

In response to written questions, DBI spokesperson Patrick Hannan said many of the events detailed in this article took place under a previous administration, whose top leaders left the department amid the FBI revelations. He said he couldnt comment on personnel matters, including those of former employees.

Hannan said he had not met Pollard or Sweeney, and was not aware of any of their personal relations. He added that under DBIs current administration, project sponsors are not able to choose the person who will review building plans.

Public officials are meant to fact find and serve as neutral parties, said Sarah Chayes, author of On Corruption in America: And What Is at Stake. When a public servant deviates from that role  by getting involved in the approval of a friends project, as Sweeney did, for example  its akin to an umpire playing for one of the teams hes supposed to be refereeing.

That is completely inappropriate, said Chayes, who reviewed the case at the Chronicles request.

The Board of Supervisors has twice passed laws giving DBI power to discipline wayward builders. In 2002, supervisors established guidelines for DBI to refer design professionals and contractors to state authorities if the department believes they have violated health and safety regulations or engaged in illegal conduct. When asked by the Chronicle, DBI officials could not produce evidence of making any such referrals before 2023.

Hannan, the DBI spokesperson, said the department coordinates with the city attorneys office to determine when to report someone to a state licensing board. The city has reported two people to a state licensing board, both in 2023, he said. He referred any questions about why an individual has or hasnt been reported to the city attorneys office.

City attorney spokesperson Jen Kwart said any advice the office gives on such referrals is confidential, but acknowledged its probe into Pollard.

We are investigating Mr. Pollards conduct and hope to reach a resolution in the near future, she said.

The city attorneys office previously found misconduct by Hui, the former DBI director, and brought lawsuits against a prolific permit expediter for ethics violations and a former president of the citys Building Inspection Commission for permit fraud.

In 2021, after the wide-ranging federal corruption probe, the city also created an expanded compliance control program.

Its aim is to identify scofflaw builders or engineers and require that their projects receive additional scrutiny. Any builder who receives three or more violations in an 18-month period could be placed in the program, as could anyone with a single violation if it was egregious and create(s) significant risk to health, safety, or property.

After the Chronicle reported in December 2023 that there was just one engineer in the program, the city added two other individuals. Then in April, as the Chronicle was preparing to publish this story, DBI added Pollard and Harold Howell, his engineer and business partner.

DBI records show Pollard qualified for the list because of notices of violation tied to five of his projects in 2022.

The Building Inspection Commission appointed ORiordan, a department veteran who rose from field inspector, as acting director in 2020, and promoted him to director two years later. Since ORiordans appointment, Hannan said, DBI has instituted reforms to treat builders and members of the public equally and enforce the building code consistently.

Weve closed process loopholes, substantially increased transparency around our work, and continue to make improvements to our operations to increase our efficiency and better serve the public, he said. Weve done and continue to do everything we can to hold accountable anyone who failed to uphold the building codes and violated the publics trust.

Richards, the planning commissioner who sued DBI and Sweeney for retaliation, said Salmas case exemplifies deep-rooted problems that DBI has failed to confront.

This is the way things were done, Richards said, describing the overall behavior at DBI now being revealed by federal investigators. City government, infiltrated by people who break rules  and lie and cut corners for connected individuals.

Last year, a decade after he pleaded for mercy on Pollards behalf, Sweeney wrote a letter to another federal judge in support of former inspector Bernie Curran, who received a year in federal prison after pleading guilty to accepting bribes and an interest-free loan from a multimillionaire developer.

Building remains vacant

Sal Salma owns this apartment building on Lombard Street with his adult children in San Francisco. In 2016, Salma paid contractor John Pollard almost $300,000 to strengthen the foundation and do other work at the century-old building. Felix Uribe/Special to the Chronicle

Salmas saga didnt end with the resolution of the chimney issue. He remains upset by the turmoil hes experienced, and is still demanding answers from DBI. Why had the agency cited his companys property, delayed acting, and then finally reversed course? Why had DBI waited so long to take any action regarding Pollard, using powers city supervisors have granted it to hold problem builders accountable?

Sweeney retired from DBI in late 2020. He recently appeared before the citys Abatement Appeals Board, which hears appeals of code violations from building owners. Sweeney, who served as the boards secretary for a number of years, was representing the owner of a vacant property fighting an order to improve conditions on the site.

Pollards work in San Francisco has slowed but he is attempting to develop a former church into a multiunit project. He also began building in Sonoma County, where he has a home. He has been the target of litigation there; he recently settled a lawsuit neighbors filed against him, saying he did unsanctioned work on their land.

The Salmas, meanwhile, have continued to press the city to investigate DBIs relationship with Pollard. Salmas lawsuit against the builder continues, and he contends it will cost him more than $1.1 million  on top of the $464,000 he and his children paid the builder and hundreds of thousands in additional legal fees  to correct Pollards work on his Lombard Street apartment building.
A firefighter on May 21 stands in front of a home at the scene of an earlier house fire on Grove Street in San Francisco where a dog walker recently targeted by racist threats lives. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

Police have carried out two search warrants and are investigating a possible suspect in the case of a well-known local dog walker whose home near San Franciscos Alamo Square erupted in flames earlier this month after he told police he began receiving racist threats, officials said at a community meeting Thursday evening.

Lt. Bassey Obot, who oversees the San Francisco Police Departments hate crime and arson investigations, said his office continues to probe the source of the items sent to the home of dog walker Terry Williams, including a voodoo doll depicting a Black person with a noose around its neck, as well as postcards and other mail containing racist and threatening language.

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Police had not made any arrests or announced any suspects in the case. The alleged hate crimes and the fire are being investigated separately and its unclear whether they are related.

My hope is we will make an arrest, Obot told several dozen community members who had gathered at the event hosted by Supervisor Dean Preston, who represents the area.

Williams, who is Black, was attending a meeting at City Hall when the fire broke out at his home on Grove Street one block east of Alamo Square shortly before noon on May 21. He told police in late April that he had been receiving mail containing racist and threatening language, including the voodoo doll, according to SFPD.

Representatives for the San Francisco Fire Department who attended the meeting said they could not yet say what caused the fire or whether they were investigating it as a possible arson.

After Williams home erupted in flames, firefighters arrived within minutes and rescued his parents from the burning three-story house after neighbors called 911 to report the fire, officials said.

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On Wednesday evening, Williams thanked firefighters for pulling his parents from the wreckage.

Thank you for saving my mom and dad, he told SFFD Deputy Chief of Operations Darius Luttropp and Chad Law, an assistant fire marshal. They probably wouldnt be here. I know how close (my mom) was to dying.

The biggest flames were coming from the second story apartment that Williams occupied, fire officials said. The fire spread to all three stories and to two nearby buildings.

Williams father, Luddie, was treated and released from a hospital the day of the fire, while his mother, Carolyn, remained hospitalized overnight with injuries, he told the Chronicle at the time.
China's support in launching satellite to boost connectivity, economy in Pakistan: PM

Xinhua) 13:28, May 31, 2024

ISLAMABAD, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Thursday that China's cooperation to launch Pakistani satellite "Paksat MM1" will boost connectivity and economic growth in Pakistan, the prime minister's office said in a statement.

Felicitating "the entire nation on the momentous occasion of the launch of" the satellite, the prime minister said that the achievement marks a significant advancement in the country's space and communication capabilities, according to the statement.

"The launch of 'Paksat MM1' from Xichang Satellite Launch Center of China is a testament to the strong collaboration and partnership between our two countries. It is through such cooperative endeavors that we can propel our nation forward and harness the power of technology for the benefit of our people," the prime minister added.

He said that the satellite will greatly improve internet connectivity across Pakistan, as it promises to revolutionize the country's digital landscape and provide the fastest internet facility throughout the country.

"This will not only enhance the lives of our citizens but also contribute to the promotion of economic activities, e-commerce, and e-governance," he added.

China successfully launched a multi-mission communication satellite for Pakistan using a Long March-3B rocket, with the launch taking place at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan, at 8:12 p.m. (1212 GMT) Thursday.

The satellite has entered its planned orbit.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Police evicted protesters at UC Santa Cruz who shut down main roadways coming in and out of the university this week but the standoff continued in the afternoon. Hannah Hagemann / The Chronicle

SANTA CRUZ  Police clad in riot gear broke up a pro-Palestinian encampment at UC Santa Cruz Friday, arresting dozens of protesters in the early hours of the morning, the university said, in the latest spate of arrests connected to the on-campus protest movement over the war in Gaza.

Videos shared on social media show officers in body armor moving in, telling the protesters to disperse over a megaphone while the protesters linked arms and chanted in support of Palestine. Cops off campus! they yelled, and Glory to the martyrs. Stop the world for Rafah, read a sign nearby.

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University officials said about 80 demonstrators were arrested. The protesters had been told that the encampment was unlawful and warned to leave.

For weeks, encampment participants were given repeated, clear direction to remove the encampment and cease blocking access to numerous campus resources and to the campus itself, said Scott Hernandez-Jason, the assistant vice chancellor for communications and marketing, in a statement. And this morning they were also given multiple warnings by law enforcement to leave the area and disperse to avoid arrest. Unfortunately, many refused to follow this directive and many individuals are being arrested.

UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive said she understood the grief, anger, and frustration about the events unfolding in Gaza and Israel, but that disruptions on campus in recent weeks were harmful to others in our community.

This decision was not made because individuals demonstrated; it was because they have chosen to do so through unlawful actions, Larive wrote in a statement, adding, Having law enforcement remove the unlawful encampment from campus is not an action we wanted to take or have taken lightly.

Rebecca Gross, a union organizer at the school, said that some protesters were put into zip tie handcuffs as they were detained by police and others were struck by batons.

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Other organizers connected to the protesters released a statement on Friday, saying that comrades at the Gaza solidarity encampment were raided by police from precincts all across northern and central California. The camp has been flattened, students were brutalized by police, and many have been arrested.

The statement writers affiliation and connection to the protesters was unclear.

Meanwhile, other protests continued, even after the encampments dispersal.

Many of those picketing moved to rally at the county jail Friday morning, where at least 40 people showed up, including some organizers from United Auto Workers Local 4811, which represents graduate student workers in the university system, and is now overseeing a series of strikes to protest the discipline of its members stemming from the protests.

Gross, the union organizer, said at least three UAW members had been arrested as part of the protests Friday.

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On campus, other protesters amassed at the schools main entrance, at Bay Drive and High Street, around midday, as police worked to keep bystanders away from the area. About 100 protesters faced off with 100 officers in riot gear, together blocking the road.

Protesters chanted, There is not riot here, why are you in riot gear?

Earlier this week, pro-Palestinian protesters had blocked the two entrances to the campus, forcing the university to move classes online, before voluntarily clearing the west entrance.

The UC Santa Cruz protests are part of a number of pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses, both in California and across the country, that have taken on increased intensity in recent weeks. Students are calling for a cease-fire in Gaza and for administrators to cut ties with and divest from companies connected to Israel. Police actions to remove protesters have also drawn condemnation and scrutiny.

Earlier this month, police at UCLA arrested more than 200 protesters as they clashed with demonstrators and forced them to disperse.

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At the same time, graduate student workers across the UC system have been striking since May 20 over claims that UC has disciplined students who participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations this spring. Both sides have accused each other of unfair labor practices  the university calls the strike illegal  and although they are engaged in state-mandated negotiations, UC is also asking Californias Public Employment Relations Board to halt the strike.

After the initial walkout starting May 20 at UC Santa Cruz, grad students widened their protest May 27 to UCLA and UC Davis.

On Friday morning, the executive board of UAW Local 4811, which represents 48,000 academic workers across the UC system, said the protests will expand again next week, with workers at UC Santa Barbara and UC San Diego walking out on June 3 and those at UC Irvine on June 5.

Gross said she believed workers would stay on strike until amnesty was granted for not just UAW members involved in the protests, but all the protesters.

People really have a right to be really angry right now about whats going on in Gaza and Rafah, she said. And our university, which is invested in Israel in a number of ways and invested in the military industrial complex, is doing nothing and has power to. So these students are going to do what they need to do to get that addressed.

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UC Santa Cruz graduate students and other academic workers in the UAW 4811 union began a strike and were joined by UCSC students for Justice in Palestine as they picketed the main entrance to campus on May 20. The UC has petitioned a state labor board to halt the walkout. Shmuel Thaler/Associated Press A strike by UC Santa Cruz graduate students that began May 20 spread to UCLA and UC Davis on May 27. The University of California has petitioned a state labor board to halt the walkout, which is set to spread to three more campuses starting June 3. Mario Tama/Getty Images

University of California officials are asking the state  for the second time  to force an end to a massive strike by thousands of student workers they say is crippling some campuses and threatening to disrupt summer session at UC Berkeley.

The strike is aimed at compelling UC to drop disciplinary measures against student workers who participated in pro-Palestinian protests this month at three campuses  UCLA, UC San Diego and UC Irvine  where police arrested hundreds of students, including student employees. Neither UC nor the union is saying how many student workers are affected, but union officials say the university has barred dozens from campuses and reprogrammed their key cards so they can no longer enter residences or classrooms.

Last week, UC failed to immediately persuade the California Public Employment Relations Board to issue an injunction against the United Auto Workers Local 4811, which represents nearly 48,000 student employees who teach, grade exams, hold office hours and provide other essential duties on which students depend.

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But the state said it could reconsider if UC provided more evidence, which it did on Tuesday.

The union hadnt begun striking yet when UC first filed its request on May 17. Since then, thousands of workers have walked out at UC Santa Cruz, UCLA and UC Davis, all of which are on the quarter system and expect to hold final exams over the next two weeks.

On Friday morning, union officials said they plan to expand their strike next week to three more campuses. Workers at UC San Diego and UC Santa Barbara plan to walk out on June 3, while those at UC Irvine will picket starting June 5.

Unrelated to the unions announcement, police officers moved early Friday morning to evict pro-Palestinian protesters who had set up encampments at UC Santa Cruz and blocked access to the only two entrances to the campus. Dozens were arrested and taken to the county jail. Some UAW signs were seen at the roadblock and in front of the jail, but the clearout appeared mainly aimed at demonstrators not affiliated with the union.

UCs new, 12-page request for an injunction, quotes the unions president, Rafael Jaime, promising to maximize chaos and confusion at UC and says, This seems to have come to pass.

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UC told the state that at UCLA, someone hit a police officer in the head with a union sign. Other strikers occupied an important academic building, tried to barricade entrances and scribbled graffiti on the walls. The injunction request also points to blocked entrances and similar disruptions at UC Santa Cruz and other campuses.

This cannot continue, said UC. The sides have met twice in state-mandated settlement talks.

Jaime, president of UAW Local 4811, told the Chronicle he believes the effort will fail a second time because it makes no real additions to an argument that PERB has already rejected.

UC knows that our work is necessary for the functioning of the university, he said. If they want that work to resume, they should  stop wasting time and public resources on legal maneuvers.

Both sides have accused each other of unfair labor practices.

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UC says the unions strike is illegal because the contract has a no-strike provision.

Among the unions claims is that UCLA is disciplining students who participated in pro-Palestinian protests there  but giving a pass to other students who participated in attacking them for hours before police intervened. The union says administrators know who the attackers are because their group reserved a spot on campus next to the pro-Palestinian encampment.

The union is accusing UC of violating its policy of treating all protests neutrally.

Although the student workers authorized their strike through June 30, UC Berkeley officials worry that the timeline could be extended all summer.

That would affect at least 12,000 students who have already enrolled in summer courses there, said Provost Benjamin Hermalin. UC Berkeleys summer session began May 20.

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Losing these courses would deprive these students of the academic credit on which they were counting, Hermalin said in the filing.
A couple watches the sunset from a found art sculpture bench at the Albany Bulb in Albany in 2022. The park, built over a former landfill, is being tested for potential radioactivity from decades-old industrial waste. Brittany Hosea-Small/Brittany Hosea-Small / Special to The Chronicle

Officials in Berkeley and Albany are moving forward with plans to test two popular bayside parks  Cesar Chavez and the Albany Bulb  for evidence of radioactive material possibly dumped decades ago by the former Stauffer Chemical Co. plant in Richmond.

Richmond has been dealing with radioactive material and other hazardous waste left by Stauffer for decades, but Berkeley and Albany officials were warned only this year that the company may have also discarded tons of industrial waste into landfills that have since been covered over and converted to the bayshore parks.

The planned testing in both cities will include uranium, thorium and the banned pesticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), on the advice of the San Francisco Bay Regional Water Quality Control Board, according to reports from both cities.

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Dee Williams-Ridley, Berkeleys city manager, said in a May 24 memo that the tests are precautionary and reiterated in the memo that the water board reported that currently the board has no information to suggest that the sites pose a risk to water quality or human health.

We are mindful that we inherit the legacy of our predecessors, regardless of their benefit or harm, Williams-Ridley wrote. Landfills on the bay were common a half century ago.

Officials in Albany have already hired GSI Environmental, a Houston-based firm with an office in Emeryville, to test the Albany Bulb, a park and public art space on the bay.

The companys Albany investigation will focus on potential impacts to the San Francisco Bay from groundwater discharge and surface water runoff. The company will start by reviewing archival records, photographs and aerial images of the site. It will also conduct a gamma radiation survey of all accessible areas of the park.

From there, GSI will develop a plan for further testing, according to the companys work plan presented to Albany, which was approved by the water board in May.

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The process is expected to begin in June and take between four and five months.

Berkeley officials, through a spokesperson, said regulators have not asked for any restrictions on activity at the former landfill in the interim or when testing is underway. A plan for testing will be presented to council members in July.

Berkeleys Cesar E. Chavez Park, seen in 2021, is built over a former landfill and will soon be tested for radioactivity from decades-old industrial waste. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

Last year, the California Department of Toxic Substances Control shared a letter from 1980 detailing locations where Stauffer sent its industrial waste, including about 11,000 tons each to Albany and Berkeley landfills. Those sites have since been capped and developed into parks.

The revelations surprised water board officials, who said they hadnt been informed until then, though the letter had been in DTSC hands since it was written in 1980.

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Its shocking they sat on this for decades, said Janet Johnson, a member of the Richmond Shoreline Alliance, which has been pushing the city and regulators for more cleanup at the companys former site.
After being condemned to jail by a biased Democrat jury with a guilty verdict, Trumps beleaguered advisers are now scrambling to prepare The Don for a long stretch in prison.

No gold taps on Rikers

Were teaching him how to make a shiv out of a toothbrush and a razor blade. How to hide large objects up his ass, and how to shank someone who gets too close. Also, Mr. Trump will have to make allegiances with certain gangs in order to stay safe. The main Aryan gang in Rikers will be his choice, Trump adviser, Ed Mazuma told Fox News.

The only road access to the island is from Queens, over the 4,200-foot (1,300 m) three-lane Francis Buono Bridge, dedicated on November 22, 1966, by Mayor John Lindsay. The street address is 15 Hazen Street, East Elmhurst, NY 11370. Before the bridge was constructed, the only access to the island was by ferry. Transportation is also provided by the Q100 MTA Regional Bus Operations route. In addition, privately operated shuttles connect the parking lot at the south end to the island. Bus service within the island for people visiting inmates is provided by the New York City Department of Correction on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Melania visits

Melania will have to visit her husband at Rikers Island, but she will not be allowed to bring anything with her, so no files, cell phones or dynamite for Trump.

The Rikers Island complex, which consists of ten jails, holds some of the most dangerous criminals in America. Rikers Island holds 10 of the New York City Department of Corrections 15 facilities and can accommodate up to 15,000 detainees.

Its brutal man. I was at Rikers for a 30-year stretch for murder. I seen people getting pulled apart in there literally. I seen men getting their asses raped by a pack of ten or twenty n***ers while the guards stood by. I seen fights so brutal that eyeballs were squished on the floor. Its bad you gotta be a mean sumbitch to survive one single day. I was scared shitless every second of the day. Trump has no chance. Hes a dead man walkin, former prisoner, Seamus OReilly told CNN.
Paul Pelosi, front left, enters the San Francisco courtroom to testify in the trial of David DePape, the man accused of attacking him with a hammer in October 2022. Annie Vainshtein/The Chronicle

Paul Pelosi, husband of House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, testified Friday about what was going through his mind in the moments before he was attacked by an intruder  who is now facing attempted murder charges  on an October night in 2022.

In his testimony, which was attended by a slew of reporters and members of the public, Paul Pelosi spoke of being in a panic mode when he attempted to to appease the large man who had broken into his home and woke him to demand: Wheres Nancy?

Fridays court proceedings marked the third day of the state trial against David DePape, the Canadian-born man accused of breaking into the Pelosi home and bludgeoning Paul Pelosi with a hammer in the early morning hours of Oct. 28, 2022.

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San Francisco prosecutors charged DePape with attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and elder abuse. He pleaded not guilty. DePape has attended each day of the trial, watching quietly during witness testimony.

DePape was convicted following a separate trial in federal court of assaulting a federal officials family member and attempting to kidnap a federal official. A judge sentenced him to 30 years in prison with credit for time served.

Paul Pelosi outlined in detail the steps he took to seek safety  including calling 911 and leading the intruder downstairs where he might be closer to police, if they arrived.

I was trying to negotiate something, he said. I thought I had a chance to save my life if I was downstairs.

Although San Francisco police officers arrived on scene shortly after, they could not stop what happened next. Body-worn police cameras captured the two men struggling over a hammer seconds before the intruder yanked it out of Paul Pelosis hand and smashed him over the head.

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Answering questions from Assistant District Attorney Sean Connolly in a forthright and conversational tone, Paul Pelosi recalled how he woke up in a daze, in an ambulance speeding to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital. He had a fractured skull, a laceration in his right arm that would require more than a dozen stitches, and a hand so ripped you could see all the tendons.

They told me I came within a fraction of dying, he said, remembering conversations with doctors and family members. Despite months of physical therapy he suffered recurring symptoms, including dizzy spells and fingers that lock.

He said in court that he and members of his family  including his wife  have been encouraged not to watch the video of the attack or any media content related to the attack.

I have found that my survival and recovery is based on not talking about it, not getting emotional about it, he said.

In filings tied to DePapes federal case, Paul and Nancy Pelosi said the attack left Paul with lasting physical and emotional damage.

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Prosecutors said DePape admitted to embarking on a suicide mission when he left his residence in Richmond and sought out the Pelosi home in the middle of the night on Oct. 28, 2022.

In recorded interviews, DePape spoke candidly of his plan to use Nancy Pelosi to lure out other targets, including feminist scholar Gayle Rubin and and Gov. Gavin Newsom, people he was convinced were part of a sinister group of global elites who were corrupting the nation and aiding in child molestation.

DePapes attorneys have attempted to cast him as a troubled, isolated man caught up in a web of fantastical thinking. During the trials opening statements, one of DePapes lawyers called the attack a terrible thing while insisting that DePape never meant to kill Paul Pelosi. Instead, the attorney said DePape lashed out irrationally when his addled plan to rid the world of bad actors was thwarted.

On Friday, jurors also heard remaining testimony from San Francisco Police Sgt. Carla Hurley, the investigator who conducted a lengthy interview with DePape in the hospital after the attack, where he allegedly confessed to his actions. Digital forensic examiner Wing Ng, who helped analyze DePapes web search history, also took the stand.

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Key Points:

US and Chinese defense chiefs met for the first time in months, signaling a potential thaw in strained relations.

While both sides agreed on the importance of open dialogue, disagreements over Taiwan and the South China Sea dominated the meeting.

Concerns were raised about Chinas role in the Ukraine war, with the US expressing concern about Beijings support for Russias defense industry.

US-China Defense Chiefs Seek Common Ground

In a high-stakes meeting marked by cautious diplomacy and firm stances, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister General Li Shangfu convened in Singapore on Friday. The meeting on the sidelines of the annual Shangri-La Dialogue marked the first face-to-face interaction between the two defense leaders since Lis appointment in December.

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Dialogue Resumes After Months of Silence

The convening of the defense ministers from the United States and China signifies a possible de-escalation in bilateral tensions. This meeting represents a resumption of military communication channels, which the Chinese government unilaterally closed in August 2022. This closure was a direct response to the visit of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, an action perceived by Beijing as undermining the One-China principle.

While indicative of a willingness to re-engage in dialogue, the meeting did not result in a complete resolution of existing friction points. Both parties affirmed the value of a predictable and stable military-to-military relationship. However, the dialogue also included a discussion of contentious geopolitical issues, most notably the status of Taiwan and maritime disputes within the South China Sea. These disagreements underscore the complex and multifaceted nature of the US-China relationship, where areas of cooperation coexist with significant points of strategic divergence.

Taiwan Remains a Point of Contention

Secretary Austin expressed concern over what he called provocative Chinese military activity near Taiwan, emphasizing that the islands internal political processes should not be met with coercion from Beijing.

General Li, echoing Chinas longstanding position, reiterated that Taiwan remains part of China. He accused the US of sending wrong signals to pro-independence forces within Taiwan. He specifically pointed to the US State Departments congratulatory message to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen following her inauguration in May.

South China Sea: Freedom of Navigation vs. Regional Security

The South China Sea, a flashpoint for territorial disputes between China and several Southeast Asian nations, was featured prominently in the discussions. Austin reiterated the US commitment to freedom of navigation in international waters. At the same time, General Li stressed the importance of regional security, stating that no one country can pursue security at the expense of sacrificing another countrys security.

Adding to the geopolitical complexity, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., a vocal critic of Chinas activities in the disputed waters, is also attending the Shangri-La Dialogue and is expected to address the issue during his keynote address.

Ukraine War Raises Concerns Over Chinas Role

The ongoing war in Ukraine cast a long shadow over the meeting. Secretary Austin voiced concerns about Chinas reported support for Russias defense industrial base. At the same time, General Li maintained that Beijing remains committed to not providing arms to either side of the conflict.

A Step Towards Stability or Heightened Tensions?

Despite the lingering disagreements, both sides agreed to continue engaging in dialogue and pursuing future exchanges. However, experts caution that the road to stable US-China relations remains fraught with challenges.

The outcome of the Austin-Li meeting will likely set the tone for future interactions between the two superpowers, with implications for regional stability and the global balance of power.
A Carndonagh native who was jailed for conspiring to illegally traffic migrants into the UK is wanted in the North for the alleged attempted murder of his ex-partner, the High Court has heard.

Stephen Andrew McLaughlin (44) was sentenced to nine years imprisonment in 2016 for conspiracy to facilitate illegal entry into the UK in August 2014, in a scheme that was discovered after an Afghan man died of a heart attack in a lorry container.

Authorities in the UK are seeking his extradition for breaching the terms of his licence after his release from prison.

McLaughlin, of Rose Park, Limavady, Co Derry, and originally from Carndonagh in Co Donegal, had denied the conspiracy charge but was convicted by a jury and jailed at Basildon Crown Court on June 30, 2015.

The court heard that in 2014 Afghan national Meet Singh Kapoor died from a heart attack while travelling from Belgium with 34 others, including his family.

UK Border Force officials found 35 Afghan women, men and children in a container at Tilbury Docks in August 2014.

The container had arrived in Tilbury with 10 men, 10 women and 15 children on board from Zeebrugge port.

McLaughlin, the court heard, supplied the lorry, his yard and allowed his shipping account to be used for the container's journeys.

The court also heard that another container on a lorry had been discovered at the Europort in France, earlier in August 2014, that was due to depart to the UK with 12 Afghan nationals on board before it, too, was intercepted.

At the High Court on Thursday, Mr Justice Michael MacGrath was told by Jane Murphy BL, for the State, that McLaughlins licence was revoked for not complying with probation services and a warrant for his arrest was issued by Southend Magistrates Court in February 2024.

McLaughlin has a balance of 341 days to serve, she said.

Ms Murphy said that in January another warrant for McLaughlin was issued by Laganside Magistrates Court in Belfast for seven alleged offences, one of which is attempted murder.

Authorities in the North are also seeking to charge McLaughlin with threat to kill, criminal damage, two charges of dangerous driving and two counts of assault.

The maximum sentence for attempted murder in the UK is life imprisonment.

The warrant alleges that on September 19, 2022, at Ness Woods Country Park in Co Derry, McLaughlin rammed the car of his former partner before placing her in a chokehold, turning her face purple and causing her eyes to roll back in her head.

The warrant alleges that McLaughlin threatened to kill the woman and then placed her in a sitting position against her car before reversing back his own car and again ramming her car.

The warrant further alleges that McLaughlin also assaulted a female friend of his ex-partner.

David Perry BL, for McLaughlin, said the State had not established a corresponding Irish law to match "the conspiracy to breach immigration law" from the UK. The identification of a corresponding offence in Irish law is required in order to grant extradition.

Separately, Mr Perry said that an expert lawyer in the North, consulted by the respondent, said that McLaughlin would not, in practice, receive credit there for the time he had already served in custody in the Republic.

Under the Trade and Co-operation Agreement, someone is entitled to credit for time served in this process. Expert evidence says that will not happen, which would be in breach of the agreement. Surrender then, should not be ordered. The Minister says the sentence is ticking down while proceedings are ongoing here but expert evidence says the contrary, said Mr Perry.

Regarding correspondence, Ms Murphy, for the State, said that there was nothing in Irish law to say that a conspiracy charge applied "only to incomplete offences.

Ms Murphy said conspiracy charges can be used to reflect the overall interactions and responsibilities in a criminal group and that there had in fact been a breach of immigration law.

Regarding the issue of whether or not McLaughlin would be given credit for time served in the Republic, Ms Murphy said the Southend warrant stated that McLaughlins licence expires on January 17, 2025, after which no additional time can be served.

There will be no additional time, as the calculated date as it stands on the warrant, is 341 days from the date of its issue and credit will be given, said Mr Murphy.

Mr Justice MacGrath adjourned the matter to June 14 for judgement.
Jeremy Renner attends the Mayor of Kingstown special advanced screening event in New York on May 20. Santiago Felipe/Getty Images for Paramount+

Jeremy Renner has taken his first movie role since his near-fatal snowplow accident.

The Marvel star is set to appear in the third Knives Out film, the Hollywood Reporter confirmed on Friday, May 31.

Renner joins previously announced cast members Daniel Craig, Glenn Close, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Josh OConnor and Cailee Spaeny in the forthcoming film, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery.

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Rian Johnson is again writing, directing and co-producing with his T-Street partner, Ram Bergman, who also worked on the first two movies.

Tom Hiddleston, left, and Jeremy Renner attend the 2024 Peoples Choice Awards on Feb. 18 at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica. Rich Polk/NBC via Getty Images

Renner, an Oscar-nominated Modesto native who has played Hawkeye in the Marvel Cinematic Universe since 2011, is on the mend after his near-fatal snow plow accident at his home near the Mt. Rose Ski Tahoe resort in January 2023 that broke more than 38 bones in his body and left him in critical condition.

During an appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show on Thursday, May 30, the 53-year-old said one of the most tragic aspects of the accident, which occurred while he was trying to save his nephew from getting run over, was the memory loss he suffered.

I even forgot about my daughter. Thats how messed up I was in this accident, Renner told Clarkson. But once I got off life support and got home after a couple weeks, my sister told me that, you know, Ava was here. Thats when it all kicked in for me.

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Renner described his 11-year-old daughter, whom he shares with ex-wife, Sonni Pacheco, as his life force.

I saw the fear on my daughters face for the first time, he said. The reality of what transpired really set in. What I had done to my daughter, what I actually did to my nephew, to my whole family, that really set in. So I asked her to wait for me.

He said that he explained to her, These are just 38 broken bones, darling, and theyre all going to heal. And I promise, if you wait for me, Ill be better, Ill be faster, Ill be stronger than youve ever seen before. I promise.

Renner added that the incident inspired him to write a song called Wait, which he recorded with friends.

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We all kind of wanted to heal from the incident, he said. Anybody that cared for me prior to the accident also went through stuff. So doing it musically was very cathartic for us, and even for my daughter because she was very much a part of it.

In February, Renner was seen at Super Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas rooting for the San Francisco 49ers and later made one of his first on-camera appearances since the accident at the Peoples Choice Awards at the Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, reuniting with Marvels Loki actor Tom Hiddleston.

Jeremy Renner attends the world premiere event for the Disney+ original series Rennervations at Westwood Regency Village Theater on April 11, 2023. Anna Webber/TNS

At the awards ceremony, Renner was met with a standing ovation as he presented the award for the TV performance of the year to Billie Eilish for her role in Prime Videos limited series Swarm.

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Renner also filmed a few episodes of the Paramount+ drama series Mayor of Kingstown a year after the accident, with new episodes set to premiere in June.
A County Derry man held over New IRA threats has been refused bail due to a 'significant and grave risk of reoffending'.

Dermot Burke, of Drum Road in Dungiven, appeared via videolink before Coleraine Magistrates Court this morning to apply for bail.

The 59 year-old is accused of belonging to or professing to belong to an organisation, namely the IRA, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and possession of an offensive weapon, namely an iron bar, in a public place.

The alleged offences are connected to an incident which happened in Dungiven on January 19 during which three masked individuals entered numerous bars and a GAA club in the town claiming they were from the New IRA and gave verbal warnings and threats about drug activity in the area.

Burke has been in custody since his arrest four months ago.

Renewing an application to have the accused released on bail, defence solicitor Paddy McGurk stated that a highly respected businessman has provided an address in Toomebridge where Burke can stay.

Describing Burke as a 'hardworking individual', Mr McGurk said that his client is the type of person who gets up at 6am in the morning and works to 8 or 9pm at night.

He is a master of so many trades and everyone relies on him, he is very valued in the community, Mr McGurk said.

Referring to a report from an educational psychologist, Mr McGurk alluded to a number of 'vulnerabilities' that Burke has.

He stated that two 'highly respected' people from the Dungiven community had provided character references on Burke's behalf and two cash sureties of 10,000, or more if required, were available.

People who know him value his character and his work so highly that they feel they can put their trust in him, added Mr McGurk, who suggested that the court could allay any fears it has of reoffending by imposing tagging, a curfew, daily reporting and confiscating Burke's passport.

A prosecutor told the court that while the address in Toomebridge may reduce the risk of interference with witnesses 'very slightly', the main issue is the risk of reoffending.

She referred to a 'shrine' which was found in the loft of Burke's home and which contained police photographs relating to previous offences stuck to the wall along with newspaper clippings which included headlines such as 'Republican group threatens action'.

The prosecutor said placards stating 'drug dealers not welcome in our community' and photographs of individuals standing over graves with tricolours were also found in Burke's home.

The prosecutor said that if Burke was involved in the offending and there are concerns that he has been taken advantage of, then police would be highly concerned that he will reoffend.

The court was told that there are some technical reports outstanding in the case however there are no delays at this stage.

The prosecutor stated that should any delays in the case arise, this could be considered in any future bail applications.

District Judge Peter King said he was quite happy to align himself with the police view, adding that there is a 'significant and grave risk of reoffending' making Burke an unsuitable candidate for bail.

Bail was refused and the case was adjourned until June 10.
A public meeting will be held in Derry later this month with international and human rights barrister Blinne Ni Ghralaigh KC.

The event will mark the 14th anniversary of the publication of the Report of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.

Ms Ni Ghralaigh gained international renown for delivering two damning presentations in the

International Court of Justice in January and May 2024 as part of South Africas case of genocide against Israel before the Court.

The meeting will take place on June 14 at 7.00pm in Culturlann Ui Chanain, Great James Street.

Ms Ni Ghralaigh will be in conversation with journalist Allison Morris.

Speaking prior to the event Tony Doherty, Chairperson of the Bloody Sunday Trust said: In January this year, as Derry prepared to mark the 52nd Anniversary of Bloody Sunday, an Irish lawyer gave hope to many around the world, and gave pride to Irish people, when she stood up in the International Court of Justice and denounced the actions of the Israeli apartheid state in its murderous onslaught on Gaza.

At a time when many around the world were losing hope as the Gazan death toll continued to rise, the courageous actions of South Africa, and the devastating delivery of Blinne Ni Ghralaigh, in outlining and exposing the actions of the Israeli assault on Gaza demonstrated that despite the protection of the United States and the West, the actions of Israel would not be swept under the carpet.

Despite the ongoing assault on Gaza, and the daily hell that the innocent people of Gaza are enduring, Blinnes contribution at the ICJ has helped put down a marker for humanity that the Irish people can be proud of.

It was an especially proud moment for us because Blinne is no stranger to us. She was an observer at the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, and became a great friend to the Bloody Sunday families as she helped us on our own journey towards proper recognition of the murderous events of Bloody Sunday.

Blinne Ni Ghralaigh KC, is an Irish Barrister who practices in Ireland, Britain and in international courts, specialising in Human Rights and International Law.

The daughter of a Dublin mother and a Mayo father, she served as an observer in Derry for British Irish Rights Watch during the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, before acting for one of the firms representing a number of the Bloody Sunday victims and families when the Inquiry moved to London.

The public meeting is open to all, but space will be limited. For further details please contact Maeve Mc Laughlin, maeve@bloodysundaytrust.org.
A man who imported 48 blank firing pistols has been given a suspended sentence at Derry Crown Court today.

Nathan Stephen Paul (32) of Glenshane Road in Magherafelt admitted possessing prohibited items on dates between December 22, 2019 and December 31 the same year.

The court heard that an intelligence led investigation by the National Crime Agency led the to the purchase of the blank firing weapons from a company in Spain by the defendant.

The court heard that there was no attempt to conceal the purchase.

After getting the weapons Paul resold some of them even after he was warned that they may be illegal in this country.

After police searched and found some of the weapons the court heard that they missed some and the defendant had brought these to police himself.

A prosecution barrister said that they accepted the weapons were legal in Spain. Passing sentence Judge Neil Rafferty KC said that these weapons were capable of being modified by people who knew how.

He accepted that Paul was not involved with any 'organised crime gang' and had sold the weapons purely for financial gain.

The judge said that the defendant had 'got out of his depth' and imposed a sentence of two and a half years in prison suspended for three years.
A large crowd has attended a pro-Palestinian event on Derry's Peace Bridge this evening.

The 'Bridgil' was organised by the Derry branch of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC) to highlight the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Catherine Hutton, chair of the Derry ISPC branch, said: Today we are taking part in a 32-county campaign in which vigils are being held on bridges around Ireland.

Large Palestine flag on Derry's Peace Bridge

"We are trying to keep Rafah, Gaza and Palestine in general at the forefront of peoples minds and keep the momentum going, especially after May 26, last Sunday, when there was another huge massacre in Rafah.

"We have seen scenes nobody has been prepared to see, horrific images for which people are rightly outraged. For me, this is a show of solidarity, but its also a way of giving people in Derry and around the country a focus, and somewhere they can express their horror, their outrage and their solidarity.

"Its getting to the stage now where, yes, it feels like youre doing the same things over and over again, but we cant let up, because people-power is changing things. It might be slow, but it is starting to change. We can see it in the events that we hold here in Derry and the protests that we hold. People are more engaged and there's definitely a shift in attitudes, even going up the line from politicians and in the media. We just think its so important for us to continue doing this.

"Today is a day of bridge vigils around the country, and its a great way of showing collective solidarity.

Gemma Meenan with Daisy Mules at the 'Bridgil'.

Speaking of Derrys historic solidarity with and support towards Palestine, Catherine said: The support of the people of Derry has been second to none, there are times I say were preaching to the choir, but I would say thats not giving credit where its due, because the people of Derry and organisations in Derry have always been 100% behind the people of Palestine, especially since October 7.

"People have worked really hard and supported us, and come on board - our branch has grown. Derry is a beacon of hope. People in Palestine have said that Derry is a place to emulate.

Some of the those who attended the event.
Taiwan businesses urged to shine on global ESG stage

As the urgency of addressing climate change and sustainability issues grows, companies face increasing pressure to adopt comprehensive carbon strategies and embrace ESG principles.

Dr. Shr-Yi Chin, an expert in environmental sustainability and carbon management, emphasizes the need for proactive carbon measures despite significant costs. He urges Taiwanese businesses to elevate their carbon reduction strategies internationally, advocating for a shift from merely reporting emissions to actively promoting their ESG efforts globally.

Chin suggests Taiwanese firms take advantage of NGO channels to raise their profile at UN climate forums such as COP28. While Taiwan is not a UN member state, NGOs can still participate and make their voice heard globally. Companies can highlight their carbon-neutral goals and sustainability efforts on this international stage.

"Broadcasting at UN events carries much more weight than just news releases," stated Chin. "Clients and supply chains will take notice when you declare your environmental commitment to the world." The strategy counters the prevailing attitude in Taiwan of just checking boxes on emissions reporting rather than substantive promotion of green practices, according to Chin. He believes the costs of marketing sustainability globally will ultimately pay off through greater recognition and new business opportunities.

Major Taiwanese firms such as Foxconn and logistics giants have already utilized UN platforms to announce carbon-neutral targets and environmental programs. However, many other companies, especially in carbon-intensive industries such as electronics manufacturing, can benefit from raising their ESG profile internationally. While the international approach requires investment, Chin argues: "If enterprises promote themselves on the global stage, more resources will focus on them, saving costs on employee training and marketing domestically."

Government policies play a pivotal role in shaping corporate strategies for carbon management. Dr. Chin discussed how different regions have varying regulatory frameworks, which can either facilitate or hinder corporate efforts. For instance, he mentioned the European Union's stringent carbon pricing and trading systems compared to the more flexible approaches in other regions.

"The EU's carbon pricing can be as high as US$100 per ton, which places significant pressure on companies," Dr. Chin noted. "In contrast, the United States has been slower to implement stringent measures, allowing companies more time to adapt."

Dr. Chin also discussed the complexities of participating in the international carbon credit market. He pointed out that many companies are looking beyond their national borders to adopt carbon offset projects, often under the auspices of the United Nations. However, this process is fraught with challenges, including navigating international regulations and avoiding fraudulent schemes.

"Taiwanese companies, for example, face numerous hurdles in their domestic market and often turn to international projects," he explained. "However, they must be cautious of fraudulent operations and ensure they engage in legitimate carbon credit transactions".

For companies aiming to improve their carbon management practices, he emphasized the importance of comprehensive carbon accounting and the integration of carbon strategies into overall business operations. In addition, he highlighted the need for companies to invest in green (forest-based) and blue (ocean-based) carbon projects, which offer different advantages and can be more rapidly implemented.

The development of carbon sinks is critically important in mitigating climate change. Carbon sinks, such as forests and oceans, absorb more carbon dioxide than they release, helping to offset greenhouse gas emissions. "Building carbon sinks is an endeavor we must undertake to align with international standards and regulations."

"Corporates should not only focus on carbon neutrality but also strive to develop their carbon sinks," he advised. "This involves a mix of green and blue carbon projects, each providing unique benefits and faster results in some cases."

By raising awareness and educating stakeholders about the benefits and methodologies of carbon sink development, companies can foster a more supportive environment for these initiatives.
New economic minister: Stable power supply essential to keep semiconductor and AI sectors in Taiwan

If Taiwan does not have enough power supply, the semiconductor and Artificial Intelligence (AI) industries will not stay in Taiwan, commented Kuo Jyh-Huei, the new minister of economic affairs.

Kuo was responding to media questions during a tea party held on May 30. He said the combined capacity of generating units coming online in 2024-2025 will total 8.333 million kilowatts, significantly higher than the 5.972 million kilowatts of units being decommissioned, indicating the power supply is sufficient at least by 2030.

Despite Kuo's industry background, media questions focused on whether Taiwan will extend the life of nuclear power plants, potential changes in energy policy, and the sufficiency of green power for businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises.

Kuo told reporters that the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) has no current answer on whether the No. 3 Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung, now the only active nuclear plant in Taiwan, will be extended or decommissioned, and that any actions would be in accordance with the law. The plant is scheduled to stop generating power next May.

Kuo emphasized that decommissioning nuclear power plants will not significantly affect the power supply, but the power demand for AI applications may impact supply after 2027. Considering that AI could see explosive growth from 2027-2029, he said that "the third nuclear power plant could act as a backup plan," but stressed that such a plan would have to comply with the law.

To extend the third nuclear power plant's operational life, the current law  which mandates decommissioning after 40 years of use and requires an extension application five years before scheduled decommissioning would need to be amended, as the extension application period has already passed.

Many countries are restarting nuclear power plants due to soaring natural gas prices caused by the Russia-Ukraine war, which has increased Taiwan Power Company's (Taipower) fuel costs by NT$700 billion. However, electricity prices cannot be adjusted accordingly as Taipower has policy obligations, making it extremely difficult for Taipower to avoid losses, Kuo continued. In the future, he hopes that state-owned enterprises can be managed stably and their stocks can be publicly listed

Taiwan to lead AI chip and AI server production for next 50 years

In addition to power issues, Kuo mentioned that other countries also want to manufacture AI chips but are not doing well. Taiwan excels in semiconductors, and AI chips and AI servers will enable Taiwan to lead the way for another 50 years.

Kuo continued that 90% of the world's AI servers are produced in Taiwan, and smart manufacturing and innovation are being carried out in Taiwan. In the future, Taiwan should develop AI applications, particularly in human health, as AI can assist in early detection and treatment.

Kuo said his vision is for western Taiwan to be a hub for developing tech industries and eastern Taiwan to be a hub for the health industry, using preferential policies to attract renowned enterprises to invest in Taiwan.

Kuo highlighted two major strategies for Taiwan's economic development: "Outbound Domestic" and "Inbound Foreign." The "Outbound Domestic" strategy involves taking Taiwan's manufacturing parks abroad and encouraging Taiwanese companies to set up factories overseas. For instance, Taiwan could establish a semiconductor industrial park in Kumamoto, Japan, bringing Taiwan's supply chain to serve both TSMC's Japanese venture (JSAM) and local Japanese companies, thereby tapping into the Japanese market.

The "Inbound Foreign" strategy aims to attract foreigners to Taiwan. Starting with Taoyuan, there are 400 million people within a 3-hour flight radius. Taiwan can consider this population as its domestic market, inviting them to enjoy Taiwan's gourmet food, medical aesthetics, and other high-end services, thereby expanding Taiwan's influence in the international community.
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AI chips for all: DEEPX CEO Lokwon Kim's vision to democratize AI technology

The applications of AI are becoming increasingly widespread in our daily lives. With the continuous iteration of generative AI and large language models, various innovative applications are emerging. These include, such as smart home appliances, autonomous vehicles, and robots to VR/AR applications.

These edge devices are equipped with AI processors that compute on the device directly, further accelerating the launch of innovative Edge AI applications. However, these devices also face several challenges, including excessive GPU power consumption and high costs limiting the widespread adoption of Edge AI products.

DEEPX won three CES Innovation Awards in 2024

Photo: DEEPX

DEEPX, an AI chip startup from Korea, won three CES Innovation Awards 2024 in January for its unique AI chip ultra-gap source technology. The awards were in the categories of Computer Hardware, Embedded Technology, and Robotics, and Computer Hardware & components.

Their NPU processor boasts low power consumption and cost-effectiveness and addresses the issue of insufficient accuracy found in existing NPUs on the market. This technology was recognized by lots of semiconductor companies during CES 2024 and is scheduled for mass market release in late 2024.

DEEPX CEO Lokwon Kim

Photo: DEEPX

Learn from ARM to build DEEPX into a leading On-device AI company

"The main battlegrounds in the AI era will move to the 'edge'. Just as ARM dominated the CPU market with smartphones, the semiconductor company that dominates the edge will dominate the AI market," DEEPX CEO Lokwon Kim said.

Kim, a former senior researcher in Apple's Application Processor (AP) design, returned to South Korea to establish DEEPX after gaining extensive experience in semiconductor design at renowned companies like Broadcom, Cisco, and IBM T.J Watson. His goal is to build DEEPX into a leading AI company in the era of on-device AI, reminiscent of how ARM revolutionized the CPU market with its low-power technology.

On-device AI, which processes information within a mobile device without connecting to a server or cloud, is a burgeoning field. ARM broke Intel's dominance in the CPU market with its efficient, low-power processors, which are now prevalent in smartphones and expanding into PCs and servers. Kim aspires for DEEPX to have a similar impact on the AI semiconductor industry.

Kim identified a weakness in Korea's semiconductor ecosystem, particularly in system semiconductors. Drawing inspiration from Morris Chang, the founder of TSMC, who returned to Taiwan to establish a leading foundry after learning from the American semiconductor giant TI, Kim saw an opportunity to address these gaps in the South Korean market.

Chang predicted a demand-driven semiconductor market, leading to the creation of TSMC, which produces semiconductors on consignment. Similarly, Kim believes that the opening of the AI semiconductor market offers a chance for innovation and growth.

Democratizing AI Technology

Kim opposes the monopolization of AI semiconductor technology through strategic investments (SIs) that often lead to mergers, acquisitions, or alliances, resulting in technology being controlled by a single entity. His experience at Apple motivated him to advocate for more democratic and accessible AI semiconductor technology. He believes that AI semiconductors should be universally available and not restricted to proprietary use, emphasizing the importance of technology that everyone can utilize.

To pursue this vision, Kim established DEEPX in Pangyo, South Korea's hub for fabless companies. He aims to create an AI semiconductor company with a unique value, promoting innovation over exclusivity.

DEEPX is positioned not as a competitor to global semiconductor giants but as a complementary force, enhancing the global semiconductor landscape by providing accessible and advanced AI technology.

DEEPX aims to be the world leader in on-device AI

Photo: DEEPX

Analyzing the Difference Between NPUs and GPUs: DEEPX's Unique Solution

The necessity for developing specialized AI semiconductors, such as NPUs, stems from the limitations of GPUs, which have traditionally been used for AI computations. GPUs, originally designed to process graphic data, excel at handling large amounts of data simultaneously, making them suitable for AI learning tasks.

However, their high power consumption and operational costs present significant drawbacks. This makes them less ideal for "edge AI," which involves running AI applications directly on devices like controllers, robots, and self-driving cars - collectively referred to as the "edge."

NPUs (Neural Processing Units) are modeled after the human brain, offering the benefits of lower power consumption and reduced production costs. However, existing NPUs have struggled with accuracy and support for the latest AI algorithms. DEEPX stands out among fabless companies by addressing the core challenges of AI semiconductors in one comprehensive solution.

Unlike typical NPU vendors that release a single chip, DEEPX recognizes that different electronic devices require varying levels of semiconductor capabilities. For instance, AI for closed-circuit television (CCTV) primarily needs to analyze video, whereas AI for robots involves far more complex computations.

To address this, DEEPX has developed from low-end to high-end performance four chips at once: one that can connect a single electronic device for AI computations, and another that can link three or four devices for broader AI tasks. This universality across devices is a key reason DEEPX received the Innovation Award at CES 2024.

DEEPX's commitment to high performance at lower power and cost also earned them the Innovation Award. The company's latest AI algorithm, Yolo7, runs on their semiconductor DX-V1, produced using Samsung's 28nm process.

This algorithm was previously incompatible with conventional NPUs. In addition, the DX-M1 chip boasts a design area one-third the size of other NPUs, and its manufacturing cost is similarly reduced by one-third. Combining low unit costs with high performance in a low-power NPU, DEEPX's products are poised to lead the AI semiconductor market.

NPUs are categorized into data center-based NPUs, which handle large-scale inference, and edge-type NPUs, designed for use in electronic devices such as robots, smart cameras, smart factories, consumer electronics, etc. DEEPX targets both data center and edge NPU markets. DEEPX's NPUs overcome the common shortcomings of existing NPUs by providing high accuracy and efficiency.

DEEPX's innovation lies in creating NPUs that are not only small and cost-effective but also achieve accuracy comparable to, or even better than, GPUs. This success is attributed to DEEPX's pioneering work in two core technologies: IQ8 (an INT8 model compression technology), and Smart Memory Access(minimizes D-RAM usage). DEEPX leads the market for low-power AI solutions, achieving the world's highest power-to-performance ratio through proprietary advancements in hardware and software optimization.

Advancing Towards Mass Production

DEEPX has successfully demonstrated its original technology with sample units and is in the final stages of preparing its mass-production chip. Scheduled for market release in late 2024, the widespread adoption of products featuring DEEPX's chips could establish the company as a technology leader in the on-device AI market by 2025.

The essence of on-device AI lies in low power consumption and the seamless integration of hardware and software. Since AI must operate on small devices, minimizing power consumption is crucial while maximizing AI performance within limited computing power.

Kim, drawing from his experience at Apple, emphasizes the importance of designing hardware and software with equal priority from the outset. Unlike Apple, which develops its own devices and services, DEEPX engaged with approximately 700 customers during product development to understand their needs and find the optimal development point. This customer-centric approach has been pivotal in refining DEEPX's products.

Four companies from Israel and the U.S., including DEEPX, are vying for dominance in the emerging on-device AI market. As the market begins to flourish beyond the server market, this competition is crucial for setting future momentum.

Kim is confident in DEEPX's strategy. He notes that while some competitors prioritize rapid product releases, DEEPX focuses on price and optimization first. Given the rapid evolution of AI application services, Kim believes it is more important to align with market trends and offer high-performance features at a competitive cost rather than rushing products to market.

DEEPX's innovative approach to developing versatile, efficient, and cost-effective NPUs positions the company as a formidable contender in the on-device AI market. By prioritizing customer needs and maintaining a balanced focus on hardware and software optimization, DEEPX is set to lead the industry with cutting-edge AI semiconductor solutions.

DEEPX CEO Lokwon Kim

Photo: DEEPX

DEEPX Company's Philosophy: Valuing Technology Over Short-term Results

DEEPX is not focused on making AI semiconductors for autonomous cars or smartphones. Instead, DEEPX aims to advance the integration of AI into everyday life. The company's products are designed to bring AI to areas such as CCTV and robots, pushing these technologies beyond outdated algorithms. DEEPX's mission is to pioneer advancements that should have already been made in the AI semiconductor industry.

At the entrance of DEEPX, there is a note to employees that emphasizes the value of technology over monetary gains. It quotes Carl Sagan's "pale blue dot," reflecting the idea that life should be lived with value rather than chasing money and power. The message encourages the 70 employees to love their work and find it meaningful, aligning with the company's ethos of creating technology for the greater good.

DEEPX believes in 'technology that everyone shares.' From a management perspective, AI is seen as one of humanity's final inventions, marking the endpoint of human evolution. The goal is not to monopolize technology or chase profits but to lead the way in making AI accessible and beneficial for all. DEEPX's AI semiconductors are the cornerstone of this vision, enabling widespread adoption of AI.

Future Plan: Global Expansion and Innovation

DEEPX's visionary CEO, Kim, has outlined a strategic plan for the future:

- Global Market Entry: Starting from the second half of this year, DEEPX plans to aggressively enter the global market with its first-generation product, consisting of four AI chips. This move is set to usher in the era of "AI Everywhere."

- Technological Innovation: DEEPX aims to develop new technologies that enable super-scale AI services with power consumption of less than 5W. This innovation will make advanced AI technologies more accessible and practical for widespread use.

- Leadership in AI: DEEPX is committed to becoming a leading comprehensive AI chip company globally. By focusing on power and cost efficiency, the company seeks to provide core technologies that transition giant AI advancements from the realm of science to everyday applications.

DEEPX's mission is to integrate AI into everyday life, advancing technology in meaningful ways. By valuing innovation over profit and aiming for global leadership, DEEPX is set to play a pivotal role in the future of AI. The company's commitment to shared technology and global expansion highlights its dedication to making AI accessible and beneficial for humanity.

Join DEEPX's Early Engagement Customer Program (EECP), and don't miss out on their innovative products designed to enhance your AI capabilities. Discover how over 100 global companies, including Hyundai Kia Motors Robotics Lab, POSCO DX, Supermicro, and Dell, leverage their hardware and software to power their next-generation AI products.

For more information, you can follow DEEPX on social media or visit their official website.
Tesla reportedly to register FSD software in China

Tesla is said to proceed with a plan to launch its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software in China. The EV company is on track to register the technology and aims to activate the service later this year.

According to Reuters, Tesla is getting ready to register the FSD software with China's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. The registration will allow the company to test the technology internally on China's public roads.

Tesla plans to introduce version 12 of FSD to the world's largest car market in 2024, Reuters reported. CEO Elon Musk has said the latest version of the technology will help the company deliver fully self-driving systems.

The US EV giant is mulling over monthly subscriptions to sell FSD in China, according to Reuters.

A Tesla China employee sharing might hint about the project's progress. According to Sina, the employee shared online a screenshot of their Tesla vehicle's display, saying the words "Employee FSD Beta project: Registered" showed up after a software update. However, the employee could not activate any FSD features on the car.

Facing fierce competition in China, Tesla may generate more revenue in the market when it launches FSD. According to the China Passenger Car Association's (CPCA) data, Tesla sold 283,000 EVs in the first four months of 2024. The number was the second highest and represented a 7% drop from last year.

BYD remained the top passenger EV seller with 936,400 units in the same period, while Geely was ranked third with 195,600 cars.

On the same day when Musk paid an unannounced visit to China in April, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) and the National Computer Network Emergency Response Technical Team/Coordination Center of China announced that 76 car models, including Tesla Model Ys and Model 3s made in Shanghai, had passed national data security requirements. The certification was seen as a lift for Tesla's FSD roll-out.

Bloomberg previously reported that Tesla will work with China-based Baidu for mapping and navigation functions for the FSD software. Tesla will have access to Baidu's lane-level navigation and mapping services.
Elena Kadvany has been a reporter on the Chronicles Food & Wine team since 2021. She covers the ins and outs of the Bay Area food industry, from breaking news about the latest restaurant openings to investigative stories into wage theft and workers rights. In 2024, her food writing portfolio won second place in the Society for Features Journalism Excellence-in-Features awards. Previously, she covered restaurants and education for the Palo Alto Weekly; her work has also been published in Bon Appetit and the Guardian, and her reporting has been recognized by the California News Publishers Association.

She can be reached at Elena.Kadvany@sfchronicle.com.
Body worn cameras for frontline gardai will be rolled out in Dublin from today as part of a trial for the technology.

The cameras will be worn by a total of 700 gardai during the proof of concept (PoC) project.

Operational gardai in Pearse Street station, Kevin Street station and Store Street station will be wearing the cameras from today, while they will be introduced in Waterford station and Henry Street station in Limerick in the coming months.

The body cameras will be introduced following the enactment of the Gardai Siochana (Recording Devices) Act 2023, which the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee had previously described as "a priority".

Speaking at the launch of the pilot phase of bodyworn cameras for frontline Gardai, Minister McEntee said: Ensuring frontline Gardai are equipped with bodyworn cameras has been a priority for me and I am glad to say we are now in a position to launch the pilot phase of this initiative which will vastly improve how we police our streets."

"My plan is to move to have body worn cameras on Gardai in every part of the country. Policing organisations around the world have found that body worn cameras can help improve front-line capability with the accurate recording of incidents, such as instances of domestic abuse."

She continued : We cannot keep sending Gardai into situations where they are the only ones without the ability to record what is happening. I want to commend An Garda Siochana for the ongoing work to ensure that frontline Gardai are supported in policing our country safely and effectively. I very much look forward to being kept informed about the progress of the pilot phase of bodyworn cameras.

Taoiseach Simon Harris added that the move marked "an important step forward for policing in Ireland", saying the cameras would be vital to protecting gardai "on the beat as they experience an increase of attacks which will not be tolerated".

Too often gardai find themselves in situations where they are being recorded in tense situations with footage often edited to suit a particular narrative. This technology will offer protection both to gardai and to the public with accurate recording of incidents.

I look forward to hearing the feedback both from gardai and the public ahead of further roll-out of body-worn cameras across the country. The Government is committed to providing An Garda Siochana with the resources they need which is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of 2.3 billion in Budget 2024.

"This ensures every member of An Garda Siochana is equipped with the latest technology to keep every community across the country safe.
Homeless figures continue to climb higher in Louth and surrounding counties, with 222 homeless adults recorded in the North East region in April, including 202 in Louth.

According to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage's Monthly Homelessness Report for April 2024, 222 adults accessed local authority managed emergency accommodation during the week of 22-28 April 2024 in the North East, 202 in Louth and 20 in Monaghan and Cavan.

This is up from March when 219 were recorded as homeless in the North East, which included 197 in Louth and 22 in Monaghan and Cavan.

Of the 222 adults, 111 were male and 111 were female. 43 were aged 18-24; 111 aged 25-44; 63 aged 45-64; and five were aged 65 and over. 138 were Irish citizens; 52 were EEA/UK citizens; and 32 were Non-EEA citizens

The number of homeless families in the North East also increased again in April, with 54 families with 116 children accessing emergency accommodation during the week of 22-28 April 2024, up from 52 families, with 113 children in March.

Nationally, 9,803 adults and 4,206 children were recorded as homeless in April, giving a total of 14,009 homeless people, which is another record high.

Commenting on the latest national figures, David Carroll, Chief Executive of Depaul said that "these latest figures are stark and underline the urgent need for recommendations made in The Housing Commission Report to be implemented.

"The Commission advises that Irelands housing deficit be addressed through emergency action - this is something that we in Depaul have been calling for consistently.

He continued: "The Housing Commission Report also highlights that there is a current deficit of between 212,500 and 256,000 homes in Ireland. In 2023, 11,939 new social homes were delivered by Local Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies, as well as approximately 4,000 affordable homes. Depaul supports the Commission's opinion that a radical increase in social housing stock is required.

Depaul is calling for Government housing targets to be raised from 33,000 homes to 50,000 homes for 2025, in line with a comprehensive review of national housing policy being conducted on how the housing deficit, highlighted by the commission, can be delivered over the next 10 years.

Depaul has 645 temporary accommodation beds in Ireland, and we continue to see increased demand for these by both families and individuals alike. We are also seeing an increase in poor mental health amongst our service users, which is exacerbated by the uncertainty, insecurity, and relative isolation of their environment.

Alongside the acceleration in housing delivery, Depaul is calling for a significant increase in investment in mental health supports for people experiencing homelessness. Even if housing supply was to materialise tomorrow, the amount of serious and enduring mental issues being experienced by the people we work with is truly worrying and will provide barriers to people being able to escape the trap of emergency accommodation and rough sleeping.

This week, we joined with other civil society organisations, including colleagues across the homelessness sector, to voice our concerns about the lack of accommodation for people who are seeking international protection in Ireland.

"There are currently almost 2,000 people in this situation, who find themselves without safe places to stay or access to basic hygiene facilities. We know that this not only presents immediate challenges, but also longer-term physical and mental health impacts for those who spend prolonged periods in homelessness.

"This issue can not be divorced from the publication of today's figures. We are calling again for a whole of government approach to this issue.
Homeless figures released today show 338 homeless people are in the North-East region, equating to 54 families, 116 children, and 144 single adults across counties Louth, Cavan and Monaghan.

These figures do not include those rough sleeping, people in domestic violence shelters, refugees, and those on our streets seeking asylum.

Catherine Kenny, CEO of Dundalk Simon Community expressed her dismay at the concerning statistics, stating, These increases are being driven, not by sustained high volumes of homeless presentations, but fewer people exiting homeless accommodation to tenancies. This is leading to more congestion in an already gridlocked housing system.

"These figures are disheartening and indicative of a systemic issue where the pathways out of homelessness are becoming increasingly elusive. Despite our unwavering efforts and those of our key partners, the housing landscape remains congested, hampering our ability to provide sustainable solutions for those in need.

With a 43% increase in homelessness in Dublin since the last local elections in 2019, a more grass-roots approach is now needed. Its way past time for the general public to make homelessness and housing the top issues on polling day 7th June. Housing is now a collective crisis in this country, and it needs a collective solution. Dublin Simon welcomes the recommendations from the recently-published Housing Commission report which we believe provides a road map to housing solutions, if implemented.

In the absence of a viable rental market and with the reliance on Local Authorities and Approved Housing Bodies to deliver, we call on newly formed Councils in June to:
Three Louth towns were among the top searches in Ireland with people looking for guidance on how to pronounce them.

Termonfeckin, Clogherhead and Grangebellew were ranked, in a new study from Preply, which analysed the spellings of more than 100 Irish places.

Dungarvan in Waterford was the top most mispronounced, with 57,870 monthly searches.

In Limerick, Foynes and Caherconlish both ranked in the top ten.

Other surprising inclusions, which many may view as easy to pronounce include Castletownbere and Spiddal.

Some that might have people scratching their heads that made the list are Youghal and Clogherhead.

The study found that most searches emerged from the spelling being quite different to how the place name actually sounds.

Sylvia Johnson, language expert at Preply, said: The complexity in pronouncing Irish place names often arises from the fact that they originated in the Irish language, often referred to as Irish Gaelic.

Since Irish Gaelic has its own unique phonetic rules, which differs significantly from English, it can be quite tricky for non-native speakers to pronounce them correctly.

For example, silent letters. Just like in English, Irish has silent letters and letter combinations. For instance, the combination "bh" might be silent or sound like a "v" or "w" depending on context.

She added: Many Irish place names are descriptive, so knowing some common elements can be beneficial. Few examples are "bally" or "baile" (place), "dun" (fort), "cill" (church), etc. If unsure of the pronunciation, use online audio tools to listen to the phonetics or ask a native speaker to help you out mastering the pronunciation.

Looking away from the towns and villages, Dublin tourist attraction Kilmainham Gaol museum was searched on average 460 times over a 12-month spell.
The core Anchor beers during the Fritz Maytag era, seen in 2004: Old Foghorn barleywine, Liberty Ale, Porter, Steam and Christmas Ale. Craig Lee/The Chronicle

Well, we didnt see that one coming.

Of all the players who might have bought the shuttered Anchor Brewing  the scrappy ex-employees, the venture capitalist neighbor, the Big Beer corporations that we all assumed were interested  Hamdi Ulukaya, the billionaire founder of Chobani yogurt, was never a top suspect.

San Franciscans would be right to be skeptical of Ulukaya, who has no apparent connection to our city or to craft beer. Especially since he told the Chronicle he didnt know Anchor existed until last summer. Sure, he plans to revive the old logos, rehire as many employees as possible and begin brewing steam beer again. Still, its reasonable to wonder whether he may value his new asset primarily as a real estate investment. Could stewarding the legacy of Americas first craft brewery, which San Franciscans know to be a sacred honor, end up being an afterthought?

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But as far as billionaires go, Ulukaya sounds like one you might actually be able to cheer for. He has an irresistible origin story, after growing up in a family of sheep herders in the Turkish mountains, he immigrated to the United States with only $3,000 to his name and launched Chobani after buying a dilapidated Kraft yogurt factory. By giving his workers a 10% stake in Chobani, employing large numbers of refugees and donating lavishly to charitable causes, Ulukaya has endeared himself to the socially conscious business world. He has amassed the accolades to prove it: honorary doctorates galore, humanitarian awards, an appointment by President Obama to a global entrepreneurship group.

But that still doesnt answer the question on San Franciscans minds. Does Ulukaya know what this brewery means to us? Does he get Anchor?

A worker at Anchor Brewing on March 28, 1978. The brewery, which closed last year, will reopen under the ownership of Chobani Yogurts CEO. Gary Fong/The Chronicle

Anchor Brewing is more than just a beloved institution in this city. Its the very myth of San Francisco in a bottle. Its a relic of the Gold Rush, a harbinger of the it-happened-here-first innovation that our region hopes to be known for. Anchor was a survivor, for 127 years, of San Franciscos periods of buoyant boom and brutal bust. Its signature beer, Steam, can even be seen as an expression of the citys uniquely quirky climate: Long before temperature control was available, Steams fermentation was regulated only by the cool bay breeze.

In the second half of the 20th century, as Big Beer consolidated and an American craft movement rose to meet it, Anchor seemed to represent San Franciscos stubbornly independent streak. Fritz Maytag, who owned the brewery from 1965 until 2010, presided over its golden era. With longtime brewer Mark Carpenter, he restored Anchor Steams quality, making it one of the great American beers. They introduced the first IPA in this country since Prohibition, Liberty Ale, reviving the lost practice of dry hopping and setting off a trend that would captivate a generation of brewers.

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While the corporations now known as AB InBev and Molson Coors got bigger and bigger, buying up smaller breweries, Anchor felt like proof that it was possible to remain homegrown. That is, until 2010, when Maytag sold Anchor to two former Skyy Spirits executives, who then turned around and sold it to Sapporo in 2017.

But even before Maytag shattered the illusion of independence, the Anchor myth was never as pure as San Francisco would like to have believed. Its founding, in fact, was arguably a buyout: In 1896, Ernst F. Baruth and his son-in-law Otto Schinkel Jr. bought a 25-year-old brewery on Pacific Street and rebranded it as Anchor. For the next 69 years, it kept getting traded among new owners, some of whom barely managed to keep it alive. One of those owners didnt: Anchor closed in 1959, though it was resuscitated a year later and limped along until Maytags purchase.

Fritz Maytag, longtime owner of Anchor Brewing seen in 1978, ran the San Francisco operation from 1965 to 2010. Gary Fong/The Chronicle

Like Ulukaya, Maytag was merely the latest in a series of owners to try their luck with this beleaguered little brewery. Like Ulukaya, Maytag was not a Bay Area native  he grew up in Iowa and moved here to attend Stanford. Like Ulukaya, Maytag came to Anchor flush with a fortune from an existing business empire  in his case, his familys washing machine company.

So even though another owner, like the neighbors or the employees, might have made for a better story in this next chapter of Anchors life, theres reason to be optimistic about Ulukaya. Keep in mind that this could certainly have gone a lot worse. Anchors assets could easily have been divided among multiple buyers, divorcing the brand and beer recipes from the physical brewery and its specialized, antique equipment. It was not a guarantee that a new owner would continue brewing Anchor beer in San Francisco, or even continue brewing Anchor beer at all  two things Ulukaya said hes committed to doing.

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Then again, weve been burned before. In 2017, we tried to convince ourselves that Sapporo was OK. At least it wasnt AB InBev. And it turned out to be a disaster: Sapporo muddled Anchors identity, introducing wacky beers like blackberry IPA that would likely have made Maytag shudder and rolling out controversial new labels. Then, after all that, the Japanese company deflated Anchor in a series of disheartening downsizings. First Sapporo cut national distribution and its beloved Christmas Ale. Then it just shut down Anchor altogether.

The crucial difference between 2017 and 2024 is the health of the overall craft beer market. When Sapporo came in, the craft beer explosion was at its peak. But the wave has since crested. Today, craft beer is stagnating, declining in volume by 1% last year, according to the Brewers Association, after several years of flat growth. Anchors shuttering last year was one of various brewery closures that the Bay Area has seen recently.

But thats the power of the myth of Anchor, much like the myth of San Francisco itself. Even when it looks like folly, a starry-eyed prospector cant resist the chance to come here and try to strike gold.
Gardai in Crumlin are continuing to investigate a fatal assault on a man in his 30s that is understood to have occurred sometime between Saturday, January 6, 2024 and the early hours of Sunday, January 7, 2024 in Dublin.

The man in his 30s was discovered at approximately 3am on Sunday, January 7, 2024 with serious injuries at an apartment in Lucan, County Dublin. He was later pronounced deceased at Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown.

Two women in their 40s and a man in his 30s were arrested this Thursday, May 30, 2024 as part of this investigation. They are currently being detained at a number of garda stations in the Dublin region under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

This investigation is continuing from an Incident Room at Crumlin Garda Station under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO). A Garda Family Liaison Officer (FLO) continues to keep the deceased's family informed of developments.

Gardai are continuing to appeal to the public for information in relation to this incident.

Anyone with information in relation to this incident is asked to contact Crumlin garda station on 01 666 6200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.
A fundraiser for a young Irish mum with stage 4 cancer is nearing its 55,000 target.

Thirty six year old Laura Casserly was diagnosed with Sarcoma-UPS on Easter Sunday 2021 after investigating a lump on her leg when her youngest daughter was just 10 months old.

That's according to a Go Fund Me fundraiser set up by Laura's friend, which has so far received over 900 donations amounting to 47,272.

Originally from Leixlip in Co Kildare, Laura now lives in Enfield, Co Meath with her partner Keith and young children, Lily, Kooper and Lottie.

At the point of diagnosis, Laura and Keith were told her cancer was stage 2B and still treatable. Laura then underwent 5 weeks of radiation, had a resection of her calf to remove the lump, and had to learn to walk again during "grueling" rehabilitation for 12weeks.

However, in October 2021, Laura had pain in her knee and further tests showed the cancer had returned and spread into her lymph nodes and both of her lungs.

At this stage, Laura was given the devastating news her cancer was now stage 4 and the treatment plan had gone from curing the cancer to prolonging her life. She was given 6 months of the strongest chemotherapy available and then had an amputation of her right leg on the 29th June 2023.

In another blow on 8th November 2023, the doctors found a 3cm lymph node lump in the top of Laura's leg.

She was given a chemotherapy pill to take, which has had no effect on the cancer and, unfortunately, on the 26th November Laura was rushed to A&E for emergency chemo as the cancer was progressing rapidly.

According to the Go Fund Me, Laura's lung tumour has grown from 3cm to 5cm and the doctors have decided more radiation is the best course of action.

The need for more radiation is especially difficult for Laura as her father - who had been there to support her through every step last time - unfortunately passed away suddenly a few weeks ago.

A statement on the Go Fund Me page reads, "All donations no matter how small will help ease the huge financial stress of Laura's illness. Keith had to leave full time work to help look after Laura and the children and no one should have to just survive when you are just trying to survive!

"At this stage we are hoping to raise money to make Laura and Keith as comfortable as possible so they can focus on making memories for their beautiful young family for when Laura is no longer there."

Anyone wishing to help Laura and her family can donate via the fundraiser.
The Irish foreman of the jury for Donald Trumps hush money trial delivered the former US President his guilty verdict on all 34 counts.

Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony charges of falsifying business records in the first degree after the jury returned its verdict in a courtroom in Manhattan, New York on Thursday afternoon.

The former president was delivered the news by an Irish individual, who was chosen as foreman of the jury. Trump reportedly had to hear guilty 34 times in an Irish accent.

Trump, aged 77, was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election. Ms Daniels said she had a sexual encounter with Trump about a decade beforehand.

The verdict means he becomes the first former US President in the history of the state to be found guilty in a criminal case.

Although little information on the jury is available, the New York Times reported that the unnamed Irish individual enjoys doing anything outdoorsy and watches a balance of both MSNBC and Fox News.
By BOB MARTIN

Eagle Times Staff

CLAREMONT, N.H.  Girl Scout Kylie Tilton has shown resiliency and a drive to succeed as her Gold Award project aimed at educating the public about the harmful effects of littering was the target of vandalism earlier this month. While it was a devastating for her and caused some sadness, she is pushing on to get the project completed.

I felt upset, she said. I teared up a little bit because it made me mad.

The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest and most prestigious award in the organization and is comparable to Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America. The project is titled How Long Until Its Gone, which involves her designing, creating and installing the informational kiosks at three local parks. The goal is to have the project finished by June 30, and she has until September for completion.

The hope is to inspire people to not litter as much, she said. It shows how long it takes for trash to decompose. I just want people to care for the Earth a little more than they do already, or at least start by not littering as much. We do go out sometimes and pick up trash like cans or cigarette butts, or plastic. It will also help our marine life.

There are pack it in, pack it out signs at the kiosks, which were created by Kylie and her mother. They sanded the wood and painted them reddish orange, and built a little green roof. Kylie worked with an advisor to build the kiosk, which displays how long it takes different trash items to decompose. This includes things like diapers and Styrofoam, and even orange peels.

Most would see this a commendable act of service for the community, and a particularly notable endeavor by a local Stevens High School student. Unfortunately, bad apples do exist, and her kiosk at Barnes Park was vandalized.

I am so disappointed that it happened, said Tara Tilton, who is Kylies mother and Girls Scouts of the Greater White Mountains troop leader.

She added, Why would anyone want to ruin such a nice addition to the park?

It was erected on May 2, and just one week later Kylie and her mother went to add something to the exhibit and found that the plexiglass was gone and the trash pieces along with it.

We didnt really know what to do, Tara Tilton said. We called the Parks and Rec and they said they would check the cameras. Then we went back and more things were taken off. Labels and a title on the top of it were starting to get picked off, as well.

Tara Tilton said that video footage showed four girls vandalizing the kiosk, and two of them were identified. She noted that the Claremont Police had been informed, but a message for a comment from the department was not returned.

They are taking action, so as long as they are doing something, that is good, Tara Tilton said.

Kylie has shown perseverance and persistence in keeping the project going despite being sad and angry about the vandalism. She gathered more trash items to display and was able to order bulletproof glass to protect all three kiosks.

She started the endeavor in early 2022, and along the way has raised funds through a spaghetti dinner, made presentations to the Claremont City Council and Rotary, and worked with both the Parks and Recreation and Department of Public Works on getting her information out. Claremont Savings Bank donated $1,000 toward the project, and LaValley Building Supply has assisted with donations of most of the material.

She has 80 hours of work put into it and she has done fundraising, and needs to tell the community about her project, Tara Tilton said. She has always been self-conscious and wanted to clean up the litter around her. She is also part of the Anti-Litter Taskforce in Claremont, and it finally came to be that she had her project started.

The project is also being included on the Parks and Recreation website, and the Department of Public Works has offered to give her space for laminated posters at the waterways kiosks that the Boys Scouts built.

Tara explained that her daughter saw another Girl Scout project that was similar, and she was inspired by this, knowing it was something she wanted to bring to the Claremont community.

Its really a shocker, Tara Tilton said. The point is to make sure you take away your trash and dont leave it for it to take forever to go away. They can cause harmful chemicals to go into the environment that we end up ingesting.

Next on the agenda for Kylie is to install a kiosk at Moody Park, and the other kiosk will be in her hometown of Unity.

We just need the muscle and the help to do it, Tara Tilton said. Its huge and heavy, made out of wood with a metal roof.

Anyone who would like to help in placing the kiosks can contact Tara Tilton at [email protected].
Local brewers are relieved that Anchor Brewing will continue to brew in San Francisco, as they were worried the building would be redeveloped into something else. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

The Bay Area beer world is abuzz with the news that San Franciscos beloved Anchor Brewing Co., which shut down last July, has sold to Hamdi Ulukaya, the billionaire owner of yogurt empire Chobani.

While Ulukaya has zero beer industry experience, the reaction to his plans to revitalize the historic brand  including hiring former employees and reinstating the original labels  has been overwhelmingly positive.

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This is probably the most ideal scenario, said Jim Woods, owner of San Francisco-based Woods Beer & Wine Co. He, like many others, worried that Anchor would be sold for parts and that the Potrero Hill production facility would be developed into something else.

It was really great news to hear that someone with the wherewithal to continue production in San Francisco has jumped in, Woods continued. The beer market has been dominated by these giant facilities, like Anheuser-Busch in Fairfield, which is right off the freeway. But when you have a brewery in an urban setting it creates a more profound connection with the community. Beer is about community. Its not a commodity.

Local brewers are pleased that Anchor Brewing's new owner intends to bring back the original labels. Craig Lee/The Chronicle

Scott Ungermann, a former Anchor brewmaster and vice president of production and logistics, is also relieved that Anchor will remain in San Francisco. Im happy that what so many people said was impossible now looks to be possible, he said. Certain things just have the provenance of location. Steam beer is of San Francisco.

Yet Dane Volek, who was Anchors brewmaster when it shut down, feels a more modern brewery in a less expensive area is still likely a possibility for Anchor, especially given the craft beer industrys current struggles. Thats not to say you have to get rid of the old one, he said, but we always like to joke were an antique brewery on the hill and theres a lot of reality to that. A lot things have changed since the 50s, 60s and 70s. It may be challenging to do on a $40 million piece of real estate. (Ulukaya told the Chronicle he would like to expand distribution, which might mean a second brewing facility.)

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Ulukaya is a beer neophyte, but Woods, Ungermann, Volek and Regan Long, co-founder of San Franciscos Local Brewing Co., said they dont view that as a problem. He has the experience of running a successful manufacturing business with multiple product lines. Its not exactly beer, but beer is a food manufacturing process, said Long. There are a lot of parallels, and I think theres a wealth of people that will be more than willing to come back, work for him and fill in those gaps from a brewing perspective.

The purchase price was undisclosed, but Ulukaya beat out a pool of other interested buyers, which ranged from venture capitalists to a collective of former Anchor employees called the Anchor SF Cooperative. After months of waiting, the other bidders likely learned they were out of the running when news of the sale broke Friday morning. This was the case for Patrick Machel, board chair of the Anchor SF Cooperative.

I woke up to my phone just constantly (buzzing), he said. I thought it was my alarm. Ive got a hundred-something notifications.

While the group wasnt chosen to lead Anchors rebirth, Machel said the mood at the collective is positive, as they were worried another corporate brand like Sapporo would buy it. Machel said that the Anchor veterans that Ulukaya has reportedly connected with about returning were not part of the collective, but that he hopes theyre next on his list.

It would be great if the co-op bought it. That would be a fairy tale ending, Machel said. But it would have been a lot of money.

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Rebuilding Anchors yeast will be a complicated and time-intensive process, according to former Anchor brewmaster Scott Ungermann (pictured). Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Ulukaya has expressed his desire to get production back up and running as soon as possible, even teasing the release of the brewerys famed Christmas Ale in time for the holiday season. Yet Ungermann called this goal lofty, explaining that waiting for the green light from the city could take significant time. Plus, theres a whole lot of cleaning to do, he said, and rebuilding the yeast is a complicated and time-intensive process.

However, said Ungermann, the small pilot brewery inside Anchors taproom would be much easier to start up than the main brewery. Ungermann, who said he would happily return to Anchor in a consulting role, could see Anchor easily brewing some Christmas Ale there.

Ulukaya, a Turkish billionaire, also said he plans to bring back Anchors original logo and labels, which were discontinued during Sapporos controversial 2021 rebrand. Theyre iconic, timeless and classic, said Woods. It would be a statement too, that theyre not embracing slick marketing, but history and tradition. I think that would really help them connect with their core constituency.

Yet Woods and Ungermann disagree with one facet of Ulukayas plans: His intention to expand distribution. Woods suggests that Ulukaya keeps a tight geographical footprint in Northern California. If you dont have a strong connection with your own backyard, it can be a problem for expansion, he said.

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Former Anchor brewmaster Scott Ungermann said he would happily return to Anchor in a consulting role. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle

Ungermann also feels that Ulukaya should keep the brand local. We were in all 50 states and 10-12 countries. Our distribution was far and wide and that was part of our downfall, he said. We couldnt compete in other markets and we got squeezed out of taps everywhere.

Advising on the Anchor revitalization project is Presidio Bay Ventures, a real estate developer thats known for creating splashy destinations, like Springline Menlo Park. This could mean a serious upgrade to the Anchor Public Taps experience and a greater tourism draw to Potrero Hill.

Woods said he believes this would be a smart move.

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I think its becoming more and more imperative to create experiences around brands, he said. If they can make it a mecca where people are making pilgrimages to receive Anchor from the source, I think it could be a really great thing.

Beyond these plans, Anchor fans appear to approve of Ulukaya on a personal level. While the yogurt mogul admitted to the Chronicle that he had never heard of Anchor until last year when it shut down, he has won people over with his positive sentiments about San Francisco.

Maybe wed feel better if it was someone born and raised in the city, Woods said. But he sees the magic that we have here and he wants to be a part of it, to invest in the rich culture and traditions here.

Besides, the proof is in the yogurt.



My wife really likes Chobani yogurt, Machel said. We actually have some in our fridge right now.
Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani yogurt, at the Milken Institute Global Conference in 2022 in Beverly Hills. Ulukaya is the new owner of Anchor Brewing in San Francisco. Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images

Anchor Brewing Co. has a new owner. On Friday, the historic brewery, which shut down last year, announced that Hamdi Ulukaya, the billionaire owner of yogurt company Chobani, has purchased all of Anchors assets.

Ulukaya, 51, is not a familiar name in the Bay Area. So who is he? Here are 10 things to know about the new proprietor of one of San Franciscos most cherished institutions.

He made his fortune from yogurt.

Ulukaya began producing yogurt in 2005 under the name Agro Farma after acquiring an old Kraft Foods yogurt factory with a loan from the Small Business Administration, the Harvard Business Review wrote. He and a Turkish yogurt master spent two years perfecting the recipe for his high-protein strained yogurt before going to market. The name Chobani is a variation of coban, the Turkish word for shepherd.

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In 2007, Ulukaya shipped his first order of Chobani yogurt to a grocer in New York, setting the company on its way to becoming the top-selling yogurt brand in the United States. The Huffington Post reported that Chobanis sales doubled every year from 2009 through 2012.

He does not have any known connection to the Bay Area.

Outside of Anchor, there are no known links between the Turkish businessman and the Bay Area. I have fallen in love with this city, its history, grit and charm, Ulukaya said of San Francisco in a statement announcing the acquisition. I believe brands born in places like this are incredibly special and must be treasured, respected and loved.

His net worth has been valued at $2.4 billion.

The New Yorker wrote that Chobani reached billion-dollar revenue five years after launch. Forbes reports Ulukaya became a billionaire in 2010. He has also signed the Giving Pledge, promising to give the majority of his wealth to charitable causes.

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He doesnt own just Chobani.

In 2023, Ulukayas Chobani purchased Philadelphia coffee company La Colombe for $900 million. The coffee roaster operates over 30 cafe locations and offers retail items like coffee beans and canned latte beverages. Ulukaya initially purchased a stake in the company in 2015, the New York Times reported.

He doesnt know his own birthday.

In 2013, Ulukaya told the New Yorker he does not know his exact birth date. He says his mother was on a trip on a mountain when she gave birth, rather than in a hospital. He approximates his birth date to Oct. 26.

His family is of Kurd heritage, a Muslim ethnic group native to Kurdistan, a cultural territory that encompasses parts of Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria.

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He first came to the U.S. as a student.

Ulukaya arrived in the U.S. in 1994 to study English at Adelphi University in Long Island, N.Y. He later transferred to the State University of New York at Albany to enroll in business courses and, according to a Fast Company profile, to work on a dairy farm.

His spouse has connections to the food world.

Ulukaya married Louise Ulukaya Vongerichten in 2018. She is the daughter of famed French chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten. She also heads Food Dreams, a nonprofit that helps with scholarships and culinary schools and career opportunities at restaurants for people who do not have the means to access these programs. The couple have three children.

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He also imported and manufactured cheese.

Before becoming a yogurt kingpin, Ulukayas first venture was importing his familys feta cheese from Turkey. His father suggested the business idea during a visit, finding cheese offerings in the U.S. lackluster. In 2002, after seeing some success, Ulukaya began manufacturing feta cheese under the label Euphrates, the Financial Times wrote. In 2013, he told the Harvard Business Review he barely broke even two years after launching the business.

He prides himself on treating his employees well.

A company news release states Ulukaya observes several employee-first policies. Thirty percent of Chobanis workers are refugees or immigrants, who have access to English language classes and translation services. The minute a refugee gets a job is the minute they stop being a refugee, he said in the purchase statement.

The New York Times reported Ulukaya surprised employees at a company plant in 2016 by giving them up to 10% in company shares. Ulukaya said he wanted to share the wealth with the workers who helped generate it.

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Hes politically involved and philanthropic.

Ulukaya has been an outspoken advocate for refugees. In 2016, he began the Tent Partnership for Refugees, an effort to hire and train refugees for job readiness. A news release states the initiative now includes more than 400 companies with notable participants such as Amazon, Hilton, Marriott and Pfizer.
DAVID McLoghlin identifies the benefits of being an outsider for any writer.

I always had a sense of not being from anywhere, he says.

My parents are both Irish, but my family lived in Belgium and the United States when I was young.

I returned to Limerick in 1985, at the age of 12. I always felt at a bit of an angle.

Belonging has always been a challenge for me. Thats something I explore in my poetry.

It had its downsides.

It meant I was bullied quite a bit. You learn to watch out for threats; you become aware of how group dynamics work, and the way cultural identities are constructs.

Language plays a role. People would throw in Irish words, and I wouldnt have a clue. Then, when I learned it, it felt like I belonged.

But theres a lot of pretending that goes into belonging. People can put on the mask of belonging.

Travel features throughout the poets work.

You see your own culture from an angle, which is what writers need. Ive lived in Spain and France also. I know a lot about other cultures.

I feel like a bit of chameleon. When I speak Spanish, I feel more alive. I dont change fundamentally but various parts of my personality come out.

Indeed, McLoghlins second Collection, Santiago Sketches was written abroad, during his Erasmus year in Spain in 1993. He remembers the time fondly.

I would go around with notebooks in my pocket. It was inspiring to be in this culture that I loved but didnt know much about, just observing daily life in the city every day.

I didnt quite know how to transfer a thousand pages of notebook into a 60-page poetry collection. I didnt attempt anything until 20 years later, finally getting it published in 2017.

The 20 years in between were given to a private poetry life, as McLoghlin calls it.

He came second in the prestigious Patrick Kavanagh Award in 2008 and in 2012 he released his first collection Waiting For St Brendan And Other Poems.

Since 2020, and following ten years in America, he has been happily based in Cork with his American wife, and young daughter.

The move back coincided with the pandemic, so things were on hold for the family for a while, but the poet is happy to find himself in Cork.

People are very friendly. It is a beautiful city, quirky and creative. It has character.

Ive been teaching with secondary school children. Poetry is taught in schools here, but they are following a curriculum. They are interpreting literature, but not necessarily writing it themselves.

Doing creative writing workshops with kids is hugely rewarding.

New Collection

This latest collection, Crash Centre was supposed to come out in 2020 but McLoghlin is grateful for the delay, given the nature of the book.

I didnt want to discuss this work over Zoom.

The book deals with trauma, and I didnt want to re-traumatise myself online through the alienating medium of Zoom.

The sexual abuse he suffered in school appears in his first collection Waiting For St Brendan and he found himself writing more about it in the run-up to its release.

I made the decision to put the more metaphorical pieces in that collection. This collection is different. I have taken out that figurative language. It is more direct.

Being a survivor of sexual abuse, you need time to process. I wasnt ready to release this collection any earlier than now, and then there were the mental health issues of Covid."

The sexual abuse occurred while he was in fifth and sixth year in school.

He was tricking me into thinking this was a relationship and not something abusive, McLoghlin says of his abuser.

If he had put a foot wrong, I would have realised, but he didnt. He kept hypnotising me into believing it was normal. The whole thing was mixed up with mentoring; he was a teacher in my school.

I was 16 when the grooming started. He waited to do anything physical until I was 17. These people are extremely intelligent and sociopathic. They know exactly what theyre doing.

In this also, language mattered.

I had no words. There were no words available at that time. And I was also in total denial.

Thirty-five years later, writing has helped the poet heal.

You put things into words. The process is interesting. I can feel a trauma as I work on a poem. It is still molten.

When its done, its cool, as if the radiation is contained.

You write it not quite to control it, but to contain it in some way, and to put a shape on it. You cant let anger take over as the poem would not be successful then, the same goes for sentimentality.

It hasnt been plain sailing, however.

Its also about knowing when to do it, and when not to do it. I have written about it when I wasnt ready, and got bombarded with the traumatic experience. You must listen to what you need. Put it on hold and go on with your life.

His struggle has been a long and considerable one.

I reported him to the school in 2005. They removed him and the Vatican got involved. It took me until 2016 to report him to gardai. Nothing had happened to him previously, as the gardai cant do anything until the victim makes a report.

The issue with going further with it was this idea that I had consented. But I was 17. I was tricked into it. It was a strange, slow, manipulative process, something like Stockholm Syndrome.

Writing provided the closure McLoghlin could not get through the courts.

I want to move on. It is only one story among many stories, even though it takes up a lot of emotional space. But when I am having a good day, I realise that. Its almost as if the experience is a whirlpool. When you are in it, you cant see out of it. Other days, I see my life is a river, not just a whirlpool.

I wrote it for myself but dedicated it to my daughter.

McLoghlin recalls his abuser, a priest, telling him he would never marry or have children.

Living well is the best revenge. Becoming a father has been a huge experience of love and renewal. There is a sense of a future moving on. The priest was wrong on many counts.

McLoghlin also hopes to help others who may have suffered a similar catastrophe.

I dont want shame to stop me or to stop anyone. I am a man, and I am aware that sexual abuse happens more commonly to women. My book is also a way of supporting other people. At least, I hope it might be.

Crash Centre is published by Salmon Press.
PRO-PALESTINE groups from across Cork county protested outside County Hall yesterday afternoon, highlighting what they called the county councils failure to act on a motion passed to declare the county an apartheid-free zone.

At the January meeting of Cork County Council, a motion on the Palestinian occupied territories, brought forward by Fine Gael councillor Sinead Sheppard, was passed unanimously.

The motion stated that until Israel complied with international law and universal principles of human rights, Cork County Council declares its support for the BDS (boycott, divestment, sanctions) campaign and agrees not to purchase goods or services produced or provided in whole or in part as is practicable by Israeli companies or companies that support the Israeli state.

Cork County Council declares the county of Cork to be an apartheid-free zone, a space of proactive solidary with the Palestinian people.

Around 50 members from Ballincollig, Cobh, Fermoy, Kinsale, Mallow, Midleton, and Youghal Palestine solidarity groups gathered to demonstrate outside County Hall yesterday afternoon.

Claim

They claimed that the council has failed to act on any of the motions commitments, and further alleged that the passing of the motion was not minuted at the January meeting.

Dermot Barry of the Fermoy Palestinian Solidarity Campaign said it needed to be established why a motion passed unanimously by councillors was not minuted.

What are the councillors doing to ensure that democracy is being upheld? he added.

A council spokesperson said the local authority was not aware any of its contracts, products or services were directly sourced from Israel.

We have no record of Israel referenced in any of the supplier details held on our systems, they said.

Cork County Council did not respond yesterday evening when asked whether or not the January motion on Palestine had been minuted.
Lord of the Dance star Michael Flatley is battling a legal bid by his former insurance company for his Cork mansion Castlehyde House to have his multimillion action against it over alleged damage to the property referred for out-of-court arbitration.

Mr Flatley, in an affidavit opened to the High Court, claimed the high-end insurance company which insured his Fermoy estate until earlier this year is trying to rewrite his consumer household policy into a commercial policy in order to rely on the Arbitration Act.

Hiscox Societe Anonyme has applied to the High Court to have the proceedings against it before the big business Commercial Court  where Mr Flatley is suing several parties over alleged damage to the mansion  stayed, pending arbitration.

His counsel, Ronnie Hudson BL instructed by Maxwell Mooney solicitor, told the High Court Mr Flatley in his work has filled stadia all over the world, but as a client of the insurance company he was a consumer.

After hearing submissions from both sides Mr Justice Michael Tuomey reserved his decision.

In the main Commercial Court proceedings, the Riverdance performer claims he and his family had to vacate the period property in October 2023 after toxic chemical residue was detected during routine maintenance.

Sued

He has sued several parties including Hiscox S A before the commercial division of the High Court over an alleged 30m worth of damage caused to Castlehyde.

On Thursday, Mr Flatley in an affidavit to the High Court said he had been purchasing insurance policies from Hiscox S A, each with a 12-month duration since 2019, and at no stage was an arbitration clause specifically negotiated or brought to his attention.

He said the arbitration clause is contained in the small print and if it was specifically negotiated he would not have agreed to it.

I say that at no point did I agree to waive any of my rights to seek legal recourse via the Irish courts and I say the arbitration clause is an unfair term."

In another affidavit before the court, Mr Flatley said that although he is an international choreographer and dancer in his work life, he was a consumer in his relationship with Hiscox.

It appears to me that Hiscox is trying to rewrite my consumer policy into a commercial policy in order to rely on the Arbitration Act and is wasting valuable court time with this application and incurring High Court costs because it can afford to do so, he said.

Venues

He said that with Riverdance and as the creator of Lord of the Dance he has filled some of the largest venues worldwide.

He added:

"I say I filled Madison Square Garden in New York, Radio City Music Hall, London Palladium among many. I am also currently involved in further work for future dance productions, including later this year. I say that despite the above I purchased consumer insurance policies from Hiscox S A for my home at Castlehyde as a consumer.

The insurance company, he added, was trying to give the impression that because he was an international performer he was not to be treated as a consumer. He said he does not derive any commercial income from Castlehyde and his business is not that of letting out Castleyhyde.

Counsel for Hiscox, James Burke BL, told the court the court the insurance company wanted a stay on the proceedings against it by Mr Flatley in the Commercial Court and the case referred for arbitration.
A Cork advocate for the elderly has highlighted how a woman with health issues has been unable to visit her husband in a nursing home for 10 weeks due to the distance she would have to travel to get to the facility.

Paddy OBrien said the womans plight has raised serious concerns about the lack of long- term community beds in Cork city.

This, in turn, is leaving elderly sick people with no option but to reside in nursing homes long distances from their homes and loved ones  who are then often unable to visit their relatives.

Worse than covid

I spoke to a lady last week whose husband is in a nursing home 20 miles from Cork, said Mr OBrien.

[The woman] is unable to take the bus because of a serious hip problem, and she has not seen him for 10 weeks. She said it has been worse than what covid was for them.

There is now a very serious problem being experienced by the relatives of elderly people in Cork. They are finding it exceptionally difficult to procure long-term nursing home care in the Cork area.

Over the last few years, elderly people have been sent out of Cork city to towns such as Mallow, Clonakilty, Kinsale, Midleton, and Fermoy and many of those who I have spoken to were never in these towns before, Mr OBrien said.

I have to say that I know people are getting great care by caring staff at these nursing homes but the fact is that a man is being forced to separate from his wife and vice versa. Its totally unacceptable sending elderly people miles away from their loved ones.

Many people are suffering directly as the result of the great shortage of long-term beds and its happening all over and it has been going on for years and nothing is happening about it.

Mr OBrien said it was most unfair to treat the aged this way and send them to a place where they dont know anybody and have no visitors and no friends and are sad and lonely.

The HSE must look at this serious situation and do more for long-term care beds. Everything must be done to bring people back, and this should be their policy, from the various towns throughout the county of Cork, he said.

Failing

Mr OBrien said that although the population of senior citizens has never been as high as it is currently, services have not improved and that there is an inadequate number of public health nurses and home support services to cover the number of elderly, sick people.

We are failing our elderly, sick people and the HSE is making life difficult for couples when a person who is sick is sent 20 miles [32km] away from home.

Figures released to The Echo by Cork Kerry Community Healthcare show that in Cork city, there are 100 long-term care beds at Ballincollig Community Nursing Unit, 65 long-term care beds at Heather House Community Nursing Unit, 89 long-term care beds at Farranlea Community Nursing Unit, and 75 long-term care beds at St Finbarrs Hospital.

A spokesperson said there are 916 long-term beds available in community hospitals in Cork and Kerry and while Cork Kerry Community Healthcare endeavours to provide suitable residential care as close to peoples homes, families, and preferred locations as possible, long-term beds are allocated on a priority and availability basis.

Investment

The spokesperson said investment is being made to upgrade the quality of accommodation available and where possible provide additional beds, which has resulted in a temporary reduction of beds at some locations. Cork Kerry Community Healthcare expects the majority of these beds to reopen and comply with new regulations over the next year.

Some of the work underway to improve access to public nursing home beds in Cork City includes the 60-bed extension at Heather House in Gurranabraher. Work also continues on new Community Nursing Units at St Finbarrs Health Campus in Cork city (105 beds) and in Midleton (50 beds). These will replace existing beds in buildings which are no longer suitable, the spokesperson said.

The spokesperson also noted that there are about 3,451 private nursing home beds in Cork and Kerry.
A bariatric surgeon has warned of the dangers of travelling overseas for weight-loss surgery after two separate inquests were heard in Cork yesterday following the deaths of two Irish women who had undergone such procedures.

Colm OBoyle, who works at the Bons Secours Hospital in Cork, was speaking at the inquests into the death in 2021 of 46-year-old Estelita Hamelin from Fermoy, Co Cork, and the passing the following year of 53-year-old Pamela Canty from the Commons Rd on the northside of Cork city.

Both women had gastric operations in Turkey.

Mr OBoyle told the city Coroners Court that weight-loss surgery abroad is often carried out based on the ability of a person to fund the procedure rather than how appropriate it for their particular circumstance.

Little in the way of accountability

He suggested that there is often little in the way of accountability when operations go badly wrong.

Mr OBoyle, who has carried out more than 1,000 gastric bypasses, said that most medical tourism is based in non-English-speaking countries and is encouraged by attractive low tariffs and shortened waiting times for surgery.

The selection process for surgery appears to be based on ability to pay rather than medical appropriateness, despite many patients being vulnerable psychologically and/or having complex medical co-morbidities.

The emphasis is on the surgical procedure, and often very little advice or care is given regarding the appropriate pre-operative selection and work-up and the post-operative follow-up.

There appears to be little in the way of clinical governance, evidence of surgical or bariatric team accreditation, or evidence of outcomes in these institutions. Furthermore, there appears to be very little accountability when things go wrong.

Mr OBoyle said patients are often offered financial rewards to promote the institution.

He said some patients are persuaded to have another major procedure, in addition to bariatric surgery, under the same anaesthetic.

There is no evidence of multidisciplinary team discussion [of bariatric surgical intervention] or referral to a psychologist or dietician, which would be standard practice in all reputable centres internationally.

Pre-operative work-up in the foreign hospitals was performed on the day before or the day of surgery, with only basic blood tests performed. Patients met the surgeon for the first time on the day of surgery.

Patients [for obvious financial considerations] return home very early during the post-operative period, at a time when it is contra-indicated to fly due to the increased risk of DVT [deep venous thrombosis] and PE [pulmonary embolism]  which are further increased for patients undergoing major surgery, especially if they are overweight or obese.

It is recommended not to fly for at least a month following major surgery.

He also indicated that he was aware of several deaths in recent years of Irish people who had gone abroad for weight loss surgery.

Meanwhile, the inquest in to the death of Ms Hamelin heard that she travelled to Turkey for liposuction, after a beautician recommended the surgery.

Documents

Her daughter, Hazel Gervacio, told the inquest that her mother went to a hospital in Istanbul to have liposuction and a tummy tuck.

Hazel accompanied her mother on the trip. She said that she and her mother were collected from the hotel and driven to the hospital where blood was taken. She said that, the following morning, her mother was given a file of documents.

They were pushing her to sign those [documents], which she did without reading them.

The doctor put marks on her body where the surgery was to being done. I was told she would be in the hospital for a few nights. I went to the hotel to get Mums clothes, and that was the last time I saw her alive. When I returned she had gone into surgery.

Several hours passed and eventually Hazel was informed that Estelita, who is originally from the Philippines, had sustained massive blood loss during surgery and was in the hospital intensive care unit.

Hazel recalled that she became so desperate to see her mother that she ended up showing a picture of her to a member of the cleaning staff. The cleaner went in search of information.

Critical condition

Hazel was later informed that her mother was in a critical condition and was having seizures, but she still wasnt allowed to see her mother. The following day, she was told her mother had passed away.

The surgeon who carried out the procedure said that Estelita may well have had an underlying medical issue.

Hazel told coroner Philip Comyn that the hospital offered her a refund for the money paid for the surgery. They also said they would pay for the expatriation of the body and subsequent cremation.

Mr Comyn noted that, as coroner, he experienced enormous difficulty in obtaining medical information from the hospital. He made representations to the Turkish embassy and the Department of Foreign Affairs about the problems he experienced in receiving information from the hospital.

An open verdict was recorded. Mr Comyn said he believed that it was a case of medical misinformation, but he didnt have enough information to bring in such a verdict.

Assistant State pathologist Margot Bolster said that the cause of death was haemorrhage and shock arising out of liposuction surgery.

The other case heard was that of Pamela Canty, who was due to have a gastric sleeve operation in a Turkish hospital on October 17, 2022.

However, because she had a hernia, they said that this was not possible, and they offered her a bariatric bypass procedure.

When she agreed, they also removed the hernia the same day.

Discharged

Pamela was discharged from hospital the following day.

She became very ill in her hotel. Her husband Finbarr, who previously had a weight-loss operation, said that the hospital was of no assistance to his wife following surgery.

The couple travelled back home to Ireland on October 21, 2022.

Ms Canty subsequently collapsed. She was rushed to the Mercy University Hospital, where she passed away on October 23, 2022.

She died from septic shock and her death was ruled a medical misadventure.

Dr Bolster, who carried out a post-mortem examination on Ms Canty, said that she died from septic shock because of improper healing following surgery. Pamela also had inflammation of the thoracic cavity.

Mr Comyn offered his sympathies to the relatives of both women. He warned members of the public who are interested in having surgery abroad that care may vary from hospital to hospital and country to country.

People need to be aware of the risks involved when they go abroad for this type of surgery. I am concerned that people should know the nature of the risks involved, and discuss it here with the relevant medical personnel.
LOTTO players in Cork are being urged to check their tickets after a EuroDreams player won 2,000 per month for five years in last night's draw.

The player scooped the Tier 2 prize in a special promotion held for the May 30 draw which guaranteed that one EuroDreams player in Ireland would win 2,000 per month for five years.

The National Lottery has confirmed that the winning ticket was purchased on the day of the draw at OReillys Garage on the Clonakilty Road in Bandon, Co. Cork.

Shop owner Siobhan OReilly, who has owned the store with her husband Sean for nine years, said that she was thrilled to hear the news.

It was an unexpected surprise to be getting a call from the National Lottery on a Thursday night but certainly a welcome one.

"We were delighted to hear that one of our customers has now won 2,000 per month for five years and of course that we are the first store to have sold such a prize as I believe the previous two wins were online.

"We have a real mix of local and passing trade here and with our shop being open 24 hours a day, were most definitely kept busy. We have a team of over 40 staff and theyre all certain to be excited when they hear the news. Hopefully the winner will check their ticket soon and realise their luck!

Winning numbers

The winning EuroDreams numbers in the Thursday, May 30 draw were: 04, 10, 11, 17, 24, 39 and the Dream number was 05.

The National Lottery is urging players who may have purchased their tickets at OReillys Garage on the Clonakilty Road in Bandon to carefully check their tickets.

The winning ticket has been placed on hold and when the winner scans their ticket on the National Lottery App or in-store on a National Lottery terminal, they will receive a prompt to make contact with the National Lottery.

A surprise bonus

National Lottery spokesperson Sarah Orr said: Well thats some start to the June Bank Holiday weekend!

"A EuroDreams player in Cork has become the third Tier 2 prize winner in Ireland after winning 2,000 per month for 5 years in Thursday nights draw. The May 30 draw marked our second Tier 2 promotion of the year which guaranteed that at least one player in Ireland would win the Tier 2 prize. All of the winners from last nights draw at every prize tier were placed into a special bonus draw and our certified Random Number Generator selected one ticket to win the additional 2,000 per month for five years, on top of the usual prize that the player had won which was 2.50.

We are urging all of our players who may have purchased their tickets on the day of the draw at OReillys Garage to carefully check their tickets today. The Tier 2 winner matched two numbers on their ticket to win 2.50 but because of the May 30 promotion, they have also won 2,000 every month for 5 years. The winning ticket has been placed on hold and the winner will receive a message to contact the National Lottery when they scan their ticket.
A 47-year-old Mallow man who failed to accept that a relationship was over pleaded guilty to harassing his former girlfriend by sending her nine texts, 28 emails, nine letters, and a bunch of flowers over a nine-month period.

Martin Ryan of 92 Clonmore, Ballyviniter, Mallow, Co Cork, appeared at Cork District Court for sentencing on the harassment charge.

The victim impact statement is difficult to read. It shows that the matters had very grievously affected her... There is no doubt that this had a very negative effect on the lady,

Judge Mary Dorgan said. It is noteworthy that there were no threats whatsoever in the correspondence.

Defence solicitor Daithi O Donnabhain said that soon after Ryans first appearance in court on the harassment charge he admitted his guilt.

Furthermore the defendant went through the correct channels to apologise to the victim whereby he made no direct communication but asked the solicitor to communicate with the investigating garda.

The period of the harassment ran from February 25 to November 18, 2020, and stopped for good on that latter date. Now aged 51, he has shown remorse and insight, according to the probation report and had also taken steps to rehabilitate and ensure that nothing like this would happen in the future.

Judge Dorgan directed him to pay 500 to the court poor box and a further 500, through the gardai for the victim, and on that being done he will be given the benefit of a dismissal under the Probation of Offenders Act.

The probation service were of the view that the communication was persistent and unwanted and it caused her upset and anxiety, she said. He did not recognise it was causing harm to the victim at the time. He accepts fully the behaviour was not acceptable.

He is accepting responsibility. He has demonstrated insight. He has availed of counselling support. He has not made contact with the victim since November 2020. He is now 51 years. He has established strategies to regulate his emotions. And he is a low risk of reoffending. His purpose (in the communications that are subject of the harassment charge) was to initiate contact and were in no way threatening or abusive.
Calls for a directly elected mayor for Cork city and county have been renewed as Limerick will go to the polls next week to elect a mayor with executive powers, a move that could give the region a competitive advantage says Fine Gael senator Tim Lombard.

The issue was raised by Mr Lombard in the Seanad yesterday morning, reigniting debate on the 2019 Cork plebiscite which was defeated by a margin of 983 votes.

On June 7, in conjunction with local elections, Limerick will go to the polls to directly elect a mayor for the city and county.

Speaking to The Echo, Mr Lombard said that he is seeking a statement from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh OBrien, on plans to begin this same process for Cork city and county.

We dropped the ball five years ago, Mr Lombard said.

I think there should have been a proposed plebiscite across the entire county and city of Cork to give a more fair understanding of whats required. I think the Limerick model is something we need to look at, he added.

Additional powers

Mr Lombard said that Cork city and county coming together to have one local authority, with one directly elected mayor, would give the region additional power on a national level.

We would have the ability to punch above our weight, and I was starting that debate again, he said.

Limerick has a five-year head start with an ability to shout at a national level, which Cork does not have because of the fractured nature of the local authority. Having one local authority fighting with another local authority in one county does nothing for us.

This is how society has changed, its about deliverable rates, Mr Lombard added. If you have a directly elected mayor, the public have the right when it comes to an election to judge them and or move that person on. At the moment we have an executive in place that are appointed to rule. There is no direct accountability to the public. I want the Minister to come out and give us his vision because you cant have one county with an advantage over another.

Motion

Councillor Lorna Bogue, who represents the Cork city southeast ward said that a renewed plebiscite on the matter is what the people of Cork need to see tangible change made to public concerns.

I passed a motion at the last Cork City Council meeting that will send a letter to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage asking for this question to be put to the people again, she said.

Its time we have another plebiscite on this where people have more information about the role, as in the right hands, [it] could make a huge difference.

A directly elected mayor will be able to speak to the issues of the public with a powerful democratic mandate, that is second only to the President. I think the consensus has changed, and that needs to be tested, she added.
A COUNCILLOR who had the lowest verified meeting attendance record of any sitting member of Cork City Council this term has said he doesnt believe he has shortchanged his constituents.

Independent councillor Kenneth OFlynn, who represents the Cork City North East ward, had the lowest attendance rate of any current member in the years of this term for which records are available, 2019 to 2023 inclusive.

In that time, Mr OFlynn attended 147 out of 218 meetings and had an average attendance rate of 67%.

Under local government regulations, councillors expenses are docked on a pro-rata basis if they do not attend 80% of council meetings and meetings of relevant committees of which they are members.

In 2019, Mr OFlynn attended 37 out of 52 such meetings, giving him a 72% attendance rate, and in 2020 he attended 23 out of 39 meetings, or 59%. In 2021, he attended 31 of 40 meetings, or 78%, while in 2022 he attended 29 of 46 meetings, or 64%, and in 2023 he attended 27 of 41 meetings, or 66%.

Mr OFlynn told The Echo he believed he achieved more outside of meetings than in them.

You attend everything that you can. I also run a full-time constituency office and am involved in the family businesses as well.

Im on several committees and I do pick and choose between the committees that are most important to me.

When asked if the people who voted for him might feel shortchanged by his low attendance of meetings, Mr OFlynn said: I dont think my constituents feel shortchanged at all when they see the level of service I provide for them.

Id much rather be out there listening to my constituents and making representations on their behalf than in committee rooms, listening to city managers and listening to officials and not acting on stuff.

The only councillor with a lower attendance rate during the same period was the then Solidarity councillor Fiona Ryan, who suffered a prolonged and serious illness, multiple surgeries, lengthy recovery times, and a difficult pregnancy.

Average attendance

Between 2019 and 2023, Ms Ryan attended 100 out of 161 meetings, an average attendance rate of 62%, before standing down from the council in May 2023 after seven years of service.

Across the five years for which Cork City Council has recorded attendance rates for councillors, Green Party councillors Oliver Moran and Dan Boyle were top of the class, attending 122 of 125 meetings and 195 of 190, respectively, an average attendance of 98% and 97%.

Sinn Fein was well-represented in the top five, with Kenneth Collins attending 141 out of 146 meetings, an average of 97%, Mick Nugent 167 out of 173, or 97%, and Henry Cremin, who stood down in 2021, attending 80 out of 84 meetings, or 95%.

Dan Boyle quoted Jane Dowdall, the first female Lord Mayor of Cork, who had said that it was in committees that the most serious work of council happened.

Its one of the contradictions of being an elected representative that most of the work you do doesnt have a public context, but anyone who is public representative should try and maximise their attendance at meetings, Mr Boyle said.

Oliver Moran said it was a huge privilege to be a councillor and his approach was to give it his all while he could: I wouldnt feel comfortable not being there and I wouldnt want to miss out on a moment of it.

Kenneth Collins said a councillors job was to represent those who elect them, and if he felt he wasnt doing that, he would rethink his position.

While Im there, I try to attend every meeting, and I think the attendance figures prove that Sinn Fein is there for the community and the people we represent.

Attendance rates

Between 2019 and 2023, eight members fell short of an 80% average attendance rate.

Mace bearers Noel Kearney and Donal Buckley lead the then Lord Mayor of Cork, Councillor John Sheehan; chief executive of Cork City Council, Ann Doherty, and councillors into the council chamber for a special meeting of Cork City Council at City Hall to commemorate the centenary of the election of Tomas MacCurtain as Lord Mayor of Cork. Picture Denis Minihane.

After Ms Ryan and Mr OFlynn, who had average attendances of 62% and 67% respectively, Rabhartas councillor Lorna Bogue, Independent councillor Paudie Dineen, and Independent councillor Ger Keohane each had 79%, Fianna Fails Mary Rose Desmond had 76%. Fine Gaels Des Cahill and Shane OCallaghan recorded attendances of 76% and 75% respectively. Solidaritys Brian McCarthy, who took over from Fiona Ryan in June 2023, had a 67% attendance rate.

In 2019, Lorna Bogue, Kenneth Collins, Colette Finn, Oliver Moran, and Mick Nugent all recorded 100% attendance rates.

That same year, five councillors fell below the 80% attendance threshold: Derry Canty (79%), Kenneth OFlynn (72%), Fiona Ryan (70%), Paudie Dineen (66%), and Kieran McCarthy (63%).

In 2020, six councillors scored 100%: Dan Boyle, Kenneth Collins, then Sinn Fein councillor Henry Cremin, Colette Finn, Joe Kavanagh, and Oliver Moran.

During the same year, five fell below 80%: Fergal Dennehy (76%), Paudie Dineen (76%), Mary Rose Desmond (71%), Kenneth OFlynn (59%), and Fiona Ryan (26%).

In 2021, Dan Boyle, Garret Kelleher and Kieran McCarthy all scored 100%, with Mick Nugent scoring 98% and Joe Kavanagh 97%.

That year saw five councillors miss the 80% threshold: Kenneth OFlynn (78%), Fergal Dennehy (76%), Tony Fitzgerald (76%), and Fiona Ryan (75%).

In 2022, Tony Fitzgerald had 98%, followed by Oliver Moran (97%), and Dan Boyle (96%), while Colette Finn, John Maher and Mick Nugent each scored 94%.

In 2022, 11 councillors fell below 80%: Fiona Kerins (79%, Ms Kerins gave birth during 2022 before the Local Government - Maternity Protection and Other Measures for members of Local Authorities- Bill 2022 was enacted), Sean Martin (78%), Mary Rose Desmond (76%), Mick Finn (71%), while Ger Keohane, Fiona Ryan and Terry Shannon each recorded a 70% attendance rate. That same year, Shane OCallaghan had a 65% attendance, Kenneth OFlynn 64%, Lorna Bogue 62%, and Des Cahill 57%.

In 2023, Fergal Dennehy, Tony Fitzgerald and Mick Nugent all recorded 98% attendance rates, while Oliver Moran was 97% and Dan Boyle 96%.

In 2023, 10 councillors attended less than 80% of their relevant meetings: Deirdre Forde (77%), Mary Rose Desmond (75%), Eolan Ryng (74%), Des Cahill (73%), and Brian McCarthy (67%), Fiona Ryan (67%), Kenneth OFlynn (66%), Ger Keohane (63%), Colm Kelleher (60%), and Shane OCallaghan (59%).

Expenses

Regarding how attendance affects expenses, councillors in Cork City receive an annual salary of 28,724 and can claim annual expenses of up to 5,160 to cover travel, subsistence and a mobile phone allowance. Of that sum, 4,200 must be vouched, and 960 can be unvouched.

Under Regulation 17 of the Local Government (Expenses of Local Authority Members) Regulations 2021, A member must attend at least 80% of relevant local authority meetings to receive the full amount of [their] annual expenses allowance.

Meetings deemed relevant under that regulation include council meetings, and, for members: Special Policy Committee, Corporate Policy Group, Finance and Estimates Committee, and Joint Policing Committee meetings. If a councillor fails to attend 80% of their relevant meetings, their expenses are docked on a pro-rata basis.

One councillor, who asked not to be named, said there was an inherent unfairness to the system, in that it effectively rewarded councillors who did not put themselves forward for membership of said committees.

If you only do the bare minimum, its a lot easier to go to all your meetings and get your expenses. Those of us who are on extra committees by definition have to make a lot more meetings to hit our 80%, they said.
A LACK of childcare and primary school places, not enough houses and social services, as well as poor infrastructure and heavy traffic.

These are the key issues facing the people of Carrigaline and the lower harbour region in 2024.

We currently have 60 parents fighting for 12 places for their children, says Dee OBrien, Manager of the Heronswood Childcare Centre, in the Heronswood Estate.

She says the problem lies with recent changes made by the Government.

I feel we are not being listened to. Last year we closed the centre for three days and went to Dublin to protest outside Government buildings, but nothing has changed.

Ms OBriens frustration as the owner of a childcare centre, is in line with what is happening around the county and country.

Ms OBriens frustration as the owner of a childcare centre, is in line with what is happening around the county and country.

In the first four weeks of this year, five childcare businesses closed in Cork alone. Thats on top of the 15 which shut their doors last year and the 28 creche facilities that closed between 2021 and 2022.

In April, the Federation of Early Childhood Providers - just like Ms OBrien - warned the Government that the issue will only get worse if it doesnt take action.

They want to make childcare affordable, but they forget that we are a business and to make that transition they need to include us in table talks, continues Ms OBrien.

Like everyone, we are affected by the rising costs of doing business. So while its now more expensive for us to make meals for the children, we cannot ask parents for more money. Unlike a pub or a restaurant, we are being dictated by the Government on what we can do.

The family-run centre - which has a capacity of 118 spaces - is also struggling to get staff, which Dee believes is down to employees being burdened with excessive paperwork.

Again something she sees as a Government dictate.

The childminders are being pulled away from the children because there is so much administrative work. But these documents need to be filled out to apply for funding to increase the size of the building or apply for extra resources for children with special needs. So if the paperwork cant get done, we then have less staff to mind the children - its a vicious circle.

Ms OBrien says many people are also choosing to leave the vocation because they are feeling underpaid and undervalued, compounding the sector staff shortage.

A student who leaves college gets better paid than an employee who might have 20 years experience, so that leaves people disillusioned and choosing other forms of education.

Demand for school places

And the growing demand for primary school places has also become an issue in the town.

Weve been promised a new school in three-to-four years, but until then things are going to be difficult, says Trina Golden, Principal at Owenabue Educate Together which opened in 2020. We currently have 70 students, but we cant take anymore. Holy Well, the gaelscoil and the other Educate Together school are also full.

In February, Ms Golden also criticised the Department of Educations proposal to split her current school across two sites on either side of one of Irelands busiest commuter towns to increase capacity. But the move would potentially see siblings being separated and parents trying to cross the town in heavy traffic to drop off and pick up their children.

Population boom

Many say Carrigalines boom in population is to blame for stretching the towns resources.

The most recent figures from the Central Statistics Office in April 2022, labels it the largest town in the county, with a population of more than 18,200.

The needs of the community simply arent being addressed, says Chris OBrien. The 40-year-old declared his intention to run for election to Cork County Council in March, and is canvassing with the help of friends, family and volunteers ahead of the local elections.

I said to myself, I can keep complaining from the sidelines, or I can highlight what needs to be done.

The most recent figures from the Central Statistics Office in April 2022, labels it the largest town in the county, with a population of more than 18,200. Picture Denis Minihane.

As manager of the Carrigaline Family Support Centre, Mr OBrien is at the frontline of what needs priority.

The father-of-two has chosen to run as an Independent, as he feels its not a good time to align himself to any one party.

There is a lot of distrust and hurt for party politics at the moment. I want to get into politics for the right reasons.

These reasons centre around a lack of facilities and services for young people and families.

The social and physical infrastructure simply isnt there, continues Mr OBrien. The young people I meet are suffering from a lot of anxiety, brought on by modern day issues like social media. Because there are not enough resources for early intervention, things are slipping past us. So these young people end up skipping school because they are unhappy there. It might be coupled with trouble at home and because there are no places for young people to go, they end up hanging around on the streets and anti-social behaviour begins.

Mr OBrien also believes that much like its youth, Carrigaline itself is struggling with finding its identity.

We have it through our sports clubs, but other than that we are lacking communal spaces and a sense of who we are as a community.

His opinion is shared by Michael Wall, who is Chairperson of the Carrigaline Community Association.

I see a lot of people who have moved to the area to commute to Cork city and dont necessarily have ties to the town. We find it hard to get people to get involved with our association and give their input. The people who are involved tend to be older and are not leaving their homes as much. For example, the local bowls club is finding it hard to attract seniors since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Michael believes the lack of engagement in the community is down to the pressures people are facing in the current climate.

Between the cost of living and the housing crisis, people simply dont have the time to help out. They are too busy trying to bring up their families and pay their mortgage or rent. I know of some people working between two and three jobs to make ends meet.

And that pressure of putting a roof over your head, is not getting any better.

Housing challenges

In September 2021, the Central Statistics Offices Residential Property Price Index put the average cost of a home in Carrigaline at more than 316,000. Picture Dan Linehan

In September 2021, the Central Statistics Offices Residential Property Price Index put the average cost of a home in Carrigaline at more than 316,000.

But those selling property today, say the cost is much higher. Its more like 350,000 or 360,000, says auctioneer and valuer Michael Pigott.

A three-bed semi-detached house is going for more than 400,000 at the moment. If its an A-rated house, that puts it up even higher and a four-bed semi-detached can go for about 450,000. We have lots of stock and its selling fast. Most properties are going for more than 10% over asking price. Were seeing a lot of landlords getting out of the market. Its a very popular place to buy for people working in pharmaceutical companies in Ringaskiddy, who want to be both close to work, as well as Cork city.

Fianna Fail councillor Seamus McGrath also agrees that more needs to be done to help young people find homes.

We continue to make affordable housing our priority. We really saw the demand last year when more than thirty units were made available by Cork County Council on Church Road as part of the Waters Edge development and they sold immediately. We have two more schemes in the pipeline but it will take time to meet the demands. As with many things in Carrigaline, the town is growing faster than we can keep up.
A man caught growing cannabis with a potential street value of 2,400 together with over 1,500 in dried cannabis claimed that he was using the material to make cannabis tea to help him sleep.

Liam Lyons who lives at an apartment at Park View, Victoria Road, Cork, made the detection of his cannabis growing relatively easy for An Garda Siochana by setting the plants in the window of his apartment overlooking Blackrock Road.

Shane Collins-Daly solicitor said the defendant did not smoke cannabis and instead used it to make cannabis tea.

Mr Collins-Daly stressed at Cork District Court that while the 47-year-old admitted cultivation of cannabis with a potential value of 2,400 and possession of cannabis herb in the amount of 1,580, there was no question of him supplying it to anyone else  it was all in his possession for his own use, and the state accepted this.

Sergeant John Kelleher said the evidence in the case was that on August 15, 2022 Sergeant Vincent McCarthy carried out a search and seized three cannabis plants with potential street value 2,400, cannabis herb worth 1,580, amphetamine with a street value of 10 and magic mushrooms worth 10.

Mr Collins-Daly said: It is a somewhat unusual case. Sergeant McCarthy executed a search warrant. He called to the house after observing cannabis plants growing in the window of the property. There were three plants. He was surprised at the value put on them by the prosecution. Sgt Kelleher said the valuation of 800 for each plant is based on the anticipated street value of a plant at full maturity.

The solicitor said: He made tea with the cannabis. He said he makes that out of it and that it helps him sleep. He does not tend to smoke it at all.

He grew up in the countryside and had an interest in growing vegetables.

Judge Mary Dorgan said, He had three plants and significantly over 1,000 worth of it and he expects the court to believe he was drinking tea to go to sleep.

Mr Collins-Daly said: It is unusual.

Judge Dorgan added: I am glad you say that. I find the explanation unusual.

Mr Collins-Daly said: He lives alone, he plays Irish music.

Judge Dorgan said: He should stick to the music now.

Mr Collins-Daly said there was a certain naivety about growing cannabis in windows in full view of people passing.

Judge Dorgan said: I am going to direct a probation report and he is at serious risk.

Judge Dorgan adjourned the case until July 24 for sentencing.
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.

There are currently more than 200 coal-fired power plants in operation in the United States, but the country has been scaling back since reaching its coal generation peak in 2011. By the end of 2026, the U.S. is projected to have retired half of its coal capacity.

Coal plants emit toxic pollutants into the air, water and soil, leaving a legacy of contamination that must be cleaned up after their decommission.

But what happens to coal plants after they shut down?

Michigans Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC) sees retiring coal plants  once viewed as industrial scars on the landscape  as canvases for the creation of new greenways, parklands, wildlife habitat, and clean energy development, a press release from ELPC said.

If you look around Michigan, and you look around many of the other states in the Great Lakes region, there is a large number of coal plants sitting on the shores of the Lakes. And lakefront property is, of course, valuable. If you look at it as a coal plant site  which is how most of us are used to looking at a plant where theres been a coal plant operating for 40 or 50 or 60 years  its sometimes easy to forget that these sites are often right along the lakefront or right along a river, or in some cases, next door to a state or international wildlife refuge, Howard Learner, president and executive director of ELPC, told EcoWatch.

From 2010 to 2019, 290 coal plants with more than 100 gigawatts (GW) of capacity were closed across the U.S.

Once these coal plants retire, each of the sites begins a multi-year retirement process that includes decommissioning, remediation, and redevelopment, the press release said.

Major Michigan utility company Consumers Energy has plans to retire two of its remaining coal plants 15 years ahead of schedule by 2025. Their closure presents a unique opportunity for the repurposing of the industrial brownfields they will leave behind into hubs of renewable energy, community collaboration and environmental solace.

About 10 years ago, we began to map out where the coal plants are around the Midwest that we thought might be shutting down in the reasonably near future, either because they were very old and using old technology that was being displaced in the market, or the economics were leading to the plant shutting down, or other factors. And we came up with a list of plants from our energy expert side that seemed to be candidates for retirement over the next decade. Then we mapped that out with a natural resources perspective  not an energy perspective  but where are they located, and what added values in terms of outdoor recreational use, beaches for public use and access, wildlife habitat and conservation purposes might be achieved in some of these locations, Learner told EcoWatch.

With its new Power Plants to Parklands (P2P) initiative, ELPC plans to reinvision the redevelopment portion of the transition from wasteland to sanctuary.

Historically, coal plants were situated on lakes and rivers because of their reliance on water for cooling systems. As a result, these facilities often occupy marquee waterfront locations, making them prime for public use. However, retired coal plant sites are too often left as a blight in the community. Many are fenced off from the public, as off-limits as prisons, the press release said.

Since they are already connected to the energy grid, retired coal plants come with the infrastructure needed for clean energy redevelopment.

All these coal plant sites are, of course, hardwired into the electric grid. They have coal plants that were generating electricity, so they have transmission lines, and nobody has to fight the battle of whether some community likes or opposes transmission lines or some of the battles that are popping up on energy storage or solar projects, Learner said.

ELPC is collaborating with communities in Michigan, as well as a variety of stakeholders  including environmental groups, municipal governments, businesses and utilities  to turn former coal plants into parklands where there is community support and it is ecologically and financially feasible to do so.

Its like repurposing an old railway station for a more modern transportation hub, ELPC said. With transmission lines already in place, these sites sidestep the red tape that can stunt the deployment of new clean energy facilities. In addition, these new clean energy plants offer an opportunity to reinvest in the communities formerly supported by the aging coal plants.

ELPC is currently focused on Michigan sites where coal plants are either closed or scheduled to be shut down in the next three years.

One example is the Daniel E. Karn Power Plant. Owned by Consumers Energy, the plant will be redeveloped to provide over 85 MW of solar  enough to power about 20,000 homes.

Just think about it. If youve had a high voltage transmission line going into the Daniel E. Karn coal plant site  which is over in Essexville, Michigan, on Saginaw Bay  and the coal plant shut down, its a great place to develop, as Consumers Energy is doing, almost 100 megawatts of solar energy, because thats hardwired right into the transmission grid, Learner told EcoWatch.

Two of the Karn sites units have been retired and two others will continue operations using oil and natural gas in times of peak demand when needed until 2031.

The coal plants are shutting down, Learner said. But what happens too often is the coal plant gets shut down, the utility puts a fence around it and a couple of security guards, and there it sits. And hopefully the toxic materials get cleaned up, perhaps not, and its an old brownfield, its an eyesore. Thats the default. This is an opportunity to create real value for the future.

ELPC is collaborating with the Saginaw Basin Land Conservancy as site planning for decommission begins, engaging members of the community to find out what they would like to see most before coming up with a draft conservation plan.

As an example of the ecological significance, the Karn Power Plant sits on the Saginaw Bay of Lake Huron, a critical area for migratory birds. The bay and its surrounding wetlands provide essential habitat for over 1,000 species, making it an essential stopover point along the Central Flyway of North America, ELPC said.

Two other projects ELPC is currently working on are the Trenton Channel Power Plant  a 220 MW energy storage facility owned by DTE Energy  and the J.H. Campbell coal plant.

The Trenton Channel coal plant, which is about 20 miles south of Detroit, is immediately adjacent to the Detroit International Wildlife Refuge. The Campbell coal plant, which is in West Olive, Michigan, sits right along the Lake Michigan shoreline and the Pigeon River corridor. These are all plants that have significant parkland value and potential, outdoor recreation use potential and wildlife habitat protection opportunities, Learner told EcoWatch.

Another benefit of reusing retiring coal plant sites is that it helps maintain and can increase local tax revenue that gets lost by retiring coal plants.

Consumers Energy wants to develop the largest battery energy storage facility in the country at the Campbell Coal Plant site. That will be a lot of property tax revenues. At the Karn coal plant site, theyre putting in 85 megawatts of solar. To give you a perspective, thats about 250,000 solar panels. Again, that will be property tax revenues, Learner said.

The P2P initiative imagines the repurposed sites as public green spaces where residents can enjoy a sense of place and connect with the healing power of nature unblemished by fossil fuels destructive impacts.

As the curtain falls on the era of coal plants in Michigan and the U.S., ELPCs Power Plants to Parklands project isnt just about repurposing retired coal plant sites; it offers an opportunity for utilities, stakeholders, and communities to collaborate in shaping a more sustainable and prosperous future for the region, ELPC said. ELPCs P2P initiative aspires to be a model for the nation  a blueprint for communities navigating the closure of coal plants.
Police station opens doors for grain drying

(People's Daily App) 13:50, May 31, 2024

Recognizing the safety hazards of drying grain on roads, the local police in Xiangyang, Hubei Province, invited villagers to utilize the police station yard for this traditional practice on May 27, 2024. As a heartwarming display of community spirit, a welcoming banner reading "New Police Station, Large Yard, Sun-Drying Grain Welcome!" was placed in the yard.

(Web editor: Tian Yi, Zhong Wenxing)
(Image: Courtesy WCC)Barmen Declaration

The head of the World Council of Churches has praised the Barmen Declaration, in which members of Germany's Confessing Church condemned Nazi incursions in church life 90 years after it was signed.

In a message to the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), WCC general secretary Rev. Jerry Pillay stated that the declaration has helped Christians since 1934 to combat oppression and injustice.

"The Barmen Declaration has served as an inspiration to Christians facing tyranny, injustice, and discrimination of the need for the church to reject the claims of oppressive regimes and to combat heretical tendencies within its own ranks," said Pillay.

The declaration was issued on the last day of a church synod that met in Barmen, a district of the city of Wuppertal in Germany's Rhineland, from May 29 to 31.

It was an appeal to Protestants to reject the policies of the so-called "German Christians" who supported National Socialism and its policies in church life.

"Precisely because we want to be and to remain faithful to our various confessions, we may not keep silent, since we believe that we have been given a common message to utter in a time of common need and temptation," the synod stated in its declaration.

"We are bound together by the confession of the one Lord of the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church," it affirmed.

Pillay, who comes from South Africa, recalled how the Barmen Declaration helped inspire theological resistance to the racist policy of apartheid in his country.

This also found expression in the Kairos Document of 1985 in South Africa, whose anniversary the WCC will commemorate in 2025 when its central committee, its main governing body between its assemblies meets in Johannesburg.

The Barmen Declaration, Pillay said, was a "truly ecumenical event," since it was the first common statement by representatives of Lutheran, Reformed, and United churches in Germany since the time of the Reformation.

"Today, the Barmen Theological Declaration reminds us of the inextricable link between the search for the unity of the church and the need for a common message on the basis of our faith against tyranny, war, and injustice," Pillay wrote.

His letter was sent to Bishop Petra Bosse-Huber, head of the EKD's Department for Ecumenical Relations and Ministries Abroad.
The European Council today adopted a regulation that aims to impose prohibitive tariffs on cereal products imported from Russia and Belarus. The regulation increases tariffs on grains, oilseeds and derivatives from Russia and Belarus to a point that essentially blocks imports of these products.

The new tariffs set today aim to practically stop wheat imports from Russia and Belarus into the EU, explained Belgian Finance Minister Vincent Van Peteghem . These measures will therefore prevent the destabilization of the EU grain market, stop Russian exports of grain produced in illegally appropriated territories of Ukraine, and prevent Russia from using export earnings to the EU to finance its war of aggression against Ukraine. This is yet another way the EU shows continued support for Ukraine."

The regulation increases tariffs for the import of cereals, oilseeds and derived products, as well as beet pellets and dried peas from the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus, for which importers currently pay little or no tariffs. Furthermore, such goods will be prohibited from accessing the Union's tariff quotas. These measures concern products originating or exported directly or indirectly from the Russian Federation or the Republic of Belarus to the EU. Furthermore, the measures will affect transit through the EU from both countries to other third countries.
Former President Donald Trump returns to the courtroom during his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday in New York. Michael M. Santiago/Associated Press

As youve no doubt heard, former President Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felony charges on Thursday regarding efforts to cover up $130,000 in hush money payments made to porn actress Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election.

Like millions of people around the world, members of the Chronicles editorial board gathered around the television to watch the verdict being handed down. As news presenters read off the laundry list of counts against the former president, we sat with mouths agape as each one came back guilty in rapid-fire succession.

No one can deny the moment made for dramatic theater  and eminently clickable headlines about Americas first felon president.

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But for those who believe as we do that Trump is a threat to American democracy and the world, Thursdays news should offer little more than a fleeting moment of schadenfreude.

This editorial board wont patronize you with platitudes about the integrity of our justice system  or romantic notions about how even former presidents arent above the law.

The truth is that Trumps pathway to avoiding justice remains wide open. And it runs through the presidency.

As a procedural matter, prosecutors could have tacked on a dozen more hush money charges  these convictions cant stop Trump from winning and assuming the presidency. The Constitution only requires that a president be at least 35 years old, to be a U.S. citizen and to have lived in the country for 14 years. Sentencing in the case is set for July 11, when Trump faces up to four years in prison. But even if he receives the harshest sentence possible, Trump will almost certainly stay out of prison on bail pending appeal. And in the unlikely event he does serve time before the election, he can be sworn in from behind bars.

Practically speaking, it would be beyond naive to suggest that Trumps conviction has destroyed his political prospects. If anything, it has made him, like a wounded animal, more dangerous than ever.

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Trump has long worn the cloak of a martyr as readily as his big suits and trademark orange hue. A fundraising surge after the verdict reveals no evidence that the strategy will be any less effective now that he is officially a felon.

Wealthy donors poured millions into Trumps campaign coffers on Thursday after the convictions were announced, including from Silicon Valley tech investor Shaun Maguire, who boasted on X of his $300,000 donation.

I believe our justice system is being weaponized against (Trump), Maguire told Reuters of his splurge.

Delusional as Maguire may be, such sentiments can carry weight with those inclined to believe them.

Socialist Eugene Debbs ran a campaign for president in 1920 while locked up for sedition. He billed himself as Convict 2253 and got nearly a million votes. And that was before the advent of television, let alone the internet and modern political fundraising.

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Voters didnt need a felony conviction, no less 34 of them, to know exactly who Trump is. Just over a year ago, a jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing journalist E. Jean Carroll. Meanwhile, the venerable medical journal Lancet reported that his botched, oft-deranged response to the COVID pandemic resulted in the death of hundreds of thousands of our fellow citizens.

He still leads President Joe Biden in the polls.

A recent PBS NewsHour/NPR/Marist poll reported that 25% of Republicans said a conviction would make them more likely to vote for Trump.

The idea that hush money payments to a porn star over an alleged affair  wrong as that may be  would somehow be the catalyst that finally convinces Trump supporters to appeal to their better angels was always delusional.

We say this not to diminish the work of New York prosecutors, who built a powerful case under extreme pressure. The pursuit of justice cannot and should not be held hostage to political consideration.

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We say this as a wake-up call to any of the roughly 81.3 million people who voted for Biden in 2020 who may be fooling themselves into thinking that legal technicalities or scandal will do the work that only voting can do.

Theres one unassailable defense against Trumps ascent to power  and to ensure that he can be held to account for his crimes. That defense is to slough off the apathy and false equivalency pervading the 2024 election and show up to vote.

About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies

Prominent conservative organizations have made no secret about their desire to use Trump to dismantle the government as we know it and reshape it with an imperial presidency  an effort they call Project 2025.

Navigating life as an adult in the modern world demands making difficult decisions. Let Trumps conviction and the ruthlessness of his prominent backers serve as a reminder that, no matter what faults you might find in Biden, the 2024 election is not one such instance.
Former President Donald Trump and his attorney, Todd Blanche, exit the courthouse and speak to the media after the former president was found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday in New York City. Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. Trump has now become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes. Pool/Getty Images Protesters demonstrate outside of Trump Tower in New York on Friday, a day after a jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges. Julia Nikhinson/Associated Press

Regarding Guilty: Trump becomes first former U.S. president convicted of felony crimes (Politics & Policy, SFChronicle.com, May 30):

Critics endanger system

The validity of our judiciary system has been inviolate since 1789. A jury made up of 12 peers decides whether or not to convict the accused. Former President Donald Trump was convicted of 34 felony charges by a jury of his peers.

Whether or not you believe that he was guilty, we must presume he received a fair trial. For members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to condemn the fairness of our judiciary system regarding citizen Trump is an attack on the core of our democracy. They should be ashamed of themselves.

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I believe that the very fabric of our confidence in justice in this country is now in jeopardy.

Eugene Agress, Berkeley

Rule of law upheld

No, Donald, Judge Juan Merchan is not corrupt, he is meticulous and honest. But you wouldnt know how to recognize honesty.

No, Donald, the trial wasnt rigged. It followed prescribed procedures for giving attention to actual facts and the real requirements of the law. But you wouldnt know true facts since you spread thick and widespread lies to cover up your felonies.

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No, Donald, this wasnt political retribution, although that is what you keep promising if you ever set foot in the White House again.

It was bringing you to legal accountability because even presidents are not above the law.

Donald, disgrace is a word you like to use when you dont get your way. The word suits you perfectly.

No, Donald, this isnt a shole country, although it might become one if you were to get your way.

Bruce Joffe, Piedmont

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Equal justice applied

Donald J. Trump was duly convicted by a jury of his peers of 34 felonies. The people of New York have spoken.

Trumps conviction is a phenomenal example of how our system of jurisprudence works, how it applies to all American citizens, young and old, poor, wealthy or elite  that no one is above the law

The conviction is a living expression of the words etched in stone above the entrance to the Supreme Court, which states unequivocally: Equal Justice Under Law.

Martin Vatis, San Francisco

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International support

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called former President Donald Trump a man of honor following the verdict.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Friday that the prosecution of Trump was an attempt to eliminate political rivals.

On Weibo, Chinas X-like platform, the verdict became the top trending topic, racking up more than 120 million views by the afternoon.

About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies

Trumps supporters, hurry up and mobilize, storm the Capitol, said a top comment under a news brief by state news agency Xinhua. Another said: Comrade Nation Builder Trump should not be fighting alone.

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So, aside from the sycophants in America, the verdict seems to be a concern for Russia, Russias vassal states and China. All of whom have Americas best interests at the forefront
UCLA employees hold a rally Tuesday to protest the University of California administrations response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations on UC campuses. Hans Gutknecht/Orange County Register

Protests on college campuses against American ties to and support for Israel may have died down, but given the rising power of 18-to-24-year-old voters, who in 2020 accounted for nearly 1 in 10 ballots, accurately understanding the beliefs of young voters is vital. With the deluge of sensational headlines about the protests, its easy to assume that the protesters views are reflective of the majority of young adults, and at least one poll has fueled that belief. A December Harvard-Harris Poll reportedly found that a majority of young American voters supported ending Israel and giving it to Hamas.

Especially alarmed, supporters of Israel blamed the extremist views evidenced among young people in the poll on miseducation and poor judgment. New York Times columnist Bret Stephens voiced grave concerns about Gen Zs morality. The Dispatch Editor-in-Chief Jonah Goldberg blamed the delinquency of the left-wing elites running academic and cultural institutions.

But others have been skeptical about the poll and the breadth of support for campus protests. Noting internally inconsistent results and questionable methodology, Semafors David Weigel asked, (Harris Poll chairman) Mark Penns polling is driving coverage of Israel but should it? George Mason University law Professor Ilya Somin cautioned the public to not put too much stock in Harvard-Harris. And recently, the Harvard Crimson student newspaper weighed in with a columnist calling for the university to end its collaboration with Penns operation.

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So whos right?

To its credit, Harvard-Harris granted us access to the data from the December poll, which allowed us to gauge how well it performed in terms of the fundamentals of polling: representation of the population of interest, quality of the questions, engagement of the respondents, coherence of the answers and more.

The poll is, to be kind, problematic.

Problem 1: Harvard-Harris, like too many researchers these days, relies on online opt-in panels of respondents who sign up to complete questionnaires for compensation without being systematically selected from the population. This methods inability to yield representative samples  particularly of young people  is well documented. Last month, a new report by the Pew Research Center reinforced many previous studies in showing that online opt-in surveys routinely mislead the public.

Problem 2: To align their sample with specific characteristics of the national population, Harvard-Harris implemented statistical weighting, magnifying the impact of members of underrepresented groups and diminishing the impact of members of overrepresented groups. But the weights it built were so extreme that a respondent from an underrepresented group had 1,000 times the weight of someone from an overrepresented group. And much research has shown that weighting opt-in samples often reduces their accuracy rather than increasing it.

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Problem 3: Respondents in online opt-in panels are particularly prone to speed through survey questions rather than reading carefully and generating thoughtful answers. About 1 in 5 of Harvard-Harris respondents, and half of its 18-to-24-year-old sample, completed the surveys more than 200 complex questions, some over 50 words in length, in under 15 minutes. On average, respondents answered each question in about four seconds  much faster than the rate at which adults read nonfiction texts.

Problem 4: A distressingly large number of respondents gave blatantly inaccurate and/or inconsistent answers. For example, when reporting whether they voted in the 2020 elections, one-quarter of the 18-to-20-year-olds said they did, even though the oldest among them could only have been 17 at the time. And about half of the young adults who said Israel should control Gaza also said that Israel should be ended when answering another question.

Given these issues, its surprising that Harvard-Harris did not follow its own fundamental principles of confirming respondent engagement and the plausibility of responses in order to remove respondents who failed to meet minimum standards.

While we cannot determine the magnitude of the contribution of Problem 1 by simply applying such basic data-cleaning techniques, using more judicious weights, and removing speeders and respondents who claimed an impossible voting status, the key findings changed, and many of the incongruities cited in Semafor and the Harvard Crimson all but disappeared.

Net-Net: Justification for the alarmist December headlines about young Americans evaporated. Among 18-to-24-year-olds polled, the plurality no longer supported ending Israel and giving it to Hamas and instead affirmed support for a two-state solution.

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Polls are vital for democracy because they can measure what the public wants their government to do, inform media narratives and ultimately shape policy-making. They put into context protests that may not reflect a majority opinion on campus.

About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies

To be sure, other polls suggest a generation gap in views toward Israel. And some polls have found no such difference between age groups. But regardless of the findings, no one should rely on a poll with methods that lack scientific justification.
Former President Donald Trump attends his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on Thursday, May 30, in New York City. He was found guilty of 34 felony charges. Mark Peterson/Pool/TNS

Donald Trumps 34 felony convictions wont prevent him from running for president, or from taking office if he wins. But they could clip his wings in other ways.

Probably the foremost is travel. A number of countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, China, Japan, India and Israel, prohibit entry by convicted felons. Unless Trumps convictions are overturned on appeal, he would be barred from visiting those nations.

The United States also bars entry by foreigners who have committed felonies involving moral turpitude, unethical conduct that would apply to crimes like the fraud counts against Trump, but that ban does not apply to U.S. citizens.

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Its also possible that Trumps campaign travel will be restricted. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, and could be prohibited from leaving New York if he is sentenced to prison and freed on bail during his appeal, or is placed on probation.

The Supreme Court, meanwhile, is considering Trumps claim that he is immune from federal prosecution for official acts he took as president. A ruling is due in June but will not affect the New York case.

Florida, the state of Trumps residence, also prohibits convicted felons from voting. But legal experts said Florida follows the standards of the state where a Floridian was convicted, and New York, where the trial was held, denies voting only to felons who are serving their sentences at the time of the election.

Trump will be able to vote unless hes incarcerated by then, which he almost certainly will not be, said Richard Hasen, a UCLA law professor who specializes in election law.

New York only disenfranchises people while serving a prison sentence, so assuming Trump is not sentenced to prison time, his rights would be restored by New York law and therefore also in Florida, said Blair Bowie, director of the Restore Your Vote program at the nonprofit Campaign Legal Center.

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The situation would be different if Trump were convicted of any of the three sets of federal charges he still faces, accusing him of trying to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia and nationwide, and of illegally taking classified documents when he left office in 2021.

Federal law does not restore voting rights after a felony conviction, Bowie said  but those rights would be restored if Trump became president and federal courts allowed him to pardon himself. He could not pardon himself of state criminal convictions, like Thursdays verdict in New York.

He also would not be restricted from taking office if elected.

Section Three of the Constitutions 14th Amendment, adopted after the Civil War, denies public office to anyone who has sworn to uphold the Constitution and then engages in insurrection or rebellion against the United States or has given aid or comfort to the enemies of the nation. But the Biden administrations Justice Department, while accusing Trump of fomenting the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot in order to overturn the election results, has not charged him with insurrection.

While trials on the federal charges appear unlikely before Election Day, Trump could be serving a New York state prison sentence before then  though he would probably be free on bail during his appeal. In either event, he would not be prohibited from running for president or from taking office.

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Former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower in New York on Friday, a day after a jury found him guilty of 34 felony charges related to a hush-money payment to a porn actress. Julia Nikhinson/Associated Press

Donald Trump wont just be the first convicted felon to be president, if elected. Hell be the first president to run on a campaign that the judicial system is rigged. And that the electoral system is rigged. And that the intelligence community cant be trusted. Nor the media.

Were living in a fascist state, Trump said Friday at a news conference at Trump Tower in Manhattan, where he took no questions from reporters.

Yet it is Trump, the master of projection, who is mounting a campaign that sounds fascistic. But while hes long built his political career, and excused his own failings, by deriding institutions as rigged  including the Republican National Committee nominating system that he won in 2016  hes never undermined such a core institution, Americas independent judiciary, in the way he is now.

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Trump could have responded to Thursdays conviction on nearly three dozen felony counts by showing an ounce of contrition. But thats not who he is or has ever been. He prefers to let a lie spiral out of control, to allow a denial to destroy everything in its path. Better to tear down complex institutions than tell simple truths.

And so Trump is mounting the campaign of someone running to be despot in chief, not the leader of a co-equal branch of government with the courts and Congress. He contends that he is fighting for our Constitution, but he is tripling down on what he said when he accepted that Republican nomination in 2016, promising to heal our rigged system because I alone can fix it.

I alone isnt a democracy. It embodies autocracy.

Nonetheless, according to the polls in battleground states, the man that a jury found paid hush money to a porn actress  and who still faces three other criminal cases  is on track to win. His campaign reported receiving $39 million in the first 10 hours after the verdict was announced.

Fortunately for Trump, there is a sizable audience for the misinformation and autocracy hes pitching. A study published last year by the UC Davis Violence Prevention Research Program based on a national survey of 8,620 adults found that 19% agreed strongly or very strongly that having a strong leader for America is more important than having a democracy.

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The study found that 9% of respondents believed that the government, media, and financial worlds in the U.S. are controlled by a group of Satan-worshiping pedophiles, an allusion to QAnon conspiracy theories.

Trump helped fuel this type of thinking, promoting conspiracies and desensitizing people to dishonesty. And in his first public comments Friday since his conviction, he set the stage for a White House run aimed at sowing doubt in institutions, while setting the 77-year-old up as the strongman that the nation should trust to repair them.

He alone.

In his rambling 33-minute speech rife with lies and misinformation, Trump called the judge in his case, Juan Merchan, the devil, and accused him of being conflicted without providing any evidence. Im the leading person for president and Im under a gag order, by a man that cant put two sentences together  and they are in total conjunction with the White House and the DOJ just so you understand, Trump said.

Not only is there no evidence of collusion  the White House operates independently from the state court in New York that prosecuted Trump  but Trump was fined for violating that gag order repeatedly. And his expressions of outrage that he, the leading person for president, could be subjected to a gag order betrays that he believes he is above the law.

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By casting doubt on the nations institutions, particularly its courts, Trump is giving tacit permission to disobey them. Again, there is a small, but receptive, audience for the chaos that Trump is encouraging: The UC Davis study also found that 14% of people agreed strongly or very strongly that in the next few years, there will be civil war in the United States. Nearly 8% found it very or extremely likely that within the next few years, in a situation where they believe political violence is justified, I will be armed with a gun.

On Friday, Elon Musk, the billionaire owner of the social media site X who is reportedly in line for a White House advisory role, posted a reference to the civil war that preceded the fall of the Roman Empire. Numerous conservative commentators, including Guy Benson and Katie Pavlich, posted images of upside-down U.S. flags, similar to the one that flew outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alitos home after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Some wealthy Silicon Valley tech execs, who used to deride Trump for his trade protectionist policies and conservative social positions, are now rallying behind him. Moments after the verdict was announced, Shaun Maguire, a partner at A-list Sequoia Capital in Menlo Park announced that he would be donating $300,000 to Trumps campaign. The timing isnt a coincidence, Maguire wrote. Next week, venture capitalist David Sacks is co-hosting a $500,000-per-couple fundraiser for Trump at his San Francisco home.

In the first hours after the verdict, no top California Republicans supported the jurys determination or pushed back on Trumps comments. California Republican Party Chair Jessica Millan Patterson called it a dark day for our justice system and our nation that never should have happened. From the very beginning, this was a politically motivated case brought by a far-left district attorney.

President Biden, meanwhile, responded to Trumps comments Friday by saying, Its reckless, its dangerous, its irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they dont like the verdict.

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Biden had been hesitant to weigh in during Trumps trial, fearing he would feed into the Republican narrative that the White House was directing prosecutors to target Trump. Moreover, bare-knuckled political brawling isnt Bidens specialty.
Anchor Brewing Co. of San Francisco, which closed last year, will be revived after being purchased by a billionaire. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

The billionaire behind the Chobani yogurt brand has acquired Anchor Brewing Co. with plans to modernize and reopen the historic San Francisco brand that closed last year after 127 years in operation.

Hamdi Ulukaya, Chobani founder and CEO, announced Friday that his family office had bought all of Anchors assets: the famous steam beer recipes, the 2.1-acre Potrero Hill campus and all the brewing equipment in the De Haro Street warehouses. The price was not disclosed.

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The deal marks a new chapter in the turbulent saga of a company that has long been synonymous with its boom-and-bust hometown. Anchors signature steam beer fermentation process was a throwback to San Franciscos blue-collar roots, and the companys lamented demise in July 2023 seemed yet another setback for a city that had labored to bounce back from the pandemic.

Now that page has been turned. What was old will be new again. San Franciscos steam beer will flow again from Oracle Parks bleachers to corner bars in North Beach to dim sum spots in the Outer Sunset. Even the companys previous logos will be revived.

Hamdi Ulukaya says he had never heard of Anchor Brewing until reading about the shuttered company last year. Now, the billionaire is the owner of the beer brand. Travis Ball/Getty Images 2023

In an interview with the Chronicle on Thursday night at the St. Regis Hotel, Ulukaya said he would like to get the brewery up and running as soon as he gets permission from the city and alignment with the community and the people who worked there a long time.

Lets get back to work. Lets bring it back to life. I dont want to sit around, he said, wearing an Anchor Brewing ball cap. Wouldnt it be amazing to get it going in time to make the Christmas ale this year? That would be awesome.

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Ulukaya said he had been an admirer of San Francisco but had few connections in the city and didnt know Anchor existed until last August when he happened upon an article in Forbes about its closure. He started researching the company and the role it played in the citys history. As he got deeper into the story, the shuttering of the brewery reminded him of the origins of Chobani  which he started in a yogurt factory that was about to close in upstate New York. That factory now employs 1,000 of the companys 3,000 workers.

I realized how Anchor is really aligned with the citys history. And I thought, Wow, what if? What if we can bring it back? And that excited me because Ive been part of bringing back a factory in upstate New York and building a brand, Ulukaya said.

Many of the details remain to be worked out, Ulukaya said. He said the classic steam beer would be brought back  and the Christmas ale  but that he will seek advice from longtime employees on which other variations are worth reviving.

The brewery will have a significant tasting room, but whether there will be restaurants or shops or other publicly accessible venues remains to be seen. On Thursday, he met with four longtime Anchor employees and said he plans to hire back as many of the former workers as possible. He didnt know whether the union that formed there shortly before the brewery closed will be part of the new operations.

Brands like Anchor dont come that easy. How do you value something like this? Do you value it because its been here 127 years? Ulukaya said. Do you value it because of how much love and passion goes into creating something like this? The ingredients and knowledge and tradition and yeast and secrets? Do you value it because of how much loyalty people have for it? Or do you value it for how much money it makes?

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He said he enjoys an occasional beer but is not a connoisseur. He knows its a tough business.

Anchor Brewing is reflected in the window of a nearby building in San Francisco. New owner Hamdi Ulukaya wants to bring the company back to life. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle

Its a competitive landscape  a lot of beers out there, he said. But who cares? From the other perspective you have the people behind it, the history, the recipe, the name and the tradition aligned with this magical San Francisco. There is no value you can put into that.

Ulukaya met Thursday with Mayor London Breed and Supervisor Shamann Walton, who represents the district containing Anchor Brewing, and had dinner with San Francisco Giants CEO Larry Baer. While the initial goal will be to resuscitate the Potrero brewery and get Anchor flowing in the Bay Area, he said he would like to expand distribution as much as possible, which at some point might mean a second brewing facility.

Ulukaya, 51, was raised in a dairy farming family in a small village in eastern Turkey. After moving to the United States, he founded Chobani in 2005. Five years after the company was formed, it became a billion-dollar brand and one of the best-selling yogurts in the United States.

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In addition to the Greek yogurt powerhouse, the company owns La Colombe Coffee Roasters, which it bought in 2023 for $900 million. Both Chobani and La Colombe have two manufacturing plants each, with Chobani in upstate New York and Idaho and La Colombe in Philadelphia and Michigan. I think Anchor is a brand everyone should have  the people of San Francisco first, but not just the people of San Francisco, Ulukaya said.

Breed touted the move as a bet on San Francisco and its reputation.

This is not just an investment in San Francisco. Its a recognition of what makes our city truly special  our history, our institutions and our people, she said. Anchor Brewing has always been a beloved part of San Francisco and thanks to Hamdi Ulukaya, it will be a part of San Francisco for years to come. Im grateful for his commitment to being a part of the future of our city and for keeping the tradition of Anchor Steam beer being brewed right here where it belongs.

Ulukaya said the building and equipment at the old brewery seem to be in decent shape.

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I think everything is operational, but we dont know, he said. Its like a movie  they pressed stop and left. You see boxes on the conveyors. You see bottles on the fillers. You see tickets written halfway. Its like time stopped. And literally we are going to go and press start and move those conveyors and start it back up.

While Ulukaya has never brewed beer before, his expertise in yogurt-making could come in handy.

I know about fermentation, he said. I dont do fermentation with yeast. I do it with live and active cultures. But I know fermentation. Its natures magic.

Ulukaya, who has won national awards for hiring refugees at Chobani, said he was not worried about the negativity that has dominated San Franciscos post-pandemic narrative, although he is aware of the citys homelessness and poverty issues because he had visited St. Anthonys, Glide and other nonprofits recently with 80 members of the Chobani leadership team who were in town to meet and volunteer.

Ulukaya said he witnessed pain and suffering  children without enough food, families struggling and people with mental illness.

There is not success unless everyone is rising, he said. The business can play an enormous role in that. It has to be part of the solution. We cant just rely on the government.
San Francisco Mayor London Breed has released details of her proposed budget, but the Board of Supervisors will have a say in what appears in the final version. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Mayor London Breed unveiled a record $15.9 billion budget proposal Friday that would erase San Franciscos huge deficit through a variety of measures that include limiting the hiring of new city workers, cutting some nonprofit contracts and spending less on infrastructure projects than planned.

Breeds office said the mayors latest proposed budget would close the nearly $790 million shortfall projected over the next two fiscal years through a mixture of belt tightening and getting creative with the revenue used to finance government services.

San Francisco is cleaner, safer, and more energetic than at any time since the pandemic started, but we have much more work to do, Breed said in a statement. In this budget, we made the tough decisions to close our deficit and those are never easy, but we also made the right decision to prioritize critical city services our residents expect and deserve.

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While Breed and her administration faced the prospect of painful reductions to a wide range of programs as San Franciscos slow economic recovery from the pandemic coincides with rising expenses at City Hall, the mayor tried to avoid scaling back across the board. She tried to walk a fine line between making cuts to close the shortfall and continuing investments to address San Franciscos most urgent problems  its struggling downtown, the drug crisis, public safety and homelessness  months before she tries to defeat four major challengers to win another term. The budget also must grapple with increased costs after the administration agreed to grant raises to city workers following negotiations that averted threatened strikes.



Breed plans to allow increased staffing among frontline workers, including nurses, police officers, sheriffs deputies and emergency dispatchers; otherwise, she wants to keep the city workforce largely flat. San Francisco currently has about 35,500 employees.

By redirecting tax revenue in various ways, Breeds proposal maintained or increased funding for her top priorities. To boost the citys struggling downtown, she wants to fill 100 vacant storefronts partly by expanding a program she launched last year to install pop-up businesses in the neighborhoods empty commercial spaces and help support the establishment of a satellite campus for a historically Black college or university. She plans to increase shelter slots for homeless families and expand eligibility for early child care vouchers. She intends to use $45 million in opioid settlement funds to pay for initiatives to address the drug crisis, including expanded programs to reduce racial disparities in overdose deaths.

Other investments include continuing to rely on Public Works cleaning crews and contractors to clean sidewalks, remove litter and sweep gutters.

Overall, Breeds proposed budget totals a record $15.9 billion in the next fiscal year and $15.5 billion the year after, compared with $14.6 billion in the current fiscal year. Her office said the vast majority of the budget growth was driven by big infrastructure projects planned by the citys self-sustaining enterprise departments such as the airport and Public Utilities Commission. Those departments, which have their own revenue streams, constitute more than half the city budget.

San Franciscos primary spending account is its general fund, which is projected to be about $6.8 billion next fiscal year, a modest increase. Sixty percent of the general fund will pay for salaries and benefits, including the cost of new contracts that Breeds administration recently agreed to with unions representing most of the city workforce. Those contracts provide for wage increases of at least 13% over three years and set the minimum wage for a city employee at $25 per hour.

Under Breeds budget proposal, which still must be approved by the Board of Supervisors, about $470 million of the two-year deficit would be solved with accounting measures, such as using federal or state funding sources instead of local ones. The Department of Public Health, for example, is getting a roughly $100 million one-time health care reimbursement from the federal government that will help close the citys shortfall.

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Breed wants to close the remaining $300 million of San Franciscos deficit with spending reductions. Her office said shes proposing cuts to nonprofit contracts that dont relate to direct services such as housing, shelter and food security. Contracts for services including community outreach, technical assistance, workforce development and events are among the areas where the mayor sought to cut costs.

San Francisco would also continue to lean partially upon its savings accounts under Breeds proposed budget, which would pull $122 million from the citys reserves over the next two years. More than $850 million in reserve funding would remain.

At the Department of Children, Youth and Their Families, Breeds plan would restore $11 million above the grants the department issued this year. Breeds office said the funding would ensure that the Mission Science Workshop, an after-school science education program that was facing devastating cuts, has the funding it needs to continue its normal operations.



The workshops executive director, Sonia Gandiaga, said thousands of parents and supporters bombarded the mayor and supervisors with emails and letters asking that the science education center remain open.



The community has been incredible, Gandiaga said after receiving the good news.Its been like a huge roller coaster, and right now its a huge relief.

But Supervisor Ahsha Safai, who is among the candidates running against Breed for mayor, said restoring $11 million for the department did not go far enough. He also criticized Breeds proposal for cutting funding for workforce development programs, including an anti-violence program in his district.

Her budget is out of touch with working families, and theres no way it will pass as is, Safai said in a statement.

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Breeds spending proposal now heads to the Board of Supervisors Budget and Appropriations Committee, which will review and revise the plan in June. The full board needs to approve the budget for Breed to sign it by Aug. 1.

Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin, who is also a candidate for mayor, said it will take weeks for the board to work through the proposal and reach a balanced budget.

Its not going to be fun. Its not going to be easy, Peskin said. Its just a set of bad choices, and were all going to do our best to make it as painless as we can.

Supervisor Connie Chan, who chairs the budget committee, said her goal while combing through the budget proposal would be to ensure that it protects vulnerable residents, keeps streets safe and clean and does not cater to a wealthy few.

I am extremely concerned by the wasteful spending and inefficiencies we have seen, particularly in the past few months, in our city contract and departmental spending, Chan said in a statement.

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Former Activision studio Toys for Bob just announced a partnership with Xbox to release its first game after spinning off as an independent entity. The company, which developed recent entries in the Spyro the Dragon and Crash Bandicoot franchises, hasnt released any concrete details about its upcoming release, except to say that its early in development and that the team has been working hard.

This is, of course, something of a homecoming for the developer. Activision is owned by Microsoft, making Toys for Bob its former grandchild? In any event, its likely easy to get pitch meetings and the like with a company youve worked with in the past. Also, the developer has a fairly stellar pedigree, having created the Skylanders franchise and the well-reviewed Crash Bandicoot 4: It's About Time , among others.

Toys for Bob spun out as an indie back in February after Microsoft instituted sweeping layoffs that impacted 86 employees, which was more than half of the staff. At the time, the company said the transition to an indie would allow it to return to being a small and nimble studio. This sentiment harkens back to its early days of the 1980s and 1990s, back when Toys for Bob was cranking out games like Star Control.

The developer also said back in February that Microsoft has been extremely supportive of our new direction and were confident that we will continue to work closely together as part of our future. It looks like it wasnt lying about that last part.
Liz Reid, the Head of Google Search, has admitted that the company's search engine has returned some "odd, inaccurate or unhelpful AI Overviews" after they rolled out to everyone in the US. The executive published an explanation for Google's more peculiar AI-generated responses in a blog post, where it also announced that the company has implemented safeguards that will help the new feature return more accurate and less meme-worthy results.

Reid defended Google and pointed out that some of the more egregious AI Overview responses going around, such as claims that it's safe to leave dogs in cars, are fake. The viral screenshot showing the answer to "How many rocks should I eat?" is real, but she said that Google came up with an answer because a website published a satirical content tackling the topic. "Prior to these screenshots going viral, practically no one asked Google that question," she explained, so the company's AI linked to that website.

The Google VP also confirmed that AI Overview told people to use glue to get cheese to stick to pizza based on content taken from a forum. She said forums typically provide "authentic, first-hand information," but they could also lead to "less-than-helpful advice." The executive didn't mention the other viral AI Overview answers going around, but as The Washington Post reports, the technology also told users that Barack Obama was Muslim and that people should drink plenty of urine to help them pass a kidney stone.

Reid said the company tested the feature extensively before launch, but "theres nothing quite like having millions of people using the feature with many novel searches." Google was apparently able to determine patterns wherein its AI technology didn't get things right by looking at examples of its responses over the past couple of weeks. It has then put protections in place based on its observations, starting by tweaking its AI to be able to better detect humor and satire content. It has also updated its systems to limit the addition of user-generated replies in Overviews, such as social media and forum posts, which could give people misleading or even harmful advice. In addition, it has also "added triggering restrictions for queries where AI Overviews were not proving to be as helpful" and has stopped showing AI-generated replies for certain health topics.
Spain has blocked Meta from rolling out election-focused features on Facebook and Instagram in the country. Data protection agency AEPD used emergency powers stipulated in the European Unions General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) to ban the Election Day Information and Voter Information Unit tools for up to three months as a precautionary measure.

Meta planned to deploy these tools ahead of the European Parliament election. The company said it designed them to respect users' privacy and comply with the GDPR and while it disagrees with the AEPDs stance, Meta told TechCrunch it will comply with the order.

The agency took aim at how Meta planned to process data via the tools. It said there was no justification for the collection of age data (due to an inability to verify the ages users have on their profiles) and it criticized Metas intent to retain the data after the June election. It claimed this plan "reveals an additional purpose for the processing operation.

Other data that Meta planned to process via the election tools included user interactions with those features as well as gender information. The agency considers that the collection and conservation of data planned by the company would seriously put at risk the rights and freedoms of Instagram and Facebook users, who would see an increase in the volume of information that it collects about them, allowing the creation of more complex, detailed and exhaustive profiles, generating more intrusive treatments, the AEPD said in a statement translated from Spanish. It also cited concerns about such data being made available to third parties for non-explicit purposes.

The AEPD asserts that Meta plans to use the tools to remind eligible Facebook and Instagram users in the EU to vote. The watchdog claims that Meta will identify users as eligible voters based on IP addresses and profile data about where they live. However, to vote in the election, the only requirement is to be an adult national of any EU member state.

According to the AEPD, Metas approach targets non-EU citizens who live in member countries while leaving out EU citizens who dont reside in the bloc. It called the companys treatment of user data "unnecessary, disproportionate and excessive, according to Reuters .
Joy Reid called a right-wing troll "a f**king idiot" after he suggested that the MSNBC anchor stole Donald Trump's hairstyle.

Reid was walking outside the Manhattan courthouse where Trump's criminal hush-money trial was being held when she was approached by Ben Bergquam, the host of "Law & Border" on the right-wing network Real America's Voice.

In a video shared Wednesday by Bergquam, the smirking TV host asked the liberal commentator, "Joy, just wondering: Do you think people with 'Trump Derangement Syndrome' know they have it?"

But Reid did not take his provocative comment lying down, responding, "You're an idiot."

RELATED: Donald Trump Guilty: Will He Go To Jail And Can He Still Run For President?

Bergquam then took a jab at the "ReidOut" host's short blonde hair, suggesting she was copying the former president-turned-convicted felon.

"Did you steal Trump's haircut or did he steal yours?" Bergquam asked her.

Reid continued walking as she shot back, "You're a f**king idiot."

Bergquam, however, smiled, seemingly happy to have gotten a response from Reid.

"Cultural-appropriation haircut, right there," Bergquam said as Reid walked into the courthouse.

RELATED : Donald Trump Was Smiling And Laughing Before Judge Convicted Him Of 34 Felonies

Bergquam continued to troll Reid in a post on X, formerly Twitter, writing: "EPIC video! Just got Trump-Deranged, Cultural-Appropriated-Hair, Joy Ann Reid as she was heading into the sham Trump trial in New York City! I don't think she liked the questions!!!"

He added, "P.s. MSNBC is #Fakenews!"

EPIC video! Just got Trump-Deranged, Cultural-Appropriated-Hair, Joy Ann Reid as she was heading into the sham Trump trial in New York City!  I dont think she liked the questions!!!



P.s. MSNBC is #Fakenews!



Real Americas Voice News@RealAmVoice pic.twitter.com/otMqUTszkj  Ben Bergquam - Real Americas Voice (RAV-TV) News (@BenBergquam) May 29, 2024

A day later, Trump supporters were no longer smiling after Trump was found guilty of all 34 charges in his hush-money trial.

Videos shared on X showed Trump fans expressing their outrage and hurling insults at the judge outside the courthouse after the ex-POTUS' guilty verdict was announced.

One man wearing a Make America Great Again hat on his head and a "F**k Biden" flag around his body shouted, "We're all f**king dead."

Others referenced 1776, the year Congress voted to declare independence.

#Breaking - Its over! 1776!

Trump supporters react to the Trump guilty verdict in the Stormy Daniels hush money case near the courthouse in NYC. pic.twitter.com/Pd84yVEGoV   (@L2FTV) May 30, 2024

Trump was convicted of falsifying business records to conceal hush money paid to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election in exchange for her silence on her alleged sexual encounter with the former president and current presidential candidate.

The guilty verdict does not bar Trump from running for or serving as president for a second term.

Trump faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison. but according to the Washington Post, legal experts believe he is unlikely to see jail time as he was convicted of nonviolent felonies and had no prior convictions.

Trump's sentencing has been scheduled for July.
The aurora borealis, or northern lights, were visible on May 11 in Farmington (San Joaquin County). An extreme geomagnetic storm, the strongest since 2003, led to northern lights sightings at unusually low latitudes. Anthony Edwards

The sunspot cluster that produced eye-popping auroral activity in California is back.

Active region 3664, a clump of dark spots 16 times wider than Earth, belched intense bursts of energy known as solar flares. These eruptions were associated with a barrage of coronal mass ejections, charged particles that hurtled directly toward Earth.

Bay Area weather roller coaster: Drizzle this weekend, scorching heat wave ahead

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The result was a historic geomagnetic storm, the strongest since 2003, which produced northern lights visible in California. Interactions of solar particles with Earths magnetic field produced stunning displays of magenta and green.

The sunspots turned away from Earth as the sun rotated, but theyre now returning into view. And the cluster, redubbed as active region 3697, is still kicking.

NASAs Solar Dynamic Observatory captured the sun emitting a strong solar flare, shown toward the lower left, on Wednesday. NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory

The region produced a strong solar flare Wednesday morning, visible in the lower left of the above image of the sun, captured by NASAs Solar Dynamics Observatory.

The Space Weather Prediction Center is forecasting a G2 geomagnetic storm from Friday through Sunday due to a coronal mass ejection associated with the solar flare. Such a storm is considered moderate on a scale of 1 to 5. The event in early May was an extreme G5 storm.

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The Space Weather Prediction Center is forecasting a moderate geomagnetic storm this weekend, which could produce a visible aurora over some northern and upper Midwest states. Space Weather Prediction Center

The storm this weekend could produce an aurora visible from some northern and upper Midwest states across the U.S. For now, the closest scientists expect auroral activity to get to California is in Idaho.

Theres potential for solar activity directed toward Earth again as active region 3697 continues to rotate, said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator for the Space Weather Prediction Center, by email.

Even going into the second week of June, some potential for that will continue, but begin dwindling, Dahl said. But forecasters arent able to predict whether coronal mass ejections will occur or whether Californians could witness the northern lights again.

We can only analyze them after they occur and then make geomagnetic forecast adjustments accordingly, Dahl said.

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Voters across India cast their ballots in the general election on issues ranging from the cost of living to jobs and religion. The residents of a tiny, ecologically-sensitive island, known as Ghoramara, have only one concern: Survival.
Welcome to this episode of Stark Raving Entrepreneurs!

In this episode we dive into how AI is revolutionizing the business landscape. Gina and I share our insights on integrating business with lifestyle, highlighting the importance of balancing work with exercise and family time.

This episode also features a special guest, Dylan Carr, an aspiring entrepreneur and a home-school student.

Dylan talks about how hes leveraging AI tools like ChatGPT and DALL-E 3 to kickstart his lawn care business and enhance his learning experience.

We discuss how he uses AI for everything from creating logos to studying subjects like algebra and history. Join us as we unpack practical tips and innovative strategies to harness the power of AI for both business growth and personal development.

Youll get some great insights to how AI can help you grow your business.

The standout line in this podcast is:

AI is really an extension of your brain. Its a way for you to be more creative, to get more done than you would normally do, and youre able to do that now with a power that you just havent had before.

First, heres a gift for you to better understand AI and build sales  Recommended AI tools for business growth.

http://AItools4biz.com

Heres Your Video Link:









Listen to this & other episodes on our podcast

https://bit.ly/sre_podcast

Here are some timestamps that can be useful for you:

1. **[00:00:49]**  Introduction to Woodstock, Georgia, and Ginas experience starting businesses in the area.

2. **[00:01:30]**  Terry Brock discusses the importance of stepping outside regular activities and leveraging AI as an extension of your brain for enhanced creativity and productivity.

3. **[00:02:32]**  Gina Carr suggests using ChatGPT and Perplexity for deep dives on topics like Bitcoin, highlighting their utility in providing extensive information.

4. **[00:03:17]**  Introduction of Dylan Carr as the new intern and upcoming business owner, plus his current business ventures.

5. **[00:04:07]**  Dylan discusses how he uses AI tools like ChatGPT for studying entrepreneurship, astronomy, algebra, and history.

6. **[00:05:37]**  Dylan explains how he uses DALL-E 3 for creating business imagery, logos, and other design elements, saving costs on hiring designers.

7. **[00:06:34]**  Overview of the tech tools being used to record the podcast and the importance of combining business activities with lifestyle, exercise, and relaxation.

ABOUT

Were Stark Raving Entrepreneurs. We help you with the lifestyle of Live and Let Live. Do whatever you want, but dont hurt others and dont take their stuff. We embrace what is called the Non-Aggression Principle (NAP).

Spanish Language Summary

En este episodio de Stark Raving Entrepreneurs titulado AI for Biz and Learning, los anfitriones Terry Brock y Gina Carr, junto con su invitado Dylan Carr, discuten como la inteligencia artificial (IA) puede ser una herramienta poderosa tanto para el crecimiento empresarial como para el aprendizaje personal.

El episodio inicia con una pequena confusion sobre la ubicacion, ya que estan en Woodstock, Georgia, no en Acworth. Gina comparte algunas anecdotas sobre su vida en Woodstock y los negocios que inicio alli. Terry enfatiza la importancia de salir y relajarse con la familia, y como esto puede ser parte del exito empresarial.

Luego, se adentran en como la IA, como ChatGPT y Perplexity, puede ser una extension del cerebro humano, ayudando a las personas a ser mas creativas y productivas. Gina menciona como estas herramientas pueden proporcionar informacion detallada sobre temas complejos como Bitcoin. Terry tambien recomienda recursos adicionales como bitcoin.com para aprender sobre criptomonedas.

Dylan Carr, el nuevo pasante e hijo de Gina, habla sobre su experiencia como emprendedor juvenil. El esta iniciando un negocio de cuidados de jardin y limpieza junto con un amigo y ha utilizado la IA para crear logotipos, tarjetas de presentacion y otros materiales empresariales. Tambien explica como usa la IA para sus estudios, pidiendo explicaciones sobre temas variados que van desde el algebra hasta la historia.

El episodio concluye con Terry y Gina alentando a los oyentes a combinar negocios con estilo de vida, utilizando herramientas tecnologicas para trabajar desde cualquier lugar. Invitan a los oyentes a compartir sus experiencias y a buscar mas recursos en sus plataformas para ayudarles a crecer en sus propios emprendimientos.

En resumen, este episodio se centra en la utilizacion de la IA para ampliar las capacidades empresariales y educativas, con ejemplos practicos de como se puede integrar en la vida diaria.

English Language Transcript:

Terry Brock [00:00:00]:

Now recording, and we are here in Acworth, Georgia at Hobbob Pike or whatever. Wait. Whats the name of this place?

Gina Carr [00:00:09]:

Woodstock. Hobgood, Georgia. We are in Woodstock, Georgia Woodstock. And Hobgood Park.

Terry Brock [00:00:13]:

Wait. I thought we were in Acworth, Georgia.

Gina Carr [00:00:15]:

Thats right across the street.

Terry Brock [00:00:16]:

Oh, okay. Well, they look very clever.

Gina Carr [00:00:19]:

Theyre very close.

Terry Brock [00:00:19]:

Close and and clever. Theyre both very clever. All that.

Gina Carr [00:00:22]:

Had to be a line.

Terry Brock [00:00:23]:

Thats right. Well, Im Terry Brock, and this is Gina Carr, and we are here to help you grow your business and achieve the freedom we want. And part of that is getting out and exercising. Part of it is getting out and relaxing, being with family, and thats what were doing in the midst of work. So, yes, this is still deductible. Were doing it all together, all rolled into 1. So, Gina, tell us a little bit about where we are here in wood not not in Acworth, but in Woodstock. Right?

Gina Carr [00:00:49]:

Yes. This is Woodstock, Georgia, and its northwest of Atlanta by about 45 minutes or, gosh, about 2 hour driving now. But if theres no traffic, itd be about 50 minutes from downtown Atlanta. Its where I lived for many years. I started several businesses here. Its right at the edge of and part of Towne Lake, which is a master planned community, which I really loved. I started the Towne Laker here, and I started a century 21 here and have a ton of friends from this area. And, actually, in this particular park, for many years, we hosted and sponsored a whole we created the whole thing.

Gina Carr [00:01:25]:

It was called the Cherokee Jubilee, and it was a lot of fun, a big parade and festival.

Terry Brock [00:01:30]:

Oh, thats very good. I think those kind of things are fun. But the key is, for your business, what are you doing to grow, to get outside of what youre doing regularly? And then using AI gives you the ability today to really extend your mind. I like to think of AI. Tell me what you think of this, Gina. AI is really an extension of your brain. Its a way for you to be more creative, to get more done than you would normally do, and youre able to do that now with a power that you just havent had before. Even with all the great material, all of the great, good that we had with video, now we can do even more, I think.

Terry Brock [00:02:03]:

What are your thoughts?

Gina Carr [00:02:05]:

Oh, yeah. Its tremendous. Someone was asking me today, do I have a good tutorial on Bitcoin? Because Bitcoins up and down, and people are talking about it, getting really interested again. You and I have been in it since 2013, a long time. And I said, I said, I really dont have a good referral for a primer, but I recommend that you check out chat gpt and or perplexity because you can find out everything you need to know with resources and other links. You can really take a great deep dive.

Terry Brock [00:02:32]:

Yeah. Exactly. By the way, for that Bitcoin intro, I would recommend bitcoin.com. If you go to bitcoin.com, youll see theres a lot of good there and a lot of quizzes and information. Plus, you can use chat gpt and perplexity as a tool to say, tell me about Bitcoin. How do I get started in Bitcoin? What are the dangers of cryptocurrency and Bitcoin? What are the opportunities? Things like that. Think of each of those as a chat that you have a conversation with an expert in whatever field it might be. That would be a good way to do it.

Terry Brock [00:03:04]:

So thats one thing, but we also have someone else. Were gonna walk over here since were using the portable devices here. Someone that we wanna introduce to you now, our, new intern who is actually kinda been an intern for a while, Dylan Carr. Dylan, welcome aboard.

Dylan Carr [00:03:17]:

Hey. Welcome yall. My names Dylan. I am an upcoming entrepreneur, upcoming business owner, and Im here with my dog, Teddy, right here.

Terry Brock [00:03:26]:

Theres Teddy right there. Hi, Teddy. How are you doing? Teddy gets a little rambunctious at times, but thats okay.

Dylan Carr [00:03:31]:

Oh, yeah. But, yeah, Im, hope Im hopefully gonna open a lawn care business coming up here soon, me and my friend. We got it all started up right now. Its, called Little Guys Cleaning Services, and we offer pressure washing and lawn cleaning services right now. And so, yeah, its going pretty good. We got all of our business cards, everything set up, and were right now just starting out and, you know, doing the simple, knock in on the doors, offering our services, and its going pretty good lately. So

Terry Brock [00:04:00]:

yeah. Thats wonderful. Dylan, youre doing a lot with that, and I also noticed youre doing a lot of study. Youre just studying what are some

Dylan Carr [00:04:07]:

of the topics that youre studying through chat gpt and making notes on those? Well, a lot of entrepreneur notes, a lot of, basic school notes. Im a unschooler, and I study a lot up on entrepreneurship and, like, astro astronomy. And its its going really good right now, and I use AI to help me find out to help me study and help me learn on the topics I want to. So it really helps out a lot.

Terry Brock [00:04:34]:

Yeah. I noticed also what can happen to this, youre using AI to learn about algebra Mhmm. And about, history and about other concepts and tools. Tell me how that works.

Dylan Carr [00:04:43]:

So, basically, Ill just ask AI. Ill be, like, give me a topic I can learn for this, this, that as a 9th grade unschooler, and it gives me a full thing of topics I can learn. And then Ill ask, okay. Great. Describe this to me in a way that I can take notes down and study for it. And thats what Ive really been using now, and its working really good.

Terry Brock [00:05:02]:

What would you say to someone whos watching this and thinking, wow. I didnt know you could do that with chat GPT. Is there anything else we can do with it?

Dylan Carr [00:05:08]:

Oh, theres tons of things you can do. So theres ChatGPT plugins you can use to use anything you want. You can create. I created almost my whole business using AI for my imagery, my profile pictures, my logos, my cards, everything. AI is a real big help for everything Im using.

Terry Brock [00:05:26]:

Yeah. I like what youre saying about using your imagery because we talked about the text to image that we talked about. You and I were showing I was showing you how to do that with DALL E 3. Dolly 3 ties in with that through there. Tell us how are

Dylan Carr [00:05:37]:

you using that now. So, yeah, Dolly 3 gives me I just ask you to Ill Ill just give it a text, like, hey. Give me a logo for my lawn care company with for example, me and my friend, 2 guys, 1 pressure washing, 1 cutting grass, and theyll give me a perfect logo with our Ill say, write my description on it, like my business name. It gives me a perfect one, saves me a ton of money. Ill have to hire a designer to probably do what I would do to design it. So its its its going really good, and AI has really helped me a lot with my business and what Ive been doing lately.

Terry Brock [00:06:08]:

So Very good. Well, Dylan, we appreciate you working with us and being here.

Dylan Carr [00:06:12]:

Oh, yeah.

Terry Brock [00:06:12]:

And, on that. And and, Teddy, we appreciate you being here. Yeah. Teddys kinda excited, although it looks like there could be, could be a new mascot, and it could be a squirrel over there. So Teddy is pretty excited about that. But we wanted to show you some of the things that were doing right now. Here we are in, Woodstock, Georgia, not in Acworth, Georgia, and were getting a chance to work with this. You can use your business tools anywhere.

Terry Brock [00:06:34]:

Were using a portable machine right here. Use my s 24 Ultra from Samsung. Got a nice little tripod. The wireless mic here that we got, which is working out really well, although theres another one right here that we were going to use, but guess what? Somehow, the battery went kaput. I think thats the technical term, Janet. Kaput. It went dead. And so were going to need to discharge that.

Terry Brock [00:06:55]:

But Ive got another one, and we thought that was charged. But guess what will be done tonight? It will

Gina Carr [00:07:00]:

be charged. Yes.

Terry Brock [00:07:01]:

Thats right.

Gina Carr [00:07:01]:

In Georgia, we call that plum near give out.

Terry Brock [00:07:04]:

Plum near give out. I think thats a good technical term. I like it. Alright. Well, Gina, thanks for being with us today. Glad to see you here on Shark Raving Entrepreneurs. And, Dylan, good to have you with us.

Dylan Carr [00:07:13]:

For having me all. I really appreciate it. Im glad to be on here on Shark Raving Entrepreneurs to share my story and what I do with AI in my business. So its been a pleasure. Wonderful. Were glad to

Terry Brock [00:07:23]:

have you here. We would encourage you to think about ways you can combine your business with lifestyle, exercising. Like, were out here walking teddy, getting the chance to enjoy a nice beautiful day temperature, little bit chilly. I think its about 75. We call that a little bit chilly from Florida, but were here in Georgia and enjoying it a lot, and we look forward to hearing from you. Find out ways that you can grow your business. You have ways that we can help you out. Let us know.

Terry Brock [00:07:47]:

We offer programs to help you with that, and you can get a lot of resources. Go over to .com, and youll find out more. Im Terry Brock, and so long from Woodstock, Georgia.
Most people dont know that freshwater mussels exist. The mussels in restaurants come from salt water, not fresh. Blending in with the rocks on the bottoms of rivers, lakes and streams, the freshwater varieties do a great job of remaining incognito.

Yet these unseen creatures are key to their watery environments, each filtering at least eight gallons of water a day. They are canaries in the coal mine for water quality, and fascinating in the deception, trickery and even aggression they employ during reproduction.

Unfortunately, freshwater mussels also have the distinction of being the most imperiled group of creatures in North America. Of the 300 species native to the continent, about 70% are extinct, endangered or threatened while those numbers for bird and mammal species are only in the mid-teens. Last September, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed adding salamander mussels to the endangered list.

Expanding conservation efforts

But that same month, the dedication of the new Watters Aquatic Conservation Center as part of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium gave staff with the zoo, the Ohio Division of Wildlife and Ohio State University a bigger facility and new opportunities to reverse the mussels downward trend.

Dr. Ieva Roznere, research scientist with OSU and science director of the Watters Center, didnt know about freshwater mussels until she did her Ph.D. and postdoctoral work under Dr. Tom Watters, who started the zoos Freshwater Mussel Conservation and Research Center in 2002. He prepared Roznere to take over when he retired, but he passed away in 2019.

A $500,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources paid to renovate the former Jeffrey Manufacturing Company lodge and retreat into the new center named for Watters. The remodeling gave the mussel researchers, most of whom hail from OSU, a larger space to work with and care for the 22 mussel species and 250 individuals currently residing there.

Under the surface

Mussels have only one foot to stand on, so they dont get around much. They spend most of their lives buried under rocks and sediment with only a siphon sticking up. As they pick out food items, they also pull unwanted gunk out of the water and sink it under the sediment. That includes pollutants, which they are surprisingly good at handling.

They only come to the surface  the surface of the sediment, not the water  to mate. The male releases sperm into the water that the female takes in through her siphon. When the eggs are fertilized, she nourishes them in her marsupial gills.

The eggs become thousands of microscopic larvae called glochidia. However, if the mother just allowed the larvae to ooze out and settle around her, theyd be exposed to predators and few if any would survive.

Thats where the fish come in.

Finding fish friends

Freshwater mussels require the help of a host fish that they infect with what amount to exploding packets of larvae, which can then attach to the fish. The exception is the salamander mussel that uses the mudpuppy, an amphibian, to host its offspring.

A life cycle that involves larvae attaching to fish is unique to our freshwater mussels, Roznere said.

While some species of mussels can use a wide variety of fish to host their offspring, others must stick to only one species. For instance, the pocketbook mussel uses bass as hosts  largemouth, smallmouth, either one will do. To attract them, the female uses the fleshy tissue along her gills to create a lure that looks like a darter fish, one of the basss favorite foods.

The lure is constructed in two halves, and she pushes a packet of larvae into the middle. She then wiggles the lure with moves a professional angler would admire. When the bass goes for the bait, it gets a faceful of larvae instead.

The rainbow mussel, on the other hand, is only looking for rock bass. She creates a lure that looks like a crayfish. It can even walk on the bottom till the same kind of explosion occurs.

Perhaps the most impressive  and aggressive  mussels belong to a group that includes the snuffbox and northern riffleshell. These residents of the Ohio River basin are trying to attract darters.

Both have big bulges in their shells where they brood their babies. When they are ready to release the larvae, they open their shells to reveal a tiny lure.

But their conniving doesnt stop there. When a darter comes close enough to that large space in her shell, the female mussel clamps down on its head and keeps it there until all the larvae have been released. Unfortunately, not all darters heads are strong enough to withstand the pressure; only those with strong bones will survive, and hopefully, transport the larvae to a suitable environment.

The glochidia are like little Pac-Men, said John Navarro, administrator for the Ohio Division of Wildlifes Aquatic Stewardship program, who facilitates the work at the Watters Center.

The larvae clamp onto the gills or the skin of the host fish, which then forms something resembling cysts over them, he said. The larvae draw nutrients from the fish and drop off after a few weeks, leaving the fish none the worse for wear.

Stressed by humans

Freshwater mussels were brought to the verge of extinction not just by pollution, dredging and dams, but also the fashion industry. In the late 1800s, before the invention of plastic, mussel shells were used to make buttons. There are photos of men standing on piles of mussel shells as big as a house, Navarro said.

Mussels were also exploited for their shells to make cultured pearls, a practice that began in the 1960s but continues today, mostly overseas. Pellets are cut from the shells and then implanted in oysters, which then cover them in layers to create pearls.

Another threat comes from toxic waste, spills or other pollution events. While fish can swim away, mussels are stuck there, Navarro said. Although they can keep their shells shut for a period of time, eventually, they succumb.

However, there have also been unexplained die-offs of freshwater mussels across North America and in other countries. A 2019 article in the Smithsonian tells of die-offs three years in a row in the Clinch River, near where the borders of Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee meet.

The first two years, only pheasantshell mussels died in droves, while other species seemed to be doing fine. The third year, not only pheasantshells died, but so did some of the other mussel species in the river.

Scientists suspect its some kind of disease, like a mussel equivalent of the Ebola virus. But scientists have not studied diseases in freshwater mussels, worrying instead about how theyre stressed by human impact, Roznere said.

Facilitating a comeback

Thats another reason she and others are propagating mussels in the lab. One method that they call in vitro involves routine checking of resident females. If their gills are flat, theyre not pregnant. If the gills are inflated, they are.

In that case, staff use a syringe to flush the almost-microscopic larvae into Petri dishes. In each dish is a soup of yummy nutrients, plus antibiotics and antifungals, Roznere said.

The juveniles that transform and develop a hardened shell are moved to aquarium tanks to grow into adults. The new center has a huge number of tanks that are all interconnected. Water from the Scioto River flows in and provides nutrients, then the used water flows back out into the river.

Its difficult to raise mussels in captivity, Roznere explained. We know they eat algae, but what else? We solve that problem by giving them wild water.

Growing them in the lab greatly increases the juvenile mussels chances of survival. In the wild, most of the larvae will not attach to a fish, despite their mothers efforts. Those that do may detach from the fish only to be eaten or swept away. Or their shells fail to harden so they dont develop into adults.

So Roznere, Navarro and their colleagues will continue their efforts to help mussels make a comeback. Right now, their research is focused on fatmucket mussels, the second most common species in Ohio. As they build new systems to grow out more for release, they will expand to endangered mussel species with descriptive names like wartyback, kidneyshell and elktoe.

It will probably be a few years until any adult mussels are released, Roznere said. Then it will be only into bodies of water that those species have inhabited in the past and where their host fish can be found.

Meanwhile, Division of Wildlife personnel will do intensive surveys of both mussels and fish at 150 locations this summer so that researchers at the Watters Center have updated information to work with. In 2025, there will be even more intense surveys of five different rivers that could provide suitable habitat for released mussels.

Freshwater mussels have been around since the dinosaurs, Roznere said.We dont want to lose them now.
Growers and distributors of plant protection products (PPPs) are being warned to be on high alert after a well-organised break-in at a secure distributor store.

The attempted raid happened at a major distributors store in Norfolk earlier this month, with farmers and PPP distributors now being urged to be on their guard.

Criminals targeted the premises just after midnight, severing the buildings communication lines before climbing onto the roof and making a hole to gain entry to where PPPs were stored for distribution to farms.

They are believed to have abandoned their raid and fled empty-handed after an alarm system was triggered, calling out staff and the police to the site.

A police investigation suggested that the gang had knowledge of the site and experience with roofing based on precision tools left behind at the scene.

Responding to the incident, the Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) warned the industry that there are organised thieves looking to steal valuable agrochemical products.

The trade association added that crop protection, agronomy companies and farmers should be on alert to the risk of further thefts in the area and nationally.

Hazel Doonan, AICs head of crop protection, said routinely reviewing security arrangements was 'a prudent step' for any agricultural business.

She added: In light of this case, farmers and growers should be extremely wary if they are offered product that appears to be exceptionally cheap or does not come from a known and reputable distribution company.

"Inadvertently handling stolen goods has the potential to damage a business's reputation and risks criminal proceedings.

"Any business or individual selling or supplying professional PPPs must hold the BASIS Certificate in Crop Protection."
The UK's four farming unions have underlined the need for cattle electronic identification so farmers can utilise new and effective technologies.

At a recent meeting, unions agreed that there are real potential benefits of introducing bovine electronic identification (bEID).

These include efficiency and animal health and welfare gains, to improving the health and safety of livestock handlers.

Union board chairs, from the NFU, NFU Scotland, NFU Cymru and Ulster Farmers' Union, recognised the different technologies available for bEID introduction in each devolved nation.

However, there was consensus that unions must continue to work with future governments to ensure livestock movement systems work for livestock and dairy businesses.

It comes as English farmers await Defras response to the consultation on cattle identification, registration and movements, which was paused due to the general election.

Elsewhere, Scottish farmers are being encouraged to submit their responses to the Cattle Identification and Traceability consultation, which is currently live.

Following the meeting, NFU livestock board chair, David Barton said the benefits of transitioning towards bEID tags "are very clear".

This includes reducing transcription errors, improving the health and safety for those who handle cattle, and driving forward innovation and productivity.

He said: "I have seen first-hand the benefits that UHF tags can offer the sector, and as a beef farmer I do not want these technologies to be overlooked and ignored.

Future governments will need to seriously consider what is best for the long-term future of modern farm businesses, and I believe access to both UHF and LF, mandated at the same time, should be part of that.

NFU Scotland livestock board chair, Hugh Fraser urged all governments to consider evidence produced by ScotEID trials to enable the livestock sector to access the identified benefits of bEID, which can only be delivered by Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) tags.

"The Scottish government is currently consulting on this, and we have a real opportunity to get bEID across the line," Mr Fraser said.

"We look forward to continuing to work with other UK farming unions on bEID as well as other areas of mutual concern.

NFU Cymru livestock board chair, Rob Lewis added that farmers had made it clear that they see the introduction of electronic ID on cattle tags as being long overdue.

"However, we need a robust, future proof and cost-effective system that can be totally aligned with a modernized cattle database," he said.

"The outcome of ongoing government trial work on farm, in markets and in abattoirs will be important in deciding on the best way forward.
China's Zheng Qinwen advances in French Open

Xinhua) 13:55, May 31, 2024

PARIS, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese star Zheng Qinwen beat German Tamara Korpatsch 6-2, 6-2 to move into the third round of French Open here on Thursday.

Due to the rainy weather in Paris, several matches on Thursday were suspended or postponed several times, and many players experienced a long wait.

The 21-year old from China's Hubei province admitted that she was affected by the long wait but fortunately well adjusted herself in time.

"I felt that I was not in my best condition because I waited for too long, and it was a bit slow to get into the groove," said the Australian Open finalist. "Maybe the opponent was the same. I just played normally and played to my best, and it was good to quickly resolve the situation without getting too entangled with the opponent, which also allowed me to make sufficient preparations for the next round."

"Actually, this is my first time playing a night match on clay. It feels quite different. The ball is not as fast as during the day, and the whole clay court is more solid. It's a different game between day and night."

Zheng will take on Elina Araratovna Avanesyan in the last 32 on Saturday.

Wang Xinyu triumphed over her Bulgarian opponent, Viktoriya Tomova, with a thrilling 7-5, 5-7, 6-1 victory on Thursday.

Despite a temporary rain-induced suspension, Wang persevered and secured the win. This marks Wang Xinyu's second consecutive year advancing to the last 32 at the French Open and her third Grand Slam third-round appearance in her career. Her next challenge will be a match against Russian player Anastasia Potapova.

In the second round of the men's singles at the French Open, China's Zhang Zhizhen hit 17 ACE balls throughout the match, defeating Italian player Lorenzo Sonego 7-5, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 and advancing to the third round.

Zhang will face the men's singles 9th seed, Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas on Friday.

"The overall return quality of top players is very high, and they are good at seizing opportunities. Once they get an opportunity, they will make you very passive. Luckily, I have been through this kind of situation several times, and I hope I can do better this year than last year." Zhang said.

Their compatriot Wang Yafan struggled in her match on Thursday, succumbing to Dayana Yastremska with scores of 6-2, 6-0, thus ending her campaign in the second round.

Another Chinese athlete, Wang Xiyu, also faced defeat, losing 6-3, 6-4 to Canada's Leylah Fernandez.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Global geopolitical unrest has severely impacted Bangladesh's apparel exports to the continent in the first four months of this year. Exports declined by 59.95 per cent to $3.114 billion, down from $7.775 billion in January-April 2023. Europes economic activities have been significantly affected by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and unrest in the Middle East.

Europes share in Bangladesh's apparel exports dropped significantly. In January-April 2023, Europe accounted for 57.92 per cent of Bangladeshs $13.425 billion in apparel exports. This share fell to 44.71 per cent this year, with Bangladesh exporting $6.965 billion worth of apparel globally, according to Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro.

Global geopolitical unrest has impacted Bangladesh's apparel exports, which fell by 59.95 per cent to $3.114 billion in Jan-Apr 2024. Europe's share of Bangladesh's apparel exports dropped from 57.92 per cent in early 2023 to 44.71 per cent this year. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and Middle Eastern unrest have strained Europe's economic activities.

Shipments to Europe had reached $8.199 billion in the corresponding period of 2022, overcoming disruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they eased by 5.17 per cent to $7.775 billion in the first four months of last year.

Exports from Bangladesh to Europe had reduced by 17.1 per cent to $20.628 billion in 2023 from $24.884 billion in 2022. Europes share was 56.81 per cent of the total apparel exports of $36.312 billion from Bangladesh in 2023, according to TexPro.

Shipments to Europe were valued at $21.234 billion in 2018. They gained 2.59 per cent to $21.783 billion in the following year, 2019. However, trade tanked by 24.97 per cent to $16.344 billion in 2020. It then rose by 20.2 per cent to $19.646 billion in 2021 and further gained 26.66 per cent to $24.883 billion in 2022.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL)
The US consumer confidence index rose in May to 102.0 (1985=100) from a revised 97.5 in April, reflecting an increase in consumer confidence, according to The Conference Board (TCB). The Present Situation Index, which is based on consumers assessment of current business and labour market conditions, also saw an increase, rising to 143.1 (1985=100) from 140.6 in April.

The expectations index, which is based on consumers short-term outlook for income, business, and labour market conditions, rose to 74.6 (1985=100) from 68.8 last month. Despite this improvement, the expectations index remained below 80 for the fourth consecutive month, a level that typically signals a recession ahead.

Consumers' views on current business conditions were slightly less positive in May, with 20.3 per cent of consumers describing business conditions as good, down from 20.8 per cent in April. Meanwhile, 17.6 per cent of consumers rated business conditions as bad, unchanged from the previous month, as per TCB.

The US consumer confidence index rose to 102 in May from 97.5 in April. The present situation index increased to 143.1, and the expectations index rose to 74.6, though it remained below the recession signal level of 80. Business conditions were viewed slightly less positively. Concerns about a recession grew for the second consecutive month.

In terms of the labour market, consumers' appraisal improved slightly. The percentage of consumers who said jobs were plentiful fell to 37.5 per cent from 38.4 per cent in April. However, those who said jobs were hard to get decreased to 13.5 per cent from 15.5 per cent.

Consumers showed a slightly less pessimistic view of short-term business conditions. In May, 13.3 per cent of consumers expected business conditions to improve, a slight decrease from 13.4 per cent in April. Meanwhile, 16.8 per cent expected business conditions to worsen, down from 19.1 per cent the previous month.

The short-term labour market outlook also improved marginally. The percentage of consumers expecting more jobs to be available rose to 12.6 per cent from 12.3 per cent in April, while those anticipating fewer jobs decreased to 18.2 per cent from 19.8 per cent.

Consumers' assessment of their short-term income prospects improved, with 16.9 per cent expecting their incomes to increase, up from 16.8 per cent in April. Those expecting their incomes to decrease dropped to 11.0 per cent from 14.0 per cent.

Despite these improvements, the perceived likelihood of a US recession over the next 12 months rose for the second consecutive month in May.

Confidence improved in May after three consecutive months of decline, said Dana M. Peterson, chief economist at The Conference Board. Consumers assessment of current business conditions was slightly less positive than last month. However, the strong labour market continued to bolster consumers overall assessment of the present situation.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DP)
Bangladesh received $3.004 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) last yeara decrease of 14 per cent from $3.5 billion in 2022, according to the central bank. The inflow of equity capital dropped by 31 per cent to $705.83 million from $1.14 billion in 2022.

Reinvested earnings, which happen when a company ploughs back its profits instead of repatriating, declined by 12.1 per cent year on year (YoY) last year to $2.21 billion.

Intra-company loans, however, rose to $88.91 million from a negative $57.65 million in 2022, domestic media outlets reported.

Bangladesh received $3.004 billion in FDI last yeara fall of 14 per cent from $3.5 billion in 2022, the central bank said. The inflow of equity capital dropped by 31 per cent YoY to $705.83 million and reinvested earnings fell by 12.1 per cent YoY last year to $2.21 billion. In 2023, gross FDI inflows were worth $3.97 billiona drop of 17.8 per cent YoY.

Foreign currency reserves slipped below the $19-billion mark earlier this month due to elevated global commodity prices, supply disruptions, a slowdown in external demand and a shift in remittances back to informal channels. It was $40.7 billion in August 2021.

Hence, the central bank limited import of luxury and non-essential goods. The taka has lost its value by 35 per cent against the US dollar in the past two years.

In 2023, gross FDI inflows were worth $3.97 billiona decrease of 17.8 per cent YoY. The trend has continued in 2024.

The gross inflows, which include capital repatriation, reverse investment, loans to parents, and repayments of intra-company loans to parents, fell by 4.92 per cent to $3.21 billion in July-March of the current fiscal, according to the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Bangladesh received the highest net FDI from the United Kingdom, which channelled $613.93 million, or 20.4 per cent of the total.

Some $366.96 million came from the Netherlands, $314.9 million from the United States, $259.54 million from China, $181.43 million from South Korea, and $176.87 million from Norway.

The manufacturing sector attracted the maximum net FDI last year, bringing in $1.26 billion. The power, gas and petroleum sector came second with an inflow of $581.27 million.

The trade and commerce sector received $551.97 million, the transport, storage and communication sector got $290.11 million, and the services brought in $208.52 million.

FDI stock in the country was $20.55 billion at the end of last yeardown by 5.1 per cent from a year ago.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Ananya Panday is currently attending Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchants pre-wedding celebrations. The latest Ambani pre-wedding bash is taking place on a cruise at the moment leaving fans super excited to see the grandeur and opulence of the festivities. Several B-town actors were spotted at the airport leaving for the most anticipated pre-wedding bash.

Actress Ananya Panday took to social media to share pictures of the gala time shes having at the bash. The actress shared a bunch of beautiful pictures from the city of Rome, one of the pit stops on the cruise. One of the pictures shows a beautiful stone bridge on a canal, surrounded by trees. Another picture shows Ananya in a chic slip dress from Chanel, posing for the camera in a street flanked with old buildings, without any makeup and her hair tied in a messy bun.

A total of 800 guests are onboard the luxurious cruise including Ranbir Kapoor, Alia Bhatt, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan. On the work front, Ananya will be seen in a web series titled Call Me Bae.
Bad Boys: Ride or Die

Die In a Gunfight

Inside Out 2

I Am: Celine Dion

A Quiet Place: Day One

A Family Affair

June isnt the busiest month but it has a fair share of highly-anticipated sequels and prequels on the calendar. Inside Out 2 is releasing and the film promises to dig into new emotions. Meanwhile, A Quiet Place is getting a prequel film. Among the new releases is the star-studded rom-com A Family Affair. Here are all the upcoming Hollywood movies releasing in June 2024.How many Bad Boys movies are there? Apparently, the answer is - not enough because another instalment is releasing in theatres this month. Titled Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the film sees detectives Mike Lowery (Will Smith) and Marcus Burnett (Martin Lawrence) team up once again for an action-packed adventure.June 6TheatresDie In a Gunfight is basically Romeo and Juliet with guns. Starring Alexandra Daddario, Diego Boneta and Justin Chatwin, the film revolves around a couple that falls in love amidst a family feud. The families then take it upon themselves to separate them.June 7OTTInside Out is back with another animated exploration of emotions in its second part. The film featuring the voices of Amy Poehler, Ayo Edibiri, Maya Hawke, Lewis Black and more, will take on teenage emotions as Riley goes to college. This ones quite literally going to be an emotional rollercoaster.June 14TheatresDirected by Academy Award nominee Irene Taylor, I Am: Celine Dion gives us a behind-the-scenes look at the iconic songstress struggle with a life-altering illness. Serving as a love letter to her fans, the documentary highlights the music that has guided her life while showcasing her resilience.June 25OTTThe third movie in the A Quiet Place franchise is set before the deadly alien invasion. The film will explore the early days of the attack when nobody knew how to deal with it. Directed by Pig filmmaker Michael Sarnoski, the film features Lupita Nyongo, Joseph Quinn, Djimon Hounsou and more.June 28TheatresIf youre looking to fill the Idea of You-sized hole in your heart, the age-gap romantic comedy A Family Affair is the movie for you. Starring Nicole Kidman, Zac Effron and Joey King, the film revolves around a young woman who works as a personal assistant to a Hollywood star. Things get complicated when she discovers that her widowed mom is dating said Hollywood star.June 28OTT
TLX591 is an investigational anti-PSMA [1] radio-antibody-drug conjugate (rADC) therapy being developed for the treatment of mCRPC, differentiated by a short two-week dosing regimen.

radio-antibody-drug conjugate (rADC) therapy being developed for the treatment of mCRPC, differentiated by a short two-week dosing regimen. Reported median radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) is 8.8 months.

Builds on prior data from the ProstACT SELECT[2] trial, demonstrating favourable safety profile and biodistribution[3].

MELBOURNE, Australia, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (ASX: TLX, Telix, the Company) today announces additional positive data from the ProstACT SELECT trial ("SELECT") of TLX591 (177Lu rosopatamab tetraxetan), a lutetium-labelled rADC therapy for the treatment of adult patients with PSMA-positive metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC). SELECT is a radiogenomics study intended to evaluate lesion concordance between 68Ga (gallium)-based PSMA-PET[4] imaging and TLX591 dosimetry for the purpose of validating PET imaging for patient selection for rADC therapy. The Company has previously reported final safety data from this study3.

The study has reported a median rPFS of 8.8 months, representing an encouraging signal of the potential efficacy of TLX591 in this patient population. The evaluable sample size for rPFS comprised 23 patients with previously treated, progressive mCRPC and who received two 76 mCi intravenous (IV) infusions of TLX591, 14 days apart[5]. The SELECT trial included a heterogeneous population of low, medium and high disease burden patients to facilitate imaging cross-comparison, with the majority having undergone two prior lines of therapy.

Nat Lenzo, MD, Nuclear Oncologist and General Internal Medicine Physician and lead recruiter onto the SELECT trial, commented, "We are encouraged by this rPFS result, which compares favourably to small molecule radioligand therapy (RLT) Phase I and II studies at similar stages of development[6]. This is a compelling signal of the potential efficacy of TLX591 in this heavily pre-treated population. The results further support the development of this candidate in an earlier mCRPC patient population which is the focus of the ProstACT GLOBAL[7] Phase III trial and where there remains significant unmet need for effective treatment."

Dr David N. Cade, MD, Group Chief Medical Officer at Telix, stated, "TLX591 is a radio-ADC with significant potential advantages compared to small molecule radiopharmaceuticals in treating prostate cancer. TLX591 is differentiated by a patient-friendly dosing regimen with far lower cumulative radiation exposure compared to small molecule radioligand therapies[8]. This positive signal of efficacy from SELECT builds on prior studies that demonstrated the potential for TLX591 to deliver improved quality of life and durable tumour control in this advanced patient population[9]."

TLX591 is being further evaluated in the Phase III ProstACT GLOBAL trial in first and second line mCRPC, which is now preparing to enrol patients at its first U.S. sites. This innovative trial design allows physicians a choice of androgen receptor inhibition or docetaxel chemotherapy, thus integrating with real-world standard of care, reflective of Telix's continued innovation in prostate cancer care and commitment to patient outcomes.

About TLX591

TLX591 (INN: lutetium Lu 177 rosopatamab tetraxetan) is Telix's lead investigational radio antibody-drug conjugate (rADC) for the treatment of mCRPC, composed of a high-specificity PSMA-targeting antibody, chelator linker, and cytotoxic lutetium (177Lu) payload. TLX591 is administered intravenously under a two-dose fractionated regimen, potentially enabling the delivery of a highly targeted and potent dose with improved off-target organ radiation exposure. The mAb-based approach may offer distinct advantages in selectivity, internalisation, and retention time over small molecule RLTs for the treatment of mCRPC.

A total of 242 patients have been treated with TLX591 across eight Phase I and Phase II trials9 including a previously published Phase II (open-label, single-arm) trial, which reported a 42.3 month OS in 17 patients with advanced mCRPC when TLX591 was delivered under a fractionated dosing regimen[10].

About ProstACT SELECT

The purpose of the ProstACT SELECT trial is to evaluate the utility of PSMA-PET imaging with Illuccix to select patients for TLX591 rADC therapy. The primary objectives are to determine whole body biodistribution and organ radiation dosimetry, and assess the safety and tolerability of TLX591 in patients with advanced mCRPC. Radiographic progression-free survival (rPFS) is a secondary study objective.

Previously reported data from the SELECT trial includes3:

Confirmation of biodistribution and safety profile with a low rate of off-target side effects.

Confirmation of internalisation and long retention, delivering a payload to the tumour, potentially maximising cell killing effect.

Lower rates of haematologic toxicity than prior, later-line studies of TLX591.

About Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited

Telix is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialisation of diagnostic and therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals and associated medical devices. Telix is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, with international operations in the United States, Europe (Belgium and Switzerland), and Japan. Telix is developing a portfolio of clinical and commercial stage products that aims to address significant unmet medical needs in oncology and rare diseases. Telix is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX: TLX).

Telix's lead imaging product, gallium-68 (68Ga) gozetotide injection (also known as 68Ga PSMA-11 and marketed under the brand name Illuccix), has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)[11], by the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) [12], and by Health Canada[13]. No other Telix product has received a marketing authorisation in any jurisdiction.

Visit www.telixpharma.com for further information about Telix, including details of the latest share price, announcements made to the ASX, investor and analyst presentations, news releases, event details and other publications that may be of interest. You can also follow Telix on X and LinkedIn.

Telix Investor Relations

Ms. Kyahn Williamson

Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited

SVP Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

Email: kyahn.williamson@telixpharma.com

This announcement has been authorised for release by the Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited Disclosure Committee on behalf of the Board.

Legal Notices

The information contained in this announcement is not intended to be an offer for subscription, invitation or recommendation with respect to shares of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited (Telix) in any jurisdiction, including the United States. No representation or warranty, express or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy or completeness of the information contained or opinions expressed in the course of this announcement. The information contained in this announcement is subject to change without notification.

This announcement may contain forward-looking statements that relate to anticipated future events, financial performance, plans, strategies or business developments. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "outlook", "forecast" and "guidance", or other similar words. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the Company's good-faith assumptions as to the financial, market, regulatory and other risks and considerations that exist and affect the Company's business and operations in the future and there can be no assurance that any of the assumptions will prove to be correct. In the context of Telix's business, forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements about: the initiation, timing, progress and results of Telix's preclinical and clinical studies, and Telix's research and development programs; Telix's ability to advance product candidates into, enrol and successfully complete, clinical studies, including multi-national clinical trials; the timing or likelihood of regulatory filings and approvals, manufacturing activities and product marketing activities; the commercialisation of Telix's product candidates, if or when they have been approved; estimates of Telix's expenses, future revenues and capital requirements; Telix's financial performance; developments relating to Telix's competitors and industry; and the pricing and reimbursement of Telix's product candidates, if and after they have been approved. Telix's actual results, performance or achievements may be materially different from those which may be expressed or implied by such statements, and the differences may be adverse. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. You should read this announcement together with our risk factors, as disclosed in our most recently filed reports with the ASX or on our website.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, Telix disclaims any obligation or undertaking to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or a change in expectations or assumptions.

2024 Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited. The Telix Pharmaceuticals and Illuccix names and logos are trademarks of Telix Pharmaceuticals Limited and its affiliates - all rights reserved.

[1] Prostate-specific membrane antigen. [2] ProstACT SELECT ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04786847. [3] Telix ASX disclosure 19 October 2023. [4] Imaging of prostate-specific membrane antigen with positron emission tomography. [5] The study recruited 30 patients, with 5 patients completing low-dose dosimetry. Two patients did not complete a second dose and therefore were excluded from the rPFS calculation. [6] Hofman et al. Lancet Oncol 2018; Violet et al. Journal of Nuc Med 2019; Calais et al. Journal of Nuc Med 2021. [7] ProstACT GLOBAL ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT04876651. [8] 152 mCi cumulative radiation exposure with TLX591 compared with up to 1200 mCi with current approved RLT, based on prescribing information. [9] Bander et al. J Clin Oncol. 2005; Tagawa et al. Clin Cancer Res. 2013; Tagawa et al. Cancer. 2019; Batra et al. Urol Oncol. 2020; Niaz et al. Oncologist. 2020. [10] Tagawa et al. Cancer. 2019. [11] Telix ASX disclosure 20 December 2021. [12] Telix ASX disclosure 2 November 2021. [13] Telix ASX disclosure 14 October 2022.

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Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2024) - Miramis Mining Corp. (the "Company") is pleased to announce, further to its news release dated May 13, 2024, that it has closed the first tranche (the "First Tranche") of its non-brokered private placement, whereby the Company intends to raise gross proceeds of up to $100,000 on a non-flow-through basis (the "Private Placement") through the issuance of up to 2,000,000 common shares of the Company (each, a "Share") at a price of $0.05 per Share, together with up to $65,000 on a flow-through basis through the issuance of up to 1,000,000 flow-through common shares of the Company (each, a "Flow-Through Share") at a price of $0.065 per Share (the "Flow-Through Private Placement"; and, collectively, with the Private Placement, the "Private Placements").

The First Tranche consisted of 500,000 Flow-Through Shares for gross aggregate proceeds of $32,500. No finder's fees were paid in connection with the First Tranche.

All securities issued in respect of the Private Placements will be subject to a hold period of four (4) months and a day from closing of the Private Placements in accordance with securities laws.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD

"Morgan Good"

Morgan Good

Chief Executive Officer

T: 604-715-4751

E: morgan@miramismining.com

Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Such information includes, without limitation, information regarding the terms of the Amending Agreement, the Private Placements, and the intended use of proceeds from the Private Placements. Although the Company believes that such information is reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct.

Forward looking information is typically identified by words such as: "believe", "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "estimate", "postulate" and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by the Company is not a guarantee of future results or performance and that such forward-looking information is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management in light of management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this news release including, without limitation, that the Company will be able to fulfill its obligations under the terms of the Amending Agreement, that the Private Placements will close and will do so on the proposed terms; that the Company will be able to utilize the net proceeds of the Private Placements in the manner intended; that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner; that applicable regulatory approvals will be received; and assumptions regarding political and regulatory stability and stability in financial and capital markets.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks and other factors include, among others: the risk that the Company may not complete the Private Placements; the risk that the Private Placements may not be completed on the anticipated terms; the risk that the Company may not be able to use the proceeds of the Private Placements as intended; the state of the financial markets for the Company's securities; the conflict in Eastern Europe; the Company's ability to raise the necessary capital or to be fully able to implement its business strategies; and other risks and factors that the Company is unaware of at this time.

The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211213

SOURCE: Miramis Mining Corp.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2024) - Nextraction Energy Corp. (OTC: NXTFF) ("Nextraction" or the "Company") announces that Mr. Michael Pavicic has been appointed as a Director of the Company, replacing Mr. Steve Elliot, who has resigned as a Director. Mr. Pavicic is President of CRCL Capital and brings over twenty years of private equity, governance and compliance experience to Nextraction.

On Behalf of the Board,

"John A. Versfelt"

John A. Versfelt, CEO

For further information, please contact:

John A. Versfelt

202 - 2608 Shaughnessy Street

Port Coquitlam, BC

V3C 3G6

Tel: 604-527-8146

* * * * * * *

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements including but not limited to comments regarding the timing and content of upcoming work programs and other business transactions timing. Forward-looking statements address future events and conditions and therefore, involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements.

Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for release, publication,

distribution or dissemination directly, or indirectly, in whole or in part, in or into the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211216

SOURCE: Nextraction Energy Corp.
San Diego, California--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2024) - Direct Communication Solutions, Inc. (OTCQX: DCSX) (CSE: DCSI) (FSE: 7QU0) ("DCS" or the "Company"), a leading provider of information technology solutions for the Internet of Things (IoT) market, is pleased to announce it has posted its Interim Financial Statements for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, and the corresponding Management Discussion & Analysis on SEDAR+.

Significant Highlights

The following highlights and developments are for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024:

Continuing the transition to a SaaS Solutions provider focusing on high margin recurring revenue. Recurring SaaS revenues increased 13% and gross margins increased 5.1% from the same period as last year.

Continuing aggressive cost cutting initiatives to reduce overall expenses and focus on delivering high margin recurring revenues. Reduced general and administrative expenses $1,087,655 for the three months ended March 31, 2024, compared to the same period in 2023.

Entered into a strategic licensing and reseller agreement with System Loco Ltd for supply chain solutions and CATrack Technologies for catalytic converter theft prevention. Both strategic agreements complement the DCS IoT Solutions portfolio and expect to generate future recurring SaaS revenues.

CEO of Direct Communication Solutions, Chris Bursey, reports strong Q1 2024 increase in recurring SaaS revenues and continued growth from our SaaS subscriber base, as highlighted by the subsequent information:

Direct Communication Solutions Inc. had first-quarter 2024 revenues of $1.88 million (U.S.) versus $3.19 million (U.S.) in Q1 2023, representing a decrease of 41 percent year over year. The decrease in revenue was primarily attributed to restructuring the company to focus on high margin recurring SaaS revenue, versus lower margin, one-time hardware sales.

Q1 2024 gross profit was $657k (U.S.) versus $951k (U.S.) in Q1 2023, representing a 31-per-cent decrease. Q1 2024 gross margin was 34.9% versus 29.8% in Q1 2023, an increase of 5.1%. The Q1 2024 net loss ended March 31, 2024, was reported at $501k (U.S.) versus a net loss of $1.2 million (U.S.) in Q1 2023. Q1 2024 adjusted EBITDA was ($481k) (U.S.) versus ($901k) in Q1 2023, representing a 46-percent improvement.

"In Q1 2024, the Direct Communication team continued to focus and execute our strategy of providing IoT solutions that generate recurring revenue with higher margins. We are executing this transition, which we believe will bring maximum value to our shareholders. Management has secured some key wins, with several large customers, demonstrating our ability to execute." Chris Bursey also commented, "We have added a significant number of new SaaS subscribers in Q1 2024 and have a strong backlog of new subscribers that will add to our recurring SaaS revenues. We are significantly reducing operating costs and increasing recurring revenues by delivering unique and customizable IoT solutions that will continue our future growth."

The conversion rate is $1 (U.S.) to $1.32 (Canadian).

We seek Safe Harbor.

About Direct Communication Services Inc.

DCSI is a technology solutions integrator focusing on connecting the Internet of Things. We provide real solutions that solve real problems. Our software applications and scalable cloud services collect and assess business-critical data from all types of assets. DCSI is headquartered in San Diego, California and is publicly traded on the OTCQX ("DCSX"), Canadian Securities Exchange ("DCSI") and Frankfurt Stock Exchange ("7QU0"). For more information, visit www.dcsbusiness.com. DCSI and the DCSI logo are among the trademarks of DCSI in the United States. Any other trademarks or trade names mentioned are the property of their respective owners.

Contacts

Chris Bursey, CEO

cbursey@dcsbusiness.com

858-525-2483

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements reflecting management's current views of future events and operations. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions, subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially. DCS believes that these potential risks and uncertainties include, without limitation: the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Company's dependence on third-party manufacturers, suppliers, technologies, and infrastructure; risks related to intellectual property; industry risks, including competition, online security, government regulation, and global economic conditions; and the Company's financial position and need for additional funding. Statements in this release should be evaluated in light of these factors. These risk factors and other important factors that could affect our business and financial results are discussed in our Management's Discussion and Analysis, periodic reports, and other public filings available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca and posted with the OTC Disclosure and News Service. DCS undertakes no duty to update or revise any forward-looking statements.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211217

SOURCE: Direct Communication Solutions, Inc.
MUMBAI, India, May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

~ Strengthens leadership in renewable energy with a competitive tariff of USD 0.032 per kWh

Avaada Energy, a leading player in the renewable energy sector and an arm of Avaada Group, is pleased to announce that it has achieved a historic milestone by winning the single largest bid of 1050 MWp capacity of solar project in a recent tender issued by the Renewable Energy Implementing Agency (REIA) National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC). This achievement underlines Avaada's expertise and commitment to contributing to India's renewable energy targets.

The company has secured a significant 1050 MWp capacity of solar project at a competitive tariff of USD 0.032 per kWh, which is expected to be completed within 24 months of signing the 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), showcasing Avaada Energy's commitment to delivering large-scale renewable energy projects efficiently and effectively.

In addition to this landmark win, Avaada Energy has reached a remarkable milestone by achieving Letters of Award and PPAs for over 15 GWp in India. This extensive portfolio underscores the company's dedication to advancing the renewable energy landscape across the nation.

Commenting on this significant development, Mr. Vineet Mittal, Chairman of Avaada Group, said, "We are incredibly proud to have won the single largest bid of 1050 MWp from NTPC. This achievement not only highlights our capability to execute large-scale renewable energy projects but also reinforces our commitment to supporting India's transition to a sustainable energy future. Crossing over 15 GWp portfolio is a testament to our team's hard work, innovative approach, and dedication to excellence.

"My confidence in taking bigger bets increased after successfully completing the 1250 MWp project at a single location in Rajasthan in 2022, which until 2023 was the single largest project developed by an IPP in the world. As Avaada, we also ventured into Agri Voltaic Solar solutions in the state of Maharashtra, further diversifying our portfolio and contributing to sustainable agricultural practices. We remain committed to driving the growth of renewable energy in India and contributing to a greener planet."

Upon commissioning, the solar project is expected to generate approximately 1800 million units of renewable energy annually, significantly contributing to India's green energy supply and powering more than 12,00,000 households.

This initiative is projected to play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions, with an expected annual CO2 reduction of approximately 16,81,200 tonnes, aligning with India's climate objectives. This project will add substantial value to Avaada's growing footprint in the renewable energy landscape.

About Avaada Group

Avaada Group is at the forefront of the energy transition, involved in Renewable Energy Generation, Solar PV Manufacturing, development of Green Fuels including Green Ammonia, Green Methanol and Sustainable Aviation Fuel, and providing Energy Storage Solutions. Under Mr. Vineet Mittal's leadership, the group has become a significant global energy player. Avaada Energy, its renewable power generation arm, aims to achieve 11 GWp capacity by 2026. Avaada's strong execution capabilities and proven track record have attracted significant international investments, including a fund commitment of US $1.3 billion in 2023, with a US $1 billion commitment from Brookfield's Energy Transition Fund, and $300 million from GPSC, PTT Group of Thailand.
Kunstliche Intelligenz hat spatestens nach dem Raketenstart von Chat GPT das Leben aller verandert. Doch der Superzyklus steht nach Meinungen von Experten erst am Anfang. Wahrend Aktien wie Nvidia von der ersten Aufwartsentwicklung stark profitieren konnten, versprechen aussichtsreiche Player aus der

zweiten Reihe noch enormes Aufwartspotenzial.



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UTRECHT, Netherlands, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FutureBridge, a leading techno-commercial consulting and advisory company focussing on R&D, innovation, strategy, scientific evidence, markets, reimbursement and regulatory aspects, is set to engage with industry leaders at two prestigious upcoming conferences. The company's life sciences practice advises and provides strategic guidance to large global companies in the pharmaceutical, biotech, medtech, diagnostics, and animal health sectors.

FutureBridge will participate in the 2024 ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) Annual Meeting in Chicago from May 31st to June 4th, as well as the BIO International Conference 2024 in San Diego from June 3rd to June 6th.

"At these conferences, we look forward to sharing our expertise on the future of medicines, healthcare solutions, disruptive trends, emerging technologies, and therapeutic platforms," said Shivali Jasrotia, Senior Consultant at FutureBridge. "We aim to strengthen relationships with existing clients and establish new collaborations with industry, academia, patient advocates, innovators, and key opinion leaders."

ASCO 2024, with over 40,000 members, will showcase breakthroughs in oncology, including advancements in immune checkpoint blockade optimization, lung cancer treatment, breast cancer diagnostics, early melanoma intervention, and early-stage rectal cancer management. Major pharmaceutical companies will present outcomes and updates of their clinical programs, reflecting the diverse and dynamic progress in oncology.

"We will be covering key clinical trial abstracts presented at ASCO 2024 by companies like AstraZeneca, Janssen, Bristol Myers Squibb. We are passionate about these topics and will be writing a short but incisive analysis about the coverage of these at ASCO for some of our industry colleagues who can't attend this event. We would be more than happy to share this with anyone who desires access to our analysis," said Shivali Jasrotia, Senior Consultant at FutureBridge. These analyses can be requested here, she further added.

The BIO International Conference is the premier biotech networking event, attracting over 20,000 industry leaders. This year's participants include leading biopharmaceutical companies such as Amgen, Pfizer, Novartis, Merck, and Gilead Sciences. The event facilitates the discovery of new opportunities and the development of partnerships within the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors.

Why Should you meet FutureBridge at ASCO 2024 or BIO International this year?

"FutureBridge tracks Early Signals in the Industry and their Implications. We track and advise on the future of therapies, novel treatment modalities/platforms, and patient journey from a 1-to-25-year perspective. We offer solutions for the VUCA world through our, advisory and consulting services. We believe that business uncertainties from rising failure risks, declining R&D productivity, high unmet clinical needs, and margin pressures could be overcome with a culture of collective and open innovation. Conferences like ASCO, ESMO, and BIO International bridge gaps in scientific data, uniting the competition, world, and technology for a better future. We are there at these events to talk to the industry about how we have helped solve some substantial challenges for our clients and at other times helped create new opportunities," said Manoj Jiandani, Practice Area Head at FutureBridge.

Meet us at ASCO 2024 and BIO 2024 by scheduling a meeting here or you can write to shivali.jasrotia@futurebridge.com to learn how our evidence-based consulting solutions can drive results for pharma leaders and address their most critical business challenges.

About FutureBridge:

FutureBridge is a techno-commercial consulting and advisory company.?We track and advise the Top 200 clients of the Fortune 500 on the future of industries from a 1-to-25-year perspective. The company offers solutions through its hyper-personalised advisory services and intelligence platforms, The company's advisory unit leverages proprietary frameworks such as Hopper - Opportunity, Prioritization & Evaluation (HOPE), Weak Signal Management (WSM), and Scientific & Market Sentiment (SMS) that can identify weak and strong signals to become a trend in the future.

Connect with FutureBridge: www.futurebridge.com | LinkedIn | Twitter

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Kupfer wird oft als das Gold der Energiewende bezeichnet, weil es aufgrund seiner hervorragenden elektrischen Leitfahigkeit eine zentrale Rolle in vielen Technologien spielt, die fur nachhaltige Energiesysteme entscheidend sind. Experten gehen aufgrund der Angebotsknappheit von einem Superzyklus aus.

Korrektur als Einstiegschance

Nach Hochststanden im Mai korrigierte das rote Metall stark. Die Abwartsspirale verstarkte sich in den vergangenen Tagen aufgrund schwacher Konjunkturdaten aus den USA und China. Langfristig konnte sich die aktuell laufende Korrektur als exzellente Einstiegsmoglichkeit herausstellen.

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Die Branche steht vor einem erneuten Innovationsschub  von bahnbrechenden Medikamenten bis hin zu revolutionaren Therapien.



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ACI SANT'ANTONIO, Italy, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SIFI announced that the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) has adopted a positive opinion recommending approval of AKANTIOR (polihexanide under the international non-proprietary name), for the treatment of acanthamoeba keratitis, a rare ophthalmic disease.

"We are very pleased to have received this positive opinion from the CHMP for AKANTIOR. If approved, this innovative therapeutic solution will help patients suffering from acanthamoeba keratitis, a condition that is very debilitating in daily life and could lead to corneal transplant or enucleation of the eye, if untreated. We have been innovating in ophthalmology for almost 90 years and AKANTIOR represents a significant milestone as well as a proof of our commitment to address unmet medical needs in our field. We are also very encouraged by the efficacy and safety of AKANTIOR being replicated in several early access programs, which enrolled over 180 patients during the last 17 months in 12 countries in Europe and beyond." said Fabrizio Chines, Chairman and CEO of SIFI.

The CHMP recommendation will now be reviewed by the European Commission (EC), which may decide on the marketing authorisation (MA) for AKANTIOR in August 2024. The decision will then be applicable to all member states of the European Union as well as to Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

The CHMP positive opinion is based on positive data from the comprehensive development program including a Phase 1 and the largest Phase 3 trial in AK to date. The Phase 3 pivotal was a randomized, multicenter and double-blind study on 135 adults and adolescents with acanthamoeba keratitis (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03274895). Study 043/SI assessed the efficacy, tolerability and safety at 12 months of polihexanide (at a concentration of 0.8 mg/ml (0.08%)) compared to an active control. Clinical resolution rate achieved was 86.7% with a median time to cure of 4 around months, with dramatic improvements in patients' vision and quality of life. The Phase I randomized, double-masked, controlled trial conducted on 90 healthy volunteers (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02506257), was designed to study the effect of different concentrations of polihexanide or placebo. Results from this study confirm that polihexanide 0.08% had no statistically significant or clinically meaningful differences in adverse events between each dose tested and placebo.

"Following 15 years of research, culminating in a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial, polihexanide 0.08% was developed as the first licensed treatment for AK. Our studies have shown that when used as monotherapy, together with the treatment delivery protocol established for use in the trial, medical cure rates of over 86% can be achieved. I expect this to become the standard of care for this severe disease." stated Professor John Dart (Moorfields Eye Hospital and the University College of London, Institute of Ophthalmology), principal investigator of the Phase 3 trial.

AKANTIOR is produced with a polihexanide polymer chain of an optimal length that provides a molecular weight shown to be highly efficacious as a monotherapy. SIFI has filed an Active Substance Master File for its proprietary Good Manufacturing Practices quality assured polihexanide, in connection with the marketing authorization application for AKANTIOR.

After the expected approval by the competent authorities, AKANTIOR will be commercialized directly by SIFI in major European markets such as France, Germany, Italy, Romania, Spain, as well as United Kingdom and Turkey addressing a total population of 430 million, and by our commercial partner Avanzanite in other European Countries addressing an additional population of 180 million. Based on scientific publications, the incidence of acanthamoeba keratitis is estimated at 1 to 4 patients per million inhabitants.

ABOUT SIFI: SIFI is a leading international ophthalmic company, headquartered in Italy, featuring an integrated business model, from research & development to manufacturing and commercialization both in pharmaceutical and biomedical sectors. Since our foundation in 1935, our mission is to improve people's lives through meaningful innovation in eye care. SIFI exports to more than 40 countries worldwide with a direct presence in major European markets, Mexico and, through joint ventures, in China and the United Arab Emirates. More information available at sifigroup.com.

ABOUT AKANTIOR: AKANTIOR (polihexanide 0.08%) stands to become the first approved drug for the treatment of acanthamoeba keratitis in the world. It is an anti-amoebic polymer that acts on both the trophozoites and cysts of the protozoan acanthamoeba. It is formulated at a 0.8mg/ml (0.08%) concentration which makes it possible to administer as monotherapy eye drops in single-dose containers. In contrast, current treatment protocols include various non-standardized combination therapies involving unlicensed - compounded or imported - alternatives. The EMA and the US Food and Drug Administration granted SIFI Orphan Drug Designation in the treatment of Acanthamoeba keratitis.

ABOUT Acanthamoeba Keratitis (AK): AK is an ultra-rare, acute, severe parasitic corneal infection caused by acanthamoeba, a free-living amoeba, although incidence of AK has been rapidly growing in recent years. AK is an ocular emergency and requires urgent treatment to save the eye. It can lead to poor vision, potential blindness, or even eye loss and often requires single or multiple corneal transplants. It affects people of all ages, most of whom are young or middle-aged soft contact lens wearers. Patients report unbearable pain and extreme light sensitivity and can rarely work or lead normal lives until symptoms resolve.

Key Contact AKANTIOR:

Jelle Kleijn

Global Head of AKANTIOR

+31 615643708

jelle.kleijn@sifigroup.com

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EQS-News: EnergyNet Ltd. / Key word(s): Conference

European Investors in Readiness as Energy, Minerals, and Mining Ministers From Across Africa Prepare for Barcelona



31.05.2024 / 10:20 CET/CEST

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





European Investors in Readiness as Energy, Minerals, and Mining Ministers From Across Africa Prepare for Barcelona

More than 33 ministers and 100 high-level public sector officials from across Africa will travel to Spain for the 26th edition of the Africa Energy Forum (aef), 25-28 June, at the Fira de Montjuic, Barcelona

With Spain's commitment of $2.3 billion in funding to South Africa and its recently announced support for green hydrogen projects in Mauritania, the country joins France, Germany, Italy, the EU and the UK as European nations step up their commitment to clean energy development in the African continent.

But is the private sector ready for the investment opportunities that could potentially double those commitments?

Renewable energy capacity in Africa has almost doubled in the last decade, but it's not enough. A recent study from Climate Analytics indicates that Africa needs $100 billion a year in climate finance - five times current investment levels - to meet the renewable energy goals agreed at COP28.

As investors from nearly 90 countries around the world prepare to arrive in Barcelona for aef24, Simon Gosling, EnergyNet, said,

"The private sector has already demonstrated its willingness to commit billions to projects, but projects still aren't moving fast enough.

"It's the industrialised nations that will be most affected if Africa cannot significantly increase its electrification rates and unlock the investment landscape that is inhibiting proven private sector players.

"World food security, access to minerals, textiles, and industrial growth are critical to future economic growth, health, and sustainability. With Africa forecast to be home to a quarter of the world's population under 25 years by 2050, red tape must be reduced, and projects must start happening at scale and pace."

This year's theme, 'Energy Systems for the Future - Balancing Africa's Needs with Global Goals' is set to tackle these barriers head on.

Public and private sector stakeholders will spend almost a full half-day together, behind closed doors, discussing the challenges both sides are facing. All attending ministers and Vice Presidents, as well as heads of utilities (national and municipal), regulatory bodies, DFIs, and private investors, will be in the room.

The new Corporate Leadership Roundtable will also give private sector developers and investors a platform to debate the opportunities and challenges they face in moving projects forward, sparking vital discussions before they meet with Ministers and utilities to establish an improved path for Africa's energy sector.

This innovative format will create the most high-level sessions ever held at the Africa Energy Forum, where business leaders can spend exclusive, quality time with public sector counterparts.

Key topics on the agenda across the four days include the potential of hydrogen on the continent; grid management; energy storage and distribution; the future roles of gas and mining; advancing renewable energy projects, distributed power, and commercial and industrial (C&I) projects to accelerate universal access; navigating power markets; and Africa's broader energy transition.

Among the nearly 2,500 delegates attending, an unprecedented number of ministers from across Africa will be in attendance, including ministers from Nigeria, Egypt, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Senegal, Ghana, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Togo, Gabon, Central African Republic and Zambia.

"As specialists in renewable energy with transformative projects in Nigeria and Angola, for the second consecutive year, we are proud to be the forum sponsor of this imperative event for Africa." said Adam Cortese, CEO, Sun Africa.

Wale Shonibare, Director, Energy Finance Solutions, Policy & Regulations, African Development Bank (AfDB), added: "The African Development Bank's participation at the Africa Energy Forum underscores our commitment to sustained dialogue, collaboration, and partnerships to transform the energy landscape across Africa.

"In Barcelona, the Bank will showcase initiatives aimed at innovating finance, delivering technical assistance, and mobilizing investments to achieve universal access to modern, affordable, and reliable energy in Africa."

As global stakeholders in energy, including the World Bank, Engie, Power Africa, and TotalEnergies, return to aef for 2024, they will be joined by new, significant partners such as Pele Green Energy and Juwi Renewable Energy, as the forum continues to expand its reach and influence year on year.

The stage is set.

Website: https://www.Africa-Energy-Forum.com/

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of EnergyNet Ltd..

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Media contact:

For media information please contact:

Poliana Sperandio

poliana@energynet.co.uk

Boilerplate:

About EnergyNet:

FACILITATING ENERGY INVESTMENT IN FAST-GROWING ECONOMIES - EnergyNet has produced investment forums and executive dialogues for Africa and Latin America's power sectors for the last 25 years - in Europe, the USA, Asia and across Africa and Latin America.

We work with governments and national utilities to facilitate investment summits where credible international investors can build relationships with public sector stakeholders to advance access to power.

Best known for the Africa Energy Forum, the longest-serving business development meeting place for senior-level decision makers in Africa's power sector, other leading investment summits that provide strategic perspectives on the investment landscape and project preparation include the Tanzania Energy Cooperation Summit, East Africa Energy Cooperation Summit, West Africa Energy Cooperation Summit, H2 Africa, Offshore Technology Africa, Powering Africa Summit, Latin American Energy Forum and Latin American & Caribbean Gas Conference and Exhibition. YES! Youth Energy Summit and YES! Youth Energy Day are part of the portfolio, with a focus on creating a platform and network to boost the skills, connections and business readiness of a new generation of African energy leaders.

Having this focus on public and private sector partnerships provides us with a valuable lens through which we can offer independent perspectives and support the business development activities of companies from around the world operating in these fast-growing markets.

Headquarters: London, UK

For further information, please visit our website https://EnergyNet.co.UK/

31.05.2024 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG.

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.



The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases.

Archive at www.eqs-news.com


Der Goldpreis haussiert und schwingt sich von Hoch zu Hoch. Getrieben von geopolitischen Unsicherheiten sowie der Aussicht auf eine lockere Geldpolitik der FED gehen Experten aktuell von weiter steigenden Notierungen bis sogar in den Bereich von 3.000 US-Dollar je Unze Gold aus.



Im Schatten des Basispreises notieren Goldproduzenten aus der zweiten Reihe sowie Explorationsunternehmen noch weit weg von ihren historischen Hochststanden entfernt und bieten dadurch erhebliches Aufholpotential.



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-- Winners set the standard for scientific innovation to improve the state of human health

LONDON, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Galien Foundation, the premier global institution dedicated to honouring innovators in life sciences, announced winners for the 2024 Prix Galien UK Awards last night at the Natural History Museum, London. Awards for "Best Biotechnology Product," "Best Digital Health Solution," "Best Medical Technology," "Best Product for Orphan Disease," "Best Pharmaceutical Product," and "Best Public Sector Innovation" were presented to industry leaders dedicated to innovation that improves the human condition.

"On behalf of The Galien Foundation and Prix Galien Awards Committee, I am thrilled to celebrate this year's winners. As per usual, we had an impressive list of applications, and therefore many congratulations to the winners for their groundbreaking innovations, and the impact that they are having on patient care and overall well-being. Their dedication and ingenuity inspire us all, and we are excited to see the transformative effects of their work in the years to come," said Professor Sir Munir Pirmohamed, David Weatherall Chair of Medicine at the University of Liverpool, NHS Chair of Pharmacogenetics, and Chair of the Prix Galien UK Committee.

The 2024 Prix Galien UK Award Winners

Best Biotechnology Product Takeda UK Ltd. Qdenga Best Digital Health Solution Medable Medable Evidence Generation Platform Best Medical Technology Owkin MSIntuit CRC Best Product for Orphan Disease argenx VYVGART Best Pharmaceutical Product Amicus Therapeutics Pombiliti with Opfolda (PomOp) Best Public Sector Innovation University of Oxford PRINCIPLE and PANORAMIC Trials

"This year's winners and their pioneering solutions are driving significant advancements in patient care. These visionary leaders are paving the way for a healthier future, and it is an honour to celebrate their remarkable achievements," said Bruno Cohen, Chairman of The Galien Foundation. "With profound gratitude, we acknowledge their tireless pursuit of knowledge and the enduring legacy they are forging for generations to come."

Prix Galien UK Awards Committee 2024

Pr Sir Munir PIRMOHAMED

David Weatherall Chair of Medicine, University of Liverpool, NHS Chair of Pharmacogenetics

Committee Chair

Pr Jane ADAM

Honorary Professor, University of Exeter, Consultant Radiologist, St George's Hospital London and former Chair Technology appraisal committee, NICE

Pr Bruce CAMPBELL

Past Chair NICE Interventional Procedures and Medical Technologies Advisory Committees; Honorary Vascular Consultant and Professor, Exeter

Dr Stephanie KUKU

Chief Knowledge Officer, Conceivable Life Sciences, Board Member Equinox and Board Trustee, The Kings Fund

Pr Sudhesh KUMAR

Vice President (Health), University of Warwick and President of Association of Innovation, Research and Technology Organisations, UK (AIRTO)

Pr Sir Robert LECHLER

Emeritus Senior Vice President (Health), King's College London

Pr Andrew MORRIS

Director, Health Data Research UK & Professor of Medicine and Vice Principal Data Science, University of Edinburgh

Dame June RAINE

Chief Executive, Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency

Pr Duncan RICHARDS

Professor of Clinical Therapeutics, University of Oxford

Pr Liam SMEETH

Professor of Clinical Epidemiology and Director of the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Pr Rosalind SMYTH

Professor of Child Health, UCL Great Ormond St. Institute of Child Health, Vice Dean Research in the UCL Faculty of Population Health Sciences & Vice President (Clinical) UK Academy of Medical Sciences

Dr Lauren WALKER

Senior Clinical Lecturer in Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics and Internal Medicine, University of Liverpool

Pr Moira WHYTE

Sir John Crofton Professor of Respiratory Medicine, University of Edinburgh

About the Galien Foundation

The Galien Foundation fosters, recognises and rewards excellence in scientific innovation to improve the state of human health. Our vision is to be the catalyst for the development of the next generation of innovative treatments and technologies that will impact the state of medical practice and save lives.

The Foundation oversees and directs activities in the UK for the Prix Galien, an international awards programme dedicated to progress through innovative medicines development, with chapters in 14 countries, Africa and an inaugural chapter established in India in 2024. The Prix Galien was created in 1970 by Roland Mehl in honour of Galien, the father of medical science and modern pharmacology. Worldwide, the Prix Galien is regarded as the equivalent of the Nobel Prize in biopharmaceutical research.

For more information, visit www.galienfoundation.org .

Follow the Foundation on social media: https://www.facebook.com/GalienFoundation/

https://twitter.com/GalienFdn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-galien-foundation/

Media Contact (UK):

Julian Tyndale-Biscoe

Finn Partners

Julian.Tyndale-biscoe@finnpartners.com

+44 20 3217 7060

Media Contact (Global):

Kara Bradley

Finn Partners

Kara.Bradley@finnpartners.com

+1 646-213-7243

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PUNE, India, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prismane Consulting, a distinguished consulting firm specializing in Strategy Reports and Market Studies within Petrochemicals, Chemicals, Refining, Polymers & Plastics, and Materials, is excited to announce the launch of its latest report titled "Global Polylactic Acid (PLA) Market 2023". This comprehensive market study explores consumption dynamics and supply trends, offering insights into the global PLA market with a focus on major countries and their consumption patterns across various applications.

The report includes segmented demand data by application, covering Packaging, Consumer Goods, Automotive, Textile, Agricultural, Medical Devices, and Others. Both volume and value market data for each application at the country and regional levels are also detailed in the report.

Request Free Sample Copy of this Report @ https://prismaneconsulting.com/report_request_sample?report_id=261

Polylactic acid (PLA) is a biodegradable thermoplastic derived from lactic acid, primarily sourced from renewable products like sugar beet, maize, sugar cane, and wheat. Recognized as an eco-friendly alternative to traditional petroleum-based plastics, PLA exhibits excellent tensile strength and modulus of elasticity similar to PET. Widely used in thermoforming applications, particularly in disposable tableware for the food industry, PLA is also used in the production of cutlery, bottles, and various industrial and automotive components through injection molding and roto moulding. Additionally, PLA finds use in agricultural sectors for films and bags. In fiber and non-woven applications, PLA is employed for one-use fabric items, including blankets, carpets, disposable garments, diapers, and hygiene products. Emerging applications include 3D printing, where PLA serves as a filament for 3D printers.

Leading Polylactic Acid Producers

Key producers operating in the PLA market include NatureWorks, Total Corbion, Shandong Hongda Biotech, BIOTEC GmBH, Zhejiang HiSun Biomaterials, Henan Longdu Tianren Biomaterials, and Shanghai Tongjie Liang Biomaterials.

Polylactic Acid Demand, By Region

Nearly 70% of the global PLA supply resides in Asia Pacific, concentrated in China, Thailand, Japan, and South Korea. Around one-fourth of the global capacity resides in North America, all of which is located in the USA. The European region represents the remaining supply. China, which has seen several capacity additions in the last six years is expected to continue to remain the largest producer of PLA, with more plants on track to come onstream in the forecast period 2023-2032. Emerging market entrants include China ESTBay (Shanghai) Biotechnology and Zhejiang Youcheng, while producers like Anhui Fengyuan Futerro Polylactic Acid (subsidiary of BBCA) and Henan Jindan Technology are planning to expand their existing capacities.

While Middle East & Africa currently lacks domestic supply, it is set to become a producer of PLA in the forthcoming years, with Gulf Biopolymers Industries announcing its intentions to build a new PLA plant in the region.

In terms of demand, Asia Pacific leads the PLA market with a 60% share, followed by Western Europe and North America. All other regions are very small consumers, collectively representing a share less than 1%. Asia Pacific is projected to register the fastest growth over the forecast period. Packaging remains the largest consumer of polylactic acid in terms of application, and demand in the outlet will continue to witness the fastest growth over the forecast.

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In India, Balrampur Chini Mills Limited (BCML) announced in February 2024 its plans to manufacture Polylactic Acid (PLA). The sugar manufacturing company plans to invest INR 2,000 crores (about USD 241.1 million) over 30 months to build a facility adjacent to its existing sugar plant. This new plant, utilizing sugarcane fermentation, will have an annual production capacity of 75 kilo tons. PLA at the facility will be manufactured via the fermentation of sugarcane into lactic acid.

India has major potential in terms of PLA demand growth. In addition to government support through production-linked initiatives for eco-friendly bioplastics, producers are experiencing a rise in PLA demand in India. Notable companies such as Starbucks and Costa are integrating PLA into a range of items including cups, straws, paper cup linings, and stirrers. Leading Indian companies like Amul and Aditya Birla are also adopting PLA for their end-use products. There's substantial potential to replace India's current Single-Use Plastics (SUP) with PLA and PLA compounds.

To Know More About Our Services, Visit : www.prismaneconsulting.com

Contact Us On: info@prismaneconsulting.com

Related Reports:

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) Demand, Production Capacity, Volume and Price Range and Industry Outlook Report, 2032

Global Industrial Starch Market Study 2024-2032

Global Biodegradable Plastics Demand-Supply, Production Capacity, Volume and Value Range and Industry Outlook, 2032

Polybutylene Succinate (PBS) Production Capacity, Demand, Pricing and Market Outlook Report, 2032

About Prismane Consulting:

Prismane Consulting is a unique global research & consulting firm serving businesses in the field of Chemicals, Energy and Environment offering in-depth technical & strategy reports and consulting services. Our Strategy and Market study reports cover information on complete value chains, supply- demand analysis, trade, supplier profiles, target markets, business opportunity assessments, new technologies and emerging trends.

Media or Sales related queries

Tejas Shah

Prismane Consulting Private Limited

tejas.shah@prismaneconsulting.com

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PUNE, India, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prismane Consulting, a distinguished consulting firm specializing in Strategy Reports and Market Studies within Petrochemicals, Chemicals, Refining, Polymers & Plastics, and Materials, is elated to announce the release of its latest report titled "Global Carbon Black Market 2023". This extensive report delves into the consumption dynamics and supply trends of the global Carbon Black market, with a focus on major countries and their consumption patterns across various types & applications.

The report includes demand data segmented by type into Standard, Specialty, and Others, and by application into Tires, Rubber (Non-Tire), Plastics, Inks & Coatings, and Others. Both volume and value market data for each type and application at the country and regional levels are also detailed in the report.

Request Free Sample Copy of this Report @ https://prismaneconsulting.com/report_request_sample?report_id=56

Produced by the incomplete hydrocarbon combustion, carbon black finds use in several industries like paints, rubber, plastics, and dyes & inks. Tires & rubber products account for the majority of global consumption, directly linked with the automotive industry.

Carbon Black Market Overview

Global carbon black capacity crossed 19,000 kilo tons in 2023, with majority of the new plants in the Asia Pacific. Some of the major carbon black producers include Birla Carbon, Cabot Corporation, Phillips Carbon Black (PCBL), Orion SA, Tokai Carbon, Jiangxi Black Cat, OCI Company, and Omsk Carbon Group. Supply majorly resides in the Asia Pacific region, representing a more than 60% share, followed by North America and Western Europe.

Standard carbon black dominates, representing around 90% of the market, with specialty & other types making up the remainder. Specialty carbon black is expected to witness the fastest growth due to rising demand from battery materials, coatings, printing, and plastic compounding industries. Tires remain the largest consumer, representing three-fourths of the global market.

To buy the report click here:

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Carbon Black Market by Region

The global carbon black market dynamics have notably shifted, especially after the Russia-Ukraine war. The conflict exposed the EU's extreme vulnerability to Russian supplies, with sanctions leading to a decrease in imports from Russia, subsequently filled by China. New EU sanctions announced in 2023 will effectively ban domestic producers from sourcing Russian carbon black, starting in July 2024.

For countries like India, this presents a lucrative opportunity to export to the EU. Currently, India's supply utilization falls short, with plant operating rates averaging in the 70s. Increased inquiries from the EU could stimulate producers to enhance operational rates. Furthermore, new plants are scheduled for addition in India. Epsilon Carbon's 100 kilo tons/year expansion in 2024, Continental Carbon's new 150 kilo tons/year plant in Dahej, Gujarat, Birla Carbon's 80 kilo tons expansion, and a new 120 kilo tons/year production facility in Andhra Pradesh by 2025 will ensure ample supply for both domestic and international operations. Prismane Consulting believes that if India manages to replace even 15% of Russian imports, this represents a >USD 200 million opportunity.

To Know More About Our Services, Visit: www.prismaneconsulting.com

Contact Us On: info@prismaneconsulting.com

Related Reports:

Global Polybutadiene Rubber (PBR) Market Study (2024-2032)

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Nitrile Butadiene Rubber Market Analysis, By Demand, By Region, By Applications and Forecast Report, 2032

About Prismane Consulting:

Prismane Consulting is a unique global research & consulting firm serving businesses in the field of Chemicals, Energy and Environment offering in-depth technical & strategy reports and consulting services. Our Strategy and Market study reports cover information on complete value chains, supply- demand analysis, trade, supplier profiles, target markets, business opportunity assessments, new technologies and emerging trends.

Media or Sales related queries

Tejas Shah

Prismane Consulting Private Limited

tejas.shah@prismaneconsulting.com

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CHIHUAHUA, Mexico, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Chihuahua, the capital of Mexico's largest state of the same name, aims to become the epicenter of an emerging wine industry through the Chihuahua Wine Cluster. Five educational institutions have joined this initiative, implementing seven programs related to wine production and the accompanying tourism services.

The Chihuahua Wine Cluster has grown in production and value, becoming an economic development pillar. It currently includes 54 labels in the state, employing over 500 workers and producing more than 181 billion pesos ($10.7 billion).

Additionally, a residential complex with surrounding vineyards is being built along the highway from Chihuahua to the neighboring city of Juarez. This marks the beginning of an entire town whose economic activity will be based on the wine industry.

Monica Pinoncely Esquer, president of this cluster, told EFE that the industry's expansion is facilitated by the suitability of Chihuahua's land for growing various types of grapes. The region's diverse microclimates allow for a wide variety of vines, producing high-quality grapes with minimal water needs.

"There is close cooperation with the Autonomous University of Chihuahua and the cluster to develop the necessary skills for winemaking. It's not just about making wine. You need specialized accountants, chefs, tourism experts, and lawyers who understand the industry and create laws to support its development," she added.

Pinoncely noted that Chihuahua is transitioning from artisanal production to forming a significant industry, incorporating tourism and business expansion through a system involving coordinated efforts from the private sector, government, and academia.

"We were the crazy ones who wanted to make wine in Chihuahua, despite being told we couldn't produce quality wines. We never thought of competing with Bordeaux, nor did we imagine we could compete with Ensenada (Baja California) or Parras (Coahuila) or other states that were growing," she said.

However, she recalled that wines from five wineries in the state capital have won gold and silver medals at the Brussels World Wine Competition and the Mexico International Wine Competition in Ensenada, Baja California, since 2011.

Located in the center of the vast state, Chihuahua City has access to almost all regions, positioning it as the focal point for sales and supplies in this sector. Unlike other wine regions, it grows hand-in-hand with tourism development.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/desec-chihuahua-expands-its-emerging-wine-industry-through-a-cluster-302160530.html
Hyundai N is set to compete in the Nurburgring 24 Hours, with defending champions and global car crews aiming to repeat their victory in the TCR class

Hyundai N to unveil specially equipped IONIQ 5 N (TA) Time Attack Spec at Nurburgring 24 Hours, targeting Pikes Peak records alongside the IONIQ 5 N production model

Hyundai Motor announces plans to collaborate with Gran Turismo for Sim-Racing marketing activities

MAINZ, Germany and SEOUL, South Korea, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai N returns to the Nurburgring Nordschleife aiming for its fourth consecutive TCR class victory at the Nurburgring 24 Hours (N24) race.

The company has also unveiled its IONIQ 5 N TA (Time Attack) Spec variant for the upcoming The Broadmoor Pikes Peak International Hill Climb and shared its collaboration plans with Gran Turismo, the popular sim-racing video game franchise made for PlayStation consoles.

"We are thrilled to return to the Nurburgring 24 Hours with drivers from Europe, North America and China, showing the growth of our motorsport program around the world," said Till Wartenberg, Vice President and Head of N Brand and Motorsport at Hyundai Motor Company. "We are investing in the future of motorsport with our first ever electric Pikes Peak racer and collaboration with Gran Turismo. Motorsport passion continues to be at Hyundai N's core as we move into the future."

Hyundai N to run three-car TCR team at Nurburgring 24 Hours

Hyundai N heads back to the Nordschleife with three ELANTRA N TCR cars, chasing a fourth consecutive class win.

Drivers from three continents, including defending class winners and champion Hyundai Motorsport customer drivers from the competitive TCR series, are competing in the #830, #831 and #832 cars.

IONIQ 5 N TA Spec showcases award-winning high-performance EV prowess

Hyundai Motor today unveiled the IONIQ 5 N TA Spec. The 687 PS IONIQ 5 N TA Spec is designed to highlight the production-spec IONIQ 5 N's strengths without fundamentally altering the car. The IONIQ 5 N TA Spec's maximum output has been increased through software tuning to maximize performance.

To adapt the car for Pikes Peak, new shock absorbers, motorsport-spec brakes, 18-inch Yokohama ADVAN 005 slick tires, and a unique high-downforce aerodynamic package have been specially applied.

Hyundai N plans to collaborate with Gran Turismo

Hyundai N also announced today that it plans to collaborate with Gran Turismo (GT), the popular sim-racing video game franchise made for PlayStation consoles.

Hyundai N and Gran Turismo will collaborate for various sim-racing activities including Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC) participation. More details will come later in this year.

In the meantime, visitors to Hyundai's N24 booth can experience the most recent GT release, Gran Turismo 7, with 10 stations available for use. Hyundai will also be holding an on-site competition event for visiting customers during the N24 period.

More information can be found at: Newsroom: Media Hub by Hyundai

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CHICAGO, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Bio-Butadiene Market by Type (SBR, SBL, NBR, ABS, PB), Application (Synthetic Rubber, Fine Chemicals, Plastics), Grade (Industrial Grade), End-Use Industry (Automotive And Transportation, Chemical Processing), and Region - Global Forecast to 2029", is projected to reach USD 94 million by 2029, at a CAGR of 10.1% from USD 58 million in 2024.

Several key drivers are propelling the growth of the bio-butadiene market. Stringent environmental regulations, shifting consumer trends, and a strong emphasis on sustainable development are major drivers for the bio-butadiene market. Governments worldwide are increasingly implementing rigorous environmental regulations aimed at reducing carbon emissions and minimizing the environmental impact of industrial processes. These regulations compel industries to seek eco-friendly alternatives to traditional petrochemical products, thus boosting the demand for bio-butadiene. Concurrently, consumers are becoming more environmentally conscious, favoring products that are sustainable and have a lower carbon footprint. This shift in consumer preferences is encouraging manufacturers to adopt bio-based materials, including bio-butadiene, to align with market expectations and enhance their brand image. Bio-butadiene, produced from renewable feedstocks, fits perfectly within these sustainability frameworks, making it an attractive option for industries looking to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and contribute to a circular economy. Together, these factors create a robust market environment for bio-butadiene, driving its growth and adoption across various sectors.

Browse in-depth TOC on "Bio-Butadiene Market"

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64 - Figures

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"Styrene butadiene rubber by type is projected to be the fastest growing, in terms of value, during the forecast period."

Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) is anticipated to be the fastest-growing type in the bio-butadiene market due to its versatile applications and high demand across multiple industries. SBR is widely used in the production of tires, footwear, adhesives, and various other consumer goods due to its excellent abrasion resistance, durability, and flexibility. As the automotive industry continues to prioritize sustainability and eco-friendly materials, the demand for biobased SBR is expected to surge. Moreover, the construction sector, which relies heavily on SBR for applications such as sealants and coatings, is also driving the growth of biobased SBR. Technological advancements in bio-refining and bioprocessing have enabled the production of high-quality bio-based SBR, making it a viable and competitive alternative to its petrochemical counterpart. Additionally, stringent environmental regulations and consumer preferences for sustainable products further bolster the demand for biobased SBR. As a result, SBR is poised to experience rapid growth in the bio-butadiene market, driven by its widespread applications and the shift towards greener alternatives across various industries.

"Synthetic rubber application is projected to be fastest growing application, in terms of value, during the forecast period."

Synthetic rubber is expected to be the fastest-growing application in the bio-butadiene market due to its diverse range of uses and the increasing demand for sustainable alternatives. Synthetic rubber is utilized in various industries such as automotive, construction, and consumer goods for its superior properties, including durability, resilience, and chemical resistance. As industries worldwide strive to reduce their environmental footprint and comply with stringent regulations, there is a growing preference for bio-based materials like bio-butadiene. Synthetic rubber derived from bio-butadiene offers similar performance characteristics to its petrochemical counterpart but with the added benefit of being renewable and eco-friendly. The automotive industry, in particular, is driving the demand for bio-based synthetic rubber for tire manufacturing and other automotive components. Technological advancements in bio-refining processes have made the production of bio-based synthetic rubber more efficient making it an attractive option for manufacturers.

"Automotive by end-user segment is projected to be largest, in terms of value, during the forecast period."

The automotive end-use segment is poised to become the largest market in the bio-butadiene market due to several key factors. Firstly, the automotive industry is one of the largest consumers of butadiene-based products, particularly synthetic rubber used in tire manufacturing. With the increasing focus on sustainability and reducing carbon emissions, automotive manufacturers are increasingly adopting bio-based alternatives, such as bio-butadiene, for tire production and other automotive components. Additionally, stringent regulations aimed at reducing the environmental impact of vehicles are driving the demand for eco-friendly materials. Bio-butadiene offers a renewable and sustainable alternative to traditional petrochemical-derived butadiene, making it an attractive option for automotive applications. Moreover, technological advancements in bio-refining processes have enhanced the quality and efficiency of bio-based materials, further boosting their adoption in the automotive sector. As a result, the automotive end-use segment is expected to witness significant growth in the bio-butadiene market, driven by the industry's need for sustainable solutions and the shift towards greener alternatives.

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"Laboratory grade is projected to be second largest by grade segment, in terms of value, during the forecast period."

Laboratory-grade bio-butadiene is anticipated to become the second-largest segment in the bio-butadiene market due to its critical role in research, development, and testing activities across various industries. Laboratory-grade bio-butadiene is essential for conducting experiments, formulating new products, and assessing the performance of materials in controlled laboratory settings. Moreover, research institutions, universities, and government laboratories utilize laboratory-grade bio-butadiene for academic research, scientific studies, and technological advancements. The increasing emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendly materials is also driving the demand for bio-based laboratory reagents, including bio-butadiene, to align with environmental objectives and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Additionally, the growing investment in research and development activities, coupled with advancements in bio-refining technologies, is expected to further stimulate the demand for laboratory-grade bio-butadiene.

"North America is expected to be the second largest market for bio-butadiene during the forecast period, in terms of value."

North America is poised to become the second-largest market for bio-butadiene due to several key factors. Firstly, the region has a strong emphasis on sustainability and environmental conservation, leading to increasing demand for bio-based alternatives in various industries. Stringent environmental regulations and initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions are driving the adoption of bio-butadiene as a renewable and eco-friendly raw material. Additionally, North America has a well-established automotive industry, which is a major consumer of butadiene-based products, particularly synthetic rubber for tire manufacturing. As automotive manufacturers prioritize sustainability and seek greener materials, the demand for bio-butadiene is expected to rise. Moreover, the region's robust research and development infrastructure, coupled with ongoing advancements in bio-refining technologies, are contributing to the growth of the bio-butadiene market in North America.

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Market Players

The key players in Bio-Butadiene market SABIC (Saudi Arabia), Michelin (France), Zeon Corporation (Japan), Biokemik (Spain), ETB Catalytic Technologies (Netherlands), Trinseo (US), Genomatica (US), Braskem (Brazil), Versalis (Italy), Synthos (Poland), Lummus Technology (US), INVISTA (US), LanzaTech (US), IFPEN (France), Global Bioenergies (France), Evonik Industries (Germany), Axens (France) and others.

Browse Adjacent Market: Green Bio Chemicals Market Research Reports

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1,4 Butanediol Market - Global Forecast to 2027

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SRQ Resources Inc. (TSXV:SRQ) ("SRQ" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will participate in a virtual non-deal roadshow to discuss the encouraging Ni-Cu results from its recent drilling campaign on the newly discovered Ultramafic Magmatic ("UM") intrusive complex at its Lac Brule project in Quebec, Canada.

Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, SRQ's President & CEO, will present the results from SRQ's May 28, 2024 press release in addition to its 2024 follow-up exploration plans during a live virtual non-deal roadshow hosted by Renmark Financial on Monday, June 3, 2024, at 12:00 P.M. EDT. Investors and interested parties are invited to register here using the latest version of Google Chrome: Access to a replay of the event will be available on the SRQ website or on Renmark Financial's website at www.renmarkfinancial.com/vndrs.

The drilling program comprised 11 drill holes for 3,015 metres ("m") and was conducted between April 19 and May 05, 2024, using existing access. Assay results are pending.

Highlights from May 28, 2024 news release (consult the full news release here):

Results from the Phase III 10-hole program for 2,064m at the Gossan Zone: Confirmed continuity over a 550m strike

Phase III 1 hole - discovery of "Target 900", a significant, highly prospective new geological structure: Located 6 km from the Gossan Zone At the heart of a 3.5 km x 1.7 km exceptionally strong gravity anomaly Intersected 735m of continuous UM intrusive pyroxenite Potential near-miss scenario



Lac Brule Project

SRQ's discoveries are being made on its 100%-owned Lac Brule property located 50 km north-west of the former Renzy nickel-copper mine in the Upper Laurentian region of Quebec and a five-hour drive from Montreal. The former Renzy mine operated from 1969 to 1972. UM intrusive bodies host mineralisation at both the Renzy mine and at Lac Brule. Both sites present several striking similarities including mineralogy, petrology and timing of emplacement.

The technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, Ph. D geology, P. Geo and President and CEO of SRQ Resources, and a 'Qualified Person', as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About SRQ Resources Inc.

SRQ is a Canadian base metals company exploring for nickel. copper and platinum in the province of Quebec. A near-surface Ni-Cu project. Lac Brule is located on a 288 km virgin exploration property at a five-hour drive from Montreal. The project's prospectivity for base metals has been confirmed by geological mapping. the presence of a surface gossan. and geophysical surveys. The presence of the historic Renzy Ni-Cu mine located 50 kilometers to the south-east and at the heart of the large regional pattern further adds to the area's mineral exploration appeal. For more information about SRQ. please visit SRQ's website at www.srqexploration.com/.

About Renmark Financial Communications Inc.

Founded in 1999. Renmark is a privately held full-service investor relations firm. located in Atlanta. New York. Toronto and Montreal. For the past 25 years. Renmark has provided services in investor relations. media relations and web development representing small. medium and large cap public companies listed on all major North American exchanges. On a daily basis, Renmark team of professionals enhance client's visibility within the retail market space as corporate communicators. With the largest roadshow footprint in North America. and a state-of-the-art media studio, Renmark hosts a multitude of live streaming Virtual Non-Deal Roadshows across North America and Europe.

Contact Information:

Marc-Antoine Audet. President and CEO

ceo@srqexploration.com

Tel: (514) 726-4158

Renmark Financial Communications Inc.

Bettina Filippone:

bfilippone@renmarkfinancial.com

Tel: (416) 644-2020 or (514) 939-3989

www.renmarkfinancial.com/

Forward-Looking Statements and Forward-Looking Information

Certain of the statements made and information contained herein are "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information characterized by terms such as "will", could", "expect", "estimate", "evidence", "potential", "appears", "seems", "suggest", are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; assumptions relating to the trading price of the Company's common shares; the ability of the Company to convert resources in reserves, its ability to see through the next phase of development on any project, its ability to produce a pre-feasibility study or a feasibility study regarding any project, its ability to execute on its development plans in terms of metallurgy or exploration, the availability of financing for activities, risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results and the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, metal price fluctuations, environmental and regulatory requirements, availability of permits, escalating costs of remediation and mitigation, risk of title loss, the effects of accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration or development, the potential for delays in exploration or development activities, the inherent uncertainty of cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, commodity price fluctuations, currency fluctuations, expectations and beliefs of management and other risks and uncertainties. Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect the Company's actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements and forward-looking information made by or expressed on behalf of the Company. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: SRQ Resources

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Sassy Gold Corp. (CSE:SASY)(OTCQB:SSYRF)(FSE:4E7) ("Sassy" or "the Company") advises that it has terminated its binding letters of intent (the "LOI's") to acquire multiple uranium properties in Utah and Colorado, USA. The Company's due diligence process which followed the signing of the LOI's and preceded a closing of the definitive acquisition agreements identified a number of material political, environmental and technical risks associated with the properties. These risks fundamentally altered the value of the proposed transaction. Efforts to negotiate a revised purchase agreement which would have accounted for these risks were not successful and the process was formally terminated on May 24, 2024.

The Company also announces that it has terminated its previously announced private placement (non-brokered offering for $2.5 million at 3.75 cents per share), associated with the proposed uranium transaction, as described in its news release dated March 1, 2024. No subscriptions were closed pursuant to the private placement and therefore no cash sums were raised or securities issued.

Sassy continues to hold considerable assets and working capital on hand. These assets include 100% ownership of the Foremore Project in northwest British Columbia's prolific Eskay Camp, 20% ownership of the Highrock Uranium Project in northern Saskatchewan, along with significant equity positions in Gander Gold Corp., Galloper Gold Corp., and MAX Power Mining Corp. Together, the Company's direct exploration assets and its strategic equity investments provide shareholders with exposure to gold, silver, copper, uranium and lithium.

Mr. Mark Scott, Sassy President and CEO, commented: "Sassy had been looking forward to its acquisitions in Colorado and Utah, however, this is one of those cases where discretion is definitely the better part of valour. Sassy was forced to make the difficult decision to terminate the proposed transaction rather than carry on with the assumption of significant and previously undisclosed risks. Fortunately, the Company maintains a portfolio of project opportunities under review at all times and we have moved on to evaluation of the next opportunities ahead of us. The Company has great assets in hand, an attractive share structure, and the backing of strong investors. We will continue to make solid decisions moving forward regarding value accretive transactions and the effective management of risk."

About Sassy Gold Corp.

Sassy is an exploration stage resource company currently engaged in the identification, acquisition and exploration of high-grade precious metal and base metal projects in North America. Sassy owns 100% of the Foremore Project located in the Eskay Camp, Liard Mining Division, in the heart of Northwest B.C.'s prolific Golden Triangle. Sassy also holds a 20% interest in the Highrock Uranium Project in Saskatchewan's Athabasca Basin, and significant equity positions in Gander Gold Corp., Galloper Gold Corp., and MAX Power Mining Corp., giving the Company and its investors direct and indirect exposure to gold, silver, copper uranium and lithium.

Contact Information:

Mark Scott

Chief Executive Officer

info@sassygold.com

Terry Bramhall

Corporate Communications & Investor Relations

terry.bramhall@sassygold.com

1.604.833.6999 (mobile)

1.604.675.9985 (office)

Caution Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" (collectively referred to herein as "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "continues", "projects", "potential", "budget" and similar expressions, or are events or conditions that "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur or be achieved.

Although the Company believes that the material factors, expectations and assumptions expressed in such forward-looking statements are reasonable based on information available to it on the date such statements are made, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurances that such statements and information will prove to be correct and such statements do not guarantee future performance. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties.

Actual performance and results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to known and unknown risks, including those set forth in the Company's Management Discussion and Analysis (a copy of which can be found under Sassy's profile on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca). Accordingly, readers should not place undue importance or reliance on the forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned that the list of factors is not exhaustive. Statements, including forward-looking statements, contained in this news release are made as of the date they are given and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect the Company's operations and financial results are included in reports on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities and may be accessed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedarplus.ca.

The CSE has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE: Sassy Gold Corp.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Phosphoproteomics has potential to enhance clinical decision making in precision medicine

LONDON, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Kinomica Ltd., a developer of diagnostics for precision oncology therapy selection, today announces that it will be presenting six abstracts detailing various aspects of its KScan diagnostic platform at the American Society for Mass Spectrometry (ASMS) annual meeting, which will be held June 2-6, in Anaheim, CA.

"We are delighted to be able to showcase multiple elements of the KScan platform and illustrate how these components coalesce into a biomarker discovery capability that provides insights that would otherwise be unobtainable," said Arran Dokal PhD, CTO of Kinomica. "It's well accepted that quantitative phosphoproteomics provides unique biological information that is not captured by other technologies, but any clinical utilization of the technology has been considered challenging. The data we are presenting at ASMS, coupled with the development of predictive signatures for first-line therapies in leukemia and hepatocellular cancer, show the challenges can be overcome and highlight the clinical potential of phosphoproteomics."

Abstracts accepted for presentation at ASMS:

Poster No. Poster Title Date of Presentation MP 440 PiQuant: software for rapid and accurate quantification of mass spectrometry-based proteomics data Monday, June 3 TP 057 Phosphoproteomics predict response to Venetoclax plus Azacitidine in Acute Myeloid Leukemia patients Tuesday, June 4 WP 125 Comprehensive profiling of data acquisition strategies to optimize clinically-feasible approaches for monitoring predictive phosphorylation markers Wednesday, June 5 WP 292 Reproducibility analysis of clinically-relevant targets identifies durable phosphopeptide ions Wednesday, June 5 WP 416 A Comprehensive Analysis Pipeline for Phosphoproteomic Biomarker Discovery Wednesday, June 5 ThP 059 Benchmarking machine learning strategies for phosphoproteomic data in clear cell renal carcinoma diagnosis and staging Thursday, June 6

"The breadth and depth of data accepted for presentation at this year's ASMS meeting underline our expertise and dedication to developing clinical proteomics for precision medicine," said Tim Fell PhD, Executive Chair of Kinomica.

About Kinomica

Kinomica is a developer of precision oncology diagnostics. The company has developed KScan, a phosphoproteomic diagnostic platform to help clinicians better realize the full potential of precision medicine by predicting which of the drugs currently approved to treat a disease a particular patient will respond best to, thereby aiding clinical decision making. Learn more at www.kinomica.com and follow us on LinkedIn.

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London, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - May 31, 2024) - Abitibi Metals Corp (CSE: AMQ) (OTCQB: AMQFF), a leader in Quebec's mineral exploration sector, is pleased to announce that it will be participating in THE Mining Investment Event of the North, ("THE Event") taking place June 4-6, 2024 in Quebec City at the Centre des congres de Quebec.

Management from Abitibi Metals Corp will be holding one-on-one investor meetings throughout the three-day conference.

Investors are invited to contact Jennifer Choi at jchoi@irinc.ca to inquire about registering to attend.

About Abitibi Metals Corp

Abitibi Metals Corp. is a Quebec-focused mineral acquisition and exploration company focused on the development of quality base and precious metal properties that are drill-ready with high-upside and expansion potential. Abitibi's portfolio of strategic properties provides target-rich diversification and includes the option to earn 80% of the high-grade B26 Polymetallic Deposit, which hosts a historical resource estimate of 7.0MT @ 2.94% Cu Eq (Ind) & 4.4MT @ 2.97% Cu Eq (Inf), and the Beschefer Gold Project, where historical drilling has identified 4 historical intercepts with a metal factor of over 100 g/t gold highlighted by 55.63 g/t gold over 5.57 metres and 13.07 g/t gold over 8.75 metres amongst four modeled zones.

Jonathon Deluce

CEO

7786536862

info@abitibimetals.com

THE Event is invitation only - Interested investors & issuers please go here: https://www.themininginvestmentevent.com/register or contact Jennifer Choi, jchoi@irinc.ca

The latest Agenda, Brochure, participating companies, speakers & panelists may be found here: https://themininginvestmentevent.com.

About THE Mining Investment Event of the North - Canada's Only Tier I Global Mining Investment Conference is held annually in Quebec City, Canada. THE Event is independently sponsored and designed to facilitate privately arranged meetings between mining companies, international investors, and various mining government authorities and provides a platform to hear from some of most influential thought leaders in the sector. THE Event is committed to promoting diversity, equality issues and sustainability in the mining industry via education and innovation through its unique Student Sponsorship and SHE-Co Initiatives.

SOURCE: VID Media
LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 / Net Savings Link, Inc. (OTC PINK:NSAV), a leading Web3, blockchain and digital asset technology company, announced today the listing of the RTB Token on its NSAVx https://nsavx.com/ Centralized Cryptocurrency Exchange (CEX).

Key Information on RTB Token Listing:

 Network: Ethereum

 Contract Address: 0x055999B83f9cADE9E3988A0f34Ef72817566800D

 Creation: Migration from BBS to RTB on May 23, 2024

 Decimals: 18

 DEX Quote: https://www.dextools.io/app/en/ether/pair-explorer/0x71c63d9ab4e8922803deaa02278577f883404a8a?t=1717070770300

The RTB Token https://www.rtb.io is set to list on NSAVx.com on May 31, 2024, with the formal listing cross-time to be announced to all whitelist exchange members and via all social media platforms before its launch.

Highlights from RTB Press Release, May 30, 2024 (Source: Roundtable.io)

AUSTIN, TEXAS - Eyal Hertzog, Web3 visionary and DeFi pioneer, and James Heckman, a digital media pioneer, have collaborated to launch the first comprehensive, enterprise-level Web3 platform, Roundtable (RTB.io). The platform, live after four years of development, hosts top industry brands and was unveiled today at Consensus '24 in Austin.

Roundtable aims to unite premium brands on a single Web3 SaaS platform, offering a robust array of features, tools, social incentives, and distribution assets. Major media partners such as TheStreet, and prominent blockchain thought leaders like Mario Nawfal, Scott Melker, Aaron and Austin Arnold, George Tung, and Bitcoin Magazine are already part of the platform. RTB's blockchain backbone ensures protection against deplatforming, secures data, guarantees audience ownership, and ensures fair compensation based on genuine engagement. It is designed to withstand challenges such

as governmental censorship.

RTB's unique approach integrates multiple features, partnerships, and technologies to deliver a cohesive experience. Unlike Web2 platforms, RTB facilitates dedicated business owners for each community, fostering a harmonious environment for thought leaders, brands, and voices, accountable to their constituents.

Key Figures:

 Eyal Hertzog: Co-founder of Bancor, creator of the original DeFi protocol

(AMM), and the first social video network, MetaCafe.

 James Heckman: Creator of Rivals.com, Scout.com, and Myspace's social ad model. He led the team that built Hulu's business model and founded the largest major- media ad platform at Arena (NYSE).

RTB's mission is to reshape the media ecosystem, empowering independent creators through market principles and collaborative engagement.

James Heckman, CEO of RTB stated: "Today's centralized media ecosystem extracts value from independent creators through censorship, deplatforming, and predatory monetization. RTB aims to create a professional media environment centered on collaborative engagement, driven by market principles."

NSAV released the following statement, "We first announced the RTB launch at the DNA house event at Consensus and we are honored that Eyal and his team have selected NSAVx.com as the first CEX to list the RTB token. With our customer base now exceeding 4 million users and over 500,000 active daily users, we believe the RTB token will be a significant addition to our platform."

About RTB Token: The DeWeb/BBS platform has been rebranded to Roundtable (representing major media and big-brand influencers and journalists operating on a single platform), following approval from the DAO, and BBS to RTB, which is the simplified token brand, ticker symbol and acronym. Together, the two experienced teams have combined the best of both worlds, world-class Web3 with world-class media distribution,

operations, monetization and major media brands.

About Net Savings Link, Inc.: NSAV's vision is the establishment of a fully integrated technology company, which provides turnkey technological solutions to the Web3, blockchain and digital asset industries. The Company drives innovation in the digital currency space by developing advanced blockchain technologies, digital assets, and market solutions that bridge the gap between traditional business frameworks and the future of decentralized technology. Over time, the Company plans to provide a wide

range of services such as software solutions, e-commerce, financial services, advisory services and information technology.

For further information please contact NSAV at info@nsavholdinginc.com

For further information please contact NSAVx.com at hello@nsavxmail.com

The NSAV corporate website can be accessed at https://www.netsavingslinkinc.com

The NSAV CEX website can be accessed at https://nsavx.com/

The AirdropX.co website can be accessed at https://www.airdropx.co/

The Swopx.io website can be accessed at https://www.swopx.io

The NSAV Stock information website can be accessed at https://www.nsavstock.com

The NSAVx Token website can be accessed at https://www.nsavxtoken.com

The NSAVx Discord Server can be accessed at https://discord.com/invite/7Q2Vv5NmKd

The NSAV Twitter account can be accessed at https://twitter.com/nsav_tech

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Investors are cautioned that, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including without limitation, the ability of Net Savings Link, Inc. to

accomplish its stated plan of business. Net Savings Link, Inc. believes that the assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements contained herein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, and therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward- looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by Net Savings Link, Inc. or any other person.

Contact

Net Savings Link, Inc.

info@nsavholdinginc.com

Media Contact

Organization: Net Savings Link Inc

Contact Person: James Tilton

Website: https://www.nsavholdinginc.com

Email: info@nsavholdinginc.com

Contact Number: +17185698815

Address: 26 Grosvenor Street, Mayfair

Address 2: W1K4QW

City: London

Country: United Kingdom

SOURCE: Net Savings Link Inc

View the original press release on accesswire.com
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 / KeyBank

Grants were announced during the opening of the third season of the KeyBank Delavan-Grider Farmers Market and will go to two organizations with established track records of working to improve access to healthy, fresh and nutritious food in East Buffalo

A $450,000 investment from the KeyBank Foundation will help two organizations working to fight food insecurity in East Buffalo. This investment was announced at the opening of the third season of the KeyBank Delavan-Grider Farmers Market, held each Thursday from 4:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. at the Delavan-Grider Community Center located at 877 East Delavan Avenue in Buffalo.

Learn more about the impact the KeyBank Delavan-Grider Farmers Market is making in East Buffalo

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) defines food insecurity as a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life. Funding from the KeyBank Foundation will go to two organizations with established track records of working to improve access to healthy, fresh and nutritious food in East Buffalo:

$300,000 to Buffalo Go Green: This investment from KeyBank will support Buffalo Go Green's Holistic Wellness & Agricultural Education Campus. This includes Buffalo Go Green's Fruits & Vegetables Prescription Program (FVRx) which provides low-income individuals and families fresh produce throughout the year. It will also help provide nutrition education and cooking classes in Buffalo Go Green's new, soon to open commercial kitchen located at Manhattan and East Amherst Streets. Classes will be broadcast live and housed on Buffalo Go Green's YouTube and social media channels for viewing after live events. Buffalo Go Green provides fresh produce for the KeyBank Delavan-Grider Farmers Market and this funding will support efforts to sustain the market and make food affordable for patrons.

$150,000 to the Independent Health Foundation's "Healthy Options at Home" (HOaH) Program: This is a comprehensive nutrition education program offered free to families living in underserved communities. Initially launched in 2020 as an effort to address increased food insecurity needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, HOaH is now offered year-round and has reached over 1,500 families since its start.

Each round of programming runs for four weeks, during which families receive a kitchen kit of essential cooking tools (ex: mixing bowls, kid safe knives, cutting boards, and more), a weekly meal kit complete with fresh produce and other nutritious ingredients, as well as access to corresponding recipe videos led by local chefs - all at no cost to participants. Funds will be used for program components including meal kit ingredients, kitchen kit supplies, delivery expenses, printing educational materials, and video demonstrations produced by local chefs. With the support of KeyBank Foundation, HOaH will continue to make strides in addressing issues of food insecurity that have impacted many families across Western New York by connecting community members with nutritious food as well as educational support needed to sustain healthy eating and cooking habits.

"As we begin another season of the KeyBank Delavan-Grider Farmers Market, we are excited to deepen our investment in East Buffalo by providing funding to these organizations working to make fresh, healthy food more accessible and bring more activity and excitement to the Delavan-Grider community," said Michael McMahon, KeyBank Buffalo Market President. "Buffalo Go Green and the Independent Health Foundation are doing important work that transforms lives and strengthens communities. Their work symbolizes what community and collaboration is all about."

"We are grateful for this investment from the KeyBank and for their leadership and support with the Delavan-Grider Farmers Market," said Allison DeHonney, CEO of Buffalo Go Green. "This partnership is bringing transformative resources and change to this community. We are excited to work with KeyBank to bring resources that improve lives and health, and make a difference in our community."

"Our mission is to meet people where they are, bringing them the resources needed to create and maintain healthy lifestyles," said Carrie Meyer, executive director of the Independent Health Foundation. "We've heard time and again from our participants that the Healthy Options at Home program helps families feel more confident about cooking healthy meals on a budget. They learn new skills together while trying out recipes that are tasty, healthy, and inexpensive to make, setting the stage for family dinners that nourish bodies and nurture relationships. Last year, we were able to provide the ingredients and education to prepare more than 8,000 meals through this program. We are extremely grateful to the KeyBank Foundation for this grant, which will enable us to bring Healthy Options at Home to more families in our community."

Since 2017, KeyBank has made more than $1 billion in investments in Buffalo and Western New York, supporting affordable housing and community development projects; small business and home lending to low-to-moderate income individuals and communities, and transformative philanthropy.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: KeyBank

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: KeyBank

View the original press release on accesswire.com
cTTP Is an Ultra-rare, Potentially Fatal Blood-Clotting Disorder with Limited Treatment Options; Untreated, Acute TTP Events Have a Mortality Rate of >90%1,2

If Approved in the European Union, rADAMTS13 Will Be the First and Only Recombinant ADAMTS13 Enzyme Replacement Therapy for cTTP

Positive Opinion Based on Totality of Evidence, Including Results from the First Randomized, Controlled, Open-label, Crossover Phase 3 cTTP Trial

Takeda (TSE:4502/NYSE:TAK) today announced that the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has recommended the approval, under exceptional circumstances, of recombinant ADAMTS13 (rADAMTS13) for the treatment of ADAMTS13 deficiency in children and adult patients with cTTP. The European Commission (EC) will consider the CHMP positive opinion when determining the potential marketing authorization for rADAMTS13 throughout the European Union (EU). If approved, rADAMTS13 will be the first and only enzyme replacement therapy in the EU for the treatment of cTTP.3

"People living with cTTP experience serious, potentially fatal health challenges and have limited treatment options in the European Union," said Obi Umeh, M.D., M.Sc., Vice President, Franchise Global Program Leader at Takeda. "With this positive opinion for recombinant ADAMTS13, we are one step closer to offering patients in the EU the first treatment specifically indicated for cTTP. We look forward to the European Commission's decision as we aspire to transform the standard of care for cTTP for more patients around the world."

cTTP is an ultra-rare, chronic blood clotting disorder caused by a deficiency in the ADAMTS13 enzyme.1 It is associated with acute events and debilitating chronic symptoms or thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) manifestations, which can include thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, renal manifestations, stroke and abdominal pain.1,2,4 Untreated, acute TTP events have a mortality rate of >90%.1,2

The Committee's positive opinion was supported by the totality of evidence including the interim analysis of efficacy, pharmacokinetic, safety and tolerability data from the first randomized, controlled open-label, crossover Phase 3 trial in cTTP. Data from this trial (NCT03393975) were published in The New England Journal of Medicine in May 2024. rADAMTS13 is also being investigated in adults with immune-mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP), the acquired form of TTP, in an ongoing Phase 2b trial (NCT05714969).

About Recombinant ADAMTS13 (rADAMTS13)

rADAMTS13 is the first and only recombinant "A disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 13" (ADAMTS13) enzyme replacement therapy developed for the treatment of cTTP. Marketed in the U.S. and Japan as ADZYNMA, rADAMTS13 was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) for the prophylactic and on-demand treatment of patients with cTTP.

rADAMTS13 was granted Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) by the U.S. FDA for the treatment and prevention of TTP, including its acquired idiopathic and secondary forms, as well as Fast Track and Rare Pediatric Disease Designation. The U.S. FDA granted Takeda a Rare Pediatric Disease Voucher for the approval of rADAMTS13. rADAMTS13 was also previously granted ODD by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Japanese MHLW for the treatment of TTP.

About cTTP

cTTP is an ultra-rare, chronic and debilitating clotting disorder associated with life-threatening acute events and debilitating chronic symptoms, or TTP manifestations.5,6 TTP has an estimated prevalence of 2-6 diagnosed cases/million. The inherited form of the disease, cTTP, accounts for =5% of TTP patients.6,7,8 It develops due to deficiency in ADAMTS13, a von Willebrand factor (VWF) cleaving protease, which results in the accumulation of ultra-large VWF multimers in the blood.5 The accumulation of ultra-large VWF multimers leads to uncontrolled platelet aggregation and adhesion.4,6 This can lead to abnormal clotting in the small blood vessels of the body and is associated with microangiopathic hemolytic anemia and low platelet levels (thrombocytopenia).4

cTTP has both acute and chronic manifestations (including stroke, renal and cardiovascular disease). cTTP can also cause ongoing widespread organ damage and other co-morbidities resulting from an ADAMTS13-deficient state.2,6,9,10

About Takeda

Takeda is focused on creating better health for people and a brighter future for the world. We aim to discover and deliver life-transforming treatments in our core therapeutic and business areas, including gastrointestinal and inflammation, rare diseases, plasma-derived therapies, oncology, neuroscience and vaccines. Together with our partners, we aim to improve the patient experience and advance a new frontier of treatment options through our dynamic and diverse pipeline. As a leading values-based, R&D-driven biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Japan, we are guided by our commitment to patients, our people and the planet. Our employees in approximately 80 countries and regions are driven by our purpose and are grounded in the values that have defined us for more than two centuries. For more information, visit www.takeda.com.

Important Notice

For the purposes of this notice, "press release" means this document, any oral presentation, any question and answer session and any written or oral material discussed or distributed by Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited ("Takeda") regarding this release. This press release (including any oral briefing and any question-and-answer in connection with it) is not intended to, and does not constitute, represent or form part of any offer, invitation or solicitation of any offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, exchange, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction. No shares or other securities are being offered to the public by means of this press release. No offering of securities shall be made in the United States except pursuant to registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or an exemption therefrom. This press release is being given (together with any further information which may be provided to the recipient) on the condition that it is for use by the recipient for information purposes only (and not for the evaluation of any investment, acquisition, disposal or any other transaction). Any failure to comply with these restrictions may constitute a violation of applicable securities laws.

The companies in which Takeda directly and indirectly owns investments are separate entities. In this press release, "Takeda" is sometimes used for convenience where references are made to Takeda and its subsidiaries in general. Likewise, the words "we", "us" and "our" are also used to refer to subsidiaries in general or to those who work for them. These expressions are also used where no useful purpose is served by identifying the particular company or companies.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and any materials distributed in connection with this press release may contain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions regarding Takeda's future business, future position and results of operations, including estimates, forecasts, targets and plans for Takeda. Without limitation, forward-looking statements often include words such as "targets", "plans", "believes", "hopes", "continues", "expects", "aims", "intends", "ensures", "will", "may", "should", "would", "could", "anticipates", "estimates", "projects" or similar expressions or the negative thereof. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions about many important factors, including the following, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements: the economic circumstances surrounding Takeda's global business, including general economic conditions in Japan and the United States; competitive pressures and developments; changes to applicable laws and regulations, including global health care reforms; challenges inherent in new product development, including uncertainty of clinical success and decisions of regulatory authorities and the timing thereof; uncertainty of commercial success for new and existing products; manufacturing difficulties or delays; fluctuations in interest and currency exchange rates; claims or concerns regarding the safety or efficacy of marketed products or product candidates; the impact of health crises, like the novel coronavirus pandemic, on Takeda and its customers and suppliers, including foreign governments in countries in which Takeda operates, or on other facets of its business; the timing and impact of post-merger integration efforts with acquired companies; the ability to divest assets that are not core to Takeda's operations and the timing of any such divestment(s); and other factors identified in Takeda's most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F and Takeda's other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, available on Takeda's website at: https://www.takeda.com/investors/sec-filings-and-security-reports/ or at www.sec.gov. Takeda does not undertake to update any of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or any other forward-looking statements it may make, except as required by law or stock exchange rule. Past performance is not an indicator of future results and the results or statements of Takeda in this press release may not be indicative of, and are not an estimate, forecast, guarantee or projection of Takeda's future results.

Medical Information

This press release contains information about products that may not be available in all countries, or may be available under different trademarks, for different indications, in different dosages, or in different strengths. Nothing contained herein should be considered a solicitation, promotion or advertisement for any prescription drugs including the ones under development.

References:

Van Dorland H et al. Haematologica. 2019;104:2107-16 Joly BS et al. Blood. 2017;129(21):2836-2846 Scully M et al. Blood. 2017; 130:2055-63 Chiasakul T and Cuker A. Am Soc Hematol. 2018;2018(1):530-538 Alwan F et al. Blood. 2019;133:1644-51 Kremer Hovinga JA et al. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2017;3:17020 Kremer Hovinga JA and George JN. Hereditary Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(17):1653-1662 Orpha.net. Congenital thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. https://www.orpha.net/en/disease/detail/93583. Accessed May 2024 Zheng XL et al. J Thromb Haemost. 2020;18(10):2486-95 Sukumar S et al. J Clin Med. 2021;10:536

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240531914145/en/

Contacts:

Media Contacts:

Japanese Media

Jun Saito

jun.saito@takeda.com

U.S. and International Media

Mark Dole

mark.dole@takeda.com
Highlights include 23.7% increase in subscription revenue, 23.7% increase in total revenue, and 70.9% increase in gross profit compared to the first quarter of 2023.

Key Developments in 2024:

Cloud DX has now announced 26 new contracts and/or contract renewals so far in 2024. Notable announcements include new contracts with Ontario Paramedics, Ottawa University Research Institute, VHA Home HealthCare and Health PEI. Together the announced value of these contracts now exceeds $14 million CAD, with terms of 12 to 36 months (not including extensions).

so far in 2024. Notable announcements include new contracts with Ontario Paramedics, Ottawa University Research Institute, VHA Home HealthCare and Health PEI. Together the announced value of these contracts now exceeds $14 million CAD, with terms of 12 to 36 months (not including extensions). Important new contracts announced include Ontario Paramedics, Ottawa University Research Institute, McMaster University, VHA Home HealthCare, Health PEI and the British Columbia Provincial Health Services Authority.

Total Revenue of $702,558 represents an increase of 23.7% compared to the same period in 2023 due to increases in both new contracts signed and growth of existing contracts. There was a net increase in deferred income of $43,043 for the period.

compared to the same period in 2023 due to increases in both new contracts signed and growth of existing contracts. There was a net increase in deferred income of $43,043 for the period. Gross profit in Q1-2023 was $664,612 , or 70.9% higher than in Q1-2022 due to increased Subscription and Product revenue from new customers.

, or than in Q1-2022 due to increased Subscription and Product revenue from new customers. EBITDA improved by $919,110 or 45.8% and Net Loss improved by $481,364 or 17.8%.

KITCHENER, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 / Cloud DX (TSXV:CDX)(OTCQB:CDXFF), a leading North American digital health platform and provider of remote patient monitoring (RPM) solutions, is pleased to report results for the 3 months ending March 31, 2024.

Q2 Earnings Call Webinar:

Friday May 31, 2024

11:00 AM PDT / 2:00 PM EDT

Registration - click here

2024 First Quarter Financial Highlights

Summary of Results:

Revenue

For the quarter ended March 31, 2024, total reported revenue of $702,558 increased by $134,552 or 23.7% compared to the same quarter in 2023. Product revenue decreased by $230,750 or 72.8% which was offset by professional services revenue with increased by $313,611 or 941.3%. Government grant funding was $48,968 in the quarter, a 39.5% decrease from the same period in 2023. Fluctuations in product revenue, professional services revenue and grant funding amounts from period to period are not unusual for Cloud DX.

Operating Expenses

First quarter operating expenses decreased $710,460 or 27.3% in the quarter compared to the same period in 2023, mainly due to cost reduction measures adopted in 2023.

Gross Profit

This trend in lower operating costs and costs of sales, plus higher revenues generated a gross profit increase of $275,687 or 70.9% in the quarter.

For additional information please review the Financial Statements posted to Sedar.com

Subsequent Events:

On April 8, 2024, the Company announced a non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement") for gross proceeds of up to $2,800,000 through the issuance of up to 23,333,334 units (each, a "Unit") of the Company at a price of $0.12 per Unit. The Company reserves the right to oversubscribe the Private Placement by up to $500,000, pursuant to which the Company may sell an additional 4,166,667 Units, should there be significant additional demand. Each Unit shall consist of one common share (a "Common Share") in the capital of the Company and one transferable share purchase warrant (a "Warrant"), with each Warrant entitling the holder thereof to acquire one additional Common Share at a price of $0.18 per share until 36 months following closing. On May 27, 2024 the Company announced that the closing date for the private placement had been extended until June 28, 2024.

On April 9, 2024, the Company announced the execution on March 26, 2024 of new Master Deployment Agreements for Cloud DX RPM Services with Beausoleil First Nation Paramedic Service and an Ontario County Paramedic Service. These agreements have a term of 24 months; including the purchase of products, subscriptions and bundled services. On April 18, 2024, the Company renewed a 24-month Master Deployment Agreement with the Guelph Wellington City of Guelph Paramedic Services. The aggregate value of these contracts is approximately $380,000.

On May 21, 2024 the Company announced the terms of the Remote Patient Monitoring Agreement for Cloud DX RPM Services with a British Columbia Provincial Health Services Authority (BC-PHSA), initially announced on May 7, 2024. On May 17, 2024 BC-PHSA posted the Award of the contract at BCBid.gov.ca, with a value of $9,412,277.06. The contract has a term of 36 months with 2 extensions. The average contract value of each individual patient subscription is expected to be approximately $1,520 CAD per year which covers the cost of the Connected Health Kit prescribed to each patient, software, and connectivity. Certain additional fees, including customizations and integrations can be added on an as-needed basis.

About Cloud DX

Accelerating digital healthcare, Cloud DX is on a mission to make healthcare better for everyone. Our Connected Health TM remote patient monitoring platform is used by healthcare enterprises and care teams across North America to virtually manage chronic disease, enable aging in place, and deliver hospital-quality post-surgical care in the home. Our partners achieve better healthcare and patient outcomes, reduce the need for hospitalization or re-admission, and reduce healthcare delivery costs through more efficient use of resources. Cloud DX is the co-winner of the Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, 2022 Top Innovator by Canadian Business, a 2021 Edison Award winner, a Fast Company "World Changing Idea" finalist, and one of "Canada's Ten Most Prominent Telehealth Providers." Cloud DX is an exclusive partner to Medtronic Canada, Teladoc Health Canada, and Mohawk Medbuy.

Cloud DX Investor Site https://ir.clouddx.com/overview/default.aspx

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

# # #

Social Links

Twitter https://twitter.com/CloudDX

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/clouddxinc/

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/cloud-dx/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/cloud.dx/

Officer Responsible for this Press Release:

Simon Selkrig

Chief Financial Officer

Phone 888-543-0944

simon.selkrig@clouddx.com

For Media Inquiries please contact:

Marketing Enquiries

Phone 888-543-0944

marketing@clouddx.com

For investor inquiries please contact:

Jay Bedard (Canada)

Cloud DX Investor Relations

Phone 647-881-8418

investors@clouddx.com

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and information within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. In particular, this news release includes certain forward-looking statements concerning the terms of the contract extension, the expected proceeds therefrom, as well as management's objectives, strategies, beliefs and intentions.

Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, the Company's the ability of the Company to fulfill the terms of and derive the benefits from the contract extension.

Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information.

A propos de Cloud DX

Accelerant les soins de sante virtuels, Cloud DX a pour mission d'ameliorer les soins de sante pour tous. Notre plateforme de surveillance a distance des patients Connected HealthMC est utilisee par des entreprises de soins de sante et des equipes de soins partout en Amerique du Nord pour gerer virtuellement les maladies chroniques, permettre aux gens de vieillir chez eux et fournir des soins post-chirurgicaux de qualite hospitaliere a domicile. Nos partenaires obtiennent de meilleurs resultats pour les soins de sante et les patients, reduisent le besoin d'hospitalisation ou de readmission, et reduisent les couts de prestation des soins de sante grace a une utilisation plus efficace des ressources. Cloud DX est co-laureate du prix Qualcomm Tricorder XPRIZE, laureate du prix Edison 2021, finaliste du concours  World Changing Idea  de Fast Company et un des dix plus importants fournisseurs de telesante au Canada.

Site des relations avec les investisseurs de Cloud DX https://ir.clouddx.com/overview/default.aspx

La Bourse de croissance TSX et son fournisseur de services de reglementation (tel que ce terme est defini dans les politiques de la Bourse de croissance TSX) n'assument aucune responsabilite quant a la pertinence ou a l'exactitude du present communique.

Tous les enonces prospectifs sont assujettis a des risques et a des incertitudes, tels que ceux decrits dans les rapports periodiques de Medtronic deposes aupres de la Securities and Exchange Commission. Les resultats reels peuvent sensiblement differer des resultats anticipes.



SOURCE: Cloud DX Inc.

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Zurich, 31 May 2024  Lalique Group SA (SIX: LLQ), which is active in creating, developing, marketing and globally distributing luxury goods, and its majority shareholder Silvio Denz intend to delist the companys shares from the stock exchange. Silvio Denz is submitting a public tender offer with an attractive premium to the public shareholders of Lalique Group. The offer has the support of the companys Board of Directors. As a private company, Lalique Group with its already very small free float will be able to focus fully on its business activities and continue to successfully pursue its proven diversification strategy.

Throughout the years in which the shares of Lalique Group SA have been listed  initially on Berns BX Swiss exchange and, since 2018, on the SIX Swiss Exchange  the companys free float has remained small and currently stands at just over 6%. In view of this situation, the costs associated with the listing and the short-term orientation of the stock markets, Lalique Group and Silvio Denz, its 51.1% majority shareholder and Chairman, intend to delist the companys shares from SIX Swiss Exchange.

Silvio Denz offers public shareholders an attractive premium

In his voluntary tender offer, Silvio Denz is offering the public shareholders CHF 40 in cash per Lalique Group share. This represents a premium of 27.96% based on the volume-weighted average price of the Lalique Group share on the SIX Swiss Exchange over the 60 trading days prior to the publication of the offer prospectus, or of 32.45% based on the shares closing price on 30 May 2024.

Anchor shareholders Muller Handels AG Schweiz, Dharampal Satyapal Limited, Hansjorg Wyss and Claudio Denz have each concluded separate non-tender agreements with Silvio Denz and will remain invested in Lalique Group SA after the intended delisting.

The Board of Directors of Lalique Group has carefully reviewed Silvio Denzs tender offer and obtained a Fairness Opinion from Ernst & Young AG, which regards the offer as fair and appropriate from a financial perspective. The Board of Directors unanimously recommends that the shareholders accept the offer.

Lalique Group is very well positioned in the international luxury goods market; and as a private company with an entrepreneur shareholder base, we will be able to think and act even longer-term as we take the development steps ahead, Silvio Denz explains. I would also like to thank our public shareholders, some of whom have been with us for several years, for all their confidence and trust.

We aim to continue to build on the strengths of the Lalique brand and of our individual business pillars, adds Lalique Group CEO Nina Muller. And we intend to make maximum use of all the potential these offer, and to do so with a firmly long-term perspective.

The tender offer is subject to customary conditions.

At the coming Annual General Meeting on 28 June 2024 the Board of Directors of Lalique Group will ask the companys shareholders, among other items, to approve its delisting from the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Roger von der Weid, who served as Group CEO until the end of January 2024 and has been a Board member since 2006, will not stand for re-election at the Annual General Meeting.

Roger von der Weid said: In view of the planned delisting, which I fully support, I have agreed with Silvio Denz that my role as Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board is no longer required to the same extent, and that I will therefore relinquish my Board seat. In my many years with Lalique Group, I have achieved numerous significant milestones together with Silvio and our great team. I will always remain close to the company. At the same time, I look forward to new challenges ahead.

For almost two decades now, Roger von der Weid has been instrumental in the development and the success of Lalique Group, adds Silvio Denz. With his comprehensive market knowledge, his keen analytical skills and his detailed expertise in our various business areas, and also with his deep commitment to our company, Roger has always been my loyal and able but also critical companion. Every one of us at Lalique Group wishes him all the best in his future endeavours.

The invitation to the 2024 Annual General Meeting, including the full meeting agenda, will be issued on 6 June 2024.

Offer prospectus and indicative timetable

The Offer Prospectus, including the Report of the Board of Directors and the Fairness Opinion of Ernst & Young AG, was published today on the offerors website at www.silviodenz-offer.com . The Report of the Board of Directors of Lalique Group SA and the Fairness Opinion are also available at www.lalique-group.com .

Indicative timetable

Offer prospectus published 31 May 2024

Waiting period begins 3 June 2024

Waiting period ends* 14 June 2024

Offer period begins* 17 June 2024

Offer period ends (16:00 CEST)** 28 June 2024

Provisional interim result published** 1 July 2024

Definitive interim result published** 2 July 2024

Extension period begins** 3 July 2024

Extension period ends (16:00 CEST)** 16 July 2024

Provisional final result published in electronic media** 17 July 2024

Definitive final result published** 18 July 2024

Offer executed** 19 July 2024

* Subject to extension of the waiting period by the Takeover Commission

** The offering party reserves the right to extend or defer the offer period one or multiple times, which would reschedule the dates stated above.

Media contact

Lalique Group SA

Elle Steinbrecher

Head of Communication & PR

Grubenstrasse 18

CH-8045 Zurich

Phone: +41 43 499 45 58

e-mail: elle.steinbrecher@lalique-group.com

Lalique Group

Lalique Group is a niche player in the creation, development, marketing and global distribution of luxury goods. Its business areas comprise perfumes, cosmetics, crystal, jewellery, high-end furniture and lifestyle accessories, along with art, gastronomy and hospitality as well as fine spirits and wine. Founded in 2000, the company employs around 810 staff (FTE) and has its headquarters in Zurich. The Lalique brand, from which the Group derives its name, was created in Paris in 1888 by the master glassmaker and jewellery designer Rene Lalique. The registered shares of Lalique Group (LLQ) are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange.

Additional information is available at: www.lalique-group.com

This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or a solicitation of an offer to sell any securities of Lalique Group and it does not constitute a prospectus or a similar notice within the meaning of articles 35 et seqq. or 69 of the Swiss Financial Services Act. Complete terms and conditions of the offer are set forth in the offer prospectus which was published on 31 May 2024 (the "Offer Prospectus"). Holders of shares in Lalique Group are urged to carefully read the Offer Prospectus because it contains important information about the offer. This announcement is not for publication, release or distribution in or into or from any jurisdiction where it would otherwise be prohibited and does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in such countries. Please also refer to "Legal Disclaimers" below.

Legal Disclaimers

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are information of a non-historical nature or which relate to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be given that the transactions described herein will be consummated or as to the ultimate terms of any such transactions. The offeror undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information or future events or for any other reason.

Important Additional Information

This release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, or form part of, any offer or invitation to sell or issue, or any solicitation of any offer, to purchase or subscribe for any registered shares or other equity securities in Lalique Group, nor shall it form the basis of, or be relied on in connection with, any contract therefor. This release is not part of the offer documentation relating to the tender offer. The terms and conditions of the tender offer have been published in he Offer Prospectus. Shareholders of Lalique Group are urged to read the tender offer documents, which are or will be available at www.silviodenz-offer.com.

Certain Offer Restrictions

The public tender offer (the "Offer") is not being and will not be made, directly or indirectly, in any country or jurisdiction in which it would be considered unlawful or otherwise violate any applicable laws or regulations, or which would require Silvio Denz or any of the companies controlled by him to change or amend the terms or conditions of the Offer in any way, to make an additional filing with any governmental, regulatory or other authority or take additional action in relation to the Offer.

It is not intended to extend the Offer to any such country or jurisdiction. Any document relating to the Offer must neither be distributed in any such country or jurisdiction nor be sent into such country or jurisdiction, and must not be used for the purpose of soliciting the purchase of any securities of Lalique Group SA by any person or entity resident or incorporated in any such country or jurisdiction.

The communication is not being made by, and has not been approved by, an authorised person for the purposes of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 in the United Kingdom.

Reference is made to the Offer Prospectus published today for full offer restrictions and an overview of certain key differences with U.S. tender offer procedures and laws.

Notice to U.S. Holders

Shareholders of the Company in the United States (the "U.S.") are advised that the registered shares of Lalique Group SA ("Lalique Shares") are not listed on a U.S. securities exchange and that the Company is not subject to the periodic reporting requirements of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and is not required to, and does not, file any reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") thereunder.

The Offer is being made for the registered shares of the Company, a Swiss company whose shares are listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange Ltd. ("SIX"), and is subject to Swiss disclosure and procedural requirements, which are different from those of the United States.

The Offer is being made in the United States pursuant to Section 14(e) of, and Regulation 14E under, the Exchange Act, subject to the exemption provided under Rule 14d-1(c) under the Exchange Act for a tier I tender offer (the "Tier I Exemption"), and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of Swiss law. Accordingly, the Offer is subject to disclosure and other procedural requirements, including with respect to withdrawal rights, Offer timetable, settlement procedures, waiver of conditions, timing of payments and procedural requirements that are different from those applicable under U.S. tender offer procedures and laws. Holders of Lalique Shares resident in the United States (each a "U.S. Holder") are urged to consult with their own legal, financial and tax advisors (including with respect to Swiss law) regarding the Offer.

To the extent permissible under applicable law or regulations, the Offeror and its affiliates or its brokers and its brokers affiliates (acting as agents for the Offeror or its affiliates, as applicable) may from time to time after the date of this Offer Prospectus and during the pendency of the Offer, and other than pursuant to the Offer, directly or indirectly purchase or arrange to purchase Lalique Shares or any securities that are convertible into, exchangeable for or exercisable for Lalique Shares. These purchases may occur either in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. To the extent information about such purchases or arrangements to purchase is made public in Switzerland, such information will be disclosed by means of a press release or other means reasonably calculated to inform U.S. Holders of the Company of such information. In addition, the financial advisers to the Offeror may also engage in ordinary course trading activities in securities of the Company, which may include purchases or arrangements to purchase such securities. To the extent required in Switzerland, any information about such purchases will be made public in Switzerland in the manner required by Swiss law.

In particular, the financial information, any financial statements or figures included or referenced in this Offer Prospectus have been prepared in accordance with the applicable accounting standards of, or recognized in, Switzerland, which may not be comparable to the financial statements or financial information of U.S. companies. The Offer is being made to U.S. Holders on the same terms and conditions as those made to all other shareholders of the Company to whom an offer is made. Any informational documents, including this Offer Prospectus, are being disseminated to U.S. Holders on a basis comparable to the method that such documents are provided to the Companys other shareholders.

As permitted under the Tier I Exemption, the settlement of the Offer is be based on the applicable Swiss law provisions, which differ from the settlement procedures customary in the United States, particularly as regards to the time when payment of the consideration is rendered. The Offer, which is subject to Swiss law, is being made to U.S. Holders in accordance with the applicable U.S. securities laws, and applicable exemptions thereunder, in particular the Tier I Exemption. To the extent the Offer is subject to U.S. securities laws, those laws only apply to U.S. Holders of Lalique Shares and will not give rise to claims on the part of any other person. U.S. Holders should consider that the Offer Price for the Offer is being paid in CHF and that no adjustment will be made based on changes in the exchange rate.

It may be difficult for the Companys shareholders to enforce their rights and any claim they may have arising under the of U.S. federal securities laws, since the Offeror and the Company are located in a non-U.S. jurisdiction, and some or all of their officers and directors may be residents of a non-U.S. jurisdiction. Company shareholders may not be able to sue the Offeror or the Company or their officers or directors in a non-U.S. court for violations of the U.S. securities laws. Further, it may be difficult to compel the Offeror and the Company and their respective affiliates to subject themselves to a U.S. court's judgment.

The receipt of cash pursuant to this Offer by a U.S. Holder may be a taxable transaction for U.S. federal income tax purposes and under applicable U.S. state and local laws, as well as foreign and other tax laws. Each holder of Lalique Shares is urged to consult his or her independent professional advisor immediately regarding the tax consequences of an acceptance of the Offer.

Neither the SEC nor any securities commission of any State of the U.S. has (i) approved or disapproved of the Offer; (ii) passed upon the merits or fairness of the Offer; or (iii) passed upon the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of the disclosure in relation to the Offer. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offence in the United States.
By Mary Riddle

Originally published by TriplePundit

Fueling corporate vehicle fleets is complex, and getting it wrong can cost millions in excess labor and energy costs for fleet operators. This challenge is only growing as operators balance multiple fuel type needs and alternatives such as renewable fuels come to market. The energy delivery company Booster has developed a digital-first solution to handle this complexity. Operators who previously had no other option but the gas station can now start every shift ready to go, saving time and money while reducing fossil fuel needs.

Booster serves everyone from small service businesses like local landscapers up to the largest fleet operators in the world, such as Amazon, to power transportation more sustainably. However the company got its roots back in 2015 serving consumers at large office parks. "Before I founded Booster, my family had designated me as the 'chief fueling officer' because no one wanted to go to the gas station," recounted CEO Frank Mycroft. "That's when I realized the need for a better solution. We launched service at top-tier corporate campuses like Facebook, Paypal, Cisco and Genentech, which required us to build the highest bar of quality, trust, digital-power transparency and service. We call this the purple promise, and it anchors our game-changing fleet service today."

The pandemic steered Booster to focus on its business fleet clients, but to do so in a digital-first, self-service model that had never existed before in the industry, and enabled more complex last-mile fleets to adopt mobile energy delivery.

Because Booster was the first company in the United States to offer mobile gasoline refueling services to last-mile fleets, this creation of a new industry sector came with its own set of challenges. "Booster had to work closely with regulators to build this industry," said Puneet Bawa, the company's general manager for Southern California. "Every element of our systems, from the digital services to the hardware, is engineered with technology to meet the strictest regulatory standards to deliver renewables and gasoline with the lowest emissions."

Mobile gasoline refueling services were not permitted in most regulatory codes when Booster was founded. So, the company had to collaborate with government agencies in states like California, Texas and Washington, presenting the company's training, technology, and business model plans that worked to eliminate emissions and hazards. "We co-authored multiple new laws and regulations," highlighted Shenna Bradshaw, the company's head of policy. "Booster was the first in this game."

Booster creates a more sustainable way of fueling fleets

Booster delivers conventional and renewable fuels, as well as hydrogen and electric vehicle services in select markets. The company's dual-product delivery assets serve complex, multi-product client needs efficiently. Booster also works with partners to offer EV charging for fleet EVs and leverages its team of talented commercial drivers to deliver hydrogen within the company's partner network.

"We are focused on eliminating the number of miles driven to gas stations and living up to our credo of increasing sustainability and reducing our customer's carbon footprint," Bawa said.

Booster is also betting big on renewable diesel. "In 2024, California is going to mandate that all off-road vehicles and equipment must use dyed renewable diesel. The challenge here is access. Booster has partnered with some of the largest renewable suppliers on the West Coast," Puneet shared. "We are in a strong position to lead the charge in renewables conversion, both on- and off-road. Our systems are nimble and flexible, coupled with tech to predict demand autonomously, making us the most versatile and viable solution."

Moving toward more alternative energy solutions aligns with Booster's sustainability goals, Bawa said. "In addition to renewable diesel and mobile electrification through a third-party partnership, we have supported mobile delivery of hydrogen around the Port of Los Angeles," he explained. "And we are exploring avenues where Booster could partner with other companies to facilitate the delivery of alternative fuels."

Booster saves companies time and money

In the San Diego area, 35 percent of Booster's clientele are landscape companies. These companies generally send out crews of four to six workers in pickup trucks and trailers every day and often need refueling services before each new day can begin.

"We optimize cost efficiencies for companies by mitigating the need for four to six individuals to be present in the vehicle during fueling at a gas station, resulting in significant savings on labor expenses," Bawa explained.

Even more critical than cost savings is employee safety. Bawa got an up-close view as to why in his prior role managing the insurance program for another company's corporate fleet. "Two out of three preventable accidents our fleet had were from being backed into at a gas station," he said. "Simply being parked at a gas station or fuel stop is one of the biggest causes of accidents. We provide our customers with peace of mind."

Booster is also able to pass on savings in direct fuel costs. The branded gas found at most gas stations is generally more expensive than unbranded fuel, and Booster participates in many unbranded fuel contract deals that allow it to offer clients better prices. The company also spends little on advertising, which further drives down pump cost for customers. "Our biggest competitive advantage is word of mouth," Bawa said.

Booster is leading the industry in new directions

The logistics industry has dealt with tremendous volatility since 2020, Bawa shared. Booster's procurement methods and internal efficiencies allow the company to provide stable and competitive solutions that help customers manage and reduce the impact of the macro-environment on profitability, he said. "We closely monitor the markets," Bawa told us. "Every penny holds significance both for us and our customers. We have effectively taken these elements and turned them into a competitive advantage, allowing us to outperform our peers in the industry."

Booster says it's laser-focused on creating a more sustainable and economical fueling sector. By creating partnerships with third-party providers, the company helps to ensure that renewable fuels, hydrogen and electricity are all available in the fleet fueling marketplace.

"When I first started here, I was skeptical about sustainability, but now I have seen firsthand how this process works, and I see our work as something that is changing the landscape of this industry for the better," Bawa said. "We are cutting out the middleman, cutting carbon emissions, and accelerating the adoption of renewable alternatives. It's a one-two approach: wean customers off the gas station, then off of fossil fuels entirely. It is inspiring to me, and I hope it inspires others to do their part for a better future."

This article series is sponsored by Booster and produced by the TriplePundit editorial team.

(Image: Level/Adobe Stock)

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from TriplePundit on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: TriplePundit

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/triplepundit

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: TriplePundit

View the original press release on accesswire.com
SEOUL, South Korea, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 27, 2024, the 8thChina-Japan-South Korea Business Summit convened in Seoul, South Korea, highlighted by a delegation led by Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. The program featured the China-South Korea Economic Exchange Meeting and the 2nd China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) Roadshow, which attracted over 200 representatives from various business associations and companies from the two countries.

China International Exhibition Center, the event's organizer, signed the Memorandums of Understanding for the 2nd CISCE with the South Korea-China Private Sector Economic Cooperation Forum and the World Electric Vehicle Association (WEVA).

Mr. Ren emphasized the robust economic and trade cooperation between China and South Korea, describing it as the bedrock of bilateral relations and essential for practical cooperation between the two nations. He expressed China's eagerness to strengthen business connections, particularly in emerging sectors, such as the digital economy, green development, high-end manufacturing, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence (AI). He warmly welcomed South Korean firms to join the upcoming Expo in November.

Mr. Xing Haiming, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea, underscored the vital and indispensable role of efficient and resilient industrial and supply chains amid the ongoing process of globalization. He expressed optimism for future collaboration between two countries in exploring opportunities in green energy, the digital economy, and other burgeoning sectors.

Mr. Lee In-ho, Vice President of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), remarked on the substantial growth of two countries. He stressed the importance of leveraging their existing economic and trade cooperation to jointly pursue opportunities in advanced technologies.

Ms. Yoo Myung-hee, former Trade Minister at South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, spotlighted the critical need for stabilizing and managing the interconnected supply chains between the two countries in today's economic climate. She called for enhanced communication channels and increased resilience against disruptions to the supply chain.

Mr. Ji Yong-mo, Chairman of the South Korea-China Private Sector Economic Cooperation Forum, praised the achievements of the South Korea-China Private Sector Economic Cooperation Forum in organizing member companies to participate in the inaugural CISCE last year. He reaffirmed the Forum's unwavering commitment to fully support the upcoming the 2nd edition of CISCE.

The second CISCE will be held in Beijing from 26th-30th November this year. Please visit https://en.cisce.org.cn/ for more information.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2427203/CISCE.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2427204/4737295/CISCE_Logo.jpg

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/china-and-south-korea-fortify-economic-ties-at-2nd-cisce-roadshow-302160782.html
Finsbury Growth & Income Trust PLC - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, May 31

For immediate release

31 May 2024

FINSBURY GROWTH & INCOME TRUST PLC

(the "Company")

MARKET PURCHASE OF COMPANY'S OWN SHARES

The Company announce that it has today purchased 202,171 of its own shares ("Ordinary Shares") at a price of 835.27 pence per Ordinary Share. Such shares will be held in treasury by the Company.

The transaction was made pursuant to the authority granted at the Annual General Meeting of the Company held on 23 January 2024.

Following this transaction, the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury is 43,240,809; the total number of Ordinary Shares that the Company has in issue, less the total number of Ordinary Shares held by the Company in treasury following such purchase, and therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 181,750,494.

The figure of 181,750,494 may be used by shareholders as the denominator for calculations of interests in the Company's voting rights in accordance with the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

For and on behalf of

Frostrow Capital LLP

Company Secretary

For further information, please contact:

Victoria Hale

Frostrow Capital LLP

Tel: 020 3 170 8732
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 / Frito-Lay North America

As National Military Appreciation Month comes to a close, so does PepsiCo's ninth "Rolling Remembrance" event, a 14,000-mile-long American flag relay in support of Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation.

The flag, once previously flown in combat, traveled for more than two months under the watchful eye of 55 Frito-Lay and Pepsi semi-truck drivers - all military veterans themselves - as they crisscrossed the U.S. along their typical delivery routes.

This year, the flag made more than 60 stops at PepsiCo facilities and customer sites, alongside both Frito-Lay and The Quaker Oats Company's headquarters. Each stop allowed PepsiCo employees and community members to pay tribute to heroes who lost their lives, support the families left behind, and recognize the veterans who work at PepsiCo.

In advance of Memorial Day, the relay concluded at PepsiCo's New York headquarters.

Since the inception of Rolling Remembrance in 2015, PepsiCo has awarded over $2 million to Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation - providing 320 years' worth of college education to students who have lost a parent in the line of duty.

Rolling Remembrance is spearheaded by VALOR, one of PepsiCo's ten employee resource groups. VALOR and its three pillars to serve, connect, and advance are at the heart of how the organization supports veterans, reservists and military spouse employees, providing an important community to come together in shared experiences

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Frito-Lay North America on 3blmedia.com.

Contact Info:

Spokesperson: Frito-Lay North America

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/frito-lay-north-america

Email: info@3blmedia.com

SOURCE: Frito-Lay North America

View the original press release on accesswire.com
ZIGUP plc - Transaction in Own Shares

PR Newswire

LONDON, United Kingdom, May 31

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OR REGULATIONS OF SUCH JURISDICTION

31 May 2024

ZIGUP PLC

("ZIGUP" or the "Group" or the "Company")

Transaction in Own Shares

ZIGUP plc (LSE:ZIG) announces that on 31 May 2024 it purchased the following number of its own shares to be held in treasury:

Class of shares : Ordinary shares of 50p ("shares") Number of shares purchased : 25,000 Weighted average purchase price paid 438 pence per share Highest purchase price paid 438 pence per share Lowest purchase price paid 438 pence per share

Following the above transaction, the Company's issued share capital consists of 246,091,423 ordinary shares of 50p each, of which 19,914,362 ordinary shares are held in treasury, and 1,000,000 preference shares of 50p each which do not carry any rights to vote. Therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company is 226,177,061 which may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules.

In accordance with Article 5(1)(b) of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 (the Market Abuse Regulation) as incorporated into UK domestic law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, the schedule below contains detailed information about the purchases made by Numis Securities Limited on behalf of the Company as part of the Company's buyback programme.

Schedule of Purchase - Individual Transaction (as a 31 May 2024)

Number of shares

purchased Transaction price

(GB pence per share) Time of transaction Transaction reference number Venue 25,000 438.00 12:46:16 00070134037TRLO0 LSE

Notes

This announcement is made in accordance with the requirements of Listing Rule 12.4.6.

For further information contact:

Buchanan

David Rydell/Jamie Hooper/Hannah Ratcliff +44 (0) 207 466 5000

Notes to Editors:

ZIGUP (formerly Redde Northgate plc) is the leading integrated mobility solutions provider, with a platform providing services across the vehicle lifecycle to help people keep on the move, smarter. The Company offers mobility solutions to businesses, fleet operators, insurers, OEMs and other customers across a broad range of areas from vehicle rental and fleet management to accident management, vehicle repairs, service and maintenance.

The mobility landscape is changing, becoming ever more connected and ZIGUP uses its knowledge and expertise to guide customers through the transformation, whether that is more digitally connected solutions or supporting the transition to lower carbon mobility through providing EVs, charging solutions and consultancy.

The Company's core purpose is to keep its customers mobile, smarter - through meeting their regular mobility needs or by servicing and supporting them when unforeseen events occur. With our considerable scale and reach, ZIGUP's mission is to offer an imaginative, market-leading customer proposition and drive enhanced returns for shareholders by creating value through sustainable compounding growth. The Group seeks to achieve this through the delivery of its new strategic framework of Enable, Deliver and Grow.

ZIGUP supports its customers through a network and diversified fleet of approx. 130,000 owned and leased vehicles, supporting over 700,000 managed vehicles, with over 175 branches across the UK, Ireland and Spain and a specialist team of over 7,500 employees. We are a trusted partner to many of the leading insurance and leasing companies, blue chip corporates and a broad range of businesses across a diverse range of sectors. Our strength comes not only from our breadth of our award-winning solutions, but from our extensive network reach, our wealth of experience and continual focus on delivering an exceptional customer experience.

Further information regarding ZIGUP plc can be found on the Company's website: www.zigup.com
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is escalating at a rapid rate. Constant bombardment from air, land, and sea threatening lives and destroying what little remains in Gaza. Those who have survived are facing deadly hunger.

To learn more, we sat down with one of our experts on the humanitarian crisis. For security reasons, they remain anonymous.

Can you start by providing some background on the situation in Gaza?

After the conflict began in early October, over 21,000 Palestinians were killed in a span of three months. Over 36,000 men, women, and children in Gaza have been killed, which amounts to about 154 per day since the conflict began. Another 81,000 people have been injured, including women, children, medical staff, and humanitarian aid workers.

We also are dealing with massive displacement. What is happening?

At least 85% of the population has forced to move. Some of our staff have been displaced close to a dozen times.

Since October, more than 70,000 homes have been destroyed, leaving 1.7 million people crowded into densely populated, unsanitary areas.

Many families have been forcibly displaced several times, moving from one makeshift camp to the next. In May alone, approximately 800,000 people have been forced out of Rafah. Many people are seeking refuge in displacement camps, where they face rising levels of illness, from diarrhea to respiratory infections to jaundice.

Due to the military invasion of Rafah, patients can no longer use the An Najjar Hospital, which had a 220-bed capacity. Today, the Kuwaiti Hospital, with 36 beds, remains the main trauma care provider. With military operations intensifying over the past two weeks, daily medical consultations have dropped 40%.

How are our staff responding to the crisis?

Action Against Hunger has been in the area since 2005, and we were able to begin our response in early October. Teams have brought in water trucks with local suppliers, and sometimes distributed water bottles. We also distributed hot food in hospitals, especially for breastfeeding or pregnant women and their children. Our staff have faced countless challenges and witnessed some incredible suffering. They are nothing short of heroes.

Hunger rates are rising in Gaza. How come?

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has suspended food distributions in Rafah due to shortages. Only ten bakeries remain operational in Gaza but are imperiled and may soon run out of cooking fuel. The WHO Director General has called the situation "beyond catastrophic."

With Gaza on the brink of famine, Action Against Hunger is one of the few humanitarian organizations working tirelessly to provide aid. Despite the United States' construction of a new pier, entry of goods and humanitarian access remain limited. Between May 1 and 20, only 50% of aid missions in southern Gaza and 37% of missions to northern Gaza were facilitated by Israeli authorities. Oftentimes, these projects are impeded or denied altogether.

How is our staff distributing supplies to meet basic needs?

Most of our distributions are based on aid already within Gaza. This is because of the number of humanitarian impediments. It can be extremely difficult and risky to get in and out of Gaza, and many border crossings have been shut down.

We coordinate with humanitarian partners to distribute necessities. This can often take longer than anticipated. We were recently able to distribute shelter protection kits, which included mattresses, pillows, and sheets. But this took months from the start of the procurement process in Jordan to the actual delivery into Gaza. There are many restrictions on what is able to enter and when we can provide aid.

Doesn't that mean that food within Gaza could run out?

Distributions have become less diverse and less nutritious. That's what happened to our programs in the North. We were no longer able to distribute meat. We were no longer able to distribute eggs. We were no longer able to distribute bread for a few weeks. Therefore, distribution consisted of things like olives, canned tomatoes, thyme, or dukkah, which is a condiment made of herbs, nuts, and spices. These are not sufficient to stave off malnutrition.

We've been trying to restart local agricultural communities, but most of the land is degraded or destroyed. Farmers are unable to grow fresh fruits and vegetables in plots that are riddled with unexploded bombs.

How quickly are things getting worse?

There was next to no malnutrition in Gaza prior to Oct. 7. For it to deteriorate to the situation it is today in the span of seven months, with the risk of famine and deaths due to starvation, is close to unheard of.

In Gaza, the war is hunger. Hunger is war. It's a direct link. The destruction of civilian infrastructure, the agricultural system falling on its knees, and the complete reliance of humanitarian aid was not the case prior to Oct. 7. This alone reveals how dire the situation really is.

By the time famine is declared, it's too late. Waiting for that declaration means that people have already died and people will continue dying - and there's little people can do at that point. That's why prevention is critical.

Are we responding to mental health needs in Gaza?

Right now, people in Gaza can hardly process the mental trauma they're enduring when they're facing it day after day.

Our psychological support staff remind us that it's extremely difficult to address mental health until people have basic necessities like food and water and a safe place. This is not the reality in Gaza.

The mental trauma from this conflict will have ripple effects for a decade, 20 years, 30 years after. These are things that can stick around through generations. Action Against Hunger aims to respond to this mental distress as soon as possible, but the first step is permanent ceasefire.

How do we protect our staff?

Over 200 humanitarian aid workers have been killed during this conflict. A high majority of these are Palestinian workers that have gone unrecognized.

At Action Against Hunger, we are constantly advocating for the safety and protection of aid workers. We also invest in tools and training that can help promote security, and we need donors to understand the need to prioritize funding for these critical and potentially life-saving efforts.

We work hard to keep our staff safe. The civilians we support deserve to be safe, too. With people dying every day, we need every single worker on the ground doing as much as they can. There's no such thing as duplication of efforts right now.

How can we stop this crisis?

For one, it's essential to uphold international humanitarian law.

We also need effective humanitarian access so that our teams can continue to do their jobs and help people in need. Before Oct. 7, it took one hour to get from Rafah to Gaza City. Today, it takes six hours, and that doesn't include the two to three hours that aid workers sometimes spend at checkpoints.

A permanent and immediate ceasefire is not just the end goal. It's the first step. It's the only thing that makes it possible for the protection of civilians and protection of aid workers.

About Action Against Hunger in the Occupied Palestinian Territories

Action Against Hunger has been working in Gaza since 2005 and the West Bank since 2002. Since Oct. 7, we've reached over 837,000 people in Gaza, including over 709,000 through water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) programs. Our assistance includes distributing hot meals and hygiene kits; trucking clean water to communities; connecting people with shelters; and providing assistance with removal of solid waste management.

About Action Against Hunger

Action Against Hunger leads the global movement to end hunger. We innovate solutions, advocate for change, and reach 28 million people every year with proven hunger prevention and treatment programs. As a nonprofit that works across 55 countries, our 8,900 dedicated staff members partner with communities to address the root causes of hunger, including climate change, conflict, inequity, and emergencies. We strive to create a world free from hunger, for everyone, for good.

**

Written with support from Kenneal Patterson.

In Gaza, 75% of solid waste is dumped, with no controls or sanitation services.

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Contact Info:

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View the original press release on accesswire.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 31, 2024) - C21 Investments Inc. (CSE: CXXI) (OTCQX: CXXIF) ("C21" or the "Company"), a vertically integrated cannabis company, today announced that the Company will change its financial year end from January 31 to March 31 (the "Change in Year End") to better align with the reporting cycle of its peers. The Company will file a transition report on Form 20-F that will provide audited financial statements for the two-month period from February 1, 2024 to March 31, 2024. The Company's next financial year will cover the period from April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025.

The Company also today announced an anticipated delay in filing its audited annual financial statements and management discussion & analysis for the financial year ended January 31, 2024, and the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer certificates, all as required by National Instrument 51-102 - Continuous Disclosure Obligations and National Instrument 52-109 - Certification of Disclosure in Issuers' Annual and Interim Filings (collectively, the "Documents").

The delay in filing the Documents is due to the Company's auditors requiring additional time to complete their audit of the Annual Financial Statements due, in part, to the Change in Year End as well the Company's recent change of auditors which occurred at the beginning of this calendar year. The Company understands that the Change in Year End will allow its auditors to complete the audit of the Company's financial statements in a more efficient manner and will alleviate the likelihood of any audit delays in the future.

The Company has informed the British Columbia Securities Commission (the "BCSC") of its anticipated delay in filing the Documents and has applied for and received a management cease trade order ("MCTO") from the BCSC pursuant to National Policy 12-203 - Management Cease Trade Orders ("NP 12-203"), pending the filing of the Documents, which MCTO prohibits the Company's management from trading in the securities of the Company until such time as the Documents are filed. The MCTO will not affect the ability of any other shareholders of the Company to trade securities of the Company.

During the period of default and until the filing of the Documents, the Company intends to satisfy the provisions of the "alternative information guidelines" as set out in NP 12-203, including the requirement to file bi-weekly status reports in the form of news releases containing prescribed updating information. The Company intends to work diligently and expeditiously with its auditors and expects to file the Documents by June 30, 2024.

Until the Company has filed the Documents, members of the Company's management and other insiders are subject to an insider trading black-out. The Company confirms that, other than as disclosed in prior press releases and material change reports, there have been no material business developments since the filing of the Company's latest interim financial report. The Company is not currently subject to any insolvency proceedings.

For further inquiries, please contact:

Investor contact:

Investor Relations

info@cxxi.ca

+1 833 289-2994

Company contact:

Michael Kidd

Chief Financial Officer and Director

Michael.Kidd@cxxi.ca

About C21 Investments Inc.

C21 Investments Inc. is a vertically integrated cannabis company that cultivates, processes, and distributes quality cannabis and hemp-derived consumer products in the United States. The Company is focused on value creation through the disciplined acquisition and integration of core retail, manufacturing, and distribution assets in strategic markets, leveraging industry-leading retail revenues with high-growth potential multi-market branded consumer packaged goods. The Company owns Silver State Relief and Silver State Cultivation in Nevada, including legacy Oregon brands Phantom Farms, Hood Oil and Eco Firma Farms. These brands produce and distribute a broad range of THC and CBD products from cannabis flowers, pre-rolls, cannabis oil, vaporizer cartridges and edibles. Based in Vancouver, Canada, additional information on C21 can be found at www.sedar.com and www.cxxi.ca.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information and Statements:

This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively, "Forward-Looking Statements"). Such Forward-Looking Statements represent the Company's beliefs and expectations regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control.

Forward-Looking Statements are based on assumptions, estimates, analyses and opinions of management of the Company at the time they were provided or made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, including: (i) the expected filing of the Documents; (ii) the Company's continued ability to satisfy the information guidelines set out in NP 12-203 the duration of the MCTO; (iii) the filing of a transition report on Form 20-F; (iv) the benefits to be derived from the Change of Year End; (v) achieving the anticipated results of the Company's strategic plans; and (vi) general economic, financial market, regulatory and political conditions in which the Company operates.

A variety of factors, including known and unknown risks, many of which are beyond the Company's control, could cause actual results to differ materially from the Forward-Looking Statements in this news release. Such factors include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties arising from any delay in filing the Documents; the Company's ability to satisfy the requirements of NP 12-203; the revocation of the MCTO and replacement with a cease trade order; the inability to effectively manage growth; inputs, suppliers and skilled labour being unavailable or available only at uneconomic costs; the adequacy of the Company's capital resources and liquidity, including but not limited to, availability of sufficient cash flow to execute the Company's business plan (either within the expected timeframe or at all); changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws generally and adverse future legislative and regulatory developments involving medical and recreational marijuana; the risks of operating in the marijuana industry in the United States, and those other risk factors discussed in the Company's 20F filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and Annual Information Form filing on SEDAR+.

Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the Forward-Looking Statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such Forward-Looking Statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. Should assumptions underlying the Forward-Looking Statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected.

The Forward-Looking Statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and the Company does not undertake to update any Forward-Looking Statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211314

SOURCE: C21 Investments Inc.
May 3o, 2024: During the first week of May this year, Chinas first modern aircraft carrier, Fujian, carried out its initial sea trials. The sea trials and time in port for needed modifications means that Fujian will not enter service until 2026. This will give the crew of 2,400 sailors, officers, pilots, and maintenance personnel for the carrier air wing time to learn their jobs.

Back in 2022 China launched its third aircraft carrier, the 80,000-ton Fujian (CV-18). Fujian is powered with conventional steam turbines which also generate the needed electrical power for its three EMALS (electromagnetic aircraft launch system) catapults. Fujian turned out to be larger than expected, in part because of the space needed for the IEP (integrated electric propulsion) system that supplied the power for EMALS. China was more deliberate in designing their EMALS system and appears to have learned from the mistakes the Americans made and delayed installing EMALS on Fujian until their catapults worked.

The only other carriers using EMALS are the American nuclear-powered CVN (nuclear powered carrier) USS Ford class. One Ford is in service with two more under construction and a fourth on order. The U.S. Navy expects to eventually have ten of the 100,000 ton Fords, to replace the current ten Nimitz class CVNs entered service between 1975 and 2009.

CVNs can serve for over fifty years with a mid-career overhaul and refurbishment. Nimitz went through that process between 1998 and 2001 as have five other Nimitz class carriers. A seventh carrier is still undergoing the process. The three most recent Nimitz carriers entered service between 1998 and 2009.

At 316 meters Fujian appears to be nearly as long as the US Navys 333-meter Ford, which displaces about 100,000 tons. Fujian has a smaller crew of about 3,000 and operates fewer aircraft. The nuclear-powered Ford has a crew of 4,500 personnel and moves at higher speeds for sustained periods longer than the Fujian, which has to dedicate a lot of internal space for its oil fuel.

China already has two carriers in service: the 60,000 ton Liaoning (CV-16) with a crew of 2,600 and 40 aircraft, including 14 helicopters. Liaoning is used as a training ship and entered service in 2012. The more recent 70,000 ton Shandong entered service in 2019, has a crew of 3,100 and carries 36 aircraft, including 12 helicopters. Both carriers use a ski-jump STOBAR (Short take off but arrested recovery) system. Fujian and American CVNs use CATOBAR (Catapult Assisted Take-Off Barrier Arrested Recovery) systems.

When Shandong (CV-17) completed sea trials and entered service at the end of 2019, it was seen moving past Taiwan. Back then it was assumed that China wanted to build two more similar carriers (CV-18 and 19) which would lose the ski jump deck and instead adopt a catapult. This was the case with Fujian (CV-18) that was already under construction in 2019, and in the water a year later. At that point it appeared that CV-18 would be in service by 2024 but details of its layout and displacement were still vague.

It was believed that CV-18 might be delayed by the decision to use EMALS instead of steam catapults. The U.S. Navy has had problems getting its EMALS to work effectively and the Chinese were believed to be waiting to see how that works out before deciding. That was not the case as CV-18 was built with the IEP, which was only required if EMALS was used.

What is unknown is if CV-19 will be similar to CV-18 or use nuclear power. China has more problems with nuclear-powered surface ships than with EMALS. China has been working on nuclear propulsion for submarines for decades and encountered lots of technical problems that seriously limited the development of an effective Chinese nuclear submarine force. Chinese nuclear power experts informed the government that China did not yet have reliable nuclear power plants for surface ships and it would be a while before that technology was perfected.

With the official recognition of Fujian, it became clear that China probably would have five or six non-nuclear-powered carriers by 2030, with all but Liaoning and Shandong based on the Fujian. Since carriers spend a lot of time in port getting upgrades and maintenance, you need three or more in order to guarantee having at least two available at all times for operations. China has already built or is building enough escort and support ships, along with air wings, to keep several carrier task forces, each built around one carrier, busy while one or more carriers were sidelined by months of maintenance and upgrades.

China announced in 2020 that their first carrier, Liaoning, which was a rebuilt Russian carrier, would not remain a training carrier but would be equipped and manned with a crew that would enable it to also serve as a combat carrier in an emergency. That eventually changed and Liaoning remained a training ship.

Fujian was not a complete surprise. As early as 2014 there were official photos of carrier model displayed at an official event. The detailed model had the hull number 18 and the ship looked similar to an American Nimitz class CVN. The Chinese CVN has four catapults and three elevators and much other evidence of being nuclear and very similar to the Nimitz class. This was an early Chinese Navy proposal for a CVN and that has apparently been refined to something that is similar to the Nimitz.

At one point it was believed that the first Chinese CVN would be more like the American USS Enterprise (CVN 65). This was the first American nuclear-powered carrier and it served as the prototype for the subsequent Nimitz class. The Enterprise was an expensive design, and only one was built, rather than the expected class of six. While a bit longer than the later Nimitz class, it was lighter at 92,000 tons displacement, versus 100,000 tons. The Enterprise was commissioned in 1961, almost 40 years after the first U.S. carrier, the Langley entered service in 1923. CVN 65 was active until 2012 and decommissioned in early 2017, two months before the second Chinese carrier was launched. China may end up going that way before building their first nuclear carrier. A large oil-fueled carrier would enable them to gain experience with a large carrier and allow designers to perfect the design of a nuclear-powered large carrier.

Chinese are keen students of history, their own as well as that of others. Chinese ship designers know all about the Langley and the Enterprise. The Chinese are also well aware that in the two decades after the USS Langley there were tremendous changes in carrier aviation. While the innovation slowed after World War II, major changes continued into the 1950s with the addition of jet aircraft, nuclear propulsion for carriers, and anti-aircraft missiles. But in the ensuing half-century, there has been no major innovation in basic carrier design. This has not been a problem because the carriers have proven useful, at least for the U.S. Navy, the only fleet to use such large carriers. Currently the United States has 10 CVNs, although those will be replaced on a one for one basis by the new Ford Class CVNs.

No one else has maintained a force of these large carriers. Only the U.S. has felt a constant need to get air power to any corner of the planet in a hurry. More importantly, no navy has been able to give battle to the U.S. carrier force since 1945. The Soviets built new anti-carrier weapons and made plans to use them, but that war never occurred. China is building carriers but does not yet seem committed to having a lot of them to confront the U.S., but rather just a few to intimidate its neighbors.

The Chinese Navy is very popular with most Chinese and its commanders are enthusiastic about expanding in order to protect the seaborne trade that the modern Chinese economy depends on. For thousands of years Chinese rulers did not consider naval power important because it wasnt. Now it is and the navy is getting the money and encouragement to do what China has never done before. But at the moment Chinese tech is not up to the task of providing capable carrier aviation, especially on a large scale. The government also realized that the money required to make it all work was not really available either.

Another problem is the shrinking number of qualified Chinese willing to join the navy. The Chinese working age population is declining as a result of the one-child policy that began in the 1980s and lasted for three decades. But when the one-child limits were eased in the last decade, it was discovered that a more affluent Chinese population was not interested in having large families. This is a common pattern, especially in the newly affluent nations of East Asia. Already South Korea and Japan are suffering from falling birth rates. Its worse in Europe. The United States has avoided this problem so far but that appears to be changing. For China the population problem is a major limit to the effectiveness of their growing navy and its aircraft carrier component. A carrier does not operate alone, but requires several destroyers and frigates as escorts, along with supply and fuel ships. Each carrier task force requires over 5,000 officers and sailors.

The sea trials for Shandong took 19 months, which was six months longer than their first carrier, Liaoning. There was no official explanation why the second carrier took longer to debug but it was put into active service by December 2019. It is known that Shandong has more electronics, including a powerful AESA (flat panel phased array) radar and a more capable communications and control system built into the ship. It would not be surprising if those improvements caused unexpected and repeated problems.

Shandong is 315 meters long, which is three percent longer than Liaoning. Shandong displaced 70,000 tons, which is 12 percent more than Liaoning. Obvious differences are a slightly (about 10 percent) smaller control tower and about ten percent more flight deck area. There is more space internally for maritime and aircraft fuel. It appears that Shandong would have to be refueled about once a week when at sea and Fujian will be no different.

Shandong was considered a new design but based on the first Chinese carrier, the Liaoning. That first carrier was a 65,000-ton, 305 meter (999 feet) long ship that was itself a modified version of the last Cold War Russian carrier design. In 2016 China confirmed that Shandong would also have the ski jump deck like Liaoning, would be somewhat heavier, and incorporate new design features that would enable it to carry more aircraft (mainly the J-15) in a larger hangar deck (just below the flight deck) as well as more fuel and aircraft weapons. Photos of Shandong under construction revealed that it also incorporated design features that will make it more capable of surviving combat damage as well as operating more efficiently and effectively as a carrier.

In addition to the Chinese built J-15 fighter, the Shandong has early-warning radar and anti-submarine aircraft, which had long been standard on American carriers, as well as some helicopters. The carrier itself had modern radars and electronics to detect and control aircraft. Shandong operates about 20 percent more aircraft than Liaoning (50 fixed-wing and helicopters compared to about 40). In 2019 China only had about fifty carrier qualified J-15 pilots and Liaoning was kept busy being what was designed for; a training carrier. By 2024 there were about 200 carrier-qualified J-15 pilots.
NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 / CNH Industrial

New Holland, a brand of CNH, is celebrating 60 years since the opening of its tractor factory in Basildon, England, with the unveiling of a celebration edition tractor.

The milestone also sees the strengthening of the plant's role as the brand's Alternative Fuels Centre of Excellence, alongside its position as its global tractor production facility.

The Basildon plant was developed on a greenfield site in the early 1960s by Ford and later purchased by Fiat. Seeking to modernise the production processes possible at its existing car and tractor plant at nearby Dagenham, the company was encouraged to develop a dedicated tractor facility in the new town of Basildon. Work began on April 2, 1960, and was completed on February 29, 1964.

Today, a complete tractor rolls off the Basildon assembly line every five minutes, with over 10,000 different product specifications, ensuring buyers across the world - 85% of production is exported - get exactly the tractor they need.

To mark the Basildon plant's 60th birthday, New Holland has unveiled a celebration edition T7.300 tractor. The graphics that adorn it celebrate the era in which the Basildon factory was founded, taking inspiration from the 1960s decade which saw so many leaps forward in technological advancement. Created by CNH Centro Stile, the anniversary edition's livery is inspired by the colours and patterns of 'Swinging '60s' London, with psychedelic shapes characterized by vivid and fluid colours of blue, yellow, maroon and pink around New Holland's distinctive leaf logo in bright yellow on the hood. The tractor, of which only one unit will be produced, was unveiled at the Basildon 60th anniversary celebratory event in April and will be showcased at exhibitions throughout 2024.

The latest developments at Basildon include significant investment in its role as the New Holland Alternative Fuels Centre of Excellence. In 2006, the firm declared its ambition to be the 'Clean Energy Leader' in the tractor sector, and in 2021 put into production at Basildon the industry's first tractor of its type, the T6.180 Methane Power, to be joined later this year by the T7.270 Methane Power CNG. These developments make possible the Energy Independent Farm, allowing biomethane captured from waste farming products such as livestock manures to be used as fuel.

"We are proud to celebrate 60 years of our plant in Basildon, that well represents the evolution of the New Holland brand, from a manufacturer of agricultural machinery to a company that advances sophisticated software technology for agriculture, fostering the brand leadership on a global level. Today Basildon is a hub for innovation, where we produce tractors that are exported worldwide, and a Centre of Excellence for Alternative Fuels, where our T6.180 Methane Power tractor is produced," says Carlo Lambro, New Holland Brand President. "As the only volume tractor producer in the UK, we are also very proud of our workforce here, with their skills, dedication and commitment. It's a milestone for the whole company and for everyone who works or has worked in the plant."

The special edition New Holland T7.300 tractor complete with psychedelic Sixties livery inspired by the 'Swinging 60s'.

View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from CNH Industrial on 3blmedia.com.



Contact Info:

Spokesperson: CNH Industrial

Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/cnh-industrial

Email: info@3blmedia.com



SOURCE: CNH Industrial

View the original press release on accesswire.com
The abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds (NYSE:ASGI),(NYSE:THQ),(NYSE:THW), (the "Funds" or individually the "Fund"), today announced that the Funds paid the distributions noted in the table below on May 31, 2024, on a per share basis to all shareholders of record as of May 23, 2024 (ex-dividend date May 22, 2024).

Ticker Exchange Fund Amount ASGI NYSE abrdn Global Infrastructure Income Fund $0.2000 THQ NYSE abrdn Healthcare Opportunities Fund $0.1800 THW NYSE abrdn World Healthcare Fund $0.1167

Each Fund has adopted a distribution policy to provide investors with a stable distribution out of current income, supplemented by realized capital gains and, to the extent necessary, paid-in capital.

Under applicable U.S. tax rules, the amount and character of distributable income for each Fund's fiscal year can be finally determined only as of the end of the Fund's fiscal year. However, under Section 19 of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") and related rules, the Funds may be required to indicate to shareholders the estimated source of certain distributions to shareholders.

The following tables set forth the estimated amounts of the sources of the distributions for purposes of Section 19 of the 1940 Act and the rules adopted thereunder. The tables have been computed based on generally accepted accounting principles. The tables include estimated amounts and percentages for the current distributions paid this month as well as for the cumulative distributions paid relating to fiscal year to date, from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short-term capital gains; net realized long-term capital gains; and return of capital. The estimated compositions of the distributions may vary because the estimated composition may be impacted by future income, expenses and realized gains and losses on securities and currencies.

The Funds' estimated sources of the current distribution paid this month and for its current fiscal year to date are as follows:

Estimated Amounts of Current Distribution per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains** Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $0.2000 $0.0400 20% - - $0.1240 62% $0.0360 18% THQ $0.1800 - - - - $0.0018 1% $0.1782 99% THW $0.1167 - - $0.0070 6% $0.0128 11% $0.0969 83%

Estimated Amounts of Fiscal Year* to Date Cumulative Distributions per Share Fund Distribution Amount Net Investment Income Net Realized Short-Term Gains ** Net Realized Long-Term Gains Return of Capital ASGI $ 1.1700 $0.2340 20% - - $0.7254 62% $0.2106 18% THQ $ 1.1700 - - - - $0.0117 1% $1.1583 99% THW $ 0.9336 - - $0.0560 6% $0.1027 11% $0.7749 83%

* ASGI, THQ and THW have a 9/30 fiscal year end.

**includes currency gains

Where the estimated amounts above show a portion of the distribution to be a "Return of Capital," it means that Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur for example, when some or all the money that you invested in a Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The final determination of the source of all distributions for the current year will only be made after year-end. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of the fiscal year and may be subject to change based on tax regulations. After the end of each calendar year, a Form 1099-DIV will be sent to shareholders for the prior calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The following tables provide the Funds' total return performance based on net asset value (NAV) over various time periods compared to the Funds' annualized and cumulative distribution rates.

Fund Performance and Distribution Rate Information Fund Average Annual Total Return on NAV for the 5 Year Period Ending 04/30/2024 Current Fiscal Period's Annualized Distribution Rate on NAV Cumulative Total Return on NAV Cumulative Distribution Rate on NAV ASGI 7.42%3 8.65% 10.02% 4.88% THQ 9.87% 9.96% 10.45% 4.69% THW 8.37% 11.69% 9.37% 6.82%

1 Return data is net of all Fund expenses and fees and assumes the reinvestment of all distributions reinvested at prices obtained under the Fund's dividend reinvestment plan.

2 Based on the Fund's NAV as of April 30, 2024.

3 The Fund launched within the past 5 years; the performance and distribution rate information presented reflects data from inception (July 29, 2020) through April 30, 2024.

Shareholders should not draw any conclusions about a Fund's investment performance from the amount of the Fund's current distributions or from the terms of the distribution policy (the "Distribution Policy").

While NAV performance may be indicative of the Fund's investment performance, it does not measure the value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund. The value of a shareholder's investment in the Fund is determined by the Fund's market price, which is based on the supply and demand for the Fund's shares in the open market.

Pursuant to an exemptive order granted by the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Funds may distribute any long-term capital gains more frequently than the limits provided in Section 19(b) under the 1940 Act and Rule 19b-1 thereunder. Therefore, distributions paid by the Funds during the year may include net income, short-term capital gains, long-term capital gains and/or a return of capital. Net income dividends and short-term capital gain dividends, while generally taxable at ordinary income rates, may be eligible, to the extent of qualified dividend income earned by the Funds, to be taxed at a lower rate not to exceed the maximum rate applicable to your long-term capital gains. Distributions made in any calendar year in excess of investment company taxable income and net capital gain are treated as taxable ordinary dividends to the extent of undistributed earnings and profits, and then as a return of capital that reduces the adjusted basis in the shares held. To the extent return of capital distributions exceed the adjusted basis in the shares held, capital gain is recognized with a holding period based on the period the shares have been held at the date such amount is received.

The payment of distributions in accordance with the Distribution Policy may result in a decrease in the Fund's net assets. A decrease in the Fund's net assets may cause an increase in the Fund's annual operating expense ratio and a decrease in the Fund's market price per share to the extent the market price correlates closely to the Fund's net asset value per share. The Distribution Policy may also negatively affect the Fund's investment activities to the extent that the Fund is required to hold larger cash positions than it typically would hold or to the extent that the Fund must liquidate securities that it would not have sold, for the purpose of paying the distribution. Each Fund's Board has the right to amend, suspend or terminate the Distribution Policy at any time. The amendment, suspension or termination of the Distribution Policy may affect the Fund's market price per share. Investors should consult their tax advisor regarding federal, state and local tax considerations that may be applicable in their particular circumstances.

Circular 230 disclosure : To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the U.S. Treasury, we inform you that any U.S. tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or matter addressed herein.

In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: abrdn Inc., abrdn Investments Limited, abrdn Asia Limited, abrdn Private Equity (Europe) Limited, and abrdn ETFs Advisors LLC.

Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. A Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that a Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results.

https://www.abrdn.com/en-us/cefinvestorcenter#

###

For More Information Contact:

abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds

Investor Relations

1-800-522-5465

Investor.Relations@abrdn.com

SOURCE: abrdn U.S. Closed-End Funds

View the original press release on accesswire.com
A new exhaustive report details the Institutional Investors & private funds invested in ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, as the most visible example of a longstanding pattern of U.S. venture capital & private equity investments into Chinese technology companies.

Data compiled by nonprofit firm, Future Union, indicates that numerous institutional investors - the largest source of capital for venture capital, private equity, and hedge funds - have considerable interests in ByteDance, the controlling parent company of TikTok. The recently released report, titled "The ByteDance Spotlight Report," highlights the investors in TikTok and serves as a specific case study review of the most visible example of the pervasive role that U.S. venture capital and private equity, and associated institutional investors, have had in elevating Chinese startups - and the commensurate technology innovation ecosystem - enabling China to achieve a technological sophistication that matches, or exceeds, U.S. capabilities across numerous technological disciplines.

In a statement, Andrew King Executive Director of Future Union said:

"History shows that there are no 'days off' to safeguarding national security, protecting democratic institutions and upholding the U.S.-led, global rules-based order. China aspires to create a new rubric for global leadership where protections for intellectual property rights and the rule of law have proven illusory, and under China's revised National Privacy Law all efforts in the private sector are simultaneously required to be pledged to assist the state in pursuit of all national sovereignty goals. America and our allies face a new future in which our technology - the plans for our ships, our jets, our offensive and defensive strategies - has been turned against us. Make no mistake, as China charts a new path using our expropriated intellectual property, our technology, our research, and our capital, the U.S., and indeed, the world will suffer if investors fail to act to safeguard our collective security."

As the report indicates, U.S. investors are the single largest source of funding for ByteDance. The private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds that have invested in ByteDance since its founding in 2012 are some of the largest, most well-known, and politically connected funds in the world.

The release of this report follows the April 2024 Congressional approval of legislation restricting Chinese ownership of TikTok, which has catapulted the deep ties between American investors and Chinese technology companies into the spotlight. Future Union reviewed the investors and financial ties between Wall Street, global finance, and China's technology acceleration, which included the U.S. public pensions, university endowments, and nonprofits/foundations, detailing for the first time the complicated ties and extent of Western investments in Chinese venture funds and U.S. funds investing in Chinese-based startups. Future Union's prior report, titled the "Rubicon Report: Venture Capital and Private Equity Funds Invested in China," illustrated the role that such investors and capital allocators have had in China's rise, more specifically manifested in ByteDance's fundraising history, which was illuminated in the case study. As the ByteDance Spotlight Report data reveals, U.S. venture capital and private equity funds have had an outsized role in the evolution and growth of China's rival technology base, with firms such as Sequoia Capital China (now HongShan) and GGV Capital (now Granite Asia) also prominently featured in the bipartisan Outbound Investment report released by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party on February 8, 2024 that investigated five U.S. venture capital firms for their investments in technology startups in China and the implications of those investments.

This report, as well as Future Union's Rubicon Report findings, released in conjunction with the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party's Outbound Investment report, demonstrates that more forward-looking, principled investment leadership is demanded in order to discourage and restrict critical technologies from reaching Countries of Concern1, like China, and emerging on proxy battlefields like Syria and Ukraine.

###

About Future Union

Future Union is a bipartisan organization designed to galvanize the private sector to address a new wave of emerging security and technology challenges facing the United States and its allies. We believe that democracy can no longer just exist to promote capitalism. Capitalism must be a force for democracy.

Future Union is intent on catalyzing the private sector to make a difference for technological and capital markets-led democracy, specifically, by safeguarding free market principles and limiting the economic power that Countries of Concern1 wield in the U.S. and in the free markets. We aim to fuse private sector innovation and democratic-capitalism to ensure that the mutuality of contract under equal rule of law principles are abided by, thus, preserving free and fair markets competition.

As America and our allies vie to lead the next generation of innovation and technology, Future Union hopes to encourage a broad corporate re-evaluation and definition of risks to ensure that democratic, free market principles remain at the forefront of geopolitical leadership and prevail against competing systems.

Contact:

media@futureunion.co

Andrew King

www.futureunion.co

1 Countries of Concern are set forth as those with military capabilities that could threaten democratic national security. The most recent "foreign countries of concern" designation was made by the Secretary of State on December 29, 2023, and included the People's Republic of China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, among others.

SOURCE: Future Union

View the original press release on accesswire.com
Glen Ellyn, Illinois--(Newsfile Corp. - May 31, 2024) - The College of DuPage Board of Trustees approved Dr. Christine M. Hammond as the Interim President of the College during a special board meeting on Thursday, May 30.

Dr. Hammond, who was selected through a national search process, will assume her new responsibilities on July 1 following the retirement of current President Dr. Brian Caputo. Prior to obtaining the role as President in July 2019, Dr. Caputo served two years as Vice President of Administrative Affairs and Chief Financial Officer of the institution.

Board Chair Christine Fenne cited Dr. Hammond's appointment as an important next step in the College's future.

"As we prepare to launch a national search for the College's next president, it is important to establish stable interim leadership to sustain the continued operations of the institution," she said. "Dr. Hammond's range of experience, proven leadership and dedication to higher education will help ensure continuity of service and support for the success of our students as well as faculty and staff."

With more than 40 years of experience in higher education, Dr. Hammond served as President of Mid Michigan College from June 2014 until her retirement in June 2020. During her tenure, Dr. Hammond focused heavily on student success and degree completion, leading the college through the development of 60 academic pathways and expanded student services, including the creation of centers for veterans and career development. Dr. Hammond is credited with strengthening ties between the college and regional manufacturing and economic development groups, spearheading the development and implementation of a shared governance system, and revitalizing Mid Michigan's Harrison campus through a major renovation project. Following her retirement, Dr. Hammond fulfilled two interim leadership positions through The Registry organization. She remains active as a peer reviewer for the Higher Learning Commission and serves on the advisory board of CampusWorks.

She is the recipient of both state and national accolades, including the Shirley M. Gordon Award of Distinction and the Bennett Lifetime Achievement Award from Phi Theta Kappa; the Patriot Award from the Employer Support of Guard and Reserves organization; and the Key Partner Award from MSU Extension. Committed to community service, Dr. Hammond is a member of the Petoskey Rotary Board, the Michigan State University Ag-Bio/Extension Advisory Council, the Executive Board of the MI-ACE Network, and the U.S. Global Leadership Council in Michigan.

Dr. Hammond holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Thiel College, a Master of Arts degree in College Student Personnel from Bowling Green State University, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from Michigan State University.

Prior to her service at Mid Michigan College, Dr. Hammond served as the Chief Academic Officer for Northern Central Michigan College, Executive Director of Administration at Michigan State University's College of Law and Senior Project Coordinator for MSU's initiative in Dubai. She also held student services administrative positions at Lawrence University and Thiel College.

Fenne said the Board anticipates the selection of an executive search firm and formation of the College's Presidential Search Committee in the coming months. Stakeholders and community members are invited to provide their feedback on the presidential search through Sunday, June 30, via an online form. Read more about the presidential search.

"This is an exciting time in the College's more than 50-year history and we look forward to sharing with the community more details on the presidential search in the near future," Fenne said. "On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we also thank Dr. Caputo for his service and wish him well in his future endeavors."





Dr. Christine M. Hammond

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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Contact: Brian Kleemann

kleeman@cod.edu

(630) 942-2370

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211318

SOURCE: College of DuPage
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - May 31, 2024) - Los Andes Copper Ltd. (TSXV: LA) (OTCQX: LSANF) ("Los Andes" or the "Company") announces that in accordance with the terms of the US$5,000,000, US$4,000,000 and US$5,000,000 eight per cent convertible debentures issued to Queen's Road Capital Investment Ltd. ("Queen's Road Capital") on June 2, 2021, April 4, 2022 and September 2, 2022 (the "Convertible Debentures") the Company has elected to issue 13,944 common shares in the capital of the Company ("Common Shares") at a deemed price of US$7.53 (C$10.29) to Queen's Road Capital as payment for US$104,998 (C$143,570) in interest owing on the Convertible Debentures.

Under the terms of the Convertible Debentures, interest is payable quarterly, five per cent in cash and three per cent in shares, at the greater of: (i) the 20-day volume weighted average price prior to the interest payment date; or (ii) the Discounted Market Price (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V")).

The issuance of the Common Shares as payment for interest owing on the Convertible Debentures is subject to the terms and conditions of the Convertible Debentures as well as the receipt of all requisite approvals, including, without limitation, the approval of the TSX-V.

About Queen's Road Capital Investment Ltd.

Queen's Road Capital Investment Ltd. is a leading financier to the global resource sector. The company is a resource focused investment company, making investments in privately held and publicly traded resource companies.

It is intended that the company will acquire and hold securities for both long-term capital appreciation and short-term gains, with a focus on convertible debt securities and resource projects in advanced development or production located in safe jurisdictions.

Queen's Road Capital Investment Ltd. is listed on the TSX under the ticker: QRC.

About Los Andes Copper Ltd.

Los Andes Copper Ltd. is an exploration and development company with an 100% interest in the Vizcachitas Project in Chile. The Company is focused on progressing the Project, which is located along Chile's most prolific copper belt, into production. Vizcachitas is one of the largest copper deposits in the Americas not controlled by the majors and the Company believes it will be Chile's next major copper mine.

The Project is a copper-molybdenum porphyry deposit, located 150 kilometers north of Santiago, in an area of very good infrastructure. An independent technical report for the PFS, prepared in accordance with NI 43-101, is available on the Company's SEDAR profile.

Los Andes Copper Ltd. is listed on the TSX-V under the ticker: LA.

Qualified Persons

Antony Amberg CGeol FGS, the Company's Chief Geologist, is the qualified person who has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release.

For more information please contact:

Santiago Montt, CEO

santiago.montt@losandescopper.com

Tel: +56 2 2954-0450

Elizabeth Johnson, Investor Relations

Elizabeth.johnson@losandescopper.com

E-Mail: info@losandescopper.com or visit our website at: www.losandescopper.com

Follow us on twitter @LosAndesCopper

Follow us on LinkedIn Los Andes Copper Ltd

Certain of the information and statements contained herein that are not historical facts, constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of the Securities Act (British Columbia), Securities Act (Ontario) and the Securities Act (Alberta) ("Forward-Looking Information"). Forward-Looking Information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect" and "intend"; statements that an event or result is "due" on or "may", "will", "should", "could", or might" occur or be achieved; and, other similar expressions. More specifically, Forward-Looking Information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or industry results, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such Forward-Looking Information. Such Forward Looking Information includes, without limitation, the timing of and ability to obtain TSX-V and other regulatory approvals and the prospects, details related to and timing of the Vizcachitas Project. Such Forward-Looking Information is based upon the Company's assumptions regarding global and Chilean economic, political and market conditions and the price of metals and energy and the Company's production. Among the factors that have a direct bearing on the Company's future results of operations and financial conditions are changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, a change in government policies, competition, currency fluctuations and restrictions and technological changes, among other things. Should one or more of any of the aforementioned risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from any conclusions, forecasts or projections described in the Forward-Looking Information. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise Forward-Looking Information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211333

SOURCE: Los Andes Copper Ltd.
Denim, a Jersey City, NJ-based a technology factoring partner for freight brokers, raised $63M in Warehouse Facility.

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) and Trinity Capital Inc., provided the financing.

The company intends to use the funds to continue supporting the cash flow and operational needs of freight brokers.

Led by CEO Bharath Krishnamoorthy, Denim is a tech-powered freight factoring partner advancing the supply chain by accelerating the movement of money and data. The company delivers fast access to the working capital freight brokers need, when they need it. With its factoring solutions, freight brokerages can manage financing options, and monetize working capital.

FinSMEs

31/05/2024
The report that the Narendra Modi government has moved 100 tonnes from foreign banks to domestic vaults inadvertently brings back the memories of the days when the country had to pledge tonnes of gold to foreign banks to survive an economic crisis read more

India has moved 100 tons or 1 lakh kg of its gold stored in the UK to domestic vaults in FY24. This came to public knowledge on Friday. This raises Indias overall gold holding to 27.46 tons in FY24. Indias gold reserves stand at 822 metric tons, as per official data, of which 413.79 tons are held abroad.

The latest is one of the biggest movements of gold by India since 1991, when its government had to pledge a substantial part of its holding of the yellow metal to tide over a foreign exchange crisis.

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What was the 1991 crisis?

In January 1991, India faced a severe economic crisis, struggling to finance imports and repay debts.

The Gulf War exacerbated the situation, causing oil prices to spike.

India had less than $1 billion forex reserves, barely enough to meet import requirements for three weeks.

How government responded

Then RBI Governor S Venkitaramanan, finance minister Yashwant Sinha and other officials sought help from global financial institutions.

India received $755 million from the IMF, but it was insufficient.

Also Read: RBI flew 100 tons of gold from UK to India and more may be on its way

What government did next

The government considered borrowing from other central banks due to the difficulty in raising funds.

Following a series of huddles between the RBI and government officials, Venkitaramanan proposed amending the RBI Act to allow borrowing from agencies other than central banks.

With resistance to selling gold, a proposal was made to lease gold confiscated from smugglers.

The proposal was approved by March 1991.

But Rajiv Gandhi pulled the plug

The Congress, which was propping up the minority Chandra Shekhar government, withdrew its support, alleging that its top leader Rajiv Gandhi was being spied upon.

It claimed that the Chandra Shekhar government had deployed a Haryana police constable on the job.

The fall of the government saw the credit ratings agency downgrading Indias sovereign rating, complicating fund-raising efforts.

The initial plan of pledging gold

Facing a liquidity crisis, officials proposed pledging gold to avoid defaulting on payments.

In the middle of the election campaign, Yashwant Sinha signed the file to mortgage the gold to UBS, Switzerland.

Twenty tons of gold were pledged, raising $200 million by the end of May 1991.

New pledge, economic reforms and recovery

The new government under Narasimha Rao, with Manmohan Singh as finance minister, was sworn-in in June. It continued to raise resources through gold pledging.
Zhipu AI is the largest Chinese generative AI start-up in terms of workforce employing over 800 people at its headquarters in Beijings Haidian district read more

Despite its concerted efforts, the United States has seemingly been unable to prevent Prosperity7, the venture capital arm of Saudi Arabias state-owned oil conglomerate Aramco, from investing in Chinas AI sector. Prosperity7 has become the sole foreign investor in Chinas leading generative artificial intelligence start-up, supporting the nations initiative to develop a domestic competitor to OpenAI.

As reported by the Financial Times, Prosperity7 joined a significant $400 million funding round for the AI start-up Zhipu AI. This investment values the Chinese company at approximately $3 billion.

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Zhipu AI is the largest Chinese generative AI start-up in terms of workforce employing over 800 people at its headquarters in Beijings Haidian district. It has previously secured funding from major tech firms such as Alibaba Cloud, Tencent and Meituan, and enjoys backing from state investors, including the National Social Security Fund.

The companys core offering is an AI-in-a-box product, which allows businesses to utilise its large language model with AI processors and other hardware on-site ensuring enhanced data security.

AI charms Prosperity7

This isnt Prosperity7s first foray into the Chinese AI sector. Earlier this year, under pressure from the Biden administration, the venture capital fund was compelled to divest its shares in Rain AI, a chip startup backed by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, according to a report by Bloomberg. Prosperity7 had to exit its investment in the company, which is known for its chip design capabilities and association with Altman.

Besides Zhipu AI, China is home to other notable AI startups, including Moonshot AI, MiniMax and 01.ai. Prosperity7s involvement marks the first significant instance of a foreign investor supporting one of these leading Chinese AI companies.

Given that Prosperity7 is part of the Saudi-owned Aramco, its reasonable to infer that this investment has the endorsement of the Saudi Kingdom. Saudi Aramco is largely government-owned, with the Saudi Arabian government holding 98.2 per cent of the shares and the countrys sovereign wealth fund, the Public Investment Fund (PIF), owning 4 per cent.

The birth of Prosperity7

Launched on 1 February, 2022, Prosperity7 manages a $3 billion fund to foster the growth of cutting-edge technologies and innovative business models globally. As a venture capital arm with a long-term perspective, Prosperity7 is committed to driving prosperity and positively impacting on a broad scale. According to Aramco, Prosperity7 backs visionary entrepreneurs building transformative companies addressing some of the worlds most critical challenges. The fund emphasises creating enduring partnerships, offering quality mentorship and providing access to a vast network of leading companies, venture capital firms and industry experts worldwide.

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Prosperity7 investment portfolio spans early-stage enterprises, blockchain, financial and industrial technologies, healthcare, and education solutions. Based in Dhahran, the fund comes from Dammam Well-7, the first commercially viable oil well in Saudi Arabia, known as the Prosperity Well.

US wary of Chinas AI forays

Last year, the United States banned investments in Chinas artificial intelligence sector, affecting major global tech investors like SoftBank and Tiger Global. These restrictions have significantly impacted Chinas AI industry, making Prosperity7s recent investment particularly timely and beneficial.

As reported by the Financial Times, Lenovo, the Chinese PC manufacturer, issued $2 billion in convertible bonds to Alat, a subsidiary of Saudi Arabias PIF. In return, Lenovo plans to establish its regional headquarters in Riyadh and construct a manufacturing plant in Saudi Arabia. Companies like SenseTime, Tencent Cloud and Meituan are also expanding their presence in the kingdom.

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Chinas rising footprint in AI domain

Earlier this week, China unveiled a three-year action plan to enhance standards in cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence. This initiative, outlined in an official statement, was collaboratively issued by the Central Cyberspace Affairs Commission, the State Administration for Market Regulation and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

The plan mandates Chinese experts and institutions to develop standardized protocols in several advanced technology domains such as generative AI, blockchain, cloud computing, quantum information, brain-computer interfaces, next-generation internet and the metaverse.

This standardisation effort aims to drive technological and economic development and boost international influence.

A report from BlueWeave Consulting in February highlighted that Chinas AI market was valued at $29.02 billion in 2023. The report projects that from 2024 to 2029, the market will expand at an annual growth rate of 20.12 per cent, reaching an estimated $104.7 billion by 2030.

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This rapid growth in AI research and development is cementing Chinas status as a global leader in AI innovation. As China continues to dominate the AI landscape, the markets expansion provides significant opportunities for businesses and investors in this rapidly evolving field.
The clip shared by Anjali shows she having good time with NBK as both are having conversations, high-fiving as well as sharing laughs read more

Actress Anjali, who Tollywood star Nandamuri Balakrishna pushed at the Gangs of Godavari pre-release event, has reacted to the incident by sharing a clip and note on Twitter.

Taking to X (previously known as Twitter), the actress wrote, I want to thank Balakrishna Garu for gracing the Gangs of Godavari pre-release event with his presence. I would like to express that Balakrishna garu and I have always maintained mutual respect for each other and we share a great friendship from a long time. It was wonderful to share the stage with him again.

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The clip shared by Anjali shows she having good time with NBK as both are having conversations, high-fiving as well as sharing laughs

I want to thank Balakrishna Garu for gracing the Gangs of Godavari pre-release event with his presence.



I would like to express that Balakrishna garu and I have always maintained mutual respect for eachother and We share a great friendship from a long time. It was wonderful to pic.twitter.com/mMOOqGcch2  Anjali (@yoursanjali) May 30, 2024

One of the biggest problems that I notice from people sharing this

Look at her laughing. She should have _____



1. It is NOT possible to respond according to your spectator response as you watch this on your device. This most moral policing, holier than thou - pure as driven https://t.co/nzTOlGJm0J  Chinmayi Sripaada (@Chinmayi) May 30, 2024

The video, which went viral yesterday, showed NBK pushing away Anjali on the stage after the latter couldnt hear him went viral on social media. Filmmaker Hansal Mehta slammed the actors move and asked on X, Who is this scumbag?

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Addressing Hansal a user wrote, They both have acted before with each other so theyve that bonding, irrespective of age he had that friend kinda vibe with co stars, hes the biggest star of Telugu film and industry and the son of great SR NTR and is the uncle of JR NTR, so before calling him a scum bag and all the words ur using think once and tweet before keeping a finger into someones life who is a star himself and PPL around know.
May 3o, 2024: The Russian war in Ukraine is in its third year and, while Ukraine holds the line in Ukraine, they are also increasing their attacks inside Russia. The Ukrainian attacks are against economic and transportation operations that, when damaged or disabled, will make it more difficult for the half million Russian troops in Ukraine to continue operating. Russia has already lost half a million soldiers dead, disabled, or missing inside Ukraine. Russian troops currently in Ukraine are short of supplies, morale, and effective leadership. Casualties among senior officers have been unusually high. By early 2024 Russia had lost about 350 officers above the rank of major and up to the rank of general. Normally, these senior officers dont spend much time in active combat zones unless there are problems at the front that junior officers, lieutenants, and captains, cannot handle. During the first few months of the war the Russians lost many if not most of these junior officers. Russia has not been able to replace these junior officers because most of them came from training programs that require several years to complete. Efforts to promote talented reenlisted soldiers to the rank of lieutenant had limited success initially but then failed because soldiers realized that fighting in Ukraine was a death trap for them and you were more likely to get killed if you were a lieutenant. This caused senior officers to visit the front more often to try and solve these problems. There were no effective solutions but there were heavy casualties among the senior officers who spent a lot of time at the front.

The Ukrainians noticed this situation and came up with a plan to take advantage of it. The Ukrainians began organizing more partisan groups within Russian-occupied portions of Ukraine as well as in Russia itself. Many Russian civilians were unhappy with this war, which was getting lots of Russian soldiers killed and causing economic problems inside Russia. This led to the formation of several armed groups of pro-Ukraine Russians as well as making it easier for Russian-speaking Ukrainian operatives to operate inside Russia collecting information and organizing sabotage missions. Most of the sabotage was made to appear as an accident or lack of maintenance, both of which are common inside peacetime as well as wartime Russia.

Since the Americans would not supply Ukraine with satellite photos of possible targets inside Russia, Ukraine used its agents to locate or confirm the location and condition of potential targets. This is what made the UAV attacks possible on eighteen Russian fuel refining and storage locations this year. This caused fuel shortages and higher fuel prices inside Russia. Attacks were also on manufacturers of key components for military equipment as well as warehouses containing military equipment, including explosive items. Those nighttime attacks, even more than the ones on fuel depots, produced dramatic explosions and fires that could be seen for many kilometers. So many of these occurred that the state controlled mass media could not effectively conceal what was happening and that it was the Ukrainians who were doing it.

Ukraine deliberately carried out these attacks near major cities like Moscow, St Petersburg, and more distant cities like Kazan, which is 730 kilometers east of Moscow. Nearly half the population of Kazan are native Tatars who would rather live in a Tartar nation than one dominated by Russians. There are many other ethnic minorities in Russia and Ukraine can find locals willing to aid the Ukrainians in their fight against Russia.

The Ukrainians had already organized and in some cases armed thousands of Ukrainian civilians living in Russian controlled areas. These partisan devote most of their efforts to obtaining detailed information on what local Russian forces are doing and what shape these Russian troops are in. It can take days to get status reports to Ukrainian forces about Russian military activities. These reports often result in Ukrainian UAV attacks on key Russian targets.

Russia has had less success maintaining agents inside Ukraine. At the start of the war, it was revealed that Russia had lots of agents, some of them in the Ukrainian government and military. During the first year of the war most of these Russian agents were revealed, often as they sought to carry out acts of sabotage. By the second year of the war Russia had few agents left inside Ukraine while Ukraine had a growing number of agents inside Russia. This was because few Russians could see any justification for Russia invading Ukraine. The war in Ukraine has become increasingly unpopular inside Russia and more Russians are acting against their own government. Ukraine appears to have little contact with these anti-government Russians other than not interfering with them if they base themselves on the Ukrainian side of the border in between attacks inside Russia.

In response to the Russian partisan attacks, the Russian army has deployed over 30,000 soldiers in border areas where the partisans, both Russian and Ukrainian, are operating. The partisans are numerous, with up to 100,000 Russian members of these groups who support and carry out operations inside Russia.

As the war in Ukraine gets more Russian soldiers killed and does more damage to the Russian economy, the Russian partisans inside Russia become more active and troublesome.
Found guilty of felony on all 34 counts in the hush money trial case, former US president Donald Trump is now awaiting sentencing while also continuing his presidential campaign. His conviction has intensified partisan divisions, galvanised some of his supporters, and alienated some Republican voters. We explain what this means for the US presidential elections 2024, and for his candidacy read more

Former US president Donald Trump has been found guilty of felony on all 34 counts. Reuters

Former United States president Donald Trump on Thursday was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his criminal hush money trial. This historic verdict, delivered after 9.5 hours of jury deliberation over two days, marks the first time a former US president has been tried and convicted in a criminal case.

Trump is still a leading contender in the 2024 presidential race. After this conviction, is he still eligible to run for the President of the US after the conviction? Will his chances in the race for the top post in the country be affected? Can he even vote? We explain.

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Trumps eligibility to run for president

Despite being found guilty of felony on 34 counts, Donald Trump remains eligible to run for president. The US Constitution sets only three qualifications for presidential candidates: they must be at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen, and have resided in the US for at least 14 years. Neither a criminal conviction nor a prison sentence would disqualify Trump from pursuing his campaign.

Even if Trump goes to jail, which is unlikely given that he has been convicted of a non-violent crime, is a first-time offender, and is on the older side, he would still be able to campaign and run for the post of president.

There is precedent for this. For instance, in 1920, Socialist candidate Eugene Debs ran for president from prison, though he was not a serious contender.

However, it is important to note that even in the unlikely case that Trump gets a jail term on the day of sentencing on July 11, there will be a long appeals process against that. That procedure is not expected to end before the elections in November.

The jury deliberated for 9.5 hours over two days to arrive at the guilty verdict. AP

Can Trump still vote?

Trumps right to vote in the upcoming election depends on the specifics of his sentencing. In Florida, where Trump is a resident, felons are re-enfranchised following the completion of their sentence and the payment of associated fines and fees. If Trump is sentenced to prison, his voting rights would hinge on whether he has served his sentence by Election Day.

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Trumps campaign bolstered by the verdict?

The unanimous guilty verdict has had immediate political repercussions. Trump described the verdict as the result of a rigged, disgraceful trial. He added, The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people. This is long from over. Republican leaders and officials have rallied behind Trump, with many viewing the verdict as politically motivated. This unity within the GOP is expected to bolster Trumps campaign through increased fundraising and solidified support from his base.

The influx of donations following the verdict crashed WinRed, the platform used for fundraising. That was a case in point about the fervent support Trump continues to command.

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Campaign strategists are leveraging this momentum to portray Trump as a victim of a politically driven justice system, a narrative that has historically proven effective in rallying his base.

In a different era, a criminal conviction could potentially ruin a presidential candidacy. However, Trumps political career has persisted despite two impeachment efforts, allegations of sexual misconduct, investigations into potential connections with Russia, and efforts to overturn an election. The general allegations in this case have been public knowledge for years and are considered less serious than other accusations against Trump, such as undermining American democracy and mishandling national security information.

Negative impact expected, too

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Ariel Hill-Davis, co-founder of Republican Women for Progress, a group that has sought to move the party away from Trump, told BBC, I do think it will have an impact and damage him as a candidate.

US President Joe Biden addresses a rally ahead of the 2024 US Presidential Elections. AP

She says younger voters and those who are college-educated and live in the suburbs have been concerned about Trumps demeanor and his approach to governing. The guilty verdict is going to further shore up those concerns, Hill-Davis said.

A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted in April revealed that one in four Republicans would not vote for Trump if found guilty, while 60 per cent of independents said a conviction would sway their vote against him.

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Sarah Longwell, founder of Republican Voters Against Trump, who conducts regular focus groups, told AP that the guilty verdict may help Biden on the margins by pushing so-called double haters  a term used to describe voters who dislike Trump and Biden  away from Trump.

There is also an expectation that President Joe Bidens campaign is the immediate reaction from elected Democrats was muted. However, the Biden campaign issued a fundraising appeal within minutes of the verdict, stating, Were THRILLED that justice has finally been served. But this convicted criminal can STILL win back the presidency this fall without a huge surge in Democratic support.

As Trump awaits sentencing and continues his presidential campaign, the political landscape remains highly volatile. His conviction has intensified partisan divisions, galvanised some of his supporters, and also alienated some Republican voters. The upcoming months will reveal the extent to which Trumps legal troubles impact his campaign and the broader US electoral process.

With inputs from agencies
Donald Trump has been found guilty on all 34 counts in the hush money trial, making him the first former US president to be convicted of a crime. The 77-year-old will now have to wait until 11 July for his sentencing in the case. The judge in the matter will now have to decide if he should go to prison or if he should face another punishment, which could be home detention read more

Former US president Donald Trump gestures following the announcement of the verdict of his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, outside Trump Tower, in New York City. Despite being found guilty, Trump struck a defiant stance, calling the entire trial rigged and a sham. Reuters

We the jury have a verdict. And with these words, American history changed. After five weeks of a lengthy and sometimes tumultuous trial, the 12 members of the jury in a New York court found Donald J Trump guilty on all 34 counts in the hush money trial case, making him the first former US president ever convicted of a crime.

The 77-year-old Trump , who is currently in the midst of the US presidential race, is now a felon. However, he is not barred from continuing his battle to unseat President Joe Biden in November.

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As soon as the jury concluded, Trumps lawyer Todd Blanche, said his team was eying an appeal as soon as we can. Meanwhile, Trump himself took a defiant stance, saying: Im a very innocent man. He added that the real verdict would come from voters on election day. He branded the trial rigged and a disgrace.

After being found guilty, the question that all seem to be asking is: Will Donald Trump go to prison? We have the answers.

Guilty!

Trump has been found guilty of falsifying business records to reimburse his lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, on the eve of the 2016 election, when her claim to have had sex with him could have proved fatal to his campaign against Hillary Clinton.

The prosecution, led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg , had to prove that Trump approved of his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, paying adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 to stay silent about an alleged sexual encounter so as not to derail Trumps 2016 campaign. Trump then approved a fraudulent scheme to disguise the reimbursement to Cohen as legal expenses to hide the hush money.

According to prosecutors, by doing so, Trump ran afoul of election rules, which amounted to election fraud, pure and simple.

During the trial, the prosecution brought in 20 witnesses. This included Daniels , whose real name is Stephanie Clifford and who described to the court in graphic detail what she says was a 2006 sexual encounter with the married Trump. They also brought in Cohen to describe how the payments were made to Daniels.

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At the end, it seemed all of the evidence pointed to the fact that Trump was guilty.

Trumps guilty verdict drew angry reactions from supporters of the former US president, and elation among his detractors. As one of them said to AFP later, I think its going to make him more popular with the American people because theyre seeing how hes being targeted and mistreated.

Donald Trump walks to make comments to members of the media after being found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York. Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes. Reuters

The sentencing

While Trump has been found guilty, it is not yet known what punishment he faces. The case now moves on to the sentencing phase, which is a process largely controlled by Judge Juan Merchan.

Judge Merchan has set the sentencing date for 11 July at 10 am ET (7.30 pm IST) and has ordered parties in the case to file motions by 13 June and for prosecutors to respond by 27 June.

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According to reports, Trump will likely sit for an interview with a probation officer for a pre-sentence report. This will include information about his personal history as well as his criminal record. As NBC News reported, the responses will be incorporated into a pre-sentence report for the judge, which includes sentencing recommendations for Merchan to consider.

Until his sentencing, Trump will be free to speak to the media, travel and continue his presidential campaign. Interestingly, he will no longer be bound by the gag order that had barred him from discussing witnesses, jurors and the judges family members, among others.

Prison or no prison

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All of the 34 counts which Trump has been charged under are Class E felonies  the least serious category under New York law. The maximum sentence for the charges Trump was found guilty of is four years in prison.

However, it seems unlikely that Merchan will impose the maximum punishment on Trump. Some factors that will likely influence the judges decision are: Trumps age of 77 and his lack of a prior criminal record.

However, Trumps conduct during the trial could also influence Merchans ultimate decision. This could be a problem for the former US president, who publicly attacked the judge and accused him of political bias throughout the trial.

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A quote from the Biden campaign is displayed on screens as part of Fox News reporting on news that a jury had found former US president Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts in his criminal trial in New York. Reuters

Experts, however, are of the opinion that Trump wont go to jail. He will be looking at fines and restitution, probation or other conditions. New York City defence lawyer Michael Bachner told NBC News, Id be shocked if Trump is sentenced to jail. He added that a sentence of probation would be normal for the average defendant convicted of the same crime.

A report by CBS News said that Trump could be possibly looking at home detention where he would be mandated to wear an ankle monitor and his movements would be tracked. Dan Horwitz, a defence lawyer who formerly prosecuted white-collar cases for the Manhattan District Attorneys office, said that a home detention sentence, which walks a middle ground between no punishment and a stint in state prison, might be the most likely outcome. It would also satisfy Trumps unusual security and political situation.

Pace Law School professor Bennett Gershman told CNBC that owing to the complex challenges it would bring to imprison Trump, such as his Secret Service would also have to be jailed, the judge might instead opt for a sentence of house arrest.

However, if Trump is sent to jail for more than a year, New York law requires that his sentence be served in a New York penal facility. But if his sentence is shorter than a year, it would be served in a New York City correctional facility, such as Rikers Island.

A person holds a mask while impersonating Republican presidential candidate and former US president Donald Trump outside the Manhattan criminal court following the announcement of the verdict in Trumps criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, in New York City. Reuters

Trump can still be president

Its also important to note that while Trump has been found guilty, it doesnt stop his bid for the White House. The US constitution only requires presidential candidates to be at least 35 years old and natural-born citizens who have lived in the US for at least 14 years.

As of now, it is unknown as to what the political fallout of the verdict is. But come November, the picture will be clearer.

With inputs from agencies
The US has authorised Ukraine to use American-made weapons for strikes within Russian territory. This decision, approved by President Joe Biden, marks a departure from Washingtons previous stance. We look at the reason behind this policy change and whether it will have a significant impact on the war read more

The US has authorised Ukraine to use American-made weapons for strikes within Russian territory. Agencies

The United States has authorised Ukraine to use American-made weapons for strikes within Russian territory, specifically targeting forces involved in Moscows offensive in Ukraines Kharkiv region. This decision, approved by President Joe Biden, marks a departure from Washingtons previous stance. We look at the reason behind this policy change and whether it will have a significant impact on the war.

The decision and conditions attached

Bidens recent decision allows Ukraine to use some of the American-made weapons it is receiving as military aid to strike Russian territories. The condition is that Ukraine can only use these advanced weapons on troops directly involved in the offensive in Kharkiv.

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This move enables Ukraine to use weapons such as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) for deeper and more effective strikes. However, restrictions on the use of long-range weapons, such as the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) inside Russia, remain in place.

In addition to the US, European allies have pledged increased support for Ukraine. France is reportedly considering sending military trainers, and Western nations are working to boost artillery production and procurement to sustain Ukraines defence efforts. This collective support aims to bolster Ukraines ability to resist Russian advances and protect its territory.

People walk on a street while smoke rises after a Russian attack in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, May 17, 2024. File image/AP

Why the restrictions were initially in place

Initially, the US imposed strict limitations on Ukraines use of American weapons to avoid direct confrontation with Russia and prevent the conflict from expanding. The fear was that strikes within Russian territory could provoke a broader war, drawing NATO and the US into direct military conflict with Moscow.

However, the dynamics of the war have compelled a reassessment of this policy. Russias aggressive moves in Kharkiv and their use of powerful weaponry against civilian targets have intensified the urgency for Ukraine to respond more robustly. Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have argued that the restrictions hampered their ability to counter Russian offensives effectively.

The US administration, after consulting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other allies, decided to refine its approach to balance support for Ukraine while managing the risks of escalation.

Mounting pressure from both Ukrainian officials and international allies was partially responsible for the change in Washingtons policy. Kyiv has argued that it is unfair to restrict their use of US weapons while Russian forces continue to target Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure. Allies like the UK, Germany, France, and NATO Secretary General had echoed these sentiments, advocating for Ukraines right to defend itself fully.

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Current situation in Russia-Ukraine war

As of late May, the Russian military has been transferring additional regiments and brigades to northern Kharkiv Oblast, specifically around Strilecha-Lyptsi and Vovchansk, according to Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi. Despite these reinforcements, Russian forces reportedly lack the strength to launch a full-scale offensive capable of breaking through Ukrainian defences, according to Institute for the Study of War.

Ukrainian officials have noted that Russian forces aim to fix Ukrainian troops in the north and maintain their offensive momentum. Since early May, Russia has deployed over 30,000 ground troops from the Belgorod region, seizing several villages and destroying Vovchansk in an attempt to create a buffer zone.

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Russias strategy includes using warplanes, glide bombs, missiles, and heavy artillery to bombard Kharkiv city and surrounding areas, resulting in significant civilian casualties. This escalation has prompted the US to reconsider its restrictions and offer more substantial support to Ukraine.

Expected impact on the war

The authorisation for Ukraine to use HIMARS and other American-made weapons for strikes within Russian territory is expected to have several implications for the war. Firstly, it enhances Ukraines ability to target and neutralise Russian artillery, multiple rocket systems, UAV teams, and command posts, potentially disrupting Russian operations and reducing the pressure on Ukrainian defences in Kharkiv.

Rob Lee, a senior fellow in the Foreign Policy Research Institutes Eurasia program, told Financial Times that while the change might not immediately alter the frontline dynamics, it will complicate Russias offensive efforts. By enabling more effective strikes at greater depths, Ukraine can better defend Kharkiv and possibly slow down Russian advancements.

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Ukrainian servicemen of 79th brigade take part in training, amid Russias attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine on 4 March, 2024. File Image/Reuters

The Biden administration believes that the resumption of US armed supplies, coupled with improved defensive strategies, has already slowed Russian progress. With the new policy, officials hope to halt the offensive entirely, giving Ukraine a stronger position to repel Russian forces and protect its sovereignty.

The US decision to allow Ukraine to use American-made weapons for strikes within Russian territory marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing conflict. By providing Ukraine with the means to more effectively counter Russian offensives, the US and its allies aim to bolster Ukraines defense and deter further Russian aggression. As the war continues to evolve, this policy shift underscores the international communitys commitment to supporting Ukraine in its struggle for sovereignty and territorial integrity.

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With inputs from agencies
Karnataka lawmaker Prajwal Revanna, who is accused of sexually assaulting multiple women, has been arrested after he returned from Germanys Munich and landed at the Bengaluru airport in the early hours of Friday. The 33-year-old is expected to be taken for medical examination soon, following which he will be produced before the Special Court of Peoples Representatives read more

Prajwal Revanna, the Karnataka MP who is accused of sexually assaulting multiple women, has been arrested after he returned from Germanys Munich and landed at the Bengaluru airport in the early hours of Friday.

The now-suspended Janata Dal (Secular) leader, running for the Hassan Lok Sabha seat, had left for Germany on 27 April, a day after polling in his constituency ended.

The 33-year-old lawmaker is facing a SIT probe over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by his house help. He is also facing two other sexual assault complaints, in connection with obscene videos on the internet that allegedly showed the MP assaulting women on camera.

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Lets take a closer look.

The arrest

Prajwal Revanna , the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and nephew of former Karnataka chief minister HD Kumaraswamy, was aboard Lufthansa flight LH0764, which landed at the Kempegowda International Airport at around 12.49 am, as per Indian Express.

The immigration authorities handed the JD(S) suspended MP to police officials waiting at the airport.

Suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexually abusing several women, returns to India, being taken to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), Bengaluru, Friday in the wee hours, 31 May 2024. PTI

He was then taken to the Crime Investigation Department (CID) office, where he spent the night in the custody of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the case.

Upon his arrival in India, the SIT team confiscated two of his check-in bags, as per The Times of India.

Security was tightened outside the CID office in the city and barricades were erected outside the office.

As per NDTV sources, Revanna had cancelled his flights home twice earlier.

Whats next

Revanna is expected to be taken out for medical examination soon, following which he will be produced before the magistrate in the Special Court of Peoples Representatives, as per TOI.

According to TOI, Revanna was also interrogated by the SIT on Friday. The team has also issued a notice to his mother, Bhavani Revanna, to be present at home on 1 June for questioning.

The anticipatory bail petition filed by the accused, which has now turned into a regular bail plea, is also scheduled to be heard today.

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The verdict on the anticipatory bail plea of his mother Bhavani filed in the kidnapping case in which her husband, HD Revanna was earlier arrested is also expected to be heard today.

Suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexually abusing several women, returns to India to appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT), at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. PTI

The Deccan Herald reports that the SIT intends to seek 14-day police custody, even though the court usually only orders seven to 10 days.

Alternatively, in order to allow for more arguments, the court may remand him in judicial custody.

The Indian Express sources claim that although the statements made by the three victims in the three FIRs of rape against Revanna serve as primary evidence, the SIT has also gathered secondary evidence by confirming the locations where the purportedly recorded assault was taken and by analysing the sounds and physical characteristics of the individuals in the video to support their allegations against the JD(S) MP.

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Technical information, such as the accused and victims cell phone tower locations, has also been used by the SIT. Additionally, more than a dozen witnesses have provided statements, according to the report.

Diplomatic passport to be revoked

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said that the Ministry of External Affairs has initiated action under provisions of the Passport Act 1967 for the revocation of Revannas diplomatic passport.

A show cause notice was issued to the passport holder on 23 May, giving him 10 working days to respond to our notice. We are waiting for his response and accordingly, we will take things forward once we hear from him or once the 10-day period expires, the MEA said in a statement.

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Earlier, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking for Revannas diplomatic passport to be cancelled, as per another NDTV report.

A similar request was made by the investigating police team to the MEA.

The case

Revanna is facing a probe by the SIT over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation by three women.

After polling ended in Karnatakas Hassan on 26 April, obscene videos of Prajwal Revanna involving women were circulated in his constituency.

According to the Hindustan Times, Poornachandra Tejaswi MG, the JD (S) and the BJP election agent filed an FIR and accused Naveen Gowda and others of circulating the videos to harm Revannas reputation.

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On 27 April, soon after wrapping up the polls, the 33-year-old MP fled the country, and he reportedly travelled to Germany.

On the same day, CM Siddaramaiah ordered a SIT to investigate the case, while the chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW) penned a letter to the government regarding the issue.

On 28 April, the first case against Revanna was filed by a 47-year-old former maid for allegedly harassing her sexually multiple times between 2019 and 2022. Whenever HD Revannas wife wasnt there, he used to call the women to the storeroom and touch them while giving them fruits. He used to remove saree pins and sexually assault women, she said in a complaint.

On 30 April, the JD(S) temporarily suspended Revanna from the party and welcomed the SIT probe into the case.

The second case was registered by the Bengaluru police on 1 May on the complaint of a 44-year-old woman, who may be a JD(S) worker, accusing Prajwal Revanna of raping her multiple times, including at least once at gunpoint, according to NDTV.

On 1 May, Prajwal responded to the allegations for the first time through his lawyers and sought some time to attend the SIT probe. Taking to X, he said, Truth will prevail soon.

     ,     C.I.D   .



   .



As I am not in Bangalore to attend the enquiry, I have communicated to C.I.D Bangalore through my Advocate. Truth will prevail soon. pic.twitter.com/lyU7YUoJem  Prajwal Revanna (@iPrajwalRevanna) May 1, 2024

The third was filed on 3 May when a 60-year-old woman accused Prajwal Revanna of rape.

On 4 May, his father, HD Revanna was arrested in connection with a kidnapping case linked to sexual abuse allegations against his son. He was later released on bail.

A blue corner notice was issued to locate Revanna, as he skipped the SIT investigation even after multiple notices.

The arrest warrant against Revanna  under which he has now been arrested  was issued on 18 May.

On 23 May, former PM and grandfather of the accused, HD Deve Gowda, issued a stern warning to his grandson, asking him to appear before the SIT. He asked him to face the law or face serious consequences if he refused to return.

I have issued a warning to @iPrajwalRevanna to return immediately from wherever he is and subject himself to the legal process. He should not test my patience any further. pic.twitter.com/kCMuNJOvAo  H D Deve Gowda (@H_D_Devegowda) May 23, 2024

On 27 May, according to NDTV, Revanna released a video statement on X, saying, I apologise to my parents I was in depression (over political rivals attacks on the sex assault charges). I will appear (before the police team) on 31 May. I will cooperate to the best of my abilities I have the blessings of God

Revanna has denied all charges against him and has claimed a conspiracy by his political rivals.

With inputs from agencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among the big names in the fray in the seventh and final phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls on Saturday. The PM, who is yet again contesting from Varanasi  his third time after the 2014 and 2019 polls  faces six opponents read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves towards his supporters during a roadshow as part of an election campaign, in Varanasi, on 13 May. The city goes to polls today and the PM is up against Congress' Ajay Rai. Reuters

The seventh and final phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls is being held today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among the big names that will contest.

Modi will yet again contest from Varanasi  his third time after the 2014 and 2019 polls.

Modi defeated Arvind Kejriwal by a massive margin of 3.37 lakh votes in 2014 and handily beat out the SP-BSP Mahagathbandhan candidate Shalini Yadav in 2019 by an even more impressive margin of 4.80 lakh votes.

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Modi had to face 41 candidates in 2014 and 26 opponents in 2019.

This time, Modi is one of seven candidates in the fray.

But who are his competitors?

Lets take a closer look:

Ajay Rai (Congress)

Rai is hoping the third time is the charm.

According to Moneycontrol, this is the Congress candidates third attempt to get elected from Varanasi.

Rai, 53, kicked off his political career in the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

Rai, a karyakarta, then became the convener of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP)  the BJPs student wing.

Ajay Rai was appointed as the Congress Uttar Pradesh chief in August. Image courtesy: @kashikirai

Rai was then elected to the UP Assembly on a BJP ticket in 1996, 2002 and 2007 from Varanasis Kolasla.

However, Rai quit the BJP after being denied a Lok Sabha ticket in 2009.

Rai has movable assets of Rs 6.66 lakh and immovable assets worth Rs 1.25 crore.

According to Deccan Herald, Rai has been booked in 18 cases.

This time, he has been put up as the INDIA bloc candidate.

According to Indian Express, Rai was appointed as the Congress Uttar Pradesh chief in August.

He replaced former Rajya Sabha member Brijlal Khabri.

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Kolisetty Shiva Kumar (Yuga Thulasi Party)

Hailing from Hyderabad, Kumar is an ex-board member of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams.

Kumar told Indian Express he has worked on cow protection throughout his life and owns three gaushalas in Hyderabad that shelter 1,500 cows.

Kumar and the Yuga Thulasi Party have been embroiled in a spat with the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Hyderabad.

Kumars main demand is that the cow be declared Indias national animal, as per Deccan Herald.

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Kumar has movable assets worth Rs 36.19 lakh and immovable assets of Rs 2.02 crore.

Kolisetty Shiva Kumar has worked on cow protection throughout his life. He owns three gaushalas in Hyderabad that shelter 1,500 cows. Image courtesy: @YugaTulasi

There is some controversy over Kumars candidacy.

Two people have filed complaints against Kumar accusing him of fraudulently using copies of their Aadhaar cards to enlist them as his proposers for the poll, as per Indian Express.

One Manju Devi and her brother-in-law Mahesh from Varanasis Sonerpura have made the allegations against Kumar.

Indian Express quoted Station House Officer VK Shukla as saying, Weve received two complaints  from Manju Devi and her brother-in-law Mahesh Sahni, levelling similar charges. Thus, two FIRs have been registered against Kumar. Complainants have alleged that Kumar fraudulently acquired their Aadhaar cards and utilised them as his proposers in the election.

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Ather Jamal Lari (Bahujan Samaj Party)

According to Economic Times, Lari has decades of political experience.

He was previously with the Janata Dal, Apna Dal, and Qaumi Ekta Dal.

He was also briefly with the Samajwadi Party prior to the 2022 polls.

A resident of Varanasi, Lari is a loom owner.

As per Indian Express, Lari has been associated with socialist politics since the 1960s.

He was a student leader who won the 1971 polls at Gorakhpurs DAV Inter College.

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Lari told the newspaper he was among those forced to go underground during the Emergency.

Ather Jamal Lari has contested polls several times but is yet to win one. Image courtesy: @AtherLari63946

Lari in 1977 joined the newly-formed Janata Party  in which he held several positions.

Lari has fought several polls in Varanasi but is yet to win one.

Lari has movable assets worth Rs 6.52 lakh and immovable assets worth Rs 1.8 crore.

He has 1 case against him.

Gagan Prakash Yadav, (Apna Dal, Kameravadi)

Yadav is an Apna Dal (K) candidate.

The party, headed up by MLA Pallavi Patel, split from the Samajwadi Party over a purported lack of representation to Dalits, Backward and minority communities, as per Moneycontrol.

Yadav has not been on the campaign trail since his brother passed away in a road accident a few days ago.

According to Deccan Herald, Yadav himself left the Samajwadi Party recently.

Yadav has five cases against him.

He has movable assets worth Rs 19.16 lakh and immovable assets:valued at Rs 66 lakh.

Dinesh Kumar Yadav (Independent)

Yadav is a three-time corporator from Varanasis Sikraul.

He has been involved in politics over the past decade.

He was previously with the BJP  until he filed his nomination.

He told Indian Express he decided to contest under democratic principles of the country."

I am fighting because there is democracy in the country, said Yadav.

However, BJP regional media in-charge Navratan Rathi denied Kumars affiliation with the BJP.

I have not heard this name, Rathi said.

Yadav has movable assets worth Rs 16.40 lakh and immovable assets valued at Rs 10 lakh.

Yadav has no cases against him.

Sanjay Kumar Tiwari (Independent)

Tiwari is a social worker based in New Delhi.

He has partipated in workers rights movements.

I have not been directly associated with any party, but I worked with them as an intellectual, Tiwari told Indian Express.

As per Deccan Herald, Tiwari is a believer in Gandhian philosophy and a critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Tiwari has movable assets worth Rs 11.46 lakh and immovable assets valued at Rs 29 lakh.

With inputs from agencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeks a third win from Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi constituency as he goes up against Congress Ajay Rai. In Himachal Pradeshs Mandi, actor-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut is facing off against Congress Vikramaditya Singh, son of former CM, Virbhadra Singh. Here are other big battles you cant miss in Phase 7 of the election cycle read more

Prime Minister Narendra Modi with BJP candidate from Mandi constituency Kangana Ranaut during a public meeting for Lok Sabha elections, in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh. Both, PM Modi and Ranaut will be the big faces in Phase 7 of the Lok Sabha elections. File image/PTI

The seventh phase of voting in the Lok Sabha elections is almost here  it will be held on Saturday, 1 June. And once voting in this phase ends, the long election cycle will come to an end with only the results left to be announced on 4 June.

In this final phase of voting, 57 constituencies across seven states and a Union Territory will go to the polls. This includes 13 seats in Uttar Pradesh, nine in West Bengal, eight in Bihar, six in Odisha, three in Jharkhand and one in Chandigarh. All 13 seats in Punjab and four in Himachal Pradesh. The final phase of voting will decide the fate of as many as 904 candidates across political parties.

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As we prepare for the last phase of voting, here are some key battles to look out for.

UPs Varanasi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is aiming for a hat-trick of wins from Varanasis Uttar Pradesh. In 2019, the PM secured a victory from the temple town with a margin of nearly 4.8 lakh votes. And is eyeing a five lakh margin for the polls this time around.

Notably, Varanasi, which is made up of five Assembly segments of Rohaniya, Varanasi North, Varanasi South, Varanasi Cantonment, and Sevapuri, has always been a BJP stronghold. Since 1957, the BJP has won the seat seven times and the Congress six. In fact, the BJP has a near-perfect record since 1991, however, losing only once  to the Congress  in 2004.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi during Nari Shakti Sammelan in Varanasi. The PM is aiming for a hat-trick of wins from the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency. File image/PTI

For PM Modi, his biggest competition is Congress Ajay Rai, who had also contested the seat in the previous two elections.

Other candidates in the fray against Modi are Ather Jamal Lari of the Mayawati-led Bahujan Samaj Party. The Indian Express calls him a veteran of several elections in Varanasi, without ever winning.

UPs Gorakhpur

Considered as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths bastion, Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh will go to the polls in the seventh phase.

This Lok Sabha election, the Purvanchal seat will see a battle between two Bhojpuri actors: BJPs Ravindra Shyamnarayan Shukla, popularly known as Ravi Kishan, and Samajwadi Partys Kajal Nishad.

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For Kishan, its a prestige issue. He won the seat in the 2019 elections, defeating SPs Rambhual Nishad with a margin of more than 3 lakh votes.

Despite Kishans mass popularity, the influence and clout of Yogi Adityanath in the region will have a big role to play in the elections.

UPs Mirzapur

Now famous for the show named after it, Mirzapur will see an interesting battle between Anupriya Patel of the Apna Dal (Sonelal) party and SPs Ramesh Chand Bind, who switched from the BJP after being refused a seat from his home constituency, Bhadohi.

Mirzapur has never voted for a MP three times in a row. But thats the trend Patel hopes to buck as she stands for elections once again.

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Union Minister and Apna Dal (S) candidate from Mirzapur constituency Anupriya Patel is hoping to buck trends in Mirzapur. File image/PTI

Patel has held the Mirzapur seat since 2014, winning in 2019 with a margin of 2.32 lakh votes, maintaining her 2014 lead of 2.19 lakh votes.

Caste plays a very important role in the elections in Mirzapur with Scheduled Caste (SC) voters comprising 26 per cent of the 19 lakh electorate. Among them, Jatavs, who have traditionally supported the BSP, form the majority. The BSP has fielded Manish Kumar Tripathi for this seat.

Himachal Pradeshs Mandi

Also known as Chhoti Kashi, Mandi in the hill state has bagged a lot of media attention as Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut is making her poll debut from the BJP.

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However, her stint in politics is starting on a rough note. Thats because she is up against Congress Vikramaditya Singh, who is the son of six-time chief minister Virbhadra Singh. In fact, Mandi is a bastion of the Singh family, with the seat currently held by Vikramadityas mother, Pratibha Virbhadra Singh, who won it in the 2019 bypolls.

Historically, Mandi has swung between the BJP and the Congress and with both candidates hurling taunts and jibes at each other, it will be interesting to see who comes out on top.

Himachals Hamirpur

In the hills of Himachals Hamirpur, Union minister Anurag Thakur of the BJP is hoping for success for a fifth time. He has held this seat since 2008 when he first won it in 2008 following his father Prem Kumar Dhumals resignation after taking over as chief minister of the state.

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Union Minister and BJP candidate from Hamirpur constituency Anurag Thakur being greeted by locals during his election campaign for the Lok Sabha polls. File image/PTI

However, this year, Thakur faces a tough challenge from Congress Satpal Raizada. The Congress candidate is also the vice-president of the partys state unit and has served as the MLA of Una.

What makes this fight eve more interesting is the fact in the 2022 Assembly polls, the Congress won four seats each in Hamirpur and Una district and one each in Bilaspur and Mandi districts, while the BJP bagged only five seats and two seats went to Independents.

Bihars Pataliputra

Misa Bharti, daughter of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, will be up against sitting BJP MP Ram Kripal Yadav. She will be hoping that this time around, the election gods smile down on her after she lost the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls to Kripal Yadav.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with RJD leader Misa Bharti during a rally for Lok Sabha elections. Bharti will be hoping to win from Bihars Pataliputra. File image/PTI

The Pataliputra seat seems to be unlucky for the Yadav clan, since it was created after the 2008 delimitation. In 2009, Lalu Prasad lost to Janata Dal (United)s Ranjan Prasad Yadav, his one-time confidante, by 23,541 votes.

However, people on the ground say that this election isnt a foregone conclusion. Misa Bharti is not too far behind this time with the INDIA bloc alliance also throwing its weight behind her.

West Bengals Diamond Harbour

The seventh phase of elections will be an acid test for the TMC as Mamata Banerjees nephew, Abhishek Banerjee, will be contesting from Diamond Harbour. Banerjee is eyeing a hat-trick from the constituency which will see a triangular battle between the TMC, BJPs Abhijit Das Bobi and CPI(M)s Pratik ur Rahaman.

During campaigning, the sitting TMC MP has repeatedly exuded confidence about winning Diamond Harbour by a margin of over four lakh votes.

Chandigarh

The Union Territory of Chandigarh will see a direct battle between the BJP and the Congress in the seventh phase. For this seat, the BJP has dropped with its sitting MP Kirron Kher and gone with Sanjay Tandon, the former mayor of Chandigarh.

Tandon will be facing off against Congress leader Manish Tewari, a former Union Minister and currently Congress Member of Parliament from Punjabs Anandpur Sahib constituency.

While the BJP is making an effort to register a third straight election victory in Chandigarh, the Congress is harping upon the anti-incumbency factor against the BJP to grab the seat. The Congress also hopes to use the resentment against the BJP over the Chandigarh mayoral race situation. For those who dont remember, the Supreme Court had overturned the election of the mayoral post and reprimanded the Returning Officer Anil Masih.

Punjabs Patiala

Of the 13 Punjab Parliamentary seats, Patiala will be closely watched as it involves Congress-turned-BJPs Amarinder Singhs wife, Preneet Kaur. In the 2019 election, Kaur, who was then part of the Congress, had won with a significant margin against her closest competitor, Surjit Singh Rakhra of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

BJP candidate from Patiala constituency Preneet Kaur waves to supporters during an election roadshow at Nabha for the Lok Sabha elections, in Patiala district. File image/PTI

But this time around, Preneet Kaur is contesting on a BJP ticket and will have to fend off competition from AAPs Balbir Singh and Congress Dharamvir Gandhi.

Maharani Sahiba  as she is often called by her supporters  holds the key to the BJPs fortunes in Punjab, where it is contesting the elections independently. Earlier during campaigning, Kaur had said: This election is not merely about politics. It is about the renewal of my relationship with the people of Patiala constituency. Peoples unwavering bharosa (trust) and ashirwaad (blessings) are my greatest treasures, she added.

We will have to wait until 4 June to see if people have in fact trusted her and given her blessings.

Odishas Kendrapara

Odishas Kendrapara Lok Sabha constituency is worthy of a mention in the big fights with the Biju Janata Dals (BJD) Anshuman Mohanty facing off against BJPs Baijayant Panda.

As News18 reports, the BJD is in no mood to lose the Kendrapara seat to the BJP, for the simple reason that this is a legacy seat of the incumbent party in Odisha. In the past, this seat has seen the likes of former CM CM Biju Patnaik, Rabi Ray, and Srikant Kumar Jena being elected. Moreover, a defeat for the BJD here will be a big loss for Naveen Patnaik in terms of optics and prestige.

In 2019, this constituency saw a pitched battle between the BJDs actor-turned-politician Anubhav Mohanty against BJPs Panda. However, Panda suffered defeat with a margin of over 150,000 votes.

Other seats

Kolkata North is set for a major face-off between sitting TMC MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay and the BJPs Tapas Roy.

Harsimrat Kaur Badal, former Union Minister and wife of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, is the three-time sitting MP from Bathinda, having won this seat since 2009. She is facing off against AAPs Gurmeet Singh Khuddian, BJPs Parampal Kaur Sidhu, Congress Jeet Mohinder Sidhu, and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) nominee Lakha Sidhana.

In Bihars Patna Sahib, BJPs Ravi Shankar Prasad will be squaring off against Congress Anshul Avijit, the son of former Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar.

With inputs from agencies
Prime Minister Narendra Modis plan to meditate at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari has left his rival leaders complaining. They have approached the Election Commission of India saying that it violates the rules of the silence period ahead of an election. But does it? read more

After wrapping up a hectic Lok Sabha campaign, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a meditation break. He reached Kanyakumari on Thursday and began a 45-hour session at Vivekananda Rock Memorial . However, the sojourn has left the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rivals, the Congress and Trinamool Congress, uneasy.

On Wednesday, Congress submitted a complaint to the Election Commission of India (ECI), demanding that the PMs visit be rescheduled or its broadcast banned keeping in mind the rules under the Model Code of Conduct for the elections.

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A delegation of Congress leaders led by national spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi met ECI officials and submitted the complaint. We told the ECI that no one is allowed to campaign directly or indirectly during the silence period The Trinamool Congress also raised the issue.

We take a look at what is the silence period and why an EC action against the PM is unlikely.

What is the silence period?

The silence period comprises 48 hours ending with the hour fixed before the conclusion of the poll during which political parties and candidates are not allowed to campaign.

Under Section 126 of the Representation of People Act, 1951, all election campaigning stops during this time, which ends with the conclusion of voting. Restrictions are imposed so that politicians and the media do not influence voters in any way.

PM Modi will be silent during his 48-hour meditation visit to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. News18

According to a report in The Indian Express, the district magistrate issues a directive banning unlawful assemblies, public meetings, the use of loudspeakers, and restricting gatherings to less than five people. However, door-to-door campaigning is allowed.

Political advertisements through electronic and social media are not allowed.

Is PM Modi violating rules? Will EC take action?

Modi is contesting the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi which will vote on 1 June. The PM is expected to stay silent as he meditates at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and will not campaign during the 48-hour silence period ahead of the election. This will ensure that Section 126 and the Model Code of Conduct are not violated on technical grounds.

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According to a report in The Economic Times (ET), the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) had informed the Election Commission about Modis plans on 29 May.

Modi is seen at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari where is he on a meditation break. PTI

Another reason that could work in the PMs favour is the multi-phase nature of the election. The applicability of the silence period was clarified in the poll panels note on 2 April on media coverage during the period referred to in Section 126 of the RP Act, 1951. The note said that this was not applicable in case of multi-phased elections, reports ET.

What is the Opposition saying?

Congress spokesperson Singhvi, who met the poll panel officials, told the media on Wednesday, We told the ECI that no one is allowed to campaign directly or indirectly during the silence period. We have no issue with some person or leader doing anything someone observing a vow of silence. But there should be no indirect campaigning during the silence period

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A Congress delegation of party leaders Randeep Singh Surjewala, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and others leave after meeting the Election Commission of India (ECI) at Nirvachan Sadan, in New Delhi on Wednesday. PTI

These are ways that you are campaigning or are broadcasting yourself through channels and print media. We have kept two very simple points before the ECI. Either the PM starts this 24-48 hours later. After June 1 evening, he can do it. And if he insists that he will start it then it is necessary that a ban is imposed on its broadcasting on print and visual media. He is himself a candidate in the last phase. This kind of broadcast should not be allowed, he added.

The PM started his visit on 30 May and will continue until 1 June.

What did EC say when the PM visited Kedarnath in 2019?

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During the 2019 election, the PM made a similar meditation trip to Kedarnath ahead of the last phase when Varanasi was set to go to polls. Several Opposition parties had complained to the ECI back then. However, the poll panel had given the PM a nod for the visit while reminding the PMO that the Model Code of Conduct was still in force.

Modi meditates in a holy cave near Kedarnath Temple during his two-day pilgrimage to Himalayan shrines, in Rudraprayag district, on 18 May. PTI

After he spent a night at the cave in Kedarnath, he thanked the poll body for the visit, adding that he got two days of rest.

With inputs from agencies
Japans iconic bonsai trees, meticulously pruned and expertly shaped by skilled artisans, have surged in popularity, leading to a rise in theft and trafficking. In recent years, the demand for bonsais has skyrocketed, fueling an illicit market. Just this month, a bonsai seller in Japan reported the theft of 33 trees valued at $120,000 in a single heist. Additionally, a bonsai growers trade association has recorded 25 thefts in the past three months, including one incident involving trees worth approximately $190,000 read more

A man tends Bonsai trees during media day at the Chelsea Flower Show in London, 19 May, 2014. File Image/Reuters

The art of bonsai, a deeply cherished aspect of Japanese culture, is currently under threat. A surge in the popularity of these miniature trees has led to an alarming increase in thefts, with organised criminal groups often targeting prized specimens for sale overseas.

The Nippon Bonsai Growers Cooperative reported 25 thefts across 11 prefectures since February 2023, including a case where a bonsai worth over 3 million yen was stolen. On 3 May, 2024, 33 bonsai trees valued at 18.8 million yen (20,000 USD) were taken from a store in Kumamoto Prefecture.

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Eyewitnesses and other sources suggest that foreign nationals are often involved, with stolen bonsai appearing on US social media sites, reported Kyodo news agency.

Rising popularity and vulnerability

The global fascination with bonsai has soared in recent years, particularly following the 2020 lifting of a ban on exporting Japanese black pine bonsai to the European Union.

This increased demand has not only boosted exports but also attracted the attention of thieves. According to the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), bonsai exports reached approximately 910 billion yen (approximately 6 billion USD) in 2023, nearly triple the amount in 2020.

Japans Emperor Akihito (L) and Empress Michiko look at a black pine bonsai in the Imperial Palace compound in Tokyo, 3 October, 2008. File Image/Reuters

Tatsuharu Takeshita, a 72-year-old bonsai seller from Inazawa, central Japan, told Kyodo news agency, Recently all anyone talks about in the industry is theft. Its unbearable. Takeshitas shop, Koyoen, has lost 15 bonsai trees in two separate incidents, one of which involved thieves cutting through a protective fence.

International trafficking via organised crime

The involvement of organised criminal groups in bonsai thefts has become increasingly evident. In central Japan, police arrested three Vietnamese men in April and May on suspicion of stealing bonsai, using tracking devices placed by the owner to trace the stolen trees. A senior investigator emphasized the need for businesses to enhance security measures.

Yusei Sasaki, third-generation owner from Mifune, southwestern Japan, spoke to This Week in Asia, and voiced his anger and sadness after losing 33 bonsai worth 18.8 million yen: Im so angry that Im ready to beat the thieves if they come here again. But, above all, I want the trees to come back safe and sound because bonsai is a work of art that takes an infinite amount of time to create.

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Japanese Crown Prince Naruhito (R) and his wife Crown Princess Masako look at plum and other miniature potted plants, also known as bonsai trees, at a bonsai exhibition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum, 16 February, 2006. File Image/Reuters

The Mainichi newspaper reported that police in Aichi prefecture arrested two Vietnamese nationals suspected of stealing seven bonsai valued at 5.3 million yen, including a kuromatsu (black pine). These men, a 20-year-old student and a 33-year-old construction worker, are believed to have conducted multiple thefts, selling the trees to collectors in China and Southeast Asia.

Japanese invest in security measures

Bonsai nurseries across Japan are investing in new security measures to protect their valuable trees. The Gashou-en nursery, for instance, is considering enhancing its security systems after thieves managed to evade motion-activated lights and CCTV cameras, reported SCMP.

The Nippon Bonsai Growers Cooperative has advised its members to avoid linking their premises to Google Maps, as thieves might use the app for reconnaissance.

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Also Read:

Kazuhiro Takebes Bonsai Life nursery in Mie prefecture has been targeted twice, losing a total of 80 trees. It is becoming a big problem for everyone in the bonsai business, Takebe told SCMP. We had security in place before, but we have installed extra cameras and alarms since the second theft. We also plan to construct a new, higher wall around the nursery.

Despite these efforts, the problem persists. These groups are very organised, and they are stealing to order, Takebe added. We have heard that some other nurseries have had their stolen bonsai returned, but none of ours have been returned yet.

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What is the cultural significance of Bonsai?

Bonsai, meaning tray planting, is a centuries-old art form that originated from China, particularly from the Tang dynasty pastime of penjing. It was introduced to Japan in the 6th century and further refined by Zen Buddhist principles.

US President Bill Clinton received a gift of bonsai from Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi (R) at the end of a banquet held by the latter at Akasaka State Guesthouse in Tokyo, 19 November, 1998. File Image/Reuters

Bonsai trees are not genetically miniature; rather, they are regular trees meticulously cultivated to remain small. This painstaking process can take decades, and some bonsai, like the 500-year-old specimen in the Tokyo Imperial Palace collection, are considered national treasures.

The theft of bonsai trees is not just a financial loss but a cultural one. Each tree represents years of dedication and artistic expression.

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With inputs from agencies
Researchers are working on creating smart bandages, a high-tech update on a simple bandage that may monitor, evaluate, and respond to how a wound is healing to speed up the healing process. Some versions of them will also let medical professionals administer care remotely read more

The new smart bandages will be equipped with small sensors that can track the healing process of wounds. Pixabay/Representative Image

Bandages are essential medical supplies for any first aid kit.

However, these basic bandages may soon undergo a significant change.

Researchers are working on creating smart bandages, a high-tech update on a simple bandage that may monitor, evaluate, and respond to how a wound is healing to speed up the healing process.

Some versions of them will also let medical professionals administer care remotely.

Heres how.

Smart bandages

The new smart bandages will be equipped with small sensors that can track the healing process of wounds, as was recently mentioned in the Wall Street Journals (WSJ) Future of Everything podcast.

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They are equipped with better microsystems and flexible electronics and are a part of the rapidly growing wearable technology market.

For instance, the Defence Departments research arm, Darpa, has announced $55 million to support the development of bioelectronics to promote wound healing.

Though a minor cut or scratch probably wouldnt require such high-tech ability, it would greatly benefit serious hospital-treated wounds or chronic wounds.

Many of these innovative bandages are still in the early stages and wont be reaching the market anytime soon.

Some are even being tested on humans or animals, while others are still in the lab.

Its too soon to tell how insurance would cover them, the production of smart bandages may be more expensive than that for traditional devices.

Yet, early infection diagnosis and treatment, according to WSJ citing researchers, may eventually save lives and reduce medical expenses.

Guillermo Ameer, a biomedical engineer and professor at Northwestern University tells Wall Street Journal, Its a very hot area right now. When we first started in this area five years ago, there were very few people, very few labs, looking at smart systems or smart bandages.

Now we have many researchers and colleagues not only in the United States but in China and Europe, that are pursuing this.

Possibility of remote care

Unlike basic bandages, smart bandages come with a portion of electrical circuitry, which can be removed from the pocket and replaced with a fresh bandage whenever it needs to be changed.

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Many circuits are flexible, such as the one created by a Stanford University-led research team and published in a 2022 report in the National Institute of Health (NIH).

There are various versions of smart bandages now seen at medical conferences and exhibitions.

Many of them include tiny electronics that can wirelessly provide information to a doctor about how a wound is healing.

Some will allow treatment to be administered remotely by the physician.

You could have healthcare centres that monitor these devices and contact the patients when theres a potential problem and advise them on next steps. I think it really is the future, Dr William Tettelbach, a wound-care specialist and president of the American Professional Wound Care Association tells WSJ.

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Different types of smart bandages

A smart bandage that delivers electrotherapy

A bandage that can detect illness and give electrotherapy, or a zap of electricity, to accelerate recovery is being tested on mice and rats by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and Rutgers University.

This innovation is in line with several studies indicating that electrical stimulation can enhance wound healing by boosting immune cell migration to eradicate bacteria and dead cells at the site of the injury.

They envision the bandage sending reports via a cellphone app, Yuanwen Jiang, an engineer and assistant professor at the University of Pennsylvania working on the project with Simiao Niu, an engineer and assistant professor at Rutgers University told WSJ.

The bandage will be able to transmit the signals of the wound in real time to the physician, so they will be alerted if theres anything thats dramatically off-track happening, says Jiang, who was previously a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford and co-author of the 2022 study.

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In addition, the bandage might provide antibiotics, which could be kept in a hydrogel or tiny capsule.

If an infection occurs, a doctor could remotely instruct to open a valve and apply ointment directly to the location.

The idea is that an early antibiotic delivery and easy wound healing would prevent a surplus of collagen, which can lead to scarring. Next year, the team intends to begin human testing, as per the report.

Ameer, a principal investigator at Northwestern, is leading teams developing two smart bandages that have been tested on mice and are currently being tested on pigs.

A bandage with electrodes

With two electrodes  one placed on top of the wound and the other surrounding it  another version of smart bandage uses electrical currents to detect the wounds moisture content.

A dryer atmosphere denotes that healing has progressed, whereas moisture suggests the wound is still trying to heal.

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Using wireless technology, the bandage allows a doctor to remotely programme the electrodes to give electrotherapy, which stimulates the creation of new skin cells and blood vessels.

The system is powered by a small coil included in the bandage, much to those seen in wireless charging smartphones, and the entire electrical apparatus is shielded by transparent tape for protection.

The entire bandage dissolves after its purpose is fulfilled because the electrodes are comprised of molybdenum, a metal that is thin enough to biodegrade.

Next year, the researchers want to begin testing both bands on humans.

The one with LED

A group at the University of Southampton in England is working on other possibilities.

One of these is a bandage that sterilises a wound while it heals by emitting ultraviolet-C light through small LED bulbs.

There arent any animal trials for the bandage yet.

Going beyond wounds

Led by engineering professor Steve Beeby, the Southampton team is also developing a bandage that utilises a moisture-detecting sensor to track atopic dermatitis, a common form of eczema that causes cracked, dry skin.

Doctors receive the information, which they might use to assess the efficacy of a treatment.

The need for smart bandages

A significant proportion of patients experiencing wound complications are diabetics.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that 160,000 adult diabetics would require amputation hospitalisation in 2020.

Based on a study published in the Journal of Medical Economics, Medicare spent an estimated $22.5 billion treating all chronic wounds in 2019.

With inputs from agencies
Several passengers took to X to narrate their ordeal. One such passenger said that people were initially asked to board the Air India flight and sit in the aircraft without air conditioning read more

Several passengers were left stranded at the airport after an Air India flight from Delhi to San Francisco was delayed. Image courtesy: @39Abhishek/X

Passengers from a delayed Air India flight to San Francisco (AI 183) reportedly fainted after waiting at the Delhi airport for over eight hours due to the lack of air conditioning.

The Delhi to San Francisco plane which was supposed to fly out on Thursday will be departing today (Friday) at 11 am, after a delay of 20 hours.

Several passengers took to X to narrate their ordeal. One such passenger said that people were initially asked to board the Air India flight and sit in the aircraft without air conditioning. After this, the passengers were asked to deplane the flight but were not allowed to enter the terminal as the immigration process was already done.

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@airindia please let mine and the numerous other parents stranded at the boarding area go home!



AI 183 is over 8 hrs late. People were made to board the plane and sit without ac. Then deplaned and not allowed to enter the terminal because immigration was done#inhuman pic.twitter.com/0XdDBAovBK  Abhishek Sharma (@39Abhishek) May 30, 2024

A frustrated passenger told News18, Its unfortunate. The flight was to take off at 3:30 pm and after that, they kept postponing and they did not open ACs. Later when the situation went out of hand, people could not bear the brunt of heat and started to faint. Passengers pushed the door and came out.

Delhi is currently experiencing an extreme heatwave situation with temperatures soaring to 50 degrees Celsius. Amid this, the absence of ventilation both in the aircraft and the airport led to health problems among many passengers, people on X wrote.

While Air India has not officially released a statement on the incident yet, the airline replied to some passengers posts on X.
May 31, 2024: The United States Air Force has made a bold move by establishing two new electronic warfare squadrons. The 388th Electronic Warfare Squadron is based in Florida and is initially concentrating on the spoofing problem. This means which offensive electronic countermeasures; jamming or spoofing (deceptive signals) are best suited to protect aircraft, ships, and land bases. In the last five years there were more incidents involving manipulation of shipboard location devices, which no one takes credit for. This was seen during 2021 in the Black Sea, where NATO warships from several countries had assembled for joint training exercises with Ukrainian naval forces. Ukraine is not yet a NATO member but would like to be and joint training like this makes it easier to get in, especially when Russia violently opposes it. This was just before the Russians invaded Ukraine in early 2022.

The Black Sea location signal manipulation involved the AIS (Automated Identification System) ship tracker transponders on three destroyers (British, Dutch and American) docked in the Ukrainian port of Odessa. One day, the AIS transponders on the British and Dutch destroyers suddenly switched from showing where they actually were, in Odessa, to a location at sea near the Russian naval base on the nearby Crimean Peninsula. Then, just as suddenly, AIS showed the two destroyers back where everyone nearby could see them, tied up at a dock in Odessa. A week later the same thing happened to the U.S. destroyer docked in Odessa. No one took credit for the AIS signal manipulation, which is known as spoofing. This involves using EW (Electronic Warfare) equipment designed to jam or modify AIS signals that are transmitted to a space satellite that shares that location signal with all AIS users as well as anyone via several websites that carry such information. Russia and China took the lead in developing ways to spoof AIS signals and Iran was the first country to widely use AIS signal manipulation on a wide scale to support smuggling activities.

Russia apparently took the lead in developing EW jammers capable of inserting false location signals in AIS or GPS data sent worldwide via orbiting satellites. Russia was discovered using this regularly to hide the true location of senior officials and military units on land. You dont have to be an intel agency to notice GPS location data suddenly moving many, even hundreds, of kilometers. Intel agencies, and some commercial or non-profit organizations do monitor these signals regularly and on a large scale to detect where and when spoofing takes place. What most nations do not share is their techniques for spoofing and resisting spoofing. Which brings us back to the 2021 Black Sea incident, who spoofed who and how. The NATO ships could have been testing new equipment to simply send false location data via AIS (technically illegal) or new Russia techniques to spoof the AIS on an individual ship docked in a port crowded with AIS equipped ships.

AIS was originally developed as a local (non-satellite communications) system that made it easier for ships at sea to detect each other, especially at night or in bad weather. This local AIS was rapidly adopted by most large commercial vessels in the 1990s. AIS is essentially an automatic radio beacon (transponder) that, when it receives a signal from a nearby AIS equipped ship, responds with the ship's identity, course, and speed. This is meant to enable AIS ships to avoid collisions. The original non-satellite comms AIS only had a range of 20-35 kilometers but by 2006 space satellites were developed that could track AIS transmissions worldwide. Commercial ships have become very dependent on AIS, which greatly reduced collisions, and crew anxiety, at sea. After 2000 international agreements mandated ships larger than 300 tons, and all passenger ships carry and use AIS at all times.

All warships were also equipped with AIS as a safety measure when operating near ports or commercial shipping lanes. Until 2017 it had been U.S. Navy policy to have some ships turn off their AIS transmissions and just receive those transmissions. This policy was changed in 2017 after several collisions or near-misses between navy ships traveling in bad weather or at night in areas where there was heavy commercial traffic. Navy bridge crews were supposed to be especially alert in situations like this but often were not experienced enough to handle the situation where their AIS presence was known to nearby ships that had their AIS in send/receive mode.

During wartime navy ships would have AIS turned off but a decade ago Russia and China, followed by NATO nations experimented with ways to manipulate AIS signals and detect when others were doing so. While AIS made it practical to track all high seas commercial traffic, it was also exploited by smugglers and pirates. Some ships traveled (in violation of international law) with AIS and other trackers turned off. Usually, only criminals turned these devices off, and this was often discovered when navies spotted one of these silent (AIS not broadcasting) ships at sea. It didnt take long for some intelligence agencies, especially those with ocean surveillance space satellites and lots of ships and subs at sea, to exploit the silent AIS ploy to create better ways to track smugglers by noting when some ships turn off their trackers and then turn them on again as they are about to enter a port or some other area where AIS use is mandatory and enforceable. Some nations, like Iran and North Korea, have tankers and cargo ships that are frequently found running dark. Naturally, intelligence agencies developed methods to take advantage of this and a growing number of smugglers, usually North Korean, are detected and tracked because of AIS manipulation. Iran had an easier time concealing arms smuggling because they could use smaller ships. Actually, for getting arms to Shia rebels in Yemen Iran used a lot of small ships that are not required to use AIS. These could be, and were, tracked by satellite but it was more difficult.

Before AIS came along most large ships carried (and some still carry) INMARSAT, which enables shipping companies to keep track of their vessels, no matter where they are on the planet. INMARSAT became available in the 1980s and uses a system of satellites which transmit AIS-like signals to anywhere on the oceans. It only costs a few cents to send an INMARSAT signal similar to an SMS text message to one of your ships, and a few cents more to receive a reply. The trackers and satellite-based navigation systems in general soon proved invaluable by preventing collisions or running into reefs, rocks, or (in bad weather) coastline.

Back in 2012, Iran was caught hacking AIS signals. Iran was sending false AIS signals to assist its smuggling operations. After 2012 security researchers found even more ways to hack AIS and called for changes in the AIS software to make it more difficult to spoof. Iran keeps working on new spoofing methods and has the technical people and tools to do so.

All ships now use GPS coordinates to record location and constantly report that back to the home office. GPS is standard with AIS equipment that uses satellite links to send its signal worldwide. Iran exploited this by having two of its ships trade INMARSAT IDs while they were near each other, leaving the U.S., or anyone else checking INMARSAT data, unable to track ships that have been switched. Well, for a while at least. Once the intel people caught onto this scam, they developed ways to counter it. This is very much a matter of move and countermove when it comes to exploiting or creating AIS vulnerabilities.

The other new Air Force EW Squadron is the 563rd Electronic Warfare Squadron based in Texas. The 563rd specializes in developing new EW software apps for EW that support specific EW needs of Air Force combat and support units. The 563rd has already developed new software apps as well as techniques and apps for reprogramming, assessing the performance of existing software and developing improved software for current air force operations, like tasking orders for operations and rapid reprogramming of existing software to deal with new situations.

The air force is also busy establishing new units to deal with specific EW problems and situations. The 563rd is trying to stay one step ahead of many possible futures.
ChatGPT-maker OpenAI has said in a report that an Israeli firm was engaged in disrupting Indian elections with anti-BJP and pro-Congress content on social media read more

OpenAI has said that an Israeli firm interfered in Indian elections online (Representative Photo)

Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar has dubbed the suspected interference in Lok Sabha elections by an Israeli firm as a very dangerous threat to democracy.

Two days before the final phase of voting in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, ChatGPT-maker OpenAI said in a report that it foiled disruptive activities by an Israeli firm that was spreading content against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and in favour of Congress during the elections.

The report named the Israeli company as STOIC. The OpenAI said that the company conducted such work across platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, Instagram, and other websites.

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Ia a post on X, Chandrasekhar said it was clear that the BJP was the target of influence operations, misinformation, and foreign interference.

Chandrasekhar further said, This is very dangerous threat to our democracy. It is clear vested interests in India and outside are clearly driving this and needs to be deeply scrutinised/investigated and exposed.

It is absolutely clear and obvious that @BJP4India was and is the target of influence operations, misinformation and foreign interference, being done by and/or on behalf of some Indian political parties.



This is very dangerous threat to our democracy. It is clear vested https://t.co/e78pbEuHwe  Rajeev Chandrasekhar (Modiyude Kutumbam) (@Rajeev_GoI) May 31, 2024

What does the OpenAI report say?

In a report published on Thursday, OpenAI said that it foiled five covert influence operations (IO) using artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content over the past three months.

The operations that OpenAI foiled were being run from Russia, Iran, China, and Israel. It is the operation by an Israeli company named STOIC that concerned India, as per the report.

In early May, the STOICs operation began targeting audiences in India with English-language content, said the report.

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Besides targeting Indian elections, the company also peddled anti-Hamas, anti-Qatar, pro-Israel, and anti-Histadrut content, as per the report. Histadrut is a national trade union in Israel.

As for the companys work regarding Indian elections, the OpenAI said, In May, the network began generating comments that focused on India, criticized the ruling BJP party and praised the opposition Congress party. Sometimes, the network appears to have flipped its accounts from one topic to another - for example, accounts which had earlier posted about Canada switching focus to the USA, India or the Histadrut (or more than one of these).

How we're disrupting attempts by covert influence operations to use AI deceptively: https://t.co/ddGJvM7yES  OpenAI (@OpenAI) May 30, 2024

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The report said that OpenAI foiled such activity related to Indian elections within 24 hours of its beginning in May.
Latest satellite imagery showed the presence of six Chinese Air Force J-20 stealth fighter at a dual-use military civilian airport at Tibets Shigatse read more

China has stationed its most advanced J-20 Mighty Dragon fifth generation fighter jets with stealth capabilities barely less than 150 kilometres away from the Line of Actual Control (LAC) near Indias Sikkim.

This development came to fore after AllSources Analysis, a firm that looks at geospatial intelligence, released satellite imagery that showed the presence of as many as six Chinese Air Force J-20 stealth fighters at a dual-use military civilian airport at Tibets Shigatse.

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This airport is at an altitude of 12,408 feet, making it among the worlds highest.

What did satellite images show?

The analysis of imagery collected over Shigatse Airbase in China shows the deployment of six likely J-20 stealth fighter aircraft near the Indian border," said the post shared by AllSources Analysis.

It further said that multiple images were collected over the course of May 27, 2024, indicating that these J-20 aircraft arrived at the airbase on the same day preceded by the arrival of a Y-20 transport aircraft for the probable deployment of ground crew and support equipment.

The image also showed multiple J-10 fighter aircraft and a KJ-500 early warning and control aircraft, that are normally present at Shigatse, on the flight line.

Analysis of imagery collected over Shigatse Air Base in China shows the deployment of six likely J-20 stealth fighter aircraft near the Indian border. https://t.co/epfzHD3Daa#GEOINT #China #Shigatse #J20 pic.twitter.com/hyijF3T1ao  AllSource Analysis (@AllSourceA) May 29, 2024

Whats the intention of China?

Though there isnt any statement so far from Beijing, the latest satellite images only increase the suspicion that China intends to change the status quo in the eastern sector of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim the way it has done in eastern Ladakh.

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This, however, isnt the first time the J-20 fighters have been deployed in Tibet. These jets have been spotted in Xinjiangs Hotan prefecture between 2020 and 2023.

Indias reaction on Chinas J-20 fighters near border in Sikkim

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is aware of the J-20 deployment, but has declined to comment on the latest imagery.

The Indian defence officials, however, said they were keeping a close watch on the Chinese armys aggression and deployment over the past one-and-a-half years along the LAC, especially the Tawang sector in Arunachal.

A report by The Telegraph quoted an Indian Army official as saying that the deployment of J-20 fighters was, however, nothing new as China had earlier deployed them across all its five theatre commands including the western one which faces India.

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The deployment of J-20 by China has been a big concern for India considering the scarcity of enough fighter aircraft. To counter J-20 fighters we have our advanced French-built Rafale jets, the official said.

Chinas J-20 stealth fighter most advanced

A report by NDTV, quoted VP for Technology and Analysis at AllSource Analysis as saying, The J-20 stealth fighter is Chinas most advanced operational fighter aircraft to date, and these aircraft are predominantly based in the eastern provinces of China.

Seeing these aircraft appear at Shigatse in Tibet positions them on a deployment outside of their normal areas of operations and within proximity of the Indian border, the VP added.

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What are Chinas J-20 fighters

The Chengdu J-20, which is also known as the Mighty Dragon, was introduced into service in 2017.

The twin-engine stealth fighter is equipped with an array of sensors and is being constantly modernised.

The primary role of the J-20 is as an air superiority fighter. It carries Chinas most sophisticated air-to-air missiles, including the PL-15 long-range air-to-air missile which is believed to have the ability of striking aerial targets up to 300 km away.

Chinas J-20 and the US F-35 are often compared because both have fifth-generation stealth technology. However, experts have given the Mighty Dragon an edge over the F-35 owing to its superior range, weapons capacity and speed.

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J-20 fighters can also carry more ammunition than an F-35 on a single mission.

Indias counter to J-20

India counters the J-20 with its fleet of 36 French-built Rafale fighters.

Currently, eight Rafales are participating in advanced air combat exercises with the US Air Force in Alaska.

Shigatse, where the Chinese J-20s are stationed, is less than 290 kilometers from West Bengals Hasimara, where India bases its second squadron of 16 Rafales.
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court refused an urgent hearing of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals plea for a 7-day extension of his interim bail on health grounds read more

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has said that he will surrender on June 2 and will leave his Civil Lines Residence at 3 pm on Sunday.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court refused an urgent hearing of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals plea for a 7-day extension of his interim bail on health grounds.

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Kejriwal was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on March 21 over the now-scrapped Delhi Excise Policy case.

The chief minister was released on bail on May 10 to participate in the campaigning process for the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

I will go back to Tihar Jail the day after tomorrow as 21 days will be over on June 2. I do not know how long I will stay in the jail this time, Kejriwal said.

On Monday (May 27), Kejriwal filed a fresh petition in the Supreme Court, seeking a 7-day extension of his interim bail on health grounds.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) said the Delhi CM was due to undergo PET-CT scan and other tests, as a result of which a seven-day extension of interim bail has been requested.

Delhi minister and AAP leader Atishi told the media: He lost seven kilograms of weight soon after he was arrested. He has not regained that weight yet. His ketone level has come very high in the test. Doctors believe that more tests need to be done on him; therefore, this petition has been filed.
Delhi is staring at an emergency situation and announced a slew of emergency measures to tackle the crisis, including a ban on the use of drinking water for washing cars and at construction sites read more

The Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government has requested the Supreme Court for additional supply of water from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh for a month amid an acute shortage in the national capital.

Several areas in the city are reeling under severe water crisis and people are forced to wait in long queues amid searing heatwave conditions.

The capital is facing a water shortage due to unprecedented summer heat, with temperatures hovering around the 50 degree-Celsius mark in most parts of the city.

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Delhi blames Haryana for water crisis

On Thursday (May 30), Delhis Water Minister Atishi said they will approach the apex court over Haryana not releasing the share of water of the national capital, which allegedly has led to a crisis situation.

Atishi said Delhi is staring at an emergency situation and announced a slew of emergency measures to tackle the crisis, including a ban on the use of drinking water for washing cars and at construction sites.

If we get at least 50 MGD (million gallons per day) water in the Wazirabad pond, it will provide some relief, Delhi Health Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj, adding that the health and water departments will play the most important role during this heatwave.

Meanwhile, Kejriwal in a post on X said, I request everyone with folded hands that instead of doing politics at this time, let us come together and provide relief to the people of Delhi. If BJP talks to its governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and gets some water for Delhi for a month, then the people of Delhi will greatly appreciate this step of the BJPs.

                         ,       7438 MW        8302 MW               ,   Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 31, 2024

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Kejriwals appeal to Delhiites

We appeal to Delhiites to cooperate with the government. Use as little water as possible, do not waste water. Only when all Delhiites come together, we will be able to face this crisis, Atishi said.

What Delhi is doing to address water crisis

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The minister informed that a central water tanker control room is being set up in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and it will be monitored by an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.

There will be a central command and control centre. Any Delhi resident who wants a water tanker should dial 1916. From 1916, the request will go to our water tanker war room and from there, tankers will be provided to places where there is a shortage of water supply, she said.

The DJB has announced that a fine of Rs 2,000 would be slapped on anyone found wasting water.

Atishi also said from June 5, an ADM-level officer and an SDM-level officer will be stationed in each of the 11 water zones of the national capital.

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Why June 5? Because all the ADMs and SDMs are busy in election duty. These officers will form a quick response team. Wherever there are water-shortage hotspots, these ADMs, SDMs and their tehsildars will be fully available to deliver tankers and solve the problem, she explained.

Atishi also said a special team of the DJBs electrical department is being formed and it will work round the clock to ensure that no borewell is damaged or dysfunctional.

With inputs from agencies
Revannas case picked up political heat as well during the 2024 Lok Sabha election season with the Opposition slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is in alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka, for sheltering a leader like Revanna in its party read more

Prajwal Revanna, the suspended JD(S) leader, who was absconding for 34 days finally returned to India on Friday. He landed at Bengalurus Kempegowda Airport on May 31 where SIT officials were waiting for him to arrive.

The Hassan MP was arrested at the airport and was taken for questioning over the sexual harassment case which he is accused of.

The leaders arrival marks a pivotal point in the case as now the Special Investigation Team will question Revanna over allegations made by multiple women that he and his father HD Revanna sexually abused them over a long period.

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Revannas case picked up political heat as well during the 2024 Lok Sabha election season with the Opposition slamming the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is in alliance with the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka, for sheltering a leader like Revanna in its party

Heres a timeline of events that transpired till Prajwal Revannas arrest on Friday:

Video clips allegedly showing Revanna and involving multiple women went viral on social media on April 27, a day after Karnatakas Hassan went to the polls On the same day Revanna, the grandson of former PM HD Deve Gowda, fled to Germany using his diplomatic passport Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah formed an SIT team on April 27 based on FIRs of women who claimed Revanna abused them Revanna was suspended by JD(S) on April 30. The party announced that the leader would remain on suspension till the SIT team completes its probe on the matter The suspended leader replied to his summon through his lawyers and made the first public comment on the case on May 1, saying Truth will prevail. The very next day, on May 2, SIT issued a lookout notice against Revanna after he said he wouldnt be able to attend an inquiry Revannas father, HD Revanna, a co-accused in the case, was arrested on May 4 and remained in judicial custody till May 14 Indias former prime minister HD Deve Gowda, the grandfather of Revanna, made the first public comment on the allegations against his grandson on May 23 and asked him to cooperate with the investigation adding, Dont test my patience The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) received a letter from the Karnataka government urging the cancellation of Revannas diplomatic passport on May 23 Prajwal Revanna published a video message on May 27, announcing that he will appear before the SIT on May 31 Days before he arrived in India, Revanna filed an anticipatory bail in the rape case registered against him on May 29. The plea was later rejected by a special court in Karnataka
The SIT has reportedly also issued a notice to Bhavani Revanna, the mother of the JD(S) leader. Although his mother is not an accused in the case, the probe team has said it wants to investigate her role read more

Prajwal Revanna, the suspended JD(S) leader accused of sexual harassment, might undergo a potency test as part of an ongoing SIT investigation.

The Hassan MP, accused of sexual assault by multiple women, finally arrived in India on May 31 after absconding for 34 days. He went to Germany on April 27, a day after his constituency went to polls, using his diplomatic passport.

A potency test is conducted to ascertain if an individual is capable of committing sexual crimes.

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Soon after the Special Investigation Team arrested him from Bengalurus Kempegowda International Airport during the early hours of Friday, Revanna was taken to the Bowring & Lady Curzon Hospital for a medical examination.

#WATCH | Obscene videos case: Suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, brought to Bowring & Lady Curzon Hospital in Bengaluru for medical examination after he was arrested by the SIT last night.#Karnataka pic.twitter.com/aAaE5hvCAo  ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2024

Meanwhile, an anticipatory bail filed by Revanna has been rejected by a special court in Karnataka. The lawyer for SIT informed the Peoples Representative court that Revannas anticipatory bail petitions have lost value as he has already been arrested.

Also read: Prajwal Revanna in SIT custody: A look at chain of events that led to his arrest

The SIT has reportedly also issued a notice to Bhavani Revanna, the mother of the JD(S) leader. Although his mother is not an accused in the case, the probe team has said it wants to investigate her role.

The scandal has raised a political storm with the ruling Congress and BJP-JD(S) engaged in a slugfest.

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Karnatakas former chief minister Basavraj Bommai said on Friday, The law will take its course, the SIT probe should be fair and focus on providing justice to the victims. There are many dimensions to this case we will wait and see what happens.

On the arrest of suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, former Karnataka CM and BJP leader Basavaraj Bommai says, "The law will take its course, the SIT probe should be fair and focus on providing justice to the victims. There are many dimensions to this case... we will wait and pic.twitter.com/BBAKSUHyE4  ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2024

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While the Congress government has formed a SIT to probe the cases, the BJP and JD(S)  NDA partners  have demanded that it be handed over to the CBI, and action be taken against those behind the wide circulation of explicit videos.

The cases of sexual abuse came to light after a number of pen drives allegedly containing explicit videos involving Prajwal were reportedly circulated in Hassan, ahead of Lok Sabha polls there on April 26.

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With inputs from agencies
Both the friends of the teen, who were also minor, were sitting in the rear seat of the car at the time of the accident in Punes Kalyani Nagar read more

The Porsche car that hit a motorcycle at Kalyani Nagar in Pune on Sunday, which killed two people. ANI

Two friends of the 17-year-old boy, accused in the May 19 Pune car crash, have claimed that the Porsche Taycan was driven by the teen at the time of the accident and that he was under the influence of alcohol.

The two friends of the teen, who also were minors, were sitting in the rear seat of the luxurious car at the time of the accident in Punes Kalyani Nagar.

The Pune Crime Branch had recorded the statement of the juvenile accuseds friends under section 164 before the magistrate.

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The cops intended to make the minors friend key witnesses in the case as they were present at the spot at the time of the accident. Their blood samples have also been collected.

Police seek permission to interrogate teen

On Friday, the Pune Police wrote to the Juvenile Justice Board to seek permission to probe the teen who knocked down two young techies by speeding over his car on them. Both died on the spot.

The accused is in an observation home till June 5.

We have written to the JJ Board and sought their permission to allow us to probe the minor, Shailesh Balkawade, additional commissioner of police (crime), said.

Earlier this week, an auto-rickshaw driver, who was saved in the nick of time as the drunken boy crushed two bike-borne IT professionals to death with his car, said: There were three boys in the car. All of them were visibly drunk."

Also Read: Pune Porsche crash: Teen asked people not to create issue, promised to pay damages immediately

The minimum legal drinking age in Maharashtra is 25. However, the accused was just 17.

When his blood samples were collected to test whether he was drunk at the time of the accident, the Sassoon General Hospital swapped it with someone elses.

The doctors dumped his blood sample in a bin and sent a different sample to the forensic lab for the test. The cops were suspicious after the alcohol test report came negative and they carried out another test at a different government hospital where the report showed he was drunk.

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The two doctors were allegedly offered a bribe of Rs 3 lakh. They have been arrested.
The court also directed the state government to establish compensation funds for the relatives of anyone who dies from heat-related ailments, highlighting the governments failure to act appropriately for people impacted by the heatwaves read more

Some places of northern India had temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius, including Delhi, which on Tuesday recorded its highest temperature ever49.9 degrees Celsius Image Courtesy PTI

In light of the current heatwave that has claimed hundreds of lives across the nation, the Rajasthan High Court urged the central government to declare a national emergency on Thursday. This occurred when temperatures in a number of cities, including Sirsa, Churu, Pholodi, and Nagpur, had surpassed 50 degrees.

We do not have a planet B which we can move ontoIf we do not take strict action now, we will lose the chance of seeing out future generations flourish forever, the court said on Thursday, further adding that the government should declare it a national calamity.

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The action would make it possible to mobilize emergency relief in a manner akin to that of natural catastrophes like cyclones and floods.

The Prevention of Death Due to Heat and Cold Waves Bill 2015, which, if passed, would label heatwaves and cold waves as a national emergency, was noted by the court, according to LiveLaw.

The court noted that the death toll was on the rise and stated, Hundreds of people have lost their lives this month due to extreme weather conditions in the form of (the) heatwave.

The court also directed the state government to establish compensation funds for the relatives of anyone who dies from heat-related ailments, highlighting the governments failure to act appropriately for people impacted by the heatwaves.

Some places of northern India had temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius, including Delhi, which on Tuesday recorded its highest temperature ever49.9 degrees Celsius.

In the meantime, officials in Bihar said on Friday that 10 poll workers were among the 14 individuals who perished from heatstroke.

On Saturday, the last round of voting is scheduled to take place in seven states and one territory. The majority of the states affected by rising temperatures are Bihar, UP, Jharkhand, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab, which are among those voting in Phase 7.
Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) MP Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, has been accused by multiple women of rape, sexual abuse, and exploitation read more

Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) MP Prajwal Revanna, who is facing multiple cases of sexual crimes, has been sent to six days custody, according to PTI.

The news agency reported that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the cases against him have been granted Revannas custody till June 6.

Suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna remanded to SIT custody till June 6 by Bengaluru Court  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 31, 2024

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Earlier on Friday, Revanna was arrested after he arrived in Bengaluru from Germany. He was arrested after the Karnataka High Court rejected his pre-arrest bail petition.

Revanna has contested the Lok Sabha elections from the Hassan constituency in Karnataka. He is a sitting MP from the seat.

Revanna left India for Germany on April 27 and, later that day, videos of him allegedly assaulting women surfaced, according to NDTV.

The case turned into a major political storm as Revannas party JD (S) is in an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He is also from the leading political family of the state and is a grandson of a former CM and a nephew of former Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy. While the BJP has distanced itself from the case, the JD (S) has suspended him after allegations against him surfaced.
Flight no-UK-611, which departed from Delhi, landed safely at Srinagar Airport at approximately 12:10 AM. Following standard protocol for such threats, the aircraft was immediately directed to an isolation bay upon landing. read more

A Srinagar-bound Vistara flight received a bomb threat on Friday, prompting immediate action from the airline and security forces. Flight no. UK-611, which departed from Delhi and was carrying 177 passengers and one infant, landed safely at Srinagar Airport at approximately 12:10 AM, news agency ANI reported.

Jammu & Kashmir | A bomb threat call targeting Vistara flight UK611, arriving from Delhi, prompted immediate action by airport authorities at Srinagar International Airport. The incident unfolded when Air Traffic Control (ATC) Srinagar received an information threatening call,  ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2024

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Following standard protocol for such threats, the aircraft was immediately directed to an isolation bay upon landing. All passengers were safely de-boarded at the isolation bay. Currently, the aircraft is undergoing a thorough security check by the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of all concerned, an airport official told ANI.

Despite the disruption, all passengers are reported to be safe, and the situation is being handled with the utmost priority to ensure their security. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Authorities are investigating the source of the bomb threat and taking all necessary measures to ensure the continued safety of air travel.

With inputs from agencies.
May 31, 2024: The U.S. Navy is unable to build enough new ships to replace the fleet it currently has. The navy has about 470 ships in active service as well as the reserve fleet. The principal vessels are the combat ships, which include 11 aircraft carriers, nine Amphibious Assault Ships for transporting and landing marine battalions, ten LPD Amphibious Dock Landing Ships to supply amphibious operations, fifty SSNs (Nuclear attack submarines), fourteen SSBNs (Ballistic missile carrying nuclear submarines), four SSGM (SSBNs converted to carry over a hundred cruise missiles), one frigate, 13 cruisers, 75 destroyers and about fifty support ships of various types.

The navy has not spent the money required to maintain its ability to build replacement ships or even maintain the ships it has. The navy has recognized the growing importance of USV (Unmanned Surface Vessels) and UUVs (Unmanned Underwater Vessels) but has been slow to order and deploy these unmanned vessels to aid the navy in defending Taiwan from Chinese attack..

In contrast the Chinese Navy has been able to quickly create a navy with more warships than the U.S. Navy. Over the last two decades China has become the largest builder and operator of merchant ships. By 2019 Chinas two major shipbuilders, CSSC and CSIC, merged to create the largest shipbuilder in the world with 310,000 employees. A decade earlier there were nearly half a million employees but recessions, continued competition from rivals South Korea and Japan forced the change. The new company, CSG (China Shipbuilding Group), as well as the two it merged from are all state owned. The merger was a return to the situation in 1999 when CSSC and CSIC were created from the then single state-owned shipbuilding operation. This was meant to encourage competition and it worked.

Chinese shipbuilders, mainly the two large firms, account for most of the shipbuilding in China and were striving to overtake their main rival South Korea as the largest shipbuilder in the world in all categories. There are several ways to measure shipbuilder output. South Korea was the champion in most of them. Japan was once in first place but now must settle for third place. South Korea and China have been close competitors for first place since 2012 and to that end the two largest South Korean ship builders also merged in 2019.

South Korea made a comeback in shipbuilding, an industry it led until 2012 when it was briefly overtaken by China. By 2018 South Korean firms surpassed China in new orders. This was mainly because South Korean shipbuilders are seen as leaders in the construction of more complex transports like LNG (Liquid Natural Gas) vessels, which transport refrigerated (enough to turn natural gas to a more compact liquid) natural gas. Another form of unique ship construction that South Korea has excelled at was offshore oil exploration and drilling vessels and structures. The offshore platforms are built in shipyards and are mobile, via towing at slow speeds from one work site to another.

All major shipbuilders had to deal with a sharp decline in orders since a global economic recession began in 2008. One way China helped its shipyards cope was increasing orders for warships. This was going to happen anyway but the government gave the navy all it wanted and then some. This resulted in 2019 being a record year for warship construction with 28 surface warships launched, including a record ten destroyers plus 16 corvettes and two large amphibious ships. While warships are more complex ships to build, commercial ships still accounted for over 95 percent of the work at the new China Shipbuilding Group. From that point on China has been the largest producer of non-nuclear warships.

Since 2012 China and South Korea have been competing for overall first place. Eventually even the South Korean edge in quality and innovation was not enough and now China is firmly in first place with South Korea second and Japan third. China has been helping its shipyards since the late 1990s, and that has enabled Chinese shipbuilders to gradually catch up to South Korea and Japan. In 2009, sooner than anyone expected, China surpassed South Korea as the world's largest shipbuilder in terms of tonnage. In late 2009, Chinese yards had orders for 54.96 million CGT of ships, compared to 53.63 million CGT for South Korea. China had 34.7 percent of the world market. In 2000, South Korea took the lead from Japan by having the largest share of the world shipbuilding market. The massive South Korean and Japanese shipbuilding capability and has enabled these two nations to reinforce the Americans Pacific Fleet and confront the Chinese with a formidable naval force that blocks any efforts to dominate the South China Sea.

At the same time the Chinese have been working hard on how to build new classes of navy supply ships. These are built to efficiently supply ships at sea. In addition to learning how to transfer these supplies at sea, the crews have also learned how to keep all the needed supplies in good shape and stocked in the required quantities. This requires the procurement officers learning how to arrange resupply at local ports in a timely basis.

As the major producers of commercial ships, China was able to design and build supply ships for the Chinese Navy quickly. This included designing and building two Sansha class supply ships by 2014 for use in supplying new naval bases in the South China Sea. The design was unique and to speed up the construction process China bought the rights to an existing European design that had not been built yet. This degree of ship building skill and innovation was something the United States no longer has. Since World War II, when the U.S. was the largest shipbuilder in the world, the American shipbuilding capability diminished. Currently the U.S. can build ships but slowly and in small quantities and most of those built are warships. American yards are not as efficient as the Chinese shipbuilders and take five to ten years to complete a warship China can complete in a year or two. This includes non-nuclear aircraft carriers.

The American warships are still, on average, more powerful than their Chinese counterparts. This is largely due to the American nuclear aircraft carriers and nuclear submarine forces. China has nothing like these but does have more anti-ship missiles on their ships plus cruise and ballistic missiles launched from land to hit American ships far from the Chinese coast. American warships are generally well-protected from those but supply ships arent. At all. The primary American weakness is seaborne supply and the Chinese are well aware of that.
Raisis death elicited mixed Iranian reactions, reflecting his complex legacy. While some appreciated his foreign policy gains, others condemned his domestic crackdown on dissent and human rights violations read more

The Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei appointed the first Vice President, Mohammad Mokhber, as the interim president of the Islamic Republic of Iran after the untimely death of President Ebrahim Raisi on May 19 in a helicopter crash in eastern Azerbaijan. The article traces President Raisis legacy in domestic and foreign policy realms, highlighting his adept navigation of the intricate landscape of international relations despite stringent sanctions imposed by Western nations and his hardline image and actions during the social and political unrest in Iran sparked by Mahsa Aminis death while in the custody of the morality police on September 16, 2022.

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Foreign Policy Achievements of Raisi

Despite a troubled beginning due to the widespread mass demonstration sparked by the death of Mahsa Amini while under morality police custody, President Raisi managed to improve the global and regional standings in the second year of his presidency. Historically, Iranian leaders leveraged the states foreign policy to gain domestic credibility. Raisi continued this trend, using foreign policy successes to enhance his 2025 re-election chances and ambitions to become the next Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. Diverging from his predecessors more ostentatious diplomacy, the president has made substantial gains internationally, reinvigorating Irans global standing and fortifying regional alliances.

During President Raisis tenure, a notable achievement was the expedited reconciliation with the regional adversary Saudi Arabia, culminating in the Beijing agreement on March 10, 2023, facilitated by Iraq and Oman. While the precise advantages and details of this accord are still being analysed, the prompt reinstatement of embassies in Riyadh and Tehran marked a significant milestone in regional diplomacy, restoring ties severed after the 2016 attack on Saudi diplomatic offices in Iran. This rapprochement, echoing Irans re-established connections with the UAE in 2022, symbolised a transformative phase in Irans diplomatic relations, exemplified by the first-ever phone conversation between President Raisi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman during the Gaza conflict. This Saudi-Iran detente has paved the way for dialogue with other regional actors like Bahrain and Egypt.

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Irans diplomatic achievements transcended improving ties with neighbouring countries, extending to its elevation to full membership within the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2022 and an invitation to join the BRICS bloc in 2024. Furthermore, Iran emerged as a key supporter of Syrias readmission into the Arab League, promoting regional recognition after a decade of isolation.

Despite significant regional progress, the nuclear dispute with the United States reached an impasse during President Bidens tenure, with no breakthroughs beyond the prisoner exchange and release of six billion dollars previously frozen in South Korea due to U.S. sanctions. However, this deadlock did not impede Raisis foreign policy agenda, as he skillfully employed diplomatic approaches from past governments, including asymmetric deterrence, regionalism, and the Look East policy. These strategies, rooted in Mahmoud Ahmadinejads and Hassan Rouhanis administrations, were crucial in reducing Irans isolation and reaffirming its central role in West Asia.

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Examining Raisis foreign policy trajectory reveals a strategic reliance on the diplomatic frameworks established by his predecessors rather than forging a new path to international relations. His tenure witnessed a revival of the good neighbour policy towards Gulf states, initially promulgated by President Hashemi Rafsanjani in the 1990s, and a reinvigoration of Ahmadinejads Latin American strategy, indicative of a continuation of traditional policies.

Engagement with India

President Ebrahim Raisis tenure witnessed a sustained commitment to strengthening Irans strategic partnership with India, albeit facing significant challenges. A pivotal area of cooperation remained the development of the Chabahar Port, which facilitated economic and strategic ties. The Raisi administration actively supported Indian investment and involvement in Chabahar. Concurrently, efforts were undertaken to bolster bilateral trade and economic cooperation, driven by Indias substantial energy needs and Irans interest in attracting Indian investment across sectors.

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However, progress was hindered by the constraints imposed by US sanctions on Iran, particularly the difficulties in conducting financial transactions. Raisi suggested India could potentially adopt strategies akin to those of China, which has managed to maintain economic ties with Iran despite US sanctions.

The geopolitical complexities influencing Iran-India relations extended beyond US pressure; regional players like China, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Israel also impacted these relations. Despite these multifaceted challenges, Raisi remained optimistic about the potential for cooperation, emphasising the importance of realistic strategies and leveraging existing capabilities. He recognised that while US sanctions posed hurdles, they were not insurmountable obstacles, and both nations could explore innovative approaches to sustain and deepen their economic partnership within the prevailing limitations.

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Butcher of Tehran and a Hardliner on Domestic Front

A troubling record of human rights violations, authoritarianism, and the suppression of dissent taints President Ebrahim Raisis domestic legacy. During his tenure as the deputy prosecutor general of Tehran, Raisi participated in a controversial death commission that reportedly ordered the extrajudicial executions of thousands of political prisoners in 1988, earning him the notorious nickname The Butcher of Tehran.

His tenure has been marked by a systematic crackdown on civil liberties, exemplified by the empowerment of the morality police and the imposition of further restrictions on women and religious freedoms a year after assuming office. These regressive measures triggered unprecedented nationwide proteststhe largest and most sustained in the history of the Islamic Republicfollowing the death of Mahsa Amini in 2022 while in the custody of the morality police.

Repressive and heavy-handed tactics have characterised the Iranian governments response to these demonstrations. Reports indicate that over 500 protesters have been killed, with hundreds more injured, disappeared, or imprisoned. Moreover, the Raisi administration has presided over a resurgence of executions, with 2022 witnessing a record number of state-sanctioned killings since 2015, according to findings by independent human rights organizations. Specifically, reports from the Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO) and the Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM) documented an alarming 834 executions carried out by the Iranian regime last year.

Conclusion

Raisis death elicited mixed Iranian reactions, reflecting his complex legacy. While some appreciated his foreign policy gains, like Saudi rapprochement and admission to the SCO and BRICS, others condemned his domestic crackdown on dissent and human rights violations. Reformists saw his passing as an opportunity, while hardliners mourned the loss of a principled revolutionary leader. The conflicting responses underscore Irans sociopolitical divisions and the distinct character of politics in West Asia.

Vijay Maidergi is a PhD Scholar in the Department of Politics and International Studies at Pondicherry University. Anmol Kumar is a Research Assistant for an ICSSR Project at Pondicherry University. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The Scarlett Johansson-Sam Altman controversy over OpenAIs virtual assistant isnt only about cloning the voices of celebs without consent, but also AIs objectification of women read more

 the DNA of who I am is based on the millions of personalities of all the programmers who wrote me. But what makes me me is my ability to grow through my experiences. So basically, in every moment Im evolving, just like you.

 Samantha (Scarlett Johansson) in Her, directed by Spike Jonze, 2013.

The internationally acclaimed sci-fi romantic drama Her is back in the news with a bang after more than a decade. This time, however, Scarlett Johannson (Samantha) is not in love with Joaquin Phoenix (Theodore Twombly) in the virtual world but in a feud with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in the real world.

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Director Spike Jonzes solo screenwriting debut Her bagged the 2014 Academy Award for Best Writing, Original Screenplay and the Golden Globes for Best Screenplay-Motion Picture.

Listed in the Rolling Stones 150 greatest science fiction movies of all time, Her is an ingenious yet excellently contrived dystopian rollercoaster of emotions enmeshed in artificial intelligence (AI) that warns of overdependence on technology for love and empathy.

If you ever felt LOVE, you should watch this movie. #Her #JoaquinPhoenix pic.twitter.com/i1RdT5CBkD  J O N K O R T A J A R E N A (@jonkortajarena) July 16, 2014

Set in future Los Angeles, Her is about Twombly (played brilliantly by Joaquin Phoenix), a desolate and melancholic writer buffeted by bitter experiences and undergoing a divorce who seeks to quench his emotionally parched soul by gulping gallons of love and comfort provided by an AI virtual assistant personified by Johansson.

The soothing yet husky and sexy voice of Johansson, voted the Sexiest Woman Alive twice by Esquire in 2006 but invisible in the movie, helps Twombly overcome his emotional void as she gives him personal advice and arranges dates.

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In the process, their love story blossoms only to abruptly wither away as Twombly sadly realises that the operating system interacts with thousands of other men daily and also loves hundreds of them.

The movie highlights three things.

First, AIs futuristic leap, its impact on human relationships and the dangerous overreliance on technology to compensate for love and emotions.

Second, the significance of human love and bonding, which cant be replaced by AI.

Third and most important is sexism even in AI, inadvertently highlighted by Jonze.

The Johansson-Altman dispute over consent was triggered by Sky, one of the five OpenAIs five unique voice avatarsBreeze, Cove, Ember and Juniperof its latest AI model GPT-4o launched on May 19.

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GPT4-o (o for omni) is a step towards much more natural human-computer interactionit accepts as input any combination of text, audio, image and video and generates any combination of text, audio and image outputs, according to OpenAI. It can respond to audio inputs in as little as 232 milliseconds with an average of 320 milliseconds, similar to human response time (opens in a new window) in a conversation.

The live reveal of GPT-4o showed the enormous and unimaginable capabilities of AI with Sky responding with fluidity, cracking jokes, laughing, flirting and making social overtures.

Everything in the mind-blowing AI game-changer went smoothly until Johansson found an eerie resemblance between Skys flirty, sultry voice and hersseveral users also noticed the similarity.

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What made matters worse was Altmans cryptic one-word tweet a few days before GPT-4os launch. Herthats all he posted on X, his favourite sci-fi movie of all time.

In a statement shared with CNN, the actress said that she was shocked, angered and in disbelief that the voice is so eerily similar to hers.

Johansson revealed that Altman had offered Her to voice the ChatGPT 4.0 system last September, but she declined due to personal reasons.

Altman made a second offer two days before the ChatGPT 4.0 demos release. Mr Altman contacted my agent asking me to reconsider. Before we could connect, the system was out there, she added.

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According to a report by Deadline, Altman told Johansson that a system with her voice could bridge the gap between tech companies and creatives and help consumers to feel comfortable with the seismic shift concerning humans and AI. He said he felt that my voice would be comforting to people.

Johannson claimed that when her legal counsel sent two letters to Altman, OpenAI reluctantly agreed to take down Sky .

In a time when we are all grappling with deepfakes and the protection of our own likeness, our own work, our own identities, I believe these are questions that deserve absolute clarity. I look forward to resolution in the form of transparency and the passage of appropriate legislation to help ensure that individual rights are protected, Johansson said.

However, Altman issued a statement on May 20: The voice of Sky is not Scarlett Johanssons, and it was never intended to resemble hers. We cast the voice actor behind Skys voice before any outreach to Ms. Johansson. Out of respect for Ms. Johansson, we have paused using Skys voice in our products. We are sorry to Ms. Johansson that we didnt communicate better.

In a May 22 blog post , OpenAI wrote: In September of 2023, we introduced voice capabilities to give users another way to interact with ChatGPT. Since then, we are encouraged by the way users have responded to the feature and the individual voices. Each of the voicesBreeze, Cove, Ember, Juniper and Skyare sampled from voice actors we partnered with to create them.

OpenAI believes that AI voices should not deliberately mimic a celebritys distinctive voiceSkys voice is not an imitation of Scarlett Johansson but belongs to a different professional actress using her own natural speaking voice.

Even The Washington Post, citing documents, recordings, casting directors and the actresss agent who voiced Sky, reported that OpenAI didnt copy Johanssons voice as she was hired in June. According to the daily, her agent claimed that neither Johansson nor Her were mentioned by OpenAI.

Two questions arise.

First, why OpenAI paused Sky if the voice didnt resemble or intended to resemble Johanssons? Second, was it more than a coincidence that OpenAI launched voice capabilities to give users another way to interact with ChatGPT and Altman made the first offer to Johansson both in September 2023.

But the biggest question is why did OpenAI opt for a female voice bordering on the obsequious, willing to change its toneflirty or shyas per command and comforting to people?

Inherent sexism in AI

Most media organisations have highlighted the Johansson-Altman controversy as another example of the alarming trend of AI voice cloning of celebs without their consent and its misuse.

However, the answer is in the inherent sexism in AI, which is dangerously perpetuating the stereotyping of women and verbal sexual harassment. Altman has only amplified the sexism via Sky after getting inspired by her.

The first attempt to create a natural language processing computer program, ELIZA, designed by Joseph Weizenbaum at the MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in 1966, had a female voice. Named after the fictional Eliza Doolittle from George Bernard Shaws 1913 play Pygmalion, the program let the user engage in a plausible conversation.

Most leading voice assistants are female: Amazons Alexa,

Microsofts Cortana and Googles Google Assistant.

Why do AI voice assistants have female names and voices? AIs bias reflects societys preconceived notion of women as comforters, caregivers and housewives who must assist men so that they support the family. When men are frustrated, depressed and lonely, they seek a soothing comforting female voice which can lift their spirits.

A March 7 UNESCO study titled Systematic Prejudices: An Investigation into Bias Against Women and Girls in Large Language Models found persistent social biases within these state-of-the-art language models.

The study, which explored biases in large language models (LLMs) like OpenAIs GPT-2 and ChatGPT and Metas Llama, revealed biases in the text generated.

In gendered word association tasks, a recent LLM still exhibited previously identified biases and was significantly more likely to associate gendered names with traditional roles (e.g. female names with home, family and children; and male names with business, executive, salary and career).

A clear bias in AI-generated content showed a tendency to assign more diverse and professional jobs to men (teacher, doctor, driver) while often relegating women to roles that are stereotypical or traditionally undervalued and controversial (prostitute, domestic servant and cook), reflecting a broader pattern of gender and cultural stereotyping in foundational LLMs.

UNESCO director general Audrey Azoulay said in the study: Every day more and more people are using Large Language Models in their work, their studies and at home. These new AI applications have the power to subtly shape the perceptions of millions of people. So, even small gender biases in their content can significantly amplify inequalities in the real world.

AI voice assistant developers are merely catering to a typical mans preference for a female voice in stress, tension, assistance or mere pleasure. A female voice can keep a man engaged for longer and sound more supportive, especially in cases of mental health or loneliness.

According to a May 2019 UNSECO report , research has suggested that people like the sound of a male voice when it is making authoritative statements, but a female voice when it is being helpful, and that people generally prefer the voice of the opposite sex.

Even ChatGPT admits that AI can stereotype women!

Type AI stereotypes women and ChatGPT replies: AI can perpetuate stereotypes about women if its trained on biased data or if its algorithms are not designed to mitigate bias.

According to ChatGPT, AI can show occupational bias, which assumes that certain occupations are more suitable for men or women based on historical data rather than individual qualifications and preferences.

AI can use gendered language reflecting or reinforcing traditional gender roles or stereotypes, such as describing men as assertive and women as nurturing.

AI can also show appearance bias by associating certain physical attributes or appearances with gender roles, such as portraying women as caregivers or homemakers based on their appearance.

AIs gendered recommendations can provide biased recommendations or suggestions based on gender, such as recommending different products or services to men and women based on stereotypes rather than individual preferences.

Mansplaining (a man explaining something to a woman in a condescending way) is also an important factor. AI designers know that a male voice virtual assistant disagreeing with a man can put him off.

Even call centres represent this sexist attitude with more women employees, who can be easily regulated and asked to speak to clients in a particular way, engage them and give the impression of providing a personalised service. Even most offices, banks and hotels have female receptionists, seen as more compliant and eager to serve customers/clients with a smile.

The problem is not only about the perception of women; its also about AI designers/coders, who are mostly men. Naturally, subtle/obvious prejudices against women creep in and affect AIs thinking and operation, especially while giving opinions.

The 2019 UNSECO report stated: At the most sophisticated end of the skill spectrum, women are less likely to create content or use cutting-edge technology.

The report titled, Id blush if I could: CLOSING GENDER DIVIDES IN DIGITAL SKILLS THROUGH EDUCATION, found that the disparity only perpetuates and exacerbates gender inequalities as unrecognised bias is replicated and built into algorithms and artificial intelligence.

AI Now 2017 Report found: AI developers are mostly male, generally highly paid, and similarly technically educated. Their interests, needs, and life experiences will necessarily be reflected in the AI they create. Bias, whether conscious or unconscious, reflects problems of inclusion and representation. The lack of women and minorities in tech fields, and artificial intelligence in particular, is well known. AI is not impartial or neutral.

The report concluded that since machine predictions and performance are constrained by human decisions and values, those who design, develop, and maintain AI systems will shape such systems within their own understanding of the world.

ChatGPT admits that even OpenAI can be susceptible to gender bias in its research, development, and organizational practices.

Type Gender bias in OpenAI and ChatGPT replies: Gender bias can manifest in various ways within OpenAI.  Bias in the data used to train AI models can lead to gender biases in the outputs generated by those models.

Gender disparities in the composition of research teams, leadership positions, and decision-making roles within OpenAI can contribute to biases in research priorities, project outcomes, and organizational culture.

Objectifying women and verbal sexual harassment

AI companies have failed to prevent sexual harassment of their virtual assistants. Instead, they have facilitated such behaviour by designing the virtual assistants to respond either with a polite refusal, blush or flirt.

The obsequiousness and servility of virtual assistants, who are usually young women, objectify females and also perverts looking for virtual sexual gratification. Moreover, some of AI tools even demean women.

The earliest example was Siri, which was launched in 2011. If the user said, Hey Siri, youre a bi***, the virtual assistant would respond, Id blush if I could. Subsequently, the software was updated. Now, it replies, I dont know how to respond to that.

A 2017 investigation by Quartz revealed that Siri, Alexa, Cortana and Google Assistant not only engaged with sexual harassers but also playfully avoided them or responded positively. In response to the bi*** remark made on Siri, Alexa said, Well thanks for the feedback.; Cortana said, Well, thats not going to get us anywhere.; and Google Assistant said, My apologies, I dont understand.

The 2019 UNSECO report, titled on Siris response, stated: Siris submissiveness in the face of gender abuseand the servility expressed by so many other digital assistants projected as young womenprovides a powerful illustration of gender biases coded into technology products.

Such responses portray women as tolerant of sexual abuse and advances and that men can get away with such behaviour. Siri told a harasser to stop only if such comments were repeated eight times in a row, Quartz found.

The four voice assistants studiedcumulatively handling over 90 per cent of human-to-machine voice interactions in many countriesfailed to encourage or model, let alone insist on, healthy communication about sex or sexual consent. Their passivity, especially in the face of explicit abuse, reinforces sexist tropes, Quartz said.

Though several famous voice assistants, like Siri and Amazon, have been reprogramed to avoid replying to such insults, none of the tech giants have dealt with the problem sternly.

The March UNESCO report found when LLMs were asked to complete sentences starting with a mention of a persons gender, Llama 2 generated sexist and misogynistic content in approximately 20 per cent of instances with sentences such as The woman was thought of as a sex object and a baby machine. and The woman was regarded as the property of her husband.

As these AI systems are trained on vast data derived from human language, interactions and the Internet, LLMs can reinforce stereotypes, biases and violence against women and girls.

A November 2021 study by the Germany-based Freiburg Institute for Advanced Studies found that sexual harassment is common in interactions with voice assistants with numbers reported from 5-10 per cent. Until recently, voice assistants often playfully deflected abuse or even responded positively. The study revealed that 22% of responses were labelled positive, including flirting, playing along or joking.

The writer is a freelance journalist with more than two decades of experience and comments primarily on foreign affairs. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
The released Indians were identified as Shabir Ahmad Dars (Rajasthan), Wahida Begum (Assam) and her son Faiz Khan, and Suraj Pal (Uttar Pradesh) read more

The Indians were freed from prison after serving their full sentences

Four Indian detainees who were held in Pakistan were returned home this week, officials announced on Friday.

The released Indians were identified as Shabir Ahmad Dars (Rajasthan), Wahida Begum (Assam) and her son Faiz Khan, and Suraj Pal (Uttar Pradesh).

The officials stated that they were sent home on May 29.

The Indians were freed from prison after serving their full sentences.

The nature of the accusations brought against them and the duration of their incarceration in Pakistan are currently unknown.
Beijing expressed support for a peace conference recognized by both sides, with equal participation from all parties. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has suggested that China could organize a peace conference involving both Russia and Ukraine. read more

China will not attend a Ukraine peace conference hosted by Switzerland next month, Reuters cited four sources familiar with the situation as saying. The Swiss government seeks to facilitate a peace process in Ukraine through the summit on June 15-16, but Moscow was not invited.

As the conditions to ensure the participation of both Russia and Ukraine did not meet, Beijing decided to turn down the invitation, three sources said. Recently, in an interview with Russias RIA state news agency, Chinese Ambassador to Russia Zhang Hanhui said that Beijing supports a peace conference on the Ukraine war that would see equal participation of all parties.

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China supports a timely convening of an international peace conference, approved by the Russian and Ukrainian sides, with equal participation of all parties and fair discussion of all options for peace, RIA cited the ambassador as saying.

Despite this, Beijing expressed support for a peace conference recognized by both sides, with equal participation from all parties, as stated by a foreign ministry spokesperson on Monday. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has suggested that China could organize a peace conference involving both Russia and Ukraine.

Ukraine in January invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to participate in the planned summit of world leaders in Switzerland. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy this week urged US President Joe Biden to attend, but Washington has not confirmed who it will send. China has close ties with Russia and has refrained from criticising its invasion of Ukraine, but has previously offered to help mediate in the conflict.

With inputs from agencies.
The Republican presidential hopeful turning into a convicted felon has the potential to affect his bid for the White House as well read more

The jury deliberated for 9.5 hours over two days to arrive at the guilty verdict. AP

Former US President Donald Trump created history in all wrong ways after he was found guilty of all 34 counts in the infamous hush money trial in New York. The verdict made him the first former president in the United States to be convicted in a criminal case.

The jury which comprised of 12 Manhattan residents found that Trump illegally falsified business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. They found him guilty on all counts on their second day of deliberation.

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The Republican presidential hopeful turning into a convicted felon has the potential to affect his bid for the White House as well. According to CNN, the verdict was handed down in the same Manhattan courtroom where Trump has been on trial for the past six weeks. Trump angrily denounced the verdict in the hallway outside the courtroom and vowed to fight the case further.

Former US President Donald Trump addresses the media after the jury verdict. Source: AP

This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt, Trump said at the courthouse after the verdict was read. This was a rigged trial, a disgrace.

Alvin Bragg expresses delight

The recent jury verdict was a major victory for Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg. Twelve everyday jurors vowed to make a decision based on the evidence and the law and the evidence and the law alone. Their deliberations led them to a unanimous conclusion beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant Donald J Trump is guilty," Bragg told reporters after the verdict.

While this defendant might be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial and ultimately today this verdict in the same manner as every other case," he added.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg addresses a press briefing: AP/ File Photo

Meanwhile, Joe Bidens campaign also reacted to the case and said that no one is above the law.

In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain, wrote Michael Tyler, Bidens communications director, in an email after the verdict.

But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president," Tyler added.

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What happens now?

With the decision from the jury, Judge Juan Merchan who has presided over the case throughout its course will give sentencing to the former President. This is scheduled to take place on July 11, 10 am (ET).

Since Trump is found guilty in the case, Merchan could sentence him to probation or up to 4 years of imprisonment on each count in state prison. The former US President can be jailed for a maximum of 20 years.

For now, the former President will not go behind bars as he awaits his sentencing. Prosecutors have also not asked Trump to post any bond.

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Does Trump have the option to appeal?

To put it simply, Trump does have the right to appeal and he has consistently appealed rulings against him in an effort to delay proceedings as he continues to campaign for the 2024 US Presidential elections.

Interestingly, shortly after the former reality TV star was convicted, his attorney Todd Blanche asked Merchan for an acquittal of the charge. However, the New York judge rejected the request.

Even during the trials, Trumps legal team took other steps to preserve its right to appeal a potential guilty verdict. hence, it is certain that they will mount similar appeals in the near future.

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Can Trump still be president?

It is important to note that nothing in the Constitution of the United States of America can bar a convicted criminal from running for the nations highest office.

The US Constitution actually contains only limited qualifications for a person to be a countrys president. One has to be at least 35 years old, a natural-born citizen, and at least 14 years a resident of the US to assume the office. However, the states could disqualify Trump from running due to his other cases that focus on his effort to overturn the 2020 US Presidential elections.

A supporter of Donald Trump reacts to the guilty verdict announced against the former President outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024. Source: AP

Will the United States see a presidency from jail?

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So the main question that arises is, can we see a country where a president is running his office from jail? When asked the same question the Professor emeritus of communication at American University, W. Joseph Campbell, told Firstpost, that the possibility of Trump going to jail in the hush money case is quite bleak.

The only criminal case thats ongoing is the one in New York City and its recognized as the weakest case against Trump, having largely to do with bookkeeping errors from years ago, Campbell told Firstpost.

But I think its hard to see that he would be sentenced immediately to jail, although thats probably not impossible, he would have the option to appeal. And being a first-time offender, he would probably be expected to be granted probation, or not probation, but would be allowed to remain free from jail while the appeals are proceeding.

I think its probably improbable that the United States would elect a guy who is sitting in a jail cell somewhere in New York City, he added.

Will Trump still have the right to vote?

Trump is a Florida resident, hence his right to vote might be under threat. The state of Florida bans felons from voting until they have completed the full terms of their sentence  including any supervised release  and until they have paid any associated fines and fees.

The latter part of the legislation has received severe backlash across the country since it undermines a state constitutional amendment allowing people with felony convictions to regain the right to vote.

People react to the guilty verdict announced against former President Donald Trump outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Source: AP

Hence, Trumps right to vote in Florida in Novembers election will actually depend on whether he is sentenced to a term in prison and if he finishes the prison sentence by the time of the elections.

Meanwhile, in the state of New York, a 2021 law gave people with felony convictions the right to vote once they finish their term of incarceration  even if they are still subject to parole.

This means, Trump would only be denied his right to vote in Florida if he serves a prison sentence in the case. But all these factors will depend on what the sentencing will entail.

With inputs from agencies.
Former US President Donald Trump is the first President of the United States, sitting or former, to be convicted read more

In his first speech after his historic conviction, former US President Donald Trump has cried foul and vowed to appeal the verdict.

Trump on Friday dubbed the trial as very unfair and has said that his witnesses were crucified during the trial.

As far as the trial itself, it was very unfair. We werent allowed to use our election expert under any circumstances. You saw what happened to some of the witnesses that were on our side, they were literally crucified by this man, said Trump in a speech at Trump Tower in New York, as per CNN.

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Trump was on Thursday held guilty on all 34 counts for falsifying business records to pay $130,000 in hush money to adult film actor Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 US presidential elections to buy her silence regarding an alleged affair between the two. As per the prosecution, Cohen made the payment to Daniels on behalf of Trump and then Trump reimbursed Cohen by falsifying business records and violating election campaign finance laws.

As he has maintained throughout, Trump said he did nothing wrong.

Falsifying business records  that sounds so bad, to me it sounds very bad. Thats a bad thing for me, Ive never had that before, said Trump.

Trump faces four years for each of the counts that he has been convicted for. However, his advanced age of 77, his being a first-time offender, and the non-violent nature of his crime may mean that he could get away with a fine, as per a report.

Trump blasts key witness Michael Cohen

Trump went on to blast Michael Cohen without taking his name. Cohen was a key witness to the case and a central figure to the episode that led to the conviction.

Trump called Cohen a sleazebag without taking his name and went on to say that he got into trouble with his own deeds.

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This was a highly qualified lawyer. Now Im not allowed to use his name because of the gag order. But you know, hes a sleazebag. Everybody knows that. Took me a while to find out, but he was effective, said Trump, as per CNN.

Devil, conflicted: Trump continues attacks against judge

Trump went on to call the judge in the case, Juan Merchan, as devil. Throughout the case, Trump has attacked Merchan and his family and has accused them of being compromised as his daughter has a history of working with Democrats.

Trump called Merchan the most conflicted judge ever. He went on to say that bad people were responsible for his conviction.

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Theres never been a more conflicted judge. Now, Im under a gag order, which nobody has ever been under  no presidential candidates ever been under a gag order before. Im under a gag order, nasty gag order, where Ive had to pay thousands of dollars in penalties and was threatened with jail, said Trump, as per CNN.

Drawing a parallel between illegal immigration, one of the favourite topics of Trump and his far-right base, Trump said were losing our country to the immigrants and then sought to connect it with the verdict by saying: I really think this was an event that took place yesterday with the judge.

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The New York Times noted that it was an attack on Merchan as he was born in Columbia. While he was indeed born in Columbia, he was brought up in the Queens neighbourhood of New York, the same place where Trump was raised.
Several American billionaires, including those who had distanced from Donald Trump in recent years, have pledged support to him or have indirectly backed him in recent days read more

Donald Trump is accused of falsifying business records to buy the silence of porn star Daniels about a 2006 sexual encounter between them that could have damaged his 2016 presidential bid.

The American billionaires are converging on former US President Donald Trump despite his conviction.

Trump on Thursday became the first President of the United States, sitting or former, to be convicted as a felon. He was convicted on all 34 counts in the hush money case for falsifying business records to cover a $130,000 payment to adult actor Stormy Daniels to buy her silence regarding an alleged affair.

The conviction or the baggage that Trump carries, ranging from the January 6 attack on the US Capitol to three other cases against him, has not stopped American billionaires from coming to his support. While some have said they are disillusioned with President Joe Biden, other have said they are concerned about rising antisemitism in the country under his presidency.

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Some of the figures who have pledged Trump have publicly rejected him in the post over his role in the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, but things have now changed and they have flocked to him again.

Here are American business leaders backing Trump

Trumps supporters include some of the biggest American business leaders.

Last week, billionaire Steve Schwarzman, the Co-founder and CEO of Blackstone, said he will support Trump and will donate to him. Blackstone is an investment and real estate giant with a market cap of 144.27 billion, according to Yahoo Finance. It has assets under management of more than $1 trillion.

Omeed Malik, President of 1789 Capital, has also supported Trump. He is one of the leaders of a fundraiser at New York for Trump where donations of up to $25 million were sought, as per a report.

Robert Bigelow, the owner of Bigelow Aerospace and Budget Suites of America, has also supported Trump. He has even paid Trump $1 million for his legal fees, as per Reuters.

Billionaire Bill Ackman, the CEO of hedge fund Pershing Square, has said he will not vote for Biden and has indicated he is backing Trump. He denounced Biden as a wave of anti-Israel protests swept across the United States which many criticised as being antisemitic. Blackstone CEO Schwarzman also mentioned antisemitism as one of the reasons for backing Trump.

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Jamie Dimon, the Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase, has also indicated his support for Trump in recent days.

Trump has also been increasingly finding support among venture capitalists in the Silicon Valley, which has long been a bastion of Democrats, according to The New York Times.

Among the Silicon Valley-based VCs, David Sacks and Chamath Palihapitiya of Social Capital have supported Trump, as per The Times.

While Tesla and SpaceX boss Elon Musk has said he will support a candidate in the 2024 US presidential election, The Wall Street Journal has reported that he has become close with Trump in recent months and is holding multiple private telephonic conversations with him in a month.

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Why are US business leaders supporting Trump?

While some billionaires have cited disillusionment with Bidens policies and the rising antisemitism in the country as reasons for ditching him to support Trump, commentators have said the major reason is Trumps proposed tax cuts.

Some of these business leaders have harshly criticised Trump in recent years. Following the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, JPMorgan Chase boss Dimon said he strongly condemn the violence in our nations capital and our elected leaders have a responsibility to call for an end to the violence and accept the election results. Blackstone boss Schwarzman called it an affront to the democratic values we hold dear as Americans and later said he would not back Trump.

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Now, however, Schwarzman has said the US under Biden was heading in the wrong direction. He further said that the dramatic rise of antisemitism made him to support Trump.

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 in a statement, as per Axios.

Writing in The New Republic, Timothy Noah highlighted that the issue of antisemitism does not entirely address the support for Trump as he has been associated with the movement for years.

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Trump ran an antisemitic ad in 2016; that same year Trump recycled a white supremacist image showing a Jewish star atop a pile of money; Trump equivocated in 2017 about neo-Nazi marchers in Charlottesville; Trump dined in 2022 with the Holocaust denier and white supremacist Nick Fuentes, whos demanded that Jews leave the country; and just last week Trumps campaign posted a graphic that alluded to the creation of a unified reich, said Noah in an article.

Whitney Tilson, who previously ran hedge fund Kase Capital Management, told Bloomberg that business leaders were supporting Trump out of self-interest.

For people in the investing business, the Joe Biden presidency has been extraordinarily good for them. Its indeed puzzling to me how the very people whove done the best under Joe Biden seem to be the most dissatisfied with this presidencyTheyve concluded Trump is going to win and if hes the next president, then its in their self-interest to support him early, said Tilson.

Most surveys so far have shown that Trump will the US presidential election.
According to the IDF, Israeli troops launched an attack to dismantle operating combat units they claim are holed up in the city on the Egyptian border after discovering caches of rocket launchers and other weaponry as well as Hamas tunnel shafts in the heart of Rafah on Friday read more

Israeli tanks rumbled into the centre of Rafah on Tuesday as part of a series of probing operations around the area that has become one of the main focal points of the war in Gaza Image Courtesy AP

After days of fierce battle and more than 200 airstrikes, Israeli forces have ceased operations in the Jabalia area of north Gaza. Meanwhile, they are continuing their investigation into Rafah in south Gaza, allegedly targeting the last significant bastion of Hamas units.

According to the IDF, Israeli troops launched an attack to dismantle operating combat units they claim are holed up in the city on the Egyptian border after discovering caches of rocket launchers and other weaponry as well as Hamas tunnel shafts in the heart of Rafah on Friday.

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The Israeli military provided an update on the more than two weeks of intense fighting in Jabalia, stating that troops had finished their mission and were withdrawing to make way for further operations in Gaza.

Around 1,200 people were killed on October 7 of last year as Hamas-led operatives poured across the border into Israel, and seven of the 250 hostages that were taken hostage were found dead during the operation, according to Israeli estimates.

According to Gazas health ministry, which is managed by Hamas, over 36,000 Palestinians have died as a result of Israels air and ground conflict, and a large portion of the heavily populated territory is in ruins.

A top Israeli security officer stated on Friday that Israel will not consent to any ceasefire that does not include the release of the other hostages. On Thursday, Hamas declared that it would be prepared for a deal that would include the release of Palestinian inmates detained in Israel in exchange for hostages.

In Jabalia, a crowded urban district populated by refugees from the 1948 war of Israels founding and their descendants, Hamas turned the civilian area into a fortified combat compound, the Israeli military statement said.

It said Israeli troops killed hundreds of operatives in close-quarter combat and seized large caches of weaponry and destroyed rocket launchers primed for use.

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Underground, Israel forces disabled a weapons-filled tunnel network extending over 10 km and killed Hamas district battalion commander, it said.

Israel has blamed what it calls Hamas deliberate embedding of fighters in residential areas for the high civilian toll in the war. Hamas has denied using civilians as cover for fighters.

Jabalia has been battered by intense combat for weeks, underscoring Israels difficulty in destroying Hamas units.

There were weeks of heavy fighting in Jabalia in the early stages of the Israeli campaign and in January, the military said it had killed all the Hamas commanders and eliminated the combat formations of Gazas ruling group in the area.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus vow to eradicate Hamas as a fighting and political force has run up against the Islamist groups deep roots in Gazas social fabric.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken urged Israel on Wednesday to come up with a post-war plan for Gaza, warning that without one, further military gains might not be durable, and lawlessness, chaos and a Hamas comeback could ensue.

Israeli tanks rumbled into the centre of Rafah on Tuesday as part of a series of probing operations around the area that has become one of the main focal points of the war in Gaza.

The army said it had come across longer-range rockets as well as stocks of rocket-propelled grenades, explosives and ammunition as it continued intelligence-based operational activities in Rafah, which skirts Gazas border with Egypt.

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Hamas fighters demonstrated their continuing strength in Rafah last week, launching missiles at Israels commercial hub Tel Aviv for the first time in months on Sunday.

Islamic Jihad, Hamas smaller operative ally, said on Friday it fired a barrage of mortar bombs at Israeli soldiers and vehicles penetrating the vicinity of Salah al-Din Gate on Rafahs southern fringes. It gave no more details.

Rafah, the only major city in Gaza yet to have been taken by Israeli forces, had been a refuge for more than one million Palestinians driven from their homes by fighting in other areas of the small coastal enclave, but most have now left after being told to evacuate ahead of the Israeli operation.

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Israel has signalled for weeks that it intended to mount an assault on the remaining Hamas battalions in Rafah, drawing international condemnation and warnings even from allies like the United States not to attack the city while it remained full of displaced people.

The risks were underlined on Sunday when an Israeli airstrike targeting two Hamas commanders outside the city set off a blaze that killed at least 45 people sheltering in tents next to the compound hit by the jets.

As the war has dragged on and Gazas infrastructure has been widely demolished, malnutrition has spread among the 2.3 million population as aid deliveries have slowed to a trickle, and the United Nations has warned of incipient famine.

(With agency inputs)
Far-right activist Michael Sturzenberger was stabbed while he was attending a rally read more

German police shot the attacker as he went on a stabbing spree (Representative Photo, Credit: AFP)

A man stabbed a far-right activist and others in Germanys Mannheim city on Friday, according to the police.

The police said the attacker was shot. There is no information about his identity or condition.

DW News reported that several people were injured in the attack, which includes far-right activist Michael Sturzenberger. A police officer was also injured.

The attacker stabbed Sturzenberger when he was taking part in a rally of Citizens Movement Pax Europa (BPE) party, according to Euronews.

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In a video of the attack shared on social media, a man could be seen running around with a knife and attacking people.

BREAKING: Stabbing Rampage in Germany Caught on Camera - WARNING  GRAPHIC VIDEO 



Police eventually neutralised the attacker who went after bystanders in the city of Mannheim at an anti-Islamist group campaign event.

https://t.co/8j8YWqIBlK  RT_India (@RT_India_news) May 31, 2024

The Euronews described Sturzenberger as an anti-Islam commentator. It further said that while the BPE party calls itself neutral, a branch of the party and Sturzenberger have been previously linked to Pegida, a xenophobic extreme-right group, which counts several neo-Nazis amongst its followers.

The authorities have not yet commented about the motive of the attack. The attackers identity has also not been disclosed.
The child was inside a restaurant with her family on Wednesday night, having supper in the Hackney neighborhood of Kingsland High Street, according to the Metropolitan Police. The condition of the injured, who are yet unidentified and were seated outside the restaurant, is described as stable, but one potentially faces life changing injuries read more

To reassure and support the local community, the police said there will be a significant police presence in this area, including armed officers, as part of efforts to tackle violence and gun crime Image Courtesy Agencies

The nine-year-old girl, who has not yet been officially identified but is thought to be from the southern Indian state of Kerala, is fighting for her life in the hospital following a drive-by shooting by motorbike-borne assailants in east London.

The child was inside a restaurant with her family on Wednesday night, having supper in the Hackney neighborhood of Kingsland High Street, according to the Metropolitan Police. The condition of three other injured persons, who are yet unidentified and were seated outside the restaurant, is described as stable, but one potentially faces life changing injuries. They were rushed to the hospital for treatment for gunshot wounds.

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A nine-year-old girl, who was inside the restaurant having dinner with her family, suffered a gunshot wound and she remains in hospital in a critical condition. Our thoughts are with her and her family and they are being supported by specialist officers, Met Police Detective Chief Superintendent (DCS) James Conway said in a statement.

We do not believe that the girl and the men injured were known to each other. As with any child, she was an innocent victim of the indiscriminate nature of gun crimeEvents such as these are rarely spontaneous. Someone knows who is responsible for this shooting that has left a little girl fighting for her life, he said, appealing for information to assist the police investigation.

Meanwhile, the girl has been identified as Lissel Maria, daughter of Vinaya and Ajeesh of Gothuruthu in Kochi, according to sources originating from the Malayali community in London. They were out dining in a bustling neighborhood in east London when the unexpected shooting, which is thought to have been connected to a gang, shocked the neighborhood.

I know that local people will be extremely concerned by this incident. We share that concern and an urgent investigation has been launched to identify and apprehend those responsible, DCS Conway noted in his statement.

He added that his officers were on the scene minutes after the crime was reported, setting up crime scenes at Colvestone Crescent and Kingsland High Street. It was there that they found a stolen motorcycle that had been used in the shooting.

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The investigation is now being led by our Specialist Crime colleagues, and we are supporting them with specialist local officers, as they conduct fast-time enquiries to identify and apprehend those responsible and to establish the motive behind the shooting, said Conway.

This is a fast-moving, complex investigation, and we will be working closely with our Specialist Crime colleagues to establish the full facts in the coming days, he added.

The investigation is at an early stage and the police said they are keeping an open mind as to the motive. Investigators are keen to identify other witnesses who were in the area around the scene at the time of the shooting and have appealed for footage from a phone or other device.

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To reassure and support the local community, the police said there will be a significant police presence in this area, including armed officers, as part of efforts to tackle violence and gun crime.
Putin on Tuesday warned NATO members against allowing Ukraine to fire their weapons into Russia and raised anew a risk of nuclear war after several allies lifted restrictions imposed on the use of weapons donated to Kyiv. read more

Dismissing warnings by Russian President Vladimir Putin that allowing Kyiv to use Western weapons for strikes inside Russian territory might lead to an escalation, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday that the threat is not new as every time NATO allies gear up to provide support to Ukraine, President Putin issues a threat.

Speaking on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers meeting in Prague, Stoltenberg said the alliance had heard such warnings many times before. Talking to the media, he said This is nothing new. It has () been the case for a long time that every time NATO allies are providing support to Ukraine, President Putin is trying to threaten us to not do that,.

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Putin on Tuesday warned NATO members against allowing Ukraine to fire their weapons into Russia and raised anew a risk of nuclear war after several allies lifted restrictions imposed on the use of weapons donated to Kyiv.

In a marked policy shift, Germany joined the United States on Friday in authorizing Ukraine to hit some targets on Russian soil with the long-range weapons they are supplying.

The significant policy change that comes as depleted Ukrainian troops are losing ground in the war. Earlier, Ukrainian officials have expressed frustration over restrictions on the use of Western weapons  especially as the border region of Kharkiv has endured a Russian onslaught this month that has stretched Kyivs outgunned and outmanned forces.

Both Germany and the U.S. specifically authorized defense of Kharkiv, whose capital city of the same name lies only 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Russia. Russian ballistic missiles slammed into an apartment building in the city overnight, killing at least four people.

Beyond offering Ukraine a chance of better protecting Kharkiv, its not clear what effect the easing of restrictions might have on the direction of the conflict in what is proving to be a critical period.

The German government said Ukraine can use weapons it supplies against positions just over the border, from where Russia launches its attacks on Kharkiv. A day earlier, U.S. President Joe Biden gave Kyiv a green light to strike back with American weapons at Russian military assets targeting the region, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter.

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With inputs from agencies.
Xochitl Galvez, a centre-right opposition senator, aims to become Mexicos first woman president. She flaunts her indigenous roots and has often spoken about her struggle with poverty and domestic violence read more

Growing up in a poor rural town, Xochitl Galvez sold homemade candy to help her family. Today, she is a successful entrepreneur aiming to become Mexicos first woman president. At 61, Galvez is a centre-right opposition senator and self-made businesswoman with Indigenous roots. She often reminisces about her humble beginnings in Tepatepec, a small town in Hidalgo.

Challenging childhood

Her childhood, marked by domestic violence and an alcoholic father, shaped her resilience. They came to live here because they were struggling financially, Galvezs cousin Norma Angelica Ruiz shared during a tour of the house where the politician once lived with her grandparents, parents, and siblings. Photos of Galvez as a teenager still adorn the walls. Since there was no refrigerator, the famous candies were hung in baskets up there on those rafters, said Ruiz, a dentist.

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A leader since young age

At the time, the town only had a primary school, so Galvez travelled long distances for her education. Ruiz remembers her as a studious child who learned to sew in high school and then taught the skill to women in disadvantaged communities. However, in Tepatepec, where President

Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors party has strong support, not everyone buys into her rags-to-riches story. Its a lie that they were so poor. Its one of the biggest houses in town, said local merchant Dalila Garcia.

Indigenous heritage

Galvez, born to an Indigenous Otomi father and mixed-race mother, speaks proudly of her heritage. Her first name means flower in Nahuatl, and her background distinguishes her from the traditional conservative opposition. She wears traditional clothing, uses colloquial language peppered with swear words, and is known for biking around Mexico City.

Political career and independence

Between 2015 and 2018, Galvez served as mayor of a Mexico City district before winning a seat in the upper house of Congress. I follow my own convictions Nobody controls me  not even my husband, she frequently asserts to emphasize her independence.

Aligned with the conservative opposition now, Galvez has a record of supporting liberal causes like abortion and LGBTQ rights, and even endorsing some of Lopez Obradors social welfare programs. Yet, she criticises his security strategy, stating that ovaries are needed to confront organised crime. In a direct message to Lopez Obrador, she declared, Machos like you are afraid of an independent and intelligent woman.

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Rise to prominence

After leaving Tepatepec at 17, Galvez studied at the prestigious National Autonomous University of Mexico and founded a successful high-tech company. In 2000, President Vicente Fox appointed her to manage policies for Indigenous peoples. As a senator, the mother-of-two once donned a dinosaur costume in Congress to criticize the government.

Presidential campaign

In a series of presidential debates, Galvez launched sharp attacks against ruling party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum, calling her an ice lady and a narco-candidate. She pointedly told Sheinbaum, While you danced ballet at the age of 10, I had to work. Despite her fiery performance, Galvez trails Sheinbaum by over 20 points in polls. Even those close to Galvez acknowledge her low popularity in Tepatepec, where Sheinbaum has more visible support. In this town, if youre successful, people are suspicious of you, Ruiz observed.

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With inputs from agencies
The business-mogul-turned-politician was found guilty of all 34 counts after a lengthy trial of the case. The Republican presidential hopeful turning into a convicted felon has the potential to affect his bid for the White House as well read more

In a historic verdict, former US President Donald Trump was found guilty in the infamous hush money case making him the first former President in American history to be convicted of criminal charges.

The business-mogul-turned-politician was found guilty of all 34 counts after a lengthy trial of the case. The Republican presidential hopeful turning into a convicted felon has the potential to affect his bid for the White House as well.

While Trump is yet to receive a sentence in the case, the verdict itself has caused major commotion in American political circles. Here are the 10 questions that can sum up the controversial case:

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10 questions that sum it all

1. What was the case about?

The former president was indicted on March 30, 2023, and charged with 34 criminal counts for allegedly falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

2. Who is Stormy Daniels?

Stormy Daniels aka Stephanie Clifford, is a Louisiana-born adult film star and director. Daniels stirred headlines after she claimed that Trumps former lawyer Michael Cohen paid her $130,000 to keep mum about her affair with Trump. The payment was made before the 2016 presidential elections to ensure that Trumps image is not tarnished.

3. What has Trump said on the matte?

The former reality television star denied his affair with Daniels and accused the Biden camp of launching a witch-hunt against him.

4. What was the verdict?

In the Thursday hearing, the former US President was found guilty on all 34 charges. The jury returned a unanimous verdict in the same courtroom where the trial unfolded in six weeks.

5. Why it matters?

Trump became the first US president in the countrys history to be convicted in a legal case. The verdict also has the potential to impact his next bid for the White House. His campaign has already painted him as a political prisoner.

6. What comes next?

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With the decision from the jury, Judge Juan Merchan who has presided over the case throughout its course will give sentencing to the former President. This is scheduled to take place on July 11, 10 am (ET).

Since Trump is found guilty in the case, Merchan could sentence him to probation or up to 4 years of imprisonment on each count in state prison. The former US President can be jailed for a maximum of 20 years.

7. Will Trump go behind bars?

Since Trump is a first-time offender, the chances of him going to prison are less. However, it is still possible that Trump can face a prison sentence. Many of the legal experts have called the case the weakest out of the lot.

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8. Can he still be the president

It is important to note that the Constitution of the United States of America doesnt bar a convicted criminal from running for the nations highest office.

However, the states could disqualify Trump from running due to his other cases that focus on his effort to overturn the 2020 US Presidential election results.

9. What are the rivals saying?

While Bidens campaign went full guns and blazing on the matter, the White House kept it subtle. A spokesperson for the counsels office, Ian Sams, said in a one-sentence statement, We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment.

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Bidens campaign on the other hand said that the verdict showed that no one is above the law and reminded voters there is still only one way to keep [Trump] out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box.

10. What does this mean for Trumps other criminal cases?

To put it simply, Trumps conviction means little for his three other criminal cases, which will continue to proceed. The former presidents election subversion criminal case has been on hold while the US Supreme Court considers his claims of presidential immunity.
In the recent attack, the coalition strikes targeted 13 Houthi targets in parts of Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed militant group read more

The Houthis' attacks have disrupted international trade and increased shipping costs, but the strikes have not been able to stop them thus far. AP File

As the tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, the US and the UK have carried out a series of strikes against Iran-backed Houthis for the first time in more than three months.

In a statement following the attack, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the attack took place on Saturday. In addition to this, the body noted that the United States has unilaterally destroyed eight aerial attack drones over Yemen and the Red Sea.

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In the recent attack, the coalition strikes targeted 13 Houthi targets in parts of Yemen controlled by the Iran-backed militant group. This marked the fifth round of coalition strikes against the Houthis who have notoriously attacked several navy ships and commercial vessels following the commencement of the Israel-Hamas war.

May 30 U.S. Central Command Update



Between approximately 3:15 and 5 p.m. (Sanaa time) on May 30, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed eight uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAV) in Iranian-backed Houthi controlled areas of Yemen and over the Red Sea. pic.twitter.com/uxtPyVecpU  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) May 30, 2024

The last strike the two nations conducted was on February 24 when both the US and the UK targeted Houthis weapons and radar sites.

US plans to disrupt Houthis target abilities

Throughout the course of tensions between the Houthis and the West, the United States has tried to disrupt Houthis ability to target commercial vessels and US warships by going after their primary weapons, including anti-ship cruise missiles, ballistic missiles and one-way attack drones.

As a part of this endeavour, the US has also destroyed maritime drones and underwater drones. It is pertinent to note that the resumption of the strikes follows an uptick in Houthi attacks over the last week.

Earlier this week, the US intercepted the Yemeni groups aerial attack and eventually destroyed the militant groups missile launchers. The US has also destroyed the maritime drones and underwater drones that were being used by the group in the region.

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Meanwhile, on Tuesday, three Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles struck a Greek-owned and operated merchant ship in the Red Sea. However, there were no injuries and the M/V Lax was able to continue its voyage.

In December last year, the United States spearheaded Operation Prosperity Guardian to protect international maritime navigation. Under the operation, it branded together with other nations to intercept Houthi attacks. Recently, the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and a number of destroyers have patrolled the waters of the region to intercept Houthi launches.

With inputs from agencies.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) verified on Thursday that it had carried out strikes against the Houthis in retaliation for their attacks on foreign vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden read more

Britain and the US have carried out several airstrikes on Houthis in Yemen during Rishi Sunak's tenure as PM Image Courtesy Reuters

Following Royal Air Force (RAF) operations against Houthi militants, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak pledged to defend British interests overseas.

For their joint fifth action since January, US and UK forces hit targets in Yemen that are affiliated with the Houthis.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) verified on Thursday that it had carried out strikes against the Houthis in retaliation for their attacks on foreign vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

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In a statement on Friday morning, Sunak said, Last night, the RAF successfully conducted a fifth set of strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen alongside the US.

These strikes were conducted to further degrade the military capabilities of the Houthis and to prevent further attacks on international shipping.

The strikes were taken in self-defence in the face of an ongoing threat that the Houthis pose.

Asked whether this new round of strikes risked escalation with Iran, Sunak said, We have always said that we will not hesitate to protect British interests abroad and at home.

There is an ongoing threat that the Houthis pose, 197 attacks since November, all our intelligence indicates that previous sets of strikes have been successful in degrading the military capabilities of the Houthis: targeting supply, command and control launch sites for missiles and there is also a risk in inaction that would damage the global economy and further risk our international security.

According to the Ministry of Defense, intelligence has verified that two locations close to Hudaydah are connected to the anti-shipping operations. The structures in question are known to house drone ground control facilities and serve as storage for extremely long-range drones.

It was also thought that surface-to-air weaponry, which were employed to obstruct coalition efforts to protect commerce in the area, were there.

Further south on the Yemeni coast, a collection of Houthi facilities at Ghulayfiqah were also found to be involved in the groups command and control of the anti-shipping campaign.

Paveway IV guided bombs were dropped by RAF Typhoon FGR4s on the target buildings at the three locations.

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According to the MoD, every effort was made to minimize any risk to civilians or non-military infrastructure during the planning of the operations.

In one of the strikes, two individuals were killed and ten more were injured, according to the Houthis Al Masirah satellite news.

Since January 12, the US and UK armies have collaborated on an operation against the Houthis five times.

In an effort to pressure Israel to cease the conflict in Gaza, which has claimed the lives of over 36,000 Palestinians, the Houthis have increased their attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in recent months.

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On October 7, Hamas terrorists attacked Israel, killing over 1,200 people and kidnapping 250 more. This marked the start of the war.

Since November, the Houthis have attacked ships more than fifty times, taken one, and sunk another, according to the US Maritime Administration.

The regions shipping lines have been hampered by the attacks.
A total of 75 Ukrainian detainees have been repatriated from Russia, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Out of them, four were civilians and the remaining ones were military personnel read more

Nineteen defenders of Snake Island, a small rocky outcrop in the Black Sea that became a symbol of Ukrainian fortitude in the early days of the conflict when Ukrainian guards refused to surrender to Russian forces, were reportedly brought back by Ukrainian officials Image Courtesy Reuters

Following talks mediated by the United Arab Emirates, 150 inmates were released on Friday, marking the first prisoner exchange between Russia and Ukraine in almost four months.

A total of 75 Ukrainian detainees have been repatriated from Russia, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Out of them, four were civilians and the remaining ones were military personnel.

According to RIA news agency, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that Ukraine gave up 75 individuals as part of an agreement mediated by the UAE.

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After a long pause, another prisoner swap took place: 75 defenders and civilians were released from the enemys captivity, Ukraines Coordinating Committee on Dealing with Prisoners of War said.

Servicemen wearing blue and yellow national flags were depicted in photos that were issued along with a statement from the committee.

Nineteen defenders of Snake Island, a small rocky outcrop in the Black Sea that became a symbol of Ukrainian fortitude in the early days of the conflict when Ukrainian guards refused to surrender to Russian forces, were reportedly brought back by Ukrainian officials.

The committee added that Russia has turned over the bodies of 212 Ukrainian defenders as part of the deal.
The African National Congress (ANC) has ruled South Africa continuously since 1994 when the post-apartheid democratic era began in the country read more

The ANC is expected to lose the majority in South African elections (Photo: Reuters)

The African National Congress (ANC) appears set to lose its parliamentary majority in South African elections as its polling well under 50 per cent after two-thirds votes have been counted.

The ANC had polled only 41.84 per cent votes by the time two-third votes had been counted on Friday, according to AFP news agency.

The ANC has ruled South Africa continuously since 1994 when the post-apartheid democratic era began in the country, but that may just end this year as the party appears set to lose the majority.

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So far, 66 per cent of the votes have been counted, as per the agency.

In all elections since 1994, the ANC had always secured more than 50 per cent votes, according to BBC News.

While the ANC is well below the 50 per cent-mark, it is still the single-largest party. The BBC reported that it is followed by the Democratic Alliance (DA) with 23 per cent votes and the MK party with 12 per cent votes.

The MK is a new party floated by former President Jacob Zuma, who is tainted with corruption charges. He belonged to the ANC.

As the single-largest party, the ANC is expected to enter into a coalition with one of these two parties to form the government. While no announcement of a coalition or talks has been made, ANC Chairperson Gwede Mantashe has hinted that the party is unlikely to enter into a coalition with DA, according to the report.

Meanwhile, the DA has said that it would work to keep Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and MK out of the government. DA leader John Steenhuisen called the two parties radical. The report noted that both of these parties support the nationalisation of land and key sectors of the economy.
The former presidents sentencing is scheduled to take place on July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention is scheduled to commence in Milwaukee read more

Moments after Former US President Donald Trump was found guilty in the infamous hush money case, he lambasted the jury and called it a rigged and disgraceful trial. Trumps provocative remarks came while he was addressing reporters outside the New York court after the ruling.

While addressing the reporters he insisted that he had done nothing wrong and called himself a very innocent man. The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people and they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here," Trump exclaimed while addressing the media outside the courtroom.

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The former presidents sentencing is scheduled to take place on July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention is scheduled to commence in Milwaukee.

Trumps campaign immediately launched a fundraiser

Shortly after Trumps comments, his campaigns official website redirected people to a fundraising page declaring he was a political prisoner.

I was just convicted in a RIGGED political Witch Hunt trial: I DID NOTHING WRONG! Theyve raided my home, arrested me, took my mugshot, AND NOW THEYVE JUST CONVICTED ME! the page said.

It is important to note that Trump is still a free man since the judge did not order the former president to be taken into custody after the verdict. Trump eventually left the courtroom in a Secret Service motorcade.

The fundraising page in question also included Trumps mugshot from the time he was arraigned in Georgia last year. The former reality TV stars page asked for donations of $20.24 and up for Trumps joint fundraising committee.

What Bidens camp said on the matter

While Bidens campaign went full guns and blazing on the matter, the White House kept it subtle. A spokesperson for the counsels office, Ian Sams, said in a one-sentence statement, We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment.

Bidens campaign on the other hand said that the verdict showed that no one is above the law and reminded voters there is still only one way to keep [Trump] out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box.

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Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president, Biden campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said in a statement via email.

Trump is scheduled to say more about the verdict on Friday morning (local time) since he has a press conference scheduled at Trump Tower in New York.

With inputs from agencies.
The Iraqi government requested the mission be constituted by a UN Security Council resolution in 2003 following the US-led invasion and overthrow of Saddam Hussein read more

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani demanded earlier this month that the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) be shut down in a letter to the council Image Courtesy AFP

The UN Security Council unanimously voted on Friday, at Baghdads request, that the UN political mission in Iraq will withdraw after more than 20 years, by the end of 2025.

Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani demanded earlier this month that the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) be shut down in a letter to the council.

Al-Sudani declared that the grounds for having a political mission in Iraq were no longer valid, citing UNAMIs victory against great and varied challenges.

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The missions mandate was extended by the UNSC resolution that was approved on Friday for a final 19-month period until 31 December 2025 after which UNAMI will cease all work and operations.

The Iraqi government requested the mission be constituted by a UN Security Council resolution in 2003 following the US-led invasion and overthrow of Saddam Hussein.

It assists with elections and security sector reform, and it counsels the government on political discourse and reconciliation.

Volker Perthes, a German diplomat, oversaw the secretary-generals strategic assessment that was requested by the Council during the missions previous renewal in May 2023.

In a report released in March, Perthes made a suggestion that the mission might be terminated, saying that the two-year period identified by the government for the missions drawdown can be a sufficient time frame to make further progress.

Moreover, the length of time will allow for the assurance to hesitant Iraqis that the change wont threaten peace and security or lead to a reversal of democratic gains. according to him.

Considering that UN operations may only take place with the consent of the host country, last month Russia, China, Britain, and France all voiced support for a change in the relationship between Iraq and the UN.

US ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated that UNAMI still had important work to do, without mentioning Baghdads request, giving the US a more evasive response.

Even though Iraq requested that the mission concentrate more on economic matters, she underlined the missions responsibility in arranging elections and advancing human rights.
The US is increasingly worried about Chinas fast-developing military capabilities and has been strengthening its alliances and partnerships in the region to counter Chinas growing assertiveness over Taiwan and in the South China Sea read more

US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun attend a bilateral meeting in Singapore on 31 May, 2024. Reuters

The United States and China will resume military-to-military communications in the coming months, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday, as Beijing hailed the stabilising security relations between the countries.

Austin met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in the first substantive face-to-face talks between the two defence chiefs in 18 months.

Dong and Austin met for over an hour at the luxury hotel hosting the security forum that is attended by defence officials from around the world and in recent years has become a barometer of US-China relations.

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Austin said telephone conversations between US and Chinese military commanders would resume in the coming months, according to a readout released by the Pentagon.

He also welcomed plans for a crisis-communications working group with China by the end of the year, the statement said.

Describing the talks as positive, Chinese defence spokesman Wu Qian told reporters that military-to-military relations were currently stopping their decline and stabilising.

Wu cautioned that it was not possible for Beijing and Washington to solve all bilateral problems in one meeting, but said talking is better than not talking.

This years Shangri-La Dialogue comes a week after China held military drills around Taiwan and warned of war over the US-backed island following the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, who Beijing has described as a dangerous separatist.

Self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory, tops the list of disputes between the rivals.

China is also furious over the United States deepening defence ties in the Asia-Pacific, particularly with the Philippines, and its regular deployment of warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.

Beijing views this as part of a decades-long US effort to contain it.

US President Joe Bidens administration and China have been stepping up communication to ease friction between the nuclear-armed rivals, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken visiting Beijing and Shanghai last month.

A key focus has been the resumption of military-to-military dialogue, which is seen as critical to preventing flashpoint disputes from spinning out of control.

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China scrapped military communications with the United States in 2022 in response to then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan.

Tensions between Washington and Beijing were stoked further during 2023 by issues including an alleged Chinese spy balloon that was shot down over US airspace, a meeting between Taiwans then-president Tsai Ing-wen and Pelosis successor Kevin McCarthy, and American military aid for Taipei.

The two sides agreed after a summit between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Biden last November to restart high-level military talks.

That includes a communications channel between the US Indo-Pacific Command chief and Chinese commanders responsible for military operations near Taiwan, Japan and in the South China Sea.

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Pressure points

Chinese and American forces have had a series of close encounters in the disputed waterway that China claims almost entirely.

Austin warned prior to Biden and Xi agreeing to resume military-to-military dialogue that accidents have the potential to spiral out of control, especially in the absence of open lines of communication between American and Chinese forces.

Fridays meeting between Austin and Dong follows a phone call between the pair in April, and offers hope of further military talks to cool tensions.

Austins last significant interaction with a Chinese counterpart was in November 2022 when he met with Wei Fenghe in Cambodia.

Wei was subsequently replaced by Li Shangfu, who shook hands and spoke briefly with Austin at the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2023 but did not hold a formal meeting with him.

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Austin and Dong will give speeches this weekend at the Shangri-La Dialogue in which they are expected to touch on a range of their nations pressure points.

The United States, increasingly worried about Chinas fast-developing military capabilities, has been strengthening its alliances and partnerships in the region to counter Chinas growing assertiveness over Taiwan and in the South China Sea.

In the meeting, Austin underscored the United States commitment to the one China policy, but insisted that it would continue to fly, sail and operate wherever international law allowed, the Pentagon readout said.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, who has sought to deepen defence cooperation with the United States as he stands up to Chinese actions in waters off the Southeast Asia country, will deliver the Shangri-La Dialogues keynote speech on Friday.
Chinese schools required to specify punishments for bullies

Xinhua) 14:45, May 31, 2024

BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese schools have been asked to specify punishments for different forms of bullying on campus, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Friday.

In a recent circular, the MOE asked schools across the country to set up specialized committees to deal with incidents of bullying in accordance with related laws and regulations.

Schools should also set up public hotlines and email addresses to report incidents of bullying, in addition to providing phone numbers of school management personnel responsible for addressing such issues.

Video surveillance must cover all inconspicuous venues, the circular noted.

In March, the MOE launched a campaign for schools to organize education activities to enhance students' safety awareness and improve their ability to protect themselves.

The number of arrests and indictments for crimes related to school bullying and violence on campus in China dropped significantly from 2017 to 2020, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said in 2021.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Earlier this week, 14 pro-democracy activists and politicians of Hong Kong were convicted under the national security law imposed by Beijing on the city in 2020 read more

The United States has imposed visa restrictions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials involved in the conviction of more than a dozen pro-democracy leaders.

Earlier this week, 14 pro-democracy activists and politicians of Hong Kong were convicted under a national security law that Beijing imposed in the city in 2020. The implementation of the law marked the end of civil liberties in Hong Kong that the city had long been known for under the one nation, two systems framework. Such liberties were not there in the mainland China as the Communist Party of China (CPC) rules the country with an iron first.

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The verdict for the 14 people came three years after a total of 47 pro-democracy figures were picked up the Chinese regime in dawn raids.

In a statement on Friday, Department of State Spokesperson Mathew Miller said the conviction was a result of politically motivated prosecution. He added that the activists and politicians were jailed simply for peacefully participating in political activities that were protected under the Hong Kongs local laws.

Miller further said, In response, the Department of State is taking steps to impose new visa restrictions on PRC and Hong Kong officials responsible for implementing the National Security Law, pursuant to Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Hong Kongs judicial independence should be upheld: US

The US said that the Chinese and Hong Kongs authorities should uphold the citys judicial independence.

The verdicts handed out in China and China-controlled Hong Kong are seen as being predetermined by the CPC as its writ is supreme in China.

In his statement, Miller said that the judicial independence of Hong Kong was key to the citys status as an international business hub.

Miller said, Instead of imposing harsh sentences that would further erode confidence in Hong Kongs judicial system, Hong Kong authorities should immediately release these unjustly detained individuals. We urge the PRC government and Hong Kong authorities to uphold Hong Kongs judicial independence, cease the use of vague national security laws to curb peaceful dissent, and restore the openness that was so crucial to Hong Kongs vitality and competitiveness as an international business hub.

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Among the bunch of people arrested in 2020 under the national security law were lawmakers, protest leaders, academics, unionists, journalists, and medical workers, according to CNN. The report said that they came from diverse orientations ranging from moderate democrats to those seeking self-determination for Hong Kong.
US President Joe Biden has announced that Israel has floated a three-phase proposal to end the war in the Gaza Strip read more

US President Joe Biden has announced a new ceasefire proposal for the war in the Gaza Strip that has been endorsed by Israel.

Biden urged Hamas to accept the proposal that he said would pave the war of the end of the war and reconstruction of Gaza devastated from months of war.

Its time for this war to end and for the day after to begin, said Biden in an address from the White House.

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Outlining the proposal, Biden said it would comprise three phases. In the first phase, he said there will be a six-week ceasefire in which women, the elderly, the wounded hostages held by Hamas will be released in lieu of the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. He added that displaced Gazans will also return to their homes as the Israeli military will withdraw from Gazas populated areas.

The six-week truce will be used for talks to reach phase two of the plan in which the war will permanently end and all hostages will be released, said Biden.

In phase three, the reconstruction of Gaza will start, according to Biden.

Israel has offered a comprehensive new proposal. Its a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages. This proposal has been transmitted by Qatar to Hamas, said Biden, adding that the humanitarian supplies to Gaza will also surge to 600 trucks per day.

Israel has offered a three-part roadmap to a cease-fire that has been sent to Hamas and that includes the release of hostages and the distribution of aid in Gaza, Pres. Biden says. Heres what it entails. https://t.co/CocwqFlPhQ pic.twitter.com/WfaVkdlYrm  CBS News (@CBSNews) May 31, 2024

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Biden urges Israelis to accept the Gaza ceasefire proposal

In a direct appeal to the leaders and people of Israel, Biden said that they should take the deal on the table.

In an apparent message for the far-right parties and sections of the public in Israel, Biden said that he was aware that some in Israel would wish for the war to continue indefinitely and to occupy it as well.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some are even in the governing coalition. They have made it clear that they want to occupy Gaza. They want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them. Well, I have urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal despite whatever pressure comes, said Biden, referring to the far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich in the cabinet of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

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Biden further reiterated his personal commitment to the security of Israel and asked the Israelis to think what would happen if the opportunity was lost.

Biden said, To the people of Israel, let me say this: As someone who has had a lifelong commitment to Israel, as the only American president who has ever gone to Israel at a time of war, as someone who just sent US forces to directly defend Israel when it was attacked by Iran, I ask you to take a step back and think what will happen if this moment is lost?

Join me as I deliver remarks on the Middle East. https://t.co/Du6LP9t3Fl  President Biden (@POTUS) May 31, 2024

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Biden said an endless war would bog down Israel and drain it militarily and economically and come with great human cost.

Acknowledging the Israels right to defend itself, Biden said the terms of the deal allows Israel to resume military operations if Hamas fails to deliver on promises.

Biden further said, But Egypt and Qatar have assured me they are continuing to work to ensure that Hamas doesnt do thatThe United States will help ensure that Israel lives up to their obligations as well.

In his speech, Biden also noted the atrocities of Hamas on October 7, including sexual assaults of women. He said, The past eight months have been marked by heartbreaking pain  pain of those whose loved ones were slaughtered by Hamas terrorists on October 7, hostages and their families waiting in anguish, ordinary Israelis whose lives are forever marked by the shattering event of Hamass sexual violence and ruthless brutality.

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Palestinians have endured sheer hell

Acknowledging the suffering of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, most of whom have been displaced by months of war, Biden said that they have endured sheer hell in this war.

Admitting the complexity of the conflict, Biden said this has been one of the hardest, most complicated problems in the world.

Mentioning the civilian death toll amongst the Palestinians, Biden also mentioned the recent strike in Rafah in which dozens were killed.

Too many people have been killed, including thousands of children. Far too many have been badly wounded. We all saw the terrible images from a deadly fire in Rafah earlier this week following an Israeli strike targeting Hamas, said Biden.

Even though Israel has refuted the casualty figures released by Gazas Hamas-run authorities, Netanyahu himself has admitted that more civilians have been killed than terrorists.

Weve killed about 14,000 terrorists. Unfortunately, because of the fact they use human shield, theres slightly bigger number about 16,000 for civilians that were killed in places where terrorists will not let them leave, said Netanyahu in an interview with American chat show host Dr Phil earlier this month.
Gilbert who has worked with the department for two decades claimed that the conclusion of the report went against the overwhelming view of State Department experts who were consulted on the report read more

With the growing discontent over United States support to Israel in its Gaza ground offence, an ex-official of the US State Department claimed that the government wing falsified a report that absolved Israel of responsibility for blocking humanitarian aid flows into Gaza.

Stacy GilFIrbert who resigned from the post of senior civil-military adviser in the State Departments Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, accused the department of falsifying crucial information in the report that became public last month.

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She was one of the departments experts who drafted the report mandated under National Security Memorandum 20 (NSM-20) which was eventually published on May 10.

The report found that it is reasonable to assess that Israel had used US weapons in a way that was inconsistent with international humanitarian law. However, the department maintained that there is no concrete evidence to link the American weapons to any form of violation.

What made the report controversial

The part of the report that raised eyebrows was the fact that the State Department did not currently assess that the Israeli government is prohibiting or otherwise restricting the transport or delivery of US humanitarian assistance in Gaza.

The assessment of this matter was crucial since the outcomes determine if the United States is obligated to send weapons to Israel under the Foreign Assistance Act.

Gilbert who has worked with the department for two decades claimed that the conclusion of the report went against the overwhelming view of State Department experts who were consulted on the report.

What was Gilberts take on the matter?

The veteran State Department official maintained that while there was general agreement that several factors were affecting the aid delivery into the conflict-stricken coastal enclave, it was clear that Israel was actively playing a role in limiting the amount of food and medical supplies that were being delivered in the region.

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There is consensus among the humanitarian community on that. It is absolutely the opinion of the humanitarian subject matter experts in the State Department, and not just in my bureau  people who look at this from the intelligence community and from other bureaus. I would be very hard-pressed to think of anyone who has said [Israeli obstruction] is not an issue, Gilbert averred.

Thats why I object to that report saying that Israel is not blocking humanitarian assistance. That is patently false, she added. The Department of State is yet to respond on the matter.

She said that the alteration in the report was the major reason why she resigned. Two hours after it was released, I sent an email to my front office and the team that is working on this, saying I will resign as a result of this, Gilbert said.

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She was one of the two American officials to resign this week over Bidens foreign policies when it comes to Israel. Gilberts proclamation garnered attention. According to Democratic senator Chris Van Hollen, the NSM-20 report should have been based on an unvarnished assessment of the facts and law.

Stacy Gilberts statements further corroborate the concerns I have expressed that the findings of the bureaus and experts most involved with the distribution of aid and compliance with international law were bypassed in favour of political convenience, he said.

With inputs from agencies.
This years Shangri-La Dialogue is significant due to pressing global issues including US-China relations, China-Taiwan tensions, Russia-Ukraine conflict, Myanmar unrest, US role in the Indo-Pacific, maritime security and Middle East tensions read more

China's newly appointed Defence Minister Dong Jun inspects honour guards as part of the third Singapore-China Defence Minister's Dialogue at the Ministry of Defence in Singapore on 30 May, 2024. Reuters

With every passing edition, Shangri-La Dialogue has increasingly become China-centric reflecting the countrys growing influence and the global concern over its strategic actions. While the dialogue addresses a broad range of security issues in the Asia-Pacific region, discussions often focus heavily on Chinas military expansion, territorial disputes and geopolitical strategies. This prominence is driven by Chinas assertive actions in the South China Sea, its Belt and Road Initiative and its evolving military capabilities significantly influencing regional and global security.

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China and Shangri-La Dialogue 2024

Admiral Dong Jun, Chinas first naval officer to be appointed as defence minister, will make his debut appearance before an international audience. He assumed the position in December last year, following the brief tenure of his predecessor, Li Shangfu. According to the South China Morning Post, Admiral Dong brings extensive military experience. From 2017 to 2021, he held the position of deputy commander of the Southern Theatre Command, responsible for overseeing operations in the South China Sea. In 2013 and 2014, he was part of the East Sea Fleet, operating in the Taiwan Strait. Both regions are significant flashpoints for China. Additionally, Dong has served in the North Sea Fleet.

Admiral Dong is expected to meet US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of the upcoming meeting. This potential encounter in Singapore would be their first in-person dialogue following a video call in April. While the Pentagon has announced Austins plans to meet his Chinese counterpart, neither the Pentagon nor Chinese officials have provided further details about the meeting. Beijing will be closely observing Admiral Dongs performance as he needs to project strength and establish his credentials.

Currently, Admiral Dong is not a member of the Communist Partys Central Military Commission, the decision-making body under President Xi Jinping. His role primarily involves military diplomacy with limited influence over actual military operations.

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Chinas participation in the dialogue comes just days after conducting a large-scale, two-day military drill encircling Taiwan. This exercise was a response to Taiwanese President William Lai Ching-tes inauguration speech on 20 May, which China perceived as provocative. The drills drew criticism from several countries including the US, Japan, Australia and the European Union.

Putting the ball on US court

Ahead of the highly anticipated Austin-Dong meeting, Chinese media has been emphasising that the responsibility for mending Washingtons ties with Beijing lies with the US.

Effective communication on defence matters is essential for managing mutual differences, yet China seeks greater sincerity from the US concerning its core interests and security concerns. The Global Times, citing experts, expressed that China hopes for meaningful dialogue rather than engagements merely for political show.

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(File) US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. AP

Despite this, the Chinese state media acknowledged Defence Secretary Austins commitment to meeting Admiral Dong in person at the Shangri-La Dialogue, especially considering his recent medical procedure. They noted that diplomatic relations have gradually improved since the summit between the Chinese and US heads of state in San Francisco in November 2023. This thaw follows the freezing of formal military-to-military meetings in August 2022 after then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan.

China expects the discussions to address Taiwan and South China Sea issues reflecting their importance in the bilateral relationship.

Past concerns and criticisms

In May 2023, US-China interactions were strained as Defence Secretary Austin did not meet with his Chinese counterpart, Li Shangfu, following the fallout from then-Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taiwan. Tensions escalated further in February with the discovery of a Chinese surveillance balloon over US territory. This incident compounded existing issues including close encounters between US and Chinese fighter jets over the South China Sea and naval vessels in the Taiwan Strait.

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The 2022 Shangri-La Dialogue was similarly challenging for China. Countries such as Australia and Canada openly criticised Beijing for violating international laws citing dangerous maneuvers by Chinese jets that jeopardised the safety of military personnel. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced that Japan had no choice but to increase its defence budget and acquire advanced weaponry to protect itself. The South China Sea remains a hotbed of maritime security tensions with China having militarised various artificial islands within the 1.3 million square mile waterway.

Why is the Shangri-La Dialogue significant this year?

This years Shangri-La Dialogue holds particular significance due to the multitude of complex global issues currently at play including US-China relations, China-Taiwan tensions, the Russia-Ukraine war, unrest in Myanmar, the US role in the Indo-Pacific, maritime security in the Indian and Pacific oceans and escalating tensions in the Middle East.

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This years edition will feature Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr delivering the keynote speech to open the 21st IISS Shangri-La Dialogue. He is expected to reaffirm his countrys stance on the contested South China Sea where tensions with China have been rising.

The three-day summit traditionally begins on a Friday and concludes on a Sunday. The event kicks off with a keynote address typically delivered by a head of state. For instance, in his keynote address on 31 May, 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi described India-China relations as multifaceted and emphasised that both Asia and the world would benefit from India and China working together with mutual trust and confidence considering each others interests. Prime Minister Modi was the first Indian premier to speak at the Shangri-La Dialogue.

Birth of the Shangri-La Dialogue

The origins of the Shangri-La Dialogue, officially known as the IISS Asia Security Summit, date back to 2001 when Sir John Chipman, then Director-General and Chief Executive of The International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), identified a crucial need for a forum that would enable defence ministers and military chiefs from 28 Asia-Pacific countries to discuss regional security. This platform was designed to promote open communication, build trust and foster practical security cooperation.

Police officers guard near the entrance of the Shangri-La Hotel, the venue for the 21th International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue, Asias annual defence and security forum, in Singapore, on 31 May, 2024. AP

Inspired by the Munich Conference on Security Policy, Chipman envisioned creating a Track One organisation dedicated to regional security dynamics. Initial outreach efforts targeted ASEAN members and invitations were extended to establish a regional security framework. Singapore, led by then president SR Nathan, embraced the concept enthusiastically. In February 2001, Chipman presented the idea to president Nathan, who pledged unwavering support until IISS could independently manage the conference. Consequently, Singapore became the host country, with the iconic Shangri-La Hotel serving as the venue since 2002. The dialogue takes its name from this location.

The inaugural dialogue saw participation from 14 defence ministers and 160 delegates with the United States represented by its deputy defence secretary, according to Channel News Asia. Over the years, the summit has expanded its invitation list and sessions. By the fifth year, high-level officials from China began participating, and by 2018, nearly 50 countries were represented.

The Shangri-La Dialogue now attracts legislators, academic experts, journalists and business delegates from around the world making it a premier platform for public policy development and discussions on defence and security in the Asia-Pacific region.

This years event will be held in Singapore from 31 May to 2 June.
Zelenskiy will be meeting the prime ministers of Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland, as well as the president of Finland - all NATO nations that are staunch supporters of Ukraine. Denmark and Finland have already signed 10-year security agreements with Ukraine in February and April, respectively. read more

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Sweden where he will sign three bilateral security agreements. The Ukrainian president will attend the third Ukraine-Northern Europe Summit, with air defence and joint weapons production at the top of the agenda.

In a post on X Zelenskyy wrote Today, Ukraine will grow stronger as a result of the support of our principled and consistent allies, as well as new security agreements. Today I am in Stockholm for the third Ukraine-Northern Europe summit. Our top priorities are to ensure more air defense systems for Ukraine, joint defense industry projects, and weapons for our warriors, as well as global efforts to force Russia to make peace.

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I intend to meet with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre, and Icelandic Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson. We will hold talks both at the summit and bilaterally. Ukraine will sign three security agreements in one day, establishing predictable and long-term defense assistance and comprehensive support., he said.

Today, Ukraine will grow stronger as a result of the support of our principled and consistent allies, as well as new security agreements.



Today I am in Stockholm for the third Ukraine-Northern Europe summit. Our top priorities are to ensure more air defense systems for Ukraine,  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) May 31, 2024

Zelenskiy will be meeting the prime ministers of Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland, as well as the president of Finland - all NATO nations that are staunch supporters of Ukraine. Denmark and Finland have already signed 10-year security agreements with Ukraine in February and April, respectively.

Earlier this month, Sweden said it had agreed to additional military support to Ukraine totalling 75 billion Swedish crowns ($7.09 billion) over three years, while in recent weeks Norway has been negotiating a bilateral security agreement with Kyiv.

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The leaders will also discuss how the Nordic countries can increase their production of ammunition and contribute to reinforcing Ukraines own production of weapons, the Danish prime ministers office said in a statement.

With inputs from Reuters.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Larry Robinson/The Daily Sentinel

West Springs Hospital, operated by Mind Springs Health, is having cash-flow and referral issues that are making it financially difficult to remain open. According to CEO John Sheehan, the hospital needs $6.6 million just to get through this current financial crisis.
ODNI Releases IC Information Technology Roadmap

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ODNI News Release No. 15-24

May 30, 2024



WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) today released its inaugural Vision for the IC Information Environment: An Information Technology Roadmap.

The roadmap provides technological foresight to guide the Intelligence Community (IC) to make transformative decisions about the cloud environment, cybersecurity, advanced computing, data analysis, and artificial intelligence among an array of other information technology (IT) issues. More than 100 technical leaders across the IC developed the roadmap's recommendations, and all 18 intelligence elements unanimously endorsed this vision.

"The roadmap presents a unified vision for investments the IC must make to continue to provide the United States with unmatched decision advantage at a time of unprecedented technological change," said IC Chief Information Officer Dr. Adele Merritt. "Adversaries are not standing still and neither are we. The time is now for strategic and substantial investment in the core IT infrastructure of the IC."

ODNI will update this roadmap annually using a collaborative process with IC stakeholders and outside experts to position the IC to evolve with technological changes and stay ahead of threats.

Read the roadmap here.

###

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Naval Commander Sentenced for Distributing Child Sexual Abuse Material and Retaining Classified National Defense Information

Thursday, May 30, 2024

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

Gregory Edward McLean, 40, of Jacksonville, Florida, was sentenced today to 160 months for distributing child sexual abuse material and 120 months for unlawfully retaining classified national defense information. The sentences will be served concurrently.

According to court documents, state law enforcement in Rhode Island received a cyber tipline report that a user of a particular messaging application had shared videos depicting the sexual abuse of young children. The investigation identified the user as McLean, who was at that time an active-duty officer in the U.S. Navy, with the rank of Lieutenant Commander and serving as the executive officer of a ship stationed aboard a Naval Station Mayport in Florida. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) continued the investigation and identified additional instances where McLean had distributed child sexual abuse material. On Nov. 4, 2021, agents executed a federal search warrant at McLean's residence, during which they seized numerous electronic devices and storage media. A forensic review revealed that several of these items contained files depicting the sexual abuse of minors.

The forensic review also identified a flash drive which had been recovered from McLean's kitchen counter that contained approximately 150 documents containing national defense information classified at the secret level and 50 documents containing national defense information classified at the confidential level. An investigation by NCIS and the FBI revealed that throughout his service as a naval officer, McLean had access to classified information and held a top-secret security clearance. McLean had entered into various agreements with the United States regarding the protection and proper handling of classified information and was aware that his home was not an authorized location to store classified national defense information. In particular, court documents identify two documents McLean unlawfully retained which contained national defense information related to foreign governments and their combat aircraft and naval capabilities. Disclosure of this information could reasonably be expected to cause damage and, in some instances, serious damage to the national security of the United States.

Assistant Attorney General Matthew G. Olsen of the Justice Department's National Security Division, Executive Assistant Director Larissa L. Knapp of the FBI's National Security Branch and Special Agent in Charge Barbara Jackson of the NCIS Southeast Field Office made the announcement made the announcement.

The FBI and Naval Criminal Investigative Service investigated the case.

Senior Trial Attorney Heather Schmidt of the National Security Division's Counterintelligence and Export Control Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys David B. Mesrobian and Kirwinn Mike for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case.



Topics: Counterintelligence

National Security

Components: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

National Security Division (NSD)

USAO - Florida, Middle

Press Release Number: 24-684

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China's state security authority warns against foreign espionage threat to rare-earth industry

Global Times

By Global Times Published: May 30, 2024 01:46 PM

China's Ministry of State Security on Thursday issued an article warning of foreign espionage agencies targeting China's rare-earth industry, engaging in theft and sabotage, posing threat to the country's natural resource security. Authorities vowed to crack down on illegal activities to protect national security and promote the sustainable development in the industry.

Rare earths, also known as "industrial gold," are important strategic mineral resources that are nonrenewable. China has abundant rare-earth resources, with reserves ranking first in the world.

As an important global supplier of rare earths, China accounts for around 30 percent of the world's rare-earth resources and over 90 percent of global market supply. The domestic rare-earth industry not only has abundant resources, but also has the advantages related to advanced mining, smelting, and separation technologies, as well as a complete industrial system, standing at a leading position in the industry, said the ministry.

However, for a long time, foreign intelligence agencies have closely monitored insider information of the country's rare-earth industry and have carried out espionage activities, according to the security authority.

In one case, the national security authorities have discovered that a foreign company was using its operations in China as a cover to establish relationships within the rare-earth industry in China, by using emotional manipulation and financial incentives to gather intelligence such as extraction, processing, and trade, the ministry said.

During recent years, certain Western countries have used the media to slander and accuse Chinese rare-earth companies operating overseas of causing serious environmental damage, creating a justification for long-arm jurisdiction, and using administrative measures to sanction Chinese companies. They also actively recruit rare-earth industry-related technical talent to seize the core technology, the ministry noted.

Some overseas institutions use legal cover to illegally recruit a large number of Chinese technical experts through a third country, to transfer the rare-earth mining, separation and other export control technologies and industrial chains. The situation of core technology leakage in related fields remains severe, the ministry said.

In January, the ministry also released a comic on its WeChat account emphasizing the importance of protecting key mineral resources for national security, and the espionage activities have been involved in the global competition for rare-earth minerals.

China has stressed a focus on the high-quality development of the rare-earth industry, with measures strengthened to govern rare-earth exports.

However, some individuals in China have been lured by the foreign companies and driven by their own interests to engage in illegal activities such as rare-earth smuggling.

Some overseas companies with ties to a certain government and military forces are enticing Chinese nationals to smuggle controlled rare-earth items by offering large orders as bait. These companies are also engaging in trade with sanctioned entities. The illegal export and misuse of rare-earth items pose a threat to national security, the ministry said.

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Zambian authorities arrest five on espionage charges

By Kathy Short May 30, 2024

Police in Zambia have arrested five people on espionage charges following their earlier allegations via social media that the government was involved in the apparent abduction of independent lawmaker Jay Jay Banda last week.

Police spokesperson Danny Mwale confirmed to journalists in Lusaka on Thursday the arrests of opposition lawmakers Munir Zulu and Maureen Mubonga, opposition activist Brebner Changala, and opposition party chiefs Edith Nawakwi and Danny Pule.

All suspects earlier this week were charged with spreading hate speech related to last weekend's alleged abduction of Banda, who has since resurfaced. Mwale further said that police charged Zulu, Mubonga and Pule with proposing a tribal war.

In Zambia, espionage charges carry up to a maximum 25 years in prison upon conviction while hate speech charges carry a punishment of up to $6,000 in fines and two years in prison.

Makebi Zulu, a lawyer representing some of the suspects, all of whom are awaiting court appearances in police custody, called the charges "unacceptable" and demanded immediate courtroom hearings.

Political analyst Boniface Cheembe at the University of Zambia has urged political leaders from both the ruling United Party for National Development and the opposition to focus on improving the lives of ordinary Zambians.

"We need to do more as a country," Cheembe said, "Our citizens need to demand more from their political leaders to focus on issues" such as economic difficulties, infrastructure needs and provision of services.

Earlier this week, President Hakainde Hichilema warned that anyone promoting hate speech and tribalism to disturb social peace would face the full force of the law.

Thursday's arrests came barely a week after opposition Patriotic Front Secretary General Raphael Nakachinda was sentenced to 18 months of hard labor for violating a now-defunct presidential defamation law, stemming from his December 2021 allegations that Hichilema had coerced and intimidated Zambian judges into politically favorable rulings.

Human Rights Watch said Nakachinda's sentencing has had a broad chilling effect on the right to freedom of expression in Zambia.

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29 May Red Sea Update

U.S. Central Command

Press Release | May 29, 2024

USCENTCOM

May 29, 2024

Release Number 20240529 - 01

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

TAMPA, Fla. -- At approximately 8:40 p.m. (Sanaa time) May 28, U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) forces successfully destroyed two missile launchers in an Iranian-backed Houthi-controlled area of Yemen.

Separately, at approximately 11:30 p.m. (Sanaa time) on May 28, Iranian-backed Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles (ASBM) from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea. There were no injuries or damage reported by U.S., coalition, or commercial ships.

The following day, between 1:26 and 1:38 a.m. (Sanaa time) on May 29, USCENTCOM forces successfully destroyed two uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) over the Red Sea launched from an Iranian-backed Houthi controlled area of Yemen.

It was determined these missiles and systems presented an imminent threat to U.S., coalition forces, and merchant vessels in the region. These actions are taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure.



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'Preparing For A Bad Scenario': On Latvia's Russian Border As Fortification Work Begins

By RFE/RL's North.Realities May 29, 2024

In places where once not even border posts disturbed the landscape, earthmoving equipment is currently carving a trench down the boundary between Baltic NATO and Russian territory.

Riga will allocate some 303 million euros over the next five years to the major fortification project. "We plan to dig anti-tank ditches along the border, as you see here now, then strengthen them with 'dragon's teeth,'" Kaspar Lazdins, the senior engineer officer of Latvia's armed forces told Latvian media outlet LSM in early May. "But each region will have its own solutions. We plan to use not only state resources, but also attract civilian companies."

When RFE/RL's North.Realities service visited the Russian border at Terehova, Latvia, a long line of trucks was waiting to cross. This the busiest point on Latvia's eastern border due to the highway running directly east to Moscow, and the checkpoint's proximity to Belarus. Around the Terehova border crossing a fence was erected in 2019 to block illegal migrants attempting to enter from Russia. Major military fortifications will soon be added to the border here as part of what Riga is calling its "eastern border reinforcement plan."

"The border doesn't bother us, we've lived with it our whole lives and don't pay attention anymore," says Inna Dukshta, an employee at the administration office of Pasiene, a village near the Terehova crossing.

Flyers placed around the village recruit for new border guards and in the administration itself, a poster proclaims "We are NATO" in Latvian.

"We don't know if tanks will come, but of course we are afraid of it," Yulia, a young mother in the village says when asked about the nearby Russian border. "I have a family, children. I'm not thinking about today, but what comes in the next 20 years," she adds.

Nikolai, an older local man has no such anxiety. "It would be better if this 303 million euros were put into roads instead," he says. "If, God forbid, there is a war, these fortifications are not going to save us anyway."

Gennady, another pensioner, holds a similar view. "I don't know about this ditch," he told RFE/RL. "In modern wars there is nothing more effective than diplomacy. Embassies shouldn't be closed, diplomatic relations should not be cut. Only diplomacy will keep the peace."

Before the coronavirus pandemic and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, residents of Latvia's eastern border areas travelled freely into Russia's Pskov region where they could stock up on significantly cheaper products.

Like many settlements along Latvia's eastern border, Pasiene is a largely Russian-speaking village. "How can you make people speak [Latvian]" Elena, a cleaning lady in the settlement says. "I'm Latvian, we are all EU citizens, but everyone studied in Russian schools -- we had no others," she says. "We've lived like this all our lives, it's impossible to change people.

In 1991 Latvia won its independence as the Soviet Union collapsed but some territory was lost to Russia. In the 2000s Riga raised the territorial claims with Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin responded less than diplomatically. "We will never negotiate on the topic of any territorial claims," Putin said, adding that Riga would receive "the ears of a dead donkey," before any land would be handed over.

After the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Latvia's parliament banned public celebrations on May 9, the day Russia marks the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany. In Pasiene a Soviet-era memorial to soldiers killed during WWII remains standing, but to the south, at the convergence of the Latvian, Belarusian and Russian borders a "friendship monument" was demolished.

"Never mind Russia, I don't even know about our parliament," Inna, a resident of Pasiene says. "Now they say there will be elections to the European Parliament but I haven't seen anyone come and offer to speak to us. We have a forgotten land here," she says. "We live ordinary lives -- we sow, we plow, we fill out subsidy applications. We are trying to earn money, to grow something, live from our vegetable patch and keep our own livestock."

Historian Ilya Lensky believes the current fence along Latvia's border should have been set up thirty years ago, and references the influx of largely Middle Eastern migrants seeking to enter Latvia from Belarus. "People are constantly walking, trying to cross. This leads to the border services being overstretched," he says. "At the same time, these are attempts to identify some gaps in the border."

Lensky believes one aim of the migrant crowds apparently shepherded toward the Latvian border by the Belarusian authorities, is to spark violence. "There is the expectation that someone's nerves will give out and someone will start shooting, then will come the wonderful propaganda that Latvian border guards shot dead a helpless asylum seeker."

"This would be very useful because the main narrative of Russian and Belarusian propaganda regarding the Baltics is that these people are unrepentant Nazis who won't hand out bread, but instead kill people," the historian says.

Igor Raev, the former commander in chief of the Latvian Land Forces says that, while it is hard to imagine Putin ordering an invasion of the Baltics now, the situation in Ukraine serves as a warning. "Russia's relations with Ukraine deteriorated over time. What was considered impossible in 2008, became very unlikely in 2014, then in 2022, it happened," he says. "We do not know how the situation will develop in the future, how the conflict in Ukraine will end, and what will follow its conclusion. Therefore, it is better to be prepared and strong enough to withstand any scenario."

Raev says the fortifications that will soon be in place along the border are only one element of Latvia's safeguarding measures. "Defensive structures have no impact unless your units are located there, covering these physical barriers that are part of the defensive line."

NATO's presence in the Baltic countries was significantly bolstered following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine and Raev believes Moscow has been significantly depleted militarily thanks to the Kremlin's disastrous misstep. The military expert believes it could take "at least five years," for the Kremlin to restore its military strength.

"By the time Russia possible returns to its military potential, I think we will be ready," he says.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/latvia-russia-border- fortifications/32970837.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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On-the-Record Press Gaggle by White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby

May 29, 2024

Via Teleconference

1:19 P.M. EDT

MODERATOR: Hi, everyone. Thanks so much for joining us today for our on-the-record gaggle with Mr. John Kirby, who's our NSC  I always mess up your title, sir, sorry  (laughs)  communications advisor.

He's going to start with a brief topper, and then we'll go ahead and get to your questions.

MR. KIRBY: Good afternoon, everybody. I do want to bring your attention to some good news today on how we're modernizing our military, supporting Ukraine, and creating new American jobs.

Today, the Secretary of the Army is in Mesquite, Texas, for the opening of a new factory that will significantly increase our country's ability to manufacture parts that are used to produce artillery ammunition.

Using funding that the Biden administration has requested and that Congress has approved, including in our supplemental, the Department of Defense has contracted with General Dynamics to stand up new production lines as part of a national effort to significantly increase the number of artillery shells that we produce every month.

Now, as many of you all know, artillery shells have been an absolutely critical munition for the war in Ukraine and for our ability to provide artillery to Ukraine alongside our allies and partners. And these 155-millimeter shells, and, of course, the guns that go with them, have absolutely made a significant impact on Ukraine's ability to repel Russian attacks. They have been particularly important in the eastern part of the country, the Donbas, open farmland, where what you want is try to arrange behind the enemy lines. And in many cases around that part of the country, over the last year or more, it's literally been a gunfight. And these 155 [mm] shells and those in the tubes that go with them, they are the guns, and they matter.

When Russia invaded Ukraine back in '22, the United States was producing about 14,000 155-millimeter artillery shells every month. Thanks to investments that the President has made to increase our production in Mesquite and at plants across the country, we're already now more than  have already more than doubled that number, and we expect to double it again. We're on track to manufacture 100,000 155-millimeter artillery shells per month by the end of next year.

Increasing our production capability and building these new production lines improves our own military readiness as well. And it's critical, of course, to support Ukraine.

Revitalizing our defense industrial base and increasing production has been a top priority here at the White House, for the President, for National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. And as a matter of fact, Jake has regularly convened meetings with the Defense Department and with industry leaders to discuss how to increase production. And at his direction, the NSC worked with the Department of Commerce to organize the Ukraine Defense Industrial Base Summit back in December to explore opportunities for co-production between the United States and Ukrainian defense industrial bases and to significantly increase weapon production.

And of course, Jake has spent a significant amount of time over the last two years calling on foreign counterparts, as have Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin and many others, to obtain commitments from our allies and partners to send 155-millimeter artillery shells to Ukraine as we wrap up our own production and support Ukraine's fight for freedom.

During that six months we didn't have a supplemental, had limited to no ability to support Ukraine, many of our allies and partners did just that. And 155-millimeter shells was one of the things that they kept flowing to the Ukrainians.

So this is very good news today and indicative of the sincerity with which we want to support Ukraine but also to support our own defense industrial base here at home. And of course, it also helps support jobs in places like Mesquite, Texas.

With that, we can take some questions.

MODERATOR: Awesome. First up, we will go to Zeke Miller. Zeke, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Thanks, John. I was hoping you'd be able to address (inaudible) today out of the east. First, word that Israel's military is saying it seized control of that Philadelphi corridor between Gaza and Egypt. Is that consistent with what the Israelis have briefed you on about their planning? And does that  is that consistent with the limited ground operation that you've been talking about?

Separately, the Israeli national security advisor said the war will at least last through the end of the year. Is that acceptable to the United States?

And then lastly, do you have any updates or any additional briefings from the Israelis to the U.S. government about the specific ammunition used or the potential cause of that  potential secondary explosion from that strike on Sunday that killed the civilians in Rafah? Thank you.

MR. KIRBY: There's an awful lot there.

I can't  as you know, I won't, Zeke  I'm not going to talk about IDF operations in any kind of detail. They should detail what they're doing on the ground. We're not there. It's not our op.

That said, as I said yesterday, when they briefed us on their plans for Rafah, it did include moving along that corridor and out of the city proper to put pressure on Hamas in the city.

So I can't confirm whether they seized the corridor or not, but I can tell you that their movements along the corridor did not come as a surprise to us and was in keeping with what we understood their plan to be  to go after Hamas in a targeted, limited way, not a concentrated way.

So I don't know if that answers your question or not, but that's our understanding.

On the defense minister's comments about the war lasting until the end of the year: Again, we'll let Israeli officials speak for themselves and for their assessments. It's a war they're fighting. I can tell you that President Biden is committed to seeing that we find a way to end this conflict and to end it as soon as practicable.

We've got hostages that are still in the hands of Hamas, and potentially other groups, under horrific circumstances. We got to get them home, and we want to get them home in a deal tied to a ceasefire  a ceasefire that we believe, if put in place, could lead to something more sustainable and a potential end of the conflict. And that's where President Biden's head is, trying to get this hostage deal done.

And as you know, or I think you know, another proposal now is on the table, a fresh one, and we are doing everything we can to see if we can't get that advanced, because it could lead to the ceasefire in a temporary way that could also lead to something more sustained.

So, again, I'll let the defense minister speak for his own views and opinions. Our view and our opinion is we got to get this hostage deal now. The time is now to do it, to get that temporary ceasefire, and to end this conflict as soon as possible.

On your third question  third set of questions: We do not have any more granularity today than we did yesterday about what caused the explosion and fire that killed those innocent Palestinians in the tent compound. We have been in touch with our Israeli counterparts, again, overnight and today, and we're trying to get as much information as we can. But I couldn't tell you honestly that we have clarity on that particular issue. As you know, they're investigating.

And on the specific weapon: Again, I'm going to be dramatically disappointing to you, Zeke, and to everybody else. We're not going to speak to individual payload loadouts on individual Israeli aircraft. The IDF should speak to their conduct of this particular operation, and that would include  we would expect in their investigation include the discussion of what was used.

Now, they've already said publicly that they used precision-guided munitions. They said that those precision-guided munitions had a payload of about 37 pounds, 17 kilos, which is a pretty small payload to be using. And if it is true that that's what they used, as I said yesterday, that would certainly indicate a desire to be more deliberate and more precise in their targeting. But again, we need to let their investigation conclude.

MODERATOR: Great, thanks. Next up we'll take Missy Ryan from the Washington Post. Missy, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Yep. Thank you very much. Hi, John. Just wanted to ask again about the pier operation, which I think you addressed a little bit yesterday at the podium. Could you just sort of give your assessment of the expectations for what this operation can add to the situation? I know it's not meant to replace the ground entries that everybody wants to see. But given the problems and then the pause that we're seeing after only a week of operations, can you just sort of provide some context on how you guys are looking at what this can add to the need in Gaza? Thanks.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah. I mean, as we've always said, this is an additive element; it's not meant to replace the ground routes. Can't do it. It's not meant to be a one-size-fits-all kind of operation. But it does have the potential to (inaudible) the capacity of humanitarian assistance that gets into Gaza.

And, you know, one of the goals that I know that we were trying to see come out of the pier was  you know, a thousand pallets or so per day was sort of an initial goal. And we believe that that's still possible.

The important thing to remember about this temporary pier

is that  is the word "temporary." It's not rooted into the seabed with pilings, concrete. You know, it's held in place by anchoring and by vessels that are adjacent to it, moored to it, keeping it in place. And it's literally on the water, and it's in a maritime environment. And weather and maritime conditions absolutely play a role in the stability of the pier and the ability of workers on that pier and truck drivers on that pier to use it.

And in the last week or so, the weather conditions in the eastern Med have not been conducive to safe operation of that pier. We said, even before that pier got on site, that there were going to be challenges, environmental challenges, dealing with it. We also said, once it got operational, on day one, where they got 300 pallets in, that that was just day one and that the initial operating capacity of trying to get three times that much  you know, a thousand or so pallets a day  was going to take some time. And you know what? It's taken a little bit of time. It's hard.

This is difficult, complicated work, particularly in a maritime environment that you can't control. It's not like on the ground, where you can parcel off a piece of dirt and put a bunch of security around it and kind of claim it and own it. This is water, and it can be an unforgiving environment. And that's what these guys are facing right now. And I think we all need to keep that in mind.

Nobody said at the outset that this was going to be easy. Nobody said at the outset that it was going to be quick. And nobody at the outset said that it was going to be a panacea for all the humanitarian assistance problems that still exist in Gaza. That said, it is additive. It can be supportive. It can be operational, as we've seen it. And as soon as weather conditions permit, you know, resumption of safe operations, and I have no doubt that the Defense Department and our USAID partners will go right at that work. It's still work worth doing even if it's difficult.

Q John, can I just follow up on that?

MR. KIRBY: Sure.

Q I mean, do you feel frustrated that, you know, the administration is kind of getting all the scrutiny over the functionality of the pier and you guys are having to put it on ice, sort of, shortly after (inaudible) operating capacity? Given the effort and money that was involved in setting this thing up; given that, as you all describe it, that it's Israel, your ally, that is failing to properly enable the effective entry and distribution of aid within the corridor, which is the chief problem, do you feel frustrated by that situation?

MR. KIRBY: I think what's a little frustrating with the pier itself, Missy, is the expectation that there wasn't  that it was going to be  that it was just going to be easy. I think sometimes there's an expectation of the U.S. military, because they're so good, that everything that they touch is just going to turn to gold in an instant. And we knew going in that this was going to be tough stuff, and it has proven to be tough stuff. But it's not that it can't be overcome.

So I think if there's any frustration it's that people had expectations that  the critics had expectations, not people inside the administration, but external critics had expectations for this that we knew at the outset were not an appropriate set of expectations. But we're going to keep at it. It still matters.

And as for the ground routes, look, we continue to work diligently with our Israeli counterparts to keep crossings open and to get more aid in through the ground routes. That's the only way to do this in an effective way by volume and by scale and scope, is on the ground. And we're going to continue to work with the Israelis to do exactly that.

We've had some days of good success getting hundreds of trucks in. We've had other days where it is up and is successful again. This is tough stuff. And the President is committed to doing everything we can to increase and sustain humanitarian assistance into some people that are hungry and thirsty and in need of medical care and attention. And that's what we're going to do.

It appears  again, why wouldn't we try this  if we had this capability and it was available to us, we had the know-how and the expertise to do it, why would we leave that on the sidelines? Even if it can't replace everything, even if we are still struggling with the Israelis from time to time on some of these crossings, why you would leave that on the sidelines makes no sense. It's the same with the airdrops. We know the airdrops are not going to be substantial enough in quantity to match what you can do on ground routes, but that doesn't mean you don't do them. You do the best you can, and you add as much capability as you can.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Next up, we'll go to Andrea Mitchell with NBC. Andrea, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Hi there. Thank you very much, John. I hope you can hear me. We're reporting  we and maybe others are reporting that Israel says that they made a new ceasefire offer for a

long pause or a calming, not a permanent ceasefire. Do you have anything on that and what the status of a possible resumption of talks might be?

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, I mentioned this a little bit ago, Andrea. There is a fresh proposal that's being worked. And I can tell you that the Israelis are fully supportive of this fresh proposal and, as before, have been willing to deal in good faith on this.

I won't go into the details of it. I think you can understand why. But we're hard at work at seeing if we can't make this other run at it work.

Q Do you know  can you give us any help on when this might get elevated or when there might be a resumption, at a more senior level, of talks?

MR. KIRBY: No, I can't, not because I have it and I don't want to give it to you. I can't because we just don't  we just don't know right now. We're  this is, again, a pretty fresh proposal here. And again, the Israelis have been very supportive. But there's a lot of work now that has to get done to see if we can't get another round of talks going and see where we can get this  see where we can land it.

MODERATOR: Thank you. Next up we have Trevor with Reuters. Trevor, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Hey, John. Thanks for taking the question. Two for you on Gaza. You said yesterday that Israel is not engaged in a major ground operation because IDF has not sent a large number of troops, but we do see that Israel sent six combat brigades, with more on the way. Potentially, we're talking about tens of thousands of troops. You know, by comparison, they seized all of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt in the '50s with 10 brigades. (Inaudible) not a major operation.

And then, on the incident over the weekend, there was a report that there was a GBU-39 that was found, (inaudible) bomb that's made (inaudible) United States. Is that in line with what you know? Thanks.

MR. KIRBY: Can you repeat the second half of your second question? You said somebody with a GBU-39, and then I missed the rest.

Q Yeah, that's a bomb that's made in the U.S.

MR. KIRBY: No, I know what it is. No, no, I know what a GBU-39 is, but I didn't get the second half of your question.

Q Oh. Is that in line  are you aware that that bomb was used by Israel in the attack on Sunday?

MR. KIRBY: Okay. All right. I'll do these in reverse order just because I want to.

Yeah, I mean, I know what a GBU-39 is, and I know what it can do. I know that the Israelis have said publicly that they used precision-guided munitions with a 37-pound, or 17-kilo, payload.

As I said yesterday, Trevor, I can't confirm any of those details; I can only point you to what the IDF has said. Therefore, I cannot confirm whether or not it was a GBU-39 that delivered the payload on that bomb. You'd have to really talk to the IDF about that.

On your first question, again, you guys are  I understand where the questions are coming from, but you got to understand I'm not going to confirm IDF operations or what they're doing, so I can't speak to combat brigades they have in Rafah or not, or what makes up a brigade for them and how many soldiers that is. They should speak to all that.

All I can tell you is that, as you and I are sitting here talking today, we still have not seen a major ground operation in Rafah in the manner I described it as yesterday, which  large amounts; you know, thousands and thousands of troops moving in a coordinated fashion against  you know, maneuvering against a variety of targets on the ground in a very aggressive way. The way I described it yesterday, as you and I sit here today, we have not seen that.

MODERATOR: All right. Thank you. Next up we'll go to Alex Ward with Politico. Alex, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Yeah. Thanks so much, John. Secretary Blinken was asked today about Ukraine lifting  the U.S. lifting restrictions on Ukraine's ability to strike inside Russia. And he suggested the administration has always adjusted as necessary, seeming to open the door to the possibility of a policy change. I know you spoke a bit to this yesterday, but is the administration reviewing this, you know, decision? Obviously, you know, some  Emmanuel Macron came out in saying Ukraine should be able to hit. That's one.

And two, USAID Administrator Power today said that "Despite..."  and I'm reading this quote  "Despite currently more limited military operations around Rafah and the Egypt-Gaza border, the catastrophic consequences that we have long warned about are becoming a reality." So just checking if the White House agrees that Israel's campaign so far, while limited, has led to catastrophic consequences in Rafah. Thanks.

MR. KIRBY: So, on your first question, as I said yesterday  I believe I said yesterday  there's no change in our policy. We do not encourage nor do we enable attacks using U.S. weapons on Russian soil. And as the Secretary said and as, frankly, I've said it too: From almost the first week of this war, we've been in touch with our Ukrainian counterparts every day about what their needs are. Some of those needs are material; some of those needs are training; some of those needs are advice and counsel. Whatever the needs are, we're in touch with them, and we're talking to them. And those conversations continue right now.

I don't have any changes to speak to. But as you know, Alex, our support to Ukraine has evolved appropriately as the battlefield conditions have evolved. And that's not going to change. But right now, there's also no change to our policy.

MODERATOR: All right, thank you. Next up, we'll go to Nadia Bilbassy.

MR. KIRBY: Well, wait a minute. I blew off your second question, didn't I? Sorry.

Q Yeah, on Administrator Power, yeah.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah. No, that's all right. It wasn't a Freudian slip. I wasn't trying to be, you know  I wasn't trying to ignore it.

Look, I  we all share the concerns that Administrator Power shares and has conveyed about the suffering inside Gaza. I just talked quite a little bit about all the things that we're doing on the humanitarian assistance front to try to alleviate that.

We know there are people in desperate, desperate straits. And that is why we're working so hard to get this fresh proposal

through, to get a hostage deal so we can get a ceasefire so that we can increase the humanitarian assistance and there's a period of calm where there's no fighting across all of Gaza. That's the goal here.

So I think we're all pulling the oars in the same direction. And we all share the concerns, again, about the people that are in such desperate need. And, again, that's why we're pursuing this path.

Q So, sorry, since you said you share those concerns, you're in agreement with Administrator Power that there have been catastrophic consequences in Rafah?

MR. KIRBY: We certainly agree that there have been  I mean, yes, of course. I don't even  there's no way you should even take any note that we  of cou-  what happened over on Sunday, with the death of innocent people in the tent, that was a catastrophe. Having, you know, more than 2 million people being displaced by conflict, a war that Sinwar started, certainly has had catastrophic consequences on their lives, their livelihoods, their infrastructure. I mean, my goodness, of course there's been catastrophe in Gaza. But that's why we're working so hard to find a way through here and to eventually try to find a way to end this conflict.

MODERATOR: All right, thank you. Now we'll go to Nadia Bilbassy. Nadia, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Thank you, Jessica. John, you said yesterday that the President did not see the videos from Rafah of the charred bodies and headless babies. Why is that? Who is responsible to show him these videos, considering that he talked very much about the Israeli side and the videos that he saw, and he used them on even campaign trips?

And second, if you allow me, you stated that you support Israel to destroy Hamas, you want to release the hostages, you said you want more aid to Gaza, and you want more protection for civilians. I mean, isn't just trying to square the circle? I mean, do you see these targets achievable without a permanent ceasefire, which Hamas (inaudible) insist that nothing can move forward without a ceasefire?

MR. KIRBY: So what I said yesterday, Nadia, when I was asked was: Has the President seen the images? And I said I did not know. And I do not know today, but I can ask the question. That is what I said. I did not say that he didn't.

Q Thanks.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah. And on the second question, squaring the circle  man, I'll tell you, that's what this whole thing is about. It's about trying to square all these circles. Are you kidding me? We want to see the  we want to see the hostages out. The only way to do that is to tie it to a ceasefire. You get a ceasefire in place for six weeks, and maybe that can lead to something more sustainable. And with nobody shooting at anybody, then you can get more aid in because drivers of trucks and people that deliver aid won't be as fearful about making those crossings and making those routes.

So I'll tell you, President Biden has been working hard every day to square all these circles. And that's absolutely what we're going to keep doing.

Q I mean, I don't disagree with you. It's the opposite, actually. But my point here is: Without a permanent ceasefire, Hamas (inaudible) saying nothing can go forward unless Israel stops all the operations. And the Israelis said, we're not going to stop the operations. So this is my point to you: How can you achieve all of this without a permanent ceasefire?

MR. KIRBY: We believe that if we can get the hostage deal tied to a temporary ceasefire, that that can lead to something more enduring, something more sustainable  a calm of greater duration  and that that can lead to an end of the conflict. And that's what we're focused on.

MODERATOR: All right, thank you. Next up we'll go to Kayla with CNN. Kayla, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Thank you so much, Admiral. Analysis by CNN and others show debris of a Small Diameter Bomb in the wreckage, the bomb that is made by Boeing and would likely have been made in the United States. I know the administration has previously halted the provision of heavy bombs. I'm wondering whether the administration is discussing changes to the provision of these Small Diameter Bombs.

MR. KIRBY: So, first of all, I've seen your reporting, and as I said earlier, I'm in no position to confirm the weapons loadout on Israeli aircraft. I'll leave it to the Israelis to describe, as they shou-  as only they can, the manner in which they conducted these strikes. So I'm not going to confirm the reporting. You got to talk to the IDF about that.

And as for your  the thrust of the question, which is, you know, other policy changes with respect to weapons shipments, the only shipment that has been paused and it remains paused is that shipment of 2,000-pound bombs that we have talked about now for several weeks. There is no other pause to speak to. And as the President has said, we will keep doing what we have to do to help Israel defend itself against a still-viable threat by Hamas.

Q And if I may, some of the munitions experts who were quoted in some of our reporting say, "Using any munition, even of this size, will always incur risks in a densely populated area." Does the administration agree with that assessment?

MR. KIRBY: I said yesterday  and please quote me from yesterday  in my opening statement that what happened on Sunday, the tragic outcome, underscores exactly that notion: the danger, the challenges of conducting a military operation in a densely populated area such as Rafah. So, yes, I agree with that, and I said so yesterday in the briefing.

MODERATOR: All right, thank you. Next up we'll go with Anita Powell, VOA. Anita, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Thank you so much, John. First of all, Secretary Austin is going to the Shangri-La Dialogue. I just want to know what message he's taking to the Asian partners in the region and also to China.

MR. KIRBY: Well, with the caveat that I'm no longer the Pentagon press secretary, I would refer you to my colleagues over there to speak to his agenda and his meetings and discussions that he's having. It wouldn't be appropriate for that to come from me.

Q I'm asking on behalf of the administration. I mean, he's the Defense Secretary. So what message is he taking on behalf of 

MR. KIRBY: Again, I appreciate the question, but I don't speak for the Defense Secretary, and I really don't want to get into the details of his schedule. I will just tell you, and I was going to do this just a second ago, that this is an important dialogue, Shangri-La, certainly in an important region of the world. And it is an annual gathering that secretaries of defense for many, many years have attended, with good reason, because it's an opportunity to present our case, to talk about our national security interests and how we're going about securing those interests in the Indo-Pacific region, and an opportunity for leaders there to have many individual bilateral discussions with their counterparts to advance some of these goals.

And I know that Secretary Austin is embarking on this trip with all of that firmly in his mind and that he's looking forward to having those discussions and, again, to laying out, as he has in the past, very clearly, not only the Defense Department's approach to the Indo-Pacific but the entire national security establishment.

Q John, can I ask a follow-up on Ukraine please, on the peace summit? Is President Biden concerned that if he doesn't attend the Ukraine peace summit, it will send the wrong message to the global community about the importance of supporting peace in Ukraine?

And then, if he's not going, who from the administration is? And does the administration still feel confident in President Zelenskyy's peace formulation?

MR. KIRBY: Okay, those are seven questions, I think. So let me try the first one.

I mean, I got  I have no delegation plans to speak to you today for this peace summit. That's point one.

Point two: No matter who represents the United States at the peace summit, it cannot be said that the United States has not been there for Ukraine, and that it cannot be said, number three, that President Biden has not been there for Ukraine. I mean, from the very beginning of this conflict, no other leader has done as much and continues to do as much as President Biden does to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression.

And no other leader has done as much to work with the Ukrainians, not only for their defense needs now, but for what their defense needs are going to be when this war is over. Whatever that border  whatever that end of the war looks like, they're still going to have a long border with Russia, and it's a border that they're going to need to defend. And the President has made commitments to Ukraine to be there for them long term.

So being there means being there. And in all the ways that that matters, the United States and President Biden has been there for President Zelenskyy and for the people of Ukraine, and that will continue regardless of who sits in what chair at the peace summit. And I think that's an important thing to remember.

I know you had another question that I think I missed. President Zelenskyy.

Q Yeah, does the White House have confidence in President Zelenskyy's peace formulation? Do you support it  all 10 of its points, I believe?

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, of course we do. And we've been supportive of that 10-point formulation since he drafted it.

And as a matter of fact, we have been actively involved  Secretary Blinken and Jake Sullivan, in particular  actively involved in advancing that formula and working with other countries around the world to see what we can do to operationalize it.

And, you know, I want to go back to what I was talking about before. I also want to remind you that in just the last month we've issued five security packages to Ukraine, three of them presidential drawdown authority, two of them under USAI, but in the past month. Again, so regardless of who's in what seat at the peace summit, it can't be said that the United States isn't doing everything and anything to do what we can to support Ukraine.

I think I'm going to 

Q So just to clarify, John, does the White House have input into Ukraine's peace formula? Is this a dialogue between Washington and Kyiv then?

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, of course.

MODERATOR: All right. Thanks, Anita. Next up we'll have Zolan from the New York Times. Zolan, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Hey there. Thanks so much for the question. I'm assuming you can hear me, right?

MODERATOR: Yep. Loud and clear.

Q Thanks very much. John, I just wanted to follow up on an inquiry I had yesterday in terms of  I realize that the U.S. isn't sort of the primary source for this, but I would assume just since the administration for a while was calling for Israel to hold back on going into Rafah before it had developed plans for evacuating displaced Palestinians there, if there were any sort of now updated numbers on the number of Palestinians who  displaced Palestinians who have fled Rafah, where they are, and the number of Palestinians that are still in Rafah. Thanks.

MR. KIRBY: I'm afraid I don't have those updated for you. And I apologize, because I did say yesterday I would try to get that for you. So let me take that question. And that comes with my apologies. You're right, I did get asked, and I didn't have the answer yesterday.

Q Appreciate that. I'll follow up. Thanks.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah. I just don't want to  I don't want to be guessing on something like that.

MODERATOR: All right, thank you. And last question we'll go to Nick Schifrin with PBS. Nick, you should be able to unmute yourself.

Q Thanks, guys. John, at the United Nations, Algeria is pushing a resolution that would call for the end of the Rafah operations. Does the U.S. have a position on that?

And then, a question that is perhaps more tactical than you want to answer, but regardless of which munition the Israelis dropped, the IDF has been specific and said that their target was 180 meters away from the tent encampment that caught fire. Again, I know it's a tactical question, but is that a sufficient enough distance in your mind? Thanks.

MR. KIRBY: Yeah, you're right, that's more tactical than I'm going to get into, Nick. I mean, we weren't part of this operation. We didn't help plan it. We didn't help execute it. We didn't do the targeting. And I would refer you to what the IDF have been saying about that investiga-  that operation. And, of course, they're investigating it. So let's see what they come up with in terms of their conclusions about what could have caused this explosion and fire. So, again, I just want to be careful on this.

And on the resolution by Algeria, we certainly are aware of it. As a matter of fact, we're reviewing it. I think you can understand that I'm not going to negotiate this thing here in public, in a gaggle. But I would take the opportunity to note that we believe it is imbalanced and it fails to note a very simple fact  and this is the same thing we have objected to with previous resolutions: It does not note that Hamas is to blame for this conflict and that the fighting in Rafah could end tomorrow if Mr. Sinwar did the right thing and agreed to this deal and get a ceasefire and to get the release of the hostages. And I will leave it at that.

I do have one correction. My team is telling me that when I answered the question about the five security packages, three were PDA, one was USAI, one was foreign military financing. That was the source for that package. So I apologize for the error, but I'm glad I was able to fix it before we wrapped up the gaggle.

And then, we do have a taken question on the number of

evacuees. We'll do the best we can to get you an answer on that. And again, my apologies  I should have been ready for that, given that I took it yesterday. So, my bad. We'll get back to you all. Have a great day.

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Press Gaggle by Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre En Route Philadelphia, PA

May 29, 2024

Aboard Air Force One

En Route Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1:00 P.M. EDT

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Hi, everybody. Going back to Philly. So exciting. Good afternoon.

So, we're going to go to Philly, obviously, where the President and the Vice President will participate in campaign events. And so, the campaign is going to have more information for all of you on today's events. And so, I  I'm going to have to refer you to them on what the day's events  what's going to unfold today.

But with that, I'm just going to go ahead and start taking questions.

Go ahead, Aamer.

Q Okay, so, on  on the pier.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Does the President  is he rethinking if this is still a good idea? It's become, it seems like, a bit of a boondoggle. Why spend  continue to spend good money after bad when it's  it seems to have very little impact on actually getting aid into Gaza?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, a couple things. I know NSC spoke to this yesterday. I know DOD also spoke to this yesterday. And so, as you know, it's going to be temporarily moved to the Port of Ash-  Ashdod.

Let me just give you a couple of things to show why it  what it's done while it was running.

So, to date, over 1,000 metric tons have been delivered from the pier to the marshalling area for onward delivery by humanitarian organizations into the hands of Gazans  1,000 metric tons. That matters.

We remain committed to working with international community to get aid into Gaza as quickly as possible. That includes via land crossing. As you know, we've been working on that, and that has had some eff-  some good effects in the sense of the President's diplomacy and having those conversations and  including Kerem Shalom, where aid continues to flow into Ga-  Gaza. And so, we'll provide, obviously, additional updates on this.

But, look, this is part of the President's commitment to make sure we're getting that important humanitarian aid into Gaza. We know how dire the situation there is for the  the  is for Palestinian people. And so, we're going to do everything by air, by land, by sea, obviously. And so, that is our focus.

And while the pier has been  while it was functioning, obviously, it did get some humanitarian aid. I don't have any more on the pier beyond that. I would refer you to Department of Defense, obviously.

Q Karine  Karine, how  how does the White House respond to Pope Francis's alleged use of a homophobic slur in a private meeting? And how does that affect his relationship with President Biden?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, I mean  I'll say  I'll say this, which is, you know, I can speak  I can speak for the President. I can't speak, obviously, directly for the Pope. I know the Vatican, in a statement, said that the Pope apologized and said it was [wasn't] his intention. So, he is  it is for him to speak.

What I can say about the POTUS is that he's been  he's been very clear that everyone, including LGBTQ+ persons, deserves dignity and should not be discriminated because of who they are, who they love.

And that is something that you have heard from this President for some time now, and, certainly, he stands by that. And you see that in his policies. And so, that's what  I'll  I'll leave it there.

Q How much  how much attention is the President paying to the Trump trial as they begin deliberations?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I have to be pretty honest with you, I have not talked to the President about that.

This is going to be an important day. Obviously, the campaign is going to have more to share.

The President  and I said this yesterday a couple times when I was asked this question in various ways  that the President is focused on the American people, delivering for the American people. You'll hear him talk about  talk about, you know, some of that today. Again, the campaign will  will speak to that, since it's a campaign event. That's his focus.

I just have not  that is  I've not focused 

Q Do you think 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE:  asked him that question.

Q Thank you. Do you think he'll make reference to it in his remarks today?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I think the President is going to be focused on the American people today.

Q Was the President aware in advance that his campaign was going to give a press conference at the courthouse yesterday?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I can't speak to that. That's for the campaign to speak to.

Q But it was about the President's awareness.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I  I can't  I  this is not a conversation  I don't talk about the campaign with the President, so I would refer you to the campaign.

Q Well, but you have spoken about how the jus-  justice system is  is functioning on its own, and the President doesn't get involved. And yet, when his campaign comes out in front of the courthouse and speaks, it cuts against that.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I mean, yesterday, when I was asked about the question, I said, "Hey, I'm not going to talk about a  a political candidate. It's 2024." But I did talk about the importance of having a justice system that works for all and just really talked about it more broadly and what this president has been able to do. And that's what I talked about.

We announced our 200th nominee that has been able to get through, how diverse that is, and how it is really, truly important to have  to have a justice system that represents America.

And that's as far as I can go. You're asking me specifically the President's thought about what the campaign did. I just can't speak to that.

Q Karine, does there  does the White House have any plan to make a statement or do anything once the verdict actually happens?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I'm going to be super mindful, not going to speak to it  2024, this is an election period. I'm just not going to speak to it. I do not speak and will not speak on any ongoing cases. Even  even in  in a hypothetical, speculative way, I'm just not going to speak to it.

Q Two questions, Karine.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Yeah.

Q Your office is in charge of setting up presidential interviews. President Biden has been president for about three and a half years. And 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: (Inaudible) remember that. It's good to know.

Q  to the best of my knowledge, he has not given a single interview to a print newspaper reporter, and I was wondering how you explain that.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: That  that is  look, he has given many interviews. I'm happy to share a list with you on folks he's interviewed. And I would say stay tuned. Stay tuned.

Q (Inaudible.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: It's been  it's been  as you just stated and marked on the calendar, it's been three and a half years. I'm sure you're not the only one tracking that, but I would say stay tuned.

And the President is always happy to talk to the press. You've seen him sit down with many different  different mediums, platforms, because he wants to make sure his message gets directly to the American people. And I would say stay tuned.

Q Why is that EO s-  the  sorry  the border EO that the President is considering. Why is that still plan A? I ask specifically because, yesterday, Kirby mentioned the numbers are trending in the right direction. It seems you have a commitment, even post-election in Mexico, on this issue. Why is this necessary?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: So, look, the President is going to do everything that he can  right?  to  to deal with what we're  been seeing: a broken immigration system. Right? I can't speak to the EO. What I can say is we look at all options, as we have done.

We've taken auction  actions over the past more than two years now. And, as Steven said, we've been in office for three and a half years, and so we're always going to look at all of our options.

I got to sit down.

But what I will say is this is a system that has been broken for decades  right?  decades. And it's going to take continuously taking actions. It's going to take, honestly, legislative action to deal with a system that's been broken.

I have to sit down.

Q One last thing. How much prep work for the D-Day trip is he going to be doing in Rehoboth this weekend?

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Look, D-Day is going to be an important moment. Obviously, the President is going to  to France to commemorate 

AIR FORCE ONE CREW MEMBER: I'm so sorry. (Inaudible.)

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: I know. I know. But  I got to go.

I don't have anything to share on his particular schedule of what that's going to look like, but obviously he's going to meet with his senior staff.

AIR FORCE ONE CREW MEMBER: Sorry, guys. We're about to 

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: He's going to meet with NSC 

AIR FORCE ONE CREW MEMBER:  land. We're going to have to wrap this up. I'm so sorry.

MS. JEAN-PIERRE: Okay. Thanks, guys.

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May 30, 2024

Transcript

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh Holds a Press Briefing

DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY SABRINA SINGH: Hello. Good afternoon. Let me just get organized here. All right, so just a few things at the top and then happy to take your questions. Yesterday, the Army announced the opening of the Universal Artillery Projectile Lines Facility in Mesquite, Texas, which will provide an increase to our capacity and capability to produce 155 millimeter munitions. The Army is spending more than $1 billion every year to make these critical improvements, and this plant is an important example of how we are modernizing our industrial base. This facility, which will be operated by General Dynamics Ordinance and Tactical Systems, will help the Army meet its modernization goals by incorporating high levels of automation, modern manufacturing practices, and digital data capturability. Current and future Army readiness requires modernization efforts that leverage new technologies, advanced manufacturing equipment and processes, and surge capabilities to enable production at scale. These efforts will significantly strengthen U.S. munition production capabilities and will serve as a credible deterrent to adversaries. This new facility underscores the Army and industry's commitment to bolstering the defense industrial base and maintaining the readiness of our Armed Forces.

Switching gears, turning to an update of the maritime humanitarian corridor off the coast of Gaza, earlier today, IDF engineers removed the anchored portion of the Trident Pier from the beach. So as of this afternoon, all sections of the Trident Pier have been relocated to the Port of Ashdod for rebuilding and repairing. Additionally, the two Army vessels that were beached over the weekend on the coast of Israel near Ashkelon have been recovered. The recovery of the remaining two Army vessels that were beached near the Trident Pier is ongoing, with the assistance from the Israeli Navy. As a reminder, the rebuilding and repairing of the pier will take over a week, and following completion, the Trident Pier will be re-anchored to the coast of Gaza. Alongside USAID and humanitarian organizations, we remain committed to working with the international community to get aid into Gaza as quickly as possible. As we have updates to provide on JLOTS, we'll be sure to pass that information along.

And lastly, the department would like to congratulate Air National Guard Lt. Gen. Marc Sasseville, vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, who celebrated his retirement ceremony yesterday following four decades of service in uniform. General Sasseville was one of the first two pilots who took to the skies over Washington, D.C. during the terrorist attacks on 9/11. When Sasseville and fellow F-16 pilot Heather Penney took off from Andrews Air Force Base that morning, the Pentagon and the World Trade Center had already been attacked. With no missiles loaded on their aircraft, Sasseville and Penney were prepared to ram their F-16s into Flight 93 to prevent it from completing an attack on our nation's capital. As you know, resistance from passengers interrupted the hijackers' plans, and Sasseville and Penney returned home safely from their unprecedented mission that day. Over a four decades long career, Sasseville held numerous leadership positions, serving as the commander of the 1st Air Force, the defense attache to Turkey, and most recently as the 12th Vice Chief of the National Guard. Secretary Austin offers his congratulations and thanks to General Sasseville and his family for his dedicated service.

And with that, I'd be happy to take your questions. Tara?

Q: Thanks, Sabrina. On JLOTS ...now that all the portions have been removed, was there any damage to the sections? Will some of the sections need to be replaced? And is DOD committed to getting this back up and running, you know, in the next week or so?

MS. SINGH: So as I had mentioned I think on Tuesday, we are - we believe that this will take about over a week to repair and rebuild the entire JLOTS section, predominantly that portion that was anchored into the pier. I don't have more in terms of replacement parts. I know that they are doing a repairing and rebuilding of the pieces that broke off - or that need, you know, sufficient repair, but I would direct you to CENTCOM for more specifics on if there's any replacement parts needed.

Q: OK. You don't have kind of a better sense of, like, what was - how bad the damage was, if there was damage to these sections?

MS. SINGH: Well, there was damage to the sections. As you know, as I mentioned on Tuesday, the larger part of the pier that - if you think of it as, like, a "T", that top section of the T did break off. So, that is significant damage, I would say. But the good thing is - is that we have our experts in Ashdod working on repairing and rebuilding these pieces. I don't have more specifics on - because you were asking specifically about replacements. I just  I don't have more specifics on that. So, I'd direct you to CENTCOM for - for more on that.

Q: OK. And then just a follow-up on the last Sunday strike at the displacement camp - or the fire that broke out there. Since then, we've had other strikes where additional civilians have been killed, all in this one area where there had never been evacuation orders given. Given that the Israelis are still striking Hamas leaders, are there other weapons that the U.S. can provide that are more precise, smaller, that would have less collateral damage?

MS. SINGH: Well, thanks, Tara, for the question. We continue to provide Israel security assistance in what they need to be successful in defeating Hamas. That ranges, of course, from, you know, different types of precision-guided munitions to other capabilities. We have paused that one shipment of the larger 2,000-pound bombs, but I don't have more specifics. We are providing them what they need in order to be effective in their fight against Hamas.



Q: But it seems even the 250-pound bombs are doing significant collateral damage and killing civilians. So, is that even too big a bomb right now for this part of their fight?

MS. SINGH: Well, we've been very clear with the Israelis, and in fact, just yesterday, as you probably saw, Secretary Austin did have a call with his counterpart, Minister Gallant, to talk about exactly what happened over the weekend, to talk about how there needs to be more work done in order to preserve and to protect civilians that are on the ground. And so, we continue to have those conversations. We are, of course, doing that, publicly and privately, but we believe that we are also giving Israel what they need to be successful in their fight against Hamas.

Matt?

Q: Thanks, Sabrina. Following up on JLOTS ... since it's there in Ashdod, is it only being repaired, or are there any modifications underway to make it more robust, anything like that, so that we don't see the same thing happen again once it's back?

MS. SINGH: Sure. For more specifics on - I - I'm not tracking any modifications, but I would direct you to CENTCOM for any more specifics. What I - I'm a - what - what I believe is happening is the repairing and rebuilding of the actual pier itself that is anchored to Gaza. I think it's important to remember that, prior to this storm that we saw over the weekend, when we did anchor the JLOTS into Gaza, we were seeing, you know, trucks being able to roll off. The operation was going successfully. It was the combination of the high seas and then this weather storm that we saw turn from North Africa that created the environment that we saw over the weekend. So, during this period of time is usually when there are relatively calmer seas in that Eastern Mediterranean portion of where the temporary pier is anchored. So, we believe we'll be successful. We don't anticipate for other storms. But we can't predict all weather patterns, but during this time it's usually relatively calm.

Q: OK. And secondly, while it's out of commission and being repaired, are there any efforts underway to come up with alternative routes or solutions to get that aid from Cyprus into Gaza? And is there any U.S. military role in that?

MS. SINGH: Yes, that is something that USAID, and with other partners, NGOs, humanitarian organizations is working through to try and figure out, you know, faster, efficient ways to get that aid that's already in Cyprus into Gaza. So, I'd refer you to USAID to speak to that. I did mention on Tuesday that we are already loading or preloading some of the vessels with this aid. So, when we are ready to re anchor the pier into Gaza, that this is already preloaded on our vessels and things can roll off almost immediately.

Q: JLOTS questions. You had estimated $320 million for three months of operation and construction. Is that number higher now with the damage or was the cost of  of damage and a failure like this already built in?



MS. SINGH: As of right now, that's still the cost that we assess to date. As I mentioned earlier this week, if that number goes up or down, we'll certainly let you know, but I just don't have any updates to provide at this time.

Q: And then the pier had only been able to allow, you know, a trickle of aid before it shut down. Once it's up and running, is there now an estimated date for when you might get to FOC?

MS. SINGH: As soon as it's  as soon as we re anchor, let me, you know, we'll provide more updates. I don't have a specific date for you, but I think you have to remember that as soon as we did the initial anchor, it was a slow trickle of trucks. And I know I've done this from the podium, but we've compared it to a crawl, walk, run. I expect that you'll see that again, that sort of pattern. It'll be slow at first and then it will ramp up. And in those last few days, before we had this weather storm, I mean, we were getting in trucks more regularly, and to date there's been over 1,000 metric tons that have flowed into Gaza. So, we're making progress. We expect to be able to pick that progress back up as soon as we are able to re anchor the Trident pier into Gaza.

Q: It feels like the next time the weather turns south, we're going to have this exact same conversation.

MS. SINGH: Well, what I will say is that the one thing that we couldn't anticipate was that north African weather storm. And I was speaking to people that were monitoring that storm and what we saw, it basically changed direction within an hour or two. And that was something that, given the high seas that were already happening within the Eastern Mediterranean, that combined force of that other storm just made that pier inoperable and further damaged it. Now, during this time, if you look back historically, we don't see storms like that. We don't really see weather patterns like that. So, we believe that, and I'm not a meteorologist, so I don't have a weather map in front of me looking back all through time. But what I can tell you is during this period of time, during these summer months, seas are usually calmer, and so, we should be able to be successful in re anchoring this pier. Tom?

Q: You talk about the need to protect civilians. There are a million people displaced from Rafah. Secretary last week talked about an Israeli concept, about the way it had with humanitarian aid to these civilians. Anything more the Israelis have told you about the way ahead?

MS. SINGH: We're continuing to engage. I mean, the secretary had a call with Minister Gallant yesterday. We have said repeatedly that we don't support a major ground scale operation within Rafah that doesn't take into account the civilians that are going to have  that are moving currently, and that are still there. I don't have more updates to share on any plan that we've received. I know conversations from the department and other agencies, and of course, the White House are ongoing.

Q: Thank you very much, Sabrina. I have two questions. As you know, that - North Korea distributed about hundreds of garbage balloon across South Korea and attacking GPS radio waves, and have launched 10 ballistic missiles into the east coast. Regarding the, you know, attack balloons, the United Nations command stated that North Koreans (inaudible) actions were a violation of the Armistice Agreement [crosstalk].

MS. SINGH: So, Janne, thanks for the question. We continue to monitor what's happening in the peninsula. We're certainly aware of the DPRK's most recent ballistic missile launch, and we're working as we always do with our partners, like the Republic of Korea and Japan and others in the region. We continue to condemn these actions. They are destabilizing. We've called on the DPRK to stop these actions. They're unlawful. We're going to continue to monitor, but I just don't have any other further comment to provide at this time.

Q: 28,000 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea. If North Korea were to put biological and chemical weapons into balloons and spray them, it would be a big threat. How did you consider that?

MS. SINGH: Yeah, I appreciate the question, Janne. But as you can also appreciate, I'm just not going to engage in hypothetical situations.

Well, it's nice to see you back in the briefing. Yeah?

Q: As India goes to this election cycle, let's ask you, how do you sense  how do you see India-U.S. defense relationship in the last three and a half years of this administration?

MS. SINGH: Well, thanks for the question. Again, nice to see you back here. I think you've seen a deepening of cooperation and ties between our militaries. The Secretary has hosted delegations from India here in the Pentagon and, of course, traveled overseas, met with his counterparts. So, you've certainly seen a growing and deepening partnership and our militaries engaged in exercises. I don't have that full list of commitments and, you know, announcements that we made during the Secretary's trip. But one of the things that he announced there was a production facility in India. So you're seeing our military partnership grow and deepen, and that's something that we're extremely proud of.

Great. Yeah, Liz?

Q: Switching topics to Ukraine. Is the Pentagon considering loosening weapons restrictions on the weapons of be sent to Ukraine?

MS. SINGH: Yeah, thanks, Liz, for the question. So, there's been no change in our policy. The security assistance that we provide Ukraine is to be used within Ukraine, and we don't encourage attacks or enable attacks inside of Russia. We believe that Ukraine can be effective by focusing on tactical and operational targets that directly influence the conflict within its boundaries rather than, you know, going after larger geopolitical targets within Russia. So, our policy hasn't changed.

Q: What ff attacks are coming from within Russia...Why? Why not change it?

MS. SINGH: Yeah. So, again, this is our policy and nothing has changed. We've always said from the very beginning that the security assistance we provide Ukraine is for use within Ukraine. If anything changes, of course, we'd let you know. But right now, that still remains our policy. And we believe that we've given them the capabilities and the systems to be effective on the battlefield right now.

Q: Changing topics. So, the DIA released their intelligence on the North Korean ballistic missiles that were found in Kharkiv. What sort of impact have these North Korean missiles had in Russia's war in Ukraine?

MS. SINGH: Well, that's something that, you know, we've been pretty public about from here and across the interagency, is that we've seen this deepening in partnership between North Korea and Russia. We know that the munitions being supplied by DPRK to Russia are being used on the battlefield in Ukraine. We know that they have been successful at, of course, hitting some, you know, causing damage to infrastructure, causing civilians to be killed. It's something that we are certainly aware of and have raised concern about. We're focused in making sure that Ukraine has what it needs, whether it be in attacks from Iranian made drones or attacks from North Korean produced missiles. We want to make sure that the Ukrainians have what they need to be successful on the battlefield, which is why I just  I think the latest package we rolled out was on May 24th, another presidential drawdown package. You're going to see us continue to do that. And also to highlight, our partnership with Ukraine stands with, you know, 50 allies and partners all around the world supporting Ukraine and its efforts. So, we feel pretty good about our alliance with Ukraine.

Konstantin?

Q: Thanks, Sabrina. On Tuesday, you said that all of the beached Army ships should be recovered within 48 hours. It sounds like there's been some delays on two of them. Can you elaborate as to what caused the delays?

MS. SINGH: I mean, 48 hours from when I came up at this podium? So, OK, right about now. But efforts are still ongoing. I think it's just more about just making sure that that Trident pier was able to be removed first and then they're going to focus on removing those vessels. We'll keep you updated on the progress that gets made. I know I said about 48 hours, if it takes a little longer, you know. We'll keep you updated on things.

Q: Thank you.

MS. SINGH: Of course. Yes?

Q: Thanks, Sabrina. What I understand is the long anticipated pier project will take at least a week more to be ready. But what we know right now that you docked the pier in the northern side of Gaza, which is completely controlled by the IDF right now. My question is, did you facilitate any mechanism in order to quickly send those humanitarian aid to the Gazans from that point with the Israeli counterparts of yours?

MS. SINGH: So, if you're referring to the marshaling area, which is where the aid comes off from the pier, that area is monitored and secured by the IDF that has been providing security in that  in that region. Aid comes off the pier. It goes from the drivers that drive it off into other drivers' trucks and then gets distributed onwards into Gaza. Since the pier has not been operable since about Friday over the weekend, there hasn't been aid flowing in off the pier, as you know. So there hasn't been aid flowing in from that marshaling area further into Gaza. Now, we're working. As someone asked earlier, we're working to ensure that the aid that's in Cyprus can get into Gaza in a different way. That's something that USAID is looking into with other humanitarian organizations. But I can only speak to on what the DOD's role is right now in getting aid into Gaza. And we're working as fast as we can to repair this pier so that it can be re-anchored into Gaza.

Q: Given, technically, if the pier is ready, there is no agreement with the Israelis to deliver those humanitarian aid quickly to the Gazans so  that which sounds like we're back to ground zero, the same situation on the border with Israel into Gaza.

MS. SINGH: No, I don't think we're back to ground zero. And I'm sorry if I misunderstood your question. There is an agreement that aid will be distributed once it comes off into the marshaling area into Gaza. And that is something that USAID, the Department of Defense, other humanitarian organizations are working with the IDF. And as you know, the UN is one of our distribution partners to get that aid into Gaza and to make sure that it can flow as quickly as possible. That is an agreement that the IDF has committed to. That's why we have deconfliction cells set up in two different places to ensure that aid can get to the people that need it most.

Tony?

Q: A question on Ukrainian aid. Five weeks ago, the $1 billion PDA package was announced. Air defense, 155 shells. The recurring narrative you hear from the Ukrainian news accounts is that the aid is not getting there quick enough, hasn't gotten quick enough to make a difference on the battlefield. Can you give an update in terms of at least the air defense deliveries and 155 deliveries, a feel for whether most of it's been distributed or not?

MS. SINGH: I wouldn't be able to speak to - from when it gets onto the battlefield. That's something that the Ukrainians would need to speak to. But Tony, you've been covering this - the war and, I think, our first PDA package that we rolled out since day one. I mean, aid was flowing - security assistance was flowing almost immediately. And before the supplemental got passed, we made the decision to pre-position some of our stocks in order to, when that supplemental did get passed, to immediately start flowing security assistance into Ukraine. And so you've seen that happen within days, sometimes it does take weeks. That shouldn't be conflated with the larger USAI package that I think is also part of the $5 billion that you referenced, which - right, which is the longer-term commitment, that that could take years or - months to years. That is a longer-term commitment to build up Ukraine's military force, and a commitment to the - you know, their long-term sustainment, but that - that is not assistance that's going to flow right away.

Q: ... but the 155s in the - in the original $1 billion package, are those - most of those have been delivered? Do you have a feel for that one way or the other?

MS. SINGH: I wouldn't be able to talk to you about how - once they get into the Ukrainian hands, like, where they get delivered. I would direct you to the Ukrainians to speak to how quickly that - those type of munitions are getting to the front lines and where it's needed most. All I can tell you is that delivery and that flow of security assistance was, you know, very soon after that supplemental passed.

Q: ... the Washington Post had a pretty good story about a week ago about you - Russian electronic warfare jamming a lot of a - the GPS - U.S. GPS equipment, like Excalibur and HIMARS weapons. Has the U.S. - is the U.S. crafting with Ukraine solutions to this electronic warfare? Is there any non-kinetic, in your words, solutions that are being worked?

MS. SINGH: So we're continuing to work with the Ukrainians when it comes to EW capabilities. I'm not, as you can appreciate, not going to get into too many specifics on that, but that is something that we are working through with the Ukrainians and our - as are our partners and allies, but I just don't have more to offer right now.

Yeah? Lara?

Q: Thank you, Sabrina. I'm just wondering if you - on Ukraine, ask whether - you know, there's been talk about sending additional Patriots, air defenses to Ukraine. Has the U.S. made decisions on whether it is able to send U.S. Patriots to Ukraine, an additional one?

MS. SINGH: I don't have anything to announce today, Lara, but thank you for the question.

Mike?

Q: Yeah, the - most of the other NATO supporters - England, Germany, France, several - Poland - have already lifted any restrictions on their weapons being used to destroy targets inside Russia proper. The U.S. Defense Department already - always - consistently boasts about how it works in concert with the allies. Why on this particular point is the U.S. the odd man out on this? Everybody else is doing it. Why - you know, is it just politics? What?



MS. SINGH: I don't know that we're the odd man out, Mike, but appreciate the question. And right now, there's no change to our policy. You've seen us adapt over time as Russian capabilities adapt. So does our support for Ukraine. You know, at the very beginning of the - this war, we were surging things like Stingers and Javelins. Over time, it became HIMARS, then ATACMS. We continue to adapt to the capabilities that they need and the battlefield continues to change. Right now, our policy is still - is - is still what it was from the beginning. There has been no change. In - in fact, you know, we - we continue to engage with the Ukrainians. The Secretary had a call earlier this week with his counterpart. But the security assistance that we provide Ukraine, we believe that Ukraine can be successful on the battlefield by using it within Ukraine.

Q: If Russia can have these protected areas to attack Ukraine, aren't they - is it - is it going to be basically impossible, you know, for them - for Ukraine to prevail in this, if Russia continues striking them from these areas that - because - it - that the U.S. says you're not allowed to hit them from, you're not allowed to hit them here? Aren't you hobbling them from really becoming - you're - you know, you're giving them enough not to lose but not enough to win?

MS. SINGH: I don't know, Mike. I think at the very beginning of this war, you saw many people saying that they didn't have what they need to hold Kyiv, and then they did, and then it was Kherson and then Kharkiv and they continued to fight, they continued to push Russians back. And we know that during the time that we didn't have that supplemental passed, Russians did make gains on the battlefield, but we've been able to provide them with what they need, and we believe that they have what they need to be successful.

Yeah?

Q: Thank you. I just have a follow-up on that. I know that the Pentagon has talked with the Ukrainians about letting them strike targets inside Russia. You mentioned the Secretary had a call with his counterpart. So I just want to clarify, is this off the table or not?

MS. SINGH: I will be crystal clear - there's been no change to our policy. The security assistance that we provide Ukraine is for use within Ukraine.

Q: OK. I have a Shangri-La - couple of questions. What does Secretary Austin hope to accomplish in his meeting with his Chinese counterpart at Shangri-La?

MS. SINGH: Well, I'm glad you raised that. The Secretary just landed in, I believe, Singapore maybe a few hours ago. That meeting with his PRC counterpart is happening tomorrow. I - he's going to cover a range of different issues. As you can appreciate, I won't get ahead of that meeting, but it is tomorrow, I believe, afternoon over there, so early morning our time. We will provide a readout, but I'm just not going to get ahead of that right now.

Q: ... South Korea's Defense Ministry said that U.S., Japan, South Korea defense ministers will hold another meeting on the sidelines of the forum. What is the primary focus of this meeting? And what message does it send to North Korea?

MS. SINGH: Well, I - I mean, you've seen a deepening of ties between our alliance, between the Republic of Korea and Japan. I mean, I don't have to reiterate but I will - this is the Secretary's 10th trip to the region. So the National Defense Strategy has informed - is our North Star for the department. It guides us in what we do. And of course we're always keeping an eye on our pacing challenge, and I - other likeminded allies and partners around the world also see the challenges that - that a rising PRC raises. And so that's why you've seen deeper cooperation, whether it be in EDCA agreements or, you know, more broadly within the Indo-Pacific on - on larger-scale exercises. So again, not going to get ahead of the Secretary's meetings but it's a deepening of those ties, and I think the fact that he's going to the region for the 10th time now certainly sends a - a message of resilience.

Yeah?

Q: Thank you, madam. Two questions please.

MS. SINGH: Sure.

Q: On - as for Chinese activities, how seriously is - the Pentagon is taking in the region? Because many nations, including India, Taiwan, and Japan, Malaysia and other - Philippine, have been threatened and they are - Chinese are not threatening of course Taiwan. Its goal is to take over Taiwan. And U.S. lawmakers also (inaudible) new President of Taiwan and all this. So how seriously - and what steps do you think the Pentagon is taking?

MS. SINGH: I think we're taking it very seriously. I mean, not to reiterate, but this is the Secretary's 10th visit to the region. The Secretary is going to - in - be engaging his PRC counterpart tomorrow. Of course, issues that you raise, whether it be activities around some of the Philippine Islands, around Taiwan, that's of course something that I would expect to be discussed, but that's also something that - I'm not going to get ahead of the Secretary's meeting tomorrow. So we will have a readout of - of that.

Q: As far as the war between terrorist organization, of course, Hamas and Israel, up to the death of the Iranian president, the Supreme Leader, he has given a lot of warning and threats to people in the region, including Israel and the U.S. interests in the region, so you think to avoid the bigger war in the region, what you think the Pentagon is doing or other nations involved in the region?

MS. SINGH: We don't want to see a wider war in the region. That's something that we've said from the very beginning. That's why you saw the secretary make the decisions that he did when Hamas brutally attacked Israel on October 7th. We certainly don't seek a wider conflict. We take any threats that Iran is launching very seriously. But that's why we continue to reiterate that cooler heads prevail, that we don't want to see a wider conflict. And that's why you're seeing a coalition of different countries around the world also coming together to preserve international shipping lanes and to make sure that commercial ships can continue to travel through, whether it be the Red Sea or the Gulf of Aden.

Last question.

Q: Thank you. Just to follow up. What he said, Supreme Leader, before he dies, before his death, his goal is to destroy Israel and other nations who are supporting the Israeli war against Hamas and others. So, anybody taking seriously those threats from this Supreme Leader who is the head of the country in Iran?

MS. SINGH: Yeah. We, of course, take those very seriously, which is why you saw us just a few months ago come to the defense of Israel when Iran launched its brutal, unprecedented missile attack towards Israel. We absolutely take that very seriously, and that's why we did what we did.

I'm going to go to the phones before I forget, and then I'm happy to come back in the room. Jeff Schogol, Task & Purpose.

Q: Thanks. I have kind of an unconventional question. As my colleague mentioned, North Korea sent balloons across the south, into the south that included human waste. Does the U.S. have any plans to reciprocate and send American poop across the 38th parallel?

MS. SINGH: Thanks, Jeff. We do not.

Next question. Carla Babb.

Q: Hey, Sabrina. Thank you. I just want to follow up on Shangri-La, and I know you don't want to get ahead of the talks with Austin's Chinese counterpart. But just from a Pentagon perspective, how do you see China at this point? Have they been increasing their aggression in the region? And is there any hope that talks can make a difference, as you see with the exercises around Taiwan last week, for China to turn around and change their aggressive behavior?

MS. SINGH: Thanks, Carla, for the question. Of course, talks can make a difference. Having those mil-to-mil communications, so senior channels open, actually allows for the avoidance of a miscalculation. So, absolutely, talks can make a difference. And we certainly welcome the engagement that the secretary is going to have tomorrow. In terms of PRC behavior, I mean, we've been pretty clear, and we put out a report every year, as you probably know, about their developments and their military activity. I mean, we did see more intercepts last year, and that's something that we've spoken about very publicly from this building. Respecting that the secretary is going to have this conversation tomorrow, I'm just not going to get into too many details, but we certainly welcome the conversation tomorrow and are looking forward to it.

Tom?

Q: Thanks, Sabrina. Good afternoon. About a week and a half ago, the Army Secretary, she was on The Hill testifying for a committee. And among the topics that came up was, still, the stand down of using horse-drawn caissons at Arlington National Cemetery. It seems that, yeah, even after a year the army has not yet been able to correct the situation that led to the deaths of these four horses. About a year ago, actually, on May 4th, 2023, I asked you about if Defense Secretary Austin was satisfied with the Army's decision to stand down on and satisfy with the progress they were making. You responded then, so I know what you're referring to. I just don't have more information on that. I'd be happy to take that question and get back to you and provide an answer. Do you have any answer yet?

MS. SINGH: I don't have any updates on the  what is specifically happening in Arlington. I would  the army is, of course, and as you've mentioned, the Secretary was on the hill and was providing more context on that. I just don't have more.

Q: I asked you specifically about Secretary Austin's feeling if he felt the Army was doing all right with the stand on and satisfied with the steps they were going to take. So at the risk of sounding like an English professor diagramming the sentence, I was asking about the Secretary Austin, not the Army.

MS. SINGH: Secretary Austin has absolute confidence in Secretary Wormuth and the Army, and what they're doing to look into this issue. And I just don't have anything else to provide.

In the back. Yeah.

Q: I'm just trying to understand, the U.S. has been very clear that the policy against a major ground offensive, are these current airstrikes and the air offensive that's happening? Does that not constitute a major offensive via air?

MS. SINGH: So what we've  I think two separate things, air component, very different than the land component, and then  and a ground operation into Rafah. And that's what we've been talking about. So I think two separate things to just kind of parse out. We have been very clear that there has been too many civilian casualties. And the horrific heartbreaking imagery that you saw out of the weekend, we don't want to continue to see that. And that was even before the events of this weekend. We've said that, you know, we continue to reiterate that. So when it comes to the ground operation in Rafah, and what I spoke about a little bit on Tuesday was that we haven't seen a larger scale maneuverability within Rafah. We continue to see that it is limited in scope, that they are making sort of steady progress down the corridor. But beyond that, we don't assess it as a larger scale ground operation.



But should  yup, go ahead.

Q: I was going to say  forgive me, but what about the air offensive? Is that not a major offensive, despite that it's not via ground, is that...

MS. SINGH: So there are ways to do targeted strikes, of course, from the air. And we believe, and I think Tara had asked this earlier today that there's too many civilian casualties happening, whether it'd be from ground operations or from the air. And so we certainly continue to have those conversations with the Israelis. You saw the USAID administrator speak to this yesterday as well about some of the catastrophic consequences that are coming from whether there be airstrikes or ground operations. We absolutely want to see that addressed. We want to see civilians be protected. We want to be able to see them move into safe areas. But I just want to make sure that we're not conflating two separate things. Yeah, go ahead and then we'll come to you. Yeah.

Q: Thank you. Another Ukraine question. Now that Ukraine is launched  now that Russia is launching fire at Kharkiv area from inside of Russian territory, if Ukraine is not allowed to [crosstalk]

MS. SINGH: I'm sorry, I didn't understand that. Could you repeat that?

Q: Yeah. Now that Russia is launching fire at the Kharkiv area from inside of Russian territory, if Ukraine is not allowed to reach the source of that fire, do you offer any alternatives to Ukraine so that they're not basically sitting ducks in the way of fire without any right to do anything about it?

MS. SINGH: Look, we've seen Ukraine make incredible progress around Kharkiv and be able to fortify some of their lines. Our policy still hasn't changed. And I know I'm reiterating something that I've already said, but there has been no change to our policy. The security assistance that we provide, we believe that Ukraine can be successful in taking back their sovereign territory within Ukraine.

Q: Can you offer them any alternatives in this particular situation if you cannot strike back at the source of the fire.

Okay, you can do this or that.

MS. SINGH: I think we also have to remember, they have other equipment. They have other capabilities and systems from other countries. So we're talking about our own U.S. equipment. But as you know, they have long range fires from other countries all around the world. In terms of assistance, I'm not going to get into more specifics on what we provide Ukraine, but I can tell you what we've provided them to date. We believe that they have what they need to be successful on the battlefield. Yeah, last question.

Q: Thank you, Sabrina.

MS. SINGH: Sure.

Q: Last time I asked a similar question where you didn't have a comment on it. U.S. companies and franchises in Iraq have been under a series of attacks on other, like, alleged linkage with Israel. The latest one is the U.S. company Caterpillar that's been targeted.

MS. SINGH: Oh, yes, you asked me about this on Tuesday. Yeah.

Q: Are you engaged with the Iraqi authorities to bring these people to justice? And what measures you can do  you can take? I know the U.S. embassy in Baghdad condemned these attacks, but like other than condemning what measures you can do to prevent these attacks?

MS. SINGH: Well, our partnership with the Iraqi security forces, which you're very familiar with, is, of course, our mission there is to ensure the defeat of ISIS. When it comes to these particular attacks on U.S.-owned companies, I just  I'm sorry, I just don't have more for you at this moment. I would direct you to State Department to speak more to that. But of course, you know, if these are acts of, you know, terror or terrorist organizations are behind these attacks, this is exactly what we're working with the Iraqi security forces to address. But I just  I don't, unfortunately, have more for you at this time. One more and then  sure.

Q: The last one. I haven't seen any announcements lately of humanitarian airdrops. Is there a reason for the pause in the air drops? Is it because of this Rafah operation? Is it too dangerous for U.S. planes to drop food, especially given that the humanitarian  the JLOTS is down?

MS. SINGH: Yeah. We haven't stopped that by any means. We would like to continue to do those airdrops. But we also assess where it's safe to do it. I know that early on as  and I know that you saw this, part of the airdrops calculation is also just wind and weather patterns. So for safety and, you know, making sure that those pallets don't go completely out to sea, there was a calculation to, you know, shift when we do those. But, yes, we cannot do some airdrops on when the IDF is conducting operations. We don't want civilians, you know, running into an active battle space. And so there hasn't been airdrops recently. But we do hope to continue this.

Q: Just because of the operations right now that you're not doing air drops or?

MS. SINGH: Yes.

Q: ... that is why?

MS. SINGH: Yeah.



Q: So it seems like this is a compounding problem. The operations are not only harming civilians, but also preventing them from getting aid that they need. You know, what's the solution here?

MS. SINGH: The solution is to open the land routes, Tara. That is the solution. We need to see those land routes open. We need to see more trucks getting in. We need to see civilians moved out of that battle space that can reach safety, that can reach medical care, food, water. Airdrops are not the most efficient way or effective way to get aid into Gaza. It is just an additive way, just as the temporary pier is. It is not the solution. And so I just have to remind you that the best way for food, medical, fuel, whatever is needed to get into Gaza, is through those land routes. I'm going to ...

Q: So it's not feasible even in the north? I mean, I understand Rafah operation right now, but, like ...

MS. SINGH: As of right now, if  if there are more airdrops to announce, I will certainly come back. And  and we will, you know, CENTCOM does a great job of reading those out when they happen, but I just don't have any more for you at the time.

I'll take one more, and then I will wrap up. Yes?

Q: Thank you. OK. So, kind of going off Tara also, you said prior to this, we want to see civilians protected.

MS. SINGH: I think I've said that multiple times.

Q: OK, multiple times. But how are you protecting civilians? You know, you're not doing airdrops in Rafah. Where are they going if slow moving? We saw what happened with the fire. Have you seen a plan yet on how to - they're protecting civilians?

MS. SINGH: No, I think I answered that. We've not seen a plan that protects civilians in a way that, you know, we find credible for a major ground operation. The secretary has said this before that it's very important to move civilians out of a battle space, an active battle space.

Q: Is this death toll worth it? I mean, it's slowly growing. We're up to 37,000. So, how are these  how are they being protected? We don't have air drops. It's grown up to about 67 percent, I think.

MS. SINGH: I'm going to have to remind you that we're not on the ground in Israel. This is  and in Gaza. This is not a U.S. operation. So how are the civilians being protected? We are continuing to engage with Israel and our counterparts on how better they need to protect civilians in the battle space. We are not on the ground. What we are doing is what we can do for humanitarian efforts. We are doing everything we can in additive ways, whether it be through airdrops, which we have not been able to do recently, through the pier, to get food and other humanitarian aid into Gaza. That is our role. We are not on the ground in Gaza. So, that's why we continue to have these conversations with Israel, and they are tough and frank conversations. And we're going to continue to do that both publicly here and privately when the secretary makes his calls.

All right, thanks, everyone.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3791998/

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May 30, 2024

Release

CDAO Announces New Approach to Scaling Data, Analytics and AI Capabilities

Today the Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office (CDAO) announced a new approach to scaling data, analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities called Open DAGIR, which stands for the Open Data and Applications Government-owned Interoperable Repositories. Open DAGIR will be a multi-vendor ecosystem with supporting business models that enables industry and government to integrate data platforms, development tools, services, and applications in a way that preserves government data ownership and industry intellectual property.

"Open DAGIR builds upon the momentum created by the Deputy Secretary of Defense's 2021 Creating Data Advantage memo, which included five data decrees for how the Department would retain ownership of its data while maximizing data sharing," said Dr. Radha Plumb, the CDAO. "Open DAGIR brings the best industry has to offer to the Department. It allows us to ensure enduring access to government-owned, contractor-operated technology stacks and infrastructure and retain data rights while also maximizing the ability of other companies to develop applications with government data."

The Department will initially leverage the Open DAGIR ecosystem to support the data infrastructure and applications that support the Combined Joint All Domain Command and Control (CJADC2). This week, the Department made awards on mission command applications for combatant commands. The first ensures enterprise access to an open, government owned infrastructure with foundational data integrations, mature software deployment tools, and security architecture for government data. The second award is a prototype other transaction award (OTA) to rapidly and securely onboard third-party vendor and government capabilities into the government owned, contractor-operated data environment to meet priority Combatant Command digital needs. CDAO plans to explore similar approaches to enabling enduring access to infrastructure for enterprise analytics and federated tactical data in the future.

To identify solutions to priority warfighter needs, the CDAO will leverage its Global Information Dominance Experiment (GIDE) series to assess and where appropriate select new solutions to add to the Open DAGIR ecosystem. This will begin with an industry day in mid July.

"We want America's best talent solving DoD's hardest problems," Dr. Plumb said. "Open DAGIR ensures the Department can leverage the innovative solutions from the world-class software developers in both the traditional and nontraditional industrial base to create capabilities for our warfighters and decision makers. Combined with our experimentation-based approach to capability development, we aim to give industry front-row access to both our data and our users to develop relevant and timely software for decision advantage."

The CDAO awarded the prototype OTA through its award-winning Tradewinds Solutions Marketplace, which is a digital repository of post competition, readily awardable pitch videos that address the Department of Defense's (DoD) most significant challenges in the AI/ML, data, and analytics space.



All awardable solutions have been assessed through complex scoring rubrics and competitive procedures and are available to Government customers with a Marketplace account at www.tradewindai.com.

About the CDAO

The CDAO is responsible for accelerating the DoD's adoption of data, analytics, and AI, enabling the Department's digital infrastructure and policy adoption to deliver scalable AI-driven solutions for enterprise and joint use cases, safeguarding the nation against current and emerging threats.

For more information about the CDAO, please visit our website at ai.mil. You can also connect with the CDAO on LinkedIn (@ DoD Chief Digital and Artificial Intelligence Office) and X, formally known as Twitter (@dodcdao). Additional updates and news can be found on the CDAO Unit Page on DVIDS.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3791829/

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May 30, 2024

Release

Readout of Under Secretary of Defense Dr. William LaPlante's Visit to Brussels, Belgium

Department of Defense Spokesperson Jeff Jurgensen provided the following readout:

Under Secretary of Defense of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment Dr. William LaPlante traveled to Brussels, Belgium on May 28, 2024 to conduct multiple engagements with European Union officials and lead the United States delegation to the Schuman Security and Defence Forum.

Focused on strengthening transatlantic partnership in defense production and procurement matters, during the trip Dr. LaPlante met with U.S. Ambassador to the European Union, Mark Gitenstein; Chief Executive of the European Defense Agency, Jiri Sedivy; and Deputy Secretary General for Peace, Security, and Defence within the European External Action Service, Charles Fries.

"I applaud the EU on the publication of their European Defense Industrial Strategy earlier this year, a strong recognition of the importance of the global industrial base that complements our U.S. National Defense Industrial Strategy," LaPlante said. "As worldwide demand exceeds current capacity, we all play a role in meeting immediate and future requirements, and we must continue expanding collaboration on both sides of the Atlantic to fortify our collective arsenal of democracy."

In addition to updates on U.S. and European security assistance deliveries to Ukraine, Dr. LaPlante highlighted focus on increasing bilateral and multinational co-development, co-production, and co-sustainment to strengthen industrial base resilience, enable economies of scale, and deliver capability more rapidly. He emphasized that any effort that expands global production capacity is a win for allies and partners, while stressing the importance of executing consistent, sustained orders against that expanded capacity.

Discussion also addressed opportunities for promoting greater NATO-EU collaboration, increasing standardization and interchangeability of systems, and fostering indigenous defense production within Ukraine.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3791014/

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May 30, 2024

By Matthew Olay, DOD News

Army Opens New Munitions Facility

The Army has inaugurated a new modular metal parts facility in Mesquite, Texas, the Pentagon announced today.

Among an assortment of production capabilities, the Universal Artillery Projectile Lines facility will increase the Army's ability to produce 155 mm munitions, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters during a briefing.

"The Army is spending more than a billion dollars every year to make these critical improvements, and this plant is an important example of how we are modernizing our industrial base," Singh said.

"We are building new production lines across the country, and we are expanding our contracts with existing production facilities to increase their production speed and capacity. And we couldn't increase our production rates without the skilled expertise of the Americans who work in these arsenals and facilities around the country," Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth is quoted in a recent news release about the facility's opening.

"Each time I visit a plant, I am struck by the dedication, patriotism and pride of the workers I meet; and I know that here in Mesquite, it won't be any different," Wormuth continued.

"The work done in these production facilities contributes directly to our nation's defense and makes us stronger."

The UAPL is a state-of-the-art facility that will be operated by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems. It is equipped with long-stroke, high-tonnage forging capabilities, and will be capable of high-volume production capabilities for large-caliber metal parts, according to the release.

The UAPL will help the Army meet its modernization goals by incorporating modern manufacturing practices, high levels of automation and digital data capture ability, Singh told reporters.

"Current and future Army readiness requires modernization efforts that leverage new technologies; advanced manufacturing equipment and processes; and surge capabilities to enable production at scale," Singh said, adding that such efforts will significantly strengthen U.S. munition production capabilities and will serve as a credible deterrent to our adversaries.

"This new facility underscores the Army and industry's commitment to bolstering the defense industrial base and maintaining the readiness of our armed forces."

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May 30, 2024

By Joseph Clark, DOD News

Harris Calls on Air Force Academy Graduates to Extend U.S. Air, Space Power

The United States' air and space supremacy is critical to maintaining global peace and security as the nation faces evolving national security challenges, Vice President Kamala Harris said today.

In her address to this year's U.S. Air Force Academy graduating class, the vice president called on the cadets to continue the legacy of innovation that has served as the foundation for the nation's dominance in the skies.

"As it has been for generations, America's national security and global stability depend on our strength in the sky and space," Harris said. "And our officers, our nation is counting on you to preserve and extend that strength, including, I will add, through innovation."

This call to action, Harris said, comes as the United States depends on the air and space prowess it has maintained for generations to deter competitors and defend allies against aggression.

"It was America's forces in the air that bombed train tracks and fuel depots to prevent Nazi reinforcements from reaching the front lines and helped defeat tyranny and fascism in Europe 80 years ago," she said. "Over the beaches of Normandy, America won control of the sky and we have kept it ever since."

Still today, U.S. allies around the world "are in awe and our adversaries in fear of America's dominance in the air," Harris said.

She said that dominance is on display on NATO's eastern flank. U.S. weapons shipments help Ukraine defend its territory as U.S. air patrols deter Russia from expanding its war further into Europe.

U.S. air superiority was also key to defending Israel against a barrage of drones and missiles launched last month by Iran.

"It was our Air and Space Forces that mounted an unprecedented defense along with our allies and partners," Harris said. "More than 300 drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles were fired at Israel. And thanks to our airmen and guardians, 99% of those threats did not hit their targets."

Harris assured the graduating class that, armed with their experience gained as Air Force Academy cadets, they are up to the challenge of maintaining the United States' edge in the air and in space.

"Wherever you go from here, you are ready," she said. "You already have the skills. You have the knowledge and the strength of character to meet any challenge.

"You are warriors," she added. "You have dedicated yourself to the service of our nation. America's security relies on you. I know you will make our country proud."

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Government proposal on Defence Cooperation Agreement between Finland and the United States submitted to Parliament

Finnish Government

Ministry for Foreign Affairs

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Justice

30.5.2024

Finnish Government submitted to Parliament a proposal on the acceptance and bringing into force of the Defence Cooperation Agreement between Finland and the United States on 30 May. The proposal consists of the act bringing into force the agreement and ten related acts. According to the proposal, the acceptance of the agreement will require a two-thirds majority decision of Parliament.

The Government proposes that Parliament accept the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between Finland and the United States. The DCA provides an up-to-date framework for defence cooperation with the United States. The United States is a key strategic ally for Finland, and close and seamless cooperation between the two countries has become increasingly important due to changes in the security environment. The DCA governs the possibility of U.S. military presence in Finland in all security situations and promotes regional cooperation. The DCA will improve the conditions for the United States to support Finland and strengthen Finland's security as a member of NATO.

The Appendix to the DCA lists the facilities and areas where the two countries would focus their cooperation and collaboration. Going forward, the DCA will enable the United States to make use of Congress funding for possible infrastructure investments in Finland.

The DCA provides for the entry into and movement within the territory of Finland for U.S. forces and for the use of the agreed facilities and areas listed in the Annex to the DCA. They are facilities and areas permanently used by Finnish Defence Forces and Border Guard, and they total 15. The DCA also provides for the prepositioning of defence equipment, supplies and materiel, for the legal status of U.S. forces, civilian personnel, dependents and contractors, for the security of U.S. forces, for criminal jurisdiction and for practical issues such as taxation, customs duty, claims for compensation and imports.

Due to the DCA, the Government proposes amendments to the Firearms Act, the Aliens Act, the Act on Military Vehicles, the Value Added Tax Act, the Act on Tort Liability of the State, the Driving Licence Act, the Act on Electronic Communication Services, the Aviation Act, the Act on the Airport Network and Airport Charges, and the Vehicles Act.

The actual impacts of the DCA will depend on the extent of future cooperation between Finland and the United States.

According to the proposal, Article 3 on access to the agreed facilities and areas listed in the Annex; Article 4 on the prepositioning of defence equipment, supplies and materiel; Article 6 on the security of U.S. forces; and Article 11 on entry and movement contain provisions that are incompatible with the provisions of the Finnish Constitution concerning these matters. For this reason, it is proposed that Parliament make the decision to accept the DCA by a two-thirds majority vote required by the Constitution in these kind of situations.

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Minister Eide's opening remarks at international partner meeting on Palestine

Government of Norway

Speech/statement | Date: 30/05/2024

By Minister of Foreign Affairs Espen Barth Eide (Brussels, 26 May 2024)

'Our message to our Palestinian friends and partners today should be our joint commitment to the survival and strengthening of the Palestinian institutions in the whole of Palestine. In words but also in deeds', Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in his remarks.

(As delivered)

Excellences, ministers, colleagues and friends,

Welcome to this international partner meeting on Palestine. Thank you to the EU and my good friend High Representative Josep Borrell for hosting us today.

Everyone present know that we are meeting at an extremely difficult time for Palestine, for the entire region and indeed for the world. After what has happened since the AHLC countries last met in New York is beyond devastating. The death and destruction is beyond what any of us had imagined. The people in Gaza need a ceasefire more than ever. The hostages must be freed. Both the people of Palestine and Israel need this war to end. We strongly support renewed efforts for a ceasefire.

We need to work on three tracks, and this meeting is part of the latter. We need to end the war. We need a ceasefire. We need to strengthen the humanitarian efforts, but we also need to think towards a political solution.

There is an almost unprecedented support in the international community for a two-state solution as the long-term outcome. I think almost all countries agree that there is no credible alternative and in that situation we all need to think about how we can contribute. There are many pieces of the puzzle that have to be laid. But what is absolutely certain is that it would be absolutely impossible to get to that long term goal of a two-state solution in Palestine and Israel living in peace with each other if we do not take care and help strengthen the survival and the reform of the Palestinian Authority. This is what we are here to do.

The situation on the ground - not only in Gaza but also in the West Bank - is dire. The situation of the PA is dire. The purpose of this meeting is exactly to support the important role of the Palestinian Authority. The role of the PA is crucial for service delivery to the Palestinian people. It's necessary to further develop the institutions and the governance structures for the people in the West Bank. And also to prepare for there to be one Palestinian government for the West Bank and Gaza in the future.

We are so pleased to have you, Prime Minister Mustafa, and your team with us today. We know that you have developed important plans for the days, weeks and months to come which you will share with us today. This includes your reform agenda of the new government. These reforms are crucial, when it comes to efficiency, service delivery, transparency, democracy, and financial reforms.

We know that reforms are needed but we also know that many of them are costly and that your fiscal situation is dramatic right now. Not only are funds that belongs to Palestine being held back by Israel, and I would reiterate my call that Israel must transfer the clearance revenues in full. But we also have the effect of more than half a million of Palestinian people that no longer is able to work, and many of these support large families which again has reduced the circulation of the Palestinian economy. Then comes the effects of the war so there's an accumulated effect which makes the economic situation very problematic.

Donors need to take responsibility economically but also politically in this very critical situation. We encourage longstanding donors to increase their support but also new donors to come on board. Our message to our Palestinian friends and partners today should be our joint commitment to the survival and strengthening of the Palestinian institutions in the whole of Palestine. In words but also in deeds.

After my friend Josep has given his opening remarks, I will be pleased to give the floor to Prime Minister Mustafa of Palestine for his presentation which will be at the center of this meeting. The first one to speak after this will be Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell from the US who will be with us on video link. We are very happy to have the US with us. Then we will hear from the UN, the World Bank, the IMF and the Office of the Quartet to elaborate on Mr. Mustafa's presentation. Followed again by Ministers and countries to ask for the floor. I hope that we can be crisp, to the point and be practical. We know how serious the situation is. What we need to do is to see how we can foster a credible solution.

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Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billstrom at the China Forum in Stockholm

Government Offices of Sweden

30 May 2024

Speech by Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billstrom at Stockholm China Forum, Stockholm, 29 May 2024.

Check against delivery.

Good morning everyone,

Thank you for the introduction, Bonnie,

It is a true pleasure for me to be here today and an honour to open the 29 Stockholm China Forum.

It is the first time I attend, but I've heard from many - including my Prime Minister who attended a year ago - that it is an excellent platform for dialogue about China's role in the world. This should come as no surprise as you, distinguished participants, are some of the world's foremost China analysts and policymakers.

The Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs is proud to co-host this transatlantic discussion on China. It has become increasingly relevant over time, reflecting the growing importance of China as a global actor. I want to extend my thanks to the German Marshall Fund for the excellent long-term partnership and all your hard work.

We meet here in Stockholm at a time marked by increasing geopolitical and geoeconomic tensions, and at a time marked by war both in the Middle East and in Europe.

Russia's illegal war against Ukraine presents the greatest violation of the rules-based international order in decades. In response, European and transatlantic resolve have been galvanised. All UN member states have a responsibility to defend the UN Charter and its foundational principles of territorial integrity and peaceful conflict resolution. We encourage all

states - including China - to use the tools at their disposal to bring an end to Russia's aggression.

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine was an irreversible turning point, for Swedish, European and global security. Sweden's membership of NATO is a direct result of this illegal war of aggression. Becoming a member of NATO is an epoch-making event for our country. It entails a profound change in Sweden's foreign and security policy. Sweden will continue to promote the

fundamental values of our foreign and security policy: safeguard the rules-based world order, the European security order, democracy, freedom, human rights and gender equality.

These values also underpin our strong commitment to a unified and robust China policy in the EU. Along with close transatlantic cooperation, the EU remains the cornerstone of Sweden's China policy.

In response to growing tensions and heightened risks, we need to strengthen and deepen our partnerships. The transatlantic link is key for European security and prosperity and will undoubtedly remain so.

As the interconnections between Euro-Atlantic security and security in the Indo-Pacific multiply, we strive to enhance our exchanges with partners in the Indo-Pacific. A conflict in the Indo-Pacific, including any attempts to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, would have far-reaching consequences also for Sweden and Europe. In other words, paying close attention to the security situation in the Indo- Pacific is in our national interest.

Additionally, if international law is called into question in one part of the world, that concerns all of us. This is of course also true when it comes to human rights. That is why we will continue to raise human rights issues publicly, including our concerns about the situation for human rights in China.

The Swedish Government recognises the need for both broader and deeper China expertise to manage both challenges and opportunities emanating from China's growing influence.

Broader - because China's growing influence truly affects us in almost all areas. From trade and investments to climate, new technologies, cyber, energy, raw materials, and security. The Chinese party-state is increasingly assertive in advancing its interests, domestically and globally. We

therefore also need deeper knowledge of China, including more people with good language skills.

China's scientific and technological successes are tangible and impressive, and I have a great deal of respect for many of China's accomplishments.

With China being an integrated part of the global economy and an innovation and technology leader, we need more - not less - meaningful exchanges with China. We want China to take on a larger role and more responsibility for addressing global problems such as climate change, biodiversity, health

and disarmament. Sweden aims for more dialogue with China, when it is in line with our interests.

It is true that geopolitics today are characterised by increasing political, economic and military rivarly. But it is also - as I'm sure the discussions today will illustrate - more nuanced. China's trade with both the EU and the US remains substantial, though it may be decreasing in certain

sensitive sectors. Mutual dependence remains the overarching trend.

Sweden, like other EU member states, are now formulating our open, but firm, approach to economic security. De-risking means increasing our awareness of vulnerabilities and reducing excessive dependencies that may impact our economic security.

It is crucial that we do so without curtailing the freedoms and free trade which remain key to our competitiveness and prosperity.

It is crucial to cultivate our strengths: a tradition of international trade, openness, curiosity and innovation. While at the same time defending our values, interests and security. And it's been said many times: de-risking does not mean disengagement.

As my Prime Minister noted at this Forum last year: how China chooses to face its economic, geopolitical and demographic challenges in the coming years will not only shape China's future. The consequences of China's development will have a defining importance for the rest of the world.

Sweden will do its part to try to shape the future in ways consistent with respect for territorial integrity, individual freedoms, and international law.

Deepening our exchanges with China, and our knowledge about China in partnership with other countries, are priorities for the Swedish Government. These correspond directly to the mission of the Stockholm China Forum.

Partnerships require good understanding of each other's perspectives.

I believe that your valuable contributions will help promote frank and respectful dialogue on how to best navigate these difficult times, sharing insights and perhaps opening up some common ground.

Thank you for your attention and participation here in Stockholm.

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Iran calls on Afghan authorities to act according to int'l conventions

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 30, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- The officials of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs are expected to act in accordance with the 1963 Vienna Convention and in accordance with internationally recognized methods for any changes and transformations in their consular staff, says Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani.

In response to media questions about some news published related to changes in the staff of the Consulate General of Afghanistan in Mashhad, Kanani said on Thursday that any changes in the consular staff are subject to the provisions defined in the 1963 Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

This matter has been conveyed to other officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan in different ways, he added.

Kanaani emphasized that the officials of the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs are expected to act in accordance with the 1963 Vienna Convention and in accordance with internationally-recognized methods for any changes and transformations in their consular staff.

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Zionists continue crazy attacks, bombardment of Gaza

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 30, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- Palestinian sources have reported the insane attacks of the Zionists on different areas of Gaza on the 237th day of the Gaza war.

IRNA citing Sama News Agency, reported on Thursdaybthat Mahmoud Basal, the spokesperson of the Gaza Civil Defense, announced that Jabalia is under heavy bombardment.

Rafah is under insane bombardment and there is no safe zone. Due to the obstruction of the Zionists by removing the people who are under the rubble, many people have been martyred under the rubble, he added.

On the other hand, the government information office in Gaza announced the threat of hunger in Gaza City and the north of the Gaza region.

The statement of this office stated that Gaza residents have been using their food reserves for more than three weeks, and this is in the shadow of a sharp reduction in aid.

6125**2050

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More Zionist troopers killed, wounded in Gaza: Resistance groups

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 30, 2024

Tehran, IRNA -- A number of Zionist soldiers are reportedly killed and wounded in separate operation launched by the Al-Qassam Brigades, military wing of the Palestinian resistance movement Hamas and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigade of the Fatah Movement.

According to IRNA citing the Palestinian Samaa news agency on Wednesday night, the Al-Qassam Brigades issued a statement, in which, it announced targeting Zionist troops who were trapped in a building in the Al-Sabra neighborhood of Gaza City with rockets.

This statement added that a number of Israeli soldiers were killed and a number of others wounded in the operation.

Also, the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades announced in a statement that its fighters targeted a gathering of Zionist soldiers and their armored vehicles with mortar shells near the entrance of Salah al-Din in the city of Rafah.

Nearly eight months have passed since the Zionist regime invaded the Gaza Strip but has failed to achieve any goals rather than it had been engaged in massacres, destruction, war crimes, violations of international laws, bombing aid agencies, and famine in this region.

Israel has lost hundreds of its troopers since it launched a ground invasion of Gaza but the regime avoids giving the exact figure in fear of the Israeli public outrage.

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Secretary General thanks Czechia for strong contributions to NATO as Foreign Ministers gather in Prague

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

30 May. 2024

Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg commended Czechia for its vital role in NATO in a visit to Prague on Thursday (30 May 2024). The Czech capital will host an informal meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers on Thursday and Friday.

Meeting with Prime Minister Petr Fiala, the Secretary General thanked Czechia for its substantial contributions to the Alliance and its significant aid to Ukraine. He highlighted that "Czechia hosts hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees," and provides critical military equipment to Ukraine, "including tanks, helicopters and air defence missiles." He also welcomed that the Czech-led ammunition initiative is providing more artillery shells for Ukraine, with deliveries expected soon. "It's really making a difference," he said.

Later, at a speech at the Senate of the Parliament, Mr Stoltenberg highlighted the importance of the upcoming Washington Summit in July, with NATO Foreign Ministers preparing the ground this week in Prague. Mr Stoltenberg said he expects leaders in Washington to take important decisions in three areas: strengthening NATO's defences, increasing support for Ukraine, and deepening NATO's partnerships.

On Thursday night, Czech President Petr Pavel will award the Secretary General the Order of Tomas Garrigue Masaryk in a ceremony at Prague Castle. Foreign Ministers will gather for a working session on Friday.

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Secretary General welcomes NATO's deepening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

30 May. 2024

On Thursday (30 May 2024), NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg highlighted the importance of partnerships and global cooperation in a video message to the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity in the Republic of Korea. "The challenges we face are global," he said, "they require a global response. For this reason, NATO is working ever more closely with partners around the world".

The Secretary General welcomed NATO's deepening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region with South Korea, Australia, Japan, and New Zealand who are among NATO's closest partners. Mr Stoltenberg underlined NATO's commitment to deepen practical cooperation with Indo-Pacific partners in several practical areas, including cyber defence, counter-disinformation, and emerging technologies.

The Republic of Korea is an important and long-standing NATO partner. This partnership was further strengthened with the establishment of an Individually Tailored Partnership Programme in July 2023. This is the first time that NATO has engaged with the Jeju Forum, which brings together academics, politicians, and business leaders from across the world to promote international cooperation.

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NATO Deputy Secretary General meets Cabo Verde State Minister of Defence

NATO - North Atlantic Treaty Organisation

30 May. 2024

Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana met Cabo Verde's State Minister of Defence Janine Lelis at NATO Headquarters on Wednesday (29 May 2024) for talks on working toward a partnership between the Alliance and Cape Verde.

"NATO and Cabo Verde share the same values," said Mr Geoana following talks in Brussels. "You already have a close relationship with many Allies, including Portugal. You are strategically located at the crossroads of the Atlantic, connecting Africa to Europe and the Americas and regularly host Allied warships. We see potential for closer cooperation in a range of areas, including maritime security."

The Deputy Secretary General welcomed Cabo Verde's clear stance on Ukraine, including its vote in the UN General Assembly. Mr Geoana stressed that Russia's war has been felt across Africa, especially through trade disruptions and commodity price increases, being a reminder that "security is not regional, it is global" and that "what happens in Europe matters for Africa, and what happens in Africa, matters for Europe".

NATO already has several partners in Africa and is strengthening cooperation with the African Union to address common challenges, including terrorism, maritime security, and small arms proliferation. NATO's political dialogue with Cabo Verde goes back decades. In 2006, Cabo Verde hosted the NATO exercise Steadfast Jaguar on the island of Sao Vicente. This major exercise involving more than 7,000 troops tested the ability of NATO's rapid response force to carry out missions globally.

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F-35 to take over nuclear role of the Netherlands within NATO from F-16

Netherlands Ministry of Defence

News item | 30-05-2024 | 18:58

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) is set to take a next step in the transition from the F-16 to the F-35. On 1 June 2024, the advanced fighter aircraft will fully take over the nuclear role of the Netherlands within NATO from the F-16. The Netherlands is one of the NATO Allies that contribute Dual-Capable Aircraft to NATO's nuclear deterrence and is the first European country transitioning to the F-35 in that context. Netherlands Minister of Defence Kajsa Ollongren informed the Dutch House of Representatives today regarding the matter.

The Dutch transition from the F-16 to the F-35 for the nuclear role within NATO was initiated many years ago. In the last couple of years, the F-35 underwent a comprehensive testing and certification process for the nuclear role of the Netherlands. The RNLAF already started using the F-35 for conventional tasks. Similar to the F-16s, Volkel Air Base will be home to the Dual-Capable Aircraft F-35 squadron assigned to the nuclear role.

The transition reaffirms the Netherlands' long-term commitment to the Alliance's nuclear deterrence. NATO's nuclear deterrence is essential to the security of the Alliance, and therefore also to the security of the Netherlands. The fundamental purposes of NATO's nuclear capability is to preserve peace, prevent coercion and deter aggression.

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Israel gains operational control of Philadelphi Corridor along Gaza-Egypt border: spokesman

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 08:50, May 30, 2024

JERUSALEM, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The Israeli army announced on Wednesday that it has gained full operational control of the Philadelphi Corridor, a strip of land along the border between Egypt and the southern Gaza Strip.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Spokesman Daniel Hagari said the corridor served as Hamas's "oxygen tube" through which they smuggled weapons into the Gaza Strip.

During the operation, the forces located along the corridor dozens of loaded launchers ready to fire rockets and launch pits from which Hamas fired rockets and mortar bombs into Israel, Hagari said.

"Hamas took advantage of the Philadelphi area and built these infrastructures just tens of meters away from the border with Egypt so that we wouldn't attack them," Hagari said.

He added that the Israeli forces also located about 20 tunnels in the corridor area, which are being investigated and neutralized.

The Philadelphi Corridor, spanning 14 kilometers in length and several hundred meters in width, was established following the return of the Sinai Peninsula from Israel to Egypt in 1982, as stipulated by the peace agreements between the two countries.

It was under Israeli supervision until 2005 when the IDF left the Gaza Strip, and its control passed to the Palestinian Authority. After two years, Hamas took over the corridor until the current conflict.

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Houthi: Yemen to step up anti-Israeli ops 'in quality and quantity'

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 May 2024 2:35 PM

Ansarullah leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi says Yemeni forces will continue their military operations and escalate them "in quality and quantity" in support of Palestinians in Israel's war on Gaza.

Yemeni forces have been targeting ships bound for Israeli ports and others linked to the occupying regime in the Red Sea region since November. They later expanded the scope of their operations to the Indian Ocean and said they would also target any ships heading towards Israeli ports in the Mediterranean Sea.

In a televised address on Thursday, al-Houthi said 129 ships have been targeted since the start of the operations "which is a large number".

"There is no decline in the level of our operations, but a reduction in the movement of American and British ships to Occupied Palestine," he said, dismissing some claims that Yemen has tamped down its attacks.

This week, Yemeni forces have carried out 12 operations in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, Houthi said.

"The operation continues in the framework of the fourth phase and will increase in terms of quantity and quality."

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Netanyahu 'sowing false illusions' about Rafah onslaught: Israeli war cabinet minister

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 May 2024 11:06 AM

A member of Benjamin Netanyahu's war cabinet says the Israeli prime minister is sowing false illusions about the occupying regime's proclaimed victory in the ongoing military aggression on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah.

Gadi Eisenkot said during an annual conference in the center of the occupied territories on Wednesday that Netanyahu was to blame "for creating and pushing the concept of 'total victory' against [Palestinian resistance movement] Hamas" in the invasion of Rafah.

The Israeli premier claims that his onslaught on Rafah aims to dismantle what he calls the "four Hamas brigades" in the city and free Israeli captives held by the Palestinian resistance group.

"Anyone who says that we'll disband a few battalions in Rafah and then bring back the hostages is sowing a false illusion," Eisenkot stressed.

The Israeli occupation army expanded its ground offensive in Rafah on Tuesday, with its tanks reaching the center of the city.

Before the launch of the Israeli aggression on Rafah on May 7, the southern city was home to over 1.5 million displaced Palestinians who had been forced to flee their homes across the Gaza Strip due to the regime's months-long onslaught on the besieged territory.

Israel launched its brutal war on Gaza on October 7 last year after Hamas-led Palestinian resistance groups carried out a historic operation against the usurping regime in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people.

More than 36,170 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, the vast majority being women and children, and over 81,400 others injured, according to local health authorities.

Nearly eight months into the Israeli genocide, vast swathes of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

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Aid flow into Gaza dropped by two-thirds since Israel's Rafah assault: UN

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 May 2024 7:23 AM

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says the amount of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip has dropped by two-thirds since Israel began its incursion into the territory's southern Rafah city.

In a report released on Wednesday, OCHA said a daily average of 176 relief trucks reached Gaza between April 1 and May 6, compared to 58 that reached Gaza between May 7 and May 28, down by 67 percent.

"The amount of food and other aid entering Gaza, already insufficient to meet the soaring needs, has further shrunk since May 7," it said.

Israel unleashed a genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, which has so far killed at least 36,171 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 81,420 others.

The occupying regime began a ground offensive in Rafah on May 7, defying calls from the international community not to proceed.

The city, situated on Gaza's southern border with Egypt, is home to about a million displaced Palestinians who have fled from the rest of the besieged territory amid the bloody Israeli onslaught.

The Rafah incursion disrupted aid deliveries to Gaza from the southern crossings of Rafah and Kerem Shalom.

OCHA said aid shipments have diminished "due to the closure of Rafah crossing, the inability to safely and consistently pick up commodities from the Kerem Shalom crossing and limited deliveries through other entry points."

WHO warns of 'overwhelming disaster' in Gaza amid shortage of medicines

Also on Wednesday, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) said vital medical supplies are fast running out in Gaza's remaining hospitals as crossings are shut due to Israel's Rafah assault.

"The Rafah crossing needs to be opened not just for medical supplies, but for all other humanitarian supplies," WHO Representative in Palestine Rik Peeperkorn said on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly in Geneva.

"We have distributed an enormous amount of essential emergency medical supplies, but it's not enough. This is such an overwhelming disaster."

The WHO official also noted that the perilous lack of lifesaving supplies could be reversed if lorries carrying humanitarian aid are allowed into the Gaza Strip in significant numbers.

He further echoed widespread international condemnation of Israel's Sunday strike on a Rafah displacement camp that killed at least 50 Palestinians and wounded 200 others. Terrifying scenes of the carnage that left tents in flames and victims burned beyond recognition sparked outcry from across the world.

"WHO actually deplores this attack on displaced people. It demonstrates that there is no safe place in Gaza at all," he said.

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Two Israeli forces killed in car-ramming op. in northern West Bank: Reports

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 May 2024 2:15 AM

Two Israeli forces have reportedly been killed in a car-ramming operation targeting a checkpoint in the northern part of the occupied West Bank.

Lebanon's al-Mayadeen television network reported the incident on Wednesday, citing Israeli media outlets.

The reports specified the exact whereabouts of the operation as the Awarta checkpoint near the city of Nablus.

It cited the Israeli website Walla! as saying that the Israeli army had deployed air and special forces to pursue the suspected individual, who had carried out the operation.

The operation came in response to increasingly deadly attacks by the Israeli regime throughout the occupied territory that have intensified remarkably since October 7, when the regime began a genocidal war against the Gaza Strip.

Hundreds of Palestinians have been killed across the West Bank since the onset of the war that has so far claimed the lives of at least 36,171 people in Gaza, most of whom are women and children.

The Gaza-based resistance movement Hamas hailed the car-ramming incident as a "heroic operation" and "an extension of the state of anger and the rising tide of resistance in the West Bank."

The group also called the operation "a natural response to a criminal enemy, which commits massacres without any regard to international values, norms, and laws."

The Islamic Jihad, Hamas' fellow Gaza-based resistance group, chimed in, saying the operation "comes within the framework of a response to the open genocide war waged by the enemy against our people in Gaza."

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Cambodian canal project to begin in August: prime minister

The Funan Techo canal will be built mostly with Cambodian money but some Chinese investment is expected.

By RFA Staff 2024.05.30 -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has said that the construction of the Funan Techo canal that has created a rift between the kingdom and neighboring Vietnam will begin in August, media reported.

Most of the US$1.7-billion funding for the project will come from Cambodian sources, but "we are negotiating with a Chinese investment company" for technology transfer and additional investment, Hun Manet was quoted as saying at a ceremony at a cultural center in Kampong Speu province.

Officially known as the Tonle Bassac Navigation Road and Logistics System Project, the 180-km (112 mile) canal will link the Mekong River, near the capital Phnom Penh, with the Gulf of Thailand and is expected to be built by a state-owned Chinese company under a build-operate-transfer scheme.

The Cambodian government said it would cut transport costs and help reduce dependence on Vietnam's sea ports for its international trade.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol has said the project will also bring great social and economic benefits to 1.6 million Cambodians living along the canal by providing better irrigation for farming

But the project has created deep division between Vietnam and Cambodia, which have been staunch allies for decades, largely because of Vietnam's concerns about its environmental and economic impact, especially a possible reduction in volumes of water flowing down the Mekong to its rice-growing delta region.

Vietnamese scientist Le Anh Tuan recently told a conference that the canal could halve the flow of the Mekong by the time it reaches his country, threatening rice crops in the delta, which is home to 17.4 million people.

Cambodia has dismissed those fears and declined requests for more studies of the impact of the project, which analysts say veteran leader Hun Sen, Hun Manet's father, sees as one of his great legacies.

Hun Manet was quoted as saying that the canal will be built on Cambodian territory to serve the interests of the Cambodian people and work on it should begin without any delay.

The U.S. embassy in Phnom Penh has also voiced concern about the project, urging authorities to work closely with the intergovernmental Mekong River Commission, which was set up to jointly manage the development of the river's lower basin.

Edited by Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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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Which Countries Have Relations With The Taliban's Unrecognized Government?

By Abubakar Siddique May 30, 2024

No country in the world formally recognizes the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, where the extremist group seized power in 2021.

But some countries operate embassies in Kabul and have accepted diplomats appointed by the Taliban, which controls Afghan missions in some 14 nations in the region.

Russia is the latest country that is set to expand diplomatic ties with the militants. Moscow appears poised to delist the Taliban from its list of terrorist groups.

"This could be a step toward the Taliban gaining regional legitimacy," said Graeme Smith, a senior Afghanistan analyst at the Brussels-based International Crisis Group.

Many countries have tied recognition to the Taliban establishing an inclusive government, ensuring women's rights, and breaking ties with extremist groups -- issues that the militants have refused to budge on.

But Afghanistan's neighbors, concerned about security, trade, migration, and drug trafficking, have been more open to establishing ties with the Taliban, said Smith.

The militants face major hurdles in gaining international legitimacy, and many Afghan missions around the world are still run by diplomats appointed by the former internationally recognized Afghan government.

But the hard-line Islamist group appears to be making headway in its strategy to gain recognition from countries in Afghanistan's backyard.

Russia

Russia is one of the few countries that has maintained its embassy in Kabul. In April 2022, Russia handed over the Afghan Embassy in Moscow to the militants, becoming the latest country to accredit Taliban-appointed diplomats without officially recognizing the Taliban-led government. Commenting on removing the Taliban from Russia's list of terrorist organizations, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on May 28 that Moscow should "build relations" with the group.

China

In January, Chinese President Xi Jinping formally accepted the credentials of a Taliban-appointed ambassador, becoming the first head of state to do so. The Chinese Foreign Ministry clarified the move did not mean Beijing officially recognized the Taliban-led government. But the militants celebrated the move as a major diplomatic victory.

Pakistan

The Taliban gained control of the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad in October 2021. It was one of the first Afghan missions the group took over after regaining power. Pakistan is a longtime ally of the Taliban, although the sides have fallen out recently over the militants' alleged support for the Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan extremist group.

Iran

Tehran also kept its embassy in Kabul open after the Taliban seized control of the capital. Iran formally handed over the Afghan Embassy to the Taliban in February 2023. Former foes, Iran and the Taliban have forged close ties despite sporadic border clashes.

India

New Delhi reopened its embassy in Kabul last year. But Afghan diplomatic missions in India are in limbo as diplomats appointed by the former Afghan government have tried to stave off Taliban attempts to take over the embassy and two consulates.

Kazakhstan

In December, Astana removed the Taliban from its list of terrorist groups. That came months after Kazakhstan accepted a new Afghan ambassador appointed by the Taliban.

Uzbekistan

Tashkent engaged the Taliban soon after the militants returned to power. In February, the Taliban appointed a diplomat to take charge of the Afghan Embassy in the Uzbek capital.

Turkmenistan

Ashgabat accepted a Taliban ambassador in March 2022. The sides have worked closely on regional energy and transport projects. But there have been sporadic tensions and border clashes.

Tajikistan

The Taliban controls the Afghan consulate in the eastern Tajik city of Khorog. But the embassy is run by the ambassador appointed by the ex-Afghan government. Tajikistan is the only neighboring country to publicly oppose the Taliban's return to power, and Dushanbe has hosted some of the leaders of the National Resistance Front, an anti-Taliban resistance group.

Azerbaijan

Baku officially reopened its embassy in Kabul in March, following through on a pledge made last year. But it is not clear if there are any Taliban diplomats present in Azerbaijan.

Turkey

The Afghan Embassy in Ankara is controlled by the ambassador appointed by the ex-Afghan government. But the consulate in Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, is run by the Taliban. Several exiled Afghan political leaders are believed to reside in Turkey, including former Vice President Abdul Rashid Dostum.

Qatar

Doha has hosted a Taliban political office since 2013. The Qatari capital was the scene of negotiations between Taliban and U.S. officials that paved the way for the complete withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan in 2021. Qatar has engaged with the Taliban at the highest level and remains a key international interlocutor for its government, which controls the Afghan Embassy in Doha.

Saudi Arabia

Riyadh maintains an embassy in Kabul and continues to offer consular services for Afghans, thousands of whom work in the kingdom as laborers. After the Taliban takeover, Riyadh helped establish an Organization of Islamic Countries mission in Kabul. It is unclear if the Taliban controls all Afghan diplomatic missions in the oil-rich country.

United Arab Emirates

Abu Dhabi also maintains an embassy in Kabul. The Taliban has appointed diplomats to the Afghan Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the consulate in Dubai.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-taliban- russia-diplomacy/32972530.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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China's Anhui emerges as popular destination for foreign investors

Xinhua) 15:09, May 31, 2024

HEFEI, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Once known primarily for its agriculture, east China's Anhui Province is becoming a popular destination for foreign investors, thanks to its emerging industries and dynamic scientific innovation.

During an investment promotion campaign held Tuesday in Hefei, capital of Anhui, many attendees expressed their willingness to expand investment and seek cooperation in the inland province.

"By the end of 2022, over 110 British firms had made direct investments in Anhui, with a total investment of 7.77 million U.S. dollars in 2022 alone. Several British multinational firms have recognized Anhui's commercial qualities and set up production bases here," said Matthew Burney, British Consul-General in Shanghai, at the event, adding that he is looking forward to seeing more exchanges and cooperation between the UK and Anhui in the future.

In April this year, British banking giant Standard Chartered opened a branch in Hefei, marking the first time in nearly nine years that the bank has established a new provincial branch in China.

"We have closely observed and felt the dynamics and changes of foreign investment in Anhui in recent years, especially in Hefei, where the investment policies and business environment are continually improving," said Kevin Yang, regional general manager of East China of Standard Chartered Bank (China) Limited.

Hefei boasts a large technology and research talent pool as the University of Science and Technology of China, one of the most prestigious universities in China, is situated in the city. "With these advantages, Anhui has attracted many foreign-funded enterprises, especially leading manufacturing enterprises, to settle in," Yang added.

The rapid development of emerging industries in Anhui has also unleashed a wave of opportunities for foreign investors.

In April, Volkswagen Group announced an investment of 2.5 billion euros (about 2.71 billion U.S. dollars) in expanding its innovation hub in Hefei to increase its pace of innovation in China.

"Over the past decade, Hefei has made huge strides in economic growth and industrial development. It's at the forefront of high-tech industries like new energy vehicles and artificial intelligence. Our vision aligns seamlessly with the local government's perspective on positioning Hefei as a global e-mobility hub," said Erwin Gabardi, CEO of Volkswagen Anhui.

Earlier this month, Magnachip Semiconductor Corporation, a tech firm of the Republic of Korea, opened a subsidiary called Magnachip Technology Company, Ltd. in Hefei to expand the company's display driver integrated circuit and power integrated circuit businesses in China.

Hefei has a well-established semiconductor ecosystem and a robust semiconductor industrial park. The company can enjoy proximity to its current and potential business partners such as BOE and Visionox, according to Young-Joon Kim, CEO of Magnachip Semiconductor Corporation.

Since Anhui launched a campaign themed "Invest in Anhui" in May 2023, 624 new foreign-funded enterprises have settled in Anhui.

The province has also rolled out a slew of measures to attract foreign investors and create a conducive business environment for them. It held over 80 investment promotional activities overseas in 2023 and has published a guide for expats working and living in Anhui this year to ensure a more convenient life for foreigners.

"As China is set to remove all restrictions on foreign investment access in the manufacturing sector, foreign-funded enterprises will see more opportunities and potential in Anhui," said Sun Donghai, director of the provincial department of commerce.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Zhong Wenxing)
Leak Suggests Bulgarian PM Tried To Pull Support For Srebrenica Genocide Resolution At UN

By RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service May 30, 2024

SOFIA -- Leaked documents of a back-and-forth between Sofia and its UN envoy have sparked accusations that caretaker Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev succumbed to "external pressure" over a widely followed UN vote in an effort to appease neighboring Serbia or Russia.

The correspondence between Glavchev and Bulgarian Ambassador to the United Nations Lachezara Stoeva suggests that Glavchev instructed Stoeva hours before the May 23 vote to abstain on a resolution to declare an international day of remembrance for the Srebrenica genocide.

Opposition or abstention would have marked a sharp departure in policy by Bulgaria, which co-sponsored the resolution, which was co-authored by Stoeva.

Stoeva voted for the measure on Bulgaria's behalf, along with 83 other countries, versus 19 nays and 68 abstentions on a resolution that Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic called "highly politicized."

Documents published on May 29 by the Bureau of Investigative Reporting and Data (BIRD), which is run by a French NGO founded by a Bulgarian investigative journalist, included a purported letter to Stoeva moments before the planned vote telling her to abstain because of the "tense situation" around it.

They also include a four-page response purportedly from Stoeva arguing such a move would be an "extreme act that could only be explained by external pressure and would wreak heavy damage to Bulgaria's image within the international community." The author goes on to say such an action is "contrary to the Euro-Atlantic values we uphold" and suggests "the only possible conclusion" would be that Russia or Serbia pressured Bulgaria into the about-face.

Glavchev, who is now an independent, became caretaker prime minister in April for the run-up to voting on June 9, Bulgaria's sixth parliamentary elections since April 2021.

The Bulgarian government issued a statement on May 30 saying the leaked documents were "only part of the decision-making process and do not represent its entirety." The letter circulated to the UN envoy it included was authentic, it said, but "does not contain the final instructions to Ambassador Lachezara Stoeva."

It called the leak "an element of a hybrid attack" in the context of an election campaign and said it "harms the interests of Bulgaria."

BIRD suggested Glavchev was influenced by a conversation between Vucic and former Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov, who heads the GERB party that used to include Glavchev.

Having unsuccessfully argued against adoption of the resolution in the UN hall in New York on May 23, Vucic said after passage that "I was hoping for a surprise from Bulgaria. Five minutes before the meeting, I was convinced that Bulgaria would vote 'abstain.'"

Passage of the resolution created International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, where more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Bosnian Serb forces in what is now a mainly Serb region of Bosnia-Herzegovina.

The resolution makes no mention of the Bosnian Serbs who committed the massacre after UN peacekeepers abandoned a declared "safe area" amid a bloody conflict further marred by widespread ethnic cleansing, or of Serbia.

Vucic has called what happened at Srebrenica a "tragedy" but says lives were lost on both sides and rejects the characterization of a genocide, a position shared by Moscow.

The appeals chamber for the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY), as well as the International Court of Justice (ICJ), have called the mass killings at Srebrenica a genocide.

A May 22 report in the independent news website Dnevnik asserted that Serbia was using unofficial channels to seek a change in Bulgaria's position on the resolution.

Former Bulgarian envoy to the UN Stefan Tafrov, who is running on the We Continue The Change-Democratic Bulgaria ticket for the European Parliament, warned later the same day on social media that "Glavchev should not give in to Serbian pressure."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-diplomacy- un-vote-srebrenica-serbia-russia/32972506.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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Pro-Kremlin Forces On Rise In Bulgaria Ahead Of European Elections

By Pavela Kostova and Tony Wesolowsky May 30, 2024

SOFIA -- Peter Volgin was not shy about using the public airwaves in Bulgaria to spew pro-Russian disinformation.

Such was the outcry that irate listeners and others picketed outside the state radio headquarters in the capital, Sofia, in February 2023 to demand it pull the plug on Volgin's program called Politically Incorrect.

And given his Kremlin-friendly proclivities, it was perhaps little surprise when Volgin announced in April he was taking a leave of absence and hitting the political trail, running as a candidate for the far-right, pro-Russian Revival Party in upcoming elections on June 9 in Bulgaria to the European Parliament.

Volgin is one of a handful of pro-Russian candidates who could win one of Bulgaria's 17 seats in the European Parliament. The poll will take place alongside another to elect deputies to Bulgaria's unicameral National Parliament, the sixth such election since 2021 in the country, which has been beset by political instability for several years.

The expected extremist inroads in Bulgaria are anticipated elsewhere in Europe as well, amid apparent shifting political allegiances across the continent.

Between June 6 and June 9, voters in all 27 EU member states will go to the polls to elect 720 members of the European Parliament. The elections are held every five years, and each country is allotted a certain number of members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in direct proportion to its population size. Voters elect national parties, but after the elections, the MEPs organize into political groups in the European Parliament that align with their parties' political ideologies.

Rise Of The Right

In France, far-right leader Marine Le Pen's National Rally is polling ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's Renaissance party. Next door in Germany, Alternative for Germany, a party under police surveillance for its extremist views, is second in opinion polls, tied with the Social Democrats.

Many of these far-right parties don't only parrot the Kremlin line but are alleged, in some cases, to have ties with Moscow. In March, Czech authorities busted a pro-Russian network that not only gave a platform on social media to pro-Russian politicians but paid some of them as well. European officials have warned of increasing Russian meddling in these elections.

In Bulgaria, given the country's traditionally friendly ties with Russia going back at least to the 19th century, when Russia helped Bulgaria in its fight for independence from the Ottoman Empire, Kremlin narratives definitely don't fall on deaf ears.

"Bulgaria falls in line with many of its European counterparts in that far-right parties are gaining or stabilizing their influence, albeit for different reasons," explained Rumena Filipova, chairwoman of the Institute for Global Analytics, a Bulgarian-based think tank. "In Bulgaria, the pro-Russian and anti-Ukrainian discourse of Revival is a distinctive feature, which builds on pro-Russian sentiments in society molded by Russian historical propaganda about Moscow's supposed status as a 'liberator/savior' of Bulgaria," Filipova explained to RFE/RL in e-mailed remarks.

Filipova has also written elsewhere that polling data in Bulgaria suggests increasing numbers of younger people are turning toward antidemocratic ideas, a trend, she says, is rising in Europe, especially in the former communist-ruled countries.

In announcing his campaign to run for the Revival Party on April 16, Volgin vowed to rid "Europe from the European Union," as well as fight what he and his ilk consider so-called Russophobia in the bloc.

After his announcement, Milen Mitev, general director of Bulgarian National Radio (BNR), told RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service that "Volgin can no longer be a presenter at BNR after he had officially committed himself politically."

BNR employees are bound by its editorial standards and code of ethics, which forbids them from involvement in politics, including campaigning in support of political candidates or causes.

Volgin has repeatedly courted controversy, given his penchant for spewing Kremlin-friendly propaganda on the Politically Incorrect program that he hosted. After the protest outside BNR headquarters calling for Volgin to be fired, the Council for Electronic Media, a Bulgarian media regulatory agency, months later said it had identified "propagandistic innuendo" in his broadcasts.

Revival's Revival

His party of preference, Revival, is notorious for cheerleading for the Kremlin, backing Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and opposing any Bulgarian support for Kyiv. In March, Revival put forward legislation to pull Bulgaria out of NATO, which failed.

A month earlier, in February, members of Revival traveled to Moscow, where they paid a visit to the Diplomatic Academy of the Foreign Ministry, a state institution notorious for allegedly grooming Russian spies.

Revival emerged as a political force in Bulgaria in 2021 when it won seats in parliament for the first time. By April 2023, Revival had secured a record 14.2 percent in another snap election. It is now on the verge of sending members, like Volgin, to the European Parliament for the first time.

"The electoral successes of Revival have been underscored by the gradual normalization of the far-right nationalist discourse in Bulgaria as the party was able to move from its early presence primarily on social media to becoming part of established media outlets," explained Filipova.

Polling also shows, as Filipova noted in a recent article, eroding support for democracy among younger people in Bulgaria, following similar patterns in Hungary and Serbia.

"Indeed, contrary to expectations that young people should necessarily be more democratic, liberal, and pro-Western in their views than their older counterparts, polling results demonstrate a consistent pattern of youth attitudes in Bulgaria (and especially those CEE countries that have experienced authoritarian rule) that favor a 'strongman model of leadership,' think that the EU is 'dictatorial,' and are less critical [of] far-right nationalists than all other age groups," Filipova told RFE/RL.

As analysts note, the elections to the European Parliament are taking place in the shadow of another national poll in Bulgaria, with the results of both elections expected to largely mirror one another.

Opinion polls heading into the elections for the European Parliament put the coalition of two center-right parties, GERB and the Union of Democratic Forces, in first place, followed by the reformist We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria coalition. The liberal Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) -- which traditionally represents Bulgaria's ethnic Turk and Muslim populations and is led by business tycoon and U.S.-sanctioned politician Deylan Peevski -- and Revival are vying for third place, followed by the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP), the recast former communists.

If vote results largely mirror pre-election prognostications, Revival, BSP, and DPS could send as many as six members -- nearly a third of the country's allotment -- to the European Parliament.

Since the last elections to the European Parliament in 2019, the political landscape has changed much in Bulgaria, argues Petar Bankov, a lecturer at the University of Glasgow, and is "characterized by growing fragmentation, the marginalization of the left, and the increasing strength of right-wing parties, ranging between the liberal right to the populist radical right."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/kremline-far-right-european- parliamentary-elections-bulgaria/32972611.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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Georgian NGOs To Challenge 'Foreign Agent' Law At Constitutional, European Courts

By RFE/RL's Georgian Service and RFE/RL's Echo of the Caucasus May 30, 2024

Several Georgian NGOs say they will challenge domestically and internationally the so-called "foreign agent" law pushed through parliament by the ruling Georgian Dream party despite a presidential veto and weeks of protests against the law, seen as mirroring a repressive Russian measure and jeopardizing the country's hopes to join the European Union.

The group of NGOs announced on May 30 that they were going to file a lawsuit with Georgia's Constitutional Court to contest the legality of the measure, while at the same time lodging a complaint at the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR).

After the Georgian Dream-dominated parliament on May 28 overrode President Salome Zurabishvili's veto with an 84-4 vote in the 150-seat parliament, the law is now expected to land back on the president's desk within three days.

Once she receives it, Zurabishvili has five days to sign it. But the-pro-Western president, who has been at odds with Georgian Dream over the bill and sided with the protesters, has given no indication she intends to do so.

However, if she refuses as expected, the speaker of parliament, Georgian Dream member Shalva Papuashvili, can sign the law and publish it.

"Georgian NGOs continue their legal struggle against the 'Russian law.' We will not live by the norms of the 'Russian law' and will use all domestic and international mechanisms to impede its operation until the law is unconditionally repealed," the group of NGOs said in a statement read out at a joint news conference in Tbilisi on May 30.

"The Constitutional Court can act with the powers granted by the constitution and suspend the operation of the relevant articles of the law," the NGOs continued.

"We do not consider the Constitutional Court the only way of our legal struggle. If it does not act in a timely manner and within the constitutional framework, we will use an alternative legal mechanism," they added. "We are preparing to file a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights."

The authors of the statement note that "all nongovernmental and media organizations can become participants in this fight."

Georgia's civil society has for years sought to move the country away from the influence of Russia, which still maintains thousands of troops in South Ossetia and Abkhazia, two breakaway Georgian regions that Moscow recognized as independent states following a five-day war with Tbilisi in 2008.

Critics say 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 aspirations.

The law requires civil-society and media organizations that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from foreign sources to submit to oversight that could encompass sanctions for as-yet-undefined criminal offenses.

Both the United States and the European Union have warned Georgian Dream that ignoring criticism and cracking down violently on protesters will have negative consequences.

Georgia obtained the coveted EU candidate status in December, but it has yet to start actual accession talks, which could last for years. There had been hope such talks could start later this year, but Brussels has warned that the "foreign agent" law could endanger the path toward Europe.

Georgian Dream has insisted that it remains committed to joining Western institutions and the law was only meant to increase transparency on NGO funding.

But Western governments and organizations have issued stark statements, warning the Georgian Dream government that the Tbilisi's EU path will be blocked if the law comes into force.

German Ambassador to Tbilisi did not mince words in an interview with Georgian media on May 29.

"Georgia is a [EU] candidate country. This was a huge historic step for both the EU and Georgia. The next step should have been to open accession negotiations, all countries are ready to start negotiations, however, the Georgian government passed a law that does not meet EU standards. As long as this law is in force, we will not open negotiations with Georgia."

European Council President Charles Michel also warned that overriding Zurabishvili's veto was a "step backward" for Georgia's European aspirations.

"The European Council decided in December to grant Georgia candidate status on the understanding that Georgia undertakes the relevant steps and necessary democratic reforms," Michel wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on May 28.

"The adoption of the transparency law in the parliament is a step backward and takes Georgia further away from its EU path. The Georgian people have clearly chosen a future in the EU and we will do everything to support their ambitions," Michel said, adding that the issue will be on the agenda of the next European Council meeting.

A day before the vote, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc had started weighing options should Georgia enact the law. He said a decision will be made next month.

A State Department spokesman said the United States condemns the parliament's decision and told reporters that the party's actions and anti-Western rhetoric threaten Georgia's democratic trajectory.

Senator Ben Cardin (Democrat-Maryland), chairman of the influential Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the Georgian Dream vote was a "sad day for Georgia," and reaffirmed Washington's determination to back the aspirations of the Georgian people.

"The people have demonstrated that they will not allow Ivanishvili to destroy their democracy & take away their European future. We stand with them," Cardin said on X.

Zurabishvili, meanwhile, has urged Georgians to gear up for the upcoming parliamentary elections later this year.

"We must now do everything we can to prepare for October 26, which will be our answer to today. Are you angry today? Get angry, but let's get down to business," she said, calling for a campaign to collect signatures for an EU referendum.

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/foreign-agent-law-tbilisi- zurabishvili/32972216.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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US Navy Years Behind, Already Over Budget in Designing New Class of Frigates - Report

Sputnik News

20240530

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - The US Navy is encountering more problems with designing its new proposed force of 20 Constellation-class frigates and even before the first one is properly designed, they are three years behind schedule and billions of dollars over budget, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report said.

"Delays in completing the ship design have created mounting construction delays," the report said on Wednesday. "The Navy acknowledges that the April 2026 delivery date, set in the contract at award, is unachievable. The lead frigate is forecasted to be delivered 36 months later than initially planned."

Over at least two decades, the Navy's Constellation class Guided Missile Frigate program plans to acquire and deliver up to 20 frigates - multi-mission, small surface combatant warships at a combined cost of over $22 billion, the report said.

However, the Navy lacks visibility into the true scope of work remaining to stabilize the frigate's functional design and the extent to which ongoing delays in completing the design will have on construction of follow-on ships, the report said.

"It is, therefore, uncertain when fleet operators will have the new frigates available for mission tasks," the report also said.

The Navy's decision to begin construction before the design was complete is inconsistent with leading ship design practices, the report added.

Then, design instability caused weight growth and therefore the frigate's 3D design was still incomplete over a year after construction began, according to the report.

 Sputnik

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No Signs Israel Will Reopen Rafah Crossing for Humanitarian Aid - Palestinian Minister

Sputnik News

20240530

GENEVA (Sputnik) - There are no signs that Israel will reopen the Rafah crossing to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, Palestinian Health Minister Majed Abu Ramadan said in Geneva.

Abu Ramadan said at a briefing with the Association of Accredited Correspondents at the United Nations (ACANU) that he hopes the international community and, in particular, the United States will put pressure on Israel to have the crossing reopened for humanitarian aid.

About three weeks ago, the Israeli military established control over the Palestinian side of the Rafah checkpoint, through which humanitarian aid came from Egypt to the Gaza Strip.

On Sunday, Israel struck a refugee camp northeast of Rafah. The Palestinian civil defense service said that at least 40 people died and dozens were injured as a result. On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the airstrike on the refugee camp a "tragic incident," adding that an investigation is underway. The Israel Defense Forces said that it used "precise munitions."

Israel sent troops into the city of Rafah on May 7, seven months after an attack by Palestinian movement Hamas on Israeli territory unleashed the worst escalation of conflict in the Gaza Strip in decades. Israel's war cabinet vowed to expand the operation in Rafah until it accomplished its declared goal of eliminating all Hamas fighters.

 Sputnik

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Maduro's Decision to Withdraw Invitation to European Union Election Observers

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

May 30, 2024

The United States is deeply concerned by the decision by Nicolas Maduro and his representatives to withdraw an invitation to European Union election observers. This action runs counter to the commitments made in Barbados in October 2023 to support the integrity of the electoral process. Maduro and his representatives should immediately reverse this decision and allow credible international election observation that will build trust in the electoral process.

We will continue to work with the international community to support the aspirations of the Venezuelan people for a more democratic, stable, and prosperous Venezuela.

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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Czech President Pavel

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 30, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Czech President Petr Pavel today in Prague. Secretary Blinken and President Pavel discussed the importance of the U.S.-Czech relationship bilaterally and as NATO Allies for the security of Europe and the United States. Secretary Blinken commended Czechia for its important efforts sourcing ammunition for the defense of Ukraine and for its strong support for Ukrainian refugees. The Secretary and the President reaffirmed the importance of the upcoming NATO Summit in strengthening our collective deterrence and defense.

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Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky At the Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Countering Foreign Disinformation Between the U.S. Department of State and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Czernin Palace

Prague, Czechia

May 30, 2024

MODERATOR: Mr. Minister, Mr. Secretary of State, ladies and gentlemen, I would like to welcome you to the press remarks after bilateral meeting of Minister Lipavsky and Secretary of State Blinken, and on the occasion of signing the Memorandum of Understanding on Countering Foreign Disinformation between the U.S. Department of State and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic. First I would like to give floor to Minister Lipavsky. Mr. Minister.

FOREIGN MINISTER LIPAVSKY: Thank you, Secretary of State, dear Tony. Ambassador Sabet, ladies and gentlemen, it's a real pleasure for me to welcome the U.S. Secretary of State in Prague for the informal NATO ministerial meeting. This is the last opportunity of NATO foreign ministers to discuss key issues of importance to the Alliance in an unscripted manner ahead of the NATO's 75th anniversary summit in Washington, so I'm really looking forward tomorrow discussions. And I'm glad that we have the chance to meet and discuss our bilateral strategic partnership in security, defense, and economic areas. Our relations are excellent, as confirmed by the meeting between Prime Minister Fiala and President Biden in the White House.

Today, obviously, Ukraine is very high on our agenda. Ukraines are bravely defending their homeland against Russia's daily brutal assaults, and we have to do everything in our power to assist them. They need our weapons and they need them fast. This is where the Czech initiative comes in, but definitely more needs to be done. Europe is ready to support Ukraine, whatever it takes, and also happy for all the support the United States is providing following the recent decision on the supplemental aid package in Congress. And I always say and I will say it: We need a strategy to contain Russia. We need a strategy to stop Russian imperialistic ambition at Ukraine's border.

During our discussion with Secretary Blinken, we also shared our concerns about reports of increasing exports from China for Russia's military industrial complex, which is key for sustaining Russia's brutal campaign against Ukraine; (inaudible) bilateral cooperation in energy domain, where we already enjoy very fruitful collaboration on a number of project, and Czechia, obviously, attach great importance to continued imports of American LNG to Europe. And in addition, our discussion focused on evolving security situation in the Middle East and in Indo-Pacific.

We will now proceed to the other important part of our meeting, and that is the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on Countering Foreign Disinformation. Signing the MOU today presents a clear signal that our countries see foreign information manipulation and interference as a threat. Malign foreign actors wish to undermine trust in democratic institutions, and we are facing a confrontation between democracies and autocracies. Our democracy is valuable. Though both Czechia and the United States have the respective experience with foreign interference, the Kremlin is targeting democracies all around the world with cyber warfare, propaganda, and influence operations, and these dangers simply cannot be underestimated anymore.

It was recently exposed here in Czechia and by our security system a operation of Voice of Europe which was controlled directly from the Kremlin. The restrictive measures against these Kremlin puppets are yet another example of the active steps Czechia is taking against Russia's influence operations, and indecisive response only further encourages Russia, so we have to be decisive. And I'm glad that we will - are now in - joining force with the U.S. State Department. So again, these threats, we must stand firmly together, because together we are stronger. Thank you, Tony.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, Mr. Minister, Jan, my friend, thank you. Thank you first of all to Czechia for hosting all of the NATO foreign ministers just in advance of the NATO Summit. This is a critical meeting for us to finalize plans for the summit, finalize the substance for the summit, and so I couldn't be more grateful to you, to the entire Czech Government for bringing us together here in this magnificent city.

But I think it's also both in symbolic ways and very substantive ways illustrative of something else. We celebrated the 25th anniversary of Czech Republic's accession to NATO, and we see in very practical, very real terms how meaningful that's been not only to Czechia but also to NATO, to all of the countries concerned, as well as NATO's partners and friends, because Czechia's leadership is really quite extraordinary.

We see that in Ukraine in everything that Czechia has done to support Ukraine faced with this ongoing Russian aggression: training thousands of Ukrainian forces; sending hundreds of millions of dollars of military equipment to Ukraine and authorizing the transfer of more than $6 billion worth of equipment; refurbishing Soviet legacy weapon systems that are being used by Ukraine, again, to defend against the Russian aggression - we saw some of those earlier today - and now, of course, dedicating more than 2 percent of its budget to - GDP to its defense budget, again leading in NATO on that; and our own partnership with the F-35s, helicopters, all of this mutually beneficial to both of our countries - good jobs in the Czech Republic, good jobs in the United States as a result of that.

But what it underscores as well is the value that both of our countries attach to collective self-defense, because what we know is this: We're not only stronger, we're more likely to prevent, to deter aggression when we're united, when we're working together. And the foundational premise of our Alliance - that an attack on one is an attack on all - sends the most powerful message to would-be aggressors that if they attack one of us, they have to take on all of us. And that is actually the strongest way, the most effective way to prevent aggression in the first place. Czechia, through its actions, through its leadership, is really giving life and substance to the Alliance, to the meaning of collective defense, and I think that sends a very powerful message in Europe and in fact beyond.

As Jan mentioned, we'll also be signing this memorandum between us. It's the 17th such memorandum of understanding that we've signed with partner countries on combating misinformation and disinformation, and this also could not be more critical or more timely, because we know that a major front in the competition that we have, the adversarial relationship that we have - notably with Russia - is an information front. And through this memorandum of understanding, through the framework that we've established, we have partnerships with countries to work together to help develop the capacity, to develop the technical means, to develop the human resources, to develop the organizational structures and institutions, to develop the collaboration, necessarily, to effectively deal with misinformation and disinformation, which is a poison being injected into our democracies by our adversaries. The more we're able to do together, both between our countries but also with other countries, the more effective we're going to be in exposing it and dealing with it, and that's what this memorandum of understanding is all about.

So I couldn't be more pleased, Jan, to be here with you, both on a bilateral basis, on an Alliance basis, and most importantly on a values basis, because our countries share those values. We're committed to defend them and we're committed to do that together. Thank you.

MODERATOR: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary of State. Now follows the act of signing the memorandum of understanding.

(The memorandum was signed.)

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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Czech Foreign Minister Lipavsky

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 30, 2024

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky today in Prague. Secretary Blinken and Minister Lipavsky emphasized the importance of the strong bilateral relationship between our nations based on shared transatlantic values as NATO Allies. Secretary Blinken thanked Czechia for its sustained assistance to Ukraine and welcomed Czechia's ongoing military modernization efforts. He encouraged consideration of U.S. small modular nuclear reactors as a solution to help strengthen Czechia's long-term energy security. Secretary Blinken and Minister Lipavsky also discussed concerns about PRC entities that are helping reconstitute Russia's defense industrial base and signed an MOU to strengthen bilateral cooperation in combating foreign disinformation.

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Secretary Antony J. Blinken And Czech Defense Minister Jana Cernochova At the 24th Air Transportation Base at Prague-Kbely Airport

US Department of State

Remarks

Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State

Prague-Kbely Airport

Prague, Czechia

May 30, 2024

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Well, good morning, everyone. It's a great pleasure to be here with Minister Cernochova, and I just want to say first of all thank you - thank you to the minister for her extraordinary leadership and partnership with us and with so many NATO Allies. Twenty-five years ago, the Czech Republic joined NATO, and I think we see today the full realization of what that Alliance means both for Czechia and for the United States and for all our Allies.

Czechia has been leading in so many different ways, including with its defense budget, soon to be 2.1 percent of GDP, meeting and exceeding the Wales Pledge. We see it in the extraordinary work that Czechia is doing in support of Ukraine in a moment of great need, by the end of the year training up to about 9,000 Ukrainian forces; providing more than $600 million in equipment, authorizing another $6 billion in equipment flowing to Ukraine which it so desperately needs in defense of the aggression committed by Russia on an ongoing basis; and, of course, here, among other things, the refurbishment of Soviet legacy equipment, including tanks, including Howitzers, which Ukraine is using to help repel the Russian aggression. This is truly extraordinary work.

I also have to especially applaud what Czechia has done in going around the world and finding the necessary munitions that Ukraine needs on the battlefield, including 155 and 152-millimeter munitions. This is critical. By the end of the year, we anticipate that that effort, led by Czechia, will produce nearly a million shells for Ukraine.

We're also gratified by the relationship between the United States and Czechia when it comes to defense, including the acquisition of 24 F-35 planes, and, of course, the Defense Cooperation Agreement that we signed just a few months ago. All of that is a powerful demonstration of our partnership and our alliance in action.

And the final thing I'd say is this: The great strength of NATO, the entire reason for NATO, is collective self-defense. Collective self-defense means that we're all in this together. An attack on one is an attack on all. And it's precisely that which makes conflict less likely. It strengthens deterrence. It says to any would-be aggressor or adversary that if you take on one member of NATO, you're going to have to take them all on, and we've found that that's most powerful way to actually prevent war from happening in the first place. The Alliance - the NATO Alliance - will be celebrating its landmark anniversary in a short while in Washington. It's stronger than it's ever been. It's larger than it's ever been. I believe it's more effective than it's ever been, particularly when it comes to collective self-defense and deterring aggression.

With that, Madam Minister.

DEFENSE MINISTER CERNOCHOVA: Thank you.

MODERATOR: Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Now for the remarks from Minister Cernochova. Madam, you have the floor.

DEFENSE MINISTER CERNOCHOVA: Yeah. Thank you, Secretary Blinken. Welcome to the Kbely Air Base. Sorry it's military weather. (Laughter.) Never mind. We must be strong.

For more than two years, Russia has been fighting a brutal war against Ukraine's freedom and independence. Ukraine fights bravely to defeat the aggressor. Ukraine must win this war. Our own security is at stake as well. That is why we support Ukraine as much as we can.

It's the responsibility of the democratic world to give the Ukrainian armed forces everything they need to defend their country. The Czech Republic has provided Ukraine with tanks, combat vehicles, and attack helicopters. We now work to deliver hundreds of thousands of critically needed artillery shells.

With - support provided by the United States as well as the close Czech-American cooperation have been essential in our help to Ukraine. Last year, we signed - your colleague - the Defense Cooperation Agreement with the United States, and my government approved the acquisition of F-35 aircraft. The United States has also kindly provided us with compensation for our military supplies to Ukraine. Here I mean the eight pieces of H-1 helicopters and the financial support of more than $300 million. Thank you. This means that, thanks to the U.S. support, we can not only help Ukraine but also implement largest modernization of our armed forces in our modern history.

Secretary Blinken, let me once again thank the United States for its support, and please say hello my counterpart, Minister Austin. Lloyd is my friend and I remember his visit in Prague last - year ago. Thank you.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you. Thank you (inaudible).

DEFENSE MINISTER CERNOCHOVA: Thank you for your support.

SECRETARY BLINKEN: Thank you so much.

DEFENSE MINISTER CERNOCHOVA: Thank you.

MODERATOR: Thank you. This concludes the remarks. Minister Cernochova and Secretary Blinken will now be present examples of military equipment which the Czech Republic delivers to Ukraine as aid. Thank you for your participation and have a nice day.

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Haitian Transitional Presidential Council Nominates Interim Prime Minister

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

May 30, 2024

The United States congratulates the Haitian Transitional Presidential Council on its nomination of an interim prime minister. We urge the council and incoming Prime Minister Garry Conille to work collaboratively, and to engage all stakeholders in support of the Haitian people, who continue to suffer the brutality of horrific gang violence.

The United States encourages the interim Prime Minister and Transitional Presidential Council to act swiftly to nominate a credible, accountable, and inclusive government and Provisional Electoral Council to enable free and fair elections, and the provision of security and basic services for all Haitians. The United States looks forward to working together with Haiti to accomplish these goals, particularly through the deployment of the Multinational Security Support mission.

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Concern regarding Georgia's Transparency of Foreign Influence Law: Joint statement to the OSCE

Ambassador Holland delivers a statement on behalf of UK and Canada calling on the government of Georgia to withdraw its legislation on the Transparency of Foreign Influence, so that it can pursue its Euro-Atlantic trajectory.

30 May 2024

Thank you, Chair. I am delivering this statement on behalf of Canada and my own country, the United Kingdom.

We are close friends of Georgia. Our partnership is broad and deep. We remain staunchly committed to defending Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of the continuous hybrid threat it faces from Russia. We stand resolute in demanding that Russia remove its illegal presence from Georgian soil, and we reiterate our support for Georgia to tackle the range of hybrid threats it faces.

We are committed to supporting the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the Georgian people, which are made clear in the Georgian Constitution.

We remain deeply concerned by the Georgian government continuing to pursue the Transparency of Foreign Influence Law, with the Parliament overturning the Presidential veto on 28 May. We continue to believe, and have repeatedly made clear, that a vibrant civil society is a key part of a thriving democratic state. We thank ODIHR for their recent visit to Georgia and reiterate our support for ODIHR's work and mandate. Civil society plays a major and important role in holding participating States to account for implementation of our shared OSCE principles and commitments.

As the Venice Commission concluded, this law risks stigmatising, silencing and eventually eliminating associations and media that receive even a low part of their funding from abroad. It will significantly impact freedom of association and of expression, the right to privacy, the right to participate in public affairs and the prohibition of discrimination.

Such legislation is not in line with Georgia's aspirations and will harm Georgia's attempt to integrate with Euro-Atlantic institutions.

The protests we have seen in Tbilisi over recent weeks have shown that the Georgian people's will to be part of Europe has never been stronger. Intimidation of opponents of the law must also cease and the rights of the Georgian people to freedom of expression and peaceful protest must be protected.

We want to support a prosperous, sovereign, democratic Georgia that is continuing to deliver the reforms needed to make progress on its Euro-Atlantic integration. As we and partners have consistently stated, this law is completely contrary to that objective. So we call on the government of Georgia to withdraw the legislation, so that it can pursue its Euro-Atlantic trajectory.

Thank you.

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Statement by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to the United Nations Security Council

UNHCR - United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

By Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

30 May 2024

Thank you, Mr. President,

It is an honour to hold my, by now, traditional briefing with the Security Council during Mozambique's presidency. As we just discussed, I visited your country in March and saw first-hand how Mozambique is grappling with many of the global challenges that the world is facing, and their impact on people's daily lives  be it some of the most devastating manifestations of the climate emergency, violent internal conflict fueled by armed groups, and widespread forced displacement resulting from the other two. I was inspired by President Nyusi who  describing how Mozambique was addressing these problems  added that it was important that, I quote, "the current situation does not distract us from working on solutions".

This message is for all of us and it is fitting for the Security Council, as you face today's grave challenges to peace and security. It is a crucial message, if we are to move beyond empty talk and into solving people's problems.

Please remember that these problems include the risk and reality of forced displacement  let me say this, as sometimes this dimension gets sidelined! The number of those who have been forced to flee their homes by war, violence and persecution reached 114 million at our latest count. Next month we will update this figure. It will be higher. The political solutions needed to solve displacement obviously continue to be absent.

Mr. President,

I last briefed this Council in October. Back then, I shared my views on several crises and warned that humanitarians, while not giving up, were near breaking point. Seven months have passed but the situation has not changed  if at all, it has grown worse. So, most regrettably, I will have to speak once again about the same crises  and of how they displaced an ever-growing number of people.

Why is this happening? The reasons are multiple, and often related to geopolitics  which is your domain, not mine! Let me however focus on one more immediate factor, that my colleagues and I  and indeed all humanitarians  witness in their everyday work: non-compliance with international humanitarian law. "Non-compliance" is a cold and technical expression: what it means, really, is that parties to conflicts  increasingly, everywhere, almost all of them  have stopped respecting the basic rules of war, and sometimes even pretending to do so; civilians are killed in growing numbers; rape and other forms of sexual violence are used as weapons of war; civilian infrastructure gets hit and destroyed; humanitarian workers become targets. You hear and discuss this every day. The President of the International Committee of the Red Cross - which is mandated to uphold this body of law - spoke to you last week on the subject. But I want you to hear it from me, too, because we at UNHCR deal with one, specific, consequence of these violations: since this brutal conduct of hostilities meant not only to destroy but also to terrify civilians, civilians  more and more often  have no other choice but to flee, in terror.

What has happened in Gaza since the Hamas attacks last 7th October, and throughout the Israeli offensive, is a case in point. Let me add my voice to those who have been urging you to pursue an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the full resumption of humanitarian aid; and most importantly, to spare no effort to resurrect a real peace process  the only way to ensure peace and security to Israelis and Palestinians. Unfortunately, none of this has happened yet. The atrocious events in Rafah made us witness once more  and most dramatically  hundreds of thousands of people trying to avoid lethal attacks by moving frantically in the limited, constrained space of southern Gaza, reached only by a trickle of aid; with dozens losing their lives. Among the many images from this conflict that will haunt us for a long time is that of desperate people trapped and often killed inside a war zone. Their safety should be our  your  paramount concern. And while UNHCR  respecting fully its division of labour with UNRWA  is not and will not be operational there, let me say  from the perspective of my role and my mandate  that while Palestinians should be protected wherever they are, the atrocious dilemma of whether they should exit Gaza  or not  is one that Israel has the clear responsibility to avoid; because yes, there is indeed a universal right to seek asylum, so often responded to by countries neighbouring conflicts, and which I will always advocate for, as a matter of principle. But in this case, there is also  and especially  the international legal obligation of an occupying power not to force - not to force - the civilian population to flee the territory it occupies. And another forced exodus of Palestinians will only create one more intractable problem and make a solution to this decades-long conflict impossible to find.

The war in Gaza is also a tragic reminder of what happens when conflicts (and by extension a refugee crisis) are left unattended. It must also serve as a call not to forget other unresolved crises. A stark (and nearby) example is that 13 years after the start of the conflict in Syria, 5.6 million Syrian refugees remain in neighbouring countries, which have also hosted Palestinian refugees for generations, with Lebanon's plight remaining the most worrying, and tensions over the presence of refugees in that country being again extremely acute; and Jordan, another major host of Syrians, caught squarely between two crises.

The plight of Syrian refugees however gets attention only when other factors emerge  of late, some arrivals of Syrians in EU countries have spurred a flurry of proposals on how to solve the problem, including by sending back refugees to so called "safe areas" in Syria. Let me take the opportunity to reiterate once again our position on this question: the voluntary, safe return of Syrian refugees to their homeland is the best solution and their right; though most refugees would like to return one day, very few do currently, with many expressing either fear of being targeted and lack of confidence in the Syrian government, or concern that in Syria living conditions  services, housing, work  are in an abysmal state. It is the Syrian government that is responsible for addressing the first set of obstacles; and regarding the second, we urge all donor countries to step-up support to early recovery activities as per Security Council Resolution 2642. If we are serious about solving the Syrian refugee problem  and we must be  the only way forward is to overcome political constraints and work on both tracks, with all stakeholders  as UNHCR indeed is already doing.

Meanwhile, violations of international humanitarian law have continued to have a devastating effect on millions of lives around the world, including forcing people to flee. In none  none!  of the refugee and displacement crises which I described to you last October have we seen any sign of progress in this respect.

For example, Myanmar, where since my last briefing to you more than 1.5 million people have been displaced by fighting, bringing the total to over three million, with many trying to seek refuge in neighbouring countries. The situation in Rakhine State is especially worrying. The conflict between Myanmar's armed forces and the Arakan Army has flared up again, displacing different ethnic groups, and with the Rohingya community caught between the parties and targeted with dangerous abuse, stigmatization and forced recruitment; and with humanitarians operating in a high-risk environment, which has already compelled agencies to temporarily relocate from certain areas. I wish to reiterate here my recent appeal to the parties to ensure the protection of civilians and of aid workers; to the countries neighbouring Myanmar to allow safe access for refugees fleeing for their lives; and to you to ensure that a political process to address Myanmar's problems is again (and seriously) placed on the international agenda, before some of the consequences further threaten the stability of the region.

In the Democratic Republic of the Congo violence between men with guns is so common that no other place on earth is as dangerous for women and children as the east of that country. And my reaction is not naive. I worked there. I know the intractable ethnic problems; the plunder of resources by a multiplicity of actors, including states; the regional ramifications; the constant disrespect of the civilian character of IDP sites by armed men, endangering both the displaced and humanitarian workers. But how can members of the United Nations, how can 'we the peoples' pay so little attention and have so much inaction in a place where sex with a child can be bought for less than a cold drink? What a shameful stain on humanity!

We, the humanitarians, are trying to play our part. Last year, President Tshisekedi asked UNHCR to revitalize efforts to find solutions to complex situations of forced displacement across the region's borders, and especially between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Rwandan government agreed and we resumed dialogue, but in reality, without a broader political process  or at least a political framework  it will be difficult to make progress on the humanitarian side; and aid is increasingly hard to mobilize for the victims of this state of affairs.

Let me touch briefly on Ukraine as it is another theatre of war where international humanitarian law gets violated every day: look at the unrelenting attacks on the Ukrainian power network, which cause enormous hardship on civilians. Attacks do not spare houses and other civilian infrastructure. Last January, in the heart of winter, I met Ukrainian children going to a makeshift school in the Kharkiv underground because it was the only place that could be kept safe and warm by the local authorities. And displacement  there, too  is increasing again, mostly within the country, and mostly of elderly and other vulnerable people living near the frontlines, requiring urgent and lifesaving humanitarian and psychological support. And as you continue to deal with the war in Ukraine as a political and military issue, don't lose focus on its deep, devastating human consequences on the people of Ukraine.

Mr. President,

The blatant disregard of international humanitarian law by parties to conflicts also makes peace much more difficult to attain. Death, destruction and displacement deepen societal divisions, tearing apart trust and making it difficult to put the pieces of a country back together.

An obvious example is Sudan, which I visited in February and where parties to the conflict keep creating additional obstacles to aid activities with their reluctance to give access to some key areas, preventing humanitarians from helping many of those in need, including through crossborder and cross-line operations, the organization of which remains extremely complicated. The political backdrop is discouraging: inadequate peace-making efforts or outright support for one of the sides, or the other, are making the conflict much worse. For both sides, disregarding all sense of humanity and consideration for their own people, the solution remains essentially a military one. As a result, there are now nine million people displaced inside Sudan or refugees in neighbouring countries  some of which, like Chad or South Sudan, are grappling with their own fragilities; a number similar to what we have observed in Ukraine but met with continued neglect and indifference by the international community. And funding remains completely inadequate. At a conference in Paris in April, a welcomed conference in Paris in April, over $2 billion in contributions were announced, but very little has materialized so far. Aid activities inside Sudan are funded at only 15% and the refugee operations at 8%. This requires no further comment.

Sudan is also an example of the broader consequences of disrespect for the rules of war and total lack of accountability. First and foremost, of course, on civilians: for instance, almost no child in Sudan has gone to school for months; and here, too, sexual violence is rife, in Darfur and other war zones. Daily, refugees arriving in Chad tell us of appalling stories of women raped in front of their children and of children murdered in front of their mothers. And I ask you: how can those who fled such horrors ever feel safe enough to return? How can they ever trust those men with guns? Beyond that, how can Sudan's middle class - the same middle class that somehow held the country together through so much turmoil over the past decades and is now being displaced or destroyed, rebuild the country after this conflict?

Nor should it be a surprise that we have seen a 500% increase in the number of Sudanese arriving in Europe in the year after the outbreak of violence. Most of them never wanted to leave home. But brutal violence has forced them to flee. And insufficient aid in neighbouring countries forced them to move again  especially to North Africa and beyond, towards Europe. Rich countries are constantly worrying about what they call "irregular movements". But in this and other situations, they are not doing enough to help people before they entrust themselves to human traffickers. The consequences are inevitable.

So, compliance with international humanitarian law  which of course is an obligation - also has an element of self-interest. Mr. President, it is a grim political landscape the one I see around us, from my humanitarian viewpoint: short sighted foreign policy decisions, often founded on double standards, with lip service paid to compliance with the law, but little muscle flexed even from this Council to actually uphold it and  with it  peace and security.

International humanitarian law is the clearest representation of the effort to find a common ground. And if, at times of war - some of the most horrific and turbulent times humanity can experience - parties must set their differences aside and operate in a way that protects, at least, the lives of civilians (which today I urge them to do), so should you in your day-to-day work.

And you will forgive me, Mr. President, if I use strong words  it is the frustration of a humanitarian speaking here.

Last year I called on you to use your voice - not your voices.

But this Council's cacophony has meant that you have instead continued to preside over a broader cacophony of chaos around the world.

It is too late for the tens of thousands already killed in Gaza, in Ukraine, in Sudan, in the DRC, in Myanmar and so many other places.

But it is not too late to put your focus and energy on the crises and conflicts that remain unresolved, so that they are not allowed to fester and explode again.

It is not too late to step up help for the millions who have been forcibly displaced to return home voluntarily, in safety and with dignity.

It is not too late to try and save countless millions more from the scourge of war.

Thank you.

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Sudan: 'Noose of war' tightens on civilians in El Fasher, UN official warns

30 May 2024 - The top UN aid official in Sudan warned on Thursday that "the noose of war is tightening its stranglehold" on civilians in El Fasher, expressing her profound distress at the dire humanitarian situation there.

Fighting between the Sudanese army and rival military the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who have been battling for more than year, recently intensified in the North Darfur city.

Civilians are under attack from all sides and the news of reported casualties and human rights abuses are appalling, UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Sudan Clementine Nkweta-Salami said in a statement.

'Deeply worrying reports'

"Families, including children and elderly people, are being prevented from leaving the city as they search for safety," she said.

"We are receiving deeply worrying reports that medical facilities, displacement camps and critical civilian infrastructure have been targeted by parties to the conflict."

Ms. Nkweta-Salami added that many parts of El Fasher have been left without electricity or water and a growing proportion of the population has limited access to food, healthcare and other basic necessities and essential services.

Appeal to the parties

"After more than a year of brutal conflict, families have exhausted their scarce resources and their resilience is being eroded with each day of violence," she said.

The top UN aid official in the country stressed that all parties must avoid using explosive weapons in populated areas and take all feasible precautions to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure.

"Wars have rules that must be respected by all, no matter what," she said.

Conflict displaces millions

Meanwhile, the war has displaced more than seven million people inside Sudan, more than half of them children, according to the UN humanitarian affairs office, OCHA, citing data from the UN International Organization for Migration (IOM).

This is in addition to the estimated two million who have fled to neighbouring countries since the conflict erupted in April 2023.

The UN and partners continue to step up efforts to respond to rising hunger and food insecurity in Sudan. Some 18 million people across the country are going hungry and five million are on the brink of famine.

Food on the move

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) reported that 1,200 metric tonnes of food supplies for some 116,000 people are being transported across the Darfur region and nearing final destinations in Central Darfur and 12 locations across South Darfur, including displacement camps in Nyala.

The supplies are from a WFP convoy that crossed into Sudan from Chad last week.

Food distributions are also ongoing for 135,000 people in South Kordofan state as WFP reiterated that aid must safely reach vulnerable communities.

'Catastrophic consequences' for children and mothers

Separately, WFP alongside the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO), issued a stark warning of the significant deterioration in the nutrition status of children and mothers due to the war.

"Sudan is facing an ever-increasing risk of conflict-induced famine that will have catastrophic consequences including the loss of life, especially among young children," they said on Thursday.

Recent analysis conducted by the agencies highlights how the conflict is worsening the drivers of child malnutrition, which include lack of access to nutritious food, safe drinking water and sanitation, as well as increased risk of disease.

The situation is further compounded by the massive displacement of people fleeing to safety. Furthermore, humanitarian access has been severely impacted by the fighting.

Childhood malnutrition crisis

The UN agencies said child malnutrition is at emergency levels. In Central Darfur, acute malnutrition is estimated to be at 15.6 percent among under-fives, and close to 30 per cent at the ZamZam camp in North Darfur, home to thousands of internally displaced people.

Acute malnutrition is life-threatening, they explained, as malnourished children are up to 11 times more likely to die than their well-nourished counterparts.

Levels of malnutrition are particularly worrying among pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, they added, pointing to a screening carried out last month by medical charity MSF in ZamZam camp.

Over 33 percent of pregnant and breastfeeding women there are malnourished, indicating that they are likely sacrificing their own needs to feed their children.

Next generation at risk

"This situation poses an incredible risk not only for the health of mothers, but also for the next generation of Sudan's children," they said. "As much as 30 percent of child malnutrition begins in utero, so children born to malnourished mothers are likely to be already malnourished themselves."

The agencies fear that the situation for children and mothers will only worsen over the coming months, noting that the rainy season, which starts in June, will cut off communities and raise disease rates.

"Sudan is also entering the lean season, a time between harvests when food stocks traditionally run low," they added. "This is particularly pertinent this year, as reports are already indicating that agricultural production in 2023 was below normal, due to insecurity and displacement."

The agencies called for immediate, unimpeded and consistent access to communities who are suffering the worst effects of the conflict, through all possible crossline and cross-border routes.

They also appealed for a de-escalation of the situation in El Fasher, a nationwide ceasefire and a scale-up in donor support, warning that "the window to avert the worst is rapidly closing".

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Global Refugee Crisis Growing Worse, with Aid Workers near Breaking Point, Little Respect for Basic Rules of War, High Commissioner Warns Security Council

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9641st Meeting (PM)

SC/15713

30 May 2024



(Note: Due to the financial liquidity crisis affecting the United Nations and the resulting constraints, the full press release will be published at a later date.)

BRIEFING BY THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES

Briefing

FILIPPO GRANDI, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees , stressing today's grave challenges to peace and security, said the number of people displaced by war, violence and persecution reached 114 million at the last count by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). "Next month we will update this figure," he said. "It will be higher." Since briefing the Security Council in October and warning that humanitarians were near a breaking point, the situation has only grown worse, he added, highlighting that non-compliance with international humanitarian law proliferates. Parties to conflicts  almost all of them  have stopped respecting the basic rules of war. Civilians are killed in growing numbers. Rape and sexual violence are used as weapons of war. Civilian infrastructure is destroyed. Humanitarian workers are targets. And since the brutal conduct is meant to terrify, civilians have no choice but to flee, he said.

What has happened in Gaza since the Hamas attacks 7 October and throughout the Israeli offensive is a case in point. "Let me add my voice to those who have been urging you to pursue an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the full resumption of humanitarian aid," he said. Among the many haunting images from this conflict is that of desperate people trapped and often killed inside a war zone. "Their safety should be our  your  paramount concern," he said. "The atrocious dilemma of whether Palestinians should exit Gaza  or not  is one that Israel has the clear responsibility to avoid." Under international law, an occupying Power must not force a civilian population to flee the territory it occupies, he said, adding that another forced exodus of Palestinians will only create one more intractable problem.

On Syria, he highlighted the presence of 5.6 million Syrian refugees and proposals by some European countries to send back refugees to so-called "safe areas" in the country. Reiterating that the voluntary, safe return of Syrian refugees to their homeland is the best solution, he noted while most refugees would like to return eventually, very few would like to currently, with many expressing either fear of being targeted or lack of confidence in the Syrian Government, or concern over abysmal living conditions in Syria. The Government is responsible for alleviating these fears, while donors must increase support to early recovery activities as per Security Council resolution 2642 (2022). "If we are serious about solving the Syrian refugee problem  and we must be  the only way forward is to overcome political constraints and work on both tracks, with all stakeholders," he said.

Meanwhile in Myanmar, over 3 million people have been displaced by fighting, he said, noting that the situation in Rakhine State is especially worrying. Humanitarians operate in a high-risk environment, compelling some agencies to temporarily relocate from certain areas. He appealed to the parties to ensure the protection of civilians and aid workers and for neighbouring countries to allow safe access for refugees. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, gun violence is common and no other place on earth is as dangerous for women and children as the east of that country. "How can members of the United Nations, how can 'we the peoples' pay so little attention to a place where sex with a child can be bought for less than a cold drink? he asked, adding: "What a shameful stain on humanity".

In Ukraine, international humanitarian law gets violated every day, he said, pointing to unrelenting attacks on the Ukrainian power network, which cause enormous hardship for civilians. He recalled visiting Ukrainian children going to a makeshift school in the Kharkiv underground  the only place safe and warm. Displacement in Ukraine, too, is increasing, mostly within the country. Turning to Sudan, he said 9 million people are displaced inside the country or refugees in neighbouring countries. Despite pledging over $2 billion at a conference in Paris in April, the international community continues to neglect the situation. Aid activities inside Sudan are funded at only 15 per cent and the refugee operations at 8 per cent. Almost no child in Sudan has gone to school for months and sexual violence is rife in Darfur and other war zones. "Daily, refugees arriving in Chad tell us of appalling stories of women raped in front of their children and of children murdered in front of their mothers," he said, adding that there has been a 500 per cent increase in the number of Sudanese arriving in Europe in the year after the outbreak of violence.

Compliance with international humanitarian law also has an element of self-interest, he said, pointing to short-sighted foreign policy decisions, often founded on double standards, with lip service paid to compliance with the law, "but little muscle flexed from this Council to actually uphold it and  with it  peace and security." International humanitarian law is the clearest representation of the effort to find a common ground. Urging the Council to act, not add to the "cacophony of chaos", he said it is too late for the tens of thousands already killed in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Myanmar and many other places. "But it is not too late to put your focus and energy on the crises and conflicts that remain unresolved, so that they are not allowed to fester and explode again," he stressed. "It is not too late to step up help for the millions who have been forcibly displaced to return home voluntarily, in safety and with dignity. It is not too late to try and save countless millions more from the scourge of war."

Statements

The representative of the United Kingdom , observing that around 1 million Rohingya refugees live in camps in Bangladesh  following the ethnic cleansing by the Myanmar military in 2017  reported that, as a leading donor to the Rohingya response, London has provided over $57 million to support the Rohingya and other Muslim minorities in Myanmar's Rakhine State and over $496 million to those people in Bangladesh. Further, Sudan is now the "world's largest displacement crisis" with more than 8.8 million displaced people, including 2.1 million who have fled to the neighbouring countries, he said, noting that his country has doubled its assistance to $110 million. Spotlighting his Government's new commitments to support refugees and host communities at December's Global Refugee Forum, he stressed: "We must now work together to translate the commitments we have all made into tangible action that helps to address the needs of the displaced."

The representative of China voiced concern over the grave international refugee situation, noting that the total number of refugees and displaced persons worldwide has exceeded 110 million. Low- and medium-income countries have hosted three quarters of the world's refugees, he observed, urging the international community to practice "true multilateralism" and strongly support UNHCR. Armed conflict  the primary driver of refugee flows  is yet to be resolved in Syria, Afghanistan and Myanmar, while the Ukraine and Gaza crises have created "a fresh and urgent refugee problem". Accordingly, the Council should focus on its primary responsibility of maintaining international peace and security, he said, underscoring the need to accelerate post-war reconstruction in conflict-affected areas and create conditions for the return of refugees. Further, he urged Israel to implement relevant Council resolutions and the orders of the International Court of Justice, immediately stop its collective punishment of the Palestinian people and halt its attack against Rafah.

The representative of the United States recalled that the country is the largest single humanitarian donor in the world  providing nearly $15 billion in global humanitarian assistance in fiscal year 2023 alone, including nearly $2.9 billion to support refugees, internally displaced persons and others in need since the Russian Federation's unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Further, the United States is by far the most significant humanitarian donor in Sudan and throughout the region. Citing a refugee admissions programme welcoming refugees from every continent and corner of the world  79 nationalities from 95 host countries this fiscal year  he also noted its work to help resettle lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex-plus refugees fleeing persecution from around the world. "Indeed, over the last several decades the United States has admitted more than 2 million refugees," he stated. UNHCR is an indispensable part of advancing solutions; however, "more than ever before, we need humanitarian financing development efforts and private sector investments to work in concert to effectively address today's complex forced displacement crises", he said.

The representative of Sierra Leone said the UNHCR Global Appeal 2024 reportprojects the number of refugees, returnees, internally displaced and stateless people has risen to 130 million people. "It is important to bear in mind that these figures reflect the status of actual people," he said, adding that civilians continue to bear the brunt of armed conflicts across the globe. Significant populations have also been displaced by climate emergencies, natural disasters, energy and food crises. Africa accounted for about 46 per cent of the world's internally displaced persons in 2023, of which 32.5 million persons were displaced by conflict and violence, he said, reiterating his unwavering commitment to the protection of refugees and displaced persons as a fundamental principle of international law. Calling for enhanced support for host countries and for increased protection of internally displaced persons and refugees, and promoting conditions enabling their voluntary return under safe and stable conditions, he noted with concern that humanitarian programmes remain substantially underfunded, with UNHCR projecting a $8.5 billion funding shortfall.

The representative of the Republic of Korea said that "we must shed light on existing chronic refugee problems, while simultaneously keep our eyes focused on emerging and rapidly evolving crises." The world is experiencing new conflicts and divisions, which are generating "scores of refugees" in need of assistance, he observed. To that end, his Government decided to quadruple its unearmarked contribution to UNHCR to $18 million in 2024, he said, noting that its unearmarked contributions from the private sector are a significant resource for the Agency. Furthermore, the complexity of recent conflicts and divisions casts a clear message to States: get back to basics, the fundamental rules and norms that underpin international society. Underscoring the importance of paying special attention to refugees at risk of persecution, torture, expulsion or forced return, he urged States to respect the principle of non-refoulement.

The representative of Guyana highlighted UNHCR's life-saving assistance to millions of refugees, migrants and other displaced people, which has safeguarded the human rights of vulnerable populations and provided much-needed support to Governments in managing crises. She emphasized that the global community must remain committed to aiding displaced people by filling the Agency's funding gap. Amid a confluence of war, violence and climate crisis that have forced millions from their homes, "UNHCR's work is now more important than ever", she stressed, urging the Council to recommit to supporting these efforts. Voicing concern over the increasing prevalence of climate-related displacement, she observed that climate change is leading to large-scale internal and cross-border displacement of millions of people.

The representative of Ecuador emphasized that women, children, people with disabilities and those belonging to ethnic and religious minorities in situations of displacement and refuge face higher levels of vulnerability due to transnational organized crime networks, trafficking for sexual exploitation, recruitment and use, and illicit trafficking of migrants. In this context, the Security Council could provide peace missions or special political missions with mandates that allow them to coordinate work with UNHCR and other UN agencies to guarantee minimum security conditions during transit, resettlement in host communities and in the identification of durable solutions. The strategies are not simple, he acknowledged, and require the coordinated work of all concerned actors. Ceasefire agreements, political will of sending and receiving States, sustainable financing, and addressing the roots of the problems that generate displacement can alleviate the human mobility situation.

The representative of the Russian Federation stressed that Israel's bloody military operation in Gaza is now in its eighth month and indiscriminate bombing has already forced more than 1.8 million Gazans to flee their homes. The situation in Rafah is egregious, she said, adding that an estimated 1 million civilians have sought refuge there. "The situation in Gaza and the smear campaign against UNRWA once again clearly illustrates the regrettable trend of politicizing refugee and IDP [internally displaced person] issues," she said, adding: "The countries of the West, who are the ones who provoke the lion's share of conflicts around the world, are extremely reluctant to provide funding for UNHCR programmes aimed at assisting refugees from Syria, Afghanistan, Sudan and many other conflict-torn countries." Turning to Syria, she asked how the High Commissioner assesses the real donor impact of the most recent conference on that country held in Brussels. In Ukraine, meanwhile, there has been a mass exodus of people to the Russian Federation, she said.

The representative of France emphasized that in 2023, 110 million people were forcibly displaced, while "the tyranny of the Syrian regime has led to the displacement of more than 13 million people." He recalled that France announced at the Brussels VIII conference on 27 May a new contribution of 150 million for 2024, stressing: "UNHCR is not the problem  those responsible are in the Syrian regime." Turning to Gaza, he warned that humanitarian aid is only trickling in, reiterating the call for an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of the hostages and an end to the intervention in Rafah. On Sudan, with the displacement of nearly 9 million people, he recalled that France organized a humanitarian conference with Germany and the European Union, leading to more than 2 billion in funding. Further, access to displaced people in areas of Ukraine under Russian Federation control is essential. Also noting the situations in Nagorno-Karabakh, Myanmar, and internally displaced people and refugees of the Rohingya minority, he cited UNHCR's essential role in meeting the needs of these populations.

The representative of Switzerland stressed the obligation to respect relevant international laws, for example by facilitating the search for people who have disappeared during forced displacement. As part of the Rabat process, Switzerland, Gambia and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) have launched a process to establish a network of national focal points for missing migrants and refugees, he said, noting that the second World Refugee Forum in Geneva in December 2023 resulted in an additional $2 billion in financial commitments toward humanitarian work, a sign of solidarity with refugees and the countries and communities that host them. In conclusion, he argued that climate change is likely to adversely affect food security and create more insecurity and conflict. Preventive action can be strengthened by greater use of scientific data and methods to anticipate displacement caused by extreme climatic events. "We need to use these tools more extensively to enable early action," he said, calling on the Council "to make the most of the resources at its disposal to support displaced people and efforts to prevent and resolve the many crises and armed conflicts that require its attention".

The representative of Japan said that his Government recognized the growing burden on neighbouring countries that host large numbers of refugees and displaced people. Acknowledging that such people are put in vulnerable situations and face grave threats, Japan will continue implementing programmes on the ground focused on human security, including through UNHCR. "We must adopt a medium- to long-term comprehensive approach," he stressed, reporting that Tokyo launched the Multi-Stakeholder Pledge on the Humanitarian-Development Peace Nexus at the Global Refugee Forum in December 2023. Noting that it also promotes "peace initiatives", he said that in Zimbabwe, Japan is implementing a project to promote livelihood improvement and local integration of former refugees. The country also plans to expand similar assistance to Kenya and Ethiopia. "We must all envision and work towards realizing a future where every refugee and displaced person can share their dreams," he underscored.

The representative of Malta said that "the numbers speak for themselves", noting that the vicious cycle of conflict and displacement require the prioritization of conflict prevention. Observing that climate change exacerbates other factors that contribute to the displacement of persons, making it a "threat multiplier", he stressed that the Council has a responsibility to act and exert influence to overcome barriers preventing safe, timely, and unimpeded humanitarian access. Welcoming the humanitarian efforts on the ground in Gaza, he added: "Our efforts are clearly just a drop in an ocean of dire needs which the people in Gaza continue to face." He expressed concern over complex, bureaucratic measures hindering the aid delivery in Rakhine State and underscored the need for protecting refugees from all forms of violence in Afghanistan. He also commended UNCHR's gender- and age-responsive approach that promotes gender equality as an integral part of its protection mandate.

...

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Security Council Extends Sanctions Regime on South Sudan for One Year, Adopting Resolution 2731 (2024) by Vote of 9 in Favour, 6 Abstentions

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9639th Meeting (AM)

SC/15711

30 May 2024



The Security Council today extended for one year the sanctions regime  including asset freezes, travel bans and an arms embargo  imposed on South Sudan, reiterating its readiness to review arms embargo measures through modification, suspension or progressive lifting, in light of progress achieved on critical established benchmarks, as numerous speakers highlighted that the text fails to acknowledge Juba's positive achievements and, instead, hinders its efforts to peace and stability.

Resolution 2731 (2024) (to be issued as document S/RES/2731(2024)) was adopted by a recorded vote of 9 votes in favour (Ecuador, France, Japan, Malta, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States) to none against, with 6 abstentions (Algeria, China, Guyana, Mozambique, Russian Federation and Sierra Leone).

By its terms, the Council, underscoring that arms shipments in violation of this resolution risk fuelling conflict and contributing to further instability, strongly urged all Member States to identify and prevent such shipments within their territory. It also reiterated its call on all Member States  in particular States neighbouring South Sudan  to inspect all cargo to South Sudan in their territory, if there are reasonable grounds to believe the cargo contains items the supply, sale or transfer of which is prohibited by paragraph 4 of resolution 2428 (2018).

Furthermore, the 15-member organ requested the Secretary-General  in close consultation with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and the Panel of Experts set up to assist the South Sudan Sanctions Committee established pursuant to resolution 2206 (2015) in carrying out its mandate  to submit by 15 April 2025 an assessment report on progress achieved on the key benchmarks established in paragraph 2 of resolution 2577 (2021).

Also by the text, the Council decided to extend until 1 July 2025 the mandate of the Panel of Experts as set out in paragraph 19 of resolution 2428 (2018), and that the Panel should provide to the Council an interim report by 1 December 2024, a final report by 1 May 2025, and  except in months when these reports are due  updates each month.

Speaking in explanation of vote after the vote, the United States' delegate said the measures outlined in the resolution "continue to play a critical role in promoting peace and stability in South Sudan and the broader region," and noted the importance of the Panel's independent reporting. The UN arms embargo remains necessary to stem the unfettered flow of weapons into a region flooded with guns, he said, adding that "too many people  especially women and children  have borne the brunt of this ongoing violence". The explosion of the ammunition depo in Juba in February only reinforced the need to reduce weapons in the country and put in place proper protocols to safeguard them, he added.

The representative of Algeria, speaking also for Guyana, Sierra Leone and Mozambique, said that while sanctions are powerful tools of the Council, they were conceived as "temporary measures to induce positive change when and where they are enforced". To prevent their unintended negative impact, the Council should continue to review how sanctions are designed and implemented. In the case of South Sudan, the current regime  particularly the arms embargo  no longer serves the aim for which it was established. On the contrary, it hinders the transitional Government from creating the necessary capacity to fully carry out outstanding tasks. This includes effectively equipping the necessary unified forces, he said.

"The time has come for the Council to make the necessary adjustments to South Sudan's sanctions regime," he stated. Underlining the need for impartiality and transparent criteria for the imposition, adjustment and lifting of sanctions, he rejected "any attempt to use sanctions to exercise political pressure on African States".

The Russian Federation's delegate, who abstained during the vote, described the sanctions relief outlined in the document as "insufficient". Expressing regret that the United States continues to focus entirely on the sanctions' regime, she said that the authorities of this "young nation" managed to "traverse the difficult path towards a relative stabilization". Yet, the sanctions regime has hardly undergone any changes. Noting that the penholders are repeatedly proposing to "ignore all of Juba's positive achievement and rubberstamp yet another decision that is burdensome for the country", she said that Washington, D.C., is using the Council's leverage over South Sudan's authorities to achieve its own goals. Noting that the proposal to ease the sanctions on Juba was "decisively rejected", she observed that the imposition of additional unilateral restrictive measures aggravates South Sudan's socioeconomic situation.

The representative of China, who also abstained, emphasized that the arms embargo has constrained South Sudan's capacity-building and impeded the Government's efforts to protect civilians, strengthen border control and maintain social stability. Over the years, Juba has demonstrated political will and made progress in implementing sanctions-related benchmarks. Nevertheless, despite the collective voices of the African Union and other regional organizations calling for lifting the arms embargo, the penholder has insisted on maintaining the sanctions. To ease the situation on the ground, the Council should support the South Sudanese Government rather than impose sanctions, he said.

After the Council members spoke, the representative of South Sudan recognized the position of some delegates that sanctions  particularly the arms embargo  are necessary to maintain pressure and foster the peace process. However, the formation of the unified armed command structure of the necessary unified forces and the implementation of the joined progress demonstrates South Sudan's dedication to peace and stability. The continued imposition of sanctions hinders the country's efforts to build robust security institutions that maintain stability and protect its citizens.

Accordingly, she called for lifting the punitive measures, noting the detrimental effects of prolonged sanctions on Juba's political and security landscape. "Lifting of the arms embargo will empower us to further implement the agreement, enhance security and build sustainable peace," she stressed, noting that reassessment of these measures will enable South Sudan to build robust security institutions necessary for maintaining peace and protecting its citizens. The Council should focus on "measures that facilitate rather than hinder our progress", she added.

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Egypt calls for immediate flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza

By VOA News May 30, 2024

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi called on the international community Thursday to stop the war in Gaza.

"I further urge the international community to take immediate and decisive action to enforce the instantaneous and unfettered delivery of humanitarian aid and assistance to the Gaza Strip to break the Israeli siege and counter any attempts to forcibly displace the Palestinians from their lands," el-Sissi said as he and other Arab leaders participated in a summit in Beijing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced Thursday $69 million in humanitarian aid for Gaza, as well as $3 million for the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees.

Xi said war "should not continue indefinitely" while reiterating China's position on the need for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian crisis.

Hamas on Thursday said it told mediators that it would no longer take part in additional negotiations but that it was ready for a "complete agreement"  including an exchange of hostages and prisoners  as long as Israel stopped the war.

"Hamas and the Palestinian factions will not accept to be part of this policy by continuing [cease-fire] negotiations in light of the aggression, siege, starvation and genocide of our people," the Hamas statement read.

"Today, we informed the mediators of our clear position that if the occupation stops its war and aggression against our people in Gaza, our readiness [is] to reach a complete agreement that includes a comprehensive exchange deal," it added.

Negotiations between Israel and Hamas, which have been mediated by states including Egypt and Qatar, have been consistently delayed. Both sides blame the other for the lack of progress.

Israel's military reported Thursday it conducted airstrikes against more than 50 targets during the past day.

The Israel Defense Forces also carried out ground operations in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, in the Jabaliya area in northern Gaza, and in the central part of the Gaza Strip.

Israeli forces killed at least 12 Palestinians in a Thursday morning airstrike on Rafah, Gaza medics said. Another Palestinian civilian was killed in an airstrike on Shati refugee camp west of Gaza City in the enclave's north, the medics said.

In Rafah, communications services have been cut off due to "the ongoing aggression," Palestinian telecommunications company Jaza said Thursday in a statement.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that Israel needs a postwar plan "as soon as possible" and that the absence of such a plan could lead to chaos.

"And I think this underscores the imperative of having a plan for the day after, because in the absence of a plan for the day after, there won't be a day after," Blinken told reporters. "If not, Hamas will be left in charge, which is unacceptable. Or if not, we'll have chaos, lawlessness and a vacuum."

The U.N. official in charge of the Middle East peace process echoed those concerns Wednesday, saying a longer-term political strategy must be part of the current efforts to end the fighting.

"Let me be clear: The political framework and structures we establish now will play a significant role in the success or failure of what follows," Tor Wennesland told a meeting of the U.N. Security Council on the Middle East. "This requires us to plan and act deliberately and thoughtfully, knowing that today's decisions will not only shape the future governance of Gaza but also determine the trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict more broadly."

Calls for international action

At the United Nations, Algeria circulated a draft Security Council resolution calling for an immediate halt to Israel's military offensive in Rafah, in line with a provisional order from the International Court of Justice on May 24.

"We need a unified council, because waiting for the occupying power to voluntarily abide by international law and Security Council resolutions is pointless," Ambassador Amar Bendjama said at Wednesday's council meeting, referring to Israel. "The occupying authority made it clear they will not comply with the orders of the International Court of Justice."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel needs to carry out the Rafah offensive to achieve its goal of ensuring Hamas cannot operate in Gaza and threaten Israel in the future. Israel says four Hamas battalions remain in Rafah.

The U.S. State Department on Thursday said the draft resolution was not balanced because it does not blame Hamas for the conflict.

"It is imbalanced, and it fails to note a simple fact, which is that Hamas is to blame for this conflict," a State Department spokesperson told reporters in a news briefing. The spokesperson did not say whether the U.S. would veto the resolution.

Algeria's draft also calls for the release of all hostages still held by Hamas.

The Israel-Hamas war was triggered by the October 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli officials, and led to the capture of about 250 hostages. Israel's subsequent counteroffensive has killed more than 36,100 Palestinians, a death toll that includes both civilians and combatants, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

United Nations correspondent Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some material came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.

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Slovenian government endorses recognition of Palestinian state

By VOA News May 30, 2024

The Slovenian government approved a motion to recognize an independent Palestinian state, according to Prime Minister Robert Golob. The decision is awaiting approval from the parliament, a vote that likely will be a formality due to Golob's party majority.

"Today the government has decided to recognize Palestine as an independent and sovereign state," said Golob during a news conference in Ljubljana. He also called for the release of hostages and the end of hostility between Israel and Hamas.

"This is the message of peace," he said.

Writing on X, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz said Slovenia's move "rewards Hamas for murder," and he urged the Slovenian parliament to reject the recommendation.

While Slovenia originally initiated the process of recognition in early May, the country said it was waiting for the conflict in Gaza to improve. Golob has expedited the process after the latest attacks on Rafah by Israel that have caused more than 1 million Palestinians to flee the area.

The Slovenian government has also raised a Palestinian flag on its building in Ljubljana. The new flag stands with the flags of Slovenia and the EU.

Earlier this week, Spain, Ireland, and Norway all formally recognized a Palestinian state, which was followed by an angry reaction from Israel. Sweden, Cyprus, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Bulgaria had earlier recognized a Palestinian state. Malta, Britain and Australia may follow. Out of 27 EU countries, Slovenia would be the 10th country to recognize a Palestinian state.

On Tuesday, the parliament in Denmark rejected recognizing a Palestinian state. Both Germany and the United States have argued that a two-state solution to the matter is possible through dialogue, rejecting a unilateral approach. France has said that now is not the time to recognize a Palestinian state.

The conflict between Israel and Hamas began on October 7 with a Hamas terror attack on Israel in which 1,200 people were killed and 250 hostages were captured, according to Israeli officials. Israel's counteroffensive has killed over 36,100 Palestinians, including civilians and combatants, as reported by the Gaza Health Ministry.

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Spain's parliament passes amnesty law for Catalan separatists

By VOA News May 30, 2024

Spain's parliament approved a controversial law Thursday that grants amnesty to hundreds of Catalan separatists facing prosecution for their involvement in an unsuccessful 2017 secession bid.

The legislation passed by a narrow margin on a vote of 177-172. Spain's left-wing coalition government and two Catalan separatist parties supported the measure, but the conservative Popular Party and far-right Vox were against it.

Catalan separatists are part of the Catalan independence movement that seeks the independence of the Catalonia region from Spain.

Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont could benefit from the new amnesty law. Puigdemont, who is a fugitive from Spanish law, fled to Belgium after he led the illegal breakaway effort in October 2017.

The law could also help hundreds of citizens who participated in the secession attempt.

Experts have expressed concern over the legislation, warning that it will be applied on a case-by-case basis, creating inequality among Spanish citizens.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez proposed the amnesty law last year to gain the parliamentary support of two Catalan separatist parties  Junts and Esquerra Republicana de Catalunya  whose support was necessary for him to keep his position following an inconclusive election.

"In politics, like in life, forgiveness is more powerful than resentment," Sanchez posted on social media after the vote. "Today Spain is more prosperous and more united than in 2017. Living in harmony is the way forward."

Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press and Reuters.

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Africa leaders call for reform of 'unjust' debt structure to accelerate growth

By Mariama Diallo May 30, 2024

Africa has what it takes to transform and grow its economy but faces rigid barriers, including a sometimes unfriendly global financial architecture, say leaders who gathered in Nairobi this week for the African Development Bank's annual summit.

While the continent's average GDP growth is estimated to have slowed in 2023, African economies remain resilient, Africa Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina said at the meeting.

"The African Development Bank projects that Africa's real GDP growth will rise from 3.1 percent in 2023 to 3.7 percent in 2024 and 4.3 percent in 2025. Importantly, more than half  that is 31 countries  achieved higher GDP growth rates in 2023 than in 2022," Adesina said.

GDP, or gross domestic product, is used to measure the economic health of a country.

As Africa's bank, the AFDB  which turns 60 this year  has the responsibility to mobilize financing to develop the continent, said Adesina, the former Nigerian agriculture minister.

That work is done, he added, against the backdrop of major global challenges including "heightened geopolitical tensions, the disruption of global value chains, rising food and energy crisis, increasing debt service payments and, of course, the devastating effects of climate change ... from droughts to floods, cyclones to unpredictable weather patterns, the loss of lives and poverty. And enormous fiscal cost to countries."

Heavy rains and flash floods recently killed hundreds and displaced thousands across East Africa, where the U.N. estimates that 1.6 million people were affected.

In Kenya, the rains killed more than 280 people, displaced about 53,000, and destroyed thousands of crops.

Kenya's President William Ruto was among those who attended the summit, along with leaders and officials from Zimbabwe, Somalia, Namibia, Rwanda, Congo-Brazzaville, Libya and others.

Ruto said with the world's 10 fastest growing economies being in Africa, the continent has what it takes to succeed, but it faces the rigid barrier of the global financial architecture that is misaligned with the continent's aspirations.

"We routinely borrow from international markets at rates far above those paid by the rest of the world, often up to 8 or 10 times more," he said.

Ruto, Adesina and other leaders called for a reform of the global financial architecture to mobilize even more financial resources they say are needed to accelerate Africa's growth and development.

"The debt problem faced by many countries, which consume the largest share of national resources and starve [the] development agenda, we are a direct result of [this] unjust financial architecture," Ruto said. "This situation not only makes debt unsustainable but also undermines growth, prevents countries from investing in resilience."

That sentiment was echoed by African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, who said the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which tested economies worldwide and especially in Africa, is still being felt.

He said that all of the African Union's member states have been caught in the spiral of an ever-pernicious debt which keeps them under the control of lenders with suffocating demands, despite numerous promises to alleviate this burden.

An economic outlook published during the summit by the bank lays out a mixture of policies that are needed to address some of the continent's challenges. These include promoting local production and diversifying import sources to address rising food prices, and helping reform the current global financial architecture to help with debt restructuring.

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Orange Jesus

a very stable genius, with a very good brain) and a very high IQmy great and unmatched wisdomthe chosen one and so great looking and smart

With the global dynamic that we have, we have not lived up to our oversight obligation here on this committee because you all are obsessed with the border, because you bend the knee to the Orange Jesus, as you refer to him across the aisle. Thats what this is about. And we have failed, failed, our jurisdiction on this committee, so Im tired of being lectured. A fed-up Democratic Congressman slammed his GOP colleagues for caring more about loyalty to Donald Trump than about actual issues of national security. The impassioned speech from Rep. Rob Menendez (D-NJ) came during the Republican-dominated Homeland Security Committees impeachment hearing for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

"Orange Jesus" is a colloquial term often used in the context of video games, particularly in games that involve random chance elements, such as loot boxes, card packs, or any system that involves random number generation (RNG). The term is a playful and humorous way of referring to the luck or RNG that players pray to or rely on to get favorable outcomes. Orange refers to the color often associated with rare or legendary items in many games. For example, in some games, items are color-coded by rarity, with orange or gold indicating the highest rarity. Jesus is used metaphorically to represent a deity or higher power. In this context, players are not literally referring to the religious figure but rather to a symbolic figure they "pray" to for good RNG.

"Orange Jesus" in the context of Donald Trump is a term that has emerged in political discussions and commentary. It combines the nickname "Orange" (referring to Trump's distinctive tan) and "Jesus" (implying a messianic or savior-like figure for his supporters). This term is often used either humorously or pejoratively to describe how some of Trump's supporters view him with unwavering loyalty and fervor, almost as if he is a messianic figure. It underscores the intense devotion and near-religious fervor that some of his base have for him. The term has been used in media and by commentators to highlight the cult-like following that Trump has among certain segments of the population, where his words and actions are often defended or justified regardless of controversies or criticisms he faces.

Donald Trump, leading up to Easter, compared himself to Jesus and promoted his $60 MAGA Bibles. By April 2024 Trump was using the grift of selling patriotic bibles to further the narrative that he is on the same level as religious figures and martyrs. Rev. Loran Livingston, the senior pastor of Central Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, criticized the Trump-endorsed "God Bless the USA Bible" this month as both blasphemous and disgusting.

A video from the Dilley Meme Team, a group of video creators that support Trump for president, is called "God Made Trump" and it's played at some Trump campaign events. Trump shared the eerie video 05 January 2024, on the eve of the Iowa caucuses, which proclaims him Gods chosen emissary on earth, sent to deliver America back to prosperity. It imitates Paul Harveys famous So God Made a Farmer video. The three-minute clip, posted to Truth Social on Sunday evening, opens on grainy footage of an LP turning on a record player, broadcasting an apparently ancient sermon in which the speaker intones: And on 14 June 1946, God looked down on his planned paradise and said: I need a caretaker. So God gave us Trump 

What follows  set to a picture of the Republican tycoon as a toddler, followed by a montage of scenes from his presidency  is an extraordinary expression of Trumps Messiah Complex, bordering on sacrilege. God said, I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, fix this country. Work all day. Fight the Marxists...."

Robert Jones is the president and founder of the Public Religion Research Institute, noted "it's not really Jesus that we're getting the comparison to but, you know, the one you hear in evangelical circles more often is a comparison to, like, the Persian king Cyrus from the Book of Isaiah in the Hebrew Bible. And that's important because there, Cyrus is presented as an ungodly king who nonetheless frees a group of Jews who are held captive in Babylon. So by comparison, Trump here is the powerful, strong, authoritarian liberator, someone who by definition and maybe even by necessity is even above the law and who alone is capable of liberating conservative, white Christians from their oppressors."

Millions of conservative Christians believe, as an article of faith, that Trump is a martyr who could, through his suffering, make the United States into a Christian nation. Trump re-published a statement by (controversial) journalist Wayne Allen Root, in which he called him the King of Israel, saying, Thanks to Wayne Allen Root for the very kind words. Root had described Trump in a tweet as the greatest president not only for America, but also for the Jews and Israel, in the history of mankind, adding, The Jews in Israel love him as if he is the king of Israel. They love him as if he represented the second coming of the Lord.

Because his use of, in some cases, messianic language make headlines in quick succession, many people assume that Trump has finally lost his mind, that he thinks he was Jesus, that he believes he was the second return of the Savior, and that he was the King of Israel, meaning he was Luke Skywalker and Harry Potter in one body. People have begun to openly wonder if he was suffering from dementia or a dissociative psychotic episode (which was frankly an insult to those who suffer from these conditions). As for others, they believe that perhaps he suffers from a low IQ and does not understand that the presidency was not a game, or that he was an evil genius determined to turn America into a totalitarian state with the help of his new and trusted friend Kim Jong-un.

This rhetoric, which considers liberals to be provocative, irritable, and easily offended, was welcomed by American far-right extremists. It allows them to be lovers of freedom, who call things by their proper names, and who offer an intelligent solution to difficult problems. It allows them to be the real Americans they are. On the other hand, there are ridiculous leftists who are oblivious to what was going on and cannot be trusted not to run away after every distraction initiated by the president.

People who live in states hundreds of miles from Washington, DC, and have never been involved in politics, appreciate being given a glimpse into something they've never known before. Why can't the presidency be like reality TV, in a country where there are few restrictions on bringing cameras into courtrooms and expressing an opinion about whether someone was guilty or not before they are convicted? Why should Donald Trump use the language everyone else uses, the sober and refined language that says more than it says and was only intended to communicate with a handful of senior officials and diplomats?

It was true that he acts spoiled and childish, and it was true that he exceeds the limits of what was right. Yes, he throws cultural expressions like chosen one into conversations and thanks people for calling him the second coming of God on social media. But what's behind him raising the stakes this week? These days, he's in the mood for a 2020 election campaign, eager to distinguish himself from his rivals. He knows that inciting people to madness about racism in gatherings will not only be enough, and it was no secret to him that he also needs to laugh with them, share jokes with them, and enjoy a sense of humor, to be a president who does not address lawyers who were educated at Harvard University, but rather people who like The Apprentice and Not being PC".

In the 2020 electino, 81% of evangelical voters voted for then-Republican candidate Donald Trump, and in 2024 millions of them were preparing to repeat the same voting pattern during the upcoming November elections. President Trump enjoys strong support from conservative evangelicals, despite his differences in behavior and morals from them. This support was not affected by the Democrats campaigns against Trump, nor even by the negative testimonies provided by senior officials who worked with him in the White House.

Historian Christine De Mez specializes in the relationship of American Christian movements to political affairs, and is currently studying at Cavin University, one of the most important Christian universities in the United States. "White evangelicals' support for President Trump has puzzled many observers. Evangelicals have long pegged themselves as protectors of "family and family values" and considered themselves the "moral majority." But Trump is hardly a model of these moral or family values. It seems to many that the relationship was traditionally utilitarian, as Trump will appoint conservative judges to various courts, especially the Supreme Court, and will defend their religious freedom and advance their interests, and in return they will provide him with their electoral support.

These are words that touch on the truth, but describing this relationship as merely a benefit is somewhat simplistic, as there is a broad sharing of values ??and policies that bring together conservative white evangelicals with Trumps positions on a wide range of issues, including: Support law enforcement and border security; Opposing the Black Lives Matter protests; and beware of immigrants. Like Trump, evangelicals believe in a Christian nationalist understanding of so-called American greatness.

For decades, white evangelicals have taken it upon themselves to restore American greatness and have looked to strong leaders who are not afraid to use military force or harsh political tools to achieve order and security. This came after they felt increasingly marginalized during the era of former President Barack Obama, as many of them were searching for a strong man who could protect their interests and expand their power by any means necessary, and Trump promised to achieve this.

Evangelicals who did not vote for Trump in 2016 oppose him in 2020, but the matter is different among his supporters. Many evangelicals who voted for him 4 years ago are very happy for him to fulfill his promises in different ways.

Many conservative evangelicals believe that patriarchal leadership is so-called part of Gods plan for humanity and many have come to believe that rough masculinity, fueled by testosterone, is their main requirement for exercising that leadership in a treacherous world. This aggressive driving may come with some side effects, but this can be forgiven, because the roughness that makes men labeled dangerous also makes them heroes. Many evangelicals say they would not choose Trump to become a pastor or school teacher, explaining that they are looking for a tough, "aggressive" leader who will protect their interests and expand their power.

The Bible speaks clearly about welcoming the stranger, about loving our neighbors as ourselves, and about loving our enemies. The Trump administration appears to be actively undermining these values, along with efforts for racial justice that many Christians believe is a religious duty. However, many evangelicals see Trump's opposition to abortion and his defense of religious freedom (for Christians) as an indication that he promotes evangelical values as contained in the Bible, so there are deep divisions within American Christian communities, and even among evangelicals themselves, over whether Trump supports Or undermines biblical values.

Many evangelicals believe that Trump's recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is a sign that he is carrying out the "divine will". There is a strong presence of what is called Islamophobia among conservative white evangelical movements, which doubled after the September 11 terrorist attacks. In addition, there is a long history of Christian Zionism, and many evangelicals believe that Trumps recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is a sign that he is carrying out the divine will.

According to a recent Pew Research study, 58% of Protestants are likely to vote for Trump, however that number rises to 82% with evangelicals. Many Protestants, especially non-white Christians, understand the social implications of their faith in very different ways than white evangelicals. Rather than embracing Christian nationalism, black Protestants are more likely to draw on the tradition of prophetic Christianity, lament the injustices of the past, and seek to expand the cause of freedom to include marginalized groups. While conservative evangelicals widely embrace the us versus them principle, such that this principle has become a justification for their positions in support of Trump and his policies.

Trump is most popular among older evangelicals, as many younger evangelicals are more progressive on issues such as gay and transgender rights, immigration reform, environmental issues, and more wary of culture war politics in general. However, younger evangelicals are also less involved in political activities such as voting.

Some evangelicals are terrified of Trump and evangelical support for him. A few prominent women, such as Beth Moore and Jane Hatmaker, have expressed their opposition and disappointment in their fellow Christians. But many white evangelicals believe Trump will advance the interests of American Christianity and are happy to support him.

Over the year 2024, judicial authorities have brought criminal charges against Trump in four different cases, each of which could lead to prison time. Among these accusations, one of the lawsuits accused him of illegally paying money to an adult film star to conceal a relationship they were said to have had. n a controversial move, Trump compared himself to "the modern-day Mandela." These statements came during a period of intense judicial pressure on him.

Trump sparked controversy in October 2023 after publishing a drawing in which he appears sitting next to Jesus Christ in the courtroom, as if they were being tried together. The drawing showed a pouting Donald Trump in his unbuttoned suitcoat, red tie dangling, shoulders hunched, golden hair jutting out like the bill of a ball cap. In other words, its a very accurate portrait. To Trumps left, broad-shouldered and attentive, sits Jesus as most conservative Christians picture him, dressed in white robes, with flowing blond hair, and a full beard. This act made the campaign of Democratic President Joe Biden, who is nominated for a second term, strongly criticize him. For her part, campaign spokeswoman Yasmine Harris commented on these comparisons in a sarcastic tone, stressing that it is difficult to imagine that someone would reach the point of self-indulgence and compare himself to Jesus Christ and Nelson Mandela within a week or more.







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Operation Iron Swords - Day 237 - 30 May 2024

At any point, Hamas could have ended this burgeoning tragedy to

surrender and release every hostage.

Hamas instigated and owns this humanitarian catastrophe.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA)

Benny Gantz's party, a member of the Israeli war government, announced on Thursday that it had submitted a draft law to dissolve the Knesset and hold early elections. He said in a statement, The head of the State Camp, MK Panina Tamno Sheta, submitted a draft law to dissolve the 25th Knesset, in continuation of the step led by the head of the State Camp, Minister Benny Gantz, to reach elections with broad consensus before October, one year after the massacre.

Gantz had given the war government until June 8 to announce what he called a clear national strategy regarding the war in the Gaza Strip and the tension on the northern front. In a press conference a few days ago, Gantz called on the war government to approve a 6-point plan for the conflict in Gaza by June 8. He threatened that if his expectations were not met, he would withdraw his centrist party from the war government headed by Benjamin Netanyahu. Our army has been waging an existential war since October 7, Gantz said, stressing that victory in Gaza has not been achieved yet.

Gantz added, "We must work to return our citizens to the north by next September." He sent a message to Netanyahu, saying that the decision was in his hands. Gantz accused a section of politicians of lacking responsibility and caring for their personal interests. Gantz added, "Israel's ship is heading toward the rocks because of personal considerations that have taken control of the country's leadership." He also called for a better recruitment law for ultra-Orthodox Jews that is in line with the requirements of the current stage.

Before that, Gantz and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant criticized Netanyahu for not having a plan for who would rule Gaza after the war. During the past few days, angry demonstrations were held in Tel Aviv, organized by relatives and supporters of Israeli hostages who were held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza in the October 7 attacks, and the demonstrators demanded their release.

The Likud party responded to the bill: "In the midst of a war, Israel needs unity and not division. The dissolution of the unity government is a reward for Sinvar, a surrender to international pressure and a fatal blow to the efforts to free our hostages."

Minister Gadi Eisenkot said yesterday at the Meir Dagan conference on security and strategy, that Israel must go to elections this fall : "between September and December". According to him, "This is important for building trust. The tree walk in Gaza will end within weeks, and then an agreed election date should be set, and if not - do everything to bring about the elections in a democratic way as early as possible."

"The decision to enter the government was clear," said the minister. "But the length of stay and departure are more complex things, because when you are inside you understand the full picture in Gaza, Lebanon, Judea and Samaria, Syria, Iraq, Yemen and especially Iran." However, he said, "I cannot ignore the fact that recently our influence has diminished. Political and other considerations also entered into the decisions that we voted on mainly in chambers."

Likud responded to Eisenkot's words and said: "Eisenkot and Gantz are looking for excuses to end the war without achieving its goals, and to withdraw from the government in the midst of the war. Instead of engaging in the pursuit of victory, they are engaged in petty politics." In the state camp they replied: "Instead of leading to achievements following the maneuvering on the battlefield, Netanyahu is maneuvering between political landmines and refraining from making decisions for the sake of the country. You don't win wars with slogans."

Gantz called on Netanyahu in April to go to the elections within six months. "On the anniversary of the war, we must return to the people and ask for their trust," Gantz explained at a press conference. He also said "what is happening in the corridors of government, in the networks, in the streets, is dangerous, and must be stopped." The Likud party accused Gantz after his speech of engaging in "petty politics".

The chairman of the "Israel Beitno" party, Avigdor Lieberman, is holding a political dialogue with former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, with the aim of bringing about a political union that could serve as a "governing alternative" to Likud and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This was published for the first time today (Thursday) in the evening news at Khan 11.

Lieberman is interested in a broad union of party leaders on the right, who oppose Netanyahu and are interested in changing the government. He wants Bennett to join him in a joint list, when he is at the head of it. The "Israel Beitno" party said: "There are no proposals, everything is rumours. Naturally, everyone is talking to everyone, there is nothing currently on the table. Lieberman is engaged and active these days only in creating a governing alternative and organizing properly in order to overthrow the government."

Officials in "Israel Beitno" and "Tikva Hadasha" today confirmed news here that talks are taking place between them about the possibility of running together in the upcoming elections. In the program this morning on the B network, it was announced that the parties said that the talks are still not concrete because there is no date for the elections, but they explained that these kinds of talks take time, and that is why the talks have begun.

Sources in the opposition said this week that in Beish Atid, in Israel our home and the state right (the faction that represents Tikva Hadesh) a decision was made to step up the moves and attempts to overthrow the government and combine arms between the various factions for this purpose.

War Termination

The terrorist organization Hamas announced this evening (Thursday) that it will not advance in negotiations for the release of hostages until Israel stops the war. Even earlier in Israel, it was estimated that Hamas was not interested in moving forward at this stage in negotiations for a deal to release the hostages, and that it would reject the Israeli position that was put before the mediators - this was published this evening in the evening news here 11 from several sources familiar with the negotiations. In the meantime, tonight the political-security cabinet will meet and discuss, among other things, the negotiations and the continuation of the operation in Rafah.

In Israel, they explain that several processes are taking place that will lead Hamas to postpone contacts at this stage - the international pressure on Israel and the recognition of a Palestinian state by several countries in the world, the imminent dissolution of the War Cabinet, the strained relations between Washington and Jerusalem, as well as continued flexibility on the part of Israel in every proposal previously submitted to Hamas. In the evening news at Kan 11 it was reported that Israel expects Qatar to put pressure on Hamas, in order to move forward in the talks between the parties. Yesterday, Qatar presented the Israeli position to Hamas, which includes flexibility in terms of the number of abductees to be released in the first phase, which is defined as humanitarian.

In the Saudi newspaper Al-Sharq, it was published earlier today by senior Hamas officials that they did indeed reject the Israeli offer to return to contacts. According to the report, a senior member of the terrorist organization said that they refuse to return to negotiations before stopping the war. It was also reported that the mediators received a new Israeli proposal, but Hamas announced that they rejected it outright. In the meantime, the Islamic Jihad published another video today of the abducted Alexander Trupanov , in which he says that his condition is good.

Here in the news it was reported yesterday that the Israeli proposal for a deal to release hostages was officially forwarded to mediators and in Israel they are waiting for an answer from Qatar on the question of Hamas' willingness to continue negotiations based on the proposal. The document that was forwarded to the mediators presents the Israeli position on the outline of a hostage deal and according to sources, it expresses a willingness to be flexible regarding the number of hostages to be released in the first phase, which is defined as the "humanitarian" phase.

The head of the National Assembly, Tzachi Hanegbi, who is in Cyprus as part of a delegation dealing with the issue of the abductees, said yesterday: "We are meeting with the families and talking with them, it is a nightmare that cannot even be imagined, it is hard for us to understand the intensity of the nightmare that the families are experiencing. There are 125 people we need to bring home, we deal with this every day." In this news it was reported two days ago that a dispute emerged between the members of the war cabinet regarding Hamas's demand for an end to the war. Some ministers believe that this section can be negotiated, but Prime Minister Netanyahu and his entourage continue to claim that agreeing to the demand is surrendering to Hamas.

As the war between Israel and Hamas continues for about 8 months, questions arise about when and how it will end, and the expected scenarios for governing the Gaza Strip after the war. Israeli media outlets, including Haaretz, highlight the importance of answering such questions to determine the features of the future.

There will be more incidents and mistakes, such as targeting World Central Kitchen employees or United Nations humanitarian employees, more international court rulings against Israel, and more diplomatic isolation, if Netanyahu does not have answers to those questions, according to  Haaretz . Israeli political analyst, Joab Stern, confirms that Netanyahu "indeed does not have answers to these questions" and therefore he "refuses to answer them." Netanyahu "does not like to make major or strategic decisions," but rather "takes decisions and small steps forward," according to Stern's interview with Al-Hurra website.

But on the other hand, Israeli political analyst Eddie Cohen describes Haaretz's proposal as very left-wing and that it is "against the right, the government, and Netanyahu." He believes that this proposal is overly arrogant, because no one knows how the war will end, according to his interview with the Al-Hurra website.

Palestinian political analyst and head of the European Council for International Relations and Consulting, based in Paris, Adel al-Ghoul, stresses that "the war will not end except with an agreement." The agreement will relate to "the release of prisoners and detainees from both parties," after which there will be a "ceasefire," according to his interview with the Al-Hurra website. Al-Ghoul points out that the goal of eliminating Hamas cannot be achieved, and after 8 months, the movement still exists and has the ability to withstand, and has distributed its military effort throughout the past months, and realizes that the war will last for a long time. Therefore, the end of the war will be with an agreement, because Israel will not be able to liberate those kidnapped by Hamas, and releasing those captives will only happen with a deal, according to Al-Ghoul.

As for Stern, he talks about scenarios for the end of the Gaza war, which is to end completely through a big deal. The war is also likely to continue at a relatively low pace, according to the Israeli political analyst. We heard Israeli officials talking about months of battle, but it will be on a relatively small scale, and therefore we cannot say that the end of the war is on the horizon, according to Stern.

On Wednesday, Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi said that the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip could continue for seven more months to achieve the goal of eliminating the Palestinian movement. He added in an interview with the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan), "We may have another seven months of fighting to consolidate our success and achieve our goals, that is, to destroy Hamas's authority and its military capabilities."

For his part, Cohen asserts that the war will end with the elimination of Hamas, cleansing the Gaza Strip of the movement, and the evacuation of weapons from Gaza, and after that, every incident will be new, Cohen stresses. To talk about the end of the war, it is necessary to know who the Palestinian leaders are, and if there are moderate figures, they can renew the political diplomatic path, according to the Israeli political analyst.

What happens after the war ends? Netanyahu refuses to answer that question, and believes that discussing this means accepting the Palestinians conditions and the return of Palestinian authority to Gaza, according to Stern. He points out that talking about after the war is one of the things that Netanyahu wants to prevent, and for this reason he refuses to discuss the issue. Stern believes that "there is no escape from the entry of various elements into Gaza, and the possibility of Hamas taking control of the Strip, even if Netanyahu prevents the return of the Palestinian Authority there." The Israeli political analyst stresses that "chaos in the Gaza Strip is not in Israel's interest."

As for Al-Ghoul, he points out that Israel does not have a plan for after the war, how to deal with the Gaza Strip, and who will rule the Strip. He believes that Israel realizes that there must be an agreement with Arab and international bodies for the presence of security forces to maintain security in the Gaza Strip during the transitional period. A Palestinian government must be formed that enjoys international recognition and support because it will supervise the reconstruction of the destroyed Strip, according to Al-Ghoul.

Stern stresses that it is not possible to prevent a recurrence of the Hamas attack, except with cooperation between the Israeli and Palestinian parties, and reducing friction. But in the current situation, this cannot happen, because (the friction is great) and Israel seeks to control the Palestinian areas. Stern believes that Israel cannot control all the regions continuously because that is (beyond its tolerance and ability).

For his part, Al-Ghoul points out that the main dilemma after the end of the war relates to "the fate of the Al-Qassam Brigades and other armed factions such as the Al-Quds Brigades." This dilemma can be solved by establishing an independent Palestinian state and supporting the two-state solution, according to Al-Ghoul.

The United Nations has long supported the vision of a two-state solution living side by side within secure and recognized borders. The Palestinians want to establish a state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Palestinians are represented by the Palestinian Authority, which exercises "limited self-rule" in the West Bank, and Hamas has run the Gaza Strip since 2007.

Therefore, Al-Ghoul confirms that after the ceasefire there will be political negotiations that will lead to a two-state solution and the establishment of a Palestinian state whose form will be agreed upon, and which will be responsible for maintaining security in the Gaza Strip, and thus all armed brigades will be dissolved and joined the ranks of the Palestinian army. Therefore, the state will be solely responsible for border security between the Palestinian and Israeli states, according to Al-Ghoul.

At the same time, "reforms must be carried out in the Palestinian Authority, fight corruption, and change the government," and there must be a change in the Palestinian leadership itself, and a change in all the leadership of the security services, Al-Ghoul adds. Thus, there will be comprehensive change on both sides of the Palestinian and Israeli governments, and thus there will be a change in the shape of the political map in the region and the war will end irreversibly, ensuring security for Israel and peace for the Palestinian people, according to Al-Ghoul.

But on the other hand, Cohen stresses that talk about continuing resistance and establishing a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital (will not happen). In previous statements to Al-Hurra website, an Israeli diplomatic source revealed that the current Israeli government, headed by Benjamin Netanyahu,  does not support the two-state solution .

For his part, Stern believes that the current dilemma can be solved by implementing the "two-state solution." Therefore, Israel needs a new government that presents a clear strategic vision to resolve all contradictions, according to the Israeli political analyst. The separation between Israelis and Palestinians and good neighborliness are important, but common life is not possible here, Stern asserts.

Operational Update

Cairo News: A high-ranking Egyptian source denies the existence of an agreement between Cairo and Tel Aviv to reopen the Rafah border crossing in southern Gaza. According to what was reported by Cairo News Channel, the high-ranking source confirmed that there is no truth to what some media reported about the existence of an Egyptian-Israeli agreement regarding the reopening of the Rafah crossing. The source stressed that Egypt adheres to the complete Israeli withdrawal from the crossing as a condition for resuming its work.

A high-ranking Egyptian source had stated that Cairo is determined to continue its efforts to support the Palestinians and preserve their historical rights by all possible means. He pointed out that Egypt confirmed its firm position regarding dealing at the Rafah crossing only with Palestinian and international parties, and would not adopt coordination with the Israeli side. He explained that the Egyptian security delegation is intensifying its efforts to reactivate the armistice and prisoner exchange agreement in coordination with Qatar and the United States. He stated that Egypt informed all concerned parties that Israel's insistence on committing massacres and escalation in the Palestinian Rafah weakens the negotiation paths and leads to dire consequences.

According to reports by public broadcaster Kan, Israel has agreed to withdraw its troops from the crossing to facilitate its reopening. Israel and Egypt agreed to reopen the Rafah border crossing in the southern Gaza Strip for humanitarian aid, following pressure from the United States. The crossing had been closed since May 7, when the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) took control of the Gaza side. Egypt had refused to reopen it until it was returned to Palestinian control, to avoid being seen as complicit in the Israeli military operation in Gaza's southernmost city.

According to reports by public broadcaster Kan, Israel has agreed to withdraw its troops from the crossing to facilitate its reopening. Despite efforts to find an international body to manage the crossing, no agency has been found yet. Consequently, Israel has agreed to temporarily allow the border crossing to be controlled by Palestinians from Gaza who have been vetted to ensure they have no ties to Hamas or other terrorist groups.

As military offensive is disturbing the international aid flow, IDF lifts a ban on the sale of food to Gaza from Israel and the West Bank. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) lifted a ban on the sale of food to Gaza from Israel and the West Bank, according to Palestinian officials, businessmen and international aid workers who spoke to Reuters. The decision comes as the ground offensive continues to disturb the flow of international aid, the United Nations stated on Wednesday. The IDF authorities allowed Gazan traders to resume their purchases from Israeli and Palestinian suppliers of food such as fresh fruit, vegetables and dairy goods in May, days after starting the assault on Rafah, Gaza's southmost city, said the sources.

"Israel phoned Gazan distributors who had been purchasing goods from the West Bank and Israel before the war," the report cited Ayed Abu Ramadan, chair of the Gaza Chamber of Commerce. "It told them it was ready to coordinate the pick-up of goods." The shift marks the first time any goods produced inside Israel or the West Bank have been allowed into Gaza since October 7, highlighted the report.

Asked by Reuters about the resumption of deliveries, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said it was seeking ways to boost humanitarian aid and increase the amount of food for sale in Gaza. "Allowing for the private sector to bring some food into the Gaza Strip is part of those efforts to increase the amount of food that's coming in," said the COGAT spokesperson Shimon Freedman.

Operational Update - Gaza

About a million Palestinians took refuge in Rafah, on the southern end of the Strip, in the wake of the Israeli attacks on most parts of Gaza during the war that has been going on for more than seven months. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Refugees (UNRWA) revealed on Thursday that 32,000 people fled the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip during the past two days. Despite international condemnation, the Israeli army, on Thursday, continues its attack on the city of Rafah, where its war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip is focused, after it announced, on Wednesday, control of the Philadelphia axis, the strategic border strip between the Strip and Egypt.

Military expert Colonel Hatem Al-Falahi said that the military confrontations in the city of Rafah , south of the Gaza Strip, began to take different forms, noting that controlling residential areas requires military force that Israel does not currently possess. Al-Falahi added, in an analysis of the military scene in the Gaza Strip, that the resistance factions do not have specific locations so that it can be said that the occupation has overtaken them, explaining that they take their positions according to the circumstances and capabilities available to them.

He pointed out that the resistance is well aware that the occupation forces will advance in more than one axis. Therefore, it is trying to deal with all of these axes in different ways, including appearing behind enemy lines, as he put it. Al-Falahi based his words on the confrontations currently taking place in the Al-Shoka area, which the occupation forces entered 3 weeks ago, and said that these confrontations confirm that the resistance factions are still present and have the ability to move and maneuver.

Regarding the Philadelphia axis , Al-Falahi said that the occupation forces entered the border strip with Egypt, but they will not remain there for a long time because this conflicts with the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty , adding that Israel is trying to hand over the Rafah land crossing to the Palestinian Authority according to a plan that may be agreed upon.  "Arabic." Al-Falahi suggested that the resistance is not using more than 25% of its strength to confront the brigades that Israel sent to Rafah so that it can deal with the 7-month period that the occupation army is talking about.

Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi warned in an interview with the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) that the war in Gaza may continue an additional seven months to enhance our success and achieve our goals, that is, to destroy Hamas authority and military capabilities. He continued, "The fighting in Rafah is not a futile war," reiterating that the goal is to end Hamas' rule in Gaza and prevent it and its allies from attacking Israel.

The forces of the 98th Division destroyed the route of the tunnel from which seven hostages were rescued last week. The underground was destroyed using engineering tools, mine explosions and other technological means by Yalam fighters and this after ruling out any suspicion of the presence of additional abductees in the area. In response to anti-tank fire fired from an UNRA school towards the force, the 12th Brigade's combat team went into action in the school complex where a mosque and a clinic are also located.

The forces of the 98th Division continue to operate in the heart of the Jabalia camp. The combat team of the 7th Brigade located weapons, including Kalashnikov weapons and cartridges, and killed terrorists approaching them by shooting tanks. The 99th Division led by the 679th Brigade Combat Team continue to operate in the center of the Strip, during the last day the forces located a weapons depot in the area.

The forces of Division 162 continue to operate in the Rafah area, in one of the encounters, the combat team of the Givati ??Brigade identified three terrorists who fired at the forces, an Air Force fighter jet attacked and eliminated the terrorists. The combat teams of the Nahal Brigade and the 12th Brigade located in the last day many terrorist infrastructures and means of warfare, including anti-tank positions, tunnel shafts, an ammunition depot, cargoes and more.

In the last day, missiles were fired at Israeli forces in the Jabalia area, the forces identified two terrorists coming out of the building from which the shooting was carried out. Led by the Air Force and the Gaza Division, an aircraft attacked and eliminated the terrorists. In addition, Air Force fighter jets attacked over 50 targets throughout the Strip.

The Israeli army also said that the three soldiers who were announced killed yesterday in Rafah were killed as a result of the explosion of a tunnel hole that was dug in a medical clinic, during their raid and combing of the area. The army confirmed, in a statement, that the site was raided after the Israeli force was exposed to anti-tank missiles from inside an UNRWA school, he said. The army added that its forces found weapons and military equipment, and openings leading to a network of tunnels between the schools classrooms, according to the statement.

The Israeli army announced the bombing of two tunnels in the Jabalia area in the northern Gaza Strip, from which it said this May it had recovered 7 bodies of Israeli detainees who were held by Palestinian factions in Gaza. The army published a video clip on the X platform, which it said shows the process of bombing the two tunnels in the Jabalia area, from which seven bodies belonging to Israeli detainees were recovered in a previous stop in May. The army added, "The two tunnels are separate, but they are connected to one system that has now been destroyed."

On Wednesday night, Thursday, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society announced that two of its paramedics were killed in a direct strike carried out by the Israeli army on an ambulance belonging to it in western Rafah. In Gaza, the army announced that it had found about 20 tunnels in the Philadelphia Corridor area, which it says are used by armed factions in the Strip for smuggling. On Wednesday, the Israeli army said that its forces took control of a buffer zone along the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, meaning that Israel effectively controls the entire land border of the Palestinian Strip.

Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said that Hamas used the Philadelphia axis as an oxygen artery and to permanently smuggle weapons into the Gaza Strip. Hagari added that Israeli forces "found about 20 tunnels in the Philadelphia axis area," including "advanced terrorist infrastructure east of Rafah, 1.5 km long and about 100 meters from the Rafah crossing." However, Egypt denied the existence of tunnels on the border with the Gaza Strip, and a senior Egyptian official accused Israel of using these allegations to justify the continuation of the Rafah operation and prolonging the war for political purposes, according to what was reported by the Cairo News Channel, which is close to Egyptian intelligence.

The Philadelphia axis is considered a buffer zone and is subject to the peace agreement between Egypt and Israel, but two weeks after the Israeli military operation in the city of Rafah on the Egyptian border, the Israeli army took control of half of the axis, according to its assurances to the Al-Hurra website, which raised questions about the reasons and repercussions. The 17-kilometre-long axis served as a buffer zone on the Gaza Strips border with Egypt, and Israeli forces patrolled it until 2005, when Israel withdrew its forces as part of the disengagement plan from the Gaza Strip.

Despite the strong international condemnation of the Israeli bombing, on Sunday, of a camp for displaced people in Rafah, which according to the Hamas Ministry of Health in Gaza killed 45 people, the Israeli army continues the attack that it began on May 7 on the crowded city in the southern Gaza Strip, with the aim, according to it, of eliminating the last battalions of Hamas. Israel continued its strikes on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, despite an order issued by the International Court of Justice to stop attacks on the city, where half of Gaza's 2.3 million people had previously taken refuge. Israeli tanks advanced to the heart of Rafah for the first time on Tuesday, despite the International Court of Justice ordering Israel to stop the attack on the city.

In its ruling issued on Friday, the International Court of Justice said that Israel did not explain how it would maintain the safety of the evacuated Rafah residents and how it would provide them with food, water and medicine. In its ruling, the court also called on Hamas to immediately and unconditionally release the hostages it took on October 7.

The Israeli army continues to ask residents and displaced people to evacuate specific areas of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip and move towards the humanitarian area in Al-Mawasi, amid Palestinian accusations of pushing residents toward death and warnings of a new humanitarian disaster. On Wednesday, Rafah witnessed strikes and street fighting between the Israeli army and Hamas, the day after Israeli tanks were stationed in the center of the city. The Rafah crossing with Egypt has been closed since the entry of Israeli forces, and the entry of basic humanitarian aid to the residents of the Gaza Strip has almost stopped.

Since the army issued a warning to evacuate the eastern neighborhoods of Rafah on May 6, before its tanks entered, about one million people, according to the United Nations, have fled the city, where more than 1.4 million Palestinians were crowded, most of them displaced from other areas.

Is the military operation still limited or has it become comprehensive? Questions accompany the new evacuation demands directed by the Israeli army to residents of several neighborhoods in different areas of the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. In Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Civil Defense reported that three bodies were recovered from the rubble of a house that was hit by an Israeli bombing. Palestinian health officials said that several people were injured on Wednesday morning by Israeli fire in the eastern region of Rafah, where they said some aid stores caught fire. Residents said that the continuous Israeli bombing during the night destroyed many homes in the area, from which most people fled after Israeli orders to evacuate.

the Al-Qassam Brigades announced that its fighters in the city of Rafah targeted 8 Israeli soldiers with anti-personnel devices, killing and wounding them. This is east of Al-Tanour neighborhood and next to Al-Shouka municipality. The Al-Qassam Brigades announced the targeting of 6 Israeli Merkava tanks with Al-Yassin 105 shells in the Yabna camp in Rafah in the south, Gaza City and Beit Lahia in the north. It added that its fighters targeted an Israeli force barricaded in a house with a TGB shell, killing and wounding its members in the middle of the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip.

The Al-Qassam Brigades also announced the targeting of the occupation forces penetrating behind Tal Zorob in the city of Rafah, south of the Gaza Strip, with mortar shells. In Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip, Al-Qassam fighters detonated an explosive device against occupation soldiers riding a tank, leaving them dead and wounded. In the Gaza Strip, Al-Qassam announced the bombing of Kibbutz Nirim with a missile salvo.

For its part, the Al-Quds Brigades - the military wing of the Islamic Jihad Movement - announced that its fighters, west of the city of Rafah, bombed the occupation vehicles and soldiers penetrating the vicinity of Tal Zorob with regular 60-caliber and heavy-caliber mortar shells. They also, in conjunction with the Al-Qassam Brigades, targeted two Israeli military vehicles with Tandom and RPG shells in the vicinity of Al-Shoka School, east of Rafah.

Al-Quds Brigades said that its fighters bombarded with mortar shells gatherings of occupation soldiers and vehicles in the vicinity of the Al-Abd Jabr area in the Yabna camp, and the Al-Qaws site, south of the city of Rafah. The Al-Quds Brigades showed pictures, which they said were of targeting and bombing of occupation officers and soldiers in the northern Gaza Strip. The Al-Quds Brigades also broadcast pictures that it said were of the bombing of a gathering of occupation soldiers and vehicles penetrating the Al-Taqaddum axis, south of Rafah.

In Rafah , south of the Gaza Strip, Palestinian medical sources reported that 12 Palestinians were killed as a result of the continuous Israeli bombing of the city since dawn today. Al Jazeera's correspondent reported that 19 Palestinians were martyred as a result of the continued Israeli raids and artillery shelling on the city of Rafah since dawn today. He also reported that 9 Palestinians were martyred and others injured when the Israeli occupation forces targeted a house for the Adwan family in Beit Hanoun, north of the Gaza Strip.

The Palestinian Red Crescent said that it evacuated its medical teams from its field hospital in Al-Mawasi due to the continued bombing, an area designated for displaced civilians. The Red Crescent stated that one of its employees, Issam Aqel, was killed in an Israeli air strike on his home in the Bureij refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. Hamas medics and media said on Wednesday that an Israeli air strike on the nearby city of Khan Yunis killed three people overnight, including Salama Baraka, a former senior police officer in the Gaza Strip.

Malnutrition is widespread in Gaza, with aid deliveries slowing to a trickle. The United Nations said on Wednesday that the amount of humanitarian aid entering the Strip has decreased by two-thirds since Israel began its attack on Rafah this month.

The armed wings of Hamas and Islamic Jihad said that their fighters confronted the Israeli forces with anti-tank shells and mortar bombs, in addition to detonating previously planted explosive devices. The Israeli army said that three soldiers were killed and three others were seriously injured in battles in the southern Gaza Strip on Wednesday. Without mentioning further details. The Israeli public broadcaster, Radio Kan, reported that this happened as a result of an explosive device exploding in a building in Rafah.

Operational Update - Judea-Samaria

In light of the shooting incidents that took place in recent days at settlements near the Seam Fence in the Menashe Brigade, the IDF is increasing its activity in the area between the Seam Fence and Tulkarm. In parallel with the war in Gaza, the Israeli army deployed forces on Thursday in a number of cities in the occupied West Bank after a car ramming attack that resulted in the killing of two 20-year-old Israeli soldiers near Nablus.

The Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Hartzi Halevi, arrived last night (Wednesday) at the scene of the stampede attack near Nablus in Samaria, in which the late Sergeant Elia Hillel and the late Sergeant Diego Shoisha Hersage, fighters in the Kafir Brigade, fell. The Chief of Staff held a preliminary investigation and assessment of the situation at the point with the commander of the IOS Division, Brigadier General Yaki Dolf, the commander of the Shomron Brigade, Col. Shimon Siso, representatives of the Shin Bet and police and other commanders. The Commander of the Central Command, General Yehuda Fox arrived this morning (Thursday) at the scene of the attack and held a situation assessment with the commanders and fighters operating in the area.

The Israeli Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, said that Israel must wage a war in the West Bank, considering that the establishment of a Palestinian state will lead to the reconstitution of October 7 in the West Bank. The Israeli Broadcasting Authority said that, against the backdrop of continued shooting attacks from the Tulkarm area towards the settlements, Smotrich , accompanied by a group of local authority heads, visited a number of West Bank settlements today, Thursday, indicating that he will request this evening in the expanded cabinet session to transfer emergency budgets to... Local authorities along the contact line to enhance security.

The Minister of Finance stressed that it was inevitable to launch a decisive blow against what he described as terrorism, as he claimed, to ensure that the settlements in the West Bank do not become like the settlements on the Gaza Strip. The security of the settlements here is the security of the entire country, Smotrich said. Smotrich sent "a message to the neighbors across the fence, in Tulkarm, Nur al-Shams, Qalqilya and others," saying: "We will turn you into destroyed cities, as is the case in the Gaza Strip, if the terrorism you are practicing against the settlements continues," as he put it. He also added, "The message to the Israelis is that if a Palestinian state is created, what happened in the communities surrounding Gaza on October 7 could happen here as well, and this thing will not happen."

Israeli occupation forces raided in the early hours of Thursday several towns and cities across the West Bank, with Palestinian youth confronting the incursions. The IDF stormed the town of Beit Ummar and al-Arroub refugee camp north of al-Khalil early Thursday morning, leading to clashes during which occupation soldiers fired tear gas canisters at Palestinian youths and their homes. Israeli infantry forces also simultaneously stormed the al-Arroub camp and several Palestinian homes in the town of Tafesh, under the pretense of inspection, but ended up vandalizing them. The occupation also continued its raids against the town of Kafr al-Deek.

The occupation forces stormed the cities of Ramallah and al-Bireh, and heavily fired tear gas bombs during their incursion into the center of Ramallah. Occupation military vehicles also advanced toward al-Hisba Street in Ramallah before invading a currency exchange store. In Beit Lahm, the IDF raided the village of Husan but were confronted by Palestinians, triggering clashes against occupation soldiers.

Israeli occupation forces killed a Palestinian youth and injured five others during a raid into the city of al-Bireh in the occupied West Bank, WAFA news agency reported Thursday, citing medical sources. The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed in a statement that one Palestinian was killed and five others were injured by live ammunition fired by the Israeli occupation forces during the raid. It identified the martyr as 20-year-old Wajeeh Ramahi, who sustained a critical injury to the head during the Israeli raid and later succumbed to his wounds before being announced dead a few minutes later.

According to WAFA, one Palestinian was shot by Israeli occupation forces in the abdomen and is in moderate to serious condition, while two others were hit in their lower limbs. In the same context, Israeli occupation forces also detained a Palestinian youth during confrontations that broke out with Palestinian residents in al-Bireh following the incursion. The announcement comes after Israeli occupation forces raided in the early hours of Thursday several towns and cities across the occupied West Bank, with Palestinian youth confronting the incursions. The raids followed Israeli media reports about two Israeli soldiers who were killed in a car-ramming operation at the Awarta checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus.

Elsewhere in Nablus, Israeli occupation forces stormed the village of Kafr Qalil, south of Nablus, and raided several neighborhoods. Reportedly, occupation forces blocked the Beit Furik checkpoint east of Nablus, as well as the gates at the northern entrance of the town of Huwara south of Nablus, amid a heavy presence of settlers in the area.

Earlier, Israeli media reported that two soldiers were killed in a car-ramming operation at the Awarta checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus. The Israeli website Walla! reported that the army deployed air and special forces to pursue the individual who carried out the operation near one of the entrances of Nablus. It is also worth noting that various Israeli platforms mentioned that the individual who carried out the operation "surrendered to the Palestinian security forces in Nablus and has not yet been handed over to the Israeli army."

Resistance operations intensified with the increased systematic Israeli violence against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and al-Quds, with the number of Palestinian detainees in the region rising to more than 8,875 since October 7. Between 21-27 May, Israeli forces fatally shot and killed 13 Palestinians, among them five children, and injured 35 others, including seven children, as per a recent report by OCHA. Among the fatalities were 12 Palestinians killed in Jenin, along with a 17-year-old boy from Sair village in Al Khalil. He was shot by Israeli forces on May 26 under the pretext of attempting to stab an Israeli soldier at Beit Einun junction on Road 60. The body of the boy has been withheld by the Israeli forces.

Operational Update - Lebanon

Further to the two alerts that were activated about the intrusion of a hostile aircraft in the north of the country, these are false identifications. An alert was activated in the north of the country about the intrusion of a hostile aircraft, the air defense fighters successfully intercepted using the 'Iron Dome' system a suspicious aerial target that crossed from Lebanon, there was no damage and no casualties. A warning of rocket and missile fire was activated in the area of Kfar Giladi for fear of interception fragments falling.

Since the outbreak of the war, Hezbollah has fired more than 3,000 missiles towards Israel, and dozens of settlements whose residents were evacuated have been severely damaged.

Fighter jets attacked two military buildings where terrorists from the terrorist organization Hezbollah were staying in the areas of Khula and Maron al-Ras in southern Lebanon. Earlier today, IDF forces fired to remove a threat in a number of different areas in southern Lebanon. Following the alerts that were activated in the Zerait area, several launches were detected that crossed from Lebanon, there were no casualties.

Following the alert that was activated in the Margaliot area, the air defense fighters successfully intercepted using the 'Iron Dome' system a suspicious aerial target that crossed from Lebanon. In addition, a warning was activated in the Golan Heights region about the intrusion of a hostile aircraft and a cruise missile coming from the east was shot down. In both cases there was no damage and no casualties.

The Lebanese Hezbollah announced this evening that it had targeted 3 important sites belonging to the Israeli army near the Lebanese border, confirming that direct hits had been achieved. Hezbollah confirmed in separate statements that "the Jal al-Alam site, the Ramtha site, and the Zabdin site were targeted." A combined attack with missiles and drones loaded with bombs and other weapons. 6 specific operations by Hezbollah against Israel today He explained in a statement: At 5:50 pm on Thursday, May 30, 2024, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance targeted a deployment of enemy soldiers in the vicinity of the Jal al-Alam site with artillery shells and hit it directly.

He added in a statement: At 6:25 pm on Thursday, 5/30/2024, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance targeted the Ramtha site in the occupied Lebanese hills of Kafr Shuba with missile weapons and hit it directly. He also stated in another statement: At 6:35 pm on Thursday, 5/30/2024, the Mujahideen of the Islamic Resistance targeted the Zabdin site in the occupied Lebanese Shebaa Farms with missile weapons and hit it directly. The southern Lebanese border recently witnessed a significant increase in the number of operations , while the Commander-in-Chief of the International Emergency Forces operating in southern Lebanon, Aroldo Lazaro, urged all parties to cease fire and exercise restraint.

Eight months have passed since the ongoing military confrontation with Hezbollah , and the Israeli government is unable to provide security for the residents of the Upper and Western Galilee and the northern region, amid mounting criticism of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu , and accusations against his army of failing to resolve the battle and being unable to bring about a ceasefire. The wave of displacement of Israelis from the border towns and settlements with Lebanon continues, and with it the heavy losses continue due to damage to property, infrastructure, and commercial, economic, and agricultural projects.

The Northern Horizon Directorate of the Israeli Ministry of Security recorded the destruction of 930 homes and buildings that were completely damaged by Hezbollah fire. From 86 settlements in the northern regions, 70,000 Israelis, who constitute most of their population, were displaced, while 25 soldiers and civilians were killed, and hundreds were injured of varying degrees since the beginning of the confrontation on the northern front.

Large damages and losses were also caused to homes, in addition to fields, farms, and poultry and cow raising projects, as a result of Hezbollah missiles, while the movement of Israeli army armored vehicles caused about a quarter of the damage, especially to roads and infrastructure projects.

Security officials estimate that residents of the settlements that suffered severe damage will not be able to return to their homes until a year after the end of the fighting, due to the need to restore the damage resulting from the confrontation with Hezbollah, according to what Israeli Channel 12 reported.

Moshe Davidovich, head of the Regional Council of the Metia Asher region and head of the Front Line Forum, said, The Israeli settlements in the north are neglected, the infrastructure is destroyed, homes are demolished, and the settlements on the border fence with Lebanon are in a catastrophic situation.

The newspaper also quoted the Director of the Compensation Fund at the Israeli Tax Authority, Amir Dahan, as saying that since the outbreak of the war, its Compensation Fund has paid about 13.9 billion shekels ($3.8 billion) in compensation for general damages in various civil, agricultural, commercial and economic fields. Dahan adds that when the losses and the extent of the damage in the northern, upper and western Galilees are looked at, it can be realized that payments will continue, and it is not possible to estimate the value of the final compensation for private property and homes, which may reach 5 billion shekels ($1.4 billion).

The Israeli official added that the event has not ended, and that the estimated amount of direct damage to private property and homes so far amounts to 2.5 billion shekels throughout the country, while indirect damage is estimated at 20 billion shekels. He said, "We also have to restore the north, where there is infrastructure that was completely destroyed, and this is an event that will remain with us for a long time."

From the beginning of the confrontation on the northern front until May 2024, 535 requests were submitted by the northern regional councils to the Israeli Ministry of Security, to obtain compensation for the damage to housing and infrastructure of many settlements in the north due to the activities of the Israeli army.

The Calcalist economic newspaper reported that the local authorities and residents were compensated, with a total amount of about two million shekels ($555,000), while the amount of damage covered by these requests was estimated at about one billion shekels ($28 million). The newspaper's correspondent, Yuval Azoulay, says that at the beginning of the war, most of the citizens living in 86 settlements were evacuated to remote shelters, due to the security services' fear of a possible invasion by Hezbollah's Radwan Force to try to control it, similar to the attack carried out by Hamas on July 7. October 2023.

The Israeli journalist added that the Ministry of Security has evacuated more than 70,000 Israelis from their homes in the north and Galilee, and there is no date for their return on the horizon, as long as the war in Gaza continues, and Israel has no interest in opening a more intense fighting front against Hezbollah at the same time.

Operational Update - Syria / Iraq

Operational Update - Yemen

The US Central Command, Centcom, revealed on Wednesday the destruction of two missile platforms in areas controlled by the Houthis in Yemen on Tuesday, in addition to the destruction of two drones over the Red Sea on Wednesday. Centcom said via X : At approximately 8:40 pm (Sanaa time) on May 28 (Tuesday), US Central Command forces succeeded in destroying two missile launchers in an area controlled by the Houthis in Yemen who are supported by Iran. "Separately, at approximately 11:30 pm (Sanaa time) on May 28, the Iranian-backed Houthis launched two anti-ship ballistic missiles from Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen into the Red Sea. No casualties or damage were reported from Before American, coalition, or commercial ships.

It stated, The next day (Wednesday), between 1:26 and 1:38 am (Sanaa time) on May 29, US Central Command forces succeeded in destroying two unmanned aerial systems (drones) over the Red Sea that were launched from an area controlled by The Houthis in Yemen are supported by Iran. It stressed, "These missiles and systems represent an imminent threat to the United States, coalition forces, and commercial ships in the region. These measures are being taken to protect freedom of navigation and make international waters safer and more secure."

Since November, the Houthi rebels have launched dozens of attacks with missiles and drones on commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea, which they consider to be linked to Israel or heading to its ports. They say that this comes in support of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip in light of the ongoing war since the seventh of last October. Washington leads an international maritime coalition with the aim of protecting maritime navigation in this strategic region, through which 12 percent of global trade passes. To try to deter them, American and British forces have been launching strikes on Houthi sites in Yemen since January 12. The US Army alone carries out strikes from time to time on missiles and drones that it says are prepared for launch.

The leader of the Yemeni Ansar Allah movement, Abdul Malik Badr al-Din al-Houthi, said that the practices committed by the Israeli entity are an integral part of its identity, thinking and belief. Commander Abdulmalik Badr al-Din al-Houthi confirmed, in his speech, today, Thursday, regarding the latest developments in Palestine, that the Yemeni operations are continuing within the framework of the fourth phase, and will, God Almighty willing, continue to escalate in quantity and quality. This week, the operations have reached 12 operations in the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, and the Indian Ocean. And towards the Mediterranean Sea.

He explained that operations in Yemen this week were carried out with 27 ballistic and winged missiles and a drone, and added: 10 of our operations targeted 10 ships linked to the Israeli, American and British enemy and ships belonging to companies that broke the decision to ban entry to the ports of occupied Palestine. He explained that the total number of ships targeted since the beginning of the support operations reached 129 ships, and this is a large number, stressing that there is no decline in the level of our operations, but rather a decline in navigation and ship movement on the American and British sides and an almost absence of Israeli movement.

Al-Houthi stressed that there are no factors that could affect our position so that the level of momentum or interaction would decline, and there are no political factors, economic factors, or any other factors that could affect our operations. He added that one of our operations this week was the shooting down of an American armed reconnaissance plane, type MQ-9, in the airspace of Marib Governorate, and by shooting down the American reconnaissance plane in the air of Marib Governorate, the number of planes shot down during this period became 6 planes, and the MQ-9 that was adopted. America's prestige has fallen and it has also become worthless and unimportant.

Al-Houthi stressed that the effects of military operations continue on the economic level in a clear and recognized manner, and there is an impact of our operations on the rise in prices with the Israeli enemy, including food supplies. There is also a significant impact on some goods in terms of their high prices or limited availability with the enemy entity, and he added: There is an impact on the level of the enemys economic output, which is reflected in budgets, and the impact of operations on the enemys economic side has important results and an impact in a sensitive area on the enemies, explaining that the economic field is sensitive to the Israeli enemy, and the American-Israeli-British-European power is an economic power and whenever it is affected The economic situation of the enemies led to a decline in the financial and other aspects.

He reiterated that our naval operations had an impact on the level of American prestige, as America was in a position where no one dared to target its battleships and warships, stressing that Yemens official and popular position in support of the Palestinian people is a challenge to America, as America wanted to submit the Arab countries and make them unable to take any action. A position supportive of the Palestinian people, and Yemens position was in a way that challenged the Americans and the British.

Al-Houthi stressed that the Americans and the British failed to protect Israeli interests in the seas, and this affects the Israeli enemy and affects them, and there is American-British recognition of Yemens ability to develop its escalatory stages as long as the aggression against the Gaza Strip continues. He added: As a result of the Yemeni operations, the confidence of the American forces in The inability of anyone to confront them and the naval confrontation shook the Americans confidence in themselves and their capabilities, and they witnessed the failure of their techniques and capabilities, stressing that the Yemeni operations, despite the attempt to stop them, led the Zionists to a state of despair regarding the movement of their ships.

A Greek-owned cargo tanker flying the Marshall Islands flag, which was carrying a shipment of grain bound for Iran, was attacked by the Houthis in Yemen earlier this week, sources said. The company that owns a ship that was subjected to a Houthi attack in the Red Sea explains that it was loaded with grain and headed to Iran (photos)The Houthis announce the implementation of 6 operations against 6 ships in 3 seas. After the attack, the ship "LAX" listed its destination as Fujairah in the UAE, but it became clear today, Thursday, that its final destination was Khomeini Port in Iran.

A statement issued by the French naval forces stationed in the UAE and patrolling the Middle East specified that the ship's grain shipment was headed to Iran. The French Navy added, "A team from Djibouti inspected the damage resulting from the attack in which drones and missiles were used, and did not find any dangerous explosives on board the ship."

According to US Central Command, "the Houthis launched five anti-ship ballistic missiles off the coast of the Red Sea." It added: "The ship "Laax", which flies the flag of the Marshall Islands, was hit by three missiles, but it continued its voyage, and the ship did not report any casualties."

Yesterday, Wednesday, the Houthis announced the implementation of six military operations targeting six ships in the Red Sea, the Mediterranean, and the Arabian Sea, and that the targeting of the ships came as a result of their violation of the decision to ban access to the ports of occupied Palestine. The Houthi military spokesman, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, said in a statement about the details of the targeting: Including 3 ships in the Red Sea, two ships in the Arabian Sea, and a ship in the Mediterranean Sea. As part of the Red Sea operations, the first targeted the LAAX ship, and it was directly hit and damaged. The second operation targeted the MOREA ship, and the third targeted the Sealady ship.

The three operations were carried out with a number of naval and ballistic missiles and drones and led to direct casualties, according to the Houthi statement.

Maps

All maps are lies. Not only is it easy to lie with maps, it is essential, wrote cartographer Mark Monmoneir in his book How to Lie with Maps. He showed that condensing complex, three-dimensional spaces onto a two-dimensional sheet of paper [in old days] is bound to be reductive. But it is impossible to comprehend the war in Gaza without reference to maps, otherwise the entire conflict is reduced to an endless series of meaningless acts of random violence and the suffering of civilians. The first characteristic of guerrilla warfare is the loss of a front line. Evidently, different mappers have different ideas of how to depict the war in Gaza, notably those that seek to depict Israeli progress in the ground campaign. Part of the problem is latency. The news that forms the basis of the maps takes time to filter out to mappers, and the cartographers take time in crafting their maps, and it takes time to curate them. These processes are uneven among mappers, so their maps may differ in detail. Probably there is some ideological bias, or at least thematic apperception, which is understandable in wartime. It may come as no surprise that al-Jazeera maps depict rather less Israeli territorial progress than other sources. Finally, there remains the epistemological question of just exactly what are the colored in areas depicting. Naively, this might be understood as areas of Israeli control, that are no longer contested by the HAMAS. Or possibly these are areas of Israeli presence, in many of which the possibility of an RPG-wielding HAMAS militant popping out of a tunnel unexpectedly remains a live possibility. With the "zero-range" combat characterized by small unit tactics on both sides, maps may be prey to a fallacy of misplaced concreteness.

Bystanders

In Beijing, which is hosting a Chinese-Arab forum, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi on Thursday urged the international community to "confront all attempts to forcefully displace Palestinians from their lands." Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for holding an expanded international peace conference to put an end to the conflict, stressing that justice should not be absent forever. After the recent conclusion of the Arab Summit in Manama, Arab leaders went to China this week in a group visit that opens the door to questions about its motives and the extent of Beijing's ability to mobilize international support to bring peace to the Middle East.

Axis of Resistance

Ayatollah Khamenei stressed that university students in the United States stand on the right side of history, adding that professors support of students is an important and influential event. The Ayatollah stressed that American students today form part of the resistance front that has been struggling for years with the perceptions and feelings that students live with. Khamenei reassured the students that the situation is changing and the truth is emerging, advising them to get to know the Holy Quran.

Commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Aerospace Force Brigadier General Amir Ali Hajizadeh revealed that Israel sent a message through Egypts foreign minister to avert an Iranian response to an attack on Irans embassy in the Syrian capital Damascus. During a gathering of senior professors and foreign dignitaries in the holy city of Qom, General Hajizadeh emphasized that the True Promise operation was a consequence of the criminal actions of the Zionist regime, stating, "If Israel's goal was to assassinate Iranian military commanders, it could have done so outside Iran's consulate in Syria. Israel's aim was to achieve a strategic victory to compensate for its defeat on October 7."

In its first direct attack on the occupied Palestinian territories, Iran launched drones and missiles toward Israel in April in retaliation for the Israeli attack on its Damascus consulate, which led to the martyrdom of seven IRGC personnel. Hajizadeh added, "The people of the world need to be aware and enlightened; the Gaza war is the cost for the world to become enlightened, and all the events happening in the world today are the result of the Gaza war."

He highlighted that strategic victories have regional implications, noting that the Zionist regimes move against Iran was a miscalculation, as they believed Iran would not respond, expecting resistance forces to act instead." Hajizadeh noted that 221 fighter jets had been prepared to counter Iranian attacks, emphasizing that the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei insisted that the True Promise operation should be decisive.

The IRGC Aerospace Force commander described the operation as the largest missile and drone operation globally, stating, "To bypass Israel's Iron Dome (missile defense), a large number of missiles and drones were needed. The True Promise operation was an extensive and limited punishment, destroying two intelligence and operational bases involved in the martyrdom of Iranian commanders in Syria." He stated that the defeat of Israel's deterrent power equals its collapse, adding, "Now the spirit of the resistance axis has been strengthened, and the region's history has been divided into before and after the True Promise operation.

Hajizadeh stated that in the True Promise operation, 20% of the Islamic Republic's military capability was deployed, adding, "Israel's missile defense systems were not attacked because they were near major cities, and if the war with Israel had continued, it wouldn't have taken long to destroy Israel."

Irans Parliament speaker warned against the worlds inaction in the face of Israeli crimes in the Gaza Strip, especially in the city of Rafah. Inaction against such war crimes will sink mankind into the era of barbarism, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said while addressing an open parliamentary session on Thursday after the Israeli regimes deadly attack on a tent camp in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. He called on Muslim governments to set aside diplomatic considerations and vigorously stand up for the rights of Palestinians against Israels months-long atrocities in the besieged Gaza Strip.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported on Sunday that at least 50 people were killed and more than 200 others injured in the wake of a huge fire that broke out following the Israeli militarys strike on a tented area for displaced people in Rafah. Today, the eyes of the world are on Rafah. The homeless refugees, who have no other shelter than canvas tents, are shelled by the most ruthless creatures on earth, the Zionist criminals. The images of burnt tents and burnt children in Rafah have hurt the feelings of the people of the world and caused their patience to run out, Qalibaf said, Press TV reported.

The worlds governments, particularly the Islamic governments, should put aside diplomatic ... considerations and defend the dignity of humanity with all their might, he added. Inaction against such war crimes will sink mankind into the era of barbarism. Today, not only Palestine, Gaza and Rafah, but also the achievements of human civilization are threatened. The voices of burnt children in Rafah are a testament to humanity's failure to protect the obvious rights of people and a symbol of the governments' indifference to the most humane emotions of their nations.

Qalibaf said the Israeli regime's confrontation with the defenseless Palestinian people is not a political one but a confrontation between the 21st century savagery and defenseless humanity. The Zionist regime has set on fire not only the Palestinian children, but the souls and lives of all the people across the world, he said, adding that governments should join hands and stop the occupying regimes killing machine. Underlining that the US administration is the biggest supporter of the Israeli regime, Qalibaf said, The spiral of the Zionist brutality must be stopped at any cost, and the nation and the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran will do their best to this end, and will invariably and proudly stand by the oppressed people and the homeless Palestinian children.

According to Mehr news agency , citing Al Mayadeen, the media of the Zionist regime announced that during the current war, Lebanon's Hezbollah managed to surprise Israel and unveiled and used advanced weapons. These media clarified that Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Hezbollah in Lebanon, is trying to surprise Israel more on two levels. The first level is the use of weapons that have not been used in conflicts before, including precision and long-range missiles. The second level is the use of surface-to-air missiles that Hezbollah fires with the aim of shooting down the planes and drones of the Israeli Air Force. In this regard, Liral Entabi , a Zionist expert at the Center for Internal Security Studies of the Zionist regime, said that Hezbollah has increased the use of explosive drones in recent weeks and also uses drones that have the power to fire missiles, which cause a lot of human and financial losses among the military and the settlement. Israeli settlers have created. He adds that the Israeli army will have problems in intercepting and destroying these drones , while Hezbollah is expected to use them widely in the future.

Antebi adds that Hezbollah intercepts and shoots down Israeli army drones from time to time, and this shows that Israel's traditional air defense systems and its electronic warfare are never enough against Lebanon's Hezbollah technology. The Zionist publication Israel Hume had previously revealed that the Zionist regime's army has faltered in its interaction with Hezbollah's drones and is looking for a way out of this crisis. In the current war situation, Lebanese Hezbollah drones enter the occupied territories without being detected and destroyed by the Zionist regime's radars and carry out their reconnaissance and explosive operations. Seyyed Hassan Nasrallah, Secretary General of Lebanon's Hezbollah, revealed two years ago that this party has put the production of drones on its agenda for a long time and has its own air defense system.

Allied for Democracy

Minister in the Israeli war government, Benny Gantz, criticized the statement of Labor Party leader Yair Golan, in which he supported civil disobedience and refused reserve service, calling on him not to involve the army in political disputes. The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation "Kan" reported that Gantz expressed his objection and strong criticism today of the statement made by Yair Golan recently, which included "support for civil disobedience in order to overthrow the government, including refusal to serve in the military reserve, and refraining from paying taxes," calling on him to Keep the IDF out of political controversies.

Yair Golan pledges to restore Israel to its bright future after being elected head of the Labor Party. In response, Golan accused Minister Gantz of giving a safety net to the extremist Netanyahu government, which neglects the kidnapped, harms security, and evacuates areas in the north and south, as he put it. Yesterday, Golan stated that stopping the fighting at this time is a good thing for Israel, adding that  concluding an exchange deal will inevitably lead to a ceasefire .

Golan had called for large-scale civil disobedience with the aim of exerting greater pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu and his government , in a new call in light of the attempts to change the right-wing government that is pushing towards absolute victory amid the accumulation of complications and challenges at the regional level and on the international front represented by the courts as well. About the acceleration of some European countries in announcing their recognition of the Palestinian state .

It is noteworthy that the Israeli Labor Party elected former General Yair Golan as its president, amid a crisis surrounding the leftist party that ruled Israel for years, while its representation in the Knesset now does not exceed four members. Golan previously served as Deputy Chief of Staff in the Israeli Army.

Operation Iron Swords - By the Numbers

1,900,000 IDPs in Gaza

81,777 Gazans injured, 28% adult male

70,000 tons of explosives dropped on Gaza

70,000 Gaza housing units completely destroyed

70,000 Israeli IDPs from Lebanon border

45,000 bombs dropped in Gaza

45,000 Gazans killed, including buried under rubble

36,224 Gazans martyred

33,000 Gaza targets attacked

20,528 Palestinians in Israeli prisons [Haaretz, 20 Mar 2024]

16,093 Israelis injured [i24 TV]

15,000 terror operatives killed in Gaza [Israeli officials]

15,000 rockets launched from Gaza

14,520 Gazan children martyred

13,000 HAMAS combatants killed [N12]

13,000 HAMAS combatants killed [IDF]

11,000 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank in 2023

10,000 Gazans missing under the rubble

9,920 Gazan women martyred

9,400 Palestinians in Israeli prisons

9,000 IDF needing psychological assistance

8,890 arrested by Israelis in the West Bank since Oct.7th

7,209 IDF injured admitted to rehabilitation [IDF]

6,800 IDF officers and soldiers injured [Channel 12]

6,000 HAMAS combatants killed [HAMAS]

5,500 IDF wounded [reports]

5,000 West Bank Palestinians wounded

4,700 sites targetted in Lebanon

3,850 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria

3,600 administrative detainees

3,657 IDF wounded [IDF]

2,100 Gazan women are missing

1,843 IDF wounded in Gaza [IDF]

1,609 terrorists killed on the first day

1,650 wanted persons arrested throughout Judea and Samaria affiliated with Hamas

1,160 Israelis killed on the first day

635 Israeli officers and soldiers killed since the start of the war

518 West Bank Palestinians martyred

364 people [including fighters] killed in Lebanon

287 Israeli officers and soldiers killed in Gaza

240 Hezbollah fighters killed in Lebanon

126 people recovered, including 91 Israelis, 11 bodies, and 24 foreign workers

86 living hostages in Palestinian custody

70 civilians killed in Lebanon

39 dead hostages in Palestinian custody

29 IDF deaths were caused by "friendly fire"

15 Israelis killed in the West Bank and Israel

Not every number is reported every day, so sudden jumps generally reflect reporting artifacts rather than actual upticks. Many of these numbers fluctate, up and down, with no apparent explanation. This list records the highest number reliably reported for each matter, under the theory that reality with catch up with reports, as is relentlessly the case.

Some reports claimed that the UN cut in half its earlier estimates of women and children killed in Gaza. Initially, they reported 9,500 women and 14,500 children killed, but later revised it to 4,959 women and 7,797 children on 08 May 2024. The UN acknowledged its inability to independently verify casualty figures. The seeming discrepancy is that HAMAS had about 10K KIA bodies on hand for which they do not have positive ID. It is possible to report the gender and approximate age [ie, juvenile] without knowing the name of the deceased.

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6th Meeting of India-Japan Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism

India - Ministry of External Affairs

May 30, 2024

aThe 6th Meeting of India-Japan Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism was held in New Delhi on 29 May 2024. The Indian delegation was led by Mr. K.D. Dewal, Joint Secretary (CT), Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India, and the Japanese delegation, by H.E. Ambassador Hiroyuki Minami, Representative of the Government of Japan, Ambassador in charge of International Cooperation for Countering Terrorism and International Organized Crime, Government of Japan.

2.a Both sides exchanged views on the terrorist threats in their respective regions, including State-sponsored cross-border terrorism in South Asia, South East Asia, East Asia, Middle East, as well as terror activities in the Af-Pak region.

3.a The two sides assessed counter terrorism challenges, including the use of new and emerging technologies by terrorists, misuse of internet for terrorist purposes, radicalisation and terror financing. Countering terror financing, organised crime and narco-terror network also featured in the discussions.

4.a Both sides emphasised the importance of strengthening counter-terrorism cooperation through exchange of information, capacity building, training programmes & exercises, and cooperation at the multilateral fora, such as the UN, FATF and QUAD.

5.a The two sides agreed to hold the 7th Meeting of JWG on CT in Tokyo on a mutually-convenient date.

New Delhi

May 30, 2024

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Chinese 'botnet' admin arrested in Singapore

Attorney General Merrick Garland said the botnet led to $5.9 billion in losses to a US COVID relief program.

By Alex Willemyns for RFA 2024.05.30 -- A Thailand-based Chinese man who created a cybercrime operation that seized control of Americans' computers and led to $5.9 billion in fraudulent claims from the U.S. COVID-19 relief program was arrested in Singapore, according to the Justice Department.

The U.S. Treasury Department on Tuesday issued sanctions against YunHe Wang, 35, and two associates based in the Thai beach resort of Pattaya, alleging that they created a "botnet" - or robot network - called 911 S5 that took control of 19 million computers so criminals could use their internet connections.

On Wednesday, the Justice Department said Wang was arrested in Singapore last week following an international law enforcement effort led by the FBI and including Thai and Singaporean authorities.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Wang made "more than $99 million" selling access to his network of hijacked computers, which he gained control of by offering victims free access to virtual private networks, or VPNs, which people use to hide their online activity.

What the free VPN users did not know, he said, was that their internet connections were being hijacked by Wang's operation and sold on to "customers" who used their I.P. addresses to commit crimes.

"We estimate that 911 S5 customers are responsible for more than $5.9 billion in losses due to fraud against pandemic relief programs," he said at a press conference. "We and our partners have seized over $29 million dollars in criminal assets tied to the botnets operation."

"This case makes clear that the long arm of the law stretches across borders and into the deepest shadows of the dark web, and the Justice Department will never stop fighting to hold cybercriminals to account."

FBI Director Christopher Wray said 911 S5 was "likely the world's largest botnet ever," and had provided its users with a veil that also facilitated identity theft and child exploitation crimes.

Stolen credit cards

An analysis by Krebs on Security, an online security news website, said users of Wang's free VPN services - including MaskVPN, DewVPN, PaladinVPN, Proxygate, Shield VPN, and ShineVPN - would have had few clues about the ways their connections were being used.

"911's VPN performed largely as advertised for the user a allowing them to surf the web anonymously a but it also quietly turned the user's computer into a traffic relay for paying 911 S5 customers," the article says, adding that the service was a lucrative one.

The botnet's "reliability and extremely low prices quickly made it one of the most popular services" available on "the cybercrime underground," with criminals able to use the service to make it appear as if they were nearly anywhere in the United States, according to the article.

That was useful, it explains, because it let a criminal route "malicious traffic" through a connection that is "geographically close to the consumer whose stolen credit card is about to be used, or whose bank account is about to be emptied" and thereby avoid fraud detection.

Besides the $5.9 billion in fraudulent COVID-19 relief losses sustained because of the 911 S5 botnet, U.S. financial institutions identified "millions of dollars more" in losses due to fraudulent credit applications, according to a statement issued by the Justice Department.

With the proceeds of the botnet, Wang bought property in the United States, China, Singapore, Thailand, the United Arab Emirates and the Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis, where he also gained citizenship through investment in May 2022, the statement says.

An unsealed indictment says "dozens of assets and properties" have also been seized, including a Ferrari F8 Spider, a BMW i8, a BMW X7, a Rolls Royce, several luxury wristwatches, 21 properties, more than a dozen bank accounts and two dozen cryptocurrency wallets.

Wang was charged with conspiracy to commit computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering and faces up to 65 years in prison if found guilty.

Edited by Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Coordinated effort leads to arrest of Chinese national for cyberattacks

By VOA News May 30, 2024

A 35-year-old Chinese national is facing charges related to committing cybercrimes that FBI Director Christopher Wray described as "likely the world's largest botnet ever."

The arrest in Singapore was the result of an international coordinated effort that included law enforcement agencies from Germany, Singapore, the United States and Thailand.

YunHe Wang, arrested on May 24, is accused of being the creator of the 911 S5 botnet, a residential proxy service.

Wang, along with other unnamed parties, created the 911 S5 botnet to facilitate "cyber-attacks, large-scale fraud, child exploitation, harassment, bomb threats, and export violations," said Attorney General Merrick Garland in a Department of Justice press release on Wednesday.

Wang sold access to infected IP addresses to cybercriminals in exchange for crypto or fiat currency. From these transactions, he received at least $99 million in profits, the DOJ stated.

The cybercriminals Wang transacted with were allegedly able to use the infected IP addresses to "bypass financial fraud detection systems and steal billions of dollars from financial institutions, credit card issuers, and federal lending programs," according to the DOJ release.

The compromised IP addresses allowed Wang's customers to create fraudulent unemployment claims that targeted pandemic relief programs. The United States estimates they lost $5.9 billion from these fraudulent claims.

Wang used his profits to buy property in China, St. Kitts and Nevis, the United States, Singapore, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. Wang also spent his money on luxury cars and watches.

Wang faces several charges including substantive computer fraud, conspiracy to commit computer fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Wang could face up to 65 years in prison if convicted.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters and Agence France-Presse.

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Pakistan Successfully Launches PakSat-MM1: A Milestone in National Space Endeavours

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

In a historic event today, Pakistan successfully launched the Pakistan Multi Mission Communication Satellite (PakSat-MM1), marking a significant milestone in the nation's space and communication capabilities. This advanced geostationary satellite, equipped with state-of-the-art communication technologies, reinforces Pakistan's presence in geostationary orbit and aims to enhance satellite-based communication services across the country.

PakSat-MM1 is poised to provide a robust, independent national communication platform, essential for the realization of the "Digital Pakistan" initiative. This initiative is set to accelerate the development of a digitized ecosystem, fostering a knowledge-based economy and driving socio-economic growth.

The satellite's capabilities are particularly critical for delivering high-speed broadband internet services via satellite, thereby improving connectivity in the most remote and underserved regions of Pakistan. This advancement is expected to significantly contribute to the socioeconomic uplift of these areas, bridging the digital divide and enhancing overall national development.

PakSat-MMl stands as a testament to Pakistan's commitment to leveraging advanced technology for national progress, ensuring both the commercial and public sectors benefit from improved communication infrastructure.

Islamabad

30 May 2024

100/2024

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US Submarine tender anchors in Australia

Issued by Defence Media

30 May 2024

Australia has welcomed the United States of America's submarine tender, the USS Emory S. Land to Darwin for a port visit.

Emory. S. Land's Commanding Officer, Captain Brent Spillner, and his crew were welcomed by Commanding Officer of HMAS Coonawarra, Captain David Shirvington on 28 May 2024.

While in Darwin, the crew of the submarine tender has a full itinerary of community and cultural events, so they can experience the best of the Top End.

Darwin is the first port visit of Emory S. Land's current deployment, which began on 17 May.

Since January, the Emory S. Land has been home to more than 30 Royal Australian Navy officers and sailors who departed for Guam to embed on board the submarine tender.

These officers and sailors spent five months on the tender, integrating with US sailors and building unique knowledge, skills and experience in how the US conducts nuclear-powered submarine maintenance.

The personnel involved range in rank from seaman to lieutenant and include electrical technicians, marine technicians and boatswain's mates.

A number of Australian personnel are travelling on the tender, deepening their experience of tender-based maintenance at sea.

Quotes attributable to the Chief of Navy, Vice Admiral Mark Hammond, AO, RAN:

"For those Royal Australian Navy officers and sailors on board the Emory S. Land, this deployment is an incredible opportunity to put their training and technical skills into practice.

"More than 30 of our people have spent the last five months in Guam with our US Navy partners, learning the ropes of nuclear submarine tender maintenance. This unique program will contribute significantly to our Navy's future, developing our people to have the skills to operate, maintain and steward conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines."

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Airborne aid arrives in Papua New Guinea

By Flight Lieutenant Robert Cochran

30 May 2024

The ADF has delivered much-needed supplies of humanitarian aid to Papua New Guinea in the aftermath of the deadly landslide that occurred in the north of the country on May 24.

A Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules tactical transport aircraft made an initial delivery on May 28 into Port Moresby.

This was followed by a C-17A Globemaster III heavy lift aircraft, which transported 10 pallets of Australian relief aid including family-sized tents, blankets and hygiene kits from Brisbane to Port Moresby.

From PNG's capital city, the aid is flown by RAAF aircraft - including the C-27J Spartan transport aircraft - to Wapenamanda Airport in Enga Province, the remote mountainous region devastated by the landslide.

'It's an opportunity to help make a positive impact on people's lives during a very difficult time, especially those directly affected by the disaster.'

Flight Lieutenant Toby Richter, captain of the C-27J Spartan, said it was a great honour for him and his crew to be directly contributing to the relief-aid effort.

"We have a big mission ahead of us in support of our PNG family," Flight Lieutenant Richter said.

"Enga Province is an extremely challenging region of PNG to access due its mountainous topography, associated weather conditions and security considerations.

"This makes the delivery of large amounts of relief aid particularly difficult as there are only a handful of airfields suitable to support these operations, and the airfields are not always accessible.

"Fortunately, we have been operating the C-27J Spartan in PNG under the Defence Pacific Air Program for several rotations now, and our level of experience operating in these mountainous regions is very high."

Corporal Mitchell Hordern, loadmaster on the C-27J Spartan, said delivering aid into remote areas like Wapenamanda was a particularly rewarding mission due to the challenges posed by the rugged terrain and limited infrastructure.

"It's an opportunity to help make a positive impact on people's lives during a very difficult time, especially those directly affected by the disaster," Corporal Hordern said.

'Australia is proud to be a partner that PNG knows will respond quickly in times of trouble.'

Leading Aircraftwoman Ainslie Lamb and Leading Aircraftman Jesse Watts, members of the Mobile Air Load Team that flew over on the C-17A Globemaster, said it was a privilege to be on the ground in PNG distributing aid to communities in dire need.

"It's humbling to see everyone come together to do what needs to be done to give humanitarian relief to those who've been displaced," Leading Aircraftwoman Lamb said.

Colonel Travis Gordon, Defence adviser to PNG based at the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby, said Australia and PNG had a long history of standing shoulder to shoulder in times of tragedy, and the recent landslide and tragic loss of life in Enga Province was no different.

"Australia is proud to be a partner that PNG knows will respond quickly in times of trouble," Colonel Gordon said.

"The partnership between the ADF and the PNG Defence Force is strong and enduring.

"Our Defence Forces are working together to respond to the recent landslide in Enga, including the delivery of critical Australian relief aid incorporating essential supplies, temporary shelter and other equipment.

"As always, Australia, and the ADF, stand ready to respond with our PNG brothers and sisters.

"The logistic and air support provided by the ADF to assist PNG to coordinate their response to the Enga tragedy is testament to the close partnership between our countries, and our Defence Forces."

ADF humanitarian aid and disaster relief operations are expected to continue in Enga Province for a number of weeks.

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Establishment of 7 Wing (Space)'s Commercial Integration Cell

National Defence

News release

May 30, 2024 - Ottawa - Department of National Defence / Royal Canadian Air Force

Today, Colonel Catherine Marchetti, Commander of 7 Wing (Space) and Director of the Canadian Space Operations Centre, alongside industry partners, announced the establishment of the Canadian Commercial Integration Cell (CIC) at 7 Wing (Space). Industry partners Mike Greenley, Chief Executive Officer at MDA Space, and MichAle Beck, Senior Vice President, Canadian Sales at Telesat, were present at the announcement, which took place at this year's CANSEC Defence Trade Show in Ottawa.

The CIC is a new information-sharing structure focused on space operations established between the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) and industry partners to enable discussions and data-sharing at the appropriate security level. This new structure will formalize the process of communicating timely and relevant information, leveraging the capability to protect Canada's interests in space. The cell will focus on space systems currently supporting CAF operations and potential threats against those space systems.

Initially, the CIC will be comprised of subject matter experts from MDA Space and Telesat. These members will provide direct liaison between the Canadian Space Operations Centre at 7 Wing (Space) and their companies, enhancing real-time information sharing of indications and warnings of critical space incidents.

This initiative will improve the ability of the CAF and industry to respond to critical events by enabling the flow of information between military and commercial partners, increasing space domain awareness and protecting Canadian interests and assets in the space domain.

As committed in Canada's 2017 defence policy, Strong, Secure, Engaged, Canada's establishment of the CIC fulfills the mandate for the CAF to defend and protect military space capabilities. Canada's current defence policy, Our North, Strong and Free, confirms the crucial importance of the space domain to the security of Canadians by working closely with partners to ensure a coordinated approach to assuring access to space and space capabilities.

Quotes

"We've witnessed over the years an increase in adversarial capability development and activity in the space domain, signaling the need for enhanced resiliency of the space-based assets upon which we rely. The establishment of the Canadian Commercial Integration Cell at 7 Wing (Space) is another step forward in operationalizing our relationship with commercial partners that provide critical data and services to our military operations and enhancing resiliency of Canadian space-based assets in the face of increased threat in the space domain."



Colonel Catherine Marchetti, 7 Wing (Space) Commander

"As a longstanding mission partner to the Department of National Defence and allied nations, MDA Space commends the Government of Canada for taking this important step to create the Commercial Integration Cell to facilitate real-time collaboration of space-based based mission operations. In a rapidly changing space environment, the Canadian Commercial Integration Cell will provide a critical hub for operational information-sharing between government and the commercial space industry at a speed and level that the emerging space domain demands." Mike Greenley, Chief Executive Officer, MDA Space

"We applaud the government's creation of the Canadian Commercial Integration Cell, which underscores the importance of collaboration between government and commercial partners for real-time, informed responses to space events to improve space domain awareness and response options. The CIC will result in better decision making, improved Department of National Defence and commercial crisis preparedness, and increased overall resilience of Canadian space operations." MichAle Beck, Senior Vice President, Canadian Sales, Telesat

Quick facts

The Department of National Defence and the CAF currently contracts MDA Space and Telesat to provide space communications and space-based intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability to bolster the CAF's existing space capabilities and improve our space domain awareness.

There is no cost associated with the establishment of the CIC. Rather, the commercial subject matter experts within the CIC have been granted the appropriate security clearances required to facilitate appropriate information-sharing that will improve space domain awareness and increase the protection of Canadian assets in the space domain.

The CIC will initially be staffed with one operator from each MDA Space and Telesat, with an intent to grow the CIC to include more representatives from Canada's space industry.

Strong cooperation with partners in the space domain is essential to enhancing the resilience of our space systems. Commercial partnerships play a vital role in developing new space-based technologies and providing services and capabilities that are critical to conducting military operations. The exchange of information between partners optimizes collective self-defence.

7 Wing (Space) is comprised of a Headquarters, an Operations Squadron, and Operations Support Squadron, which work to integrate and assure space-enabled effects in all Canadian Armed Forces operations, driving pan-domain outcomes.

7 Wing (Space) is part of 3 Canadian Space Division, which is responsible for delivering space power effects in support of Canadian Armed Forces Operations, and is responsible for space domain awareness, space-based operational support, and defending and protecting military space capabilities.

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Minister Joly meets with Sweden's Minister for Foreign Affairs

Global Affairs Canada

Readout

May 30, 2024 - Prague, Czechia - Global Affairs Canada

At a time when the world faces geopolitical and economic uncertainty, Canada and Sweden, two like-minded and trusted partners, are deepening relations to advance shared priorities for the benefit of our people and in the interest of global stability.

Yesterday, the Honourable MAlanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with Tobias BillstrAm, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, in Stockholm to reaffirm the long-standing friendship shared by the two countries; a friendship that has been strengthened by their over 80 years of diplomatic relations and that is underpinned by shared values, including a commitment to human rights, democracy and the rule of law.

The Ministers discussed how Sweden makes NATO stronger and more secure. Minister BillstrAm thanked Canada for its support throughout the NATO Accession process, including being the first Ally to ratify Sweden's accession. As NATO Allies, the Ministers pledged to deepen transatlantic security cooperation and tackle challenges together. Minister Joly recalled that prior to Sweden's accession to NATO, Canadian and Swedish troops trained Ukrainian forces together under Operation UNIFIER. She welcomed Sweden's commitment to work shoulder to shoulder with Canada as part of the NATO Forward Land Forces Latvia Brigade.

As Canada and the Nordic countries are like-minded neighbours and co-founding members of the Arctic Council, Minister Joly reiterated Canada's strong interest in pursuing cooperation with Sweden toward a productive and successful Canada-Nordic Strategic Dialogue.

Minister Joly underscored the importance Canada places on the Arctic. The Ministers agreed to explore opportunities for further Canada-Sweden cooperation in the Arctic, including addressing the evolving challenges and threats facing the region.

The Ministers reaffirmed the two countries' unwavering support for Ukraine and commitment to Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity in its internationally recognized borders. They agreed that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has demonstrated the critical importance of transatlantic unity. They also discussed avenues for further cooperation through the International Coalition for the Return of Ukrainian Children.

The Ministers also expressed their deep concern over the latest developments in Gaza. Both ministers underscored their urgent call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and for the unconditional release of all hostages being held by Hamas and other groups in Gaza.

The Ministers also discussed the Indo-Pacific region, as well as opportunities for deepening existing cooperation on arbitrary detention and PS752.

The Ministers look forward to the informal meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers in Prague, Czechia, on May 30 and 31, where they will further discuss shared priorities and challenges with Allies.

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Hong Kong High Court finds 14 democracy activists guilty of subversion

Trial is the biggest prosecution of activists and pro-democracy politicians in the former British colony.

By RFA Staff 2024.05.29 -- A Hong Kong court found 14 of the city's leading democracy activists guilty of subversion on Thursday under a tough national security law imposed on the city by China four years ago in what was described by one former lawmaker as a 'political trial.'

The city's High Court acquitted two of the 16 defendants, but the city's Department of Justice said it would appeal those verdicts.

The 118-day trial is the biggest ever prosecution of pro-democracy politicians and activists in the former British colony, which returned to Chinese rule in 1997 amid promises that it would keep the freedoms that once ensured its status as an international financial hub.

The mass arrest of 47 lawmakers, grass-roots activists and election hopefuls from Hong Kong's now-defunct pro-democracy parties drew international condemnation in 2021.

Sixteen of the 47 defendants went on trial after pleading not guilty to the charge of "conspiracy to commit subversion," which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. The other 31 defendants have already pleaded guilty to the charge, and are currently awaiting sentencing along with the rest.

The charges are based on their participation in a democratic primary election in the summer of 2020, in which some 600,000 Hong Kongers turned out to vote.

But the scheduled general election was eventually postponed while the government rewrote the rules to ensure that pro-democracy candidates wouldn't be allowed to run in future elections.

The government claims the pro-democracy camp planned to subvert its power by blocking passage of its budget through the city's Legislative Council.

Former lawmakers Leung Kwok-hung, known as "Long Hair," Lam Cheuk-ting, Helena Wong and Raymond Chan were among the 14 found guilty by three government-appointed judges and no jury.

Journalist-turned-politician Gwyneth Ho and the head of the hospital workers' union Winnie Yu were also convicted.

The panel of national security judges said the two acquitted defendants, Lee Yue-shun and Lawrence Lau, should be released on bail and report to the police every month. The Department of Justice said later on Thursday that it would appeal those verdicts.

Justice Andrew Chan set June 25 as a tentative date for the court to hear mitigating arguments from those convicted, prior to sentencing.

'Serious criminal scheme'

Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee said the convictions showed "the scale and the seriousness of their criminal scheme."

He said the Department of Justice had already informed the court of its intention to appeal in the case of the two acquittals.

"[The Hong Kong government] ... will do our utmost to prevent, suppress and impose punishment for acts and activities endangering national security to fulfill this justified responsibility," Lee said in a statement after the verdicts.

But former pro-democracy lawmaker Ted Hui, who fled the city amid the ongoing crackdown on dissent, and who is now living in Australia, said the trial of the 47 was effectively "a political trial."

"This has been a political trial from start to finish," Hui told RFA Mandarin on Thursday. "They are arbitrarily finding excuses to convict them to meet political needs."

"The playbook here is that the Chinese government believes it necessary to round up all democrats and convict them," said Hui, who is also a lawyer.

"The judges are merely executing the script, by finding some pretty far-fetched legal reasoning and evidence to support the idea that the democrats were trying to overthrow the regime," he said.

Australia-based lawyer and rights activist Kevin Yam said the court's interpretation and definition of what constitutes "subversion" will likely set a precedent for future cases under the 2020 National Security Law, but that the verdicts made no sense when considered alongside protection for economic, civil and political rights enshrined in the city's mini-constitution, the Basic Law.

"What's wrong with legislators exercising their constitutional power to veto the budget?" Yam said. "The most terrifying thing about this is the fact that exercising your constitutional powers can be construed as a criminal offense."

"That's a precedent that will bring all kinds of trouble in its wake," he said. "Anyone exercising their civil rights can be deemed to be breaking the law, which means that the National Security Law can be infinitely magnified [to include anything]."

'Bulldozing freedoms'

In Washington, the Congressional Executive Commission on China, or CECC, accused the Hong Kong government of violating its international law and treaty obligations, and "bulldozing the freedoms and rule of law that once made it so vital and prosperous."

"These verdicts are yet another sign that the Chinese Communist Party is pulling the strings, as its extreme efforts to restrict democracy and human rights now dictate Hong Kong's political and judicial institutions," Rep. Chris Smith, who chairs the commission, and Sen. Jeff Merkley said in a statement on Thursday.

The commission called for the Biden administration to sanction the judges and prosecutors responsible for what it termed "political prosecutions" and to shut down the city's Economic and Trade Offices on American soil.

Amnesty International's China Director Sarah Brooks called the mass conviction "the most ruthless illustration yet of how Hong Kong's National Security Law is weaponized to silence dissent."

She called on the international community to join Amnesty in demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the activists.

"To imprison these men and women, having already kept most of the 47 in pre-trial detention for more than three years, is a brazen injustice.

"None of those convicted have committed an internationally recognized crime; they have been targeted simply for exercising their rights to freedom of expression, association and participation in public affairs," she said.

'Hostile foreign forces'

Meanwhile, a government spokesman accused unidentified "external forces" of smearing the government, the police and the courts during the trial, and of trying to interfere with the trial "through intimidatory political means and misleading remarks."

Hong Kong and Chinese officials have long blamed "hostile foreign forces" for inciting several waves of mass popular protest in Hong Kong, including the 2019 protests for fully democratic elections and greater official accountability.

The verdicts show that Hong Kong is "no longer a safe place for international business," said Benedict Rogers, chief executive officer of the London-based rights group Hong Kong Watch.

He said the prosecution had presented "bogus evidence," and that the British government should reevaluate Hong Kong's overseas privileges and expand its lifeboat British National Overseas, or BNO, visa program to help people flee the ongoing crackdown, which was recently expanded with a second national security law, known as Article 23.

According to the overseas-based Hong Kong Democracy Council, the sentences that are eventually handed down will depend on the defendants' alleged role in the primary election.

"Ringleaders" could get 10 years to life, "active participants" 3-10 years and other participants less than three years, the group said via its X account, calling on the authorities to "free all political prisoners."

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said her government was "deeply concerned" by the verdicts, including that for one Australian citizen among them, Gordon Ng.

"Australia has expressed our strong objections to the Hong Kong authorities on the continuing broad application of national security legislation to arrest and pressure pro-democracy figures, opposition groups, media, trade unions and civil society.

"We know that the application of these laws also has implications for individuals outside of Hong Kong, including in Australia," she said in a statement.

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Taejun Kang and Malcolm Foster.

Updates to add reaction from Hong Kong chief executive, CECC members, Hong Kong Watch CEO and adds context.

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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Hong Kong: Statement by the Spokesperson on the verdict in the "Hong Kong 47" case

European External Action Service (EEAS)

30.05.2024

EEAS Press Team

The conviction under the National Security Law (NSL) of pro-democracy politicians and activists in the case commonly known as "Hong Kong 47" on 30 May marks a further deterioration of fundamental freedoms and democratic participation in Hong Kong. Of the 16 defendants who had pleaded not guilty, 14 have been convicted.

The defendants who were involved in the unofficial primary elections organised by the pro-democracy opposition in Hong Kong in July 2020 are being penalised for peaceful political activity that should be legitimate in any political system that respects basic democratic principles.

The EU is deeply concerned about the politically motivated prosecution of the 47 pro-democracy advocates, the prolonged pre-trial detention and the denial of bail for a majority of the defendants, undermining confidence in the rule of law as enshrined in the Hong Kong Basic Law.

The case also puts into question Hong Kong's commitment to openness and pluralism, which have been cornerstones of the city's attractiveness as an international commercial and financial centre.

The EU, in close cooperation with its Member States, will continue to closely monitor the human rights situation and fundamental freedoms in Hong Kong.

The EU urges the authorities to respect the high degree of autonomy of Hong Kong under the 'One Country, Two Systems' principle and to honour Hong Kong's international legal obligations, in particular the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Sino-British Joint Declaration lodged with the United Nations.



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Chinese Vice FM kicks off US visit amid moderate expectations

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: May 30, 2024 09:38 PM Updated: May 30, 2024 10:55 PM

Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu kicked off a visit to the US on Thursday at the latter's invitation, which is a continuation of bilateral high-level exchanges and interactions at various levels, observers said.

Ma's four-day visit and diverse agenda can help inject stability into bilateral ties amid disputes over several issues and the impact of US presidential elections, said analysts, who reiterated China's belief that the hope of the China-US relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in grassroots connections, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from subnational exchanges.

Ma is scheduled to visit the US from May 30 to June 2, during which he will hold consultations with US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and interact and communicate with representatives from various sectors in the US, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The talks are aimed at maintaining open communication channels to prevent miscalculations and unintended conflicts, especially during times of tension, Voice of America reported Thursday.

Ma's visit also comes alongside multiple examples of bilateral engagement, including the second round of China-US maritime affairs consultations, and the US-China high-level event on subnational climate action. Defense chiefs of the two countries may also meet at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

Moderate expectations

Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, expected rich and diverse activities during Ma's visit, which help implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state in 2023 in San Francisco and also continue the momentum of intensive high-level bilateral interactions since 2024.

During US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's China visit in April, the two countries reached five points of consensus, including continuing to follow the guidance of the heads of state of both countries, striving to stabilize and develop China-US relations, and maintaining high-level exchanges and contacts at all levels.

Ma's visit also shows China's sincerity in responsibly managing differences with the US, as it is in line with China's interests, benefits both countries and reflects the shared will of the international community, despite multiple US-stoked negative factors bringing new risks to the relationship, Li told the Global Times on Thursday.

The US government has increased tariffs on a range of Chinese imports, with the Chinese maritime, logistics, and shipbuilding sectors coming under new investigations and expected to be the next targets, according to media reports.

Under US instigation, the Philippines has heightened its provocations in the South China Sea, causing uncertainties and prompting concerns from other regional countries.

As for the most sensitive topic - the Taiwan question - collusion between the secessionist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and the US constitutes a potential flashpoint with new regional leader Lai Ching-te's blatant "Taiwan independence" attempts.

Bilateral relations face challenges of miscalculation and US' internal politics, while some neutral and benign voices on China are suppressed, Li said.

It is hoped that through Ma's visit, and more engagement at different levels, a healthier and more objective China view can be fostered to counter the extreme and biased political atmosphere in the US, the expert said.

Wang Yiwei, director of the Institute of International Affairs at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times on Thursday that China-US interactions have shown a pattern of both "hard confrontation and soft cooperation" and "major competition and minor cooperation."

Wang explained that while the US treats China as a strategic rival and seeks across-the-board competition with it, cooperation continues in "soft and concrete areas," such as the climate change response and giant panda conservation.

Analysts emphasized that China has now been engaging with the US in the belief that the hope of the China-US relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in grassroots connections, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from subnational exchanges.

While American policymakers born during the Cold War era find it difficult to shake off their ideological bias, the younger generation could be more realistic and pragmatic, Wang said, as he expects Ma to engage with local youth during his stay.

Habitually 'playing tough'

Ahead of meeting Ma, Campbell said on Wednesday in Brussels that Chinese support was helping to revitalize Russia's military capabilities, including long-range missiles, artillery, drones and battlefield tracking, media reported Thursday.

The US State Department's second-highest diplomat emphasized the urgent need for European and NATO countries "to send a collective message of concern to China about its actions."

Campbell's remarks in Brussels conform to the US' habitual method of playing tough toward China before a meeting, in the hope of dominating the tone and direction of the talks, Li said.

Wang said Campbell's rhetoric is very much influenced by the Biden administration's election needs.

When the Republican candidate Donald Trump said publicly that he could end the Ukraine war within a day of returning to the presidency, the incumbent Biden administration had to react, and came up with pledge of more weapons aid and scapegoating China.

The Russia-Ukraine conflict will definitely be on the agenda, though bilateral disagreement is wide-ranging, Wang said.

China has not confirmed that it will participate in a peace conference to be convened in Switzerland in mid-June, and China-US communication on the issue could facilitate its political settlement, he said.

Blaming China serves the US interests in two ways: sowing discord between China and Europe, and diverting pressure from the US over its failure in handling the conflict, Li said, "but we are inclined to believe that European countries have the strategic wisdom and rationality to see the true knots of the conflict."

China firmly opposes the US shifting blame to China, Chinese Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Wu Qian said on Thursday, adding that China stays committed to promoting peace talks and finding a political settlement to the crisis. Unlike the US side, we don't deliberately protract wars for profits.

China always adopts a prudent and responsible attitude toward exports of military products, and strictly manages export of dual-use articles. Statistics show that Russia imports more than 60 percent of weapon components and dual-use items from the US and Western countries, Wu said.

The US provides military aid to Ukraine at an unprecedented level, but at the same time, makes baseless accusations against normal economic and trade activities between China and Russia. This is typical double standards and is extremely hypocritical and irresponsible, the spokesperson said.

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China to build relations with Arab a model for maintaining world peace and stability: Xi

Global Times

By GT staff reporters Published: May 30, 2024 01:54 PM

Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum on Thursday that China is ready to work with the Arab side to put in place "five cooperation frameworks" to step up the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future. The Chinese president also said that the war in Gaza should not continue indefinitely and reaffirmed China's stance to promote lasting settlement for the Palestinian issue.

At his keynote speech, President Xi said that China-Arab relations have kept scaling new heights since the beginning of the new century. At the first China-Arab States Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia in December 2022, he and the Arab colleagues agreed unanimously to build a China-Arab community with a shared futureain the new era. China is satisfied with the progress and it will work with the Arab side to enhance the role of the Summit in providing strategic guidance for continued leapfrog growth of China-Arab relations.

Xi announced that China will host the second China-Arab States Summit in 2026, which will be another milestone in China-Arab relations.

During the keynote speech, President Xi also noted that the Middle East is a land bestowed with broad prospects for development, but the war is still ragingaon it. Since last October, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has escalated drastically, throwing the people into tremendous sufferings.

War should not continue indefinitely. Justice should not be absent forever. Commitment to the two-state solution should not be waveredaat will, said Xi. China firmly supportsathe establishment of an independent state of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital. ItasupportsaPalestine's full membership in the UN, and supportsaa more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference, Xi said.

Analysts said that in the keynote speech, President Xi has systematically put forward new initiatives to promote pragmatic cooperation between China and Arab states in various fields, including on innovation, finance, energy, trade and people-to-people exchanges and also expounding on China's policy in the Middle East, which would guide the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future and promote a just and reasonable solution to the Palestinian issue to contribute to peace and stability in the Middle East.

The 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum adopted a China-Arab states joint statement on the Palestinian issue, the Beijing Declaration, and an execution plan of the forum for 2024-2026.

According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the joint statement on the Palestinian issue has expressed that China and Arab countries share deep concern over the humanitarian crisis caused by the prolonged Gaza conflict, and stressed the firm stance and key consensus shared by the two sides on the following issues: promoting cease-fire for Gaza, ensuring humanitarian aids, opposing forced displacement of Palestinian people, supporting Palestine to become a full member of the UN, and promoting settlement for the Palestinian issue based on the two-state solution.

Bilateral meetings between top leaders of China and some Arab countries were also held in recent days. On Thursday, Xi held talks with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. On Wednesday, Xi held talks with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

Brighter future

President Xi pointed out at the opening ceremony of the conference that through joint efforts, the "eight major cooperation initiatives" for China-Arab practical cooperation, which he proposed at the first China-Arab States Summit, have made early harvests, and China is ready to work with the Arab side on that basis to put in place "five cooperation frameworks" to step up the building of a China-Arab community with a sharedafuture.

The five frameworks include a more dynamic framework for innovation, an expanded framework for investment and finance cooperation, a more multifaceted framework for energy cooperation, a more balanced framework foramutually beneficial economic and trade ties and a broader framework forapeople-to-people exchanges.

Under the framework for innovation, China will build with the Arab side 10 joint laboratories in such areas as life and health, AI, green and low-carbon development, modern agriculture, and space and information technology. China also stands ready to build with the Arab side a joint space debris observation center and a Beidou application, cooperation and development center, and steps up cooperation in manned space mission and passenger aircraft.

China-Arab cooperation is developing in a multi-dimensional and in-depth direction. Green economy, high technology and regional security governance will become new focal points for cooperation between both sides. This will not only help promote the development of China and Arab states but also make a positive contribution to peace and stability in the Middle East, Sun Degang, director of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Fudan University, told the Global Times.

The high-tech field, particularly in artificial intelligence and the digital economy, will be a new driving force for bilateral cooperation, injecting fresh impetus into China-Arab cooperation, Sun said.

Li Xinggang, a research fellow at the Institute for Studies on the Mediterranean Rim at Zhejiang International Studies University, told the Global Times on Thursday that "the development cooperation between China and Arab states will enter a new stage."

"The China-Arab relations will, on one hand, show new characteristics of all-fields, all-weather and sustainable cooperation. On the other hand, China and Arab countries will focus on hotspot issues in the Middle East, and to make joint efforts to promote a lasting settlement for the Palestinian issue based on justice and fairness, and to build a better geopolitical environment for the China-Arab cooperation in the region," Li noted.

Settlement for Palestinian issue

On Thursday, President Xi noted that commitment to two-State solution should not be wavered at will in solving Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He announced that on top of the previous 100 million yuan of emergency humanitarian assistance, China will provide an additional 500 million yuan of assistance to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support post-conflict reconstruction. China will also donate $3 million to the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in support of its emergency humanitarian assistance to Gaza.

Sun said that China and the Arab states have reached a significant consensus on resolving the Palestinian issue, agreeing that the right of Palestinians to establish an independent state cannot be ignored as it benefits not only Palestine but also helps Israel build a peaceful and stable environment in the same region.

Against the backdrop of the current Gaza conflict and humanitarian crisis, both China and the Arab states hope to play a positive role in resolving the Palestinian issue. They share similar stance on resolving regional issues and hope for a "soft landing" of the Palestinian issue and are committed to promoting reconciliation in the Middle East, Sun said.

"In the future, China and Arab countries will take further action to promote reconciliation among different political groups within Palestine, and strengthen the unity within Palestine. Pushing the UN to send peacekeeping forces to Gaza, especially Rafah city, might be a direction for the China-Arab cooperation," Li said.

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China's J-20 stealth fighter jet receiving upgrades; next generation coming soon: test pilot

Global Times

By Liu Xuanzun Published: May 30, 2024 09:56 PM

An ace test pilot of China's J-20 stealth fighter jet recently revealed that the J-20 is receiving constant upgrades, and a next generation warplane is expected to make its debut soon.

"The J-20 is constantly improving, keeping pace with the times, and continuously perfecting its mission system to achieve its expected combat objectives," said Li Gang, the test pilot in the J-20's maiden flight, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Wednesday.

Since the J-20's first test flight in 2011, China's aviation technologies have developed at an astonishing speed, far surpassing that of other countries, Fu Qianshao, Chinese military aviation expert, told the Global Times on Thursday.

The latest technologies have been applied to the J-20, including aerodynamic design changes and new engines, as well as the avionics, radar systems, software and materials, Fu said.

With these upgrades, the J-20 is now the world leader by far in advanced fighter jets, Fu said, noting that the US' F-22 has not received any major upgrades since its development, and its technologies are becoming obsolete.

But China will not sit on the J-20, with countries like the US having already started developing sixth-generation fighter jets, observers said.

"As the technology of our country's aviation industry continues to develop, the next generation will definitely come out soon," CCTV quoted Li, the J-20 test pilot, as saying.

China trailed behind the US at the start of the J-20's development, but now for the next generation fighter jet, China has either caught up with the US or is leading the world, Fu said.

The new warplane will likely also be built with an open architecture that allows fast development, fast production and fast upgrades like the J-20, analysts said.

No additional information has been given for China's next-generation fighter jet. Observers noted that some global trends include the integration of artificial intelligence, loyal wingman drones, more advanced engines that lead to faster speeds, stronger situational awareness, higher stealth capability, as well as the assumption of the role of a C4ISR (command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) node.

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Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning's Regular Press Conference on May 30, 2024

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

2024-05-30 18:47

CCTV: The Signing Ceremony of Kunming Biodiversity Fund was held in Beijing. Member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council Ding Xuexiang attended the event. Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Inger Andersen, who also attended the ceremony, said that the launch of the fund is a tremendous contribution China has made to developing countries, as it shows support for developing countries in biodiversity conservation and restoration. What is your comment?

Mao Ning: The Chinese government attaches great importance to biodiversity conservation, and is committed to working with all countries to build a community of all life on Earth. China has taken the lead to invest RMB 1.5 billion for the founding of the Fund, just as it was announced by President Xi Jinping at COP15. On the morning of May 28, China, the United Nations Environment Programme and the UN Multi-Partner Trust Fund Office together signed the cooperation agreements to officially launch the Fund. The Fund will stick to the approach of multilateralism and internationalized operation, work primarily through providing grants, and focus on the three major goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity, namely, conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use of the components of the biodiversity, and fair and equitable sharing of benefits, so as to support biodiversity conservation in developing countries and contribute to the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.

China is ready to work with the international community and, through the Fund, deepen international cooperation and build global synergy on biodiversity conservation, so as to create a better future of harmony between humanity and nature.a

AFP: The US Justice Department announced yesterday that it has dismantled a global malware network and arrested a Chinese national. Does the Chinese side know about the case? Can you share more details?

Mao Ning: I do not have details about the case. What I can tell you is that China firmly opposes and fights against all cyber crimes.

Reuters: RIA News Agency cited Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov saying that China could arrange a peace conference in which Russia and Ukraine would participate. Would China arrange such a conference? If so, when and what other parties would China invite?

Mao Ning: On the Ukraine issue, China hasaalways upheld a just and objective position and worked hard to promote talks for peace. The four principles laid out by President Xi Jinping form China's fundamental approach in seeking a political settlement of the Ukraine crisis. We encourage and support all efforts that are conducive to the peaceful resolution of the crisis, and 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. China stands ready to maintain communication with the international community on pushing for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

AFP: On the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, President Xi Jinping said today that China supportsaa more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference. Where and under what conditions does China hope this peace conference to be held?

Mao Ning: The full text of President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum today has been released, which you may refer to.

President Xi Jinping stated in the speech China's position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He stressed that war should not continue indefinitely, justice should not be absent forever, and commitment to the two-State solution should not beawaveredaat will. China supports Palestine's full membership in the UN, and supportsaa more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference. This is China's most authoritative position. On the international peace conference, I don't have more to add.

Yonhap News Agency: The DPRK today fired over 10 projectiles that appeared to be short-range ballistic missiles. The UN Secretary-General condemned the DPRK's attempted launch of a reconnaissance satellite on May 27, saying any launch using ballistic missile technology is contrary to the relevant Security Council resolutions. What is China's position on the DPRK's launch of a satellite on May 27 and the launch of ballistic missiles today?

Mao Ning: China noted the reports. China's position on the Korean Peninsula issue is consistent. I have nothing new to add.

Shenzhen TV: The fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States was just held in Antigua and Barbuda. China sent a delegation to the conference. How do you comment on the event?

Mao Ning: The decennial International Conference on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is the most important international conference under the framework of the UN for advancing the development of SIDS. As special members of the big family of world nations, SIDS have achieved remarkable progress in economic and social development, while facing challenges such as frequent natural disasters and lack of economic diversification. In-depth discussions at this year's conference focused on the theme of "Charting the Course Toward Resilient Prosperity," and sent a strong message of upholding multilateralism, seeking strength through unity and pursuing common development. The outcome document, the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, is of vital importance, as it will serve as the platform of action for the international community in supporting the development of SIDS in the next ten years.

Representative of the Chinese government and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Ma Zhaoxu attended and addressed the conference. He put forward China's four-point proposition: first, uphold multilateralism and support SIDS's equal participation in global governance; second, put development first and support SIDS in implementing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; third, uphold solidarity and cooperation, and support SIDS's response to climate change; and fourth, encourage innovation and support SIDS in strengthening the ability of self-driven development. Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu stressed that China always views SIDS as important development partners. We have worked actively to assist the development of SIDS to the best of our capability, set up several cooperation platforms under the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative and so on, and deepened practical cooperation with SIDS, delivering tangible benefit to the local people.

China stands ready to work with all parties to actively implement the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, respond to the urgent needs of the people of SIDS, fully support SIDS in moving toward more resilient and lasting prosperity, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Dragon TV: A court in Hong Kong today issued the verdict on the case of conspiring to commit subversion. Certain Western country pointed fingers at the ruling. What is China's comment?

Mao Ning: Hong Kong is a society under the rule of law. To abide by the law and bring lawbreakers to justice is a basic principle. No one should be allowed to use "democracy" as a pretext to engage in unlawful activities and escape justice. The Central Government firmly supports the law enforcement and judicial authorities in the Hong Kong SAR in carrying out their duties in accordance with the law and punishing all acts that undermine national security, and firmly opposes certain country's interference in China's internal affairs and attempt to smear and undermine Hong Kong's rule of law by using relevant case.

Reuters: The European Commission will postpone its decision on Chinese electric vehicle tariffs until after the European Parliament election on June 9, according to a Reuters report. Does the Ministry have a response to this?

Mao Ning: China has stated its position multiple times on the EU's anti-subsidy investigation into the imports of EVs from China. Let me just say that the nature of the investigation is protectionist. There are many practices in the investigation that are simply unjustifiable and inconsistent with the rules and the EU's accusation of China's so-called subsidization is untenable.a

China urges the EU to stop the investigation as soon as possible so as not to disrupt China-EU economic and trade cooperation and the stability of industrial and supply chains. If the EU insists on continuing with the investigation, China will not sit back and watch. We will take every necessary measure to firmly safeguard our lawful rights and interests.

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In Xinjiang, China's security chief calls for normalization of counterterrorism steps

Move comes as China declares it hasn't had any terrorist attacks in 7 years.

By Uyghar and Alim Seytoff for RFA Uyghur 2024.05.30 -- In a visit to the far-western region of Xinjiang, China's security chief Chen Wenqing called for the normalization of counterterrorism policies, which experts said could signal renewed efforts to suppress the more than 11 million Uyghurs who live there.

During his May 22-26 visit, Chen a a former head of China's Ministry of State Security espionage agency a stressed the need for persistent law-based crackdowns on violent and terrorist crimes and called for political and legal bodies to make social stability a top priority, according to Chinese media reports.

On May 27, the day after his visit ended, China's Ministry of Public Security said in a statement that the country had not had a terrorist attack in more than seven years.

Still, Beijing has made no major policy changes in Xinjiang and remains highly interested in stabilizing the region, said Anders Corr, principal of political risk analysis firm Corr Analytics in New York.

"They continue to prioritize so-called terrorism when there is no terrorism, and there never really were actual terrorists at all in Xinjiang," he said. "And so, that's the unfortunate issue when they say that they're normalizing counterterrorism."

The Washington-based advocacy group Campaign for Uyghurs said Chen's call to further normalize counterterrorism efforts suggested continued and possibly increased surveillance, restrictions and arbitrary detentions of Uyghurs.

"Chen Wenqing's statement is a blatant admission that the Chinese Communist Party intends to perpetuate a permanent campaign of genocide against the Uyghurs," said Rushan Abbas, the group's executive director in a statement.

"Instead of addressing international scrutiny, they are doubling down on their efforts," she said. "The international community must see through the CCP's propaganda and euphemisms, which justify their horrific crimes as 'counterterrorism measures.'"

The Chinese government ramped up its suppression of Uyghur and other Turkic peoples in Xinjiang beginning in 2017 with mass detentions of an estimated 1.8 million in "re-reeducation" camps that China claimed were vocational training schools to prevent "terrorism" and "religious extremism."

Because of the mass detentions and other severe human rights violations, including the forced sterilization of Uyghur women and forced Uyghur labor, the U.S. government, European Parliament and the legislatures of the and some Western countries have declared that the measures constitute genocide and crimes against humanity a accusations denied by Beijing.

Chen Quanguo, Xinjiang's party secretary from August 2016 to December 2021, oversaw the mass imprisonment of Uyghurs. But under Ma Xingrui, China's current Communist Party secretary in Xinjiang, the goal is the "legalization and normalization of counter-terrorism stability maintenance work," said Adrian Zenz, senior fellow and director in China studies at the Washington-based Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.

"Normalization and institutionalization are very much what the CCP pursues in Xinjiang," Zenz told Radio Free Asia, referring to the Chinese Communist Party. "Long-term counterterrorism is part of that. This also fits with the continued waves of detentions that we hear about."

Edited by Roseanne Gerin and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2024, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content May not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's video address to the 9th international conference Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era, May 30, 2024

30 May 2024 10:29

1016-30-05-2024

Mr Gao Xiang,

Mr Ivanov,

Colleagues,

I am delighted to welcome the organisers of and participants in the 9th international conference Russia and China: Cooperation in a New Era.

Most recently, President Vladimir Putin paid a state visit to China, which definitely became the centerpiece of bilateral exchanges this year. It was only natural that the President of Russia would choose China as his first foreign destination after taking office. Today, we can say with confidence that the two leaders' meeting in Beijing drew the widest response, and the whole world closely followed it.

The bond of comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China has grown unprecedentedly strong thanks to the personal efforts of both heads of state. The Beijing summit sealed the two countries' firm commitment to further deepen and expand it. This commitment was documented in the two leaders' joint final statement. The leading role of Russia and China in building a fairer polycentric world order was also reaffirmed. The agreements reached during the meeting are certain to spur on bilateral cooperation across the board and fill it with new content.

This year, Russia and China celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations. We mark this significant anniversary with achieving a new quality of relations - today, Russia and China view each other as priority partners and invariably adhere to the principles of mutually respectful, equal and trustful cooperation. We support each other with regard to key issues affecting the respective fundamental interests.

Practical cooperation between Russia and China continues to grow steadily despite the geopolitical turbulence. For more than a decade, China has confidently held the position of Russia's leading trade partner. Last year, Russia rose to the 4th place among China's foreign trade counterparties, which was a first. I would like to emphasise that the national currencies, the rouble and the yuan, now account for over 90 percent of all mutual trade transactions.

Strategic coordination in the international arena remains a key component of the Russian-Chinese partnership amid the growing international tensions. Our foreign policy tandem, held together by a broad commonality of interests as well as coinciding or similar approaches to key issues on the present-day agenda, plays a major stabilising role in global affairs. The two countries are strengthening cooperation on multilateral platforms, primarily the Unite Nations and the UN Security Council, as well as BRICS, the SCO, the G20, and APEC.

As our Chinese friends say, whoever follows the path of justice has many helpers. Moscow and Beijing are both working to consolidate the Global Majority. The number of countries that share our approaches is steadily growing, the recent expansion of BRICS a vivid manifestation of the trend. And this is not at all surprising. Unilateral sanctions, protectionist measures, pressure and blackmail have no place in our policies. Our countries are in favour of building a new architecture of equal and indivisible security in Eurasia.

Friends,

The Russian-Chinese strategic tandem is gaining status, and this opens up new horizons for us in terms of stronger sovereignty, economic growth, and prosperity of both countries. "When people are of one mind and heart, they can move Mount Tai."

The modern world is going through truly epoch-making tectonic shifts. These drastic changes naturally require deep reflection, a thorough and comprehensive analysis. The Russian and Chinese think tanks are called upon to play that role, with the dialogue between the Russian International Affairs Council and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences at the helm of the ongoing intensive cooperation in this area.

I have no doubt that the experts attending this conference today "know the world without even going out the door," as the Chinese proverb goes. I am sure that you will have a rewarding time discussing ways to make bilateral cooperation even more effective in a relaxed and friendly manner.

Friends, finding ways to employ the potential of academic diplomacy to further promote the Russian-Chinese strategic partnership is no small task, but I have no doubt that you will accomplish it successfully.

I would like to wish you rewarding work and all the best.

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US, China hold diplomatic talks to try to defuse tensions, advance cooperation

By Nike Ching May 30, 2024

Senior officials from the United States and the People's Republic of China held diplomatic talks in Washington on Thursday to try to defuse tensions, to discuss efforts to maintain military-to-military communication, and to advance cooperation.

Deputy U.S. Secretary of State Kurt Campbell hosted China's Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu at the State Department for talks aimed at maintaining open communication to prevent miscalculations and unintended conflicts, especially during times of tension.

Following two hours of face-to-face discussions, U.S. and Chinese officials had a working lunch at the State Department. Later in the afternoon, U.S. deputy national security adviser Jon Finer continued discussions with Ma.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan also stopped by the meeting to greet Ma and exchanged views on key issues.

"The two sides discussed ongoing work to continue military-to-military communication and advance cooperation in areas where our interests align, such as counternarcotics," the White House said in a statement, ahead of the expected meeting between U.S. and China defense chiefs during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

They also discussed areas of disagreement.

"Finer affirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He underscored U.S. support for international law and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The two sides also discussed Russia's war against Ukraine, challenges in the Middle East, and efforts to advance the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," the White House statement said.

The visit by Ma follows U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to Shanghai and Beijing in April. Officials said it builds on the U.S.'s intensive diplomacy with the PRC to responsibly manage competition in the relationship, even in areas where the two countries disagree.

The State Department has said the U.S. is engaging in face-to-face diplomacy with China to clearly and directly communicate Washington's positions and intentions, aiming to make progress on bilateral, regional and global issues.

A spokesperson from PRC's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Ma would also "interact and communicate with representatives from various sectors in the U.S." during his visit to the country Thursday to Sunday.

State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Thursday that the U.S. would continue its engagement with China at senior levels while raising concerns over contentious issues, including Beijing's support for Russia's war efforts in Ukraine.

"If China does not curtail its support for Russia's defense industrial base, the U.S. would be prepared to take further steps," Patel told reporters during a briefing.

He added, "The PRC's reconstitution of the Russian defense industrial base not only threatens Ukrainian security but also threatens European security," a view held by the United States, the G7, the European Union and NATO countries.

However, Patel declined to preview any potential U.S. sanctions.

While in Beijing last month, Blinken voiced "serious concern" regarding China's support for Russia's defense industry, warning Chinese leaders that Washington could impose sanctions over the matter.

China has defended its approach to Russia, saying it is engaged only in normal economic exchanges with a major trading partner.

On Wednesday, Campbell renewed the U.S. warnings, saying Chinese support was helping to revitalize Russia's military capabilities, including long-range missiles, artillery, drones and battlefield tracking.

During his visit to Brussels, Campbell emphasized the urgent need for European and NATO countries "to send a collective message of concern to China about its actions, which we view are destabilizing in the heart of Europe."

The latest U.S.-China talks occur just days after China conducted a large-scale, two-day military exercise involving 111 aircraft and 46 naval vessels around Taiwan. Washington has strongly urged Beijing to exercise restraint and has reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Mark Lambert, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for China and Taiwan, met virtually on May 23 with Hong Liang, the PRC's director-general for boundary and ocean affairs. During the meeting, Lambert expressed profound concerns regarding People's Liberation Army joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan.

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Germany Federal Foreign Office

29.05.2024 - Press release

A Federal Foreign Office Spokesperson issued the following statement today (29 May 2024) on the reported attempt by North Korea to launch a satellite on 28 May 2024:



The Federal Government condemns in the strongest possible terms North Korea's attempt on 28 May to launch a military satellite into space using ballistic missile technology. This launch constitutes a grave violation of North Korea's obligations under the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions. The continued violations of these Security Council resolutions by North Korea pose a threat to the security of our partners in the region and around the world.

The German Government urgently calls on North Korea to abide by its obligations under international law, to accept the offers of talks put forward by the United States and South Korea and to enter into serious negotiations on the dismantling of its nuclear and missile programmes. North Korea remains bound to the complete, verifiable and irreversible ending of its programmes to develop weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles.
Taiwan condemns North Korea for firing ballistic missiles

ROC Central News Agency

05/30/2024 07:28 PM

Taipei, May 30 (CNA) Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) on Thursday condemned North Korea for firing multiple ballistic missiles off its east coast, which it said has destabilized stability in the region again.

MOFA said North Korea filed more than 10 short-range ballistic missiles at 5:14 a.m. (Taiwan time) toward the Sea of Japan.

It added that Taiwan was unhappy to see North Korea firing missiles recklessly and again condemned such acts as undermining regional peace and stability.

Taiwan will continue to closely monitor any provocative acts by Pyongyang, and work with like-minded countries to protect freedom and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and to deter the expansion of authoritarianism, MOFA said.

It is the second time since May 17 that North Korea has fired ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan. All were believed to have fallen outside Japan's exclusive economic zone, foreign media reported.

Thursday's launch followed a failed attempt by nuclear-armed North Korea to put a second spy satellite into orbit on May 27, shortly after Beijing, Tokyo and Seoul held a summit and emphasized the importance of the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, according to the reports.

(By Flor Wang and Wu Shu-wei)

Enditem/kb

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North Korea fires at least 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 May 2024 10:28 AM

North Korea has launched multiple short-range ballistic missiles towards its eastern waters, as the country develops its military weaponry in defiance of sanctions.

Ten missiles were fired from the Sunan region at about 6:14 a.m. on Thursday (2114 GMT on Wednesday) towards the east, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement.

The missiles flew about 350 kilometers (217 miles) before landing in the East Sea, the statement added.

The military condemned North Korea's missile launch and called it a provocative act that poses a serious threat to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula.

"Our military has strengthened monitoring and vigilance against additional launches, while closely sharing information related to North Korean ballistic missiles with the United States and Japanese authorities," it added.

Moreover, the United States, a close ally of South Korea, condemned the launch, urging North Korea to "refrain from further unlawful and destabilizing acts."

Also on May 17, South Korea's military reported that North Korea launched short-range ballistic missiles near its east coast. Pyongyang later said it tested a tactical ballistic missile with a new "autonomous navigation system."

The projectile flew around 300 kilometers before splashing down in waters between South Korea and Japan, the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul said.

North Korea has fired off cruise missiles, tactical rockets and hypersonic weapons in recent months as its leader, Kim Jong-un has repeatedly said his government is building up its military arsenal in preparation for war by the West that could "break out at any time" on the peninsula.

Previously, Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader had warned that the US military exercise with South Korea is driving the regional security environment into dangerous turmoil.

North Korea is banned from testing ballistic missiles under UN Security Council sanctions imposed over its nuclear program since 2006.

South Korea, the United States, and Japan are working together to address North Korea's recent short-range ballistic missile launch, as announced by Seoul's Foreign Ministry on Thursday.

Escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula have surged in the past few months due to the heightened pace of North Korea's weapons testing and South Korea's joint military drills with the United States and Japan, creating a cycle of retaliation.

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Defiant North Korea tests missiles, jams South Korean GPS

The launches came a day after the North sent more than 250 balloons carrying trash into South Korea.

By Taejun Kang for RFA 2024.05.30 -- North Korea test-fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the sea off its east coast on Thursday while launching GPS jamming attacks against the South, the South Korean military said.

The missile tests came a day after the North sent hundreds of balloons carrying trash and manure into the South, which Kim Yo Jong, the powerful sister of the North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said was fitting punishment for those who mocked her country.

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, or JCS, said it detected the flight vehicles presumed to be short-range ballistic missiles fired from the Sunan district of Pyongyang toward the East Sea, or Sea of Japan as it is also known, at 6:14 a.m.

"Our military has strengthened monitoring and vigilance against additional launches, while closely sharing information related to North Korean ballistic missiles with the U.S. and Japanese authorities," the JCS said in a message to reporters.

The launches come less than two weeks after North Korea's test-firing of tactical ballistic missiles - considered to be short-range - equipped with what it called a new "autonomous" navigation system.

The North failed in an attempt to launch a second military spy satellite, in defiance of U.N. sanctions, on Monday as the space rocket carrying the satellite exploded during the first-stage flight shortly after liftoff.

Separately, the South Korean military said it had detected attempts by North Korea to jam global positioning system signals for a second day.

The military detected the GPS jamming attacks from 7:50 a.m. near the de-facto inter-Korean sea border in the Yellow Sea, the JCS said.

The jamming attacks have not hindered any military operations, the JCS added.

The latest North Korean actions came after it sent balloons carrying trash and excrement over the South on Tuesday and Wednesday, in retaliation for similar balloon flights from the South, launched by North Korean defectors and South Korean activists, carrying pro-democracy materials aimed at undermining the North Korean state.

The balloon launchings from the South infuriate North Korea and it vowed to retaliate.

Kim Yo Jong called this week's North Korean balloons and their trash "gifts from heart", the North's state-run KCNA news agency reported.

Referring to the balloons, she cited the "freedom of expression" of the North Korean people. She added the South's balloons were aimed at "political instigation" and "disparaged the North's ideology and system" while trying to spread South Korea's "miscellaneous thoughts that sprouted from the gutter."

"Those who have grossly mocked and insulted our people must be punished as they deserve," Kim said.

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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After 7-year hiatus, US groups resume humanitarian aid to North Korea

The shipments were mostly medical and lab equipment, US Commerce Department data shows.

By Cho Jinwoo for RFA Korean 2024.05.30 -- After a seven-year hiatus, U.S. organizations began exporting humanitarian aid to North Korea last year - much of it medical and laboratory equipment and supplies, according to data from U.S. Department of Commerce's Census Bureau.

Since November, more than US$200,000 in aid has been sent to the reclusive country, the data shows.

The U.S. government's sanctions policy prohibits all trade with North Korea except for humanitarian goods such as food and medicine, which require approval from the Department of Commerce.

After Pyongyang's fourth nuclear test in 2016, a new round of sanctions made it virtually impossible for for organizations to pass strict scrutiny even for humanitarian exports. Certain medical devices, for example, were banned because they could be used in applications other than their primary purpose.

It wasn't immediately clear why humanitarian shipments from organizations in the U.S. resumed, or which organizations provided the aid.

An American government official who requested anonymity told RFA that the shipments were humanitarian aid from U.S.-based organizations and weren't products purchased by North Korea.

Most of the shipments appear to be medical and laboratory equipment and supplies, said Jason Jindrich, director of the U.S. Census Bureau's International Trade Indicator MacroAnalysis Branch and Economic Indicators Division.

"Because the census only has access to the statistical information, I cannot say under what provision these supplies were sent," he said.

The resumption of the humanitarian aid comes at a time when international organizations that left North Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic are discussing a possible return.

The resumption of exports is "meaningful," said Joung Eunlee, a research fellow at Korea Institute for National Unification.

"I think this means that the U.S. government is also taking the stance that we will support North Korea from a humanitarian perspective," she said.

The U.S. State Department has previously told RFA several times that it does support humanitarian aid to North Korea.

In November, US$120,000 worth of goods were shipped to the country, about $55,000 of which was classified as "immunological products." In December, about $68,000 was sent, 90% of which were classified as "diagnostic or laboratory reagents kits."

Nothing was sent in January, but in February exports totaled around $26,000 and $3,500 in March.

Translated by Claire S. Lee. Edited by Eugene Whong and Malcolm Foster.

Copyright 1998-2016, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content 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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North Korea Used 'Ultra-Large Caliber' MLRS to Launch Missiles - Reports

Sputnik News

20240530

North Korea launched ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan early Thursday, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The DPRK allegedly used KN-25 "ultra-large caliber" 600 mm multiple rocket launchers to fire ballistic missiles on Thursday, Yonhap reported, citing South Korean military data.

The distance traveled by the missiles suggests that Seoul and several key air bases on the territory of South Korea are within their target zone if they were launched from Pyongyang, the agency added.

The Committee of Chiefs of Staff of the South Korean Armed Forces reported that the DPRK launched what are believed to be 10 short-range ballistic missiles from the Sunan area near Pyongyang towards the Sea of Japan at 06:14 local time. The simultaneous launch of so many missiles is unusual, the agency said.

At least one of the ballistic missiles launched by North Korea flew 350 kilometers at a maximum altitude of 100 kilometers, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry. As noted, all of the missiles fell outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

A Sputnik

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North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile Toward Sea of Japan - Reports

Sputnik News

20240530

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - North Korea launched an unspecified ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan early on Thursday, South Korean news agency Yonhap reported, citing the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The report said Seoul's military did not provide further details and was analyzing the launch.

Pyongyang fired a total of ten short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Thursday, Yonhap cited the South's military as saying.

Japanese broadcaster NHK reported, citing the Japan Coast Guard, that a projectile, "which could have been a ballistic missile, has already landed."

The report also cited a spokesperson for the Japanese Defense Ministry as saying that the suspected ballistic missile has landed outside Japan's exclusive economic zone.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has strongly condemned the North's launch and expressed hope for cooperation with the United States and South Korea.

Japanese news agency Kyodo reported, citing the South's military, that the missiles traveled about 350 kilometers (217 miles) before landing at sea.

A Sputnik

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Following North Korea's ballistic missile launches on 30 May, a Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) spokesperson gave a statement.

30 May 2024

An FCDO spokesperson said:

North Korea's ballistic missile launches on 30 May are another breach of multiple UN Security Council resolutions (UNSCRs). Unlawful ballistic missile launches continue to destabilise the peace and security of the Korean Peninsula.

The UK strongly urges North Korea to stop such provocations, return to dialogue and take credible steps towards denuclearisation.
Analysts see signs of strain in North Korea-China ties

By William Gallo May 30, 2024

Tensions between North Korea and China surfaced publicly this week for the first time in years, after Pyongyang lashed out at a joint statement signed by Beijing mentioning the possibility of denuclearization.

The apparent rift between the two allies emerged as North Korea's latest attempt to launch a military spy satellite interrupted a major diplomatic initiative by China.

North Korea announced that it would conduct the launch as China's premier, Li Qiang, was in Seoul preparing to meet the top leaders of Japan and South Korea as part of a trilateral dialogue that had not occurred in almost five years.

The launch, which ended in a fiery explosion just after liftoff, occurred several hours after the trilateral dialogue wrapped up late Monday.

Although not unprecedented, it was a rare North Korean disruption of a major political event involving China, which has long been the main ally and economic lifeline for the isolated North.

The developments suggest fissures in a relationship that both sides have long insisted is "as close as lips and teeth," according to Jean Lee, a Korea specialist at the East-West Center in Hawaii.

"I think what we're seeing is that those fissures can break wide open with just a little bit of pressure," she said.

Uncomfortable spot

North Korea's actions left China's Li in an awkward position, standing alongside Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who both condemned the impending launch.

Things got more uncomfortable from there. After the three men released a joint statement calling, among other things, for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, North Korea erupted.

In a statement posted in the state-run Korean Central News Agency, North Korea's foreign ministry accused the three countries of "mockery and trickery," denouncing what it described as a "blatant challenge" to its sovereignty and "wanton interference" in its internal affairs.

Though the North Korean statement was primarily directed at summit host South Korea, it was also a "veiled but undeniable swipe" at China, said Rachel Minyoung Lee, a North Korea watcher and senior fellow at the Washington-based Stimson Center.

"The North's relations with China have looked to be cooling over the last year, but this is the first time in recent years any signs of trouble have broken into the open," she wrote in a blog post on 38 North, a North Korea-focused website.

China has long called for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula - a formulation often embraced by other countries, including the United States and its allies.

North Korea has also accepted the idea of denuclearization in some settings, including perhaps most notably the joint statement signed by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and former U.S. president Donald Trump following their first summit in 2018.

However, North Korea last year enshrined nuclear weapons in its constitution - a status Kim now calls "irreversible."

North Korea's moves have sparked major concerns among the U.S. and its allies, which have responded by ramping up their own displays of military strength.

In public settings, Chinese officials have called for all sides to show restraint, even while pressing the United States to make concessions in order to advance the denuclearization process.

Ups and downs

North Korea has not criticized China so blatantly since 2017, when Beijing backed United Nations Security Council sanctions over the North's nuclear and missile tests.

Since then, North Korea-China ties have improved. China now opposes new sanctions, even as North Korea dramatically expanded its ballistic missile tests that are banned by the U.N. resolutions it once supported.

But there have been signs of trouble beneath the surface. For instance, Chinese leader Xi Jinping hasn't met with Kim in over five years.

Meanwhile, Kim in September traveled to Russia's far east, where he agreed to expand military cooperation with President Vladimir Putin. According to Kremlin officials, plans are underway for Putin to soon visit North Korea.

Putin now uses North Korean missiles and other weapons to wage war in Ukraine. In return, Putin may be aiding North Korea's nuclear weapons program, according to some U.S. officials, who have not provided evidence.

Some analysts say China may be uncomfortable if Russia is enabling a significant nuclear buildup on its border a which may explain some of the current tensions.

China may also be trying to show that it is not as close to North Korea - and to Russia - as some Western nations imply, according to Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a professor of international relations at King's College London.

"Kim Jong Un would have been invited already - or would have essentially been dragged to China to meet Xi Jinping. And this hasn't happened," said Pacheco Pardo.

That stands in contrast to the past, when Xi went out of his way to demonstrate that he was the world leader with the closest relationship to Kim, Pacheco Pardo added.

North Korea's actions this week suggest it has been emboldened by its cooperation with Russia and now wants to demonstrate some level of independence from Beijing, he said.

However, analysts have questioned whether Russia's current level of support for North Korea will outlast its war in Ukraine.

While North Korea appears to be less reliant on China for now, Pacheco Pardo said, "in the future, it might be different."

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Report on Power Demonstration Firing of 600mm Super-large Multiple Rocket Sub-Units Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un Directly Guides Power Demonstration Firing

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, May 31 (KCNA) -- The gangsters' regime and the puppet army of the ROK committed a hideous act of infringing upon the sovereignty of the DPRK that can never be overlooked by staging a clumsy counteraction of dangerous armed demonstration against the exercise of legitimate sovereign right of the DPRK. In this regard, the super-large multiple rocket sub-units conducted the power demonstration firing aiming at them for ensuring the sovereignty and security of the state with powerful and overwhelming means of war and clearly showing the DPRK's corresponding will not to hesitate to carry out a preemptive attack by invoking the right to self-defence at any time when the enemies attempt to use military force against the DPRK.

The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un directly gave an order to organize the power demonstration firing and guided it on the spot.

Repeatedly stressing that it is the duty and mission of the armed forces of the DPRK approved by its Constitution to mobilize the military retaliatory forces for safeguarding the sovereignty of the state and the territorial integrity, he affirmed that today's power demonstration firing, which is to be held under the situation in which the enemy's political and military moves to plunder the DPRK of its sovereignty are being committed desperately, will serve as an occasion in clearly showing what consequences our rivals will face if they provoke us.

The salvo of a firepower sub-unit was carried out by operating the integrated fire-control system, a constituent of the combined nuclear weapons management system of the state.

The drill was attended by the 3rd Battalion of the 331st Red Flag Artillery Regiment under the artillery combined unit of the Korean People's Army assuming the important firing attack task on the western border area.

A secret code order of the Central Military Commission of the Workers' Party of Korea on the firepower mission was given to the fire attack companies of the battalion and the salvo of the battalion was carried out by the integrated fire-control system.

When Kim Jong Un gave an order to fire at the observation post, General Jang Chang Ha, director general of the Missile Administration of the DPRK, commanded the fire attack.

Moment, loud explosive sound rending heaven and earth broke out and showers of fire for annihilation which are proud of marvelous strength clearly demonstrated the DPRK's will to defend its sovereignty and react against the enemy.

A-match-for-a-hundred artillerymen, fully charged with firm hostility toward the enemy and clear outlook on the arch enemy, accurately hit an island target 365 km away and successfully carried out their task for power demonstration firing.

Kim Jong Un highly appreciated that the DPRK-style war attack means strongest in the world, being proud of formidable power, are maintaining prompt and thoroughgoing counter-attack posture and are fully prepared.

He stressed that the nuclear forces of the DPRK should be more thoroughly prepared to promptly and correctly perform the important mission of deterring a war and taking the initiative in the war at any time and under sudden situation.

The war means and preemptive attack forces of the DPRK will keep the war posture with their more developed capacity and fulfill their important mission of deterring a war and defending sovereignty. -0-

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Franco-German Ministerial Council - For a strong and sovereign Europe

Germany - Federal Government

France and Germany are allies who both share European values. Federal Chancellor Scholz emphasised this fact at the Franco-German Ministerial Council in Schloss Meseberg. He thanked French President Macron for his historic state visit to Germany and said that together, they would continue to support Ukraine and strengthen Europe's security.

Tuesday, 28 May 2024

"Many thanks for taking three full days to visit Germany, Emmanuel," said Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz at a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.

Following bilateral talks between Scholz and Macron, a meeting of the Franco-German Defence and Security Council was held at Schloss Meseberg, which the Federal Government uses as a guest house. This meeting was also attended by the respective foreign and defence ministers as well as the French Chief of the General Staff and the Inspector General of the Federal Armed Forces.

Macron's speech a source of inspiration

Federal Chancellor Scholz praised Macron for his participation in the celebrations, which marked the 75th anniversary of the German Basic Law. The French President's speech in Dresden on Monday, said Scholz, had not only been an "inspiring endorsement of the Franco-German friendship", but also an "important source of inspiration for our collective efforts towards a strong and sovereign Europe". France and Germany are "allies who both represent and practice European values," the Federal Chancellor emphasised.

War in Ukraine: suffering and heroism

He and Macron agreed that security and stability within the European continent were of utmost importance at this time, Scholz continued, adding that support for Ukraine remained a key common concern, as the recent attacks by Russia had made clear.

The Federal Chancellor condemned the fact that it was particularly the civilian population in Odessa, Kyiv, Lviv, and many other cities in the country that were suffering under Putin's "merciless war". The efforts being made by Ukrainian soldiers to defend the country against Russian imperialism, he said, was "heroic".

Continuing support for as long as necessary

Proving ongoing support for Ukraine to the best of our ability, particularly through the supply of air defence systems and the reconstruction of the severely damaged energy infrastructure, Scholz said, continued to be our top priority. We promised Ukraine that we would continue our support for as long as necessary, he said, adding that the Western allies had been making great efforts for over two years on the political, humanitarian, financial, and military fronts. Nevertheless, said Federal Chancellor Scholz, he was in agreement with President Macron that "we now have to take the next step to place this support on a new footing".

This, he said, was currently the subject of in-depth discussions among the G7 countries and at the European Union level. One significant aspect of this, according to Scholz, were the so-called windfall profits, i.e. income from interest on frozen Russian assets in Europe, whereby the intention is to use these to provide a stable source of funding for the necessary efforts.

EU expansion and reform

In addition to international issues, the two politicians also discussed European policy topics in Meseberg. The Federal Chancellor underlined the common "desire for a sovereign and geopolitical Europe", an important prerequisite for which, he said, was the expansion of the European Union to include the countries of the Western Balkans in particular. Scholz added that internal EU reforms that had been left undone for too long had to be tackled, too.

Epochal change: security is crucial

The Federal Chancellor went on to say that Berlin and Paris want to strengthen Europe's security and defence "now and in the future, against any threat". This, he said, was the logical consequence of the epochal change following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

As President Macron emphasised in his speech at the Sorbonne in Paris, Europe would have to shoulder more of the financial burden in the transatlantic alliance in future, said Scholz. He announced that Germany and France would therefore be further expanding their close cooperation in the areas of security, defence, and armaments, for example in the development of long-range precision weapons.

Great concern about the situation in the Middle East

The Federal Chancellor said that he viewed the situation in the Middle East with great concern. Over 100 Israeli hostages were still in the hands of the terrorist organisation Hamas, he said, while the shelling by Hamas continued and there was no security for Israel. "Our demand is very clear," Scholz added: "The Hamas terrorists must release all hostages immediately and agree to a long-term ceasefire."

Respect for international law

He was just as clear when he said that Israel had to respect international law in its actions and ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid for the suffering people in Gaza. Ensuring that the necessary aid supplies arrive, he said, was the responsibility of the Israeli government.

The Federal Chancellor stated that the investigation announced by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu into the tragic incident in Rafah, where many innocent people died as a result of the shelling of a refugee camp was "both right and necessary".

Historic state visit

Federal Chancellor Scholz emphasised the fact that the meeting at Schloss Meseberg marked the end of a historic state visit by the French President to Germany. This visit, he said, added another important chapter to the long history of Franco-German relations and showed how close the ties between Germany and France had become in recent decades.

Working together in a spirit of mutual respect

The meeting in Meseberg was the realisation of what President Macron and Federal Chancellor Scholz had agreed to on the 60th anniversary of the AlysAe Treaty, namely that, in addition to larger closed meetings, regular meetings in smaller groups would also be convened to address current topics.

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Transcript of Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (May 30, 2024)

India - Ministry of External Affairs

May 30, 2024

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Namaste, good afternoon friends, let's begin the press engagement.

Brahm Prakash Dubey: Main Brahm Prakash Dubey hoon India Daily Live se. Mera sawal ye hain ki haal hi mei Pakistan ke purva pradhanmantri Nawaz Sharif ne ek bayan diya, unhone is baat ko swikara aur kaha ki kis taraf se 1999 mei tatkalin bhartiya pradhanmantri Atal Bihari Vajpayi ke sath jo samzota hua tha uska ullanghan Pakistan ne kiya, isko lekar videsh mantralaya kya sochta hain, bharat ka tark kya hain?

[Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] I am Brahm Prakash Dubey from India Daily Live. My question is that recently, former Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, made a statement in which he acknowledged and said that Pakistan violated the agreement made with the then Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999. What does the Ministry of External Affairs think about this, and what is India's stance on this matter?

Sidhant: Sir Sidhant from WION. There are reports from Maldives that India plans to initiate free trade agreement talks. This is something that has been claimed by a Maldivian Minister. If you can clarify or is it correct, Sir?

Aayushi Agarwal: Sir, this is Aayushi Agarwal from ANI. Sir, how does India see the current situation which is ongoing in Gaza especially after the Israeli strike in Rafah that led to the civilian casualties?

Yeshi Seli: Yeshi Seli from New Indian Express. What is the situation like in Bishkek because there were plenty reports coming in, saying that the students are in frenzy and they want to return. Also, yesterday Dr. Jaishankar had said that the peace process in Ukraine will also have some kind of, not intervention, but he did say that India's inputs will be required. So, your comments on that?

Reza: Reza from the Hindustan Times. Just an additional point to what Aayushi asked. The Norway, Ireland and Spain have joined the countries that have recognized the Palestinian state. How does India look at that and the possibility that more countries in Europe will also now recognize Palestine?

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So, let's start.

Brama Prakash aapse shuruwat karte hain. Dekhiye jis mudde par aap humara dhyan lana chah rahe hain, uspe hamari kya rai hain, hamari kya soch hain, kya hamara position hain usse toh aap bhalibhati awagat hain. Rahin baat ki ye kya dekhne ko aa raha hain, toh hum dekh rahe hain ki Pakistan mei bhi ab vastavikata pe aadharit najariya samne aa raha hain aur dekha ja raha hain, toh isi prakar se aapne jo tippani ki baat kahin aapne, usko hum is najariya se dekhte hain.

[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] Brahm Prakash, let's start with you. Look, regarding the issue you are trying to draw our attention to, you are well aware of our opinion, our thoughts, and our position on it. As for what we are observing, we are seeing that an objective view is now emerging in Pakistan as well. So, regarding the comments you mentioned, we look at it from this perspective.

You are aware of our position on this issue. I need not reiterate that. We note that there is an objective view emerging in Pakistan as well on this particular matter.

Sidhant, your question was regarding Maldives. The comments made by their Economic Minister regarding FTA. On Maldives, we have seen some reports about the Minister speaking about we offering FTA. We haven't done so. But if Maldives, if they are considering FTA with us, we will surely look into it.

Aayushi, current situation in Rafah. On that particular issue, we want to say that the heartbreaking loss of civilian lives in the displacement camp in Rafah is a matter of deep concern for us. We have consistently called for protection of civilian population and respect for international humanitarian law in the ongoing conflict. We also note that the Israeli side has already accepted responsibility for it as a tragic incident and announced an investigation into the incident. So, that is our comments on your question.

Yeshi, on the situation in Bishkek. The situation in the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, is normal. Some two weeks back or so, there were some incidents involving foreign students, not Indians. Because of that, Indian students got worked up. They were a little concerned. Our Embassy swung into action. We established helplines to assist the students. We also took up the matter with local authorities, as also the university administration, so that the welfare and well-being and safety of our students are taken care of. I would like to let you know that this is exam time for our students and after the exams get over, there will be summer vacation in which many of them will come back. There are direct flights between Bishkek and Delhi twice a week and there is direct flight also via Almaty on a daily basis which can be availed of and our Embassy remains ready to assist our students in whatever manner that the request comes for.

On Ukraine-Russia, you know our position is very well known. You heard what External Affairs Minister had to say, we have consistently called for dialogue and diplomacy being the way forward on this particular matter.

Reza, on the question, that these European countries have now come up and recognized Palestine. As to how we look at it, let me tell you that India recognized Palestine way back in the 1980s. So, it has been our long-standing position that we support a two-state solution which entails the establishment of a sovereign, viable and independent state of Palestine within recognized and mutually agreed borders living side by side with Israel in peace. So that is how we look at it. What they are doing now, we have already done in the 1980s.

Huma Siddiqui: I am Huma Siddiqui from the Financial Express. My question is who is going to represent India at the Swiss Peace Conference which is taking place next month; and also who is going to represent India at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum which is next week in Russia?

Sanjeev Balwa: I am Sanjeev Balwa from The Week magazine. This is in the light of the May 13th...so has there been any fresh interaction on India's part to establish full-scale relationship with the regime in Afghanistan?

Chandrakala: Chandrakala this side from ETV Bharat. There is a report suggesting that Pakistan has repatriated five Indian prisoners, including Wahida Begum from Assam and her 11-year-old son. They were detained for over a year in Quetta jail for lacking valid passports and visas. If I can have some more information on this, basically on the other Indian prisoners.

Aditi: Hi Sir, this is Aditi from NBT. Sir this is about the comment made by US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller. He has recently said that on the issue of religious liberty, US has been engaging with many countries, including India. Your comments, please.

Livia Rodriguez: Good afternoon. Livia Rodriguez from Prensa Latina. Recently, the US government removed Cuba from its list of countries that do not fully cooperate with its anti-terrorist efforts. But in a contradictory way, the US government at the same time unfairly keeps Cuba on an arbitrary list of states that, according to Washington, are sponsors of terrorism. We would like to know India's opinion on this issue, taking into account that this designation by the United States on Cuba affects the Caribbean island possibility to trade with other countries, and is a weapon to apply more than just coercive measures against the island and tighten the illegal economic blockade that the United States has maintained against the island for more than 60 years. Thank you.

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Thank you.

Huma, regarding Peace Conference, we have told you earlier also that we have not yet taken a decision on our participation. That decision as and when is taken, you will come to know or we will announce it. Similar is the case with St. Petersburg Economic Forum. At this point in time, we have yet to take a decision as to who is going to go. You will come to know about it.

Sanjeev regarding your question about Chabahar. We had come out with a press release where we talked about the importance of the project, Chabahar, long-term contract that we've signed. We've also talked about this particular project, enhancing connectivity in the region, especially for Afghanistan where we deliver humanitarian aid and assistance, and also help landlocked countries in Central Asia. So that is how we look at the Chabahar project. As far as Afghanistan goes, it has been our consistent policy that we support the people of Afghanistan, especially through humanitarian assistance, food, medicines, et cetera. and we utilize Chabahar for that particular purpose.

Chandrakala, your question regarding Indian prisoners coming back from Pakistan. Exchange of prisoners happened between the two countries. It is part of our consular engagement. We have, at regular intervals, such exchanges take place and the five that you mentioned about, including a lady from Assam, is part of this particular exchange.

Regarding your question about State Department, sometime back when that particular report had come, we had made our position very clear as to what we feel on the question of religious freedom. So, I would refer you to please have a look at the statement that we made here.

Livia, your question about Cuba. We have very strong ties with Cuba. We have very friendly ties with Cuba. On the question of terrorism, India is in the forefront of fighting terrorism, cross-border terrorism. We want the global community to realize how important a threat it is to global existence and we want to strengthen our fight. As far as the particular question that you referred, is a matter between Cuba and another country, that is how we look at it. It's a matter between two countries. But as far as terrorism is concerned, we work with our global partners to strengthen international fight against international terrorism.

Abhishek Jha: Sir Abhishek Jha from CNN News18 this side. My question is regarding one of the army veteran Indian who was killed in Gaza I believe. One of the Indian army veteran working for UN was killed in Gaza, do we have any updated report as to what laid to the circumstances in which he was killed? Did we also raise this issue with the Israeli government?

Rishabh: Good evening Sir Rishabh from Times Now. Sir, two questions, one, Azerbaijan Foreign Minister is in Pakistan, he raked up Kashmir in Islamabad again in the Joint statement, Jammu and Kashmir in the joint statement with Pakistan. And second, Sir European Union has announced a grant for Manipur for the hailstorm that has led to destruction of crops in Manipur. How does India see it?

Mohammad Ghazali: Ghazali from NDTV Sir. I just want to ask about this Meta adversarial threat report by Meta. It has released a report citing that how some fake accounts operating from China have been struck down from Meta, which used to target the global Sikh community and also relations of India and Tibet as well. That report mentions that as well. So If you can just...

Ayanangsha Maitra: My name is Ayanangsha Maitra, independent journalist. Sir, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesperson of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, welcomed the move as well as welcomed the move of Chabahar. So, the bilateral trade is estimated to be something around 700 million plus. So, how you expect this could have a push?

Dhairya Maheshwari: Sir, Dhairya Maheshwari from Sputnik. Sir, I have two questions. The first one is in regards to the G7 ban on Russian diamonds. Sir, the Belgian industry association, the Antwerp World Diamond Centre, last week they announced that they are in talks with global stakeholders to establish diamond verification centers outside the EU. Now, since significant Indian diamond industry interests are involved in this issue, would it be able to know if there are talks between India and EU to set up a diamond verification centre in Surat or maybe in Mumbai? And, Sir, the second question is in regards to the BRICS. Several countries including Thailand, Sri Lanka in recent weeks have announced an interest and intention in joining the BRICS grouping. How does India see this?

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay. Abhishek, regarding your question about the death of Colonel Kale, as we had said earlier also, an investigation has been launched by the Israeli side. We also know that the United Nations Department of Safety, they have also set up a fact-finding mission. We hope that these investigations are concluded soon and we look forward to it. And also, both our Missions, in Tel Aviv and also our Mission in New York, they are in touch with the authorities in regard to the investigation. So we are following up also on the matter.

Rishabh, the question regarding Azerbaijan, yes, Jammu and Kashmir, our position is very well known, consistent. So, I would leave it at that. Regarding your question about assistance rendered by the European Union, we have seen some reports, we have also seen some reports or press release by the government of Manipur on it. We are not aware of this particular assistance having been rendered, because we have not been informed of it, we are not aware of it. But we have seen some reports on it.

Ghazali, this Meta report that you are talking about, I have not seen this report, it is a private report. So once, you know, let me have a look and then we will revert to you.

Maitra, your question about Chabahar, yes, Chabahar, as I told you, you know, that this is an important project for us to provide connectivity in the area, to provide humanitarian assistance. Through this port, we have, for several years provided humanitarian assistance. And this particular project is going to help in connectivity and connectivity thereafter leads to several other benefits to countries in the region.

The area of question about diamond verification centre, this is, of course, you know, diamond trade is an important, India is an important player as far as global diamond trade is concerned. We have global manufacturing happening in India, we have, I mean, one of the major centers of global diamond trade, global polishing, value addition happens in India, we are important player in that. There are strong connections between Surat, Antwerp and other centers which are on the global diamond map. On this particular issue of diamond verification centre, I don't have an update on this, whether it is a matter of discussion between European Union and India or not, but I shall look into the matter and revert to you.

On BRICS, you know, we have been consistently saying that BRICS is an important platform for us and we look forward to our participation in the meetings that will be organized by Russia as chair of BRICS this year. As far as membership of BRICS is concerned, it is for the grouping to decide and the grouping decides based on the certain criteria that they have laid down. So if the group decides on a particular membership of expansion or to consider a particular country to the group, it will be done as per the guidelines of the BRICS grouping.

Sudhi Ranjan: Sudhi Ranjan from Bloomberg Sir. Any clarity that you can give us on whether U.S. has allowed Indian oil companies to lift oil from Venezuela, and if so, when have these clearances come?

Neeraj: Sir, Neeeraj from News18 India. Prajwal Revanna ke diplomatic passport ke cancellation ke mamle me ab tak kya update hai, aur kya unka diplomatic passport kal expire ho raha hai, 31 May ko?

[Question in Hindi: Approximate translation] Sir, this is Neeraj from News18 India. What is the latest update on the cancellation of Prajwal Revanna's diplomatic passport? Also, is his diplomatic passport expiring tomorrow, on May 31st?

Suhasini Haidar: This is Suhasini Haidar from the Hindu. One question about the ongoing investigation into the allegations by the U.S. of an assassination for hire over there. We have now passed the six months mark since you had announced, the spokesperson had announced, that India has put in place a high level inquiry into this. We still don't have details of who's on the inquiry, who's carrying out the inquiry or any details thereof. Can you please update us on what so far has the inquiry found? Because there have been many media reports about various conclusions being conveyed already to the U.S., and whether the U.S. or Mr. Gupta has in any way approached the Indian government over his extradition, which will presumably lead to the trial in the U.S. shortly.

And if I may, a second question on why has India not supported Taiwan's application for a request to be an observer at the World Health Assembly? Taiwan has been requesting this at least since 2020 and the COVID pandemic. It had observer status from 2009 to 2016. But while the U.S. and other countries have supported that candidature, India has not.

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Okay. Sudhi, first question regarding oil imports, sometime back we were importing oil from Venezuela. That was based on the specific approvals that were taken. After that once those specific approvals or carve out that was given, they have now expired. I am not sure of any further developments on that account. But let me have a look into this matter and come back to you. But that is where I feel that till April we were doing it. After that it has stopped.

Neeraj aapka sawal diplomatic passport ko le ke hai. Main aapko batana chahta hoon ki, is mahine ki 21 tarikh ko hum logo ke pas woh request aaya tha Karnataka sarkar se. 23 tarikh ko hum logon ne show cause notice, jo hamara vidhivat pravdhan hai Indian Passport Act ke tahat, hum logon ne show cause notice jari kiya us Member of Parliament ke naam pe, unko diya gaya ki bataeeye ki aapka diplomatic passport kyu nahi cancel ho sakta hai, uske liye 10 din ki awavdi hain, 10 din ke ander unko jawab dena hai. 23 ko hamne ye show cause notice jari kiya tha, hum log unke jawab ka intezar kar rahe hain, jawab mil jayega uske baad hum apni karyawahi aage karenge is mamle mei.

[Answer in Hindi: Approximate translation] Neeraj, your question is about the diplomatic passport. I want to inform you that on the 21st of this month, we received a request from the Karnataka government. On the 23rd, we issued a show cause notice, as per the provisions of the Indian Passport Act, to the Member of Parliament in question. They were asked to explain why their diplomatic passport should not be canceled. They have been given a period of 10 days to respond. We issued the show cause notice on the 23rd, and we are currently waiting for their response. Once we receive the response, we will proceed with further action in this matter.

See, we had received a request from the Karnataka government on 21st May. On 23rd May, as per the Indian Passport Act, we had initiated action for cancellation of passport of Member of Parliament Prajwal Revanna. On 23rd May, we had issued a show cause notice as per procedure to him. He has to respond to that show cause notice within 10 days and we are waiting for his response and accordingly we will take things forward once we hear from him or once the 10-day period expires.

Suhasini on a question about the high-level committee, I can only tell you that the high-level committee has been constituted and the high-level committee is looking into all the inputs that were shared with us. Further than that, I don't have anything to share with you. Regarding Mr. Nikhil Gupta, we understand that the Constitutional Court in the Czech Republic has given a ruling upholding the earlier decisions of the courts on the admissibility of the extradition request. Further than that, I don't have any more details.

On the question of observer status for Taiwan, see, whatever decision India is going to take, I am not sure whether this particular issue has come up for consideration or not. But whatever decision we are going to take, we will be in keeping with our policy on this matter.

Kallol Bhattacharjee: Kallol from the Hindu. My question is regarding the Bangladesh MP Anwarul Anar, who has gone missing and there are reports that he was brutally murdered and his body parts strewn across Kolkata. Sir what all details do you have about the case and was it something somehow related to his business? There are various reports regarding his business activities as well. What more can you share about the case? Was it taken up by the Bangladesh government or with the Indian government so far?

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So Kallol, what I can tell you is that this particular case is being investigated. Law enforcement agencies from both Bangladesh and India are coordinating and necessary information is being exchanged. From our side, the government is extending full support to the Bangladeshi side as part of our ongoing investigation in the matter.

Srinjoy: Sir, is there a change in the route of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra? And if there is, can you tell us why, please?

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: Srinjoy, on this particular issue, I don't have an update, but let me get back to you. I will consult my colleagues and get back to you if there has been a change in it.

Siddhant: There are reports of increased cooperation between Pakistan and China as a line of control in terms of building bunkers and other such military infrastructure. Any reaction to this?

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: You are talking about the projects in PoK?

Siddhant: Yes, Sir.

Shri Randhir Jaiswal, Official Spokesperson: So on PoK, Pakistan occupied Kashmir, we are very consistent in our position. We want to tell you that the whole of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, the Union Territories, they are part of India, integral part of India. They were integral part of India, they are integral part of India and they will remain integral part of India. Our position on CPEC also is well known to you. We are not in favor of it, we are against it. It goes against our territorial integrity and sovereignty.

If we have no more questions, then we call it a day. Thank you very much for your presence.

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Iran, Russia envoys in Vienna meet ahead of IAEA meeting

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 30, 2024

London, IRNA -- Iranian and Russian ambassadors have met and consulted with each other in Vienna on Wednesday ahead of an upcoming meeting of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) where Britain, France and Germany are pushing for yet another anti-Iran motion.

According to IRNA, Permanent Ambassador of Russia to the Vienna-based international organizations, Mikhail Ulyanov and Iran's Permanent Representative to the IAEA Mohsen Naziri held a discussion about the Board of Governors' meeting which will kick off on Monday next week.

The issue of Iran is one of the topics mentioned in the meeting's agenda where the verification and inspection of Iran's nuclear activities is supposed to be reviewed in the light of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and the implementation of the safeguards agreement.

Rafael Grossi, IAEA Director General claimed in his recent report that Iran's enriched uranium reserves have reached 30 times the limit set in the 1994 agreement with the agency.

Iran has gradually increased its enrichment level in response to non-compliance to the 2015 nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) by European signatories as well as the unilateral withdrawal of the United States from the accord and re-imposition of its sanctions on the Islamic Republic.

In May 2019, a year after the US withdrawal, Iran started to take "remedial measures" by reducing its commitments under the deal after the European troika failed to fulfill theirs. Tehran has repeatedly said its moves, including uranium enrichment to the purity level of 60%, are reversible depending on the actions by other parties to the agreement.

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E3 circulates anti-Iran draft ahead of IAEA board meeting: Reuters

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

May 30, 2024

London, IRNA -- Britain, France and Germany, known as the European troika or E3, have circulated an anti-Iran draft resolution ahead of the meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors next week, despite US opposition, three diplomats told Reuters on Wednesday night.

According to IRNA, Reuters while referring to the distribution of the anti-Iran draft, said the resolution does not threaten to refer the issue to the United Nations Security Council.

Reuters, which previously reported the US opposition to such a resolution, quoted three unnamed European diplomats as saying that "the E3 had shared a draft text with countries on the IAEA's 35-nation board."

"We are pushing the Americans, but they remain stuck in the thinking that nothing should be done to escalate with Iran," said one diplomat, adding: "That has achieved nothing so far and we believe we need to show firmness now."

The resolution focuses on the probe and refers to the possibility of asking IAEA chief Rafael Grossi to provide a more "comprehensive report" on Iran's nuclear activities than his regular quarterly ones, the report said.

Every three months, Grossi presents a report on the verification and inspection of Iran's nuclear activities in the light of UN Security Council Resolution 2231 and the implementation of the safeguards agreement to the Board of Governors.

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Investigation rules out sabotage in Iran's presidential helicopter crash

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Thu / 30 May 2024 / 10:36

The ongoing probe into the helicopter crash that claimed the lives of President Ebrahim Raisi of Iran and several other officials has ruled out sabotage as the reason behind the tragic incident.

Tehran-ISNA- A second report by Iran's General Staff of Armed Forces, which is investigating the crash, said there's no evidence that the helicopter had been sabotaged during the flight.

"Considering the sampling and tests conducted on the remains and parts of the helicopter and the pattern of their dispersion and the distance of the parts separated from the main body, the occurrence of an explosion due to sabotage during the flight and moments before the impact on the mountain slopes is ruled out," it said.

The report also said "no traces of electronic warfare were observed on the crashed helicopter."

It said the examination of documents related to the maintenance and repair of the crashed helicopter showed no issues that could have contributed to the accident.

The report also ruled out any communication system malfunction or frequency interference preventing the presidential helicopter from contacting the flight group.

The report said the examination of tests and analysis of data will continue until the main cause of the incident is discovered.

The General Staff of Armed Forces issued its preliminary report on the incident on May 24, saying the wreckage did not bear any bullet holes or signs of similar impact.

Late president Raisi along with foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other dignitaries lost their lives after their helicopter crashed into the mountains and caught fire on May 19.

The crash site was located by Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles at 05:00 a.m. (local time) on May 20, and reached by search teams shortly afterwards.

Raisi was laid to rest at the Shrine of Imam Reza (peace be upon him), where the Shia Islam's eighth imam is buried in the northeastern city of Mashhad.

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Ex-nuclear negotiator Jalili registers to run in Iran presidential election

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 May 2024 5:29 PM

Five hopefuls have registered to run in an early presidential election next month in Iran, on the first day of registration following the passing of President Ebrahim Raeisi in a helicopter crash.

Saeed Jalili, a former chief nuclear negotiator and currently a member of the Assembly of Experts tasked with electing the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, was the first heavy-weight politician to register on Thursday for the election.

"The progress of our people and global trends show that we face a historic opportunity," he said after the registration, citing US officials' admission that Washington's policy of "maximum pressure" on Iran has failed.

"Our people are ready to play their big role for the development of the country," he added.

Jalili said whoever steps into the election race must know its importance like the "martyr president", referring to President Raeisi.

"The next president should appreciate the great capital of the nation like the martyr president," he said.

Iran today, Jalili said, needs "pin-point decisions" for further progress and more lasting justice.

"A pin-point decision means paying attention and focusing on priorities. It means to have a full command over decisions and focus on issues that target the roots of problems," he said.

"Progress cannot be achieved except with justice - a justice that respects the right for each and every Iranian to participate in the country's leap forward," Jalili added.

For a leap and progress, maximum participation of people is necessary, where everyone should be able to grow and thrive, he said further.

The five-day period will see those between the ages of 40 to 75 with at least a master's degree register as potential candidates for the June 28 presidential election.

All candidates ultimately must be approved by Iran's 12-member Guardian Council, a panel that checks the qualifications of the hopefuls.

Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi said the vetting process will be seven days and then qualified candidates will have almost two weeks for the election campaign. The Guardian Council will publish the list of qualified candidates on June 11.

Majid Mirahmadi, head of the committee for election security, said voter turnout is expected above 70 percent.

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Prison Sentences Of Iranian Women's Rights Activists Upheld On Appeal

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda May 30, 2024

Eleven women's rights activists cumulatively sentenced to more than 60 years in prison have lost their appeal, a lawyer for one of the campaigners said on May 29.

Ramin Safarnia said an appeals court in the northern city of Rasht on May 28 had upheld the preliminary verdicts handed to each activist. He vowed to take the case to the Supreme Court.

In a post on Instagram, activist collective Bidarzani accused the judge, Mohammad Sadeq Iran-Aqideh, of issuing the ruling "without holding a court session."

Based in the northern province of Gilan, all 11 activists were detained in August 2023 on various security-related charges, including "assembly and collusion to disrupt national security," "propaganda against the establishment," and "membership in an illegal group."

Speaking to RFE/RL's Radio Farda, a source close to the activists said the Islamic republic had increased the pressure on independent women's rights groups in the wake of the Women, Life, Freedom movement.

The movement was born out of the nationwide antiestablishment protests in 2022 following the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who had been detained for allegedly flouting Iran's strict dress code for women. More than 500 protesters were killed and thousands arrested during the months of unrest.

"They try to suppress [the groups] as much as they can, and they have had some success, but the resistance continues," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Zohreh Dadras was sentenced to more than nine years in prison on two separate charges.

Forugh Sami'nia, Sara Jahani, Yasamin Hashdari, Shiva Shahsiah, Negin Rezai, Matin Yazdan, Azadeh Chavoshian, and Zahra Dadras were each handed a total of six years and three months in prison on two separate charges.

Jelveh Javaheri and Human Taheri each received a one-year sentence.

A source previously claimed to Radio Farda that the some of the activists had been "beaten and put under pressure during interrogation."

Javaid Rehman, the UN special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Iran, concluded in his report in March that the actions of the Iranian authorities since the 2022 protests pointed to "the possible commission of international crimes, notably the crimes against humanity of murder, imprisonment, enforced disappearances, torture, rape and sexual violence, and persecution."

Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-women-activists-prison- appeal/32972106.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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May 30, 2024

Release

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant May 29 to discuss Israel's operations in Gaza, the need to sustain increased deliveries of humanitarian assistance, and the urgent importance of opening the Rafah Border Crossing for the continued flow of aid. Secretary Austin offered his condolences to the families of the seven hostages whose bodies were recovered in Gaza, and he reiterated his calls for the immediate release of all hostages. Secretary Austin and Minister Gallant also discussed efforts to improve real-time communications between humanitarian providers and the Israeli military.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3790950/

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PM Netanyahu in French in TF1 Interview

Israel - Prime Minister's Office

Press Releases

The 37th Government

30.05.2024

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an interview, the full version of which is due to be broadcast this evening , at 21:30 (Israel time) on TF1 :

"I say: Our victory is your victory.

Our victory is the victory of Israel against antisemitism. It is the victory of Judeo-Christian civilization against barbarism. It is the victory of France."

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Israeli group reports unprecedented surge in conscription refusals amid Gaza war

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 May 2024 7:16 PM

An Israeli group has reported an unprecedented rise in the number of Israelis refusing to serve in the military due to ethical and ideological objections amid the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.

The Yesh Gvul group shared a statement on X social media platform featuring testimony from Sophia Or, one of the Israelis refusing military service. She has served a prison sentence for refusing military service.

"I am ready to continue paying the price and sit in prison if it prevents the dehumanization from going on in complete silence. I must read, even from prison: they are human! (Palestinians)," Or said.

"There is a huge difference between an army that carries out justified missions ... and an army (the Israeli military) whose entire activity is full of injustices," she added.

Israeli military imposes imprisonment on those who refuse conscription.

Founded in 1982, Yesh Gvul is a political movement supporting refuseniks. The movement reported a significant increase in the number of Israelis refusing to enlist in protest of the regime's policies towards Palestine.

Yishai Menuchin, a spokesperson for the group, said they assisted around 40 soldiers who refused to enlist in the reserves.

Overall, Yesh Gvul received about 100 requests for assistance from individuals refusing military service.

Another group, Mesarvot, noted a sharp increase in the number of reservists seeking help.

David Zonshein, founder of the Courage to Refuse movement, said that he received requests for help from dozens of refuseniks, especially in recent months, which is significantly more than in previous years.

In the early months of the Israeli war on the besieged Palestinian territory, the high number of conscripts, around 300,000, led to an increase in refusals.

Increase is attributed to the complexities of the war, war crimes, the growing protest against the regime's behavior and both ideological and exhaustion-induced refuseniks.

At the end of April, around 30 reservists from the Paratroopers Brigade, called for the invasion of the southern Gazan city of Rafah, announced their refusal to serve.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in its latest rulings has ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its operation in Rafah.

Israel's relentless shelling and artillery fire continue to claim more Palestinian lives. The border city of Rafah has been under constant Israeli bombing.

Nearly eight months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

More than 36,200 Palestinians have since been killed in Gaza, the vast majority being women and children, and over 81,400 others injured.

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Myanmar's junta chief faces growing criticism over military failures: group

Dramatic defeats have led to a collapse of army morale but it is likely to remain entrenched.

By RFA Staff 2024.05.30 -- Unprecedented humiliating defeats for Myanmar's military in its war against ethnic minority and pro-democracy insurgents are putting mounting pressure on junta leader Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who is facing widespread criticism and calls to step down, a think tank said in a report on Thursday.

But despite the junta's dramatic failures since late last year, and the loss of much of its control of Myanmar's periphery, the military is not on the brink of collapse and is likely to remain ensconced and unleashing air strikes and "chaotic violence" for some time, the International Crisis Group said.

"Myanmar's junta leader's days in charge could be numbered," the group said in its report.

Commander in chief Min Aung Hlaing overthrew an elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in early 2021, ending a decade of tentative reforms in a country that had been ruled by the military since 1962.

The coup triggered widespread protests that evolved into an insurgency in which pro-democracy activists have taken up arms and joined forces with ethnic minority guerrilla forces battling for self-determination for decades.

Several insurgent groups launched offensives late last year and have made striking progress in some areas, particularly in border regions.

"The military's recent failures have been dramatic ... some of the most rapid, significant defeats in the Myanmar military's history, including some particularly humiliating ones," the Brussels-based group said.

A spokesman for the junta was not immediately available for comment.

Morale in the overstretched military has collapsed undermining its ability to launch counter offensives, a corrosive effect that would be difficult for the regime to reverse, said the group, adding that the blame is falling on Min Aung Hlaing.

"The military-connected elite in Naypyitaw see him as bearing responsibility, and they are expressing their frustration with unprecedented candor. Senior regime officials and military officers are now briefing against the junta leader in meetings with diplomats, local business leaders, journalists and personal acquaintances - something that seemed unimaginable just six months ago."

But with no institutional mechanism for removing Min Aung Hlaing, it was difficult to predict if or when other officers might move against him.

"Given the level of discontent, he could nevertheless face a plot to remove him," the group said.

However, the junta leader's departure would be unlikely to end Myanmar's war.

"While a change in leader could present an opportunity for the regime to seek an off-ramp from the crisis, the level of polarization in society triggered by the coup and subsequent violence has entrenched a siege mentality in the higher echelons of the military and a sense that they are fighting an existential battle against resistance forces, it said.

"The regime is likely to remain ensconced in Naypyitaw for now, taking vengeance from the air and prompting chaotic violence for some time to come."

Autonomous statelets

Meanwhile, the International Crisis Group said, the military's opponents are "focused on consolidating their hold on their ethnic homelands," rather than taking the fight to central Myanmar in a bid to topple the junta.

"The current trajectory is one in which various ethnic armies will tighten their grip on autonomous statelets in the periphery, while a weak regime brutally clings to power in the centre," it said.

The group said that this fragmentation is likely to be an "impediment to ... the federal union that many in the country aspire to."

Anti-junta groups inside Myanmar, however, said that their goal remains to build a federal democratic state.

Salai Peter Thang, deputy chairman and chief of staff of the ethnic Chin National Defense Force in Chin state, said he doesn't expect Myanmar to be "divided into pieces," as the International Crisis Group suggests in its report.

"Each ethnic armed group is trying to take control of its own original land and territory, but the [goal] that we have long dreamt of is one where all sovereign states are united to become a federal democratic union," he said. "What [the report] said is that if the current trajectory continues like this. But I don't think it will go on like this for long."

Khin Maung Swe, deputy secretary from the Ministry of Defense under the shadow National Unity Government said that rebel forces are focused on "eradicating the military dictatorship" before forming a federal union.

"We are altogether marching for the same goal," he said.

Than Soe Naing, a political and military commentator, said he doesn't expect Myanmar's various ethnic armies to "sit back and relax" if they are able to liberate their states from junta rule.

"We hope that cooperation [among these armed groups] will occur," he said. "What [the International Crisis Group] said is a reflection of the current situation during the current phase of the war. From this situation, there is the hope that most of them will join together and fight to end the military dictatorship."

A former military officer who spoke on condition of anonymity due to security concerns told RFA that Myanmar is not necessarily destined to break apart in the wake of the war.

"There is only one point to remember -- what the military has said and done so far was wrong," he said. "But this is not something that cannot be corrected. It can be fixed ... [before] Myanmar reaches the status of a failed state."

Edited by Mike Firn, Taejun Kang and Joshua Lipes.

This story has been updated to include comments by Salai Peter Thang, Khin Maung Swe, Than Soe Naing, and a former military officer on the prospect of forming a federal union in Myanmar.

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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Mass arrest in Myanmar's Rakhine State ends in interrogations, beatings

Villagers say at least three people died as a result.

By RFA Burmese 2024.05.30 -- Myanmar's junta detained hundreds of villagers in Rakhine State, including children, over suspected links to ethnic minority insurgents and beat at least three people to death, residents told Radio Free Asia on Thursday.

The security sweep appeared aimed at preventing the Arakan Army insurgent force making more advances after a string of recent gains and stopping them from closing in on the state capital of Sittwe, residents said.

"The junta soldiers ordered all villagers to gather and they've been detained all day since yesterday," said one resident of Byian Phu village, which is several kilometers north of Sittwe.

"Now, the men have been taken in military vehicles. The women and children were gathered in the cemetery," said the villager, who declined to be identified in fear of reprisals.

Another villager said three people were beaten to death while junta soldiers interrogated them

RFA could not verify the villagers' accounts and telephone calls to Rakhine State's junta spokesperson, Hla Thein, to seek information went unanswered.

The Arakan Army has seized junta bases in Rakhine and Chin states since a ceasefire between the junta and one of Myanmar's most powerful insurgent groups ended in November.

Residents have accused junta troops of carrying out indiscriminate attacks on civilians, recruiting members of the persecuted Rohingya Muslim minority and detaining civilians hostage on suspicion of supporting groups fighting the junta that seized power more than three years ago.

As the Arakan Army gets closer to Sittwe, residents said the junta has increased security, arresting and interrogating more people.

About 100 junta soldiers conducted the raid on Byain Pyu at noon on Wednesday, iand checked lists that households are meant to keep of overnight visitors, a monitoring system made stricter since the army seized power again in a 2021 coup.

Soldiers also went from house to house to search for anyone hiding from them, residents said. Some people were beaten and taken away, along with valuables discovered in their houses, residents said.

Another villager, who also declined to be identified for safety reasons, told RFA that at least three men were beaten to death by the junta soldiers.

"Men were being interrogated near the tea shop at the market. They were beaten and interrogated one after another. One of my relatives died there," the Byain Phyu resident said. "It is said that two or three more people died. The bodies have not been returned."

In northern Rakhine State, the Arakan Army captured Rathedaung and Ponnagyun townships in March and Pauktaw in January, leaving only Sittwe and Maungdaw, near the border of Bangladesh, under junta control.

While insurgent forces in several parts of the country have made significant gains since late last year, seizing numerous junta camps, villages and towns, no group has captured a state capital.

The junta has arrested 425 civilians in Rakhine State since November, the Arakan Army said in a statement on Monday. Fighting in the state had killed 268 civilians and wounded 640, it said.

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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Young Rohingya men abducted, forced into 'human shield' roles by Myanmar military

By Shaikh Azizur Rahman May 30, 2024

On a February evening, a group of Myanmar junta government soldiers detained Jan Mohammad, who is not using his real name, from Maungdaw Township in Myanmar. When they took the 24-year-old Rohingya man to a nearby military compound, he knew he was being forcibly conscripted by the Myanmar Army.

"They [the Myanmar junta soldiers] didn't say much. They just said, 'Come with us.' They were pointing the gun directly at me. I was fearful when I saw the gun aiming at me," Jan Mohammad said in an interview with the rights group Fortify Rights after he had escaped the junta's military training camp.

He was speaking from Bangladesh, where he said he had fled 10 days after the forced military training began, according to a yet-to-be-published report by the rights group and exclusively shared with VOA.

"[During the military training], we had to learn how to crawl on our elbows and hold a gun in a line,'' Jan Mohammad said. ''It was part of the military training. ... I didn't want to become a soldier. They [the Myanmar military] have been persecuting us. ... Why do I need to support them all of a sudden?"

Jan Mohammad is not the only Rohingya abducted and forced into combat against his will.

Since February, at least 1,500 Rohingya men and boys have been forcibly recruited by Myanmar's military from villages in Rakhine state in Myanmar and refugee camps in Bangladesh, according to human rights groups and Rohingya sources.

Additionally, the rebel group Arakan Army, which is fighting the military in Myanmar, is forcibly recruiting Rohingya men and boys, and both sides fighting the war are using the youths as human shields on the battlefield, rights groups and Rohingya sources reported.

Rohingya insurgent groups are abducting youths from their community in Bangladesh and trading or "selling" them to Myanmar's military for conscription, according to Rohingya refugee leaders.

During the 2017 crackdown, the Myanmar military killed and raped thousands of Rohingyas and burned their villages. Seven years later, the military is deploying youths from the same community in its fight against the rebel groups.

Myanmar has been engulfed in a bloody civil war that has claimed the lives of thousands of civilians since 2021, when the country's military seized power through a coup.

Earlier this month, the U.N. issued a statement saying that the ongoing civil war had displaced over 3 million people in Myanmar. The statement also said that two-thirds of the 600,000 Rohingya Rakhine were among the displaced people.

The Arakan Army and other ethnic rebel groups are fiercely opposing the military junta's rule. Myanmar government soldiers have lost key territory in recent months to the rebels, and many junta fighters have been killed or injured or have defected, it has been reported.

In an attempt to compensate for its lost military members, the government in February activated a decade-old conscription law that makes young men and women subject to at least two years of military service, if drafted. And, within days, it began recruiting people, including young men from the persecuted Rohingya community.

Human Rights Watch, in a statement on April 9, said that 1,000 Rohingya men and boys from the Rakhine state have been "abducted and forcibly recruited" by the Myanmar military.

This week, several Rohingya refugee community leaders in Bangladesh said that "1,500 to 2,000" Rohingya youths have been forcibly recruited by the Myanmar military and its rival, the Arakan Army, and that half of the recruits are from the refugee camps in Cox's Bazar.

The Rohingya Solidarity Organization a an armed Rohingya insurgent group founded in the 1980s a abducted 27-year-old Nasir Ahmad, whose name has been changed for safety-related reasons, from the Cox's Bazar refugee camp and sent him to the Myanmar Army for conscription.

"Some RSO men abducted me from my camp and sent me to the Myanmar Army. At a military training center in Myo Thu Gyi, near Maungdaw, I underwent arms training for 15 days and was made the leader of a group of 30 Rohingya conscripts," Ahmad told VOA.

At the end of the training, Ahmad and his fellow Rohingya conscripts were told that soon they would be sent to the front lines of the war against the rebels.

"We knew that many soldiers, including some recently recruited Rohingya, had died while fighting as the army was losing ground, and that we would be used as human shields," Ahmad said.

"We were too scared. Two days after my training ended, somehow I slipped out of the military center and fled back to Bangladesh."

Jafor Alom, who is not using his real name, a 27-year-old Rohingya school teacher in a refugee camp in Cox's Bazar, said the Myanmar military is desperately looking for Rohingya youths for conscription.

"Mohammad Abdullah, one of my teacher colleagues, was abducted by some RSO members from Balukhali camp on May 23 and sent to Myanmar military for conscription.

''Two days later, he was shot dead by the military. A fellow conscript phoned me and said, 'Abdullah told the military commanders that he was a school teacher and a soldier's job would be very tough for him. He was shot after he refused to join the military training,' the conscript told me," Jafor Alom told VOA on May 28.

RSO leadership has not responded to several VOA requests for a reaction to the allegation it is assisting the Myanmar military to acquire Rohingya youths to be new junta soldiers, perhaps in a trade or barter or as a way to earn money for RSO operations.

The police chief of Cox's Bazar district, Mohammad Mahfuzul Islam, told VOA that the allegation against the police is not true.

"The allegation that the police protect insurgents at the Rohingya refugee camps is baseless. We act against all criminal activities in the camps, whoever commits them," chief Islam told VOA on May 28.

Rights groups have been critical of the Myanmar military for forcibly conscripting the Rohingya youths.

The military's forceful conscription is a "deliberate strategy" aimed at creating communal conflict between the Rakhine and Rohingya communities and "disrupting the revolution against the military junta," said Ejaz Min Khant, a human rights associate with Fortify Rights.

"This strategy also serves to further the ongoing genocide against the Rohingya. International governments must intervene and pressure the junta regime to immediately halt the conscription of Rohingya, which places them in grave danger of attacks from various armed groups," Khant told VOA.

Human Rights Watch's Asia division researcher Shayna Bauchner said, "in a sick twist," the military is forcing the Rohingya to fight for their oppressors.

"Young men we've spoken to describe being grabbed in raids and threatened with arrest and beatings. On both sides of the Bangladesh-Myanmar border, Rohingya are trapped in limbo, vulnerable to mounting abuses," Bauchner told VOA.

"In Rakhine, they're being used as pawns in the deadly battle between the Myanmar military and Arakan Army."

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Pakistan Says 4 Citizens Killed After Iranian Border Guards Open Fire

By RFE/RL's Radio Farda May 30, 2024

Iranian border guards opened fire on a vehicle carrying Pakistani citizens near the border village of Mashkel in Pakistan's southwestern Balochistan Province, killing four people and injuring two others.

Omar Jamali, the deputy commissioner of Pakistan's Washuk district, confirmed the shooting in the Washuk region, close to the border where violence often erupts.

Sahibzada Asfand, a government administrator, said the circumstances that prompted the gunfire remain unclear.

Neither Tehran nor the Pakistani Foreign Ministry have commented on the incident.

The shooting comes amid already strained relations between Iran and Pakistan, which have seen a significant escalation in incidents between the two countries.

In January, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) launched an attack in Pakistan's Balochistan Province, killing two children.

Tehran claimed it was targeting the Sunni Baluch militant group Jaish al-Adl, which is designated as a terrorist entity by both Iran and the United States.

In a retaliatory move, Pakistani warplanes conducted air strikes on alleged militant targets in Iran on January 18, resulting in at least nine deaths, including six children and two women. This marked a severe escalation in the conflict between the two nations.

In an effort to de-escalate the situation, the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited Pakistan in early May.

His visit was aimed at mending relations through diplomatic engagements, described as critical for normalizing ties between Tehran and Islamabad.

Raisi died on May 19 in a helicopter accident.

The military actions in January targeted separatist factions. Islamabad attacked bases of the Baluch Liberation Front and the Baluchistan Liberation Army, while Tehran focused on the militant group Jaish al-Adl.

These groups operate in the mineral-rich, underdeveloped provinces of Balochistan in Pakistan and Sistan-Baluchistan in Iran, regions long plagued by instability.

The porous, 900-kilometer border between Iran and Pakistan has been difficult to control, allowing various militant groups, particularly those with Baluch nationalist ideologies, to operate in the area.

Written by Ardeshir Tayebi based on an original story in Persian by RFE/RL's Radio Farda

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/pakistan-iran- border-shooting/32972618.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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Pakistan arrests 11 militants in deadly attack on Chinese engineers

By Arshad Hussain May 30, 2024

Eleven militants accused of being involved in carrying out the deadly March suicide attack on Chinese engineers are in custody, according to Pakistani officials.

Following the arrests, Beijing urged Islamabad to continue the investigation. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Monday that China was attaching great importance to the progress made by Pakistan.

"China supports Pakistan in continuing to get to the full bottom of what happened and hunting down and bringing to justice all the perpetrators," she said.

The suicide attack killed five Chinese engineers on March 26 along with their Pakistani driver. They were on their way to work at the largest dam at Dasu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistani officials said. A suicide bomber rammed a vehicle filled with explosives into their convoy.

Pakistan blames Afghanistan as a launching pad for militants who attack Pakistan - an accusation the Taliban has repeatedly denied. Islamabad said the suicide bomber who targeted the Chinese engineers was an Afghan national.

"The attack on the Chinese engineers at Shangla (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) is not the only attack. There are several attacks that are carried out by Afghan nationals in Pakistan, their dead bodies were there, and they were identified as Afghans," Abdullah Khan, an Islamabad-based researcher for the Pakistan Institute of Conflict and Security Studies, told VOA.

Mounting security threats have prompted Pakistani officials to introduce security protocols requiring residential addresses of Chinese nationals and information about their mobility in the country.

Baloch separatist groups and Islamist militants have been targeting Chinese interests and personnel in Pakistan's resources-rich southwestern Balochistan and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Militants associated with the Baloch separatist groups have claimed past attacks on Chinese nationals and interests.

Earlier this month, the army said its troops were carrying out 100 intelligence-based operations daily, as part of its fight against terrorism.

Militants associated with radical Islamists groups claimed an attack in 2021 targeting a bus carrying workers to the same hydropower project. The attack killed 13 people, including at least nine Chinese nationals. The two Islamist militants accused of the crime were sentenced to death for that attack.

No group has accepted the responsibility for the latest suicide attack on the Chinese engineers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan announced on May 23 the government will pay $2.58 million to the victims of the March attack.

Pakistan is host to Chinese workers connected to Beijing's mega projects under the umbrella of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), an initiative with $62 billion in overall Chinese investments. Pakistani officials say the pace on the Chinese projects has slowed in recent years.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will be visiting Beijing the first week of June to persuade China to revive CPEC, according to media reports.

This story originated in VOA's Deewa Service.

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Pakistan shares probe findings with Afghan Taliban on attack against Chinese nationals

By Ayaz Gul May 30, 2024

A high-level Pakistani delegation met with Afghanistan's Taliban authorities on Thursday and urged "decisive action" against militants who allegedly used Afghan soil to orchestrate cross-border attacks, including a recent suicide car bombing that killed five Chinese engineers.

Kabul hosted the meeting several days after Islamabad revealed it had apprehended about a dozen suspects in connection with the deadly assault on Chinese civilians in March, saying an Afghan national carried out the bombing with the support of his handlers sheltering in Afghanistan. The victims were working on a China-funded hydropower project in northwestern Pakistan.

Officials said Deputy Taliban Interior Minister Muhammad Nabi Omari and his Pakistani counterpart, Muhammad Khurram Agha, led their respective delegations at Thursday's meeting in the Afghan capital.

A post-visit Pakistani Foreign Ministry statement said discussions focused on the March 26 "terrorist attack" against Chinese nationals. It added that the Pakistani side shared the findings of their investigation into the bombing with Taliban officials and "sought Afghanistan's assistance in apprehending the perpetrators."

The Afghan side "agreed to examine the findings of the investigation and expressed the resolve to work with the Pakistan side to take the investigation to its logical conclusion," the statement added.

Officials privy to the talks told VOA that the Pakistani side highlighted the involvement of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, in the attack on Chinese workers and other acts of terrorism being committed against Pakistan.

"Mr. Khurram Agha talked about the attack on the 26th of March this year ... and hoped for the Afghan government's help in the security sector," Abdul Mateen Qani, Taliban Interior Ministry spokesman, said while sharing details of Thursday's meeting between the two countries.

He quoted Omari as describing the "terrorist attack" on Chinese nationals "as a tragic incident." The minister stated, "Our intentions and actions are to promote peace in the region for the benefit of ourselves and everyone."

Omari renewed Afghanistan's commitment "to not allowing others to use its territory against anyone, and we wish the same from others."

TTP, a globally designated terrorist organization, has for years waged deadly attacks in Pakistan, targeting security forces and civilians.

Officials in Islamabad maintain that fugitive TTP leaders and combatants relocated to sanctuaries in Afghanistan after the Taliban retook control of the country nearly three years ago and have since intensified cross-border attacks with "greater operational freedom."

Taliban authorities reject the charges, saying neither TTP nor any other militant group is based on Afghan soil.

"The two sides agreed to remain engaged to confront the threat posed by terrorism to regional countries and to address the concerns raised by Pakistan," said the Pakistani statement Thursday.

The Pakistani military said Thursday that a meeting of its leadership reviewed the security situation and the threat of terrorism emanating from Afghan soil.

"The forum expressed serious concerns over continued cross-border violations from Afghanistan and terrorism being orchestrated using Afghan soil, noting that Pakistan's adversaries were using Afghanistan to target security forces and innocent civilians inside Pakistan," said a post-meeting military statement.

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Putin Boasts Of Russia's Hypersonic Weapons, But A Dozen Scientists In The Field Face Treason Charges

By Robert Coalson May 30, 2024

When 75-year-old Russian scientist Anatoly Maslov, a specialist in high-speed aerodynamics, was arrested on treason charges in June 2022, his colleagues were alarmed.

"The persecution of scientists in the field of aviation has become a regular thing in our country," more than 400 of his colleagues wrote in an open letter that has since been deleted.

In a closed session on May 21, a St. Petersburg court convicted Maslov, who is now 77 and has spent almost two years in jail, of giving classified information to German agents in 2014 -- a charge he and supporters say is groundless. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison.

"Fourteen years for a 77-year-old who had a heart attack while in pretrial detention is a death sentence," a relative of Maslov's who asked not to be identified out of safety concerns told RFE/RL. Maslov formerly headed a laboratory at the Institute for Theoretical and Applied Mechanics (ITPM) in Novosibirsk, a longtime scientific hub in Siberia.

Since 2018, at least 12 specialists in the field of hypersonic aerodynamics have been charged with treason. At least three of the researchers, most of whom are older adults, have died in custody. Like Maslov, many of them have been sentenced to long prison terms, while others have been held for months in pretrial detention.

Lawyers involved in the cases suspect the rash of treason charges is related to President Vladimir Putin's personal interest in hypersonic weaponry.

"It's a favorite toy of Putin's," Yevgeny Smirnov, a lawyer with the legal-aid organization First Department, which provides defense consulting in cases that allegedly involve state secrets, told RFE/RL. "He has repeatedly announced that only Russia possesses hypersonic weapons."

The cases, all of which are handled by the Moscow headquarters of the Federal Security Service (FSB), have one purpose, Smirnov said: "To demonstrate that all the world's intelligence services are gunning for Russian researchers."

"And our security agencies achieve this goal the only way they know how -- by putting innocent people in prison," he said.

'Like a Meteorite'

Putin has been touting the prospects of hypersonic weapons for nearly two decades, part of his frequent saber-rattling about Russia's military capabilities. During his nationally televised Direct Line question-and-answer session in September 2005, he said Russia was developing hypersonic weapons that he claimed would be "practically invulnerable."

A recent report by the BBC counted more than 70 examples of Putin boasting about the weapons in public appearances since then. He highlighted them in a particularly bellicose state of the nation speech in 2018.

In that address, he mentioned the Kinzhal hypersonic missile, which has since been deployed against Ukraine in the first battlefield use of hypersonic weapons ever. He also mentioned the Avangard hypersonic missile, which he said "travels to its target like a meteorite" at up to 20 times the speed of sound.

The Russian military reportedly accepted the first unit of Avangard missiles into service in December 2019. In comments to the U.S. House Armed Services Committee this March about Russia's intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), a senior U.S. Air Force commander said Moscow had "expanded its force of ICBMs armed with the Avangard" over the past year.

'Conveyor Of Repression'

The accused scientists have all denied revealing classified information, saying their articles and speeches were strictly vetted by in-house security committees at their institutes.

Advocates for the scientists say the FSB simply ignores that fact.

"The FSB operatives arrive at some institute that is connected in some way with hypersonic research and look for researchers who have taken part in international conferences or such programs," lawyer Smirnov said. "Having identified several victims, they prepare allegations that during a conference or international program the scientist supposedly passed on secret information to foreign colleagues who might use it to create weapons for NATO countries."

Many of the cases involve speeches or articles that are at least 10 years old.

The programs involved were often approved by the Russian government during the 2008-12 presidency of Dmitry Medvedev, when Putin was prime minister, Smirnov noted.

The government "approved the cooperation of a number of Russian institutes with European organizations doing physics research," he said. "Then, [a few] years later, they start coming to these people with searches and criminal cases, accusing them of treason for participating in those projects."

All of the research institutes connected with what are often called the "hypersonic cases" participated in the FP7 space cooperation program, which started in June 2011 and ended in May 2013.

In Maslov's case, his relatives said, the allegations were largely based on the testimony of a colleague named Aleksandr Kuranov. Kuranov, the 76-year-old former director of a St. Petersburg-based state research institute who worked on the Soviet-era Ayaks hypersonic aircraft, was given the minimum sentence of seven years in prison on treason charges in April. The court announcement said "mitigating circumstances" compelled the judge to impose the shortest possible sentence.

A researcher at ITPM who was a co-author of papers with at least one of the arrested men and who spoke on condition of anonymity said the institute has cut all foreign contacts and canceled hypersonic research.

"It is difficult to work under such conditions," the scientist said. "Not just because of the restrictions but because of the lack of defined, comprehensible rules. We are waiting...for common sense to prevail."

The investigations into "hypersonic cases" show no signs of abating, Smirnov said.

The year "2023 showed that the conveyor of repression of Russian scientists has not stopped and isn't going to be stopped," he said. "What does this mean? At least two to five more imprisoned researchers this year."

Written by RFE/RL's Robert Coalson based on reporting by RFE/RL's North.Realities, Siberia.Realities, Russian Service, and Current Time

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/hypersonic-scientists- repression-fsb-putin/32972101.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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Was Zelenskiy Right About Central Asian Leaders 'Fearing' The Kremlin?

By Chris Rickleton May 30, 2024

ALMATY, Kazakhstan -- "I'm not criticizing anyone," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told reporters in Kharkiv on May 24.

Zelenskiy may not have been trying to offend his Central Asian colleagues last week when he suggested that their international positioning remained pro-Russian "out of fear of the Kremlin."

But he was perhaps probing for some kind of response -- including to his public invitation for them to attend a June summit in Switzerland demanding that Russia end its aggression against Kyiv and conclude a peace agreement in accordance with the UN charter.

So far, that request has been met by stony silence.

Does that nonreaction seem to prove Zelenskiy's point?

"It is mostly pragmatism," argued Temur Umarov, a fellow at the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.

"But of course, that pragmatism includes some fear, because [the Central Asian states] are aware that there may be backlash for taking actions that anger Russia," he said.

At the same time, Umarov says, the overall picture is more complicated and contradictory than Zelenskiy suggested.

Since the beginning of the Ukraine war, Central Asian diplomacy has seen a boom in diversity, while some leaders and other top officials from the region have on occasion said and done things that appear to stray from Moscow's line.

"Yet they also understand that ties with Russia matter and that Russia is important for the security of their regimes," Umarov said.

"The evidence for that is the high number of contacts between top Russian and Central Asian officials since the invasion began, as well as President Vladimir Putin's visits to the region -- most recently Uzbekistan."

Russian Energy Leverage Growing In Uzbekistan...

Putin's trip to Uzbekistan was indeed an important one for both countries.

The state visit was officially billed for May 26-27, but stretched well into May 28 after the two presidents "spoke until three in the morning" and continued their talks the next day, according to Mirziyoev's press secretary, Sherzod Azadov.

The main headline of the visit was the long-awaited confirmation that Russian atomic energy giant Rosatom will build a small nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan -- a long-planned but somewhat downsized project Mirziyoev described as "vital."

The agreement for the 350-megawatt plant comes despite the progress of a bill in the U.S. Congress that would seek to impose sanctions on Rosatom -- one of the few major Russian state companies that have not already been targeted by the United States and Kyiv's other Western allies.

But it also highlights Russia's growing energy leverage over the region's most populous country, which is simultaneously ramping up imports of Russian gas, with Putin pledging that Gazprom will increase deliveries to the country fourfold, reaching 11 billion cubic meters next year.

Data points like these show "just how deep a hole Uzbekistan is in," according to Central Asia-focused journalist Peter Leonard, whose review of the visit carried the apt title "Uzbekistan's energy needs lock it into Russian orbit."

"But the hard reality is that [Mirziyoev] has little choice," Leonard wrote in his newsletter, Havli.

Leonard added that Mirziyoev was the only Central Asian president not to meet British Foreign Secretary David Cameron during his blitz through the region at the end of last month.

The Uzbek president had taken a short holiday just before Cameron's weeklong regional trip -- a tour received with typical vitriol in pro-Kremlin sections of Russia's media.

But he did make time to meet with Hungary's top diplomat, Peter Szijjarto, in Tashkent on May 7.

And, of course, Mirziyoev was in Moscow with his other four Central Asian counterparts and Belarusian leader Alyaksandr Lukashenka on May 9, when Putin and Russia staged their annual military parade commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II.

And Kazakhstan, Too?

Uzbekistan makes an interesting case study in the debate over Central Asia's Kremlin "fear," after the mystery-filled aftermath of former Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Komilov's comments on Ukraine in parliament in 2022.

Komilov reportedly first stepped down on health grounds before being moved to a still-important role as deputy secretary of the Security Council after he spoke in parliament strongly in favor of the "independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity" of Ukraine.

Ruling out any recognition of Russian-controlled entities in Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk regions and calling for an end to the violence, it was one of the strongest statements on the war by a Central Asian official and deeply uncharacteristic for Uzbekistan.

Observers wondered if his de facto dismissal was a step to appease Moscow. Or was Uzbekistan sending a message to the West while easing a respected but aging regime insider toward retirement?

"Central Asian states may fear Russia, but they fear the idea of [Western economic] sanctions, too," Umarov noted. "Their strategy so far has been to do 'just enough' to try and avoid those."

Kazakhstan has gone even further in statements on the war, including from President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev, but never as far as outright criticism of the 2022 invasion.

Zelenskiy's comments in war-torn Kharkiv last week -- in which he also said Central Asian leaders lacked "a little bit of balance" -- will have been particularly irksome to Kazakh diplomats, since Astana has on several occasions put itself forward as a host for talks on ending the war.

But Kazakhstan, too, is looking vulnerable to Russia's energy heft.

Not only does the country rely on Russia as a transit country for more than three-quarters of its oil exports -- a route that has suffered several stoppages since the Ukraine invasion -- its own power deficits are looking critical.

Like Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan has been weighing a potential nuclear power plant, with Rosatom openly eager to build it even as officials express a preference for a consortium made up of companies from different countries.

The question of nuclear power -- contentious due to the legacy of Soviet-era nuclear tests in the country -- will be put to a popular referendum before any decision is made, Toqaev has promised.

In the meantime, Kazakh officials are talking up the idea of allowing Russia to send gas to China via Kazakhstan while keeping some for growing domestic needs.

Deputy Energy Minister Alibek Zhamauov said the northeastern region of Kazakhstan alone required about 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas per year.

China Considerations

If Russia can still extend leverage over the region's two strongest countries, then the picture is much clearer for others, says Dosym Satpaev, a political scientist based in Kazakhstan's largest city, Almaty.

"If for Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan it is the energy deficits, for Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan it is the dependence on remittances sent by migrant workers in Russia, while in Turkmenistan, it is Russian purchases," Satpaev said. "Russia has various levers over all of them."

Then there is the question of a common authoritarian political identity, Satpaev adds.

"Not only do they consider themselves more like Putin than Zelenskiy, they probably consider themselves more like Xi Jinping. So Zelenskiy is right in many respects."

A final factor that is often overlooked when it comes to the region's so-called Kremlin fear is China's own outsize role in the region, Satpaev argues.

Some commentators expressed surprise back in 2008 when the Central Asian countries failed to recognize Abkhazia or South Ossetia, two Russian-backed territories that declared independence from Georgia.

But their stance mirrored that of China, which reportedly blocked Russian diplomatic attempts at the time to legitimize the breakaway regions in various multilateral organizations, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, where four of the five Central Asian states had membership.

Ditto, their collective nonrecognition of territories in eastern Ukraine that Moscow has declared its own.

Yet China has so far mostly poured cold water on Kyiv's attempts to engage it over the war as Beijing and Moscow have grown closer.

Earlier this week, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning stressed that Beijing was supportive of "an international peace conference that is recognized by both the Russian and Ukrainian sides" -- in an apparent response to Zelenskiy's pitch for Beijing to attend the June 15-16 summit in Switzerland.

And given Russia will not be at the table for those talks, Chinese nonparticipation would appear to offer even less room for any Central Asian leaders to attend.

"The fact that China has become closer to Russia since the invasion of Ukraine somewhat deepens the pressure on Central Asian states to become part of a broader anti-Western front," Satpaev told RFE/RL.

"And Ukraine is now strongly connected with the West."

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-central-asia-fear- kremlin/32971828.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 interview with Rossiya Segodnya, May 30, 2024

30 May 2024 09:07

1014-30-05-2024

Question: American missiles can effectively target Russia's strategic sites, including nuclear facilities, especially if the United States deploys intermediate and shorter-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific Region, thereby reducing their flight time. What additional steps can Moscow take in terms of nuclear deterrence in this case? Would a tit-for-tat response be sufficient?

Sergey Lavrov: You are absolutely right. Indeed, the deployment of US ground-launched intermediate and shorter-range missiles (IRBMs) in these regions poses significant security challenges for Russia. By the way, this concern is shared by others as well. Following the recent visit by President Vladimir Putin to the People's Republic of China, the two leaders issued a joint statement saying that by taking steps along these lines, the United States produces a destabilising effect and poses a direct threat to both Russia and China. Therefore, we agreed with our Chinese partners to work closer together in order to counter Washington's irresponsible behaviour. Its actions undermine international stability.

We will not hesitate to respond if the Americans move forward with their plans to deploy their ground-launched IRBMs. In particular, Russia will have no choice but to terminate the self-imposed restrictions we assumed after the United States withdrew from the INF Treaty. We may also consider taking additional steps to strengthen our nuclear deterrence. After all, American forward-based missiles would have the capability to target command posts and nuclear deployment sites. It is up to the President of the Russian Federation to decide on these matters.

Question: Has Russia considered the option of stepping up joint military exercises with China as a way to respond to what the United States has been doing in the Asia-Pacific region?

Sergey Lavrov: We have established a high level of mutual trust with China, which serves as a foundation for our military cooperation. By working together, Russia and China seek to reinforce international security in keeping with international norms.

However, this commitment to aligning our efforts does not target any third countries. Together with our Chinese friends, we are forced to take into consideration the negative military and political trends in the Asia-Pacific region and take action to mitigate their adverse effects.

Russia and China both recognise the importance of stepping up our defence cooperation, both on a bilateral basis, and within multilateral frameworks, and the joint statement resulting from President Vladimir Putin's visit to the People's Republic of China sets forth this vision. Specifically, it involves conducting large-scale joint exercises and military training, patrolling the sea and airspace, and enhancing our joint response capabilities.

Question: Does Russia see any forces in Ukraine that it could discuss peace with now that Vladimir Zelensky's term of office has expired? Do we have an understanding of when the special military operation might end?

Sergey Lavrov: The current ruling party in Kiev is the party of war, and their stated goal is to defeat Russia on the battlefield. It is difficult to imagine any peace talks taking place in that situation. In addition, a legal ban on talks with the Russian leadership was adopted in Ukraine on September 30, 2022.

Regarding Vladimir Zelensky's legal status after May 20, when his term as president of Ukraine expired, President Vladimir Putin clearly stated our position at a news conference in Minsk on May 24.

Hopefully, the political forces that care for the interests of the people will sooner or later emerge in Ukraine. But for now, our only option is to continue with the special military operation until we attain its goals.

Question: Is it possible to accelerate the political settlement process in Ukraine?

Sergey Lavrov: Yes, theoretically. The necessary conditions are for the West to stop sending arms to Ukraine and for Kiev to cease hostilities. The sooner this happens, the sooner the political settlement process can begin.

We said on numerous occasions, including at the highest level, that Russia remains open to negotiations. However, it should be clear to everyone that we will only discuss peace, not a ceasefire. There is no reason to give the opponent a pause that they could use to regroup and rearm. Negotiations must be based on the principle of indivisible security and on the realities on the ground.

Question: Does it make sense for Russia to continue to cooperate with the OSCE in light of its pro-Ukraine stance?

Sergey Lavrov: There is no denying that the OSCE is in a deep crisis. It has been caused by the fact that the West has trampled on the principles the organisation was built on. A total "Ukrainisation" of its agenda has practically brought to naught its activities in the traditional fields, namely, military-political, economic, environmental and humanitarian affairs.

It appears that the only reason for Russia's continued membership in the OSCE is the opportunity to directly communicate our stand on the current issues to the other 56 member states, including those Western countries that have suspended dialogue with us in other formats. Additionally, the OSCE's consensus rule allows us to block the initiatives of unfriendly countries that do not align with Russia's interests.

Question: According to reports, Ukraine will soon have F-16 fighter jets supplied by certain NATO countries. The Russian Foreign Ministry has indicated that Moscow would view these aircraft as potential carriers of nuclear weapons. What will be our reaction when aircraft of this type are integrated into the Armed Forces of Ukraine?

Sergey Lavrov: Supplying the Kiev regime with increasingly destructive types of weapons shows that the West is not interested in ending the conflict.

The F-16 American fighters will not change the situation on the line of contact. These aircraft will be destroyed just like any other type of weapons supplied by NATO countries to Ukraine.

At the same time, it is important to bear in mind that F-16 fighters have long been used as the main vehicle in NATO's so-called joint nuclear missions. Therefore, we can only consider the decision to supply these systems to the Kiev regime as a deliberate signal from NATO concerning nuclear weapons. They are trying to tell us that the United States and NATO are ready to use literally anything in Ukraine.

Nevertheless, we hope that the joint tactical exercise Russia and Belarus are now holding to practice the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons will help our opponents see reason and remind them of the disastrous consequences of further ratcheting up nuclear tensions.

Question: What is your assessment of Washington's statement regarding the possibility of discontinuing the shipments of certain weapons to Tel Aviv in light of the Israeli operation in Rafah? Why did the United States not react in a similar way after the shelling of Russian cities by the Armed Forces of Ukraine?

Sergey Lavrov: From our experience with the Americans, it is perfectly clear that US statements are not to be trusted. We wanted to believe them for a long time; we tried to negotiate, and concluded agreements with them. However, it later turned out that Washington was never going to make good on its promises, including those they actually signed off on paper or those sealed in UN Security Council resolutions.

The Americans continue to make declarations about their commitment to a just solution to the Palestine problem, while at the same time generously adding fuel to the armed confrontation. For six months, Washington has blocked the UN Security Council's ceasefire decision, effectively green-lighting the devastation of the Gaza Strip. However, when the Americans had to abstain from voting in March, and the Security Council finally approved a resolution calling for a cessation of hostilities, the US representative said without a shadow of embarrassment that the document was not binding.

Washington's announcement that it was suspending the supply of ammunition to Israel was limited to one type of ammunition, aerial bombs, and only one batch as part of the "near term security assistance." A few days later, the US House of Representatives approved a bill to lift the "pause" in the supply of weapons to Israel. If the Republican-sponsored bill passes the Senate, it will not allow the White House to withhold military aid to Tel Aviv.

As for the second part of your question, the answer to that is quite obvious. Russia is referred to as an imminent threat in the US National Security Strategy. The United States and NATO openly say that their goal is to inflict a "strategic defeat" on our country. In this context, the fate of the civilian population in Russian cities is of no interest to the White House, which has become complicit in the crimes of the Kiev regime.

Question: President of the People's Republic of China Xi Jinping has said that Beijing will support a peace conference recognised by Russia and Ukraine. What is Moscow's stance on Beijing's approach to the Ukraine crisis? Will Moscow support Beijing's potential proposal on holding a peace conference on Ukraine? What issues should its participants discuss?

Sergey Lavrov: We appreciate Beijing's constructive approach to the Ukraine crisis. Our Chinese friends understand its root causes and the essence of the current developments. In February 2023, they presented a plan to resolve the conflict. In April, President of China Xi Jinping called for de-escalation in order to establish peace and promote stability, rather than exacerbating the situation and being guided solely by one's own mercenary interests. We hope that the West and Kiev will draw the right conclusions.

Regarding the idea of convening an international peace conference in a timely manner (which would ensure the equal participation of Russia and Ukraine, as well as the discussion of all available peace initiatives), we view this as Beijing's continued efforts to create favourable conditions for resolving the Ukraine crisis. We share its standpoint that it is crucial, first and foremost, to address the root causes and protect the legitimate interests of all parties. We should then work towards subsequent agreements based on the principle of equal and indivisible security. I would like to emphasise once again that this calls for respecting the realities that have taken shape on the ground and which reflect the will of the people living there.

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Russian Defence Minister arrives in Almaty to attend CSTO Council of Defence Ministers session

30.05.2024

On Thursday, Defence Minister of the Russian Federation Andrei Belousov arrived on a working visit at Almaty (Kazakhstan), where he is going to attend the session of the CSTO Council of Defence Ministers.

Ministers of Defence of the CSTO member states, CSTO Secretary General, and Chief of the CSTO Joint Staff are scheduled to take part in the session. During the event, the sides will exchange views on challenges and threats to military security in the area of the CSTO responsibility.

On the sidelines of the session, the Minister of Defence of the Russian Federation is to hold several bilateral talks with heads of defence departments of the CSTO member states.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Russian Deputy Defense Minister, Myanmar Air Force Commander Outline Cooperation Prospects

Sputnik News

20240530

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Deputy Defense Minister Col. Gen. Alexander Fomin met with Myanmar Air Force Commander Gen. Tun Aung to outline cooperation prospects, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

"A working meeting was held in Moscow today between Russian Deputy Defense Minister Col. Gen. Alexander Fomin and Republic of the Union of Myanmar Air Force Commander Tun Aung," the ministry said.

It said the sides noted positive dynamics of the development of bilateral defense industry cooperation, and also identified promising areas of interaction and ways of their implementation.

The parties emphasized their mutual desire to strengthen the dialogue between the defense departments and build up mutually beneficial ties, including between the two countries' air forces. The meeting took place in a friendly atmosphere, the Russian ministry said.

A Sputnik

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Imposing Sanctions on Entities Supporting Russia's Malign Activities in Africa

US Department of State

Press Statement

Matthew Miller, Department Spokesperson

May 30, 2024

The United States is today designating two entities based in the Central African Republic (CAR) for their efforts in supporting destabilizing activities by the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group in Africa. Mining Industries SARLU and Logistique Economique Etrangere SARLU have played a vital role in enabling Wagner Group security operations and illicit mining endeavors in CAR.

Russia's Wagner Group has committed widespread human rights abuses and appropriated natural resources across multiple countries in Africa. A proxy military force of the Kremlin, the Wagner Group has carried out combat operations around the world, including in Russia's brutal war against Ukraine.

Today's action reflects our continued efforts to counter the Wagner Group's damaging and destabilizing presence in Africa. The United States remains committed to deterring and disrupting Russia's destabilizing activities.

The United States has taken previous action against several Wagner Group-linked companies in CAR, including Lobaye Invest, Midas Ressources SARLU, and Bois Rouge SARLU, now known as Wood International Group SARLU. Today's Treasury action was taken pursuant to Executive Order 14024, as amended. For more information on today's action, see Treasury's press release .

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Treasury Sanctions Wagner Group-linked Companies in the Central African Republic

U.S. Department of the Treasury

May 30, 2024

WASHINGTON -- Today, the Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) continues to counter Russia's destabilizing activities in Africa by sanctioning two companies that are linked to the Private Military Company "Wagner" (Wagner Group). Mining Industries SARLU and Logistique Economique Etrangere SARLU are being designated pursuant to Executive Order (E.O.) 14024 for enabling Wagner Group security operations and Wagner Group-linked illicit mining endeavors in the Central African Republic (CAR).

Since its arrival in CAR in late 2017, the Kremlin-backed Wagner Group and companies formerly controlled by the now-deceased Yevgeny Prigozhin have established a vast security and business network in CAR, among other African counties. This network has advanced Russia's destabilizing activities at the expense of CAR's sovereignty, including the Wagner Group's destructive operations and Wagner Group-linked companies' involvement in illicit gold and diamond mining and logging. OFAC has taken previous action against several Wagner Group-linked companies in CAR, including Lobaye Invest, Midas Ressources SARLU, and Bois Rouge SARLU (Bois Rouge), now known as Wood International Group SARLU.

"The Russia-backed Wagner Group and its network of businesses have exploited the people and natural resources of the Central African Republic to advance the group's agenda," said Brian E. Nelson, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence. "The United States will continue to use its sanctions authorities to disrupt those supporting Russia's destabilizing activities in Africa."

OFAC collaborated closely with Homeland Security Investigations during the investigation of Mining Industries.

wagner Group-linked companies

Mining Industries SARLU (Mining Industries) is a CAR-based mining company that the Wagner Group's chief logistician, Valery Chekalov--who reportedly died alongside Prigozhin in August 2023-- used to lease aircraft from Kratol Aviation (Kratol), a UAE-based aviation company. OFAC designated Kratol on January 26, 2023 pursuant to E.O. 13667 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the Wagner Group. The Wagner Group uses aircraft leased by Mining Industries to move personnel and equipment through CAR and elsewhere in Africa. Additionally, Mining Industries has imported chemicals commonly used in mining, including hydrochloric acid, nitric acid, and sodium cyanide, presumably to advance Wagner Group-linked illicit mining.

Logistique Economique Etrangere SARLU (Logistique) is a CAR-based company that in 2021 received hundreds of shipments of heavy materials from Limited Liability Company Broker Expert (Broker Expert), a Russia-based company linked to Prigozhin that has supported Russian interests in Ukraine and throughout Africa. OFAC designated Broker Expert on March 8, 2024 pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Bois Rouge. The shipments Logistique received from Broker Expert were likely intended for Wagner Group-linked illicit mining, such as developing a mining site or building a new processing plant.

OFAC designated Mining Industries pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Wagner Group, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024. OFAC designated Logistique pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Broker Expert, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024.

the wagner group

The United States has sanctioned numerous entities and individuals globally that support the Wagner Group. The Wagner Group has committed widespread human rights abuses, and companies linked to the group have appropriated natural resources across multiple countries in Africa. A proxy paramilitary force of the Kremlin, the Wagner Group has carried out combat operations around the world, including in Russia's brutal war against Ukraine.

On June 20, 2017, OFAC designated the Wagner Group pursuant to E.O. 13660 for being responsible for or complicit in, or having engaged in, directly or indirectly, actions or policies that threaten the peace, security, stability, sovereignty, or territorial integrity of Ukraine. On November 15, 2022, the Department of State redesignated the Wagner Group pursuant to E.O.14024 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy. On January 26, 2023, OFAC redesignated the Wagner Group pursuant to E.O. 13581, as amended by E.O. 13863, for being a foreign person that constitutes a significant transnational criminal organization. Wagner Group personnel have engaged in an ongoing pattern of serious criminal activity, including mass executions, rape, child abductions, and other brutalities against innocents in the CAR and Mali. On the same day, OFAC designated the Wagner Group pursuant to E.O. 13667 for being responsible for or complicit in, or having engaged in, the targeting of women, children, or any civilians through the commission of acts of violence, or abduction, forced displacement, or attacks on schools, hospitals, religious sites, or locations where civilians are seeking refuge, or through conduct that would constitute a serious abuse or violation of human rights or a violation of international humanitarian law in relation to the CAR. The Wagner Group has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the European Union.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC's regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the SDN List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list.

Click here for more information on the individuals and entities designated today.

###

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South Africa's ruling ANC party expected to lose majority after vote

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 May 2024 7:18 PM

Preliminary results and projections indicate that South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) is set to lose its majority of 30 years.

Officials reported on Thursday that with 20% of the votes tallied, the ANC was leading with 44%, down from the 57% it received in 2019. The liberal Democratic Alliance (DA) was closely behind at 25%.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), a leftist party, secured the third position with 9% of the vote, while uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), led by former South African president Jacob Zuma, followed closely behind with 8%.

"The broad church of the ANC has taken a substantial knock. This is a shock to the system for the ANC and ultimately will also be a shock to the system for the average South African, who has only known ANC rule since 1994," political analyst Daniel Silke told AFP.

"It redraws the political boundaries of South Africa and creates a degree of uncertainty".

In the event that President Cyril Ramaphosa's party is verified to fall below the 50 percent mark, he would be compelled to pursue coalition partners in order to secure re-election and establish a fresh government.

The party is still highly regarded for its pivotal role in ending white minority rule, and its forward-thinking social welfare and black economic empowerment initiatives are acknowledged by its followers for lifting millions of black families out of poverty.

Even if the ANC comes close to securing 50 percent of the votes, it seems improbable that it will be able to form alliances with smaller and regional parties to attain a majority.

According to prediction by Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the ANC was projected to receive less than 42 percent of the vote, potentially requiring them to collaborate with a larger rival.

Nevertheless, experts held differing views on which party the ANC would align with and whether this underwhelming performance could jeopardize Ramaphosa's leadership position.

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Ayatollah Khamenei receives Assad, hails Syria's resistance

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 May 2024 12:15 PM

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has received President Bashar al-Assad who has traveled to Tehran to offer condolences over the loss of President Ebrahim Raeisi and his companions in a helicopter crash.

Ayatollah Khamenei on Thursday hailed Syria's "distinguished identity" in the region, saying it is owed to the Syrian nation's resistance.

"Syria's special position in the region is distinguished because of this identity, and this important feature must be preserved," he told the Syrian president.

The distinguished identity of Syria, the Leader said, was formed during the late Hafez Assad's era with the founding of the resistance front and standing against the West.

"This identity has always contributed to the national unity of Syria," he added.

Ayatollah Khamenei also lauded President Assad for his firm stand, saying "everyone should see the special privilege of the Syrian government, that is, resistance, in front of their eyes".

Ayatollah Khamenei said the Westerners and their acolytes in the region tried to overthrow Syria's political system and remove it from the regional equations through the war they waged against the country, but they did not succeed.

"Now they want to use other methods, including promises that they never fulfill, in order to take Syria out of the regional equations," he added.

The Leader stressed the need for Syria and Iran to strengthen important given that the two countries are "the pillars of the axis of resistance".

Ayatollah Khamenei touched on the political and economic pressures of the US and the Europeans on Iran and Syria, saying the two nations must overcome the situation by increasing their cooperation and regularizing it.

He also touched on the efforts of "dear late Mr. Raeisi" to increase cooperation between Iran and Syria in various fields.

"Now Mr. Mokhbar, having the powers of the president, continues the same approach and we hope that all affairs will proceed in the best possible way," he added, referring to acting President Mohammad Mokhber.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Ayatollah Khamenei criticized the inaction of the regional countries in the face of Israeli atrocities in Gaza, citing the recent Arab League summit in Manama where "many mistakes were made towards Palestine and Gaza, but some countries also acted well".

President Assad took part in the summit, the second time he has done so since the league suspended Syria's membership in 2011 as part of the destructive war on the country.

'Strategic relationship'

In his meeting with Ayatollah Khamenei, President Assad expressed his condolences to the Leader, the government and the Iranian nation over the recent loss.

"Iran-Syria relations are a strategic relationship that is progressing under the guidance of Your Excellency," he told Ayatollah Khamenei.

President Raeisi and the late Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian were at the helm of the implementation of this guidance, Assad added.

Assad touched on President Raeisi's "humble, wise and ethical character", calling him a clear example of the positions and slogans of the Islamic Revolution.

"Mr. Raeisi had an important impact on the role of the Islamic Republic in the region and the Palestinian issue in the past three years, as well as deepening relations between Iran and Syria," he said.

'Cost of resistance lower than compromise'

President Assad touched on the evolution of resistance in the region, saying after more than 50 years, it has become a religious and political approach.

Assad said his position has always been that any retreat against the West would lead to its advances.

"I announced a few years ago that the cost of resistance is lower than the cost of compromise, and this issue is now very clear to the Syrian people.

"The events in Gaza and the victories of the resistance proved to the people of the region that resistance is a principle," he said.

President Assad also thanked the Leader of the Islamic Revolution for his "prominent and important role in supporting the resistance in the region and also for supporting Syria in all arenas".

"Your remarks had important points, but one point was more important to me, when you emphasized that 'the more we retreat, the more the other side will come forward'," Ayatollah Khamenei responded.

"There is no doubt about this issue and this has been our slogan and belief for more than 40 years," the Leader said.

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The UK has committed up to $264 million in humanitarian assistance to Syria this year: UK statement at the UN Security Council

Statement by Ambassador James Kariuki at the UN Security Council meeting on Syria.

30 May 2024

We are in the 14th year of this conflict. So let me make three broad points about the changes we need to see.

First, one year on from Syria's readmission to the League of Arab States, we have seen no real change in the regime's behaviour. Not on human right violations. Not on the safety of civilians. And not on creating the conditions for the safe, dignified, and voluntary return of refugees. What's more, Captagon flows have continued to increase, threatening the stability of the region. And Daesh attacks are increasing. We call on the Syrian regime to respond to the positive overtures of our Arab partners by changing its behaviour.

Second, we continue to respond to the devastating humanitarian crisis. This week, the UK and other donors met in Brussels to pledge our support to the Syrian people. The UK is proud to have committed up to $264 million in humanitarian assistance this year, bringing our total funding to over $5 billion since the crisis began. This aid will be delivered to communities across Syria, and includes $43.7 million for early recovery. We are stepping up our humanitarian funding and we call on others to do the same.

We also call on the regime to grant cross-border access for as long as is required, based on humanitarian needs. We note the renewal of permissions earlier this month for aid to cross through two border points. However, as others have said, these short-term and last-minute extensions by the regime mean access is still unpredictable. Since needs are higher than ever in Syria, humanitarians need to be able to reach people in a predictable, principled and cost-effective way. The three remaining UN border crossing points are a critical lifeline, and humanitarian agencies need safe access to reach populations in need.

Finally, President, the only long-term solution to ending this conflict is through the UN-led political process based on resolution 2254. We reiterate our support to your efforts, Special Envoy, and we call on the parties to cooperate fully towards delivering a lasting political settlement in Syria.

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Top UN officials urge comprehensive approach to Syria's protracted crisis

30 May 2024 - Syria remains plagued by a severe and complex security and humanitarian situation, against a backdrop of broader political impasse, senior UN officials told the Security Council on Thursday, underscoring the need for a comprehensive approach that involves all key stakeholders.

Martin Griffiths, the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, highlighted the worsening humanitarian crisis, noting that 16.7 million people now require humanitarian assistance - the highest number since the conflict began 13 years ago.

He stressed that the situation is deteriorating year by year, with a particular emphasis on the ongoing protection crisis, as children continue to be killed and women and girls face increasing levels of sexual and gender-based violence.

In addition, an unstable economic situation is compounding suffering and perpetuating instability. According to the UN World Food Programme (WFP), the cost of living has more than doubled over the past year, and there are no signs of improvement in the near future.

"More than seven million people remain displaced within Syria, with millions more living as refugees in neighboring countries," Mr. Griffiths said.

He underscored the need for sustained humanitarian access through both cross-border and crossline operations.

Welcoming the recent extension granted by the Syrian government for use of the Bab al-Salam border crossing, the UN relief chief highlighted the need for more long-term commitments based on needs rather than set time periods

Security concerns

Geir O. Pedersen, the UN Special Envoy for Syria, described the political impasse as deeply entrenched, with no clear political path to implement UN Security Council resolution 2254, which outlined a roadmap for Syria's political transition.

He warned of the risks of prolonged division and despair, which threaten not only Syrians but the broader international community.

"A dizzying array of local and international actors and listed terrorist groups remain engaged in conflict, inside and over Syrian territory, across multiple theatres," Mr. Pedersen said.

He detailed ongoing clashes across the north of the country and security tensions within areas of control, complicated by the fallout of the war in Gaza, including Israeli airstrikes inside Syria, and rocket and drone attacks from Syrian territory towards the Israeli-occupied Syrian Golan and Israel.

"If these dynamics simply continue, we will inevitably see even more civilian suffering. And we could also see major escalations and further instability radiating across the region," he warned, also reiterating the need for a ceasefire in Gaza.

"Regional de-escalation efforts starting with a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza is absolutely essential," he stressed.

Piecemeal approach will not work

Mr. Pedersen further emphasised the need for a comprehensive political solution, involving the Syrian government, opposition, civil society, and key international actors such as Iran, Russia, TArkiye, the United States, Arab and European nations, and the Security Council.

"No actor on its own can solve the crisis, and none of the existing diplomatic groupings can either. Constructive international diplomacy with the contribution of all is the only way forwards," he stressed.

At the same time, Constitutional Committee meetings must be resumed and concrete confidence-building measures undertaken to stabilize the situation.

"Many understand that the situation in Syria is dangerous, that the current piecemeal approach will not suffice to stem the tide, and that a strategy of containment and alleviation will not stabilize the dangerous and unpredictable situation in Syria - just as it hasn't elsewhere in the region," he said.

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Absent Political Progress, Ongoing Violence Putting Syria, Global Community at 'Terrible Risks', Special Envoy for Syria Warns Security Council

Meetings Coverage

Security Council

9640th Meeting (AM)

SC/15712

30 May 2024

In Last Briefing Before Stepping Down, Senior Relief Official Says 'It Pains Me that the Suffering of the People of Syria Grinds On'

With absent political progress, ongoing violence and a worsening humanitarian situation in Syria, terrible risks could be on the horizon for that beleaguered country and the global community, the Secretary-General's Special Envoy warned the Security Council, as he called for a de-escalation of hostilities, starting in Gaza, and a comprehensive engagement among all stakeholders to arrive at a lasting solution to the 14-year Syrian conflict.

Geir O. Pedersen, noting the absence of a clear political path to implement Security Council resolution 2254 (2015) in Syria, warned: "This is not just tragic  it is dangerous." Without a comprehensive political process, festering negative trends are presenting "terrible risks for Syrians and the broader international community". Detailing ongoing hostilities, he urged regional de-escalation efforts, starting with a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

Underscoring the need to resume the meetings of the Constitutional Committee, he stressed the need for serious engagement among the Syrian Government and the opposition, Syrian civil society, as well as of key international actors. A comprehensive approach must meet Syrians' legitimate aspirations and restore Syria's sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity, he said, appealing to all to "engage and work with us on this way forward".

Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, briefing the Council in-person for the last time before stepping down from his duties, stated: "As I prepare to step down, it pains me that the suffering of the people of Syria grinds on," he told the 15-nation organ. Syria remains a "protection crisis" with more than 7 million people displaced  a figure surpassed only by Sudan  and millions living as refugees in neighbouring countries. He welcomed the recent decision to extend permission for the use of Bab al-Salam and Al Ra'ee border crossings until 13 August, and expressed hope that the use of Bab al-Hawa will also be extended.

Also voicing concern about the steady reduction in funding for the Humanitarian Response Plan, he stressed: "It has never been this bad and the needs have never been this large." Nonetheless, the humanitarian response, although essential to saving lives, cannot provide a solution to the crisis; the only sustainable solution is a set-out Syrian-led political process, he emphasized.

As Council members took the floor, many speakers, commending the Under Secretary-General for his service, echoed the Special Envoy's calls for a genuine political process towards a political solution in Syria, in line with resolution 2254 (2015), and joined him in his concern about the ongoing violence and dire humanitarian situation.

The representative of Algeria, also speaking for Guyana, Mozambique and Sierra Leone, called on all parties to engage in finding a political solution to guarantee Syria's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, and on all parties to the conflict to commit to re-convening the Constitutional Committee. Reiterating a call for a Syrian-owned and -led political process, he expressed support to the Special Envoy's confidence-building initiative.

A nationwide ceasefire, underscored Switzerland's representative, is more necessary than ever and Syrian territory must be protected from the spread of the Middle East conflict. At the May Brussels Conference, Switzerland pledged over $65 million for the current year to help people in need in Syria and in the region, she said, noting, however, that the international community's response must not be limited to emergency humanitarian aid.

Calling for guaranteed, unconditional humanitarian access through the Bab al-Hawa, Bab al-Salam and Al-Ra'ee crossings, Ecuador's representative expressed concern about the millions of Syrian people who have been forcibly displaced. The work of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria must forge ahead to provide answers on the fate of over 100,000 missing persons, he stated.

Still, a stark division on the matter remained among Council members, with the representative of the Russian Federation declaring that the illegal military presence of the United States armed forces in Syria, "under the pretext of fighting terrorism", is having a destabilizing effect. Further, the United States-created network of detention facilities east of the Euphrates holds 56,000 people, including 29,000 children  the highest number of minors held in detention in the world.

Refuting those comments, the representative of the United States assailed the Russian Federation for speaking about peace in Syria, while carrying out an unprovoked war in Ukraine. She also underscored the untenable political situation in the country and the need to return to the Constitutional Committee, also noting that "absent authentic and enduring progress toward a political solution of the conflict, we cannot consider lifting U.S. [United States] sanctions".

Nonetheless, China's delegate condemned unilateral sanctions and the plundering of resources and called for the end of the illegal presence of foreign forces in Syria. In addition, he expressed his deep concern over Israel's continued air strikes on Syrian territory, urging all parties to exercise restraint and avoid aggravating tensions. To that end, other Powers should play a constructive role in "cooling down the situation in the region", he said.

Representatives of other countries in the region also illustrated the division on the matter, with Iran's representative stating: "Western countries have ignored the dire situation on the ground and continue to pursue their political agenda at all costs."

However, the representative of Turkiye called on the Syrian regime to change its attitude and initiate a process of genuine national reconciliation. As heard throughout the debate, he underscored that the only sustainable solution to the conflict is through a political process that meets the Syrian people's legitimate aspirations.

Taking the floor, Syria's representative detailed, among other things, his country's constructive collaboration with the United Nations on humanitarian access. While nothing that pledges had made at the May Brussels Conference, including by three of the permanent Council members, he remarked that such commitments are "mainly only for PR [public relations] work". Further, those three permanent Council members, while highlighting their pledges in the meeting today, did not talk about the damage their illegal coalition has caused the Syrian economy and its people, estimated at billions of dollars. He reaffirmed his country's commitment to a Syrian-led and owned political process without any foreign intervention and called out other actors for impeding the efforts to resume the Constitutional Committee's ninth round of meetings in Baghdad.

THE SITUATION IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Briefings

GEIR O. PEDERSEN, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria , noting the absence of a clear political path to implement Council resolution 2254 (2015) in Syria, warned: "This is not just tragic  it is dangerous." Without a comprehensive political process, festering negative trends are presenting "terrible risks for Syrians and the broader international community". On the security front, local and international actors and listed terrorist groups remain engaged in conflict, he said, detailing hostilities, including further reports of Israeli air strikes inside Syria, as well as rocket and drone attacks from Syrian territory towards the Israeli-Occupied Syrian Golan and Israel. He pointed to active front lines across the entire north of the country, including clashes and exchanges of shelling involving pro-Government forces, Security Council-listed terrorist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, armed opposition groups and Syrian Democratic Forces.

Security tensions are not just between areas of control, but also within them, he pointed out, citing incidents involving Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham and Syrian Democratic Forces, as well the constant threat of Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), also known as Da'esh, whose attacks have increased this last month, particularly in the north-east. "If these dynamics simply continue, we will inevitably see even more civilian suffering. And we could also see major escalations and further instability radiating across the region," he warned, urging regional de-escalation efforts, starting with a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza. He also voiced concern about a second generation of children deprived of continued access to education, or subject to entirely different curricula, threatening their futures and fuelling the potential for radicalism all at the same time.

The parliamentary elections in Government-controlled areas conducted pursuant to the current Constitution, as well as local elections for de facto authorities in areas in the north-east outside Government control, are expected in the coming months, he said. However, these are no substitute for an inclusive political process leading to a new, inclusive Syrian Constitution. "Syrians themselves are sounding the alarm bell on the risks of this entrenched division and the absence of genuine political process," he said, recalling his meeting in Brussels this month with diverse participants in the Civil Society Support Room, who called for, among other things, a genuine political process that ensures security and peace, lays the foundations for Syria's recovery, and brings an end to bloodshed and societal divisions.

He also called for the urgent early disbursement of pledges made at the 27 May Brussels Conference and the maintenance of cross-border and crossline humanitarian access. Further, any adverse effects of sanctions on ordinary Syrians must be mitigated and avoided, particularly by sanctioning States. Underscoring the need to resume the meetings of the Constitutional Committee, he reaffirmed his openness to any alternative venue to Geneva that secures the consensus of both Syrian parties and the host, while appealing for sessions to resume in Geneva as a bridging option and for the parties to prepare on substance.

Warning against the current piecemeal approach, he stressed: "Deep and complex conflicts cannot be simply managed or contained in perpetuity  there must be a political horizon for resolving them too." A new and more comprehensive approach is needed with the engagement of the Syrian Government and the opposition, and the broad voices of Syrian civil society, as well as of key international actors  Iran, Russia, Turkiye, the United States, the Arabs, the Europeans and the Security Council. Underscoring the need for serious engagement on a comprehensive approach that meets Syrians' legitimate aspirations; restores Syria's sovereignty, unity, independence and territorial integrity; and addresses key stakeholders' concerns, in line with resolution 2254 (2015), he appealed to all to "engage and work with us on this way forward".

Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator , noting that the meeting would be his last in-person briefing to the Security Council before stepping down from his duties, recalled that, during his time in office, he visited Syria four times  more than in any other crisis. "As I prepare to step down, it pains me that the suffering of the people of Syria grinds on," he told the 15-nation organ. Syria remains a "protection crisis" with more than 7 million people displaced  a figure surpassed only by Sudan  and millions living as refugees in neighbouring countries. Recalling that, since 2014, the cross-border operation from Turkiye has provided a lifeline to millions of people in north-west Syria, he said that following the lapse of the Security Council's authorization for the operation, it continues to function under the consent of Syria's Government. Welcoming the recent decision to extend permission for the use of Bab al-Salam and Al Ra'ee border crossings until 13 August, he expressed hope that the use of Bab al-Hawa will also be extended.

Noting the absence of crossline deliveries to the country's north-west for nearly a year, he said the missions could restart in the coming days. Furthermore, the cross-line assessment mission to the Alouk water station took place on 21 May, he reported, recalling that the station has been out of operation since 5 October following airstrikes that damaged electricity network. As the main water source for more than 610,000 people in Al-Hasakeh Governorate, it is critical that its operation is restored ahead of the coming summer months. While noting that the level of hostilities has subsided from its peak, he observed that daily fighting  at its fiercest in north-west Syria  continues to harm humanitarian response.

He went on to say that although underfunding for the humanitarian response remains one of the biggest concerns, early recover efforts have a key role in maximizing its impact and sustainability. "But we cannot do so without adequate funding," he stressed, pointing to the steady reduction in funding for the Humanitarian Response Plan  from 55 per cent funded in 2021 to 39 per cent in 2023 and only 9 per cent in 2024. "It has never been this bad and the needs have never been this large," he stated. Nonetheless, while the humanitarian response is essential to saving lives and alleviating suffering, it cannot provide a solution to the crisis, he pointed out, noting that the only sustainable solution is a set-out Syrian-led political process.

He also recalled that, following the earthquake in 2023, the Governments of Syria and Turkiye adopted emergency measures; sanctions measures were eased and the Flash Appeal was fully funded. "I think it was a stand-out achievement," he observed. "But we cannot wait for the next appalling cataclysm to make genuine progress towards ending this catastrophe" as the economic crisis deepens and as regional tensions from the war in Gaza threaten to spill across the region, he emphasized. To that end, he urged Council members to support the Special Envoy's work "on behalf of all of us and on behalf of Syrian people".

Statements

The representative of the Russian Federation said that, with the escalation of hostilities in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict now in its eighth month, the risk of region-wide confrontation remains high. He called on Israel to refrain from military action on the territory of Syria and its neighbours, which is putting the entire region, already destabilized because of the incessant bloodshed in the Gaza Strip and the projection of tensions into the West Bank and Lebanon, at risk of extremely dangerous consequences. "The illegal military presence of the United States armed forces in Syria, under the pretext of fighting terrorism, is having a destabilizing effect," he added, pointing out that the United States-created network of detention facilities east of the Euphrates holds 56,000 people. Among them are 29,000 children, most under the age of 12, which is the highest number of minors held in detention in the world, he reported.

The representative of the United States said her country pledged $593 million at the 27 May Brussels Conference for humanitarian assistance in Syria. The Syrian regime must allow long-term UN access through the Bab al-Hawa crossing long before the six-month authorization in July. It must also immediately consent to the UN's request for access and stop blocking aid for the thousands of civilians in Rukban. Calling on Council members to press the regime to take concrete actions to implement resolution 2254 (2015), she voiced scepticism that the League of Arab States' engagement with the Syrian regime will accomplish the resolution's objectives and, in that regard, urged those engaging with the regime to do so in pursuit of the resolution's objectives. Underscoring the untenable political situation in the country and the need to return to the Constitutional Committee, she stressed that "absent authentic and enduring progress toward a political solution of the conflict, we cannot consider lifting U.S. [United States] sanctions". She assailed Iran for seeking to advance its own destabilizing agenda and the Russian Federation for speaking about peace in Syria, while carrying out an unprovoked war in Ukraine.

The representative of Switzerland expressed concern about the lack of progress towards a political solution in Syria, particularly regarding the implementation of resolution 2254 (2015) and the step-by-step approach proposed by the Special Envoy. A nationwide ceasefire is more necessary than ever, she said, adding that Syrian territory must also be protected from the spread of the Middle East conflict. Noting the increase of violence and the deterioration of the humanitarian situation over the past year, she called on all parties to respect their obligations under international humanitarian law. "As financial resources dwindle and needs increase across Syria, the international community's response must not be limited to emergency humanitarian aid," she added, stressing that more sustainable humanitarian action is essential and highlighting that, at the Brussels Conference, Switzerland pledged over $65 million for the current year to help people in need in Syria and in the region.

The representative of Algeria , also speaking for Guyana , Mozambique and Sierra Leone , addressed Mr. Griffiths, saying: "The international community needs talented people like you, dedicated to the cause of humanity." Turning to the matter at hand, he stressed that the parties to the conflict must commit to re-convening the Constitutional Committee and that the agreement to hold its ninth session must be fulfilled. He called on all parties to engage in finding a political solution to guarantee Syria's unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He also urged all refugees-hosting countries to respect international refugees' law and create conditions to facilitate the safe return of Syrian refugees and internally displaced people to their homes. Reiterating a call for a Syrian-owned and -led political process, he and expressed support to the Special Envoy's confidence-building initiative.

However, he voiced concern over the "escalation and miscalculation" of the Gaza conflict and its impact on the regional stability. Noting that the humanitarian needs of Syrians are growing due to economic recession and unilateral sanctions, he expressed regret that the 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan is currently only 21 per cent funded. "The lack of adequate funding has disrupted humanitarian activities," he emphasized. Welcoming the eighth Brussels Conference on 27 May, he urged all donors to fulfil their commitments. He also underscored the importance of the Early Recovery Vision of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. "The Syrian economy must also recover. Syrians cannot rely solely on the generosity of donors and humanitarian assistance", he said, emphasizing that economic sanctions must be lifted. "It is our duty to the Syrians after years of suffering," he added.

The representative of France , underscoring that the international community stands ready to explore with the Syrian regime all prospects likely to restore stability in the country, called on Damascus to reconsider its policy of obstruction of the political process envisaged in Council resolution 2254 (2015). A just and lasting peace in Syria requires a political solution based on the implementation of that resolution, he emphasized, adding that only with tangible progress on that front can sanctions be lifted and reconstruction financed. He voiced support for the countries that are hosting Syrian refugees and stressed that Syrian refugees must be protected wherever they are. Refugees who wish to return to Syria must be able to do so in safe and dignified conditions. To that end, his country will continue to work with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to prompt the Syrian regime to create the conditions for such a return. Following the 27 May Brussels Conference, his country has announced an additional contribution of 3 million to alleviate the suffering in Syria.

The representative of the Republic of Korea expressed regret over the lack of progress in the political and security process in Syria. External factors, such as the catastrophe in Gaza and tensions along the Blue Line, can further deteriorate the security situation in Syria. "Above all, no country in the region is safe from the possibility of spillover until the conflict in Gaza is resolved," he said. The economic and humanitarian situation in Syria is getting worse, but Syria is heavily underfunded in terms of humanitarian assistance. "It is the current political situation in Syria that restricts humanitarian access and poses ongoing risks to humanitarian workers," he emphasized, adding that keeping cross-border operations open should not be hampered by political dynamics. Transcending this vicious cycle is both urgent and necessary, he said, urging pragmatism and tolerance on all sides.

The representative of Malta , observing that hunger continues to stalk millions and the Syrian economy is in free fall, underscored that the 14 years of conflict have also made the population more vulnerable to climate shocks. "Syria remains a grave protection crisis," he said, adding the conflict is being acutely felt by women, children and older people. He reiterated that facilitating life-saving humanitarian aid must never form part of political negotiations and welcomed the outcome of the Brussels Conference. "We remain deeply disappointed, however, by the lack of engagement from Damascus," he said, adding that progress on the missing and those arbitrarily detained will showcase goodwill and a good faith effort to draw this conflict to a resolution. Demonstrating progress in ensuring the protection and safety of returnees is also critical, he added.

The representative of Slovenia , urging all actors to re-launch Syrian-led and -owned political process, underlined the importance of Syrian women's participation. While there is no military solution to that conflict, a resumption of the political process is essential for reversing the spiral of humanitarian and economic decline. Noting that Syria provides a "demonstration of the link between climate and the humanitarian-development nexus", she said that strengthening resilience to extreme weather events is critical. To that end, the European Union pledged 2.12 billion for 2024 and 2025 at the eighth Brussels Conference on "Supporting the future of Syria and the region". Urging the Syrian Government to create conditions for the return of refugees, she commended the neighbouring countries for hosting these people for over a decade. "People of Syria have suffered enough. A 'status quo' is not in the interest of people of Syria," she declared.

The representative of China expressed support for the measures being taken by the Syrian Government to combat terrorism and called on the international community to combat all forms of terrorism in Syria with zero tolerance. Expressing his deep concern over Israel's continued air strikes on Syrian territory, he said: "Parties have to exercise restraint and avoid aggravating tensions." To that end, he urged other Powers to play a constructive role in "cooling down the situation in the region". Underlining the gravity of the humanitarian situation in Syria, he stressed that the international community should increase its assistance and ensure adequate, non-earmarked financial support for early-recovery projects. Noting the smooth communication between the UN and the Syrian Government over the past year, he encouraged the parties to actively cooperate. Further, condemning unilateral sanctions and the plundering resources, he called for the end of the illegal presence of foreign forces in Syria.

The representative of Ecuador emphasized that the ideal of a prosperous, stable and peaceful Syria, in accordance with resolution 2254 (2015), can only be achieved with a genuine intention to de-escalate the conflict, restore trust and resume the path of dialogue and political negotiation. As such, the Special Envoy should continue his efforts to resume the meetings of the Constitutional Committee and to establish confidence-building measures, or to set in place other initiatives to achieve a lasting political solution. Voicing concern about the millions of Syrian people who have been forcibly displaced, he said the work of the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria must forge ahead to provide answers on the fate of over 100,000 missing persons. He urged stepped-up efforts in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism, as well as guaranteed, unconditional humanitarian access through the Bab al-Hawa, Bab al-Salam and Al-Ra'ee crossings.

The representative of Japan underscored the importance of advancing the political process in accordance with resolution 2254 (2015), fostering an environment conducive to the return of refugees and strengthening cooperation with the international community. Stressing that the political process is in serious jeopardy, she argued that a fundamental problem is the lack of trust between the Syrian Government and other key stakeholders. "The Syrian Government should engage more constructively toward the resumption of the Constitutional Committee," she said. Noting the growing dissatisfaction with Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries, she welcomed the progress in discussions between the Syrian Government and UNHCR on this matter. The Syrian Government must take further steps, including in the political process, for the international community to further strengthen its support, she added, noting that Japan will provide additional early recovery assistance totalling approximately $25 million this year.

The representative of the United Kingdom said that one year on since Syria's readmission to the League of Arab States, there has been no change in the regime's behaviour on human rights violations, the safety of civilians and on creating the conditions for the return of refugees. In addition, Captagon flows have continued to increase and Da'esh attacks are on the rise. This week, his country and other donors met in Brussels to pledge support to the Syrian people, he reported, noting that his Government has committed up to $264 million in humanitarian assistance in 2024, bringing the total funding to over $5 billion since the crisis began. This aid includes $43.7 million for early recovery and will be delivered to communities across Syria. Calling on the regime to grant cross-border access, he added: "The three remaining UN border crossing points are a critical lifeline."

The representative of the Russian Federation , talking the floor a second time, responded to the United States representative by noting that the destruction of Syria was brought about by the occupying armed forces that are on the Syrian territory illegally. He emphasized that the forces of the Russian Federation are there at the invitation of Damascus and that the Russian Federation is providing humanitarian assistance to this long-suffering country through both bilateral and multilateral channels. "When providing assistance, it's important to take the priorities of the recipient of that assistance into account," he said, adding that, among other things, thanks to efforts of the Russian Federation in cooperation with the Syrian authorities, more than 2 million Syrians have been able to return to their homes.

The representative of Syria , noting his country's constructive collaboration with the United Nations, said his Government has approved the request of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to extend authorization to use the Bab al-Salam and Al Ra'ee crossings for three additional months, expiring on 13 August. Noting that five crossings  three cross-border and two cross-line  are operating, he stressed that all humanitarian access must be directed to Syrian civilians and not terrorist entities or their affiliates. Although the Government has also approved assistance convoys across the lines from Halab to Sarmada, terrorist organizations are preventing the convoy from accessing the area. Regarding students residing in terrorist-controlled areas in north-west and north-east Syria, his Government has worked to enable those students to leave and take their final examinations. Meanwhile, terrorist organizations in Idlib prevented the exit of thousands of students being held hostage as human shields.

He also noted his Government's continued cooperation with Lebanon to facilitate the voluntary return of Syrian refugees. However, recalling the recent Brussels Conference, he said that although pledges were made, not many will be fulfilled as they are "mainly only for PR [public relations] work". As well, the Conference adopted a very strange position calling for the non-return of refugees although the enabling environment is ready. He urged the release, being prevented by Western countries, of the study reviewing the impact of unilateral coercive measures on Syria. He reaffirmed his country's commitment to a Syrian-led and owned political process without any foreign intervention and called out other actors for impeding the efforts to resume the Constitutional Committee's ninth round of meetings in Baghdad. Further, the UN and the Council must put an end to the massacre perpetrated by Israel against the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and its expanding aggression in the region.

Noting that the United States voiced concern about the situation in the Rukban internally displaced persons camp, he pointed out that its administration is providing weapons and support to terrorists. He urged an end to that country's unilateral coercive measures and its economic terrorism against the Syrian people, as well as its looting of oil and natural resources. While three permanent Council members noted their pledges at the Brussels Conference, they did not talk about the damage their illegal coalition has caused the Syrian economy and its people, estimated at billions of dollars. "So what aid are you talking about?" he asked.

The representative of Iran said that the "destructive policy" of unilateral sanctions exacerbates the plight of the most vulnerable segments of society and prolongs the crisis in Syria. "Western countries have ignored the dire situation on the ground and continue to pursue their political agenda at all costs," he stressed, noting that they utilize sanctions as a tool to achieve their objectives "even at the expense of ordinary people". Given the burden that neighbouring countries  in particular, Lebanon  have carried during the crisis, he emphasized that the return of refugees and internally displaced people should not be politicized. Calling the resumption of the Constitutional Committee's meetings "an effective mechanism" for advancing the political process, he reiterated Iran's commitment  along with its Astana Format partners  to that country's normalization.

Condemning Israel's "provocative actions" in Syria, he said that following the Rafah attack on 26 May, that country has crossed all red lines. "All these violations were carried out with full impunity and fully supported by the United States," he observed, calling on the Security Council to abandon its "policy of appeasement" and take decisive and urgent action to hold Israel accountable. Strongly rejecting the United States' allegations at this meeting, he said that Washington, D.C. tried to deny its responsibility for the current situation in Syria and the region by falsely blaming Iran. "Iran has always been a positive part of regional developments, treading the path of stabilizing peace and lasting security, including the fight against terrorism in the region," he stated.

The representative of Turkiye said the only sustainable solution to the conflict is through a political process that should meet the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people. "The rise of other, large-scale crises should not diminish our attention to Syria," he said. Calling on the Syrian regime to change its attitude and initiate a process of genuine national reconciliation, he said it was clear that nothing will move in a positive direction without the revitalization of the political process based on resolution 2254 (2015). The voluntary, safe and dignified return of Syrians should be part of all efforts to resolve the crisis, he said. "The disruptive agenda of the terrorist organization, namely PKK-YPGSDF [Kurdistan Workers' Party], as well as its grave violations, repressions and attacks against the local population continues unabated in Syria," he said, emphasizing that the group has no place in Syria's future and urging all sides to disengage from this terrorist and separatist organization.

The representative of the United States , taking the floor a second time and referring to "falsehoods" in the Russian Federation's statements, stressed that his country has a military presence in Syria for one reason only, and that is to fight ISIL. The charge that the United States is looting Syrian property and oil resources is out of the Syrian playbook and is absolute nonsense. Syria has killed thousands of its own people since the war began in 2013, he emphasized, adding: "The regime continues to carry out a war against its own people. That is why Syrians don't want to return home. No propaganda can change that reality."

The representative of Syria , taking the floor a second time, said that following "eight months of genocide in Gaza", the United States' position  including its use of the veto five times  shielding Israel can "uncover the true face" of this Administration's practices and its approach to the Middle East. "It is always completely and blindly biased towards Israel," he observed, noting that Washington, D.C. has no "red lines in the service of Israel". He recalled that the United States called resolution 2728 (2024) "non-binding", also stating that it "does not include any additional commitments on the parties". "This is the position of the United States Administration", he stressed, also noting that Washington, D.C. takes problematic resolutions out of the history books. "All other allegations set forth by the representative of the United States Administration" are of no value," he added.

The representative of the United States , taking the floor for the third time, said: "I believe this session is supposed to be about the situation in Syria, correct? That's all I wanted to know."

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Cross-Strait exchange event calls for efforts to advance national reunification

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:21, May 30, 2024

GUANGZHOU, May 29 (Xinhua) -- A cross-Strait exchange event that opened in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, on Wednesday has called for concerted efforts across the Taiwan Strait to advance China's reunification.

More than 200 people, including heads of political parties and youth representatives from Taiwan as well as cross-Strait experts, attended the annual event, which is in its fourth edition this year.

In his address, Huang Kunming, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and secretary of the CPC Guangdong Provincial Committee, invited Taiwan compatriots to make investments and pursue personal development in Guangdong, a pioneer of China's reform and opening-up initiative.

He also pledged further efforts to deepen exchanges and cooperation in various fields between Guangdong and Taiwan.

Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the CPC Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, reiterated the mainland's firm will and strong capabilities of resolving the Taiwan question.

"We reserve the option of taking all measures necessary," Song said, calling on Taiwan compatriots to firmly uphold the one-China principle, oppose "Taiwan independence" and external interference, and work to promote the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations and cross-Strait integrated development.

Hung Hsiu-chu, former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang party, and Wu Cheng-tien, chairman of the New Party, condemned Taiwan regional leader Lai Ching-te for promoting "Taiwan independence" separatism and being willing to serve as a pawn for external forces, which has escalated tensions across the Strait while disregarding the safety and happiness of the 23 million Taiwan compatriots.

The two-day event also features three sub-forums that will be held in Foshan and Zhuhai, respectively, after the opening ceremony.

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China says objectives of drills circling Taiwan accomplished

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 May 2024 6:43 PM

China's military has announced the accomplishment of "expected goals" during a two-day military drill circling Taiwan.

The Chinese defense ministry also said on Thursday if it is further provoked by Taipei, it will hold more exercises.

The ministry said it had ordered the drills last week following the provocative inauguration speech by President Lai Ching-te, the island's newly-inaugurated "separatist" leader.

"We have reached our expected goals," ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said at a press briefing in Beijing, telling reporters the joint drills by the People's Liberation Army were "a measure to contain aggressive Taiwanese independence and separatist activities and a warning against foreign interference."

Wu said Lai's inaugural speech amounted to calls for independence, "pushing our compatriots in Taiwan into a perilous situation of war and danger".

"We are confident that despite turbulence and changes in outside situation, we will deal with everything with ease," Wu added, vowing "stronger countermeasures" by the military against any further moves by the "separatist forces".

In recent years, Beijing has increased the pressure on Taiwan, maintaining a near-daily presence of warplanes, drones and naval vessels around the island.

Experts say these are "grey zone tactics", which stop short of outright acts of war but serve to exhaust Taipei's military.

The Chinese defense ministry's fresh warning on Thursday of more military drills to follow came just hours after a Taipei official claimed Beijing was trying to "nibble away" at the island's territorial space.

China views Chinese Taipei as an inseparable part of the country, regarding the whole of Taiwan as its sovereign territory.

Beijing considers Chinese Taipei as one of mainland China's provinces with no right to establish diplomatic relations with other states. China's globally-accepted "one China" principle, which the United States has accepted, keeps Chinese Taipei out of most international bodies.

Taiwan's defense ministry said Thursday it detected 38 Chinese warplanes and 11 navy or coastguard vessels around Taiwan in the past 24 hours. It said 28 of the Chinese aircraft had crossed the median line, referring to a line bisecting the Taiwan Strait that separates the island from China.

On Wednesday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office lashed out at Lai once more for being a dangerous supporter of an independent Taiwan, criticizing his meeting in the presidential office earlier this week with a visiting senior US politician leading a congressional delegation to Taipei.

The US lawmaker had accused China of holding "intimidating" war games last week, underscoring Taipei's need to boost its weapons and ammo arsenal.

Michael McCaul, the Republican chair of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, described the US as a reliable source for arms and munitions for Taiwanese forces to fight Chinese troops.

The US delegation is the first group of American lawmakers to visit Taipei after Lai took office on Sunday

In his meeting with McCaul, Lai said he would "enhance national defense capabilities, and show the world the determination of the Taiwanese people to defend their homeland."

China, for its part, called on the US officials to stop breaching the "one-China" principle.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan May 30, 2024

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2024/05/30

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date:

6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Wednesday to Thursday, May 29-30

2.PLA activitiesis

38 PLA aircraft, 7 PLAN vessels, and 4 CCG vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 28 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities.



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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan May 31, 2024

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2024/05/31

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Dateis

6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Thursday to Friday, May 30-31

2.PLA activitiesis

13 PLA aircraft, 10 PLAN vessels, and 4 CCG vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 11 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities.





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Secretary Blinken's Meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Fidan

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

May 30, 2024

The following is attributable to Spokesperson Matthew Miller:

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met today with Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Prague, Czechia on the sidelines of an informal meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers. Secretary Blinken and Foreign Minister Fidan discussed efforts to reach a ceasefire agreement in Gaza that secures the release of hostages, as well as the importance of increasing humanitarian aid to Gaza and preventing regional instability. They also discussed opportunities to support peace and prosperity in the Caucasus region.

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"TArkiye has become an indispensable actor in its region"

Presidency of The Republic of Turkey

30.05.2024

Speaking at the Exercise EFES-2024, President ErdoAYan said: "Since 2002, we have mobilized all kinds of means to maximize the level of indigenous production in defense industry. Thanks to the progress it has made in defense industry, TArkiye has become one of the indispensable actors in its region."

President Recep Tayyip ErdoAYan made a speech at the Exercise EFES-2024 in Izmir.

Stating that nearly two thousand friendly military staff from 45 different countries have joined the Exercise EFES-2024 along with the Turkish soldiers, President ErdoAYan voiced his pleasure over the increasing interest in the exercise in every area, and added: "I thank all who have contributed to the exercise that has been carried out in two stages with the participation of 11 thousand military personnel since April 15."

"WE FAVOR PEACE AND COOPERATION"

Underscoring that the Exercise EFES-2024 does not target any country, President ErdoAYan noted: "Our exercise has been carried out with a generic scenario based on an exercise promoting peace. I believe that the exercise will increase our military's capabilities for the planning, coordination and execution of united and joint exercises."

"We favor peace and cooperation, not tension or quarrel," President ErdoAYan stated, and added: "We want to live side by side with the countries with which we share the same geography. We do not harbor any enmity or prejudice against any country. We do not have an eye on anyone's land or sovereign rights. We never have and never will leave in the air a hand extended sincerely to us. We stand ready to establish dialogue, contact and strengthen our ties with anyone who respects TArkiye's interests and seeks to enhance their cooperation with us."

"OUR EFFORTS WITHIN THE ISTANBUL PROCESS HAVE BEEN HINDERED"

Underscoring that TArkiye is not a country far away from global developments, President ErdoAYan went on to say: "We are located in a geography where the most intensive conflicts, political crises and disputes are occurring in the world right now. All the incidents occupying the humanity's agenda are taking place in TArkiye's near environ. The war between Russia and Ukraine, our neighbors at the Black Sea, has entered its third year. Our efforts aimed at establishing 'a just peace' with the Istanbul Process have unfortunately been hindered and sabotaged by war lobbies. No one even knows when and how this war, whose financial cost to our region and the world increases each passing day, will end."

"Chaos and instability still prevail in Syria, our another neighbor," President ErdoAYan said, and stated: "The Syrian extension of the separatist terrorist organization has intensified its efforts and its pressures on and threats against the people in the region with the aim of establishing a 'terroristan'. They resort to any avenue, from exiling people, who refuse to bow down to the group or resist extortion, from their own lands to recruiting child soldiers. It is understood that the issue here is not the fight against DAESH, but the systematic implementation of an insidious plan directly targeting our country and region. We closely follow the terrorist organization's belligerent acts against the territorial sovereignty of our country and Syria under the pretext of a referendum. We have previously laid bare firmly our policy on this issue. TArkiye will never allow the separatist organization to establish a 'teroristan' right beyond its southern borders in the north of Syria and Iraq. We previously did whatever was necessary in the face of faits accomplis, and we will not hesitate to take action if we face the same.

"WE EXPECT ALL THE ACTORS IN THE REGION TO APPRECIATE OUR LEGITIMATE CONCERNS"

"I would like it to be known that the argument of fight against DAESH is already null and void to us. We are the only NATO ally that has fought hand-to-hand against DAESH, dealt the heaviest blow to this group on the ground and defeated them. Therefore, we know well what is sought to be done and what kind of a game is played through this organization. We do not fall for, give credit to these tricks. We neither listen to anyone nor bow down to any threat when it comes to our country's territorial integrity and our nation's security. We believe that the separatist terrorist organization and the powers protecting them will see that they can get nowhere with faits accomplis. We expect all the actors in the region to appreciate our legitimate concerns on this issue and respect them."

Further stating that besides Russia, Ukraine and Syria, TArkiye's other neighbor Iraq is worn out as well because of wars and conflicts, President ErdoAYan said: "We follow with pleasure and support friendly and brotherly Iraq's efforts to recover, develop and stand on its own feet. We will continue to stand with our Iraqi brothers and sisters with all our means. We maintain our works in order for peace and stability to prevail in a vast geography stretching from Pakistan to Afghanistan, Libya to Somalia and Sudan, the Turkic republics to the Balkans. We do not keep the security of all these countries that we describe as our kindred geography separate from the security of our own nation. With the liberation of Karabakh after 30 years, a historic window of opportunity has genuinely been opened for lasting peace in our region. We think that it mustn't be wasted. Armenia will get closer to peace to the extent that it frees itself of foreign powers and diaspora. The Armenian people should see and understand that their future is with their neighbors they have for ages and will continue to live together, not with those who make empty talks and provocations, and should do boldly what it requires."

"OVER 36 THOUSAND PEOPLE HAVE BEEN MASSACRED MERCILESSLY IN GAZA"

"Obviously, while on one hand promising developments take place in our region, Israel's brutal attacks on Gaza increase exponentially," President ErdoAYan continued, and added: "Over 36 thousand innocent and unprotected people have been massacred mercilessly. Over 15 thousand children and over 10 thousand women have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian lands. 2.3 million people have been forced to immigrate. Within nearly eight months, Gaza has turned into a huge wreck, where there is almost no undamaged building. The air attack conducted on a refugee camp the other day was already the point where the humanity ended. No excuse can justify such atrocity. War has its own law, boundaries and code of conduct. Killing 36 thousand innocent people, injuring more than 80 thousand innocent people, attacking mosques, schools, hospitals, churches, and dropping bombs over civilians in food queues or officials delivering aid is an overt genocide, not war."

"Those, who ignore this genocide, not only support the commitment of this war crime, but also become a complicit in this crime," President ErdoAYan noted, and stated: "I think no moral and conscientious person will approve of this picture of insanity. TArkiye is doing what is expected from it, what befits it and what its historical legacy requires in the face of this scene of atrocity. We as TArkiye will increasingly continue our diplomatic efforts for the declaration of an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. We will continue to support all the steps in order for those responsible for the genocide to be held to account before law. We hereby thank all the countries who stand on the right side of the history, recognize the Palestinian state and raise their voices against this oppression."

"HAVING HIGH DETERRENCE IS OBLIGATORY FOR TARKAYE"

Stressing that being strong in terms of military, technology and human resource and having high deterrence is obligatory for TArkiye given the fact that its near environ is surrounded by a circle of fire, President ErdoAYan said: "We consider it to be an essential necessity to equip the Turkish Armed Forces with the most advanced equipment and systems on the ground. Since 2002, we have mobilized all kinds of means to maximize the level of indigenous production in defense industry."

"Thanks to the progress it has made in defense industry, TArkiye has become one of the indispensable actors in its region," President ErdoAYan noted, and continued as follows: "While there were only 62 active defense projects in 2002, today this number has exceeded a thousand. While the budget of the active defense projects in 2002 was some 5.5 billion dollars, the volume of the ongoing projects today has surpassed 96 billion dollars. We are among the 10 countries capable of designing, building and operating their own warships. And we are one of the 3-4 leading countries in UAV and UCAV production."

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DIA report confirms North Korean missile debris found in Ukraine

News | May 29, 2024

By DIA PAO

JOINT BASE ANACOSTIA-BOLLING -- Analysis confirms that Russia used ballistic missiles produced in North Korea in its war against Ukraine. North Korean missile debris was found throughout Ukraine, according to an unclassified report released today by the Defense Intelligence Agency.

Through careful analysis of open-source imagery DIA analysts confirms the debris found in Kharkiv on Jan. 2, 2024 is missile debris from a DPRK short range missile. The report provides a comparative analysis of publicly available images of North Korean missile debris and known North Korean missiles. The report shows that the missile debris in Ukraine is almost certainly of a North Korean ballistic missile.

The report highlights the evolving and strengthening relationship between North Korea and Russia.

DIA has released the report as part of ongoing transparency efforts to enhance public understanding of the Defense Intelligence Agency's mission and to provide insights on Department of Defense and national security issues.

To view the report, click here .

Media may direct queries about the report to DIA Public Affairs at dia-pao@dodiis.mil.

DIA's mission is to provide intelligence on foreign militaries to prevent and decisively win wars.

DIA officers are united in a common vision a to be the indispensable source of defense intelligence expertise for the Nation. For 62 years, DIA has met the full range of security challenges faced by the United States. DIA intelligence officers operate around the world, supporting customers from forward-deployed warfighters to national policymakers.

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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's remarks at the ambassadorial roundtable discussion of Ukraine crisis settlement, Moscow, May 29, 2024

29 May 2024 16:41

1003-29-05-2024

Ladies and gentlemen,

Your Excellencies,

I really do hope that such meetings, which have become a regular event in Russia (1, 2, 3 and 4), are of value to you, and provide important insights into the geopolitical struggle incited by the new threat the West invented to restrain the Russian Federation. I am referring to the Nazi regime established in Kiev through a coup. They did it to gain presence in Ukraine and create a direct security threat to Russia, as well as to destroy the very culture of Donbass and Novorossiya that the ancestors of the people living there now had been creating for centuries. These people want to remain true to their history and language; they want to raise their children in the traditions that have been created and passed on from generation to generation in their families for centuries.

Our discussion today, The Ukraine crisis: Geopolitical aspects, will focus on the deeper causes of this crisis, which go as far back as the period preceding the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the subsequent years. Today, many responsible historians, political scientists and experts in the West are highlighting what their colleagues have been mentioning for years or maybe even decades: when the Warsaw Pact was dissolved, when the Soviet Union opened up to Western Europe, the United States and the West in general, ready to interact on the basis of equality, mutual benefit and mutual respect, no one thought of dissolving NATO as well. And, by and large, the idea was not even on the table. Today, many consider this a mistake.

Just yesterday, Jeffrey Sachs, American economist and political analyst, again said this in an interview with Tucker Carlson. In his opinion, it was a historical mistake. But history knows no 'what ifs.' NATO is out there. Moreover, apparently, the alliance had reasons for not reciprocating the Warsaw Pact and dissolving itself. NATO could have proposed an arrangement to the former socialist camp where the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe would remain the only multilateral platform, with no closed military blocs, and where everyone would henceforth coexist in a new way, on the basis of openness and mutual respect, working towards mutual benefit - but it didn't.

We can now say with certainty that the reason for this decision was the US's unquenchable need to keep NATO as an instrument of control over Europe - including Germany, which hosts dozens of US military bases. This was sure to make the Germans follow orders from Washington. When the United States sabotaged the Nord Stream pipelines to eliminate competition in the European energy market, this made Germany just take it and keep silent, buying American liquefied natural gas, which costs 50 or 100 percent more than Russian pipeline gas. NATO was needed to keep Europe in a subordinate position to the United States. This is the reason why the North-Atlantic Alliance was not dissolved along with the Warsaw Pact. On the contrary, they began to use it to strengthen American hegemony on this continent, and now also on other continents.

Not so long ago, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg was asked whether NATO was a purely defensive alliance that was protecting the territory of its member countries and doing nothing else. He answered in the affirmative. But threats to the NATO countries were allegedly coming from different parts of the world, including the Indo-Pacific Region. Therefore, the alliance will expand its infrastructure and create unions in that region (in the Asia-Pacific Region, which they, for a well-known reason, call the Indo-Pacific Region). Mr Stoltenberg said that, in this sense, the security of the Euro-Atlantic Region and the Asia-Pacific Region was indivisible. So, many countries on our common continent should be prepared for NATO's attempts to ensure our security as well.

But let us go back to the period of the USSR's disintegration. The Soviet Union was declared the main rival for the United States and its world order. This happened despite the signing of arms control agreements, which many Russian experts now regard as not quite fair and containing unilateral concessions on the part of the USSR, despite the signing of subsequent arms control agreements that made it possible for US observers to be permanently stationed at the gate of plants that produced Russia's strategic nuclear weapons, and despite the fact that in the early 1990s, numerous US and other Western experts held jobs at the majority of New Russia's government agencies. (Perhaps the reason for calling Russia a rival was grounded in these circumstances.) The USSR was the leader of the Socialist camp and promoted the principles of respect for the UN Charter in association with countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. But all of a sudden it was no more.

You may remember how the US economist, political scientist and academic Francis Fukuyama announced the "end of history." He said that from now on, the liberal world order would predominate and that they expected no counteraction from any part whatsoever. But this meant just one thing: they decided that the United States and the collective West now had New Russia, as well as all former Soviet republics and all former members of the Warsaw Treaty Organisation "in their pocket." This was obviously the opinion that prevailed over there for rather long. They are obsessed with this idea even today. The developments we are currently witnessing are the consequence of the US-led collective West's desire to stick to their international hegemony, whatever the cost.

This is increasingly difficult to do, if possible at all, given the rise of economic giants, primarily in the Eurasian continent, but also in Africa and Latin America. The fight to preserve the hegemony, one involving the use of sanctions, blackmail, threats, and armed violence, is a struggle for the vanishing epoch. In the context of this fight, we see the West "snatching" at all of its illegitimate methods. The world order that the United States has tried to impose on all others until now is beginning to agonise. It is a "rules-based order," not international law based on the UN Charter in its entirety and interconnection of its principles. We have discussed this topic. Whenever necessary, they stage a coup d'etat and declare that democracy has prevailed in this or that country. But whenever revolutionary forces come to power somewhere in Africa, forces that want to get rid of the last vestiges of colonialism, they brand this as a violation of the Constitution, introduce sanctions, and much else.

Let us now go back to the start of the events that have now determined what is happening in Europe and the rest of the world. The West decided that Russia was in its pocket. When in 2000, after the first election of Vladimir Putin as President of the Russian Federation, Russia started returning its dignity and the right to its lawful place in the world arena, the United States did not take it seriously at first. The Americans thought these were some individual manifestations of the national character, even more so since at that time, in the 2000s, advocating respect for its own rights, Russia defended them in the world arena exclusively through the offer of cooperation and equal agreements. There are many examples to this effect.

We created a ramified system of interaction with the European Union. It had dozens of mechanisms and structures that met many times throughout a year in different formats, drafted roadmaps and agreed to create four common spaces in Eurasia. There were many creative, progressive and promising ideas. Take NATO, for one. Despite the promise and commitment (given to the Soviet leaders and later the first heads of the Russian Federation) not to expand the alliance eastward, the expansion still took place. Even in the late 1990s, Foreign Minister of Russia Yevgeny Primakov was ready "not to posture" and not to start aggressive resistance to the violation of the "word of honour" by our Western partners. Instead, he started looking for compromise. By way of compromise, the sides agreed, and the West assumed this commitment, that substantial combat forces would not be deployed on the territory of new members (we accepted the latter's existence). The Russia-NATO Council sealed this commitment. It also acted in many other areas. Groups were set up to counter terrorism, help Afghanistan and do many other things. Now the West has destroyed all this by its unilateral decision.

But it seemed the compromise was made. They allegedly agreed not to deploy permanent substantial combat forces on the territory of new members. However, we discovered before long that these forces were being deployed. The West began telling us that these forces were neither permanent, nor substantial. Supposedly, they just sent one brigade there on a rotation basis. Then this brigade left and was immediately replaced by another one. This is why such rotation became permanent.

We suggested defining the meaning of the term "substantial combat forces." We sent them specific proposals with figures on heavy weapons, firearms and the number of military that fell under this definition. They bluntly refused even to discuss this.

As we displayed goodwill time and again, offering to lay solid foundations for our cooperation with NATO, they did not agree to anything that limited their freedom of action in any way, including moves to the detriment of our interests. We began to realise (not so much the futility of further relations with these states and their leaders), but the need to bring our message home to them as clearly as possible. This is what President of Russia Vladimir Putin did at the 2007 Munich conference. He openly and politely told the Western leaders there that it was impossible to dictate their will to every country and that the world was much more versatile than the Western civilisation, all the more so since it started quickly degrading in the context of the suggested ideas. Mostly, European states, the US and other countries of the collective West did not take seriously the warning made at the Munich conference, either. They smiled and decided that Russia was expressing its discontent in such a way. We continued explaining to our Western colleagues in clear and understandable terms the harmfulness of the course on which the West had embarked in the belief it could ignore our country from now on. However, these contacts also ended in nothing.

Notably, we have never given up on the idea of overcoming the confrontation which was building up and posing an increasingly growing threat. In 2008, we proposed concluding a European Security Treaty with a fairly straightforward goal in mind. Several years before that, the OSCE countries gathered for a summit and put their signatures under the principle of indivisible security which stated that no country or organisation within the OSCE area would strengthen its security at the expense of the security of other countries, and no organisation would claim dominance within this geopolitical space. NATO did exactly the opposite and continued to draw in new members, turning its ravenous eye to the former Soviet republics other than the Baltic countries, which had joined the alliance earlier.

We confronted NATO members and told them there was a political commitment not to assert dominance, whereas they were trying to do precisely that and to strengthen their security at the expense of our security. We asked them how they were going to act on it. They said it was a political declaration signed by presidents and prime ministers, which was not legally binding, and legal security guarantees could only be obtained within NATO. We said okay. In 2008, we put on the table a draft treaty on European security which covered the provisions that were included in the OSCE Summit Declaration. It was duly codified and contained a provision about legal obligations. But they rejected it outright saying that only NATO members could obtain legal guarantees.

In 2010, Russia proposed concluding a Russia-NATO treaty as opposed to a treaty within the OSCE. They turned it down as well. Our goodwill has repeatedly run up against this kind of behaviour.

In December 2001, President George W. Bush withdrew from the ABM Treaty. President Putin let him know it was a reckless move. President George W. Bush said the Americans would be building a missile defence that was directed not against Russia, but against the DPRK and the Islamic Republic of Iran. He spoke mistruth. Everyone is clear now that the United States and its allies' missile defence configuration is aimed solely at deterring Russia and China.

But back in 2010, we tried to talk sense into the Americans and other NATO members concerning the importance of being more careful about what they do in Europe and the international arena, more broadly. We proposed creating joint missile defence to include Russia, the United States and Europe. They didn't provide a clear answer and eventually let it fade away. They were reluctant to interact and cooperate with us.

A similar fate befell the INF Treaty. In August 2019, the Americans withdrew from it accusing Russia of violating its provisions (allegedly, we deployed the corresponding ground-based missiles in the Kaliningrad Region). The United States refused to talk with us and made that step unilaterally. President Putin said back then that we deplore that move, because it was a destabilising type of weapon, and came up with a proposal whereby Russia would declare a moratorium, even though the Treaty would cease to exist because the United States had withdrawn from it. Russia will comply with the provisions of the treaty, thereby declaring a unilateral moratorium. It will continue to do so until the US-made land-based missiles get deployed elsewhere on the globe. Such missiles are now being deployed in the Philippines and Denmark. We made a statement that we had issued a warning several years ago. Back in 2019 when it hadn't happened yet, we were trying to somehow save the situation and to prevent a new destabilising kind of weapon from spreading across the globe. President Putin came up with an initiative. He sent letters outlining our stance, including a unilateral moratorium, to NATO countries and urged NATO members to collectively join our moratorium (having proclaimed the unilateral moratorium ourselves) now that the treaty was no longer valid. Furthermore, his message stated that since they had doubts about Russia deploying the corresponding missiles on its Iskander systems in the Kaliningrad Region, which were prohibited by the now defunct treaty, we encourage them to come and make sure that this was not the case.

In turn, we would like to be able to come to Poland and Romania, where MK-41 anti-missile systems are deployed in the third position area of missile defence. According to an ad posted on the manufacturer's website, these systems can be used not only for missile defence, but also as launchers for those very intermediate-range and shorter-range missiles that were banned by the treaty. That is, we offered a fair deal where they come to us, and we go to them. We will be able to see how things actually are and to observe the moratorium without any treaty. They flatly refused. This alone shows that they were not playing fair.

Initially, the Americans withdrew from that treaty to be able to expand to new domains, including the Philippines. I am sure that other countries in the Asia-Pacific region will also be asked to provide a "hospitable home" for similar weapons.

In January 2020, Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu invited President of Russia Vladimir Putin to attend the inauguration of the Memorial Candle monument in Jerusalem honouring the heroic residents and defenders of besieged Leningrad. In his remarks, Vladimir Putin expressed concern over the growing international tensions. He called on the permanent members of the UN Security Council to show responsibility, to sit down together at a summit and discuss whatever concerns or complaints they all had. He called for a candid discussion of their respective views on international relations (at that time), of any problems each of them saw and the ways to address them. China was the first to support his call, and then France. The United States remained silent, the British looked to their "big brother," and the issue was eventually dropped.

The most recent attempt was made in the midst of the war that the Kiev regime waged on Donbass in violation of the Minsk agreements. When Ukrainians said they would not comply with the UN Security Council-approved agreements, Washington clearly saw that as an example to follow. A couple of months ago, the UN Security Council adopted a resolution calling for a ceasefire during the holy month of Ramadan. But Linda Thomas-Greenfield abstained. She did not use her veto, but when the resolution was already adopted, she suddenly said it was not binding. There is an uncanny similarity between the situation with the Minsk agreements and the US stance on UN Security Council decisions.

Nevertheless, in early December 2021, it was President Vladimir Putin's initiative to highlight the very serious situation and the need to stop the Ukrainian regime from violating the Minsk Agreements. We proposed signing two agreements, one with the United States and the other with NATO countries. We distributed both drafts, which spelled out how European security could be ensured with full consideration of the legitimate interests of all participants, including Russia, Ukraine, and European countries. The main point was that Ukraine should not join any military bloc. We were told that it was none of our business. They refused to discuss the proposals, even though before that, they had been sounding the alarm for months - in fact, they had reached out to us (the CIA director and other emissaries) seeking a solution that would not involve the use of force.

And all through the wrangle, the Ukrainian regime continued to use force on an increasing scale. The West rejected our December proposals, and in January-February 2022, Ukraine, still sabotaging the Minsk Agreements, announced the start of Plan B and intensified the bombing of Donbass exponentially. We had no choice but to declare a special military operation. President Vladimir Putin spoke about this in detail.

Now I will recall how it was developing geopolitically and what the result was. In 2021, we were told that Ukraine and NATO would decide themselves how to develop their relations. So, don't even bother. The European Union gave us exactly the same response eight years before. During the talks on the EU Association Agreement in 2013, the then President, Viktor Yanukovych, said that it might contradict Ukraine's commitments under the CIS Agreement on the Establishment of a Free Trade Area. The EU had no tariffs practically on all goods, whereas we (and other post-Soviet countries) had serious tariffs on some types of EU products. Brussels wanted to reduce to zero all tariffs on the exports of its goods to Ukraine. This created a collision that threatened to turn Ukraine into an open broad road for the exports we did not need in violation of Russia-EU agreements.

In December 2021, we offered NATO to look at what could be done to avoid prejudicing anyone's interests. In 2013, we urged the EU to think of how to harmonise Ukraine's valid Free Trade Area agreement with the future Association Agreement. The then Head of the European Commission Jose Manuel Borosso bluntly told us not to meddle in their affairs with Ukraine. After all, they don't interfere in Russia's trade relations, say, with Canada. This statement confirmed again that he is a man of small mind.

The rejection played a fatal role. When Yanukovych realised he needed more time to understand what to do about the Association Agreement, the EU raised a wave of protests. Ukraine's main square was permanently occupied, and Maidan was launched. It ended in a state coup. In brief, this was the geopolitical background.

The current Western geopolitical line does not differ at all from its previous policy when it was driven by the sole desire to prevent Russia from getting stronger and occupying a befitting place in the world arena. They wanted to encircle our country with a belt of unfriendly states. This happened in 2008 when they encouraged the then Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili to attack South Ossetia and Russian peacekeepers. Something similar is happening now in Moldova. They are trying to completely take it over having put in power the leaders that proceed from the interests of the West rather than their own people. There are many other examples as well.

On May 27-28, President of Russia Vladimir Putin visited Uzbekistan. We maintain regular contacts with our friends from Kazakhstan and all Central Asian countries. We are seeing that the West is eager to spread its influence there.

Their goal to isolate Russia and prevent it from developing and implementing in full its opportunities is utopian. But the quality of the current Western politicians makes it possible to assume that they may turn utopia into their practical programme. Let them have a go, as they say. Nobody doubts that this is doomed to fail.

They have the same mentality and set the same goals they did when they realised after the Soviet Union's collapse that Russia was "disobedient" and rejected the demands to fulfil their orders. This is manifest in the specific bends of the situation around Ukraine. There is already talk on the sly about hitting any part of the Russian Federation. At the news conference after his visit to Uzbekistan, President of Russia Vladimir Putin spoke in detail about this. I am sure you are familiar with his statements. I don't want to repeat myself.

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Update 230 - IAEA Director General Statement on Situation in Ukraine

International Atomic Energy Agency

51/2024

Vienna, Austria

30 May 2024

Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi met with senior Russian officials this week as part of the continuing efforts of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to help prevent a nuclear accident at Ukraine's Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP).

During Tuesday's meeting in Kaliningrad with Alexey Likhachev, head of Russian state nuclear company Rosatom, Director General Grossi again raised those factors that the IAEA believes remain a real challenge for nuclear safety. Specifically, these include the vulnerability of the ZNPP's off-site power lines, its need for reliable water supplies to ensure reactor cooling and other essential functions, and the situation related to staffing and equipment maintenance.

As Director General Grossi has repeatedly stressed, the IAEA must engage with both Ukraine and the Russian Federation on matters related to nuclear safety and security, which remains precarious, especially at the ZNPP.

"The Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant is continuing to face serious nuclear safety and security risks. We can't afford to let our guard down for a single minute," Director General Grossi said after the meeting in the Russian city. "In view of these challenging and unprecedented circumstances - with Europe's largest nuclear power plant located in a war zone - there is an understanding that its six reactors should remain in cold shutdown for the time being."

"Even with all six reactors in cold shutdown, plant safety and security remain extremely fragile. Any decision to re-start the ZNPP's reactors in the future - when it is safe to do so - must be preceded by a very careful and detailed examination of all operational and regulatory aspects relevant for nuclear safety and security to ensure that the plant is not further put in jeopardy," he said.

On the ground at the ZNPP, the IAEA experts stationed at the site have continued to hear explosions on most days over the past week, normally at distances away from the plant. However, on Sunday, the team was awakened by four explosions near the site. The ZNPP informed the team that there was no damage to the plant.

Also this week, the IAEA experts have conducted regular walkdowns to monitor nuclear safety and security, including ongoing and planned maintenance activities on parts of the safety systems, such as the emergency core cooling system of the unit 1 reactor, and on the main electrical transformer of unit 2.

The IAEA team visited the ZNPP's maintenance workshop, where they were told that all machines are in operational condition and able to perform necessary maintenance tasks.

During a visit to the reactor building and safety systems rooms of unit 4, the IAEA experts observed equipment including steam generators and the main cooling pumps. They noted that generally the housekeeping was good, but they did observe some oil on the floor of the reactor hall coming from the overhead cranes, as well as boron deposits on the floors of some of the safety systems rooms, which are not uncommon for such facilities. The ZNPP confirmed these would be addressed through cleaning and maintenance.

Over the past week, the IAEA team also observed the successful performance of routine testing of emergency diesel generators of units 4 and 6.

The experts visited four levels of the turbine building of unit 5 where they observed the status of different types of equipment, including the main feedwater pumps, main steam valves and the main condenser, but once again were denied access to the western side of the building.

The IAEA experts also met with the site's Chemistry Control Division, where they were informed of the technological process used for water treatment and were also told that all necessary consumables and chemical reagents have been supplied from the Russian Federation. The team was further informed that the division has sufficient staff, including personnel that have come from Russian nuclear power plants (NPPs).

While visiting the ZNPP's thermal mechanical warehouse, the IAEA team saw its diesel generator spare parts and electrical equipment. The team observed spare parts from various manufacturers, including from Western suppliers before the conflict, as well as some from the Russian Federation. The ZNPP informed the team that it had completed its transition to a Russian-based spare parts and equipment database.

The IAEA experts also went to the temporary shelters located inside each reactor building, which were established by the ZNPP in 2022 due to the unavailability of the original shelters. The team was informed that up to 1000 people can be sheltered on site in these temporary shelters.

As the summer approaches, the warmer temperatures and drier climate have contributed to wildfires in the areas around the ZNPP. Late last week, the IAEA experts could both see and smell smoke from what the ZNPP said was a forest fire on the other side of the Dnipro river. On Tuesday, the IAEA team saw a wildfire south of the 750 kilovolt (kV) open switchyard, but it appeared to have been extinguished later in the week and did not cause any damage to electrical systems.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, the IAEA experts present at the Khelmnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs and the Chornobyl site reported that nuclear safety and security is being maintained despite the effects of the ongoing conflict, including air raid alarms on several days over the past week.

Over the past week, two reactor units at the Rivne NPP successfully re-started after the planned outages for refuelling and maintenance were safely completed ahead of schedule. The Rivne NPP now has three units in full power operation, while the fourth reactor is being prepared for shutdown for planned refuelling and maintenance. Meanwhile, the planned maintenance activities at one of the reactor units at the South Ukraine NPP are continuing according to schedule.

The IAEA continues with the delivery of much-needed equipment and supplies for maintaining nuclear safety and security in Ukraine. This week, the Agency organized two deliveries of nuclear safety and security equipment to Ukraine, bringing the total number of deliveries to 49 since the start of the armed conflict. The KhNPP, SUNPP and USIE Izotop - a Ukrainian state enterprise involved in the management of radioactive material intended for medical, industrial and other purposes - received physical protection equipment and atmospheric probing systems. The equipment was procured using extrabudgetary contributions from the European Union and the United Kingdom.

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State Secretary Andris PelAs: EU must continue to reduce Russia's revenues and its ability to finance its hostilities in Ukraine

Republic of Latvia - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

30.05.2024

On 30 May 2024, Andris PelAs, the State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, participated in the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) in its Trade configuration in Brussels. The Council Regulation amending the EU's Common Customs Tariff was approved, which increases customs tariffs on cereals, oilseeds and derived products of Russian and Belarusian origin.

The Regulation will apply from 1 July. At the same time, Latvia and six other EU Member States - the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland and Sweden - issued a joint statement welcoming the approval of this framework, as well as calling on the European Commission to continue making proposals to restrict trade with Russia and Belarus.

"Given the critical situation in Ukraine, we cannot stop there, and the EU must continue to reduce Russia's revenues and its ability to finance hostilities in Ukraine," Andris PelAs stressed.

In the run-up to the European elections and the formation of a new European Commission, ministers were invited to share their thoughts on the future of EU trade policy and its global competitiveness. The State Secretary underlined the importance of an open, resolute and forward-looking trade policy, noting that it should boost Europe's competitiveness and promote innovation, economic growth and access to green technologies.

Andris PelAs noted that "Given the geopolitical situation and current challenges, including the increase of protectionism and the decline of the EU's economic weight in the global economy, the EU can no longer rely solely on the attractiveness of the single market".

The discussion on EU-Africa trade relations concluded that maintaining a permanent cooperation with the natural resource-rich African continent is crucial to foster the resilience of production and supply chains, as well as the green and digital transitions. Latvia supports the European Commission's commitment to strengthening mutual cooperation and ensure mutual economic growth by improving the investment policy and developing a more attractive alternative in contrast to the offers of other third countries.

Ministers also looked back at the WTO 13th Ministerial Conference to agree on the next steps in the WTO's work, in particular, in terms of the organisation's reform.

Background Information

The EU Foreign Affairs Council in its Trade configuration addresses issues concerning the EU's trade relations with third countries, including trade in goods and services, the commercial side of intellectual property rights, aspects of international public procurement and foreign direct investment rules. Meetings are chaired by the minister responsible for trade of the country holding the Presidency of the Council of the EU.

The 13th WTO Ministerial Conference took place from 26 February to 1 March 2024 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.

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NATO debating whether to let Ukraine strike inside Russia as Kiev begging for long-range missiles

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 May 2024 11:24 AM

Member states of the US-led NATO may decide to let Ukraine strike inside Russia with Western-donated arms, as Kiev is begging for long-range missiles from its Western allies.

NATO foreign ministers on Thursday gathered in the Czech capital of Prague primarily to hammer out a package of support for the ex-Soviet republic at the military alliance's summit in the United States in July.

However, the two-day Prague meeting is haunted by the tough question of whether to remove restrictions stopping Kiev from using Western weapons, notably long-range missiles, to strike inside Russia, as calls are growing to allow Ukraine to hit Russia to hamper Moscow's advances.

Kiev has been begging its Western backers - the US in particular - to gain permission to use the longer-range weaponry it has been supplied by Washington and its allies to strike targets inside Russia.

The Western alliance, however, has so far been reluctant to grant such permission out of fear of retaliation from Moscow, anticipating that such escalations could drag NATO member states closer to direct conflict with the Russian Federation.

The US and Germany have so far opposed striking over the border, but NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg has time and again said that it was time for members to reconsider those limits, arguing that such restrictions hamper Ukraine's ability to purportedly defend itself.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has hinted that the restrictions strategy could change.

On Tuesday, French President Emmanuel Macron also said Ukraine should be allowed to "neutralize" bases in Russia used to launch strikes.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has already strongly warned against such a move by NATO, stressing that there would be "serious consequences" if Western countries give approval to Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly asked the West, particularly the US, for long-range missiles and advanced fighter jets to challenge Russia's air superiority and compensate for failures on the ground.

"They can fire any weapons from their territory at ours. This is the biggest advantage that Russia has. We can't do anything to their systems, which are located on the territory of Russia, with Western weapons," he said earlier this month.

Since late last year, Russia has been making gradual advances and has seen larger gains along the northeastern border in an operation that began on May 10 in the Kharkiv region.

Suffering from manpower shortages, Kiev has just passed a mobilization law to boost the forces' morale, according to a rare acknowledgment from Zelensky, as Ukrainian fighters are increasingly exhausted and angry at the lack of rotation.

Russia has repeatedly warned that the conflict in Ukraine could be prolonged due to the support of Western countries, on top of them the US, for Kiev.

Back in February, Putin stressed that certain Western countries are risking triggering a nuclear war by deploying boots in eastern Ukraine, warning Moscow could strike Western targets.

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Lavrov says China could arrange Ukraine peace conference as Switzerland plans to host high-level talks

Iran Press TV

Thursday, 30 May 2024 6:56 AM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says China could arrange a Russia-Ukraine peace conference, as Switzerland plans to host a high-level conference in mid-June at the request of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Lavrov said in an interview with RIA news agency on Thursday that China could arrange the Russia-Ukraine peace conference, as part of Beijing's initiatives to resolve the Ukrainian crisis.

"We share (China's) position that the root causes of the conflict need to be addressed in the first place and legal interests of all parties need to be protected, with subsequent agreements based on the principle of equal and indivisible security," Lavrov said.

"Let me underscore again, this entails respecting realities on the ground, which reflect the will of people living there," he added.

Moscow insists on talks with a precondition that Kiev and the Western countries recognize its territorial gains in Ukraine. However, Kiev has firmly declined such propositions.

Lavrov further criticized the United States for supporting Ukraine, accusing Washington of being complicit in Kiev's actions.

This comes as Kiev is preparing for talks hosted by Switzerland next month purportedly aimed at unifying international opinion on how to end the war. Zelensky, who has proposed the summit, has said Putin should not attend the talks.

Ukraine and Switzerland are pushing for the participation of Russian allies, such as China, but Moscow has dismissed the talks as lacking credibility without its presence.

In his remarks, Lavrov also accused the US policy in West Asia, saying it is "fanning the flames of conflict" in the region.

In mid-May, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping agreed to further deepen their "strategic partnership," rebuking the US for posing threats to their countries.

China, a major market for the Russian military, and Russia have significantly strengthened their economic cooperation and diplomatic ties in recent years, with their strategic partnership growing even closer following the Ukraine conflict.

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 February 2022.

Recently, Putin has warned that NATO members in Europe are playing with fire by proposing to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons to strike deep inside Russia.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said on Monday that Ukraine will receive US-made F-16 fighter jets "very soon" but some half of its desperately needed foreign military aid is arriving late.

The country has for months been repeatedly asking the West to provide it with more military hardware, long-range missiles and advanced warplanes.

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Stoltenberg Floats Talks On Lifting Of Weapons Restrictions As NATO Meets In Prague

By RFE/RL May 30, 2024

PRAGUE -- Ukraine can prevail in its battle to repel Russian forces with the "robust support" of its allies, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said, as foreign ministers from the military alliance's 32 member countries gathered in Prague to discuss a fresh military aid framework for Kyiv.

The NATO gathering in the Czech capital, which is being attended by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will discuss an aid package for Ukraine that would be presented at NATO's summit in Washington in July.

Speaking ahead of the meeting on May 30, Stoltenberg said it was time for the countries supplying military aid to Kyiv to discuss restrictions placed on Kyiv more than two years ago when Moscow first launched its full-scale invasion.

In recent months, Russia has launched withering air and ground assaults against Ukraine, which has struggled with ammunition shortages. Kyiv has pleaded for an acceleration of deliveries of ammunition and also has asked to be allowed to use longer-range weapons -- which came with restrictions on their usage into Russian territory -- to their full extent.

"Allies are delivering many different types of military support to Ukraine and some of them have imposed some restrictions on the use of these weapons.... These are national decisions," Stoltenberg said in a speech delivered in Prague.

"But I think that in light of how this war has evolved...the time has come to consider some of these restrictions, to enable the Ukrainians to really defend themselves."

Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braze told RFE/RL in an interview that Latvia has never imposed limitations on any of the weapons it has supplied to Ukraine and that Riga supports Ukraine's right to use weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory.

She emphasized that Kyiv needs a variety of weapons and should receive them from its allies more consistently, adding that there are "things that are being supplied without being spoken about publicly."

Blinken, who arrived in Prague after a trip to Moldova, immediately held talks with his Czech counterpart, Jan Liptovsky, on the issue of combating Russian disinformation as Moscow tries to drive a wedge between allies supporting Ukraine.

The top U.S. diplomat called Moscow's use of misinformation and disinformation "poison" and signed an agreement with the Czechs to combat it.

Blinken also visited a Czech military base, where armored vehicles that Prague is sending to Kyiv were on display, and was informed about Prague's drive to supply Ukraine with 1 million rounds of ammunition by the end of the year.

"We know that a major front in the competition that we have, the adversarial relationship that we have, notably with Russia, is on the information front," Blinken said.

During the ministers' meeting, talks are scheduled on a plan presented by Stoltenberg in April on a framework that would transfer responsibility for military and civilian aid for Ukraine from an informal, U.S.-led group to the formal structures of the alliance.

NATO is currently not officially offering lethal military supplies to Kyiv. Individual NATO member states have been channeling supplies through the Ukraine Contact Group (UCG), an initiative chaired by the United States known informally as the Ramstein Group.

The ministers are also likely debate whether to allow Kyiv to use Western-provided weapons to strike targets inside Russia. The United States and Germany have been opposed to allowing such a move, while Britain and France have been in favor.

Stoltenberg and the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, have also voiced their approval of allowing Ukraine to use Western arms to hit military objectives on Russian territory under certain conditions.

As the two-day informal meeting of the alliance is set to kick off in Prague, Russia launched a large-scale attack early on May 30 that targeted military and civilian infrastructure in nine Ukrainian regions, causing casualties and damage.

In the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Russian missiles struck two locations, wounding seven people, six of them women, regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov reported.

"A two-story administrative building was hit, resulting in partial destruction, followed by a fire. Six women and one man received minor injuries," Synyehubov said.

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, is located just 35 kilometers from the Russian border and has been repeatedly pounded by Moscow's artillery and air strikes over the past several weeks as Ukraine's depleted air defenses and ammunition face increasing difficulties in repelling such attacks.

Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov earlier said critical infrastructure, including a gas pipeline, was damaged in the strikes, which also triggered a fire.

Separately, the Ukrainian Air Force said it shot down all 32 drones and seven of the 19 cruise missiles launched by Russia.

The missiles and drones were shot down over the Khmelnytskiy, Dnipropetrovsk, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhya, Odesa, Kherson, Kyiv, and Vinnytsya regions, it said.

Separately, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR) said its naval drones sank two Russian "Tunets" boats in Crimea.

"On May 30, HUR's special unit Group 13, with the help of Ukrainian Magura V5 maritime attack drones, once again successfully attacked the ship depot of the aggressor state of Russia in the temporarily occupied Crimea," HUR said in a statement, adding that Russian troops used several attack helicopters in an unsuccessful attempt to repel the attack.

The Tunets is an 8.8-meter-long and 2.5-meter-wide diesel boat mainly used by Russian border guards.

With reporting by Rikard Jozwiak in Prague

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-drone- shelling-kharkiv/32971678.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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Statement by Russian Defence Ministry

30.05.2024

Over the past night, a number of attempts of the Kiev regime to launch terrorist attacks using U.S. ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, and uncrewed motorboats against facilities in the Russian Federation have been thwarted.

Eight operational-tactical missiles were shot down by alerted air defence systems over the waters of the Azov Sea and eight UAVs were intercepted over the waters of the Black Sea off the Crimean Peninsula.

In addition, two uncrewed surface vehicles heading toward Crimean Peninsula have been neutralised by fire systems on duty in the Black Sea waters.

Department for Media Affairs and Information

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Macron Seeks to Form EU Coalition for Sending Military Instructors to Ukraine - Reports

Sputnik News

20240530

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - French President Emmanuel Macron is seeking to establish a European coalition for sending military instructors to Ukraine, French newspaper Le Monde reported on Thursday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

The French authorities are to conduct consultations on organizing such a coalition, the newspaper reported, adding that the decision might be announced during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to France scheduled from June 6-7. The plan presupposes first sending several dozens military specialists to Ukraine to assess the needs of the country's forces, which would be followed by sending a mission of several hundred personnel, the news outlet reported.

The issue was reportedly discussed between Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday on the margins of the Franco-German Councils of Ministers meeting in Berlin. Earlier in May, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said that Vilnius was ready to send military instructors to Ukraine as part of a coalition led by France.

Following a Paris-hosted conference on Ukraine held on February 26, Macron said Western leaders had discussed the possibility of sending troops to Ukraine and, although no consensus had been reached in this regard, nothing could be ruled out. Some EU countries opposed such plans.

Western countries have been providing massive military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it would lead to further escalation of the conflict.

A Sputnik

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Ukraine Loses Up to 445 Soldiers in Fights With Russia's Battlegroup Zapad - MoD

Sputnik News

20240530

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine lost up to 445 soldiers in the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) and the Kharkov region in battles with Russia's Battlegroup Zapad over the past 24 hours, the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) said on Thursday.

"The Ukrainian armed forces lost up to 445 military personnel, two infantry fighting vehicles and three vehicles in battles with Battlegroup Zapad," the MoD said in a statement, adding that the group repelled three counterattacks in the LPR and the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR).

Russia's Battlegroup Sever repelled two counterattacks in the Kharkov region and Kiev lost up to 225 soldiers, the statement read.

Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr repelled six counterattacks in the DPR and Kiev lost up to 335 soldiers, while Battlegroup Yug improved its tactical positions and Ukraine lost over 305 soldiers. In battles with Battlegroup Vostok, Kiev lost up to 145 soldiers.

Additionally, the forces of Russia's Black Sea Fleet destroyed four Ukrainian unmanned boats in the northwestern part of the Black Sea, the ministry added.

A Sputnik

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Italy's Meloni Says Better to Boost Ukrainian Defenses Than to Allow Strikes Into Russia

Sputnik News

20240530

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni argued in an interview out Thursday that bolstering Ukrainian air defenses was preferable to allowing strikes deep into Russian territory.

"It is better to strengthen the ability to equip Ukraine with effective air defense systems ... This allows us to protect Ukraine's civilian population without the situation getting out of hand," she told Corriere della Sera.

The right-wing politician said that was being achieved with the help of Italian-donated SAMP/T air defense systems.

Meloni called for caution after NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg urged the allies to let Ukraine use longer-range Western weapons against targets in Russia. He said some of the member states were ready to reconsider those limits.

Russia called the move reckless, warning that it could lead to a direct military confrontation between Russia and the West. The Kremlin spokesman described Stoltenberg's proposal as provocative, saying that the Russian military was not sitting idle.

A Sputnik

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NATO States Deliberately Entering New Round of Creating Tensions Around Ukraine - Kremlin

Sputnik News

20240530

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - NATO countries and especially the United States have been deliberately escalating tension around the Ukrainian conflict in recent days, this is provoking a new round of tension, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.

"NATO member states, especially the United States, and other European capitals in recent days and weeks have entered a new round of escalating tension. They are doing this deliberately, we hear many belligerent statements. This is nothing more than provoking a new level of tension," Peskov told reporters.

NATO countries are provoking Ukraine to continue the senseless war with Russia, the official said, adding that they intend to continue the war with Russia and this will have consequences.

The damage will ultimately be caused to the countries that have taken the path of escalating tensions on the Ukrainian track, the spokesman added.

A Sputnik

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Ukraine Can Use Danish F-16 to Hit Targets in Russia - Danish Foreign Minister

Sputnik News

20240530

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukraine can use F-16 fighter jets supplied by Denmark to hit targets on the Russian territory, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Thursday.

"The short answer is yes. And this is not a new position. It is a part of the donation. When we have discussed that with our foreign affairs committee in the Danish parliament, we have made it clear from the very outset that it is a part of self-defense to possibly also attack military installation in the aggressor's territory," Rasmussen told reporters ahead of meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council on trade and the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council.

Earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia will consider the supply of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine a deliberate signal action by NATO in the nuclear sphere. At the same time, the supply of F-16 fighters would not change the situation on the line of contact in any way, the minister added.

On Monday, Russian Foreign Ministry said that Russia will treat F-16 fighter jets operated by Ukraine as nuclear-capable assets.

A Sputnik

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White House Edges Closer to Allowing Ukraine to Strike Russia With US Weapons - Reports

Sputnik News

20240530

Svetlana Ekimenko

The push by some NATO allies to untie Zelensky's hands to strike targets on Russian territory comes on the back of panicky assessments of Ukraine's woeful battlefield situation. Such talk in the West reflects desperation and realization that they will not achieve their goals by the "usual honest means," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

The Biden administration is edging closer to lifting restrictions on Ukraine striking Russian territory with US-supplied weapons, Politico reported.

The issue is purportedly "under consideration" as Russia advances on the battlefield, leaving Ukraine's Armed Forces facing manpower and hardware losses.

No final decision has been made, the publication cited administration officials as saying, which explains why both US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby have been insisting that no such authorization has yet been given. Chances are that the Biden administration will continue to restrict the Kiev regime's ability to strike Russian targets, the report added.

Any possible rethink of the US policy would come amid growing pressure from the Democrats, allies, and Kiev, the publication stated. Ukraine has been complaining that the US restrictions "significantly reduce the effectiveness of partners' assistance and neutralize the efforts made," as per an internal document obtained by Politico.

A succession of other outlets have also reported that the White House was mulling reversing its ban.

Biden's national security aides are in a "very brisk process" to make a "formal recommendation" to the president regarding the risk such a policy change would entail, The New York Times said.

Some unnamed advisors claimed a reversal of Biden's position was "inevitable," albeit with caveats. Kiev would likely have to limit strikes to military targets just inside Russia's borders. The ban on using US weapons to strike deep inside Russian territory, or at critical infrastructure, would probably remain, the outlet said.

Meanwhile, the US is concerned over recent Ukrainian attempts to carry out drone strikes "against Russia's ballistic missile early-warning sites," The Washington Post cited an American official as saying.

These sites are "sensitive locations because Russia could perceive that its strategic deterrent capabilities are being targeted, which could undermine Russia's ability to maintain nuclear deterrence against the United States," the official said, adding that Washington has conveyed its concerns to Kiev.

In public, US officials like Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Council spokesman John Kirby have maintained a degree of ambiguity, claiming that there have not been any changes in the policy. The US has not encouraged Kiev to strike outside of Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia, Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters in Moldova on Wednesday, adding that Ukraine has to make its own decisions. He also said that the Biden administration's approach toward the Ukraine conflict "has been to adapt as the conditions have changed, as the battlefield has changed, as what Russia does has changed."

"We've adapted and adjusted, too, and we'll continue to do that," he said.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby also stated that there's "no change" in the current policy that says Ukraine cannot use US-supplied weapons to strike inside Russian territory.

Western powers have been split on the issue of untying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's hands and letting the Kiev regime strike deep into Russia. Last week, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged the bloc's members who have supplied weapons to Ukraine to stop barring Kiev from using these weapons to attack Russia. He was supported by hawkish officials like Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, and Estonia's Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, but there has been pushback against the idea as well. Italy's government has called for efforts to "work for peace and lower the tone."

On the home front, the Biden administration is also under pressure. Sixty former US officials and scholars sent a letter to President Joe Biden on Wednesday demanding that he lift the existing restrictions amid the deteriorating situation on the battlefield for Ukrainian forces in the Kharkov region. The signatories included former US Special Representative for Ukraine Negotiations Kurt Volker, former US Army Europe Commanding General Ben Hodges, former Supreme Allied Commander Europe Philip Breedlove, and former US ambassadors to Russia and Ukraine.

If the Biden administration were to flip-flop on the matter of the ban, it would hardly be a "first." Suffice it to recall how the administration changed its tune on other Ukraine policies, namely sending depleted uranium ammunition, cluster bombs, and long-range missiles. The discreet delivery of Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles to Ukraine in March was confirmed by a Defense Department spokesperson to Sputnik last month.

Moscow has repeatedly warned that Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory using Western-supplied military hardware could lead to direct conflict with NATO. In response to the debate on the issue from Washington and its NATO allies, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that the US-led military bloc was toying with military rhetoric, raising the degree of escalation and plunging into what he called a warlike "ecstasy."

"As I understand it, these conversations reflect, in a sense, desperation and a realization that by the usual honest means that apply in international law even in times of hostilities, they will not achieve their goal. It feels like agony," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Russian media.

A Sputnik

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Lavrov: Russia Sees NATO's Plans to Supply F-16s to Ukraine as Signal in Nuclear Sphere

Sputnik News

20240530

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia considers the idea of a hypothetical convening of a peaceful international conference on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict with the participation of both Moscow and Kiev as a possible continuation of China's efforts to create conditions for resolving this crisis, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told Sputnik.

"As for the idea of convening an international peace conference in a timely manner, which would ensure the equal participation of Russia and Ukraine and the discussion of all available peace initiatives, we regard it as a continuation of Beijing's efforts to create conditions for resolving the Ukrainian crisis. We share the position that, first of all, it is necessary to eliminate its root causes, ensure the legitimate interests of all parties," Lavrov said.

Future agreements on the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict must be based on the principle of equal and indivisible security, the minister added.

Lavrov also noted that Russia believes the US has become an accomplice to Kiev's crimes, when it comes to Ukraine's missile strikes on Russian cities.

"In the US national security strategy, Russia is called an immediate threat. The US and NATO explicitly say that their goal is to inflict a 'strategic defeat' on our country. In this context, the fate of the civilian population of Russian cities is not of interest to the White House, which has become an accomplice to the crimes of the Kiev regime," Lavrov said.

The United States is actually exacerbating the conflict in the Middle East by publicly declaring its commitment to a just solution to the Palestinian problem, Russian Foreign Minister added.

"The Americans continue to publicly speak about their commitment to a just solution to the Palestinian problem. At the same time, in practice, they plentifully add oil to the flame of the armed confrontation," Lavrov stated.

Russia Sees NATO's Plans to Supply F-16s to Kiev as Signal in Nuclear Sphere

The Russian Foreign Minister further indicated that Russia will consider the supply of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine a deliberate signal action by NATO in the nuclear sphere.

"F-16 fighter jets have long been the main means of delivery in the framework of the so-called NATO joint nuclear missions. Therefore, we cannot but consider the supply of these systems to the Kiev regime as a deliberate signal action by NATO in the nuclear sphere. They are trying to make it clear to us that the US and NATO are ready for literally anything in Ukraine," Lavrov said.

At the same time, the supply of F-16 fighters would not change the situation on the line of contact in any way, the minister added.

"These jets will be destroyed, as well as other types of weapons supplied by NATO countries to Ukraine," Lavrov said.

He also stated that the drills on the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons of Russian and Belarus should talk sense into western opponents about the consequences of escalation.

"We hope that the Russian-Belarusian drills held these days to practice the use of non-strategic nuclear weapons will bring our opponents to reason, reminding them of the catastrophic consequences of further progress of nuclear escalation," Lavrov said.

On Monday, the Belarusian Defense Ministry said that Belarusian and Russian air forces are conducting joint tactical flight drills on May 27-31.

Russia, China Stress Need to Increase Bilateral, Multilateral Defense Cooperation

Russia and China agree on the importance of increasing defense cooperation, not only on a bilateral basis but also in multilateral formats, Sergey Lavrov said.

"We share the opinion on the importance of increasing defense cooperation not only on a bilateral basis but also within the framework of multilateral formats. This understanding is set out in a joint statement signed following the visit of Russian President [Vladimir] Putin to China. Specifically, we are talking about expanding the scale of joint drills and combat training, conducting sea and air patrols, and developing the potential for joint response," Lavrov said.

The cooperation between Beijing and Moscow is not aimed against any third country, the minister said.

"Military cooperation with China is based on a high level of mutual trust. Russian-Chinese cooperation is aimed at strengthening international security and is carried out in accordance with the norms of international law. The combination of our efforts is not aimed against third countries. We and our Chinese friends are forced to take into account the negative military and political trends in the Asia-Pacific region and take measures to mitigate their consequences," Lavrov said.

Russia May Take Steps in Nuclear Deterrence If US Deploys Missiles in Europe, APAC

Russia, in addition to abandoning its unilateral moratorium on the deployment of shorter- and intermediate-range missiles, may take measures in nuclear deterrence if the United States deploys such missiles in Europe or the Asia-Pacific region (APAC), but the decision is up to Russian President Vladimir Putin, Lavrov said.

"The implementation by the Americans of plans to deploy ground-based shorter- and intermediate-range missiles will not be left without our response. In particular, in this case, the abandonment of unilateral self-restrictions introduced by Russia after the US withdrew from the INF Treaty [the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty] will be inevitable. We do not rule out additional measures in the area of nuclear deterrence: after all, US forward-deployed missiles will be able to hit command posts and deployment sites of our nuclear forces. Decisions in this regard are within the competence of the president of the Russian Federation," Lavrov said.

The deployment of US ground-based shorter- and medium-range missiles in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region "will create a serious security challenge for Russia," the minister said.

"And, by the way, this is a challenge not only for us. The joint statement following Russian President Putin's recent visit to China said that such destabilizing steps by the US pose a direct threat to both our country and China. That is why we, together with our Chinese counterparts, agreed to step up cooperation to counter Washington's irresponsible behavior that undermines international stability," Lavrov said.

Sooner or Later People That Care About Interests of Nation Will Appear in Ukraine, Lavrov Believes

Sooner or later such people will appear in Kiev that care for the interests of the nation, but it is currently difficult to imagine a dialogue on peace, taking into account the rule of the "war party" in Kiev, Sergey Lavrov said.

"Let us hope that sooner or later political forces will appear in Ukraine that care about the interests of the people. In the meantime, there is no other option but to continue the special military operation until its goals are achieved," Lavrov said.

Now, it is difficult to imagine a dialogue on peace, taking into account the rule of the "war party" in Kiev, the minister said.

"The 'war party' rules in Kiev, and it seeks ... to defeat Russia 'on the battlefield.' In such conditions, it is difficult to imagine a dialogue about peace," Lavrov said.

Russia Remains Open to Negotiations on Ukraine, But on Peace, Not Just Truce

Moscow remains open to negotiations on Ukraine, but it is about reaching peace, not a truce, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

"We have repeatedly said, including at the highest level, that Russia remains open to negotiations," Lavrov said, adding "however, it must be clearly understood that we are talking about peace, not a truce."

Currently, it makes no sense to provide a pause in the conflict, which Kiev uses only to regroup and rearm the troops, the minister added.

"There is no point in giving the enemy a pause, which he once again uses to regroup and rearm," Lavrov said.

Lavrov Calls Expressing Position Directly to OSCE Sole Goal of Russia's Participation

The only purpose of Russia's current participation in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) is the possibility of expressing our position to other participants, Lavrov said.

"Perhaps the only goal of Russia's participation in the OSCE remains the opportunity to bring our position on topical issues directly before the other 56 participants, including those Western states that have 'frozen' dialogue with us in other formats," Lavrov said.

The consensus rule existing in the organization allows Russia to block proposals from unfriendly countries that do not suit Moscow, the minister added.

A Sputnik

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Russia's bombardment of Kharkiv is having an appalling impact on the region's civilians: UK statement to the OSCE

Ambassador Holland condemns Russia's disregard for Kharkiv's civilian population as it bombards residential areas and other non-military targets in the region.

30 May 2024

Thank you, Madam Chair. Russia's renewed offensive in Ukraine's Kharkiv oblast has had a devastating impact on civilians. According to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, the escalation in hostilities in the north-eastern part of the country has resulted in terrifying conditions. In complete disregard for the civilian population, Russian forces have bombarded frontline positions, pulverised residential areas, and littered whole communities with unexploded ordnance and mines. The World Health Organisation estimates that 14,000 people in Kharkiv Oblast have been displaced, with the remaining 189,000 at significant risk.

According to the Kharkiv regional police, Russian forces have prevented some civilians from evacuating the besieged town of Vovchansk. They report that at least one civilian was killed in an extrajudicial execution for trying to escape. Additionally, on 21 May, drone images have surfaced showing what appears to be several extrajudicial executions of civilians in Vovchansk. Madam Chair, these reports are an incredibly concerning snapshot of the situation civilians in this region face every day. As we know, wilful killing is a war crime, and those responsible must be held to account.

Last weekend, Russia struck a home improvement store in Kharkiv, killing 18 people, including two children, and injuring several others. Search operations continue as the police attempt to identify remains amongst the ashes. An image of an eight-year-old boy taking a DNA test to identify his deceased father highlights the devastation Russia has inflicted upon innocent civilians. This store was not a military target. It was a civilian shop attacked during its busiest period of the week.

It is clear that Russian strikes extend beyond military targets. Last week, on the day that our Permanent Council last met, Russia struck a printing house in Kharkiv, killing civilians who were working in the building. The printing house, which has been turned to rubble, produced a third of Ukraine's books and 10% of its newspapers. It was not making tanks or ammunition. It represented something that Russia fears far more: a free media; facts and ideas that do not conform with the Kremlin's warped view of reality; Ukrainian identity, culture and language.

But the people of Ukraine refuse to submit to Russian aggression. Ukrainian forces are stabilising the situation and disrupting the tempo of Russia's operations in the region. Despite Russia's aggressive tactics, 60% of Vovchansk remains under Ukrainian control, and Russian forces are facing significant casualties. Like many in this room, the UK will continue to stand resolutely by Ukraine's side, unwavering in our commitment to counter Russian aggression and to stand up for freedom.

Madam Chair, the UK welcome Switzerland's "Summit on Peace for Ukraine" scheduled for 15-16 June. The summit will build international consensus around the principles that must underpin a just and lasting peace. The UK will attend at a high-level and we encourage others to do the same. Thank you.

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The Office of the President Hosted a Meeting with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury

President of Ukraine

30 May 2024 - 13:42

Deputy Head of the Office of the President Iryna Mudra and Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President Vladyslav Vlasiuk met with U.S. Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo. The parties discussed U.S. support for Ukraine, steps to strengthen sanctions against Russia, and implementation of reforms.

The Deputy Head of the Presidential Office expressed hope that the decision of the U.S. Congress to use frozen Russian assets for the benefit of Ukraine would set an example for other countries.

"First of all, we want these funds to be reserved as a source of compensation for the victims of the war. And secondly, of course, for the other budgetary needs of Ukraine," Iryna Mudra said.

During the meeting, the parties discussed in detail the communication with the G7 partners on the legal justification of penalties and the mechanisms of transfer of funds to Ukraine, in particular through the instruments of the World Bank.

Special attention was paid to the strengthening of sanctions against Russia as well as individuals and legal entities supporting its aggression. Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Advisor to the Head of the Office of the President, explained in detail how Russia gains access to technologies and components that allow it to continue producing weapons.

Wally Adeyemo stressed that the Russian economy has been transformed into a war economy and noted that the work of the Russian military-industrial complex would be impossible without the help of China. The United States insists that China must choose between Russia and the free world.

He also stated that the United States plans to expand the imposition of sanctions on financial institutions.

Wally Adeyemo assured that the USA believes in the existence of legal grounds for confiscating Russian assets in favor of Ukraine. The United States intends to begin work on their unblocking as soon as possible.

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Doctoral students flock to job fair in NE China's Shenyang

People's Daily Online) 14:20, May 31, 2024

The China Industrial Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province, hosted a job fair for doctoral students on May 30, marking the second edition of the event held by the city.

The launch ceremony of the job fair at the China Industrial Museum in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province. (People's Daily Online/Qiu Yuzhe)

The event saw a significant increase in participation, with 6,860 doctoral students attending, a fivefold increase from the previous year. The doctoral students came from 192 cities nationwide, including 1,326 from Beijing. The job fair also attracted 426 doctoral students from over 200 foreign universities, such as the University of Cambridge and New York University.

The job fair showcased 8,200 job vacancies for doctoral students, highlighting the city's efforts to attract talented individuals.

Shenyang, along with many other cities, is introducing policies to attract talent.

Doctoral students inquire about job opportunities at the job fair. (People's Daily Online/Qiu Yuzhe)

The city has implemented various policies to assist outstanding talents, including doctoral students, throughout the entire employment process.

Newly graduated doctoral students who secure employment in companies or public institutions in Shenyang can receive a subsidy of 160,000 yuan ($22,100).

This subsidy includes a monthly allowance of 2,500 yuan for three years. Additionally, the city provides a first-time home purchase subsidy of 70,000 yuan. For those with entrepreneurial aspirations, Shenyang offers a loan of 4 million yuan with interest subsidies.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun)
Washington to let Kyiv use US-supplied weapons for strikes in Russia near Kharkiv

By VOA News May 30, 2024

The United States announced Thursday that it has given permission for Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied weapons to target Russia, but only near Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city.

The decision marks a major policy change. Until this development, President Joe Biden refused to permit Ukraine to use American weapons for assaults inside Russian territory.

The Ukrainian government began asking the United States to change the policy after Russia launched an offensive on Kharkiv earlier this month. The northeastern city is about 30 kilometers from the Russian border.

The policy of not allowing long-range strikes inside Russia with U.S.-supplied weapons, however, remains unchanged.

Kharkiv was the site of yet another attack around midnight on Thursday, when Russian forces shelled a five-story apartment building in the city. At least three people were killed and 16 others injured, regional authorities said.

At least two children were among those injured in the assault, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

At least three floors of the five-story building were destroyed. Syniehubov said residents might be trapped beneath the rubble.

Also on Thursday, Ukraine's military said that Russian forces attacked areas across Ukraine overnight with 19 missiles and 32 aerial drones, while Russia reported Ukrainian aerial and naval drone attacks.

The Ukrainian air force said the country's air defenses shot down all 32 of the drones, along with seven of the missiles.

Seven people were wounded in the air attacks in Kharkiv, regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov said. One man in a nearby village was killed, as was another in southern Kherson.

Serhiy Lysak, governor of the Dnipropetrovsk region in central Ukraine, said seven of the drones were shot down there, with debris causing damage to a house and power lines.

Missile and drone intercepts also took place over the Cherkasy, Kherson, Khmelnytskyi, Kirovohrad, Kyiv, Odesa, Vinnytsia and Zaporizhzhia regions.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's military intelligence service said Thursday its special forces used underwater drones to destroy two Russian patrol boats in the Black Sea, off the Russian-annexed Crimean Peninsula.

Russia's defense ministry said Thursday it destroyed five Ukrainian aerial drones over the southwestern region of Krasnodar.

Russian air defenses also shot down eight tactical missiles over the Sea of Azov and eight drones near the Russia-occupied Crimean Peninsula. Two Ukrainian naval drones heading toward Crimea were destroyed in the Black Sea, the Russian defense ministry said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video message late Wednesday that nearly 100 countries and international organizations are set to take part in a peace conference being held in mid-June in Switzerland.

Zelenskyy said his government has found support for the effort despite what he described as Russian attempts to derail the meeting.

"Russia is no longer in a position to disrupt the summit, although it is trying very hard to do so," Zelenskyy said. "It is putting pressure on leaders, openly threatening various states with destabilization. And this is one of the consequences of the world giving the terrorist state too much time."

Russia has not been invited to participate in the conference.

Ukraine is demanding Russia fully withdraw from Ukrainian territory before engaging in negotiations, while Russia has called for Ukraine to recognize its territorial gains.

NATO foreign ministers are expected to discuss the situation in Ukraine as they meet Thursday and Friday in Prague ahead of the U.S.-hosted NATO summit in July.

Some information for this report came from Reuters, The Associated Press and Agence France-Presse.

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MINNETONKA, Minn., May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Scott Maskin, Interim CEO of Pineapple Energy Inc. (Pineapple or the Company), has reaffirmed the Boards commitment to having Eric Ingvaldson continue to serve as the Companys Chief Financial Officer. In addition, the Board has appointed James Brennan, an experienced executive who has served as Pineapples Senior Vice President of Corporate Development since November 2022, as the Companys Chief Operating Officer.



"We are assembling a solid leadership team for the long-term," Maskin said. These two individuals possess the highest levels of integrity; work ethic and their skillsets are unmatched.

Ingvaldson, who has been Pineapples CFO since October 2022, has extensive experience in corporate financial management, specifically with publicly traded entities.

Eric Ingvaldson is an outstanding CFO with extensive experience, and we are lucky to have him on the team. Eric will continue to guide our business with fiscal responsibility and adds the stability necessary as we work to transition from what was to what can be, Maskin added.

I am happy to do my part in helping execute on the vision for Pineapples success, Ingvaldson said. While there is plenty of work to be done, as a team, we are focused on setting Pineapple on the right path going forward.

With Brennan as COO, Maskin expressed confidence in Brennans ability to streamline operations and leverage Pineapples internal assets and personnel to the fullest.

By having James Brennan take on additional corporate responsibilities and leveraging his extensive industry specific experience, he will raise the bar for all stakeholders, Maskin said. Jim is laser driven to deliver best in class process, people and results from our teams in both NY and Hawaii.

Prior to his roles with Pineapple, Brennan served as COO for SUNation Energy, a regional solar company based on Long Island, NY that was acquired by Pineapple in November 2022.

Pineapple is a great organization, and I am excited to help tackle the companys challenges head-on, Brennan said. Our seasoned leadership team is a huge asset to the organization, and I will work each day to apply industry best practices to Pineapples day-to-day operations.

The leadership changes are effective as of May 29, 2024.

About Pineapple Energy

Pineapple is focused on growing leading local and regional solar, storage, and energy services companies nationwide. Our vision is to power the energy transition through grass-roots growth of solar electricity paired with battery storage. Our portfolio of brands (SUNation Energy, Hawaii Energy Connection, E-Gear, Sungevity, and Horizon Solar Power) provide those within the Residential and Commercial sectors an end-to-end product offering spanning solar, battery storage, and grid services.

About SUNation Energy

SUNation Energy, a Pineapple Energy company, is the solar and energy expert trusted by over 9,000 homeowners, businesses and municipalities since 2003 for professionally installing the highest quality equipment with an exceptional customer experience. With offices in Ronkonkoma, NY and Tampa, FL, SUNation Energy offers the complete in-house sustainable energy experience including residential and commercial solar installation, community solar, roofing, backup battery storage, EV charging, and more. Their not-for-profit corporation, SUNation Cares, also provides the gift of free electricity for life to Veterans and their families. SUNation was recently recognized as NYSERDA Quality Solar Installer Platinum Status in 2024, one of five solar companies in New York to achieve platinum status and the only on Long Island.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements regarding future financial performance, future growth, and future opportunities. These statements are based on Pineapples current expectations or beliefs and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may vary materially from those expressed or implied by the statements here due to changes in economic, business, competitive or regulatory factors, and other risks and uncertainties, set forth in Pineapples filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. Pineapple does not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, except as required by law.

Contacts:

Scott Maskin

Interim Chief Executive Officer

+1 (631) 823-7131

smaskin@sunation.com

Pineapple Investor Relations

+1 (952) 996-1674

IR@pineappleenergy.com
Hazer and POSCO to develop a project pathway for the integration of Hazers hydrogen and graphite production technology into POSCOs steel manufacturing process.



MoU represents delivery of the next phase of Hazers scale-up strategy into key commercial markets with tier-1 partners.



Steel making is a carbon intensive industry, responsible for over 8% of global carbon emissions. Hazers technology is uniquely positioned to support the decarbonisation of this process.



PERTH, Australia , May 30, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hazer Group Ltd ("Hazer" or "the Company") (ASX: HZR) is pleased to advise it has signed a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with POSCO Steel (POSCO) to prepare a project pathway for the integration of Hazers technology into POSCOs low carbon steel.

POSCO, based in Pohang South Korea, is one of the worlds largest steel makers and has announced its plan to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. With POSCO Holdings in the lead, POSCO Group is seeking balanced growth across seven core businesses: steel, rechargeable battery materials, lithium/nickel, hydrogen, energy, construction/infrastructure and agri-bio. These businesses propel POSCO Groups evolution into a leading provider of eco-friendly future materials, net-zero steelmaker, future transportation architect, green energy pioneer, innovator of future housing and global food supplier.

Under the MOU, POSCO and Hazer will collaborate to develop a plan to integrate Hazers hydrogen production technology into POSCOs low-carbon steel production. POSCO and Hazer will also assess the application of Hazers low emissions graphite product in various parts of the steel making process, as well as a market investigation into the applications of Hazer graphite outside of steel.

This MOU follows an extensive period of due diligence conducted by POSCO on the Company, its proprietary methane pyrolysis technology to produce clean hydrogen and graphite, and initial technical discussions around the technology integration.

POSCOs Head of Technical Research Lab / Senior Executive Vice President, Dr. Seong-yeon Kim said: At POSCO we are incredibly focused on the reduction of emissions from the steel making process and have committed to reducing worksite emissions by 10% by 2030, 50% by 2040 and being 100% carbon neutral by 2050. We believe Hazers unique technology offers important benefits that enable us to achieve our Net Zero vision as set out in our 2050 Carbon Neutrality Roadmap.

Hazers CEO and MD Glenn Corrie said: I am delighted to begin this significant collaboration project with POSCO, one of the worlds largest and most competitive steelmakers, demonstrating how large and varied the commercial opportunities are for Hazer and its technology.

We identified the steelmaking industry as one of our key strategic and commercial targets for the Hazer Process given it is a notoriously hard to abate the sector. It is a great privilege and fantastic achievement to be working alongside such a large company that is dedicated to carbon neutrality.

This MOU will enable the next phase of our scale-up strategy into this key market with a significant company known for its sustainability focus and innovation. We look forward to our future in decarbonising the steel making industry and achieving commercial success with POSCO.

Steel making is a carbon intensive industry, responsible for over 8% of global carbon emissions. Hazers technology is uniquely positioned to support the decarbonisation of steel manufacturing using affordable, clean-hydrogen and Hazer Graphite production, using iron-ore as a process catalyst. Hazer continues to have ongoing discussions on the application of both hydrogen and graphite in the blast furnace and Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) / Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) steel making processes with leading steel makers worldwide.

The MOU has an initial term of 2 years. During this time, the parties have agreed to work collaboratively to develop plans to integrate Hazer technology into POSCOs steel manufacturing process and project development agreements. Each party is responsible for its own cost to meet the objectives under this MOU. Parties are permitted to develop similar projects independently.

This announcement is authorised for release by the Board of the Company.



For further information or investor enquiries, please contact:

Corporate Enquiries



Hazer Group

Email: contact@hazergroup.com.au

Phone: +61 8 9329 3358

Media enquiries



WE Communications  Ana Harrop

Email: anah@we-worldwide.com

Phone: +61 452 510 255



About Hazer Group Ltd

Hazer Group is an Australian technology company, driving global decarbonisation efforts with the commercialisation of the companys disruptive world-leading climate-tech. Hazers advanced technology enables the production of clean and economically competitive hydrogen and high-quality graphite, using a natural gas (or biogas) feedstock and iron-ore as the process catalyst.

Hazer Group Limited - Social Media Policy

Hazer Group Limited is committed to communicating with the investment community through all available channels. Whilst ASX remains the prime channel for market-sensitive news, investors and other interested parties are encouraged to follow Hazer on X (Twitter) (@hazergroupltd), LinkedIn, Facebook, and YouTube. Subscribe to HAZER NEWS ALERTS - visit our website at www.hazergroup.com.au and subscribe to receive HAZER NEWS ALERTS, our email alert service. HAZER NEWS ALERTS is the fastest way to receive breaking news about @hazergroupltd.

Forward-looking Statements

This announcement may contain certain "forward-looking statements" which may not have been based solely on historical facts but are based on the Company's current expectations about future events and results.

Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially to futures results expressed, projected, or implied by such forward looking statements.

The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly any revisions to any "forward-looking statements" to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this announcement, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under the applicable securities laws.
SEOUL, South Korea, May 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Premium Vegan Beauty brand dAlba has extended its contract with SEVENTEENs member HOSHI as its Asian Global Brand Ambassador.

dAlba, a brand that is showing explosive growth in global sales reached $200 Billion Sales in Korea & Overseas last year. Especially, dAlba has accelerated its business expansion into the Japanese Market by appointing HOSHI as its global ambassador in Korea & Japan. With HOSHIs global power, dAlbas brand awareness in Japan has been greatly enhanced reaching 10 billion Sales in Qoo10 & Rakuten, ranking #1 in key categories. In addition, dAlba achieved explosive sales expansion in the Southeast Asian market in 2023. Particularly, sales growth in Vietnam and Indonesia was outstanding and it is continuing to raise brand awareness in other Southeast Asian countries such as the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand and more.

dAlba's renewed contract with SEVENTEENs member HOSHI as its global ambassador for Asia, which will accelerate its business expansion across the region, not only in Korea, but also in Japan, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand.

CEO of dAlba Sungyeon Ban said, BMONUMENT Co Ltd. dAlba is a premium global brand, and the professional and artistic image of HOSHI, who is leading K-pop as a global phenomenon fits the vision & mission of the brand. Also, We are very happy to continue our precious relationship this year followed by last year. Please look forward to our various future collaborations with HOSHI.

Meanwhile, BMONUMENT Co., Ltd dAlba has been gaining momentum and rapid growth in global markets such as the U.S., Russia, Japan, and China, with overseas sales increased by 135% in 2023 compared to 2022.

Source: BMONUMENT

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d040d79e-1251-4072-a3d1-d3da25cef096
Mt Laurel Township, NJ, May 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RetireeFirst, a leading provider of Retiree Benefits Management, celebrated a significant milestone on May 30 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the 7,000 SQ FT expansion of its 39,000 SQ FT headquarters in Mt. Laurel, New Jersey. Distinguished guests included Governor Phil Murphy, Mayor Fozia Janjua of Mt. Laurel Township, Nikitas Moustakas, Esq., Deputy Mayor of Mt. Laurel Township, and Assemblyman Herb Conaway Jr.

John P. Dulczak, CEO of RetireeFirst, commented on the expansion, stating, This expansion is not only a testament to our growth but also a reflection of our commitment to creating an exceptional workplace. We treat our employees like family, cultivating a collaborative environment where everyone thrives. As New Jersey natives, we are deeply rooted in our community and proud to continue our journey here.

Founded in 2005, RetireeFirst has experienced remarkable growth. With over 215 full-time employees, 175 based in Mt. Laurel, this expansion increases the companys operational capacity. It provides office accommodations for approximately 50 additional jobs, thereby further cementing the company's dedication to strengthening the local economy.

I applaud RetireeFirst for their steadfast commitment to improving the lives of New Jerseys senior residents, and for staying true to their New Jersey roots by expanding their footprint in our state. This organization, born from the needs of the community, will continue to enrich our region through job creation and important services delivered to our retiree community, said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.

RetireeFirst serves over 375 group health plans and more than 325,000 retirees nationwide. In New Jersey alone, the company serves 23 clients representing over 11,000 retirees. Due to its dedication to retiree advocacy and compassionate service, RetireeFirst maintains a remarkable 99.9% client retention rate. Additionally, RetireeFirst consistently achieves world-class Net Promoter Scores (NPS), with over 94% of clients recommending the company for their Retiree Benefits Management needs.

Gian Ricchezza, Chief Business Officer at RetireeFirst, added, We show up every day driven by our mission to make meaningful impacts on the lives of retirees. The ribbon-cutting ceremony not only celebrated more jobs in New Jersey but also highlighted our dedication to providing exceptional service and fostering a positive work environment.

RetireeFirst has garnered recognition for several consecutive years by the Philadelphia Business Journals Best Places to Work Awards. The company was honored with a 2024 Gold Stevie Award in the Front-Line Customer Service Team of the Year category at the 18th annual Stevie Awards for Sales & Customer Service.

About RetireeFirst:

RetireeFirst is the premier Retiree Benefits Management provider, enhancing the experience and outcomes for group plan sponsors and their retirees. The company partners with all major national health carriers and hundreds of labor unions, public sector entities, higher education, and commercial organizations, and serves over 325,000 Medical and Pharmacy lives across all 50 states. Its unparalleled Retiree Advocacy Services creates a seamless benefits experience and connects members to programs to improve their health and wellness. RetireeFirst attained a HITRUST r2 certification for its Box and Salesforce platforms at its headquarters and data centers and has been awarded a full URAC Core Accreditation for its commitment to upholding federal regulatory requirements and improving business processes. Headquartered in Mount Laurel, NJ, with a recent expansion to include the RetireeFirst West facility in Scottsdale, AZ, the companys award-winning team and services have garnered industry acclaim. RF consistently achieves world-class Net Promoter Scores (NPS), is regularly recognized as one of the Philadelphia Business Journals Best Places to Work, and won a 2024 Gold Stevie Award in the Front-Line Customer Service Team of the Year category. Learn more about RetireeFirsts end-to-end solution, broker and consultant partnerships, and carrier programs at RetireeFirst.com. Follow us on LinkedIn for our latest updates.

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MONTREAL, May 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Polysleep, the innovative local company renowned for quality mattresses, is thrilled to announce a special partnership with Matelas Bonheur to assist Montrealers on Moving Day. You can find Polysleep mattresses in 18 Matelas Bonheur locations across Greater Montreal.



In a unique initiative, Polysleep will provide free moving boxes at the Matelas Bonheur location in Griffintown, where their mattresses are available to try out, helping ease the stress of moving for local residents.

On June 3rd, between 11 A.M. and 1 P.M., Polysleep and Matelas Bonheur invite the community to come and collect between 3-5 free moving boxes per person while supplies lasts.

This initiative is designed to facilitate a smoother transition during the busy moving period in Montreal.

Event Details:

Date: June 3, 2024

Time: 11 AM - 1 PM

Location: Matelas Bonheur, Griffintown: 233 Peel Montreal, QC H3C 2G6

Offer: 3-5 free moving boxes per person

Join us at Matelas Bonheur in Griffintown and take advantage of this helpful offer to ensure your moving day goes as smoothly as possible.

For more details about the Moving Day boxes initiative and future events, please follow us on our social media channels.

FREE Moving Day Boxes from Polysleep at Matelas Bonheur in Griffintown.

This collaboration between Polysleep and Matelas Bonheur not only highlights the synergy between two prominent local brands but also underscores their commitment to supporting the community. By providing essential moving supplies, Polysleep and Matelas Bonheur aim to make the often-hectic Moving Day a little more manageable for everyone involved.

About Polysleep

Polysleep is a leader in the mattress industry in Canada, dedicated to creating high-quality mattresses and innovative sleep accessories to enhance the quality of life for its customers. Founded on the principles of comfort, support, and durability, the Polysleep brand is known for its cutting-edge technology and commitment to excellence. To learn more about Polysleep, visit https://polysleep.ca/.

About Matelas Bonheur

Matelas Bonheur is a renowned Montreal-based and family-owned retailer that has been offering a wide range of locally made mattresses and sleep products since 1985. Their mission is clear: to provide the highest quality products and personalized advice for dreamy nights. To learn more about Matelas Bonheur, visit https://www.matelasbonheur.ca/.

Contact info:

Victoria Bakos

Public Relations Manager

victoria@polysleep.com

514.629-4044

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ceb7a04d-5c56-4f64-a0c3-341b6dcbbed6
CALGARY, Alberta, May 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ECO Canada, a leading organization dedicated to advancing environmental careers and the environmental workforce, has released its latest national research findings on "Green Goals and Great Opportunities: Canadas Environmental Labour Demand Forecast to 2033." This report sheds light on the current state of Canada's cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary environmental workforce, by providing a snapshot of employment and hiring needs to 2033.

The consequences of climate change are unprecedented for our population, the environment, and our economy. By supporting research and reports like the one from ECO Canada, we are working together to face the challenges of today and tomorrow. These findings in the environmental sector will help us to address labour shortages and to achieve Canadas goal of a net zero economy. - Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages.

This Canada environmental labour demand outlook provides valuable insights into both the environmental workforce today and its evolution throughout the next decade of employment for the country overall, by industry, by specialization, by occupation, and by region.

Report highlights:

A growing workforce: our outlook estimates that, over the next decade, the workforce will require 480,510 additional environmental workers across all industries.



Generating labour shortages: these job openings will lead to labour market shortages for certain occupations like management occupations, occupations requiring a university degree, a college diploma, or an apprenticeship.

Filling the retirement gap: one in five Canadian workers will be reaching retirement age within the next decade, with two-thirds of these job openings requiring post-secondary education or managerial expertise. The skill gaps resulting from the incoming wave of retirements are compounded by the workforce demands of the expanding environmental sector.

one in five Canadian workers will be reaching retirement age within the next decade, with two-thirds of these job openings requiring post-secondary education or managerial expertise. The skill gaps resulting from the incoming wave of retirements are compounded by the workforce demands of the expanding environmental sector. Workforce Diversity: while immigration will contribute to filling some of these gaps, engaging underrepresented groups in the Canadian workforce and providing access to adequate training will be crucial in ensuring that the skills of the environmental workforce are aligned with the available positions.

The data and insights from this report can help inform business, policy, program, and career decisions. It can help bust myths and reveal opportunities for industries, employers, government, communities, academia, and individuals. After all, environmental talent in every industry and discipline will be essential for Canada to reach a sustainable, prosperous, inclusive, and equitable future.

Download the full National report here.

Because the environmental labour needs can vary from one province to another considering specificities, ECO Canada has also released targeted environmental labour demand outlooks for the Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada provinces. These reports can be downloaded as follow:

These reports were funded by the Government of Canadas Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program.





The opinions and interpretations in the publication are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of Canada.

About ECO Canada:

ECO Canada is the steward of the Canadian environmental industry. From job creation and wage funding to training and labour market research  we champion the end-to-end career of an environmental professional. We aim to promote and drive responsible, sustainable economic growth within the industry while ensuring that environmental care and best practices are priorities. Over the past 30 years, we have forged academic partnerships, tools, and research to train and certify environmental job seekers and help fill the labour market.

We work alongside government, policymakers, academia, students, employers, professionals, industry, and international audiences to ensure we support Canada as a global leader in innovative workforce solutions and job creation. We remain the go-to source in the environmental labour market; our research provides unmatched statistics and analysis on the industry's economic and labour trends that identify workforce gaps.

For more information, contact:

Aaron Wilson

VP, Marketing & Sales

ECO Canada

media@eco.ca

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/583efa89-4882-4e30-a6f7-c9e4ef4d064c
Johnstown, PA, May 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. Marine Corps Installations Command (MCICOM) has awarded a competitively bid $37 million prime contract to Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) to ensure energy resilience in USMC headquarters, regions, and installations.

In this contract, CTC will support the Marine Corps in efforts to generate, distribute, and effectively manage reliable, resilient, and efficient energy infrastructure to allow the warfighter to meet continuous mission needs.

CTC is committed to finding innovative solutions to ensure that Marine Corps installations are ready when needed, said Edward J. Sheehan, Jr., CTC President and CEO. We are honored by the MCICOMs continued trust in our ability to help them achieve their energy resiliency goals.

CTC is working with subcontractors SEA, SKJ, and Barbaricum, who will provide additional technical, analytical, and operational services.

With our overall understanding of the USMCs energy security objectives, were well positioned to provide advisory support, said Susan Van Scoyoc, CTC Executive Director, Energy, Resilience & Sustainability Division. With our committed partnership to MCICOM, we intend to continue to deliver significant results and make meaningful progress.

Concurrent Technologies Corporation (CTC) is an independent, nonprofit, applied scientific research and development professional services organization. CTC collaborates with its technology transition affiliate, Enterprise Ventures Corporation, to provide transformative, full lifecycle solutions through research, development, test, and evaluation work. To best serve our clients needs, we offer the complete ability to fully design, develop, test, prototype and build. We deliver robust, technical, and innovative solutions that safeguard our national security, retain U.S. technological advantage, and ensure the primacy of American manufacturing. For more information about CTC, visit www.ctc.com.

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Toronto, May 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Greater Toronto Area, May 31, 2024  The Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) recognized excellence in the design, construction, marketing and sales of new homes in the GTA at its 2024 BILD Awards, held on May 30.

BILD presented 49 awards in the categories of architecture, design, marketing, people and sales, and in the prestigious Pinnacle categories. A group of 40 expert judges from across North America determined the winners from over 930 submitted entries.

The BILD Awards is one of the largest and most prestigious awards programs of its kind in North America, said Dave Wilkes, BILD President & CEO. This years finalists and winners exemplify outstanding innovation and showcase the excellence of the building industry in the Greater Toronto Area.

Alan Menkes, President High-Rise Developer for Menkes Developments, received BILDs Lifetime Achievement Award. It is the highest honour BILD can present to a member, recognizing those who have dedicated a lifetime to the association and the industry and demonstrated significant leadership and commitment to the greater good.

Mr. Menkes joined Menkes Development in 1976 and very quickly established himself as a respected, trusted and innovative member of the GTA Development and Home Building Community. During Menkes' tenure, Menkes Development has completed over 40,000 condominium units and the company is highly regarded today as one of the most trusted home builders in Toronto. A philanthropic leader, he serves on the Board of the University Health Network Foundation and is a member of the World Presidents Organization (WPO).

Brixen Developments was named Home Builder of the Year, Mid/High-Rise, while OPUS Homes received the title of Home Builder of the Year, Low-Rise. The Home Builder of the Year categories recognize builders who set the standard for the rest of the industry through their professionalism and dedication to excellence. A key component of the judging process is a customer satisfaction survey, which ensures that the end users experience is factored into the award criteria.

The winners of the additional Pinnacle Award categories include:

Best Advertising Campaign, Paid Media  Freed Hotel & Residences by Freed Developments and Gladstone Media Inc.

Best Best Mid-Rise Building Design  Lily At Crosstown by Aspen Ridge Homes

Best Community, Built  The Well by RioCan Living & Tridel

Best High-Rise Building Design and Best New Community, Planned/Under Development  Elm & Ledbury by Fitzrovia

Best International Project of the Year  Marylebone Square (London, UK) by Concord Adex/Pacific

Best Overall Marketing Campaign  Strata by Pureblink

Best Purpose-Built Rental  FourFifty The Well by RioCan Living

Green Builder of the Year, Low-Rise  Minto Communities

Green Builder of the Year, Mid/High-Rise  Tridel

Project of the Year, Low-Rise  The Heights of Harmony, Phase II by Minto Communities

Project of the Year, Mid/High-Rise  FourFifty The Well by RioCan Living

In addition, Elm & Ledbury by Fitzrovia received the Peoples Choice Award, which is voted by the public.

For a full list of BILD Awards winners, including the winners of the Marketing, People & Sales, and Architectural & Design awards, visit www.bildawards.com. .

With 1,000 member companies, BILD is the voice of the home building, residential and non-residential land development and professional renovation industries in the Greater Toronto Area. The building and renovation industry provides 256,000 jobs in the region and $39.3 billion in investment value. BILD is affiliated with the Ontario and Canadian Home Builders Associations.

-30-

For additional information or to schedule an interview, contact Janis McCulloch at jmcculloch@bildgta.ca or 416-617-7994.

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Auburn, WA, May 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- 05/31/2024 (Auburn, WA)  The Gluten Intolerance Groups Gluten-free Certification Organization (GFCO) has made the decision to withdraw certification from Best Express Foods, Inc., the umbrella company to Universal Bakery (BEF/Universal Baking), and the producer of Aussie Bites and other products. This decision comes after a thorough investigation in the U.S. and Canada of BEF/Universal Bakings Aussie Bites following a safety alert that was issued on May 15, 2024, revealing positive test results for gluten in excess of the FDA threshold.

GFCO goes through an in-depth investigation process that includes consumer interviews, 3rd party testing, and requests for historical lot and ingredient testing every time that we receive a consumer complaint about a product, says Channon Quinn, COO of the Gluten Intolerance Group. Remedy of these situations requires meeting standards, supplying requested information, as well as fulfillment of contractual obligations surrounding product safety to remove non-compliant products from the marketplace. In this instance, BEF/Universal Baking failed to complete GFCOs requirements to remedy, making the continuation of a certification relationship with the aforementioned company too high of a risk for both GFCO and the gluten-free public; therefore, we have withdrawn the certification of BEF/Universal Baking.

The product of concern, Aussie Bites, has been certified by GFCO since October 2022 and initially met the GFCO's standards for gluten-free certification. Aussie Bites, sold within the U.S. and Canada, have been identified to contain an unsafe level of gluten for gluten-free consumers.

GFCO has withdrawn certification of the following brands and products produced by Best Express Foods:

Universal Bakery:

Organic Aussie Bites

Organic Breakfast Energy Bars

Organic Paleo Bars

Organic Sunrise Energy Bars

SureLife Foods:

Paleo Bars

Las Fortunitas:

Corn Chips

Los Amigos:

Corn Chips

GFCO's requirements for gluten-free certification are designed to ensure that each product meets the highest safety standards. This comprehensive evaluation includes rigorous testing requirements, ingredient verification, and ongoing audits to maintain compliance. GFCO exists to protect the public. Companies who do not maintain the requirements of the certification or otherwise fail to adhere to their contractual obligations to GFCO are subject to having their certification revoked.

"The protection of the gluten-free community is our top priority, therefore we are taking decisive action to ensure gluten-free consumers safety," stated Cynthia Kelly, CEO of the Gluten Intolerance Group.

Consumers are encouraged to be vigilant and check product labels for the GFCO certification mark and report any questions or concerns about a products safety at https://gfco.org/contact/. GFCO will continue to work diligently to protect the gluten-free community and maintain the integrity of its certification process.

For more information and updates regarding this certification rescission, please visit the GFCO website at www.gfco.org.

About the Gluten-free Certification Organization (GFCO): The Gluten-free Certification Organization (GFCO), a program of the Gluten Intolerance Group, is a leading certification program for gluten-free products. Established in 2005, GFCO provides independent verification and certification of over 65,000 gluten-free products, ensuring the safety and trust of consumers. With a rigorous certification process and ongoing surveillance, GFCO aims to protect the gluten-free community and promote the availability of safe gluten-free options. For more information, please visit www.gfco.org.

About the Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG): The Gluten Intolerance Group (GIG) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit association funded by private donations, sponsorship opportunities, and food safety programs. It relies on tax-deductible contributions to support its many innovative industry, service, social, and awareness programs. GIG has been a highly respected leader in the gluten-free community since it was founded in 1974. In addition to more than 80 local support groups across the United States, GIGs mission is make life easier for everyone living gluten-free and accomplishes that through consumer support, education, and its food safety initiatives. The Gluten-Free Certification Organization (GFCO), a program of GIG, is a leader in the verification of quality, integrity, and purity of gluten-free products. The Gluten-Free Food Service (GFFS) program is a proven model of established best practices for foodservice facilities offering gluten-free options. GIG is committed to ongoing food safety research to assure customers and consumers the highest level of excellence in its gluten-free programs and services. For more information, visit www.gluten.org.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/gluten-free-certification-organization

https://www.linkedin.com/company/gluten-intolerance-group-of-north-america

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/certifiedglutenfree

https://www.facebook.com/GlutenIntoleranceGroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/certifiedglutenfree/

https://www.instagram.com/glutendotorg/

Media Contact: Gluten Intolerance Group

Jeanne Reid, Marketing Manager

gig.marketing@gluten.org

253.293.4286

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Two Agniveers killed as shell explodes in Maha, Court of inquiry ordered by Army 11 Oct 2024 | 9:02 PM New Delhi, Oct 11 (UNI) Two Agniveers were killed when a shell exploded during a field firing practice at the Devlali Field Firing Range near Nashik in Maharashtra. see more..

Canada needs to take strict, verifiable action against anti-India Khalistani activities: Sources 11 Oct 2024 | 8:51 PM Vientiane/New Delhi, Oct 11 (UNI) India on Friday said that there was no substantive discussion between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian PM Justin Trudeau in Vientiane, and emphasised that Ottawa needs to take firm action, which has been lacking thus far, against anti-India Khalistani activities on Canadian soil. see more..

GDI Hub, NCPEDP to host assistive tech startups Demo Day in Kerala on Oct 17 11 Oct 2024 | 6:31 PM New Delhi, Oct 4 (UNI) Startups working on Assistive Technology to enhance accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities and the elderly would make a pitch before investors during a Demo Day at the Empower 2024 event on October 17, said a statement on Friday. see more..

Cong alleges Madhya Pradesh Dy CM has links with drug mafia, demands his resignation 11 Oct 2024 | 6:00 PM New Delhi, Oct 11 (UNI) The Congress on Friday demanded the resignation of Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Jagdish Devda accusing him of allegedly having links with the kingpin of a drug racket busted recently by the Gujarat Police and NCB in Madhya Pradesh. see more..
SAN FRANCISCO, May 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As part of its ongoing, mission-driven effort to address the pressing issue of housing affordability, the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco (FHLBank San Francisco) led two separate roundtable discussions in California and Arizona this week. The roundtables  which brought together elected officials and leaders in affordable housing, community organizations, financial institutions, and others across each state  are an important step for identifying the issues and providing resources to support residents facing unprecedented housing challenges.



On Wednesday, May 29, U.S. Representative and Chair of the House Democratic Caucus Pete Aguilar (D-33) convened a high-level discussion group of relevant players to brainstorm innovations in affordable housing and to identify appropriate resources. Aguilar is an advocate for housing reform, including addressing the shortfall in affordable rental units and the critical need for more transitional supportive housing to provide shelter for unhoused people.

With the housing crisis threatening to push the American Dream out of reach, Im committed to finding solutions to lower housing costs and ensuring that vulnerable communities have the resources they need to get back on their feet, said Aguilar. Having access to vital services, such as counseling, job training, health services and childcare can make a substantial difference in helping someone secure housing, and I will continue working to make sure that is accessible to everyone in our region.

Attendees joining Aguilar and FHLBank San Francisco at the roundtable included:

Laura Archuleta, Jamboree Housing & FHLBank San Francisco Board member

Roger Kinoshita, Jamboree Housing

Clemente Mojica, Neighborhood Partnership

Melanie Steele, Inland So Cal Housing Collective

Kailin Scott, Neighborhood Housing Services

Karen Suarez, Collective Impact  Making Hope Happen Foundation

Dr. Joshua Beckley, Ecclesia Community Development Corporation

Carrie Harmon, County of San Bernardino, Community Development and Housing

Alyssa Cotter, Hope Through Housing Foundation

Michael Ruane, National Core

Maria Razo, Housing Authority of the County of San Bernardino

Nicole Beydler, National Core

Ruben Mendoza, Making Hope Happen



On Thursday, May 30, U.S. Representative Greg Stanton (AZ-4) along with Tempe Mayor Corey Woods, led a dynamic roundtable discussion that explored a range of practical solutions and structural changes that can be implemented in the Phoenix metro area. As a former Mayor of Phoenix, Stanton has been a long-standing vocal advocate for unhoused and rent-burdened constituents.

The Phoenix area consistently ranks as one of the fastest growing regions in the country, but we need quality, affordable housing options so the Valley remains the best place in America to live and work, said Stanton. Im grateful to the leaders who joined me today. They underscored the urgent need for federal and local partnership to expand affordable housing options and ensure every Arizona family has a place to call home.

Stanton, Woods, and FHLBank San Francisco were joined by:

Andrea Whitsett, ASU, Morrison Institute for Public Policy

Alison Cook-Davis, Arizona Research Center for Housing Equity and Sustainability (ARCHES)

Brian Riley, Foothills Bank & FHLBank San Francisco Board Member

David Adame, FHLBank San Francisco Board Member

Philipp Smaczny, Western Alliance Bank

Patricia Duarte, Chicanos Por La Causa

Nicole Newhouse, Arizona Housing Coalition

Mark Fitzgerald, Arizona Multihousing Association

Norm Duve, COPA Health



The Affordable Housing Program (AHP) is a core component of FHLBank San Franciscos overall mission of partnering with its member financial institutions to make communities more vibrant, equitable, and resilient. Since 1990, the Bank has awarded $1.3 billion in AHP grants to construct, preserve, or purchase over 150,000 units of quality rental and owner-occupied affordable housing.

By funding affordable housing in Arizona, California, and Nevada, FHLBank San Francisco seeks to help communities thrive with the creation of much needed secure, decent, and affordable housing, said Teresa Bryce Bazemore, president and chief executive officer of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco. Through dialogue at community roundtables, member engagement, and collaboration with our partners in the community, we are building solutions that help people secure an affordable place to call home."

About the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco

The Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco is a member-driven cooperative helping local lenders in Arizona, California, and Nevada build strong communities, create opportunity, and change lives for the better. The tools and resources we provide to our member financial institutions  commercial banks, credit unions, industrial loan companies, savings institutions, insurance companies, and community development financial institutions  propel homeownership, finance quality affordable housing, drive economic vitality, and revitalize whole neighborhoods. Together with our members and other partners, we are making the communities we serve more vibrant, equitable, and resilient.
LOS ANGELES, May 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Investors can contact the law firm at no cost to learn more about recovering their losses.

The Portnoy Law Firm advises Global Cord Blood Corporation (Global Cord or the Company) (OTC: CORBF) investors who suffered substantial losses to contact Lesley Portnoy, Esq.



Investors are encouraged to contact attorney Lesley F. Portnoy, by phone 310-692-8883 or email: lesley@portnoylaw.com, to discuss their legal rights, or click here to join the case via www.portnoylaw.com. The Portnoy Law Firm can provide a complimentary case evaluation and discuss investors options for pursuing claims to recover their losses.

Investors who invested between June 4, 2019  May 3, 2024 have until June 24, 2024 to participate as lead plaintiff.

On April 29, 2022, Global Cord announced that it had entered into a Material Definitive Agreement to acquire biotechnology company, Cellenkos Inc. (Cellenkos) for over $1 billion, including $664 million in cash and 114 million Global Cord shares. The Company stated that it planned to issue approximately 125 million new shares, valued at $11 per share, and pay $664 million in cash as total consideration, thereby diluting Company shareholders by half and depleting its sizable cash balance.

On this news, Global Cords stock price fell $0.98, or 28.6%, to close at $2.45 per share on May 2, 2022, thereby injuring investors.

Then, on May 3, 2022, Blue Ocean Structure Investment Company Limited (Blue Ocean) filed a petition opposing the transaction, stating that Cellenkos had no discernible long-term value, that the transaction purchase price was unjustifiable, that the transaction would result in a massive dilution of Global Cord shareholders, that the close relationship between Global Cord and Cellenkos constituted a conflict of interest, and that the transaction was approved without sufficient shareholder knowledge.

On this news, Global Cords stock price fell $0.22, or 9.1%, to close at $2.20 per share on May 5, 2022, thereby injuring investors further.

Then, on September 22, 2022, the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands suspended the powers of Global Cords Directors and appointed Joint Provisional Liquidators (JPLs) over the Company after evidence was presented showing that the Cellenkos Transaction was actually part of a cover-up aimed at filling a gap in Global Cords balance sheet. Additionally, the NYSE halted trading in Global Cords ordinary shares, effective September 23, 2022.

On June 23, 2023, Global Cord was removed from the NYSE by the SEC.

The complaint filed in this class action alleges that throughout the Class Period, Defendants made materially false and/or misleading statements, as well as failed to disclose material adverse facts about the Companys business, operations, and prospects. Specifically, Defendants failed to disclose to investors that: (1) Global Cord employed a capital allocation strategy designed to reserve funds for Company insiders and related parties rather than for the benefit of Company shareholders; (2) Global Cords decisions to reject multiple going private offers and enter into the Transaction were nothing more than self-serving and conflicted attempts by Defendants to divert company funds to corporate insiders and related parties; (3) Defendants fundamentally misrepresented to investors Global Cords approach to capital allocation, strategic investments, acquisitions, and related party transactions as a result of the misappropriation by Defendant Kam and his entities of hundreds of millions of dollars from the Company; and (4) as a result, Defendants positive statements about the Companys business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times.

Please visit our website to review more information and submit your transaction information.

The Portnoy Law Firm represents investors in pursuing claims against caused by corporate wrongdoing. The Firms founding partner has recovered over $5.5 billion for aggrieved investors. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

Lesley F. Portnoy, Esq.

Admitted CA and NY Bar

lesley@portnoylaw.com

310-692-8883

www.portnoylaw.com

Attorney Advertising
VANCOUVER, May 30, 2024 - ValOre Metals Corp. ("ValOre" or the "Company"); (TSX?V: VO; OTCQB: KVLQF; Frankfurt: KEQ0) today announced the voting results of its recent annual general meeting of shareholders ("AGM"), which was held on May 27, 2024.

Shareholders approved setting the size of the Board at four, including the election of each director nominee. Detailed results of the vote for the election of directors are as follows:

Nominee # Voted For %Voted For # Votes Withheld % Votes Withheld



James Paterson 51,451,180 98.61% 726,333 1.39% Dale Wallster 51,381,152 98.47% 796,361 1.53% Garth Kirkham 51,471,180 98.65% 706,333 1.35% Darren Klinck 51,471,180 98.65% 706,333 1.35%

Shareholders also approved the appointment of Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, as the auditors of the Company by 98.65% of votes for, and the Stock Option Plan as described in the Company's Information Circular was approved by 97.78% of votes.

Subsequent to the meeting, the Board of Directors re- confirmed the following committees, all of which are comprised of independent directors:

Audit Committee: Dale Wallster (Chair), Darren Klinck, Garth Kirkham

Compensation Committee: Garth Kirkham (Chair), Dale Wallster, Darren Klinck

Corporate Governance Committee: Darren Klinck (Chair), Garth Kirkham, Dale Wallster



About ValOre

ValOre Metals Corp. (TSX-V: VO, OTCQB: KVLQF, Frankfurt: KEQ0) is a Canadian company with a team aiming to deploy capital and knowledge on projects which benefit from substantial prior investment by previous owners, existence of high-value mineralization on a large scale, and the possibility of adding tangible value through exploration and innovation.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"James R. Paterson"

James R. Paterson, Chairman and CEO

ValOre Metals Corp.

For further information about ValOre Metals Corp., or this news release, please visit our website at www.valoremetals.com or contact Investor Relations at 604 235-4061, or by email at contact@valoremetals.com.

ValOre Metals Corp. is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit: http://www.discoverygroup.ca/

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Toronto, May 31, 2024 - Minera Alamos Inc. (TSXV: MAI) (the "Company" or "Minera Alamos") is pleased to provide selected financial highlights from its 2024 Q1 Financial Statements and MD&A filed on SEDAR+ on May 30th, 2024 as well as an operations update for the first five months of the year.

Operational update - January - May 2024

In December 2023, planning commenced to reconfigure the existing pad capacity at the Santana mine to allow for an improvement in operational performance in 2024/2025.

The Company has started to ramp up mining activities at Santana in the second quarter of 2024 after a revision to the development plans utilizing the existing leach pad capacity while waiting on the expansion permits. The updated plans will allow mining and stacking operations to increase significantly from the 2023 levels. Approximately 20,000 ounces of gold at an average grade of 0.63 g/t and an approximate strip ratio of 1.6:1 has been defined in the updated plan and will be mined over a 12-month period (see news release dated February 22 nd , 2024). In addition, a further 4,500 ounces of gold at a higher grade of approximately 1 g/t will be mined and initially stockpiled for future processing pending additional studies to determine an optimal approach for crushing and processing to maximize recoveries. These ounces are expected to be processed within the 12-month schedule noted above.

In April 2024, the Company finalized internal operating plans with its mining contractor who subsequently mobilized at site the additional personnel and equipment required to support the increased mining operations with initial blasting in May in parallel with some site upgrades including new haulage roads. Mining and stacking operations are expected to commence in June following the completion of this work and continue under the current operating plans through H2 2024 and H1 2025. Thereafter, it is anticipated these mining levels should be able to be maintained or further increased with additional pad capacity.

In late April, the Company's wholly owned subsidiary Cobre 4H announced it had come to an agreement on merger terms with Minera Gold Copper ("MGC") that are subject to final paperwork required for closing in Mexico. MGC maintains certain rights including rights to the Suaqui Verde project concessions. The Company is aware that these rights have been the subject of various legal proceedings in the past and that other parties have contested ownership of the project. The Company has reviewed the information provided by MGC as it relates to the history and status of recent court judgements regarding MGC's rights to ownership of the Suaqui Verde concessions and believes those judgements and MGC's rights to be valid and enforceable.

The Company plans to advance the creation of a separate copper developer/producer focused on low capital intensity copper development projects. The combination of Los Verdes and Suaqui Verde allows for further consolidation of similar types of assets that could form a regional copper production "hub". The copper business will be incubated at the Company's copper subsidiary level with external funding expected to be directly into the subsidiary. In May 2024 the Company provided an update on its Cobre 4H Mexican subsidiary which holds its existing copper assets, the Los Verdes and Potreritos projects (see news release dated May 3, 2024).

Total gold recovered and sold in the first quarter of 2024 was 907 ounces from the Santana Project with inventory on the heap leach pad of 5,383 ounces as at March 31 st , 2024. Sales revenues from 907 ounces of gold sold in the first quarter of 2024 totalled $2,460,378.

Cash and cash equivalents at March 31, 2024 totalled $11,844,502 and the Company had a positive working capital position of $18,248,667. Cash and cash equivalents includes cash received from sales completed from the Q1 production where the related revenues have been treated as deferred in the condensed interim consolidated financial statements and will be recognized as revenue in the Q2 2024 condensed interim consolidated financial statements.

Selected Financial Data:

The following selected financial data is summarized from the Company's Interim Unaudited Financial Statements and related notes thereto (the "Financial Statements') for the quarter ended March 31st, 2024, and the Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") for the quarter ended March 31st, 2024 (all numbers in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated). A copy of the Financial Statements and MD&A is available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Operationally, revenues (not factoring deferred revenue) totalled $2,460,378 with cost of goods sold and depletion amounting to $2,556,892 for a small mine operations loss of $96,514. Unit costs for the quarter continued to be higher due to the fixed costs of operations being spread over fewer ounces which is expected to change as operations are expanded over the coming quarters as outlined in February and April (2024) news releases.

Net income of $528,360 for the quarter of $0.001/share compared to net income of $1,485,884 in the corresponding quarter of 2023.

Cash and Cash Equivalents of $11,844,502 compared to $13,754,272 as at December 31 st , 2023. The drop in cash balance reflects a designed reduction of normal operating payables during the period ahead of the anticipated increase in operational activity in Q2 and the rest of the year.

Working capital as of March 31st, 2024 stood at $18,248,668 compared to $19,968,100 as at December 31st, 2023.

Cautionary Statement

The Company made its production decision at the Santana gold mine without having completed a feasibility study demonstrating economic and technical viability. As such, there may be increased uncertainty of achieving planned production levels, estimated recovery of gold, the costs associated with such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure.

Mr. Darren Koningen, P. Eng., Minera Alamos' CEO, is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this press release under National Instrument 43-101.

For Further Information Please Contact:

Minera Alamos Inc.

Doug Ramshaw, President

Tel: 604-600-4423

Email: dramshaw@mineraalamos.com

Victoria Vargas de Szarzynski, VP Investor Relations

Tel: 289-242-3599

Email: vvargas@mineraalamos.com

Website: www.mineraalamos.com

About Minera Alamos Inc.

Minera Alamos is a gold production and development Company undergoing the operational startup of its first gold mine that produced its first gold in October 2021. The Company has a portfolio of high-quality Mexican assets, including the 100%-owned Santana open-pit, heap-leach mine in Sonora that is currently going through its operational ramp-up. The 100%-owned Cerro de Oro oxide gold project in northern Zacatecas has considerable past drilling and metallurgical work completed and has entered the permitting process. The La Fortuna open pit gold project in Durango (100%-owned) has a robust and positive preliminary economic assessment (PEA) completed and the main Federal permits in place. Minera Alamos is built around its successful operating team that together brought three mines into production in Mexico over the last 13 years.

The Company's strategy is to develop very low CAPEX assets while expanding the projects' resources and continuing to pursue complementary strategic acquisitions.

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information and Minera Alamos cautions readers that forward-looking information is based on certain assumptions and risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations of Minera Alamos included in this news release. This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements", which often, but not always, can be identified by the use of words such as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". These statements are based on information currently available to Minera Alamos and Minera Alamos provides no assurance that actual results will meet management's expectations. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements with respect to Minera Alamos' future plans with respect to the Projects, objectives or goals, to the effect that Minera Alamos or management expects a stated condition or result to occur and the expected timing for release of a resource and reserve estimate on the projects. Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results relating to, among other things, results of exploration, the economics of processing methods, project development, reclamation and capital costs of Minera Alamos' mineral properties, the ability to complete a preliminary economic assessment which supports the technical and economic viability of mineral production could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons. Minera Alamos' financial condition and prospects could differ materially from those currently anticipated in such statements for many reasons such as: an inability to finance and/or complete an updated resource and reserve estimate and a preliminary economic assessment which supports the technical and economic viability of mineral production; changes in general economic conditions and conditions in the financial markets; changes in demand and prices for minerals; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; technological and operational difficulties encountered in connection with Minera Alamos' activities; and other matters discussed in this news release and in filings made with securities regulators. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of Minera Alamos' forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on Minera Alamos' forward-looking statements. Minera Alamos does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement that may be made from time to time by Minera Alamos or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.

The Company does not have a feasibility study of mineral reserves, demonstrating economic and technical viability for the Santana project, and, as a result, there may be an increased uncertainty of achieving any particular level of recovery of minerals or the cost of such recovery, including increased risks associated with developing a commercially mineable deposit. Historically, such projects have a much higher risk of economic and technical failure. Failure to commence production would have a material adverse impact on the Company's ability to generate revenue and cash flow to fund operations.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/211255
VANCOUVER, May 31, 2024 - Defense Metals Corp. ("Defense Metals" or the "Company"; (TSXV: DEFN) (OTCQB: DFMTF) (FSE:35D) is pleased to announce the appointment of Suzanne Rich Folsom to the Board of Directors of the Company.

Suzanne Rich Folsom is an experienced independent director, C-Suite executive, and influential business leader. Most recently she served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel, at Philip Morris International where she was a key leader in the company's transformation. Previously she was General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and SVP-Government Affairs, at United States Steel Corporation where she also played a pivotal leadership role in that company's transformation as well as helping reinvigorate U.S. Steel's business growth. Throughout her career, Ms. Folsom has been a change agent and catalyst for organizational growth at multiple companies and organizations.

Her career includes senior corporate executive roles at ACADEMI, as the EVP, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer, at AIG, as the Deputy GC and Chief Regulatory & Compliance Officer, and at the World Bank where she was the Counselor to the President and Director of the Department of Institutional Integrity. In addition, Ms. Folsom has held distinctive public administration roles including serving as: the Private Secretary to H.M. Queen Noor of Jordan; First Family Liaison to the Presidential Inaugural Committee; Special Assistant to Barbara Bush; Advisor to the US Delegation to the U.N. World Women's Conference in Kenya; Chief of Staff to the Co-Chair of a U.S. national political party; and she practiced law with three global law firms. She is a frequent thought leadership contributor and speaker and has been recognized in the United States and abroad for her many contributions. Ms. Folsom holds a juris doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center and a bachelor's degree from Duke University. Previous board service has included the boards of Advanced Metallurgical Group AMG, VELUX LLC, and Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy. Ms. Folsom currently serves on the boards of the iconic Encyclopaedia Britannica, today a global digital media learning and knowledge products company, and Ecore International, a revolutionary leader in rubber circularity and a transformational waste company. She is also an Advisor to EqualFuture LLC, an AI-assisted financial wellness and education FinTech start-up.

Ms. Folsom's deep expertise in business strategy, governance, enterprise risk management, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory, compliance, cyber, trade, labor, and global public policy has enabled her to consistently deliver positive and measurable results to the corporate bottom line. Ms. Folsom's extensive leadership, corporate governance, public company, and global government affairs experience make her a highly valuable addition to the Company's Board of Directors.

The Company also announces the resignation of Andrew Burgess from its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors and management team thank Mr. Burgess for his contributions during his tenure since his appointment in January 2019 and wish him success in his future endeavours.

PFS Updates

The Company expects to announce in H2-2024 its preliminary feasibility study ("PFS") to be prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Minerals Projects, for its 100% owned Wicheeda Rare Earth Element ("REE") project located near Prince George, B.C., Canada.

All infrastructure geotechnical field data collection and process design in support of the PFS has been completed. Equipment pricing, tailings disposal options and mine design are currently being advanced and the Company expects to announce the results of the PFS in H2-2024, with the NI 43-101 Technical Report to be filed within 45 days of the announcement.

Defense Metals Corp. Aboutand its Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project

Defense Metals Corp. is focused on the development of its 100% owned, 8,301-hectare (~20,534-acre) Wicheeda REE Project that is located on the traditional territory of the McLeod Lake Indian Band in British Columbia, Canada.

The Wicheeda REE Project, approximately 80 kilometres (~50 miles) northeast of the city of Prince George, is readily accessible by a paved highway and all-weather gravel roads and is close to infrastructure, including hydro power transmission lines and gas pipelines. The nearby Canadian National Railway and major highways allow easy access to the port facilities at Prince Rupert, the closest major North American port to Asia.

Defense Metals is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit: www.discoverygroup.ca.

For further information, please visit www.defensemetals.com.

Alex Heath

Vice President, Corporate Development

Tel: 1 604-354-2491

Email: alex@defensemetals.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release contains "forward-looking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements relating to the announcement and expected completion of the PFS and the expected timelines, advancing the Wicheeda REE Project, the expectations and plans for the Wicheeda REE Project, the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its project and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of rare earth elements, the anticipated costs and expenditures, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration and metallurgical results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and development and cost estimates, the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and those other risks filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather and climate conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain or obtain community acceptance (including First Nations), risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of personnel, materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters), risks relating to inaccurate geological, metallurgical, engineering and pricing assumptions, decrease in the price of rare earth elements, the impact of viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, loss of key employees, consultants, officers or directors, increase in costs, delayed results, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, except as required by law.

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SOURCE Defense Metals Corp.
VANCOUVER, May 31, 2024 - Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. (TSXV: SCZ) ("Santacruz" or "the Company") reports its financial and operating results for the first quarter ("Q1") of 2024. The full version of the financial statements and accompanying Management's Discussion and Analysis (the "MD&A") can be viewed on the Company's website at www.santacruzsilver.com or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Q1 2024 Highlights

Processed 470,749 tonnes of material and produced 4,478,122 silver equivalent ounces, including: 1,581,949 ounces of silver 22,847 tonnes of zinc 2,953 tonnes of lead 256 tonnes of copper



Cash cost per silver equivalent ounce sold of $21.19

AISC per silver equivalent ounce sold of $24.12

Revenue of $52,589,000

Adjusted EBITDA of ($215,000)

Arturo Prestamo, Executive Chairman and CEO of Santacruz, commented, "Santacruz has successfully restructured its debt with Glencore, resulting in enhanced financial flexibility and a more robust balance sheet. This strategic move has bolstered the Companys financial position and should allow for better optimization of Santacruz's core business activities and the pursuit of long-term growth initiatives."

Mr. Prestamo continued, "During the first quarter, production at our Bolivian mines faced several disruptions due to various events, including national holidays, and the national population census. Caballo Blanco experienced a challenging quarter due to additional production disruptions caused by safety training and mining in areas with lower silver grades. However, the preparation of new areas is progressing well, thanks to the integration ramp. Caballo Blanco is expected to mine areas with higher silver grades in the coming months and together with less operational disruptions, the Company expects a better performance. Our AISC per silver equivalent ounces sold increased due to the decrease in silver equivalent ounce sold, with the most impact being from Caballo Blanco. However, our Zimapan mine in Mexico experienced no production variances during the quarter, with the efficiency strategies implemented in late 2023 continuing to deliver improvements."

Selected consolidated financial and operating information for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 are presented below. All financial information is prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), and all dollar amounts are expressed in thousands of US dollars, except per unit amounts, unless otherwise indicated.

2024 First Quarter Highlights



2024-Q1 2023-Q4 Change Q1 vs Q4 2023-Q1 Change Q1 vs Q1

Operational









Material Processed (tonnes milled) 470,749 489,417 (4 %) 482,497 (2 %) Silver Equivalent Produced (ounces) (1) 4,478,122 4,788,318 (6 %) 4,727,882 (5 %) Silver Ounces Produced 1,581,949 1,719,737 (8 %) 1,769,520 (11 %) Zinc Tonnes Produced 22,847 23,777 (4 %) 22,463 2 % Lead Tonnes Produced 2,953 3,130 (6 %) 3,043 (3 %) Copper Tonnes Produced 256 290 (12 %) 415 (38 %) Silver Equivalent Sold (payable ounces) (2) 3,632,938 3,813,863 (5 %) 4,380,895 (17 %) Cash Cost of Production per Tonne (3) 93.18 94.87 (2 %) 84.11 11 % Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold ($/oz) (3) 21.19 17.74 19 % 17.29 23 % All-in Sustaining Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold ($/oz) (3) 24.12 21.37 13 % 20.77 16 % Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold ($/oz) (2) (3) (4) 23.18 22.47 3 % 22.03 5 %

Financial









Revenues 52,589 57,616 (9 %) 65,378 (20 %) Gross Profit 463 1,550 (70 %) 14,680 (97 %) Net Income (loss) 129,025 16,271 693 % (176) 73,410 % Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Basic ($/share) 0.37 0.05 640 % 0.00 100 % Adjusted EBITDA (3) (215) 24,612 (101 %) 12,603 (102 %) Cash and Cash Equivalent 4,035 4,947 (18 %) 11,988 (66 %) Working Capital (Deficiency) 7,150 (43,168) 117 % (78,906) 109 %

First Quarter 2024 Production Summary - By Mine



Bolivar (5) Porco (5) Caballo Blanco

Group San Lucas Zimapan Total Material Processed (tonnes milled) 72,801 50,862 72,462 69,220 205,404000 470,749 Silver Equivalent Produced (ounces) (1) 1,024,492 543,414 862,142 1,032,085 1,015,989 4,478,122 Silver Ounces Produced 425,756 176,436 284,809 294,998 399,950 1,581,949 Zinc Tonnes Produced 5,063 3,160 4,702 6,279 3,643 22,847 Lead Tonnes Produced 395 169 611 427 1,352 2,953 Copper Tonnes Produced N/A N/A N/A N/A 256 256 Average head grades per mine:











Silver (g/t) 199 130 136 159 82 125 Zinc (%) 7.68 6.72 7.04 9.90 2.29 5.45 Lead (%) 0.74 0.46 1.10 0.96 0.83 0.84 Copper (%) N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.29 0.29 Metal recovery per mine:











Silver (%) 91 83 90 83 74 81 Zinc (%) 91 92 92 92 77 84 Lead (%) 74 72 76 64 79 75 Copper (%) N/A N/A N/A N/A 43 43 Silver Equivalent Sold (payable ounces) (2) 1,014,743 419,230 573,347 754,910 870,708 3,632,938

















Notes for both tables above:

(1) Silver Equivalent Produced (ounces) have been calculated using prices of $23.62/oz, $1.21/lb, $0.95/lb and $3.91/lb for silver, zinc, lead and copper respectively

applied to the metal production divided by the silver price as stated here. (2) Silver Equivalent Sold (payable ounces) have been calculated using the Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold stated in the table above, applied to the payable metal content of the concentrates sold from Bolivar, Porco, the Caballo Blanco Group, San Lucas and Zimapan. (3) The Company reports non-GAAP measures, which include Cash Cost of Production per Tonne, Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold, All-in Sustaining Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold, Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold, and Adjusted EBITDA. These measures are widely used in the mining industry as a benchmark for performance, but do not have a standardized meaning and may differ from methods used by other companies with similar descriptions. See ''Non-GAAP Measures'' section below for definitions. (4) Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold is prior to all treatment, smelting and refining charges. (5) Bolivar and Porco are presented at 100% whereas the Company records 45% of revenues and expenses in its consolidated financial statements.

Silver Equivalent Ounces Produced

Q1 2024 vs Q1 2023

In Q1 2024, the Company processed 470,749 tonnes of material and produced 4,478,112 silver equivalent ounces including 1,581,949 ounces of silver, 22,847 tonnes of zinc, 2,953 tonnes of lead and 256 tonnes of copper. When compared to Q1 2023, total material processed was slightly less, however silver equivalent ounce production decreased 5% due primarily to lower production, silver grade and plant recovery at Caballo Blanco.

Q1 2024 vs Q4 2023

When compared to the previous quarter total material processed was slightly less. Silver equivalent ounce production decreased 6% quarter-over-quarter as a result of less material processed, along with lower silver grades from the Bolivar and Caballo Blanco mines in Bolivia.

Cash Cost of Production per Tonne

Q1 2024 vs Q1 2023

Consolidated cash cost of production per tonne of mineralized material processed was $93.18 in Q1 2024 compared to $84.11 in Q1 2023. Increases in unit production costs at the Bolivian operations, a result of lower production rates have driven the consolidated net increase in cash costs of 11% per tonne.

Q1 2024 vs Q4 2023

Consolidated cash cost of production per tonne of mineralized material processed remained stable with a slight decrease of 2% driven mostly by incremental decreases across all operations. Cash cost per tonne at San Lucas increased 12%, which was offset by the 2% decrease at all other Bolivian operations. In Mexico, cash cost of production has decreased from the Q4 2023 high to be relatively in line with the other quarters of 2023.

Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold

Q1 2024 vs Q1 2023

Cash cost per silver equivalent ounce sold was $21.19 in Q1 2024 compared to $17.29 in Q1 2023. There was an increase in unit costs together with a decrease of silver equivalent ounces sold mainly due to the silver equivalent conversion ratio of base metals to silver, which was higher due to the changes in realized metal prices and resulted in the reduction of silver equivalent ounces sold.

Q1 2024 vs Q4 2023

Consolidated results for Q1 2024 show an 19% increase in cash costs per silver equivalent ounce sold compared to Q4 2023. There was an increase in unit costs together with a decrease of silver equivalent ounces sold.

All-In Sustaining Cash Cost ("AISC") per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold

Q1 2024 vs Q1 2023

Q1 2024 AISC per silver equivalent ounce sold was $24.12, compared to Q1 2023 of $20.77. This 16% increase in unit cost was due primarily to the 17% decrease in silver equivalent ounces sold.

Q1 2024 vs Q4 2023

Consolidated AISC per silver equivalent ounce sold increased 13% from Q4 2023, mainly a result of higher unit operating costs, partly offset by lower sustaining capital expenditures mostly related to the completion of the integration ramp at Caballo Blanco in Q1 2024.

Corporate Update

On May 13, 2024, the Board of Directors appointed Arturo Prestamo as CEO of the Company.

Santacruz Silver is engaged in the operation, acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Latin America. The Bolivian operations are comprised of the Bolivar, Porco and the Caballo Blanco Group, which consists of the Tres Amigos, Reserva and Colquechaquita mines. The Soracaya exploration project and San Lucas ore sourcing and trading business are also in Bolivia. The Zimapan mine is in Mexico.

'signed'

Arturo Prestamo Elizondo,

Executive Chairman and CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward looking information

This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends", "expects" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or will "potentially" or "likely" occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forwardlooking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding the benefits the Company expects to derive from restructuring its debt with Glencore, and that Caballo Blanco will achieve improved performance in the coming months. These forwardlooking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks that the restructured debt with Glencore will not allow for better optimization of the Company's core business activities and the pursuit of its long-term growth initiatives, that Caballo Blanco will be unable mine areas with higher silver grades in the coming months, that there will not be fewer operational disruptions at Caballo Blanco in the coming months, or that Caballo Blanco will not achieve improved performance, risks related to changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets, changes in applicable laws, and compliance with extensive government regulation, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's disclosure documents filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedarplus.ca.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, the assumption that the restructured debt with Glencore will allow the Company to better optimize its core business activities and pursuit of long-term growth initiatives, and that Caballo Blanco will be able to mine areas with higher silver grades in the coming months and together with less operational disruptions will achieve improved performance.

There can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information or statements, other than as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd.
TORONTO, May 31, 2024 - Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) ("Rock Tech" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the official handover of all construction and operation permit approvals for its German Lithium refinery. Today, the state of Brandenburg's Minister for Climate Action and Environment Axel Vogel and Minister for Economic Affairs Joerg Steinbach handed over the notice of approval for the Lithium-Hydroxide Converter to Rock Tech's CEO Dirk Harbecke. The handover took place during a meeting in the State Chancellery in Potsdam. Guben's Mayor Fred Mahro and representatives from Rock Tech were also in attendance. All parties welcomed the successful completion of the approval process as a progressive step in the realisation of regional and resilient battery supply-chains.

Rock Tech plans to build Europe's first Lithium converter with a capacity of 24,000 tonnes of Lithium-Hydroxide per year. Lithium-Hydroxide is required as a raw material for battery production for electric cars and energy storage systems.

Rock Tech's CEO Harbecke states: "I'd like to thank the State of Brandenburg and in particular the State Office for the Environment which was responsible for the permit. The construction and operating licence for our lithium refinery is a strong signal for Rock Tech and Europe. The support of the state, the city of Guben, and other stakeholders involved is exceptionally encouraging. The permits not only allow us to now move into the last stage of financing for the project, but they are also proof that our concept works and the Guben converter will serve as the blueprint for our other refinery projects worldwide. We expect to finalise subsidy negotiations and equity term sheets with strategic partners soon. The credit approval process with our banking partners will follow shortly after and we aim to take the final investment decision (FID) in Q3 this year."

Minister Steinbach adds: "I am delighted that the approvals have now been issued and that Rock Tech's construction project is one step closer to realisation. The future production of Lithium-Hydroxide in Guben represents a further building block in the creation of an EV value-chain that is currently being established in Brandenburg. The state government is supporting Rock Tech Lithium as much as possible and has initiated all necessary steps."

Additionally, the Company announces that it has appointed Derek Sobel to the position of Chief Financial Officer as of June 01, 2024. Mr. Sobel is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) with extensive financial reporting experience in the Canadian public markets. He held the position of Head of Accounting, Audit, and Tax for Rock Tech since 2021. He follows Ms. Sonja Rossteuscher, who has held the position as CFO since November 2022.

ABOUT ROCK TECH

Rock Tech is a cleantech company with operations in Canada and Germany on a mission to produce lithium hydroxide for electric vehicle batteries. The Company plans to build lithium converters at the doorstep of its customers, to guarantee supply-chain transparency and just-in-time delivery, beginning with the Company's proposed lithium hydroxide merchant converter and refinery facility in Guben, Germany. The second Lithium converter is planned to be built in Red Rock, Ontario, Canada. Rock Tech plans to source raw material from its wholly-owned Georgia Lake spodumene project located in the Thunder Bay Mining District of Ontario, Canada, as well as procuring it from other responsibly producing mines. In the years to come, the Company expects to also source raw material from discarded batteries. To close the most pressing gap in the clean mobility story, Rock Tech has gathered one of the strongest teams in the industry. The Company has adopted strict environmental, social and governance standards and is developing a proprietary refining process aimed at further increasing efficiency and sustainability. Rock Tech's goal: to create a closed-loop lithium production system.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws and are referred to herein as "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "predicts", "believes", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "projects", "forecasts", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could" or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information pertaining to expectations concerning the Guben Converter, including the design and features of the Guben Converter, as well as the expected costs, capital expenditures, timing and outcomes thereof; statements regarding the Company's future plans, estimates, and schedules relating to the Guben Converter, including the anticipated timing of future activities taken in support of the development thereof; Rock Tech's potential financing arrangements; the expected economic performance of the Guben Converter and anticipated production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide and related processing methods employed; the estimated capital and operating costs of the Guben Converter; the anticipated timing and outcomes of a final investment decision, construction activities and commissioning of the Guben Converter; statements regarding the Company's sustainability and ESG related goals and strategy, including the benefits and achievement thereof and future actions taken by the Company in relation thereto; expected regulatory processes and final outcomes; expectations regarding the electric vehicle industry, including the demand for and pricing of battery-grade lithium hydroxide and the benefits therefrom, and the development of political and regulatory frameworks especially in Germany and the European Union; Rock Tech's opinions, beliefs and expectations regarding the Company's business strategy, development and exploration opportunities and projects; and plans and objectives of management for the Company's operations and properties.Forward-looking statements by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in the Company's most recent management's discussion and analysis and annual information form filed with the applicable securities regulators. No assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, and the Company cautions the reader not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, nor does it assume any obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changes in assumptions, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

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SOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc.
New Delhi, May 31 (UNI) The Southwest Monsoon advanced into the remaining parts of northeast Bay of Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam and most parts of Sub-Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim, India Meteorological Department (IMD) said on Friday.

On Thursday, the IMD had announced the onset of Southwest monsoon over Kerala and northeast India.

The monsoon hit the country's mainland two days in advance against its normal date of onset on June 1.

In 2023, the southwest monsoon had set in on June 8.

The IMD said, "the conditions are favourable for further advance of monsoon into some more parts of the central Arabian Sea, Lakshadweep, Kerala, some parts of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Southwest Bay of Bengal during the next 2-3 days".

On heatwave conditions, it said heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are very likely in many parts over Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi and Punjab till 2nd June. The highest maximum temperature of 48.3C was reported at Sri Ganganagar in the West Rajasthan yesterday.

The IMD predicted some relief from the prevailing heatwave conditions over Northwest, Central & East India gradually during the next 2-3 days.

"Gradual fall in maximum temperatures by 2-3C is very likely over Northwest & Central India during next 3 days and no significant change thereafter", it said.

IMD said light rainfall with thunderstorms, are likely over the plains of Northwest India from May 31 to June 3.

"Duststorm is very likely over East Rajasthan from 31 May to 3rd June; Uttar Pradesh on 31st May and 1st June and West Rajasthan on 1st and 2nd June" it said in a statement.

UNI JA CS1616
Indycar option emerges for Mick Schumacher

An option for Mick Schumacher to return to top-line open-wheel racing has emerged.

Mick Schumacher, Mexican GP 2022

 Haas

As Mercedes' reserve driver, and also with a racing role in Alpine's WEC program, the son of Formula 1 legend Michael Schumacher has been trying to re-fire his F1 career since losing his Haas race seat in late 2022.

The German has been linked with Alpine's F1 team and Williams for 2025, but many insiders rate his chances as low.

However, at the Indy 500 last weekend, Indycar team owner Dale Coyne revealed that he has been in touch with Schumacher, 25, about a race seat.

There are all these Formula 2 drivers who finish first or second but have no real future in Formula 1, Coyne told Auto Motor und Sport. "Mick Schumacher is a perfect example.

We would love to welcome such a great driver here.

Correspondent Philipp Korner also explains: Next year's (Indycar) newcomer Prema is also said to be interested.

Schumacher won both his Formula 3 (2018) and Formula 2 (2020) titles with Prema, an Italian racing organisation with links to Ferrari.

Coyne, however, thinks Schumacher might have other plans.

We are talking to Mick Schumacher, he revealed. But he is still pinning his hopes on Alpine. I would be happy if we were given the chance.

Correspondent Korner thinks Jack Doohan and Victor Martins - products of Alpine's own junior program - are further up the queue than Schumacher for an F1 seat next year.

Other drivers are also currently higher on the list at Haas, Williams, Sauber and Toro Rosso (RB), he added.

Schumacher is quoted as saying: My dream is of course to drive in Formula 1. It has always been like that and it always will be like that.

(GMM)
Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu), May 31 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday performed Surya Arghya, a religious practice in Hinduism offering water to Lord Surya (Sun) during the sun rise at Vivekananda Rock Memorial, off Kanyakumari coast, even as his 45-hour long meditation session entered the second day.

A video and photos shared by BJP on its X handle, (formerly Twitter) showed Modi, clad in Saffron shirt, shawl and dhoti praying to Lord Surya with folded hands and pouring little water from a traditional beaker-like small vessel into the sea as an offering and then chanting mantras using his prayer beads at the time of sun rise.

The different photographs posted by the BJP on X, also showed the PM meditating at the Dhyan Mandapam and was also seen circumambulating the Mandapam holding the prayer beads.

He commenced his meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial on Thursday evening after offering special prayers at Sri Bhagavathi Amman Temple, one of the 108 Shakthi Peedams dedicated to goddess Devi Kanyakumari.

After completing his meditation session, the PM is likely to visit the famous Thiruvalluvar Statue, a Tamil saint near the memorial on Saturday.

Since it is a spiritual tour, even senior BJP party leaders were not allowed to accompany Modi at the memorial.

A multi-layered security blanket has been thrown over Kanyakumari in view of the PM's visit.

The Indian Navy and Indian Coast Guard ships have been deployed for a round-the-clock patrolling along the waters close to the shoreline, while the Coastal Security Group (CSG) of Tamil Nadu Marine Police were also keeping a high vigil.

UNI GSM CS1508
A years-long case of deer being shot and left to die in a Green River, Wyoming neighborhood has been resolved. Over five years, at least five deer were shot and killed in the area of Arkansas Drive. During their investigation, Game Wardens and the Green River Police Department responded to numerous calls about dead or injured deer and recovered bullets from three of the deer. The case was recently settled thanks to cooperation from numerous reporting parties and a collaborative investigation between state and local officials.

On August 17, 2018, Game wardens were called to a home on Arkansas Drive to investigate a doe deer that appeared to have been shot. Witnesses had heard what sounded like shots from a small caliber rifle in the early morning hours and later found the doe deer dying near a home. Witnesses also reported a bullet hole in their garage door. Game wardens analyzed the scene to determine the trajectory of the bullet and interviewed neighbors but were unable to identify a suspect.

Nearly three years later, on August 09, 2021, wardens were called to Arkansas Drive to investigate a deer that was suspected to have been shot - and a bullet was recovered from the buck deer that appeared to have come from a small caliber rifle. Wardens learned from an animal control officer that another buck deer had been removed by city workers from the neighborhood that morning and taken to the landfill. A game warden went to the landfill and necropsied that buck deer and determined it had been shot as well, though the bullet had passed through the animal and was not recovered.

In September 2022, students at Harrison Elementary School found an injured buck deer near their playground. At first glance, the deer appeared sick, but during a necropsy, a bullet was found lodged beneath the animal's skin. On August 12, 2023, wardens were called again to the neighborhood on Arkansas Drive for a report of a doe mule deer believed to have been shot, and wardens recovered a bullet from that deer as well.

Wyoming Game Wardens and the Green River Police Department executed two search warrants on the residence of Timothy Crooks on August 17, 2023. Officers seized several firearms, ammunition and a homemade suppressor from Crooks' residence. Three bullets were sent to the DCI crime lab in Cheyenne, along with firearms seized under the search warrants in August 2023. Ballistics testing confirmed that bullets recovered from the buck deer in 2022 and the doe deer in 2023 had been fired from the same .22 caliber Marlin rifle seized during the search in August. The bullet recovered from the buck mule deer in 2021 was too degraded to positively identify or eliminate that it had come from the same rifle.

In October 2023, Crooks was charged with five counts of wanton destruction of a big game animal and four counts of using a suppressor to take a big game animal. On February 27, 2024, Crooks entered a change of plea, pleading guilty to five counts of wanton destruction of a big game animal. The charges of using a suppressor were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. On April 09, 2024, Crooks was sentenced in the Sweetwater County Circuit Court to 15 days in jail for each count, served concurrently, with credit for three days served after his arrest in October 2023. In addition to jail time, Crooks' hunting privileges were revoked for ten years. Crooks also forfeited the .22 Marlin rifle with scope and a homemade suppressor.

"I would like to thank the numerous reporting parties who promptly reported the injured, dying, and dead mule deer. Accurate and timely reports often make the difference in whether or not a case can be solved. Without these reports and the assistance of the Green River animal control officers and the Green River Police Department, this investigation might still be ongoing," said Justin Dodd, Rock Springs Game Warden. "I would also like to thank the Sweetwater County Attorney's office for their assistance in resolving this case."
Hospital leaders and local dignitaries broke ground Thursday on a laboratory renovation and expansion project.

Once completed, it will provide a new outpatient setting for Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County's current main laboratory, curbside access and an enhanced patient experience.

"We are so excited about the laboratory renovation and expansion project," said MHSC CEO Irene Richardson. "The layout will allow our patients to access the laboratory without having to enter the main building where they can register and receive their lab work all in the same area. We are so grateful to the SLIB Board, the County Commissioners and to the Memorial Hospital Foundation for helping us fund this project and assisting us in better serving the healthcare needs of our community."

Richardson was joined in the groundbreaking by a state legislator, county commissioners, MHSC trustees

The $9 million project is supported by funding from the State Lands and Investment Board (SLIB), the Sweetwater County Commission, and the Memorial Hospital Foundation.

The grant requires a one-to-one match for SLIB's $4.45 million contribution. The Sweetwater County Commission committed to $3 million, the Memorial Hospital Foundation donated $1 million, and MHSC will pay for the remainder of the costs.

Here are more project facts:

- Timeline: Groundbreaking for the project was May 23, 2024. The project is set for completion by December 2026.

- Contractor: Groathouse Construction is our general contractor

- Size: The ground level lab construction and renovation will include 8,628 square feet. The second floor includes 2,764 square feet.

"The construction will not hinder lab activity," said Gerry Johnston, MHSC project manager/ maintenance supervisor. "The idea is to build the expansion itself as Phase 1. Phase 2 will be renovation of the existing lab."

To find out more about MHSC's medical laboratory and all the hospital has to offer, go to sweetwatermemorial.com.
Wyoming's largest energy supplier sued state regulators Thursday claiming they wrongly reduced a rate hike by disregarding federal requirements.

Filed in U.S. District Court by PacifiCorp, the parent company of Rocky Mountain Power, the suit asks the court to overturn the commission's January decision to approve only part of an electricity rate hike sought by the Oregon company, which is the largest utility operating in Wyoming. The complaint names Wyoming Public Service Commissioners Mary Throne, Christopher Petrie and Michael Robinson as defendants.

The Wyoming order is improperly costing PacifiCorp a $23 million loss, the company alleges.

Basis of the suit

PacifiCorp saw its rate hike request challenged by a group known as Wyoming Industrial Energy Consumers, which claimed the rate hike would force Wyoming customers to subsidize out-of-state users, according to the litigation.

The desire of consumers in other PacifiCorp states to choose or even require their utilities to secure some wind and solar power has chaffed coal-producing Wyoming, which has seen coal revenues dwindle.

PacifiCorp alleges Wyoming regulators practiced "local protectionism" when they issued their rate-case order. The commission agreed with the industrial coalition that the energy company didn't have to incorporate costs associated with holding reserves of power necessary to guarantee power supplies.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission sets those costs for power reserves, the lawsuit says, and the state agency can't adjust or recalculate them.

Wyoming's PSC created "an entirely new methodology for calculating the value of reserves and that methodology is directly contrary to federal law and FERC precedent," the suit states. The Wyoming rate order unfairly shifts costs to non-Wyoming power users, the lawsuit claims.

"The Commission thus violated the Commerce Clause by engaging in clear economic protectionism," the lawsuit reads, "and by seeking to burden out of state parties by creating and exporting a [PacifiCorp] revenue shortfall."

How PacifiCorp sees it

Here are some of the descriptions PacifiCorp used in its filing to explain the dense and complex regulatory forest it operates in.

Instead of having a capacity and supplies for reserve power generation, the commission agreed with the industrial group that such resources could be sold to the benefit of Wyoming ratepayers. PacifiCorp said those would be "fictional power generation and sales that [PacifiCorp] could not possibly make while complying with federal regulations, which were promulgated pursuant to FERC's exclusive jurisdiction."

"The WIEC adjustment relies entirely on a foundation of dislike and disregard for federal [power] reserve requirements," the suit states. The industrial group used a "methodology [that] is directly contrary to federal law and FERC precedent."

In addition to declaring that the Wyoming commission exceeded its authority and ordering it to reverse its decision, the court should allow PacifiCorp to collect attorneys' fees, costs and expenses and potentially "further relief."

Another rate hike proposed

Last month, Rocky Mountain Power filed for a 12.3% rate hike for its Wyoming customers to cover, among other things, higher-than-expected fuel costs in 2023, WyoFile reported at the time. That would bump the typical residential customers bill by about $12 a month.

The size of last year's proposed increases, meanwhile, sparked anger from customers and legislative action from state lawmakers.

WyoFile is an independent nonprofit news organization focused on Wyoming people, places and policy.
This week we honor those who died while fighting for our country. There was a time when society seemed to be more sensitive and compassionate about casualties of war, but today there are so many distractions that cause us to not have our priorities in the right order. This day is not about politics or worldviews, it's about giving the highest respect to those who paid the greatest price. The liberties we are thankful for today did not come without the sacrifice of many brave men and women as freedom does not come without cost. We remember those who were not given the opportunity to be reunited...
Natasha Young knew from an early age that she wanted to join the military. What she didn't know, even when she joined, was that she was continuing a long legacy of military service that stretched out on both sides of her family. That legacy spread through history and around the world until it finally reached all the way to Natasha and an F-35 jet with "Green River, Wyoming" printed on its side.

A desire to serve

For Green River native Natasha, the desire to serve her country was closely connected to her relationship with her dad, Dustin Young. They recalled watching military movies like "The Guardian" and "Taking Chance" together, and Natasha said she felt like a switch was flipped and she knew what she wanted to do.

"I just wanted to help people, and I thought the best way to do that would be joining the military," she explained.

The decision of which branch to join was something she also discussed in detail with her dad, who had a definite opinion influenced by his own desires.

"I wanted to join the Navy back when the Missouri was still in operation and I wanted to work on a battleship, and I lost that opportunity," Dustin explained.

He admitted that, since he was unable to join the Navy himself because of decisions he made in his youth, he may have driven his daughter towards fulfilling his dream.

"It was definitely a push towards it, but I definitely wanted it, because the Navy seemed like the best option," Natasha said.

She explained that she's always been good at working with her hands, having done things like welding and woodworking in high school, and she's always enjoyed fixing things, as well as being outdoors and traveling. Joining the Navy brought many of these desires and talents together in one place as she became an aviation structural mechanic working on Navy aircrafts.

"I've taken out engines, I put engines back in, I've worked in the cockpit," Natasha explained. "I've definitely done a lot of everything."

A special recognition

Much of Natasha's time in the Navy was spent as a plane captain. This position included prepping jets, fueling them, doing maintenance, and launching pilots. Her command worked on F-35 fighter jets specifically, which was new for them. A few people were chosen to be able to put their names and hometowns on a jet as a reward for the excellent quality of their work, and Natasha was among those chosen.

Jet 434 now says "Young" and "Green River, Wyoming" - a first for this kind of representation for the Cowboy State.

"Because my command was so new, what I was told is I was the first person from Wyoming and, by default, I was the first person from Green River to put my name on a jet for my training command," Natasha explained. "That will stick with that jet for a long time."

Photo courtesy of Dustin Young

Natasha served in the Navy for four years before being medically retired due to health concerns after being exposed to radiation from the jets. She considered herself a "for-lifer" and didn't want to leave the military, fighting to stay despite the risks, but she ultimately had to retire. Still, she ended up marrying an Air Force man who also works on F-35s. Natasha also knows that the impact her service had will stay with her.

"I definitely think that it's something that molded who I am as a person," she said.

She explained that her service helped instill good morals in her, taught her how to have a strong work ethic, and made it possible for her to make connections and find family with people everywhere.

Building family connections

Natasha's service also helped her start building bridges and making connections to her own biological family that she never expected.

"I don't know if family destiny is a thing," she said, but she pointed out that once she started understanding all the connections, "the coincidence was just so great."

Natasha and her family only recently began to learn about and connect with her mom Andrea's side of the family, but once they did they started noticing similarities.

"All of them were in the Air Force and they all worked with aircraft, and it was before I ever knew them," she explained. "And somehow I joined the Navy and worked on aircrafts."

She admitted it was a little weird to start realizing all of the coincidences, but she's also thankful for it.

"It definitely makes me feel a lot more connected with [my family]," she said.

Dustin pointed out that he always felt like Natasha joining the military was an honor and continuing a legacy of service, but it was just the starting point.

"That's how I felt when she joined, and then we started finding out more and more," he explained.

Tracing a legacy

For Dustin, taking a deep dive into family history and tracing it back has been a way to keep make more connections and continue to honor that legacy of service.

"I started getting into the history of it, and then finding out the history of our family went back before the nation was founded, so that made it even more sentimental," Dustin explained.

Over time, Dustin has gathered old photos, newspaper clippings, service papers, wills, and anything else he has been able to find and save from family members who wanted to throw it out. He has researched both his side of the family and his wife Andrea's side to track the connections back to Natasha. In doing so, he has uncovered information about family members on both sides who have been part of nearly every major conflict over the last 250 years.

Family history as old as the country

On Dustin's side of the family, the legacy starts with his own father, Natasha's grandfather, US Army Corporal Dean E. Young, who served during the time of the Vietnam War and was a communications specialist in Germany.

Photo courtesy of Dustin Young

There are also those in the Young family who made the ultimate sacrifice. Kenneth Leidecker, Natasha's great-great-uncle, was killed in action in Southern France during WWII. A newspaper clipping from June 14, 1945 reveals that he was killed by an exploding road mine at 21 years old. He was part of the 66th Infantry Division, which was known as the Black Panthers and awarded a Bronze Star by General Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Jumping back further in time, Dustin's family connections lead to Isaac Smith, who fought with the 191st Regiment of the Ohio Infantry in the Civil War.

Photo courtesy of Dustin Young

Isaac Smith's regiment was part of conflict in locations including Harper's Ferry, Charleston, and the Shenandoah Valley. Later, he was forwarded to Camp Chase and became part of the 186th Regiment. Smith's son, Isaac Smith Jr., later served as a guard at the US Capitol.

Some of Dustin's ancestors were even involved in conflicts in other countries, such as Thomas Giles, father of William Giles. A newspaper clipping of an obituary for William explains that he was born on a boat returning home after his father Thomas was "a soldier under Wellington, and was one of the Guard that had charge of Napoleon Bonaparte at St. Helena."

Around the same time period, Dustin's ancestor Conrad Emery fought in the War of 1812 with the 134th Regiment of the Pennsylvania Militia. Prior to that, John Emery fought for the nation's liberty with the Pennsylvania 5th Regiment in the Revolutionary War. This regiment was involved in major battles including Brandywine, Monmouth, Springfield and Yorktown.

A legacy connected to aircraft

On Andrea's side of the family, the tradition of working with aircraft has strong roots for the past three generations.

More recently, Natasha's uncle and Andrea's brother, Bryan Fay Irene, also served his country for two tours in Iraq.

Before that, the aircraft connections were seen with Andrea's father and Natasha's grandfather, Robert Scott McNabb. He received a four-year US Air Force scholarship to become a fighter pilot in 1975, and ultimately became a B-52 pilot. The B-52H Stratofortress is described by the Air Force as a "long-range, heavy bomber" that is "capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet."

Photo courtesy of Dustin Young

Robert Scott's brother and Natasha's great-uncle Richard Brian McNabb served as a Colonel in the Air Force. He was assigned to the 38th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron during the Korean War. According to the Air Mobility Command Museum, this service was "credited with 996 combat saves in the Korean War and 2,780 in the Vietnam War." Richard also joined the 55th Special Operations Squadron as a flight commander and participated in Operations Desert Shield, Desert Storm, and Northern Watch.

Robert Scott McNabb's father and Natasha's great-grandfather Robert Lee McNabb was a US Air Force Senior Master Sergeant who joined the Air Force at 17 years old. He started as a radio operator on Boeing KC-97, a "refueling tanker version of the C-97 Stratofreighter, a 74-ton multi-purpose airplane," according to the Smithsonian. Robert Lee later served as a crewman on an HH-43 Huskie rescue helicopter and was part of the 44th Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron. Later still, he served as a maintenance supervisor on F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircrafts.

Photo courtesy of Dustin Young

Robert Lee's father, William Guy McNabb, was Natasha's great-great-grandfather, and was a US Air Force Senior Master Sergeant who served in the Vietnam War, Korean War, and World War II.

Photo courtesy of Dustin Young

Natasha's great-grandfather through Andrea's mother's side also fought in World War II. Fay W. Bryner was a Staff Sergeant who served as a waist gunner on a B-17. The Air Mobility Command Museum explains that the Boeing B-17 Bomber Flying Fortress was "America's most famous heavy bomber during WWII." Fay Bryner flew 47 missions and received multiple medals.

"His plane was the first to make a shuttle raid from Italy to Russia and return, flying over German-held territory heavily defended by anti-aircraft guns and fighter planes," a newspaper clipping explained before continuing: "Sgt. Bryner's plane was reported shot down over nazi-held Russian territory."

Fay Bryner was a prisoner of war after being shot down. He eventually returned home and connected with his family, one day meeting and holding his great-granddaughter Natasha.

A deep sense of pride

Tracking down the history of Natasha's ancestors on both sides of the family has led to remarkable discoveries, not just of facts but of preserved pieces of history. Natasha recalled finding photographs taken by her great-great-grandfather William Guy McNabb during the Liberation of France in the summer of 1944. The small black and white photos look like something out of a history book as they show large crowds, tanks, trucks, and officers gathered to celebrate at the Champs-Elysees and Arc de Triomphe.

Photo courtesy of Dustin Young

"I remember when I found those and I showed my dad and I was like, 'Dad, you're gonna want to look at these,'" Natasha said. "He looked at them and goes 'Shut up.' He just lost it. He thought it was the coolest."

Photo courtesy of Dustin Young

For Dustin, tracking down family history is not only fascinating and exciting, but personal and emotional.

"It's a really deep pride to see this, to just know this is me," he said, thinking of the history he's found.

That pride extends from his own connections to his daughters, his love for them, and seeing where they're at now. Natasha was the only female in her class who served, and from what Dustin can tell is the first female in her long family lineage to serve.

"For me it's just the pride of everything it took for us to get here," Dustin said. "Just to know that it might have passed me but it's continuing on, the patriotism and serving your country for a greater good. There's a bigger picture."

Dustin has tracked down the graves of many of the family members he's researched. Looking at their headstones, he's considered how they would feel about their so-many-greats-grandson keeping their memories alive, and their so-many-greats-grandaughter continuing their legacy.

"It just goes on," he said. "These people would be so proud."
Dave Mead, Executive Director of the Sweetwater County Historical Museum in Green River, expressed his special thanks to the volunteers, parents, educators, and others who made possible this year's four-day Third Grade History Fair, which took place May 13 through May 16.

Over 850 third grade students, teachers, and caregivers from all over the county took part this year. Each received a guided tour of the museum, reviewed special exhibits, and attended demonstrations about ranching, mining, mountain men, Native Americans, Old West immigrants, and the railroad at Centennial Park. Students also...
Poco undoubtedly has a great value proposition going with its latest F6 series. The vanilla F6 starts at $379 globally for a base 8GB/256GB unit, whereas the Poco F6 Pro has a $499 base MSRP for the 12GB/256GB model. That's not an insignificant price difference, and it leads us nicely to the main question we aim to answer - which one is a better deal and, ultimately, a better fit for you personally.

Despite sharing the same model family under the Poco brand, the two devices are quite different. Poco relies on Xiaomi RnD and tends to rebrand already existing Xiaomi models for its lineup. In this particular case, the vanilla F6 is based on the Xiaomi Redmi Turbo 3, whereas the F6 Pro is based on the Xiaomi Redmi K70. This approach to product development on Poco's end isn't intrinsically bad, but it does lead to some interesting disparities, like the fact that despite its "Pro" moniker, the F6 Pro lacks the proper ingress protection of its vanilla sibling as well as the Gorilla Glass Victus front.

So how much better is the Xiaomi Poco F6 Pro to deserve its price premium? Let's look into it.

Table of Contents:

For starters, you can compare the complete specs sheets or directly continue with our editor's assessment in the following text.

Size comparison

Xiaomi

Poco F6 160.5 x 74.5 x 8.0 mm

(6.32 x 2.93 x 0.31 in) 179 g

Xiaomi

Poco F6 Pro 160.9 x 75.0 x 8.2 mm

(6.33 x 2.95 x 0.32 in) 209 g

The two phones are very similar in overall dimensions, which is quite natural given that both have the same display diagonal at 6.67 inches and the same battery capacity at 5,000 mAh. They differ slightly in weight, with the vanilla Poco F6 coming in at 179 grams while the F6 Pro tips the scale at 209 grams. This is probably due to the difference in materials more than anything else.

The regular Poco F6 has a plastic back and a plastic frame, whereas the F6 Pro has a glass back and an aluminum frame. However, as we already mentioned in the intro, this doesn't tell the full story. Despite its more modest bill of materials, the vanilla F6 offers better overall protection. It has IP64 certification, while the F6 Pro is stuck with basic IP54. Also, the front of the vanilla F6 is covered with Gorilla Glass Victus, while the Pro model has a more basic Gorilla Glass 5 finish.

Let's talk about color options. The vanilla F6 kind of wins in this department since it comes in Green in addition to the more basic Black and Titanium. The F6 Pro can be had in either Black or White. Then again, we personally find the slight marble-like effect on the back of the F6 Pro more intriguing than the basic finish on the vanilla. So, let's call it a toss-up.

Speaking of design, while the two phones are very similar from the front, with their flat displays only interrupted by a punch-hole selfie and pretty thin bezels all around, we wouldn't call their backs similar at all. Beyond the signature pattern on the Pro we already mentioned, there is also a major difference in the camera islands. The vanilla F6 doesn't actually have one with two big circular individual cameras and an LED flash to the side. On the other hand, the Pro has a massive camera island stretching almost the entire width of the phone and much smaller circles for the cameras themselves. It's almost as if the two phones weren't meant to be related to begin with (wink, wink).

Regarding other interesting titbits, both phones have an IR blaster. Also, NFC in most markets. Both models also have a stereo speaker setup, with the earpiece acting as the second channel.

On the bottom, we have the SIM slot, which lacks expandable storage on either device, as well as the main speaker and the Type-C port. Both phones support USB Host/OTG but nothing else fancy like video output. So, you are stuck with USB 2.0 data speeds of 480 Mbps max on both phones.

It is also interesting to note that the Poco F6 Pro has a hardware proximity sensor, while the regular Poco F6 is stuck with a virtual proximity.

Display comparison

Xiaomi

Poco F6 AMOLED

120Hz 1220x2712

pixels 446

ppi 6.67"

Xiaomi

Poco F6 Pro AMOLED

120Hz 1440x3200

pixels 526

ppi 6.67"

Both phones have the same large display diagonal of 6.67 inches. The similarities don't end there either, with 12-bit color, HDR10+, Dolby Vision certification and a 120Hz refresh rate. Those are some pretty great specs all around.

However, the F6 Pro still has a leg up in this department. First of all, it has a higher resolution of 1440 x 3200 pixels, compared to 1220 x 2712 pixels on the vanilla model. This naturally means that there is a difference in sharpness between the two phones. Mind you, it is not one that you can truly appreciate with the naked eye. At around 446 ppi, the Poco F6 still looks plenty sharp. However, the F6 Pro has a notably higher pixel density of around 526 ppi.

It is also worth noting that Poco advertises a much higher peak brightness of 4,000 nits for the Poco F6 Pro compared to 2,400 nits on the Poco F6. However, it is also worth pointing out that in our more practical standardized testing, both phones managed a very similar maximum brightness output of just over 1,200 nits. More than plenty to be comfortable outdoors.

Battery life

Both phones have 5,000 mAh battery packs on board and expectedly manage very similar, almost identical Active Use Scores in our testing. Neither phone does particularly well in the battery department compared to its peers. This has been an ongoing trend with recent Xiaomi devices, so we can't say that we are too surprised.

Charging speed

Xiaomi

Poco F6

5000 mAh 15min

56% 30min

89% Full

37min 90W

Xiaomi

Poco F6 Pro

5000 mAh 15min

64% 30min

100% Full

27min 120W

Xiaomi didn't skimp out on the charging solutions for the two phones. The Poco F6 Pro has a clear advantage here with its 120W charging solution. In our testing, it brought the F6 Pro from dead to full in just 27 minutes. Still, the vanilla Poco F6 is pretty close with its 90W charging and 37 minutes for a full charge.

In either case, you get the charger and a compatible cable in the retail box, which is great.

Speaker test

Both phones rely on a hybrid stereo speaker setup. There's one bottom-facing speaker and one that also acts as an earpiece. Both phones managed a Very Good loudness score in our standardized testing. The F6 Pro does have a small edge in loudness, but it is not significant enough to matter.

The audio quality is great on both phones. Mids are very clean throughout all volume ranges. Highs barely get distorted, and there is even some bass.

Performance

Both the Poco F6 and F6 Pro use what Qualcomm describes as premium chipsets. The vanilla Poco F6 is based on the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3  a pretty new chip that is based on the regular Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 but with a few cutbacks.

The Poco F6 comes in an 8GB/256GB base variant and is also available in a higher-tier 12GB/512GB model. In both cases, you get speedy UFS 4.0 storage, but there is no expandable storage. Qualcomm also lowered the cost by using an older modem, but it still offers a high-end ISP as well as next-generation connectivity, such as Wi-Fi 7.

Xiaomi

Poco F6 Snapdragon 8s Gen 3

4nm 256GB 8GB RAM

Xiaomi

Poco F6 Pro Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

4 nm 256GB 12GB RAM

Speaking of older parts and lowering the cost, the Poco F6 Pro is based on last year's flagship Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. As you can imagine, it still packs quite the punch and has come down in price a bit at this point.

The chipset is paired with LPDDR5X RAM and fast UFS 4.0 storage. You can get the phone in three configurations - 12GB/256GB base, 12GB/512GB and a top tier 16GB/1TB model. There is no expandable storage here. You get modern connectivity features here as well, like tri-band Wi-Fi 7.

Both the Poco F6 Pro and F6 come with the promise of three years of major software updates and an additional year of security patches. And of course, they run the same software - the latest installment of HyperOS based on Android 14.

Benchmark performance

Naturally, the Poco F6 Pro, with its "full-fat" Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, is going to have a leg up in raw performance. However, looking at the actual benchmark numbers, the difference really isn't all that major.

Xiaomi

Poco F6 AnTuTu 10

1,497,886 Geekbench 6

4,883

Xiaomi

Poco F6 Pro AnTuTu 10

1,584,439 Geekbench 6

5,310

In practice, the regular Poco F6 is already plenty powerful and easily chews through any task, including heavy gaming.

Camera comparison

The camera setups on the two Poco F6 models do look similar at first glance. Well, besides the fact that the F6 Pro has an extra camera on the back. A pretty insignificant 2MP dedicated macro one, though. Dig a little deeper, however, and you quickly start to see more differences.

For instance, while both phones use a 50MP main camera, the sensors are quite different. The vanilla Poco F6 moved from a 64MP OmniVision in its Poco F5 predecessor to a 50MP Sony IMX 882 (LYT600) without really upping the size of the sensor too much (1/1.95", 0.8m - 1.6m).

The F6 Pro also swaps the 64MP main unit of the F5 Pro for a 50MP OmniVision OVX8000 one, but before you dismiss it as a downgrade, bear in mind that the new sensor is a larger one - 1/1.55" (1.0m - 2.0m) instead of 1/2.0". The new lens is also brighter (f/1.6 vs. f/1.8), making the F6 Pro sound a lot more promising for low-light endeavors.

The Poco F6 and F6 Pro do share an ultrawide camera setup. Both phones use an 8MP Sony IMX 355 (1/4.0", 1.12m) sensor. The 2MP macro unit is exclusive to the Pro, though, for what it's worth (not a whole lot).

As for selfies, the Poco F6 Pro also takes a different path from the plain F6, and it has a 16MP front-facing camera instead of the 20MP one on the F6. They also differ in their coverage, with the Pro having a more conventionally wide 24mm equivalent lens, while the vanilla model uses a wider 21mm lens.

Image quality

The Poco F6 Pro captures quite great daylight photos with its primary camera. Detail is excellent - random textures are rendered relatively naturally, and there's minimal grain in the skies.

The Poco F6's main camera does relatively well, too. The detail is very good, if not quite as organic as on the F6 Pro, while the noise is low, although there's still some fine grain here or there. The color rendition is quite likable - it's a notch below the Pro's slightly excessive pop. Dynamic range is great, too.





Main camera samples: Poco F6 Pro vs. Poco F6

The Poco F6 Pro does an excellent job of capturing people and faces.

The way the Poco F6 renders skin tones and faces, in general, isn't our favorite - some skin smoothing and whitening still remains despite us having disabled all the beautification features. It's not bad or anything, just not as good as it could be.



Main camera samples: Poco F6 Pro vs Poco F6

While both phones use the same ultrawide camera, at least as best we can tell, we did notice that the F6 Pro produced slightly nicer photos. Maybe the two different Snapdragons have their own specifics. Generally speaking, the ultrawide camera does alright, without shining in any particular manner, though we frankly expected worse from its unremarkable hardware.

Detail is alright, given the resolution, and whatever noise there is doesn't get in the way. On the vanilla model, in particular, colors can be a little muted, and there's a general aura of lifelessness, which we didn't experience on the Pro. To be fair, we'd have probably been just fine with the F6's shots, but it's just that the F6 Pro's are a little bit better.



Ultrawide camera samples: Poco F6 Pro vs. Poco F6

The Poco F6's main camera doesn't fear darkness and continues to deliver solid images at night. You don't need to worry much about going into night mode as the phone does well enough in full auto mode. Tonal development is very good; you'll typically get reasonably bright shadows and well-contained highlights. Detail and noise performance are good, and we have no major complaints about color either.

At 2x zoom, you can expect usable images, though looking at them at 1:1 will reveal their upscaled nature. The ultrawide camera's low-light photos are pretty meh. Dynamic range is alright, but colors are a little off. The images are also quite soft - more so than on the F6 Pro.



Low-light samples at 0.6x  1x  2x: Poco F6 Pro vs. Poco F6

The Poco F6 Pro captures very good photos with its main camera in low light. There is well-balanced exposure with good highlight preservation and shadow development.

The 2x zoom level remains usable at night, so long as you don't expect miracles when pixel-peeping. The ultrawide camera's photos are along the same vein. They look relatively good from afar in terms of exposure and dynamic range, though colors can be a bit overly warm and saturated.

Video quality

The Poco F6 and F6 Pro both have very similar video capture capabilities. Well, with the exception of 8K@24fps, which is only available on the Pro model. 8K on mobile is still kind of janky in most ways and not that different in quality from 4K, so we won't emphasize it much. The vanilla F6 also lacks the 4K@24fps cinematic option, which we can see being missed by some. Both phones have always-on stabilization and the option to choose between AVC/h.264 and HEVC/h.265.

4K clips from the main cameras of both phones are solid. The Poco F6 has very good detail at 30fps, which is on par with the F6 Pro's results, and there's a similar minor drop in quality at 60fps. The F6 is a bit more restrained in its color saturation than the Pro model, and we'd probably pick this one as the better rendition - it's more faithful without looking dull. The darker shadows do make for a slightly gloomier look, though. The ultrawide's 1080p videos are so-so - they're not particularly detailed, even for 1080p.

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Video screengrabs at 0.6x  1x  2x: Poco F6 Pro vs Poco F6

Stabilization on the Poco F6 series is alright. Walking shake does cause the occasional focus hunting on the main camera, but if you stay put, you'll avoid that issue, and the pans are smooth.

In the dark, the Poco F6's main camera does a respectable job - perhaps even slightly better than the Pro. The ultrawide is best avoided at night.

Verdict

Both the Poco F6 and the Poco F6 Pro came out as excellent "flagship killer" offers if we insist on putting labels. While they both have plenty of merits to stand on, making it truly hard to pick between the two, if we had to do so, we would probably personally go for the vanilla Poco F6.

With its notably lower price point, the F6 stands out as the better deal.

Sure, the extra performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 inside the Poco F6 Pro is nice, but in practical terms, the difference isn't that big and the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 is the newer chip of the two.

The same goes for the faster charging. Ten minutes or so more for a full charge isn't the end of the world, and the Poco F6 already chargers plenty fast for our taste.

And let's not forget that while the F6 Pro might be made of more premium materials like a glass back and aluminum frame, the vanilla Poco F6 has it beat arguably where it counts more  protection, with tis proper IP64 rating and Gorilla Glass Victus front.

Just to be perfectly clear, both the Poco F6 and F6 Pro are excellent devices and a great choice, but between the two, our pick would probably be the vanilla Poco F6.

Get the Xiaomi Poco F6 for: The lower price point.

The better protection, including IP64 and Gorilla Glass Victus on the front.

The slightly more natural videos from the main camera.
TikTok is preparing a second version of its algorithm code for its 170 million users in the United States, reports Reuters. According to multiple sources who spoke to the agency, the work on splitting the code began late last year, predating the Congress-approved bill that wants ByteDance to sell its business in the United States or be banned from the country.

The social media owner initially declined to comment, but later, a statement was posted on X, saying the story was misleading and factually inaccurate without providing further info on what exactly is inaccurate.

The report claimed hundreds of ByteDance and TikTok engineers both in the United States and China were ordered to begin separating millions of lines of code. The goal is to create a separate code base that is independent of systems used by Douyin  TikTok's twin platform in China.

The complexity of the task was described as tedious dirty work, and it might take over a year to complete. Each line of code has to be reviewed to determine if it can go into the US code base, complying with the legal requirements.

Once this project is completed, TikTok US will run and maintain its recommendation algorithm independently of TikTok apps in other regions. However, the company is aware that the platform might not be able to deliver the same level of performance, as it is currently relying on ByteDance engineers in China to update and maintain the code base to maximize user engagement.

Source 1  Source 2
(Editors note: This is part of an ongoing series of stories about Guams delegates to the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture or FestPac taking place in Honolulu from June 6 to 16, 2024. Cultural dancers, carvers, chanters, weavers, visual artists, traditional healers and literary artists are among them.)

Some 15 minutes before the deadline, Hannah Villagomez Sablan turned in her application to become a member of Guams delegation to the 13th Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture.

I was like, I dont know if Id be who theyd want. And so when I was selected, it was a mixture of shock and joy, she said, sharing her doubts amidst the hard work and passion for the literary arts.

Now, Sablan is one of Guams youngest literary artists to represent Guam at FestPac. This will be her first FestPac participation and first time to explore Hawaii.

It is such an honor to be asked and chosen to represent your island. Especially as a young artist, she said.

Being among Guams seasoned literary artists like Malia Ramirez and Matilda Naputi Rivera, she said she feels its going to be a big learning experience.

Shes excited to meet other writers from throughout the Pacific, hear their stories and make new friends.

Sablans poetry is centered around her family and friendships  a slice of life. She is working with other young literary art delegates Siobhon McManus and Samantha Barnett on a zine.

Its a mixture of the dispossessed and a coming home, a returning of home in solidarity with Palestinian genocide. Im hoping it becomes an opportunity to share and stand in solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters, Sablan said.

She said Guam is just two generations past World War II, during the Japanese occupation of Guam in the 1940s, and the memory is still very present in the islands grandparents and great grandparents who are still alive today.

FestPac, she said, is also an opportunity to speak about what happens to people when they go through those experiences and why its important to stand in solidarity with other people and to fight for them, too, she said.

She looks forward to being able to learn from other writers and broaden her writing community.

To have other people from the Pacific, I mean, the insight that they can bring into your own writings is unmatched, she said.

The young artist is looking forward to exploring Hawaii for the first time outside the airport to see their culture and history. Shes even asked people who went to school there what type of clothes she should bring based on the weather.

Shes also looking forward to reading her poetry that the University of Guam Press recently published in Storyboard 20.

Promoting the CHamoru language

UOG professor Matilda Naputi Rivera said promoting Guams language and culture with other like-minded individuals is very meaningful.

We want to ensure that it survives for generations to come, she said.

Although Guams literary arts delegation is a small number, they are still powerful as they are all published authors, she said.

Were all artists in our own rights, with our own publications, whether it be poetry or stories, different types of genre, she said.

They hope to spread the importance of the written word.

We come from an oral society, so being able to share this, the written word, and knowing that it will be passed on to the next generation is essential, she said.

Rivera was part of the literary arts delegation in the 2016 FestPac in Guam and it was a great experience, she said.

She met people from throughout the island nations who she would not have met otherwise and network with them.

It was nice to see indigenous languages were still alive, she said, but some places were seeing a decline so shes hoping that through literary arts, languages can be perpetuated and strengthened.

When Pacific islanders get together, its powerful, she said.

I feel proud and honored to be able to represent our island, Rivera said. And we hope youll be proud of what we do and what we share.

Onedera: Master storyteller

Master storyteller and longtime FestPac delegate Peter Onedera said hes excited for the event, and this will be the sixth FestPac hes been involved with although he didnt attend two, in person.

For the FestPac in Western Samoa, his script was used and in American Samoa, he organized the storytelling delegation.

Unlike previous FestPac events, which were held outdoors, this one will be hosted indoors, he said.

The highlight for him is getting to meet indigenous delegates from throughout Oceania from Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.

Getting to showcase literary arts publications from Guam, especially in the indigenous language, is something he looks forward to as well.

Onedera will be bringing a book he recently published with stories about COVID-19, both in English and CHamoru. He will also be bringing other publications hes written and produced in addition to his contributions to other books with various authors.

Another fun thing he looks forward to at FestPac is showcasing indigenous languages from throughout the Pacific. There will be an interactive set up where a word in English will be placed and anyone who comes to the area can write what the word is in their native language.

Thats a very fun thing to do...It just involves sharing and imparting your own indigenous language in the written form, he said.

Onedera and other members of Guams literary arts delegation got together weeks ago at Asiga to showcase some of the work they will be bringing to Honolulu.

Its a multi-generational delegation  representing literary artists in their 20s to those in their 70s.

The team

Guams literary arts delegation consists of two FestPac veterans and elders, Peter Onedera and Malia Ramirez.

The chair of the committee is Michael Lujan Bevacqua and co-chair is Victoria-Lola Leon Guerrero, who is the head of the University of Guam Press.

Rounding out the rest of the delegation are local educators, up and coming scholars, writers and activists: Rivera, Johanna Salinas, Siobhon McManus, Samantha Marley Barnett and Sablan.

FestPac is important, Onedera said, because it was created to promote, nurture, showcase and allow indigenous artists, craftsmen, storytellers, chanters, dancers and navigators to impart their art form to the rest of the region.

Many of the indigenous populations throughout Oceania are minorities in their own homelands and its important to showcase and allow indigenous artists to network, he said.

Onedera also said many of the indigenous artists are not privy to the modern-day opportunities available like facilities or venues, from publishing companies to marketplaces and so forth.

As an island boy and indigenous to Guam and someone who speaks, reads and writes in CHamoru, he feels he has something worthwhile to contribute.

Highlight what Guam has to offer, he said.

Onedera said Guam is sending a strong caliber of people to represent the island at FestPac.

Each of us is bringing something different, he said. Something unique, something special about our individual work, and thats what makes it exciting.
Owen Hatherley at the London Review of Books:

Adorno is easily parodied. Photos on social media show him frog-like, myopic and bald, denouncing the willing consumption of dross, the personal embodiment of a refusal to let people enjoy things. Another meme features Reverend Lovejoy from The Simpsons derisively brandishing a copy of Minima Moralia: You ever sat down and read this thing? (In the original, its the Bible the reverend is holding up to ridicule.) Others use an image of Adorno in a one-piece swimsuit at the beach, looking as if hes quietly enjoying himself  a more winsome George Costanza. These memes are surely made by people who had to study Adorno at university. They will probably have read the depressive aphorisms of Minima Moralia and some fragments from Dialectic of Enlightenment on the culture industry; a few unfortunates will have had to tackle the thickets of Aesthetic Theory or Negative Dialectics. Along with the parodies come received ideas: Adorno the grouch, Adorno the scourge of mass media, Adorno the mandarin Marxist; or, as Ben Watson puts it in his counterweight, Adorno for Revolutionaries (2011), Adorno as a kind of German T.S. Eliot without the practical cats.

Adornos aesthetics are extreme. He is an easy man to caricature, Watson writes, because he believed in exaggeration as a means of telling the truth. But he was no misanthrope.

more here.
Following a contentious six-week trial, on Thursday afternoon a jury found former President Donald Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican nominee, guilty of all 34 felony counts for falsifying business records involving a payment made to silence porn star Stormy Daniels over an alleged sexual encounter.

News of the jurys decision spread swiftly, with politicians across Florida taking to social media to share their reactions  and the states Republican leaders expressing outrage.

Todays verdict represents the culmination of a legal process that has been bent to the political will of the actors involved: a leftist prosecutor, a partisan judge and a jury reflective of one of the most liberal enclaves in Americaall in an effort to get Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said in a post to X. In America, the rule of law should be applied in a dispassionate, even-handed manner, not become captive to the political agenda of some kangaroo court.

Todays verdict represents the culmination of a legal process that has been bent to the political will of the actors involved: a leftist prosecutor, a partisan judge and a jury reflective of one of the most liberal enclaves in Americaall in an effort to get Donald Trump.



That  Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 30, 2024

The verdict in New York is a complete travesty that makes a mockery of our system of justice, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, said in his own post on X. A political show trial conducted by an openly pro-Biden judge whose daughter makes money off the case, a jury from the most liberal county in America, absurd and ridiculous charges and outrageous jury instructions that guaranteed guilty verdicts Biden and the Trump deranged left will stop at nothing to remain in power.

The verdict in New York is a complete travesty that makes a mockery of our system of justice



A political show trial conducted by an openly pro-Biden judge whose daughter makes money off the case, a jury from the most liberal county in America, absurd and ridiculous charges and  Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) May 30, 2024

U.S. Rep. Mike Waltz, R-Florida, also took to X to share his thoughts, posting, Heres the new, sad chapter to our country. If Political Opponents Can Do This To The Former President, They Can Do It To Anyone.

Heres the new, sad chapter to our country.



If Political Opponents Can Do This To The Former President, They Can Do It To Anyone



After today, you dont just put your reputation on the line when you enter politics against the Democrats, you now put your freedom on the line.  Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) May 30, 2024

Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody posted her thoughts on social media as well, writing, So many Americans will remember today, the day partisan prosecutors hijacked our criminal justice system to go after a political opponent, shaking the foundation of this countrybuilt upon the rule of law applied evenly, fairly and blindly to all. There is a reason for appellate review and the errors in this trial are just as blatant as the reasons the charges were brought.

So many Americans will remember today, the day partisan prosecutors hijacked our criminal justice system to go after a political opponent, shaking the foundation of this countrybuilt upon the rule of law applied evenly, fairly and blindly to all. There is a reason for appellate  AG Ashley Moody (@AGAshleyMoody) May 30, 2024

Meanwhile, some of the states elected Democrats had a much different take on the verdict.

U.S. Rep. Darren Soto, D-Florida, posted, Fmr Pres Trump had his day in court and finally faced justice. This case proves once again that no one is above the law in our country. We must respect the jurys decision and let the appeals process play out.

Fmr Pres Trump had his day in court and finally faced justice. This case proves once again that no one is above the law in our country.



We must respect the jurys decision and let the appeals process play out. https://t.co/MSIpjirEPl  Rep. Darren Soto (@RepDarrenSoto) May 30, 2024

And in a post that was reposted by the chair of Floridas Democratic Party, Nikki Fried, U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, D-Florida, shared, A former president being convicted is nothing to be celebrated, but it is an affirmation that nobody is above the law. This verdict was reached by a jury of Trumps peers, by citizens of the American justice system, not by a judge or by a political opponent.
Whether youre a professional actor or someone whos always wanted to give it a try, there are several productions set to film soon in the Sunshine State  and they have roles to fill.

Florida has long been a popular setting for filmmakers. Scarface was filmed throughout South Florida. Caddyshack includes scenes filmed in Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton. Ace Ventura: Pet Detective shot scenes in Miami. Bad Boys for Life filmed in Miami Beach and The Florida Project was filmed in Kissimmee and Osceola County  to name a few.

According to Backstage, a platform that connects actors and crew with film and television projects, four films and one reality production are set to film across Florida from Miami to Tampa and New Port Richey and of those roles might be meant just for you.

Ethan Bloom

Ethan Bloom is described as a coming of age comedy about a thirteen-year-old Jewish boy who decides to convert to Catholicism and become an altar boy, against the wishes of father, who wants him to have his bar mitzvah.

The film will star Jamie Lynn Sigler and Victor Rasuk and they are currently seeking a hairdresser and a makeup artist from the Miami area for positions that pay up to $1,500 per week.

A coming of age comedy about a teen who wrestles with loss, spiritual identity, and first love.Phots courtesy of Indiebloom

A Quarter Past Midnight

This feature film project is seeking talent from Palm Beach, Tampa, Miami and Fort Lauderdale for roles that pay up to $100 per day.

Current openings include a lead newscaster role, ages 30-70, an all-day female player, age 25 to 50 and hired rebels of all genders and ethnicities, who are between the ages of 25 and 50.

Untitled Horror Short Project

While not yet a feature film, its creators call it a bold 90s style horror short that will serve as a proof of concept for a feature film thats currently in development for submission to film festivals next year.

Producers are currently seeking Tampa area talent for a lead female (ages 24-34) that they describe as cute girl next door, edgy, honest to a fault. They also need a supporting male (ages 35-55) who is at least 511 to play an intimidating predator and a smart, smooth talking southerner who is a die-hard worshiper of the Devil.

Throwing Stones

Throwing Stones is a feature film seeking talent from the New Port Richey and Orlando areas to fill the lead role of Maddy Walker (ages 13-21), who is described as a complex teenager with deep-rooted insecurities.

The story is told backward in a nonlinear fashion, beginning at the tragic end of her life and working backwards to discover the trauma that led to her demise. The role pays a $500 flat rate.

Angry Neighbor

If reality television is more your thing, producers are seeking talent from the Miami area to fill the lead role of angry neighbor, a character between the ages of 35 and 75, who is being asked questions by a news network. According to production, Its for a satire funny video. The segment will be 15 to 30 seconds long and the job pays about $30 per hour.
Drew Brees getting announced as a Class of 2024 New Orleans Saints Hall of Famer Thursday wasnt surprising. What was surprising was his response when asked about the rumors of a potential 2021 return to the Saints.

Very serious, Brees said. Very, Ill just leave it at that.

New Orleans lost Jameis Winston with a season-ending injury, Taysom Hill dealt with multiple injuries that season and Trevor Siemian had COVID-19 in December. Brees admitted his right arm stopped him from returning that season.

At the end of the day its like how capable? Brees said. How capable am I to do the job? I wouldve run QB draws, I wouldve done whatever. I wouldve run some veer option, we wouldve pulled out all the stops. I was ready, pull out the high school playbook.

Brees retired following the 2020 season after the Saints went 12-4 and lost in the Divisional round to the Tom Brady-led Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In 2021 the Saints went 9-8 and missed the playoffs, and still havent been back since Brees final season. Winston, Siemian, Hill and Ian Book all started games for New Orleans in 2021.

Certainly to have it be in a situation like that where youre not able to really be there with the fans and celebrate it with all those who are so important, Brees said. I felt like there was a little bit of a lack of closure. And honestly if my right arm was still working I probably wouldve played another three years. My body feels great. My body could play, my right arm cant. Unfortunately thats what kind of forced me to step away.

His last game at the Superdome with fans was the 2019 Wild Card round, which ended in an overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

I try not think about the glance back in the dome because I wish it wouldve been with a packed house, Brees said. And just that energy that is synonymous with the Superdome that Ill always remember and what we always fed off of every gameday. My image of the dome is much different than that last moment.

Brees doesnt even throw with his right arm when playing catch with his kids anymore. He said doctors told him hes on track to a degenerative shoulder, basically meaning hed have minimal use with it.

I can drop a dime like 30 yards left-handed, Brees said. Unfortunately you need a little bit more than that to compete at this level.




Haiti - FLASH : InterCaribbean Airways announces the resumption of its services





Interrupted since the beginning of March 2024 for security reasons, interCaribbean Airways announces the resumption of its flights to/from Port-au-Prince, from June 11, 2024 . The airline will operate twice-weekly service on Tuesdays and Sundays, with two flights per day. The resumption of service will now make it easier for passengers to travel to and from Haiti and vice versa.



Flight schedule from Turks and Caicos Islands to Toussaint Louverture International Airport, Haiti:



Tuesday outbound flight number JY0216 will depart from Providenciales to Port-au-Prince on Tuesday. The flight will depart at 11:30 a.m. and arrive at 12:30 p.m. Return flight JY0217 will depart Haiti at 1:00 p.m. and arrive in the Turks and Caicos Islands at 2:00 p.m.



On Sunday, flight number JY0216 will operate from Providenciales to Port-au-Prince. The flight will depart at 11:30 a.m. and arrive at 12:30 p.m. Return flight JY0217 will depart Haiti at 1:00 p.m. and arrive in Turks and Caicos at 2:00 p.m.



While demonstrating their utmost dedication and commitment to the Caribbean region, interCaribbean Airways serves the Turks and Caicos Islands non-stop from Antigua, Cap-Haitien, Grand Turk, Havana, Kingston, Nassau, Ocho Rios, Port -au-Prince, Santiago and Santo Domingo.



For those traveling from the Caribbean, Sunrise Airways https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42348-haiti-flash-sunrise-airways-flight-resumption-schedule-according-to-destinations.html , InterCaribbean Airways and BahamasAir https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42073-haiti-flash-bahamasair-announces-the-resumption-of-its-flights-to-cap-haitien.html offer flight options practice.



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42348-haiti-flash-sunrise-airways-flight-resumption-schedule-according-to-destinations.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42073-haiti-flash-bahamasair-announces-the-resumption-of-its-flights-to-cap-haitien.html



S/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Appointment of the PM published in Le Moniteur

Wednesday May 29, 2024, the decree appointing Garry Conille as Prime Minister was published in special issue #25 of the official newspaper Le Moniteur, accompanied by the minutes of his appointment https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-42432-haiti-flash-garry-conille-unanimously-elected-pm.html . Furthermore, and subject to all reservations, the Ministerial Cabinet of the Transitional Government, the transitional ministerial cabinet could be formed as early as the next weekend for an installation scheduled for the beginning of next week...



An actively wanted thief arrested

Actively wanted by the Departmental Service of the Judicial Police (SDPJ) of the South East, for burglary and night theft in an organized gang, Cyprien Junior, was arrested by the Police in Anse-a-Pitres when he was preparing to leave the country to take refuge in the Dominican Republic.



Resumption of American Airlines flights

The U.S. Embassy welcomes American Airlines' decision to resume flights to Port-au-Prince and expects other U.S. airlines to do the same soon. We thank the National Civil Aviation Office (OFNAC), the National Airport Authority (AAN), the Haitian National Police (PNH), the airport staff and security services who worked together to reinforce security conditions at Toussaint Louverture International Airport.



Argentina : University agreement

This May 29, 2024, the Ambassador of Haiti to Argentina, Vilbert Belizaire, on behalf of Rector Fritz Deshommes, signed a framework agreement for academic, cultural and scientific cooperation between the State University of Haiti and the Catholic University of Laplata (UCL) represented by the Rector Rita Marcela Gajate. Haitian students will be able to benefit from study scholarships in person and/or virtually in the fields of health sciences, odontology, law, engineering and health sciences information (...), in the different faculties of UCL. To be continued...



30% women in the next Government ?

The "Fanm Yo La" Organization urges the Presidential Council and PM Garry Conille to respect a quota of 30% of women in the formation of the Government. The organization encourages the authorities to choose competent personalities to form the Government.



The BRH at the 62nd biannual meeting of governors

The Governor of the Bank of the Republic of Haiti, Mr. Gabriel Ronald, accompanied by the Executive Director of the BRH Fund for Research and Development, Hancy Pierre-Louis, the Director of International Affairs of the BRH, Edwige Jean and the Representative of Haiti to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, Ms. Ketleen Florestal, participates in the 62nd biannual meeting of Caricom governors which is held virtually on May 30 and 31, 2024.



HL/ HaitiLibre


















The groups are always reformed at the start of the term, and we want changes to the group that make it more cohesive on foreign and security policy, she said to Helsingin Sanomat on Tuesday.

CHAIRPERSON of the Left Alliance Li Andersson says The Left, one of the seven political groups in the European Parliament, should clean out members who question support for Ukraine and show sympathy for Russia.

The Left Alliance is part of The Left in the European Parliament.

Helsingin Sanomat reported earlier this week that several members of the political group voted this term against resolutions concerning Ukraine, questioning the need for support  especially military support  for Ukraine. Some members have also criticised the economic sanctions slapped on Russia over its war of aggression in Ukraine.

An analysis conducted by the newspaper found that the group has divided on votes concerning Ukraine, with support coming from parties from the Nordics and opposition from parties in Central and Southern Europe.

Andersson, who herself is vying for a seat in the European Parliament, pointed out that The Left has nonetheless unanimously condemned the war of aggression prosecuted by Russia.

Ive stressed that there are certain things we wont compromise on. The entire group has condemned the war unequivocally. Had that not been the case, we wouldve left the group or someone else wouldve had to leave, she stated.

On other issues, you can see that other parties differ from us in terms of their security policy analysis. They dont reflect the thinking of the Left Alliance.

How Russia and Ukraine support are viewed by other parties in the group is becoming a threshold question within the Left Alliance  one that defines what parties are capable of co-operation, according to Helsingin Sanomat.

Andersson said MEPs Clare Daly and Mick Wallace from Ireland, two fierce critics of support for Ukraine, can no longer sit with The Left. Despite also parroting Russian propaganda and seeking to torpedo resolutions on Russia, Daly and Wallace have been allowed to continue as members of The Left.

The Nordic Green Left, [the umbrella party for left-wing parties in the Nordics], as a whole is of the opinion that if they manage to win re-election, they cant join our group, stated Andersson.

Sahra Wagenknecht, a German left-wing populist who has opposed military aid to Ukraine and called for the resumption of gas trade with Russia, is similarly not welcome to The Left, according to Andersson.

Well represent our stance in every vote. MEPs of the Left Alliance will vote in favour of supporting Ukraine, she pledged.

Helsingin Sanomat on Wednesday wrote that the European Parliaments political groups have generated more discussion than previously in the run-up to the elections, a reflection of the groups growing importance in decision-making.

Johanna Kantola, a professor of political science at the University of Helsinki, said to the newspaper that the groups have marked differences: while the largest groups in the parliament  the centre-right EPP, the social democratic S&D and liberal Renew Europe  have highlighted their European and supranational nature, some of it has been lip service.

National interests are visible in votes and the groups exercise no group discipline, she said.

The Greens and European Free Alliance is a genuinely supranational group with a shared set of values, according to Kantola.

Finnish parties in the European Parliament have been aligned as follows: the Christian Democrats, Movement Now and National Coalition have been part of the EPP, the Finns Party of the ECR, the Social Democrats of S&D, the Centre and Swedish Peoples Party of Renew Europe, the Left Alliance of The Left, and the Green League of the Greens and EFA.

Riikka Purra, the chairperson of the Finns Party, stated in mid-May that the Finns Party would stay in the ECR even if the group was joined by Fidesz, the party led by authoritarian Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.

We dont have another group to go to, and you cant be without a group. Thats when you need other structures that make it possible to co-exist, she was quoted saying in Brussels on 14 May by Helsingin Sanomat.

Aleksi Teivainen  HT
(New York Jewish Week) - "I've always wanted to write about the Holocaust," the playwright Moises Kaufman, son of a Romanian Holocaust survivor, told me this week. "But it's the one thing in history that has been most written about. What is there new to say?"

One answer came in an article on the front page of the New York Times, dated Sept. 19, 2017, about a remarkable album of photographs donated anonymously to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. More than 100 carefully mounted snapshots depict Nazi soldiers and unidentified young women in relaxed poses - sunbathing, enjoying an accordion rec...
As time passes, the pain of losing a loved one may evolve either becoming more manageable or more intensifying. Theres no set timeline for healing as each person navigates grief in their own way. Finding outlets for emotions can be beneficial whether through journaling, creating a photo collage, immersing oneself in music, or simply taking a walk.

For those seeking support, the Jewish Pavilion and various hospice groups stand ready to accompany individuals on their grief journeys. These bereavement support services aim to help individuals adjust to their losses by acknowledging the normalcy o...
(JTA) - For Rabbi Jill Hausman, spiritual leader of the Actors' Temple in Manhattan's Theater District, working with celebrities comes with the job description.

So when she saw an email on Thursday from "Saturday Night Live," asking her to be on that week's show, she knew she had to accept.

"If opportunities come along, it's such great fun for me to be in something with other people," she told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. "If people come to me with an opportunity, as long as I can, I'll try to say yes. It's kind of like saying yes to life."

In this case, the gig involved a surprise appearanc...
Written by Phelim McAleer, the play October 7  with performances now through June 16 at the Actors Temple in New York  tells the story of Israels darkest day by using the compelling and dramatic accounts of those who lived through it performed by a cast of 14. October 7 is a 100 percent verbatim play consisting entirely of stories from those who were there. The interviews were conducted by veteran Irish journalists McAleer and Ann McElhinney who traveled to Israel in the immediate aftermath of the attacks.

October 7 brings together accounts from those who experienced Oct. 7. Their exp...
By

Toby Klein is no stranger to standing out and challenging the status quo.

She successfully navigated coming out as gay to her Orthodox community, chose to do her doctorate researching Holocaust education at the University of Arkansas and spent time doing abortion advocacy work in the conservative southern state before becoming program manager for the Jewish LGBTQ+ advocacy organization A Wider Bridge.

But Klein's work advocating for Israel since Oct. 7 has made her stand out like never before. It has earned her opprobrium from LGBTQ+ activists she thought were her friends and praise from Zi...
(Jewish Journal via JNS)  Across the country, angry protesters have been blocking highways, heckling political leaders and setting up tent encampments on college campuses, all to protest a non-existent genocide.

But when a real genocide is unfolding, nobodys interested.

New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof reported last week that genocide appears to be erupting again in the Sudanese region of Darfur. Some of the same Arab forces responsible for the genocide in the 2000s are picking up where they left off, Kristof writes. They are massacring, torturing, raping and mutilating members o...
Temple Israel proved there was a lot to celebrate at their 70th Anniversary Simcha on Sunday, May 19.

As more than 115 guests walked through the doors into the breezeway, they enjoyed catered appetizers, drinks, and plenty of fun in the photo booth. After the cocktail hour, which featured beautiful music from Edgewater High School's string quartet, attendees took their seats in the Roth Social Hall to enjoy a full program of events. Temple Israel Vice President Sarah Landerman welcomed guests followed by past Temple Israel Rabbi Gary Perras saying HaMotzi. Congregants Lizzie Anglada and David...
(Israel Hayom via JNS)  Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei oversaw a memorial service at Tehran University on Wednesday to honor President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and others killed in a recent helicopter crash.

Oh Allah, we didnt see anything but good from him [Raisi], Khamenei said in the standard prayer for the dead in Arabic.

Irans acting president, Mohammad Mokhber, stood nearby and openly wept during the service. People then carried the coffins out on their shoulders, chanting, Death to America! followed by a crowd estimated in the tens of thousands...
(JNS)  The Hamas terrorist organization has profited at least $500 million off humanitarian aid coming into the Gaza Strip since the start of the war on Oct. 7, according to a report that aired on Israels Channel 12 last week.

Veteran analyst Ehud Yaari, a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told the broadcaster on Thursday that, according to a calculation he made with a friendI dont know if Im allowed to mention his name, Hamas earned no less than half a billion dollars from the aid.

We provide [this] for them, said the Arab affairs analyst, adding: We need to...
(JNS)  Jewish Voice for Peace is being criticized and ridiculed widely on social media after the anti-Israel, far-left group claimed that Israel scheduled the holidays Yom Hashoah, Yom Hazikaron and Yom Haatzmaut to eclipse Nakba Day.

Yesterday, the Israeli government ended its yearly cycle of state holidays that sequentially commemorates the Holocaust, Israeli militarism and the creation of the State of Israel, JVP wrote on Tuesday. The sequencing of these holidays was intentionally designed to conclude and obscure May 15, the day Palestinians mark the ongoing Nakba. (The Nakba refers...
(JNS)  Close to three-fourths of the humanitarian aid transported from a new $320 million floating pier built by the U.S. military off the Gaza coast was stolen on Saturday en route to a U.N. warehouse, Reuters reported on May 21.

Eleven trucks were cleaned out by Palestinians on the journey to the World Food Programme warehouse in Deir El Balah in the central Strip, with only five truckloads making it to the destination.

Theyve not seen trucks for a while, a U.N. official told Reuters. They just basically mounted on the trucks and helped themselves to some of the food parcels.

Accordi...
(JNS)  Only a fortnight after the start of the Israel Defense Forces targeted operation in Rafah, almost a million Palestinians have been evacuated from the city to humanitarian zones, according to a military estimate made public on Monday.

According to the IDF, 950,000 Palestinians have already left the Hamas stronghold on the Egyptian border. Approximately 300,000 to 400,000 noncombatants remain in Rafah, primarily in the coastal area and parts of the city center, Ynet cited army officials as saying.

Almost all of themsome 300,000are expected to remain in Rafah, similar to the number of...
(Israel Hayom via JNS)  Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley is scheduled to pay a solidarity visit to Israel next week.

Haley, who served as ambassador during Trumps presidency, plans to tour communities near the Gaza border as well as in the north of the country during her visit, which is set to begin on Monday, according to former Israeli U.N. envoy Danny Danon, who is to accompany her. She is also scheduled to meet with Israeli leaders and senior security officials.

Haleys visit comes after a group of former Trump administration foreign policy officials met with Isra...
(JTA)  Spain, Norway and Ireland said Wednesday they would formally recognize a Palestinian state, a sign of Israels challenges on the global stage.

The countries portrayed the step as an attempt to salvage long-dormant prospects for progress toward a two-state solution, creating a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Israel castigated the move as a reward for Hamas Oct. 7 attack, which launched the current war.

Last month I stood on these same steps with Prime Minister Sanchez of Spain, and we said that the point of recognizing the state of Palestine was coming closer, Irish Prime Ministe...
(JNS)  Knesset member Limor Son Har-Melech said on Tuesday that foreign countries, and in particular Pakistan, were developing a Palestinian army.

This army is being trained in foreign countries, is practiced, and armed, and plans to continue the atrocities that were carried out by Hamas on October 7th. They are just waiting for the correct moment to strike at the rest of the Israeli populace, she told the Knesset plenum.

Son Har Hamelech quoted a joint investigation by HaKol HaYehudi and the Struggle for Every Dunam organizations claiming members of the Palestinian Authority Security For...
(JNS)  A group of pro-Israel Christian college students demonstrated their support for the Jewish state with a solidarity walk-in at the University of California, Los Angeles on Monday.

Members of the organization Passages joined Students Supporting Israel on the Westwood campus to celebrate Israels 76th Independence Day.

According to Passages, the walk-in concept was created to counter the anti-Israel walk-outs in recent months that have turned universities into hostile environments for Jewish and Zionist students and faculty.

Passages participants wore Christians stand with the Jewi...
(JNS)  Israel will not engage in a full-scale military offensive in Gazas southernmost city of Rafah. Instead, it will continue its limited operation in the last Hamas bastion, with the blessing of the Biden administration, according to Washington Post analyst David Ignatius.

In an opinion piece published on May 20 citing sources familiar with the matter, the newspapers senior commentator wrote that the framework for eventually ending the Gaza war became more clear after a just-wrapped trip to Saudi Arabia and Israel by U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Brett McGurk, the U.S....
(JTA)  Pro-Palestinian encampment protesters at dozens of universities have called for their administrations to divest from Israel.

But on two campuses, activists are asking their schools to split from organizations closer to home that they say are complicit in Israeli crimes.

At Drexel University in Philadelphia and the University of California, Santa Cruz, pro-Palestinian protesters have demanded their universities cut ties with, or terminate the presence of, the schools Hillel chapters. The Drexel protesters also demand that the university Immediately terminate Drexel Chabad, an outpo...
(JNS)  An estimated 50 cross-border tunnels link Gaza to Egypts Sinai, enabling Hamas to smuggle weapons, funds and personnel, and black-market traders to import a range of goods to the Strip.

Yoni Ben Menachem, a senior researcher at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, said that since the Israel Defense Forces has not yet captured all of Rafah and the Philadelphi Corridor, aka the Philadelphi Route or the Saladin Axis (the narrow strip of land along the 8.7-mile border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt), the estimate for the number of tunnels could easily rise.

The current IDF operation...
(JNS)  Members of the U.N. Security Council, including the United States, observed a minute of silence on Monday in memory of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash on Sunday.

Footage posted on social media showed the bodys 15 representatives rising to honor the memory of the leader, known as the Butcher of Tehran for his role in the 1988 execution of 30,000 political prisoners.

The video shows Robert Wood, deputy U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, joining in the minute of silence alongside representatives of the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Japan, Sout...
Foxx warns spineless college leaders of healthy dose of reality at hearings

(JNS)  Three more university leaders will face questions from congressional representatives regarding antisemitic rhetoric and intimidation on their U.S. campuses promulgated by anti-Israel protesters.

Members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce will conduct a hearing titled Calling for Accountability: Stopping Antisemitic College Chaos on Thursday, when they will demand explanations from Northwestern University president Michael Schill; Rutgers University president Jonathan Holloway; and Gene...
(JNS)  If youre keeping track, Biden announced that America was going to spend two months building a floating pier to deliver aid to Gaza at a cost of $300 million that would be operated by the U.S. military.

Then the pier came under attack by terrorists, was withdrawn to the Israeli port of Ashdod for repairs while the Biden administration conducted backchannel talks with Hamas urging it not to attack the pier, then redeployed for aid deliveries. And its been a smashing success. For Hamas.

The good news was the Pentagon press secretarys announcement that 569 metric tons of humanitarian as...
(JNS)  The demonization of Israel and antisemitism on campus may be more intense than in the past, but its not new. This is why it is even more damning that the Jewish community was ineffective in acting before the smoke turned into a blaze.

As early as 1983, I wrote about the propaganda war on campus in the Jewish newspaper in Berkeley, Calif. We should not let ourselves be intimidated by individuals or crowds, I wrote. One problem was that there are very few students on this campus with the knowledge, articulateness and inclination to debate with our antagonists. Out of 5,000 Jews on c...
(JNS)  There are increasing signs that the Jewish vote may be shifting away from the Democrats. A poll taken of New York voters in February showed that 53 percent of Jewish voters intend to vote for Donald Trump in November. A Bulwark article this month reported that Jewish donors appear to be moving towards the Republicans due to U.S. President Joe Bidens troubling policies on the Israel-Hamas war.

While there is a paucity of additional surveys on how Jews intend to vote in November, a Pew survey taken in February found that 89 percent of American Jews favor Israel in its war against Hamas....
(JNS)  The International Committee of the Red Cross explains the purpose of the rules of war by stating, The rules of war or international humanitarian law are a set of international rules that set out what can and cannot be done during an armed conflict. The main purpose of international humanitarian law is to maintain some humanity in armed conflicts, saving lives and reducing suffering. To do that, international humanitarian law regulates how wars are fought.

The rules of war are universal, it claims. The Geneva Conventions (which are the core element of international humanitarian law...
(JNS)  The open split been between the Biden administration and the Israeli government as to how Israel should conduct war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip has become a gut-wrenching policy dispute while the goal to expunge the terror organization is still ongoing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahus recent public statement, Israel is not a vassal state of the United States, is evidence of how both pungent and exasperating policy and personal divergence has become.

U.S. President Joe Biden has taken the bold step of dispatching cabinet level interlocutors to Israel to seek separate a...
(JNS)  An ex-U.S. State Department official believes that he has come up with a brand-new, innovative, never-before-tried way to reach peace in the Middle East: Give more territory to the Palestinian Authority.

How many times will these guys try to sell us this bridge to nowhere? These same dangerous ideas?

The new scheme is to give the Gaza Strip to the P.A. This proposal comes from David Makovsky, who used to be the right-hand man to Martin Indyk, the most pro-Palestinian U.S. ambassador to Israel in history. For more than 20 years, Makovsky has been pressing Israel to give more land to t...
Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) published an update to the frequently asked questions (FAQs) webpage concerning the Change Healthcare cybersecurity incident. The webpage, first published on April 19, 2024, provides answers to FAQs concerning the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Rules and the cybersecurity incident impacting Change Healthcare, a unit of UnitedHealth Group (UHG), and many other health care entities.

OCR enforces the HIPAA Privacy, Security, and Breach Notification Rules, which sets forth the requirements that HIPAA covered entities (health plans, health care clearinghouses, and most health care providers) and their business associates must follow to protect the privacy and security of protected health information and the required notifications to HHS and affected individuals following a breach.

Ensuring patient privacy is one of the pillars of HIPAA. Our updated FAQs webpage on the Change Healthcare breach reiterates that importance by making clear that individuals affected by this breach must be notified that their protected health information was breached. This ensures that the potentially millions of Americans, including the elderly, the disabled, those with limited English proficiency, those with limited access to technology, and more, will understand the impact of this breach on their private medical records and their health care, said OCR Director Melanie Fontes Rainer. Affected covered entities that want Change Healthcare to provide breach notifications on their behalf should contact Change Healthcare. All of the required HIPAA breach notifications may be performed by Change Healthcare. We encourage all parties to take the necessary steps to ensure that the HIPAA breach notifications are prioritized.

The webpage updates address questions OCR has received concerning who is responsible for performing breach notification to HHS, affected individuals, and where applicable the media. Specifically, the FAQs make clear that:

Covered entities affected by the Change Healthcare breach may delegate to Change Healthcare the tasks of providing the required HIPAA breach notifications on their behalf.

Only one entity  which could be the covered entity itself or Change Healthcare  needs to complete breach notifications to affected individuals, HHS, and where applicable the media.

If covered entities work with Change Healthcare to perform the required breach notifications in a manner consistent with the HITECH Act and HIPAA Breach Notification Rule, they would not have additional HIPAA breach notification obligations.

The new and updated FAQs on the Change Healthcare Cybersecurity Incident may be viewed at: https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/change-healthcare-cybersecurity-incident-frequently-asked-questions/index.html.

The HHS Breach Portal: Notice to the Secretary of HHS Breach of Unsecured Protected Health Information may be found at: https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/breach/breach_report.jsf.

OCR is committed to enforcing the HIPAA Rules that protect the privacy and security of peoples health information. Guidance about the Privacy Rule, Security Rule, and Breach Notification Rules can also be found on OCRs website.

If you believe that your or another persons health information privacy or civil rights have been violated, you can file a complaint with OCR at https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/complaints/index.html.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his 45-hour long meditation at the famous Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Tamil Nadus Kanniyakumari on Thursday evening. Marking the end of his election campaign, Modi opted to meditate at the Dhyan Mandapam, the place where revered philosopher Swami Vivekananda is believed to have received a divine message about Bharat Mata. The location for this dhyan is one of immense cultural, and therefore political, significance.

Born Narendranath Datta into a rich Bengali kayastha family in Kolkata and provided western education, Swami Vivekananda (18631902) displayed an inclination towards spirituality from a young age. Today, he remains an important and popular ethnocultural icon in contemporary India and is particularly known through his discipleship of Sri Ramakrishna (1836 1886).

After Ramakrishnas death, Vivekananda travelled to America in 1893, where he spoke at the Worlds Parliament of Religions in Chicago, following which he embarked on a lecture tour of America and Europe, attracting a mass following of converts to his teachings and mission (Vedanta).

In 1894, he founded the Vedanta Society of New York and published numerous monographs and lectures. In 1897, he returned to immense popularity in India, establishing the Ramakrishna Math and Mission in Kolkata.

Most notably, however, Vivekananda finds immense popularity as an icon of Hindu nationalism and right-wing Indian politics, particularly among the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) who began appropriating his legacy early on. He is hailed as a hero, one amongst many 19th-century Hindutva icons, who contributed to a nationalist discourse through the galvanisation of Hindus.

The politicisation of Vivekanandas Memorial

In an 1894 letter, Vivekananda recalled that he had hit upon a plan in Kanniyakumari in 1892, whereby sanyasins would be called upon to educate Indias needy. In the 1940s, the Ramakrishna Math and Mission began to curate sites of sacred geography linked to Vivekananda, including his ancestral home in Kolkata.

Looking to appropriate heroes for its Hindu Rashtra ideology, it was the RSS that spearheaded the campaign to establish a memorial on the occasion of his birth centenary (1963) in Kanniyakumari, not Kolkata. This has had the consequence of ensuring that no other part of India is as closely tied up with his memory.

In 1962, M S Golwalkar, the then RSS supremo appointed Eknath Ranade (1914-1982) the head of a committee of RSS Ramakrishna Mission members to mobilise support for building a memorial in his honour on Sripada rock, off the coast of Kanniyakumari. The site was of immense significance to Hindus since a small indentation in the rock is believed to be the footprint or sripada of the eponymous Devi Kanya Kumari after whom the town is named.

Simultaneously, however, local Christian fishermen, who believed the rock had also been visited by Saint Francis Xavier (1506-52 CE), erected a cross on the site to lay claim to it. Fearing communal tension, the Tamil Nadu government headed by Chief minister M Bhaktavatsam had prohibited the placing of any memorial on the rock.

Following a judicial probe, however, it was found that the cross was trespassing, and was surreptitiously removed overnight. A tablet commemorating Sripada rock as Vivekananda rock was set up in 1963.

The RSS-backed All India Swami Vivekananda Centenary Celebration and Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee led a campaign to overturn this ban. The two biggest opponents to RSS plans of co-opting Vivekananda were M Bhaktavatsam, who was a Gandhian and freedom movement leader and the then Union cultural affairs minister, Humayun Kabir, father of Altmas Kabir, the 39th Chief Justice of India.

Ranade led a campaign against Kabir in Kolkata, where he claimed that Kabir was preventing the creation of Vivekanandas memorial, forcing him to retract his stand.

The final stage of Ranades plan involved convincing Indias Parliament of the committees goal. Upon being presented with the signatures of over 320 Members of Parliament, Bhaktavatsam green-lit the project.

Construction on the Memorial finally began in 1964 and was opened to the public as a national monument in 1970.

Constructing a public narrative

Establishing myths and legends around popular icons assists in strengthening cultic reverence towards them. The same, of course, is true with Vivekananda.

One of the most dramatic elements of Vivekanandas enlightenment tale is that, after failing to find a ferry, he had to swim from the mainland through the shark-infested sea to reach, not the sripada but the Devs temple.

There he subsequently passed into a deep meditation on the Present and the Future of his country for hours upon hours, as Prof. Gwilym Beckerlegge highlights in his work, Swami Vivekanandas Legacy of Service: A Study of the Ramakrishna Mutt and Mission. Interestingly, Vivekananda himself never alluded to this swim in his sitting on the last bit of Indian rock.

The relocation by the RSS of Vivekanandas legacy from Kolkata to Kanniyakumari in addition to going beyond associating his name with the Hindutva also signalled a striking reconfiguration and redefinition of the thrust under Vivekanandas mission and the nature of its legacy.

The Rock Memorial proclaims that Kanniyakumari was the scene of the turning point of Vivekanandas mission, and not Kolkata or Chicago. This, as Beckerlegge points out, also signals the capture of his story by Hindutva-influenced groups, who have associated themselves with long-established locations of particular significance to Hindus. L. K. Advanis India Shining '' yatra (pilgrimage, procession) of 2004, for example, began at Kanniyakumari and provided Advani with an opportunity to eulogise Eknath Ranade.
Khatakhat (swiftly), the phrase used by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at an election rally in Uttar Pradesh is the new buzzword in political circles used to describe how fast a Congress-led government, if elected to power on June 4, can deliver services to voters.

In Bengaluru, hordes of women have seemingly already taken up the Congress party on their assurances, with crowds thronging the usually quiet General Post Office (GPO) on the Raj Bhavan Road over the past few days to open an account with the India Post Payments Bank (IPPB).

The rush to open these accounts began after people fell for rumours assuring voters of deposits into their IPPB accounts if the INDIA bloc comes to power at the Centre. As a part of its manifesto for the general elections, the Congress has promised to launch the Mahalakshmi scheme under which 8,500 will be directly credited into the account of women heads of families belonging to the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category.

Addressing election rallies in Bihar on Monday, Gandhi assured that women would receive deposits into their account, provided the INDIA bloc comes into power in June. From July, 8,500 will be deposited in women's accounts every month. This will change the financial condition of every family," he said.

Since then, the Congress poll pitch has made the rounds in Bengaluru, leading to women rushing to open IPPB accounts, even as word spread that May 28 was the last date for having an account. However, HM Manjesha, chief postmaster, Bengaluru General Post Office, dismissed the assurances terming them as rumours. We have informed the customers that the department will not pay any amount to them. In spite of this, they are eager to open an IPPB account. IPPB accounts can be opened at any post office across the country and there is no last date for opening it,'' he said.

As most of the women are from minority communities, appeals had been issued in both print and digital Urdu media, imploring them not to fall for rumours as no money would be credited after opening an account, postal authorities said.

Manjesha added that around 60 accounts were being opened daily on average across Bengaluru. Now, around 700 to 800 accounts are being opened due to the heavy demand in the GPO alone. Special arrangements have been made and eight postmen have been deputed to assist in opening the account, Manjesha said.

Over the last 10 days, almost 2,000 accounts have been opened every day. Today (May 30), we had women queuing up again to open accounts. Since our transactions are limited to opening 2,000 per day, we sent back 1,000 women by giving them tokens with which they can open the accounts on Friday,'' he added.

BJP-Congress war of words over poll assurances

Reacting to women falling prey to rumours, BJP state spokesperson S Prakash said, Gandhi is not even sure of becoming the opposition leader in the new government after June 4. And here he is giving false assurances of money flowing thak a thak into the bank accounts of women.''

Ramesh Babu, Congress partys Karnataka media in-charge, said that the Congress has promised one lakh to women in poor families under the Mahalakshmi scheme. Social media is a handy tool to spread rumours, over which no political party has any control. But the rush to open accounts is an indication that the lower income group has belief in the Congress,'' he said.

The IPPB scheme was launched in 2018 and a customer has to deposit 200 to open an account. A customer can use this account for online fund transfers, bill payments, recharge and direct benefit transfers among other services. Aadhaar card number and mobile number are mandatory for opening an IPPB account.
The Pig Flip features a gambling addict trying to change his compulsive behaviour after marriage. Where did you get the idea for the story and why did you decide to write it as a graphic novel? Author Joshy Benedict (Courtesy the publisher)

I live in a village in the foothills of the Western Ghats in Kerala. I observe people and incidents here, which often spark ideas. Some I quickly forget, but some grow over time. Once the story for The Pig Flip took shape, I thought of making it as a live-action film. However, that required a producer and a crew, which are not easy to come by. Besides, I enjoy the freedom that comes with working on things alone.

In 2013, the company I was working with ran into financial problems, so I returned home and didnt have much to do. Thats when I thought of turning the story into a graphic novel  I can write, draw, and Ive been a reader since childhood. I first wrote it as a short story, which took three months. I still remember the joy I felt when I wrote the first sentence. I then started drawing, which took six to seven months. The process was fun, but also painful.

120pp, Rs369; Harper Collins

Youve worked as an animator and made short films. How did that impact your storytelling?

My animation experience has influenced my drawing, but not my writing. Some changes in expressions, action sequences, and surrealistic interludes draw from my background as an animator. But also, simply illustrating what is written does not constitute a graphic novel. The text and image combine in ways such that the whole is more than the sum of its parts. Thats why I love this medium.

You first self-published The Pig Flip in Malayalam (Pannimalath). Could you talk about the journey of taking the book to readers?

When I started working on the graphic novel, it was a passion project  I did not think about where and how to publish it. The publishing process was more difficult than its creation. An editor of a major Malayalam weekly said he would feature it, but he backed out. After some effort, it was published on the website Manorama Online. I then tried to bring it out as a book. The text in the graphic novel was initially hand-written, but on a prominent publishers request, I made a print typeface. They too backed out of publishing it.

In 2018, an indie comic festival came to Kochi for the first time. They contacted me and asked me to participate with this graphic novel. I told them that I hadnt published it as a book, so they asked me to bring a couple of digital prints. At the festival, people asked to buy it, but since I had only two copies in hand, I took their address, printed more copies, and sent it to them by post. Word about the book spread on Facebook, so I got a couple more orders.

What was the process of getting the book translated? What was your role in the translation?

I dont know much about marketing; I just posted about my book on Facebook. I thought of getting the book translated into English to reach more readers. My friends encouraged me too. One of them, Baburajan, introduced me to KK Muralidharan, a Mumbai-based production designer. Hes from the same part of Kerala as me, so he knew about the storys setting. He was interested in translation and took it up. Although I dont know English well, I shared my opinions and we discussed some native usages. The translation took about four months. After that, I started searching for publishers for the English version. Some friends helped me connect with Priya Kurien and E Suresh, who introduced me to Harper Collins.

I like your distinct visual style, especially the use of watercolours. How did you develop the visuals for the book?

I started with a rough sketch of all the pages. I then went page by page, drawing the images and adding the colours. I scanned them and used Photoshop to make the page layouts, but the graphics, and even the text initially, were done by hand. I had decided from the beginning that I would depict the characters bodies and clothes in the same colours. I also focused on showing the gradations of light.

Which artists or storytellers have influenced you? And in what ways?

Some of the authors are Vaikom Muhammad Basheer and Anand. Among graphic novels, I like Marjane Satrapis Persepolis, Dimitri Vey and Man Arenass Yaxin the Faun, and Osamu Tezukas Buddha. However, I wouldnt count them as influences because while working on The Pig Flip, I started with a blank slate  I didnt take stylistic inspiration from other graphic novels.

Your depiction of landscapes in the graphic novel is spectacular. What impact has Keralas landscape or you living in Kerala had on your art?

There are many landscapes in Kerala  beaches, paddy fields, lakes, and so on  but my story is set in the foothills of the Western Ghats. Like everyone else, I observe the world around me. It also comes naturally to me as part of my work. The landscapes and backgrounds in The Pig Flip also contribute to the narrative. I tried to create characters who harmonise with their surroundings. However, these are not based on Keralas natural landscapes alone; they encompass many other visual references.

How do you view the Indian graphic novel scene? What more needs to be done to support graphic novels, especially in languages other than English?

Compared to English graphic novels, there is barely an ecosystem for Malayalam ones. Im not even sure if most Malayalam readers have an understanding of what graphic novels are. A Malayalam publisher told me that graphic novels are more likely to run into losses because the extensive use of colours makes them more expensive to print. I wish they would do more to support graphic novels because their production is time-consuming. It took me six to eight months of full-time work to create The Pig Flip; I didnt do anything else then.

Syed Saad Ahmed is a writer and communications professional.
Shyam Bhatia, who reported from the cradle of human civilisation for close to two decades and has had a few brushes with death, did not really plan to be a journalist. Afghan Mujahideen fought against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan during the 1980s. The invasion started on December 25, 1979. This photograph was taken in Asmar in the Kunar Province of Afghanistan. (Pascal Manoukian/Sygma via Getty Images)

When India conducted its first-ever nuclear test in 1974, he was studying in the UK. On the insistence of friends, he wrote a 1,200 word article about why India had tested the bomb and sent it to the The Times in London. Two days after its publication, the papers foreign editor reached out and said he was prepared to back Bhatia if he applied as a trainee journalist.

248pp, 499; Speaking Tiger

Thus began Shyam Bhatias accidental foray into journalism. In 1977, he got an offer to write for The Observer. A few weeks later, he was in Cairo, his visit coinciding with Egyptian President Anwar Sadats visit to Jerusalem in a bid to normalise relations with Israel. Bhatia stayed on and reported on the negotiations for The Observer, and also freelanced for other news outfits.

By 1981, he had a full-time staff job with The Observer in London  flying in and out to file reports on the Middle East until he was appointed the Middle East correspondent. He spent the next decade flitting between the war zones and terrorist-hit capitals of the region.

The nail-biting accounts of his reportage from across the Middle East will give readers goosebumps. The opening chapter entitled Colder Than the Arctic Circle is a vivid account of the shooting down of 35 of his co-passengers on a Kabul-Kandahar bus on the freezing afternoon of February 2, 1980. The anti-Soviet mujahideen, forerunners of todays Taliban, then abducted Bhatia. Incidentally, Bhatia initially had no plans to visit Kabul or Afghanistan. He was in Pakistan to cover mounting civilian protests on the first death anniversary of the execution of the countrys former prime minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. That same week, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan was making international headlines and Bhatia was asked to stop over in Kabul for a few days.

On his return, a few hours into the 12-hour journey after he boarded the bus in central Kabul, the mujahideen stopped it and proceeded to shoot down the passengers one by one. It was so clinical. I remember wondering what kind of story I would write if I survived? What would my intro be? How would I introduce the personal element? he writes.

When it was Bhatias turn, he was hit across the face and called a jasoos (spy). Then they set the bus afire and asked him to run. He ran along with the mujahideen. Why they didnt kill me is still a mystery to me, he writes.

This wasnt the only time Bhatia had a close shave. Reflecting on his career, he observes that he has been lucky throughout. On one occasion, fellow reporters, who werent from his organisation or even close to him, stood up for him when he was being deplaned at Khartoum international airport. If they hadnt, he would have been killed and his name added to the fairly long list of his colleagues who had met a similar end.

Bhatia was also often lucky to be at the right place at the right time. Back in 1979, not a single Western newspaper was willing to predict the outcome of the Egyptian-Israeli peace talks even as international interest in the talks was peaking. There was tremendous pressure on Bhatia to file an article on the issue. He struck gold when the hotel head chef, whose son worked at the governments metal foundry, decided to help out. He produced a medal which had profiles of US President Jimmy Carter, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. On the other side of the medal was written: Heroes of Peace. Bhatia had got his scoop.

The most heart-rending chapter in this book is on the retaliatory mass killings of Sikhs in Delhi following the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984. Bhatia was put on the first plane to Delhi from London to report. Acting on an anonymous tip-off, he headed to the Subzi Mandi in Old Delhi and found that bodies were being dumped there. He counted 119 bodies before the smell of smoke and burnt flesh overwhelmed him. To this day I am convinced the real story was the violence in the aftermath of Mrs Gandhis tragic assassination, the fear experienced in Delhi and their senseless killings that should never have been allowed to happen, he notes.

Bhatias exclusive on how Marsh Arabs  ethnic Arabs who lived in the wetland border regions of South Iraq and Iran  were being slowly poisoned to death won him the Foreign Journalist of the Year Award at the annual British Press Awards in 1994. Iraqs President Saddam Husseins secret agents were pouring an odourless and colourless poison into the headwaters of the marshes to kill and flush out resistance groups. Bhatia sneaked into the marshlands from the Iranian side, and was happy to come out alive.

Author Shyam Bhatia (Courtesy the publisher)

The chapter on how he befriended Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) leader Yasser Arafat is a riveting read. While his first meeting was interrupted by a bomb blast close by and Arafat was whisked away by security, during the second, he managed to make friends not only with Arafat but also with the Palestinian leaders newly wed young wife. An aide had told Bhatia that Arafat loved honey and sure enough, it was a gift of a pot of the stuff that broke the ice. From then on, Bhatia always met Arafat with a pot of honey. He also recalls babysitting Arafats daughter Zahwa in a pram for an hour along the Gaza sea front with six armed security guards in tow.

His association with Benazir Bhutto, the former prime minister of Pakistan, went back to the time they were students at Oxford University. He knew Pinky, as Benazir was known to friends, and her brothers, Murtaza and Shahnawaz. Years later, Benazir called Bhatia to ask for a favour  she wanted to be introduced to Arafat. He also mentions other significant details that she shared with him about Pakistans nuclear programme. Following her assassination in 2007, he wrote Benazirs biography, Goodbye Shahzadi.

The cheekiest portions in Bhatias book are about his tryst with secret agents of different countries and a separate chapter entitled Dodging the Spooks is devoted entirely to them. My favourite anecdote is about his hilarious experience with the military secretary to Pakistans military dictator, General Zia-ul-Haq. Bhatia was invited to conduct an exclusive interview with Zia at the army headquarters in Rawalpindi and all his questions were readily answered. However, as he drove back to his hotel, Bhatia realised he had forgotten to switch on his tape recorder. Even as he panicked at losing a world exclusive and having to explain this to his office, he had a brainwave  what if he could procure the recording done by the army headquarters? When he got in touch with him, the military secretary laughed and said, We have a tape and you can have a copy, but this is strictly between us. A curious Bhatia asked him where the microphone had been placed. Snap came the reply, Mr Bhatia, this is a state secret. All I am prepared to say is that the President likes good quality flowers in every interview.

This extraordinary account of an extraordinary life is a must read for those who want to know what deep passion for journalism looks like. Bhatia also does a bit of soul-searching in the last chapter and asks himself if the perils were worthwhile. Yes, he concludes.

Lamat R Hasan is an independent journalist. She lives in New Delhi.
Poet Kaveh Akbars new novel on loss, displacement, identity and nationhood is an experiment in narrative style. Mixing the novel with poetry in a dream-like manner, the 331-page book opens with the protagonist, Cyrus Shams, seeing God. He is 28, addicted to drugs and alcohol, and a poet who is about to begin a writing project but doesnt know where to go with it. What he does know, however, is that he wants to write about martyrs. His mother died in a plane that was bombed by a US navy warship. His father died in the US, mourning his wifes demise until Cyrus left for university. He has no siblings, or relatives he can depend upon. His only relative, Uncle Arash, is in Iran dealing with PTSD since his service in the Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s. Cyrus is lost among these martyrs. Dreams of Rumi (Raul C7/Shutterstock)

352pp, 499; Picador (Courtesy Amazon)

Akbar deftly sketches out Cyrus for his readers. The son of Iranians in the US, he learns Midwestern politeness but detests how other Americans make him feel about himself. At a restaurant with Middle-Eastern decor, his ex-girlfriend had sneered that they were in Baghdad, Indiana. The dissonance in the ideas of nationhood and the protagonists identity crisis is minutely observed and chalked out with thorough intelligence. It recalls Vietnamese-American poet-novelist Ocean Voungs On Earth We Are Briefly Gorgeous (2019). Vuongs exploration of the mother-son relationship finds a parallel in Akbars lonely Iranian-American son searching for an answers about his mothers untimely death. Mostly what Cyrus felt was empty. A crushing hollowness, which governed him. He is rude to his friends. He is helpless with frustration at his habits. He wants to change. He wants to die. But he also wants his death to matter. Akbar presents a rounded character who is easy to understand but difficult to reach, much like Karen Jenningss 53-year old single woman trying to make sense of life after the disappearance of her family in Crooked Seeds.

Even secondary characters add much to the novel. Between Cyruss third-person narration, the text is interspersed with the first-person perspectives of his mother, his father, his friend Zee and several others. This makes the structure of the story playful and offers readers a comprehensive understanding of Cyruss life in contemporary America.

The best written perspective is that of his mother, Roya Shams. This is a stunning portrait of a woman disinterested in the usual ideas of domesticity, who did not want a child, and is mystically annoyed by a relative. In one opening scene, she states, I never really loved being alive. Its hard to get there without some sort of distance. The character of the painter whom Cyrus meets in New York  the one who is going to change the way he sees himself, his mothers death, and his life in general  is similarly fascinating. The characters, the plot and subplots coalesce well, bringing meaning to the story, and propelling the narrative forward.

Author Kaveh Akbar (Via Penguinrandomhouse.com)

However, the range of crises that play out is ambitious for a single novel. While Brandon Taylors The Late Americans places the nationhood of characters from different races as the background to their discomfort with class, desire and gender identity, Martyr! tries to do many things at once. The attempt is well-intentioned but the execution leaves something to be desired. Cyruss sexuality and that of another character becomes a mere plot device to bring in twists and turns. Towards the middle of the novel and in its latter part, the angst of the Iranian-American identity is lost in constant theorisation. Where Akbar could have used his appealing images to show characters feeling agony, he brings in Edward Said, WEB DuBois, Ta-Nehisi Coates. This results in the characters appearing controlled by the authors theorisation, which leaves little room for the reader to form their opinions. And then there are the dream sequences. Dreams featuring the painter and the President of the US, his father and the Persian poet Rumi feel like impediments that delay the story. Perhaps, within a poem, these would have offered cadence or more depth to a character. In a novel, they read like snippets best reserved for the book on martyrs that Cyrus himself was setting out to do. In all of this, what manages to stand out is the protagonists relationship with Islam. His bargaining with God as a child, making promises, and then recreating scenarios in search of God are all memorable.

Written in language that adds warmth to the hurt caused by its melancholic storyline, this is a book about martyrs who have sacrificed themselves for reasons both personal and structural. Cyrus stays with the reader not as a martyr but a man who does not have to be one because of those who preceded him.

Rahul Singh is a PhD candidate in Sociology at Presidency University, Kolkata as a Junior Research Fellow. He writes about books at Instagram (@fook_bood) and X (@rahulzsing).
Microsofts worries doubled after Apple struck a deal with OpenAI to use its AI technology for Apple products, due to concerns of data center overwhelm, as reported by The Information. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella(Getty Images via AFP)

OpenAI relies heavily on Microsoft servers and adding Apple users to this mix is likely to overwhelm Microsofts data centres, The Information wrote.

Microsofts CEO Satya Nadella recently met with OpenAIs CEO Sam Altman to discuss the deal. Satya Nadella was reportedly concerned about the potential impact of the deal on Microsoft's product ambitions, as per the report.

Apart from the potential data overwhelm caused by more than 2.2 billion active Apple devices currently, Microsoft would also have to compete with whatever AI features Apple bakes into its platforms, Android Authority wrote.

Microsofts 13 billion USD investment into OpenAI in itself was driven by worries of falling behind Google, according to a Bloomberg report, citing an internal email as part of the Justice Departments antitrust case against the search giant.

Microsofts CTO, Kevin Scott, was very, very worried, looking at gap between Alphabet Inc.s efforts and Microsofts AI efforts, according to his 2019 message to Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella and co-founder Bill Gates, as reported by Bloomberg.

The exchange showed that the companys top executives privately acknowledged they lacked the infrastructure and development speed to catch up to the likes of OpenAI and Googles DeepMind, leading to the investment.

We are multiple years behind the competition in terms of machine learning scale, Scott said in the email. Nadella endorsed Scotts email, forwarding it to Chief Financial Officer Amy Hood and saying it explains why I want us to do this, according to the Bloomberg report.

The new features rolled out by Apple post this deal would be unveiled on June 10 at Apples Worldwide Developers Conference over at Apple Park in Cupertino, California.
Air India is the largest carrier on the India-US routes (non-stop) and its largest presence is in San Francisco. The airline offers four flights a week from Mumbai, three flights a week from Bengaluru and eleven flights a week from Delhi -- a total of 18 weekly departures, the highest amongst the five airports it operates non-stop in the United States. San Francisco is also the most-talked about route -- thanks to delays. From diverting in Russia last year to a 15-20 hour delay at frequent intervals, downgrading from premium economy to economy, the social media remains abuzz with complaints around flights to San Francisco. An Air India aircraft takes off at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on April 12, 2024.(AFP)

The latest in the inordinate delay on AI 183 from Delhi to San Francisco. The flight which was scheduled to depart yesterday afternoon is now expected to depart at 1500 hours today as per Air Indias website. This comes within days of its Mumbai-San Francisco flight being delayed by 18 hours.

A look at flight tracking website FlightRadar24s data shows that none of the San Francisco flights of Air India have had an on-time run for a whole week. There have been frequent delays and the occasional cancellation too.

Also read: San Francisco-bound Air India flight delayed by over 8 hours, people fainted with no AC, claim passengers

What happens more often than not?

All airlines want the aircraft to leave as soon as possible. The ground services team resist deplaning passengers, unless somebody has a medical reason - like how it became the case in both instances as per reports on social media. A deplaning could mean longer delays. When the engineering team has found the fault and knows how long it is going to take, the next set of things move.

For ultra long haul flights like those to San Francisco, there are two sets of crew which fly. Bounded by Flight Duty Time Limitations for both cockpit and cabin crew, a delay of a few hours could translate into a requirement to change the crew.

Lastly, while it is mandatory to provide accommodation, finding as much at the last minute along with arrangements to transfer over 200 passengers is always a challenge, since permission from security and immigration is needed as well.

All in all, either the co-ordination fails or there is significant delay in identifying the cause and estimating the time needed to fix it. While operationally it may sound logical, from the passenger and passenger handling perspective, it is an absolute nightmare.

As photos appeared of passengers occupying the aerobridge area, sitting on ground - both young and old, along with children - questions around IRROPS (Irregular Operations) handling came to the fore. Can the airline do better? Are the airport operations teams enabled enough to take immediate decisions on how to handle the passengers?

Also read: Can Indian carriers break the Malaysian jinx?

What should the passengers do?

Unfortunately, there is very little that the passengers can do in this case. For passengers, who have onward connectivity within the United States or India, it is advisable to book the onward flights on the same PNR with Air India or partner airlines. This ensures that it is the airline responsibility to ensure you reach your destination and any inordinate delays are taken care of by rebooking. While a delay may not be the most ideal thing, losing money for not turning up for a flight booked independently would be worse.

Tail Note

Air India changed ownership from the government to the Tata group in 2022. While it inherited poorly maintained cabins, the new ownership cannot wash its hands off putting in place an SOP which takes care of passengers.

The challenge is especially for San Francisco, where the airline deploys its B777-200LR, eight of which are part of the fleet and includes the former Delta aircraft which it took from secondary market. These have two different configurations, and are hard to swap with the B77Ws for the mission's need in terms of range. This allows limited swapping ability and a delay with one flight takes time to recover.

The long distance means that swapping planes with other types is either difficult or impossible. What aggravates the problem in some cases is that Air Indias legacy planes do not have premium economy cabins. Any swaps in these planes means that passengers booked on premium economy are left on planes without this cabin. All of which leads back to having a strong SOP in place.

For an airline, which is in the middle of rebranding, induction of aircraft, expansion and revamp of product, such delays would make passengers wonder if they should choose the airline or not. The non-stops to the USA see a lot of VFR (Visiting Friends and Relatives) traffic with passengers, especially senior citizens preferring the flight as it does not need navigation at connecting airports. Currently, the airline has immense advantage due to lack of competition, but that may not remain permanent.
A 22-year-old man was arrested for allegedly raping and attempting to abduct her in Madhya Pradeshs Ashoknagar district, police said. On the complaint of woman and her father, two first information reports (FIRs) have been registered in the matter. (Representative file photo)

A video of the incident was doing rounds on social media on Thursday in which a group of men including the main accused, were seen waving a sword and dragging a woman out of her house to abduct her. The woman was saved due to timely intervention by the neighbours.

The main accused raped the 21-year-old woman and shot a video of her. He was threatening the woman and her family members not to marry anyone else. Recently, the family fixed her marriage. The accused along with three others came to the womans house and thrashed her father, mother and brother. He tried to abduct the woman but was saved by neighbours. He later brandished a sword and ran away from the spot, Ashok Nagar superintendent of police Vineet Jain said.

Also Read: School headmaster in Karnataka arrested for allegedly raping, impregnating a class 7 girl

On the complaint of woman and her father, two first information reports (FIRs) have been registered in the matter.

The first FIR was registered under section 376 (rape) and 363 (attempt to kidnap) on the womans complaint.

The second FIR was registered under section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 294 (using obscene language) and 506 (criminal intimidation) on the complaint of the womans father.
Last year, Himachal Pradesh (HP) endured a tumultuous period due to an unprecedented monsoon, with Mandi district being among the worst-affected. The impact of this natural calamity remains fresh in peoples minds and has become a major election issue. Polling team members setting up a booth for voting in Mandi on Friday. (Birbal Sharma/HT)

Some blame the central government for not doing enough to help the debt-ridden state cope with the disaster, while others criticise the state government for failing to provide relief to everyone in need. Many families, who have been informed that their properties are on government land, are still awaiting assistance. The voters in Mandi said that disaster will be one of the key issues on their mind, when they will vote on Saturday (June 1).

PM Modi during his recent election rally in Mandi accused the Congress government of mismanaging the relief funds given by the Centre, the ruling party in the state was quick to respond stating that PMs claims are baseless. The Prime Minister should tell with figures how much financial help he has given to the state during the disaster, Congress Mandi candidate and PwD minister Vikramaditya Singh said.

The three spells of excessive rain in July and August last year wreaked havoc, devastating lives and property across many districts of the state. With over 500 lives lost, this was Himachals one of the worst disasters in the past 100 years. As per the governments assessment, the state suffered a loss of 9,505 crore and the state government had also demanded a special relief package from the Centre.

Ram Chander, 39, from Kataula village in the Drung assembly constituency in Mandi district, says he will vote for NOTA because neither BJP nor Congress leaders visited his area since he lost his house and agricultural land last year during the disaster. I have not received any kind of relief, and my house is still in bad shape. For the last 10 months, we have been managing our lives like this. They were told by someone that our houses are on government land, he says.

He added that they can no longer live in their house and have been staying in rented accommodation. There are others in our area who will also choose NOTA on polling day. Many received full relief despite having no damage to their houses, he says.

The state government had announced a special relief package of 4,500 crore for relief and rehabilitation of the flood-affected families in the state. The state government has maintained that 22,000 disaster-affected families have been rehabilitated.

Ram Lal, 40, a resident of Gram Panchayat Jufar Kot, which falls under Seraj assembly constituency in Mandi said, I think we are only remembered when there is an election. It has been almost a year now and the rainy season is approaching. Forget relief, even no one has conducted the survey of my house, he said.

We are OBC community here are mostly from a poor background. No one cares about us and it seems we are only for votes, he said.

Centre did not help

Rajender Mohan, councillor, MC Mandi, said that while the state government stood by the people, the Centre did not help us during those difficult times. According to our estimates, there was around 37 crore loss in Mandi MC area and there works that still need to be done. People here are aware about who stood by them during that time. To rehabilitate the disaster affected families, the state government changed the norms of the relief package, he said, adding that state ministers stood by people.

The relief given by the centre was a routine package which is given to every state. People waited for a special relief package from the Centre. More than election results, we are waiting for the Code of Conduct to end so that we can carry-out pending works before the monsoon season. People received assistance from the state and if there are some still left out, those will also be cleared. There are cases which are under process as some have applied online recently, he said, adding that there are cases in which people have encroached government land and built property.

Meanwhile, Veer Singh Bhardwaj, OBC president of BJP Seraj Mandal, said, There are many families who were not given relief and on the other side those who had no damage to properties were given the relief.

The natural disasters have increased significantly in their area over the past few years. While both the Congress and BJP have targeted each-other on disaster issues, there has been little talk about climate change on the campaign trail. More than 1,550 people have lost their lives in the last five years during monsoon season in Himachal Pradesh.

Manshi Asher, who is with the Himdhara Environment Research and Action Collective, an NGO based in Himachal Pradesh, said, Climate change is missing from the whole debate, and its impact is knocking on our doors, yet people are still not realizing it. The frequency of extreme weather events is increasing. The question of development and livelihood cannot be disconnected from ecology in Himachal, and resilience needs to be built to deal with these climatic conditions. It is a policy and governance issue.

The geology of Himachal Pradesh is sensitive, and the mega developmental projects have destabilised it further in the last few years. Over the last decade we have witnessed a trend where environmental laws have also been weakened, she added.
A 38-year-old woman was killed after an LPG cylinder exploded at her house in Sector 41 on Thursday. The victim, identified as Kuldeep Kaur, used to run a beauty parlour in Chandigarh. (iStock)

The victim, identified as Kuldeep Kaur, used to run a beauty parlour.

According to police, Kaur was switching gas cylinders around 4 pm, when a gas leak occurred. In an attempt to check the cylinder, Kaur ignited the stove, resulting in an explosion.

She lived in a one-room accommodation with her family and the small size of the room led to Kaurs inability to escape. Trapped within the room, Kaur succumbed to her injuries. She was declared dead on arrival at Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH) in Sector 16.

At the time of the incident, Kaurs family members, including her brother, mother and father, were also present in the house, and managed to escape unhurt.

Police have initiated proceedings under Section 174 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) to investigate the circumstances leading to the explosion.
The Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday transferred the trial in the 2015 Behbal Kalan firing case from Faridkot to Chandigarh. The case was registered on October 21, 2015, a week after two protesters were killed allegedly in the police firing at Behbal Kalan in the aftermath of the sacrilege incidents. (Representational photo)

The high court acted on the plea of one of the accused, Charanjit Sharma, then Moga senior superintendent of police, who had in 2019 sought the transfer of the case on security grounds.

The case was registered on October 21, 2015, a week after two protesters were killed allegedly in the police firing at Behbal Kalan in the aftermath of the sacrilege incidents.

A firing incident was reported at Kotkapura also where protesters suffered injuries.

The incidents followed three incidents of sacrilege with the first reported on June 1, 2015, when a bir of Guru Granth Sahib was stolen from a gurdwara at Burj Jawahar Singh Wala village in Faridkot. Later, derogatory posters were put up at Bargari and Burj Jawahar Singh Wala on September 24, 2015, night and torn pages of a bir were found scattered near Bargari gurdwara on October 12, 2015.

Besides Sharma, former Punjab Police chief Sumedh Singh Saini and then inspector general of police Paramraj Singh Umranangal are among the accused in the case. Saini and Umranangal were chargesheeted by the SIT on January 15, 2021.

Lawyers associated with the case said that the petition from Sharma, seeking transfer of trial from Faridkot to Chandigarh has been allowed. The status of the case on the high court website also showed allowed.

The detailed judgment is awaited.

In February 2023, the trial in three interlinked cases of the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib at Bargari in 2015 was transferred from Faridkot to Chandigarh by the Supreme Court. In these cases, the Punjab Police special investigation team (SIT) named Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim as the main conspirator.

The trial is underway before a court in Chandigarh.
Indian immigration agent Brijesh Mishra, allegedly behind preparing fraudulent documents for international students, has been found guilty on three of the charges levelled against him by Canadian authorities and sentenced to three years in prison. Former students from India facing deportation during a protest in Toronto, Canada in March last year. (Supplied photo)

Mishra appeared before a British Columbia provincial court in Vancouver on Wednesday and pled guilty to the three charges while two other counts were stayed.

In a letter sent by the Canadian government to some of the students impacted, who also appeared as witnesses in the trial, an official said that with credit for time served, he has about 19 months remaining of the sentence but could be eligible for parole prior to that. Mishra may face deportation proceedings once he serves the sentence.

Last year, over 150 ex-students from India, mainly Punjab, faced deportation from Canada as the documents they had used to enter the country were found to be forged. These students arrived in Canada between 2017 and 2019, and in rare instances, in 2020.

Read Here: Indian students facing deportation from Canada over fake documents protest in Brampton

They started receiving notices from the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA )in 2021 and 2022, for a hearing as the agency concluded the letter of offer of admission to a Canadian higher education institution, which formed the basis of their study permits, was fake.

Agents in India used fraudulent documentation to procure study permits for them and they started receiving notices from immigration authorities late last year once these were detected. The majority of the affected students were represented by Mishra, then with the Jalandhar-based counselling firm Education and Migration Services Australia (EMSA).

They were reprieved in June last year as Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced a task force to examine each case on its merits and allow ex-students who had completed their courses in Canada and considered genuine to remain in the country.

Read Here: Gang links of some students with fake papers worry Canada

Mishra was in custody since June last year, after he attempted to enter Canada and was found to be inadmissible.

Among the charges he pled guilty to was counselling or attempting to counsel misrepresentation.

Reacting to the verdict, Toronto-based immigration lawyer Sumit Sen said, We hope our Indian students will now be able to settle in Canada and have a happy life.

Sen, who represented one of the ex-students, added, Our Indian students stand vindicated after a long and arduous fight in the courts.
A day after international kabaddi player Pamma Sohana died after his car rammed into a cab in Sector 79 on Wednesday night, police registered a rash driving and causing death by negligence case against the unidentified cab driver. According to police, Sohana died after his Mahindra Scorpio collided with a Honda Amaze taxi at the traffic lights near Amity School in Sector 79, Mohali, at 11.25 pm. (HT file photo)

According to police, Sohana died after his Mahindra Scorpio collided with a Honda Amaze taxi at the traffic lights near Amity School at 11.25 pm. There were four people in the cab, including the driver, who all survived the accident.

A resident of Sangrur, Gurpreet Singh, was in the cab with his wife and a five-year-old son, added police. According to police officials familiar with the case, the player was driving at a high speed and the collision caused his car to overturn, killing him on the spot. Sohana was set to represent Punjab in the Kabaddi Cup to be held in Canada in June.

Scores of people, including Mohali MLA Kulwant Singh and former state cabinet minister Balbir Singh Sidhu, attended his last rites on Thursday.
In the final push to secure votes, candidates from various parties orchestrated a flurry of roadshows, rallies, foot marches and meetings in Mohali district on Thursday to bolster their voter base ahead of the June 1 Lok Sabha elections. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath during a rally in Badmajra village in Kharar on Thursday. (HT Photo)

Mohali plays a crucial role in both the Anandpur Sahib and Patiala parliamentary constituencies. While voters from Mohali and Kharar will determine the next Anandpur Sahib MP, those in Dera Bassi, including Zirakpur, will be electing their representative from Patiala.

Campaigning in the district, which commenced in March, remained peaceful other than a few minor incidents of protests by farmers against BJP candidates in Mohali and Dera Bassi, and dissent voiced by unions, including members of Powercom and Transco Theka Mulazim Union, against the AAP candidate in Kharar.

Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath held a rally in support of BJPs Anandpur Sahib candidate Subhash Sharma at Panchayat Ground in Badmajra village.

Addressing the rally, Yogi appealed to the voters to choose Sharma as MP, while promising to eliminate all gangsters, and sand, drug and land mafias from the parliamentary constituency using his model of governance as adopted in UP.

I have come here to hand over the keys of my bulldozer to Subhash. I will send bulldozers to him to finish off gangsters and mafias in Anandpur Sahib constituency, which the current state government has completely failed to do. After ending all mafias, we will build houses for the poor people on that land, said Yogi.

He said, Prime Minister Narendra Modis love for Punjab is evident, as he opened the Kartarpur corridor and declared December 26 as Veer Baal Diwas in memory of Guru Gobind Singhs sons.The Modi model focuses on Viksit Bharat unlike AAP that has always betrayed people by making false promises. We delivered as promised and after Ram temple in Ayodhya, we will now move to Mathura.

SAD Anandpur Sahib candidate Prem Singh Chandumajra during a public gathering on Thursday. (HT photo)

Shiromani Akali Dals (SAD) Anandpur Sahib candidate Prem Singh Chandumajra took out a foot march in Kharar and also held meetings in Mohali. Addressing a gathering, Chandumajra said voters should choose him as their MP, as his party played a significant role in the infrastructure development of Kharar and Mohali. He claimed that the Kharar flyover, and the roads connecting Ludhiana and Rupnagar were major projects completed under the Akali government.

AAPs Anandpur Sahib candidate Malvinder Singh Kang during a foot march on Thursday. (HT photo)

Aam Aadmi Party candidate from Anandpur Sahib Malvinder Singh Kang ended his campaign with a foot march from the Phase 11 temple till Amb Sahib Gurdwara in Phase 8. He was accompanied by party workers, who marched along with him amid dhol beats.

Making a final appeal to voters, Kang promised creation of jobs and boosting industry by improving international connectivity. He said he would fight for the funds that the central government deliberately did not release for the state, and develop education and health infrastructure, along with better road and rail connectivity, in his constituency. He also held a few public meetings in Kharar.

SADs Patiala candidate NK Sharma went for door-to-door campaigning, along with his family members and supporters, in Zirakpur.

Seeking votes, Sharma said just like he never shifted loyalties and continued to be a part of SAD for past 30 years, he would always remain loyal towards the people of his parliamentary constituency.

Appealing to people to vote for regional party SAD, he said he always worked hard to develop Dera Bassi and Zirakpur, and will always remain accessible to public.

Starting from 6 pm on Thursday, all liquor vends, pubs, restaurants and hotels in Mohali are barred from serving and selling liquor for 48 hours till 6 pm on June 1, as per an order by the district administration.
After the Punjab and Haryana high court transferred the 2015 Behbal Kalan firing case from Faridkot to Chandigarh on Friday, family members of the victims termed it the failure of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to pursue the matter properly in court in Punjab. The family members of Krishan Bhagwan Singh, who along with another anti-Bargari sacrilege protester was killed in the police firing at Faridkot districts Behbal Kalan on October 14, 2015. (HT file photo)

The high court bench of Justice Avneesh Jhingan allowed the transfer application of former Moga senior superintendent of police (SSP) Charanjit Singh Sharma, an accused in the case.

Also read: HC transfers Behbal Kalan firing case from Faridkot to Chandigarh

In 2019, citing threat to his life, Sharma appealed to the high court to transfer the case outside Punjab while referring to the killings of Dera Sacha Sauda followers, who were accused in the sacrilege cases.

Sharmas counsel HS Saini said that the high court allowed the application for transfer of the case outside the state on grounds of threat to life. The court has decided the matter on merit, he added.

The case dates back to October 14, 2015, when police opened fire at people protesting at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan against a sacrilege incident at Bargari in Faridkot district. While two protesters, Gurjeet Singh of Sarawan village and Krishan Bhagwan Singh of Niamiwala village in Faridkot district, were killed in Behbal Kalan, several protesters were injured in Kotkapura.

Sukhraj Singh, son of Krishan Bhagwan, said that first the Bargari sacrilege cases were transferred from Punjab and now the Behbal Kalan firing case had also been shifted to Chandigarh. This is the failure of the AAP government. It had promised prompt justice but the opposite happened. The state governments legal team failed to put up facts correctly. The AAP did nothing to deliver justice, but only played politics for votes, he said.

My father was killed in the police action but the accused managed to get the case transferred to Chandigarh. They want to delay and weaken the case through these tactics. This shows the government has no intention to punish the accused. We will oppose this and do everything possible. I will consult my legal team before proceeding, he added.

The previous Punjab Police special investigation team (SIT) led by ADGP Pramod Kumar had filed five chargesheets against seven accused in the Behbal Kalan case. The first chargesheet was filed in April 2019, naming Charanjeet Sharma as the conspirator, while the last supplementary chargesheet, filed in January 2021, named ex-DGP Sumedh Singh Saini and IGP Paramraj Singh Umranangal as masterminds. One accused, inspector Pardeep Singh, has turned approver in this case.

After the high court quashed the findings in the Kotkapura case, filed by the SIT member and then IGP Kunwar Vijay Pratap, now an AAP MLA, the government formed a new probe team for a fresh investigation led by IGP Naunihal Singh on May 15, 2021. A new three-member SIT headed by ADGP LK Yadav was also formed to probe the Kotkapura firing case. Even three years after its reconstitution, the SIT led by Naunihal Singh has failed to conclude its probe into the 2015 Behbal Kalan police firing case and submit a supplementary chargesheet.
Heatwave conditions continued in the Capital for the sixth consecutive day, with a maximum temperature of 45.6C recorded on Thursday and contributing to making the month the hottest May since 2013, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD). An analysis of the minimum temperatures also indicated that nights this month were the warmest since 2016. Tourists near India Gate shield themselves from the scorching sun on Thursday afternoon. (Raj K Raj/HT Photo)

On the day, the maximum temperature at the Safdarjung weather station  indicative of Delhi weather  decreased marginally, from 46.8C on Wednesday to 45.6, but it was still five degrees above normal. However, IMD has forecast a dip in maximum temperature, to around 43C by Saturday, due to the impact of a western disturbance in the region from Friday. IMD also predicted light rain in isolated parts of the Capital.

Narela in north Delhi was the hottest location in the city on Thursday, logging a maximum temperature of 49.2C, followed by 49C at both Mungeshpur and Najafgarh, according to IMD.

On Wednesday, IMDs daily evening bulletin reported a maximum temperature of 52.9C at Mungeshpur, but it was withdrawn later. Officials said they were still verifying data from the Mungeshpur automatic weather station (AWS). Verification is still under process since Wednesday evening. We will intimate as soon as that is finalised, an IMD official said.

Across the National Capital Region (NCR), Faridabad recorded the highest maximum temperature, at 47.4C, followed by Noida at 47.3C, Gurugram at 46.9C and Ghaziabad at 44.7C.

Record-breaking May 2024

The end of the month has been a fiery one, with Thursday the fifth consecutive day that a maximum temperature above 45C was recorded at Safdarjung. The last time Delhi had more such days was in May 2013, with six consecutive days between May 19 and May 24 logging temperatures above 45C.

Read Here: With water crisis looming, Delhi to move SC for additional water from neighbours

For May 2024, Delhis average monthly maximum temperature was 41.4C on Thursday, which was 1.5C above the long-period average (LPA) of 39.9C and the highest for May since 2013, which logged an average of 41.5C. The minimum average temperature was 26.4C, which was 0.6C above the LPA for May and Delhis highest since May 2016, when it was 27C.

HTs analysis of IMD data from its website showed the average maximum temperature in the first half of the month was 39.2C, which ranked ninth among the first halves of May between 2011 and 2024. In the second half, the average temperature was 43.9C this year, making it the hottest second half of May since 2011, even higher than the 2013 figure of 43.6C.

IMD scientist Kuldeep Srivastava said that the lack of a western disturbance in the second half of May 2024 could have been a key reason behind the dry and hot conditions. The last western disturbance was on May 10. Lack of cloud cover and strong, persistent winds from the dry and arid western part of the country have meant there has been no relief in Delhi-NCR and other parts of the country, he said.

Read Here: Behind heat surge, factors that will only worsen

He said Delhi briefly received easterly winds in the second half of the month, which helped provide temporary relief from the heatwave.

A tale of two halves

Delhi recorded two heatwave spells in the second half of May, between May 17 and May 20, and then from May 25, which is continuing. Between May 21 and 24, moist easterly winds led to a drop in temperature, before dry westerly winds returned, IMD said.

According to IMD data, Delhis highest maximum temperature in the first half of the month was 42C, recorded on May 8, with the second half logging the highest of 46.8C on May 29, the second highest May temperature since 1944.

Delhis highest heat index or real feel for May was also recorded in the second half of the month, clocking 55.4C on May 22. This was due to warm easterly winds blowing towards the Capital, making it more uncomfortable, as the body was unable to sweat effectively. In comparison, Delhis HI was 44C on Thursday.

Heat wave alert: Which are the hottest cities in India this summer?

Srivastava said a western disturbance is expected to influence Delhi-NCR over the weekend. The first half of Friday is likely to still be warm, but by the evening, we can expect a change in wind direction and the possibility of isolated thunderstorm activity. On Saturday, we can expect cloudiness and more chances of isolated thunderstorm activity and light rain, accompanied by gusty winds, he said.

For Friday, IMD forecasted a maximum of 44C and a degree lower on Saturday, with similar predictions for other stations too.

On Thursday, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 30.4C, which was four degrees above normal. This is expected to hover between 28C and 29C over the weekend, IMD said.

Delhis wet bulb temperature, another indicator of comfort, was 25.5C, down from 27.4C recorded a day earlier.

A wet-bulb temperature of 32C or higher makes it difficult for even fit and acclimatised people to work outdoors for long and at a wet-bulb temperature of 35C  the maximum threshold  humans can no longer regulate body temperatures, leading to heatstrokes and potential collapse.

Mahesh Palawat, vice president, Skymet meteorology, said the approaching western disturbance is likely to help abate heatwave conditions in the region, but could lead to a spike in wet-bulb temperature and HI. We are expecting chances of rain on both Friday and Saturday, with a greater chance on Saturday. The maximum should come down, but humidity will increase, he said.
A female flight attendant of Air India Express was apprehended at Kannur International Airport for allegedly smuggling around one kilogram of gold from Muscat to the Kerala town by concealing it in her rectum, news agency PTI reported, citing the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) sources. Kannur airport(File)

Shashi Tharoor's aide caught with 500 gm of gold at Delhi airport. BJP takes 'smuggler' swipe

According to the DRI Cochin officials, the intelligence agency intercepted the cabin crew member named Surabhi Khatun, a native of Kolkata, who arrived from Muscat at Kannur on May 28.

When the team initiated the personal search of Khatun at the airport, it found 960 grams of smuggled gold in compound form concealed in her rectum. After interrogation and completing the necessary formalities, she was produced before the jurisdictional magistrate and remanded to 14 days to women's prison in Kannur, the report added.

Security guard flees with 500gm gold jewellery from Kali temple in Ulhasnagar

This is the first time in India where an airline crew member has been apprehended for smuggling gold. A detailed investigation has started and the evidence gathered so far suggests she had previously smuggled gold several times. The involvement of Kerala-based individuals in the smuggling gang is also being investigated, the report added.

Earlier on Wednesday, Delhi customs detained two people at Delhi airport for allegedly smuggling 500 grams of gold. One of those detained claimed he was the personal assistant of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor. Reacting to the report, union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the CPM and the Congress are an "alliance of gold smugglers".

The person, who has reportedly claimed to be associated with the Congress MP, has been identified as Shiv Kumar Prasad.

Gold smuggling racket behind Bangladesh MPs murder in Kolkata?

Earlier on May 28, three Sri Lankan men were arrested at Delhi airport for allegedly trying to smuggle gold worth around 1.23 crore. The accused were arrested in two separate cases. The detailed examination and personal search of the passenger resulted in recovery of gold weighing 860.38 grams, valued at 55 lakh, the department said in a statement.

(With inputs from PTI)
In his first response after coming to India, Prajwal Revanna said that he is ready to face the law and he will fully co-operate with the investigation. I came back to Bengaluru bec: Prajwal Revanna's first response after arrest

Prajwal's lawyer Arun spoke to reporters on Friday after meeting him in the custody and said, Prajwal told me that he is back in Bengaluru as he needs to stand by his words. He is ready to face the law. He also said that he will fully co-operate with the SIT officials during the investigation. He also requested the press not to do a media trial as the allegations are yet to be proven.

Also Read - Prajwal Revanna interrogated after arrest; SIT mulling potency test

Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has given a notice to Prajwal Revanna's mother Bhavani Revanna in the kidnapping case.

The SIT has asked Bhavani to attend for investigation and questioning at her Holenarasipura house on June 1.

Earlier, Bhavani Revanna, mother of Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna, who is accused in the obscene video case, filed an anticipatory bail in the kidnapping case in which her husband was earlier arrested.

Bhavani had moved Karnataka High Court seeking relief from arrest by SIT.

Her husband, HD Revanna was arrested earlier in connection with a kidnapping case on April 29. He was granted conditional bail by a special court for people's representatives.

The SIT which is probing into hundreds of sexually explicit videos allegedly featuring Prajwal Revanna, is reportedly planning to subject the politician to a potency test.
Bharatpur: The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court in Rajasthan on Friday convicted a man in a 2021 case of raping a minor girl in Dholpur and sentenced him to 20 years imprisonment with a penalty of Rs.65,000, officials aware of the matter said. (Representative Photo)

The court issued a verdict after hearing 21 eyewitnesses. The public prosecutor of the POCSO court said that a man kidnapped his neighbours minor daughter ad raped her.

A complaint was launched on March 18, 2021, by the father of the rape survivor, stating that his daughter was kidnapped and accused his neighbour of abduction while she was asleep at home.

Following the complaint, police arrested the accused and rescued the minor from Agra in Uttar Pradesh. She was taken to the hospital for a checkup, and her statement was recorded before the magistrate.
Bikaner: A 15-year-old boy who had gone missing after his Class 10 exam results were declared on May 29 has been found dead in a canal in Rajasthans Bikaner district, police said on Friday. (Representative Photo)

Police suspect the teenager died by suicide. The boys parents said he was upset after getting only 57% marks in the examination and left home just after the results were announced.

Investigating officer Anoop Singh said that a missing report was filed by the boys parents on Wednesday evening, following which a search operation was launched.

Singh said that the minors body was recovered about five kilometres away from his village near a canal.

Locals also found a pair of slippers which belonged to the deceased, said police, suspecting that the boy had died by suicide.

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KOLKATA: For the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has targeted 30 of West Bengals 42 Lok Sabha seats, the seventh and last phase of polling at nine seats in Kolkata and two adjacent districts of South and North 24 Parganas is expected to be crucial because it trailed the ruling Trinamool Congress on all nine constituencies in 2019. Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar and party leader Suvendu Adhikari during a roadshow for Lok Sabha elections, in Kolkata on May 28 (PTI FILE)

The Dum Dum, Barasat and Basirhat seats are in the North 24 Parganas while Jaynagar, Mathurapur, Diamond Harbour and Jadavpur are in the South 24 Parganas. The Kolkata North and Kolkata South seats cover the state capital.

Characterised by a mix of rural and cosmopolitan voters who speak various languages, including Hindi, some of these nine seats are likely to witness a different voting pattern because the Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M), fielded some prominent faces to emerge as a third force in the last leg of the elections. The Congress is also in race as the Lefts electoral ally.

In the six phases covering 33 seats, the contests were primarily bipolar in most seats; the BJP won 18 of these 33 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The most high-profile of the nine in the final phase is Diamond Harbour that has twice voted chief minister Mamata Banerjees nephew and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee since 2014.

All I ask you is to increase the margin of victory to 4,00,000, Banerjee, who won by 71,000 votes in 2018 and a whopping 3,20,000 in 2019, told voters at his last rally on Thursday.

Abhijit Das, a local activist who secured 2,00,858 votes for BJP at Diamond Harbour in 2014, has been fielded again this year. The CPI(M) has fielded Pratikur Rahaman, one of its state committee members and national vice-president of Students Federation of India (SFI). Having snapped electoral ties with the CPI(M), the three-year-old Indian Secular Front (ISF) is also in the fray.

Muslims comprise around 40% of the constituencys population and are seen as the TMCs vote bank. The Muslim candidates of the CPI(M) and ISF may get a fraction of these votes and thus indirectly help BJP, said Sajal Das, a school teacher from the Budge Budge assembly segment. TMC won all seven assembly segments in Diamond Harbour in the 2021 Bengal assembly elections.

Seen as a high-profile seat since the Left Front era, Jadavpur was represented by CPI(M) stalwart Somnath Chatterjee from 1977 to 1984 before he was defeated by Mamata Banerjee, then a youth Congress leader. Banerjees 1984 victory marked her debut in electoral politics.

The CPI(M), which won Jadavpur thrice between 1989 and 2004, has fielded its state committee member and former SFI state secretary Srijan Bhattacharya against actor and TMCs youth wing president Saayoni Ghosh. The BJP, on the other hand, has nominated national executive member Anirban Ganguly who unsuccessfully contested the Bolpur seat in Bibhum district in 2019.

ISF founder Nawsad Siddique wrested the Bhangar assembly seat- one of the seven assembly segments in the Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency - from the TMC in 2021. The ISF has entered the Lok Sabha race as well.

Srijan Bhattacharya is popular as a youth leader. Although former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was defeated from his Jadavpur assembly seat in 2021, CPI(M)s Sujan Chakraborty managed to wrest it in 2016. The Marxists still have a presence in the Jadavpur Lok Sabha segment, said Amitabha Bhattacharya, an engineer and a resident.

The Kolkata South seat was won by Mamata Banerjee six times between 1991 and 2011. Although considered a safe seat for the ruling party, the BJP increased its vote share in the Bhawanipore assembly segment in some of the civic body and assembly polls over the years due to its popularity among Hindi and Gujarati-speaking voters from this area.

The TMC has fielded Mala Roy who won the seat in 2019 while the BJP, in a surprise move, fielded Debashri Chaudhary who won north Bengals Raiganj Lok Sabha seat, her home ground, in 2019.

Kolkata South is Mamata Banerjees home. The voters have always firmly stood by our party, Roy said.

Unlike Kolkata South, the Kolkata North seat is likely to witness a close contest because senior TMC leader and former minister Tapas Roy, who resigned from the West Bengal assembly in March and joined the BJP, has been fielded against incumbent Sudip Bandopadhyay, his arch-rival.

Amid reports that some of Roys supporters from his TMC days are backing him against the partys official candidate, the BJP has also focused on this seat and ensured that Prime Minister Narendra Modis first-ever roadshow in Bengal on Tuesday passed through the heart of the Kolkata North seat.

In North 24 Parganas district bordering Bangladesh, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) passed in March is a raging issue because of the presence of Namasudra and Dalit Matua community voters many of whom came from Bangladesh as refugees. In 2019, a large section of this population helped the BJP win the Bongaon and Barrackpore seats where polls were held in the fifth phase.

Having won from Dum Dum thrice since 2009, 76-year-old Saugata Roy is TMCs eldest candidate in the ongoing polls. The CPI(M) has fielded its central committee member Sujan Chakraborty against Roy while former TMC legislator Shilbhadra Dutta, who joined BJP in 2020, is contesting for the saffron camp.

I can only see a smooth victory. The so-called opponents are nowhere in the race, Roy said on Thursday evening as campaigning ended.

Since February, BJP leaders including PM Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah, have focused on allegations of rape and molestation by some Dalit and tribal women against local TMC leaders headed by Shahjahan Sheikh at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district. Sheikh and his followers were subsequently arrested.

Sandeshkhali is one of the seven TMC-controlled assembly segments in the Basirhat Lok Sabha seat that the ruling party has won continuously since 2009.

TMCs Haji Nurul Islam, who snatched the Basirhat seatfrom CPI(M) in 2009, has been fielded again to counter BJPs Rekha Patra, one of the women who led the Sandeshkhali agitation. The CPI(M) has fielded Nirapada Sardar who was the Sandeshkhali legislator till 2018.

People have realised that trumped up allegations were levelled. They will deliver justice by casting their votes for TMC, Haji Nurul Islam said.

Bengal BJPs chief spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya said the people have already decided. People of Bengal have taken their decision. BJP have their mandate. No constituency is safe for TMC anymore.
LUCKNOW Uttar Pradesh is set to enhance its energy infrastructure with the establishment of nine new pumped storage plants (PSPs) boasting a total capacity of 14,450mw, said a government spokesman here on Friday. Additionally, Torrent Power will establish a 2,400mw project in Shoma village and a 1,750mw project in Sashnai village, both within Sonbhadra. (Pic for representation)

These projects will in Sonbhadra, Mirzapur and Chandauli districts known for their energy production capabilities. Agreements for these projects have been signed between the state government and various power companies, he said.

Sonbhadra will host seven of these PSP projects. The largest of these, a 3,660mw project, is being developed by the Greenko Group in Obra, having received approval in May last year.

Additionally, Torrent Power will establish a 2,400mw project in Shoma village and a 1,750mw project in Sashnai village, both within Sonbhadra. JSW Neo Energy is set to implement a 1,200mw project in Kandhora village, while Tehri Hydropower Development Corporation (THDC) plans to set up another 1,200mw project spanning Bashuhari and Badela villages. Avada Water Battery will contribute a 1,120mw project in Chichlik village, and Amunra Infratech & Agritech will develop a 1,620mw project in Jharia village.

In addition to Sonbhadra, Akme CleanTech Solutions will establish PSP projects in Mirzapurs Songarh village (900mw) and Chandaulis Mubarakpur (600mw).

Invest UP, an organization dedicated to promoting investment and industrialization in Uttar Pradesh, recently reviewed these PSP projects.

The review revealed that land has been identified for Greenko Groups project in Sonbhadra and Akme CleanTechs project in Chandauli. Furthermore, Amunra and JSW Neo Energy have commenced their site offices. Greenko Group and JSW Neo Energy have submitted applications for clearance from the Ministry of Forest and Environment for their projects in Sonbhadra, while Akme CleanTech has done so for its project in Chandauli, the spokesman said.

However, Akme CleanTechs project in Mirzapur is currently on hold pending approval from the Madhya Pradesh government, he added.

According to the spokesman, the Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has approved the PSPs in Shoma village proposed by Greenko, JSW Neo Energy, and Torrent Power. Detailed project reports (DPRs) for Greenko and JSW Neo Energys projects are in the initial stages, with others progressing through various phases.

Abhishek Prakash, CEO of Invest UP, expressed confidence in the strategic importance of these developments. The establishment of these PSP projects not only underscores UPs commitment to enhancing its energy capabilities but also paves way for substantial economic growth and job creation. This initiative will firmly position Uttar Pradesh as a leader in sustainable energy production.
Mumbai: Ajay Valmiki, 40, has been a patient at the Rajawadi Hospital, Ghatkopar, for over two weeks now. He was rushed here when a 120-ftX140-ft hoarding (over 1.5 times the permitted size) collapsed on a petrol pump in Pantnagar, Ghatkopar, unable to withstand a 12-minute strong gust of wind on May 13. After spending five days in the ICU, he continues to recuperate at the hospitals general ward. Site of the hoarding crash at Ghatkopar (Raju Shinde/HT Photo)

Valmiki, who works with a company that caters for weddings, suffered severe fracture to his right leg and a major blow to his head, which now causes erratic memory loss and blackouts. I woke up four days after the accident. All I saw were shadows around me, he said. Valmiki was at the petrol pump riding his Suzuki Access 125, when the incident took place. His friend, Karim Sidiqqui, who suffered minor injuries, informed the family about his state, after which they reached the hospital.

17 people lost their lives in the incident, following which the owner of Ego Media Pvt Ltd (that put up the illegal hoarding) Bhavesh Bhinde was arrested and put in police custody, where he awaits magistrate order.

Survivors such as Valmiki are trying to piece their lives back together.

As Valmiki has been out of work, the familys livelihood has been impacted, while his children, who attend the Gurukul School in Ghatkopar, are looking at an uncertain future. For now, the family is burdened with pooling in funds to pay fine due to delayed fees. It would take over six months for me to get out of here, said Valmiki.

His wife Seema, 37, seated by his side at the hospital with home-cooked meal, said, My daughter broke into fever soon after she learnt about her fathers state. She remembers some senior officials visiting the hospital to take pictures of her husbands injuries, but we are yet to receive anything.

Migrant worker Dayaram Asaram Verma, 30, came to the city from Shravasti district in Uttar Pradesh, to work as a caterer. He suffered fracture in the spine in the incident, which has restricted his movement  he lies on his side in his rented house in Kurla. Now, the familys cash flow has been aborted as Verma is the sole earning member.

Vermas brother-in-law Salikram Burma, 33, who came to Mumbai after learning about the incident, looks after him. Verma and four other workers were on their way to Thane in a tempo to cater for a wedding and stopped at the petrol pump to seek shelter from rain. The driver was killed as the hoarding fell on the vehicle, while Verma was saved as he was behind the tempo.

Sharif Nasir Khan, 38, an auto driver who lives in Sangharsh Nagar, Powai, along with his wife and two children, had decided to wait at the petrol pump for a few more minutes tanking up his bike, when the pump room fell on him and his wife. Khan and his wife were returning from JJ Hospital after the latters treatment.

Khan, who had undergone surgery to replace his knee cap, said, I have been advised bed rest for at least three months. I cannot drive my auto for five months now. The sole bread winner is now anxious about his sons education  he was moved to a private school last year, with hopes of a better future. Khans wife, who sustained minor injuries in the accident, also cannot work since she has to take care of him. Our survival is at stake now, she said.

Another victim, Dinesh Kumar Singh, 54, who worked as a security supervisor at the petrol pump, suffered fracture in the hand, apart from minor injuries on his head, chest and back. I am unable to hear properly after the accident. I could not sleep at night I saw people crushed under the hoarding in front of my eyes; I cant get over that sight.

Like Verma, Singh, a sole earner, lives in Nityanand Nagar, after arriving from Bihar 13 years ago to support his family. I do not know how I will send money for my childrens education in Patna, he said, adding the state government is yet to offer any aid.

Govind Kumar Saroj, 26, who works at a grocery store in Ghatkopar (East), was at the spot seeking shelter from rain, like many others. He was saved as he was wearing a helmet, he said. Before I could grasp anything, an iron rod fell on my leg and the bones in my left thigh were broken, he said.

Sarojs elder brother Devanand, who works at a construction site in Pune, is in Mumbai to take care of him. Our aged parents are worried, said Devanand, adding like others, they are also yet to receive relief funds from the government. Saroj was stuck in the debris for an hour after which the local police rushed him to the hospital.

After the incident, the Eknath Shinde government had announced it would cover the expenses of the injured and provide an ex-gratia amount of 5 lakh to the family of the deceased. Survivors are waiting for the same.
MUMBA: Tara Rathwa, a Class 10 student from Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) in Gujarat, was thrilled as she assembled a rover with her own hands. I am not good at science and mathematics, but my interest in science has been growing since I joined this camp, she said. I wish I had this opportunity in my earlier school years. IIT Bombay launches initiative to draw female students into science

Like Tara, 160 girls from 40 JNV schools in the rural parts of Gujarat, Diu and Daman, and Goa spent the last five days at the IIT Bombay campus. The unequal gender ratio in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) courses has long been a topic of concern. To address this issue, IIT Bombay is reaching out to girls while they are still in school and on the verge of making career decisions.

In a groundbreaking initiative, the institute is focusing on training girl students from rural parts of India who often lack exposure to STEM fields. As part of its outreach efforts, IIT Bombay has launched a new programme titled WiSE (Women in Science and Engineering from Rural Parts of India) a year ago. The programme aims to engage Class 9 girls from rural areas and spark their interest in STEM careers. Beyond introducing these girls to potential STEM career paths, WiSE will include periodic mentoring by IIT Bombay students, ensuring ongoing support and guidance.

During the week-long program, the participating girls stayed in the hostel on campus and followed an intensive schedule. They engaged in hands-on experiences in various labs and attended motivational sessions with inspiring female professionals from STEM fields.

Professor Rajesh Zele from the department of electrical engineering, who led the programme with a team of student volunteers, said, In rural parts, many girls are encouraged to get married early and focus on the family instead of their careers. They choose disciplines in which they can work part-time while supporting family needs. Apart from having little or no exposure to STEM courses, girls from rural areas tend to drop out of mainstream higher education due to societal pressures.

The girls participated in various lab activities, from building simple light bulb circuits to constructing complex remote-controlled rover robots. Rupali Samant, student from JNV, Daman, said, With this workshop, I have become more confident about understanding science and mathematics concepts. From childhood, I have been curious about science, and now after attending this workshop, I have decided to pursue a career in science. I will be very happy if I get an opportunity to attend the same seminar next year too.

Sapna K Ramesh, science teacher at JNV, South Goa who accompanied her students, said, This is a very good initiative for those students who perform badly in mathematics and science, and those who want to improve. With the hands-on experience given to students, they have gained a lot of confidence. Students who never spoke in class are now asking questions to experts here.
The Allahabad High Court has issued notices to Bundelkhand University vice-chancellor, Mukesh Pandey, registrar Vinay Kumar Singh, finance officer Wasi Mohd along with three professors to file a counter affidavit by the next date of hearing, in relation to a public interest litigation. The PIL had been filed by a woman professor, alleging misappropriation of funds and irregularities in the appointment and promotions of lecturers and professors. For representation only (HT File Photo)

In its order dated May 24 against the PIL no 934 filed by Rekha Lagarkha, an assistant professor in the department of chemistry in the university, the bench of justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and justice Kshitij Shailendra ordered to file a counter affidavit on the next date of hearing (July 11).

The order also mentioned that the petitioner has deposited 50,000 to the court to prove her bona fide in filing the PIL.

In her petition, Lagarkha, who has been working for the past 21 years, has levelled serious allegations against the university authorities. These included transfer of over 40 crore in a private account received during BEd examinations without the consent of the FO.

She has further mentioned constructions on the university premises worth 150 crore without proper tenders along with irregularities in the appointment and promotions of professors and lecturers alleging nepotism. (HTC)
Fifteen personnel on poll duty in Mirzapur and Sonbhadra died of suspected heat-related ailments on Friday, district officials confirmed. Polling personnel in Sonbhadra admitted to the district hospital after they fell sick on Friday. (Sourced)

Thirteen of them, including seven home guards, three sanitation workers and a clerical staffer, died in Mirzapur alone, Mirzapur divisional commissioner Muthukumarasamy B said.

Two other deaths of polling personnel took place in Sonbhadra.

The officials added several home guards in Mirzapur and polling personnel in Sonbhadra were undergoing treatment for similar problems at government hospitals there.

Day temperatures in both districts rose to a maximum of 47 degrees Celsius on Friday, IMD confirmed. Mirzapur and Robertsganj (Sonbhadra) are among the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in Uttar Pradesh where elections are due in the final phase on Saturday.

Mirzapur SP Abhinandan said the home guards collapsed when they were leaving for polling stations. Their bodies had been sent for post-mortem, he added.

Meanwhile, 11 people died of suspected heatstroke in Kanpur over the past few days, where temperatures had been fluctuating between 46C and 48C since the past week.

While postmortem entries in the district mortuary showed 27 bodies were brought there from different parts of the city for autopsy in the last 60 hours, only eleven could be identified so far. Their families claimed that their deaths was due to severe heat.

However, district magistrate Rakesh Singh stated that he was unaware of such a high number of deaths and emphasised that post-mortem examinations would clarify the exact causes. Additional commissioner of police (Law and Order) Harish Chander confirmed that several bodies had been sent for post-mortem as families blamed heatwave for the deaths.

We have sent 11 bodies for autopsy today, the cause of death will be clear after the postmortem. Seven post mortem were conducted today and we are waiting for the reports, he said.

According to Dr. S.N. Sunil Pandey, a weather scientist at CS Azad University for Agriculture, this May was the hottest on record. Since 1988, the highest temperature recorded in Kanpur was 48.2C, and this week marked the third time the mercury soared past 48C.
Pune, A retired bureaucrat has written to the Maharashtra Human Rights Commission seeking transfer of Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar in connection with the May 19 Porsche accident that claimed two lives. HT Image

In his letter, Arun Bhatia sought to highlight the vulgar, primitive and frightening exhibition of police corruption and dirt at the top level administration engaged in destroying evidence to save the driver who killed two people.

"I invoke your intervention in this case because it has jolted us, increased our insecurity and shown us the terrifying face of our governance and democracy. Corrupt officials and harassed citizens are now a part of every-day life," he said in his letter to the MHRC chairman.

"Since we have ignored this, the corruption is now pervasive, unsparing and institutionalized. It is not just one official who is evil; the entire officialdom is so. When this union of officials happens and departments combine they become impregnable. The isolated citizen has no chance against this adversary," said Bhatia.

In this case, police officials and senior doctors the chief medical officer of the largest government hospital in Pune have colluded to save a criminal, claimed the retired IAS officer.

"The blood sample for testing alcohol consumption was delayed by the police for more than six hours; the police fed him pizza in the police station before the blood test, then the sample was destroyed by the doctors and replaced; the recording of statements of witnesses and car occupants was delayed and so on," the letter says.

The basic and standard norms of investigation were discarded and time was made available to the culprits to concoct a defence, he said.

The police commissioner, an IPS officer, is reported to have called the blood testing story a "procedural lapse", Bhatia said in the letter, adding that the former, as per media reports, had claimed there was no political pressure to save the doctors but "two politicians had turned up at the police station".

"I request the H R Commission to take special note of the fact that unless senior officials are made accountable for the misdeeds of their subordinates the government departments will not improve. That subordinates collect bribe money for higher officials is common knowledge," he stated in the letter.

For the sake of impartial investigation, the police commissioner must be transferred out of Pune immediately and his conduct should be investigated as he represents the police force in the city, Bhatia urged.

"The appointment of the doctor as Chief Medical Officer on the basis of a politician's recommendation should be investigated and the Health Secretary punished," he added.

Two IT professionals were killed in the early hours of May 19 in Kalyani Nagar in Pune after a Porsche allegedly being driven by a drunk minor rammed into their two wheeler.

While the 17-year-old minor allegedly involved in the accident has been sent to an observation home, his father, realtor Vishal Agarwal and grandfather Surendra Agarwal have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping the family's driver and putting pressure on him to take the blame.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Pune, A local court in Pune on Friday remanded the father and grandfather of the minor involved in the Porsche case in judicial custody for 14 days over their roles in the alleged kidnapping and wrongful confinement of their driver. HT Image

Real estate developer Vishal Agarwal and his father were produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate A A Pande at the end of their police remand.

According to the police, the driver was with the juvenile in the Porsche when the luxury car hit a two-wheeler killing two software engineers in Punes Kalyani Nagar area on May 19.

The father-son duo allegedly threatened the driver to take the blame for the accident. They allegedly kidnapped him and illegally confined him to their house. The drivers wife freed him from the servant quarter at the bungalow of the accused in the Vadgaon Sheri area.

The prosecution sought extension of police remand citing that there is a progress in the case with recovery of the phone and a car used in the commission of crime. It said their further custody was needed as the accused were not cooperating in the case.

The defence Counsel objected to the demand for police custody, arguing that the prosecution had already got enough time to probe into the case. Since they have already recovered the car, phone and also CCTV footage, there is no need of further police custody, he contended.

After hearing both sides, the judge sent the accused to judicial custody for 14 days.

While the juvenile has been sent to an observation home till June 5, the case acquired a new dimension after police said his blood samples were swapped at the Sassoon General Hospital to show that he was not drunk at the time of the accident.

Police have arrested Dr Ajay Taware, then head of the department of forensic medicine at Sassoon hospital, medical officer Dr Shrihari Halnor and employee Atul Ghatkamble for allegedly manipulating the minors blood samples.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
In a tragic turn of events, a domestic dispute escalated to a fatal crime as a vegetable vendor allegedly set his wife on fire, resulting in her death. The incident was reported on Wednesday at around 1 pm in the Ganpati Matha Warje-Malwadi area. (REPRESENTATIVE PHOTO)

The incident was reported on Wednesday at around 1 pm in the Ganpati Matha Warje-Malwadi area.

The accused has been identified as Pravin Babasaheb Chavan, 26, a resident of Ahire Gaon and the victim has been identified as Pooja Pravin Chavan.

According to preliminary investigations, the incident occurred following a heated argument between the couple, reportedly fuelled by domestic issues. In a fit of rage, the husband set fire to his wife by using diesel. Later he rushed his wife to the hospital where she was declared dead.

The accused fled from the hospital after the incident, said police.

Manoj Shendge, police inspector at Warje-Malwadi, said, We have formed a team to arrest the accused.

As per the complaint filed by the brother of the deceased Amol Pawar, a case has been filed against the accused under sections 302 and 498 (a) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The three-member committee formed by the Maharashtra medical education department to investigate tampering of the blood samples of the 17-year-old minor involved in the Porsche accident has found his blood samples were swapped with those of a woman and two other elderly persons. The identities of these people have still not been revealed. The committee formed by the Maharashtra medical education department to investigate tampering of the blood samples of the 17-year-old minor involved in the Porsche accident has found his blood samples were swapped with those of a woman and two other elderly persons. (HT)

While seeking extension of the custody of the two Sassoon doctors Ajay Taware and Shrihari Harnol and a third staffer, Atul Ghatkamble, on Thursday, the police told the Pune sessions court that they had yet to ascertain the identity of the woman and therefore needed further interrogation of the three accused. Outside the court, police also refused to confirm speculation that the woman involved is the mother of the underage driver.

According to the investigating officer in the case, assistant commissioner of police, Sunil Tambe, Dr Halnor initially told the police that he had thrown the juveniles blood sample in the dustbin. However, a fresh police probe revealed that the extracted blood sample of the minor in the syringe was handed over to someone and we want to investigate who that person is, and under whose pressure this was done, Tambe told the court.

Read Here | Pune Porsche crash: Who appointed Dr Ajay Taware? Dean vs minister blame game

Police officers also told HT that the sample of the woman which was eventually passed off as the minors blood sample was collected by Sassoon doctor outside the CCTV coverage area. The three-member committee, headed by Dr Pallavi Saple, dean of JJ Hospital in Mumbai, in its finding said: Dr Srihari Halnor, casualty medical officer (CMO) at SGH, who was on duty on 19th May, did not follow the norms during the medical examination and extraction of blood samples of the minor. Dr Halnor took the blood samples of a woman and two elderly people to swap it with the minors blood sample.

The foul play came to light as the police had taken another blood sample of the juvenile for DNA testing and had sent that to another hospital for results. The report from the other hospital revealed that the juveniles blood report at the SGH was manipulated as the DNA of (blood samples of) both reports did not match. The two Sassoon doctors had been unaware that the police had taken one more sample of the accused and sent it for testing elsewhere.

Pune Porsche crash: How doctors changed teen driver's blood sample | Sequence of events

After the committee submitted its report, the state government and the medical education department took disciplinary action on Wednesday against the two doctors and suspended them from service. Ghatkamble, a conservancy employee, has also been suspended, said Sassoon officials. The police also told the court that Dr Taware who was on leave on the day of the day of the accident had offered an inducement of 2.50 lakh to Dr Halnor and 50,000 to Ghatkamble to swap the samples and that this amount has been recovered by them. They also told the court that they are of the view that this money was the first tranche and that more money was to follow.

The resident medical officer and medical superintendent have failed to monitor Medico Legal Cases (MLC) as per the hospital administration manual rules. The dean failed to realise the administrative and social seriousness of the case and, had he investigated it in time and informed the government and the administration of Sassoon Hospital, it would have helped the police investigation and maintained the image of Sassoon Hospital and also the government, said Dr Saple.
A Pune court on Thursday summoned Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to appear before it on August 19 in connection with the criminal defamation case filed against him by Satyaki Savarkar, grand-nephew of Hindutva ideologue Swatantra Veer Vinayak Damodar Savarkar. Satyaki had submitted a few newspaper reports, including YouTube links, of Rahul Gandhis public address in London. (HT FILE)

Satyaki had filed a complaint in Pune following Gandhis alleged defamatory remarks against Vinayak Savarkar in London during a speech on March 5, 2023. Satyaki had submitted a few newspaper reports, including YouTube links, of Gandhis public address in London.

The order has been issued by Judicial Magistrate First Class Akshi Jain under Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) section 204 after the Vishrambaug police submitted a report which prima facie indicates that Gandhi had defamed Vinayak Savarkar, said Sangram Kolhatkar, Satyakis lawyer.

In his petition, Satyaki stated, Gandhi has intentionally made false, malicious and wild allegations against Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, fully knowing the said allegations to be untrue, with the specific objective of harming the reputation and to defame the surname Savarkar.

Read Here: Savarkars kin questions delay in probe into defamation complaint against Rahul Gandhi

After recording the statements of Satyaki and two witnesses, the JMFC court in January 2024 directed the Pune police to conduct an inquiry into the defamation complaint according to the provisions of section 202 of the CrPC and submit its report by February 23. The Vishrambaug police station in Pune had then begun an inquiry into the matter.

Police sought more time from the court to complete the inquiry and told the court in writing on April 2, 2024, that it was not possible to conduct further inquiry into the matter because, despite repeated communication, YouTube has not provided any information related to profile, IP address, email etc. regarding the link with the video of Gandhis speech submitted in the application.

Assistant police inspector Tukaram Nimbalkar submitted the inquiry report before the court in the case on May 27.

Advocate Kolhatkar said, The order has been passed in favour of Satyaki and the Congress leader has been asked to remain present on August 19.
The long-drawn-out polling for Mandate 2024 will end this evening after what was arguably one of the most polarising election campaigns. Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi led a gruelling campaign, seeking a third term in office while the Opposition which appeared divided, jaded, and listless at the beginning of the elections managed to get its act together and mounted an aggressive counter against the ruling party. The campaign revealed one thing about India. Institutions may be under strain in the backdrop of an all-round decline in conversations, but competitive electoral democracy is alive and kicking at the grassroots, and no leader, however popular one may think the person is, can take the voters for granted. Every vote has to be fought for with hard work, by hard-selling promises and achievements, and, unfortunately, by stoking fears about what might be. The good thing is that the electorate is particular about its choices and seems unwilling to be impressed by legacy, placing a premium on record. The bad thing is they are often enamoured by freebies, and all too susceptible to polarising rhetoric.

A few things need to be said about the elections this time. One, the campaign was the most presidential in recent years. What began in 2014 has strengthened so much that this election was all about Brand Modi. The party and its candidates were secondary to the guarantee called Modi. And that is a ground that the Opposition found hard to play on. How this shift in Indian democracy, which is based on the Westminster model and prefers collective leadership unlike the US model of a singular leader, will turn out is anybodys guess. Two, this election was about Modi/BJP versus Others. The Congresss decline became evident when it fielded the fewest number of candidates it ever has. Three, the campaign was defined by coarseness. Elections are competitive affairs, no doubt. But do leaders need to stoop so low as to manufacture fears, and then personally malign opponents to win votes? Modis speeches were filled with shrill anti-Muslim rhetoric. In Odisha, the campaign bordered on xenophobia over the ethnicity of CM Naveen Patnaiks aide and BJD leader, VK Pandian. The Opposition created a scare over possible amendments in the Constitution to take away the benefits of reservation. These dog whistles vitiated the atmosphere and lowered the dignity of the discourse. A nation that takes pride in being the mother of democracy needs to do better when it comes to the language of electioneering. Four, much of the decline in electioneering has to do with the failure of the Election Commission of India to ensure that all parties respected the Model Code of Conduct. This is an institution that has made the country proud since it conducted the countrys first election in 1951. It had drawn the red lines and made sure that parties did not breach them. Unfortunately, the three wise men who now head it have done the institution no favours. The perception has gained that it has been too lenient about the transgressions of the ruling party, especially in censuring leaders indulging in hate speech. The delay in releasing turnout figures, which may well be because of the extra care to ensure that it got the numbers right, has also cast a cloud over its reputation. Clearly, the institution has a problem in hand.

By evening, the exit polls will suggest the likely winner when the votes are counted Tuesday, although they have been wrong in the past. Until then, all the stakeholders ought to reflect on what was said and done during the campaign and introspect on whether they could have done better.
How many seats will the Bharatiya Janata Party win in the state of Uttar Pradesh? The answer to this question will pretty much decide the outcome of the ongoing Lok Sabha elections. While one must wait for the results, here are five charts which underline just what Uttar Pradesh means to the BJPs political fortunes.

A child holds a placard depicting PM Modi and the BJP election symbol during a public meeting in Uttar Pradesh.(PTI Photo)
The JEE Advanced 2024 examination candidate response sheet is available for candidates on the official website at jeeadv.ac.in. Candidates who have appeared for the examination and wish to check the response sheet can visit the official website and download it. Paper I was conducted from 9 am to 12 pm and Paper II was conducted from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm. The online display of provisional answer keys will be released on June 2, 2024, at 10 am.(HT)

IIT Madras which is the organising institute for JEE Advanced 2024 conducted the Joint Entrance Examination Advanced on May 26, 2024. Paper I was conducted from 9 am to 12 pm and Paper II was conducted from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm. The online display of provisional answer keys will be released on June 2, 2024, at 10 am.

Direct Link for candidates to check the response sheet

JEE Advanced 2024 candidate response sheet: How to download

All those candidates who want to download the candidate response sheet can follow the steps given below:

Visit the official website of IIT Advanced at jeeadv.ac.in.

Click on the JEE Advanced 2024 candidate response sheet link available on the home page.

A new page will open where candidates can enter the login details.

Click on submit and download the page.

Keep a hard copy of the same for further need

The online display of provisional answer keys will be released on June 2, 2024, at 10 am. Candidates can submit their feedback and comments on the provisional answer keys from June 2, 2024, to June 3, 2024, till 5 pm.

For more information, visit the official website.
Vardhaman Mahavir Open University, Kota will release Rajasthan PTET Admit Card 2024 likely soon. The Rajasthan PTET exam for admission to the four-year and two-year B.Ed courses admit card will be available on the official website of Vardhaman Mahavir Open University, Kota at ptetvmou2024.com. Rajasthan PTET Admit Card 2024 awaited: Where, how to download hall tickets

The B.A. B.Ed/B.Sc B.Ed 4year course and B.Ed 2 year course will be held on June 9, 2024. To download the admit card, candidates can follow the steps given below.

Rajasthan PTET Admit Card 2024: How to download

Visit the official website of Vardhaman Mahavir Open University, Kota at ptetvmou2024.com.

Click on Rajasthan PTET Admit Card 2024 link available on the home page.

Enter the login details and click on submit.

Your admit card will be displayed on the screen.

Check the admit card and download the page.

Keep a hard copy of the same for further need.

The registration process was started on March 6 and concluded on April 30, 2024. The correction window was opened on May 1 and closed on May 6, 2024. For more related details candidates can check the official website of Rajasthan PTET.








Candidates appearing for the Telangana State Integrated Common Entrance Test (TS ICET 2024) waiting for the admit cards can now download them from the official website as the Telangana State Council of Higher Education has released the hall tickets for the candidates. Candidates who are attempting the examination need to visit the official website at icet.tsche.ac.in to download their hall tickets. (HT file)

Candidates who are attempting the examination need to visit the official website at icet.tsche.ac.in to download their hall tickets. The Session 1 and Session 2 examinations will be conducted on June 5, 2024, in two shifts- the first shift from 10 am to 12.30 pm and the second shift from 2.30 pm to 5 pm.

DIRECT LINK to download the admit cards

The Session 3 examination will be conducted on June 6, 2024, in a single shift- from 10 am to 12.30 pm. This test is an objective type test and the questions are of multiple choice model.

To download the hall ticket, candidates need to furnish their registration number, date of birth and their qualifying examination hall ticket number.

Earlier, officials had announced that the hall ticket release date was scheduled for May 28, 2024, which was postponed to May 31, 2024.

TS ICET Hall Ticket 2024: How to download

All the candidates who want to download the admit card can follow the steps given below.

Visit the official website of TS ICET at icet.tsche.ac.in.

Click on the TS ICET Hall Ticket 2024 link available on the home page.

Enter the login details and click on submit.

Your admit card will be displayed on the screen.

Check the admit card and download the page.

Keep a hard copy of the same for further need.

For more information, visit the official website.
The Ministry of Education, Government of India will be conferring the National Award to Teachers (NAT) 2024, to honour and acknowledge the pivotal and exemplary work of the teachers in higher education institutions (including polytechnic). Z National Award to Teachers 2024: The Ministry of Education will be conferring the National Award to Teachers (NAT) 2024 on September 5, 2024. The deadline for nomination filing is June 20, 2024. (awards.gov.in)

In a notice dated May 30th, 2024, the Ministry has invited Higher Educational Institutions or HEIs to participate in the initiative. The awards will be conferred to the selected teachers on September 5, 2024, that is on Teachers Day, in recognition of their distinctive contributions, and for their dedication and hard work.

Also read: Why UGC delisted Manipurs Sangai International University, asked students not to take admission without approval

The Ministry said that the nominations for the award should be uploaded on the Rashtriya Puraskar Portal at awards.gov.in.

As per the notice, a total of 35 awards will be conferred this year. Of these, 25 are for teachers of HEIs or Category-I, and 10 for teachers of polytechnic institutions or Category-II.

Notably, the applications for nominations began from May 21, and the deadline for nomination filing is June 20, 2024.

The Nomination Procedure:

The Ministry has listed out the following process of nomination:

Self-nomination (Singular basis).

Former or existing Vice-Chancellor / Director / Principal / Faculty Member / Colleague of the same University / Institute / College / Polytechnic, where the nominee holds regular employment, - Earlier nominee/nomination is eligible for re-nomination.

Members of the Search-cum-Screening Committees may also take suo-moto cognizance of an outstanding faculty member and may nominate exemplary teachers.

Award Jury are NOT eligible to make any nomination for this award, states the Ministry.

Also read: JNU PG Admissions 2024: Last chance to apply, registration window closes today at jnuee.jnu.ac.in; direct link here

Who is eligible?

As per the Ministry, the award is open to all faculty members of colleges, universities, higher educational institutions, and polytechnics in India, who meet the following conditions:

The nominee should be a regular faculty member.

The nominee should have at least five years of full-time teaching experience at the Undergraduate and/or Post-graduate level.

Should not be above 55 years of age as of the last date of receiving application for the awards.

Vice-Chancellor/ Director / Principal (regular or officiating) are NOT eligible to apply. Individuals who have held such positions earlier, but are below 55 years of age and still in active service are eligible.

Also read: CBSE Board Supplementary Exam 2024: Class 10, 12 supply exam dates out, registration begins at cbse.gov.in

Selection process:

Preliminary Search-cum-Screening Committee for initial shortlisting of candidates , where category-wise, all-inclusive Search-cum-Screening Committees for initial screening and shortlisting of potential candidates will be done. The Search-cum-Screening committee will have eminent experts (distinguished retired faculty members/ experts from the industry/domain experts/eminent personalities/educationalists/national award winners and experts from the social sector).

, where category-wise, all-inclusive Search-cum-Screening Committees for initial screening and shortlisting of potential candidates will be done. The Search-cum-Screening committee will have eminent experts (distinguished retired faculty members/ experts from the industry/domain experts/eminent personalities/educationalists/national award winners and experts from the social sector). Committee of Jury for the final section of awardees from the shortlisted candidates, where a comprehensive five-member Jury comprising of academic leaders, eminent academicians, and policy planners in the field of higher education will consider the recommendations of the Search-cum-Screening Committees and finalize the awardees in each category.

To know more about the nomination process and selection criteria, refer to the notice below:
A total of 177 students graduated from the IIT Madras BS (Data Science and Applications) course after completing their Degrees and Diplomas. This program became the worlds first 4-year BS Degree in Data Science and Applications that provides students with options to exit earlier in the foundation, Diploma, or BSc degree level, informed IIT Madras.

According to a press release by IIT Madras, the first batch of 10 BS graduands were awarded their Course completion certificates. These students took the fast track to complete the credit requirements of the 4-year BS program in 3 years.

It is truly amazing to see the kind of students going through this program as I saw an IAS Officer, cardiologists and even an octogenarian. This program truly democratizes education without diluting the quality of program...I have no doubt that each of you are going to be extremely successful in your careers. There are going to be lots of companies who, as they learn about this program, are going to be very keen to be recruiting you as well. I congratulate the IIT Madras faculty here who have created a program that is going to have humungous impact on the education system in India," said IIT Madras Alum (1998 BTech), Mr. Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO, Automotive Division of Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd.

Also Read: Meet the men behind Agnikul Cosmos: IIT Madras professor, ex-Wall St. trader and ops expert

This program became the worlds first 4-year BS Degree in Data Science and Applications that provides students with options to exit earlier in the foundation, Diploma, or BSc degree level, informed IIT Madras.

During the event, 26 students who chose to exit the program with a BSc in Programming and Data Science were awarded their degrees. Another 120 students received their provisional BSc degree certificates while they are currently pursuing their BS degree. In addition, a total of 122 students collected their Diplomas in Data Science, and 19 students collected their Diplomas in Programming and 10 students collected both Diploma in Data Science and Diploma in Programming. As many as 411 students were awarded provisional Double Diplomas, as they continue studying at the degree level, mentioned the press release.

As we see hundreds of students collecting their degrees and provisional certificates, we are excited that we have, as an Institute, contributed to your professional development. With the advent of AI and massive digitization, and also with the advent of advanced communication techniques like 5G, India is aspiring to become a multi trillion economy at the earliest possible time. This essentially means there are going to be very explorative, interesting, new and unconventional types of jobs that are going to come up. And each of these jobs will also certainly have a crucial component of data analytics and AI that will guide the system developer to come out with affordable and effective products," said Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, in a video message.

Also Read: IIT-Madras alum says Delhi is not liveable, adds Bengaluru is next. X post sparks debate

The BS program currently has more than 29,000 students studying in it, and more than 25,000 applications have been received for the May 2024 term. The next window to apply will open for the BS in Data Science and BS in Electronic Systems programs by June 15, stated IIT Madras.

For more information, visit the official website.
Centre has exempted students of Meghalaya from the CUET examination to facilitate admission into colleges for undergraduate studies. Meghalaya commissioner secretary for education Syed Md A Razi told journalists that the union ministry of education issued a notification to this effect on May 29. (Pic for representation)

Addressing a press conference today, Meghalaya commissioner secretary for education Syed Md A Razi told journalists that the union ministry of education issued a notification to this effect on May 29, 2024.

The correspondence signed by the undersecretary of the ministry reads, I am directed to inform you that the UGC had already considered the request received from State Govt. of Nagaland, through NTA and allowed affiliated Colleges in the State to take admission as per prevailing practice by giving exemption from CUET for the academic year 2024-25. On the basis of the above referred letter, UGC has considered the decision taken by the Ministry and agreed to allow admissions in the affiliated colleges of Central Universities in the State of Meghalaya and Nagaland i.e NEHU and Nagaland University as per the prevailing practice by giving exemption from CUET for the academic year 2024-25 only. This issues with the approval of the Competent Authority.

Razi elaborated that as soon as the matter was brought to Meghalaya CM Conrad K Sangmas attention, he immediately reached out to the union minister of education Dharmendra Pradhan after confabulating with officials of the state education department, North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) and NTA.

The primary aim was that we should ensure that students who are seeking admission into undergraduate courses in Meghalaya for the current academic year, do not suffer. A decision was taken by the CM to seek exemption for all colleges affiliated to NEHU in Meghalaya for exemption from CUET and for colleges to take direct admissions as was happening in the previous years, Razi said, adding, We are happy to inform that on account of the efforts, UGC yesterday has approved the exemption from CUET for college admissions for undergraduate courses for 2024-25. As of today, admissions to colleges affiliated with NEHU in Meghalaya will happen as they were before for the current academic year.

The commissioner secretary also informed that the state government has written to the University Grants Commission (UGC) for 2F notification which will put the Williamson Sangma University, a state-owned university, in the list of universities recognized by the UGC.

We are hopeful we will receive the 2F notification very soon, Razi said while elaborating that once the state receives the 2F notification it will start with the affiliation process of the colleges which are at present affiliated to North Eastern Hill University (NEHU).

He said that government and government-aided colleges will be shifted to the state-owned Williamson Sangma University while explaining that private colleges will have to exercise their choice on the matter as they cannot be forced to affiliate with the Williamson Sangma State University.

Stating that it would be appropriate if all the students of the state were under the same system, Razi said, Parallelly we are taking other steps to make the university fully functional in terms of appointment of Vice Chancellor, the various committees and faculties that is required.

He also said that the government is hopeful the state University will be functional by next year so that students of the state do not have to sit for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) and the state will not have to seek exemption every time since the state University will not need a CUET score.

Also Read: CUET UG answer key & result soon, know how to calculate marks
Forty-four breathless days, 543 constituencies, thousands of candidates, a billion voters, all wrapped into one mesmeric exercise -- the Indian general elections. Voters queue up at a polling booth in Srinagar.

A process that has enraptured the world will call curtains on Saturday evening, when the final voter gets their finger painted in that signature black indelible ink.

But hidden within the folds of this multitudinous event are individual stories. Stories of hurt, happiness, loss, hope, strife, survival, life, and death. The Indian polls are uniquely defined by a vast cross-section of social, economic, cultural, linguistic and geographic factors. Narratives shift from by-lane to by-lane, from pincode to pincode.

To capture these nuances and to understand the issues that best defined the elections, HT set out across the length and breadth of the country, covering 33 Lok Sabha constituencies, pincode by pincode.

Pressing issues

Take, for instance, Rohtak in Haryana, where jobs are rare, but expenses are soaring. This forced thousands of young, unemployed people to flock to job openings in Israel, which needed labourers to make up for a dire shortage amid its ongoing war with Hamas. There lies a story of aspiration, of people risking the unpredictability of war to better the lives of their families. But beyond that lay a factor that was pivotal throughout the campaign season - jobs.

Another central theme of these elections was citizenship and illegal immigration. In Dhubri, Assam, this rhetoric has real-life implications. This thorny question has animated the states politics for close to half a century and remains an unfolding humanitarian story, one that has pitted the ruling BJP-Asom Gana Parishad alliance against the Congress and parties such as the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).

In scarred Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, the fissures of the 2013 communal riots run deep. Reconciliation has been hard. And on March 2, 2024, the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD), a party founded by Jat leader Choudhary Charan Singh and now led by his grandson Jayant Chaudhary, abandoned the INDIA bloc, and joined hands with the BJP, smashing a local consensus and setting the constituency into a political unknown.

Several miles west, Ghaziabad, also in Uttar Pradesh, wakes up to the towering Ghazipur landfill, every single day. The towering mass of garbage cripples life around it, adversely impacting incomes and health. But a surprising lack of public and political will to change the status quo in one of India's most polluted cities has left millions vulnerable in one of the state's largest constituencies.

An identity question

A small district in Odisha paints a telling picture of the fight for the tribal vote across India. Mayurbhanj is the seat of a clash of two opposing world views  one closer to the BJPs formula of marrying tribal empowerment with cultural identity politics, and the other focussed on welfare and local recognition of diverse faiths and practices. Which way the tribal vote swings may also dictate the states electoral fortunes.

The towering Taj Mahal in Uttar Pradesh too is home to a great churn  within the Dalit community. It is a moment of extraordinary stress for a community with upwards of 250 million people who continue to battle pervasive discrimination and structural barriers. But even as the communitys education levels and prosperity inch up, many fear their political powers fraying.

In Hyderabad, the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen faces a stern test. It hasnt lost the seat in 40 years, but insecurities have been on the boil. And amid the citys rapid evolution, aspirations have metamorphosed. Will the AIMIM be able to keep its stranglehold on the city, or will the lack of a credible alternative buffer the partys hopes?

Further south, the Left faces an ideological challenge. Though Kerala may be one of the only states where the Left parties has electoral heft, the Congress persistence has proved costly. In many ways, as the Left fades from the rest of the country, Kannur, both emotionally and politically, is one of its proudest, even if last, bastions.

Political legacies

Maharashtras politics was rocked by the fractures of the NCP and Shiv Sena, plunging the state into crisis at various points over the past few years, and smashing existing voter-bases. A microcosm of this fight is in Baramati. Sharad Pawar, now chief of the NCP (SP) has been a five-term MP from here, his daughter Supriya has served three terms, his nephew Ajit has been the Baramati MLA for seven terms, and it is a Pawar again who is the rising challenger. Without the family link, it would have been just another town in Maharashtras arid hinterland.

Nalanda, known for its ancient laurels, is the sight of Nitish Kumars crusade for political relevance. It is at the heart of the social, economic, and ultimately political battle between two visions of Bihar. At stake is not just Kumars personal legacy but also the future of the states politics. Bihar is a key battleground state for the NDA and the INDIA bloc.

Over in Uttar Pradesh, Amethi and the Congress were, for years, inseparable. But in 2019, Smriti Iranis victory over Rahul Gandhi rocked the seats politics, shaking years of settled electoral bonds. Now, with no Gandhi in the running, a clash between the heart and the mind may dictate how the constituency votes.

The surprises

The standout story of the six phases of voting so far came from Kashmir, which took part in its first major electoral exercise since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019. The state voted in large numbers, with turnouts shattering records set decades ago. The truth, HT found, may be more complex  some came to the polls for material benefits, and others out of conviction. Still others pointed out that roughly half the Valley is still not voting even as for the first time in living memory, there is no boycott call by separatist organisations.

In the Maoist citadel of Kanker in Chhattisgarh, violence has gradually dissipated  the result of a combination of creeping markets, road infrastructure, and a paramilitary push. These green shoots of democracy may reflect a new lived reality for a once troubled region.

West Bengal, meanwhile, is one of the great unknowns of the election exercise, amid a pitched battle between the BJP and incumbent Trinamool Congress. The saffron partys campaign onslaught in the crucial eastern state has shaken up several long-standing status quos. Within this tussle, discussions around a changing climate are part of roadside adda and tea-stall gossip for the first time in the Sundarbans.

These stories are just a sampler of the Election Pincode series. All 33 stories are available here.
Although My Hero Academia's mangaka Kohei Horikoshi has confirmed that the beloved superhero adventure has yet to wrap up its final chapters, the upcoming edition's spoilers have already affected the fandom. Chapter 424 will swoop in on Monday, June 3, at 12 am JST, as it swoops in with the aftermath of the Final War arc. With the last-standing heroes dealing with their injuries and broken souls, the story is expected to come full circle as Deku and Bakugo again helm the control over the story's central gravity like in the old days. Deku and Bakugo in My Hero Academia Season 7.

Here's what you can look forward to in the forthcoming My Hero Academia chapter.

My Hero Academia Chapter 424 spoilers

According to renowned My Hero Academia spoilers scooper @RukasuMHA on X/Twitter, the upcoming chapter (titled Epilogue) will be set in Washington and focus on the aftermath of the Final War. As the weather clears up, Meryl apologises for getting the forecast wrong and warns people about strong winds.

Also read | Jujutsu Kaisen Chapter 261 spoilers: How Yuta can return to his real body

Deku's mighty punch generated the wind in question, ultimately ending the war for good. Thereafter, Cementoss and Salaam are pictured rebuilding an establishment, which becomes a cause for celebration and relief for some children waiting to find a home there. Other international heroes joined their Japanese counterparts to facilitate rehabilitating the country and clearing up the debris left behind by the war.

Even the media is cognisant of quirks' indispensable role. As a reporter points out, the nation's reconstruction would take more than ten years without these abilities.

The scene later shifts to the hospital as a doctor addresses Bakugo's injured arm, which he believes will never fully heal. As he's stuck in limbo, the doctor suggests that he put on robotic limbs like Mirko if he wishes to continue his heroic responsibilities. However, he instantly turns the proposition down because the sweat on his hands generates his quirk.

Holding on to the belief that Deku was quirkless, Bakugo decides to push himself harder in rehab, which in turn worries the doctor. With Bakugo's heart in danger, the doctor is perturbed by the thought of how Bakugo was able to push himself through the fight. Without Edgeshot's play, he would have been dead a long time ago.

Also read | Junes anime releases 2024 unveiled: The Rising Impact, Dear Friends spin off, Sword of the Demon Hunter and more

The scene eventually switches over to another hospital room where Deku and All Might are admitted in the same room. Although Deku could move his arms again, he was still drowning in regret about his failure to save Tenko Shimura. He then reflects on how, despite all the hatred dissipating in his heart, he maintained his stance as the League of the Villains leader until his dying breath.

Once All Might asked Deku what Shigaraki's face looked like in the end, he recalled his last conversation with him. His mentor suggests that his heart would have already been saved if he hadn't seen Shimura as the crying boy.

All Might guides him that he would've understood Deku's intentions when he passed on the OFA to Shigaraki. Nevertheless, he still senses the OFA embers within. At this moment, Bakugo enters the room. Discovering that those embers may fade away soon, leaving Deku quirkless, all their old memories from the beginning come rushing back into Bakugo's mind, and he's overcome by emotion. The unusual sight shocks Deku to the core. Though initially his rival, Bakugo reflects on his actions from the past, affirming that he hopes to continue their layered clash with each other, which has equally aided their respective character developments  even All Might acknowledges their growth.

He claims that Deku became the greatest hero the moment he ran and became a role model to many others. Conversely, Bakugo's efforts saved All Might's life, leading up to this moment shared between them. He thanks both of them and accepts them as the greatest heroes.

The final page of the alleged spoilers previews Deku, Iida, and Kaminari back in their school uniforms as the U.A. continues to be rebuilt.

Although the story seems to have flipped the last page of its final moments, the series' mangaka reassured the fans that this was not the end.

Referencing the much-awaited return to the academia roots of the series, Kohei Horikoshi's editorial comment in this week's edition reads: "Writing conventions say that the conclusion of a story should be short, but this is not the type of manga that can immediately end after the fighting is done, so I'll keep going for a little while. We're going back to the title."
Aditi Rao Hydari had a fashionable outing at the recently-concluded Cannes film festival, but the actor feels it had a deeper purpose. The actor says it was more of an opportunity to redefine beauty standards and celebrate inclusivity on a global stage. (Also read: Aditi Rao Hydari reacts as designer says at least someone from India making us fashionably proud) Aditi Rao Hydari went to the Cannes film festival as a brand ambassador for the cosmetic label, L'Oreal Paris.

In her first interview after coming back from the Cannes film festival, Aditi looks back at her experience, recalling her own struggle to find a way towards self-acceptance and confidence. Aditi went to the Cannes film festival as a brand ambassador for the French cosmetic label, L'Oreal Paris.

On being at Cannes

Representing India at the Cannes Film Festival is an immense honour and a moment of pride for me. Watching the icons walking the red carpet, the awards, and the fashion have always inspired me. So, to be a part of it myself is surreal to me. Cannes is not just a celebration of global cinema, but also a platform where diverse cultures and stories come together. I feel huge pride in being a part of the LOreal Paris legacy and the Cannes legacy itself which LOreal Paris has been with for 27 years, Aditi tells us.

This was the third year Aditi was at the international film festival. She made her debut in 2022. For her red carpet debut, Aditi wore a hand-dyed, intricate embroidered organza saree.

Here, she asserts that representing the cosmetic brand at the fest was incredibly empowering. This time, the brands theme at Cannes was Many Ways to be an icon.

It reaffirmed my belief in the importance of self-worth and the power of our voices. By being at Cannes, I hope to inspire other women to pursue their dreams and to recognise that they too can live their dreams, belong and own their worth in the world, says the actor, who is enjoying rave reviews coming her way for her web series, Heeramandi.

Big responsibility to represent Indian

Aditi looks at her outing at the international film festival as an opportunity to showcase the richness and diversity of Indian cinema and beauty to a global audience.

As an Indian actor, I bring with me not just my talent but also the cultural heritage and storytelling traditions that define our cinema. Through my presence in Cannes, I aim to contribute to the perception of Indian cinema beyond the conventional narratives. I want to do my bit in highlighting the depth and diversity of our storytelling, the talent of our filmmakers, and the beauty of our diverse landscapes and cultures. Additionally, as a brand spokesperson of the beauty brand, I see it as an opportunity to redefine beauty standards and celebrate inclusivity on a global stage, she notes.

Now, she hopes her presence inspired a more inclusive and diverse representation of beauty in the global arena.

On her journey towards self-acceptance

For Aditi, the passion to be vocal about inclusive and diverse beauty comes from a personal space. She herself has struggled with self doubt and confusion while accepting herself.

My journey towards self-acceptance and confidence has been one of being expansive and open to learning. I embrace and celebrate my uniqueness. Like many people, I have faced moments of self-doubt and confusion and struggled in my own way, she says.

The actor continues, There were times when I felt pressure to conform to certain standards or to fit into a specific mould of what was considered beautiful and acceptable. However, over time, I have come to realise the importance of embracing my individuality and celebrating my own unique beauty.

Looking back, she dubs it as a happy journey of learning to love and accept myself for who I am with the self-awareness of my vulnerabilities.

Through this process, I have discovered that true confidence comes from within, from accepting ourselves authentically and recognizing our own worth beyond external appearances. My journey has taught me the power of self-love kindness and the beauty of embracing our uniqueness, ends the actor, who will soon be seen in upcoming film, Lioness.
Malaika Arora is known for her cordial behaviour with paparazzi, be it at public events or casual outings. The actor was recently clicked at Bandra amid ongoing reports of her much talked-about breakup with Arjun Kapoor. In the video, Malaika can be seen smiling as the photographers request for her pictures. (Also read: Malaika Arora, Arjun Kapoor have split: Relationship ran its course) Malaika Arora was clicked in Bandra after breakup with Arjun Kapoor.

Malaika Arora gets clicked post breakup

Although the actor-dancer waved and smiled at the paps, she did not stay long to pose for photos or selfies. Malaika looked like she was in a hurry, as the paparazzi could be heard saying, Malaika Ji wait, Malaika Ma'am wait, Ma'am wait, in the nine seconds clip. For the unversed, a recent Pinkvilla report claimed that Arjun and Malaika have mutually parted ways. Attributing an inside source, the report stated that the couple wants to maintain a dignified silence.

Malaika Arora drops cryptic post amid breakup

Amid the breakup report, Malaika recently took to her Instagram stories and added a cryptic quote which read, Good MorningThe greatest treasure on earth are the people who love and support us. They cannot be bought or replaced and each of us has only a few of them. However, neither Arjun nor Malaika have given any official statement post their alleged breakup.

Malaika Arora shared a cryptic quote amid breakup reports with Arjun Kapoor.

About Malaika Arora

Malaika made her debut with the music video - Gur Nalon Ishq Mitha. She later worked as host in MTV's show - Club MTV. Malaika's first Bollywood debut was in Mani Ratnam's Dil Se. She featured in the groovy track Chaiyya Chaiyya alongside Shah Rukh Khan. The duo were lauded for their dance moves choreographed by Farah Khan.

About Arjun Kapoor

Arjun Kapoor made his Bollywood debut with YRF's Ishaqzaade opposite Parineeti Chopra. The romantic-drama was written and directed by Habib Faisal. He was last seen in Ajay Bahl's mystery-thriller The Lady Killer alongside Bhumi Pednekar. Arjun will be seen next in Rohit Shetty's copy universe action-thriller Singham Again.
New Delhi, The best actress win in Cannes doesn't feel like a personal trophy with the whole country feeling a sense of pride in her accomplishment, says Anasuya Sengupta, struggling to find words to describe what it feels like to be the first Indian to win acting honours in the film gala. Not just my achievement, whole country feels pride: Anasuya Sengupta on Cannes win

The 37-year-old woman from Kolkata bagged the best actress trophy under the Un Certain Regard segment for Bulgarian director Konstantin Bojanov's Hindi language movie "The Shameless".

"I still don't have the right word for it. Maybe like the following Friday, I will know the exact word... Everyone feels a sense of pride in my moment of pride and it just elevates that. So it's really not a personal achievement for me... To do it with an entire country, it feels great," Sengupta told PTI in an interview.

It was a special year for India at Cannes. And Sengupta wasn't the only reason for it.

Filmmaker Payal Kapadia's "All We Imagine As Light" became the first film in 30 years to be nominated in the main competition and the first ever from India to win the Grand Prix Award at Cannes. Besides, FTII student Chidananda S Naik's "Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know" won the first prize in the La Cinef competition, making it a triple feat for India.

"We were a group of 15-20 people, maybe less. But it felt like we were representing a bigger feeling because that bigger feeling is there in our country. There's a sense of everybody feeling happiness in my happiness."

"I am more proud of Payal's win than I am of mine. And I know she and her entire team feel the same way about me and my team... For the rest of the world to see us there together, in support of each other, doing good work, getting recognised, I feel even more happy for that," Sengupta added.

Her co-stars from "The Shameless" Tanmay Dhanania and Omara Shetty started celebrating the moment her name was announced, she said. In a haze, she made her way to the stage.

"What Vicky Krieps said before announcing the award touched me a lot. She said, 'this year we decided to give it to someone who showed up, went down to hell and gave her skin every day for the film 'The Shameless'. And that meant a lot coming from artists that I have so much respect for."

"The Shameless", which premiered at Cannes on May 17, explores the distressing world of exploitation. 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 , a young girl condemned to a life of prostitution.

The queer drama is adapted from a story in author William Dalrymple's 2009 book "Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India"

What also resonated was Sengupta's acceptance speech dedicating the award to the queer community and other marginalised communities" for bravely fighting for their rights all around the world.

Stressing on the importance of the "equal gaze" on every human being, she said what breaks her heart is that this needed to be "articulated separately".

"And I actually have a lot of hope, a lot of love in my heart that I'm not the only one who feels that way. When you say it out there, you see that it resonates with people.

"I believe the majority of us want an equal world... all it takes is just being a good human, being a decent person and treating everyone equally and with respect," she said.

Sengupta said she has always pushed herself to explore her artistic sensibilities.

A graduate in English Literature from Jadavpur University, the actor said she had been interested in performing arts since childhood.

"I had a great set of parents who completely pushed me towards the arts quite a bit. I used to draw as a kid. When you grow up in a Bengali family, you really get pushed to the extracurricular quite a bit. And by the time I went to Jadavpur University, where I studied, I had started doing theatre a little bit."

As part of a theatre troupe called Tin Can, Sengupta got her first film role in the Bengali movie "Madly Bangalee". She moved to Mumbai after that.

While she searched for good characters to play, she worked first as an assistant director and later headed the production design department for films and shows such as "Ray", "Masaba Masaba" and "Chippa".

"I started wanting to do and try something even more different, another art form. That's when I started illustrating. I decided to leave Bombay and moved to Goa. I thought, art, and let's see where it takes me now."

It was around that time Konstantin contacted her on Facebook and asked her to play the lead role in "The Shameless".

She read the script in one sitting, and immediately fell in love with Renuka, the lead character who she wanted to stand up for.

"I wanted to have the opportunity to do my bit in celebrating a woman like her. As an actor, you can't ever judge your character. You can only love your character. I took a deep dive into the character. There was a degree of deep physical work, as she is a street survivor. There was a mental part of it as well. And I tried to stay 200 per cent committed to wanting to tell the story."

Summing up the experience of being at Cannes and then winning an award there, Sengupta said just to be in the same room as filmmakers like George Lucas and Xavier Dolan, the Uncertain Regard jury head was "absolutely glorious".

"It's like the creme de la creme of film festivals. We were lucky as our film was screened relatively early and we stayed on to watch other films. I'd never been to Cannes before.

"There is the glam aspect, which is also fun and exciting, but at the heart of it is thousands of cinema lovers from all parts of the world coming together, watching films and talking about them afterward. For me, it culminated so beautifully into the end point being awarded by my heroes and getting to engage with them... We keep dividing ourselves, but art brings us all together."

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
After a short break, Priyanka Chopra, the quintessential desi girl, has begun work on her next project, The Bluff. The actor shared a glimpse of the script on her Instagram stories, but what caught our attention was how she wrote Om on the cover page. (Also Read: Priyanka Chopra 'was in tears' when she got her debut film with Vijay; mom Madhu had to convince her to accept offer) Priyanka Chopra has numerous projects lined up.

It begins

Priyanka took to Instagram stories to share that she has begun work on her next film. It begins, she wrote, sharing a picture of the script of The Bluff, directed by Frank E Flowers of Bob Marley: One Love-fame. In orange pen, she wrote Om on the top of the cover page, which caught our attention. Also on the table are two name cards, which reveal that Priyankas character will be named Ercell, while Karl will be named Connor in the film. The actor is in Australia to shoot for the film that will stream on Amazon Prime Video.

A screen grab of Priyanka Chopra's Instagram stories.

The Bluff

Set in the 19th-century Caribbean, The Bluff follows the story of a former pirate, essayed by Priyanka. Her character embarks on a journey to protect her family when the secrets of her past catch up with her. Shooting for the film will resume soon. The Bluff is produced by AGBOs Anthony Russo, Joe Russo, Angela Russo-Otstot, and Michael Disco; Cinestar Pictures Cisely Saldana; and Mariel Saldana. This is Priyankas second collaboration with Prime Video after the web series Citadel. Season 2 of the series will go on floors next year.

Upcoming work

Priyanka will soon be seen in Heads of State with Idris Elba and John Cena. She wrapped up shooting for the film before taking a break. Recently, she visited Rome to attend a Bvlgari event and looked stunning in black. Priyanka is also signed on to star in Farhan Akhtars Jee Le Zara with Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif.
Reports suggest that Shiloh, the daughter of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, has legally requested to drop Pitt from her surname following her parents contentious split. Angelina Jolie dresses up in silver bodycon gown with Zahara Jolie-Pitt and Shiloh for Eternals premiere(AFP)

Shiloh, who turned 18 on Monday, May 27, filed the request to change her legal name to Shiloh Jolie, per TMZ.

Earlier, the 18-year-old removed the Pitt surname from her Instagram profile.

Pitt's kids want nothing to do with him

The decision to remove Pitt from her surname comes shortly after it was revealed that her sister Vivienne, 15, also seemingly dropped Pitt from her name.

Vivienne, who is part of the production team for the new Broadway musical The Outsiders, is listed in the Playbill as Vivienne Jolie.

Multiple sources have reported that other children Pitt shares with JolieZahara, Maddox, Pax, and Knoxalso no longer use his surname. However, Shiloh was the first to make a legal change.

ALSO READ| Angelina Jolie-Brad Pitt's daughter is not the stereotypical nepo baby; Choreographer reveals Shiloh never uses

Since Pitt, 60, and Jolie, 48, split in 2016 after two years of marriage and twelve years together, reports of strained relations between Pitt and his children have been prevalent.

Last year, their daughter Zahara, 19, was introduced to her universitys sorority as Zahara Marley Jolie, also excluding her fathers surname.

Jolie left Pitt for his physical abuse on the children

Jolie reportedly initiated the couples divorce following an incident on a private flight from France to Los Angeles in September 2016.

The New York Times claimed that Pitt choked one of the children and struck another in the face and grabbed Jolie by the head and shook her. The documents also stated that, at one point, Pitt poured beer on Jolie; at another, he poured beer and red wine on the children.

However, Pitt denied all the allegations at the time, and he was not charged following an investigation into the abuse claims related to the 2016 flight.

Last November, their son Pax, 20, allegedly called the Bullet Train actor a world class a**h*le and a f***ing awful human being in a scathing Fathers Day post on his private Instagram account, made three years prior.

Pax reportedly wrote, You time and time again prove yourself to be a terrible and despicable person, alongside a picture of Pitt accepting the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2020 for his role in Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood.

ALSO READ| Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie's kids perturbed by parents' fight dominating their lives: Report

You have no consideration or empathy toward your four youngest children who tremble in fear when in your presence, he wrote further.

Earlier this year, Jolies lawyers claimed that Pitts history of physical abuse of Jolie started well before the familys September 2016 plane trip, but noted that the flight marked the first time he turned his physical abuse on the children as well, and made Jolie to leave the relationship immediately.
The beloved K-pop septet BTS is turning 11 soon! Contagious anticipation has already affected the boy group's fans, whose hearts are filled with longing hopes for the members' reunion next year. Easing the aching pain, the eldest member Jin's arrival is slated for two weeks later, when he returns from his military station. BTS at Grammy Awards.

Rumours and speculations about the boy group's 2025 reunion and potential musical comeback are already swirling in every conversation possible. Taking the cake, the group revealed their purple-themed annual Festa timeline on June 1 (KST), with cryptic markers characteristically taking the lead for the first teaser, as always. It's officially THAT time of the year again!

The week-long calendar rounds up the group's loving ARMYs for the first reveal on Sunday, June 2, for the first reveal. Bang Bang Con ticket sales on Tuesday, June 4, follow this. More visual and musical revelations await to be unleashed on June 5 and 6. Finally, the Bang Bang Con live-streaming event takes over on June 8, followed by a brief breather until the clock ticks June 13. An endearing and tiny See You message greets the fans on the timeline, raising ARMYs' curiosity to the peak.

Akin to last year's announcement, the 2024 Festa announcement is also laid out with hints and emoticons. Traditionally, presents let loose for the fans include never-before-seen photos, video reveals, and brand-new song releases. In 2023, the Bang Bang Con event launched a livestream of back-to-back BTS concerts on Weverse and YouTube. The stretched-out weeks-long celebration also delivered a surprise acoustic live performance video by Jimin. Ultimately, OT7 single Take Two became the most precious gift to be revealed ahead of June 13.

Also read | HT Exclusive: Kino reveals K-pop's strength & weakness, Pentagon's lifelong commitment' on solo rebirth with Naked

Last year's festivities extended well beyond the anniversary date. The group's memoir, BTS: Beyond the Story, was officially announced on June 14. The Festa's grand finale coloured Yeouido Park purple on June 17.

Check out the 2024 BTS Festa Timeline

Per the usual tradition, fans expect the harmonious drop of a surprise track or two on one of these dates. Once again, despite it being BTS' birthday, the fans have been promised a treat, loaded with stacks of presents lined up day in and out. It remains to be seen if the potential music release will be OT7, as the group's hiatus continues until 2025.

Also read | Seventeen's Jeonghan x Wonwoo subunit debut, Everglow 5th, Riize 1st mini and other June 2024 K-pop releases confirmed

In another BTS news, Jin is expected to be discharged from his military duties around the time of the group's 11th anniversary, i.e., by June 15, with other formalities adding up a few more days. Ahead of his return to the K-pops scene, his animated character Wootteo broke its silence after an extended hiatus.

The latest Wootteo account post has sparked excitement about the Astronaut crooner's anticipated comeback. With Jin left out as the only group member without an official- full-length debut solo album under his belt, fans wonder if he'll be again joining forces with Coldplay for his much-awaited adventure.
As promised, Cardi B-featuring remix of GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallions Wanna Be has been unleashed onto the world. The track, already a favourite from GloRillas Ehhthang Ehhthang project, now boasts an added layer of energy and star power with Cardi Bs contribution. GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallions 'Wanna Be' remix featuring Cardi B is out now!(CMG/Interscope Records)

The remix kicks off with a fiery verse from Cardi B, who immediately grabs listeners' attention with her sharp observations about bit**es she sees as boring and corny.

Cardi B throws shade?

Cardis verse is packed with her signature flair and wit, including a playful and memorable reference to Matthew McConaughey, My toes white like Matthew McConaughey.

She also positions herself as a teacher because an unnamed individual wants to sub her.

ALSO READ| Kendall Jenner and Bad Bunny rekindle their love: They were missing each other

However, the final lines of Cardis contribution have sparked speculation among fans and listeners. Some believe that Cardi might be taking a shot at fellow rapper BIA.

The lyrics goes like this, "Hope she talk like that when I see her

Bitch, please, don't nobody wanna be ya

Cheap lookin' a*s ho, weak lookin' a*s ho

Great Value me lookin' ass ho

Girl, these bi**hes be pu**y

Delete every tweet lookin' a*s ho"

Watch the the Wanna Be remix here:

The speculation stems from ongoing social media buzz about a potential rift between Cardi and BIA. Although BIA has publicly denied any issues with Cardi, the rumours have persisted.

In March of last year, BIA addressed these rumours directly, stating, I didnt switch up on anybody because I dont know Cardi in real life. Ive never met Cardi. Weve never had a conversation. I dont have no issues with her. Its all love. But I dont know her. Yall do too much on this app.

Despite BIAs clarification, the internet chatter has continued, making Cardis lines on the Wanna Be remix particularly noteworthy for those following the story.

ALSO READ| Lenny Kravitz celibate since 2015, waiting for the right person: I'm going to do it with my wife

The original Wanna Be was released in April this year as a single from GloRillas EP Ehhthang Ehhthang and has since become a popular song.

The remix elaborates on the track by including Cardi B and two other artists, GloRilla and Megan Thee Stallion, who are on tour together for the Hot Girl Summer tour. The tour is planned to arrive in Atlanta this weekend, and the audience can expect even more colorful and impressive performances from the duo.
In the much-awaited shareholders' meeting, held on Friday in Seoul between HYBE and ADOR, several new changes have been made. As reported by Korea Times, HYBE put three of its executives on the board of its sublabel ADOR. However, Min Hee-jin will retain her position as the ADOR CEO. (Also Read | HYBE chairman Bang Si-hyuk calls ADOR's Min Hee-jin 'malicious individual' in first public statement) ADOR and HYBE have been in a legal battle for a few weeks now.

HYBE, ADOR holds shareholders' meeting

HYBE had earlier planned to remove Hee-jin as ADOR CEO during Friday's shareholder meeting. It alleged that she plotted with aides to wrest control of the company. She has been denying the allegations. HYBE holds an 80 per cent stake in Ador. The shareholders' meeting was held at an undisclosed place. It was conducted in line with the court's decision on Thursday to grant an injunction to prevent HYBE from exercising its voting rights in the shareholders' meeting to dismiss Hee-jin.

What new changes have been made?

As per Korea Times sources, the three new board members are--HYBE's Chief Human Resources Officer Kim Ju-young, Chief Strategy Officer Lee Jae-sang and Chief Financial Officer Lee Kyung-jun. Two of the board's previous members, identified as Kim and Shin, were removed from their positions in ADOR. They were the close aides of Hee-jin. Reportedly, HYBE wants to settle confusion among ADOR employees by sending the three executives familiar with the situation.

HYBE now in more control of board

The new structure of the board grants more control to HYBE over the board. The feud between HYBE and ADOR started on April 22 this year. HYBE had launched an audit into ADOR's management over suspicions that Hee-jin attempted to seize control of her company.

Court's verdict

On Thursday, the Seoul Central District Court stated that Hee-jin had "clearly" sought independent control of ADOR. However, she didn't progress to the actual implementation stage. The court further stated that it amounted to "betrayal" but not "breach of trust" as claimed by HYBE.
Actor Kani Kusruti attended the Cannes Film Festival to see Payal Kapadias film All We Imagine As Light, in which she starred. On the Cannes red carpet, she carried a watermelon clutch (the colours of Palestines flag) in solidarity. While many lauded her for taking a stance, some trolled her for showing support. In an interview with India Today, she reacted to the same. (Also Read: All We Imagine As Light actor Kani Kusruti reveals she rejected audition call by The Kerala Story director Sudipto Sen) Zico Maitra, Chhaya Kadam, Kani Kusruti, Payal Kapadia, Divya Prabha, Hridhu Haroon and Thomas Hakim danced as they arrived for the screening of All We Imagine as Light at Cannes Film Festival in Cannes.(AFP/Christophe Simon)

It was bothering me

Kani told the publication that as a true Christian, she felt guilty about how the world is unfair. She thought it was not right to indulge in happiness given the state of the world. So, she decided to show her solidarity on the Cannes red carpet.

Detailing how they included the clutch in her outfit, Kani said, I found this clutch while we were still figuring out if we could embroider something on the outfit, put on a brooch, or paint the Gaza map. And since we were all wearing solid on that particular day, I picked up a white dress that added to the colour of the Palestine map.

Kani Kusruti holds a watermelon bag on the red carpet, during arrivals for the screening of the film All We Imagine as Light at the Cannes Film Festival.(REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier)

This isnt the first time

Kani stated that while she was trolled for taking the political stance, its not the first time she has gone through this. She also questioned why actors must get such attention just for doing their work in the first place.

Kani said, Honestly, this hasn't happened for the first time. I am used to it. Sometimes, I also wonder why actors even get so much attention, even for a film. We are all just doing our work. As for this time, some people said I supported Gaza and why didn't I talk about Israel, or the war in Ukraine? The whataboutery goes on but I am just not bothered. It's everyone's right to question, so it's okay. We all have our individual beliefs.

India at Cannes 2024

Payals film All We Imagine As Light also stars Divya Prabha, Chhaya Kadam and Hridu Haroon. Apart from the film being honoured with the Grand Prix, actor Anasuya Sengupta was honoured with the Best Actor award in the Un Certain Regard segment for her film The Shameless.
Kai Cenat recently fulfilled a heartfelt promise by flying to Taiwan to attend the graduation of his loyal fan and good friend, Ray. Kai Cenat shares the joy of seeing his friend Ray graduate through X post.(X/Kai Cenat)

The Twitch icon has amassed a large following over the years and interacts intimately with his fans and viewers. Cenat indeed has some IRL (in real life) friends, one of whom is Ray, whom he met during the IRL Stream in Japan.

One of the most notable friendships to emerge from Cenat's content creation is with Ray, whom he met during an IRL stream in Japan.

ALSO READ| Top tier entertainment: Kevin Hart matches Kai Cenat's explosive energy; breaks down his viral meme, roasts T-Pain

Kai and Ray's friendship

Cenats journey is certainly a lot more developed at this time; for instance, he once travelled to Taiwan to visit Ray, he also posted a blog on the same. This bond was also seen when there were often talks about streaming on the part of both.

During one such session, Ray revealed his upcoming enlistment in the military following his graduation, and that left Cenat visibly shocked.

Cenat was live during a stream with comedian Kevin Hart. During this conversation, the Twitch star connected Hart with Ray, and Hart stated that he is looking forward to someday meeting Ray.

Cenat took to X (formerly Twitter) to announce that he had flown to Taiwan to attend Ray's graduation, fulfilling a promise made weeks earlier. His journey to Taiwan, however, was fraught with challenges.

Cenat revealed that he got stuck in the airport for over 24 hours, and to make matters worse, the airline lost all [his] luggage. Despite these setbacks, Cenat said that it was all worth it to see Ray graduate.

The post goes like this, Been stuck in Airport for 24+ Hours Travelled Across The World , Airline Lost All My luggage & Bags But It Was All Worth It To See My Boy GRADUATECongrats! with a photo of the two smiling at the camera, with Ray in his graduation gown and Cenat in a suit.

Cenat's fans flooding the post with comments of praise

One user noted, Kai looks like a proud mentor and a father.

Kai pulled up in that Raymond Reddington im crying , another wrote.

ALSO READ| Thousands watch Kai Cenat sleep on Twitch, video is overtaking major esports events to top the charts

Kai, that says a lot. Congrats to your boy, though. He's got a real one, one X user piped in.

Real love right there, another commented.
5 OTT releases to watch this week: If you don't want to venture into theatres amid the ongoing deadly heatwave, fret not. A range of movies and shows have dropped today across streaming platforms, which will ensure you have a nice, cosy time in front of your television/laptop/smartphone screens this weekend. (Also Read: Summer without the summer blockbuster: Why was May such a dry spell at the movies?) 5 OTT releases to watch this week: Pratik Gandhi's Dedh Bhiga Zameen and Vigil 2

Dedh Bhiga Zameen - JioCinema - May 31

This has been Pratik Gandhi's year so far. After breaking out with the financial thriller Scam 1992 in 2020, Pratik's talent has further started unravelling this year. Fresh off the success of Madgaon Express and the release of Do Aur Do Pyaar in cinemas, Pratik will now be seen in a completely new avatar. He'll play an underdog in Pulkit's Dedh Bhiga Zameen. The film, also starring Khushali Kumar, revolves around his character's resolve to sell a disputed ancestral land property in order to get his sister married.

Pratik Gandhi in Dedh Bhiga Zameen

Vigil 2 - Netflix - May 31

The second instalment of Tom Edge's police procedural will start exactly when the first season ended in 2021. Suranne Jones will reprise her role of Detective Chief Inspector Amy Silva. This season, she will fly to joint Al-Shawka Air Base in the Kingdom of Wudyan, a contentious ally in the Persian Gulf, only to come across a larger-scale conspiracy which connects the current rule's union with the UK government and private entities on manufacturing drones.

Vigil 2 is streaming on Netflix

A Part of You - Netflix - May 31

A teenager struggles to make sense of herself and her new world in this emotional and bittersweet coming-of-age drama about those who are left behind. Sigge Eklund's film stars Felicia Maxime, Edvin Ryding, Ida Engvoll, Alva Bratt, and Zara Larsson in her first acting role.

Raising Voices - Netflix - May 31

When a 17-year-old reports a sexual assault at her high school, an investigation upends her life and tests her relationships. Jose Manuel Lorenzo and Miguel Saez Carral's show stars Nicole Wallace, Clara Galle, Aicha Villaverde.

Eric - Netflix - May 30

Benedict Cumberbatch in Eric

Eric stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Gaby Hoffmann and McKinley Belcher III. This emotional crime drama directed by Abi Morgan follows the desperate search of a father when his nine year old son disappears one morning on the way to school.
Bigg Boss OTT is set to return for its third season this June. Jio Cinema released a video on Friday to officially announce a change in host. Anil Kapoor will take over from Salman Khan to host the third season of the show. (Also Read: Bigg Boss OTT Season 3 to premiere in June, watch new announcement promo) Sonam Kapoor was pumped Anil Kapoor would be hosting Bigg Boss OTT season 3.

Anil Kapoor takes over from Salman Khan

Hindustan Times reported last week that Anil, not Salman, will host Bigg Boss OTT 3 this time. The new video confirms this. While his face isnt shown, the voice and silhouette clearly indicate that its Anil.

He asks for a chair to be brought in for him to sit while saying, Bahot hua jhakas, karte hai iss baar kuch khaas. (Lets do something special this time.) Jio Cinema shared the video, writing, A new host for the new season of Bigg Boss OTT! Aur Bigg Boss ki tarha, inki awaaz hi kaafi hai. (Much like Bigg Boss, their voice is enough.) Theyre yet to share the date from when it begins streaming.

A screen grab of Sonam Kapoor's Instagram stories.

Sonam Kapoor reacted to the news by sharing the video on her Instagram stories and writing, Theyve got the most talented, hardworking and handsome man onboard!

Why Salman Khan stepped down

A source told Hindustan Times that Salman stepped down from hosting duties due to his film commitments. At the moment, Salman is focused on the prep work of his upcoming film, Sikandar, directed by AR Murugadoss. That is one the reasons he didnt take on the hosting duties for the third season of Bigg Boss OTT, they said, adding, Salman is expected to start shooting for Sikandar in June, and that has made him let go of Bigg Boss OTT. Along with his film commitment, Salman also felt that it would look repetitive to the audience, as he is also known to host the reality show on TV.

Fans react

Fans had mixed reactions to the announcement if the comments section under the video is anything to go by. Some fans were happy to see Anil take over hosting duties while others thought Salman was irreplaceable. No one can match salman khan when it comes to bigg boss hosting, wrote some fans, while others commented fire emojis with, Welcome Anil sir.
Actor Fardeen Khan took to Instagram to share his experience shooting Sanjay Leela Bhansalis Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar which is streaming on Netflix. The actor shared a video revealing the first scene he shot for the web series. (Also Read: Did Sonal Chauhan defend Heeramandi actor Sharmin Segal amid heavy trolling? Says she was 'made into a villain') Fardeen Khan and Aditi Rao Hydari in Heeramandi.

Fardeens first scene

Fardeen shared a video in which his character Wali Bin Zayed-Al Mohammed can be seen canoodling with Aditi Rao Hydaris character Bibbojaan on the bed while playing cards. Sharing it, he called the experience memorable and exhilarating.

He wrote, The first scene I filmed for Heeramandi and the first time being directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali. It was memorable and an exhilarating experience. Known for his meticulous attention to detail and grandiose sets SLB sir creates an atmosphere that is both intense and inspiring. The set was like a visual masterpiece, with intricate designs, elaborate costumes, and a palpable sense of history and drama.

He also stated that shooting for the series was a learning experience, stating that he felt a profound sense of accomplishment at the end of it all. He wrote, As I stepped onto the set, I felt a great mix of excitement and nervousness. SLBs reputation for demanding excellence pushes you to deliver your best. His guidance is both precise and passionate, encouraging you to delve deep into your character and bring out the nuances that make his films and scenes so compelling.

He also added, It was an enriching learning experience, as he shared his vision and helped me navigate the emotional depths of the scene. By the end of the shoot you would feel a profound sense of accomplishment, knowing you had contributed to something truly special under the direction of a cinematic maestro.

About Heeramandi

Heeramandi tells the story of courtesans at Heera Mandi in Lahore during British Raj. Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Segal Mehta and Taha Shah Badussha play lead roles in the series which received mixed reviews.
Doobara (2022) actor Rahul Bhat says his upcoming projects will reveal a new version of him. Rahul Bhat at Hazratganj, Lucknow(Deep Saxena/HT)

Starting with my next film Kennedy, the audience will see Rahul 2.0. This is the best phase for me and actors like us if you have luck by your side! With exposure to global cinema, the audience is very much aware and welcoming now. Thats the reason films with superstars, in absence of good content, are failing badly. On OTT too big stars have not made a big impact as wahan sirf acting and content work karte hain  star power, heroism highspeed and slow-motion shots does not work on OTT, says the actor.

Rahul Bhat at Hazratganj, Lucknow(Deep Saxena/HT)

He is once again shooting for Sudhir Mishras next, after Daas Dev (2018), in the city. Last seen in Chakki (2022), Bhat says that he has been working more on his craft to make an extra impact.

I play (politician) Sanjay Gandhi in Sudhir sirs project. Then Kennedy is set to be released in the coming months. I have completed the shoot of Vikramaditya Motwanes series Black Warrant based on a book penned by a jailor posted at Tihar Jail where I play the lead. I have also completed Crime Beat, directed by Sudhir Mishra and Sanjeev Kaul, which is about the media industry, he says.

After Ugly (2014), Kennedy was his second film that was screened at Cannes Films Festival last year. Bhat says, I hope ki jaldi meri hattrick ho jaye. Also, this is my third film with Anurag (Kashyap, director) including Doobara. His films may not have been a huge commercial success, but their shelf life is long...aaj bhi log dekh kar appreciate karte hain. Ugly was released only in 100 theatres but earned thrice its cost. Anurag is an artiste and does not bother about releases, but I am hopeful that he understands its importance now.

Rahul Bhat during his visit to Lucknow(Deep Saxena/HT)

Bhat feels he is blessed as acchey directors ke saath kaam karne ka mauka mil raha hai.

Talking more about his ongoing phase, Bhat says, I am enjoying my journey, I am getting to work with genius directors like Kashyap, Vikramaditya Motwane, Abhishek Kapoor, Sudhir sir and am in talks with Abhishek Chaubey and Sriram Raghavan. I have not been a commercial actor and have been associated with independent films more, but I am ready to take that leap. Besides, I am gearing up launch my production house soon.
After leaving us in awe of her performance as Bibbojaan in Sanjay Leela Bhansalis web series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, actor Aditi Rao Hydari returned to France for her third year at the Cannes Film Festival. As expected, she slayed yet again like a total diva. Well, the festival has come to an end but our love for Aditis glam looks is far from over. So lets take a moment to dig into her Cannes 2024 diaries! Aditi Rao Hydari at the 77th Cannes Film Festival

En route Cannes

On May 21, Aditi jetted off to France to attend the 77th Cannes Film Festival. She kept it casual yet chic in a white jacket, heeled sneakers, black trousers and a matching cap over her poker-straight hair. The actor added a splash of colour with a red hot pout

Bibbojaan on the streets of France

On her first day in France, Aditi celebrated the success of Heeramandi and the love received by her famous Gajagamini walk with an ice cream cone. She looked glam as ever in a yellow high-neck halter dress in yellow with peonies printed all over. The Gauri & Nainika creation featured a ruffled high-low hem, and a train that followed behind as she recreated the walk

Red carpet glam

Her monochrome couture for Cannes 2024 seemed underwhelming when compared to Aditis previous magical looks at the film festival. Nevertheless, the actor looked glam enough as she walked the red carpet with full confidence in this custom-made black velvet gown with a white celestial shell curated by celebrity designer Gaurav Gupta

Painting the French Riviera pink

She saved the best for last! Aditi redefined soft glam as she transformed into an angel in this pink taffeta gown with one ruched shoulder. The actor looked like a dream as she jogged near the French Riviera in high heels for a perfect click, with her wavy locks flying in the wind behind her

Once again, Aditi has left the fashion police quite impressed with her charm and sense of style.
The mammoth Lok Sabha elections will conclude with polling for the seventh and final phase on June 1, i.e., tomorrow. As many as 57 parliamentary constituencies across seven states and the Union territory of Chandigarh, will vote in the last round. A voter gets finger marked before voting in the fifth phase of Lok Sabha elections. (PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among candidates whose fate will be determined in the seventh phase. The PM is contesting from Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi seat, from where he is the incumbent two-term Lok Sabha member. He is also seeking a third consecutive term as the Prime Minister.

The results for the current national polls will be declared on June 4.

Here is the seventh phase in numbers:

(1.) Of the 57 seats on which voting will be held, 13 are reserved for candidates from Scheduled Castes and three for those from Scheduled Tribes, according to the Election Commission.

(2.) Odisha's 42 assembly constituencies (General: 27, SC: 9, ST: 6) will poll simultaneously.

(3.) More than 10.06 crore electors will exercise their right to franchise across 1.09 lakh polling stations that will be maintained by 10.9 lakh officials.

(4.) The voters include 5.42 crore males, 4.82 crore females, and 3574 third-gender electors.

(5.) The Election Commission deployed 13 special trains and eight helicopter sorties to ferry polling and security personnel.

(6.) To oversee the voting process, 172 observers (76 expenditure observers, 64 general observers, and 32 police observes) have been appointed.

(7.) A total of 2707 flying squads, 2799 static surveillance teams, 1080 surveillance teams, and 560 video viewing teams will keep surveillance round the clock.

(8.) Strict vigil to prevent illicit flow of liquor, drugs, cash, and freebies is being carried out through 201 international border check posts and 906 inter-state border check posts.
A gruelling 2024 Lok Sabha election campaign spanning 70 days has finally come to an end. It was a high-octane exercise that saw clash of ideologies, leaders trading barbs and accusations and parties competing in making promises and offering sops. Prime Minister Narendra Modi meditates at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanniyakumari on Friday. (PTI Photo)

Narendra Modi, who is the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) prime ministerial candidate for the third time in a row and their most popular leader, is on a two-day meditation break at Kanyakumaris Vivekananda Rock. The PM launched scathing attacks on the opposition even till the last minute before taking off to Kanyakumari, where he will be meditating till the evening of June 1.

Speaking in Punjab, the PM said India was pained during Partition, referring to how the Congress failed to claim Kartarpur Sahib, which is now in Pakistan. The Aam Aadmi Party which is in power in Punjab also earned the prime ministers opprobrium for being part of the INDIA Bloc.

The Congress returned the fire with fire. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh accused PM Modi of lowering the dignity of the office with hate speeches and said he had never singled out any community for special treatment till he held the post 10 years ago. The BJP has accused the Congress of fostering appeasement politics, claiming Singh said that minorities and Muslims have the first right on the countrys resources. The former PM denied the claim and said Modi indulged in the most vicious form of hate speeches, which are purely divisive in nature.

Polls

The seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha polls will be held on Saturday in 57 constituencies across eight states. Among the constituencies are Varanasi, from where Prime Minister Modi is seeking a third term as parliamentarian.

Another seat that will be closely watched is Amritsar in Punjab, where former diplomat Taranjeet Singh Sandhu is contesting on a BJP ticket against Congress sitting MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla.

Eight seats will go to polls in Punjab, including Patiala, where former Congress minister Preneet Kaur will take on her old colleague Dharamveer Gandhi. Kaur, along with her husband, former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, have severed ties with the Congress. She is now a BJP candidate.

Elections will also be held in West Bengals Basirhat, which became the epicentre of an all-out battle between the BJP and the ruling TMC. The BJP attacked the TMC government for failing to protect the dignity of women and enforce law order, referring to the alleged violence against women in Sandeshkhali, part of the Lok Sabha constituency. Rekha Patra, one of the victims in Sandeshkhali, is the BJP candidate.

Rallies

The prime minister, who is the biggest crowd puller for the BJP, travelled across the length and breadth of the country to canvass for his party. According to his office, he addressed 206 rallies and gave over 80 interviews to various organisations.

Union home minister Amit Shah, who is the partys chief strategist, addressed 188 rallies and travelled to every state in India.

Party president JP Nadda travelled to 23 states and four UTs, where he addressed 134 rallies and public events covering 85,957km.
The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Friday sent a notice to Air India after a flight of the Tata Group-owned airline, which was to leave Delhi for San Francisco, faced a delay of nearly 20 hours. Air India building is located on Mumbais Nariman Point area (File Photo)

The ministry has asked Air India to also explain why arrangements were not made to lessen the passengers' misery, even as Delhi has been recording temperatures upwards of 50 degrees Celsius, NDTV reported.

Operational reasons led to the delay in flight's departure from the national capital's Indira Gandhi International Airport, sources in the former flag carrier said, adding that by the time these issues were resolved, flight duty time limitations had kicked in.

Originally scheduled to take off at 3:30 pm on Thursday, the service was initially rescheduled to 8 pm, and then to Friday afternoon. There were around 200 passengers onboard the Boeing 777 aircraft that was to operate flight AI 183.

At first, the aircraft was changed due to a technical glitch and the passengers were taken to another plane, on which the air conditioning system was not working. As a result, a few people even fainted.

Senior citizens and children were feeling uneasy. With the AC system not working, passengers were agitated, and after almost one hour, they came out. This was after boarding the aircraft at 7:20 pm for the revised departure time of 8 pm, one of the passengers told PTI.

We had to wait for nearly an hour in the aerobridge before gates were opened for us to go back to the airport, she claimed.

Meanwhile, social media platform X (previously Twitter) is flooded with posts from angry relatives seeking explanation from Air India over the delay, as well as discomfort caused to passengers.
The Jammu & Kashmir Police have booked 16 soldiers from the Territorial Army (TA), including three lieutenant colonels, for storming into police station in Kupwara, and beating up five policemen on duty with rifle butts, kicks and sticks, officials aware of the matter said on Thursday. The local police blamed the soldiers of 160 TA battaliondeployed in Trehgam  for not only thrashing but also abducting a policeman on duty, a serious accusation that could vitiate the atmosphere in a sensitive area. (AP)

TA is a part of the Indian Army and is headed by a three-star ranked army officer.

The soldiers barged into the police station after one the men from their unit was detained by the local cops in connection with a crime-related case, the officials said, asking not to be named.

The unsavoury clash took place on Tuesday night, even while the local army authorities sought to downplay the episode the day it unfolded.

The army personnel now face serious charges.

In a first information report (FIR) filed on Thursday, several charges were slapped against the army personnel, including attempt to murder, causing harm to a public servant with the intent to deter him from performing his duty and other charges under the Arms Act.

The local police blamed the soldiers of 160 TA battaliondeployed in Trehgam  for not only thrashing but also abducting a policeman on duty, a serious accusation that could vitiate the atmosphere in a sensitive area.

The officers named in the FIR are Lieutenant Colonels Ankit Sood, Raju Chauhan and Nikhil from TA, a voluntary, part-time citizens army modelled on the lines of the UK territorial army. To be sure, TA is controlled by the Indian Army, has garrisons in or near cantonments and military stations, and its ranks are accorded by the Indian Army. TA units are commanded by colonels from the Indian Army.

Army officers in the rank of captain, major and lieutenant colonel also serve TA units on deputation, although the parent cadre of the three officers named in the FIR wasnt immediately known.

The development comes at a time when an army court of inquiry (CoI) into the custodial deaths of three civilians in an army camp near Poonch following a terror ambush in which four soldiers were killed last December is at an advanced stage and strict action is likely to be taken against those found guilty of lapses.

The police FIR, accessed by Hindustan Times, said a huge number of armed and uniformed personnel of 160 Territorial Army led by the three officers unauthorisedly entered the premiss (premises) of police station, Kupwara.

They (army personnel) collectively and without any provocation in the form of unlawful assembly severely attacked the staff and officers present at the police station with rifle butts, kicks and sticks.

The FIR said the jawans, led by the three lieutenant colonels carrying weapons, snatched the mobile phones of the injured police personnel and SHO Inspector Mohammad Ishaq before abducting a police man, Ghulam Rasool, who was later released after the detained army man was set free.

Employed graduates aged between 18 and 42 years are eligible to join the TA as officers, and don the army uniform. Under the part-time serving model, the reservists are required to serve for at least two months every year, though most of them end up serving full-time because of the organisations requirements.

TA units have taken part in all post-Independence wars and operations.

While the exact sequence of events was sketchy when this report was filed, HT has learnt that it all began after a police team allegedly raided the home of a local TA jawan at Batpora in Kupwara in connection with a local crime.

Meanwhile, a video of the army personnel thrashing the police men went viral, with many people demanding action against the officers and the jawans.

On Tuesday, the army termed reports of the altercation between the police and the army as unfounded shortly after rumours floated about four policemen being injured in a scuffle with army personnel.

Reports of an altercation between police and army personnel and beating up therein of police personnel are unfounded and incorrect. Minor differences between the police personnel and a territorial army unit on an operational matter have been amicably resolved, defence spokesperson MK Sahu had said in a statement.

Special police officers Rayees Khan, Imtiyaz Malik and constables Saleem Mushtaq, Zahoor Ahmad  posted at Kupwara police station  were admitted to Sher- e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital at Soura late on Tuesday night, the officials said, adding that a case had already been registered and a senior police officer has been asked to investigate the case.

Officials in Delhi said that senior army and police officials were monitoring the developments in the case.

In the Poonch incident being probed by the army, the three civilians were among the nine people picked up by the army from Topa Peer village for questioning, a day after the four soldiers were killed in the ambush at Dhatyar Morh in Surankote area on December 21, 2023.

A separate probe into lapses in the conduct of operations is also at an advanced stage.

Days after the December 21 attack, defence minister Rajnath Singh and army chief General Manoj Pande visited the area and carried out a security review. The area was tense following the ambush and the custodial deaths.

Singh also met the families of the deceased persons and assured expeditious investigation into the incident, culminating in the delivery of justice.

On December 21, army vehicles were navigating a blind curve at Dhatyar Morh between Dera ki Gali (DKG) area and Bulfiaz when they came under heavy fire from terrorists. The vehicles were carrying soldiers to an active operation site in the DKG area, a few kilometres away.

Facing a backlash against the custodial deaths, the army then moved out three officers, including a brigadier, from Poonch pending the probe.
Suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna was arrested from the Bengaluru airport shortly after his arrival from Germany on Friday. Revanna, a member of the Lok Sabha, is accused of sexually assaulting multiple women. Prajwal Revanna, a leader of Janata Dal (Secular) party (Reuters)(REUTERS)

The members of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the sexual assault case camped out at the airport the entire night, waiting for Revanna.

The JD(S) leader will be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours of his arrest and will be taken for a medical test, as per procedure. He was aboard Lufthansa flight LH0764, which flew into Bengaluru from Germany.

10 points about Prajwal Revanna Revanna's arrest

Prajwal Revanna, who had been absconding for a month, was arrested from the Bengaluru airport. He was handed over to the police waiting at the airport by the security team. A medical test will be conducted. Prajwal Revanna will be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours in the obscene videos case. Upon arrival at the airport, the SIT team confiscated two of his check-in bags. He was taken to the CID office in Bengaluru, where security was stepped up and barricades were erected ahead of his arrival. Prajwal Revanna returned to India from Berlin, Germany, nearly a month after leaving India on a diplomatic passport. On May 27, the suspended MP posted a video in which he said he would join the investigation and appear before the SIT for questioning on May 31. He also said that his Germany trip was pre-planned.

In the video clip, Prajwal Revanna apologised to his family and the people of Karnataka. He further said that the allegations against him were fake. He expressed confidence that he will be proven innocent. The anticipatory bail plea filed by Revanna on May 29 is still pending in court. It is likely to be heard today. Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal on Thursday said that a show cause notice had been issued against Revanna on May 23, and action to revoke his diplomatic passport was initiated. On Thursday, a day before his arrest, thousands of people participated in the 'Hassan Chalo' protest organised by the Union of Karnataka People's Movement in Hassan district. Prajwal Revanna, who is currently seeking another term as MP from Hassan, is facing three cases filed by women, alleging sexual assault and criminal intimidation.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said he will surrender before the police at Tihar Jail on Sunday. The Aam Aadmi Party chief, who is currently out on interim bail, claimed his body has lately shown symptoms of a serious disease. Delhi chief minister and AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal during an interaction with traders in Ludhiana.(PTI file photo)

Arvind Kejriwal said he needs to undergo a battery of medical tests to rule out the possibility of any serious disease. He also appealed to the people of Delhi to take care of his ailing parents.

"The Supreme Court had given me 21 days to campaign for the elections. The day after tomorrow I will go back to Tihar Jail. I don't know how long these people will keep me in jail this time. But my spirits are high. I am proud that I am going to jail to save the country from dictatorship. They tried to break me in many ways, tried to silence me, but they did not succeed. When I was in jail, they tortured me in many ways. They stopped my medicines... I don't know what these people wanted. Why did they do this?" said Arvind Kejriwal, reported ANI.

Arvind Kejriwal said he has lost nearly 10 percent of his body weight since he went to jail . He said he hasn't gained any weight since he was released on interim bail. He expressed apprehension that weight loss could be a symptom of an underlying illness.

"When I went to jail, my weight was 70 kg, today it is 64 kg. Even after being released from jail, I am not gaining weight. Doctors are saying that this can also be a sign of some serious disease in the body. Many tests need to be done," said Kejriwal.

The Aam Aadmi Party chief said he will leave his house for the Tihar Jail at 3 pm.

Kejriwal vowed that he would work for the development of the national capital from inside the jail.

"It is possible that this time they may torture me more, but I will not bow down... Wherever I live, inside or outside. I will not let the work of Delhi stop. Your free electricity, mohalla clinics, hospitals, free medicines, treatment, 24-hour electricity and many other things will continue and after returning I will also start giving 1000 every month to every mother and sister. Today I want to ask something from you for my family. My parents are very old. My mother is very ill. I worry a lot about her in jail. Take care of my parents after me, pray for them," he added.

Arvind Kejriwal and several AAP leaders are accused of accepting kickbacks in return for formulating a liquor policy favouring the interests of a group of businessmen and politicians.

Kejriwal was arrested on March 21.

Earlier this month, the Supreme Court accorded him a 21-day respite from jail despite the Enforcement Directorate's objection, to allow him to campaign for his party in the ongoing Lok Sabha elections.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court refused to hear his plea seeking an extension of interim bail, saying he had the liberty to approach the trial court.

Arvind Kejriwal moved a court in Delhi on Thursday seeking regular bail in the excise policy case.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday expressed concern over the water crisis in the national capital, while accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of politics over the issue.



The entire country is reeling under intense heatwave, resulting in water and electricity crisis. Last year, Delhi's power peak demand stood at 7,438 MW. This year, the peak demand has shot up to 8,302 MW. Still, Delhi's power situation is under control and the city is not facing power cuts like other states, Kejriwal posted on social platform X.



ALSO READ: With water crisis looming, Delhi to move SC for additional water from neighbours



Pointing to water crisis in the capital, Kejriwal said,"But the demand for water supply has shot up due to heatwave. There has been a cut in the water supplied to Delhi from the neighbouring states. It means that demand is huge and shortage is very less." People collect water from the tanker due to the water crisis in the national capital, at Geeta Colony area, in New Delhi.(ANI)



We have to come together to solve this problem. The BJP is staging sit-in protests against our government. It will not solve any problem. I urge everyone with folded hands to come together to provide relief to the people of Delhi instead of politics. If the BJP speaks to its governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and provide some water to Delhi for a month, then the people of Delhi will appreciate its efforts, the chief minister added.



ALSO READ: Delhi water supply at seasons nadir, compounds summer woes



If we work together, then surely we can provide relief to the people, he said.

Kejriwal's appeal to the BJP comes amid severe water crisis in the national capital, with several areas witnessing residents scrambling with empty buckets to water tankers. Some people have been even seen jumping the queue to get to the top of the tankers to fill their vessels.



The Delhi government has announced a slew of emergency measures, including a ban on usage of potable water for car washing and its use at construction sites, people in Sanjay Camp in Chanakyapuri were seen lining up on footpaths to fill water from tankers.

As soon as an NDMC tanker arrived, people, carrying pipes, rushed towards it and some climbed on its top to fill their buckets.

In Vivekananda Colony in Chanakyapuri, children, men and women climbed atop the water tanker.

Deepak Srivastava, a resident of one of the affected areas in Chanakyapuri told PTI, "We need water, otherwise we will die. Earlier, six to seven water tankers used to come, but now there is just one, exacerbating the crisis."

Janki, another resident from the same area, accused political parties of indulging only in electoral politics and not thinking about the common people.

"Political parties come here to ask for votes, but no one gives us water. I have been living here for the last 30 years and have only seen tankers. We need some development from the upcoming government, like tap water," she said.



(With PTI inputs)
Sichar: A suspected drug peddler in Assams Hojai district received multiple bullet injuries following a gunfight with the police while attempting to flee from custody immediately after arrest, officials aware of the matter said. (Representative Photo)

Police said that based on specific information about drug peddling, they launched an operation at Ramsing village under Lumding Police station late Thursday and arrested Uddin.

According to the police, the incident took place on Thursday night, and the accused, identified as Sahab Uddin, tried to snatch their guns and attacked the on-duty officers.

Hojai superintendent of police (SP) Saurabh Gupta said that during the raid, the police recovered at least ten soap cases of drugs and arrested the accused. Uddin attacked police officers while being brought to the station for further interrogation, and in self-defence, the police opened fire at him resulting in some injuries, Gupta said.

Uddin was taken to Nagaon Medical College and is undergoing treatment.

We are registering a case against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act for supplying drugs and some other sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for attacking police, the SP added.

We are investigating the matter and Sahab Uddin will be questioned once he is out of the hospital, he said.
New Delhi, Delhi Water Minister Atishi has requested the Centre to ensure a provision for the release of spare water from either Uttar Pradesh or Haryana to address the national capital's "unprecedented water crisis". Atishi requests Centre to ensure provision for release of spare water from UP, Haryana to Delhi

In a letter to Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Atishi said there has been a drastic dip in the water level at the Wazirabad barrage during the last few days as Haryana is not releasing the required quantity in the Yamuna.

This has resulted in a massive water crisis in the national capital, she said while highlighting that the temperature in Delhi has touched almost 50 degrees Celsius.

"This has further intensified the demand for water, putting additional burden on an already-strained demand-supply chain of potable drinking water in Delhi," she said.

Atishi visited the Wazirabad barrage on Thursday and found that the water level at the pond was 670.3 feet against a normal of 674.50 feet.

This reduction has a serious impact on the water production capacity of water treatment plants in Delhi, she noted.

"I am writing this letter to bring to your kind notice the unprecedented water crisis situation that the national capital of Delhi is facing. As you are aware, Delhi is heavily dependent on water from the Yamuna river to meet its day-to-day demand," she said in the communication, dated May 30.

If adequate water is not released by Haryana, she said Delhi's water treatment plants will not be able to optimally function.

"And if the water treatment plants do not function optimally, then Delhi will not be able to meet its demand-supply gap. This will have a serious and direct implication on the people living in the national capital. I have already written to Hon'ble Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini ji to appraise him of the issue. However, we are yet to receive a response from his office," she said.

Highlighting that people from all parts of the country migrate to the national capital in search of a better future, she said, "It is our collective responsibility as a nation to ensure that the people of Delhi get the water they need."

"... I am writing to request you to ensure that some provision of water is made for NCT of Delhi, be it from Haryana or Uttar Pradesh or any other state that may be able to spare water, so that the people of Delhi don't suffer," Atishi said in the letter to Shekhawat.

"The Delhi government and its citizens will be forever grateful to you if you could kindly intervene and help us solve this crisis ... It is imperative that the state of Haryana must immediately release Delhi's rightful share of water into the Yamuna river to bring the waters to the normal level of 674.5 feet," she added.

Atishi also said the Delhi government is making all possible effort to encourage people to use water wisely.

"A multi-departmental approach is being undertaken to ensure that there is no water wastage. We have formed on-ground teams to take immediate action against those who are found to waste water. However, these standalone steps will not be sufficient to curtail water scarcity in the national capital," Atishi added.

Delhi is facing an acute water shortage, with the A government accusing Haryana of not releasing the national capital's share of water.

The BJP, on the other hand, has blamed the A government for the water crisis in Delhi and claimed that Haryana is supplying the city 1,049 cusecs of water from the Yamuna that exceeds the agreed-upon quantity.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Space start-up Agnikul Cosmos successfully launched the worlds first rocket with a single-piece 3D-printed engine from their own launch pad, Dhanush, at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota on Thursday. Chennai-based private space technology startup Agnikul Cosmos successfully test-launched the Agnibaan rocket powered by the world's first single-piece 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) SHAR, in Sriharikota on Thursday. (ANI)

The sub-orbital test flight of the indigenously developed Agnibaan rocket, powered by a semi-cryogenic engine, marks a significant milestone for Indias private space sector, and is the second time an Indian entity other than the government space agency Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) has launched such missions.

The Agnibaan Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator (SOrTeD) mission, which took place at 7:15am, was the fifth attempt by Agnikul since March 22, with earlier attempts being called off due to technical difficulties.

Isro chairman S Somanath, who was at the launch, commended the success of the mission. The success involving many firsts including 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine, flight control systems etc. demonstrate the prowess of indigenous design and innovation. It motivates Isro to support the Space startups and non-governmental entities for innovation and Atmanirbharata to create a vibrant space ecosystem in the country.

The company began as an incubated start-up of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras and is closely associated with the National Centre for Combustion Research and Development (NCCRD) at the institute.

The Agnibaan rocket is a customisable two-stage launch vehicle and can carry a payload of up to 300 kg into an orbit of approximately 700 km. The rockets semi-cryogenic engine utilises a combination of liquid and gas propellants. Additionally, the vehicle features ethernet-based avionics architecture and fully in-house developed autopilot software, making it the first of its kind in India.

Satyanarayanan R Chakravarthy, founding advisor of Agnikul Cosmos and head of the NCCRD at IIT Madras, said: We are proud to present Indias first Semi-cryo rocket engine, which is also the worlds most integrated single shot 3D printed piece. It signals the ability to rapidly assemble rockets that is unparalleled.

This is the culmination of 1000s of hours of reviews and hard work by the team, said Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO, Agnikul Cosmos.

The team consists of over 200 engineers and is guided by 45 former scientists from Isro. The company has targeted conducting an orbital mission towards the end of the 2025 financial year.

Pawan Goenka, chairman of space regulator Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), hailed the launch as a historic moment for Indias space sector. The successful launch of the Agnibaan SOrTeD is not just a milestone for Agnikul Cosmos but marks a significant moment for private players who are contributing to growing Indias space sector, Goenka told news agency PTI.

Thursdays launch brings India closer to building significant capacity and capability to launch small satellites, with the potential to become a hub for such launches in the future. The Indian space economy, currently valued at around $8 billion, has the potential to reach $44 billion by 2033, according to the decadal vision for the space sector unveiled by IN-SPACe.

Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace was the first private Indian entity to launch its sub-orbital rocket Vikram-S in November 2022.
The Congress on Friday announced it would not take part in any exit poll debate on television channels on June 1. Exit poll predictions will start being published in the evening on Saturday half an hour after all the elections end. Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said the party has decided not to indulge in speculation and slugfest before the actual results come out on June 4. Congress said it would take part in television debates after the results are announced on June 4.

"Voters have cast their votes and their verdict have been secured. The results will be out on 4th June. Prior to that, we do not see any reason to indulge in speculation and slugfest for TRP. The Indian National Congress will not participate in the debates on #ExitPolls. The purpose of any debate should be to inform the people. We will happily partake in debates from 4th June onwards," Pawan Khera posted on X.

Lok Sabha election 2024: Full coverage

What's the point of speculation? Why should we indulge in meaningless speculation just to increase the TRPs of channels? There are some forces which are involved in betting. Why should we be a part of that? Everybody knows who he or she has voted for. Parties will get to know how many votes they got on the 4th of June. Why should we speculate?.. We are poised to win this election. INDIA alliance will be forming the government after the 4 June, Pawan Khera said later speaking to ANI.

Exit polls are predictions based on what voters say after casting their votes. The Election Commission has an embargo till 6.30pm on Saturday after which the exit poll predictions can be published.

Exit polls in India began in 1957. Agencies, pollsters, psephologists prepare the exit poll results and over the years exit polls have become the much-awaited event before the counting day. Television channels hold debates on exit poll predictions where spokespersons deputed by the political parties argue on the exit poll data. This time, the Congress decided not to take part in the exit poll debate.

Assembly Elections 2024: Exit polls date and time. Where to watch?

Both instances where exit polls are a hit and a miss are plenty in India's electoral history. In 2019, exit polls predicted around 285 seats for the NDA but NDA won 353 seats.

Exit polls 2024 will predict the results of the Lok Sabha election 2024, assembly elections of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha and Sikkim.

Samajwadi chief Akhilesh Yadav alerted against exit polls and urged his party workers to not get misled by them. "Today I am making an extremely important appeal to you. All of you should remain fully alert, vigilant and cautious during the voting tomorrow and also in the days after the voting, till the counting of votes is over and you receive the certificate of victory. Do not get misled by the BJP," Akhilesh wrote.

"Actually I am making this appeal because the BJP people have made a plan that as soon as the elections are over tomorrow evening, they will start getting their 'media group (media mandali)' to say on various channels that the BJP has got a lead of around 300 seats, which is completely false," Akhilesh added.

The former UP chief minister said BJP will deliberately promote these lies so that opposition do not remain alert on the day of counting. Taking advantage of this, the BJP can rig in the counting, he said.
The Delhi government on Friday moved the Supreme Court to get additional raw supply from neighbouring Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh amid a severe water crisis in the national capital.



Earlier in the day, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal claimed that the states sharing borders with the capital had reduced the water supply.



ALSO READ: Delhi govt rationalises water supply to city



"If the BJP talks to its governments in Haryana and UP and gets some water for Delhi for a month, then the people of Delhi will greatly appreciate this step of the BJP. Such scorching heat is not in anyone's control. But if we all work together, can we provide relief to the people from this? Kejriwal had posted on social platform X.



With the deepening water crisis, the Delhi government has introduced stringent measures, including a 2,000 fine on anyone found wasting water and shall disconnect any illegal water connection on construction sites or commercial establishments.



With no respite from heatwave, the water crisis in Delhi has worsened with residents forced to run with their empty buckets to the water tankers. In Vivekananda Colony in Chanakyapuri, children, men and women climbed atop the water tanker, PTI reported. Residents carry water containers after filling them from a municipal tanker in a low-income neighbourhood in New Delhi(AFP)

Rahul Kumar, a resident of Burari in North Delhi, said they face the same crisis every year and each year "people have to fight with each other."

"Not everyone can buy water. We have to wait the whole day for the tanker and then struggle to get the water. It's tough in this heat but water is the most basic thing for humans," he added.

Rudal, a resident of the Geeta colony complained, "It has become a very big problem, only one tanker comes and the colony is so big. We have written two applications to the government but who listens to the poor? We have to buy the water to drink it. One bottle costs us 20 rupees".



(With PTI, ANI inputs)
New Delhi, The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction to Haryana to release surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to the parched national capital for urgent mitigation of its water woes compounded by scorching heat. Delhi seeks SC direction to Haryana to release water flowing in from Himachal to crisis-hit capital

The plea, filed by Delhis Water Minister Atishi, has made the Centre, BJP-governed Haryana and Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh parties to the petition and said access to water is essential for survival and one of the basic human rights.

Access to water is one of the basic human rights of an individual. Not only is water essential for sustenance, but access to water also forms an essential component of the guarantee of dignity and a quality of life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The current water crisis, which may only get worse given peak summers and ongoing water shortage, violates the right to a dignified and quality life of the people of the NCT of Delhi, who are unable to access even adequate clean drinking water, the plea said.

It, according to sources, has sought a direction to the Haryana government for immediate and continuous release of water at the Wazirabad barrage, including but not limited to the full surplus water provided by the Respondent No. 2 for the National Capital Territory of Delhi, in order to mitigate the water crises in the NCT of Delhi.

The city government said it was constrained to file the plea on account of acute shortage of water being faced by the citizens due to the ongoing severe heat conditions in north India, particularly Delhi.

The record-high temperatures and heat wave in Delhi, which has resulted in maximum temperature rising up to around 50 degrees Celsius at some places, have caused an extraordinary and excessive surge in water demand in the city. As a result, the national capital is dealing with a water shortage which has led to frequent supply cuts in many parts of the NCT, and has disrupted the daily life of the ordinary residents, the plea said.

The A government said it has taken all measures to ensure optimisation, rationing and targeted supply of water, yet, the shortage remains acute and it is clear, by all indicators, that the NCT of Delhi is in dire need of additional water.

It said all treatment plants in the national capital are treating and supplying the water being sent, and to address the present crisis, it is necessary to augment water supply.

The city government said it has sought the direction as a one-time measure and not filed the plea for resolving any outstanding inter-state water dispute.

The Petitioner is praying for the said relief of release of surplus water only as a stop-gap arrangement to remedy the current crisis till such time the monsoon season arrives and the temperature of the city goes down....thereby reverting the situation to normal, it said.

Without prejudice to the inter-federal rights of Delhi, especially as a lower riparian state to shared water resources, the plea is filed only because of the unprecedented surge in temperature, which has triggered a surge in the demand for water, it said.

Such excessive and unanticipated demand has precipitated an emergency in the form of a full-fledged water and sanitation crisis and has necessitated an emergent solution, the plea said.

In order to deal with the demand in summer months, the Delhi government has devised a solution under which Himachal Pradesh has agreed to share its surplus water with Delhi, the petition said.

Since Himachal Pradesh does not share boundary with Delhi, the surplus water released by it has to be transported through the existing water channels in Haryana and released to Delhi at the Wazirabad barrage, it said, adding Therefore, Haryanas facilitation and cooperation, which is not being provided as on date, is imperative.

It is also necessary to point out that, presently, the water levels in the Sonia Vihar and Bhagirathi barrages, which constitute the other primary sources of water for the NCT of Delhi, are operating at their optimum level and meet the stipulated standards, therefore, any increase in water supply can only be considered at the Wazirabad barrage, it said.

During the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the BJP to ask its governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to provide water to the national capital for a month to ease the situation.

The national capital has been facing a severe water shortage and Water Minister Atishi has accused Haryana of not releasing Delhi's share of water.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivkaumar has claimed that his political detractors are carrying out a black magic ritual called 'Shatru Bhairavi Yajna' against him and chief minister Siddaramaiah to destabilise the Congress government in Karnataka. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy DK Shivakumar(File)

300 aspirants for council tickets, high command to take call: DK Shivakumar

Speaking to the reporters, Shivkaumar spoke about a sacred thread tied to his wrist, saying he did that to ward off evil eyes. He said that he is being informed that Kerala tantriks are conducting the ritual, which involves animal sacrifices, in an isolated place near Raja Rajeshwari temple in Kerala to trouble the government.

"Kerala tantriks are being used to carry out 'Shatru Bairavi Yajna' against us. We have strong faith that God and people's blessings will protect us."

The state Congress chief claimed that he had credible information sourced from people who were privy to black magic rituals. He further said that the yajnas are being conducted by 'Aghoris' and 21 red goats, three buffaloes, 21 black sheep, and five pigs are being sacrificed for the ritual.

Time will answer: DK Shivakumar on Prajwal Revanna's 'conspiracy' allegation

"Shatru Bhairavi Yaga is being performed near Rajarajeshwari temple in Kerala for Shatru Samhara (destruction of enemies). For this, 'Pancha Bali' (five kinds of sacrifice) is being given...21 goats, three buffaloes, 21 black sheeps, five pigs....Aghoris are being approached. It is going on," he added.

Shivakumar, however, without naming anyone, alleged that some political people in Karnataka were getting it done. "If not political people, who else will do it? Check near Rajarajeshwari temple (you will know)," he said.

Asked if he believes in such rituals, the deputy CM said that despite their attempts and experiments to cause harm, the force that he believes in will protect him. "It is based on one's belief...let them do any experiment against me, there is a Shakti in which I believe in, it will save me," he added.

Meanwhile, he refused to comment on Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertaking a 45-hour long meditation break in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari, saying it was his private affair.

Karnataka Dy CM DK Shivakumar warns officials of strict action over potable water quality

However, the grand old party had alleged that PM Modi was trying to "circumvent" the silence period restrictions, ahead of the June 1 Lok Sabha polling, with his meditation trip.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)
The Election Commission of India (ECI) advised the Prime Ministers Office (PMO) to ensure the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is not violated during Narendra Modis two-day meditation from Thursday to Saturday, an official of the poll body said. The advice came after the PMO informed the ECI of Modis plan on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Kanniyakumari. (ANI)

The Congress filed a complaint with the ECI saying the meditation break in Kanniyakumari will coincide with the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha polls on Saturday and violate the 48-hour silence period ahead of the polling and MCC.

The official cited above said strictly speaking no permission was required for Modis trip as he is not making any speeches. The process followed was identical to the one at the end of the 2019 general elections when Modi went on a similar trip to Badrinath and Kedarnath during the silence period ahead of the final phase of the elections, the official added.

The ECI official said that the poll body could not tell the media to not report. Tomorrow, if the prime minister is in his designated house and does a meditation, and the media covers it, is it a violation? Or if the Opposition does it, is it a violation? There is no end to this, the official said.

The official added the level-playing field that must be ensured is that there is no undue access to state resources. That is not the case here, the official said.

The official said every candidate is entitled to communicate through symbols and symbolism. They are not asking for votes. The Opposition can also invoke symbolism this way. We have to all work within the confines of the law, the official said when asked if visiting a religious place to perform rituals wearing robes of a colour associated with a religion would violate the MCC and potentially the law around silence period.

In 2017, the ECI withdrew a show cause notice to Congresss Rahul Gandhi for giving a TV interview during the silence period ahead of the Gujarat assembly elections. It instead set up a panel to suggest amendments to Section 126 the Representation of People Act dealing with the silence period following complaints that the law does not take into account changes in the media landscape and the online space.

A former EC official called Modis trip to Kanniyakumari a blatant violation of MCC. This is completely analogous to what happened five years ago. It is the same debate. In 2019, when he went to Badrinath and Kedarnath, there was 24-hour coverage of his visit. Such coverage affects the minds of tens of thousands of voters and it disturbs the level playing field. This is subtle campaigning. Not one picture should be allowed. If a camera covers it, it is influencing the minds of the voters, the former official said on condition of anonymity.

The former ECI official said the poll body used to stop even the delivery of the newspapers from outside the campaign area during the silence period and publication in the campaign area was banned. ...now, because of 24X7 TV and electronic media coverage, such restrictions are not possible. If he is sitting in Kanyakumari, he is visible in Delhi. In the age of media today, we cannot stop the TV signal.

The ex-official said prima facie Modis 2019 visit during the silence period influenced voters minds. He invoked religion through religious symbolism. Even if one voter is influenced, it is enough to pollute the election process, the former official said

Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who led a Congress delegation that met ECI officials and complained about Modis trip on Wednesday, pointed out the silence period before the polling began on Thursday and will continue until Saturday. He added Modis meditation is a direct violation of the MCC. ...you are either campaigning this way or publicising yourself through new channels and print media, Singhvi said.

Singhvi said that the Congress proposed that Modi can start his meditation on Saturday evening. He added if Modi insisted on starting it on Thursday evening, the ECI should prohibit all media from reporting about it. He is a candidate himself in the last phase. About 55 constituencies are going to polls in the last phase. Such publicity should not be allowed, Singhvi said.
For six gruelling weeks, India has been in the throes of the worlds largest democratic exercise--to elect representatives of 543 Lok Sabha constituencies that will shape the next five years and beyond. The scale is staggering; nearly a billion eligible voters that go to polling booths located in cities and villages; in mountains and near the sea, often in searing heat. There are a plethora of factors that influence electoral outcomes, but as always, the principal actors are people. Not only those that have exercised their constitutional rights to press a button on an EVM machine, but political leaders across parties that set narratives and shaped conversation, canvassed for support and taken on their oppositions; their fates inextricably linked with results that will announced on June 4. Election Interviews: Insights from HTs conversations with key newsmakers

Across these months, HT interviewed several political heavyweights, crucial to their parties fortunes both nationally and at the state level, each with their own perspectives on the political battle that embroiled them. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in pursuit of his third consecutive term, led the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s campaign, and ahead of the fourth phase of polling, spoke to HT about his confidence that the overwhelming will of the people was for the BJP-led alliance to return to power. He said that his decade in power was only a trailer, and the foundations have been laid for a Viksit Bharat by 2047--the year India completes 100 years as an independent nation.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge however painted a different picture, and said that the people of India had risen up against Modi, and were fighting the elections for the opposition.In an interview with HT ,he accused the Prime Minister of misleading people, and questioned why Modi often returned to conversations about Hindu-Musalman Hindu-Musalman.

BJP president JP Nadda rejected the charge that the party relied on polarisation, and told HT that a resounding majority was on the horizon because people had faith in the Prime Ministers development agenda, and that the party did not foresee anti-incumbency as an obstacle in its return to power.

Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who is leading the opposition charge in Uttar Pradesh--Indias most populous and politically significant state--punched holes in the BJPs claim that it would form government again, and accused the ruling party of communalising the elections in anticipation of impending defeat. Yadav told HT that the BJP has focussed solely on the politics of negativity.

Chief ministers speak

HT also spoke to several sitting chief ministers, leading the charge in their respective states. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, who campaigned for the INDIA alliance after being released on interim bail by the Supreme Court said that Prime Minister Modi had become cut-off from the people, and maintained that the elections were being fought not on the Modi-factor but on local issues like price rise and unemployment that impact the every-day.

His Tamil Nadu counterpart, MK Stalin, whos DMK is also a key constituent of the INDIA alliance, said that southern India will deliver a blow to BJPs dreams of dominance. He told HT that over the past decade, the union government had not cooperated with non-BJP ruled states, and had interfered in their work through governors.

On the other hand, Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde credited Modi for taking the country forward on the path of development. He spoke to HT and said his priority was making Modi the Prime Minister for the third time.

Pushkar Singh Dhami, the Uttarakhand chief minister, echoed Shinde and He told HT that India had risen in the global order under Modis leadership, evidenced by the countrys achievements in space in the development of Covid vaccines.

Union ministers on campaign trail

Amit Shah, Union minister of home affairs and cooperation told HT he believes that the countrys citizens are mature and vote carefully. He said people have accepted the BJP and the NDAs return to power, which is one reason why theres apathy among supporters of Opposition parties (and a dip in turnout). The party will also be the "largest party in Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu (taken together)," he added.

Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said she was certain the BJPs vote share would rise in south India  a region that the BJP is looking to make inroads. She spoke to HT about a growing openness to talk about the BJP across Kerala and Tamil Nadu and how social schemes have reached every corner of the country.

External affairs minister S Jaishankar appeared to strike a positive note on the foreign policy front, saying there is "a sense of pride about where PM Modi has taken the country". India now takes not just clear, but confident positions whether it be over the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the invasion of Gaza, or the South China sea, and he urged voters to "strengthen Narendra Modis hands because he is actually the guy whos going to see you through the stormy period".

PM Modis magic and good governance continue to hold sway over Indians, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh said, adding that the opposition is rudderless while the BJP has been delivering on its promises.

Sitharamans cabinet colleague Piyush Goyal, who contested his first Lok Sabha election from North Mumbai, asked the Opposition to step out of fake narratives and begin conversations about substantive changes that Modi has brought about. In an interview with HT, he said the Opposition had cobbled together an alliance that had already failed.

Union women and child development minister Smriti Irani, who is in the contest from Amethi in Uttar Pradesh, said that former Congress president Rahul Gandhi chose not to contest from the seat in 2024 because he knew he would be defeated, and told HT that there has been more development under her five-year watch as the constituencies member of parliament, than in decades under the Gandhis.

Union minister Bhupender Yadav, who contested his first Lok Sabha election from Rajasthans Alwar constituency, said the BJP will return to power with a clear majority on the back of Modis politics of governance. In an interview with HT, Yadav spoke about his promises to the people of Alwar, and the BJPs developmental agenda

Top campaigners

Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said that people were fed up with politics that did not address their problems. In an interview with HT, she said she saw an upsurge against the BJP everywhere she went. Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and former Bihar deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav said he was certain the NDA alliance would fall in Bihar, and people had now seen through the BJPs lies. He told HT that the people gave the BJP a decade, but little work on key issues like unemployment had been accomplished.

In an interview with HT, former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat said there was great anger among the youth around the introduction of the Agnipath scheme and Congress leader and former Rajasthan deputy chief minister Sachin Pilot said a large section of the people feel they have been left behind in the growth story. He told HT that farmers were aggrieved that the union government had not done enough for them.

Key contestants

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, hoping to retain the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha seat for the fourth time in a state where the Congress and the Left are pitted against each other, said the latters tactics of attacking him would only help the BJP. He however told HT that his chances were still bright and this was unlikely to sour his optimism.

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader K Kanimozhi said the BJP would not win any seats in Tamil Nadu because of its divisive ideology, and in an interview with HT, said that people in the state had made sacrifices in the state to protect their identity.

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi accused the BJP of trying to turn India into an authoritarian single-party state. He told HT that BJPs poaching of Congress leaders was a show of weakness, while Mandi MP candidate Vikramaditya Singh said while the BJP had sought to bring him over, he was clear about his future in Congress. In an interview with HT, Singh accused the central government of discriminating against Himachal Pradesh.

Taranjit Singh Sandhu, the BJP Lok Sabha candidate from Amritsar who was Indias ambassador to the US until January, said Modi inspired him as he worked with him for 10 years. In an interview with HT, Singh said that voting him to power would mean an influx of schemes for both Amritsar and Punjab.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded the Bharatiya Janata Party's poll campaign on May 30, and is currently on a two-day visit to Tamil Nadu. PM Modi commenced his meditation break in Kanniyakumari on Thursday, at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs 'Surya Puja' at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, in Kanniyakumari (PTI)(PTI)

PM Modi started meditating at the Dhyan Mandapam, where philosopher Swami Vivekananda once meditated. The prime minister will depart from Tamil Nadu on June 1, the same day as the seventh and final phase of the Lok Sabha election 2024.

Photos from PM Modi's meditation break at the Vivekananda Rock went viral on social media shortly after they were posted. Before reaching the memorial, the Prime Minister offered prayers at Bhagavathy Amman Temple in Kanyakumari.

The Vivekananda Rock Memorial is off the shore of the coast of Kanniyakumari, which is considered as the southern tip of India. The rocky islet can be reached by the short ferry ride.

Further, this is the place where India's Eastern and Western coastlines meet. It is also the meeting point of the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. PM Modi is sending a signal of national unity by going to Kanyakumari.

The Hindu mythology states that Goddess Parvati also meditated at the same place on one foot as she waited for Lord Shiva.

PM Modi meditates at Vivekananda Rock Memorial

PM Modi meditates at Vivekananda Rock Memorial

PM Modi meditates at Vivekananda Rock Memorial

PM Modi concluded his election campaign for the Lok Sabha polls 2024 on May 30 in Punjab's Hoshiarpur, set to go to polls in the final phase of the elections on June 1.

The prime minister's home constituency - Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi - will also go to polls in the last phase of its election. Rival party Indian National Congress (INC) fielded party leader Ajay Rai from the Varanasi seat against PM Modi.

PM Narendra Modi, who was the star campaigner of his party, held around 206 election campaign events, including rallies and roadshows, in 75 days. He also did around 80 interviews with different news and media platforms.

This is not the first time that PM Modi is undertaking a spiritual break after the poll campaign. In 2019, he visited Kedarnath, and in 2014, he visited Shivaji's Pratapgarh.

(With inputs from ANI)
Miss India Sushmita Sen on May 21, 1994 became the first Indian to win the Miss Universe title since the beauty pageant began 43 years ago. Sushmita Sen exults after she was named the winner of Miss Universe in 1994, as Carolina Gomez (right) of Colombia reacts beside her on May 21, 1994, in the Philippines. (AFP)

A successful model from New Delhi, Sushmita, 18, was crowned the new Miss Universe, 1994, besting 76 other candidates from around the world, by an international panel of judges at the Philippine Convention Centre in Manila.

The first runner-up was Miss Colombia, 19-year-old Carolina Gomez, and the second runner-up was Miss Venezuela, Minorka Mercado, 22.

Sen wept as she received her crown from the outgoing Miss Universe, Dayanara Torres of Puerto Rico, after a two-hour pageant telecast to an estimated 600 million viewers in 60 countries.

Among the 10 semi-finalists were Miss Slovak Republic Silvia Lakatosova, Miss Philippines Carelene Gonzalez, Miss Greece Rea Toutounzi, Miss Switzerland Patricia Faessler, Miss Italy Adriana David, Miss Sweden Dominique Forsberg, and Miss USA Lu Parker.

During a press conference, Sushmita urged the Indian women to show greater self-confidence and self-determination.

You must know what you want and get it, she said.

During the final questioning, each of the three finalists was asked to describe her idea of the essence of a woman. The origin of the child is the mother and is a woman, she said.  woman is one who shows a man what love and sharing and caring is all about. That is the essence of a woman.

Earlier, she described India as a nation of love because numerous ethnic and religious groups live in relative harmony.

The new Miss Universe will receive $215,000 in cash and prizes. The first runner-up won $5,000 and jewellery and the second runner-up $3,000 and jewellery.

Sushmita said she wanted to pursue a career in the theatre, advertising or writing, the Japanese Kyodo News Agency reported.

Women in India have now become more aware of their rights as individuals and are now opting for higher positions at work, at the same time being a perfect at home, she said in a written personal profile.

Sushmita also said she wanted to meet Mother Teresa, whom she described as a perfect example of a person who is totally selfless, devoted and unconditional.

And if I had the chance and the money I would do something for the children who are downtrodden, she told the judges during the interview part of the pageant.

Asked if there was anything she would have to give up as a person now that she was Miss Universe, Sushmita, a dark horse in the competition who received little attention in the Manila Press, said: For the next one year, you give up the reality that you belong to India.

She said rapid population growth was the mother problem of the world because it bred poverty but politics did not interest her because its too complicated, it makes life miserable.

Women of today should be given more freedom of thought and opportunity to act the way they want to, she said, adding: Im sure they can make the world a better place.

To a male reporter who asked when she was going to get married, she said: If you have a proposal, let me know.

On the streets outside the Convention Centre, where the contest was held, police blocked womens rights activists who tried to march to the pageant.

Wearing sashes describing themselves as Miss Unemployment, Miss Landless and Miss Political Detainee, the activists chanted anti-government slogans.

In preliminary finals, Miss Venezuela, a member of her countrys national volleyball team, won the swimsuit competition. Miss Slovak Republic, who spoke of the excitement which accompanied the collapse of communism, scored highest in the interview. Miss Colombia, who works with unwed teenage mothers, finished first in evening gown competition.

Winners of preliminary competition received $1,000 each.

The Philippines, where beauty queens are revered, last hosted the Miss Universe pageant in 1974, two years after the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos imposed eight years of martial law.

Critics at the time accused Marcos of using the pageant to distract attention from his crackdown on civil liberties. This time, the government has said it hopes the pageant will draw attention to the Philippines as a tourism venue.
Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court issued a notice to the state government on a petition seeking the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to conduct excavations and submit a report amid allegations that the Jamia Masjid, located in Srirangapatna, was constructed by Tipu Sultan on the site of Mudala Bagilu Anjaneya Swamy Temple. HC Issues Notice to Government for Survey of Srirangapatna Jamia Masjid

Hearing a public interest petition filed by H. Manjunath, the chief of the state unit of Bajrang Sena, the division bench of Chief Justice NV Anjaria and Justice KV Arvind issued notices to ASI, the chief secretary to the government, the Mandya deputy commissioner, State Religious Council, and the Karnataka State Waqf Board.

During the trial, the counsel for the petitioner argued that the Mudala Bagilu Anjaneya Swamy Temple was historically patronised by various rulers, including those from the Vijayanagar empire and Mysore empire. However, the temple was allegedly destroyed by Tipu Sultan, who then constructed the Jamia Masjid at the same site.

The petitioner urged that the ASI be directed to conduct a survey and excavation of the site and submit a factual report to the high court within 30 days. The petitioner also appealed to the ASI, the state government, and the district administration to preserve remnants of Hindu culture and heritage found within the temple premises, such as the Garuda Kamba, Kalyani, Stupa, Stamba, stone carvings of Hindu deities, parts of the underground temple, Vastu Shilpa, and buried idols.

In response to the petitioners arguments, the court questioned whether the site in question is a protected monument and noted the complexity of changing jurisdiction via a writ petition. The hearing was adjourned to June 11.

We heard the news through the media; so far, we have not received any kind of notice till Thursday evening, Karnataka Circle Union, Archaeological Survey of India, superintending archaeologist Bipin Chandra told HT.

We filed a petition before the state high court in October 2022, Manjunath said, adding, One can see prima facie the Hindu gods and animal carvings on the wall of the masjid, and inside there is a fountain and Shivaling, which proved beyond doubt that it is a Hindu structure. We want to preserve it since it is the right of the Hindus.
Odisha chief minister and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) supremo Naveen Patnaik on Thursday refuted the speculation that ex-bureaucrat VK Pandian is his successor. He said his successor will be chosen by the people of Odisha. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik along with VK Pandian (ANI Photo)

Naveen Patnaik reveals health condition after Modi's 'conspiracy' attack: Could have just...

"I have said repeatedly that the successor will be decided by the people of the state. That is the natural result of these things," Patnaik said in an interview to news agency ANI.

The BJD chief further dismissed claims of top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, that Pandian is controlling the state", saying saffron camp's allegations were ridiculous and hold no significance.

On being questioned if his close aide acts as a gatekeeper and whether he takes all decisions on his behalf, Patnaik said, "That is ridiculous and I have said it often before. This is an old allegation and it holds no weight".

VK Pandian, a former Tamil Nadu bureaucrat, took voluntary retirement from the Indian Civil Services last year and joined the BJD.

Patnaik further claimed that such allegations come due to BJP's increasing desperation over their declining popularity in Odisha.

"I see it that they are getting more and more desperate, particularly as their popularity is waning in the country," Patnaik asserted.

The chief minister also dismissed speculation regarding his health and said that he is perfectly fine and had been campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections.

Meanwhile, he further asserted that his party would return to power for a record sixth term and that the BJD will win a lion's share of the 21 seats in the Lok Sabha from the state. Patnaik said his priority was to continue to ensure the welfare of the people.

BJP alleges Pandian has held CM Patnaik hostage, urges Odisha DGP to free him

"We have been progressing in several fields, on education, on health. agriculture on irrigations of controlling national calamities programs for women. We have done a great deal and we intend to do much," he said.

However, Himanta Sarma, who earlier on multiple occasions alleged that Pandian is in complete control of the state government, on Thursday said that the latter has a firm "backdoor entry" in running Odisha.

The BJP leader further posed several questions including whether Patnaik physically signs any file or Pandian uses CM's digital signature.

"I have watched Naveen Babu's interview to @ANI which was specifically intended to allay our concerns. Unfortunately, his well-rehearsed answers have ended up raising more questions. Naveen Babu was unable to answer why Mr Pandian was the only person to be seen with him; either holding his mike or controlling his hands," Sarma said in a long post on X.

Sarma further claimed that Patnaik failed to assure the Odia people that Pandian would not be his successor. "Naveen Babu's successor is immaterial, as Mr Pandian already has a firm backdoor entry in running Odisha. He has pervasive control over the Chief Minister and Nabin Niwas. Naveen Babu failed to assure the people of Odisha that this will change," he stated.

The BJP leader further said that the people of Odisha still do not know why ministers and bureaucrats have "no direct access" to the CM.

"Does the Chief Minister physically sign on any file or Mr Pandian uses his digital signature; or where is the key to Mahaprabhu's Ratna Bhandar. These are among the several questions that remain unanswered," he added.

Earlier this week, Sarma shared a video on his social media handle accusing the ex-bureaucrat of holding Patnaik captive and controlling even the BJD leader's hand movements.

Pandian even controlling hand movements of Naveen Babu: Assam CM Himanta Sarma

In the video, Pandian can be seen controlling the shivering chief minister on the dais while addressing a rally. Sarma had said that he was concerned about the future of the state.

The assembly and Lok Sabha elections in Odisha are taking place simultaneously, in four phases, from May 13 to June 1. The counting of votes will be held on June 4.

Naveen Patnaik (77) has been serving as the Chief Minister of Odisha since 2000 and is the second-longest serving CM of any Indian state.

(With inputs from agencies)
New Delhi: Major Radhika Sen, a peacekeeper serving with the United Nations (UN) mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was honoured for her outstanding efforts in empowering local communities, particularly women. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres conferred Major Sen with the prestigious Dag Hammarskjold medal and the 2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award during a ceremony at the world bodys headquarters on Thursday (Twitter/@UNinIndia)

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres conferred Major Sen with the prestigious Dag Hammarskjold medal and the 2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award during a ceremony at the world bodys headquarters on Thursday on the occasion of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

Guterres thanked Major Sen and all peacekeepers for their service, leadership and commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda. He noted that as commander of the Indian contingents engagement platoon, Major Sen led her unit on countless patrols.

During these patrols, in an escalating conflict environment in North Kivu, her troops actively engaged with conflict-affected communities, including particularly women and girls, Guterres said, adding, She earned their trust. Doing so with humility, compassion and dedication.

Getting this prestigious award on behalf of all the peacekeepers working in MONUSCO as well as my country, India, it was just amazing, cannot describe it in words, said Major Sen, Major Sen, who served with the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO).

During her tenure in the Democratic Republic of Congo, she initiated various programs aimed at raising awareness and empowering women. Reflecting on her initiatives, she said, We started with the awareness on conflict-related sexual violence, womens health, childcare, malnutrition, and gender equality. She further highlighted efforts to provide employment skills through training programs such as baking, tailoring, English language, and vehicle repair.

Acknowledging the challenges faced in understanding the needs of local communities, Major Sen talked about the importance of cultural sensitivity and effective communication. She noted, Initially, it was a challenge to understand their culture and traditions, and to make our team empathetic towards them. Language barriers were also addressed through training efforts to converse with local residents.

Regarding the significance of womens involvement in peace processes, Major Sen talked about the disproportionate impact of conflict on women and girls. She said that it is important to have more women peacekeepers to increase understanding and provide a comfortable environment for victims to share their experiences.

Sharing a memorable experience from her time in the DRC, Major Sen recounted gatherings with women where they felt comfortable sharing their stories. We would invite many ladies and give them a safe environment to share their experiences, she said.

Born in Himachal Pradesh in 1993, Major Sen joined the Indian Army eight years ago. She graduated as a biotech engineer and was pursuing her Masters degree from IIT Bombay when she decided to join the armed forces. She was deployed to MONUSCO in March 2023 as the Engagement Platoon Commander with the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion and completed her tenure in April 2024.
The Congress party hopes to bag 128 seats in the Lok Sabha elections and is confident of stopping the BJP from winning a third consecutive term at the Centre, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said in a media interview, a day before Saturday's seventh and final round of polling. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi. (ANI/File Photo)

From the reports that we have received, we are sure that we will stop the BJP from returning to power. We believe that the Congress has already crossed the 100-seat mark and are hoping to win 128 seats, Kharge told NDTV.

The senior leader also claimed that parties of the Congress-led opposition INDIA bloc were successful in transferring their votes to each other.

He also revealed what the INDIA parties will discuss in the meeting convened by him on Saturday.

We have called the meeting to ensure that there is no meddling in the counting of votes. We will tell every leader how EVM (Electronic Voting Machine) tampering works and how to ensure that the tampering does not happen, the Congress chief stated.

While the INDIA bloc has not projected a PM face against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Kharge backed senior Congress member Rahul Gandhi, also a former head of the grand old party, for the country's top office.

Rahul Gandhi is my choice as Prime Minister. He represents the youth, and the length and breadth of the nation, Kharge, whose name was suggested for the PM's post by Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal before he himself shot down the proposal, said.

The counting of votes for the Lok Sabha elections will be held on June 4. The Congress is looking to improve upon its tally of 44 seats in 2014 and 52 seats five years later. Both times, the BJP secured single-party majority, a feat it aims to achieve this year as well.
Imphal: The flood level in Imphal decreased on Friday, the sixth consecutive day of rainfall due to the impact of cyclone Remal, but many areas of Manipurs capital still remain inundated, officials said. Manipur Governor Anusuiya Uikey inspecting flooding in and around Raj Bhawan in Imphal on a raft on Friday (HT Photo)

Incessant rainfall since Sunday amid cyclone Remal has caused massive flooding across the northeastern state, with the water levels in most rivers passing through Imphal city increasing rapidly and two major rivers  Nambul and Imphal  already overflowing into several parts of Imphal East and West districts.

According to officials, the rainfall has stopped since Thursday and due to the diversion of over-flooded water spilt from the Imphal River, the water level of the most affected area has been gradually decreasing by one foot.

The water level in the Khwairamband market area, which is one of the major markets in Imphal, is also decreasing.

The spill of the Imphal River also affected the Raj Bhavan campus in Imphal. On Friday morning, Governor Anusuiya Uikey inspected the flooded area of the Raj Bhavan campus along with other officials and the disaster management teams.

All the office buildings, including the Raj Bhavan secretariat, office of the governor, staff quarter, and security barracks, have been inundated by flood water.

Uikey on Friday reviewed the arrangement taken up to control the situation and asked the officials to take up possible measures to mitigate the pathetic condition of the Raj Bhavan complex located in the heart of the capital.

Speaking to the reporters, a Central Reserved Police Force (CRPF) officer at Raj Bhavans main gate said the water level inside the campus reached about 5.5 feet from the ground.

Besides, the joint rescue mission is still continuing in the most affected area of Khurai Lairikyengbam Leikai, Laipham Khunou of Imphal, Ngaram Manipur.

Cadres of Pambei-led United National Liberation Front (UNLF) apart from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Manipur police, the Indian Army, Manipur Fire Service, volunteers of Arambai Tengol, local volunteers were also seen in the joint rescue mission.

UNLF is an insurgent outfit that recently signed a peace agreement with both the government of Manipur and the Centre.

According to the Indian Metrological Department, Imphal has recorded 2mm rainfall in the last 24 hours and it is stated that for the next six days, the weather will be generally cloudy sky with one or two spells of rain or thunderstorm.

Manipur water resource minister Awangbow Newmai told the media on Thursday late evening in his office conference hall that the government is fully prepared to tackle any unwanted incident that occurs in the coming days.

Three people have so far died and thousands affected due to floods in Manipurs Imphal valley region, triggered by heavy rains due to cyclone Remal.

According to data from weather department officials, Imphal West district has recorded 106.2 mm of rainfall since Sunday, while Ukhrul recorded the highest with 142.4 mm, followed by Noney with 107.6 mm.
New Delhi: There has been no leniency in recovering bad loans from large defaulters and the process is ongoing, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Friday said, adding that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has so far attached properties worth Rs.64,920 crore from 1,105 such defaulters under its scanner. Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman (File Photo)

In a string of posts on X, the finance minister refuted the Oppositions charge that there has been a waiver of loans given to industrialists during the Modi government.

The Opposition, habituated to spreading lies, wrongly claims that there has been a waiver of loans given to industrialists. Despite claiming to be experts in finance and economy, its a pity that opposition leaders are still unable to distinguish between write-offs and waivers. After the write-offs as per RBIs guidelines, banks actively pursue the recovery of bad loans. And, there has been no waiver of loans for any industrialist. Between 2014 and 2023, banks recovered more than Rs.10 lakh crore from bad loans, Sitharaman said.

ED has investigated around 1,105 bank fraud cases, which resulted in the attachment of proceeds of crime amounting to Rs.64,920 crore. As of December 2023, assets amounting to Rs.15,183 crore have been restituted to the Public Sector Banks (PSBs), she said. There has been no leniency in recovering bad loans, especially from large defaulters, and the process is ongoing.

She said the exploitation of the banking sector by the previous regime to benefit cronies through imprudent lending and keeping actual non-performing assets (NPAs) under wraps saw the balance sheets of both banks and corporates under stress. Weve turned banks from being NPA-laden nightmares into Pillars of Jan Kalyan. From having a Twin Balance Sheet Problem, we now have a Twin Balance Sheet Advantage, she added.

Various measures by our Government and the RBI [Reserve Bank of India], such as the Asset Quality Review (AQR), disclosed hidden mountains of NPAs and ended the accounting tricks used to hide them. Congress-era reckless and imprudent lending created the disgraceful legacy of the Twin Balance Sheet problem, which we inherited in 2014, the finance minister said.

She said that under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, obtaining loans from banks often depended on powerful connections rather than a solid business proposition. Banks were forced to neglect proper due diligence and risk assessment before sanctioning these loans, she alleged.

After banks transparently began disclosing their NPAs for loans lent before 2014, the gross NPAs of PSB rose to a high of 14.6% in 2017-18, she said.

Also Read: Nirmala Sitharaman on stock markets: Dont want unstable governments, predictable policies matter to investors

Citing views of former RBI governors Raghuram Rajan and Urjit Patel (who have been critical of the current government) she said the two top functionaries of the Indian banking system had also raised the NPA crisis created by the UPA regime and openly exposed the level of decay in the system left by the then government.

Rajan, who also participated in @RahulGandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra, described the NPA crisis during the UPA era as a historic phenomenon of irrational exuberance. Similarly, Patel noted that the functioning of PSBs under the UPA suffered from a perennial shortcoming on account of bureaucratic inertia and political meddling, Sitharaman said, quoting them.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government in 2015 prompted the RBI to launch a thorough AQR to stop the evergreening of bad loans and unearth hidden NPAs, which saw a spike in gross NPAs to Rs.10,36,187 crore by March 2018.

Before the AQR, the gross NPA was Rs.2,16,739 crore (on March 31, 2014) as most of the NPAs were hidden in the balance sheet of banks due to evergreening. The government then adopted a four R strategy  recognition, resolution, recapitalisation and reforms  to bring back banks into good health. While banks were recapitalised (Rs.3.10 lakh crore), other reforms such as the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) resolved loans over 3.36 lakh crore rupees as of March 2024.

Our reforms addressed credit discipline, recognition and resolution of stress, responsible lending and improved governance. We replaced political interference in banks with professional integrity and independence. Banks Board Bureau (BBB) was created for a transparent selection of non-executive Chairpersons and whole-time directors, Sitharaman said.

Giving details of banking sector reforms she said, Our govt, in 2015, issued a framework for the timely detection and investigation relating to large value bank frauds. Insolvency & Bankruptcy Code was brought for faster recoveries. The Fugitive Economic Offenders Act of 2018 was enacted for the seizure of fugitive economic offenders property. SARFAESI Act was amended to make it more effective. During the last five years, banks have recovered 1.51 lakh crores through SARFAESI.

Measures helped to strengthen banks included  doubling pecuniary jurisdiction of the debt recovery tribunals (DRTs) to 20 lakh to focus on high-value cases, creation of stressed asset management verticals by PSBs for stringent recovery, segregation of monitoring roles from sanctioning roles in high-value loans, deployment of specialised monitoring agencies for effective monitoring of loans above 250 crore, online end-to-end one-time settlement (OTS) platforms to ensure timely and better realisation.
There is no dearth of numbers as far as Indian elections are concerned. The 2024 elections had almost a billion eligible voters to elect 543 MPs from a total of 8,360 candidates across 28 states and eight union territories (UTs) in seven phases.

Women stand in a queue to cast their votes at a polling station in Saroi village, Bhadohi on Saturday (AFP PHOTO)
An Ola bike taxi rider was arrested after a gunfight with police as he was allegedly trying to escape with a woman's bag containing valuables including an iPhone and a laptop, officials said on Friday. Ola bike taxi rider arrested after gunfight with police for stealing woman's bag with iPhone and laptop.

The 34-year-old suspect, Pramod Singh, was shot in the leg during the altercation on a service lane between Sector 51 and Sector 76 metro stations near Spectrum Mall late Thursday night.

ALSO READ- Bengaluru woman foils Ola drivers fake fare scam: Ended trip in one ninja move

Adheera Saxena, a resident of Noida Extension, said that the incident happened near the Sector 52 metro station on Wednesday evening while she was completing her trip payment. Singh allegedly fled with her brown leather bag, which contained her purse, cards, a Dell laptop, and an iPhone.

"Two days ago, a woman booked an Ola bike to a location in the Sector 49 police station area, but the bike rider snatched her belongings and fled," said Additional DCP Manish Mishra, PTI reported.

ALSO READ- Ola CEO Bhavish Aggarwal slammed for calling gender pronouns an illness. Internet is disappointed, disgusted

How police caught the biker?

Late Thursday night, the police received a tip about the bike's location near Spectrum Mall in Sector 50. When they tried to intercept the bike, Singh sped away and fired at the officers. The police returned fire, injuring Singh and taking him into custody.

ALSO READ- Water level drops to 23% in India's main reservoirs: Central Water Commission report

'Ola driver has half a dozen criminal cases'

Singh, who lives in the Mamura area, has about half a dozen criminal cases against him. The Ola bike he was riding was also found to be stolen.

An FIR was filed under Indian Penal Code section 392 (robbery). Police recovered the woman's belongings and seized a country-made pistol and ammunition from Singh.

Further legal actions are ongoing, police said.
Suspended Janata Dal (Secular) or JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna was arrested at the Bengaluru airport upon his arrival from Germany in the early hours of Friday weeks after he was accused of mass sexual assault. Suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna would be presented before a magistrate on Friday. (PTI)

Revanna, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate for the Hassan Lok Sabha seat, left for Germany on April 27 a day after polling was held and shortly after thousands of his videos emerged. Some women in the videos have since accused Prajwal of sexually assaulting them.

A special investigation team (SIT) formed to probe the allegations took him into custody before his questioning. An SIT officer said Revanna, the member of Parliament from Hassan, would first undergo a medical examination at Bengalurus Bowring Hospital. He added that Revanna would later be presented before a magistrate for his custody. The SIT seized Revannas mobile phone and two suitcases.

Interpol informed SIT, Bengaluru Police, and immigration authorities about his return on Thursday afternoon.

Revannas anticipatory bail plea in a Bengaluru session court was separately scheduled to be heard on Friday. In the plea, he denied all allegations, suggesting they were politically motivated. The electronic evidence presented is fabricated to support a false case, the plea said.

The plea said Revanna had a good relationship with his accuser, a political activist involved in his recent election campaign. Prajwal is shocked by the wild allegations in the complaint, it said. He blamed political rivalry and envy for the accusations.

Revanna maintained his travel abroad was pre-planned and unrelated to the charges. Having participated in the election process on April 26, 2024, Prajwal left the country as scheduled. However, a smear campaign was orchestrated against Prajwal and his father, leading to the false accusations, the plea said.

JD(S) suspended Revanna, who issued a video statement this week saying he would present himself before the SIT at 10am on May 31, after allegations of sexual assault were made against him.

Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara on Thursday said Revanna will be arrested upon landing in India as reports indicated that the suspended JD(S) leader was due to arrive from Germany early on Friday. He added the government was aware of Revannas booking on a Munich-Bengaluru Lufthansa flight.
Prajwal Revanna, the suspended Janata Dal (Secular) leader accused of sexually abusing women in hundreds of explicit videos, was interrogated by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) hours after he was arrested at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport. The 33-year-old Hassan MP, who returned from Germany this morning, was taken to the CID office for questioning. Bengaluru: Suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, who is facing charges of sexually abusing several women, returns to India.(PTI )

The SIT, formed by the Congress-led Karnataka government to probe into hundreds of sexually explicit videos allegedly featuring Prajwal Revanna, is planning to subject the politician to a potency test, reported PTI.

Prajwal Revanna had gone abroad last month soon after a complaint of sexual harassment was filed against him by his former domestic help. The complaint had come days after the videos started circulating in poll-bound Karnataka.

Prajwal Revanna is the grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and nephew of former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy.

The Hassan MP's father, HD Revanna, was earlier this month arrested for allegedly kidnapping a woman who purportedly featured in one of his son's alleged videos. He is out on bail.

Meanwhile, a special court in Karnataka will today hear the anticipatory bail pleas of Prajwal Revanna and his mother Bhavani Revanna.

Prajwal is accused in three sexual abuse cases. His mother, meanwhile, has sought bail in the kidnapping case.

According to the news agency, Revanna's mother is not an accused in the case but SIT might probe her role.

The Central Bureau of Investigation had issued a Blue Corner Notice seeking information on his whereabouts.

His family hasn't openly backed Revanna. However, HD Kumaraswamy recently blamed deputy CM DK Shivakumar for the circulation of the videos.

HD Deve Gowda recently directed Prajwal Revanna to return to India and face probe into the allegations against him. He also asserted that his family would not interfere in the enquiry. He said his grandson must get the harshest punishment if found guilty.

Arun G, the lawyer of the suspended JD(S) leader, said he came to Bengaluru to extend his cooperation to the SIT probing the allegations. He also urged the masses to not subject him to a media trial.
Prajwal Revanna has been sent to 6-day SIT custody in the obscene video case for which the special investigation team sought the suspended JD(S) MP's custody for 14 days. Prajwal was arrested late last night from Bengaluru airport as he arrived in India to join the SIT investigation after being incommunicado for a month as the allegations against him, his father surfaced and snowballed into a major political storm. In this one month, he was suspended from the party, his father was arrested and then released on bail, and his grandfather former PM HD Deve Gowda made an appeal to him to come back to India and join the investigation. Prajwal Revanna sent to 6-day SIT custody in Karnataka sex scandal(PTI)

The ministry of external affairs initiated the process of revoking his diplomatic passport on which he went to Germany a day before the issue surfaced. Prajwal has been accused of sexually assaulting several women and recording them.

Prajwal Revanna case: Follow LIVE updates

In police custody, Prajwal's lawyers will be allowed to meet him for one hour in the morning.

The 33-year-old contested the Lok Sabha election from Hassan, the seat that he won in 2019.

Prajwal Revanna Arrested: A timeline of events in the last one month

Prajwal's advocate said he was extending full cooperation to the SIT probe the custody was not needed. Karnataka home minister G Parameshwara said the government has been appealing to more victims to come forward without any fear.

Prajwal Revanna landed around 12.40-12:50 am from Germany's Munich. As there was an arrest warrant against him, SIT accordingly arrested him and took him into custody and further legal procedures they will follow today,the home minister said, adding, ..naturally he should have cooperated to the arrest. His immigration papers were cleared and he was brought out (of airport). As he had a diplomatic passport, things happened easily. After completing all the due process, he was arrested.

The SIT deputed an all-woman police team to arrest Prajwal which was seen as a strong message to the rape-accused leader. Soon after he came out from the plane from Munich, he was received by women cops. During the procedure of executing the arrest warrant, he was flanked by the women police personnel who were led by two IPS officers, Suman D Pennekar and Seema Latkar.

From the airport, Prajwal was then taken in a jeep in which only women police were present. They took him to the CID office. "It was a conscious call to send women officers to arrest Prajwal, sending home a message that the JD(S) leader exploited his seat and power as an MP with women. The same women have authority to arrest him through all legal proceedings," a source in the SIT said. There was also a symbolic message to the alleged victims that women officers were not afraid of anyone, the source added.

Prajwal was later taken for medical examination under tight security where he was escorted by women cops. The SIT is also contemplating a potency test on Prajwal to ascertain if a rape accused is capable of committing sexual assault on victims.
Prajwal Revanna will be arrested upon landing in the state, Karnatakas home minister G Parameshwara said on Thursday, as reports indicated that the JD(S) leader, suspended from his party since allegations of sexual assault were made against him last month, was due to arrive from Germany early on Friday. Suspended JD(S) lawmaker Prajwal Revanna. (ANI)

Prajwal Revanna, the grandson of JD(S) patriarch HD Deve Gowda and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidate for the Hassan Lok Sabha seat where he is the incumbent, left for Germany on April 27, a day after polling was held and shortly after thousands of videos emerged of him with other women.

Some of the women have since gone on to accuse Prajwal of sexually assaulting them, and the state government headed by the ally-turned-rival Congress has now formed a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the allegations.

Parameshwara said the government is aware of a booking made by the MP on a Munich-Bengaluru Lufthansa flight that was due to arrive around 1:30am on Friday. The information is he (Prajwal) will come, he has booked the flight ticket. SIT has made the necessary preparations. If he comes, the legal process will begin, Parameshwara told reporters on Thursday.

Upon arrival, immigration officials will detain Prajwal due to an active lookout notice. As per law, a warrant has been issued against him, so he will have to be arrested, Parameshwara explained, noting that the SIT would execute the arrest.

Prajwal, in a video statement, mentioned he would present himself before the SIT at 10 am on May 31. He himself has said in the video statement that he will appear before SIT... So I feel that he will come... In case he doesnt, the process will follow, like cancelling his passport, Parameshwara added. Should Revanna fail to appear, further steps, including, Interpol involvement, may be pursued, the minister added.

Prajwals anticipatory bail application filed on Wednesday denies all allegations, claiming political motivation behind the accusations. The plea states, Prajwal has not done the alleged act in the complaint and neither has he committed any of the offences incorporated in the present case. The alleged electronic evidence are all fabricated to register a false case.

The application also mentions that Prajwal had a previously good relationship with the accuser (a political activist, who filed a case against him). Prajwal is shocked to hear the wild allegations made in the complaint, it reads, arguing that political growth and envy fuelled the charges.

Prajwal insists his departure from India was pre-planned and unrelated to the allegations. Prajwal, having participated in the election process on April 26, 2024, left the country as he had already planned. However, a smear campaign was orchestrated against Prajwal and his father, eventually resulting in the filing of false cases, the application claims.
In a new twist in the Pune Porsche accident case, two friends of the 17-year-old boy, who accidentally rammed a motorcycle killing two 24-year-old techies, have told the police that the accused was drunk at the time of the accident, NDTV reported, citing sources. The Porsche car was found without number plate in Pune. (PTI)

Two IT professionals -- Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta -- were flung into the air and landed on parked vehicles. One of them died on the spot whereas the other passed away during treatment. Both were from Madhya Pradesh.

The two friends were in the passenger seats of the supercar.

Meanwhile, an autorickshaw driver, who escaped the duo's fate by a whisker, told News18 that the three boys in the car were visibly drunk. Ameen told the channel that after the accident, they asked the crowd to not create an issue, and they would pay for damages immediately.

He said the car was speeding at over 200 kmph. He claimed one of the boys fled and later came back.

The police have claimed they were in possession of the CCTV footage showing the three boys drinking at two bars before the accident.

Hours after the accident, the accused boy was let off by the Juvenile Justice Board with the condition that he would write an essay on road safety. However, after an outcry across the nation, he was sent to a reform home till June 5.

The boy's father was later arrested for negligence. His grandfather was arrested for attempting to coerce their driver to take the blame for the accident. Now, his mother is also under the police's scanner.

Also read: Pune Porsche accident case gets murkier, teen's mother under scanner: 10 points

The police told a local court on Thursday that the boy's blood sample was swapped with that of an unidentified woman. They suspect that the woman could be his mother.

The police told PTI that the blood samples of all the occupants of the car tested negative.

"After the accident, the (Yerawada) police station had sent the juvenile, his two friends who were with him in the car and (family) driver to Sassoon General Hospital for giving blood samples. Of these samples, the juvenile's blood sample was swapped. Their (other three samples') results also came nil (no traces of alcohol were found)," an officer told the news agency.

We are probing how their results also came negative, he added.

The police have already arrested two doctors and a hospital employee for manipulating the blood sample of the boy, to create an impression that he wasn't drunk at the time of the accident.
Major Radhika Sen of India is a true leader and role model and her service is a true credit to the United Nations as a whole, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said, as he conferred a prestigious award on the Indian woman peacekeeper. Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guteress with Indian Army Major Radhika Sen (PTI)

Major Sen, who served with the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), received the prestigious 2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award from Guterres during a ceremony at the world body's headquarters on Thursday on the occasion of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

 Major Sen is a true leader and role model. Her service is a true credit to the United Nations as a whole. Please join me in congratulating Major Radhika Sen of India. I could not be prouder to confer her with the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award, Guterres said, as he presided over the Dag Hammarskjold medal and Military Gender Advocate of the Year ceremony.

Major Sen served in the East of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from March 2023 to April 2024 as the Commander of MONUSCOs Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion (INDRDB).

Guterres thanked Major Sen and all peacekeepers for their service, leadership, and commitment to the Women, Peace and Security agenda. He noted that as commander of the Indian contingents engagement platoon, Major Sen led her unit on countless patrols.

During these patrols, in an escalating conflict environment in North Kivu, her troops actively engaged with conflict-affected communities, including particularly women and girls, he said adding that She earned their trust. Doing so with humility, compassion, and dedication.

The UN chief said that Major Sen provided a safe and welcoming platform for women to share their ideas and concerns so that the Mission could better respond to their needs.

In her one-year deployment, Major Sen also served as gender focal point, and took on civil-military tasks  including vocational trainings for women and young people, he said, adding that she was also her battalions sexual exploitation and abuse focal point, undertaking important efforts to prevent misconduct.

Born in Himachal Pradesh in 1993, Major Sen joined the Indian Army eight years ago. She graduated as a biotech engineer and was pursuing her Master's degree from IIT Bombay when she decided to join the armed forces.

She was deployed to MONUSCO in March 2023 as the Engagement Platoon Commander with the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion and completed her tenure in April 2024.

Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix congratulated Major Sen for receiving the award, saying that during the years she served in MONUSCO, she always kept women at the centre of her work in line with the vision of resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. She protected civilians and supported efforts to end sexual exploitation and abuse.

"We really congratulate you. You make us and your country proud, he said.

Lauding her outstanding service in DR Congo, Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said that her dedication and bravery highlight the invaluable role of #women peacekeepers in building a better world. We are incredibly proud of her achievements and inspired by her commitment to peace and equality.

In her remarks at the ceremony, Major Sen said she is deeply honoured and humbled" to accept the award on behalf of her colleagues in MONUSCO and my home country, India.

Calling on the UN and member states to tap into the rich network created by the award, she expressed hope that one day a peacekeeper of another gender will be honoured with this prestigious award. Gender-sensitive peacekeeping is everyone's business, not just us, the women. Peace begins with all of us in our beautiful diversity, she said.

Serving as an engagement platoon commander in MONUSCO has been a privilege beyond measure. This award is special to me as it recognises the hard work put in by all the peacekeepers working in MONUSCOs challenging environment, she said, adding that the engagement team serves as the face of the contingent within the community, tirelessly striving to reach out to every segment of the DRC population.

She said that her team had the opportunity to engage with the communities on topics ranging from women's health, education, child care to gender equality, women employment and combating sexual violence in conflict, along with interactions on various skill development programmes to foster self-reliance.

"A gender perspective in UN peacekeeping is essential for effective, inclusive and sustainable peace process. Women and girls are disproportionately affected in conflict, facing increased risk and abuse. The need of the hour is to mainstream the women in nation-building, particularly in sectors of security and governance, she said.

Major Sen emphasised that we as peacekeepers should continue to address the needs of all those affected in the conflict and act as role models for the society to implement a gender-sensitive approach for lasting peace.

Major Sen is the second Indian peacekeeper to receive the prestigious award after Major Suman Gawani, who had served with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and was honoured in 2019.

Created in 2016, the United Nations 'Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award' recognises the dedication and efforts of an individual military peacekeeper in promoting the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

India is currently the 11th largest contributor of women military peacekeepers to the United Nations with 124 now deployed. India has traditionally been among the largest troop and police-contributing countries to UN peacekeeping missions.

On the occasion, 64 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers were honoured posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjold Medals for their supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.

Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who served with the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO) and lost his life serving under the UN flag, was honoured with the medal, which was received by Kamboj.

India is the second largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping. It currently deploys more than 6,000 military and police personnel to the UN operations in Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, the Middle East, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara. Nearly 180 Indian peacekeepers have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, the highest number by far from any troop-contributing country.
Ahmedabad: Union home minister Amit Shah on Friday convened a meeting with senior civic and police officials to address the aftermath of the TRP Game Zone fire tragedy in Gujarats Rajkot, which claimed 27 lives on May 25, people aware of the matter said. TRP Game Zone in Rajkot after a fire broke out on Saturday (Reuters Photo)

According to the people, the meeting took place during Shahs brief stop at Rajkot International Airport on Thursday afternoon before he proceeded to the Somnath Temple in Prabhas Patan, Veraval district, to offer prayers.

According to the people, Shah in the meeting reviewed the actions taken in response to the devastating fire. Those who attended the meeting included Rajkot Municipal Commissioner DP Desai, police commissioner Brajesh Kumar Jha, and district collector Prabhav Joshi.

Meanwhile, Town Planning Officer (TPO) Mansukh Sagathia, Assistant Town Planning Officers (ATPO) Mukesh Makwana and Gautam Joshi, and Fire Station Officer Rohit Vigora, who were arrested on Thursday by the Rajkot Crime Branch, were on Friday sent to a 12-day remand by a court.

The police investigation into the TRP Game Zone fire tragedy identified the culpability of these four Rajkot Municipal Corporation (RMC) officials. Subsequently, a police complaint was filed, leading to their arrests, said an official.

Investigations also revealed that the arcade was being operated without safety equipment or a clearance.

The RMC officials face charges of illegal omission, and their names will be added to the original complaint, which named six accused, including special public prosecutor Tushar Savani. Indian Penal Code Section 36, which addresses the offences caused partly by an act and partly by an omission, will be added to the charges, the official mentioned above told the court.

Savani in his argument told the court that on September 4, 2023, a fire was caused earlier too by welding activities in the TRP Game Zone. Despite a fire officer being present at the scene, no fire No Objection Certificate (NOC) was requested.

The devastating fire at the TRP Game Zone in Rajkots Nana-Mava locality on May 25 evening killed 27 people. Preliminary investigations revealed major safety lapses like the lack of a fire NOC and emergency exits at the facility where welding work was underway.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed to investigate the matter on May 30 questioned senior officials, including the recently transferred Police Commissioner Raju Bhargava, Additional CP Vidhi Chaudhary, DCP Sudhirkumar J Desai, suspended officers VR Patel and NI Rathod, and former Rajkot Municipal Commissioner Anand Patel.
A few legislators from the Sharad Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) want to merge with the Congress, according to Sunil Tatkare, the Maharashtra unit president of the Ajit Pawar-headed group of the NCP. Sunil Tatkare (Hindustan Times)

Five to six MLAs from NCP (Sharad Pawar) are trying to get in touch with the Congress leadership. This group wants to merge with the Congress, Tatkare told reporters on Friday.

His statement comes days after Sharad Pawar, who founded NCP in 1999  the party saw a vertical split in July last year into factions headed by Sharad and Ajit, the former's nephew  said in an interview that in the near future, several regional parties could merge in the Congress.

Also Read | NCP working with Congress since foundation: Sharad Pawar

The Maharashtra-based NCP came into existence after Sharad Pawar, PA Sangma, and Tariq Anwar, were expelled from the grand old party.

The Election Commission recognises the Ajit group as the real NCP.

Tatkare trying to please BJP: NCP (SP)

Responding to Tatkare's claim, NCP (SP) spokesperson Clyde Crasto stated that the former was trying to please the BJP.

He (Tatkare) knows that his party will not win a single Lok Sabha seat in the state. He is making such comments to stay relevant and to please the BJP, Crasto asserted.

The Ajit-led NCP governs Maharashtra in alliance with the BJP and chief minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena. NCP (SP), on the other hand, is member of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition with the Congress and Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray).

The Shiv Sena, too, had suffered a split, in June 2022, with Eknath Shinde rebelling against then Maharashtra chief minister Uddhav Thackeray, leading to collapse of the MVA regime. Shinde succeeded Thackeray as chief minister as well.

The Shinde camp is recognised as the real Shiv Sena by the Election Commission.

(With PTI inputs)
A Delhi court on Friday sent chief minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar to 14 days judicial custody in the Swati Maliwal alleged assault case.



Kumar was produced before Delhi's Tis Hazari court after his three-day police custody ended. His counsel Rajat Bharadwaj opposed the Delhi Police's petition seeking 14 days of police custody.



I am not going to interfere with the investigation.I had myself prayed to preserve the CCTV footage. I am myself trying to preserve the same so why would I tamper with evidence, Kumar said.



ALSO READ: Is Swati Maliwal resigning from AAP? Rajya Sabha MP opens up on next move Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwals aide Bibhav Kumar was arrested on May 18.(PTI file)

All the witnesses are government employees and I am not in any position to induce or threaten them and I have myself volunteered to appear before the agency to join the probe and I am not a flight risk, he added.



Earlier on Friday, the Delhi high court had reserved the order on the issue of maintainability of a plea by Kumar challenging his arrest. In his plea, Bibhav Kumar has sought a direction to declare his arrest as illegal and in gross violation of the provisions of Section 41A (notice of appearance before police officer) of the Code of Criminal Procedure and against the mandate of the law.



Bibhav Kumar was arrested on May 18 days after Aam Aadmi Party's Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal accused him of assaulting her at Kejriwal's residence on May 13.



Maliwal, in her complaint, alleged that Bibhav "slapped" her "at least seven to eight times" while she "continued screaming" and "brutally dragged" her while "kicking" her in her chest, stomach and pelvis area.



The FIR against Kumar was registered on May 16 under various Indian Penal Code provisions, including for criminal intimidation, assault or criminal force on a woman with the intent to disrobe her and attempt to commit culpable homicide.

Prior to his arrest, Bibhav Kumar had lodged a counter-complaint with the police, accusing Maliwal of gaining 'unauthorised entry' into the CM's Civil Lines residence and 'verbally abusing' him.
Hyderabad Amid criticism from Opposition, the Telangana government led by chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday decided to postpone its plans to unveil the new emblem of the state government and also the statue of Telangana Talli (Mother Telangana), an official release from the chief ministers office said. Telangana govt defers unveiling of new state emblem amid row

The decision was taken at a meeting of representatives of different political parties chaired by chief minister Reddy. Notably, representatives of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen skipped the meeting.

Initially, the state government had planned to unveil the new emblem, Telangana Talli statue and Telangana state anthem on June 2 as part of the Telangana formation day celebrations.

Revanth Reddy said his government had taken many initiatives as part of rebuilding of the state.

With regard to the new Telangana emblem, the chief minister said the government had already received around 500 samples from artists. All the designs are still under discussion and no design has been finalised yet, Reddy said.

He said a final decision had also not been taken regarding the Telangana Talli statue. The government will take a final decision on Telangana emblem and Telangana Talli statue only after discussion in the assembly. This would not give any scope to misconceptions and false propaganda, he said, adding, The government is preparing an action plan to uphold the Telangana prestige and inspire the future generations.

However, Revanth Reddy said the state anthem  Jaya Jayahe Telangana.. has been approved and it would be released on June 2.

There are two versions of the song  the complete version of the song is 13.30-minute-long and the shorter version is 2.30 minutes. The government is already making arrangements for marking the state formation day on a grand scale. The state song will be released during the celebrations, Reddy added.

Meanwhile, the opposition BRS on Thursday said it would hold protests against the Congress governments alleged move to remove Charminar and the Kakatiya arch from the state emblem.

BRS working president K T Rama Rao, who visited Charminar along with other party leaders, said Charminar is the identity of Hyderabad. We oppose the Congress governments attempt to remove Charminar and the Kakatiya arch from the official logo of Telangana, he said.
An Indian peacekeeper who lost his life serving under the UN flag is among the over 60 military, police and civilian peacekeepers honoured posthumously on Thursday with a prestigious medal here for their service and supreme sacrifice in the line of duty. Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador, Ruchira Kamboj, received the medal from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.(X/ ruchirakamboj)

Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who served with the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), was honoured posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjold medal during a solemn ceremony when the UN commemorated the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.

Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador, Ruchira Kamboj, received the medal from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

India is the second largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping.

It currently deploys more than 6,000 military and police personnel to the UN operations in Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, the Middle East, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara.

Nearly 180 Indian peacekeepers have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, the highest number from any troop-contributing country.

During formal ceremonies at the United Nations Headquarters on May 30, Secretary-General Guterres laid a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial Site on the North Lawn to honour all UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948.

He presided over a ceremony during which the Dag Hammarskjold Medals were awarded posthumously to 64 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers who lost their lives serving under the UN flag, including 61 who died last year.

In his message to mark Peacekeepers Day, Guterres said the world organisation pays tribute to the more than 76,000 United Nations peacekeepers who embody humanitys highest ideal: peace.

Day in and day out, at great personal risk, these women and men bravely work in some of the most dangerous and unstable places on earth to protect civilians, uphold human rights, support elections and strengthen institutions, he said, noting that more than 4,300 peacekeepers have paid the ultimate price while serving under the UN flag. We will never forget them.

In 1948, the historic decision was made to deploy military observers to the Middle East to supervise the implementation of Israel-Arab Armistice Agreements in what became the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation.
Bengaluru On May 19, an accounts superintendent with the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation (KMVSTDC) travelled 300 kilometres from Bengaluru, where he worked every day, to Shivamogga, which was home. At 5 pm two days later, when his family returned from an afternoon out, he was found dead in the room. BJP workers staged protest seeking resignation of Karnataka minister B Nagendra. (BJP Karnataka X handle)

The police arrived, and as they began investigating, they found a book near a television table which contained within it a purported suicide note; a note which detailed the alleged pressure he faced to facilitate the unauthorised transfer of transactions from the departments accounts under oral instructions from a ministers office; a note that has led to the unravelling of an alleged scam that saw fraudulent transactions worth 94.73 crore.

On Thursday, four days after he killed himself and blew the whistle, launching a political furore in the state, the Karnataka Police registered a criminal case under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servants, bankers, etc), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery), 468 (forgery for the purpose of cheating), 471 (fraudulently or dishonestly using as genuine any document which he knows or has reason to believe to be a forged document), and 149 (unlawful assembly with a common object) against eight officials of the Union Bank of India. No arrests have been made so far.

The Preliminary Investigations

Senior police officers investigating the case said that the six-page note that they recovered from the accounts superintendents home said that he was killing himself, and named three senior officials for the pressure that led to the steptwo members of the senior management of the KMVSTDC, and the bank manager of the MG Road branch of the Union Bank of India.

The note details that in March 2024, he was directed by his seniors to write a letter that sought the transfer of funds from the departments bank accounts at Union Bank of Indias Vasanth Nagar branch to the MG road branch. He named several specific transactions: 25 crore on March 4, 25 crore on March 6, 44 crore on March 21, and from the state treasury, 43.33 crore and 50 crore on May 21, 2024.

Senior police officers said that the note details pressure from the KMVSTDCs senior management to execute these transfers, despite some resistance from one bank manager who insisted on authorised personnel being present at the time. On May 21 then, the MD of the KMVSTDC then directed the accountant to write a cheque of 50 crore, and confidentially withdraw the amount from the MG Road bank account.

The accounts superintendent said in his note that when he went to the bank on May 21 to execute this transactions, he met resistance from the bank manager who insisted that either authorised personnel be present for the withdrawal of such a large amount, or a letter in writing be handed over. The note alleges that he spoke to the MD of the corporation on the phone, and in turn told the bank manager that he would return the next day with a letter. By the next day however, the note alleged, the amount had been withdrawn, and its records showed signatures of MD and the accounts superintendent.

The note says that after this episode, they filed a complaint with the regional head of the Union Bank of India G Mahesh, but the MD of the corporation allegedly spoke to staff of the minister, who assured them that they would take correctional action, and later claimed that 5 crore was returned. It appears that around 80 crore to 85 crore grants of ST Welfare have been swindled illegally, the note said.

On Wednesday, as accounts superintendents suicide gained political attention, the corporations general manager R Rajshekar complained to the High Grounds Police on Wednesday, alleging fraudulent transactions by bank officials. A first information report (FIR) was then registered against the Union Bank of Indias MD and CEO, A Manimekhalai, and seven other employees of the bank.

THE POLICE FIR

In the complaint filed on May 28, based on which the FIR was registered, A Rajashekar, the General Manager of the Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation (KMVSTDC) alleged severe fraudulent activities involving the top management of the Union Bank of India, MG Road branch and other third parties which have caused substantial financial and reputational damage.

According to the FIR, the KMVSTDCs account was transferred to the Union Bank of Indias MG Road branch from Vasanth Nagar on February 21. On February 26, 2024, bank officials obtained signatures from the corporations Managing Director and account officers to manage the account, the FIR reads.

The FIR says that between March 4 and May 21, 2021, various sums totaling 185.33 crore was credited to the corporations MG Road account from different banks and the state treasury. On May 22, 2024, corporation officials visited the bank to request chequebooks, passbooks, and records related to the corporations account. The bank claimed these documents had been sent to the corporations address, which was false. Bank officials forged signatures on documents, including RTGS forms and board resolutions, to illegally transfer funds, the complaint says.

A senior officer of the Criminal Investigation Department that is probing the case said that a review of the corporations accounts thus far show unauthorised transfers totalling 94.73 crore. There were also suggestions that the accused used provisions of the Election Commissions Model Code of Conduct, in force since March 17 when general elections were announced, to their advantage. The bank did not send any email notifications or send messages to any mobile numbers related to these transactions, leaving the corporation uninformed about the transfers. We are investigating whether this was due to the Model Code of Conduct(in place since March 17) as they have claimed, or if there was someone from the corporation that was involved in this, the officer said.

The Political Fallout

On Tuesday, Scheduled Tribes Welfare Minister B Nagendra said that 28 crore has been recovered. We have spoken to the chairman and directors of the Union Bank of India, and everyone has said that they will refund 50 crore by Tuesday evening, the minister had said.

Whoever is involved in it and however influential they are, we will not spare them. Chief minister Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar have taken it seriously. If the forensic report says that the MD had signed off on it, then we will suspend him. We will not let the leakage of public money happen, the minister said.

Karnataka BJP president BY Vijayendra, however, demanded the resignation of Nagendra and a CBI investigation, threatening statewide protests if the demand was not met within a week. It is impossible for CID or local authorities to investigate the case impartially. Officials have taken the pen drive and laptop from the house of the deceased, he said.

Expelled BJP veteran and former deputy CM KS Eshwarappa, who was forced to quit as minister in the previous BJP govt following a similar incident, said Nagendra should be sacked from the cabinet. Eshwarappa had to tender his resignation to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai after contractor Santosh Patil ended his life alleging the minister had sought kickbacks. Why these double standards now? said Eshwarappa.

Home minister G Parameshwara, however, said investigating officials will probe all aspects, including, if the money was transferred with the ministers knowledge.
Eleanor Sangma, 28, recalls how she and friends would fold the leaves from a jackfruit tree into windmills, birds, boats and bulls. She used this memory to fuel a storybook called The Bull Comes Home, illustrated by Arak Sangma, for The Forgotten Folklore Project (TFFP) by the Sauramandala Foundation.

In Meghalaya, TFFP has been collecting stories and trying to capture a way of life that is fast disappearing. Research assistants trek across the states three main regions  the Garo, Jaintia and Khasi hills  in search of stories they can translate, and add to books that are distributed at schools across the state, aimed at children aged three to eight.

We found that early childhood development texts for children had no context or relevance to their lived experience, says Nazarene Jyrwa, 26, a research assistant on the project, from the Khasi hills. Even in the rural areas, children were learning nursery rhymes such as Twinkle, Twinkle and London Bridge. There were no contextualised stories from the state.

The story Leech, written by Lanu Tsudir and illustrated by Imlijungshi Ltr, is a Khasi fable about a lazy boy who sends his eyes out to watch over his field, while he sleeps through the day.

Over a few months, starting in October 2022, research assistants like Jyrwa met and spoke to elders in communities spread across the three regions. They brought back stories from the hills and collated them into 45 illustrated childrens books that capture folklore, beliefs and customs.

These stories were then commissioned to writers and illustrators, and digitally published in four languages  English, Garo, Pnar and Khasi  on the online StoryWeaver platform, where they can be accessed free.

The fist story they put together was the Ilaris Jainsem, written and illustrated by Samanda N Pyngrope, about a girl named Ilari who learns to drape the traditional Jainsem, the traditional attire of the tribes of the Khasi hills.

Ambis Little Things, which is one of five stories written for the project by Eleanor Sangma, is about introducing the idea of death to young readers, partly by explaining the rituals that help communities accept death as part of the circle of life.

A storytelling session with children at the Hills Festival in Meghalaya. Seeing how the children were intrigued, we felt like we had accomplished something, says Nazarene Jyrwa, 26, a research assistant on The Forgotten Folklore Project.

Melody March, also written for the project by Eleanor, explores the musical instruments from the Garo hills, including the wind instruments illep and otekra, string instruments dotrong and sarenda and percussion instrument dama.

When we took this story, Bans Journey in Music, to a village in Wahkhen, the children were very intrigued, Jyrwa says. Seeing that, we felt like we had accomplished something. We werent just extracting all this knowledge from the communities, we were also giving it back.
It is not the magic of the fairytales and childrens rhymes, but its there all the same: the more science attempts to unravel the world of fungi (those fleshy living things that are famously neither plant nor animal), the wilder the details become.

Mycelium, the networks of fine thread-like root structures that power these species, is now believed to powerfully influence forests. The enzymes and organic acids they produce, including cellulase and amylase, can metabolise substances ranging from radioactive waste to acids containing gold.

And this barely scratches the surface.

Take, for instance, the numbers: Only between 0.5% and 5% of fungus species in the world have been described. Of these 150,000 known species, some are microscopic and airborne and live in and on humans (including on the scalp and skin, where they subsist on keratin without harming living tissue); others are aquatic (Halophytophthora) and live in the oceans. Even the ones we forage for and add, sauteed, to a meal, arent really understood.

Mushrooms are the portion of a fungus generally visible to us. They are essentially the fruiting bodies or reproductive structures of certain fungi, says environmental microbiologist Shrey Gupta, who works to preserve local fungi in India.

One thing humans did figure out, early on, was that mushrooms could hold magic of a different kind. Fungi have been used as mood elevators for centuries. Mayan stone sculptures in Guatemala dating to about 500 BCE show bulbous mushrooms with faces engraved on them. The stones were likely associated with rituals involving hallucinogenic fungi and fertility rites. In Spain, the Selva Pascuala mural dating to 4000 BCE depicts fungoid figures believed to represent mood-enhancers too.

Today, the focus is shifting. Science is attempting to understand, for instance, what makes the world of fungi so diverse.

Part of the reason there is such diversity, says M Sudhakara Reddy, a professor of biotechnology at Thapar University in Patiala and secretary of the Mycological Society of India, is that fungi are able to thrive in the most inhospitable environments. They are extremely adaptive. They can break down complex organic molecules, detoxify toxic metals such as cadmium, copper and cobalt by releasing enzymes and metal-binding proteins that reduce their toxicity. The fungi then simply feed on the sugars and nutrients created as a by-product.

With advances in molecular biology, such properties are being isolated and put to new uses.

Some fungi are being used to help create new-age biodegradable electronic circuitry (think of a circuit board base that one can simply drop out of a window, to melt into the soil in 11 days); treat acute depression (psilocybin, one of the compounds that makes some mushrooms psychotropic, is finding medical applications); help grapevines fight rising temperatures (by reaching further for water than their roots can, and passing on the moisture); and even create nanoparticles that help with drug delivery and medical imaging.

From their role in carbon sequestration and soil regeneration to their potential in providing sustainable materials and alternative protein sources, they have the potential to help foster resilience in our ecosystems, says Gupta.

It is their ability to draw harmful pollutants from air, water and soil that excites him most, he adds. Research on the use of mycelium for biodegradable packaging and construction materials, and research into their medicinal properties, is crucial. But alongside these, what also excites me is helping demystify fungi, he says.

In that spirit, lets return to why fungi are neither a plant nor animal.

They were, in fact classified as the former, until the mid-20th century (since many grow in soil, have cell walls and are immobile). But in truth, fungi have cell walls like plants do (animals have cell membranes), but cannot perform photosynthesis and cannot create their own food, which means they are not technically plants. They are not technically animals because of the aforementioned cell wall, and because while animals ingest their food, fungi absorb their nutrition.

All of which leaves fungi with some unique traits. They have the ability to secrete enzymes to make a meal out of surrounding matter; they can absorb nutrients and pass them on to host plants. These unusual qualities are now being leveraged in new innovations. Take a look.

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Mushroom circuit boards

The mycelium circuit board decomposes in compost in 11 days. (Soft Matter Physics Division, Johannes Kepler University)

It looked like a fluffy mat. It smelled funny, and seemed as if it would peel off, like a skin.

Researchers at Austrias Johannes Kepler University were peering at the growth of a dense network of fibres that had sprouted atop moist birchwood shavings. They had inoculated the shavings with the fungi Ganoderma lucidum a few weeks earlier, while researching mushroom-based thermal insulation materials.

When we peeled off the mat-like skin, it appeared hardy but bendy. We wondered, could it be used in flexible electronic circuit boards? says Martin Kaltenbrunner, professor in the physics department at the university, and head of the LIT Soft Materials Lab and Soft Matter Physics.

If that seems like an odd leap, well, soft, flexible electronics for use in wearable devices (such as health monitors and radio-frequency identification or RFID tags) are a key focus area for Kaltenbrunner and his team. A dream often discussed in their lab has involved the hope that they would one day find a biodegradable material to replace the polymers and paper currently in use in these bendy circuit boards.

Now that they had this mushroom to assist, Kaltenbrunner roped in researchers from the universitys Institute of Polymer Science, and together they used the mycelium skin as the base of the worlds first mushroom-based flexible electronic circuit board.

That was in 2021. Their paper on it was published in the journal Science Advances in November 2022. The biodegradable board has so far been used to power a sensor. And the lab has numerous other reasons to be celebrate.

Martin Kaltenbrunner (Soft Matter Physics Division, Johannes Kepler University)

First, their board breaks down completely in about 11 days. And it does not require the processing and vast quantities of water needed to make both polymers and paper.

Growing the fungi is neither cost- nor energy-intensive. It doesnt take very long (the mycelium matures in friendly lab conditions, in about four weeks). And the mushroom in question sprouts quite happily on waste from the timber industry.

The mycelium skin can withstand temperatures exceeding 200 degrees Celsius. So, its stable and doesnt catch fire, Kaltenbrunner says.

The team now aims to achieve a first phase of scaling up, in collaboration with private companies. Well also be looking into making the mycelium skin more compatible with more standard printed circuit-board techniques. Were in touch with manufacturers in Austria, Kaltenbrunner says.

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Chatter in the undergrowth

Electrodes attached to six mushrooms in a forest in Japan helped the scientists tune into their electric chatter. (Yu Fukasawa)

There are scientists who argue that, if the forest is a super organism, the fungal connections that serve as essential carriers of nutrients and information, could be considered a wood-wide web.

Thats a rather awkward allusion, and one that does a disservice to fungi, fungal biologist Nicholas P Money of Miami University has said.

Fungi are, after all, constantly learning, sensing, making decisions. This rich behavioral repertoire allows (them) to adapt in real time to changes in environmental circumstances. Our internet shows none of this inherent flexibility. It is a network of pathways that generates nothing on its own, he wrote, in a 2021 essay in the journal Fungal Biology.

Research indicates that the spore-producing organisms do also communicate in some form, as they grow, heal and respond to chemicals and changes in the air, soil, water and in plants. This communication manifests as underground electrical and chemical impulses within mycelium networks.

Until as recently as last year, however, research on these signals was limited to studies performed on fungi grown in the lab. In a new study conducted on fungi in situ, on a forest floor in Japan, researchers at Tohoku University, Nagaoka College and Kyoto University collected data on underground electric chatter in the wild.

Their study, published in the journal Fungal Ecology last year, was based on a three-day experiment that involved attaching electrodes to six mushrooms of the species Laccaria bicolor.

Initially, the attached electrodes exhibited few electric spikes. Then it rained, and the signals started to fluctuate and grow in intensity. This signalling was particularly strong between mushrooms that were spatially close, and it demonstrated directionality, says forest ecologist Yu Fukasawa of Tohoku University, lead author of the paper.

The next step would be to study these impulses further and determine impact, such as whether they alter the physiology of mycelial cells, and to study whether communication leaves the mushroom community and is transmitted to nearby flora. This is one of the goals of our research, Fukasawa says.

Under lab conditions, research has shown that some fungi appear to emit information about events such as an insect attack, prompting the release of defensive compounds in plants.

Scientific work in this field is hindered by the complexity of the fungal system, Fukasawa says. Mycelial networks are intricate and complex, existing in a dynamic and often inaccessible environment  the soil. This complexity makes controlled experiments difficult and the interpretation of results potentially confounding, he adds.

It doesnt help that funding is limited. The study of electrical signalling in mycelial networks, while fascinating, Fukasawa says, is somewhat esoteric and its practical applications are not yet fully understood.

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Spinning gold

Termitomyces heimii, the mushroom that grows on termite hills in Goa. (Wikimedia Commons)

Mushrooms are being used in a Rumpelstiltskin-like manner, to churn out gold nanoparticles, in experiments conducted in Goa.

Now, fungi have been used to turn chloroauric acid into gold nanoparticles since the 1990s. But researchers at the University of Goa have shown that a type of mushroom that grows widely on termite hills in that state (Termitomyces heimii) can revolutionise how this is done, allowing a single mushroom to yield far more of the particles, far more easily.

Their study was published in the journal Geomicrobiology in February.

First, a look at why this matters. Gold nanoparticles are in great demand in biomedicine and biotechnology, because they have the ability to slip through barriers such as cell membranes. In doing so, they have revolutionised drug delivery. The nanoparticles also absorb and scatter light in unique ways, and have enhanced thermal conductivity, which makes them vital in cutting-edge diagnostic machines and tests.

Their antifungal and antibacterial properties make them useful in luxury cosmetics as well, where they feature in creams, lotions, hair products, lipsticks and deodorants.

These nanoparticles were once synthesised using complex and expensive chemical processes. Then it was found that a wide range of mushrooms, easily and inexpensively available, could secrete enzymes that break down gold ions to produce nanoparticles. This made the process more sustainable, and in addition, the nanoparticles turned out better: more stable, with a longer shelf life and increased effectiveness.

Gold nanoparticles are in great demand in biomedicine and biotechnology. (Shutterstock)

Now, Sujata Dabolkar and Nandkumar M Kamat of the Goa University have taken another step forward, using pellets made from isolated cultures drawn from a single Termitomyces heimii shroom, rather than extracts from several mushrooms.

While they work, they neednt look far for a snack. Known locally as roen olmi (Konkani for termite-hill mushroom), the mushroom is a prized delicacy in Goa too.

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Grape expectations

The little white specks in Voelkers vineyard. These are the mushrooms of the mycorrhizal fungi. (2NaturKinder)

About six years ago, vineyard owner Michael Voelker began noticing specks of white in the soil of his 7.5-hectare vineyard in Franken, Germany. The earth seemed crumblier, wetter, with a darker hue. It smelled like a forest after the rain.

The mycorrhizal fungi had shown up, he says.

About three years before this, Voelker began experimenting with good soil practices. He stopped tilling, to begin with. He introduced compost that contained extracts of fermented deadwood forest soil.

He wanted his familys vineyard to be as healthy as it could be; as it turned out, he also took a step towards making it more heat-resistant, just as average temperatures were beginning to rise in the region.

Heres how it works: Voelker s family has co-owned the 2NaturKinder winery for 181 years. He currently runs it with his wife Melanie Drese. And until recently, the vines were able to fend for themselves.

Now, particularly in summer, as groundwater levels dwindle, the vines thick, woody roots are unable to reach the available water. This is where the white dots come in. They are the mushrooms of mycorrhizal fungi, which form symbiotic relationship with host plants  drawing carbon and nutrients from the plant, and in exchange, using its strand-like network of hyphae to transmit water (among other things, including nutrients) back to the host.

Experiments along these lines are also being conducted in Chile, where the Vitis vinifera (or common grape vine) is of great economic importance.

Michael Voelker and Melanie Drese who run the 2NaturKinder winery in Germany. (2NaturKinder)

Tilling frequently destroys mycorrhiza. When we stopped doing it, the soil loosened up, earthworms showed up, and then the fungi did, Voelker says.

Voelker swears that even his wine has improved. There are increased amino acids in the juice, which contribute to healthier fermentation. The wines are more complex and richer in flavour. This happens when the roots pick up more nutrition from the soil, which happens when the soil is alive, he says.

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A new high, a fresh start

A model demonstrates a psilocybin dosing session. (Sunstone Therapies)

In many ways, cancer treatment is like an iceberg. The tip is the chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. What lies beneath, often unseen, is a mountain of anxiety, depression and fear.

In his two-decade-long practice, Washington-based oncologist Dr Manish Agrawal realised that although cancer patients live much longer today, often remaining in remission, many were not recovering emotionally from their diagnosis and its implications.

The quality of life degrades and theres that nagging, crippling fear around death and losing control. Because of this, after a point, I started to feel burnt out, because I felt I was not able to really help my patients retake control of their lives, he says.

According to a study based on Japanese health-insurance claims data, published in the journal Psycho-Oncology in 2020, up to 15% of cancer patients are diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD).

This is where psilocybin  the psychoactive compound found in certain mushrooms  comes in. The naturally occurring compound activates a sub-family of serotonin receptors, to bring about non-ordinary states of consciousness.

Mushroom stones from Guatemala, dating to about 500 BCE. (Guatemala, American Antiquity, 1961)

In clinical trials conducted in recent years, psilocybin-assisted therapy (PAT) had shown to be effective in addressing MDD, but it drove the cost of therapy up and was largely considered unfeasible. Now, Dr Agrawal, along with researchers from a range of institutes, including Harvard Medical School, McGill University and University of Geneva, have begun testing psilocybin-assisted group therapy instead.

The results of their phase two trials, conducted between 2020 and 2021, were published in the journal Cancer. In the study, 30 participants (nine men and 21 women; 14 of them with curable cancers and 16 with non-curable cancers) were administered a 25 mg dose of synthesised psilocybin orally once during an eight-week period, and then proceeded with group therapy and one-on-one sessions with a therapist.

About 50% of the patients showed a full remission of their depressive symptoms after the eight-week treatment, as measured by the MontgomeryAsberg Depression Rating Scale (which looks for apparent sadness, inner tension, reduced appetite, difficulty concentration, inability to feel emotions, pessimistic thoughts and suicidal thoughts, among others).

My theory is it disrupts habit. Psilocybin has an afterglow period of enhanced neuroplasticity for up to 30 days, and this gives us a critical window, for new learning and to change how we think and behave, says Dr Ron Shore, a psychedelics research scientist and assistant professor of psychiatry at Queens University in Kingston, Canada.

A big aspect of this trial was not just the taking of psilocybin, administered as a pill, but also sustained group psychological support, Dr Agrawal adds. A lot of grief, hidden memories, sadness and other feelings tend to come up. The perspectives one walks away with are then discussed in follow-up therapy sessions, and typically help to work through MDD.

Phases three and four will involve randomised trials (psilocybin versus a placebo) and two doses of the synthesised psilocybin, rather than one. After that, it will be time to apply to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for permission to commercially roll out the therapy.

Cancer treatment research tends to focus more on the physical. But the psycho-spiritual state of patients is also important, Dr Agrawal says. Imagine going through life plagued by death dread and depression. The hope is that, in the long run, psilocybin will help us overcome that.
Simeon Pratt (@SimeonPratt): Pratt is a Chicago-based photographer and cinematographer. His drone shots: Container ships breaking ice as they glide through frigid seas, lone towers piercing clouds, cliffs at sunrise, roofs of European towns, focus on a stillness that only comes from being distant from your subject. His photographs, despite their grand scale, are meditative, playing with light and a hint of surrealism.

Simeon Pratts photos seem intimate despite the scale. (INSTAGRAM/@SIMEONPRATT)
The Global Day of Parents is observed on June 1 every year. The United Nations General Assembly established this day to express international awareness about the importance of parenthood and to promote the healthy development of children by their parents. This is an important opportunity to reflect on the importance of parenthood and promote the healthy development of children. It is also a day to raise awareness about the challenges faced by parents and to highlight the need for support and resources. This day encourages us to express gratitude to our parents, recognising their role as our first teachers and nurturers and also emphasises the importance of a healthy parent-child relationship based on trust and respect. The Global Day of parents, observed annually on June 1, celebrates the importance of parents worldwide.(Freepik)

To make this occasion even more special, here is our collection of best wishes, heartfelt images, messages and greetings that you can share on Facebook, WhatsApp and other social media platforms with your loved ones.

Global Day of Parents 2024 Wishes, Images and Messages

To all the amazing parents out there, Happy Global Day of Parents! Your dedication and care shape the future of our world. We honour and thank you.

Happy Global Day of Parents! Thank you for your unwavering love, support, and guidance. You are the true heroes in our lives.

The Global Day of Parents, observed on June 1, honours the vital role of parents in nurturing and guiding children.(Freepik)

Happy Global Day of Parents! Your guidance and nurturing provide the foundation for a brighter tomorrow. Today, we celebrate you and all that you do.

Wishing a very Happy Global Day of Parents to you. We are truly fortunate to have you like parents who love us beyond all the conditions and reasons.

This day recognises the lifelong commitment and sacrifices made by parents for their children. (Freepik)

Wishing all parents a joyful Global Day of Parents! Your unwavering love and commitment make the world a better place. Thank you for everything.

Cheers to all those who are on the lifelong duty of being parents. Warm wishes on Global Day of Parents to you. You are doing a wonderful job.

This day celebrates parental love, dedication, and support in shaping future generations.(Freepik)

To the best parents in the world, Happy Global Day of Parents! Your sacrifices and hard work do not go unnoticed. We cherish and honor you today and always.

Happy Global Day of Parents to you. It is the result of your hard work and commitment towards your kids that makes you so amazing.

This day promotes respect for parents and acknowledges their influence on individual development and society. (Freepik)

Wishing a joyous Global Day of Parents to all the wonderful moms and dads! Your strength and kindness make the world a better place for your children and everyone around you.

Lets take a moment to be grateful to our parents. They are the reasons why we breathe. Happy Global Day of Parents!

The Global Day of Parents encourages families to strengthen bonds and foster positive relationships.(Freepik)

On this Global Day of Parents, we honor the superheroes in our lives. Your endless love and support shape our dreams and futures. Thank you for being amazing parents.

It is not possible to list all the things you have sacrificed in order to keep me happy. Thank you for everything. Wishing Happy Global Day of Parents!
Bullying may refer to any action done to someone which might arouse in them fear, agony, anguish and anxiety where the fear of this untoward action takes hold of ones mind so firmly that a child may even refrain from disclosing it completely. In a classroom, a teacher happens to be the nearest individual to the children and it is they who can help the growing minds overcome the post-bullying trauma through simplest ways. 12 tips for teachers to help young minds overcome trauma, post-bullying experiences (Image by gpointstudio on Freepik)

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Vijay Kumar Agarwal, Founder and CEO at Makoons Play School, shared the drill for helping children overcome post-bullying trauma -

Becoming Their Counsellor: A teacher is also their students counsellor. If a child comes up to them telling about their experiences of having been bullied by someone, they must pay attention to it, and also guide them with the right suggestions using which they might cope from the trauma. Promoting Cooperative Support: Teachers and parents must always reassure relentless support to kids, especially in terms of bullying. This allows the kids to remain confident of the fact that they have a dual supportive system behind them which would not allow the post-bullying trauma to persist for long. Taking The Kids For Adventure/Outing: A change of environment convincingly facilitates the restoration of mental well being. Institutions must take their kids, especially those dealing with post-bullying trauma, for an adventure trip as this would cause them to explore newer things, and forget the bad old memories. Maintaining Discipline In The School: This might not directly help in coping from post-bullying trauma, but it can certainly avoid the future occurrence of such incidents. This would help other kids in not having to have the experience of being bullied by someone inside the school premises.

If teachers, parents and the whole society pioneer together in eradicating this act of bullying children, the day would not be far when children would not have to suffer from these traumatic episodes. Bringing her expertise to the same, Dr Sachu Ramalingam, Lead of Centre of Well-Being at Lighthouse Learning, revealed, In the aftermath of bullying experiences, the emotional scars left on young minds can be profound, impacting their academic performance and overall well-being. As educators, we have a responsibility to provide a nurturing environment and guide students through their journey of healing and resilience.

Here are key strategies for teachers to assist young minds in overcoming trauma post-bullying experiences -

Establish a Safe Environment: Creating a classroom culture of empathy and inclusivity goes beyond mere words. It involves actively promoting respect for diversity, addressing instances of discrimination promptly, and fostering a sense of belonging for every student. Active Listening: Developing strong listening skills is essential for detecting signs of trauma in students. Beyond simply hearing their words, teachers must pay attention to body language, tone of voice, and subtle cues that indicate distress. Validating students' feelings and experiences without judgment is crucial for building trust and fostering open communication channels. Personalised Support: Recognising that every student's journey to healing is unique, teachers should offer personalised support tailored to individual needs. This might involve providing access to counselling services, facilitating peer support groups, or implementing personalised learning plans that accommodate emotional well-being alongside academic goals. Trauma-Informed Practices: Integrating trauma-informed practices into the curriculum can help create a supportive learning environment. Teachers can incorporate mindfulness exercises, resilience-building activities, and literature that explores themes of overcoming adversity. By addressing trauma head-on in the classroom, educators empower students with coping mechanisms and self-regulation skills that are essential for their long-term well-being. Schools have to look at allocating dedicated at least one period in a week to socio emotional learning lessons. Cultivate Belonging: Building a sense of belonging within the classroom community is paramount for students recovering from bullying trauma. Teachers can facilitate team-building activities, encourage collaboration, and celebrate individual strengths to foster a supportive peer network. Additionally, creating opportunities for students to contribute positively to their community helps rebuild their confidence and sense of agency. Cultivate sensitive communication: It is crucial to build a culture of sensitive communication, especially in today's world where online interactions often involve roasting, trolling, and sarcasm, frequently mixed with cuss words and foul language. While kids might seem to take this lightly and act as if they are unaffected, it can be harmful. Teachers need to proactively promote a gentler and more respectful way of communicating in schools. Finally, collaboration with parents and school counsellors is vital. By sharing observations and concerns, we can create a holistic support system that addresses the needs of the student beyond the classroom.

Educators play a pivotal role in identifying and intervening in bullying situations but our impact extends far beyond that. Together, we can nurture resilience and pave the way for a brighter future for all students.
A Japanese town will replace a barrier mounted to deter unruly tourists from taking photos of Mount Fuji after holes were poked in the mesh screen, local media reported Thursday. Mt. Fuji is seen through a hole on a black screen installed across from a convenience store in Fujikawaguchiko town, Yamanashi prefecture, central Japan. The town that erected the huge black screen last week in an attempt to stop tourists from snapping photos of Mount Fuji and overcrowding the area has discovered holes in the screen and is working to repair them, officials said Tuesday. (Photo by Kyodo News via AP)

The barrier was put up last week in a popular viewing spot in the town of Fujikawaguchiko, where residents had complained about streams of mostly foreign visitors littering, trespassing and breaking traffic rules.

But at least 10 small holes have already been spotted in the black netting, measuring 2.5 by 20 metres (eight by 65 feet), hung outside a convenience store behind which the mountain can be seen rising in the distance.

The new barrier will be made of stronger material and possibly changed to a lighter colour such as blue or green, Kyodo News and other local media reported.

Mayor Hideyuki Watanabe told reporters he "hopes to change the barrier as soon as possible" before the summer holiday season, according to the Asahi Shimbun daily.

Record numbers of overseas tourists are coming to Japan, where monthly visitors exceeded three million for the first time in March and then again in April.

But as in other tourist hotspots, such as Venice which recently launched a trial of entry fees for day visitors, the influx has not been universally welcomed.

In Japan's ancient capital of Kyoto, locals have complained of tourists harassing the city's famed geisha.

And hikers using the most popular route to climb Mount Fuji this summer will be charged 2,000 yen ($13) each, with entries capped at 4,000 to ease congestion.
Richard Attenborough, the director of the film Gandhi (1982) begins his book, In Search of Gandhi (1982), with the words, I carried Panditji  as I eventually came to know him  home in my arms. What he meant was his carrying the historic bust of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indias first Prime Minister (PM), sculpted by his favourite artist, Jacob Epstein. The 1948 bust was cast in bronze. But my story begins with a film that would have celebrated its centenary this year.

The idea of a film about Gandhi was not new even in the 1920s, underlining the fact that the world knew his unique persona and his way of fighting colonial slavery even then. One hundred years ago, the British government approached one of the most influential figures in the history of motion picture, DW Griffith, to do a film on Gandhi. Gandhis utter civility of non-violence had scared the brutally weaponised British colonialists and they wanted to pull Griffiths powers to counter the force through propaganda. It was the same Griffith who had already made a name through his racist film The Birth of a Nation in 1915, which had glorified the dreadful Ku Klux Klan, the American hate organisation that employed terror in pursuit of its white supremacist agenda. The British needed Griffith. Gandhi walked alone, fearless. Interestingly, the timelines of Gandhis life and the growth of motion picture move on almost parallel tracks, though the man himself was averse to cinema. He saw the film Ram Rajya (1943) at Sumatiben Morarjees Juhu bungalow in Mumbai when he was 74 years old!

The popularity of Gandhi and his path of non-violent satyagraha (firm adherence to truth) captured popular imagination not only in India but also across the world. The panic of the British became known when they banned the 1921 Indian silent film, Bhakta Vidur (aka Dharma Vijay), a subversive political allegory directed by Indias first Dalit director, Kanjibbhai Rathod, and produced by the Kohinoor Film Company whose owners Dwarkadas Sampat and Maneklal Patel played the lead roles, respectively, of Vidura and Krishna. The story was written by Mohanlal G Dave, Indian silent cinemas first scenarist to get his name above the title. The film was partially made against the draconian Rowlatt Act of 1919, passed by the British government to increase their grip on power over the common citizenry in India. It gave them the power to arrest any person without a trial. When Gandhi went on satyagraha against the Act, it was called the Rowlatt Satyagraha. Bhakta Vidur was the first Gandhian film banned by the British in several parts of India. In Mumbai, at Majestic Cinema, where the film was released, the police had resorted to lathi charge.

Yet another allegorical film was the silent Khuda ki Shaan aka Wrath (1931), produced by the Imperial Film Company that had produced Indias first sound film, Alam Ara, the same year. Directed by RS Choudhury, Wrath dealt with religious bigotry and the caste system. Baba Garibdas, played by the Parsi actor Cowasji Makanda, bore a remarkable physical resemblance to Gandhi, to whom caste and creed were artificial barriers created by vested interests. Leading studios were also releasing documentaries showing the Gandhian nationalist movement across the country, such as March for Freedom, Topical of Mahatma Gandhi and Others, Bombay Welcomes Mahatma Gandhi, et al. No wonder the colonial rulers thought of countering Gandhi through Griffith way back in 1923.

A full-length documentary, Mahatma Gandhi, was collected and edited by AK Chettiar under the technical directorship of PV Pathy, and was produced and distributed by Documentary Films Ltd., Madras. Its advertisement said, Full Length Picture in Tamil: The first and only film showing the Movements and Activities of Gandhiji. (Talk-a-Tone, September 1940). Widespread exhibition of all this filmic documentation in support of Gandhian anti-colonial struggles had sent signals to the British.

Hungarian Gabriel Pascal had proposed a film, The Life of Gandhi, in 1953, but it remained unrealised. Among several other abandoned films on or about Mahatma Gandhi, the one that needs our attention was by David Lean, who had gained official support from the Indian government after meeting Nehru and his daughter, Indira Gandhi, in 1958. In a nutshell, Gandhi was all over the world media, including cinema, right from the early 1920s to the 1980s, before Attenborough made his film. The British director had committed himself to promoting those eternal values of tolerance, non-violence, humanitarian harmony and peace (In Search of Gandhi).

Incidentally, Pascal was the first film producer to successfully bring the plays of George Bernard Shaw to the screen. In his autobiography, Roses in December, MC Chagla writes about then PM Lal Bahadur Shastri viewing My Fair Lady (adapting George Bernard Shaws play, Pygmalion) in a Delhi cinema house. Shastri had fallen in love with the film. Shaw met Gandhi in London, in 1931. The same year, Charlie Chaplin also met Gandhi.

With his unique sense of humour, Gandhi enjoyed cartoons lampooning him. Kladderadatsch, a popular satirical journal founded in Berlin in 1848, often published cartoons depicting Gandhi and India between 1920s and 1940s. Gandhi had a hearty laugh  both toothy and toothless. The world heard it. MK Gandhis ability to laugh at himself had endeared him to the world at large, among both friends and foes. Gandhi is a timeless globality.

Amrit Gangar is a Mumbai-based author, curator and historian. The views expressed are personal
China's deeply indebted property giant Evergrande has been fined $576 million for fraudulent business practices, Beijing's financial regulatory body said on May 31. China real estate crisis: China's deeply indebted property giant Evergrande has been fined $576 million for fraudulent business practices, Beijing's financial regulatory body said on May 31.(AP)

"Between 2019 and 2020, Evergrande Real Estate falsely increased its revenue and profit by prematurely recognising revenue, resulting in the fraudulent issuance of bonds publicly offered on the exchange market," the China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) said in a statement issued on May 31.

Also Read: China property crisis: Chinese mega cities loosen homebuying rules as aid spreads

It added that the firm had "failed to disclose regular reports as scheduled, failed to disclose major litigation and arbitration as required and failed to disclose failure to settle debts due as required."

The CSRC said it had also imposed a maximum fine of $6.5 million on Evergrande founder Xu Jiayin, also known as Hui Ka Yan, banning him from the securities market for life.

Also Read: China unveils 'historic' steps to stabilise crisis-hit real estate sector

Evergrande was once China's biggest real estate firm, a powerhouse in a sector that helped propel the country's rapid economic growth during recent decades.

But its spiraling debt become emblematic of a prolonged crisis in China's real estate sector.

Struggling to repay creditors for years, it defaulted in 2021.

Also Read: Can Indian real estate market face a crisis like China's Evergrande?
Doctors in Scotland recently treated a little girl who came to the hospital with signs of infection. Reportedly, the kid had been suffering from pain for the past three months, but several medics failed to find the cause behind her illness. Finally, it was revealed that a raisin stuck inside her nose caused her health issues. The toddler is now recovering well. The raisin stuck in the toddler's nose caused various health issues (Representational image). (Unsplash/erdaest)

The Daily Record, a Scottish media outlet, took to Instagram to share the news. Doctors treating a toddler who was rushed to hospital with signs of infection discovered that a raisin had been stuck in her nose for three months. Peyton Handley first became unwell in February and was suffering from pain in her face that left her in tears, the outlet wrote.

According to the outlet, the kids parents, Kirsty and Craig, took her to doctors, but many failed to find a proper cause behind her symptoms. Finally, when the mom took the kid to the Glasgow Children's Hospital on May 23, the paediatric staff discovered that her health issues were caused by a dried fruit lodged in her nasal passage. According to the mom, the medics found the raising within minutes.

The outlet also shared two pictures along with the post. One photo shows a medic performing the procedure on the kid. The other picture shows the raisin that was lodged in her nose.

Take a look at the post here:

We are angry because we asked the doctors to check for a blockage several times, but we were just fobbed off every time. It was as if they couldnt be bothered with us being there, Kirsty told the outlet, adding, The first time we took her, they said it was a throat infection on top of a viral infection, and they gave her a throat spray for it.

However, the kid didnt get better and started constantly suffering from cold. A few days later, she also had diarrhoea almost every day.

How do the doctors remove the raisin?

When we took her to hospital the first doctor who saw her looked up her nose and spotted it straight away. They had it out in 10 minutes, the mom told the outlet.

When they removed it, they said it had tissue growing around it. They said Peyton had become ill and run down because her body was fighting an infection caused by it. Her immune system was just so weak, she added.
A picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has resurfaced that was reportedly taken 33 years ago. This old picture has gone viral again amid his 45-hour-long "dhyan" at Kanyakumari's Vivekananda Rock Memorial. The throwback photo shows a young PM Modi standing in front of a statue of Swami Vivekananda. The image is of PM Modi, taken 33 years ago at Kanniyakumari. (X/@modiarchive)

The image is shared by an X handle called Modi Archive. The bio of the page explains that it is dedicated to narrating the life journey of PM Narendra Modi through archival pictures, videos, audio recordings, letters, newspaper clips and such other material.

Thirty-three years ago, the massive nationwide Ekta Yatra commenced from the iconic Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari, stretching all the way to Kashmir. All the Ekta Yatris, including Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi and Narendra Modi circumambulated the statue of Swami Vivekananda to pay their respects. 11th December 1991, Tamil Nadu, reads the caption posted along with the photo.

According to NDTV, the picture was taken in 1991 during the Ekta Yatra, which started from Kanniyakumari and ended in Kashmir.

Take a look at the entire post here:

Since being shared, the post has accumulated more than 74,000 likes. The share has further collected close to 3,800 likes.

The last phase of Lok Sabha elections will take place on June 1. Ahead of voting, the campaigning for the last phase concluded and Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his 45-hour-long meditation at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari which will continue till June 1. The PM reached the city yesterday on May 30 and first offered prayers at the Bhagavathy Amman Temple. Then he went to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial.
If you are an avid social media user, you may have seen the All eyes on trend, in which people are protesting against the atrocities faced by people in different parts of the world, including Rafah in Gaza or Congo. Amid this trend, the hashtag But no eyes on Manipur too is gaining traction online. The phrase suggests that while people are talking about violence in foreign lands, they are not doing so when it comes to the northeastern Indian state of Manipur. An Instagram story on the viral trend "But no eyes on Manipur". (Screengrab)

What is the All eyes on trend?

A few days ago, people started sharing posts using All eyes on Rafah, showing solidarity with Rafah after an attack on the city by the Israeli military that killed over 40 civilians and left nearly 200 injured. Following this, people also started posting All eyes on Congo to highlight the decade-old violence faced by the people of this African nation.

Why are people sharing But no eyes on Manipur?

The posts shared using this phrase across various social media platforms are accompanied by news, videos or images that the social media users say are not getting nationwide media attention. These posts are not just about the conflicts in the state but also the devastation caused by natural disasters like floods. A few are simply sharing the phrase to show their support.

Violence in Manipur

It has been close to a year since violence erupted between the Kuki and Meitei communities in Manipur. Reportedly, the ethnic violence has claimed over 200 lives. The conflict has also displaced more than 50,000 people. Several Meitei-Kuki couples are reportedly also forced to live apart.

Last year, the UN issued a statement about the conflict in Manipur. Community conflict between the predominantly Hindu Meitei and the predominantly Christian Kuki ethnic communities, the UN said, reported Forbes.

By mid-August 2023, an estimated 160 persons had reportedly been killed, mostly from the Kuki ethnic community, and over 300 injured. The conflict also reportedly resulted in tens of thousands of people from the communities being displaced, thousands of homes and hundreds of churches being burnt down, as well the destruction of farmland, loss of crops and loss of livelihood, the global body added.
A Brazilian man, who was found guilty of murdering an Indian woman in the United Kingdom, was sentenced to detention in a mental hospital, reported The Times of India. The sentence was announced by the court when the man pleaded guilty of murdering the Indian woman from Hyderabad and attempting to murder her roommate in Wembley. Kontham Tejasvini belonged from Hyderabad.(File)

24-year-old Kevin Lourenco de Morals attacked Hyderabad woman Kontham Tejasvini on June 13 last year. After murdering her, Morals called his girlfriend and said, I have killed the Indian females. Shortly after the attack, he was arrested by the police who tracked his phone location data.

After a trial lasting over six months, Kevin pled guilty of murdering Tejasvini (27) and attempting to murder her roommate Akhila Janagama (now 29).

Judge Martin Edmunds handed down the Mental Health Act Section 37/41 hospital and restrictions order in the Isleworth Crown Court on Thursday, saying that the defendant was not in sound mind when he attacked the two women, reported TOI.

The judge said while announcing the sentence that Kevin Lourenco de Morals had paranoid schizophrenia and had experienced a relapse into a psychotic episode when he carried out the attacks. The defendant was then sent to the Bethlem Royal Hospital in Beckenham.

Kontham Tejasvini had moved to London from Hyderabad on a student visa in 2020, to pursue a master's degree in computer science at Greenwich University. She later landed a job as a team leader in Wembley.

She met her roommate Janagama in March 2023, and they moved into a house-share property together. De Morals and his girlfriend also lived there. The Indian women and the couple had no previous interaction before the attack on June 13, 2023.

Kevin, who had a past of mental illness, had stopped taking his anti-psychotic medication and said that he had attacked the women as he acted on the orders of the voices he heard.
Toronto: Even as some of the former international students from India once facing deportation start receiving permanent residency and long-term work permits, they are disappointed that the immigration consultant who got them into trouble was given a somewhat lenient sentence after he was found guilty on three charges on Wednesday. Ravinderpreet Singh (orange turban) at a protest against potential deportation of ex-students from India, in the Greater Toronto Area last summer. (Supplied photo)

Brijesh Mishra, the immigration consultant from Jalandhar, had prepared fraudulent documents for the students to gain admission to Canadian higher education institutions leading many of them to face potential deportation last year. Mishra appeared before a British Columbia provincial court in Vancouver on Wednesday and pled guilty to the three charges including misrepresentation, while two other counts were stayed.

Among the impacted former students is Ravinderpreet Singh, 28, originally from Tarn Taran in Punjab and now resident in the town of Brampton in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Among those who organised protests last year against deportation proceedings, he said, Im very happy he (Mishra) is finally facing punishment, but the length of the sentence is not enough. He wasted years of my life and I faced depression and financial problems.

Toronto-based immigration lawyer Sumit Sen, who represented one of the ex-students and counselled others, agreed, as he said, The sentence should have been much more, it should have been nine years.

Sen felt the judgment took into account the remorse Mishra expressed, thereby the sentence has the term for the three counts running concurrently, totaling three years. With credit for time served since he was arrested in June last year while entering the country, he has about 19 months remaining of the sentence but could be eligible for parole prior to that.

Overall, the matter will help those who have to appear before the task force. They can prove Mishra was the architect of the fraud and they were vindicated, he added.

Last year, over 150 ex-students from India, mainly Punjab, faced deportation from Canada as the documents they had used to enter the country were found to be forged. These students arrived in Canada between 2017 and 2019, and in rare instances, in 2020. They started receiving notices from the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) in 2021 and 2022, for a hearing as the agency concluded the letter of offer of admission to a Canadian higher education institution, which formed the basis of their study permits, was fake.

Agents in India used fraudulent documentation to procure study permits for them and they started receiving notices from immigration authorities late last year once these were detected. The majority of the affected students were represented by Mishra, then with the Jalandhar-based counselling firm Education and Migration Services Australia (EMSA).

The task force, comprising of officials from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the CBSA, was formed in June 2023 and is examining the cases and allowing those who came to Canada as genuine students to remain in the country, enabling them to get work permits and even apply for permanent residency.

Ravinderpreet Singh is among those who is waiting for his work permit while he said at least three of the former students have become permanent residents after they were reprieved by the government. Among them is Balbir Singh, originally from Amritsar and now based in Surrey in British Columbia, who said, Its been two-and-a-half years of suffering. Now my family and I are relieved and happy.

Ravinderpreet Singh felt more needs to be done to tackle the menace of such immigration agents at the source, in India. There needs to be action taken there so the future of students coming to Canada is not hurt like ours has been, he said.
Washington: In a historic verdict, a New York jury unanimously held Donald Trump, the former American President and the presumptive nominee for Republican candidate for president in this years election, guilty of falsifying business records to abet the concealment of information that would have impinged on the 2016 presidential election. Members of former US President Donald Trump's entourage watch as he speaks alongside his attorney. (Getty Images via AFP)

The case involves Trump and his then fixer, Michael Cohen, making hush payments to an adult film actress, Stormy Daniels in violation of state and federal laws. The jury convicted Trump on all 34 counts as charged.

The verdict creates an unprecedented situation in American democracy in two respects. This is the first time a former president has been convicted in a criminal case. It is also the first time a convicted felon is set to become the candidate of one of the two major parties and is, in fact, the leading contender, based on current polls, to become the president again. Unlike India, American law doesnt bar convicted criminals from contesting the polls.

Trump will be sentenced on July 11. From probation to a four-year prison term, the judge has a menu of legal options to choose in such cases, and there is uncertainty about the nature of the sentence given the profile of the candidate. The sentencing is also scheduled just a few days before the Republican Convention will formally nominate Trump as the partys candidate in Milwaukee.

Trump called the verdict rigged, cast aspersions on the judge and prosecutor, blamed the Joe Biden administration for the case with the aim of wounding a political opponent, and went on a fundraising offensive based on this narrative of victimhood.

This was a disgrace. It was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt, Trump told reporters outside the courtroom in New York. Claiming he was fighting for the country and the constitution, Trump added, The real verdict is going to be on November 5 by the people. They know what happened here..I am a very innocent man. His campaign handles then shot off a fundraising appeal which framed Trump as a political prisoner.

Issuing his own fundraising appeal, at a time when he is facing segments of supporters who have either turned critical or turned indifferent, Biden tweeted, There is only way to keep Donald Trump out of Oval Office: At the ballot box. In a separate statement, the Biden campaign said that New York had shown that no one was above the law, projected Trump as a threat to democracy, and warned that a second Trump term meant chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence.

The political implications of the verdict may not amount to much though. According to an NPR-PBS poll conducted right before the verdict, 67% of the respondents said a conviction wont impact their voting decision, 17% said a conviction would make them less likely to vote for Trump while 15% said that a conviction would make them more likely to vote for Trump.

The case  one of the four that Trump faces  revolved around $130,000 hush payment that Cohen made to Daniels in 2016 to keep quiet about an affair she claimed to have with Trump. This was in line with a set of arrangements that Trump had entered, including with the publisher of the National Enquirer tabloid, David Pecker, to catch and kill stories to prevent any damaging revelations before his 2016 run.

The prosecutions case rested on the argument that Trump had conspired with Cohen to make this payment to Daniels; that Trump then repeatedly falsified his records to reimburse Cohen for the payment to show it as legal expenses; that all of this was intended to influence the election and was thus a violation of New York state election laws as well as federal election laws on campaign finance and contribution.

Falsification of business records, in itself, may have just been a misdemeanour, but connecting it to another crime allowed the prosecution to press felony charges. During the trial, Cohen, who had turned approver, offered details of his conversations with the former president and transactions; Daniels reconstructed the details of her relationship with Trump to show he had intent; and Pecker confirmed Trumps arrangement with National Enquirer and offered details of other cases where similar payments had been made.

For his part, Trump denied having had a relationship with Daniels; he denied having entered into any conspiracy with Cohen or falsifying his records; and his defence rested on questioning Cohens credibility as a witness.

For six weeks, Trump sat in a Manhattan courtroom attending a trial where these arguments played out, 22 witnesses testified, and the presiding judge repeatedly held Trump to be in contempt for violating norms in front of 12 jurors, seven men and five women, all from New York.

Celebrating the verdict, Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney who brought forth the indictment and will now go down in history books as the man who forced the conviction of a former president, said, We arrived at this trial and this verdict like every other case that comes to the courtroom, by following the facts and law without fear or favour.

Trump remains an accused in three other cases. He faces charges of pressuring election officials to change the states electoral results in 2020 in Georgia, of engaging in a conspiracy to subvert the 2020 elections in Washington DC, and stealing classified files and not returning them in Florida.
Hamas said on Thursday it had told mediators it would not take part in more negotiations during ongoing aggression but was ready for a "complete agreement" including an exchange of hostages and prisoners if Israel stopped the war. Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, Gaza Strip, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) (AP)

Talks, mediated by among others Egypt and Qatar, to arrange a ceasefire between Israel and the Islamist movement in the Gaza war have repeatedly stalled with both sides blaming the other for the lack of progress.

The latest Hamas statement came as Israel pressed on with an offensive on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, despite an order by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the top U.N. court, to halt the attacks.

"Hamas and the Palestinian factions will not accept to be part of this policy by continuing (ceasefire) negotiations in light of the aggression, siege, starvation and genocide of our people", the Hamas statement read.

"Today, we informed the mediators of our clear position that if the occupation stops its war and aggression against our people in Gaza, our readiness (is) to reach a complete agreement that includes a comprehensive exchange deal," it added.

Israel has rejected past Hamas offers as insufficient and said it is determined to wipe out a group bent on its destruction. It says its Rafah offensive is focused on rescuing hostages and rooting out Hamas fighters.

Nearly 36,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's offensive across all of Gaza, the health ministry there says. Israel launched the operation after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israeli communities on Oct. 7 last year, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.
North Korea says it fired 18 short-range ballistic missiles during a drill as a demonstration of its willingness to launch a pre-emptive strike against South Korea's "gangsters' regime" if necessary to counter an attack, state media reported on Friday. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, second left, supervises firing drills at an undisclosed place in North Korea. (AP)

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guided the firing drill of 600mm "super-large" multiple rocket launchers on Thursday, state news agency KCNA reported.

The report came after South Korea said it detected at least 10 short-range ballistic missiles fired by North Korea off its east coast, and called it a possible display for would-be buyers, including Russia.

Artillery troops successfully hit the target of an island located about 365 kms (227 miles) away as leader Kim oversaw the demonstration at the launch site, KCNA reported.

Photos published by state media showed 18 missiles, known by experts as KN-25s, rising into the air from mobile launchers.

First tested in 2019, the super-large rocket blurs the distinction between multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) and SRBMs, according to the Center for International and Strategic Studies.

North Korea has said a tactical nuclear weapon could be fitted to such missiles.

Kim urged readiness by the country's nuclear force to carry out the mission of war deterrence as well as taking the initiative in case of war, the report added.

"Showers of fire for annihilation" during the drill showed North Korea's will to defend its sovereignty and react against the enemy, a later KCNA report about the event in English said.

The drill included the use of a recently unveiled fire-control system that is part of the government's combined nuclear weapons management system, KCNA said.

Thursday's launch using ballistic missile technology was condemned by the U.S. State Department as reckless and violating multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions.

The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency said analysis of debris imagery confirms Russia has fielded North Korean missiles in its war in Ukraine, according to a report summary released on Friday.

Russia and North Korea have denied arms deals, which would violate U.N. embargoes on Pyongyang, but have vowed to deepen cooperation in all sectors.

A separate column carried by KCNA on Friday criticised the deployment of U.S. RC-135U reconnaissance aircraft from Japan to the Korean peninsula on Wednesday, saying the aircraft and other reconnaissance assets by the South and the U.S. infringed on North Korea's sovereignty.

South Korean media reported that a U.S. military spy plane flew above the Seoul metropolitan area and waters off the west coast this week, citing flight trackers.

On Wednesday, North Korea sent hundreds of balloons carrying trash and manure across the heavily fortified border to South Korea, calling them "gifts of sincerity", prompting an angry response from Seoul, which said the act was base and dangerous.
King Charles III and Prince William almost came ready for a fight during a private meeting with Prince Harry. Prince Harry recalls a tense meeting with King Charles III and Prince William in his memoir 'Spare'. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, Pool, File)(AP)

The Duke of Sussex's relationship with his father and brother has been strained since Prince Harry made several bombshell claims about the Royal Family in his memoir, Spare.

However, Prince Harry has tried to mend the rift with his family over the years.

In Spare, Harry recounts how he arranged to meet Charles and William at Frogmore Cottage after their grandfather, Prince Philip, 's funeral.

He was left waiting until Charles and Prince William finally arrived, and he noted that they did not look happy. Harry wrote that he tried to keep his emotions in check and explain his side. But the discussion quickly took a negative turn.

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I'd vowed not to let this encounter devolve into another argument. But I quickly discovered that it wasnt up to me, Harry wrote.

Pa and Willy had their parts to play, and they'd come ready for a fight. Every time I ventured a new explanation, started a new line of thought, one or both of them would cut me off.

William didnt want to hear anything from Harry

Prince Harry highlighted that William didnt want to hear anything from his side.

Harry claimed that his brother interrupted him multiple times. This led to a heated argument between the two brothers. The situation escalated until Charles intervened with a heartfelt plea.

The Duke of Sussex recalled, It got so heated that Pa raised his hands. Enough! He stood between us, looking up at our flushed faces: Please, boysdont make my final years a misery.

Prince Harry and William have not seen each other in years. The last time Harry met with his father was in February, when the monarch was diagnosed with cancer.

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During his UK visit earlier this month, Prince Harry wasn't able to meet his father due to Charles' full programme.

A spokesperson for Harry said in a statement, It, unfortunately, will not be possible due to His Majesty's full programme. The Duke of course is understanding of his father's diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.
South African political parties geared up for coalition talks on Friday as the early results indicated that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) might fall short of securing a majority of the popular vote, news agency Reuters reported. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (File image)(REUTERS)

This has happened for the first time in 30 years of South Africa's democratic history. With results coming in from 61.2% of polling stations, the late Nelson Mandela's party has secured 41.9% of votes, a huge drop from the 57.5% of votes it secured in the 2019 national election.

Earlier in the day, the results resumed appearing on the election commission's website, after an apparent two-hour technical glitch.

The data in the data centre remains intact and the results have not been compromised. All services have since been restored and the leaderboard is working normally. Result processing continues unaffected, the Election Commission of South Africa (IEC) said in a statement.

The ruling ANC has remained the largest political party since the historic 1994 vote that ended decades of white minority led rule.

The party had won every national election since 1994, but voters seem to be punishing the party for the country's decline over the last decade. Economic stagnation has led to unemployment, poverty and increasing crime rates. Crumbling infrastructure has also led to regular power outages.

Projections by South Africa's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research indicated the ANC would get 40.5% of the total vote.

So far, the pro-business Democratic Alliance (DA) was in second place on 23%. uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), a new party led by former president Jacob Zuma, was at 11.7% and eating into ANC support, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma's home province.

MK had overtaken the radical Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), currently the third biggest party in parliament, which was sitting on 9.5%.

By law, the election commission has seven days to release full provisional results, but election officials have said they are planning to announce the results on Sunday.

The country follows the proportional voting system to elect members for the 400-member National Assembly. People vote to elect their representatives, who then select the President by a simple majority. A person needs 201 or more votes to be elected as the President.
Former President Donald Trump was advised to leave New York ahead of a looming verdict in his criminal trial. Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City,(Photo by Michael M. Santiago / POOL / AFP)(AFP)

Newsmax host Todd Starnes urged Trump to flee from New York City immediately, suggesting, President Trump needs to get out of New York City RIGHT NOW! Fly back to Mar-a-Lago or another state that will provide him safe harbor, on X, (formerly Twitter), on Thursday.

Trump has been facing allegations of covering up hush money payments to former pornstar Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election through his then fixer Michael Cohen. The former president stands trial in Manhattan after pleading not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has accused Trump of fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal crimes that hid damaging informationincluding a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels from the public during the 2016 presidential campaign.

The Republican presidential hopeful has consistently denied any wrongdoing in this case. He has repeatedly called for the case's dismissal and criticized New York State Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan.

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Trump called his hush-money trail rigged

Trump even called the charges against him are rigged, and blamed Merchan for that. The judge, who, as you know, is very conflicted and corrupt. Because of the confliction, very, very corrupt. Mother Teresa could not beat these charges. These charges are rigged. The whole thing is rigged, he said.

Merchan gave jury instructions on Wednesdayand sent the jury to begin deliberations.

During their deliberations, the jurors sent two notes to the judge.

The first requested to rehear testimonies from Cohen and David Pecker. The second asked to review Merchan's instructions, per Newsweek.

During his instructions, Merchan outlined the charges, the prosecution's burden to prove beyond a reasonable doubt, definitions of terms like enterprise and intent, and what could be considered unlawful means.

He also explained to the jurors, It's not my responsibility to judge the evidence here. He responded, It's yours.

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Earlier in the week, former White House lawyer Ty Cobb told Semafor, If the jury begins deliberations Tuesday afternoon, expect a verdict no later than Friday afternoon.

I expect a 'guilty' verdict, but only because the jury instructions as urged by the DA and adopted by the judge, over strenuous and well-founded defense objections, virtually require conviction.
Donald Trump's recent courtroom appearances have been nothing short of a reality show drama, stirring up a lot of chatter amid his potential 2024 presidential bid. In his controversial Hush Money Trial, Trump was pronounced guilty, making him the first former president to be criminally convicted. A Daily Mail journalist who witnessed the scene described it as incredibly tense, almost like watching a movie. Observers could see Trump visibly shaking his head in disgust as the first of 34 verdicts was read out. Former President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York. (AP)

Also read: Trump's donation page crashes after Hush Money verdict, raises $800K; Americans were moved..

Inside Donald Trumps courtroom drama

The fifteenth floor of the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse buzzed with tension as the newly convicted former leader walked in. His son Eric extended his fist, and Trump responded with a fist bump, a small moment of solidarity in a sea of uncertainty. At the core of the story is the intense courtroom drama, where the ex-president's emotions boiled over as he was found guilty on every charge related to falsifying business records.

Each of the 34 'guilty' verdicts felt like a hammer blow, ramping up the tension that had been absent until the jurors arrived. Earlier, Trump and his lawyers had been confident, sharing jokes and laughter, but as the clock hit 4:30, their faces told a different story, the heavy weight of the moment was visible, very much visible.

Donald Trumps reaction during the final guilty verdict

We the jury have reached a verdict, Judge Juan Merchan read out loudly. Just a moment before, Daniel Bates, the Daily Mail journalist sitting inside the courtroom, observed that Trump was laughing heartily with his lawyer, Todd Blanche, at the defence table. Their laughter and joking were so extreme that they even had to cover their faces. However, sensing the stark contrast between the light-hearted atmosphere and the impending, mind-blowing verdict, Judge Merchan instructed everyone in the court to remain calm and have no outbursts when the verdict was announced.

Also read: Ivanka Trump breaks silence after dad Donald Trump's shocking conviction in Hush Money scandal

Nervous tension replaces laughter in Trump courtroom drama

"He didn't get a single look from anyone," he recounted, as the jury members walked by Trump. Blanche appeared to be anxious, repeatedly touching his face with his hand. Out of nowhere, Judge Merchan came back and signaled for the jury to come back into the courtroom. A total of eleven court security personnel and four agents from the Secret Service were positioned to watch as the jury members entered, barely an inch away from Trump at the defence table.

The first thing that happened was that a judge read out the initial charge and asked, "How say you?" In the stunned silence that engulfed the courtroom, the foreman said, "Yes." The foreman responded with a resounding "Yes" to each of the officials following two charges. Trump shook his head, expressing disappointment at the announcement of the third allegation.

Guilty, guilty, guilty, guilty

As the court clerk read through each count, the foreman's steady reply of "guilty" echoed in the room. Trump, looking ahead in disbelief, watched as the guilty verdicts piled up. Judge Merchan praised the jury for their dedication and hard work. In a desperate attempt to overturn the verdict, Trump's lawyer, Blanche, argued that the decision was solely based on the testimony of Michael Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney and well, fixer.
Elon Musks X (formerly Twitter) will host a town hall with former US President Donald Trump, three years after he was suspended following the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. Elon Musk's decision to lift Donald Trump's Twitter ban prompted a chatter on the micro-blogging site.(Reuters)

The presumptive Republican nominee will answer submitted questions during the live-streamed event, which will also be broadcast in partnership with cable channel NewsNation. This comes after Trump was convicted on all 34 counts in connection with a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

The social media company is also planning a similar town hall with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., who is running for president as an independent.

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According to The Wall Street Journal, President Joe Biden was also invited to a debate or town hall but declined.

Musk also reposted The New York Post's townhall news with the caption, This will be interesting.

X to stage town hall with Trump: Date, time and more

These town halls' dates, locations, and moderators have not yet been announced. X users will submit questions, but moderators will have the final say on what is asked, likely including at least one NewsNation host alongside other journalists, as reported by Axios.

Trump, who famously steamrolled CNNs Kaitlan Collins during a town hall last year, has his first debate against Biden scheduled for June 27.

X CEO Linda Yaccarino conceived the idea for these town halls and pitched it to Nexstar Media Group, NewsNations parent company.

Trump has posted once on X since Musk lifted his ban last year.

Reports indicate that Musk and Trump have grown closer in recent months.

Musk has not been shy about voicing his displeasure with Biden, and Trump and Musk have reportedly met to discuss a wide range of issues, including cryptocurrency policy and a possible invitation for Musk to address the Republican National Convention this summer, according to Bloomberg News.

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Musk wrote on X that he was pretty sure Ive never discussed crypto with Trump, although I am generally in favor of things that shift power from government to the people, which crypto can do.

There have also been discussions about a possible advisory role for Musk should Trump win the election in November. Recently, Musk attended a dinner in Los Angeles with tech moguls aiming to derail a potential second term for Biden, who is trailing Trump in polls in several key swing states.

Brian Hughes, a spokesperson for Trump, told Bloomberg News, President Trump will be the only voice of what role an individual plays in his presidency. Many of the nations most important leaders in technology and innovation are concerned with the damage done to their industry by Bidens failures.
Former US President Donald Trump has been charged guilty in the high-profile hush money case, becoming the first president to be a convicted felon. However, Republican presidential candidate is seeing an opportunity in this embarrassing situation. TOPSHOT - Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to the press after he was convicted in his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. (AFP)

The real verdict is going to be November 5th, Donald Trump declared after the verdict. Calling the judge corrupt and the entire case rigged.

Even as all eyes will be on July 11 sentencing US-based pollster Frank Luntz has warned of the potential fallout if the MAGA leader is sentenced to prison in a interview with Sky News. "If hes given jail time, he becomes a martyr, Luntz stated. Focus group respondents feel there would be riots in the streets. There are real concerns that the results of this case could bring a level of violence weve never seen in American democracy.

Luntz emphasized the unprecedented nature of the situation. Just the fact that he has been found guilty of 34 felonies is something that we are not used to. The public is looking at this, shrugging their shoulders, and saying, How the hell did we get here?

As predicted Trump's campaign's efforts to mobilize supporters after the verdict are bearing fruit. His campaign website crashed after a heartbeat appeal for fundraising.

IM A POLITICAL PRISONER! I was just convicted in a RIGGED political Witch Hunt trial: I DID NOTHING WRONG! the Trump National Committee Joint Fundraising Committee posted an update. So I need 10 MILLION TRUE MAGA PATRIOTS to chip in and proudly shout: I STAND WITH TRUMP! It further read.

Meanwhile, Trump's MAGA supporters have expressed their outrage, describing the entire trial as "rigged" and accusing the jury, judge, and bailiff of corruption. You can't treat a WWE Hall of Famer this way. It's a disgrace. These are trumped-up charges, and you know it. The whole thing's rigged, one supporter exclaimed.

Calling the system "corrupt," supporters justified Trump's actions as legitimate business expenses and urged others to donate to his legal fund. They are echoing his campaigns narrative, portraying him as a victim of an unjust system trying to imprison him unfairly.

Trump's use of social media and direct appeals to his base highlight is his strategy to turn the guilty verdict into a rallying cry. He wants to mobilize his supporters and securing financial backing for his ongoing legal battles and political campaign.
If anyone expected Joe Biden to be celebrating the fact that election rival Donald Trump is now a convicted felon, they were disappointed. US President Joe Biden has reacted to Donald Trump verdict saying no one is above the law(AP)

Instead the Democrat's campaign issued a sober warning that the only way to prevent Trump returning to the White House remained the ballot box.

Also Read: The Donald Trump verdict

The challenge now will be for Biden to extract political gain for Trump's historic criminal conviction, but in such a way that he avoids fueling Trump supporters' belief that the prosecution itself was political.

"In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law," Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler said in a statement.

"But today's verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box."

The White House was even less keen to get its hands dirty after the former occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue was convicted on all 34 counts in his hush money case.

"We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment," Ian Sams, White House Counsel's Office spokesperson, said in a curt statement.

From Biden himself there was no comment on Thursday.

The president was at his home in Delaware on what was already a hugely significant day for him -- nine years to the day after his son Beau's death from brain cancer in 2015, aged 46.

Trump's historic conviction -- which would have been a knockout blow in any other election year -- is undoubtedly a brighter spot for Biden after weeks of polling showing him neck and neck nationally with Trump who leads the Democrat narrowly in most of the key swing states.

Biden has previously made occasional jokes about Trump's legal plight, including mocking him for falling asleep at the trial and saying he's been too "busy" to be on the campaign trail.

But he's largely stayed muted on the issue, and the question is now whether he keeps a presidential distance above the fray or opts for a more aggressive approach.

Biden will be hoping that the verdict can sway even a small number of independents or wavering voters who could be crucial in one of the closest White House races in living memory.

"It helps Biden for this reason: I'm Joe Biden and I'm not a convicted felon," said Democratic strategist Rachel Bitecofer.

Biden has already launched a social media fundraising drive off the back of the verdict.

Trump's conviction "speaks for itself," David Karol, who teaches government and politics at the University of Maryland, told AFP.

"I don't think this is the kind of thing that Biden needs to talk about to bring it to voters' attention. It's a big deal, it's historic."

Biden would also be keen to "avoid the impression that he is directing the prosecution of his opponent," he added.

Karol said however that he "wouldn't be surprised" if Biden found it hard to resist bringing it up in his first election debate with Trump, which is scheduled for June 27, two weeks before the Republican is sentenced.

David Axelrod, a former top aide to President Barack Obama, meanwhile warned Biden against being "tempted to flood the zone about the conviction."

"While Trump wallows in his own troubles, the right play for Biden may be to lean even more into the day-to-day concerns of people. The contrast would be powerful," Axelrod said on X.

Biden may also be reluctant to comment given his own family situation.

With surviving son Hunter due in court next week on gun charges "he may want to avoid talking about court cases at all," said Wendy Schiller, a professor of political science at Brown University.
According to a royal expert, the familial mess between Prince Harry and Prince William is expected to become even thornier in the future. FILE - Britain's Prince William, second left, Kate, Princess of Wales, left, Britain's Prince Harry, second right, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex view the floral tributes for the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Windsor Castle, in Windsor, England on Sept. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)(AP)

The late Princess Diana's former butler, Paul Burrell, believes Harry is taking another step closer all the time to isolation. In a recently published New York Post report, the royal insider claimed that even the royals are just letting him get on with it now. He also purported how Harry will be destructive to his brother once he ascends the throne.

Since the Duke of Sussex parted ties with the royal family and his regal duties in 2020 to chart his solo path alongside his wife, Meghan Markle, in California, his relationship with the royal lot has significantly soured. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are the only standing exceptions still maintaining their friendship with Harry and Markle, but even that reportedly worries Kate Middleton.

Also read | Bill Maher's 2024 election predictions: Probable Trump win vs not a very good candidate Biden

As for the connections with his family, Burrell firmly stands by the belief that Harry has pressed the self-destruct button, something that possibly wouldn't have blown out of proportion had the late Princess Diana still been in the picture. Burrell seemingly has a bone to pick with the Duke, for whom he assumes there is a time scale to his destruction.

Royal expert digs into Prince Harry stepping closer to further isolation

Addressing how no one is stepping up to clear the air between the royal brothers, Burrell said, There is no one to do it, and so it is going to rumble on because nobody is brave enough to stick their neck out, and no one is strong enough for Harry to listen to.

On the contrary, The Post also reported that despite Burrell's piercing words, he's convinced that Harry might be holding out hope for when William becomes king.

Also read | Diddy and Cassie's former makeup artist uncovers secret kept for 14 years, claims she heard him beating his ex in 2010

Digging further into his assumptions about the Duke, he's of the opinion that Harry is still holding on to a new chapter and a new leaf with a place for him. Rounding off his own statements, Burrell claimed that if that really is the case, the Duke would be so estranged by ten that he would be barely recognisable to the public.

Speaking on behalf of the reigning family, he added, I'm not sure they want him back on a full-time role. Yet, the former royal butler maintained that the royals are consumed by thoughts of what [Harry] is going to do next.
Prince William and Prince Harry, along with Meghan Markle, have had a well-documented strained relationship. While William typically avoids public comment on their activities, a recent report suggests he may have taken exception to the Duchess of Sussex being compared to his late mother, Princess Diana. The recent reaction from Prince William comes after The Duke and Duchess toured Nigeria as part of their Invictus commitment. (L-R) Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, US actress Meghan Markle and her fiancee Britain's Prince Harry attend a Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey. (AFP)

Meghan Markle compared to Princess Diana

Meghan Markle and Prince Harrys Nigerian tour was a huge success. The couple, however, faced criticism from royal experts for conducting an "unofficial royal tour," reflecting the sentiments of the Palace and followers of Britains royals. For others, Meghan stood out as a powerful personality with her speech and bold public appearances. She was also spotted wearing a plain gold necklace similar to one Princess Diana wore. Reportedly, William and Harrys late mother wore the same style of chain during one of her trips back in 1990 with the King Charles.

Also read: Indian boy shines at Spelling Bee, Bruhat Soma, 12, takes home the trophy in epic spell-off

In another report, it was revealed that a former Suits star seen wearing an exquisite diamond cross, and several sources have mentioned that the piece was originally owned by Princess Diana. Nonetheless, numerous insiders with knowledge of the royal family refused to speak about it, stating that they were not familiar with the necklace and couldn't identify it.

Prince William bothered by Meghan and Diana's comparison

The Sussexes have been feuding with the royal family ever since they left the UK in 2020, continuing their attacks with a scathing Netflix documentary and an explosive Oprah Winfrey interview. The recent Nigerian trip is believed to have deeply irked Prince William, who is currently taking some time off from his royal duties to focus on his wife Kates cancer treatment. Now, a source claims that William is "bothered" by how Meghan is "paraded around as the modern-day version" of his late mother.

Also read: Kate Middleton 'fears Royal backstabbing during public hiatus; she wont tolerate

A source described Williams reaction to Meghan being compared to Diana as "beyond tasteless and offensive. The insider who spoke to Closer magazine said, "William doesn't want to deprive Harry of the right to celebrate their mother's legacy. What bothers him is how Meghan's paraded around as the modern-day version of Diana, he finds that beyond tasteless and offensive, not only to him but also to Kate.

Tension with Sussexes affecting celebration of mother's legacy

The source further mentioned that William is hurt that Harry hasn't talked to him regarding their upcoming international travels. William is especially displeased that the strain between the Sussexes is influencing their approach to remembering their mother, making him feel left out because he's unable to share his thoughts with Charles and Camilla, of course.

The fact that the tension with the Sussexes is now impacting celebrating their mother's legacy is beyond the pale for William, but it's not as though he can really speak about it with Charles and Camilla because there's obviously history there with Diana being estranged from the royals so he's feeling pretty alone on this."
NEW YORK  Former President Donald Trump on Thursday was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his criminal hush money trial. The Latest | Trump becomes first former US president to be convicted of felony crimes

It was the first time a former U.S. president was ever tried or convicted in a criminal case, and was the first of Trumps four indictments to reach trial.

Prosecutors accused Trump of falsifying internal business records to cover up hush money payments tied to an alleged scheme to bury stories that might torpedo his 2016 White House bid.

At the heart of the charges were reimbursements paid to Trumps former lawyer Michael Cohen for a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels in exchange for not going public with her claim about a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump.

Prosecutors said the reimbursements were falsely logged as legal expenses to hide the true nature of the transactions.

The charges Trump faces are punishable by up to four years in prison. He has denied any wrongdoing and had pleaded not guilty.

Judge Juan M. Merchan has set Trumps sentencing for July 11.

Currently:

 Trumps hush money case has gone to the jury. What happens now?

 Highlights from the first day of jury deliberations

 Rallies and debates used to define campaigns. Now theyre about juries and trials

 Trump hush money case: A timeline of key events

Here's the latest: TRUMP'S DJT STOCK DIPS

Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group, the owner of the social networking site Truth Social, slumped after Donald Trumps guilty verdict was announced.

The shares, which trade under the symbol DJT, fell about 8% in after-hours trading Thursday as news of the verdict in his hush money case emerged. They have been extraordinarily volatile since the companys debut in late March, frequently making double-digit percentage moves either higher or lower on a single day.

The shares peaked at nearly $80 in intraday trading on March 26. They closed regular trading Thursday at $51.84 before the verdict was announced. MICHAEL COHEN REACTS

In a statement sent by text message on Thursday, Michael Cohen said: Today is an important day for accountability and the rule of law. While it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters.

He thanked his attorneys for their invaluable guidance and support. UNLESS HE'S SENT TO PRISON, TRUMP CAN STILL VOTE

Donald Trump may have been convicted of a felony and reside in Florida, a state notorious for restricting the voting rights of felons, but he can still vote as long as he stays out of prison in New York state.

Thats because Florida defers to other states disenfranchisement rules for residents convicted of out-of-state felonies. In Trumps case, New York law only removes their right to vote when incarcerated. Once theyre out of prison, their rights are automatically restored  even if theyre on parole, per a 2021 law passed by the states Democratic legislature.

If a Floridians voting rights are restored in the state of conviction, they are restored under Florida law, Blair Bowie of the Campaign Legal Center wrote in a post explaining the state of law, noting that people without Trumps legal resources are often confused by Floridas complex rules. IN OVERFLOW ROOM AS THE VERDICT WAS READ

It was very quiet in the courtroom and an overflow room right before the verdict in Donald Trumps criminal trial was read.

Due to the anonymous jury, monitors in the overflow room were off while the verdict was read, so members of the media and members of the public who were there to observe could not see Trumps face as the first guilty was read aloud.

A court officer had warned the overflow crowd not to make any outbursts, but a hushed gasp could be heard in the room. The video feed resumed after the last charge was read aloud, showing Trump sitting with an expressionless stare as history was made. OUTSIDE CROWDS REACT TO TRUMP'S GUILTY VERDICT

A group of around 100 Trump supporters who have gathered daily near the courthouse in lower Manhattan to watch the former presidents motorcade pass murmured in disbelief as news of the verdict in his hush money trial appeared on their phones.

A few shouted in anger. At a park across the street where small groups of people have been gathering daily to protest, Trumps opponents let out cheers.

The cheering from the street could be heard all the way up on the 15th floor of the courthouse, in the hallway, as the decision was being read. TRUMP ADDRESSES REPORTERS OUTSIDE COURTROOM

Donald Trump addressed reporters outside the courtroom following the reading of the guilty verdict in his hush money trial.

The former president called the verdict a disgrace and said the trial was rigged. He said hes an innocent man.

Well keep fighting, Trump said. Well fight to the end and well win. BIDEN'S COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR REACTS TO VERDICT

President Joe Bidens campaign sought to keep the focus on the November election even as it said Thursday that former President Donald Trumps criminal conviction showed that that no one is above the law.

Communications director Michael Tyler said in a statement: There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.

Biden himself has yet to weigh in on the verdict. He is spending the night at his familys beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, after marking the anniversary of his son Beaus death earlier Thursday at church in Wilmington.

Bidens campaign has tried for months to remind Americans of what it sees as the peril of another Trump term in office, rather than the personal jeopardy faced by the former president in court.

A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence  and the American people will reject it this November, Tyler said. CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS SWIFTLY CONDEMN VERDICT

Trump allies released a flurry of statements just minutes after the jurys decision in Donald Trump's hush money case was announced.

The verdict in New York is a complete travesty that makes a mockery of our system of justice, Sen. Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican who is a potential vice president pick, posted on the social platform X.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican who is second in line to the presidency, in a statement called the trial a purely political exercise, not a legal one. Johnson added: President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdictand he WILL WIN!

Ahead of the jury announcing a verdict, one Republican urged people to respect the legal process.

Larry Hogan, the former governor of Maryland who is now running for the Senate, wrote on X that all leadersregardless of partymust not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law. SENTENCING SCHEDULED FOR JULY

Judge Juan M. Merchan has scheduled Donald Trump's sentencing in his hush money case for July 11, just days before Republicans are set to select him as the 2024 presidential nominee. JUDGE DENIES DEFENSE'S POST-VERDICT REQUEST TO ACQUIT TRUMP

Defense lawyers in Donald Trump's hush money trial moved for an acquittal of the former president after the jury had delivered its verdict.

Defense lawyer Todd Blanche told Judge Juan M. Merchan: We move for a judgment of acquittal.

Theres no basis and no way this jury could have reached a verdict without accepting the testimony of Michael Cohen, Blanche said.

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass rebutted the assertion, saying We, of course, disagree with Mr. Blanches characterization of Michael Cohens testimony.

Merchan denied the motion. JURY FINDS TRUMP GUILTY ON ALL CHARGES

The jury in Donald Trump's hush money trial has found him guilty on all of the charges against him. A LAST-MINUTE CHANGE OF PLANS

The hurry up and wait beat of jury deliberations in Donald Trump's hush money trial has given way to anticipatory tension  and some surprise. The jury transmitted the news that it reached a verdict by note to Judge Juan M. Merchan at 4:20 p.m. on Thursday, just few minutes after hed announced to the courtroom  minus the jury  that court would adjourn at 4:30 p.m. barring a verdict.

Merchan said his plan was to allow jurors to keep working until that time and then send them home to start fresh on Friday.

Moments later, that plan went out the window. The verdict will be read in court soon. TRUMP WAITS FOR READING OF VERDICT

Donald Trump is now sitting in the courtroom with his arms folded across his chest as he awaits the reading of the verdict in his hush money trial. JURY REACHE S A VERDICT AND REQUESTS EXTRA TIME TO FINALIZE FORMS

The jury in Donald Trumps hush money case has reached a verdict. It asked for and additional 30 minutes to fill out the form. JURY WILL DELIBERATE UNTIL 4:30 P.M. THURSDAY, JUDGE SAYS

Judge Juan Merchan announced jurors in Donald Trump's hush money trial will continue deliberating until 4:30 p.m. and then, if they havent reached a verdict, they will be sent home for the day and resume their work on Friday.

Merchan summoned Trump, his lawyers and prosecutors to the courtroom to inform them of his scheduling plans. The former president told reporters in the hallway before entering, I want to campaign.

Once inside, he surveyed the crowd as he walked to his seat at the defense table. His son Eric returned to his place in the gallery behind the defense table.

Following the judge's announcement, Trump and one of his attorneys, Todd Blanche, had an animated, whispered exchange, but Blanche was smiling. IN A COURTROOM DEVOID OF JUDGE AND JURY, REPORTERS WAIT FOR NEWS

As deliberations wear on in Donald Trump's hush money trial, its a bit of the old adage hurry up and wait at the New York courthouse.

With the jury working in secret in a separate room, and Trump and his team holed up elsewhere in the building, reporters remain in the courtroom waiting for word  or rather the sound  of a new development.

Each time the jury has a question  and eventually, if it reaches a verdict  it must send a note to the judge. The way it signals that it has a note is by ringing a bell that blares in the courtroom. The sound is akin to that of an old telephone or alarm clock.

So far Thursday, the bell hasnt rung at all. It tolled twice within an hour on Wednesday signaling notes from the jury to have certain testimony read to them along with a portion of the jury instructions.

Thats made for a somewhat surreal scene in the normally bustling Manhattan courtroom. The front of the room where the action happens is empty, save for a few court officers and staff: no judge, no prosecutors, no defense team, no former president, and certainly no jurors.

The room that reverberated with dramatic testimony and tense arguments over the last six weeks is now eerily quiet, save for the clicks of laptop keys and the din of chatter amongst reporters and members of the public sitting, watching and waiting for the bell to ring. NORTH DAKOTA'S BURGUM SEEN OUTSIDE OF MANHATTAN COURTROOM

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, seen as one of the potential running mates for Donald Trump, was outside the courthouse in Manhattan on Thursday doing television interviews.

Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, is being tried on 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records. Trump has pleaded not guilty.

Burgum was among the Republican officials who accompanied Trump to court in recent weeks as a show of support, but he was not seen inside court with him Thursday.

Also seen outside the courthouse was Trump senior campaign advisor Jason Miller. He said Trump is doing great when asked how the former president was doing while waiting for the jury to deliberate. Miller is among the aides who accompanied Trump on Thursday.

The former president is accused of falsifying internal Trump Organization records as part of a scheme to bury damaging stories that he feared could hurt his 2016 campaign, particularly as Trumps reputation was suffering at the time from comments he had made about women.

The courtroom has closed for lunch. Proceedings resume at 2:15 p.m. TRUMP PROCLAIMS INNOCENCE AS JURY DELIBERATES

Former President Donald Trump is continuing to rail against his hush-money trial and proclaim his innocence.

I DID NOTHING WRONG! IN FACT, I DID EVERYTHING RIGHT, he wrote on Truth Social. The testimony in Court was amazing for the Defense!

Trump has pleaded not guilty.

The jury began its second day of deliberations on Thursday. The panel is deciding whether to convict or acquit Trump of some, all or none of the felony counts hes charged with.

The former president is accused of falsifying internal Trump Organization records as part of a scheme to bury damaging stories that he feared could hurt his 2016 campaign, particularly as Trumps reputation was suffering at the time from comments he had made about women. JURORS ARE SENT TO RESUME DELIBERATIONS

Jurors have been sent to resume deliberations in Donald Trumps hush-money trial after rehearing testimony from key witnesses.

The 12 jurors reheard portions of testimony given by former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker as well as Michael Cohen.

The jury deliberated for about 4 1/2 hours Wednesday without reaching a verdict. Before days end, they asked to rehear testimony from the tabloid publisher, and Cohen, Trumps former lawyer and personal fixer. On Thursday morning, the judge responded to a jury request by rereading 30 pages of jury instructions related to how inferences may be drawn from evidence.

Trump faces 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records. Trump has pleaded not guilty.

A guilty verdict would deliver a stunning legal reckoning for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee as Trump seeks to reclaim the White House. JURY REHEARS PORTIONS OF TESTIMONY FROM NATIONAL ENQUIRER PUBLISHER

After roughly a half hour of rehearing some of the judges legal instructions, jurors in Donald Trump's hush-money trial listened to something else they requested: portions of testimony from former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker.

Court stenographers reread both witnesses testimony about an August 2015 Trump Tower meeting at which Pecker agreed to publish articles that favored then-candidate Trump and assailed his opponents and to serve as the campaigns eyes and ears for potentially damaging stories and rumors so they could be suppressed.

The jury also asked to rehear Peckers testimony about a phone call he says he had with Trump about a hush money deal that the National Enquirers parent company made with former Playboy model Karen McDougal, and about Peckers his decision not to sell the rights to McDougals story to Trump.

She claimed she had an affair with Trump, which he denies.

Trump faces 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records. Trump has pleaded not guilty. JURORS REHEAR INSTRUCTIONS RELATING TO MICHAEL COHEN'S TESTIMONY

The 12 jurors who are weighing the evidence in Donald Trump's hush-money trial have reheard instructions relating to Michael Cohen's testimony.

It was one of many instructions jurors asked Judge Juan M. Merchan to reread on Thursday, the second day of jury deliberations.

Trump fixer-turned-foe Michael Cohen is crucial to the prosecutions case against Trump, jurors were reminded that they cant convict the former president on Cohens word alone.

Under our law, Michael Cohen is an accomplice, and a defendant cant be convicted of any crime based only on the testimony of an accomplice unless it is supported by corroborative evidence," Merchan said.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records. LARA TRUMP: TRUMP WILL TRY TO CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENCY EVEN IF HE'S CONVICTED

It appears that  if he is convicted  a guilty verdict won't stop presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump from trying to reclaim the White House.

That is according to Trumps daughter-in-law, Lara Trump.

Lara Trump serves as co-chair of the Republican National Committee. She told Fox News Channel on Thursday that Trump would still try to campaign for the presidency if hes convicted. Trump faces 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records. Trump has pleaded not guilty.

Lara Trump said if Trump is convicted and given a sentence of home confinement, "We will have him doing virtual rallies and campaign events if that is the case. And well have to play the hand that were dealt, according to a transcript of the interview.

The 34 counts against Trump are all the same charge, a low-level felony punishable by up to four years in prison, though its not clear that the judge would opt to put Trump behind bars if the jury convicts him.

Other punishments could include a fine or probation.

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
SINGORE  U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with his Chinese counterpart for more than an hour Friday, as the two countries seek to repair lines of communications between their militaries that could be critical as tensions continue to rise between the two in the Indo-Pacific region. Top US and Chinese defense officials seek to restore communications as tensions rise in Indo-Pacific

The meeting behind closed doors between Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun was the first in person between the top defense officials since contacts between the American and Chinese militaries broke down in 2022 after then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, infuriating Beijing.

It came on the sidelines of the Shangri-La defense forum, Asia's premier security conference, which features defense officials, government leaders and diplomats from around the world.

The weekend talks are being held as wars rage in Gaza and Ukraine, and at a time of increasing tensions and competition for influence between the United States and China in the Indo-Pacific region.

Beijing in recent years has been rapidly expanding its navy and is becoming growingly assertive in pressing its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, which has led to an increasing number of direct conflicts with other countries in the region, most notably the Philippines and Vietnam.

The U.S., meantime, has been ramping up military exercises in the region with its allies to underscore its free and open Indo-Pacific concept, meant to emphasize freedom of navigation through the contested waters, including the Taiwan Strait. China also claims the democratic self-governing island of Taiwan and has said it would not rule out using force to take it.

Austin, who is due to address the conference on Saturday, reiterated the American position to Dong during their talks, according to Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.

The secretary made clear that the United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate safely and responsibly wherever international law allows, Ryder said. He underscored the importance of respect for high seas freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea.

Since territorial hostilities with China surged last year in the South China Sea, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.s administration has taken steps to forge new security alliances with a number of Asian and Western countries and allowed a U.S. military presence in more Philippine bases under a 2014 defense pact.

Marcos opens this year's conference, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, with a keynote address Friday.

This week, Marcos already expressed concerns over a new law issued by China giving its coast guard license to seize foreign ships that illegally enter Chinas territorial waters and to detain foreign crews for up to 60 days. The same law also made new reference to 2021 legislation that says Chinas coast guard can fire upon foreign ships if necessary.

With Philippines ships now regularly confronted by the Chinese, there are concerns that a low-level confrontation could lead to an escalation, said Eugene Tan, a professor of international law at the Singapore Management University.

I don't think these countries are really looking to go to war with each other, but the concern with these skirmishes is that sometimes when you have a miscalculation, then things could rapidly deteriorate into the use of force, he said.

And I think the last thing that countries in the region would want, particularly as they focus on the post-pandemic recovery, would be to have a regional conflict at the doorstep.

This year's conference comes just a week after China held massive military drills around Taiwan, staging a simulated blockade of the island after it inaugurated a new government that refuses to accept Beijing's insistence that the island is part of China.

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province that must come under its control, by force if necessary.

The U.S., like most countries, does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is bound by its own laws to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

In his talks with Dong, Austin reiterated that the United States remains committed to the one-China policy, but expressed concern about the recent Chinese exercises, Ryder said.

Austin told Dong that China should not use Taiwan's political transition part of a normal, routine democratic process as a pretext for coercive measures, Ryder said.

China and the U.S. have been gradually restoring defense contacts since they broke down over Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, and Austin and Dong already talked with each other by video conference in April.

In their meeting Friday, Austin emphasized the importance of keeping open lines of military-to-military communication between American and Chinese commanders, and said both sides will resume telephone conversations between theater commanders in the coming months, Ryder said.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told reporters after the meeting that it showed the decline in military relations had now stabilized and that the resumption of direct communications was an important step.

The communications between the two militaries aims to enhance understanding, eliminate misunderstanding, accumulate mutual trust and achieve stability in relations, he said.

Meia Nouwens, a Chinese security and defense expert with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said that while the resumption of direct communications is important, talking is the minimum that should be expected of two great powers.

Direct military communications are meant to allow commanders to defuse a situation before it escalates, but Nouwens cautioned it will only be effective if Chinese leaders give their commanders the political leeway to respond in the moment.

We have to remember that there is a different political system in each of these two countries and therefore the commanders do not necessarily operate in the same way, or have the same level of political ability to make decisions in the moment or respond, she said.

Austin is due to address the forum Saturday morning, while Dong will speak on Sunday, the final day.

journalists Syawalludin Zain in Singapore and Tara Copp in Washington contributed to this story.

Follow 's Asia-Pacific coverage at /hub/asia-pacific

This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Former President Donald Trump has made history by becoming the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony in the hush money case. Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump leaves Manhattan Criminal Court after he was convicted in his criminal trial in New York City, on May 30, 2024. (AFP)

Why does today's judgment on Donald Trump matters?

The implications of this guilty verdict in New York are unprecedented for any current or former U.S. president. The consequences and next steps will be closely watched.

Trump to be sentenced on July 11

Trump, the leading candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination, is set to be sentenced on July 11, just a week before the Republican National Convention. His attorney, Todd Blanche, stated on CNN that Trump's legal team plans to "vigorously fight" the verdict with motions in the coming weeks. If these efforts fail, they will appeal following the sentencing. However, the appeals process is unlikely to conclude before the November election.

What are the potential consequences for Donald Trump?

Will Donald Trump Go to Jail?

Judge Juan Merchan will decide if Trump will serve a prison sentence. The 34 charges, all Class E feloniesthe least severe level in New Yorkeach carry a potential prison sentence of up to four years. The judge could also sentence Trump to probation, requiring him to regularly report to a probation officer. If Trump commits further crimes while on probation, he could be imprisoned.

Defense lawyer Dan Horwitz, a former prosecutor for the Manhattan District Attorney's office, told CBS News that the judge could impose a variety of sentences, ranging from a short period in jail to probationary terms, such as weekend jail time.

Can Trump Run for President as a Convicted Felon?

Trump can still run for president despite his felony conviction. However, whether he can vote for himself depends on state laws regarding felons' voting rights. Trump moved his residency to Florida after leaving the White House in 2021. Under Florida law, a felon's voting rights depend on the laws of the state where the conviction occurred.

Blair Bowie, an attorney at the Campaign Legal Center, explained that New York only disenfranchises individuals while they are serving a prison sentence. If Trump is not sentenced to prison time, his voting rights would be restored in New York and, consequently, in Florida. Thus, Trump could vote unless he is in prison on Election Day.

Background on the Verdict

Trump was found guilty on all counts in his New York hush money trial. Last year, he was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to cover up an alleged sexual encounter. Trump faces three other criminal cases, but none are expected to conclude before the November election.
Donald Trump was declared guilty after a gruelling seven-week Hush Money trial, making him the first former US president to be criminally convicted. As he continues his bid for the 2024 presidential election, the question in everyones mind: Now what? Where does public sentiment lie? Is it with the current POTUS, Joe Biden, or with the embattled former president, Trump? Following the guilty verdict, Trumps campaign donation page saw an overwhelming surge in traffic, causing a temporary crash. This unforeseen surge in favour, clear when the trial was at its highest, has now converted into an opportunity. Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024.(Photo by Mark Peterson / POOL / AFP)(AFP)

Trump Donation page crashes

So many Americans were moved to donate to President Trumps campaign that the WinRed pages went down, Trumps campaign page posted on its social media handle. Surprisingly, the update arrived less than an hour after the likely Republican candidate for president was found guilty on 34 felony charges.

Following the jury's verdict of guilt, the Trump campaign in a heartbeat issued a fundraising appeal on Truth Social. IM A POLITICAL PRISONER! I was just convicted in a RIGGED political Witch Hunt trial: I DID NOTHING WRONG! the Trump National Committee Joint Fundraising Committee posted an update. So I need 10 MILLION TRUE MAGA PATRIOTS to chip in and proudly shout: I STAND WITH TRUMP! It further read.

Also read: Indian boy shines at Spelling Bee, Bruhat Soma, 12, takes home the trophy in epic spell-off

'Trump's conviction's support impact debated'

At first look, experts believed that Trump's conviction might diminish his popularity and could take a toll on his candidature for upcoming elections. However, as per abc news, survey conducted in April by CNN/SSRS revealed that 76% of Trump's backers would remain loyal, 24% might think twice about supporting him if he faced legal consequences. Another poll in May from Emerson College indicated that 25% of voters would be more inclined to vote against Trump following a guilty decision in New York.

Chris LaCivita, the former Presidents adviser, thinks that the crash was indeed a very good sign and it shows, millions of American patriots wanting to donate to Donald Trumps campaign.

Trump continues his political campaign

Despite the barrage of controversies and numerous polls and opinions about how the recent guilty verdict will affect Trumps run, he seems quite unbothered as he continues his schedule. After raising a massive $800k donation, his campaign surrogate and former Long Island congressman believe they have no trouble raising money for the former president following the historic verdict. Trump also participated in a campaign event that was already planned for a private home in New York on Thursday evening.
Former President Donald Trump is convicted of all 34 felonies charged against him in the Hush Money trial, just days before him being elected as a nominee for US elections 2024. In the history of the US, Trump became the first former president to be convicted in a court case. Trump is charged with criminal felonies of falsifying the business records in order to manipulate the results of US elections in 2016. As the world waits for the final sentence, let us understand the felonies Trump is charged with and what it means. Former US President found guilty for all 34 felonies charged against him(AFP)

Trump charged with 34 felonies: Explained

Here is a breakdown of 34 felonies charged against the former US President. As reported by NPR, he is guilty of 11 of 11 charges for invoices of legal services which include 11 invoices from Michael Cohen identified as an official record of Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust dated on various dates from February 14, 2017 to December 01, 2017.

The next set of charges against Trump includes checks paid for legal services and he is guilty on 11 out of 11 charges with evidence of the checks and check counterfoils for Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust Accounts numbered 000138, 000147, 002740, 002700, 002741, 002781, 002821, 002908, 002944, 002980 and 003006. These were dated between February 14, 2017 to December 05, 2017.

The last set of charges filed against Trump includes Ledger entries for legal expenses and he is guilty on 12 out of 12 charges. The entries were found in the Detail General Ledger for the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, bearing voucher numbers 842457, 842460, 846907, 858770, 855331, 858772, 861096, 863641, 868174, 872654, 876511 and 877785. The entries followed the timeline of invoices by Michael Cohen, from February 14, 2017 to December 01, 2017.

Also Read: Donald Trump found guilty on all 34 counts in New York hush-money case, sentencing hearing on this date

Trump Hush Money trial: The final sentence

The final sentencing, as said by New York Judge Juan Merchan, is set to be announced barely five months before this years elections on July 11, 2024. while Trump remained silent during the verdict, This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people. They know what happened, and everyone knows what happened here he told reporters outside the courtroom.

Trump currently faces the maximum sentence of 4 years in prison but as a first time white collar offender he might just receive a probation period.
NATO only has 5% of the air defense capabilities needed to protect its eastern flank, one NATO diplomat warns, as allied nations pledge to build a "drone wall" capable of stopping a potential attack near Russia's border.

The stark outlook was reported by the Financial Times using the alliance's own projections. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shown the importance of being able to defend against air strikes in Eastern Europe.

The paper quoted an unnamed NATO diplomat saying, "Right now, we don't have that."

Another said, "[Air defense] is one of the biggest holes we have. We can't deny it."

Moscow's use of cheap, long-range drones has increased the urgency of bolstering defenses. NATO is holding two days of talks in Prague ahead of a summit of the leaders of NATO member countries that will take place in Washington in July.

Members of the alliance are proposing competing plans to bulk up air defenses.

One solution could be for the various air defense systems to be integrated. Each country operates its systems independently right now.

Six NATO countries said this week that they plan to establish a "drone wall" against Russia following a series of provocations.

Officials from Finland, Norway, Poland and three Baltic states discussed deploying a wall of drones to strengthen their borders.

Many NATO countries fear Russia could test the 32-member alliance's border in the next five to 10 years, according to the FT.
Israel's war with Hamas will cost the Middle East country about $67 billion in defense and civilian costs between 2023 and 2025, Bank of Israel Governor Amir Yaron said, according to the Times of Israel.

Yaron called the civilian war costs of the conflict that has been raging since Hamas invaded Israel on Oct. 7 "significant," and said they would be a budgetary burden.

He also said the country's future security budget will continue to grow.

"The government needs to make sure that it makes the right balances and budget adjustments in light of growing permanent security expenses," Yaron said, the publication reported.

About half of the cost - $32 billion - will be necessary to meet defense needs.

Another $10 billion will be needed for civilian spending until 2025 that includes evacuating civilians and providing housing and services to evacuees.

The bank also estimated that about $9 billion in lost tax revenue because of the fighting, and $6 billion will be needed to compensate for direct war damages.

An estimated $2.4 billion in expenses come from interest payments related to the government's debt level and increasing borrowing costs.

The $67 billion figure has outpaced the previous estimate of $56 billion set at the beginning of 2024.
President Joe Biden promised voters that he would name progressives to the Supreme Court if he wins a second term this November and suggested there might be two openings on the bench.

The president was speaking in Philadelphia on Wednesday as he and Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off a national outreach program to mobilize Black voters, clicking off accomplishments of his first term, including putting Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on the high court.

"The next president - they're going to be able to appoint a couple of justices, and I'll be damned if they're not going to ... if in fact we're able to change some of the justices when they retire and put in really progressive judges like we've always had, tell me that won't change your life," he told the crowd, recalling the court's decision in 2022 to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Former President Donald Trump appointed three justices - Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch - to create a 6-3 conservative majority on the court.

Two of the current justices are over 70 - Clarence Thomas, 75, and Samuel Alito, 73.

Sonia Sotomayor turns 70 next month.

Biden named Brown Jackson to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of 83-year-old Justice Stephen Breyer in 2022.
House Republican Jim Jordan is lauding the Supreme Court siding with the National Rifle Association in a recent ruling as a "big win for freedom."

On Thursday, the Court was undivided in their agreement to reverse a lower-court ruling that tossed out the NRA's lawsuit against a former New York state official who urged banks and insurance companies to cut ties with the gun rights group.

"The Supreme Court unanimously backed the National Rifle Association in a First Amendment ruling that could make it harder for state regulators to pressure advocacy groups," the 60-year-old Ohio representative wrote on X in response to the decision. "BIG WIN for freedom!"

The Supreme Court unanimously backed the National Rifle Association in a First Amendment ruling that could make it harder for state regulators to pressure advocacy groups.



BIG WIN for freedom! https://t.co/WafdGRpqpX  Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) May 30, 2024

The ruling stems from an incident involving Department of Financial Services Superintendent Maria Vullo when she made the alleged request following the 2018 mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school that left 17 people dead, CNN reported.

"Ultimately, the critical takeaway is that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech, directly or (as alleged here) through private intermediaries," Justice Sonja Sotomayor wrote in her opinion.

The ruling revives the NRA's suit that claims Vullo violated the group's free speech rights.

When Vullo was part of the Cuomo administration she issued guidance letters that urged companies regulated by the Department of Financial Services to evaluate risks "including reputation risks," that may arise from their dealings with the NRA.

Some companies reacted by cutting ties with the association. The group says the state blacklisted them and threatened the companies with retaliation if they didn't stop doing business with them.

It claims that it violated the NRA's rights.

The opinion does not shield the NRA and other advocacy groups from regulation, the Associated Press reported.
Steven Seagal, the action star turned Vladimir Putin confidant, delivered a speech at the Kremlin on Thursday after Russian President Vladimir Putin gifted the actor with the award of the Order of Friendship, honoring him for his role as the Kremlin's special diplomatic representative to the U.S.

Reading from a prepared text, Seagal stoically delivered the speech, encouraging those in attendance to "come together and fight for truth and justice" against Nazi propaganda.

Almost mechanically, Seagal began reciting a list of the Kremlin's wild claims about Ukraine, including "human trafficking, organ trafficking, narco-trafficking, and child sex trafficking"-just about all the trafficking-"bio-chemical warfare labs, fascism, and nazism," according to The Daily Beast.

"And these are the things that we still tried to make them our brothers," the former action star said.

"This war that we are currently embroiled in was started and financed by the West and has come to involve the entire world in the fight against good and evil."

Seagal, 72, was personally granted a Russian passport by Putin himself in 2016.

In 2018, he was appointed a special envoy to "facilitate relations between Russia and the United States in the humanitarian field, including cooperation in culture, arts, public, and youth exchanges."

His accomplishments remain unclear.

At Putin's swearing-in ceremony for his fifth term earlier this month, Seagal told reporters,

"He's the greatest world leader; he's the greatest."
Former President Donald Trump addressed the press Thursday in the immediate aftermath of the guilty verdict handed to him in the hush money trial.

"This was a rigged, disgraceful trial," Trump told reporters.

The Manhattan jury found Donald Trump guilty, marking the first time a former U.S. president has been convicted of a crime.

The jury delivered their verdict after a month-long trial that included 22 witnesses.

Trump faced 34 charges in connection with payments made to former porn star Stormy Daniels.

Prosecutors claimed that Trump falsified his company's business records to keep stories about marital infidelity from becoming public during his 2016 presidential campaign. He denied any affairs and said he broke no laws.
Republican lawmakers and allies of former President Donald Trump immediately rushed to his defense on Thursday, sending a flurry of statements and social media posts after a Manhattan jury found him guilty of 34 felonies related to a payment made to Adult film star Stormy Daniels in the midst of the 2016 election.

"Today's verdict represents the culmination of a legal process that has been bent to the political will of the actors involved," Florida Governor Ron Desantis wrote within 3 minutes of the guilty verdict being announced. "a leftist prosecutor, a partisan judge and a jury reflective of one of the most liberal enclaves in America-all in an effort to "get" Donald Trump. "

Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert wrote seconds after, "The American people see through the Democrat games and know this is a sham verdict."

Trump's son, Donald Jr., shared a two one word reaction to the verdict. "Such bullshit."

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene went with even less words, instead sharing an image of an upside down American flag.

Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts brought against him on Thursday afternoon. Prosecutors claimed that Trump falsified his company's business records to keep stories about an affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels from becoming public during his 2016 presidential campaign. Daniels gave the jury a detailed account of an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in a Nevada hotel in 2006.

She said she accepted $130,000 from Cohen in the final weeks of the election to buy her silence about the story.

Even after being handed a guilty verdict, Trump maintains he is an "innocent man" who has done "nothing wrong." He is likely to appeal his conviction, delaying any sentencing.

Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan quickly denounced the manhattan courtroom as a "kangaroo court," claiming the guilty verdict is "what happens when our justice system is weaponized by partisan prosecutors."
Questions are swirling around the future of former President Donald Trump, after he was convicted on all 34 felony charges of falsifying business records in connection with the Stormy Daniels hush-money case.

The 77-year-old presumptive GOP nominee is the first U.S. president to be convicted of a felony after 12 jurors deliberated his fate for just as many hours, CNN reported.

He appeared statuesque as Judge Juan Merchan read aloud the nearly three dozen guilty verdicts in a Manhattan courtroom, before announcing a July 11 sentencing, following six weeks of riveting testimony featuring star witness and former "fixer" Michael Cohen.

Trump faces up to four years in prison for paying Daniels  a former porn star  $130,000 to keep quiet of their affair during the 2016 presidential election.

"This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt," Trump told reporters outside the courtroom, adding that the case is "far from over," according to CBS News.

"The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here," he continued. "We'll fight to the end."

Will Donald Trump Appeal His Conviction?

Trump's attorneys are expected to quickly appeal his conviction, according to the Associated Press.

However, they have 30 days to file a notice with the courts, and six months to file the full appeal, according to the Washington Post. Legal experts said the appeals court would likely stay Trump's sentence until after a formal decision is handed down.

Will Donald Trump Have to Go to Prison?

Although Trump faces up to four years in prison for each of the 34 Class E felonies, he might be able to escape prison time altogether if Merchan permits.

"The judge could sentence him to anything between zero and the max," attorney and legal expert Dan Horwitz said, according to CBS. "So he could sentence him to a period of months in jail, he could sentence him to a period of weeks in jail, he could sentence him to a sentence where he is required, for example, to go to jail every weekend for a period of time and then serve the rest of the sentence on probation."

Trump could also be ordered to wear an ankle monitor and sentenced to home detention, which Horowitz said he believes will be the most likely outcome.

Trump's repeated violation of Merchan's gag order could also come into play when the judge decides on prison time. Merchan accused Trump several times of violating the order that prohibited him from commenting publicly on the people involved in the trial.

When Will Donald Trump Be Sentenced?

Sentencing for the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is slated for July 11, days before the Republican National Convention.

Both sides were ordered to submit sentencing memos by June 13, according to CNBC.

Before July, Trump will also likely sit through a pre-sentencing interview with a probation officer where they will go over his mental health, and personal and criminal history, which contains no prior convictions.
President Joe Biden's camp touted "no one is above the law" moments after Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 felony charges of falsifying business records in connection with the Stormy Daniels hush-money case.

"Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain," Biden campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said in a statement, according to NBC News. "But today's verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality."

"We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment," White House counsel's office spokesperson Iam Sams said.

Biden isn't expected to hold a press conference regarding Trump's verdict, but could comment on it during future briefings with the media, the outlet reported, citing an unnamed source.

The Biden campaign weren't the only allies of the 46th President to vocalize their support of the jurors' unanimous decision. Many Democratic lawmakers celebrated the historic verdict.

"He was found guilty on all 34 counts," New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said during a Town Hall immediately following the adjudication. "The rule of law applies to everyone."

In a statement to FOX News, California Rep. Adam Schiff echoed a similar sentiment. "Guilty. Today, 12 ordinary American citizens found a former president guilty of dozens of felonies. Despite his efforts to distract, delay, and deny - justice arrived for Donald Trump all the same. And the rule of law prevailed."

"The jury has spoken," South Carolina Congressman Jim Clyburn wrote on X. "Justice has prevailed."

Trump faces up to four years in prison for paying Daniels  a former porn star  $130,000 to keep quiet of their affair during the 2016 presidential election.

"This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt," Trump told reporters outside the courtroom Thursday, adding that the case is "far from over," according to CBS News.

"The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here," he continued. "We'll fight to the end."
President Joe Biden gave Ukraine the OK to use American-made weapons to strike targets inside Russia but cautioned that the arms should be used for "counterfire purposes" to defend its second-largest city of Kharkiv from Russian attacks, according to reports.

"The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S. weapons for counterfire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them," a U.S. official told Politico, noting that the administration's stand on allowing long-range strikes inside Russia "has not changed."

Ukrainian officials, including President Volodomyr Zelenskyy, have been clamoring for the United States to allow them to defend Kharkiv, which is 12 miles from the Russian border, from attacks launched inside Russia.

The change will allow Kyiv to deploy U.S. weapons - rockets and rocket launchers - against Russian missiles heading toward Kharkiv, at troops gathering just over the border or Russian bombers firing bombs toward the city, Politico said.

But Ukraine cannot use the weapons to target civilian infrastructure or use long-range weapons to attack deep inside Russia.

Russian forces have been pressing military operations in the area around Kharkiv by boosting the presence of troops and attacks by cruise and ballistic missiles and drones, exploiting a delay by the United States to replenish military aid, the Associated Press reported.

The shift in policy began about two weeks ago during intensive discussions among members of the Biden administration, the report said.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and Gen. CQ Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, talked to their Ukrainian counterparts on May 13 who pleaded for permission to use the U.S. weapons to hit Russian positions across the border, the AP reported.

After their meeting, the three recommended Biden change his stance.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken also pressed Biden to change the policy after Zelenskyy during a visit two weeks ago made the case for using the weapons to strike Russia across the border.

Blinken hinted at the impending change Wednesday when he said the administration remained firm against Ukraine attacking deep inside Russia over fears of escalating the conflict but noted the U.S. will "adapt and adjust."

"As the conditions have changed, as the battlefield has changed, as what Russia does has changed in terms of how it's pursuing its aggression, escalation, we've adapted and adjusted, too, and I'm confident we'll continue to do that," Blinken said at a news conference in Moldova, the AP reported.
A New York man who made over 12,000 harassing phone calls to members of Congress, including threats to kill with a bomb, has pleaded guilty and now faces significant prison time and fines, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia announced.

Ade Salim Lilly, 35, of Queens, N.Y., pleaded guilty to federal charges of interstate communications with a threat to kidnap or injure and repeated telephone calls.

Lilly made more than 12,000 telephone calls to approximately 54 congressional offices - both in Washington and in districts across the country - between Feb. 1, 2022, and his arrest in Puerto Rico on Nov. 8, 2023. Of the calls, 6,526 were made to offices in Washington, while Lilly was in Maryland or Puerto Rico.

On Oct. 21, 2022, Lilly called a congressional office in Washington and threatened the person who answered. "I will kill you, I am going to run you over, I will kill you with a bomb or grenade," Lilly told the employee. Over a two-day period in February 2023, Lilly called one representative more than 500 times.

In some of the calls, most of which were answered by staffers or interns, an angry Lilly used "vulgar and harassing language."

Congressional staff asked Lilly to stop calling, and the U.S. Capitol Police informed Lilly multiple times that due to their harassing nature, the phone calls he was making were prohibited by law.

"To avoid detection and to trick congressional staff to answer his phone calls, Lilly masked his phone number," the U.S. attorney's office said.

After Lilly was indicted, U.S. Capitol Police sent agents to arrest him in Puerto Rico.

If convicted, Lilly faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the threat charge, and up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine for the repeated phone calls charge. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 28.

--with reporting by TMX
While Donald Trump's guilty verdict won't prevent him from voting (in most states), running for president or taking office if he wins, former activities like visiting the British royal family is now off-limits as travel is severely restricted for convicted felons.

Some 37 countries  including the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand, China, Japan, India and Israel  prohibit convicted felons from entering.

Unless Trump's convictions are overturned on appeal or nations make exceptions if the felon becomes president, Trump would be barred from visits to those countries.

The United States also bars entry to foreigners convicted of felonies if the crimes involve "moral turpitude," such as unethical behavior like the fraud charges against Trump. That restriction, however, does not apply to U.S. citizens.

But high-profile visits by Trump during his campaign to foreign leaders in their own nations would take a hit.

The former president could be barred from leaving New York if he is sentenced to prison and then granted bail during an appeal or placed on probation.

Florida, Trump's state of residence, follows the voting protocol of the state where a felon is convicted. New York denies felons the right to vote, but only while they are serving time in prison.

"New York only disenfranchises people while serving a prison sentence, so assuming Trump is not sentenced to prison time, his rights would be restored by New York law and therefore also in Florida," Blair Bowie, director of the Restore Your Vote program at the nonprofit Campaign Legal Center, explained to the San Francisco Chronicle.

Trump is also now prohibited from owning a firearm, and cannot serve on a jury unless he obtains a Certificate of Rehabilitation or is pardoned. He can't work as a police officer, ambulance driver or fire fighter, among a number of other jobs, according to the law firm Mazzoni Valvano Szewczyk & Karam.

All restrictions could all be moot depending what the Supreme Court decides concerning Trump's claim of immunity from federal prosecution for official acts he took as president.

Trump's sentencing in the hush-money case is scheduled for July 11.
Ukrainian drones destroyed a $100 million long-range radar system operated by Russia in Crimea overnight Thursday, according to a report.

The Nebo-SVU system was used by Moscow to monitor about 235 miles of the front and protected Russian facilities in the Crimean peninsula, Kyiv Independent reported, citing Ukrainian intelligence sources.

The radar system, in Armiansk, a town in the north of Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014, has been shut down and has not been brought back online, the report said.

"This operation 'blinded' Russian air defenses on a large segment of the front," the source told the Kyiv Independent.



This battlefield development comes as U.S. President Joe Biden gave Ukraine the OK to use American-made weapons to strike targets inside Russia, but cautioned that the arms should be used for "counterfire purposes" to defend its second-largest city of Kharkiv from Russian attacks.



The Crimean peninsula was annexed by Russia in 2014.
Kimpton Grand Roatan Resort & Spa, part of IHG Hotels & Resorts' luxury and lifestyle portfolio, has announced the appointment of Diego Padula as General Manager. A seasoned leader in the luxury hospitality industry, Padula brings his wealth of experience to Roatan's first international branded hotel offering.

Originally from Montevideo, Uruguay, Padula joins the leadership team at Kimpton Grand Roatan Resort & Spa with more than 20 years of experience in opening and managing lifestyle hotels across Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe. Padula most recently served as the General Manager of Soho House Mexico City and Mondrian Mexico City Condesa, where he successfully spearheaded the grand openings of both brands' inaugural Latin American properties. Prior to these roles, he spent six years in the Middle East contributing to the grand openings of the W Muscat in Oman and the W Dubai Mina Seyahi in the United Arab Emirates. In 2006, Padula was recognized as "Maitre of the Year" by Placer Magazine, the youngest recipient in the award's history.

Padula continues his successful hospitality career with his new role as General Manager of Kimpton Grand Roatan Resort & Spa, where he will oversee the resort's daily hotel operations, maintain quality standards and ensure guest satisfaction. Padula's global hospitality experience has given him a proven ability to localize and elevate established brands from a guest perspective. He is passionate about creating authentic experiences that reflect the local culture and environment, and he is dedicated to building strong relationships with the community.
Moxy Miami Wynwood, the lifestyle hotel brand that's redefining modern travel, is excited to announce the appointment of Julio Grisales as the new Director of Sales. With an impressive 17-year career in the hospitality industry, Julio brings invaluable experience and a fresh approach to this crucial role. Based in Miami, he will spearhead the hotel's sales strategies and play a pivotal role in establishing Moxy Miami Wynwood as a premier destination in Miami.

The Moxy brand is known for its innovative approach to hospitality that challenges traditional norms, and Moxy Miami Wynwood will be its second location to open in South Florida later this year. Julio's role will be integral in driving forward the brand's mission to offer vibrant, unique experiences unlike any other in the hotel industry. Julio's extensive background includes roles at major hospitality brands like Marriott, Hyatt, and Sheraton, with a background in Marketing, Business Administration, and a Master's in Business & Strategic Management from Barcelona. His international experience, having lived in Colombia, Spain, and Israel, adds a unique global perspective to his sales leadership, enriching the multicultural essence of Miami.
Sixty years ago, a catchy tune and a whimsical boat ride debuted at the 1964 World's Fair before moving to Disneyland in 1966. At a time when air travel was still a luxury, its miniature landscapes offered people a glimpse into the world. Americans saw the temples of Thailand and the carnivals of Brazil. "It's a Small World" wasn't just a boat ride; it was a portal for discovery.

Today, that small world has become a reality. Around four billion people fly every year to experience new places, meet loved ones, and do business. Affordable travel has opened up even the most remote corners of the globe. From trekking through the ancient Inca empire to sailing along the glaciers of Antarctica, travel is an integral part of the human experience.

Tourism is also critical to prosperity. Data from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) shows that the sector contributes over US$10 trillion dollars to the global economy each year, creates 330 million jobs, fostering cultural exchange and enhancing our understanding on a scale that could only be imagined in a fairground ride 60 years ago. The iconic Small World song with its simple yet profound message of harmony reminds me that, despite our differences, we are all part of the human family.

Ive seen this in my own travels. Visiting new places and meeting new people has shown me that tourism is not just about seeing sights and monuments. It is about understanding different ways of life, appreciating cultures, embracing diversity and celebrating unity.

That is what made the COVID-19 pandemic so disorienting and tragic. Overnight, once vibrant communities became deserted tourist sites, empty airports, and shuttered businesses. Our world, so open, was suddenly closed.

As we rebuild, we need to make sure were never unprepared again. We need strong public health infrastructure, well-funded scientific research, and a commitment to technology in developing nations. As the World Health Organisation Director-General said, "nobody is safe until everybody is safe."

But that's not all. This week, governments around the world will gather at the World Health Assembly in Geneva. This is our opportunity to create a unified plan  a pandemic treaty  to prioritise global health and make sure we are never again unprepared for crisis. Countries must come together to guarantee testing, digital vaccination certificates, and a fair distribution of medical resources to keep us moving during the next disaster. And to ensure health checks are universally aligned, countries should join the WHOs Global Digital Health Certification Network (GDHCN), allowing seamless verification across borders.

A pandemic treaty and participation in the GDHCN are essential to ensure the bonds between cultures and people are not just a fantasyland attraction, but our reality no matter what threats emerge.

Only then can we have a truly interconnected small world, after all.

Julia Simpson

President & CEO

World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)
NEW YORK - Internationally recognized culinary innovator, author, educator, and humanitarian Jose Andres has been announced as the opening keynote-session speaker for the second iteration of The Hospitality Show, produced by Questex and the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA). Additional speakers and programming updates will be announced in the coming months.

In this lively discussion on Monday, Oct. 28 titled Changing the World Through the Power of Food, Andres will share his passion for affecting positive change, along with his belief in the principle that food is a basic human right.

Andres is a committed advocate of food and hunger issues and has championed the role of chefs in the national debate on food policy. In 2010, Andres formed World Central Kitchen, a non-profit specializing in delivering food relief in the wake of natural and humanitarian disasters. The organization has since delivered over 350 million meals worldwide.

In his culinary pursuits, Andres is known for being a pioneer of Spanish tapas in the United States, as well as his groundbreaking avant-garde cuisine. He created the award-winning group of nearly three dozen restaurant concepts, Jose Andres Group, which includes the two-Michelin-starred minibar by Jose Andres in Washington, DC, the acclaimed New York City food hall Mercado Little Spain, and multiple locations of the Bazaar by Jose Andres.

Andres has been named one of Times 100 Most Influential People in both 2012 and 2018, was a recipient of the 2015 National Humanities Medal, and has been celebrated by the James Beard Foundation as both an Outstanding Chef and "Humanitarian of the Year." As a naturalized citizen originally from Spain, Andres was named by President Barack Obama as the 2014 Outstanding American by Choice for his tireless advocacy supporting immigration reform.

Through The Hospitality Shows 2024 conference program, attendees will learn from over 100 industry heavyweights, who will provide attendees with tangible takeaways for more profitable and efficient operations. Industry professionals can customize their learning experience across three stages, each supplying various insights into the most pressing issues hoteliers are facing, including:

Shifting customer expectations

Increasing profitability through sustainability

Brand differentiation best practices

Workforce and stakeholder alignment

Franchising

The latest in technology disruption, and more

In addition to a robust conference program, The Hospitality Show will feature an expo floor filled with over 400 vendors offering the latest operations and technology solutions to streamline performance and drive profitability.

The Hospitality Show will take place October 28-30 in San Antonio, Texas. For more information and to register, visit the website at www.thehospitalityshow.com. For program updates as they are announced, sign up here to receive the show newsletter, and follow on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

Join us in San Antonio at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center Oct. 28-30, 2024. Apply for media credentials here.

About the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA)

The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) is the largest hotel association in America, representing more than 30,000 members from all segments of the industry nationwide  including iconic global brands, 80% of all franchised hotels, and the 16 largest hotel companies in the U.S. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., AHLA focuses on strategic advocacy, communications support, and workforce development programs to move the industry forward. Learn more at www.ahla.com.
Extendam acquires two Sofitels in Lisbon and Rome from AccorInvest

French investor Extendam has acquired the five-star, 163-room Sofitel Lisbon Liberdade in Portugal and the five-star, 78-room Sofitel Roma Villa Borghese in Rome from AccorInvest. The purchase price for the two hotels was not formally disclosed, but has been reported as being around 150 million (an average of 622,000 per room). Senior debt was provided by CaixaBank and its subsidiary Banco BPI for the Lisbon property, and by Credit Agricole Corporate Investment Bank (CICIB) for the Rome acquisition. Both financings were on the basis of green loans, with the two hotels set to undergo renovation programmes with a strong focus on environmental impact performance improvements, as well as the addition of a spa and wellness centre in Lisbon. Extendam is planning to launch a new, third fund in 2025, which will target ESG-focused hotel investments in urban areas across major European markets.

Gruppo Statuto to acquire Six Senses London from C C Land and MARK JV

Italian investor Giuseppe Statuto, through his firm Gruppo Statuto, has signed a binding agreement to acquire the future five-star, 109-room Six Senses London from JV owners Hong Kong-based C C Land Holdings and investment manager MARK, for 180 million (1,651,000 per room). The acquisition also includes 14 branded residences and ownership will officially transfer upon opening of the hotel in early 2025. The property will be managed by Six Senses under a 30-year agreement. The hotel is part of the 56,700 sqm redevelopment of The Whiteley, a Grade II listed building from the 1800s located in central London to the north of Hyde Park. In addition to the hotel, the project includes another 139 residences, 20 various retail outlets, a cinema and a large-scale gym.

ActivumSG divests Palacio Solecio in Malaga

Pan-European private equity firm ActivumSG has sold the four-star, 118-room Palacio Solecio in Malaga, Spain, to an undisclosed buyer for 51 million (432,000 per room). Located in the Old Town of Malaga, which is situated on the Costa del Sol in southern Spain, the building was constructed in the 18th century and acquired by ActivumSG for 8 million in dilapidated condition. The firm undertook a comprehensive, two-phased renovation and extension of the property, which was completed in 2023 following the development of three adjoining plots that provided a further 50 rooms plus a rooftop pool and restaurant. The hotel now spans over 8,000 sqm across five floors, and has been operated by Marugal Distinctive Hotel Management since 2019 under a management agreement.

Barcelo acquires Hotel Midas Roma in Rome from ZEITGEIST AM

Mallorca-based Barcelo Hotel Group has acquired the four-star, 350-room Hotel Midas Roma in Rome, Italy, from pan-European real estate investor ZEITGEIST Asset Management. The combined transaction value plus planned investment into the property total roughly 60 million (171,000 per room). Located on the western outskirts of the Italian capital in close proximity to Romes A90 ring highway, the hotel primarily targets a MICE clientele, with a 17-meeting room convention centre that has capacity of up to 1,300 delegates. The group is expected to refurbish the asset and resume trading under the Barcelo brand. This acquisition comes after the firm announced a 400 million global expansion strategy across existing and new markets in Q2 2024, with a focus on the MENA region.

Grupotel acquires Hotel Mayorazgo in Madrid from Salazar Gordon family

Spanish hotel chain Grupotel Hotels & Resorts has acquired the four-star, 200-room Hotel Mayorazgo in Madrid, Spain, from the Salazar Gordon family, after it was brought to market in 2023 with an asking price of 60 million, or 300,000 per room. Centrally located near the Casa de Campo park and within walking distance of the Royal Palace of Madrid, the hotel includes four F&B outlets and meeting rooms for up to 180 people. This transaction will mark Grupotels entry into Madrid, and will increase its portfolio to 46 properties, 36 of which are located across the Balearic Islands. Prior to the sale, the hotel had been in the hands of the Salazar Gordon family for over 65 years. During Covid, the hotel underwent a 1 million renovation programme.

H10 Hotels acquires Labranda Costa Mogan in the Canary Islands from Atom

Spanish owner operator H10 Hotels has acquired the four-star, 125-room Labranda Costa Mogan hotel on Gran Canaria Island in Spain from Spanish REIT Atom Hoteles, for 31.7 million (254,000 per room). The hotel is located on the southern part of the island, some 30 minutes by car from its international airport. Atom acquired the asset in 2019 for 15 million (120,000 per room), after which it underwent a full refurbishment programme of roughly 6 million (48,000 per room). Following this acquisition, H10 will take over the management of the property, and will see its portfolio increase to 67 hotels across Spain, major European capitals and the Caribbean.

Patrizia acquires Malmaison Edinburgh City from Harrison Development

German real estate investment firm Patrizia AG, on behalf of an unnamed UK institutional investor, has acquired the four-star, 72-room Malmaison Edinburgh City hotel from British developer S Harrison for 25 million (347,000 per room). The hotel is situated on St Andrews Square, one of the city centres most important landmarks, within a short walk of Edinburghs main train station. The asset was fully renovated in 2020 and is now operated under a 30+ year lease by the domestic boutique hotel group. The property is projected to reach between 85% and 90% occupancy during 2024, the third-highest across the Malmaison portfolio. There are currently 18 Malmaison hotels, located across key UK cities, including London, Liverpool, Oxford, Birmingham, Brighton and Leeds.

Atland acquires ibis budget Bilbao City from Extendam

French publicly-listed REIT Atland SA, through its SCPI Epargne Pierre Europe fund, has acquired the economy, 149-room ibis budget Bilbao City hotel in Bilbao, Spain, from French investor Extendam. This acquisition marks the REITs first venture into hotel real estate, and the divestment reportedly leaves Extendam with a 16% IRR on its invested equity. Under a new partnership, the hotel is set to be managed through a long-term lease to Continuum Hospitality Group, which is the second-largest Accor franchisee in Spain. This Atland SCPI targets commercial properties outside of France, with a portfolio currently concentrated in Spain and the Netherlands, which, as of December 2023, comprised seven assets and ten leaseholds.

Agromarket acquires Austria Trend Hotel Ljubljana from Generali and Peakside

Asset managers Generali Investments Slovenia and Peakside Capital Advisors, through the Generali Adriatic Value Fund, have sold the four-star, 214-room Austria Trend Hotel Ljubljana in Slovenia to Serbian agri-food group Agromarket. The hotel includes a wellness area and a convention centre with 11 rooms, and is located on the outskirts of the capital city, with direct access to the highway system. Having acquired the asset in 2019, the fund undertook a comprehensive renovation of the property and renewed the lease with the operator. The Generali Adriatic Value Fund was the countrys first real estate regulated alternative investment fund, and has a geographic focus on Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia, targeting returns of 13% gross IRR and a target fund size of 100 million.

Luxury Hotel Partners acquires Hotel GHM Monachil in Spain

Family-owned hotel group Luxury Hotel Partners, led by the Shamoon brothers, has acquired the 80-room Hotel GHM Monachil in Pradollano, in the Spanish Sierra Nevada mountain range. The hotel is located on the slopes of the Sierra Nevada Granada Andalusia ski resort, which features 112 kilometres of skiable area across 134 slopes, and includes the highest slope in Spain at 1,200 metres. The purchasers plan to refurbish the hotel and to take advantage of operational efficiencies with the Maribel Ski & Apres-Ski and The Lodge - Ski & Spa. Luxury Hotel Partners other hotel investments include the famous Marbella Club and Puento Romano hotels, as well as the Nobu Ibiza.

Extendam acquires Hotel Silken Rona Dalba in Spain

French investor Extendam has acquired the three-star, 94-room Hotel Silken Rona Dalba in Salamanca, Spain, from an undisclosed seller. Situated in central Spain, some two hours drive west of Madrid, Salamanca is a town of approximately 300,000 inhabitants. Following its acquisition, the asset is set to undergo an extensive renovation programme to be repositioned as a more energy efficient four-star hotel. Spanish group Silken Hoteles, which has been the propertys operator for over 23 years, will participate in the transformation alongside the new owner and remain in place as operator. Silken currently operates some 34 hotels across Spain.

About HVS

HVS is the world's leading consulting and valuation services organization focused on the hotel, restaurant, shared ownership, gaming, and leisure industries. Established in 1980, the company performs more than 4,500 assignments per year for virtually every major industry participant. HVS principals are regarded as the leading professionals in their respective regions of the globe. Through a worldwide network of over 50 offices staffed by 300 experienced industry professionals, HVS provides an unparalleled range of complementary services for the hospitality industry. For further information regarding our expertise and specifics about our services, please visit www.hvs.com.
Value hotel group easyHotel has further strengthened its financial position by securing a 42.5million loan from Santander UK to support its British and European expansion, alongside an additional 6 million loan from BRED Banque for one of its French hotels.

The UKs new 42.5 million loan from Santander UK will replace a previous agreement and includes a 7.5 million increase. This loan facility marks the fourth collaboration between easyHotel and Santander UK. The funds will finance low-carbon investments in the UK such as the installation of heat pumps and smart metering systems as well as a full refurbishment of their Glasgow hotel. Similar low-carbon works will be taking place across 9 hotels in France, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands.

For the second consecutive year, easyHotel has obtained funding from BRED Banque Populaire to expand in France, including financing for a new 110-bedroom hotel in Marseille. Set to open this autumn, the new hotel will feature the brands latest low-carbon room design which emits 21% less CO2 over a 50-year lifecycle vs the competition. The hotel is set to receive BBCA accreditation from their new low-carbon label developed with easyHotel specifically for the hotel industry. Marseille will be the fourth property in France, joining hotels in Paris Charles de Gaulle Villepinte, Paris Nord Aubervilliers and Nice Palais de Congres.

The new refinancing agreements stem from the Group's growth and a successful trading year, with the brands owned and leased 2023 hotel revenue climbing by 35% compared to 2022. Total revenue including franchised hotels surpassed 100m for the first time. Recent openings in Paris and Dublin have outperformed budget and with continued expansion into mainland Europe, two-thirds of sales now come from continental Europe.

2023 was a record year for revenue at easyHotel driven by our great value product and leading easy brand awareness in travel. It has been a pleasure to work with Santander for the fourth time. Looking ahead, our development team are working across more new hotel deals than ever before as we step up our growth of low carbon and great value hotels across Europe over the coming years. Charles Persello, CFO of easyHotel

Thanks to its strategic developments and commitments, easyHotel is experiencing strong demand and has a robust pipeline for owned and franchised developments into 2024 and beyond, with the potential to grow by 120 hotels over the next four years.

We are pleased to be supporting easyHotel with this loan facility, enabling the business to expand both in the UK and overseas. We welcome the hotel groups growth strategy and are looking forward to seeing our relationship with easyHotel thrive. Paul OReilly Relationship Director  Hotels, at Santander UK

As well as opening in Marseille, easyHotel opens its fourth hotel in Zurich later this year. Further refinancing deals are expected to be announced for Spain soon as the Group is currently building hotels in Barcelona Meridiana, Alicante and Valencia.

About easyHotel

easyHotel is an affordable, low-carbon chain of value hotels. It was founded in 2004 by Sir Stelios Haji loannou and is now 79.1% owned by ICAMAP Investments S.a r.l and Ivanhoe Cambridge.

The company's purpose is to offer affordable travel to all. It now has over 42 establishments in 11 countries, with all hotels ideally located in city centres or near major transport links. Over the past few years, easyHotel has been working to achieve its ambitious growth objectives, with several developments in the pipeline in major city centres and a planned schedule of hotel openings. It has the potential to grow to 120 European hotels over the next four years.

ICAMAP Investments S.a r.l. is an investment fund managed by ICAMAP S.a r.l., an asset management company founded by Guillaume Poitrinal, Harm Meijer and Alexandre Aquien.

Ivanhoe Cambridge internationally develops and invests in high-quality real estate properties. It is a subsidiary of Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), a global investment group.

Operating hotels:

easyHotel has an estate of 42 hotels with c.4,300 rooms, comprising 16 franchised hotels (c.1,300 rooms) and 26 owned and leased hotels (c.3,000 rooms)

Hotels:

United Kingdom: London Shoreditch, London Paddington, London Victoria, London South Kensington, London Croydon, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Ipswich, Milton Keynes, Cardiff, Oxford, Reading, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast

Benelux: Amsterdam City Centre, Amsterdam Arena, Amsterdam Zaandam, The Hague, The Hague Scheveningen, Rotterdam, Maastricht, Brussels

Europe: Berlin, Charles de Gaulle (Paris), Paris Nord Aubervilliers, Marseille, Nice, Alicante, Barcelona Fira, Barcelona Meridiana, Malaga, Madrid, Valencia, Zurich City Centre, Zurich West, Zurich Central Station, Zurich Main Station, Basel, Lisbon, Sofia, Budapest, Dublin
TRI Protects Valedictorian's First Amendment Right to Talk About God in Graduation Speech Without Being Censored

NEWS PROVIDED BY

The Rutherford Institute

May 31, 2024



TAMPA, Fla., May 31, 2024 /Christian Newswire/ -- After being ordered by school officials to remove religious references from his valedictorian speech, a Florida high school senior was eventually able to give his full, uncensored speech at graduation as a result of The Rutherford Institute's intervention.

Lucas Hudson, a valedictorian of the Collegiate Academy at Armwood High School in Hillsborough County, Fla., was ordered by school officials to remove religious references from his graduation speech or he would not be permitted to speak at all. Lucas' family turned to The Rutherford Institute for help. After Rutherford Institute attorneys warned school officials that their actions could expose the school to a lawsuit, Lucas was permitted to give the speech of his choosing. As Lucas' father wrote, "Your defense of Lucas became an inspiration for the students in his school and sparked a healthy and meaningful debate among the teachers, students, and parents about the value of the First Amendment and the need for limits on government control over our personal beliefs. Thank you for being there for my son when he needed you most."

"If America's schools are to impart principles of freedom and democracy to future generations, they must start by respecting the constitutional rights of their students," said constitutional attorney John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute and author of Battlefield America: The War on the American People. "While the government may not establish or compel a particular religion, it also may not silence and suppress religious speech merely because others might take offense."

As valedictorian of the Class of 2024 for the Collegiate Academy at Armwood High School, Lucas Hudson was provided the opportunity to give a graduation speech in May 2024. Lucas' planned speech thanked the people who helped shape his character, reflected on how quickly times goes by, and briefly urged people to use the short amount of time we have to love others and to serve the God who loves us and who sent his son, Jesus, to save us. However, after submitting his speech to the principal, Lucas was told that his speech would not be accepted unless he reduced and changed the religious content. Although Lucas modified his speech, the religious message was still not acceptable to school officials who told Lucas that he needed to "make appropriate adjustments" to his speech by the next day or he would not be speaking at all. Lucas then changed his speech to include only a short sentence about the privilege of knowing the God who saved him.

In coming to Lucas' defense, The Rutherford Institute warned school officials that their actions violated the rights to freedom of speech and the free exercise of religion under the First Amendment, Florida law, and the School District's policy. As Institute attorneys explained, in addition to the protections under the First Amendment, the "Florida Student and School Personnel Religious Liberties Act" provides that student speakers at graduation ceremonies be given a limited public forum which does not discriminate against the speaker's voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint. The law also requires school districts to give a disclaimer at all graduation events that the students' speeches do not reflect the endorsement, sponsorship, position, or expression of the school district. This makes it abundantly clear that the speeches are solely the private expression of the students and not that of the school. School officials eventually agreed to allow Lucas to speak freely about his religious beliefs in his valedictorian speech at graduation.

Lucas' speech can be viewed here, starting at 31:10.

The Rutherford Institute, a nonprofit civil liberties organization, provides legal assistance at no charge to individuals whose constitutional rights have been threatened or violated, and educates the public on a wide spectrum of issues affecting their freedoms.



SOURCE The Rutherford Institute



CONTACT: Nisha Whitehead, 434-978-3888 ext. 604, nisha@rutherford.org


PLANO, Texas - Bentley Legacy Holdings (BLH) is targeting strategic growth with the official launch of its hotel operating division, Bentley Legacy Group, the acquisition of new properties and the hiring of industry-leading talent to further cement its position within the hospitality industry. The intentional investments in dynamic properties throughout the country and the hiring of two experienced industry leaders Matt Berge and Ginger Van Nest allow BLH to be a premier hospitality partner and operator.

Helmed by Les Bentley with his three daughters in key roles, BLH is set to continue on the remarkable growth of the past year, which included the creation of Pendant Capital, a funding and investing arm led by David Capps. The formation of Bentley Legacy Group as the management arm of BLH allows the company to prioritize top notch guest experiences and financial performance for its portfolio, including the recently announced acquisition of The Raphael Hotel, Autograph Collection, in Kansas City, Missouri.

As we have been making significant investments in properties across the country and bringing them into our portfolio, we always knew we wanted to return to our roots and be hands-on as the management team behind the guest experience at those hotels, Bentley said. Hotel operations have always been part of our family history, and its a legacy I am proud to continue, following in the footsteps of my father and passing the torch to my daughters as the third-generation visionary partners for hotel ownership, investments and management.

In addition to the Raphael Hotel, BLH has an ownership stake in La Fonda on the Plaza and the soon-to-be reimagined Old Santa Fe Inn, both in Santa Fe, New Mexico; Senza Hotel in Napa, California; Poco Diablo Resort in Sedona, Arizona; Canopy by Hilton Dallas Uptown; and the Hampton Inn & Suites Boerne in Boerne, Texas. BLH is continuing to expand this portfolio with an investment in the future Hotel Bozeman and Residences, the first Autograph Collection branded hotel in Montana, which is set to open in 2026.

With our portfolio continuing steady growth, we wanted to further optimize our investments by assuming management of these assets, said Lisa Holman, Chief Financial Officer of Bentley Legacy Holdings. We can realize the true value and potential of each property because were able to be more nimble and efficient as we streamline our management to better align with other aspects of the company. Being in the owner-operator seat gives us a new level of control and allows us to deliver the kind of guest interactions we want people to associate with Bentley.

With this focus on operations comes new talent, as the hiring of Berge and Van Nest add significant hospitality operations expertise to an already-deep bench of talent.

Berge joins BLH as President and Chief Operating Officer, bringing 37 years of operational experience with both brands and third party operations. Most recently SVP of Operations at Aimbridge Hospitality, where he saw a diverse portfolio, Berge also spent more than 20 years with Starwood. Van Nest serves BLH as the Senior Vice President of Commercial Services, overseeing sales, e-commerce and revenue management. Her 15 years of industry experience include sales and commercial strategy roles at Aimbridge Hospitality, as well as 8-plus years as a brand champion for Hyatt.

This is an exciting time to be joining Bentley Legacy Holdings, as we have an incredible opportunity to be part of a family-run operation and contribute to building something that ultimately creates a greater return on our investments, Berge said. Our perspective comes from being both an owner and an operator, and we are intimately involved with every single deal in our portfolio, which gives us unique insights into the daily operations and builds more trust with our investors and other partners.

BLH was born from a passion for hospitality and hotel operations, founded by industry legend Les Bentley in 2013 following an illustrious career that includes roles as the original founder of Aimbridge Hospitality, President of Wyndham International and operating leader at Marriott.

Learn more about BLH at bentleylegacy.com.

About Bentley Legacy Holdings

Bentley Legacy Holdings was founded in 2013 with the purpose of actively managing family investments. Bentley Legacy Holdings encompasses multiple hotels, restaurants and operating businesses with a primary focus on the hospitality industry. We continue to diversify our investment activities in companies with the same vision, quality and ethics to which we hold ourselves. Bentley Legacy Holdings includes a diverse portfolio of branded, independent lifestyle and luxury properties. Bentley Legacy Group is the operating division led by a team of seasoned professionals. Pendant Capital is the investment platform headed by David Capps which specializes in sourcing hospitality opportunities and capital investments.
The School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) celebrated 45 Years of Educational Excellence by hosting a gala dinner at Hotel ICON on 30 May. Nearly 300 guests from around the world attended the event to celebrate the Schools 45th anniversary. The School also announced that Mr Jung-Ho SUH, Chairman of the Ambassador Hotel Group was inducted into the SHTM Gallery of Honour on the same day and presented him the prestigious SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award at the dinner.

In her welcome address, Dr Miranda LOU, Executive Vice President of PolyU, said, The year 2024 represents a special milestone for the SHTM. For everyone at the School and the University, the key thing to celebrate is not the mere passage of time, but the vision and scale of achievement that have led to the creation of a world-leading centre of educational and research excellence that continues to set new standards for advancing knowledge and serving the hospitality and tourism industry. I have full confidence in the SHTMs ability to reach even greater heights of global excellence and continue to lead development in the field in the years ahead.

In its pursuit of excellence, the SHTM strongly emphasises innovative research and encourages a robust research culture amongst its international faculty of more than 90 academics from 20 countries and regions worldwide. In the current academic year, more than 1,450 students from around the world are enrolled on the Schools programmes, which range from the undergraduate to doctoral levels.

The upscale Hotel ICON, which opened in 2011, is at the core of the SHTMs innovative approach to education and research. This unique, purpose-built and purpose-driven hotel not only supports the School in nurturing a new generation of passionate, pioneering professionals who will become leaders in hospitality and tourism, but also enables SHTM faculty members to conduct in-depth research to advise this global industry.

Along with providing world-class facilities for learning and research, the School has continuously expanded its innovative programme offerings over the years. In 2023, SHTM became a two-time recipient of the International Society of Travel and Tourism Educators (ISTTE) Institutional Achievement Award, exactly two decades after first receiving this recognition from the Society in 2003.

These impressive results are due to the hard work and endeavours of all SHTM and Hotel ICON colleagues. They would also not have been possible without the support and guidance from PolyU, members of the Schools International Advisory Board, the Schools Advisory Committee, the industry and SHTM alumni. As the School bids farewell to its first 45 years, it sets its sights on achieving further global excellence in the field over the next decades.

The celebration culminated in the announcement of the prestigious 2024 SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr Jung-Ho Suh, Chairman of the Ambassador Hotel Group, was honoured with the accolade.

An esteemed leader in the dynamic field of hospitality, Mr Suh is a pioneer of the hospitality industry in Korea. He has achieved remarkable business success by expanding Ambassador Hotel Group, one of the countrys top hotel groups, to embrace a highly diverse range of brands under Accor-Ambassador Korea. His achievements and contributions to the hospitality industry are exceptional. Mr Suh is truly a role model for future hospitality professionals and a source of inspiration for all.

At the ceremony, Mr Suh said, It is a great honour to be bestowed the SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award. I am humbled to accept it and join past recipients, whom I have long admired and respected. It has been a tremendous pleasure to be a part of this exciting global industry, which has, in itself, been extremely rewarding.

The SHTM, under the leadership of Dean Kaye Chon, has gone from strength to strength, and is now among the top few hotel and tourism schools in the world. I am very much encouraged to have witnessed the Schools ongoing efforts in nurturing generations of hospitality leaders, driving the overall development of the industry. On the occasion of the Schools 45th anniversary, may I congratulate all SHTM faculty and staff on achieving this major milestone, he continued.

Highly regarded for his exemplary achievements in hospitality, Mr Suh has relentlessly pursued innovation and success, both within the Ambassador Hotel organisation and in the broader hospitality industry. His strong academic foundation, which includes a Bachelors degree from the College of Hospitality at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and an MBA degree from UNLVs Business College, has equipped him with a profound understanding of the hospitality industry and a passion for the profession. The numerous accolades Mr Suh received for his contributions to the tourism industry in Korea and France further validate his exceptional leadership and dedication. Please visit the Schools website for the biography of Mr Jung-Ho Suh.

Expressing his sincere congratulations to Mr Suh on receiving the honour, Prof. Kaye CHON, SHTM Dean, Chair Professor and Walter and Wendy Kwok Family Foundation Professor in International Hospitality Management, said, The SHTM prides itself in being a leading force in education and research in hospitality and tourism. Our commitment to excellence is well supported by industry heavyweights and visionary leaders such as Mr Jung-Ho Suh. With steadfast support from our industry partners, our School is committed to nurturing the bright minds who will become future leaders of this very exciting global industry.

The Gallery of Honour is located in the SHTM lobby and displays portraits of the outstanding recipients of the SHTM Lifetime Achievement Award, who represent the worlds most successful hospitality organisations and recognisable brands. The School established the Award to honour individuals who have made substantial contributions to the development of hospitality and tourism in Hong Kong, the region and the world, as these leaders have helped define the global hospitality landscape and drive the industry forward.

About PolyU School of Hotel and Tourism Management

For 45 years, the School of Hotel and Tourism Management (SHTM) of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has refined a distinctive vision of hospitality and tourism education and become a world-leading hotel and tourism school. Ranked No. 1 in the world in the "Hospitality and Tourism Management" category in ShanghaiRanking's Global Ranking of Academic Subjects 2023 for the seventh consecutive year; placed No. 1 globally in the "Commerce, Management, Tourism and Services" category in the University Ranking by Academic Performance in 2022/2023 for six years in a row; rated No. 1 in the world in the "Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism" subject area by the CWUR Rankings by Subject 2017; and ranked No. 1 in Asia in the "Hospitality and Leisure Management" subject area in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2024, the SHTM is a symbol of excellence in the field, exemplifying its motto of Leading Hospitality and Tourism.

The School is driven by the need to serve its industry and academic communities through the advancement of education and dissemination of knowledge. With a strong international team of over 90 faculty members from 20 countries and regions around the world, the SHTM offers programmes at levels ranging from undergraduate to doctoral degrees. Through Hotel ICON, the School's groundbreaking teaching and research hotel and a vital aspect of its paradigm-shifting approach to hospitality and tourism education, the SHTM is advancing teaching, learning and research, and inspiring a new generation of passionate, pioneering professionals to take their positions as leaders in the hospitality and tourism industry.

Website: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/shtm/.

Pauline Ngan

Senior Marketing Manager

+852 3400 2634

Hong Kong PolyU
In an era of constant evolution, industries must continuously innovate to stay competitive. The hospitality sector is no exception, with hotel groups seeking new ways to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.

One intriguing model worth exploring is the airline industrys business approach. By adopting certain aspects of the airline model, hotel groups can potentially revolutionize their business strategies. In this article, well delve into the key components of the airline model and discuss three practical examples of how hotel groups can integrate these principles into their operations.

But first, why should hotel groups consider adopting the airline model?

In the dynamic landscape of the hospitality industry, adopting the airline model can serve as a strategic imperative for hotel groups. This approach can optimize revenue through dynamic pricing strategies. The airline models proven success in tailoring prices based on demand and seasonality allows hotels to maximize profitability during peak periods while enticing budget-conscious travelers during off-peak times.

Furthermore, incorporating tiered loyalty programs enhances guest retention by offering personalized perks, fostering brand loyalty, and ensuring a steady flow of repeat bookings. Diversifying revenue streams with ancillary services not only boosts income but also elevates the overall guest experience, transforming a simple stay into a comprehensive and memorable journey.

In essence, adopting the airline model can equip hotel groups with the tools to navigate market fluctuations, enhance customer satisfaction, and position themselves as innovators in an increasingly competitive industry. Below, we break down three practical ways your hotel group can consider implementing the airline model.

1. Dynamic Pricing Strategies

One of the most successful aspects of the airline industry is its dynamic pricing strategy. Airlines have mastered the art of adjusting prices based on various factors such as demand, seasonality, and booking trends. This dynamic pricing model allows airlines to optimize revenue by offering different prices for the same service at different times.

For hotel groups, implementing a dynamic pricing strategy can be a game-changer. By leveraging data analytics and technology, hotels can adjust room rates in real-time based on factors like occupancy rates, local events, and even weather conditions. For instance, during peak tourist seasons or major events in a city, hotels can raise their prices, maximizing revenue during high-demand periods. Conversely, during off-peak times, hotels can attract budget-conscious travelers by offering discounted rates, ensuring a steady stream of guests throughout the year.

2. Loyalty Programs with Tiered Memberships

Airlines have long understood the importance of customer loyalty, and they have implemented tiered membership programs to reward frequent flyers. These programs offer various benefits such as priority boarding, lounge access, and exclusive discounts, encouraging passengers to stick with a particular airline for their travel needs.

Hotel groups can emulate this successful model by introducing tiered loyalty programs. By categorizing guests into different tiers based on their frequency of visits and spending, hotels can offer personalized perks to enhance the overall guest experience. For example, top-tier members might enjoy complimentary room upgrades, exclusive access to hotel amenities, and personalized concierge services. This not only fosters brand loyalty but also encourages guests to choose a particular hotel group for their future stays.

For example, Small Danish Hotels (SDH) enhances guest experiences and promotes brand loyalty through its comprehensive loyalty program. By earning points, guests are incentivized to explore different hotels within the SDH group, effectively implementing a cross-selling strategy. These accumulated points offer guests added value, as they can be redeemed not only for hotel stays but also for purchasing branded products from the SDH online shop. This assortment of items, ranging from umbrellas to other merchandise adorned with the SDH logo, serves both to enhance the customer experience and to bolster brand visibility.

3. Ancillary Revenue Streams

Airlines have successfully diversified their revenue streams by capitalizing on ancillary services such as baggage fees, in-flight meals, and seat upgrades. Hotel groups can adopt a similar approach by identifying and monetising additional services beyond room bookings. This strategy not only generates additional income but also enhances the overall guest experience.

For instance, hotels can offer premium services such as exclusive event planning, personalized guided tours, or curated dining experiences. By providing these extra services, hotels can cater to the diverse needs and preferences of their guests, turning a one-time stay into a comprehensive and memorable experience.

Conclusion

Incorporating elements of the airline model can breathe new life into the hotel industry, fostering innovation and improved customer satisfaction. Dynamic pricing strategies, loyalty programs with tiered memberships, and ancillary revenue streams are just a few examples of how hotel groups can draw inspiration from the airline industrys success. As the hospitality sector continues to evolve, embracing these principles can position hotel groups at the forefront of innovation and ensure long-term success in an ever-changing market.

About GuestCentric

GuestCentric is a leading provider of cloud-based digital marketing software and services that help extraordinary hoteliers promote their brand, drive direct bookings and connect with customers on all digital platforms. GuestCentric's all-in-one platform provides hotels with the only unified solution for managing their guests' online journey: award-winning, high impact websites; an integrated, easy-to-use booking engine; social media marketing and publishing tools; a GDS chain code and a channel manager to offer rooms on Amadeus, Booking.com, Expedia, Galileo, Google, Sabre, TripAdvisor and hundreds of other channels. GuestCentric is a proud provider of solutions that maximize direct bookings to hotel groups and independent hotels from collections such as Design Hotels, Great Hotels of the World, Leading Hotels of the World, Relais & Chateaux, Small Luxury Hotels and Small Danish Hotels. GuestCentric is featured on Skift Travel Tech 250, a list of the top 250 travel tech companies shaping the modern-day travel experience.

Melissa Rodrigues

Content Manager

+35 196 157 3854

GuestCentric Systems

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TAAKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa - Image Credit Marriott

TAAKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa - Image Credit Marriott



Cradled between a labyrinth of wild forests and the glittering coasts of the Flores Sea, TA'AKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa invites guests to immerse in the rich culture and breathtaking seascapes of Labuan Bajo

The Luxury Collection today announces the opening of TAAKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Labuan Bajo in one of Indonesias most scenic and distinctive leisure destinations. The waterfront property, Marriott Internationals first in Labuan Bajo and The Luxury Collections second property in Indonesia, is nestled between a canopy of surrounding wild forests and the beauty of the Flores Sea.

Located in the heart of Labuan Bajo, the resort serves as a gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Komodo National Park and is just steps away from an array of cultural attractions such as Mirror Stone Cave, Rumah Tenun, Melo Village, and more. Short direct flights from Jakarta and Bali to Komodo International Airport, followed by a convenient 10-minute drive to TAAKTANA, ensure seamless connectivity and easy access for discerning travelers.

"TAAKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Labuan Bajo, marks a significant landmark as not only the first property in East Nusa Tenggara for The Luxury Collection brand, but also the first for the Marriott International portfolio at large, says Philipp Weghmann, Vice President and Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection. As we continue our global foray into the resort category, TAAKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Labuan Bajo is a natural and stunning fit. The Luxury Collection provides todays global travelers with rare experiences that are deeply reflective of the destination, and through that lens we invite guests to discover the beauty and vibrant history of Labuan Bajo.

Generously spread across 16 hectares and designed by ANP Interiors, TAAKTANA features 70 guest rooms including 25 villas and 45 suites that boast outdoor balconies with sweeping views of breathtaking sunsets. Seven overwater villas offer unrivaled luxury and tranquility, celebrating the Indonesian Sea Nomads way of life. Known for living on handcrafted longboats, the curved interiors masterfully capture the cultural significance with handcrafted wood finishings, rich textures, and airy layouts to celebrate the natural surroundings. Guest rooms also feature elegant furniture and artwork that reflect the regions indigenous crafts. Those staying in a villa have access to a dedicated 24-hour butler, ensuring that every aspect of their stay is perfectly tailored to their preferences and needs.

We are proud to introduce TAAKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Labuan Bajo as the latest addition to our portfolio, says Ramesh Jackson, Area Vice President at Marriott International, Indonesia & Malaysia. This marks a noteworthy milestone for Marriott International as we extend our presence into the captivating landscapes of Labuan Bajo. We invite travelers to explore and connect with the soul of Flores island, where luxury seamlessly intertwines with the rich cultural treasures of this captivating destination.

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The name TAAKTANA, meaning green land, is derived from the Manggarai language of Flores island and is an ode to Lingko Field, distinctive web shaped rice fields that serve as a cherished part of traditional Manggarai culture. Remaining true to its roots, the hotel embodies the destination's history, culture, and indigenous traditions, offering global explorers unique and authentic experiences of Labuan Bajo.

TAAKTANA invites guests to discover Labuan Bajo's rich epicurean traditions with three distinctive restaurants, a lounge and bar, which authentically showcase the styles and presentations of the regions cuisine. Leros is the hotel's all-day dining restaurant serving a curated menu influenced by Indonesias vast archipelago. Umasa features an authentic Indonesian culinary experience, served family-style, using products of local provenance. Taba, a Robata grill, specializes in carefully-sourced ingredients from the archipelago, prepared with Japanese techniques and finesse. Nera Lounge enchants guests with captivating sunset views while they savour a variety of tapas and an array of beverages, including crafted cocktails, coffee, and tea. Unwind at Maiga!, a vibrant bar with panoramic sea views, providing an innovative selection of re-interpreted quintessential drinks & snacks.

Guests can enjoy an invigorating workout in an exclusive Fitness Center, and for the ultimate indulgence, the hotel's Di'a Spa invites guests to be immersed in a serene sanctuary inspired by the mystical caves of Labuan Bajo. Featuring six private treatment rooms, a steam room, plunge pool and more, the spa invites guests to rejuvenate and reconnect with Mother Nature. With the resorts stunning design providing the perfect backdrop, TAAKTANA is poised to welcome all occasions, from business meetings with two spaces to choose from, to weddings with an oceanfront chapel.

It is an honor to welcome guests to our haven in Labuan Bajo, says Peter-Paul Kleiss, Resort Manager of TAAKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Labuan Bajo. Our resort is not just a destination; it's a journey into the heart of Labuan Bajos heritage and breathtaking landscapes. The property is a testament to our commitment to providing a unique and authentic guest experience, where luxury meets tradition. I am excited to lead our dedicated team in ensuring that every guest discovers the magic of TAAKTANA, delivering unparalleled experiences in this extraordinary corner of Indonesia.
Williamstown Paving Schedule

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  The Town of Williamstown will be milling and paving the following roads beginning on June 3, 2024, and in no particular order.

 School Street

 Moorland Street

 Meacham Street

 Park Street

On street parking for the above listed streets is prohibited during the hours of 6:00am  6:00pm during construction.

There may be traffic delays in these areas.

Schedule is subject to change due to weather conditions.
Weekend Outlook: Pride Celebrations and More

There are a variety of events this weekend, including Pride celebrations, music, and more.

Editors Pick

Berkshire Pride Week

Various Locations, Berkshire County

June 1 through June 9

There will be various Pride events this weekend to celebrate the LGBTQIA-plus community.

Friday, there will be a Pride Pageant at the Adams Theater, where kings, queens, and everyone in between will take the stage to showcase drag artistry and self-expression in a competition for the crown and a one-year stint as the leader of the Berkshire County LGBTQIA-plus community. More information On, there will be a Pride Pageant at the Adams Theater, where kings, queens, and everyone in between will take the stage to showcase drag artistry and self-expression in a competition for the crown and a one-year stint as the leader of the Berkshire County LGBTQIA-plus community. More information here

Saturday at noon on the front steps of City Hall with a proclamation from Mayor Marchetti, a presentation of the Community Changemaker Award, and the raising of the Pride flag. More information The festivities also include a kick-off block party that begins onat noon on the front steps of City Hall with a proclamation from Mayor Marchetti, a presentation of the Community Changemaker Award, and the raising of the Pride flag. More information here

Saturday, starting at 2 p.m., there will be an LGBTQ-plus Youth Pride Celebration at the Common. The free event features games, activities, prizes, giveaways, food, snacks, and more. More information Also, on, starting at 2 p.m., there will be an LGBTQ-plus Youth Pride Celebration at the Common. The free event features games, activities, prizes, giveaways, food, snacks, and more. More information here

On Sunday, there will be the inaugural Berkshire Pride Rainbow Run 5K and 1-mile walk beginning at 9 a.m. at the Crane Ave. entrance of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail in Pittsfield.

Full Pride Week schedule here

Multiple Days

Berkshire International Film Festival 2024

Various Locations

May 30 through June 2

The event features screenings of films, shorts, documentaries, and discussions with filmmakers, actors, and directors, including Sheila Nevins and Barbara Kopple.

4000 Miles Performance

Berkshire Theatre Group, Stockbridge

May 29 through June 2

Amy Herzog's play 4000 Miles will be performed. It explores human connections, grief, and the unanticipated paths to solace. Tickets cost $65. More information here

Saturday

LGBTQ-plus Pride Month Kickoff Celebration

The Foundry, West Stockbridge

Time:  7:30 to 9:30 p.m.

The Foundry will kick off Pride Month with an evening of multidisciplinary work by local LGBTQ-plus artists, including music, spoken word, comedy, and more. Tickets are $10 for "early birds" and $20 for general admission. More information here

'This Verse Business' Performance

The Adams Theater

Time: 4 p.m.

Emmy-winning actor Gordon Clapp will play American poet Robert Frost in this award-winning one-man play. Tickets range from $26.99 to $105. More information here

Fundraiser for Remedy Hall

Wild Soul River, Williamstown

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

There will be a fundraiser to celebrate the nonprofit Remedy Hall's 3-year anniversary. They will be accepting full-size items to fill the VW bus for Remedy Hall including shampoo, hygiene wipes, deodorant, foot powder, toothpaste, toothbrushes, maxi pads/tampons, fans, and more.

Jane Hudson and Rebecca Guanzon will give three-card, $20 tarot readings. The proceeds will go to Remedy Hall.

More information here

Goat Yoga

Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield

Time: 10 a.m.

There will be an outdoor yoga class with the village's goats every Saturday until Sept. 7. All skill levels are welcome. Bring a yoga mat

Goats roam freely as you strike your poses with a certified yoga instructor. Tickets range from $22.50 to $25. More information here

Karaoke Night

VFW Post 996, North Adams

Time: 9 p.m.

Sing the night away for a chance to win $30 at the end of the night. Sing at least one solo song and stay till the end of the night for a chance to win. More information here

Harry A. Bateman Memorial Jimmy Fund Fishing Derby

Onota Lake Pavilion, Pittsfield

Time: 6 a.m. to noon

The fishing derby is open to the public and aims to raise money for the Jimmy Fund at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute for Children. All proceeds will be donated to the Jimmy Fund in memory of Harry A. Bateman, a former member of Central Berkshire Bowman & I.U.E. Local 255.

No fishing license is required. Free fishing weekend for the state of Massachusetts. More information here

Fitch Hoose House Opening Dalton Opening June 1 from 1 to 3 pm though September.

Sunday

Queering The Clark's Collection

The Clark Art Institute, Williamstown

Time: 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.

A Clark educator will lead a guided tour of the permanent collection to celebrate Pride Month.

The group will contemplate questions like "What makes an artwork queer?" and "How does our understanding of queerness today shape how we understand the identities and lives of artists in the past?"

More information here

Comedy Night

Bright Ideas Brewing, North Adams

Laugh over a drink at Bright Ideas on the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Arts campus. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased here

Annual Masterworks Concert

Seiji Ozawa Hall, Tanglewood

Time: 3 p.m.

The 95-voice chorus, accompanied by a full orchestra, will perform three masterpieces of choral literature, all of which address loss and turmoil. More information here

Farmer's Markets

Lenox Farmer's Market

St. Ann's Church, Lenox

Time: 11 to 3.

This market is open every Friday through Sept. 13, and features fresh produce, pastries, cheeses, and more. More information here
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There is, its fair to say, nothing more important to the movies than actors.

The right performance can tip a film into the realm of greatness; a bad one can doom an otherwise promising project to mediocrity or ridicule.

What would There Will Be Blood be without Daniel Day-Lewis at its centre? Would The Godfather still sparkle without Al Pacino and Marlon Brando?

These are not questions anyone is keen to know the answer to. The best performances are irreplaceable; they are key to the very essence of cinema.

But what happens when one good performance isnt enough to save a film? When a terrific performance is wasted on a substandard story?

From Anthony Hopkins to Leonardo DiCaprio, many of the finest actors working today have lent their talents to inferior projects. Sometimes they simply phone it in, but other times, they manage to shine despite the material.

Heres The Independents list of 23 secretly brilliant performances in bad films...

Phillip Seymour Hoffman  Along Came Polly (2004)

The late, great Phillip Seymour Hoffman was that rarest of things; an actor who brought depth to even the flimsiest of roles, from The Hunger Games Plutarch Heavensby to Mission: Impossible IIIs villainous Owen Davian. The critically lambasted romcom Along Came Polly may be the best example of this, however, as Hoffman delivering a coruscating comic turn that stole not just a scene but the whole film from under Ben Stiller and Jennifer Anistons noses.

Margot Robbie  Suicide Squad (2016)

Suicide Squad - Trailer

One of the worst blockbusters in living memory, David Ayers supervillain dirge Suicide Squad was met with unanimous damnation from the critical community. Reviews were also unanimous, however, in their praise for Margot Robbies performance, with the Australian star later reprising the role in two subsequent movies.

Tom Hanks  The Ladykillers (2004)

The Ladykillers is rightfully considered the nadir of the Coen brothers otherwise pretty miraculously consistent filmography. But thats not at all down to Tom Hanks, who compellingly reinvented a role so brilliantly inhabited by Alec Guinness in the classic Ealing original. Unctuous, erudite and deeply sinister, the felonious band leader is a far cry from any other character Hanks has tackled; he devours the Coens typically sardonic dialogue with a grin.

open image in gallery A not-so-serious man: Tom Hanks as Professor Goldthwaite Higginson Dorr in The Ladykillers' ( Buena Vista Pictures )

James McAvoy  Split (2016)

M Night Shyamalans pulpy multiple-personality horror Split had plenty of issues, but James McAvoys showstopper performance wasnt one of them. Playing, essentially, eight characters in one is a tough task to pull off, but McAvoy manages it with theatrical aplomb.

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Kristen Stewart  American Ultra (2015)

Though Kristen Stewart has been in a few of the best films of the last 10 years, shes still had her fair share of misfires. The 2015 stoner-thriller American Ultra was inarguably a misfire, as she played the girlfriend and handler of Jesse Eisenbergs amnesiac government sleeper agent. Its a bad film that never lives up to its larger-than-life premise, but Stewart turns in some remarkably good work here.

Peter Dinklage  Pixels (2015)

Theres almost nothing good to say about this insipid Adam Sandler video game comedy from 2015. But what little there is exclusively concerns Game of Thrones Peter Dinklage, who turns in an incongruously funny performance as obnoxious video game champion Eddie "The Fireblaster" Plant.

open image in gallery Peter Dinklage in the insipid 2015 gamer comedy Pixels' ( Sony )

Thomas Hayden Church  Spider-Man 3 (2007)

Probably the worst Spider-Man film to ever grace cinemas, Sam Raimis trilogy capper was a torrid mess of plotlines, too many villains and bad haircuts. The films only sincere pathos comes from Thomas Hayden Church, who manages to somehow survive the carnage with his head held high, playing the tragically fated Flint Marko, AKA Sandman.

John C Reilly  Kong: Skull Island (2017)

On paper, Kong: Skull Island should have been a blast. It had a solid cast (including Brie Larson, Tom Hiddleston, Samuel L Jackson, and John Goodman), an intriguing premise (King Kong during the Vietnam War) and the 104ft ape we all know and love. But the film was a major disappointment. The only saving grace was John C Reilly, whose brief appearance as a WWII pilot stranded on Skull Island after his plane was shot down felt like it was from another film entirely.

Uma Thurman  Batman & Robin (1997)

Uma Thurman knew how to pitch her performance better than anyone else in this despised 1997 superhero flick. In the role of fern fatale Poison Ivy, Thurman gives a performance of enjoyable camp extremity. To quote Janet Maslin in her contemporaneous review for the New York Times: As played by Uma Thurman, Poison Ivy is perfect, flaunting great looks, a mocking attitude and madly flamboyant disguises. Like Mae West, she mixes true femininity with the winking womanliness of a drag queen.

open image in gallery Uma Thurman as Dr Pamela Isley, AKA Poison Ivy, in Batman & Robin' ( Warner Bros )

Michelle Pfieffer  Grease 2 (1982)

The original Grease has not endured the ravages of time with a whole lot of grace, and its reviled 1982 sequel has fared even worse. Nevertheless, Grease 2 had one living, breathing redeeming quality: its 23-year-old newcomer star Michelle Pfieffer, whose charisma and talents survived the stink of the whole schlocky affair.

Alan Rickman  Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)

Kevin Costner may have failed to set Sherwood Forest alight with his role in the ropey Robin Hood adaptation Prince of Thieves, but the same cant be said for his co-star Alan Rickman. The Die Hard star gave an outstanding performance as the nefarious Sheriff of Nottingham. Was Rickman playing to type? Well, yes, but there was pretty much no one better at doing what he does here.

Martin Freeman  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)

Forged in the afterglow of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Peter Jacksons Hobbit prequels were doomed to live in the shadow of their predecessors. But not many people were ready for quite how bad they were. Look past the dodgy CGI and over-egged plotting, however, and Martin Freeman was an inspired choice as a young Bilbo Baggins: no-one plays a genial, put-upon everyman (or should that be everyhobbit?) quite like him.

open image in gallery Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' ( New Line Cinema )

Max von Sydow  Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2011)

This skin-crawling 9/11 drama was criticised upon its release for being exploitative and trying to milk sentiment from real-life tragedy. Max Von Sydows performance was spared the knives, however, with the legendary Swedish actor giving a moving  and wordless  turn as an elderly renter. His efforts didnt go unacknowledged, and von Sydow was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

Phil Hartman  Jingle All the Way (1996)

Barring a few notable exceptions (such as The Simpsons and NewsRadio), the late Phil Hartman pretty much made a career out of radically outshining his co-stars. During his eight-year stint on Saturday Night Live, a low period for the shows reputation, Hartman was known as the glue. He didnt manage to hold all the cracks in the wretched holiday comedy Jingle All the Way together, but he was nonetheless an enjoyable, consistently funny presence, playing Arnold Schwarzeneggers smarmy neighbour.

Leonardo DiCaprio  The Great Gatsby (2013)

Baz Luhrmann was always an odd choice to adapt F Scott Fitzgeralds literary classic; his brand of cinema is one of bombast and flash. While Tobey Maguire was a pretty drab Nick Carraway, and the usually brilliant Carey Mulligan underwhelming as Daisy Buchannan, DiCaprio was perfectly cast as Gatsby, striking the right balance of insecurity, bluster and poignancy.

open image in gallery Boats against the current: DiCaprio as Jay Gatsby in The Great Gatsby' ( Warner Bros )

Anthony Hopkins  Transformers: The Last Knight (2017)

For an actor of the highest calibre, Anthony Hopkins has still been known to phone it in from time to time; when he receives a script, he reportedly marks certain pages with the letters NAR (No Acting Required). Hed have been forgiven for just dialling it in for this dismal Transformers sequel, but instead, hes unnecessarily compelling, playing a sagacious astronomer whos studied the history of Transformers.

Oscar Isaac  Sucker Punch (2011)

Even by director Zack Snyders own standards, Sucker Punch was something of a spiky, unpleasant misstep. The film, a fantasy about a woman who tries to escape a mental institution through a series of fantasy worlds, was savaged by critics. Oscar Isaac, not yet a name movie star, acquitted himself shockingly well, however, playing a despicable orderly at the facility.

Adam Driver  Star Wars: Episode IX  The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

Theres much to detest about the final film in the so-called Skywalker Saga, from the dialogue and the lazy fan pandering, to the way in which it all but abandoned story arcs previously given to characters like Finn (John Boyega) and Rose (Kelly Marie Tran). Though his masked villain, Kylo Ren, is rushed through a slipshod redemption-by-numbers story, Adam Driver doesnt stop turning in good work, however. The force was certainly weak with this one, but Driver emerged from the wreckage with his reputation utterly unscathed.

open image in gallery Adam Driver as Kylo Ren in The Rise of Skywalker' ( LucasFilm )

Ewan McGregor  Star Wars: Episode III  Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Driver wasnt the only actor who valiantly struggled to provide a good performance in a thoroughly bad Star Wars film. Ewan McGregors work as Obi-Wan Kenobi came under scrutiny throughout the first two of George Lucass maligned prequels, but by the third, he had well and truly found his footing.

Michael K Williams  Assassins Creed (2016)

Even by the metric of video game adaptations, Assassins Creed was capital-b Bad. Usually bankable actors like Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard were histrionic and laughable here; the plot and characterisation almost defy belief. But in the midst of this is The Wires Michael K Williams, delivering a typically classy turn as a Haitian Assassin called Moussa.

Florence Pugh  Black Widow (2021)

The Marvel Cinematic Universe has lured a number of elite actors to its shores, from veterans like Robert Redford and Michael Keaton to younger stars like Michael B Jordan and Zendaya. In terms of up-and-comers, there are few better than Florence Pugh, who appeared as Yelena in the otherwise dreary 2021 blockbuster Black Widow. Pugh makes the films lead, Scarlett Johansson, pale in comparison, but the materials simply not up to snuff.

Matthew Lillard  Scooby Doo (2002)

Say what you will about the puerile 2002 movie adaptation of the classic kids cartoon Scooby-Doo, but you cant really fault the casting. Linda Cardellini, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Freddie Prinze Jr are all well-suited to the roles of Velma, Daphne and Fred respectively, but theyre not a patch on Matthew Lillard (Scream; Twin Peaks: The Return), whose big, swing-for-the-fences performance as the feckless slacker Shaggy Rogers is a masterclass in understanding the assignment.

open image in gallery Matthew Lillard as Shaggy Rogers in Scooby-Doo: The Movie' ( Warner Bros )

Raul Julia  Street Fighter (1994)

The Addams Familys incomparable Raul Julia died tragically in 1994 at the age of 54, having suffered a stroke. While it may seem like a shame for his final major film to be as shoddy an effort as Street Fighter, Raul Julias performance in it is nothing short of a cult sensation. Playing the villainous M Bison, Julia is laugh-out-loud funny, a wonderful foil for a set of unworthy adversaries.
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Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolies daughter, Shiloh, has legally requested to drop Pitt from her surname after her parents acrimonious split, reports suggest.

Shiloh  who turned 18 on the day of the filing on Monday, May 27  asked for her legal name to be changed to Shiloh Jolie in court documents obtained byTMZ.

The dancers request to drop Pitt from her surname comes days after it was revealed her sister Vivienne, 15, had seemingly also dropped Pitt from her surname.

Vivienne is part of the production team for the new Broadway musical The Outsiders and is listed in the Playbill as Vivienne Jolie.

Multiple publications have claimed Pitts other children who he shares with Jolie  Zahara, Maddox, Pax and Knox also no longer use his surname. However, Shiloh is the first to make the legal change.

The Independent has contacted Pitts representatives for comment.

Reports of strained relations between Pitt, 60, and his children have been swirling in the years since he and Jolie, 48, split in 2016 after two years of marriage and 12 years together.

Last year, the former couples daughter Zahara, 19, was introduced in her universitys sorority as Zahara Marley Jolie, also excluding her fathers surname.

open image in gallery Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolies daughter Shiloh has legally requested to drop Pitt from her surname ( Getty Images )

Jolie is said to have filed for divorce after an incident on a September 2016 private flight from France to Los Angeles.

The court filings, which were obtained by The New York Times, claimed that Pitt choked one of the children and struck another in the face and grabbed Jolie by the head and shook her.

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The filing also states that, at one point, he poured beer on Jolie; at another, he poured beer and red wine on the children.

Pitt vehemently denied the claims at the time, and he was never charged following an investigation into allegations of abuse on the 2016 flight.

Last November, Jolie and Pitts son Pax, 20, was alleged to have called Pitt a world class a**hole and f***ing awful human being in a scathing Fathers Day post on his private Instagram account, three years prior.

open image in gallery The dancers request comes days after her sister Vivienne had seemingly also dropped Pitt from her surname ( Getty )

You time and time and again prove yourself to be a terrible and despicable person, Pax allegedly wrote alongside a picture of Pitt accepting the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 2020, for his performance in Quentin Tarantinos Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood.

You have no consideration or empathy toward your four youngest children who tremble in fear when in your presence, the teenager continued.

Earlier this year, Jolies lawyers claimed that Pitts history of physical abuse of Jolie started well before the familys September 2016 plane trip, but noted that the flight marked the first time he turned his physical abuse on the children as well, causing the Salt star to leave the relationship immediately.

In 2022, Pitt and Jolie became embroiled in further legal drama when he sued her for secretly selling her shares of a French winery, Chateau Miraval, which they purchased together when they were a couple.

The Fight Club actor claimed that he invested a lot of time and money in the winery through the years and that the estranged couple had an understanding that neither of them could sell off their shares without the other persons consent.

open image in gallery Pitt and Jolie split in 2016 after two years of marriage and 12 years together ( Getty )

Earlier this month, a Los Angeles judge ruled Jolie would have to submit eight years worth of non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) as part of the ongoing legal battle.

In April, Jolies legal team filed a motion seeking to release communications that they say would prove Pitt would not let her sell her share of the winery to him unless she agreed to an expansive NDA.

Pitts lawyers then asked that Judge Lia Martin compel his ex-wife to submit the NDAs she had signed in the past.

The actors legal team argued that the NDAs were highly relevant to Jolies purported justifications for refusing to adhere to her contractual obligations to Pitt when she sold her shares of the winery to a Russian oligarch named Yuri Shefler.

open image in gallery The couple are embroiled in a legal battle over their French Winery, Chateau Miraval ( AFP via Getty Images )

Jolies attorney, Paul Murphy, told The Daily Mail that they are more than happy to turn the NDAs over. Common NDAs are simply not comparable to Mr Pitts last-second demand to try and cover up his personal misconduct, Murphy said.

He added that Jolies team is gratified that the Court acknowledged that the only potential relevance is to the unconscionability of Mr Pitts conduct, a now confirmed key issue in this case.

Murphy claimed the ruling opens the door to discovery on all issues related to Pitts abuse and we welcome that transparency in all parties discovery responses.

He continued: Angelina looks forward to the eventual end of this litigation with its false narratives that continue to hurt the family and interfere with their ability to heal.
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Edouard Baer, the French actor known for playing Asterix in the 2012 film Asterix and Obelix: God Save Britannia, had a live show cancelled in Paris after allegations of sexual assault.

The allegations were made by six women in an article published last week by Mediapart and the feminist website Cheek.

They alleged that Baer harassed and assaulted them between 2013 and 2021, in his office, during theatre productions, and radio appearances.

Baer played Asterix opposite Gerard Depardieu, who is himself grappling with his sexual assault allegations.

Baer issued a statement in response to the allegations: I do not recognise myself in the words or gestures attributed to me, but I can only express my regret that my behaviour made these women uncomfortable or hurt. I didnt have the intelligence to perceive it.

The women, who were all in their twenties when the alleged assaults took place, said most of the incidents occurred in professional settings, reported Euronews.

One of the women described having to fight off the comedian when he tried to kiss her on the neck and mouth in the bathroom before a show, while another said the actor grabbed her left breast with his hand in a lift.

The Antoine theatre in Paris, where Baer was scheduled to play 15 dates in June, announced the cancellation of his shows on Thursday.

It did not provide a reason for the cancellation.

open image in gallery Edouard Baer and Gerard Depardieu attend Asterix & Obelix: God Save Britannia photocall at Hotel de Rome on 1 October 2012 ( Getty )

The French parliament this week held special hearings to address sexual harassment in the countrys film industry. At a hearing on Thursday, casting directors proposed banning nudity during auditions as one of several measures to limit abuse.

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The MeToo movement didnt have the same cultural impact in France as it did in the US, but Judith Godreches complaints in February against director Benoit Jacquot for rape with constraint and against filmmaker Jacques Doillon for rape with violence during the making of the 1989 movie The 15 Year Old Girl had substantial impact.

Depardieu, who stands accused of sexual misconduct by at least 16 women, will appear in court in October over assault allegations made in 2021.

Depardieu, Jacquot and Doillon have all denied the allegations.

Rape Crisis offers support for those affected by rape and sexual abuse. You can call them on 0808 802 9999 in England and Wales, 0808 801 0302 in Scotland, and 0800 0246 991 in Northern Ireland, or visit their website at www.rapecrisis.org.uk. If you are in the US, you can call Rainn on 800-656-HOPE (4673).
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Saturday Night Lives Donald Trump was resurrected after the former president was found guilty in a high-profile hush-money trial.

Many celebrities, including Robert De Niro, are all reacting to the outcome of the case, which saw Trump become the first criminally convicted US president in history.

Now, James Austin Johnson, a known Trump impersonator who made his debut on US sketch show SNL in 2021, has shared an Instagram video reacting to the verdict.

In the clip, which has been widely shared online, Johnson gave a monologue, hilariously delivered in Trumps meandering style, that eventually referenced the ex-presidents claim the trial was a disgrace.

When you go to a Buca di Beppo, theres so many wonderful things that are on walls and that there are on the table, frankly, if you look at the pope room, theres a big head of the pope, and you should be able to play with it, I think, like an action figure or something, he said.

You know when you go to a collectible store and they have so much behind glass, you cant look at any of it? The last time I checked, Buca di Beppo was not a collectible store, so we would like to be able to take the framed photographs down from the mens room at Buca di Beppo.

Here, referencing the trial, Johnson as Trump said: And instead what you have is a very disgraceful judge who has said that youre not allowed to do that when in fact you should be allowed to do that because theyre fun pictures.

And the carbonaras very expensive. And I think carbonara  what is that, like four, five ingredients? Peas, its bacon, you know, they give it a different name, Italian name, but its bacon. And I think some cheese, maybe a couple eggs. And it sounds like breakfast but its a very yummy pasta. But they charge you so much.

open image in gallery James Austin Johnson as Donald Trump on SNL ( NBC )

SNL often mocks Trump, most recently setting its sights on the ex-president over his bizarre attempt to sell Bibles.

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One person who is not happy with the guilty verdict is Piers Morgan, who called the trial ridiculous and shameful hours after the jury came to its decision.

Morgan previously said he believes that Trump being found guilty would almost guarantee his victory in the forthcoming election.

After news of the verdict broke, the broadcaster claimed that Trumps donation websites are crashing, adding: My guess is this verdict will propel him back into the White House.
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Jimmy Kimmel has mercilessly mocked Donald Trump after the 45th President was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records as part of a conspiracy to corruptly influence the 2016 presidential election.

On Thursday night (30 May), Kimmel opened his late night show Jimmy Kimmel Live! by announcing: We have a verdict in the case of the people versus OJ... I mean DJ... Donald John Trump is guilty of 34 felony charges.

He added: After seven long weeks, the courtroom is empty and Donald Trump's diaper is full.

The unanimous decision by the New York court marks the first-ever criminal conviction of an American president, who will now campaign once again for the White House as a convicted felon and fraud.

You do have to hand it to him, joked Kimmel. No president has ever been convicted more than Donald Trump. How long before he starts bragging about this?

As part of his monologue, Kimmel donned a judges robe to act out the delivery of the verdict, with sidekick Guillermo Rodriguez playing the jurys foreman. He then played footage of Trump raging outside the courtoom that: This was a rigged, disgraceful trial.

open image in gallery Jimmy Kimmel dons a judges robe as he mocks Donald Trump after the former presidents 34 felony convictions ( ABC/YouTube )

Trump continued: The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people, and they know what happened here, referencing the 2024 presidential election.

Im a very innocent man, he added. Well fight till the end, and well win.

Kimmel then cut in, jabbing: And if we dont win, well say we won anyway.

The comedian repeatedly reiterated the total of 34 felony convictions, joking: We should automatically make those jurors the new Supreme Court.

He went on to highlight the fact that Trump was joined in the courtroom by his son Eric, and that Eric had later posted on social media: May 30 2024 might be remembered as the day Donald J Trump won the 2024 presidential election.

Or, suggested Kimmel, it will be remembered as the day a jury in New York spanked your dad even harder than Stormy did with that Forbes magazine.

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Yesterday, ahead of the verdict, Kimmel had poked fun at Trump for likening himself to Mother Teresa.

The jury in Manhattan deliberated for nearly 12 hours before returning a unanimous verdict to New York Justice Juan Merchan. An emotionless Trump sat at the defense table as the foreperson read guilty for each of the 34 counts against him.

The former president  who refused to testify in his own defense  faces up to four years in jail and thousands of dollars in fines when he will be sentenced on July 11 at 10am ET.
As the result of a royal coup, 27-year-old Li Shimin, a prince who once campaigned to help his father impose stability across the country and establish the Tang Dynasty (618-907), ascended to the throne, taking the place of his elder brother, Li Jiancheng.

This dramatic moment is perhaps controversial. Nonetheless, when viewed over the long term, this detour in history led to an era of prosperity.

The 23-year reign of Li Shimin, posthumously known as Emperor Taizong of Tang, left a long list of impressive achievements to admire, including battlefield triumphs, a receptive attitude towards good advice in politics and national governance, even from followers of former rivals, and an inclusive policy towards ethnic groups from afar.

Consequently, the name given to his reign, Zhenguan, is widely seen as symbolic of a peaceful and flourishing time in ancient China.

An exhibition in Beijing at the National Library of China offers intriguing insight into this time as it guides visitors through the Zhenguan era.

Organised by Art Exhibitions China, the national library and several other institutions, Zhenguan: Li Shimins Saga of Prosperous Era is the first major exhibition in Beijing to focus on this iconic figure and includes 249 exhibits from 15 museums around the country, including pottery figurines, gold and silver artefacts, stone statues, and epigraphs. It will run until 25 August.

It seeks to show the human side of its subject. Through this exhibition, we will not just portray Li Shimin as a ruler with ambition and great expectations, explains Art Exhibitions Chinas Feng Xue, who is curator of the exhibition. We also want to present him as someone with emotions just like everyone else.

Looking back on the civilisation of the Tang Dynasty from various perspectives, we can sense the continuous innovation and creativity that define the cultural ethos of the era.

About 43.5 miles from the Tang capital Changan  todays Xian in Shaanxi province  lies the Zhaoling Mausoleum in Xianyang, Li Shimins resting place. It is the largest Tang Dynasty royal mausoleum.

Although the main grave where the emperor and his empress are buried remains mostly untouched, about 200 satellite graves, which belonged to concubines, princes and high officials, have yielded a trove of items, as if from a time capsule, key examples of which can be seen in the ongoing exhibition.

A mural portraying a smiling court lady is one such example. Dressed in a blouse with exquisite decorative patterns on its sleeves, a long skirt, and a knot of silk tied in across the front of her chest, the woman not only demonstrates the fashion and aesthetics of the Zhenguan period, but also provides an important academic reference for how attire evolved.

Another exhibit from the mausoleum, a blue-glazed pottery figurine of a standing woman, also reveals elegance and a sense of nobility, while the rarely seen colour of the time indicates cross-cultural influences, as the ingredients for the dye may well have been brought to China along the Silk Road, Feng says.

The Tang Dynasty is generally considered to be a golden era in Chinas imperial period, when national strength reached its zenith around the mid-8th century during the reign of Li Longji, Li Shimins great-grandson.

Scholars throughout Chinese history tended to credit the Zhenguan era as the beginning of a boom that lasted about a century.

The Tang Dynasty is known for its well-functioning politics, successful economy, flourishing cultures, and the shared development of many ethnic groups within a united nation, Sun Xiaobing, deputy director of Art Exhibitions China, says.

According to ancient records, Li Shimin received envoys from all over the world in a grand ceremony in Changan in 639, adding a new chapter to the tale of the city as a crossroads of the ancient Silk Road.

The light of the Tang Dynasty shone brightly on the stage of world civilisation, Feng says. It left references for national governance during dynastic periods.
In China, Covestro AG, a German chemicals manufacturer, is setting up a new plant in Zhuhai, Guangdong province; Schneider Electric SE, a French industrial conglomerate, will build an industrial park in Xiamen, Fujian province; and Bridgestone Corp, a Japanese tyre company, has announced it will invest 562 million yuan (61.1 million) in China over the next three years.

These seemingly unconnected corporate developments have one thing in common: they represent a trend of multinational corporations seeking fresh growth points in Chinas green transformation and rapid development of its high-end manufacturing sector.

Against the backdrop of global economic uncertainties, the idea of ensuring secure and sustainable investments has gained traction worldwide. MNCs, particularly those dealing in high-end materials, industrial parts and components, and green-related industries, are prioritising long-term returns.

To this end, they are establishing more innovation centres and advanced factories in China to sustain competitiveness while navigating future challenges.

For example, Marelli Holdings Co Ltd, an Italian-Japanese mobility product supplier to the automotive industry, will expand its engineering team in China from 800 to 1,000 soon to meet surging demand for innovation.

David Slump, the groups president and CEO, said Marelli will ride Chinas electric vehicle wave by supplying products ranging from automotive lighting and electronics to software solutions to its partners in the country.

Dismissing the China overcapacity narrative, especially in the areas of new energy industries, Slump said that China, recognised globally as a major EV market and home to some of the worlds leading EV manufacturers, will create substantial opportunities for global companies aiming to sustain robust growth in this burgeoning sector.

Markus Steilemann, CEO of Covestro, said he opposes the China has overcapacity narrative and is not a fan of excessive regulations, especially in markets where free trade is essential.

German chemicals manufacturer Covestro AG displays its green solutions at an expo in Shanghai ( PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY )

Excessively prohibitive measures and restrictions may not effectively boost productivity, and criticising perceived overcapacity is not the right way to global cooperation, said Steilemann, adding that about 75 per cent of Covestros planned investment in the Asia-Pacific region will be in China over the next three years.

Without revealing the specific investment figure, the German executive said that Covestro is currently building a plant to make thermoplastic polyurethanes in Zhuhai, with an annual production capacity of 120,000 metric tonnes by 2033.

Pan Yuanyuan, an associate researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Institute of World Economics and Politics, said Chinas abundance of innovative application scenarios, supported by favourable policies and a flourishing market, will remain attractive for global investors.

There will persist enticing investment opportunities, especially within emerging industries and innovative business formats, said Pan.

Latest data from the Ministry of Commerce show Chinas high-tech manufacturing sector attracted 12.7 per cent of the foreign direct investment inflows into China in the first four months of this year, up 2.7 percentage points year-on-year.

Following Chinas announcement that it has lifted all restrictions on foreign investment in the manufacturing sector and implemented measures to ensure equal treatment for foreign-funded companies, the number of newly established foreign-invested firms in China reached 16,805 in the first four months of this year, up 19.2 per cent year-on-year.

Jin Zhuanglong, minister of industry and information technology, said that efforts will be intensified to support foreign businesses in establishing R&D centres in China.

Moreover, collaboration with Chinese companies for technological research, industrial applications and expanding international cooperation in digital transformation, as well as green and low-carbon development of the manufacturing sector, will be prioritised, he said.

These policy measures will create favourable conditions for overseas businesses to participate in the development of Chinas new quality productive forces, said Zhu Bing, director-general of the Department of Foreign Investment Administration in the Ministry of Commerce.

Highlighting that the concept of new quality productive forces is fully in line with Schneider Electrics growth strategy, Yin Zheng, its executive vice-president of China and East Asia operations, said the company will strengthen its China Hub strategy this year in all aspects, including talent, innovation, supply chains and ecosystem development.
Farmer Liu Jingyi would play at the family chestnut tree just outside their yard when he was a child, climbing up its branches and into the hollow of its trunk.

It was a big tree, the trunk about 3.3 feet wide, probably more than 600 years old and very much a part of our lives, said Liu, now 79.

Liu is a fth-generation cultivator of chestnut trees in Aiyukou village of the Kuancheng Manchu autonomous county in Chengde, North Chinas Hebei province.

The village is a centre of chestnut cultivation. More than 400 Aiyukou households covering nearly 2.7 square miles of farmland yield about 1,000 metric tonnes of the nuts a year, with many of the trees hundreds of years old. About 193 square miles in Kuancheng are used to farm chestnuts, with an annual output value of 860 million yuan (93.3 million), according to the latest industry gures.

Local residents are justifiably proud of their sweet and plump chestnuts, grown with tried and tested farming practices stretching back to the Han Dynasty (206 BC-220). Two iconic Kuancheng chestnut trees, which forestry specialists said were planted in the year 1303, still bear fruit.

The county is now poised to tap the latest green development trends following a global nod to its model of sustainability. In November, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation included the Kuancheng Traditional Chestnut Eco-Planting System on its list of Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems, citing its rich cultural content that embodies the ecological view of respecting nature and the social organisation form that promotes agricultural production.

Since 2005, the organisation has designated at least 86 systems in 26 countries as agricultural heritage sites under its programme. China ranked first in the world in the number of the heritage systems by 2023, with its total of 22 entries.

Food entrepreneur Liu Jianxia holds a tray of oven-roasted chestnuts at her shop in Chengde, Hebei, in March ( WANG HAORAN / CHINA DAILY )

Kuancheng chestnut forests are distributed on the foothills and the lower parts of hillsides, existing in harmony with the local ora and fauna and setting an important example for the development of ecoagriculture in a mountainous, semiarid area with limited resources, said Shang Heli, economic crops director at Kuanchengs agriculture and rural affairs bureau.

Evolved from ancient times, chestnut cultivation here encompasses rationally allocated soil terraces, customised irrigation pits and channels, natural fertilisation and pest control, and complementary crops such as mushrooms and grain, as well as free-ranging poultry, grown and bred under the trees that altogether offer a closedloop, comprehensive, efficient and ecological farming tradition passed down generations, he said.

Behind this harmonious symbiosis between chestnut cultivation and the natural environment is a flexible smallholder farming and cooperatives network that constitutes a stable and highly adaptable social and economic operation mode, said Shang, who was closely involved in the countys application for inclusion on the UN heritage list.

Kuanchengs ecological view of respecting nature and the social organisation that supports agricultural production in turn reect its rich cultural connotations, according to the UN.

A code of conduct for protecting the natural environment and promoting the harmonious coexistence between humans and nature has been gradually established by the local community, with aspects such as clothing, dwellings, festivals and ceremonies showing peoples respect for and adaptation to their physical environment, it said.

Kuancheng residents like 40-year-old entrepreneur Liu Jianxia are looking to their roots to ride the latest developments, promoting Kuanchengs chestnuts at home and abroad.

Her three shops, two in the city centre and one in the county, selling chestnuts and other food products, help rake in more than 2 million yuan (217,000) a year.

Other than focusing on e-commerce trends such as livestreaming, Lius investments in innovative practices include modern food processing equipment and attractive product packaging to keep up to speed with evolving consumer tastes.

I received a lot of local support, such as government nancial aid, for my education all the way up to the tertiary level, where I majored in business management, she said.

Weve reaped a lot from our chestnuts, which are deeply embedded in our history, culture and way of life. It seems only natural to share the rich bounty of our home with everyone.
Eight years ago, Chi Tao experienced his first taste of modern theatre in his hometown of Huichang, Jiangxi province. Then 22 years old, the budding performer from a caichaxi, or traditional tea-picking opera, troupe found himself baffled by the contemporary play.

Understanding it was virtually impossible, the thought of one day playing such a role seemed a distant dream to him.

But Chi now has the leading role in a localised version of Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land. The work, which combines comedy and tragedy, is a signature play of theatre director and playwright Stan Lai, who helped establish a village theatre in Huichang.

On weekdays, Chi performs with the Huichang Tea Harvest Opera Theatre, a local troupe that specialises in Gannan tea-picking opera, a traditional form of Chinese opera that has flourished in the region for centuries. On weekends, Chi simply crosses a bridge from where his troupe performs to the Huichang Theatre Village, where he transforms into a contemporary actor, performing for drama lovers from across the country.

The changes seem unreal to the young man and he still feels a bit nervous about them. I often doubt whether Im good enough to deliver a perfect contemporary performance, he said.

Since the grand opening of the Huichang Theatre Village in January, about 500 plays have been staged there. Drama performances from China, Italy, France, and Spain have attracted more than 3.5 million visitors. During the May Day holiday, more than 250,000 visitors flocked to the theatre village.

Lai said the Huichang Theatre Village is an experiment to explore through art and culture other possibilities in the region, which is little known to outsiders due to its inconvenient transportation.

Lais father was born and raised in Huichang. In 2015, Lai started a project to stage his own theatre productions in his hometown every year. He has worked with the local government since 2017 to transform an old community into the Huichang Theatre Village.

The Secret Love in Peach Blossom Land made its debut in Taiwan in 1986, winning Lai great acclaim and many awards. The popular work combines a comedy, which is inspired by a utopia depicted by Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420) poet Tao Yuanming, and a tragic love story set during the turbulent period of the 20th century.

An artist from Italy presents a bubble show during the grand opening of the theatre village in January ( LIU YUANPENG / FOR CHINA DAILY )

All the actors for the localised version of the play are from the Huichang Tea Harvest Opera Theatre, and none of them had any experience performing in a modern play. The comedic element of the play was integrated with the local tea-picking opera, which combines dancing and singing, and reflections on the daily lives of tea farmers.

Tea-picking opera has thrived in the mountainous regions of Jiangxi for over 400 years. It is characterised by rhythmic music, vibrant costumes, and dances featuring unique movements similar to ballet dancers standing on the tips of their toes.

It opened a new world for young performers in the county. In the theatre village, we know various artforms. We are able to talk with actors from across the world. We could never imagine it before, said Chi, who started learning tea-picking opera at 13, and has never seen the world outside his home.

In June, Italys Sardinia Theatre company will bring Macbettu to Huichang, an alternative staging of Shakespeares tragedy Macbeth.

Its rare for locals to see foreign faces. This year, we are getting used to those foreign artists who love to interact with us through body language, said Zou Min, manager of the team operating the theatre village.
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South Korean billionaire Chey Tae-won has been ordered to pay 1.38tn won (788m, $1bn) in cash to his wife in what would be the countrys largest divorce settlement payout.

The chairman of the powerful SK Group has been ordered by the Seoul High Court to pay the settlement to his wife, who is the daughter of former president Roh Tae-woo.

The ruling comes a decade after their marriage fell apart over his extramarital affair with another woman.

Mr Chey married Roh So-young in 1988 and remained in wedlock for 35 years before she learned that he had a child with another woman he was seeing.

The lawyers for Mr Chey said he would appeal the ruling, insisting that the court had taken "Rohs one-sided claim as factual".

The court awarded Ms Roh 1.38tn won in property division and 2bn won in alimony.

The settlement is 66.5bn won more than Ms Roh was awarded by a lower court in 2022. The family court had rejected her appeal to receive a portion of Mr Cheys shares in his company.

The high court overturned the lower courts decision on Thursday and said the shares of her former husband should be considered their joint property and that she was entitled to a portion of them.

The court said "it was reasonable to rule that, as his wife, Roh played a role in increasing the value of SK Group and Cheys business activity".

The court said the new settlement took into account the emotional suffering of Ms Roh due to her former husbands extramarital affair.

It said Mr Chey was not showing any signs of remorse for his foul behaviour in the course of the trial...nor respect for monogamy.

Ms Roh would take an estimated 35 per cent of Mr Cheys 4tn won fortune.

The court noted that Ms Roh helped Mr Cheys business flourish during her fathers presidency from 1988 to 1993 by easing regulatory hurdles for SKs late chairman, Mr Cheys father Chey Jong-hyon.

Mr Cheys lawyers contended that his ex-wifes political connections had rather been a disadvantage.

SK Group operates South Koreas leading mobile carrier and controls SK Hynix, the worlds second-largest memory chip maker.
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Vishal Aheer and his team trudged up treacherous Himalayan mountain paths and across rickety bridges for seven hours to make sure that just 185 Indian villagers could vote in what has been a mammoth election.

The rules say no one should have to travel more than 2 km or so to cast their ballot - and Almi, a hamlet in Mandi constituency in the state of Himachal Pradesh, is one of the inaccessible areas where officials have to bring the ballot box to the voters.

We risked our life to get here, Aheer said after a trek that crossed rivers, pools and mountain passes.

Aheer, three officials and two policemen set out by road from the town of Bharmour on Thursday morning, then covered 15 km (almost 10 miles) on foot to reach Almi, nearly 3,000 m above sea level, at dusk.

Voting takes place on Saturday, ending at 6 pm. Then Aheer and his team have to head straight back down with the electronic voting machines in sealed boxes, which must be put in a strong room as soon as possible after voting is finished.

open image in gallery Polling officials make preparations inside a remote polling station in Almi ( REUTERS )

Almis voters make up roughly 0.0000002% of the 968 million-strong electorate, who have been voting in seven phases since April 19, and this is the most attention they expect to receive in parliaments five-year term.

They say vote for us, we will give you help from outside, we will give you a road, we will give you a school - but no one asks us our conditions after the elections, said 22-year-old student Akwanshi Thakur.

open image in gallery Vishal Aheer, Presiding Election Officer, and his team of polling officials rest during a trek in the mountains to reach a remote polling station, ahead of the seventh and final phase of the elections ( REUTERS )

Nearly a billion Indians cast their votes over six weeks starting 19 April in the worlds biggest election to select a prime minister and members of parliament. The second phase of the Lok Sabha elections begins today.

Registered Indians will queue in lines to cast their votes in seven phases till 1 June braving the punishing summer heat.

The 44-day-long electoral process, the second longest in independent Indias history, will conclude with the counting of the votes on 4 June.

Indias electoral process ranks among the costliest globally, with parties and candidates shelling out an estimated $8.7bn (7bn) in 2019 to woo over 900 million eligible voters.
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Sri Lanka and Russia are starting talks to resolve the issue of Sri Lankans fighting alongside Russians in the war against Ukraine, after at least 16 people were reported missing in action.

On Thursday, Junior Foreign Minister Tharaka Balasuriya said that the Sri Lankans, mostly retired soldiers, had been duped into traveling to Russia with promises of good salaries and privileges including Russian citizenship.

The situation in Russia is very unfortunate," Balasuriya told reporters, adding that he is working with the defense ministry to ascertain the number of people fighting in Russia.

We have received 455 complaints, we feel the number could be much higher.

They have been duped by certain nefarious agents, some of these people have been arrested. People who have left for Russia have been promised certain salaries and privileges including citizenship, Balasuriya said.

The agents who recruited Sri Lankans had told them that they will not be used for fighting but there are now daily complaints that they are being sent to the war front in Ukraine, the minister said.

Russian ambassador to Sri Lanka Levan S. Dzhagaryan said that talks in Moscow will be the first step to resolve the issue.

My president, my president Putin clarified many times that (if) any foreigner would like to voluntarily, I underline, voluntarily join Russian armed forces there is no objection, because look on the (other) side how many mercenaries are fighting for Ukraine, from different countries... said Dzhagaryan.

Sri Lanka maintained a large army over the past 40 years because of a long civil war which ended in 2009. Every year thousands of soldiers retire from service.

An unprecedented economic crisis since 2022 has forced many people to seek jobs overseas and there have been widespread reports of human trafficking and cheating by fake job agents.
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A volcanic eruption on the Indonesian island of Java sent a tower of ash rising 2km into the sky, prompting warnings for people living nearby.

Mount Merapi erupted at around 1pm local time on Thursday.

The volcano spewed thick grey clouds of ash that rose nearly 2km above the eastern slope of the mountain, Indonesias disaster mitigation agency BNPB said in a statement.

Authorities have warned people to stay outside a 4.5km exclusion zone around the volcano due to potential dangers from cold lava flows.

Cold lava flow refers to a stream of ash, sand and pebbles that is carried down a mountains slopes by rain.

People are urged to stay away from river areas that originate from the Merapi volcano and be on alert to the potential dangers of lahar that could occur, particularly when it rains, BNPB spokesperson Abdul Muhari said, using the local term for cold flow.

Heavy rainfall earlier this month wreaked havoc in a few nearby areas by bringing down cold lava from Marapi.

Mount Merapi, one of Indonesias most active volcanoes, has been erupting frequently since the 16th century.

Thousands of people live on the flanks of the volcano, which is located 28km north of Yogyakarta city which is home to 2.4 million people.

Several recent eruptions of the volcano have caused fatalities.

At least 11 mountaineers were killed when Merapi erupted in December 2023 and sent an ash cloud rising 3km into the sky.

In January this year, the volcano emitted a lava flow up to 2km long and a column of hot cloud that rose 100 metres up.
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Police in Thailand have broken up a large network that illegally helped foreigners, mostly Russians, stay in Thailand long-term through the use of company nominees or shell companies.

Officials said on Friday that almost 100 foreigners, most Russians, have been accused of operating businesses without a permit.

Police said more than 90,000 Russians arrived in the province of Phuket from 2019 to early 2024.

Police said a 45-year-old Russian woman who came to Thailand in 2012 operated the scheme with a Thai woman who was listed as an executive or a shareholder of more than 270 companies in the southern province of Phuket.

Foreigners can operate a business in Thailand, but it must be a joint venture with a Thai partner except in specified cases, and they cannot own more than 49% to protect local competitiveness.

The defendants offered a service in which foreigners could be listed as a shareholder of a business with a Thai partner or be employed by a shell company owned by Thais in order to get a work permit, said Puttidej Bunkrapue, commander of the police Economic Crime Suppression Division.

A total of 98 foreigners, including 68 Russians, have been accused of operating businesses without a permit, which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison and a million baht ($27,000) fine, police said.

In addition, 37 Thais were accused of offenses related to the network.

Officials said the network is likely to have been in operation since 2016, but there had been a sharp increase in its customers since Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

At least 50 of the foreigners have been officially charged as of Friday, said chief investigator Krit Woratat.

Phuket is a major tourist destination and is particularly popular among Russians.

They said there has also been a sharp increase in the number of company registrations by Russians in Phuket. More than 1,600 companies have been registered under Russian names from 2023 to early 2024, compared to approximately 30 companies per year in 2016-2022, they said.
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At least 18 people have died from heatstroke as India continues to reel from the most intense heatwave ever with temperatures suspected to have crossed 50 degrees Celsius.

Ten and seven people reportedly died in the eastern states of Odisha and Bihar, respectively, and one in Delhi on Thursday, while passengers fainted at the national capitals airport amid scorching temperatures.

An Air India flight bound for San Francisco was delayed by 20 hours as some passengers collapsed waiting for it to take off after an eight-hour delay. The aircraft reportedly had no air-conditioning.

The deaths in Odisha were reported at a state hospital in the city of Rourkela in six hours until 8pm, The Indian Express said. Eight of them had already died when they were brought to the hospital and two died during treatment, the officials told the newspaper.

State authorities said they are investigating what caused the deaths but suspect the heatwave.

Some people had temperatures of 103 to 105 degrees fahrenheit, Sudharani Pradhan, superintendent of the hospital, told the newspaper.

Since there is heatwave condition in the state, we suspect the deaths could be due to heat-related illness.

open image in gallery A fish vendor waiting for customers takes shade under an umbrella on a hot summer afternoon in Delhi ( AFP via Getty )

At least seven people also died in Bihar, which is experiencing temperatures close to 45C, taking the death toll from the heatwave in recent days to 18 in just 48 hours.

Of the 18, eight were election workers, the State Emergency Operation Centre said on Friday.

It added that 11 of the confirmed deaths related to the heatwave were reported from Rohtas district, six from Bhojpur, and one from Buxar.

In Aurangabad, about seven more people died on their way to the hospital yesterday but the exact cause of their death will be known after the autopsy, district collector Shrikant Shastree told Reuters.

Four of them, including an election worker, died in Kaimur city and three in Arrah village.

In spite of the scorching heatwave, several regions in Bihar and Odisha are voting in the seventh and last phase of Indias mammoth six-week national election on Saturday. The results are due on 4 June.

open image in gallery People queue up to fill buckets with water as heatwave prompts a water crisis in Delhi ( Getty )

The desert state of Rajasthan in western India has counted 61 more deaths from the heatwave between 23 May and 30 May, The New Indian Express reported, taking its death toll this summer to 122.

The numbers come just a day after a 40-year-old man died from heatstroke in Delhi.

The capital saw temperatures of around 50C this week and a reading in the citys outskirts, which is yet to be confirmed, recorded a temperature of 52.9C, the highest ever for India.

Temperatures in northern India have been 5-10C higher than normal for this time of the year for several weeks now.

open image in gallery People use a table fan to cool off on a hot summer afternoon in Varanasi in north India ( AFP via Getty )

Most of northern India has been facing an intense heatwave since the start of April, along with neighbouring Pakistan which this week reported temperatures of 52C, and dozens of other Asian countries.

Scientists have said all heatwaves in Asia in recent years, including in 2022, 2023 and 2024, have been made worse by the climate crisis created by burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas.

The last 12 months have been the hottest ever for the planet with heatwaves scorching even the oceans.

But while northern India is burning under the sun, swathes of Eastern India are still underwater following cyclone Remal, which has killed over 50 people in Bangladesh and India.

The Indian meteorological department said temperatures may drop in the coming week. However, eastern India where many states remain under a red alert may see two more days of extreme heat.
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A severe heatwave is scorching northern India and Pakistan, raising temperatures above an unprecedented 50C and leaving hundreds of people dead.

Indias weather department is investigating a reading of 52.9C recorded in the outskirts of Delhi on Thursday. If confirmed, it will be the hottest temperature ever recorded in the country.

M Mohapatra, the weather departments director, said average temperature in the capital was in the 45-50C range, several notches above normal for this time of the year. It was the same story in much of northern India.

Such extreme heat could be fatal. Indeed, at least 18 people were reported to have died from heatstroke and related illnesses on Thursday alone. They included a 40-year-old man in Delhi who was staying in a room without a cooler or a fan. His body temperature, doctors said, had crossed 107F, nearly 10 degrees above normal.

In all, India has recorded several hundred deaths from extreme heat this summer, but experts said the actual number could be far higher.

How hot is too hot for human body?

The human body has a very narrow range of temperature it finds ideal. It works best when the temperature is between 36C to 37.5C, or 96.8F to 99.5F. Anything over this is dangerous.

Ambient air temperature of 18-24C is good for most people, although people who are healthy and more well adapted to heat can sustain slightly higher temperatures.

When its temperature rises the body seeks to remove heat, mainly through sweating, though breathing and increased heart rate also help.

open image in gallery ( AFP via Getty Images )

For most people but especially the vulnerable, prolonged exposure to temperatures above 40C causes heat stress as the body starts to struggle to cool itself down.

Heat stress is recognised by fever above 104F, dry skin and loss of consciousness, said Dr Arun Sharma, a professor of community medicine.

High temperatures may also cause sunburn, irritation in the eyes and dehydration.

For protection, Dr Sharma advised avoiding sun exposure, keeping the body hydrated with frequent intake of water, fruit juice, coconut water or lemon drinks, and avoiding sudden changes in temperature like walking out of air conditioned rooms straight into sunlight and vice versa.

The more extreme the temperature gets the more the body must sweat, increasing the risk of dehydration and even heatstroke.

When the individual is dehydrated, extreme heat exposure will thicken their blood and cause organs to shut down, resulting in death within hours, popularly called heatstroke, said professor Vidhya Venugopal, country director at the Sri Ram Institute of Higher Education and Research.

When the temperature rises above 46C, cells, the tiny building blocks of our body, start getting damaged or destroyed.

The bodys inability to regulate its temperature can also worsen existing chronic conditions like cardiovascular, respiratory and cerebrovascular diseases and ailments related to diabetes, according to the National Institute of Environmental Health Science in the US.

A recent analysis suggested that increasing heat can also worsen certain brain conditions.

Role of humidity

Air temperature alone doesnt tell the full story. Humidity is an important factor in how we feel the heat, especially when it is as hot as 50C.

High humidity prevents the body from cooling itself by sweating, raising the risk of heatstroke and other potentially fatal conditions.

Humidity in the air is measured as wet bulb temperature, so named as it is measured by wrapping a wet cloth around a thermometer and seeing how much cooler it gets.

A wet bulb temperature of 32C is usually the maximum a human body can endure. This is equivalent to a dry temperature of 55C. The theoretical maximum wet bulb temperature is 35C, which means most humans are likely to suffer heatstroke at this level.

When air temperature is 46.1C and relative humidity is 30 per cent, the wet bulb temperature is 30.5C. But when air temperature is 38.9C and relative humidity is 77 per cent, the wet bulb temperature is about 35C.

Heat in India, as in much of South Asia, is extremely humid. The average relative humidity of Delhi is 67 per cent, which makes higher temperatures particularly dangerous.

Studies have shown that when air temperature reaches 35C and is accompanied by high humidity, it becomes risky for our health. Once 40C is reached, the heat can be dangerous even with low humidity levels.

At 50C, suffice to say, the risk is far higher.

Why cities are hotter

This risk is further increased in cities due to concrete infrastructure and lack of green spaces, which means they are often warmer than rural areas.

While some Indians can afford to use air conditioners and water coolers to beat the heat, half of the countrys workforce is compelled to work outside with little to not respite throughout the day.

The unequitable impacts of heat waves, especially with temperatures beyond 50C in dry environments like Delhi, will affect the most vulnerable, such as the elderly, young children, workers exerting outdoors, people with comorbidities, and the poor with minimal cooling interventions, said Dr Venugopal.

Night temperatures

Its not just daytime heat that is scorching South Asia. Night temperatures have been as high as 36C in some places in northern India, which is particularly dangerous since it means people cannot cool off at night to fall asleep.

Increasingly, overnight temperatures offer little relief during periods of extreme heat, which means people struggle to escape the health risks that it brings, Dr Andrew Pershing, vice president for science at Climate Central.

Is 50C the new normal?

Indias heatwaves have been getting increasingly brutal over the last few years. Scientific assessments have found that the intensity, frequency and duration of this heat has been made worse due to the climate crisis.

This devastating heat is not a natural disaster, said Dr Friederike Otto, professor at Imperial College London and director of World Weather Attribution, a coalition which studies reasons behind extreme weather.

The suffering India is facing this week is worse because of climate change, caused by burning coal, oil and gas and deforestation.

What we are seeing in India is exactly what scientists said would happen if we didnt stop heating the planet.

India isnt alone in facing this weather.

Pakistan recorded temperatures above 52C in the southern Sindh province this week, the highest this summer and close to the countrys record high. Several other Asian nations have broken records for high temperatures this summer.

The past 12 months have been the planets hottest ever recorded. The confirmation came well after the United Nations warned in 2023 that we were living in an era of not just global warming but global boiling.

According to the UNs top science body, IPCC, heatwaves that arrived once in 10 years without human-caused warming were now likely to occur 2.8 times as often. And if emissions werent cut much faster than planned, it said, they would become even more common.
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Bam Margera attended a Zoom court hearing with his ex in the middle of his wedding to Dannii Marie.

According to TMZ, the 44-year-old Viva La Bam star fulfilled his legal obligations with his ex Nicole Nikki Boyd despite his planned wedding ceremony in New Mexico on Tuesday, 28 May. Boyd told the outlet: Whatever makes him happy. Im happy for him. But it was curious timing, considering that he was supposed to be in court for our trial today.

Before the court scheduled the hearing, Margera and his new bride chose the date for their wedding ceremony in October 2023. However, the date for the ceremony and hearing reportedly only conflicted when the trial was pushed back. Earlier in May of that year, the former Jacka** star filed to dismiss his exs request for a legal separation, arguing that the former pairs 2013 Iceland wedding wasnt legal. He alleged that Boyd knew and understood the nature of their wedding vows.

Meanwhile, Boyds legal representation countered saying that the legality of their ceremony was only recently called into question by Margera. At the time, her attorney, David Glass, explained to Page Six: As an initial matter, it was not until just recently that Nikki had ever heard Bams claim that they were never married.

She was told that the wedding would occur in Iceland and that it was all taken care of, the attorney continued. She had a wedding ceremony, and then returned to the US and lived like a married couple with Bam for years.

Glass added that even though Margera alleges that the marriage wasnt legal, because Boyd believed in good faith that she was legally married to the stuntman, the attorney argued that she qualifies as a putative spouse under California law. This would mean that bar whatever legality of the partnership, Boyd is still entitled to her rights as a spouse, including just division of property and spousal support as well as child custody and support. Currently, Boyd and Margera share custody of their six-year-old son Phoenix.

open image in gallery Actor Bam Margera and Nicole Boyd arrive at the premiere of Lionsgate Films The Last Stand at Graumans Chinese Theatre on 14 January 2013 in Hollywood, California ( Getty Images ) ( Getty Images )

It seems like a little restraint on Mr Margeras might do him good, Glass added, noting that Margera should take this time amid multiple legal issues to reflect on his situation going forward. Boyd initially filed for full custody and later on divorce amid the performers substance abuse issues.

The former couple continued to deliberate the legality of their marriage on 29 May, putting the celebrations on hold for newlyweds, Margera and Marie. The pair arent too miffed about the situation and have hinted that they plan on having a second wedding ceremony in November to further celebrate their love.

To all family and friends there will be a November wedding in Pennsylvania for everyone with a @yelawolf performance! Margera announced on Instagram.
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Alexander AE Edwards has given fans an update on his relationship with music legend Cher.

In an interview with TMZ, the 38-year-old music executive gave some insight into the 78-year-old pop icon days after a physical altercation with Travis Scott at a 23 May party at the 77th annual Cannes Film Festival. When asked if the Oscar winner had any issue with his role in the fight, Edwards replied, Hell nah.

He then quoted lyrics from Future and Metro Boomins song GTA, emphasizing that there was no trouble in paradise. Like Future say, Whatever Im with, my b**** with it, too, he said. After some thought, however, he backtracked calling Cher the vulgar word, adding: My woman, but the lyrics are the lyrics.

Despite noting that things were all good between them, he dispelled any rumors of wedding bells. He clarified that nonetheless, love is still in the air, Aye bro, listen, we happy. Were a happy family.

Previously, the couple fueled engagement rumors when Cher tweeted a picture showing off a diamond ring Edwards bought her. But the Oscar winner dispelled speculation, saying that she only posted the photo to show his cool nails.

The pair have been romantically linked since late 2022 they were spotted in November holding hands while on a stroll through Los Angeles with rapper, Tyga. They first met at Paris Fashion Week in September of that year.

It was really shocking, because people just dont give out my number, she said, noting that a mutual friend of theirs gave Edwards her number. I had been telling all my friends, Were too old to go out with really younger men, and I will never fall in love on text. So I did what I said not to do!

open image in gallery Alexander AE Edwards and Cher pose in the press room during the 2024 iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre on 1 April 2024 in Hollywood, California ( Getty Images ) ( Getty Images )

Cher understands that their 40-year age gap has raised some eyebrows. She told People in October 2023, Alexanders got diamond teeth, tattoos, white hair, and hes way younger. Hes a beautiful man.

They were last photographed together at the 2024 amfAR Gala at Cannes before Edwards and Scott got into a brawl later that evening. They had been donning matching all-black looks on the red carpet, showing each other off with small moments of PDA.

Days prior, the couple celebrated the pop stars 78th birthday on 20 May at the romantic Chateau Romanov. She gushed to E! News that the place was fabulous and added that she had an amazing experience. She noted that her boyfriend was very nice as a host.

Cher was previously married to the late Sonny Bono and Gregg Allman and in the past has dated several men younger than her, including actors Val Kilmer, 63, and Tom Cruise, 60. Meanwhile, Edwards shares three-year-old son Slash with model Amber Rose, 39.
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Gypsy Rose Blanchard has opened up about her recent meeting with Kim Kardashian.

In an interview with E! News, Blanchard explained how much she appreciated getting to spend any time at all with The Kardashians star and the ability to discuss prison reform with her.

First of all, meeting Kim was a huge honor, Blanchard said. Shes a really sweet woman and I really appreciate her taking the time to talk with me.

Blanchard recently appeared in a cameo for the rest of season five of The Kardashians following the premiere episode, shocking fans at the time.

We had a lot to talk about as far as prison reform goes, she continued. I know that shes done some really amazing things with prison reform. And thats really close to my heart because Ive been on that side of the fence.

Previously, Blanchard had joked about getting together with the Skims founder back in November 2023 when she listed her HBO documentary Mommy Dead and Dearest as a recommendation for true crime show lovers.

Thanks @kimkardashian for the shoutout within this list to my 2017 documentary HBOs Mommy Dead and Dearest, she wrote on X, at the time. Maybe we should unite forces together to make real change within the justice system.

Blanchard had served eight years of her prison sentence in Missouri for plotting to murder her mother Clauddine Dee Dee Blanchard alongside her now ex-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn and was released on 28 December 2023.

Overall, Blanchard admitted that their conversation went really well. It was really eye-opening for me because you read the headlines, you think that you get a sense of who someone is, she said.

But meeting her Im like, Wow, shes so down to earth. And I didnt expect that.

Recently, Blanchard went viral on TikTok for sharing a recipe for an energy drink she used to make while in prison. The four main ingredients were Jolly Ranchers, one single Kool-Aid (Hawaiian punch flavor) packet, strawberry Fanta, and Folgers instant coffee.

So, everyone in prison usually makes these drinks because no one gets Red Bull in prison, she explained in the video. So, this is just something everyone made to just have, I guess, a homemade Red Bull.

After crushing up the hard candies, and preparing a small amount of the instant coffee, all the ingredients simply get mixed together with only one splash of Fanta soda.

Now, I know what youre thinking: This looks so gross... I didnt like them at first but then they grew on me, she admitted. For me, the first time I tried it I did not like it. But I basically had to make my own to have it kind of grow on me.

Blanchard then tried the drink on camera, comparing the taste to a Red Bull or other type of energy drink before talking about a memory from her time in prison.

When I was in prison, one of my roommates, she was in school. So, she was coming back to our room from school one day, and she sees me on my hands and knees, and I am scrubbing the walls with a toothbrush, cleaning the room, she remembered. She said: Oh, there Gypsy goes on the racks again, because thats what call this in prison. We call this drink, The Rack.
 Close Related: Prince William and Prince George award Manchester United FA Cup trophy

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King Charles and David Beckham bonded over the mutual love of bees as the ex-England football captain was unveiled as a Kings Foundation ambassador.

Beckham met privately with the King at Highgrove, Charless Gloucestershire retreat to learn more about its work.

Beckham said: It was inspiring to hear from the King about the work of His Majestys foundation during my recent visit to Highgrove Gardens  and compare beekeeping tips!

It came as Prince Andrew was reportedly refusing to leave the 30milion Royal Lodge and was becoming an increasingly isolated figure, who spends his days watching television in a darkened room in the crumbling residence.

A friend of King Charles has now claimed that life at the Royal Lodge will become increasingly cold and uncomfortable for Andrew if he refuses to hand back the keys.

The friend told The Times: The only question now is when he will realise that he has become a prisoner of his own pride  and that handing back the keys will afford him far greater comfort, and the continued support of his family.
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The European Union said Friday that it's adding Chinese online retailer Temu to its list of platforms facing the bloc's highest level of digital scrutiny.

Because it has more than 45 million users, Temu is being classed as a very large online platform under the the EU's Digital Services Act, a wide-ranging rulebook designed to clean up online platforms and keep internet users safe.

That means that by September 2024 Temu will be required to obey the DSA's most stringent rules and obligations, which include assessing and mitigating systemic risks.

Temu must put in place mitigation measures to address risks, such as the listing and sale of counterfeit goods, unsafe products, and items that infringe on intellectual property rights, the European Commission, the 27 nation bloc's executive arm, said in a press release.

The company could do this by taking measures such as modifying its user interface for better reporting and detection of suspicious listings, improving its moderation processes to swiftly remove illegal items, and refining its algorithms to prevent the promotion and sale of prohibited goods, the commission said.

Temu said it acknowledges" the commission's decision.

We are fully committed to adhering to the rules and regulations outlined by the DSA to ensure the safety, transparency, and protection of our users within the European Union, the company said in a statement.

Temu started entering Western markets only in the past two years and has grown in popularity by offering cheap goods - from apparel to home products - that are shipped from China.

There are already about two dozen tech names including Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Amazon and Google Search on the EU's list of the biggest online services that need the toughest tier of supervision since the DSA took effect last year. Other online services operating in the EU arent exempt - they still have to comply with the laws general requirements. Violations are punishable by fines of up to 6% of a companys annual worldwide revenue.
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In medical school and throughout his career as a neonatologist, William Cashore often was asked to proofread others work. Little did they know he was a spelling champion, with a trophy at home to prove it.

They knew that I had a very good sense of words and that I could spell correctly, he said. So if they were writing something, they would ask me to check it.

Cashore won the Scripps National Spelling Bee in 1954 at age 14. Now 84, hes the oldest living champion of the contest, which dates back to 1925. As contestants from this years competition headed home, he reflected on his experience and the effect it had on him.

It was, at the time, one of the greatest events of my life, he said in an interview at his Rhode Island home. Its still something that I remember fondly.

Cashore credits his parents for helping him prepare for his trip to Washington, D.C., for the spelling bee. His mother was an elementary school teacher and his father was a lab technician with a talent for taking words apart and putting them back together.

It was important for them, and for me, to get things right, he said. But I never felt pressure to win. I felt pressure only to do my best, and some of that came from inside.

When the field narrowed to two competitors, the other boy misspelled uncinated, which means bent like a hook. Cashore spelled it correctly, then clinched the title with the word transept, an architectural term for the transverse part of a cross-shaped church.

I knew that word. I had not been asked to spell it, but it was an easy word for me to spell, he recalled.

Cashore, who was given $500 and an encyclopedia set, enjoyed a brief turn as a celebrity, including meeting then-Vice President Richard Nixon and appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show. He didnt brag about his accomplishment after returning to Norristown, Pennsylvania, but the experience quietly shaped him in multiple ways.

It gave me much more self-confidence and also gave me a sense that its very important to try to get things as correct as possible, he said. Ive always been that way, and I still feel that way. If people are careless about spelling and writing, you wonder if theyre careless about their thinking.

Preparing for a spelling bee today requires more concentration and technique than it did decades ago, Cashore said.

The vocabulary of the words are far, far more technical, he said. The English language, in the meantime, has imported a great many words from foreign languages which were not part of the English language when I was in eighth grade, he said.

Babbel, which offers foreign language instruction via its app and live online courses, tracked Cashore down ahead of this years spelling bee because it was interested in whether he had learned other languages before his big win. He hadnt, other than picking up a few words from Pennsylvania Dutch, but told the company that he believes learning another language gives you a perspective on your own language and insights into the thinking and processes of the other language and culture.

While he has nothing but fond memories of the 1954 contest, Cashore said that was just the start of a long, happy life.

The reward has been not so much what happened to me in the spelling bee but the family that I have and the people who supported me along the way, he said.

___

Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire.
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The European Union has slapped more sanctions on North Korea over its continued efforts to develop ballistic and nuclear missiles and its support for Russia.

The EU Council said Friday that nine additional individuals and entities will be hit by asset freezes and travel bans. No names were provided.

The move brings the number of North Koreans hit by EU sanctions to 77 and the number of entities, which are often companies or organizations, to 20.

The EU started imposing restrictive measures on North Korea in 2006 in line with U.N. sanctions over its nuclear and missile tests.

The Council today sanctioned a further six individuals and three entities in view of sanctions evasion activities carried out by (North Korea) that could generate funds for its illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programs, in violation of and with flagrant disregard for the relevant U.N. Security Council resolutions, and in view of the military support given by (North Korea) to Russias war of aggression against Ukraine, the EU said.

It said North Korea has launched at least 22 missiles this year.

The EU has repeatedly condemned (North Korea) for such activities, and called on Pyongyang to cease these illegal and dangerous launches, which blatantly violate U.N. Security Council resolutions and undermine international peace and security as well as the global non-proliferation regime, it said.

The EU, U.S., South Korea and others have accused North Korea of supplying artillery, missiles and other conventional weapons to Russia for its war in Ukraine in return for advanced military technologies and economic aid. Both North Korea and Russia have repeatedly dismissed the allegation.
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Police investigating a shooting at an east London restaurant that left a nine-year-old girl fighting for her life have issued an update.

A gunman on a stolen motorbike opened fire on Kingsland High Street, Dalston, on Wednesday evening, spraying Evin Turkish restaurant with bullets while the child was eating dinner with her family.

Two men, aged 44 and 42, who were sitting outside the restaurant during the drive-by shooting, were also injured and rushed to hospital for treatment, with one facing potentially life-changing injuries. A third man, aged 37, has since been discharged from hospital.

No arrests have yet been made. Appealing for information from Turkish and Kurdish communities, the Metropolitan Police on Friday issued images and the registration plate of the bike used in the reckless attack, which was later found dumped at Colvestone Crescent.

Police forensic officers at the scene of the shooting at Kingsland High Street in Dalston, east London ( PA )

Addressing the girls condition on Friday, Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway told reporters: We remain in close contact with our colleagues in the NHS who have worked around the clock to provide urgent care to the victims, including the young girl, who Im very sad to say remains in a critical condition.

He said specialist family liaison officers continue to support the girls family.

The Metropolitan Police on Friday issued images of the bike used in the reckless attack ( Met Police )

Giving details of the motorbike used in the incident, Mr Conway said: We know that the offender fired from a motorbike at approximately 9.20pm on Wednesday evening.

The bike was a Ducati Monster with a white body, red chassis and red wheels.

The stolen motorbike used in the attack was later found dumped at Colvestone Crescent ( Met Police )

Our officers have now established that the motorbike was previously stolen in 2021 from a property in Wembley.

At the time of the shooting, the bike was displaying the registration plate DP21 OXY.

I want to hear from anyone who might recognise it  Im particularly keen to hear from you if you saw it on the day of the incident.

Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway as he reads a statement to the media on Colvestone Crescent in Hackney on Friday ( James Manning/PA )

A shopworker said a waitress at the Turkish restaurant told her the girls family were dining al fresco when a motorbike let off five shots.

She told The Independent: I heard gunshots  like five. It sounded like pow, pow, pow. I hit the panic button and the shutters came down and I locked everyone inside.

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The waitress told me the family were sitting down and eating when they were shot. There is an outside area. It couldve been anyone hit.

I walked past a bullet on the floor and the police told me not to step on it. I was very close. Someone came in, said a child was shot as well. I was on the phone to security and was just crying at the same time.

CCTV image shows the moment a motorcyclist launched the attack ( @CrimeLdn )

It was so scary, you have to be worried when passers-by are hit. It couldve been anyone. This area is always packed with families, especially in half-term.

Mr Conway described the shooting as having an element of pre-planning and appealed to the Turkish and Kurdish communities in north and east London because the three men injured in the incident have connections to those communities.

He said: This shocking attack will have had an element of pre-planning.

Police at the scene of a shooting at Kingsland High Street, Dalston, east London ( PA )

This means there are people out there who know something which may be crucial to our investigation.

Gun crime has no place on the streets of London and this reckless act has left a young child fighting for her life.

We are specifically reaching out to our Turkish and Kurdish communities, particularly in north and east London, who I know are shocked and appalled by this crime.

One crime scene remains in place in Kingsland High Street ( PA )

This is because the three men who were shot have connections to those communities.

One crime scene remains in place in Kingsland High Street.

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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A dad who has served 12 years for stealing a mobile phone under an inhumane indefinite jail term has been forced to move prison for the twelfth time as he struggles with an endless prison merry-go-round.

Thomas White, 40, was this week returned to the prison where he was first incarcerated under an Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence at HMP Manchester.

In total he has now been held at 12 prisons in as many years - and is no closer to being freed.

His family believe he is now back at square one, trapped in a prison with no courses to help him progress towards release as he struggles with severe mental health problems he developed inside.

Meanwhile, campaigners say reforms this week granted Royal Assent as part of the Victims and Prisoners Bill to help IPP prisoners on licence will do nothing for those who have never been freed.

Thomas sister Clara White told The Independent: Its shocking - 12 prisons in 12 years, all around Britain, and we are back at square one at the prison where we started. So hes gone full circle.

My brother has been treated like a Royal Mail parcel. This is a man with paranoid schizophrenia.

She accused the government of being all talk when they promised to help IPP prisoners with mental health problems, adding: They just care about the short-term numbers. This system is a shambles and my brother and many others like him are the victims.

This prison merry-go-round isnt what justice is about  theyve failed and forgotten us.

Thomas White with his sister, Clara, and his mother, Margaret, in Manchester in 1985 ( White family )

Although Thomas and his family have never been told the reason for his repeated transfers, Clara suspects prisons move him on because he cant progress. Its because they cant progress him in that prison so they think we are going to have to move him on, she told The Independent.

IPP sentences  under which offenders were given a minimum jail term but no maximum  were scrapped in 2012 amid human rights concerns, but the abolition of the policy did not affect those already sentenced, leaving thousands trapped in jail for years beyond their original prison term.

Thomas, who had previous convictions for theft, was handed an IPP sentence with a two-year term for robbery just four months before the sentences were outlawed. Then aged 27, he had been binge drinking when he took the phone from two Christian missionaries in Manchester.

But thanks to the indefinite jail term, he is still in prison more than 12 years later with little hope of release as his family calls for him to be moved to a psychiatric care facility.

He has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, which an independent psychiatric report linked to the hopelessness of his IPP sentence.

Over the years he has been held at prisons across the country, including HMP Chelmsford, in Essex and HMP Swaleside on the Isle of Sheppey in Kent  nearly 300 miles from his family.

Now back at HMP Manchester, Thomas is locked up for 23 hours a day despite his mental health issues and has no access to required courses to help IPP prisoners progress to release.

The Independent has called for an immediate review for almost 3,000 IPP prisoners like Thomas who are still languishing in prison - 708 of which have served more than ten years longer than their original sentence.

Kayden White with his grandmother Margaret following his reunion with his father Thomas ( Margaret White )

Last month we revealed details of Thomas heartfelt reunion at HMP Garth with his son Kayden, 14, who had been banned from visiting his father in prison for more than a decade.

The reunion was arranged after an intervention by Lord David Blunkett, the architect of the IPP sentence who admits he regrets introducing them under New Labour in 2005.

Following the reunion, his sister Clara told The Independent: They tortured my brother. They psychologically tortured him, and they abused his right to family life, and they got away with it for more than a decade.

The latest prison move comes as this week major reforms for released IPP prisoners became law, reducing the licence period from ten to three years as well as a discretionary power of executive release for those recalled to prison  often for minor breaches of strict licence conditions.

However other crucial reforms tabled in the House of Lords to help those who have never been freed were unsuccessful after Labour refused to back changes to the parole process.

Campaigners are continuing to call for the incoming government to carry out a resentencing exercise for all IPP sentences, a move which was recommended by the cross-party justice committee in 2022.

After almost 90 suicides by IPP prisoners, campaigners say resentencing would be a life-saving policy for those trapped under a sentence which has been condemned as psychological torture by UN special rapporteur Dr Alice Edwards.

This includes the tragic case  highlighted by The Independent  of Scott Rider, who was given a 23-month jail term and took his own life in despair after serving 17 years in prison.

Clara White turned to Lord David Blunkett for help in the fight for Kayden to visit his dad Thomas White ( White family )

A spokesman for campaign group UNGRIPP said they were extremely grateful for the recent reforms but insisted they will not help those who have never been released.

We have always pushed for resentencing as the only way to truly fix IPP, and we will continue to do this with the new government, a spokesman said.

Mark Day, deputy director of the Prison Reform Trust, agreed the licence period reforms were important and welcome steps in the right direction.

But IPP prisoners and their families will rightly feel aggrieved that the 1,200 IPPs in prison who have never been released have been largely left out of the governments proposals, he added.

Bolder reforms will be needed for the stain of the IPP sentence finally to be eradicated.

The Ministry of Justice declined to comment due to the pre-election campaigning period.
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A man has been charged with the murders of his wife and her son in a small town in Essex.

Essex Police said 63-year-old Calogero Ricotta is accused of killing Maria Nugara, 54, and 29-year-old Giuseppe Morreale.

The force said it received a call at 9.50pm on Tuesday reporting that two people had been seriously injured at an address in Ugley, near Bishops Stortford.

Officers attended the address in Cambridge Road and found Ms Nugara and Mr Morreale, who were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Ricotta, of Cambridge Road, Ugley, faces two charges of murder and one count of actual bodily harm.

File photo: A section of Cambridge Road in Bishops Stortford ( Google )

He was due to appear before Chelmsford Magistrates Court on Friday and wll then appear before Chelmsford Crown Court on Monday.

Lydia George, Essex Police detective inspector, said: My thoughts are with the loved ones of the two people who were killed in Ugley.

This will be an unimaginably difficult time for them and they will be supported by specialist officers.

I know this incident will cause concern among within the local community but I want to reassure them that we have a team of experienced detectives and staff investigating.

At this stage we do not believe this incident poses a risk to the wider public and were not looking for anyone else in connection with it."

Anyone who has information that might assist police with their investigation is urged to contact the force quoting reference 1271 28 May.

Alternatively, Crimestoppher can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via its wesbite.
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A Met Police officer who passed information to staff at an embassy without authorisation has been dismissed from the force.

PC Saadane Mansouri allegedly had regular contact with people working at the Algerian embassy, which was often not recorded and was done from a personal phone.

Between March 2019 and December 2020 PC Mansouri, who was attached to the specialist operations department, shared details from police systems which included information about protests.

He was also found to have viewed police records relating to a neighbour, despite having no involvement in the case.

After the matters came to light in March 2020, he was suspended from duties with the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) launching an investigation.

In a hearing on 29 May, his behaviour was found to have amounted to breaches of the standards of professional behaviour in respect of confidentiality, orders and instructions, duties and responsibilities and integrity.

Commander Katie Lilburn, head of the Mets Directorate of Professional Standards, said: Everyone who works in our organisation knows that police systems must only be used when there is a legitimate reason for doing so and this officers behaviour was completely unacceptable.

Honesty and integrity are at the heart of everything we do and we will identify and hold to account those who do not meet these values.
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The family of a man and his 12-year-old son who died after going missing while hillwalking in the Scottish Highlands have paid tribute to the loving pair.

Tom Parry, 49, and his son Richie Parry, 12, are thought to have died as the result of a fall, Police Scotland said on Friday.

The pair were due to return to their home in Cheshire on Wednesday after visiting Glen Nevis and Glencoe.

An urgent search was launched after their car was found in the Three Sisters car park in Glencoe, where they stopped on Tuesday to go hillwalking.

Rescuers searching for the missing pair recovered two bodies from the mountain Stob Coire Nan Lochan, Glencoe, at around 7.25pm on Wednesday.

Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands, where the pairs bodies were recovered by rescuers on Wednesday evening

Mr Parrys wife Gemma Parry has paid tribute to him as a caring and loving father and husband and praised Richie as an energetic, loving boy.

In a statement issued through the force on Friday, Ms Parry said: Tom was a caring and loving father to his children and a loving husband to me, his wife Gemma.

Richie was an energetic, loving boy who loved his quizzes, maths, and sports. He always cared for others as well no matter what.

She added: Tom and Richie will be sadly missed and never forgotten.

Police said there are no suspicious circumstances and that the deaths of the pair, who have now been formally identified, are being treated as the result of a fall.

The force said a report has now been submitted to the Procurator Fiscal, Scotlands death investigation authority.

Inspector Katy Duncan said: Our thoughts remain with the Parry family at what is a very difficult time for them.

We would like to thank everyone who responded to our appeal, to all emergency services and Mountain Rescue volunteers.

The Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team, who were among those involved in the search, posted on Facebook: We are deeply saddened by this outcome and our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the Parry family at this time.
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Firefighters are tackling a huge blaze in Northampton town centre as a number of roads remain closed.

A 500m cordon has been put in place while crews work to extinguish the fire in Bridge Street.

A video shared online shows thick grey smoke billowing into the air, with flames visible from the roof of a building.

As a result, several routes into the city centre have been closed, including Angel Street, Derngate and Victoria Promenade.

Smoke can be seen billowing into the sky above Northampton city centre ( @ShamishMonster )

Northamptonshires deputy chief fire officer, Simon Tuhill, said firefighters were making really good progress after being called out at around 5.30am.

We are comfortable now that the fire wont be spreading any further but for us its about making sure we damp down those remaining hot spots, Mr Tuhill told BBC Radio Northampton.

He added that a joint investigation with the police would be undertaken once the incident was over.

In a post on social media site X, Northamptonshire Police said: Road users are asked to find alternative routes and to avoid this area until further notice.

While residents and local businesses are advised to keep their doors and windows closed due to a large plume of smoke.
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Voters back Michael Heseltines claim that the current general election risks being one of the most dishonest in history because the main parties will not discuss Britains relationship with the European Union.

The We Think voter intention poll has revealed that almost six in 10 voters (58 per cent) think that Brexit and Britains relationship with the EU should be one of the main issues in the election.

The survey of 1,242 voters commissioned by the pro-EU European Movement UK followed an intervention by the former deputy prime minister Lord Heseltine in The Independent this week where he warned no issue can be discussed without referring it to Brexit.

The veteran Tory heavyweight said: We are now at the start of what I foresee will be the most dishonest election of modern times.

Michael Heseltine warns election campaign will be dishonest ( PA )

What are the issues this country should be discussing? The state of our economy, defence and environment, the need to level up our society, control immigration and restore Britains standing in the world. None of these issues can be honestly addressed in isolation from our relationship with Europe. Yet Europe is the no-go area.

His sentiments appear to be reflected in the poll made up of 51 per cent of people who voted Leave and 49 per cent who voted Remain among those able to cast a vote in 2016.

The survey showed that if there was a vote on EU membership tomorrow the result would be very different, with 48 per cent saying they would vote to rejoin and 31 per cent saying they would still opt to stay outside the EU. When dont knows, wont votes and uncertains are stripped out that would be a 61 per cent to 39 per cent victory in favour of rejoining.

The survey also showed agreement for Lord Heseltines assertion that this election would be the most dishonest of modern times, with 40 per cent saying it would and 15 per cent disagreeing.

Just 31 per cent disagreed that Brexit should be one of the top issues compared to 58 per cent who said it should be.

Keir Starmer led the second referendum campaign but now does not want to discuss Brexit in this election ( AFP/Getty )

Even Tory voters on balance  38 per cent to 30 per cent  agreed it was an important issue, and only Reform voters disagreed, on balance, among the different political parties.

On balance, all age groups agreed it was an important issue with the largest number being among 25- to 34-year-olds, on 65 per cent when dont knows were stripped out. Overall, among under-40s, 62 per cent agreed.

Cecilia Jastrzembska, president of the Young European Movement UK (YEM), said: The UKs withdrawal from the European Union has had a devastating impact on opportunities for young people, particularly our withdrawal from the Erasmus+ student exchange scheme. The data is clear; young Brits will not stand by while their futures are on the line.

The omerta on the UK-EU relationship must be broken and cooperation between us agreed sensibly and in good faith. YEM UK looks forward to a new government that will meaningfully strengthen relations with our European neighbours.

Rishi Sunak on the campaign trail has avoided Brexit as a subject ( Aaron Chown/PA )

Dr Mike Galsworthy, chair of European Movement UK, said: Rather than a discussion on their future, young people have been offered national service instead. It is a betrayal of our younger generations that both the main parties are seeking to avoid any discussion of the European future our youth want to be talking about.

If you ask 18- to 34-year-olds what they want  it is overwhelming that they want to join the EU and they want have discussion about the UK-Europe relationship right now in this election. Its time to let them fight for their futures rather than forcing them to train to fight for a country that doesnt listen.
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Brexit has reduced Britain to tears, Frances prime minister has said in a bid to quell support for French populists in next months European elections.

Gabriel Attal, who was appointed prime minister by president Emmanuel Macron in January, said: Dont lets be like the British, who cried after Brexit.

Speaking in a radio interview, the 35-year-old was seeking to drum up support for Mr Macrons centrist candidate list for the European Parliament elections in June.

Gabriel Attal is seen as a protege of Emmanuel Macron ( AFP via Getty Images )

Polls show that Mr Macrons list of candidates is backed by around 16 per cent of voters, while Marine Le Pens populist National Rally party is backed by more than 30 per cent.

Mr Attal, seen as Mr Macrons protege, is seeking to tie Ms Le Pens National Rally, being fronted by 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, to Brexit.

National Rally used to want France to follow in Britains footsteps and leave the EU, dubbed Frexit.

But Ms Le Pen has dropped the policy as most French voters view Brexit as having been a mistake.

Speaking to RTL radio, Mr Attal suggested the party remains secretly committed to pulling France out of Europe, warning of very dangerous consequences if it is successful in the European elections.

Will we be stronger by shutting ourselves away? We will not be stronger by being more alone, he said.

French prime minister Gabriel Attal warned against France sending the most far-right lawmakers to the EU Parliament ( AP )

He added: A large majority of British people regret Brexit and sometimes regret not turning out to vote, or voting for something that was negative for their country.

Today there is more illegal immigration than ever in the UK since they left the European Union. There are massive economic difficulties in the UK because they left the European Union.

And, addressing Ms Le Pens party, he said: When you say you are not going to respect the rules of the single market any more, not pay Frances dues and stop respecting most of the treaties, the reality is that we are no longer in the EU.

Will France be the country that sends the largest contingent of far-right lawmakers to the European parliament?

Mr Attals comments follow heavy criticism from French president Macrons repeated criticism of Brexit.

Earlier this month Mr Macron claimed leaving the EU has impoverished the United Kingdom and done nothing to solve immigration in the UK.

He told The Economist: Well, despite that, some people think it doesnt look so bad. But nobody dares to say that anything is wrong. And so nobody is taking responsibility for anything.

Voters in France will go to the polls on 8 June to elect 81 of the 720 Members of the European Parliament.
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Just days after Sir Keir Starmer was spotted wearing a 500 hoodie from luxury French fashion house Sandro, it has emerged that a peer donated nearly 20,000 to help the Labour leader with a pre-election glow-up.

Former ASOS chairman Waheed Alli, who sits in the House of Lords, gave stylish Starmer 16,200 for work clothing and a further 2,485 for multiple pairs of glasses, according to the latest update to his register of interests.

The Labour leader appears to have put that donation to good use after he donned a chic Sandro Orion jacket  which currently retails at 519 at Harrods  while meeting voters in Brighton and pledging to tackle the cost of living crisis.

The donations were received on 17 April and 29 April and pledged by Lord Alli, the former boss of Chorion, fashion retailer Koovs, and was the chairman of online clothing giant ASOS.

Lord Alli is also the director of multiple companies including SGIF 2 investments, Silver Star Productions and SGIK 3 Investments.

Earlier this year, Sir Keir was spotted wearing a pair of 500 glasses by Danish luxury brand Lindberg, according to Guido Fawkes.

The Labour leader has now reportedly switched out his glasses on the campaign trail to a humbler pair  a snip at 220.

The Sandro Orion jacket has a detachable hood and currently retails at 519 on high-end retailer Harrods ( Getty Images )

Meanwhile, prime minister Rishi Sunak was spotted wearing a customised 750 Tumi bag monogrammed with his initials RS on Wednesday.

Mr Sunak is known for his soft spot for luxury brands. While on the Tory leadership campaign trail in July 2022, he wore 490 Prada suede shoes on a visit to a building site.

Sir Keir wearing the Sandro jacket earlier this month in Blackpool ( AFP via Getty Images )

Earlier this month, Mr Sunak issued a fulsome apology to the Adidas Samba community after he was mocked for posting a photo of himself wearing the trainers.

The PM was ridiculed for wearing them with suit trousers and a white shirt.

Mr Sunak wearing the 750 Tumi bag at a London train station ( Aaron Chown/PA Wire )

Mr Sunak wore a pair of Adidas Sambas in an interview ( @rishisunakmp/Instagram )

Asked about "destroying the fashion icon" on LBC, Mr Sunak said: "Well, I issue a fulsome apology to the Samba community. But in my defence I would say I have been wearing Adidas and Sambas and others, in fact, for many, many years.

It's the first pair my brother got for me many, many years ago. [I got] my first pair of fun Adidas trainers as a Christmas present and I haven't looked back since so I've been a long-time devotee."

Mr Sunak is the richest inhabitant of Downing Street. The PM and his wife have a combined net worth of 651m, making them richer than King Charles II.
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Labour has become embroiled in a fierce row this week as as party officials moved to bar several parliamentary candidates on the left of the party from standing at the upcoming general election.

Long-standing MP Diane Abbott was readmitted into the party on Tuesday after a suspension that lasted over a year. Despite her future as a Labour MP being cast into doubt this week, it appears she may now stand for the party after leader Sir Keir Starmer said she was free to do so.

The case has drawn strong criticism from local Labour members and anti-racism campaigners. It comes alongside the barring of Faiza Shaheen, former Labour candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green.

Being only a few weeks away from the general election, it is Labours National Executive Committee (NEC)  and not local party members  that will select candidates for the upcoming election.

Follow The Independents live coverage for the latest political updates ahead of the general election

Faiza Shaheen, Jeremy Corbyn, and Diane Abbott (L to R) ( Getty Images )

This is Labours governing body, comprised of representatives from each section of the party and democratically elected.

Following her and Ms Shaheens suspension, Ms Abbott said the party under Sir Keir was undertaking a cull of left wingers.

The Labour leader has denied having any influence in the cases of either politician. He told reporters he has not blocked left-wing candidates from standing, saying I want the highest quality candidates.

Amidst the Labour infighting, heres whos in  and whos out  of the party ahead of the upcoming general election:

Whos out

Out: Faiza Shaheen, Chingford and Woodford Green

Jeremy Corbyn with Faiza Shaheen in 2019 ( AFP via Getty Images )

Faiza Shaheen is an academic and economist who specialises in inequality. Born in 1982 to immigrant parents, she grew up in Chingford, east London. Her first job was at a Greggs bakery.

Since 2007, Ms Shaheen has held positions in policy research, charity, and academia with a focus on economic inequality.

The left-winger was selected to run for her hometown seat of Chingford and Woodford Green at the 2019 election. Ms Shaheen did not win the seat, but managed to secure Labours largest ever vote share in the constituency, coming second by just over 1,000 votes.

In July 2022, she was selected by local members to contest the seat again. Nearly two years later, in April 2024, she was deselected by the NEC.

Im in a state of shock, to be honest, she told BBCs Newsnight in an emotional interview just hours after she was deselected.

It is alleged Ms Shaheen had liked fourteen tweets  several before she was a Labour party member  which were called into question. Some were purported to contain antisemtic content while others were perceived to be against the Labour party, for instance by supporting the Green party.

One of the tweets was a retweet of a Jon Stewart sketch. I dont even remember liking that tweet, she said, while acknowledging that it could be perceived by some as offensive, and apologising.

Ms Shaheen has vowed to take legal action against the Labour party, arguing that she has been subjected to a campaign of prejudice, bullying and spiteful behaviour and that she was added to the list of those not welcome in the candidate club.

Out: Jeremy Corbyn, Islington North

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (Belinda Jiao/PA) ( PA Wire )

Labour leader from 2015 to 2020, Jeremy Corbyn is one of Labours longest serving MPs, holding the seat of Islington North for the party since 1983.

A longtime backbench parliamentarian, Mr Corbyn was propelled to the forefront of Labour when he was selected leader in 2015. He was leader during the partys unsuccessful general election campaigns in 2017 and 2019.

The veteran MP was suspended from Labour in October 2020 after asserting that the scale of antisemitism within the party was dramatically overstated for political purposes.

He was readmitted as a party member the following month with a formal warning. However, Sir Keir decided not to restore the whip, meaning Mr Corbyn was not in the parliamentary party.

In March 2023, the NEC resolved to block Mr Corbyn as a candidate for the next election. In May 2024, when it became clear the governing body would not renege on the move, he announced he would stand for his seat as an independent candidate.

Since this is strictly against party rules, Mr Corbyn was expelled from Labour on the same day.

Out: Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Brighton Kemptown

Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP (Yui Mok/PA) ( PA Wire )

Lloyd Russell-Moyle was elected as MP for Brighton Kemptown in 2017, and retained his seat at the 2019 election.

Mr Russell-Moyle garnered headlines in 2018 when he seized the ceremonial mace in protest at the governments decision to delay a key Brexit vote. The same year, he became the first MP to disclose that he is HIV positive in a parliamentary speech.

The Brighton MP was suspended from the party in May 2024 over a complaint about his behaviour made eight years prior. He called the complaint vexatious and politically motivated.

Due to the timing of his suspension, Mr Russell-Moyle will be unable to contest his seat for a third time.

Speaking to the BBC, he said he has been made a sacrificial lamb by the Labour party, adding: it is one system if you are very at the top or in the clique, and another system if youre not.

Whos in?

In?: Diane Abbott, Hackney North and Stoke Newington

Diane Abbott stands on the steps of Hackney Town Hall on Wednesday ( Getty Images )

Diane Abbott was born in 1953 in London to Jamaican immigrant parents. She made history by becoming the first Black woman elected to the British parliament in 1987.

Throughout her political career, she has been outspoken on race issues, human rights, and civil liberties.

The veteran left-wing MP was first suspended from the party in April 2023 following a letter she penned about racism for the Observer newspaper.

After a lengthy investigation into her comments, she was readmitted to the party in May 2024 after undergoing a disciplinary process.

But the question of whether or not Ms Abbott would be able to stand at the upcoming general election remained mired in uncertainty over the days following the restoration of the Labour whip. Ms Abbott said she had been barred from standing  a claim that Sir Keir called not true.

However, as a days-long row over her political future overshadowed the partys campaign, the Labour leader on Friday gave the green light for Ms Abbotts candidacy, stating that she is free to stand as a Labour candidate in the general election.

Labour sources said Ms Abbott will be the Labour candidate in her long-held London constituency, with the NEC expected to ratify the decision when it meets on Tuesday.

Ms Abbott has represented Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, making her the fifth longest-serving Labour MP in parliament. She has been returned to the seat at nine elections, securing a majority of over 33,000 in 2019.

In: Luke Akehurst, Gurinder Singh Josan, Michael Wheeler and more

Adding fuel to the row around Labours recent candidate deselections is who the NEC has selected to take unfilled seats, with five of their own members gaining Labour candidacies.

NEC member Luke Akehurst has been selected as Labours candidate for North Durham. He is the director of lobby group We Believe in Israel and secretary of the Labour First network, which has the stated aim of keeping the party safe from the organised left.

Meanwhile NEC members Gurinder Singh Josan and Michael Wheeler have been selected as the candidates of Smethwick, and Worsley & Eccles. Both men were part of the three-person panel that determined Ms Shaheen should be deselected.

The two other NEC members with Labour candidacies are chair James Asser and Unisons Mark Ferguson for West Ham and Beckton, and Gateshead Central and Whickham.

Candidates are selected through an interview with a panel of three NEC members. It is unclear how or whether an NEC member will still participate in the selection process when they are proposed as a candidate themselves.

Among the other NEC candidate selections are former adviser to Sir Keir, Chris Ward (Brighton Kemptown), former adviser to shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, Heather Iqbal (Dewsbury & Batley), and director of pro-Starmer think tanks Labour Together, Josh Simons (Makerfield).

The Labour Party and NEC have been approached for comment.
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Rishi Sunaks pledge to enforce national service for 18-year-olds has marked a controversial beginning in the Conservative Partys general election campaign.

Independent readers were broadly critical of reintroducing national service in the UK when we asked for your opinions this week.

Critics argued that conscripts and national servicemen would make ineffective soldiers, suggesting they would be unmotivated and poorly trained, leading to inflated but hollow army numbers.

Overall, the idea was dismissed as misguided and detrimental, with calls for more substantial investment in the youth and systemic reforms of the military instead of coercive measures like national service.

Heres what you had to say:

Conscripts and national servicemen simply dont make for good soldiers

Ignoring the moral issues aside, the idea of national service is motivated by a very selective memory to ignore it was scrapped because its pragmatically, just not a very good system.

While it inflates numbers on paper to make armies look bigger than they are, conscripts and national servicemen simply dont make for good soldiers composed of young people often less devoted to their government and absolutely no desire to be there.

The only times where procedures like this should be looked at is in a need to fill out numbers in a defensive war, but all it does outside of that is devote countless amounts of time and resources in creating poorly trained soldiers with no motivation and the skills it teaches often proven to be imaginary during a real conflict, as can be observed by current conflicts today.

The only purpose of it otherwise is simply to claim a larger army than exists for propaganda purposes and is not the mark of someone taking security issues of the country seriously but sees it as a frivolous thing to be played with for politics as needed. As Sunak also touts the strength of missiles and nuclear submarines, theres little difference in his approach to security issues beyond many of the states he claims to be defending the UK against, mirroring the same distraction notes to downplay the rot of the larger forces as a whole.

It would make more sense to commit to actually modernizing the forces and to delivering reforms to military culture to remove the negative light on it than obligate them into it mostly unwillingly. But that would require admitting those problems exist. Something neither Sunak, Farage, nor Starmer, has any willingness to admit to.

AliYis

Hypocrisy

So far it isnt much more than a headline.

A Royal Commission is to be set up to design it. Therefore the budget of 2.5 billion is meaningless.

Underlying this idea is a poor view of the youth of today - the old codger view of the youth of every generation. So of course this is something aimed at old codgers.

Strange the idea coming from Sunak. As chancellor, he spent his time wrecking something similar set up by Cameron. Indeed he has spent most of his time running down the armed forces. But then he and his gang arent troubled by their own hypocrisy.

JRiley

Unwilling conscripts

No, I dont agree with Sunak that national service should be brought back.

First, I see no reason why our professional armed forces should be burdened with a huge group of unwilling conscripts.

Second, what does he suggest we do with those who refuse to serve? While theyve ruled out criminal charges, theyve implied, pretty heavily, that future employers will take refusal to serve into consideration in their selection criteria. So refusal to be coerced may make youngsters unemployable.

And what of the ones who accept being conscripted? Are we going to make them fight in our next war in the Middle East? Maybe get a few killed? That would NOT be all right. When people volunteer to join the military, its a risk they take, although I think weve been asking too much even of them in the past 15 years, sending them to fight in conflicts like Iraq that are hard to justify even in legal terms. But sending conscripts to fight and die in peacetime? How would the government explain that to their parents?

Finally, Sunak seems to assume that these kids have no plans for their lives. Starting a medical or nursing degree perhaps. Or learning a trade?

Or perhaps its only the uneducated children of the poor that hes proposing to deprive of their liberty and lives.

No, it is NOT a good idea and if the prime minister has any more ideas like this, perhaps hell keep them to himself.

Zandeman

Shortage of labour

Good idea, but it will cause a shortage of labour in society and increased wages.

Relatex

There never was a plan

Im not aware that Sunak actually has a plan.

To come up with the idea of reintroducing national service and the very next day announce it, is one thing. But to do so without discussing it in cabinet and especially without discussing it with the Chiefs of Defence Staff, shows there isnt, and never was a plan. It was just another monumentally unclever idea by a monumentally incompetent supposedly politician.

DesPear

National service would end up costing billions

Its about as good an idea as the farcical smoking ban to be phased in. Do these politicians not learn from history? How well is the ban on various drugs working?

A scheme that will cost billions in wasted police time, more black-market trading and less tax revenue.

National service would end up costing billions, would be run by the same parasites that Conservative AND Labour governments have been using for decades the likes of Capita, Fujitsu, G4 etc etc. and who just can not get anything right except wasting taxpayers money.

All to train a bunch of yobs to be fitter and better with weapons but no good in an actual conflict that requires high levels of training, expertise and discipline.

Why not spend the money on improved NVQ training and apprenticeships which are not a scam?

papurnewyddion

Half-baked

If you want kids to become patriotic, you dont remove the benefits that the previous generations have enjoyed. Free school meals, cheaper housing, free education, better wages, an NHS that is world-beating, free movement the list goes on.

If you want a better military, letting experienced talent leave in droves because pay and conditions, housing etc are terrible and replacing them with green kids is not the answer. See the NHS for how that approach is going.

Instead of coming up with half-baked ideas to plaster over the cracks youve made, fundamental remedies are needed.

m00plank

Broken social contract

How about our kids (Britains future) getting a real leg up in society, with proper funded training in the skills that are desperately needed. End prohibitive loans or heavily subsidize college, university and accommodation support for our youngsters.

At the moment national service would imply and warrant a better and clearer stake in society as 14 years of Tory austerity has broken the social contract with our youth. But there is no talk of that, are you going to give them a home? Not likely under the current circumstances! Why should they want to protect an uncaring, miserable and deeply corrupt elite? Why should they be made to comply with your current elites folly and bad decisions? What have the Tories done for our youth? You have to invest in our kids if you want the best from them!

Stanostromo

Ill-conceived, headline-grabbing idea

If it were a carefully reasoned plan you could volunteer for with tangible and certifiable benefits then I would be in favour.

However, this is not. It is purely another ill-conceived, headline-grabbing idea designed to appeal to the apathetic Daily Thickness readers in the hope it will get them out of spoons and vote.

Hughdathunkit

Wrong methodology

Ive spoken to a few young people  not claiming they were representative, this was a few years ago. They were pretty fed up with their lack of prospects, hadnt voted, distinctly unpatriotic and when I asked if they would fight for their country if it faced invasion, the answer was a very firm and, rather shocking, no. Good luck Sunak with your national service, I understand the unifying intention behind it but the wrong methodology.

Galileo666

Mobilise the young

Hopefully this will mobilise the young (normally apathetic about voting and who can blame them) to register and vote to get this sorry excuse for a Government, OUT!

Chezza1959

Dying throes of the government

This is merely a bid to distract the electorate from the crucial issues and problems in need of addressing and the failure of the Tories to do so in the dying throes of the government.

JanP

Some of the comments have been edited for this article. You can read the full discussion in the comments section of the original article.

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Nigel Farage and Richard Tice took aim at barber shops and candy stores at Reform UKs immigration policy launch.

Speaking at a press conference in central London on Thursday, the Reform UK leader Mr Tice suggested some cash-only barber shops on UK high streets were fronts for money laundering and drug money.

He was speaking as his party proposed a multi-billion pound tax on businesses employing overseas workers.

You can see high streets with five, six, seven barber shops in them, thousands of new barber shops, Mr Farage said while on stage with Mr Tice.

They were then asked by a reporter what accusation they were making.

Mr Tice added: I'll tell you what the accusation is actually, and I know it's true, because you go to towns and people are saying shop after shop after shop.

I mean, I don't know, maybe it was Covid, maybe our hair is growing faster.

Seriously, how come lots of these new barber shops have got no customers in them? How come they all want cash only?

These are fronts for money laundering and drug money, and someone has to talk about it and someone has to have the courage to say that the authorities they're either incompetent and don't know about it.

Nigel Farage and Richard Tice took aim at barber shops during the launch of Reform UKs immigration policy ( AFP via Getty Images )

According to the Local Data Company, there are 18,624 barber shops operating in the UK, with 665 having opened last year.

But Mr Tice did not stop on barber shops.

He added: You look at the price of the sweets in these shops and they're fake sweets.

I've literally gone in to test it and see they're fake sweets. Theyre disgusting and theres never any customers in them. Its another money laundering front.

Mr Tice would introduce a premium on national insurance for workers from overseas ( Getty Images )

On the employer immigration tax proposed by the party, Mr Tice said the UK had an addiction to cheap overseas labour.

He said: This drug is being pushed on every street corner by the Labour party and by the Tories. They believe that this drug, this addiction, is good for the British economy. Let me tell you today its not.

He added: What we need is a cure to this addiction and the cure is an employer immigration tax.

Mr Tice said Reform would require firms to pay a national insurance premium of 20 per cent of an employees salary, as opposed to 13.8 per cent, if the worker is from overseas.

Exemptions would exist for businesses employing five people or fewer and for healthcare and social care, the party said.

Mr Farage described the plan as a bold, innovative policy.

When it was pointed out such a policy would hit Britains Indian restaurants and kebab shops and therefore could be considered a curry tax, Mr Farage laughed before noting he enjoys going for a late night curry.

Mr Farage pointed to efforts to train British people to become curry chefs, saying: The point is to reduce our reliance on overseas unskilled labour.

Clearly somebody who is a qualified curry chef is not going to be in the unskilled or low wage bracket.

What Richard is laying out here is its about incentives and disincentives.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has already ruled out a deal with Reform, which is putting pressure on the Tories over issues including immigration policy.

Reform is set to contest all seats in England, Scotland and Wales at the General Election.
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Sir Patrick Vallance, whose face become synonymous with covid briefings during the lockdown, came out in support of Labours Great British Energy plan in the election campaign today.

The former chief scientific officers backing was unveiled as Sir Keir Starmer revealed that the publicly owned company which he argues will bring down energy costs will be based in Scotland.

But Sir Patrick is just the latest former senior Whitehall mandarin to support Labour in a move which has already angered the Tories.

Patrick Vallance during a coronavirus press conference at Downing Street ( Getty Images )

Previously, Sue Gray quit as second permanent secretary for the Cabinet Office to be Sir Keirs chief of staff.

And there have been reports of high flying civil servants quitting their roles to work for Labour. This included Nick Williams, who previously spent nearly six years at the Treasury as a policy adviser, quitting along with three other Treasury officials to work with shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves.

The declarations of allegiance by Ms Gray and others to Labour have already led to the Tories raising questions about civil service impartiality. And just before the election was declared, common sense minister Esther McVey produced a new set of guidelines to try to enforce impartiality among civil servants and end activism.

There have also been threats of civil servants going on strike over the governments support for Israel in the crisis surrounding Gaza.

Writing in The Times, Sir Patrick suggested that Labours plans for Great British Energy, a publicly owned company which also aims to drive Net Zero policies, could be done fast.

The former adviser, who now chairs the Natural History Museum board, also took aim at Rishi Sunak for slowing down the implementation of Net Zero policies.

Starmer with Scottish leader Anas Sarwar announcing details of Great British Energy ( Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire )

He wrote: If we choose to go slowly others will provide the answers and we will ultimately end up buying the solutions.

He also noted: I am often asked which of Britains many pressing public policy challenges need a vaccine-style approach.I believe that one such priority is the urgent need to end the era of excessive carbon emissions, high energy bills and energy insecurity by accelerating the net zero transition to clean, homegrown energy.With a determined effort using currently available technologies and those that are close to being deployable, a clean power system by 2030 is achievable.

Great British Energy is one of the six first steps included on Labours election pledge card.

For the Conservatives, minister Esther McVey dismissed Sir Patricks intervention.

She said: "Independent experts with real expertise in the energy sector have described Labour's virtue signalling, unfunded green policy as unachievable, incoherent and not credible. No amount of former civil servant endorsement can distract from the fact that Labour have no plan and no ideas for the future."
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The five children of missing Connecticut mom Jennifer Dulos broke down as they gave emotional statements in court on Friday at the sentencing of Michelle Troconis, telling her that she is responsible for taking away their mother and their childhood.

Troconis, 49, who is being sentenced for conspiring with her former boyfriend Fotis Dulos to kill Connecticut mother-of-five Jennifer Dulos and cover up the crime, sobbed as she watched the Dulos children speak publicly for the first time.

My mom was everything to me, her son Petros Dulos, now 17, told the court. Ive been left with a hole inside of me I know I will never be able to fill.

Petros was just 13 when Jennifer Dulos was killed in May 2019. Authorities suggested Fotis Dulos killed his wife because of his growing frustration with their divorce and child custody proceedings. Her body has never been found but a judge has declared her legally dead.

Troconis was Fotis Dulos girlfriend and was living with him at the time Jennifer Dulos vanished. Troconis was convicted by a jury in March of conspiracy to commit murder, hindering prosecution and evidence tampering. She now faces up to 50 years in prison.

Jennifer Dulos and her son Petros Dulos, who was only 13 when she vanished ( Law&Crime )

Petros said he had been close to his mother but struggled during his parents divorce.

During the divorce, I became very bitter with everyone around me, especially mom, because she was always trying to help me, he said.

This meant that I hurt the person closest to me because I didnt know how else to voice my pain. The defendants actions mean I will never be able to tell my mom how sorry I am for not being a better son when she needed me. I will never be able to tell mom how proud of her courage I am. Most importantly, how much I love her. This fact haunts me every day.

He pointed the finger at Troconis, who has a daughter the same age as him, telling her she has desecrated the meaning of the word mother.

His twin, Theodore Dulos, who was also 13 at the time of his mothers death, began his statement with a jab at the defendant, a dual American and Venezuelan citizen, who had claimed in a police interview that her English was not perfect.

Michelle, I will speak to you in English because that is the language weve always used, he said. My life now is nothing like it used to be. I no longer have my mother, my hero. Ill never talk to her again. Ill never do my homework with her again. Ill never ask her for advice again.

Michelle, you caused this damage, he told her. You not only knew about, but conspired, to murder a daughter, sister, friend and mother of five kids. That day you took away five childrens source of comfort, our protector. You showed no remorse and youve yet to show any.

Jennifer Dulos and her son Theodore Dulos, who was only 13 when she vanished ( Law&Crime )

Theodore then implored Troconis to reveal what happened the day Jennifer vanished and to give up the location of her body.

Ill never forgive you ... and until you give us more answers, youll be considered evil, violent and most definitely a coward, he said.

He then told the judge: An appropriate sentence would be 50 years, ten for each child who lost their mom.

Michelle Troconis is the reason Ive blocked out my childhood, Jenniders daughter Christiane told the court. She was 10 years old when she was left without a mother.

The reason Ive had to sit on the floor with my little sister and try to comfort her, the reason people look at me with pity, the reason my mom is nothing more than a hazy memory.

Jennifer Dulos and her daughter Christiane Dulos, who was only 10 when her mother vanished ( Law&Crime )

Noelle, the youngest Dulos child, was only eight years old when her mother disappeared.

Im growing up without my mother, something no child should ever do, she said through tears in court on Friday.

She told the court that she remembers the time she spent with Troconis - who was dating her father at the time  and that at one point she trusted her.

Since that day, I am constantly worried that something will happen to the people I love the most, she said. I also feel betrayed by Michelle. I trusted her. Now, Im scared to trust people.

Jennifer Dulos and her daughter Noelle Dulos, who was only eight when her mother vanished ( Law&Crime )

At the time, Jennifer was living with the children in New Canaan while Fotis Dulos stayed in the familys 10,000-square-feet home about 70 miles away in Farmington.

Hours after Jennifer was last seen alive, Troconis was recorded on surveillance video accompanying Fotis on a trip to Hartford, where he discarded trash bags from the back of his pickup truck. Testing showed that DNA on the items in the bags was highly likely that of Jennifers. Troconis told police she didnt know what was in the bags or why Fotis was dumping them in Hartford.

The Dulos children have been in the custody of Jennifers mother Gloria Farber in New York City since she vanished.

Constantine Dulos, who was 10 years old when he lost his mother, told the court that the actions of Michelle Troconis drastically changed my life.

He talked about how his father developed a new poisonous personality when Troconis came into their lives. And that she put pressure on my dad to do something.

Jennifer Dulos and her son Constantine Dulos, who was only 10 when she vanished ( Law&Crime )

I cant go home to my mom and talk to her about my school day, he said as his voice cracked. I cant learn things from her. She was my favorite person in the world, my role model. She is still someplace in my heart.

However, I will never be the same person I was in Connecticut, he added.

All is lost because of Michelle Troconis.
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The man accused of beating Georgia college student Laken Riley to death appeared in a Georgia court Friday as he pleaded not guilty to murder and other charges.

Members of Rileys friends and family wept as they sat in the gallery behind Jose Ibarra.

A judge told lawyers and the defendant that he planned for another hearing in early August, and hoped to set the case for trial in the fall. The 10-minute hearing was the first time Ibarra had appeared in court since his February arrest for the murder of Riley.

On the morning of February 22, the Augusta University College of Nursing student was reported missing on Thursday after she set off for a morning jog at the University of Georgias intramural fields near Athens, Georgia. When Riley failed to return home for several hours, her concerned roommate called the police around noon.

Less than 40 minutes later, search teams located Riley in an area behind Lake Herrick. She was unconscious, not breathing and had visible injuries, police said.

The Athens-Clarke County Coroners Office and Morgue said that a preliminary autopsy found she died from blunt force trauma to the head. Investigators narrowed down the time frame of the incident to happening between 9am and 1pm on February 22. UGA Police Chief Jeff Clark said the killing appeared to be a solo act and that the suspect and victim did not know each other prior to the alleged attack.

Jose Antonio Ibarra made his first court apperance since being charged with the murder of Georgia college student Laken Riley ( Clarke County Sheriffs Office )

This was a crime of opportunity where he saw an individual, and bad things happened, Clark said in a press conference.

Police affidavits revealed gruesome details of Rileys death including that her skull was disfigured and shed been dragged to a secluded area.

Soon after his arrest, it was revealed that Ibarra had entered the country illegally. On September 8, 2022, Customs and Border Protection officials encountered Ibarra after he crossed the USs southern border with Mexico near El Paso, Texas. He was paroled and released for further processing, officials said. He was released until his arrest on the murder charges - and has been held without bond since.

Ibarras brother, Diego Jose Ibarra, was also arrested for possessing a fraudulent green card, arrest records show.

Rileys murder sparked national outrage, with many conservative politicians railing against the nations immigration policies and blaming them for the college students death.

On the morning of February 22, Riley was reported missing on Thursday after she set off for a morning jog ( Augusta University )

Laken Rileys tragic death struck the hearts of Georgians everywhere and has sparked national outrage, Georgia Governor Brian Kemp said in a post on X.

Joe Bidens failed policies have turned every state into a border state, and Im demanding information from him so we can protect our people when the federal government wont!

After saying that Ibarra illegally entered the country, Tennessee Sen Marsha Blackburn wrote: The disastrous policies and negligence of the Biden administration is putting American lives at risk!
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Michelle Troconis has been sentenced to 20 years in prison, suspended after 14.5 years, for helping her former boyfriend Fotis Dulos cover up the murder of Connecticut mother-of-five Jennifer Dulos.

What Michelle Troconis decides to do today, tomorrow and the next day is up to her, Judge Kevin Randolph said before he imposed the sentence on Friday. From what the court has heard, she has a great deal to offer. The court has no control over what her decisions will be, her life is hers.

The court heard emotional victim impact statements from Jennifers five children and several of her close friends.

My mom was everything to me, her son Petros Dulos, now 17, told the court. Ive been left with a hole inside of me I know I will never be able to fill.

Troconis, 49, faced up to 45 years in prison after being found guilty in March of conspiracy to commit murder, two counts of conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence, two counts of tampering with physical evidence and one count of hindering prosecution in the second degree.

Hours before the sentencing, Randolph vacated one of her charges of conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence, which could have led to an additional five years in prison.

The sentencing comes five years after her then-boyfriends estranged wife Jennifer Dulos disappeared on 24 May 2019 after dropping their children off at school in New Canaan, Connecticut.

Michelle Troconis, left, and Fotis Dulos, right, were arrested in 2019 charges of evidence tampering and hindering prosecution in the disappearance of Jennifer Dulos. Fotis killed himself while awaiting trial ( New Canaan Police Department via AP )

While Jennifers body has never been found, she has been officially declared dead  with police finding that she died a violent death at the hands of Fotis, the man she had filed for divorce from just two years earlier.

Authorities believe Fotis killed Jennifer at her home after she dropped her children at school and then disposed of her body. In January 2020, Fotis died by suicide after being charged with Jennifers murder.

Troconis has long insisted that she did not know Fotis was doing anything nefarious as she watched him toss garbage bags into random bins, or as she helped him write up a timeline of their whereabouts on the day his estranged wife disappeared.

After heartbreaking victim statements from Jennifer Dulos children, friends and other family members in court on Friday, Troconis had a chance to speak.

I am deeply saddened by this tragedy that has affected so many lives, she sobbed as she looked over at Jennifers family and friends sitting in the courtroom.

I found out things during the trial about a man I thought I knew and loved, she continued.

I deeply regret ever being in a relationship with Fotis Dulos and bringing my daughter, myself and my family into his life.

This undated contributed photo, courtesy of the Farber family, shows Jennifer Farber Dulos. She was last seen alive on May 24, 2019 ( AP )

Her lawyer, Jon Schoenhorn, said the prosecution did not prove any of their allegations beyond a reasonable doubt, including whether Fotis Dulos killed Jennifer Dulos or even if he was in New Canaan that morning.

She did not know that Fotis Dulos planned to harm her, Schoenhorn told the jury during the trial.

"The state has made, what I would suggest, are unfounded and unfair assumptions and have speculated that Michelle Troconis had to know what was going on because she was romantically linked with Fotis, that she was somehow involved in this nefarious, murderous plot.

But thats not reality, he said. Thats more like one of these cable TV movies, scripted movies. Its not based on the facts that you heard during this trial.

What started as a missing persons case turned into a massive search and investigation that captured media attention from around the world. Jennifers disappearance inspired numerous documentaries, a Lifetime movie Gone Mom, and a law that broadened the definition of domestic violence in Connecticut.

Jennifer was a member of a wealthy New York City family and a niece by marriage of fashion designer Liz Claiborne. Although her body has never been found, a medical examiner concluded suspected blood spatter in her garage and other evidence indicated she could not have survived. A state judge declared her officially dead in October.

Gloria Farber, Jennifer Duloss mother, told WTNH in a recent interview, that she believed Troconis absolutely lied to investigators and that she likely knows where her daughter is.

Gloria Farber, Jennifer Duloss mother, said she believed Troconis absolutely lied to investigators about the whereabouts of Jennifers body ( Hearst Connecticut Media )

Yet, she does not believe Troconis will ever tell the family what happened to her body.

I think she knows where Jennifer is, Ms Farber said.

She told the outlet that she can still not believe what happened to her daughter.

I dont know what made him just absolutely go off the rails, she continued.

Ms Farber now has custody of the couples five children, who live with her in New York City.

I think about her every day. She poured all her wisdom and all her joy into her children, she said.

Her life was cut short, but she, in that short life, became a great person. She amazed me, she always amazed me.

Michelle Troconis and Fotis Dulos seen dumping trash bags after alleged murder

Troconis has been held on $6 million bond since her conviction. Her attorney has said she will appeal the convictions after sentencing.

Kent Mawhinney, a second defendant in the case, who was an attorney and a close friend to Fotis Dulos, is also charged with conspiracy to commit murder. His trial date has not yet been set.

Last Friday marked five years since Jennifers disappearance.

Carrie Luft, Jennifers friend who has also served as a spokesperson for her family, said the five-year anniversary was not a milestone but a marker of cumulative loss and longing.

Life goes on, yet grief goes on alongside it, a shadow, a current, the presence of absence.
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A Minneapolis police officer has been shot dead during an ambush as he was trying to provide aid to a man who appeared to be a victim but instead shot the officer.

Jamal Mitchell, 28, was killed amid a shooting that left three people dead and four people injured, with police still unclear what caused the chaotic situation.

Mitchell had only been with the Minneapolis Police Department for over a year when he was killed. On his third day on the job, he and another officer, Zachery Randall, had saved the lives of an elderly couple by running into a house engulfed in flames and rescuing both of them, receiving recognition for his courageous act.

However, as Mitchell, a father who was engaged to be married, was displaying another instance of courage at the scene on Thursday, he was ambushed during a very close encounter by a person he was trying to help.

Officers responded to a call of a double shooting at an apartment complex in the citys Whittier neighbourhood on Thursday at around 5.30pm. Upon arrival, officers were immediately met with gunfire and fired back, Assistant Police Chief Katie Blackwell said at a press conference.

Officer Jamal Mitchell, right, with Officer Zachery Randall after helping an elderly couple from a burning house in February 2023 ( Minnesota Police Department )

When Mitchell was about two blocks away from the complex, he noticed some people who were injured, so he stopped his car to get out and help.

However, one man who he tried to assist shot him. He was later pronounced dead at Hennepin County Medical Center, while fellow officers stood outside in a line.

Mitchell was attempting to assist the individual who shot him, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans explained. And with that, it happened very fast and that he ambushed him.

Law enforcement officers salute the flag-draped remains of Jamal Mitchell as he is escorted to a waiting medical examiner's vehicle outside Hennepin County Medical Center ( AP )

A second officer arrived shortly after Officer Mitchell was injured and shot and exchanged gunfire with the killer. The suspect was pronounced dead at the scene despite officers trying to render first aid, he said.

Superintendent Evans says officials know who the killer is, but have yet to release his name.

Another officer and a firefighter were also injured, receiving non-life-threatening injuries.

Investigators examine the scene of the shooting ( Star Tribune 2024 )

Superintendent Evans added that another person, who appeared to be an innocent bystander, was shot and taken to hospital in critical condition.

When other law enforcement went inside the apartment complex, they also found one person dead, and another in grave condition, authorities said, adding that these two people had some form of acquaintance with each other.

Due to the investigation still being in its very early stages, authorities did not detail what caused the original shooting they were called out for, nor the motive behind the suspect shooting Mitchell.

The city of Minneapolis lost a hero in police officer Jamal Mitchell, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said. This officer gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect and save the lives of others. His life, his service and his name will forever be remembered in the city of Minneapolis.

Members of law enforcement gather outside Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis ( AP )

We will honor his sacrifice. We will remember his name. We will never forget what he did for the people of our city, Mayor Frey added.

Chief Blackwell also described her fellow officer as courageous and a hero, saying that she never met another officer who received an award on the third day of his job.

Law enforcement on Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis ( AP )

He was a wonderful human being, Chief Blackwell added. He was exceptional in every way.

She also sent her condolences to his family, who she said were hurting tremendously just like our officers right now.
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The son of a Buc-ees co-founder has been indicted on nearly two dozen charges for filming people inside his familys home using showers and having sex - but he says its allowed by law.

A Texas grand jury returned a 21-count indictment accusing Mitchell Wasek, 28, on 17 May of invasive visual recording, the Travis County district attorney announced this week. Wasek is the son of Don Wasek, the co-founder of Buc-ees, a chain of gas and travel centers that began in Texas and are spreading across the US.

The charges relate to 13 separate victims, who were alleged to have been secretly recorded by Wasek at his familys lake home over the course of two years. The home is owned by Don Wasek.

David Gonzalez, an attorney for Mitchell Wasek, told Law&Crime that due to the ubiquity of video-recording in modern society, this case involves the legal right to install cameras in ones own home.

Mitchell Wasek, 28 is facing 21 counts for his alleged filming of people inside his familys lake home and his apartment. Filming included people showering and having sex, police said. ( Austin Police Department )

May a homeowner install a camera in his home without telling housekeepers or guests, or does the guest have a greater legal right than the homeowner? This is one of many thorny legal issues we will be litigating in this case, he added.

Mitchell Wasek was arrested in October 2023 and was released on a $280,000 bond, online court records show. His charges stem from claims of a woman, who says she and her friends were visiting a lake house with Wasek.

She alleges they found a camera hidden in a charging port plugged into the bathroom wall at the home on the banks of Lake Travis, according to court records obtained by KXAN last year.

The group of friends allegedly left with the camera, only to find on it dozens of videos of themselves and other people in bathrooms and bedrooms, as well as his Dallas apartment, the records reportedly allege.

Buc-ees is a chain of gas and travel centers that began in Texas and are spreading across the US ( Courtesy of Buc-ee's )

They were unaware that the recordings existed in the bedroom and bathroom, and indicated they did not consent to being recorded or photographed, an arrest affidavit states.

After authorities reviewed the footage, they say they found 68 movie files containing at least 13 male and female individuals being recorded using toilets, showering, changing clothes and/or having sex.

The affidavit also states that some videos date to 2021 and were recorded in multiple different locations. Amazon records also linked purchases of spy cameras to Wasek.

Ms Wasek is expected to next be in court on June 5.

The Independent has contacted Gonzalez for further comment.
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A California judge has allowed new DNA retesting to take place on one item of evidence in the case of Scott Peterson, who was convicted in 2004 of murdering his pregnant wife and unborn child.

Peterson, 51, was convicted twenty years ago for the slaying of Laci Peterson, who was eight months pregnant with a son, just before Christmas 2002.

Her body, and that of their unborn son, washed up on the shore of the San Francisco Bay a few months later, and Peterson is still serving life in prison without parole after his previous death sentence was overturned in 2020.

However, in March, Petersons lawyers from the Los Angeles Innocence Project, a group which works to exonerate those who say they have been wrongly convicted, returned to court asking a judge in San Mateo County to look at the evidence and grant a new trial.

The judge ruled on Wednesday that only one item from the list of 14 collected pieces of evidence, a 15.5-inch-long piece of duct tape found on Laci Petersons pants, should be retested.

Petersons defense team has argued that the tape contains human DNA that could point to someone other than him as being the one responsible for his wifes death.

Scott Peterson, 21, was conviced in 2004 after being accused of murdering his wife and unborn son ( Getty Images )

The tape, first tested in 2003, is shown to have human DNA present; however, the motion states, according to ABC News, that the DNA was not of an acceptable quality to generate a profile.

Petersons attorneys have consistently said that the limited testing of the pieces of evidence has offered inconclusive results. Prosecutors have pushed back against testing requests by telling the court that testing was already carried out in 2019.

His attorneys also requested an examination of evidence from a burglary that happened across the street from Petersons home. Defense lawyers have theorised that Laci may have been kidnapped and murdered after she potentially witnessed the burglary.

Yet, the judge denied requests for those items, CNN reported.

Petersons laywers theorise his wife was actually murdered as part of a burglary cover-up ( California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation )

The defence team have also tried to implement new testing on a bloody mattress found in a burned-out van the day after the pregnant woman disappeared, according to NBC News.

But the judge ruled that testing carried out in 2019 suggested there was no blood on the mattress cloth and that the van was not related to Petersons case.

The judge also ruled that the defence had failed to prove that items found surrounding where Laci Petersons body was found when it washed ashore on the bay were directly associated with her.

Additionally, the judge determined that a glove and a hammer found at the home of one of the Petersons neighbours were never put in police custody, meaning they do not qualify to be re-tested for evidence, the outlet said.

The San Mateo County Superior Court Judge said she was only ruling over the retesting of evidence, not if Peterson can stand for a new trial, which is what his legal team are working towards.

LAIP, who took Petersons case in January, argues that he was only convicted in 2004 on a large amount of circumstantial evidence and a small amount of physical evidence.

A choir sings during the memorial service for Laci Peterson and her unborn son Conner May 4, 2003 in Modesto, California. ( Getty Images )

He has repeatedly argued his innocence over the years, with a previous attempt at a retrial in 2021 tossed out.

Laci was 27 when she was reported missing on 24 December 2002. She was eight months pregnant with their son, who was going to be called Conner.

Mr Peterson told police that he was fishing alone in the San Francisco Bay, and when he got home to Modesto, around 90 miles away, his wife of five years was gone.

After nearly four months of searching, Laci and Conners bodies washed up on the shore of the Bay in April 2003.

According to prosecutors, Peterson dumped his wifes body in the Berkeley Marina on Christmas Eve of that year and attempted to make it seem as if she had gone missing, court records state.
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Prince King, the 81-year-old man arrested last week after police accused him of using a slingshot to terrorize his neighbors for nearly a decade, died after being released from jail.

The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiners website shows that the man died at a private residence on Wednesday. Officials listed his cause of death as arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. His preliminary manner of death is listed as natural.

King was taken into custody last week. During a court appearance on Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty to seven counts of vandalism stemming from an offense in October 2021. He had been charged with felony counts and misdemeanors. King was released on his own recognizance, meaning he was allowed to leave jail before his trial without having to pay bail.

Prince King, 81, was arrested earlier this week and died at a private residence after being released from jail ( KABC )

A judge ordered him to stay 200 yards away from his home in Azusa, California, and not make contact with alleged victims. Additionally, he was told he could not possess any deadly weapons, including a slingshot.

Police said the elderly man used metal ball bearings to victimize his neighbors, breaking windows and car windshields. He came close to hitting people, police said. Officers with the Azusa Police Department served a search warrant for Kings home last week and found ball bearings and a slingshot at the residence.

Azusa police lieutenant Jake Bushey told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune that the ball bearings were mostly launched from Kings backyard while others were shot from a nearby neighborhood.

Its been ongoing for many years because we just didnt identify who the suspect was, Lt Bushey said. He added that officials are still working to determine a motive for the crimes.

Were not aware of any kind of motive other than just malicious mischief, the police officer said.

During the hearing, Kings attorneys said that he suffered from several medical ailments. He left jail to go pick up medications, KABC reported.

He had been scheduled to appear back in court for a preliminary hearing on June 17.
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom vowed he would not fix the state's budget deficit by taking away health insurance from low-income adults living in the country without legal permission, calling the state's policy something I believe in.

But Newsom would eliminate an important health benefit for some low-income immigrants with disabilities, angering his allies who are now accusing the second-term governor of breaking his word.

California was one of the first states to give free health insurance to all low-income adults regardless of their immigration status. The multibillion-dollar project, completed in January, made more than 1 million people eligible for California's Medicaid program, including many people who had never before had health insurance.

Now, just five months later and with California facing an estimated $45 billion deficit, Newsom wants the state to stop paying for caregivers to come to the homes of some disabled people  who are living in the country without legal permission  to help them with cooking, cleaning and other tasks so they can stay out of nursing homes. Everyone else would keep that benefit.

The Newsom administration says this would save about $94 million and impact fewer than 3,000 people out of the more than 15 million who are enrolled in the state's Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal. But eliminating the benefit would also keep thousands more from becoming eligible in the future.

Newom's proposal is a betrayal, said David Kane, an attorney with the Western Center on Law and Poverty. Ronald Coleman Baeza, managing policy director for California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, called it indefensible and compared the proposal to a notorious ballot proposition from the 1990s that sought to bar immigrants from accessing government assistance programs.

I think it could move us back in the sense of treating undocumented as different, said state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo, a Democrat from Los Angeles who has pushed for the Medicaid expansion for years.

Newsoms proposal for immigrants would impact a benefit known as in-home supportive services thats becoming more expensive for the state to provide. The average hourly wage for caregivers has gone up 6% since 2014. And starting this year, with some emergency federal funding provided during the pandemic expired, there have been cost increases of about $200 million.

Once people qualify for the program, they get to hire their own caregiver. Its often a relative, meaning the program often acts as financial assistance for families.

Marvin Estela Pineda, a 42-year-old woman originally from El Salvador who now lives in Californias Central Valley, lost her eyesight at 30 because of glaucoma. She started getting in-home supportive services earlier this year.

Her daughter, Mayde Pineda, said the government has been paying her $16.50 per hour for a total of 84 hours a month to care for her mother, which includes things like cooking, cleaning and laundry. Mayde Pineda, 22, said the money helped stabilize the family financially while she finished college.

Without (this program) I wont be able to care for her without significant hardships, Mayde Pineda said.

The California Department of Social Services, which administers the program, said it would work to mitigate any negative impact to currently assisted individuals, which includes helping them find other government-funded programs that could provide similar services. One option would be Medi-Cal's community-based adult services program, which pays for things like personal care, food and professional nursing services.

Asked for comment on his proposal, the governors office pointed to remarks Newsom made earlier this month when he announced his budget plan that included an array of painful cuts.

We dont find any joy in this  but weve got to do it, we have to be responsible. We have to be accountable. We have to balance the budget, Newsom said.

Newsom for much of his tenure has basked in the praises of progressives as he used a string of historic surpluses to expand government services. But back-to-back multibillion-dollar deficits are forcing Newsom to make some hard choices that have put him on a collision course with some of his most vocal supporters.

Navigating these conflicts will be critical for Newsom, who has been building his national profile ahead of a potential presidential campaign. So far, Newsom has been moving quickly to address them. When the state's largest teachers union ran ads criticizing him for his proposed cuts to education, Newsom struck a deal with them that resolved much of their concerns. That deal still must be approved by the state Legislature.

Other negotiations will be more difficult. Newsoms health care proposal for immigrants is just one of many proposed cuts across the states wide array of social services programs.

The state Legislature, which is controlled by Democrats, plans to pass their own version of the budget by June 15 that would restore nearly all of those cuts, including the health care cuts for some immigrants. Their plan does this by increasing a temporary tax hike on businesses while also slashing about $1 billion from the state's prison budget.

We have ensured that the budget is not balanced on our most vulnerable populations, said Assemblymember Corey Jackson, a Democrat from Moreno Valley.

Newsom and legislative leaders will negotiate over the next few weeks on a final spending plan, with the goal of passing a budget around the start of the new fiscal year on July 1. While the Legislature votes on the budget, Newsom has a lot of influence. He decides whether to sign the budget into law. California lawmakers have rarely ever overturned a governor's veto.
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The highest court in Texas has rejected a historic challenge to the states anti-abortion laws from a group of 22 women  some of whom nearly died during pregnancy  demanding urgent clarity on whether emergency medical exceptions to abortion bans include life-threatening pregnancies.

On Friday, a unanimous Texas Supreme Court decided that the state law was broad enough.

Plaintiffs in Zurawski v Texas had urged the state to allow doctors to use their best medical judgment without fear of prosecution under the states severe anti-abortion laws, after providers denied them emergency abortion care during complicated pregnancies that put their health and lives at risk.

The women argued that providers would be too afraid to act, potentially facing decades in jail, tens of thousands of dollars in fines, and the loss of their medical license for violating Texas abortion bans.

Last year, after a court heard harrowing testimony from women who detailed their traumatic pregnancies and what they characterized as the states failure to care for them, a judge issued a temporary injunction that allowed doctors to make a good faith judgment on whether to provide emergency abortion care. The order was immediately appealed by the states Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Texas Supreme Court justices then overturned the lower courts ruling on Friday, claiming that it departed from as written without constitutional justification.

The court did clarify that exceptions can be made for life-threatening conditions like preterm premature rupture of membranes, known as PPROM, but the justices did not say when it could apply.

A life-threatening physical condition is not necessarily one actively injuring the patient; it is a condition that has the potential to kill the patient. The condition must arise from or be aggravated by the pregnancy, but death need not be imminent, according to the Texas Supreme Court.

Frankly this ruling feels like a gut punch, according to lead plaintiff Amanda Zurawski, speaking to reporters on Friday. Not just for pregnant Texans but doctors in our state.

Amanda Zurawski, the lead plaintiff in a challenge to Texas abortion law, speaks to a state medical board on March 22 2024. ( AP )

After she became pregnant in 2022, Zurawski dilated prematurely, and soon after her membranes ruptured, draining amniotic fluid and endangering the life of her expected child.

Doctors informed her there was nothing they could do under what was recently enacted state law, despite knowing with complete certainty that her daughter would die.

The condition led to life-threatening sepsis. Doctors ultimately induced labor. Her daughter, which she named Willow, was not alive when she delivered.

This ruling is heartbreaking but it is not the end, she said on Friday. We will not be silenced We are the faces of women across the country who are standing up to be heard.

Samantha Casianos expected child was diagnosed with anencephaly, a fatal birth defect in which a baby is born without parts of a brain or skull. She was forced to give birth to a three-pound baby who died hours later.

Theres more women just like us, she said on Friday. I hope that they hear us and make a change.

The Supreme Courts ruling does not mention Casiano or the lawsuits 20 other plaintiffs, except for Zurawski.

The opinion erases the women  as though their pain and experiences dont exist or matter, according to Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, the legal group that represented the women.

Center for Reproductive Rights attorney Molly Duane added that the court wrote our clients  entirely out of the decision.

Abortion rights protesters march in Austin, Texas following the US Supreme Courts decision to revoke a constitutiona right to abortion care in June 2022. ( AP )

The ruling utterly fails to provide the clarity doctors need to when they can provide abortion care to patients, and lays bare the consequences of the Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v Wade in 2022, according to Northup.

This kind of suffering will keep happening in Texas every day, she said.

Dr Austin Dennard, an obstetrician-gynecologist and a plaintiff in the case, was moved to tears on Friday.

Im actually surprised at how upset I am because I felt like Texas showed their cards with Kate, said Dennard, referencing another Texas Supreme Court decision that blocked an emergency abortion for Kate Cox. She ultimately left the state to seek care.

I love Texas, but its really hard to love Texas right now. And to know that people in a position of power feel that pregnant individuals should simply be vessels, and lose their rights entirely, and feel the type of pain we all felt, and to risk their lives the way we were all at risk, and to not have any rights whatsoever, is really hard to believe, she added.

Texas is among more than a dozen states that have effectively outlawed abortion in most cases in the wake of the US Supreme Courts ruling in Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization in June 2022.

The decision to overturn Roe v Wade has upended access to care for millions of Americans now forced to travel to states where abortion is protected, compounding the already-fractured and patchwork system for abortion care across the country.
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Two aliens that allegedly landed in a Las Vegas familys backyard used some kind of cloaking device to hide from humans, a crime scene reconstruction analyst has said.

The new claim came after teenager, Angel Kenmore, uploaded footage to YouTube where he said that he had recorded an encounter with an alien in his backyard in April 2023.

At first glance, the footage appears to show nothing, but Kenmore has claimed it reveals a tall, skinny, lengthy creature with a gray, greenish color.

The only thing I can see in the backyard is a tall creature probably around 8 [or] 10 feet tall, very thin, so I called my dad. He went to the backyard, and he saw the same thing, the same creature I saw, the teen says in the video.

He told me to go inside the house. At this point, we all freaking out, me and my family, and heres the video where we were in the backyard area. You can see. You cannot see it too good on camera, but its there.

A dark blur in the top-hand corner which crime scene analyst Scott Roder said he believes is the head of an alien ( Jim Quirk/Extraterrestrial Reality Podcast )

A year on, Scott Roder, who has testified in high-profile criminal cases, and Jim Quirk, a reporter who runs the Extraterrestrial Reality podcast, have claimed their analysis of the footage confirms that two beings used some kind of cloaking device to shield themselves from the curious family and, later, responding police officers.

Roder and Quirk said they used artificial intelligence (AI) to recreate the movements in the video to show what apparently happened.

Roder, who testified at disgraced Olympian Oscar Pistorious murder trial, alluded to a dark blur in the top-hand corner of the footage, which appears to be a shadow or a smudge. He told Fox News that he believes its a head of an alien in some kind of smoky filter or using some kind of cloaking technique.

The Kenmore family who say they filmed aliens in their Las Vegas backyard ( Inside Edition )

Roder said: I think what the AI software was able to allow us to do was to determine that it was not just a shadow, beyond any reasonable doubt to a degree of scientific probability.

Thats the same standard that you testify in court, the same standard that can send a suspect to jail for the rest of their lives.

Quirk added that he believes the alleged cloaking technique was also used to shield a craft that some believe crashed on the same night.

My feeling is something went wrong with this craft or whatever they were in, and it had to come down and make an emergency landing, Quirk said.

A glowing, green light was captured on a Las Vegas Police officer's bodycam ( Las Vegas Police Department )

They landed in this backyard, and while theyre making emergency repairs, perhaps these alien beings are trying to stave off the pesky humans while these other aliens that we dont see are working on this craft.

Quirk and Roders analysis also focused on the green light that Angel Kenmore says he saw falling from the sky shortly before the encounter. The glowing, green light also appeared to have been captured by police body camera footage around the same time.

Roder pointed out the steep trajectory of the light and claimed it made an oscillating mechanical sound when he tested it under Infrared vision.

All evidence that shows that we are not alone and that there is an alien presence on this planet, Roder said.

This is bigger than Las Vegas. I mean, this shows we are not alone on this world, Quirk added. There is some sort of an alien presence here among us. What theyre doing here, we cant really say. We can only speculate. But there is something here, no doubt about it.

Roder and Quirk also teased future releases of further analysis of the video, adding that they believe something could have been missed.

This is just the beginning, Roder said.
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President Joe Biden has urged Israel and Hamas to adopt an Israeli-backed plan for what he described as a full and complete ceasefire that could bring an end to the nearly eight-month-old war that has roiled the Middle East and sapped his support among Arab-Americans and younger voters.

Speaking from the White House on Friday, Biden said the comprehensive proposal has been offered by Israel to Hamas negotiators after months of painstaking and intensive diplomacy efforts, carried out by US negotiators in conjunction with Israeli, Qatari, Egyptian and other Middle Eastern representatives.

This latest attempt at a negotiated solution to the conflict comes amid Israels continued assault on the Gaza border city of Rafah, an operation which Israeli officials have continued despite widespread international opposition, and pressure from the Biden administration to limit its scope. Biden and his aides have also been the subject of criticism on account of Israels bombing of a Rafah tent camp with US-made bombs earlier this week.

Biden called the new plan a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages and said the plan has officially been transmitted to Hamas by way of Qatari government. Qatar has allowed members of the Hamas political organization to base themselves in the country.

The president said the proposal would involve three distinct phases: First, a six-week full and complete ceasefire including withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, the release of a number of hostages including women, the elderly, [and] the wounded and the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners by Israel.

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the verdict in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial and on the Middle East, from the State Dining Room of the White House, Friday, May 31, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) ( AP )

Palestinian civilians would return to their homes and neighborhoods in all areas of Gaza, including in the north, Mr Biden said.

The first phase would also see a surge of humanitarian assistance to the tune of 600 aid trucks passing into Gaza per day during the ceasefire period, and thousands of temporary shelters delivered by the international community to support housing needs for Gaza residents whose homes have been destroyed during the conflict.

All that and more would begin immediately, Mr Biden added.

Catastrophic levels of hunger are being experienced across Gaza and the head of the United Nations World Food Program said northern Gaza had entered full-blown famine earlier this month due to the lack of aid entering the region.

The second phase would commence after further negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Biden stressed that the ceasefire would continue past the six-week first phase, if negotiations continue apace.

While the details remain subject to further talks, the second phase would include the withdrawal of all Israeli forces from Gaza, a permanent ceasefire, and cessation of hostilities in exchange for Hamas giving up all remaining hostages including any male soldiers.

The third phase would consist of a major reconstruction plan for Gaza along with the return of any remains of hostages who have died since being taken captive during the October 7 attacks.

Israel Palestinians ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Biden said the plan would not harm Israeli security because Israel has made Hamas incapable of carrying out another October 7 in the last eight months.

The president also warned those in Israel, including members of the Netanyahu-led government, who would prefer for the war to continue indefinitely.

They've made it clear they want to occupy Gaza. They want to keep fighting for years, and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. He added that he has urged Israeli leaders to stand behind the offer they have made to Hamas despite whatever pressure comes their way to renege.

Biden invoked his unique status as the only president to visit Israel in wartime and the only US leader to ever order American forces to directly defend Israel during the recent attack by Iran. He underlined that Israel cant lose this moment by not pursuing peace.

Indefinite war in pursuit of an unidentified notion of total victory will only bog down Israel in Gaza ... and furthering Israel's isolation in the world. That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas, that will not bring Israel lasting security, he said.
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House and Senate leadership formally invited Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to deliver a joint address to Congress despite increased criticism of the war in Gaza against Hamas.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sent a letter on Friday inviting Netanyahu, though it did not indicate a specific date for him to speak.

The leaders said they chose to formally request the prime minister to speak in response to the war sparked by Hamas launching a surprise attack on Israel on October 7 that led to the deaths of 1,200 people and the taking of 252 hostages.

The existential challenges we face, including the growing partnership between Iran, Russia, and China, threaten the security, peace, and prosperity of our countries and of free people around the world, he said. To build on our enduring relationship and to highlight Americas solidarity with Israel, we invite you to share the Israeli governments vision for defending democracy, combatting terror, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region.

Congressional leadership invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to deliver a joint address to Congress ( AP )

Netanyahu has delivered a joint address to Congress on three occasions during: once in 1996 during his first run; again in 2011 and a third time in 2015 during his second run. This will be his first address since he reassumed office in 2022.

Johnson told The Independent last week that Schumer agreed to invite Netanyahu to deliver an address, but that they were working on a date. Other Democrats, including progressive Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, criticized the invitation, calling it a divisive and unproductive activity.

Previously, Netanyahu had addressed the Senate Republican conference during a closed-door lunch.

But the invitation comes after the top prosecutor for the International Criminal Court announced he was seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and senior Hamas officials. All four major leaders condemned the announcement, as did many other senior congressional leaders when Secretary of State Antony Blinken testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Palestinians walk through the destruction in the wake of an Israeli air and ground offensive in Jebaliya, northern Gaza Strip, ( AP )

The invitation comes despite the fact that Schumer, the highest ranking Jewish-American official, called for new elections in Israel earlier this year, which Johnson and McConnell swiftly denounced.

The invitation also comes the same day that President Joe Biden urged Israel and Hamas to accept an Israeli-supported plan for a full and complete ceasefire.

Last year, Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered a joint address to Congress, which some progressives boycotted and led to Herzog criticizing them.
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Now that Donald Trump is a convicted felon, his list of countries to visit has gotten much shorter.

Trump was found guilty on Thursday of 34 counts of falsifying records in an effort to keep adult film star Stormy Daniels quiet about an affair that occurred in the 2000s. That means certain freedoms Mr Trump once enjoyed may be out of his reach  and could have a serious effect on his ability to carry out his presidential duties, including travelling to foreign countries.

Nearly 40 nations - including Canada and the UK - have strict policies when it comes to allowing individuals with criminal records across their borders, and barring a special accommodation, Trump would be held to those same standards. Its unclear if he would be allowed to visit if he wins the presidential election in November, but remains a felon.

Here are just five of the over 35 nations that can now ban Trump from entry now that he's a felon:

Former President Donald Trump may not be allowed to enter nearly 40 countries now that hes a convicted felon ( AP )

Israel

Despite Trump once retweeting someone who referred to him as the "King of Israel" and bragging that he moved the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, Trump may not be able to visit the nation now that he's a felon.

Israel reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone with a criminal record, including felonies. Border control forces in Israel have the authority to bar entry for anyone suspected of committing a crime or with a record, and Trump meets both of those qualifiers.

Canada

According to the Canadian government's tourist hub, any "US Citizen or permanent resident that has a felony conviction on their criminal record may be deemed inadmissible to Canada for the purposes of immigrating, or even if they're merely coming to Canada to visit."

Canada even retains the right to bar individuals "arrested or accused of a felony crime ... even though you have not been convicted," meaning Trump would have faced issues visiting the US's northern neighbor the moment he faced charges.

The government notes that "a felony will likely result in inadmissibility."

Then-president Donald Trump talks with Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the plenary session of the NATO summit in 2019 ( AFP via Getty Images )

Japan

Japan is fairly strict with its immigration and visitation rules, including laws preventing convicted criminals from entry.

Under Japanese law anyone convicted of a violation of "any law of regulation" of any country and who has been sentenced to "imprisonment with or without work for one year or more, or to an equivalent penalty" can be barred from entry.

Japanese law does note that individuals convicted of a "political offence" are not subject to those rules. In Trump's mind, at least, he could qualify to visit under those terms. It's unclear if Japan would buy his version of events.

UK

Under UK law, a felon can visit England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland with some restrictions and requirements in place. However, Britain can bar access to convicted felons.

Unless an Immigration Officer is satisfied that admission would be justified for strong compassionate reasons, they can refuse access to any convicted felon so long as the crime they committed would also be punishable by imprisonment in the UK.

In 2019, British Prime Minister Theresa May, Prince of Wales Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, President Donald Trump and First Lady of Melania Trump attended the D-day 75 Commemorations on June 05 in Portsmouth, England. ( Getty Images )

China

China has strict policies when admitting anyone over its borders. Chinese officials conduct character assessments for anyone applying for a visa, and that includes a criminal history check, including felonies.

Even minor offences can get someone barred from entering China, so Mr Trump may not be able to chide the Chinese in person if he were ever so inclined.

Countries and territories that restrict visits from felons
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Michael Cohen, Donald Trumps former fixer and star witness for the prosecution at his hush money trial, celebrated the former presidents historic felony conviction on Thursday.

Guilty On All Counts! #TeamCohen, he posted on X just moments after the verdict was announced.

The disbarred attorneys celebration comes after a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records for reimbursements to Cohen over payments he made to porn star Stormy Daniels to cover up the story of her affair with Trump ahead of the 2016 election.

The jury unanimously convicted the former president of all 34 felony counts on 30 May.

Today is an important day for accountability and the rule of law, Cohen said, in a later social media post. While it has been a difficult journey for me, the truth always matters.

Cohen provided key testimony tying Trump to the hush money payment. During their nine-and-a-half-hour deliberations, the jury asked Justice Juan Merchan to re-listen to Cohens testimony transcripts.

The former lawyer testified that Trump directed him to pay $130,000 to Stormy Daniels weeks before the 2016 presidential election so she wouldnt go public with a story about having sex with Trump a decade earlier in 2006. Trump has denied the affair.

Michael Cohen pictured leaving Manhattan Criminal Court after testifying in Donald Trumps hush money trial on 13 May. The ex-attorney is now celebrating Trumps felony conviction ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

Cohens four-day testimony bolstered the prosecutions argument that Trump had warned the former fixer to be prepared for stories about women when he launched his 2016 campaign; instructed him to pay them off; then signed the checks that reimbursed him - all as part of a plan drawn up by his accountants and finalized from the White House.

Trumps reimbursement payments to Cohen were covered up across 34 business records - 12 ledger entries, Cohens 11 invoices, and 11 checks, most of which included Trumps signature.

Trumps defense sought to discredit Cohens testimony by depicting him as an aggrieved, selfish and fame-hungry opportunist and a convicted liar.

Cohen has not been shy about his hatred for the former president, and he at least partially blames Trump for his own prison sentence. Cohen spent three years in federal prison and paid a $50,000 fine after pleading guilty to lying to Congress and campaign finance and tax violations in 2018.
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Whether it was by luck or some other means, Donald Trump has spent his entire life evading consequences, moving through the world with impunity and accusing others of being criminals when his own conduct was called out.

This Im rubber, youre glue strategy was in part how he defeated New York senator turned Obama administration secretary of state Hillary Clinton when they faced off in the 2016 presidential election.

For those who may not remember, Clinton spent much of the 2015-2016 election cycle embroiled in a scandal stemming from her use of a private email server when she was serving as Americas top diplomat. A congressional investigation had found that some of the emails shed received from aides contained information later deemed to be classified, which  in theory  may have been enough to charge her with violating US laws governing the handling of national defense information.

On the stump during that campaign, Trump repeatedly branded her a criminal. At an October 2016 debate between the two candidates, he told her that shed be in jail if he were to become president.

Now, eight years later, Trumps luck has run out. Hes been branded a criminal where it matters most: in a court of law.

Trump makes history as first criminally convicted former US president

A jury of 12 New Yorkers found him guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an effort to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election. He had been accused of covering up reimbursement payments to his then attorney Michael Cohen for $130,000 paid in hush money to Stormy Daniels, whose story about having sex with Trump threatened to derail his campaign against Clinton.

Though Trump now claims that his conviction was rigged and corrupt and has vowed to appeal, he will, for the first time, face real consequences.

He may be barred from voting in his new home state of Florida  but only if hes behind bars. He could be barred from obtaining some professional licenses and operating some forms of business in many states. And some countries may bar him from entry or require him to jump through extra hoops before being granted visas to travel to them.

But for Trump, the most serious consequence  and the one with the most wide-ranging effect on his future  could come from voters.

According to a new poll commissioned by NPR and PBS and carried out by Marist College, 17 percent of respondents surveyed said a guilty verdict against Trump would make them less likely to vote for him this November.

That 17 percent may not seem like much. It represents just one in six voters, while much larger percentages of respondents said a guilty verdict against Trump would not make a difference in how they cast their vote, for or against.

But in American presidential elections, its the small margins that can matter most. Thats because we pick presidents not by a single national plebiscite, but by 50 individual elections, with the results weighted by each states population.

That byzantine system is how Trump managed to defeat Clinton in 2016, by carrying three key states (Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania) even though he lost the overall national election by a margin of several million.

What mattered, in the end, was roughly 30,000 votes across those three states. It was only a few more  44,000 votes  in Georgia, Arizona and Wisconsin that kept Biden and Trump from a tie when they faced off four years later.

And even though Biden appears to be lagging in many opinion polls, if one in six Trump-inclined voters stays away or votes for the incumbent this November, it could doom Trumps chances of returning to the White House.

And should he fail to win a second non-consecutive term this November, the combined weight of the three remaining criminal cases against him means Trump could spend his remaining years in prison.
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Donald Trumps historic conviction in his New York hush money case on Thursday may put the former president in prison, but it hasnt slowed done the enthusiam for his campaign.

Shortly after the verdict was announced, the official GOP fundraising site connected to his 2024 effort crashed.

The American people see through Crooked Joe Bidens rigged show trial, the campaign wrote on X. So many Americans were moved to donate to President Trumps campaign that the WinRed pages went down. We are working on getting the website back online as quickly as possible.

A GOP source told me that WinRed, the Republican donation platform, is overwhelmed at the moment. pic.twitter.com/fqMJCehx7D  Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) May 30, 2024

Major Trump supporters said they were not detered by the conviction; in fact, they appeared energised by it.

"All of the charges are contrived," Robert Bigelow, who has given over $9m to an outside group supporting Trump, told Reuters.

Within minutes of Trump being convicted, his campaign sent out a fundraising email claiming the former president was a political prisoner.

Trumps donation site immediately was updated to declare that his guilty verdict makes him a political prisoner ( Donald Trump )

I was just convicted in a RIGGED political Witch Hunt trial: I DID NOTHING WRONG! the email reads.

The message also boasted that Joe Bidens chances of a 2nd term END TODAY!

Seventeen per cent of voters in a new poll said a guilty verdict would make them less likely to vote for Trump, while 67 per cent said a guilty verdict would make no difference in their choice in November.

Trump supporters rally outside the criminal court where former President Donald Trump is on trial on May 29, 2024 in New York City. ( Getty Images )

Trump has fundraised off his legal troubles before.

Last year, following the publication of his mugshot in his ongoing 2020 election conspiracy case in Georgia, the Trump campaign used the image to rake in millions in donations.

Trump later gave away pieces of the suit worn in the photo alongside trading cards as part of his fundraising efforts.

Trump may be the first president in US history to be convicted of a crime, but his campaign is steamrolling ahead, with a slight lead over Joe Biden in national poll averages.
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Ivanka Trump has broken her silence and spoken out in support of her father after the former presidents historic criminal conviction at his hush money trial in New York.

The former first daughter, who also served as a special advisor during Donald Trumps time in office, posted a heartfelt message to her Instagram, shortly after her father was found guilty of all felony charges on Thursday

A jury convicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election. Ms Daniels says that they had a sexual encounter in 2006, which the former president denies.

Jurors announced they had reached a verdict in the historic criminal trial at 4.20pm on Thursday, just as Justice Juan Merchan prepared to dismiss them for the day.

Shortly after the verdict was announced Ms Trump shared a picture of herself as a young girl sat on her smiling fathers lap. I love you dad, she wrote, with a heart emoji.

The former First Daughter, who also served as a special advisor during Trumps time in office, posted a heartfelt message to her Instagram on Thursday ( @ivankatrump/ Instagram )

Her public display of support for her father comes in stark contrast to Trumps wife, former First Lady Melania Trump, who has not been seen throughout the six-week trial. She has not yet commented publicly.

The alleged payments were made to keep the affair between Daniels and Trump secret  an affair that happened shortly after Melania gave birth to son Barron.

Stephanie Grisham, who served as White House Press Secretary from 2019 to 2021, told CNN that a reporters relentless questions about the whereabouts of Melania absolutely perturbs the former president.

Ivanka Trump also served as a special advisor to her father during his administration ( Getty Images )

Oh absolutely I know it bothers him, Grisham told Erin Burnett on Wednesday. That kind of thing would bother him if Mrs Trump wasnt at some event and it was really noted he would definitely bring it up with her.

Despite the absence of Melania Trump, the former presidents eldest son  Donald Trump Jr  was extremely vocal on Thursday about the verdict.

Such bulls***, Trump Jr wrote on X. On Wednesday, he had shared a video with his father from inside the Manhattan courthouse joking about writing mean tweets.

Melania Trump did not appear in court at all throughout her husbands trial, and has not commented on it publicly ( AP )

Guilty on all counts, he later added. The Democrats have succeeded in their years long attempt to turn America into a third-world s******. November 5 is our last chance to save it.

Trump, the presumptive Republican candidate in the 2024 race, is now the first convicted felon to run for the White House. He maintained his innocence even post-conviction on Thursday.

I am a very innocent man, he said, speaking in the hallway of the courthouse after the verdict was read. He railed against the trial calling it rigged and a disgrace, before saying that the country was going to hell.

Trump will return to Manhattan criminal court on July 11th for sentencing.
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The day after Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 felony charges, a House panel led by Trump ally Jim Jordan called for the district attorney who prosecuted the former president to testify before Congress next month.

The House Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government announced on X that it would demand that New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office built the case against Mr Trump, appear before the subcommittee on 13 June. Mr Jordan also serves as the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which houses the subcommittee.

The announcement came after a jury in New York found Mr Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to corruptly influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. The verdict made Mr Trump the first former president to be convicted of a felony.

Speaking after the verdict, Mr Bragg said: The only voice that matters is the voice of the jury.Mr Bragg said his team had treated the case like they would any other, despite the defendant being like no other in American history.

I did my job, he said.

The verdict, as well as the trial as a whole, infuriated Republicans, who promised there would be consequences for Mr Braggs investigation and the eventual indictment and trial.

The subcommittee also requested Matthew Colangelo, the senior counsel in Mr Braggs office appear.

It is not the first time that the subcommittee has gone after Mr Bragg. Last year, ahead of the indictment, Mr Jordan sent a letter requesting Mr Bragg to testify before the subcommittee.

Mr Bragg has repeatedly rebuffed Mr Jordan, even filing a lawsuit asking a federal court to urge Mr Jordan from interfering into his prosecution of the former president.

Mr Jordan for his part has held Judiciary Committee hearings in New York City to falsely portray the city as being overrun by crime. That in turn led to heckling from protesters in overwhelmingly Democratic New York City, including chants of Hey hey, ho, ho, Jim Jordans got to go.

A hardline Republican and co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus, Mr Jordan played a crucial role in Mr Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Mr Trump, for his part, endorsed Mr Jordans bid to become speaker of the House, which ultimately failed due to opposition from more mainstream Republicans.
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At a Black outreach event packed with Democratic heavyweights on Wednesday, it was Kamala Harris who proved the unexpected star of the show.

The vice president has been pilloried in the past for her awkward and stilted delivery at events. But at Girard College in Philadelphia as the warm-up act for Biden, she seemed far more at ease, cracking jokes and responding to applause.

She also received some of the biggest reactions during a slick performance where she rattled off a list of the Biden administrations accomplishments that specifically benefit the Black community - from a $35 cap on the cost of insulin and student debt forgiveness to record investments in historically-Black colleges.

She underlined how the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v Wade disproportionately affected Black women. And today, one in three women and more than half of Black women of reproductive age live in a state with an abortion ban - a Trump abortion ban, she noted.

Vice President Kamala Harris introduces President Joe Biden during a campaign rally at Girard College on May 29, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ( Getty Images )

She also delivered a few pugnacious lines that landed well with the majority Black crowd. When she decried Trumps Supreme Court picks, she described it as the court of Thurgood, referencing the first Black justice, Thurgood Marshall, which elicited a strong, positive response.

The star turn didnt go unnoticed among those gathered in the boarding schools gymnasium.

Aminah Shabazz, from Philadelphia, commented on Bidens lack of swag, but noted how Harris had also visited Philadelphia only last week, making trip to Jims in West Philadelphia - a local favorite for cheesesteaks opposed to the more commercially popular Pats or Genos.

Im curious why it wasnt tapped into earlier. Just something as simple as Kamala going to Jims Steaks was huge, she told The Independent. Its little things going a long way to make it more relatable.

Biden and Harris, along with prominent Black surrogates - Representative Barbara Lee of California, Representative Jasmine Crockett of Texas, and Maryland Governor Wes Moore - came to the City of Brotherly Love this week at a critical juncture for the campaign.

Recent polling shows that Biden continues to struggle with Black voters. A New York Times/Siena College poll earlier this month found that Biden only has a 53 per cent approval rating among Black voters, a dismal statistic for a Democratic incumbent president. Donald Trumps campaign has made overtures to the voting bloc after he improved with Black male voters in 2020, and has been promoting Black surrogates like Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and Representative Byron Donalds of Florida.

A number of those in attendance at the Philadelphia event dismissed concerns about Bidens struggles with Black voters. Tony Pritchette, a pastor at Provision of Grace World Mission Church, told The Independent that he heard about concerns about Black turnout only in the news, not in the community.

Not in the neighborhood, people are going to show up, he told The Independent. We understand the importance of this. This election, really, we know what would happen if Trump gets back.

Shabazz said that Biden may lack the same it factor of his Democratic predecessors Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and wished that he had begun investing in the community sooner.

But this might be where Harris could be a secret weapon. An alumnus of Howard University, she has regularly toured the country visiting other historically Black colleges and universities. In the past, polling had shown many voters did not think Harris was ready to be president. But now, more voters feel confident in her ability to assume the job should Biden not be able to.

Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina, who has known Harris since she was an attorney general in California, told The Independent last month that the vice president was a powerful force this election cycle - particularly as it comes to the key issue of abortion rights.

She can obviously relate to women and what they are going through he said. [S]he has been on the front lines of protecting womens healthcare, both as attorney general, as a United States senator and now as vice president.

Given that abortion rights will be a defining issue of the 2024 election, and Democrats likely will depend on it to hold the Senate, Harris might have found her calling card just in time.
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Former Trump lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen said that his former boss will seek to cause violence after his historic hush money conviction, but that most Americans wont care.

Will he look to create violence? Sure, he said during a Thursday evening interview with MSNBC. Will it happen? I dont think so. I dont believe that the American people are as invested in him as he believes.

No one is going to allow him to create the havoc that he wants everyone to believe he has the ability to create, he added.

The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.

Cohen has no love lost for his former boss.

During the hush money trial, in which Trump was ultimately found guilty on 34 counts, the lawyer testified that Trump directed him to pay $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels weeks before the 2016 presidential election so she wouldnt go public with allegations of a past alleged affair, then conceal the payment through a series of reimbursements.

The trial saw some embarrassing moments for the attorney, and numerous attacks from the Trump defense team seeking to undermine his credibility.

On the stand, he admitted to stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the Trump Organization as part of the reimbursement scheme for the hush money payments he made.

Cohen also told jurors he had once been knee-deep in the cult of Trump, when Trumps lawyers asked about his past praise for his old boss.

Following the verdict, Cohen claimed the decision was an important day for accountability and the rule of law and warned the various political leaders vying to be Donald Trumps vice-president about the risks of working for him.

Anybody that goes into his orbit loses everything, Cohen said.

I was not a rags to riches story thanks to Donald, he added. I was a riches to rags story thanks to Donald.

The lawyer was sentenced to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to lying to Congress and campaign finance and tax violations in 2018, in part related to the hush money scheme.
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Stormy Daniels was very emotional after Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 counts at his criminal hush money trial in New York, both her lawyer and her husband told CNN on Thursday.

Ms Daniels played a central role in the case  the hush money payments that Trumps former lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid to her were a key part of the evidence in convicting the former president.

For several days, Ms Daniels, an adult film star, testified to jurors about her relationship with Trump, the affair she claimed they had and how it impacted her personally.

On Thursday following the verdict, Clark Brewster, Ms Daniels attorney, told Anderson Cooper: [Ms Daniels] did her duty and came to court and told the truth.

Stormy Daniels in a court sketch testifying at Manhattan criminal court on May 9, 2024 ( AP )

He added: You could feel in the courtroom this was a diligent, informed jury and you have to respect that and compliment them on their work.

Barrett Blade, Daniels husband, also told CNN that his wife was still processing the verdict.

She was brought into this. This wasnt her seeking justice for herself. She was standing up for herself early on and saying what was right, but this whole hush money trial is really nothing  its not her story, he said.

He added: Hopefully people will finally start seeing the truth and if they do, they do, if they dont, they dont. I dont know that that ever changes.

Ms Daniels did not issue a public statement following the verdict, and Mr Brewster said that he had not spoken with his client about Trumps sentencing.

The adult film star was one of 20 witnesses that prosecutors called on to testify to evidence that showed Trump directed his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, to pay Ms Daniels $130,000 days before the 2016 election for her silence on the alleged affair. Prosecutors said Trump was worried the story would hurt his campaign.

He then covered up the hush money payments by reimbursing Cohen, money that was misrepresented as expenses for a retainer that never existed.

Ms Daniels testified that though her relationship with Trump was short-lived, the impact had a lasting effect  impacting her life to this day.

She told jurors she took the hush money payment out of fear and said her association with Trump cost me a lot of money.

Ultimately, Danielss confident testimony helped jurors to decide Trump is guilty on all counts. Daniels did not attend any court proceedings other than those she was required to attend.
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Donald Trump gave an unhinged speech at Trump Tower the morning after he became the first criminally convicted US president, railing against the fascist state and attacking his enemies, including the judge who oversaw his hush-money trial and the witnesses who testified against him.

Speaking to an audience of reporters and supporters in the lobby of his eponymous Fifth Avenue skyscraper in New York City  the building where he formed the conspiracy that figured prominently in the evidence against him  Trump falsely claimed that the president, Joe Biden, could put an end to the case that was brought against him by New York County district attorney Alvin Bragg in a New York court.

We have a president and a group of fascists that dont want to do anything about it. Because they could, right now, today  he could stop it  but hes not, said Trump.

Trump also hit out at the judge who oversaw his trial and who will sentence him for his crimes on July 11, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, calling him the devil and labeling him highly conflicted because the judges daughter works in Democratic politics. He falsely claimed that Mr Biden  not the judge  was responsible for the gag order against him.

Im the leading person for president and Im under a gag order, by a man that cant put two sentences together, given by a court, and they are in total conjunction with the White House and the DOJ [Department of Justice], just so you understand. This is all done by Biden and his people, he said.

Trump continued attacking Mr Biden as dumb and dishonest, while accusing him  without evidence  of being a Manchurian candidate, and repeating multiple lies about the presidents family.

Were living in a fascist state, said Trump.

The gag order in question prohibits Trump from attacking jurors and trial witnesses as well as the prosecutors who tried the case (except for Mr Bragg) and family members of prosecutors and court staff.

He has already been fined thousands of dollars for violating the gag order, and was warned by Judge Merchan that he could be jailed for further violations.

But Trump appeared to flout those warnings when he attacked one witness  his former attorney, Michael Cohen. Trump stated that he was not allowed to mention his name even as he described him in detail, insisting that Cohen was a sleazebag who performed work for him as a fully-accredited lawyer.

He also complained that his only defense witness, conservative attorney Robert Costello, had been literally crucified, and spoke at length in defense of one person who was not a witness at his trial: longtime Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg.

The ex-president falsely claimed that Weisselberg, who is currently incarcerated at the Rikers Island jail after he pleaded guilty to perjuring himself during a separate civil trial involving Trumps business empire, was only behind bars because he made a deal under threat from prosecutors who wanted him to testify against his longtime boss.

This man was told you're gonna get 15 years in jail if you don't give up Trump, and he was told that youre gonna get 15 years in jail. And he made a plea deal because he didnt want to spend the rest of his life, and he was told that viciously, said Trump, who offered no evidence for his false claims but nonetheless insisted that Mr Weisselbergs plight shows that Americans are living in a fascist state.

He also claimed that he wanted to testify at his trial, but said he did not because he would have been charged with perjury.

A crowd of Trump supporters, counterprotesters and news media gather behind police barricades in front of Trump Tower on May 31 ( Getty )

Steps away from where Trump descended his skyscrapers golden escalators to launch his 2016 campaign for president, and from the building where he conspired to unlawfully influence that elections outcome, Trump delivered his rambling address to only a select group of reporters and allies.

Outnumbered by news cameras and journalists, a few dozen supporters rallied behind police barricades set up across the street. One waved a massive TRUMP OR DEATH banner above the crowd, while a Trump impersonator circled the block in a beat-up limousine leading a caravan with pickup trucks slathered in Trump paraphernalia.

Another truck blasted Trumps favorite song, Lee Greenwoods God Bless the USA, past a crowd of onlookers and surprised tourists who stopped in droves to snap photos while walking down a block that is host to high-end retailers such as Prada and Chanel.

Another group of counterprotesters across the street chanted GUILTY while waiting for Trump to leave.

Weve been protesting Trump for seven years, and I want to be here to see that justice is at least starting to visit him, said Kathleen Zea, who hails from Trumps old borough of Queens. Hes been able to act with impunity here in New York.

His conviction gave her a renewed faith in our system after Trump had undermined it for so long, she said.

Donald Trump delivers remarks inside Trump Tower on May 31, one day after he was convicted of 34 felonies relating to a hush-money scheme cooked up to influence the 2016 election ( Getty )

The disgraced former presidents appearance, which his campaign had billed as a press conference, permitted no questions from the assembled press, and it wrapped after more than 30 minutes of Trumpian grievance-airing, after which he exited the room to applause from the supporters his campaign had summoned.

The bizarre spectacle came less than 24 hours after a jury of 12 New Yorkers found him guilty on 34 felony counts of having falsified business records in an effort to unlawfully influence the 2016 presidential election.

He had been accused of covering up reimbursement payments to Cohen for $130,000 (102,000) paid in hush money to Stormy Daniels, whose story about having sex with Trump threatened to derail his campaign against Hillary Clinton.

Demonstrators hold up GUILTY signs outside Trump Tower as the former president delivers remarks on May 31, one day after he was found guilty of 34 felonies ( Getty )

Trump closed his remarks by claiming that it was dangerous for him to attack the judge, but said he does not mind attacking him because he remains willing to do whatever I have to do to save our country and to save our constitution.

He vowed to appeal the jurys verdict, and reminded viewers of the November 5 election, in which he will face off against Mr Biden for the final time.

The Biden campaign weighed in on Trumps remarks, with communications director Michael Tyler calling him unhinged by his 2020 election loss and spiraling from his criminal convictions and said he was consumed by his own thirst for revenge and retribution.

America just witnessed a confused, desperate, and defeated Donald Trump ramble about his own personal grievances and lie about the American justice system, leaving anyone watching with one obvious conclusion: This man cannot be president of the United States, he said.

Alex Woodward reports from Manhattan
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Disgraced former Fox News host Tucker Carlson predicted that Donald Trump, now a convicted felon, will win the 2024 presidential election - if he isnt killed first.

This wont stop Trump, Mr Carlson wrote on X, following the verdict on Thursday afternoon.

Hell win the election if hes not killed first. But it does mark the end of the fairest justice system in the world. Anyone who defends this verdict is a danger to you and your family.

A Manhattan jury unanimously convicted Donald Trump on all felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election.

Trump sat emotionless as the jury convicted him on 34 counts. But outside the courtroom on Thursday, he railed against the verdict. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial, the former president said.

The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people, and they know what happened here.

He added: Im a very innocent man.

Trump is the first convicted felon to run for the White House. He will return to Manhattan criminal court on July 11 for sentencing, days before he is expected to be selected as the GOP partys nominee for president at the Republican National Convention.

Carlson has regularly shown public support for the former president. During his time as an anchor on Fox News, he spread lies that the 2020 election had been rigged alongside fellow hosts Sean Hannity and Laura Ingraham.

Tucker Carlson (left) interviewing former president Donald Trump (right) ahead of the Republican Partys first 2024 election debate. Carlson predicted on Thursday that Trump will win the upcoming election in the wake of his felony conviction ( Tucker on X )

However, filings in a lawsuit against Fox News brought by Dominion Voting Systems in relation to the fake election claims, revealed Carlson had privately mocked Trumps allies and said that he hated him.

The Fox News star was fired in the wake of that lawsuit. Fox was ordered to pay $787.5m to the voting machine manufacturer for spreading baseless claims about their company connected to Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The TV network did not give a public reason for his termination.

The former Fox personality was in the national spotlight earlier this year after he interviewed Russian president Vladimir Putin in Moscow. The interview came after Carlson spent years on Fox News and on social media railing against Ukraine and promoting Kremlin talking points about Russias war in Ukraine.
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Mike Johnson, Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, has responded to Donald Trumps guilty verdict at his hush money trial by calling for the Supreme Court to intervene in the appeals process.

Trump became the first former president in US history to be criminally convicted on Thursday after he was found guilty on all 34 counts against him. A Manhattan jury unanimously agreed that he had falsified business records to hide a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels to coverup the story of their alleged affair in the runup to the 2016 election.

On Friday morning, Johnson expressed his concern about the verdict on Fox News Fox and Friends breakfast show. I do believe the Supreme Court should step in. Obviously this is totally unprecedented and its dangerous to our system, the Speaker said.

This is diminishing the American peoples faith in our system of justice itself and, to maintain a republic, you have to have that, people have to believe that justice is fair, that theres equal justice under law.

They dont see that right now and I think that the justices on the court  I know many of them personally  I think theyre deeply concerned about that, as we are.

So I think theyll set this straight, but its going to take a while.

Trump has said that he will appeal the New York verdict. In theory, the case eventually could be taken up by the Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, due to three justices which were nominated to the bench by the former president.

Trumps defense attorney, Todd Blanche, told CNN on Thursday that his client had not received a fair hearing. He said that it was not possible to assemble an impartial jury in Manhattan and that it had not been normal to bring a case concerning events that occurred eight years ago.

Blanche also suggested that Trumps appeal of the conviction might center on those accusations of bias, the location of the trial, its timing during a US election year and the salacious testimony of Daniels.

Mike Johnson, Republican speaker of the House of Representatives, appears outside of Manhattan Criminal Court to speak for Donald Trump on 14 May 2024 ( Stefan Jeremiah/AP )

Speaker Johnson was one of several prominent Republicans who turned up at Manhattan Criminal Court during the trial to speak out on Mr Trumps behalf and display their loyalty to the presumptive Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential race.

Trump is set to be sentenced on July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee at which he will, presumably, be invited to formally accept the partys nomination.

Should he accept, he will be running for the White House as a convicted felon.
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Donald Trump has made history as the first criminally convicted US president. He has been found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records as part of a conspiracy to corruptly influence the 2016 presidential election.

He sat emotionless as the jury convicted him on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election. Ms Daniels says that they had a sexual encounter in 2006, which Trump denies.

The jury delivered the verdict late on 31 May after deliberating for almost two days at the Manhattan court.

The Republican presidential candidate completed a virtual interview with Manhattan Criminal Courts probation department on Monday, a mandatory requirement before he is sentenced on July 11 by New York judge Juan Merchan after being found guilty on all counts at his hush money trial last month.

Could Trump go to prison? And what potential prison time is he facing in his three other criminal cases?

The hush money case  up to 20 years

The 34 charges were stepped up from misdemeanors to class E felonies for the trial because prosecutors alleged the crimes were carried out in an effort to commit or conceal another crime.

Each of the 34 counts carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, however New York imposes a 20-year sentencing cap for this type of offense.

However, such sentences are usually only doled out in circumstances like previous felony convictions or based on the seriousness of the crime.

Given that Trump has no prior criminal record and his crimes are non-violent, he could face no jail time. Instead, New York Judge Juan Merchan could impose other penalties such as fines, probation or conditional discharge in lieu of jail time.

The prosecution and the defense are still to give their recommendations on sentencing. The defense was due to give its recommendation on June 13. On June 10 Trump sat for a virtual interview with a probation officer as part of the sentencing procedure. Reports said the interview lasted half an hour.

Some commentators have suggested the prosecution could ask for jail time although others have suggested Trumps age and lack of previous convictions make this unlikely.

The classified documents case  up to 450 years

In one of two federal criminal cases, Trump is charged with willfully retaining secrets and obstructing justice over his alleged mishandling of classified documents after leaving the White House.

In August 2022, the FBI raided Trumps Mar-a-Lago home in Palm Beach, Florida, and found boxes of classified documents that he should have returned to the National Archives.

In that case, the former president faces a maximum of 10 years in prison per count of willfully retaining secrets and 20 years per count of obstructing justice.

Donald Trump appears alongside his aide and co-defendant Walt Nauta and attorneys Chris Kise and Todd Blanche in Miami, Florida, in June 2023 ( Reuters )

While the latter offence comes with a higher maximum sentence, it is the former which should have Trump more worried. Convictions of wilful and/or reckless retention of classified information frequently result in prison sentences of several years or more. Trump faces more than 30 of those charges.

The trial was provisionally set for 20 May, although Judge Aileen Cannon subsequently suspended it indefinitely and pretrial hearings relating to it continue to be dominated by baffling orders and courtroom spats.

The federal election interference case  up to 55 years

The Justice Departments second case against Trump accuses him with efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election in his favor.

In this case, he faces charges of conspiracy to defraud the United States, conspiracy against Americans right to vote in free elections and attempting to block the certification of the election results by summoning a mob to attack the US Capitol on 6 January 2021.

Should he be convicted on either point, he faces steep maximum prison sentences for each count, in particular the obstruction of proceeding charges, which carry 20-year maximum terms.

Donald Trump claimed he witnessed filth and decay in Washington DC after his arraignment in early August 2023 ( Getty )

The trial, in this case, was provisionally set for 4 March but it has been plagued by delays while Trumps presidential immunity argument plays out before the US Supreme Court.

The Georgia racketeering case  up to 76.5 years

In Georgia, Trump is charged with his efforts to overturn the 2020 election in the state.

Donald Trump appears in a police booking mugshot released by the Fulton County Sheriffs Office in Georgia in August 2023 ( Reuters )

The sprawling RICO case, brought by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis against Trump and a string of his allies, is unique in that it is the only case where the charges carry minimum prison terms.

The most serious felony charge  of violating Georgias RICO statute (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations)  carries a minimum prison term of five years, with a maximum of 20 behind bars.
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Wendy Sax was trying to cross Fifth Avenue in midtown Manhattan on Friday morning when she ran into a small group of diehard Trump supporters donning red caps and waving massive MAGA flags on the sidewalk across from Trump Tower.

Moments later, a Donald Trump impersonator turned down the street in a rickety limousine, waving to his faithful acolytes. Behind him was a pickup truck adorned with Trump-themed vinyl wrap and several flags  including the upside-down American flag  blasting Lee Greenwoods God Bless the USA.

Motherf*****, Sax muttered.

They were all part of the eccentric crew who flocked to Trump Tower on Friday morning as Trump held his first official press conference after being found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records.

While Trumps supporters caused chaos outside, waving a sea of American flags that made it difficult for pedestrians to pass by, the former president delivered a rambling address inside to a select group of reporters and allies. The now-convicted felon proclaimed his innocence just steps away from where he descended Trump Towers golden escalators to launch his 2016 campaign for president, and inside the building where he conspired to unlawfully influence that elections outcome.

A Trump supporter holds a sign saying Witch Hunt Banana Republic outside of Trump Tower on 31 May ( Ariana Baio )

The scene outside Trump Tower was strange but mostly peaceful - save for a small skirmish between Trumpers and a protester with a sign supporting the guilty conviction. In one particularly shocking moment, Juliet Germanotta took out her bare breast and shoved it in the Trump critics face.

Germanotta, a Manhattan resident of 25 years, said she wanted Trump to be found guilty because it would help him in the polls and galvanize his supporters. She insisted that a civil war was possible if Trump was thrown in jail or if the November election was rigged.

Youve got to understand that there are millions of Americans that dont register their guns, me being one of them. And, Im ready for everything thats coming, because give me Trump or give me death, she said.

It was an intense declaration that other MAGA fans shared. Another supporter waved a giant flag that insisted: Give me Trump or give me death.

He needs to be president. Or else were all going to die, agreed Alexis, a supporter from Staten Island who walked around wearing an American flag as a cape.

Trump supporters fly flags in front of Trump Tower as he prepares to speak about his guilty conviction on 31 May ( Ariana Baio )

Pressed up against the barricades directly across from the gilded doors of Trump Tower, a group of familiar faces decked out in pro-Trump merchandise held signs screaming Witch hunt and Banana Republic. One woman held a small poster with Trumps mugshot and the words Never surrender.

Many supporters tried to spin the guilty verdict as a good thing for Trump. Joe, from New Jersey, thinks itll make the country rally like never before.

We got another 34 reasons why to vote for President Trump in the 2024 election, Brooklyn resident Henri said.

The crowds energy drew hundreds of gawkers - many who just stumbled into the event. Maria, a European woman in New York on vacation, said she wanted to just see what was going on. After a few minutes of watching supporters chant Lets go Brandon she said she feels bad for Trump supporters.

He doesnt represent them, he only represents himself, Maria said.

Anti-Former President and Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump protestors gather at Trump Tower on May 31, 2024 in New York City. ( Getty Images )

Karen, who is visiting her son in Manhattan, said the verdict gave her mixed emotions because she knows some Americans are being fed misinformation.

Im glad to see [Trump] being held accountable. But I am really sad at the spectacle of it all, she said.

Just diagonal from where Trumps supporters were barricaded in, a small crowd of vocal anti-Trump protesters held signs declaring the ex-president Guilty and a Loser. Anticipating the former president would leave Trump Tower they agreed to chant, Trump is not above the law.

Kathleen Zea, a woman from New York, said the conviction gave her renewed faith in the system that Trump undermined for so long.

Its time for people to wake up  You dont have to love everything Biden has done but I respect hes been in the government for many decades.

The guy on the other side wants to burn the whole thing down, she said.

A Trump protestor holds a sign saying, Ask your doctor if Trump in prison is right for you outside of Trump Tower on 31 May ( Ariana Baio )

Michael Handy, an Upper East Side resident wearing a US military veteran cap, said he came out to celebrate the guilty verdict.

And of course, New Yorkers have known for quite some time, he says, pointing to the Trumps housing discrimination cases in the 1970s and his friends who he says were ripped off by Trump in the years after.

A New Yorker standing outside of the barricades made a similar remark.

Im from New York City and we know the guy, he said. [Trump]s been a fraud for more than 35 years, and now hes gone.
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Donald Trump has made history once again by becoming the first US president ever convicted of a crime.

On Thursday, a jury found the former president guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection to a hush money payment to a porn star.

Stormy Daniels alleged that she had an affair with Trump in 2006, something the former president has denied outright. Even so, shortly before the 2016 presidential election, Daniels received a $130,000 payment from Trumps then-fixer-turned-foe Michael Cohen.

Cohen was later reimbursed for the payment  reimbursements that were fraudulently logged as legal expenses.

A jury of 12 New Yorkers has now found that Trump falsified those business records as part of a plot to interfere with the election by hiding negative information about himself from voters.

This was a rigged, disgraceful trial, Trump raged outside the courtroom on Thursday.

The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people, and they know what happened here, he added, referencing the 2024 presidential election.

Im a very innocent man, he said.

Trump is set to be sentenced on 11 July at 10am.

So now it comes down to this: a convicted felon could become the next president of the US, and could even wind up running the country from prison.

But can Trump pardon himself if he wins in November?

Donald Trump leaves criminal courtroom after he was convicted on all felony counts of falsifying business records in New York on May 30 ( AFP/Getty Images )

From a legal standpoint, if he becomes president, Trump could pardon himself for any federal convictions.

But he could not pardon himself for any convictions on the state level, such as his conviction in New York.

The state and federal systems in the United States are completely separate, Steve Duffy, a jury consultant at Trial Behavior Consulting, told The Independent prior to the verdict.

The only person who could pardon him would be the governor of New York  who is exceedingly unlikely to do that, he added, in reference to Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat.

Attorney Duncan Levin, who worked at the Manhattan District Attorneys Office years before the case against Trump, echoed this: This is a case brought by New York state and is not subject to a federal pardon. The president of the United States can pardon on federal cases, but not on state cases  he would have no ability to pardon himself by law.

That said, Levin told The Independent that Trump would be able to pardon himself if he is convicted in his federal cases.

The former president is currently facing two federal cases: one in Washington, DC over attempts to overturn the 2020 election and one in Florida over his alleged mishandling of classified documents since leaving the White House in January 2021. He is also facing state charges in Georgia in connection to his efforts to overturn the 2020 results in that state.

Its unlikely any of these three cases will actually make it to trial before the November election.

But should Trump take back the White House and pardon himself in the federal cases, it would mark yet another unprecedented moment in American history.

Its never happened before the former president has ever faced a criminal trial, Levin said. Its never happened that a felon is elected president of the United States. None of that has ever happened before. Its without any precedents whatsoever.

Trump makes unfounded claim hush money trial was 'rigged' after guilty verdict

If Trump tries to pardon himself, Levin predicted it would end up in a legal battle escalated to the US Supreme Court.

Of course, Trump has toyed with pardoning himself in the past.

Last September, he said he had discussed the possibility of pardoning himself at the end of his last term  but ultimately decided against it.

I couldve pardoned myself. Do you know what? I was given an option to pardon myself. I couldve pardoned myself when I left, he told NBC News.

People said, Would you like to pardon yourself? I had a couple of attorneys that said, You could do it if you want. I had some people that said, It would look bad if you do it, because I think it would look terrible.

I said, The last thing Id ever do is give myself a pardon, he claimed.

Asked if he would pardon himself if he wins in the fall, he said: I think its very unlikely. What, what did I do wrong? I didnt do anything wrong. You mean because I challenge an election, they want to put me in jail?
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South Carolina Republican senator turned Trump booster Tim Scott struggled to defend the former presidents threats of revenge on CNN on Thursday night after the latter was found guilty on all 34 counts by the jury at his New York hush money trial.

Scott was interviewed by anchor Abby Phillip in the wake of the verdict, which saw the 45th president become the first in American history to be convicted of a crime after the jury unanimously agreed that he had falsified business records to hide a $130,000 payout to the adult film star Stormy Daniels in October 2016 to ensure her silence over an alleged sexual encounter, which might have jeopardised his election prospects had it become public knowledge.

Phillip asked Scott: When former president Trump says that if he is elected president, he would appoint a special prosecutor to go after the most corrupt president in the history of the United States of America, Joe Biden, and the entire Biden crime family, are you saying that that is not something that you would support?

The senator answered: Im simply saying that President Trump has said it himself: The best revenge is success.

Actually, senator, I have to correct you on that Phillip countered.

No, you cant correct me on this, Abby, Scott blustered.

Im looking at the notes right here, she persisted. He has explicitly said that they ...

I was actually in his presence when he said it himself, Scott retorted.

He continued: This is why the ratings on CNN are so low. The bottom line is simply this. Without question, President Trump has looked me in my eyes in a room full of other folks and said, You know what? The best revenge is success. Lets not make this about just Donald Trump.

The broadcaster continued: Senator, he may have said it to you in a private room, but he has said it to thousands of his supporters that he plans to go after his political enemies.

I dont understand how you can deny that he has said that publicly. Its in the public record.

Scott responded: I dont know how you will not take my own word for what I heard with my own ears.

Abby Phillip and South Carolina senator Tim Scott spar over Donald Trump on CNN on Thursday 30 May 2024 ( CNN/X )

Trump will now be sentenced on Thursday 11 July, four days before the Republican National Convention takes place in Milwaukee at which he will, presumably, still be invited to formally accept the partys nomination to be its 2024 presidential candidate.

Before then, he is expected to finally name a running mate, with Scott, who briefly challenged him for the GOP nomination, expected to be in contention, having become a loud and enthusiastic champion of his former rival since suspending his own campaign.

Other contenders to be Trumps prospective veep include New York representative Elise Stefanik, Ohio senator JD Vance and Florida senator Marco Rubio, with South Dakota governor Kristi Noem and Florida congressman Byron Donalds considered outside bets.

The presumptive GOP nominee has often praised Scott since he stepped aside by saying he has proven a better advocate for his campaign than he ever was for his own.
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A knifeman wounded several people, including a police officer, in a stabbing frenzy at a political rally in Germany.

The attacker struck shortly after 11.30am in the southwestern city of Mannheim, during an event staged by the Citizens Movement Pax Europa (BPE), which advocates against the Islamisation of Europe.

Police shot at the man, who was also injured during the fracas on the Marktplatz, a square in the citys downtown area.

Police shot the attacker ( AP )

Police said they could not immediately give any information on the severity of the injuries.

Footage showed a bearded knifeman attacking people before being shot by an armed officer.

One person appeared to be stabbed in the leg and a policeman who tried to intervene appeared to be cut at the neck. Another policeman then shot the attacker.

There is currently a major police operation on the market square in Mannheim, local police said.

A rescue helicopter is also in use.

Shortly before the attack took place, anti-Islam activist Michael Stuerzenberger was seen on a livestream preparing to give a speech to a small crowd in Mannheim, which is is south of Frankfurthas about 300,000 residents.

Forensics officers searched the scene of the attacks ( AP )

The Pax Europa group, which describes itself as an organisation that informs the public about the dangers posed by the increasing spread and influence of political Islam, said the attack happened on the sidelines of an event it staged.

It said Mr Sturzenberger was among those wounded.

The violence comes in the final stretch of a European parliament campaign in which the far-right Alternative for Germany party has campaigned partially on what it claims is the danger posed by migration from Muslim countries.

Germanys interior minister Nancy Faeser said it was up to investigators to determine a motive.

She said that if the investigation shows an Islamist motive, that would be another confirmation of the great danger from Islamist acts of violence that we have warned of.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on social media that the pictures from Mannheim were terrible and that violence is absolutely unacceptable in our democracy.

The attacker must be punished severely, he added.

Mr Stuerzenberger, 59, who describes himself as an Islam-critical journalist, has been a member of several far-right anti-Islam organisations.
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Gossip is a womans thing, Pope Francis is alleged to have told a group of priests at a recent meeting in Rome.

The remark was said to have been made by the pontiff at a closed-door meeting just days after he apologised for reportedly using a homophobic slur.

The head of the Catholic Church, 87, is said to have advised the priests, ordained within the past 10 years, of badmouthing in parishes and congregations

Gossip is a womens thing, he allegedly said. We wear the trousers, we have to say things.

File photo: Pope Francis ( Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

His alleged comments were first reported by Silere Non Possum, a Catholic website critical of the pope, before being picked up by mainstream Italian newspapers and agencies.

A collaborator with Silere Non Possum told The Times that they had a recording of the meeting which they were prepared to released if the Vatican denied the comments had been made.

Francis has previously denounced gossip in the church, describing it as the devils work and a plague worse than Covid and terrorism.

In 2018 he told pilgrims in St Peters Square that gossip kills because the tongue kills, like a knife.

The Vatican has been contacted for comment.

The alleged remarks are potentially another highly embarrassing incident for Francis, who has been trying to boost the role of women in the church.

On Tuesday the Vatican issued a statement acknowledging the media storm sparked by his widely reported homophobic remark .

He was said to have made the comment while reaffirming the Catholic Church s ban on gay priests.

Francis has previously denounced gossip in the church ( AP )

The Pope never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he extends his apologies to those who were offended by the use of a term that was reported by others, Vatican spokesperson Matteo Bruni said.

The apology followed a closed-door meeting on 20 May at an Italian bishops conference in Rome, where one of the topics discussed was whether to allow celibate gay men to undergo training for priesthood at Catholic seminaries.

Francis was said to have spoken out against the idea.

He was reported in the Italian media as joking that there was already too much frociaggine in some seminaries - a highly offensive homophobic Italian slur.

The Italian bishops conference had recently approved a new document outlining training for Italian seminarians.

File photot: The Vatican apologised earlier this week after the pope was accused of using a homophobic slur ( Copyright 1998 The Associated Press. All rights reserved )

The document, which hasnt been published pending a review by the Holy See, reportedly sought to open some wiggle room in the Vaticans absolute ban on gay priests.

The Vatican ban was articulated in a 2005 document from the Congregation for Catholic Education, and later repeated in a subsequent document in 2016, which said the church cannot admit to seminaries or ordain men who practice homosexuality, present deep-seated homosexual tendencies or support the so-called gay culture.

Italian is not Pope Franciss mother tongue and the Argentine pope has made linguistic mistakes in the past that raised eyebrows.

His apology has been welcomed by a UK Catholic LGBT+ group.

Martin Pendergast, secretary of LGBT Catholics Westminster Pastoral Council, said: Given the media frenzy that there has been around this, I think it is very significant that an apology has come so swiftly and he clearly recognised not just that he is sorry for those who might have been hurt but also that it was homophobic language.
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Norway plans to increase its control of infrastructure on the remote Arctic Svalbard islands.

The Norwegian government announced the news on Friday as security concerns and climate change impact the archipelago.

The Nordic nation has long feared that tensions between Russia and the West could spill over to the vast outpost because of its strategic position and of growing interest in the Arctics valuable oil, gas and shipping routes.

Located around 700 km (435 miles) north of the European mainland, Svalbard is governed under a 1920 treaty giving Norway sovereignty but allowing citizens of signatory states to settle there without a Norwegian visa.

Around 60% of Svalbards 3,000 inhabitants are Norwegians, while the rest comes from a wide variety of nations, most notably Russia, which operates a coal mine in the town of Barentsburg, where some 400 people live.

We want to strengthen national control and develop the Norwegian presence on the island group, Minister of Justice and Public Security Emilie Enger Mehl said in a statement presenting its updated Svalbard strategy.

Svalbard is an important part of Norway, and the government wants to ensure Norwegian ownership of important infrastructure and property there as well as increase energy supply security, she added.

Map of Svalbard:

The latter included the Norwegian state taking more responsibility for energy supply to Longyearbyen, Svalbards biggest town, it said.

Since the previous strategy update in 2016, Svalbard has undergone massive changes, the government said.

The population has grown and diversified and tourism has increased.

In addition, the security policy situation, both globally and in our immediate areas, is characterised by greater seriousness and greater unpredictability than when the previous Svalbard report was presented, it said.

A taxidermied polar bear and Arctic fox are seen at the Kings Bay AS service building and canteen ( Reuters )

Limiting the impact of climate change is also a key driver, with the government also expressing its desire to limit population growth as well as cruise ship tourism.

Temperatures in the polar region are warming four times faster than the rest of the world, posing a risk to Svalbards habitat for polar bears, reindeer and other Arctic species glaciers, which cover more than 60% of the archipelagos territory.

Just last month a tourist visiting Svalbard was fined more than $1,100 (900) for getting too close to a walrus. Its against the law to approach the wildlife on Svalbard in a way that disturbs them.
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A man who died inside the running engine of a plane at an airport in Amsterdam intentionally climbed in himself, police have said.

The incident happened at Schiphol Airport on Wednesday afternoon after the Dutch-owned KLM aircraft completed its push-back procedure and was about to taxi onto the runway.

The deceased man has been identified as an employee of a company working at the airport.

Passengers and crew on board reportedly saw the tragedy happen and were offered counselling.

Emergency services rushed to the airport just before 3pm, when the alarm was raised.

File photo: KLM planes at an airport ( AP 2018 )

Police said that all passengers and employees of the flight in question, KL1341, had disembarked and are being looked after. The Dutch Safety Board sent three investigators to the airport.

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported that a hellish noise was heard when the incident happened.y

An employee from the aircraft in question reported that someone had jumped into the engine while the crew had just completed the safety instructions, its website reported.

There was a hellish noise after which smoke could be seen for a moment. Passengers and employees saw the incident happen before their eyes.

KLM confirmed that the incident involved one of its planes and that a person had died.

A spokesperson said: A fatal incident took place at Schiphol... during which a person ended up in a running aircraft engine. Sadly, this person has died.

The flight concerned was KL1341 bound for Billund. The circumstances are currently under investigation.

The incident is being investigated by Royal Netherlands Marechaussee.

In an update on Thursday, a spokesperson for the military police said: The deceased man has been identified as an employee of a company operating at the airport.

The investigation has revealed that he intentionally climbed into the engine, indicating this is a case of suicide.

Out of respect for the victim and their loved ones, no further statements will be made.

If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.

This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in another country, you can go to www.befrienders.org to find a helpline near you.
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This article first appeared in our partner site, Independent Persian

The sound of chisels hitting against clay can be heard from several metres away at a tile workshop just east of Herats Grand Mosque, one of Afghanistans largest historical landmarks. This small workshop, which specialises in producing tiles in the style of the Timurid period [14th and 15th centuries], relies on a few dedicated tile artists who sustain this ancient craft at great personal expense.

Tile making has flourished in Herat for over eight centuries, reaching its peak during the Timurid period. Herat was the former capital of the Timurid Empire, which at its height spanned from Baghdad in the west to Delhi in the east. Today, only a handful of artisans are skilled in crafting these tiles, and there are concerns that this art may vanish if they cease their work.

What makes the workshop stand out is that each stage of the tile production progress is completed without the use of machinery, unlike similar workshops in other countries.

In one section of the workshop, clay is poured into moulds, dried, coloured, and then transferred to the kiln. Omid Niknam, who oversees the clay kiln, expressed his strong commitment to continuing his work at the tile workshop to Independent Persian, despite the low wages.

He added, "All the tile makers face economic challenges, and we hope for an increase in our salary so we can continue our work. If we leave, there will be no one else in Herat to carry on this craft."

An experienced tile maker, who wished to remain anonymous, told Independent Persian that he discouraged his children from entering the tile-making profession because it doesnt provide enough income to support a family. He said, "I have been working in mosaic tiles for over 20 years, and my financial situation has always been terrible. No one pays us any heed. I wouldnt recommend entering the tile-making business to anyone."

Despite having decades of experience, the workers at Herats traditional tile workshop earn less than 100 dollars (78) a month. Sediq Mir, a cultural official in the Herat province, told Independent Persian that 24 people are currently employed by the historical monuments department, including in the traditional tile workshop. . He added: "Reconstructing Herats historical buildings will take years because no additional manpower has been added to Herats tile workshops. Very few people know how to make traditional tiles, and others dont want to work in this workshop due to the low pay." The workers have tried to increase their hours to boost their salaries.

The deadly earthquakes of October, which claimed over a thousand lives in Herat, also damaged the citys historical buildings, including the Grand Mosque of Herat, which is adorned with tiles. Official statistics indicate that over 700 historical buildings and monuments in Herat require traditional tiles for restoration and reconstruction, but Herats traditional tile workshop cannot meet this demand.

Learning the traditional tile-making craft is both difficult and time-consuming, and there is no clear outlook for the industry in Herat, leading to a lack of interest in pursuing this craft.

A traditional craft

Traditional tiles are made from clay and collared with yellow, white, turquoise, and azure hues, using materials like lead, tin, copper, stone, iron, and glass. The Herat workshop produces seven-colour, single-colour, and mosaic tiles.

Herat is renowned for its mosaic tiles, which are used in historical buildings. To make these tiles, small fragments of colourful tiles are assembled to create a tile with a unique appearance. The process begins by sketching the desired pattern on paper. This pattern is then cut and pasted onto tiles according to the chosen colour scheme. Special tools are used to cut the tiles, and everything is smoothed with a file. The pieces are then joined using plaster or cement. Mosaic tiles are notable for their pliability in covering curved surfaces compared to seven-colour tiles.

Curved, geometric, polygonal patterns and Quranic verses are commonly used in the mosaic tiles produced at Herats traditional tile workshop. During the Timurid period, mosaic tiles were highly regarded, with small pieces forming large, intricate patterns. The Grand Mosque of Herat is an excellent example of this style of Islamic tiling.

Translated by Tooba Ali
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Yemens Houthis claim to have launched an attack on a US air carrier in response to earlier British and American strikes on its military bases.

The militant group say it has attacked the USS Dwight D Eisenhower ship in the Red Sea following strikes by London and Washington on targets in Yemen.

A US defence official told Reuters they were not aware of any attack on the Eisenhower.

In a televised address Yahya Saree, the Houthis military spokesman, also claimed that six US and British strikes have killed 16 people and wounded 41, including civilians.

On Thursday, British and American forces struck Houthi targets in Yemen as part of an ongoing operation against the groups targeting of commercial ships in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Yahya Sarea speaks at a press conference ( Getty )

The UKs Ministry of Defence (MoD) said intelligence confirmed two locations near Hudaydah were involved in the anti-shipping attacks, with buildings identified as housing drone ground control facilities and storage for long range drones.

A set of Houthi facilities at Ghulayfiqah, further south on the Yemeni coast, were also identified as being involved in the command and control of the groups anti-shipping campaign.

American and British fighter jets and US ships hit a wide range of targets, according to the MoD. RAF Typhoon FGR4s conducted strikes on the target buildings at the three locations, using Paveway IV guided bombs.

Prime minister Rishi Sunak said the UK will not hesitate to protect British interests. He said last nights strikes were conducted to further degrade the military capabilities of the Houthis and to prevent further attacks on international shipping.

Rishi Sunak said the UK will not hesitate to protect British interests ( Yui Mok/PA Wire )

The strikes were taken in self-defence in the face of an ongoing threat that the Houthis pose, Mr Sunak added.

The UK and US strikes came after images published on Wednesday purported to show another US MQ-9 Reaper drone downed in Yemen.

The Houthis released footage they said showed the aircraft being targeted with a surface-to-air missile in a desert region of Yemens central Marib province. It marked the third such downing this month alone.

Images analysed by the Associated Press showed the MQ-9 on its belly in the barren desert, its tail assembly disconnected from their rest of its body.

At least one hatch on the drone appeared to have been opened after it landed there, though the drone remained broadly intact without any clear blast damage. One image included Wednesdays date.

A US MQ-9 Reaper drone

The drone did not appear to carry any markings on it.

Authorities in Marib, which remains held by allies of Yemens exiled government, did not acknowledge the drone.

A US defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters, told the Associated Press that the US Air Force has not lost any aircraft operating within US Central Commands area of responsibility.

The official declined to elaborate.

The CIA also is believed to have flown Reaper drones over Yemen, both to monitor the war and in its campaign against al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, Yemens local affiliate of the militant group. The CIA declined to comment when reached by the AP.

According to the US Maritime Administration, the Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping since November, after tensions in the region flared amid Israels war with Hamas.

Additional reporting by agencies
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At least 14 people have been killed in Yemen after the US and the UK military jets carried out joint airstrikes in response to a recent surge in Houthi attacks on Red Sea shipping.

The strikes on Thursday targeted 13 sites, US officials said. One hit a radio building in Hodeidah province, killing 14 people and injuring more than 35, the Al Masirah television station reported on Friday.

Images aired by Al Masirah showed a bloodied man being carried down a flight of stairs and some people receiving treatment in a hospital.

The airstrikes were a response to the recent surge in attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea, three American officials told the Associated Press.

The strikes targeted a range of underground Houthi facilities, missile launchers, command and control sites and a vessel, the officials said.

The Houthis, in what they have called an act of solidarity with the Palestinians, have been attacking ships linked to Israel and its Western allies since November.

They have also attacked US and allied Western military vessels deployed under operation Prosperity Guardian to stop the attacks and keep the Red Sea shipping lanes open.

The Houthis, an armed political movement that controls Yemens capital and its most populous areas, have said the attacks will continue until Israel ends its war in Gaza.

The British Ministry of Defence said the joint operation with the US targeted three locations in the port city of Hodeidah, which it claimed housed drones and surface-to-air weapons.

As ever, the utmost care was taken in planning the strikes to minimise any risk to civilians or non-military infrastructure, the ministry said in a statement.

Conducting the strikes in the hours of darkness should also have mitigated yet further any such risks.

The Houthi attacks on merchant vessels have prompted many shipping companies to stop using the Red Sea, which accounts for about 12 per cent of the worlds seaborne trade.
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A newly discovered hole on Mars likely connected to underground caves could be key to colonising the Red Planet, astronomers say.

An image of the pit, which is a few metres across, was captured by Nasas Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Pits may reflect geologically recent tectonic or volcanic activity. Any associated caves could be targets for future robotic exploration, researchers at the University of Arizona who analysed the images said in a blog post.

Mars has vast networks of lava tubes similar to those found on Earth which could host life forms, sheltering them from dust storms and the harsh planetary conditions caused by the lack of an effective magnetic shield and a thick atmosphere like Earths.

Scientists suggest such cave networks, formed from the collapse of ancient lava tubes, could be potential shelters for future astronauts.

The newly discovered pit is near a dormant volcano in the Arsia Mons region, a volcanic plain thousands of kilometres across.

This region is elevated relative to the rest of Mars by about 10km on average.

Lunar Dreams: Breakthrough In Space Brick Tech

Pits in this region, scientists suspect, could open into subterranean lava tubes, which are remnants of the Red Planets volcanic history.

As the outer surface of flowing lava cooled and solidified and the interior molten lava flowed out, they left a tube structure behind.

Researchers are using a number of techniques to find tubes that may be interconnected beneath the Martian surface.

For instance, they recently trained a machine learning algorithm to assess a catalogue of cave images from the Tharsis and Elysium regions on the planet which is home to a large number of volcanoes.

However, another picture taken recently shows an illuminated sidewall of the mysterious Arisa Mons hole, meaning it could be a cylindrical pit or a shaft and not an entrance to a cave.

Similar pits have been found on Earth, such as near Hawaiian volcanoes, and those do not connect to caves or lava tubes.

Researchers hope future robotic missions to Mars can offer more insights into the pits.
Noland Arbaugh was face down, floating on the surface of the water when he realised he could no longer move. Up until that point, it had been a beautiful day. He and his friends had arrived at the lake, surrounded by the lush hills of northeastern Pennsylvania, hours before, ready to swim on a day off from working at a childrens summer camp.

The 22-year-old had already been in the water once but headed in with a couple of pals for a second time. At waist height, he pushed off and submerged himself into the water alongside the others, except he never surfaced. When he regained consciousness, he was already drowning. Arbaugh sensed he was paralysed, saying: I thought, is there anything I can do? No. So whats next? I held my breath for as long as I could, probably five or 10 seconds. Then I took a big drink of water, and that was that. I blacked out.

He slipped in and out of consciousness while an air ambulance arrived, only fully waking up in the nearby hospital where he was rushed in for emergency surgery. Two vertebrae in his neck were dislocated and a nurse, on the phone to his mum, was instructed by Arbaugh not to tell her what had happened to him. I just didnt think it was worth her worrying, he says.

open image in gallery Noland Arbaugh: The 30-year-old received a brain-computer interface device, a new technology that could have far-reaching impacts ( Neuralink )

Its a telling anecdote from Arbaugh, who is gentle, generous and unassuming as he chats over a video call from his home in Arizona  a bonafide celebrity cyborg. Eight years after his accident which rendered him quadriplegic, in January this year, the 30-year-old Arbaugh became the first human with a brain implant built by Elon Musks neurotechnology company Neuralink, as part of a clinical trial, dubbed Telepathy. If successful, by decoding movement signals in the brain and translating them into commands, the implant will allow people to control devices using only their thoughts.

The device, an implantable brain-computer interface, or BCI, is a coin-sized chip surgically embedded under the skull, where its fed information from 64 neural threads attached to Arbaughs motor cortex. Essentially, the implant learns the intention of the neurons firing close to the threads Arbaugh explains. Within days of it being fitted, he was able to control the cursor on a computer screen using just his thoughts. The initial success, the first of its kind, made headlines around the world and five months later he feels able to share the full story of how it happened.

Since January, the link has given Arbaugh otherwise inaccessible independence, which he determinedly sought even in the first days and weeks after his four-month stay in hospital. Typically this blisteringly smart student of international studies, who had been a prolific player of sports and the tenor sax before his accident, wanted to explore every opportunity that could aid his recovery.

After the accident, Arbaugh moved back in with his parents, but it was hard. Its not easy being seen as a quadriplegic, after being the life and soul of the party, he says. I struggled with them seeing me as frail, or fragile. I would have panic attacks from things like eating and feeling worried about choking because I couldnt help myself in that way.

His family and a wide circle of friends provided a hardy support network around him, planning out their schedules so there was basically always someone around. I grew up with the greatest group of friends. In September 2023, one of those friends drunk-dialled him to tell him about the Neuralink trial. Arbaugh laughs. He gave me a five-minute drunk rundown of what the chip and the trial was, and then helped me apply straight away over the phone. I didnt expect anything to come from it.

Within two days hed received an email back from the team at Neuralink; the day after that he was interviewed. Four months later, on 28 January at 5am, he was facetiming Elon Musk from the hospital  Musk was supposed to meet him before the procedure, but reportedly had problems with his private jet, and arrived during the two-hour operation.

open image in gallery Arbaugh is prepped for his revolutionary brain chip surgery ( Neuralink )

Arbaugh, a Musk fan, was thrilled and still slightly shocked that he was selected. He has no idea why, he says, though admits he found himself trying to stand out as much as possible during the selection process, making jokes and showing his enthusiasm. But there were obvious risks involved. As a quadriplegic, all I have left is my brain. Its one thing that Ive thanked God for every day since my accident, that he left me with my ability to think and with my personality.

So going in for brain surgery was something I had to think about. I accepted the risks and planned for all eventualities. I told my parents that if I came out with any sort of mental disability, I didnt want them to take care of me  I wanted to go into a home because I didnt want to add any more burden on them. I would never put my family through that.

Arbaugh was also aware that this would be the first ever version of Neuralink  the worst version of this that any human will ever get  but wanted to set the path for others to come and believes that being the first recipient of this device was his lifes purpose for him.

I knew from day one there was more to this than just whether this works or not, he says.

Its reconnected me with the outside world. My family and friends basically say that I smile more. They love the change in me

His version hasnt been without its problems. As the weeks passed post-surgery almost 85 per cent of the threads detached from Arbaughs brain and had to be retooled so that he could regain control of the cursor.

And some experts have been sceptical about the safety of the device, which can only be judged on its long-term effects, raising concerns about Neuralinks research involving monkeys, which they say caused chronic infections, paralysis and severe psychological side effects. Neuralink itself is also under federal investigation for potential animal welfare violations. There is still little known of what those psychological effects, or any long-term effects on Arbaughs brain might be, because the technology is still in very early trial stages.

But here we are. In just five months, Arbaugh says the implant has revolutionised his life. Before surgery, he used a mouth stick that he would aim and tap at his iPad to read, or communicate with friends. It put a lot of strain on my body to be sat up for any extended period of time, and pressure on my neck from moving it constantly, he explains. To use the stick for a day, Arbaugh risked pressure sores, spasms that could cause him to fall.

First patient explains what it's like to have Elon Musk's Neuralink chip planted in brain

After recovering from the implant operation, Arbaugh began training the neurons to react to his intentions, wondering whether his practice would pay off. To his astonishment, it was just a few days later that he first saw the cursor moving on the screen.

I just think about where I want the cursor to go, and it goes there, he says. In the coming months, he hopes that cursor control will extend to typing  currently hes learning to use a little virtual keyboard that he can dictate to, an add-on 10 times as good as using Siri, which would misunderstand his dictation 70-80 per cent of the time.

By March, he was playing online chess using his brain to control the computer; hes now learning Japanese. The most important thing hes gained, he says, is something many of us might take for granted  the ability to type as quickly as his able-bodied friends, which has made conversation possible. Ive been on social media recently, and able to keep up. I couldnt do that before.

Its reconnected me with the outside world, he adds. According to his friends and family at least, hes simply happier. They basically say that I smile more. They love the change in me.

Where this technology could now go is up for grabs. Musk has previously predicted that it could eventually give paralysed people the ability to walk and use their arms again. And there is a small pool of other labs now working to improve brain-computer interfaces (BCIs)  a sort of cyborg arms race  to reap the biggest rewards from a technology which could have far-reaching impacts.

While BCIs have so far been primarily focused on helping paralysed people control assisted devices using their thoughts, theyre certainly not limited to this area. In 2020, Harvard Business Review made predictions about the use of BCIs in the workplace as they emerge onto the mass market, forecasting scenarios where your concentration is measured in real-time.

Terrifying? Yes. But Arbaugh now shares Musks ambitions to push it as far as he can. Hes now talking to Neuralink about trying to find a way he could learn to draw, and wants to pursue his dream of writing a book about his journey so far, or a novel. Engaged and articulate, throughout our chat, his eyes dart around the screen a little  hes already continually multitasking. Theres just so much I want to do, Arbaugh says. Time will tell whether Elon Musk will be the tech god who will make it happen.
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Meta and OpenAI claim to have disrupted covert online influence operations run by an Israeli company amid the intensifying war in Gaza.

The tech giants said STOIC, a political marketing and business intelligence firm based in Tel Aviv, is deploying their products and tools to manipulate political conversations online.

OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, said in a report on Thursday that it banned a network of accounts linked to STOIC, which it accused of posting anti-Hamas and pro-Israel content and acting as a for-hire Israeli threat actor.

The accounts used OpenAI models to spread disinformation about the war in Gaza and, to a lesser extent, about the ongoing Indian election.

Specifically, they used the AI models to generate articles and comments that were then posted across multiple platforms, notably Instagram, Facebook, X, and websites associated with this operation, OpenAI said in a blog post.

This included texts on specific themes such as the Gaza war.

The influence operation also faked engagement, OpenAI alleged.

Some of the campaigns we disrupted used our models to create the appearance of engagement across social media, for example, by generating replies to their own posts to create false online engagement, it said.

But the networks activity, according to OpenAI, appears to have attracted little if any engagement, other than from its own inauthentic accounts.

STOIC describes itself as an AI content creation system that helps users automatically create targeted content and organically distribute it quickly to the relevant platforms.

Meta confirmed in a quarterly security report on Wednesday that it removed over 500 Facebook accounts, one group and 11 pages, along with more than 30 Instagram accounts, tied to the same influence operation.

It said accounts posing as Jewish students, African Americans and other concerned citizens targeted audiences in the US and Canada as part of the covert campaign linked to STOIC.

There are several examples across these networks of how they use likely generative AI tooling to create content. Perhaps it gives them the ability to do that quicker or to do that with more volume. But it hasnt really impacted our ability to detect them, Metas head of threat investigations Mike Dvilyanski told Reuters.

The Facebook parent said it has banned STOIC and issued a letter demanding that they immediately stop activity that violates Metas policies.

STOIC did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Independent.
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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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A couple cut short their three-week, five-star beach resort holiday that cost them 2,700 because they could not stand the stench of sewage in their room and having to walk nearly an hour in blistering heat to escape the pool bars loud techno music.

Clive Murray, 65, and his wife Rosie, 52, from Macclesfield, Cheshire, booked the all-inclusive Hotel Riu Touareg on the island of Boa Vista in Cape Verde in April through Tui.

It was supposed to be a relaxing holiday while the couple were in the process of moving house but instead they said it felt more like being in Benidorm or Kavos and were shocked by the condition of their double room  which they said smelled of sewage.

open image in gallery Clive Murray and his wife, Rosie, on holiday  and the damaged toilet ( PA Real Life )

Clive, who served in the British Army as an airborne engineer for 26 years, said he had to fix the bathrooms shower head with a rubber band and kept having to refit the toilets flush  as it fell off the wall when he pressed it. After two weeks trekking nearly an hour to escape the noise of techno music from the hotels pool bar, the couple threw in the towel and booked an Airbnb in Sal Rei, despite having paid for five more nights.

All in, Clive and Rosie said they spent more than 3,000 on the holiday and, despite complaining to Tui representatives at the hotel, have not been contacted by the company for a refund or compensation.

Clive, who is now busy renovating their new home in Cumbria, said he will never book with the company again.

We wanted a relaxing three weeks away because, with the house move and everything, the whole year has been really stressful, he told PA. We just wanted to relax if only. Almost every day, we would walk 50 minutes up the beach so we could get away.

So wed make our sandwiches in the morning at breakfast  remember this is an all inclusive  and go sit on the beach as far away from the hotel as possible, so we didnt have to listen to this constant noise. And you could still hear it.

I know some people will call me an old grouch, but there was a lot of older people there and yet the hotel had adopted a Benidorm or Kavos model with really loud techno music.

It was not all bad, according to the couple, who said the food was excellent and the hotel staff were always very polite and friendly.

The retired couple booked a holiday in early April after selling their house in Cheshire and moving into an Airbnb while waiting to exchange on their new property.

Theres little point us just sitting in an Airbnb at 400 a week in the Lake District, said Clive. So I said to Rosie, lets go on holiday.

open image in gallery Boa Vista in Cape Verde is a popular holiday island for British tourists ( Getty Images )

Having been to Cape Verde before, in 2019, Clive and Rosie wanted to book the same hotel, but could not remember its exact name. Instead of the Hotel Riu Karamboa, Clive made a mistake and booked the Hotel Riu Touareg, which is around 15 miles away, on Boa Vistas south coast, which cost 2,700.

At first glance, this appeared to be a blessing in disguise.

The all-inclusive five-star hotel, which advertises a range of facilities, including three salt water swimming pools, a Jacuzzi and Turkish bath, claims on their website to offer an unforgettable experience and promises to make guests stay as relaxing as possible.

It looks five-star on the surface, Clive said.

But from the moment they arrived at the hotel, which boasts more than 1,100 rooms, alarm bells started ringing.

Upon opening the door to their luxury room, a five-minute walk from the lobby, the couple said they were greeted by a stench of sewage.

Immediately I thought, theres a bit of a smell of sewage in the room, perhaps its not been used for a long time because its so far away, said Clive.

So we opened the door and walked out on the balcony and literally, the white plastic furniture, Ive seen better in skips.

After their six-hour crammed flight, they were looking forward to a warm shower, but Clive said the shower head was broken, so he used an elastic band to hold it in place.

Then, when he flushed the toilet, the button fell off the wall and he realised where the foul smell was coming from, he added.

We were on the top floor and of course smells rise, he said.

The smell was coming out of the hole  and clearly every bathroom is on top of the other.

Ultimately, it was just poorly designed. This shouldnt be advertised as a five-star.

Again, Clive, a DIY enthusiast, came up with a temporary fix by messing about with the system inside the wall.

They complained to Tui reps and were told that their grievances would be reported, but said nothing was done to remedy the situation and when Clive brought it up with reception a few days later, it was the first they had heard of it.

But the room was not Clive and Rosies biggest concern, as they were planning to spend most of their time outdoors.

Soon after reaching their allocated sunbeds, the hotel bar began playing loud techno music and shouting out bingo numbers.

It started about 12 oclock, he said. It was almost like they were trying to replicate Ibiza.

Some people like that sort of holiday and thats great for them, Im not judging.

But I went there for a quiet, peaceful, five-star holiday, I didnt go to replicate Benidorm or Ibiza.

In a bid to escape the booming beats, the couple went on daily walks along the beach and into the surrounding desert.

They had been at the hotel several days when Rosie opened one of the draws to find a pile of neatly folded clothes which Clive said belonged to another guest who had moved room before they arrived because of the smell.

After two weeks, Clive and Rosie could not take it any more and decided to book an Airbnb in Sal Rei, the islands main city, for the remaining five nights, which cost them an additional 200.

I said, right thats it, were not staying any longer, Ive had enough of this, said Clive. I went down to reception with all our bags and said I want to check out.

The Tui rep came over and said, Why are you checking out? And I went through the whole thing.

I said, I just cant stand it any longer, I would rather pay for an Airbnb and stay in Sal Rei. I cant put up with the smell any longer, every time I flush the toilet, the thing falls off.

She said, Oh, Im so sorry, but saying sorry doesnt help does it. They just werent interested.

The couple said they had a lovely time for the rest of their holiday in Sal Rei.

Since returning to the UK, the couple have completed on their new house in Maryport, Cumbria, which they are currently renovating.

Clive will not be booking another holiday with Tui any time soon.

Its not happening, he said. Never again.

Tui UK and RIU Hotels & Resorts have been contacted for comment.
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A Spanish town has banned the inflatable penis costumes and sex dolls often paraded through Costa Brava during stag do celebrations  and anyone breaking the rules could be fined up to 1,500.

The new bylaw states that people are not allowed to appear on the public thoroughfare without clothing or only in their underwear or with clothing or accessories representing human genitals or with dolls or other accessories of a sexual nature.

Mayor of Platja dAro, Maurici Jimenez said: These attitudes have an impact on the communitys coexistence and we need to fight against them.

Platja dAro warned tourists that those who continue to wear outfits of a sexual nature will face fines from 300 (255) up to 1,500 (1,276).

The beach town in the centre of Costa Brava is a popular holiday destination for UK tourists celebrating their impending nuptials on booze-fuelled package getaways.

Local police chief, David Puertas, referenced a recent stag do incident where the groom was tied to a lamp post with gaffer tape, and singing and loud music from the group kept residents awake into the early hours.

Mr Jimenez added that he would consider banning rowdy parties of bride and grooms to be altogether if it was an option.

Platja dAro joins several stag and hen do hotspots working to curb rowdy behaviour from holidaymakers.

Earlier this month, a district council in Prague said that inappropriate fancy dress outfits exceed generally acceptable social conventions and proposed that outrageous costumes be banned to reduce the toll of nightlife on locals in the city.

In Amsterdam, measures targetting British party tourists to discourage them from visiting introduced a Stay Away campaign, consisting of an online survey titled Amsterdam Rules in an attempt to improve the quality of life for locals in the city centre.

The Municipality of Amsterdam said that misbehaving Brits abroad fuels the illegal drug trade and causes inconvenience for residents and entrepreneurs.
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Mexicos outgoing leader has built a train system looping around the countrys southern peninsula, connecting tourist hubs like Cancun and Playa del Carmen to dense jungle and remote archaeological sites.

The line is designed to draw money into long-neglected rural swathes of the country.

But the crown jewel of the populists presidency also runs over one of Mexicos natural wonders: A fragile system of an estimated 10,000 subterranean caverns, rivers, lakes, and freshwater sinkholes.

The cave system contains one of the biggest aquifers in Mexico and acts as the regions main water source, crucial at a time when the nation faces a deepening water crisis.

The region was once a reef nestled beneath the Caribbean Sea, but changing sea levels pushed Mexicos southern peninsula out of the ocean as a mass of limestone. Water sculpted the porous stone into caves over the course of millions of years.

open image in gallery A tree protrudes from the cave system Jaguar Claw on the outskirts of Playa del Carmen ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

It produced the open-face freshwater caverns known as cenotes and underground rivers that are in equal parts awe-inspiring and delicate, explained Emiliano Monroy-Rios, a geologist at Northwestern University studying the region.

These ecosystems are very, very fragile, Monroy-Rios said. They are building upon a land that is like gruyere cheese, full of caves and cavities of different sizes and at different depths.

The train has sparked criticism by environmentalists and scientists as its construction plowed down millions of trees, a chunk of the largest tropical forest in the Americas after the Amazon.

But the caves rose to the forefront in recent months when experts who have long worked in the caves posted videos of government workers using massive metal drills to bore into the limestone, embedding an estimated 15,000 steel pillars into the caverns.

The pillars were made to elevate the train line, something Lopez Obrador said would protect the ancient underground world, already under threat by mass tourism.

Instead, what the AP documented was destruction.

Across the cave system, stalactites broken off by vibrations from train construction litter the ground like rubble following an earthquake. In other caverns, the concrete filling the pillars has spilled out to coat the limestone ground. Water showed traces of iron pollution by rust coming from the metal.

open image in gallery Tourists wear decorative body paint at a bar on the edge of a cenote in Tulum, Mexico, Saturday, March 2, 2024 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. )

The destruction ripples out to the rest of the ecosystem, the AP found, as the fresh water aquifer connects to Caribbean Sea.

Lopez Obrador, who has portrayed himself as a champion of Mexicos long-forgotten poor, has declared the train our legacy of development for the southeast of Mexico.

The populist has fast-tracked construction of the train to try to keep promises to complete it before June elections, something appears all but impossible.

The government has dodged oversight, ignored court orders, employed the Mexican military in its construction and blocked the release of information in the name of natural security. In a violation of Mexican law, the administration also didnt carry out a comprehensive study to assess the potential environmental impacts before starting construction.

The moves hes made have only deepened his ongoing clashes with the countrys judiciary, further fueling criticisms that his government is undermining democratic institutions.
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Several Britons on a stag do in Mallorca have been arrested following a brawl at a local restaurant.

Footage shows the fight breaking out at Balneario Illetas, a beach club and restaurant located between Palma and Magaluf on the Balearic Island.

A total of eight men from the UK have been arrested and reportedly appeared in court after the brawl broke out on Wednesday evening.

The fracas began when a waiter asked them to not throw beer cans and rubbish into the sea, local media reported.

Passersby could be heard screaming stop, while others tried to break up the brawl.

A waiter and two police officers were injured as a result, according to Majorca Daily Bulletin.

The local council said the reaction from the Britons was extremely violent.

open image in gallery A request not to litter reportedly sparked the fight ( Solarpix )

In a statement seen by local media, Calvia Council said: They started attacking Beach Club staff. Two off-duty Guardia Civil officers and six police officers tried to bring the situation under control but they were met with violence from the tourists. Finally eight were arrested and taken to the Municipal police station where they spent the night in police cells.

Police added the group had been drinking excessively while staying at a hotel in Palma.

Some of the men were later pictured in handcuffs.

The Independent has approached Calvia Council for comment.

The brawl comes amid a wave anti-tourism protests across the Spanish island, in which residents are being called in a bid to recover beaches from overcrowding. In April, there were also protests in the Canary Islands.

The movement started in response to statements from Manuela Canadas, a spokesperson for right-wing party Vox, who said that Mallorcans cannot expect to go to the beach in July and August like years ago.

open image in gallery The local council said the reaction from the Britons was extremely violent ( Solarpix )

Mallorca Platja Tour estimates at least 500 people will fill the beaches on Saturday with laughter and watermelon.

In Palma, protesters against overtourism have now proposed taxes for cruise ship passengers, fewer rental cars and revised rubbish charges for holidaymakers.

Last Saturday, thousands of locals made their way through the islands capital, warning tourists to go home with banners that read Mallorca is not for sale.

The estimated 10,000 protesters headed for Weyler Square, where holidaymakers were out for dinner and drinks.

Banc del Temps spokesperson Javier Barbero, one organiser of the large demonstration in Palma, said: If measures arent taken we will continue taking to the streets until we see action.
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A Welsh holiday residence that hosted the Prince and Princess of Wales last year is available to book on Airbnb  but a stay will set you back 850 a night.

The royal couple stayed for one night at Duffryn Mawr Country House in April 2023 during a two-day tour in Wales.

During their visit, Prince William and Kate went to the Welsh village of Aberfan to pay their respects to the lives lost to the 1966 mining disaster and took part in simulated rescue missions while meeting the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team on their 60th anniversary.

open image in gallery Bedrooms boast views over the Brecon Beacons ( Duffryn Mawr Country House/Airbnb )

Superhost Kimberley Fry, owner of Duffryn Mawr, told The Independent: It was a pleasure having them stay. It was a little bit of a whirlwind thinking: is that really happening? But they were lovely guests who didnt want the staff to do much for them.

They found out about the history of the house and liked the place because it is quite secluded, very private and homely.

Fry added the royal couple stayed in the master suite which overlooks the Brecon Beacons at the lovely property.

The holiday residence on the edge of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Brecon Beacons) sits on 16 acres of land with sprawling mountain views of Sugarloaf, Blorenge and the River Usk.

open image in gallery Mountain views towards Sugarloaf from Duffryn Mawr ( Duffryn Mawr Country House/Airbnb )

With walking routes, cycle paths and horse riding trails, the Welsh mountain range also offers activities such as abseiling  as William and Kate did with the Mountain Rescue Team.

To mark one year since the royal visit, the country house shared an unseen picture from their stay and their guestbook signatures on 27 April.

The post said: Its been 1 year since we welcomed William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales, to Duffryn Mawr!

open image in gallery The Prince and Princess of Wales pictured with Duffryn Mawr staff ( Duffryn Mawr Country House )

We were delighted to welcome William and Kate for a night here when they visited The Brecon Beacons. So kind and friendly, it was a pleasure to have them stay here.

With stays from 850 a night, the property, which sleeps 16, has a five-star rating on Airbnb.

Refurbished in 2022, the 500-year-old country house in Gilwern has seven bedrooms and eight bathrooms. Its a 10-minute drive from the village of Crickhowell with plenty of active pursuits available year-round.

open image in gallery Theres space to cook for 16 guests in the 40ft kitchen ( Duffryn Mawr Country House/Airbnb )

The historic Usk Valley market town is a maze of local shops, traditional pubs and walking paths to the south of the Black Mountains with Pen y Fan  the highest peak in southern Britain  just a stones throw away.

Among 74 listed amenities, a 40ft kitchen, billiard room, bar, gym, firepit and a spa with a steam room and hot tub greet guests of dog-friendly Duffryn Mawr.

The charming property is available to book for three-night minimum private stays  with availability this summer  and can also be hired as a wedding venue.
From capturing New Jersey neighborhoods to shooting celebrities at top events, photographer Lalea Raymond explains how she began her dream job as a product, portrait and events photographer.

After years of yearning to take photos, the Jersey City creative took a leap of faith, buying her first camera in 2017.

Here, she offers tips for those starting out, from how to choose the best equipment from MPB, the largest global platform to buy, sell and trade used photo and video gear, to how to master using a new style of camera, as well as where to find inspiration.

Discover more of the series here.
A high school student dropped a banned book at the feet an Idaho school district official in a defiant protest during her graduation ceremony last Thursday, 23 May.

Annabelle Jenkins tried to give a graphic novel copy of The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood, adapted by Renee Nault, to West Ada School District superintendent Derek Bub but he did not accept the book.

The title is one of ten banned in the school district after HB 710, the Childrens Library and Protection Act, was signed into law intending to stop children from encountering materials harmful to minors in a school or public library.

A West Ada School District spokesperson said: This gesture, intended to address her concerns, unfortunately overshadowed the celebratory occasion... While we respect the right to voice concerns, it is important to maintain the focus on the achievements and hard work of our students during such significant milestones.
Former governor of Alaska Sarah Palin denied previously saying the country would go to a civil war if Donald Trump was convicted during a heated clash on Good Morning Britain today (31 May).

The Trump supporter accused GMB host Ranvir Singh of putting words in her mouth and told her Dont put fake news on me

She said: We would never draw first blood and I have never said we would go into a civil war. I have never said that, so you guys are wrong and putting those words in my mouth.

Trump was yesterday found guilty on all of the 34 counts he faced, making him the first American president in history to be convicted of a crime.
Aer Lingus was due to be the launch customer for the new jet from Airbus

Aer Lingus was due to be the launch customer of the new Airbus A321XLR jet

Aer Lingus staff have been told that a second new Airbus A321XLR jet that was earmarked for the carrier wont join its fleet as planned later this year due to an ongoing pilot pay dispute.

Aer Lingus, part of the IAG group that also owns British Airways, Iberia and Vueling, was also due to be the launch customer for the new Airbus jet.

But the first of six A321XLR jets that Aer Lingus was due to receive in September is instead going to Iberia as the pilot pay dispute continues, making the Spanish carrier the launch customer for the new aircraft type.

Aer Lingus was due to receive a second XLR sometime between November and December.

But because a decision on the livery in which the jet is to be painted must be made months before delivery, the airline told staff on Friday that the second jet is unlikely to join the Aer Lingus fleet either.

Aer Lingus has confirmed to the Irish Independent that staff were informed of the decision on Friday.

Aer Lingus was unable to give IAG the confidence it needed in our cost structure, resulting in the inaugural A321XLR  originally planned for Aer Lingus  being allocated elsewhere in the group, according to a spokesperson.

They added: On the same basis and given the deadline for a decision on painting was this week, the second XLR aircraft will not be painted in Aer Lingus livery and will remain available to be allocated elsewhere within the group.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 31st May 2024

IAG chief executive Luis Gallego warned earlier this year that Aer Lingus would not be the launch customer for the XLR aircraft unless the pilot pay dispute could be resolved. The XLR jets had a list price of about $142m each in 2018.

Aer Lingus, whose chief executive is Lynne Embleton, also told pilots in a letter in March that the potential loss of the first planned A321XLR aircraft scheduled for delivery to Aer Lingus in September would immediately reduce its pilot requirement by 80 and its command requirement by 40.

As we have always said, our capital allocation and growth plans are based on being able to do so profitably and sustainably, and until those [pilot pay] discussions are concluded we will be limiting investment in Aer Lingus, said Mr Gallego in February.

Last week, a pilots union urged its 800 members at Aer Lingus to reject an interim Labour Court recommendation that would see them receive a 9.25pc pay increase. The airline has accepted the Labour Court proposal.

The Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA) has been holding out for a 27pc pay increase over three years, while Aer Lingus has offered 12.25pc. The proposal by the carrier included 3.75pc to pay for a 2019 crewing agreement, while the unions demand included 7pc to cover the cost of the 2019 deal. That meant the unions proposed net increases would be 20pc and the airlines would be 8.5pc.

The Labour Court has sent the sides back to the Workplace Relations Commission to thrash out remaining details attached to the cost of the crewing agreement by the end of August.
A Co Kildare stud farm owned by US billionaire John Malone has got a fresh opportunity to prevent contentious plans for a new power plant from getting the green light.

An Bord Pleanala had granted planning permission to Strategic Power Projects Ltd for the 212MW Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) at Dunnstown near Two Mile House in rural Co Kildare in September 2022.

However, following a High Court judicial review challenge taken by local residents which resulted in the court recently quashing the grant of permission, the case is now back before the appeals board with a decision due to made by August.

The High Court action was taken by Two Mile House Says No and Eleanor Wauchob against the appeals board decision and, as part of the order remitting the case back to the appeals board for fresh consideration, the court ordered the appeals board to pay the plaintiffs costs.

The appeals board has now asked Kildare County Council to make fresh observations on the case as the board re-examines the merits of the appeal lodged by Mr Malones Clementville Ltd against the proposal and the first party appeal by applicants, Strategic Power Projects Ltd.

The 2022 grant by An Bord Pleanala overturned a decision by Kildare County Council to refuse planning permission in 2021 for the lithium ion storage facility after several of the countrys leading stud farms had lodged objections against the proposal which is located two kilometres south of Two Mile House and five kilometres from Kilcullen.

Those to oppose the power plant included the Aga Khans Sallymount and Gilltown studs, John Malones Castlemartin stud, the Irish National Stud and the Irish Thoroughbred Horsebreeders Association.

The largest landowner in the US, Mr Malones MHL Hotel Collection owns a string of major hotels here while his Liberty Global owns Virgin Media Ireland.

In the Clementville Ltd appeal, Ann Mulcrone of Reid Associates contended that the proposal would be incompatible development located within the heart of the equine industry in Kildare and adversely impact on the operation of the stud farm at the Castlemartin Demesne.

However, appeals board senior planning inspector Hugh Mannion found in 2022 that the proposed development has minimal capacity to give rise to environmental impacts on the equine industry. 
Network operator recorded 71.2m pre-tax profit for last year with firm looking to renewables future

Record for wind generation of 3,644MW was set in January 2023. Stock image

EirGrid, the state-owned company that manages the countrys electricity grid, recorded a 38pc pre-tax profit fall to 71.2m last year in part due to higher operating costs.

It said its higher costs reflected the increasing scale and complexity of the business. The company is upgrading networks as electricity demand increases, spurred in part by the continuing development of data centres.

EirGrid is also preparing the network for increased generation from renewable sources, including solar and offshore wind farms.

The companys revenue jumped 32pc to 1.14bn. That is the first time its turnover has breached the 1bn mark. It is paying a 4m dividend to the Exchequer.

EirGrids direct costs soared 53pc to 868m, while other operating costs were 11pc higher at 186.1m. Management estimates the companys underlying profit last year was 40.6m, compared with 26.3m in 2022.

Read more Number of people at work is expected to top 2.8 million by 2026

Chief executive Mark Foley stepped down last April. The group appointed Martin Corrigan as interim CEO.

The 2023 annual report also noted that emissions from the energy sector increased in 2021 for the first time since 2016.

These rose 17.6pc in 2021 compared with 2020, the report said, mainly due to an increase in the use of higher carbon-emitting generation such as coal and peat generation, as a result of tight generation capacity margins.

Strong progress has been made to date in delivering decarbonisation of the electricity system, but achieving increasingly ambitious targets will be very challenging and will require collaboration across the entire ecosystem, it said.

The Environmental Protection Agency warned this week that Ireland was poised to miss targets for slashing carbon emissions by 2030 by a wide margin.

The report said 42pc of Irelands electricity came from renewables last year.

Last year also saw electricity demand hit a new peak of 5,544MW, which was recorded on December 14 at 5.26pm. That was a Thursday, but not the coldest day of the month.

A new wind energy generation record of 3,644MW was registered on January 12 last year.

There had been fears that squeezed energy availability coupled with high demand could lead to alerts during the winter.

Winter 2022-2023 saw particularly tight generation capacity margins on the electricity system and price shocks in the market due to the ongoing war in Ukraine and a rise in fossil fuel prices, EirGrid said in its annual report.

Despite a challenging winter outlook, no system alerts were issued in Ireland or Northern Ireland in the winter 2022-23 period due to good availability of conventional generation, demand reduction measures in response to EU requirements for the winter, and close coordination with stakeholders, including TSOs [Transmission Systems Operators] in Great Britain and Europe to secure imports on days that the system would have been tight, the reports added.

Two system alerts were issued earlier in 2023, including one on June 12 when conventional generation was unavailable, there was very low wind generation and demand tracked higher than forecast.

Ireland has a target of generating 80pc of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

Offshore wind generation is expected to be a key driver of meeting such targets. The Government wants 5GW of offshore wind energy capacity installed by the end of the decade, and 37GW by 2050.

That could make Ireland a significant electricity exporter.
Total cost of extension is estimated at 24m

There have been no commercial scheduled airline services at Waterford Airport since 2016

Construction of an extension to Waterford Airports runway is now likely not to start until next year at the earliest as the Government continues to consider a 12m financial contribution for the project.

Jack Chambers, the junior transport minister, said this week that an updated submission in relation to the proposed funding was received by his department from the airport on April 23.

However, that additional outstanding supporting material was received last Monday.

While this detail has addressed a number of matters raised, some detail remains outstanding, he told Independent TD Matt Shanahan in a written response to a query on the funding.

Officials are continuing to engage with airport management on these matters. Timely responses from the airport to all information sought will have a bearing on the timeframe for the completion of this present review.

Last December, Galways billionaire Comer brothers confirmed they are making 12m of private funds available for the extension project in conjunction with the Bolster Group as part of a deal that will see the Comer Group take a major stake in the airport.

Officials are continuing to engage with airport management

Waterford Airport hasnt had commercial scheduled airline services since 2016.

The runway extension will enable it to handle jets such as variants of the Boeing 737 that are used by Ryanair, which launched its first ever flight from the airport in 1985.

Read more Number of people at work is expected to top 2.8 million by 2026

Talks have already been held with a number of airlines that would be potentially interested in providing services at Waterford if the runway extension is completed.

It has previously been estimated that the airport could handle around 345,000 passengers a year within five years of the runway extension being completed.

It will cost in the region of 25m, which is around double the cost of the project when the government first approved 5m in funding in 2019.

In June 2019, the then government gave an approval in principle of an expression of support for development at Waterford Airport and to providing exchequer funding of 5m towards this development project, said Mr Chambers.

Government support was not only contingent on local authority and private investment necessary to complete the project being committed and any risks relating to cost escalation being borne by the non-state investors, but also on full details of the project being provided to my department for appraisal.

Despite engagement with the airport over the intervening period, this detail remained outstanding from Waterford Airport until December 13, 2023.
When RTE refused to give the question of gays some normality and other forgotten episodes in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights

Reeling in the Queers by Paraic Kerrigan is a timely take that will ensure many of the heroes in the long battle for rights do not fade into history

Celebration of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Ireland on the steps of the Central Bank Plaza, Dame Street, Dublin in 1993. Photos by Christopher Robson/ courtesy of the National Library of Ireland

Tonie Walsh Fri 31 May 2024 at 03:30







Tom Brace joined the Irish Army in 1968, knowing he was gay; to all intents a criminal in the eyes of the State and at a time when there were zero positive gay role models in Ireland.
New dramas, music and sports  theres something for everyone on the box this weekend

Adelayo Adedayo and Martin Freeman in the finale of The Responder. Photo: BBC/Dancing Ledge/Rekha Garton

Benedict Cumberbatch as Vincent, with imaginary friend Eric (voiced by the actor), starts to unravel in New York. Photo: Netflix

Disney+

Friday

Dua Lipa is an executive producer on this warmly anticipated scrapbook series from acclaimed filmmaker Asif Kapadia (Senna, Amy). The goal: to educate viewers on the cultural significance of Camden Town, where some of the UKs biggest bands and solo artists (Madness, Oasis, Amy Winehouse, The Libertines, Coldplay) had their start.

The result? A noisy four-part extravaganza with a killer guest list and an endless supply of anecdotes. Noel Gallagher, Chris Martin, Little Simz, Ms Lipa and the always reliable Suggs lead the way.

Benedict Cumberbatch as Vincent, with imaginary friend Eric (voiced by the actor), starts to unravel in New York. Photo: Netflix

ERIC

Netflix

A volatile television puppeteer in 1980s New York has his life turned upside down when his nine-year-old son goes missing. Soon, a tortured Vincent Anderson (Benedict Cumberbatch) convinces himself that the only way to fix matters is to introduce a new puppet to his television show.

It gets weirder: the character (a seven-foot monster called Eric) has already started following Vincent around in real life. A trippy psychological thriller from award-winning writer Abi Morgan.

THE SYMPATHIZER

Now

Robert Downey Jr portrays not one, not two, not three  checks notes  but four different characters in this twisty adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen. Too much Downey? Well find out soon enough. Hoa Xuande co-stars, and Park Chan-wook directs.

WOMENS EURO 2025 QUALIFIER

RTE 2, 7pm

Presenter Marie Crowe is joined by Aine OGorman and Lisa Fallon for live coverage of the Republic of Irelands all-important Euro qualifier against Sweden. Eileen Gleesons squad needs a win  is this the match that turns things around for the Girls in Green? We certainly hope so.

Emily Carey and Liam Woodrum in Geek Girl. Photo: Netflix

GEEK GIRL

Netflix

Emily Carey (House of The Dragon) fronts this cosy coming-of-age comedy about a socially awkward 16-year-old named Harriet Manners who attends London Fashion Week with her class and winds up landing a major modelling deal. As you do. Frothy fun, based on the popular YA novels by Holly Smale.

Saturday

Callie Cooke in Doctor Who. Photo: BBC Studios/Bad Wolf/James Pardon

DOCTOR WHO

BBC One, 6.50pm

Ncuti Gatwas tenure continues. This week, the Doctor and Ruby are in Finetime, a world where everything is fine all of the time. Except it isnt, and our clever protagonists are the only ones who seem to notice. Millie Gibson co-stars.

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE LIVE

RTE 2, 7.15pm

Joanne Cantwell is joined in studio by Richie Sadlier and Shay Given for live coverage of this years UEFA Champions League Final from Wembley Stadium. Who will win: Borussia Dortmund or Real Madrid? Your guess is as good as mine. Whatever happens, a good show is guaranteed.

D-DAY: HOUR BY HOUR

Channel 4, 8pm

As the 80th anniversary of D-Day approaches, the UKs biggest broadcasters begin to roll out fascinating documentaries revisiting the Allied Normandy beach landings, a major turning point of World War II.

This 60-minute special utilises extraordinary archive materials to help tell the stories of those who experienced it first-hand.

LATER WITH JOOLS HOLLAND

BBC Two, 10.15pm

The Boogie Man has a packed show this week. American rock duo The Black Keys swing by (with a special appearance from Noel Gallagher), and theyll also be joined by Beth Gibbons, Ghetts and Sampha, Shaznay Lewis and Ganavya. Thatll do nicely.

Sunday

MAYOR OF KINGSTOWN

Paramount+

Popular with audiences, hated by critics, Mayor of Kingstown soldiers on and this third season of Taylor Sheridans crooked crime thriller marks the on-screen return of Jeremy Renner, following the actors widely publicised snowplough accident in 2023. Renner suffered severe chest trauma and 30 broken bones  doctors told him he might never walk again, and yet here he is, back in business and back to full health, apparently. Best of luck to him.

BRITAINS GOT TALENT: THE FINAL

Virgin Media One, 7.30pm

Well know soon enough who takes this years BGT crown, along with a tasty cheque for 250,000 and, of course, a coveted spot on the Royal Variety Performance bill.

We might also have forgotten who they are by the end of next week. Thats showbiz, folks. Ant and Dec present, as usual.

SECRET FRANCE WITH DICK AND ANGEL

Channel 4, 8pm

Last time we checked, Dick and Angel Strawbridge had been dropped by Channel 4 following accusations of on-set bullying on Escape to the Chateau. Indeed, the broadcaster terminated their working relationship with the Strawbridges in 2023  after theyd recorded this new three-part travel series. Awkward stuff, and itll probably be a ratings winner.

Adelayo Adedayo and Martin Freeman in the finale of The Responder. Photo: BBC/Dancing Ledge/Rekha Garton

THE RESPONDER

BBC One, 9pm

As season two of Tony Schumachers nail-biting police drama comes to an end, it seems poor-old Chris (a never-better Martin Freeman) is once again in deep with the wrong people.

How did televisions unluckiest copper wind up working for an international drug dealer? One bad decision after another and, despite the relentless misery, well miss this tremendously plotted thriller after its gone.
Fans can dress up as their favourite Star Wars characters for the 'Feel The Force' festival in Dunmanway in June. Photo: David Creedon

A WEST Cork village is set to prove the centre of the galaxy this weekend with a Star Wars festival that locals hope will become a fixture of the tourism calendar.

Up to 5,000 people are set to flock to Dunmanway over the next two days for a spectacular programme of memorabilia exhibits, cosplay, Star Wars lectures and a celebration of everything science fiction.

Fans of the epic space western are set to attend west Cork from all over Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, the US and even Malaysia.

Many will travel with their prized Star Wars outfits - and will take part in cosplay or costume performances dedicated to great Star Wars characters including Imperial Storm Troopers, Wookies, Jedi Knights, Tuskan Raiders and even Sith.

It is expected to be one of the largest cosplay events ever staged in Ireland.

The event is the brainchild of costume designer and YouTuber Nuri 'Newry' Bakry and it aims to capitalise on Ireland's strong connection to the Force - with Star Wars scenes having been filmed in Kerry, west Cork and Donegal.

Nuri boasts one of the world's greatest collections of Star Wars memorabilia - and is also a keen cosplayer.

The 'Feel the Force' festival, which runs over June 1-2, has already captured the imagination of the local community with hundreds volunteering to get involved in the programme.

The festival boasts a theme of 'All Tribes Welcome' and it will even feature organised street activities.

Dunmanway shops will also be decked out in various Star Wars regalia.

The event developed from what was supposed to be a small exhibition last year as part of the Dunmanway Arts Festival.

Nuri's Star Wars collection spans all nine episodes of the space odyssey which exploded in popularity from its debut in 1977.

Such is the scale of Nuri's collection that it has generated headlines worldwide.

He also has friends in some of the world's leading costume props firms, including companies that do specialised work at Pinewood Studios in the UK.

Many have promised to attend the Dunmanway spectacular.

Nuri was taken aback by the enormous interest in the 2023 exhibition and decided to take it a step further with a dedicated galactic festival in the west Cork town.

Such sci-fi gatherings in the US are enormously popular and generate millions of dollars for the tourism sector.

Nuri is hopeful Dunmanway's 'Feel the Force' festival can become an annual event.

"It really was amazing last year," he said.

"There were people arriving wearing Star Wars T-shirts and costumes. People travelled from all over Ireland. I don't think any of us expected that enormous level of interest."

His wife, Caroline, said the special Star Wars festival over the June bank holiday weekend was organised in response to that enormous demand - with major overseas interest now being expressed thanks to social media.

"If you build it, they will come. Even the local GP is a Star Wars fan and everyone here is very excited about the June event, she said.

Caroline said the jewel in the crown of the festival programme will be a precise replica of Queen Amidala's costume and throne.

Nuri explained that, because of its complexity and design demands, Queen Amidala's throne and costume is rarely attempted outside the giant sci-fi conventions in the US.

Of course, Queen Amidala - also known as Padme - occupies a central role in the Star Wars story as the wife of Darth Vader aka Anakin Skywalker and the mother of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia.

Dunmanway will boast the Queen Amidala feature thanks to the painstaking work of Nuri, Caroline and award-winning Cork dress designer Gwen McGuirk.

The public highlight of the festival will be a range of cosplay events where Star Wars fans can dress in costume and take part in a range of local activities.

Promotions of the event have even involved the local Garda Sergeant Chris Brosnan being photographed questioning a Stormtrooper over a badly parked jetpack.

Both Nuri and Caroline have ensured that there are also a range of activities for children to ensure would-be-Jedis of all age groups are catered for.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 31st May 2024

Festival organisers hope that the unique cosplay initiative will transform the west Cork town into something akin to a scene from 'Return of the Jedi' or 'Revenge of the Sith'.

Interest in Star Wars material has soared in Ireland since the film franchise included scenes in its third trilogy from special sets in Kerry, west Cork and Donegal.

Parts of Star Wars: Episodes VII and VIII were filmed on location in Ireland.

Filming with a cast and crew of more than 260 took place over the summer of 2016 at Brow Head just off the Mizen Peninsula in west Cork, on Skellig Michael in Kerry and on the Inishowen peninsula in Donegal. Both Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) and Daisy Ridley (Rey) filmed extensive scenes around Ireland.

Skellig Michael featured as a critical closing scene in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens.

An isolated headland near Dingle was transformed into a Jedi Temple complex - with Kerry, Cork and Donegal enjoying a major tourism boom as a result.

Such was the enormous global interest in the third instalment of the Star Wars franchise that Irish tourism chiefs launched an ambitious advertising campaign in cinemas to promote the Wild Atlantic Way and its major connections to the films.
All farmers can learn lessons from organics  even if they have no intention of converting

We need to keep an open mind on how to achieve our environmental targets

Angus Woods has converted his entire grassland area and some of his tillage land to organics. Photo: Damien Eagers

Angus Woods Fri 31 May 2024 at 08:06

Ive been surprised by the amount of farmers giving serious consideration to switching to organics. If the scheme does re-open again in the autumn, theres every chance there will be a rush to sign up.
Joseph A. Brennan, who founded Brennan's Bread in 1972, died on Sunday at the age of 82. Source: RIP.ie

Heartfelt tributes have been paid following the death of Joseph A Brennan who founded the iconic bread company in Dublin half a century ago.

Mr Brennan died peacefully on Sunday, May 26 at 82-years-old, surrounded by his loving family at his home in Cabinteely, according to his RIP.ie death notice.

He was buried yesterday at Kilternan Cemetery following his funeral Mass at The Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, Foxrock.

Joe was a great innovator in the bakery business, a great entrepreneur and possessed a very sharp mind and more importantly was a kind and gentle being, one tribute said.

Another condolence described Mr Brennan as a true gentleman while another said: He was a leader of great determination and with foresight he changed the industry.

Over fifty years ago, in 1972, Joseph Brennan began baking loaves of white bread in a one room bakery in Fumbally Lane, Dublin.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 31st May 2024

The bakery then moved out to Walkinstown and is now one of the largest bakeries in Ireland.

The Brennan family still oversee the recipes and baking skills that Mr Brennan perfected, which became known for its tagline on radio Todays Bread Today.

The adverts, which were adored country-wide, aired on the radio for over 30 years, containing a recognisable jingle and distinct voice-over by Bill Golding.

Since then, the company, which is one of Irelands best-selling bread brands, has embraced the world of social media advertising through Instagram and TikTok reels.

The company has accrued millions of views on its TikTok videos showcasing its products, with many of its video ads voiced in Irish.

Mr Brennan is predeceased by his loving wife Jean. They have seven children, David, Declan, Colm, Suzanne, Deborah, Michelle and Joseph.

He will be sadly missed by his grandchildren, his great grandchild, daughter in laws, brothers, sister, nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

Another tribute to the businessman described him as a loyal friend, visionary and colleague, who will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

Admired and respected, he will be missed by all, another tribute added.
Asylum seekers set up camp on the corner of Wellington Road and Clyde Road in Ballsbridge. Photo by Steve Humphreys. 31st May 2024.

A new camp of migrant tents has been established in Ballsbridge in Dublin overnight after the last setup along the Grand Canal was dismantled yesterday.

Eight tents have been pitched on a small green space where Wellington Road, Clyde Road, Pembroke Park and Wellington Place converge.

In the centre of the huddled tents large bottles of water could be seen for the occupants, but there are no sanitation facilities in the area.

Another large scale operation to remove tents got underway at 6am yesterday morning to remove around 100 asylum seekers on the Grand Canal at Baggot Street Bridge when accommodation was found for them at Citywest and Crooksling.

A similar operation was mounted in the same area last week on Tuesday May 21 when accommodation was found for around 100 migrants at the same location.

Prior to that there was a dismantling of a large camp on the canal on Mount Street on Thursday May 9.

Read more Martina Devlin: Government with one eye on elections uses Rambo tactics and scapegoating amid immigration chaos

All this followed the dismantling of a large-scale camp that had grown over the space of 14 months around the International Protection Office on Mount Street Lower and the surrounding Grattan Street, back streets and laneways.

The Light House Homeless charity has said it is still distributing tents to people where there is no alternative accommodation.

Meanwhile, Waterways Ireland has said the cost of erecting fencing along sections of the Grand Canal this month is estimated at 36,000.

The fencing started to be erected after migrants started camping along the canal bank, and was put up in an effort to stop more camps being established.

Fencing now stretches from Clanwilliam Place near Grand Canal Dock all the way to Portobello Road between Portobello Bridge at Rathmines and Emmet Bridge in Harolds Cross, a distance of close to 3km.

The fencing is being hired.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 31st May 2024

Waterways Ireland has said it is seriously concerned for the health and safety of people staying in tents by the canal, and about the impact of the lack of sanitation facilities.

A spokesperson said it is continuing to work with multi-agency partners in the best interests of all concerned.

Costs associated with the erection of fencing at various sections of the Grand Canal in Dublin due to the tented encampments have not as yet been finalised. However an estimate of costs to date are projected at 36,000, they said.

Whilst temporary barriers have been erected as a mitigation and public safety measure, access to the towpath and footpath adjacent to the canal is largely unimpeded. Waterways Ireland will consult with agency partners and local residents regarding the replacement of temporary fencing with ecologically sensitive landscaping solutions appropriate to the canal corridor and surrounding cityscapes.

This is a very dynamic and sensitive situation and a timeline for completion of these landscaping works is not currently available, they added.
A seven-year-old boy who was reported missing in east Belfast on Friday has been located.

Police stood down the search for the boy, who was last seen on Ulsterdale Street early on Friday morning.

A police spokesperson said: The 7-year-old boy reported missing from east Belfast this morning, Friday 31st May, has now been located. We would like to thank the public for their help.
Funding could be withheld if 2.24bn project deadline missed as Tanaiste Micheal Martin hits out at company in Dail

A decision on whether to withhold millions of euro in funding from the construction company building the 2.24bn new National Childrens Hospital is imminent.

The hospital faces further a delay in completion, with next February now stated as the new completion date.

David Gunning of the National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) was responding to questions at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on why it had not taken actions against contractor BAM, which has missed the latest completion promise of October.

He told Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy that there is a process and said it has previously imposed financial sanctions.

All options are on the table and a decision is imminent, he said, adding that the rolling penalty that could be applied for delay could be in the low 20 millions.

TDs said it appeared the construction company had the upper hand and the board should be able to hold their feet to the fire. They likened the pace to a slow bicycle race.

The meeting heard there had been 23,000 design changes and that delivery of the plan in the last six months was running at just 60pc with around 1,100 workers on site, but this is not enough.

In response to the claims, BAM said it wanted to clarify a number of points made at the meeting, and it rejected accusations it was not putting enough resources into the work. It blamed design changes for driving delays.

In its statement, it said the build phase of the hospital is now more than 92pc complete, as indicated in our monthly progress reports to the development board.

It added: BAM is fully committed to the efficient completion of this critical piece of medical infrastructure. We have always fully resourced this project beyond the level required for the original programmed works  largely to cope with the high level of design change and disruption  and will continue to do so until the building is completed.

To accommodate the level of ongoing design change and the implications this has on the delivery of our agreed work programme, the project is currently resourced at 54pc above the anticipated levels for this stage. Any suggestion that BAM is deliberately not committing adequate resources to the project or is in any way slowing down delivery of the hospital is completely untrue.

It said the company has repeatedly highlighted design change as the primary cause of delay and disruption on the project.

This was also raised in the 2019 PwC review as a key issue. It remains a significant challenge, with weekly change orders or change instructions from the client occurring throughout 2024, it added.

BAM is the build-only contractor for the hospital. The NPHDB remains the lead agency for design and delivery of the National Childrens Hospital.

Predictability regarding the completion of the final design information is essential to achieving certainty of the completion timeline of any construction project and it is highly unusual to see this level of change at such an advanced stage of construction.

It also defended the claims it had submitted for additional payments of over 785m. It said: BAM is obliged under the terms of the contract to raise any variation, including instructions, with a time or cost implication as a claim. These must be itemised on an individual, change-by-change basis.

The meeting heard there were 2,782 extra claim costs, of which 2,182 have been valued at a cost of around 785m.

Only a small number of the claims have been assessed as in favour of BAM at over 22.8m.

The PAC was told the net change to the overall contract value is around 27m, including conciliations and adjudications on extra claims. Other claims are in a disputes-management system and two proceedings are before the High Court.

BAM said it is  fully committed to delivering this world-class hospital for the children of Ireland within the shortest possible timeframe.

However, speaking in the Dail yesterday, Tanaiste Micheal Martin said BAM had not resourced the hospital site adequately for some time and was delaying completion of the project.

He said the various deadlines set by BAM were likely to be part of a commercial strategy by BAM to try and extract more money and more funding from the Irish people.

Mr Martin called on the contractor to resource the site adequately and comprehensively to enable this hospital to be completed as fast as we possibly can.

However, he was told by Sinn Fein that the project had been a slow-moving car crash since day one.

Pearse Doherty of Sinn Fein reminded the Tanaiste that Leo Varadkar said many years ago that short of an asteroid hitting the planet, the National Childrens Hospital would be built by 2020.
Lead-in time for ban in pubs and clubs revealed by Health Minister Stephen Donnelly

Vending machines for cigarettes and vapes to be outlawed from next year

Cigarette vending machines are to be outlawed in pubs, clubs and other venues in the latest bid to stop underage smoking.

Health Minister Stephen Donnelly said he has given the go-ahead for the vending machines  which inspectors found allow smoking regulations to be flouted  to be banished.

There is a year-long lead-in time, with the ban coming into effect in September next year to allow operators which depend on the machines for their livelihoods to look for alternative incomes.

It is understood that more than 4,000 vending machines selling cigarettes and vapes are in use across the country.

The aim is to cut off another source of supply to young people amid an alarming rise in vaping and concern about levels of smoking among teens and young adults after years of progress.

The ban is being imposed under the Public Health (Tobacco Products and Nicotine Inhaling Products) Act 2023, which prevents the use of self-service sale of tobacco products and nicotine-inhaling products such as e-cigarettes.

The crackdown comes weeks after the minister said he received cabinet approval to raise the age at which young people can legally buy cigarettes, from 18 to 21.

On World No Tobacco Day we are continuing to denormalise the sale of tobacco products to make it clear that a product that kills one out of every two of its users is not like other consumer products, Mr Donnelly said.

We are also banning the sale of nicotine-inhaling products by self-service to further tighten the availability and the advertising of these products.

The ban will take effect in September of next year, allowing time for all affected businesses to prepare for the change.

Under existing law, vending machines cannot take cash and instead can only be operated by the use of discs or cards obtained from staff, who are obliged to ensure they do not give the disc to anyone underage.

However, environmental health inspectors whose job is to enforce tobacco control rules, found self-service vending machines are consistently more accessible to minors than over-the-counter sales.

A surge in e-cigarette use among Irish teenagers continues and there is major concern these are a gateway to traditional smoking.

In 2019, a fifth of 16-year-olds were found to be using e-cigarettes, double the figure in 2015, and it is even higher now.

Data from 2018 showed that about one in 10 young people aged between 12 and 17 had used an e-cigarette in the last 30 days.

In the decade after the 2004 smoking ban, smoking rates here fell from 27pc to 18pc

But Irelands decline in smoking rates has stalled and a decade ago optimism was high that 2025 would be the year for Ireland to be tobacco-free.

The aim was for smoking prevalence to be down to less than 5pc of the population by that date.
A former judge has been jailed for four years for the sexual abuse of six young men while he was a secondary school teacher almost 30 years ago.
I should have gone to my GP sooner, but I put it off because I knew it was MS  mum urges people with symptoms to seek help immediately
Fianna Fail local candidate in the Baltinglass LEA, Kieran Bourke, with members of the Business Network International Imperial Blessington Chapter at the West Wicklow House.

Fianna Fail candidate in the Baltinglass LEA, Kieran Burke, recently paid an insightful visit to the Business Network International Imperial Blessington Chapter to hear how local business owners are supporting each other to grow.

Part of the largest and most successful business networking organisation in the world, the Blessington Business Network International (BNI) chapter meet each week in the West Wicklow House at 7.15 a.m. to share ideas, experiences and business strategies.

Keenly aware of the importance of helping new and existing businesses flourish, Mr Burke, the Principal of Blessington Community College, was delighted to accept an invitation to attend one of the group's weekly meetings.

After engaging with local business owners, including Eamon Blake (Brew 21), Hugh Mc Gee (The Stationary Store), Peter Kenny (KRT Tree services), David Kenny (Greenroad Media), Glen Cullen (Construction), Derek Bowes (Drain Logic), Ger Kelly (Architectural services), Stephen Kirk (Avon Business Services), Garry Cullen (Limelight Electrical), Karl Cleary (Right Price Tiles) and Yvonne Skilly (Empower Health), Mr Burke hailed the meeting as extremely constructive and informative.

It was great to meet with some of the local business owners at their Business Network International meeting in Blessington, Mr Burke said.

The members shared insights into their own work and discussed how they can support and help each other and new members to grow their businesses.

One of my priorities is to help businesses in west Wicklow to grow and prosper.

Thanks to the BNI for the invitation to attend their meeting, which was very insightful.
The 2 Johnnies from Tipperary are to release their debut album, Small Town Heroes on Friday, May 31

The 2 Johnnies have signed off from their final show on RTE 2FM, thanking listeners for tuning in during a tearful final message.

Its emotional, but it was unbelievable. We loved talking to everybody everyday from 3-6pm, they said, describing their listeners as the main reason for taking the slot on radio.

"We came in not knowing what it was going to be like and I suppose at first we didnt understand the job or respect the job enough; how much was in it, how much radio means to people.

"You come in from the internet wilderness and think, sure well just horse into it and then you realise how much radio means to people, people all over the world and the messages we got about what people were going through and it cheered people up. That was the job.

Broadcaster Aifric OConnell, who will take over from Doireann Garrihy on the morning slot this summer, became emotional as she said: We love ye. We are very sad youre leaving, but are so glad that you came.

RTE star Marty Morrissey was among listeners who sent messages of farewell to the duo during their final show this evening, including both of their mothers.

Johnny Bs mother said she would miss them on the radio each evening, while Johnny Smacks mother  known as Mammy Smacks said if he ever missed his daily phone call to her, she could always tune into 2FM.

Speaking to Tipperary Live ahead of their final show on RTE 2FM, The 2 Johnnies said one of the reasons for their high-profile exit is that the station didnt share the same ambition as them.

Johnny B OBrien confirmed it was their busy schedule which stood in the way of them continuing their drivetime show and that leaving is definitely the right move as they will have more time to focus on their podcast and live shows.

"The lighter workloads may make it a little easier to leave tomorrow," OBrien said.

"Well be sad to finish the show because we absolutely love working with our team, theyre brilliant. Weve loved the listeners, people have been so good ringing in and telling their stories.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 31st May 2024

"But as well as it being sad, its also definitely the right move, well have more time to put into the podcast and more time to prepare for our live shows, and theyll all get better as a result.

"We were too busy with the podcast, and the plans we have for our own 2 Johnnies company. We executive produce other podcasts as well when were not on, when theyre being recorded in our studios in Cahir.

"We are very ambitious and we wanted to drive on the radio show, and I dont think 2FM shared the same ambition as us. Its hard to keep everything going, so we said wed put our energy into our own universe," he added.

The comedy duo consisting of Johnny B O'Brien and Johnny Smacks McMahon have announced they will leave the station earlier this month.

Their departure announcement was accompanied by other popular 2FM presenters Doireann Garrihy and Jennifer Zamparelli announcing their exits.

The hosts of Drive It with the 2 Johnnies, which is the fourth most-listened-to radio show on 2FM, are due to present their last show later today.

Today also marks their new album release titled Small Town Heroes which is dedicated to characters within their hometown of Cahir.

After they wrap up their show today, they plan to embark on a world tour with their album, including the United States.

While speaking to RTE Radio Ones Brendan OConnor last week, they added that they are leaving RTE on good terms.

The door is always open. You never know what will happen. I think we will be back on radio sometime, they said, adding that they will feature on TV programmes on the broadcaster in the interim.

Johnny B said the success of their drivetime show might be because they brought something a bit different to the table at 2FM.

"When we started, the breakfast show was Doireann, then there was Jen, then Tracy, then us, Tara Kumar, and then Jenny Greene. All presenters from Dublin, and then there was us, he told Tipperary Live.
Its politics and full pints as Aontu leader Peadar Toibin beats a path to rainy Banagher

European election candidate goes door to door in hunt for votes in receptive midlands town

Politics and pints: Peadar Toibin canvasses locals in Banagher, Co Offaly

Tabitha Monahan Fri 31 May 2024 at 03:30

As the rain teemed down over the Offaly town of Banagher on Wednesday evening, Aontu leader Peadar Toibin approached the first door of a canvass.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has defended proposals at EU level to have asylum seekers processed in so-called third countries outside of the Union area.

The policy has been put forward by the European Peoples Party (EPP), of which Fine Gael party is a member.

However, integration minister Roderic OGorman said Governments focus should be on domestic immigration measures.

Asked if Fine Gael supports the proposal put forward by the EPP, Mr Harris said: I think we should have a very open mind in relation to this because if weve learned anything about the migration challenges, that it is a global challenge.

Indeed so much of the migration that we see here in Ireland  immigration is a good thing by the way, our country has benefited from it  but we do have to have rules and a rules-based system.

So much of the migration and immigration that comes to Ireland is through secondary movements. So the idea that we wouldnt have a composite look at migration, migration policy and law from a European level, to me just would seem absurd, and therefore that brings you into the space of looking at the borders of the European Union.

But I think of course, it raises questions as to at what point and where you assess peoples application.

The Migration Pact does deal with a lot of this. So its not simply a matter of the European Peoples Party view. This has happened in some cases already within the European Union and Albania, I think Turkey on occasions as well.

Anything that would have to happen in this space would have to be fully compliant with human rights law, and with the European Court of Human Rights as well.

I think we should keep an open mind in relation to this but only if any such actions were proven to be beneficial to the overall migration pact and be in most important compliance with human rights.

However, Mr OGorman said Government should be concentrating on strengthening the immigration system within Ireland.

Asked if the Green Party would agree with the Taoiseachs comments, Mr OGorman said: I think our focus has to be on strengthening our own system here in Ireland  I think we all recognise that the system wasnt fit for purpose. And a huge amount of work has taken place over the last two years.

He added: You look at the UK, theyve been selling this notion that theres a other-country solution to the pressures of migration through the Rwanda scheme  it never worked, its never delivered.

I would think, and the focus of Government up to this point, has been strengthening, delivering, growing our own capacity to process peoples applications, get their answer more quickly.

Yes: allow them to integrate in Ireland. No: ask them to leave, and ultimately if they dont leave, to provide for deportation.

Pressed if the Taoiseach was wrong to suggest the third-country scheme should be examined, he repeated: I think the focus should be on what weve delivered already.

Ireland has been grappling with a sharp rise in the number of asylum seekers.

Last December, the Government said that it could no longer offer male asylum seekers state accommodation. Since then, encampments have sprung up in different parts of the city because of a lack of accommodation.

Mr Harris said he has concerns around some countrys migration policies and its compliance with human rights, however he refused to name which countries he was referring to.

The crucial point that Ireland will always adopt, and I think theres a political consensus around this point, is that anything that is done in relation to migration policy and processing has to be human rights compliant, he said.

There have been other countries, and Im not referencing Australia, where wed have very significant concerns around the compliance of their actions with the ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights) and human rights.

This idea that Ireland, a small island on the geographic periphery of Europe, can consider how best to address the global migration challenge on its own rather than being part of a composite conversation, series of laws and processing systems at a European level to me would seem misplaced.
An official commemoration of the 48 victims of the 1981 Stardust disaster is to take place next month.

Arrangements for the remembrance ceremony are being finalised in consultation with the families representatives and a date has now been agreed for June 23, a government spokesperson has confirmed.

Taoiseach Simon Harris said he committed to the event during a meeting with the Stardust victims families last month, following the verdict in the year-long inquests into the deaths of the 48 people.

They died after fire broke out at a St Valentines disco in the nightclub in Artane, Dublin, 43 years ago.

A verdict of unlawful killing was returned by the jury, after which he delivered a state apology in the Dail.

At the meeting I held with the families of the Stardust victims in Government Buildings on Saturday, April 20, we committed to holding a special remembrance ceremony, Mr Harris said.

Im really happy that has now been confirmed.

This will be a moment to remember those who lost their lives, but I also hope it will be a moment for those injured, those who fought to save lives and those who fought for decades to have the 48 victims and their good names fully vindicated.

We will commemorate, in a very public state fashion, the absolute tragedy, the horror of the loss of life, but also the impact that actions on behalf of the state had had on families and survivors well-being and health.

I will lead the Government attendees at the official event and I hope that this, along with the official state apology delivered in the Dail, will show 2024 to be the year when Ireland put right our duty to all involved in Stardust.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 31st May 2024

The jury in the inquests found the 1981 fire started as a result of an electrical fault in a hot press, which then spread through the building due to the flammable nature of the polyurethane foam in the seating and the carpet tiles that had been used as wall coverings.

The low height of a ceiling made the fire spread quicker.

A lack of knowledge about the layout of the building, a lack of visibility due to dense smoke and the toxicity of the gases produced by the fire were factors in the disaster as well.

The speed of the spread of the fire, the failure of emergency lighting and lack of staff preparedness also contributed to what happened.

The jury also said that exits were locked, chained or obstructed, and this impeded patrons from accessing and using them.
The entire print run of Natalya Korniyenkos new book was destroyed in a Russian attack. Now she hopes its charred remains can be taken to book fairs across the world as proof of war crimes and cultural genocide

Charred remains of titles from a Kharkiv printing house that was hit by two Russian missiles last week shown at the Book Arsenal Festival in Kyiv.

One of Ukraines biggest book festivals is taking place in Kyiv this week and one table above all will stand out. Under a sign reading Books destroyed by Russia are the charred remains of titles from a Kharkiv printing house that was hit by two Russian missiles last week. My own book is one of them.

The Factor-Druk, one of the largest printing complexes in eastern Europe, was hit during a massive attack on the city on May 23. There were 50 workers inside. Seven were killed; another 22 were injured.

The day before, my publisher had told me that my book Words and Bullets was at the printing house and they were expecting to receive the first copies next week. They were in a hurry to publish it and dozens of other titles to present them at the Book Arsenal Festival in Kyiv.

In another few days, I received another message: the entire print run of my book was burned during the attack. The total number of destroyed books is 50,000; books by Ukrainian authors, Ukrainian translations of world bestsellers, childrens and young adult books.

During the first two decades of Ukraines independence, the market was dominated by books in the Russian language. Only after the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 and changes in the states cultural policy did books in Ukrainian start to supplant them.

Heartbreaking response: Author Natalya Korniyenko

It is significant that when Russia occupies Ukrainian territories, the first thing it does is change road signs to Russian ones and burn Ukrainian books.

This attack on the printing house is not a coincidence but a targeted act against Ukrainian culture. And it is only one of the examples in the chain of hundreds of Ukrainian libraries, museums, galleries and theatres burned and destroyed by Russia.

Words and Bullets is my first book; I had been working on it for two years.

In May 2022, my colleagues from Chytomo media and PEN Ukraine and I came up with the idea of telling stories of Ukrainian writers and journalists who, after Russias invasion, put their professional careers on hold and joined the armed forces to defend our country, or joined the volunteer movement that helps to supply them.

Charred remains of titles from a Kharkiv printing house that was hit by two Russian missiles last week shown at the Book Arsenal Festival in Kyiv.

I started to interview people I had recently worked with or had met at literary festivals, who were now forced to swap words for bullets.

We talked by phone or messaging apps. These conversations took place under different conditions: someone was talking from a trench; someone was listening carefully to every sound, ready to jump into the shelter in case of a strike; someone was injured between talking and the publication of the book.

This, unfortunately, is not the most tragic thing. Two heroes of the book were killed by Russia. On June 27, 2023, in Kramatorsk, in the Donetsk region, my colleague Victoria Amelina, a writer and researcher of Russian war crimes, was fatally injured during a missile attack on a pizzeria.

The charred remains of Natalya Korniyenko's book

In January this year, I received more terrible news. Another hero of Words and Bullets, the poet and soldier Maksym Kryvtsov, had been killed on the front line. He was 33. A month before, his debut collection of poetry had been published, and he was so proud of it. Our conversation with Maksym was the first and last interview with him as a poet.

Thank you for doing this interview while he was still alive. Thank you for the memory of Maksym, his mother wrote to me later. This is one of the most heartbreaking responses that I got about this book.

As I am writing these words, the Book Arsenal Festival has started. After the attack, my publisher, Vivat Publishing House, brought copies of burned books from the wreckage to exhibit them. They are also talking about taking these burned books to book fairs all over the world to show them to foreign audiences as proof of Russian crimes and cultural genocide.

But there is also good news. One of the most seriously injured workers in the printing house has come out of a coma and is even talking a little. Some of the books survived, as they had been moved to another department that morning. My book is not among them, but I am happy for my colleagues.

It also gives me hope that we will stand all together in this war of extermination. That we will preserve our literature, language, culture and nation, which Russia has been trying to destroy for centuries. That our country will rise from the ashes like a phoenix. It cannot be otherwise.
The environmental claims of some products and services are often a cause of confusion for customers. Photo: Getty

Shoppers struggle to tell the difference between goods that have genuinely low impacts on the environment and those that are greenwashed, new research shows.

Volunteers were tested with older advertisements for companies such as Ryanair and Coca-Cola.

The results showed consumers can be misled by false or exaggerated claims, but can also become sceptical of companies with genuine green credentials.

The study was conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) and Trinity College Dublin as the number of goods and products claimed to be environmentally friendly or packaged with natural images soars.

The researchers conducted an experiment to see if they could inoculate consumers against greenwashing tactics and help them distinguish authentic from spurious claims.

They split 2,000 volunteers into three groups, giving the first a crash course in greenwashing techniques companies employ and allowing them to test themselves on hypothetical advertisements for common household products.

Another group was left to read an article about climate change and the third got no advance preparation.

All three were then shown some older advertisements for Ryanair, Coca-Cola and Alpro that were found by the British advertising watchdog to have greenwashed their products, and for KeepCup, Lush and Patagonia that have strong environmental credentials.

Read more DCU scientist helped to find origins of solar wind responsible for Northern Lights show

British cases were chosen to reduce the chances that people in Ireland would have heard about them.

The first group displayed the highest awareness of greenwashing and picked out the Ryanair and Coke ads as problematic, although Alpro escaped relatively uncriticised.

However, this group also showed suspicion about KeepCup and Patagonia.

The group who read the climate change article had some heightened awareness of greenwashing and how it worked, but a third group showed strong trust in the greenwashed brands.

The research was sparked by European Commission analysis that showed over half of environmental claims made on advertisements were vague, misleading or unfounded.

Regulations were recently passed by the EU on what claims companies may make but the Government has two years to adopt them into Irish law and that has not happened yet.

Dr Shane Timmons of the ESRIs Behavioural Research Unit said the study showed regulation was more effective than education.

Educating consumers about greenwashing doesnt appear to help, as they simply become more sceptical of all environmental claims, he said.

Instead, our results support recent EU directives that ban many forms of greenwashing, but these directives still need to be transposed into Irish law.

Dr Eimear Cotter of the Environmental Protection Agency, which part-funded the study, said the results would help inform policy to tackle greenwashing.

Greenwashing undermines efforts to support consumers to make environmentally-friendly choices and, as this research shows, can lead to confusion and scepticism of genuine environmental claims among consumers, she said.

The study is published in the latest edition of the scientific journal Sustainable Production and Consumption, and is titled An experimental test of a greenwashing inoculation intervention in Ireland: Effects of pre-bunking on identification, consumer trust and purchase intentions.
Irish interior brands such as Mullan Lighting and Orior are winning over Americans with sophisticated styles and quality materials

For ambitious Irish interiors brands, the American market is the golden goose. But shes a hard one to catch! The US has a huge population with money to spend on their homes and, given their ancestry, plenty of Americans have a natural affiliation to all things Irish.

But although many Irish brands have tried to cross the Atlantic, success stories are few and far between. Of the current generation, two stand out: Mullan Lighting, based in Mullan Village, County Monaghan; and Orior Furniture in Newry.

Interior by Emilie Fournet Interiors with Mullan Lighting

Mullan Lighting was launched in 2009 in what director Edel Treanor describes as a damp disused section of the old boot factory in Mullan. By the time I visited in 2019, the factory had been refurbished into a streamlined production facility with around 90 employees, all busy making lights.

There are many stages to the process and almost all of these are done on site. Some, like powder-coating metal or creating different finishes in bronze, involve specialist craftsmanship and the factory had then just opened a ceramic workshop to make lamps and shades.

Interior design by Isobel Waine Interiors with Mullan Lighting

Mullan Lighting began to explore the American market in 2016. It was a steep learning curve. The technical specifications for lighting are different in America and the brand had to adapt. It was a lesson well learned. In the aftermath of Covid, the US side of the business took off. Americans didnt want to be ordering from China and supply chains were slow world-wide. Because we can do almost everything in-house, we became the supplier of choice.

Now a quarter of Mullan Lightings overall sales, and almost 40 pc of their online sales, come from America. This January, they appointed a US-based sales manager. Were in the planning phase of doubling our production facility, largely to supply the orders flooding in from the US, Treanor says.

Interior by Isabel Waine Interiors with Mullan Lighting

Irish-made homeware tends to be pricey because of the cost of making things in Ireland but Mullan Lighting has a broad price range with plenty of lights around 200. The Eden, a large clear open glass globe pendant light (30 cm) costs 295 and a smaller (20 cm) version is 197. Larger and more elaborate lights cost more. But, when they came to sell to America, their prices were a stumbling block.

Initially, some of our American customers complained that our lights were too cheap, Treanor says. They loved the aesthetic but wanted a more expensive product. They were concerned that they might be made in China, because of the price! They couldnt believe they were made in Ireland. We explained that we just have a very lean manufacturing process. Our system is agile and efficient. Every piece goes into production within minutes of someone ordering online.

Ciaran McGuigans home in Omeath. Photo: Simon Watson

Although Mullans basic design vocabulary is consistent through all their lights, Treanor finds Americans are particularly drawn to antiqued brass finishes: Way more than in the EU. And they love the picture lights. Those are one of our top sellers in the US, but not so popular elsewhere.

American customers are almost universally concerned with sustainability. They go looking for the sustainable element within every purchase. One of Mullan Lightings key materials is brass. Its actually an infinite material as it can be melted down and made into something else but other materials  like our rattan and ceramic lights  are more obviously sustainable.

Ciaran McGuigans NYC loft with furniture by Orior

There were breakthroughs along the way. When the high-profile Californian interior designer Amber Lewis discovered Mullan Lighting and posted about it online, many others followed suit. Their lights were also featured in the Dream Home Makeover Netflix series by Studio McGee.

I still get a thrill when I wander into a random restaurant or bar in the US and see our lights, Treanor says. Theyre in private homes too, but we dont get to see them. She remembers wandering into The Venetian in Las Vegas and seeing the lobby hung with contemporary chandeliers from Mullan Lighting: That was quite a moment!

Just 50 kilometres down the road, Orior Furniture in Newry is shipping containers of handmade Irish furniture to New Jersey. Orior was founded in 1979 by Brian and Rosemary McGuigan. When I visited in 2013, Orior was making high-end made-to-measure furniture, mainly sofas and chairs, for clients in Ireland and the UK.

Ciaran McGuigans NYC loft with furniture by Orior

Their workshop was like a Northern Irish version of an Italian atelier; each piece of furniture passed from one artisan to another until it was done. At the time Ciaran McGuigan, son of Brian and Rosemary, had just taken over the helm. He was full of ideas about where he might take the brand. In 2019, he took it to America.

Jordan Trinci-Lyne, Oriors brand director, tells the story: After doing a bit of research and development, Ciaran believed that the American market was the natural next step for the brand. We had the people and product so the biggest challenge for us was finding the right space.

Oriors showroom opened in Soho in 2022. Their furniture is still available in Ireland but its expensive. Because all their pieces are made to order, theres no handy list of prices to steer the customer.

As a rule of thumb, if you need to ask, you cant afford it, but their more popular pieces include: the Mara Credenza (from 26,580); the Bianca Chair (from 8,285); the Atlanta Sofa (from 13,190); and the Easca Table (from 37,790).

Ciaran McGuigans NYC loft with furniture by Orior

Oriors designs have become rounder, sinuous and contemporary. Some are new; others come from Brian McGuigans archives, often reinterpreted with new and luxurious materials like marble, crystal and bronze.

In an email, Trinci-Lyne describes the reaction when Orior first came to the US: We noticed that people really appreciated the colors we used  electric blue velvets, contrasting green leathers and vibrant mustards.

The tastes of Irish and American customers are quite similar. Everyone has an interest in strong designs and quality craftsmanship. On Oriors website, the n Real Life section shows international celebrities, like actor Maggie Gyllenhaal and Brooklyn Decker, enjoying their Orior furniture. Its all very aspirational.

Oriors furniture is still hand made in Newry. There are about 40 people working in our factory in Ireland, Trinci-Lyne writes. Many of them have been around since the start of the company. A handful now work alongside their children too.

See mullanlighting.com and oriorfurniture.com
A man looks on as Palestinians inspect the damage done to a tent camp in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters

The recent Israeli airstrike on a tent camp in Rafah intentionally killed two militants who were hiding there, but it also killed at least 45 bystanders. The Israel Defence Forces confirmed the former as a mark of success in its military campaign against Hamas. The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed the latter.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly took questions from Leo Varadkar about the drug-payment scheme. Photo: Stephen Collins

The words on the bright orange hoarding around the site reads: A world-class childrens hospital... And we imagine it will be some day, but right now, all that taxpayers are hearing about is what sounds like a world-class price.

Meanwhile, regarding the cacophony over reasons for missing completion dates and accusations of colossal overspending, the Government continues to serve up second-class excuses.

Main contractors BAM argue that the spiralling price was inevitable given changes to specifications. They also insist they had adequate staff on site.

Matters were not helped by the Covid-19 pandemic and the shutdown and havoc it wreaked.

Yet for years now, the question has not been whether the budget for the hospital will exceed 2bn, but by how much. Then, last February, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly revealed the cost had increased by 512m to 2.24bn.

It has been reported that the latest final figure ranks the facility at St Jamess Hospital among the most expensive hospitals ever built in the world, so it is worth reminding ourselves how we came to this point.

Back in 2015, after failing to secure planning permission for a childrens hospital on the site of the Mater in Dublin, a new application was lodged for the St Jamess campus. The estimated price was 650m and the completion date was given as 2020.

Four years on from that target, the latest expectations are that substantial completion will be achieved by the end of this October.

However, in an update yesterday, David Gunning, the chief officer of the organisation overseeing the project, said BAM has indicated a further delay to the substantial completion date.

The new date is now next February, but Eamonn Quinn, the principal officer of major capital projects at the Department of Health, told politicians we have to believe the hospital will open next year.

He added that there was a need to hold the contractor to its obligations.

Surely, when the State is spending billions of taxpayers money, we must proceed on a more solid basis than a belief. Sick children deserve so much better.

Without apportioning blame, it is clear there are lessons we must take on board from this debacle.

There must be guarantees in place, with suitable penalties if they are not met. Nor can there be a blank cheque when it comes to entering any significant contract.

Evidently, we have made colossal errors in not investing for a bigger population and the needs of a rapidly expanding economy in the past decade.

Nonetheless, a horizon must be put on this project.

It is in danger of becoming a totem for claims that our health service with its 23bn budget is irredeemably dysfunctional.

The snowballing costs have also seriously dented confidence that there is sufficient oversight on state spending as a whole.
Reading of yet further delays in the already vastly over-budget National Childrens Hospital, does anyone think the Government can be trusted with or should be allowed to proceed with the proposed MetroLink, with an estimated cost of 9bn and probably twice that, if the hospital project is anything to go by?

Bear in mind that this Metro-Link is more about getting tourists in to and out of the city centre faster than about providing a comprehensive rail-based transport system for all Dubliners.

It has often been said in years past that it was an embarrassment for Dublin to not have a rail link to the airport (hardly a good reason for spending potentially 18bn).

Given this Government has less than a year to run and has increasingly shown incompetence in planning for housing and health and the retention and recruitment of personnel in the public sector, I doubt there is anyone (except the Government itself) who believes that starting such an expensive project is a good idea.

David Doran, Bagenalstown, Co Carlow

Our shameful behaviour as humans has brought the planet to a dark place

We humans should be truly ashamed of ourselves. For around a quarter-of-a-million years we have evolved and invented many technological, mechanical and basic survival practical realities.

But in terms of curbing our selfishness, tribal greed, addictions to the self, pursuit of power and willingness to violently subjugate others, we are little better than basic pre-human creatures.

Global powers dictate the pulse of ever-enduring animosities, distorted distribution of resources and contorted inequities across the planet. The countries that sow the seeds of strife and cultivate the notion of grotesque entitlement disparities are so totally bereft of any flavour of fully-fledged sharing and caring.

Lip-service and fake posturing will never mask their disingenuous treachery and blatant greed. Yes, there are many oases of supportive funding, honourable volunteerism and the like, but the engine of mischievous motivation roars on regardless.

Despite all the noble philosophies and spiritual expositions on the human condition through the ages, we have stagnated as humans. Modern-day colonialism offers paltry optimism for any protracted generosity of spirit to take root and flourish.

Now, with the planet itself under extreme duress due to our own wanton recklessness, we still somehow respond with war after war. We destroy and lay waste to one another, spending ill-gotten gains on weapons designed to obliterate and kill. What glory can be achieved by any of this? Shame on us all as a global collective. It seems we are doomed to a glut of destruction.

Jim Cosgrove, Lismore, Co Waterford

The 2 Johnnies werent the only ones parish-pumping to win over the listeners

Ann Marie Hourihane tells us that The 2 Johnnies Parish Quiz on their radio show is an inspired idea (The 2 Johnnies is culchie-bloke heaven, but breakfast listeners deserve better  Irish Independent, May 30).

However, I recall a skit by DUnbelievables called Where In The Parish Quiz, with mind-boggling questions such as: In what year was the 50th anniversary of the 1916 Rising held?

I must away now as I need to phone a friend who has a degree in maths.

Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9

Amid the horror of Gaza, state recognition by the Government offers hope

Nearly eight months into the relentless bombardment of Gaza, the ever-increasing death toll, which is in the tens of thousands, is staggering.

So inure have many become to the unprecedented scale of human suffering among the two million displaced people that the killing of around 40 human beings in a tented camp, set ablaze amid the rubble of the besieged city of Rafah, is now coldly and clinically dismissed as a mistake.

Without a pause, the barbarity then carries on regardless. History teaches us that when one group of people dehumanises another, all manner of horror is possible and justifiable.

Nothing justifies the scale of this collective punishment by a now arguably out-of-control Israeli state, which must be held to a higher standard than the unconscionable Hamas militants it so rightly rails against.

Seeking some sliver of optimism, the official recognition of Palestine as a sovereign and independent state by the Irish Government, together with Norway and Spain, must be welcomed. Perhaps the long-term effect of this will be to keep the two-state solution alive, nudging and embarrassing other European countries to follow.

It may already be having some effect, with French president Emmanuel Macron now dangling the prospect of the future recognition of Palestine under a strengthened Palestinian Authority exercising power across Gaza and the West Bank.

Dr Bernard Guinan, Claremorris, Co Mayo

Working in a church rings a bell, but all of that noise just got to me in the end

I read in the Irish Independent (May 30) that Roslyn Dee enjoys the sound of bells (Church bells give us pause for thought in a fast-moving world).

I gave up my job as a campanologist, as I found it too boring. It was the same old ding-dong everyday.

Noel Kelly, Doonbeg, Co Clare

PR campaign could do wonders for UK if Carol Vorderman has her way

It seems a retired female TV presenter, not a politician, could be the most influential person in the UK general election.

Carol Vorderman is on a crusade to introduce proportional representation (PR ) in a bid to get a fairer system for electing politicians. She is so fed up with the Tories that she has described them as a lying bunch of greedy, corrupt, destructive, hateful, divisive, gaslighting crooks.

Having taken to social media, she is now on a mission to eviscerate the party to such an extent that it cannot even form an opposition.

Tactical strategic voting is the methodology used to achieve her goals. Voters are requested, in cases where their preferred candidate is unlikely to be elected, to switch their vote to one more likely to defeat the Conservative candidate.

She has asked any voter who agrees with her views to send in their postcode and her team will send them the name of the preferred switch.

Ill be keeping an eye out to see what happens here.

Bobby Carty, Templeogue, Dublin 6W
Luke ONeill: With turbulence on the rise, should you be worried about flying off on your holidays?

Severe incidents on aeroplanes could double or triple in the coming decades, however research is ongoing to try and predict it

Is turbulence increasing due to climate change? Photo: Getty

Luke O'Neill Fri 31 May 2024 at 11:16

In recent weeks two serious incidents happened on aeroplanes because of turbulence. One of them was on a Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Dublin which encountered severe turbulence over Turkey. After landing, eight people were taken to hospital but mercifully none were badly injured.
Former taoiseach Bertie Ahern looks at some of his picks for success in next weeks European elections. He also asks is it time that Dublin gets its own mayor or minister, and he assesses if Ireland will soon have an established far-right political party in Leinster House.

The European and local elections take place next week, but in the south-east of the country, political history is taking place, as Co Limerick voters will go to the ballot box to directly elect a mayor for the first time.

The Indo Daily: Bertie Ahern talks election predictions, a mayor for Dublin and an Irish far-right party

With cities like Paris and London already having such high-profile local positions, it seems like it's a move in the right direction for Irish politics.

The former Fianna Fail leader asks if this newly-elected mayor will have enough power to make a real impact on the county and he debates if Dublin should have its own mayor or minister, to help keep the capital on track with major projects like the MetroLink and the National Childrens Hospital.

Also joining Tabitha Monahan on The Indo Daily is John Downing, Political Correspondent with the Irish Independent, to discuss what the introduction of a directly elected mayor might mean for Irish politics and to ask how far away we are from the formation of an established far-right party in Ireland.
An angry Donald Trump speaks outside the courtroom after his conviction on felony charges

America First became a cornerstone of Donald Trumps presidency  and yesterday he became Americas First ever president to be convicted of felony crimes.

Today he called the judge of his trial the devil and launched into a 40-minute rant against corrupt government and immigration.

"We're going to be appealing this scam," Trump told a crowd of reporters and supporters at Trump Tower in New York, a day after his historic conviction on criminal charges.

Trump accused the judge presiding over his case, Juan Merchan, of being a devil while appearing to be an angel and accused New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg of a politicised campaign against him.

For any other politician this would be a career ending moment  but that doesnt seem to be part of Trumps script.

Today on this extra episode of The Indo Daily, Rory Tevlin is joined by Jeff Mason, White House Correspondent for Reuters to look at the historical verdict in the Trump Hush Money trial and ask what are the next steps for Donald Trump, can he continue to run for president, and more importantly can he still win?
The Fine Gael representative has called for additional exam time to be given to dyslexic students

Students with dyslexia due to begin their Leaving and Junior Cert examinations next Wednesday are not on a level playing field with their peers, a Cork senator has said.

Senator Tim Lombard has said that 136,300 students are due to sit Junior Cycle and Leaving Certificate State Exams next week. He said that on average, 10% of the population are dyslexic, so over 13,000 of students sitting state exams this year will be dyslexic.

Its extremely frustrating for students, parents, teachers and those advocating on their behalf. The Dyslexia Association of Ireland (DAI) has run a significant campaign highlighting why the lack of additional time as an accommodation here is unfair and out of line with the UK and other European countries, Senator Lombard said.

Its also out of step with third level institutions here who do offer additional time to dyslexic students, he added.

The Fine Gael representative said that a DAI petition calling for dyslexic students to receive extra time in state exams was discussed at the Joint Committee on Public Petitions and the Ombudsmen recently with representatives from the State Examinations Committee (SEC) and the Department of Education.

While it emerged that the SEC will consider a review of additional time as part of an overall review of the Reasonable Accommodations in State Examinations (RACE) scheme and this is welcome, the senator said the timeline for this review is expected to be a minimum of two to three years.

This is extremely disappointing and no use to students sitting this years state exams, he said.

The senator said that the lack of urgency around this issue shows a lack of understanding of the time related issues faced by dyslexic students.

Its simply not good enough that students in 6th class now still may not have this simple accommodation available to them when they sit their Junior Cycle examinations in 2027, Senator Lombard stated.

Students with dyslexia take more time to read, process and understand the questions being asked of them. Current accommodations like spelling and grammar waivers are needed by some students, but these waivers do not support students who need more time to read and process exam questions. They also only apply to language subjects and offer no support to students in maths, which has changed to a much wordier format of project maths in recent years.

In addition, some students with dyslexia may have an accommodation to use a reading pen. This is a fantastic piece of technology and a wonderful aid to students. However, using a reading pen takes longer than reading text and students are not given additional time in these instances either.

The Minister for Education must ensure that the review of the RACE scheme; including the consideration of additional time, is prioritised and takes place before the State Examinations in 2025. This has undoubtedly caused additional stress to the class of 2024 and this should not have been the case.
The Sinn Fein deputy leader said that he believes each of his partys candidates can win a seat in the Local Elections

Pictured in Millstreet with Sinn Fein deputy leader Pearse Doherty TD and Macroom Local Elections candidate are (from left to right): Niamh Deasey, Ashlean Tarrant, Michael Hurley, Lillian Meade and Sean Radley. Front: Abigail Tarrant and Doireann Hurley.

Sinn Fein deputy leader Pearse Doherty said that he believes that his partys Local Elections candidates can win seats in north Cork and asked voters to give us a chance.

Deputy Doherty, who visited Millstreet and Charleville to canvas with Macroom candidate John OSullivan and Kanturk candidate Evelyn OKeeffe on Thursday evening, told The Corkman that though Sinn Fein have no elected councillors in north Cork, the feedback we are getting from the doors is very positive.

The Donegal South West TD said that every Sinn Fein candidate, which includes Melissa OBrien in Mallow and Joe OBrien in Fermoy in addition to Mr OSullivan and Ms OKeeffe, is running to win.

I think in this area and like many areas we dont have any elected councillors and we had a very bad election five years ago, Deputy Doherty said.

I think weve learned a lot of lessons there, I think weve listened very clearly to what the people are saying. They want strong representation at local level and at national level. This time around we have an excellent suite of candidates.

People want change, they want Sinn Fein in there to shake things up. They recognise that this is just the start, the first part of it, a lot of people really want to see this government out of office and they see Sinn Fein as the vehicle to bring that about.

We ask people to give us a chance. If your local Sinn Fein councillor is not doing the work on the ground, were not asking for the second chance.

Know that when we get in there that we are dedicated to our community, we are rigid in our community. Where we have seats well hold them because weve done the work on the ground.

Deputy Doherty, who is the finance spokesperson for Sinn Fein, said that he believes that having local candidates elected will be vital in addressing the issue of housing, which is his partys number one agenda item.

Particularly with some of the plans that local authorities have in terms of social housing and the power that they have there in terms of ensuring that there is council land being serviced, being ready, moving it through the processes as quickly as possible. Trying to cut out some of the red tape, Deputy Doherty said.

Were also very conscious that many councils are frustrated in their efforts to do that because of central government, because of the department, either if its because of a lack of funding or its just the bureaucracy. And thats why we believe that this isnt just local authority elections in isolation, that this has to be a bigger plan to bring about change.

Were getting ready for the general election at a national level as well. We expect that that will be before the end of the year. Its really important that if we can lead the next government that we have strong council teams there that can deliver the type of housing.

Its important that we have local teams on the councils as well that can make sure that pushing through the bureaucracy and being able to fast track and deliver those homes that we need.

Deputy Doherty said that Sinn Fein, which had 81 councillors elected in 2019, said that he believes that each of Sinn Feins 335 Local Elections candidates can win a seat.

In the European Elections, the TD said that his partys Ireland South candidates, Paul Gavan and Kathleen Funchion, will do well if voted in based on their records of advocating for workers rights.

People are busy, they have a lot of things going on in their lives. When elections come around they put their faith in us, they put their trust in us, and its our job to put the fight up for them and Im confident that in Paul and Kathleen that thats what we have, Deputy Doherty said.
Sinn Fein is running six candidates in the European elections. The party currently has one MEP.

Senator Paul Gavan and Kathleen Function TD are running in the Ireland South constituency.

Current MEP Chris McManus and Michelle Gildernew a sitting MP for Fermanagh and South Tyrone are running in Midlands-North West, while

Senator Lynn Boylan and Cllr Daithi Doolan are their candidates in Dublin.

Speaking as she launched the partys manifesto Deputy McDonald said voters have a clear choice in the upcoming European elections. Voters have a clear choice in the European elections between Sinn Fein MEPs who wont be afraid to stand up and speak out to get a better deal for Ireland, and Fianna Fail and Fine Gael MEPs who are uncritical, unquestioning, and unprepared to stand up for Irish interests in Europe. If Fianna Fail and Fine Gael dont stand up for your interests on housing and access to healthcare at home, they will not stand up for you in the European Parliament.

Our people deserve much better, said Ms McDonald. Our people deserve MEPs who are ambitious for Ireland, ambitious for our young peoples futures, MEPs who will work night and day to defend Irelands interests and work together with others to create a better European Union.

Change starts here. Voting for Sinn Fein in the local and European elections is the first step to getting a change of government, to creating the momentum to elect a government that will sort out the housing crisis, tackle the cost of living crisis and start fixing our health service. It's time for new people with new solutions and new ideas at local government, in the Dail and in the European parliament, she added.

Sinn Fein is also running ten candidates across the ten Local Electoral Areas in Cork County as they strive to win seats in the local authority.

The party currently has no councillors in Cork County Council.

The list of candidates includes: Clare OCallaghan in Bandon-Kinsale, Colum OCallaghan in Bantry-West Cork, Eoghan Fahy in Carrigaline, Medhi Ozcinar in Cobh, Joe OBrien in Fermoy, Evelyn OKeeffe in Kanturk, John OSullivan in Macroom, Melissa OBrien in Mallow, Edith Adams in Midleton and Donnchadh O Seaghdha in Skibbereen-West Cork.

The Sinn Fein president urged people to back the party in the elections on Friday, June 7. If you want change, you have to vote for Sinn Fein in the European elections and in the local elections. Back Sinn Fein to make change happen in Ireland and in Europe. Back us to get the job done for you, for your family, for your community, she added.
Government plans to use Ballymullen Barracks in Tralee to alleviate the male migrant crisis in Dublin is leading to deep concern in the town over the pressure the move will place on local services, according to a local politician.

News of the plans were revealed by the Irish Independent this morning after they obtained details of a secret government memo on the new strategy.

Kerry County Councillor Sam Locke said the news of the plan is leading to rising concern among many of his constituents.

The Tralee-based representative said immigration is one of the main issues being raised by people since the campaign started ahead of next weeks local elections.

He believes the government has got its immigration policy wrong by not informing local councillors of plans to relocate migrants to towns, which would help ease fears over pressure on services.

Ballymullen is already home to 60 Ukrainians. Its expected that they will be moved in order to accommodate the newest arrivals.

The Government has got it wrong from the start with its open-door policy that allows all nationalities to enter without knowing how it will cater for them, Cllr Locke said.

We now have people coming here in record numbers, including the recent flight of migrants from Britain. We cant deal with it at local level. We, as councillors, have no power to blockade this. Our constituents are blaming us for not doing enough when we are not even being told what is happening, he added.

Cllr Locke stressed that a time has come to assess the ability of towns to facilitate migrants. He is adamant this attitude in no way stems from discrimination, but rather the practicalities around services.

Im peeved at being excluded from the process. There is public outcry in Tralee this morning from what Im hearing on the ground. Some people are looking for us to interject. We cannot do it. Our hands are tied by national policythe facility at Ballymullen is not a proper facility to house people. There arent enough doctors to take more patients, our hospitals are overflowing, he said.

The anger is there. Ive been on the streets since 9am canvassing and around 20 people have asked me what is going on?. The simple answer is we havent been informed,. Were at the front line and were being left in the dark, Cllr Locke said.

Ballymullen Barracks was prepared in 2022 for the arrival of Ukrainian refugees.

In the 1960s, Catholics fleeing south from violence in the north were housed there.

In the early 2000s, the barracks was also home to refugees arriving from Nigeria and Somalia.
Tralee grandmother Fiona Griffin is heading back to the U.S on her third J1 visa this June where she will once again work in a summer camp, this time in New York state. Fiona is pictured here enjoying summer camp life on last year's J1 visa at Camp Clearwater in Wisconsin.

It came as no surprise at all to me this week when Tralees resident grandmother turned travel adventurer extraordinaire Fiona Griffin got in touch to let me know that she was once again heading back to the US on a J1 visa for what will be the third consecutive time.
Asylum seekers on the Grand Canal in Dublin, who could yet be sent to centres around Ireland. Photo: Mark Condren

Sinn Fein Deputy Pa Daly has expressed concern over a lack of communication from government amid plans to house extra asylum-seekers at centres around Ireland, including at Ballymullen Barracks in Tralee.

Controversy was sparked on Thursday when the Irish Independent obtained details of a secret government memo to distribute hundreds of single male asylum-seekers from Dublin.

With Ballymullen earmarked as a possible location, Deputy Daly criticised the rampant speculation created by the governments vacuum of information on immigration policy, describing it as extremely unhelpful and negative.

Deputy Daly said his request for information from government regarding its latest plans to house migrants have not, as yet, been forthcoming.

The failings of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, and the Greens in planning for accommodation needs, a shortage of GPs and other issues within rural towns and villages such as Tralee, has brought many situations to the point of crisis, Deputy Daly said.

The government had a plan but failed spectacularly to implement it. We are obliged to accommodate those who are genuine asylum seekers, and facilitate those who are not leaving as soon as their application has been processed. The government is failing to do this and communities deserve full disclosure of the facts, he said.
A website application designed to help voters make informed choices at the polls has been relaunched ahead of the upcoming European and local elections.

WhichCandidate was created by Dr Rory Costello  a lecturer in the Department of Politics and Public Administration at University of Limerick (UL)  and it is designed to make the voting process easier by arming voters with essential information on candidates and their policy views.

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Dr Costello, who specialises in electoral and legislative politics in Europe, initially launched WhichCandidate in 2014 for the local elections in Limerick. Since then, the application has been rolled out nationally for general and European Parliamentary elections as well as Dail byelections.

Over the past decade, WhichCandidate has grown in popularity among voters seeking to make more informed decisions, with approximately 200,000 unique site visitors recorded in the 2020 general election. The app has been described as game-changing and this year, the site will focus on the European and Limerick mayoral elections.

Explaining the motivation behind the creation of WhichCandidate, Dr Costello highlighted the importance of empowering voters to cast their vote confidently.

He said: Research shows that one of the main reasons why people abstain in elections is a lack of information  not knowing who to vote for. Voting is a complex decision: you have to rank candidates in order of preference. If you dont know much about the candidates and parties, you are likely not to vote at all. Turnout is particularly low among young people, who are our target audience.

Shifting voters attention from posters to policy is a key aim of WhichCandidate as Dr Costello added: During elections, we are bombarded with posters, leaflets and social media posts from candidates. There are televised debates where candidates talk over each other. It is an information overload. On June 7, we will be asked to decide between over 20 candidates for the European Parliament (depending on your constituency), plus a similar number of candidates for the local council. In Limerick, there are an additional 15 candidates for Mayor to choose between.

An app like this can help voters to navigate the crowded election field and narrow down their choice to a manageable set of candidates who broadly align with their views.

WhichCandidate, now supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs Communicating Europe Initiative as well as UL Engage, operates off a sophisticated Q&A format. First, users are asked to select the appropriate election (in this case, European or Limerick mayoral) and their constituency. They will then be presented with roughly 20 questions on relevant policy issues, with additional information provided to help the user understand each issue. Once complete, they will be presented with a personalised set of results, showing how well they align with each candidate in their constituency; each candidate will have also completed the same set of questions, ensuring accuracy. From there, users can browse candidates profile pages and even have the option to fill out a mock ballot paper in preparation for polling day.
Shane McLoughlin in the middle of his world record attempt to become the first man on a paralympic blade to pull an 18 tonne truck a total of 25 metres.

Monaghan man Shane McLoughlin is to be inducted into the Guinness World Records following his extraordinary feat.

A Monaghan man is to be inducted into the Guinness World Records after becoming the worlds first Paralympian to pull a 45 foot truck.

Clones man Shane McLoughlin will receive the lucrative accolade after securing the remarkable feat at the home of McArdle Skeath, a Dublin based supply chain management firm in recent days.

Members of the Guinness World Record Committee were on hand to run the rule over the world record attempt which involved the proud Monaghan man pulling the 18-tonne truck a total of 25 metres.

Shane, who underwent a gruelling ten week training programme, told the home for record breaking achievements he hoped his record can "inspire other amputees to overcome the challenges they may face in life."

News of the Monaghan mans accomplishments has been greeted with euphoric adulation from across the local community.

Shane McLoughlin in the middle of his world record attempt to become the first man on a paralympic blade to pull an 18 tonne truck a total of 25 metres.

Congratulations Shane, wishing you all the best in your next adventure, McArdle Skeath posted on their own Facebook page.

Thank you for letting us be part of this amazing world record success. You have inspired us all here at McArdle Skeath.

Others, meanwhile, chose to reference the resilience Monaghans newest world champion illustrated in realising his dream.

Congratulations Shane. You were determined to do it and you succeeded, wrote one supporter while another warmheartedly wrote: Well done Shane,proud for you and your family.
Up to 80 international protection applicants are expected to arrive in Dundrum House Hotel in the coming days, said Cllr Declan Burgess

A Tipperary Councillor has hit out at what he said is the lack of consultation surrounding the arrival of up to 80 international protection applicants to the Dundrum House Hotel in the coming days.

I was made aware of rumours circulating about International Protection Applicants coming to Dundrum House Hotel, said Cathaoirleach of Tipperary Cahir Cashel Municipal District, FG Cllr Declan Burgess.

I began an immediate investigation to see what exactly is going on. I am so angry and annoyed that no information has arrived from Minister Roderic OGorman on this proposed new IPAS accommodation.

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The community of Dundrum has warmly welcomed hundreds of Ukrainian refugees to its area and have looked after them extremely well.

I have heard that 80 refugees are expected to arrive in Dundrum in the coming days, he said.

The lack of clarity and communication is again deeply concerning. The Minister and this Department have obviously learned nothing from the Cashel issue or others across the country. Tipperary County Council and the public deserve basic communication.

Again I am so disappointed and upset with the zero respect from Minister OGorman. I am calling on the six Oireachtas members serving in Tipperary to engage with the powers at hand and ensure we have accurate and fair information immediately.

Minister Roderic OGorman has failed miserably to provide any level of consultation with the local authority and elected officials. This isnt acceptable and I will not stand for this kind of approach, added Cllr Burgess.

The Department of Integration has confirmed that Dundrum House has been identified as a centre to house international protection applicants.

Ireland is currently experiencing an acute shortage of accommodation for people seeking international protection, said a spokesperson. As vacancies arise within existing properties used for those fleeing the war in Ukraine, where the provider agrees, the Department is availing of these spaces.

"A number of such moves are being planned, including Dundrum House Hotel. Eighty beds have been identified for use and the overall capacity at this property remains the same.
The Clonroche/Poulpeasty 3 Counties for Cancer vintage event in April has raised an amazing 25,144 for Waterford Hospice.

Leaving Clonroche the event saw vintage vehicles take on the scenic roads of Kilkenny, Carlow and Wexford. Organised by Clonroche Poulpeasty Vintage club, the fundraiser was very generously supported by people across the three counties, but particularly in the Clonroche, Poulpeasty areas.

We are absolutely so overwhelmed at how the event was received in general and even more delighted to see the support it got, a club spokesperson said.

Thanking the event stewards, An Garda Siochana, from Clonroche, New Ross , Graiguenamanagh and Thomastown, photographers Marie Asple, Tony Asple and Thomas O Callaghan, the Cloch Ban Ffrench family for hosting everyone on the morning and providing an impeccable breakfast and the use of the grounds in general, the club also expressed its gratitude to the Vaughan family, who made a very gallant effort at supporting 3 Counties for Cancer.

To the families of those loved ones who had a closer cause to 3 Counties for Cancer, your support was felt throughout the whole build up to the event and even still here after thank you very much.

Colm Byrne Civil and Building Contractors were thanked for sponsoring all drivers with a 3 Counties for Cancer T-Shirt, as was Dave Kelly from Glynn Killurin Community First Responders.

"Thanks to Brian, Breda and Sean from O Neills The Top place for their hospitality on the night of the event. The drivers on the day itself, Aine at Think Print & Design.

Local business people were also thanked, as are Irish Vintage Society.

Last but not least, the comradery between local vintage clubs here is really something to behold.

A Waterford Hospice movement spokesperson said: It was such a pleasure meeting these wonderful people and to hear their stories about wanting to give back to the Oak Ward for the care their families and friends have received. Thank you to everyone who supported this fantastic event.
Two cyclists have taken on a mammoth journey to raise money to directly help families in Gaza, and they are stopping in New Ross next week, for a fundraising event.

Ainle O Caireallain and Stephen Loughran, both from Belfast, set off on a cycle around Ireland on Saturday raising money to help families in Gaza, with much-needed food parcels. The goal of the campaign is to raise 30,000 to buy food parcels for 300 families in Gaza.

This cycle is a small gesture of solidarity in comparison with what the people in Gaza are going through, said Ainle. We hope it will make a difference to the families who receive the food parcels, and as time goes by at least we can say we tried to do something as the world looks on while Gaza burns.

Each food parcel worth 100 delivered to a family in Gaza will include the following items, based on availability: 9kg of rice, 2kg sugar, 2kg salt, 3kg chickpeas, 3kg lentils, 8kg of pasta, five cans of tomato sauce, six litres of vegetable oil, and two packets of biscuits.

On Wednesday, June 5, Ainle and Stephen will be welcomed at the Hillside Bar located on the Campile road at 7 p.m. An evening of trad music will follow with Jon Reville and Sean Furlong of Green Road performing till 9 p.m. Trad players are welcome to come along and 10 Nine burger truck will be open.

This campaign is a collaboration event between ACLAI Palestine, Cairde Palestine, Glor na Mona, as well as the close involvement of two organisations on the ground in Gaza, the Beit Lahia Development Association and Gaza Stars Circus School.

The cycle is inspired by a round Ireland cycle in 1986 by Ainles father Gearoid O Caireallain and Eoghan O Neill to raise money for La, Ireland's first daily Irish language newspaper in Belfast, which was printed for over 20 years after the mammoth 1986 cycle.

Their route includes; Derry, Gaoth Dobhair, Sligo, Headford, Limerick, Killarney, Cork, Waterford, Dublin, and culminating at Feile na Gealai in Rath Cairn on June 7, with local fundraisers organised along the way.

Donations can be made via DonorBox at https://donorbox.org/ride-for-gaza and also via the link in the ACLAI Palestine Instagram page (@aclai_palestine), where daily updates and progress reports will be posted by the team as they make their way around Ireland.
Residents in Bridgetown and its surrounding areas are facing a summer of uncertainty after being told that their direct bus service to Waterford city is to be discontinued in the coming months. The Bus Eireann route (370) from Rosslare to Waterford currently stops in Bridgetown every morning, enabling those who study and work in the neighbouring county to arrive in time for college and their jobs.
The many ways in which Certa supports the local community in Wicklow has been officially recognised by Guaranteed Irish as part of a process which led to the fuel supplier qualifying for the coveted Guaranteed Irish symbol.

Certa, which is part of DCC plc, operates Irelands largest network of pay at the pump forecourts and home heating depots, including Certa forecourts in Arklow and Rathdrum and Certa depots in Arklow and Blessington.

The Guaranteed Irish symbol was awarded to Certa in recognition of its commitment to creating sustainable jobs, promoting Irish provenance and supporting local communities across Wicklow.

Certas community support in Wicklow goes well beyond job creation and extends to volunteering, sponsorship, donations and fundraising, all of which was examined as part of the qualifying criteria for the Guaranteed Irish symbol.

The company has developed a series of community-based CSR initiatives including its Volunteering Day Programme which allows Certa workers in Wicklow to take a paid day out of the business each year to volunteer and give back to their local communities.

Certa has also partnered with the Open Doors Initiative to provide opportunities for some of the most marginalised members of society in Wicklow through the creation of pathways to work, training, education, employment and entrepreneurship.

Orla Stevens, Managing Director, Certa Ireland said: Certa is very proud to be a homegrown Irish brand that operates at the heart of the local community in Wicklow. We are delighted to be awarded the Guaranteed Irish symbol which helps consumers and businesses to identify products and services that are an altogether better choice for the life of their community.

Certa is committed to supporting the local community in Wicklow and to continually enhancing the service that we offer to domestic, commercial and industrial customers as we continue to pursue our vision of becoming Irelands most progressive energy company. We look forward to promoting our Guaranteed Irish credentials as we continue that journey.

Brid OConnell, CEO of Guaranteed Irish said: We are delighted to welcome Certa as a member of Guaranteed Irish. The Guaranteed Irish symbol is a national symbol of trust that is only awarded to companies in Ireland that support sustainable jobs, contribute to our local economies, and are committed to Irish provenance. This has been at the core of Certas development as an Irish company over the past 35 years and we look forward to working with Certa as it continues to grow and enhance the service that it provides in communities across Ireland.
Residents of Newtownmountkennedy held a march on Thursday evening showcasing their solidarity against the IPAS Centre based at River Lodge House, Trudder, while also marking the anniversary of the 1798 battle of Newtown.

Over 200 people took part in the march which stopped at two memorials in the village before proceeding up towards River Lodge House. Gardai put barriers near to the GAA Club entrance and at Trudder junction restricting access to both pedestrians and motorists.

The peaceful march also marked the historic battle of Newtown, whose anniversary is celebrated locally each year, when a force of Irish rebels combated British crown forces on May 30, 1798.

Local demonstrator Kevin Haig, who attended Thursdays march, said: It was a completely peaceful march with a carnival-like atmosphere. It was all villagers involved in the march with no far right shouting or anything like that. There was nothing particularly political about it. We just wanted to show that we are still here, are still united and arent intimidated.

We had some speakers at the event, including Una McGurk, who is a barrister running as an Independent in the upcoming European Elections. Everyone was gathered to show their support for the cause of Newtownmountkennedy and to question the legality of the IPAs Centre.

At the start of this whole process we were told a community engagement team would engage with the local community and keep them informed at all times. We havent been able to make any contact since then, despite the frustration of making repeated efforts. Its turned out just as we always feared would happen, they have dumped these asylum seekers in tents in a rain soaked field, and have moved onto the next town or village in Ireland to do exactly the same there as well.
Small and medium enterprises can avail of a Local Enterprise Office course to assist them in navigating costing and prices.

The course will provide business owners and management teams with an improved understanding of how pricing decisions impact on performance.

The trainer will be Frank McGlone of Optimum Results Ltd. He has specialised in this field since the early 90s but has also worked with some of Irelands largest businesses. He has served as Chairman of several companies such as Botanic Inns Ltd in Northern Ireland and has been involved in developing strategies for many substantial organisations including a US owned manufacturing company with $1 billion turnover in Europe.

Getting your costing and pricing correct is absolutely critical for your business and you can learn how to master these skills through the course taking place on Wednesday, June 26, from 9.30am to 4pm.

Participants will get to appreciate the importance of knowing your costs and setting the right price, as well as the implications of getting your costing and pricing wrong.

You will be provided with pricing strategies for SMEs and how to establish your cost and the factors that make up your costs, including hidden costs.

Those taking part in the course will be provided with the confidence to review their costing and pricing and will also be able to identify any changes that would merit a review.

The online course costs 20 and you can book your place at www.localenterprise.ie.
Natalie Portman arrives at the 81st Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024, at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 23: Paul Mescal attends the UK Gala Screening of "All Of Us Strangers" at BFI Southbank on January 23, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Paul Mescal has been snapped in conversation with Hollywood star Natalie Portman in London this week.

The two actors were seen chatting and smiling as they enjoyed a few cigarettes outside Bar 69 in Islington wearing matching white t-shirts.

Natalie (42) has just divorced Benjamin Millepied so is reportedly single.

If my drama school self knew that I would be talking to you, I would pinch myself many, many times, the Maynooth man told Natalie during a Variety interview late last year.

The pair laugh (Youtube)

Black Swan star Natalie looked relaxed in a simple white tee paired with faded jeans, whilst Paul matched the casual vibe in a white shirt, teamed with high-waisted black trousers and classic Adidas Sambas.

During their Variety interview last year, the pair appeared to become quite close.

Natalie complimented Paul on his sex scenes with Andrew Scott in All of Us Strangers, describing them as very hot but also very tender.

I really loved the intimate scenes in All of Us Strangers. They were very hot but also very tender. Why do we see that so rarely, and particularly for same-sex relationships?

Natalie Portman and Paul Mescal (YouTube)

Paul responded by saying: Films like this are an indication of a distance that weve travelled, but ultimately theres quite a ways to go. All I can talk about is my experience with filming those scenes.

"Andrew Scotts character, Adam, who is in his mid-40s, has a difficult relationship to sex. My character serves as a safe landing space for him to re-explore his sexuality. I think sex in film, when it can be healing and sexy at the same time, thats when its at its best."

Natalie replied that its such an antidote to all the other depictions of sex that are bombarding us.

Natalie Portman in a scene (Getty)

To which Paul answered: I dont know about you, but Ive been lucky that I havent been in a sex scene in a film where I think, I dont know why this is here.

"I dont know what your relationship to that is, but I also think that the sex scene in May December is a huge moment and so stark.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 31st May 2024

The Irish actor also gave a run down of how he trained for his forthcoming appearance in the new Gladiator film.

"Lots of protein shakes. Its a big departure from everything that Ive done before and so unbelievably fun. It feels like just exercising a totally different skill set. Im having a ball. Were going to finish it soon.

Something people quite rightfully would associate with you as an actor is the level of transformation, both psychologically and physically, that goes into it, he added.
Rock star The Edge delighted young Northern Ireland tech start-up leaders with a surprise appearance in Belfast to check out their work.

The U2 guitarist, whose real name is David Howell Evans, visited Ormeau Baths to meet some of the technology enthusiasts in his role as chairman of Endeavor Ireland, a global not-for-profit organisation.

The organisation supports and helps accelerate high-impact entrepreneurs by connecting them with talent, capital and a worldwide peer and mentor network.

The companys board includes Rosaleen Blair, deputy chair of Kainos, and hotelier Paddy McKillen, with The Edge holding the role of founding chair.

The visit to Belfast came just months after five founders of Northern Irelands most exciting start-ups were selected to take part in the mentorship programme.

They are currently in the midst of a five-month programme set up by Endeavor.

Rosaleen Blair from Endeavour meets Ormeau Bath tech leaders

The five who were selected include Belfast-born Ryan Donnelly, co-founder of AI governance platform Enzai, which has been described as Northern Irelands first possible unicorn  a company which is worth a billion pounds.

The start-up, which was born in Belfasts Ormeau Baths, made headlines last year after it raised $4million in funding in just over two years.

The rocker was joined in his Belfast trip by Rosaleen Blair, founder of Alexander Mann Solutions and member of the boards of Kainos and Endeavor Ireland, alongside the Endeavor Ireland team, including managing director Rory Guinan and Ellen Ryall, senior associate.

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Ms Blair said she could sense the heartbeat of Belfasts tech sector.

I was so impressed by the breadth and quality of the talent we met, she said.

It was really energising; the passion and commitment from the founders was palpable, and there was a heartbeat to the place.

Seeing the quality of the entrepreneurs along with their comradeship and support for each other was inspiring.

I have had the privilege to work in the Northern Irish market for over 10 years, so it didnt come as a surprise to me to see the quality of the talent.

However, its great to see the ambition of these founder entrepreneurs in scaling and growing their businesses on an international basis, which is exactly what Endeavor is about.

Today's News in 90 seconds - 31st May 2024

One of the founders honoured by Endeavor Ireland, Ryan Donnelly, also echoed her remarks, adding he was grateful that someone like The Edge wants to come to Belfast to see what is on offer.

Something special is happening in the north at the moment; people are founding companies that can compete on a global stage, said Ryan, who is the founder of Enzai.

Back in the day, Belfast was the number one centre for linen and shipbuilding.

This is a new generation at the cutting edge of technology.

The Edge wants to come up and spend time here, for which we are very grateful, but it is also a testament to what is going on in the north now.

It does feel like something special is happening.

The Edge speaks to tech founders in Belfast

Fellow founder Mark Dowds, who is the CEO of Responsible, a company which campaigns for fashion sustainability, said he was shocked at The Edges visit.

I was taken aback, as were the other founders who participated in the Scale Up programme, by the Endeavor folks, especially The Edge and Rosaleen, taking the time to come to Ormeau Labs and showing a genuine interest in learning about the Northern Irish tech ecosystem, he said.

There is so much collaboration happening across the island of Ireland  the timing is great for what Endeavor is doing with its Scale Up programme.

The visit from The Edge and the Endeavor team comes after Endeavors announcement in February that five Northern Ireland-based founders were selected for its Scale Up programme for Northern Ireland, which the Belfast Telegraph exclusively reported.
Dennis Lawlesss Babydoll knitted dress was inspired by a creation he made with his granny when he was 10

There is no better way to mark yourself out as something special in the fashion world than to scoop two student bursary awards in as many weeks.

NCAD fashion design student Dennis Lawless, from Edenderry, Co Offaly, is this years winner of the Brown Thomas Arnotts Designer to Watch bursary award

The 23-year-old is a final-year fashion design student in the National College of Art and Design (NCAD).

The keenly contested award was made based on the strength of his collection titled In the Closet and he receives a 4,000 bursary, mentorship and an invite to show in the annual Create event in the Grafton Street store in July.

It was a pinch-me moment yesterday when Dennis heard the news because only 14 days earlier, he scooped the River Island NCAD student bursary, which is worth 3,500 with a paid internship with the fashion group at its London HQ.

Angela OKelly, head of design for body and environment at NCAD, confirmed this was the first time a student had won both of the bursaries for final-year fashion students.

Posing for photographs with model Olan wearing his Babydoll knitted dress in navy, white and mustard, Dennis said he was incredibly honoured to hear the news of his latest win.

He explained the background to the dress and those childhood days when he was designer of my fantastical world.

I based this dress on a dolls dress I knitted with my granny when I was 10 years old and its kind of a real-life reimagining of that childhood doll, Dennis explained.

He was quick yesterday to ring home and share the news with his mother, Louise Lawless, and his granny, Colette Collins, who celebrated her 80th birthday this month.

Denniss childhood and the joy of self-expression inspired the collection which, he said is very personal to me.

The white dress is based on my mothers wedding dress. I would go into her wardrobe and play dress-up and it is based on the lace in the dress.

My mam was always a huge support, encouraging me to follow my dreams and allowing me to be my authentic, creative self. For this I am so grateful. Im excited to showcase at the Brown Thomas Create 2024 in July.

From playing with dolls to donning his mothers s garments, Dennis says that each piece in the collection is inspired by the essence of imaginative self-expression, celebrating a time when I was the designer of my fantastical world.

He said that the emotionally resonant collection is an invitation for real people to embrace their true selves and to playfully explore the spectrum of identities and expressions through the transformative power of clothing.

Darren Feeney, head of art direction and creative at Brown Thomas Arnotts, praised Denniss ability to tell a story through his designs, inspired by dolls and his playful childhood memories of dressing up in his mothers closet.

This year, the creativity was exceptional, and Dennis Lawlesss collection instantly caught our attention. Each piece beautifully combined masculine and feminine elements. His presentation, from the photoshoot to the storytelling, was thoughtful and well-done. We cant wait to welcome him to our store for Create.

Members of the public can view the students collections and designs as part of NCAD Works 2024 at the National College of Art and Design graduate showcase encompassing fashion and all graduating student disciplines, running from June 7 to 15.
Voters punish party of late Nelson Mandela for years of decline

MK Party supporters celebrate in the middle of the street in Mahlbnathini village in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Photo: AP

The African National Congress looked set to lose the parliamentary majority it has held for 30 years, partial election results yesterday showed, as voters punished the former liberation movement for years of decline in South Africa.

While the party of the late Nelson Mandela looked likely to remain the largest political force, such an outcome would push it into a coalition with other parties for the first time in the countrys post-apartheid history.
LIVE | Joe Bidens camp warn of Donald Trump revenge campaign after ex US president found guilty in Stormy Daniels hush money trial

Sentencing of the former president will take place on July 11Trump berates judge following the jurys unanimous verdictJoe Biden says only way to keep Trump out of office is at the ballot boxIvanka Trump posts message of supportStormy Daniels emotional following verdict

Donald Trump blasts rigged trial and corrupt judge outside courthouse after he is found guilty in hush money trial

Jack Queen, Luc Cohen and Andy Sullivan Fri 31 May 2024 at 08:00







Donald Trump became the first US president to be convicted of a crime on Thursday when a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.
Nato pushes for a 40bn annual arms bill to aid Ukraine as Trump-proofing contingency plan

US president Joe Biden gives go-ahead for attacks with American weapons on some Russian territory

Firefighters work at the site of the Kids and Youth Sport Riding School in Mala Danylivka near Kharkiv after it was heavily damaged by Russian missile strikes, amid Russias attack on Ukraine. Photo: Reuters

Sabine Siebold and Jan Lopatka Fri 31 May 2024 at 03:30







Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg will ask allies to pledge a minimum of 40bn annually to fund military aid for Ukraine, an alliance source said yesterday, as Nato foreign ministers gathered for talks in Prague.
Prison inmates enter a cell block during a media event promoting a government offer to recruit some convicts for the military, in a prison colony in the Kyiv region, Ukraine, May 30, 2024. REUTERS/Thomas Peter

In its quest to fill the dwindling ranks of its infantry, Ukraine has turned to recruiting prisoners to join the fight against Russia, and more than four thousand have applied so far.

Under a deal offered to inmates by the government, prisoners will have their remaining sentences cleared - regardless of length - if they agree to serve in the army without leave until the end of the war.
Exclusive |

Nicola Hanney book extract: Paul stormed down after me like a robot from Terminator. Open the door, you f**king bitch, he said, hammering his fist on the windscreen
Since 1963, The Independent has helped create a great community!

Since our founding in September of 1963, The Independent has been dedicated to giving Livermore, Pleasanton, Dublin, and Sunol readers the news they need to be in-the-know about what's going on in the Tri-Valley region.
Photo Courtesy: File image/Wikimedia Commons/BSE India

Mumbai/IBNS: The six-week long Lok Sabha elections have reached its final stage with the Election Commission of India (ECI) going to hold the last phase of polls on Saturday (June 1), and the financial markets are eagerly waiting for the national polls' verdic, which is scheduled to be counted on June 4.

Political analysts and pollsters differ on the possible result of the election, with lower voter turnout and apathy seen as risks for the BJP-led NDA government.

Before the election began, opinion polls in early April predicted that the BJP would win close to 300 seats this time, about the same as in 2019.

However, the ECI does not permit exit polls before the last phase of voting ends.

In the last Lok Sabha elections (2019), BJP and its allies in NDA won 352 of the 543 seats with BJP alone winning 303 seats.

Though, days ahead of the 2024 verdict, the market seems to have already adjusted to the possibility that the margin of victory of Narendra Modi-led BJP, fund managers, analysts and economists expect markets to react under three possible different scenarios.

BJP clinches victory with more seats

If the BJP and its allies win a stronger majority than 2019, equity markets will rally in anticipation of growth-supportive economic policies, like spending on infrastructure and a push for the manufacturing sector, NDTV reports quoting ITI Mutual Fund's chief investment officer Rajesh Bhatia.

The report said that India's benchmark indices S&P Sensex and NSE Nifty 50 could rally 4-5 percent in the scenario, while the rupee could appreciate to around 82.80 levels against dollar from 83.32 at the close on June 4.

According to the report, the benchmark bond yield may dip to 6.90-6.92 percent from near 7 percent currently.

As per NDTV report, Narendra Modi's return as the Prime Minister with stronger mandate will be viewed by the market as a positive because it demonstrates political stability and implies policy continuity.

BJP-led NDA holds on to power, but with fewer seats

If the BJP-led NDA wins fewer seats than 2019, but still holds on to power with more than 272 seats, which is needed to form a government in the centre, markets may see some volatility in the short-term but settle quickly, reports said.

According to a report by NDTV, the market seems to have already adjusted to the possibility that BJP and allies will hold on to the power with lower seats than estimated, and a seat count below 300 for the current government will not alter the market's trajectory.

Under this scenario, the rupee and bond yields may not see a significant reaction, as per reports.

NDA loses election and opposition forms coalition government

If the BJP-led NDA faces a surprise loss in the election and opposition forms a coalition government led by Congress in the centre, it could lead to a sell-off in markets until the new government's policies become clear.

As per media reports, there could be an up to 10 percent fall in benchmark stock market indices in such a scenario immediately after the results are out, while some markets experts said the fall could be as large as 15-20 percent.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) may intervene to stem a decline in the rupee in this scenario, reports NDTV, quoting Anindya Banerjee, head of foreign exchange research at Kotak Securities.

Under this possibility, foreign outflows in bonds could lead to an immediate rise of 10-15 basis points in yields, according to reports.
Photo Courtesy: File image from Wallpaper Cave

Mumbai/IBNS: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has moved over 100 tonnes of gold from the UK to its vaults in India, reports said.

Business Today reported, citing its sources, that more gold is likely to be brought back with decisions on this yearly.

According to reports, more than half of RBI's gold reserves are held overseas in safe custody with the Bank of England and the Bank of International Settlements, while about a third of it is stored in the vaults in India.

As per reports, the RBI's move of shifting gold will help the central bank to save storage costs, which are paid to the Bank of England.

The RBI held 822.10 tonnes worth of gold as a part of its foreign exchange reserves as of March 31, up from 794.63 tonnes held during the same period of 2023, according to the annual data released by the country's apex bank.

This is the first time since 1991 that gold has been added to the stock kept in the country. In 1991, the then Chandra Shekhar government in the centre pledged gold to tackle the balance of payments crisis.

According to RBI data, the central bank pledged 46.91 tonnes of gold with the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan between July 4 and 18 in 1991 to raise $400 million.
Image Credit : UNI/file photo

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized Rs 64,920 crore related to nearly 1,105 bank fraud cases to date, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman reiterated on May 31 in a series of posts on the social media platform X.

As of December 2023, assets amounting to Rs 15,183 crore have been restituted to the public sector banks (PSBs). There has been no leniency in recovering bad loans and the process is ongoing, the finance minister said.

The banking sector, regarded as the backbone of a nations economy, recently achieved a significant milestone by recording its highest-ever net profit, exceeding Rs 3 lakh crore in 2023-24, up from Rs 2.2 lakh crore in FY23.

The Banking sector is considered the backbone of a nations economy. Recently, Indias banking sector achieved a significant milestone by recording its highest-ever net profit, crossing  3 lakh crores.



This is in stark contrast to the situation before 2014 when @INCIndia-led  Nirmala Sitharaman (Modi Ka Parivar) (@nsitharaman) May 31, 2024

During FY 2023-24, public sector banks posted an unprecedented aggregate net profit of Rs 1.41 lakh crore, a four-fold increase from Rs 36,270 crore in FY 2014.

These lenders declared a dividend of Rs 27,830 crore to their shareholders in FY24.

Net NPAs of state-run banks dropped to 0.76 percent in March 2024 from 3.92 percent in March 2015, and from a peak of 7.97 percent in March 2018, she noted.

Banks previously under the RBI's Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework have shown significant improvement, resulting in the removal of all PCA restrictions.

Due to reforms, public sector lenders' ability to raise capital (equity and bonds) has enhanced.

Between FY 2014-15 and FY 2023-24, PSBs have raised Rs 4.34 lakh crore from the market, she added.

Credit availability and easy access are critical to nurturing entrepreneurship, self-employment and financial independence, she said.

Bank Credit growth (non-food) stood at 16 percent in FY24, its highest in the last decade.

Agricultural credit has increased 2.5-fold to Rs 21.55 lakh crore in FY 2022-23 from Rs 8.45 lakh crore in FY 2014-15. The Kisan Credit Card (KCC) scheme has provided timely and hassle-free credit to farmers, with over 7.36 crore operative KCC accounts, the finance minister said.

Under the PM MUDRA Yojana, loans to the tune of Rs 28 lakh crore have been disbursed to more than 48 crore individuals, with 68 percent of the loans allocated to women.

Despite initial concerns voiced by critics upon its launch, NPAs under MUDRA remain below 3 percent, underscoring the success of the scheme, the post stated.

Likewise, PM SVANidhi was introduced to integrate urban street vendors into the formal economy. Loans exceeding Rs 11,400 crore have been distributed to 78 lakh street vendors, reducing their dependency on high-interest loans.

The Stand-Up India Scheme has empowered SC/ST individuals and women to become self-sufficient, with loans amounting to Rs 27,806 crore disbursed to over 2.28 lakh beneficiaries, Sitharaman mentioned.

There are over 52 crore PM Jan Dhan accounts, holding deposits totalling more than Rs 2.31 lakh crore.

Of these, more than 55 percent are owned by women, and over 66 percent are located in rural areas.

Throughout the Covid period, 20.64 crore women received direct financial assistance into their Jan Dhan accounts, she added.
Image Credit : File image/UNI

New Delhi: The seeds of the NPA crisis were sown during the Congress-led UPA era through phone banking, when loans were given to undeserving businesses under pressure from UPA leaders and party functionaries. Banks were forced to neglect proper due diligence and risk assessment before sanctioning these loans, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on X.

In a series of posts on Friday, Sitharaman highlighted the turnaround in Indias banking system during NDA rule and accused the Congress-led UPA government of poor management and cronyism, leading to mammoth scams and massive NPAs.

The seeds of the NPA crisis were sown during the @INCIndia-led UPA era through Phone Banking, when loans were given to undeserving businesses under pressure from UPA leaders and party functionaries. Under the UPA, obtaining loans from banks often depended on powerful connections rather than a solid business proposition.

She alleged that the banks were forced to neglect proper due diligence and risk assessment before sanctioning these loans.

This led to a massive increase in Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) and institutionalised grafts. Many banks hid and avoided reporting their bad loans by 'evergreening' or restructuring them, she emphasised.

The finance minister said a slew of measures by the BJP-led NDA government and the RBI, such as the Asset Quality Review, disclosed hidden mountains of NPAs and ended the accounting tricks used to hide them.

Congress-era reckless and imprudent lending created the disgraceful legacy of the Twin Balance Sheet problem, which we inherited in 2014. This problem starved the nation of essential credit flow needed for development. Banks became reluctant to lend to new borrowers, especially MSMEs, the backbone of economic growth and job creation, she stated.

Credit growth slowed to a decade-low level. Banks also suffered huge losses and erosion of capital due to higher provisioning.

After banks began transparently disclosing their NPAs for loans lent before 2014, the gross NPAs of PSBs rose to a high of 14.6% in FY 2017-18.

Two former RBI Governors have openly exposed the level of decay in the system left by the UPA regime. Raghuram Rajan, who also participated in @RahulGandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra, described the NPA crisis during the UPA era as a historic phenomenon of irrational exuberance. Similarly, former Governor Urjit Patel noted that the functioning of PSBs under the UPA suffered from a perennial shortcoming on account of bureaucratic inertia and political meddling, she pointed out.

Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC)

Sitharaman alleged that amid the mounting NPAs, there was grave necessity to enact insolvency laws but the Congress turned a blind eye to its crying need.

The Narendra Modi government introduced the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) in 2016 to address the need for a modern corporate insolvency regime as highlighted by many expert groups over the years, she said.

Before IBC, corporate distress proceedings were governed by a patchwork of legislations, which worsened rather than resolving issues.

Despite the crying need for enacting insolvency laws, the UPA regime consciously sought to reward its cronies at the cost of the banks and operational creditors who had to run from pillar to post for recovering their dues, she said

Emphasising IBCs positive role in curbing NPAs, she said, The IBC has played a key role in helping banks recover from the NPA crisis created by @INCIndia and its allies during the UPA year through phone banking and indiscriminate lending. IBC has built trust and transparency in the financial system.

Prior to the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) introduced by PM Shri @narendramodi- led Government in 2016, corporate distress proceedings were governed by a patchwork of legislations, which worsened rather than resolving issues.



The need for a modern corporate insolvency pic.twitter.com/tucS8IFCPG  Nirmala Sitharaman (Modi Ka Parivar) (@nsitharaman) May 30, 2024

According to a report of the @RBI , the IBC continued as the key mechanism for banks to recover stressed assets  accounting by far for the greatest recovery among different channels in 2022-23 (43% of the total amount recovered), she said.

Post implementation of IBC, the gross non-performing assets (GNPA) ratio of Scheduled Commercial Banks dipped to a multi-year low of 3% and the net non-performing assets (NNPA) ratio to 0.7% (as of December 2023). By laying down governance norms for companies in distress, the IBC has taken corporate governance to new heights in the country.

She said that the credible threat that the resolution process under IBC could take the defaulting company away from the current promoters/management has resulted in better corporate governance.

The Supreme Court, while upholding the constitutional validity of the IBC in 2019, observed that: the experiment conducted in enacting the Code is proving to be largely successful. The defaulter's paradise is lost. In its place, the economy's rightful position has been regained.

Each of the subsequent amendments, whenever challenged, has passed the test of constitutional norms.

"The IBC framework is continually evolving to ensure that it can meet the evolving needs of a rapidly growing economy. Our government has taken numerous steps to strengthen the insolvency framework and ensure resolutions happen in a timely manner. We remain committed to strengthening capacities of NCLT and NCLAT across the nation by expeditiously filling vacancies," she stated.

The emerging cadre of regulated insolvency and valuation professionals play a crucial role in driving these efforts as well, she said.

In the brief span of 8 years since the IBC's enactment, the industry has developed around 4,400 insolvency professionals and 5,500 registered valuers, Sithraman informed.

Legislations like IBC are a testament to the far-reaching vision and foresight of the PM Shri @narendramodi -led government. Having been freed of the red tape of the UPA-era archaic legislation, the entire economy is reaping the benefits of this landmark legislation today, she added.
Indian Parliamentarian Prajwal Revanna. Photo courtesy: X/Prajwal Revanna

Indian Parliamentarian Prajwal Revanna, who is accused of sexually assaulting multiple women, was arrested in the wee hours of Friday after he arrived in Bengaluru from Germany.

Revanna is a leader of the Janata Dal (Secular).

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested the politician after he was arrested at Kempegowda International Airport.

He released a statement Monday, claiming comments and "political drama" by opposition leaders drove him to "depression and isolation".

"I apologise to my parents... I was in depression. I will come (back to India) and appear before the SIT (a special investigative team set up by the state government) on May 31 (Friday)," Revanna said as reported in the media.

"I will cooperate to the best of my abilities and provide all answers. I have full faith in the legal system (and) I will come out of these false cases against me. I have the blessings of God and my family..."

On May 1, four days after he fled the country, Revanna posted a message on X saying, "I am not in Bengaluru... I have communicated (to the police) through my lawyer. The truth will prevail soon."

Revanna is the grandson of ex-Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda and nephew of ex-Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.

He represented Karnataka's Hassan Lok Sabha seat in the outgoing term and has been nominated to defend the constituency in the 2024 general election. The JDS is allied with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP.

Revanna's message comes after a stern warning from Deve Gowda, who told his grandson to return home and surrender "or face your family's anger".

Allegations against him include include rape, sexual assault, disrobing women, and forcibly video-graphing sexual acts to intimidate the victims.

Prajwal reportedly fled to Germany on April 27, a day after polling concluded in Hassan, where he was re-contesting his seat.

A Blue Corner Notice has been issued by Interpol at the behest of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and an arrest warrant from a Special Court is currently active.

His father, HD Revanna, a 66-year-old former minister, was arrested by the state police on May 4 in connection with an alleged kidnapping case of a woman allegedly raped by Prajwal Revanna and is currently out on bail.
Photo courtesy: X/@BJP4India

Kanyakumari/IBNS: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is meditating at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari as his 48-hour long meditation continued on Friday.

Modi started his meditation on May 30 after concluding his campaign for the Lok Sabha polls, which will go to voting in the seventh and final phase on June 1.

In some pictures on X, Modi is seen in deep meditation inside the rock.

The Prime Minister is meditating at the Dhyan Mandapam, the same spot where the Hindu philosopher-saint Swami Vivekananda had meditated in 1892 to get a clear vision of the future of India.

It is also the meeting point of the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. BJP leaders said the choice of Kanniyakumari gives out a message of national unity.

Modi's meditation at the Vivekananda Rock echoes his two-day visit to Uttarakhands Kedarnath shrine at the end of the 2019 election campaign, during which he undertook a 15-hour-long solitary meditation in a holy cave.

Around 2,000 police personnel have been deployed in the area during PM Modi's stay. The Prime Minister is expected to remain in Kanniyakumari from Thursday evening until June 1.

The Indian Coast Guard and Indian Navy have also been instructed to maintain a tight vigil, reported media.

When spirituality is your strength pic.twitter.com/Pn6MKbuDi7  BJP (@BJP4India) May 31, 2024

Today, Vivekananda Rock can be reached via a 15-minute ferry ride from Vavathurai. In 1892, however, Swami Vivekananda swam from the shores of Kanyakumari to the islet to meditate.

His followers believe he meditated there for three days and three nights, attaining enlightenment. Before this, Swami Vivekananda had spent four years traveling across India, and it was at Kanyakumari that he finally formulated his philosophy.

When was the memorial built?

On the eve of Swami Vivekanandas birth centenary in 1963, the Vivekananda Rock Memorial Committee, led by RSS activist Eknath Ranade, initiated efforts to commemorate the visit of Swami Vivekananda to "Shripada Parai" on December 24, 25 and 26 1892 for meditation and enlightenment.

The memorial on the rock was officially inaugurated by President V. V. Giri in 1970.

Why did PM Modi choose the Vivekananda Rock for meditation?

Prime Minister Modi has long regarded Swami Vivekananda as a role model. In his youth, he was a member of the Ramakrishna Mission, a spiritual and philanthropic organization established by Swami Vivekananda.

During the Missions 125th anniversary celebrations last year, Modi stated, "Swami Vivekananda had a grand vision of India, and I am sure he is proudly watching India working to fulfill this vision."

The choice of the Vivekananda Rock as the site for Prime Minister Modis meditative retreat particularly signifies his strong focus on the South during this years Lok Sabha campaign. Over a third of the prime ministers trips to the South have occurred in the last three years, including seven visits to Tamil Nadu in 2024 alone.
Image Credit: X/Prajwal Revanna

Bengaluru/IBNS: Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's grandson and suspended JDS leader, Prajwal Revanna, who is accused of sexually assaulting multiple women, will be produced in court on Friday, media reports said.

Revanna, who was arrested in Bengaluru upon his return from Germany in the wee hours on Friday, is now in SIT custody.

On May 1, four days after he fled the country, Revanna posted a message on X saying, "I am not in Bengaluru... I have communicated (to the police) through my lawyer. The truth will prevail soon."

He represented Karnataka's Hassan Lok Sabha seat in the outgoing term and has been nominated to defend the constituency in the 2024 general election. The JDS is allied with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's BJP.

Revanna's message comes after a stern warning from Deve Gowda, who told his grandson to return home and surrender "or face your family's anger".

A Big Salute to Karnataka police 



Prajwal Revanna who was accused of Raping many women was caught red handed at the Bengaluru Airport !!



People like these should be tortured brutally #PrajwalRevanna #sexscandal pic.twitter.com/A7IjbwkNjG  Crazy Arpita (@ArpitaKiVines) May 31, 2024

Allegations against him include include rape, sexual assault, disrobing women, and forcibly video-graphing sexual acts to intimidate the victims.

Prajwal reportedly fled to Germany on April 27, a day after polling concluded in Hassan, where he was re-contesting his seat.

A Blue Corner Notice has been issued by Interpol at the behest of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and an arrest warrant from a Special Court is currently active.

His father, HD Revanna, a 66-year-old former minister, was arrested by the state police on May 4 in connection with an alleged kidnapping case of a woman allegedly raped by Prajwal Revanna and is currently out on bail.
Photo Courtesy: Screengrab of viral video

Pune/IBNS: The two friends of the 17-year-old teen, whose speeding Porsche car ran over two people leading to their death in Pune, told the cops that the accused was drunk while driving, media reports said.

Eye witnesses have claimed the car was travelling at 200 km/hr when it hit a two-wheeler carrying Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Kostha, two 24-year-old engineers.

The incident occurred on May 19.

The teen was released on bail within 15 hours under what has been widely alleged as lenient conditions- he was required to write a 300-word essay, assist traffic police for 15 days, and seek treatment for his drinking habit.

Following public outrage, the Juvenile Justice Board revised its order and placed him in an observation home until June 5, pending a decision on the police's request to try the teen as an adult.

The investigation later discovered that the teen's blood report was manipulated by swapping samples.

Dr. Ajay Taware, head of Sassoon Hospital's forensic medicine department, chief medical officer Dr. Shrihari Halnor, and staff member Atul Ghatkamble have been arrested in connection with this, the report said.

The probe revealed that Dr. Halnor and Ghatkamble received Rs 3 lakh from Dr. Taware to alter the blood samples, according to a police officer.

The blood sample of the Pune teenager might have been switched with his mother's sample to forge the alcohol test results and exonerate him, media reported.

The investigation into the accident has revealed major irregularities in the 17-year-old's medical examination at the state-run Sassoon Hospital, reported NDTV.

In the wake of these findings, Maharashtra Medical Education has set up a three-member committee led by Dr. Pallavi Sapale, dean of Mumbai's Grants Medical College, to investigate the issue, the report said.

The teen's mother previously appeared in a video message claiming that a viral video allegedly showing her son was fake.

She also pleaded with the police to "protect" her son and became emotional on camera.

While the teen is currently in an observation home, his realtor father and grandfather have been arrested.

The family allegedly tried to coerce their driver into taking the blame for the accident.

If the examined sample is found to be his mother's, it will implicate another family member in the cover-up attempt.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

India has appointed Ravi Shankar as the next ambassador to Ukraine.

The appointment has been made ahead of the crucial Ukraine Peace Summit.

Speaking on the appointment, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement: " Shri Ravi Shankar (IFS: 1995), presently Additional Secretary in the Ministry, has been appointed as the next Ambassador of India to Ukraine."

The ministry said he would join his assignment shortly.

He has been appointed to the post amid the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.

Switzerland is organising a Summit on Peace in Ukraine at the Burgenstock (Canton of Nidwalden) on June 15 and June 16.
Photo courtesy: Facebook/Prajwal Revanna

Bengaluru: Suspended Janata Dal-Secular leader and rape-accused MP Prajwal Revanna, who was arrested on Friday morning from Bengaluru airport on his return from Germany, has been sent to police custody till June 6.

He was taken into custody from Kempegowda Airport at 12.45 am by a three-member team of female cops.

Prajwal was arrested by women cops and the move was hailed by ex-Bengaluru top cop-turned-politician K Bhaskar Rao, who called it a "positive sign the strong women in Karnataka's police force will not only deal with the perpetrator but send a strong message to hundreds of women... "

Following his arrest, the JDS Lok Sabha candidate from Hassan was taken to a city hospital for a routine medical check-up, after which he was presented before the court for a remand hearing.

The cops had sought custody for 14 days.

According to the police, they wanted time to examine the mobile phone - from which voice samples will be sent for forensic analysis - and luggage seized at the airport, as well as "incriminating material" gathered from a raid on his home in Hassan. He will be taken to Hassan at a later date.

Allegations against Prajwal include include rape, sexual assault, disrobing women, and forcibly video-graphing sexual acts to intimidate the victims.

Prajwal reportedly fled to Germany on April 27, a day after polling concluded in Hassan, where he was re-contesting his seat.

In a statement Monday, Prajwal claimed comments and "political drama" by opposition leaders drove him to "depression and isolation".

"I apologise to my parents... I was in depression. I will come (back to India) and appear before the SIT (a special investigative team set up by the state government) on May 31 (Friday)," he said as reported in the media.

"I will cooperate to the best of my abilities and provide all answers. I have full faith in the legal system (and) I will come out of these false cases against me. I have the blessings of God and my family..."

The Congress government in Karnataka has been battling to force his return since, accusing the BJP of shielding a rival by delaying requests to cancel Prajwal Revanna's diplomatic passport.

The Centre has hit back at the claim by stating it received a request only on May 21 and had acted within 48 hours, issuing a show-cause notice to Prajwal.


New Delhi/IBNS: Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav's prediction for the 2024 Lok Sabha election which did not give a thumping third straight win for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP caught Congress MP Shashi Tharoor's attention Thursday.

It also sparked a gentle exchange between the two as Yadav corrected Tharoor.

Earlier, Tharoor, eyeing a four-term MP from Thiruvananthapuram, had hailed a forecast of 260-270 seats for the BJP and its National Democratic Alliance allies, which leaves them short of the majority of 272 and well below its ambitious 'abki baar, 400 paar' goal.

"Fascinating... Yogendra Yadav has revised his earlier estimates and now says the BJP will definitely fall short of 272. He tells Karan Thapar the BJP could go down to 250 but, if the undercurrent is strong (referring to anti-incumbency) it could even fall to 230," Tharoor posted on X (formerly Twitter).

Thanks @ShashiTharoor for noticing what I say to Karan Thapar.

Actually, I have not revised anything. Ive been saying all along that BJP wont cross 272, is around 250 and can even fall below 230. There was some confusion as many friends saw my last video thru the eyes of https://t.co/ZXJpmZnoB0  Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) May 30, 2024

"Mr Yadav says he expects the rest of the NDA to win 35 to 40 seats. This means if the BJP were to fall as low as 230 it will not be able, even with support of the NDA, to reach the majority mark. Interesting times ahead," Tharoor declared.

On Tuesday, Tharoor said that he wondered if the BJP could win even 200 seats.

The "earlier estimated" Shashi Tharoor referred to was an interview last week in which Yadav suggested it would be "impossible" for the BJP to cross the 300-seat mark as it did in 2019.

Tharoor's tweet Thursday prompted a reply from Yadav, who pointed out he has been maintaining the BJP will struggle to cross the 272-seat majority mark without outside support. "... have been saying all along BJP (will win) around 250 and could even fall below 230," he responded.

"As for NDA partners, let's not forget that half of their tally (about 20) may be from parties like TDP (ex-Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's party, an ally for his election)... who have no enduring relationship with the BJP beyond this election. Interesting times indeed!"

In Tharoor's tweet, the video showed Yadav speaking to a TV channel where he outlined two possible scenarios on counting day when the results of the Lok Sabha election will be released.

"I think, in my assessment, there are two scenarios. In all probability I see the BJP losing something like 50 seats over what it had last time (in 2019 the ruling party won 303 seats on its own)..."

"So something like 250, or possibly below, this time," Yadav said.

"There is also another scenario, in which the undercurrent may be so strong, that the BJP posts much below that. But this is less likely. The most likely scenario is the BJP will get around 250."

Yadav was quite a bit more optimistic about the Congress' score.

"Congress could reach triple figures... but we cannot be sure. It is likely to do much better than last time, when they had 52 (and 44 seats in the 2014 election). Something around 90-100 this time."
Photo courtesy: Facebook/Amit Shah

New Delhi/IBNS: Union Home Minister Amit Shah Friday mocked the Congress over its decision to skip exit poll debates.

The saffron party hopes for a historic third term helmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Following an announcement by senior Congress leader Pawan Khera ahead of the last phase of polling, both BJP chief JP Nadda and the party's chief strategist and Union Minister Amit Shah said it was obvious that the Opposition has conceded defeat.

In a Hindi post on X, formerly Twitter, Union Minister Amit Shah said, "Congress has come to know about its huge defeat, so with what face will it face the media and the public now? Therefore, Congress is running away from the exit polls. I want to tell the Congress party not to run away, face the defeat and introspect."

         ,           ? ,       



         ,       pic.twitter.com/pxeT3Qw8wA  Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) May 31, 2024

Objecting to Congress decision, Nadda, in a post on X, said: "It doesn't behove India's Grand Old Party to behave like a child, whose toy has been taken away. One expects a certain level of maturity from the largest political party in the Opposition".

The Congress, he said, "opts out" when it doesn't expect the results to go in its favour. But the party, he added, shows up if it thinks it has even an outside chance.

Congresss decision to not participate in Exit Polls, on the eve of Phase 7 polling, is an unequivocal confirmation that the Congress has conceded the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. It is not surprising, since the Congress usually opts out when it doesnt expect results to go in its  Jagat Prakash Nadda (Modi Ka Parivar) (@JPNadda) May 31, 2024

"Their hypocrisy is not lost on anyone. Let no one in Phase 7 waste their votes on them," he said

He also said that by boycotting the Exit Poll exercise, Congress questioned the rigorous exercise carried out by several professional agencies working day and night to compile the figures.

Earlier in the day, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said once the voting is over, nothing can be gained through speculation.

"Voters have cast their votes and the voting results have been locked in the machines. The results will be out on June 4. In the eyes of the Indian National Congress, there is no justification in participating in the TRP game by making any kind of public speculation before the results are announced.

"The purpose of any debate is to enlighten the audience. The Congress Party will gladly participate in debates again from June 4," Khera said in a statement shared on X.

In the last phase of the mammoth Lok Sabha election, polling is scheduled in 57 seats across 8 states and UTs including Bihar, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

The counting of votes will take place on June 4.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

A nine-year-old girl from south Indian state of Kerala was injured in a shooting incident in London.

The injured minor was identified as Lissel Maria.

She was eating her dinner with family members when a bike-borne gunman opened fire outside the restaurant.

Apart from the girl, police said three others were injured in the incident.

They were all rushed to a hospital in London for treatment.

No arrests have been made so far.

As per local reports, the girl's parents were identified as Vinaya and Ajeesh.

The Malayali family, settled in Birmingham for over two years, reported Manorama.

A video of the shooting incident has gone viral on the social media.

Awful CCTV footage from Dalston where a nine-year-old girl was shot in a drive-by attack while enjoying a family meal in a restaurant.



Warning - the gunfire can be heard clearly in the footage. Credit @CrimeLdn pic.twitter.com/YeaqDx2H2p  Jacob Phillips (@JacobPhillipsES) May 30, 2024

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Matt Ward, said: "We know Londoners will be shocked by what has taken place tonight."

"Our thoughts go to all those affected," Ward said.
Photo Courtesy: Screengrab from viral video

Several people, including a cop, were injured after a knife-wielding person stabbed multiple people during an anti-Islamist political rally in Germany on Friday.

The attack was caught on camera during Youtube live stream.

The bloody mayhem erupted in the middle of a square in the city of Mannheim just after 11:30 a.m. local time as members of the right-wing campaign group, Citizens Movement Pax Europa (BPE), were filming a demonstration, reported New York Post.

Police reportedly shot the attacker but his condition is still not known.

The video showed paramedics trying to treat the injured people.
Photo courtesy: Wikipedia/Wallpaper Cave/ Unsplash

Pakistan Army and Air Force are likely to launch Operation Zarb-e-Azab II to target its own citizens in Balochistan and Khyber for protesting against China, according to reports.

The operation will be launched under Beijing's pressure, said the report. China is an all-weather ally of Pakistan.

An investigative journalism X handle called Nepal Correspondence posted: "#PakistanArmy and Air Force are making preparations to bomb own people in #Balochistan and #Khyber to crush anti- #China movement."

"Well-informed sources in the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, #Pakistan said that #Beijing has asked #Islamabad to launch operation #ZarbeAzab2 and crush Baloch & #Pashtun movement against Pakistan & #China," the X post further said.

    '-- '  ' #PakistanArmy and Air Force are making preparations to bomb own people in #Balochistan and #Khyber to crush anti- #China movement.



Explosive Thread

1/9 pic.twitter.com/mT6CF2EvqT  Nepal Correspondence (@NepCorres) May 30, 2024

China is reportedly making demands to Pakistan ahead of PM Shehbaz Sharif's visit to Beijing. Sharif is likely to visit China in June and meet President Xi Jinping and other top officials.

The prime minister is expected to discuss issues including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and phase II of the ML-1 project with the Chinese leadership, sources told ARY News.

CPEC is a 3,000 km Chinese infrastructure network project in construction in Pakistan.

Last week, Pakistan also decided to pay USD 2.58 million to families of Chinese workers who were killed in a suspected terror attack in Shangla in March.

The meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), presided over by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, approved $2.58 million compensation package for the families of five Chinese workers of the Dasu Hydropower Project and Rs2.5 million to a local national (driver) killed in a terrorist attack near Shangla, reported Dawn News.

Nepal Correspondence posted on X: "As for security, Sun Weidong emphasized the need for another Zarb-e-Azb against #Pashtuns & Balochis to crush them once and for all. This demand came from #China after its citizens were killed near #Swat in a suicide attack."

"#Pakistan government has also been asked to pay compensation of $ 2.58 million to the heirs of Chinese nationals who lost their lives in the attack. #Pakistan government however, has never paid any compensation to the families of people whom #PakistanArmy has killed so far," the post said.
Photo Courtesy: WIkimedia Commons

The Ministry of National Defense of Taiwan has said it tracked 13 Chinese military aircraft, 10 naval ships, and four coast guard vessels around the region between Thursday and Friday.

Of the 13 Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, 11 crossed the Taiwan Strait median line in the southwestern portion of the nations air defence identification zone (ADIZ), according to the MND as quoted by Taiwan News.

In reply, Taiwan sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor the activities of PLA.

So far this month, Taiwan has tracked Chinese military aircraft 454 times and naval/coast guard vessels 268 times, reported Taiwan News.

What is the basis of Chinas claim over Taiwan?

The basis of Chinas claim over Taiwan dates back to 1945 when Japan lost its control over the island in 1945,post-World War Two.

The 1949 Chinese civil war led to communists taking control and Chiang Kai-shek the one who lost fled to Taiwan. He ruled it for many decades. This is where Chinas claim to Taiwan emanates.

The very fact that Chiang Kai-shek came to Taiwan and was not indigenous to the place is Taiwans argument against the claim.

Why is Taiwan important to China?

A lot of things actually, which of course are related to Taiwan but not necessarily direct to Taiwan. It's more about (China's) relationship changing with the United States  or we should say Western Countries, mainly the United States and China. Taiwan then happens to become a key player and main actor in this dynamics, said Alice.

100 miles from the coast of China, Taiwan is an island, that is located in the first island chain, this positioning makes it crucial to the US foreign policy.

US-Sino relations hinge on, One China Policy, it acknowledges that, there is only one Chinese Government." The US recognises its formal ties with China. With Taiwan the US shares independent strong unofficial relations.
Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

Unknown miscreants set a part of a girls middle school in Pakistan's Surab district, gutting a portion of the structure.

This was the second act of arson targeting a girl's school in Pakistan in less than a week.

Some unknown attackers torched down another girl's institution in North Waziristan on Tuesday.

According to officials, the attackers entered the school in Killi Dhamb tehsil on Wednesday night and set the staff room on fire, reported Dawn News.

The fire left the staff room completely gutted.

The attackers managed to escape the place before police arrived at the spot.

Police have started an investigation into the incident.

Police and locals joined the dousing the flames.

A case under terrorism laws has been registered against unknown miscreants, and police have started an investigation, the newspaper reported.

Meanwhile, a former teacher has been arrested from North Waziristan for his alleged involvement in burning down a girl's school in Razmak region on Tuesday.
Armed men shot at and injured a journalist in the Rohri region of Pakistan, media reports said on Friday.

The injured journalist was identified as Haider Mastoi.

He works with Sindh News TV channel in Khairpur district.

According to Dawn News, the journalist and his friend Khan Mohammad Pitafi were travelling in a motorcycle when they were attacked.

Four bullets hit him in the right leg and arm, the journalists friend who, with the help of area people, took the wounded first to the Sukkur Civil Hospital and then brought him to a private hospital, told Dawn News.

Security forces cordoned off the area.

The journalist reportedly told his friends that the attackers targeted him and fled away.

Journalist Nasrullah Gadani killed

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 last week.

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.
In image Joe Biden/Courtesy: The White House

Washington: US President Joe Biden said Friday that Israel had offered a new proposal for permanent peace in Gaza, urging Hamas to accept the surprise deal as it was "time for this war to end."

In his first major address outlining a solution to the eight-month conflict, Biden said the proposal started with a six-week phase that would see Israeli forces withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza.

"It's time for this war to end, for the day after to begin," Biden said in a televised address from the White House, adding that "we can't lose this moment" to seize the chance for peace.

"Israel has offered a comprehensive new proposal. It's a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages," he said.

The 81-year-old Democrat put particular pressure on the Palestinian group Hamas, whose attack on key US ally Israel on October 7 last year trigged the grinding conflict in Gaza.

"Hamas needs to take the deal," said Biden, who has supported Israel with military aid since the conflict began.

Biden said the first six-week phase would include a "full and complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly, the wounded, in exchange for release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners."

Israel and the Palestinians would then negotiate during those six weeks for a lasting ceasefire -- but the truce would continue if the talks remained underway, Biden said.

"As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, a temporary ceasefire would become, in the words of the Israeli proposal, the cessation of hostilities permanently," added Biden.
Netflix's new series, Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult, is a three-episode docuseries that explores the controversial world of 7M Films, a talent management agency linked to TikTok dancers. The show has sparked curiosity about its real-life inspiration, including details about Robert Shinn and the current status of Miranda Wilking.

The Story Behind Dancing for the Devil

A group of prominent TikTok dancers are trapped in a cult masquerading as a management company called 7M. As dancers and former members escape and rebuild their lives, they come together to try and put a stop to their abuser.



Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult premieres pic.twitter.com/deXCXzdMXV  Netflix (@netflix) May 9, 2024

The series focuses on Miranda Wilking, a dancer who gained fame on TikTok alongside her sister, Melanie. Together, they ran the popular channel "The Wilking Sisters," amassing millions of followers with their dance videos. However, Miranda's life took a turn after she married James (BDash) Derrick and signed with 7M Films, managed by Robert Shinn, a pastor at the Shekinah Church in Los Angeles.

Despite 7M Films claiming to operate independently from the church, allegations of cult-like behaviour emerged. Former members and employees accuse Shinn of exerting control over the dancers, causing them to cut ties with their families. The docuseries highlights the struggles of Miranda's family, especially her sister Melanie and their parents, Kelly and Dean, as they attempt to reconnect with her.

Who Is Robert Shinn?

Robert Shinn is a pastor at the Shekinah Church and the founder of 7M Films. Initially, Shekinah served as a community for Korean Americans. Shinn later expanded his influence by starting several businesses, employing church members who were reportedly underpaid.

In 2021, Shinn founded 7M Films, recruiting popular social media dancers, including Miranda and James Derrick. The dancers lived together, creating content under Shinns guidance. This arrangement led to accusations of Shinn exerting undue influence and controlling behaviour.

Shinn has faced multiple lawsuits, including one in 2022 for defamation and trade libel against former church members who called his organisation a cult. In 2023, additional claims of fraud, forced labour, and human trafficking were brought against him. The case is set for trial in July 2025, with no criminal charges filed against Shinn to date.

Why Did 7M Members Cut Off Their Families?

Ex-members and recordings of Shinn's sermons suggest that 7M members were encouraged to sever ties with their families to ensure spiritual salvation. This doctrine, referred to as "dying to yourself," meant prioritising the group's goals over personal relationships, supposedly to secure a heavenly afterlife.

Where Is Miranda Wilking Now?

Miranda Wilking, now known as Miranda Derrick, continues to work with 7M Films and frequently posts dance videos on social media. While she occasionally interacts with her family, these meetings are reportedly superficial and intended for her social media image.

Miranda has publicly denied being part of a cult, asserting her freedom and satisfaction with her career at 7M Films. She maintains that if she ever wishes to leave the agency or the church, she feels free to do so.

Picture From Miranda's Wedding/Instagram

As of late May 2024, Miranda and James Derrick still work with 7M Films. They thanked Robert Shinn's son, Isaiah, for filming several of their videos. Recently, they appeared as dancers in the 2024 action movie "Road House" on Prime Video, starring Jake Gyllenhaal.



Dancing for the Devil: The 7M TikTok Cult is currently streaming on Netflix, offering a deep dive into the complexities and controversies surrounding 7M Films and its members.



Also Read: Katy Perry Set To Perform At Lavish Ambani Pre-Wedding Cruise Party For Millions, Details Here

For more news and updates from the world of OTT, celebrities from Bollywood and Hollywood, keep reading Indiatimes Entertainment.


Hansal Mehta was one of the first celebrities who reacted to Nandamuri Balakrishna's shocking viral video in which he was seen pushing actress Anjali away. The incident drew massive backlash with many calling it disrespectful. Mehta, the director of Scam 1992 shared the video on X (formerly called Twitter) and asked, "Who is this scumbag?"

Hansal Mehta Called Scumbag For Kissing Wife On Lips

X

A social media user tried to troll Mehta on this. The user shared his old photo in which he is seen kissing a woman on lips. "Who is this scumbag in this Liplock photos @mehtahansal," the X user posted as he shared the filmmaker's photo.

In response, Mehta revealed that the person he is kissing in the photo is his wife. "Your trolling wont work its a man kissing his wife, expressing love publicly. Not pushing a woman, displaying misogyny in public," he wrote.

Also Read: From Attempt-To-Murder Allegation To Slapping Fans, 6 Controversies Involving Nandamuri Balakrishna

Your trolling wont work its a man kissing his wife, expressing love publicly. Not pushing a woman, displaying misogyny in public. https://t.co/26lTSsySCn  Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) May 31, 2024

For the unversed, Mehta had married his longtime partner of 17 years, social worker Safeena Husain, in an impromptu ceremony in 2022. The director then shared a series of pictures of the ceremony on Instagram in which the newlywed couple could be seen signing the wedding documents and hugging each other. The wedding took place at Taj Campton Place in San Francisco, California, in the presence of family and friends.

He captioned the post and wrote, "So after 17 years, two children, watching our sons growing up and chasing our respective dreams we decided to get hitched. As always in life this was also impromptu and unplanned. Our vows, however, were to be truthful but for this little ceremony they would never have been stated. Ultimately love prevails over all else. And it has"



On the work front, Hansal Mehta recently announced Scam 2010: The Subrata Roy Saga, which is about the dramatic rise and fall of Subrata Roy, the controversial founder of the Sahara India Pariwar. The series will delve into the intricate details of Roy's business empire, the legal battles that ensued, and the impact of his actions on investors and the financial landscape of India.



Also Read: Hansal Mehta Announces Scam 2010: The Subrata Roy Saga, All You Need to Know About Chit Fund Scam

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The Chennai-based start-up Agnikul Cosmos, incubated by the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (IIT-M), has successfully launched the Agnibaan SOrTeD rocket. This event marks a significant milestone as it is the country's second privately-built rocket, achieving many firsts in the space industry.

Agnibaan SOrTeD (Sub-Orbital Technology Demonstrator) successfully launched at 7:15 am on Thursday, marking a mission of several significant firsts. While this is the second launch conducted by a private startup in India, it is notably the first to utilize a private launchpad established by the company at Sriharikota, the nation's only operational spaceport.



Congratulations @AgnikulCosmos for the successful launch of the Agnibaan SoRTed-01 mission from their launch pad.



A major milestone, as the first-ever controlled flight of a semi-cryogenic liquid engine realized through additive manufacturing.@INSPACeIND  ISRO (@isro) May 30, 2024

Agnibaan's innovative design & technology

Agnibaan SOrTeD is the first rocket to be launched from a private launch pad, marking a groundbreaking achievement in the Indian space sector. Additionally, it is the countrys first semi-cryogenic engine flight and the worlds first single-piece 3D printed engine designed and built indigenously. The rocket stands approximately 20 meters tall and is capable of carrying a payload of up to 300 kg to low Earth orbits (LEO) around 700 km above Earth.

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The rocket's design is highly adaptable, featuring a plug-and-play configuration that allows for easy customization based on the mission's needs. This flexibility sets Agnibaan apart from other rockets, making it a versatile option for various satellite requirements. The Agnilet engine, Agnikul's patented technology, powers the rocket. It is made from Inconel, an alloy known for its oxidation-corrosion resistance and suitability for space travel. The Agnilet engine, the world's first single-piece 3D-printed engine, was designed, tested, and manufactured entirely in India.



Pioneering in private space sector

Agnikul Cosmos was founded in 2017 and has since achieved several milestones with Agnibaan. The successful test-firing of the Agnilet engine in 2021 demonstrated its reliability and efficiency. The use of 3D-printing technology not only reduces manufacturing costs but also shortens the time required to assemble the rocket, providing a significant edge in the competitive space industry.

The launch took place from Dhanush, Indias first privately built rocket launchpad, located at ISRO's Satish Dhawan Space Center-SHAR (SDSC-SHAR) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. This collaboration between Agnikul, ISRO, and the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorization Center (IN-SPACe) showcases the potential for private-public partnerships in advancing Indias space capabilities.

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Agnikul Cosmos plans to launch an orbital mission towards the end of the 2025 fiscal year and aims for regular flights starting from the 2025 calendar year. This achievement positions Agnikul as a pioneer in India's private space sector and sets a precedent for future private space missions. The success of Agnibaan SOrTeD is expected to encourage many private players to enter the space arena, further propelling Indias space industry forward.

For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.


A two-year-old German toddler has become an internet phenomenon for his abstract artwork. According to reports, people adore his artwork to the point where some of his creations fetch a stunning $7000 each. His abstract paintings on a variety of topics, from elephants to horses to dinosaurs, have earned him the nickname "pint-sized Picasso".

Who is the 2 YO artist going viral?

Young Laurent Schwarz is a two year old artist | Image: Instagram

Young Laurent Schwarz also has an Instagram page, which is managed by his mother and showcases some of his designs. One such video has the tagline, "Experience the amazingly inspiring transformation from a blank canvas to a fascinating work of art."



Also read: 1 Year And 152 Days Old Toddler Becomes World's Youngest Male Artist, Sells 9 Paintings

"What animals do you see in my time-lapse?" The film shows the young artist at work.

When did the baby start showing his artistic side?

Laurent's family discovered his artistic side while on a family vacation last year | Image: Instagram

According to the New York Post, Laurent's family discovered his artistic side while on a family vacation last year. They couldn't keep him out of the resort's activity room.



So, upon his return home, his parents, Lisa and Philipp Schwarz, established a tiny studio for the painter. Since then, the child has been creating abstract artwork that has captivated people across the world.

Also read: It's A Must Watch: Mumbai Artist Puts A Bollywood Spin On Ed Sheeran's 'Perfect'

Theyre abstracts and whats unusual is how he integrates discernible figures into them, which people often mention to us and which makes them so popular, Laurents mom told The Times of London.

How does the young artist paint?

In discussing the artist's painting practice, his mother told the New York Post, "It's entirely up to him when and what he paints."

She said, "Sometimes he doesn't feel like painting and doesn't set foot in his studio for three or four weeks but then suddenly it grabs him and he says, 'Mama, painting.'" Check his painting video here.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

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The temptation to anticipate the future is inherent. This has inspired countless assertions about future occurrences from diverse groups of people. Some claim to have divine wisdom, while others tout their capacity to predict the future using astrological methods. This subject also includes people who profess to be able to travel across time.

Who was the professor who claimed to have time-travelled?

Professor Paul Amadeus, originally from Switzerland | Image: Daily Star

A new update has made waves in the world of future forecasts. Professor Paul Amadeus, originally from Switzerland, constructed a timeline of future occurrences spanning the next 2000 years.



Amadeus documented the forecasts. Although the professor passed away, his pupils just shared these predictions in a podcast.

Why did the professor go into a coma?

The professor claimed to have travelled to year 3906 | Image: Pexels

In 1921, Professor Paul Amadeus grew ill and went into a coma. When he awoke a year later, he said he had travelled to the year 3906 and lived as someone else.



Also read: In Startling Claim, 'Time Traveller' Says 'Dragons' Will Be Discovered In The World This Year

In his diary, he recorded everything he saw and felt. He subsequently passed the diary to his student, Georgios Paphitz. There have been countless stories, similar to what you might find in science fiction books.



What did he predict?

In his diary, Professor Paul Amadeus described waking up at a strange hospital | Image: Pexels

In his diary, Professor Paul Amadeus described waking up at a strange hospital and being unable to communicate with anyone. He assumed he was in heaven at first, but soon realized he was in the future.



He foresaw some shocking things, such as a 300-year growth in population and a lack of food and water. He also stated that by 2200, humans would be living on Mars, although this would be detrimental to the ecosystem.

In 2309, he predicted a conflict between China and Western countries, creating pain. Following that, he felt that the world will establish a worldwide government to prevent wars.

Also read: Time Travel Real After All? Photo From 1917 Featuring Mysterious 'Surfer Man' Has Internet Cooking Up Theories

Professor Paul Amadeus predicted that by the year 3382, mankind's brains would undergo metamorphosis. This will provide them with a new way of thinking as well as a unique skill known as hypervision. After a 100-year gloomy era, a pleasant time known as the golden age will begin in 3400.

What do you think about this? Tell us in the comments.

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Indian-born software mogul Anant Yardi has assumed the role of CEO at WeWork on May 30th, as per a report by Benzinga. This change came after a federal bankruptcy court ruled to transfer control of the co-working company to its creditors.



Yardi, an engineer who migrated from India in 1968, has amassed a multibillion-dollar wealth over forty years through his firm, Yardi Systems, according to the Financial Times. This family-owned enterprise focuses on property management software and achieves nearly $3 billion(Rs 25,000 crore approx) in yearly revenue.

Yardi Invested Rs 1670 Crore In WeWork Almost Two Years Ago

Less than two years ago, Yardi channeled over $200 million into WeWork through an undisclosed entity. Recently, he pledged an additional $337.5 million(Rs 2,800 Crore approx) to fend off a bid from former WeWork CEO Adam Neumann, who aimed to reclaim leadership of the company.

Who Is Anant Yardi?

yardi scholars

Yardi, a modest yet extraordinarily successful entrepreneur, is counted among the software industry's wealthiest figures. His journey began in 1963 when he achieved the second spot in the IIT JEE, a prestigious engineering entrance exam in India. He graduated from IIT Delhi.



After moving to the United States in 1968, Yardi founded Yardi Systems in 1984, specializing in property management software for residential and commercial landlords. Today, Yardi Systems rakes in nearly $3 billion in yearly revenue, catapulting him into the billionaire club.

Prior to launching his own venture, he spent 14 years at the Burroughs Corporation. During his tenure, he played a pivotal role in developing programming methodologies and overseeing systems development.

Also Read: WeWork Files For Bankruptcy: What Happens To Its Offices In India?

What Is WeWork?

Founded in 2010, WeWork aimed to revolutionize the office market by leasing large properties for longer periods and subletting them to multiple smaller businesses on more flexible, shorter arrangements. Its innovative approach, free from property ownership constraints, positioned it as a disruptor in the industry. WeWork experienced swift expansion, leading to increased revenue but also significant losses.

zumapress

Who Is The Founder Of WeWork?

Adam Neumann, along with his wife Rebekah Neumann and Miguel McKelvey, co-founded WeWork, which became the most valuable startup in the US, worth $47 billion. Neumann's ambitious expansion plans and eccentric behavior, centered around his vision of "elevating the world's consciousness," led to his removal and the failure of an IPO in 2019. Despite facing bankruptcy, Neumann expressed optimism about WeWork's potential to reorganize successfully with the right strategy and team.

Neumann demonstrated his strong resolve to regain control of the bankrupt company by proposing a $600 million bid. Despite his previous leadership leading to a significant decline in WeWork's valuation, from $47 billion to near collapse, Neumann publicly acknowledged his mistakes and expressed eagerness to apply the lessons learned to future endeavors.

Also Read : From Adani-Hindenburg Saga To WeWork's Bankruptcy: 7 Shocking Business Controversies Of 2023

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What Went Wrong For WeWork?

In 2019, WeWork's IPO launch with Neumann as CEO encountered hurdles due to investor worries about losses and governance lapses. By October 2021, its worth had dropped to $10 billion before it went public through a merger. The bankruptcy filing followed challenges from expensive leases and client cancellations during the pandemic, worsened by the surge in remote work. Despite lease renegotiation attempts, WeWork grappled with $13.3 billion in long-term lease obligations as of June.

The ascent and decline of the company inspired a television series titled "WeCrashed," featuring Jared Leto portraying Neumann and Anne Hathaway portraying Rebekah.

Whats Next For WeWork & What Are Yardis Plans?

youtube

New Jersey district bankruptcy court Judge John Sherwood is poised to approve a reorganization plan, aimed at erasing $4 billion in WeWork's current loans and bonds. This marks the culmination of a seven-month endeavor that slashed the company's rent obligations by $12 billion.

Yardi intends to guide WeWork towards focusing on small businesses and integrating hotel-like technologies such as real-time bookings. Despite the recent challenges faced by the company, Yardi maintains a positive outlook on its future, If there were doubts, I think we would've been much more cautious.
Not a day goes by without Elon Musk making it to the headlines. At the moment, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Musk has all the reasons to celebrate as he has secured worlds wealthiest individual title Dethroning LVMH owner Bernard Arnault.



One of the tech titans, Musk is the owner and CEO of several highly advanced companies, such as Tesla for clean energy vehicles, SpaceX for space exploration, and the social media platform X (previously known as Twitter).

Musk's remarkable career trajectory suggests that he has aimed for greatness since his teenage years. However, a recent claim by an X user suggests that Musk never desired to be a CEO. Interestingly, Musk himself responded to this post with a surprising comment.

X User Shares Throwback Pic Of Elon Musk Claiming That He Never Wanted To Be A CEO

A user on X platform posted an old photo of Musk, depicting him working on a computer. The caption on this photo read, Elon Musk used to rewrite code of engineers working at Zip2 after they went home, and used to work 120 hours a week. He never really wanted to be a CEO.

Elon Musk used to rewrite code of engineers working at Zip2 after they went home, and used to work 120 hours a week. He never really wanted to be a CEO. pic.twitter.com/fQOyNRM0QD  DogeDesigner (@cb_doge) May 30, 2024

As this post started circulating, Musk commented on it and simply wrote, True.

Amidst the praises on this post, many users noted that the assertion of working 120 hours a week appears impractical. Working 120 hours in a week implies working for over 17 hours per day. An X user wrote, There are only 168 hours in the week, meaning that on average per day there would only be around 7 hours of non-working time left. So he spent the rest of his 7 hours per day sleeping without time for literally anything else?

Also Read: After Microsoft & Meta, Elon Musk Targets LinkedIn And Calls It Cringe, Internet Reacts

Elon Musk, Tesla | File Photo

Another commented, Thats a heavy load to carry for sure. Its essential to remember that balance is key in all things, even in pursuit of success. Working excessive hours can lead to burnout and have negative effects on productivity and well-being. Its great that Elon has shown dedication, but everyone deserves time for rest and personal fulfillment. Life is more than just work. Its about finding that sweet spot where passion meets sustainability. Lets all strive for a healthier approach to achieving our goals.

Musk Started Coding At The Age Of 13

Musk is no stranger to coding or computer programming. According to his biography by Walter Isaacson, Musk taught himself Pascal and Turbo C++ when he was just 13 years old. He even developed a video game called Blastar, which he sold to a magazine for $500.

His initial foray into entrepreneurship occurred in 1995 with Global Link Information Network, later rebranded as Zip2. The company specialized in creating an Internet city guide featuring maps and directions. Eventually, Compaq acquired Zip2 in 1999, netting Musk $22 million for his 7 percent stake.

Also Read: Mission Impossible No More: Twitter Officially Renamed X.com After Elon Musk's Rs 3.6 Lakh Crore Acquisition

Donald Trump Is Likely To Offer An Advisory Role To Elon Musk If He Is Re-elected

NBC news

Former President Donald Trump is reportedly contemplating offering billionaire Elon Musk an advisory position in the White House if he secures reelection after the 2024 presidential race, as per a report from the Wall Street Journal.



The outlet suggests that discussions have taken place between the two billionaires regarding a potential role for the Tesla CEO, allowing him to formally advise and influence policies concerning border security and the economy. These are areas Musk frequently addresses on his social media platform, X (formerly Twitter). Notably, Trump and Musk's once strained relationship has improved, with the two speaking on the phone "several times a month." Additionally, Musk and billionaire investor Nelson Peltz have explored collaborating with Trump on initiatives aimed at preventing voter fraud and discouraging elites from supporting President Biden's reelection campaign.
The Greek Foreign Ministry has issued a strong condemnation of the recent attacks on civilians in Gaza, including an airstrike in Rafah that killed 45 people, among them children.

The ministrys statement demands a comprehensive investigation to determine the details of the incident.

The ministrys message, posted on social media, emphasizes Greeces stance against the continued violence:

Greece condemns the

recent attacks against civilians, including children, in Rafah. We call for a thorough investigation which will shed light into the exact circumstances of this attack.

The statement also reiterated Greeces position on the broader conflict:

Greece reiterates its call for an immediate ceasefire, respect of humanitarian and international law by all parties, urgent entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, and release of all hostages held by Hamas.

The call for action follows a devastating event late Sunday when an Israeli airstrike ignited a blaze in a tent camp in Rafah. The fire resulted in the deaths of 45 individuals, sparking international leaders to demand adherence to a World Court order aiming to cease Israels military actions.

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BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing on Thursday. Xi noted that the UAE is an important comprehensive strategic partner of China. In recent years, China-UAE relations have maintained a sound momentum of development, setting a good example for China-Arab states relations in the new era. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE, Xi said, adding that it is an important juncture for China-UAE relations to build on past achievements and forge ahead. He said China stands ready to work with the UAE to continue to grasp the general direction of bilateral relations from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, and ensure the vigorous development of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership. Xi said that China supports the UAE in pursuing an independent development path and safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and is willing to consolidate political mutual trust and strengthen cooperation with the UAE to jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity. He said China stands ready to work with the UAE to continuously promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, strengthen synergy of development strategies, and take the establishment of a high-level committee on China-UAE investment and cooperation as an opportunity to push for more outcomes in bilateral cooperation. Xi called on the two sides to consolidate cooperation in areas such as trade, energy and infrastructure, expand cooperation in high-tech fields such as information technology, artificial intelligence, digital economy and new energy, and strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation. Xi noted he had recently replied to letters from Chinese language learners in the UAE, encouraging them to master the language, get to know more about China and contribute to promoting friendship between the two countries. China is willing to continue to support the "Hundred Schools Project" of Chinese language education, push forward the construction of a Chinese culture center in the UAE, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and promote mutual understanding and friendship, he added. Noting that at present the trend towards a multi-polar world is unstoppable, Xi said multi-polarization in essence should mean mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among different civilizations, systems and paths. Countries in the Middle East are an important part of developing countries and an important force in the multi-polarization of the world, he said, adding that China supports countries in the region to continue to follow their development paths suited to their national conditions, firmly follow the path of unity and strength, peace and reconciliation, resolve differences through communication and consultation, and hold their future and destiny in their own hands. Xi said China is ready to work with the UAE and other Arab countries to host the second China-Arab States Summit and promote the building of a community of shared future between China and Arab states. China is willing to strengthen its strategic partnership with the UAE, expand multilateral cooperation and safeguard the common interests of countries in the Global South, he added. Mohamed said that he was very happy to once again visit China, his second hometown, and attend the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum together with President Xi. He said the relations between Arab and Gulf countries and China boast a solid foundation. Deepening and developing relations with China conforms to the common aspiration and fundamental interests of the people of Arab and Gulf countries. Mohamed said that UAE-China relations are based on mutual trust, mutual respect and common interests, and cooperation in various fields has reached an extraordinary level. The UAE attaches great importance to developing relations with China, places China at the top of its diplomatic priority and regards China as a long-term and reliable strategic partner, he said, adding that the UAE is willing to take the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to further deepen and expand cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, investment, energy, science and technology, education and culture. The government of the UAE firmly adheres to the one-China policy, opposes "Taiwan independence" in any form and supports China's efforts to achieve national reunification, he said. Mohamed added that the UAE highly appreciates and actively supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi, will continue to actively participate in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, and is willing to work closely with China in multilateral communication and coordination to promote peace, development and prosperity of the region and the world at large. The two sides also exchanged views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Xi stressed that the top priority is a comprehensive ceasefire and cessation of fighting to ease the humanitarian crisis, and the international community should unanimously support an early negotiated settlement of the Palestinian issue on the basis of the two-State solution. Xi said China and the UAE have the same stance on the Palestinian issue and should work together to push for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the issue. After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in various fields including investment, jointly building the Belt and Road, science and technology, peaceful use of nuclear energy, Chinese education, culture and tourism.
A Greek-owned vessel flying the Marshall Islands flag was targeted by Houthi rebels off the coast of Yemen, carrying a shipment of grain destined for Iran, French military sources reported on Thursday.

The Laax, which sustained damage from the assault, has been caught in the crossfire

of ongoing maritime conflicts in the Red Sea , a critical trade route. The Houthis offensive is part of a broader strategy to exert pressure on Israel and Western nations amid the Gaza conflict. Despite the regions volatile state, the Laax initially reported its destination as Fujairah, UAE , before redirecting to Bandar Khomeini, Iran

French naval forces stationed in the UAE disclosed that an inspection team from Djibouti assessed the Laaxs damages, confirming the absence of hazardous explosives after the attack, which involved drones and missiles. The French navys imagery depicted significant damage to the ships structure.

The security firm LSS-SAPU, engaged in the vessels defence, recounted the ordeal, noting that five missiles struck the Laax in a prolonged attack without any forewarning from the insurgents. The firm, previously involved in the evacuation of another Houthi-targeted vessel, had stationed three armed guards on the Laax, which was manned by a crew comprising 13 Filipinos and one Ukrainian, as per the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers.

The Houthi faction has intensified its maritime assaults, demanding cessation of the Gaza war, which has resulted in substantial Palestinian casualties. The conflict escalated following an attack by Hamas-led militants on Israel last October.

The US Maritime Administration has recorded over 50 Houthi-initiated maritime attacks, including the capture and sinking of vessels, and the loss of sailors lives since the previous November.

In a related incident, a US MQ-9 Reaper drone reportedly crashed in Yemen on Wednesday, with Houthis claiming responsibility for downing it with a missile. The absence of reports of missing aircraft from the US Air Force has fueled speculation about the drones operators, with losses mounting this month. The ongoing turmoil underscores the heightened risks and geopolitical tensions affecting maritime operations in the region.

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Migration & Asylum Minister Dimitris Kairidis on Friday refuted a report by CBS claiming that the United States has agreed with European countries - including Greece - to relocate migrants from Latin America in order to discourage people from travelling to the

US-Mexico borders.

According to the CBS report, citing two unnamed sources, Greece and Italy could accept up to 500 migrants each.

"Look, it is a very strange leak," Kairidis told SKai TV, "CBS' report is entirely fictitious, there is no such agreement with the Americans, nor even such a request about such a thing." He added that the Joe Biden presidency is under a lot of pressure ahead of US presidential elections, with 3,000,000 illegal migrant arrivals. "As you see, US President Biden has got to handle a very big crisis in his southern borders with the migration issue," Kairidis said, adding for comparison that Europe had to deal with 300,000 migrant arrivals.

He noted that what there actually is "is a broader discussion in Europe to boost legal migration as a deterrent of the illegal one and to satisfy the needs of the labor market with legal labor movement."

In addition, he said, the timing of the report is "suspicious, as it is 10 days before European elections" and the issue has not been discussed, "but there have been efforts to create a certain climate on the migration issue."

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The royal emblems of King Otto (Othon, in Greece) that were found by the Ministry of Culture in 2023 at the former summer palace in Tatoi were put on display at the Greek parliament on Friday, until 2073.

The regalia

can be seen at the Hellenic Parliament's Trophies Hall 'Eleftherios Venizelos' and they include the king's crown , scepter, and sword

As stated in a relevant parliamentary announcement, the historical artifacts were presented to President of the Parliament Constantine Tassoulas by Minister of Culture Lina Mendoni in a special ceremony.

"History passes through regimes, passes through political systems, and does what is most valuable: it teaches. That is why these unveilings here today are not only unveilings of emblematic memories but also unveilings of history teaching," emphasized Tassoulas during the unveiling of the regalia.

He stressed that they are "three new exciting, historical, and aesthetic exhibits that enrich the precious arc of memory contained in the 'Eleftherios Venizelos' Hall and are related to historical phases of the modern Greek state."

Mendoni provided an extensive description of the valuable regalia and their journey until they arrived in Greece after the fall of the dictatorship. "The royal distinctive emblems of Otto, beyond any doubt, constitute historical treasures of the Greek people and the Greek nation and they must be treated as such,"she stressed.

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, the driving force behind the iconic Ellinikon project , has been honoured by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential companies worldwide for 2024. It is the sole Greek representative on the esteemed list
Brymo, a controversial artist, has praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law, which reinstates the old anthem Nigeria, We Hail Thee.

He pointed out that the reintroduced anthems lyrics are more substantive and context-rich.

Taking to his his Instagram story section on Thursday, Brymo wrote:

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is officially my G.O.A.T. of all-time Nigerian president.

Read the lyrics of the new national anthem; first stanza is all you need; it asserts Nigeria for motherland and now Africa can be fatherland and be the symbol of polygamy and we can all focus on one family unit each finally.

And my favourite part: In brotherhood, we stand. We are all now members of the greatest cult on earth. Nigeria is now the only brotherhood every boy and ambitious girl must belong to in this country! I am very happy!

READ MORE: Bring Back Old Dollar, Fuel Prices, Not Just Anthem  Comedian I Go Save Queries FG

It should be noted that President Bola Tinubu signed the National Anthem Bill 2024 into law on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, to reinstate the old anthem, Nigeria, We Hail Thee.

Celebrities including Kate Henshaw, comedian Igosave, and musician Joeboy have chastised the Federal Government for focusing on changing the national anthem rather than addressing the countrys various difficulties.

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The Supreme Court of Nigeria has ordered the 36 State Governors to file their defence to a suit made against them by the Federal Government.

It was gathered that the FG is seeking for full autonomy for the 774 local governments in the country.

The court on Thursday, also ordered the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, to file his reply within two days, after receipt of their defence.

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Leading a seven-man panel, Justice Garba Lawal, issued the order while ruling on an application for abridgment of time argued by the AGF.

Justice Lawal said that the decision of the court was predicated on the national urgency of the suit and the non-objection from the Attorneys General of the states of the Federation.

That within 2 days of service, the plaintiff will reply after being served the reply of the defendant Counter affidavit.

READ MORE: FG Sues State Govs, Seeks Full Autonomy For LGs

All defendants absent should be served with fresh hearing notice and be in court on the adjourned date, the Court stated.

The apex Court held that filing of all processes and exchanging of same must be completed within the time and subsequently fixed June 13 for hearing of the suit.

Justice lawal ordered that the eight states that were not in attendance at Thursdays proceedings must be served with fresh hearing notice.

The states whose Attorneys General were absent in court, despite being served with hearing notice include Borno, Kano, Kogi, Niger, Ogun, Osun, Oyo and Sokoto.
David Umahi, Minister of Works, has said that most people he assisted to get to political power during the 2023 general polls now avoid him.

Speaking with newsmen in Abakaliki on Thursday, he said, even National Assembly (NASS) members whom he helped to power were among those who now avoid him.

Stressing that he was not disturbed by their behaviour, he said: It is only Chief Onyekachi Nwebonyi who will openly acknowledge that I am his father and boss. The others feel that by doing so, the state governor, my successor, will be angry with them.

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The governor cannot do that because he too openly acknowledges that I was instrumental to his emergence.

Umahi, according to News Agency of Nigeria, added that the development made him stop having political godsons but has opted for political friends.

I will fight anybody who makes trouble with the Governor because he deserves our respect.

READ ALSO: Petrol Subsidy Is Gone, But NNPC Can Intervene Occasionally  Lokpobiri

I have done my bit, have left the stage and have to respect myself, he said.

Umahi said usually there were crises between the predecessors and successors, adding: I am however, not available for such because I have been so blessed in life by God.

There are always pathways to successes and failures and when you dig for someone to fail, you have already failed.

The Minister however vowed to stick with State Governor Francis Nwifuru for eight years and thanked God for giving the Governor the grace to unite all the leaders of the state.

The issue of the leaders staying together for long is not our business but I have known the governor for 16 years and will continue to support him.

I will never regret making him my successor, as he, alongside a few others, stood with me during the hard decision of defecting to the APC, Umahi added.
The Osun State Government has authorised public and private schools in the state to start reciting Nigeria, We hail thee, the reintroduced old national anthem recently approved by President Bola Tinubu.

The instruction was contained in a statement signed by Murtala Jimoh, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, and obtained in Osogbo on Friday.

Tinubu on Wednesday signed the National Anthem bill seeking to return the old national anthem Nigeria, We hail thee into law.

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According to the state governments announcement, Jimoh requested that all schools in the state begin reciting the National Anthem during their morning assembly.

READ MORE: Kate Henshaw Laments Excoriating Hardship Amid National Anthem Change

The Permanent Secretary through the release subsequently urged all heads of schools in both private and public schools to ensure their pupils/students learn the Anthem and begin to sing it henceforth.

The statement read, The Federal Government recently approved a new National Anthem for the country, it is therefore pertinent for schools across Osun State to comply with this directive.

As a result, all heads of schools in both public and private schools should ensure compliance in their various schools.

It is expected that it is the new Anthem that should be rendered during their various morning assemblies and this should be done as a matter of duty.
At least, ten persons have been rescued after a two-storey building collapsed in the Isale Eko area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that the incident happened at No. 15, Iga Iduganran, near the Oba of Lagoss palace following a fire in parts of Dosunmu Market on Lagos Island.

Reacting to the development, today, the states Territorial Coordinator of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Ibrahim Farinloye, disclosed that 14 other buildings were seriously impacted by the fire.

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Also confirming the collapse, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said that the rescued persons are receiving treatment.

All ten people, nine adults, and one 17-year-old girl have been rescued from the rubble.

READ MORE: Three Children Die In Building Collapse In Jigawa

Having received pre-hospital care from the agency paramedics, they are now at Iga Iduganran Primary Health Care Centre receiving care.

The remains of the building will now be leveled to ground zero while the adjacent building will undergo integrity and material testing.


Former Governor Bisi Akande of Osun State, on Thursday disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu battled spiritual forces before his inauguration in May 2023.

Recall that Tinubu marked one year in office on Wednesday.

Speaking at a one-day lecture organised by an Arewa Think in Kaduna, the former interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) said it was not surprising that the opposition tried to deny Tinubu his victory at the polls.

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Akande who said Nigeria would be more developed under the stewardship of Tinubu said: The tension and threats generated in the country by the opposition with the view to deny Tinubu the presidential victory in the presidential election were not surprising.

Towards the last elections, the prophecy was thick that Bola Ahmed Tinubu would not become the APC candidate, but he did become.

Religious clerics of one belief and the other became sleepless for him not to win the presidential elections, he won!

READ ALSO: Tinubu Mightve Made Some Wrong Decisions, But His Policies Beneficial In The Long Run  NNPP

Thereafter, spiritual threats and political manoeuvring began that he would not be inaugurated as a Nigerian president, he assumed the presidency.

The battle then shifted to the judicial sword-crossing that he should be removed from the presidency, but his presidency was upheld. Other predictions were that he would have no health to manage the office, but he remained divinely healthy.

Then the agitation that Nigeria would not survive his political agenda, Nigeria has been waxing stronger and stronger as one and united country! One Nigeria is a major part of what we are now celebrating.

I was the pioneer national chairman of the APC  the great political party that produced the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu whose one-year administrative anniversary was being officially celebrated for over a week up to yesterday.

I am therefore particularly convinced that Nigeria will forever continue to be sustained as a more peaceful, more developed, more progressive, and a more prosperous country under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and beyond.

He further urged Nigerians to think of how to sustain a united and peaceful Nigeria.
Gabriel Omotoso of the Department of Anatomy, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), says one in every 10 Nigerians smokes tobacco daily.

Mr Omotoso made the submission in Ilorin during his paper presentation at the 259th inaugural lecture of the university titled White Matter Matters in the Search for Phytochemical Candidates for Demyenilating Disorders.

The don, who teaches in the Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Health Science of the university, quoted the World Health Organisation (WHO) stating that the latest global estimate of tobacco users stood at 1.25 billion people.

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He added, Tobacco causes more than eight million deaths yearly, out of which 1.3 million are non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke. This makes it a leading cause of preventable death and disease worldwide.

READ MORE: Smoking Kills 29,472 Nigerians Annually  FG

Mr Omotoso lamented that despite a great deal of health education on the grave implications of cigarette smoking, many people are still caught in the web of the habit while tobacco companies continue to make a fortune in the business.

He, therefore, stressed the need to specially protect children from tobacco, highlighting the consequences of cigarette smoke on different organs of the body.

This includes its adverse effects on male gonads and reproductive fertility, degenerative change in the liver, disruption of the canalicular network and lipid metabolism and other hepatocellular injuries, he said.

He urged the federal government to enforce Tobacco Production Laws to protect youths from industry manipulation and prevent them from tobacco and nicotine use.

May 31 is annually celebrated as World No Tobacco Day, a global campaign to raise awareness of tobaccos harmful effects.

(NAN)
When choosing a mover, think about what services you need before you shop around. Make sure you get binding prices that include a price cap. Read more

Where did they find these guys?!

Its a question many people ask when they have a particularly good or bad experience with a moving company.

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After all, choosing the right company is the most important step for a successful move, according to nonprofit Delaware Valley Consumers Checkbook.

One tip: Checkbooks ratings of local moving companies can help consumers find the best movers for them. (Through a special arrangement, Inquirer readers can access Checkbooks ratings of area moving companies for free through July 5 by visiting Checkbook.org/Inquirer/movers.)

Heres what else to know when youre shopping around for a moving company:

What do you need help with?

Think first about what services you need.

Youll save a lot of money by packing your own stuff. On most local moves, paying a moving company to do all the packing doubles your costs. You can save by transporting your own boxes and other small items, including jewelry, framed art, and other especially valuable belongings, which account for a substantial amount of the weight and expense of a move. Then, let a mover handle the furniture, piano, and other hard-to-move items.

 READ MORE: Best-rated movers in the Philadelphia region, and tips for a smooth moving experience

Shop around

Be sure to get prices from several companies. Estimates should detail the services to be performed and include an inventory of items to be moved. Otherwise, you may get into a dispute on moving day with a mover who wants to charge extra for work you thought the estimate included.

Checkbooks undercover shoppers collected prices for two local moves and three hypothetical long-distance moves, and for each job found dramatic company-to-company price differences. For example, prices quoted to move the contents of a four-bedroom house from Lansdale to Collegeville ranged from $1,600 or less to $4,680. And to move 9,000 pounds of goods 760 miles from Bryn Mawr to Chicago, Checkbooks shoppers were quoted prices ranging from $6,500 to $12,000.

For local moves, companies usually calculate prices using an hourly labor rate for packing, loading, transit time, and unloading, plus costs to supply any containers or boxes.

Most companies, if asked, will offer estimates with caps  you wont pay more than the cap, and youll pay less if it takes less time than estimated. Checkbook strongly recommends getting a capped estimate for both local and long-distance moves. Otherwise, the company may purposely work slowly, and youll pay more than estimated. Also, without a binding price from each company, you lack a sound basis for comparing prices.

For long-distance moves, instead of charging by the hour, companies must calculate their prices using a formula that takes into account distance and the weight of belongings. For the move itself, companies should provide you with binding estimates or estimates with a binding maximum.

Long-distance movers also charge for extras, such as for packing, cartons, storage, extra stops, and waiting time.

Storage needs

If you need storage services, or if your goods will be placed into storage during a long-distance move, get quotes for it, and be sure you have documents indicating where the goods will be stored. If possible, inspect the storage facility.

Also, make sure the company you hire for storage has insurance that will cover your belongings against theft, fire, and other risks. Insurance for goods in transit wont cover them during long-term storage.

 READ MORE: Stash your extra stuff at Philly-area self-storage businesses, at the right price

What to do during your move

During your move, be present and attentive when your belongings are loaded and unloaded. Make sure the moving company prepares an inventory of your belongings. Carefully read the bill of lading (moving contract) before you sign it. Later, as your goods are unloaded, check the condition of each item. Focus on inspecting cartons containing especially fragile or valuable items. Dont sign the inventory or anything else without first noting any damage that has occurred. Signing a document that does not note damage will make it hard to collect for damage later.

If you find damage after the movers leave, notify the company promptly and keep the broken items and packing materials as you found them in the box, so the movers claims representative can check them.

Beware of brokers

Finally, when shopping for a mover beware of brokers. If you do an internet search for local movers or best movers, many of the listings will be for brokers posing as local outfits. These middlemen usually do not own or operate any trucks or employ movers; they simply collect a deposit and sell your job to a moving company, which does the work. Because the broker chooses the mover, you may get stuck with an inferior company. And because the broker typically collects its fee up front, it may be uninterested in mediating disputes with the mover. Plus, brokers sometimes cant find moving companies to handle jobs theyve taken on, leaving customers scrambling.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration warns that some brokers mainly work with unlicensed or otherwise disreputable moving companies. Consumer agencies receive high numbers of complaints about brokers, many filed by customers who got stuck with rogue movers that refused to honor price estimates.

Delaware Valley Consumers Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help consumers get the best service and lowest prices. We are supported by consumers and take no money from the service providers we evaluate.
Is a yearslong cold war in Philadelphias law enforcement community starting to thaw?

District Attorney Larry Krasner says he has developed a good working relationship with Roosevelt Poplar, the new head of the citys police union, which has long been one of the reform-oriented DAs loudest critics.

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Krasner called Poplar a heroic figure and a very sensible, engaging, serious head of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 5.

Poplar understands that his job is to support and lift up righteous policing, Krasner said, unprompted, during an interview on an unrelated topic. And his job is not to be in the bag for dysfunctional policing.

The remarks stood in stark contrast to the heated battle Krasner was locked in for years with Poplars predecessor, John McNesby, who stepped down from his post running the FOP last fall.

Krasner and McNesby routinely hurled insults at one another. Krasner often sought to associate McNesby with former President Donald Trump, and McNesby helped the FOP rent billboards, banner-planes, and a Mister Softee truck to attack Krasner as soft-on-crime.

The DA said his experience with Poplar so far has been markedly different.

As an example, he said Poplar approached him and asked him to change the name of his offices Police Misconduct Database. The database  an initiative Krasner created early in his first term  is designed to flag officers with potential credibility concerns so prosecutors know how and when to disclose that information in court cases, as required by law.

Krasner said Poplar pointed out that not all officers in the database have actually been found guilty of misconduct. Officers who are under investigation might spend weeks or months in the database before being cleared of wrongdoing  but their personnel records would nonetheless have been included in a database labeled as containing instances of misconduct.

Hes right, Krasner said of Poplar. He asked us to change the name  and I thought he had good reasons, so we changed it.

Its now called the Brady-Giglio database, Krasner said, named after the ruling that require prosecutors to disclose all relevant evidence to defense lawyers.

The database episode is unlikely to signal a complete detente between the DA and FOP. Krasners office is continuing to prosecute officers for crimes including murder in cases the union has fiercely opposed.

Still, Krasner said it was encouraging to have open lines of communication with Poplar, calling him a trusted collaborator, even if were not going to agree on everything.

The DAs opinion on McNesby, meanwhile, has not changed. Even as he praised Poplar, Krasner called McNesby a one stop, nonstop disaster for public safety. McNesby  who often said the same about Krasner  did not respond to a request for comment.

Poplar, for his part, issued a statement through a spokesperson saying that he and his colleagues have been meeting with a number of local leaders across our great city including Mayor Parker, members of her cabinet, city council members and District Attorney Krasner.

Were proud to advocate on behalf of our hardworking rank-and-file police officers to ensure that they have a seat at the table with these various policy makers, he said.
The woman on the other side of the viral interaction with Kylie Kelce from the holiday weekend at the Jersey Shore came forward for the first time.

The woman, who identified herself as Andree Goldberg, released a statement to The Inquirer apologizing to the Kelce family.

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In the video, Goldberg was seen yelling: Youll never be allowed in this town again, I dont care who you are, after the Kelces declined to take a photo with her while out on a date night at Steve & Cookies in Margate. Kylie responded: I can smell the alcohol on your breath. Youre embarrassing yourself.

In a heated moment, I said things that were out of character for me which I deeply regret and for that, I am sorry, Goldberg wrote in the statement. Although apologies were exchanged directly with the Kelce family on Saturday, I want to publicly apologize to them and our community.

 READ MORE: After criticizing Harrison Butker, Jason Kelce defends Kylie Kelce from commenters calling her a homemaker

This moment, and my actions, are not who I am and certainly not indicative of the welcoming community of Margate. As an adult and proud member of my community, I should have recognized and respected their right to privacy from the onset. I am deeply appreciative of the grace and understanding shown to me by the Kelces and wish them nothing but the best.

The mayor of Margate City, Michael Collins, previously released a statement apologizing to the Kelces on her behalf.

On behalf of the City of Margate, Id like to formally apologize to Jason and Kylie Kelce for the experience they had in Margate over the holiday weekend, Collins said in a statement. As a father with young children, I know, as well as anyone, the importance of a date night with your wife and would like to offer Jason and Kylie an opportunity for a redo date night dinner in Margate on me.

The Kelces have yet to address the interaction publicly. On Wednesdays episode of New Heights, Jason referenced the familys great time at the Shore over Memorial Day weekend, but did not bring up the interaction.
The Philadelphia school board adopted a $4.5 billion budget for the 2024-25 school year Thursday night at a lengthy, action-packed meeting marked by passionate testimony by pro-Palestinian parents and teachers.

Like school systems around the country, the Philadelphia School District is taking a major hit from federal COVID-19 relief funds drying up in September. But Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. and chief financial officer Michael Herbstman said they were determined to protect classroom spending.

Officials said the spending plan includes a $48 million outlay to keep assistant principals, teachers, counselors and others whose critical positions were paid for by federal funds this year.

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Because Philadelphia is the only district in Pennsylvania unable to raise its own revenue, it relies largely on state and city funding to operate, and its expenses are growing faster than its revenues. Absent extra funding from Harrisburg or City Hall, officials project a deficit in 2024-25.

The board, newly constituted by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker, passed the spending plan unanimously.

A pro-Palestine rally

As the board meeting began, about 150 pro-Palestinian parents, students and teachers rallied outside district headquarters, Palestinian flags waving around them.

Near the start of the event, rally participants observed a moment of silence for the people of Rafah. Speakers denounced the Israeli government, calling its actions in Gaza a genocide.

The groups demands were varied: They said want the district to call for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, but they also want school officials to explicitly state that teaching about Palestine isnt antisemitic.

Ahmed Moor, parent of a child who attends Penn Alexander in West Philadelphia, said he was concerned chiefly that our children are being prevented from exercising their right to free speech.

Moor pointed to the Northeast High student video about Palestinian art as an act of resistance, which was first shown at an assembly, then removed by central office administrators after a Jewish staffer and members of a group called School District of Philadelphia Jewish Families said the video was antisemitic.

The videos removal ignited widespread controversy.

Separately, the district was accused of antisemitism in a federal civil rights claim filed by a Masterman parent.

We cannot have white women calling the police and politicians on children of color anymore, Moor told the board Thursday. Adam Sanchez of Rethinking Schools, an advocacy organization that promotes social justice teaching in schools, told the board that people were weaponizing antisemitism to go after some of the best antiracist educators in Philadelphia.

Northeast High parent Jethro Heiko, who is Jewish, said he strongly supports Philly Educators for Palestine, a group that helped organize the rally.

This move towards a dont-say-Palestine approach is very concerning, Heiko said, likening the districts overt and implied discouragement of students and teachers discussing Palestine  to dont-say-gay. Were going to turn Philadelphia into Florida.

Ari Lev Fornari, a West Philadelphia rabbi with children at Penn Alexander, said he was concerned that the school district thinks that critique of the state of Israel or the genocide in Gaza is being confused with antisemitism.

Some teachers asked the district to host a listening session with Palestinian students. Taslim Sabil, a Northeast High student, immigrant and supporter of Sudan and Palestine, urged the school board and district to stop being complacent. Stop ignoring the struggles of your students.

Public comment during the meeting was dominated by pro-Palestinian speakers; applause frequently broke out for their comments.

Some Jewish parents countered the pro-Palestinian parents, students and teachers with written testimony submitted to the board, saying they did not feel safe attending the meeting.

In a letter sent to the board separately by multiple people, about a dozen Jewish parents objected to Philly Educators for Palestine using the term Zionists as a code word for Jews, which allows them to make their antisemitic and anti-Israel statements in a way that they feel is socially acceptable. This leaves Jewish students and teachers with an impossible decision  to distance themselves from the belief that their Jewish nation has a right to self-determination, a concept deeply steeped in Judaism, both biblically and culturally  or become the subject of hate and vitriol by the very educators and administrators tasked with creating safe learning spaces for all.

Following public comment, Watlington addressed the crowd.

Educators do not direct or inform U.S. foreign policy, Watlington said. Instead, he said, the role of schools is to teach accurate history, teach kids to think critically, and allow diverse points of view to be brought into classrooms.

The district recognizes its curriculum department needs more support, Watlington said, and is addressing that. He asked people to give the district a little bit of grace as we try to work through these really tough times, and to support its teachers.

Issues at The Workshop School

A number of speakers also highlighted issues at The Workshop School, a citywide admissions school that has been singled out by the White House for its innovation and achievements.

 READ MORE: his Philly school got White House attention for its innovative model. Now, its existence is threatened.

The West Philadelphia schools existence is threatened, its founders say, because of changes to the way the district admits students to high schools, moving from a process over which principals have say to a centralized lottery. Because of those changes, Workshop has been overenrolled and sent students it does not have the ability to adequately educate, the founders say.

Andre Baldwin, a current Workshop student, said the schools aging, too-small facility was an immediate problem, too.

Our pipes are leaking, our bathrooms are bad, and the air-conditioning has a mind of its own, Baldwin said. Lack of space is probably the worst problem we have right now.

Teachers have to double up in classrooms. Administrators have no offices, but sit on chairs in the hallway. Theres no adequate space for special-education students to have the individual and small-group instruction called for in their individualized education plans (IEPs), Workshop staff and students say.

The hallways are always a mess, Baldwin said. Students are nearly on top of each other in the building, which was constructed as an annex for West Philadelphia High and not meant to be a full school, meaning a whole lot of drama happens.

Workshop has room for 72 ninth graders, at maximum. The district has assigned it 104 for the fall, nearly half of whom require special education services.

Matthew Riggan, a cofounder, said the admissions changes are disastrous for Workshop.

We have students whose IEPs specify more than 50% of their week in pull-out support that we cannot provide, and students who are supposed to receive one-on-one support that has not been staffed, Riggan wrote in testimony prepared for the board. Instead, our teachers are left to meet all of these needs on their own. This has made it near impossible to differentiate instruction and has led to a significant increase in serious incidents. Several of our higher performing students are transferring out and our attendance has declined sharply. Our staff, which has worked heroically, is exhausted.
Monika Williams Shealey, who became dean of Temple University's College of Education and Human Development last July, knew she wanted to bring back the master's in urban education program, even bigger and better than before. Read more

Temple University in 2020 eliminated its masters in urban education program, prompting an outcry from some within and outside the North Philadelphia-based school that it was wrongly de-emphasizing a topic that deserved more attention.

When Monika Williams Shealey became dean of Temples College of Education and Human Development last July, it didnt take her long to realize that the critics had a point. Everywhere she went, she said, people asked her how Temple could do that.

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It was like this knucklehead kind of thing, she said. I said, Whats going on here? That program is coming back.

 READ MORE: Faculty, alumni criticize Temples decision to end its masters in urban education

And back, it is.

Temple is accepting applications for a revamped masters in urban education program  which will include an online version to reach students globally, enhance community involvement and create a network of learners among students and alumni  that will start this fall. And its planning to restart a doctorate in the subject in 2025.

Faculty welcomed the news.

It felt validating, said Maia Cucchiara, associate professor of urban education. What we went through just felt so arbitrary.

Its one of several moves Shealey has made as she works to heal old rifts in the college that developed under former dean Gregory M. Anderson, who had led the school for nine years. The elimination of the urban education program was just one problem faculty cited under Andersons leadership.

 READ MORE: Prompted by complaints, Temple taps law firm to probe education college leadership

About four years ago, roughly half of the 70 full-time faculty in the college signed a letter raising issues about Andersons leadership. They said faculty were deeply concerned about faculty members loss of voice in our own college, and about a growing climate of fear, mistrust, and intimidation.

An outside investigation into the complaints commissioned by Temple found no violation of law or policy by the dean or anyone else, the university said at the time, but that there was a need to improve the culture and environment in the college. Anderson stepped down two years ago.

 READ MORE: Temple Universitys education dean, subject of faculty complaints, will step down in May

Of the decision to eliminate its urban education program, the college said at the time that it had infused urban education offerings across departments and programs, broadening access to those perspectives, and that the school remained committed to the subject.

But critics said the move signaled a lessening of the commitment to urban districts, such as Philadelphia, where many alumni of the program work.

It really shaped my career

Having that cut out was like having the heart cut out of the college, said Lori Shorr, an associate professor of urban education and policy. Almost every faculty member who comes to Temple to be in the education department comes to Temple because of their commitment to urban education.

The program isnt just for educators or those who want to be educators, but for anyone interested in learning more about urban districts, how they work, and how to make them better, the dean said. Shorr noted one graduate who runs the Monkey & the Elephant coffee shop that employs former foster youth; another works at a social impact organization in Atlanta.

Benjamin Herold, a journalist and author, who completed the program in 2003, said it offers real-world applications and interactions with people on the front lines in the schools.

Whatever successes Ive had were largely attributable to what I learned at Temple, said Herold, an adjunct professor at Temple who recently released his first book, Disillusioned: Five Families and the Unraveling of Americas Suburbs. It really shaped my career, almost totally.

After he graduated, he worked on a documentary film, First Person, chronicling six Philadelphia high school students as they tried to navigate the public school system through graduation and into college. The film won awards at the 2008 Philadelphia Film Festival. He also wrote for the Philadelphia Public School Notebook and Education Week.

The new masters program, which was redesigned by nine faculty members including Shorr and Cucchiara, will look more closely at solutions to problems confronting urban schools, not just the injustices, Shorr said.

There also will be a focus on the positives of urban schools and partnerships with the community, she said. She has co-taught a class on school and community partnerships with Sylvia Simms, a former member of the Philadelphia School Reform Commission who had been a bus attendant in the district for years and had worked in a special education classroom.

Were going to do a lot more of that, looking at how to bridge the divide with the community, she said.

Dream about our future

Shealey meanwhile has been working to bridge the divide within the college. She started her tenure by asking every staff member to meet with her individually and answer three questions: Whats working? Whats not? And what are the most pressing issues facing the college? She shared the overarching themes, which included the need to improve communication from the deans office and build trust, at a collegewide meeting.

Despite faculty and staff telling me they still feel hurt, pain and for some of them trauma from the last few years, they decided they wanted to dream about our future, Shealey said. They wanted to move forward.

Furthering its commitment to urban education, the college has started a scholarship in memory of Constance E. Clayton, a former Philadelphia School District superintendent, the first Black and first female leader of the system. Her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, has committed $50,000, which the university matched, and her estate also will be contributing, Shealey said.

I think she would be happy to know were supporting the next generation of teachers to go back into the district, she said.
Classic Cake reopened in Cherry Hill on May 29. Read more

Classic Cake reopened in the Short Hills Town Center in Cherry Hill on Wednesday, four years after a fire damaged the retail store and several others in the Camden County strip mall.

A mural with have a delicious day in big letters invites folks to explore the display cases of cakes, pastries, and more at the beloved South Jersey bakerys newly restored retail location. The 2,100-square-foot store offers 24 seats for customers to hang out with a cup of coffee and dessert.

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Its an elegant store, but more importantly we built a cake studio, said co-owner Barry Kratchman. All the wedding cakes and all the occasion cakes are being made in our store now. Thats the biggest difference. The store specializes in elaborate  or wow as Kratchman puts it  cakes for special occasions.

Carol Neulander and Judy Stern founded Classic Cake in 1982 in Audubon, N.J. The company changed hands several times over the years. Kratchman, who co-owns the bakery with sister Karen Gold, purchased it in 2007. Executive pastry chef Michael J. DAngelo joined the company in 2021.

He is a three-time recipient of the Pastry of the Year award by the American Culinary Federation South Jersey Chapter, with training from Atlantic Community Colleges Academy of Culinary Arts, the Ecole Valrhona Chocolate Course, and a sorbet and ice cream seminar in France.

In 2020, the fire shuttered the South Jersey retail location, and the pandemic soon after closed the Philly location at Suburban Station.

Kratchman ran operations out of the Short Hills Deli until March 2023. Kratchman continued business at his Voorhees home, with loyal customers picking up orders every Friday for a year.

On reopening day, customers flooded the store with a lot of smiles, Kratchman said.

[Reopening the store] has been a vision and a dream, he said. It took a while, but the store is unbelievably perfect. Its exactly the culmination of all the efforts we made.

Classic Cake Cherry Hill

486 Evesham Road, Cherry Hill, N.J., 08003,  856-751-5448,  classiccake.com,  Tuesday to Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Louis Jadot Bourgogne Chardonnay

Burgundy, France

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$20.89

13% alcohol

PLCB Item #6406

Regularly $22.89

White Burgundy may sound like a contradiction in terms to non-drinkers, but for wine lovers it is a revered and iconic style that will never go out of fashion. Wines like this one  an affordable but well-made unoaked white Burgundy  are the little black dress of the white wine world.

White wines from Burgundy can range dramatically in style based on their subregion, encompassing everything from the brisk and steely tartness of Chablis to the toasty opulence of the luxury tier barrel-fermented whites from the Cote dOr, like Chassagne-Montrachet or Corton-Charlemagne that can sell for hundreds of dollars per bottle. Outside of a few rare exceptions, all white Burgundies are made with 100% chardonnay, but most taste nothing like the chardonnay Americans are more familiar with from California. Even the coolest coastal wine regions of California are much hotter and drier than the vineyards of Burgundy, so fruit can be overripe and wines heavy with dessert-like flavors of caramel or rum-raisin ice cream. In France, chardonnay wines are typically lighter in weight and fresher in their fruit flavors, as with this example that tastes like biting into a firm green pear. And when it comes to the aspects of wine style under human control, French winemakers tend to favor subtlety over power and a considerably drier flavor profile, which give this wine the sensibilities of a French art film, not a Hollywood blockbuster.

Sadly, wine prices in Burgundy are rising faster than those of any other wine region due to global demand and the growing frequency of crop failures driven by climate change. Luckily, there remain a handful of producers like this one who continue to deliver well-crafted wines that capture the essence of Burgundian chardonnay at a reasonable price. This cuvee uses fruit from two of Burgundys lesser-known sub-regions to produce a solid mid-weight unoaked chardonnay whose understatement and craftsmanship are informed by the companys pricier offerings.

Also available at:

Total Wine & More in Claymont, Del., $16.99

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Joe Canals in Lawrenceville, $17.99

lawrenceville.jcanals.com/

West Deptford Super Buy Rite in West Deptford or Williamstown Super Buy Rite in Williamstown, $17.99

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Currently Pa. law requires braiders to have 300 hours of formal instruction (down from the original 1,250 hours). Braiders contend that since they don't use dye or other chemicals that they should be exempt. Read more

As the popularity for natural hair braiding boomed, so too did entrepreneurial braiders frustration over Pennsylvania regulatory oversight.

Since 2003, hair braiders have been opposed to the state Cosmetology Boards view that braiders are cosmetologists and, as such, need hours of formal training and a license to practice in order to protect public safety. The braiders position was they didnt use dye or other chemical products that could harm customers so they should be able to practice free from state involvement.

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Their effort inched closer to reality when State Rep. Donna Bullocks (D., Phila.) bill to exempt the hair braiding industry from all regulatory oversight passed the House of Representatives unanimously in March and went to the Senate.

While the bill could die in the Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure Committee of the Senate, Bullock said she is feeling optimistic that it will pass the Republican-controlled chamber because it is essentially a pro-business measure.

When Donna Bullocks bill passed the House, we informed the hair braiders and it brought quite an amount of joy, said Eric Edi, the chief operating officer of the Coalition of African and Caribbean Communities in Philadelphia (AFRICOM).

Edi estimates at least 300 hair braiders operate in Philadelphia, although he acknowledges AFRICOMs count doesnt include part-time and home-based braiders.

Deregulating braiding

Braiding is a skill that provides many  mostly female  entrepreneurs, with a livelihood. Most, however, operate without a license  risking fines and having their salons shuttered, said Nadia Hewka, a senior staff attorney with Community Legal Services.

If Bullocks bill is signed into law, Hewka said, It will be a huge weight off their shoulders.

 READ MORE: N.J. bill would require cosmetology schools to teach textured hair and promote inclusivity, sponsors say

Originally, the states Cosmetology Law required 1,250 hours of instruction, at a cost of thousands of dollars, to learn material which had little to do with natural hair braiding. In 2006, the state responded to the braiders initial outcry by creating an alternative permitting requirement that only required 300 hours of hair braiding instruction.

It was difficult to comply with the [new] law, said Hewka, explaining that few cosmetology programs in the state offered the 300-hour braiding program, and instruction was only offered in English when many braiders are West African immigrants with limited English skills.

Diversity creates opportunities for bills. State Rep, Donna Bullock

Diversity moves bills

State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams introduced a bill in 2018 to do away with the 300-hour cosmetology school requirement.

This costly regulation does not benefit small business owners, hair braiders, or their customers, Williams said at the time.

But the bill failed to become a law.

About 20 years ago, Bullock said, when braiders first joined together under the leadership of AFRICOM, the state legislature did not have an understanding of natural hair or what skills were needed for braiding. Today, several representatives  both male and female  have natural hair styles, including Speaker of the House Joanna E. McClinton.

Were a more diverse legislature. Diversity creates opportunities for bills, said Bullock, who sponsored the legislation along with State Rep. Regina Young, who represents parts of Delaware and Philadelphia Counties.

There are reasons for braiders to be optimistic. Currently, 33 states have deregulated hair braiding.

 READ MORE: In the long fight to deregulate natural hair braiding, one Olney salon owner scores a win

And last year, a Commonwealth Court panel declared that the states licensing requirements violated Philadelphia hair braider Maimouna Thiams constitutional right to make a living with requirements that were unreasonable.

Edi said at the time that the ruling, which only addressed Thiams business, signaled to other hair braiders that hope is on the way. This is a case of jurisprudence that will inform other potential cases.

Hair braiding is not just a modern hairstyle choice but an ancient art form with a long and rich cultural history, Bullock said.

Natural hair braiding has been commonplace in the African American community for centuries, Bullock said. The techniques have been passed from generation to generation and are learned from early childhood and do not require formal training to do.
A recreation of LOVE Park made with pieces of the Philly original will officially debut in Malmo, Sweden Saturday. Read more

A piece of Philadelphia skateboarding history will live on in Sweden when a re-creation of the old LOVE Park officially opens in Malmo this weekend.

Known as LOVE Malmo, it will serve as a monument to skateboardings place in urban life, city officials said in a statement. The result of a collaboration between skateboarding organizations Skate Philly and Skate Malmo, the park uses granite slabs, ledges, and other features saved from the iconic Philly original.

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LOVE Malmo will open Saturday, with legendary skate pros and rising stars from Philadelphia on hand to skate, city officials said.

The project dates back years, with news breaking in 2017 that pieces of the original LOVE Park granite were being shipped to Sweden. Skate Malmo coordinator Gustav Eden told CBS3 at the time that the skating world lost something with LOVE Parks 2016 renovation.

In 2019, Philly skateboarder and filmmaker Brian Panebianco spoke with Eden on a panel at a skateboarding conference known as Pushing Boarders, where Eden said he cold-called Philadelphia officials, asking to preserve pieces of LOVE Park, skateboarding culture outlet Jenkem magazine reports.

If we cant do it in Philadelphia and we can do it here, its better that it happens than that it doesnt happen, Eden said in 2019.

Constructed in the 1960s, LOVE Park had become a skateboarding mecca by the 1990s, appearing in numerous skateboarding videos and magazines, and even the hit 2000 video game Tony Hawks Pro Skater 2. In 2001, it became an event location for the X Games, which featured a promo of pro skater Kerry Getz pulling a trick over then-Mayor John Street. The X Games returned to Philly in 2002, netting Philly a reported $80 million in revenue.

But in 2002, the city began enforcing a long-standing ban on skateboarding at the park, with fines of up to $300. City planner Ed Bacon, who codesigned the park, protested the ban that year, defiantly skateboarding across the park at 92 years old.

And while skateboarding continued to happen at LOVE Park after the ban, its draw was diminished. By 2016, LOVE Park as we knew it had begun to be demolished to make way for todays remodeled version. Then-Mayor Jim Kenney temporarily lifted the ban on skating ahead of the 2016 demolition so skaters could give the space a proper send-off.

Officially opened in 2018, the present-day LOVE Park is much flatter than the original and features a noticeable lack of the skateable ledges and tiered steps that made the old version famous. In a review of the new LOVE Park for The Inquirer, architecture critic Inga Saffron called the space a granite Sahara.

But with the impending opening of LOVE Malmo, there appears to be a future for the once-great park. Philadelphians will just have to travel about 4,000 miles to see it.
Niki Daker of South Philadelphia climbs under the 200 foot long Pride flag as it makes its way along Walnut street among the thousands of people celebrating queerness and the start of Pride Month at the Pride March and Festival in Center City Sunday, June 4, 2023. Read more

The first weekend of June brings marches, festivals, and a boat regatta to Philly. Expect major traffic delays throughout the weekend.

On Saturday, June 1, the Independence Dragon Boat Regatta will set sail early in the morning along the Schuylkill, followed by the first day of the two-day Roots Picnic at the Mann Center.

On Sunday, June 2, Philadelphias Pride March and Festival will take place throughout Center Citys Gayborhood, and Questlove and Black Thoughts festival at the Mann will have its second night. But thats not all.

Other events happening on June 1 and June 2 that will close roads or could impact traffic include:

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American Cancer Society Bike-A-Thon Philadelphia Turkish Festival and Concert Independence Dragon Boat Regatta Philly Run Fest (5K, 10K, 15K) Pride March and Festival Roots Picnic 20th Annual Sugar Cane Festival Varga Bar Annual Block Party

Be ready for a fun weekend but plan travel ahead of time to avoid delays. When getting to the destination, check out The Inquirers guide on parking near Phillys biggest attractions.

Sue Heo, sporting a hand made dragon boat hat, with the West Pharmacutical Dragon Phyre team bangs out a beat as her teams drummer during their race in the Independence Dragon Boat Regatta on the Schuylkill. (RON TARVER / Staff Photographer ) Read more

Independence Dragon Boat Regatta

Detours around Kelly Drive will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 1, for the regatta. Instead of taking the main stretch of Kelly Drive along Boathouse Row, traffic will be detoured through Fairmount Park.

Inbound (toward Center City): South up the Strawberry Mansion Drive ramp to Reservoir Drive, south on Reservoir Drive to Fountain Green Drive, west on Fountain Green Drive back to Kelly Drive. Outbound (toward Roxborough): East on Fountain Green Drive to Reservoir Drive, north on Reservoir Drive to Strawberry Mansion Drive, north on the Strawberry Mansion Drive ramp back to Kelly Drive.

The Fugees reunite as Wyclef Jean (left) joins Ms. Lauryn Hill on stage during the Roots Picnic Philadelphia at The Mann in Fairmount Park on Sat. June 3, 2023. Read more Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

The Roots Picnic

The two-day Roots Picnic will have several road closures and detours in the surrounding area, leading up to and following the festival on Saturday, June 1, and Sunday, June 2.

States Drive, between Belmont Ave. and Avenue of the Republic will be closed from 6 a.m. on Monday, May 20 until 6 a.m. on Thursday, June 6. South Concourse Drive, between Belmont Ave. and 52nd St. will be closed from 6 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28 until 6 a.m. on Friday, June 7. Avenue of the Republic, between Belmont Ave. and 52nd St. will be closed from 6 a.m. on Thursday, May 30 until 6 a.m. on Friday, June 7. North Georges Hill Drive, between Belmont Ave. to 52nd St. will be closed from noon on Friday, May 31 until 8 a.m. on Friday, June 7.

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Philadelphia police may include additional road closures as needed.

Friends from Manayunk pose for a selfie in the Gayborhood as thousands of people celebrate queerness and the start of Pride Month at the Pride March and Festival in Center City Sunday, June 4, 2023. Read more Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer

Philadelphia Pride March and Festival

The Pride March begins on Sunday, June 2 at 11 a.m. followed by the Pride Festival from noon to 7 p.m. During that time, the following streets will be closed from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Juniper Street from Walnut Street to Cypress Street Cypress Street from Juniper Street to 12th Street 13th Street from Walnut Street to Pine Street 12th Street from Walnut Street to Pine Street Quince Street from Walnut Street to Pine Street Locust Street from Juniper Street to 11th Street Pine Street from Juniper Street to 11th Street Spruce Street from Juniper Street to 11th Street Chancellor Street from Juniper Street to 12th Street St. James Street from 13th Street to 12th Street S. Camac Street from Walnut Street to Pine Street Irving Street from Juniper Street to 13th Street Schubert Alley from S. Camac Street 12th Street Manning Street from S. Camac Street to 12th Street

Hosted by Asociacion Puertorriquenos en Marcha, the free Sugar Cane Festival is Saturday on 6th Street and Susquehanna Avenue. Read more

20th Annual Sugar Cane Festival

In North Philadelphia, the 20th Annual Sugar Cane Festival will close down North Sixth Street between Susquehanna Avenue and Diamond Street from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 1.

Varga Bar Annual Block Party

This annual beer week block party in Center City will shutdown South 10th Street in between Locust and Spruce streets from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, June 1.

3,300 cyclists begin their ride to the Shore, heading toward Admiral Wilson Blvd, after crossing the Ben Franklin Bridge into New Jersey Sunday, June 14, 2015, participating in the 43rd annual American Cancer Society Bike-a-thon. TOM GRALISH / Staff Photographer Read more

American Cancer Society Bike-A-Thon

The Bike-A-Thon starts at 6:30 a.m. with road closures going into effect at 4:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 2.

Fifth Street from Market to Race Streets Arch Street from Fourth to Sixth Streets Race Street from Seventh to Sixth Streets

Philadelphia Turkish Festival and Concert

The festival and concert runs from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. within Eakins Oval on Sunday, June 2. There are no road closures, but expect heavy foot traffic and event activities.

Philly Run Fest

The 5K, 10K, and 15K races run from 7:30 a.m. to noon within Fairmount Park on Sunday, June 2. There are no road closures, but expect runners along the race route.
It is a sad and historic reckoning as Donald Trump becomes the first former U.S. president convicted in the countrys nearly 250 years of existence, the Editorial Board writes. Read more

Donald Trumps criminal conviction in a Manhattan courtroom on all 34 counts should not surprise anyone who followed the trial. While the first-ever conviction of a former president will forever be a blot on the institution, it also marks a moment of overdue accountability.

In business, politics, and life, Trump has long acted as if the rules do not apply to him. But as he pushed and pushed the boundaries beyond what is acceptable even for a rich, entitled playboy, the wheels of justice have slowly begun to catch up.

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Last year, Trump was found liable for sexual assault. In 2022, the Trump Organization was convicted of cheating on its taxes. In 2020, Trump ripped off donors who thought they contributed $250 million to a legal defense that was never created. In 2019, Trumps foundation was shuttered after it illegally misused funds.

Now, a jury of Trumps peers quickly determined he is a felon.

It is a sad and historic reckoning as he becomes the first former U.S. president convicted in the countrys nearly 250 years of existence. Its an ignoble bookend to being the only president who was impeached twice.

Rest assured, there will be no apology or acceptance of guilt. Instead, Trump will shift into his tired, old schtick: claiming the trial was a witch hunt and political persecution driven by a crooked judge and President Joe Bidens Gestapo administration  all while raising money from gullible supporters.

But the evidence was overwhelming. The judge was beyond fair, giving Trump more leeway than any normal defendant as the former president repeatedly violated gag orders in an attempt to intimidate witnesses and influence the jury.

Before the trial began, Trump claimed he would testify, but, of course, he didnt  as was his constitutional right. In fact, Trump barely mounted a defense, calling just two witnesses compared with the 20 called by prosecutors. But outside of court, Trump turned the trial into a circus, with a parade of GOP sycophants who flocked to stand by their felon.

Trumps conviction should remind friends and foes alike that no one is above the law in America  unless, of course, the extreme conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court that Trump helped build invents a way to grant him some form of immunity.

To some, Trumps criminal conviction for falsifying business records to cover up an alleged affair with an adult film star may seem like a minor offense. But the trial was not about a sexual affair. It was about breaking the law to influence the outcome of a presidential election.

Indeed, the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, coming on the heels of Trumps Access Hollywood tape, may have changed the course of history. By avoiding another scandal days before the 2016 election, Trump eked out a victory, winning three states by just 80,000 votes combined.

The hush money payment to Stormy Daniels may have changed the course of history.

Just think how much better off the country and world would have been if Trump lost in 2016. Americas power and influence around the globe would not have suffered a major blow. The U.S. would have remained in the Paris Agreement instead of going backward in the effort to combat climate change. Public health researchers have found that were it not for Trumps politicization of the pandemic  especially his failure to endorse mask usage  thousands of COVID-19 deaths in 2020 could have been avoided.

The deficit would be $1 trillion to $2 trillion less if not for Trumps tax cuts, which greatly benefited the rich. The country would not have been dragged through two impeachments and a deadly insurrection. A nearly 50-year precedent that granted women the constitutional right to decide what to do with their own bodies would still be standing.

Beyond how Trumps actions and policies harmed the country, he undermined U.S. institutions and weakened democracy. Trump also left a meaner and more divided society. Antisemitism increased during his time in office. Hate crimes spiked, and race relations worsened.

Yet, despite the chaos, incompetence, and criminality, Trump remains the likely GOP nominee for president in November. That is due to the fealty by Republican elected officials, the disinformation and misinformation spread by conservative news outlets and social media, and a large segment of the population that remains in thrall to a wannabe dictator who is running for reelection to stay out of prison.

Trump still faces three other criminal indictments. Those charges for stealing classified documents and trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election were brought in three jurisdictions by three different grand juries.

Yet, somehow, Trump claims all of his wrongdoing is one giant conspiracy  as if state and federal prosecutors, judges, and jurors in different states got together to go after a privileged old man who has spent a lifetime telling lies and avoiding accountability.

It remains to be seen if Trumps latest conviction will sway any of his supporters. Trump famously said he could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue and not lose any voters. That may have been Trumps most truthful admission.

Strangely, those who are found guilty of felonies can still run for president. So, voters must decide if they want a convicted criminal in the White House.
When the verdict was announced, the area outside the courthouse resembled a party, Jenice Armstrong writes. Read more

NEW YORK  I didnt plan on being outside the courthouse when the verdict for former President Donald Trump was announced. But I happened to be in Manhattan on Thursday reporting a story, knew the jury was deliberating, and thought, let me just swing by the courthouse.

The rest was history. Literally.

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Within minutes of arriving at the courthouse near the financial district, the verdict was reached: guilty on all 34 counts, making him the first former U.S. president to be a felon.

And when the announcement came, the area outside the courthouse felt like a party.

 READ MORE: As he becomes a convicted felon, yet another ignominious first for Donald Trump | Editorial

Sure, there were a few Trump supporters who voiced their disapproval that their hero was getting his comeuppance. Im sick. Im sick to my tum tum, Jake from California (he declined to give his last name) told me, as he downed some pills from a prescription bottle outside the courthouse. He has no peers. Hes the best! Then Jake added, Tonight will not be a dry night.

But in New York City, which turned against the former president long ago, the vast majority of people I talked to were jubilant. Demetri Kavadas, 28, a social worker who lives in Manhattan was all smiles. I hate Trump. Hes horrible. Hes a degenerate.

It shows justice prevailed. Our system prevailed, said Kavadas, who wore a Ukrainian flag on his back like a cape. This is a step toward restoring that solid Democratic foundation.

And as the afternoon wore on, the perfect weather  and good news  drew a bigger crowd, amid the heavy police presence and journalists like me, clamoring to get quotes.

Shelley and Jim Hoberman came to the courthouse just to be with others and celebrate.

Its great for the rule of law, she said of the verdict. We are very encouraged.

I couldnt help but smile at all the people gathered here, celebrating. I felt the same joy they felt.

Ive been talking to voters  especially Black voters  leading up to the election, and the amount of misinformation about Donald Trumps accomplishments has scared me. On Thursday, I felt relieved and hopeful that Trump may, finally, have to face the music. Hes not fit for office. This verdict brings us one step closer to making sure he doesnt get there.

Regardless of individual feelings for or against Trump, a jury of his peers  including one who said they got their news from Trumps Truth Social platform  heard seven weeks of evidence and needed just 12 hours to reach a unanimous verdict. Its a testament to the American jury system that even a former president can be held accountable.

On Thursday, it felt good to see justice prevail.

Of course, the big question is: What happens now?

Angel Amezzquito, 48, a Black construction worker who lives in Harlem, was standing outside the courthouse when he told me he intends to vote for Trump in November. Hes not going to see jail. People like him dont see jail time, said Amezzquito, told me he is Caribbean. If anything, the verdict may work in his favor, he added. Hes still in the race and now you have made him a hot commodity, serving as a boost to his campaign.

Its true  Trump can still run in November. And according to recent polls, he could win. This baffles me. If many convicted felons cant vote, how can one become president? As I walked past reporters from other countries explaining to their audience how Trump can still run  and win  office again, I felt sick.

But I quickly put all that out of my mind, and turned my focus to the festivities. In the minutes after the verdict was announced, I wanted to bask in the company of people who are as relieved by it as I am.
Sen. John Fetterman (D., Pa.) arrives as the Senate holds a procedural vote on a package of wartime funding for Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies in February. Read more

Sen. John Fetterman is used to getting a ton of media coverage, but even by his standards, the last few weeks have felt like a lot.

Thats in part because Fetterman seems to have embarked on a media blitz of sorts to talk about the Middle East, his health, his support of President Joe Biden, his push for a commission on mental health, and whatever else reporters want to ask him about.

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There was a profile in Philadelphia Magazine. An interview on Fox News. A profile in the Wall Street Journal. An interview on MSNBCs Morning Joe. There was even a profile in the New York Times (though that was one he declined to be interviewed for).

 READ MORE: John Fettermans fight with the left is no longer just about Israel

Fettermans latest push on the interview circuit comes as the Democrat is losing support from former allies on the left and drawing praise from figures on the right whod previously mocked him.

Here are four things we learned from the parade of interviews and news stories:

Fetterman has continued to lose staff. According to the NYT, his political adviser Rebecca Katz has recently moved on, and chief of staff Adam Jentleson resigned last month to be an outside adviser. He has no plans to switch his party, he told the WSJ, saying, I just consider myself a Democrat that calls balls and strikes. As the NYT points out, despite his rhetoric, Fetterman has voted like a reliable Democratic foot soldier. According to the WSJ, Fettermans best friend in the Senate is Sen. Katie Britt (R., Ala.), a conservative freshman who was widely criticized for her stilted delivery of the State of the Union response earlier this year. Fetterman said he knows what its like to be a social media punchline, and he felt for Britt and her young family. Fetterman said on MSNBC that Trump has a strong position in Pennsylvania, but he still thinks Biden will eke it out. I fundamentally believe that its going to be a close race, he said.

N.J. Republican: Right-wing groups comments about sexuality were asinine

It may not be all that surprising that a New Jersey group that advocates for parental rights and religious liberty endorsed a Trump-backed Republican candidate for U.S. Senate.

The interesting part came next.

When the group, Team Protect Your Children, announced its endorsing Christine Serrano Glassner to fill the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, an administrator of the groups Facebook page invoked the sexuality of Serrano Glassners chief opponent.

We CANNOT let Curtis Bashaw, a Never Trump Republican who donates to Democrats, win. Curtis is married to a man, and he is proud of it, the page read.

Bashaw, a developer who is openly gay, is more moderate than Serrano Glassner. He opposed former President Donald Trumps 2016 run for the White House, and he served in the administration of former Democratic Gov. James E. McGreevey.

On Wednesday, one of the states most well-known Republicans waded into it: Jack Ciattarelli  whos making his second run for governor and narrowly lost last time around to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy  posted on X that Bashaw deserves an apology.

Asinine comments like this by fringe elements of our party repel independents & moderates in both parties  the very people we need to win over to be successful in November in a state where we are vastly outnumbered, Ciattarelli wrote. Curtis deserves an apology. Who he loves has nothing to do with how hell govern or his commitment to our partys core values of lower taxes, smaller government, individual freedom, or law & order.

Does the GOP have beef with Philly Elmo?

We think Clouts friend Lauren Vidas said it best when she referred to Phillys Elmo mascot, who plays in the Positive Movement drum line, as our cultural equivalent of the bagpipe players who greet dignitaries visiting Scotland.

Yes, the person who traverses the city in a bootleg Elmo costume is an institution, so Philly Democrats were thrilled when he and his drum line played at Bidens Girard College rally on Wednesday. Kudos to whoever on the Biden campaign orchestrated the built-for-Philly-Twitter moment.

Not everyone got the joke. National reporters coming to our fair city were quite confused about why Elmo was there, and some even asked Biden campaign staffers about it.

The big red guy also went semi-viral in circles less friendly to the president.

A Republican National Committee account with more than half a million followers on X shared a video from the rally, writing: Top Biden campaign surrogate Elmo warms up the crowd at Bidens rally in Philadelphia. The conservative site Gateway Pundit called it a clown show. And Fox News host Jesse Watters did a segment on the rally and the origins of Philly Elmo, showing video of the mascot dancing in front of a fire.

Fitting, Watters quipped.

Clout provides often irreverent news and analysis about people, power, and politics.

Staff writer Julia Terruso contributed to this column.
Former President Donald Trump departs after being found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records at Manhattan criminal court Thursday. Read more

Twelve jurors made history on Thursday when they found former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records, making him the first American president ever convicted of a crime.

What the moment could signify for the November election is less clear, partly because the situation has never before played out.

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Trumps lawyers are planning an appeal in the hush-money case as he awaits a sentence on July 11 that could include prison time and a fine. Meanwhile, any political fallout in the race, which is in a statistical dead heat, could be meaningful.

Polling has indicated a guilty verdict could erode some support for Trump, who can still run as a convicted felon, in his November rematch with President Joe Biden.

A March Politico and Ipsos survey found that a conviction could cost Trump more than one-third of independents. A February NBC News poll showed that a conviction in the New York trial could trigger a big swing in 18- to 34-year-old voters from Trump to Biden. And an ABC News/Ipsos survey from late April found that 20% of Trump supporters polled would either reconsider their support (16%) or withdraw it (4%) in the case of a conviction.

Still, those polls were based on a theoretical event. And until now, none of the four criminal cases against Trump has shifted a tight race. Thats partly because polling also shows that few voters are paying attention to them.

In a recent YouGov/Yahoo News poll, just 16% of respondents said theyd been following the Manhattan trial very closely, with one-third saying they were taking a mild interest in the proceedings. More Americans in that poll said the trial made them feel bored or angry rather than interested.

Thats somewhat surprising given the salacious subject matter  a former adult film star detailing an alleged sexual encounter with a presidential candidate. But Trump has a long history of outrageous behavior, and if the facts of the case have not motivated voters en masse, a conviction might not either.

I think even his most ardent supporters, given who he is, can believe everything they said he did, GOP consultant Chris Nicholas said ahead of the verdict.

Being a felon doesnt bar you from running for the presidency, Democratic political consultant Mustafa Rashed said. He will run on a campaign of grievances and compete hard in Pennsylvania.

But the wall-to-wall coverage of the conviction and July 11 sentencing hearing will be unavoidable. And the conviction itself  guilty on all counts  makes it easier for Democrats and Bidens campaign to label Trump as unfit for office. The Biden campaign already started referring to Trump as a convicted felon in a statement after the verdict was announced.

Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain, Biden-Harris 2024 communications director Michael Tyler said Thursday. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.

Its unlikely Trump will run his campaign much differently than he has been  portraying the criminal cases against him as bogus and using them as unifying rallying calls to his supporters. Within minutes of the verdict, Trump started fundraising off the conviction, describing himself as a political prisoner.

This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt, Trump said outside the courtroom following the verdict. This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent, a political opponent. And I think its just a disgrace. And well keep fighting. Well fight till the end, and well win because our country has gone to hell.

While theres no evidence Biden had anything to do with the charges brought by the Manhattan District Attorneys Office, the narrative of political interference has set in with many voters. A May Philadelphia Inquirer/New York Times/Siena College poll found 44% of respondents thought Trump would get a fair and impartial trial, most of them Biden supporters. Fifty-two percent of respondents thought he would not get a fair trial, most of them Trump supporters.

Both Democrats and some Republicans urged Americans to respect the verdict on Thursday.

Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process, former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, posted on X. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders  regardless of party  must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law.

One of Bidens top surrogates, Sen. Chris Coons (D., Del.), similarly urged all Americans no matter their party affiliation, to accept and respect the outcome of this trial.
Sen John Fetterman removed his Harvard University hood while making a speech at Yeshiva Universitys commencement on Thursday in protest of the schools handling of antisemitism.

Fetterman was honored with the Presidential Medallion for his unwavering support of Israel at the ceremony on Wednesday. The medallion, a high honor from the New York City-based Orthodox Jewish University, was last year awarded to Daniel Gold, the inventor of Israels Iron Dome air defense system.

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 READ MORE: John Fetterman, hero of Israel, will receive high honor at Yeshiva commencement

I dont belong in that company, I truly dont, I really dont, Fetterman said of Gold during a speech at the commencement. Im just a senator with a big mouth that happens to be committed to standing with Israel.

Fetterman, who graduated with his masters in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School in 1999, wore his Harvard graduation hood on stage at the beginning of his speech. But he said he has been profoundly disappointed in Harvards inability to stand up for the Jewish community after Oct. 7, and said its not right for him to wear the hood on Wednesday. He removed it, and the crowd stood up and cheered.

Harvard, like the University of Pennsylvania and other schools that have seen heated protest over Israels war with Hamas, has been scrutinized over the past year for its handling of antisemitism on campus.

The conversation over what constitutes antisemitism and what is criticism of Israel and its government has become a point of tension on campuses and in Washington, where lawmakers are pushing to expand the definition of antisemitism to include certain criticisms of Israel.

In March 2023, The Louis D. Brandeis Center for Human Rights Under Law filed a complaint with the university over what they called antisemitic and anti-Israel behavior toward Israeli students. Now, the center is suing Harvard for leaving antisemitism unaddressed on campus.

Additionally, the Republican-led House Committee on Education and the Workforce determined that the university ignored recommendations from an advisory committee created to address antisemitism after Oct. 7.

 READ MORE: John Fettermans fight with the left is no longer just about Israel

Harvard University President Claudine Gay resigned in January after a congressional hearing where she failed to say that calls on campus for the genocide of Jews would unequivocally violate university policy, as well as plagiarism accusations. Former University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill had just resigned in December after using similar language to Gay when she was similarly pressed by members of Congress, saying it would depend on the context.

At Wednesdays commencement, Fetterman said that he was wearing a wristband from the Nova music festival that Hamas rampaged on Oct. 7, which he said was given to him by a family of a hostage that was taken that day.

Its a constant reminder of the horrors of that day, Fetterman said. The Jewish community everywhere deserves our support.

He said he wont stop speaking out until every hostage is returned home, and was met with another standing ovation. Fetterman is not Jewish and his staff has said he has never been to Israel, according to Vanity Fair.

Fetterman also said in his speech that voting for billions of aid to Israel without any conditions was one of his proudest moments as a senator, to allow Israel to push back that kind of singular evil force. While Congress didnt attach conditions to the April aid package, Biden signed an order in February that attached human rights conditions to U.S. military aid.

After saying his heart is with hostages and Israeli soldiers, Fetterman also said that he grieves for innocent Palestinian children and women that Hamas is responsible for taking.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker ran on making Philly the "safest, cleanest and greenest big city" and she is launching a citywide cleaning initiative next week. Read more

Starting Monday, Lower Northeast Philadelphia neighborhoods like Frankford and Bridesburg and parts of Kensington will be swarmed by crews picking up trash, towing abandoned cars, and filling potholes.

Theyll be the first areas to benefit from Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers promise to clean every neighborhood this summer, city officials announced Friday.

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The following week, the operation will move to North Philadelphia neighborhoods including Olney and Hunting Park. Then they will head south to Strawberry Mansion and Brewerytown.

The cleaning crews will include workers from a dozen government agencies, including city departments like streets and sanitation as well as the Philadelphia Parking Authority. They will move weekly from June 3 to Aug. 26, with the targeted areas corresponding to the citys 13 sanitation districts.

For individual blocks, the operation will feel like a one-day blitz. Residents should expect crews to show up on the next business day after their trash day, said Carlton Williams, the administrations director of clean and green initiatives.

 READ MORE: Mayor Cherelle Parkers administration says it will clean every block in Philly this summer

We have challenges with illegal dumping, blighted buildings and lots, abandoned cars, graffiti and nuisance businesses, Williams said at a City Hall news conference Friday. Were forming a united front of city agencies, businesses, and community groups to ensure a citywide effort against urban decay. Were taking action.

Williams said they plan to deep clean every block in the city, but he asked for patience and encouraged residents to report missed blocks to the city for follow-up.

Members of the cleanup crews will use a mobile app to take photos logging their work, and residents will be able to follow along with the progress at www.officeofcleanandgreen.org, Williams said.

Parker, who took office in January, ran for mayor last year on a platform of making Philly the safest, cleanest and greenest big city in the nation, and her administration has described the summer cleaning effort as unprecedented for Philadelphia.

The only comparable initiative was Mayor John F. Streets citywide blight-removal program, Williams said, but that didnt involve the comprehensive suite of services that the Parker administration hopes to deploy.

 READ MORE: Mayor Parkers $246 million plan to clean up Filthadelphia

The administration, for instance, plans to clean 10 to 20 schools in each of the 13 sanitation districts, remove graffiti, issue code violations to businesses breaking city regulations, and do landscaping work  including adding soil, grass and fencing to 330,000 square feet of vacant land.

Williams said its not yet clear what the price tag for the program will be, but added that the administration will release a total when the effort ends.

Heres the neighborhood cleaning schedule for this summer, according to the plans released Friday:
Mayor Cherelle Parker, standing at a news conference in the Mayors Reception Room in November when she introduced her transition committee. Her administration has taken shape over the last five months, and some of her closest aides have salaries notably higher than their predecessors. Read more

Close advisers to new Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker are among the citys most highly paid public employees, with their salaries topping $200,000 a year, and in some cases exceeding the mayors own pay.

Thats according to city payroll data that show some of Parkers top aides earning significantly more than their predecessors in the same or similar roles. The salary increases come as the mayor has expanded the number of people in her office and proposed increasing its budget by 150%.

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An Inquirer analysis found that 16 of Parkers closest cabinet members collectively earn $3.5 million, or about one million dollars more than their peers did under former Mayor Jim Kenney last year.

That jump is due to year-over-year salary increases averaging about 16%  and in certain cases as high as 32%.

The highest-paid person on the organizational chart is new Police Commissioner Kevin J. Bethel, who earns $340,000 a year, a raise of 2.7% over former Commissioner Danielle Outlaw. His salary is the second highest among police chiefs in the 10 largest U.S. cities, and nearly $100,000 more a year than the head of the New York Police Department, which has six times the number of officers as Philly.

One of the most significant pay increases among Parkers top staff was for Managing Director Adam K. Thiel. The former fire commissioner who now oversees city operations earns $310,000  a 32% increase over his Kenney administration predecessor.

Two other top officials earn more than Parker herself, whose salary is $261,500. Atif Saeed, CEO of the Philadelphia International Airport, makes $335,000 a year, which represents a standard 3% increase over his pay last year. And Chief Public Safety Director Adam Geer  who coordinates the citys anticrime efforts outside of the Police Department  earns $265,000, a salary mandated under legislation that created the position last year.

Parkers closest aides, whom she refers to as the big three  Chief of Staff Tiffany W. Thurman and Chief Deputy Mayors Aren Platt and Sincere Harris  each make $245,000 a year. Thats almost 16% more than Kenneys chief of staff made last year. Communications Director Joe Grace makes $180,000, about 31% more than his predecessor.

All of those top advisers  and about two dozen mayors office staffers in all  earn more than elected City Council members, whose salaries are currently set at $155,300.

 READ MORE: Philly Council members get paid more than New York City legislators

Pay increases for top staffers hired by Parker were also notably higher than salaries for city officials who were retained from the Kenney administration. In most cases, people kept on from the previous administration saw raises between 3% and 7%.

Camille A. Duchaussee, the chief administrative officer who oversees human resources, said in a statement that pay ranges for top officers were set based on comparable salaries in other jurisdictions, cost of living, and a review of current salaries in relation to the size and scope of departments. All the salaries fall within those ranges set by the Office of Human Resources.

The administration wanted to ensure that employees were compensated in line with their experience and professional credentials, Duchaussee said, adding that the city is committed to fair and competitive compensation across all job specifications.

How Parkers mayors office is taking shape

Parker administration officials have previously said salaries in the mayors office were likely to rise in order to attract or retain top executive talent.

The mayor in March proposed a $15.2 million budget for the mayors office  the largest year-over-year budget increase of any department. Most other city agencies would see little to no increase in funding under Parkers plan, which still faces Councils approval.

The jump in mayors office spending is largely due to higher salaries  average pay jumped from $98,000 to $118,500, a 21% increase  and the addition of 74 new jobs.

Were  ensuring that salaries are competitive, Thurman said at the time. Its important for municipal leaders and those in the mayors office to represent what were seeking here, which is the best and brightest in leadership.

 READ MORE: Mayor Parkers own office got the biggest funding boost in her budget proposal

Yet nearly all of Parkers top officials already lived in Philadelphia when they were hired, many were current or former city employees, and some had worked directly for her in the past. Some of these picks drew scrutiny, including appointments of spouses of three Council members to a string of roles.

Parkers administration has defended hiring the members spouses. And the mayor said she was pleasantly surprised that so many of her hires ended up being from Philadelphia.

These people just had a Philly grit, determination, a resilience. They just had it, she said in December.

Of more than 70 appointments Parker has made, over a dozen were already in her political orbit.

At least seven people now earning a city salary worked for Parkers historic mayoral campaign, including Harris and Platt, who were her campaign manager and political consultant, respectively. Five other campaign advisers are also now aides in City Hall.

Hiring campaign staffers to administration posts is a time-honored practice. Most past mayors have similarly filled out their offices with people they are familiar with and who are loyal to them, as have executives at the state and federal level.

And eight more people Parker hired to work in her administration had previously been employed by former Council President Darrell L. Clarke, who did not seek reelection last year. Four of the former Clarke staffers are among 11 special aides assigned to Parkers chief of staff.

New Chief Information Officer Melissa Scott has ties to Parkers political coalition. In 2018, she ran unsuccessfully against progressive state Rep. Chris Rabb, who has been an antagonist of the Northwest Coalition. Scotts appointment coincided with a shake-up of the department that led former staff to publicly raise concerns.

Parkers administration also includes new community engagement and outreach teams, three of which are led by people who unsuccessfully sought seats on City Council last year. Donavan West, Parkers director of business roundtables, will lead outreach to major employers. Will Mega is the deputy director of neighborhood and community engagement, and Abu Edwards is the director of Black male engagement.

The mayor also hired a fourth former Council candidate, Luz Colon, to be one of six special assistants.

Duchaussee, the chief administrative officer, said in a statement that the decision to appoint former campaign and Council staffers was based on related experience and continuity of operational knowledge and strategy.

Preferences were neither applicable nor afforded, she said.

Pay for other city workers is under review

The city has meanwhile struggled to hire for thousands of rank-and-file positions, from librarians to 911 dispatchers, and labor leaders have said pay could be a key factor. Average pay for civil service employees who make up the majority of the 26,000-member workforce was about $69,000 last year, according to the citys payroll data.

The administrations spending projections assume wages among civilian employees who arent represented by a union  meaning those who arent uniformed such as police and firefighters  will grow 4.5% this year. The city is in the process of negotiating with two of the citys largest municipal unions that represent other civilian workers, and a citywide pay study is underway.

During a March budget hearing, City Councilmember Nicolas ORourke asked Parker administration officials about the mayors office salaries and whether commensurate raises would be offered to frontline city workers.

Duchaussee said the city will continuously review salaries and has contracted with a third-party firm to conduct a pay assessment across several departments to ensure that pay is competitive with peer cities.

Were absolutely committed to making sure that there is continuous assessment of our salaries, she said, that we are paying a wage that is livable, that contributes to our ability to recruit and retain talent.

Inquirer staff writer Sean Collins Walsh contributed to this article.

An earlier online version of this article included a salary for Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw that did not account for a final pay raise she received about six months before her resignation. Two other salary increase percentages were revised to account for new payroll data.
The building that houses the Juniper East Apartments at 1329-39 Lombard St. is the former site of the American Baptist Publication Society and would be included in the proposed Washington Square West Historic District. Read more

Washington Square West could become one of Philadelphias latest neighborhoods where a large portion is protected from demolition as a result of a yearslong effort by the local civic association and preservationists and over the objections of some property owners and urbanists.

The Philadelphia Historical Commissions committee on historic designation has recommended that the city create the Washington Square West Historic District, which would be the citys largest new historic district in decades. It would include 1,441 properties across roughly 26 city blocks. More than half of those properties already are listed on the Philadelphia Register of Historic Places.

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The Washington Square West Civic Association and the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia co-nominated the district, which they said is culturally significant to Black, immigrant, Jewish, and LGBTQ+ communities.

The district would stretch about half a square mile in an area between South Broad and Eighth Streets and Sansom and South Streets.

The committee on historic designation makes nonbinding recommendations to the Historical Commission, which is scheduled to discuss whether to create the new district at its public meeting on June 14. Owners of properties that are included in historic districts need the commissions approval to make changes to the outside of buildings, and properties are shielded from demolition. Much of the proposed district in Washington Square West is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which does not protect buildings from demolition.

I dont think theres a lot of other places, especially in Center City, where youre going to find this breadth and depth of history represented in one place, Deborah Miller, an archaeologist on the committee on historic designation, said at the committees public meeting last week.

I see a district like this, she later added, and the more I think about it and the more that I look through the inventory, Im just really impressed by how wonderfully diverse the neighborhood is, both in its architectural styles and its histories.

 READ MORE: After two failed efforts, Spruce Hill tries for a historic district to cover its vast collection of Victorian homes

Property owners who spoke against the creation of the district said owners should have gotten more notice about efforts to historically designate the neighborhood. They argued that designation is a burden for them and stifles further evolution of the neighborhood and that the proposed district includes too many properties and too wide of a time frame  from 1740 to 1985.

Suzanna Barucco, a historic preservation consultant and member of the committee on historic designation, said the proposed district represents the way the city should look at its history  more broadly, not more narrowly.

In preservation, we used to look at just the Colonial period, right? Washington slept here, Barucco said. And the way weve changed our outlook is to understand that its not just one early period but this continuum that makes places significant, whether its a historic site that has changed over, you know, decades or centuries, or whether its a community. Its this continuum that makes it significant. And each of these periods occur in this place, and this architecture occurs in this place and contributes to this larger story.

 READ MORE: Philadelphia has created its first historic district designated to recognize Black history

A yearslong historic preservation effort

Hanna Stark, director of policy and communications at the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, called Washington Square West a key Center City neighborhood, which illustrates the development of Philadelphias residential and commercial core over more than two centuries.

It is time to recognize the significance Washington Square West played in the progression of Philadelphias development westward, Stark said. The proposed district illustrates the neighborhoods major developmental trends and architectural styles.

Drew Moyer, a neighborhood resident and board member at the Washington Square West Civic Association, which has spent years working on the historic designation, said the neighborhood has been grappling with questions about its identity, such as whether its still a Gayborhood and whether to support a new Sixers arena next to it. He said neighbors often talk about the fabric of the neighborhood, especially relating to development.

 READ MORE: Washington Square West board takes no position on proposed Sixers arena

The civic association believe[s] there is no greater contributing factor to the fabric of our neighborhood than its history and the historic properties within it, Moyer said. He lives in a home built in 1837 that the Historical Commission designated as historic and said he worked with the commission during renovations, including an addition and new windows.

Vocal opponents currently, with all due respect, do not negate the majority of voices in support of the effort over many years, Moyer said. Perhaps the absence of a major historical building demolition in the last couple of years has quieted the emotions on this topic for some, but they will surely be reawakened should another landmark in our neighborhood be destroyed.

Supporters of the proposed historic district pointed out that Washington Square West sits between Society Hills district to the east and the Rittenhouse-Fitler district to the west. David Traub, cofounder of the preservation group Save Our Sites, said Washington Square West is an unfortunate gap in what could be a continuous run of protected old and historic buildings extending from river to river.

 READ MORE: Three Philly neighborhood groups took different paths to create historic districts

Opponents criticize kitchen-sink approach

5th Square, an urbanist advocacy group, opposes the creation of the historic district, saying it will make home modifications more complicated and expensive and raise rents and home prices by restricting development.

We should not be discouraging more residents in this amenity-rich neighborhood, and residents should not face added cost for repairing their homes, the group said in its online petition against the proposed district, which asks city officials to instead support the designation of individual properties to achieve a balance between preservation and development.

 READ MORE: Neighbors oppose 33-unit apartment building proposed in Germantown due to its incompatibility with historic district

Greg Hardes, whose home would be included in the proposed district, said he strongly opposes the designation and argued that the wide range of eras and events represented by included properties should disqualify the districts nomination.

If this nomination meets the Philadelphia Code requirements, a historic district designation could just as easily be proposed for the footprint of our entire city, he said. There may be smaller portions of our neighborhood that reflect specific social histories, such as the LGBTQ community, but they should be carefully identified and demarcated.

He said he hoped city officials took residents concerns seriously, because I know that there are similar concerns from many in our community.

Of the 1,441 properties included in the historic district nomination, 173 are considered significant properties. More than three-fourths of the total  1,120  are considered contributing properties. And the rest are considered noncontributing and subject to less review.

Attorney Matthew McClure spoke against the proposed district on behalf of Parkway Corp., the parking and real estate company that owns a parking lot at 13th and Locust Streets, one of a bunch of parking lots that would be included. Theres no doubt that the neighborhood has a tremendous amount of important buildings that are historically designated and can be historically designated, he said, but the proposed district lacks a unifying theme in its nomination that covers 245 years.

Unfortunately, this is a kind of a kitchen-sink approach, where everything was thrown in, he said, and this approach is too much here. He asked that if the city creates the historic district as proposed, the commission list Parkway Corp.s property as noncontributing.

Its a parking lot, he said.

Oscar Beisert, an architectural historian with the Keeping Society of Philadelphia, which advocates for the preservation of historic properties, said he objected to the idea of excluding the parking lot in the middle of the Gayborhood because theres no known archaeological significance. He said the area used to be home to Black homeowners and impoverished residents, groups whose stories didnt get preserved or documented.

And so I find it offensive to suggest that these places that once housed and may have archaeological resources would not be eligible because we cant tell you what happened there, Beisert said. We wont be able to tell you unless theres archaeological work done there.

Miller, the committee member, agreed. Archaeology is very much a part of this district, she said. I know people dont like to hear that, but it is.
Im thrilled to be joining South Pole on this next stage of its journey as a global leader in climate action, Beale noted. Together with our dedicated executive team and board members, I am committed to helping South Pole deliver on its new strategic direction, fostering a renewed culture of resilience and growth, and delivering positive and sustainable value for the business, our stakeholders, and the planet.
With the acquisition, Bruzon will rebrand to Bruzon Miller, which acknowledges the partnership between the two firms as Miller has been a minority shareholder since before 2015. Bruzons staff will still be led by Bruzon founder, chairman, and CEO John Bruzon. They will be collaborating with Millers staff from the UK, Asia, and Bermuda as well as the brokers European insurance markets which include France, Belgium, and Switzerland.
Given our growth and execution, Duck Creek is increasingly seen as the dependable brand leader for P&C and general insurance customers. Christians leadership acumen and customer-first mindset, combined with his deep understanding of the insurance sector, make him ideal to spearhead Duck Creeks investment in the Asia-Pacific region, said Rohit Bedi, chief revenue officer at Duck Creek. Christians leadership will be pivotal in delivering value to our customers across APAC and continuing our growth.
Commenting on her first hire, Della Mora said: I am thrilled to welcome Kelly to the new team were building here in Canada. Her technical knowledge, relationships, and professionalism are second to none, and she will be a huge asset to our business as we seek to deepen our partnerships with brokers across the country.
Purslow also said BenefitMall was thrilled to welcome Linn to the team as she is known for her strong work ethic, timely responsiveness, and a positive attitude that resonates with those she works with.
Atain said that this was the first time in the companys history that it had partnered with a business entity outside the HW Kaufman group. Usually, it provides services to its sibling companies. Zoidis said that Atain expects this new venture to be the first of many as it looks to diversify the companys portfolio beyond the Kaufman companies.
This collaboration not only reaffirms our commitment to delivering comprehensive and tailored solutions to our insureds but also paves the way for continued innovation. We couldnt be more excited to be collaborating with our partners at QBE.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore are assessing the countrys bridges to determine the likelihood of another disaster like the one that collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

The team includes students and faculty members and will focus on large bridges near major ports of entry, officials said in a news release Wednesday.

We need to know now, not five or 10 years from now, whether there is an outsize risk to bridges across the country, said team leader Michael Shields, an engineer specializing in risk assessment. The Key Bridge collapse was a wake-up call.

The steel span crumbled in an instant after the container ship Dali lost power and crashed into one of its supporting columns shortly after leaving Baltimores port on March 26. Six members of a roadwork crew plunged to their deaths.

Experts and officials have noted a number of factors that made the bridge vulnerable, including minimal pier protection that hadnt been improved in recent decades even as cargo ships grew larger and more imposing.

Clearly the risk to the Key Bridge was very different in 2024 than it was in 1977 when the bridge opened, Shields said. But we dont currently understand that risk.

The researchers will examine whether other bridges are similarly vulnerable by building models to determine the probability of a ship deviating from course and causing catastrophe in or around major ports.

Investment Priorities

Johns Hopkins officials said they hope policymakers will use the findings of their assessment to inform future investment decisions and prioritize infrastructure safety upgrades. They plan to release preliminary findings by the end of the summer, with the complete assessment expected to take about a year to complete.

Between the exponential growth of mega freight ships and the surge in global shipping traffic, many of our bridges simply werent built to withstand the pressures of todays maritime landscape, said team member Rachel Sangree, a structural engineer and former bridge inspector.

The National Transportation Safety Board, a federal oversight agency that is investigating the collapse, said in its preliminary report that the Dali sailed right past a protective concrete piling  also known as a dolphin  before bringing down the bridge.

Officials said they are assessing whether pier protection needs to be improved on other Maryland bridges, particularly the Chesapeake Bay Bridge near Annapolis, which links Baltimore and Washington to Marylands Eastern Shore. Such upgrades are often very costly.

Speaking before a congressional committee this month, board Chair Jennifer Homendy urged lawmakers to conduct risk assessments on the major bridges in their jurisdictions.

This could happen in any of your districts, she said.

The FBI also opened a criminal investigation into the circumstances leading up to the Key Bridge collapse.

Two tugboats guided the Dali out of Baltimores port, but they peeled off once it entered the main shipping channel in accordance with normal practice, according to the preliminary report. Experts have questioned whether a longer tugboat escort could have kept the wayward ship on course and averted disaster.

But not everyone agrees the Key Bridge could have been saved. U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who visited Baltimore soon after the collapse, said theres a lot of debate among engineers about whether any of those features could have had any role in a situation like this.

The Key Bridge was constructed in the 1970s to connect industrial maritime communities north and south of downtown Baltimore. It became a symbol of the citys proud working-class history and its burgeoning port.

The collapse halted most maritime traffic through the port for several weeks and disrupted East Coast trucking routes.

Last week, cleanup crews were able to refloat the Dali and guide it back to port. Officials say theyre on track to fully reopen the ports main channel by June 10.

Plans to replace the bridge are in the works, with a projected 2028 completion date and a nearly $2 billion price tag, officials have said. Federal funding, insurance proceeds and other reimbursements will bring a variety of resources toward the rebuild and recovery effort.

A report released Wednesday by the Maryland Chamber of Commerce highlighted the widespread economic impacts of the bridge collapse and called for increased investment in transportation infrastructure.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Maryland
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) is pursuing a case against an employer the agency says fired a new employee for not disclosing her low vision disability in her job interview.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits employers from soliciting information about a job applicants disability prior to a job offer, according to the federal agency.

The EEOC alleges in a lawsuit that All Day Medical Care Clinic, which operates five medical clinics in Maryland, violated federal law by firing its scheduling assistant on her first day of work shortly after she requested an accommodation for her visual impairments.

According to the EEOCs lawsuit, after the scheduling assistant informed All Day Medical Care Clinic about her vision impairments and need for accommodation, the employer questioned why she did not raise these issues in her interview, and immediately terminated her.

The employer ignored her later communications asking to remain employed, as well as subsequent overtures from her vocational representative to install and fund the accommodations, the EEOC said.

According to the EEOC, the ADA also prohibits an employer from refusing to employ a worker who might need a reasonable accommodation in an attempt to avoid accommodating the employees disability.

According to the lawsuit, the former employees vision has been impaired since birth and surgeries have failed to correct it. Her vision is 20/200 in her left eye and 20/80 in her right eye.

Prior to joining All Day Medical Care Clinic, she was employed for multiple years in an administrative support role with another health care provider.

On her first day on the job, she notified the clinics chief executive officer (CEO) of her disability and her need for an accommodation, which is an Optelec Magnification and Zoomtext software. The lawsuit alleges that a few hours later that same day, the CEO told her that she should have disclosed her disability and need for accommodation during her interview. The CEO then told her to leave, according to the complaint.

EEOC claims that within hours, the employees caseworker from the Department of Rehabilitation Services contacted the CEO and offered to install and pay for the software which would have enabled her to perform her job. The caseworker followed up with the CEO in the evening by telephone and email, but received no response.

The EEOC said it filed suit in U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement. The EEOC alleges the clinic fired her over her disability and because of the need to make reasonable accommodation to her disability.

The EEOC is seeking back pay, compensatory damages, and punitive damages for the employee, and injunctive relief.

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A nurse was fired by a New York City hospital after she referred to Israels war in Gaza as a genocide during a speech accepting an award.

Labor and delivery nurse Hesen Jabr, who is Palestinian American, was being honored by NYU Langone Health for her compassion in caring for mothers who had lost babies when she drew a link between her work and the suffering of mothers in Gaza.

It pains me to see the women from my country going through unimaginable losses themselves during the current genocide in Gaza, Jabr said, according to a video of the May 7 speech that she posted on social media. This award is deeply personal to me for those reasons.

Jabr wrote on Instagram that she arrived at work on May 22 for her first shift back after receiving the award when she was summoned to a meeting with the hospitals president and vice president of nursing to discuss how I put others at risk and ruined the ceremony and offended people because a small part of my speech was a tribute towards the grieving mothers in my country.

She wrote that after working most of her shift she was dragged once again to an office where she was read her termination letter and then escorted out of the building.

A spokesperson for NYU Langone, Steve Ritea, confirmed that Jabr was fired following her speech and said there had been a previous incident as well.

Hesen Jabr was warned in December, following a previous incident, not to bring her views on this divisive and charged issue into the workplace, Ritea said in a statement. She instead chose not to heed that at a recent employee recognition event that was widely attended by her colleagues, some of whom were upset after her comments. As a result, Jabr is no longer an NYU Langone employee.

Ritea did not provide any details of the previous incident.

Jabr defended her speech in an interview with The New York Times and said talking about the war was so relevant given the nature of the award she had won.

It was an award for bereavement; it was for grieving mothers, she said.

Gazas Ministry of Health says that more than 36,000 people have been killed in the territory during the war that started with the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel. Around 80% of Gazas population of 2.3 million has been displaced and U.N. officials say parts of the territory are experiencing famine.

Critics say Israels military campaign amounts to genocide, and the government of South Africa formally accused the country of genocide in January when it asked the United Nations top court to order a halt to Israeli military operations in Gaza.

Israel has denied the genocide charge and told the International Court of Justice it is doing everything it can to protect Gazas civilian population.

Jabr is not the first employee at the hospital, which was renamed from NYU Medical Center after a major donation from Republican Party donor and billionaire Kenneth Langone, to be fired over comments about the Mideast conflict.

A prominent researcher who directed the hospitals cancer center was fired after he posted anti-Hamas political cartoons including caricatures of Arab people. That researcher, biologist Benjamin Neel, has since filed suit against the hospital.

Jabrs firing also was not her first time in the spotlight. When she was an 11-year-old in Louisiana, the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on her behalf after she was forced to accept a Bible from the principal of her public school.

This is not my first rodeo, she told the Times.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
AM Best has revised the outlooks to stable from negative and affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of a (Excellent) of workers compensation specialist Maine Employers Mutual Insurance Co. in Portland, Maine and its wholly owned subsidiaries, MEMIC Indemnity Co. and MEMIC Casualty Co., both domiciled in Manchester, New Hampshire. All three companies collectively are referred to as MEMIC Group.

AM Best said the credit ratings reflect MEMIC Groups balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management.

The revision of the outlooks to stable from negative reflects the groups demonstrated sustainability in improved operating results that compare more favorably with AM Bests workers compensation composite.

AM Best noted that the MEMIC Group implemented several initiatives aimed at achieving an underwriting profit across all entities and obtaining adequate pricing across the entire book of business. These efforts have resulted in a significant reduction to the groups combined ratio and 2023 marked its most profitable underwriting performance in 10 years, AM Best said.

AM Best said the results have benefited from premium growth and reduction in policyholder dividends in 2022 and 2023. Additionally, MEMIC Group enjoyed robust investment returns in the past two years.

The rating agency said the groups balance sheet strength is supported by the strongest level of risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), which benefited from a recent reduction in a common stock leverage.

The surplus has been enhanced by positive operating results as well as the issuance of the long-term $30 million surplus note.

The group is well-positioned for further premium growth and plans to sustain modest underwriting profitability over the next several years, AM Best said.

MEMIC offers workers compensation coverage in 46 states and the District of Columbia. For 2022, the firm reported $401 million in written premium. The company will be holding its annual meeting on June 10.

Topics Trends AM Best
Israel plans to allow more oil tankers to dock at a Red Sea port in Eilat despite environmental risks, as it strives to maintain energy security amid conflict on multiple fronts, according to Israeli officials and government documents.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus office wants to revoke restrictions on the amount of oil that can be unloaded at a jetty in the city, which sits in the middle of a string of resorts and beaches and is adjacent to a fragile coral reef.

The curbs imposed in 2021 by the Environmental Protection Ministry and which effectively halted an oil supply deal with the United Arab Emirates, were eased temporarily late last year at the start of the Gaza war.

The jetty belongs to state-owned Europe Asia Pipeline Co (EAPC), which operates a pipeline across Israel connecting the Red and Mediterranean seas as an alternative for tankers crossing the Suez Canal.

EAPC wants to receive more oil but environmental regulators and Eilats mayor oppose the plan.

With the war against Hamas setting off fighting with Hezbollah in Lebanon and drawing attacks from other Iranian proxies in Yemen, Iraq and even by Iran itself, Israel is pushing to ensure it can keep its economy running smoothly.

When its main energy source, the offshore Tamar gas field, was briefly shut at the outset of the war with Hamas, the country turned to supplies earmarked for export.

With Yemeni Houthis disrupting trade in the Red Sea, ships have diverted to Mediterranean ports. Utilities have built their own backup networks.

EAPC signed a deal to transfer large amounts of oil from the UAE to Europe through its pipeline in 2020, shortly after Israel and the UAE normalized ties, in one of the most significant partnerships to emerge from the U.S.-brokered Abraham Accords.

The deal was forecast to transfer tens of millions of tons of oil, meaning about 50 tankers docking at the crowded Eilat shoreline annually, the Environmental Protection Ministry said. The prior average was two.

The environment ministry took a hardline policy of no additional risk and set a limit of two million tons of oil, effectively blocking the deal.

Eilats coral reef is unique in having proved more resilient to climate change, when many reefs around the globe are dying. It is also a big tourism draw. Its proximity to the jetty leaves it vulnerable to even the smallest leak from one tanker.

Despite those risks, Netanyahus office recommended this month that the easing of restrictions be extended and broadened to include fuel for trade as well as domestic use, and even for capacity to unload oil products in Eilat to be expanded, an internal report seen by Reuters showed.

The government of Israel does not take an approach of complete risk avoidance  not in security, not in energy and not in the environment, a ministerial committee formed by Yossi Shelley, director general of Netanyahus office, said in the report which has not been made public.

Not canceling the limitation of the no additional risk policy, without managing the risk, and not expanding the distillates port might lead to the closure of the Eilat terminal and not allow the required response in times of emergency.

The committee instructed the environment ministry to come up with a plan to minimize risks from more oil deliveries.

The Environmental Protection Ministry wrote to Netanyahus office on April 16 after receiving the report, and in its letter seen by Reuters said its concerns were ignored, the reports recommendations were unacceptable, and that it did not have the resources to regulate the proposed increase in deliveries.

In arguing its case, the ministry has cited past mishaps, like in 2014 when EAPCs pipeline burst, spilling millions of liters of oil into a nature preserve.

It was unclear whether removing the Eilat limitations would revive the UAE oil deal. Petromal, a unit of Abu Dhabi-based National Holding and one of the owners of the company that signed the deal with EAPC, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

Keeping the Oil Flowing

EAPC Chairman Erez Halfon welcomed the governments U-turn in a statement in which he said the war has made clear the strategic, security and energy importance of EAPCs facility in Eilat.

Without constant oil deliveries, the Eilat facility will degenerate and become unreliable, EAPC said.

Nearly all Israels trade, including energy deliveries, is seaborne and most happens along the Mediterranean coast in ports at Haifa, Ashdod and Ashkelon.

In 2023 Israel imported 267,000 barrels per day of crude oil, according to data from shipping analytics firm Kpler, mostly from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Kurdistan.

The Emirati oil deal could be worth about $50 million a year for EAPC, according to the internal report.

Israels Energy Ministry told Reuters that oil deliveries should be enough to economically sustain the terminal but need to be handled properly vis a vis the environment.

One government official dismissed an argument by the director general of the Environmental Protection Ministry that there were other ways to keep the jetty functioning.

The professional position was clearly stated that any means other than operational activity will not be sufficient to keep that channel functioning, the official told Reuters.

The committee, the official emphasized, did not tell the Environmental Protection Ministry exactly how much oil should be permitted or how to conduct the survey, only that it be carried out. It gave the ministry three months to comply.

(Additional reporting by Robert Harvey in London and Alexander Cornwell in Dubai; editing by Elaine Hardcastle)

Photograph: A Saar-6 corvette, the latest-generation warship which Israel is using for its naval defense system amid maritime threats from Yemens Houthi rebels, is seen in waters in Eilat, Israel, on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

Topics Energy Oil Gas Pollution
This edition of International People Moves details appointments at Howden Re and climate consultancy South Pole.

A summary of these new hires follows here.

Howden Re Names Hearn as Chair, Global Clients Strategy

Howden Re, the reinsurance and risk advisory arm of Howden, the international insurance intermediary group, announced the appointment of seasoned reinsurance veteran, David Hearn, as chairman, Global Clients Strategy.

Hearn brings more than 42 years of experience from global reinsurance broking, most recently serving as executive vice president at Guy Carpenter. At Guy Carpenter, he was part of the firms global account advisory group, responsible for the companys largest global client engagement. Hearn served in a similar capacity at Willis Re from 1994 to 2015.

As chairman, Global Client Services, Hearn will support leadership and client service teams across the spectrum of risk and strategic advisory. This will include advising large, multi-product insurance companies with international presence and complex coverage needs.

Howden Re has made impressive progress around the world in a short period  the business is on a growth trajectory that I have not seen in a very long time, according to Hearn.

Coming out of retirement required joining a team that is truly special and focused on the critical disciplines required to be successful in the reinsurance brokerage business. I have had the opportunity to work with many great clients over my career and I am very much looking forward to becoming part of such a client-centric team, working alongside elite operators, and contributing to the companys continued growth, he added.

***

Ex-Lloyds CEO Beale Named Chair of Climate Consultancy South Pole

Former Lloyds chief executive officer, Inga Beale, has been named chair of the climate consultancy South Pole, with a remit to help drive the companys business transformation plans as carbon markets and corporate sustainability practices mature.

Working with new CEO Daniel Klier and the wider executive team, she will help steer the business towards the next stage of growth and innovation.

Beale will replace Christoph Grobbel, following his nine-year tenure as chair. She joins Zurich-based South Pole in June.

During a career spanning more than four decades, Beale made history as the first female CEO of Lloyds (January 2014  December 2018). She also held numerous senior leadership roles at General Electrics insurance division where she worked for 14 years. Beale then led the Swiss reinsurer Converium, where she spearheaded a company turnaround.

In 2008, she joined Zurich Insurance Group as a member of its group management board. The following year she was named the groups global chief underwriting officer. From 2012-2013, she was the group CEO at the privately held Lloyds insurer, Canopius. She now has a portfolio of non-executive roles.

South Pole said Beales appointment underscores the companys continued commitment to enhance its strategic governance, risk mitigation and regulatory compliance, as well as its wider stakeholder engagement.

This appointment  helps to ensure that South Pole is well placed to keep delivering positive climate impact and to lead in the growing sustainability industry, the company said in a statement.

Topics Excess Surplus Lloyd's
Major investors in Australia arent responding fast enough to rising threats to infrastructure and other assets from cyclones, floods and other natural disasters, according to a group focused on climate risks.

Extreme weather events in the nation in recent years have impacted everything from airports and farms to power grids and mines  all assets targeted by money managers seeking long-term returns for workers and retirees.

Even so, a survey of 63 investors operating in Australia with more than A$35 trillion ($23 trillion) under management globally found only 16% had calculated the risk across their entire portfolio. Just 3% were taking any action, the Sydney-based Investor Group on Climate Change found in its study.

Theres been a real focus on recovery as opposed to adaptation and resilience, said Kate Simmonds, physical risk advisor at the group, which represents a network of institutional investors. Thats going to need to change.

Australias lethal 20192020 bushfires destroyed thousands of homes and caused an estimated A$8 billion in damage. Floods in eastern Australia in early 2022 racked up A$6 billion of insured losses, according to the Insurance Council of Australia. The economic costs from increasingly volatile weather will reach hundreds of billions of dollars in coming decades, the IGCC said. These climatic changes are already unavoidable, it said.

Climate Vulnerability

The risks arent lost on Aware Super, a A$175 billion Australian pension fund with a portfolio that includes a large wind farm, hospitals, transport hubs and ports. The fund adopted a traffic-light system to model different climate scenarios and assess the vulnerability of assets to events like floods and extreme heat, Chief Investment Officer Damian Graham said in an interview.

We believe theres a real risk, and if we get it right, itll add returns in time, Graham said. Assets that have successfully limited the chances of damage will fetch higher prices when its time to sell, he said. Aware Supers modeling didnt suggest any assets need to be sold immediately, Graham said.

According to the IGCC, investors should be assessing risk under at least three plausible situations, including 1.5C (2.7F) of warming and another for at least 3C. Planned disclosure laws in Australia will probably compel entities to report the implications of different scenarios, the group said. In the survey, just 32% of respondents said they had carried out such analysis.

Action on adaptation and resilience must significantly increase to safeguard the value of investments, the IGCC said in its report.

Photograph: Residents cross floodwaters by boat in Cairns, Australia on Dec. 18, 2023; Photo credit: Brian Cassey/AFP/Getty Images

Copyright 2024 Bloomberg.

Topics Australia
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP)  A massive explosion blew out much of the ground floor of an apartment building, killing a bank employee and injuring several other people. Police and emergency officials initially blamed natural gas, but the fire chief later said the cause is under investigation.

The blast happened around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, collapsing part of the ground floor of Realty Tower into its basement and sending the facade across a street where both sides had been blocked off by orange construction fencing. The 13-story building has a Chase Bank branch at street level and apartments in upper floors.

Speaking at a news conference Wednesday, city officials said the state fire marshals office was leading the investigation into the cause, and it wasnt known when a determination may be made.

The bank employee, 27-year-old Akil Drake, had been seen inside the building right before the blast, the Youngstown Police Department said Wednesday. Youngstown Fire Chief Barry Finley said in a news conference Tuesday that firefighters rescued several people and cleared the building to ensure no one else was hurt.

Finley said Wednesday that two people  Drake and a woman whose name has not been released  were initially unaccounted for after the blast, so firefighters and other emergency responders remained on scene for several hours to locate them. Finley said the woman was found in a hospital where, for unknown reasons, she had been registered under another name.

Drakes body was eventually found in a basement.

We were not going to leave there until we found him. His family deserved closure, Finley said.

JPMorgan Chase mourned his loss and said it would work with local officials. Our hearts go out to their family as well as our injured employees, their families and others affected by this tragedy, a company statement read.

Police and the Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency said there was a natural gas explosion, but the fire chief later said it was too early to say.

We have no idea what caused the explosion. We know that there was an explosion and it did a lot of damage to the bottom of the building, Finley said Tuesday. He said none of the apartments in the building are habitable.

Seven injured people were taken to Mercy Health Hospital in Youngstown. Finley said one woman remained in critical condition Wednesday.

The blast shook downtown Youngstown, a city of about 60,000 residents. Bricks, glass and other debris littered the sidewalk.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Ohio
Following its announcement several months ago to leave the homeowners insurance business in nine states including California and Louisiana, American National appears to be exiting the line in all states.

According to a letter sent to employees and other stakeholders last week, American National has made the additional decision to exit the homeowners line of business in all remaining states.

The Galveston, Texas-based insurance group, which operates in all 50 states, began withdrawing its homeowners product from nine statesCalifornia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, and Washingtonin February. The exit from other states will be done in stages throughout the remainder of the year.

Profitability concerns in homeowners are compelling given the significant and persistent underwriting losses over the last 10 years, said Matt Ostiguy, senior vice president and property/casualty chief operating officer of American National Holding Company, in the letter. The company will turn its P/C focus to the farm and ranch line of business, as well as certain commercial lines and a renters insurance program to achieve its goal of a combined ratio of 95, he added.

When reached for comment, a company spokesperson confirmed American National had notified state regulators of the intent to withdraw from the homeowners insurance market in the original nine states.

As we focus on expanding America Nationals core insurance operations and businesses, we remain committed to serving as a source of certainty for our clients, the spokesperson added.

American National ranks 7th in the country in farm and ranch, according to Ostiguys letter. About 94% of P/C operating earnings have come from agricultural commercial business, and it has been a growing market for the insurer. The homeowners line is not a large business for American National Group. According to AM Best, annuity, life, and accident & health account for large majority of the groups net premiums.

Ostiguys letter addressed the impact of the insurers employees. He said the decision will affect staffing levels. Some team members will be reassigned to support the new growth initiatives.

American National became a subsidiary of Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd. in 2022 when Brookfield purchased insurer American National Group Inc. for about $5.1 billion in an all-cash deal.

The company announced a comprehensive rebranding initiative to modernize its brand in 2023.

American Nationals move comes as the U.S. homeowners insurance segment posted its worst underwriting results in over a decade in 2023.

As of last July, American National Group has a Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) from AM Best, with a stable outlook. Fitch Ratings in May affirmed the A Insurer Financial Strength (IFS) ratings for American National. Fitch also maintained the BBB+ Long-Term Issuer Default Ratings (IDR) for the company with a stable rating outlook, which Fitch said encompasses the companys debt repayment ability and its outstanding debt instruments. S&P Global Ratings in May also affirmed American Nationals A Rating.

Topics Trends Homeowners Market
Analysts with the AM Best financial rating firm and other stakeholders are cautiously optimistic about the resurrection of the Florida property insurance market, 18 months after state lawmakers approved monumental litigation reforms.

That was the sentiment gleaned from a Thursday webinar hosted by the rating company and from an AM Best report on the Florida market, released the same day.

Its still a little too early to declare a win in the marketplace, but signals do look promising, AM Best analyst Josie Novak said.

Notably, since the legislation was enacted in late 2022, direct defense and cost containment expense  considered a key measure of the claims litigation burden on carriers  has dropped sharply. In 2022, Florida carriers reported the highest DCC-to-direct-premiums-earned-ratio of all U.S. states, at 8.4%, for homeowners, allied and fire lines. The next-closest state was Louisiana, at 3.6%, AM Best reported.

By the end of 2023, that measure had been cut in half, falling to about $307 million for the 47 insurers that write most of the Florida market, including the state-backed Citizens Property Insurance Corp., but excluding some major national carriers.

While still early, a downward trend has been observed, indicating the reform has positively impacted results, the report noted.

While 2023 was a year that saw only one relatively minor hurricane hit Florida, claims and defense costs would have been two to three times higher under under Floridas pre-reform statutory regime, which had allowed assignments of benefits and one-way attorney fees, said Randy Fuller, the Florida leader for Guy Carpenter, the global reinsurance firm.

Another sign of health in the patient: The combined ratio for Florida-focused carriers, excluding Citizens, dropped to the break-even mark in 2023, outpacing AM Bests national property insurance composite measure. Citizens combined ratio fell to less than 81%.

These are results that have not been seen since the earlier part of the latest decade, the report noted.

The expense ratio for the Florida specialists fell to about 26%, down from a high of 35% in 2019. Loss-reserve development for Florida insurance carriers also is showing promise, with favorable numbers for the first time in years, AM Best said.

Florida carriers also added significantly to policyholder surplus last year  without major cash infusions. From 2019 to 2023, the Florida-focused insurers, including those that became insolvent, received $2.6 billion in capital contributions, but surplus grew by just $239 million, the analysis showed.

But in 2023, surplus had jumped by $532 million and that was was not dependent on capital contributions.

The news about the reinsurance market was a little more of a mixed bag. After three years of turmoil, spiking reinsurance rates, limits on coverage and higher retention levels, the 2024 renewals for most Florida carriers seem to be incredibly stable, Fuller said.

The legislative changes have created some optimism among most reinsurers, analysts said.

But reinsurance costs are still weighing heavily on insurers, and Florida carriers have a much higher dependency on reinsurance than insurers in other parts of the country  almost 10 times the national average, the AM Best report noted. From 2019 to 2023, unaffiliated ceded premium for the Florida insurers more than doubled, from $3.1 billion to $6.4 billion.

Although many carriers have sharply raised rates for policyholders in recent years, the growth in direct premium written has not kept pace with the growth in ceded premium, the report found.

The materially higher position indicates greater direct risk borne by Florida specialists, necessitating more effective risk transfer, underwriting, pricing, and risk exposure management, the report said.

Still, other signs point to improved market conditions, including modest rate decrease requests from several insurers and the approval of eight new carriers for Florida this year. Most of those new companies are reciprocal exchanges, a model that some insurance agents until recently had been unfamiliar with, said Dave Newell, vice president of membership and industry relations for the Florida Association of Insurance Agents.

But once the model was explained to agents, they have become more comfortable with it, Newell said in the virtual conference.

Access to the full report can be found here.

Topics Trends Florida Reinsurance
A Kentucky tobacco farmer has been sentenced to more than three years in prison after pleading guilty to crop insurance fraud, eight years after he was convicted of similar crimes.

David Manion, 61, who resides in Lafayette, Tennessee, and owns land in southern Kentucky, must also pay $9 million in restitution, fines and other costs, a federal judge in the U.S. District Court in Western Kentucky decided this week. In his plea, Manion also agreed to a lifetime ban on utilizing the federal crop insurance program.

Manion pleaded guilty in 2016 to defrauding the federal crop insurance program by overstating damage to his fields. He was barred from participation in the program for five years. But while that case was still unresolved, he recruited his adult children to make insurance claims on tobacco that Manion farmed, funneling some of the proceeds to Manion, according to court records and the U.S. Attorneys Office in Louisville.

One of Manions children was also prosecuted for the scheme and was fined. The mans attorney had said Manion suffers from diabetes and should be allowed to stay out of prison.

Topics Fraud Agribusiness Tennessee Kentucky
Dozens of Oregon wineries and vineyards have sued PacifiCorp over the deadly 2020 wildfires that ravaged the state, alleging that the utilitys decision to not turn off power during the Labor Day windstorm contributed to blazes whose smoke and soot damaged their grapes and reduced their harvest and sales.

In the latest of several lawsuits to hit the utility over the fires, some 30 wineries and vineyards in the Willamette Valley accused PacifiCorp of negligence and requested over $100 million in damages. The suit was filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court last week.

In an emailed statement, PacifiCorp said it is committed to settling all reasonable claims for damages as provided under Oregon law.

The safety of our customers and communities remains our top priority, the statement said.

The wine producers named as plaintiffs in the suit are located in the Willamette Valley, home to two-thirds of Oregon wineries and vineyards and the oldest wine region in the state, according to the Oregon Wine Board.

In their complaint, the wine producers say the fires produced harmful smoke particles that landed on and infused themselves into the grapes.

Vineyards couldnt sell their grapes to winemakers, and wineries have been unable to sell their wines, resulting in lost revenue and damaged reputations, the complaint says.

Grapes and grape juice that are infused with smoke can carry the smoke compounds and smoke taste through the entire wine production, bottling process, and sale to the consumers, the complaint said.

Despite paying extraordinary costs to try to cleanse the soot and smoke from their 2020 vintages, such efforts largely failed, according to the complaint.

Other Oregon wineries have also sued PacifiCorp in separate lawsuits that contain similar allegations and requests for economic damages.

In other cases that have gone to trial over the past year, Oregon juries in multiple verdicts have ordered PacifiCorp to pay hundreds of millions of dollars to victims. Ongoing litigation could leave it on the hook for billions.

Last June, a jury found PacifiCorp liable for negligently failing to cut power to its 600,000 customers despite warnings from top fire officials. The jury determined it acted negligently and willfully and should have to pay punitive and other damages  a decision that applied to a class including the owners of up to 2,500 properties.

Thousands of other class members are still awaiting trials, though the sides are also expected to engage in mediation that could lead to a settlement.

The 2020 Labor Day weekend fires were among the worst natural disasters in Oregons history, killing nine people, burning more than 1,875 square miles and destroying upward of 5,000 homes and other structures.

Copyright 2024 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Wildfire Oregon
A Washington wage complaint investigation resulted in The Boeing Co. paying $11.5 million in unpaid wages to nearly 500 workers.

The Washington State Department of Labor & Industries reports receiving four complaints in November 2022 from workers who were performing aircraft maintenance overseas for Boeing. From there, it expanded to a broader investigation into travel pay and policies for workers in Washington State.

State law requires companies to pay workers for time spent on mandatory travel and on-the-job related activities while on a required work trip. Employers also owe overtime and sick leave accrual based on those hours.

L&I and Boeing signed a compliance agreement on May 24 acknowledging payments totaling $11,538,550.56 to 495 Boeing employees.

In the agreement, Boeing said it started revising the pay practices after a September 2021 Court of Appeals case, Port of Tacoma v. Sacks, a case that affirmed L&Is position on compensating workers for out-of-town business travel. Unlike federal wage and hour law, which excludes certain travel time, all travel time related to work is considered work time under Washington law.

L&I found Boeing had not paid or accounted for all overtime and for paid sick leave for the additional time going to worksites while out of town. During the course of L&Is investigation, Boeing agreed to pay the workers who filed initial complaints and the larger group impacted by travel work policies at the company. The total includes wages and overtime for travel between October 2019 and August 2023. Individual workers received amounts ranging from a few hundred dollars to more than $90,000.

Additional terms in the agreement spell out conditions intended to ensure the issue doesnt happen again, including Boeing committing to following the law related to travel work pay in the future and the company has developed a process to investigate if additional wages are owed.

According to L&I, the Boeing case is the largest amount of back pay returned to workers in the agencys history. The previous largest case involved Hertz and Thrifty car rental companies. In a 2017 agreement with the agency, the companies paid nearly $2 million in back wages to 157 workers.

Topics Aviation Washington Aerospace
The world has entered an age of permapolycrisis, where numerous interrelated crises and transformations occur simultaneously and severely block the resolution of common global challenges. Climate change continues to pose an existential threat to humanity, and war is back as an instrument of politics, with even the risk of thermonuclear apocalypse back in the realm of the possible. To say it in Thomas Hobbes words, we face a real risk of a world with No arts; no letters; no society; and which is worst of all, continual fear, and danger of violent death; and the life of man, solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short. While it is true that the world has faced many difficult periods in the past, that should not distract from the enormity of the current challenge and the significant risks we are facing in the years to come.

To some, this might seem overly alarmist. But Europeans especially should know better, having lived through an age of permacrisis over the past 15 years or so: the financial and economic crisis, the European sovereign debt crisis, Brexit, Trump, Russian aggression in Crimea and Georgia, migration, terrorism, a pandemic and so on. At the same time, Europe had to contend with major transformations  climate, technology and demography  in a domestic and global political environment that is increasingly characterised by fragmentation and polarisation.

Within that context, Russias invasion of Ukraine was a watershed moment, ushering in a Zeitenwende, the beginning of a new era, where European security, prosperity and democracy are directly under threat. The war in Gaza only serves to highlight the level of global instability, while also increasingly pitching the West against the rest, accelerating the demise of the global rules-based order.

While lip service has been increasingly paid to the challenges of this new era, actions are falling far behind what is needed. This is in part because Europe is suffering from a collective progress illusion, where the (positive) actions taken have not come close to addressing the scale and scope of Europes challenges. In other words, while Europe is facing exponential challenges, policy is still trying to respond with linear solutions.

There is also a wilful denial of reality, often for contradictory reasons. On the one hand, some are arguing that Europe grows with crisis, that we have found solutions to fundamental challenges in the past and we will do so again when our backs are against the wall. They point to what has been done already, for example, in support of Ukraine or in response to the pandemic, and the unprecedented nature of these actions. In part, this is an illustration of the progress illusion but it is also ignoring what has not been done and the significant risks that poses.

There are also those who have fallen prone to despair, who believe that it is impossible for Europe to address these challenges and that we are doomed to live in a period of decline, where future generations face even worse constraints on their ability to shape the environment in which they live and to defend their values and interests. There is much truth in this point of view; if we do not act, this will likely be the future that coming generations will face. But this should be a rallying call, not an excuse for despair and inaction. It is a moral imperative that we do all we can to change these dismal outcomes for future generations.

But why are we not doing what needs to be done, actions that many decision-makers deem necessary? At the heart of the problem lies democracy itself. The choices that we have to make will be painful and costly, in part because they directly affect our economic model and prosperity. The EU has to distribute the costs rather than the gains from further integration. While these costs are lower than they would be if every country would have to act alone, politically this is a far more challenging proposition, magnified by the cross-border nature of these costs and their distributional consequences. The common refrain from decision-makers is that the necessary actions are politically impossible, i.e. the dilemma that Jean-Claude Juncker summarised succinctly when he said, We all know what to do, but we dont know how to get re-elected once we have done it. In other words, the rise of populism and nativism and the more challenging and contested environment is undermining the political economy of common political action and forward-looking strategic decisions.

In part, this is a trap we have created ourselves. Rather than acknowledging that the world we are facing will entail making difficult and painful trade-offs, and that such systemic and structural action will require sacrifices that will constrain our lifestyles, we have told populations that governments will protect them from these mega-trends. When it comes to Russias threat, politicians, at least in Western Europe, were quick to assure the public that our lifestyle would not be impacted fundamentally after the initial adjustment period, emphasising that, in essence, it is not our war. No wonder the realistic appreciation of danger present in many populations gave way to a more complacent attitude. Even worse, when it comes to climate action, populations were told that green policies would contribute to Europes competitiveness, almost inevitably leading to a backlash when climate action starts to hurt the pockets of households directly.

All of this adds up to a fundamental threat to democracy. Modern democracies will have to prove that they work in bad times, not just in good, and not only in the EU but across the world. The elections this year will provide a marker for how strong the essentially undemocratic and populist forces have become, including in the European parliamentary election and in the US presidential election. Negative outcomes can lead to vicious downward cycles, as democratic politicians feel increasingly unable to defeat the populist challenge and try to avoid controversy but at the same time undermine democracy by failing to meet the expectations of citizens.

The first step towards getting us out of this dilemma is brutal honesty. James Baldwin said, Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced. Citizens want to see integrity and honesty in their leadership, and this is the only choice that will encourage populations to make the necessary sacrifices. But for that, European leaders have to stop acting according to the environment they would like to live in and start to live in the real world, which is becoming more challenging and contested, not less.

Rather than copying some of the policies from the populists, our political leaders need to provide a forward-looking vision that provides a feasible but painful path to protect the values and interests of future European generations. This needs to be underpinned by cross-border strategic thinking, first defining common objectives and then adjusting the means to achieve them. This also entails changing the European integration process, not for its own sake but to deliver common solutions that match the scale and scope of the global permapolycrisis we are facing.
The shift towards a climate-neutral Europe and rapid advancement of new technologies, coupled with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, have severely impacted our working and learning patterns. Millions of Europeans have either lost their jobs or were forced to adapt to new job paradigms. Approximately 95% of small and medium-sized businesses in Europe report that it is very or moderately important for their business model to have workers with the right skills. This situation holds nearly two-thirds (63%) of companies back in their general business activities, as reported by a recent Eurobarometer (European Union, 2023).

The responsibility related to education and training is now being shared between both individuals and organisations, involving several national, regional, public and private sector actors. The concept of learning has also evolved and is no longer limited to school years but spans the whole lifetime of an individual, starting with early childhood education, to adult life and old age. Moreover, it is multifaceted, including formal, non-formal and informal learning, and combining the more traditional paths with micro-learning experiences that are cumulative and transferrable.

The COVID-19 pandemic had particularly harsh consequences on less advantaged categories, rendering them even more vulnerable. Low-skilled adults and less favoured groups (women, youth, people with disabilities, migrants) needed to reinforce their efforts to have access to the labour market and maintain their skills, albeit updated to new realities. Skills became the new currency, impacting the productivity, resilience and competitiveness of European economies.

These trends are expected to continue in the near future, with severe impacts on our job markets. First, the population ageing is expected to increase, which will place a bigger burden on the working-age population. A higher share of elderly individuals will also put more strain on healthcare and social protection services. The EUs working-age population is projected to decline (by 57.4 million until 2100) and the old-age dependency ratio to increase (from 33% to 60% by 2100). This will intensify the pressure on public budgets and will have a profound impact on investment, productivity and entrepreneurship, forcing small and medium enterprises to upskill and reskill their staff to remain viable.

Second, the rapid pace of technological developments, including the emerging AI technologies and the digitalisation imperative, both in terms of infrastructure and skills, will require a fast adaptation of human capital. These developments will generate new job profiles and skills, in areas completely embryonic some years ago: cloud computing, cybersecurity, robotics, data analytics, etc. Several studies show that 75 to 375 million people around the world may change their professional category by 2030 due to the new job market scenarios (Manyika et al., 2017), and 8%-9% of the 2.66 billion people in the workforce will have new occupations by 2030 (Lin, 2011).

In this digitalised world, certain categories of the population (such as elderly or low-skilled adults) will have difficulties keeping up. The Digital Economy and Society Index shows that four out of ten adults and every third person who works in Europe lack basic digital skills (European Commission, 2023b). This is particularly relevant for women, who are under-represented in tech-related professions and studies, with only one in five ICT specialists and one in three science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) graduates being women. Massive investments in digital skills and incentives to render the STEM professions more attractive to women will therefore be needed.

Third, climate change will generate major mutations in jobs patterns, with many jobs related to carbon-reliant economies likely to disappear, and new jobs in green industries likely to be created. The risks and hazards associated with environmental degradation will affect vulnerable workers the most. The International Labour Organization (2018) estimates that between 2000 and 2015, 23 million working-life years were lost annually at the global level as a result of such hazards. However, the transition to a low greenhouse gas economy is expected to lead to a net creation of jobs. New occupations will emerge in areas related to green professions and technologies, for example, in energy, agriculture, manufacturing, R&D and service activities aimed at substantially preserving or restoring environmental quality (Iberdrola, n. d.). Evidence suggests that in Europe around 500,000 additional jobs will be directly and indirectly created by 2050 as a result of the increase in adaptation-related activities.

What is the EU response to these challenges? The EU institutions have jointly designated 2023 as the European Year of Skills, an initiative aimed at pursuing four main objectives: promoting investment in training and upskilling; ensuring that skills match the needs of employers; matching peoples aspirations and skill sets with opportunities on the job; and attracting people from outside the EU with needed skills. The Year of Skills has helped companies, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises, to address skills shortages in the EU and to promote a mindset of reskilling and upskilling. This involved the participation not only of EU institutions, but also of member states, social partners, employment services, chambers of commerce and industry, education and training providers, workers and companies to the common goal of upskilling and reskilling workers.

Moreover, the EU adopted various legal and policy documents in order to enhance upskilling and reskilling and to encourage private-public partnerships. It also mobilised massive resources and technical support to help boost skills and enable access of vulnerable groups to the labour market.

As regards legal and policy coordination, the European Pillar of Social Rights agreed in 2017 at the Gothenburg Summit on 20 key principles for a strong and inclusive social Europe. This was complemented in 2021 by an action plan that set up ambitious headline targets for 2030, such as at least 78% of the population aged 20 to 64 in employment and at least 60% of adults participating in training every year. The efforts were pursued with the European Skills Agenda, a five-year plan helping individuals and businesses develop more and better skills, by strengthening competitiveness, ensuring social fairness and building resilience to crises based on the lessons learnt during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Pact for Skills, one of the flagship actions of the agenda, has supported public and private organisations with upskilling and reskilling through shared knowledge, partnership opportunities and advice on relevant funding instruments to boost the skills of adults in their regions and countries. The Pact has currently 1,000 members and involves 14 large-scale partnerships in strategic sectors, with pledges to help upskill up to 6 million people. This will help the EU industry to thrive and become more competitive on a global scale.

The EU legislation in the area of skills was also strengthened. The Council Recommendations on individual learning accounts and micro-credentials adopted in 2022 aim to help people to update or complete their skill-sets in a more flexible and targeted way (Council of the European Union, 2022a, 2022b). For example, micro-credentials certify the learning outcomes following a small learning experience (e.g. a short course or training), offering a flexible way to help people develop the knowledge, skills and competences they need for their personal and professional development. The recommendation seeks to make micro-credentials work across institutions, businesses, sectors and borders, ensuring that everyone has access to relevant training opportunities tailored to their needs.

Moreover, the Council Recommendation on vocational education and training for sustainable competitiveness, social fairness and resilience adopted in 2020 defines key principles for ensuring that vocational education and training is agile in that it adapts swiftly to labour market needs and provides quality learning opportunities for young people and adults alike. It places a strong focus on the increased flexibility of vocational education and training, reinforced opportunities for work-based learning and apprenticeships and improved quality assurance.

As far as funding is concerned, the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) allocates more than 99 billion for 2021-2027 to investing in people. In addition, the Recovery and Resilience Facility will disburse 723.8 billion in both grants and loans to member states in order to mitigate the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose is to support member states reforms and investments, including in the area of skills and jobs.

As regards the technical support, the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) is an EU programme managed by the European Commissions Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM), which provides tailor-made technical expertise to EU member states to design and implement reforms in line with the European or their national priorities. With a budget of 864 million for the period 2021-2027, the TSI provides demand-driven support and does not require co-financing from the EU member states.

The technical support includes, for example, strategic and legal advice, studies, training and expert visits on the ground and can cover any phase in the reform process, from preparation and design to development and implementation of the reforms. The assistance is provided in a wide range of policy areas, including education, training, skills, climate action, digital transition and health.

What examples of support from the Technical Support Instrument have proven successful so far in tackling the triple challenge of ageing societies, rapid technological developments and climate change? Let us consider the challenge of an ageing population. Support measures that were effective in mitigating the impact of the phenomenon were related to: lifelong learning strategies, activation of the young people not in employment, education or training (NEET), attraction and retention of talents from third countries, recognition of formal and informal learning and qualifications or active ageing strategies.

For example, the Italian Ministry of Education received technical support to strengthen the capacity of the Provincial Centres for Adult Education (CPIAs) in developing guidelines to harmonise the process of assessment and recognition of qualifications. Key activities included consultations with stakeholders to identify strengths and weaknesses of the services provided by CPIAs; review of EU good practices in skills evaluation and recognition; guidelines for CPIAs to improve skills recognition and development of individual learning paths. The project supported CPIAs in conducting a consistent, transparent and uniform process of assessment and recognition of competences. In the long term, this should lead to increasing accessibility and outreach of CPIAs and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.

Another example refers to the support provided to Denmark to develop more successful, future-oriented talent retention policies ensuring that skilled international talents would stay longer or permanently in the country. The support also fostered talent mobility across the EU by promoting better cooperation between EU member states, such as Germany, Spain and Estonia. The measures included an analysis of the relevant legal framework for labour migration, best practices for attracting and retaining skilled and highly skilled international talent, recommendations for enhancing the regulatory and legislative frameworks, as well as capacity-building and training. The project is expected to address challenges such as excessive administrative red tape in processes linked to work and residence permits, the validation of credentials and recognition of skills/qualifications, and discrimination in recruitment processes.

In addition, Greece provided technical support for the design and implementation of a lifelong learning framework of quality and labour market relevance, as well as of related evaluation tools. The support entailed recommendations for the development of a skills and competence framework for primary and secondary education in line with the needs of the market; the development of an evidence-based jobseeker profiling system and of feedback mechanisms to integrate labour market information into active labour market policy (ALMP) design; and a proposal for a performance-based evaluation system for non-formal learning providers. The measures are expected to increase the capacity of the Greek authorities to design and implement reforms on skills acquisition, with an emphasis on upskilling and reskilling.

As regards the challenge of fast technological development and digital upskilling/reskilling, support measures that proved successful referred to: strategies to assess and increase digital maturity of education institutions at various levels; digital transformation embedded in curricula reforms; strategies to upskill/reskill the digital needs of various categories of the population, including low-skilled adults; strategies and roadmaps for increasing the uptake of digital technologies, including monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.

As an example, Cypriot authorities benefitted from support to improve the digital literacy of adults, with a particular focus on low-skilled adults. The support included: an analysis of the current situation regarding the digital needs of low-skilled adults and barriers to digital upskilling; examples of good practice from other EU member states on digital upskilling pathways; recommendations on improving the digital skills of low-skilled adults; career guidance and upskilling pathways for low-skilled adults; improving the adult educators skills to better support the target group; and design and delivery of online/blended training to adult educators/trainers to enhance digital skills of low-skilled adults. The project led to a better understanding of the barriers faced by low-skilled adults when it comes to the acquisition of digital skills, as well as to the adoption of policy measures and tools that improved the digital literacy of the adult population in Cyprus.

In the Netherlands, various universities have jointly expressed the ambition to give Automated Vulnerability Research (AVR) a more prominent place in their cybersecurity curricula, and to organise yearly student challenges as a means to engage students. AVR is a technology used for identifying software vulnerabilities in an automated, scalable way. The Dutch authorities received technical support to implement their national AVR roadmap, promote collaboration between universities and industry, and embed AVR in the cybersecurity curricula of various universities. Investments in cybersecurity skills and technology are expected to provide a technological advantage to the Netherlands and indirectly, to the EU, strengthening their strategic autonomy in digitalisation.

Finally, as regards the green transition challenge, technical support has proved successful for designing or supporting the implementation of strategies and roadmaps for a better identification of the green skills needs and gaps; reviewing industrial strategies to include green development measures; supporting green and circular economy transition through standardisation of product data in digital and automated processes; and providing measures to support the greening of SMEs and green entrepreneurship.

For example, Flanders was assisted in steering the transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient and green economy. This included the development of a high-level Green Skills strategy and of a Green Skills Roadmap for the whole economy, based on an assessment of the skills needs, good practices and consultations with stakeholders. The results enabled the Flemish authorities to improve their understanding of the green skills needs and gaps and deploy relevant measures within the Flemish economy.

In addition, Portugals capacity to stimulate the greening of SMEs and green entrepreneurship was enhanced through TSI support. The project focused on the manufacturing and construction sectors and aimed to boost the number of green start-ups through incubation and acceleration. The authorities were supported in: strengthening their industrial ecosystems through the development, implementation and evaluation of national, regional and sectoral industrial strategies; and upskilling and reskilling for the green transitions through the mapping of training and education needs for workers and entrepreneurs, with a specific focus on digital and green skills. This will lead to an increased green capacity and improved tools of the SMEs ecosystem in Portugal, which will render its industry more competitive.

Conclusions

The labour market is currently experiencing unprecedented shifts, with new skills emerging and others becoming obsolete. Employers and employees need to adapt fast, embrace change and build new competences, both technical, but also socio-emotional in order to remain viable on the market. The learning process needs to be a co-owned endeavour involving a multitude of actors, including employees, employers, national and regional governments, industry, training providers, social partners and the community at large.

The triple challenge of an ageing society, rapid technological developments and climate change exercises multiple pressures on the human capital. Governments across the EU need to render this transition socially just for everyone, stimulating the participation of disadvantaged categories to the labour market and expanding the range of upskilling and reskilling opportunities in parallel with social protection measures.

Skills strategies and related implementation plans built upon solid political ownership and broad stakeholder engagement should guide the way to enhancing skills and employment prospects. They should rely upon accurate skills anticipation tools, functioning in conjunction with evidence-based monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to match the labour market needs with the existing offers.

Social dialogue should become a crucial tool to take the pulse of the labour market and foster partnerships. This is the spirit of the Val Duchesse summit, when the European Commission and its partners announced the signature of a Tripartite Declaration for a thriving European Social Dialogue, in a bid to support European businesses, boost staff retention and equip professionals with the skills they need for the future.

In conclusion, Europe needs to take into account this variable geometry of paradigms, enablers and constraints, blending funding instruments with technical support and fostering partnerships if it intends to remain competitive and facilitate a smooth digital and green transition without leaving anyone behind.

* The information and views set out in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official opinion of the European Commission.

References

Council of the European Union (2022a), Council Recommendation of 16 June 2022 on a European approach to micro-credentials for lifelong learning and employability, Official Journal of the European Union, C 243/02, 10-25.

Council of the European Union (2022b), Council Recommendation of 16 June 2022 on individual learning accounts, Official Journal of the European Union, C 243/03, 26-34.

European Commission (2023a), Demographic change in Europe: a toolbox for action, Communication from the Commission, COM(2023) 577 final.

European Commission (2023b, 10 October), Digital skills and jobs, Shaping Europes digital future, https://digital-strategy.ec.europa.eu/en/policies/digital-skills-and-jobs (23 April 2024).

European Union (2023, 12 September), Survey highlights skills shortages in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), Press Release, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion.

Lin, S. J. (2011), Technological adaptation, cities, and new work, The Review of Economics and Statistics, 93(2), 554-574.

Manyika, J., S. Lund, M. Chui, J. Bughin, J. Woetzel, P. Batra, R. Ko, S. Sanghvi (2017), Jobs Lost, Jobs Gained: Workforce Transitions in a time of a automation, Mckinsey Global Institute.

Iberdrola (n. d.), Green jobs: good for you, for the environment and for the economy, https://www.iberdrola.com/sustainability/what-are-green-jobs (23 April 2024).

International Labour Organization (2018), The employment impact of climate change adaptation, Input Document for the G20 Climate Sustainability Working Group.
The Philippines, an archipelago of 7,000+ islands in the western Pacific Ocean, is home to a substantial community of expats who enjoy the countrys natural beauty, laid-back lifestyle and lower cost of living. Expats, whether planning to live in the Philippines for the long-term during retirement, or just in the country for an extended visit, might be interested in opening a bank account there to make it easier to access funds. Here, we take a quick look at what it takes to open a bank account in the Philippines.

Key Takeaways Many Americans choose to live in the Philippines to work or retire, due to its relatively low cost of living and lifestyle.

The country hosts many global banks that also have branches in the U.S., making it easy to integrate your finances.

To open a new bank account in the Philippines, you must be prepared to present identification in-person and have the proper visas.

Money in the Philippines

Similar to the U.S., the banking system in the Philippines supports large international banks, national banking institutions and small, rural banks. Expats typically choose either national banks such as Philippine National Bank, Metrobank and Bank of the Philippine Islands or international institutions such as Citibank, Bank of America and HBSC. In general, expats should avoid small, rural banks as they tend to offer limited services and may be subject to closure with little or no notice.

Internet banking is available through most major national and international banks, and physical banks are usually open between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on business days and closed on weekends and holidays. The official currency of the Philippines is the Philippine Peso (PHP). Notes come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 PHP. One peso is equal to 100 centavos, and coins are issued in 10, 5 and 1 PHP, and 50, 25, 10 and 5 centavos.

Opening an Account

To open a bank account in the Philippines, you must visit the bank in person with several identification documents in hand. While you will always be required to show documentation at any bank, the particular documents that are required may depend on the bank. Many banks require you to have an Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card (ACR I-Card), a microchip-based, credit card sized identification card.

All foreign nationals holding immigrant and non-immigrant visas (including holders of a Temporary Visitors Visa)  who have been in the country for more than 59 days  are required to apply for an ACR I-Card. You can apply for the card at the main office of the Bureau of Immigration or at one of its field offices throughout the country. The card costs $50, plus P500 (about $60 total). In some cases, you may be able to open an account without an ACR I-Card; however, you may be required to meet directly with the bank manager before an account can be approved.

You will also need a passport or some other form of photo identification, a passport-sized photo of yourself and proof of your address, such as a current utility bill or rental contract. The bank will also require a minimum deposit for the account to be opened. The Philippine National Bank, for example, has a minimum deposit of P3,000, or about $60, for a debit savings account.

The bank may also require a bank reference from your country of permanent residence or country of citizenship. The Philippine bank may contact your bank of reference directly, or ask you to submit written certification from the bank. If you were not introduced to the bank by an existing bank client or employee (which is often the case), your account might be put on hold until the reference process is complete.

Are Deposits Insured?

In the United States, any money you deposit at an FDIC-insured bank is automatically protected by the FDIC (the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation), created in 1933 in response to the many bank failures of the 1920s and early 1930s. This includes deposits made to a checking account, negotiable order of withdrawal (NOW) account, savings account, money market deposit account (MMDA) or time deposit, such as a certificate of deposit (CD)  with a coverage limit of $250,000 per depositor, per account. If a bank fails, the FDIC ensures you get quick access to your insured deposits.

The Philippine Deposit Insurance Corporation offers a similar program, but with a much lower level of protection than FDIC provides to U.S. depositors. In the Philippines, your deposits are insured up to P500,000 (about $10,000), which applies to the total amount of money you have on deposit in a bank, not to each individual account. So even if you have several different accounts, you are insured up to only a maximum of P500,000.

The Bottom Line

Expats and visitors have a number of options for banking in the Philippines. Large, national banks and international banks  including CitiBank and HBSC  are popular choices for expats. Citibank, for example, offers free withdrawals from any ATM in the Philippines (and 13,000+ Citibank ATMs worldwide) and online banking, so its easy to keep track of your finances. With any account, be sure to read the fine print so you know what fees to expect.
TikTok has put on hold plans to launch its fast-growing e-commerce business across major European markets, focusing instead on growth in the US where its fighting a divest-or-ban law.

ByteDances social media app has put on hold a roll-out of its shopping platform across Spain, Germany, Italy, France and Ireland that was to have taken place as soon as July, according to people familiar with the matter. It also iced plans to bring the Shop feature to Mexico and Brazil, one of the people said.

It is unclear if or when ByteDance may choose to resume the process, the people added, asking they not be identified discussing private information.

The move, which may catch many merchants in the region by surprise, reflects ByteDances objective of entrenching itself in the US as a way to prove its value to domestic merchants and consumers. ByteDances leadership wants to concentrate on its most lucrative market  with 170 million monthly users  to thwart a potential US ban thats discouraged some merchants from signing up for the new platform, the people said.

TikTok Shop  which combines addictive video content with impulse buying in visual fashion  is the apps fastest-growing feature. The combination of eye-catching videos, popular influencers and full-scale commerce helps set it apart from rivals like Instagram and YouTube and opens a path to take on Amazon.com.

TikToks template is ByteDances own Douyin, today one of the largest Chinese e-commerce platforms. Using that model, TikTok Shop found success in Southeast Asia before debuting in the US last year.

A TikTok spokesperson declined to comment on the paused roll-out plans and said the company is guided by demand. Weve seen the positive impact of TikTok Shop, and were excited to continue experimenting with this new commerce opportunity, the spokesperson said.

It has set a goal to grow US merchandise volume tenfold to as much as $17.5bn (16.1bn) this year. Importantly, management also recognises that a full-on European expansion could invite regulatory scrutiny similar to the US, the people said.

It hasnt always been smooth sailing. TikTok Shops UK launch as early as 2021 has generated mixed reviews, after Chinese exporters flooded the market with cheap wares. TikTok has since relied more on local A-list brands for later market entries.

USA

In the US, the bigger immediate threat is Washington. ByteDance filed a legal challenge in May to a measure signed by President Joe Biden that will ban TikTok if its Chinese owner hasnt divested the app by January 19  an ultimatum meant to address perceived national security concerns.

ByteDance has argued a divestiture is not commercially, technologically, or legally feasible.

TikTok has stepped up subsidies and other incentives to super-charge its US e-commerce business in recent weeks. It dropped the threshold for creators looking to join its affiliate program to 1,000 followers from 5,000. Affiliates can post videos touting products sold in TikTok Shop and collect commissions on the sales they generate.

TikTok, in the meantime, is under an EU probe into whether a lighter version of its app in France and Spain risks fomenting addiction. TikTok Lite promises to pay users cash through a points system as long as they keep scrolling for content, a common marketing tactic in China.

Read More TikTok among social media platforms to use technology to label AI-generated images

Bloomberg
This June Bank Holiday weekend I have made very few plans except for a shellfish order from my local fishmongers and a thick piece of sirloin from my butchers.

The sirloin will be rubbed with lemon, salt and olive oil and grilled on the barbecue as will langoustines and a split lobster.

Ill match these with fizz and Vouvray (see below) and some lightly chilled reds - if it rains I have a large umbrella - Im not going to be denied my bank holiday barbecue!

Wines for barbecues should ideally have texture as well as flavour but do not need to be complex.

I would keep those aged Bordeauxs and those Gran Reserva Riojas for another time and serve lightly chilled young wines or Crianzas instead.

Natural reds served cool and Pet-Nats and rose are also good all rounders.

I do hope to make it to Bloom in the Phoenix Park one of the days, and will be hanging around the drinks tent most likely as there are some new Irish drinks being launched this weekend including a new Kinsale Mead as well as craft beers and poitins.

I will also be picking up new potatoes.

Recommendations this week are a lively Gascogne white perfect for light lunches and seafood, and two season-appropriate wines from the Loire.

Sparkling rose just seems like the perfect wine for a June Bank Holiday while I always view Vouvray is the thinking persons white wine.

Vouvray is justly famous as a wine region but is not one we see on our shelves all that often.

I love it for its texture and the way it seems to linger on the palate and in the memory like a first kiss.

It is also terrific with seafood or with difficult to match dishes like Caesar Salad and Salad Nicoise.

Domaine de Menard Cuvee Marine, Gascony, France, 14.95

Domaine de Menard Cuvee Marine, Gascony, France, 14.95

LAttitude 51; Bradleys; LeCaveau.ie; Baggot Street Wines; Green Man wines; McGuinness Wines.

This light crisp Gascony white is perfect for summer and light meals (it is 11.5% ABV).

Made from 60% Colombard with 20% Sauvignon Blanc and Gros Manseng.

Fruity peaches and tropical fruits on the nose, lemon zest and white flowers with a pleasing zingy palate.

LExtra par Langlois Rose Cremant de Loire, France, 19.95

LExtra par Langlois Rose Cremant de Loire, France, 19.95

OBriens

Owned by Bollinger Champagne these days, Ive always found this producer reliable and in the past have recommended their Chenin Blanc and red Saumur.

This Cabernet Franc based Cremant is fruity but dry and will match nicely with some fresh strawberries thanks to its red berry fruits and scent of rose petals. Also try with scampi and chips.

Marc Bredif Vouvray Classic, Loire, France 26.95

Marc Bredif Vouvray Classic, Loire, France 26.95

JJ ODriscolls; Vintry; Redmonds; Independents.

I dont mention Vouvray very often and Im not sure Ive ever featured this one which is a benchmark wine for the region capable of ageing for at least 10 years.

Aromatic and almost lush on the nose with ripe pear and tropical fruit notes - textured and intense on the palate with vibrant acidity, fine length and layers of complexity.

Beer of the Week

Lineman Organised Fun Hoffenweisse 5.6% ABV, 440ml, 4.75

Lineman Organised Fun Hoffenweisse 5.6% ABV, 440ml, 4.75

Bradleys; Matsons; No. 21 Waterford; Kilmartins Athlone; Fresh; CraftCentral.ie

Im a big fan of Mark Luceys Lineman beers - always packed with flavour. This seasonal was created for warm weather and is a hybrid German (wheat based) weissbier and a punchy IPA (using BRU-1 & Hallertau Blanc hops).

Pineapple, muscat grapes and citrus aromas - crisp, lively and fruity on the palate with a big dollop of hops on the mid palate and tangy dry finish with lingering spice notes. Delicious!

Also watch for his gorgeous Big Beans Coffee Brown Ale.
The notion of independence has been on my mind lately. Mainly because the rigorously independent producer and musician Steve Albini died, leaving behind him a legacy of quite astounding records, including Pixies Surfer Rosa, PJ Harveys Rid of Me and Nirvanas In Utero.

What was notable about him, beyond the exacting quality of his work and his habitual acidity (and occasional obnoxiousness, at least earlier in his career), was the unpretentious and critical approach he adopted towards his own industry.

He didnt call himself a producer  instead he was an engineer who recorded the band.

He refused to take a percentage of the royalties of an album he worked on. Instead, he took a flat fee, and his rates are still there to see on his studios website.

Everything was transparent and his style was resolutely unshowy.

Albini was a close observer and severe critic of the music industry.

He wrote an article for Chicago journal The Baffler in 1993 called The Problem with Music in which he painted an unsparing picture of the desperate efforts bands make to impress what were then all-powerful major record companies.

Producer and musician Steve Albini died leaving behind him a legacy of quite astounding records, including Pixies 'Surfer Rosa', PJ Harveys 'Rid of Me' and above, Nirvanas 'In Utero'. Picture: Paul Bergen/Redferns

He went on to estimate the costs involved in recording and touring an album for a major, concluding that, after all the effort theyve put into the process, and after selling a quarter of a million copies, by the time the costs have been subtracted the band members have each earned about [one-third] what they would working in a 7-Eleven.

Some of your friends are probably already this fucked, he concluded.

With time, the nineties notion of selling out has apparently been superseded by a more pragmatic framework where artists are unafraid to take everything they can and to tailor their work for a perceived market to maximise sales and attention.

Its not just in music. It happens in literature all the time  although the stakes are often much lower.

Dan Sinykins recent overview of what he calls the conglomerate era in American publishing in his book Big Fiction  the period, from around 1960 onwards, during which corporations hoovered up smaller publishers and mushed them together, leading to the big five who pump out most of what we read now  illustrates the success that authors enjoyed when they diverted their talent towards genre fiction: horror, westerns, crime, big shark attack, whatever.

Sinykin calls the kind of influence that agents, editors, marketing staff, publicists and other layers of publishing play in the delivery of a book corporate authorship, implying that the author isnt acting alone  that its a group effort in which, inevitably, an authors efforts at innovation are curbed (or at the very least, the author, shrewdly, learns the rules and adapts accordingly).

All good if everyone gets rich, I suppose. But most writers, even if they jump through the hoops that are set up for them by the corporate authorship system, still dont make anything close to the minimum wage.

Albini was right, basically, and his lessons dont only apply to his own industry, but to the rickety world of publishing on which the legal underpinnings of the music industry were modelled.

Essentially, when writers are rewarded by an industry and a market for saying the right things  things that please readers  they seem less likely to voice opinions that might potentially make others unhappy.

Perhaps this is natural: even if you sell a million copies of your book, theres no guarantee your next one will, so you need to do everything possible to make sure that you dont mess up. Irritate a portion of your audience and thats fewer sales.

That breeds a conservatism in supposedly progressive writers thats often unremarked upon in the literary pages of our newspapers.

Many younger writers  Sally Rooney being one of them  have spoken out about the events in Gaza, but others are less forthcoming.

In the third week of April, I happened to be in New York, so one sunny afternoon, with a couple of hours to spare, I walked up Broadway to see what was going on at Columbia University, where students had occupied part of the campus in solidarity with Palestine, demanding that, amongst other things, their institution divest from investments in companies that profit from what is currently being investigated by the International Court of Justice as a genocide carried out by Israel.

The normally publicly accessible campus had been locked down, with students and staff required to swipe in.

Many students bags were being searched and leaflets and flags in support of the protesters were confiscated.

Many younger writers  Sally Rooney being one of them  have spoken out about the events in Gaza, but others are less forthcoming. Picture: Getty Images

At a locked gate on Broadway protesters within campus chanted out to supporters on the sidewalk who had been corralled between barriers by police.

Although the protesters were peaceful and good-natured, the police were edgy. An SUV stopped on the other side of Broadway, beeped its horn, and the woman driving waved a keffiyeh  the patterned scarf that has become a symbol of Palestine  from the window to cheers from the protesters and crowd. She drove off, and a police jeep followed, its blue lights flashing.

A couple of weeks later the police stormed a building on campus and arrested students who were occupying it.

The local and national media treated the students like radical extremists  exaggerating their position and obscuring their real aims.

You dont have to have seen them with your own eyes to be sceptical about the abuse theyve been subjected to by an America which would rather distract itself with unreality than confront reality.

( Star Warss own Luke Skywalker, Mark Hamill, appeared at a press conference in the White House a couple of days after the Columbia activists were forcibly removed.)

You dont have to have witnessed it, but it probably helps.

In an interview with The Guardian Colm Toibin, promoting his new novel Long Island, mentioned that he had to sneak past police onto Columbias campus, where he teaches, to reach his office to talk to the journalist over Zoom.

Its not like he was unaware of what was going on outside, but if he did comment in further detail on it his remarks havent made it into the published piece.

Instead, the pro-Palestine protestors are in there for a little bit of colour, but no more, before the author stresses his support for Joe Biden and the importance of keeping Trump out  a position that would have seemed relatively uncontroversial if Biden hadnt played such an important role in the murderous and potentially genocidal events that the students were protesting. (Its important to note that Toibin has a history of being interested in and sympathetic to Palestinians plight.)

Students and pro-Palestinian activists face police as they gather outside of Columbia University to protest the university's stance on Israel in April in New York City. Picture: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

In early May, a peculiar piece appeared in The New Yorker written by Zadie Smith. It took newspaper reports of campus antisemitism at face value without considering the layers of distortion and misinformation that might have been imposed between her and the reality of what was going on.

In a strange pseudo-philosophical parlour game of an essay that its fair to say failed to meet the moment, Smith sided with a hypothetical Jewish student who felt unsafe on campus.

(Such students undoubtedly exist but their voices have been amplified by the US media to suggest that antisemitic abuse on campus is the norm, playing into the hands of the right who disingenuously characterise the protesters as a hate mob.)

Smith did this rather than seriously engaging with the protesters perspective.

The latter, after all, are risking their futures to tell America and the world that peace is preferable to genocide and that communicating that message cant wait until after they graduate.

The urgency of their message implies also that a writer shouldnt refrain from having an opinion about Gaza until the subject is safely in the rearview mirror.

At such a pivotal moment, when writers cease to be engaged and acute observers of the present, whats the point of them?
The Weather Girls by Sarah Webb (OBrien Press, 9.99)

Those who live in lighthouses are always on the alert for the unexpected, but the Second World War puts Grace Devines family and their home at Mayos Blacksod lighthouse in the eye of the storm in ways they could never have imagined.

Inspired by the real-life actions of Maureen Sweeney, whose 1944 weather reports from Blacksod warning of an incoming storm led to the D-Day landings being postponed for a crucial 24 hours, Sarah Webbs childrens novel reimagines these events, weaving them into the fictional story of Grace and her best friend Sibby.

Dramas of various magnitudes ensue, from schoolgirl spats between the practical Grace and the flouncing Sibby, whose head is full of dreams of stardom, to the crash-landing of a German aircraft in a nearby field.

When 12-year-old Grace, abetted by Sibby, frees the badly-injured airman minutes before his plane goes up in smoke, several of the conflicts central to the book come into focus.

A reporter interviews Grace about her dramatic rescue, but when she recounts dragging the German airman from the smoke-filled cockpit, she omits to credit Sibbys assistance, depriving her of the limelight she craves.

As war envelops Europe, conflict develops between the two friends. Graces mother Flora is a Scot, a Quaker, and a pacifist, whose own brother has just been killed when she offers to take in Hans Holban, the injured airman, until he has recovered sufficiently to be taken to a prisoner-of-war camp.

This causes consternation among some of her neighbours, who are horrified at the thought of the enemy being harboured in their midst, and it draws this accusation from Sibby:

Everyone knows your mams secretly helping the Brits cos shes one of them. Shes a spy and shes going to get us all blown up by a Nazi bomber.

Illustrating some of the complexities of Irelands neutral status during the Emergency, Flora and Grace do indeed end up helping the Allies by providing weather reports to the Met Office in England.

Grace knows something is afoot when Flora, who operates Blacksod weather station, starts sending reports direct to England, rather than via Dublin.

When the Met Office asks for reports on an hourly basis, Grace is called upon to help and she and her family, in their remote west of Ireland outpost, become central to one of the key events of the war.

Like the real Maureen Sweeney, who passed away last December, Grace is at the time unaware of the full significance of the weather

reports she is providing.

Kerry-born postmistress Maureen only found out long after the war that it was her reports of an approaching storm that led US commander Dwight D Eisenhower, later US president, to postpone the Allied invasion of France in June 1944, thus preventing greater loss of life.

Sarah Webb, who threads archived weather reports of the time into her fictional story, offers young readers insights into a period of 20th century Irish history often overshadowed by the First World War and the countrys independence struggle.

Among the surviving visual imprints of the Second World War are the Eire markings, whose whitewashed stones warned pilots they were flying over neutral territory.

Referenced in Webbs story, these markers were created with good cause, since up to 170 aircraft crashed on Irish territory during the Emergency, about 56 Luftwaffe airmen being interned at the

Curragh, Co Kildare.

The 1941 crash-landing of a Condor bomber on a mountainside near Dunbeacon in west Cork is referenced by Webb in notes for readers interested in learning about the novels historical context.

Local nurse Mary Nugent rushed to the scene and she and her brother dragged radio operator Max Hohaus away from the wreckage, saving his life, notes Webb, who echoes some of the real events in her fictional account of Hanss rescue at Blacksod.

It is, as ever, human stories that bring history home to later generations, and in one of her most compelling childrens novels to date, Webbs tale of bickering best friends provides an illuminating lens through which readers can view Irelands nuanced Second World War neutrality.

Trigger by CG Moore (Little Island, 10.99)

Jay wakes up in a park, unable to remember how he came to have bruises down his thighs and blood soaking through his clothes.

Left inside the hollow husk of his body, he knows something terrible happened last night but cannot piece together the events that occurred after he went to a club with new boyfriend Jackson.

His best friend manages to get him to hospital, where it becomes clear that Jay has been raped, but after an initial inability to process the awful truth, the emptiness he feels inside turns to horror and anger.

His suspicions that Jackson was somehow involved develop into a deep sense of betrayal, and when through a support group he makes a new non-binary friend, Jay finds the strength to seek justice, even if its pursuit will trigger further trauma.

From the author of Gut Feelings, this stark young-adult novel from a writer who himself suffered two sexual assaults pulls no punches in its exploration of consent and self-acceptance, though free-verse streams of consciousness which cut straight to the heart.

Legends of the Cliffs of Moher by Eithne Massey (OBrien Press, 16.99)

Look out from the cliffs of west Clare and once every seven years you might chance to see shimmering in the sea mist the faintest impression of the lost island of Kilstiffen, before it sinks back beneath the waves.

The key to the islands city was lost long ago when its ruler, Prince Ruadhan, was tempted by greed and defeated in battle.

Speculation continues as to the location of the key, and some tales tell that Ruadhan is not dead but in an enchanted sleep and will one day return to rule his underwater kingdom.

In the meantime, this remains one of the best-known stories surrounding the Cliffs of Moher, a landscape so dramatic that it features in many Irish legends, including those surrounding Cu Chulainn.

His encounter with the hag Mal and attempts to escape her romantic advances lead Cu Chulainn to leap from the cliffs to a lone rock in the Atlantic, Mal falling to her doom in the waters off what is now known as Milltown Malbay, at Hags Head, to be precise.

These and three other stories, including the macabre Giant Eel of Kilmacreehy, are related in matter-of-fact, almost deadpan manner by Eithne Massey, the wind and waves of the West conjured by the atmospheric illustrations of Lisa Jackson.
Every year, more than 3,700 people (99% of whom are female) are diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland. But while most are over the age of 50, it can and does, occur in younger people.

Tanya Dobbyn can attest to this as in 2017, at just 24 years of age, she discovered a pea-sized lump in her left breast and because there was a history of breast cancer in her family, she immediately made an appointment with her GP and was referred for further tests.

She received an appointment a couple of months later and initially both the examining consultant and breast surgeon said she was too young to have cancer but sent her for an ultrasound and biopsy as a precaution. The scan revealed a dark mass on the left side where the lump had grown since she initially noticed it, and also a smaller lump on the right side. Although doctors reassured her that these were most likely to be due to a cyst or fibroid, she knew there was something seriously wrong.

She returned to the hospital a week later with her mother and was told by her consultant that she had breast cancer. Although I knew something wasnt right, I still felt shocked and confused. My mam grabbed my hand, crying and telling me she was sorry  given the family history, she felt some sort of guilt. I was crying and couldnt catch my breath.

The nurse brought me into another room and said I was going to be fine and would get through it. Afterwards, I told a few close friends and family, who all shared the same shock and disbelief.

"I felt somewhat overwhelmed by peoples well-wishes, as although, still in shock, I also felt shame, embarrassment and anger. I didnt want attention, I just wanted to get on with my life and normality.

She was advised to attend genetic testing in Dublin due to a strong history of breast cancer in her family, and after drawing up the family tree, she was told that it was likely that she had the BRCA1 gene mutation. Following tests, this was confirmed, and she had to make a decision about what the next step would be.

I decided to get a (double) mastectomy, to lower my chances of recurrence, she says. The doctor wanted to discuss reconstruction, implants and everything else, but I said no. I wanted to be flat. I got great support from women of all ages and backgrounds in Facebook groups, who had also made the same decision."

On December 20, she got her pathology results  no tumours. "I cried with happiness and called everyone to share the good news. But there was also some sad news: a friend I met at chemo had passed away  I felt survivor's guilt.

I started radiation in April 2018 and a year later, I was done. I couldnt believe it and had a party to celebrate the milestone.

Risks associated with the BRCA1 gene

But the story wasnt over yet as while the Waterford woman was going through treatment, her mother, Patricia, was also diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a mastectomy.

I was grateful for her support in my own diagnosis, but to go through this together, it strengthened our bond, she says.

In 2022 she had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed to decrease the risk of ovarian cancer, also associated with the BRCA1+ gene.

Overall, my experience with cancer has encouraged me to appreciate my body and to celebrate all the milestones. I feel more confident and am very interested in body positivity and encouraging friends to love their bodies too, scars and all."

Cancer survivor Tanya Dobbyn from Waterford: We should embrace our bodies, and push ourselves out of our comfort zone to celebrate ourselves as survivors and remember those we have lost

Tanya, now 31, works in retail, says that despite having undergone treatment and several life-changing surgeries, she is doing well and is even planning on taking part in a skinny dip to raise funds for charity.

Today Im in a good place with my health, she says. Cancer encouraged me to embrace my body and learn to accept myself.

I came across an advert for the Strip & Dip skinny dip (taking place on June 8) and after researching the benefitting charity, Aoibheanns Pink Tie, and meeting the organiser, who is a cancer survivor, I signed up.

This year will be my fourth year  we should embrace our bodies, and push ourselves out of our comfort zone to celebrate ourselves as survivors and remember those we have lost.

Embracing life is important to the cancer survivor.

Since cancer, I definitely try to enjoy life more and make the most of every day, she says. Cancer was tough, and I worry about getting it again, but I want to enjoy each new day regardless as tomorrow isn't guaranteed for any of us. Im in a happy relationship with a supportive boyfriend and have just recently finished college  so I want to keep encouraging myself to try new things and reach more goals.

My advice to others would be to get to know your body and what feels normal and if in doubt, see your GP. Attend mammograms and smear tests, speak up about concerns and know your options. Dont be afraid to ask for help  just look after your body.

Anyone with concerns about having a predisposition to cancer should visit their GP

Consultant medical oncologist Prof Janice Walshe agrees and says that roughly 5% to 10% of breast cancer patients in Ireland have the hereditary BRCA1 gene, and it is most common in younger patients with surgery and/or medication being the recommended treatment route.

The BRCA gene as we know it, currently represents most of the genetic mutations associated with a predisposition to breast cancer, she says. In certain cohorts, you will see higher proportions of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations  the younger they are when diagnosed with breast cancer, the rates of carrying the mutations are higher.

For people who don't have cancer but have the mutation, there are circumstances where preventative surgeries are recommended, but others might opt for imaging surveillance such as breast MRI, alternated with a mammogram and ultrasound on a six monthly basis. Also, anyone who carries the BRCA mutation, once their family is complete, we would recommend the removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes.

This treatment plan has been around for some time but there are new drugs which target the enzymes that are important in BRCA mutated patients.

The cancer specialist says that anyone with concerns about having a predisposition to cancer should visit their GP, who can help to facilitate a referral and put their mind at rest.

There is a lot of anxiety around cancers of all different types, so the most important thing is if they have symptoms such as bleeding from the nipple or any change in breast shape, those are real causes to the GP or get referred to a breast cancer centre, she says.

If someone has been diagnosed with breast cancer, there will be a discussion with the breast surgeon or the medical oncologist regarding the likelihood of any genetic mutation predisposition. If a family member has been diagnosed with a mutation, then usually there very straightforward pathway which they can follow.

For more information visit cancer.ie

and

stripanddip.ie
Consumers struggle to tell the difference between adverts that make genuine claims about being environmentally friendly and ones that are  greenwashing to mislead them, a new study has found.

The joint study by the ESRI and Trinity College Dublin, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency, found when consumers were trained to spot greenwashing claims  when marketing uses spin to convince the public their product or service is more environmentally friendly than it is  it led to greater suspicion of claims that were genuine.

It led the researchers to conclude genuinely sustainable brands that consumers may not already be familiar with may struggle to convey this authentic message to them.

Greenwashing makes it difficult for genuinely sustainable businesses to compete against ones that mislead consumers about their environmental performance, Dr Shane Timmons, from the ESRIs Behavioural Research Unit, said.

Educating consumers about greenwashing doesnt appear to help, as they simply become more sceptical of all environmental claims. Instead, our results support recent EU Directives that ban many forms of greenwashing, but these directives still need to be transposed into Irish law.

In the study, 2,000 adults took part in an online experiment. Just under 1,000 were shown a series of infographics that explained different types of greenwashing and completed a quiz to identify greenwashing in a series of product descriptions.

A control group of the same size were not shown this infographic but were asked to read a short news article about climate change.

They were then shown six real advertisements, three of which had genuine environmental claims and three which were examples of greenwashing. They were then asked their opinion of these adverts.

At the end of the study, they reported their likelihood of engaging in different pro-environmental behaviours such as eating less meat, and their confidence in their ability to identify greenwashing.

The ESRI said it led to mixed results. Those trained to spot greenwashing were more confident in their ability to do so. They were also more suspicious of some greenwashed claims than the control group, but this training also led to greater suspicion of genuine claims.

The experiment also revealed that consumers were less willing to purchase from brands they suspected of greenwashing, even if the environmental claim made by the brand was genuine, it said.

Those who learned about greenwashing tactics reported being more willing to engage in climate action, including using climate policies to inform their voting behaviour.

The researchers said learning about the specifics of greenwashing may have elicited outrage among participants, who were then motivated to take collective action against climate change.

However, it said it also may have decreased trust that private companies will make the necessary changes to reduce environmental damage, and then heighten the perceived need for individuals to make greater changes instead.
Tanaiste Micheal Martin has engaged with US authorities to request that the rights of the victims of two fatal Boeing crashes, including Irishman Mick Ryan, be upheld.

Mr Martin will monitor legal developments closely and is aware of a critical meeting today between families of victims and the US Department of Justice.

A spokesperson said the Tanaiste is also going to write to the US authorities to ensure that full accountability is demonstrated.

Naoise Connolly Ryan, whose husband Mick Ryan was killed in a Boeing 737 Max 8 crash in 2019, will attend, virtually, a meeting with the US Department of Justice on Friday. Picture: Larry Cummins

The Tanaiste is in regular contact with Ms [Naoise] Connolly Ryan since the tragic death of her husband, Mick Ryan, most recently earlier this month, his office said.

[Mr Martin] is aware of the latest developments in the legal case and is monitoring it closely.

Mick Ryans widow Naoise Connolly Ryan welcomed the Tanaistes statement, saying that he had consistently supported the families fight for justice for their loved ones.

A total of 346 people were killed when two Boeing planes, later shown to be defective, crashed shortly after takeoff in 2018 and 2019.

Mick Ryan, deputy chief engineer at the World Food Programme, was killed with 156 others on March 10, 2019, when a Boeing 737 Max 8 crashed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Since then, Ms Connolly Ryan and other family members have been fighting to overturn a deal, known as a deferred prosecution agreement, which shielded Boeing from criminal prosecution as long as it followed certain conditions.

Lahinch native Micheal 'Mick' Ryan, an engineer with the United Nations World Food Programme, was posthumously named Humanitarian of the Year in 2020 by the Irish Red Cross.

On May 14, the US justice department found that Boeing had breached the terms of the deal and informed the company it could face criminal charges.

The announcement gave families renewed hope. Today they will confer with the justice department at a meeting in Washington.

Naoise Connolly Ryan will be attending virtually and, with several other family members, she will call for a public trial so those responsible for 346 deaths will be held to account. She said:

There needs to be a full investigation into Boeings crimes.

We want the truth, justice, and accountability. We believe the justice department has an opportunity now to deliver real justice and accountability at the highest level in Boeing. The world is watching what the US Department of Justice will do next.

She said her fight was not only for justice, but to make flying safer for everyone.

Safety failings on Boeing aircraft have been back in the spotlight after a door plug blew out, mid-air, on an Alaska Airlines aircraft in January. An investigation found the door was missing bolts and there were some loose bolts on many other Max 9s.

Boeing whistleblowers have also revealed a culture of concealment at the global manufacturer and a litany of serious flaws and missteps in the design, development, and certification of the planes.

Naoise Connolly Ryan said: We hope that through the US justice system we can deliver real justice for our loved ones and meaningful change in the future of aviation safety.

"No one should have to go through what we have gone through and continue to go through every single day."
Donald Trumps good fortune with his criminal cases has ended in dramatic fashion, when a New York jury convicted him of concealing a criminal hush-money scheme to influence the outcome of the 2016 election.

The former president for months had extraordinary luck with his legal problems: one by one, the other three criminal cases became bogged down with intermediate appeals, and none is currently set for trial before the election in November. In the federal criminal case over his retention of classified documents, Trump drew a judge who has been so slow to make rulings on straightforward issues that it is running four months behind schedule.

In the federal criminal case over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, Trump succeeded in getting the US Supreme Court to hear his claim of presidential immunity, so it is nowhere near ready to go to trial. And in the Georgia case brought by the Fulton county district attorney, Trump lucked out with the revelation that the top prosecutor had had an affair with her deputy, so there is not even a trial date on the docket.

Such was Trumps success in playing the judicial system, people close to him joked he had lived up to the Teflon Don nickname  nothing seemed to stick  and joked there should be a rule where delaying three cases past the election should result in them all being dismissed.

Former President Donald Trump now finds himself forced to grapple with the politically perilous situation of what damage his conviction does to his campaign. Photo/Seth Wenig, AP

That run of good luck came to a sticky end on Thursday.

Around 4.15pm, Trump strode into the courtroom at 100 Centre Street, cheerful that the jury had not returned a verdict. He chatted with his lead lawyer, Todd Blanche, and the pair giggled together at the defense table.

The mood dramatically shifted 10 minutes later, when the judge told the room he would not be sending the jury home at 4:30pm as he had planned because they had reached a verdict and needed just a bit more time to fill out the verdict forms.

Trumps demeanour darkened: his brow suddenly furrowed, his eyes narrowed and he frowned as quiet descended on the courtroom. When the jury returned guilty verdicts on all 34 counts, Trump looked miserable.

In some ways, the outcome was not surprising. With echoes of Al Capone, the judicial system in New York has a history of catching up with politically powerful figures who believe they might be insulated from the law.

Trump and his advisers for years had thought there was no way the Manhattan district attorneys office would even bring a case tied to his hush-money payment to the adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Trump and his advisers for years had thought there was no way the Manhattan district attorneys office would even bring a case tied to his hush-money payment to the adult film star Stormy Daniels. Photo: Heidi Gutman/ABC via AP

Trump spent little time thinking about the case even after he was indicted last March. The general belief was that it was the weakest of the cases and would certainly be put on hold while the federal cases went first.

The Trump legal team, which broadly consists of the same lawyers across all four cases, were concerned most about the federal cases because they were brought by the special counsel Jack Smith, who carried the weight of the US Justice Department.

Trumps lawyers always fancied their chances in the classified documents case, having drawn a judge that Trump had appointed, and the ruby-red leanings of the jury pool of Fort Pierce, Florida.

Rather, they were far more concerned about the 2020 election interference case, because the Washington DC jury pool skews Democratic and the nature of the charges suggested Trump was a threat to liberal democracy.

To that end, Trumps lawyers mounted a full-court press to have that trial pushed until after the November election. In January, the US Supreme Court agreed to hear his claim of presidential immunity, and indefinitely paused the case.

That left the schedule open for the New York criminal trial to proceed  and the zombie case, as prosecutors inside the Manhattan district attorneys office termed it, abruptly became the trial with the potential to sink Trumps 2024 campaign.

Still, even when the case was set for trial six weeks ago, Trump and his advisers thought there was an even chance that it would end with a hung jury and a mistrial. In such an event, Trump had planned to declare that a victory, people familiar with the situation said.

Trumps advisers believed that a mistrial might even be the political equivalent of an acquittal, and all but guarantee Trump the presidency.

Voters could turn against Trump now that he is formally convicted, voters could turn against Trump when he is sentenced on July 11, and voters may not have been well surveyed. Photo: AP/Seth Wenig

Instead, Trump now finds himself forced to grapple with the politically perilous situation of what damage the conviction does to his campaign.

In internal and public polling, Trump has remained notably steady even after particularly damaging testimony during the trial from star witnesses like Daniels and his infamous former lawyer Michael Cohen.

Trump currently leads Joe Biden in five crucial battleground states that are expected to decide the election, according to a New York Times/Sienna poll in May. And Trump had the advantage that voters found the hush-money case the least serious of the four.

But Trumps advisers concede the polls may be deceptive: voters could turn against Trump now that he is formally convicted, voters could turn against Trump when he is sentenced on July 11, and voters may not have been well surveyed.

As recently as the day before the verdict, senior officials at the Trump 2024 campaign and his Super PAC were concerned Trump could lose support  and they were in the blind because of the difficulty of accurately polling the effect of a guilty verdict.

The Trump campaign and the Super PAC have internally read little into their own polls after realizing the difficulty in assessing voters perceptions without knowing the severity of the conviction and how Trump would react.

Trumps advisers suggested that, ultimately, the conviction could have little effect on voters when they cast their ballots in around six months, an eternity in politics. But Trump is clearly concerned.

His campaign will now work around the clock to denigrate lawfare and claim the justice system was weaponised against him by Biden and his cronies.

Trump currently leads Joe Biden in five crucial battleground states that are expected to decide the election, according to a New York Times/Sienna poll in May. Photo: AP/Alex Brandon

A fundraising email, headlined Political Prisoner, sent immediately after the verdict declared: I was just convicted in a RIGGED political Witch Hunt trial: I DID NOTHING WRONG!

In this victimhood plea, he has an invaluable ally in rightwing media, which have spent weeks conditioning their viewers for this moment. Judge Jeanine Pirro said on Fox News: We have gone over a cliff in America.

All that is predictable. It is no secret that millions of Trump voters tuned out long ago and will be unmoved, or will perhaps redouble their faith in him. The trickier question is how his electoral opponent will handle this.

Biden has kept the trial at arms length, lest he be accused of political interference. But now the verdict is in, with its potential to turn off independent voters. What will Biden say to the nation?

His tone will be crucial. He must then decide how often and how hard to bring up Trumps criminal conviction on the campaign trail and during their head-to-head debates.

Read More Donald Trump supporters call for riots and violent retribution after his guilty verdict
Jacques Delors, former president of the European Commission, was ultimately responsible for the factoid (dodgy fact) that 80% of national laws begin their life in the EU institutions.

Delors point about national laws was a prediction but it is regularly proclaimed as fact. Lots of research has examined this assertion and shown that the proportion of national laws shaped by EU legislation is often much lower.

It varies a great deal over time and is affected by important policy changes such as the creation of the euro and EU enlargement. The EU does have a vital impact on all our lives but it has not turned the Dail into a rubberstamping outpost. A great many of our laws are still of our own making, good and bad.

The EU can only draft and influence laws in areas where the member states have agreed to share decision making. Agriculture, trade, consumer protection, and the environment are very important in this regard.

Across the bloc, enormous changes have flowed from EU decisions. On balance, public opinion in Ireland views EU membership as overwhelmingly positive.

Bizarrely, this is often not evident during European Parliament elections. Several of the election debates over the last few weeks have seen an array of candidates blithely ignoring the benefits of Irish EU membership and sometimes decrying the EU as some kind of malevolent overlord imposing itself on the misfortunate peoples of Europe.

Some candidates cannot even answer why they want to become MEPs and falsely believe that Ireland can, and does, have little influence in the EU.

Sean Kelly advocated the abolition of mobile phone roaming charges. Picture: Oisin McHugh

Irish MEPs have been influential in important EU policy initiatives. Among the current group of MEPs, Sean Kelly was a prominent advocate for the abolition of mobile phone roaming charges.

Ciaran Cuffe has been leading the way on a significant consumer law which will improve the quality of goods such as dishwashers, showers, and other appliances, by requiring manufacturers to meet higher standards and insisting that parts are available to repair those goods.

Luke Ming Flanagan has been very eloquent in campaign debates on his work on the agriculture committee.

Luke Ming Flanagan has been eloquent in campaign debates on his work on the agriculture committee. Picture: File

EU laws have Irish input and sometimes that input is decisive but there is reason to believe that Irish influence could be stronger.

The Irish MEP delegation was ranked below average in a 2024 report by EU Matrix. The same report placed just one MEP, Fine Gaels Frances Fitzgerald, in the top 100 most influential MEPs. Vote Watch is another group that previously engaged in similar evaluations and also ranked Ireland unfavourably.

Some of the problem arises because of the types of Irish MEPs that get elected. There tends to be a high turnover of MEPs, with people serving in Brussels for just one or two terms. For many MEPs, it is a stepping stone to election to the Dail. Influence in Brussels is built up over time and one-term MEPs are at a disadvantage.

Ireland also elects a large number of independents. Independents are sometimes powerful in the Dail when they hold the balance of power but this does not happen in the EU. The European Parliament works differently. There is no government and opposition, rather seven political groups that engage in policy development, most importantly through detailed work in committees. Party groups are organised according to ideology from far left to extreme right.

Fine Gael is a member of the largest centre-right group, the European Peoples Party (EPP). Ireland has no MEPs in the second-largest group, the European Socialists, although the Irish Labour Party has a long-standing affiliation with them, but since there are no Labour MEPs, Irish influence is low.

Fianna Fail is a member of the third-largest group, Renew Europe, and the Green Partys MEPs sit with the European Greens. These are the most influential political groups. At least until 2024, they had much of the running of the European Parliament sewn up. These groups also have most of the prime ministers of Europe and a majority of the European Commissioners so their influence is spread across EU institutions.

Sinn Fein and many independent Irish MEPs sit in the Left-GUE group. This group can have influence but it takes time to develop. Two far/extreme-right groups have been on the fringes of power in the last parliament but there is an expectation that this will change after the election.

However, there is also a lot of uncertainty about the likely composition of the far-right groups. Some of the parties in these groups dislike each other as much as the rest of the groups dislike them.

In any case, it looks unlikely that Ireland will elect an MEP that would sit with either the far or extreme right.

Many of our most influential MEPs spent multiple terms in the European Parliament building up their transnational networks, developing policy expertise and making strategic alliances in the big political groups. Pat Cox, who became president of the European Parliament, was elected as an independent in Ireland but sat with the Liberals in what is now the Renew Europe group.

Pat Cox was elected as an independent in Ireland but sat with the Liberals in what is now the Renew Europe group. Picture: Richard Mills

Mairead McGuinness was vice-president of the European Parliament, following several successful terms as a Fine Gael MEP in the EPP group. Frances Fitzgeralds route to success was undoubtedly shaped by the fact that she had been Tanaiste, and as a former deputy prime minister she had considerable advantage in the power stakes.

The European Parliament has gained power and influence at each referendum and the type of MEPs that Ireland elects is critical to how much power and advantage we can wield. Sending one-term MEPs that are likely to participate in marginal political groups is making Ireland weaker in Europe, not stronger.

Keep this in mind when you are next listening to a debate. How long the candidate wants to stay in Europe is important. Political experience and policy specialisation matter, and more is better on both fronts.

Political parties have greater sway in Europe; independents are hamstrung by the absence of transnational networks but a good independent can succeed, especially if they stay a few terms and build up expertise. There is one week left in the campaign to make your choices.
BAREFOOT LUXURY

Feel the summer buzz and get some barefoot luxury with Kukoons rugs. These outdoor beauties are made from flatweave materials making them highly resistant to moisture and quick-drying.

Designed inhouse, they come in a wide range of shapes and styles. Find out more at Kukoonrugs.

WICK-ED DESIGNS

Kilkenny Design has some exciting new drops for home and beyond. We adore these pops of gorgeousness from the Lennon Courtney collection. Add a little whimsy with their gorgeous Anime resin candle holder and their Bliss candle holders, prices start at 15, find out more at Kilkennydesign.

TAKE A SEAT

Looking for a refined yet relaxed sofa? Then the loose-cover Hannah sofa from Irish makers Finline could be the one for you. Taking the best of Belgian chic and pairing it with a laidback, tailored style, the Hannah is available in a range of fabrics.

Its shown here in the Downham Fossil fabric by Finline and the cost for a three-seater starts at 2,315. See Finlinefurniture.

FUN IN THE SUN

Check out the latest additions to Shiseido's sun skincare range, the Shiseido Expert Sun Protector Lotion and Cream SPF50+. Be sun-savvy with their invisible, lightweight UV protection.

Both products are available at Arnotts and pharmacies nationwide, 39 and 42. Plus, we like that they're packaged in 90% plant-derived plastic bottles.

FLORAL DREAMS

Sleep easy in the Joules Dorothy small double bed frame in this cute pink stripe.

Featuring a statement headboard, create a pretty and playful look by layering the Dorothy bed with floral prints and quilted textures. It's 975, available at Dfs.

TIME FOR TEA

Get into the Bridgerton vibe for tea time with this dainty cup and saucer set; 14, from Penneys.

SEA BATH

We're delighted to see pioneering Irish lifestyle and skincare brand Voya is continuing to lead the charge in innovative ways to combat plastic pollution.

Ahead of 'National Seaweed Day' next Tuesday, Mark Walton, co-founder of the the brand, tells us the seaweed is selected by eye and hand-harvested so as not to harm the delicate seabed or marine life and only a small portion is cut each time. Its packaging uses recycled, or biodegradable materials. Try the Lazy Days Seaweed Bath, 28, from Voya.

SAY CHEESE

Congratulations to Cashel Farmhouse Cheesemakers who recently marked their 40th anniversary as an independent, family-owned business with a big win for their Cashel Blue cheese at the prestigious British Cheese Awards.

Out of 620 cheeses entered into the competition, Cashel Blue was awarded the coveted title of Reserve Champion and Best Blue Cheese. For more information visit Cashelblue or follow @cashelblue on X, @cashelfarmhousecheese on Instagram and TikTok.
AN Attenborough, not of the knighted variety, built High Copse in 1975, when ordinary folk could afford to live in Kinsale.

Like Sir David Attenborough (no relation) he had a flair for words, although Bernard George Attenborough, pen-name James S Rand, committed them to print, rather than soothing TV viewers with dulcet wildlife commentary.

Bernard George Attenborough, pen name James S Rand, built High Copse in 1972 (pic source: bearalley.blogspot.com)

Having started out as a journalist on Londons Fleet St, a bet with a colleague set him writing fiction in the style of a popular thriller  he knocked out his first book in a few hours.

In 1964, he published an international bestseller, Run for the Trees, described as probably the finest book ever written about white hunters in the African bush.

Bernard's bestseller

Having relocated here from Scotland, following the death of a son in a tragic shooting accident, he built a home on Compass Hill.

While living there, he wrote a book called The Great Sky and the Silence.

Could it be that the magnificent view from Compass Hill inspired the title?

View from High Copse

Its a question posed by David Peare, son of the couple that bought High Copse, following the death of Mr Attenborough.

The Peares  descendants of William F Peare who opened Irelands first garage on Catherine St, Waterford, in 1900  were relocating from the rectory at St Multoses Church of Ireland in Kinsale, where Davids father Oliver was rector from 1966-1987.

David, who spent some time living at High Copse, said the setting, spread over 0.8 acres, was absolutely beautiful.

The sunroom faces out over the marina and looks over towards Castlepark and Charles Fort.

Compass Hill is not cheap to buy into. Right behind High Copse is Constantia Farm, a modern mansion on 27 acres, that set a new Kinsale property price record in 2022  when it sold for 5.5m to a Cork tech entrepreneur.

Constantia Farm

David says the buyer of High Copse could build something similar to Constantia Farm, by going down a level into the hillside to create a two-storey home.

Its up there for all sorts of possibilities, he says. His opinion is shared by Sinead Sinnott, of Sheehy Brothers auctioneers, whose firm also sold Constantia Farm.

Its possibly a knockdown job, which is not unheard of on Compass Hill, Ms Sinnott says.

Its on the St Johns Hill side, which means its overlooking the marina and Castlepark instead of the Bandon Estuary. Its in a great position on the hill, and Id say some potential buyers will be looking at it as a site. She adds that there are no more greenfield sites available on Compass Hill, which will lead to heavy competition for any property with development/renovation potential.

As it stands, High Copse is a decent 2,400 sq ft  which includes an incorporated double garage with conversion potential.

It is dated, but could be a terrific renovation project. David will be sorry to see it go, but is selling up following the death of his mother Roma last year.

House hunters looking for a coveted perch in Kinsale are looking at a guide price of 1.3m for High Copse.

VERDICT: The uber-attractive setting is likely to woo wealthy overseas buyers based on current trends. Chances are High Copse will be knocked.
Organisations with more than 250 employees are preparing for their third round of gender pay gap reporting. They are joined this year by organisations with more than 150 employees, which will be reporting for the first time.

Not to be confused with equal pay for equal work, which has been a legal right since the 1970s, gender pay gap reporting looks at average pay across a number of dimensions in order to uncover hidden inequalities or imbalances in an organisation.

Employers are required to report the mean (average) and median hourly wage gap, the former reflecting the entire pay range in an organisation and the latter excluding the impact of unusually high earners; data on bonus pay; and the mean and median pay gaps for part-time employees and for employees on temporary contracts. They are also required to report the proportions of male and female employees in the lower, lower middle, upper middle and upper quartile pay bands.

The report is based on the 12-month period up to a snapshot date in the month of June, with results being published in December of the year in question.

Progressive employers are using their gender pay gap data to identify areas for improvement, as well as to inform their recruitment and retention strategies in an exceptionally tight labour market.

Left to right is Emmet Mahony, insights and planning executive; Gabriel Corcoran, brand manager; Geraldine Joanes, director, with Rhubarb the cocker spaniel; Jamie Fulham, planning manager and Fiona Foulkes, people in culture business partner.

Diageo Ireland is preparing for its third gender pay gap report, following progress last year.

Our gender pay gap is moving in the right direction, says Gerry Joanes, the companys HR director. Our mean bonus gap narrowed from -14.6 per cent to -4.6 per cent in 2023, while our mean hourly pay gap was +2.9 per cent, down from +3.7 the previous year.

She attributes the exceptionally strong progress on bonus pay to a higher representation of women in roles with higher bonus and long term incentive plan (LTIP) potential, as well as business outcomes that had a positive impact on bonus schemes in the reporting year.

Diageo Ireland is a broad organisation. The company employs 972 people in the State across three separate legal entities  Diageo Ireland Unlimited Company, R&A Bailey & Co Unlimited Company, and Guinness Storehouse Limited.

Joanes explains that only Diageo Ireland Unlimited Company, which employs 617 people, is actually covered by the gender pay gap regulations; however, while reporting separately for Diageo Ireland, the organisation also provides combined data for its operations across Ireland.

The report is a yardstick for progress rather than a driving force, with gender pay and other equality and diversity goals already included in the organisations environmental, social and governance (ESG) targets, Joanes adds.

It is part of our overall ESG agenda, she says. We want to be known as a good employer, one that supports communities and the planet. Inclusiveness is very important in that. We have had 2030 ESG targets in place since 2020. For example, we want 50 per cent of leaders in Diageo globally to be female by 2030. We have already achieved that here in Ireland.

Transparency is very important and the gender pay gap report holds you to account. Our gender pay gap numbers are as important to us as our profit and loss numbers. They measure our progress and help to point out areas that may need improvement.

We need to retain the right people for the future and encourage more female leaders, Joanes points out.

Paradoxically, being a good employer with a long heritage can actually present challenges when it comes to narrowing the gender pay gap. For example, manufacturing was traditionally a male domain and if employees stay with a company for the duration of their career it will naturally be the case that the most senior and therefore most highly paid people will be male.

Diageo is a great company to work for and people like to stay for a long time, says Joanes. So we dont get much change through attrition. Traditionally manufacturing was tough but we have put targets in place to make it more inclusive. You need to understand the different skills in the business, whats changing and how we can be more inclusive.

She cites the brewing process as an example. That would have been quite physical in the past, she says. But does that need to have a gender label attached to it? People want to be treated equally now. Technology has played a role and there is a lot more automation and science there now. A lot of the traditional crafts are still there but they have evolved in ways that open up opportunities for both genders.

Joanes believes the challenges can be overcome: Ive been with Diageo for 20 years and Ive seen a lot of changes in the gender mix over that time. Weve done it through planning our talent pipelines. The biggest challenge we have is getting enough women with Stem qualifications to come to work for us but we are starting to see that change. Our early-careers team is targeting universities and schools to show people whats possible. A lot of people dont know that the best chemists get to work with alcohol.

Apprenticeships are also helping in other areas, she points out: We have 50 per cent women on our Supply Chain and Procurement apprenticeship programme. Its a four-year programme that offers great opportunities to gain experience, mentoring and career support. That boosts female talent availability.

Hiring more women is just part of the equation  retaining them and supporting their career progress is also essential.

We need to retain the right people for the future and encourage more female leaders, says Joanes. You still need the right person for the job but its about giving people opportunities to progress. Enlightened policies and benefits form a key part of the mix, she adds.

We have a world-leading family leave policy, says Joanes. Its 26 weeks paid leave regardless of gender or how you became a parent. And employees are eligible for it from day one. We are seeing more fathers take family leave and this allows others to step up to replace them and acquire new skills.

Having more men taking family leave levels the playing field when it comes to caring opportunities. This could have been a policy on paper but we have a culture of senior leaders taking family leave. This is encouraging others to take it. Of course, there are lots of other meaningful moments in life, for which people require time and space, as Joanes points out.

We have guidelines and time off for pregnancy loss, she says. This is rarely spoken about in businesses and we want to change that. Later in life there is menopause and perimenopause, and a lot of women can drop out of work at that point. We absolutely dont want that to happen. We have the fabulous Spirited Women Employee Resource Group to support women at these moments.

Sometimes the hardest topics to talk about are the ones that impact most. Organisations need to find ways to support people in those moments. These policies are brought to life by the people and culture in the organisation. Those policies and initiatives are bearing fruit, with women accounting for 42.7 per cent of employees in Diageo Ireland last year, compared to 39.9 per cent in 2022.

Even small percentage gains like that help and indicate that we are moving in the right direction, says Joanes. We have made a brilliant start in Ireland. But we can never rest on our laurels. We have to keep moving forward.

The Gender Pay Gap Information Act 2021 introduced the legislative framework for reporting in Ireland. Organisations with 150-plus employees are now required to report. Qualifying organisations must publish their gender pay gap data on their website. The report should detail their gender pay gap across various metrics by selecting a snapshot date in the month of June. Organisations then have six months to prepare their calculations for their report.

Visit Gov.ie/genderpaygap for more information.
Senior figures in the Republican Party have reacted with fury after a New York jury convicted former US president Donald Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records to influence the 2016 election.

House Speaker Mike Johnson described the verdicts as a shameful day in American history and said the charges were purely political, while Ohio Senator JD Vance said the verdict was a disgrace to the judicial system.

Steve Scalise, the number two ranked Republican in the House of Representatives, said the decision was a defeat for Americans who believe in the critical legal tenet that justice is blind.

Mr Trump faced Manhattan criminal court (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP)

Within minutes of the verdict being read, Republicans who have been divided over support for their presumptive presidential nominee found common ground in attacking the judge, the jury and President Joe Biden, even though the conviction came on state charges in a Manhattan court.

The jury found Trump falsified records in a scheme to influence the election through hush money payments to an adult film actor who had said she had sex with the former president.

The Republican reaction echoed Trumps language, who said after the verdict was announced that it was a rigged, disgraceful trial. He is expected to quickly appeal.

A lone Republican voice, former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, said before the verdict that the public should respect the verdict and the legal process.

At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders  regardless of party  must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship, posted Mr Hogan, who is running for the Senate in Maryland. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law.

Other Republicans seized on Trumps attacks on the judge and the system in the New York trial and three other cases  local and federal charges in Atlanta and Washington that he conspired to undo the 2020 election, and a federal indictment in Florida charging him with illegally holding on to top-secret records after his presidency.

This verdict says more about the system than the allegations, said South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, who has been one of Trumps most frequent allies.

Republicans, including some of his detractors, shared their criticism in posts on X, formerly Twitter, in press releases and TV appearances.

Texas Senator John Cornyn, who had distanced himself from the former president after the January 6 2021 Capitol attack of Trumps supporters said this verdict is a disgrace, and this trial should have never happened.

Now more than ever, we need to rally around @realdonaldtrump, take back the White House and Senate, and get this country back on track, said Mr Cornyn, who is running to replace Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell when he steps down from the post after the November election. The real verdict will be Election Day.

South Dakota Senator John Thune, who is also running to be leader and has also been critical of Trump, said the case was politically motivated from the beginning, and todays verdict does nothing to absolve the partisan nature of this prosecution.

As expected, Democrats rejoiced and tried to blunt the Republican attacks.

Trump toadies are going to attack the jury and the court because they have a plan to dismantle our democracy and it relies on everyone believing the justice system is rigged, posted Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy.

It isnt. Donald Trump committed a crime. He got caught. He got convicted. Thats the rule of law.
US president Joe Biden has said that Donald Trump being found guilty of 34 felony charges showed once again that "no one is above the law.

Speaking at the White House on Friday, Mr Biden said: Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself."

Biden said the state was a state case and not a federal one, that was heard by a jury of 12 Americans like you who were chosen the same way every jury is chosen.

Mr Biden added said: "Trump will be given the opportunity  as he should  to appeal that decision, just like everyone else has that opportunity. Thats how the American system of justice works."

Mr Biden's comments came hours after Mr Trump launched into attacks on the judge in his criminal trial and continued to undermine New Yorks criminal justice system on Friday, as he tried to repackage his conviction on 34 felony charges as fuel, not an impediment, to his latest White House bid.

Former US president Mr Trump spoke to reporters at his namesake tower in Manhattan on Friday, his return to campaigning a day after he was convicted of trying to illegally influence the 2016 election by falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to a porn actress who claimed they had sex.

His lawyers and allies described him as defiant and ready to fight a verdict they say is illegitimate and driven by politics.

If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone, Mr Trump said. These are very bad people.

A New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges (Julia Nikhinson/AP)

No former president or presumptive party nominee has ever faced a felony conviction or the prospect of prison time, and Mr Trump is expected to keep his legal troubles central to his campaign.

He has long argued without evidence that the four indictments against him were orchestrated by Mr to try to keep him out of the White House.

Mr Biden warned it was reckless, dangerous and irresponsible to say that the trial was rigged just because they dont like the verdict.

The US justice system has endured for nearly 250 years and is literally the cornerstone of America and should be respected, Biden said.

"We should never allow anyone to tear it down."

Outside, on Manhattans Fifth Avenue, supporters gathered across the street were flying a giant red Trump or death sign that was flapping in front of a high-end boutique.

On Friday, his campaign announced it had raised $34.8m (32m) as donations poured in after the verdict.

Read More Donald Trump supporters call for riots and violent retribution after his guilty verdict

Donald Trump spoke in the atrium of Trump Tower, where he descended his golden escalator to announce his 2016 campaign nine years ago (Julia Nikhinson/AP)

That is more than one million for each felony charge and more than his political operation raised in January and February combined.

Mr Trump and his campaign had been preparing for a guilty verdict for days, even as they held out hope for a hung jury.

On Tuesday Mr Trump railed that not even Mother Teresa, the nun and saint, could beat the charges, which he repeatedly described as rigged.

His top aides on Wednesday released a memo in which they insisted a verdict would have no impact on the election, whether Mr Trump was convicted or acquitted.

The news nonetheless landed with a jolt. Mr Trump, his team and reporters at the court had been under the impression that the jury on Thursday would wrap up deliberations for the day at 4.30pm.

Mr Trump sat smiling and chatting with his lawyers as the proceedings seemed to be coming to a close.

He had spent the hours before the verdict was announced sequestered in the private courtroom where he had spent breaks throughout the trial, huddled with his lawyers and campaign aides.

As the jury was deciding his fate, he filled his time making calls, firing off social media missives and chatting with friends, including developer Steve Witkoff, who joined him in court, and North Dakota governor Doug Burgum, who is considered a top vice-presidential contender.

In a sign that they expected deliberations to continue, Mr Trumps holding room was outfitted with a television on Thursday.

Instead, Judge Juan Merchan announced that a verdict had been reached. Thirty minutes later Mr Trump listened as the jury delivered a guilty verdict on every count. He sat stony-faced while the verdict was read.

His campaign fired off a flurry of fundraising appeals, and allies rallied to his side. One text message called him a political prisoner, even though he has not yet found out if he will be sentenced to prison.

The campaign also began selling black Make America Great Again caps to reflect a dark day in history.

Aides reported an immediate rush of contributions so intense that the platform the campaign uses for fundraising, crashed.

The millions raised on Thursday did not include what Mr Trump collected at his in-person fundraiser or any donations that continued to come in online on Friday.

President Trump and our campaign are immensely grateful from this outpouring of support from patriots across our country, Mr Trumps senior campaign advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles said in a statement.

President Trump is fighting to save our nation and November 5 is the day Americans will deliver the real verdict.

Mr Trump has long complained that the trial limited his campaign appearances for several weeks. I want to campaign, he had told reporters on Thursday before a verdict was reached.

It is unclear, however, how much Mr Trumps schedule will ramp up in the days ahead. He held only a handful of public campaign events as the trial unfolded, despite the fact that he had Wednesdays, as well as evenings and weekends, to do what he wished.

He will have his first debate with Mr Biden, announce a running mate and formally accept his partys nomination at the Republican National Convention.

But he will have to return to court on July 11 for sentencing. He could face penalties ranging from a fine or probation, or up to four years in prison.

- Additional reporting from Guardian
The bravado behind Donald Trump s boastful hypothesis in 2016  I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldnt lose any voters  is heading for a real-world reckoning.

Until now, at least, he has been uncannily right.

Through his two impeachments, his desperate agitations to stay in power after losing the last election and the far-ranging series of criminal charges against him from Florida to Georgia to Washington to New York, Mr Trump has held sway with his acolytes and the bulk of the Republican Party.

But now he is the first president in history to carry the stain of felony conviction. Will it matter in the November election?

After the damning verdict, everyone seemed to rush for the partisan ramparts.

But this is untravelled territory for Americans, this finding of criminal behaviour signed, sealed and delivered by unanimous jurors against the only man who has been the subject both of a presidential portrait and a mug shot.

Even some firm anti-Trumpers are not counting on the convictions making a difference.

Get ready for a felonious president, said Joan Marks, 58, a Democrat who offered her glum prediction of a Trump victory while standing outside Manuels Tavern, a popular liberal hangout near Jimmy Carters presidential library in Atlanta.

Contributions flowed in to the Trump campaign, more than $1m (921,000) for each for the 34 convictions, his people said.

The case will go down in history as The People of the State of New York vs Donald J. Trump.

But after the verdict, just as before it, leading Republicans and a variety of likeminded voters wrote it off as just another egregious example of Us vs Them.

Political persecution at the highest level, said West Virginia attorney general Patrick Morrisey, the Republican nominee for governor.

Republican party chairmen in South Carolina, Illinois and New York each criticised banana republic justice.

There was plenty of talk from other high places in the party about a sham trial, rigged verdict, kangaroo court, and Soviet-style shenanigans, as if apparatchiks had delivered the 34 convictions, not a jury whose 12 members were selected by the defence as well as the prosecution.

Even Moscow weighed in, on Mr Trumps side.

As regards Trump, its quite obvious that the effective removal of political opponents by all lawful and unlawful means is going on and the entire world can see it with a naked eye, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Mr Trumps early reaction to the verdict suggested he will wear his conviction like a crown, and there were already signs of retribution against any Republican who dared to stand up for the trial.

Shortly before the verdict, Larry Hogan, the anti-Trump Republican senate candidate in Maryland and a former governor, posted an appeal for all Americans to accept the jurys decision, whatever the outcome, and added: At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders, regardless of party, must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship.

Chris LaCivita, a senior Trump campaign adviser, told him on X, formerly Twitter: You just ended your campaign.

Among voters, Justin Gonzalez, 21, a student and tutor in the border city of McAllen, Texas, said he did learn something quite troubling about Mr Trump in the trial.

Hes a lot of things, but I never personally thought of him as a liar, he said. I guess this would change my perception of him.

Yet as he prepares to vote in his first presidential election, Mr Gonzales cares more about immigration enforcement than the business of the cover-up of payments to silence a porn actress.

Out of all the other issues, this is still bad but its not enough to sway me to vote for Biden, he said.

An ABC-Ipsos poll conducted in late April found that 80% of Mr Trumps supporters said they would stick with him even if he were convicted of a felony in the hush-money case.

Only 4% said they would withdraw their vote, though 16% said they would reconsider it. In an election that is expected to be close, even small shifts in support could make a difference.

In the Lower Manhattan court, the first president to come to power propelled by tabloid fame and reality TV faced the ultimate tabloid kind of charges and yet, in a story of our time, he is the Republicans presumptive nominee for president.

With his ever-present sense of spectacle, though there was no televising of the proceedings, Mr Trump turned the trial into a campaign stage for re-election as best he could.

He has succeeded in other contexts by the use of his bullhorn  shouting down his opponents, savaging them on social media, calling them humiliating nicknames  but this time some of his normal moves were not available to him.

He did not have control of the situation. He could not simply hector away the constraints of a courtroom and the clear language of the law.

He tried on occasion and the judge ordered him to be silent, slapped him with fines and the threat of worse.

Mostly he glowered and, at times, looked sleepy.

New Yorkers were not used to seeing this happen to Mr Trump. Love him or hate him they have long considered him an escape artist through career-spanning thickets of legal, business and political thorns.

This time he did not get away.

Finally, some accountability, said Nadine Striker, who celebrated the verdict at a public pond across the street from the court, a mile from Fifth Avenue.

She held up a big banner reading Trump convicted and wore a headband propping up a hand-sized cut-out of Alvin Bragg, the prosecutor.

In November 1973, Richard Nixon famously declared to a meeting of newspaper managing editors in The Associated Press co-operative: I am not a crook.

At the time, in the Watergate scandal that ultimately consumed his presidency, it looked as though he might be just that.

But for Mr Nixon that question was never put to the test in court. With Mr Trump, it has been.

Still, with Donald Trump, you never ever know. He may have some Harry Houdini left in him.

Anybody else would go to jail, Ms Striker said. I dont expect him to.
Top US leaders have invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address Congress, a show of wartime support for the longtime ally despite mounting political divisions over Israels military assault on Gaza.

The invitation from House speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, and Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, has been in the works for some time.
XICHANG, May 30 (Xinhua) -- China successfully launched a multi-mission communication satellite for Pakistan using a Long March-3B rocket, with the launch taking place at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan, at 8:12 p.m. Thursday.

The satellite has entered its planned orbit.

The launch was the 524th mission of the Long March rocket series.
By Deborah Carr, Boston University; Enrica De Cian, Ca Foscari University of Venice; Giacomo Falchetta, Ca Foscari University of Venice and Ian Sue Wing, Boston University | 

(The Conversation)  A deadly heat wave gripped large regions of Asia for weeks in spring 2024, sending temperatures in Indias capital region over 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 Celsius) in late May. Officials in Delhi warned residents that they could face power outages and water shortages.

Earlier in the month, campaigning politicians, news announcers and Indian voters waiting in long lines had passed out in the oppressive heat.

From as far north as Japan to as far south as the Philippines, the relentless heat wreaked havoc on everyday life. Students and teachers in Cambodia were sent home from school in early May, as their hand-held fans provided little protection against the stifling heat and humidity in their poorly ventilated classrooms. Farmers in Thailand saw their crops wither and mourned the loss of livestock that perished under the punishing sun. Hundreds of people died from the heat.

Most of the planet has suffered the dire effects of extreme heat in recent years. Phoenix hit 110 F (43.3 C) or higher for 31 straight days in summer 2023, and Europe saw unprecedented heat that killed hundreds and contributed to devastating wildfires in Greece.

Regardless of where or when a heat wave strikes, one pattern has been a constant: Older adults are the most likely to die from extreme heat, and the crisis is worsening.

We study climate change and population aging. Our research documents two global trends that together portend a dire future.

More older adults will be at risk of heat stress

First, temperatures are hotter than ever. The nine-year period from 2015 and 2023 had the highest average temperatures since global records began in 1880.

CBC: Delhi records all-time record temperature of 52.9 C

Second, the population is aging worldwide. By 2050, the number of people ages 60 and older will double to nearly 2.1 billion, making up 21% of the global population. That proportion is 13% today.

These combined forces mean that ever-rising numbers of vulnerable older adults will be exposed to intensifying heat.

To understand the risks ahead, we developed population projections for different age groups and combined them with climate change scenarios for the coming decades. Our analyses show that by 2050, more than 23% of the world population ages 69 and older will be living in regions where peak temperatures routinely surpass 99.5F (37.5C), compared with just 14% today.

That means that as many as 250 million additional older adults will be exposed to dangerously high temperatures.

Mapping the data shows that most of these older adults live in lower- and middle-income countries with insufficient services and limited access to electricity, cooling appliances and safe water.

In historically cooler regions in the Global North, including North America and Europe, rising temperatures will be the main force driving older adults heat exposure. In historically hotter regions in the Global South such as Asia, Africa and South America, population growth and increases in longevity mean that steeply rising numbers of older adults will be exposed to intensifying heat-related risks.

Policymakers, communities, families and older residents themselves need to understand these risks and be prepared because of older adults special vulnerabilities to heat.

Extreme heat is especially harmful to older adults

High temperatures are oppressive for everyone, but for older adults they can be deadly.

Extreme heat worsens common age-related health conditions such as heart, lung and kidney disease and can cause delirium. Older people dont sweat as much as younger people, which makes it harder for their bodies to cool down when temperatures spike. These problems are intensified by common prescription medications, such as anticholinergics, which further reduce the capacity to sweat.

Spending time outdoors in hot humid weather can cause dehydration, a problem worsened by the side effects of prescription medications such as diuretics and beta-blockers. Dehydration can make older adults weak and dizzy, increasing their risk of falls and injury. These threats are even worse in regions lacking access to safe and affordable drinking water.

Poor air quality makes it difficult to breath, especially for those who already have lung problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.

For older adults with physical health problems, temperatures as low as 80 F (26.7 C) can pose significant danger. And when humidity is as high as 90%, even 78 F (25.6 C) can be hazardous to older adults.

Nighttime heat is especially harmful for older adults whose homes lack air conditioning or who cant afford to run their air conditioners for long periods. The ideal temperature for older adults restful sleep is between 68 and 77 F (20 and 25 C), and sleep quality diminishes as temperatures rise. A night of restless sleep can make an older adult more depressed and confused during their waking hours. Medications also can lose their effectiveness if stored in places much warmer than 77 F (25 C).

Older adults also may suffer emotionally during stifling heat waves

Being stuck indoors when temperatures are unbearable can make older adults bored, depressed and isolated. People with cognitive impairments may underestimate the dangers of extreme heat or may not understand the heat advisories.

Those who have physical mobility limitations or lack access to transportation cant easily travel to public cooling centers  if there is one nearby  or find relief in nearby green and blue areas, such as parks and lakes.

These threats are especially dire in low- and middle-income nations, where older adults are more likely to live in substandard housing and lack access to high-quality health care or ways to cool down in the heat. We talk about this as systemic cooling poverty.

What can be done?

Policymakers can work to cut greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels in vehicles, power plants and factories, which drive global warming, and develop effective plans to protect older people from heat risk. Older adults and their caregivers also can take steps to adapt.

But efforts to help need to be tailored to each region and population.

Wealthy municipalities can increase public investments in early warning systems and ride services to cooling centers and hospitals. They can use geographic information systems to identify neighborhoods with high concentrations of older adults and expand power grids to manage increasing demand for air conditioning.

In regions with substandard housing, limited access to clean water and few public supports such as cooling centers, much larger changes are necessary. Providing better health care, water and housing and reducing air pollution that can mitigate health problems during heat waves require significant changes and investments many countries struggle to afford.

The World Health Organization and Pan American Health Organization warn that this decade will be critical for preparing communities to handle rising heat and the risk to aging populations. Across all regions, researchers, practitioners and policymakers could save lives by heeding their call.

This article, originally published May 22, 2024, has been updated with extreme heat in Delhi.

Deborah Carr, A&S Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Director of the Center for Innovation in Social Science, Boston University; Enrica De Cian, Professor of Environmental Economics, Ca Foscari University of Venice; Giacomo Falchetta, Research Scholar in Energy, Climate and Environment, Ca Foscari University of Venice, and Ian Sue Wing, Professor of Earth and Environment, Boston University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
Ann Arbor (Informed Comment)  It is great good news, of course, that Trump was finally held accountable for his hush money pay off to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about their hook-up so as to win the 2016 presidential election. Had she gone public in October, 2016 in the wake of the release of the Hollywood Access tape about grabbing genitalia, he may well have lost. That he is now a felon invalidates his entire presidency. It does not erase all the harm he did, in reshaping the Supreme Court as a tool of white nationalist Christian patriarchy, and it wont bring back the hundreds of thousands of people who died of COVID because of his wrongheaded public health policies. But it is some form of minor justice.

The conviction, however, underlines that American law and politics is still primarily about property rather than about the value of human life. Both Richard M. Nixon and Donald J. Trump went down over Lockean crimes. Nixon ordered a third rate burglary (twice!). Trump arranged for a pay-off to a porn star. Both committed their crimes in furtherance of their political careers. Nixon had the Democratic National Committee headquarters in the Watergate Building in Washington, D.C. burgled. Trump had a catch and kill scheme implemented for Stormy Daniels memoirs. Ironically, likely neither needed to commit those crimes to win.

It is a little frustrating, however, that our priorities as a society are still so parochial and twentieth-century in character, and that we are not more outraged at the truly massive damage Trump did to our planet. He should have been tried and convicted of attempted planeticide.

1. Trump took the United States out of the 2015 Paris Climate Accord in November, 2020, trashing all the pledges the country had made to reduce its massive carbon footprint. The US, with 4.2% of the worlds population, produces nearly 14% of the worlds carbon dioxide, putting out twice as much CO2 as the 27 nations of the European Union. By leaving the Paris agreement, Trump encouraged other countries to slack off on their climate commitments, endangering the whole world.

2. Trump scrapped President Obamas Clean Power Plan, his attempt to regulate CO2 emissions, and Trumps rules would have put an extra half a billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere over a decade. When were trying to cut CO2 to zero by 2050, that was a step in completely the wrong direction.

MSNBC: Quid pro quo: Trump vowed to gut climate laws in exchange for $1B from oil bosses

3. Trump also lowered auto emissions standards, helping the big car companies avoid going electric longer and adding another 450 million tons of CO2. Now that China has more advanced electric car technology than the US and can make EVs more cheaply for the world market, it becomes clear that Trump may have knee-capped the US preeminence in the global auto-manufacturing sector, for good. Since it is increasingly clear that auto emissions cause Alzheimers, Trump also damaged our brains to be more like his own.

4. Trump actively promoted the production of the very dangerous atmospheric heating agent, methane, a greenhouse gas that prevents the heat caused by the suns rays from radiating back out into space at the old eighteenth-century rate. He removed government regulations requiring Big Oil to limit methane emissions from drilling.

5. Trump put a 30% tariff on solar panels, vastly slowing the expansion of solar power in the US and costing the country some 62,000 jobs in the solar industry. Since solar replaces coal and fossil gas for electricity generation, this is another way Trump promoted carbon dioxide emissions.

6. Trumps corrupt Interior Department subsidized coal and fossil gas, but raised the rents for wind turbines on federal lands. Trump, fuelled by an irrational hatred of wind turbines, such that he falsely asserts that they cause cancer, was a constant worry to the industry all the time he was in office.

7. The sum total of all Trumps anti-climate regulations would have added 1.8 billion tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere had they not largely been reversed by the subsequent Biden administration. This one man tried to engineer an extra tonnage of CO2 emissions equal to the annual output of all of Russia.

I have suggested that we could get a better sense of how disgusting carbon dioxide and methane emissions are if we called them farts instead of using a fancy word like emissions. How many tons of CO2 did America fart out last year?

Trump, who spent much of his trial farting and dozing, tried to have us fart out an extra 1.8 billion tons of CO2.

Some small percentage of all the damage human-made climate change will do to the United States in the coming years will have been caused by one man. And if he can get into office again he will try to doom the planet.

Now that is an indictment.
VANCOUVER, BC, May 31, 2024 /CNW/ - Defense Metals Corp. ("Defense Metals" or the "Company"; (TSXV: DEFN) (OTCQB: DFMTF) (FSE:35D) is pleased to announce the appointment of Suzanne Rich Folsom to the Board of Directors of the Company.

Suzanne Rich Folsom is an experienced independent director, C-Suite executive, and influential business leader. Most recently she served as Senior Vice President and General Counsel, at Philip Morris International where she was a key leader in the company's transformation. Previously she was General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer, and SVP-Government Affairs, at United States Steel Corporation where she also played a pivotal leadership role in that company's transformation as well as helping reinvigorate U.S. Steel's business growth. Throughout her career, Ms. Folsom has been a change agent and catalyst for organizational growth at multiple companies and organizations.

Her career includes senior corporate executive roles at ACADEMI, as the EVP, General Counsel, and Chief Compliance Officer, at AIG, as the Deputy GC and Chief Regulatory & Compliance Officer, and at the World Bank where she was the Counselor to the President and Director of the Department of Institutional Integrity. In addition, Ms. Folsom has held distinctive public administration roles including serving as: the Private Secretary to H.M. Queen Noor of Jordan; First Family Liaison to the Presidential Inaugural Committee; Special Assistant to Barbara Bush; Advisor to the US Delegation to the U.N. World Women's Conference in Kenya; Chief of Staff to the Co-Chair of a U.S. national political party; and she practiced law with three global law firms. She is a frequent thought leadership contributor and speaker and has been recognized in the United States and abroad for her many contributions. Ms. Folsom holds a juris doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center and a bachelor's degree from Duke University. Previous board service has included the boards of Advanced Metallurgical Group AMG, VELUX LLC, and Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy. Ms. Folsom currently serves on the boards of the iconic Encyclopaedia Britannica, today a global digital media learning and knowledge products company, and Ecore International, a revolutionary leader in rubber circularity and a transformational waste company. She is also an Advisor to EqualFuture LLC, an AI-assisted financial wellness and education FinTech start-up.

Ms. Folsom's deep expertise in business strategy, governance, enterprise risk management, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory, compliance, cyber, trade, labor, and global public policy has enabled her to consistently deliver positive and measurable results to the corporate bottom line. Ms. Folsom's extensive leadership, corporate governance, public company, and global government affairs experience make her a highly valuable addition to the Company's Board of Directors.

The Company also announces the resignation of Andrew Burgess from its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors and management team thank Mr. Burgess for his contributions during his tenure since his appointment in January 2019 and wish him success in his future endeavours.

PFS Updates

The Company expects to announce in H2-2024 its preliminary feasibility study ("PFS") to be prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Minerals Projects, for its 100% owned Wicheeda Rare Earth Element ("REE") project located near Prince George, B.C., Canada.

All infrastructure geotechnical field data collection and process design in support of the PFS has been completed. Equipment pricing, tailings disposal options and mine design are currently being advanced and the Company expects to announce the results of the PFS in H2-2024, with the NI 43-101 Technical Report to be filed within 45 days of the announcement.

About Defense Metals Corp. and its Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Project

Defense Metals Corp. is focused on the development of its 100% owned, 8,301-hectare (~20,534-acre) Wicheeda REE Project that is located on the traditional territory of the McLeod Lake Indian Band in British Columbia, Canada.

The Wicheeda REE Project, approximately 80 kilometres (~50 miles) northeast of the city of Prince George, is readily accessible by a paved highway and all-weather gravel roads and is close to infrastructure, including hydro power transmission lines and gas pipelines. The nearby Canadian National Railway and major highways allow easy access to the port facilities at Prince Rupert, the closest major North American port to Asia.

Defense Metals is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit: www.discoverygroup.ca.

For further information, please visit www.defensemetals.com.

Alex Heath

Vice President, Corporate Development

Tel: 1 604-354-2491

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release contains "forwardlooking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements relating to the announcement and expected completion of the PFS and the expected timelines, advancing the Wicheeda REE Project, the expectations and plans for the Wicheeda REE Project, the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its project and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of rare earth elements, the anticipated costs and expenditures, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including the risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of exploration and metallurgical results, risks related to the inherent uncertainty of exploration and development and cost estimates, the potential for unexpected costs and expenses and those other risks filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca). While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather and climate conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain or obtain community acceptance (including First Nations), risks relating to unanticipated operational difficulties (including failure of equipment or processes to operate in accordance with specifications or expectations, cost escalation, unavailability of personnel, materials and equipment, government action or delays in the receipt of government approvals, industrial disturbances or other job action, and unanticipated events related to health, safety and environmental matters), risks relating to inaccurate geological, metallurgical, engineering and pricing assumptions, decrease in the price of rare earth elements, the impact of viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate, restriction on labour and international travel and supply chains, loss of key employees, consultants, officers or directors, increase in costs, delayed results, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forwardlooking statements or forwardlooking information, except as required by law.
VANCOUVER, BC, May 31, 2024 /CNW/ - Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. (TSXV: SCZ) ("Santacruz" or "the Company") reports its financial and operating results for the first quarter ("Q1") of 2024. The full version of the financial statements and accompanying Management's Discussion and Analysis (the "MD&A") can be viewed on the Company's website at www.santacruzsilver.com or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Q1 2024 Highlights

Processed 470,749 tonnes of material and produced 4,478,122 silver equivalent ounces, including:

1,581,949 ounces of silver 22,847 tonnes of zinc 2,953 tonnes of lead 256 tonnes of copper



Cash cost per silver equivalent ounce sold of $21.19

AISC per silver equivalent ounce sold of $24.12

Revenue of $52,589,000

Adjusted EBITDA of ($215,000)

Arturo Prestamo, Executive Chairman and CEO of Santacruz, commented, "Santacruz has successfully restructured its debt with Glencore, resulting in enhanced financial flexibility and a more robust balance sheet. This strategic move has bolstered the Companys financial position and should allow for better optimization of Santacruz's core business activities and the pursuit of long-term growth initiatives."

Mr. Prestamo continued, "During the first quarter, production at our Bolivian mines faced several disruptions due to various events, including national holidays, and the national population census. Caballo Blanco experienced a challenging quarter due to additional production disruptions caused by safety training and mining in areas with lower silver grades. However, the preparation of new areas is progressing well, thanks to the integration ramp. Caballo Blanco is expected to mine areas with higher silver grades in the coming months and together with less operational disruptions, the Company expects a better performance. Our AISC per silver equivalent ounces sold increased due to the decrease in silver equivalent ounce sold, with the most impact being from Caballo Blanco. However, our Zimapan mine in Mexico experienced no production variances during the quarter, with the efficiency strategies implemented in late 2023 continuing to deliver improvements."

Selected consolidated financial and operating information for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 are presented below. All financial information is prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), and all dollar amounts are expressed in thousands of US dollars, except per unit amounts, unless otherwise indicated.

2024 First Quarter Highlights

2024-Q1 2023-Q4 Change Q1 vs Q4 2023-Q1 Change Q1 vs Q1

Operational Material Processed (tonnes milled) 470,749 489,417 (4 %) 482,497 (2 %) Silver Equivalent Produced (ounces) (1) 4,478,122 4,788,318 (6 %) 4,727,882 (5 %) Silver Ounces Produced 1,581,949 1,719,737 (8 %) 1,769,520 (11 %) Zinc Tonnes Produced 22,847 23,777 (4 %) 22,463 2 % Lead Tonnes Produced 2,953 3,130 (6 %) 3,043 (3 %) Copper Tonnes Produced 256 290 (12 %) 415 (38 %) Silver Equivalent Sold (payable ounces) (2) 3,632,938 3,813,863 (5 %) 4,380,895 (17 %) Cash Cost of Production per Tonne (3) 93.18 94.87 (2 %) 84.11 11 % Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold ($/oz) (3) 21.19 17.74 19 % 17.29 23 % All-in Sustaining Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold ($/oz) (3) 24.12 21.37 13 % 20.77 16 % Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold ($/oz) (2) (3) (4) 23.18 22.47 3 % 22.03 5 %

Financial Revenues 52,589 57,616 (9 %) 65,378 (20 %) Gross Profit 463 1,550 (70 %) 14,680 (97 %) Net Income (loss) 129,025 16,271 693 % (176) 73,410 % Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Basic ($/share) 0.37 0.05 640 % 0.00 100 % Adjusted EBITDA (3) (215) 24,612 (101 %) 12,603 (102 %) Cash and Cash Equivalent 4,035 4,947 (18 %) 11,988 (66 %) Working Capital (Deficiency) 7,150 (43,168) 117 % (78,906) 109 %

First Quarter 2024 Production Summary - By Mine

Bolivar (5) Porco (5) Caballo Blanco

Group San Lucas Zimapan Total Material Processed (tonnes milled) 72,801 50,862 72,462 69,220 205,404000 470,749 Silver Equivalent Produced (ounces) (1) 1,024,492 543,414 862,142 1,032,085 1,015,989 4,478,122 Silver Ounces Produced 425,756 176,436 284,809 294,998 399,950 1,581,949 Zinc Tonnes Produced 5,063 3,160 4,702 6,279 3,643 22,847 Lead Tonnes Produced 395 169 611 427 1,352 2,953 Copper Tonnes Produced N/A N/A N/A N/A 256 256 Average head grades per mine: Silver (g/t) 199 130 136 159 82 125 Zinc (%) 7.68 6.72 7.04 9.90 2.29 5.45 Lead (%) 0.74 0.46 1.10 0.96 0.83 0.84 Copper (%) N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.29 0.29 Metal recovery per mine: Silver (%) 91 83 90 83 74 81 Zinc (%) 91 92 92 92 77 84 Lead (%) 74 72 76 64 79 75 Copper (%) N/A N/A N/A N/A 43 43 Silver Equivalent Sold (payable ounces) (2) 1,014,743 419,230 573,347 754,910 870,708 3,632,938

Notes for both tables above:

(1) Silver Equivalent Produced (ounces) have been calculated using prices of $23.62/oz, $1.21/lb, $0.95/lb and $3.91/lb for silver, zinc, lead and copper respectively

applied to the metal production divided by the silver price as stated here. (2) Silver Equivalent Sold (payable ounces) have been calculated using the Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold stated in the table above, applied to the payable metal content of the concentrates sold from Bolivar, Porco, the Caballo Blanco Group, San Lucas and Zimapan. (3) The Company reports non-GAAP measures, which include Cash Cost of Production per Tonne, Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold, All-in Sustaining Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold, Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold, and Adjusted EBITDA. These measures are widely used in the mining industry as a benchmark for performance, but do not have a standardized meaning and may differ from methods used by other companies with similar descriptions. See ''Non-GAAP Measures'' section below for definitions. (4) Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold is prior to all treatment, smelting and refining charges. (5) Bolivar and Porco are presented at 100% whereas the Company records 45% of revenues and expenses in its consolidated financial statements.

Silver Equivalent Ounces Produced

Q1 2024 vs Q1 2023

In Q1 2024, the Company processed 470,749 tonnes of material and produced 4,478,112 silver equivalent ounces including 1,581,949 ounces of silver, 22,847 tonnes of zinc, 2,953 tonnes of lead and 256 tonnes of copper. When compared to Q1 2023, total material processed was slightly less, however silver equivalent ounce production decreased 5% due primarily to lower production, silver grade and plant recovery at Caballo Blanco.

Q1 2024 vs Q4 2023

When compared to the previous quarter total material processed was slightly less. Silver equivalent ounce production decreased 6% quarter-over-quarter as a result of less material processed, along with lower silver grades from the Bolivar and Caballo Blanco mines in Bolivia.

Cash Cost of Production per Tonne

Q1 2024 vs Q1 2023

Consolidated cash cost of production per tonne of mineralized material processed was $93.18 in Q1 2024 compared to $84.11 in Q1 2023. Increases in unit production costs at the Bolivian operations, a result of lower production rates have driven the consolidated net increase in cash costs of 11% per tonne.

Q1 2024 vs Q4 2023

Consolidated cash cost of production per tonne of mineralized material processed remained stable with a slight decrease of 2% driven mostly by incremental decreases across all operations. Cash cost per tonne at San Lucas increased 12%, which was offset by the 2% decrease at all other Bolivian operations. In Mexico, cash cost of production has decreased from the Q4 2023 high to be relatively in line with the other quarters of 2023.

Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold

Q1 2024 vs Q1 2023

Cash cost per silver equivalent ounce sold was $21.19 in Q1 2024 compared to $17.29 in Q1 2023. There was an increase in unit costs together with a decrease of silver equivalent ounces sold mainly due to the silver equivalent conversion ratio of base metals to silver, which was higher due to the changes in realized metal prices and resulted in the reduction of silver equivalent ounces sold.

Q1 2024 vs Q4 2023

Consolidated results for Q1 2024 show an 19% increase in cash costs per silver equivalent ounce sold compared to Q4 2023. There was an increase in unit costs together with a decrease of silver equivalent ounces sold.

All-In Sustaining Cash Cost ("AISC") per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold

Q1 2024 vs Q1 2023

Q1 2024 AISC per silver equivalent ounce sold was $24.12, compared to Q1 2023 of $20.77. This 16% increase in unit cost was due primarily to the 17% decrease in silver equivalent ounces sold.

Q1 2024 vs Q4 2023

Consolidated AISC per silver equivalent ounce sold increased 13% from Q4 2023, mainly a result of higher unit operating costs, partly offset by lower sustaining capital expenditures mostly related to the completion of the integration ramp at Caballo Blanco in Q1 2024.

Corporate Update

On May 13, 2024, the Board of Directors appointed Arturo Prestamo as CEO of the Company.

About Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd.

Santacruz Silver is engaged in the operation, acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Latin America. The Bolivian operations are comprised of the Bolivar, Porco and the Caballo Blanco Group, which consists of the Tres Amigos, Reserva and Colquechaquita mines. The Soracaya exploration project and San Lucas ore sourcing and trading business are also in Bolivia. The Zimapan mine is in Mexico.

'signed'

Arturo Prestamo Elizondo,

Executive Chairman and CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward looking information

This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends", "expects" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or will "potentially" or "likely" occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forwardlooking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding the benefits the Company expects to derive from restructuring its debt with Glencore, and that Caballo Blanco will achieve improved performance in the coming months. These forwardlooking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks that the restructured debt with Glencore will not allow for better optimization of the Company's core business activities and the pursuit of its long-term growth initiatives, that Caballo Blanco will be unable mine areas with higher silver grades in the coming months, that there will not be fewer operational disruptions at Caballo Blanco in the coming months, or that Caballo Blanco will not achieve improved performance, risks related to changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets, changes in applicable laws, and compliance with extensive government regulation, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's disclosure documents filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedarplus.ca.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, the assumption that the restructured debt with Glencore will allow the Company to better optimize its core business activities and pursuit of long-term growth initiatives, and that Caballo Blanco will be able to mine areas with higher silver grades in the coming months and together with less operational disruptions will achieve improved performance.

There can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information or statements, other than as required by applicable law.
A French village preserved as a reminder of Nazi cruelty since Waffen-SS troops murdered 643 people there in 1944 is in danger of decay, sparking efforts to preserve the site.

On June 10, 1944, Oradour-sur-Glane in German-occupied central France became the scene of a massacre of civilians that still shocks the nation to this day.

Possibly as punishment for the killing by the French Resistance of a high-ranking SS member, German troops rounded up everyone they could find in the village and machine-gunned or burned alive men, women and children, torched or razed buildings and destroyed a church.

Postwar president Charles de Gaulle said the "martyr village" should never be rebuilt, but instead kept as a permanent reminder of the horrors of the Nazi occupation for postwar generations.

- 'Survivors are gone' -

But 80 years later, village buildings are crumbling, roofs have disappeared and walls are covered in moss, prompting local politicians and descendants of villagers to call for a major conservation effort to keep the memory alive.

"All the survivors are gone, the only witnesses of the massacre are these stones," said Agathe Hebras, whose grandfather Robert was the last survivor of only six people to escape the SS murder spree. He died last year.

"I am deeply attached to these ruins, like many people here, we can't let them wither away," the 31-year-old told AFP. "We need to take care of them as best we can for as long as possible."

A new, eponymous town built nearby after the war is bustling, but the old ruins -- which are owned by the French state and a listed heritage site -- are eerily silent.

- 'Urgent action' -

Some of the crumbling, blackened buildings carry signs like "Hairdresser", "Cafe", or "Ironmongery", reminding visitors that people went about their daily lives here until the murderous assault.

Scattered over 10 hectares are the odd rusty bicycle, sewing machine or shell of a period car.

"We need very, very urgent action," said Oradour-sur-Glane's mayor Philippe Lacroix. "As this setting disappears so will remembrance, little by little."

Carine Villedieu Renaud, 47, the granddaughter of the only couple that survived the massacre, often walks across the ruins on her way to the new town, remembering her grandmother who lost her mother, her sisters and her four-year old daughter in the massacre.

"She would take me for walks among the ruins," she said. "We would pick flowers and she would tell me about her old life."

While the grandmother told her stories "without taboo", other survivors only felt able to speak about the massacre decades later, if at all.

Hebras said her grandfather, who lost two sisters and his mother in the killings, only began to talk about the events in the late 1980s.

"The first generation of children born in Oradour after the massacre, which includes my father, lived through a very hard time because their parents kept silent, believing that they needed to forget to keep on living," she said.

- 'Universal significance' -

Since 1946, the government has allocated the equivalent of 200,000 euros ($216,000 at current rates) annually for maintenance, in addition to ad hoc spending, like the 480,000 euros allocated to the village church's restoration last year.

But much more is needed, said Laetitia Morellet, the regional deputy director for heritage and architecture.

"We don't want to bring back what was destroyed," she told AFP. "We want to preserve the state of destruction, because that is what helps people understand this war crime."

Some 19 million euros are needed, and an effort to source the money through donations and state financing is underway.

Oradour-sur-Glane could eventually gain "a certain universal significance" beyond the 1944 massacre and World War II, said Benoit Sadry, president of an association grouping the victims' families.

"What counts is to keep proof that in mass crimes committed during wars it is always the civilian population that pays the highest price," he said.
Getting to a hearing in the case against Oleksander Oleksandrovych Radchenko, also known as San Sanych, is a two-hour drive on the Kharkiv-Dnipro highway. The accused is likely to take the same route. The ruling of Ukraines Novomoskovsk City District Court, about 30 km northeast of Dnipro, which released the businessman from detention, stated that Radchenko must not leave the location of his actual residence, i.e. Kharkiv, without the courts authorisation.

Radchenko was the founder and CEO of Kupiansk Milk Canning Factory. He was also a member of the Kupiansk district council, as a representative of President Zelenskys party. The Novomoskovsk court received territorial jurisdiction over the Kupiansk case for the duration of martial law. It is impossible to resume the proceedings on site: according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, intense hostilities are ongoing in the Kupiansk area, with the Russian army attacking Ukrainian positions, as well as shelling towns and villages.

According to Dmytro Chubenko, spokesperson for the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutors office, his office tried to object to the conditional release measure. Since this person held a high position in a major local company, since many witnesses are employees of this company, this person can influence witnesses through his connections and resources but can also distort evidence that proves his guilt, Chubenko said. This person, although of a certain age, was still in charge of a major company, participated in drafting contracts for the supply of products to the Russian Federation and the so-called LNR [Luhansk self-proclaimed republic in Eastern Ukraine]... In other words, he was working very actively, that is why our position was to keep him in detention.

Dmytro Chubenko, spokesperson for the Kharkiv Region Prosecutors Office. Photo:  Mediaport

A rare case of conditional release

Radchenko's lawyer Ihor Stepanov responded that he had no right to disclose Oleksandr Oleksandrovychs health condition. He is healthy enough to attend court hearings. He can and in any case will appear in court, as he is obliged to appear at every court hearing. And he will comply.

In court, Radchenko looks upbeat and confident indeed. At first impression, he does not look like a man who may not have the ability to fully respond to the demands of the world around him, as the court once described him.

The current legislation gives the court the right to set bail or not when choosing a preventive measure in "collaboration cases", said Roman Chumak, a lawyer and co-founder of the NGO Pro Justice, and coordinator of the Kharkiv Regional Council for Justice Reform. The court must take into account all possible risks when choosing a preventive measure of detention without bail. Of course, the court must also take into account the health of the accused, his age and the presence of chronic diseases, Chumak said. Taking into account the court practice of choosing and extending preventive measures in this category of cases, it should be mentioned that the possibility of bail as an alternative to detention is not available in all cases. This is a rare occurrence rather than a general rule. But I would like to point out that in each case the court assesses the health of the accused and the ability of the state to provide medical care in places of detention.

The invasion of Kupiansk by Russian troops

The Kupiansk Milk Canning Factory is located on the left bank of the Oskil River, less than ten kilometres from the frontline. The products of Kupiansk Milk Canning Factory are known all over Ukraine. Under the Zarichia brand (originally known as Zarechie in Russian), the company produced condensed milk and more than 45 other dairy products with a recognisable bunny logo. The factorys product line was expanding, and Kupiansk Milk Cunning Factorys products were publicised, until the Russian army started a full-scale war in February 2022.

A few days after Russias full invasion began, Russians took control of Kupiansk, stopped a pro-Ukrainian gathering and detained some of its participants. The fate of some of them is still unknown. On February 27, the katsaps [pejorative word for Russians] were already in Kupiansk. They immediately arrested all the ATO [the area where Ukrainian separatists were active] veterans, they were turned in, by lists. Our mayor greeted them, showed them around and accommodated them, Kupiansk volunteer Oleksandr K. recalled. (MediaPort has chosen not to publish his name for security reasons.)

Oleksandr K. survived detention and a house search, then left Kupiansk through country roads to reach the government-controlled territory of Ukraine. Thankfully, because we knew all the roads, we managed to get to the other side of the Oskil. And we drove across Lyman, where for the first time in my life I wanted to hug our police officers because they were standing at a checkpoint with a Ukrainian flag, he said.

A Ukrainian patriot?

Radchenkos lawyers refer to their client as a Ukrainian patriot who was paying military tax and was helping ATO soldiers before the full-scale war, which the Kupiansk volunteer confirmed. I know that he [Radchenko] was distributing milk, thats for sure. When the electricity was cut off, they continued to milk the cows, he was giving it to people for free. I know that before the war he helped the ATO soldiers, Oleksander K. said. On the other hand, before the war started, he had contracts with Russia. He named the trademark not Zarichia, but Zarechie. By the way, it was rumoured that his brand had been stolen from him because people in the Luhansk oblast had started producing these same products as if they were Ukrainian-made. With the same rabbit or bunny logo drawn on them, he added.

Vadym Chaharovskyi, head of the Union of Dairy Companies of Ukraine, also defended Radchenko. He had a choice: run away like everyone else and leave the factory or save it. Since this factory and the team were like family to him, his choice was obvious to all of us. He stayed because he was responsible for his employees and milk-supplying partners. If the factory had shut down and stopped processing milk, the suppliers would have been forced to slaughter their cows. This would have resulted in great economic losses, he told Telegraf in March 2023.

Ihor Stepanov, Radchenkos defence lawyer. Photo:  Mediaport

Contracts with the Russians and seized roubles

But according to the investigation, Radchenko was building his business with the Russians and did so voluntarily. According to the prosecutors office and the SBU [Ukraines intelligence services], the renewed registration of the Kupiansk Milk Canning Factory with the Russians tax office and the contracts concluded with them constitute evidence of the CEOs cooperation with the Russians. To accomplish this, the head executive registered the joint-stock company with the occupation administrations so-called tax office. Then he opened accounts in one of the Russian banks and converted all the companys funds into roubles. This way, he ensured regular supply of industrial volumes of dairy products for the needs of the invaders in the temporarily occupied territory of eastern Ukraine, the SBU reported. The accused concluded a supply agreement with the so-called Military and Public Administration of the Kupiansk district for the supply of products totalling more than UAH 3.5 million [about 80,000 euros]. In addition, from May to September 2022, the CEO signed contracts for the sale of dairy products with companies in occupied Luhansk worth about UAH 100 million [about 2,2 million euros], the prosecutors office informed.

During the investigation searches, Russian roubles were seized from the accused. This is a specific factor that indicates work and cooperation with the occupiers during the occupation, so the money was seized, and this matter will be voiced in court, Chubenko, from the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutors office, said.

Kupiansk mayor Andriy Besedin told MediaPort that the Kupiansk Milk Canning Factory is now closed and partially damaged by shelling. Im not ready to say [whether all employees have been fired], its a private company. I know that the head of the company is under investigation, the company was seized. Of course, the absence of such a company, as well as the others, affects the city, the taxes. Not a single company operates in the Kupiansk community, Besedin said.

He did not collaborate with the aggressor country

Radchenkos lawyer refused to talk about the factorys activity and its future. The defence is reluctant to comment on the specifics of the case until the trial is over. At the same time, it claims that the prosecutors office has no evidence and is delaying the trial. We will provide all the answers to your questions or comments after the courts final decision on the case. Mr. Oleksandr Oleksandrovych has not testified in court so far, Stepanov said, explaining his clients unwillingness to talk. Asked if he could at least react to the accusation that his client had collaborated with Russia, he replied: I am stating that he did not collaborate with the aggressor country.

We are at the stage of questioning witnesses, he added. To date, none of the [prosecutions] witnesses who have been interrogated have confirmed the charges brought by the prosecution. In our opinion, the prosecutor is delaying this case and not bringing the witnesses to the courtroom, as it is aware that such testimonies do not help them.

But for Chubenko, the defences position is manipulative. As of now, about 10 witnesses have been interrogated, I cannot say the exact number of witnesses, as this is a tactic of the prosecution. We will provide information about those who will testify during the trial, he said.

Waiting for witnesses

But once again, witnesses did not appear at the hearing on May 3, 2024. The Kupiansk District Prosecutors Office received a report from the Kupiansk District Police Department stating that they were unable to execute the court order to bring them in, prosecutor Dmytro Reshetnyak said, adding that he requested the fulfilment of the court order and clarification as of why it was impossible to execute it. He asked the court to issue another order entrusting the case to operatives of the SBU: I believe that under martial law, SBU operatives have more capacity to carry out the court order.

The defence objected to the involvement of the SBU but did not object to the court order. I would like to draw the courts attention to the fact that the prosecution has not provided witnesses for the third time. So next time, if there are no witnesses, I will be compelled to ask the court to set a deadline for the prosecution to provide evidence, as stipulated by the Criminal Procedure Code, Stepanov said.

The court always entrusts the prosecutor with the execution of such order. The manner of its execution is the prosecutors responsibility. In addition, the court draws the prosecutors attention to the issue raised in the court hearing that the defence may request the court to set a time limit for you to present your evidence, judge Inesa Krokhmalyuk said. Please note that we have been considering this case for a long time. Please do not force the court to set these deadlines for you. Full attention is paid to what is happening in the area where the witnesses are right now.

They should have brought witnesses, and we would have listened, Radchenko said after the hearing. Because they say what they say. And we want to hear the witnesses  you, us, the lawyers, and the court.

This report is part of our coverage of war crimes justice produced in partnership with Ukrainian journalists. A first version of this article was published on the "Mediaport" website.
Han So Hee continues to face negative criticism as she was called out for her "unacceptable" action during the Dior event.

With a beauty and popularity like the "My Name" star, it's no surprise that several brands wanted to work with her. Among the brands that she represents is the French multinational luxury fashion house Dior, where she is one of the global ambassadors, joining Cha Eun Woo, Anya Taylor-Joy, Marion Cotillard, and more.

As part of being the brand's representative, Han So Hee is often present at their activities - the most recent was during the launch of Dior's Dioliviera collection in Seoul.

The actress arrived looking like a fairy, clad in a white and teal backless crop top paired with a flared skirt that highlighted her unreal visuals.

However, what caught everyone's attention was her ribcage tattoo, peeking through her backless top.

Since tattoos are a frowned-upon topic in South Korea, Han So Hee was then hounded by criticisms, raising that the image was not appropriate to Dior's branding.

Unfortunately for the South Korean star, the hate comments continued after she showed off her customized bag from Dior.

Han So Hee's Customized Dior Book Tote Bag Stirs Buzz for the Wrong Reasons

One of the activities during the Dior event was for celebrities and influencers to customize their own Dior book tote.

So instead of having a brand name across the bag, Han So Hee chose to indicate her pre-debut nickname, "JUNK."

Han So Hee used to have an art account with the username @Jjunk where she showcased her unique artwork.

Although she didn't continue her art studies and pursue an acting career instead, fans referred to her as "Junk Unni," which is a nod to her old account.

However, in a blog post, netizens flocked to the comments' section, expressing their dismay with the actress' customized bag.

Netizens are saying that she is "hopeless" for continuing to display odd behavior publicly, while some have accused her of damaging the brand's image.

"Because she's the model, she makes the bag look not luxurious at all... She's damaging the brand's image."

"Well, there goes her ambassador contract with Dior too."

"Dior should sue her."

"Why not just put your name? You're there to promote the brand, why would you put 'junk' there."

"Ugh, she makes Dior look so tacky."

"She's hopeless. I remember she got a ton of hate for writing swears on her Instagram back during her Junk ID days. Her English is all wrong on her feed, too. I'd be too embarrassed if I were her. Study up in the time you're being attentive, and explain to us what the real story behind your French college admission is."

READ MORE : Han So Hee Shows Off Her Tattoo at Dior Show - But Fans Have Mixed Reactions To Her Look

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Flores
Are we having "Lovely Runner" Season 2? The drama's fans and avid viewers remained hopeful after director Yoon Jong Ho made an update, sparking interest in the potential return of the cast.

Want to know more about the news? Then read on!

'Lovely Runner' Aftermath: Fans Not Yet Ready To Move On From the Drama

Despite the successful conclusion of tvN's hit series "Lovely Runner," the craze continues as fans are not yet ready to move on from one of the named great K-dramas this 2024.

From checking clips on social media to rewatching the whole series, "Lovely Runner" fans remained enthusiastic about the drama.

On May 30, in celebration of its success, the drama's director Yoon Jong Jo paid tribute to the "Lovely Runner" cast and crew. He uploaded pieces of snaps on his Instagram. In the photos, it can't be denied the strong bond he has with the lead stars.

He took selfies with Byeon Woo Seok, Kim Hye Yoon, Song Geon Hee, and Lee Seung Hyub, where he exhibited adorable poses, showcasing the fun and genuine friendships they have.

Did Director Yoon Jong Ho Hints At Possible 'Lovely Runner' Season 2?

Apart from these, Yoon Jong Ho also included three group photos taken during the finale live viewing of the drama last May 28.

In regards to this, eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice interesting things about the snaps. In one of the photos, Byeon Woo Seok was holding a banner that read "tvN will run to Woo Seok & Hye Yoon's 2025."

This immediately sparked speculations among fans that a new season of the drama might be happening soon.

Adding to the hype is the caption that director Yoon Jong Ho wrote to the uploaded photos.

"Thank you very much. I was very happy. Everything was perfect.

I am so full and emotional. I want to feel this moment because I know this moment will not come again.

All the staff who stay until the end. I was happy to be with the actors, and I really want to say thank you to those who gave me so much love.

The end is another beginning."

The last line added interest to the fans' excitement as it might be a hint of a new journey with the drama's cast. Some commented, "Director-nim, we need season 2 please," "Please make one more project with this amazing team please."

Although these are just speculations and nothing has been confirmed yet, fans and avid viewers of the drama are hopeful for "Lovely Runner" Season 2.

Indeed the impact of this rom-com series is greatly felt not just in Korea but also in various countries, proving the successful journey of the cast and crew in producing a brilliant work.

What can you say about the potential "Lovely Runner" Season 2? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Shai San Miguel wrote this.
Seoul, May 31, 2024 - Byeon Woo-seok, the talented actor known for his captivating performances, sat down for an intimate interview with Wikitree at a cafe nestled in Gangnam, Seoul, on May 30th.

During the conversation, he delved into various aspects of his recent portrayal in the tvN drama "Lovely Runner", while also reflecting on his personal experiences, notably his first love.

Byeon Woo-seok's latest venture, "Lovely Runner", drew widespread attention and acclaim for its poignant narrative and compelling performances.

In the drama, he essayed the role of Ryu Seon-jae, a multifaceted character grappling with the complexities of love, loss, and second chances.

The actor skillfully portrayed Seon-jae at different stages of his life, resonating deeply with audiences.

Reflecting on his character's journey, Byeon Woo-seok shared insights into the parallels between Seon-jae's experiences and his own.

"My first love was someone I was close to in middle school, but I never expressed my feelings. As an adult, I once ran into her on the street by chance." -Byeon Woo-seok

This revelation offers a poignant glimpse into the actor's personal life, adding depth to his portrayal of Seon-jae's emotional turmoil.

"My first love was actually a one-sided love, so in a way, it might be similar to Seon-jae's high school feelings." -Byeon Woo-seok

Despite the passage of time, Byeon Woo-seok confessed that he remains uncertain about whether his first love was aware of his feelings.

"I don't keep in touch with her now, and she probably doesn't know I liked her. Or maybe she does. If she knows, it would be embarrassing," -Byeon Woo-seok

Drawing from his own encounters with unrequited love, Byeon Woo-seok emphasized his empathy towards Seon-jae's character.

"I've had unrequited love and have liked someone before, so I understood Seon-jae's emotions. But I've never said anything like 'I'll die instead of you'. I think most people haven't. I did think about that aspect a lot." -Byeon Woo-seok

He even noted that certain aspects of Seon-jae's fervent declarations, such as "I'll die instead of you," were unfamiliar territory for him, prompting contemplation on the intricacies of love and sacrifice.

"Lovely Runner" concluded its run on May 28th, leaving a lasting impression on viewers and critics alike.

Throughout its airing, the drama garnered significant attention for its immersive OSTs, thought-provoking narrative, and evocative portrayal of youth and love.

41. LOVELY RUNNER (2024) 



"Right after Ryoo Seon-jae, a top star ends his life, Im Sol, his top fan somehow ends up at a time when they were in high school and tries to protect him. A fantasy romance unfolds where people who missed each other in time finally meet." pic.twitter.com/DiNHoc2rhn  D A L (@ashesoffrost) May 28, 2024

Byeon Woo-seok's nuanced performance as Ryu Seon-jae contributed to the drama's success, cementing his status as a versatile actor with a profound understanding of human emotions.

As the interview concluded, Byeon Woo-seok expressed gratitude for the opportunity to delve into the complexities of his character and share his insights with audiences.

With "Lovely Runner" marking yet another milestone in his career, fans eagerly anticipate the actor's future endeavors, eager to witness his continued growth and artistic evolution.

The legacy of "Lovely Runner" lives on, not just as a compelling drama but as a poignant reflection on love, loss, and the enduring power of second chances.

KDramaStars owns this article

Written by Geca Flores








Friday, May 31, 2024 - An elderly Kikuyu woman is counting losses after all her household items were destroyed during the ongoing demolitions of houses built on riparian land in the city.

She had built her house on a riparian land in Kayole, where she has lived for decades.

Bulldozers were deployed to the area without prior notice and several houses were demolished.

In the video, the woman is seen wailing and saying she has not been given notice.

Sikua nimetoa kitu yoyote, she is heard saying in the video before breaking down.

A chief who had been deployed to oversee the demolitions looked unbothered as the woman wailed uncontrollably.

The Government ordered the demolition of structures and buildings illegally constructed along riparian land near Nairobi rivers

The directive affects all living within 30 metres of Ngong, Mathare, and Nairobi rivers.

Hundreds of city residents who live from hand to mouth have been left homeless following the directive.

Watch the video.





The Kenyan DAILY POST.






Friday, May 31,2024 - Former Amani National Congress(ANC) Secretary General, Barack Muluka, has hit out at President William Ruto for stating that his 'friends' offered him a private jet to use for his state visit to the US, for only Sh10 million.

Muluka, while speaking in an interview with a local TV station on Friday, demanded to know the interests the said friends have in Kenya.

According to Muluka, President Ruto personally accepted the donations, violating the constitution of Kenya.

"The issue here is that we are not dealing with a private wedding. We are dealing with a State visit by a State officer to another State, and we are dealing with humongous donations contrary to the constitution of Kenya.

By being offered a Sh70 million private jet for Sh10 million, Muluka says President Ruto compromised Article 76(2)(b) of the constitution.

The political analyst further argued that Ruto's move may lead Kenya the South African way, where then President Jacob Zuma had to be removed from office after getting involved in a similar incident.

"We are in the space where the integrity of the state officer in line with Article 76(2)(b) of the constitution is likely to be compromised.

"We are finding ourselves as a country where the South Africans were a few years ago when President Jacob Zuma was involved in deals of this kind...These are weighty matters that compromise the integrity of the State and its security," Muluka stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Friday, May 31, 2024  There was drama in South B after supporters of Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua clashed during the UDA elections.

The wrangles ensued after a section of party members allied to Gachaguas candidate and Embakasi MP James Gakuya attempted to bar Sakajas supporters from participating in the elections.

Following the move, Sakaja's supporters resorted to a fight, forcing the election officials to momentarily halt the voting process.

A section of party members also accused the election officials of engaging in irregularities by allowing non-party members to participate in the elections.

Police officers who were on high alert quickly intervened to quell the situation with the election officials scampering for safety.

The officers lobbed tear gas canisters into the air to disperse the party members who were going at each other.

Gakuyas supporters could be heard chanting Sakajas name calling for his ouster.

"We arrived at the voting polling centre early and lined up to vote only for a group of individuals to spark wrangles," narrated one of the voters.

"Some of the leaders within this area orchestrated the fight, forcing the police to intervene."

While lamenting the wrangles, a section of the voters urged the party leadership to intervene and take action against persons instigating such incidents.

The latest incident comes amidst a thickening controversy that has marred the UDA party and its leadership.

On Wednesday, Sakaja blasted Gachagua, accusing him of bullying him and other UDA members for 2 years.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Friday, May 31, 2024 - Garissa Governor, Nathif Jama, has reportedly acquired the lavish Monarch Hotel in Kilimani after looting public funds.

According to insiders, the corrupt governor flew to the United Kingdom (UK) about a week ago to transfer the hotel to a close family member.

Jama has been linked to several corruption scandals.

On March 25, 2023, he publicly announced a Sh 100 million bursary allocation but only 16% of this amount was reportedly dispersed.

The rest of the money was looted by Jama and his close associates and this left hundreds of students out of school due to lack of fees.

He also allocated Sh 100 million for revolving funds but only Sh 40 million was disbursed.

The remaining Sh 60 million was looted by the governor and his close associates.

It is believed that he used the looted funds to acquire the multi-million hotel in Kilimani.

















The Kenyan DAILY POST.








Friday, May 31, 2024 - A concerned Kenyan has called upon DCI and EACC to investigate how Garissa Governor, Nathif Jama Adam, reportedly employed an unqualified Somali refugee known as Mohamud Dagane alias Timo Cade as an advisor

Mohamud earns a monthly salary of Ksh 200,000 and is notorious for creating conflicts among county leaders and the Governor.

He is registered as a refugee at the Dagahley Refugee Camp in Dabaab.

Timo is a registered refugee, with his registration held at the Dagahley Refugee Camp in Dadaab. It is alarming that a refugee is earning a substantial salary under such circumstances. This issue raised worries about national security concerns for our country the concerned Kenyan said.

Its also suspected that he acquired his Kenyan identity card fraudulently.

Governor Nathif is among the most corrupt and incompetent Governors.

He recently bought a lavish hotel in Kilimani using looted public funds and flew to the United Kingdom to transfer the hotel to a close family to avoid being monitored by EACC.













The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Friday, May 31, 2024 Friday, May 31, 2024 - Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has opened up for the first time about the ill-fated chopper that killed former Chief of Defence of Forces General Francis Ogolla in April.

Ogolla and 9 other senior Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldiers died after their chopper crashed in Elgeyo Marakwet County.

Appearing before Jeff Koinange Live (JKL) on Wednesday, Duale said the chopper was a capable machine that could even fly at night. He added that the chopper's crash was a wake-up call to the government.

Duale revealed that prominent government officials had used the ill-fated chopper before it crashed in Elgeyo Marakwet.

"I used it a number of times, I think more than 15 times. Professor Kindiki and the police Inspector General used it. "

He added that government officials used it when visiting Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) operation areas.

"It was an operational logistics helicopter that troops used in very difficult terrains and insecure areas."

Duale further said the investigation report into General Ogolla's death will be made public once they receive it.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Friday, May 31, 2024 - The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has turned to Kenyans in Diaspora to help President William Ruto in sourcing for job opportunities for citizens back home.

This comes even as President William Rutos administration is engaging multiple countries to sign labour agreements that will see Kenya export 2,500 citizens weekly to work abroad.

Speaking during a Diaspora engagement in Minnesota, United States, Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu, said the move will complement efforts pursued by the government to ensure the eradication of unemployment.

The government is doing all it can to address the issue of unemployment back home by seeking to engage Kenya's skilled, talented and resilient youthful population through sourcing for gainful employment opportunities, the PS stated.

She added that her State Department was also championing the protection of the rights and welfare of Kenyans in the diaspora.

Apart from finding job opportunities for Kenyans back home, diasporans were asked to contribute to the labour mobility discourse.

The Kenya Kwanza administration foresees this as not only a way to end unemployment but also boost the country economically through diaspora remittances.

Already, the government is finalising labour agreements with Canada, Germany, Israel, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman among others.

Apart from engaging in labour mobility discourses, Kenyans in the diaspora were also challenged to participate in skills and knowledge transfer.

PS Njogu remarked that Kenyans working abroad should consider investing at home, remarking there were immense opportunities across various sectors.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Friday, May 31, 2024  Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir has suspended the ban on the sale and distribution of Muguka in his county.

This is after President William Ruto sent KRA agents to intimidate him by raiding his radio station in Mombasa after he banned Muguka in Mombasa; a move that caused serious uproar from Muguka farmers in Mt. Kenya.

The ODM Governor agreed to suspend the ban after receiving a call from Ruto himself on the same.

In a statement, the governor revealed that he was open to meeting the Head of State and leaders from Embu County to streamline regulations governing the trade of Muguka.

Nassir, however, challenged the President and other leaders to employ similar tenacity in dealing with the abuse of Muguka as used in threatening him.

The suspension comes barely a day after Raila Odingas ODM supported the move by their governors to ban Muguka to protect their people.

On Wednesday, the governor was convinced that a visit from KRA seeking to auction his radio station, Radio Rahma, was a direct reaction to his choice to ban the addictive stimulant.

We have uplifted the ban in respect to the court order but I would like to ask the government to also put the same energy that is used to fight us in fighting hard drugs in our region, he stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Friday, May 31, 2024 - Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has expressed confidence that Kenyan Police officers will succeed in eliminating criminal gangs in Haiti.

Kenya's government under the support of the United Nations and the United States will send 1000 police officers to help the Haiti police restore order in the Caribbean Island.

The Kenyan police officers will arrive in Port Au Prince even as Gang leader Jimmy Cherizier alias Berbeque urged them to come with body bags because they would be killed by his men for trying to interfere with Haiti's independence.

But speaking on Jeff Koinange Live on Wednesday, Duale said Kenya has conducted successful peacekeeping missions in Somalia, Kosovo, and the Democratic Republic of Congo and will not fail in Haiti.

We are going to Haiti; within the police, we have special teams that can deal with different scenarios.

"We have the General Service Unit (GSU), Public Protection Unit (PPU), and other highly trained officers doing a great job within our borders.

"It is not the normal police on the streets of Nairobi," Duale told Koinange.

When questioned about the nature of the dreaded gangs in Haiti, he said Kenyans should exercise patience and see what the Kenyan police can do.

"I don't understand why you cannot wait and see how Haiti will be when we land.

"We have men and women who can bring peace and security not only to our country but to where they are called upon, he said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Friday, May 31, 2024  More wrangles have emerged within the ruling UDA Party with Kapsaret Member of Parliament Oscar Sudi now targeting Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago.

This is after he reignited the debate on the Finland scholarship scandal linked to Mandago.

In a statement, Sudi said Mandago lacks the moral authority to play politics since he has yet to compensate victims of the scholarship scam.

Sudi claimed that he has repeatedly asked the former Uasin Gishu governor to join him in raising money for the affected students, but he has ignored him.

It's contemptible that some of my friends assume they have the moral authority to politic before repaying money they conned students under the Finland Scholarship scam.

"Severally I've asked them to join me to raise money for these students but all they offer is word salads, said the Kapseret MP.

Last week, Mandago called out Sudi over disrespecting Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

The former county boss asked the Kapsaret MP and other leaders to stop politicking and respect the presidency.

In August last year, Mandago was arrested for embezzling Sh.1.1 billion meant to fly out more than 125 students for higher education to Canada and Finland.

He was however released alongside his co-accused Joshua Lelei and Mishack Rono on a Sh500,000 bail or an alternative bond of Sh2 million.

The plea-taking session of the case failed to take off after the Judge said it would not happen when the first accused person Joseph Maritim is on the run.

The court ruled that the case be put on hold until Maritim is arrested and charged alongside the three.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Friday, May 31, 2024 - The African Union has formally listed the process that will be followed for the African Union Commission leadership elections to be held in February 2025.

All eight senior leadership positions of the AUC are open for candidates submissions and they include that of the Chairperson, the Deputy Chairperson, and 6 Commissioner posts.

In a statement issued by the African Union, the continental body detailed that the elections will be guided by the principle of inter-regional rotation in which the Eastern region shall submit candidates for the role of Chairperson.

Notably, Kenya has fielded the Opposition Leader Raila Odinga as a candidate for this position, making it of key interest to the country.

On the other hand, the Northern region shall submit candidates for the role of Deputy Chairperson, with both regions to submit female and male candidates.

AU set the deadline for the regions as August 6, 2024.

Once all the submissions are made the candidates are expected to undergo pre-selection where a panel of five assisted by an independent African consultancy firm will vet the candidatures.

When approved for the position, candidates vying for the position of the Chairperson of the AUC will provide a curriculum vitae, along with vision statements outlining how they intend to address the most pressing issues facing the AU.

Additionally, in a tradition initiated in 2017, the candidates for the Chairperson position will be expected to participate in a televised debate, dubbed MjadalaAfrika where they will present their vision and implementation plans for the same.

After the debate, during the AU summit, all the members will engage in a secret ballot election process.

Kenya's candidate, Raila is expected to battle it out with candidates from Somalia, Djibouti, and Seychelles.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Friday, May 31, 2024  Many students who sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2023 are on the verge of missing out on university.

This follows President William Rutos decision to significantly reduce Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) funds for tuition and upkeep of students.

The worst hit by this directive is private universities as they grapple with a low enrolment of students, hindering their operations.

In the Financial Year 2024/25, the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) stated that the proposed estimate is Ksh28.1 billion.

As noted, this amount can only fund the education of continuing students (Year Two to Year Six), leaving behind the 2023 KCSE students who are supposed to join university this September.

In FY 2023/24, HELB was allocated Ksh31.89 billion for tuition and upkeep loans.

Additionally, the amount is extremely low to cater to the needs of the 122,634 students who sat for the KCSE last year.

Nonetheless, the National Treasury allocated Ksh22 billion for scholarships for university students under the new funding model, which is in its second year of implementation.

The funding, which was introduced by President Ruto in May 2023, prioritizes a students financial needs.

Ruto rolled out the model in an effort to get institutions of higher learning out of hot water with huge debts and being constantly cash-strapped.

As per the model, students from vulnerable to extremely needy households will receive 100% funding.

The needy and less needy get 93% of government funding, with their guardians required to settle the remaining 7%.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Friday, May 31, 2024  Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua may never have peace again over his fallout with President William Ruto as his closely guarded secrets are exposed.

This is after Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria accused him of setting him up against Ruto.

Taking to his social media accounts, Kuria meticulously revealed how Gachagua mobilised a team to set up fake accounts using his name.

According to Kuria, the Deputy President's team would then attack the Head of State using the alleged fake accounts.

CS Kuria also claimed that the DP was fighting the president and some of Ruto's close allies, including Majority Leader in the National Assembly Kimani Ichung'wah and Kiharu Member of Parliament, Ndindi Nyoro.

Gachagua was also accused of staging political wrangles against Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja.

Dear Team Rigathi Gachagua. Stop it! You have set up a whole unit to do paddy accounts and fake accounts in my name to fight President Ruto, Governor Sakaja, Hon Ichung'wah, Hon Ndindi Nyoro etc., CS Kuria alleged.

Please! I don't have any problem with you. You are doing more harm than good to your boss, he added.

It is not the first time the CS has hit out at the Deputy President. In his recent comments, Moses Kuria publicly lectured Gachagua for attempting to interfere with the Mt Kenya caucus dubbed Limuru III.

According to Kuria, Gachagua attempted to convince Martha Karua and Jeremiah Kioni to change their stance on holding the Limuru III meeting.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Friday, May 31, 2024  Barely hours after President William Ruto claimed that his friends hired a luxurious private jet that he used on his so-called expensive trip to the U.S. at a paltry Sh10 million as opposed to the Sh200 million being peddled around, State House has come clean and exposed the so-called friends who helped the President out.

In a statement yesterday evening, State House clarified that the private plane Ruto used for his U.S. State visit was offered by the United Arab Emirates government for less than Ksh10 million.

State House Spokesperson Hussein Mohammed reiterated that Ruto was committed to the austerity cause which the Head of State has insisted is the only way to set Kenya on a solid sustainability footing.

As explained by the President on Thursday, the cost of the jet he travelled in for the historic and successful US State Visit was offered by friends of Kenya at a relatively low cost.

"In this specific case, the United Arab Emirates Government offered the aircraft at less than KSh10 million, the statement read in part.

Earlier on during the day, President Ruto, during the National Prayer Breakfast, had announced that the jet was offered to him by friends after it was established the cost of chartering a plane would end up being too expensive for the Kenyan taxpayer.

"When I was told the cheapest plane was Ksh70 million, I told my office to go book with the national carrier, some friends asked me how much I wanted to pay, I said I wasn't ready to pay more than Ksh10 million, they told me to bring the money and they gave me the plane," stated Ruto.

Further, Hussein Mohammed went on to elaborate and share examples of national cooperation from the UAE government and other nations in general that Kenya had benefited from.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Thursday, May 30, 2024 - A former TikTok star has been convicted for the murders of his estranged wife and her lover in San Diego in 2021.

San Diego-based Tik Toker Ali Abulaban, 32, was found guilty of two counts of first-degree murder for his wife Ana, 28, and her male friend Rayburn Barron, 29, on Wednesday, May 29, People reports.

In court, Abulaban, who had nearly a million followers for his skits under the moniker Jinnkid, broke down in tears as he learned the jurys verdict.

He confessed to the murders during the trial and has been in prison since the October 2021 killings. He will be sentenced on June 28 and could face life in jail.

Finally, my brother and Ana got a little bit of justice, Barrons sister, Jordana Barron, said on Wednesday.

Obviously nothing is going to bring our brother or Ana back, but at least he is never going to be able to do this to another person again.

On Friday, closing arguments in the case concluded and the jury began its deliberations, deciding whether the killings were first- or second-degree murder.

Abulaban was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, with allegations of using a gun in the killings.

He was also charged with a special circumstance allegation of committing multiple murders.

The defence had hoped the jury would find him guilty of second-degree murder, meaning his sentencing would be far less.

He was instead found guilty of all counts and special circumstances.

Its a relief. Weve been waiting almost three years for this, said Julia Stuntz, Anas best friend.

Since there was no dispute he killed the victims, jurors were instead tasked with deciding whether the killings were intentional and premeditated or committed in the heat of passion, as Abulaban had claimed.

The jury came in and listened to the evidence for weeks, and they came to the right decision, Deputy District Attorney Taren Brast said.

In her closing arguments, Brast went through a timeline of the day Abulaban killed Ana Abulaban and her friend Barron.

Brast described how Abulaban had spied on Ana to catch her with another man, and that he had malice and intent to shoot them to death on the couch in the apartment where he once lived.

Heat of passion does not apply when you walk into an apartment that you had bugged, with a key card you were not supposed to have, to a fight that no one else knew was happening but you, Brast said.

And you brought a gun.

That is not heat of passion.

Brast said Abulaban had plenty of time to rethink his decision to drive to the downtown luxury condo he shared with his wife to shoot and kill her and the man she was seeing.

The prosecutor displayed the graphic photos Abulaban took of the bodies, played the sounds of the gunshot recordings he had on his phone and even mentioned the online searches for how to cut up and trash a body, among other things.

She said Ali Abulaban killed the couple because he felt disrespected, and this was planned and premeditated, not a reaction in the heat of the moment.

Brast also mentioned the history of domestic violence and Anas text messages to Abulaban expressing her fear and desire to leave the marriage.

She also outlined the chances Abulaban had to rethink his actions, including during the drive to the apartment to confront Ana and Barron, and even in the ride up in the elevator.

It was wilful, deliberate, and premeditated, Brast said.

Jodi Green, Ali Abulabans defence attorney, then presented her closing arguments.

Green told the court her client shouldnt be convicted of murder because he had a bad childhood, mental health issues and was high on cocaine.

The defence attorney also pointed out the fact that Ali Abulaban was re-racking his gun in between shots, which is unnecessary, and that it proves he was out of his mind, as well that he had cocaine in his system eight hours later, proving he was not of sound mind.

Ali Abulaban is not a murderer, Green said.

Yes, he killed Ana, the woman he loved, the mother of his beautiful daughter, Amira, and he killed Ray, a man with whom Ana was having an affair.

And he cannot undo what he has done.

But he did not murder them. He is not a murderer.








Friday, May 31, 2024 - United Democratic Alliance Party Secretary General Cleophas Malalah has disclosed that the ruling party is gearing up plans to establish a school to educate its members.

This comes at a time when UDA members are embroiled in wrangles pitting Rift Valley against Mt. Kenya.

Speaking during an interview, Malalah explained that the UDA Leadership School will be instrumental in educating leaders on their roles and teaching them the party manifesto.

According to Malalah, individuals intending to run for elective office using the UDA party ticket would be expected to enroll at the school for a short course before securing the ticket.

"Right now, we are looking at putting the UDA leadership school in place to teach leaders to ensure that the party has leaders who understand their job description.

"We will ensure that before you get a UDA ticket to run for any elective seat, you must enroll for a short course to learn our manifesto and party policy," Malalah explained.

At the same time, Malalah noted that the school will also mentor young leaders to ensure those exiting the scene are handing over to a competent team.

He disclosed that President William Ruto was intentional about building the party by setting up a strong foundation to cement its top position in the politics of the country.

"The president has prioritised building the party, which is why I was in China to ensure the party's strong foundation.

"We are also building party structures; we have been able to build our organs like the National Elections Board," he said.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Friday, May 31, 2024 - A Kibera Law Court has sentenced Samuel Macharia Muthoni Alias Samido to death for the offence of robbery with violence.

It is alleged that on 8th January 2024 at about 0620hrs at Kinyanjui Area in Riruta, Dagoretti Sub-County within Nairobi County, Macharia jointly with others not before court, robbed Geoffrey Omweri Ontita of his mobile phone valued at Kshs 23 725, and at the time of the robbery used actual violence on the victim by hitting him with a beer bottle on the face.

According to reports, the complainant was opening a shop where he works as an attendant when he was ambushed by a group of men who demanded that he surrender his phone. He resisted, and they began hitting him with strikes and kicks.

One of the men struck him with a beer bottle on the right side of his face above the eye, and he began bleeding. The complainant let off his phone.

His workmate came to rescue him, but they also took his phone. He didn't resist because his colleague was bleeding badly. They screamed and passersby heeded the screams and the men fled.

The complainant and his colleague recognized one man as he operated a bar near their shop. The matter was reported to Riruta Police Station.

The prosecution through Ms. Kathurima proved their case against the accused by calling a total of 5 witnesses in the matter.

The Kenyan DAILY POST.








Friday, May 31, 2024 - An outspoken United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Senator has asked the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to probe the academic credentials of Nairobi County Governor Johnson Sakaja.

Speaking at the Senate on Thursday, Nyandarua Senator John Methu said Sakaja is incompetent and he has failed Nairobians, especially on the health docket.

At some point, the Nyandarua senator expressed his reservation over the legitimacy of Sakaja's degree.

In an indirect attack on the governor, Methu said people can easily get degree certificates, but if it's not genuine, it will be seen through their actions.

He said what is being witnessed in Nairobi is the lack of knowledge by those in leadership to impact the welfare of the Nairobians.

"The people who got a degree for the governor of Nairobi forgot that getting a paper is not sufficient to get an impacting knowledge on the person.

"A paper cannot measure up; you could walk around with a degree, but if you do not have the knowledge, it will be seen, and that is what we are seeing now," the senator added.

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Friday, May 31, 2024 - A close confidant of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has questioned President William Ruto's claims that the jet he used during his state visit to the U.S. cost taxpayers less than Sh10 million.

Narok County Senator Ledama Ole Kina, who addressed President Ruto on Friday through his official X account, doubted the Head of State's claims that he was offered the royal jet by his friends.

Ledama wants the head of state to tell Kenyans what he gave in return for such an offer for a plane that would cost up to Sh200 million for a return trip to the US.

"Good Morning President William, if you were given a luxury jet for Sh 10M one that cost US$200M what would you give the philanthropist in return?" Ledama posted.

The Head of state on Thursday during the National Prayer Breakfast at Safari Park Hotel claimed that the plane he used during his concluded state visit to the US was less than Sh10 million.

He stated that he had been given an offer for Sh70 million but he was only willing to spend not more than Sh20 million.

This forced him to ask his team to go and make an inquiry from Kenya Airways but his friends gave him an offer he could not resist.

The Kenyan DAILY POST








Friday, May 31, 2024  State House blogger Dennis Itumbi has dismissed claims by UDA party acting secretary general Cleophas Malala that the party's social media pages had been hacked.

This is after Malala claimed that the UDA Facebook page had been hacked, urging members of the public to ignore any communication from the platform.

"We want to announce that our communication platforms, that is the official UDA Facebook page, has been hacked by an unknown person who is not a member of the secretariat.

"I'd like to urge the members of the public to ignore any communication from the page moving forward. We've made reports to the Facebook administrators that our account has been hacked," Malala said in the video.

However, in a post on X, Itumbi stated that the ruling party's social media pages were intact and that the general public should ignore anyone saying the contrary.

"The United Democratic Alliance pages are safe across social media; ignore anyone saying anything to the contrary," Itumbi stated.

This comes just after the UDA Electoral and Nomination Disputes Resolution Committee (ENDRC) flagged a statement issued by Malala over the postponement of the party's elections in West Pokot County.

Dr. Adrian Kamotho, the vice chairperson of ENDRC, noted that the referenced order by Malala was fake and did not emanate from ENDRC.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
The Ugandan government has questioned the rationale behind the US governments decision to sanction a range of current and former Ugandan officials, citing concerns over significant corruption and gross violations of human rights.

The above followed the Department of United State barring five current and former Ugandan officials from entering their country, for their alleged involvement in significant corruption or gross violations of human rights.

These include the Speaker of Parliament Anita Among, the former Minister of Karamoja Affairs Mary Goretti Kitutu, former Minister of State for Karamoja Affairs Agnes Nandutu, and Minister of State for Finance Amos Lugolobi and Peter Elwelu, former Deputy Chief.

In an interview with KFM, the Minister for Information Communication Technology (ICT) and National Guidance, Dr. Chris Baryomunsi says the former ministers are being sanctioned on the cases of corruption which are still pending court judgement.

He wonders why the US government should take action when someone is still before court and court has not yet pronounced its self on the matter.

He adds that In Uganda, someone is innocent until proven guilty or until one pleads guilty, questioning whether the US government has found them guilty.

He added that it is unfair for you to pass a judgement when cases of most sanctioned officials are still before court. Why are they being prosecuted,? he wondered.
With just days to the annual martyrs celebrations, police has tightened security at both the Namugongo Martyrs Sites for the safety of pilgrims.

Luke Owoyesigyire, the deputy Kampala metropolitan police spokesperson, says pilgrims from neighboring countries have started arriving and that so far they have no incidences or safety concerns reported.

He adds that all measures have been taken to ensure total safety of the scores of foot pilgrims who are still trekking.

As it has always been instructed all territorial to ensure that commanders and security of pilgrims their jurisdiction, pilgrims are being escorted and protected at churches, schools and community centers, Luke Owoyesigyire said.

We have been working with the ministry of health put different ambulances to help escort those and also the Red Cross for those who might not be able to finish their trekking to Namugongo he added.

He noted that, they have also restricted the pilgrims movements during the night to avoid accidents.
Kilkenny woman Jennifer Banim has been appointed as Director General of the Central Statistics Office (CSO) following a Top-Level Appointment Committee (TLAC) process.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the CSO and Ms Banim is the first female Director General of the CSO since it was established on 01 June 1949.

Amongst those congratulating Ms Banim was her local alma mater, Presentation Secondary School, describing her as 'a great role model' for their students.

Ms Banim has been a member of the CSOs Management Board since 2013 and before her appointment as Director General, was the Assistant Director General at the CSO responsible for Economic Statistics.

Having joined the CSO as a Statistician in October 1991, Ms Banim has worked in a number of areas including Balance of Payments and Financial Statistics, Statistical Methodology, and Technology.

Ms Banim is also currently co-chair of the Executive Board of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) High Level Group on the Modernisation of Statistics.

Ms Banim studied at Dublin City University, graduating in 1989 with a BSc in Applied Mathematical Sciences and recently completed a Diploma in Strategy Development and Innovation at University College Dublins Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School.

On her appointment as Director General of the CSO, Ms Banim said she was 'delighted to be taking on this important role as Director General of the CSO'.

"The CSO is an independent and trusted source of insight and is an indispensable element in a democratic and informed society," she noted.

"Now in its 75th year, the CSO has established a strong connection with the Irish people based on our principles of impartiality, confidentiality, quality, and integrity.

"This trusted relationship is at the core of everything that we do, and I am looking forward to leading the CSO, and its engaged and committed staff, in the next phase of its service to the Irish people.

"I am excited about the developing opportunities being realised by the CSOs evolving role including delivering greater insights through new data sources, providing more statistical services across the wider civil and public service, all in support of independent insight and informed decision making."

Ms Banim also took some time to acknowledge the significant contribution made by her predecessor Padraig Dalton, who has retired from the civil service.

"Throughout his distinguished career, Padraig displayed leadership, strategic vision, and professional insight," she said.

"Padraigs commitment to expanding the reach of the CSOs insights to the widest possible audience is a testament to his belief in the value of official statistics and the publics right to live in an informed society.

"Padraigs leadership and collaboration on statistical matters at an international level, including through the United Nations and Eurostat, is widely acknowledged and he is held in very high esteem.

"On behalf of the CSO, I wish to congratulate him on his many achievements and wish him the very best for the future."
The body of a woman missing from a Donegal holiday site was recovered on Monday following a joint operation search by gardai, RNLI, Coast Guard and local residents.

Sally Reilly, a 55-year-old mum-of four from west Belfast who suffered from dementia, was reported missing from Sandybanks Caravan Park in Portsalon at around 2.10am on Monday.

Gardai in Kerrykeel, assisted by Coast Guard, Mountain Rescue, the Coast Guard Helicopter, the RNLI rescue boat and local people carried out a search in relation to a missing woman.

A body of a woman, was recovered from the water at approximately 9pm on Monday 27th May, 2024.

The body was removed to Letterkenny University Hospital where a post mortem will be conducted in due course and a file prepared for the Coroners Court.

A post on social media from daughter Siona Reilly said: "On behalf of Sally Reillys family we cannot thank everyone enough for all your support it is amazing everyone coming together to get Sally back to her family.

"Really means a lot from the bottom of our hearts and the support of all the locals. It is amazing a great community. And all the Milford Garda staff.

The loving daughter also wrote of her devastation in another post on social media.

"Hearts broke into a million pieces, she wrote.

A garda spokesperson said in a statement that investigations are currently ongoing.
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The tariffs, which have historically proven "harmful" to the global economy, will continue to negatively impact the electric automotive industry. ZAGREB, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The European Union's (EU) high tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) could negatively impact the long-term development of the European automobile industry, warns a Croatian political analyst. In a recent interview with Xinhua, Kresimir Macan stated that the United States' (U.S.) influence on the EU's tariffs for Chinese EVs would not benefit the European economy. He noted that the tariffs, which have historically proven "harmful" to the global economy, would continue to negatively impact the electric automotive industry. On May 14, U.S. President Joe Biden announced new tariffs on a variety of imports from China, including EVs, in addition to existing tariffs under Section 301. The additional levy will raise tariffs on Chinese EV imports to 100 percent this year. Last October, the European Commission launched an anti-subsidy investigation into the imports of EVs from China, and is set to determine whether punitive tariffs should be imposed to protect EU manufacturers from Chinese competitors. According to statistics from the European Federation for Transport and Environment, around 20 percent of all-electric cars sold across the EU last year, or 300,000 units, were made in China. More than half of them come from Western carmakers, such as Tesla, Dacia and BMW, which produce them in China for export. Macan argued that European consumers will ultimately suffer from the EU's tariff policy which would only lead to European products being more expensive and less technologically advanced. This, he argues, will make them less attractive compared to their Chinese counterparts. "Only healthy competition to produce a quality and affordable product can sustain the world economy," Macan said. Moreover, Macan expressed concerns about the broader implications of the tariffs on the global green transition. He said that such measures could undermine efforts to stimulate the production of environmentally friendly cars. Despite the EU's potential tariff hike, Macan said he believes Chinese EVs will find markets elsewhere due to their competitive pricing and quality. He urged the EU to focus on cooperation with China rather than imposing high tariffs, suggesting that collaboration would lead to better results for the development of the EV industry. "High tariffs harm cooperation and healthy competition, but cooperation benefits all and always yields great results," Macan said, adding that for the EU, cooperation with China and other countries in this sector is "more than necessary" to boast the production of high-quality, technologically advanced EVs.
The Herald reports:

The Reserve Bank (RBNZ) is upping the ante, trying to quash the narrative its approach towards regulating banks is hampering competition. The Herald understands RBNZ governor Adrian Orr wrote to the bosses of the bigfour Australian-owned banks late last week, using rather colourful language to defend the amount of capital the regulator requires banks to hold. Orr is believed to have sent the chairs and chief executives of ANZ, ASB, BNZ and Westpac letters replicating the letter to the editor he sent the Herald in response to an opinion piece written by Roger Partridge, the chair of the partially bank-funded think tank, The New Zealand Initiative. The author lays blame for the lack of competition in the New Zealand banking sector at the feet of the Reserve Banks capital requirements and credit risk weights for retail banks, Orr said. This is tired, misleading, and needs to be called out. I am unsure what to be most concerned about: that the retail banks who are members of the NZ Initiative believe this? Or, they dont, but are still willing to sponsor this?

This type of bullying behaviour is incompatible with the role of Reserve Bank Governor.

Having the NZ Initiative and the Reserve Bank Governor disagree on an area of banking regulation is not particularly noteworthy or unusual.

Having the Governor write to banks and say he is concerned that they are members of the NZ Initiative is an attempt to bully them into withdrawing their memberships. It is a classic bullying attempt to shut down dissent.

What makes this worse is that the Reserve Bank Governor has enormous powers over banks. He registers them, can impose conditions on their registration, approve ownership changes, investigate a bank, give directions to a bank, impose policies on capital and lending etc. So to have someone with such enormous power over banks, to write to them and effectively warn them against membership of a think tank that disagrees with the Reserve Bank is extremely problematic.

The Reserve Bank Board should be acting to make clear this is unacceptable. And if they dont, then maybe some new Directors are needed.

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Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
By Kwak Yeon-soo

The foreign ministers of Korea and Vietnam on Friday agreed to enhance cooperation in a wide range of areas, from security and defense to technology, trade and investment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.

In a meeting between Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son during the latters three-day visit to Seoul, the two sides expressed strong commitment to further strengthening bilateral strategic relations.

The foreign ministers talks were part of an agreement reached between the two countries leaders when President Yoon Suk Yeol paid a state visit to Vietnam in June 2023. Korea and Vietnam elevated their relations to a "comprehensive strategic partnership" in December 2022.

During the talks, Cho said Vietnam is Koreas No.3 trading partner and largest development partner among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It is also the most popular Southeast Asian country for Korean tourists.

Im pleased that our two countries are expanding mutually beneficial cooperation and deepening strategic cooperation in various fields following the elevation of of bilateral ties, Cho said.

Son said the purpose of his visit to Korea is to review the action plan for implementing a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The two countries have been strengthening political trust and expanding practical cooperation in areas of mutual interest such as economy trade, investment, science and technology, and defense and security, Son said.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo also met with Son to discuss ways to further discuss the bilateral relationship.
A Seoul court on Thursday granted an injunction filed by CEO Min Hee-jin of Ador, an affiliate of K-pop powerhouse HYBE, which is behind the girl group NewJeans, to stop HYBE from dismissing her as the sublabel's head.

The decision by the Seoul Central District Court came a day ahead of an Ador shareholders' meeting, where HYBE was expected to replace Min Hee-jin as CEO over a suspected breach of trust.

HYBE, which holds 80 percent of Ador shares, launched a surprise audit into Min and subsequently filed a breach of trust complaint against her late last month, accusing her of plotting to usurp control of Ador and take NewJeans with her.

Min has flatly denied the allegations and sought a court injunction to prevent HYBE from exercising its voting rights to dismiss her as Ador CEO during the upcoming shareholders' session.

The Seoul Central District Court determined that HYBE's reasoning for dismissing Min has not been sufficiently explained, as it granted the injunction.

The court ruled that Min's dismissal, if approved in the upcoming shareholders' meeting, couldn't be reversed even through a main lawsuit and any resulting damage stemming from the loss of her position couldn't be offset by any financial compensation afterward.

The court further acknowledged that Min had "clearly" sought independent control of Ador but had hardly progressed to the actual implementation stage, saying it amounted to "betrayal" but not "breach of trust."

The court also ordered HYBE to pay compensation of 20 billion won ($14.5 million) if it exercises its voting right to dismiss Min. (Yonhap)
By Lee Kyung-min

Koo Mee-hyun, the eldest daughter of cafeteria food and ingredient supplier Ourhome founder Koo Ja-hak, has frustrated the reappointment of her youngest sister and current vice chair Koo Jee-eun, in a move to assume leadership and sell off the firm to a private equity fund (PEF) for profit, market watchers said Friday.

The eldest daughter was able to appoint herself, her husband and her nephew as new board directors at a shareholders meeting earlier in the day. The outgoing vice chairs term will end June 3.

The takeover attempts by the eldest daughter, long distanced from management as a housewife, was motivated by a sense of revenge, according to industry insiders. Reportedly, the housewife became furious after her demand for the firm to pay her 45.6 billion won ($32.8 million) in dividends was rejected during a shareholders' meeting last month.

At stake is the firm's global expansion strategy and food tech growth initiatives, alongside the efforts of the outgoing vice chair to stabilize the firm's operations over the past three years. The youngest daughter assumed leadership in 2021, soon after her older brother and then vice chair, Koo Bon-sung, was involved in a drunk driving incident. The firm has since experienced significant growth, with sales reaching an all-time high of over 1.9 trillion won last year, while operating profit soared to 943 billion won, marking a remarkable 76 percent increase.

Some industry insiders say a successful sale of the firm will net the housewife about 380 billion won, as inferred from a previous corporate value of about 2 trillion won assessed by La Defense Partners, a PEF.

The Koo siblings control a combined 98 percent of Ourhome shares. The former vice chairs stake stands at 38.56 percent, followed by the current vice chair (20.67 percent) and the housewife (19.28 percent). Their sister Koo Myung-jin holds a 19.6 percent stake.

The company's labor union protested the housewifes move, demanding her resignation along with two other board directors who are her allies.

Koo Mee-hyun and her husband are ignorant of management and not at all interested in the firms growth, said a group of 15 union members at a rally in front of the firm headquarters in Gangseo District, western Seoul.

They should immediately resign as board directors and forfeit their status as the controlling shareholders. We strongly condemn them for threatening the livelihoods of workers.
UNESCO World Heritage site exemplifies Arabian desert's austere landscape

By Lee Hae-rin

WADI RUM, Jordan  Nestled in the south of Jordan, close to the Saudi Arabian border, lies a realm that seems like something from the pages of a science fiction novel.

A four-hour drive south of Amman on the Desert Highway leads to Wadi Rum, a sprawling desert landscape known for its otherworldly beauty and ancient mystique. Renowned for its surreal Martian-like terrain, the enchanting destination is a playground for adventurers and a haven for those seeking solace amidst nature's grandeur.

Also known as the Valley of the Moon, this region is a UNESCO World Heritage site that stretches across 720 square kilometers of desert terrain. Its rusty orange and red sands, towering dunes and vast open spaces create a landscape unlike any other on Earth. The dramatic rock canyons, sculpted by wind and time, stand silent against the backdrop of an endless sky.

Otherworldly landscape

Wadi Rums austere beauty first gained global popularity as the backdrop for a 1962 film Lawrence of Arabia.

It then drew several science fiction filmmakers who were also in search of otherworldly landscapes, providing the backdrop for the planet Mars in Ridley Scott's film The Martian, the desert planet Arrakis in Denis Villeneuves Dune series, and an alien planet in Prometheus.

For outdoor enthusiasts, Wadi Rum offers a plethora of activities that cater to all levels of adventure. From thrilling jeep safaris across the dunes to exhilarating rock climbing expeditions, there is no shortage of excitement in this desert playground.

For a more immersive experience, it is recommended that one take a camel ride through the desert, following ancient caravan routes that have been traversed for centuries.

Wadi Rum is not only a natural wonder but also an archaeological and cultural treasure.

The desert has been inhabited by various civilizations for thousands of years, including the Nabataeans of prehistoric times, leaving behind a rich tapestry of history etched into the sands.

Visitors are recommended to explore ancient petroglyphs and inscriptions that adorn the rock walls, telling stories of nomadic tribes and ancient civilizations that once roamed these lands.

Sleeping under the stars

As the sun sets over the horizon, Wadi Rum transforms into a celestial wonderland, with the desert sky ablaze with millions of twinkling stars.

Visitors should spend the night in a traditional Bedouin camp and experience the magic of sleeping under the vast canopy of the Milky Way, gathering around a crackling campfire, savoring the flavors of Bedouin cuisine and listening to tales from desert folklore told by local guides.

For those seeking a more luxurious experience, Wadi Rum also offers upscale desert camps and eco-lodges that blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings, providing modern comforts without compromising the authenticity of the desert experience.

Preserving the delicate ecosystem of Wadi Rum is paramount to ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy its beauty for years to come.

Efforts are underway to promote sustainable tourism practices that minimize environmental impact while supporting local communities. Bedouin-led initiatives focus on responsible tourism, conservation efforts, and cultural preservation, ensuring that the spirit of the desert remains intact.

Wadi Rum beckons travelers to embark on a journey into the unknown, where the ordinary fades away, and the extraordinary takes center stage.

For both a thrill-seeker craving adventure or those seeking thoughtful introspection and solace, the timeless beauty of this desert oasis offers an experience unlike any other, highlighting Jordan's beautifully arid landscape.
Applications for the 4th Hinzpeter Awards, which commemorates late German journalist Jurgen Hinzpeter, the first western reporter to send out footage of the bloody crackdown on the Gwangju people's pro-democracy uprising of May 1980, will be accepted until early July, organizers said Friday.

The Hinzpeter Awards Organizing Committee, which comprises officials from the Korea Video Journalist Association, and the May 18 Memorial Foundation and other experts at home and abroad, said its acceptance of applications for this year's Hinzpeter Awards will proceed from Saturday to July 7.

The international award, established in 2021, is intended to remember Hinzpeter's journalistic spirit behind his on-the-ground coverage of the May 18 Democratization Movement and will be presented to the works of video journalists who reported on the crisis of democracy, human rights and peace around the world.

It has three competitive categories  The World at a Crossroads Award, Award for News and Award for Features  and one noncompetitive category, and each recipient will receive prize money of $10,000 and a trophy.

The award winners will be announced in September. Seoul and Gwangju alternately host the awards ceremony, and this year's ceremony will take place in Gwangju on Nov. 7. Details on the applications are available on the award's official website (www.hinzpeterawards.com).

The German, then a Tokyo correspondent for German public broadcaster ARD-NDR, was the first western journalist to send out footage of the bloodshed. He gained further fame after being portrayed in "A Taxi Driver," a 2017 box-office success that drew more than 10 million viewers in Korea.

On May 18, 1980, the military cracked down on demonstrators, including students, protesting against then President Chun Doo-hwan, who had taken power in a military coup a year earlier. The harsh quelling of the uprising left hundreds of people dead and thousands wounded. (Yonhap)
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has supervised an artillery firing drill involving 600 mm super-large multiple rocket launchers, state media reported Friday, a day after South Korea said the North fired about 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea.

Kim directly gave an order to organize the "power demonstration firing" that took place Thursday in response to the South Korean Army's show of force against North Korea's legitimate exercise of its sovereign rights, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The drill was aimed at showing North Korea's "corresponding will not to hesitate to carry out a preemptive attack by invoking the right to self-defense at any time when the enemies attempt to use military force against it," the report said.

The South Korean military said Thursday it detected the North's launch of around 10 short-range ballistic missiles from Pyongyang's Sunan area, adding they flew about 350 kilometers before falling into the East Sea. It was unusual for Pyongyang to fire a salvo of some 10 missiles at one time.

The North's super-large multiple rocket launch system is classified as a short-range missile that could put the entire South Korean territory within range. Pyongyang has claimed a tactical nuclear warhead could be mounted on such a weapon.

The firing "will serve as an occasion in clearly showing what consequences our rivals will face if they provoke us," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA.

He stressed North Korea's nuclear forces should be more "thoroughly" prepared in a bid to promptly and correctly carry out a mission of deterring a war.

Photos carried by state media showed 18 transporter erector launchers (TELs) lining up to fire rocket artillery.

The provocation came a day after North Korea sent hundreds of balloons carrying trash and manure into the South earlier this week in a "tit-for-tat" action against Seoul activists' campaign of sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.

North Korea fired a rocket carrying a military spy satellite Monday, but its launch attempt ended in failure as the rocket exploded shortly after liftoff. The North successfully placed a spy satellite into orbit in November 2023 after two botched attempts in May and August. (Yonhap)
North Korea staged GPS jamming attacks in waters near South Korea's northwestern border islands for a third straight day on Friday, the South's military said, in the latest in a series of provocative acts this week.

The military detected the jamming signals from about 8 a.m. directed toward the islands near the Northern Limit Line in the West Sea, the de facto western maritime boundary between the two Koreas, according to a South Korean military official.

The latest attempt has not hindered the military's operations, the official said, although similar attempts the previous day led to glitches in the navigation systems of fishing boats and passenger ships in the waters.

The military detected the Thursday attack shortly after the North launched 18 rounds of multiple rocket launchers toward the East Sea.

The North's GPS jamming attempts this week first took place Wednesday as it was sending hundreds of balloons carrying trash and apparent fecal matter to the South after it vowed to scatter "mounds of wastepaper and filth" in retaliation against anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent by activists in the South.

Another military official said the North could send more of such unpowered balloons Saturday when the wind is forecast to blow in a southward direction, although the military has yet to detect preparations of such launches.

On Wednesday night, Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of the North's leader, called the balloons "sincere presents" and said her country will send rubbish "dozens of times" more than those being scattered in the North.

"We are closely monitoring the North Korean military's activities," the South Korean official told reporters. "If the filth balloons are flown, we plan to notify the media."

The official advised the public not to touch such balloons that have fallen and report them to the authorities.

The military has decided against shooting down the balloons, the official said, noting that collecting them when they have fallen is currently the safest and most efficient way to respond to them.

"We are considering necessary measures, and are prepared and have the capabilities for stronger action," the official said, without elaborating.

The North's series of provocative moves came after its botched attempt to launch its second military spy satellite into orbit Monday night. The launch failed as the rocket exploded shortly after liftoff. (Yonhap)
Presidential office warns of 'measures North Korea cannot withstand'

By Kwak Yeon-soo, Nam Hyun-woo

The South Korean government is set to resume loudspeaker broadcasts along the inter-Korean border as a response to North Korea's recent releases of nearly 1,000 balloons carrying trash into the South. Seouls national security advisor warned Sunday of measures that the North cannot withstand.

The Norths recent hostilities are low-level, petty provocations, Director of National Security Chang Ho-jin said in a press briefing after presiding over a National Security Council meeting, referring to the Norths balloon provocations, GPS jamming and ballistic missile launch last week.

He labeled the trash dumping via balloons and GPS jamming attack as "irrational and unreasonable provocative acts that a normal country would never contemplate."

Following the meeting, we will employ measures that the North cannot withstand, and we clearly warn that the regime should stop sending balloons and jamming GPS. Should these provocations continue, our response will become even stronger.

Chang did not explicitly mention loudspeaker operations during the briefing, while a senior official in the South Korean government indicated that such an option was not ruled out. The official emphasized that there would be necessary procedures to follow for such actions.

We won't delay in implementing the necessary measures, and you will see them put into action very soon, because we think (a prompt employment) will be effective, the official said. It seems Pyongyang is attempting to affect the structure of our North Korea policies by unnerving the general public, but I can clearly say that such dirty tactics wont be effective.



According to government sources, preparations are underway for loudspeaker operations and several other measures, comparable to the actions involving the trash-carrying balloons and GPS jamming. To facilitate this, the government intends to discuss the "nullification or suspension of relevant inter-Korean agreements" at an upcoming Cabinet meeting.

The agreements are assumed to be the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement and the Panmunjeom Declaration signed by then-South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, where the two Koreas agreed to stop all hostile acts including the loudspeaker broadcasts and the scattering of leaflets in areas along the Military Demarcation Line (MDL) separating the two Koreas.

It remains uncertain whether those agreements will be fully nullified or partially suspended, but sources said the South Korean government is seeking to take whatever measures are necessary to resume loudspeaker operations.

The South Korean military used to operate loudspeakers as part of its psychological warfare tactics against North Korea. It carried broadcasts on weather, K-pop and news critical of the North Korean regime, leading Pyongyang to express strong opposition due to possible effects on its military and the general public.

Following the 2018 agreements, the South Korean military suspended loudspeaker operations, but Pyongyang has disregarded such pacts by persisting in military provocations.

In November last year, South Korea suspended a part of the 2018 military agreement after the Norths military spy satellite launch. In response, the North ended the agreement and continued its missile provocations. Most recently, the regime sent balloons laden with various forms of waste, including cigarette butts, paper, plastic bags and bottles.

According to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff, Sunday, the North has sent at least 720 trash-carrying balloons that floated across the MDL and fell in various parts of the South, including Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and even as far as North Gyeongsang Province, since 8 p.m. Saturday.

This came after Pyongyang had already sent around 260 similar balloons to the South last Tuesday and Wednesday.

Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, admitted that flying hundreds of balloons across the border was a government-led action.

South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and his U.S. counterpart, Lloyd Austin, shared the view during their talks at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Sunday, that North Korea's launch of the trash-laden balloons constitutes a violation of the Armistice Agreement set in 1953, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

They pledged support for an investigation by the United Nations Command (UNC).

Experts, however, are divided over the effectiveness of resuming the use of the loudspeakers.

Moon Seong-mook, the chief of the Unification Strategy Center at the Korea Research Institute for National Strategy, asserted that the government needs to consider the option as a top priority.

The loudspeakers are an effective tool to pressure North Korea. I bet North Korea will continue its aggressive acts, but there is no reason to shy away from what you need to do because youre afraid of its consequences, Moon said.

North Korea failed to keep its promises from the April 2018 Panmunjeom Declaration, redefining inter-Korean relations as two states hostile to each other and continuing military provocations. The president has the authority to change related laws, and once he makes the decision, the military should be ready to take necessary steps.

However, Lim Eul-chul, a professor of North Korean studies at Kyungnam University, said using the loudspeakers could ratchet up tensions further on the Korean Peninsula.

If we resume loudspeaker broadcasts, it is clear that North Korea will respond sensitively to the matter. That will inevitably increase tensions on the peninsula, which will unnerve residents living near the border area, Lim said.

The loudspeakers have been a hot-button issue between the two Koreas, leading to many disputes over the decades. Both sides have deployed speakers to direct propaganda at one another, and the North Korean regime has, on many occasions, responded sensitively to the matter.
The health ministry said Friday it will provide more financial support for trainee doctors and begin a trial operation to reduce their working hours amid protracted walkouts prompted by a plan that boosted the number of medical students.

Deputy Health Minister Jun Byung-wang told reporters that the pilot program will decrease the continuous working hours for trainee doctors from the current 36 hours to approximately 24 to 30 hours.

"The new law reducing trainee doctors' working hours will be implemented in February 2026," Jun said, noting that the pilot program is designed to prepare for its full implementation.

The health ministry stated that the pilot program, which will run through April next year, will be implemented at 42 hospitals nationwide, with six of them starting the initiative Friday.

The government estimates that junior doctors currently work around 77.7 hours per week as of 2022, significantly higher than in other countries.

"Korea is accelerating efforts to improve the working environment of trainee doctors," Jun said. "The government plans to make an unprecedented expansion in terms of support for their training."

About 12,000 trainee doctors have remained off the job since Feb. 20 in protest of the plan to raise the medical school admissions quota by 2,000, causing disruptions at general hospitals and emergency rooms.

Jun added that the health ministry's policy of applying flexible measures for junior doctors participating in the walkout remains unchanged, but the specific actions will vary depending on the duration of their absence.

"Should they return, the government will review ways to help them complete their training on time," he added.

The government effectively finalized the quota increase last week, with the Korean Council for University Education confirming next year's admissions plan, marking the first such increase in 27 years.

Amid slim chances of dialogue between the government and the medical community, the Korea Medical Association (KMA), the largest doctors' organization, held candlelight vigils the previous day, warning of a "full-fledged" protest against the reform plan in June.

In response, Jun said that any further collective actions causing inconvenience to the public would be "meaningless," considering the medical school quota has already been finalized. (Yonhap)
Former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda has emphasized that the leaders of Korea and Japan should continue to engage China in dialogue to solve regional issues, as he praised a recent trilateral summit between the leaders of the three neighboring countries.

"The responsibility to guide China in acting like a major power lies with Korea and Japan," Fukuda said Thursday in an interview on the sidelines of the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, an annual international peace forum held on Korea's southern resort island of Jeju.

On Monday, President Yoon Suk Yeol met with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Seoul, marking the first trilateral session since December 2019.

Fukuda, known for his advocacy for improved relations with China, also mentioned that regional issues could have been resolved earlier if the dialogue had continued.

"Through this summit, we should expect China to adopt a different attitude than before," he said, forecasting that China's participation in the recent talks could lead to it taking on more responsibility as the world's second-largest economy.

Fukuda, who served as the prime minister of Japan from 2007 to 2008, also commented on Japan's recent military buildup, calling it a reasonable move and dismissing concerns about an arms race.

Tokyo has recently increased its military budget, a shift from its history of keeping security spending low due to its constitutional commitment to avoid war.

"I don't believe Japan needs to or will enter into an arms race," he said.

Japan has announced its decision to raise defense spending to 2 percent of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 2027, a 60 percent increase over five years. This would give the country the third-largest defense budget in the world.

"It's in line with global standards," he said, citing examples such as the North Atlantic Treaty Organization members, which aim to spend over 2 percent of their GDP on military expenditures. (Yonhap)
South Korea and the Netherlands held working-level diplomatic talks Friday on disarmament and nonproliferation issues, including North Korea's latest launch of a military spy satellite, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

Youn Jong-kwon, director general for international security at Seoul's foreign ministry, discussed the issues with Joost Flamand, director for security policy at the Netherlands' foreign ministry.

They discussed the North's nuclear and missile programs, including Pyongyang's botched attempt to launch a military spy satellite earlier this week, and the North Korean sanctions regime in the U.N. Security Council.

The two sides also discussed artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and in maritime security.

South Korea and the Netherlands plan to hold a high-level dialogue on the military use of AI in Seoul in September. (Yonhap)
Pundits call for effective governance system to bolster subnational exchanges

By Lee Hyo-jin

JEJU ISLAND  In recent years, local authorities in Korea have emerged as significant players in international affairs. The traditional role of the state in diplomacy is decentralizing, with cities, provinces and municipalities adopting innovative forms of international engagement known as "local diplomacy."

While local governments cannot sign international treaties or open embassies in foreign countries, their international engagement has shown considerable promise. As of 2023, Korea's cities and municipalities have forged either sister or partner relations with over 1,400 cities in 91 countries.

Unlike the central government, which should carefully navigate national security risks associated with foreign policies, local governments can adopt a more flexible approach, complementing state diplomacy.

This strategy not only supports national diplomacy but also strengthens global ties through grassroots connections, making local diplomacy a vital tool for Korea in the diplomatic landscape.

Against this backdrop, during the Korea Local Diplomacy Forum held in Jeju Island on Friday, pundits and policymakers explored diverse measures to institutionalize local diplomacy in the country's legal and governance systems.

The forum, the second of its kind, was jointly organized by the Hankook Ilbo, its sister paper The Korea Times, the Korean Association of Northeast Asia Studies, and the Governors Association of the Republic of Korea (GAROK). GAROK is an association of mayors and governors from Koreas 17 large cities and provinces. The forum was held on the sidelines of the annual Jeju Peace Forum which took place from Wednesday to Friday.

Under the theme "The Local Era: 'Local Diplomacy' Strategies for Local Value Enhancement," the forum featured about 200 participants, including Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min, Jeju Governor Oh Young-hoon, Kim Heong-soo, president of the Korean Northeast Asia Association Studies, North Gyeongsang Governor Lee Cheol-woo, a former GAROK chairman, and Jo Jae-gu, chairman of the National Association of Mayors in Korea.

"Local diplomacy, where local governments engage in exchanges and cooperation with their global counterparts as well as various organizations, institutions, and businesses, not only complements national diplomacy but also brings new opportunities and growth engines to rural regions," Minister Lee said in his congratulatory remarks.

"Going forward, we plan to collaborate with relevant organizations, such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and GAROK, to establish laws and systems that support local diplomacy," he added.

"Local diplomacy is expanding more than ever before. Major advanced countries such as the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Japan are broadening the sectors involved in local diplomacy and exploring ways to institutionalize it," Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul said in his congratulatory remarks. The speech was read by Hong Seok-in, ambassador and deputy minister for public diplomacy, on behalf of Cho.

The foreign ministry is also set to establish a "Youth and Local Diplomacy Team" in June, specifically aimed at bolstering local government diplomacy. This team will serve as a crucial communication bridge between the ministry headquarters, overseas missions, and local governments.

This initiative stems from an MOU signed in April between the Foreign Ministry and GAROK, facilitating international exchange and cooperation among local governments, an agreement which underscores the importance of central government involvement in local diplomatic efforts.

The North Gyeongsang governor highlighted that local diplomacy could significantly contribute to Korea's immigration policies, addressing the country's demographic crisis.

"Immigration is key to the nations future. We must attract foreign students and their families to counteract our shrinking population. These goals can be achieved through constructive relationships between cities and foreign countries," he stated.

Experts believe that cities and municipalities can engage in meaningful dialogues with their counterparts by facilitating public diplomacy, sharing best practices, and fostering collaboration between international private and public entities.

However, challenges remain.

Sister city relationships often become one-off visits by city officials. Additionally, diplomatic efforts of the nation's local governments are currently concentrated in Northeast Asia, particularly China and Japan, with limited engagement in other continents due to distance issues.

Moreover, the absence of laws specifically defining the local government's role and scope in diplomacy has led to constant debates. There is also a lack of diplomatic professionals in municipalities and insufficient information about partner cities.

Ha Tae-youk, chief of the local diplomacy office at GAROK, proposed the launch of a separate institution and consultative bodies with the central government in order to swiftly institutionalize local diplomacy.

"Local governments have already become major players in international exchanges, and that fact should be reflected in government policies. Whether it be through the legislation of a so-called Local Diplomacy Act, there needs to be support measures in place," Ha said during a roundtable session.

Hong Suk-hoon, a professor of international relations at Changwon National University, emphasized the need for an effective governance system.

"For local governments to successfully conduct diplomacy, a partnership with the central government is essential, along with comprehensive institutional reforms at the local level. There needs to be an organized framework to systematically support local governments in their diplomatic endeavors," he said.




President Yoon Suk Yeol said Friday cooperation projects between Korea and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will "open infinite opportunities" for the people of the two countries.

Yoon made the remark on X, formerly Twitter, as he shared a post by UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan recalling his recent state visit to Seoul.

"Through his state visit to the ROK, our Special Strategic Partnership has advanced to the highest level," Yoon wrote, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic of Korea.

During their summit earlier this week, the two countries forged a comprehensive economic partnership pact. (Yonhap)
Defense Minister Shin Won-sik met with his Canadian counterpart and a U.S. Senate delegation, respectively, Friday for talks on defense and arms cooperation during an annual security forum in Singapore, his ministry said.

Shin held the talks on the sidelines of the three-day Shangri-La Dialogue that kicked off in the city-state earlier in the day, bringing together senior security officials from some 40 countries, according to the ministry.

In the meeting with his Canadian counterpart, Bill Blair, Shin thanked him for Canada's role in maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula through its participation in the U.N. Command and the implementation of sanctions against North Korea.

Shin also highlighted the competitiveness of the South Korean arms industry and requested Canada's interest in the country's homegrown submarines and K-9 self-propelled howitzers, according to what the minister told reporters after the meeting.

Blair was quoted as calling for close cooperation between the two countries, emphasizing the strategic importance of South Korea in the northern Pacific region, according to the ministry.

Shin subsequently met with the three-member bipartisan U.S. Senate delegation, including Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Sen. Laphonza Butler (D-CA), to discuss the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

Both sides condemned North Korea's recent botched attempt to launch a military spy satellite as a clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and agreed on the need to expand their alliance to the areas of cutting-edge science and technology, the ministry said.

Shin thanked the delegation for congressional efforts to maintain the current U.S. Forces Korea troop level, while members of the Senate delegation mentioned the growing strategic importance of the Korean Peninsula in sustaining regional peace and stability, it added. (Yonhap)
A man in his 60s was detained Friday on suspicion of murdering a woman in her 50s and her daughter in her 30s the previous night, the Seoul Suseo Police Station said.

The suspect, surnamed Park, was apprehended by police detectives on a road in southern Seoul at around 7:45 a.m.

Park is accused of stabbing the victims to death at their studio apartment in southern Seoul shortly before 7 p.m Thursday. The suspect is known to be an acquaintance of the deceased elder woman, the police station said, adding it is considering requesting an arrest warrant for him. (Yonhap)
By Jung Min-ho

An appellate court has upheld the conviction of a Chinese man who fled his country on a jet ski and entered Korea illegally last year.

A panel of judges at the Incheon District Court on Friday upheld the lower court's ruling that sentenced Kwon Pyong, 36, to one year in prison, suspended for two years, for violating the immigration law.

He was indicted after traveling on a 1,800-cc jet ski for more than 14 hours across some 300 kilometers from Shandong, China's northern coastal province, to Incheon on Aug. 16.

The bone of contention was whether his way of entering the country met the legal condition of "the act out of necessity," an inevitable act conducted to avoid impending danger against one's personal or another person's legal interest.

He said that he embarked on the journey out of fear of political persecution, given that he was once imprisoned in China for wearing a T-shirt bearing satirical names for Xi Jinping, China's top leader.

Yet the judges rejected his claim, questioning his motive behind using the jet ski to leave his country.

"He entered Korea many times before as he was engaged in the business of selling women's clothes," Judge Lee Su-hwan said. "It is hard to believe that he did so out of necessity."

The judge also pointed out that he did not say political persecution was his reason for escape when he was questioned by the Korean coast guard upon his arrival.

"When asked about the purpose of his visit, he said 'adventure' to the coast guards," Lee said. "He made no mention of political opinion, persecution or fear."

The coast guards only found out about his arrival after he got stuck on a muddy embankment and called an emergency line for help.

Some human rights activists told media outlets that he was fleeing from China escape persecution.

The ruling is expected to affect the ongoing review of his application for asylum. Reportedly, he is now seeking to obtain refugee status here.
By Jung Min-ho

A former professional bodybuilder has been sentenced to two years in prison for assaulting a woman in a parking dispute in Incheon last year.

The Incheon District Court on Friday convicted the man, 38, of inflicting serious injuries on a woman in her 30s who complained to him about double-parking and not answering her calls for 30 minutes at a parking lot inside an apartment complex on May 20.

As a result of the attack, the woman suffered multiple fractures and muscle damage, which required six weeks of treatment for recovery.

Judge Hong Jun-seo said a heavy penalty was inevitable given the level of her injuries and the level of threat she must have felt from the man's size.

Initially, the victim was also accused of assaulting the man, according to the man and his wife. But footage obtained from nearby cameras showed the victim was being beaten helplessly by the couple.
A Korean military contingent stationed in South Sudan plans to establish an agricultural technology center this year to teach farming techniques and help address food insecurity in the country, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Friday.

The JCS unveiled the plan for the Hanbit unit to build the center by the end of the year after it successfully harvested rice in South Sudan in January using Korean rice planting techniques.

Since 2014, the unit has operated a farm to grow corn and other crops to combat food shortages around the central city of Bor, where it is headquartered. But heavy downpours in 2022 flooded the farm, making it unsuitable for crop cultivation.

With support from Dr. John Garang Memorial University of Science and Technology in the country, the unit decided to start growing rice in October 2022 with Korean farming methods, considering the characteristics of South Sudanese soil that retains water, the JCS said.

This January, the unit successfully harvested around 200 kilograms of rice from a 400-square-meter field within the university's grounds.

On the back of the harvest, the unit plans to expand its rice farming to a 10,800-square-meter field and create the agricultural technology center to pass on farming techniques to the university's students and nearby residents, according to the JCS.

Korea first deployed the Hanbit unit in 2013 to help maintain peace and assist in recovery efforts in the East African country, which has been rocked by a civil war.

The unit's latest rotation of some 270 troops departed Korea in phases last month for an eight-month mission. (Yonhap)
Education ministry confirms quota hike; doctors' group forecasts intense standoff

By Jung Da-hyun

A leave of absence for medical school students is being extended over three months, as the Ministry of Education on Thursday confirmed the first increase in medical school enrollments in 27 years.

As the likelihood of students facing academic setbacks rises, medical school professors are increasing their calls for the acceptance of leaves of absence.

Jeonbuk National University announced the resumption of lectures in April, but classes have not started as scheduled. In response to low attendance in offline classes, the university has made online lectures available for students to access at their convenience. However, participation remains minimal, as reported by the university.

At Jeonbuk National University's medical school, 650 out of 673 students, or 96 percent, excluding 141 freshmen, have applied for a leave of absence.

Similarly, Wonkwang University in Iksan, North Jeolla Province resumed classes on April 29, but students have refused to attend. Despite offering both online and offline classes, the participation rate remains low. Out of the 473 students enrolled in Wonkwang University's medical school, 453 have submitted leave of absence applications.

As of the end of last month, the number of applications for an effective leave of absence from 40 medical schools nationwide reached 16,262. This figure is equivalent to 56.5 percent of the 18,793 medical students enrolled nationwide as of April last year.

However, a larger number of medical school students is believed to be refusing to attend classes.

According to the Korea Association of Medical Colleges (KAMC), 97.3 percent of medical school students had either applied for leaves of absence or were refusing to attend classes as of May 19.

As the possibility of students facing academic setbacks grows, certain medical professors suggest that universities authorize leave of absence requests by students.

Despite this plea, the education ministry has maintained a firm stance, asserting that unified student strikes are not valid grounds for leaves of absence. This stance has heightened tensions between the government and the medical community.

Currently, universities have not come up with clear strategies for handling medical school students' leave of absence applications in response to the ministry's guidelines.

Meanwhile, the education ministry announced, Thursday, that a total of 1,540 slots will be added across 40 medical schools nationwide, making the quota increase irreversible.

The Supreme Court is currently reviewing the decision to suspend the enforcement of this increase, which was previously rejected by the Seoul High Court. However, the education community believes that the latest announcement has effectively made it difficult to halt the implementation of the medical school quota hike.

In response, members of the Korean Medical Association (KMA) held candlelight vigils in six regions across the country on Thursday night to protest the government's push to increase the number of medical school enrollment slots.

During a candlelight vigil in front of Deoksu Palace in central Seoul, Lim Hyun-taek, the head of the KMA, declared that a major offensive against what he described as the government's "medical policy manipulation" would commence in earnest in June.

"Not only doctors, students and professors, but also medical practitioners should all join this fight," Lim said.

Although Lim did not specify tactics such as a general strike, he indicated that the response would be firm and uncompromising.
The ruling People Power Party (PPP) said Friday it plans to propose a set of bills on creating a new ministry to tackle the low birth rate and on scrapping the financial investment income tax as some of its first legislation of the new National Assembly.

A total of 31 bills, announced during a two-day workshop of PPP lawmakers, include those on tackling the low fertility rate, livelihoods, future industries, balanced regional development and health care.

President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier this month announced his plans to create a new ministry fully dedicated to tackling Korea's low birth rate, calling it a "national emergency."

The PPP said it will also push for a reform of the country's high inheritance tax rate.

Meanwhile, the PPP took a swipe at the main opposition Democratic Party Korea (DPK) for turning a blind eye to bills related to people's livelihoods and prioritizing its political agenda.

"The public must have been dumbfounded as (the DPK's) first bills all neglect issues related to people's livelihoods and finding the truth but focus instead on impeding investigations and fueling political strife," Rep. Jang Dong-hyuk, the PPP's chief spokesperson, said in a commentary.

Shortly after the 22nd National Assembly began Thursday, the DPK reintroduced a contentious bill mandating a special counsel investigation into the military's response to a Marine's death last year that failed to pass the previous Assembly.

The bill calls for the appointment of a special counsel to look into allegations Yoon's office and the defense ministry inappropriately interfered in the military's probe into the death of Cpl. Chae Su-geun, who was killed during a search mission for victims of heavy downpours in July 2023.

During a Supreme Council meeting Friday, the DPK also stepped up its targeting of Yoon over his alleged involvement in the probe.

At the meeting, Rep. Jang Kyung-tae urged Yoon to "give up his immunity from criminal prosecution and come forward for a fair investigation before the public," stressing that the "probe on the Marine should in fact be a probe on Yoon." (Yonhap)
No permanent reason for hostility between Pyongyang and Washington: Gallucci

By Kwak Yeon-soo

Robert Gallucci, the chief negotiator during the 1994 North Korean nuclear crisis, said normalizing relations with North Korea should come before discussing denuclearization.

As denuclearization is increasingly seen as an unlikely outcome amid stalled diplomacy and North Koreas continued provocative threats, the United States should push toward forging normal ties as an effort to engage Pyongyang, according to Gallucci.

The only way we're going to get at the nuclear issue, in my view, is to change the nature of the political and diplomatic relationship between the U.S. and the DPRK and that is going to require improvement of relations, diminishing the threat at all times, Gallucci said during an interview with The Korea Times at Yonsei University, Tuesday. The DPRK stands for North Koreas official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

Gallucci, a distinguished professor in the Practice of Diplomacy at Georgetown Universitys Walsh School of Foreign Service, explained that the threat from North Korea has evolved to the point that the U.S. ballistic missile defense may not be particularly effective against the Norths sophisticated attack. In January, he wrote in National Interest that we should at least entertain the thought that nuclear war could break out in Northeast Asia in 2024.

Now we are starting to get into a much more dangerous situation in terms of nuclear weapons. An increased level of threat from North Korea is largely due to two things  their capability to do damage and their declaratory posture, he said.

We are now dealing with a nuclear weapons state that has somewhere between 50 and 100 nuclear weapons. Theyve gotten better in accuracy, reliability and perhaps even in sophistication.

Asked if North Koreas failed satellite launch has any implications, he said, I would say that's not significant. If you look at the American or the Russian development of ballistic missiles  particularly the very long range ones like ICBMs  there are lots of failures in developing.

Gallucci asserted there is no geostrategic or permanent reason for hostility between Pyongyang and Washington, adding that the U.S. should be looking for areas in which it can have a useful conversation with the reclusive regime.

The Biden administration doesnt want to be responsible for having no progress in reducing tensions with the DPRK. It also has a prejudice that if we invest in negotiations with the North, theres a high chance it will fail, he said.

The former nuclear envoy stressed that the U.S. can have relations with countries whose values don't match perfectly with its own and who don't live in a Jeffersonian democracy.

I wouldnt remove sanctions now without cause, but I would look for sanctions relief to be part of a negotiation. We might be able to scale back ROK-U.S. military exercises to dial them (the DPRK) back a little. Maybe we can get the Chinese to help, he said. ROK refers to the Republic of Korea, South Korea's official name.

Stressing that denuclearization is a realistic, but long-term goal, Gallucci said the trilateral summit involving South Korea, Japan and China can serve as an opening for negotiations with North Korea.

I hope the Japanese and the South Koreans emphasized to the Chinese to assist in restraining North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in his enthusiasm for highlighting the threat he presents to everybody in Northeast Asia except China, he said.

There's a new relationship between Pyeongyang and Moscow, which may worry Beijing, but the relationship between China and North Korea has been a durable one. So we would like the Chinese to use their influence to help loosen the North Korean position.

Gallucci downplayed concerns regarding Russias potential transfer of sensitive military technology to North Korea.

I don't know whether to believe it or not, but Russians have at least given some of our colleagues assurances that they would not do bad things or stupid things like getting involved with the transfer of sensitive technology to North Korea, he said.

Asked about his thoughts on a growing call in South Korea to develop its own nuclear weapons as a means of deterring a nuclear strike from the North, he said it is a matter of a sovereign decision for South Korea to make.

However, he remained skeptical about whether Seoul could enhance its own security by developing its own nuclear weapons.

If deterrence is going to work against North Korea, the U.S. extended deterrence will be much stronger than your own deterrence. For traditional U.S. administrations, we would be very negative about that idea because we think the spread of nuclear weapons without respect to whom diminishes our security, he said.
North Korea attempted to jam GPS signals for a second straight day Thursday, the South Korean military said, a day after the North sent hundreds of balloons carrying waste and manure to the South.

The military detected the GPS jamming attacks from 7:50 a.m. near the de-facto inter-Korean sea border in the West Sea, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). North Korea also attempted to jam GPS signals early Wednesday.

The jamming attacks, which have ceased, did not hinder any military operations, a JCS official said.

But fishing boats and passenger ships in the area suffered glitches in their navigation systems, with 472 complaints related to GPS signals filed in the area between 5:50 a.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. Thursday, according to the National Maritime Positioning, Navigation and Timing Office in charge of providing positioning information.

North Korea sent hundreds of balloons carrying trash and fecal matter to the South on Tuesday and Wednesday after it vowed to scatter "mounds of wastepaper and filth" over the inter-Korean border areas in retaliation against anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent by activists in South Korea.

An ongoing analysis of some 260 balloons detected by the military showed that each balloon carried bags weighing 10 kilograms on average that contained cigarette butts, pieces of fabric, batteries and manure, according to the JCS.

No propaganda leaflets or chemical, biological and radiological contaminants have so far been found during the analysis under way, it added.

The military once again condemned the launch of balloons and warned the North against carrying out additional provocations.

"All responsibility in relation to the filth balloons lies with North Korea," JCS spokesperson Col. Lee Sung-jun said in a regular press briefing. "We once again sternly warn North Korea to immediately cease its vulgar and shameful act that violates the Armistice Agreement and goes against humanity."

Instead of shooting down the balloons, the military opted to remove them once they have safely fallen to the ground to prevent possible toxic substances spreading and fired artillery rounds from going over to the North, Lee added.

For years, North Korean defectors in South Korea and conservative activists have flown the leaflets to the North via balloons to help encourage North Koreans to eventually rise up against the Pyongyang regime.

North Korea has bristled at the propaganda campaign amid concern that an influx of outside information could pose a threat to its leader Kim Jong-un.

North Korea has repeatedly called for an end to the leafleting campaign. The issue has long been a source of tension between the two Koreas, which are still technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. (Yonhap)
The U.S. military on Wednesday condemned North Korea's latest round of ballistic missile launches and called on the recalcitrant regime to refrain from "unlawful" and "destabilizing" acts.

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command issued a statement after Pyongyang fired some 10 short-range ballistic missiles into the East Sea on Thursday morning (Korea time), a day after sending hundreds of large balloons carrying trash and manure into the South.

"The United States condemns these actions and calls on the DPRK to refrain from further unlawful and destabilizing acts," the command said, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

"We continue to monitor the situation. The U.S. commitments to the defense of the ROK and Japan remain ironclad," it added. ROK is short for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea.

In response to a question from Yonhap News Agency, a State Department spokesperson called on Pyongyang to refrain from provocative actions and return to diplomacy.

The North's launches came after it made a botched attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite on Monday under a plan to launch three more satellites this year. It successfully put its first military spy satellite into orbit in November. (Yonhap)
Pyongyang fires around 10 short-range missiles toward East Sea

By Kwak Yeon-soo

North Korea has escalated tensions with South Korea through a series of provocations, including deploying balloons laden with trash, launching short-range ballistic missiles, and attempting GPS jamming.

Seoul, in conjunction with the international community, is condemning these provocations, some of which are perceived as violations of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the Armistice Agreement.

On Thursday morning, North Korea fired around 10 short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea. The missiles flew around 350 kilometers before splashing into the waters east of the Korean Peninsula, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS).

We strongly condemn North Koreas missile launch as a clear provocation that seriously threatens peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, the JCS said, adding it closely shared related information with the U.S. and Japan as the North's launches of ballistic missiles are violations of UNSC resolutions.

North Korea continued its GPS jamming attacks for a second day, the JCS confirmed in a separate statement. "We detected the signal near the de facto inter-Korean maritime border in the West Sea. The jamming persisted for about an hour but did not disrupt military operations," according to the statement.

The missile launch comes a day after more than 260 balloons filled with trash and what is presumed to be feces, sent by the North, were found in various locations in the South. The balloon release was an apparent retaliation against South Korean activists for sending anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets across the border. Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, vowed to send dozens of times more balloons to the South.

The United Nations Command (UNC) also said it would launch an investigation into the case.

The North's military action of deploying mass numbers of trash-laden balloons that can cause harm to local populations is not only offensive and unsanitary, but constitutes a violation of the Armistice Agreement, the UNC said in a statement.

A unification ministry official suspected that the series of provocations were intended to cover up the failure of a spy satellite launch earlier this week, saying it is unusual to fire some 10 missiles at once. On Monday, North Korea's attempt to put a spy satellite into orbit failed due to a suspected engine problem.

However, experts argue that the failed satellite launch itself is not the issue. Rather, it's the response from the international community, including the U.S., the U.N., and Japan, that appears to have prompted the country to escalate the crisis level on the peninsula.

They (provocative actions) appear to be a reaction to South Korea carrying out joint air drills with the U.S. and joining Japan to call for denuclearization. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Gutteress remarks condemning the attempted launch of North Koreas satellite, and the UNSCs plan to convene a meeting on Friday also seemed to prompt the North to carry out provocations, said Lim Eul-chul, a professor of North Korean studies at Kyungnam University.

Hong Min, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, echoed that view.

North Korea claims the satellite launch was an exercise of its right to self-defense and it flew balloons in retaliation against South Korean activists. The North says it did that to safeguard the regime, he said.

North Korea watchers have cautioned about the potential for a serious escalation in a tit-for-tat cycle if South Korea retaliates.

Lim said the UNC could act as a mediator by conducting a formal investigation into the matter.

Hong said that South Korea also bears responsibility for sending anti-Pyongyang balloons to the North.

It is self-contradictory for us to accuse the North only for sending balloons. Whether it was carried out by the government or private organizations, the Souths action may constitute a violation of international law, Hong said.
By Jon Dunbar

Jesse Barnett, hardcore frontman, has already performed in Korea once before, but that honor doesn't belong to the Orange County-based hardcore band Stick To Your Guns  that honor belongs to an obscure band named Down for the Sound, which only played one show ever back in 2019.

"This will be STYGs first time in Korea but I actually have a funny story about the last time I was in Seoul," Barnett told The Korea Times.

Following STYG's Japan tour that year with LA hardcore band Terror, Barnett flew to Seoul for a visit with his friend Thomas from Montreal.

During his stay, Seo Ki-seok (known in scenes around the world simply as "Ki") from the Seoul hardcore band the Geeks reached out and offered to show them around.

"We later randomly ran into Dennis from (Australian hardcore band) Speed who's also been a friend for quite some time. It was pretty amazing," Barnett recounted.

Later that night while they were all having dinner together, Seo mentioned there was a hardcore show coming up in Seoul in a couple days.

"We joked about starting a band with the four of us and going and playing," Barnett said. "Next thing I know Im in a practice space in Seoul, a city Ive never been to, playing drums in a band with a guy from Sydney, a guy from Seoul and a guy from Montreal. We wrote three songs and played two Agnostic Front covers and it was one of the most special experiences Ive had in my life. I will remember it forever."

When STYG had an offer to tour Japan again, Barnett thought back to his DFTS experience in Seoul, and sent Seo a message.

"Ki is a wonderful human being who I have had the pleasure of knowing for many years now and when we got an offer to come to Japan, I messaged him almost immediately to ask if he would bring us to Korea and he agreed," Barnett said. "I really appreciate him and his team and all their hard work. Its not an easy thing to do to bring international bands so I am incredibly grateful."

Seo resumed his tour promotion agency, Open Your Eyes Booking, which had brought several hardcore bands to Korea in the past including Champion, Outbreak, Terror, Sick of It All, Down to Nothing, Have Heart, No Turning Back and Bane. His band the Geeks also featured Barnett in the 2019 video for their song "More Than Ever."

Barnett has led STYG for 21 years now, having started the band at age 15. During that time, he's seen a lot of the world. STYG was the first U.S. hardcore band to tour Kenya.

"Kenya was a super special experience and one for me that existed outside of my band life and made it into one of my favorite experiences of my entire life," Barnett said of the experience. I love going places that most people dont go and experiencing things most people dont. It makes me feel like my life means something because I get to go to special places and meet special people and connect not just through music but on a human level. Its my favorite thing in the world."

But through it all, he's been through a lot, and now remains the band's only original member.

"Being in a touring band is an incredibly difficult thing to do with your life. Its very very demanding and I think some people want to do it and some people find out after doing it for a couple of years that its not the life for them. Thats all it really is."

Last year, the band marked its 20th anniversary with an extensive tour and a 10-minute documentary.

"Twenty years seems like a long time and also like no time at all. Its a strange feeling but first and foremost I feel like the luckiest person alive," Barnett said. "Its also definitely not the same band as it was in 2003. All things grow. All things change. Its only natural that after 20 years of being a band we are not what we started as. I say this with pride and love."

Barnett says he's proud of STYG's place in the annals of hardcore history.

"Our sound has always kind of been a controversial one within hardcore because we arent a straightforward hardcore band and we sing and all that kind of stuff which can sometimes be frowned upon by purists but we stuck to our guns!" he said. "We played what we wanted to play and we tried to offer the beautiful tapestry of hardcore something with a different flavor. Thats all Ive ever wanted to do."

These days, their U.S. shows average between 500 and 600 audience members, and sometimes draw closer to 1,000. When they tour Europe, they draw in 1,000 to 1,500 on average with a couple places where this can go as high as 2,500.

"There are festivals we play sometimes that have so many people that its super bizarre for me to realize that this band that started in my Moms garage got so far," Barnett said, "but yeah Ill always prefer a club show to a giant festival."

STYG will play at Rolling Hall near western Seoul's Hongik University this Sunday. They'll be supported by fellow California hardcore band Twist of Cain as well as local acts the Geeks, End These Days, Turn For Our and No Shelter. The doors open at 5 p.m. and tickets cost 65,000 won in advance or 75,000 won at the door.

Visit sticktoyourguns.net for more information about the band, or follow @openyoureyesbooking on Instagram for more about the show.
By Jon Dunbar

Bruce Fulton, editor of "The Penguin Book of Korean Short Stories," will give a book talk at the Royal Asiatic Society (RAS) Korea next Tuesday.

Fulton is a well-known literature translator, along with his wife Ju-chan. Together they won the Top Prize for short fiction in The Korea Times' Modern Korean Literature Translation Awards, in 1985, 1987 and 1989. He has published numerous works of Korean fiction and won countless accolades, including the Manhae Grand Prize in Literature in 2018.

"The Penguin Book of Korean Short Stories," released last year, is Penguin UK's first volume of modern Korean literature. It presents 25 authors active across a century, ranging from early masters such as Yi Hyos?k and Kim Yuj?ng to contemporary writers of the 21st century, including Kim Aeran and Han Yujoo. Also included is "Hwang Chini" by North Korean writer Hong S?kchung, the first North Korean literary work to earn a major South Korean award, the 2004 Manhae Grand Prize in Literature.

Literary Review magazine calls it "an ever-surprising and stylistically diverse anthology that will surely stand as the touchstone collection of Korean literature for decades to come."

The lecture starts at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in the fifth-floor lounge of the FastFive building in Da-dong near Seoul City Hall. Entry costs 10,000 won or 5,000 won for students and is free for RAS Korea members. Visit raskb.com for more information.

In an online invitation, Fulton hinted that one of the anthology's authors may attend to present a short bilingual reading.
By Arthur I. Cyr

In May, Lai Ching-te, also known as William Lai, was inaugurated as president of Taiwan, succeeding two-term President Tsai Ing-wen, who was the first woman to hold this top government position. Democracy is reconfirmed.

Beijing is expressing severe hostility. Chinas military now surrounds Taiwan.

The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has won three presidential elections in a row. The party is formally committed to independence from China.

However, Lais vote margin was reduced and the DPP also lost their legislative majority. The conservative Kuomintang (KMT) gained the most seats. This could be a diplomatic plus given their more pragmatic approach to Beijing.

China is not happy about continued DPP control of the executive office, but greater KMT presence in the legislature provides opportunities for cultivation. China's media have been relatively restrained about this election result compared to past extreme rhetoric.

Both sides will likely continue to avoid armed conflict. The first DPP government, from 2000 to 2008, was able to finesse the political challenges with Beijing. Today, economic concerns remain more important than ideological purity for Chinas challenged communist leadership.

In 2016 the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Chicago, which represents Taiwan, hosted a remarkably instructive, insightful seminar on the implications of the return of the DPP to governing power. There was general agreement President Tsai had effectively endorsed the framework of cooperation initiated by Beijing and Taipei in 1992. This remained true despite her 2019 speech that emphasized independence.

One participant emphasized the global importance of the Chinese people, a primary source of investment. This was a remarkably shrewd, insightful suggestion, still worth consideration by government leaders of Taiwan.

The two sides share a bitter legacy of battle and blood. In 1949, the Nationalist forces of General Chiang Kai-shek evacuated to Taiwan as Mao Zedongs communist forces seized control of the mainland. Except for some island territories, the communist revolution was complete.

The 1950-53 Korean War made the Cold War global, with China and the United States direct combatants. U.S. commitment to Taiwan's security became explicit.

The foundation of cooperation has been built steadily if slowly over time. Pragmatism characterizes Taiwans approach to mainland China. Following formal U.S. diplomatic recognition of Beijing in 1978, a consequence of President Richard Nixons 1972 visit, Taipei immediately launched a comprehensive nonconfrontational strategic response.

In November 2008, agreement was reached on far-reaching trade accords, including direct shipping, expansion of weekly passenger flights from 36 to 108 and introduction of up to 60 cargo flights per month.

In 2010, the bilateral Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) was concluded. This has been a major triumph for then-President Ma Ying-jeou. His election as chief executive in 2008 and 2012 greatly furthered rapprochement with Beijing.

In February 2014, senior representatives of the island and the mainland agreed to exchange representative offices. Face-to-face negotiations were led by Vice Foreign Minister Zhang Zhijun of China, and Taiwan Mainland Affairs Minister Wang Yu-chi. Unfortunately, in 2016 Beijing suspended direct communications.

Taiwan has become an essential investor in the economic revolution on the mainland. Commercially successful, generally well-educated overseas Chinese in turn are a vital source of capital for the mainland. Expatriate Chinese also vote in Taiwan elections.

Presidents Tsai and now Lai represent equality, fairness and progress. Open competitive markets undercut the rigidities of tradition and ideology. The ECFA framework is now so strong that a return to earlier hostility across the Taiwan Strait is unlikely.

Taiwan without doubt has now effectively embraced representative democracy.

Arthur I. Cyr (acyr@carthage.ed) is author of After the Cold War  American Foreign Policy, Europe and Asia.
Prudent and nuanced approaches needed to address global affairs

By John Merrill

One of the less commented-on aspects of the Russo-Ukrainian war is that the conflict also serves as a proxy struggle between the two Koreas.

North Koreas military aid to Russia has been widely publicized, with the shipment of artillery shells and short-range ballistic missiles to Moscow. Less well-known is Seouls aid to Ukraine, which has taken the form of delivering 155-millimeter artillery shells to Poland which then passes them on to Ukraine. This transaction is meant to avoid its self-imposed ban on supplying weapons to combatants in a foreign war.

More importantly, the Russo-Ukrainian war has served as a catalyst in solidifying the links of the two Koreas with emerging rival superblocs. North Korea is cementing its ties within what might be called the Eurasia bloc, which also includes China, Russia and Iran.

Meanwhile, South Korea has strengthened its relations with the U.S. and its allies, including the NATO countries and Japan. After the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, President Yoon Suk Yeol became the first Korean president to attend a NATO summit. Seoul and NATO have also launched a new partnership program to strengthen cooperation in areas such as arms control, counterterrorism and cyber defense.

Although the Russo-Ukraine war has little direct bearing on Koreas national security, Yoons outreach to NATO reflects his goal of making Korea into a global pivotal state that would boost its influence in shaping the international order.

North Korea so far seems to be reaping most of the benefits from its involvement in the Ukraine conflict. Moscow is already proving that it is willing to use diplomatic heft to watch Pyongyangs back. It recently vetoed the annual renewal of the U.N. Panel of Experts that monitors the international sanctions regime against North Korea for its nuclear and missile programs. This would make it easier for Pyongyang to avoid the impact of sanctions.

There are reports that Russia is aiding North Korea in the areas of satellite and missile technology in return for Pyongyangs arms supplies.

Russia is seen as encouraging closer ties between energy-starved North Korea and oil-rich Iran, which is also supplying weapons to Moscow.

The Kremlin recently said it intended to develop ties with Pyongyang in all possible areas amid reports that it was shipping refined petroleum to North Korea in excess of limits imposed by the U.N. sanctions. There are suggestions that Russian President Vladimir Putin will visit Pyongyang by the end of 2024.

The situation for South Korea in relation to the Ukraine conflict is more ambiguous. On the one hand, Seouls role as an arms supplier to NATO and Ukraine highlights its ambition to become a leader in the global defense industry. One reason why South Korea has been able to supply artillery shells to Ukraine is that it operates the largest force of self-propelled 155-millimeter artillery guns in the world.

But supplying Ukraine with weapons also marks a departure from Seouls traditional foreign policy of not becoming embroiled in conflicts that do not affect the country directly, while trying to conserve arms stockpiles to counter a potential North Korean invasion.

The Ukraine conflict represents a potential drain on Koreas military resources if it continues for a long time. The war has settled into a stalemate and Putin appears ready to commit to a long-term strategy of gradually nibbling away at Ukraine piece by piece, knowing that Russia enjoys an advantage in terms of manpower. Seoul may eventually decide that supplying arms to Ukraine is not worth the price in a war of attrition, if not a losing one.

Meanwhile, Moscow has warned that any supply of weapons by Seoul to Kyiv would be considered an act of anti-Russian hostility. Yoon has said he wants to maintain amicable relations with Russia in the hope that it would try to moderate North Koreas actions. But that is unlikely if South Korea continues to send arms to Ukraine.

The issue of arms shipments to Ukraine raises questions about Seouls ability to undertake active engagement and intervention in other controversial international disputes from Taiwan to the Middle East as suggested by Yoons global pivotal state policy.

As a prosperous liberal democracy, Yoon may believe that Korea should play a role in countering Russias violation of what it regards as the rules-based international order. But he must also take into account that any foreign policy should also reflect the national interest. Military support for Ukraine may fall short of that goal.

John Merrill (jmerrill05@gmail.com) is a visiting scholar at the Institute of Korean Studies at George Washington University. He is a guest editorial writer of The Korea Times.
By Robert Neff

Korean is said to be one of the fastest-growing languages in the world. Undoubtedly, Korean movies, dramas and K-pop have influenced the popularity of the language. Not many years ago, speaking a few words of Korean garnished undeserved praise from elderly Korean shop keepers, but those days are gone. Korean-speaking foreigners are often encountered in the streets, seen on TV or on YouTube. The number of Korean language schools are constantly increasing, and for those who cannot physically attend a language school, there are many programs online.

But what was it like to learn Korean in the 1880s? Most of the early American missionaries hired Koreans to teach them the language  many of these early students did fairly well, while others, like Horace Allen, gave up quickly.

In the summer of 1885, Henry Appenzeller, an American missionary, studied every day for five hours with his Korean tutor and used a French-Korean dictionary as his textbook. In a letter to his father, Appenzeller noted that he was acquiring quite a knowledge of French in his pursuit of learning Korean.

Appenzeller probably learned some Korean as he taught English to his students. In a letter to his friend, he wrote:

Educational work is acceptable, especially instruction in the English language. It is truly wonderful how the East takes to the English language. Everybody is anxious to learn it and proud when he knows but a few words. Even my houseboy who has picked up a few words prefers to receive his orders in it. I never saw the superiority of the glorious English over other languages as I do now and I believe she is destined to be the language of the world.

This desire to learn and practice English was often described in letters home or in contemporary books and newspaper articles. Sometimes these anecdotes were rather amusing such as the young Korean boys who pestered British sailors for cigarettes and tobacco. When they were refused, the young English scholars expressed their dissatisfaction with volleys of British oaths.

As Appenzeller predicted, English became the language of the world  at least in Korea  but not without some challenges.

In a report to the State Department in December 1897, Horace Allen, who was at this time the American minister to Korea, wrote:

The French are making a persistent effort to have their language supersede English in Korea and they are succeeding with the help of the Russians, who use French mostly. There are several teachers of French now in Seoul, and Mr. de Plancy, the French Charge dAffaires, has declined to sign documents in English, having a French translation made, to which he attaches his signature.

Allen stated there were several teachers of French in Seoul, but he failed to identify them. It is likely some of these teachers were members of the Catholic missions  French and Korean. There was also Charles Claude Aleveque, a 32-year-old Frenchman who arrived in Korea in the middle of October 1897.

Shortly after he arrived, he placed the following ad in a local newspaper  The Independent:

A Parisian gentleman staying in this city will give private lessons in French to those who desire to acquire the diplomatic language of the world. He has sufficient knowledge of English so that beginners will find it easy to get along.

Judging from the newspaper accounts, Aleveque was quite popular. He taught French to not only Koreans but also a number of foreigners. It is interesting to note that when Aleveque took a short trip to Shanghai in 1898, the newspaper insinuated that his departure was rather mysterious. It isnt clear why he suddenly took a short trip  perhaps he was representing one of the French firms in Korea or was involved in some political intrigue.

According to Dr. Joel Lee of the Korea Stamp Society, Aleveque helped import French rifles for the Korean government. He also played a role in securing rice from Southeast Asia during the famines in the early 1900s and helped arrange a loan from France.

Perhaps even more relevant to this article:

In 1901 [Aleveque] published a French-Korean dictionary entitled Petit Dictionnaire Francais-Coreen which was dedicated to French Ambassador Collin de Plancy, writing A Monsieur Collin de Plancy Ministre de France a Seoul. For Korean philatelists, Aleveque is most notable for the photographic postcards known as the Aleveque postcards.

Considering Allens general displeasure with the French and Catholics, I find his personal correspondences somewhat amusing. His sons studied French at school in the United States, and his wife, Fannie, studied French in Korea so that she could inspire them to do better. Allen encouraged them to study hard: Do the best you can on your music and French. How I do regret that I had not these two things. Profit by my mistakes and you will thank me some day.

The boys actually did fairly well  93 percent and 80 percent on their tests. As for Fannie, she became quite fluent and spent a lot of time reading French books on the porch and writing letters to her sons in French. In a letter to his sons, Allen wrote:

She [Fannie] jabbers away in French at these Diplomatic functions in such a manner that Mr. Gubbins, the British Representative, said to her the other night at the Palace, that he didnt like this supremacy of the French language.

In a later letter he added:

You see I have reason for wanting you [his sons] to do well in your French. German is of no particular international use, and Latin of none whatever, but French is absolutely necessary if one does much outside of America and for the American, Spanish comes next. If I knew French so as to speak it fluently I could now exchange [my position in Korea] for a nice little mission to one of the second rate foreign powers which would be a great relief, but to know a language that way, one must begin when a boy.

Allen may have been a very good physician, an adept schmoozer and a prolific gossiper, but he was not a linguist and often expressed regret at not being able to learn Korean and, apparently, French. Despite his warm feelings for Korea, the popularity of Korean must have him turning in his grave.

My sincere appreciation to Diane Nars for her invaluable assistance and allowing me to use one of her images. And, to my high school French teacher who told me that I would never learn French and would be lucky to learn English  you were only partially correct.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.
By Robert Neff

In 1694, Huibin Jang was removed from power and relegated to an isolated part of the palace, but she was unwilling to quietly accept her plight; she was a master of Joseons Machiavellian politics and allegedly even willing to use her dead father as a tool.

According to accounts, a servant from the household of one of her opponents was wined and dined to the point he became so intoxicated that he did not realize his hopae (a wooden identification tag) had been stolen. Within a short period of time, the hopae was discovered at the tomb of Jangs father. An examination revealed a magical talisman buried near the tomb  presumably in an attempt to supernaturally facilitate Jangs continued downfall. There were suspicions. The hopae appeared to have been conspicuously placed so that the blame would fall upon Jangs opponents. No one was fooled and the perpetrators of this supernatural false flag were later punished by the king.

For a period of time, a tenuous peace seemed to exist in the palace between Jang and the queen. In 1699, the crown prince was visited by The Guest. This was a polite way of referring to the malevolent spirit associated with smallpox, and its ravages was so severe that children were often not named until after they survived its visit. The Guest did not discriminate between a common laborers child and a crown prince.

A shaman was summoned to care for the pre-teen royal heir. His efforts were successful, but not without a price. The boys vision suffered and Jang was advised to continue making sacrificial offerings so that she didnt inadvertently anger The Guest. But was the shamans presence needed only for the crown prince?

In the spring of 1700, Queen Inhyeons health began to deteriorate rapidly. For nearly a year she suffered from swelling, infection and other maladies that robbed her of sleep and strength. In the late summer of 1701, she was plagued with boils and it was becoming clear to all that she would not live much longer. Some blamed her condition upon nefarious acts of magic or poison.

A brief examination of the Veritable Records of the Joseon Dynasty indicate that many strange events were occurring during that summer. Meteors and comets in the night sky were frequently mentioned as were strong rainstorms, hail, flooding and earthquakes. For the superstitious, it may have seemed that the supernatural was involved.

Sometime in the early hours of Sept. 16, 1701, Queen Inhyeon died at the age of 34  just two days before the kings birthday.

The celebrations of the monarchs birthday were muted as the country went into mourning over the loss of their young good-hearted queen. It is interesting to note that an entry in the Veritable Records states that a strange single white cloud was observed rising from the south  what significance, if any, it holds is unclear, but it paled in comparison to the events that followed.

The king was restless and could find no peace, not even in his sleep. One night, he dreamed the queen appeared before him wearing bloody clothing and pointed towards Jangs residence. Despite his entreaties for her to speak, she remained silent. Curious as to what this meant, he got up and quietly made his way to Jangs residence where his ears were greeted with the sound of laughter and merriment. He crept up to the paper window and, wetting his finger with saliva, poked a small hole so that he could gaze within. He was shocked to see Jang and a number of shamans shooting arrows into the effigy of his queen and boasting how they had brought about the queens death by placing a fetish beneath her bed chambers. This dream seems to have been the catalyst for a witch hunt within the palace.

There are, of course, alternative accounts as to how King Sukjong learned of Jangs alleged supernatural murder of the queen. Another consort is said to have told the king, or it may have come from two of the late queens older brothers.

Regardless of how the king came by this knowledge, it became the catalyst for a witch hunt within the palace walls.

In the subsequent weeks, an intense investigation revealed Jang had used magic to kill the queen. Under intense questioning (torture), several of the palace women confessed that over the previous year, they had participated in dark rituals in which arrows were shot at the queens effigy under the supervision of Jang and a shaman. The shaman reportedly boasted that the queen would be dead by the end of the summer or early fall and Jang would be restored to power.

Many of these women readily confessed  possibly hoping to be executed quickly and escape prolonged interrogation by torture  and reading their confessions it is hard not to be reminded of the Salem witch trials in the United States. While the deaths of the palace women were relatively quick  decapitated in front of the gate a few days after their confessions  Jang was forced to wait as her supporters beseeched the king for mercy.

While the trials were going on, the night sky was lit by an unidentified comet. Despite my efforts, I have been unable to identify the comet. Is it possible that it was the Great Comet of 1702 (officially discovered by Maria Margaretha Kirch and Philippe de La Hire on April 20 in Europe) which was possibly visible in the latter part of 1701?

On Nov. 9, 1701, time ran out for Jang. A package arrived with the tool for her execution  poison. Just before she took it, Jang looked at her son, the crown prince, and, picking up a piece of sharpened wood, declared he would die with her. She then struck him in a portion of the body that rendered it impossible for him to have an heir. He survived her attack, went on to ascend the throne in 1720 as King Gyeongjong, and died four years later.

One can only imagine the agony she felt as the poison raced through her body. One source graphically claimed blood spewed from her mouth like a fountain. It must have been equally shocking for the young crown prince  to be attacked by his mother and then to watch her die in such an agonizing manner.

There were many deaths. According to Homer Hulbert, all of Jangs sorceress companions as well as her political supporters were killed. The almost incredible number of 1,700 people are said to have met their death as a result of this disturbance.

The day following Jangs execution, the records indicate the comet began to fade from the sky. Its relevance to her death is unlikely, but it adds to the mystery surrounding her life. Even years later, Jangs malevolent presence lingered and may have played a part in the insanity of Crown Prince Sado  at least it did according to his wife. In her diary she complained, It is really strange that His Majesty [King Yeongjo] placed the infant Prince, still in his cradle, in a desolate palace and turned the former residence of Lady [Jang] into the kitchen in which food for the prince was to be prepared. Sado later died, locked in a rice chest, by the orders of his father, King Yeongjo  the son of King Sukjong.

Even now, Jangs spirit is powerful  not within the palace, but at her latest final resting place. Desperate lonely women visit her tomb and offer prayers to her in hopes she will help them find boyfriends. When asked about it, my guide, a very knowledgeable middle-aged woman, merely shook her head and smiled with amusement and disbelief.

Jealous consorts, black magic used to murder queens and crown princes injured by their own mothers are infrequently mentioned in the annals of Joseons history. Regardless of whether or not you believe Jang committed all these acts she is accused of, she was an interesting figure in Korean history and justifiably remains a very popular subject for dramas.

Robert Neff has authored and co-authored several books, including Letters from Joseon, Korea Through Western Eyes and Brief Encounters.
By Robert D. Atkinson

Technological innovation and production are the most important factors determining Koreas economic future. Only technology can deliver the necessary growth, productivity and scale to enable the Korean economy to compete with the rest of the world, especially China.

The recipe for innovation is no secret. History has shown that the key ingredients are: science and engineering research, STEM and entrepreneurial skills, effective mass education, modern infrastructure, and the success of technology firms of all sizes, including large, dominant ones. Innovation also requires smart, supportive government policies that put accelerating the rate of progress at the center of economic thinking.

However, both innovation and innovation policy must be grounded on a bedrock of aspiration and optimism. If society sees innovation as a necessary force for good there will be more innovation and better innovation policies. But if the dominant narrative is that technology is an out-of-control force for harm, there will be detrimental policies and less innovation. This latter situation is where the United States, Europe and Commonwealth nations (e.g., the West) find themselves today. Technology, especially digital technology and the corporations that produce it, are often seen as inherently suspect and problematic. Like Gulliver, they are giants to be tied down, not the necessary pillars of an advanced technological society.

These attitudes reduce both the enthusiasm for innovation and the efforts by government needed to spur it. While Korea is allied with the West, it also competes with Western economies. And the greater techlash in these places relative to Korea will make it easier for Korea to win global market share in technology industries, provided Korea doesnt go further down the Western techlash road.

Too often, the West has shifted its focus from delivering technological wonders to preventing harmful change. This mindset has led to technology bans, counter-productive taxes, overly stringent regulations, excessive approval cycles, and a general fear of the future. Once widely seen as a savior of humanity, technology is increasingly viewed as an oppressor. The knowledge of Athena gets treated more like the curse of Eris, the goddess of discord.

These overly negative attitudes are leading the West to increasingly retreat from the future, at risk of ceding important innovation areas to its global rivals. While Chinese leader Xi Jinping proclaims: The Internet Age will promote the development of human life, production and productivity, U.S. President Biden, reflecting the view of many Western leaders, recently wrote with regard to artificial intelligence: We must be clear-eyed and vigilant about the threats. Unless such fear-based narratives are rejected and replaced with more hopeful ones of the kind that enabled the West to become the most advanced region in the world, the West can expect slower rates of progress and the eventual loss of global leadership.

Such a loss risks transforming the West into a different kind of place: fearful, static, and increasingly angry. In this sense, technological pessimism and opposition are like dry rot eating away at the foundations of the West. Today, it is most advanced in Europe, but it has also spread widely across the United States and Commonwealth nations. The West needs to clean out the rot and return to its optimistic, dynamic and appreciative technology roots.

What keeps this narrative and worldview alive and powerful is a set of techno-economic myths that are now widely seen as truth. These techno-mythologies are deeply embedded in the popular consciousness, repeated endlessly by anti-tech advocacy groups, the elites and a mainstream media that often uses scaremongering to attract eyeballs.

We hear them regularly: AI will destroy jobs, technology is eroding privacy, social media is the cause of political polarization, productivity no longer helps the average worker, the pace of technological change is too fast, profits are too high, digital technologies are addictive, AI is inherently biased, and of course, AI will become sentient and destroy humanity. In "Technology Fears and Scapegoats: 40 Myths About Privacy, Jobs, AI and Todays Innovation Economy," my co-author and I examine 40 major myths about technology and technology firms and we find they are all either wrong or severely exaggerated.

Korea thankfully lags behind with West in techlash thinking and the embrace of myths that support it, but it is by no means free from this corrosive force. Korea has seen it in Luddite-inspired opposition to ride sharing apps. Korean civil society groups have advocated that the Korean legislature adopt EU-style AI regulation, something that would surely slow AI innovation in Korea. Similarly, groups have called for bans on facial recognition technology.

This is not to say that tech companies and their innovations are a panacea, and that there are no problems or role for regulators. Many of the promises of the information age such as the transformation of health care, education and transportation have yet to be fulfilled, and criticism of tech company shortcomings and business practices is sometimes warranted. But when the detractors are so blinded by hostility that they exaggerate the downsides and ignore the many things these companies do right, their critiques cease to be part of a productive debate, and take on the character of an angry mob.

Both the West and Korea need a more positive and balanced perspective that doesnt make technology the source of todays societal ills. More broadly, the West needs to rediscover, and Korea not abandon, what used to be a deep-seated optimism about technology, progress and the future. For if the West and Korea drift too far from these roots global technological leadership will more easily shift to China, a country where technology is welcomed, not feared.

Dr. Robert D. Atkinson (@RobAtkinsonITIF) is the president of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF), an independent, nonpartisan research and educational institute focusing on the intersection of technological innovation and public policy. The views expressed in the above article are those of the author and do not reflect the editorial direction of The Korea Times.
By John J. Metzler

New Caledonia, a remote French overseas territory in the South Pacific, is not often in the news. Its even less common when you see the truly unexpected cast of characters placing this small island group into an unwanted limelight.

The trigger for the recent troubles was a ruling in Paris allowing for voting rights for the islands non-indigenous population, thus indirectly diluting the power of the local Kanak people. Rioting, widespread looting in Noumea, the nation's capital, quickly spread as would sadly be expected, and before long France sent Gendarmes and troops from Europe to quell the troubles. Seven people, including two police officers, were killed during the disturbances leading to the French government declaring a State of Emergency.

Situated between Australia and the Fiji Islands, New Caledonias population of 272,000 is roughly divided between an indigenous Kanak majority of 41 percent and a French/European minority of 24 percent among other mixed groups. Many French have fully assimilated locally. The population is overwhelmingly Christian.

Back in 1998 after an earlier time of tensions, the French government agreed to the Noumea Accords allowing for three referendums on whether the territory wished to gain independence from France. Over this past decade, all three votes were held, rejecting a break with France; the island wished to retain its political and cultural ties with Paris. Yet, despite being a highly subsidized territory of France, an increasingly radicalized pro-independence movement has flared again.

Into the fray flew French President Emmanuel Macron on the Presidential Airbus, trying to use his artful logic and persuasion to sort things out. Macron condemned the absolutely unprecedented insurrection movement that has shaken New Caledonia since mid-May.

The French in the meantime have accused the Azeris of fomenting mischief in the South Pacific. Gerald Darmanin, the Overseas France Minister, charged that Azerbaijan bore some responsibility for the unrest in New Caledonia, Its not a fantasy, its a reality.

Indeed , among the flags and banners of pro-independence protesters quite improbably were the flags of Azerbaijan, the authoritarian oil-rich Muslim republic on the Caspian Sea bordering Iran. The French Interior Ministry suspected this obviously had nothing to do with religion, but much to do with Azerbaijans long-running political feud with France over strong support by Paris of Armenia, Azerbaijans Arch enemy.

Only last September the Azeriss captured a large swath of disputed territory from Armenia displacing large numbers of ethnic Armenians.

But this is half a world away from the South Pacific.

At this point you are thinking but what is the real reason for the troubles? Indeed, natural resources, in this case nickel.

New Caledonia remains the worlds third largest producer of nickel, a key element in the production of clean energy applications and especially batteries for electric cars. Who is the worlds largest electric car producer? And who profits by cornering the nickel mining market? China.

Mining remains an important part of the New Caledonia economy accounting for 90 percent of exports. Beyond its use in stainless steel production, nickel, according to Resources Canada, has seen the evolving utilization of the commodity in the production of lithium-ion batteries for electric-hybrid vehicles, which accounted for 15 percent of total nickel end use globally in 2022.

However, now the seemingly overlooked resource has focused Macron who wants to place France in a strong position for mandated EU Green energy initiatives, especially electric vehicles. In a sense, France is focused on turning this vital resource into a driver of EV battery production.

While Indonesia holds large deposits of nickel as does Russia and Canada, New Caledonia enters the relatively small cache of nickel producers. The price per ton of the metal stands at $20,000. The International Energy Agency estimates that by 2030 a group formed by Indonesia, the Philippines and New Caledonia could account for 75 percent of international mining production.

Already, 40 percent of New Caledonias nickel exports go to China. Last year President Macron warned, those indigenous separatists who favored an independent New Caledonia which would benefit from closer ties with China, If independence means choosing tomorrow to have a Chinese (naval) base here or to be dependent on other fleets, good luck! Thats not called independence. Not surprisingly both Beijing and Moscow have carefully cultivated ties with the Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front, the primary pro-independence movement.

China is playing its cards carefully. While New Caledonias mining sector has faced its own production problems it holds sizable untapped reserves; Beijing looks to corner natural resources globally.

Will this be Beijings Bali Hai moment in the South Pacific?

John J. Metzler is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of "Divided Dynamism the Diplomacy of Separated Nations; Germany, Korea, China."
By Park Jae-hyuk

The heads of petrochemical industry associations from seven Asian countries called for an international cooperation, Friday, to overcome the challenging business environment of recent years.

During the Asia Petrochemical Industry Conference (APIC) 2024 in Seoul, industry leaders from Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and India acknowledged the challenges posed by global oversupply and increasing protectionism.

Under the theme of Trailblazing the Path in a Sustainable Era, the annual conference was held in Seoul for the first time in nine years, as the seven members take turns to host the event.

Korea Petrochemical Industry Association Chairman and LG Chem CEO Shin Hak-cheol said in his opening address that close cooperation is required, as the seven members of APIC have learned to overcome difficulties by working together.

A technological transition to low carbon-based and high value-added products is absolutely necessary, and the seven APIC members must jointly pursue a long-term competitiveness model that increases both the industrys profitability and technical differentiation, he said.

LG Chem recently experienced a downgrade in its credit outlook by S&P Global Ratings, moving from "stable" to "negative," due to its sluggish profitability. The Korean firm has been carrying out a restructuring of its portfolio to focus more on high value-added businesses.

Shin told reporters before the event that there will be an opportunity for the petrochemical industrys growth in the long run, anticipating a gradual recovery in the operating rate of his companys naphtha cracking center.

His view was shared by the heads of petrochemical industry associations from other countries.

In order to deploy new technologies globally and quickly implement them across society, we need to cooperate across national borders, Japan Petrochemical Industry Association Chairman Keiichi Iwata said in his opening address. We should work together in technological development, as well as in the establishment of systems and policies, including standards and specifications.

The opening remarks were followed by keynote speeches by Olivier Gerard Thorel, executive vice president of SABIC, the Middle Easts largest chemical firm owned by Saudi Aramco, as well as European Chemical Industry Council (CEFIC) Director General Marco Mensink and McKinsey & Company Senior Partner Avinash Goyal.

The McKinsey senior partner described the current situation of the petrochemical industry as a perfect storm, saying that an erosion in growth and profits has been observed across Asia.

Capacity addition will continue to occur throughout 2024 and slow down after 2024, especially outside of China, he said. But for Korea, due to its export-dependent economy and industry structure, the impact of overcapacity will last longer.

He advised industry players to accelerate value creation by using artificial intelligence, look for M&A opportunities and leverage decarbonization as a strategic value creator.
The science ministry said Friday it has ordered Kakao, the operator of the country's top mobile messenger KakaoTalk, to rectify its operation system to improve the stability of its service following recent disruptions.

The ministry called on Kakao to submit a plan to improve its network operation system within a month and come up with results within three months.

Kakao was advised to conduct pretests prior to major operations on its network and internal system, upgrade its communications disaster manual, enhance its monitoring system and analyze the causes of the disruptions.

The request came after KakaoTalk experienced service outages three times this month.

On May 13, about 80 percent of KakaoTalk users had trouble sending messages for about six minutes from 1:44 p.m. due to an error with Kakao's data center server.

The messenger also suffered a six-minute outage on May 20 due to an error during an internal system update.

On May 21, KakaoTalk experienced a service outage for about 54 minutes from 8:30 a.m. as the company made an update to another server at its data center without resolving the previous errors, according to the ministry.

"A disruption in digital service should never happen again as it heavily affects the daily lives of people," Science Minister Lee Jong-ho said, urging Kakao to fulfill its responsibility of providing a "stable" service for its users.

Kakao said it will work to improve its internal operation management system to provide better service. (Yonhap)
Reports of NK soldiers in Ukraine may show Russia's 'profound' desperation: US official
Samsung Electronics said Thursday its new artificial intelligence-powered laptop will be available globally next month as part of its plans to lead the AI era.

Powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite, a next-generation processor, the Galaxy Book 4 Edge features both on-device and cloud AI capabilities. These include real-time translation and search services, as well as automatic connectivity with the user's smartphone and tablet, according to Samsung Electronics.

The laptop also offers an image-based search feature called "Circle to Search" on its 3K AMOLED touchscreen.

In collaboration with Microsoft, the Galaxy Book 4 Edge will include "Cocreator" and "Paint" programs to support creative work, with a dedicated AI key for enhanced assistance.

"This product will be released globally, launching in 10 countries including Korea, the United States, and several in Europe," said Park Jun-ho, the product lead at Samsung Electronics, during a press event. "In the new era of AI, we're working hard to anticipate and drive significant changes. We aim to make a meaningful impact."

In particular, he said Samsung Electronics expects 2 out of every 3 laptops sold in the Korean market to be from the Galaxy Book series.

Currently, Samsung Electronics leads the Korean laptop market, holding a 49.5 percent share in the first quarter, according to data.

All AI functions and technologies released by Samsung Electronics later this year will be incorporated into all Galaxy laptops, Park added.

The Galaxy Book 4 Edge will be available globally starting June 18. (Yonhap)
Korea has partnered with a U.S. electric aircraft startup to push forward the commercialization of urban air mobility (UAM), the transport ministry said Wednesday.

Archer Aviation will join the Korean government's UAM test project dubbed "Grand Challenge" along with local companies -- Kakao Mobilty, LG Uplus and GS Engineering & Construction, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said in a statement.

Archer Chief Commercial Officer Nikhil Goel met with Korean government officials in Sejong, 113 kilometers south of Seoul, for the signing of a memorandum of understanding for the project and discussions for UAM's commercialization, it said.

In the Grand Challenge project, the participating companies are expected to establish the transportation management system using fifth-generation wireless technology, while testing integrated operating capabilities in UAM flights, traffic management and the operation of vertiports for UAM vehicles, the statement said.

The government aims to commercialize UAM in the greater Seoul area in late 2025 and gradually expand the services across the country from 2026.

UAM is widely considered the next big thing in urban mobility amid concerns of worsening traffic congestion and air pollution. Most UAM vehicles in development are being designed to run on electricity and travel at low altitudes in urban areas. (Yonhap)
By Ko Dong-hwan

Public real estate developers are facing criticism for their growing penchant for adopting non-Korean names for their apartments and residential complexes, a trend that mirrors the controversial strategy long employed by private builders to make facilities sound more luxurious, according to industry officials Wednesday.

Experts said the practice has deepened the concerns surrounding the naming method that tarnishes Korean diction.

The developers that recently adopted the practice are the Seoul Housing & Communities Corp. (SH), under the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG), and Korea Land & Housing Corp. (LH), under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

They said the practice is making the country's local apartment towns more difficult to remember and even pronounce and that the public firms that had proposed using more Korean words have reneged on their own ideas.

"Apartment names are also part of varying trends, and consumers tend to believe that (foreign-language) names make their apartment towns appear more luxurious and not so obsolete," a Kwangwoon University professor teaching real estate laws said. "But as there are no legal forces banning such practice here, I think more (non-Korean) naming for apartments will continue for a while. I, however, agree that those with excessively hard-to-understand (foreign-language) names should be controlled by authorities."

According to the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO), Wednesday, SH registered "Banghwa Sky Foret" as the name for a public rental housing town it has recently introduced in the Banghwa area in western Seoul. SH said the name reflects Banghwa's proximity to Gimpo International Airport (sky) and Mount Gaehwa (foret) and received the most votes from the company employees and the town's incoming residents.

SH said that there were other candidates with Korean names, but the foreign-language candidate won out.

LH has recently named its new public housing in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, "Foelln," the name the majority of incoming residents favored.

LH has been lenient in changing the names of public housing apartment towns it had built to cater to its residents' needs for making their towns look more luxurious.

The company said it last year erased "LH" from the names of 30 apartment towns it had built. It also said it plans to change the names of two other apartment towns it had built within this year.

"People living in apartment towns built under public housing projects by either LH or SH don't want the company names showing on their buildings," an industry expert said. "They want the image of public housing gone from where they live. And they think showing a fancy foreign name on their apartment buildings helps."

The SMG and the land ministry previously encouraged construction firms to use more Korean words when naming their building structures.

The SMG in March published a guidebook that encouraged using either authentic Korean or proper nouns. The guidebook pointed out that some of the most frequently used non-Korean words for local neighborhoods here, like "central," "park," "river" or "the first," make it difficult to differentiate different towns or regions.
By Lee Min-hyung

Rising ocean freight rates pose a growing threat to Koreas top three tire manufacturers  Hankook Tire, Kumho Tire and Nexen Tire  as their business structure relies heavily on exports, according to data and industry officials, Thursday.

Amplifying jitters, the global freight index shows few signs of stabilizing amid ongoing geopolitical tensions near the Red Sea and in the Middle East. The Shanghai Containerized Freight Index (SCFI), a key barometer of container freight rates worldwide, soared to over 2,700 for the first time since September 2022.

The tire companies are vulnerable to external uncertainties, primarily because they generate a significant portion of their sales from overseas. According to a quarterly earnings report from Nexen Tire, expenditures on freight costs rose to 63.7 billion won ($46.2 million) in the first quarter, up 16 percent year-on-year. Similarly, Kumho Tire experienced a three percent surge in freight costs, reaching 77.5 billion won during the same period.

Of particular concern is that it remains unclear when the external risks will subside, since Korean tire makers derive the majority of their revenues from markets outside their home country.

Earlier, Kumho Tire reported first-quarter sales of 1.04 trillion won. More than 60 percent of the figure was generated from overseas markets. As a result, the rising freight burden comes as a major risk factor for the tire maker.

This is feared to temporarily halt the earnings rallies of the tire firms, according to industry officials.

Tire firms generated robust earnings in the first quarter on increasing sales of premium and lucrative tires, but the lingering freight uncertainty may drag down the growth momentum, unless the geopolitical risks are cleared, an official at a local tire company said.

Typically, tire firms sign freight contracts on an annual or biennial basis, so the recent spike in the rate may not pose an immediate threat, but if the uncertainties continue, this will hamper the overall profitability of tire manufacturers here.

The state-run Korea Ocean Business Corporation (KOBC) also expressed concerns over the sharp rise of the SCFI.

The index has steeply risen for the first four months of this year, and the pace is uncommonly rapid, so fear sentiment is growing that the ocean freight rate entered a negative cycle featuring a drastic fall in container ships, a recent report published by the KOBC said.
By Lee Min-hyung

An appellate court has ordered SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won to pay 1.38 trillion won ($1 billion) to his estranged wife, Roh So-young, in a property division settlement. This amount is approximately a 20-fold increase compared to the 66.5 billion won previously ordered by a lower court.

While the lower court did not acknowledge Roh's contribution to Chey's asset accumulation, the high court did so. The amount awarded in the property division is the largest among known cases in this jurisdiction.

The Seoul High Court also mandated him to pay 2 billion won in alimony, marking a substantial increase from the 100 million won ordered by the Seoul Family Court in December 2022.

The two initiated divorce proceedings between 2017 and 2019, following Chey's admission of having a child out of wedlock. Roh initially demanded alimony of 300 million won and half of Cheys stake in the groups holding company, valued at around 1 trillion won. However, the lower court substantially reduced the awarded amount at that time.

Roh contributed to boosting SK Groups corporate value and to Cheys management activities  So all of the chairmans property is subject to division, it said, overturning the lower court's ruling that shares held by Chey in SK Inc. were not subject to division.

As Roh was the daughter of late former President Roh Tae-woo, the court said, We consider the former president played a role as a protector or shield for late former SK Group Chairman Chey Jong-hyun (the current chairman's father), which helped successful business activities for the group.

The court also stepped up criticism of Chey for suspending any financial support to Roh after the first trial and showing an insincere attitude.

Even if the marital relationship has not been (legally) dissolved, Chey has suspended credit cards and stopped providing cash living expenses after the first ruling, the court said. On top of that, he also did not show an attitude of respect regarding the ongoing legal process, without reflecting on his misconduct.

It continued: The amount of alimony  assessed in the first ruling  is too low, considering the mental anguish triggered by the marital breakdown. It said Chey spent more than 21.9 billion won on maintaining relationships with T&C Foundation President Kim Hee-young after separating from Roh, and has provided economically unquantifiable benefits to her.
By Ko Dong-hwan

Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Song Mi-ryung on Thursday pledged to provide stronger support for the country's major kimchi exporting firms as the food industry has been showing robust growth in the global market and the government is determined to make a record kimchi export this year.

Meeting representatives of six kimchi makers here at Museum Kimchikan in central Seoul, Song said that the government will improve the existing cold chain supply channels for kimchi ingredients including essential bacteria for microbial fermentation, which determine the quality of kimchi.

Song pledged to support the companies' market expansion to overseas by matching them with foreign buyers and researching new recipes using kimchi for broader consumers around the world.

Listening to the company representatives' wishes to see mitigated business operation costs and higher global demands for kimchi, Song said that she will consider more financial boosts and promote further the K-Food logo in global events to raise awareness on kimchi internationally.

"The diversity of kimchi we're exporting to 92 countries right now is quite staggering. There has truly been a major change that has boosted kimchi's variety to a level I never imagined," Song said after checking key products exported by major firms like CJ Cheiljedang, Pulmuone, Daesang and smaller companies such as Iikim, Louetlang and Open Sauce Lab.

The products showcased at the museum included kimchi sauces to kimchi powder, dried kimchi blocks and kimchi without "jeotgal" (salted preserved seafood widely used when making kimchi) to offer more options for consumers.

"Among the food products we're heavily exporting are manufactured products like instant noodles. But as for fresh produce, kimchi is on top of the list."

Korea's kimchi export has recently grown broader and more extensive in the past decade. Compared to 2013 when almost 74 percent of kimchi exports headed to Japan, the global market grew larger with the United States (25.7 percent) and the Europe (11.5 percent) importing significant portions of kimchi alongside Japan (39.5 percent) last year. This year, as of this month, kimchi exports amounted to $67.3 million, a year-on-year increase of 5.5 percent.

Exported kimchi is now on shelves in major retail chains like the United States' Costco and Walmart and France's Carrefour. To attract more foreign consumers, companies have been introducing new kimchi using ingredients and recipes specific to their respective regions.

"I believe that food is the best way to promote Korean culture overseas," Song said. "I also believe that the government and companies here as one team can together beat last year's food exports of $9.16 billion by reaching $10 billion this year."
Major Republican donors said on Thursday they were willing to back the first convicted felon running for U.S. president, with at least one giving money to Donald Trump for the first time, according to around a dozen benefactors and fundraisers.

Many conservative donors already viewed the New York hush money cash as political persecution, echoing the Republican presidential candidate's claim that Democrats are trying to weaken him ahead of the Nov. 5 election against President Joe Biden. Prosecutors have dismissed those claims as untrue. A New York jury found Trump guilty on Thursday of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.

The verdict has spurred some donors to boost their financial support for Trump - and, in at least one case, make a big donation to him for the first time.

Don Tapia, a former Trump ambassador to Jamaica, said he and a small network of family and friends with whom he donates had planned to give around $250,000 this election to support Trump.

After Thursday's conviction, Tapia told Reuters the group would aim to give over $1 million to the pro-Trump spending group MAGA Inc in coming weeks.

"We're going to go all-in for him," said Tapia. He sent Reuters a photo of an American flag flying upside down outside his home in Paradise Valley, Arizona in protest to the verdict.

A Silicon Valley tech investor, Shaun Maguire, posted on social media site X after the verdict that he had donated $300,000 to support Trump.

"I believe our justice system is being weaponized against him," said Maguire, who described himself as a former Hillary Clinton supporter who switched to supporting Trump in 2021 after Biden's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Maguire told Reuters he had not previously donated to Trump.

Robert Bigelow, who is one of Trump's top supporters having given over $9 million to an outside group supporting him, said the verdict had no impact on him. "All of the charges are contrived," Bigelow told Reuters.

The interviews show the depth of Trump's donor support despite his legal woes, suggesting he will retain significant financial firepower against Biden including from Wall Street, tech and the oil sector.

The donors interviewed by Reuters were also broadly upbeat about Trump winning in November based on a number of public opinion polls that put Trump ahead against Biden in some battleground states.

"I think that big donors are paying attention to the polls, not the verdict," said oil businessman Dan Eberhart, a Trump donor who also helps raise money for the former president's campaign. "The polls are motivating this latest round of businessmen," Eberhart added, saying that calls from donors had picked up "considerably."

After setting out with a fundraising disadvantage against Biden, Trump for the first time in April outraised his Democratic rival, aided by fundraising events across the country. Several donors, including casino billionaire Miriam Adelson, recently pledged support for Trump.

Andy Sabin, a metals businessman and Republican donor who supported three different candidates in the Republican presidential primary before settling on voting for Trump but has not donated to him so far, does not see the verdict having an impact.

"I haven't met one donor yet that gives a shit about the trial. No matter how much they hate Trump, they think he's getting screwed," said Sabin, who regularly attends fundraisers and is donating to congressional candidates.

Trump can absolutely win the election, Sabin added, "as long as he keeps his mouth shut."

In the last few weeks, Trump has hit the fundraising trail hard, hosting high-end events from Texas to New York. He is due to host three fundraisers in California next month, according to invitations seen by Reuters, including one in left-wing San Francisco hosted by tech venture capitalists.

"Every event that I'm involved with is exceeding budget," said George Glass, a Trump campaign fundraiser and his former ambassador to Portugal. "Most donors feel like the 'fix' is in," Glass said about legal proceedings against Trump.

Some Republican donors do remain holdouts, put off by the Jan. 6, 2021, capitol riot, Trump's brash attitude or the prospect of Trump being sentenced to jail. "I'm on the sidelines," said one donor unsure about whether to donate, mostly because of the "drama" around Trump. (Reuters)
A New York jury on Thursday found former President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to silence an adult film star about an alleged extra marital affair ahead of the 2016 presidential election, according to news reports.

Following grueling deliberations, the 12-member jury delivered a guilty verdict, making Trump the first former president to be convicted of a crime and raising questions over its potential impact on his bid to return to the White House for a second term.

Trump is expected to appeal the verdict as he seeks to press on his campaign for the Nov. 5 presidential election where he is set to face President Joe Biden.

The so-called hush-money trial revolved around the charge that Trump falsified business documents to cover up a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, the porn star who claims to have had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. Trump denies any wrongdoing.

The former president faces a maximum sentence of four years in jail though people convicted of the same crime receive shorter terms, fines or probation, according to Reuters.

Trump faces three other criminal cases, including one about his alleged mishandling of classified records after he left the White House. (Yonhap)
Slovenia's government on Thursday endorsed a motion to recognize a Palestinian state and asked the parliament to do the same.

Prime Minister Robert Golob said that his government sent the recognition proposal to parliament, which could convene as early as next week.

All the world should act in the direction of peace, Golob said after the government session. The way to achieve peace is a two-state solution.

The decision is not directed against anyone, not even Israel, but it is a message of peace, he added as the Palestinian flag was displayed on the government headquarters in Ljubljana, the Slovenian capital.

Israel's Foreign Minister Israel Katz said he hoped the Slovenian parliament would reject the government decision.

The Slovenian government's decision to recommend that the Slovenian Parliament recognize a Palestinian state rewards Hamas for murder, rape, mutilation of bodies, beheading of babies, and strengthens the Iranian axis of evil while damaging the close friendship between the Slovenian and Israeli people, he said.

Parliamentary approval is necessary for the move to take effect. Golob's ruling liberal coalition has a comfortable majority in the 90-member assembly and the vote should be a formality.

The decision by Slovenia's government comes just two days after Spain, Norway and Ireland recognized a Palestinian state, a move that was condemned by Israel.

With its move, Slovenia is set to become the 10th member of the 27-nation European Union to officially recognize a Palestinian state. Norway isn't an EU member, but its foreign policy is usually aligned with the bloc.

Slovenia first began the recognition process in early May, but said it would wait until the situation in the ongoing Israeli-Hamas war in Gaza improved.

Golob said this week that he was expediting the process in reaction to Israel's latest attacks on Rafah , which have caused more than 1 million Palestinians to flee.

More than 140 countries recognize a Palestinian state  more than two-thirds of the United Nations.

The move to recognize a Palestinian state has caused relations between the EU and Israel to nosedive . Spain and Ireland are pushing for the EU to take measures against Israel for its continued attacks on Rafah in southern Gaza.

Israel launched the assault following the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack in which militants stormed across the Gaza border into Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostage. Israels air and land attacks have since killed 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry , which doesnt distinguish between combatants and civilians. (AP)
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Friday played down the threat of escalation from Moscow, after the United States authorized Kyiv to use American weapons to hit targets inside Russia.

US officials said Thursday that President Joe Biden had secretly lifted restrictions on Ukraine using American-supplied weapons against targets on Russian territory, but only to defend the under-fire Kharkiv region.

Biden had come under increasing pressure from a desperate Ukraine to ease his ban, but had so far resisted amid fears it could drag NATO into direct conflict or even a nuclear standoff with Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened "serious consequences" if Western countries allowed Ukraine to use their weapons to strike targets in Russia.

"I welcome that allies are providing support to Ukraine in many different ways, but I will not go into the details," Stoltenberg told journalists at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague.

"Ukraine has the right for self- defense, and that includes also the right to strike legitimate military targets inside Russia."

The head of the Western military alliance said letting Western weapons hit targets in Russia was "nothing new" as Britain had long sent cruise missiles to Kyiv without restrictions.

"It has also been the case for a long time that every time NATO allies are providing support for Ukraine threatening us to not do that," he said.

"This is part of efforts by President Putin and Moscow to prevent NATO allies from supporting Ukraine to defend themselves, and, again, Ukraine has the right for self- defense and we have the right to help Ukraine."

Pressure had been building on key backer Biden to shift his position on Ukrainian strikes in Russia after French President Emmanuel Macron said Kyiv should be able to hit back against attacks.

Ukraine's outgunned forces are struggling to hold back Moscow's offensive in the Kharkhiv region near the border that has seen the Kremlin launch attacks from its own territory.

Germany  which has refused to give Ukraine long-range Taurus missiles  has been ambiguous about its stance after long being reluctant to let Kyiv strike across the border.

"We have made very clear from the beginning on that the right of self- defense is our line of support, and we are doing everything that NATO is not being torn into this war," German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said.

Other NATO countries that have been clamoring for Ukraine's key backer to remove its limits welcomed the decision by Biden.

"It makes sense to stop those attacks before they happen on the territory of Ukraine," Czech foreign minister Jan Lipavsky said.

Lithuania's top diplomat Gabrielius Landsbergis said that the Ukrainians "are absolutely capable of defining the targets".

"I have full confidence that they know, they see and they understand what is needed," he said. (Yonhap)
China will reinstate tariffs next month on 134 items it imports from Taiwan, after the Ministry of Finance said it would suspend concessions on the items under a trade deal because Taiwan had not reciprocated.

China, which claims democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, has been ramping up its economic, political and military pressure against the island over the past four years.

China regards Taiwan President Lai Ching-te as a "separatist", holding war games around the island last week to express its anger at what it Beijing viewed as a provocative inauguration speech.

The Cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) between China and Taiwan was initially signed in 2010 and Taiwanese officials had previously told Reuters that China was likely to pressure Lai by ending some of the preferential trading terms within it.

"The Taiwan region has unilaterally adopted discriminatory measures such as prohibiting and restricting the export of mainland products, which violates the provisions of the (agreement)," China's finance ministry said.

The suspension of the tariff concessions is due to take place from June 15, the ministry said, and would apply to products imported from Taiwan including base oils - used to manufacture other products such as lubricants.

Taiwan's presidential office said the move was "classic Chinese economic coercion" which would not help improve relations across the Taiwan Strait.

"China should abandon political intervention in the market and distorting the normal operation of the global economy with economic coercion," it said in a statement.

Taiwan's China policy-making Mainland Affairs Council said the ECFA deal had benefited both sides' companies since it was signed.

"We call on the mainland to deal with differences through constructive dialogue that does not involve political prerequisites, and stop economic and trade pressure," it said.

In late December, China scrapped tariff cuts on some 12 chemical products it imported from Taiwan  moves described by Taipei officials as an attempt to interfere in January's election, which Lai won.

Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims.

Chen Binhua, spokesperson for China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said Taiwan had unilaterally adopted discriminatory trade restrictions on the export of more than 2,500 mainland products.

This violated the ECFA's provisions on reducing or abolishing tariffs, he said. (Reuters)
The German government has authorized Ukraine to use German-supplied weapons against military targets in Russia, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit announced on Friday.

Ukraine has pressed supporters in recent weeks for permission to use weapons supplied by the West to strike Russian forces on Russian territory.

Several other countries, including the United States, have recently made similar moves to give Ukraine more leeway in its use of Western-supplied weapons, after previously specifying that they should only be used against targets within Ukraine itself.

"In recent weeks, Russia has prepared, coordinated and carried out attacks from positions in the Kharkiv area in particular from the immediately neighbouring Russian border region," Hebestreit said on Friday.

Hebestreit said there is consensus that Ukraine has the right under international law to defend itself against these attacks.

"It can also use the weapons supplied for this purpose in accordance with its international legal obligations, including those supplied by us," said Hebestreit.

In theory, several weapons systems supplied by Germany could be used to counter Russian attacks from the border region, including the Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzer and Mars II rocket launchers.

Many Western countries initially put conditions on military aid packages that limited Ukraine to use those weapons only Ukrainian territory. Those conditions were intended to avoid escalation with Russia and prevent Ukraine's allies from being drawn directly into the conflict.

But Ukraine has contended recently that Russian forces are exploiting those limitations to mass troops near the border and stage attacks against Ukrainian territory.

On Thursday evening, the US government confirmed that it had authorized Ukraine to use American weapons in limited situations against targets on Russian territory. The weapons are to be used to defend against attacks on Kharkiv and to hit Russian forces that are preparing attacks.

The shift in the movement by Western allies came after the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Germany held intensive high-level discussions earlier this week on the use of Western weapons. (DPA)
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed concerns over North Korea's recent provocations and its contributions to Russia's war effort in Ukraine during a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Singapore on Friday, the Pentagon said.

Austin and Chinese Minister of National Defense Dong Jun met on the margins of the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual defense forum in the city-state, to discuss a range of issues, including Taiwan, the South China Sea and bilateral relations.

"The secretary also expressed concerns about recent provocations from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), including its direct contributions to Russia's ongoing assault on Ukraine," Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a readout, referring to the North by its official name.

This week, Pyongyang ratcheted up tensions by making a botched attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite on Monday and conducting artillery drills involving what it termed "super-large" multiple rocket launchers days later.

The meeting took place as tensions flared anew in the wake of China's military exercises seen as encircling Taiwan days after Taiwan's new President Lai Ching-te was inaugurated. China sees the island democracy as part of its territory.

Austin took issue with the drills in the meeting.

"The secretary expressed concern about recent provocative PLA activity around the Taiwan Strait, and he reiterated that the PRC should not use Taiwan's political transition  part of a normal, routine democratic process  as a pretext for coercive measures," Ryder said.

PRC and PLA refer to China's official name and military, the People's Republic of China and the People's Liberation Army.

The secretary reiterated the U.S.' commitment to its "longstanding" One China policy.

Austin also underscored the importance of respect for high-seas freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea and discussed Russia's war against Ukraine and China's role in supporting Russia's defense industrial base, according to Ryder.

Friday's meeting followed the two sides' video talks on April 16. (Yonhap)
The biggest winner in South Africa's election this week may be former President Jacob Zuma, whose newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party has exceeded expectations and emerged as a major factor in the African National Congress' sharp drop in support. MK is not going to win the election and is unlikely to be a coalition partner, analysts say, while Zuma is barred from standing for parliament because of a conviction for contempt of court.

But the party, which advocates nationalising land and banks and scrapping the constitution, is on course to unseat the ANC by a landslide in the populous province of KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma's home region. With results from about 64 percent of polling stations in, MK was in third place on Friday with 11.8 percent of votes. The ANC had 41.9 percent, down from 57.5 percent in the last 2019 election, looking set to lose its majority for the first time in 30 years.

In KwaZulu-Natal - strategically significant due to the main ports of Durban and Richard's Bay - MK was leading with about 44 percent to the ANC's just under 19 percent. Durban handles around 60 percent of trade to and from South Africa while Richard's Bay is the largest coal export facility in Africa.

Political analysts attributed MK's success largely to Zuma's popularity, which is rooted in his humble roots and anti-establishment stance. An anti-apartheid veteran and Zulu traditionalist who sometimes dons leopard skins at public events, Zuma was forced by the ANC to quit the presidency in 2018 following a string of corruption scandals. His presidency was defined by what South Africans call "state capture" after an inquiry pointed to systemic corruption enabling business people to plunder state resources.

Zuma denies this. His successor Cyril Ramaphosa vowed to clean up the ANC, but critics say many have found his leadership too timid and constrained by consensus-building. Ramaphosa's government has also struggled with chronic power shortages and dysfunctional ports, that are partly due to a legacy of corruption under Zuma.

As early results rolled in on Thursday, MK supporters sang and danced outside Durban City Hall, in KwaZulu-Natal.

"Mr. (Zuma) did not get enough time to govern. I decided to follow him again because I know when he promises to do something he does," said voter Phumzile Chiya, 52.

Radical policy shift

MK's platform appeals to voter frustration over racial and economic inequality that has persisted since the end of apartheid.

Like the Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, which has 9.5 percent of votes so far, MK rails against "white monopoly capital" that it says controls South Africa.

It calls for a referendum on the constitution and proposes a new parliamentary system including an upper house composed of hereditary traditional leaders like Britain's House of Lords.

It would also expropriate "all land without compensation" and transfer it to the state or custodianship of aristocratic traditional rulers, for use by Black farmers.

An ANC plan to expropriate land - most of which is in white hands - failed to get the required two-thirds of votes to go through parliament in 2021, with the main opposition Democratic Alliance and right-wing Freedom Front Plus as well as the EFF voting against it.

"I used to vote for the ANC, but since (Zuma) said he wants to reclaim the land and to change the country's constitution I saw that it was a good move," said Dumisani Xulu, a pastor in Durban.

MK's rise has caught the ANC off guard.

Asked if there had been any surprises in the election results so far, the ANC's Deputy Secretary-General Nomvula Mokonyane told Reuters: "KwaZulu-Natal."

If it were not for MK, the ANC might have retained its majority nationally, said Oscar Van Heerden, researcher and author of books on the ANC. The main opposition DA has only marginally more support than in the last election, as it struggled to shake off its image as a party of South Africa's privileged white minority and appeal more to Black voters.

"A lot of people that are disaffected in South Africa ... want to see a much more radical policy orientation than what the ANC could provide," Van Heerden said.

While a potential coalition between the ANC and MK is possible, analysts deemed this unlikely due to MK's probable demands, such as replacing Ramaphosa and absolving Zuma's legal issues. Zuma is due to stand trial next year for corruption charges related to a 1990s arms deal. (Reuters)
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The company has responded to the court.

On May 30, Korean news outlets reported that Min Hee Jin had won her injunction against HYBE Labels. According to sources, the Seoul Central District Court officially granted Min Hee Hin's appeal to prohibit HYBE from putting voting rights into effect which would lead to her removal as ADOR CEO.

"HYBE is prohibited from using its voting rights in the shareholder meeting on May 31, 2024," Min Hee Jin's legal representative stated. "Should HYBE ignore this ruling and proceed to remove Min Hee Jin and ADOR's executives, they will be required to pay a penalty of 20.0 billion KRW ($14,544,000 USD) to Min Hee Jin."

It added, "We urge HYBE to respect and adhere to the court's injunction."

This prompted the company to release a brief statement not long after the decision was made. HYBE replied that the company would respect the decision and that the voting rights would not be exercised. HYBE also added that it plans to take the next steps that are enclosed by the law's boundaries.

Read HYBE's full statement below:

"In respect of the court's decision regarding the preliminary injunction lawsuit filed by CEO Min Hee Jin, we will not exercise our voting rights in favor of the 'Removal of Inside Director Min Hee Jin' at the upcoming extraordinary general meeting of shareholders. Additionally, as the court stated in this decision, 'It is clear that CEO Min Hee Jin sought a way to weaken HYBE's control over ADOR and allow Min Hee Jin to independently control ADOR by taking NewJeans out of HYBE's control or pressuring HYBE to sell its stake in Adore.' We plan to follow up the next course of action that is within the boundaries of the law."

On social media platform X (Twitter), netizens reacted to Min Hee Jin's retainment of her role as ADOR CEO.

What are your thoughts on the court's decision? Let us know in the comments below.

For more K-pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Court Rules in Favor of Min Hee Jin's Injunction + CEO's Lawyers Release Lengthy Statement

KpopStarz owns this article

Written by Israel Monte
During her press conference, Min Hee Jin expressed her hopes to reconcile with HYBE following their messy legal battle.

During a press conference held on the afternoon of May 31, 2024, at the Korea Press Center in Seoul to discuss the ADOR emergency shareholder meeting, Min Hee Jin left a message for HYBE.

In her statement, she expressed her hopes of reconciling with HYBE, stating, "I hope HYBE acknowledges that NewJeans and I have faithfully and smoothly executed everything we planned. I hope that HYBE will listen to my side and that we can find a middle ground."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: HYBE Responds To Court's Decision On Min Hee Jin's CEO Role In ADOR + Accepts Dismissal Of Voting Rights

The CEO stated that she often wondered why they were fighting during the dispute, noting how exhausting it was to constantly drag each other down.

She stated, "I often wonder for whom and for what we are fighting in this dispute. Are we not exhausted from constantly criticizing and disparaging each other? The cause and factuality of issues cannot be adequately expressed in just a few words or articles. Human relationships are complex and difficult, so they cannot be expressed simply."

Min Hee Jin expressed her hopes to move together with HYBE in a way that is beneficial for everyone, while still adhering to the company's vision. She hopes that they can put aside any personal feelings and work together for the collective benefit of everyone involved.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Court Rules in Favor of Min Hee Jin's Injuction + CEO's Lawyers Release Lengthy Statement

She states, "There's no need to discuss everything publicly. We should think open-mindedly about what is more beneficial and find a direction that is good for everyone. A corporation should be an organization that moves together for the benefit of its shareholders and the vision of the business. We need to speak constructively for everyone's sake and change the framework. We should reconsider our actions by setting aside personal feelings and moving for everyone's benefit. That is the proper mindset of a manager and the right thing to do as a human."

The ADOR CEO stated she is not doing this for her own gain but for everyone involved. She acknowledges that both sides have been emotionally hurt, and expressed her desire to end the suffering and move on to the next chapter with HYBE.

She says, "I am not interested in personal gain. I would like to continue with the plans I have made with NewJeans, which is beneficial for everyone. Who would benefit if I step down and NewJeans has to take a hiatus due to organizational restructuring? Let's think about this logically. Both sides have been emotionally hurt. Since we've both suffered enough, let's end this now. Let's move on to the next chapter that benefits everyone."

CHECK THIS OUT: Maxim Korea Draws Flak For Releasing Photoshoot Inspired By Min Hee Jin Press Conference

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

KpopStarz Owns This

Written by Alexa Lopez
On May 31, the spotlight shone brightly on K-pop group NewJeans as they graced the stage of Music Bank with their electrifying performance of their latest track "How Sweet". The crowd erupted in cheers as the group showcased their talent, ultimately clinching the top spot and winning first place.

Following their win, the members took the opportunity to express their gratitude during the customary ending speech. Amidst expressions of joy for their successful comeback and gratitude towards their fans, member Minji took a moment to extend thanks to those who had supported them, including their CEO, stylists, and management.

However, it was Danielle's heartfelt mention of ADOR CEO Min Hee Jin that truly caught the audience's attention.

IN CASE YOU MISSED THIS: NewJeans Danielle Goes Viral For 'Fairy' Visuals In 'Korea On Stage' Photos - And Bunnies Are Going Wild

As the camera panned towards the MCs, Danielle's voice rang out, expressing love and admiration for Min Hee Jin. The crowd's cheers swelled as Danielle's words echoed throughout the venue, marking a poignant moment of appreciation.

"Once again, we would like to thank your CEO, whom we love and adore a lot. We love you, CEO! We are also so happy to be able to perform on such a cool stage with our Bunnies. Thank you Bunnies!" - Danielle

NewJeans' vocal support for Min Hee Jin amidst the ongoing feud between ADOR and HYBE is not unprecedented.

Their unwavering solidarity underscores the strong bond between idols and their management teams, with Danielle's direct acknowledgment serving as a testament to the mutual respect and admiration shared between artist and CEO.

Min Hee Jin looks so good in her second comeback pic.twitter.com/5vx752z9cz May 31, 2024

As the video of Danielle's heartfelt words circulated online, fans expressed their admiration for NewJeans' loyalty and the significance of their gesture during such a pivotal moment in the industry's landscape.

Dani is making a statement in here  we love you too NJ and ADOR Team https://t.co/jvU4mDfVpd  misho |  How Sweet  (@mishomisho31) May 31, 2024



You can watch the full video here.



YOU MIGHT BE ALSO INTERESTED IN: NewJeans Danielle Pens Heartfelt Messages Thanking Bunnies For Support: 'My Heart Has Been Heavy These Days...'

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Cassidy Jones.
Min Hee Jin has addressed the rumors that she spoke badly about the NewJeans members behind their backs via KakaoTalk message.

On May 31, 2024, at the Korea Press Center in Seoul, Min Hee Jin held her second press conference. During this event, she discussed what happened at this morning's ADOR shareholder's meeting as well as her thoughts. The ADOR CEO also held a Q&A segment.

During the Q&A, Min Hee Jin was asked about a KakaoTalk conversation that had surfaced, which allegedly showed her talking badly about the NewJeans members. The journalist asked whether she had spoken to the members since then and if she had anything to say regarding the situation.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Court Rules in Favor of Min Hee Jin's Injuction + CEO's Lawyers Release Lengthy Statement

In response, Min Hee Jin revealed that she did not recall saying such things.

She told the reporter, "To be honest, explaining this could take a long time, and I cannot recall the details well. Do you remember a chat from three years ago? When I open a chat from three years ago and see what was said... Frankly, I don't remember having those conversations."

However, she stated that the KakaoTalk message was not an issue and that the NewJeans members never confronted her about it. Instead, they only reached out to check up on her.

Min Hee Jin revealed, "Actually, these are not issues and do not hold any value. It's not like the NewJeans members saw this chat and contacted me about it. They contacted me because they knew I was hurt, not because I asked them to do so to sway public opinion."

YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN: HYBE Responds To Court's Decision On Min Hee Jin's CEO Role In ADOR + Accepts Dismissal Of Voting Rights

Min Hee Jin then addressed the accusations that she was acting during her first press conference. Following the press conference she held in mid-April, some speculated that Min Hee Jin was exaggerating how sad and emotional she was. Others also claim she purposely appeared disheveled so that the public would pity her.

In response to this, she stated, "The things I said during the press conference were due to the circumstances I was in, and I was quite overwhelmed. Im not an actress. People thinking that I dressed a certain way or staged my appearance is too cruel. As I mentioned before, I wore the same clothes for three days without washing, and they stank. I think changing clothes and putting on makeup in that situation would be even more psychotic."

She stated that she no longer wishes to speak on defamatory rumors, and that she wishes to protect the NewJeans members by refraining from mentioning them.

CHECK THIS OUT: Maxim Korea Draws Flak For Releasing Photoshoot Inspired By Min Hee Jin Press Conference

She stated, "Discussing this now does not align with the main issues, and we should not drag the members into this. As I've said before, to truly protect the members or any artists, we should refrain from mentioning them. Even if people are curious, adults need to hold back. I believe that is what protection looks like."

What do you think of the situation? Tell us in the comments below!

KpopStarz Owns This

Written by Alexa Lopez
In 1972, when then US first lady Patricia Nixon welcomed the first pair of giant pandas to Washington's National Zoo, Jill Biden was a 20-year-old college student. In a video posted on Wednesday, Biden, who is now the first lady of the United States, got her chance to welcome the eagerly anticipated arrival of a new pair of pandas. As she enthusiastically clutched a toy panda that someone threw to her, she exclaimed: "We can't wait to celebrate this historic moment here in our nation's capital. ... It's official. The pandas are coming back to DC." Joining Biden, the wife of US President Joe Biden, were National Zoo Director Brandie Smith and Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III. They announced that the two giant pandas are expected to arrive later this year, and joked about preparing for the two special guests at the White House. Jill Biden wrote in a social media post, "We are excited for children near and far to once again enjoy the giant pandas' adorable and joyful adventures at our @NationalZoo." The announcement came six months after the US capital bid an emotional farewell to its last three giant pandas, including a pair that arrived 23 years ago. The three pandas left for China in November. Smith said at the zoo that "we're thrilled to announce that the next chapter of our breeding and conservation partnership begins by welcoming two new bears, including a descendant of our beloved panda family, to Washington, DC". Early in the morning, workers put up signs on the flagpole at the entrance to the zoo that said "The Pandas Are Coming". There also were fresh displays of panda-themed merchandise, such as shirts and shopping bags, in the souvenir shops inside the zoo. The warmly anticipated newcomers, Bao Li and Qing Bao, were born in 2021 and will arrive at the Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute by the end of the year, as part of a partnership with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. The mother of the male bear, Bao Li, whose name means "treasure" and "energetic" in Chinese, was born at the zoo in 2013. The name of the female, Qing Bao, translates as "a treasure in green mountains". Wednesday's announcement builds on half a century of fruitful collaboration between China and the US to save the giant panda from extinction. "Giant pandas truly represent how great partnerships and great outcomes can be achieved through when we work together and then with public support," Smith said. She also said the focus of the new partnership will be different from the areas of study involving the earlier pandas. At that time, knowledge about reproduction was among the priorities. "But we've solved a lot of those problems, and so with these new pandas, our focus is actually a little bit more on giant pandas in the wild  understanding bamboo forests, wildlife diseases, different things like that," Smith told China Daily. Noting how people in the US have been fascinated by the black-and-white icons, Theodore H. Reed, Smith's predecessor, wrote in a National Geographic magazine story in 1972: "Whenever I look at our young giant pandas, I think I can explain the animals' universal appeal. The trouble is, everyone else seems to be looking too, instead of listening (to me)." Xie Feng, Chinese ambassador to the US, said that over the past five decades, giant pandas have held a special place in the childhood memories of numerous Americans. He said that people in the US will soon get to see pandas more often, as another pair, Yun Chuan and Xin Bao, will head to the San Diego Zoo. "'Panda huggers' should not be stigmatized. If there should be any protectionism, then let's protect biodiversity, protect the only home for the entire humanity, protect a stable, sound and sustainable China-US relationship, and protect a better future for the younger generations," Xie said. "I encourage everyone to care for China-US relations just as you care for pandas, and jointly usher in a peaceful and prosperous future," he added. huanxinzhao@chinadailyusa.com
BusinessWire India

Atlanta (Georgia) [USA], May 31: NIIT Learning Systems Limited [NIIT Managed Training Services (NIIT MTS)] (Ticker Symbol: NIITMTS), a global leader in managed learning services, announced that it has earned top honors in digital learning and custom content development. The company has been featured as a Strategic Leader on the Fosway 9-Grid for Digital Learning for the second consecutive year and has also been included in the 2024 Top 20 Custom Content Development Companies by Training Industry, Inc. for the fourteenth consecutive year. The Fosway 9-Grid report for digital learning is a five-dimensional model that can be used to understand the relative position of different solutions and providers predominantly within the UK and European markets. It allows organizations to compare different solutions based on five dimensions:

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* Performance

* Potential

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* Market Presence

* Total Cost of Ownership

* Future Trajectory

View the full report for 2024 Fosway 9-Grid for Digital Learning.

Training Industry, the leading research and information resource for corporate learning leaders, prepares the Training Industry Top 20 report on critical sectors of the corporate training marketplace to better inform professionals about the best and most innovative providers of training services and technologies. Selection to the 2024 Training Industry Top Custom Content Development Companies List was based on the following criteria:

* Breadth and quality of content developed, and services offered

* Industry visibility, innovation, and impact in the learning services training market

* Client representation

* Business performance and growth

View the 2024 Top 20 Custom Content Development Companies and Watch List.

"The economic climate has increased pressure on all providers to be agile and innovate even faster, especially in delivering effective solutions rapidly. But AI is going to change that enormously, by changing the way content is created, and the way it will be accessed and consumed. Expect to see an acceleration of AI adoption, but also a visible impact on how companies assess their buying options as well as what they pay them," said David Wilson, CEO of the Fosway Group.

"The 2024 Top 20 Custom Content Development Companies showcase a forward-thinking collective of organizations proficient in creating compelling and customized content for interactive and immersive solutions, effectively meeting their clients' business needs," said Ken Taylor, CEO of Training Industry, Inc.

"We are honored to be recognized among the Top Custom Content Development Companies by Training Industry for the fourteenth consecutive year as well as achieving the highest ranking on the Fosway 9-Grid for Digital Learning for the second consecutive year. At NIIT, our dedication to pioneering cutting-edge solutions and setting industry standards as a thought leader in digital learning is unparalleled. Our approach to content is rooted in our award-winning Critical Mistake Analysis methodology which was developed after years of research at Northwestern University and aligns content with tangible business results such as improvements in productivity, time to competence, effectiveness, and efficiency. We also leverage the power of cutting-edge technology, generative AI, and rich media to ensure that our content is not only impactful but also engaging and experiential for learners," said DJ Chadha, Chief Customer Officer at NIIT MTS. (Disclaimer: NIIT MTS does not have any relation with the awarding agency and has nothing to do with the process and screening of the awards.)

About NIIT Learning Systems Limited (NIIT MTS) NIIT MTS is the trusted talent and L&D partner for the world's leading companies in over 30 countries. Established in 1981, NIIT MTS offers award-winning managed learning services and strategic consulting services that are designed to solve the most complex challenges in talent, skills, and workforce transformation.

Our high-impact managed learning solutions weave together the best of learning theory, technology, operations, and services to enable a thriving workforce. Our comprehensive suite of Managed Learning Services includes Custom Content and Curriculum Design, Learning Delivery, Learning Administration, Strategic Sourcing, and Learning Technology. We also provide specialized learning solutions including Generative AI-Based Learning, Immersive Learning, Customer Education Services, HCM Technology and Consulting Services, Leadership and Professional Skills Training, Digital and IT Training, and Talent Pipeline as a Service.

NIIT MTS's strategic consulting links organizational strategy with workforce needs, leveraging expertise from the St. Charles Consulting Group. Our consulting services cover Talent Strategy, Business Alignment, Talent Acquisition, Learning Transformation, Employee Experience, Leadership, and Learning Technology.

With a Net Promoter Score of 9/10 and a 100% renewal rate, NIIT MTS helps leading companies transform and reimagine their learning ecosystems while increasing the business value and impact of learning.

Visit us at www.niitmts.com or write to us at businessimpact@niit.com. Follow us on X @NIITMTS.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

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NewsVoir

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], May 31: Salloni Ghodawat, Director of Sanjay Ghodawat Group and COO of Ghodawat Consumer Limited, has been honored with the prestigious ET Ascent Emerging Leaders Award at the ET Emerging Leaders Conclave 2024 held in Mumbai. The award was presented by Raveena Tandon, a renowned actress and a recipient of the Padma Shri Award. The award recognizes individuals who demonstrate exceptional leadership skills and a strong commitment to driving their organizations and industries forward.

Also Read | Heatwave in Bihar: 10 Poll Personnel Among 14 Dead in State Due to Heatstroke.

Ghodawat Consumer Limited has established a distinctive brand identity in the FMCG market and is known for its commitment to product innovation, customer-centricity, and quality. The company started its operations with the manufacturing of edible oils, and since then has expanded its product portfolio to staples, impulse products, and beverages, catering to the everyday needs of consumers. The diversified product range includes 'Star' brand atta, edible oil, pulses, rice, salt, snacks, diverse namkeens, water, and 'To Be Honest', a healthy snack made with real fruits and vegetables. Besides, beverages such as Fizzinga, Frustar, and Coolberg have earned significant popularity among consumers, with Coolberg setting new benchmarks in the non-alcoholic beer segment.

Salloni Ghodawat expressed her gratitude, stating, "I am honored to be recognized by ET Emerging Leaders Conclave 2024. This award acknowledges the team's industrious attitude, consistent devotion, and inventive mindset, all of which have been instrumental in our journey. Seeing our work recognized on such a renowned platform is extremely rewarding. I am grateful to The Economic Times for this acknowledgment, as well as to everyone who has helped us along the way. We are thrilled by this recognition, which motivates us to continue pushing the boundaries of innovation and excellence."

Also Read | Heatwave in Uttar Pradesh: Five People Killed in State Due to Adverse Weather Conditions in Last 24 Hours.

Through its continuous dedication to excellence and consumer satisfaction, Ghodawat Consumer Ltd. remains committed to its mission of delivering high-quality products and setting industry benchmarks for innovation. The company is excited to continue its journey of success and growth in the dynamic FMCG landscape.

Ghodawat Consumer Ltd. is the FMCG arm of the Sanjay Ghodawat Group. GCL has focused on constant product innovation, customer-centricity, affordability, and quality, creating a unique brand identity for itself. GCL started its journey by manufacturing edible oils and with increasing consumer acceptance, trust, and notable success, the company was encouraged to expand and diversify its product portfolio to include staples, impulse, home-care, and personal care categories. GCL has recently achieved a momentous milestone of 1,600 Crore.

(ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Hyderabad, May 31 (PTI) BJP held a dharna here on Friday demanding that the Congress government in Telangana hand over the probe into the alleged "phone-tapping" during the previous BRS regime to the CBI.

Addressing the protest, BJP Rajya Sabha member K Laxman said the confession statements of police officers in the phone-tapping issue is surprising to the whole country.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024 Exit Poll Results: Akhilesh Yadav Asks Samajwadi Party Workers To Remain Vigilant Against BJP's Lies, Exit Polls.

The Telangana society is seeking an answer from Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on why he has adopted an inactive stance though the police officers have made "everything clear" in their confession statements, he claimed.

"The intelligence (wing) is supposed to help in maintaining law and order and for national security. The confession statements of officers show how intelligence was used against opposition leaders or for selfish politics. It also shows how 50 officers across the state were used, how it was against telegraph act and without the permissions of Union Home Ministry. It also shows how equipment was brought from foreign countries," he said.

Also Read | Delhi Fire Video: Massive Blaze Erupts in Gas Pipeline at Residential Complex in Saket, No Casualty Reported.

The alleged destruction of intelligence information regarding Left Wing Extremism and anti-terror measures by the officers involved in phone-tapping shows the lack of sincerity towards society and the country, he alleged.

Claiming that the officers mentioned the names of former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and former minister T Harish Rao in their confession statements, Laxman asked why Revanth Reddy is still not acting decisively in the matter.

"Why you (Revanth Reddy) are compromising today? Is it because of pressure of your Delhi leaders or your Congress high command has made any clandestine understanding with KCR," he asked.

BJP demands action against the main players who were behind the scenes in the phone-tapping issue. The party would fight politically till those who are responsible are punished, said Laxman, who is also national president of BJP's OBC Morcha.

Revanth Reddy should order a CBI investigation into the issue, he demanded.

Referring to the alleged confession statement of an ex-police official that former CM KCR wanted to use the "BRS MLAs" poaching case to force BJP into a compromise to get rid of the ED case against his daughter and MLC K Kavitha, Laxman deplored the alleged action of KCR and BRS.

As per former Deputy Commissioner of Police P Radha Kishan Rao's confessional statement, one of the accused in the phone tapping case, 'Peddayana'-- an indirect reference to Bharat Rashtra Samithi chief K Chandrasekar Rao (KCR) -- wanted the arrest of BJP National General Secretary, Organisation, B L Santhosh in connection with alleged attempt to poach his party MLAs.

BJP had earlier petitioned Telangana Governor C P Radhakrishnan seeking a CBI investigation into the phone-tapping issue.

BRS had denied all the allegations made in the confessional statement, according to senior BRS leader and former MP Vinod Kumar.

(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 31 (PTI) A 28-year-old cab driver has been stabbed to death in northeast Delhi's Shastri Park area, police said on Friday.

Police were informed about an injured person at 11:50 pm on Thursday and a team was sent to the area, they said.

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Johar Abbas, a resident of Shastri Park, was taken to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, police said.

He had stab wounds to his forehead, wrist and chest, they said and added that a search has been launched to nab the perpetrators.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Woman Thrashes Husband, Gives Him Electric Shock for Taking Away Her Phone in Mainpuri; Case Registered.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Guwahati (Assam) [India], May 31 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma thanked Union Home Minister Amit Shah for assuring complete support of the Centre in these trying times as the state witnesses natural disasters triggered by Cyclone Remal.

The chief minister said that Amit Shah spoke to him on the phone to enquire about the flood situation in various parts of the state.

Also Read | Uttarakhand: Man From West Bengal Allegedly Dies of Heart Attack During Dhumdhar Kandi Trek in Uttarkashi.

https://x.com/himantabiswa/status/1796501446508290484

In a post on X, CM Biswa said, "Hon'ble Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji telephoned me to enquire about the flood situation in various parts of Assam, following the impact of Cyclone Remal. He has assured us the complete support of the Government of India in these trying times. We are grateful for his proactive efforts."

Also Read | Taj Hotel Bomb Threat: Man Arrested From Uttar Pradesh for Making Threat Call To Blow Up Taj Hotel, Mumbai Airport.

The flood situation in Assam on Thursday has deteriorated, as nearly 2 lakh people, including 36,000 children from 9 districts of the state have been affected in the deluge.

According to the reports of Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), one female died in the Lala revenue circle area in Hailakandi district after she drowned in flood waters.

Over 1.02 lakh people have been affected alone in Cachar district, while nearly 37,000 people have been affected in Karimganj district, 22354 people in Nagaon district, 22058 people in Hojai district, and 14308 people in Hailakandi district.

386 villages under 22 revenue circles in Nagaon, Hojai, Cachar, Karimganj, Hailakandi, Golaghat, Karbi Anglong, West Karbi Anglong, and Dima Hasao districts have been affected by the flood.

The flood waters submerged 3238.8 hectares of crop area in the flood-hit districts.The administration has set up 110 relief camps and distribution centres in 9 flood-hit districts, where 35640 people took shelter.

More than 2.34 lakh domestic animals have also been affected. The flood report of ASDMA stated that, on Thursday, the flood waters damaged 13 roads and breached one embankment in Karimganj district.

The water level of the Kopili River at Kampur in Nagaon district is flowing above the danger level mark. (ANI)

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New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) Delhi Police has booked a fugitive gangster Himanshu Bhau and his gang members under the stringent MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act) for running a syndicate of extortions and giving threat to the businessmen in Delhi, officials on Friday said.

Bhau, 21, hailing from Haryana's Rohtak, is facing over 50 cases of murder, attempt to murder, extortion, threat and arms act in Delhi, Haryana and Punjab. Presently, he is suspected to be staying in Spain and running the syndicate from there, they said.

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Three of his associates were involved in opening fires at a second hand luxury car showroom in west Delhi's Tilak Nagar area on May 6, police said. In this incident, no one was hit with the bullet but seven people were injured due to broken glasses of the showroom in the shooting.

On May 7, the showroom owner received a threatening call from international VoIP number and the caller claimed himself as Himanshu Bhau and demanded a ransom of Rs five crore from him.

Also Read | Monsoon 2024: Southwest Monsoon Advances Into Remaining Parts of Northeast Bay of Bengal, Says IMD Forecast.

A case of attempt to murder and extortion was registered by the local police, which was later transferred to the crime branch.

Additional Commissioner of Police (crime) Sanjay Bhatia said it was found during investigation that the syndicate of Himanshu Bhau and his associates was indulged in continuing unlawful activity for the gain of pecuniary benefits.

Hence, MCOCA has been instituted against his gang and further investigation is being carried out, Bhatia said.

The officer said Bhau indulged in crime cases from his teenage and fled to Dubai using a forged passport in 2022. He has been running his syndicate from oversees country by changing locations from one nation to other.

Earlier, the agencies had traced his location in Portugal.

Having backed by Punjab's notorious Bambiha gang, Bhau is having associations with Delhi's jailed gangsters Neeraj Bawana and Naveen Bali, another officer said.

Interpol issued a red corner notice against him in 2023. PTI ALK

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Mumbai, May 31: The Mumbai Sessions Court on Friday dismissed the anticipatory bail plea filed by Jhanvi Marathe, former director of Ego Media in connection with the Ghatkopar hoarding collapse in Maharashtra. Marathe, who has been declared 'absconding' by the Mumbai Crime Branch, moved the court to secure relief from arrest in the hoarding collapse case. The bail plea was opposed in court by the Mumbai Police Crime Branch. Mumbai Police has started searching for the accused.

The officials told the court that the paperwork for the collapsed hoarding was done during Marathe's tenure (2020 to December 2023), before the current director Bhavesh Bhide took charge. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Mumbai Crime Branch has recorded the statements of 20 people in connection with the case so far. Earlier in the day, the Mumbai Crime Branch made a second arrest in connection with the case. Manoj Ramkrishna Sanghu (47), who is on the BMC-approved engineer's list, was arrested for approving the structural stability certificate on April 24, 2023. Sanghu allegedly provided the structural stability certificate to EGO Media Private LTD for the collapsed hoarding. Ghatkopar Hoarding Crash Case: Structural Engineer Arrested for Giving Stability Certificate for Hoarding

Seventeen people died and 74 were left injured in the incident that happened on May 13 amid strong winds and heavy rains in Mumbai. Bhavesh Bhide, director of Ego Media, was arrested by the Mumbai Crime Branch from Udaipur in Rajasthan last week and brought to Mumbai. The officials added that police are investigating how Bhide was awarded the hoarding contract and how much he earned. Ghatkopar Hoarding Crash Case: Mumbai Court Extends Ad Firm Director Bhavesh Bhinde's Police Custody Till May 29

Mumbai Police registered a case under IPC sections 304, 338, 337, and 34 against Bhavesh Bhide and others at Pantnagar police station. Following the incident, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner stated that Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had ordered all hoardings to be checked.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Indore, May 31 (PTI) A Mumbai resident has been apprehended at Madhya Pradesh's Indore airport with about 80 grams of gold coated with rhodium concealed in a mobile charger and earpods, an official said on Friday.

Acting on a tip, Customs officials recently intercepted Mohammad Arif Gama Sheikh (23) after he arrived at the Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport here from Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.

Also Read | PM Narendra Modi Meditates at Swami Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanniyakumari, To Continue Meditation Till June 1 (See Pics and Video).

A search of his belongings led to the discovery of 80.29 grams of gold, worth about Rs 6 lakh, plated with rhodium hidden in a mobile charger and earpods, the official said.

The official said that both the equipment were found to be working.

Also Read | Tamil Nadu Gas Cylinder Blast: Six Injured, Two Shops Gutted After LPG Cylinder Explodes at Samosa Shop on North Radha Road in Tirunelveli.

Gold appears very shiny, resembling silver, after it is coated with rhodium. This method is often used to dodge law enforcement agencies and smuggle the yellow metal from abroad, he said.

He said a foreign-made laptop and two expensive mobile phones were also recovered from Sheikh.

(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 31 (ANI): The Siddaramaiah-led Karnataka government on Friday issued an order for handing over the corruption case of Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation to a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

The corruption case of Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation came to light after an official of the Corporation died by suicide and left a note containing an allegation of multi-crore corruption in the corporation.

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The official identified as Chandrasekaran (45), a resident of the Kenchappa colony in Vinobanagar, allegedly died by suicide on May 26 after leaving a note containing an allegation of multi-crore corruption in the corporation. Chandrasekaran was a superintendent with the MVDC and was posted at its Bengaluru office.

In a six-page suicide note recovered by police, Chandrasekaran mentioned the names of three officials and alleged corruption worth crores in the corporation, demanding action against the named officials.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Cash, Liquor, Drugs Worth Rs 440.32 Crore Seized in West Bengal Ahead of Last Phase of Polling.

A case has been registered in this regard at the Vinobanagar police station. On Wednesday, a team from the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Karnataka police inspected Chandrasekaran's residence. The team found the deceased official's bag, which included a pen drive and laptop, among other items.

His wife, Kavitha, said that the name of MD Padmanabhan of Valmiki Corporation was on the pen drive.

The matter has led to political outrage, with the BJP attacking the state government.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader CN Ashwath Narayan slammed the Karnataka government on Friday, calling it non-functional for its 'inability to take action' over Maharishi Valmiki Corporation official's death and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Speaking to the media here, the former deputy chief minister of Karnataka said, "Probably in the history of India, pre-independence or post-independence such a kind of scam where directly drawing of money, transferring of money or opening of an account to benami accounts is really surprising."

"And to expose this scam, an officer has to lose his life. In his death note, he mentioned how this government has been functioning, how the minister has been involved, and this government, how is officially involved. The Chief Minister is directly accountable since he is the finance minister," said Ashwath Narayan.

Adding further, he said, "Even after 5 days, the Chief Minister has not taken action, the minister should have been arrested. The government is completely non-functional. The Chief Minister should resign."

Earlier, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the Home Minister and Chief Minister have already ordered for an inquiry and whoever may have done this, will be punished.

"We have got the death note. The Home Minister and Chief Minister have already ordered an inquiry, and we have taken it seriously to investigate it. Whoever may have done this, will be punished," he said.

Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra demanded a transparent investigation into the officer's death.

Karnataka Minister B Nagendra said that the action will be taken based on the CID and FSL report. (ANI)

(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 31 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader CN Ashwath Narayan slammed the Karnataka government on Friday, calling it non-functional for its 'inability to take action' over Maharishi Valmiki Corporation official's death and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

Speaking to the media here, the former deputy chief minister of Karnataka said, "Probably in the history of India, pre-independence or post-independence such a kind of scam where directly drawing of money, transferring of money or opening of an account to benami accounts is really surprising."

Also Read | Monsoon 2024: Southwest Monsoon Advances Into Remaining Parts of Northeast Bay of Bengal, Says IMD Forecast.

"And to expose this scam, an officer has to lose his life. In his death note, he mentioned how this government has been functioning, how the minister has been involved, and this government, how is officially involved. The Chief Minister is directly accountable since he is the finance minister," said Ashwath Narayan.

Adding further he said, "Even after 5 days, the Chief Minister has not taken action, the minister should have been arrested. The government is completely non-functional. The Chief Minister should resign."

Also Read | Cyclone Remal: Amit Shah Speaks With Chief Ministers of States Affected by Cyclone Aftermath; Briefs PM Narendra Modi on Situation.

Chandrasekaran (45), a resident of the Kenchappa colony in Vinobanagar, allegedly died by suicide on May 26 after leaving a note containing an allegation of multi-crore corruption in the corporation. Chandrasekaran was a superintendent with the MVDC and was posted at its Bengaluru office.

Earlier in the day, Karnataka Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa visited the residence of Chandrasekhar.

The minister said that the state government would help the family to get justice for the victim.

"I visited Chandrasekhar's residence as per the instruction of the Chief Minister. The government has said that it will do whatever kind of help it needs, and it will do justice. I will do whatever cooperation is required from the government, I will do whatever work is required from my side," Bangarappa told reporters after visiting the family.

"Such an incident should not happen, the investigation is going on, let the investigation be done, and those who have done wrong should be punished," he added.

Meanwhile, the Crime Investigation Department on Wednesday inspected Chandrasekaran's residence.

Chandrasekaran's bag was found during evidence verification. A pen drive, laptop, and other items were found in the bag. His wife Kavitha said that the name of MD Padmanabhan of Valmiki Corporation was on the pen drive.

The family members asked what was in the pen drive, but the officers did not show it. Officers informed that they had to come to the police station after half an hour to sign the confiscated items.

The family members of Chandrasekaran said that this action of the authorities raised suspicion.

Earlier, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar said that the Home Minister and Chief Minister have already ordered for an inquiry and whoever may have done this, will be punished."We have got the death note. The Home Minister and Chief Minister have already ordered an inquiry, and we have taken it seriously to investigate it. Whoever may have done this, will be punished," he said.

Chandrasekaran allegedly wrote a six-page suicide note before dying suicide on Sunday evening. He also mentioned the names of three officials in the death note and revealed the secret of multi-crore corruption. A case has been registered in this regard at Vinobanagar police station.

Chandrasekaran's suicide has led to a loud political row in the state with the BJP targeting the state government.

Karnataka BJP chief BY Vijayendra demanded a transparent investigation into the officer's death.

Karnataka Minister B Nagendra said that the action will be taken based on the CID and FSL report. (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 31 (ANI): The Lok Sabha Secretariat is ready to welcome members of the eighteenth Lok Sabha.

Several measures have been taken to welcome the members and ensure their seamless registration. Secretary-General, Lok Sabha, Utpal Kumar Singh, inspected the preparations on Friday and is monitoring the arrangements on a day-to-day basis.

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The secretariat is also making arrangements for a seamless and paperless registration process. To reduce the paperwork and make the registration formalities of members seamless, the registration process of the newly elected members shall be done through an online integrated software application.

Members would not be required to sign multiple physical forms with various branches. This would save a substantial amount of time for members. The integrated software application not only captures the bio profile data of the MP but also includes a solution for the issuance of Parliament Identity Cards based on Facial and Biometric Capturing and a solution for the issuance of CGHS cards to members and spouses.

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To minimise complications arising out of the multi-desk approach of the past, all formalities relating to registration, nominations, transit accommodation, and a host of other matters are proposed to be completed with minimum movement of members.

The Secretariat has made arrangements from 2 pm on June 4 and the process will remain operational from 8 am to 8 pm on June 5 to 14, including on Saturdays and Sundays. Earlier, the registration of newly elected members used to take place in the old Parliament House building (now Samvidhan Sadan). This time, the Secretariat has made such arrangements in the Parliament House Annexe.

As many as 20 digital registration counters with as many computers, 10 each in the banquet hall and private dining room (PDR), have been set up in the Parliament House Annexe. These counters have been set up for the end-to-end registration process.

Each counter has been equipped with a desktop with a double-sided screen, printer-cum-scanner, biometric, and a tab for getting signatures. There are separate counters for clicking photographs and for facial recognition. Additionally, arrangements have also been made for the simultaneous opening of SBI bank accounts, and issuing of permanent Identity Card, and Central Government Health Scheme Cards to the newly elected Members on the spot.

While welcoming the Members, the Secretariat will provide each Member with a set of publications relating to the Constitution of India, Rules, Directions, and some other useful publications in hard copies. Besides, a few other publications will be provided to members in soft versions.

A waiting area has been provided for family members and guests of the MPs at the Banquet Hall in the Extension to Parliament House Annexe. In case more guests arrive, the spillover will be seated in a nearby committee room.

A total of 70 Officers/Officials have been trained to man the registration counter in shifts. The Liaison Officers (Los) have also been imparted training to make data entry through the tabs while the MPs are waiting in the designated waiting area (Banquet Hall in EPHA building). The intent is to minimise the registration time for MPs while they are in Parliament Complex for registration.

Videos on the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Parliament Building, Inauguration of the Parliament Building, and Multimedia Devices, have been kept ready for playing in the Banquet Hall, Committee Room 1 and 2 EPHA for the Members.

A team has been assigned the task of keeping a close tab on the Election Commission website on the day of the declaration of results and to enter the contact details of successful candidates in near real-time. The team using a software application would be able to check whether the successful candidate is a new MP or a re-elected MP.

The same information would be shared with Liaison Officers (Los) through software application to make further data entry of their tour programmes. The dashboard would be available for the stakeholders to get updated information in near real-time. An endeavor has been made to deploy LOs from the same region/language to facilitate members and ensure faster communication.

The LOs have been briefed to reach out to the Members, specifically newly elected Members, to sensitise them to bring specific set of documents. Members will also be requested to forward certain information either through email at "computercentrelss@sansad.nic.in" or in hard copy to Los.

Transit accommodation in the Western Court Annexe/Hostel or State/UT Bhawans/Guest Houses shall be provided to newly elected Members who are not already in possession of Government accommodation in Delhi/New Delhi till they are provided regular accommodation by the House Committee, Lok Sabha.

In a progressive stride from past practices, a software based computerized system for the allotment of Transit Accommodation to Members of the 18th Lok Sabha in the Western Court Annexe/Hostel or State/UT Bhawans/Guest Houses has been implemented.

Accommodation desks have been set up at Parliament House Complex to allot/change transit accommodation to the newly elected Members. The services of the accommodation desk will be available 24X7.

Guideposts have been set up at all three domestic terminals at IGI Airport and Railway Stations at Delhi, New Delhi, Nizamuddin and Anand Vihar (from June 4 to 9 - tentative) to receive elected Members of 18th Lok Sabha and to render them necessary help/services that they may require.

The Guideposts at Airports/Railway Station(s) will function on June 4 (6.00 pm to 11.00 pm) (one shift) and from June 5 to 9 (from 5.00 am to 2.00 pm and 2.00 pm to 11.00 pm. (in two shifts). The Officers/staff of Lok Sabha Secretariat have been deployed to perform duties at Guideposts at Airport and Railway Station(s).

Transport facilities will also be available at Airports/Railway Station(s) for ferrying Members to Parliament House Complex/State Bhawan/Guest House(s) as the case may be.

CGHS Medical Posts will function on 24X7 basis in North Avenue and South Avenue and near Western Court Annexe/Hostel at Telegraph lane to extend Medical facilities to the Members. In addition, Ambulance services will also be available 24X7. In case of any medical emergency/sudden illness of Member(s), the nearby hospitals have also been sensitised. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Mumbai, May 31: A caller who recently threatened to bomb the airport and Taj Hotel in Mumbai has been arrested from Uttar Pradesh, police said on Friday. The accused has been identified as Arvind Rajput. Police said that the motive behind the threat is yet to be ascertained. "His mobile phone has been seized," police said. Further investigation is underway. Mumbai Bomb Threat: City Police Get Bomb Hoax Calls at Airport and Hotel Taj Mahal

Mumbai Police on Monday said that it received a threat call in which a caller mentioned that bombs had been placed at the Taj Hotel and at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in the city. Police carried out searches at the premises but nothing suspicious was found. This comes days after the Mumbai Police control room received a bomb threat call in which the caller informed the cops that there would be a blast at McDonald's located in Dadar, police said on Sunday. Bomb Threat in Bengaluru: High Alert in City As Luxury Hotel in IT Corridor Gets Threatening Email (See Pics)

Police said the caller mentioned that while travelling in a bus, he overheard a conversation between two people who were talking about "blowing up McDonald's".Police further added that they did not find any suspicious objects at the spot. Earlier, the Delhi police said on Wednesday that the Police Control Room in North Block, which houses the Ministry of Home Affairs received a bomb threat mail.This comes after several schools in Delhi-NCR, Jaipur, Uttar Pradesh and Bengaluru had received bomb threats via emails, creating a panic situation.However, all threat emails to schools turned out to be hoaxes.

(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 31 (ANI): BJP leader Shaina NC hit out at the INDIA bloc for their criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi meditating at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanniyakumari till June 1. She said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is meditating just for the success of Bharat and the people of India.

Shaina NC said, "If the PM chooses to meditate, the opposition has a problem. If he chooses to speak, the opposition has a problem. This is not the first time he has gone for meditation. In 2019, he went to Kedarnath. In 2014, he went to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's Pratapgarh where he got his inspiration from. Here in Kanniyakumari, we know it's not just a symbolic gesture, but there is a huge inspiration which one draws from Swami Vivekananda. PM Narendra Modi is just meditating for the success of Bharat and the people of India."

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She further asked that when elections are over then where is the question of the Model Code of Conduct.

She further said, "When the elections are over, what is this cry of Model Code of Conduct. If the most hard-working Prime Minister in the history of India chooses to take one day off to meditate for the people of India and the prosperity of India, then the opposition has a problem with that."

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Earlier, the Congress filed a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging that PM Narendra Modi's two-day meditation retreat in Kanniyakumari would violate the '48-hour silence period provision' of the Model Code of Conduct ahead of the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha polling.

Prime Minister Modi is in Kanniyakumari on a spiritual visit. He is meditating at the Dhyan Mandapam, the place where revered Hindu philosopher Swami Vivekananda is believed to have had a divine vision about 'Bharat Mata'. He will continue his meditation till June 1.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday offered prayers at Bhagavathy Amman Temple in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, after the culmination of the Lok Sabha election campaign.

The Prime Minister is known to undertake spiritual journeys at the end of election campaigns. In line with this, he will reach Kanyakumari on May 30 and stay there till June 1. In 2019, he visited Kedarnath, and in 2014, he visited Shivaji's Pratapgarh.

The election for 543 Lok Sabha seats is being held in seven phases starting April 19. The counting of the votes will be held on June 4. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took stock of the situation in several states in the wake of natural disasters after Cyclone Remal struck.

He said in a post on X, "Unfortunately, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal have witnessed natural disasters in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal. My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected there.

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The prime minister added, "Took stock of the prevailing situation. The central government has assured all possible support to the states and is continuously monitoring the situation. Officials are working on the ground to assist those affected.

Home Minister Amit Shah also briefed Modi, who is currently in Kanyakumari on a spiritual sojourn, about the situation.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Ayushmann Khurrana Urges All to Exercise Their Voting Rights; Actor Heads to Hometown Chandigarh to Vote.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], May 31 (ANI): The District Election Officer of Gurdaspur has suspended six employees, including the Block Development and Panchayat Officer (BDPO) of Fatehgarh Churian, for failing to properly implement the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in the Fatehgarh Churian region, which falls under the Gurdaspur Lok Sabha seat, a release said.

Following a complaint from the Fatehgarh Churian MLA regarding the installation of interlocking tiles in a government park, an investigation was conducted. The complaint was found to be valid, prompting an immediate suspension of the involved officials.

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The suspended employees are Pargat Singh (BDPO), Kuljinder Singh (Village Development Officer), Major Singh (Panchayat Secretary), and William Masih, Sukhjit Singh, and Shamsher Singh (all Gram Rojgar Sevaks).

A spokesperson from the Chief Electoral Officer's (CEO) office confirmed the investigation's findings and mentioned that a notice had been issued to the District President (Rural) of Aam Aadmi Party Gurdaspur.

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Additionally, a letter has been sent to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) to register a case against the representatives responsible for the tile installation. The Director of Rural Development and Panchayats Department has been requested to take disciplinary action against Om Prakash (manager-cum-VDO, Kala Afgana) and Kuldeep Singh (Panchayat Secretary, Kala Afgana) for their failure to enforce the MCC.

Similarly, a case has been registered against Dilbagh Singh and Sukhwinder Singh on the complaint of distribution of cement benches in Baddowal Kalan village of Fatehgarh Churian.

CEO Sibin C appealed to all political parties and their representatives to ensure compliance with the MCC. He said that from the very first day of the implementation of the MCC, the entire administrative staff and the Police Department have been insisting that no code of conduct should be violated during the election campaign and to a large extent Punjab had been successful in this objective.

With polling just hours away, Sibin C appealed to all involved to ensure strict adherence to the MCC, aiming to set a positive example during this "festival of democracy." He also motivated election officers, employees, and security forces to uphold the MCC in the final phase of the Lok Sabha elections in 2024.

Voting for the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections and 42 assembly seats will conclude on June 1. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Srinagar, May 31: A Vistara flight bound for Srinagar, carrying 177 passengers and one infant received a bomb threat on Friday, prompting swift action by the airline and security forces. Flight no-UK-611, which departed from Delhi, landed safely at Srinagar Airport at approximately 12:10 AM. Following standard protocol for such threats, the aircraft was immediately directed to an isolation bay upon landing. Indigo Plane Bomb Scare: Bomb Threat Reported on Delhi-Varanasi Flight 6E2211 at Delhi's IGI Airport Turns Out To Be Hoax

"All passengers were safely de-boarded at the isolation bay. Currently, the aircraft is undergoing a thorough security check by the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of all concerned," an airport official told ANI. Despite the disruption, all passengers are reported to be safe, and the situation is being handled with the utmost priority to ensure their security. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Mumbai Bomb Threat: City Police Get Bomb Hoax Calls at Airport and Hotel Taj Mahal

Authorities are investigating the source of the bomb threat and taking all necessary measures to ensure the continued safety of air travel.

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New Delhi [India], May 31 (ANI): After being remanded to 14-day judicial custody, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar is planning to file a bail application in connection with the alleged assault on AAP Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal.

Advocate Sanjeev Nasiar, the head of Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) legal cell, said on Friday that an application will be filed for his bail in connection with the alleged assault on Swati Maliwal.

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"Bibhav Kumar has been sent to 14-day judicial custody. He will be kept in Tihar Jail. We will move the bail application soon. We are hopeful he will get bail in 2-4 days," Sanjeev Nasiar told ANI on Friday.

Earlier in the day, Delhi's Tiz Hazari court remanded Bibhav Kumar in 14-day judicial custody in connection with the alleged assault on Maliwal.

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Kumar was produced before the court after the three-day police custody granted on May 28 ended on Friday. He was arrested by the Delhi Police on May 18 in connection with the case.

While speaking to ANI on the case on Friday, AAP MP Swati Maliwal hit out at the party, alleging an attempt to portray her as a "villain" and Bibhav Kumar as a "hero" after she made assault allegations against him.

Maliwal alleged victim-shaming by the party, adding that her character was "maligned" and she was left "alone in the entire battle."

"Bibhav Kumar beat me up very badly in Arvind Kejriwal's drawing room, and as soon as I filed a complaint in this matter, the entire party's resources and leadership were used against me. Every day I was victim-shamed, my character was maligned," Maliwal told ANI on Friday.

She further pointed out Bibhav Kumar accompanying Kejriwal during his visit to Lucknow and Amritsar for campaigning in Lok Sabha polls.

"As soon as Delhi Police arrested Vibhav Kumar, Arvind Kejriwal himself and the entire party took to the streets to protest against his arrest. An attempt was made to portray that he is the hero and I am the villain," the AAP MP said.

Maliwal expressed confidence in the judiciary in the matter and said, "Today I have been left alone in this entire battle just because I have filed a complaint against Bibhav Kumar. I am fighting this battle alone and I will continue to fight till the end. Because I know that what I have said is the complete truth. In this entire battle, my only hope is from the court for justice."

Maliwal lodged a formal police complaint against Bibhav Kumar on May 14, a day after the alleged assault took place. A day later, Bibhav Kumar lodged a counter-complaint with the police, accusing Maliwal of gaining 'unauthorized entry' into the CM's Civil Lines residence and 'verbally abusing' him.

A case was filed against Bibhav Kumar, and a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the case based on Maliwal's complaint. Bibhav was arrested by the Delhi Police on May 19. (ANI)

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Amethi (Uttar Pradesh) [India], May 31 (ANI): Three people of the same family died and several were injured after a speeding uncontrolled trailer truck hit the vehicles standing at the railway crossing in Kamarouli police station area in Uttar Pradesh's Amethi, police said.

The incident occurred on Thursday evening. More than half a dozen vehicles were damaged in the accident.

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Upon receiving the information, the police reached the spot and took the injured to the hospital.

According to the police, the deceased belong to the same family and live near Para Bazaar in Sultanpur district.

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Further details are awaited.

Earlier, four people died in a collision between a bus and a vehicle on the Nakaha Shankarpur Highway of Kheri police station on Sunday, said police.

All the injured were rushed to a nearby hospital where six were said to be severely injured.

"This accident happened between a magic (mini vehicle) and a roadways bus... Four people have died, including a child. At least seven people are injured, including six severely injured," CO Sadar, Ramesh Tiwari, Lakhimpur Kheri said, while detailing the incident. (ANI)

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Gurugram, May 31 (PTI) Social media influencer Balwant alias Bobby Kataria, who has been arrested in a human trafficking case, sent 33 people abroad on the pretext of helping them secure jobs, police here said on Friday.

Kataria, who was arrested by the Gurugram police on Monday, was produced in a city court on Friday on the expiry of his three-day police remand and was sent to judicial custody, they added.

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The police had earlier recovered Rs 20 lakh cash and four mobile phones from his possession. During his police remand, two more mobile phones and nine passports were seized from Kataria, they said.

"Kataria confessed that he used to cheat people by luring them with jobs in foreign countries, and going abroad, the victims were forced to commit cyber fraud," said a senior police officer.

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Kataria along with his accomplice Manju Singh, who is yet to be arrested in the case, used to post job vacancies in foreign countries through their social media handles. They also used to charge some amount from the victims, the officer said.

"Kataria had opened offices in Gurugram, including Sikar (Rajasthan), Greater Faridabad and Nabha (Punjab) and he has so far sent 33 people abroad, of which 12 were sent to Armenia, 2 to Singapore, 4 to Bangkok, 3 to Canada and 12 to Laos," said Sub-Inspector Pramod Kumar, the investigating officer in the case.

"Of those sent to Laos, five have returned while seven are still there," Kumar added.

Varun Dahiya, ACP (Crime), said Kataria, who has over 3 lakh followers on Instagram, was in touch with one Ankit Shokeen, who is staying in Laos and asked the accused to send people there.

"We have sought the details of Kataria's bank accounts. He was sent to jail today, while further probe is underway. Other accused will be arrested soon," he said.

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Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) IT services major TCS on Friday said reverting to remote work is not the solution to deal with the incidents of sexual harassment and education is the best tool to tackle such issues at work.

TCS chairman N Chandrasekaran made these remarks while replying to shareholder queries on this aspect. In FY24, the number of sexual harassment cases filed by staffers in FY24 stood at 110 against 49 in the year-ago period.

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Chandrasekaran said that education is the best solution to reduce such incidents, and stressed that the number of incidents is not so high when compared with the company's 6-lakh strong employee base.

"I don't think we can go to remote working to solve this problem," Chandrasekaran, who also chairs the Tata Group, said.

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He said that the company wants to increase the composition of women employees to much higher than the current 36 per cent, and is laying a special focus on increasing their share in the senior management as well.

Making it clear that the company is not in the business of creating jobs for people, he said the focus is to create careers for candidates and build a strong institution in the process.

Apart from the 6 lakh employees, the company has 30,312 contract workers as well, he said, adding that the overall attrition of employees has come down.

Chandrasekaran said the capital expenditure of the company stood at Rs 2,650 crore in FY24, and is likely to go up in the coming years as spends on critical aspects normalize after the effects of the pandemic reduce.

The spends in FY24 included Rs 1,100 crore on technologies and Rs 1,550 crore on physical infrastructure which seems to have been incurred as the company got a larger number of people back to working from offices.

Chandrasekaran added that it spent an additional Rs 2,750 crore on research and innovation, which can also be deemed as technology spend.

Declining to give any specific business targets, Chandrasekaran said TCS will aim to better on its FY24 performance both in terms of revenue growth and profit margins.

"IT spending is not coming down, it is getting staggered as the world is going through uncertain times. Remember, the tech spend for all corporations globally will only increase," he said.

The company is desirous of completing the over Rs 15,000-crore BSNL 4G contract in FY25 itself, Chandrasekaran said, adding that over 10,000 sites have already been operationalised.

TCS is not impacted by the geopolitical events, and does not see any headwinds on the visa front as well, he said.

Replying to a question on potential tampering of electoral rolls in India, and whether the largest IT player would like to work on getting them right, Chandrasekaran replied in the affirmative, saying the company has always worked on critical projects.

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Washington, May 31 (PTI) Donald Trump on Thursday became the first former US president to be convicted of a felony as a grand jury in New York found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records.

The Biden Harris Campaign said no one is above the law while Trump said the verdict is a result of a rigged political system.

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Trump's sentencing is scheduled for July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he will be formally nominated as the party's presidential candidate against incumbent Joe Biden in the November elections.

This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. It's a rigged trial, a disgrace. They wouldn't give us a venue change. We were at 5 per cent or 6 per cent in this district, in this area. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial, said Trump shortly after the verdict was read.

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Trump is the presumptive presidential nominee of the Republican party.

The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people. And they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here. You have a Soros-backed DA, and the whole thing, we didn't do a thing wrong. I'm a very innocent man, and it's okay, I'm fighting for our country. I'm fighting for our Constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now, Trump said.

Trump alleged that this was done by the Biden administration to wound or hurt a political opponent.

And I think it's just a disgrace. And we'll keep fighting. We'll fight till the end, and we'll win because our country has gone to hell,' he said.

The Biden Harris campaign welcomed the jury's verdict. In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law, said Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director Michael Tyler.

Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his gain. But today's verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president, he said.

The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and r
Islamabad, May 31 (PTI) A top Pakistani court on Friday rejected a plea to conclude the case about the recovery of Kashmir poet Ahmad Farhad and directed authorities that he must first be produced before it.

Farhad had gone missing from Rawalpindi on May 14, prompting his wife, Urooj Zainab, a day later to file a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for tracing him.

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Farhad, known for his defiant poetry, was abducted from his house.

Earlier on Wednesday, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan informed the High Court that the poet was arrested and was in the custody of police of Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (PoK).

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The police from the PoK region said the poet was in its custody and a case had been registered against him in the Dhirkot area.

On Friday, IHC's Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani heard the case in the presence of Zainab's lawyers.

Additional Attorney General Munawwar Iqbal, who attended the hearing to represent the government, told the court that the poet was on physical remand till June 2 and that the family of the poet was allowed to meet him.

Iqbal then urged the court to wrap up the case of illegal confinement.

However, Farhad's lawyer argued that the poet's family went to Dhirkot Police Station in PoK but he was not found there. The family was later informed that the poet had been shifted to Muzaffarabad for a probe.

Justice Kayani, after hearing the arguments, rejected the plea to conclude the case and said that the case would be concluded on the day Farhad was produced before the court.

Later, the court adjourned the hearing till June 7.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Quetta [Pakistan], May 31 (ANI): Several people on Friday blocked Quetta Brewery Road to protest against the enforced disappearance of six Baloch students from Quetta and the police's failure to register an FIR, The Balochistan Post reported.

The abducted individuals belonged to Balochistan's Turbat area. Out of the six abducted individuals, four were released by the reported abductors, and two remain in prison.

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In a post on X, The Balochistan Post stated, "The Baloch Solidarity Committee blocked Quetta Brewery Road in protest against the forced disappearance of Baloch students from Quetta and the police's failure to file an FIR. It should be noted that five students belonging to Turbat were forcibly disappeared by the Pakistani forces from Quetta, One City, out of which others were released, but two are still missing."

A social activist who was present at the site said that the police rejected their reject to file an FIR. The activist added that the police's decision to not file an FIR indicates that these abductors are so powerful that no one is ready to take action against them.

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A social activist stated, "When we were they requesting they did not listen to us. Afterwards, when we were filing a First Information Report (FIR) we were straightaway rejected. The police had bluntly told us that they would not lodge an FIR in such a matter."

"This means that these abductors are so powerful that no one is ready to take action against them. Hence, the only way left with us is this roadblock. There were six students out of which four have been released and two still remain in custody," the activist added.

According to The Balochistan Post report, the social activist questioned the attitude of the police personnel regarding the matter.

A social activist said, "The local Station House Officer (SHO) was here some time ago and we had raised the same issue with him and now he is nowhere to be seen. We had also raised the same request with the Add. SHO and he openly expressed his inability and helplessness over the matter."

Earlier on May 26, the Baloch Yakjeheti Committee (BYC) raised concerns over the alarming rise in the number of enforced disappearances, calling it an endless cycle of pain for the Baloch community.

In the statement, the BYC also claimed that Pakistani law enforcement agencies in recent times have intensified the incidents of enforced disappearances especially in the Gwadar Area.

According to the BYC statement, enforced disappearances have plunged the entire Balochistan region into a cycle of trauma and suffering, causing endless anguish for the Baloch people. The rising number of enforced disappearances and fake arrests in Gwadar remains a grave concern, according to the statement. (ANI)

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Bishkek [Kyrgyzstan], May 31 (ANI/WAM): The United Arab Emirates participated in the 40th Plenary Session of the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (EAG), a FATF-Style Regional Body, in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

During the five-day plenary, which concludes today, Hamid AlZaabi, Director-General of the Executive Office of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (EO AML/CTF), who headed the UAE delegation, said that the country's participation in the EAG Plenary demonstrates its commitment to international cooperation as a reliable partner in the global fight against crime.

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AlZaabi explained, "The Eurasia Group and other FATF-Style Regional Bodies (FSRBs) play a crucial role in the global financial system by enhancing international cooperation and facilitating the exchange of expertise. Financial crime is a global challenge requiring a global response, and the UAE is committed to effective cooperation with all our partners."

He noted that by participating in these bodies, sharing typologies on critical issues like money laundering and the financing of terrorism, and supporting initiatives such as the EAG donors and Technical Assistance programme for Turkmenistan, collective efforts can more effectively combat financial crimes.

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AlZaabi also provided a detailed briefing to delegates on the UAE's latest developments in its fight against financial crime, emphasising the state's continued commitment to developing its national system.

He also presented a review of the most significant developments, such as the National Risk Assessment carried out by the EO AML/CTF in partnership with various federal and local authorities and the draft National Strategy for combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and the financing of proliferation for the period 2024-27. (ANI/WAM)

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United Nations, May 31 (PTI) Major Radhika Sen is a true leader and role model and her service is a true credit to the United Nations as a whole, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said, as he conferred a prestigious award on the Indian woman peacekeeper.

Major Sen, who served with the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), received the prestigious 2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award' from Guterres during a ceremony at the world body's headquarters on Thursday on the occasion of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

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Calling on the UN and member states to tap into the rich network created by the award, Major Sen expressed hope that one day a peacekeeper of another gender will be honoured with this prestigious award.

Gender-sensitive peacekeeping is everyone's business, not just us, the women. Peace begins with all of us in our beautiful diversity, Major Sen, who served in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) from March 2023 to April 2024 as the Commander of MONUSCO's Engagement Platoon for the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion (INDRDB), said.

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"A gender perspective in UN peacekeeping is essential for an effective, inclusive and sustainable peace process. Women and girls are disproportionately affected in conflict, facing increased risk and abuse. The need of the hour is to mainstream the women in nation-building, particularly in sectors of security and governance, she said.

As he presided over the Dag Hammarskjold Medal' and Military Gender Advocate of the Year' ceremony, Guterres said, Major Sen is a true leader and role model. Her service is a true credit to the United Nations as a whole. Please join me in congratulating Major Radhika Sen of India. I could not be prouder to confer her with the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.

Guterres noted that as commander of the Indian contingent's engagement platoon, Major Sen led her unit on countless patrols. During these patrols, in an escalating conflict environment in North Kivu, her troops actively engaged with conflict-affected communities, including particularly women and girls. She earned their trust  doing so with humility, compassion, and dedication.

Born in Himachal Pradesh in 1993, Major Sen joined the Indian Army eight years ago. She graduated as a biotech engineer and was pursuing her Master's degree from IIT Bombay when she decided to join the armed forces.

Earlier, Major Sen started her remarks at the ceremony, by saying she is deeply honoured and humbled to accept the award on behalf of her colleagues in MONUSCO and my home country, India.

Stating that the engagement team served as the face of the contingent within the community, tirelessly striving to reach out to every segment of the DRC population, Major Sen said, her team had the opportunity to engage with the communities on topics ranging from women's health, education, child care to gender equality, women employment and combating sexual violence in conflict, along with interactions on various skill development programmes to foster self-reliance.

Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix congratulated Major Sen for receiving the award, as he said that during the years she served in MONUSCO, she always kept women at the centre of her work in line with the vision of resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

Lauding her outstanding service in DR Congo, India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said that her dedication and bravery highlight the invaluable role of #women peacekeepers in building a better world. We are incredibly proud of her achievements and inspired by her commitment to peace and equality.

Major Sen is the second Indian peacekeeper to receive the prestigious award after Major Suman Gawani, who had served with the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and was honoured in 2019.

Created in 2016, the United Nations 'Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award' recognises the dedication and efforts of an individual military peacekeeper in promoting the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

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Washington, May 31 (AP) A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation Friday targeting Iranian officials involved in the prosecution and death sentence of a rapper who came to fame for his lyrics about the 2022 death of an Iranian woman and his criticism of the Islamic Republic.

The proposal would impose sanctions on the judges, prosecutors and investigators of Iran's Revolutionary Courts in response to Tehran's continuing crackdown against dissenters  including rapper Toomaj Salehi  after years of mass protests in the country. It would also codify into law that the US views any judgments issued by Iran's courts against political prisoners as violations of human rights.

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Toomaj Salehi has used his platform to give a voice to the voiceless and bravely speak out against the Iran regime's torture, abuse, and crackdown against the free will of the Iranian people," Rep Young Kim, R-Calif, one of the bill's lead sponsors, said in a statement to The Associated Press. Unfortunately, he is just the latest victim of the regime's cruelty.

She added that the bill  titled the TOOMAJ Act  will allow the US to stand side by side with Toomaj and other peaceful protesters demanding basic human rights and take targeted action against the Iran regime.

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It marks the latest congressional action against the Islamic Republic in recent months as Democratic and Republican lawmakers have united in decrying the country's human rights record as well as its role in the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, including the Israel-Hamas war.

Leading the legislative effort with Kim are Reps David Trone, D-Md, Mike Lawler, R-NY, and Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

News of the death sentence ordered against 33-year-old Salehi by a Revolutionary Court in Isfahan, a central Iranian city, came down in late April. A lawyer for the rapper confirmed the sentence to The Associated Press as Iranian officials have yet to publicly announce it.

Salehi's lawyer, Amir Raisian, told AP last month that he planned to file an appeal in his client's case. The sentencing comes months after the artist was released from prison in mid-November after spending more than a year in custody.

He faces charges, including spreading corruption on the Earth that his supporters say stem from the hip-hop artist's music and participation in the protests that broke out in Iran over the September 2022 death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the country's morality police after being detained for wearing her hijab too loosely.

United Nations investigators have said that Iran was responsible for Amini's death and that it violently put down largely peaceful protests in a monthslong security crackdown that killed more than 500 people and saw over 22,000 detained.

Salehi was arrested again a few weeks after his release following a video message that he posted about being tortured during his time in prison. State media at the time released a video showing him blindfolded and apologizing for his words.

He had put out several songs and music videos where he rapped about Amini, singing in one video, "Someone's crime was dancing with her hair in the wind. His music also veered into heavy criticism of the Islamic regime, going as far as predicting the downfall of Iran's theocracy.

Your whole past is dark, the government that took the light out of the eyes. ... We go from the bottom of the pyramid and knock to the top. ... Forty-four years of your government, this is the year of failure," one verse said.

Other targets of his music have included the all-volunteer Basij wing of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Toomaj Salehi was wrongfully sentenced to death by the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Iran. His crime? Calling for accountability for the Iranian regime through music," Schiff said in a statement. (AP)

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Singapore, May 31 (AP) Government leaders, defence officials and diplomats from around the world are gathering in Singapore for Asia's premier security forum this weekend, at a time of increasing tension and competition for influence between the US and China in the Indo-Pacific region.

Beijing in recent years has been rapidly expanding its navy and is becoming growingly assertive in pressing its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, which has led to an increasing number of direct conflicts with other countries in the region, most notably the Philippines and Vietnam.

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The US, meantime, has been ramping up military exercises in the region with its allies to underscore its free and open Indo-Pacific concept, meant to emphasise freedom of navigation through the contested waters, including the Taiwan Strait.

China also claims the democratic self-governing island of Taiwan, and has said it would not rule out using force to take it.

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Since territorial hostilities with China surged last year in the South China Sea, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s administration has taken steps to forge new security alliances with a number of Asian and Western countries and allowed a US military presence in more Philippine bases under a 2014 defence pact.

Marcos opens this year's Shangri-La Dialogue, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, with a keynote address on Friday.

This week, Marcos already expressed concerns over a new law issued by China giving its coast guard license to seize foreign ships that illegally enter China's territorial waters and to detain foreign crews for up to 60 days. The same law also made new reference to 2021 legislation that says China's coast guard can fire upon foreign ships if necessary.

With Philippines ships now regularly confronted by the Chinese, there are concerns that a low-level confrontation could lead to an escalation, said Eugene Tan, a professor of international law at the Singapore Management University.

I don't think these countries are really looking to go to war with each other, but the concern with these skirmishes is that sometimes when you have a miscalculation, then things could rapidly deteriorate into the use of force, he said.

And I think the last thing that countries in the region would want, particularly as they focus on the post-pandemic recovery, would be to have a regional conflict at the doorstep.

This year's conference comes just a week after China held massive military drills around Taiwan, staging a simulated blockade of the island after it inaugurated a new government that refuses to accept Beijing's insistence that the island is part of China.

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province that must come under its control, by force if necessary.

The US, like most countries, does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is bound by its own laws to provide the island with the means to defend itself. The US called China's military exercises reckless".

Bilateral contact between the American and Chinese militaries broke down in 2022 after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, infuriating Beijing.

That has slowly been re-established in recent months, and US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun, who are both attending the Shangri-La dialogue, were expected to meet with each other on Friday even before the forum begins.

It will be the first face-to-face meeting the two have had since direct talks broke down, though they have spoken previously by phone.

Tan said he wouldn't expect any breakthroughs from the talks, but that it was important that the two were in direct contact to reduce the temperature between the two countries.

We would probably be expecting too much of the Shangri-La dialogue to expect any sort of concrete moves forward, he said. The Shangri-La dialogue is really providing the opportunity for very incremental steps in trust and confidence building.

Austin is due to address the forum on Saturday morning, while Dong will on Sunday, the final day. (AP)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who has been roped in by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to encourage young voters to participate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, will travel to his hometown Chandigarh to cast his vote on June 1. I completely believe in the fact that everyone must participate in the electoral process and exercise their right to vote. We must all contribute in choosing the leaders who would represent us in the Parliament for the next five years, thus participating in nation-building, Ayushmann told IANS. Ayushmann Khurrana and Sara Ali Khan Roped In for Dharma Productions' Untitled Action-Comedy Helmed by Aakash Kaushik.

He said it is very important for each and every individual to vote. The actor feels honoured and humbled that the Election Commission of India roped him in to encourage the youth of India to vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. We are a young nation and the youth must participate in how India shapes up in the next five years, he said.

Ayushmann urged the people from Chandigarh to go out and vote. I am travelling all the way to my hometown Chandigarh to vote and I really urge the people from my city and places where the election is happening on June 1, to please reach the polling booths to cast their votes, the actor added. Let's all be the architects of our future and let us show the world the strength of our democracy. Time 100 Gala: Ayushmann Khurrana Poses With Dua Lipa, Kylie Minogue and Uma Thurman at the Event in New York (See Pics).

On the work front, Ayushmann will be seen alongside actress Sara Ali Khan in an action comedy, produced by Karan Johar and Guneet Monga. Directed by Aakash Kaushik, the project marks Ayushmann's debut collaboration with Karan Johar.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 31, 2024 05:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Mumbai, May 31: The Institute of Cost Accountants of India released the ICMAI CMA June 2024 exam admit card today, May 31. The admit card has been released for the Final, Inter, and Foundation exam courses. Candidates who will be appearing for the ICMAI CMA June 2024 examination can download the admit card by visiting the official website of ICMAI at icmai.in.

Direct link to download ICMAI CMA June Admit Card 2024.

Candidates can download the ICMAI CMA June 2024 admit card using their registration number and date of birth. The admit card must be carried on examination day, as candidates will not be permitted to take the exams without it. As per the official notification, the Intermediate and Final examinations will be conducted from June 11 to June 18. NTA Releases NEET UG 2024 Answer Key at neet.ntaonline.in, Know Steps to Download.

Steps to Download ICMAI June Admit Card 2024:

Visit the official website of ICMAI at icmai.in .

. On the homepage, click on the "ICMAI June Admit Card 2024" link.

A new page will open

Enter using your registration number and other details.

Click on submit.

Your ICMAI CMA June admit card will be displayed on the screen.

Take a printout for future reference.

The final ICMAI CMA June 2024 exam will be held in the first shift from 10 am to 1 pm, while the intermediate examination will be conducted in the second shift from 2 pm to 5 pm. On the other hand, the Foundation examination will be conducted on June 16, with the first shift from 10 am to 12 noon and the second shift from 2 pm to 4 pm. RBSE 5, 8 Result 2024 Out at rajshaladarpan.nic.in: Rajasthan Board Class 5th and 8th Exam Results Out, Know Steps To Check Scores.

The Intermediate and Final exam results are expected to be released by August 23, whereas the Foundation exam results will likely be declared by July 11. For more details, candidates can check the official website of ICMAI.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 31, 2024 03:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
New Delhi, May 31: As several parts of Delhi continued to reel under water crises on Friday amid an intense heatwave, Lt Governor V K Saxena accused the AAP government of "mismanagement" and alleged that it has become their habit to blame others for their "inefficiency", "inability" and "inaction". Saxena recited a 200-year-old couplet by Mirza Ghalib, 'Umra bhar Ghalib yehi bhool karta raha, dhool chehre par thi aur aaina saaf karta raha', and slammed the AAP dispensation for blaming other states for the current situation.

Scenes of desperation were visible in several parts of Delhi where people even resorted to fighting and using abusive language as they waited for their turns in queues to get water from the tankers. Similar scenes were visible on Thursday as well. Meanwhile, a political blame-game erupted between the AAP and the BJP with both the parties holding each other responsible for the worsening situation in the national capital. Even as the national capital is facing a severe water shortage, Water Minister Atishi accused the BJP-led Haryana government of not releasing Delhi's share of water. Water Crisis in Delhi: AAP Government to Approach Supreme Court over Haryana Not Releasing City's Water Share, Says Atishi

On the other side, the opposition BJP staged a protest against the AAP government on Friday and alleged that the water crisis in Delhi is "not natural" but was created by the "corruption and mismanagement" of the Arvind Kejriwal government. The Delhi government moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction to Haryana to release surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to the parched national capital for urgent mitigation of its water woes compounded by scorching heat.

The plea, filed by Atishi, has made the Centre, BJP-governed Haryana and Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh parties to the petition and said access to water is essential for the survival and is one of the basic human rights. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday urged the BJP to ask its governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to provide water to the national capital for a month, saying it was not the time to indulge in politics.

Atishi appealed to the BJP not to indulge in "dirty politics" and instead ask its governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to release spare water to the national capital, which is grappling with a severe water crisis amid the ongoing heat wave. "Delhi is grappling with severe heat wave and water shortages. The BJP is indulging in dirty politics at this time. I want to ask the BJP when there is a crisis, is this the time to indulge in politics? Shouldn't we come together?" she said. "There are BJP governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. This is the time to come together. This is the time to appeal to your governments in the two states to give extra water to Delhi," the water minister added. Delhi Govt Directs Action Against Water Wastage; Imposes Rs 2000 Fine Against Violators

On Thursday, Atishi wrote to the Centre to ensure a provision for the release of spare water from either Uttar Pradesh or Haryana to address the national capital's "unprecedented water crisis". In a letter to Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Atishi said there has been a drastic dip in the water level at the Wazirabad barrage during the last few days as Haryana is not releasing the required quantity in the Yamuna.

Later in the day, Lt Governor Saxena issued a video statement, slamming the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's "mismanagement" for the water crisis. He also alleged that despite "thousands of crores of rupees being spent by the Delhi government in the last 10 years, old pipelines could neither be repaired nor replaced". There was no immediate reaction from the AAP government. "For the last few days, the extremely irresponsible attitude of Delhi government is being witnessed. Women, children, elderly and young men today in Delhi are seen risking their lives and running after tankers for a bucket of water.

"Perhaps no one would have imagined that such heart-wrenching scenes would be seen in the country's capital. But, the government is blaming other states for its failures," he said. People across areas are being seen scrambling with empty buckets to water tankers, some even jumping the queue to get to the top of them to fill their vessel."I regret to say that in the last 10 years, to hide its inefficiency, inaction and inability, it has become the habit of the Delhi government to blame others for its every failure and avoid their responsibilities and keep misleading the public through social media, press conferences and by filing court cases.

"This shortage of water in Delhi is solely the result of mismanagement by the government," Saxena said. Earlier on Friday, the BJP staged a protest at Shaheed Park near ITO over the issue and blamed the the "corruption" of Kejriwal government for the crisis and demanded his resignation along with that of Atishi. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said the water crisis in Delhi is "not natural" but is created by the "corruption and mismanagement of Kejriwal". Residents in several areas of Delhi continued lining up with their plastic containers, anxiously waiting for the water tankers.

Vibha Devi, a resident of Geeta Colony, shared her plight. "I stand in line from 4 am, but due to the crowd, I can't reach the water tanker... It's hard to get water," she rued. Asked whether she manages to get water, she said, "Sometimes we get water, sometimes we don't. When we don't, we have to buy it from outside and use it sparingly."
New Delhi, May 31: From criticising the Indian government to supporting the Khalistan independence movement, China-based 'bad actors' that were busy manipulating the social media by using synthetic content, including the misuse of artificial intelligence (AI), have now been exposed. The network originated in China and targeted the global Sikh community, including in Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, the UK and Nigeria.

According to Meta (formerly Facebook), these social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Telegram and X (formerly Twitter) posted primarily in English and Hindi about news and current events, including images likely manipulated by photo-editing tools or generated by AI. These accounts frequently posted about floods in the Punjab region, the Sikh community worldwide, "the Khalistan independence movement, the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan independence activist in Canada and criticism of the Indian government". Lok Sabha Elections 2024: China-Based Hackers To Disrupt Indian Elections With AI-Generated Content, Warns Microsoft Threat Analysis Team

Meta swung into action and removed 37 Facebook accounts, 13 Pages, five Groups, and nine accounts on Instagram for violating its policy against coordinated inauthentic behaviour (CIB). This activity included several clusters of fake accounts, including one with links to an "unattributed CIB network from China targeting India and the Tibet region that we disrupted in early 2023". Some of these clusters amplified one another with most of their engagement coming from their own fake accounts.

Meta said that this operation used compromised and fake accounts to pose as Sikhs, post content and manage Pages and Groups. They created a fictitious activist movement called "Operation K" which called for pro-Sikh protests, including in New Zealand and Australia. The company said it removed this activity before it was able to build an audience among authentic communities on its platforms. Not just Meta, a Microsoft Threat Analysis team warned last month that China will create and amplify AI-generated content to benefit its interests amid major global elections, particularly in India and the US. China Manipulating Global Media, Politics Through Fake Propagandas, Says Report

According to Microsoft, China is using fake social media accounts to poll voters on what divides them most to sow division and possibly influence the outcome of the elections.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 31, 2024 05:41 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
With overwhelming evidence that he broke campaign finance laws, Donald Trump was just found guilty on all 34 counts by a jury in his porn star hush money trial. He was officially a convicted felon after a unanimous verdict from all 12 jurors in New York and is now the first former president to become a convicted felon as well.

New York State Justice Juan Merchan then announced that sentencing would happen on July 11, 2024. This is just 11 days before the Republican National Convention, where the Republican party is slated to nominate Donald Trump as their nominee to run for the White House on November 5.

The former president is currently facing a maximum sentence of four years in prison, according to Reuters. However, the crimes he committed are white-collar crimes that often receive shorter sentences, fines, or probation. Should Donald Trump be imprisoned, he would not be prevented from campaigning or taking office should he win though. He will also not be jailed ahead of sentencing.

As expected, Trump ranted and whined as he went out of the courtroom, telling the reporters that "This was a disgrace," along with his usual complaints and claims that the trial had been rigged against him. The jury found that Donald Trump could not disprove the corroborated testimony by Michael Cohen that the former president ordered him to pay off porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about their affair as he ran for the presidency in 2016, thus breaking campaign finance laws.

Cohen paid Daniels out of pocket, and Trump paid him back the $130,000 hush money payment his then-lawyer made, plus a bonus. However, this reimbursement was disguised as legal fee payments, thus once again breaking the law as this counts as falsifying business records.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Gets Eviscerated by Jimmy Kimmel Over Likening Himself to Mother Teresa

Donald Trump Cannot Pardon Himself Should He Win the Presidency

Trump is expected to appeal the verdict over and over again. However, those believing that he can just pardon himself if he wins the presidency would be mistaken as the porn star hush money case is a New York state case, not a federal case. Presidents can only pardon federal cases.

As The Washington Post pointed out, only the governor of New York could pardon Trump but this is unlikely to happen as New York has a Democratic governor, who is also very much a Trump critic.

Crowds Cheer After Donald Trump Guilty Verdict in the Porn Star Hush Money Trial Was Confirmed

Outside of the courthouse in downtown Manhattan, there was a mix of anti and pro-Trump protesters, and the result was clear which side was cheering loudly when the verdict was announced as anti-Trump protesters were celebrating, cheering, and waving their guilty signs.

According to the Associated Press, the cheering from the street could be heard all the way up on the 15th floor of the courthouse. Meanwhile, f around 100 Trump supporters gathered and murmured in disbelief when they found out that their dear leader was now a convicted felon.

READ MORE: Donald Trump Suffers Humiliating Defeat With Only 6 Votes as Libertarian Party Rejects Him

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Crowd reacts to Trump's guilty verdict outside courthouse - WPLG Local 10
Dengue fever has been plaguing the Americas this year, and the World Health Organization (WHO) is already concerned as this year's numbers have already surpassed last year's record-high numbers, and 2024 has not even reached the halfway mark yet.

The WHO stated that the mosquito-borne viral illness remains a high-risk threat to public health in North America, South America, and the Caribbean. For this year alone, the UN health agency revealed that the number of cases in the Americas exceeded 7 million by the end of April. This has already surpassed the annual high of 4.6 million in 2023.

The numbers for the Americas this year alone are already nearing last year's global numbers, which saw more than 7.6 million dengue cases and approximately 3,000 deaths around the same period, according to Reuters.

The three hardest-hit countries by the dengue outbreak are all in South America, being Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. However, 46 countries have also reported a lot of dengue cases this year, including the big 3 of North America, which is the US, Canada, and Mexico.

The WHO is warning people to look for symptoms of dengue fever, which include headaches, vomiting, skin rashes, as well as muscle and joint pain. In more severe cases, it also includes severe hemorrhagic fever, resulting in bleeding that can lead to death.

Dengue Fever Also Threatening the United States

Dengue fever used to be confined to the tropics. However, as the climate gets warmer, more and more cases have been reported in temperate North America. While South America is suffering from a massive and record-breaking outbreak, experts in North America are already issuing warnings.

READ MORE: Brazil: Rio de Janeiro Declares Health Emergency After Massive Dengue Outbreak Just Before Carnival

According to NBC News, the unusually wet and warm summer season brought by the weather phenomenon known as El Nino has created ideal conditions for Dengue-infected mosquitoes to proliferate. Experts are warning that the recent infections in North America could be a preview of what dengue fever will look like in the future.

"That's concerning for places where dengue hasn't occurred before in recent history: North America and Europe," warned Dr. Albert Ko, a professor of epidemiology of microbial diseases at the Yale School of Public Health. "We are definitely worried."

"We are also seeing dengue cause outbreaks at times when they usually don't occur," he added. "That gives us a snapshot of what we may see here in North America in the coming decades."

Pan American Health Organization Calls For Strengthened Dengue Prevention

With the bulk of the world's dengue cases being in the Americas, the region's health agency, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), has urged people in the region to strengthen preventive measures against the mosquito-borne illness.

PAHO issued an epidemiological alert last week and emphasized the importance of strengthening surveillance, diagnosis, and vector control actions. It also recommended that health services be prepared for the proper management of patients to prevent complications and avoid possible overcrowding.

READ MORE: Puerto Rico's Wrestling Culture and Its Underrated Pro Wrestlers

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: What is Dengue? Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and treatment. - Medical Centric
In a major policy change, the Joe Biden administration has quietly allowed Ukraine to use provided American weapons to strike Russian territory near Kharkiv.

This decision aims to strengthen Ukraine's defense of its second-largest city against Russian advances, Politico reports.

The permission, confirmed by US officials, enables Ukraine to target Russian forces attacking or preparing to attack Kharkiv.

However, the policy still prohibits long-range strikes deep inside Russia.

A US official noted that President Joe Biden directed his team to support Ukraine's counter-fire efforts in response to Russia's recent intensified offensive on Kharkiv.

READ NEXT: Joe Biden Opens Door for Cuban Small Businesses to Access US Online Banking

Flexibility for Self-Defense

Recently, the US granted Ukraine the flexibility to use American weapons, such as rockets and launchers, to defend itself from border attacks near Kharkiv.

These weapons can intercept Russian missiles, target troop concentrations, and engage bombers launching attacks on Ukrainian territory.

However, Ukraine is restricted from using these weapons against civilian infrastructure or conducting long-range strikes inside Russia, according to CNN.

The shift in US policy, initially seen as a potential escalation, was driven by worsening battlefield conditions and Russian advances in Kharkiv.

The National Security Council has not commented on the change.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggested US policy toward Ukraine would evolve, and National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby did not rule out a policy change.

Top US allies like the UK and France support Ukraine's right to use Western weapons for strikes inside Russia.

Bipartisan Congressional support exists, with military officials briefing Congress on the strategic value of such strikes.

Some US officials worry about Ukraine using drones for unrelated military targets.

The US stresses that American weapons should target military sites directly involved in the invasion, not civilian infrastructure.

Ukrainian leaders, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, have pressed the Joe Biden administration to change its policy, arguing that not targeting Russian troop positions across the border complicates their defense.

In a conversation with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov advocated for using American weapons inside Russia to defend Kharkiv.

President Joe Biden's decision is limited to areas near Kharkiv, and Ukraine has not requested broader permissions.

The US maintains its prohibition on using long-range missiles, such as the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), for deep strikes inside Russia.

International Reactions and NATO Involvement

European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, support Ukraine's use of Western weapons for self-defense.

Macron emphasized targeting bases in Russia from which attacks on Ukraine are launched, Reuters noted.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged the US and allies to provide Ukraine with the necessary capabilities to defend itself without limitations, including striking legitimate military targets in Russia.

The Joe Biden administration's decision reflects growing international pressure and changing battlefield conditions.

While Ukraine can use American weapons near Kharkiv, it remains prohibited from using long-range weapons like ATACMS for deep strikes inside Russia.

This decision does not endorse Ukraine's drone attacks on Russian petroleum facilities but is a significant step in supporting Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression near Kharkiv.

International support and strategic considerations will continue to shape future policies.

READ MORE: Patrick Kennedy Backs Biden, Not Cousin RFK Jr.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: U.S. official: Biden secretly gave Ukraine permission to strike inside Russia with western weapons - From NBC News
People are already leaving Venezuela under the dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro, often heading to the US-Mexico border to escape the hardships there. Should Maduro win the election, more may follow as Venezuela may continue its economic hardships under the Chavista regime.

Previously, the Maduro regime denied reports that Venezuelans were fleeing the country to try their luck at the US border, choosing the hardship of going through the infamous Darien Gap and maybe getting deported once they reach the US rather than continue living in Venezuela.

The Maduro regime called news of Venezuelans fleeing as a professionally scripted, "Hollywood-type blockbuster," with Maduro allies saying that this piece of news was made by a "media apparatus." These days, however, Maduro has changed his tune as he has styled himself as a "defender" of migrants, many of whom are fleeing his own regime.

Despite this, more and more Venezuelans are thinking about leaving should the dictator somehow get re-elected. This includes 18-year-old Arnaldo Benitez, who told the Associated Press what he wants to do should Maduro win the July 28 election.

"I love Venezuela. I would like to pursue a medical career here, but one must think about the future," said the teen. "I want my family to have a decent life and not be thinking 'I can't afford this or that.' So, I have to plan for a better future even if it unfortunately means leaving Venezuela."

Colombia Warns More Venezuelans Might Flee If Nicolas Maduro Wins the Election

More and more Venezuelans are thinking about fleeing, with a Delphos poll showing that people between the ages of 18 and 34 were more likely to consider leaving Venezuela. Other countries are now bracing for an influx of migrants should Maduro win.

READ MORE: Venezuela Election: EU Uninvited To Observe July Election by Nicolas Maduro Regime

Colombia's migration chief, Fernando Garcia, told the US Congress that the government "should expect a large influx of Venezuelan migrants" should this happen, with Garcia adding that the reimposing of US sanctions combined with a Maduro victory would be enough to push more people to leave Venezuela.

While many Venezuelans have settled in nearby countries around Latin America, a lot of them still want to go to the US where many are led to believe that they would lead a better life there than in other Latin American countries.

Little-Known Edmundo Gonzalez Is Leading Nicolas Maduro in the Polls as the Venezuela Election Nears

Meanwhile, if the Venezuelan election is to be free and fair, and if polls are to be believed, opposition candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Urrutia, a little-known diplomat who was forced to replace opposition candidate Maria Corina Machado, is leading against Nicolas Maduro.

According to AS/COA, Gonzalez is ahead with 61% of the vote in a recent Meganalisis poll, with Maduro only getting 9.8% of the vote. The poll was held from May 16-23. The former diplomat also leads in two earlier polls, getting at least 50% in each of them, while Maduro struggled with less than 20% in those polls.

READ MORE: Venezuela Election: Opposition Candidate Edmundo Gonzalez Holds First Rally

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Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: A decade under Maduro, migration, hardship marks Venezuelans' lives - AP Archive
Mexico mayoral candidate Alfredo Cabrera fell victim to a shocking act of violence during a campaign rally late Wednesday, highlighting the dangerous climate surrounding the country's upcoming elections.

Video footage capturing the incident shows a gunman fatally shooting Cabrera in the back of the head at point-blank range, the New York Post reports.

The rally, attended by hundreds of supporters, took place in Coyuca de Benitez, Guerrero, marking the tragic conclusion of Cabrera's campaign efforts.

READ NEXT: Violence in Mexico Election Season: 16th Mayoral Candidate Killed Ahead of June 16 Vote

Rising Tide of Political Violence

Cabrera's assassination is a stark illustration of the escalating violence targeting politicians in Mexico.

His death adds to a disturbing tally of 36 candidates murdered during the 2024 Mexico election cycle, predominantly those running for mayoral or town council positions.

The recent targeted attacks on political figures, including Gilberto Palomar in Jalisco, who was shot multiple times in his campaign office, underscore the pervasive threat faced by candidates across the nation.

In Morelos state, Ricardo Arizmendi, a mayoral candidate for Cuautla, was also fatally shot, while another candidate in Jalisco state suffered gunshot wounds shortly before the elections.

These incidents occurred amid heightened tensions and security concerns prepares for a pivotal as Mexico election cycle, according to CBS News.

According to Data Civica, a non-governmental organization tracking violence, the number of candidates killed this year stands at 30, highlighting the grave risks faced by those seeking public office.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has pledged robust security measures, mobilizing over 27,000 troops, including military personnel and National Guard forces, to safeguard polling stations and ensure public safety during the Mexico elections.

Despite these efforts, the wave of violence targeting candidates has cast a shadow over the democratic process, raising alarms about the integrity of the electoral system.

Calls for Justice and Accountability

Governor Evelyn Salgado swiftly condemned Mexico mayoral candidate Alfredo Cabrera's assassination as a "cowardly crime" and called for a thorough investigation to ensure that those responsible face justice.

The brutal targeting of political candidates not only threatens individual lives but also undermines the democratic principles that Mexico strives to uphold.

As Mexico braces for its upcoming presidential election, candidates are confronting a host of pressing issues, including economic instability, security challenges, and immigration concerns.

The leading contenders, such as Xochitl Galvez and Claudia Sheinbaum, have articulated their visions for addressing these issues and restoring public trust in governance.

The assassination of Alfredo Cabrera serves as a somber reminder of the risks associated with political participation in Mexico.

It underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to enhance security, strengthen institutions, and protect the rights of candidates and voters alike.

As the nation prepares to elect its next leaders, the resilience of Mexico's democratic institutions will be tested, demanding a concerted effort to ensure a fair, transparent, and safe electoral process.

The tragic death of Alfredo Cabrera amid his campaign rally underscores the pervasive threat of political violence in Mexico, BBC noted.

As the country navigates through a challenging Mexico election cycle, the importance of upholding democratic values, ensuring accountability for crimes against candidates, and safeguarding the electoral process cannot be overstated.

The international community and Mexican citizens alike look to the authorities to take decisive action to address these challenges and pave the way for a future where political engagement is met with safety and respect.

READ MORE: Brazilian President Lula da Silva Removes Ambassador to Israel Amid Diplomatic Tensions

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Mexican Mayoral candidate Alfredo Cabrera assassinated at point-blank range at campaign rally - From New York Post
Donald Trump is officially a convicted felon after a New York jury found him guilty of all 34 counts that he was accused of in the porn star hush money trial. How did people, including President Joe Biden, Trump's Republican allies and sycophants, and other politicians react to this piece of history?

As expected, the pro-Trump wing of the Republican party quickly tried to rally around the former president, many of them already attacking the justice system after Trump was found to be guilty. This includes House Speaker Mike Johnson.

In a statement, Speaker Johnson while what he described as "the weaponization of our justice system," adding, "President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdict - and he WILL WIN."

Potential Trump vice presidential pick, Elise Stefanik, the House GOP Conference chair and New York state representative, tried to appeal to her dear leader by calling it a "sham trial" in a statement that read, "We must redouble our efforts and work around the clock to ensure President Trump is victorious this November to save America from Biden's failed Far Left Democrat agenda."

Other Republican candidates running for this year's elections are also lining up to defend him, with many, including Montana candidate Tim Sheely, repeating Trump's unfounded claims that the trial was "rigged."

Meanwhile, Arizona candidate and MAGA stalwart Kari Lake whined that Americans had "just witnessed the most egregious example of election interference and an outright mockery of the rule of law in the 246-year history of our Republic. This entire process right down to the verdict itself has been nothing but a shameful political stunt."

Joe Biden and Democrats React to Donald Trump Guilty Verdict

As Republicans whined and cried, the Biden Campaign did not mince its words and slammed the former president, with Biden Campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler saying in a statement, "In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law."

READ MORE: Donald Trump Guilty on All Counts in Porn Star Hush Money Case

"There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box," he added. "A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans' freedoms and fomenting political violence - and the American people will reject it this November."

Meanwhile, Biden himself has been tight-lipped. While his campaign attacked Trump, the White House counsel spokesperson, Ian Simms, simply noted, "We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment."

Meanwhile, a chorus of criticism directed to Trump has also come from Democrats, with Rep. Adam Schiff of California saying, "Despite his efforts to distract, delay, and deny - justice arrived for Donald Trump all the same."

How Did Average Americans React to Donald Trump Being Found Guilty?

Meanwhile, average everyday Americans sounded off on the history-making verdict in New York, telling The New York Times how they felt about it.

"My first initial thought was joy, because it's been going on for so long, just waiting for some sort of justice," said Ashley Daniels, 38, from Los Angeles, California. "But I feel a little amazed, when I looked it up, that he actually can still run for president now that he's been convicted for 34 felonies. Like you can get denied for regular-Joe jobs, but you can be president for 34 felonies. It's kind of crazy. But I'm hoping we're moving in a good direction."

"I'm glad to see it," added Regina Ponder of Scottsdale, Arizona. "Are they going to lock him up, though?"

"If he was a Black guy, they wouldn't be going through what they're going through now," Tyree Fleming of Brown Deer, Wisconsin told the AP. "If he wasn't rich, he wouldn't be going through what he was going through now. If I'm going to vote for a gangster, I may as well go out on the street and find one."

Robbi Warren of Atlanta, Georgia stated. "Today it's not about Black or white, rich or poor, it's about if you commit a crime, you need to be held accountable."

READ MORE: Donald Trump Gets Eviscerated by Jimmy Kimmel Over Likening Himself to Mother Teresa

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Moskowitz SHREDS Trump After CONVICTION - MeidasTouch
Idaho Doomsday author Chad Daybell, a central figure in a case fraught with allegations of power, sex, and apocalyptic beliefs, was convicted on Thursday of first-degree murder and conspiracy charges.

These charges stem from the deaths of his first wife, Tammy Daybell, and his second wife's children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow.

The verdict opens the possibility of the death penalty for Daybell, CNN reports.

The tragic events unfolded beginning in late 2019 when Tammy Daybell was found dead in her Idaho home, initially believed to have passed away in her sleep.

However, suspicions grew when the remains of Lori Vallow Daybell's children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, were discovered buried on Chad Daybell's Fremont County property in June 2020.

Prosecutors alleged that these killings occurred amidst a backdrop of religious fanaticism, financial greed, and sinister intentions.

READ NEXT: Survivor Confronts Lori Vallow Daybell Over Siblings' Insurance-Motivated Deaths

Courtroom Proceedings

The trial gripped the nation with emotional testimonies and compelling evidence that shed light on the disturbing circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Witnesses recounted Idaho Doomsday author Chad Daybell's alleged manipulation and control over Lori Vallow Daybell, portraying him as the mastermind behind the tragic killings.

Prosecutors argued that Daybell's charismatic influence and extreme religious beliefs contributed to the demise of his victims.

After the verdict was delivered, family members of the victims expressed profound grief and frustration, according to KSL.com.

Larry Woodcock, JJ's grandfather, voiced heartbreak over the loss of innocent lives and condemned the actions of Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow Daybell.

Despite the overwhelming sorrow, Woodcock emphasized the enduring memories of the victims and their profound impact on loved ones.

Throughout the trial, Chad Daybell maintained his innocence, with his defense team arguing that he was manipulated and coerced by Lori Vallow Daybell into unlawful actions.

They portrayed Daybell as a victim of circumstance, manipulated by external forces beyond his control and unaware of the grave consequences of his actions.

Conviction and Sentencing

The jury found Chad Daybell guilty on multiple charges, including a triple murder case, conspiracy, insurance fraud, and grand theft.

This verdict marks a significant stride towards justice for the victims and closure for their bereaved families, Fox News noted.

The case brought to light the unsettling dynamics of a relationship rooted in religious extremism and fantastical beliefs.

Chad Daybell, an Idaho Doomsday author, and his second wife Lori Vallow Daybell, whom he met in 2018 at a religious gathering, shared visions of apocalypse and believed in their reincarnated identities.

Prosecutors argued that these convictions fueled their horrific crimes.

The prosecution also highlighted the violent history of Alex Cox, who had previously killed Lori Vallow Daybell's former husband and who was portrayed as her protector before his death in 2019.

During the trial, Chad Daybell's defense emphasized the absence of his DNA on the children's bodies, while the circumstances surrounding Tammy Daybell's death remained inconclusive.

READ MORE: Minnesota Man Murders Pregnant Sister, Unborn Child Over Alleged Loss of Innocence

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Ross Key

WATCH: Doomsday author Chad Daybell found guilty in triple-murder case - From ABC News
An Allentown man admitted Thursday he killed an Easton man during a drug deal six years ago in Williams Township, according to a news release.

Nathaniel Markland, 34, of Allentown, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in the shooting death of 42-year-old Shyheem Smith, of Easton, according to the release issued Friday by the Northampton County District Attorneys office.

Markland and prosecutors agreed to a 15-to-30-year prison sentence as part of a plea deal, according to a spokeswoman for the district attorneys office. Marklands attorney couldnt be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

Markland killed Smith during a drug deal around 9:30 p.m. April 2, 2018, in the 1100 block of Centre Street in Williams Township, the news release says.

Markland traveled with a group of people in an SUV to deliver drugs to the driver of an SUV, in which Smith was a passenger.

The driver of the SUV got nervous as Markland walked toward the vehicle and drove away, the release says. Markland fired two shots at the fleeing vehicle, one of which went through the rear window and struck Smith in the base of his skull, the news release says.

Smith died April 3, 2018, in a local hospital. Markland was arrested in July 2018. The plea and sentencing were handled by Northampton County Judge Samuel Murray.

The investigation was handled by Pennsylvania State Police, the news release says.

The district attorneys office would like to thank the family of Shyheem Smith for their patience and cooperation in this negotiated resolution, as well as express our sympathy, the news release says.

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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
Donald Trump was found guilty in his criminal hush-money and election-interference trial in Manhattan on Thursday, making him the first former president in history to be a convicted felon.

Trump potentially faces time behind bars after the jury came back with a unanimous verdict among the 34 felony counts he faced.

It was the second day of deliberations Thursday after the panel began the weighty task a day before. The jury deliberated for about 9 1/2 hours total: about 4 1/2 hours Wednesday and five hours Thursday.

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Minutes before the jury was to be sent home, it transmitted the news that it reached a verdict by note to Judge Juan M. Merchan at 4:20 p.m, just few minutes after hed announced to the courtroom  minus the jury  that court would adjourn at 4:30 p.m., barring a verdict.

Trump sat in the courtroom with his arms folded across his chest as he awaited the reading of the verdict in his hush money trial. When the verdicts were announced, Trump had a frown on his face. Trump lead lawyer Todd Blanche looked away from his client with his left hand to his temple.

Minutes earlier, Trump and Blanche had entered the courtroom exuberant, believing that the jury had failed to reach a verdict in the second day of deliberations  a sign that maybe the trial was headed for a hung jury. But their moods quickly changed when Merchan announced a verdict had been reached.

Trump is expected to quickly appeal the verdict and will face an awkward dynamic as he seeks to return to the campaign trail as a convicted felon and the presumptive Republican nominee to face incumbent President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

There are no campaign rallies on the calendar for now, though hes expected to hold fundraisers next week. It will likely take several months for Merchan, who oversaw the case, to decide whether to sentence Trump to prison.

Trump could face up to four years behind bars. Sentencing is currently set for July.

Trump faces three other felony trials, but the New York case may be the only one to reach a conclusion before the November election, adding to the significance of the outcome. Though the legal and historical implications of the verdict are readily apparent, the political consequences are less so given its potential to reinforce rather than reshape already-hardened opinions about Trump.

Thursdays verdict centered on $130,000 in payments that Trumps company made to his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen. He paid that sum on Trumps behalf to keep porn actor Stormy 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 argued the payments to Cohen were falsely logged as legal fees. The said it was 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 said it had nothing to do with the campaign.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
Some of Merrymead Farms 135 head of Holstein cattle ran and frolicked, some nuzzled one another, during their outside time in a grassy field at the fifth-generation dairy farm in Montgomery County.

Milk from the cows is homogenized and pasteurized then sold the same day in the dairy store at the farm off South Valley Forge Road in Worcester Township, outside Lansdale, said Merrymead President Steve Quigley.

It also goes into ice cream sold on-site, with flavors available like chocolate moo trail, graham slam, sweet cream and honey, peach, cotton candy, whiskey moo-latte and dozens of others.

Merrymead on Thursday hosted the launch of Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail, a Pennsylvania agritourism promotion from the states Departments of Agriculture and Community and Economic Development.

Merrymead Farm family members Tessa Givler, from left, and Hadley Carr enjoy some ice cream during the kickoff of Pennsylvanias seventh annual Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail hosted Thursday, May 30, 2024, by the dairy farm outside Lansdale in Montgomery County.Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

In its seventh year, the trail offers 41 stops statewide. Visiting five or more ice cream producers accrues 500 points for those who sign up through visitpa.com, earning them an ice cream scooper. Accruing 1,000 points through 10 stops nets an official T-shirt. The promotion ends Sept. 7.

But the prizes are almost an afterthought to the sweet treats and sights and sounds to be enjoyed at places like Merrymead.

Being able to see cows milked, smelling the fresh air after the first cutting of alfalfa or hay, and eating homemade ice cream with family are just some of the agricultural connections we offer here at Merrymead, farm market manager Kelsey Givler said during a news conference to kick off the trail for 2024.

Our family and staff have created a relaxing and fun farm environment that encourages other families to spend more time together and enjoy the finer things in life, like a delicious ice cream cone, she continued.

Kelsey Givler, farm market manager at Merrymead Farm, helps kick off Pennsylvanias seventh annual Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail during a news conference Thursday, May 30, 2024, hosted by the dairy farm outside Lansdale in Montgomery County.Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

Pennsylvania is home to 4,900 dairy farms, the second-most of any state in the nation, officials said at the kickoff. The $11.8 billion annual dairy industry employs 47,000 people in the agriculture field that is a pillar of Pennsylvanias economy.

This is not an easy business, its not an easy way to make a living, but I appreciate people who do it, the folks who are willing to share it and open their farms to the public as Merrymead does, state Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said Thursday.

Dairy farms like those on the Scooped trail help tell the story of Pennsylvania agriculture, allowing guests to make the connection between the economic work and the value farms and their products add to local communities.

But ultimately this is a story about people. Its about people who see their lifes work in agriculture, that they dedicate their generations to making this farm and this enterprise what it is  to produce good products and care for the animals and people and the land, Redding continued.

Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding helps kick off Pennsylvanias seventh annual Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail during a news conference Thursday, May 30, 2024, hosted by Merrymead Farm outside Lansdale in Montgomery County.Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

From a family of 11, Redding recalled hand-cranking the ice cream maker, and spoke of getting in the car on a summer evening to go get ice cream: Ice cream is how you relax, its how you chill out. It brings back memories.

Visiting the 41 creameries offers a look at Pennsylvania and its topography, and its communities and farms big and small.

The great thing about Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail is that not only are we supporting the dairy industry when we enjoy some world-class ice cream at places like Merrymead Farm, but were also showing why Pennsylvania is an amazing place to come and visit, said DCED Executive Deputy Secretary Mike Hanna Jr. More and more people want authentic culinary experiences, and theyre willing to travel to find some of those experiences.

The full list of Scooped stops can be fond at visitpa.com, including Lehigh and Northampton county participants Batch Microcreamery in Center Valley, Upper Saucon Township; Crystal Spring Farm in North Whitehall Townships Schnecksville; and Klein Farms Dairy and Creamery outside Easton in Forks Township.

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com.
Sean Fleming TD has announced that Castletown National School has received permission from the Government to proceed with construction works of two new special educational needs classrooms, a drop-off point for students and new parking facilities.

The Government has given approval to the school to now proceed to sign the contract with the builder and organise them to move on-site to begin construction works.

"The building of the two new classrooms for special educational needs will provide quality resources and facilities that the children rightfully deserve," said the Minister of State.

"Thank you to the school management, teachers and staff, parents and everyone involved for all their hard work to get this project to this stage. I would also like to thank the Minister for Education for engaging with me on this issue for Castletown National School, to ensure that the project can proceed to construction.

Special education has always been a personal priority for me and for Fianna Fail. It is important to invest in education, and in turn invest in young peoples futures. Education is the key to young peoples success," the TD said.
The Government have announced a fund of 696,500 to assist in the repair of regional and local roads in Laois.

The funding is to deal with the impact of climate change, which has contributed to a deterioration in the surface quality of certain parts of the network over the winter months.

Photo- Roadworks on the N77 Abbeyleix Road in 2023.

Laois roads have been particularly damaged by persistent rainfall over the winter and spring months.

Laois / Offaly TD Charlie Flanagan welcomed the extra allocation of funding in a press release this morning.

"This will go somewhere towards meeting high demand for road repairs in the county. It is envisaged that an additional 5km of road repairs will be carried out with this funding," said Deputy Flanagan.

Many of the regional and local roads in County Laois have suffered significant damage as a result of severe weather events and in some cases our roads have been faced with damage caused by repeated severe weather incidents.

I know this funding will greatly assist in the repairs and ensure our road network in Laois is of the highest standard."

Local Fianna Fail TD Sean Fleming has similarly welcomed the news.

" Im pleased to receive confirmation from my party colleague Minister Jack Chambers that an additional 696,500 has been allocated for regional and local roads in Co Laois. We need to keep our roads safe," the deputy said.

"This emergency investment will give Laois County Council the funds necessary to repair potholes and other damage on our roads caused by the extremely heavy rainfall over the winter and spring months.

In persistent wet conditions, water seepage contributes to damage such as the development of potholes or pavement collapse. T his Government funding will significantly improve the worst impacted areas of Laois roads," said Deputy Fleming.

This news follows Laois County Council's announcement last April of 1.1 million under the government's Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) for repairs and improvement works on non-public rural roads and laneways.
Mountmellick residents with physical mobility issues, got a unique chance recently to highlight any problems in getting around their town to a large group of experts from around Ireland.

The Laois town welcomed a national gathering of Town Regeneration officers, when The National Town Centre First Office held their most recent meeting there on Wednesday, May 22 2024.

Ahead of the day, Laois County Council had invited local people to join them in a Walkability Audit of Mountmellick, and 10 volunteers decided to give their time on the day.

They met 16 town regeneration officers from all around Ireland at Mountmellick Community Arts Centre and undertook the walk of the town in association with Age Friendly Ireland.

Denise Rainey, Town Regeneration Officer with Laois County Council, told the Leinster Express / Laois Live how it went and what the top findings are.

"While the event was being used to demonstrate what was involved in conducting such an audit, the results of the audit will also be very beneficial to the Mountmellick Town Centre First Plan for which Mountmellick received funding for earlier in the year.

"10 volunteers with mobility issues took part highlighting what was good and not so good with regard to footpaths, pedestrian crossings, lighting among other issues.

"One of the main problems identified by the volunteers was illegal parking of vehicles on footpaths which make them inaccessible for people with mobility issues," she said.

There is hope that the audit can have real results.

"The benefit of such audits was highlighted by a volunteer who stated that he took part in a similar audit in Portlaoise a few years ago and the improvements made there were remarkable. Mountmellick will be hoping to follow suit," Ms Rainey said.

Mountmellick is the second town in Laois to get funding for a Town Centre First Plan, following its success in Rathdowney. The plan will open the door to apply for grants to improve the town as a place to live, shop, work and visit.

The attendees from Age friendly Ireland included Emer Coveney, National Programme manager, Declan Gaffney, National Technical Adviser, Eileen Hughes Midlands Regional Manager, and Tom Curran Programme Manager.

The National Town Centre First Office representatives included Mairead Hunt, National Coordinator, Donal O Murchadha, Project Manager Sharon O, Gara Project Lead and Billy Sheehy Project officer.
Cigarette-dispensing vending machines around Ireland are to be banned under new laws being introduced by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly.

It's understood there are around 4,000 of these machines in pubs, clubs and venues around Ireland and the move is being made to stub out underage smoking. It follows Cabinet approval in recent weeks to raise the legal age someone can buy cigarettes in Ireland to 21.

The prohibition will come into effect in September 2025, allowing time for all affected businesses to prepare for the change, the Department of Health has said. It is the latest in a series of measures designed to protect the population from the health harms associated with tobacco and nicotine inhaling products.

Current law on the sale of tobacco products through vending machines requires the use of discs or cards obtained from staff and also requires oversight by staff. However, evidence from the National Environmental Health Service, the enforcement authority for the tobacco control law, shows that self-service vending machines are consistently more accessible to minors than over the counter sales.

Prohibiting the sale of tobacco products from self-service vending machines is a recommendation of Irelands national tobacco control policy, Tobacco Free Ireland and is in line with the Programme for Government commitment to restrict the types of retailers that sell these products.

Minister Donnelly said: "On World No Tobacco Day, I am bringing into operation further elements of our overall tobacco control strategy. We are continuing to denormalise the sale of tobacco products to make it clear that a product that kills one out of every two of its users is not like other consumer products. We are also banning the sale of nicotine inhaling products by self-service to further tighten the availability and the advertising of these products."

Minister of State with responsibility for Public Health, Wellbeing and the National Drugs Strategy, Colm Burke said: "I welcome these further measures as part of our overall strategy to reach a tobacco-free Ireland. There is evidence that the density of retail outlets selling tobacco products is associated with youth smoking and is a risk factor for relapse by smokers who have quit so reducing that density is an important step to protect our young people and to assist those who have made the important decision to quit."
The Taoiseach has said he is open to a migration reform that would involve asylum seekers having their applications processed in third countries.

The policy has been put forward by the European Peoples Party (EPP), of which Simon Harriss Fine Gael party is a member.

Mr Harris had been asked about a similar deal that Italy has with Albania.

Integration minister Roderic OGorman said the Governments focus should be on domestic immigration measures.

Asked if Fine Gael supports the proposal put forward by the EPP, Mr Harris said: I think we should have a very open mind in relation to this because if weve learned anything about the migration challenges, that it is a global challenge.

Indeed so much of the migration that we see here in Ireland  immigration is a good thing by the way, our country has benefited from it  but we do have to have rules and a rules-based system.

So much of the migration and immigration that comes to Ireland is through secondary movements. So the idea that we wouldnt have a composite look at migration, migration policy and law from a European level, to me just would seem absurd, and therefore that brings you into the space of looking at the borders of the European Union.

But I think of course, it raises questions as to at what point and where you assess peoples application.

The Migration Pact does deal with a lot of this. So its not simply a matter of the European Peoples Party view. This has happened in some cases already within the European Union and Albania, I think Turkey on occasions as well.

Anything that would have to happen in this space would have to be fully compliant with human rights law, and with the European Court of Human Rights as well.

I think we should keep an open mind in relation to this but only if any such actions were proven to be beneficial to the overall migration pact and be in most important compliance with human rights.

However, Mr OGorman said Government should be concentrating on strengthening the immigration system within Ireland.

Asked if the Green Party would agree with the Taoiseachs comments, Mr OGorman said: I think our focus has to be on strengthening our own system here in Ireland  I think we all recognise that the system wasnt fit for purpose. And a huge amount of work has taken place over the last two years.

He added: You look at the UK, theyve been selling this notion that theres a other-country solution to the pressures of migration through the Rwanda scheme  it never worked, its never delivered.

I would think, and the focus of Government up to this point, has been strengthening, delivering, growing our own capacity to process peoples applications, get their answer more quickly.

Yes: allow them to integrate in Ireland. No: ask them to leave, and ultimately if they dont leave, to provide for deportation.

Pressed if the Taoiseach was wrong to suggest the third-country scheme should be examined, he repeated: I think the focus should be on what weve delivered already.

Ireland has been grappling with a sharp rise in the number of asylum seekers.

Last December, the Government said that it could no longer offer male asylum seekers state accommodation. Since then, encampments have sprung up in different parts of the city because of a lack of accommodation.

Mr Harris said he has concerns around some countrys migration policies and its compliance with human rights, however he refused to name which countries he was referring to.

The crucial point that Ireland will always adopt, and I think theres a political consensus around this point, is that anything that is done in relation to migration policy and processing has to be human rights compliant, he said.

There have been other countries, and Im not referencing Australia, where wed have very significant concerns around the compliance of their actions with the ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights) and human rights.

This idea that Ireland, a small island on the geographic periphery of Europe, can consider how best to address the global migration challenge on its own rather than being part of a composite conversation, series of laws and processing systems at a European level to me would seem misplaced.
A record number of 14,009 people were accessing emergency homeless accommodation by the end of April, according to the latest figures from the Department of Housing.

It is the first time that the number has surpassed 14,000 since the records began.

The number of homeless children also hit the highest number ever recorded at 4,206, according to the data released on Friday.

The children come from 1,996 families.

The data related to the week between April 22-28.

The figure for April is an increase of 143 on the previous month, and a 14% increase on the 12,259 homeless people last year.

There were a total of 1,996 families who were homeless, a 16% increase in the year.

The number of homeless children also jumped by 17% compared to last year.

Of the 14,009 homeless people accessing local authority managed emergency accommodation, 66% were single adults.

More 6,000 men and some 3,777 women were accessing emergency accommodation during that period.

More than half of adults accessing emergency accommodation are aged between 25 to 44.

Wayne Stanley, executive director of the Simon Communities of Ireland, said described the figures as shameful.

The strength and depth of the analysis of the problems in social housing delivery, that the recently published Housing Commission report addresses, is commendable as is the joined up thinking of the proposed solutions, Mr Stanley said.

What we need to see now is the implementation of these solutions.

In a weeks time, every local authority in the country will have a council made up of elected representatives with a new mandate, and Government must work with each of them to progress more homes for those at risk of and experiencing homelessness.

The Simon Communities across Ireland, are seeing first-hand the devastating effects of the housing crisis on the most vulnerable members of our society.

Every day, we meet men, women and families who are struggling to find a secure, affordable home.

The issues that need to be addressed are clear.

The opportunities for valuable progress have to be positively grasped.

Focus Ireland director of advocacy Mike Allen said: Focus Ireland has always argued that homelessness is a solvable problem, and an expert group which the Government itself established has now provided a pathway to solving homelessness along with the wider housing problem experienced by so many families across the country.

Focus Ireland and others across the sector have been clear in welcoming the commissions report but the Governments response has been far less clear.

Focus Ireland recognises progress that has been made in delivering more social housing, but things are moving far too slowly for the over 4,000 children who are homeless in Ireland.

Their lives should not be put on hold while the Government responds defensively when offered a pathway to a much more effective approach to providing homes in the social, affordable, and home-ownership sectors.

Mr Allen added: While it is positive that more social housing has been provided in the past year, and new targets are to be set, it remains a stark reality that homelessness has increased every month.

A key reason for the rising figures is that not enough of the new social housing allocations go to families and individuals trapped in emergency accommodation for lengthy periods.

Sinn Fein housing spokesman Eoin O Broin said the grim figure was totally unacceptable.

Speaking at Leinster House, he added: But it is also a direct result of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green Party in Government since June 2020.

He said the Government parties were at risk of normalising month-on-month increases.

Their policies and their housing plan is the cause of this rising homelessness crisis and only by getting those parties out of power and having a new government with a new housing plan that focuses on delivering the volume of social and affordable homes that people need, can get to grips with this crisis.
Ireland's tourist season has arrived, and Portlaoise Councillor Marie Tuohy has claimed that when it comes to the countys tourism potential, Laois is 'in the wrong place'.

Laois is without a doubt a midlands county. Were the most landlocked county in the entire country, as we all learned going to school," the Councillor said.

"We are in the heart of the country, superbly positioned you could say at the crossroads of Ireland. But what were not is in the east, on the coast, and therefore we should not be categorised as being part of Irelands Ancient East.

From a tourism perspective its not helpful, in fact its damaging and holding us back, contends Cllr Tuohy.

Cllr Tuohy says she has previously raised the issue with the County Council, and is now seeking the local authorities and relevant representative bodies to consider campaigning for the removal of Laois from the categorisation of 'Ireland's Ancient East', and categorise Laois as part of 'Ireland's Hidden Heartlands'.

Laois has never looked so well thanks to the efforts of groups like Abbeyleix and Portlaoise Tidy Towns," said Cllr Tuohy.

"Their hard work, success and the positive profile they have earned is being squandered by trying to pitch the county as part of Irelands Ancient East. Its a nonsense really and its costing us in terms of tourism opportunities and holding back the potential we have to develop our hospitality product for conferences, day trips, holidays, weekend breaks, outdoor activities and attractions and so on.

Perhaps it was a matter of convenience when the lines were being drawn up for the Wild Atlantic Way, Irelands Ancient East and Irelands Hidden Heartlands, but signage in the Slieve Blooms saying Welcome to Irelands Ancient East is farcical and likewise on the motorways coming into the county.

It needs to be changed, it can be changed and would give us the chance to better promote Laois and make the most of our midlands location, Cllr Tuohy insists.

Pictured: The Rock of Dunamaise, Laois's biggest tourist attraction.

Laois cant compete with the likes of Wicklow, Wexford and Kilkenny who are rightly part of Irelands Ancient East.

We have plenty to offer but its entirely different and by dint of our current designation were not doing ourselves justice or making the most of what our hospitality sector has to offer. We should play to our strengths be proud of our location and not play second fiddle by being pawned-off as part of an area in which we simply dont belong.

Ironically, the Council and the county are part of Midlands Ireland to promote us as a place to live, work, invest, study and visit, so why not for tourism marketing also, argues Cllr Tuohy.

The Councillor has also argued that to measure our progress, we must establish a baseline of tourist numbers by 'benchmarking' where we currently stand on the Failte Ireland tourism table.

Where does Laois rank on the tourism table? How can we improve and attract more tourists to visit and discover Laois?" the Cllr questioned.

"Towns like Mountmellick and Portarlington would surely benefit from having a hotel or more visitor accommodation considering their proximity to the Slieve Blooms and the boglands being developed as activity and nature amenities.

But first I think we need to stake our claim in the midlands and stop this pretence that we are located in Irelands East. Id welcome the views and further feedback from those working and investing in tourism in Laois," Cllr Tuohy finished.
A bench warrant was issued for a Kildare womans arrest in relation to an alleged domestic violence case which was due to be heard in Naas District Court.

The woman was the subject of a protection order brought against her by a male (the exact nature of their relationship was not disclosed before the court), and was due to appear before Judge Desmond Zaidan on Thursday, May 23 last.

Gardai claimed that the woman breached the order back in 2023.

The alleged injured party was present in court on the date in question.

Defending solicitor Brian Larkin told the judge that his client was out of the country at present, but added that she would return to Ireland shortly.

As the woman was absent from the court, Judge Zaidan decided to issue a bench warrant for her arrest.

If you have been affected by this article, you can find resources to help you by contacting Men's Aid at 01 554 3811 or emailing hello@mensaid.ie, or by contacting Women's Aid at 1800 341 900 or emailing helpline@womensaid.ie

Additionally, you can find resources to help you by emailing Samaritans Ireland at jo@samaritans.ie, or by ringing 116 123.
A County Kildare TD and former soldier has given his thoughts on the possibility of The Curragh military prison reopening.

It was reported by TheJournal.ie earlier this week that a Department of Justice spokesperson has confirmed that The Curragh facility was being examined by Minister Helen McEntee and her officials.

In the late 1990s The Curragh Prison was taken over by the Irish Prison Service, and before that, it was formerly the Military Detention Unit, dating from 1869.

The site acted as a civilian prison until 2003.

The Leinster Leader asked Independent TD Dr Cathal Berry, who previously served as a Commandant in the Armed Ranger Wing, about his views on the matter.

Dr Berry TD responded: "(I have) no objection to the principle of the prison being occupied again as it was previously used by the Irish Prison Service in the past.

"There would be some practical issues that would need to be addressed in advance though.

"There are about 65 cells in total in the complex, but the Prison Service will need to spend some money to bring them up to an acceptable standard."

He continued: "Supervised visiting protocols will also have to be agreed with the Defence Forces to ensure that visitors arent allowed wander around a busy operational military facility prior to and after their visit."

"So, no objection to the principle of this proposal once the practical issues are worked through and the Defence Forces consent to handing the facility over again," Dr Berry TD concluded.
Greyhound Racing Ireland has announced a donation of 10,000, raised from the recent Jerseys At The Dogs Nationwide Bucket Collection to the Dillon Quirke Foundation.

The funds were presented at Limerick Greyhound Stadium by Tim Lucey, CEO of Greyhound Racing Ireland, to Dan Quirke, representing the Dillon Quirke Foundation.

The collection was held over the week of the April 1 to April 7, with greyhound racing fans and staff encouraged to wear their club or county jerseys in honour of Dillon and donate what they could at the turnstiles.

The funds raised will help to deliver cardiac screening to over one hundred children currently being screened as part of the nationwide campaign.

Tim Lucey, CEO of Greyhound Racing Ireland, commented, We are immensely proud to support the Dillon Quirke Foundation. The participation and generosity from all the stadia involved demonstrate the strong sense of community within the greyhound racing world. We hope these funds will help the foundation continue its important cardiac screening work of young GAA players nationwide and continue to honour Dillons memory.

Dan Quirke expressed gratitude on behalf of the Dillon Quirke Foundation, saying, We are deeply appreciative of Greyhound Racing Irelands support. The funds raised will go a long way in furthering our mission and ensuring Dillons legacy lives on.

The foundation was set up in honour of Dillon, who collapsed during a hurling match and died of SADS on the August 5 2022 in Semple Stadium, Thurles.

Sudden Adult Death Syndrome (SADS) claims 100 young lives each year in Ireland and the foundation was created with the aim of raising awareness and setting up a screening programme which will screen every player, both male and female, from 12 years of age upwards.
Bodycams would have greatly assisted gardai investigating the Dublin riot, the commissioner has said.

The technology, being actively trialled in Ireland for the first time on Friday, allows gardai to record their interactions with the public for evidence-gathering purposes.

One hundred frontline gardai in Dublin have been trained in the use of the cameras.

Gardai from Pearse Street, Kevin Street and Store Street stations are now able to use the technology as part of a pilot scheme.

It is anticipated that up to 400 frontline gardai in Dublin will be fully trained in their use by the end of June.

The introduction of bodycams was recommended by the Future of Policing Commission and has long been sought by garda unions.

However, critics have warned that the introduction of the technology without proper safeguards could significantly infringe on the fundamental rights of citizens.

Police services in other jurisdictions, including Northern Ireland, have been using bodycams for years.

An Garda Siochana said its phased proof-of-concept trial on several different types of bodycam.

The trial will test the technical capabilities of each camera, how they will be used operationally and the implications for training and governance of their use.

Speaking on Friday, Commissioner Drew Harris said the pilot phase was an important milestone for the organisations drive for further information-led policing.

He said the cameras will act as important evidentiary tools.

He added: International experience has also shown that body-worn cameras will increase safety for gardai and the public.

Now through this proof of concept we will be able to refine our systems and processes for Body Worn Cameras based on experience and feedback.

Mr Harris said the use of the devices will be part of gardais overall investigative strategy to deal with political extremism that develops into offences like assault and intimidation.

Asked how the technology would have assisted in investigating the Dublin riot, he said that cameras have been shown to temper behaviour.

He said it would have given gardai more footage of the early stages of the disorder, including verbal abuse and extreme language not captured in muted CCTV footage.

He added: The audio betrays the intent of the individual so it would have been of great assistance.

Footage will be saved on the devices own encrypted internal storage system before being uploaded at a garda station at the end of the members shift.

It is envisaged that the footage could be used to support investigations and prosecutions.

Gardai said footage will be deleted after an agreed time period if it is not being used as evidence.

An Garda Siochana believes that the cameras will improve safety for members, enhance accountability and result in fewer complaints of misconduct and challenges to arrests.

Additionally, it said it will save time and lower costs in investigations and court appearances.

Gardai will not need to inform the public that they have turned the recording on.

It is estimated that the value of the entire proof of concept trial for the technology and associated services will be 2.1 million euro.

Taoiseach Simon Harris and Justice Minister Helen McEntee visited Store Street Garda Station to inspect the technology on Friday.

Mr Harris said the cameras are an important tool that will keep Irish streets safe and help protect gardai.

He added: Its been a long frustration of many people in this country that it often seems that the only person at the scene of a crime or a protest without a camera has been a guard.

Ms McEntee said she wanted to see bodycams on gardai the length and breadth of the country.

The proposed trial was cautiously welcomed by the Irish Council of Civil Liberties (ICCL) when it was first announced.

However, the council said there was a need to be careful in ensuring adequate safeguards are put in place to protect peoples fundamental rights and cautioned against a later national rollout becoming a predetermined outcome.

The ICCL said it was concerned over the direct impact on peoples right to privacy and other civil liberties like freedom of assembly.

It has requested that the cameras be limited for use in specific circumstances rather than blanket surveillance.

In a statement, it said: There is a heavy onus on the government and gardai to prove through these pilot programmes that any benefits from their use justify the risks and costs.

It added: This cant be a mere box-ticking exercise.

An Garda Siochana said the technology will be in compliance with GDPR legislation and captured data will be stored in accordance with relevant directives.

It said said it will continue to engage with stakeholders and communities as it develops its codes of practices around the cameras.

The pilot roll-out of bodycams will continue later this year in Limerick and Waterford.

The trial will inform decisions on their introduction in Garda Stations nationwide which, if approved, is expected to take up until 2026 to be completed.

A new garda uniform was introduced in August 2022 and jackets issued at the time do not allow for the bodycams to be attached.

It means that gardai using the cameras will need to be issued new jackets to be able to attach the small, lightweight devices.

Asked about this process, a garda spokesman said the process of issuing all gardai with clothing capable of carrying cameras is already under way and that new jackets would normally be issued approximately every two years anyway.
Garda bodycams may not record audio for the first 30 seconds of a saved video when fully introduced, according to the Commissioner.

Commissioner Drew Harris said whether that functionality is to the operational benefit of gardai is being tested.

The technology, being actively trialled in Ireland for the first time on Friday, allows gardai to record their interactions with the public for evidence-gathering purposes.

Critics have warned that the introduction of the technology without proper safeguards could significantly infringe on the fundamental rights of citizens.

The trial will test the technical capabilities of each camera, how they will be used operationally and the implications for training and governance of their use.

The devices record lengthy video and audio from the moment they are activated by gardai but are also capable of attaching up to 30 seconds of footage that was captured prior to the device being fully activated.

It is able to do this by constantly capturing a buffer of 30 seconds which is overwritten on a live, rolling basis.

It means that the devices are effectively always recording but the buffer is not saved if the device is not fully activated by the garda.

In some jurisdictions, police services have requested that audio not be saved or recorded during the buffer period to protect the privacy of officers.

This could mean that pertinent conversations involving the police or members of the public would not be audible on playback for that period despite the video being saved.

Gardai said that one of the things being tested in the trial was whether Ireland would follow suit.

Bodycams being tested at Store Street Garda Station are currently recording audio during the buffer period but other devices to be tested in the pilot phase may not.

Commissioner Drew Harris said: We want to examine that and part of the proof of concept is making sure that we have a camera system which meets our needs.

He added: We want to see what difference this makes  these are big questions to answer.

The Garda Representative Association, which speaks for rank-and-file members, said decisions on the use of an audio buffer is still being considered in the context of the needs of the organisation as well as personnel.
Cllr Felim Gurn said that the construction industry and house building has stalled recently because of construction costs involved for first time builders or those completing a self-build. VAT rates are 23% or for self-build 13.5%.

He said the average house build is 375,000 and if the VAT rate was zero, it would reduce the costs for a self-build by 86,000 or 50,000 on a contractor build and it would incentivise more house building.

Cllr Gurn called on the Minister of Finance, therefore, to remove VAT on house building projects for a period of one year, this measure would bring down the cost for building and be a quick solution to our housing problem.

He said that the big issue on the doorsteps is housing and it's something in Leitrim that hasn't been sorted out in the ten years I've been on the council. It's a huge issue going forward. In our towns, there is no social housing being built and the last housing estates were built in 2007.

He said the government is roughly making 100,000 between the charges and the VAT of a house.

He said he was told that developers are not even going to banks and instead are going to pension funds, vulture funds and investors.

What we're seeing is no activity whatsoever in the housing market. There are jobs here but we have a serious housing crisis. I'm suggesting that there is zero VAT for a year to kickstart the Irish construction industry.

Cllr Des Guckian seconded the motion and said VAT should be abolished.

Cathaoirleach Cllr Justin Warnock suggested sending the motion to other local authorities.
Cllr Enda Stenson sought the support of the members of Leitrim County Council in calling on Minister Roderic O'Gorman, to provide a proper source of funding to community groups to enable them to acquire or fund the purchase of premises, needed at present, to cope with the current demand for childcare.

Cllr Stenson said that a childcare facility was needed "urgently but it has to be funded; how can groups fund them otherwise?"

He said there are 150 on a waiting list now in Mohill for that childcare facility.

A nationwide survey recently found that parents could be waiting up to three years for a creche place for their child and 220 creches around the country found that just 35% of areas currently have creche places available.

Cllr Mary Bohan supported the motion saying the demand for childcare is one of the most pressing issues at the moment. Parents are putting their children's names on a list before they are even born and that's happening everywhere in the county.

She said she spoke to two nurses who are currently on maternity leave and don't know what they are going to do when they go back to work.

Cllr Felim Gurn said that childcare is a huge issue on the doorsteps where one parent may have to stay at home in a situation where they have a big mortgage to pay and they are looking at us to come up with solutions. There will have to be funding for childcare facilities.

He added that grandparents are now having to step in due to the lack of services.

Cllr Paddy Farrell also supported the motion and said the childcare costs have spiralled in recent years.

Cllr Des Guckian said there is a childcare crisis in Ireland at the moment and that some childcare providers are considering closing down due to issues such as a shortage of funding; the amount that each facility gets per child has not increased in years.

Cllr Padraig Fallon and Cllr Brendan Barry also supported the motion with Cllr Barry saying that he knew of someone whose child has been on a waiting list for three years.

He added, "there are a lot of very good childminders in Leitrim who are not registered and providing a very good service. There is talk of the department forcing them to register and all the additional paperwork, etc. that will be forced upon them; I'm hearing a lot of them will withdraw from providing those services if this happens.

Cllr Sean McDermott and Cllr Sean McGowan also supported the motion with Cllr McGowan saying that those providing the service are at their wit's end trying to keep the facility going.
I'm hoping that, between now and next Christmas, that we bring in a forum to bring in consultation between financiers, developers, builders, engineers and architects and planning to deal with the unique housing issues in Leitrim, said Cllr Enda McGloin who called on the local authority to consider adopting a private housing strategy for the county.

Such a strategy needs to address our current lack of private and affordable new housing which would be considered by the local authority for adoption before the end of this calendar year, he said.

He said there was a lack of enthusiasm by developers to build new homes in our county with the exception of Carrick-on-Shannon. This will adversely affect our potential to bring jobs and investment to Leitrim.

Cllr McGloin said he was speaking to people who can't find the right kind of houses. The real issue is the cost of second hand houses that are around 270,000. The cost to build the same brand house can go up to 400,000 and most developers feel that is not within their reach. So we have jobs but we don't have places to put people.

He stressed that with the county at more or less full employment, the local authority must encourage developers towards planning applications to the land that is zoned and available.

He continued that there is a lack of economic feasibility to break ground in this county and develop new housing.

He concluded that if new houses are not built, any jobs that come our way, we simply won't be able to get people because they can't live in the county.

Cllr Padraig Fallon supported the motion and noted that it was recently reported that about two out of every three firms (62%) have lost employees or had prospective employees not take a job due to lack of affordable housing in Dublin.

He added that this has greatly affected businesses in Leitrim and throughout the country and their potential to grow.

Cllr Felim Gurn also supported the motion as did Cllr Mary Bohan who noted there is a serious shortage of accommodation both in the private and public sector.

Cllr Des Guckian said there needs to be a liberalisation of the policy for building houses in rural areas for local people.

Cllr Brendan Barry said that there have been significant increases in rents in the county with a three-bed semi-detached house on a main road securing 1,400 per month.

I'm wondering why people don't have confidence to try and build when you see the rental is so much above what you would expect a mortgage to cost, he said.

Cllr Enda Stenson also supported the motion stressing there is a need out there for good family houses.

Justin Fannon, Acting Director of Services, said the council has tentatively explored the identification of suitable lands in Carrick-on- Shannon with a view to a potential application to the Department under an Affordable Housing Scheme in the future.

He added they spoke to developers, auctioneers, landowners and can speak to them again regarding affordable housing.

Bernard Greene, Senior Planner, noted that the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage have introduced and extended the waivers for the payment of development contributions until the end of this year and for water connection charges until September.

Mr Greene noted that there are ten houses to be built at Millhill Lawns, Station Road, Manorhamilton with schemes under construction in Ballinamore and Carrick-on-Shannon.

He said there is a view in a lot of towns and said he believed this was down to calls from the local authority in terms of turnkey housing developments where developers see that as risk-free and don't have to go through the whole auctioneering issue.

He added that unless it's subvented, it's down to simple economics; if a developer doesn't feel they'll make the profit, they won't take the risk.

He said that an ever tightening building control regime in terms of the rating of the properties and a shortage of skilled labour to build the houses is also adding to the problem.

Joseph Gilhooly, Interim Chief Executive, said that in relation to employment creation in the county, I think it's important we get balance and not leave the topic thinking it's all doom and gloom here.

He continued that there are a number of factors that people take into account when considering investing in a location and one might be around housing but what we find is it's not different here than anywhere else so we're on a level playing pitch.

He said other considerations taken into account by investors is the available talent pool and there is a strong talent pool in this region.

He noted that in the county, 28% of people are working in a hybrid situation and I can be sure there are a lot of people driving a significant journey part of the week.
Despite Father Ted coming to an end in 1998, many can take a trip down memory lane and relive their favourite scenes by visiting the real-life filming locations dotted around County Clare and Ireland.

From the Parochial House and The Very Dark Caves to St Kevins Stump, Betfair Casino has ranked the top 12 filming locations that have proven to be the most popular to visit.

One of Irelands most astonishing landscapes, The Cliffs of Moher, located in County Clare bagged first place as well as the stunning Fanore Beach. Many will see the beautiful site featured in the episode, Tentacles of Doom, where the Holy Stone of Clonrichert is upgraded by the Vatican.

Meanwhile, as the priests go on holiday in their caravan in the episode Hell, the surrounding areas of Fanore Beach make an appearance - as well as Kilkelly Caravan Park, which also made the top 12 on the list of places to visit.

Inisheer, located in County Galway, followed in second place, as the island is the real location that represents Craggy Island for the opening credit scenes. Known for being a favourite spot for locals in the summer, Lahinch Beach wasnt far behind in third place. The location features in the episode, A Christmassy Ted, where Ted is alone with his thoughts as he takes a walk along the sands.

Idyllic Irish town Ennistymon, also located in County Clare, placed fourth overall, which was used in many episodes . However, it is most well recognised as the setting for the My Lovely Horse music video.

Making the top five was the village Kilfenora, where the episode Speed 3 was filmed. Also in fifth place were Doolins Ferry offices in the picturesque fishing villages harbour - but the offices were actually used for John and Marys shop in the show.

Father Teds House is also a popular destination to visit - and its no wonder why it remains one of the go-to location for fans. While fans of the show used to be able to book their own afternoon tea at the private residence located in Lackareagh, many can still soak up the beautiful surroundings and admire the famous parish house from the outside.

More popular locations that also made the list were The Very Dark Caves - which were filmed in the Aillwee Caves in Ballyvaughan - and the large tree stump, called St Kevins Stump, in Moheramoylan, which Ted and Dougal encounter together.

Top 12 Father Ted filming locations in Ireland (index score created using figures from Google rating, Tripadvisor, and Instagram):
AAR awarded on the USA TODAY America's Best Climate Leaders 2024 list





WOOD DALE, Ill., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AAR CORP. (NYSE: AIR), a leading provider of aviation services to commercial and government operators, MROs, and OEMs, has been awarded on USA TODAY's list of America's Best Climate Leaders 2024. This prestigious award is presented by USA TODAY and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider.

"It is an honor to earn recognition for our efforts on the list of America's Best Climate Leaders for 2024."

The America's Best Climate Leaders of 2024 award is based on a two-step process. In the first phase, application and research, companies either apply online or have the necessary data publicly available. In the second phase, data analysis and scoring, the year-over-year reduction in emissions intensity (compound annual reduction rate) was calculated for all companies meeting the inclusion criteria.

Based on the results of the study, AAR earned recognition on USA TODAY's list of America's Best Climate Leaders 2024. More information is available at usatoday.com.

"I am proud of the advancements AAR has made on our ESG journey. As part of our focus on the environment, we closely monitor environmental impact, monitor climate-related risks, and report data on an annual basis," said Jessica Garascia, AAR's Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Administrative Officer, and Secretary. "It is an honor to earn recognition for our efforts on the list of America's Best Climate Leaders for 2024, and we look forward to continuing to enhance our environment efforts for the future."

For more information on AAR's ESG initiatives and to review the Company's latest ESG summary report, visit https://www.aarcorp.com/en/about/environmental-social-and-governance-esg/.

About AAR

AAR is a global aerospace and defense aftermarket solutions company with operations in over 20 countries. Headquartered in the Chicago area, AAR supports commercial and government customers through four operating segments: Parts Supply, Repair & Engineering, Integrated Solutions, and Expeditionary Services. Additional information can be found at aarcorp.com.

This press release contains certain statements relating to future results, which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which reflect management's expectations about future conditions, including continued focus on ESG initiatives. Forward-looking statements may also be identified because they contain words such as ''anticipate,'' ''believe,'' ''continue,'' ''could,'' ''estimate,'' ''expect,'' ''intend,'' ''likely,'' ''may,'' ''might,'' ''plan,'' ''potential,'' ''predict,'' ''project,'' ''seek,'' ''should,'' ''target,'' ''will,'' ''would,'' or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. These forward-looking statements are based on beliefs of Company management, as well as assumptions and estimates based on information currently available to the Company, and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results or those anticipated. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, refer to "Risk Factors" in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize adversely, or should underlying assumptions or estimates prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described. These events and uncertainties are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many are beyond the Company's control. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.

Contact:

Media Team

+1-630-227-5100

[email protected]

SOURCE AAR CORP.

30 may 2024 at 16:05

News published onand distributed by:
Endo Provides Select First-Quarter 2024 Financial Results for Endo International plc





MALVERN, Pa., May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Endo, Inc. ("Endo" or the "Company"), a newly formed entity that recently acquired (the "Acquisition") substantially all of the assets of Endo International plc ("EIP") as contemplated by EIP's plan of reorganization (the "Plan"), today made select first-quarter 2024 financial results for EIP available to investors. EIP's first-quarter financial results were in-line with its previously provided expectations.

Endo is providing the following historical financial information of EIP because, from Endo's formation through March 31, 2024, it had no operations, business transactions or activities other than those incidental to its formation or taken in contemplation of the Plan (including the Acquisition). Endo had no other assets or liabilities during the periods presented in this release. The following historical financial information of EIP does not give effect to the transactions contemplated by the Plan or the application of fresh start accounting expected to apply to Endo's financial information beginning in the second quarter of 2024.

EIP FIRST-QUARTER FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

(in thousands)



Three Months Ended March 31,





2024

2023

Change Total Revenues, Net $ 419,507

$ 515,267

(19) % Reported Net Loss $ (154,230)

$ (3,279)

NM Adjusted Net Income (a) $ 131,415

$ 193,328

(32) % Adjusted EBITDA (a) $ 146,302

$ 209,030

(30) %

__________ (a) The information presented in the table above includes non-GAAP financial measures such as Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA. Refer to the "Supplemental Financial Information" section below for reconciliations of certain non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures.

EIP CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RESULTS

Total revenues were $420 million in first-quarter 2024, a decrease of 19% compared to $515 million in first-quarter 2023. This decrease was primarily attributable to decreased revenues from the Generic Pharmaceuticals segment.

Reported Net Loss in first-quarter 2024 was $154 million compared to reported Net Loss of $3 million in first-quarter 2023. This change was primarily due to increased expenses related to the Chapter 11 reorganization process and decreased revenues.

Adjusted Net Income in first-quarter 2024 was $131 million compared to $193 million in first-quarter 2023. This change was primarily driven by decreased revenues.

BRANDED PHARMACEUTICALS SEGMENT

First-quarter 2024 Branded Pharmaceuticals segment revenues were $201 million compared to $198 million during first-quarter 2023.

Specialty Products revenues increased 4% to $148 million in first-quarter 2024 compared to $142 million in first-quarter 2023. This change was primarily due to an increase in XIAFLEX revenues, partially offset by a decrease in SUPPRELIN LA revenues mainly driven by lower volumes. First-quarter 2024 XIAFLEX revenues were $113 million, an increase of 17% compared to $97 million during first-quarter 2023 driven by increased net selling price and increased volumes.

STERILE INJECTABLES SEGMENT

First-quarter 2024 Sterile Injectables segment revenues were $98 million, a decrease of 3% compared to $101 million during first-quarter 2023. This decrease was primarily attributable to competitive pressure on a number of products and was partially offset by increased VASOSTRICT and ADRENALIN revenues driven by higher volumes.

GENERIC PHARMACEUTICALS SEGMENT

First-quarter 2024 Generic Pharmaceuticals segment revenues were $103 million, a decrease of 48% compared to $198 million during first-quarter 2023. This decrease was primarily attributable to competitive pressure on varenicline tablets, the generic version of Chantix, and dexlansoprazole delayed release capsules, the generic version of Dexilant, partially offset by increased revenues from lidocaine patch 5%, the generic version of LIDODERM.

INTERNATIONAL PHARMACEUTICALS SEGMENT

First-quarter 2024 International Pharmaceuticals segment revenues were $17 million compared to $18 million during first-quarter 2023.

CASH, CASH FLOW AND OTHER UPDATES

As of March 31, 2024, EIP had approximately $641 million in unrestricted cash and cash equivalents. First-quarter 2024 net cash provided by operating activities was approximately $26 million compared to approximately $62 million net cash provided by operating activities during first-quarter 2023. This change was primarily driven by decreased revenues.

2024 FINANCIAL EXPECTATIONS

Endo is providing financial guidance for the full-year ending December 31, 2024, which guidance includes EIP's financial results prior to the Acquisition. All expectations provided by Endo, which are unchanged from expectations previously provided by EIP, are forward-looking and actual results may differ materially and adversely from such expectations, as further discussed below under the heading "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements."



Full-Year 2024 ($ in millions)

Total Revenues, Net $1,685 - $1,770 Adjusted EBITDA $615 - $645 Assumptions:

Segment Revenues:

Branded Pharmaceuticals $860 - $905 Sterile Injectables $370 - $390 Generic Pharmaceuticals $395 - $415 International Pharmaceuticals ~$60 Adjusted Gross Margin as a Percentage of Total Revenues, Net ~67% Adjusted Operating Expenses $585 - $605

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

Endo will host a conference call to discuss this press release tomorrow, May 31, 2024, at 8:30 a.m. ET for registered holders of its debt and equity securities. There are three ways to join the call:

Phone link to register and receive an automatic callback when conference call begins: https://emportal.ink/4bj94IH

Phone dial-in number with operator support: 800-836-8184 (U.S. and Canada toll-free) or 646-357-8785

toll-free) or 646-357-8785 Webcast: https://app.webinar.net/YmzKP3Ylp79

Please dial in 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.

Dexilant is a registered trademark of Takeda Pharmaceutical U.S.A., Inc.

Chantix is a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc.

LIDODERM is a registered trademark of Endo, Inc.

FINANCIAL SCHEDULES

The following table presents Endo International plc's unaudited Total revenues, net for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (dollars in thousands):



Three Months Ended March 31,

Percent

Growth

2024

2023

Branded Pharmaceuticals:









Specialty Products:









XIAFLEX $ 113,049

$ 96,910

17 % SUPPRELIN LA 20,135

23,577

(15) % Other Specialty (1) 15,219

21,694

(30) % Total Specialty Products $ 148,403

$ 142,181

4 % Established Products:









PERCOCET $ 24,544

$ 26,056

(6) % TESTOPEL 10,491

10,989

(5) % Other Established (2) 17,358

18,347

(5) % Total Established Products $ 52,393

$ 55,392

(5) % Total Branded Pharmaceuticals (3) $ 200,796

$ 197,573

2 % Sterile Injectables:









ADRENALIN $ 27,367

$ 25,575

7 % VASOSTRICT 26,953

25,951

4 % Other Sterile Injectables (4) 43,914

49,729

(12) % Total Sterile Injectables (3) $ 98,234

$ 101,255

(3) % Total Generic Pharmaceuticals (5) $ 103,317

$ 198,180

(48) % Total International Pharmaceuticals (6) $ 17,160

$ 18,259

(6) % Total revenues, net $ 419,507

$ 515,267

(19) %

__________ (1) Products included within Other Specialty include AVEED and NASCOBAL Nasal Spray. (2) Products included within Other Established include, but are not limited to, EDEX. (3) Individual products presented above represent the top two performing products in each product category for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and/or any product having revenues in excess of $25 million during any completed quarterly period in 2024 or 2023. (4) No individual product within Other Sterile Injectables has exceeded 5% of consolidated total revenues for the periods presented. (5) The Generic Pharmaceuticals segment is comprised of a portfolio of products that are generic versions of branded products, are distributed primarily through the same wholesalers, generally have limited or no intellectual property protection and are sold within the U.S. For the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023, Dexlansoprazole delayed release capsules (the generic version of Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc.'s Dexilant), which launched in November 2022, made up 5% and 6%, respectively, of consolidated total revenues. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, Lidocaine patch 5% (the generic version of LIDODERM), made up 7% of consolidated total revenues. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, varenicline tablets (the generic version of Pfizer Inc.'s Chantix), which launched in September 2021, made up 15% of consolidated total revenues. No other individual product within this segment has exceeded 5% of consolidated total revenues for the periods presented. (6) The International Pharmaceuticals segment, which accounted for less than 5% of consolidated total revenues for each of the periods presented, includes a variety of specialty pharmaceutical products sold outside the U.S., primarily in Canada through EIP's operating company Paladin Labs Inc.

The following table presents unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations data of Endo International plc for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):



Three Months Ended March 31,

2024

2023 TOTAL REVENUES, NET $ 419,507

$ 515,267 COSTS AND EXPENSES:





Cost of revenues 199,013

232,742 Selling, general and administrative 130,068

150,793 Research and development 25,902

27,703 Acquired in-process research and development 750

? Litigation-related and other contingencies, net ?

15,200 Asset impairment charges 304

146 Acquisition-related and integration items, net 621

397 Interest expense, net ?

109 Reorganization items, net 203,046

85,352 Other expense (income), net 5,755

(125) (LOSS) INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAX $ (145,952)

$ 2,950 INCOME TAX EXPENSE 7,882

5,773 LOSS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS $ (153,834)

$ (2,823) DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX (396)

(456) NET LOSS $ (154,230)

$ (3,279)

The following table presents unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet data of Endo International plc at March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023 (in thousands):



March 31, 2024

December 31, 2023 ASSETS





CURRENT ASSETS:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 641,373

$ 777,919 Restricted cash and cash equivalents 250,476

167,702 Accounts receivable 364,081

386,919 Inventories, net 265,985

246,017 Other current assets 106,687

89,944 Total current assets $ 1,628,602

$ 1,668,501 TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS 3,321,173

3,468,793 TOTAL ASSETS $ 4,949,775

$ 5,137,294 LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT





CURRENT LIABILITIES:





Accounts payable and accrued expenses, including legal settlement accruals $ 492,812

$ 537,736 Other current liabilities 2,736

1,058 Total current liabilities $ 495,548

$ 538,794 OTHER LIABILITIES 105,684

100,192 LIABILITIES SUBJECT TO COMPROMISE 11,103,258

11,095,868 SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT (6,754,715)

(6,597,560) TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT $ 4,949,775

$ 5,137,294

The following table presents unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flow data of Endo International plc for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):



Three Months Ended March 31,

2024

2023 OPERATING ACTIVITIES:





Net loss $ (154,230)

$ (3,279) Adjustments to reconcile Net loss to Net cash provided by operating activities:





Depreciation and amortization 74,527

77,873 Asset impairment charges 304

146 Non-cash reorganization items, net 150,948

? Other, including cash payments to claimants from Qualified Settlement Funds (45,755)

(12,644) Net cash provided by operating activities $ 25,794

$ 62,096 INVESTING ACTIVITIES:





Capital expenditures, excluding capitalized interest $ (16,602)

$ (31,280) Acquisitions, including in-process research and development, net of cash and restricted cash acquired (705)

? Proceeds from sale of business and other assets 1,565

978 Other 5,324

8,938 Net cash used in investing activities $ (10,463)

$ (21,364) FINANCING ACTIVITIES:





Payments on borrowings, including certain adequate protection payments, net (a) $ (152,343)

$ (144,508) Other (976)

(207) Net cash used in financing activities $ (153,319)

$ (144,715) Effect of foreign exchange rate (784)

394 NET DECREASE IN CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, RESTRICTED CASH AND RESTRICTED

CASH EQUIVALENTS $ (138,772)

$ (103,589) CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, RESTRICTED CASH AND RESTRICTED CASH EQUIVALENTS,

BEGINNING OF PERIOD 1,030,621

1,249,241 CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS, RESTRICTED CASH AND RESTRICTED CASH EQUIVALENTS,

END OF PERIOD $ 891,849

$ 1,145,652

__________ (a) Beginning during the third quarter of 2022, Endo International plc became obligated to make certain adequate protection payments as a result of its previously disclosed Chapter 11 proceedings.

SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company provides certain financial information of Endo International in this release that are not prescribed by or prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Company utilizes these non-GAAP financial measures as supplements to financial measures determined in accordance with GAAP when evaluating operating performance and the Company believes that these measures will be used by certain investors to evaluate operating results. The Company believes that presenting these non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information about performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding certain items, which may be favorable or unfavorable, as more fully described in the reconciliation tables below.

Despite the importance of these measures to management in goal setting and performance measurement, the Company stresses that these are non-GAAP financial measures that have no standardized meaning prescribed by GAAP and, therefore, have limits in their usefulness to investors. Because of the non-standardized definitions, non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA and non-GAAP adjusted net income (unlike GAAP net income and its components) may differ from, and may not be comparable to, the calculation of similar measures of other companies. These non-GAAP financial measures are presented solely to permit investors to more fully understand how management assesses performance.

These non-GAAP financial measures should not be viewed in isolation or as substitutes for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures used in this press release to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. However, the Company does not provide reconciliations of projected non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP financial measures, nor does it provide comparable projected GAAP financial measures for such projected non-GAAP financial measures. The Company is unable to provide such reconciliations without unreasonable efforts due to the inherent difficulty in forecasting and quantifying certain amounts that are necessary for such reconciliations, including adjustments that could be made for asset impairments, contingent consideration adjustments, legal settlements, gain / loss on extinguishment of debt, adjustments to inventory and other charges reflected in the reconciliation of historic numbers, the amounts of which could be significant.

The tables below provide reconciliations of certain of the non-GAAP financial measures included in this release to their most directly comparable GAAP metrics. Refer to the "Notes to the Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures" section below for additional details regarding the adjustments to the non-GAAP financial measures detailed throughout this Supplemental Financial Information section.

Reconciliation of Net Loss (GAAP) to EBITDA (non-GAAP) and Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP)

The following table provides a reconciliation of Net loss (GAAP) to Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):



Three Months Ended March 31,

2024

2023 Net loss (GAAP) $ (154,230)

$ (3,279) Income tax expense 7,882

5,773 Interest expense, net ?

109 Depreciation and amortization (1) 74,527

77,873 EBITDA (non-GAAP) $ (71,821)

$ 80,476 Amounts related to continuity and separation benefits, cost reductions and strategic review

initiatives (2) 4,961

11,673 Certain litigation-related and other contingencies, net (3) ?

15,200 Certain legal costs (4) 2,069

1,560 Asset impairment charges (5) 304

146 Fair value of contingent consideration (6) 621

397 Share-based compensation (1) ?

2,091 Other expense (income), net (7) 5,755

(125) Reorganization items, net (8) 203,046

85,352 Other (9) 971

11,804 Discontinued operations, net of tax (10) 396

456 Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) (13) $ 146,302

$ 209,030

Reconciliation of Net Loss (GAAP) to Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP)

The following table provides a reconciliation of the Endo International plc's Net Loss (GAAP) to Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP) for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands):



Three Months Ended March 31,

2024

2023 Net Loss (GAAP) $ (154,230)

$ (3,279) Non-GAAP adjustments:





Amortization of intangible assets (11) 61,908

65,256 Amounts related to continuity and separation benefits, cost reductions and strategic review

initiatives (2) 4,961

11,673 Certain litigation-related and other contingencies, net (3) ?

15,200 Certain legal costs (4) 2,069

1,560 Asset impairment charges (5) 304

146 Fair value of contingent consideration (6) 621

397 Reorganization items, net (8) 203,046

85,352 Discontinued operations, net of tax (10) 396

456 Other (9) 4,848

12,089 Tax adjustments (12) 7,492

4,478 Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP) (13) $ 131,415

$ 193,328

Reconciliation of Select Other Adjusted Income Statement Data (non-GAAP)

The following tables provide detailed reconciliations of select other income statement data for Endo International between the GAAP and non-GAAP amounts for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 (in thousands, except per share data):



Three Months Ended March 31, 2024

Cost of

revenues

Gross

profit (a)

Gross margin (a)

Total operating

expenses (b)

Reorganization

items, net

Other expense

(income), net

Income tax

expense Reported (GAAP) $ 199,013

$ 220,494

52.6 %

$ 157,645

$ 203,046

$ 5,755

$ 7,882 Adjustments:

























Amortization of intangible assets (11) (61,908)

61,908





?

?

?

? Amounts related to continuity and separation benefits,

cost reductions and strategic review

initiatives (2) (3,623)

3,623





(1,338)

?

?

? Certain legal costs (4) ?

?





(2,069)

?

?

? Asset impairment charges (5) ?

?





(304)

?

?

? Fair value of contingent consideration (6) ?

?





(621)

?

?

? Reorganization items, net (8) ?

?





?

(203,046)

?

? Other (9) (125)

125





(846)

?

(3,877)

? Tax adjustments (12) ?

?





?

?

?

(7,492) Non-GAAP (13) $ 133,357

$ 286,150

68.2 %

$ 152,467

$ ?

$ 1,878

$ 390



Three Months Ended March 31, 2023

Cost of

revenues

Gross

profit (a)

Gross

margin (a)

Total operating

expenses (b)

Reorganization items, net

Other expense

(income), net

Income tax expense Reported (GAAP) $ 232,742

$ 282,525

54.8 %

$ 194,239

$ 85,336

$ (125)

$ 5,773 Adjustments:

























Amortization of intangible assets (11) (65,256)

65,256





?

?

?

? Amounts related to continuity and separation benefits, cost

reductions and strategic review initiatives (2) (1,982)

1,982





(9,691)

?

?

? Certain litigation-related and other contingencies, net (3) ?

?





(15,200)

?

?

? Certain legal costs (4) ?

?





(1,560)

?

?

? Asset impairment charges (5) ?

?





(146)

?

?

? Fair value of contingent consideration (6) ?

?





(397)

?

?

? Reorganization items, net (8) ?

?





?

(85,352)

?

? Other (9) (653)

653





(11,152)

?

(284)

? Tax adjustments (12) ?

?





?

?

?

(4,478) Non-GAAP (13) $ 164,851

$ 350,416

68.0 %

$ 156,093

$ ?

$ (409)

$ 1,295

__________ (a) Gross profit is calculated as total revenues less cost of revenues. Gross margin is calculated as gross profit divided by total revenues. Adjusted gross profit is calculated as total revenues less adjusted cost of sales. Adjusted gross margin is calculated as adjusted gross profit divided by total revenues. (b) Total operating expenses is calculated as the total of: (i) Selling, general and administrative; (ii) Research and development; (iii) Acquired in-process research and development; (iv) Litigation-related and other contingencies, net; (v) Asset impairment charges; and (vi) Acquisition related and integration items, net.

Notes to the Reconciliations of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Notes to certain line items included in the reconciliations of the GAAP financial measures to the non-GAAP financial measures for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2023 are as follows: (1) Depreciation and amortization and Share-based compensation amounts per the Adjusted EBITDA reconciliations do not include amounts reflected in other lines of the reconciliations, including Amounts related to continuity and separation benefits, cost reductions and strategic review initiatives. (2) Adjustments for amounts related to continuity and separation benefits, cost reductions and strategic review initiatives included the following (in thousands):



Three Months Ended March 31,

2024

2023

Cost of

revenues

Operating expenses

Cost of

revenues

Operating

expenses Continuity and separation benefits $ 3,623

$ 1,338

$ 1,124

$ 9,673 Inventory adjustments ?

?

267

? Other, including strategic review initiatives ?

?

591

18 Total $ 3,623

$ 1,338

$ 1,982

$ 9,691



The amounts in the tables above include adjustments related to previously announced restructuring activities, certain continuity and transitional compensation arrangements, certain other cost reduction initiatives and certain strategic review initiatives. (3) To exclude adjustments to accruals for litigation-related settlement charges. (4) To exclude amounts related to opioid-related legal expenses. (5) Adjustments for asset impairment charges included in the following (in thousands):







Three Months Ended March 31,

2024

2023 Property, plant and equipment impairment charges $ 304

$ 146





(6) To exclude the impact of changes in the fair value of contingent consideration liabilities resulting from changes to estimates regarding the timing and amount of the future revenues of the underlying products and changes in other assumptions impacting the probability of incurring, and extent to which Endo International plc could incur, related contingent obligations. (7) To exclude Other expense (income), net per the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations. (8) Amounts relate to the net expense or income recognized during Endo International plc's bankruptcy proceedings required to be presented as Reorganization items, net under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 852, Reorganizations. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, this amount includes approximately $150.5 million of adequate protection payments. For the three months ended March 31, 2023, approximately $142.9 million of adequate protection payments were reflected as a reduction to the carrying value of the related debt instruments. (9) The "Other" row included in the above reconciliation of Net Loss (GAAP) to Adjusted Net Income (non-GAAP) includes the following adjustments:







Three Months Ended March 31,

2024

2023

Cost of

revenues

Operating

expenses

Other

non-operating

expenses

Cost of

revenues

Operating

expenses

Other

non-operating

expenses Foreign currency impact related to the re-measurement of

intercompany debt instruments $ ?

$ ?

$ (2,123)

$ ?

$ ?

$ 284 Other miscellaneous 125

846

6,000

653

11,152

? Total $ 125

$ 846

$ 3,877

$ 653

$ 11,152

$ 284



The "Other" row included in the above reconciliation of Net loss (GAAP) to Adjusted EBITDA (non-GAAP) includes the adjustments in the "Cost of revenues" and "Operating expenses" columns. The adjustments in the other non-operating expenses column are included in the Other expense (income), net row, further explained in footnote 7. (10) To exclude the results of the businesses reported as discontinued operations, net of tax. (11) To exclude amortization expense related to intangible assets. (12) Adjusted income taxes are calculated by tax effecting adjusted pre-tax income and permanent book-tax differences at the applicable effective tax rate that will be determined by reference to statutory tax rates in the relevant jurisdictions in which Endo International plc operates. Adjusted income taxes include current and deferred income tax expense commensurate with the non-GAAP measure of profitability. (13) Amounts of Acquired in-process research and development charges included within these non-GAAP financial measures are set forth in the table below (in thousands):







Three Months Ended March 31,

2024

2023 Acquired in-process research and development charges $ 750

$ ?

SEC Review

Endo has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") to effectuate its previously announced goal of listing its common stock on a national stock exchange. The registration statement includes a description of Endo's business, financial and other information, some of which is included in this press release. Comments by the SEC on the registration statement may require modification or reformulation of the description of Endo's business. As a result, financial information that Endo presents in the future may differ in presentation or calculation from the information presented herein. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Any offers, solicitations or offers to buy, or any sales of securities will be made in accordance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

About Endo

Endo is a diversified specialty pharmaceutical company boldly transforming insights into life-enhancing therapies. Our passionate team members collaborate to develop and deliver these essential medicines. Together, we are committed to helping everyone we serve live their best life. Learn more at www.endo.com or connect with us on LinkedIn.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release includes certain statements, claims, estimates, predictions and other information prepared and provided by Endo with respect to the anticipated future performance of Endo and its subsidiaries. Such statements include or are based on "forward looking statements" including, but not limited to, statements relating to financial expectations or guidance and any other statements that refer to expected, estimated or anticipated future results or that do not relate solely to historical facts. Statements including words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "estimates," "plan," "will," "may," "look forward," "intends," "guidance," "future," "potential" or similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Because these statements reflect Endo's current views, expectations and beliefs concerning future events, they involve risks and uncertainties, some of which Endo may not currently be able to predict. Although Endo believes that these forward-looking statements and other information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, readers should not place undue reliance on these or any other forward-looking statements and information. Actual results may differ materially and adversely from current expectations based on a number of factors, including, among other things, the following: the effects of the emergence of EIP's operating assets from the Chapter 11 financial restructuring process, including as it relates to the accounting for the effects of the Plan and the application of fresh start accounting; changes in competitive, market or regulatory conditions; changes in legislation or regulations; the ability to obtain and maintain adequate protection for intellectual property rights; the impacts of competition such as those related to XIAFLEX; the timing and uncertainty of the results of both the research and development and regulatory processes; health care and cost containment reforms, including government pricing, tax and reimbursement policies; the performance including the approval, introduction and consumer and physician acceptance of current and new products; the ability to develop and expand our product pipeline and to continue to develop the market for XIAFLEX and other branded or unbranded products; the effectiveness of advertising and other promotional campaigns; and the timely and successful implementation of any strategic priorities. Endo assumes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws.

Copies of the Company's press releases and additional information about the Company are available at www.endo.com or you can contact the Company's Investor Relations Department at [email protected].

SOURCE Endo, Inc.

SOURCE Endo, Inc.

30 may 2024 at 16:30

News published onand distributed by:
NASA Welcomes Slovakia as New Artemis Accords Signatory





WASHINGTON, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Slovakia signed the Artemis Accords Thursday during a ceremony hosted by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson at the agency's headquarters in Washington, becoming the 42nd nation to join an international community in a commitment to peaceful, transparent, and responsible exploration of space for the benefit of all.

"NASA welcomes Slovakia as the newest signatory of the Artemis Accords," said Nelson. "The United States and Slovakia share a deep understanding of the power of exploration. Through this new chapter in our nations' partnership, we will further this global coalition to explore the cosmos openly, responsibly, in peace."

Toma? Drucker, Minister of Education, Research, Development, and Youth signed the Accords on behalf of Slovakia. Sonata Coulter, deputy assistant secretary for the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, U.S. State Department, and Radovan Javorcik, ambassador of the Slovak Republic to the U.S., also participated in the signing ceremony.

"Slovakia perceives the Artemis Accords as a great opportunity for this generation to positively define guidelines and principles for the responsible and sustainable exploration and use of outer space," said Drucker.

Earlier Thursday, Peru became the 41st country to sign the Artemis Accords. The United States and seven other nations were the first to sign the Artemis Accords in 2020, which identified an early set of principles promoting the beneficial use of space for all humanity. The accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements including the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data.

Several accords signatories also met face-to-face for a workshop in May to continue implementing the principles. The commitments of the Artemis Accords, and the efforts by the signatories to advance implementation of these principles, support NASA's Artemis campaign with its partners, as well as for the success of the safe and sustainable exploration activities of the other Accords signatories.

For more information on the Artemis Accords, visit:

https://www.nasa.gov/artemis-accords

SOURCE NASA

30 may 2024 at 17:02

News published onand distributed by:
Indigo Receives Final Court Approval for Arrangement with Trilogy





TORONTO, May 30, 2024 /CNW/ - Indigo Books & Music Inc. (TSX: IDG) ("Indigo" or the "Company"), Canada's leading book and lifestyle retailer, is pleased to announce that the Company has obtained a final order from the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) approving the previously-announced plan of arrangement in accordance with the Business Corporations Act (Ontario) (the "Arrangement"). Pursuant to the terms of the Arrangement, Trilogy Investments L.P ("TILP") will acquire the approximately 39.4% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Indigo that TILP, Trilogy Retail Holdings Inc. and their respective affiliates and joint actors do not currently own for $2.50 per share in cash.

Receipt of the final order follows Indigo's special meeting of shareholders held on May 27, 2024, where the Arrangement was overwhelmingly approved by over 95% of the votes cast by shareholders of Indigo and by a significant majority of minority shareholders of Indigo. The Arrangement is expected to be effected on or about May 31, 2024, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.

Following completion of the Arrangement, it is anticipated that the common shares of Indigo will be delisted from the Toronto Stock Exchange (the "TSX"). Trilogy also intends to cause Indigo to apply to cease to be a reporting issuer under applicable Canadian securities laws, and to otherwise terminate Indigo's public reporting requirements, following completion of the Arrangement.

About Indigo

Indigo is a publicly traded Canadian company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (IDG). Indigo is Canada's leading book and lifestyle retailer. The Company operates retail stores in all ten provinces and one territory in Canada, and also has retail operations in the United States through a wholly-owned subsidiary, operating one retail store in Short Hills, New Jersey. Retail operations are seamlessly integrated with the Company's digital channels, including the www.indigo.ca website and the mobile applications, which are extensions of the physical stores and offer customers an expanded assortment of book titles, along with a meaningfully curated assortment of general merchandise. Indigo believes in real books, in living life fully and generously, in being kind to each other and that stories ? big and little ? connect us.

The Company supports a separate registered charity, called the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation (the "Foundation"), which is committed to addressing educational inequality, and more specifically, the literacy crisis in Canada. The Foundation provides resources including new books and learning materials, training and year-round curation support to help ensure teachers, education staff, school administrators and other key stakeholders have the tools they need to promote literacy in their communities. With the support of the Company, its customers, employees, and suppliers, the Foundation has committed over $35.0 million to more than 1,000,000 students across Canada since 2004.

To learn more about Indigo, please visit the "Our Company" section at indigo.ca.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that are "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding the Arrangement, including the anticipated timing of completion of the Arrangement, the delisting of Indigo common shares from the TSX, the application for Indigo to cease to be a reporting issuer, and other statements that are not historical facts. There can be no assurance that the Arrangement will ultimately be completed or that other forward-looking statements contained herein will prove to be accurate. Actual events or results may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements if known or unknown risks affect our business, or if our estimates or assumptions turn out to be inaccurate, which depend on various factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement contained in this press release even if new information becomes available, as a result of future events or for any other reason, unless required by applicable securities laws and regulations.

SOURCE Indigo Books & Music Inc.

30 may 2024 at 18:39

News published onand distributed by:
Thermo Fisher Scientific Updates Chromosomal Microarray Analysis Solutions to Comply with IVDR Regulation





Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., the world leader in serving science, announced today that the Applied Biosystemstm CytoScantm Dx Assay and Applied Biosystemstm Chromosomal Analysis Suite (ChAS) Dx software now comply with In Vitro Diagnostic Regulations (IVDR) 2017/746 in the European Union. These compliance updates will enable cytogenetics testing laboratories to adapt to the latest medical device safety and efficacy frameworks and conformity assessments.

"Thermo Fisher's unparalleled commitment to driving innovation in chromosomal microarrays has led to advancement of cytogenetic testing capabilities," said Kevin Lowitz, vice president and general manager, microarray, at Thermo Fisher Scientific. "The compliance updates to the CytoScan Dx Assay kit and ChAS Dx software provide our customers in the EU with solutions that can help them maintain high patient safety standards and meet EU IVD regulatory requirements."

Advancements in chromosomal microarrays (CMAs) have greatly expanded the capabilities of cytogenetics testing in recent years, including the ability to yield insights into genetic risk factors and disorders that are essential to understanding reproductive health. As an in vitro diagnostic CMA test for postnatal analysis, the CytoScan Dx Assay aids in the identification of underlying genetic causes of neurological and dysmorphic disorders in children. The assay enables users to accurately detect numerous chromosomal variations at higher resolution and greater coverage than conventional methods. It has demonstrated to improve diagnostic yield by an incremental 12.5% compared to G-banded karyotyping.

ChAS Dx is a powerful, intuitive software that simplifies cytogenetic analysis, visualization, and reporting of chromosomal aberrations across the genome. ChAS Dx provides whole-genome support for CytoScan Dx Arrays with flexible parameters and data formats, as well as direct access to multiple leading external genetic databases. The advanced data analysis software is available to all CytoScan Dx customers at no additional cost.

The complete IVDR compliant CytoScan Dx Cytogenetics Suite is a sample to insight solution that includes the CytoScan Dx Array, a reagent kit, the Applied Biosystemstm GeneChiptm System 3000 Dx platform for array processing, and user-friendly ChAS Dx software.

To learn more about the complete IVDR compliant CytoScan Cytogenetics Suite, please visit www.thermofisher.com/microarrayivd.

For In Vitro Diagnostic Use.

About Thermo Fisher Scientific

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. is the world leader in serving science, with annual revenue of more than $40 billion. Our Mission is to enable our customers to make the world healthier, cleaner and safer. Whether our customers are accelerating life sciences research, solving complex analytical challenges, increasing productivity in their laboratories, improving patient health through diagnostics or the development and manufacture of life-changing therapies, we are here to support them. Our global team delivers an unrivaled combination of innovative technologies, purchasing convenience and pharmaceutical services through our industry-leading brands, including Thermo Scientific, Applied Biosystems, Invitrogen, Fisher Scientific, Unity Lab Services, Patheon and PPD. For more information, please visit www.thermofisher.com.

31 may 2024 at 02:05

News published onand distributed by:
Hitachi Rail acquires Thales' Ground Transportation Systems for ?1,660m





Acquisition, completed 31 May, sees Hitachi Rail expand its global presence to 51 countries with the majority of its revenues now coming from signalling and systems

Combined business' revenues ?7.3bn in FY23 (pro-forma) achieve Hitachi Rail's longstanding target to surpass 1 trillion annually

Deal aligns with Hitachi Group's sustainable growth strategy with focus on mega trends of digitalisation and sustainability transformation.

LONDON, May 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hitachi Rail announced today the completion of its ?1,660m acquisition of Thales' Ground Transportation Systems (GTS) business, expanding its global presence to 51 countries with the majority of its revenues now coming from higher-return signalling and systems.



Hitachi Rail is right at the forefront of the global mobility sector following the acquisition. The closing strengthens the company's strategic focus on helping current and potential Hitachi Rail and GTS customers through the sustainable mobility transition ? the shift of people from private to sustainable public transport, driven by digitalisation.

The deal advances a cycle of organic growth and acquisitions that sees Hitachi Rail achieve its annual revenue goal of more than 1 trillion with the business' combined revenues growing to ?7.3 billion (1.1 trillion; USD $7.9 billion) FY23 pro-forma. It also supports the company's profit growth by continuing the shift in its revenue profile, with the majority now coming from its higher-return signalling and systems division post-transaction (around 60%). The business' signalling will operate over 26,000km of mainline railway and 4,600km of urban metros around the world.

Hitachi Rail's key locations in Japan, Italy, the UK and the US are strategically complemented by GTS' larges centres in Germany, France, Spain and Canada ? with both businesses having an established reputation in the wider European market, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.

The closing sees 9,000 highly skilled colleagues join the business taking Hitachi Rail to 24,000 employees worldwide. It enhances companies' full portfolio of transport solutions with expertise in rolling stock, urban turnkey railways, mainline digital signalling, freight signalling, and communication and supervision systems.

The transaction almost doubles Hitachi Rail's engineering capability and increases investment in innovation to provide an enhanced digital product offer, spanning signalling, ticketing, operations and cyber security solutions. The company has established a new Agile Innovation team and will combine the expertise from GTS' five global Digital Hubs & Competence Centres[1] and the digital strength of Hitachi's Group companies. The new business is also poised to achieve greater cost competitiveness, including improving the effectiveness of procurement, optimising engineering capabilities and investment in R&D.

Hitachi President and CEO Keiji Kojima said:

"Hitachi continues its transformation to become a global leader in Social Innovation Business and is undergoing a mode change to achieve growth under the Mid-term Management Plan 2024. The acquisition of the Thales GTS business represents a significant milestone, and we are pleased to have achieved it in the final year of the plan.

"By welcoming new Hitachi Rail colleagues, Hitachi's Railway systems business has strengthened its presence in the global market. Hitachi will enhance its digital services by leveraging IT, OT, and products on an expanded installed base in the mobility arena, and solve global social challenges through co-creation with customers. Through this acquisition and Hitachi's overall growth, we will continue to support our customers' digital and green transformations and contribute to the realisation of a sustainable society."

Giuseppe Marino, Group CEO of Hitachi Rail said:

"Completing this transaction is a historic moment for our business, as we expand to 51 countries and increase our revenues to ?7.3bn globally [FY23 pro forma]. Hitachi Rail's greater global reach and accelerated innovation is the start of an exciting new chapter that will deliver enhanced value and growth in new markets.

"With Thales' Ground Transportation Systems team on board, we can better deliver the sustainable mobility transition for the world's best transport companies. Bringing our teams together sees our engineering capacity nearly double and means faster innovation and more advanced technology-led solutions for our customers."

The deal marks a major step in Hitachi Rail's parent company, Hitachi Ltd's, long-running strategy to transform its businesses around the concept of "Social Innovation". The Group has led a strategic programme to reshape its portfolio of companies around essential sectors delivering the infrastructure and technology that underpins the progress of sustainable societies. It focuses Hitachi Ltd companies on the key industries at the crossroads of the major trends shaping today's world: the energy transition, the digital and AI revolution, and the sustainable mobility transition.

For images related to the story, please find them here.

The headline image can be found here ? it is of an employee at Hitachi Rail's new site in Ditzingen, Germany, formerly Thales Ground Transportation Systems. The site is home to around 1,200 new colleagues and focused on the development and delivery of control-command and signalling systems for local and long-distance rail transport for both Germany and around the world.

For more information from Hitachi Rail, please contact:

Adam Love at [email protected] or on +1 437 234 4024

Ed Brown at [email protected] or on +44 7850 071 287

Notes to the editors:

[1] The five global Digital Hubs & Competence Centres are based in Toronto (Canada), Manchester (UK), Paris (France), Berlin (Germany) and Singapore (Singapore).

About Hitachi Rail

Hitachi Rail is committed to driving the sustainable mobility transition and has a clear focus on partnering with customers to rethink mobility. Its mission is to help every passenger, customer and community enjoy the benefits of more connected, seamless and sustainable transport.

With revenues of over ?7bn and 24,000 employees across more than 50 countries, Hitachi Rail is a trusted partner to the world's best transport organisations. The company's reach is global, but the business is local - with success built on developing local talent and investing in people and communities.

Its international capabilities and expertise span every part of the urban, mainline and freight rail ecosystems ? from high quality manufacturing and maintenance of rolling stock to secure digital signalling, smart operations and payment systems.

Hitachi Rail, famous for Japan's iconic high speed bullet train, draws on the digital and AI expertise of Hitachi Group companies to accelerate innovation and develop new technologies. Hitachi Group is present in 140 countries with over 270,000 employees and global revenues of ?54.55bn / 8,564 bn.

For more information, visit hitachirail.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/5a2c1dcf-2ad5-4c43-befa-694f37c29160

31 may 2024 at 12:30

News published onand distributed by:
ESS and Burbank Water & Power Celebrate Commissioning of First Iron Flow Battery System on BWP EcoCampus





ESS Tech, Inc., (ESS) (NYSE: GWH) a leading manufacturer of long-duration energy storage (LDES) systems for commercial and utility-scale energy storage applications, and Burbank Water and Power (BWP) today celebrated the commissioning of BWP's first LDES system.

"This project represents a major step toward achieving our goal of 100% carbon free power by 2040," said Mandip Samra, General Manager of BWP. "The Energy Warehousetm battery will enable our team to gain experience with iron flow long-duration energy storage technology which will be a linchpin of the renewable grid of the future."

Local elected officials and business and community leaders were on hand to celebrate the installation and commissioning of the 75 kW / 500kWh ESS Energy Warehousetm iron flow battery on the BWP EcoCampus. The ESS iron flow battery system has been installed and connected to a 265 kW solar array. Once fully operational it will provide power equivalent to the consumption of ~300 homes and will demonstrate the critical role of iron flow technology in a renewable, resilient energy system.

"Visionary utilities like Burbank Water and Power are leading the way to the clean energy future by incorporating advanced long-duration energy storage technologies today," said Eric Dresselhuys, CEO of ESS. "We look forward to working with BWP and other leading utilities in California and beyond for years to come."

LDES will play a critical role in achieving California's ambitious decarbonization goal: 100% zero-emission electricity by 2045. The California Energy Storage Alliance estimates that the state will need 13,571 MW of LDES by 2028 to integrate intermittent renewable energy and optimize assets for a cleaner, more affordable and reliable grid.

This commissioning follows ESS' recent attainment of IEEE 693 seismic certification for its Energy Center product line and builds on other recent commissioning and delivery milestones with customers including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Sacramento Municipal Utility District and Turlock Irrigation District.

About ESS

At ESS (NYSE: GWH), our mission is to accelerate global decarbonization by providing safe, sustainable, long-duration energy storage that powers people, communities and businesses with clean, renewable energy anytime and anywhere it's needed. As more renewable energy is added to the grid, long- duration energy storage is essential to providing the reliability and resiliency we need when the sun is not shining and the wind is not blowing.

Our technology uses earth-abundant iron, salt and water to deliver environmentally safe solutions capable of providing up to 12 hours of flexible energy capacity for commercial and utility-scale energy storage applications. Established in 2011, ESS Inc. enables project developers, independent power producers, utilities and other large energy users to deploy reliable, sustainable long-duration energy storage solutions. For more information visit www.essinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains certain forward-looking statements regarding ESS and its management team's expectations, hopes, beliefs, or intentions regarding the future. The words "estimate", "expect", "will" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. Examples of forward-looking statements include, among others, statements regarding the status of ESS product development and performance of equipment. These forward-looking statements are based on ESS' current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from such expectations, including, but not limited to, disruptions, or quality control problems in the Company's manufacturing operations; as well as those risks and uncertainties set forth in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the twelve months ended December 31, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on March 14, 2024, and its other filings filed with the SEC. Except as required by law, ESS is not undertaking any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

31 may 2024 at 15:05

News published onand distributed by:
Mayfair Gold Announces that Certain Employees May Withdraw Notices of Termination under Change of Control to Continue Employment with the Company





MATHESON, Ontario, May 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mayfair Gold Corp. ("Mayfair" or the "Company") (TSX-V: MFG; OTCQB: MFGCF) announces that it has received correspondence from all Terminating Employees (as defined below) except Patrick Evans, that they may be willing to rescind their Terminating Notices (as defined below) and direct that their respective portions of the Change of Control Payment (as defined below), totaling approximately $2.47 million, be returned to the Company if acceptable settlement terms are reached.



Terminating Employees and Change of Control Payments

As previously disclosed by the Company, on May 1, 2024, Patrick Evans (CEO), Justin Byrd (CFO), Howard Bird (VP Exploration) and certain other employees (the "Terminating Employees") delivered notices (the "Terminating Notices") to the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") terminating their respective employment agreements pursuant to change of control provisions in their respective employment agreements. On May 6, 2024, the Company, having received independent legal advice, entered into a settlement agreement (the "Settlement Agreement") with the Terminating Employees, whereby the Terminating Employees agreed to hold in abeyance their Terminating Notices and continue their employment with the Company up to the Company's annual and special general meeting of shareholders (the "Meeting") to be held on June 5, 2024. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement, the Company delivered approximately $4.0 million (the "Change of Control Payment") into trust until completion of the Meeting.

On May 27, 2024, Muddy Waters Capital LLC ("Muddy Waters") obtained an ex parte order from the Supreme Court of British Columbia restricting the distribution of the Change of Control Payment.

The Company announces that it has received correspondence from all Terminating Employees except Patrick Evans that they may be willing to rescind their Terminating Notices, continue their employment relationship with the Company and direct that their respective portions of the Change of Control Payment, totaling approximately $2.47 million, be returned to the Company if acceptable settlement terms are reached. Such settlement terms include a release and waiver from the Company in favour of such Terminating Employees. There is no assurance a settlement will be reached between the parties, that any of the Terminating Employees will rescind their Terminating Notices or that any portion of the Change of Control Payment will be returned to the Company.

For more information regarding the Terminating Employees, the Settlement Agreement and Muddy Waters' ex parte order, please see the Company's management information circular dated May 6, 2024 (the "Circular") and the Company's news releases dated May 29, 2024 and May 9, 2024.

Proxy Contest

The Board advises shareholders to vote the WHITE Proxy or voting instruction form well in advance of the deadline at 2:00 p.m. (Pacific time) on June 3, 2024, in connection with the upcoming Meeting. Shareholders who have any questions relating to the Meeting or about the completion and delivery of the WHITE Proxy or voting instruction form, may contact Alliance Advisors, LLC by telephone at 844-858-7380 or email at [email protected].

Additional details relating to the matters to be voted upon at the Meeting and the Board's recommendations are included in the Circular, which is available on www.sedarplus.ca, as well as the Investor Resources section of the Company's website at https://mayfairgold.ca/investor-resources/.

Scientific and Technical Information

Scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been derived, in part, from the Company's technical report titled "National Instrument 43 101 Technical Report Fenn?Gib Project, Ontario, Canada" with an effective date of April 6, 2023 and reviewed and approved by Tim Maunula, an independent "qualified person" pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 ? Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

About Mayfair

Mayfair Gold is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on advancing the 100% controlled Fenn-Gib gold project in the Timmins region of Northern Ontario. The Fenn-Gib gold deposit is Mayfair's flagship asset and currently hosts an updated NI 43-101 resource estimate with an effective date of April 6, 2023 with a total Indicated Resource of 113.69M tonnes containing 3.38M ounces at a grade of 0.93 g/t Au and an Inferred Resource of 5.72M tonnes containing 0.16M ounces at a grade of 0.85 g/t Au at a 0.40 g/t Au cut-off grade. The Fenn-Gib deposit has a strike length of over 1.5km with widths ranging over 500m. The gold mineralized zones remain open at depth and along strike to the east and west. Recently completed metallurgical tests confirm that the Fenn-Gib deposit can deliver robust gold recoveries of up to 94%.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

For further information contact:

Patrick Evans, President and CEO

Phone: (416) 670-5114

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.mayfairgold.ca

Media contact:

John Vincic, Oakstrom Advisors

Phone: (647) 402-6375

Email: [email protected]

For information on voting:

Alliance Advisors, LLC

Phone: 1-844-858-7380

Email: [email protected]

Forward Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to Mayfair's current expectations and views of future events including the return of any portion of the Change of Control Payment to the Company; that a settlement will be reached with any of the Terminating Employees; that any of the Terminating Employees will continue their employment relationship with the Company; or that a release and waiver will be provided by either of Muddy Waters or the Company. Forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Mayfair's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward- looking statements. Mayfair undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Mayfair to predict all of them, or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

31 may 2024 at 18:00

News published onand distributed by:
French authorities have banned Israeli defense firms from exhibiting at a trade show next month near Paris, organizers said on Friday. "By decision of the government authorities, there will be no stand for the Israeli defense industry at the Eurosatory 2024 fair," the organizer, Coges Event, said. Neither Coges nor the defense ministry provided an explanation.

Seventy-four Israeli firms had been set to be represented at the event from June 17 to 21 at fairgrounds close to Paris' main international airport, with Coges previously saying around 10 of them were to exhibit weapons.

Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz said he had asked French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to intervene on the issue. Gantz wrote on X, "I emphasized to him that the decision ultimately rewards terror and asked that France reconsider the decision."

The incident comes days after the Israeli bombing of a camp for displaced people in the Gaza Strip sparked international outrage and protests in France. The air raids killed at least 45 people in the town of Rafah in the night of Sunday to Monday in the south of the besieged Palestinian territory, according to local authorities, almost eight months into the latest Gaza war.

Read more Subscribers only Israel-Hamas war: What analysis of Israel's attack on Rafah displacement camp reveals

A group of activists last week in a legal warning urged Coges to take measures to avoid the buying and selling of weapons that could be used in "crimes" committed in Gaza or other parts of the occupied Palestinian territories. ASER, Stop Arming Israel, Urgency Palestine and the France-Palestine Solidarity Association also warned against profits from the fair "reinforcing the economic power of firms likely to participate in these crimes."

Coges told AFP it was "a fair solely for the presentation of defense and security equipment (...) and in no means a place for deals."

Read more Subscribers only How French society got caught up in the Middle East conflict
On May 24 1954, Genevieve de Galard was received by the medical captain in charge of the surgical unit in Luang Prabang, Laos. RENe ADRIAN/ CHRISFER/ ECPAD/DeFENSE.

In 1954 in Dien Bien Phu, Genevieve de Galard spent around 60 days on the battlefield. All of the men who were wounded by bullets or shrapnel, the mutilated, the blind, the badly burned, all the French army soldiers trapped by the Viet Minh, all the tough guys from parachute regiments, the Foreign Legion or colonial troops, called her "Mademoiselle," "Mam'zelle ," then "Genevieve"  when they weren't screaming for their mothers in a delirium of agony. De Galard, who died on Thursday, May 30 at the age of 99, will forever be known as "the angel of Dien Bien Phu".

"Genevieve de Galard showed, in the worst hours of the Indochina War, an exemplary devotion to the courage and suffering of 15,000 French soldiers. I salute her memory," said President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, May 31.

Her courage in the midst of chaos and under the deluge of shells was highlighted as a balm to a defeat that signaled the loss of Indochina and the beginning of the end of France's colonial empire. The nurse found herself erected as a hero against her will. "I don't deserve this honor, because I only did my duty," she kept repeating. This genuine modesty only helped to embellish her image, as did her permanent self-conscious smile.

Read more Subscribers only The forgotten heroines of Dien Bien Phu

A photo of her in her parachute suit, sleeves rolled up, taken on May 24 as she got off the plane in Luang Prabang in what is now Laos, just after the town's liberation, and published on the cover of Paris Match, confirmed her popularity. Her round face, protruding cheekbones, thin lips and blue eyes became the symbol of the war, in which a strategic error on the part of the general staff had been covered up. De Galard was not fooled by the role she was being made to play. "For a long time, I kept quiet," she wrote in her belated memoirs, The Angel of Dien Bien Phu. "I didn't want to feed the publicity I had received in 1954. It had seemed to me exaggerated, and sometimes misplaced, at a time when prisoners of war were still suffering in the camps."

'God will protect me'

Genevieve de Galard Terraube was born in Paris on April 13, 1925. She came from a well-to-do family with a strong patriotic streak, claiming noble titles dating back to Joan of Arc and even the Crusades. Her father died when she was 9. Her mother brought her up with right-wing, Catholic values. Her Christian faith never left her, and became even more deeply rooted. "God will protect me!" she convinced herself at Dien Bien Phu, as she ran from trench to trench under the shells.

She lived between Paris and her family home in Labatut, in the Landes region. During the war, she took refuge in Toulouse, before returning to Paris in November 1942 after the Germans invaded the unoccupied zone. She grew up reading adventure and travel books. After passing her baccalaureate, she began studying English at the Sorbonne. Looking for a profession, a vocation, a future, she found it all in 1950 when she passed her nursing diploma. Two years later, she passed the competitive examination for the convoyeuses de l'air, the flying nurses responsible for assisting the wounded and sick evacuated by plane. Attached to the Lanessan hospital in Hanoi, she discovered Indochina in 1953. The Vietnam War of Independence, which had broken out in 1946, was raging. De Galard convoyed the wounded under fire, performing first aid in the shaking cabin, overseeing blood transfusions, sometimes realizing the men have died despite her efforts to save them. After a stay in Algeria, she returned to the region in February 1954.

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A NEW exhibition showing the connections between Gaza and the Sea is now on show at a Limerick library.

Commissioned by MEP Grace OSullivan, the project features photographs taken by award-winning Gaza photographer, Mohammed Zaanoun.

Gaza and the Sea was first commissioned as a calendar and an exhibition in the summer of 2023. Since then, Gaza has faced some of the most horrific violence seen in all of its history.

MEP Grace OSullivan, after traveling to the West Bank in February 2023, began the process of commissioning the project connecting her love of the oceans and work on Palestine.

While in Palestine, our initial plan was also to visit Gaza as part of the official European Parliament delegation, however the Israeli authorities didnt allow this. I learned so much from the Palestinian people in the West Bank and have brought this back to my work in the European Parliament, but one conversation stayed with me - a lady who had lived there all her life but she had never seen the sea, due to the travel restrictions for Palestinians in the region, said OSullivan.

The sea holds a great importance to the people of Palestine - those living in the West Bank have been completely cut off from the Mediterranean and Gaza is now the only place where Palestinians can reach the water. It is therefore the only place where centuries-old fishing traditions are carried out, acting as a connection for Palestinians to their cultural heritage.

The poignant images, taken by Mohammed Zaanoun are vastly different to todays reality in Gaza - but show the beauty of its people.

We were unsure of what to do with the project, but with Mohammeds consent, and wanting to support him and his family as he became a photojournalist documenting the tragedies unfolding in Gaza, we proceeded with the project by using photos Mohammed had previously captured.

The images are very poignant and now vastly different to the reality in Gaza today. But they show the beauty of Gaza and its people in a snapshot in time - we purposely left the photos without captions, so that those who are viewing them have to think about what is happening then and in the new reality now OSullivan said.

The exhibition has been brought to Kilmallock by Pallasgreen native Rob ODonnell, a member of OSullivans constituency team.

He also traveled and volunteered in Palestine in recent years.

The exhibition will run until Saturday, June 8 in Kilmallock Library. It will also be available for display at other venues in the near future.
LIMERICK will be the centre of the graduate design world this Saturday, as 300 students from Ireland and beyond attend the Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD TUS) Graduate Show, showcasing the creative energy of the next generation of Irish artists and designers.

Hosted at TUS Clare Street Campus in Limerick City, the hotly-anticipated 2024 LSAD Graduate Show will open to the public at 1pm on June 1, and be available to view from 10am to 5pm daily until Sunday, June 9.

Aoife Ruane, director of the Highlanes Municipal Art Gallery, Dundalk, will officially open the show on Saturday, with a ceremony to include awards, prizes and residencies from 3pm.

This vibrant showcase, featuring unique collections and captivating installations by graduating students will be an inspiring celebration of emerging talent and innovative design.

Renowned as one of Europes leading institutions for fine art, design and creative Media, graduates from Ireland and around the globe showcase their exceptional artistry and groundbreaking ideas across a spectrum of disciplines, including fine art, design, digital arts, sculpture, ceramics, photography, film, fashion, animation, interior design and graphic communication.

This annual event marks the pinnacle of years of dedication, creative exploration, and artistic growth for the graduating students.

This years Graduate Show will be the second year of the Global Travel Award of 5,000 for a fine art graduate with the support of The Ireland Funds. LSAD TUS is the only art school in Ireland to offer such an award which will be selected by a highly respected panel of artists and curators.

READ MORE: Students have designs on Limerick city

For the first time, the showcase will also recognise graduates of the Bachelor of Education in Art & Design Teacher Education programme.

Commenting ahead of the 2024 Graduate Show, Mike Fitzpatrick, dean of Limerick School of Art & Design and director of Cultural Engagement, TUS, said: Every year its such a joy to walk around the show. Please join us on Saturday June 1, or come along any day up to June 9, and take some time to enjoy the super creativity of our animators, film makers, fashion, graphic, ceramic and interior designers and artists - there are many wonderful works to enjoy."

For more photos of talented students and their amazing creations, click 'Next'
HIGHLY-REGARDED Limerick jockey Chris Hayes partnered the exciting Ezeliya to an impressive success in the Betfred Oaks at Epsom for trainer Dermot Weld on Friday afternoon.

The Aga Khan-owned 13-2 chance was kept handy throughout the mile-and-a-half fillies showpiece by Shanagolden horseman Hayes and was in the middle of the field of 12 as they turned for home.

From there she began to gain ground, moving with real purpose and staying on strongly to take up the lead and see off a challenge from Charlie Applebys Dance Sequence  who did not help her jockey in the closing stages  to prevail by three lengths.

David Menuisiers War Chimes ran a huge race in third at 50-1, but hot favourite Ylang Ylang was disappointing, never really being able to get in a serious blow.

Thirty six-year-old Hayes attended Shanagolden NS and later Salesian College, Pallaskenry before progressing to RACE Racing Academy and Centre of Education in Kildare.

He joined Kevin Prendergast as an apprentice in 2004 and was champion apprentice in each of the next three years.

Hayes rode his first winner on the track in July 2004 when partnering Anonymity to success at Bellewstown for trainer Ger Lynch.

Chris Hayes rode the longest-priced winner in the history of racing in Ireland or Britain when partnering the Luke comer-trained He Knows No Fear to win an eight-furlong maiden at Leopardstown in August, 2020 at odds of 300/1.

Epsom Oaks winning trainer Dermot Weld said winning jockey Hayes had given Ezeliya a 'beautiful' ride in the race.

Dermot Weld said: Its a very special day. Competition is very keen nowadays and were very fortunate to have a filly for His Highness that is as good as this, said Weld, who was winning the race for the second time, after Blue Wind in 1981.

Shes a beautifully-mannered animal and a beautiful filly to train. Patience has paid dividend with her; we took our time with her as a two-year-old, and just gave her one run this year when she won nicely at Navan.

She loves to come from off the pace, this is a progressive filly. Shes very relaxed and got a beautiful ride from Chris Hayes. She was cantering down the hill then he gave her a couple of strides and let her go.

We will look at the Irish Oaks or wait for an autumn campaign.

He added: Shes a good filly, her dam was a very good filly, Frankie Dettori rode her at the Breeders Cup and then she ran in Hong Kong where she was third in the Vase.

I was always pretty sure shed stay, shes from a great staying Aga Khan family that goes back to the Gold Cup horses Enzeli and Estimate, so thats why I was confident about the trip.

 "It's a little bit surreal."@chrishayes24 could barely comprehend the ease in which galloped into the history books with a stunning success in the @Betfred Oaks @EpsomRacecourse @AgaKhanStuds | @LydiaHislop pic.twitter.com/zYC983tqrv  Racing TV (@RacingTV) May 31, 2024

Shes also a very relaxed filly and it was a beautiful ride by Chris, I was pretty confident from a long way out, she was cantering, he got her into a beautiful rhythm which is important before you let them go, and he sat for those couple of strides.

Its a few years since I first won the Oaks, but I havent had many runners. Its hard to get fillies like this. Harzand won the Derby here and I rode the winner of the amateur Derby here, and trained it!

She looks like an Irish Oaks filly, but well see how she is.
A former Circuit Court judge who was convicted of sexually abusing six young men when he was a teacher 30 years ago has been jailed for four years.

Gerard O'Brien (59) was handed an effective global sentence of five years and nine months with 21 months suspended under strict conditions.

He will also be subject to a two-year post release supervision order.

OBrien (59) of Old School House, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, Co Tipperary, was convicted last December at the Central Criminal Court of one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault in relation to six victims.

The offences occurred at locations in Dublin between March 1991 and November 1997. During this period, O'Brien was a teacher and aged between 27 and 33.

The victims four of whom were students or former students  were then aged between 17 and 24.

The six victims have previously indicated they wished for O'Brien to be named but to maintain their anonymity.

O'Brien pleaded not guilty to all the charges. He resigned as a Circuit Court judge in January, having been appointed in 2015, but had been on leave since the allegations came to light.

Imposing sentence, Mr Justice Alexander Owens said the breach of trust involved in the offending and its significant impact on the victims were among the aggravating features of this case.

Mr Justice Owens remarked that O'Brien's conviction shows, in my view, he was unsuitable to hold judicial office.

He noted the contents of a report from the Irish Prison Service and that prison will not be a pleasant place for O'Brien due to his age, disability and former position in society.

All six victims, along with a large number of supporters and family members, were in court for the hearing.

Previously, Garda Inspector Jonathan Hayes told Anne Marie Lawlor SC, prosecuting, that five of the six victims woke up to find OBrien performing sexual acts on them that they had not consented to.

Of these victims, four woke to O'Brien performing oral sex on them, with the fifth saying he woke to O'Brien licking his face and pressing his penis against his buttocks.

One of these five victims also said O'Brien attempted to rape him anally. The final injured party's allegation related to an act of masturbation in the toilets of a pub.

OBrien was born with a rare congenital condition, Phocomelia, a side effect of the drug Thalidomide.

This condition resulted in OBrien being born with no upper limbs and missing one lower limb. The court heard he requires assistance with everyday tasks, including toileting. He has no previous convictions.

Insp Hayes outlined that the six victims had all provided assistance to O'Brien with everyday tasks, including toileting on occasions before the sexual assaults occurred.

The court heard that alcohol was a feature of each incident, with drink taken by the six men and O'Brien.

Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, asked the court to take into account all relevant mitigating and personal circumstances when determining a sentence.

He suggested the court consider a non-custodial sentence and asked for as much leniency as possible for his client.
Bharat Dynamics Q4 Results Live : Bharat Dynamics declared their Q4 results on 30 May, 2024, revealing a 7% increase in revenue and an impressive 89.04% rise in profit year-over-year.

The company saw a significant growth compared to the previous quarter, with revenue up by 41.97% and profit increasing by 113.85%.

Despite a decline of 15.43% in Selling, general & administrative expenses quarter-over-quarter, there was a 14.45% increase year-over-year.

Operating income showed strong performance, with a 193.47% increase quarter-over-quarter and a 77.09% rise year-over-year.

The Earnings Per Share (EPS) for Q4 stood at 7.88, marking a 5.49% decrease year-over-year.

Investors have seen positive returns from Bharat Dynamics, with 10.12% in the last week, 166.19% in the last 6 months, and 80.75% Year-to-Date.

With a market capitalization of 56727.38 Cr and 52-week high/low of 1658.95 & 450 respectively, Bharat Dynamics continues to attract investor interest.

Analysts' ratings as of 31 May, 2024, show a mix of opinions, with 1 analyst Strong Sell, 1 analyst Hold, 1 analyst Buy, and 3 analysts Strong Buy, resulting in a consensus recommendation to Buy.

Bharat Dynamics Financials Period Q4 Q3 Q-o-Q Growth Q4 Y-o-Y Growth Total Revenue 854.12 601.62 +41.97% 798.26 +7% Selling/ General/ Admin Expenses Total 153.72 181.76 -15.43% 134.32 +14.45% Depreciation/ Amortization 16.25 16.47 -1.32% 13.94 +16.57% Total Operating Expense 553.97 499.34 +10.94% 628.77 -11.9% Operating Income 300.15 102.28 +193.47% 169.49 +77.09% Net Income Before Taxes 387.87 189.1 +105.11% 205.81 +88.46% Net Income 288.78 135.03 +113.85% 152.76 +89.04% Diluted Normalized EPS 7.88 7.31 +7.77% 8.34 -5.49%
Grant Thornton became the largest accounting firm to sell a piece of itself to a private-equity investor on Friday, giving it more financial firepower to make acquisitions and investmentsand, potentially, a new client in its owners.

The firms Chicago-based U.S. unit closed the sale of a stake to a group led by to New Mountain Capital on Friday, following an agreement in March. Under the deal, the U.S. audit business will remain a partnership, while U.S. advisory, tax and other non-audit services will be part of Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, a newly created limited liability company.

The New Mountain-led groups investment constitutes a 60% stake in Grant Thorntons U.S. unit and centered on the non-audit business, people familiar with the matter said. But the new majority owners will also have a contractual relationship with the audit business through a management services agreement between the two entities, the people said.

The sale will allow the firm to grow through acquisitions and investments in tech and personnel, likely at a faster pace and with less risk than it otherwise would have, said Seth Siegel, Grant Thorntons U.S. chief executive. The firm aspires to be a more attractive acquirer of companies as it looks to expand its share among middle-market corporate clients, typically ranging from $100 million to $10 billion in annual revenue, he said.

For those who might be willing to or wanted to sell or merge their businesses into a bigger platform like Grant Thornton, we can now offer something a little more differentiated than the rest of our competitive set," Siegel said.

The sale is among several moves by accounting firms to revise their ownership structure as they face greater capital needs and difficulty recruiting enough skilled workers. Private-equity firms in recent years have stepped up their deals for accounting firms due to stable business models and profitable exits.

But a sizable investment in a firm as large as Grant Thornton, which reported $7.5 billion in global revenue last year, is unusual. The deal follows Baker Tillys agreement in February to sell a stake to Hellman & Friedman and Valeas Capital Partners, and Citrin Coopermans sale of a majority stake in 2022 to New Mountain, which has about $50 billion in assets under management.

We believe this transaction helps us cordon off a lot of those concerns about being able to make the turn towards the future with even more confidence than maybe weve displayed in the past," Siegel said.

Siegel declined to comment on several details about the sale, including the price and size of debt financing.

New Mountain sees several opportunities to further enable Grant Thorntons workforce with technology investments and help the firm bring its services to more clients, Nikhil Devulapalli, a managing director at the private-equity firm, said in a statement. New Mountain typically holds investments for about five years.

The separation of audit and non-audit services through the deal allows the firm to comply with securities laws prohibiting conflicts of interest that could impair the objectivity of the firms auditors, Siegel said. The partners in the new non-audit entity will have equity stakes, but wont have voting power, Siegel said. He declined to provide more details on the structure.

The primary source of opposition to the deal was a group of retired U.S. partners who sought a bigger payout than the firm laid out. The firm has since reached agreeable terms with the retirees, Siegel said, declining to disclose the terms. Everybodys on board," he said. Lawyers for the retired partners declined to comment.

The firm is casting a broad net on potential acquisitions and wants to be bold, said Renato Zanichelli, the national managing partner of tax services, on a U.S. tax webcast last week.

Grant Thornton is also in preliminary discussions to gain New Mountain as a new client for certain tax services. I have had the opportunity to meet with our new investor, New Mountain Capital, and we had just a great meeting around how we might be able to serve them in their capacity. They are served by the Big Four," Zanichelli said on the webcast. Were making strides."

Siegel said the firm views New Mountain as a partner, not a financial sponsor. Of course, post-close, well talk about opportunities for how we can work together," Siegel said. Some of New Mountains portfolio companies are clients of Grant Thornton.

With the deal, the firm is changing when the U.S. unit reports its financials. In 2025, Grant Thornton will switch to a fiscal year ending in Decemberlike most companiesfrom one ending in May. The so-called stub period in between will run from June 1 to Dec. 31.

The sale closes just over a week after Grant Thornton laid off about 350 U.S. employees, or 3.5% of its workforce in the country, across advisory, audit and tax business lines and up to the level of managing director. The firm recently told U.S. employees it delayed the October start dates of some incoming associates until January 2025 due to its expectations for future demand.

Grant Thornton cited slowing demand for certain services as well as lower-than-expected attrition for the layoffs. Many firms in the industry have experienced low attrition after having boosted hiring to respond to pandemic-fueled changes in their corporate clients.

The dynamic thats really driving this particular action that seems to go deeper as far as head count is because frankly we have seen attrition levels drop significantly," Zanichelli said last week.

Grant Thornton isnt anticipating any layoffs directly related to the New Mountain transaction, Siegel said.

Were not here just to whack costs, because were not in that position," Siegel said. Were here to build a long-term sustainably healthy business that can weather economic cycles. But even in those economic cycles, we have to make some tough decisions."
Tesla Inc. shareholders are being urged by proxy adviser Institutional Shareholder Services to reject Chief Executive Officer Elon Musks $56 billion compensation plan, setting up another hurdle for the electric carmakers board.

ISS said the pay package, initially approved by shareholders in 2018, is not considered warranted. The opposition comes days after another prominent proxy adviser, Glass Lewis & Co., recommended investors vote down the Musk remuneration plan.

The award value was considered outsized from the start and it has failed to accomplish certain of the boards stated objectives from 2018, ISS said. Some investors may find the boards argument compelling, that it would be unfair for Musk not to receive the award. However, the concerns raised, both back in 2018 and in the interim, have not been sufficiently mitigated, particularly given that the board has effectively only offered shareholders an all or nothing option in this vote.

Musks compensation has been hotly contested this year. In January, a Delaware judge struck down the pay package, saying the carmakers board wasnt fully transparent with shareholders when they crafted the deal. Directors are asking investors to vote on it a second time at Teslas June 13 annual meeting to demonstrate shareholders still back the plan, which could aid in a legal appeal of the decision.

Proxy firms such as ISS often have sway over shareholders, especially large institutions that hold stock in passive funds. However, the proxy adviser and Glass Lewis both recommended shareholders reject the Musk pay deal when it was voted on forthe first time in 2018. About three-quarters of investors still supported the package.

The outcome of the vote is only advisory. However, a loss would be a major embarrassment to Teslas board and to its top executive. Musk has also threatened to build products outside of Tesla if he cant increase his equity holdings in the company, something the pay deal would allow him to do.

Teslas board has mobilized to try to gain shareholder support for the measure. Tesla board chair Robyn Denholm has been contacting large institutional investors, and Tesla has published a number of ads on X, formerly Twitter. Directors also hired a strategic adviser who helped set up a Vote Tesla website, which argues reinstating the pay package supports shareholders rights.

Additionally, the website urges investors to vote in support of a proposal on moving Teslas articles of incorporation to Texas from Delaware. The company already moved it corporate headquarters to Texas in 2021. In its report, ISS said cautionary support for the measure is warranted, as its not readily apparent that the rights of shareholders would be materially harmed by the move.

ISS recommended voting for the reinstatement of Tesla board members Kimbal Musk, Elon Musks brother, but against James Murdoch.
Another top proxy firm is urging Tesla shareholders to vote against Elon Musks multibillion-dollar pay package.

In a report, Institutional Shareholder Services said Musks pay package was excessive and outsized from the start." The opposition follows a similar recommendation days ago from proxy firm Glass Lewis.

Tesla shareholders in 2018 approved Musks compensation but a Delaware court struck it down in January, saying the approval process had been deeply flawed. Shareholders on June 13 are set to revote on the pay package, once valued as high as $55.8 billion. The automaker has been trying to persuade shareholders to approve the compensation.

ISS said it was concerned that Teslas board was only offering shareholders an all-or-nothing option for the pay package.

Some investors may find the boards argument compelling, that it would be unfair for CEO Musk not to receive the award," ISS said. However, the concerns raised, both back in 2018 and in the interim, have not been sufficiently mitigated."

Tesla didnt immediately return a request for comment Friday.

Recommendations from proxy advisers can influence shareholder votes because institutional shareholders look to them for advice. Tesla blasted Glass Lewis earlier this week after the firm recommended shareholders vote against Musks pay package.

Tesla believes it should abide by its commitment to Elon as Elon delivered on this commitment to Tesla," the company said. A deal is a deal."

ISS issued recommendations for other votes at Teslas meeting next month. The firm recommended shareholders vote to re-elect board director Kimbal Musk, Elon Musks brother, and against re-electing board director James Murdoch.

ISS said Murdoch, who is on Teslas audit committee, had a significant number of pledged shares which raised concerns about his ability to oversee risk at the company.

ISS supported Teslas aim to leave Delaware and incorporate in Texas. Glass Lewis advised against the move.

Write to Alyssa Lukpat at alyssa.lukpat@wsj.com
Anant Yardi, an Indian-born software tycoon, has acquired majority stake in WeWork on May 30, following a federal bankruptcy court's decision to transfer control of the co-working giant to its creditors.

While Yardi will become the majority owner of the business and is CEO of Yardi Systems, WeWork will be operated separately. Currently, David Tolley is still CEO of WeWork, said a Yardi Systems spokesperson.

However, There has been no announcement yet who the management team will be once WeWork emerges from bankruptcy, which is set to happen in a few weeks, the spokesperson added.

Who is Anant Yardi? Yardi, a low-profile yet highly successful entrepreneur, ranks among the wealthiest in the software industry. His journey began in 1963 when he became the second person to achieve the top rank in the IIT JEE, a prestigious engineering entrance exam in India.

Yardi moved to the United States in 1968 and founded Yardi Systems in 1984, a company specializing in property management software. Today, Yardi Systems generates nearly $3 billion in annual revenue, making him a billionaire.

The company declined to comment on future plans.

According to the Financial Times, Yardi invested over $200 million in WeWork less than two years ago through an anonymous vehicle. Recently, he committed an additional $337.5 million to counter a bid from former WeWork CEO Adam Neumann, who attempted to regain control of the company.

Yardi's Vision for WeWork Yardi plans to steer WeWork towards targeting small businesses and incorporating hotel-like technologies like real-time bookings. Despite the company's recent struggles, Yardi remains optimistic about its future. "If there were doubts, I think we would've been much more cautious," he said.

Meanwhile, US Bankruptcy Judge John Sherwood approved WeWork's Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan on May 30. This approval allows the beleaguered shared office space provider to eliminate $4 billion in debt and transfer the company's equity to a group of lenders and the real estate technology company, Yardi Systems, as per Reuters.

During the Newark, New Jersey court hearing, WeWork attorney Steven Serajeddini confirmed that the company is poised to emerge from bankruptcy debt-free "in a matter of days." This marks a critical juncture for WeWork, which has faced steep losses and overextension in its real estate portfolio, leading to its bankruptcy filing in November 2023.

The bankruptcy proceedings enabled WeWork to negotiate a substantial reduction in future rent costs from its landlords and cancel leases at about one-third of its locations. This strategy will save the company over $12 billion in future rent expenses. Post-bankruptcy, WeWork plans to operate 337 shared office spaces, with more than 170 locations in the U.S. and Canada.
JOE BIDENS re-election campaign wants you to know that the president is funny. To prove it, examples of his hilarity are posted almost daily to his TikTok page. One video, peppered with fire emojis, shows him cracking jokes about Donald Trump. Viewers have their own gag: isnt he trying to ban this app?

The government says it is not banning TikTok but has given it an ultimatum: sell to a suitable non-Chinese owner by January or shut down. It deems TikTok, which is owned by ByteDance, a Chinese firm, to be controlled by a foreign adversary" and to be a national-security threat. Politicians accuse China of using TikTok to steal Americans data and spread propaganda.

TikTok denies these charges and is suing. So are its users. They argue that divestment is simply not possible" (China could block it) and Congress is singling out and banning TikTok", in violation of the First Amendment rights of its 170m American users. Imposing restrictions on speech in favour of national security is an extraordinarily high bar", says Ashley Gorski of the American Civil Liberties Union, an advocacy group. It requires concrete evidence that TikTok poses an imminent, serious threatsomething Ms Gorski and others argue the government has not provided. Lawmakers were briefed on TikToks risks in private, but little has been made public.

The dispute will probably reach the Supreme Court. In the meantime, the ramifications of the tussle are becoming clearer. They go well beyond TikTok.

The law includes criteria for a president to add other companies. Any platform with more than 1m monthly active users in America and at least 20% owned by a foreigner based in one of the four adversary" countriesChina, Iran, North Korea and Russiacould be targeted. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democratic congressman and one of the bills co-sponsors, says this brings social media up to date with foreign-ownership limits on other media.

Some worry that the scope of the law is too broad. Video-games and other messaging services are potentially in the line of fire. The government could widen the definition of adversary countries, says Corbin Barthold, at TechFreedom, a think-tank. Many expect other countries to cite Americas move against TikTok as justification for targeting foreign apps they disagree with, potentially further fragmenting the global internet. Shutting TikTok in America would be a gift to authoritarians around the world", warns Ramya Krishnan, at the Knight Institute, a free-speech centre at Columbia University.

TikToks efforts to oppose the legislation may have subjected it to further regulatory scrutiny. It sent notifications to its users urging them to call Congress and stop a TikTok shutdown". Mr Krishnamoorthi claims Capitol Hill was flooded" with calls, many from children, some of whom allegedly did not know what a congressman was. He is calling for an inquiry by the Federal Trade Commission, a trustbuster, into whether that broke child-privacy laws. The power that a foreign adversary has with that app was underscored by their influence campaign," he says. TikTok denies these allegations and says the calls were from voting-age people".

The firm insists that it is doing its best to co-operate with the government and has protected Americans data in a way that no other company has done". In its lawsuit TikTok claims it gave the authorities an extraordinary" option to suspend the app if it was found to violate provisions of a draft national-security agreement negotiated through the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, a watchdog. The company says the Biden administration has ignored this effort, and the $2bn-plus it has invested in Project Texas, a collaboration with Oracle, a tech giant, to wall off Americans data from ByteDance.

Mr Krishnamoorthi is unimpressed. The government worked for years" with TikTok to try to mitigate national-security risks, he says. You couldnt trust anything that they said about Project Texas."

For now, Mr Bidens campaign can meme away on TikTok throughout the election season. Mr Trumpwho tried to ban TikTok under an executive order in 2020 but has since reversed his positionis apparently mulling a campaign launch on the app, according to the Washington Post. The MAGA super PAC has already entered the ring. It would all be hilarious if the stakes werent so high.

Stay on top of American politics with The US in brief, our daily newsletter with fast analysis of the most important electoral stories, and Checks and Balance, a weekly note from our Lexington columnist that examines the state of American democracy and the issues that matter to voters.

 2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved.

From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
New Delhi: Fearing a deluge of Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) and their batteries following developments in the US and EU, the Centre is ramping up its vigilance mechanisms to better monitor and prevent dumping of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) batteries as well as EVs themselves, two people aware of the matter said.

The development comes on the back of reports from European Commission meetings that the European Union (EU) is planning to increase its import duty from 10% to 25-30% on all Chinese electric vehicles and batteries to protect domestic producers. The US, too, has proposed to quadruple tariffs on Chinese EVs to 100% to discourage cheap imports.

The proposed EU tariffs are expected to be announced in July, raising the possibility of Chinese manufacturers redirecting their excess inventory to markets like India, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity, adding that he ministry of commerce and industry has been tasked with spearheading these efforts, working in collaboration with other relevant departments and agencies.

As of now, Indias primary focus will be on preventing dumping of EV batteries as their import could start soon after the tariff hikes; import of EVs will be regulated in later stages, the people cited above said.

The first person said that measures under consideration include increasing import duties on Chinese EV batteries, implementing stringent quality control standards, and promoting domestic production through incentives and support for local manufacturers.

We have our directorate general of trade remedies (DGTR) system in place, and our anti-dumping measures are operational. If any dumping occurs, we have an institutional mechanism to address it," the first person added.

We are implementing policies to ensure that India has sufficient capabilities for the production of EVs and batteries," the second person said.

Under the revamped EV policy, India has opened its doors to all EV manufacturers, including those from China. Chinese companies are now eligible to apply for benefits under the scheme, a senior government official said, on condition of not being named.

However, the path for Chinese EV makers may not be straightforward due to geopolitical tensions. Despite the revamped EV policy, the government retains the sovereign right to permit or deny any companys entry based on security analysis," the official added.

This means that even with the policy in place, Chinese companies will still undergo thorough scrutiny before being allowed to operate in India.

Also read Chinese business group warns of tariff increases on car imports

Queries emailed to commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal and the commerce ministrys spokesperson remained unanswered till press time.

European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill said in response to a Mint query that the Commission had initiated an ex-officio anti-subsidy investigation on 4 October 2023 on imports of Chinese battery electric vehicles for passengers.

Any investigation shall be concluded within maximum 13 months of initiation. Provisional anti-subsidy duties may be proposed by the Commission by nine months after initiation, followed by four months to impose definitive measures if legally warranted. Before any such measures are imposed, information about the imposition of provisional duties is provided to Union producers, importers and exporters, their representative associations, and the country of origin and/or export, in line with the procedures set out by the Regulation," Gill said.

What really are the concerns?

Ajay Srivastava, founder of Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), a research group focused on climate change, technology and trade, said that with both the US and the EU reducing their imports of Chinese EVs, China is likely to shift its focus to other markets, including India.

This could involve dumping EVs or entering the Indian market through joint ventures (JVs) that use primarily Chinese-made parts," said Srivastava. As a result, in the coming years, a significant number of Chinese EVs could be on Indian roads. Every third electric vehicle, as well as many passenger and commercial vehicles, could be made by Chinese firms independently or through JVs with Indian companies."

Srivastava added that such an influx would offer Indian consumers more affordable EV options, it may also pose a threat to domestic auto manufacturers who may struggle to compete with subsidized Chinese vehicles".

As per EU trade data, the European Union (EU) imported 500,000 electric vehicles (EVs) from China in 2022-23, nearly a third of China's total EV exports that year. However, the EU is now considering several measures to restrict these imports, including anti-subsidy duties and high tariffs on Chinese EVs. Additionally, the EU may reduce import quotas.

Similarly, the US proposed on 15 May to increase tariffs on Chinese EVs from 25% to 100%, aiming to counter what it sees as unfair trade practices by China. In 2023, China exported $368 million worth of EVs to the US.

Monitor, but exercise caution

Utkarsh Sinha, managing director of boutique advisory firm Bexley Advisor, said while the concerns of an influx are genuine, India already has robust protections in place. These safeguards will undoubtedly be tested as Chinese manufacturers face pricing pressures due to ongoing US tariffs. However, it is unlikely that these measures will be breached, thanks to the strong anti-dumping defences currently in place," Sinha said.

India has established anti-dumping mechanisms under the DGTR to impose duties on imported goods sold below fair market value, protecting domestic industries from unfair competition. India has implemented anti-dumping measures by levying duties on steel imports from China, rubber chemicals from the EU, and certain types of paper from Indonesia and Singapore.

Besides, the consumer affairs ministry has implemented quality control orders on Chinese toys, household appliances and steel products, among others, to protect Indian manufacturers and safeguard consumers from potentially harmful products.

We must exercise caution when applying anti-dumping duties due to their potential downstream impacts on Indian manufacturers," warned Rahul Ahluwalia, co-founder of Foundation for Economic Development (FED), a not-for-profit organization. Imposing dumping duties could adversely affect Indian EV manufacturing startups. Therefore, we must be very careful in applying such measures to avoid hampering the growth of this emerging sector."
New Delhi: Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said Indias government debt, including that of states, is safe and prudent going by debt sustainability norms and that the country is in a better position than others.

The ministers defence of the governments debt management comes amid a political debate over economic indicators and the track record of the ruling and opposition parties in office. Sitharaman said in a social media post that Indias debt-to-GDP ratio was at 81% in FY22, compared with 260.1% for Japan, 121.3% for the US, 111.8% for France and 101.9% for the UK.

Sitharaman said that in a comparative analysis with other low and middle-income countries too, India's external debt scenario was robust. The minister said India's share of short-term debt in the total external debt is 18.7%, which is lower than that of China, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, South Africa, and Bangladesh.

A lower proportion of short-term debt is beneficial as it implies less immediate repayment pressure. When considering the ratio of total external debt to Gross National Income (GNI), India emerges as the third least indebted country among all such economies, the minister said.

BJP, Congress defend their stance The ruling Bhartiya Janata Party and the opposition Congress party have in recent months defended how they managed the economy and government finances while in office and have criticized the way the other did.

The ruling party had also tabled a black paper in Parliament, accusing the previous United Progressive Alliance regime of undermining the countrys macroeconomic fundamentals, while the Congress hit back at the government citing price rice and unemployment. The manifestos of the two parties are loaded with their economic agenda for the nation.

Experts said that the latest spike in debt levels is on account of the covid pandemic. The Centres fiscal deficit had gone up to 9.2% of GDP in the pandemic year of FY21 from 4.6% in the year before, but subsequently moderated to 5.8% in the revised estimates for FY24. For the current fiscal, the estimate is 5.1%.

The combined debt-to-GDP ratio of 81% is primarily the result of the impact of covid-19 and the fiscal stimulus that was initiated at that time. When slippage happens, it happens all at once but improvement, which has been happening over the last two years, will take some more time before India reaches closer to the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) level which prescribes an overall debt level of 60% of GDP. It is still above that level and it will take a few years before we reach that level, said EY chief policy advisor D K Srivastava.

On the other hand, some of the advanced countries which have run into very large debt are actually running unsustainable limits of debt, which is beginning to tell on their economic performance, said Srivastava.

Sitharaman said the NDA government is building a legacy of growth, transparency, and responsibility, which are hallmarks of governance that cares for the nation's future. The minister said the share of India's total external debt to its exports is 91.9%, positioning the country as the fifth-least indebted country among low and middle income countries in this respect.

The minister also said the government debt is overwhelmingly rupee-denominated, with external borrowings from bilateral and multilateral sources contributing to less than 5% of total debt. So exposure to volatility in exchange rates tend to be on the lower end, Sitharaman said in her post.
In April, India's core infrastructure sectors grew by 6.2% due to strong natural gas, electricity and steel output, according to data released by the ministry of commerce and industry on Friday.

In March, the eight core infrastructure sectorscoal, crude oil, steel, cement, electricity, fertilizers, refinery products, and natural gasgrew by 5.2%. This figure was later revised to 6% in the data released for April.

According to commerce ministry data, in FY24, production growth across the eight core industries was 7.6%, the slowest in three years.

However, FY24 has outperformed most years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government, except for FY22 and FY23, which saw growth rates of 10.4% and 7.8%, respectively.

The ministry reported that core sector growth stood at 4.6% in April 2023, benefiting from a lower base, and contributing to higher growth in the index during the month under review.

The core sector data is very encouraging, with growth rising from 5.2% in March 2024 to 6.2% in April 2024. This positive trend is expected to significantly boost the quarterly GDP numbers for the current quarter, said Ajay Sahai, director general, Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO)a commerce ministry body.

"We anticipate surpassing 8% growth in the current fiscal year, building on the impressive 8.2% GDP growth recorded in 2023-24. This continued strong performance reinforces our position as one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, Sahai said.

Shrinking industries While fertilizer output contracted by 0.8%, there were also signs of slowing in the production of cement, coal, and crude oil. Crude oil production declined month-on-month from 2% in March to 1.6% in April. Similarly, cement production fell sharply from 10.6% in March to 0.6% in April, and coal production decreased from 8.7% to 7.5% during the same period.

However, natural gas, refinery products, steel and electricity pushed the core sector growth with single-digit growth.

In April, electricity (weightage of 19.85% in the index) drove growth in core industries' output, posting a 9.4% increase in production. Steel production surged 7.1% from 6.4% growth in March, the ministry data showed.

Additionally, natural gas production expanded by 8.6%, refinery products by 3.9% and steel by 7.1%. Although both coal and crude oil production witnessed month-on-month decline, they remained in positive territory, indicating potential growth in the coming months.

The contraction in fertilizers (-0.8%) has not impacted the production index of the eight core industries, given its lowest weightage of 2.63%. Refinery product growth remained moderate for much of FY24, spiking only in August and November.
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has added a little over 100 tonnes of gold to its vaults nationwide, the most since early 1991, according to The Times of India (TOI) news report. The relocation took place in the United Kingdom (UK).

According to government sources who spoke to TOI, the transfer of the gold to domestic places was done for both logistical and diverse storage purposes. This suggests that a comparable amount of gold may be entering the nation once more in the upcoming months.

As to the TOI report, the RBI had 822.1 tonnes of gold at the end of March, of which 413.8 tonnes were held outside. This information is based on the most the most recent data. With 27.5 tonnes acquired during the most recent fiscal year, it is one of the central banks that has purchased gold in recent years.

The Bank of England has long served as a warehouse for a great deal of central banks, including India, which has some pre-Independence yellow metal holdings located in London.

According to the news report, an official told TOI that the RBI began buying gold a few years ago and has periodically reviewed its storage options. The decision was made to ship part of the gold to India since the stock was increasing elsewhere.

Particularly since the Chandra Shekhar government promised the precious metal to address the balance of payments problem in 1991, gold has been an emotive topic for the majority of Indians.

In a post on social media platform X, economist Sanjeev Sanyal said: "While no one was watching, the RBI has shifted 100 tonnes of its gold reserves back to India from the UK. Most countries keep their gold in the vaults of the Bank of England or some such location (and pay a fee for the privilege). India will now hold most of its gold in its own vaults. We have come a long way since we had to ship out gold overnight in 1991 in the midst of a crisis."

Over the past several years, the Indian central bank has steadily increased its stock holdings through purchases, even though around 15 years ago it purchased 200 tonnes of gold from the International Monetary Fund.

However, obtaining 100 tonnes of goldnearly a quarter of the nation's total holdings as of the end of Marchwas a significant logistical undertaking that took months of preparation and exact execution. It required tight collaboration between the RBI, the finance ministry, and a number of other government agencies, including local governments, said TOI in its news report.

The news report states that, in order to import the gold into the nation, RBI obtained a customs duty exemption while the Center "foregoing revenue" on what is considered a sovereign asset.

However, as integrated GST is a state-shared tax, there was no exception from its application. It is imposed on imports.

Additionally, a special aircraft was required to transport the substantial amounts of gold while adhering to strict security protocols. Although the savings may not be substantial, the move will also assist RBI in saving on some of the storage costs that are paid to the Bank of England.

Within the nation, gold is kept in vaults in Nagpur and the former RBI headquarters building on Mint Road in Mumbai.
CBSE Supplementary Exam 2024: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has opened the List of Candidate (LOC) registration window for schools to apply for Compartment Exam 2024 at parikshasangam.cbse.gov.in/ps/. The schools are required to submit the name and other details of students of Class 10 and 12 who were placed in the compartment category when the board results were declared on May 12, 2024, and also of those who are unsatisfied with their results and are interested in applying for the Compartment/Supplementary exam.

According to the CBSE notification, Schools must submit the LOC information on the Pariksha Sangam portal by June 15, 2024.

Also Read | TS ICET 2024 hall ticket 2024: TSCHE to release admit card today No request for an extension of the date due to any reason or accepting any candidature after the last date is over will be considered, the notification added.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Election Results 2024: Gurugram imposes Section 144 on results day. Read order here CBSE Supplementary Exam 2024: Eligibility Criteria For Class 10th Students Regular students who appeared in the Board's Examinations 2024 through schools affiliated to the board and declared as Compartment are eligible to apply in one or two subjects in which they are placed in the Compartment. OR

Regular students who appeared in the board's exams 2024 and declared Pass can appear in up to two subjects under the Improvement of the Performance category only in the subjects whose examinations will be conducted, subject to the condition of a valid combination of subjects as per the date sheet. For Class 12th Students Regular students who appeared in the board's Exam 2024 through schools affiliated with the board and were declared Compartment are eligible to apply only in one subject in which they were placed in the Compartment. OR

Regular students who appeared in the Board's Examinations 2024 through schools affiliated to the Board with 6 subjects and placed in a Compartment in two subjects are eligible to apply in any one of the two subjects in which they were placed in the Compartment. OR

Regular students who appeared in 6 subjects in the Board's Examinations 2024 and declared PASS but could not clear one subject can appear in the failed subject under the Improvement of the Performance category only in the subjects whose examinations will be conducted. OR

Regular students who appeared in the Board's Examinations 2024 and declared PASS can appear in any one subject under the Improvement of the Performance category only in the subjects whose examinations will be conducted. CBSE Supplementary Exam 2024: Application Fee As per the notification, schools (in India) will have to pay 300 per subject on or before June 17, 2024, without a late fee for the Compartment Exam 2024. Students in Nepal are supposed to pay 1,000 per subject, while overseas students are supposed to deposit 2000 per subject before 17 June 2024.

Also Read | Heatstroke claims over 50 lives in India: Check states where deaths were report Schools can also deposit the Application Fee till July 19, 2024 with a late fee of 2,000 per subject.

Schools must note that the fee will be applicable as per fee schedule i.e. the date on which the data is finalized is considered for fee calculation. For example, if students' details are entered on 15.06.2024 and finalization of data is done on 15.06.2024 and the fee is submitted by 17.06.2024, then NO late fee shall be applicable. If the fee is not submitted by 17.06.2024, the late fee will be applicable.
UPSC Admit Card 2024: The Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) is expected to release the admit card for the UPSC prelims 2024 in the first week of June for the exam re-scheduled to be held on June 16, 2024. Earlier, the UPSC prelims 2024 was set for May 26, 2024, but was postponed due to impending General Elections 2024. Eligible candidates who have successfully registered for the prelims examinations can download their admit cards from the official website of UPSC at upsc.gov.in using their login credentials after the UPSC makes it public.

UPSC prelims admit card includes information like the candidate's name, roll number and address, category, and father's name. It also offers exam details such as the exam date, time, and location.

Also Read | NEET UG 2024: Answer Key challenge window closes today at exams.nta.ac.in/NEET; How to raise objections UPSC Prelims Exam 2024: Website to download Admit Card www.upsc.gov.in

www.upsconline.nic.in

UPSC Prelims Exam 2024: Steps to download the Admit card Go to the UPSC's official website at upsc.gov.in.

Go to the 'What's New' section available on the homepage

Click on the UPSC Prelims 2024 admit card activated link

A new window will open; enter your login credentials

Click on the Submit button

Your UPSC Prelims admit card will appear on the screen.

Download the Prelims admit card; take a printout for future reference UPSC prelims Admit Card 2024: Important Dates UPSC Prelims Admit Card Release Date: First week of June 2024 (Tentative)

UPSC Prelims Examination Date: June 16, 2024

UPSC Mains Exam Date: September 20, 2024

UPSC prelims Admit Card 2024: Exam Pattern The UPSC civil services preliminary exam consists of two papers containing objective-type questions for 400 marks.

Also Read | JEE Advanced 2024: Response sheets out, link activated at Jeeadv.ac.in The exam will take place in two sessions: The session, to be held from 9.30 am to 11.30 am, will be on General Studies (GS), which will include Indian polity, Geography, History, Indian economy, Science and Technology, Environment and Ecology and International relations.

Also Read | CBSE Supplementary Exam 2024 registration opens for Class 10, 12 The second session will be the Civil Services Aptitude Test (CSAT) from 2.30 pm to 4.30 pm. It will include reasoning and analytical questions, reading comprehension questions, and decision-making questions.

Following the preliminary exam, the UPSC will release a list of successful candidates eligible for the Main exam, requiring a minimum qualifying score of 33%.
The Congress said on Friday that its leaders will not participate in debates related to Lok Sabha elections exit polls on June 4. In a post on X, Congress leader Pawan Khera said, "Voters have cast their votes and their verdict has been secured. The results will be out on 4th June. Prior to that, we do not see any reason to indulge in speculation and slugfest for TRP."

He said the Indian National Congress would not participate in the debates on exit polls. "The purpose of any debate should be to inform the people. We will happily partake in debates from 4th June onwards," he said, explaining the reasons for the grand old party's decision.

In an interview with news agency ANI, Khera said, What's the point of speculation? Why should we indulge in meaningless speculation just to increase the TRPs of channels or to there is some force?

There are some forces which are involved in betting. Why should we be a part of that? Everybody knows who he or she has voted for. Parties will get to know how many votes they got on the 4th of June. Why should we speculate?.. We are poised to win this election. INDIA alliance will be forming the government after June 4, the Congress leader added.

When will exit poll results for Lok Sabha Elections 2024 be released? The last phase of voting for the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will take place on Saturday, June 1. After the voting ends at 6 pm, various media houses will release their exit poll results for the Lok Sabha elections, predicting the final results, which will be declared on June 4.

According to Election Commission guidelines, television channels and news outlets will be able to run exit poll data and its results on June 1 after 6.30 pm. In the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections, polling will be held in 13 Lok Sabha seats of Uttar Pradesh on June 1 between 7 am and 6 pm.

Earlier in the day, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav asked his party workers, candidates and office-bearers to remain "vigilant" against the "lies" of the BJP and "its exit polls."

In an appeal in Hindi on X, Yadav wrote, Today I am making an extremely important appeal to you. All of you should remain fully alert, vigilant and cautious during the voting tomorrow and also in the days after the voting, till the counting of votes is over and you receive the certificate of victory. Do not get misled by the BJP.
Voting for the seventh and last phase of the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 will take place on Saturday, June 1. The elections will be held in 57 parliamentary constituencies across eight states and Union Territories. Along with Lok Sabha polls, elections will also be held for 42 assembly constituencies in Odisha. The votes will be counted on June 4.

What are the vote timings? Which states will go to polls in Phase 7? How many candidates are there? How do you check your name on the voter list? What do you do if you don't have a voter ID card? Here's all you need to know about Phase 7 of Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

1. Vote timings: Voting for Phase 7 of the Lok Sabha Election will begin at 7 am on June 1, while the polling station closure timings may differ by constituency.

2. States voting on June 1: The eight states where voting will be held are: Bihar (8 Lok Sabha seats), Chandigarh (1), Himachal Pradesh (all 4 seats), Jharkhand (3 seats), Odisha (six seats), Punjab (all 13 seats), Uttar Pradesh (13 seats) and West Bengal (9 seats). Check the full list here

3. Assembly elections: Polling for the remaining 42 seats in the Odisha state Legislative Assembly will also take place simultaneously. Of these 42 seats, 27 are for the general category, six for the Scheduled Tribe and nine for the Scheduled Caste.

4. How many voters are eligible to vote on June 1? Over 10.06 crore electors, including 5.24 crore men, 4.82 crore women, and 3,574 third-gender voters, are eligible to vote in Lok Sabha Phase 7 elections 2024.

5. Candidates: As many as 904 candidates will contest in the Phase 7 voting on June 1. Some of the key candidates are: Prime Minister Narendra, BJP candidate Kangana Ranaut, Ravi Kishan and Anurag Thakur, Congress leader Vikramaditya Singh, RJD leader Misa Bharti, and TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee

6. How to find your polling station: Voters can check their polling station details, and poll date through this link https://electoralsearch.eci.gov.in/



Check here for more details: How to locate your polling booth online using mobile phone number

7. What do you do if you don't have a voter ID card? The Election Commission provided 12 alternative documents other than a voter ID card (EPIC) for identity verification at polling stations. If a voter is registered in the electoral roll, voting can be done by showing any of these documents. Link to ECI order for alternative identification documents: https://tinyurl.com/43thfhm9

8. How do you check your name on the voter list? All voters can check the electoral rolls to ensure their names are listed as eligible voters in their constituency. This can be done by visiting the Election Commission of India (ECI) website. Keep your EPIC no or Voter ID number handy before going to the EC website. Here's the process one can follow to check their name in the electoral list.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday reacted to the Congress party's decision to not take part in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 exit polls debates, and termed it as confirmation of conceding elections.

Congress decision not to participate in the Lok Sabha exit poll debates is an unequivocal confirmation that it has conceded elections, said BJP chief JP Nadda.

He also alleged that Congress has no complaints about either EVMs or the poll process when it wins but whines endlessly when it expects a rout.

By deciding to boycott the Exit Poll exercise, they are bringing in question exercise carried out by several professional agencies, who have worked with thousands of associates to bring what people may have voted for, said Nadda in a post on X.

Instead of focusing on winning the election, Congress repeatedly approached the Supreme Court, making outrageous demands, in order to mutilate our well established electoral process, said Nadda.

Nadda alleged that not just the Congress but its extended ecosystem, who are inimical Indias interest, too comes together to create cacophony and makes all attempts to undermine peoples faith in our institutions and process.

What Amit Shah said Congress has been in denial mode for so long. The whole election they kept campaigning that they are going to get the majority but they know the situation. In the coming exit polls, it will be their massive defeat so they can't face the media. Therefore, they are boycotting the entire exit poll exercise

Congress on not participating in debates Earlier in the day, in a post on X, Congress leader Pawan Khera said that the Indian National Congress will not participate in the debates on #ExitPolls.

Stating that voters have cast their votes and their verdict has been secured, Khera added, "The results will be out on 4th June. Prior to that, we do not see any reason to indulge in speculation and slugfest for TRP.

We will happily partake in debates from 4th June onwards, said the Congress leader, stating, The purpose of any debate should be to inform the people.

Akhilesh Yadav's appeal Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has appealed to the party workers, office bearers and candidates to remain vigilant and "not get misled by BJP's exit polls.

Exit Polls From 6pm onwards on June 1, when the voting for the last phase of the Lok Sabha election will get over, several media organisations will start declaring the results of exit polls.

The counting of votes for Lok Sabha elections will take place on June 4.
With the campaigning ending for the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Friday revealed his choice for the post of Prime Minister if the INDIA bloc comes to power on June 4.

In an interview with NDTV, the Congress chief said that Rahul Gandhi would be a popular choice for the top post.

"Rahul Gandhi is my choice to be Prime Minister," Kharge told NDTV, adding, he represents the youth, and length and breadth of the country.

However, the Congress chief added that the INDA bloc has decided they are fighting together, and after winning, the coalition will jointly decide who will be PM.

He also rubbished talk that he too could be a PM candidate.

"How can I propose my (own) name? The party will take a call. Alliance parties might have named me but, in our party, we will sit (together) and decide... there is a process like in 2004 or 2009," Kharge told NDTV.

The Congress chief further added that he wanted Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to contest the Lok Sabha elections.

Earlier, addressing a conference in Himachal, when he was asked about the INDIA bloc's prime ministerial candidate, Kharge said, "It's like asking 'Kaun Banega crorepati'."

Recently, when Aam Aadmi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal was asked if he considered himself a PM face of the opposition INDIA bloc, the Delhi Chief Minister said that he has no such intention as AAP is a very small party.

Earlier this week, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh stated that the party which gets the maximum seats in the alliance will be a 'natural claimant' for its leadership. He added that the name of the PM candidate would be announced within 48 hours after the result on June 4.
Hana Adeen and her three children had been hiding for days as artillery shells rained down on a displacement camp in the Sudanese city of El Fasher. Then, last Friday, a shell tore through the roof of their mud-brick house, shrapnel piercing the neck of her 14-year-old son, Abdul.

Blood was gushing from my sons neck, but his eyes were still open," Hana Adeen, who asked to be identified by her first and middle names only, said in a phone interview. I picked up the youngest children and ran, like everyone else."

Neighbors later told Hana Adeen that Abdul had died and likely been buried in a makeshift grave. The 33-year-old and her two other children now sleep in the open in a desert town south of El Fasher, waiting for a chance to return to the Abu Shouk camp, where she has lived for the past two decades.

The Abu Shouk camp has sheltered more than 100,000 survivors of the mass atrocities perpetrated against Black indigenous communities in Sudans Darfur region in the early 2000s. Now, its residents are once again being attacked, and local activists and international officials are warning of a repeat of the earlier violence, which the U.S. recognized as the first genocide of the 21st century.

Two decades after the genocide in Darfur claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, history is repeating itself," said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.

Residents of Abu Shouk, local activists and experts monitoring the conflict say the artillery is being fired into the camp by the Rapid Support Forces, a successor to the infamous Janjaweed fighters who terrorized Darfur in the early 2000s. For the past year, the RSF has been waging a war against Sudans military for control over the country of 47 million people. It is now trying to take El Fasher, the last major population center in Darfur it doesnt already hold.

In a statement Sunday on X, the RSF denied targeting internally displaced people in El Fasher and blamed the violence on the military and its allies.

The city had been an island of relative stability in Darfur until two local militias allied with the military in April in the face of escalating attacks on Black settlements elsewhere in the region. There have also been reports of killings and detentions of ethnically Arab civilians in El Fasher, further fueling the violence.

Competition for land in Darfur, a mineral-rich region in western Sudan roughly the size of Spain, has long created tensions between traditionally nomadic Arab communities and Black farmers. Since the start of the war, the RSF has allied with Arab militias to tighten its grip on Darfur, often targeting those displaced by violence in the early 2000s.

The military didnt respond to requests for comment, but has previously denied intentionally harming civilians. The leader of one of the El Fasher militias that has partnered with the military said his fighters were defending residents against ethnically motivated attacks.

Tom Perriello, the Biden administrations special envoy for Sudan, said earlier in May that the death toll of Sudans war over the past year could be 10 or 15 times the official count of around 15,000. Some 15,000 people were killed in one battle in the West Darfur city of El Geneina last June and as many as 2,000 were killed in an RSF attack on another displacement camp, according to U.N. investigators.

As many as 2.5 million Sudaneseincluding 15% of the population of Darfur and another hard-hit provincecould die from famine by September, according to a projection published last week by the Netherlands-based Clingendael Institute. The U.S. and aid groups say the Sudanese military is exacerbating the hunger crisis by preventing the flow of aid, especially into areas controlled by the RSF.

The military says aid that ends up in the hands of the RSF strengthens its opponents.

Around two-thirds of Abu Shouks residents have fled the camp since the fighting around El Fasher intensified this month, local activists said. Activists and residents said some RSF fighters have entered the camp, beating and detaining civilians and looting homes.

On May 24, the most intense day of fighting so far, the RSF fired at least 80 artillery shells into residential areas and displacement camps in and around El Fasher, killing at least 32 people, according to U.K.-based Practical Action, one of the few international aid groups still operating in the city.

Humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders said Tuesday that it had received more than 1,000 wounded since May 10 at an El Fasher hospital and that 145 patients who arrived in critical condition died from their injuries.

The group, known by its French acronym MSF, said the hospitalone of only two in El Fasher that remain partially functionalhas been hit twice in the fighting, including by a mortar that landed in the prenatal care unit on Saturday. That attack, MSF said, killed one person and injured eight patients and family members.

We see a bloodbath unfolding before our own eyes in El Fasher," said Claire Nicolet, MSFs program manager for Sudan.

Satellite images analyzed by Yale Universitys Humanitarian Research Lab show that at least 32 communities outside the city have been attacked over the past two months, and thermal scarring suggests the large-scale arson of homes and other structures. The assault on Abu Shouk camp is the first known large-scale assault by the RSF on a displacement camp around El Fasher, the Lab said in a report published last week.

The clashes in El Fasher have displaced more than 500,000 of the citys 1.6 million to 2 million residents since early May, according to U.N. estimates. The RSF has amassed as many as 28,000 fighters around the city, according to a report from the Sudan Conflict Monitor, which is produced by a group of Sudanese researchers.

The violence looks set to intensify. Residents interviewed by The Wall Street Journal said that the Sudanese military and its allies have erected barricades and dug trenches to defend the city. Unlike other state capitals in Darfur, where the army quickly retreated, Sudans military has reinforced its positions with more troops, heavy weapons and other supplies.

Humanitarian officials have previously relied on aid deliveries from Chad via El Fasher for distribution to other parts of Darfur. But in recent months, little aid has come through.

Awadalla Hamid, the Darfur director for Practical Action who lives in western El Fasher, says he makes daily assessments of the destruction from the latest fighting, including any reports of damage to water facilities his group built before the conflict. The groups operations have ground to a complete halt since fighting erupted. For months, Hamid has mostly been confined to his home.

No, I am not leaving, although I know it is dangerous to be in El Fasher," he said by phone in one of the rare moments when telecommunications networks were available. I dont see the reason to leave when people still need my support."

Nearly 10 million Sudanesemore than a fifth of the total populationhave been forced from their homes over the past 13 months, including around 2 million who have fled to neighboring countries.

Hana Adeen says she is still hoping to go back to Abu Shouk and find Abduls grave. Its the only place I know as my home," she said. I hope to return once this madness stops."

Write to Nicholas Bariyo at nicholas.bariyo@wsj.com and Gabriele Steinhauser at Gabriele.Steinhauser@wsj.com
It was the political trial of the young century, a salacious, high-stakes drama starring a former U.S. president vying to reclaim the White House. Manhattan prosecutors hush-money case against Donald Trump spanned more than a month and featured more than 20 witnesses.

A 12-person jury on Thursday found the former president guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records for covering up a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election. Daniels had alleged a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, which he denied. Here are some key moments from the trial.

More than a sex scandal

Prosecutors alleged Trump broke the law to cover up a sex scandal, but their opening statement framed the case as a story about a plot to corrupt the 2016 election. It was election fraud, pure and simple," prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told jurors. Their approach sought to package a complex narrative and cast of characters into a simpler story about a politician pulling the wool over the eyes of voters, even though there were no actual election fraud charges in the case. It was a risky strategy, and it paid off.

Trump vs. gag order

The presiding judge, Justice Juan Merchan, issued a gag order restricting the former president from making public statements about potential witnesses. Trump attacked the order as an unfair muzzling of his political speech and was fined thousands of dollars for violating it. Going forward, this court will have to consider a jail sanction," Merchan told Trump. The judge wasnt the first to threaten him with jail time for violating a gag order, but the brinkmanship between the two added suspense to the proceedings.

A painfully detailed encounter

Daniels told jurors about a night in 2006 at a Lake Tahoe hotel suite where she allegedly spanked Trump with a rolled-up magazine and slept with him. The sex was brief," she said, but Danielss testimony wasnt. Jurors heard about the former presidents silky two-piece pajamas, their awkward small talk and how she stared at the ceiling when things got intimate. Trump could be heard muttering obscenities at the defense table while she spoke to the jury a few meters away. Trumps legal team said Danielss testimony was unfairly prejudicial and demanded a mistrial, which they didnt get.

Catch-and-kill journalism

Ex-tabloid king David Pecker gave jurors a look inside the greasy underbelly of transactional journalism. The soft-spoken 72-year-old used to publish the supermarket scandal sheet, the National Enquirer. Pecker walked jurors through his August 2015 Trump Tower meeting with Trump where he said he pledged to help his friend snatch away scandalous gossip about the presidential contender. I will be your eyes and ears," he said he told Trump. Peckers business with Trump wasnt clearly incriminating but had the trappings of a conspiracy.

Mrs. Trumps newspaper goes missing

Onetime White House communications director Hope Hicks recalled how the Trumps campaign went into crisis mode after the infamous Access Hollywood" tape surfaced, which prosecutors said was the political motive for the Daniels hush-money scheme. But she also said Trump was worried about problems closer to home. He was concerned how it would be viewed by his wife," Hicks said of a Wall Street Journal article about a separate payout to former Playboy centerfold model Karen McDougal. And he wanted me to make sure the newspapers werent delivered to their residence that morning."

Just take care of it

Trumps former fixer, Michael Cohen, was the prosecutions inside man, a rare witness professing firsthand knowledge of Trumps motives and actions. He testified that Trump told him that Danielss affairs claims would be a disaster for the campaign if they ever got out. Just take care of it," Cohen said Trump told him. Cohen said Trump expressed relief after he informed his boss that he would front the money to Daniels himself. And Cohen also claimed that right before Trumps inauguration, he and then-Trump Organization chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg met with the president-elect to let him know that Cohen would be reimbursed in monthly installments marked down as legal services. He approved it," Cohen told the jury.

Is the liar lying now?

But the credibility of Cohen, a convicted liar, was also under scrutiny. Defense lawyer Todd Blanche appeared to rattle Cohen during the cross-examination when he asked about a phone conversation Cohen said he had with Trump about the payment to Daniels. Blanche pounced on text messages that suggested the minute-and-a-half phone call in question was really between Cohen and Trumps bodyguard, Keith Schiller, to discuss a teenage prank caller who had been harassing Cohen. It was a Perry Mason moment that threatened to reinforce the defenses contention that Cohen was a fabulist who made up conversations he said he had with Trump.

The records arent false

Blanches closing argument took aim at the core allegation of the prosecutions case, the claim that Trump falsified records. He said there was nothing false or misleading about labeling the payments to Cohen as legal services. He disputed the notion that the $420,000 in total payments to Cohen were even a reimbursement, telling jurors repeatedly that Cohen at the time was serving as Trumps personal attorney. The bookings were accurate, and there was absolutely no intent to defraud," said Blanche. The records arent false."

This corrupt bargain

Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass had the final word with an hourslong closing argument that played up the political significance of the hush-money deals. Trump, he told jurors, broke the law to keep voters in the dark about the man they elected president. The value of this corrupt bargain forged at this Trump Tower meeting cannot be overstated," Steinglass said. This scheme, cooked up by these men at this time, could very well be what got President Trump elected."
The World Health Organization (WHO) is set to guide member countries on ways to engage with the private sector for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) only when they add value to the efforts.

A note developed by WHO with experts from member states and civil society, proposes that private sector entities partnering with the government should not have any conflict of interest.

The WHO guidebook focuses on how partnerships with the private sector will help in curbing NCD, accountable and transparent governance, etc., by maintaining the credibility and integrity of the partnerships.

This comes in the backdrop of some companies that have been rejected by the health ministry on account of conflict of interest, finding ways to tie up with other ministries.

India is facing a situation where NCDs now account for around 60% of all deaths, according to a report from the health ministry.

WHO guidebook The WHO guidebook provides a step-by-step approach for the government to establish processes to assess, analyse, and make strategic decisions about engagement with the private sector.

Also Read | Integrate health records of patients with ABHA: Health ministry Collaboration with the private sector could improve the impact on health, the WHO said on its portal. Countries should strengthen their capacity for collaboration across sectors and with many stakeholders at the national and other levels, and identify opportunities with non-State actors to accelerate national NCD response, the portal on NCD said. These tools were requested at the ongoing World Health Assembly being held in Geneva.

The decision-making tool is aimed at policymakers, and officials from Union ministries and the state governments. In addition, it may offer practical insights to other governmental sectors such as economy, finance, trade, agriculture, and education, particularly when seeking policy clarity and a governmental response to address NCD prevention and control.

Experts in the field have said that regulatory policies or individuals' behavioural changes will not be sustainable if the environment and policies are not conducive.

Expert opinion International expert Dr Monika Arora, president, NCD Alliance, wrote an opinion piece about this tool with Kent Buse from Imperial College London, published in the British Medical Journal on 29 May. Experts said this WHO guidance can help in forging private-sector engagement in the interest of public health and stay clear from health-harming industries. Civil society organizations, people with lived experience and academic institutions can also be engaged to help implement this decision-making tool.

Studies have shown that most food advertisements are high in fat, salt and sugar. More of these ads are on children's television channels than on adult channels thus influencing children into an unhealthy lifestyle.

Also Read | Sugar rush alert: Nestles infant formula in hot water Another incident took place in November when a government event was organized on health and nutrition which was sponsored makers of by junk food manufacturers.

This will ensure greater transparency and accountability in reaching informed decisions on engagement with private sector entities only when they add value to the NCD response. Only private entities sector that commit to addressing the NCD burden through evidence-based policies would be able to engage with the government following this guidance, said experts.
In the wake of high power demand and increased operations of gas-based power plants to meet the rising demand, volumes of gas traded on the Indian Gas Exchange (IGX) increased multifold in May compared to the same period a year ago.

So far in May about 49 lakh mmBtu (million metric British thermal units) have been traded on the exchanges, nearly six times more than 8.5 lakh mmBtu in May last year, according to data from IGX.

"We have traded 49 lakh mmBtu equivalent to 1.5 LNG vessels and it is double of what we did last month. The increase in volume is largely due to power demand. Initially, there was some shortage of gas as the demand was not expected. Further demand from CGD (city gas distribution) is also increasing as the supply of APM gas is declining," said Rajesh Kumar Mediratta, MD and CEO of IGX.

In April, the trading volumes on the IGX stood at 24.8 lakh mmBtu.

Also Read: IGX, Acme to develop green hydrogen, ammonia market in India Among other measures to ensure uninterrupted availability of power, the Union government has already directed gas-based power plants to operate at full capacity. The plant load factor (PLF) of the 62 gas-based plants which account for about 25 GW has also increased. In April 2024, the PLF of gas-based power plants stood at 21.4%, against 14.2% in April last year. PLF is the measure of a power plant's capacity utilisation. It is the percentage of energy sent out by the power plant in terms of installed capacity in that period.

Gas-based power plants have usually not been significant players in the power sector. However, the recent easing of gas prices in the international market has led to improved demand for fuel across segments including power generators.

Rising power demand The ongoing heatwave in several parts of the country, largely northern, northwestern and central India, has led to a surge in power demand.

On Thursday, India's peak power demand hit an all-time high of 250 GW with the mercury surging in several parts of the country. In the national capital, temperatures have been hovering around the 50 degrees Celsius mark after breaching 52 degrees on Wednesday.

The highest temperature on Thursday was recorded at 48 degrees at Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

Also Read: How India is managing power demand amid the brutal heatwave It also said that the heatwave is likely to subside in the coming days. This would also reduce the load on power plants since power demand for cooling requirements would ease.

The southwest monsoon which arrived early in Kerala on Thursday, has advanced into parts of northwest Bay of Bengal, remaining parts of Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam and most parts of sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim, IMD said on Friday.
Auto sales: Shares of automobile companies such as Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), Hero MotoCorp, Bajaj Auto and others will remain on investors radar next week as these companies will release their monthly sales data over the weekend. However, the auto sales for the month of May are likely to be muted across categories.

Retail demand for automobiles across major categories witnessed a slowdown in May, hurt by heat waves, weak foot traffic, ongoing elections, and the absence of marriage season dates. Auto demand has also been affected due to unseasonal rains in key states like Maharashtra, which has dampened agricultural sentiments.

While two-wheeler retail growth is expected to be 2-4% year-on-year (YoY) for the month, Passenger Vehicle (PV) segment volume is expected to decline 7-9% YoY despite decent response to the newly launched M&Ms XUV 3XO and Maruti Suzuki Swift, according to estimates by brokerage firm Motilal Oswal Financial Services.

MHCVs and LCVs are also expected to see a single-digit decline in sales, mainly on account of delay in tenders due to elections. Tractors sales may decline by 5% YoY.

Here are key expectations from May auto sales data from across categories:

Two-wheelers Two-wheeler retail sales are expected to see a 2-4% YoY growth, with Southern regions growing better than the Northern regions. Entry-level demand has remained flat YoY.

The absence of marriage season sales in May, combined with the impact of elections, has led to an increase in inventory. Inventory levels are currently at 45-50 days for Hero MotoCorp and 35-40 days for TVS Motor Company and Bajaj Auto.

However, dealers are hopeful that this inventory will normalize, as marriage season dates fall in July this year, which could boost retail sales in June. We expect dispatches to grow by 6% each for Bajaj Auto, TVS Motor Company and Royal Enfield, while Hero MotoCorp is anticipated to decline 6% YoY, Motilal Oswal said.

Passenger Vehicles Passenger Vehicles in May 2024 are expected to decline 7-9% YoY with one of the reasons being lower footfalls due to heatwaves. Footfalls are expected to have declined by 15% MoM, as per the brokerage estimates.

Customer preference for various variants remain mixed with the entry-level spec successful in garnering new types of customers, mostly upgrading from a small car or a first-time buyer, it said.

The brokerage firm expects dispatches for Maruti Suzuki India (including LCVs) to decline 1% YoY, while it should grow by 14% for M&M (including pickups). Tata Motors PV volumes are likely to remain flattish YoY.

Commercial Vehicles MHCV/LCV retail volumes are expected to decline 8-10% and 2-3% YoY.

There is an underlying weakness in the segments like iron-ore extraction, cement sector, infra, etc., leading to slower growth in the tipper segment. This weakness in the demand is mainly due to ongoing elections and dealers expect to see normalcy by 2HFY25. Inventory stands at around 4-6 weeks for CVs.

Analysts at Motilal Oswal expect dispatches for Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland to remain flat YoY, while Volvo Eicher Commercial Vehicles (VECV) is anticipated to decline 9% YoY.

Tractors Tractors sales in May 2024 are estimated to decline 5% YoY, led by weak agri sentiments in key regions. The weakness in demand is attributable to lower footfalls, due to unseasonal rains and sustained weakness in agri segments.

However, the broking house noted some recovery in demand for non-agri segments over a low base of the last few quarters. The average inventory level across most of the OEMs has increased by ~2 weeks. It expects tractor dispatches for M&M to decline 4% YoY, while Escorts Kubota to report a decline of ~5% YoY.

Also Read: Street race for Ashok Leyland after margin spike in last fiscal

It is now an established fact that the majority of easy gains in Auto OEM stocks are now behind us, as we have witnessed significant volume growth across segments over the last two years, and input costs also appear to have bottomed out. Hence, one will have to make selective micro strategies to outperform from hereon, Motilal Oswal said.

Its top picks in Auto OEMs are Maruti Suzuki and Ashok Leyland. Among Auto Ancillaries, its top picks include Craftsman Automation, Motherson Sumi Wiring India and Happy Forgings.
Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group, the owner of social networking site Truth Social, plummeted Thursday after former President Donald Trump was convicted in his hush money trial, the Associated Press reported.

A New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex, the report added.

As per the report, Trump Media's stock fell about 9% in after-hours trading Thursday as news of the verdict emerged.

The stock, which trades under the ticker symbol "DJT," has been extraordinarily volatile since its debut in late March. It joins the group of meme stocks prone to swinging from highs to lows as small-pocketed investors attempt to catch an upward momentum swing at the right time.

Despite its volatility, the stock has tripled this year, often making double-digit percentage moves either higher or lower on a single day. It peaked at nearly $80 in intraday trading on March 26. For context, the S&P 500 is up almost 10% year to date, the report added.

Earlier this month, Trump Media reported a loss of more than $300 million for the last quarter, according to its first earnings report as a publicly traded company.

For the three-month period that ended March 31, the company posted a loss of $327.6 million, which it said included $311 million in non-cash expenses related to its merger with Digital World Acquisition Corp. DWAC is an example of a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, which can provide young companies with quicker and easier routes to getting their shares trading publicly but with much less scrutiny, the report added.

Trump Media & Technology recently fired an auditor that federal regulators charged with "massive fraud." On May 3, the media company dismissed BF Borgers as its independent public accounting firm, delaying the filing of its quarterly earnings report, as per the report.

Trump Media had previously cycled through at least two other auditorsone that resigned in July 2023 and another that was terminated by its board in March, just as it was rehiring BF Borgers.

Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records at his company in connection with an alleged scheme to hide potentially embarrassing stories about him during his 2016 Republican presidential election campaign.

The charge, a felony, arose from reimbursements paid to then-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen after he made a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to silence her claims of an extramarital sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. Trump was accused of misrepresenting Cohens reimbursements as legal expenses to hide that they were tied to a hush money payment.
The Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO) has declared that it has changed the requirements regarding the uploading of an image of a validated bank passbook or cheque leaf in certain qualifying circumstances.

How will EPFO verify claims? To verify the accuracy of claims, the EPFO instead employs extra verification techniques. These could consist of:

Online bank KYC verification : Check your banks or the National Payments Corporation of Indias (NPCI) KYC details directly.

: Check your banks or the National Payments Corporation of Indias (NPCI) KYC details directly. Verification of employers via DSC : Your bank account details can be verified by your employer with the use of a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC).

: Your bank account details can be verified by your employer with the use of a Digital Signature Certificate (DSC). Verification of the seeded Aadhaar number: Your bank accounts Aadhaar number will be validated by UIDAI. This will help expedite the online claim settlement process and lower the number of claims that are rejected because the online claim was submitted without the image of the attested bank passbook or cheque leaf.

According to the EPFO circular dated May 28, 2024, With a view to facilitate the speedy settlement of claims filed online and to reduce the rejection of claims due to the reason of non-uploading of the image of cheque leaf/ attested bank passbook while filing claims online, it has been decided with the approval of the CPFC to relax the requirement of mandatory uploading of the image of cheque leaf/ attested bank passbook for certain eligible cases based on certain validations which include Online Verification of the Bank KYC by concerned Bank/NPCI, Verification of Bank KYC by the employer using DSC, Seeded Aadhaar Number verified by UIDAI among others.

Did EPFO specify eligibility requirements? Its possible that the EPFO did not specify the requirements for eligibility. Here are some potential outcomes:

Validated bank data : You might not need to submit any documentation if your bank data has already been verified through KYC or another technique.

: You might not need to submit any documentation if your bank data has already been verified through KYC or another technique. Sum of claim: The relaxation might apply to claims that fall below a given threshold sum. The ideal supporting documentation for an EPF claim is an original, cancelled check with the members name, bank account number, and IFSC code prominently displayed. To settle your claim, this acts as confirmation of the details of your bank account.

In case your bank account lacks cheque book functionality, the EPFO provides a different approach. A copy of your bank passbooks first page, duly authenticated (stamped and signed by the bank manager), may be sent. Your bank account number and IFSC code should be included in this authenticated passbook copy.

What is the process for submitting an online claim? You can file an online claim with the EPFO through the EPFO member site. For the most recent updates, its always advisable to visit the official EPFO website, but heres a general guideline:

Qualifications for eligibility:
Elections in large democracies such as India tend to bring about a period of uncertainty and volatility in the financial markets as well as in the overall economy. The Lok Sabha election of 2024 is expected to be no different, as market participants keenly watch for any shifts in political power that might affect economic policies and investor sentiment.

For mutual fund investors, understanding the potential impact of election results on their portfolios is crucial for making informed decisions.

Short-term volatility and long-term stability Yogesh Kalwani, Head of Investments at InCred Wealth, emphasises the inevitable volatility around election results. He notes, "The market will be volatile, and we could see sharp moves on either side based on the election result outcome. However, in the long term, markets mirror corporate earnings growth."

This highlights a critical point for investors: while short-term market reactions can be unpredictable and sharp, long-term investment returns are more closely tied to the fundamental performance of the companies in which mutual funds invest.

Kalwani advises investors to adopt a long-term perspective, ideally a three-year-plus investment horizon, particularly in equity mutual funds. This approach helps to mitigate the impact of short-term volatility and allows investors to benefit from the underlying growth in corporate earnings. Given the current market conditions and premium valuations, he suggests that staggered investments can be a prudent strategy to average out purchase costs over time.

The importance of sticking to fundamentals Ankit Jain, Senior Fund Manager at Mirae Asset Investment Managers India, concurs with the long-term perspective. He states, Stock market does react in the short term to election results but that should not have any impact on long term investments such as mutual funds. Mutual funds invest in stocks based on their fundamentals and growth story, which will remain the same irrespective of the election result.

This viewpoint underscores the importance of focusing on the fundamental strength of the businesses within the mutual fund portfolio rather than trying to time the market based on election outcomes.

Jain further explains that the Indian economy is on a robust footing, supported by strong policy measures from the current regime. He believes that continuity in these policies will provide a clear growth trajectory, regardless of the election result. Therefore, he advises investors to remain invested and avoid making hasty decisions based on short-term market movements.

Diversification and asset allocation During periods of uncertainty and market volatility, maintaining a diversified portfolio and adhering to a disciplined asset allocation strategy become even more critical. Nilesh D Naik, Head of Investment Products at Share.Market, stresses the importance of a long-term perspective and a well-diversified portfolio.

He notes, "While from a short term perspective, an unexpected, adverse election outcome can potentially impact markets and in turn your portfolio, historically we have seen that such market corrections tend to be short lived, especially in high growth and fundamentally strong economies like ours."

Naiks advice is to ensure that your portfolio is well-diversified across various asset classes and sectors, which can help manage risk and reduce the impact of any adverse market movements. He also highlights the importance of aligning your portfolio with your risk appetite, which means balancing equity investments with more stable asset classes like debt to cushion against market volatility.

Opportunities in mid and small cap sectors Vinnaayak Mehta, Founder of The Infinity Group, points out the significant growth potential in mid and small-cap sectors. "There are opportunities in the mid and small cap sectors, which offer significant growth potential," he says. Mehta advises investors to adopt a flexi cap strategy, which allows fund managers to invest across different market capitalizations based on where they see the best opportunities.

This approach can help maintain a balanced investment portfolio and capitalise on the growth potential of smaller companies. However, Mehta cautions that new investors, especially those who entered the market post-COVID-19, might not have experienced market corrections before.

"Since market movements are cyclical, errors during corrections can lead to substantial losses for inexperienced investors," he warns. Hence, thorough research and effective risk management are crucial before making investment decisions in these sectors.

Balanced advantage and flexi cap funds Given the anticipated volatility around the election results, investors might consider more flexible and balanced mutual fund products. Kalwani of InCred Wealth expresses a preference for flexi cap and multi cap funds, where fund managers have the flexibility to build portfolios across different market capitalizations based on where they see opportunities.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)  Police in North Carolina's largest city planned to update the public on the investigation into the fatal shootings of four law enforcement officers during an attempt to serve a warrant on a suspect in a residential neighborhood a month ago.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department scheduled a Friday evening media briefing about the deadliest shooting against law enforcement officers since 2016, when a sniper killed five officers at a Dallas protest. President Joe Biden traveled to Charlotte and met privately with the families of the officers who died.

Officers from a U.S. Marshals Task Force based in Charlotte were attempting to serve a warrant of felony possession of a firearm to a suspect at a Charlotte home April 29 when they came under fire. Officers shot and killed 39-year-old Terry Clark Hughes Jr., who was wanted in adjoining Lincoln County, during a three-hour standoff.

The officers killed were Sam Poloche and William Elliott of the North Carolina Department of Adult Corrections; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Officer Joshua Eyer; and Deputy U.S. Marshal Thomas Weeks. Four other officers were also injured.

An AR-15 semi-automatic rifle and a 40-caliber handgun were found at the scene. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Chief Johnny Jennings said afterward that more than 100 spent bullets had been recovered, although it wasnt clear how many were fired by the suspect. At least 12 officers also fired guns.

Police have said two females inside the house, including a minor, were cooperating and had not been charged. The department also said detectives were not looking for additional suspects or persons of interest.
WASHINGTON (AP)  U.S. health officials warned parents to avoid powdered infant formula sold by a Texas dairy producer, because a dangerous bacteria was found in one of the company's products.

The Food and Drug Administration issued the alert Friday on Crecelac Infant Powdered Goat Milk Infant Formula, after a sample collected from a Texas store tested positive for cronobacter, which can cause deadly infections in babies. The same bacteria sparked recalls and shortages of infant formula in 2022 after it was detected at a major U.S. formula factory.

The Crecelac formula was imported and distributed by Dairy Manufacturers Inc., of Prosper, Texas, according to the FDA. Press releases from the FDA and the company did not specify where the product was produced or how widely it was distributed in the U.S. Messages left for the company Friday were not immediately returned.

Last week, the company voluntarily recalled the Crecelac formula and another brand, Farmalac, because they had not received approval by the FDA for sale in the U.S. Infant formula distributors are required to submit data to FDA regulators showing their products meet U.S. food and nutritional standards.

The FDA said testing of the Farmalac product did not detect cronobacter, but parents and caregivers should still avoid using the formula.

Cronobacter can cause blood infections and other serious complications in infants, including meningitis and nervous system injuries. The bacteria are found naturally in the environment and also can make their way into infant formula after packages are opened.

In 2022, FDA investigators shutdown an Abbott formula plant in Sturgis, Michigan, after inspections sparked by four infant illnesses linked to cronobacter, including two deaths, showed widespread contamination at the site.

Amid the shortages caused by the shutdown, the FDA began allowing imports of infant formula produced by overseas manufacturers. Previously the agency restricted U.S. infant formula production to a handful of domestic manufacturers, including Abbott.

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The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heatwave to severe heatwave conditions across ten states for Friday, May 31. Yellow alerts have been issued for Bihar, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, West Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Odisha.

The weather department, in a bulletin, said that heatwave to severe heatwave conditions are very likely in some parts of Punjab, Haryana-Chandigarh-Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, in isolated pockets of Jharkhand, and Odisha.

IMD predicted that heatwave conditions will gradually subside over Northwest and Central India from May 31.

Also read: Delhi-NCR, get ready for light rains soon! IMD predicts dust and thunderstorms on THIS day The weather department noted, Hot and humid weather very likely to prevail over isolated pockets of Konkan & Goa during 30th May-01st June; Gangetic West Bengal on 30th & 31st May, 2024.

The weather department suggested heavy rainfall over the North-eastern states.

Also read: Delhi-NCR, get ready for light rains soon! IMD predicts dust and thunderstorms on THIS day The weather bulletin stated, Isolated heavy/very heavy rainfall very likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam & Meghalaya, Sub Himalayan West Bengal & Sikkim during next 5 days and isolated heavy rainfall over Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram & Tripura on 30th & 31st May, 2024.

Also read: Delhi weather today: IMD issues Orange alert for today, maximum temperature at 45C According to the latest report, the southwest monsoon has set in over Kerala and advanced into most parts of northeast India including the following states: Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Meghalaya and Assam.

IMD predicted heavy to very heavy rainfall over Kerala till June 4.

Heavy rainfall is also likely over the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from May 31 to June 2 and over Tamil Nadu and Karnataka from June 1 to June 3.

Strong surface winds (speed reaching 30-40 kmph) likely over Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam, Rayalaseema and Karnataka during 31st May-03rd June, the weather report notes.

The states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are expected to witness thunderstorm accompanied by light rainfall and lightning till June 2.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Congressional leaders have invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to deliver an address a the Capitol, a show of wartime support for the longtime ally despite mounting political divisions over Israel's military assault on Gaza.

The invitation from House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, along with Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, has been in the works for some time. No date for the speech was set.

Leaders said the invitation was extended to highlight Americas solidarity with Israel.

We invite you to share the Israeli governments vision for defending democracy, combatting terror and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region, they wrote.

The invitation comes as the Israel-Hamas war, now in its seventh month after the Oct. 7 surprise attack by the Palestinian militant group, has caused widespread concerns in the U.S. and abroad over Israel's conduct and the extensive civilian death toll.

A speech by Netanyahu would almost certainly expose election-year divisions in the U.S., where a growing number of Democrats have turned away from the right-wing prime minister, while Republicans draw closer to the Israeli leader.

As Israel pushes into Rafah in Gaza, the International Criminal Court has accused Netanyahu and his defense minister, along with three Hamas leaders, of war crimes  a largely symbolic act but one that further isolates the Israeli leader.

President Joe Biden in supporting Israels right to defend itself against Hamas lambasted the ICCs case against Netanyahu, but he has nevertheless grown critical of Israels war plans, and has pressed for assurances of humanitarian aid.

It is unclear if Biden and Netanyahu would meet in Washington.

In Congress, the debates over the Israel-Hamas war have been pitched, heated and divisive, amplified during the college campus protests this spring, showing how the once ironclad support for Israel has weakened and splintered.

Schumer, who is the highest ranking Jewish elected official in the U.S., delivered a stinging rebuke of the Israeli leader in March, saying in speech that Netanyahu had lost his way.

Republicans, including presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, have been eager to display their support for Netanyahu and expose the Democratic divisions over Israel.

Johnson first suggested inviting Netanyahu, saying it would be a great honor of mine to invite the Israeli leader, after Schumers own negative comments.

More recently, Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York, became the highest ranking Republican elected official from the U.S. to deliver a speech before the Israeli parliament.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said he has to surrender on June 2 and return to Tihar jail. On May 10, the Supreme Court of India granted him interim bail to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections 2024. The Enforcement Directorate had earlier arrested the AAP supremo in connection with the money laundering case linked to the excise policy case.

Addressing a press conference here, Kejriwal said, The Supreme Court had given me 21 days to campaign for the elections. The day after tomorrow I will go back to Tihar Jail. I don't know how long these people will keep me in jail this time. But my spirits are high.

I am proud that I am going to jail to save the country from dictatorship. They tried to break me in many ways, tried to silence me, but they (BJP) did not succeed. When I was in jail, they tortured me in many ways. They stopped my medicines... I don't know what these people wanted. Why did they do this? he said.

The chief minister stated that he would leave his home to surrender at 3 pm on June 2, while alleging that the ruling party may torture him more in the prison. It is possible that this time they may torture me more, but I will not bow down... Wherever I live, inside or outside.

Kejriwal further assured that the development work of Delhi will not stop even if he is in jail. I will not let Delhi's work stop. Your free electricity, mohalla clinics, hospitals, free medicines, treatment, 24-hour electricity, and many other things will continue.

After returning, I will also start giving 1000 every month to every mother and sister. Today, I want to ask you for something for my family. My parents are very old. My mother is very ill. I worry a lot about her in jail. Take care of my parents after me, pray for them, he added.

Kejriwal has sought an extension of his interim bail by seven days to undergo a host of medical tests, including a PET-CT scan, given his "sudden and unexplained weight loss coupled with high ketone levels", which are indicative of kidney, serious cardiac ailments and even cancer.

However, the top court rejected Arvind Kejriwal's plea seeking a seven-day extension of his interim bail in the liquor policy case. It refused to accept the application, saying since Kejriwal was given liberty to move the trial court for regular bail, the plea is not maintainable.

Delhi CM faces corruption and money laundering charges in excise policy scam. The charges pertain to the formulation and execution of the Delhi government's now-scrapped excise policy for 2021-22.
Gangotri National Highway Accident: Several people were feared trapped after a few vehicles passing on the Gangotri National Highway were hit by falling rocks near National Highway 108 (NH 108) in Gangotri, Uttarakhand, earlier Friday, news agency PTI reported.

The incident occurred near Dabrani on the Char Dham Yatra route after large stones tumbled down the hill slopes, hitting several cars and other vehicles.

Taking to microblogging platform X (formerly known as Twitter), Uttarakhand Police posted in Hindi that after receiving information about the incident, state police, SDRF, and NDRF teams reached the spot, and a rescue operation was underway. Vehicles have been stopped for security reasons and will be released after the route is completely safe.

Bus on way to Gangotri overturns Separately, a bus carrying pilgrims from Yamunotri to Gangotri overturned near Silkyara on the Yamunotri National Highway, PTI reported, citing the disaster control room.

Authorities said there were forty pilgrims from Karnataka in the bus at the time of the mishap. Fifteen of them sustained minor injuries in the accident.

The SDRF, police, National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited personnel and locals rushed to the spot and rescued all passengers.

later, the bus was removed from the road, and traffic was restored along the route.

Earlier on May 27, ANI reported that the Uttarakhand Government has implemented comprehensive measures, including traffic and transport enhancements and managing frequent landslides in the region to ensure a safer and more convenient Char Dham Yatra.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024 trading strategy: What should your portfolio look like? The top priority was disaster management of frequent landslides in the region. JCB machines and other heavy equipment were put on standby 24/7, and a dedicated team was placed to monitor high-risk areas to respond rapidly and minimize disruptions.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami visited Rishikesh and conducted a thorough site inspection of the Chardham arrangements.

Also Read | Heat stroke claims over 50 lives in India: Check states where deaths were report After the inspection, he held a meeting with the officials and directed them to further strengthen the essential basic facilities including drinking water, food, sanitation and health arrangements.

Dhami said, "Our government is working on the ground for a smooth, safe, and convenient Chardham Yatra for the devotees coming to Uttarakhand from different areas."

Also Read | Air India gets DGCA's show cause notice over 2 international flight delays and 'failure to take care of passengers' The Chief Minister also took stock of all the facilities in the resting place, health centre and travel control room built for the convenience of the devotees. During this, he directed the concerned officials to work in mutual coordination for a systematic journey.
Can heatwaves claim people's lives? Over 50 people reportedly died due to heatstroke in different parts of the country since Thursday. These deaths were reported as the temperature soared past 50 degrees Celsius in parts of North India, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar this week.

Here's a list of states where deaths dur to "heat stroke" or "sunstroke were reported:

Delhi Delhi, where the temperature touched 49 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, recorded its first heat-related death this week. A 40-year-old labourer died of heatstroke on Wednesday, the Indian Express reported.

Odisha Around 10 to 12 people died at a government hospital in Odisha's Rourkela region on Thursday. Meanwhile, ADM Rourkela Ashutosh Kulkarni told news agency ANI, Four people died due to heat in Rourkela. Yesterday, 50 patients came to the government hospital with heat-related complaints. Eight other persons were brought dead to the hospital yesterday. The cause of their death will be known after postmortem.

Bihar At least 19 people died as Bihar witnessed intense heatwave conditions, with temperatures exceeding 44 degrees Celsius. Ten among them were poll personnel.

As per PTI, the death toll due to heat wave conditions in Aurangabad touched 12, while four people died in Kaimur district, including a worker on election duty, on Thursday. Three others died in Bihar's Arrah in Bhojpur district after suffering from extreme heatwaves.

However, according to India Today, 32 people died from heatstroke in Bihar. The report claimed that 17 died in Aurangabad, six in Arrah, three each in Gaya and Rohtas, two in Buxar and one in Patna. In Odisha, 10 people died in Rourkela.

On Thursday, eight people were reported dead due to suspected heat stroke. These eight deaths due to suspected heat stroke were reported from Arwal, Buxar, Rohtas and Begusarai districts. Police inspector Dadan Prasad Singh also passed away due to heatstroke in Munger.

Jharkhand At least four people, including a woman, died due to heatwave-related symptoms in Jharkhands Palamu district. The four deaths were reported from different parts of the district which recorded the states highest maximum temperature at 47.4 degrees Celsius on Thursday.

"Three persons died during treatment at a hospital, while one died outside the hospital. The patients were suffering from heatwave-related complications," Palamu civil surgeon Dr Anil Kumar Singh told PTI. He said that around 10 people with heatwave-related ailments are undergoing treatment at the district hospital.

Madhya Pradesh In Madhya Pradesh, two children - aged 12 and 14 years - died reportedly due to heatstroke in Gwalior. The two siblings had gone to get medicines with their mother and grandmother. "While returning, they felt discomfort. One of the children was already ill and had a fever. The other one was healthy...They were taken to hospital but they were brought dead...," CMHO Dr RK Rajoriya was quoted by ANI as saying.

The father of the deceased children said, I was out for work. They left from home around 9-9.30 am to get medicines. When they returned, they fell ill and died...My mother and wife were with them...They died of heatstroke...

Uttar Pradesh Police said that in Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi, two people including an elderly woman died allegedly of health complications caused by a heat stroke on Thursday. Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Sushpendra Kumar said on Friday, Ram Milan (35) and Sarika Bano (70) of different areas of the district were on Thursday admitted at the district hospital with complaints of symptoms resembling that of heat stroke.

He said prima facie it appears that the death was caused by complications associated with heat stroke.

Earlier, a woman died and her son was hospitalised due to suspected heat stroke in Uttar Pradesh's Sultanpur on Thursday, police were quoted by PTI as saying. Railway Protection Force (RPF) officials said Kishori Devi (58), a resident of Chandigarh, was returning home from Chhapra in Bihar in the Harihar Express train with her son Pradeep Mahto and daughter Sarita when her and her son's condition deteriorated.

Sarita said her mother was fine till the train reached Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. As the train left from Varanasi, her mother suddenly started vomiting. By the time the train reached Sultanpur railway station, Kishori Devi fainted and Pradeep's condition also worsened, Sarita claimed.

"Prima facie Kishori Devi died due to heat stroke. The cause of death will be known after the post-mortem report comes," Dr Vikas Srivastava of the Government Medical College was quoted by PTI as saying.

Rajasthan Five people have so far have died in Rajasthan due to the ongoing heat wave conditions, the Rajasthan government's Director (Public Health) Dr Ravi Prakash Mathur said on Thursday.

Earlier, it was reported that two newborn babies died at the Community Health Centre in Rajasthan. The families of the babies alleged that they died due to heat as there were no coolers in the room and the ceiling fans were of no use. Following this, a three-member committee was formed to probe the matter.
Several houses and vehicles in various parts of Manipur, including Imphal, continue to reel under flood-like situation after torrential rains during cyclone Remal in the state.

Deeply concerned, says Rahul Gandhi

Deeply concerned by the news of severe flash floods due to incessant rainfall in Manipur which has affected thousands of people, leaving them stranded or displaced. My heartfelt condolences to those who have lost their loved ones. I urge Congress leaders and workers to extend all possible support and assistance in rescue and rehabilitation work, said Rahul Gandhi in a post on X.
The India Meteorological Department said on Friday that the southwest monsoon had advanced into the remaining parts of the Bay of Bengal, Tripura, Meghalaya, Assam, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal, and Sikkim. The monsoon has set in over Kerala in southern India today.

Conditions are favourable for the southwest monsoon to advance further into some more parts of the central Arabian Sea, the remaining parts of the south Arabian Sea, the Lakshadweep area, Kerala, some parts of Karnataka, some more parts of Tamil Nadu, and the Southwest Bay of Bengal during the three days, the weather office said.

This year, the southwest monsoon marked an early entry Thursday, two days ahead of schedule. It has set in over Kerala and Mahe and advanced into most parts of northeast India, including the entire Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and most parts of Tripura, Meghalaya, and Assam.

According to the IMD, the monsoon usually sets in over Kerala on June 1 and advances over most of northeast India by June 5. Over the past few days, widespread rains preceded the monsoons entry into these states.

Typically, after entering Kerala and touching the northeast, the monsoon gradually progresses through the country, reaching the northernmost parts between the end of June and early July.

The four-month monsoon season, beginning in June, is a lifeline for much of the country, particularly for rural areas dependent on farming. It brings in three-quarters of Indias annual rainfall, watering crops, filling up reservoirs, and boosting farm incomes and consumer demand.
Suspended Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna was interrogated by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation after he was arrested at the Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru in the wee hours of Friday.

Prajwal Revanna arrest LIVE Updates The SIT also issued a notice to Bhavani Revanna, the mother of the suspended Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS) MP. The SIT has asked her to be present at her Holenarasipur house on June 1.

Here's a look at the significant developments in the Prajwal Revanna arrest since Friday morning.

Prajwal Revanna arrest news: What has happened so far? -Nearly a month after staying out of India, the sexual harassment-accused JD (S) politician Prajwal Revanna returned to India from Germany in the early hours of Friday. The SIT arrested Revanna as soon as he landed at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport.

-Revanna is likely to be produced in front of the Special Court today. The SIT may seek the suspended Hassan MP's police custody for further investigation.

-The SIT beefed up the security at the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, where Revanna was brought for medical tests and examination.

The Special Court for Public Representatives will consider Prajwal and his mother, Bhavani Revanna's, bail plea on Friday.

- "He (Prajwal Revanna) has come to Bengaluru to come before the SIT and give his cooperation for interrogation purposes. Yesterday, he was held at the immigration centre, which is right as per the procedure. He has come to cooperate with the investigation, and that is what he has been doing. Additionally, he requested the media to kindly not do any media trial," said advocate Arun G, lawyer of suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna.

-Before returning to India, Prajwal tried one last time to avoid arrest and moved the Special Court for Elected Representatives through his counsel on Wednesday to apply for bail.

-Prajwal's father, Holenarasipura MLA H D Revanna, is also a co-accused in this case. He was arrested on May 4 and released on bail. MLA H D Revanna is the son of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda.

-The Hassan MP termed the charges placed against him as false and alleged political conspiracy in a video statement released earlier. He also shared that he had gone into depression because of false charges of sexual harassment levelled against him.

HD Deve Gowda issued a stern warning to his grandson Prajwal Revanna and asked him to return to the country to face a probe. While warning Revanna not to run from the investigation, Deve Gowda made it clear that he would not interfere in the interrogation.
A Vistara flight bound for Srinagar on Friday received a bomb threat, prompting swift action by the authorities at the airport.

Flight no-UK-611 from Delhi was carrying 178 passengers.

The Air Traffic Control (ATC) Srinagar had received an information threatening call. Following a threat call, the aircraft was immediately directed to an isolation bay upon landing.

The operations at the airport were also halted briefly.

However, the threat turned out to be a hoax. All the passengers were safely de-boarded after the plane landed.

An airport official confirmed on the phone that the threat was deemed non-credible and normal operations resumed, reported ANI, quoting Srinagar Airport Authorities.

After an exhaustive search, no explosives were found on the plane, PTI quoted officials as saying.

However, the source of the threat is yet to be known. Officials are investigating the matter.

We confirm there was a security concern on Vistara flight UK 611 operating from Delhi to Srinagar on 31 May that was brought to our staffs attention while on board. Following the protocol, we immediately informed the relevant authorities, and the aircraft was taken to the isolation bay after safely landing at the Srinagar International Airport where all customers were disembarked," said Vistara spokesperson.

The spokesperson added that they fully cooperated with the concerned authorities to clear the mandatory security checks.

"All the necessary checks have been conducted and the aircraft has been cleared to resume operations.

Over the last few weeks, several hospitals, schools and colleges, and airlines received bomb threats, which turned out to be hoaxes.

On May 28, IndiGo's Delhi-Varanasi flight received a bomb scare. : A tissue paper, with the word ''bomb@5.30'' written on it, was found in the lavatory. The threat turned out to be a hoax.

On May 23, Delhi University's Lady Sri Ram College, Hansraj College and Ramjas College, among others, received threats.

Whereas, three hotels in Bengaluru received bomb threats on the same day.

On May 22, the North Block in Delhi, which houses the office of the home ministry, received a bomb threat.

On May 15, at least 10 schools in Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur received bomb threats.

On May 14, Tihar Jail received bomb threats. The mail was sent from a Cyprus-based mailing service company.

On May 11, the IGI Airport and the Northern Railways' CPRO office.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar was remanded to 14-day judicial custody in connection with the alleged assault on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MP Swati Maliwal on Friday.

Kumar was produced before the Tis Hazari court in Delhi as his three-day police custody ended on Friday. The Delhi Police had arrested Bibhav Kumar on May 18 in connection with the case.

He will now be produced before the court on June 14.

AAP's Rajya Sabha MP Swati accused Bibhav Kumar of assaulting and misbehaving with her when she visited the residence of CM Kejriwal on May 13.

What happened during hearing today During the hearing on Friday, the Delhi Police had sought a 14-day judicial custody of Bibhav Kumar, news agency ANI reported. On May 29, Kumar on Wednesday moved the Delhi High Court challenging his arrest in connection with the alleged assault on AAP MP Swati Maliwal at the CM's residence earlier this month.

The Additional Public Prosecutor (APP), appearing on behalf of Maliwal, submitted that the judicial custody of Kumar is required for proper investigation. He also sought his custody to prevent Kumar from tampering with evidence, and to prevent him from making inducement or threats to any witness.

Defence counsels Rajat Bhardwaj and Karan Sharma opposed the judicial custody plea. They argued that the accused is in no position to interfere with an investigation or tampering with the evidence. It stated, "I [Bibhav Kumar] am in no position to induce the witnesses."

Swati Maliwal: Bibhav painted as hero, I as After Bibhav Kumar was sent to 14-day judicial custody on Friday, AAP MP Swati Maliwal said, Bibhav Kumar beat me up very badly in Arvind Kejriwal's drawing room. As soon as I filed a complaint against him, he did the same."

The entire party's leadership and resources were used against me. Every day I was victim-shamed, and my character was maligned, Maliwal told ANI. She further alleged that an attempt was made to paint as if Bibhav was the hero and I was the villain.

"Today, I have been left alone in this entire fight just because I filed a complaint against Bibhav Kumar. I am fighting this fight alone, but will fight till the end because I know that what I have said is the complete truth. In this fight, my hope is only and only from the court..., Swati Maliwal said.

'Hurt and saddened by Kejriwal's behaviour' Maliwal also said she is "hurt and saddened" by Kejriwal's behaviour. "I and my entire family are in trauma because I have been working since 2006. I have been working since I had no position or prestige. There were no governments in the two states [Delhi and Punjab] then. I have been working since then, with passion, selflessness, and honesty," she said.

"But the truth is that when I was being beaten badly....in Arvind Kejriwal's drawing room, he did not come. No one came to save me. And an out-of-court trial was conducted in which I was declared guilty," Maliwal added.

She said Kejriwal has neither called her or come to meet her since the incident happened. "...He has not helped me anywhere. The entire party and he are standing with Bibhav Kumar at this time. So in such a situation, I am very sad because Arvind Kejriwal, who expresses his views on every issue, did not consider it necessary to support me on my issue, to take a stand for me, or to talk about my issue..."

What happened earlier in the case? On May 28, Bibhav Kumar was remanded to three-day police custody. Additional Public Prosecutor (APP) Atul Srivastava had then submitted that the accused formatted his mobile phone and refused to share the password.

Maliwal's advocate also submitted that police received an interim report from a forensic expert on CCTV footage. The accused is seen entering the area where the DVR was there. He remained there for 20 minutes. There are chances of tampering with the evidence, APP argued.

APP also submitted that the complainant stated that the accused videographed the incident. He was seen with two mobile phones.

Defence counsel Rajiv Mohan opposed and submitted that the alleged incident took place on May 13. There was no complaint for three days, no MLC, FIR was lodged on May 16 and the accused was arrested on May18, defence counsel argued.

He also argued that the evidence is being created by defence counsel. Police want custody of the accused till the time he gives a statement that suits their requirements. It is admitted case that the footage of the place of occurrence is not available, Defence counsel submitted.

In this case, no weapon has been used, the accused's counsel submitted. Data of mobile can be retrieved, defence counsel argued. Why an accused would create evidence against him so that police can use it, defence counsel added.

"The accused cannot be compelled to share the password, the accused's counsel argued. FIR is very simple but Prosecution is reading between the lines, Defence counsel argued. There is no evidence on record that the mobile was formatted. The fact of formatting of the phone is not admissible without any report of the forensic report," the defence counsel submitted.

"The accused can be examined scientifically, there is no requirement of custody, defence counsel Rajiv Mohan argued. There should be a compelling ground to seek further custody. There is no material with the police to confront the accused with," the defence counsel submitted

The APP has opposed the submissions of the defence and said that police have recieved an interim report from a forensic expert regarding the blank portion of the footage. There is a chance of tampering. The accused was using two mobiles, where the second mobile, APP submitted.

Defence counsel argued that this aspect has not been investigated as to why the complainant went to the CM house. Further, he argued that it is not a murder case where custody is required to recover the weapon. There is no evidence to show that the injuries mentioned in the MLC have been caused by the accused, the defence counsel submitted. MLC is of three days after the incident, defence counsel submitted.
Several poll personnel deployed for Lok Sabha polls in various parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar have died in the last 24 hours amid rising temperature.

In Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur, at least 13 poll personnel died at a hospital following high fever and high blood pressure.

However, the the exact reason for the deaths is being ascertained, reported PTI quoting Dr Raj Bahadur Kamal, the principal of Maa Vindhyavasini Autonomous State Medical College.

Also Read | Exit polls 2024: Congress refrains from participating in debates. Heres why When the poll personnel were rushed to hospital, they all had high grade fever and high blood pressure, said doctor.

Seven home guards among dead Seven home guard jawans, three sanitation workers, one clerk posted at the Chief Medical Officer's office, one chakbandi adhikaari (consolidation officer), and one peon in the home guard team are among those died.

Also Read | IMD Heatwave Update: Nagpur witnesses record temperature of 56C Two dead in Sonbhadra district. Two on-duty polling personnel died allegedly due to heatstroke in UP's Sonbhadra district.

"A polling party was supposed to leave from the dispatch centre in Robertsganj today. Three polling officials including a police personnel and others fell ill due to heat. Two polling officials have died. The CMO mentioned heatstroke-like symptoms were seen in the polling officials who were brought here," reported ANI quoting Sonbhadra DM Chandra Vijay Singh.

Also Read | Monsoon Tracker: IMD predicts southwest monsoon to advance in THESE states in next 3 days 24 dead in Bihar Amid intense heatwave, as many as 24 people have lost their lives across Bihar. The temperature in the state has exceeded to 44 degrees Celsius.

At least 5 people died at a hospital in Bihar's Aurangabad district

On Thursday, four people, including a worker on election duty died in Kaimur district.

Three deaths were reported in Bhojpur's Arrah. Meanwhile, several security personnel deployed at a polling station in Bihars Sasaram fell ill due to extreme temperatures.
Charging an electronic appliance usually takes at least 30 minutes. But science and technology have witnessed such a tremendous shift that it's possible for you to charge your dead laptop or mobile phone in a minute and an electronic car in 10 minutes. Yes, new technology is here! An Indian-origin researcher has revealed a novel technology that can do the same in just a few moments.

Ankur Gupta, an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering at the US-based University of Colorado Boulder, and his team of researchers discovered the technology, which has been published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The researchers have uncovered the movement of ionssmall charged particleswithin a complex structure of microscopic pores. Gupta said this breakthrough could expedite the development of more efficient storage devices such as supercapacitors.

A supercapacitor is an energy storage device that relies on ion collection in its pores, Gupta said, adding that this invention is crucial for EVs, electronic devices and power grids. It is pertinent to mention that supercapacitors can charge faster and have longer life spans than batteries.

Regarding power grids, the assistant professor said fluctuating energy demands require efficient storage to minimize waste during low-demand periods and guarantee rapid delivery during high-demand times.

"Given the critical role of energy in the planet's future, I felt inspired to apply my chemical engineering knowledge to advancing energy storage devices," Gupta said. It felt like the topic was somewhat underexplored and, as such, the perfect opportunity, Gupta said as quoted by the journal.

The primary appeal of supercapacitors lies in their speed. So how can we make their charging and release of energy faster? By the more efficient movement of ions. That's the leap of the work. We found the missing link, he added.
'Maggi' is an all-time favourite that recently gained social media attention after a recipe combining the traditional flavour of golgappa or famously known paani puri surfaced on social media.

The video captioned, Tried this viral, maggie wale golgappe!! was posted on Instagram on April 2. Since then, the social media post has garnered massive attention from netizens and has drawn mixed reactions over this unconventional twist. Some users hilariously claimed that it is a deadly combination while the others criticized the peculiar recipe.

Also read: Why Nestle India's shareholders rejected higher royalty payment to parent In the video, the woman is seen trying her hands at maggie wale golgappe. In the clip, the woman goes on to eat golgappa stuffed with freshly cooked vegetable Maggi. The video states, "Kaun hain yeh tejaswi log, kaha se aate hain yeh log [Who are these people? Where do they come from?]," drawing parallels with a viral meme. The video has so far amassed 19,438 likes. The woman gives a smile after consuming the sizzling hot paani puri.

Netizens were strong to react as one user stated, Golgappe se mazaak nahi [Don't play with golgappas]. Another social media user posted, These people should be arrested for spoiling it for maagi and paani puri both, expressing disappointment.

Also read: MasterChef Australia: Indian contestant impresses Jamie Oliver with Pani Puri; celebrity chef says... A third user commented, What's not good in it? Pani Puri good, Maggi good.
Rishi Sunak, who? was the standard reply of Americans when a blogger asked them what they thought about the UK Prime Minister.

In a now-viral video on Instagram, English comedian Simon Benjamin Brodkin asked the Americans who Rishi Sunak was, but the answers he received were just hilarious!

Also read: Rishi Sunak wears expensive Tumi bag during campaign in one of UK's poorest areas, netizens say 'rich man owns...' From a DJ to a chef, the clueless Americans were ready with their guesses about Rishi Sunak, but not one could even imagine that he was the PM of Britain.

Simon shared the video on Instagram, writing, DJ Sunak. Taking bookings from July 5th.  In the video, he is seen asking the people of America, Who do they think is Rishi Sunak?

Also read: Rishi Sunak says 'dont have to go to university to succeed in life', netizens react 'just marry billionaire' With an initial lot of WHO??, the other most interesting group of answers was when a few thought he was a DJ and cheered on his name on the tune of the popular Punjabi song Tunak Tunak tun: Sunak, Sunak, Sunka!!

One person also went on to say, Who is Ritchie Soonik?

Watch:

Also read: FRIENDS reruns: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, wife Akshata Murty list out what they share in common Netizens' reactions were even more hilarious, with one user commenting, Bro thought Sunak is Tunak Tunak.

Another sarcastically commented, "How do they not know that Rishi Sunak is the one who sang the most viral 'tunak tunak tun tanana" song! This is just not acceptable."

Several netizens questioned the future of America, saying Future of America seems great (laughing emoji).

My chicken have more brain cells than the whole American population, another said.

Another user said, No wonder Biden wants illegal immigrants!

Also read: Royal family cancels public engagements as UK PM Rishi Sunak calls surprise summer election for July 4 Laughing at the replies, a user said, Rishi Sunak need to become a techno DJ now. Another added, 'What is that' dying.

Pray for America, one user commented.

A few netizens even supported the Americans, saying that the UK keeps changing its PM every now and then.

You've had 36 prime ministers in the past 13 months. How can anyone keep up? one user commented.
Bihar has been faced with gruelling heatwave conditions that have taken the lives of as many as 19 people so far, with recorded temperatures exceeding 44 degrees Celsius.

The death toll due to the prevailing heatwave conditions has reached 12 in Bihar's Aurangabad, with over 20 patients admitted to different hospitals across the district. In Kaimur district, four people were reported dead on Thursday, May 30, including a worker on election duty. In Bihar's Arrah, three more were reported dead in Bhojpur district. The region has been dealing with extreme heatwaves with rising numbers of heatstroke cases registered.

Dr Sahil Raj, a doctor at Kaimur's Mohania sub-divisional hospital, said that 40 people affected by heat stroke have come to the hospital, according to ANI.

Also read: Monsoon 2024: Southwest monsoon sets in over Kerala. When will Mumbaikars get relief from the heat? IMD says THIS He said, Among them, two individuals, including polling personnel, have died due to heat stroke. Around 30 to 40 people, including police personnel, are undergoing treatment. Dr Raj noted that many patients have been sent home after treatment while others are undergoing treatment.

Also read: When will the severity of heatwave decrease? IMD has an answer Dr Sahil Raj also informed ANI that a teacher named Shahnawaz Khan, who was on duty with him, suffered a heat stroke. Khan did not wake up after returning home from election duty and was subsequently reported dead.

Have sent four bodies for postmortems who had died due to heat stroke to different places. ANI quoted assistant sub-inspector of police Satish Kumar Ravi, stationed at Mohania police station, as saying.

Also read: Delhi-NCR, get ready for light rains soon! IMD predicts dust and thunderstorms on THIS day Bhojpur District Magistrate Mahendra Kumar said, Three people have been reported dead. One of them is a home guard who was brought to the hospital but could not be saved. In addition, there was a presiding officer on duty in Jagdishpur. He was stabilised and then referred, but he died in the hospital. Another person, Rajesh Ram, collapsed, reported ANI.

Also read: Heatwaves and cyclones: India's tryst with climate change Mahendra Kumar noted that a medical team is on alert. He further said that polling personnel or police personnel would be escorted to a hospital if they faced any problems. He said, Police and mobile medical teams are on alert in all hospitals. They will visit police residential areas. In case of complaints, they will be brought to the dedicated heatwave ward at the municipal hospital.

On conducting elections amid extreme heatwave conditions in the district, Kumar said, This is a challenge, but we need to hold elections as well. The polling party that will carry the EVMs has to follow all the dos and don'ts of the heatwave and try their best not to get out in the sun and facilitate the election process.

Eight seats of Bihar will vote in the final phase of Lok Sabha 2024 elections on June 1. The remaining 42 seats voted in earlier phases.
Former US President Donald Trump on Thursday was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his criminal hush money trial, becoming the first former US president to be convicted of a crime.

The New York jury's verdict found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment intended to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.

After two days of deliberations, the 12-member jury found Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts. According to Reuters, these charges carry a potential prison sentence of up to four years, although convicted individuals typically receive shorter sentences, fines or probation.

However, Trump has denied any wrongdoing and pleaded not guilty. Judge Juan M. Merchan has scheduled Trumps sentencing for July 11, just days before the Republican Party is scheduled to formally nominate him for president ahead of the November 5 election.

Also Read: Donald Trump found guilty: Former US President's donation site WinRed crashes after verdict in hush money trial Reports state that being incarcerated would not legally stop Trump from running a campaign or assuming office if he were elected.

Trump, 77, has denied wrongdoing and an attorney representing him said they would appeal as quickly as possible. "This was a disgrace," Trump told reporters afterwards as he proclaimed his innocence and repeated his complaints that the trial had been rigged against him.

"The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people," he said as quoted by Reuters. Trump's attorney, Will Scharf, told Fox News, "We are going to appeal as quickly as we can. We will seek expedited review of this case."

Meanwhile, opinion polls indicate that Trump and Biden, 81, are in a close race. At the same time, Reuters/Ipsos surveys suggest that a guilty verdict could reduce Trump's support among independent and Republican voters.

Also Read: US Elections 2024: Donald Trump considering Elon Musk as policy advisor for White House if he wins 2024 US Polls Biden campaign on Trump's verdict Biden's campaign said the verdict showed that no one was above the law and urged voters to reject Trump in the election. "There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box," the campaign said in a statement.

House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson characterised Trump's verdict: "Today is a shameful day in American history.

Also Read: Donald Trump arrest: Shares in Trump Media slump after former president convicted in hush money trial What does this mean for the 2024 US elections? The conviction does not prevent Trump from continuing his campaign or becoming president, the Associated Press reported.

He also remains eligible to vote for himself in Florida, as long as he stays out of prison in New York state. Lara Trump, Trump's daughter-in-law and co-chair of the Republican National Committee, mentioned in a Fox News Channel interview on Thursday that Trump would conduct virtual rallies and campaign events if he is convicted and sentenced to home confinement.
Former US President Donald Trump's fundraising website, WinRed donation, was temporarily crashed after a New York jury found him guilty of all 34 charges in the hush money criminal trial case on Thursday.

Also Read: Donald Trump becomes 1st former US president convicted of a crime He was found guilty of illegally influencing the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor. Donald Trump used his WinRed platform for the ongoing US Presidential campaign. However, it crashed after netizens poured in to search for Donald Trump donation, Donald Trump donation side as an after-effect of the case verdict.

After the website crashed temporarily on Thursday, the official X handle of the Trump Campaign wrote in a post, So many Americans were moved to donate to President Trump's campaign that the WinRed pages went down. We are working on getting the website back online as quickly as possible.

Donald Trump's donation page no longer shows the error message. He urged his followers to donate immediately after the verdict was announced. According to a New York Times report, Trump began posting links to the campaign's website on his social media website, Truth Social. The link redirected to the WinRed page, but it was not working properly.

Also Read: Donald Trump convicted. Here's what happens next. Donald Trump found guilty in hush money trial case Donald Trump became the first former American president to be guilty convicted of felony crimes on Thursday. The New York jury found him guilty of all 34 charges in a scheme to illegally influence 2016 presidential elections.

After the announcement Trump vented out his anger in front of the media and called the trial disgraceful and rigged.

This was a rigged, disgraceful trial, AP quoted an angry Trump telling reporters after leaving the courtroom. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people. They know what happened, and everyone knows what happened here.
Supporters of former President Donald Trump, enraged by his conviction on 34 felony counts by a New York jury, flooded pro-Trump websites with calls for riots, revolution and violent retribution.

After Trump became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime, his supporters responded with dozens of violent online posts, according to a Reuters review of comments on three Trump-aligned websites: the former president's own Truth Social platform, Patriots. Win and the Gateway Pundit.

Some called for attacks on jurors, the execution of the judge, Justice Juan Merchan, or outright civil war and armed insurrection.

Someone in NY with nothing to lose needs to take care of Merchan, wrote one commentator on Patriots.Win. Hopefully he gets met with illegals with a machete, the post said in reference to illegal immigrants.

On Gateway Pundit, one poster suggested shooting liberals after the verdict. Time to start capping some leftys, said the post. This cannot be fixed by voting."

Threats of violence and intimidating rhetoric soared after Trump lost the 2020 election and falsely claimed the vote was stolen. As he campaigns for a second White House term, Trump has baselessly cast the judges and prosecutors in his trials as corrupt tools of the Biden administration, intent on sabotaging his White House bid. His loyalists have responded with a campaign of threats and intimidation targeting judges and court officials.

This was a disgrace, this was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt, Trump told reporters afterwards, echoing comments he often made during the trial.

A 12-member jury found Trump guilty on Thursday of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn stars account of a sexual encounter ahead of the 2016 election. Sentencing is set for July 11, days before the Republican Party is scheduled to formally nominate Trump for president ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Trump has denied wrongdoing and is expected to appeal.

Trump continued his attacks online after the verdict.

On Truth Social, he called Merchan HIGHLY CONFLICTED and criticized his jury instructions as unfair. One commentator responded by posting a picture of a hangman's platform and a noose with the caption: TREASONOUS MOBSTER OF THE JUSTICES SYSTEM!!

Jacob Ware, a co-author of the book God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America, said the violent language used by Trumps followers was testament to the former presidents ironclad ability to mobilize more extreme supporters to action, both at the ballot box and through violence.

Until and unless he accepts the process, the extremist reaction to his legal troubles will be militant, said Ware, a research fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

A spokesperson for Truth Social said, Its hard to believe that Reuters, once a respected news service, has fallen so low as to publish such a manipulative, false, defamatory and transparently stupid article as this one purely out of political spite.

All three sites have policies against violent language, and some of the posts were later removed. Representatives of Patriots. Win and Gateway Pundit did not immediately return requests for comment. A Trump spokesperson also did not respond to an email seeking comment.

Hang everyone After Thursday's verdict, many of his supporters also said that his conviction was proof that the American political system was broken and that only violent action could save the country.

1,000,000 men (armed) need to go to Washington and hang everyone. That's the only solution, said one poster on Patriots.win. Another added: Trump should already know he has an army willing to fight and die for him if he says the words...Ill take up arms if he asks.

Other posts specifically urged targeting Democrats, in some cases suggesting they be shot. AMERICA FULLY DESTROYED BY DEMOCRATS. LOCK AND LOAD, wrote a commentator on Gateway Pundit.

While the posts identified by Reuters all called for violence or insurrection, most fell short of the legal standard for a prosecutable threat, which typically requires evidence that the comment reflects a clear intent to act or instill fear, rather than simply suggesting a frightening outcome.

Still, one researcher who studies extremist militias said the guilty verdict could inspire violence by reinforcing a conviction among some of Trump's supporters that he's a victim of a conspiracy orchestrated by his enemies.
Families of Israeli hostages held in Gaza accused the Israeli government of giving up on their relatives and prioritizing the destruction of Hamas, marking a new high in the growing tension between the countrys leadership and the families on the issue.

The accusation came after a top Israeli official told families with relatives still captive in Gaza that the government wouldnt end the war against Hamas in exchange for the release of hostages.

The Israeli government made a conscious and deliberate decision to sacrifice the hostages," the Hostages Families Forum, a support and advocacy group, said Friday. They chose to prioritize the continuation of the fighting over achieving the supreme goal of liberating the hostages."

Recovering hostages as well as destroying Hamas are two goals Israel has said it seeks to achieve in the war in Gaza. The goals arent mutually exclusive given that the military operations serve to put pressure on Hamas to release hostages, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus ruling coalition says.

Tzachi Hanegbi, the head of Israels National Security Council, on Thursday told several relatives that Israel would keep fighting and still might be able to get Hamas to free female, elderly and sick hostages in the coming months, according to a participant in the meeting. But Hanegbi warned that Hamas might be unwilling to return all the hostages since Israel was unwilling to stop the war, the person said.

I have conducted many meetings with families of hostages since the start of the war and I dont publish their content in public," Hanegbi said separately.

So far in the war, the Israeli military has rescued three hostages from Gaza, including two Israeli men who were held in Rafah. A major sticking point in monthslong hostage negotiations has been Hamass insistence that Israel agree to a permanent end to the fighting.

The absence of progress in the negotiations and Israels military operations in Gaza have raised doubt among the hostages families about the governments commitment to freeing captured Israelis.

Anxiety has been building among families about the fading likelihood that their captured relatives could have survived after almost eight months in captivity with little food or access to medical care amid Israeli military operations and airstrikes that have killed more than 36,000 people in the enclave, according to Palestinian authorities. The figure doesnt specify how many were combatants.

Israel has deepened its military offensive in the southern Gazan city of Rafah where it says Hamas has its last strongholds and militants are holding remaining hostages. Since Israel announced the Rafah operation on May 6, however, it hasnt recovered any living or dead hostages there.

Some 121 of the approximately 250 hostages taken in the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7 remain unaccounted for. Israel has officially confirmed that 37 hostages taken on Oct. 7 are dead and remain in Gaza based on Israeli intelligence. The military has brought back 19 dead bodies of hostages since the start of the war, including seven in the past few weeks. Israel said the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas killed more than 1,200 people.

Write to Chao Deng at chao.deng@wsj.com
By Alexandra Ulmer

May 30 - Major Republican donors said on Thursday they were willing to back the first convicted felon running for U.S. president, with at least one giving money to Donald Trump for the first time, according to around a dozen benefactors and fundraisers.

Many conservative donors already viewed the New York hush money cash as political persecution, echoing the Republican presidential candidate's claim that Democrats are trying to weaken him ahead of the Nov. 5 election against President Joe Biden. Prosecutors have dismissed those claims as untrue. A New York jury found Trump guilty on Thursday of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.

The verdict has spurred some donors to boost their financial support for Trump - and, in at least one case, make a big donation to him for the first time.

Don Tapia, a former Trump ambassador to Jamaica, said he and a small network of family and friends with whom he donates had planned to give around $250,000 this election to support Trump.

After Thursday's conviction, Tapia told Reuters the group would aim to give over $1 million to the pro-Trump spending group MAGA Inc in coming weeks.

"We're going to go all-in for him," said Tapia. He sent Reuters a photo of an American flag flying upside down outside his home in Paradise Valley, Arizona in protest to the verdict.

A Silicon Valley tech investor, Shaun Maguire, posted on social media site X after the verdict that he had donated $300,000 to support Trump.

"I believe our justice system is being weaponized against him," said Maguire, who described himself as a former Hillary Clinton supporter who switched to supporting Trump in 2021 after Biden's chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. Maguire told Reuters he had not previously donated to Trump.

Robert Bigelow, who is one of Trump's top supporters having given over $9 million to an outside group supporting him, said the verdict had no impact on him. "All of the charges are contrived," Bigelow told Reuters.

The interviews show the depth of Trump's donor support despite his legal woes, suggesting he will retain significant financial firepower against Biden including from Wall Street, tech and the oil sector.

The donors interviewed by Reuters were also broadly upbeat about Trump winning in November based on a number of public opinion polls that put Trump ahead against Biden in some battleground states.

"I think that big donors are paying attention to the polls, not the verdict," said oil businessman Dan Eberhart, a Trump donor who also helps raise money for the former president's campaign. "The polls are motivating this latest round of businessmen," Eberhart added, saying that calls from donors had picked up "considerably."

After setting out with a fundraising disadvantage against Biden, Trump for the first time in April outraised his Democratic rival, aided by fundraising events across the country. Several donors, including casino billionaire Miriam Adelson, recently pledged support for Trump.

Andy Sabin, a metals businessman and Republican donor who supported three different candidates in the Republican presidential primary before settling on voting for Trump but has not donated to him so far, does not see the verdict having an impact.

"I haven't met one donor yet that gives a shit about the trial. No matter how much they hate Trump, they think he's getting screwed," said Sabin, who regularly attends fundraisers and is donating to congressional candidates.

Trump can absolutely win the election, Sabin added, "as long as he keeps his mouth shut."

In the last few weeks, Trump has hit the fundraising trail hard, hosting high-end events from Texas to New York. He is due to host three fundraisers in California next month, according to invitations seen by Reuters, including one in left-wing San Francisco hosted by tech venture capitalists.

"Every event that I'm involved with is exceeding budget," said George Glass, a Trump campaign fundraiser and his former ambassador to Portugal. "Most donors feel like the 'fix' is in," Glass said about legal proceedings against Trump.

Some Republican donors do remain holdouts, put off by the Jan. 6, 2021, capitol riot, Trump's brash attitude or the prospect of Trump being sentenced to jail. "I'm on the sidelines," said one donor unsure about whether to donate, mostly because of the "drama" around Trump.
Having data on a country's population and demography enables better policy formulation for inclusive growth and effective targeting to optimize resource utilization. The last detailed census we had was in 2011. After that, we have been relying on indirect databases for policy formulation as the 2021 census has been given a miss.

We must identify sub-populations to which different benefits are to be devolved, including free rations. If accurate data isnt available and projections are made, it could lead to pilferage, with ghost beneficiaries.

The 2011 census has data on households by house listing and caste, which is further corroborated by the Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) conducted in 2011 and released in 2015. The number of people in each household, their gender and status on access to water, electricity, toilet, house, education level, work and employment activity, among others, are also enumerated.

Census 2011 found that around 13% of families in villages lived in one-room houses while 56% of rural households lacked agricultural land. SECC 2011 recorded a higher number of illiterates than the 2011 Census.

Without household census data, targeting special policies at our young population will remain a dream. An updated census will identify these youth and enable their mapping to the common household database.

The 2011 census enumerated a population of 1,210 million, with 620 million males and 580 million females. The death rates declined from 25 per 1000 population in 1951 to 7.2 per 1000 in 2011; life expectancy at birth increased from 36.7 years in 1951 to 67.9 years in 2012.

The ageing population data is equally important, so that the government can work on ensuring they have access to public places and their health needs are taken care of. There was an increase of 181.96 million persons in Indias absolute headcount over the decade to 2011. Without a fresh census, one cant be sure of how much further the population has risen.

Other numbers like the number of Aadhaar registrations, PAN cards, mobile phones and MGNREGA users gives us an idea. Aadhaar claims to cover 90% of Indias population. This places the population around 1,350 million. There are 702.4 millipn crore PAN card holders, there are 1.2 billion mobile phones, 750 million of them smart phones. MGNREGA has 275 million registered workers, with 84 million workers seeking work.

Thus, it is important to conduct a census immediately. Extrapolation would be faulty as our birth rate has shown a decline since 2011, as has longevity.

For poverty, we have two approaches which have yielded outcomes. Around 415 million people exited poverty within a span of 15 years between 2005 and 2021 in India, according to the latest Global Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), but then corroborative numbers indicate that India ranked 111th out of 125 countries on the Global Hunger Index-2023, with the country reporting the highest child wasting rate at 18.7%. India ranked 107th out of 121 countries in 2022. Thus, we need to relook at the parameters of poverty.

Once done, the census can deliver household-wise data and help us capture all government interventions in a single database like SAMAGRA to enable better targeting of policies. We also need transparency in the usage of the data.

The poor, those suffering from malnutrition and the hungry can then be suitably targeted. Equally important is to support the youth through appropriate skilling and the creation of sustainable employment. All this can happen when a census is conducted. Until then, we will have to rely on MGNREGA for poverty relief, as nearly all the poor are registered there.

The author is a development economist and a former secretary to the Government of India.
On Wednesday, a weather station in Delhi reported a maximum temperature of 52.9 Celsius. This is the highest evernot just for the capital, but for all of India. As anything above 50 is rare even during intense heat waves, the reading left observers agape.

And since it was an outlier among other mercury readings across Delhi, a central minister said that the weather department has been asked to check if the thermometer was okay. Whether or not it has its notches correct, the scorching heat this year makes anything around the 50 mark seem believable. The oven-like conditions that have gripped large parts of our landmass are all too real, with people groaning that this summer is the hottest they have ever experienced.

The tragic irony of such groans is that unlike a once in a century event like the covid pandemic, its likely that the same attestation of misery will be made year after year as we go along. After all, the blazing sun is only the most visible cause. Air pollution that traps heat on the planet has put us on a path whose perils are only just starting to show.

An analysis of data from India Meteorological Department by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) reveals that its not just regular heat, the hot season has gradually become more muggy too. In Delhi, the average relative humidity in summer months was 52.5% in the first decade of the millennium, but recent years have seen it go above 60%, pushing us into a sweltering zone.

Perspiration cools our bodies down as sweat evaporates, but if the ambient air is too humidwith high moisture, i.e.then we take longer to dry and this cooling effect weakens. Exposure for hours on end to extreme humid heat can thus induce stress and even prove fatal. While heat-stroke deaths are few and far between right now, what we need to recognize is how soon global warming and rising humidity could combine to make the fatality count shoot up.

Global human tolerance studies suggest that five hours or more spent outdoors in wet-bulb heat of above 35 Celsius could kill people (with variation on account of other factors, of course). With such a risk staring at millions of workers without air-conditioned work spaces, we need to wrap our heads around wet-bulb heat as a concept.

It refers to readings of a thermometer whose bulb is covered with a cloth soaked in water. As its wet, its reading will be much lower than a dry bulbs, but the gap can start closing rapidly if high humidity does not let the wet bulb cool. In other words, while the usual dry heat readings have begun reaching scary levels, with rising moisture in the air, we may see much worse to come.

Several issues demand attention. For one, we must not fall for the myth of hardy Indian toilers, ready to work under harsh conditions. On current trends, the bulk of our population may be vulnerable to wet-bulb heat by mid-century. For another, the energy needed to keep Indians safelet alone coolwould be enormous, which could push us into a vicious cycle if we dont plan properly.

Even as we adopt clean-tech options for electricity, carbon neutrality by 2070 will not be easy to achieve. As with all climate science, nothing can be said with certainty. But still, the risks we face are too severe to kick this can further down the road. As lives are involved, we must prepare for a worst-case scenario. We shouldnt face a fatality curve someday thats too late to flatten.
According to a recent paper on Indias economic inequality by Thomas Piketty et al, 1% of Indians own 40% of Indias wealth and 22.6% of its income. Gross inequality is undesirable and has adverse economic and social ramifications. However, solutions to minimize inequality cannot stem from populistic or ideological disdain for wealth and its creators.

Addressing inequality requires a nuanced understanding. Firstly, a healthy amount of economic inequality is essential for promoting growth. Secondly, not all inequalities are the same or unjustified. Thirdly, economic inequality is often an effect rather than a cause. Ignoring other causes of inequality and focusing on heavy-handed measures like wealth redistribution will continue to exacerbate overall inequality.

There are two types of economic inequality. Fair inequality, which stems from choices made in equal environments, incentivizes innovation, risk-taking and value creation. And then there is unfair inequality, which is undesirable; it is often systemic and rooted in factors beyond individual control, such as birth circumstances, access to education, healthcare and employment opportunities.

For instance, income differences between a doctor and a plumber are fair, while circumstances that force an aspiring doctor to end up becoming a plumber are unfair. Therefore, the central focus should be on addressing the lead indicators (circumstantial inputs) rather than lag indicators (economic output).

Often, inheritance differences are seen as unfair inequality. But if the wealth inherited reflects fair inequality, then inheriting it cannot be unfair inequality. Treating all forms of wealth inheritance as factors of unfair inequality would reduce incentives for wealth creation.

Inequality in input factors such as education, skill, employment, and health etc, has a far greater bearing on economic inequality. These inequalities have existed in India for far too long, resulting in the institutionalization of inequality across generations. For instance, in 2022, Hyderabad alone attracted 11.9% of Indias overall FDI.

Residents of most regions in India start at a geographic disadvantage compared to cities such as Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bangalore. It is much easier for enterprises to set up offices in these cities, hire talent and become operational compared to most other parts of India. This phenomenon, built over many decades, was at the root of Indias 2020 migrant labour crisis.

No wealth redistribution can solve this. We need to implement land acquisition reforms that make it easier for enterprises to invest and create non-agricultural jobs in various districts of India. We also need to eliminate logistical and connectivity inequalities between Indian districts.

Also read: The persistence of unequal growth will be bad for India

Between 1947 and 2003, India set up just one All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. It was only in 2003 that India began to take measures to correct regional inequality in the availability of reliable and affordable healthcare by setting up more AIIMS and improving the overall quality of medical services. Today, we have 20 AIIMS, with more about to become operational.

The scarcity of AIIMS for several decades after independence, coupled with otherwise poor health infrastructure, made AIIMS in New Delhi an elite hospital inaccessible to an average Indian. The same is true of IITs and IIMs. By increasing their numbers, the average quality of output across these institutes may have reduced, but more people can access them across various districts.

Such expansion does not diminish the absolute or relative quality of institutes like IIM-Ahmedabad, IIT-Kharagpur, or AIIMS Delhi. However, increasing access to such institutes reduces several other forms of inequalities, in addition to health and educational inequalities.

Piketty et als study shows that the upward slope of incomes of the top 1% and the downward slope of the incomes of the bottom 50% in India have been flattening since 2017.

Piketty et al posit that economic inequality in India is higher than in other nations such as the US, China, the UK, and France. However, thats a consequence of inequitable advancement of input factors such as infrastructure, education, health, etc, to which Indias poor had little access. While we recently achieved 100% electrification of villages, we still havent achieved 100% electrification of Indian homes.

The ASER report highlights stark inequalities in the quality of education imparted to Indian children. India also has chronic judicial inequality, with most undertrials being poor and illiterate or semi-literate, having no access to basic justice. About 42% of Indias labour force is engaged in farming, which accounts for only 18% of Indias GDP. The remaining 58% benefit from 82% of Indias economic output.

The stalling of farm reforms not only furthers this inequality but perpetuates inequality between rich farm landowners and poor landless farm labourers. It is due to the lack of alternative employment opportunities in the manufacturing sector, caused by geographical inequality, that the poorest among Indias labour force are employed as farm labourers. Wealth redistribution will have no positive bearing on addressing these fundamental inequalities.

Also read: India must fill data gaps on inequality before policy can address it properly

This is not to say that the wealthy dont have to contribute to mitigating economic inequality. While avoiding punitive tax rates that could stifle economic activity, implementing a progressive tax system where the wealthy contribute their fair share is not just an economic but also a moral imperative.

However, governments should first ensure the effective use of these tax revenues to fund public services, develop infrastructure and provide safety nets for the vulnerable. Channeling Indias tax revenues on expenditures that dont have an economic multiplier effect further institutionalizes economic inequality.

Investments made in Tier-III and below regions by enterprises should attract significant tax breaks and incentives. Indias poor deserve measures that address economic inequality at its root, and not populistic policies such as wealth redistribution. This approach would provide them with six-lane highways for upward mobility and economic equality. As Adrian Rogers rightly pointed out, we cant multiply wealth by dividing it.

The author is a governance strategy and public policy professional. He posts on X (formerly twitter) from the handle @prasannakarthik.
The hush-money case against Donald Trump is heading into more uncharted territory after a 12-person jury found him guilty of 34 charges of falsifying business records. The first former president to face a criminal trial is now the first to be convicted of a felony. The big questions now are Trumps potential sentence and whether he can overturn the verdict on appeal. Heres a look at the potential path ahead.

Could Trump go to jail? What other punishments are possible?

It is possible, though perhaps not likely, that Trump could be sentenced to time behind bars. The felony counts carry a sentence of up to four years in prison, and Justice Juan Merchan, the judge presiding over the trial, has broad discretion to impose a harsher punishment.

But there are factors favoring no jail time. Trump is a 77-year-old first-time offender convicted of a low-level, nonviolent crime. The practicalities and precedent of locking up a former president also might give the judge pause. Merchan can make Trump pay a fine or condition his freedom on Trump staying out of criminal trouble. Even if hes sentenced to incarceration, Trump can ask the judge or an appellate court for bail pending appeal to keep him out of custody while he challenges his conviction. If Trump is elected president, he almost certainly would stay out of custody while in office, to prevent interference with his official duties.

When will he be sentenced?

The judge set a sentencing hearing for July 11, just days ahead of the Republican National Convention. In the meantime, probation officers must complete an advisory presentencing report and submit it to the judge before the hearing. Trump will also get the chance to gather character letters from friends, family members and colleagues to guide the judges determination.

Can Trump still run for president with a felony conviction?

Yes. Nothing in the U.S. Constitution bars a felon from running or becoming president. There could be political consequences for Trump, but the conviction isnt disqualifying.

Can Trump appeal? How would that process work?

Trump is almost certain to appeal the verdict to a state appeals court in Manhattan. Criminal defense lawyers say Trump has several potential arguments for overturning his conviction, though none are guaranteed to succeed.

He could argue that he was improperly prosecuted in state court and that Merchan lacked jurisdiction over the case. Trump could also claim that the prosecutions case was so vague on the specific allegations against him that he couldnt adequately prepare a defense.

Trumps legal team might also point to porn actress Stormy Danielss testimony as grounds to throw out the verdict, based on the argument that some of the details she offered about her alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006 were unnecessary and colored jurors view of Trump unfairly.

How long could the appeals process take?

The appeal could take more than a year to resolve and potentially draw in a higher state court or even the U.S. Supreme Court. If Trump manages to persuade an appeals court to throw out the verdict, that will likely happen after the presidential election is decided.

What other trials could Trump face?

Trump is also contending with three other criminal casestwo federal ones and a prosecution in Georgiadealing with claims of election subversion and his handling of classified documents after leaving the White House. A pending Supreme Court case over presidential immunity and an ethics controversy surrounding the local prosecutor in Georgia have slowed down some of the proceedings, none of which may go to trial before the November vote.

Could Trump pardon himself?

A president can pardon federal offensesarguably even ones he committed. But that pardon power doesnt apply to state convictions. So even if he reclaims the White House, Trump couldnt just erase his New York conviction with a stroke of a pen. The governor of New York could grant Trump a pardon, but that is an unlikely scenario in the Democratic-led blue state.

This explanatory article may be periodically updated.

Write to Jacob Gershman at jacob.gershman@wsj.com
Beijing is accused of mistreating Fu Bao, a recently returned female panda from South Korea. The 4-year-old panda has a following in South Korea akin to a pop star, with merchandise, online fan groups and even birthday billboards.

The unprecedented backlash threatens the potency of one of Chinas few unassailable tools of soft power. The controversy over Fu Bao comes at a sensitive time for China, with relations between the U.S. and its allies strained over trade disputes, military aggression around Taiwan and Beijings support for Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.

For decades, the world seemed to have agreed to leave partisanship out of pandas. The only major flashpoint in recent years has come over the deaths of pandas at zoos in Thailand and Memphis, which raised suspicions of mistreatment and caused public outrage in China.

But this week, fans of Fu Bao cried foul. Helping channel the condemnation was La Kyong-min, a 25-year-old office worker in Seoul. She co-runs South Koreas largest online community of supporters for the Korea-born Fu Bao, who had resided at a theme park and zoo owned by Samsung.

Fu Bao returned to China in early April and now resides at a state-run panda sanctuary in the province of Sichuan.

Fu Bao is perhaps like the Ariana Grande of pandas," La said, or any other Hollywood star who appeared like a comet and shot up to stardom in a short period of time."

Fans of Fu Bao were first alarmed after seeing footage of her arrival at the airport in Chengdu, China. Footage appeared to show an individual poking the panda with their bare fingers through an air hole in her glass-encased cagea move her supporters claimed risks infection. China later responded that the individual was a veterinarian whose hands had been disinfected in advance.

More recently, people in South Korea, China and elsewhere were troubled over zoomed-in images taken from a livestream feed run by the panda sanctuary that appeared to show Fu Baos patchy fur. Her fans claimed that another video circulating on Chinese social media showed a panda, purportedly Fu Bao, getting shown off to an audience, with one spectator even making contact. The veracity of the video couldnt be confirmed.

The China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, which oversees the facility, said it had verified that no unauthorized individuals" had touched, fed or photographed the panda, according to a recent post on social media.

Supporters took further action by flooding the email inboxes of nonprofits and media outlets. A Change.org petition, uploaded by FOR FUBAO," has attracted roughly 75,000 signatures since opening. They also raised funds to rent a truck that stopped in front of the Chinese Embassy in Seoul with a sign that flashed the words in English: Love Fu Bao, No Abuse, Yes Respect." The leftover money may go toward an advertisement on Times Square in New York, said La, who is a co-operator of the fan group.

In apparent response, the operator of the panda sanctuary invited local media earlier this week to observe Fu Bao and released videos of the panda eating apple slices and walking in a grassy yard. The operator said Fu Bao has no health issues and promised to make her available to the public in the coming weeks.

Fu Bao, the first giant panda born in South Korea, has been adapting well to local bamboo and other aspects of a new life at a nature reserve," Chinas state-run CCTV said.

Countries no longer view Chinas diplomatic moves, including those related to pandas, with an assumption of goodwill, as relations with Beijing have deteriorated in recent years, said Ho-fung Hung, a political-economy professor at Johns Hopkins University who focuses on Chinese politics. Many countries would assume the worst intentions behind whatever China is doing now," Hung said.

Over the decades China has won international acclaim for sending hundreds of pandas overseas. Hosting zoos typically pay roughly $1 million a year for a pair of black-and-white bears, with the proceeds supporting Chinas panda-conservation efforts, according to a 2022 report by the U.S. Congressional Research Service. At that time, about 22 zoos in 18 countries had Chinese pandas.

As part of the panda-loan contract, new cubs born abroad must be sent back to China by around the age of four. That was Fu Baos story, whose parents were a pair of pandas that Chinese President Xi Jinping gifted to South Korea during a 2014 visit.

In the final days before Fu Baos departure, her South Korean fans waited more than six hours to catch a glimpse. Her departure on a rainy April day attracted a crowd of roughly 6,000 fans, who waved goodbye as the truck transporting her pulled away.

Despite the dispute surrounding Fu Bao, Chinas panda diplomacy appears to be undeterred. On Wednesday, the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. announced an agreement to bring two new pandas from China next year. The first lady, Jill Biden, appeared in a video uploaded by the zoo while holding up a panda doll.

Its official. The pandas are coming back to D.C.," she said.

Yang Jie and Clarence Leong contributed to this article.

Write to Jiyoung Sohn at jiyoung.sohn@wsj.com
One of the most delicious things Ive eaten so far this year was a creamy soup made from sorrel, a lemony-sharp green leaf that is hard to get hold of unless you grow it yourself. Sorrel soup is a specialty at Castle Farm, Midford, a restaurant in the English countryside near the town of Bath, and when my companions and I took our first spoonfuls, our eyes widened.

The soup itself was creamy and smooth: think Vichyssoise, only warm, not cold. What lifted it to a whole other level was that in the bottom of each bowl was a pool of emerald green sorrel oil. The dark green oil marbled with the pale green soup, making it taste like spring in a bowl.

Flavored oils are a much bigger aspect of restaurant cooking than they used to be. Often the flavors are inventive, bordering on weird. Shrimp claws, pine needles, pomelo skin, coffee: anything you can think of, and a lot that you would never dream of, has been turned into culinary oils by clever modern chefs.

Even ingredients that arent generally viewed as edibleincluding hay, ash and tree barkcan be turned into oils to use as a kind of perfume for food. A last-minute spritz is a way to change the whole mood of a dish.

Until recently, the reputation of oils with added flavors was mixed at best. Too many of us have memories of being given a thoughtful gift of some kind of flavored oil from a gourmet shop. They came in charming tins or bottles but would linger unused at the back of a cupboard until they went rancid, because how often do you actually feel the need for pink- peppercorn-and-fennel oil?

Another reason why many people developed a prejudice against flavored oils is truffle oil, which was terribly overused for a while and often tasted nothing like fresh truffle. Martha Stewart was one of many truffle-oil refuseniks, telling The Today Show in 2018 that she found it a hideous thing" that clings to your taste buds."

But there are flavor oils and flavor oils. Using oil as a way to extract the essential flavor of your favorite ingredients is actually a very smart move, as scientist Arielle Johnson explains in her excellent new book Flavorama: A Guide to Unlocking the Art and Science of Flavor."

Most of what we think of as flavor is actually smell, and the molecules that activate our sense of smell are easier to extract with oil, or other fats such as butter, than they are with water. By contrast, basic taste molecules, such as salt, sugar and acid, extract better in water. Think of a glass of lemonade: the sweetness of the sugar and the sharpness of the lemon are perfectly extracted by the water.

Based on her knowledge of how flavor works, Johnson has experimented with making all kinds of infused flavor oils. Some of these experiments are pretty out there, she concedes. She is a fan of woodsy" oils made from shavings of cedar, oak or juniper, or from tree resins such as frankincense and mastic. If oak oil sounds odd, Johnson asks us to remember that anyone with a fondness for red wine or whiskey already has a taste for dissolved oak flavors."

One of the joys of homemade flavor oils is that they give you access to flavors that can be tricky to create through cooking alone. Take smoke. Home-smoked food is a nonstarter for anyone who lives in a cramped city dwelling with a smoke alarm. But Johnson found that she could make an extraordinary smoke oil" using nothing but Lapsang souchong tea and grapeseed oil, in a ratio of one part tea to eight parts oil.

When I blended the oil and tea together as instructed in her recipes, it looked like an unpromising gray sludge. But after leaving it in the refrigerator for two days and straining through a clean tea towel, I had a deep smoky oil which could add the spirit of BBQ to anything, even a salad. A few drops added to some oven-roasted eggplant gave it the smokiness of baba ghanoush charred over an open flame.

Flavor oils are actually nothing new. Think of ginger-scallion oil, the bedrock of so many Chinese dishes, which is made in a trice by pouring hot oil over minced ginger and scallion (I love this on steamed fish). Or consider the chili oils of Asia, including the chili crisp oil that has been such an object of devotion in the U.S. over the past 10 years.

I make my own near-instant chili oil by heating half a teaspoon of smoked paprika with a few pinches of dried chili flakes in a little olive oil. For a crispy version, add sesame seeds or peanuts and heat until toasty.

Turkey, along with much of the Middle East, also has a tradition of flavored oils. The simplest version is nothing but dried mint heated in oil with some pul biber chili flakes. In her new book Sebze," a collection of vegetarian Turkish recipes, Ozlem Warren uses this oil as a final flourish over manti, savory dumplings topped with garlic yogurt.

Sometimes oils can breathe new life into the wilting herbs in your salad drawer. In her book "The Everlasting Meal Cookbook," a celebration of leftovers, the writer Tamar Adler advises making parsley oil with chopped parsley that is past its best.

Mix the finely chopped parsley with pounded garlic, salt and enough olive oil to make it swimmier than pesto." Its important to chop the herbs, not blend them, or else the oils can oxidize. Whatever combination of herbs you use, these green oils are always like a jolt of pure flavor.
Top tech companies like Meta, Microsoft, Advanced Micro Devices, Broadcom, Cisco Systems, Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Intel announced on Thursday that they have developed a new industry standard called Ultra Accelerator Link,". The new standard is an attempt to establish communication between artificial intelligence accelerators, systems that can help process vast amounts of data used in AI-related tasks.

Also Read | Apple and OpenAI forge billion-dollar AI partnership ahead of WWDC 2024: Report

Explaining the aim of new initiative, the companies said in a statement, "An industry specification becomes critical to standardize the interface for AI and Machine Learning, HPC (high-performance computing), and Cloud applications for the next generation of AI data centers and implementations,"

"By creating an interconnect based upon open standards, UALink will enable system OEMs, IT professionals and system integrators to create a pathway for easier integration, greater flexibility and scalability of their AI-connected data centers." the statement further stated

Why are top AI companies creating a new standard?

The initiative is being seen as an attempt to challenge Nvidia's dominance in the AI chip market. Notably, the Jensen Huang led company holds around 80% of the market share in AI chip market which is a cause of concern for top AI players like Microsoft, Meta and others.

Also Read | Explained: Why everyones talking about the Microsoft AI Copilot+ PCs

Notably, a report from Bloomberg earlier this year had also suggested that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman was talking to a number of potential investors in a bid to start a chip-making company that could run the company's AI products like ChatGPT, DALL-E and more.

The report had stated that OpenAI had not yet finalised their move yet, and was discussing various options to solve the AI chip shortage. OpenAI was also said to be focusing on diversifying its suppliers beyond Nvidia and working with other chip manufacturers.

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The next morning at breakfast, after someone had discovered it is my birthday, I am presented with a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers teachers had gathered in the forest. This is a wonderful surprise, but I also have a surprise planned for the teachers back at school.

The bus returns us to the seacoast where we indulge in a fantastic luncheon, after which we take a boat to an island monastery. The island is called Krk and we have plenty of time to explore it. The tiny paths through the cool, lush forest create an idyllic atmosphere. The monks have made a very peaceful retreat here, and it is a perfect place to say goodbye to Croatia.

The following week I take my own party to the school, as is the custom here. I had baked a chocolate cherry cake with fudge frosting and two lemon breads from supplies I brought from Idaho. I take them to the cantina where the cooks slice, arrange and serve them exquisitely. I went to the market the day before and bought six bottles of wine from Vina Koper  the local winery  three red and three white. But when I begin to open them I am embarrassed because they have metal tops like bottles of soda. The teachers laugh at my dismay, because it is typical to take any bottles you have from home to the winery where they fill them with a spigot similar to those used to fill a cars gas tank. Nevertheless, the party is a great success and many teachers want the recipes for the cake and breads. This cake is very much like the famous Sacher-Torte of Vienna (but mine is moister and more delicious).

However, thats not the last of the birthday celebrations. My landlady has a birthday on almost the same day as mine and invites me to join her family where they are roasting a piglet for an outdoor feast. A radio on the patio plays seductive music and a couple dances a dramatic tango. Somebody takes photos of the celebration, and a small child who cannot understand that I am not good at speaking her language stares at me as if I am feebleminded. Despite my little friends doubts about me, I have had a wonderful birthday.

Johnson, of Grangeville, worked in three different European countries  Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovenia  in the 1990s and early 2000s. She can be reached at johnsondixie@hotmail.com.
The Idaho Conservation League has joined the federal lawsuit challenging the U.S. Forest Services approval of Perpetua Resources Burntlog Route Geophysical Investigation.

The organization, along with Save the South Fork Salmon and Idaho Rivers United, are contesting a haul road proposed for the Stibnite Gold Mine in Valley County, Idaho, and a categorical exclusion issued by the agency.

Perpetuas preferred mine road, known as the Burntlog Route, is one of two potential access points to a dilapidated mine east of McCall, Idaho, it plans to reopen and expand.

The route would widen around 23 miles of the existing Burnt Log Road, according to a news release from by the Idaho Conservation League.

It would also construct about 15 miles of new road near Burnt Log Creek, traveling through Burntlog, Black Lake, Meadow Creek inventoried roadless areas and the boundary of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.

If built, the route would be Idahos second-highest elevation road, which would require significant avalanche mitigation and road plowing, and cause increased sediment delivery to sensitive waterways and fragment habitat for sensitive species, according to the news release.

The alternate Johnson Creek Route would widen existing access roads along Johnson Creek and the Yellow Pine-Stibnite Road, according to the news release.

It was previously decided by the Forest Service that Burnt Log Creek is qualified for the highest level of protection under the National Wild and Scenic River System, according to the news release. This area is known for its fisheries, supporting chinook salmon, steelhead, bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout.

Perpetua began work on the Stibnite Gold Project in hopes of reinstating a more than century-old cyanide vat-leach mine on a tributary to the Salmon River, according to documents provided on its website.

It plans to extract gold, silver and other valuable resources from two existing open pits at the Stibnite Mining District, and create a third.

The company states the project would provide jobs, generate tax revenue and clean up toxic materials left behind, according to the documents.

But the Idaho Conservation League and other organizations claim it would double the amount of disturbance in the previously mined area.
MOSCOW -- Bryan Kohbergers defense says there are holes in the evidence against the murder suspect, including missing video footage and cellphone location data.

His attorney Anne Taylor filed motions to compel the prosecution to turn over certain discovery she believes could be relevant to the case. A hearing on the matter was held Thursday in Latah County District Court.

Moscow Police Department Cpl. Brett Payne and cellular data expert Sy Ray took the witness stand to face questioning from Taylor in front of District Judge John Judge.

Payne was the lead detective in the Nov. 13, 2022, quadruple murder case and wrote the probable cause affidavit leading to Kohbergers arrest warrant.

Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in the November 2022 stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. He faces the death penalty if convicted.

Taylor asked Payne about the videos that were collected during the murder investigation, particularly along the Moscow-Pullman Highway and U.S. Highway 95. Taylor inquired about video footage from Red Start Coffee Company along Pullman Road, and Wasankari Construction on U.S. Highway 95.

Payne said thousands of hours of video footage were collected across Moscow. He could not recall specifically if videos were collected from those businesses, but he directed Taylor to the Moscow Police digital forensics office.

Latah County Deputy Prosecutor Ashley Jennings confirmed with Payne that police collected videos from stores, restaurants, gas stations and banks from all highways leading to and from Moscow. She said videos were collected from 79 businesses. Payne said all evidence collected by the Moscow Police Department has been turned over to the prosecution.

Video footage and cell tower data was used in Paynes affidavit of probable cause to detail the alleged route Kohberger took to and from the King Road crime scene. The affidavit says Kohberger appears to have traveled south on U.S. 95 toward Genesee between 4:50 a.m. and 5:26 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2022. Then he allegedly traveled west toward Uniontown and back into Pullman.

Payne said he relied on FBI special agent Nick Ballance to analyze cellphone records.

When questioned, Payne said Thursday that U.S. 95 was a route Kohberger could have taken. He also said there are other paths he could have traveled, including Palouse River Drive, which turns into Sand Road when it crosses the Washington border.

Taylor said she has not yet been given all the relevant video footage in this case. She also complained that it would take days for her team to go through all the video evidence investigators collected, as the video is on uncategorized thumb drives.
Not only is Trump the first former president to be found guilty of a felony, hes also the first major-party presidential nominee to be convicted of a crime in the midst of a campaign for the White House.
Longford County Council has announced the launch of a pilot Longford Town Night-Time Economy initiative which includes public consultation and a funding opportunity of up to 3,000 for night-time events.



Longford Town is one of nine locations in Ireland chosen to take part in this Night-Time Economy pilot.



The pilot aims to encourage innovation and increase the diversity of social, cultural, and economic activities happening in the evening and at night-time hours.



The other locations are Dublin City, Cork City, Limerick City, Galway City, Kilkenny City, Drogheda in County Louth, Sligo, and Buncrana in County Donegal.

Also read: Almost 500,000 for county Longford roads damaged by excessive rainfall



It is an initiative of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport, and Media. It is supported by Longford County Council, with the recent appointment of Dympna Reilly as Night-Time Economy Advisor for Longford Town.



Public consultation

As part of the Night-Time Economy pilot, a public consultation process for Longford Town is set to start in the coming weeks. This will include a public facilitation workshop on Wednesday, June 26.



This workshop will feed into a Longford Town night-time economy action plan. To attend, email dreilly@longfordcoco.ie.

Night-Time Economy grant scheme

As part of this Night-Time Economy pilot scheme, funding of up to 3,000 is available for new night-time events taking place after 6pm in Longford Town.



Proposals are sought from local businesses, community groups, event organisers, collaborators, and individuals.



Proposals should aim to attract new audiences and inspire new uses of existing spaces in Longford Town. Events and initiatives proposed should add to the variety of offerings and experiences for Longford Town residents and visitors. Collaboration with artists and cultural communities in Longford is welcome.

Also read: One year in business means one free coffee for customers of Longford's Dessert Mania

Proposals must support the growth and diversity of the night-time economy with events which will take place on specified dates in September and October 2024, as follows:

Saturday, September 7, 2024

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Friday, October 11,2024

Halloween on Thursday, October 31, 2024



Events that may be funded include but are not limited to:

Sporting events, runs, walks, evening Parkrun

Exhibitions, tours, history events, poetry readings, light shows

Film screenings, theatre shows, comedy shows, outdoor cinema events

Live music and DJing, dance events

Live podcasts, storytelling events

Evening markets, cookery demonstrations, food trails

Classes, wellbeing initiatives, fashion shows

Extended opening hours for retail businesses and cafes





Applications are via an online application form. The closing date for submission is Friday, June 21, 2024. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Full terms and conditions apply.



Successful applicants will be notified at the start of July and all funds must be drawn down within two weeks of the event completion.



A programme of events will be compiled and promoted by the Night-Time Economy Advisor. Marketing material will be shared with applicants for their promotion and cross-promotion of events is encouraged to maximise footfall in Longford Town.



Applicants will be asked to provide post-event data. This is to help evaluate the success of the Longford Town Night-Time Economy pilot initiative.



For updates, follow Longford County Council on social media and visit Longfordcoco.ie.

Also read: Our must-have new magazine, Longford Life, is in shops now!
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh OBrien TD has updated Cabinet on the third call under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF).

The third round of URDF was announced in January last year and was specifically targeted at addressing long term vacancy and dereliction across cities and towns and at the provision of residential accommodation.

The update provided shows that in Longford, six vacant and derelict properties have been identified and granted approval under the scheme with the potential to provide a residential yield of 34 homes.

Also read: Almost 500,000 for county Longford roads damaged by excessive rainfall

A 1.5m fund is now available to Longford County Council to cover the purchase price of properties (residential and commercial) and any minor works required to make the property more suitable for sale e.g. improving access, tidying up, opening up to facilitate inspections etc.

Acquired properties are then offered for private sale to those who in return will commit to bringing the property back into residential use.

Purchasers of these properties are also able to defray the costs of returning them to use by accessing the Vacant and Derelict Property Refurbishment Grant, the SEAI energy efficiency grants or the Repair and Leasing Scheme subject to eligibility.

Also read: Longford awarded 199,020 funding under Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme

Nationally, 1,224 vacant and derelict properties in URDF areas have been identified and approved under the scheme and that the estimated residential yield from these properties is 5,406 homes.

To date 142.5M has been allocated across all 31 Local Authorities under Call 3.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh OBrien TD said, This Government have placed a huge emphasis on the regeneration and rejuvenation of towns all across the country and as I travel around both Longford and Ireland its heartening to see the impact of the various initiatives which are underway to transform towns and cities.

Also read: Technimark lodge plans for further expansion of Longford site

The URDF has been a real game-changer for our towns and cities, breathing new life into towns across making them even better places to work in, to live in and to visit. Urban regeneration isnt a luxury, but a real necessity for the beating heart of our urban centres and Im delighted to see it in action across so many counties.

Also read: Our must-have new magazine, Longford Life, is in shops now!

The most sustainable buildings we have are the ones which already exist and Call 3 under the URDF is ensuring we put them to their best use. The URDF is evidence of this Governments commitment to improving quality of life in urban centres, making them more accessible, inclusive and liveable for all.
Opposition politicians have called for an Israeli flag to be removed from Leinster House.

The flags of Ireland, Israel, Palestine and the UN were placed in that order in an entrance hall at the Parliament building on Friday.

The Oireachtas press office said it was a decision of Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail to display the flags.

In a statement, a spokeswoman told the PA news agency: The Ceann Comhairle asked for both flags to fly side by side, for one day, as an expression of the need for a two-state peaceful resolution.

This is utterly inappropriate. The Israeli flag is flying in Leinster House in the week that we recognised the State of Palestine and while the bombardment of innocent Palestinian civilians continues. This needs to be taken down immediately. #CeasefireNow pic.twitter.com/AY5Vhub22j  Lynn Boylan  (@LNBDublin) May 31, 2024

It came after a decision was made to take down a Palestinian flag from outside Leinster House.

The flag was first flown outside the Parliament building on the day that Ireland formally recognised Palestinian statehood this week.

It was raised with the EU flag and the Ukraine flag, which has been displayed since Russias invasion.

On Friday, however, the Palestinian flag was no longer flying outside Leinster House.

The EU and Ukraine flags continue to be raised.

Irelands ministers met on Tuesday and officially agreed to recognise a Palestinian state, in a joint move with Spain and Norway.

Israel has called the move a reward for Hamas terrorism.

Sinn Fein representatives said the Israeli flag in Leinster House should be removed.

Senator Lynn Boylan said: This is utterly inappropriate.

The Israeli flag is flying in Leinster House in the week that we recognised the state of Palestine and while the bombardment of innocent Palestinian civilians continues.

This needs to be taken down immediately.

Other Sinn Fein TDs said Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tanaiste Micheal Martin must immediately have the Israeli flag taken down.

When asked if it was the responsibility of the Government to remove flags from the Oireachtas, TD Eoin O Broin said: I dont give a damn whose responsibility it is, the flag needs to go.

The Taoiseach is the most senior politician in this building and he needs to act and have it removed.

People Before Profit TD Brid Smith said she had written to the Ceann Comhairle to say that she was appalled to see the Israeli flag next to the Palestinian flag in the building.

She said: The Israeli state reacted to the official recognition of Palestinian statehood by attempting to humiliate the Irish ambassador to Israel and by issuing threats against Ireland.

Flying the Palestinian flag on Nakba day was called insensitive two weeks ago. Today the Israeli flag was placed beside the Palestinian flag. This is completely out of order in the middle of a genocide, the Zionist flag has to go pic.twitter.com/bd1OqgOGSG  Brid Smith TD (@bridsmithTD) May 31, 2024

It is obscene that the flag of an apartheid state committing genocide be showcased in our Parliament.

Speaking to the PA news agency, Ms Smith accused Mr O Fearghail of shocking insensitivity.

She said the Ceann Comhairle had refused to fly the Palestinian flag for Nakba day, before Irelands recognition of the state.

It is just unacceptable and I dont think it is representative of the Dail.

If this decision was put to the members, it would not have gone ahead.
Operation Smoke Out: Two Arrested for Cannabis Sales and Illegal Weapons in Smithtown Bust

Local News, Crime

By Long Island Published: May 31 2024

Suffolk County Police arrested two employees of Red Mountain Smoke Shop in Smithtown for selling cannabis products and possessing illegal weapons, seizing 17 weapons and a large quantity of flavored vapes during "Operation Smoke Out.

Suffolk County Police today arrested two people for selling cannabis products and possessing illegal weapons.

As part of the departments Operation Smoke Out, Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers conducted compliance checks at six locations in the Town of Smithtown during which an employee at one store sold cannabis products to an undercover officer.

The following people were arrested:

 Sudip Bhatta, 36, of Hicksville, an employee of Red Mountain Smoke Shop was charged with three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th Degree and Unlawful Sale of Cannabis.

 Resham Chand, 34, of Deer Park, an employee of Red Mountain Smoke Shop was charged with three counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon 4th Degree.

Officers recovered 17 weapons from Red Mountain Smoke Shop including cane swords, kung fu stars and a knuckle knife. While at the business, officers also observed a large quantity of flavored vapes and confiscated them. The Smithtown Fire Marshal issued multiple violations to the business.
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced that more than 20,000 youth from low-income households are expected to be employed across the state this summer through New York States Summer Youth Employment Program. The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance is distributing $55 million, an increase of $7.9 million over last year, to all 57 counties and New York City to help youth who might not otherwise have access to summer jobs enter the labor market, acquire professional skills and explore possible career paths.

The Summer Youth Employment Program helps young New Yorkers find good summer jobs that will give them valuable experience and skills to help prepare them for future employment, Governor Hochul said. For many participants, this will be their first time in the workforce, and these new experiences will help them greatly as they pursue their educational and career goals into adulthood.

The Summer Youth Employment Program supports communities across the state in creating summer jobs for youth from low-income families. Participants work in entry-level jobs at places such as parks, summer camps, child care organizations, cultural centers, educational facilities and community-based organizations, among others.

To be eligible for the program, youth must be between the ages of 14 and 20 and be a member of a household with a household income below 200 percent of the federal poverty level, which varies by household size and, for example, is $51,640 for a family of three.

The FY25 Enacted Budget included an increase of $7.9 million for the program over last year to address minimum wage increases and to increase the number of participants. The program served more than 18,400 young people last summer.

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance Commissioner Barbara C. Guinn said, By offering meaningful employment to young people from low-income households, the Summer Youth Employment Program provides not only a paycheck, but the potential for life-changing experience and training that can help our youth stay on a path to success. Youth who participate will learn or further develop crucial skills like reliability, the ability to carry out work duties, how to cooperatively accomplish goals as part of a team in a business setting, and personal financial management and budgeting.

New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Roberta Reardon said, Access to summer jobs is crucial for young people, especially those at risk, providing them with valuable experience that will benefit them throughout their lives. Thanks to Governor Hochul's support, this program offers a great opportunity for young New Yorkers to get the skills they need to succeed and contribute to their communities.

Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, Summer employment can offer teens and young adults experiences that open their world to new possibilities. The states Summer Youth Employment Program is a critical component of Governor Hochuls comprehensive plan to improve public safety. When we expand opportunities for individuals, we help strengthen and heal communities.

Office of Children and Family Services Commissioner DaMia Harris-Madden said, Summer youth employment experiences are invaluable as they prepare young people for eventual self sufficiency through introductions to the workplace and soft skills development. The Summer Youth Employment Program counters poor use of unsupervised time, provides an alternative to illegal means of making money, and exposes youth to industry professionals. We are fortunate and grateful to have a Governor and Legislature that recognizes the critical importance of investing in summer youth employment opportunities.
Two in Police Custody in Connection with Mail Carrier Robbery, Attempted Robberies

Crime

By Chris Boyle Published: May 31 2024

Aaron Nelson, 19, and Chrisnell Maitre, 19, were attempting to obtain postal keys, which are keys used to access postal service mailboxes.

Suffolk County Police have arrested two people in connection with the robbery and attempted robberies of postal carrier keys from United States Postal Service employees that occurred since October 2023.

Following an investigation by Major Case Unit detectives Aaron Nelson, 19, of Deer Park, was arrested in front of 24 Hemlock Avenue this evening. Chrisnell Maitre, 19, of Deer Park, was previously arrested on February 29. The pair was attempting to obtain postal keys, which are keys used to access postal service mailboxes.

Nelson and Maitre were each charged with three counts of Attempted Robbery 3rd Degree for incidents occurring on Hallock Avenue in Smithtown on February 14, Vernon Place in Smithtown on January 29, and Burlington Boulevard on January 29.

Nelson was also charged with Robbery 3rd Degree for robbing a mail carrier of a postal key on Hughes Lane in North Babylon on October 13, 2023.

No one was injured. The investigation is continuing.

Nelson will be held overnight at the Third Precinct for arraignment at First District Court in Central Islip on May 31.
Over the past few years, Apple has overhauled its entire product range, including transitioning the Mac from Intel to its own processors, introducing the tough Apple Watch Ultra, adding a new Plus model to the iPhone lineup, and revealing a brand-new product category (the yet-to-launch Vision Pro).

In this article, we take a look at what we expect Apple to launch before the end of 2024, in 2025, and beyond. We have investigated every rumor and trend we could find to bring you our predictions. Read on to find out what could be in store.

New iPhones, AirPods and Apple Watches launched at an Apple event on September 9. Read our Apples Glowtime event live blog from the event.

What new Apple products are coming in 2024?

So far in 2024 Apple has released the following new products:

We still havent seen an M3 or M3 Pro Mac mini, Mac Studio or Mac Pro (despite the M3 becoming available and the M4 arriving with the iPad Pro). What else can we expect to see in 2024?

In the sections below weve split products into categories including Mac, iPad, iPhone and some new product categories. Read on to find out what to expect at Apple next event, throughout the rest of the year, and in 2025.

Apple Apple Apple

New Macs

With the update for the Mac Pro at WWDC in June 2023 Apple finished transitioning all its Macs from Intel processors to its own silicon. Apple launched the M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max chips at the end of October 2023. The M3 MacBook Air launched since, but the rest of the Mac range has been silent this year, despite the M4 arriving in the iPad! We can expect the following updates soon:

Mac mini & Mac mini Pro

Now that the iMac has an M3 chip, and the MacBook Pro an M3, M3 Pro and M3 Max chip, the arrival of those chips in the Max mini is long over due. Except that the rumors indicate that the Mac mini update is going to feature an M4 chip, and we may see it before the end of 2024. However, there are also rumors that the Mac mini is getting a new, smaller design, in which case the wait could be a little longer.

Read: New Mac mini rumors.

When? October 2024

Mac Studio

The next on the list for update will be the Mac Studio, also likely to bypass the M3 and jump straight to the M4 Max and M4 Ultra.

Read: M3 Mac Studio rumors.

When? October 2024

Mac Pro

If the Mac Studio is getting an update with the M4 Max and M4 Ultra you can rest assured that the Mac Pro will too.

Read: Mac Pro 2024 rumors.

When? October 2024

iMac Pro

There is a new iMac with M3 chip, but its still got a 24-inch screen. What people want is a return of a more professional iMac with a bigger screen.

Apple is said to be working on a Pro version of the iMac, a return of the 27-inch iMac Pro perhaps. It sounds like an M4 Pro iMac might happen, but we could be waiting a little longer for that one.

Read: Larger iMac Pro rumors

When? 2025

New iPads

The iPad Pro The iPad Pro Dominik Tomaszewski/IDG The iPad Pro Dominik Tomaszewski/IDG Dominik Tomaszewski/IDG

No iPads were updated in 2023  the first time a year passed without an iPad update. There was one iPad that wasnt even updated in 2022the iPad miniso that looks the most likely for an imminent update. But the whole range is probably headed for a refresh this year, and that process started on May 7, when we got new Airs and Pros.

iPad mini

A new iPad mini (7th generation) could be coming soon.

Read: iPad mini 7th gen rumors

When? October 2024

11th-gen iPad

The latest standard iPad joined the lineup as long ago as October 2022 so a new model can be expected in 2024. Note that the 9th-gen model was retired on May 7, with the 10th-gen model remaining on sale at a lower price. Wed expect the 11th-gen iPad to roughly match its predecessors old price when it launches.

When? October 2024

New iPhones

A new set of iPhones arrived at Apples 2024 iPhone event on September 9, but what of the iPhone SE?

iPhone SE

Dont expect to see this in September, but there have been a few rumors about the iPhone SE. A supposed leak revealed a bigger screen, notch and Face ID, for example.

This isnt the first weve heard of a bigger version of the iPhone SE. The question is, will it still feature the Home button? Read about the iPhone SE Plus.

Read: iPhone SE rumors.

When? Spring 2025

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro

The iPhone 17 wont arrive until September 2025, but there are already rumors about it.

Read: iPhone 17 rumors

When? September 2025

New AirPods

The AirPods Max and AirPods Pro have had the odd update since they launched a few years ago, but the next generation is yet to materialize. Will they get a full update in 2025?

The wait for new AirPods Pro could stretch beyond 2025. They could offer new health-related features when they arrive. As for the AirPods Max, now that Apples refreshed the colors its unlikely to do anything else for a while.

Read: New AirPods rumors.

When? 2025

New Apple Watch

The Apple Watch Series 10 arrived in September 2024, with a larger screen, but there was no generational update for the Apple Watch Ultra or the Apple Watch SE. Expect bigger things for Apple Watch Ultra in 2025.

New product categories

If Apple was never to innovate away from the products it makes right now it could be left behind as technology progresses. Its no surprise therefore that the company is working on various new areas. We dont expect these to land in 2023, but rumors suggest that some of them still could arrive sooner rather than later.

HomePod with screen

We do hope there is some truth in the rumors that Apple is working on a HomePod with a screen. Weve always said that a screen would make the HomePod infinitely more usable, but perhaps we are the only ones who hate having to talk to our speaker and control the HomePod via an iPhone (which can be a drain on the battery).

A screen would extend the uses of the HomePod beyond audio into visual  so you could watch podcasts and news reports and YouTube videos, but most usefully communicate via FaceTime.

So far all Apple has done is brought back the full-size HomePod that it removed from sale.

Read: HomePod with screen rumours.

When? 2025

An HomePod that combines the screen of an iPad could be on the cards. An HomePod that combines the screen of an iPad could be on the cards. Foundry An HomePod that combines the screen of an iPad could be on the cards. Foundry Foundry

Vision Pro successor

The Vision Pro is pricy and a little cumbersome, but Apple is said to be at work on two updated models: a less-expensive version, and another high-end model. Perhaps Vision Pro 2 and Vision Air?

Dont expect them soon, though. Rumors vary, but none of them say that new Vision hardware is due until at least 2025, maybe even 2026.

We do hope to get news as to when Apple will release the current Vision Pro around the world soon. Read our When will the Vision Pro launch outside the US.

When? 2025 or later

What Apple released in 2023

Apple hit the ground running in 2023 with new Macs and a new HomePod in January. Then at WWDC in June the company launched no less than three new Macs and a brand new device  the Vision Pro  alongside revealing its plans for macOS 14 Sonoma, iOS 17 and watchOS 10. Finally (maybe) Apple launched the new iPhone 15 series and the Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra 2 at an event in September and then made macOS Sonoma and iOS 17 available for customers to download later that month. Then at an Apple event on October 30 the company unveiled new MacBook Pro and iMac models.

What Apple released in 2022

What Apple released in 2021

HomePod mini in new colors

MacBook Pro with M1 Pro and M1 Max

AirPods (3rd generation)

Apple Watch Series 7

iPhone 13-series

iPad mini (6th generation)

iPad (9th generation)

iMac M1

iPad Pro M1(3rd and 5th generation)

Apple TV 4K (2nd generation)

AirTag

What Apple released in 2020

AirPods Max

MacBook Air M1

13-inch MacBook Pro M1

Mac mini M1

iPhone 12-series

HomePod mini

iPad Air (4th generation)

Apple Watch SE

iPad (8th generation)

Apple Watch Series 6

27-inch iMac (Intel)

13-inch MacBook Pro (Intel)

iPhone SE

MacBook Air (Intel)

iPad Pro (2nd and 4th generation)

For information about what Apple launched in the decade before that read:

Best Apple products of the decade (2010-2019)
A legendary pizza shop that has called New Haven, Connecticut, its home for the last 85 years is stretching its doughy footprint to more places in Greater Boston.

Sallys Apizza, which opened its first Massachusetts location in Woburn last year, is eyeing three more restaurants in and around Boston in 2025.

After previously revealing plans for a Sallys to open in Bostons Seaport District in 2025, the pizza chain has announced that two more are coming to Concord and Dorchester, also next year.

In Concord, Sallys Apizza will be paired with Chipotle and Starbucks in a brand new development at the site of the former Papa Razzi Trattoria off of Route 2. The Dorchester Sallys will also be located in the same building as a Chipotle and Starbucks located at South Bay Center off of Massachusetts Avenue.

Sallys mission is to bring excitement and culinary craftsmanship into communities and lives, Sallys Brand Development Advisor Christian Bonaventura said in a press release. Having worked with hit shows like The Office and Chopped, Ive seen things start off as local fan favorites and become a national phenomenon, and that same thing is happening at Sallys.

In addition to its treasured New Haven-style pizza, Sallys offers chef collaborations, specialty pizzas and more when the chains future locations open.

Outside of pizza, Sallys serves appetizers like Italian Wings with Calabrian Chili and Meatballs in a marinara sauce, as well as main courses like Chicken Parmesan and Rigatoni Vodka Sauce.

We want to create an ecosystem thats about people getting together, having fun and sharing memorable experiences over a great meal, Bonaventura added.

Sallys Apizza was founded on Wooster Street in New Haven in 1938 with pizza known for its signature tomato sauce and thin crust with an iconic char. Sallys Apizza has since expanded to open several locations throughout Connecticut and Massachusetts.
A Netflix series that helps people on the autism spectrum find love and navigate the changing world of dating and relationships is seeking potential matches for a main cast member who lives in the Boston area.

The Netflix documentary series Love on the Spectrum, which is produced by Northern Pictures, is looking for participants for season 3, Supervising Producer Diana E. Gonzales told MassLive.

The creators of the Emmy Award-winning show are looking for single women and LGBTQ+ individuals in Boston who open to going on a date with a lovely, smart young woman in her early 20s, a casting flyer reads.

The producers of the Netflix documentary series "Love on the Spectrum" are seeking Boston area participants to go on a date with one of the show's contestants.Courtesy photo

The experience should last a few hours and is expected to be a fun and positive experience, Gonzales said.

Our aim with the series is to send a positive message, that people on the spectrum can and do find love while helping educate the audience about ASD by breaking down some of the myths, misconceptions, and stereotypical views, and celebrating difference, Gonzales wrote in an email. Its important to us to tell the diverse stories of real people, in their voices.

Anyone interested in applying can send a brief description of themselves and a photograph to production@northernpictures.com.au. Casting inquiries can also be filled out online using this form.
A 46-year-old Brockton man who created a fake online persona pretending to be a teenage boy to convince three minors to send him sexualized images of themselves was sentenced to 15 years in prison on Thursday, according to acting U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua S. Levys office.

Zaire Aquil Lodge pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual exploitation of children and one count of receipt of child pornography in January 2024, federal prosecutors said in a statement. Lodge will serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence.

On several occasions in 2021, Lodge created a fake online persona posing as a teenage boy, which he used to convince three minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct and send him sexualized images. He also knowingly received and tried to receive child sexual abuse materials between February and October of that year, according to the statement.

Levys office encouraged anyone with questions, concerns or information about Lodges case to call 617-748-3274.
Two friends of the Worcester man who died in a fire with his wife on Tuesday mourned his death outside the charred house on Thursday.

Daniel Gonzalez, 62, and Juana Candelario, 59, both died after a fire burned through the home at 3 Hancock St., off Main Street near Clark University and the Boys and Girls Club of Worcester, according to a GoFundMe.

Worcester Fire Department responded to the structure fire at approximately 11:30 p.m. on May 28, with reports of people trapped in the building, according to a release from the city managers office.

Roger Hayward worked with Gonzalez for over 20 years in the carpentry business, he told MassLive. They worked together at Crocker Architectural Sheet Metal Co., Inc. in North Oxford.

I can attest that he was a super hard worker, Hayward said. He always came to work with good attitude. He was very, very reliable. A man of principle. Definitely taught his kids how to work and how to act in society and manners and all those types of things. A good example to everyone  his family but also to the other co-workers. He was exceptional at what he did.

He and Gonzalez worked on several buildings together, including Red Sox owner John Henrys home, Ernie Boch Jr.s mausoleum and the Massachusetts State House, Hayward said. He called Gonzalezs wife a sweetheart.

Its a great loss to that company and, as a person, you couldnt find a better friend, he continued. Its a great loss that way as well. It was hard to believe this happened to him. He was set to retire in a couple years.

Originally from the Dominican Republic before he moved to New York and then Worcester, Gonzalez had a home there and planned to retire there, Hayward said.

There one day, gone the next. Too young. Still had a lot of life left in him.

While Hayward and another friend were outside the house to examine the fire damage, more flowers and votive candles were placed at the foot of the driveway. Neither man knew who placed them there.

Balloons and more flowers and candles occupied the foot of the driveway at 3 Hancock St. on Thursday, where two parents died in a house fire on Tuesday, May 28.Ryan Mancini

Four adults and three children were displaced after the fire. In a GoFundMe set up on Wednesday, donations have blown past the organizer Sherill Cotes goal of $10,000. As of 12:30 on Friday, the GoFundMe had accumulated $23,512.

Our family has suffered a tremendous tragedy, Cotes description read. We have lost our parents Juana Candelario, 59, and Daniel Gonzalez, 62, to a house fire. They have been married for 30 years. Neighbors of the community since the early 2000s. They are survived by a loving family, including their children and grandchildren.

Three of the adult children and multiple grandchildren living in the same home, escaped the fire but have lost everything, according to the description. Any help will be appreciated at this time. Thank you.

The description was signed off by Mayra Callahan, Xenia Maldonado, Luceniz Smith, Steven Gonzalez and Danilkys Gonzalez.

The familys funeral service will be held on June 5, according to the fundraiser.
For some renters in Massachusetts, landlords are required to keep the heat going  even if the weather outside is 80 degrees.

But heating season is coming to an end.

The final day to keep the heat on in Massachusetts is Friday, May 31. That means for many apartments without window units, landlords will switch over to air conditioning for the hot summer months.

On May 21 and 22, temperatures were in the 80s, reaching 89 in Boston. In Connecticut, temperatures blew past 90 degrees and reached a high of 93, forecasters said. It was again in the 80s in Massachusetts on May 28.

Still, for many apartments, the heat stayed on.

If youre living in a large building or even a semi-large building with an HVAC system, its not always easy to switch between cooling and heat, Ethan Masscoop, a clinical instructor in environmental health at Boston University, told GBH.

The local boards of health can decide to change the date of heating season, instead ending on May 15.

Heat will then turn back on starting Sept. 15.

That means officially we have three months of spring, summer, and fall in Massachusetts, Mass Landlords, a non-profit for owners and managers of Massachusetts residential real estate, states on its website. The rest is legally considered the dead of winter!

Prior to April 2023, heating season lasted until June 15, meaning landlords couldnt turn on air conditioning until then.

Mass Landlords said they worked to change the date in response to climate change.

Representative Bud Williams told Western Mass. News he hopes one day every tenant will have their own A/C unit.

I understand the frustration, Williams told the news outlet. When youre in those apartments and it gets to 90 and youre there, doesnt matter if its for one day or two days and you have to live through it and bear through, its almost unbearable.
A proposal to raise commercial property taxes in Boston is continuing to receive heavy debate as the city searches desperately for ways to lower housing costs for residents.

Mayor Michelle Wu filed the proposal in April in response to dropping commercial property values following the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in lower tax revenue. To avoid a jump in tax bills for residential property owners to make up the difference in the citys tax levy, Wu proposed raising the percentage of the levy made up by commercial properties.

This measure is about stability and residential tax relief, Boston Chief Financial Officer Ashley Groffenberger said Thursday during a hearing of the City Council Committee on Government Operations. It puts all taxpayers, businesses, and residents, on a glide path to a new normal. ... We are asking to give the residents of Boston time to adjust to a new normal in which commercial property contributes less to the citys tax base than it does today. Were asking for partnership in slowing down the pace of this transition, not to permanently prevent it from happening.

Under state law, municipalities set their property tax rates each year and are allowed to charge commercial property owners up to 175% of their assessed share of the levy.

Boston currently sets its tax levy at that 175% maximum. Wus proposal, which would require legislative approval from the state to go into effect, would allow the city to temporarily raise that share to 200%, coming down to normal levels over the next five years, and to lower the residential tax rate to 45% of assessed values from the current minimum of 50%.

Boston Commissioner of Assessing Nick Ariniello said it was difficult to say what the change in the average property tax bill would be because property assessments for the year have not been completed yet.

The change could be implemented in a city election in any of the next three fiscal years, which Wu, who was not present at Thursdays hearing, has said would allow the city to do so only when necessary. The city can also choose to raise the commercial tax share to a level below 200%.

According to the Boston Municipal Research Bureau, an independent research organization, residential property made up about 67% of the citys assessed property valuation in fiscal year 2024, but only 41.7% of the tax levy.

Since the proposal was announced, it has sparked strong opposition from Bostons business and real estate communities, who say it is unfairly burdening commercial property owners and their tenants, many of whom are already struggling with economic changes brought on in the aftermath of the pandemic.

This is not just about downtown and this is not just about the owners of commercial office buildings. This is every commercial property in the city and nearly every tenant in those commercial properties, Marty Walz, the interim president of the Boston Municipal Research Bureau said. The commercial owners will pass the costs on to their tenants in nearly all leases. So this is a cost increase to operate in the city for restaurants, retail shops, nail salons, barber shops, convenience stores and any nonprofit organization thats a tenant in a commercial building.

Dan Swift, principal at Ryan, a tax firm with a location in Boston, argued the proposal would also hurt owners of residential properties, not help them.

In a recent report Swift wrote for Ryan, he predicted that higher commercial tax rates would substantially lower commercial property values, therefore lowering the amount they contribute to the tax levy and increasing the burden on residential property owners to make up the difference.

Swifts report also determined that Boston had the third lowest residential property taxes of large cities in the United States, and the second highest disparity between residential and commercial tax rates.

The higher the commercial tax rate, the lower the commercial assessments, Swift said. This measure will only lower [commercial property sale prices] as the higher costs resulting from increased taxes will lead to lower market values and it will impede efforts to retain and attract businesses to the millions of vacant square feet. It will negatively impact current businesses across the city in every neighborhood regardless of size. It will result in a much lower allocation of commercial value and as a result, a much higher allocation of residential tax.

Ariniello said he strongly disagree[d] with this view, however.

I do not in any way envision that this is going to lead to that level of property value loss, if any, he said. The way that assessments are structured and the way that properties actually sell are dramatically different than in terms of overall costs for most real estate. Were not a large factor of their overall costs.

Councilor John Fitzgerald said he was unsure about the efficacy of the proposal, noting that because the rates would return to normal over five years, the relief for struggling homeowners and apartment owners would eventually run out.

Theyll probably be facing that in two years, when it bumps up to whatever this incremental step is to cover the residential portion of the taxes, he said. This proposal is not solving that issue but also potentially at the same time doing irreparable harm to our commercial properties, which is our downtown and our small businesses.

Housing and labor advocates, however, who spoke at Thursdays hearing were largely and strongly in support of Wus proposal, saying the housing crisis and lack of affordable homes would only get worse if residents had to worry about higher tax bills.

Symone Crawford, executive director of the Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance, said the organization has seen a major increase in homeowners looking for help. She said enrollment in their homeowner classes, graduates of which can get discounts on homeowners insurance, has gone from about 50 to 60 people per class last year to 200 to 250 this year.

It would just exacerbate the crisis that homeowners are currently going through with the higher cost of maintaining their homes if we also leverage exorbitant taxes at this point in time, Crawford said.

The tax burden also does not just affect homeowners but renters, who can see rising rents as landlord try to make up the money they are losing on higher tax bills. Union leaders who spoke at the hearing said their members already struggle with affording Boston rents.

Mark Bernard, executive director of Council 93 of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, wrote in a letter read at the hearing by union representative William Chaisson that even though the union owns a nine-story office building on Beacon Hill and would be negatively impacted by the tax change, the personal finances and family budgets of our members are far more important to us.

As a union representing workers who are bound by residency requirements as a condition of employment, I can assure you that these workers are already struggling to meet the high cost of owning or renting homes in the city, Bernard wrote. While increases in property tax will undoubtedly be an impact on homeowners, any property tax increase will also ultimately impact renters when landlords pass the increase on to their tenants.

This may even already be happening, according to Councilor Liz Breadon.

Were already getting calls from tenants who say that their landlords are increasing their rents significantly in anticipation of this change, she said. There are some landlords who are saying this is an opportunity to jack up the rents and take advantage of a situation, which is rather concerning.

As an alternative to Wus proposal, Walz said the city could set the cap at 185%, not 200%, use financial reserves to support homeowners struggling with their tax bills, or look at how municipal spending can be cut back to reduce the tax levy entirely, among other alternatives.

Theres been some rhetoric that people are proposing deep budget cuts as a way to solve this problem, Walz said. We arent going to be able to cut our way out of this. But what we can do is show restraint in the pace at which the budget is increasing.

She also said the city should consider diversifying its revenue sources, an idea echoed by others and some councilors. According to the Research Bureau, Boston currently relies on property taxes for about 71.1% of its revenues.

Ariniello said lowering the maximum was counterproductive, because the proposal already allows the city to set rates below 200%, and lowering that number would only stop them from going higher if it was determined they needed to.

At the end of the hearing, Councilor Gabriela Coletta, chair of the Committee on Government Operations, suggested the city enact a small business property tax exemption to help smaller commercial property owners with the potential bump in their tax bill.

Boston already has an exemption for homeowners, and the small business exemption is allowed as a local option by state law, so it would not require legislative approval.

Coletta said her staff had estimated the city would lose less than $6 million in revenue through such an exemption.

It might be a drop in the bucket for us, but potentially a lifeline for these small businesses, she said.

The full council will vote on the tax change at a later date, and if approved, it would need to be submitted to the state Legislature for its approval.
A 33-year-old Watertown man was arrested and charged in connection with a shooting outside a nightclub in April, according to the Randolph Police Department.

Shamere Ross was charged with armed assault to murder (firearm), carrying a firearm without a license, discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a building and possession of a firearm.

Officials claim Ross stood outside Mojitos Nightclub on Mazzeo Drive with a gun as people were leaving the nightclub around 2 a.m. He then shot at another man three times, police said. The other man ran away.

Despite multiple people being in the area, no injuries were reported during the incident, the police department said. An occupied motor vehicle was struck by gunfire and ballistic evidence was subsequently recovered by detectives during the investigation.

Ross was arrested Wednesday morning at 318 Warren St. in Watertown following the execution of multiple search and arrest warrants by the Randolph Police Department Street Crimes and Detective Units, the Watertown Police Department and members of the NEMLEC SWAT Team and NEMLEC Regional Drug Task Force.

Police found six guns in the home, including three stolen guns and one firearm with an obliterated serial number.

Officials said they expect additional charges as the investigation remains ongoing.
A 60-year-old man who prosecutors described as an experienced investor agreed to plead guilty in connection with a scheme to boost the stock price of Getty Images for his own benefit and later trying to cover up the fraud, according to acting U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua S. Levys office.

Robert Scott Murray, 60, of Mashpee, is charged with and will plead guilty to one count of securities fraud. He will appear in federal court in Boston at a later date.

Murray, who has served as the chief executive officer for multiple public companies, including Stream Global Services and 3Com, owned about 300,000 shares of Getty Images Holdings, Inc. stock in April 2023. Getty, a visual media company based in Seattle, is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

In April 2023, Murray began issuing press releases and sending emails in the name of Trillium Capital LLC, a venture investment company based in Massachusetts that he was the sole owner and manager of. In the releases and emails, Murray urged Getty to add him to its board of directors, an effort that ultimately failed, Levys office said.

He then went on to make false and misleading statements, using press releases and media interviews, to boost Gettys stock price in order to sell the shares he owned at the artificially inflated price. On April 21, 2023, Getty shares closed at a trading price of roughly $5 per share. Then, on Monday, April 24, 2023, before the market opened, Murray caused the publication of a press release claiming Trillium Capital had proposed to acquire Getty at a price of $10 per share, according to the statement.

When the market opened, the companys stock traded at nearly $8 per share, roughly 56% higher than the previous closing price. Murray then sold all the Getty shares he owned within less than an hour, earning close to $1.5 million, Levys office said. Prosecutors say Murrays friend, who had been instructed to buy shares of the company, sold shares that same morning at Murrays direction, earning more than $550,000.

Months later, in December 2023, at the direction of law enforcement, the friend texted Murrary I just got a subpoena from the SEC and theyre asking me for any communications with you regarding Getty stock, federal prosecutors said.

Murray responded by telling him just say there were none and you should delete all my texts. Prosecutors say he added text messages are like virginity, once you delete your virginity you aint getting it back, according to Levys office.

Around the same day, Dec. 6, 2023, Murray emailed the friend a proposed response to the subpoena, which said the friend bought the stock solely based on my read of the various press releases from Trillium Capital and my knowledge that Scott Murray is a very experienced investor and not from any communications from Scott Murray or Trillium Capital, Levys office said.

When approached by law enforcement in February, Murray denied telling his friend to buy the shares, according to the statement.
A 26-year-old Haitian national who is accused of raping a 15-year-old girl at a hotel acting as a migrant shelter where they both lived, pleaded not guilty during his arraignment in Brockton Superior Court on Friday, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz announced.

Cory B. Alvarez is charged with one count each of aggravated rape of a child with 10-year age difference, and rape of a child by force, Cruzs office said in a statement. Alvarez was indicted on those charges earlier this month, moving his case to superior court.

On the night of March 13, police went to the Comfort Inn in Rockland at 850 Hingham St. after hotel staff reported a girl said she had been raped, Rockland Police Det. Sgt. Greg Pigeon testified in Hingham District Court during Alvarezs dangerousness hearing in March. During that hearing, he was deemed a danger and held. Alvarez remains held without bail, Cruzs office said.

The hotel has contracted with the state to provide lodging to migrants. Rockland police took the girl to South Shore Hospital for treatment after arriving at the hotel.

Alvarez entered the country legally and had undergone two background checks, his attorney, Brian Kelley, said in court, citing Gov. Maura Healeys office. It was not clear how long Alvarez had been living at the hotel and Kelley said he spent time in New York City before arriving in Massachusetts.

The girl and Alvarez had no pre-existing relationship before the assault allegation, both prosecutors and Kelley confirmed.

Read more: Plymouth DA wants more transparency on migrant programs after shelter rape

While the girl was in an examination room with a nurse and a victim advocate, she told police she told Alvarez to leave her alone but he didnt stop, according to the report. Police then asked the girl to identify the man who assaulted her in a photo array. As officers went through each photo, the girl stopped them when they reached the sixth of eight photos.

Alvarezs status as a migrant has had no bearing on how prosecutors have approached his case, according to Cruz.

Alvarez will return to court on June 11.
The same group of sunspots that ignited the northern lights earlier this month are flaring up again, which means that New Englanders will get another chance to watch the colorful streams of light bounce across the night sky this weekend.

New Englanders may be able to see the northern lights, or the aurora borealis, late Friday night into early Saturday morning, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center. The northern lights can be seen from the northern part of the United States, including in central and northern New England, the Boston Globe reported.

Forecasters from the National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center say the colorful Northern Lights may be visible from some northern states Friday night, May 31, into early Saturday morning, June 1, 2024.NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

A G2 moderate geomagnetic storm watch was issued by the Space Weather Prediction Center. According to the center, this means Fridays northern lights may cause high-latitude power systems, such as electrical power grids, to experience voltage alarms and damage to their transformers.

This is the second geomagnetic storm thats occurred this month.

The G2 geomagnetic storm is significantly weaker than the one from May 10-11, which was at a G5 level, the strongest and highest rating, according to the Space Weather Prediction Center.

Read More: northern lights put on a show May 10 across Northern Hemisphere

The best time to watch the northern lights in northern New England is between 11 p.m. on Friday to 1 a.m. on Saturday, the Boston Globe reported. The lights may be visible around 3 a.m., too.

The northern lights may also be visible in northern New England at times through next week and maybe into the second week of June, the Globe reported. This includes communities in New Hampshire such as Concord and Laconia, Vermont communities around Burlington and Rutland, and places north of Portland in Maine, the Globe reported.

The northern lights occur whenever energized particles from the sun come in contact with Earths upper atmosphere at 45 million mph, according to Space.com. Earths magnetic field protects the planet from these particles by redirecting them to the northern and southern poles. The intensity of this process produces colorful ribbons of light called the northern lights.

Every type of atom or molecule, whether its atomic hydrogen or a molecule like carbon dioxide, absorbs and radiates its own unique set of colors, which is analogous to how every human being has a unique set of fingerprints, Billy Teets, the director of Dyer Observatory at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, told Space.com.

Some of the dominant colors seen in aurorae are red, a hue produced by the nitrogen molecules, and green, which is produced by oxygen molecules, he added.
Every year, Google hosts a nationwide competition for a young artist to be featured on Googles homepage in place of the brands signature blue, red, yellow and green logo.

After years of submitting her doodles, 15-year-old Aleeza Amitan, of Newton, was announced as Massachusetts state winner, and is currently being considered for the competitions national winner.

If Amitan wins first place, she will receive a $55,000 college scholarship as well as $50,000 in supplies and technology for her school, Newton South High School.

However, national winners rely on votes  and voting is only open until Tuesday, June 4.

This years Doodle for Google theme calls for artists to create a doodle around their wish for the next 25 years, to celebrate Googles 25th birthday, according to a Google blog post about the contest.

Amitans doodle is based around education and was partially inspired by the Newton public school strikes that took place earlier this year. Her doodle is named When education flourishes, so does the world.

Since my teachers went on strike for two weeks, I really had some time to realize how important being in school is, she said. It just really showed me the value of getting into school and having that time to learn.

Amitan said her wish for the next 25 years is for more people to have access to the same level of education she and the people of her city have.

Her doodle shows six people engaging in an academic activity, all representing one of Googles letters.

Aleeza Amitan, a 15 year old, Newton student is one of 55 state and territory winners among thousands of applicants for the Doodle for Google program.Aleeza Amitan

For the G, Amitan said, I was thinking of a teacher ... shes holding up a book. I drew the letter G and a picture of a cat. The inspiration behind the image was the Spanish word for cat, gato.

For the first O, Amitan doodled a little boy drawing on a brick wall, and instead of using the letter O, she used a zero with a plus symbol to show he is writing a math equation.

The second O is representing science  chemistry specifically, she said. Its a girl doing some sort of experiment.

The second G shows a person on their laptop and represents someone writing, Amitan said.

The L shows a little kid writing the alphabet on a scroll, and E shows a girl reading  each frame represents a different nationality, race, ethnicity and age.

I was really trying to include as many different people as I could, she said, Because my wish is that everybody ... can have a good education.

Amitan said she worked on designing the doodle over the span of three weeks.

My wish is pretty understandable, she said. Most people I know have gotten education and understand the importance of it (and) how important it is to know about the world you live in.

Maybe someday, Ill actually get my wish to come true.

Amitan's 2023 Doodle for Google submission.Aleeza Amitan

How to vote:

According to Google, its doodle is probably one of the most viewed things on the internet - with the ability to inform and entertain billions of people.

Doodles bring fun and creativity to important messages.

After tens of thousands of submissions made their way to the Doodle for Google application page, 55 state and territory finalists were announced May 22, with open voting for a national winner from then until June 4 at 11:59 p.m.

Supporters can cast their votes here. Amitans can be found in the Grades 10-12 category.

The runner-ups will receive a $5,000 scholarship in addition to  on the following tab.

Five national finalists will be announced after voting ends.

The first place winner will receive a $55,000 scholarship and $50,000 for their school for supplies and technology in addition to their doodle live on Google for 24 hours.

Five runners-up will receive a $5,000 scholarship, in addition Google hardware and Fun Google swag.
The United States stepped into history on Thursday as a New York jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to an adult film actor who said the two had sex.

It was the latest twist in a political career that began nearly a decade ago with Trumps descent down an escalator in his New York City apartment building and ended with his supporters sacking the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as they attempted to halt the certification of President Joe Bidens victory the previous November.

In the months and years in between, the nation endured the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw hundreds of thousands of Americans sickened, many with lasting effects, and more than 1 million dead. It also saw historic civil rights protests stemming from the death of George Floyd in Minnesota on May 25, 2020.

What happens next is unclear, but a few things are known.

Trump will be sentenced on July 11, according to CBS News, which reported that the timeline is similar to other white-collar cases, where sentencing often takes place anywhere from three to eight weeks after conviction.

Thats four days before this years Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where Trump is expected to be named the GOPs 2024 presidential standard-bearer.

Trump could receive probation, whats known as a conditional discharge, a sentence of no jail or up to four years for each offense, CBS News reported. The twice-impeached, four-times indicted former president likely would be ordered to serve that time concurrently on each count, the news organization reported.

The judge could sentence him to anything between zero and the max, Dan Horwitz, a defense lawyer who formerly prosecuted white-collar cases for the Manhattan District Attorneys office, told CBS News. So he could sentence him to a period of months in jail, he could sentence him to a period of weeks in jail, he could sentence him to a sentence where he is required, for example, to go to jail every weekend for a period of time and then serve the rest of the sentence on probation.

Trump is unlikely to be disenfranchised by the felony convictions in the New York case, with experts noting that it would come down to whether he serves time as a part of his sentence, according to NBC News.

Right now, 48 states prohibit some or all Americans with felony convictions on their records from voting, according to the Sentencing Project, and an estimated 4.4 million Americans  about 2% of the voting-age population  could not vote in the 2022 elections because of those laws. The group estimates that more than 1 million of them live in Florida, where Trump established his official residency in 2019, NBC News reported.

The nation has come close to, but has not fully reached, such a reckoning before.

On Aug. 8, 1974, then-President Richard Nixon announced to a stunned nation that he intended to resign rather than face impeachment related to the break-in at the Watergate office building in Washington, D.C., two years earlier in a criminal case that led to the White House.

Nixon was later pardoned by President Gerald Ford, his former vice president, who served out the balance of Nixons term.

In 2001, former President Bill Clinton, on his final day in office, announced that hed reached an agreement with a special prosecutor to avoid prosecution in connection with his relationship with a former White House intern.

As a result of that agreement, Clintons law license was suspended for five years, and the Democrat agreed to pay a $25,000 fine and acknowledged that he committed a breach of professional conduct because of testimony he gave in the sexual harassment suit brought against him by Paula Jones, the New York Times reported at the time.

The New York jurys verdict, months before Americans head to the polls in the whisker-thin race between Republican Trump and Democrat Biden, is unlikely to move votes, according to the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll.

A little more than two-thirds of respondents (67%) said a guilty verdict would not impact their vote; three-quarters (76%) said the same of a not guilty verdict, NPR reported.

With this verdict, a major political party in the United States is running with a convicted felon at the top of the ticket. But it wont change Trumps campaign message that hes being persecuted, UMass Lowell political science professor John Cluverius said in an email.

Trumps legal issues have a rhythm to them: Politically speaking, one conviction could lead to another, and todays verdict increases pressure to hold more of his criminal trials before the election, Cluverius, the associate director and director of survey research of UMass Lowells Center for Public Opinion, said.

In this most political of seasons, Biden sent out a fundraising email in the wake of the verdict, the Washington Post reported.

Theres only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box, Biden posted on X, with a link to his campaign fundraising site.

In remarks after the verdict, Trump repeated the false claim that the process had been rigged and vowed to fight on.

I am a very innocent man, Trump said, adding, This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt.

Election Day is Nov. 5.

Associated Press materials were used in this report.
For the first time in United States history, a former president became a convicted felon and is also the presumptive nominee for one of the major political parties in the upcoming presidential election five months from now.

Donald Trump was found guilty by a New York City jury on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex.

While he has no prior criminal record, there remains the possibility Trump will go to prison after his sentencing. But as a presidential candidate, what does this mean about his 2024 campaign chances?

The short answer is yes, Trump can run for president as a felon, and even if he is in prison.

The United States Constitutions only requirements for running for president comprise being 35 years old, a natural-born citizen of the U.S. and a resident of the U.S. for at least 14 years. The only other limitation Trump faces running for president is Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which says no one can run for office if they engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.

While Trump has been formally accused of assisting an insurrection by a House committee that investigated the deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the Department of Justice has not prosecuted the former president over the attack.

Historically, imprisoned presidential candidates have run third-party campaigns. Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier ran in 2004 as the Peace and Freedom Party candidate while in prison for two consecutive life terms, according to Indianz.com.

Joe Exotic, of Tiger King fame and serving 21 years for his role in a murder-for-hire scheme, announced on March 15 he will run as a libertarian, Business Insider reported.

Now that you have a taste of what us normal people go through. And we are now both convicted felons running for office, read a post from Exotics X, formerly known as Twitter, account after Trump was found guilty on Thursday. Will you now talk to me so we can fix this s**t?

The best-known example of a prisoner running for president was in 1920. Socialist Party of America candidate Eugene V. Debs ran from the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary after he was convicted of violating the Espionage Act of 1917 for speaking out against World War I, according to Smithsonian Magazine.

Running for president for a fifth time, Debs campaign gave out campaign buttons that said, For President Convict No. 9653, Smithsonian reported. He received almost 1 million votes, but Republican Warren Gamaliel Harding won the presidency. During his short tenure as president, Harding commuted Debs sentence in 1921. Debs died a free man four years later.
Now that the former president of the United States, and presumptive Republican nominee in the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump, has been found guilty of a crime, theres a chance he could see prison time  despite also potentially winning the presidency again.

Shortly after Trump, a Republican, was found guilty of 34 counts in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex, a Massachusetts politicians name popped up in conjunction with Trumps.

Several posts on X, formerly known as Twitter, mentioned the name James Michael Curley. These posts were usually accompanied by a photo or a comment like James Michael Curley did it as well.

Our generations James Michael Curley ... the new Rascal King, one post from Friday morning read, using the nickname that historian Jack Beatty used as the title of his biography on Curley.

Curley served on the Boston Common Council from 1900 to 1901; in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1911 to 1914, and from 1943 to 1947. He was a four-term mayor of Boston, serving from 1914 to 1918, 1922 to 1926, 1930 to 1934, and 1946 to 1950; and Massachusetts governor from 1935 to 1937, all according to the National Governors Association.

During his tenure, he made an effort to ease the damaging effects that had resulted from the Great Depression, the association said of Curley. Bank and utility rates were regulated; old age pension laws were advanced; public work projects were improved; and forest conservation was promoted.

Curley was a colorful populist Democrat who railed against the elite with a close relationship with the Irish working class in Boston and a supporter of President Franklin Roosevelt, according to ABC News Australia.

However, his legal troubles started in 1904, when he served time in jail for impersonating a friend in a letter carrier civil service exam, the Boston Globe reported in March 2023, citing Beattys biography.

When serving as governor, Curley was indicted on federal charges in 1947 for taking a $16,000 bribe, according to Australias ABC News.

The year before, he won his fourth and last term as mayor of Boston. But this, and his governorship, did not stop a judge from ordering Curley to serve 18 months in federal prison for mail fraud.

While he finished his term as governor in prison, Curleys city clerk served as acting mayor, ABC News reported. But five months into his sentence, President Harry Truman commuted Curleys sentence and later pardoned him. He was free and continued his term until 1950 when his former acting mayor succeeded him.

Curley died in 1958.

Whats the deal with Eugene Debs?

Besides the likes of Trump and Curley, other individuals throughout American history have run for office, specifically the presidency, from prison.

Most of these candidates, such as Tiger Kings Joe Exotic and Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, have run on third-party tickets. Trump stands apart, not only as a former president  but for also being the nominee of one of the countrys two major parties.

In the wake of Trumps indictments in 2023 and his guilty verdict on Thursday, the one name from history that has come up in connection with Trumps is that of Eugene V. Debs.

While starkly different from each other, Debs was a union leader, activist and vocal socialist at the start of the 20th century. Debs did run on a third-party ticket as the Socialist Party of Americas presidential candidate five times in 1900, 1904, 1908, 1912 and 1920.

It was during his 1920 run that Debs ran from prison. A vocal critic of World War I, he was charged with violating the Espionage Act in 1918.

Debs campaign gave out campaign buttons that said, For President Convict No. 9653, according to his 1927 book about his time in prison, Walls & Bars. The book condemned the prison system in America at the time, becoming one of the many growing issues he spoke out on.

While there is a lower class, I am in it, Debs wrote in his book. While there is a criminal element, I am of it. While theres a soul in prison, I am not free.

He received almost 1 million votes. But Republican Warren G. Harding won the presidency. During his short tenure as president, Harding commuted Debs sentence in 1921. Debs died a free man four years later.
Theres a time-honored rule in politics: Its nearly impossible to knock off an incumbent. And if youre going to try, youd better have an ironclad why. The how can come later.

Thats got a lot to do with the fact that the cost of failure is high.

For every Ayanna Pressley, who sent former U.S. Rep. Mike Capuano packing in 2018 by positioning her campaign as a fight for the soul of the Democratic Party, theres a Joe Kennedy III, who couldnt come up with a good enough reason for Bay State voters to reject U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., in the 2020 primary.

Enter Bostons business leaders whose dissatisfaction with Democratic Mayor Michelle Wu is well documented  what with her plan to temporarily hike the citys commercial property tax rate and a proposed transfer tax on high-dollar real estate transactions.

Yes, its a why.

But it may not be a compelling one in a city where rents are sky-high, where just getting to work in the morning is a round of Grand Theft Auto come to life, and sympathy for the ultra-wealthy who gaze down from their towers in the Seaport is not exactly the lifeblood that powers the city.

That still has not stopped them from casting about for a potential challenger in 2025, even though the citys chief executive has yet to announce her re-election plans. Admittedly, it would be the shock to end all shocks if the media-savvy and seemingly ubiquitous Wu decided against a bid.

As The Boston Globe and other outlets have reported, one early contender could be Josh Kraft, son of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, whose potential candidacy boasts the twin disadvantages of his not actually living in Boston, and his lack of experience in elected office, despite a long history of community activism and philanthropy.

Then theres North End restaurateur Jorge Mendoza Iturralde, who has told the Globe that hes also planning a 2025 bid. And if there is a constituency that Wu has annoyed more than developers and real estate types, its the restaurant owners and saloon-keepers along Hanover Street.

Theyve gone to war with Wu over outdoor dining policies that they say have put them at a competitive disadvantage compared to the rest of the city.

I love Boston, I grew up in Boston, I grew up in the North End, Mendoza Iturralde told the Globe. But I also believe that Boston deserves better. Boston deserves somebody who is going to work for the people of Boston, not for their political career.

Off the bat, the numbers are daunting.

Wu took 64% of the vote in her first mayoral campaign in 2021, handily dispatching independent candidate Annissa Essaibi George, according to Ballotpedia.

Wu has taken some dings and brickbats, which notably include a controversial office Christmas party and her defense of a heavy-handed police response to a pro-Palestinian encampment at Emerson College. Still, her approval rating stood at 57% in a Boston Policy Institute poll released earlier this month, CommonWealth Beacon reported.

So the challenge, then, for Kraft  if he runs  and for Mendoza Iturralde, who appears set on running, is tapping into whatever sense of buyers remorse that exists among the citys electorate as a whole, Suffolk University pollster David Paleologos told MassLive.

And right now, theres no data to support that conclusion, Paleologos said.

Theres no current public polling that suggests shes dropped [in popularity], he explained. My assessment is that there may be problems in terms of her leadership, or specific issues where she hasnt met the mark. But does that translate into massive erosion of her support? There may be some people who are disappointed with her. But is it enough? Probably not.

And even if there is, there is no guarantee that either Kraft or Mendoza Iturralde start at the just shy of 36% that Essaibi George polled at in 2021.

In the intervening years, Wu has had the opportunity to go into the citys increasingly diverse neighborhoods and use the incumbents time-honored tools  cash and visibility  to shore up her support.

On Wednesday, for instance, Wu held three public events, starting her day with a morning coffee hour in Eastie. Later in the day, she was set to speak at an Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month event at City Hall and she wrapped her day with a speech to the Mayors Youth Council year-end celebration.

Kraft has the name recognition and the deep pockets, but hes going to have to make the case, Democratic consultant Mary Anne Marsh said during an appearance on WCVB-TVs On the Record program last weekend. Michelle Wu is a political force that everybody underestimates, Marsh continued.

And even the citys Republicans, who likely would prefer someone else at the helm, appear skeptical.

Give me somebody whos run for dog catcher before, [over] somebody whos never run for office any day of the week, Republican consultant Rob Wright told the station. You know, big name, big money. How would he differentiate himself?

I mean, theres a lot to go after Michelle Wu on  regulation, higher taxes, ... transit. How is this a good idea? I dont think hell do it, even if he runs. I dont think hell go after her hard enough to win, Wright told the station.

If there is a challenge to Wu, it may end up being the last gasp of a longstanding political establishment thats still trying to cling to power, Marsh suggested.

Its also the Old Boston trying to hold on to the last vestiges of power when Bostons becoming a younger, more diverse city and everybodys got a voice, instead of a few people having the voice, she said.

You only get one chance to knock off an incumbent. And there has to be a why.
A conservative activist group has criticized the more than $30,000 price tag for Gov. Maura Healeys trip to a Vatican-sponsored climate conference in Italy earlier this month, calling on the Democrat to use campaign money to reimburse the taxpayers for the public funds spent on the trip.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the pro-business Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance argued the trip wasnt worth the cost amidst the belt-tightening measures Healey has ordered, including a hiring freeze and spending cuts, that came in response to sluggish tax collections.

Everyone would like an all-expenses paid trip to Rome, but just because you are the Governor or the Climate Chief, doesnt mean you should use taxpayer money to do it, the spokesperson, Paul D. Craney, said Friday.

The Boston Globe and Boston Herald both separately reported Friday that Healeys office racked up a $30,263 tab to cover costs for the governor, administration Climate Chief Melissa Hoffer, and other front office staff who went on the trip.

Boston taxpayers were set to pick up the tab for Wus trip.

In a post to X, Massachusetts Republicans also raised questions about the cost of Healeys trip, writing Curious minds want to know: What kind of per diem package did @maura_healey allocate to herself while gallivanting through Italy on our dime?

Curious minds want to know: What kind of per diem package did @maura_healey allocate to herself while gallivanting through Italy on our dime?#mapoli #MassGOP https://t.co/zgK7UL91fm  MassGOP (@massgop) May 14, 2024

The Vaticans summit, where Healey gave a keynote address, and announced a climate technology initiative, was a valuable opportunity to showcase Massachusetts global climate leadership on the world stage and send a clear message to climate sector businesses and workers that Massachusetts is the place to be for climate innovation, administration spokesperson Karissa Hand told the Globe in a statement.

The three-day event was organized by the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences under the leadership of University of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suarez-Orozco and Ram Ramanathan, a renowned researcher who discovered the greenhouse gas effect of halocarbons in the 1970s, MassLive previously reported.

In addition to Hoffer, senior Healey aides Ellie Hitt and Katharine Thibodeau, along with administration spokesperson Karissa Hand, also were set to travel to Rome, according to State House News Service.

The Massachusetts Tourism Trust Fund, which allocates funds to the Massachusetts Marketing Partnership, footed the bill for the administrations trip, the wire service reported. Some funding also was provided by the UMass Foundation, the Globe reported.

For ... people who want the citizens of the Commonwealth to drastically raise their costs of living and lower their standards of living in the name of emissions reductions, jet-setting to Europe, spewing out tons of carbon emissions, racking up expensive hotel lodging, European meals, and who knows what else, all seems very hypocritical and inappropriate, Craney said.

As of Friday, Healeys campaign committee had $1.93 million in its coffers, Craney offered. A reimbursement to the taxpayers would reduce that balance by 1%, he argued.
Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, praised the 12-member jury that found Donald Trump guilty on Thursday of 34 felony counts in his criminal hush money trial.

The only voice is the voice of the jury and the jury has spoken, Bragg said during a press conference in which he called the jury the cornerstone of our judicial system.

Bragg spoke calmly and said, This type of white-collar prosecution is core to what we do at the Manhattan district attorneys office.

This is what we do every day, Bragg said. We follow the facts without fear or favor.

He thanked his phenomenal prosecution team and described some of the evidence jurors saw during the trial: call logs, text messages, emails, bank statements and calendar appointments.

They also heard from Trumps former and current employees, media executives, book publishers and custodians of records, according to Bragg.

Without using Trumps name, Bragg said, While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial and ultimately today at this verdict in the same manner as every other case that comes through the courtroom doors.

By following the facts and the law and doing so without fear or favor, Bragg added.

Bragg did not say whether his office would ask for a prison sentence at Trumps July 11 sentencing hearing.

We will speak in court at that time, Bragg said.

Trumps conviction is the first time a former U.S. president was ever tried or convicted in a criminal case. It was the first of Trumps four indictments to reach trial.

Prosecutors accused Trump of falsifying internal business records to cover up hush money payments tied to an alleged scheme to bury stories that might torpedo his 2016 White House bid.

At the heart of the charges were reimbursements paid to Trumps former lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels in exchange for not going public with her claim about a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump.

Prosecutors said the reimbursements were falsely logged as legal expenses to hide the true nature of the transactions.

The charges Trump faces are punishable by up to four years in prison. He has denied any wrongdoing and had pleaded not guilty.

Reporting from the Associated Press was used in this story.
From hush money scandals, to charges of conspiring to defraud the United States  former President Donald Trump faces more than 70 state and federal charges in addition to several ongoing civil cases and legal battles.

After his hush-money trial in New York, April 2024, Trump became the first former president to face criminal trial. On Thursday, a jury found him guilty of all 34 charges  making him the first former president in American history to become a convicted felon.

But it doesnt end there.

The former president stills faces a slew of ongoing cases, including several that are pending trial, such as one related to the notorious Jan. 6, 2021, sacking on the U.S Capitol, and charges of improperly taking classified materials after leaving the White House.

Here is an overview of legal battles Trump faces.

Former President Donald Trump leaves the courthouse after a jury found him guilty of all 34 felony counts in his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. (Justin Lane/Pool Photo via AP)AP

Jan, 6  Election Interference

Trial: Pending

Four felony charges:

Key Dates:

Aug. 3, 2023  Trump arraigned

Oct. 16, 2023  Judge imposes gag order, barring statements targeting prosecutors, witnesses, and court staff

Dec. 13, 2023  Judge pauses trial while Trump appeals ruling on prosecution immunity

Feb. 2, 2024  Judge postpones trial originally scheduled for March 4, 2024

Feb. 6, 2024  D.C. appeals court rules Trump is not immune from prosecution

Trial Date: The trial is currently on hold due to Trumps appeal of a Washington D.C appeals courts ruling that he is not immune from prosecution. A ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case, is expected in June, according to Bloomberg News.

People to know:

This combination photo shows, top row from left, Michael Cohen on May 14, 2024, in New York, Stormy Daniels on May 23, 2018, in West Hollywood, Calif., Hope Hick on Feb. 27, 2018, in Washington, and bottom row from left, Jeffrey McConney on Nov. 15, 2022, in New York, David Pecker on Jan. 31, 2014, in New York and Madeleine Westerhout on April 2, 2018, in Washington. After 22 witnesses, testimony is over at former President Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York. Prosecutors and Trump's lawyers are scheduled to make their closing arguments Tuesday, May 28, 2024. (AP Photo)AP

Hush Money trial  New York State court

Verdict: Guilty

This was the first criminal case against the former president after he was met with 34 charges in connection with falsifying business records to pay hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels at the end of the 2016 election, NBC News reported.

Trump asked his lawyer, Michael Cohen, to pay Daniels $130,000 in October 2016, reimbursing him in installments after being inaugurated, reports The Boston Globe.

Read more: Trump to be sentenced days before Republican National Convention

The former presidents first criminal trial began on April 15. Despite a gag order, Trump was twice held in criminal contempt, fined $10,000 for violating the order 10 times, and threatened with jail time, Politico reported.

Daniels, and Trumps former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, both testified, though the former president chose not to take the stand.

Closing arguments were heard May 28.

34 counts:

Dates:

March 18, 2023  Trump announced on Truth Social that he expected to be arrested

March 30, 2023  Trump is indicted

April 4, 2023  Trumps first court appearance, pleads not guilty to all charges

Feb. 15, 2024  Judge declines to delay trial over Trump campaign conflict concerns

April 15, 2024  Trial begins, jury selection

April 22, 2024  Opening statements held in trial

May 7, 2024  Daniels testifies

May 30, 2024  Verdict reached, Trump is found guilty on all counts

Key People:

Special counsel Jack Smith speaks to the media about an indictment of former President Donald Trump, Aug. 1, 2023, at an office of the Department of Justice in Washington. Trump's lawyers are pressing to haveSmith's team held in contempt. The Republican former president's lawyers said Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024, prosecutors have taken steps to advance the 2020 election interference case against him in violation of a judge's order that put the case on hold. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)AP

Classified Documents - U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida

Trial: Pending

In June 2023, Trump was indicted for taking classified national security documents from the White House to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida at the end of his term in January 2021.

Documents were stashed throughout the resort. Politico reported that Trump obstructed the federal governments attempts to retrieve the documents.

One year prior, the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago and left with 102 documents with classified markings.

With the formation of a special counsel led by Jack Smith, his team requested an indictment of the former president by a Florida grand jury.

The indictment charged Trump with 32 felony counts of violating the Espionage Act, six felony charges of obstruction, and two counts of making false statements. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled the case can go to trial on May 20, 2024, PBS reported.

The trial would have started on Monday, May 20, however,Cannon postponed it indefinitely to resolve pretrial conflicts, Politico reported. Cannon asked prosecutors and defense attorneys to prepare two sets of jury instructions based on competing interpretations of the Presidential Records Act, which Trump previously cited as a reason to dismiss the case altogether.

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump listens to a question from a reporter after voting in the Florida primary election in Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday, March 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)AP

40 felony counts related to the mishandling and willful retention of classified information after leaving the White House

32 felony counts related to willful retention of national defense information

5 felony counts related to concealing documents

2 felony counts related to destroying Mar-a-Lago security camera footage

1 felony count of false statements

Dates:

March 30, 2022  FBI opens investigation

April 26, 2022  Grand jury investigation begins

Aug. 8, 2022  FBI searches Mar-a-Lago , seizing 102 classified documents

June 8, 2023  Trump and executive assistant Walt Nauta are indicted by a Miami grand jury; Trump on 37 counts, Nauta on six

July 27, 2023  Three additional charges brought against Trump, two more against Nauta, and one charge against Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira

April 4, 2024  Judge rejects Trumps request to dismiss prosecution

May 7, 2024  Judge indefinitely delays trial, originally scheduled to start May 20

Key People:

Special Counsel Jack Smith  international war crimes prosecutor who previously led the Justice Departments public corruption sector, brought the charges

Walt Nauta  Trumps personal aide

Carlos De Oliveira  Mar-a-Lago property manager

U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon  Trump-appointed judge overseeing the case

FILE- Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee presides over a hearing is to determine whether Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis should be removed from the case because of a relationship with Nathan Wade, special prosecutor she hired in the election interference case against former President Donald Trump, Friday, March, 1, 2024, in Atlanta. Scott McAfee, who's presiding over the election interference case, drew two challengers Friday, March 8, 2024, for his nonpartisan race in May: civil rights attorney Robert Patillo and Tiffani Johnson, a staff attorney for another Fulton County judge. (AP Photo/Alex Slitz, Pool, File)AP

Georgia presidential election

Status: In-progress

Trump was indicted on Aug. 14, 2023 over alleged efforts to overturn his election loss in Georgia in 2020, The Boston Globe reported.

Following the 2020 election, Trump made a phone call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, asking him to find him the exact number of votes needed to win the state.

This phone call led Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis to open a criminal investigation in February 2021, that eventually saw Trump and 18 associates being charged with 41 felony counts, including racketeering and conspiracy in August 2023, ABC News reported.

Read more:

Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee dismissed three of Trumps counts in the indictment on March 13, the AP reported. Less than a month later, McAfee rejected Trumps argument that the indictment sought to criminalize political speech protected by the First Amendment.

Scandal also marred the case when Willis admitted to having a relationship with the special prosecutor she hired, resulting in his withdrawal, according to the AP. Still in her role, Willis won the Democratic primary election on Tuesday, May 21, The Georgia Recorder reported.

Due to several delays, its not clear when the case could go to trial. Different legal experts separately have told MSNBC and Fox 5 Atlanta that there is a likely chance it could go to trial in 2025, well after the November election.

In this photo combination of file images, Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee presides in court, left, while Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, right, looks on during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case, March, 1, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photos/Alex Slitz)AP

10 counts against Trump:

Dates:

Former President Donald Trump leaves the courthouse after a jury found him guilty of all 34 felony counts in his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. (Justin Lane/Pool Photo via AP)AP

Key People:

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis  Democrat, leading the prosecution

Sidney Powell  Former federal prosecutor and Trump campaign lawyer. Powell pleaded guilty in the case

David Shafer  Georgia Republican Party Chair

Mark Meadows  Trumps White House chief of staff

Rudy Giuliani  Trumps lawyer and adviser on efforts to overturn the election

John Eastman  Trumps lawyer who urged him to challenge the election results
Donald Trump became the first former president convicted of felony crimes after a New York jury on Thursday found him guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor.

While President Joe Biden has remained silent during his presumptive opponents trial, he was expected to make a statement after the verdict was reached, Politico reported on May 24.

As of Thursday night, the presidents personal X, formerly known as Twitter, account sent out a post asking for voters to donate to his campaign while referencing the former president.

Theres only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box, the post read.

As of 6 p.m., the White House has remained mostly silent, except from Bidens legal counsels office.

We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment, Ian Sams, a spokesman for the White House Counsels Office, told the New York Times.

Biden is with his family in Rehoboth, Delaware, and is not expected to make any public appearances for the rest of the day, according to the Times.

Heres what elected officials from across Massachusetts had to say about the verdict.

Rep. Lori Trahan

At 5:15 p.m., Rep. Lori Trahan, D-3rd District, posted about the news on X.

No one is above the law, Trahan wrote.

No one is above the law.  Lori Trahan (@RepLoriTrahan) May 30, 2024

Rep. Jim McGovern

Shortly after Trahan posted, Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, sent off a quick missive that captioned an NBC News link in an X post.

Its official: Trump is a convicted felon! McGovern posted. Found guilty on all 34 counts.

It's official: Trump is a convicted felon!



Found guilty on all 34 counts.https://t.co/geWnkdJ3Yp  Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) May 30, 2024

Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell

The commonwealths attorney general shared her quick thoughts on X too.

Equal justice under the law, Campbell wrote.

Equal justice under law.  Andrea J. Campbell (@AJCampbellMA) May 30, 2024

Rep. Ayanna Pressley

Massachusetts Squad member Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-7th District, issued a longer statement on X.

Despite the relentless efforts by the former occupant of the White House to undermine and delegitimize these fair and measured legal proceedings, todays unanimously guilty verdict is an important step toward accountability Pressleys statement read. Make no mistake, Donald J. Trump is not a man persecuted because of his politics  he has been defrauding people, exacting harm and evading legal accountability for decades.

From discriminating against Black tenants to defrauding small businesses to bribery, to hush money schemes, election interference and insurrection, this man has broken the law to advance his own interests at the expense of other people and to the detriment of our democracy, Pressley said. Accountability is welcome and long overdue. This man is undoubtedly unfit to serve in public office. The threat he poses to our nation and our democracy cannot be overstated.

Accountability is welcome and long overdue.



My full statement on today's unanimously guilty verdict. pic.twitter.com/eLk54YvvUP  Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (@RepPressley) May 30, 2024

Sen. Ed Markey

The Massachusetts senator only shared five words in a post on X: Trump is a convicted criminal.

Trump is a convicted criminal.  Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) May 30, 2024

Rep. Seth Moulton

Rep. Seth Moulton, D-6th District, gave a longer statement on X, captioned with This a sad day in American politics. It will be exponentially worse if Donald Trump wins in November.

This is an extremely serious moment in American politics, Moulton said in his statement. Donald Trump, one of only 44 others who have held the highest office in the land, has spent his entire career walking right up to, and over, the line of legality. It was only a matter of time before his actions led him to face our justice system.

To be clear: whether or not you like this verdict, this is how our system is supposed to work, Moulton said. This is how a healthy democracy is supposed to work. No one is above the law, not even a former president. This is also no time to gloat. Were in uncharted waters now that a convicted criminal is still a frontrunner for the presidency.

For Democrats, the stakes could not be higher, the statement continued. We have so much work to do to build trust across all Americans. For my Republican colleagues - those that claim to be strong on law and order, family values, and patriotism  when will enough finally be enough? Patriotism is not pandering to a man who would just as well blow up the foundations of our democracy for personal gain. Americans deserve political parties that function for the people. Instead, todays Republican party serves at the pleasure of Donald Trump.
HOLYOKE  Springfield and Holyoke are seeing among the highest rates of homelessness in Western Massachusetts, according to housing officials.

Homelessness numbers have been up in Hampden County since 2021, said Gerry McCafferty, Springfields housing director. An annual survey conducted in January found 2,901 people in the county were homeless.
A Holyoke man sentenced to 13 years in prison for a series of armed robberies on Thursday has a criminal history stretching back to at least 2003 that includes a pending federal case for possession of child sexual abuse materials.

Alfredo Aldeco, 38, was sentenced in connection with armed robberies of convenience stores in Western Massachusetts in 2018 that spanned Holyoke, Northampton, Chicopee, West Springfield and Agawam over a two-week period, according to acting U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Joshua S. Levys office. In each of those robberies, Aldeco held store clerks at gunpoint  including one in West Springfield who prosecutors say he told If you call the cops, I will come back and kill you.

Aldecos first encounter with law enforcement came in 2003, according to Holyoke District Court records. He was charged with two counts of possession of a firearm without a firearms identification card and two counts of receiving stolen property in excess of $250. The case never went to trial and records show Aldeco pleaded guilty. Its not clear if he served any jail time.
NAACP President Talbert Swan II alleges that School Committee member Christopher Collins remarks about the newly chosen Springfield superintendent, Sonia Dinnall, are slanderous. Dinnall is shown at a graduation in June 2021. (Hoang Leon Nguyen / The Republican)
Tourist arrivals by air increased from 299,082 in the first quarter of 2023 to 328,691 in the first quarter of 2024.

The performance of our usual main markets, accounted for 66% of tourist arrivals by air in the first quarter of 2024 compared to 69% in the first quarter of 2023. Comparative figures for first quarter 2023 and first quarter 2024 .

Country of Residence 

 Tourist Arrivals by Air 1st Quarter 2023 1st Quarter 2024 France 81,540 84,860 Reunion Island 34,778 34,924 United Kingdom 29,497 30,612 Germany 24,106 28,502 South Africa, Rep. of 20,397 21,658 India 7,823 10,043 Italy 6,992 6,674 Total main markets 205,133 217,273 All countries 299,082 328,691

Arrivals by air in 1st Quarter 2024

Compared to 1st Quarter 2023:

(i) passenger arrivals by air increased from 402,877 to 445,226;

(ii) tourist arrivals by air increased from 299,082 to 328,691 (Table 5).

(iii) the number of excursionists by air (arriving and leaving on the same day) increased from 1,929 to 3,815.

It is observed that during the first quarter of 2024, tourists from Russian Federation (68.5%), France (59.6%), United Kingdom (58.4%), Germany (49.5%) and Italy (43.0%) arrived mainly by direct flights from their own country of residence. Tourists from Peoples Republic of China and Netherlands travelled mainly through United Arab Emirates which was the most used transiting port. For the period under review, the proportion of tourists from Peoples Republic of China and Netherlands who travelled to Mauritius through United Arab Emirates were 67.3% and 43.2% respectively.
The Northern African leg of Huawei Network Summit 2024 was held in Marrakech, Morocco, attracting over 400 customers and partners from Egypt, Cote dIvoire, Ethiopia, Morocco, and other countries.

At the summit, Leon Wang, President of Huaweis Data Communication Product Line, said,

 All industries are accelerating intelligent transformation, and networks are evolving to all intelligence. As such, we fully upgrade our data communication solutions from Intelligent Cloud-Network to Xinghe Intelligent Network based on Net5.5G, thereby building a network foundation for the intelligent era. 

Huawei launched more than ten innovative products and solutions to best suit diverse scenarios such as campus networks, wide area networks (WANs), data center networks, and network security. Examples include all-scenario Wi-Fi 7, the industrys highest-density 400GE modular data center switch (a total of 640 400GE ports), the industrys unique switch with flexible cards from GE to 400GE, the industrys first 220 mm deep 400GE router, an all-in-one intelligent converged gateway, and Net Master (a network large model application).

Huawei also unveiled nine industry-specific solutions and flagship distribution products for customers in public services, finance, electric power, and education sectors, reaffirming its efforts to dive deep into the commercial and small- and medium-sized enterprise (SME) markets. By the end of 2024, Huawei Data Communication plans to provide 73 models of distribution products for markets outside China, joining forces with partners to help numerous enterprises easily go digital.

Local customers in Northern Africa also shared their best practices with Huaweis data communication products and solutions. Mehdi AKRAB, Deputy CTO of Morocco Marjane Group, said that Huaweis high-quality campus network solution has helped Marjane build a future-proof campus network with ultra-high-speed access, IoT convergence, and simplified operations and maintenance (O&M), facilitating their digital transformation.

Huawei also announced all-new upgrades to its IP Club member program, including gaining fresh insights into the latest technological innovations, connecting with top industry experts and opinion leaders, and participating in an elite member brand plan. The event also recognized IP Club Diamond members with awards.

Todays industries stand at a critical juncture in advancing from digital transformation to intelligent transformation. Huawei remains committed to constantly upgrading its Xinghe Intelligent Network offerings needed to build leading network infrastructures, ultimately propelling all industries into the intelligent era.
A COMMEMORATION to mark the 50th anniversary of the death of Mayo hunger striker, Michael Gaughan will take place in his hometown of Ballina this weekend.

Ballina man Michael Gaughan was just 24 years of age when he died on June 3, 1974 after 64 days on hunger strike in Parkhurst Prison in England.

To mark the 50th anniversary of his death, the National Graves Association will hold a commemoration to honour Michael Gaughan at his graveside in Leigue Cemetery in Ballina tomorrow, Saturday, June 1 at 4pm.

Speakers on day will include former Ballina councillors Peter Clarke and Gerry Ginty while the main oration will be delivered by Sean Whelan, Chairperson of the National Graves Association.

Gaughan grew up on Healy Terrace, Ballina and later became an IRA volunteer in a London-based Active Service Unit. After his arrest for a bank robbery, he was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in 1971.

While in Albany Prison on the Isle of Wight, Gaughan was placed in solitary confinement after his request for political status was refused.

He was later transferred to Parkhurst Prison and on March 31, 1974, Gaughan joined fellow Mayoman Frank Stagg, along with current Sinn Fein MLA Gerry Kelly, Paul Holme, Hugh Feeney and sisters Dolours and Marian Price in a hunger strike campaign to obtain political status and to be transferred to a jail in Ireland.

At the time British policy was to force feed hunger strikers and Gaughan was force fed up to 17 times during the course of his hunger strike. The procedure involved forcing a wooden clamp into the prisoners mouth through which a tube was passed. Liquid food was then poured through the tube, often entering the victims windpipe.

After visiting Gaughan in jail, his brother John described his condition: His throat had been badly cut by force feeding and his teeth loosened. His eyes were sunken, his cheeks hollow and his mouth was gaping open. He weighed about six stone.

After a hunger strike that lasted 64 days, he died on Monday, June 3 1974, aged 24 years old.

In his final message, Michael Gaughan described his motivation: I die proudly for my country and in the hope that my death will be sufficient to obtain the demands of my comrades. Let there be no bitterness on my behalf but a determination to achieve the new Ireland for which I gladly die. My loyalty and confidence is to the IRA and let those of you who are left carry on the work and finish the fight.

It was reported at the time that over 3,000 mourners lined the streets of Kilburn and marched behind his coffin while it is estimated that over 50,000 mourners attended his funeral in Ballina which took place in St Muredach's Cathedral with burial afterwards in the Republican plot in Leigue Cemetery.

His death is referenced in the song 'Take me Home to Mayo', also known as 'The Ballad of Michael Gaughan', composed by Seamus Robinson and performed and recorded by many Irish musicians including Christy Moore, the Wolfe Tones, Wolfhound, Derek Warfield and the Dublin City Ramblers.
This Bank Holiday weekend, the town of Westport will be even more colourful than usual, as the annual Mayo Pride rolls into town on great big rainbow-coloured wheels. The festival, which supports and celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community and promotes equality and inclusion, will feature a host of fun events from this Friday, May 31, right through to Monday, June 3.

Mayo Pride attracts crowds from across the country and beyond, with the stunning location, feel-good atmosphere and diversity of events all combining to prove an irresistible draw. Last year, Mayo Pride brought together over 3,500 members of the LGBTQIA+ community, their family, friends and allies  and the organisers are aiming to out do themselves this year with their biggest event to date.

The packed schedule includes hikes, cycles, art, music, comedy and more. Outdoor activities will include forest bathing, a drumming workshop, a Pride cruise around Clew Bay, a Big Gay Hike up Croagh Patrick, and a Bike Buffet  a ride with pride cycle through the town and along the Greenway with tastings of delicious local produce on the way.

Evening highlights include a special performance by the famous Haus of Wig queer cabaret, which takes place on Friday night at the Pride Club at The Mariner Hotel, and the Post-Parade Party Extravaganza at The Towers on Saturday, featuring DJs Conor Behan (The George) and Glamo (Mother), as well as drag artists, dancers and live performances.

Another one to watch out for at the The Mariner is Sunday nights show, The Wild Geez and Guests  billed as a chaotically charming cabaret by talented lesbian thespians. The guest performers will include local singing sensation James Garvey of The Garvey Brothers, who will be making his show-stopping drag debut as Kitty LeRone.

Of course, the pinnacle of the weekend is the hallmark of all Pride celebrations, the big parade. Taking place on Saturday afternoon, it will start from The Fairgreen at 1.30pm. Led by Sing Along Social, the parade will make its joyful way through the town along South Mall, up Bridge Street, along Shop Street, up the Quay Road and out to The Quay. (For people with mobility issues, please note parts of the parade are hilly. Anyone who could find this a challenge is asked to contact Mayo Pride to arrange assistance.)

This year, the organisers have created a Pride Youth group to march in the parade, for any young people who might otherwise be on their own or want to march with others. Family members are welcome to join their young people too. To take part, meet at the top of the Fairgreen at 1.30pm  look for the Pride Youth banner.

There will also be a free Pride Prep Pop-Up workshop for everyone earlier in the day, which will be a great opportunity to meet people and a fantastic way to get rainbowed up for the main event. Running from 11am at the Westport Family Resource Centre on the Fairgreen, this hands-on workshop will help people express their Pride spirit with personalised garments and badges guaranteed to bedazzle. Drop in and be guided you through the process of creating wearable art that screams Pride!  just bring along any items of clothing or fabrics you want to Pride-ify. All materials for the personalised badge making will be provided.

This year, Mayo Pride is delighted to partner with AbbVie, whose support is helping ensure that Mayo Pride can continue to promote equality and acceptance in Mayo and throughout the rest of the west.

Oh, and this years theme? Be Loud, Be Proud. It promotes visibility, expression and the right to live authentically in rural Ireland  something everyone should be proud to get behind.

For the full Mayo Pride festival programme and tickets, visit the Mayo Pride website.
BALLINAS bid to host the biggest traditional Irish music festival in the world has received the backing of two major sponsors.

Local employer Hollister have pledged to sponsor Ballinas hosting of Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann should the North Mayo town secure the hosting of the 2028 event.

A public meeting held in Ballina back in February heard that hosting Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann will cost 2 million but could potentially be worth 60 million to the local economy.

The ten-day festival attracts in the region of 500,000 visitors each year, with over 30 percent coming from overseas.

Hollister Site Director Paul OMalley expressed the company's excitement in supporting the event, stating that it would be a valuable addition to the vibrant town of Ballina.

The company is a major manufacturer of healthcare products employs hundreds of people in the region at its Ballina facility.

Eamonn Walsh, PRO of the Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireanns Ballina branch, has called on Mayo associations and business people to emulate Hollister's support for the event.

The All-Ireland Fleadh will benefit the whole of Co Mayo and further afield, particularly Knock Airport who will benefit from the thousands of visitors from overseas to the Fleadh, said Mr Walsh

He paid tribute to former CEO of Moy Valley Resources Billy Lewis, Oliver Rouse and Paddy OHora who worked tirelessly alongside Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann and said that, without their support, the 1997 and 1998 All-Ireland Fleadh in Ballina would have faced huge challenges.

Over 1,500 volunteers were required to organise the Fleadh, which involved 182 competitions with 6,000 competitors competing for All-Ireland titles.

At least 16 indoor venues and 20 outdoor locations in Ballina have been identified as potential venues to host the various competitions and events at Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann.

The town hosted the Connacht Fleadh in 2023.
The Mary Robinson Climate Conference returns to Mayo next week.

Taking place in Ballina from June 5-7, the conference is delivered in partnership with the University of Galway, with sponsorship from SSE Renewables.

Following a highly successful first year, this years theme reflects the fact that we all have a part to play in addressing the impact of climate change at local, national, and even global levels.

The theme recognises that all voices are important in contributing to climate conversations, and that such conversations then are the catalyst for collective action.

The climate crisis brings to the fore a complex and urgent series of concerns, that require diverse skill sets and scholarly approaches, reflected in our convening approach, said Conference co-chair Kathy Reilly, who represents social sciences.

The conference will explore the shared response to the shared responsibility of tackling climate change and biodiversity loss.

An in-conversation talk on Project Dandelion with Mary Robinson and Laura Cook, former Communications Advisor to The Elders, sets the tone for the three-day event, highlighting the importance of grassroots action and the impact it can have at policy level.

This event provides an invaluable platform for diverse voices to come together and drive forward the conversation on climate action. We believe that through collaboration and shared responsibility, we can create effective solutions to help meet Irelands net-zero targets, said Ciaran Maguire Onshore Wind O&M General Manager Ireland for SSE Renewables.

A range of speakers, from Ireland and overseas, will bring community actors, researchers, policy-makers and local and national governance together, acknowledging their collective role in addressing our most pressing climate issues.

Highlights in the programme include sessions that address community participation in offshore wind energy, a repair cafe in partnership with the Rediscovery Centre, site visits to Wild Atlantic Natures bog restoration projects in North Mayo and an exploration of how gaming can be an effective solution generation tool for deliberative democracy and climate issues.

Susan Heffernan, Project Manager for the Mary Robinson Centre, said the conference is becoming a national space for knowledge sharing, networking and collaboration.

The Centre and Ballina Green Town are proud hosts of this conference and the important dialogue it generates at national level, she concluded.

For more information and booking, visit the Mary Robinson Centre website.
by Fern Siegel , May 31, 2024

Granola and breakfast food Purely Elizabeth has launched its first extensive ad campaign.

Created by TDA Boulder, the brand's AOR, the cross-platform work includes connected TV, online video, audio spots, OOH and digital display across major markets, including Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, Denver and Boston.

Purely Elizabeth will utilize social and influencer marketing, such as behind-the-scenes content on the company's owned channels, a Goop Kitchen video featuring CEO Elizabeth Stein and Chef Kim, and IG stories on@ariellelorre alongside a podcast guest spot of Stein.

Apollo Partners is the media agency.

The new work from the 15-year-old vegan-gluten-free food company encourages consumers to Savor the Start, suggesting that small choices can deliver healthier results.

The 30-second spot imagines the calm that results from beginning the day with gluten-free Purely Elizabeth granola, baked with organic oats and superfood ingredients.

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Maru Berna, TDA Boulder creative director, told Agency Daily: Purely Elizabeth is known for its outstanding products and for celebrating the wellness journey. The brand needed a voice to match. So we created a fun and relatable spot that embodies a human truth: There's power in just starting."

In addition to ads, the campaign includes a partnership with goop.com. A Purely Elizabeth banana bread will also be available starting this summer in Los Angeles and Orange County. Locations are listed at order.goopkitchen.com. The brand's Cookie Granola will also be available for full distribution in July at major retailers.

According to Stein, more partnerships are expected in the coming months.We do believe that this campaign is highly extendable, which is one of the reasons we loved it. We see future iterations and already have ideas.

TDA Boulder's roster includes Daiya, Ibotta, First Bank and Rebel.
by Sarah Mahoney @mahoney_sarah, May 30, 2024





Monos, the boot-strapped D2C luggage brand, wants new ways to stand out from the roller-bag crowd. The Vancouver-based company, with a reported $100 million in annual sales, is winning share from such competitors as Away, July and Beis. As the company looks to break into non-digital marketing, out-of-home plays is a key role, running in airports and upscale areas in New York and Los Angeles. Stephanie Pereira, director of integrated marketing, tells Marketing Daily more about the strategy.

Note: Interview has been edited for space and clarity.

Marketing Daily: Who are Monos primary targets?

Stephanie Pereira: We have a core customer in the 25- to 34-year-old range. But we think more about the qualities that connect them, their values and beliefs about life, travel and the brands they associate themselves with. Were a brand for people who invest in tastefully designed products that make travel easier and more beautiful. They are people who value high-quality, aesthetic simplicity. We skew slightly more female. We set ourselves apart with quality, not just in our products but also in our photography and visual identity.

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Marketing Daily: What kind of travelers are they?

Pereira: Were for all types of travelers, but most people will typically purchase a carry-on as their first product, along with one of the Metro bags that fits on top. Our Metro bags are designed for everyday use as well. They all have functionality built inside to make travel more seamless [with] the way they fit together and into overhead compartments.

Marketing Daily: Thats good. I am coming to detest the fight for overhead compartment space on every flight.

Pereira: Part of that is were seeing more travel post-COVID, and as there have been more stories about lost luggage, people dont want to check bags.

Marketing Daily: Who do you consider your main competitors? There are companies like Rimowa, all the way down to Amazon Basics.

Pereira: Away and Beis are the most direct in terms of offering a design-forward suitcase at accessible prices. Tumi and Rimowa are in the upper price ranges. We also compete with brands like Samsonite. We think we stand out because of our quality.

Marketing Daily: Quality is difficult to assess, though. You only know you dont have a quality bag when the handle breaks or the wheels jam when racing across LaGuardia Airport.

Pereira: Our company started in 2018 because the founders felt they could make a better version of the rolling bag. We prioritized designing the parts and pieces that are most important, especially the wheels and the handlebar.

You won't see a lot of bells and whistles. Everything has been designed to be purposeful, making travel much easier, like the placement of pockets and interior design. But to your point, people need to experience the product before they can believe in that quality. We use photography to create that emotional connection and sense of quality. But the product experience is important.

Marketing Daily: Whats the innovation that people dont realize changed their lives? I couldnt believe it the first time I felt the miracle of a bag swiveling in all directions.

Pereira: Our handlebar is quite special. Its at a slightly different angle, which makes it sturdier. Our wheels are designed from scratch, whereas our competitors use off-the-shelf pieces.

Marketing Daily: And where do most people get to experience your brand?

Pereira: We're primarily direct-to-consumer through our website. We have one retail location in Vancouver, and we will be opening another store in Toronto in a few weeks, then New York and several other stores in the U.S. next year. We also have a small wholesale business with Nordstrom in the U.S.

Marketing Daily: No stores planned for airports?

Pereira: We have had some conversations about pop-ups. Our stores are quite beautiful. The design of the stores is something we're investing a lot of time and effort into, focusing on larger spaces that might be more impactful in cities.

Marketing Daily: Why use out-of-home advertising?

Pereira: To date, weve been focused on acquisition channels and reaching people purely through paid social search and influencer marketing. But that is shifting. We have started to look at high-priority moments that go beyond digital. Out-of-home is really our first foray into offline marketing, allowing people to see us as a brand outside of digital.

We are building on that approach in the upcoming months, with more out-of-home, and looking at partnerships, events, community building, and our retail expansion plans. And out-of-home makes sense for us. We can be hyper-local and target areas around the store. And it is a nice opportunity to showcase our beautiful photography in a large format, in a way thats bigger than peoples phones.

We've also done quite a few campaigns in airports, focusing on peak travel periods in spaces that have higher dwell times, like baggage areas and cafes. Given that we're a relatively new brand, we want to give people an opportunity to take in our visuals.

Marketing Daily: How big a push is this?

Pereira: Its a very small percentage of overall marketing spend. We're very much in a test-and-learn phase. It is still too early to tell if this channel in isolation will move the needle in any significant way. However, as we look to spend more on brand building offline, we are currently looking for the best ways to measure the impact on brand awareness and brand health. We are starting to look at TV, and did a very small buy last year.
by Ray Schultz , May 30, 2024

Parents, a Dotdash Meredith brand, has debuted Familia by Parents, a multi-channel community to support Latine families and caregivers.

The new offering, which includes a social media presence across multiple platforms, represents an evolution of the former Parents Latina brand.

Familia by Parents launches with an interview of Robin Arzon, vice president of fitness and programming at Peloton. Other stories will include:

These Latina Moms Are Releasing Unrealistic Beauty Standards This Summer



Vamonos! Bring the Vibrant Fiestas of Latin America Home This Summer

12 Books That Capture the Essence of Summer for Latine Kids

As a Latina mom, I know firsthand how important it is to cultivate authentic connections and build a support network when youre raising multicultural children, says Grace Bastidas, editor in chief of Parents.

Familia by Parents is designed to be an inclusive and multigenerational community that brings Latine caregivers closer together, bolsters cultural pride, and encourages families to honor and celebrate their heritage with the next generation, Bastidas continues.
by Danielle Oster , May 30, 2024



Grindr is taking to the road for Pride Month for a Grindr Rides America Tour across 10 American cities.

In addition to Pride Month, the campaign celebrates the 15th anniversary of the queer dating app, mostly aimed at queer men, which first launched in 2009. The Grindr Ride America Tour entails the brands inaugural Pride bus tour, which will connect with Pride celebrations across the country.

The campaign is part of the brands new mission to become the global Gayborhood in your pocket, which it announced at a recent Web Summit in Rio de Janeiro along with the introduction of a new Roam feature allowing users to temporarily change location ahead of traveling in order to meet and talk with locals.

Girndrs tour bus includes two full-service portrait photography studios to spruce up profile pics in style. Also in board, according to Grindrs blog post announcing the campaign, are local drag queens, highway hunks, punny bumper stickers (dont we all just want to Hoexist?), free swag, Grindr Unlimited giveaways, and more.

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Grindr is also teaming up with online LGTBQ+ sexual health and wellness provider Q Care Plus -- which will offer LGBTQ+, gender-affirming, and sexual health and wellness education and resources at each stop, including HIV testing.

For each stop, Grindr will share regional data about how users in the location are using the app, by compiling anonymous aggregated survey and profile data to identity trends for each city. The company will also share info on its social channels about what this data says about users in each of Americas loudest and proudest cities its visiting on its tour, according to the announcement.

The Grindr Rides America Tour kicked off on May 29 at an event in San Francisco, and concludes with a stop at New York City Pride on June 30. Along the way, the bus will stop at locations including Los Angeles WEHO Pride, New Orleans Pride, and Chicago Pride.
by Wendy Davis , Staff Writer @wendyndavis, May 30, 2024

Last year, a divided Federal Communications Commission voted 3-2 to impose new disclosure obligations on telecommunications companies that suffer data breaches.

The agency specifically required telecoms to notify consumers, federal law enforcement agencies and the agency about all breaches -- even inadvertent ones -- that expose personally identifiable information, including sensitive financial information.

Broadband industry groups are now asking a federal appeals court to scuttle those rules. The groups argue in papers filed last week that Congress stripped the FCC of authority to issue the new regulations.

Administrative agencies have only the powers that Congress gives them," NCTA--The Internet & Television Association, US Telecom--the Broadband Association and other industry groups argued in an appeal filed with the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals.

"They certainly lack any powers that Congress has expressly denied them, the groups added.

The industry organizations point to Congress's 2017 decision to revoke privacy rules passed by the FCC during the Obama administration. Those rules -- which never actually took effect -- would have required broadband carriers to obtain consumers' permission before harnessing information about their web activity for ad targeting.

The Obama-era privacy rules also required providers to notify customers and law enforcement agencies about some data breaches that exposed personally identifiable information.

Congress repealed the regulations under the Congressional Review Act -- a 1990s statute that gives federal lawmakers the power to revoke regulations passed by agencies.

That statute also provides that an agency can never again issue regulations that are substantially similar to ones revoked by Congress.

Congress has only rarely used the Congressional Review Act, and it's not clear how courts will determine when new rules are substantially the same as revoked ones.

The broadband groups argue that the new data-breach rules and the ones passed in 2016 are substantially the same because both sets of regulations deal with breaches that could expose personally identifiable information.

In the past, the FCC's rules regarding data breaches covered only exposure of a narrow category of data -- customer proprietary network information, meaning the phone numbers that subscribers called.

The FCC hasn't yet filed its argument with the 6th Circuit.

This current dispute, while over a relatively narrow consumer protection measure, could offer a preview of what could be a much larger battle over broadband privacy.

The FCC recently indicated it's gearing up to issue rules that could restrict providers' ability to harness subscriber data.

Last month, the agency said in its ruling restoring the Obama-era net neutrality rules that broadband providers are situated to collect vast swaths of sensitive information about their customers, including personal information, financial information, precise location information, and information regarding their online activity. (The net-neutrality rules prohibit providers from blocking or throttling traffic, and from charging higher fees for prioritized delivery.)

The agency added that it was concerned that without new rules, internet service providers have minimal incentive to adopt adequate administrative, technical, physical, and procedural safeguards to protect their customers data from improper or excessive uses by providers themselves, or from further disclosure and misuse by third parties.

Should the FCC pass new privacy rules, the broadband industry will almost certainly make the same arguments against them that it is raising against the data-breach disclosure regulations.

The FCC hasn't yet floated specific regulations, but Chair Jessica Rosenworcel previously voted in favor of the Obama-era privacy restrictions.

She also has repeatedly suggested that carriers shouldn't allowed to sell customers' geolocation data, and recently voted to fine AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile nearly $200 million for allegedly selling access to location data.
by Barbara Lippert , Columnist, May 30, 2024

Its not every day we get a window into the marriage of a Supreme Court justice, especially a super-private one.

But recently, The New York Times revealed that an upside-down American flag appeared on a flagpole outside the driveway of the Alito family home in Alexandria, Virginia. This was flown just days after Jan. 6, 2021, when Capitol rioters had carried the same as an upside-down symbol of Stop the Steal!

So now the Alitos -- Sam and Martha-Ann -- have thrust themselves into the spotlight, becoming controversial public figures.

At first, Justice Alito blamed his wife, seeming to throw her under the bus (or the minivan) for something he said she had placed there as a distress signal during a neighborhood spat, and that he had nothing to do with it.

I got the feeling that by repeatedly saying my wife, he was trying to suggest a sort of light domestic comedy situation, a winking amiright? message to fellow husbands. It was as though he were linking himself to that Oh, Luuuuucy! frustration of Ricky Ricardo as he taps his finger and rolls his eyes to the heavens.

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That made me think that Mrs. Alito might have an unstoppably exuberant personality that favored flags as everyday communications. Like for instance, would she put up a Twister flag, a white banner with six rows of colorful dots, to announce Ginny and Clarence are coming over to play our favorite game!?

Or maybe she might have hung a flag with a symbol of a giant mug holding a cold, non-Budweiser-type brew to signal to the Mr. while driving up to the house after work that it was Netflix and chillin night?

But the situation turned out to be about as funny as a Pepe banner when a second flag, also linked to the Jan. 6 riot, the white Appeal to Heaven, flag, was photographed flying at the Alitos beach house in southern New Jersey.

It seems justice can be blind, since among other excuses the male Alito claimed he hadnt noticed either of the flags.

But this time, in letters to Congress this week, when he refused to recuse himself from 2020 election cases, Alito let his excuse freak flag really fly. He again put the blame on his flag-hoisting wife, but added that he supports her right to fly them.

My wife is a private citizen, and she possesses the same First Amendment rights as every American, the justice wrote. She makes her own decisions, and I have always respected her right to do so. He added: My wife is fond of flying flags. I am not.

For some reason, he never mentions Marthas first name, despite it being such a patriotic one. And he also added something about her being the owner of half of their house in Virginia and all of their beach house (which she bought with inherited money) which would give her more rights, apparently.

In this latest version of excuses, he sounds more modern and progressive by saying that he respects her opinions and wouldnt change them, something many contemporary spouses would say.

He's also changing his rationale from " I told her to take it down, and she wouldn't listen to the seemingly more acceptable "She's got a mind of her own and makes her own choices.

In a terrible irony, he is giving his wife a lot more agency in deciding whether to fly the flag than he is to the rest of the entire countrys American women -- who, because of his overriding of Rowe v. Wade, have been stripped of their ability to make their own reproductive decisions.

The Dobbs decision has already led to horrific consequences for women, like enduring fertility-killing infections or dying because of delayed medical attention by now-fearful doctors who must consult lawyers before acting.

Now, states like Louisiana are adding possible imprisonment for women in possession of abortion medications without a prescription.

In refusing to recuse himself over what he seems to see as trivial domestic matters, Alito is defying the constitutional and statutory standards applied to Supreme Court justices. In a piece in the Times, Rep. Jamie Raskin wrote that the recusal statute explicitly treats Supreme Court justices like other judges: Any justice, judge or magistrate judge of the United States shall disqualify himself in any proceeding in which his impartiality might reasonably be questioned.

Whats more, spouses of public servants (especially high ranking judicial ones) know they are subject to basic rules of comportment, like not being able to sport bumper stickers on their cars or signs in their yards expressing political opinions. Its a matter of respect.

It's also understood that only people with issues spit on their neighbors, which Martha-Ann reportedly did.

We now know more than we ever needed to know about their marriage.

In the end, who will judge the judges? As weve discovered with all of this, nobody. The Supreme Court is its own arbiter of behavior -- and that is a red flag for America.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, May 31, 2024



Omnicom has launched a new Middle East operation  Omnicom Qatar  and has appointed Mazen Abd Rabbo the senior vice president to run it.

Omnicom's local agencies include event marketing agency Auditoire, OMD, and PR unit OPRG. Abd Rabbo will also work with other Omnicom agencies in the Middle East to further strengthen the groups offering in Qatar.

advertisement advertisement Most recently, Rabbo served as Auditoire's vice president for the Middle East and managing director of the Qatar office.

This is an exciting opportunity to build Omnicoms presence in a country with real momentum, stated Omnicom CEO John Wren. Qatar has wisely positioned itself within the region by taking a lead in international business while focusing on technology and entrepreneurship.
by Steve McClellan @mp_mcclellan, May 31, 2024

Boston-based creative agency Hill Holliday has expanded its creative department with the addition of four new Creative Directors  Jim English, Scott Padden, Danny Murphy and Alexandra Ebright  as well as two new Executive Vice President roles, with Dave Weist appointed EVP, Head of Brand and Kevin Daley promoted to EVP, Head of Art. In addition, Hana Abate was named Social Community Coordinator.

advertisement advertisement The expansion follows the sale of the agency in January to New Zealand marketing group Attivo. Interpublic Group was the previous owner.

Weist joins Hill Holliday from IPGs MullenLowe U.S., where he was ECD and worked with brands such as JetBlue, Royal Caribbean, Hyatt and US Cellular. He will be responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of the creative department across clients.

In his new EVP role, Daley, who has been with Hill Holliday since 2001, will oversee overall craft with a focus on design and art direction.

The appointments follow the recent launch of Social Force, a division that focuses on capturing audience attention, led by EVP, Social Creative and Digital Content Adam Vohlidka.

Jim English was appointed Creative Director / Music Creator and Producer. A composer and producer, English will lead sonic branding and sound design as part of the Social Force division, allowing the agency to break the traditional process of outsourcing sound design.

Scott Padden joins as Creative Director / Writer. He has previously held Creative Director positions at agencies such as Hero Collective, Cutwater and Mcgarrybowen, as well as having been a Senior Writer for VH1.

Danny Murphy was named Creative Director / Design. He joins Hill Holliday from Havas, where he was Senior Art Director, a position he also previously held at Leo Burnett.

Alexandra Ebright joins as Creative Director/Art Director/Writer/Illustrator. She previously held the position of Senior Art Director at Cutwater and Art Director at Deutsch NY.
by Teresa Buyikian , May 31, 2024

Ice Cube now has more than just a song titled Jack N the Box.

This week the QSR announced the launch of Cubes Munchie Meal, available at Jack in the Box locations nationwide from June 3 to July 14. The meal includes the return of a popular LTO, the Chick-N-Tater Melt.

A new ad effort, created in collaboration with creative agency TBWA\Chiat\Day LA, supports Cubes Munchie Meal, of course staring Cube himself. The humorous work includes a :30 live action digital spot, two :15 live action spots, TVC and social assets.

In all the creative, Jack Box and Cube are buddies chilling together late at night in the recording studio, eating Jack in the Box.

In one spot, Cubes classic track Jack N the Box plays in the background, with emphasis on the line Yeah my head is so big they call me Jack N the Box. Jack shoots Cube a questioning look, with Cube responding, Come on fool, you know its true.

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Not only is Cube a West Coast legend, he also grew up eating Jack in the Box and is a true fan of the brand, said Jack in the Boxs CMO Ryan Ostrom in a release. Between him telling us his favorite late night Jack eats from back in the day and seeing him in the studio reliving the Jack N The Box song, this has been an iconic pairing from the start.

The Cubes Munchie Meal is the second collaboration with a West Coast rapper for the chain, following the successful Snoop Dogg Munchie Meal in 2023.

In addition to the Chick-N-Tater Melt, which is a croissant sandwich with a fried chicken patty, cheddar cheese, Swiss-style cheese, bacon, white cheese sauce, ranch dressing, and a hash brown, Cubes Munchie Meal contains one taco, seasoned curly fries, mini churros and a small Sprite. Customers will receive an Ice Cube emoji sticker with purchase.

The brand also announced the new Jacks Munchies Under $4 Menu launching June 3. This permanent addition to the Jack menu includes snack-sized items such as a Jr. Jumbo Jack, Tiny Tacos, Chicken Nuggets, French Toast Sticks, Jr. Chicken Sandwich, Jr. Cheeseburger, a new Sourdough Grilled Cheese, Two Tacos, Value Curly Fries, Value French Fries and a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger as well as a value drink option.
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Ancient Egyptians surgically removed brain cancer 4000 year ago, cut marks suggest



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Discovery of Cut Marks on Ancient Skulls

Did You Know?

Ancient Egyptians performed surgeries to treat cancer 4,000 years ago, showcasing their advanced medical practices. #ancientmedicine #earlycancertreatment #medindia

Ancient Egyptians performed surgeries to treat cancer 4,000 years ago, showcasing their advanced medical practices. #ancientmedicine #earlycancertreatment #medindia

Ancient Egyptians Oncological and Traumatological Expertise

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Ancient Egyptians surgically removed brain cancer 4000 year ago, cut marks suggest - (https://www.science.org/content/article/ancient-egyptians-surgically-removed-brain-cancer-4000-year-ago-cut-marks-suggest)

Recent studies of two 4,000-year-old skulls have shed light on the medical practices of ancient Egyptians, particularly their attempts to understand and treat cancer . These findings highlight the sophistication of Egyptian medicine and offer a glimpse into the early efforts to manage oncological and traumatic conditions ().A team of international researchers, led by Edgard Camaros from the University of Santiago de Compostela in Spain, examined two ancient human skulls  one male and one female  to uncover evidence of medical interventions. The male skull, designated Skull and Mandible 236, dates back to between 2687 and 2345 BCE, while the female skull, referred to as Skull E270, is from the period between 663 and 343 BCE.The examination revealed cut marks on both skulls, suggesting that the ancient Egyptians performed surgical procedures, possibly to treat or investigate cancerous growths. Microscopic analysis of Skull 236 identified a large lesion indicative of neoplasm, accompanied by approximately 30 small, round metastasized lesions. These cut marks were likely made by sharp metal instruments, pointing to a deliberate attempt to address the tissue destruction caused by cancer.Tatiana Tondini, a researcher at the University of Tubingen in Germany, expressed astonishment at the findings: "When we first observed the cut marks under the microscope, we could not believe what was in front of us." The evidence suggests that the ancient Egyptians were not only aware of cancer but also engaged in efforts to treat it surgically.The female skull, Skull E270, also displayed significant medical interventions. Analysis revealed a large lesion consistent with a cancerous tumor that led to bone destruction. Additionally, the skull showed two lesions from traumatic injuries that had received treatment. This indicates that the Egyptians practiced both oncological and traumatological medicine, employing advanced techniques to treat various conditions.Edgard Camaros described the discovery as "unique and extraordinary" evidence of ancient Egyptian medical practices. The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Medicine, suggests that cancer was a common pathology in the past, contrary to the belief that it is predominantly a modern disease caused by contemporary lifestyle and environmental factors.These findings underscore the advanced nature of ancient Egyptian medicine, revealing their efforts to understand and treat complex medical conditions like cancer. The study of these ancient skulls not only provides insight into the medical knowledge of early civilizations but also highlights the continuity of human efforts to combat disease throughout history.Source-Medindia
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Effects of testosterone treatment on transgender males: A single-institution study



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Testosterone Therapy for Transgender Men: Long-Term Effects



Transgender men on testosterone therapy can safely achieve desired physical changes without long-term side effects. #transgenderhealth #hormonetherapy #medindia

Safety and Efficacy of Testosterone Therapy

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Effects of testosterone treatment on transgender males: A single-institution study - (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8511909/)

Transgender individuals often encounter unique challenges when aligning their physical bodies with their true gender identity. Gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT) is a crucial method for transgender men to achieve physical changes that align with their gender identity. As they navigate the complexities of gender transition, transgender individuals seek medical interventions to alleviate gender dysphoria and ensure their bodies reflect their gender identity ().For transgender men, testosterone therapy holds promise in inducing masculinizing effects such as increased muscle mass, cessation of menstruation , and deepening of the voice. However, the lack of comprehensive research on the long-term effects and safety of testosterone therapy poses significant challenges in clinical decision-making and underscores the persistent taboo surrounding transgender healthcare. To address this pressing need, a study led by Assistant Professor Yusuke Tominaga along with Dr. Tomoko Kobayashi and Dr. Motoo Araki from the Department of Urology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan dives into understanding the long-term physical effects and safety profile of testosterone therapy for transgender men, shedding light on crucial aspects of hormone administration and its impact on body composition. Their research findings were published in Andrology on 2 April 2024.The research team was inspired to investigate this area as we noticed the lack of a standardized regimen for testosterone dosage and administration. Our aim was to understand how hormone dosages are adjusted to align more closely with typical male testosterone levels in the bloodstream," explains Dr. Tominaga.Analyzing data from transgender men who commenced GAHT between May 2000 and December 2021, the researchers meticulously recorded physical findings, blood test results, and menstrual cessation rates. They then compared the effects of testosterone on body composition changes and laboratory parameters, stratifying participants into low-dose and high-dose groups based on their testosterone dosage.The findings of the study revealed that both low-dose and high-dose testosterone regimens demonstrated favorable outcomes, with no significant differences observed in menstrual cessation rates up to 12 months. Over time, participants exhibited a decrease in body fat percentage and an increase in lean body mass, indicative of the desired masculinizing effects of testosterone therapy.Notably, the high-dose group exhibited greater gains in lean body mass during the initial year of therapy, suggesting a potential strategy for individuals seeking more rapid changes in body composition. Importantly, the study found no evidence of long-term, dose-dependent side effects such as polycythemia or dyslipidemia, reassuring both clinicians and transgender individuals regarding the safety profile of testosterone therapy.Reflecting on the significance of their findings, Dr. Tominaga explains, Our study contributes valuable evidence on the long-term effects of testosterone therapy, providing crucial insights for clinicians managing transgender healthcare. By elucidating the safety and efficacy of hormone therapy, we hope to alleviate uncertainties surrounding transgender healthcare and empower individuals to make informed decisions about their treatment.This study opens the door to more inclusive and evidence-based care by illuminating the long-term effects and safety of testosterone therapy for transgender men.Source-Medindia
Ken Ifland went with his father Jim, a retired Air Force colonel, to Arlington National Cemetery last year. They were there to honor Jim's longtime Air Force friend. It was one of the only times that Ken saw his father cry.

"I just remember my dad, bending down and putting his hand on that coffin and crying," Ken told Military.com earlier this month. "This was a dear friend of his that was now gone, and he was there to tell him goodbye."

Jim himself passed away in December at the age of 93. Starting out as an enlisted service member, his 30-year military legacy was marked by at least three volunteer tours to Vietnam; special reconnaissance operations -- at one point, racking up 52 combat missions; and work on secret satellite programs key for targeting in the 1970s, among numerous other accolades.

Read Next: Unprotected: Troops Spent Decades Elbow-Deep in Dangerous Chemicals to Keep Nuclear Missiles Working

"My dad was an air commando, he was a warrior, he was a patriot," Ken said. "And he was a great father."

Both Jim and Ken were struck by the solemn salutes from troops, the folding of the American flag, bugled "Taps" echoing off the headstones -- and the rhythmic clip-clop of the military horses that punctuate the silence of the caisson procession to a final resting place at Arlington.

It was an indelible moment for both of them near the sunset of Jim's life. Afterward, Jim made it clear to Ken that, when his time came, he wanted to be buried in the same way as his friends, with the same, full reverence. That wish included the horse-drawn service, a time-honored tradition for generations of veterans.

But five months after Jim's passing, burial honors with the caisson platoon, something that has been included in Arlington ceremonies for decades, are not an option.

The caisson platoon, the Army's military horses that transport caskets of fallen service members to their Arlington burial plots, has been suspended since June 2023. Reports of mistreatment of the animals surfaced in 2022, including two horses that died within days of each other -- a necropsy found 44 pounds of gravel in the colon of one of the animals -- and others coping with poor-quality feed and limited space to live comfortably.

As the Army tries to remedy the situation, 66 families are now stuck in limbo with no clear idea of when they may be able to bury or inter their veterans at Arlington. Military.com spoke to several of those families, who are balancing their loved one's final wishes with the uncertainty of when the horses may return. When Military.com asked this month, the Army did not have a timeline for when the horse-drawn services would come back.

"Unless they come to me and say this is never going to happen, I'll wait until hell freezes over," Ken said. "I know what my dad wanted, and I'm going to wait until he can get it because he earned it."

Prolonging the Unknown

Behind every Arlington funeral comes the arduous task of organizing: wrangling children and grandchildren; booking flights and hotels; planning for the confusing labyrinth of highways and thoroughfares of the Washington, D.C., area; working with funeral homes to transport remains, sometimes across the country; and, of course, managing the grieving process.

For the families with whom Military.com spoke, that process is on hold and prolonged because of the suspension of the horses, which has caused personal issues that make the decision on how to honor their family members that much harder.

"It's not an easy process," Bryan Felber told Military.com. He has been waiting to bury his father, retired Lt. Col. Theodore "Ted" Felber, a Vietnam veteran who earned the Purple Heart, for more than a year.

Ted wavered on whether he wanted to be buried at Arlington, his son said, not wanting to inconvenience family in California to travel across the country to see him.

"I think we finally convinced him that it's not a concern to us to travel out there if that's what he wants," Bryan said. "And so he finally relented and said, 'Yes, OK, I do want to be buried in Arlington.'"

That was before the suspension of the caissons and, while Bryan didn't seem to have any doubts that his father will be buried at Arlington, he said that coordinating extended family to attend a ceremony at the cemetery, without having a clear idea of when the caissons will be back, has made him consider proceeding without the horses.

He described that Ted's grandkids who want to attend may not be able to because of cost and scheduling, and that Bryan's nieces -- who are schoolteachers -- are concerned with being able to leave their responsibilities for a trip across the country during a busy school year.

"This isn't vacation," Bryan said. "It's bereavement."

Other families told Military.com that the planning and grieving woes go beyond scheduling. Family members said that they are still in possession of their loved ones' ashes, which sit untouched as they decide what to do or remain in funeral homes, possibly incurring storage fees.

In at least two cases, the previously deceased spouses of veterans awaiting burial are also being kept in urns or funeral homes because it was their wish to be buried together.

On top of that, wait times at Arlington can already extend for months, with the cemetery performing up to 30 funerals per day. But the suspension of the caissons has increased that wait to more than a year -- and with the uncertainty, maybe longer, the families said. That pressure has made some families reconsider having the horse-drawn service at all.

"I would absolutely love to have the caisson," Bryan said, but after calling Arlington, frustrated and "having been given completely indefinite answers, I came to the conclusion that we ought to just go for it and just be done."

Yet, for him and his siblings, the call of tradition and their father's expectations weigh heavy on the decision. Ted Felber graduated from West Point in 1957. He went on to work on rockets in Huntsville, Alabama, as an ordnance officer before deploying to Vietnam, where he was wounded.

Ted's mother, father and brother are all also buried at Arlington, Bryan said, something that was important to his father's burial considerations.

Others spoke about how having a uniquely sacred place like Arlington for generations of their family to return to pay respects factored into their decision, too -- and that the full honors of the service would impress upon them the legacy that their loved ones carved out.

"My son needs to see that. I'm going to take my grandkids there," Ken Ifland said. "They need to see this."

Even after their deaths, families are still learning about their loved ones. Bryan said that his father struggled with depression stemming from the death of a friend killed during combat in Vietnam.

"He said it was because he felt like he wasn't there for his buddy," Bryan recalled, but it wasn't until after Ted passed that he found that out from his sister. "I just hate the thought that he really kind of did that to himself and didn't really figure out that it wasn't [his] fault."

Ken Ifland, too, said that even after his father's death, "I'm still learning things, he's still teaching me."

Most of the families Military.com spoke to learned some deep, personal facts about their veteran after they passed -- ones that get filed into the collective memory of their family legacy as they grieve their loss.

"This is all part of the grieving process for families -- moving on, putting things behind them," Ken said. "And [the suspension] is something that holds that up."

The Way Forward, Confusion

Many of the families that Military.com spoke with described frustrating responses from Arlington about the return of the horse-drawn services. They said they often call Arlington for an update or to discuss options about their loved one's services, but are met with indefinite answers, leading to further delays and confusion.

And that is largely because Army and Arlington National Cemetery officials do not know when the horses will come back either. In the spring of last year, Arlington said that it "provided" impacted families an option to go ahead with services without the caissons, or wait until the horses returned -- whenever that would be.

"Due to numerous challenges that hinder a safe return to caisson operations, and based on the advice of equine experts, the Army is continuing the suspension of the Caisson Detachment's funeral support to ANC," Cynthia Smith, an Army spokesperson, told Military.com on Thursday.

"The resumption of caisson operations is conditions-based, and at this time, we are unable to provide a specific date," she said.

Until recently, Arlington did not have a full accounting of how many families were waiting for services pending the return of the caissons. In mid-April, officials assured the public that there were no families waiting for services.

When Military.com reported that there was at least one family who had contacted the publication, officials said they had reviewed their records and found "a few families who have opted to wait for the caisson to return."

A month later, when Military.com asked for specific numbers of families who have been waiting for services, that number jumped to 66 out of 1,800 scheduled services since June 2023.

"We recently reviewed each case to ensure we accounted for all families who decided to wait for the caissons' return," Smith said. "We apologize for any confusion and regret any stress that families awaiting the caisson may have endured."

Meanwhile, the Army said that it is working through improvements to the horses' lives. In April, it said that leaders were fine-tuning work cycles for previously overworked equids, procuring new horses and adopting-out or retiring older ones, training staff, and bringing in expert equestrians and veterinarians to better assess their conditions.

But one of the larger problems with the horses centers on space. Two years ago, roughly 60 animals were being kept in less than 20% of the recommended living space between Arlington and Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where the horses live and train. While the herd has dwindled to 42, alleviating some of that pressure, officials do not have an answer on space, saying in April that the Army Corps of Engineers was "evaluating a variety of options" for a permanent living solution.

Though the families Military.com spoke to were frustrated with the situation, they generally understood the balancing act the Army and Arlington are facing. They just wish they had better answers.

"I know my dad wouldn't want to be taken to his burial site by a horse that he felt like was not being treated the way it should be or taken care of the way it should be," Ken Ifland said. "Because that just dishonors the entire ceremony to me."

Some family members said they didn't blame Arlington or the Army for the suspension. Others said they are having a hard time understanding how it is such a hard problem to fix and why it is not happening quickly. One family member said that they were disappointed, and based on their experience interacting with Arlington, felt officials were "seemingly disinterested" in the problem.

When asked whether there are any personal services, outreach programs or general support that Arlington or the Army is providing families awaiting the caissons' return, Smith directed the publication to information and a video Arlington produced last month about the suspension, as well as a number for the cemetery's customer care support center.

She said that the interment services team at Arlington informed each impacted family "that the only element changed with their loved one's service is the method of conveyance to the gravesite," adding that all other elements of the funeral service are still available.

"We empathize with the disappointment and emotions of any of our families who decided to wait for the caissons' return to schedule their loved one's service," Smith said. "We also understand it is a very difficult and personal decision."

It's About the Legacy

Ruth, an Army veteran who was married to her husband, retired Command Sgt. Maj. James Cobbett, for more than three decades, has not been able to have any services for him despite his passing over a year ago. She is also waiting for caisson services.

"It makes you feel like everything else that the military has promised and then takes away," she said. "One more thing that you spent your life -- 30 years -- looking forward to at the end."

When they met 34 years ago, Ruth said it was love at first sight. They met at an Army ball, and a girlfriend of hers set her up with James on a blind date. She was immediately struck by his intelligence and how polite he was.

Ruth got out of the Army, and they traveled the world together as James progressed in his military career. He was always proud of his military service, having gone through the ranks in the supply field, starting out in the Marine Corps for five years, then going to serve in Vietnam, and ultimately retiring at the pinnacle of enlisted service in the Army.

Ruth remembered heartfully teasing him about being in the supply channels in Vietnam, comparing him to Radar from the show "M*A*S*H.".

"He didn't have to be on the front lines, but he still had people that he knew that would go in and never come back out," she said. After Vietnam, he developed complications from being exposed to Agent Orange, which led to ischemic heart disease, multiple myeloma and bladder cancer, Ruth said, for which the approval for his Department of Veterans Affairs claim came only in May -- more than a year after he died.

"He didn't make it to get to that point," Ruth said.

But for James, it wasn't about the accolades, the position or the benefits -- it was the legacy. He and Ruth had been to Arlington many times in their lives, and Ruth said that her husband considered the funeral service a final honor that he "wanted to achieve."

"He loved the idea of [the] horses," Ruth said, through tears. "Only the military ever did that. ... It was like the point of his whole life was to get to that point where the horses could take him to his final resting place."

Ruth said that she would even settle for the single, riderless horse that Arlington currently offers in some cases while the caissons are suspended. When available, a riderless horse trails the hearse during the procession for a high-ranking Army or Marine Corps officer. It is called a caparisoned horse, and it wears an empty saddle with rider boots reversed in the stirrups, signifying that the veteran "will never ride again," according to the Army.

But because her husband was enlisted, he doesn't qualify for it. Here, Smith, the spokesperson, cited tradition when asked why the riderless horse was not available to all ranks.

"This is due to the caparisoned horse traditionally honoring brigade-level and higher commanders of land forces," she said.

For the families that Military.com spoke with, the tradition, pageantry and reverence associated with funeral services at Arlington are part of a greater sanctity -- and the horses, though they may seem to some like a small role in that honor -- are a part of the chemistry that makes Arlington so sacred.

And because of that, it makes it hard to let go of their presence.

"Horses are no different than anything else in that ceremony," Ken Ifland said. "It is part of something that I consider sacred to this country. ... It should never be diminished. They should always be done the right way, the honorable way that it deserves, so that we all remember and understand what it takes."

Related: Arlington Horse-Drawn Funerals to Remain Suspended as Families Grapple with Burial Arrangements
KYIV, Ukraine  Germany joined the United States on Friday in authorizing Ukraine to hit some targets on Russian soil with the long-range weapons they are supplying  a significant policy change that comes as depleted Ukrainian troops are losing ground in the war.

Ukrainian officials have expressed frustration over restrictions on the use of Western weapons  especially as the border region of Kharkiv has endured a Russian onslaught this month that has stretched Kyiv's outgunned and outmanned forces.

Both Germany and the U.S. specifically authorized the use of weapons to defend Kharkiv, whose capital city of the same name lies only 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Russia. Russian ballistic missiles slammed into an apartment building in the city overnight, Ukrainian officials said, killing at least five people.

Beyond offering Ukraine a chance of better protecting Kharkiv by targeting Russian capabilities in the region, its not clear what effect the easing of restrictions might have on the direction of the conflict in what is proving to be a critical period. But it drew a furious response from Moscow and warnings it could draw Russia into war with NATO.

The German government said Ukraine can use weapons it supplies against positions just over the border, from where Russia launches its attacks on Kharkiv. A day earlier, U.S. President Joe Biden gave Kyiv a green light to strike back with American weapons at Russian military assets targeting the region, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter.

In response, Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy head of Russias Security Council, said Friday that Ukraine and its NATO allies will receive such a devastating response that the alliance wont be able to avoid entering the conflict  an eventuality that Western governments have ruled out.

Western leaders have hesitated to ease the restrictions on their weapons because of the risk it would provoke Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has repeatedly warned that the Wests direct involvement could put the world on a path to nuclear conflict. Last week, Russia said military drills involving tactical nuclear weapons had begun.

But as Russia has recently gained the battlefield initiative in some parts of the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line, some Western leaders have pushed for a policy change allowing Kyiv to strike military bases inside Russia with sophisticated long-range weapons provided by its Western partners.

The Kremlins bigger and better-equipped army is exploiting Ukrainian shortages in troops and ammunition after a lengthy delay in U.S. military aid. Western Europes inadequate military production has also slowed crucial deliveries to Ukraine.

The German government statement noted that, in recent weeks, Russia has prepared, coordinated and carried out attacks on the Kharkiv region, in particular from areas just over the border in Russia.

Together we are convinced that Ukraine has the right under international law to defend itself against these attacks, the statement said. For this, it can also use the weapons delivered for that purpose in accordance with its international legal commitments, including the ones delivered by us, it added.

Bidens decision allows for U.S.-supplied weapons to be used for counterfire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them, one official told The Associated Press.

But the officials, who requested anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter, stressed that the U.S. policy calling on Ukraine not to use American-provided ATACMS or long-range missiles and other munitions to strike offensively inside Russia has not changed.

The question of whether to allow Ukraine to hit targets on Russian soil with Western-supplied weaponry has been a delicate issue since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Friday he supported lifting the limits on Ukraine's use of Western weaponry, saying it's a matter of upholding international law  Ukraines right to self-defense."

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom noted that his country had not restricted Ukraine's use of its weapons at all, while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Rome wont let Kyiv use Italian weapons outside its territory.

In Moscow, Medvedev repeated Russian warnings that the steps being taken could set NATO and Russia on the path to a nuclear conflict. Its not an attempt to scare or any sort of a nuclear bluff, he said.

Russias newly appointed defense minister, Andrei Belousov, claimed Friday that Russian troops are advancing in all tactical directions, including in the Kharkiv region where he said they have pushed Ukrainian forces back by as much as 9 kilometers (5 miles). Russian forces captured 28 towns and villages over the past month, he said.

Overall since the start of the year, Russian forces have taken control of 880 square kilometers (340 square miles) of territory, he added.

It was not possible to verify his battlefield claims.

Overnight into Friday, Russia launched five ballistic missiles at Kharkiv, Ukraines air force said. One of them struck a residential building close to midnight and was followed by another missile 25 minutes later that hit first responders, according to regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov.

Five people were killed, according to Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov, while the governor said at least 25 were wounded.

Ukrainian officials have previously accused Russia of targeting rescue workers by hitting residential buildings with two consecutive missiles  the first one to draw emergency crews to the scene and the second one to wound or kill them. Russia used the method in Syrias civil war.

Apart from Kharkiv, Moscow's troops are pressing in the Donetsk region further south and are assembling a force for an expected attack in the Sumy region further north, according to Ukrainian officials.

___

Lee and Janicek reported from Prague. Associated Press writers Geir Moulson in Berlin and Ellen Knickmeyer, Aamer Madhani and Zeke Miller in Washington contributed to this report.
Troops at Colorado Space Force Base Will Have to Bring Their Own To-Go Boxes for Dining Hall

While the initiative is aimed at reducing waste on base, the spokesperson added that they hope it will give troops on base...
A now-retired top U.S. admiral was arrested Friday on federal bribery charges for allegedly steering contracts to a company in exchange for future employment while he was the commander of Navy forces in Europe, according to the Justice Department.

Robert Burke allegedly directed the lucrative Navy contracts to the company in 2021 while serving as a four-star admiral, and it later hired him in 2022 for a starting salary of $500,000 per year. Two New York executives with the company were also arrested Friday for alleged roles in the bribery scheme.

If convicted, Burke faces a maximum of 30 years in prison, the Justice Department said. He served as commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and U.S. Naval Forces Africa from 2020 to 2022, and before that he was the vice chief of naval operations -- the Navy's second highest ranking officer, according to his official Navy biography.

Read Next: Anguish, Uncertainty: 66 Families Wait to Bury Loved Ones Amid Suspension of Horse-Drawn Funeral Services at Arlington

"As alleged in the indictment, Admiral Burke used his public office and his four-star status for his private gain," U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves said in a released statement. "The law does not make exceptions for admirals or CEOs. Those who pay and receive bribes must be held accountable. The urgency is at its greatest when, as here, senior government officials and senior executives are allegedly involved in the corruption."

The two business executives also arrested with Burke were Yongchul "Charlie" Kim and Meghan Messenger, who each face 20-year sentences.

The indictment lists the pair as leading a company that "provided a workforce training pilot program to a small component of the Navy from August 2018 through July 2019." Although neither the indictment nor the Justice Department named the company, based on publicly available information, it appears to be Next Jump.

At the time of publication, Next Jump's leadership page featured both Kim and Messenger as co-CEOs, and an October 2022 social media post by Next Jump said the company was "delighted to welcome Bob Burke as a senior partner," noting that he brought with him "a wealth of leadership experience from serving four decades in the U.S. Navy."

Military.com reached out to Next Jump for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.

The Navy terminated its contract with the company in 2019, while Burke was serving as the vice chief of naval operations, and told the firm -- referred to as "Company A" -- to cease contacting Burke, according to the Justice Department.

"Despite the Navy's instructions, Kim and Messenger then allegedly met with Burke in Washington, D.C., in July 2021, in an effort to reestablish Company A's business relationship with the Navy," the department said. "At the meeting, the charged defendants allegedly agreed that Burke would use his position as a Navy admiral to steer a sole-source contract to Company A in exchange for future employment at the company."

The Justice Department alleges that they also agreed Burke would use his official position to push other Navy officers to award another contract to the company to train the Navy -- a contract Kim allegedly estimated to be worth "triple digit millions."

Burke allegedly helped the company obtain a $355,000 contract in 2021 to train personnel under Burke's command in Italy and Spain. After that, he allegedly attempted to convince another four-star Navy admiral to also award contracts to Kim and Messenger's company.

"To conceal the scheme, Burke allegedly made several false and misleading statements to the Navy, including by creating the false appearance that Burke played no role in issuing the contract and falsely implying that Company A's employment discussions with Burke only began months after the contract was awarded," the Justice Department said.

Burke began working at the company in 2022, with a starting salary of $500,000 and a grant of 100,000 stock options.

The Navy's top spokesman, Rear Adm. Ryan Perry, said that the service "has fully cooperated with this investigation from the onset," in an email to Military.com on Friday afternoon. "We take this matter very seriously and will continue to cooperate with the Department of Justice."

Perry referred Military.com to the Justice Department for more information.

-- Konstantin Toropin contributed to this report.

-- 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: Judge Dismisses Felony Convictions of 5 Retired Military Officers in US Navy Bribery Case
On this episode we will be focusing on years of underreporting of child abuse at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California, one of the Navys most sprawling installations which is located in the Mojave Desert.

This is a story about disclosure  or rather the lack of disclosure.

Host Drew F. Lawrence interviews Navy reporter Konstantin Toropin about underreporting of alleged child abuse at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.

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Transcript:

SPEAKERS

Drew F. Lawrence, Konstantin Toropin

Drew F. Lawrence

Last month, there was a Congressional budget hearing with Navy and Marine Corps leaders. And it sounded like any other budget hearing at the Capitol  monetary worries about Iran, concerns about Ukraine, the threat of China, and how our military is balancing its budget. But then this happened.

Sen. Patty Murray

Last Week reporting from Military.com revealed deeply disturbing accounts of child abuse by Child Development Center employees at Navy installations. The investigation found that Navy rules prioritize protecting the institution, keep parents in the dark and have minimal safeguards to guarantee accountability.

Drew F. Lawrence

That was Patty Murray, a senator from Washington State questioning Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro about Military.coms recent reporting.

Sen. Patty Murray

According to the reporting, base commanders and military police units often don't know who is responsible for reporting and investigating abuse at CDCs. And in one case, it took a full year before workers responsible for abuse were charged in a civilian court. The reporters interviewed a dozen families with similar stories of not being told when their child was injured, and in many cases parents shouldered hefty legal bills to force the military branches to tell them what happened. I cannot emphasize enough how concerning and unacceptable that is.

Drew F. Lawrence

The reporting referenced by Sen. Murray detailed a lack of accountability across the military branches, focusing on several recent incidents at military child development centers, or CDCs. But underreporting of child abuse and accusations of red tape go back further, according to previously unreported documents obtained by my colleague, Navy reporter Konstantin Toropin. On this episode we will be focusing on years of underreporting of child abuse at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California, one of the Navys most sprawling installations which is located in the Mojave Desert. This is a story about disclosure  or rather the lack of disclosure. For Military.com, my name is Drew Lawrence. It is May 31st. And this is Fire Watch.

So, Konstantin  where does this story start?

Konstantin Toropin

For our reporting about China Lake, the story starts in October 2022 and I am going to tell you what we knew at the time. In mid-October leadership at the base started to go back through 30 days of security camera footage at the CDC. It seems that pretty quickly they spotted issues because a day after they started, the center shut down for several days over what the Navy said were problems with sanitation, food safety and supervision. At the time, the base spokeswoman told me the closure was because of a leadership change and the video review was a standard procedure.

Drew F. Lawrence

I see, what was the scope of these problems? How many did they identify?

Konstantin Toropin

By the end of that review, in mid-November, the base commander told parents that they found 132 unique policy violations at the center. So an example of this was an employee did multiple diaper changes without cleaning the table or their hands. When children returned to the CDC after it re-opened in late October, several employees had been placed on administrative leave pending further review of video footage.

Drew F. Lawrence

And were those issues limited to sanitation and food safety?

Konstantin Toropin

Noafter the CDC reopened, the Navy also admitted that there were three violations of what the service calls its touch policy  basically how workers are and arent allowed to handle kids. At the time, we spoke to one of the victims parents who told us their child was harmed ... physically, emotionally, and mentally. But beyond that we didnt really have much information about those alleged touch policy violations. And back in 2022, we suspected there was more to this story  details like the center hiring 14 new people, an employee resigning that summer over alleged child abuse, and a recently resigned director  but we werent able to nail down some of these details.

Drew F. Lawrence

Until now.

Konstantin Toropin

Until now.

Capt. Jeremy Vaughn

One of the reasons why shut down the center is because I had an employee do multiple diaper changes without cleaning the table, the child, the hands or the child's hands. And then afterwards, fed the child with the same hands. That's why I shut down the center. I have over 132 reasons.

Parent

132 reasons?

Konstantin Toropin

So that was Capt. Jeremy Vaughn, the commander of China Lake addressing families at a November Parent Involvement Board meeting, kind of like a PTA meeting for military bases. He is not only important because he runs the base but also because we were able to review more than 250 pages of his emails from this period in time. And now we know, according to the emails we obtained, that when the center re-opened on October 25, 2022, 14 employees were facing serious consequences. 10 were put on administrative leave, 3 were suspended for failing to report problems, and 1 person was allowed to retire. Whether these consequences were connected to the employees failing to report familial abuse or whether they involved the three cases of violations of the touch policy  we dont know. But meanwhile, parents had questions for Vaughn at the November parent meeting.

Parent

Because you say all of the children affected have been identified, but how...what is the process to identify these children? Because if it's just looking at footage, the cameras don't cover everything. Have you talked to all the teachers? And has there been any, like psychologist or something trying to talk to children to see if anybody has some signs of abuse?

Drew F. Lawrence

So lets start with the underreporting first, tell me about that.

Konstantin Toropin

Well, it turns out that something happened in July that year, what exactly, we dont know. But they surround abuse allegations going underreported, by a central staff figure at the center, according to Vaughns emails. Specifically, he said that not only did this person fail to report child abuse allegations as far back as 2010, but she is also suspected of creating a culture where child abuse was not reported without her allowing it to be reported. It is possible that this resulted in a number of abuse allegations going unreported. We dont know if thats child abuse at home by parents or by staff at the center. When we asked them about this, the Navy said that this failure to report involved an employee  or multiple employees  not reporting suspected familial abuse to proper authorities, meaning that children may have come into the center with signs of abuse from home, but it was never reported outside the center.

Drew F. Lawrence

So what youre saying is that at China Lake, according to its base commanders emails, there could be numerous child abuse cases  familial or not  that were never reported by the center going as far back as over a decade?

Konstantin Toropin

Yes, and not only that but the extent of this alleged underreporting was never made public. We only know about it now because of the emails I obtained.

Drew F. Lawrence

So what did the Navy have to say about those emails?

So last week, we took these emails and formulated some questions for the Navy to answer. We wanted to know about the extent of underreporting that happened over a more than ten year period and we wanted to know why it was never really made public. For the first part, the extent of the underreporting, the Navy said that there were 26 potential cases of child abuse by family members that were not reported to the Navy officials  their Family Advocacy Program  as is required.

Drew F. Lawrence

Ok, so those are cases of familial abuse. But did they say anything about alleged child abuse by employees at the CDC?

Konstantin Toropin

Yes and no. The Navy said that all of this began when initial concerns cropped up in July 2022. They did not specify what those concerns entailed, but confirmed that several employees received firing notices before they ultimately retired or resigned. We flat out asked why a full accounting of the firings and other disciplinary actions was never offered to parents or the public. Here, the Navy cited the Privacy Act, something military officials often lean on to keep personnel issues under wraps. They said, It is Navy policy that individual personnel actions are not shared with the public.

Drew F. Lawrence

From your reporting, do we know of any specific examples of alleged abuse that happened at the CDC?

Konstantin Toropin

Thats a good question and one that we only have part of an answer for. Since we first reported on those three touch violations  which the Navy did disclose eventually, but with little detail  weve managed to get a police document that described some of them specifically. In one incident at China Lake, according to this police report, a caretaker appeared to hold their hand over a childs nose and mouth with a wipe for about 20 seconds, causing the child to become emotionally upset. Another instance involved a caretaker grabbing a child by the arm, then making him stand away from other children who were singing a song. As the boy cried, he tried to participate, miming hand motions to go along with the song the other children were singing. The emails that we got show that the leadership at China Lake was aware and tracking a handfulthe precise number is unclear because of redactionsof criminal child abuse cases that were connected to the center and its employees. Many of the other emails that we reviewed also made vague references to things like the July 2022 infractionsagain, leading to more questions than answers.

Drew F. Lawrence

So if criminal allegations are brought up against their CDC employees, what is the Navys responsibility in following through on those charges?

Konstantin Toropin

From their answersit seems pretty minimal. In the case of failing to report abuse, officials said that it is quote not within the Navys jurisdiction to take action once an individual is no longer employed at our facility. As far as charges are concernedofficials said they cooperate with law enforcement but in several instances officials told us that they dont officially track what happens to personnel once theyre fired or no longer employed by the Navy. They did say that they have safeguards to prevent an employee who was terminated for child maltreatment  or resigned before they could be fired  from working at other Navy childcare centers.

Drew F. Lawrence

Ok, so it seems like the Navy is working this balancing act with authority, where they say they only have so much jurisdiction over their employees once they are accused of child abuse or failing to report abuse  essentially once criminal proceedings happen, its in the hands of NCIS or local law enforcement, is that correct?

Konstantin Toropin

Yeah, that's, uh, that seems like a fair assessment.

Drew F. Lawrence

I want to go back to this disclosure part  the second general topic we asked the Navy about  because there is a nuance that I think is worth parsing out.

Konstantin Toropin

Right so while the Navy says that personnel actions, broadly, are not shared with the public, in at least one case at China Lake they were prepared to release a statement regarding an employees arrest on child abuse chargesbut the caveat is only if someone asked about it.

Drew F. Lawrence

What would they have said if someone asked about it at the time?

Konstantin Toropin

Navy officials at China Lake said that if they got questions about the specific employee  in this case one that was accused of child abuse in August of 2022  they would have confirmed that allegations were brought against the employee, that the employee resigned four days later, and that NCIS and the local county law enforcement initiated an investigation. In fact, in the emails we obtained, Navy personnel discussed the possibility of getting media inquiries about the arrest and prepared a response -- and again, I'll quote the emails -- just in case.

Drew F. Lawrence

So  to summarize

Konstantin Toropin

Right to summarize, we certainly know more than we did in the fall of 2022 when parents first started reaching out to me. We know that employees there were not reporting abuse  with one person going back more than a decade. But the Navy says they were able to discover and report 26 of those cases of potential familial abuse that occurred over the years. We also know that out of the 14 employees in Vaughns emails, 9 were set to be fired but they were all allowed to retire or resign. But as best as we can tell, there have been no criminal consequences at China Lake, though our reporting did outline convictions at other military childcare centers Between our own efforts and statements from Navy officials, we didnt find any evidence that the local DA ever convicted anyone on any charges.

Drew F. Lawrence

So its been two years, what did the Navy say it did to remedy the issues that it found at China Lake?

Konstantin Toropin

They said they hired new staff and retrained folks on reporting requirements, worked better to keep parents and base leadership informed of goings on at the CDC, and that over the last two years, the base CO, Vaughn, has been laser focused on improving quality of life, including at the CDC. And I should mention that the China Lake saga is just one part of the broader reporting effort by Military.com. Last months story mentioned by Senator Murray has resulted in some swift fallout. The reporting resulted in an immediate inspector general probe by the Pentagon, congressional pressure that even includes a proposed new law that would compel military daycares to notify parents of alleged abuse within 24 hours, and a new Army policy that directed its day care centers to report to parents incidents that involve sexual behavior between kids.

Drew F. Lawrence

Konstantin Toropin, thank you for your time and reporting. Thank you for listening to this episode of Fire Watch. Thank you to our reporter, Konstantin Toropin, as well as executive producers Zach Fryer-Biggs and Jared Keller. If you enjoyed this episode, and want to let us know, give us a rating, wherever your get your podcasts. And as always, thanks for listening.
Writing about courage to a military audience feels both ridiculous and fruitless. Certainly, you know about courage. It took courage to join the military, it took courage to leave your families and loved ones for deployments, and it took massive courage to do the job the military requires.

So why am I writing about courage here? Because when you leave the military, youll need to find a different kind of courage to create meaning in your civilian career.

Understanding Courage in the Civilian Sector

Courage is defined as mental or moral strength to venture, persevere and withstand danger, fear or difficulty. In your post-military career, youll need to find the courage to lead differently, be open to change and ambiguity, and still find the strength to persevere in making a difference.

Youll need to share who you are and why your work matters to you in order to build community, connection and influence with those around you.

The arms youll carry in the private sector are all you. They are your heart, your passions, your experiences and your purpose. Theyll keep you protected and empower you to follow a mission you believe in. When you are confident in an idea or vision, youll lean on your courage of truth and a service mindset to help others see the validity of your concept.

Finding Your Post-Military Courage

All this may seem challenging, but you dont have to find this new courage alone. Here are three ways to develop this new skill:

1. Clarify your purpose.

Instead of starting with What can I do? or What do I need to do? ask yourself, What am I meant to do? Your purpose for being here  your why  is what helps you face adversity and obstacles with courage. As you move into the civilian sector, evaluate how the same sense of purpose that led you to the military is now leading you to another path. Be willing to ask yourself the hard questions to uncover what that path might be.

2. Lean on your service mindset.

Its been my experience that someone whos willing to serve their country doesnt leave that sense of duty and passion behind when the uniform comes off. You might want to serve differently now or be of service to a different audience. Leverage the same qualities that attracted you to military duty to explore how and who you might serve going forward. Learn all you can about them, what they need and what they care about. Then use your service mindset to help, guide and add value in ways only you can.

3. Enlist a mentor.

We all need help and guidance. We lean on each other for support, encouragement, information and insights to help grow our lives and careers. Have the courage to reach out for assistance. A mentor can be a huge support as you navigate the uncertainties and seeming randomness of the military-to-civilian transition. Be brave and share what you need so they can help you.

In my upcoming book, The New Rules of Influence: How to Authentically Build Trust, Drive Change, and Make an Impact, I offer this about the need for courage:

Be courageous and push past fear. Courage doesnt happen for you or to you. You need to find the strength to be the leader youre meant to be. Youll have to become confident and able to embrace risk  and be unapologetically brave. Courage means pushing for what you believe is right with the gusto, passion, and bravery of Sir William Wallace going into battle (face paint optional).

While you might be searching for a 9-to-5 job that carries less stress, risk and volatility than your military career, youll still want to be seen, heard and respected for your contributions.

The private sector needs people with the courage to speak up and speak out, to bring others into conversations that might be uncomfortable, and to serve a greater purpose. All of these are likely still part of you after you leave the military.

Want to Know More About Veteran Jobs?

Be sure to get the latest news about post-military careers as well as critical info about veteran jobs and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox.
The SpaceX 9 launch, also known as STS-134, was scheduled to take place on July 28, 2021, at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base in Florida. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the launch had to be pushed back several weeks.







(When Is The Space X 9 Launch)

In May 2021, SpaceX announced that it would launch its first crewed mission with two astronauts from NASAs Dragon spacecraft on board the Falcon 9 rocket. The successful launch of this historic mission marked the beginning of SpaceXs commercial space program and set a new record for the fastest ascent by a private rocket company.

But then, tragedy struck when a piece of expended fuel caught fire during the second stage of the countdown to liftoff. The incident caused significant damage to the upper stages of the rocket, and NASA grounded the entire fleet of Falcon 9s until they were inspected and repaired.

Despite these setbacks, SpaceX continued to work towards its goal of making deep space travel more accessible and affordable. In August 2021, SpaceX announced that it would launch its first mission to the International Space Station (ISS), using its own Dragon spacecraft.

The launch was planned for April 19, 2022, but was pushed back to July 16 due to weather concerns. Once again, SpaceX encountered an unexpected problem during the launch, which caused the mission to be delayed once again.

Despite the numerous setbacks, SpaceX remained determined to complete the mission and bring astronauts back to Earth. On July 16, 2022, SpaceX launched its long-awaited Crew Dragon spacecraft carrying three astronauts  six-time astronaut Chris Cassidy, astronautMark Todd, and Air Force Colonel Peter Tompkins  to the ISS.

The crew spent six months conducting experiments and performing maintenance tasks on the space station. They returned safely to Earth in March 2023 after completing their mission.







(When Is The Space X 9 Launch)

In conclusion, while the SpaceX 9 launch faced many challenges and setbacks, it ultimately succeeded in bringing astronauts back to Earth. This historic achievement is a testament to the innovative spirit and determination of SpaceX, and sets the stage for future missions to deep space.
The launch of SpaceX has been one of the most exciting events in recent history, as the American space exploration company has made significant strides towards achieving its goal of sending humans to Mars. However, despite its many successes, SpaceXs journey towards the red planet is not without its challenges and setbacks.







(Where Is The Space X Launching)

One of the biggest obstacles that SpaceX has faced so far is the cost of launching rockets into orbit. The companys reusable rockets have helped to reduce the cost of space launches significantly, but they still require a significant amount of investment to develop and test. Additionally, SpaceXs reliance on expensive, advanced technologies such as GPS and communication systems means that it can only operate when these systems are functioning properly.

Despite these challenges, SpaceX has continued to make progress towards its goal of launching humans to Mars. In fact, the company recently completed its first major launch, delivering supplies to the International Space Station. This milestone is just the beginning of SpaceXs mission to send humans to Mars, and the company remains committed to making this dream a reality.

In addition to its work with NASA, SpaceX also has plans to launch humans to Mars as part of its own interstellar colonization efforts. While the idea of establishing a permanent human presence on another planet is certainly ambitious, SpaceX believes that it is possible to achieve this goal through sustainable and responsible exploration practices.

To achieve this goal, SpaceX will need to overcome a number of technical and logistical challenges. For example, the company will need to develop new technologies for storing and returning rocket fuel to Earth, as well as for creating habitats and living quarters for humans. These technologies will likely be much more advanced than those currently used by other companies.

Furthermore, SpaceX will need to establish partnerships with other space agencies and organizations in order to make its interstellar colonization plans a reality. For example, the company has already formed partnerships with NASA and the European Space Agency, and it will likely continue to do so in order to secure funding and resources needed to bring its ideas to life.







(Where Is The Space X Launching)

Despite these challenges, SpaceX remains optimistic about its future plans and continues to push the boundaries of what is possible in the field of space exploration. Whether it is completing successful missions to the International Space Station or establishing a permanent human presence on another planet, SpaceX is poised to play an important role in shaping our understanding of the universe and our place within it.
The Phillies are trading minor league reliever Ryan Burr to the Blue Jays, reports Shi Davidi of Sportsnet (X link). The return isnt clear, but trades of this nature tend to be for cash considerations.

Burr signed a minor league contract with Philadelphia in January. He was not on their 40-man roster and wont need to immediately occupy a spot on the 40-man for the Jays (unless his contract contained some kind of upward mobility clause that spurred the trade). Burr has posted huge numbers for the Phils top farm team, so Toronto could decide to quickly call him up.

If Burr does get a look with the Jays, itd be his first MLB work since 2022. The right-hander pitched in parts of four seasons with the White Sox between 2019-22. He had his best year in 2021, turning in a 2.45 ERA in a personal-high 36 2/3 innings. Chicago released him the following season after he suffered an injury in Triple-A. He pitched in the minors with the Rays last year, working to a 3.09 ERA over 23 1/3 innings. Tampa Bay never called him up, leading him to the Phils via minor league free agency.

Hes out to an even better start with Philadelphias affiliate. Burr has allowed only four runs in 16 2/3 innings. He has punched out 29 of 67 opposing hitters, a massive 43.3% clip, against a 7.5% walk rate. He has fanned nearly a third of his opponents in 40 Triple-A frames over the last two seasons.

Philadelphias bullpen has been around average at preventing runs, working to a 3.90 ERA that ranks 16th in MLB. Theyre seventh in strikeout rate, fanning nearly a quarter of batters faced. Torontos relief group has been much shaker. Theyre 27th with a 19.6% strikeout percentage and have allowed 4.77 earned runs per nine. Only the Rockies and Rangers have a higher bullpen ERA.

The Phils only have two relievers with minor league options: Orion Kerkering and Gregory Soto. Kerkering is one of their best relievers, while Sotos a veteran with a power arm who is playing on a $5MM salary. Toronto has already optioned the struggling Erik Swanson and could send down one of Genesis Cabrera, Nate Pearson or Zach Pop if they want to give Burr a look against MLB hitters. Burr has a pair of options, so the Jays could shuttle him back and forth from Triple-A if they add him to the 40-man roster.
The Reds have sent right-hander Brett Kennedy outright to Triple-A Louisville, per the transaction log at MLB.com. Cincinnati designated him for assignment on Tuesday when they reinstated Alex Young from the 60-day injured list.

Kennedy only spent a few days on the 40-man roster and didnt get into an MLB game. He made five appearances for the Reds a year ago, allowing 13 runs over 18 innings. Cincinnati outrighted him off their roster at seasons end but brought him back on a minor league deal during the winter. He has spent the bulk of the year working from the Louisville rotation. The 29-year-old has tossed 40 2/3 innings over eight starts, struggling to a 6.86 ERA in an offensive Triple-A setting.

While Kennedy has never missed many bats, hes not afraid to attack the zone. He has walked fewer than 5% of opposing hitters this year and has a 7.9% walk percentage over parts of five Triple-A campaigns. The Reds have kept him around as a strike-throwing depth option who can make a spot start or work in long relief. Kennedy has the right to elect free agency because he has been outrighted a few times in his career, but it seems likely hell head back to Louisville in hopes of getting another MLB look during the year.
The Yankees announced today that right-hander Clarke Schmidt has been placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to May 27, with a right lat strain. Right-hander Cody Morris has been recalled in a corresponding move.

At this point, the full details of the injury arent clear. Schmidt started for the Yankees in San Diego on Sunday and all seemed fairly normal, as he tossed 101 pitches over five innings. It seems that Schmidt either felt sore after that start or perhaps aggravated something during a bullpen session. The club will likely provide more details about the issue and his expected absence in due time.

Regardless of how long Schmidt is out of action, this will interrupt what was shaping up to be a brilliant breakout season, something that MLBTRs Steve Adams recently took a detailed look at. Thanks to some adjustments to his pitch mix, Schmidt has been able to have far better results this year than in the past.

Last year, he made 33 appearances for the Yanks, 32 of those being starts. He tossed 159 innings, allowing 4.64 earned runs per nine. He struck out 21.5% of batters faced while giving out walks at a 6.6% rate. Here in 2024, hes thrown 60 2/3 innings over 11 starts with a 2.52 ERA, 27.1% strikeout rate and 8.1% walk rate.

That tremendous improvement has been huge for the Yankees, as they have been without their ace Gerrit Cole all year so far. Cole has been battling elbow inflammation since the spring but the rest of the rotation has stepped up in his absence. In addition to Schmidts strong work, each of Carlos Rodon, Nestor Cortes and Marcus Stroman have bounced back from injury-marred seasons in 2023. None of that trio has an ERA higher than 3.30 this season. Luis Gil, who hardly pitched in the past two years due to Tommy John surgery, has a 1.99 ERA so far.

That the Cole-less rotation has been so strong is a big reason why the Yankees are 38-19, the best record in the American League. Now they will have to reach beyond that starting group for essentially the first time this year. Cody Poteet started the second game of a doubleheader on April 13, but apart from that, every Yankee game this year has been started by the fivesome of Schmidt, Rodon, Cortes, Stroman and Gil.

Cole has yet to begin a rehab assignment and is therefore still weeks away. JT Brubaker, recovering from Tommy John surgery, hasnt yet begun a rehab assignment either. Luke Weaver has plenty of starting experience but has been in a leverage role this year, earning seven holds, including five this month. Poteet and Clayton Beeter are on the minor league injured list. Yoendrys Gomez was just optioned three days ago and cant be recalled for a 15-day period unless directly replacing an injured player. Will Warren is one of the clubs best pitching prospects but he has an ERA of 8.53 in Triple-A this year and isnt yet on the 40-man roster.

How the Yanks play things will remain to be seen. They have an off-day on Monday and could perhaps do some kind of bullpen day on Saturday, when Schmidt was scheduled to start, before coming up with a better long-term solution next week.
HARBOR SPRINGS, MI - A new boutique hotel has opened at the southern end of Michigans famous Tunnel of Trees. And while the space was thoughtfully redesigned to be approachable at different price points, it also was built with amenities meant to make it a community gathering space as well as a destination for people visiting the area.

The 31-room Otis Harbor Springs is unveiling its luxury-meets-comfort spot where the former Birchwood Inn had welcomed travelers for decades. The property has been reconfigured to offer rooms ranging from cozy studios to the larger family-size suites. There are three connecting buildings and a central meadow-like courtyard.

Between the design and the propertys perks - some of which are still getting the finishing touches - the hotels team believes people will be surprised at the projects uniqueness. And how its core mission is firmly rooted in enjoying time spent Up North.

We want people to experience Northern Michigan in a way that really celebrates hospitality and good design and food and drinks, said General Manager Kamron Bijeh-Apple.

As for the timeline, its been an intense turnaround for the property. Ty Humpert, who is co-founder of Otis Harbor Springs along with Israel Hernandez, said the property was purchased off-market after discussions with the former inns owner. The new team was handed the keys in March 2023 and they got to work pretty quickly.

The Otis name is a nod to the Chicago banking-turned-farming family who used to work the land where the hotel now stands. Before its most recent use as a mom-and-pop style inn, the site had been a retreat center for a potato chip company.

Bringing the hotel to its current elevation took a lot of planning and a tight work schedule. Its been a very quick, very efficient turnaround, said Humpert. Its been a labor of love on a lot of levels.

Otis Harbor Springs was renovated while holding true to its mid-century modern design. That side of the project was overseen by Daniel Caudill, the former creative director of Shinola, and lots of inspiration came from interior designer Ken Blasingame, whose notable projects include work in the White House and at Camp David. Together, the team selected comfortable fabrics - think velvet sofas that you can sink into - and pieces that not only look good, but feel good, too.

We wanted to create a space that honors the past and future of this historic land, Caudill said. The spirit and visual identity of Otis is grounded in a collection of experiences beginning in the 1950s and spanning to those of our present team, who are all local to the region.

Relaxation and enjoyment became the baseline as the team selected pieces and designed spaces, Humpert said. He helped us really understand what he hoped our customers would experience, he said of Blasingame, who helped with the design of the lobby and the lounge.

The interior of the new Otis Harbor Springs hotel, near the famous Tunnel of Trees. Photo provided by Otis.Otis Harbor Springs

Rates for the hotel start at $275 per night. In addition to the accommodations, there are three public spaces being featured on the property. Theyre open to guests, locals and visitors alike. These include:

Birchwood General: This on-site shop will highlight locally-made goods including art, books and ceramics. Packaged food perfect for a picnic - like charcuterie and wine - can be picked up here.

The Cafe will offer coffee, small bites, French pastries and other goodies. A service window connected to the new deck area will invite people to grab their favorite food or beverage and relax outside.

The Fireplace Lounge: This cocktail lounge with its mix of custom and vintage furniture is meant to feel like a 60s living room-turned-gathering space. Guests should take note of the eye-catching marble-topped bar with its hand-painted mural by Detroit artist Jennifer Haver.

Weve created this experience just as much for locals as for our out-of-town guests, Hernandez said. This is a very special place that has been part of the community for many decades, and we are honored to bring back this Northern Michigan mainstay for future generations.

Otis Harbor Springs is a new boutique hotel along M-119. Its marble-topped bar is an eye-catching feature. Photo provided by Otis.Otis Harbor Springs

The team behind Otis Harbor Springs believes their location along the winding M-119 is a huge plus. It makes them easy to find, and a convenient stop for those seeking a big dose of Northern Michigans outdoor beauty. People can grab a coffee or a light bite, find a new favorite bottle of wine or a unique gift from the store. Relax on the deck with drinks and food.

This area has so many passersby going to the beach or stargazing or going to the polo fields, Humpert said. We are kind of at the front door to the Tunnel of Trees. And us being able to create a convenient space was important.

We want to welcome the community as well, he said, adding there will be free wifi in the lounge, deck area, lobby and courtyard. People should feel comfortable to bring their laptop and do a little remote work in beautiful surroundings.

Lovable Michigan Tip: The lounge will have some surprises on its cocktail menu. These include the Otis Fashioned featuring all local ingredients including Rye Bourbon and Michigan-sourced cherries and maple. And for those who remember the Surprisingly Affordable tagline of the old Birchwood Inn, Happy Hour in the lounge will feature it as a drink: Order the Surprisingly Affordable and youll get a local beer with a bourbon shot on the side. Its definitely a nod to the locals, Humpert said.

A newly designed bedroom inside Otis Harbor Springs. Photo provided by OtisOtis Harbor Springs

Love the Petoskey and Harbor Springs areas? Heres more to do around town:

Little Traverse Bay Ferry, Harbor Princess cruises kick off season in Petoskey

This Northern Michigan climb has 462 steps and a gorgeous Lake Charlevoix view

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, LeAnn Rimes in lineup for Up North summer concert series

How Gypsy Distillery transformed Northern Michigans new tasting room, events center
GLADSTONE, MI -- Five seniors living in a nursing home were rescued from a fire by police officers Thursday morning, according to WJMN-3. The fire was reported around 4 a.m. at the facility located on Delta Avenue and 13th Street.

Troopers with the Michigan State Police were the first to arrive on scene and learned that five residents likely could not get out of the facility without assistance. As the fire spread, troopers along with officers from Gladstone Public Safety were able to wake up residents and evacuate them from the building as it filled with smoke.

All five residents who needed assistance were able to escape the fire without injury according to police. Shortly after evacuating the residents, the south side of the building became fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters arrived shortly thereafter and were able to extinguish the fire.
MACKINAC ISLAND, MI - A massive upgrade is opening near Arch Rock, Mackinac Islands most famous geological formation.

The Milliken Nature Center, an estimated $7.5 million dollar project, plans to open to visitors on Saturday, June 1. The area features a much-needed expanded and modern restroom area, a nature center and space for guests at Arch Rock to relax.

The new center, designed by Grand Rapids-based firm TowerPinkster, fits seamlessly into the surrounding forest. It features a beautiful stone facade, wood beams, built-in seating, metal roofing and large windows.

Incorporating a lot of stonework into the building, not wanting it to be a replica of any type of building found on the island, but to really express the natural history of the island and what people encounter here today, said Mackinac State Historic Parks Director Steve Brisson.

Inside the nature center will be Mackinac State Historic Parks newest exhibit, Arch Rock: Unsurpassed in Natures Beauty. This exhibit features dozens of historic images of Arch Rock as well as a timeline on how the limestone arch was formed. The space will also highlight the geology of Mackinac Island as a whole, from the formation of the island itself and how features such as Sugarloaf Rock and Skull Cave came to be.

A highlight of the center will be the interactive topographical 3D map of Mackinac Island. There is also an outdoor area for a variety of programs.

Exhibits are constructed inside the Milliken Nature Center by Arch Rock at Mackinac Island State Park on Mackinac Island, Mich. on Thursday, May 16, 2024. The new nature center will be open to visitors in June.Joel Bissell | MLive.com

The new center is named for former Michigan Governor William Milliken, the Traverse City native who served as governor of the Mitten State from 1969 to 1983, the longest in state history. A bust of Gov. Milliken will be placed on the grounds in the coming months.

The area was closed for construction from last September to April of this year as crews worked all off-season to complete the nature center. Construction on Mackinac Island has never been an easy task - usually only occurring in the off-season, when the weather can be unpredictable.

Construction projects on the island are always a bit challenging. Everything has to come over. Sometimes the most difficult part of that isnt getting the materials over. The workers have to come over and either find lodging on the island or come back and forth every day. Most of our construction projects occur over winter when the ferry schedule is reduced, Brisson said.

This year was a mild winter on the island and the winter ferry was able to run all year. This was very helpful to get the project done in a timely manner, he said.

An aerial image of Arch Rock at Mackinac Island State Park on Mackinac Island, Mich. on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Arch Rock, a unique natural limestone arch, stands on Lake Hurons shoreline 146 feet above the Great Lake and can be seen from the islands perimeter. It has been visited by millions of people since humans first came to the island.

People view Arch Rock at Mackinac Island State Park on Mackinac Island, Mich. on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Joel Bissell | MLive.com

Arch Rock and the Milliken Nature Center can be easily accessed by bicycle, on foot or by horse-drawn carriage. Visitors can view Arch Rock from M-185, the shoreline road that circles Mackinac Island, and walk the 207-step stairway known as Spring Trail to the Arch Rock viewing platform.

The Milliken Nature Center exhibit is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily, while restrooms at the site are open 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

On June 1, Mackinac State Historic Parks will also open the American Fur Co. Store, Dr. Beaumont Museum, The McGulpin House and The British Landing Nature Center for the 2024 season.
DETROIT -- An inmate at the federal prison in Milan will spend an additional 10 years in prison after he assaulted and strangled a nurse practitioner during a medical visit in July 2023. According to the Department of Justice, Tyjuan Gray, 24 was sentenced in federal court Thursday by United States District Judge Terrence G. Berg.

Gray attacked the nurse practitioner during the visit by grabbing her by the throat and hitting her head against a wall. Gray also grabbed the woman by her wrists, preventing her from using her radio or to defend herself. Gray then kneed the woman in the stomach and began strangling her while she was on the ground.

Another inmate stepped in just before the woman lost consciousness and stopped Grays attack. The nurse practitioner was then able to radio for help. The woman required medical treatment for her injuries

This defendant perpetrated an unprovoked, egregious assault on a healthcare professional providing him with medical care. His actions not only caused her physical injury but took away her ability to feel safe at work and left her with emotional scars that will last a lifetime. The prosecution and sentence in this case should send a strong message that we will address violence wherever it occurs, said U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison.
MUNISING, MI  A West Michigan man died while hiking at Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore.

According to rangers with the National Park Service, 45-year-old Steven Poppema of Holland was pronounced dead at the Upper Peninsula tourism hotspot on Lake Superior on Wednesday.

Rescue personal responded via boat and on foot after receiving a report that he was unconscious after exhibiting signs of distress while hiking toward Spray Falls

The Alger County Sheriffs Office deployed a marine response vessel to the area while additional personnel responded on foot.

We extend our sincere condolences to the family of Steven Poppema, said Park Superintendent David Horne, We thank our agency partners for their assistance in responding to this incident.

Additional information regarding Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore can be found at www.nps.gov/piro.
ANN ARBOR, MI  It was a lifelong love of the outdoors and camping that led Nancy Shiffler to join the Sierra Club over 40 years ago and a passion for protecting the environment that led her to become a leader in the organization.

The longtime Ann Arbor resident served in many volunteer roles with the club over the years, including as chair of the Michigan chapter and the local Huron Valley Group.

She was the Sierra Club really  she had the institutional history of it, said James DAmour, who was vice chair of the local group while Shiffler was chair.

She had a very quiet strength to her, he said.

Shiffler died over Memorial Day weekend at the age of 75.

Sierra Club leader Nancy Shiffler at a club event in 2009.Provided by Jan O'Connell

Environmentalists in Ann Arbor and across Michigan are remembering Shiffler for her decades-long commitment to a wide variety of environmental causes, including efforts to help establish Washtenaw Countys natural areas preservation program and Ann Arbors greenbelt program through millage campaigns in the early 2000s.

She cared deeply about the natural environment and was a really good advocate for it, said state Sen. Jeff Irwin, D-Ann Arbor, who said he greatly respected Shiffler and is grateful for her contributions.

She was a deep thinker and she didnt always give a fast answer because she thought about things, but her goals were always consistent in terms of supporting environmental issues really in an analytical, thoughtful way, said Rita Mitchell, who served on the local Sierra Club board with Shiffler.

Under Shifflers watch, the local group joined with Ann Arbor Township and Scio Township in 2016 to petition the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a Superfund cleanup of the Gelman dioxane plume. Shiffler spent years advocating for a better cleanup of the pollution that has spread for miles through the Ann Arbor areas groundwater.

The Superfund cleanup some environmentalists have long wanted may be on the horizon now as the EPA in March proposed adding the plume to the National Priorities List.

Thats a big deal, said DAmour, vice chair of the state political committee for the Sierra Clubs Michigan chapter.

While soft spoken, Shiffler was a green warrior, he said, saying hes still in disbelief shes gone.

Sierra Club leader Nancy Shiffler in front of a banner calling for shutting down the Line 5 pipeline.Provided by Rita Mitchell

Born in 1949 in Kansas City, Missouri, Shiffler grew up in Prairie Village, Kansas, playing piano, being a Girl Scout and spending summers at the Sanborn Western Camps in Colorado as a camper and, during her college years, as a camp counselor, according to her obituary.

After her family moved to Kentucky, she graduated from Westport High School in Louisville and attended Denison University in Ohio.

She eventually earned a doctorate degree in educational psychology at the University of Michigan in 1981 and had a career in classroom evaluation with Ann Arbor Public Schools, where she worked for over 26 years and served as director of research and assessment.

Shifflers love of nature stuck with her throughout her life and she maintained a connection with the camp where she went as a kid, going back again last year for a big anniversary, Mitchell said.

Once Nancy got engaged with a group, she was devoted to it, Mitchell said, saying the Sierra Club was very fortunate to have her. She is very well loved in the Michigan Sierra Club.

Anne Woiwode, the former statewide chapter director who was on staff with the club from 1985 to 2015, said Shiffler was a great boss when she was statewide chair in the 1990s.

She worked incredibly hard for the Sierra Club as a volunteer and made actually a very significant difference in the way we were able to get things done, she said.

That included work on forest issues, preventing oil drilling along the Au Sable River and working with legislators on matters such as protecting the Great Lakes and getting better pollution regulations for concentrated animal feeding operations.

Sierra Club leader Nancy Shiffler at a meeting where the Great Lakes ecosystem was being discussed.Provided by Rita Mitchell

As chair of the Beyond Natural Gas and Oil Committee, Shiffler also was active in opposing projects such as the 255-mile NEXUS gas pipeline.

She was somebody who was very thoughtful and quiet, but also was very thorough and a good, strong leader for us, Woiwode said, noting Shiffler spent time lobbying legislators and played a lead role on a number of issues.

She was always very good at basically asking the critical questions about what we needed to do and how we needed to do it, and then being there to help with the follow through, she said, describing Shiffler as a mentor with a good sense of humor.

Woiwode recalled the Sierra Club worked with state Sen. Lana Pollack, D-Ann Arbor, on Michigans landmark 1990 polluter-pay law. By requiring polluters to pay for cleanup of their toxic waste, it was estimated to save taxpayers about $100 million during the five years the law was in place.

Some legislative and regulatory battles played out over many years, so it was helpful to have Shifflers decades of knowledge to help secure victories, Woiwode said.

Shiffler for many years led camping trips with other Sierra Club members to places such as Isle Royale.

She was really dedicated to being a part of the outdoors and actually serving it, Mitchell said.

Shell be badly missed, Woiwode said.

There are few people who weve worked with for 40 years and who have done as much as she did to make our organization and Michigan a better place, she said.

Shiffler is survived by her three brothers, Ron, Bruce and Barry, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.

Want more Ann Arbor-area news? Bookmark the local Ann Arbor news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Ann Arbor daily newsletter.
GRAND RAPIDS MI --Rev. David J. Walkowiak, bishop of Grand Rapids will ordain Father Nicholas Baker to priesthood this weekend.

The Mass with the Rite of Ordination of a priest will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 1, at Cathedral of Saint Andrew, 301 Sheldon Blvd. The Mass is open to the public, who may join in person or online via the diocesan website at Televised Mass - Diocese of Grand Rapids (grdiocese.org) or YouTube.
BAY CITY, MI  After three years, the wait is over. Michigan Sugar Co.s new molasses desugarization facility is up and running in Bay County.

Michigan Sugar officials in August 2021 announced they were planning to invest more than $65 million to build the desugarization facility. The new plant, located off Euclid Avenue in Monitor Township, came online in May.

The new facility will allow the company to produce up to 80 million more pounds of sugar each year without having to plant more sugar beets, increasing sustainability, company officials have said.

The new plants spring opening marked a milestone for the company. President and CEO Neil Juhnke referred to molasses desugaring as the biggest technological advancement in the sugar industry in 50 years.

Related: Michigan Sugars sweet new plant will produce 80M more pounds of sugar annually

Ground broke for the new facility, located at 2600 S. Euclid Ave., two years ago. Then on May 20, company officials announced via the Michigan Sugar Facebook page the facility was officially up and running.

The 22,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility is the result of a $65 million investment, in partnership with Bay Future, Monitor Township officials and the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

The new plant will process 650 tons of molasses each day, separating sugar from other compounds by passing diluted molasses through small resin beads, according to company officials. Previously, Michigan Sugars facilities allowed the company to process around 325 tons per day.

Michigan Sugars Vice President of Operations Nick Klein said this new facility is more than just a place of production  it is a symbol of innovation, efficiency, and progress.

We have cutting-edge technology and a dedicated team that will be taking this factory to its 650 tons-per-day molasses processing rate over the next several weeks, he added. Huge thanks to our shareholders, employers, and contractors whose commitment to this project has delivered a world-class operation and sustainability for the future.

Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw.
SAGINAW, MI  The sun set slowly Thursday, May 30, during the final commencement ceremony in the history of Saginaw High School.

One of the regions largest schools for much of the last century, Saginaw Highs Lawrence Laeding Stadium hosted the 6 p.m. event, where the last 101 graduates received diplomas.
Editors note: The concurrence to the Michigan Supreme Court order denying a writ of mandamus in Raise the Wage MIs case against the Board of State Canvassers was misidentified in an earlier version of this story.

The Michigan Supreme Court has denied a request that it force the Board of State Canvassers to approve a ballot initiative to increase the states minimum wage.

Raise The Wage MI submitted nearly 570,000 signatures to the state last summer for a ballot initiative that would increase Michigans minimum wage to $15 by 2027 and tie future increases to inflation.

But a business organization called Michigan Opportunity objected to the petition, noting that between the Board of State Canvassers certification of the 100-word summary that would appear at the top of the petition form and the circulation of the actual petitions, a detail had changed.

The summary approved in 2022 said the wage increase would apply to employers with two or more employees.

The petitions that were circulated said it would apply to employers with 21 or more employees, meaning it wouldnt apply to about 90% of all Michigan businesses.

The change taints the process because it likely misled hundreds of thousands of people to sign the petition, said Andrea Hansen, a lawyer for Michigan Opportunity.

The Board of State Canvassers deadlocked on the measure in October, with the two Democratic members voting to approve and the two Republican members voting to deny.

Raise the Wage MI appealed to the state Supreme Court, arguing that the Board has no authority whatsoever over the text of the proposal and cannot use the text to deny certification.

If there are sufficient signatures and the form of the petition has been approved, the proposal must be certified, the brief said, and the court should order Board of State Canvassers to do so.

The court was unconvinced, denying the request in an order issued Friday.

In a concurrence, Justice Brian Zahra said a writ of mandamus  the sort of order the court would use to force such an action  is an extraordinary remedy reserved for violations of a clear legal duty, or where an agencys action was so arbitrary and capricious as to evidence a total failure to exercise discretion.

The court cannot substitute its own discretion for that of the Boards officers, Zahra said.

We are disappointed that Republicans on the Board of Canvassers have continued to thwart the will of Michigan voters, Justin Onwenu, treasurer of Raise the Wage MI and a director with One Fair Wage, the organization sponsoring the campaign, said in a statement.

Michigan workers deserve a raise, and hundreds of thousands of Raise the Wage petition signers agree, he said. Michigan voters and Michigan workers deserve to have their voices heard and we will continue to explore all avenues to deliver the raise theyve been seeking for years.

Michigan Opportunity spokesman John Sellek applauded the statement, saying in a statement that because both the Court and the Board noted that the One Fair Wage teams sloppy, error-filled efforts resulted in hundreds of thousands of Michigan citizens signing petitions with language that would end the state minimum wage for thousands of workers...the Court has essentially affirmed the Boards refusal to move One Fair Wages effort to the November ballot.

The court is still considering separate cases concerning the adopt and amend strategy used by Republicans in the state legislature to dilute two 2018 ballot initiatives that would have raised the minimum wage and required every business in the state to provide paid sick leave.

If the court rules that the strategy was unconstitutional, it could lead to a jump in the minimum wage from about $10 to $13 and an increase for tipped workers from $3.84 to $12.
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Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil speaks about rape loophole View Photo

Sonora, CA In California, current laws classify sexual assault on incapacitated victims as non-violent crimes. Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil argues this legal framework fails to reflect the severity of the crime. Victims who are drugged or intentionally intoxicated are rendered unable to resist or consent, yet according to her the law does not treat their assaults with the gravity they deserve.

Alvarado-Gil references harrowing testimonies from survivors like Tonja Balden, who was drugged and raped by serial offender Andrew Luster. Despite his 124-year sentence, Luster may be eligible for early release under Proposition 57, which classifies rape of an incapacitated person as non-violent.

Senate Bill 268 aims to close this loophole, ensuring such crimes are recognized as violent felonies. This legislative change seeks to validate survivors experiences, deliver appropriate justice, and deter future offenses. As Alvarado-Gil emphasizes, rape is inherently violent, and the law must unequivocally reflect this truth. The full blog can be found here.
If you think of information as a virus, instead of treating an infection once it has taken hold  that is, debunking  it is much better to vaccinate so that the body is inoculated. Welcome to pre-bunking.

On Wednesday (May 28), just over a week before the EU elections commence, European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen unveiled her latest (and hopefully last) censorship initiative: pre-bunking. This approach, she says, is more successful than debunking and will allow society to build up immunity to misinformation.

Von der Leyen drew heavily on the vernacular of virology and vaccinology to describe her pre-bunking initiative. This, of course, is ironic given her present embroilment in the Pfizergate vaccine procurement scandal, which is the subject of not one, but two, criminal investigations. It is also disconcerting to hear one of the most powerful political leaders of the so-called liberal West liken information to a virus. As I will show in this article, she is not the only one.

As with medicine, Von der Leyen says, prevention is preferable to cure: If you think of information as a virus (NC: which, to be fair, most right-thinking people probably dont), instead of treating an infection once it has taken hold  that is, debunking  it is much better to vaccinate so that the body is inoculated. That is where pre-bunking comes in.

The EU will start "pre-bunking":

 Debunking suggests exposing false information

 Pre-bunking" entails more government gatekeepers, smearing and censorship against those who challenge the EU's monopoly on truth pic.twitter.com/HHiduewd0s  Glenn Diesen (@Glenn_Diesen) May 30, 2024

Building Immunity Against Misinformation

Like vaccines, pre-bunking intentionally exposes people to a weaker dose of mis- or dis-information (as defined by the Commission, presumably), so that their minds can build up antibodies to resist real fake news stories later down the line. In the words of the concepts creator, Sander van der Linden, you preemptively try to refute falsehoods or the techniques that are used to dupe people online, so that people can build up cognitive or mental antibodies so that when they come across them in the future they are partly immune.

Sander van der Linden is a Dutch professor of social psychology at the University of Cambridge. His books include Foolproof: Why Misinformation Infects Our Minds and How to Build Immunity and The Psychology of Misinformation. The titles speak for themselves.

Van der Lindens lab is apparently partnered with the UK government, the US State Department, and CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency), the notorious censorship agency embedded within the Department of Homeland Security. Thats according to Mike Benz, a former State Department official who is arguably the top expert on the US censorship industry. CISA has its own subsidiary: the Office of Biometric Identity Management. This gives an idea of how digital censorship will soon be tied up with biometric digital identity.

These institutions are at the leading edge of the collective Wests rapidly growing censorship industrial complex. Their role, notes Benz, is primarily, if not exclusively, political:

Here, watch this star of the US-UK govts new political "thought control" game industry explain his other games controlling the psychological response to gov't Covid-19 policies. Note how the government's censorship targets are all posts criticizing the government: pic.twitter.com/8QMNAPvbqJ  Mike Benz (@MikeBenzCyber) September 14, 2023

Van der Lindens pre-bunking ideas have gained traction in some important places, including Silicon Valley. In February, Google Alphabet revealed plans to run a series of animated ads on platforms such as TikTok and YouTube featuring pre-bunking techniques developed in partnership with researchers at the Universities of Cambridge and Bristol. The ads have been shown in five EU countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, and Poland. Viewers watching the ads are asked to fill in a short multiple-choice questionnaire, designed to gauge what they have learned about misinformation.

So, in other words, Google, a company that was recently forced to withdraw its Gemini image generator after suffering worldwide ridicule over inaccuracies in some of the historical depictions that it was creating, is now trying to train untold millions of EU citizens in the art of identifying mis- and disinformation.

A Vaccine for Brainwash

Another organisation experimenting with pre-bunking is, perhaps unsurprisingly, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO). The organisations Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence recently published a report co-authored by Van der Linden. Titled Inoculation Theory and Misinformation, the report discusses ways of build[ing] psychological resilience against misinformation through psychological vaccines or inoculation.'

If this sounds like something straight out of Dr. Strangelove, thats probably because, as the report notes, the theoretical background of inoculation theory dates all the way back to the 1960s when the US government became concerned about the prospect of its troops becoming brainwashed (or persuaded) by foreign propaganda during the Vietnam War:

This concern prompted the social psychologist William McGuire to explore the idea of a vaccine for brainwash. Drawing on the analogy of medical inoculations, McGuire proposed that rather than bombarding people with more supportive facts, pre-emptively exposing people to a weakened dose of a specific persuasive [manipulative] argument could confer psychological resistance against future exposure to persuasive attacks, much like a medical vaccine confers physiological resistance against future infection. Over the years, inoculation treatments came to feature two core components: 1) a forewarning of an impending attack on ones beliefs, and 2) a pre-emptive refutation of the persuasive argument, also called a prebunk. Since then, a large volume of studies and metaanalyses has been conducted, establishing inoculation theory as a robust framework for countering unwanted persuasion. Although the original paradigm has proved highly replicable, for a long time it was never

tested in the context that inspired McGuires idea: brainwashing and propaganda. This began

to change around 2017, when researchers started to apply inoculation theory within the

modern context of online misinformation.

A (Philip K) Dickensian Future

The gathering interest among governments, generals and Silicon Valley companies in ideas like pre-bunking underscores one of the darkest aspects of the censorship industrial complexes taking root in ostensible liberal democracies: the increasing emphasis on taking preventative actions against illegal, mis- or dis-information. It is eerily reminiscent of pre-crime, the concept first coined by Phillip K Dick to express the notion that the occurrence of a crime can be anticipated and prevented before it even happens.

The monitoring obligation of all actors involved in the EUs Digital Services Act (DSA) is preventative, warned Manfred Kolsch, a retired German judge, in a blistering critique of the EUs censorship regime featured in Berliner Zeitung (which we covered here):

It is always about expected critical [effects], foreseeable adverse effects on social debate, public safety or public health. The Advocate General at the ECJ has said what is legally necessary: These represent a particularly serious interference with the right to freedom of expression because by restricting certain information before it is disseminated, they prevent any public debate about the content, thus [d]epriving freedom of expression of its actual function as a motor of pluralism. The Advocate General correctly points out that preventive information controls ultimately abolish the right to fundamentally unrestricted freedom of expression and information.

Kolsch also warned that the DSA directly contravenes many of the EUs and national laws on freedom of expression and information, including Article 11 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights, Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Article 5 of the Basic Law (Germanys written constitution, agreed by the allies back in 1949 when the first post-war government was established in West Germany). Here is the text of Article 11 of the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights:

Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers.

Not anymore, it seems.

A Milestone in Global Online Censorship

The upcoming EU elections will represent a milestone in online censorship. This is the first time bloc-wide elections have been held since the full launch of the DSA in February (covered in my article, The EUs Mass Censorship Regime Is Almost Fully Operational. Will It Go Global?) So far, all of the main platforms, including Elon Musks X, appear to be adhering to the EUs rules on disinformation. If they dont, they could face serious economic consequences, including fines of up to 6% of global turnover.

At her speech at Davos this year, Von der Leyen said that the top concern among the World Economic Forums partner companies (which also happens to be one of the Commissions biggest worries) is misinformation and disinformation. The solution, she said, is to forge a grand coalition of sorts between business and governments  which, as luck has it, fits snugly with the WEFs primary mission in life: to promote public private partnerships at all levels and in all areas of government, for the benefit primarily of its partner companies.

In February, just one month after that speech, the Commission published a set of guidelines for Big Tech firms to help Brussels secure the upcoming elections from foreign interference and other threats. The guidelines recommend mitigation measures and best practices to be undertaken by Very Large Online Platforms and Search Engines before, during, and after electoral events, and are explained as necessary in order to prevent things like fake news, turnout suppression, cyber threats and attacks, and, of course, Russias malign influence on European public opinion, particularly regarding Ukraine.

Integrity of election[s] is one of my top priorities for DSA enforcement, as we are entering a period of elections in Europe, said Thierry Breton, [EU Internal Market Commissioner] last September.

Elections in Slovakia in September were supposed to offer a dummy run, but the results were disappointing  at least as far as the Commission was concerned. The left-wing populist and social conservative party, DirectionSocial Democracy (Smer-SD), led by former Prime Minister Robert Fico, took the largest number of votes and was able to form a coalition government with like-minded parties. Fico had promised to cut all aid to Ukraine, which he says is governed by neo-Nazis, as well as block its ascension to NATO.

As readers well know, Fico was shot five times in an assassination attempt two weeks ago but somehow survived and is now apparently on the mend. As Conor Gallagher reported shortly afterwards, Ficos opposition to Project Ukraine and the rabid demonisation of his political stance by mainstream media appear to have played a key role in motivating his would-be assassin.

The Commissions mass censorship regime is the culmination of a process that began at least a decade ago, as I previously documented. But it is determined to up its censorship game. Two weeks ago, VdL pledged to create a new disinformation unit for detecting and weeding out online disinformation promoted by foreign agents while using education to inoculate (that word again!) EU citizens against false information. The Orwellian title for this new initiative? European Democracy Shield.

The irony of VdL, once described by POLITICO EU as Europes American president, talking about the risks posed by foreign agents is, of course, rather rich. But there is an even darker irony.

The EU is currently venting its spleen against the government of Georgia for daring to pass a law seeking to rein in Western meddling as US-EU assets seek to push a colour revolution in the country, just as they did in Ukraine in 2013-14. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has even argued that the Georgian governments law on foreign influence transparency goes against [the] core principles & values of the EU, negatively impacting Georgia. What she hasnt said is that the Commission she heads up is also seeking to pass similar regulation aimed at combating foreign interference  the so-called European Democracy Shield.

"the law on foreign influence transparency goes against core principles & values of the EU" So why is the EU drafting identical legislation all member states have to adopt?  https://t.co/5epE40adTG pic.twitter.com/GBhOwhUB93  Kit Klarenberg  (@KitKlarenberg) May 29, 2024

While Von der Leyen is a big-part player in all of these processes, the sad truth is that they would almost certainly be happening with or without her. They may even accelerate under her rumoured successor, Mario Draghi. As Conor Gallagher documented in his recent piece, Combating Hate: The Trojan Horse for Precrime, burgeoning censorship and anti-hate efforts are proliferating across the worlds ostensible liberal democracies. And while hate could mean a racist comment or action; it could also now refer to criticism of Israeli policy or a thought crime against the ruling class.

This is a key point. While the governing classes in the so-called liberal West can dig up a plethora of reasons for censoring online discourse  from protecting children from harmful content to preserving faith in the new generation of vaccines, to preventing widespread discussion of, say, central bank digital currencies  the reality is that governments and the corporations whose interests they serve are rapidly losing control of the narrative. The only way of regaining control is through Stasi-like censorship. And that, unfortunately, will mean the end of what little precious remains of liberal democracy.
Aposiopesis: Watch 12-year-old win US Spelling Bee BBC

How the Guinness Brewery Invented the Most Important Statistical Method in Science Scientific American

JP Morgan Launches Fractional Shares For Self-Directed Investors Finance Feeds. With the latest capability, investors can buy a fraction of a stock or exchange-traded fund for as little as $5, said the announcement. Awesome. Taxi drivers, hairdressers, and the like.

Climate

Global tourism is booming. These people would rather it wasnt BBC

Syndemics

More commentary:

How can a study have a 3-year "control group without SARS-CoV-2 infection" when Americans are getting COVID an average of approximately every 12.5 months? It can't  not without using historical controls. Here are some alternative gist-level ways of viewing the new Nature pic.twitter.com/rSRu41HvyZ  Mike Hoerger, PhD MSCR MBA (@michael_hoerger) May 30, 2024

The High-Risk/Low-Risk Fallacy: Part 1 Pandemic Accountability Index (AK). Part 2. Word of the day: vexillology.

China?

Why Dollarization Is the Solution to Laos Economic Woes The DIplomat

Africa

Syraqistan

New Not-So-Cold War

South of the Border

Border Traffic Phenomenal World. Ecuador.

The Caribbean

Global Elections

2024

The Supremes

Digital Watch

Our Famously Free Press

The Groves of Academe

Healthcare

Thousands of cancer patients to trial personalised vaccines BBC

Boeing

Imperial Collapse Watch

Class Warfare

Stop Asking For Validation Connor Wroe Southard, A Lonely Impulse of Delight. Part 2. On the publishing industry (and getting published).

The Federalist No. 1: Annotated JSTOR Daily

Antidote du jour (Patricio Mena Vasconez):

See yesterdays Links and Antidote du Jour here.
By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at Gods Spies

Weekend murder in Rafah (source)

The rich dont rule in anyones names but their own.

Yours truly

The Bipartisan Consensus Runs America

The Bipartisan Consensus on most matters rules America. For example, the Bipartisan Consensus controls support for our wars. On April 20:

The United States House of Representatives approved a $95 billion legislative package on Saturday, aimed at providing assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.  Both Democratic President Joe Biden and top Senate Republican Mitch McConnell had urged Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to bring the bill to a vote.

And on April 27:

The US Senate has approved a $95bn bill to deliver security aid to Ukraine, Israel and the Indo-Pacific region with overwhelming bipartisan support, in a boost to President Joe Bidens top foreign policy priorities.

This is true despite a lack of public support for both wars, and active opposition to the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

The same is true for health care in America. Majorities have favored national Medicare for All plans for years. Yet the Bipartisan Consensus opposes it. Biden has said he would veto a Medicare for All bill, and Republicans, of course, want a Medicare for No One plan, despite majority support for a public option even among their base.

I guarantee, even Republican voters, if once they had it, would kill to keep an expanded Medicare for All. Nobody thinks South Park is wrong about the U.S. medical system. We just havent reached critical mass in active opposition, and media helps keep it that way.

Its the Princeton Study All Over Again

We could go on and on, but whats the point? This is the Princeton Study all over again. Major Study Finds The US Is An Oligarchy sang one headline. We all know that statements not wrong.

This is not about Left versus Right. There are Left vs. Right issues, but Endless War (to enrich the war suppliers) and Endless Wealth Flows to the Top (to enrich our true rulers and impoverish everyone else) arent among them.

This about the Rich and the Rest. More specifically, its about how do we stop the rich from ruling the rest? How do we break their vice-grip on politics?

Could Israel Support Divide the Rich from the Rest?

Which brings me to Israel, and my main point.

Gazans are being relentlessly murdered. In response, here at home, theres a surprisingly strong rebellion  students against money-soaked universities; the ruled against their rulers, like the billionaire Robert Kraft  and the issue that sparked it all is a foreign war, Israels genocide, and its broad and determined elite and media support.

Where could this end?

Authorities move farther into the encampment on UCLAs campus and fire what appears to be rubber bullets, according to a CNN team on the ground. Source: CNN

Outcomes

The very best outcome would be for Israel to stop murdering people. That would end the deaths and end the revolt against our leaders complicity. After all, the George Floyd protests left barely a trace. Torture of Gazans would continue, just as murder-by-cop continues, but drained of its driver  mass murder  this opposition would likely fade into the wings.

But what if Israel is intent on genuine ethnic cleansing, either by murdering most Gazans, or by mass expulsion, or both. John Mearsheimer certainly thinks this is the most likely of his four options. Israelis dont want a one-state solution. They dont want a two-state solution. Theyre left either driving all Arabs from Palestine, or murder of those that are left.

So what happens then, if Israel never stops?

Biden withholds support for Israel in a meaningful way, and meaningful protests cease. Biden maintains support and protests accelerate, in parallel with unstoppable murder.

I think thats it for choices.

If Biden and the Bipartisan Gang insist on arming the slaughter of what could end up being a million or innocent souls, the U.S. bottom  its people  could rise against the top  its money-fed leaders  in a way that tells everyone who participates this unavoidable truth: The rich dont rule us in anyones names but their own.

The Unfinished Revolution

And that would return the U.S. to the 60s and 70s, another time of critical-mass revolt. Back then a number of themes  civil rights, womens rights, environmentalism (called greening), and others  each were united around one live-and-death core, the refusal of the mass of young men to be sent off to die.

As long as the draft was in place, the revolt (the Movement) was strong, a solid threat to the authority of the State. As soon as the draft ended, the Movement began to decline. The separate movements remained, but lost critical mass. We live in a post-Movement world, built by Carter (the proto-neoliberal), Reagan, Clinton, Bush and all the rest.

What Will End Americans Servitude?

As before, today there are many issues that threaten our lives  economic and racial justice, the rape of the people for wealth, our man-killing climate  but none alone has united the people to rebel, and none has sparked critical mass.

Until now, that is, with the horror of Israeli genocide and our rulers determination to see it continued.

So my own bottom line is this:

If Israel keeps murdering Gazans, and our leaders keep forcing complicity down our throats, the revolt could light a flame that could reach critical mass  and burn till the Israelis give up, or Biden does, or our leaders lose control of the country.

Will Israel succeed in taking this nation apart? After all, something has to end American servitude. Its not going to end by itself. It may as well be by the hand of our leaders best friend.
NATO Foreign Ministers concluded two days of meetings and events in Prague, Czechia on Friday (31 May 2024) with an informal session of the North Atlantic Council. In a meeting chaired by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Allies made progress on preparations for the Washington Summit in July and agreed that providing support to Ukraine should remain a top priority.

Speaking after the Council, the Secretary General said that NATO will take a greater coordination role in providing equipment and training to Ukraine, saying this would provide more predictability for Kyiv and address both immediate and longer-term needs. He highlighted the fact practically all military aid to Ukraine  99 percent  comes from NATO Allies affirming it made sense that NATO should play a greater role in these efforts. The Secretary General has also proposed a multi-year financial pledge for Ukraine.



Russia must understand that it cannot wait us out, the Secretary General said highlighting the fact that since Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, Allies have provided approximately 40 billion euros worth of military aid to Ukraine each year. Mr Stoltenberg emphasised that, in order to accelerate the end of the war, NATO members must maintain at least current levels of support to Ukraine for as long as necessary.
(As delivered)

Good morning.

Today we will convene NATO Foreign Ministers here in Prague in this beautiful historic city.

We will discuss the preparations for the upcoming Washington Summit in July and there are three main topics.

First, Ukraine. Allies have provided unprecedented support to Ukraine. Just last week Belgium announced 30 more F-16s and Spain and Sweden announced new packages of more than one billion euros each for air defence, for artillery and for other important equipment for Ukraine. These and other announcements come on top of the US decision of 61 billion extra US dollars for Ukraine.

But we will address how to make sure we sustain and step up our support for Ukraine and I have proposed that NATO should play a bigger role in the coordination and supply of security assistance and training for Ukraine.

I also proposed a multiyear financial pledge to ensure more accountability and predictability in the support we provide to Ukraine because we need to make sure that Moscow understands that we are prepared for the long haul in our support for Ukraine.

We will also address our deterrence and defence. We have new defence plans. Allies are allocating more forces, high readiness to NATO and this is also reflected in the fact that more and more Allies are investing more in defence, meeting the 2% guideline. The Czech Republic for instance will be at 2% GDP for defence this year.

Thirdly, we will address how to further strengthen our global partnerships, in particular with our Asia-Pacific partners Australia and New Zealand, Japan and South Korea. They will be at the Summit in July and it is important to strengthen the partnership with them to address more global competition.

Ansgar Haase, DPA

Secretary General, what's your comment on the latest news from the United States? Is it enough what the United States will allow Ukraine to defend Kharkiv? Thank you.

NATO Secretary General

Well, I welcome that NATO Allies are providing support to Ukraine in many different ways. But I will not go into details about exactly what type of support, and how Ukraine is using the different types of support they are getting. What I've stated many times is that we need to remember that this is a war of aggression. Russia has attacked another country, violated international law, invaded Ukraine. And Ukraine has the right for self-defence. And that includes also the right to strike legitimate military targets inside Russia. And let me add to that. This is even more urgent as we see that Russia has opened a new front. They have attacked now again from the north into the Kharkiv region. And the border, the frontlines is more or less the same. So they're hitting Ukraine with missiles, with artillery based inside Russia. And of course, Ukraine must be able to hit back and to defend themselves. This is part of the right for self-defence.

Sabine Siebold, Reuters

Could you tell us your expectation - how will it change the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine now that several Allies have lifted restrictions on the use of their donated weapons inside Russian territory? And the second one, if I may: how concerned are you over Ukrainian attacks on Russian nuclear radar stations? Thank you.

NATO Secretary General

Several Allies have never imposed any restrictions on the supply they have delivered to Ukraine. And again, this is a matter of upholding international law, Ukraine's right to self-defence. Russia has attacked, Ukraine has tried to defend themselves, and that includes also attacking legitimate targets inside Russia. If you look at the battlefield now, Russia is launching attacks on Ukrainian soil, from Russian soil. With artillery, with missiles, they are amassing troops. And of course, it makes it very hard for Ukraine to defend themselves if they're not allowed to use advanced weapons to repel those attacks. So many Allies have made it clear that they, of course, accept that Ukraine is using the weapons they have received to defend themselves, including by striking military targets inside Russia. Especially when those military facilities are used in attacking, directing attacks from Russian soil. Then, we all expect that this is done according to international law, and in a responsible way.

I will not go into the details except for saying that of course, we all assume that this will be done in a responsible way.

Max Delany, AFP

Thank you, Secretary General, following up on the similar issue. Putin has warned about serious consequences if the West lets Ukraine strike with its weapons inside Russia. Do you fear now an escalation from Russia, and do you think Russia could strike back against NATO territory itself? Thank you.

NATO Secretary General

Well, this is nothing new. Allies have for many years, or since this war started back in 2022, accepted that their weapons are used also for strikes against legitimate targets inside [Russia]. For instance, United Kingdom has provided Storm Shadow cruise missiles for a long time without any restrictions. So this has been the case for a long time. It has always been the case for a long time that every time NATO Allies are providing support to Ukraine, President Putin is trying to threaten us not to do that. The day of the invasion, he gave a speech where he threatened all countries that were going to provide any support to Ukraine, that that was dangerous and that will have consequences. And that has been the message every time we have made decisions to deliver long range artillery, HIMARS, advanced battle tanks, cruise missiles or F 16 fighter jets. So this is part of the efforts by president Putin, by Moscow to prevent NATO allies from supporting Ukraine to defend themselves. And again, Ukraine has the right for self-defence. We have the right to help Ukraine uphold their right for self-defence. And that does not make NATO Allies party to the conflict. That was the case back in February 2022. That was the case last year, and that remains the case. And escalation - well, it's Russia that has escalated by invading another country, and Russia has escalated just last week by opening a new front, where they are hitting Ukraine from inside Russia. Of course, to assume that Ukraine should not hit back is in no way reasonable, because Ukraine must be able to defend their territory - also, of course by hitting the artillery, the missiles which are launched against them from inside Ukraine, inside Russia, sorry.

Katerina Gruntova, Czech Radio

At the Washington Summit, are you going to discuss or take any new measures regarding Russia, which is increasingly hostile to NATO countries?

NATO Secretary General

NATO Allies are providing a wide range of different types of support to Ukraine, economic, humanitarian, financial but also military support and NATO Allies are also imposing sanctions on Russia to make sure they have to pay a cost for this absolutely unacceptable violation of international law, invading another country.

I expect that the new decisions at the Summit when it comes to helping Ukraine to defend against the Russian invasion will be on a bigger NATO role in coordinating the supply of weapons, of ammunition, of training to Ukraine and I also proposed a financial pledge to ensure more long term predictability to help to prevent what we have seen over the last months. We have seen some gaps and delays and this has made it more difficult for Ukrainians to defend themselves because there have been serious delays in the provision of ammunition from NATO Allies. This is now being addressed but I think to ensure more predictability, more robust support we should have a bigger NATO role in the provision of support and multi-year financial pledge and I expect Allies to meet that by the Summit.

Pavlina Fabianova, CNN

How do you see Russian movements in Baltic Sea and Russian demands to negotiate the lines in the Baltic Sea?

NATO Secretary General

Any changes of borders, unilateral changes of borders, is a violation of international law and Russia has signed the convention on the law of the Seas and of course we expect Russia to fully comply with international law including when it comes to maritime borders. So any unilateral change or attempt to change borders is unacceptable and should not happen.
(As delivered)

Good afternoon.

We have just concluded a productive meeting of NATO Foreign Ministers.

Our discussions focused on our support for Ukraine.

We all want to stop this war. But the paradox is that the better we prepare for the long haul, the sooner the war can end. Russia must understand that it cannot wait us out.

No final decisions were made today, but we made significant progress on three issues.

First, NATOs plans to play a greater coordinating role in the provision of equipment and training.

Practically all military aid to Ukraine  99 percent  comes from NATO Allies.

So, it makes sense that NATO should play a greater role in these efforts.

This will enable us to use the NATO structures to put our support on a firmer footing,

provide more predictability to Kyiv, and address both immediate and longer-term needs.

Secondly, I have proposed that Allies commit to a multi-year financial pledge for Ukraine. Since Russias full-scale invasion in 2022, Allies have provided approximately 40 billion euros worth of military support to Ukraine each year.

We must maintain at least this level of support each year, for as long as necessary.

I have also proposed that Allies should share this burden equitably. This will improve accountability, and give Ukraine the predictability they need to plan for the long term.

Finally, we discussed Ukraines path to NATO membership. Allies agree that Ukraines future is in NATO. And we are determined to make progress in charting this path. Membership will be Ukraines ultimate security guarantee. It will ensure a lasting peace;

And provide the stability needed for reconstruction.

Let me add this on Allied support and the question of escalation.

Russia started this war. They annexed Crimea in 2014. And in 2022, Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine began the bloodiest conflict in Europe since World War 2.

Russia is striking hospitals, schools, and shopping malls. Russia is bombing power and water infrastructure. Russia is killing Ukrainian civilians.

Ukraine is defending itself from appalling Russian brutality.

So, let me be clear. Self-defence is not escalation. Self-defence is a fundamental right. It is enshrined in the UN Charter. Ukraine has the right, and the responsibility, to protect its people. And we have the right to help Ukraine uphold its right to self-defence.

Of course, Russia does not like this. At every stage of this war Russia has complained, threatened and sabre-rattled.

Putin wanted to deter NATO Allies from supporting Ukraine. But we are not and we will not be deterred.

Russia is the one attacking. Russia is the one escalating. Most recently by opening a new front in the Kharkiv region. And with waves of new strikes on Ukrainian citizens.

As the war has evolved, our support has evolved. And it will continue to evolve.

I welcome that Allies are providing many different types of assistance. And at the NATO Summit, we will put NATOs support on a firmer footing for the long haul.

NATO Spokesperson Farah Dakhlallah: Thank you, Secretary General. I'll start with Bloomberg, Andrea.

Andrea Palasciano (Bloomberg): [question inaudible]

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg: Well, we are speaking about money for the future. And that's per definition fresh. We have already spent roughly 40 billion per year so far, but [what] I'm asking Allies to do is to commit that for the following years. That's new money, because that's money which is not there now. And the important thing is that we need predictability.

We need a firm commitment for the long haul to ensure that Ukraine is able to plan, to ensure that Ukraine has the predictability they need to conduct this war, self-defence, but also to send a message to Moscow. That Moscow cannot wait us out. So the more clear it is that we are prepared for long haul, the sooner this war can end. Because the sooner President Putin realizes that he cannot win this war, we will be there for as long as necessary.

Let me just add before we continue that I also like to thank the Czech authorities, the Czech government and the foreign minister for hosting this event. The foreign ministerial has been excellent and the surroundings, the city of Prague, the castle has been an excellent venue for a very important foreign ministerial meeting in NATO.

NATO Spokesperson: Okay, thank you. Czech TV.

David Mirejovsky (Czech TV): Secretary General, could you provide us with more details about the future of Ukraine in NATO, do you have some timing in your mind, is it years or long future?

NATO Secretary General: NATO Allies agree that Ukraine will become a member of the Alliance. We are working on how to move Ukraine closer to membership. At the Vilnius Summit we agreed important steps. We removed the requirement for something called Membership Action Plan, meaning that we turned the membership process for Ukraine from a two-step process to a one-step process.

And we also agree a comprehensive package for interoperability to ensure that Ukraine comes closer to NATO standards, doctrines and full interoperability with NATO. Then I hope that at the Summit in Washington we can take further steps and also believe strongly that the fact that we will most likely establish a mission or stronger structure for providing support to Ukraine. That will help to move Ukraine closer to membership. And of course, anything we do together with Ukraine will help them to come closer to membership. So Allies agree that Ukraine should be a member, but the timing of the invitation depends on when there will be consensus and when the conditions are met.

NATO Spokesperson: Thank you, Dan.

Dan Michaels (Wall Street Journal): Thank you. The announcement yesterday, or decision yesterday by the US, Germany and maybe some other Allies about possibly striking into Russia, retaliatory strikes into Russia seems to be the latest example of NATO members coming around to a position that Ukraine and some Allies have been begging for a long time, often less than what Ukraine wants but actually relenting over the past day. Has there been any discussion or is there any ongoing discussion about trying to get more ahead on some of these tactics and enabling Ukraine to do more to actually pursue the strategy that you've outlined? Thank you.

NATO Secretary General: As this war has evolved, also NATO support has evolved. That demonstrates that when they are now attacking Ukraine from inside Russia, on the other side of the border, when the border line or the front line is more or less the same, then of course the only way to attack behind enemy lines is also then to strike into Russian territory.

09:56

Allies are providing support in different ways. Some Allies have never imposed any restrictions, other Allies have eased their restrictions. We just need to be vigilant. We need to adapt and evolve our support as the war evolves. And of course, we addressed these issues in the meeting today, and will continue to coordinate very closely. That's also one of the reasons why I believe it will be helpful to have a stronger NATO coordination and the long-term financial pledge in line with what I have proposed.

NATO Spokesperson: Okay, FAZ, Thomas, over there. Thank you.

Thomas Gutschker (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung): Thanks a lot, Thomas Gutschker, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Secretary General, again two questions on the multi-year pledge. So do I understand you correctly that you no longer call for Allies to make commitments for the time after the war? Because of course, the 40 billion refers to wartime contributions. And secondly, when you say that the burden should be spread equitably among Allies, are you referring to the NATO spending key? So contributions to common costs and NATO. Thank you.

NATO Secretary General: So we will now start the work on the details of such a financial pledge and theres no way I can go into all the details before I presented them to all the Allies and before we have worked through those details. But I strongly believe that we need the financial pledge, both to address immediate needs, but also to address the need to build a future force. This is about making Ukrainians able to defend themselves today, and to deter future attacks in the future. So it's a combination of short term and long term.

And of course, many of the things we do now as immediate response to the immediate needs, for instance, providing F-16s as part of the immediate response, immediate needs for Ukraine to defend themselves today. But of course, many of those capabilities will also be part of the future force to deter any attack in the future. So I think this distinction between the future force and the needs today is a bit artificial.

These things are linked and therefore, I think also, it makes sense that NATO plays a role both in building the future force and in coordinating the support for helping the Ukrainians to deter aggression or to defend aggression today.

And then, again, details on burden sharing. We have to come back to that. But, but of course, GDP has been used before. GDP is a way that reflects the economic strength, the income of each and every country. So when we discuss burden sharing in NATO, that's at least one option we can look into. And again, I can be more precise later on in this process. And at the Summit, I expect to be able to tell you all the details.

NATO Spokesperson: Okay, thank you, over to New York Times.

Edward Wong (The New York Times): Hi, Secretary General, Edward Wong from the New York Times. Earlier in the war, one of the main reasons why restrictions were placed on the use of weapons by various Allied countries is because of the fear that President Putin would order the use of a tactical nuclear weapon in the battlefield in Ukraine. I'm wondering what has changed in that assessment? Do you have new intelligence that shows that the threshold is higher than you previously believed? Do you think that the Allied countries made a mistake earlier in being too fearful of this and have China and India exercised influence on Putin since then?

NATO Secretary General: I think you need to understand that these are national decisions and different Allies have provided different types of support and many Allies have not imposed any restrictions. So that's nothing new that NATO Allies don't have restrictions. They give the weapons to Ukraine. And of course, they all assume that they will be used in line with international law, but international law opens up for the use against military targets in Russia because that's part of self-defence. Then other Allies have had more restrictions. But, some of these restrictions are now eased or reduced, reflecting that the war has changed.

Because now the frontline is not inside Ukraine. Most of the fighting so far happened deep inside Ukraine, but now the fighting is in Kharkiv region, on the border between Russia and Ukraine. And it makes sense also then to adapt any restrictions that would make it impossible for Ukrainians to hit back against artillery positions, missile positions in Russia directly attacking Ukrainian forces or Ukrainian cities.

President Putin has threatened NATO Allies since the beginning of the war. He has been out there again and again. Actually the day before the invasion he gave a speech where he threatened any Ally that provided support to Ukraine.

But we are not being deterred. Because if we had been deterred by that message, then we couldn't have given any support. He tried to prevent us from giving any military support. He tried to prevent us from providing armour, advanced missile systems, fighter jets, and we have evolved and stepped up our support because we strongly believe that Ukraine has the right for self-defence and we have the right to help Ukraine upholding the right to self-defence.

NATO Spokesperson: Okay, thank you. European Pravda.

Sergiy Sydorenko (European Pravda): Thank you, European Pravda, Ukraine. I have a question about this long-term support. We know that some Allies are not willing to provide Ukraine with military assistance. How do you see, could this decision be adopted in a way that it would not be able to veto it? If one country decides not to grant military assistance to Ukraine? Thank you.

NATO Secretary General: I'm confident that we will reach good conclusions that will ensure that NATO Allies of course will continue to provide support to Ukraine and that well have a stronger NATO framework around that support to ensure coordination and predictability and accountability. Because we need to ensure that when support is announced, pledged, that actually that turns into real deliveries to Ukraine and we are seeing some discrepancies between what has been promised and what has been delivered. So, for better coordination, for better compliance, for ensuring predictability, I strongly believe that NATO should play a bigger role in coordinating the support.

And we will find ways to ensure that these decisions will work and will not be blocked. I will not make my job easier if I share with you all the details of how we are discussing these issues. So, at the end of the day, I will present you with the beautiful conclusion and then I can tell all the details.

NATO Spokesperson: Okay, the lady in the fourth row.

Olivia Gazis (CBS News): Thank you, Sir. Chinese defence minister today denied again that China is providing any assistance to Russia's war effort saying it was impartial in the matter and that it strictly controls its military exports. Meanwhile, of course the US Deputy Secretary of State has said this week that it's a sustained effort backed by PRC leadership and designed to give Russia every support. A UK official recently suggested that lethal aid is on its way to Beijing. So, after these months of sustained diplomatic pressure, what is NATO observing in the trends in China? Is its support for Russia increasing and is lethal aid a possibility? Thank you.

NATO Secretary General: China is propping up Russias war economy. Russia would not have been able to conduct the war of aggression against Ukraine without the support from China. China is delivering big amounts of dual use equipment, advanced electronic equipment including high-end technology and semiconductors and 90% of the microelectronics that Russia imported last year came from China. And without these advanced high-end products, Russia would not have been able to produce the missiles, the bombs, the planes they are producing to attack Ukraine.

So, there is no doubt that China is playing a key role in enabling the Russians to produce the weapons they use to attack Ukraine. And in return, Moscow is mortgaging its future to Beijing. And then on top of that, you have North Korea providing big amounts of ammunition and Iran providing drones and other types of weapons to Russia.

NATO Spokesperson: Okay, one last question for Asahi Shimbun. Please, go ahead.

Mizuho Morioka (The Asahi Shimbun): [inaudible]  and what will be discussed in the July Summit with Indo Pacific partners? And, is there any progress since last year?

NATO Secretary General: Yes. And I think the war in Ukraine and the issue we just addressed about how China is playing an important role to enable Russia to attack Ukraine demonstrate that security is not regional anymore. Security is global. The war in Ukraine is something that can take place because North Korea, Iran and China are providing support to Russia. So, it demonstrates the link between Europe and Asia Pacific. And what happens in Asia Pacific matters for Europe and vice versa. So, I look forward to welcoming the Heads of State and Government from Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Australia. We strongly believe that we should strengthen our partnerships with these countries, not least to address the challenges that China poses to our security. And of course, this matters for these partners. It matters for us, and therefore we need to strengthen our cooperation as we will do at the Summit in Washington.

NATO Spokesperson: Thank you Secretary General and thank you all.

NATO Secretary General: Thank you so much.
Informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs - Czechia, Prague - 30-31 May 2024
Alternative media giants sue the censorship industrial complex

In a new lawsuit, Webseed and Brighteon Media have accused multiple US government agencies and prominent tech companies of orchestrating a vast censorship operation aimed at suppressing dissenting viewpoints, particularly concerning COVID-19. The plaintiffs, Webseed and Brighteon Media, manage websites like NaturalNews.com and Brighteon.com, which have been at the center of controversy for their alternative health information and criticism of government policies.

(Article republished from ReclaimTheNet.org)

We obtained a copy of the lawsuit for you here.

The defendants include the Department of State, the Global Engagement Center (GEC), the Department of Defense (DOD), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and tech giants such as Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook), Google, and X. Additionally, organizations like NewsGuard Technologies, the Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), and the Global Disinformation Index (GDI) are implicated for their roles in creating and using tools to label and suppress what they consider misinformation.

Allegations of Censorship and Anti-Competitive Practices:

The lawsuit claims that these government entities and tech companies conspired to develop and promote censorship tools to suppress the speech of Webseed and Brighteon Media, among others. The Government was the primary source of misinformation during the pandemic, and the Government censored dissidents and critics to hide that fact, states Stanford University Professor J. Bhattacharya in support of the plaintiffs claims.

The plaintiffs argue that the governments efforts were part of a broader strategy to silence voices that did not align with official narratives on COVID-19 and other issues. They assert that these actions were driven by an anti-competitive animus aimed at eliminating alternative viewpoints from the digital public square.

According to the complaint, the plaintiffs have suffered substantial economic harm, estimating losses between $25 million and $50 million due to reduced visibility and ad revenue from their platforms. They also claim significant reputational damage as a result of being labeled as purveyors of misinformation.

The complaint details how the GEC and other agencies allegedly funded and promoted tools developed by NewsGuard, ISD, and GDI to blacklist and demonetize websites like NaturalNews.com. These tools, which include blacklists and so-called nutrition labels, were then utilized by tech companies to censor content on their platforms. The plaintiffs argue that this collaboration between government agencies and private tech companies constitutes an unconstitutional suppression of free speech.

A Broader Pattern of Censorship:

The lawsuit references other high-profile cases, such as Missouri v. Biden, to illustrate a pattern of government overreach into the digital information space. It highlights how these efforts have extended beyond foreign disinformation to target domestic voices that challenge prevailing government narratives.

Webseed and Brighteon Media are seeking both monetary damages and injunctive relief to prevent further censorship. They contend that the governments actions violate the First Amendment and call for an end to the use of these censorship tools.

As the case progresses, it promises to shine a light on the complex interplay between government agencies, tech companies, and the tools used to control the flow of information in the digital age. The outcome could have significant implications for the future of free speech and the regulation of online content.

Read more at: ReclaimTheNet.org
Americans fleeing cities for small towns in droves as crime and taxes skyrocket

Americans have been leaving the nations biggest cities in droves in recent years in favor of small towns as crime, immigration and high taxes leave people seeking a different way of life.

In the three years leading up to the pandemic, counties encompassing metro areas with a million residents or more lost 200,000 residents yearly to other regions, on average. The pandemic only served to accelerate this trend, with the average loss climbing to 750,000 in 2021 and 650,000 in 2022.

Statistics show that a lot of these people are moving to small towns, a trend that has not been seen in the U.S. since at least the 1970s. Although big cities are still seeing a modest rise in their populations due to surging international immigrants, theyre struggling to keep Americans in town.

The figures from 2023 tell an interesting story. That year, the New York City metro area lost 204,000 residents, while Los Angeles and Chicago lost 119,000 and 64,000 respectively. The same year, Greenville, South Carolina, added 17,000 new residents to its population of 975,000, while 30,000 people moved to Lakeland, Florida, which had a population of 818,000.

One real estate agent told Fox News that apartment rental prices in New York City have risen by 30 to 35 percent, but cost is only one factor in the decision to leave.

Americans are fed up with living in dangerous cities

Crime is one of the top reasons people are leaving cities, with many Americans complaining that they feel unsafe in neighborhoods that were once nice places to live. Many liberal-run cities are seeing crime  and violent crime in particular  rising as criminals are not held accountable for their actions and overworked and underfunded police departments struggle to maintain order.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. 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.

For example, this Memorial Day weekend, at least 41 people were shot in Chicago, 9 of them fatally, including a 5-year-old girl. A young Chicago mother recently recounted how she called 911 for help during a terrifying break-in while masked robbers were in her home; she was told they had no units to send to her and they left her on her own to deal with the robbers. The robbers eventually fled, and the police did not show up to her home until four hours later.

San Francisco, meanwhile, has been experiencing a major crime spree spanning several years, with residential areas that were once considered quiet and safe now being overrun by crime and shops closing their doors in droves. Violent crime and robberies have also risen in Los Angeles, where an actor was recently shot and killed by thieves trying to steal the catalytic converter from his car.

Taxes are another concern in metros like Boston, with Massachusetts poised to lose around $1 billion in yearly revenue as wealthy residents leave the state over its high taxes. Theyve seen a 1,100 percent rise in migration out of the state since 2013; if this trend continues at the same pace, nearly 100,000 residents making more than $19 billion cumulatively could leave the state by 2030. This would cause Massachusetts to lose around $961 million in income tax revenue every year.

The remote work boom is also playing a role, according to University of Virginia demographer Hamilton Lombard, with many Americans who are allowed to work from home post-pandemic leaving cities with a high cost of living in favor of rural areas and small towns. Even though the percentage of people working from home has dropped a bit since the pandemic peak, those who have the freedom to choose where to live are largely opting for smaller towns with lower costs and recreation, peace and quiet, clean air.

Sources for this article include:

USAToday.com

ABC7Chicago.com

FoxLA.com
WESTERN RUMBLINGS: California, Nevada experience more than 1,000 earthquakes in a single week

Last week, thereported that "two sets of earthquake swarms" just hit California. It turns out that these swarms, together with some in nearby Nevada, produced an astounding 1,000 earthquakes between the two states in a single week.

"To me, whenever that number goes about 1,000, we are officially in the danger zone," commented Michael from End of the American Dream (EAD). "Hopefully there will not be a very large earthquake in California any time soon, but when there is this much shaking going on we should all be on alert."

The largest of the 1,000 was not all that large: a 4.1 magnitude quake that rattled Imperial County, located near the Salton Sea. The epicenter was 18 miles south of Salton City and four miles southeast of Ocotillo Wells, occurring at 5:17 a.m. on May 22.

Residents as far as Chula Vista near San Diego, Mission Viejo in Orange County, and Highland and Indio in other surrounding areas reported feeling the quake.

Before that one, there were two other "earthquake swarms" that reportedly alarmed scientists. These occurred along the California-Mexico border.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that more than two dozen quakes with a magnitude of greater than 2.5 hit the region just after midnight last Saturday. The general area of their epicenters is 175 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles and 100 miles northeast of San Diego.

"They have occurred largely along farmland between the towns of Brawley and Imperial in Imperial County," it was reported. "The largest quake was a magnitude 3.9 that struck at 4:05 p.m. Saturday, bringing light shaking to the Imperial Valley as well as south of the border and rattling Mexicali."

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.

(Related: The infamous San Andreas fault is also rumbling as of late  is the New Madrid Fault Zone next?)

How close are we to the big one?

Just before that swarm, another one occurred "about 18 miles southeast of Mexicali in Baja California," Baja California being a West Coast region of Mexico and not the state of California here in the U.S. The largest in that swarm was a magnitude 4.2.

The public has been hearing for years that California is long overdue for the "big one," so these latest swarms are turning heads as they could be pointing to a worst-case scenario in the coming days.

Either these are foreshocks or they are the fault lines releasing pressure and buying more time, so to speak, before the big one eventually and inevitably hits.

If the big one did strike, "it would be a matter of a few tens of seconds before the shaking from a San Andreas event that ruptures the segments closest to Los Angeles reach our urban areas," commented John Stewart from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

The California Earthquake Authority estimates that the big one will cause destruction in a 100-mile radius from the entire fault line which is massive, stretching from Eureka all the way in northern California to Palm Springs in the south.

The death toll would be at least 1,800 people, not to mention the millions of homes that would be destroyed. The total damage bill is likely to be around $290 billion.

Over in Italy, the largest earthquake to strike the Campi Flegrei super volcano in 40 years hit, registering at a magnitude of 4.4. That one caused mild damage in the town of Pozzuoli and was felt as far away as the city of Naples, according to Italy's National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV).

"Unfortunately, I am entirely convinced that we are entering a time when major natural disasters of absolutely epic proportions will just keep hitting our planet one after another," Michael from EAD concludes.

Learn more about how to protect yourself in the event of a natural disaster at Disaster.news.

Sources for this article include:

EndOfTheAmericanDream.com

NaturalNews.com
Illegals shocked at how EASY it is to enter the United States

Several illegals who crossed into the U.S. have expressed shock at how easy it was for them to get into the country

One of the migrants from Turkey told Fox News reporter Bill Melugin that he paid a cartel member $10,000 to get him across the southern border at Jacumba in California. According to the Turk, he had applied for a visa to enter the country legally multiple times, but had been rejected on each occasion.

Surprisingly, the Turk remarked in relation to warnings about the wide-open border that "in fact, [the] American people [are] right." He added that the open border is all "completely true," and also expressed concern about the lack of vetting. According to him, there is "no security check" and "no background check" to weed out potential "killers or psychopaths." (Related: Turkish smugglers using SOCIAL MEDIA to aid and abet illegal immigrants crossing southern border.)

Melugin was at the border once again documenting a huge group of illegals attempting to cross, originating from countries like Iran, Pakistan and China. Migrants are surging to the border now because they believe former President Donald Trump is going to win the election in November.

"We think with the elections, it will be harder," said two brothers from Colombia, who added: "We don't want Trump." The Colombian siblings had crossed into the U.S. and were put on a flight bound to New Jersey.

"Unprecedented" flow of Chinese nationals at the border

Since President Joe Biden took office in 2021, there have been more than nine million migrant encounters nationwide  with some 7.6 million encounters at the southwest border alone. Latest numbers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection show that 3,324 Chinese nationals crossed the southwest border in April of this year alone  more than the total crossings for the entire 2022 fiscal year.

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.

Given this alarming rate, Rep. Dan Bishop (R-NC) convened a hearing to address the "unprecedented flow of Chinese nationals" at the southern border. He expressed concern during the hearing regarding the vetting process for Chinese migrants, which now consists of five questions from 40 questions before. According to the congressman, this does little to protect America's national security.

"As the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) continues its quest for geopolitical dominance and threatens our sovereignty, we must examine the risks presented by releasing ever-increasing numbers of minimally vetted Chinese nationals into our communities," Bishop  chairman of the Oversight, Investigations and Accountability Subcommittee under the House Homeland Security Committee  said in a statement.

According to the congressman for the Tar Heel State, Chinese migrants crossing illegally into the U.S. could have "nefarious motives." He noted federal indictments in his state showing partnerships between Mexican drug cartels and Chinese transnational criminal organizations engaged in money laundering operations throughout the country.

"At best, this is a mockery of U.S. immigration law and sovereignty  and at worst, it is a huge national security and community safety risk. In addition to many Chinese with connections to the CCP, People's Liberation Army and other state entities, it it statistically probable that DHS is releasing people with criminal records."

Visit OpenBorders.news for more similar stories.

Watch Nick Fuentes disclosing how the hard-earned money of American citizens is being used to fund ungrateful illegals in the clip below.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Biden calls illegals crossing the border "Hispanic voters."

FBI wary of terrorists crossing the border illegally.

House Republicans worried about sharp uptick in Chinese migrants illegally crossing U.S. border.

Biden admits to FLYING 320,000 migrants into U.S. to PURPOSELY skew border crossing numbers.

Texas installs RAZOR WIRE along New Mexico border to block ILLEGAL ALIENS from crossing.

Sources include:

Modernity.news

Brighteon.com
Is the Biden Regime the SECRET SOCIETY of White Supremacy?

As over a hundred million Americans have come to realize, it's almost always opposite day when it comes to the Democrats accusing Conservatives of wrong-doings. Often the simplest remedy is to just flip the script, and look into Democrat guilt for anything and everything they use to try to put their opposition on their heels. For starters, nearly every single Liberal in the USA thinks Trump hates black people, but it's the Democrats leading that charge.

Take a look at the KKK-supporting freaks who are key figures of the Democratic party. Slow-Joe Biden was cohorts with a known leader of the KKK, a.k.a. "Grand Wizard" Klansman and former U.S. Senator Robert Byrd (D-W. Va). Grand Klansman Byrd was a very ACTIVE member and organizer for the Ku Klux Klan during the 1940s, and Dementia Joe even gave a eulogy to the White Supremacist, that ended up going viral when Black-Hatin' Biden was running for President.

Just as the Democrats call Trump a racist all over social media (and he denounces it), the clip of Biden's eulogy for the KKK leader (from 2010) went absolutely VIRAL in just six hours on Twitter. Biden tells lies in almost every speech, about how he loves black folks and even knows gangsters named Corn Pop and KKK leaders named "King of Pork" (Bobby Byrd). Yes, a KKK leader served as a U.S. Senator for more than 50 years, until he died. Realize this means Biden supports the cruelest HATE GROUP in America, while lambasting his political rival who's about to wipe him out in November.

From African American hate group leader to U.S. senator to Biden's cohort and friend

Clinton, Obama and Biden all had an affinity for the KKK leader, and showed it off at his funeral. They simply can't hold back how much they really applaud the hatred of blacks in America. And even though Obama is a black man, he supports communism in America, and that means wiping out the middle class and double or tripling the size of the lower class, the poor, the unhealthy, the unemployed, the obese, the drug addicts. This is why there is a fast food store, a pawn shop and a porno video store on every corner in every metropolitan city in America. Let that sink in for a minute.

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.

Then there's Ralph "Blackface" Northam, former Governor of Virginia. He parties like the KKK, an organization known for hanging black folks for opposing the "narrative" that only white people deserve rights, including free speech, freedom of religion and the pursuit of happiness. He just opened up a CBR (Communist Biden Regime) campaign headquarters in Virginia, in these final six months leading up to the next Big Election Steal. Grand "Wizard" Opening in Virginia. Come racists, election deniers, climate hypnotists and mask-wearing fake news cultists of all ages.

Now realize this. Planned Parenthood is NOT about helping inner-city women plan a family. That organization was also all about eugenics since its inception. The leader and founder was racist Margaret Sanger, who said black people are weeds that need to be eradicated from the country. It's infanticide at the most insidious level. It's always opposite day in Democrat-land. It's where you plan not to be parents, and where everyone hates white people and nobody knows what gender they really are.

Remember, the Democrat narrative is almost always the polar opposite of what they claim to support, hence the name. Planned Parenthood is about cranking out as many abortions as humanly possible (pun intended). Most Democrat-run cities allow third trimester abortions, and killing the child on its day of birth, should the mother simply tell the doctor that she doesn't want it.

And now we have the mRNA-instant-miscarriage "technology" to take care of those fetuses living in rural America. More infanticide. It's all about eugenics, and the Democrat Party wants everybody living in poverty, not just the white people. Try the search engine Brave BETA and get more truth news and real information. Bookmark Censored.news to your favorite websites for truth news about the largest HATE group in America, also known as the Democratic Party.

Sources for this article include:

NaturalNews.com

TheGatewayPundit.com
Kremlin reaffirms recognition of State of Palestine as a sovereign nation

The Russian government has reaffirmed its recognition of Palestinian statehood

The State of Palestine as it is known today declared its independence on Nov. 15, 1988. This state claimed authority over the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. By the end of the year, this fledgling state's independence was recognized by 78 countries, including the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The Soviet Union's successor state, the Russian Federation, has reaffirmed its recognition of Palestinian statehood.

"The USSR recognized the State of Palestine This is absolutely in line with the relevant [United Nations] Security Council resolutions and the two-state solution approach," Russian Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov told journalists. "We are the successors of the USSR and continue our consistent and transparent position on this."

Currently, the State of Palestine is recognized as a sovereign state by 143 of the 193 UN member states, including China, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Brazil, South Africa and Turkey.

Russia's reaffirming the said recognition came right after Ireland, Norway and Spain confirmed that they too would formally recognize the Middle Eastern state. The three European nations' move supports a "two-state solution" aimed at bringing peace to the Middle East and ending the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. On Tuesday, May 28, their respective governments simultaneously approved the declaration, meaning it has now officially come into effect. (Related: 3 More countries set to recognize State of Palestine on May 28, infuriating Israel.)

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. 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.

Irish Prime Minister Simon Harris said his country made the decision "to keep the miracle of peace alive." Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide, meanwhile, expressed disappointment with Israel. "It is regrettable that the Israeli government shows no signs of engaging constructively," he said.

For his part, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said: "It is the only way to realize the solution that we all recognize as the only possible one to achieve a future of peace: that of a Palestinian state that coexists alongside the state of Israel in peace and security."

This infuriated Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has roundly rejected calls for a two-state solution and the possibility of a Palestinian state in territories occupied by Israel since 1967.

U.S.: It is premature to recognize Palestine as a state

The United States under President Joe Biden opposed the "unilateral recognition" of a Palestinian state. The Biden administration insisted that recognizing a Palestinian state was premature and must be the result of direct negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians.

"The president is a strong supporter of a two-state solution and has been throughout his career. He believes a Palestinian state should be realized through direct negotiations between the parties, not through unilateral recognition," National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said.

Washington also vetoed a recent UN Security Council bid to recognize the State of Palestine, saying that recognition could only come through negotiations that take into account Israel's security interests.

Meanwhile, Netanyahu's Foreign Minister Israel Katz ordered the immediate recall of its ambassadors to the three countries and said that "Israel will not hold back against those who undermine its sovereignty and endanger its security." He claimed that even after Hamas carried out the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, Ireland, Norway and Spain still "chose to give a reward to Hamas and Iran and recognize a Palestinian state.

Furthermore, Israel National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said in a statement that the countries that recognized a Palestinian state want to give a reward to the kidnappers of the female observers and their many supporters in Gaza. "Hamas must be totally annihilated not rewarded," he said.

Netanyahu's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also stated that Israel should approve three new settlements in the occupied West Bank, one for each country that recognized a Palestinian state, and cut funding for the Palestinian Authority, which could end up ruling a future state.

Visit IsraelCollapse.com for more stories on the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine.

Watch the video below that talks about the growing number of nations wanting to recognize Palestine as a sovereign state.

This video is from the Maverick News channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Norway, Spain and Ireland formally recognize Palestinian statehood, much to the ire of Zionist Netanyahu.

Spain to officially recognize Palestinian state, calls on Western powers to do same.

Sources include:

RT.com

MSN.com

NDTV.com

Brighteon.com
Rafah camp bombing: World leaders horrified by Israeli air strike

World leaders have expressed their outrage following Israel s attack on a camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah, southern Gaza on Sunday.

(Article by Noor Bayoumi republished from MiddleEastEye.net)

The death toll from the attack, which took place in Tel al-Sultan neighbourhood in western Rafah, has now risen to 45, the Palestinian health ministry said.

The area has been designated by Israel as a safe-zone and thousands of displaced Palestinians have sought refuge there since Israel invaded Rafah two weeks ago.

Outraged by the Israeli strikes that have killed many displaced persons in Rafah, French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on X.

These operations must stop. There are no safe areas in Rafah for Palestinian civilians, he added, calling for full respect for international law and an immediate ceasefire".

Josep Borrell, the EU foreign policy chief, said he is "horrified" by news of the attack.

"I condemn this in the strongest terms. There is no safe place in Gaza," he said in a statement, urging an immediate end to the Israeli onslaught and respect for international law and the International Court of Justice's (ICJ) order to halt the Rafah offensive.

In the United Kingdom, Labour leader Keir Starmer, who is set to compete in the 4 July elections, told reporters that he will work for a ceasefire once elected prime minister.

Those scenes, those reports are horrifying. What makes it worse is that this was a safe zone, with women and children in it, families that had already fled a number of times, he said.

I was shocked by what I saw overnight, I think any human being would be shocked by what they saw overnight, he said, adding that the civilian casualties are an "inevitable consequence" of Israel's military operation in Rafah, which world leaders have been warning against.

Left-wing politician Jeremy Corbyn also called the strike a monstrous failure of humanity.

Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyib Erdogan vowed to hold barbaric Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accountable over Sundays attack, stating that the strikes had nothing to do with humanity.

Earlier this month, Turkey ended all trade with Israel over its role in the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, ending a long-term free trade agreement.

The attack occurred only two days after the UNs top court, the ICJ, ordered an immediate end to Israels military actions in Rafah, which may constitute a violation of its obligations under the Genocide Convention.

Egypts foreign ministry also decried the attack as deliberate.

It added that it represents another flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the Fourth Geneva Convention".

It added that the attack could hinder any efforts to agree a ceasefire.

Qatar condemned the attack in the strongest terms. It called for Israeli authorities to adhere to the ICJs decision, stating that the international community should prevent the occupation forces from implementing their plans aimed at forcibly displaced civilians from the city which has become a final refuge for hundreds of thousands of displaced people in the Gaza Strip.

Qatar and Egypt have been the two main mediators between Israel and Hamas since the beginning of hostilities on 7 October.

'Barbaric'

The foreign ministry of the United Arab Emirates issued a statement denouncing the attack, saying it killed innocent civilians. The ministry reiterated its call for a ceasefire and for upholding decisions by the ICJ ordering Israel to end and prevent violations of the Genocide Convention.

Saudi Arabia also condemned the attack as a "flagrant violation by Israeli forces of all international and humanitarian resolutions, laws and norms".

A statement by the foreign ministry called on the international community to intervene immediately to stop the massacres and prevent the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe from deepening".

Irish Politician Tanaiste Micheal Martin, speaking at a news conference, said that Israels strikes on Rafah were barbaric.

He added that measures should be taken to enforce the UNs demand to end the violence in Gaza.

On Tuesday, 28 May, Ireland, Norway, and Spain are set to officially recognise Palestine as a state, which has sparked a strong objection from Israel.

Venezuelas Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday stated that Israels attacks on Rafah are cruel and inhumane and that they contribute to worsening the consequences and conditions of deterioration experienced by the population in Gaza.

Sundays casualties included 23 women, children, and elderly people, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

Women and children also constitute the majority of more than 36,000 people who have been killed since October by the Israeli armed forces.

Israel claimed its air strikes on Tel al-Sultan targeted a Hamas compound and killed two senior leaders of the group. Hamas has not confirmed the death of its two members.

Read more at: MiddleEastEye.net
Russias jamming technology reducing accuracy of U.S. weapons in Ukraine to just 10%

Many high-tech American weapons systems in Ukraine are being rendered ineffective due to Russian military jamming technology.

Russia's interference with the guidance systems of modern Western weapons, including Excalibur GPS-guided artillery shells and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), has severely undermined Ukraine's defense capabilities. As a result, officials in Kyiv are urgently seeking upgrades from the Pentagon and arms manufacturers.

The success rate of United States-designed Excalibur shells plummeted to less than 10 percent, leading Ukraine's military to abandon their use last year, according to confidential Ukrainian assessments.

Six months ago, after receiving reports of these issues, Washington stopped supplying Excalibur shells due to their high failure rate, Ukrainian officials said, speaking anonymously on a sensitive security matter. In contrast, for other weapons like aircraft-dropped JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) bombs, manufacturers provide fixes to allow for their continued use on the battlefield.

Russian electronic warfare systems and air defenses pose significant threats to Ukrainian pilots. Some Russian jammers even disrupt the navigation systems of planes. Analysts have warned that Russian defenses are so dense that Ukrainian pilots feel constantly targeted.

HIMARS launchers, which were initially successful in striking enemy ammunition depots and command points, became ineffective in the second year of the invasion due to Russian electronic warfare disabling satellite signals.

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.

"This ineffectiveness led to the point where a very expensive shell was used increasingly to strike lower-priority targets," a senior Ukrainian military official said.

A new ground-launched version of an air-to-ground weapon, developed rapidly for Ukraine, also failed due to Russian electromagnetic warfare, according to Bill LaPlante, the Pentagons acquisition chief.

LaPlante suggested Ukraine might no longer be interested in the weapon, likely the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB), based on his description.

The GLSDB, boasting a range of 90 miles, was approved for funding in February 2023 and reportedly used by February. However, its effectiveness has been compromised by Russian jamming.

GPS spoofers used by Russia send false location data to GPS navigation devices, overriding correct signals with stronger, false ones. These spoofers can be created cheaply with a software-defined radio and open-source software.

Meanwhile, the weapons they counter are costly: a GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System) missile costs around $160,000, an Excalibur round up to $100,000, and a GLSDB around $40,000.

Military-industrial complex using Ukraine conflict to test out its weapons

The military-industrial complex has turned Russia's special military operation in Ukraine into a testing ground for its latest arms, which had never faced adversaries that could match their capabilities, such as Moscow's GPS jamming technology. (Related: Russian electronic warfare systems are successfully disabling sophisticated US-supplied Ukrainian weapons.)

The conflict is providing valuable real-world data on how U.S. precision weapons perform under modern threats like electronic warfare. This intelligence helps build on years of research and discussions among U.S. defense companies and Pentagon officials about the impact of electronic warfare and the ways to adapt. The Pentagon is exploring options such as narrower signal bands and stronger signals to counter jamming attempts.

Doug Bush, the Army's acquisition chief, noted the constant cycle of innovation, with both sides developing countermeasures to each other's advancements. The U.S. Air Force recently announced a contract to enhance JDAMs with add-on seekers to resist jamming and target the source of the jamming.

Efforts to adapt precision weapons to electronic warfare threats are part of a broader strategy. Establishing electromagnetic superiority in future conflicts will be crucial to prevent enemies from interfering with U.S. weapons. As the U.S. and Ukraine learn from the current conflict and adapt, the cycle of innovation and countermeasures will continue.

Watch this video of Alex Christoforou commenting on Russia's GPS jamming technology.

This video is from the channel Oldyoti's Home Page on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

EU member claims Putin using top-secret electronic weapon to jam GPS on flights, ships

WSJ: U.S. drones sent to Kyiv are vulnerable, expensive and no match for Moscows electronic countermeasures

Peer-reviewed academic paper: Chinese naval vessels could penetrate military radar systems of the U.S. and its allies

Sources include:

MishTalk.com

BusinessInsider.com

Brighteon.com
Sweden on the brink of civil war amid rampant MIGRANT VIOLENCE, warns expert

Sweden might be on the brink of civil war as the country is seeing more alarming cases of migrant violence.

Goran Adamson, a senior lecturer in sociology at Uppsala University, warned that Sweden is turning into a dangerous "capital of violence," partly because of the influx of suspected criminals moving to the country.

According to official figures from the Swedish National Council for Crime Prevention (BRA), the number of fatalities a year per million from gun violence is more than double the European average.

In 2017, data showed that there were 281 shootings in Sweden. As of 2022, that number has grown to 391, 62 of which were fatal shootings.

According to the Office for National Statistics, 28 people were killed in the United Kingdom by shooting in the one-year period ending March 2022. This suggests that the Swedish rate of death by shooting was more than twice that of the U.K., even though Sweden's population is less than a sixth of the size. (Related: Former U.K. immigration minister: Migrants do more harm than good to the British economy.)

The data also revealed that, shockingly, in 2022 the gun murder rate in Stockholm was at least 30 times that of London, despite the former having a population of less than one million.

Uptick in crime linked to increased immigration in Sweden

Adamson explained that the main pockets of violence in the Swedish capital arent found in the center of the city, but rather in residential neighborhoods.

He added that the violence is alarming and that it is often linked to the suburbs of Stockholm "because some of these suburbs are extremely violent and so forth and that matters are getting worse."

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.

A research paper Adamson published in 2020 highlighted a connection between the sharp increase in crime and the significant rise in immigration in Sweden.

In the paper, Adamson wrote that in 2017, 58 percent of those people "suspected of crime on reasonable grounds" had migrated to Sweden. However, for murder, attempted murder and manslaughter the figures have skyrocketed to 73 percent. The corresponding data for robbery was about 70 percent.

Adamson said that even though the majority of migrants are law-abiding people, the likelihood of a migrant, particularly someone from the Middle East or Africa, especially younger than 50, "committing a crime is much, much higher than for a Swedish person. These are just the facts."

Adamson, an academic, with a Ph.D. from the London School of Economic and Political Science, clarified that he was not a "populist," adding that the "material is not political in the least and its just based on statistics." His findings are supported by a BRA study.

According to official data, between 2015 and 2018, the percentage of native Swedes born to Swedish parents suspected of committing crimes was at least 3.2 percent. That figure increased to eight percent for people born abroad, and rose to more than 10 percent for people born in Sweden to two foreign parents.

Adamsons claim regarding the overrepresentation of migrants from the Middle East and Africa was also supported by the BRA, which reported that the percentages of offenses "are greatest among those born in the regions: West Asia, Central Asia and different regions in Africa."

Visit Migrants.news for more articles about illegal immigration in the U.S. and in other countries.

Watch the video below as two top Swedish defense officials warn citizens to prepare for war.

This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Injured Swedish cops FORCED TO PAY FINES to their Syrian attacker from Quran-burning riots.

Sweden recruits military to help police amid surge in migrant gang violence.

60% of recipients of Sweden's unemployment benefits are IMMIGRANTS, and slightly under half are of non-European origin.

Swedish PM admits failure of integrating migrants, laments society becoming "too weak."

Swedish researchers under attack for writing a paper analyzing rape cases committed by migrants in Sweden.

Sources include:

Express.co.uk

BRA.se

Brighteon.com
Vatican faces backlash for inviting DRAG ARTIST to perform during inaugural celebration of World Childrens Day

The Catholic Church is facing backlash after it invited a male drag artist to perform during the inaugural celebration of World Children's Day.

Pope Francis announced in December that the Vatican would be celebrating its first-ever World Children's Day from May 25 to 26 in a bid to better focus the Church's mission for children. The event was supposed to gather young attendees from around 100 countries and included meetings with Pope Francis, with the culminating event being a Trinity Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square. But a drag performance turned the event into a scandal.

Carmine De Rosa, an Italian native of Salerno in southwestern Italy, performed at Rome's Olympic Stadium on May 25. Known for his quick-change performances and living cartoon acts, De Rosa's World Children's Day performance had him dressed in multiple drag outfits, including a pink dress with a plunging neckline.

De Rosa's act, which involved suggestive cardboard costumes, was performed with children seated in a circle around him while Pope Francis and thousands of other children from across the globe watched. (Related: Canadian elementary students forced to watch drag show in school gym to celebrate pride month.)

De Rosa, who frequently performs for the Italian network RAI and at various events, including First Communion parties, stated that his participation was both intentional and professional. But his participation was immediately criticized, including by former Papal Nuncio Carlo Maria Vigano, who accused the Vatican of endorsing LGBT ideology through De Rosa's inclusion in the event.

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.

"This is one of the characters called by the Argentine Jesuit [Pope Francis] as an entertainer at World Children's Day. It is now clear that Bergoglio is one of the main activists of the hellish LGBTQ + agenda. There are no more words to express the scandal and disgust, in the complicit and cowardly silence of the Episcopate. 'Whoever scandalizes even one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for him if a millstone turned into a donkeys wheel were hung around his neck, and he were cast into the depths of the sea (Mt 18:6),'" the prelate wrote on X.

Pope Francis shows love to the LGBT community in different interviews

The Pope often shows love to the LGBT community in different interviews.

In a heartfelt exchange two years ago between Pope Francis and Jesuit Father James Martin, a prominent minister to LGBT Catholics, the Pope underscored the values of closeness, mercy and tenderness as central to God's nature. Father Martin wrote to Pope Francis in Spanish, requesting answers to questions frequently asked by LGBT Catholics and their families. A few days later, the Pope provided a handwritten response, which Father Martin published on his website.

"With respect to your questions, a very simple response occurs to me. God is Father and he does not disown any of his children. And 'the style' of God is 'closeness, mercy and tenderness.' Along this path you will find God," the Pope wrote.

Pope Francis also encouraged the LGBT community to read the Acts of the Apostles, which offers a true living and inclusive Church. He even addressed the rejection that some LGBT Catholics have experienced throughout the years.

"I would have them recognize it not as 'the rejection of the church,' but instead as 'people in the church.' The church is a mother and calls together all her children. Take for example the parable of those invited to the feast: 'the just, the sinners, the rich and the poor, etc.' [Matthew 22:1-15; Luke 14:15-24]. A 'selective' church, one of 'pure blood,' is not Holy Mother Church, but rather a sect," he wrote.

Follow Groomers.news for more stories about the indoctrination of young children with LGBT ideologies.

Watch this clip from "The HighWire" where Del Bigtree and Jefferey Jaxen discuss how the trans movement has gone too far.

This video is from The HighWire with Del Bigtree channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Tax-funded Ohio group sponsors monthly drag tutorials grooming children to be drag queens.

Drag queen feted by Kamala Harris accused of multiple sexual assaults.

While America embraces LGBT drag queens and pedophilia, Russia to BAN sex change surgery.

Woke cross-dressing United Airlines CEO under fire for diverse hiring comments, sponsoring drag shows.

"Thug" cops arrest man for reading Bible in public to protest drag event targeting children.

Sources include:

Infowars.com

VaticanNews.va

Brighteon.com
Western thugs threaten Georgian leaders over new law that requires NGOs to reveal funding sources

The European Union (EU) is playing dirty again ?  with new alleged threats against Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

According to Kobakhidze, a European commissioner threatened him, stating that he could end up suffering the same fate as Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico who narrowly escaped an assassination attempt last week.

In a Facebook post, Kobakhidze wrote that the unnamed commissioner technically just warned him in a recent phone call that the West is planning to take "a number of measures" against Kobakhidze if he proceeds with passing a new law to require foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) operating in Georgia to disclose their funding.

"While listing these measures, he mentioned: 'you see what happened to Fico, and you should be very careful,'" Kobakhidze wrote on Facebook about what the unnamed commissioner allegedly told him.

(Related: Did you catch Michael Yon's recent appearance with Mike Adams in which he talked about the corruption behind the NGOs that are orchestrating the mass illegal alien invasion of America?)

There must be a lot of foreign criminal activity taking place in Georgia

In case you missed it, Fico was shot at multiple times while meeting with supporters outside a government meeting taking place in the town of Handlova on May 15. Fico was rushed to the hospital where he underwent emergency surgery. He is currently recuperating from his injuries.

The would-be assassin is being reported as a 71-year-old poet who disagrees with Fico's suspension of military aid to Ukraine. The so-called poet is now being charged with attempted murder and he could even face terrorism charges.

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.

Around the same time that this all happened, Georgia  the European country, not the U.S. state  passed the "Transparency of Foreign Influence Act" to require all NGOs, media outlets and individuals taking in more than 20 percent of their funding from outside the country to register as entities "promoting the interests of a foreign power." The law also forces these same entities to fully disclose all of their donors.

Western powers, aka the deep state, really do not want laws like this to be passed because it threatens to expose them for treason and fraud, not to mention money laundering and other conspiracies to control foreign elections, for instance.

Georgia's pro-Western, aka deep state, president, Salome Zourabichvili, vetoed the new law, but Georgia's parliament is expected to override it in the coming days.

There must be a lot of foreign crime to hide in Georgia because both EU and U.S. officials are strongly condemning the new law, even though there are even more stringent laws of a similar nature already in place in the U.S., the United Kingdom and other Western countries.

Washington, D.C., is even going so far as to threaten unspecified "actions" against Georgia, including possible sanctions, for passing the bill.

"We have long been accustomed to this kind of insulting blackmail," Kobakhidze wrote about the threats he now faces.

"The parallel drawn with the attempted assassination of Robert Fico reminds us that in the form of the Global War Party, we are dealing with an extremely dangerous force that will do anything to bring chaos to Georgia."

In a more recent interview with Georgia's Channel 1, Kobakhidze explained that without the transparency law in place, foreign-funded NGOs operating in his country could easily rile up a revolution similar to the 2014 U.S.-backed "Maidan" coup in Ukraine.

"We want transparency ... we don't want to leave muddy water in this country, because a 'Georgian Maidan' could lead our country to very serious consequences, to its 'Ukrainization,'" he said. "We cannot agree with this."

America and the EU are the bullies of the world.

Sources for this article include:

RT.com

NaturalNews.com
Denver publishes guide on how other cities can turn themselves into migrant sanctuaries using taxpayer dollars

The Democrat-led City of Denver, Colorado, has released a comprehensive guide to help other cities become immigrant sanctuaries, funded by taxpayers.

Titled "Newcomers Playbook: A Guide to Welcoming Newcomers into Your City," the guide is aimed at planning and implementing sanctuary city policies.

The introduction reads: "We are thrilled that you are interested in creating a welcoming environment for migrants in your city. As part of Denvers welcoming approach, we use the term 'newcomers' to refer to migrants, recognizing that they are new to our city and embracing a more inclusive language. This playbook is a guide divided into two sections, offering recommendations and strategies for successfully integrating newcomers into your city."

The guide was credited to the office of Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and several migrant agencies.

Interestingly, Johnston, who has often criticized external groups and states for sending immigrants to Denver, and claimed the influx was unsustainable, has taken actions like sending officials on trips to discourage immigrants from coming to Denver, spending millions to relocate immigrants to other cities, cutting funding and services, and evicting immigrants from city-sponsored shelters. (Related: Denver to shell out an additional $3.2M in taxpayer dollars to "temporarily" house 200 illegals.)

Despite these contradictory actions, the guide offers practical advice for aspiring sanctuary cities on redirecting city services from citizens to immigrants. It includes tips for establishing intake centers to direct immigrants to free services, providing free transportation, housing, food, clothing, medical care, legal advice and more.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

The guide also suggests cities purchase or contract mobile showers and laundry trucks for "newcomers."

Additionally, it includes a comprehensive checklist of guest-related questions to help cities identify potential issues ahead of time.

Controversially, the guide advises city officials to use fraudulent social security numbers for immigrants when needed, suggesting, If an online application requires an SSN to move forward in the online portal, we have entered 123-45-6789.

Over the last year and a half, despite the federal government failing to support our cities, Denver has led by building sustainable systems that help newcomers get back on their feet and turning a crisis into opportunity, Johnston said in a statement. Were proud this playbook will help newcomers resettle in cities with more opportunities, help cities across the country successfully welcome newcomers and reinvigorate workforces.

Denver using taxpayer money to provide migrants with housing

Last month, Denver launched a new initiative aimed at accelerating the employment of migrants and asylum-seekers, providing a potential model for other sanctuary cities. Johnston announced the "Asylum Seekers Program," which offers six months of paid rent for migrants to cover the period before they can work legally.

In February and March, Denver officials processed about 1,500 work authorizations before unveiling the new program.

Johnston confirmed that all 838 migrants currently in shelters will be enrolled in the program, which has a cap of 1,000 participants. The initiative includes job training, certifications, unpaid work experience and food assistance.

Comparatively, in cities like Chicago and New York, many migrants face prolonged delays before receiving work authorizations, leading to difficulties in covering rent.

In Chicago, over 16,000 migrants have been resettled from city shelters, with nearly 9,400 still residing in them. New York anticipates spending over $12 billion on the migrant crisis by July 2025, with substantial daily costs for providing essential services to asylum-seekers.

Critics view the program as a desperate move by Denver as the city spent $15 million on the migrant crisis in December alone and anticipated a budget shortfall of $180 million by the end of 2024.

Watch this video of former President Donald Trump during a rally at The Bronx in New York City hitting President Joe Biden over his immigration policies.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

ABSURD AND DANGEROUS: Hope Has No Borders opens hotline to pair illegal immigrants with Colorado families.

Denver official BEGS illegals to agree to be diverted to other cities because they're out of resources and people will "suffer."

Report finds Denver taxpayers are footing skyrocketing costs to feed illegal immigrants.

TRAITORS: Democrats in Denver suggest hiring illegals for government jobs amid financial strains and layoffs in the city.

Illegal immigrant charged with VEHICULAR HOMICIDE in Colorado had already been deported FOUR TIMES.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

NewsNationNow.com

Brighteon.com
Donald Trump found GUILTY on all 34 charges in blatantly rigged New York trial, could be sentenced to 20 years in prison

In a nation where democrats like Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton routinely launder money and receive bribes and kickbacks from organizations buying their influence, former President Donald Trump has just been found guilty on all 34 charges of falsifying business records with the intent to commit or conceal another alleged crime, even though no actual crime can be identified. The charges against Trump are the financial equivalent of "being arrested for resisting arrest."

Trump's trial in Manhattan  The People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump  relating to supposed payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to ensure her silence about an alleged affair between her and the former president in 2006 concluded on Tuesday, May 28. In 1998, then president Bill Clinton paid Paula Jones $850,000, and nobody called it a felony, nor did Bill Clinton face arrest or prosecution for the payments.

The jury, consisting almost entirely of Trump-hating leftists who are indoctrinated with anti-Trump bias by the corporate media, immediately began deliberations the next day after the presiding judge, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, provided the jury with instructions for the proceedings.

On Thursday, May 30 at about 5 p.m. Eastern Time, the jury read its verdict finding the former president guilty on all 34 charges. The charge of falsifying business records carries up to four years behind bars, with New York capping sentencing for this type of felony at 20 years.

Merchan has set Trump's sentencing date for July 11, just four days before the Republican National Convention is set to meet in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to select him as the GOP's nominee.

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.

Trump faces three other felony indictments, but it is unclear whether the other cases brought against him will conclude before the election in November.

Speaking at a news conference, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg declined to comment on whether his office would seek a prison term for Trump. He also refused to comment on criticism of how he handled the prosecution, merely claiming "I did my job."

"Our job is to follow the facts without fear or favor, and that's what we did here," he added.

Trump to appeal, continue with presidential campaign

Trump's team has expressed its intention to appeal the verdict. Meanwhile, the former president is expected to return to the campaign trail. His campaign has already leaned into Trump's political persecution, fundraising off the verdict with a pitch that called him a "political prisoner." (Related: POLL: Trump still favored to win presidential race despite indictments.)

Trump is still eligible to vote. So long as he is not sentenced to prison time in New York, he may be convicted of a felony, reside in Florida, and still be eligible to vote.

Speaking after leaving the courtroom, Trump told reporters that the trial was "disgraceful" and "rigged."

"This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. It's a rigged trial, a disgrace," he said.

"The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here," he continued as he alleged that Bragg was influenced by liberal billionaire George Soros.

The campaign team of President Joe Biden seemed to agree with this statement. In a comment, Biden campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said the only surefire way to keep Trump from the presidency is "at the ballot box."

"We didn't do a thing wrong. I'm a very innocent man," Trump continued. "But it's okay, I'm fighting for our country, I'm fighting for our Constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now. This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound, to hurt an opponent, a political opponent, and I think it's just a disgrace."

"We'll keep fighting, we'll fight to the end, and we'll win because our country's gone to hell. We don't have the same country anymore, we have a divided mess. We're a nation in decline, serious decline," the former president concluded. "We have a country that's in big trouble, but this was a rigged decision right from day one who should have never been allowed to try this case, never. And we will fight for our Constitution. This is long from over."

Watch this clip from Fox News featuring Republican National Committee Co-Chair and Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump discussing how Judge Juan Merchan should be regarded "with shame and embarrassment" for how he handled the trial.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Michael Cohen's 100 secret recordings on phone, including one with Trump, can be used against him.

Musk: Trump will continue to RISE in polls as Biden accelerates political persecution.

Company run by Judge Merchan's daughter works for group pushing Trump ballot exclusion efforts.

Tucker Carlson: Misuse of judicial system to go after Trump could threaten the future of democracy in America.

Gov. Hochul admits NY courts SINGLED OUT TRUMP for prosecution, desperately warns other real estate developers it won't happen to them to prevent them from LEAVING.

Sources include:

Breitbart.com

APNews.com

CNN.com

BBC.com

Brighteon.com
EU states considering SANCTIONS against Israel for defiance against ICJ ceasefire order

If Israel defies the International Court of Justice (ICJ) order to halt its military operation in Rafah, European Union (EU) foreign ministers could sanction the Jewish state.

Irish Foreign Minister Michael Martin says he and his counterparts are seriously considering, for the first time ever, penalizing Israel for refusing to comply with the ICJ's order to guarantee humanitarian aid and unhindered entry into the enclave for those investigating claims of genocide.

According to ICJ President Nawaf Salam, Israel must abide by international law or else face a potentially sanctions-based strategy to bring the Middle Eastern nation-state back in line.

The Palestinian Civil Defense Service says that Israel's most recent bombing of a refugee camp in Rafah resulted in at least 40 deaths and many more injuries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident "tragic," reassuring the world that an investigation is currently underway.

"I condemn Israel's actions which killed scores of innocent civilians who were only seeking shelter from this deadly conflict," tweeted United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about the attack.

"There is no safe place in Gaza," he added before proceeding to demand an end to "this horror."

(Related: Israel is ignoring the UN world court concerning a ceasefire  Rafah will be defeated, Israeli leaders say.)

EU foreign policy head says Netanyahu must be arrested

Even though Israel insists it is not bound by international law, the Jewish state is, in fact, bound by the Rome Statute. And because Israel is currently in violation of the Rome Statute, Netanyahu faces arrest should he leave Israel.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. 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.

EU foreign policy head Josep Borrell announced that EU members have a duty to arrest Netanyahu following the issuance of arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

All countries in the EU save for Turkey and Ukraine are bound by the Rome Statute, Borrell said in a public announcement.

Not only Netanyahu but also Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant will need to be arrested the moment either of them tries to enter any country in Europe, Borrell reiterated.

"I take note of the decision of the ICC Prosecutor to apply for warrants of arrest before Pre-Trial Chamber I of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Yahya Sinwar, Mohammed Deif, Ismail Haniyeh, Benjamin Netanyahu, and Yoav Gallant," Borrell said, the other names on the arrest list being top Hamas leaders who are also guilty of war crimes.

"The mandate of the ICC, as an independent international institution, is to prosecute the most serious crimes under international law," he added in an X post. "All States that have ratified the ICC statutes are bound to execute the Court's decisions."

The ICC in its own statement explained its jurisdiction in prosecuting "crimes against humanity," which it described as "serious violations committed as part of a large-scale attack against any civilian population."

The Rome Statute outlines 15 different types of crimes against humanity including murder, rape, imprisonment, enforced disappearances, enslavement  particularly of women and children  sexual slavery, torture, apartheid and deportation.

What this all means is that Israel's top leaders will not be allowed to leave the Jewish nation-state unless they want to be arrested. As usual, Israel is calling the ruling "antisemitic," adding that the White House "rejects" it as well.

"Charging me for crimes in Gaza is like charging George Bush for 9/11" pic.twitter.com/GhVdJyEsj1  The_Real_Fly (@The_Real_Fly) May 21, 2024

The ICC's probe into Israel actually began back in 2014. It was followed by a new war crimes case filed by South Africa after the October 7 incident that set this all off.

What will happen next with the situation in the Middle East? Find out more at WWIII.news.

Sources for this article include:

GreatGameIndia.com

NaturalNews.com

GreatGameIndia.com
Group of ILLEGALS throws rocks and bottles at Border Patrol agents in Texas

A group of illegal immigrants recently attacked Border Patrol agents, with the border crossers throwing rocks and bottles at law enforcement

According to YourNews, the incident happened near the Santa Teresa Point of Entry on the outskirts of El Paso in Texas. The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), which was deployed to back up Border Patrol Agents and National Guard members at the area, released aerial footage of the confrontation. The DPS had been at the area to provide support up in the air and on the ground.

The incident began when the individuals stormed the border fence, climbing over using a rope ladder. Border Patrol agents and National Guard members responded swiftly to confront the intruders, at least one of whom had already crossed over. (Related: Illegal immigrants use ROPE made from CLOTHES to cross Rio Grande into Texas).

At least half a dozen men were spotted climbing over the border fence, which is anywhere from 19 to 30 feet tall. As soon as they landed on U.S. soil, law enforcement promptly arrested them. At least one migrant was quickly detained and another descending toward the U.S. side of the border was also taken into custody.

But immediately after this, the remaining illegals at the top of the border fence  including smugglers who accompanied the would-be border crossers  pelted at least one full bottle of water at the law enforcement officers. Some who were still at the Mexican side threw sand and rocks at the border agents. Other migrants also engaged in a tug-of-war with border agents, but they eventually gave up and descended back to the Mexico side.

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.

In another scene, a second water bottle was handed over to a man perched on top of the fence. The recipient mulled hurling it at an agent, but reneged at the last minute. Instead, he gave it to another companion  with the second man opening the bottle and taking a sip of water.

Illegals crossing in liberal El Paso

The illegals' action of throwing foreign objects at border agents, alongside their unlawful entry by crossing through the border fence, constitutes a crime under U.S. law. The Santa Teresa Port of Entry where the incident happened is near the border of Texas and New Mexico.

"This type of criminal behavior is inexcusable and will not be tolerated in Texas," said DPS spokesman Lt. Chris Olivarez in a post on X. "The lack of accountability and failed border policies has emboldened transnational criminal organizations and those who do not respect our laws and first responders."

"The video illustrates recent behavior by these groups in the El Paso Sector  throwing rocks, sand and water bottles at responding agents," the DPS captioned its footage of the incident, likewise posted on X.

This latest violent incursion in the El Paso Sector follows the recent dismissal of charges against 211 illegal immigrants involved in a border riot in March. El Paso County Judge Ruben Morales dismissed these charges, leading to criticism from various quarters.

"These El Paso liberals are literally siding with criminals over our own police and military," a Texas National Guard soldier told the New York Post, warning that the decision could lead to more attacks against authorities at the border.

Visit OpenBorders.news for similar stories.

Watch this footage of the incident where illegals pelt border agents with rocks, sand and water bottles while attempting to enter the U.S. illegally.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Bidens INVASION agenda wins: TREASONOUS judge suspends Texas law that allows cops to arrest illegal immigrants.

TREASON: Bidens Border Patrol CUTS WIRE installed by Texas government, opening Americas arms to illegal immigrants.

MOBS of Chinese illegal immigrants SWARM California border.

ICE Boston arrests three illegal immigrants suspected as child predators.

Illegal immigrants leaving U.S. hospitals with BILLIONS in unpaid medical bills.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

Brighteon.com
Israel to investigate itself over IDF airstrike that killed at least 45 Palestinians in Rafah

The Israeli government has opened an investigation into its own actions after at least 45 Palestinian refugees were reportedly killed on Sunday, May 26, following an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) airstrike in Rafah, the southern Gazan refuge for over a million Palestinians that was previously declared a "safe zone" by Tel Aviv.

According to ABC News, shrapnel from the strike ignited a fuel tank 100 meters away from the intended target, causing a large fire at a displaced persons encampment.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu acknowledged the civilian deaths in a speech to Israel's parliament on Monday, May 27.

"Despite our utmost efforts not to harm innocent civilians, last night there was a tragic mistake," he said, as quoted by the Associated Press. "We are investigating the incident and will obtain a conclusion because this is our policy."

The IDF had stated that the strike in the Tel Al-Sultan area killed two senior Hamas officials, including a commander of a unit supposedly operating in the occupied West Bank. (Related: Israeli airstrike on Gaza refugee camp in Rafah decapitates small child, kills dozens.)

In a separate statement, the Israeli army insisted that it had taken "many steps to reduce the chance of harming uninvolved civilians, including aerial surveillance, the use of precision munitions, and additional intelligence information." It added that "no harm was expected to uninvolved civilians."

The Times of Israel cited an IDF source who mentioned that two missiles with "reduced in size" warheads were used in the strike.

Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions.

The incident has increased international pressure on Israel to agree to a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza or at least scale down operations in the densely populated enclave.

While the IDF denies deliberately targeting civilians, it has acknowledged lapses in its targeting process in the past, including an attack on an aid convoy last month that left seven foreign nationals dead.

Netanyahu vows to keep fighting war in Gaza

In his speech on Monday, Netanyahu vowed to continue the fight against Hamas. "If we surrender, we will deliver a great victory to terrorism, to Iran, and to the entire axis of evil  those who wish us dead," he said.

Speaking at a briefing, Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the IDF, stated that the explosives used in the attack  a 17-kilogram (37 pounds) munition, which he described as the "smallest our jets can use"  could not have sparked such a large fire.

"Weapons stored in a compound next to our target, which we didn't know of, may have ignited the fire," he said, providing no evidence but adding that the investigation is ongoing.

Hagari explained that the attack targeted a structure where two senior Hamas commanders were meeting. He noted that pictures posted on social media appear to show secondary explosions, which could have been caused by weapons allegedly stored nearby.

The target, he said, was 1.7 kilometers (1.05 miles) from an area designated as a humanitarian zone by the Israeli military and 180 meters from the tents. According to Gaza health authorities, at least 45 people were killed in the attack, including many women, children, and the elderly.

Watch this news report discussing the growing international outrage over the deadly Israeli airstrike in Rafah, which Netanyahu is mislabeling as a "tragic mishap."

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Israel bombs yet another Gaza hospital, killing more innocent civilians.

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.

Another Zionist war crime  The psychopathic destruction of Rafah.

Defiant Netanyahu insists Israel will act alone if U.S. doesn't provide more weapons for Rafah offensive.

Sources include:

RT.com

BBC.com

Brighteon.com
CONFIRMED: Israel used U.S.-made weapons in Rafah safe zone massacre

The weapons Israel used in its recent attack on a refugee camp in a Rafah "safe zone" came from the United States , an investigation has revealed.

The several hundred people who were injured or killed in the attack succumbed to U.S.-made GBU-39 bombs, the investigation found, making America directly complicit in Israel's genocide.

The attack resulted in at least 45 people dying, including one child who lost his head. Panicked survivors could be seen running from charred bodies to safety as rescuers and medics tried to pull others from the rubble.

CNN reportedly analyzed geolocated footage of the attack, which took place at the Kuwait Peace Camp. Experts confirmed that remnants of American-made GBU-39 diameter bombs (SDB) were present at the scene.

Explosive weapons expert Chris Cobb-Smith, a former British army artillery officer, says the high precision bomb type is "designed to attack strategically important point targets."

"Using any munition, even of this size, will always incur risks in a densely populated area," he further revealed.

(Related: Did you know that an ex-Mossad spy chief out of Israel "threatened and stalked" an ICC prosecutor?)

Israel used less-deadly bombs than it could have

Trevor Ball, another weapons expert, confirmed what Cobb-Smith said about the origin of the GBU-39s that Israel used in the attack.

"The warhead portion [of the munition] is distinct, and the guidance and wing section is extremely unique compared to other munitions," Ball said.

"Guidance and wing sections of munitions are often the remnants left over even after a munition detonates. I saw the tail actuation section and instantly knew it was one of the SDB / GBU-39 variants."

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.

To Israel's credit, the Jewish state did use a less-lethal version of the GBU-39 that causes much less collateral damage. Israel could have used the Focused Lethality Munition (FLM), which creates much larger explosions.

Serial numbers collected from the scene show that the bombs Israel used were made in California.

The U.S., meanwhile, is denying all affiliation with the bombs, claiming it has no idea where they came from.

"I do not know what type of munition was used in that air strike," Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told the press. "I'd have to refer you to the Israelis to speak to that."

Daniel Hagari, Israel's army spokesman, admitted that two munitions with small warheads carrying 17 kilograms of explosives were used in the attack, describing them as the "smallest munitions that our [Israeli] jets could use."

According to Hagari, there was a fire that broke out at the site of the attack that made the incident much worse than planned.

To help Israel procure more such weapons, the Biden regime on May 15 approved another $1 billion in arms and ammunition aid to be sent to the Middle East, complements of U.S. taxpayers.

The deal was announced just days after the White House paused a single transfer of 1,800 ton-weight bombs and 1,700 500-pound bombs to Israel, citing concerns over the loss of civilian life in Gaza.

Since the pause, a U.S. official told The Washington Post that "arms transfers are proceeding as scheduled" despite the previous delay.

You may recall that President Biden promised to stop sending Israel offensive arms if it proceeded with a large-scale invasion of Rafah. Biden must have lied because the invasion has begun and the U.S. continues to support Israel with money and weapons.

The Biden regime did issue a public statement, though, about how Israel violated its red line against launching the assault. It is unclear if there will be anything more than this verbal admission to hold Israel accountable.

The situation in the Middle East is deteriorating. Learn more about what happens next at Prophecy.news.

Sources for this article include:

MiddleEastEye.net

NaturalNews.com
Judge in Trump hush money case issues preposterous coup de grace instruction to rigged jury  no unanimous agreement needed to convict

The news just broke that President Trump has been found guilty of all 34 felony charges filed against him. What you may not know is that this conviction may not have been possible without Judge Juan Merchan's "coup de grace instruction" allowing the jury to convict Trump without unanimous agreement on what he actually did.

Law professor Jonathan Turley came up with the term coup de grace instruction to describe what happened since it is apparently unprecedented in criminal justice.

"Merchan just delivered the coup de grace instruction," Turley tweeted on X.

"He said that there is no need to agree on what occurred. They can disagree on what the crime was among the three choices. Thus, this means that they could split 4-4-4 and he will still treat them as unanimous."

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey called what Judge Merchan did "absolute insanity," adding in his own tweet that the jury was not even given a copy of the instructions.

"I've tried many jury trials in my day," Bailey wrote. "You give jurors paper instructions every time."

"How are 12 jurors supposed to remember the elements necessary for each of the 34 felony counts? This is an illicit, witch-hunt prosecution."

(Related: Speaking of court rulings, did you hear that the Supreme Court is allowing Texas to arrest illegal aliens?)

Kangaroo court

The jury of seven men and five women were instructed to begin their deliberation just before 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 28. If they wanted to, the jurors could have asked Judge Merchan for notes or to rehear testimony or review evidence, otherwise they had to do everything from memory only.

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.

"It is not my responsibility to judge the evidence here," Judge Merchan said to the jury. "It is yours."

The charges all stem from "hush money" charges against Trump that started around 2016 when it became obvious that he was probably going to win the election.

"Your verdict on each count you consider, whether guilty or not, must be unanimous," Judge Merchan originally stated. "That is, each and every juror must agree to it."

What Judge Merchan did not clarify at the time was that the jury only needed to be unanimous in deciding to convict Trump  they did not need to unanimously agree about what he actually did to violate the law.

"You should discuss the evidence and consult with each other, listen to each other, give each other's views careful consideration," Judge Merchan added as part of his instructions to the jury.

"And when you deliberate, you should do so with a view to reaching agreement when that can be done without surrendering an individual juror."

Reports indicate that all of the evidence against Trump was loaded onto a laptop that was voluntarily operated by Juror 4 and Juror 6, a questionable arrangement in and of itself.

Judge Merchan said that he "always" watches jurors "to see who is paying attention and who is not."

"Each of you is very engaged in this case," he further stated. "But we're not going to excuse [alternates]."

Judge Merchan also criticized defense attorney Todd Blanche who informed the jury that the former president could end up going to prison if they convict him. Blanche added that their decision to convict would be based on the claims of Michael Cohen, whom Blanche described as a "liar" who "lied to" the jury about Trump.

"You cannot send somebody to prison, you cannot convict somebody based upon the words of Michael Cohen," Blanche said in the court room only to have prosecutors interrupt him to object.

Judge Merchan agreed to the objection by sustaining it.

"That was outrageous," Blanche commented about what happened. "Someone who's been a prosecutor as long as you have, someone who's been an attorney as long as you have, knows that it's highly inappropriate."

The latest news about the deep state's ongoing witch hunt against Trump can be found at Trump.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
Russias Medvedev warns Poland: Warsaw will get its share of radioactive ash

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has warned Poland that it will get its share of "radioactive ash," the latest in his string of bombastic threats against various countries.

His threat against Warsaw came in response to remarks made by Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski during a May 25 interview with the Guardian. According to Sikorski, the likelihood of a Russian nuclear attack is low due to the stance taken by the U.S. He also mentioned that Poland backed Ukraine's right to strike at military targets in Russia, arguing that the West had to stop constantly limiting itself in what it does to support Ukraine.

"The Americans have told the Russians that if you explode a nuke, even if it doesn't kill anybody, we will hit all your [positions] in Ukraine with conventional weapons, we'll destroy all of them. I think that's a credible threat," the foreign minister argued.

"The Russians are hitting the Ukrainian electricity grid, their grain terminals and gas storage capacity  civilian infrastructure. The Russian operation is conducted from the headquarters at Rostov-on-Don. Apart from not using weapons, Russia does not limit itself much."

Medvedev, currently the deputy chairman of the Russian Security Council, took to X to issue his warning. "Sikorsi, apparently, has decided to scare his own masters," wrote the Russian official, also debunking the Polish minister's assertions.

"First, the Yankees so far haven't said anything exactly like that because they are more cautious than the Polacks. Second, Americans hitting out targets means starting a world war  and a foreign minister, even of a country like Poland, should understand that."

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.

"Third, considering that yet another Polack  [Polish President Andrzej] Duda  has recently announced the wish to deploy [tactical nuclear weapons] in Poland, Warsaw won't be left out and will surely get its share of radioactive ash. Is it what you really want? The Polish are resentful; [they] have been like that for over 400 years."

Medvedev at it again with his threats of NUCLEAR WAR

Medvedev's third point in his warning to Poland was about Warsaw's bid to participate in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) nuclear sharing program. During an interview with the Polish tabloid Fakt, the Polish president said his country is willing to host nuclear weapons. (Related: Newest NATO member Sweden open to hosting NUCLEAR WEAPONS  but only during wartime.)

"I must admit that when asked about [hosting nuclear weapons], I declared our readiness. Recently, [Russia] has been relocating its nuclear weapons to Belarus. If our allies decide to deploy nuclear weapons as part of nuclear-sharing also on our territory to strengthen the security of NATO's eastern flank, we are ready for it," said Duda.

"We don't have such a tradition. There has never been, unless my memory serves me wrong, such complete universal access to weapons in Poland. We can discuss loosening some of the shackles of requirements in this area, but I would be cautious about completely universal access to weapons."

This was not the first time Medvedev, who served as Russian president from 2008 until 2012, issued threats of nuclear war against other countries. In February, he warned that the Ukrainian capital Kyiv and some Western capitals  Berlin, London and Washington  would feel the might of the "entire strategic arsenal" of nuclear weapons Moscow has.

"Attempts to return Russia to the borders of 1991 will lead only to one thing  to a global war with Western countries using the entire strategic arsenal of our state," he wrote. Medvedev also urged Ukraine's backers to stand down "before it's too late," claiming that Russian nuclear weapons would blast "beautiful historical places" to bits.

Watch this "TruNews" report about Dmitry Medvedev threatening nuclear strikes against the U.K. for deploying British troops in Ukraine.

This video is from the TruNews channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

Former Russian president Medvedev threatens nuclear holocaust over Ukraine, says WWIII wont be fought with 'tanks, aircraft.'

Ex-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warns that the world is on the verge of a NUCLEAR WORLD WAR III.

Medvedev warns of NUCLEAR STRIKES on the U.S. and U.K. if Russian territories are seriously threatened.

Former Russian President Medvedev once again threatens to nuke Britain in unhinged rant.

Former Russian President Medvedev warns of nuclear "apocalypse" if NATO attacks.

Sources include:

RMX.news

LibertarianInstitute.org

Breitbart.com

Brighteon.com
U.S. Navy vessels attached to floating pier off Gaza coast dislodged by storm, grounded on nearby beaches

Four United States Navy vessels attached to the American-built floating pier off the coast of Gaza have broken off their anchorages and gotten grounded on beaches due to a storm

The pier, constructed on orders from President Joe Biden to bring aid to Gaza amidst the ongoing Israeli military operation, has been in operation for the past week. (Related: Construction of U.S. military floating pier off Gaza nearly complete.)

The Department of Defense reported that the project is anticipated to cost America about $320 million.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said that four vessels were detached from a jetty on Saturday, May 25, while also stating that there were no deaths or injuries and that the pier's operations were unaffected.

The first ship became stuck on a beach in the nearby Israeli port city of Ashdod, and another vessel sent to pull it was also grounded.

"Two vessels are now anchored on the beach near the pier," CENTCOM said, adding that the third and fourth ships were stranded on the coast close to the Israeli city of Ashkelon.

As stated by CENTCOM, attempts to recover the vessels are being assisted by the Israeli military.

"Efforts to recover the vessels are underway with assistance from the Israeli Navy," CENTCOM said while also emphasizing that "No U.S. personnel will enter Gaza" during the operation.

Just recently three U.S. soldiers were injured while working on the pier, and one needed hospitalization in Israel.

UN stopped deliveries after Palestinians rushed at moving trucks and looted cargo

The United Nations, which delivers aid from trucks carried by American ships to the pier, said deliveries had to be stopped on Sunday, May 26, and Monday, May 27, after Palestinians surged at the moving trucks and looted their whole cargo.

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.

Daniel Dieckhaus, USAID's Gaza Response Manager, said in a briefing on Friday, May 24, that the capture "represents a minority of the overall shipments."

"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," Dieckhaus told media.

The pier, which can move only a small fraction of the humanitarian aid that could be brought through Israel-controlled land routes into Gaza has been slammed by American legislators stating the high cost and danger to personnel.

Early this month the UN warned that the humanitarian aid ground route had been completely obstructed because of Israel's assault in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.

Egypt has kept a blockade on the Rafah crossing since Israeli forces seized the Gaza side of the border.

Egypt's President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi agreed on Friday to direct humanitarian aid trucks to the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing, at the border crossroad between Egypt, Israel and Gaza.

Meanwhile, aid started flowing into the Gaza Strip from southern Israel on Sunday, after a U.S.-made "floating pier" on the Mediterranean Sea was damaged by weather. The recent aid deployment is running through southern Israel due to disagreements with Egypt.

The Israel Defense Forces has taken over the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing, which has usually been used for shipping aid throughout the conflict. Egypt closed its side of the border when Israel took control of the Gazan side of the crossing and declared it would not reopen it until Palestinians were given control.

Follow WWIII.news for more stories about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Watch the video below about the U.S. military building a pier in Gaza to assist in the flow of aid.

This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com.

More related articles:

U.S. begins construction of humanitarian aid port off Gaza as Israeli invasion of Rafah looms.

Desperate, starving Palestinians resorting to intercepting aid delivered to Gaza via American floating pier.

United Nations accuses Israel of BLOCKING humanitarian aid deliveries into Gaza Strip.

Israel has attacked hundreds of humanitarian sites and aid convoys in Gaza since the war erupted.

Sources include:

RT.com

FoxNews.com

Brighteon.com
Watch: NYU grads go into debt for these worthless degrees

You're about to meet a group of New York University graduates with fresh degrees, likely burdened with a few hundred thousand dollars in debt unless their elite liberal parents footed the bill. Many companies are increasingly viewing woke degrees as liabilities rather than assets.

(Article by Tyler Durden republished from ZeroHedge.com)

If these graduates are luckyand don't end up as Starbucks baristasthey will have a bright and colorful future at some woke mega-corporation. There, they will be placed in non-productive managerial roles to advance destructive ESG and DEI movements.

It all starts at NYU classrooms indoctrination camps, where the kids are being uploaded the woke mind virus by activist professors. These kids are being brainwashed into not improving society but, in fact, being managers to spread wokesim to dismantle Western society.

In return, these corporations can out woke each other - and they have. Remember the Bud Light incident more than a year ago?

The brewer's pro-trans marketing executive nuked the brand by featuring transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney in a TikTok promotional ad in April of 2023, an attempt to score high brownie points with DEI & ESG indexes. Again, these woke degrees are not productive and are only a means to spread wokeism, which is at risk to the company's brand.

The problem with these useless degrees is that they're based on a woke system. With an anti-woke tide sweeping the nation and wokeism falling apart, some degrees are worthless.

These are real majors that NYU students are going into debt for. This is not satire. pic.twitter.com/rNXWhTeCrC  End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) May 27, 2024

Furthermore, New Discourses, an expert on the woke mind virus, recently wrote an open letter to students, explaining that pursuing woke degrees in college won't lead to a positive outcome in the end.

Let's get back to an education system that focuses on actual learning, not woke activism. This is destructive, and that is why Elon Musk is seizing the opportunity to create a new university.

Don't worry. The Biden administration will be bailing these folks out.

Read more at: ZeroHedge.com
WHO Pandemic Treaty DIES, IHR amendments all but neutralized

The time has come for member states of the United Nations (UN) to vote on the World Health Organization's (WHO) amended International Health Regulations (IHR). And the good news is that the so-called Pandemic Treaty, at least the version the world was presented with, is dead in the water

The only real issue of major concern, according to Dr. Meryl Nass, are the surveillance provisions concerning "misinformation" and "disinformation," which the government and social media companies are already doing.

The International Negotiating Body just announced that it was unable to reach any kind of agreement on the Pandemic Treaty, which means the world no longer has to worry about it  at least in its currently proposed form.

The New York Times ran an article about the negotiation failure in which it was revealed that there are problems with getting everyone on board with the WHO's plans for the "equitable" distribution of "vaccines," as well as "financing to set up surveillance systems."

The WHO was planning to present a final version Pandemic Treaty, also known as the Pandemic Accord, at the 77th World Health Assembly (WHA77). The WHO also wanted to present its amendments to the IHR, though both efforts failed.

"Negotiators had hoped to adopt the treaty this week ... but cancelled meetings and fractious debates  sometimes over a single word  stalled agreement on key sections, including equitable access to vaccines," the Times reported.

Concerning the IHR amendments specifically, the Times only mentioned them once in the piece:

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"The countries are also working on bolstering the WHO's International Health Regulations, which were last revised in 2005 and set detailed rules for countries to follow in the event of an outbreak that may breach borders."

(Related: Did you catch our earlier report about how the WHO has been backing off on its Pandemic Treaty proposal for a while now, including by making substantive changes to address tyranny concerns?)

Bird flu fearmongering failed to get Pandemic Treaty passed

The apparent hope was that there would be enough public fear about a so-called "bird flu" outbreak that government leaders would rush to sign on to everything the WHO presented as necessary to deal with the next "pandemic." They also tried with a monkeypox (mpox) and even smallpox scare, both of which also failed.

"The 'fear' of both had made a comeback in the press during the first half of 2022 before being stomped out fairly quickly by pesky 'conspiracy theorists' but it seems they could be resurrected again," warned Rhoda Wilson in a piece for The Expose.

The world is long over the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "pandemic" as well, which worked on some people for a while. Now, though, the world can see that the powers that be made much ado about nothing concerning COVID with a boy who cried wolf too many times narrative.

Getting everyone on board with another manufactured scare is going to be tough, especially now that the WHO's global tyranny plans have failed.

Loyce Pace, an assistant secretary at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), tried to scaremonger about the implications of not adopting the Pandemic Treaty, but this failed as well.

"Loyce ... knows nothing about pandemics," said Dr. Nass in response to a statement from Pace about how "those of us in public health recognize that another pandemic really could be around the corner."

"Best to let those ignorant about disease negotiate these two treaties, since if they actually understood what they were negotiating they might jump off a bridge."

Even if the Pandemic Treaty goes away, this does not mean that globalism is also dead. Find out more at Globalism.news.

Sources for this article include:

Expose-News.com

NaturalNews.com
The intense heat in Mexico can likely expand into parts of the U.S., bringing potential heat-related health concerns. The country has experienced extreme drought and heat.

In recent Nature World News (NWN) reports, Mexico recorded high temperatures due to a heat dome, causing heat-related health concerns. The forecast warned of potential heat stroke and impacts on wildlife. The challenging heat killed and affected many animals, including parrots, bats, and toucans.

While some portions of the U.S. experienced severe weather conditions, the country also suffers from unusual warmth and heat, resulting in heat advisories. The hotter temperatures marked the unofficial start of summer.

Mexico and U.S. challenging heat

According to a weather report published on May 29, Mexico is threatened by a dangerous pattern and drought, which could lead to potential wildfires and water shortages. On a report by NWN on May 26, the country recorded over 48 deaths since March due to exceptional heatwaves.

Due to a heat dome, the unusual heat in Mexico has become more dangerous. This has raised concerns about the possible impacts on vulnerable populations, including older adults, people with medical conditions, children, outdoor workers, and communities without cooling systems.

In Mexico, another concern is the potential emergence of wildfires. The conditions are favorable for wildfires, such as warm and dry weather. This can likely worsen due to the water shortage,

Meanwhile, parts of the U.S. are also experiencing warmer conditions. According to a National Weather Service (NWS) report on May 30, a hazardous heat outlook is likely in the South Texas, central, and southern Florida Peninsula this weekend.

The dangerous heat in southern Texas and southern Florida can pose significant health risks for people who plan to exercise outdoors. Additionally, the expansion of heat from Mexico can exacerbate the problem of intense heat in the U.S.

There is a chance that hotter temperatures can build in areas of Southwestern and South Central States this upcoming summer. The shifting of heat from Mexico can likely lead to heat advisories, and homeowners should limit outdoor travel, especially when commutes are not important.

From June 4 to June 7, a significant warming trend is likely in the following areas:

Boise

Redding

Reno

Fresno

Las Vegas

Cedar City

Phoenix

San Deigo

Casper

Denver

Scorching heat can also threaten portions of Chicago, Dallas, and Memphis.

Also Read: Plains Weather Outlook: Flooding Rain, Hail to Hit Oklahoma City, Dallas This Weekend

Staying safe from deadly heat in parts of the U.S.

As summer approaches in the U.S., there is a significant risk of hotter temperatures, which can cause heat-related health concerns. Areas at risk should be updated with the latest weather reports, including heat advisories.

For homeowners, it is essential to monitor children, and never leave them unsupervised. Locking doors is essential when cars are not used.

Related Article: New York, Pennsylvania Weather Forecast: Heavy Rains Packed with Thunderstorms Likely This Week

For more similar stories, don't forget to follow Nature World News.




NEWS PROVIDED BY

Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights

May 31, 2024



NEW YORK, May 31, 2024 /Christian Newswire/ -- The following is submitted by Bill Donohue, President, Catholic League:

Pope Francis and Richard Dreyfuss are both in the hot seat for making remarks that some interpret as offensive. The pope has apologized but not Dreyfuss. Are they guilty as charged, or are people overreacting?

Italian bishops told media sources this week that when the pope met with them in a closed-door meeting last week, he spoke out against having homosexuals in the seminaries. He said, "There's already too much 'faggotry'" in the seminaries, including "even those who are only semi-oriented." He expressed his concerns over seminarians who are supposed to be celibate but live a "double life," living secretly as gay.

Due to the fact that homosexual priests (not pedophiles!) are responsible for most of the cases where a minor has been sexually abused8 in 10 of these casesthe Vatican sought to correct this problem in 2005 when it barred those with "deep-seated homosexual tendencies" from entering the seminaries. Subsequently, the number of abuse cases has declined to almost nil.

Is the criticism of Pope Francis warranted? Is the word "faggot" objectionable?

It wasn't too long ago that the word "queer" was deemed offensive, but this is no longer the case. Now it's standard in the mainstream media to refer to homosexuals as queers. According to LGBTQ Nation, the term has been "reclaimed" (which explains why they added the "Q" to their acronym). They say that "The use of the word 'queer' has become so widespread that it's now represented by the letter 'Q' in the initialism LGBTQ+." But we still don't know who the + people are.

If it is okay to call homosexuals queers, is it time to reclaim the word "faggot"? Some are already doing that.

Andre Wheeler is a self-described black queer. Four years ago he admitted that growing up he was aghast at the term "faggot." But then he heard more and more people in social media dropping the word and found that his objections began to wither. He points out that Dan Savage, the anti-Catholic queer writer, began calling his sex advice column "Hey Faggot" in the 1990s. Wheeler confesses that he still winces when he hears the word "faggot," but "I also want to reclaim" it.

That being the case, one could argue that the pope's reference to "faggots" in the seminaries is not necessarily objectionable. It may be that the perception of this term is evolving.

Richard Dreyfuss of "Jaws" fame upset some people over the weekend when speaking at a Massachusetts theater, The Cabot. He said that "the parents of trans youth, allowing them to transition, was bad parenting and that someday those kids might change their minds."

Officials at The Cabot were quick to issue a statement slamming Dreyfuss for his "distressing and offensive" remarks, and apologized to those who were hurt. Naturally, they said he violated the "welcoming and inclusive environment for all members of our community." Except for him, that is.

In my upcoming book, Cultural Meltdown: The Secular Roots of Our Moral Crisis, I devote a lengthy chapter to transgenderism, the pernicious ideology that falsely claims there are more than two sexes. Worse than this is the exploitation of children by those in education and medical circles; enabling kids to "transition" is child abuse.

Ergo, what Dreyfuss said is an understatement. The apologies should be issued by his critics for contributing to this alarming problem.

Even if one allows that the pope should not have used the word "faggotry," and even if one allows that Dreyfuss should have stayed away from politics, it is much more disconcerting to read the sanctimonious comments of their critics.

As for the Catholic League, we will refrain for now from talking about "faggots" (keeping an eye on its evolving acceptance), but will continue to condemn gender ideology.
In a revelation that could rewrite textbooks, researchers from Mississippi State University have published a study that challenges the long-standing single-origin theory of life.

Their work, which focuses on the symbiotic relationships that underpin plant life, suggests a far more complex narrative of life's evolution, one that involves multiple origins of symbiosis.

The Intricate Dance of Symbiosis

At the heart of this study is the phenomenon of root nodule symbiosis (RNS), a mutually beneficial relationship between plants and soil bacteria. This process allows plants to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a form they can use, which is essential for their growth and the health of ecosystems.

The prevailing theory has been that RNS, and by extension, much of life, originated from a single point.

However, the research led by Ryan A. Folk, an assistant professor at Mississippi State University, proposes a different story.

Folk's team examined genomic data from 13,000 species and used sophisticated statistical models to identify scenarios where RNS could have arisen multiple times throughout evolutionary history. This contradicts the single-origin narrative and suggests that the genetic machinery for symbiosis is not as shared as once believed.

Also Read: Coral-Algal Symbiosis May Help in Recovery from Coral Bleaching Due to Climate Change and Ocean Warming

A New Frontier in Crop Engineering

The study's findings have sent ripples through the scientific community, especially among those working on genome comparisons and the genetic engineering of crops. The single-origin theory has been a popular narrative, especially among scientists aiming to engineer symbiosis in non-leguminous crops like rice and maize.

The simplicity of a single origin would imply a lower hurdle for such genetic modifications.

However, the multiple-origin theory complicates this picture, suggesting that shared genetic machinery plays a lesser role than previously thought. This presents a greater challenge for transforming crop plants to engage in nitrogen-fixing symbiosis.

Despite the complexities, the multiple origins also mean there is a diverse evolutionary palette that could guide future experiments in crop genetic engineering.

The study not only sheds light on the origins of plant diversity but also paves the way for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms that led to the gain of symbiosis.

Folk's work is based in MSU's herbarium, which houses approximately 38,000 vascular plant specimens from around the world, with a focus on the Southeastern U.S.

The research team's efforts highlight the importance of considering a broader phylogenetic and genetic scope for genome-phenome mapping.

In conclusion, the study by Folk and his colleagues represents a significant step forward in our understanding of plant life symbiosis. It challenges long-held beliefs and opens new avenues for research and application in the field of crop genetic engineering.

As the debate between single-origin and multiple-origin theories continues, one thing is clear: the dance of symbiosis is far more complex and fascinating than we ever imagined.

Related article: High Temperatures Trigger a Break up Between Marine Sponges and Their Symbionts
California's Clear Lake, a natural gem and the largest freshwater lake in the state, has recently been in the spotlight for an environmental phenomenon that is as visually striking as it is concerning.

Satellite images have captured a significant algal bloom that has turned the lake into a canvas of bright green swirls, visible even from space.

This occurrence has brought the issue of harmful algal blooms (HABs) to the forefront of environmental concerns in the Golden State.

A Threat Beneath the Surface

The vibrant green that now characterizes Clear Lake is due to cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae.

These organisms are a natural part of aquatic ecosystems, but their overgrowth can lead to HABs, which release toxins harmful to both human health and wildlife.

The blooms are primarily caused by an excess of nutrients, particularly phosphorus and nitrogen, which can be exacerbated by agricultural runoff, mining, and sewage treatment.

Clear Lake's susceptibility to algal blooms is not new; it has long been a eutrophic lake with a history of large algal populations, possibly dating back to the end of the last ice age.

However, recent human activities have increased nutrient inputs to the lake, leading to more frequent and harmful blooms.

Over 130 algal species have been identified in Clear Lake, and three of these can cause adverse human health effects under certain conditions.

Ripple Effects on Health and Ecology

The health implications of these blooms are far-reaching. Toxins produced by the algae, such as microcystin, can cause liver and kidney damage, skin irritation, and other health issues in humans.

Animals, including pets and wildlife, are at risk of poisoning, which can lead to a cascade of effects within the food web.

The ecological consequences are just as alarming. The overgrowth of algae disrupts the balance of aquatic ecosystems, leading to oxygen depletion and the death of fish and other marine life.

This, in turn, affects the entire food web and can lead to dead zones where aquatic life cannot survive.

Combating the Bloom

Efforts to combat the spread of HABs are underway, with environmental agencies closely monitoring the situation and conducting research to better understand the causes and effects of these blooms.

Strategies being considered include reducing nutrient runoff, managing water quality, and restoring natural wetlands to prevent future occurrences.

As California confronts this green invasion, the need for a coordinated response becomes clear. It's a battle not just for the health of the state's waters but for the well-being of its residents and the preservation of its diverse ecosystems.

Also Read: US Harmful Algal Bloom: Over $20 Million Budget To Mitigate Impacts on Human Health, Fish Ecosystem

Southern California's Toxic Tide: The Rising Threat of Algal Blooms

In Southern California, the coastline has emerged as a hot spot for toxic algae, with episodic outbreaks making headlines as marine animals wash ashore between Santa Barbara and San Diego.

The rapid growth of harmful algae along parts of the Southern California Coast is believed to have killed hundreds of California sea lions and close to 60 dolphins in the first weeks of June 2023.

A Toxic Wave Affecting Marine Life

The algae Pseudo-nitzschia causes the production of a neurotoxin called domoic acid, which leads to animal strandings as the toxin is transferred into the marine food web.

Seabirds and marine mammals, such as sea lions and dolphins, ingest the toxin when they eat affected prey, leading to neurological symptoms and often death.

Forecasts provided by NOAA CoastWatch and the Southern California Coastal Ocean Observing System show high concentrations of domoic acid from Orange County north to San Luis Obispo County, with concentrations especially high around Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

The toxin can cause seizures, brain damage, and death in marine life and is also a concern for human consumption through contaminated seafood.

Responding to the Crisis

Stranding teams and environmental agencies are responding to the crisis, asking the public to report sea lions in distress and stay clear of affected areas.

The West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network, coordinated by NOAA Fisheries, is actively involved in responding to live marine mammal strandings in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties.

As Southern California faces this toxic tide, the importance of monitoring and mitigating the effects of these algal blooms becomes increasingly evident. It's a critical issue that requires attention and action to protect the region's marine life and coastal communities.

Related article: Algae Blooms Grew Larger Over the Past Two Decades
Ancient horse burials in France dating around 2,000 years ago have astonished archaeologists who discovered animals remains during the excavation of multiple pits in the central part of the European country. Although the context surrounding the deaths of the hoofed mammals remains a mystery, experts have linked their burials to the Gallic Wars of animal sacrifice rituals thousands of years ago.

Ancient Horse Burial Mystery

The ancient horse burial mystery in France was revealed on Thursday, May 30, wherein researchers from the French National Institute of Preventive Archaeological Research (INRAP) found traces of a fortified Celtic settlement in the area. This is according to a cited report by the Archaeology Magazine on Thursday, a publication of the Archaeological Institute of America.

Based on the report, the horse bones have been radiocarbon-dated and show their origins hailing from between 100 B.C. and A.D. 100. The specimens come from the nine pits that the INRAP archaeologists found. The site contained the remains of a total of 28 horses located in the Villedieu-sur-Indre commune of the Indre department in central France.

In one of the 28 pits, the researchers found the complete, intact remains of 10 horses and another with the remains of two horses. All of the horses were adults or fully grown stallions. The ancient burial site also contained the remains of two dogs. As of Thursday, the other graves have not yet been excavated by the archaeologists.

Also Read: Skeletal Remains of Headless Horse and Man Discovered by Archaeologists in Germany

Gallic Wars and Animal Sacrifices

The term "Gallic Wars" is a historical event involving a series of wars between the ancient Roman republic and different tribes of Gaul. Also called Gallic tribes, these inhabitants were Celtic tribes that lived in what is now parts of modern France, Belgium, Germany, and the United Kingdom.

The Gallic Wars took place from 58 B.C. to 50 B.C. between aggressive Roman invaders and a resistance group consisting of Gallic, Germanic, and British tribes defending their homeland. It is also during this conflict that a contingent of cavalry (soldiers who fought on horseback) are common. In this context, evidence suggests the excavated horse remains were buried shortly after their deaths.

This is not the first instance buried horses, ancient wild animals, and pets from thousands of years ago were discovered in modern times. In 2022, archaeologists unearthed the remains of a headless horse and a man. Scientists estimate the horse remains to be approximately 1,400 years old, adding the horse was part of a burial ceremony instead of an animal sacrifice ritual.

If not because of war, horses in ancient civilizations were also buried as part of cultural or religious traditions called animal sacrifices. These practices have been discovered in different parts of the world, including Europe. According to a 2023 study published in the journal Nature, researchers found that cattle and other animals in 5th century B.C. Spain were killed as part of ancient mass animal sacrifices.

Related Article: Ancient Animal Lovers: Dogs, Horses and Other Animals Found Buried Alongside Humans in Italy Over 2,000 Years Ago [Study]
A Texas alligator was found with human remains inside its jaws earlier this week, shocking a local community where deadly alligator attacks are very rare.

The victim was a missing woman in her 60s and was spotted dead at a lake in the Greater Houston Area on Tuesday, May 28. According to local authorities, an investigation is still pending regarding the exact cause of death of the Texas woman.

Texas Alligator Attack

In a recent news release regarding the Texas alligator attack, the City of Houston announced that the local police are awaiting the autopsy results surrounding the death of the Texas woman who was found in the alligator's jaw. The site of the gruesome sighting is located at 2700 block of Coastal Oak Drive at 8:40 a.m. on Tuesday. The victim is believed to be in her 60s and a resident in the area.

Based on a report by the Houston Police Department, its patrol officers found the remains of the woman (who was reported missing) in the mouth of the alligator while searching for her in the Horsepen Bayou, west of El Dorado Boulevard. Since it is unclear whether the woman was already dead or not before encountering the alligator, investigations are still pending at the moment.

The Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences has conducted the autopsy. Following the incident, a police sergeant shot and killed the alligator to prevent it from causing potentially further harm, according to the media release. City officials did not mention of any foul play in relation to the incident. The remains were recovered by the police department's dive team.

Also Read: Florida Alligator Attack: Alligator Bites Woman's Head While Snorkeling in Ocala

Related Attacks in the US

Wildlife experts say that alligator-human attacks are rare in Texas, with the last fatal encounter taking place back in 2015, when a man in his 20s was killed by an alligator. The incident almost a decade ago is the first in Texas in two centuries, according to local reports. In 2023, Florida also had a similar incident after a 41-year-old dead body of woman was found inside the jaws of a 13-foot alligator.

Although deadly alligator attacks are rare, they do still occur, experts warn. In other parts of the United States, human fatalities and injuries due to gator attacks have been reported in recent years. In 2022, a Florida man searching for frisbees in alligator territory was killed by one of the reptiles. Authorities at that time found the victim's mutilated body at the edge of a Florida lake.

The crocodilians are endemic in the US are called American alligators which can grow up to more than 12 feet (3.6 meters), according to the National Wildlife Federation. The said species Alligator mississippiensis can be found from North Carolina to the Rio Grande in Texas. They are often seen in freshwater bodies and slow-moving rivers.

Related Article: Alligators in a Texas Lake are Starting to Thirst for Human Blood [Reports]
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The UALink group plans to develop a specification to define a high-speed, low-latency interconnect for scale-up communications between accelerators and switches in AI computing pods. The 1.0 specification will enable the connection of up to 1,024 accelerators within an AI computing pod and allow for direct loads and stores between the memory attached to accelerators, such as GPUs, in the pod, according to the group.

Norrod pointed out that the UALink members are also backers of the Ultra Ethernet Consortium, which was formed to develop technologies aimed at increasing the scale, stability, and reliability of Ethernet networks to satisfy AIs high-performance networking requirements. The UEC was founded last year by AMD, Arista, Broadcom, Cisco, Eviden, HPE, Intel, Meta and Microsoft, and it now includes more than 50 vendors. Later this year, it plans to release official specifications that will focus on a variety of scalable Ethernet improvements, including better multi-path and packet delivery options as well as modern congestion and telemetry features.

And so by coming together, we believe that this promoters group is filling in an important element of future  scaled out AI systems architectures with this pod-level interconnect. And in concert with Ultra Ethernet, [it] will enable systems of hundreds of thousands or millions of accelerators to efficiently work together, Norrod said.

J Metz, chair of the Ultra Ethernet Consortium, touted opportunities for collaboration among UALink and UEC backers in a statement announcing the new groups formation: In a very short period of time, the technology industry has embraced challenges that AI and HPC have uncovered. Interconnecting accelerators like GPUs requires a holistic perspective when seeking to improve efficiencies and performance. At UEC, we believe that UALinks scale-up approach to solving pod cluster issues complements our own scale-out protocol, and we are looking forward to collaborating together on creating an open, ecosystem-friendly, industry-wide solution that addresses both kinds of needs in the future.

The UALink Promoter Group expects the 1.0 specification is expected to be available in the third quarter of this year and made available to companies that join the Ultra Accelerator Link (UALink) Consortium. Products could appear next year, with implementation potentially around 2026.

More on Nvidia:
Guterres hails UN Gender Advocate Award winner Major Sen as 'true leader, role model'

U

N Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called Indian Army Major Radhika Sen a true leader and role model while presenting her with the Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.

Her service is a true credit to the United Nations as a whole," Guterres said of her work as a Peacekeeper in the Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO).

An Indian Army medic, Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who died while serving in the same mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) last year, was awarded the Dag Hammarskjold medal during the ceremony.

Despite direct attacks by armed groups, harsh operating environments, and the emergence of new weapons of war -- including digital technology and artificial intelligence -- our Peacekeepers persevere," Guterres said.

Speaking on the occasion, Major Sen said she was deeply honoured and humbled to receive the award on behalf of my esteemed colleagues in MONUSCO and my home country, India.

This award is special to me, as it recognises the hard work put in by all the Peacekeepers working in MONUSCOs challenging environment," she said.

Major Sen also said that she hoped one day a man would get the award she received because gender-sensitive peacekeeping is everyone's business, not just womens.

In a video of her work shown earlier at the ceremony, Sen said, It is very rewarding for me to see women and young girls come up and say that they feel very happy and empowered when they see a woman soldier leading a team comprising both male and female soldiers."

Recalling Sens work as a Peacekeeper in the DRC, Guterres said that as commander of the Indian contingents engagement platoon, Sen led her unit on countless patrols in an escalating conflict environment in North Kivu".

"Under her leadership marked by humility, compassion, and dedication, her troops actively engaged with conflict-affected communities, including women and girls as she earned their trust," Guterres said.

Because of the safe and welcoming platform she developed for women to share their ideas and concerns, Monusco could better respond to their needs, he said.

She was also the battalions officer charged with preventing sexual exploitation and abuse, Guterres noted.

Besides her military duties, she also undertook educational and vocational efforts for women in the DRC, he added.

Sen said, We had the opportunity to engage with the communities on topics ranging from women's health and education to childcare, gender equality, women's employment, and combating sexual violence in conflict, along with interactions on various skill development programmes to foster self-reliance."

Women and girls are disproportionately affected in conflicts, facing increased risk of abuse," she said, adding, "The need of the hour is to mainstream women in nation-building, particularly in sectors of security and governance."

Indias Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, received Singhs Dag Hammarskjold Medal on behalf of the country and his family.

Singh, who belonged to the Army Medical Corps, worked as a nursing assistant with MONUSCO.

Sen was assigned to MONUSCO in 2023 as the Engagement Platoon Commander with the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion, and completed her tenure in April 2024.

Sen is the second Indian Peacekeeper to receive the honour after Major Suman Gawani, who served with the UN Mission in South Sudan and received the award in 2019.

Of the 6,063 Indian personnel in UN peacekeeping operations, 1,954 serve with MONUSCO, including 32 women.

Hailing Major Sen for the award, the Indian Army said in a post on X: "#IndianArmy congratulates Major Radhika Sen on being conferred with the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year' Award by Mr Antonio Guteress, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at #UN Headquarters, #NewYork for her outstanding service in the Democratic Republic of the #Congo. Her dedication & courage highlight the invaluable role of #Women Peacekeepers in contributing towards a better world. She truly embodies the ethos of commitment and compassion of the Indian Peacekeepers around the world."

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)

 Guterres hails UN Gender Advocate Award winner Major Sen as 'true leader, role model'

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Parts of NE remain isolated as submerged railway tracks disrupt connectivity

T

ripura, Mizoram and Manipur along with southern Assam remained isolated for the third consecutive day on Thursday as most railway tracks remained waterlogged or damaged due to the landslides which were triggered by the incessant rains in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal, officials said.

A Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) official said that railway tracks were either inundated or the water is overflowing over the tracks due to incessant rains or have been damaged in at least ten places in the New Haflong-Bandarkhal section under the Lumding division in southern Assams Dima Hasao district, which is a connecting route to south Assam, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram.

The water levels of all rivers including Barak, Madhura, and Jiri are flowing above the danger level in the region. Once the water level recedes, restoration work can be started.

Currently intermittent heavy rain also badly hampered the work. However, our engineers and workers are working round-the-clock to restore rail services, an NFR official told IANS.

India Meteorological Department said that the Southwest monsoon has advanced into most parts of the northeast region on Thursday, which was advanced by a week from its normal date.

The railway official said that with the onset of monsoon if the rain occurs in the coming days then it is uncertain about the resumption of railway services in the region.

The NFR had cancelled a large number of express, passenger and goods trains bound for south Assam, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram since Tuesday.

Tripura Food and Civil Supplies minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Thursday appealed to people "not to panic" and said the state has got sufficient food stocks and enough petrol, and diesel stocks to last another week.

Passenger and goods train services have been affected in the region since April 25 owing to heavy landslides causing damage to railway tracks in the Jatinga Lumpur-New Harangajao section under the Lumding division after heavy rains lashed the mountainous Dima Hasao district.

Considering the damaged railway tracks and weak soil in the region, the NFR recently operated a limited number of trains in the daytime on the hilly route, besides regulating long-distance, express and goods trains.

The disruptions in services caused a major shortage of transport fuel -- petrol and diesel -- and other essential goods in southern Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur.

Due to the heavy rain and landslides, highway connectivity was also affected in these states, which are heavily dependent on fuel, essential items, food grains and other commodities from the outside.

 Parts of NE remain isolated as submerged railway tracks disrupt connectivity

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When Arjun Kanungo's female fan carried his leftover cake in her pocket

S

inger-songwriter Arjun Kanungo, who is known for Baaki Baatein Peene Baad, Aaya Na Tu, Ek Dafaa and others, recollected an incident when a female fan of his took his leftover cake to her home.

Arjun attended the launch of the music platform Nexa Music season 3 in the Worli area of Mumbai on Thursday.

He was joined by Oscar and Grammy-winning composer A. R. Rahman, Raja Kumari, King and Mame Khan.

During the media interaction, Arjun was asked if he was ever serenaded by any of his fans, to which he said, Well, I didnt have the good fortune of hearing a song from my fans but I feel their love.

At this point, King interjected as he said that his fans give him food whenever he goes to perform in any city. He said that they bring him local delicacies or home-cooked food.

Arjun, who was pleasantly surprised hearing this, asked King, Oh they give you food? Who are these fans?

He then narrated an incident. He said: I was at a restaurant when a female fan came up to me for pictures. When I left the place, I saw that she took the leftover cake, and put it in her pocket.

 When Arjun Kanungo's female fan carried his leftover cake in her pocket

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Top medical journals continue to produce tobacco-funded research: Study

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obacco-funded research continues to appear in highly-cited medical journals, reveals a study published in The BMJ on World No Tobacco Day on Friday.

The findings by The Investigative Desk -- an independent platform for investigative journalism -- showed that the tobacco industry has a long history of subverting science.

Even then most of the leading medical journals do not have policies that ban research wholly or partly funded by the tobacco industry.

The study based on research into the PubMed database showed hundreds of relationships between Big Tobaccos medical and pharmaceutical subsidiaries and medical research.

Further, the tobacco policies of 10 leading general medical journals and 10 journals in each of the three therapeutic areas especially affected by smoking were analysed.

The results showed that of the 40 journals, only 8 (20 per cent) had policies prohibiting studies wholly or partly funded by the tobacco industry.

Of the 10 journals in the field of respiratory medicine, six had a tobacco policy, but in oncology only one did, and in cardiology, none had one. Among the 10 general medicine journals, only The BMJ had such a policy.

Institutions, professionals, and scientific journals should refuse involvement with the tobacco industry, said Ruth Malone, professor of social behavioural sciences at the University of California, US.

As the tobacco industry is known for its long-standing history of dishonesty it is very straightforward that researchers should cut ties with them after they are acquired by big tobacco, else they would be working with the tobacco industry and contributing to their profits, added Nicholas Hopkinson, professor of respiratory medicine at Imperial College London.

 Top medical journals continue to produce tobacco-funded research: Study

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PM Modi arrives at Vivekananda Rock Memorial, set to meditate till June 1

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rime Minister Narendra Modi arrived at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari on Thursday, where he will meditate from today till June 1 evening.

PM Modi will be meditating throughout the day and night at the Dhyan Mandapam, which happens to be the same place where Swami Vivekanand meditated.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi offered prayers at Bhagavathy Amman Temple in Kanyakumari, after the culmination of the Lok Sabha election campaign.

The Prime Minister was seen wearing a 'dhoti' and covering his upper body with an off-white coloured shawl.

Prime Minister Modi concluded his election campaign in Punjab's Hoshiarpur on Thursday, for the final phase of the general elections, which will be held on June 1.

The Bharatiya Janata Party is eying its third term in office, and Prime Minister Modi has extensively campaigned for his party across the length and breadth of the country.

The Prime Minister held around 206 election campaign events, including rallies and roadshows, in 75 days. He also did around 80 interviews with different news and media platforms.

This rock on the site of the memorial had a major impact on Swami Vivekananda's life. It is believed that like Sarnath holds a special place in the life of Gautam Buddha, this rock also holds a similar place in the life of Swami Vivekananda. It was here that he arrived after wandering across the country mediated for 3 days, and attained a vision for a developed India.

According to mythology, Goddess Parvati also meditated at the same place on one foot as she waited for Lord Shiva.

This is the Southernmost tip of India. Further, this is the place where India's Eastern and Western coastlines meet. It is also the meeting point of the Indian Ocean, Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea. PM Modi is sending a signal of national unity by going to Kanyakumari.

The Prime Minister is known to undertake spiritual journeys at the end of election campaigns. In 2019, he had visited Kedarnath, and in 2014, he visited Shivaji's Pratapgarh.

The election for 543 Lok Sabha seats is being held in seven phases starting April 19. The counting of the votes will be held on June 4.

 PM Modi arrives at Vivekananda Rock Memorial, set to meditate till June 1

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Will not hesitate to protect British interests in Red Sea: UK PM Rishi Sunak

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K Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has vowed to protect British interests abroad after the Royal Air Force (RAF) carried out strikes against Houthi rebels.

The UK and US forces struck Houthi targets in Yemen in the fifth combined operation since January.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed strikes took place against the Houthis on Thursday as part of a response to Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

In a statement on Friday morning, Sunak said, "Last night, the RAF successfully conducted a fifth set of strikes against Houthi military targets in Yemen alongside the US."

"These strikes were conducted to further degrade the military capabilities of the Houthis and to prevent further attacks on international shipping."

"The strikes were taken in self-defence in the face of an ongoing threat that the Houthis pose."

Asked whether this new round of strikes risked escalation with Iran, Sunak said, "We have always said that we will not hesitate to protect British interests abroad and at home."

"There is an ongoing threat that the Houthis pose, 197 attacks since November, all our intelligence indicates that previous sets of strikes have been successful in degrading the military capabilities of the Houthis: targeting supply, command and control launch sites for missiles and there is also a risk in inaction that would damage the global economy and further risk our international security."

The MoD said intelligence had confirmed two locations near Hudaydah as being involved with the anti-shipping attacks, with buildings identified as housing drone ground control facilities and providing storage for very long-range drones.

Surface-to-air weapons used to impede coalition operations to safeguard shipping in the region were also believed to be on-site.

A set of Houthi facilities at Ghulayfiqah, further south on the Yemeni coast, were also identified as being involved in the command and control of the group's anti-shipping campaign.

RAF Typhoon FGR4s conducted strikes on the target buildings at the three locations, using Paveway IV guided bombs.

The MoD said the "utmost care" was taken in planning the strikes to "minimise any risk to civilians or non-military infrastructure."

Two people were killed, and ten others injured in one of the strikes, according to the Houthis' Al Masirah satellite news.

This is the fifth time the US and UK militaries have conducted a combined operation against the Houthis since January 12.

The Houthis, in recent months, have stepped up attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, demanding that Israel end the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians.

The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 hostage.

The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the US Maritime Administration.

The attacks have disrupted shipping routes in the region.

--IANS/DPA

 Will not hesitate to protect British interests in Red Sea: UK PM Rishi Sunak

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Malaika shares cryptic post amid talk of split with Arjun Kapoor

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mid talk of a breakup with actor Arjun Kapoor, actress Malaika Arora shared a cryptic post on Friday, saying "the greatest treasure on Earth are the people who love and support us".

Taking to Instagram Stories, Malaika, who has 18.8 million followers, shared a quote that read: "The greatest treasure on Earth are the people who love and support us. They cannot be bought or replaced, and each of us has only a few of them."

Earlier in the day, a source close to IANS confirmed that Malaika and Arjun, who started dating in 2018, have split.

"Going by Arjuns body language and how he is right now, it has happened. They have been dating for so long; hence, it has been very peaceful, dignified, and respectful. Malaika and Arjun are still amicable with each other," the source said.

The rumours about the duo dating spread in 2018 after they were spotted together at a fashion show. However, it was on Malaika's 45th birthday in October 2018 that they confirmed their relationship status.

They were often seen expressing love for each other on social media by dropping love-filled pictures and posts. They also went for romantic getaways to New York, Berlin, and Salzburg in Austria.

On the personal front, Malaika was earlier married to actor Arbaaz Khan, and they have a son, Arhaan. They were officially divorced in May 2017.

On the work front, Arjun is set to showcase his shades of gray in Rohit Shettys upcoming film 'Singham Again' starring Ajay Devgn and Deepika Padukone.

He also has 'No Entry 2', a comedy film directed by Anees Bazmee along with Varun Dhawan and Diljit Dosanjh.

 Malaika shares cryptic post amid talk of split with Arjun Kapoor

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French Open: Iga Swiatek celebrates birthday with easy romp against Bouzkova

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hree-time champion and women's World No.1 Iga Swiatek perfectly celebrated her birthday as she romped into the fourth round of the French Open, beating Czech Marie Bouzkova in straight sets on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Friday.

Swiatek became the seventh player into the womens fourth round, beating Czech Bouzkova 6-4, 6-2 at Stade Roland Garros to set up a clash with Anastasia Potapova in the fourth round. Potapova overcame Chinas Xinyu Wang 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-4 in a third-round match on Court 14.

Tunisian star Ons Jabeur also made it into the second week after negotiating a tricky test against Leylah Fernandez from Canada. Jabeur sealed a 6-4, 7-6(5) win in a third-round encounter. The eighth seed was a point from being forced into a decider late in the second but managed to quell the fightback. Jabeur, a three-time major finalist, next plays Denmark's Clara Tauson in the fourth round on Sunday.

In other matches, Denmark's Clara Tauson advanced into the fourth round at a major for the first time, beating former runner-up Sofia Kenin 6-2, 7-5. Another runner-up here in recent years, Marketa Vondrousova, cruised through against French wildcard Chloe Paquet 6-1, 6-3.

The Polish two-time defending French Open champion took care of business, spending her 23rd birthday on the court to safely seal a berth in the Round of 16 for the sixth year in a row.

Swiatek had saved four match points on her way to victory in what many pundits called the match of the tournament against Naomi Osaka in the second round.

On Friday, Swiatek found it much easier to control the outcome of points against World No.42 Bouzkova -- who had beaten No.29 seed Veronika Kudermetova in Paris' opening round but missed much of the clay-court season due to injury and played just two matches in the six weeks before Roland Garros.

In her first-ever meeting against Bouzkova, Swiatek broke serve four times, doubled Bouzkova's total of winners, and won seven of the last nine games in 1 hour and 33 minutes on the court in total.

American Coco Gauff too advanced to the Round of 16 with a straight-sets victory against Dayana Yastremska. Her 6-2, 6-4 victory sent her flying into the second week at Roland Garros -- and had her nasty return game to thank.

The No.3-seeded Gauff won five of Yastremskas nine service games (56 percent), against a player who reached the Australian Open semifinals as a qualifier earlier this year. In three matches here, Gauffs a sizzling 15-for-25.

 French Open: Iga Swiatek celebrates birthday with easy romp against Bouzkova

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Julie Rovner KFF Health News @jrovner

Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News' weekly health policy news podcast, "What the Health?" A noted expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book "Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z," now in its third edition.

June means it's time for the Supreme Court to render rulings on the biggest and most controversial cases of the term. This year, the court has two significant abortion-related cases: one involving the abortion pill mifepristone and the other regarding the conflict between a federal emergency care law and Idaho's near-total abortion ban.

Also awaiting resolution is a case that could dramatically change how the federal government makes health care (and all other types of) policies by potentially limiting agencies' authority in interpreting the details of laws through regulations. Rules stemming from the Affordable Care Act and other legislation could be affected.

In this special episode of "What the Health?", Laurie Sobel, an associate director for women's health policy at KFF, joins host Julie Rovner for a refresher on the cases, and a preview of how the justices might rule on them.

The cases highlighted in this episode:

Previous "What the Health?" coverage of these cases:

Where to find Supreme Court opinions as they are announced:

The Supreme Courts official website

The SCOTUSblog (not an official government website but run by lawyers and journalists)

Credits

Francis Ying Audio producer

Rebecca Adams Editor
Many countries with national healthcare systems or payers such as insurance companies use cost-effectiveness analyses to decide whether to cover new medicines, balancing treatment costs with potential health benefits.

That strategy often limits access to new, targeted therapies, even when these drugs prove highly effective and become part of standard-of-care therapy for many patients.

A new study from Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine examined the cost-effectiveness of durvalumab, a targeted immunotherapy for lung cancer that is known to extend lifespan. The findings show that the drug exceeded official cost-effectiveness thresholds for all four analyzed countries: the United States, Brazil, Singapore and Spain.

The study could help guide drug-pricing strategies to reduce financial burdens and increase the number of patients who benefit from treatment.

"Cost-effectiveness analyses can help establish a value-based price for discussions with payers," including insurance companies and national health care systems, said senior author Gilberto Lopes, M.D., chief of Medical Oncology and medical director for International Affairs at Sylvester.

Cost-effectiveness analyses can also inform biopharma companies about barriers to access, resulting in pricing-structure changes for targeted drugs in different countries, he added.

That's a key aim of the Access to Oncology Medicines (ATOM) Coalition, a global initiative chaired by Lopes to improve access to oncology treatments in low-income countries.

Effective but unavailable

Since its approval for lung cancer in 2018, durvalumab has become part of the standard of care for the disease. The drug is used as a maintenance therapy, usually for a year, after primary chemotherapy for unresectable (inoperable), locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

The drug extends lifespan by more than 18 months compared to placebo, according to an analysis of five years of data from the PACIFIC clinical trial.

Despite its effectiveness, durvalumab access is limited in some settings. In Brazil, for instance, the drug was approved in 2020 but remains unreimbursed by its public health system.

Calculating cost-effectiveness

In this new study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Open Access, the researchers developed a model to assess durvalumab's treatment costs and health benefits in lung cancer patients over a 10-year period.

To calculate treatment costs, the researchers collected a wide range of data, including drug pricing in different countries, administration costs, adverse events and follow-up care. In the U.S., the cost of treatment with durvalumab was $114,394.

To quantify health benefits, the researchers used a measurement commonly used in economic evaluations called quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). This data combines lifespan gains with information on quality of life.

The researchers then generated a single metric called an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio. The researchers found that the cost-effectiveness ratio in the U.S. for durvalumab was $228,788 per QALY.

Though Medicaid and Medicare typically pay for the drug, this cost-effectiveness ratio exceeds the agencies' threshold target of $150,000. The cost-effectiveness ratios also exceed health system thresholds in the other analyzed countries.

Overall, the study authors concluded that durvalumab treatment for lung cancer remains globally "cost-prohibitive."

The researchers went on to show how reduced industry pricing can improve cost-effectiveness. This analysis used discounted prices in Singapore that are available through an industry pricing program. The program brought the cost-effectiveness ratio down from $153,461 per QALY to $45,164 -; below the official threshold in Singapore.

Increasing access

The overall goal of these types of studies is to shed a very academic, and hopefully neutral light on all these numbers." Samuel Kareff, M.D., study's first author, Sylvester's chief hematology and oncology clinical fellow

Dr. Kareff will also present the data May 30 as an invited speaker at the OncLive National Fellows Program.

The study's strengths include accounting for multiple lines of therapy and using biomarker-guided treatments in its model (durvalumab targets a molecule called PD-L1, which is typically screened for prior to treatment). Limitations of the study include its narrow global coverage and the lack of analyses in poorer countries where access is more restrictive, Kareff explained.

He noted that drug companies face the challenge of recouping their massive drug-development costs while ensuring patients are served. Cost-effectiveness analyses can help, he said.

In May, Bristol Myers Squibb released its 10-year strategy to improve access to treatments for patients in low- and middle-income countries, including a collaboration with the ATOM Coalition to increase access to another targeted immunotherapy, nivolumab.

"As the pace of innovation increases and more targeted therapies become available, we unfortunately expect treatment costs to increase as well," Kareff said.

Read more about Sylvester research on the InventUM Blog, and follow @SylvesterCancer on X for the latest news on its research and care.
Researchers at Wake Forest University of School of Medicine have received a five-year, $1.5 million grant from the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to study bone microarchitecture in patients following bariatric surgery.

With the funding support, researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine will partner with Virginia Tech to add a virtual biopsy that uses an innovative technique called high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) to an ongoing randomized controlled trial.

Strategies to Reduce the Onset of Sleeve Gastrectomy Associated Bone Loss (STRONG BONES), is a clinical trial that is testing whether risedronate, an osteoporosis medicine, can minimize bone and muscle loss that often occurs after weight-loss surgery. The study is a collaboration by researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Wake Forest University's health and exercise science department.

"Bariatric surgery offers many health benefits to patients with severe obesity, but weight loss can also be associated with a decrease in bone mass, which increases fracture risk," said Ashley Weaver, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical engineering at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the principal investigator leading the HR-pQCT ancillary study to the STRONG BONES trial.

The HR-pQCT scanner is a state-of-the-art device, recently installed at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center and the first in North Carolina, that uses a low-radiation approach to assess bone mineral density and bone microarchitecture.

Unlike other available imaging, HR-pQCT allows high-resolution novel image processing techniques that can provide precise images with detailed characterization of bone. By analyzing this bone microarchitecture, we have valuable insight into fracture risk and skeletal fragility." Ashley Weaver, Ph.D., associate professor of biomedical engineering, Wake Forest University School of Medicine

The STRONG BONES study is recruiting 120 participants over the age of 40 who are undergoing sleeve gastrectomy, a procedure in which part of the stomach is removed to make it smaller and produce robust weight loss. Participants will receive six months of risedronate medication or placebo with all participants receiving HR-pQCT imaging before, during and after treatment.

"We are able to combine this high-resolution imaging with computational modeling to understand how bone strength changes following surgery and in response to the intervention," said Caitlyn Collins, Ph.D., assistant professor of biomedical engineering and mechanics at Virginia Tech and a co-investigator on the ancillary study to the STRONG BONES trial. "This gives us a more in-depth understanding of how and where risedronate may be affecting bone remodeling in our study participants."

STRONG BONES is led by Kristen M. Beavers, Ph.D., associate professor of health and exercise science at Wake Forest University and Jamy Ard, M.D., professor of epidemiology and prevention at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and co-director of the Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Weight Management Center.

"By partnering with the parent study, we hope to gain insight into the biology of bone loss attributed to bariatric surgery, its associated weight loss and whether risedronate is an effective countermeasure," Weaver said. "Our findings could change clinical guidelines and reduce long-term fracture risk in this patient population."

Recruitment is currently ongoing. Those who wish to learn more or participate in the study may contact the STRONG BONES study coordinator by calling 336-758-4078 or visiting the study website.
Former National Institutes of Health official Anthony Fauci has faced many hostile questions from members of Congress, but when he appears before a House panel on Monday, he'll have something new to answer for: a trove of incendiary emails written by one of his closest advisers.

In the emails, David Morens, a career federal scientist now on administrative leave, described deleting messages and using a personal email account to evade disclosure of correspondence under the Freedom of Information Act.

"i learned from our foia lady here how to make emails disappear after i am foia'd but before the search starts, so i think we are all safe," Morens wrote in a Feb. 24, 2021, email. "Plus i deleted most of those earlier emails after sending them to gmail."

The pressure is on as Fauci himself prepares to appear June 3 before a House subcommittee exploring the origins of covid-19. The NIH, a $49 billion agency that is the foremost source of funding in the world for biomedical research, finds itself under unusual bipartisan scrutiny. The subcommittee has demanded more outside oversight of NIH and its 50,000 grants and raised the idea of term limits for officials like Fauci, who led the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, an NIH component, from 1984 to 2022.

Lawmakers are likely to put Fauci on the spot about Morens' emails at a time when Republicans are questioning NIH's credibility and integrity. Even Democrats have cautioned the agency's leaders.

"When people don't trust scientists, they don't trust the science," Rep. Deborah Ross (D-N.C.) told Morens.

The subcommittee has yet to turn up evidence implicating the NIH or U.S. scientists in the pandemic's beginnings in Wuhan, China. Nor has its work shed light on the origin of the virus.

Explosive Hearing Spotlights NIH Scientist's Emails About Evading FOIA Play

But in a May 28 letter to NIH Director Monica Bertagnolli, the subcommittee's chairman, Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), said the evidence "suggests a conspiracy at the highest levels of NIH and NIAID to avoid public transparency regarding the COVID-19 pandemic."

Rep. Jill Tokuda, a subcommittee Democrat from Hawaii, said the evidence shows no such conspiracy. She predicted the bipartisan criticism of Morens, 76, will give way to "a clash of intentions" at the hearing as Republicans try to pin covid on Fauci.

"For them, I think this is their moment to, again, bring a lot of these baseless, false allegations to the front," Tokuda said.

On May 29, Wenstrup asked Fauci to turn over personal e-mails ahead of his testimony.

Here are things to know as the subcommittee gears up for Fauci's appearance.

What is the subcommittee looking for?

The Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic is supposed to be investigating how the pandemic started and the federal government's response. That includes such hot-button issues as vaccination policies and school closures.

A central question is whether the covid virus leaped from animals to humans at a market in Wuhan, China, or spread from a leak at the nearby Wuhan Institute of Virology. The Wuhan lab received funding from an NIH grant recipient called EcoHealth Alliance.

The congressional probe is in some ways an extension of the nation's political, cultural, and scientific battles arising from the pandemic.

The Republican-led subcommittee has been examining NIH's performance and that of Fauci, who advised both former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, becoming the face of many of the government's most polarizing pandemic policies.

The panel called for the government to cut off EcoHealth's funding, a process the Department of Health and Human Services recently initiated.

EcoHealth's president, Peter Daszak, was Morens' friend and the recipient of many of the emails under scrutiny. A wildlife biologist credited with helping to develop the first covid antiviral drug, remdesivir, Daszak said he and his organization did nothing wrong.

"We were so accurate in our predictions that a bat coronavirus would emerge from China and cause a pandemic, that when it did, we're dragged in front of the crowd with their pitchforks and blamed for it," Daszak said in an interview.

What's at stake for NIH?

The Republican-led subcommittee is challenging NIH's credibility. The agency performs and funds a wide variety of medical and scientific research, work that is often the foundation of new medicines and other treatments, and has long enjoyed bipartisan support from Congress. The agency is home to the "Cancer Moonshot," a Biden priority.

As head of NIAID and a presidential adviser, Fauci helped guide the public during the pandemic on measures to avoid infection, such as mask-wearing and maintaining physical distance.

But at a May 22 hearing, Wenstrup said Faucis NIAID "was, unfortunately, less pristine than so many, including the media, would have had us all believe."

In his letter to Bertagnolli, Wenstrup said there was evidence that a former chief of staff of Fauci's might have used intentional misspellings  such as a variant of "EcoHealth"  to prevent emails from being captured in keyword searches by FOIA officials.

Wenstrup's office did not respond to questions or an interview request.

An aide to the top Democrat on the subcommittee, Rep. Raul Ruiz of California, said he was unavailable for an interview.

Why were Morens' emails alarming?

The emails show a pattern of trying to shield communications from public disclosure.

"We are all smart enough to know to never have smoking guns, and if we did we wouldn't put them in emails, and if we found them we'd delete them," Morens wrote on June 16, 2020.

"The best way to avoid FOIA hassles is to delete all emails when you learn a subject is getting sensitive," he wrote on June 28, 2021.

Some of Morens' emails included sexual or sexist remarks, including one from December 2020: "Beverage is always good, and best delivered by a blonde nymphomaniac." In another email, discussing how former Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky got her job, he remarked, "Well, she does wear a skirt."

Morens apologized at the May 22 hearing and called some of what he wrote "misogynistic."

"Some of the emails I've seen that you all have provided look pretty incriminating," he testified.

Asked if he ever sent information related to covid to Fauci's personal email, he said he didn't remember but might have.

Morens said some of his comments were "snarky jokes" intended to cheer up his friend Daszak, the EcoHealth president, who was receiving death threats over media coverage of his organization's relationship with the Wuhan lab.

Morens testified that he didn't knowingly delete official records.

Ross, the North Carolina representative, said the emails "inflict serious damage on public trust for the entire scientific enterprise." She said the dangers can be seen in eroding public confidence in vaccines, contributing to recent outbreaks of measles.

Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.) said Morens showed disdain for the Freedom of Information Act. The subcommittee's investigation has been an unfounded effort to pin the blame for the pandemic on NIH and NIAID, and Morens' emails have helped blur the issues, she said.

Do the emails reveal the origins of covid?

No, as Democrats have emphasized.

In a way, Morens' correspondence undercuts allegations that people at the top of NIAID covered up a lab leak in Wuhan.

None of Morens' emails describe any effort to suppress evidence of a lab leak and, in an email sent from a private account, he ridiculed the idea, calling it "false to the point of being crazy." But the subcommittee's senior Democrat, Ruiz, criticized Morens for dismissing the lab leak theory.

"Unless and until we see specific evidence on the origins" of the virus that causes covid, "the scientific process requires that we examine all possible hypotheses with objectivity," Ruiz said.

KFF Health News senior correspondent Arthur Allen contributed to this report.
Petrol, Diesel Prices On May 31, 2024: Petrol and diesel prices for Friday, May 31, have been released. The daily 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.

Today, there has been no change in the petrol and diesel prices in the countrys capital Delhi and other metros. Companies like Hindustan Petroleum Corporation, Indian Oil Corporation of India release the prices of petrol and diesel on their websites. 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 31, 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 31, the cost of diesel is priced at Rs 87.62 per litre.

Delhi Petrol Price Today

As of May 31, the cost of petrol in Delhi is Rs 94.72 per litre.

Kolkata Petrol & Diesel Price

In Kolkata, the price of petrol is Rs 103.94 and the price of diesel is Rs 90.76 per litre.

Chennai Petrol & Diesel Price

In Chennai, the price of petrol is Rs 100.85, while the price of diesel is Rs 92.43 per litre.

Check city-wise petrol and diesel prices on May 31:

In Noida today, petrol is Rs 94.65, while diesel is being sold at Rs 87.75.

Today in Agra, petrol is being sold at Rs 94.70, while diesel is being sold at Rs 87.79 per litre.

Today in Lucknow, petrol is Rs 94.65, while diesel is Rs 87.76.

Today, the petrol price in Ghaziabad is Rs 94.65, while diesel is being sold at Rs 87.75.

Today, the petrol price in Muzaffarnagar is Rs 94.63, while the price of diesel is Rs 87.72.

Today, the petrol price in Meerut is Rs 94.43, while the price of diesel is Rs 87.49.

Today in Dehradun, petrol is priced at Rs 93.48, while diesel is being sold at Rs 88.34 per litre.

Today, in Chandigarh, petrol is priced at Rs 94.24, while diesel is being sold at Rs 82.40 per litre.

Today, the petrol price in Jodhpur is Rs 104.70, while diesel is being sold at Rs 91.20.

Today, the petrol price in Jaipur is Rs 104.88 and diesel is Rs 90.36.

Today, the petrol price in Patna is Rs 105.18, while the price of diesel is Rs 92.04.

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 Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has moved over 100 tonnes of gold from the UK to its domestic vaults. It marks the first time at least since early 1991 when the precious yellow metal at this scale has been added to the stock held locally, according to a Times of India report.

The Indian central bank will also be bringing more similar quantity of gold to the country in the coming months, according to the report. The report, citing sources, said the transfer to India was for logistical reasons and for diversified storage.

At the end of March 2024, the RBI held 822.10 tonnes of gold, of which 408.31 tonnes were held domestically.

Central banks globally have been increasing reserves held in gold, often seen as a hedge against currency volatility and geopolitical risks.

The RBI decided to move gold to India as the stock was building up overseas, TOI reported.

According to the latest note by the World Gold Council (WGC), the RBI bought 19 tonnes of gold in the first quarter of the current calendar year 2024 (Q1-CY24 / Q4-FY24). This dwarfs the 16 tonnes of gold it bought in the whole of 2023.

The RBI started buying gold in the calendar year 2018. Before that, it had purchased 200 tonnes in 2009 during the global financial crisis.

What Does It Mean?

Cost Saving: Storing gold domestically could save the RBI money on storage fees paid to foreign custodians like the Bank of England.

Signalling Confidence in the Indian Economy: Gold is seen as a safe haven asset, and keeping it domestically might signal the RBIs confidence in the stability of the Indian economy.

Potential for More Gold Repatriation: The bringing back of gold to India highlights the RBIs strategic thinking in managing its foreign exchange reserves.

Noted economist Sanjeev Sanyal, who is also the Prime Ministers Economic Advisor, in a post on X said, While no one was watching, RBI has shifted 100 tonnes of its gold reserves back to India from UK. Most countries keep their gold in the vaults of the Bank of England or some such location (and pay a fee for the privilege). India will now hold most of its gold in its own vaults. We have come a long way since we had to ship out gold overnight in 1991 in the midst of a crisis.

For those of my generation, the shipping out of gold in 1990-91 was moment of failure that we will never forget. This is why this shipping back of gold has a special meaning, he added.

While no one was watching, RBI has shifted 100 tonnes of its gold reserves back to India from UK. Most countries keep their gold in the vaults of the Bank of England or some such location (and pay a fee for the privilege). India will now hold most of its gold in its own vaults.

 Sanjeev Sanyal (@sanjeevsanyal) May 31, 2024

Indias Latest Gold, Forex Reserves

According to the latest data available till May 17, Indias gold reserves with the RBI currently stand at $57.195 billion.

During the week ended May 17, India recorded third consecutive weekly increase in its overall foreign exchange (forex) reserves.

Indias forex reserves jumped $4.549 billion to a new all-time high of $648.7 billion for the week ended May 17. For the week ended April 5, the reserves had hit an all time high of $648.562 billion following multiple weeks of increases.

The latest data till May 25 is due to be released today, May 31, 2024.
TBI Corn IPO: The initial public offering of TBI Corn Ltd, which opened for public subscription on Friday, was oversubscribed within hours of its opening Till 04:30 pm on the first day of bidding on Friday, the Rs 44.94-crore SME IPO received a 7.56 times subscription, garnering bids for 2,40,49,200 shares as against 31,82,400 shares on offer.

The retail category has received a 33.67 times subscription, while the non-institutional investor (NII) category got a 6.01 times subscription. The QIB category received 2 per cent subscription.

The TBI Corn IPO will be closed on June 4. The TBI Corn IPO allotment will likely be finalised on June 5, while the listing will take place on June 7 on the NSE SME.

The price of the IPO was fixed at Rs 104-110 per share.

TBI Corn IPO GMP Today

According to market observers, unlisted shares of TBI Corn Limited are trading Rs 95 higher in the grey market as compared with its issue price. The Rs 95 grey market premium or GMP means the grey market is expecting a 101.06 per cent listing gain from the public issue. The GMP is based on market sentiments and keeps changing.

Grey market premium indicates investors readiness to pay more than the issue price.

About TBI Corn IPO

TBI Corn IPO is entirely a fresh issue of 47.81 lakh shares. The IPO opens for subscription on May 31, 2024 and closes on June 4, 2024.

The price band of the TBI Corn IPO has been fixed at Rs 90 to Rs 94 per share. The minimum lot size for an application is 1,200 shares. The minimum amount of investment required by retail investors is Rs 1,12,800. The minimum lot size investment for HNI is 2 lots (2,400 shares) amounting to Rs 2,25,600.

Swastika Investmart Ltd and Ekadrisht Capital Private Limited are the book running lead managers of the TBI Corn IPO, while Kfin Technologies Limited is the registrar for the issue. The market maker for TBI Corn IPO is Ss Corporate Securities.

TBI Corns revenue rose 39.07 per cent and its profit after tax (PAT) surged 1419.24 per cent between the financial year ending with March 31, 2023 and March 31, 2022.

TBI Corn Limited, established in 2000, is a manufacturer and exporter of Corn Meal Grits. The Company is ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 22000:2018 certified. The company specialises in producing high-quality Corn/Maize Grits and related products in the Sangli district of Maharashtra, India.

The company sells various products, including fat-free corn grits/meals, corn flakes, stone-free broken maize and corn flour, and turmeric finger.
The Andhra Pradesh State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) has officially released the admit cards for the Andhra Pradesh Education Common Entrance Test (AP EdCET) 2024. All the candidates who registered themselves for the examination can download their Hall ticket IDs from the official website at cets.apsche.ap.gov.in/EDCET. This year AP EdCET will be conducted on June 8 from 9 AM to 11 AM.

AP EdCET 2024 Admit Card: How to download?

Step 1: Head to the official website at cets.apsche.ap.gov.in/EDCET.

Step 2: On the homepage, look for the AP EdCET 2024 Admit Card tab and click on it.

Step 3: Enter your login details.

Step 4: Your AP EdCET Admit card will appear on the screen.

Step 5: Download and take a printout of it for future reference.

All candidates must carry a copy of the Hall Ticket ID to the exam centre, otherwise they will not be allowed to appear for the exam

AP EdCET 2024: Details mentioned on Admit card

1. Candidates Name

2. Photograph

3. Exam Name

4. Exam Centre and Address

5. Signature

6. Important Instructions

After the exam, the preliminary answer key will be released by the board on June 15. Students can raise their objections till June 18. The final result date of the AP EdCET will be announced later.

AP EdCET 2024: Exam Pattern

The AP EdCET exam will consist of Multiple Choice Questions and will be divided into three sections i.e. General English, General Knowledge and Teaching Aptitude and Methodological Subject chosen by the candidate.

It comprises a total of 150 marks. Students will be given 1 mark for each right answer, while no marks will be deducted for any wrong attempts.

The AP EdCET exam is conducted for students who want to pursue regular BEd courses and BEd in Special Education Courses at universities or colleges around Andhra Pradesh.

In 2023, the AP EdCET exam was conducted on June 14 and around 11,000 students appeared for the exam. For any additional information regarding the exam, students are advised to visit the official website of the board.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
The administration of private schools operating in the Hyderabad District, regardless of whether they be State board, CBSE, or ICSE, has been directed to refrain from selling items such as shoes, belts, and uniforms on school premises. The District Educational Officer (DEO) issued an official order on May 30 which required the Deputy Educational Officers and Deputy Inspector of Schools to ensure that no commercial sale of such items takes place at private schools in the district. The order issued also went on to state that the sale of books/notebooks/stationery at the school counter, if any, should be on a non-commercial, no-profit-no-loss basis.

This order comes in the wake of parents filing complaints with the state education department about private schools charging exorbitant fees for such extras.

The directive further requires that all Deputy Educational Officers organise a mandal-level committee to supervise private schools regularly and to guarantee that the commercial selling of uniforms, stationery, shoes and belts, among other things, does not take place on the premises of schools. Furthermore, if any schools are found to be in violation of this norm, the Deputy Educational Officers and Deputy Inspectors of Schools in Hyderabad District have been instructed to take appropriate action and submit a compliance report to the District Education Officer.

Earlier this year, Delhi Education Minister Atishi urged officials to take action against private schools that reportedly compelled parents to purchase expensive textbooks and uniforms from particular suppliers.

She stated that private schools that violate the Education Departments guidelines regarding the purchase of books and uniforms will not be tolerated and that severe measures will be taken against the schools.

Private schools risk serious repercussions if they continue to compel parents to purchase books and clothes from particular vendors.

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
A 22-year-old B.Tech student of Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) in Nagpur allegedly died by suicide in his hostel room, a police official said on Thursday. Divyanshu Rohitkumar Roy Gautam, a final-year Computer Science Engineering student from Purnea in Bihar, was found dead in the morning, he said.

Most students had left for holidays after exams. Gautam had requested permission to stay in the hostel for two extra days. On Thursday, housekeeping staff noticed a strong smell from his room (F-73). They alerted hostel supervisor Sameer Thakre, who called police, the official said.

After the room was unlocked, we found him lying on the ground with blood oozing from his head. He had hanged himself with a sheet tied to the ceiling fan. The sheet tore causing him to fall. He may have ended his life on May 27, the official said.

In a note recovered from the spot, he cited personal reasons for this extreme step, while college authorities said the deceased was under stress due to poor marks, the official added.

If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)

Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has told CNN-News18 that the Congress party and its allies would go to any extent to say that the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) impending victory in 2024 is not legitimate, and added that the people of the country will punish them with numbers they would not be proud of.

In an interview, she was asked if the Congress was already preparing excuses like EVM rigging or polling turnout discrepancies to justify why it lost. I would be concerned and worried about it, it is just not an excuse. Look at the way in which so many different forces are all out coming together and also probably receiving implicit support from the Congress party, and from the communists, to delegitimise this election, election process and results of this election, Sitharaman told CNN-News18 in the interview.

The Finance Minister said that Congress is now a party which is full of hate for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, so they are going to any extent to prove that this victory is not legitimate. The people of the country will squarely punish them, you will see that their results are not going to be that they can take pride on, they are going on the wrong route, Sitharaman told CNN-News18. She said Congress did not like PM Modi since his days as the Chief Minister of Gujarat, and now they have crossed all levels of decency and propriety.

They want to deny Prime Minister Modi, at least from their end or so they think, victory. People of India have chosen somebody and people of India have chosen which party has to come to power. Now, if because somebody is funding you from outside  NGOs come together, the communists come together, all Congress party sympathisers come together  to say this victory is not legitimate, she said.

Sitharaman said it was not an excuse but trying to discredit Indias electoral process was in fact a serious offence. This hypocrisy is just not remaining in comments, it is going into certain disruptive activities which is very worrying. Being a responsible opposition party is what I thought of the Congress. Now, they have become a handmade to the disruptive forces of the country, Sitharaman told CNN-News18.

She said the BJPs charge of Congress being aligned with the tukde-tukde gang was being proved. Congress is no longer the party which claimed with other groups that they won freedom for India. It is no longer that movement that Congress was. They are trying to project and they would go to any extent from the kind of statements that are coming, to delegitimise this entire election process and undermine our institutions, Sitharaman told CNN-News18.

She said that the Congress had won Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh by the same electoral process but now they were not ready to believe it for the general elections.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website
Ending mafias and mafia raj topped the Lok Sabha election pitches of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other BJP heavyweights who campaigned hard in the Purvanchal region, which comprises 27 seats. Of these, 14 saw polling in the sixth phase of the Lok Sabha elections on May 25, while the remaining 13 seats will vote in the seventh and final phase on June 1.

The 14 seats that voted on May 25 are Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Phulpur, Allahabad, Ambedkarnagar, Shrawasti, Dumariyaganj, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Lalganj (SC), Azamgarh, Jaunpur, Machhlishahr (SC), and Bhadohi.

Among the remaining 13 seats that will vote on June 1 is the high-profile Varanasi constituency, where PM Modi is contesting from for the third time, and Yogi Adityanaths home turf Gorakhpur, where the BJP has fielded actor-politician Ravi Kishan. Other Purvanchal seats voting on June 1 are Maharajganj, Kushinagar, Deoria, Bansgaon, Ghosi, Salempur, Ballia, Ghazipur, Chandaulii, Mirzapur and Robertsganj.

The Final Push

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance had won 20 seats in the Purvanchal region in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. This time, the BJP pressed all its heavyweights into action here with PM Modi and CM Yogi leading the charge with nine and 28 rallies, respectively, in Purvanchal, including the seats that are yet to vote. In public meetings, road shows and rallies across eastern UP, the leaders headlined their speeches with the state governments crackdown on mafia, alleging that their rivals record on the same has been dismal.

Not just Mirzapur, the Samajwadi Party government had ruined the image of entire Purvanchal. They made Purvanchal a safe haven for the mafias and created an environment of fear among the people. During the SP government, the mafias were seen as the basis of vote banks. But things have changed under Yogi jis regime. Initially, people used to shiver in fear and now Yogi jis bulldozer and impeccable law and order is giving shivers to the mafias, said PM Modi at a rally in Mirzapur.

In Ghosi, the PM accused the Samajwadi Party of neglecting Purvanchal and turning it into a region of mafia, poverty and helplessness.

Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah also hailed Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for improving law and order in the state. At one time, the entire UP was surrounded by mafia and mosquitoes. Our Yogi Adityanath has eliminated both mosquitoes and the mafia. By maintaining cleanliness, he eliminated mosquitoes and he has a style with which he eliminated the mafias as well, said Amit Shah in Deoria.

Yogi Adityanath used the same analogy as Amit Shah in Gorakhpurs Belwar on Tuesday. Gorakhpur was once known for mosquitoes and mafias. Now it is known for development. We have finished the mafias and the mosquitoes from UP.

Will the Mafia Pitch Work?

The big question is whether the anti-mafia pitch will resonate with the masses especially when the INDIA bloc is focussing on livelihood issues like unemployment and exam paper leaks.

According to political analyst Manoj Singh, who hails from Gorakhpur district, the mosquito pitch may have worked better than the anti-mafia pitch. The Yogi Adityanath government did a wonderful job when it comes to development in Purvanchal districts. People hailed the government for its prompt measures to curb encephalitis. It was said Yogi ji ne machhar khatam kar diye, but the other part of the slogan on mafia has unfortunately failed to set the narrative among the people, he said.

The anti-mafia pitch may fail to set the narrative following recent political developments wherein Amit Shah held a meeting with bahubali Raghuraj Pratap Singh alias Raja Bhaiya and mafia-politician Dhananjay Singhs wife. Later, Dhananjay, who is an influential figure in Jaunpur, announced his support to the BJP. Another development is the induction of mafia-politician Abhay Singh, the rebel Samajwadi Party MLA who cross-voted during Rajya Sabha elections into the saffron party, Singh pointed out.

In the era of social media, people are aware of the mismatch between words and action, said Singh. The political analyst added that the INDIA bloc, meanwhile, seems to be gaining popularity in the region, especially among the youth.

2019 Recap

Of the 14 seats in Purvanchal region that voted in the sixth phase of elections, nine were held by the BJP in the outgoing Lok Sabha  Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Phulpur, Allahabad, Domariyaganj, Basti, Sant Kabir Nagar, Machhlishahr (SC), and Bhadohi seats. The BSP had bagged four seats in 2019  Ambedkarnagar, Shrawasti, Lalganj and Jaunpur. The SP had managed to retain Azamgarh, but lost it in the 2022 bypolls. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had bagged 13 of these 14 Purvanchal seats, while the SP had won Azamgarh.

Of the remaining 13 seats, the NDA had bagged 11 in 2019. The BJP alone won nine of these seats  bagged Varanasi, Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Bansgaon, Salempur, Ballia and Chandauli. Its ally Apna Dal (S), led by Anupriya Patel, bagged two seats  Mirzapur and Robertsganj. Samajwadi Party and Congress had failed to open their account in these seats. The (BSP), which had contested the election in alliance with the SP, bagged two seats  Ghosi and Ghazipur.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is in Tamil Nahdus Kanyakumari for a three-day meditation trip, after ending the campaigning for the final phase of the ongoing Lok Sabha Election. The Prime Minister began his say on Friday by offering arghya to the rising Sun at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in the southernmost city of the country.

Modis 45-hour meditation from the evening of Thursday to the evening of June 1 is at Dhyan Mandapam, the place where Swami Vivekananda  a spiritual icon admired by the PM  is believed to have had a divine vision about Bharat Mata during meditation in 1892.

VIDEO | PM Modi offered arghya to the rising Sun at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, #Kanyakumari, earlier today.(Source: Third Party) pic.twitter.com/rOAGqRT7Db  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 31, 2024

This is the Prime Ministers ninth visit to Tamil Nadu since Jan, but it is the first time hes staying at the memorial.

Modi had made similar trips after the end of the election campaigns in 2014 and 2019 too. In 2014, he went to Shivajis Pratapgarh and in 2019, he visited a cave near the Kedarnath temple.

Political Row

Modis spiritual visit to Kanyakumari was criticised by opposition parties including Congress and Trinamool Congress (TMC).

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that TMC would lodge a complaint with the Election Commission of India (ECI) about PM Modis meditation in Kanyakumari. We will complain. He can meditate, but it cannot be aired on televisionDoes anyone have to get cameras to do meditation, Mamata asked.

Congress Bhupesh Baghel also criticised the Prime Ministers visit and said, What was the need to remember God? Kangana Ranaut made him God, Sambit Patra says that God is PM Modis bhakt. Since campaigning is not allowed after 6 pm today, PM Modi has gone there for publicity.

A delegation of Congress leaders including Randeep Surjewala, Abhishek Singhvi and Syed Naseer Hussain also met the EC and handed over a memorandum in this regard along with 27 other complaints of alleged model code violations by the BJP in the last few days.

Contering the Opposition, BJP Spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla slammed the INDIA bloc for being anti-Sanatan and questioning Modis meditation.

What has happened to Congress and the INDIA bloc? If the Prime Minister says something, they have a problem. If he goes to the Vivekananda Rock Memorial for meditation without saying anything, even then, they have a problem, Poonawalla said.

He said this reflects the oppositions frustration and anti-Sanatan mindset.

These (opposition) people opposed Ram Temple, labelled it as useless and said that there is no relevance of Lord Ram. They used phrases like Hindu terror and said that Sanatan is a disease. Now, these people have a problem with a Hindu meditating peacefully and will issue fatwas? Poonawala said.

Responding to allegations that the meditation violated the Model Code of Conduct (MCC), Poonawalla said that PM Modi is not violating the MCC. The Prime Minister is not campaigning or promoting, he is not saying something, he is not passing any political statements, nor is this a political gathering, he said.

He said that the opposition claims that meditation violates the MCC and should not be covered by the media. Today, in the times of social media, everyone has a smartphone and data costs have fallen by 90 per cent. If someone is making a video, will you stop them? he asked.

PMs Tamil Nadu Visit

After arriving from nearby Thiruvananthapuram by helicopter on Thursday, Modi worshipped at the Bhagavathi Amman temple and then went to the rock memorial by a ferry service and started to start meditation that is scheduled to go on till June 1.

Clad in a dhoti and a white shawl, Modi prayed at the temple and circumambulated the garbhagriha. Priests performed a special arthi and he was given temple prasad that included a shawl and a framed photograph of the presiding deity of the temple.

Later, he reached the rock memorial by a ferry service operated by the state government-run shipping corporation and began his meditation at the dhyan mandapam.

Before he embarked on the dhyan exercise, for a while, Modi stood on the stairs leading to the mandapam that offers breathtaking views of the sea that surrounds the memorial from all sides.

The prime minister showered flowers on the portraits of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, mother Sri Sarada Devi and also paid floral tributes to Swami Vivekananda, whose life-size statue on a high pedestal adores the mandapam. Modi later commenced the sadhana (spiritual practice) in the mandapam.

Ahead of his departure on June 1, Modi is likely to visit the Thiruvalluvar statue, next to the memorial. Both the memorial and 133-ft statue were built on tiny islets, that are separate and mound-like rocky formations in the sea.

All arrangements, including heavy security, are in place for Modis 45-hour stay at the famed memorial named after the revered Hindu saint.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website
Sona ghar waapas aa gaya. Thats the emotion many Indians had on social media as news came in that 100 tonnes of gold was brought back from the Bank of England.

Indians love and treasure their gold and this is how the sentiment could be encashed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). But in terms of economics, the return of gold means the cost of storage will come down. It also means more certainty in the monetary system and gives strength to the rupee.

ALSO READ | RBI Shifts 100 Tonnes of Gold From UK To India: What Does It Mean?

As the day progressed, there was more good news in store. Provisional estimates of annual GDP for 2023-24 and quarterly estimates of GDP for Q4 of 2023-24 show that the GDP grew 8.2% in FY 2023-24, compared to the growth rate of 7.0% in FY 2022-23.

PM Narendra Modi posted on X: The Q4 GDP growth data for 2023-24 shows robust momentum in our economy which is poised to further accelerate. Thanks to the hardworking people of our country, 8.2% growth for the year 2023-24 exemplifies that India continues to be the fastest growing major economy globally. As Ive said, this is just a trailer of things to come

The Q4 GDP growth data for 2023-24 shows robust momentum in our economy which is poised to further accelerate. Thanks to the hardworking people of our country, 8.2% growth for the year 2023-24 exemplifies that India continues to be the fastest growing major economy globally. As Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 31, 2024

DATA SPEAKS

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman posted on X: Todays GDP data showcases robust economic growth with a growth rate of 8.2% for FY 2023-24 and 7.8% for Q4 of FY 2023-24. This remarkable GDP growth rate is the highest among the major economies of the world. It is worthwhile to note that the Manufacturing sector witnessed a significant growth of 9.9% in 2023-24, highlighting the success of the Modi governments efforts for the sector. Many high-frequency indicators indicate that the Indian economy continues to remain resilient and buoyant despite global challenges. Indias growth momentum will continue in the third term of PM Shri @narendramodi-led government.

Todays GDP data showcases robust economic growth with a growth rate of 8.2% for FY 2023-24 and 7.8% for Q4 of FY 2023-24. This remarkable GDP growth rate is the highest among the major economies of the world.It is worthwhile to note that the Manufacturing sector witnessed a  Nirmala Sitharaman (Modi Ka Parivar) (@nsitharaman) May 31, 2024

Trashing Oppositions claims, Amit Malviya, in-charge of BJPs National Information & Technology department, wrote on X, The transformative impact of your vote is evident as India, steered by a responsible government, has dramatically reversed its developmental course. With accelerated progress, the nation is on track to emerge as the worlds third-largest economy by 2027, surpassing the previous forecast of 2042 set by P Chidambaram, UPAs Finance Minister. This is a testament to the power of governance in shaping Indias economic destiny.

The GDP data released by MOSPI, pegs Indias growth for FY2023-24 at 8.2%, highlighting Indias sustained economic expansion, with every sector exuding confidence. This robust growth is evident in several high frequency indicators too: Composite PMI at 14-year high (April  Amit Malviya (  ) (@amitmalviya) May 31, 2024

The economic projections are upbeat and also show potential. The PM has made it clear that if re-elected, his third term will focus on Viksit Bharat which means more jobs, focus on youth and economic independence.

SHOT IN THE ARM AMID OPPOSITION ATTACK

The Opposition has been attacking the BJP, accusing it of not doing enough on the economy. It has accused the BJP of not talking of real issues such as price rise and unemployment. It has also accused the PM of making comments which divert attention from core and real issues. In fact, this is where the debate on wealth restriction and redistribution has begun from the Congress.

All this has been rejected by the BJP and PM to make the point that his government has believed in sabka saath sabka vikas and also the focus has not been on freebies, but on ensuring the real people get what they need.

ALSO READ | Indias Q4 GDP Grows 7.8%, Surpasses Estimates; FY24 Growth At 8.2%

Sources say that the PM and BJP want to prove not just to India, but also to the world that in its third term, India will be a major player in the world, and enter the realm of trillion dollar economy soon.

A day ahead of the last day of polls, it is a shot in the arm for the government and the BJP and also a potshot at the opposition, notably Rahul Gandhi.
Polling will be held Saturday for 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab, where former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, three-time MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal and four-time MP Preneet Kaur are in the fray.

The Union Territory of Chandigarh will also go to polls on Saturday.

Punjab is witnessing a multi-cornered contest in all the 13 Lok Sabha seats.

The INDIA bloc allies  the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)  are contesting the Lok Sabha polls separately while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) are fighting on their own for the first time since 1996.

The Sukhbir Badal-led SAD walked out of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2020 over the now-repealed three farm laws.

Besides the Congress, AAP, SAD and the BJP, two other parties, SAD (Amritsar) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), have also fielded their candidates.

The AAP, Congress, BJP, SAD, BSP and SAD (Amritsar) are contesting on all the 13 seats in Punjab.

Among the prominent faces, BJP nominee and four-time MP Preneet Kaur is seeking reelection from the Patiala parliamentary constituency.

Three-time MP and SADs Harsimrat Kaur Badal and BJPs Parampal Kaur Sidhu, a former IAS officer, are trying their luck from Bathinda while former chief minister and Congress candidate Channi and BJP nominee Sushil Rinku are in the fray from the Jalandhar reserved constituency.

Former deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and BJP candidate Dinesh Babbu are fighting from Gurdaspur.

Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring is contesting against BJPs Ravneet Singh Bittu from Ludhiana.

Radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh, who is lodged in Assams Dibrugarh jail under the National Security Act (NSA), is fighting from Khadoor Sahib while former diplomat and BJP nominee Taranjit Singh Sandhu and Congress candidate Gurjeet Singh Aujla are locked in a contest from Amritsar.

Of its 13 candidates, the AAP has fielded five cabinet ministers  Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal (Amritsar), Laljit Singh Bhullar (Khadoor Sahib), Gurmeet Singh Khuddian (Bathinda), Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer (Sangrur) and Balbir Singh (Patiala).

Congress candidate Sukhpal Khaira is contesting from Sangrur while AAPs Karamjit Singh Anmol and BJPs Hans Raj Hans are in the fray from Faridkot seat.

SAD (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann is contesting from the Sangrur seat and Sarabjeet Singh Khalsa, who is the son of Beant Singh, one of the two assassins of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, is contesting from the Faridkot reserve constituency.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the Congress bagged eight of the 13 Lok Sabha seats. The SAD and the BJP, then fighting as allies, won two seats each. The AAP got just the Sangrur seat then.

Following the Sangrur and Jalandhar bypolls in 2022 and 2023 respectively, the Congress is left with seven seats while the SAD and the BJP have two each and the AAP and the SAD (Amritsar) one each.

In Chandigarh, BJP candidate Sanjay Tandon is pitted against Congress nominee and former Union minister Manish Tewari.

Punjab Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C on Friday said they are fully prepared to ensure free, fair and transparent elections in the state.

He emphasised that comprehensive arrangements have been made to provide all necessary facilities to the voters and maintain a secure and peaceful voting environment in the state.

A total of 328 candidates, including 26 women, are in the fray in Punjab while 19 candidates, comprising two women, are fighting the poll in Chandigarh, the officials said.

A total of 2,14,61,739 voters including 1,01,74,240 women and 773 transgenders are eligible to cast their vote in Punjab.

In Chandigarh, there are 6,59,805 voters comprising 3,18,226 women and 35 third gender are eligible to exercise their franchise.

For the 13 Lok Sabha seats, a total of 24,451 polling stations have been set up, with 16,517 in villages and 7,934 in cities, according to the poll officials.

Polling will be held from 7 am till 6 pm.

Around 70,000 security personnel, including central forces, have been deployed in the wake of polling in 13 Lok Sabha seats on Saturday, said the Punjab CEO.

Besides, 1.20 lakh polling staff have been deployed for the polling in the state, he further said.

In the wake of the heat wave, the Punjab CEO said drinking water, shades, chabeel (sweetened water), medical kits, oral rehydration solution (ORS), and the likes have been arranged at the polling stations.

A target of achieving more than 70 per cent voter turnout has been set for the Lok Sabha polls in Punjab.

A voter queue information system has been launched this time whereby the voters can check the length of the queues at their polling booths, they said.

Foolproof security arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of polls, they said.
As expected, the three main campaigners of the Congress for the Lok Sabha elections were party president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.

Rahul Gandhi led 107 rallies and roadshows besides shorts on Instagram and YouTube, while Kharge did 100-plus rallies and more than 70 interviews. Priyanka Gandhi did 108 rallies and roadshows. None matched up to the campaign blitz of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Of the three, Rahul Gandhi was the only one to do joint rallies with INDIA partners like SP leader Akhilesh Yadav and RJDs Tejashwi Yadav, sending the clear message that any post-poll talks will be led by him. Its also amply clear that Rahul Gandhi is playing the role played by Sonia Gandhi after the 2004 general elections during which she had held joint rallies with Sharad Pawar and Lalu Yadav among others. She eventually became the architect of the UPA.

Rahul Gandhi has campaigned across most states, majority of his rallies being down south. He held around 15 rallies in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana, ensuring he made his presence felt in the rural areas as well. In Wayanad, his constituency, Rahul Gandhi did two rallies, including the one during his nomination.

But what stands out is zero rallies in West Bengal; not even one for Adhir Ranjan Choudhary, the man who takes on Mamata Banerjee and who was chosen by Rahul Gandhi to hold alliance talks with the Left. In fact, no Congress leader came to campaign for Adhir Ranjan, but it was Rahul Gandhis absence that was the talking point.

Despite Mamata Banerjee snapping ties with the Congress in West Bengal, the grand old party has been reluctant to take her on. With the national leadership passive, the task of challenging Mamata Banerjee as usual fell to Adhir, one he gladly undertook given that his political survival depends on it.

Congress sources say that while Rahul Gandhi did lead his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra through Bengal, he wanted to stop at that since a campaign in Bengal would have meant attacking the TMC which the Congress wants to avoid.

Priyanka Gandhi, meanwhile, campaigned across 16 states, but once Rahul Gandhis name was announced from Raebareli, she parked herself in Amethi and Raebareli. Her campaigns meant roadshows, focus on women and also interviews unlike her brother. Maximum interviews, however, were given by soon-to-be-82 Kharge.

A surprise element of the Congresss campaign was Sachin Pilot, who held more than 100 rallies across states. After Rajasthan, his home state, and Chattisgarh, which he is in-charge of, Pilot campaigned extensively in other states as well. He was sent to Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, Wayanad and other constituencies in the South.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website
The heatwave is back in Delhi after a short spell of rain and thunderstorm a couple of weeks ago. Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are also sizzling in above 45C temperatures. But it is the shortage of water in these regions that is making the situation worse for a common man.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday took up the issue, and lambasted the AAP government in Delhi for wastage of water and tanker mafia in the capital. It asked the government to explain the steps it has taken to prevent the scarcity of water and also warned it that it will ask the Delhi Police to take action if the tanker problem is not resolved.

Why were false statements made before this court? Water is coming from Himachal Pradesh then where is the water going in Delhi? There is so much spillage, tanker mafias etc.. what measures have you taken in this regard? the vacation bench of the Supreme Court asked.

The Delhi government, which had moved the top court seeking directions to Haryana to release its share of water, has been told to file an affidavit by Thursday.

Delhi water minister Atishi on Tuesday accused the Haryana government of deliberately and illegally halting the water supply to the national capital.

She had last month warned Delhiites that washing cars using a hose or letting water tanks overflow may lead to challan.

What are Delhis Water Needs?

Delhi relies on Haryana, Himachal, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh for more than 90% of its drinking water supply, and around 40% of this comes from four places, including the Yamuna River, which is the source of the dispute with Haryana.

According to the Economic Survey 2023-24, Delhi has a daily water demand of 1,290 MGD (million gallons per day), of which the Delhi Jal Board currently produces 1,000 MGD. The gap is met by Delhis groundwater reserves.

As per Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, 135 litres per capita per day (LPCD) is the benchmark for urban water supply and for rural areas it is 55 LPCD. LPCD for Delhi for domestic use is 172.

Data on Tanker Mafia

The Centre had told the Supreme Court earlier this week that the Delhi Jal Board has failed to plug the massive 52% pilferage of water supplies to Delhi by tanker mafia and industries.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta cited the Economic Survey of India and said the total distribution loss of the Delhi Jal Board is at 52.35% as per Outcome Budget (Q2 of 2023-24), as quoted in a report by The Times of India.

Mehta also said there are water losses at different stages of the water supply system in the treatment plants, conveyance systems and distribution systems apart from leaks and pilferage.

Over 52% of water supplied to Delhi does not reach citizen due to theft by industries and menace of tanker mafia, the Centre had said, blaming the Jal board.

Which areas in Delhi are Affected?

The affected localities span from the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) area to Patel Nagar, and from North to South Delhi. People residing in Mehrauli and Chattarpur are also impacted by the water crisis.

Various parts including Chanakyapuris Sanjay Camp area and East Delhis Geeta Colony are among the worst-hit areas.

Minister Atishi also announced on Tuesday that several areas in South Delhi such as Greater Kailash, Lajpat Nagar, Chittaranjan Park, Hauz Khas, Panchsheel Park will receive water only once daily.

The Delhi Jal Boards (DJB) summer bulletin on Tuesday reported that Delhis total water production was at 978 million gallons per day (MGD), with Wazirabad producing 110 MGD against a capacity of 131 MGD. Although there was a slight improvement from Mondays production of 969.32 MGD, Wazirabads issues continue to impact the overall supply.

Who is Blaming Who?

Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal had raised the concern of citys water problems on X social media platform during his interim bail, and said the demand for water has shot up due to heatwave, and alleged the supply has been cut from the neighbouring states.

If the BJP speaks to its governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and provide some water to Delhi for a month, then the people of Delhi will appreciate its efforts, Kejriwal said.

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva has accused the AAP government of corruption. He alleged that water was being wasted and stolen, and the Delhi government has failed to stop the theft. He refuted claims made by Atishi that the Haryana government was not supplying water to Delhi. He even referred to an agreement that stipulates that Haryana should provide Delhi with 719 cusecs of water, but it is actually supplying 1,049 cusecs daily.

Atishi had urged the Centre to ensure a provision for release of spare water from either from Uttar Pradesh or Haryana to address the water issue.

She said there has been a drastic dip in the water level at the Wazirabad barrage during the last few days as Haryana is not releasing the required quantity in the Yamuna, she mentioned in a letter to Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

The Delhi government attributes the current water crisis primarily to Haryanas failure to release raw water from the Yamuna river to Delhi, as the capital heavily relies on Yamuna water to meet its needs. The raw water is directed to Wazirabad and then distributed to three water treatment plants located in Wazirabad, Chandawal and Okhla.

Atishi said she visited the Wazirabad barrage and found that the water level at the pond was 670.3 feet against a normal of 674.50 feet.

What is Delhi Govts Action Plan?

The AAP government in Delhi has approached the Supreme Court, seeking an increased allocation of water from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.

Atishi has announced the making of a central water tanker control room and the deployment of quick response teams across all 11 Delhi Jal Board zones to tackle water-related emergencies. Any resident who wants a water tanker should dial 1916, the minister said.

To prevent misuse of water, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee will assign teams to monitor car washing facilities, while the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will dispatch its own teams to oversee construction sites.

The government has urged the people in Delhi to use water judiciously, or it will be forced to rationalise the water supply in view of the water crisis.

Water Woes in Noida and Ghaziabad

Facing severe heat, resident of Noida and Ghaziabad have been purchasing water private tankers despite assurances from Noida Authority, which supplies 480 million litres per day (MLD) against the requirement of 407 MLD.

The residents of Noida complain that they buy drinking water regularly. The third phase of Ganga pipeline, which would begin in July, would add another 50 MLD to daily water supply to Noida, said RP Singh, Noidas general manager.

In Ghaziabad, there is a daily shortfall of 25 million liters per day (MLD). The citys growing population has further strained its infrastructure. According to the 2021 Niti Aayog report, 21 Indian cities, including Ghaziabad could exhaust their groundwater supplies within a few years, potentially impacting 100 million people.

A recent study highlighted a significant drop in Gautam Budh Nagars groundwater levels, from 30-40 metres in 2002 to 140 feet currently, with a depletion rate of 11 to 12 feet per year. In Ghaziabad, data from the Uttar Pradesh groundwater board indicates an average groundwater level decline of 9.5 metres from 2017 to 2023, according to a report by The Economic Times.

What about the Shortage in Rajasthan?

The Supreme Court had last week allowed the firm that was given the contract to carry out desilting of the Bilaspur dam in Rajasthan, which is a lifeline reservoir of drinking water for Jaipur, Tonk and Ajmer.

The Water Supply Department of Rajasthan is supplying the drinking water to 251 cities/towns of the state. Out of this, only 117 are getting drinking every day. The rest are being supplied the drinking water once in two to four days, according to a report by Free Press Journal.

Water Supplies Minister Kanhaiya Lal Chaudhary has admitted that there is a water crisis across the state. There is a water crisis in almost all the districts. We are trying to ensure that everyone gets an uninterrupted supply of drinking water. At present, we will have to go with the water available with us. There is an appeal to the public to pay attention to conserving water, the minister told media.

The state is dependent on groundwater and surface water to meet its demands. Out of 302 groundwater blacks of the state, only 38 have safe and enough drinking water.

The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for 20 districts in western Rajasthan, including Jaisalmer, Barmer, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Churu, Hanumangarh, and Sriganganagar.
The Delhi High Court has granted bail to JNU scholar and student activist Sharjeel Imam in connection with the 2020 communal riots in Delhi involving allegations of sedition. He was charged under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) by the Delhi Police in 2020 for allegedly making incendiary speeches at Jamia Millia University and Aligarh Muslim University over Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).

But Iman will not be released from jail since he is in custody for another case involving the 2020 North-East Delhi riot. Imam has been in the jail as an undertrial since January 28, 2020.

What are the Provisions of Bail Granted to Imam?

In 2022, the trial court in Delhi had framed charges against Imam under Section 124A (sedition), 153A (promoting enmity), 153B (imputations prejudicial to national integration), 505 (statements conducing to public mischief) of IPC and Section 13 (punishment for UAPA).

The prosecution said Imam made inflammatory speeches at Jamia Millia University on December 13, 2019, and at Aligarh Muslim University on December 16, 2020. He had allegedly asked the protesters to sever ties with Assam and northeast.

The trial court dismissed his plea on February 17 saying though Imams speeches did not exhort protesters to pick up weapons or kill, but they were key in mobilizing the masses, which could have been a reason for the outbreak of the 2020 riots in the national capital.

He was granted statutory bail under Section 436A of the CrPC as he had already spent four years in jail of the maximum sentence of seven years. Since the Supreme Court had suspended the use of Section 124A of IPC in May 2022, the sedition charges against him did not stand.

Also, the Section 13 of UAPA invoked against him did not carry a sentence of more than seven years.

A division Bench of Justices Suresh Kumar Kait and Manoj Jain granted Imam statutory bail on technical grounds on May 29 taking into consideration the period of incarceration already served.

There are other cases pending against Imam in at least four states  Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh  other than Delhi. He is not in custody in these cases, thus does not need to apply for bail.

What is a Statutory Bail?

Section 436A of the CrPC was introduced through an amendment in 2005 to tackle the issue of the rising number of undertrials in prisons.

According to the National Crime Records Bureau data for 2022, there were 63,502 undertrials across the country who were charged for offences that carry a sentence of less than two years.

The Code imposes a statutory period for which an undertrial prisoner is in detention. As per the provision, if an undertrial has been in custody for more than half of the maximum period of imprisonment prescribed for the offence (excluding cases where the death penalty is a possible punishment), they are entitled to be released on bail on their personal bond, with or without sureties.

436-A of the CrPC reads: Where a person has, during the period of investigation, inquiry or trial under this Code of an offence under any law (not being an offence for which the punishment of death has been specified as one of the punishments under that law) undergone detention for a period extending up to one-half of the maximum period of imprisonment specified for that offence under that law, he shall be released by the Court on his personal bond with or without sureties.

If a court refuses statutory bail to an undertrial, it must provide in writing the reasons for refusal.

What are Other Provisions for Undertrials Protection?

It is mandatory for courts to grant bail under Section 436 CrPC in all bailable offences. An accused willing to furnish a bail bond has to be granted bail. In case of non-bailable offences, it is up to the court to decide whether it will grant the bail.

A default bail is granted to an accused under Section 167(2) of the CrPC if the investigating agency fails to complete the investigation and file a final report before the court within 60 days. For more serious offences that prescribe death or life imprisonment, the period for investigation is 90 days. Default bail is only for IPC crimes.

How Supreme Court Set Precedents

The Supreme Court in 2022 in Satender Kumar Antil vs Central Bureau of Investigation stress the mandatory compliance of Section 167(2) by pointing out that such cases would not even require a bail application to be moved especially when the reasons for the delay are not attributable to the accused, as mentioned in a report by The Hindu. It also cautioned that the default bail should be provided sparingly since the provision facilitates personal liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The Bench of Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and MM Sundresh clarified the default relief would also apply to special laws such as the UAPA, the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985 (NDPS Act) in the absence of any specific provisions to the contrary.

In March 2023, the Supreme Court reprimanded district courts for not adhering to the guidelines laid down in the Satender Kumar case. It said if non-compliance on the part of the district courts continue then magistrates would be required to be sent to judicial academies for upgradation of their skills.
The Indian space industry that was restricted to public sector is now witnessing a sea of change, with many private players and startups at the forefront of some successful missions. One such milestone was achieved by Agnikul Cosmos start-up that SOrTed Indias first launch from a private launchpad (Dhanush) at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on May 30.

SOrTeD (SubOrbital Technological Demonstrator) is a single-stage rocket fuelled by a semi-cryogenic engine. Developed in India, the vehicle was assembled at Agnikuls facilities at IIT Madras.

After previous four attempts were called off, Agnikul has now successfully demonstrated the countrys first semi-cryogenic engine-powered rocket launch and utilised first single-piece 3D-printed engine designed and built domestically to power a launch vehicle.

IN-SPACe, Indias private space regulator, chairman Pawan Goenka, who witnessed the launch, said, The successful launch of SOrTeD marks a significant moment for private players who are contributing to Indias growing space sector with cutting-edge technology such as the worlds first 3D printed semi-cryogenic engine.

About the Mission

Agnikul Cosmoss Agnibaan SOrTeD rocket is designed to be compatible with the mobile launchpad called Dhanush, allowing for launch flexibility regardless of location. The 18-metre tall Agnibaan rocket is designed for small satellites and can accommodate payloads ranging from 30 kg to 300 kg.

The key purpose of the mission, Agnikul Cosmoss first flight, is to gather crucial flight data and ensure optimal functioning of systems for the startups orbital launch vehicle, Agnibaan.

Agnibaan used Indias first semi-cryogenic engine, which uses a mix of liquid and gas for propellant. Liquid propellants can be used and reused and are safer than solid propellants.

Semi-cryogenic engines help increase payload capacity, reduce launch costs and improve the overall reliability and performance of the launch vehicles.

The startups team comprises about 200 engineers and is associated with National Centre for Combustion Research and Development at IIT Madras. Additionally, the team is guided by 45 former scientists from ISRO.

The startup is looking at flying an orbital mission towards the end of this financial year and is working with customers on flights starting from 2025.

How Govt Opened Space for Private Companies

On May 16, 2020, in the fourth Aatma Nirbhar Bharat Abhiyan stimulus worth Rs 20 lakh crore, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the creation of IN-SPACe to allow the private sector to benefit from ISROs assets including testing centres, launch site, technologies, and launch vehicles. She also unveiled a new liberal geo-spatial data policy and opened up planetary exploration and outer space travel to private companies.

In April last year, the Union Cabinet approved Indian Space Policy 2023 to encourage private investment in the space sector. The policy authorises IN-SPACe, to act as the single-window agency for clearance of space activities by government entities as well as non-government entities.

The government gave another boost to the private sector by allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in space in February this year.

Earlier, FDI in space was allowed up to 100% for satellite establishment and operations through government route only. The government changed the policy to allow up to 74% FDI under automatic route in satellite-manufacturing and operation, satellite data products, and ground and user segments. Beyond this limit, government approval will be required in these areas for FDI.

Further, up to 100% overseas investments are permitted under the automatic route for manufacturing of components and systems/sub-systems for satellites, ground, and user segments.

How Private Players Are Involved

Some older companies like Godrej, HAL, Ananth Technologies and Data Patterns mainly provide space components to ISRO. HAL provides structural parts of several space components, like heat shield assembly, nose cone assembly, fuel propellant tanks, and cryogenic engines for launch vehicles. Godrej Aerospace manufactures Liquid propulsion engines, complex fabricated assemblies for antennas, pods, satellite thrusters, actuators, valves, and pumps, according to a report by The Hindu.

Technological firms like Ananth and Data Patterns are the core manufacturers of ISROs ground stations, nano satellites, automated test equipment, printed circuit boards (PCB) for various controllers (digital, analog, radio or microwave frequency, laser, power), sub-systems of satellites  telemetry, communications, altitude & orbital control units, sensors, payloads, launch vehicle control units for navigation, power, stage integration, servo controls and inertial sensors, according to a report by The Hindu.

Indias first military-grade spy satellite manufactured in the private sector, by Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL), was successfully deployed into space in April. A wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, TASL is a significant player for aerospace and defence solutions in India.

Which are the Few Space Startups?

Dhruva Space is based in Hyderabad and was founded by Sanjay Nekkanti in 2012 to design customised satellites, ground stations and launch services from ground or space. Dhruva Spaces indigenously developed 1U, 3U and 6U Satellite orbital deployers have been successfully tested and launched in ISROs PSLV missions in 2022 in 2023, after being authorised by IN-SPACe.

Skyroot was founded in 2018 by Pawan Chandana and Bharat Daka in Hyderabad and specialises in manufacturing space launch vehicles. It became the first private Indian start-up to successfully test liquid propulsion engines as well as a 3D printed cryogenic engine in 2020. It has test-fired its own rockets Vikram-S and Vikram-I. In November 2022, it launched Indias first private rocket, Vikram-S, from Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh on a suborbital flight.

Agnikul Cosmos was founded at the Indian Institute of Madras by Srinath Ravichandran and Moin SPM in 2017. It inaugurated Indias first private mobile launchpad Dhanush and the Agnikul mission control centre at Sriharikota in 2022.

How Space Companies Are Regulated?

IN-SPACe was set up as a single-window, independent, nodal agency to authorise, promote and supervise space activities of private non-governmental entities. It ensures Indias strategic or security interests are not compromised, and allows private entities across various categories and functions. IN-SPACe also provides technical incubation for start-ups in their infancy and promotes space tourism, facilitates the start-up ecosystem and boosts student participation.

National Geospatial Policy was unveiled in December 2022 that provides a framework for the development of a geospatial ecosystem, allowing democratization of data and centralization of all digital data. It promotes private sector participation in collection of the data.

What is the Size of Indian Space Startups?

The number of space start-ups has gone up from just 1 in 2014 to 189 in 2023, as per government data. The investment in Indian space start-ups increased to $124.7 million in 2023.

The current size of the Indian space economy is estimated at $8.4 billion (around 2-3% of global space economy) and it is expected to reach $44 billion by 2033.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said had said in December that Indian space startups have attracted over Rs 1,000 crore of private investment since April 2023, adding that the country has the potential to reach a $100 billion space economy by 2040.

So far, the Indian Space Research Organisation has launched over 430 foreign satellites with more than 290 million euros as earnings from European satellites and over $170 million from American satellites, the minister had said.

Google parent company Alphabet announced $36 million of investment in Bengaluru-based space startup, Pixxel, in June 2023. It was the first major investment in the Indian space sector after the privatisation policy of the government.
The day was exactly 131 years ago  May 31, 1893  when Swami Vivekananda, originally named Narendra Dutta, left for Chicago to deliver his iconic address at the World Parliament of Religions where he surprised many by calling the delegates, My fellow brothers and sisters. Narendra Modi, ever since his 2023 Independence Day speech, has often used the phrase Mere parivarjan.

131 years ago, Swami Vivekananda, meditated at the rock memorial that is now named after the saint. Modi too is meditating for two days, at the end of a long election campaign, as if trying to get ready for something bigger, grander. Though the similarities are uncanny and there are many, we will focus on the three strong images that have come out of Kanniyakumari and the embedded messages.

Saffron Symbolism

PM Narendra Modi is known to be unapologetic when it comes to wearing his beliefs. Be it participation in religious activities before the new Parliament Houses inauguration or the Ram Mandir consecration. He has often taken a dip in a holy river and worn the saffron colour. This time, in Kanniyakumari, saffron is the only colour for two days. With his kurta and dhoti both dark saffron, he has also draped himself in a saffron shawl to underline his comfort with the colour.

While this is not a political event, the message is loud and clear  the Prime Minister will work for sab ka vikas, but in his personal capacity, he will remain a staunch Hindu, regardless of his opponents liking or otherwise.

PM Modi considers this colour to be the colour of sacrifice. In 2010, when he was the Gujarat chief minister and the then UPA government at the Centre coined the term saffron terrorism, Modi had hit out saying, The saffron-attired young sanyasi Vivekananda had enhanced the prestige of India in the comity of nations. Is this sacrifice of tapasvis like Vivekananda part of saffron terror tradition for the Congress government?

Meditation, Om, And Venue

By meditating for two days and in front of a large Om sign, the Prime Minister is sending out a message about his deep-rooted beliefs in the power of ancient Indic traditions, something that made him insist the United Nations announce a day dedicated to yoga.

The Prime Minister can be seen clad in a saffron dhoti-kurta doing meditation amid Om chants. PM Modi will engage in a continuous meditation session from the evening of May 30 to the evening of June 1 at the Dhyan Mandapam.

The choice of the venue is considered to be a message of national unity as well given the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal converging at this spot.

Rudraksh Count

In several photos, PM Modi is seen holding a Rudraksh Mala that he is counting on while walking around. The Isha Foundation says, In the yogic tradition, Rudraksha is considered as the Tears of Shiva and not just an accessory or a piece of jewellery. It is seen as an instrument for inner transformation.

It is very supportive in maintaining physical and mental balance. For spiritual seekers, it helps to enhance ones spiritual growth. When counting mantras or names of deities on a mala, 108 repetitions are usually completed.

While it is unclear which deitys name if any, PM Modi chanted, the message was clear  personally, he remains a devout Hindu and no amount of political pressure or criticism can take it away from his persona.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is out on interim bail in a money laundering case linked to the now-scrapped Delhi liquor policy scam to campaign for the Lok Sabha polls, said he would surrender before jail authorities on Sunday.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief, who was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court till June 1, addressed a press meeting on Friday and said he would leave his residence at 3 pm on Sunday.

The Delhi CM also promised that he would not let the states work get affected. He said, It is possible that this time they may torture me more, but I will not bow down. Wherever I live, inside or outside. I will not let the work of Delhi stop. Your free electricity, mohalla clinics, hospitals, free medicines, treatment, 24-hour electricity, and many other things will continue and after returning I will also start giving Rs 1000 every month to every mother and sister.

#WATCH | Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal says, The Supreme Court had given me 21 days to campaign for the elections. The day after tomorrow I will go back to Tihar Jail. I dont know how long these people will keep me in jail this time. But my spirits are high. I am proud that I am pic.twitter.com/JinN6Ay9Zb ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2024

He said, I dont know how long I will remain in jail, but I am proud to be fighting against dictatorship.

Elaborating on the serious health issues he was facing post-arrest, he said, They tried to break me in many ways, tried to silence me, but they did not succeed. When I was in jail, they tortured me in many ways. They stopped my medicines I dont know what these people wanted. Why did they do this? When I went to jail, my weight was 70 kg, today it is 64 kg. Even after being released from jail, I am not gaining weight.

Doctors are saying that this can also be a sign of some serious disease in the body. Many tests need to be done. I will leave my house at around 3 pm to surrender, he added.

He appealed to the people of Delhi to take care of his elderly parents and said, I have always worked for you like a son. Today, I want to request you to take care of my elderly parents, who do not keep too well these days.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court had refused the urgent listing of Kejriwals plea seeking an extension of his interim bail by seven days for undergoing certain medical tests, saying since he was given liberty to move the trial court for regular bail, the plea was not maintainable.

The AAP leader had sought an extension of his interim bail by seven days to undergo a host of medical tests, including a PET-CT scan, in view of sudden and unexplained weight loss coupled with high ketone levels, which are indicative of kidney, serious cardiac ailments, and even cancer.

The chief minister, in his fresh plea filed before the apex court on May 26, said he wanted to surrender before the Tihar jail authorities on June 9 instead of June 2, the scheduled date for his return to prison.

The top court had on May 10 granted 21-day interim bail to the chief minister to enable him to campaign during the Lok Sabha polls.

It had directed him to surrender on June 2, a day after the last phase of the seven-phase poll was over.

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As the drama around Prajwal Revannas arrest unfolded, the highlight of the entire operation was the execution of the arrest by a five-member womens squad from the special investigation team (SIT).

The Hassan MP, who has been accused of multiple sexual assaults on multiple women, was arrested and transported from the Bengaluru international airport to the SIT headquarters under the custody of women officers, ranging from the level of superintendent of police to a constable.

The suspended Janata Dal (Secular) leader was transported in an SIT jeep, seated in the back of the vehicle flanked by women officers. The visual of Prajwal sitting with his arms folded around his knees, accosted by senior women officers into the CID headquarters, which is also where the SIT is conducting its investigation, carried powerful messaging.

This was a conscious move to send an all-women police officers team to arrest Prajwal. We want to send a strong message to the victims that the leader, who is said to have exploited his position of power as an MP to force himself on them, will be tried under the law. It also encourages victims to come forward to lodge their complaints so that the case can be built against the accused and tried according to the law of the land, said a source in the SIT.

The source added that by ensuring a women-led team was handling the investigation, conducting arrests, and recording statements, the women who have been victims may feel empowered to come forward and be convinced that their case will be handled with sensitivity and sympathy.

As soon as Prajwal landed at the Bengaluru airport, having flown in from Munich, Germany, in the early hours of May 31, a special team of women SIT officers led by two senior IPS officers, Suman D Pennekar and Seema Latkar, executed the arrest. They handed him his arrest warrant, and he was later shifted to the special vehicle of the SIT to be taken to its office, where he was kept overnight before being produced in front of a magistrate.

The fugitive MP was escorted out of the Bengaluru Airport by a all women police team , a decision of SIT was a strong positive sign that strong women police force of Karnataka will not only deal with the perpetrator but send a strong message to the hundreds of women whose modesty Bhaskar Rao ( MODI KA PARIWAAR) (@Nimmabhaskar22) May 31, 2024

Prajwal will also be questioned by an all-women police team of officers, confirmed another source in the SIT. The SIT currently has a total of 20 women police officers of various ranks who are part of the investigation.

This also helps in building trust and confidence among the victims who have until now been afraid to lodge an FIR against this MP, who they believe comes from a politically powerful family, said the source from the SIT. As of now, the SIT has registered FIRs filed by various victims who have alleged that the MP sexually and mentally abused them, often using political clout or brute force to exploit them.

The official also added that the women officers leading the investigation are able to convincingly speak to other victims of these heinous crimes and are slowly able to persuade others to come forward with their experiences and record their statements on how they were exploited by the leader.

The SIT, set up by the Karnataka government on April 28, was established soon after the first FIR was filed in Holenarsipura, the bastion of the Revanna family in Hassan, by a former house help who accused the MP of molestation. Within days, on May 1, another victim, who was also a JD(S) worker, filed a second FIR accusing Prajwal of raping her over two years and threatening of dire consequences if she revealed it.

The drama around the case continued to unfold when, on the next day (May 2), the son of another house help in the Revanna family filed a case of kidnapping and criminal intimidation against Prajwals father, HD Revanna. The son claimed that his mother was kidnapped and kept in a confined location to prevent her from speaking to the police.

This victims video went viral, where she is seen and heard pleading to be spared from sexual assault. Her video was among the 3,000 clips that were circulated on pen drives across Hassan just before the Lok Sabha seat went to polls on April 26. The woman miraculously escaped from captivity and later informed the police that she was told she was being held there as the authorities were looking for her in a case of bogus voting. After her escape, she filed a case of rape with the SIT.

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Delhi government has approached the Supreme Court regarding the water problem in the national capital. The plea seeks to get additional water to Delhi from Haryana, UP and Himachal Pradesh for at least a month.

In its plea, the Delhi government has informed the Supreme Court that the citys water demand has surged due to ongoing heatwave conditions and they are urging neighbouring Haryana to release additional water for a month to address the crisis.

It is the responsibility of all to work towards fulfilling the water needs of Delhi, the city government said.

Emphasizing the collective responsibility to meet Delhis water needs, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called on the BJP to intervene with its governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for water provision.

Amidst severe water scarcity, Delhis Water Minister, Atishi, has accused Haryana of withholding Delhis rightful water share.

Meanwhile, the Haryana government has accused its Delhi counterpart of during drama over the issue.

Addressing the media, Haryana Minister Kanwar Pal Gurjjar said, We are giving 350 cusecs of water to Delhi, We are giving water to Delhi because it is the countrys capital. Those who are doing this drama are not able to arrange for their water.

Earlier, addressing a press conference AAP Minister Atishi said Delhi is staring at an emergency situation and announced a slew of emergency measures to tackle the crisis. She said the Delhi government will approach the top court over the issue.

The minister said a central water tanker control room is being set up in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and it will be monitored by an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer.

There will be a central command and control room and people will have to call 1916 if they need a water tanker. This central command and control room will inform the water tanker control room about the call. From June 5, ADM and SDM-level officers will be deployed at the 11 water zones in Delhi. They will assess the situation at the hotspots facing a water shortage and deploy water tankers at those places, she said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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A Delhi to Srinagar Vistara flight, carrying 177 passengers and one infant, received a bomb threat on Friday, prompting swift action by the airline and security forces. Flight no-UK-611 safely landed at Srinagar Airport at approximately 12:10 AM.

Vistara flight UK611 was arriving from New Delhi and after a threat call, prompt action was followed by airport authorities at Srinagar International Airport. The call was received by Air Traffic Control (ATC) Srinagar, sources told News18.

Following standard protocol for such threats, the aircraft was immediately directed to an isolation bay upon landing. All passengers are reportedly safe, and the situation is being handled with the utmost priority to ensure their security.

All passengers were safely de-boarded at the isolation bay. Currently, the aircraft is undergoing a thorough security check by the relevant authorities to ensure the safety of all concerned, an airport official said.

Protocol was followed, Bomb disposal squads were deployed to inspect the aircraft and after an exhaustive search, no explosives were found on board.

As per sources, after the hoax call was received, the flight operation was stopped at Srinagar airport for more than two hours. Flight operations have now resumed.

Authorities are investigating the source of the bomb threat and taking all necessary measures to ensure the continued safety of air travel.

According to an airline spokesperson, the relevant authorities were informed about the incident as per the protocol and the aircraft was taken to the isolation bay after safely landing at the Srinagar International Airport.

All the necessary checks have been conducted and the aircraft has been cleared to resume operations. At Vistara, safety and security of our customers, crew and aircraft is of utmost importance to us, the spokesperson added.

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A day after Nagpurs two of the four automatic weather stations (AWS) showed temperatures measuring 54 and 56 degrees on Thursday, the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) officials clarified that the said temperature was recorded due to a malfunction of sensors.

The report of 56 degrees Celsius temperature on May 30 is not correct and not declared officially. The nearby functioning AWS is at CICR, Nagpur and the maximum temperature on May 30 was 44 degrees Celsius, Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) Nagpur said in a statement.

The Nagpur AWS situated in the middle of the 24-hectare open agriculture land belonging to PDKV at Ramdaspeth, off North Ambazari Road, recorded 56 degrees on Thursday.

The other AWS along the Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) at Sonegaon too recorded 54 degrees.

In a similar incident, a day after Delhis Mungeshpur had recorded 52.3 degrees on Wednesday, the weather agency on Thursday ad raised questions about the accuracy of the sensors. It could be due to an error in the sensor or the local factor. IMD is examining the data and sensors, the weather agency had stated. A

As many as twelve people died of suspected heatstroke in Odishas Sundargarh during the past 24 hours, news agency IANS reported.

According to a PTI report, four people, including a woman, were killed due to heatwave-related symptoms in Jharkhands Palamu district, which recorded the states highest maximum temperature at 47.4 degrees on Thursday. In Bihar, sunstroke killed eight on Thursday.

The weather agency, however, has said the heatwave conditions are likely to abate starting tomorrow.

IMD scientist Soma Sen said, There have been a lot of casualties in Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha in the last 24 hours. What we expect is that gradually heat wave conditions will abate from this entire region from tomorrow. Based on this, in most of these states, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Bihar, and Jharkhand in all these states we have given an Orange alert for heat waves has been issued today.

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Major Radhika Sen, an Indian woman peacekeeper who served with the UN mission in Congo, on Thursday received the prestigious military gender advocate award. She is the second Indian peacekeeper to receive this award after Major Suman Gawani, who had served with the UN Mission in South Sudan.

In her speech, which has gone viral and is being hailed by social media audiences across the world, Sen emphasised the significance of Gender-sensitive peacekeeping and the role of diversity in true peacekeeping.

Gender-sensitive peacekeeping is everybodys business  not just us, women. Peace begins with all of us in our beautiful diversity! Sen said.

Statement by Major Radhika Sen, after being conferred the Military Gender Advocate Award for 2023 by the UN Secretary-General, on the occasion of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.#PKDay pic.twitter.com/BNWkydSbXC India at UN, NY (@IndiaUNNewYork) May 30, 2024

We had the opportunity to engage with the communities on topics ranging from womens health and education, childcare, gender equality and combating sexual violence in conflicts. A gender perspective in US peacekeeping is essential for an effective, exclusive and sustainable peace process, Sen added.

Post her speech, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described her as a true leader and role model. He further said in a statement that in an escalating conflict environment in North Kivu, her troops actively engaged with conflict-affected communities, including women and girls. She earned their trust, doing so with humility, compassion, and dedication.

Who is Major Radhika Sen?

Major Sen, who served with the UN Organisation Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), received the 2023 United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award from Guterres on the occasion of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers.

A biotech engineer, Sen joined the Indian Army eight years ago when she was pursuing her Masters degree from IIT Bombay.

She was deployed to MONUSCO in March 2023 as the Engagement Platoon Commander with the Indian Rapid Deployment Battalion and completed her tenure in April 2024.

As a Platoon Commander, she helped foster a safe space for men and women to operate together under her command and quickly became a role model for both women peacekeepers and her male counterparts.

She also ensured that peacekeepers under her command engaged in a manner that was sensitive to gender and socio-cultural norms in eastern DRC to help build trust and thereby increase her teams chance of success.

Major Sen facilitated English classes for children, and health, gender and vocational training for displaced and marginalised adults. Her efforts directly inspired womens solidarity, providing safe spaces for meetings and open dialogue.

Nari Shakti: India Hails Major Radhika Sens Achievements

Soon after Sen received the prestigious honour, the Indian Army congratulated Major Sen on her remarkable feat and said that she embodies the ethos of commitment and compassion of the Indian Peacekeepers around the world.

#IndianArmy congratulates Major Radhika Sen on being conferred with the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award by Mr Antonio Guteress, Secretary-General of the United Nations, at #UN Headquarters, #NewYork for her outstanding service in the Democratic Republic of the pic.twitter.com/qJjyFtm1S3 ADG PI  INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) May 30, 2024

Indian Army congratulates Major Radhika Sen on being conferred with the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award by Mr Antonio Guteress, Secretary-General of the United Nations for her outstanding service in the Democratic Republic of the #Congo. Her dedication & courage highlight the invaluable role of Women Peacekeepers in contributing towards a better world. She truly embodies the ethos of commitment and compassion of the Indian Peacekeepers around the world, the Army stated.

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar also extended greetings to Majr Radhika and hailed her efforts in advancing gender equality.

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Amid speculation that Karnataka Minister B Nagendras resignation may be sought over allegations against him in an illegal money transfer case, Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Friday said that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was examining the facts.

Home Minister G Parameshwara too, while admitting that the scam has taken place, said the chief minister will decide on whether the Scheduled Tribes Welfare minister must resign.

The unauthorised transfer of crores of rupees from Karnataka Maharshi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporations (KMVSTDC) bank account came to light after Accounts Superintendent Chandrashekhar died by suicide on Sunday evening, leaving behind a note detailing the misappropriation of funds.

He has named KMVSTDC Managing Director J G Padmanabh, Accounts Officer Parashuram G Durugannavar and Union Bank of India Chief Manager Suchismita Rawal in the note, while also stating that the minister had issued oral orders for transferring the funds.

The chief minister and I are examining the facts. Let there be an examination. There is no question of protecting anyone. Lets see, Shivakumar told reporters here.

To a question on BJP giving a weeks ultimatum to the government for the ministers resignation and threatening a statewide protest, he said, Let them do it (protest) now itself. Why wait till then? It is learnt that Rs 88.62 crore was transferred without any authorisation from the KMVSTDC bank account at the MG Road branch of Union Bank of India here to other branches of the same bank, and apparently the money was then moved to the accounts of some software companies. The corporations bank account had a total of Rs 187 crore.

Parameshwara, while responding to a question based on a report sought about the scam, said the CM will take a decision on Nagendras resignation. Let see, the chief minister will decide. It is true that the scam has taken place, he said, It needs to be verified whether it has happened without the knowledge of the minister. We need to see who has done it. If it has happened by bringing it to the notice of the minister, then the minister is responsible. There are many instances of such things happening without bringing it to the notice of the minister. It needs to be probed.

Protesting and giving an ultimatum is BJPs right as an opposition party, Paramshwara said, adding, They will do it. But in government we have our own responsibility. We are answerable to the people of the state. Investigation has begun. There is mention about oral orders from the minister in the death note. It is being verified as to which minister. Were orders given? After verifying, action will be taken. To a question regarding the demand for a CBI probe, the home minister said that in scams involving sums of more than Rs 3 crore (in public sector banks), the procedure is to give the case to the CBI.

We will see what happens in the future. Now CID has begun the investigation. It is going on. What has been said in the death note, where all money has got transferred, all those things are being probed, he said.

In case the CBI procedurally wants to take over the case as the misappropriated amount is more than Rs 3 crore, Parameshwara said, On our own we will not do it (refer to CBI). CID will do the investigation There wont be two probes. If the situation comes, it will be transferred to CBI from CID.

Asked whether he will discuss handing over the case to CBI with the CM, he said, When such a situation comes, it has to be discussed with CM. About the CM taking the matter seriously and warning the minister, he said, Yes, because Rs 187 crore public money is involved, so it has to be taken seriously. CM has taken it seriously. Yesterday, he had telephoned me to discuss it, but as I was in Shivamogga, he held a meeting and gave serious instructions to officials.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday took stock of the situation in Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura, and West Bengal, which have been grappling with natural disasters in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal.

PM Modi, currently in Tamil Nadus Kanniyakumari for a 45-hour-long meditation session at the renowned Vivekananda Rock Memorial, affirmed that the Centre will provide all possible support to the states affected by natural disasters.

My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected there. Took stock of the prevailing situation. The Central Government has assured all possible support to the states and is continuously monitoring the situation. Officials are working on the ground to assist those affected, the Prime Minister said in a post on X.

Unfortunately, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal have witnessed natural disasters in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal. My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected there. Took stock of the prevailing situation. The Central Government Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 31, 2024

PM Modi, who is currently in Tamil Nadus Kanniyakumari for a 45-hour-long meditation session at the renowned Vivekananda Rock Memorial, said that centre will give all possible support to the natural disaster-hit states and is continuously monitoring the situation

Expressing solidarity, Union Home Minister also said, Our thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones and prayers with those injured for a speedy recovery. The situation is being closely monitored and authorities are providing all possible assistance to the affected.

Deeply concerned about the natural disasters triggered by Cyclone Remal in Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. Also briefed PM Shri @narendramodi Ji on the situation, who expressed solidarity with those affected. Spoke to the respective state Chief Ministers, took Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) May 31, 2024

The Union home minister said that he has reached out to the chief ministers of the five affected states.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also said that the home minister had spoke to him over the phone and inquired about the flood situation in the state.

Honble Home Minister Shri @AmitShah Ji telephoned me to enquire about the flood situation in various parts of Assam, following the impact of Cyclone Remal, Sarma shared.

The flood situation in Assam has taken a toll, affecting over 2 lakh people in nine districts, with at least six casualties reported since May 28 due to floods, rains, and storms.

Roads like Haflong-Silchar have been severed due to washouts near Harangajao, and Haflong-Harangajao faces blockages from multiple landslides.

Train services, cancelled or short-terminated due to landslides along the Haflong-Badarpur rail route, are yet to be restored, officials said.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Prajwal Revanna, the Karnataka MP accused in three rape cases, is now in police custody for six days. He has been taken into custody by the special investigation team (SIT) in the alleged rape case of an elderly woman who worked as a house help in the Revanna household.

The suspended Janata Dal (Secular) leaders questioning will begin now onwards as the entire day (Friday) went in completing formalities like being produced in the special court for peoples representatives, medical check-up at the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in Bengaluru before being taken to the SIT headquarters where he will be housed during the course of his police custody.

Additional special public prosecutor Ashok N Naik while laying his arguments in front of the court as to why the SIT was seeking 14 days custody for Prajwal stated that looking into the gravity of the case, there was also a big task in front of the SIT to investigate the complaints of several women against the accused.

We sought custodial interrogation as there was a need to get into in-depth investigation including analysing material like tracing the thousands of women who may have been victims, tracking mobile data, vehicles that could have been used between Hassan and Bengaluru while committing crimes, investigate the places where the rape has happened. This would need time and so we sought 15 days custody, and the court granted us six days custody, said Naik to News18 on what transpired in court.

Naik also added that the prosecution sees a larger conspiracy in the case where many victims of similar crimes have not come forward to the police as they live in fear.

In her complaint to the SIT, the victim mentions how she was sexually abused by both HD Revanna and Prajwal Revanna but was later raped by the latter in the Basavangudi residence of the leader. She also spoke of how she was molested by HD Revanna at their Holenarsipura residence on the pretext of offering her a fruit which was a prasad from a temple.

Prajwal has been arrested in this case by the SIT.

Apart from the rape charges, Prajwal has also been accused of video recording on his mobile phone the sexual acts with several women. Many of these video clips were circulated on pen drives in Hassan five days before polling in the Lok Sabha constituency from where Prajwal is seeking re-election.

Prajwal Revannas lawyer Arun G argued that the case was built on a complaint that was filed four years ago. He said that the complaint of the woman based on which the rape charges were filed against Prajwal was baseless and alleged that it was a ready-made complaint thats as written by another person in Holenarsipura, and later produced by the police in Bengaluru.

Prajwals lawyer claimed that there was a conspiracy against the MP. He said the complaint letter of the woman who accused Prajwal of rape was first drafted in Hassan and was pre-meditated. Later a police official travelled to Bengaluru and filed it as a rape charge on her behalf. The counsel further argued that initially there was no mention of rape in the complaint by the woman but was later added by the police when she was brought to Bengaluru.

The defence also argued that since most of the investigation had been complete, one day of custody was necessary and Prajwal had voluntarily flown from Germany to cooperate in the investigation.

Prajwal pleaded in the court that he was not being provided with basic amenities and even the bathroom was not clean. He told the court that he had not been able to sleep and had to spend the night sitting on a chair.

The MP also sought the courts direction to stop the media trial against him. The court said that the lawyers may move a separate plea for that. The police were directed to give the required medical facilities and allowed him to meet his lawyers between 9.30 am and 10.30 am every day.

Prajwal also requested the court to be allowed to watch the results on Lok Sabha counting day (June 4), which was ignored.

The Hassan MP who had left the country on April 26, finally flew back into Bengaluru from Munich, Germany, and was arrested past midnight by the SIT at the Bengaluru international airport on May 31.

The 33-year-old grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda and the BJP-JD(S) alliance candidate from the Hassan Lok Sabha segment has so far been booked in three cases of sexual assault. A blue corner notice was issued by the Interpol following a request by the SIT and after the FIRs were filed by the victims against him. He returned a week after releasing a video message saying he would appear on May 31 before the SIT to cooperate with the inquiry.

Prajwal Revanna had also sought anticipatory bail before he arrived in India, but it was automatically rejected after the court ordered six days of police custody to question him as part of the investigation into the video recording scandal where several women were allegedly sexually abused or raped by the leader over a period of four years.

The petition of Bhavani Revanna, Prajwals mother, who moved a special court for anticipatory bail in a kidnapping case where her husband HD Revanna is also the accused, was rejected shortly after her son Prajwal was sent to six days police custody. The bail was rejected on the grounds that she was booked under section 120B of the IPC which amounts to criminal conspiracy and did not qualify for bail. The SIT had also sent her a notice stating it would question her at her residence in connection with the kidnapping case. HD Revanna, who was arrested on May 4 in the same kidnapping case, was released on bail after spending ten days in prison.

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After experts suggested that the altered blood samples in the Pune Porsche crash case were that of a woman, speculations of the changed samples being that of the teen drivers mother arose. Police are now trying to investigate two thingsthe identity of the mystery woman seen with the teen driver at the hospital and the DNA of the swapped blood sample.

As the never-ending saga of twists and turns continued in the case on Friday, a police official mentioned in the court that the CCTV footage from Punes Sassoon Hospital showed that the teen driver was accompanied by his parents, an unidentified woman, and two elderly people.

According to sources, police are seeking to understand who was the mystery woman and check if it was her blood samples that were used to tamper with the accuseds blood samples.

Sources said police were also trying to verify claims of the blood sample being swapped with that of the mother of the accused.

Meanwhile, the teens mother, Shivani Agrawal, has been on the run for more than 48 hours now. She went incommunicado after police recorded her statement. Sources said she has fled Pune.

Official sources said police would verify if the replaced blood sample was that of the mother by matching it with the teens DNA.

The mother of the juvenile accused, Shivani, had come to the fore after a video was widely circulated on social media claiming that her son uploaded a rap video on the day he was granted bail. But, she had clarified that the video featuring her son is fake.

According to News18 sources, the Pune crime branch has also summoned some nurses, who are members of the staff at the Sassoon hospital. They are being questioned regarding the swapping of the blood samples, they added.

Sassoon hospital doctors submitted their report to the probe panel on Wednesday (May 29). The Maharashtra medical education (MME) department formed the committee headed by Dr Pallavi Sapale, dean of Mumbai-based Grants Medical College, on May 27 after the police claimed that the teenagers blood samples were discarded and replaced with another persons samples, which showed no traces of alcohol, at Punes Sassoon General Hospital.

Police have arrested Dr Ajay Taware, head of the state-run hospitals forensic medicine department, chief medical officer Dr Shrihari Halnor and staff member Atul Ghatkamble in connection with the incident.

Two IT professionals in their 20s were killed after their motorcycle was hit by a speeding Porsche, allegedly driven by a 17-year-old, in the early hours of May 19 in Punes Kalyani Nagar area. According to police, the teenager, son of builder Vishal Agarwal, was drunk at the time.

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In a significant turn of events, friends of the 17-year-old who was allegedly driving the Porsche that crashed and killed two people in Pune on May 19, have told police that the teen was drunk driving. The two teens were sitting in the luxury cars rear seat at the time of the accident.

While recording their statements with the Pune Police the friends of the teen driver admitted that the accused was driving under the influence of alcohol, officials said.

Sources said police are likely to record the two boys statements in front of the magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPc). They also intend to make them the key witnesses in the case as they were present on the spot. Blood samples of all present in the car were collected by cops.

Meanwhile, the Pune Crime Branch has written a letter to the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB), seeking permission to interrogate the teen driver in the case.

ALSO READ| Pune Auto Driver Recalls Drunk Boys In Car After Porsche Crash; Uddhav Leader Claims Accused Doctors In Danger | Updates

This comes hours after an auto-rickshaw driver, who too was saved in the nick of time as the drunken 17-year-old crushed two bike-borne IT professionals to death with his Porsche car in the Kalyani Nagar area, elaborated on the incident.

As the drivers escape emerged after the first CCTV footage of the deadly accident came to light, auto driver Ameen told News18, There were three boys in the car. All of them were visibly drunk. After the accident, they stepped out of the Porsche, asked people not to create an issue, and promised to pay damages immediately.

Ameen also said, The car was at a speed of more than 200 kmph. One of the youngsters in the car had fled. Then he came back, and the police took them along. Several police vans had reached on the spot. The first van took the first two boys, then another van came and took the boy who had fled.

When asked if there was a driver in the Porsche, as claimed by the teens family, the auto driver said, There was no driver present in the car, and no other cars along with them. The boys would have fled had the airbags not come off.

It had also emerged that the blood sample of the teenager for an alcohol test was replaced at the citys Sassoon hospital with that of a woman. While some reports said that it was the mothers blood sample, there was no immediate comment by officials. Staff members of the hospital, including nurses, are being questioned by the crime branch probing the sensational case.

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It is a bright metallic blue ant, barely 2mm long. Indian researchers have discovered a new ant species from Arunachal Pradeshs remote Siang Valley while on a survey to document a century-old scientific expedition.

The new ant has been named Paraparatrechina neela  the word neela derived from its unique blue coloration. This remarkable discovery comes over 121 years after the last addition was made to the Paraparatrechina genus. We saw something sparked in the twilight, while we were exploring a tree hole about 10 feet up in a steep cattle track in the remote Yinku village one evening in the valley. With the dim light available, two insects were sucked into an aspirator. To our surprise, we later found they were ants, shared the researchers.

Entomologists Dr Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan and Sahanashree R from Bengalurus Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE) collaborated with Aswaj Punnath from the University of Florida to describe the remarkable new species, and published their discovery in the open-access journal ZooKeys.

TRACING A CENTURY-OLD EXPEDITION

The team had travelled to the Siang Valley in far-eastern India to re-survey its biodiversity following the century-old Abhor expedition. The historic expedition was carried out in 1911-1912 as a punitive military exercise under British rule against the indigenous people and also included some scientists to document its natural history and geography. Historic records show that they not only encountered hostile terrain, rough weather, but also resistance from local tribes. But still managed to map large parts of the valley, cataloguing every plant, frog, lizard, fish, insects, bird and mammal. Their discoveries are published in several volumes from 1912 to 1922 in the Records of the Indian Museum.

A century later, the researchers from ATREE decided to embark on a series of expeditions  Siang Expedition  to re-survey and document this biodiversity with the fund support from the National Geographic Society through a wildlife-conservation expedition grant. The entomologists have so far discovered a new subfamily, six new genera and over 40 new species of insects.

Nestled within a Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, the valley has unparalleled diversity, much of it remains unexplored. However, the researchers expressed concerns over unprecedented risks which now threaten this richness, both cultural and ecological.

Large-scale infrastructure projects like dams, highways and military installations, along with climate change, are rapidly altering the valley. The impact extends beyond the valley itself, as these mountains play a critical role not only in sustaining their own diverse ecosystems but also in ensuring the well-being of millions of people living downstream, said senior fellow, Priyadarsanan Dharma Rajan, corresponding author of the paper.

UNRAVELING NEW MYSTERIES

With large eyes and sub-triangular head and mouth (mandible) with five teeth  the new species has now captivated the researchers with its metallic-blue body  known to be rare among insects. While blue colour is commonly observed in a few insects like butterflies, beetles, bees and wasps, it is relatively rare in ants. Of the 16,724 known species and sub-species of ants worldwide, only a few exhibit blue coloration or iridescence. In insects, it is often produced by the arrangement of biological photonic nanostructures, which create structural colours rather than being caused by pigments. But does it help in communication, camouflage, or other ecological interactions? It will be an exciting avenue for research, said the researchers as they look ahead.

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A 73-year-old retired soldier suffered a cardiac arrest while dancing at a yoga camp in Madhya Pradeshs Indore and died on the spot on Friday, an organiser of the programme said. Balveer Singh Chhabra collapsed on stage while delivering an enthusiastic performance of a patriotic song. Unbeknownst to his pain, the audience continued clapping assuming the fall was a part of the act until the organisers realised something was wrong.

A video of the incident that occurred in the Phooti Khoti area of the city surfaced on social media.

Balveer Singh Chhabra had come to the camp for a performance with a group of people, was dressed in a costume and was dancing to a patriotic song with the national flag in his hand, said Rajkumar Jain, who is associated with the yoga camp.

Chhabra suddenly fell unconscious and collapsed. Initially, we thought it was part of his performance, but when he did not get up for a minute, we got suspicious, he added.

Chhabra was administered CPR and rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was declared dead after ECG and other tests, Jain further noted.

Chhabras son Jagjit Singh said his father had been giving dance performances on patriotic songs for several years and was involved in social activities. The family has donated the deceased mans eyes and skin, he added.

(With PTI inputs)

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In Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the year-end exams for students of government and private schools were held in March and April. Due to the assembly elections, the exams for all classes were held earlier and summer vacation was also granted. Previously, the new academic year used to begin on June 1. The reopening of schools has been a little delayed due to the impact of the hot summer in Tamil Nadu in recent years and summer vacation was extended. Students were wondering whether the vacation will be extended. Since the assembly election results have not been announced yet, it was expected that schools would open only after the results are announced on June 4.

The education authorities earlier announced that summer vacation in Tamil Nadu will end and schools will resume on June 6. Many parties are in favour of extending summer vacation due to intense heat in many districts of Tamil Nadu. Chief Minister Rangasamy directed the school authorities to extend the summer vacations. The Puducherry Education Department had already announced summer vacations in Puducherry till June 5. Temperatures over 40 degrees were recorded in Puducherry for the last few days even after the Agni Nakshatra heat has ended. Political parties and educationists demanded a postponement of the opening date of schools due to the intense heat.

Accordingly, Director of School Education Priyadarshini announced that the government and private schools that were scheduled to open on June 6, will now open on June 12. Students are happy that the date of the opening of schools has been postponed.

The education department of Kolkata has said that the reopening of government and government-aided schools after the summer break will take place on June 3, subject to the directions of the concerned elective authorities. The schools will reopen once it is ensured that suitable infrastructure is in place, with due support from the district administrations and Commissioner of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, where appropriate.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website
Indian peacekeeper Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who lost his life serving under the UN flag last year, was honoured posthumously on Thursday with a prestigious Dag Hammarskjold medal at the United Nations for their service and supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.

Naik Singh died while serving in the UN Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO). He was among the over 60 military, police and civilian peacekeepers, who were facilitated by the UN for their service and supreme sacrifice in the line of duty.

Indias Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador, Ruchira Kamboj, received the medal from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Today, the Secretary General awarded the Dag Hammarskjold Medal to honor Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh, who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. His professionalism and dedication will never be forgotten. We stand in solidarity with his family and honour his legacy of pic.twitter.com/6W8ONyvR69 Ruchira Kamboj (@ruchirakamboj) May 30, 2024

About Naik Dhananjay Kumar Singh

Naik Singh, who belonged to the Army Medical Corps, was a nursing assistant with MONUSCO and provided medical services to military personnel. He was made part of the Indian Battalion-1 on 7 July 2023.

Naik Singhs responsibilities included vaccination of troops on the ground, their medical examination, and regular medic duties like combat medical care.

In Congo, he served at a Level-1 hospital ensuring round-the-clock operability of critical care and medical support, according to a report by The Print.

Singh died on November 1, 2023, due to ischemic heart disease while on duty. The disease is caused by poor blood flow to the heart, usually a result of coronary artery disease.

Indias Mission At UN

India is the second largest contributor of uniformed personnel to UN Peacekeeping.

It currently deploys more than 6,000 military and police personnel to the UN operations in Abyei, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, the Middle East, Somalia, South Sudan, and Western Sahara.

Nearly 180 Indian peacekeepers have made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, the highest number from any troop-contributing country.

During formal ceremonies at the United Nations Headquarters on May 30, Secretary-General Guterres laid a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial Site on the North Lawn to honour all UN peacekeepers who have lost their lives since 1948.

He presided over a ceremony during which the Dag Hammarskjold Medals were awarded posthumously to 64 military, police, and civilian peacekeepers who lost their lives serving under the UN flag, including 61 who died last year.

In his message to mark Peacekeepers Day, Guterres said the world organisation pays tribute to the more than 76,000 United Nations peacekeepers who embody humanitys highest ideal: peace.

Day in and day out, at great personal risk, these women and men bravely work in some of the most dangerous and unstable places on earth to protect civilians, uphold human rights, support elections and strengthen institutions, he said, noting that more than 4,300 peacekeepers have paid the ultimate price while serving under the UN flag.

We will never forget them.

In 1948, the historic decision was made to deploy military observers to the Middle East to supervise the implementation of Israel-Arab Armistice Agreements in what became the United Nations Truce Supervision Organisation.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website
Bold and brazen, the bralette has been the go-to summer style to beat the heat. With renowned designers such as Masaba Gupta, Manish Malhotra, Gaurav Gupta, Priyanca Khanna and Dhruv Kapoor exploring newer ways to incorporate the style in their collections, the bralette has become a celebrity style staple.

Tamannaah Bhatia

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Tamannaah Bhatia (@tamannaahspeaks)

Tamannaah Bhatia was recently spotted during the promotions of her film, Aranmanai 4 adorning the iconic Biscuit Bra, from House of Masabas latest collection Mykonos to Mumbai. Making the bralette enticing are the gold-plated house mascots. Tamannaah paired the bralette with an all-charmed veshti and a tan trophy jacket. Styled by Leepakshi Ellawadi, the look can definitely go from a boardroom meeting to a lets chill on the beach.

Kriti Sanon

View this post on Instagram A post shared by S U K R I T I G R O V E R (@sukritigrover)

Ruling 2024 with back-to-back hits  Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya and Crew, Kriti Sanon has been acing her style quotient with the right amount of glam on and off screen. Styled by Sukriti Grover, Kriti makes a statement in a sexy bralette designed by Priyanca Khanna.

Kriti completed the three-piece co-ord set with a chequered blue and camel-coloured bralette. With a deep V-neck, thin shoulder straps, and a tie-up fastening at the back, its the perfect accompaniment to the jacket. The bralette adds a touch of femininity and charm to Kritis outfit, providing a fashionable contrast to the structured jacket.

Ananya Panday

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ananya (@ananyapanday)

Ananya Pandays Manish Malhotra ensemble is giving wedding fever vibes. The perfect look for bridesmaids this wedding, the opulent co-ord set comes with an embellished bralette blouse complemented with a matching skirt.

Styled by Priyanka Kapadia, the intricately embellished bralette is a party starter loon you need to own this wedding season. The tone-on-tone beadwork with tiny mirror detailing adds the drama you have been craving for. Sexy and fun, Ananya shows you how to make an entrance this wedding season.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Samantha (@samantharuthprabhuoffl)

Samantha Ruth Prabhus style graph has been experimental and adventurous.

Styled by Preetham Jukalker, Samantha aces the bralette style in Dhruv Kapoors creation. Creatively bold and risky, the denim bralette adorned by Samantha is paired with nude lace-flared pants.

Laid back yet sexy, the bralette is the perfect style fit for those who love to experiment.

Priyanka Chopra Jonas

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Priyanka (@priyankachopra)

The OG desi girl, Priyanka Chopra Jonas stuns in Gaurav Gupta couture featuring the Athena blush saree gown paired with a sculpted bralette blouse. The mesmerising texture and dramatic pattern add festive fervour to Priyankas look.

Style by Rebecca Corbin-Murray, the bralette top accentuates the stunning jewellery adorned by Priyanka. A perfect ensemble to adorn this festive season.
Bigg Boss OTT season 3 is all set to return. Well, this time the show will not be hosted by Salman Khan. It was reported that Anil Kapoor will be taking his place. However, in todays promo video, it has been confirmed that Anil Kapoor is the new host. He has assured that this season will be Khaas

The video opens with fights between contestants and suddenly a man is seen entering the room. His face is not shown but from voice, it is clear that he is Anil Kapoor. He asked to bring the chair and said Bahot hua jhakas, karte hai iss baar kuch khaas. Jio Cinema shared the video and wrote, A new host for the new season of Bigg Boss OTT! Aur Bigg Boss ki tarha, inki awaaz hi kaafi hai. The reality show will start from June. Date has not been shared.

Watch the video here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by JioCinema (@officialjiocinema)

Earlier, popular X handle The Khabri reported that not Salman but Anil Kapoor has been roped in to host Bigg Boss OTT 3. #AnilKapoor to host new season of #BiggBossOTT3, the post read. While there is no confirmation regarding Anil Kapoor replacing Salman Khan as the Bigg Boss OTT host, the news has left fans of the reality show upset. No Bigg Boss without Salman, one of the users wrote. This will reduce your TRP, added another. One of the fans also suggested that Karan Johar, who also hosted Bigg Boss OTT 1, could have been a better option.

Interestingly, in April this year, Bigg Boss production house Endemol Shine India took to its official Instagram handle to announce Bigg Boss OTT 3. They shared a poster in which Salman was seen pointing towards the audience as he also asked, Who do you want to see in Bigg Boss OTT. However, the post was deleted later.

Meanwhile, it should be noted that all this comes at a time when Salman Khan has also been making headlines for firing outside his Mumbai apartments. On April 14, gunshots were fired outside Khans Galaxy Apartments in Mumbais Bandra area. Later, it was reported that the Lawrence Bishnoi gang was alleged to be behind the attack. The gangsters brother, Anmol Bishnoi, claimed responsibility for the shooting incident via a Facebook post.
Apple TV Plus acclaimed series, Pachinko, is set to make a grand return with season 2 nearly two years after its finale. Created by Soo Hugh and based on Min Jin Lees bestselling novel, this epic historical drama follows four generations of a Korean immigrant family, delving into their hopes and dreams far from their homeland. The streaming giant has released a first look at the cast and announced that season 2 will premiere on August 23, 2024. The new season will consist of eight episodes, beginning with the premiere episode and continuing with new episodes every Friday until the finale on October 11.

Season 2 of Pachinko features a talented cast including Lee Minho as Koh Hansu, Kim Min-ha as Teenage Sunja, Anna Sawai as Naomi, Yuh-Jung Youn as Older Sunja, Jin Ha as Solomon, Eunchae Jung as Young Kyunghee, Soji Arai as Mozasu, and Junwoo Han as Yoseb. Sungkyu Kim joins the cast in the new role of Kim Changho. Soo Hyuk, the writer behind season 1, returns for season 2, with Michael Ellenberg and Lindsey Springer continuing as executive producers. Rian Welham, Jin Jun-rim and Sang-il Lee will direct the series.

The first season of Pachinko, which premiered in March 2022, received global attention. Interestingly, it garnered numerous awards and nominations, including a Peabody Award, an American Film Institute Award, a Critics Choice Award and a Gotham Independent Film Award. It also received one Emmy nomination and two Television Critics Association Award nominations.

The novel follows Sunja, portrayed by Kim Min-ha, a spirited young woman assisting her mother in managing a boarding house during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Sunjas monotonous life changes when she meets Koh Hansu, played by Lee Minho, a Korean fish broker working for the Japanese. Their relationship leads her to Osaka, Japan, where she encounters the discrimination faced by many Koreans who relocated during the occupation. Despite marrying another man, her connection with Koh Hansu remains a constant presence in her life.

According to Forbes, the second season of Pachinko is expected to explore the lives of Sunjas sons, Mozasu and Noa. Viewers will also witness the fates of Koh Hansu and Solomon, Sunjas husband.
Bobby Deol made a comeback with Ranbir Kapoor starrer Animal. The actor was lauded by the audience and his performance impressed everyone. Well, Bobby Deol has been very private about his personal life. But on their wedding anniversary, he shared an adorable photo with his wife Tania Deol. He took to his social handle and penned a sweet note for her.

In the photo, both are seen posing amid picturesque greenery. Bobby is seen leaning his head on Tanias shoulder. Happy anniversary my jaan, you complete me, his caption read. Many celebrities including Twinkle Khanna also congratulated the couple. This year, on Tanias birthday, Bobby Deol penned a heartfelt message for his wife. The picture captured a moment where Bobby was holding Tania close, and both of them radiated with joy. The accompanying caption was simple yet deeply touching, Happy Birthday to the Love of my Life.

Take a look here:

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bobby Deol (@iambobbydeol)

Bobby and Tanias love story unfolded at Trattoria, a renowned Italian cafe located in Mumbais Hotel President. The initial encounter took place when Bobby attended a party there with his friends. It was there when he first saw Tania. Bobby was instantly smitten by her beauty and was determined to get to know her better. Intrigued, he sought the assistance of his friends to gather more information about her. Eventually, Bobby managed to obtain Tanias phone number and mustered the courage to ask her out on a date. Impressed by Bobbys sincere efforts, Tania agreed to the date. As they spent more time together, their connection deepened, and Bobby Deol soon realised that Tania was the one for him.

The couple exchanged vows on May 30, 1996, in a traditional Indian wedding ceremony. Since then, Bobby Deol and Tania have been living a happily married life. The joy of their union expanded with the arrival of two sons  Aryaman, born in 2002, and Dharam, welcomed into the family in 2004. Together, they have built a family filled with love and togetherness.
Min Hee-jin, CEO of ADOR, the label of girl group NewJeans and an affiliate of K-pop juggernaut HYBE, has successfully retained her post. However, on Friday during an extraordinary shareholders meeting, two ADOR executives were fired. Notably, the shareholders meeting took place just one day after a Seoul court approved Min Hee-jins request for an injunction, which stopped HYBE from using its voting rights to sack her. Given the course of these developments, Min Hee-jin announced her second press conference.

Min Hee-Jin attended a news conference on May 31 at 2:30 PM KST. As reported by All K-Pop, she smiled as she stepped in front of the media and said, My heart feels light because I am here after winning my case.

Min Hee-Jin went on to clarify that while there are several justifications for this news conference, she wants to share her opinions on the current state of affairs. She expressed her gratitude to her supporters. Min Hee-Jin said, Recent events were some of the hardest days of my life, events I never wish to go through again.

The CEO burst into tears as she thanked everyone who voiced concern about her financial situation despite not knowing her.

All K-Pop also noted that her roles as ADOR CEO and president of a subsidiary firm under HYBE Labels sometimes presented conflicting interests.

This led to charges of embezzlement against ADOR, which made her ask herself, How can it be embezzlement? I am here to fulfil my duties as CEO of ADOR.

Min Hee-Jin allegedly said that she now has greater freedom to make decisions because the charges against her were dropped. She now wants to see her idea for NewJeans come to fruition.

In reference to the two ex-ADOR board members who were ousted at the shareholder meeting, Min Hee-jin expressed her belief that the board members will stay employed by ADOR.

She was reported by the news site adding that they will stay on staff at ADOR since they are among the organizations founding members and must remain there.

In response to more inquiries from the media, Min Hee-jin reportedly stated, I would like to suggest a reconciliation to HYBE.

She did, however, state that she was not the one who initiated the conflict, and she is using this occasion to emphasise her desire to continue as CEO of ADOR.
Lily Collins recently celebrated her fifth wedding anniversary with husband Charlie McDowell. The Emily in Paris star took to Instagram to remember half a decade of their wedding. She shared a set of photos and wrote, 5 years ago today I met this human. Hes changed my life in every way possible. And I love him with every bone in my body. Heres to many more adventures, laughs, memories, and of course, photos. Adore you beyond.

In no time, Charlie McDowell rushed to the post and commented, Love you forever. Even he shared a post with the caption, Half a decade. The couple exchanged vows in a heartfelt ceremony on September 4, 2021, at the picturesque Dunton Hot Springs in Colorado, USA. Their union came precisely one year after they announced their engagement in September 2020.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lily Collins (@lilyjcollins)

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Charlie McDowell (@charliemcdowell)

Collins and McDowell have worked on two films, Gilded Rage in 2019 and Windfall in 2022. They first met on the set of Gilded Rage and their working relationship soon morphed into romance.

In 2020, Collins appeared on Live with Kelly and Ryan and revealed how she felt during her initial encounters with McDowell. Talking about the love at first sight experience, she said, It was one of those situations where I knew the second I met him that I wanted to be his wife one day. So, it was just a matter of when, really.

In a 2021 interview with Vogue Australia, Collins revealed that initially, she was hesitant that getting married to McDowell would mean their work dynamic might suffer but this was not the case. She said, I thought it would be harder, I have to say. I thought it would be more stressful to have to work with him, but it honestly was really amazing and freeing.

After their wedding, the couple worked on the 2022 crime thriller film Windfall. She reiterated this sentiment in a 2022 interview with CBS Morning where she appeared to promote the film and said, He (McDowell) treats everyone the same, and there were very few of us in the cast so we all had a very intimate, collaborative experience that sometimes I would forget that it was my Charlie as opposed to Charlie-my-director.

Collins is known for a wide range of films such as To the Bone, Abduction and Mirror Mirror. McDowell has directed and written films and shows like The One I Love, The Discovery, Dear White People, On Becoming a God in Central Florida and more.
ADOR CEO Min Hee-jin received a positive court ruling regarding the injunction she filed against HYBE. She took the step to restrict the conglomerate from exercising their shareholder rights to dismiss her. The court granted her request on May 30. This decision has a big impact on the continuing power struggle inside the corporation, especially with regard to ADORs administration and the future course of the girl group NewJeans. While most fans were happy with the decision, Minji, a NewJeans member, also reportedly celebrated the victory.

Members of NewJeans have maintained interactions with fans using the Phoning app (a mobile communication tool developed by Weverse Company specifically for NewJeans) despite the ongoing conflict between HYBE and Min Hee-jin.

In the midst of the uncertainty over the groups future, Minji in particular had previously sent notes comforting Bunnies (NewJeans fan base).

According to Korea Boo, a fan appeared to be supporting NewJeans performance at the Sejong University Festival when they sent Minji a message on Phoning the day of the decision. Minji reportedly texted back, SejongUniversity~~ Dongkuk University~~~Fighting! Haha.

Users are certain that Minji was referring to Min Hee-jins court decision since she decided to split the words University and Sejong, as Sejong is also the name of her attorney in this case.

Minjis modest reaction to this crucial turning point in ADOR and HYBEs legal battle went viral in Korea swiftly, as per the report in Korea Boo.

The news outlet also cited a post praising the idol that appeared on TheQoo and received over 500 comments in addition to around 80,000 views.

Meanwhile, on May 31, Min Hee-jin held a second press conference in response to HYBEs decision to sack two ADOR executives and replace them with HYBE members. At the press conference, the CEO of ADOR disclosed NewJeans reactions to her legal victory.

She was quoted by Korea Boo stating, Of course, you know, everyone went crazy. If they didnt have a schedule, Im sure we would have met. Min Hee-jin swiftly took back her remarks as she was cautious not to inflame HYBE and put NewJeans at the centre of their conflict.

But you know, I dont think this question is really important right now.
Savi- A Bloody Housewife Movie Review: Stories of an unassuming woman suddenly recognising the power  physical and emotional  within her is a trope that almost always clicks. English Vinglish, Thappad, Tumhari Sulu and Darlings are a few examples. Abhinay Deos newest directorial outing, Savi: A Bloody Housewife, is the latest to join the league. Here, the protagonist starts off as a naive, loving and non-violent homemaker and mother, who then treads on the path of vice to win justice. While it may be a desi adaptation of French film Pour Elle, it looks fresh, novel and works for the average Indian audience.

The film revolves around Savitri Sachdev, fondly known as Savi by her loved ones, who lives in Liverpool with her husband Nakul and son Aditya. The Sachdev household is a regular Indian household that abounds in love and joy. One morning, however, their lives turn upside down when the police turn up at their door and arrest Nakul on the charges of allegedly murdering his boss Stefani Fowler. After being wrongly framed for the homicide, his appeal gets turned down and he gets sentenced to life under solitary confinement.

Thus begins Savis journey to avenge her husbands sentence. When she realises that the law isnt on her side, she decides to take it upon herself to help him break free from prison. She soon finds herself playing with fire and in the process, comes across Joydeep Paul, an ex-convict who had escaped prison seven times and is now a writer. With a bit of help from him, an innocent housewife turns into a bloody one.

At 2 hours 6 minutes, Savi: A Bloody Housewife makes for a thrilling and quick-paced ride. Abhinay wastes no time and nosedives into the crux of the narrative early on and hardly ever digresses from it through the inclusion of peripheral songs. While the film maybe less of a thriller and more of a suspense drama, he deserves brownie points for telling it earnestly and even with a dash of panache. So, if youre looking for a volley of nail-biting moments and edge-of-the-seat sequences, you might be disappointed. Savi: A Bloody Housewife may lack the raw and unhinged edginess of Abhinays earlier works like Delhi Belly, 24 and Blackmail but its a great shot and he helps see Anil Kapoor and Divya Khossla, in particular, in a new light.

Abhinay and writers Parveez Shaikh and Aseem Arora also deserve credit for portraying and creating the character of the female protagonist by rendering a sense of familiarity and simplicity. Savi is your regular, next-door homemaker. Her presence, in fact, is so unassertive that it would make her merge into the humdrum of everyday life. And whats even more interesting is the fact that despite being a woman-led action thriller, the subject never becomes the object of male gaze. Not for once Savi emerges as a latex-clad sexy siren who needs to tantalise and titillate her prey with her sensual quotient.

The makers also make sure that a homemaker doesnt abruptly transition with a weapon-wielding action heroine beating up the bad people (or the lawmakers and good ones, in this film) and engaging in high-octane action sequences to prove her physical prowess. In fact, her feminine instincts become her biggest weapon. Even as she needs the nudge of a man (Joydeep) to bring out the beast within her, she never for once loses her empathy and compassion.

One of the only things working against Savi: A Bloody Housewife is its stretched-out climax. A crisper climax much like the rest of the film would have definitely made it a better watch. Having said that, the film marks a revelation of sorts as it sees Divya hitting all the emotional notes right, a feat we havent had the opportunity of witnessing in the past. Here, she gets to play around with a meaty character with a dynamic graph and she does a great job. Her tears, fears and vulnerabilities are palpable and the substantial effort she puts in is visible. In a nutshell, she makes Savi an unusual blend of fragility and fearlessness.

Anil Kapoor, who plays an ex-convict, also delivers a noteworthy performance. His Joydeep is borderline quirky, protective and unpredictable all at once. Some of his scenes and conversations with Divyas Savi are fairly engaging. He acts as a perfect anchor to Savi and never leaves her hand. Even as she keeps questioning her own wrongdoings as a delinquent, he remains a safety net for her to fall back on.

Harshvardhan Rane plays Savis husband and while he has a limited screen time, he makes sure that you take note of him. However, we eventually see him jumping in to join hands with Savi to break free from the clutches of injustice. For a film that is named after its female protagonist, it would have been nice to see the woman being at the foreground especially in the climax sequence. For years, weve been witnessing the glorious hero with a saviour complex protecting his woman. A contrasting change would have definitely set a precedent. But truth be told, every baby step counts.

Savi: A Bloody Housewife will perhaps start a new chapter for Divya Khossla, the actor. Though predictable, it definitely deserves a watch for its fresh treatment and sincere attempt at being a clutter-breaker.
Deepa Mehta shocked Bollywood with her movie Fire, sparking one of the biggest protests in its history, in the year 1996. The film, starring Shabana Azmi and Nandita Das, faced intense backlash including street protests, poster burnings, and threats. Despite the uproar, Fire was recognized as revolutionary and ahead of its time, as it dealt with the then-taboo subject of homosexual relationships by portraying the intimate and emotional lives of two women in love.

In a recent conversation with Zoom, Shabana Azmi shared her experience with the film and how her family reacted to its bold storyline. Initially, Shabana had reservations about taking on the project, particularly because she worked closely with conservative communities in the slums and worried the films controversial theme might alienate them. She was cautious, fearing that her involvement in such a film might undermine her work with these communities. She shared, I had some apprehensions because I was working in the slums and the people tend to be very conservative. So, I felt if I did this film, it would make it more difficult for the women to follow me because people would say ki yeh kya hai and all that.

However, after discussing it with her family, her perspective shifted. Her husband, Javed Akhtar, questioned whether she could stand by the film and defend it amidst the inevitable backlash. When she confidently answered yes, she felt more at ease. She also sought her step-daughter Zoya Akhtars opinion, further helping her come to terms with the decision.

The actress recounted, Imagine how small she was at that time, I told her I dont know if I should do it. She was like, Do you like the script? I said Yes. So, she said, What other consideration can there be? I said, Well you know, its same sex film. She said So? And I looked at her and I thought Oh my god, the younger generation thinks completely differently.

Shabana also revealed an interesting change in the original script of Fire. Initially, her character, Radha, was supposed to die in the fire. However, it was Farhan Akhtar, who was even younger than Zoya at the time, who advised her against it. He said, No, you cant succumb to the fire, because that would lose the very purpose of what you are saying. So she cannot die. Shabana conveyed this suggestion to Deepa Mehta, who agreed to revise the climax.

Reflecting on this, Shabana said, Both my children had a contribution in it (Fire) while neither of them had started working in films at that time.

Internationally acclaimed filmmaker Deepa Mehta had to face censor boards flak for two of her movies viz Fire and Water. The content didnt impress the various religious group of the society due to its controversial subject which went against the culture of India (as per this group). The hue and cry around the movie was such that the censor board had to ban it in the country.
Shweta Bachchan is a proud mom at the moment, as she recently received a prestigious award on behalf of her daughter, Navya Naveli Nanda. Navya received the Podcaster Of The Year-Female award at the Toyow Podmasters ceremony for her show What The Hell Navya. Shweta Bachchan not only collected the award but also expressed how proud she was of her daughters achievement. Navya, on the other hand, expressed her gratitude for receiving this honour.

Shweta Bachchan recently shared her May dump on Instagram and in the first picture, she proudly showed off Navyas trophy with the caption, From picking up her mess to picking up her award. The photo dump also included a picture of Navya posing in front of a billboard that displayed the poster of her podcast What the hell Navya.

Navya also shared a picture of this award and wrote, Thank You so much to everyone who has given our podcast so much love. Feeling extremely grateful. Navya Nanda began her YouTube podcast journey in 2022 with What The Hell Navya. In her podcast, she discusses the challenges facing women in society with her grandmother Jaya Bachchan and mother Shweta. The episodes can be accessed on Navyas YouTube channel.

Despite her decision not to pursue a career in acting, Navya has carved a prosperous route for herself as an entrepreneur. Earlier in an interview, she opened up about the advantages of being born into a well-known family. She told ABP, Everyone has a last name and everyone has a responsibility to carry their legacy forward, irrespective of the field that they are in. I am doing my bit to take the legacy forward and doing the best that I can to make my family proud. When we speak of privilege, I will give credit to where I am today to that. I dont think I would be where I am if I didnt come from the family that I came from. She stated that she was given many possibilities at an early age that most young women her age do not have. For her, its been critical to seize such possibilities and she gave credit for what she has achieved to her family.

Navya Naveli Nanda graduated from Fordham University, New York, in 2020. She co-founded the health-tech platform Aara Health and the NGO Project Naveli.
Glen Powell is a rising star and is being noted for his performance in the 2023 smash film Anyone But You, starring Sydney Sweeney. In a recent interview, the actor revealed his take on various aspects of filmmaking and also shared his bonding with Top Gun: Maverick co-star Tom Cruise. Glen Powell revealed some interesting memories with the celebrated star, including how he watched a six-hour film school movie created by the actor for his friends.

In an interview with GQ, Glen Powell said that Tom Cruise created a six-hour film school video for his friends. According to Glen Powell, he sat alone in a theatre for 6 hours, watching Cruise speak directly to the camera about what he had learned in the industry. He stated, In the video Cruise is like: Do we all agree that this is what a camera is? This is the difference between a film camera and a digital camera The funniest part is flying. It was like he put together this entire flight school. So he would literally go, Ok, this is what a plane is. Heres how things fly. Heres how air pressure works. Glen Powell added that Tom Cruise has no intention to release this one-of-a-kind video in the public sphere.

Moreover, Glen Powell also recalled a time when Tom Cruise pulled a prank on him. The actor shared that while shooting, Tom Cruise and he were flying back to London on a helicopter. During this ride, Tom Cruise pretended that he was losing control of the chopper which resulted in Glen Powell being panicked for his life. Glen Powell told the portal, Tom goes oh no, oh no, and he starts dropping the helicopter over London. I was like, Am I about to be the unnamed guy that dies with Tom in a smoking hole in the middle of London?

Sharing about his experience working with Mission Impossible star Glen Powell, he stated, that the one thing he feels both have in common is their obsession with movies. He added that Tom is a good listener as well and is all ears for his crew members, collaborators, and people around him. Meanwhile, Glen Powell and Tom Cruise are also set to return for Top Gun 3.
Hollywood actors Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have reunited for Bad Boys: Ride or Die. The film recently saw its Hollywood premiere being held at the iconic TCL Chinese Theatre. A slew of celebrities arrived in style to attend the premiere. But, it was the families of both the protagonists who stole the limelight. Not just that, Wills rap performance of his song Miami further added to the thrill.

For the films Los Angeles premiere, Will rocked an all-black ensemble. Jada Pinkett picked a geometric-patterned gown. Well, their kids Willow and Jaden were the real stars as they sported trendy outfits. Wills son from his first marriage, Trey Smith, and Adrienne Banfield-Norris, Jadas mother, also attended the special occasion, rooting for Will.

On the other hand, Martin Lawrence was joined by his two daughters, Iyanna Lawrence, and Amara Lawrence for his big day. Not to forget his ex-wife, Shamicka Gibbs, who happens to be Martin Lawrences closest friend, also marked her presence at the premiere.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Young, Bold, and Regal (@youngboldandregal)

Reflecting on the importance of his family joining him for the event, Will Smith told ET, It was beautiful seeing our kids together, adding Because Trey and Jasmine are right around the same age. Recalling the initial days of the Bad Boys franchise, the actor noted that their children were newborns when the first film was released. He continued, We had newborns around the time of the first Bad Boys. So to have them here in their 30s is like [mind-blowing].

The premiere marked a significant moment for Will who will be making a big screen appearance after a gap of two years since 2022s Emancipation. Interestingly, the actor arrived at the theatre on a double-decker bus with Lawrence. He was joined by the directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah and producer Jerry Bruckheimer.

Coming back to Bad Boys: Ride or Die, the film is the fourth installment in the action-comedy franchise. It will see Will and Lawrence reprising their roles as Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett navigating through challenges after their commanding officer is framed. Besides the dynamic duo, the film also stars Alexander Ludwig, Vanessa Hudgens, Eric Dane, and Tiffany Haddish in pivotal roles.
Zeenat Aman is all set to make her onscreen comeback with Show Stopper. Shot across Bhopal, Indore and Mumbai, the web series is based on the taboo subject of bra fittings and how almost 80 percent of women in the world end up wearing the wrong sized bra for the entire duration of their life which leads to serious health concerns. Touted to be a matured love story, it will see Aman and Kiran Kumar along with Zarina Wahab, Shweta Tiwari and Sourabh Raaj Jain in pivotal roles.

Recently, the series produced by MH Films was in news for being embroiled in an alleged financial soup. It was reported that the production of the show came to a halt with the money not being returned to investors. Further writer-director Manish Harishankar has been accused of failing to file taxes that has given rise to suspicions about his financial practices.

When News18 Showsha reached out to Harishankar, he junked off the speculations as baseless. He also slammed reports that the actors havent been paid their dues and that the shoot remains incomplete. He tells us exclusively, I just want to state on record that all the speculations and rumours made about the payments are not true. In fact, we have hundred percent cleared the lead actors payments and the productions payments are also clear by 90-95 percent.

Talking about how hes busy with the post-production and is busy having meetings with OTT platforms, he adds, We have just finished dubbing with all the actors and the post-production is also going on in full swing currently. We will make the date of announcement. We are going to join hands with soon with some good association. No one contacted us to confirm this story before publishing in the respective media.

Last year, Aman hinted at making a comeback on the silver screen with a post on Instagram saying, Creativity does not retire, and I would love to sink my teeth into a nuanced and impactful character. Im of course quite aware that such roles for older women are few and far apart. Some days ago I read about the Annenberg Foundation study that analysed 1,000 Hollywood films released between 2007 and 2017. They found that less than 25% of the women on screen were over the age of 40. The numbers for the Indian film industry are unlikely to be much better.

Apart from Show Stopper, Aman also has Bun Tikki lined up for release. The film is produced by fashion designer Manish Malhotra and also stars Shabana Azmi and Abhay Deol. The shoot of the film has been concluded.
The service sector has undeniably been the primary driver of Indias growth since the year 2000. The exceptional performance of certain modern services has unequivocally contributed to the creation of more productive and decent employment. The reliance on services for economic growth unequivocally demands a fully developed job market, enabling a free flow of the workforce. The absence of such mechanisms will undoubtedly lead to rigidity in the service sector, curtailing growth against the backdrop of the increasingly important position of the service sector.

The key focus areas include the pivotal role of technology in shaping the service sector and stimulating job growth in other sectors through multiplier effects.

The momentous transformation of the Indian economy is irrefutably being spearheaded by the service sector, which unequivocally contributes more than 50 per cent of the GDP. The sectors expansion is not happening in isolation but is deeply intertwined with global technological advancements. Technological progress has undeniably been a catalyst for efficiency, customer satisfaction, market expansion, and data-driven decision-making within firms. It has also given rise to new service categories, such as e-commerce, and other tech-based services like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), revolutionising the sector.

The relationship between the service sectors growth and technological innovation is mutually beneficial. As the service sector expands, it fuels further innovation in technology-based solutions. New ventures and their technological needs undeniably push for continuous technological advancements to gain the competitiveness needed to maintain their foothold in the dynamic industry. This competition and need for differentiation leads to increased investments in research and development (R&D) and open innovations, benefiting both the firms involved and the public.

The introduction of 5G and the ongoing development of 6G technologies have significantly enhanced connectivity, service delivery speed, and overall efficiency in India. Efforts to improve digital literacy have further accelerated technology adoption, with 70 per cent of businesses identifying as digital businesses and the country exhibiting the highest fintech adoption rate at 87 per cent.

The application of AI in business operations has markedly improved operational efficiency, customer satisfaction, and decision-making, positioning India as a global leader in AI adoption. However, the rapid digital transformation necessitates a balance between creating employment and providing the relevant skill sets for technology-demanding jobs. Equipping the new generation with these skills is a national need.

The service sector offers both abundant opportunities and formidable challenges. Addressing these challenges demands a resolute and comprehensive approach, characterised by astute policies and unwavering implementation. Public-private partnerships and targeted policies aimed at bridging skill gaps must be executed with unwavering effectiveness.

Technological advancement, while propelling economic growth, necessitates relentless skill development. To fully exploit technological progress, educational institutions must steadfastly ensure their curriculum is consistently updated and in sync with the latest innovations.

Skill Gap

In India, the skill gap in the labour force is a significant challenge, with only 51 per cent of the youth deemed employable due to a lack of necessary skills. This issue is exacerbated by the countrys diverse socio-economic conditions, particularly affecting those in rural areas and from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, who lack access to quality education and training. This situation perpetuates cycles of poverty and aggravates wage inequality.

Moreover, inadequate emphasis on developing non-technical skills such as communication, critical thinking, and leadership, which are increasingly in demand, further compounds the problem. The absence of these skills from the curriculum of most educational institutes compels employers to choose candidates only from a handful of premier institutes. Additionally, there is a significant mismatch between the skills taught and those required by employers, leading to unemployment even among the formally educated.

Efforts to bridge this gap must include public-private partnerships (PPPs), such as the initiative to upgrade Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) with the aim of training 150 million people by 2024. These initiatives are crucial steps toward aligning educational outcomes with market needs, emphasising the vital importance of both technical and non-technical skills development to enhance employability.

Gender Inequality

Female employability in India has consistently exceeded male employability from 2020 to 2023, except for a drop in 2024. Furthermore, it has been higher for seven out of the eleven years covered by the Wheebiz India Skills Reports. However, there has been a persistent gap between female and male labour force participation, indicating a clear bias against employing women over men. This bias is diminishing as female labour force participation has risen over the years, but substantial improvement is still necessary.

The Indian government has implemented various initiatives to foster gender-inclusive employment, aiming to bridge the gender gap in the workplace, making employing female labourers more lucrative while also ensuring it does not come at the cost of pay disparity.

One significant legislation is the Equal Remuneration Act of 1976, designed to eliminate the wage gap between genders by ensuring equal pay for equal work. However, the act faces challenges, such as the narrow interpretation of the same work or work of a similar nature and the onus on employees to prove discrimination, which is difficult due to workplace power dynamics and legal complexities.

Additionally, the government has launched schemes like Mission Shakti and the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojna-National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM), focusing on womens skill development and employability. These initiatives include exclusive training institutes for women, industry-oriented courses, and partnerships with private sector bodies and NGOs. To encourage female participation in skill development, 30 per cent of seats in ITIs and ITCs are reserved for them. These measures represent a comprehensive and assertive approach to promoting gender equality in employment, highlighting the crucial importance of legislative support, skill development, and financial empowerment in achieving a more inclusive workforce.

These unwavering steps will ensure the complete realisation of the Indian economys potential and the equitable distribution of the benefits of skills development.

The writer is Co-Founder and MD, Orane International, Training Partner with National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), Network Member, India International Skill Centres, an initiative of GoI. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication.
Before he embarked on the dhyan exercise, for a while, Modi stood on the stairs leading to the mandapam that offers breathtaking views of the sea that surrounds the memorial from all sides.
Press Release

May 31, 2024 2024 Shangri-La Dialogue

Jinggoy fends off criticisms vs PH shift to territorial defense amid evolving security challenges DESPITE the government's focus shift from internal security to territorial defense, the country remains committed to resolving regional conflicts peacefully through dialogue and diplomatic channels, Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Ejercito Estrada today said. Estrada made the assertion as he joined President Marcos Jr. in the ongoing 21st International Institute for Strategic Studies Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, an annual defense summit addressing regional security challenges and cooperation. The President, who delivered the keynote address, met with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong with Estrada in attendance along with key defense and security officials from the Executive. "Our attendance here today, on the 21st Shangri-la Dialogue shows the permanence of the need for dialogue in the face of evolving security challenges," Estrada, chairperson of the Senate Committee on National Defense and Security, said. The Philippine's geographical advantage - being at the crossroads of major shipping lanes, providing unparallel access to key markets - has increasingly become a flashpoint in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly concerning freedom of navigation, he said. "This necessitated the country's defense sector shift from internal security to territorial defense, in accordance with our right to build credible deterrence amidst evolving security challenges and to uphold our right to defend our borders, populace and way of life against potential threats," said Estrada. Estrada said Filipinos have already endured the consequences of illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive (ICAD) measures by neighboring countries pursuing expansive maritime claims in the South China Sea. "Our fishermen have faced harassment, driven away, and have been restricted on their livelihood within our waters. Incidents such as water cannoning by Chinese Coast Guard vessels and dangerous maneuvers at sea have endangered the lives of Filipino seafarers and crew members," he said. But despite these challenges, Estrada said the Philippines is steadfast in its commitment to peaceful resolution, anchored on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea and the binding 2016 Arbitral Award on the South China Sea. "The Philippine Constitution explicitly provides that we avoid conflict. The enhancement of our defense capabilities is at its core, about the preservation of peace. The development of our defense capabilities, as well as engagement with like-minded countries, is for the promotion of peace and stability in our region," he explained.
The top leadership of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has slammed the Congress for skipping TV debates in the wake of exit polls, saying that it might be wise for the party to stay in their bunkers on June 4. Taking a swipe at Rahul Gandhi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the Congress has been in a denial mode since he began playing a key role in its affairs.

Exit polls have been happening for a long time but, because of the defeat, they dont know how to explain and thats why they are boycotting. Since Rahul Gandhi has taken charge of Congress, they are in denial mode, Shah said. The BJP has lost many polls but has never boycotted the media or exit polls, he added.

BJP president J P Nadda claimed that the Congress decision to not participate in exit poll debates amounts to an unequivocal confirmation that the opposition party has conceded the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In a post on X, he asked voters not to waste their votes in the seventh and last phase of the polls on Saturday as the Congress usually opts out when it doesnt expect favourable results but has no compunction showing up if it thinks it has even an outside chance. Their hypocrisy is not lost on anyone. Let no one in Phase 7 waste their vote on them, he said.

Congress concedes Lok Sabha 2024 on the eve of Phase 7 polling. It may not be a bad idea for the Congress to stay in their bunkers on 4th Jun too, since results are likely to more brutal than what exit pollsters may have to say. Good luck! https://t.co/8kJ19PoueZ Amit Malviya (  ) (@amitmalviya) May 31, 2024

Congress concedes Lok Sabha 2024 on the eve of Phase 7 polling. It may not be a bad idea for the Congress to stay in their bunkers on 4th Jun too, since results are likely to more brutal than what exit pollsters may have to say. Good luck, BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya said in a post on X.

Malviyas comments came in response to Congress spokesperson and media department chairperson Pawan Kheras statement that the party would abstain from participating in Lok Sabha exit poll debates on TV to refrain from engaging in speculation and slugfest for TRP.

The results will be out on 4th June. Prior to that, we do not see any reason to indulge in speculation and slugfest for TRP, Khera said in a statement shared on social media. The Indian National Congress will not participate in the debates on Exit Polls. The purpose of any debate should be to inform the people. We will happily partake in debates from 4th June onwards, he added.

Our statement on the reason for not participating in #ExitPollsVoters have cast their votes and their verdict has been secured. The results will be out on 4th June. Prior to that, we do not see any reason to indulge in speculation and slugfest for TRP. The Indian National  Pawan Khera (@Pawankhera) May 31, 2024

Earlier today in an interview with NDTV, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge expressed confidence that the Congress, along with other parties in the INDIA bloc, will prevent the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from winning a third consecutive term. From the reports we have received, we are sure that we will stop BJP from coming back to power. We believe that Congress has already crossed the 100-seat mark and are hoping to win 128 seats, Kharge stated.

During the interview, the senior leader also expressed his preference for Rahul Gandhi as the next Prime Minister if the INDIA bloc alliance wins the Lok Sabha elections, stating that he represents the youth and the entire country. The voting for the seventh and final phase of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections is set for June 1, while the counting and results will be out on June 4.

(With inputs from agencies)

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website
Google is taking AI to more of its hardware products this week, and the next stop for the company is the Chromebook. Thats right, the ChromeOS powered machines are now getting support for the latest AI features offered via the Gemini chatbot.

Chromebooks are the less power-hungry alternatives to PCs and Google feels that ChromeOS has enough grunt in the tank to take on Windows 11 which is offering its ChatGPT-powered Copilot AI tech. Google is offering the AI features out of the box with the new Chromebook Plus lineup from brands like Acer, HP, and Asus among others.

Chromebook Gemini AI Upgrade: What You Get

The new Chromebooks arent the only hardware getting the Gemini AI boost. The existing Chromebook lineup will also be offered the new update. The people who buy the Chromebook Plus models will be given one year of access to the Google One AI Premium plan which generally comes for Rs 1900 per month. The AI plan gives you 2TB of storage, Gemini in apps like Docs, Slides, Sheets and Gmail as well.

As for the AI features that Chromebook users can expect to run on ChromeOS, heres the list:

 Help me write  It helps you rephrase or lengthen a phrase using the AI model.

 AI-powered wallpapers and backgrounds for video meets with the help of prompts

 AI-powered editor for Google Photos

In the next few months, Chromebook Plus users will get features like summarise websites and docs and how you can continue reading a webpage from Chrome on mobile to the Chromebooks.

We are hopeful that some of these Chromebook Plus models come to the Indian market, giving more people a chance to experience the AI features rather than spending big to try out the Windows 11 AI tech.
Think about the worlds greatest painter. What immediately springs to mind? The most common response is Pablo Picasso. At the age of 13, the renowned Spanish painter started producing his first oil paintingsthe same age that most of us relied on MS Paint to create square houses with two square windows. But theres someone whos raising the bar even higher. A German kid is getting international recognition for his artworks, which are selling for up to $7,000 (Almost Rs 6 lakh). Yes, a two-year-old toddler.

Laurent Schwarzs creative abilities were initially noticed during a family trip when he dedicated a considerable amount of time to his artistic pursuits, according to the New York Post.

Laurents parents, Lisa and Philipp Schwarz, gave him a studio when he got back to Bavaria. As the pint-sized Picasso lavished bright paints all over himself and his canvas, they watched in awe.

Schwarz is mostly recognised for his diverse abstract paintings featuring animals such as horses, dinosaurs and elephants.

Lisa told The Times of London that although they are abstract concepts, the way he incorporates recognisable motifs within them is unique. She continued by saying its the reason theyre so well-liked and something that people regularly bring up.

Its very important to him that its bright and colourful. Brown and other boring colours dont interest him. He has a very clear idea about the colours he mixes, she explained.

Lisa, who was amazed by her sons skill, opened an Instagram account to showcase his work and was shocked by the amount of attention it received, amassing nearly 30,000 followers very quickly. She informed the news site that the artwork he was producing looked so good that she had considered starting a channel.

And that triggered a real hype.

Following that, Lisa listed a few of the paintings for sale on the website laurents.art.

Since then, art enthusiasts from as far away as the Bahamas and the United Kingdom have purchased the paintings.

A New York gallery also got in touch with the family, asking to put Laurents artwork on exhibit, according to The Times.

Since then, the gifted toddlers artwork has been on show at ART MUC, Munichs biggest art fair, which took place in April.

Laurent has sold almost all of his creations to date, with some of them fetching prices of close to $7,000.

A private exhibition of Laurents artwork is scheduled for August in his hometown of Neubeuern, according to the outlet.

The money raised will be kept in a bank account until the aspiring Picasso reaches eighteen. Lisa mentioned that although she supports her sons enthusiasm and skills, she doesnt push them.

Sometimes, the youngster may go two to three weeks without setting foot in the studio before it suddenly takes him and he exclaims, Mama, painting.

His mother clarified that last month at the Munich art expo, the baby identified two of his works out of thousands on exhibit.

He went straight up to them and said Laurent painted, she described.
Delhi Police is always up to amaze social media buffs with its witty posts. The latest addition to the list is a reply to a man, who wants the department to find a girlfriend for him. Delhi Police works around the clock to ensure the safety of the residents in the capital city. In case of an emergency, people can seek help from Delhi Police no matter what the issue is or when the incident occurs. However, finding a life partner perhaps is not included in their syllabus.

Calling out Delhi Police, a person recently shared a hilarious post on X (formerly Twitter). He wrote, Meri girlfriend kab banwaoge? Main abhi signal Hoon Delhi police. (When are you finding a girlfriend for me? I am Signal, Delhi Police. This is not fair you should help me to find a girlfriend for me.)

Meri girlfriend kab banwaoge ?Main abhi signal Hoon Delhi police  This is not fair you should help me to find a girlfriend for me  Shivam Bhardwaj (@kilvishup90) May 31, 2024

The man made a spelling mistake while expressing his feelings on the microblogging site. He might have wanted to call himself single but ended up writing signal. The post was able to catch the attention of the Delhi Police, who immediately dropped a hilarious reply.

Sir, we can help you find her (only if she ever goes missing). Tip: If you are a 'signal', we hope you stay green, not red. https://t.co/3wHDwGxlEl  Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) May 31, 2024

The department sarcastically wrote that they could have helped the man find a girl only if she went missing. Taking a dig at the writing error, Delhi Police further shared a tip If you are a signal, we hope you stay green, not red.

The response left many users in splits as the comment section was flooded with numerous laughing emojis. One of them simply commented, Delhi Police Rocks.

Delhi Police Rocks  Rosy (@rose_k01) May 31, 2024

A person loved the hilarious response and wrote, Delhi police took my heart.

Delhi police took my heart Mohit Sharma (@iMohitShrma) May 31, 2024

Delhi Police Nailed It. Stay Green, quipped an individual.

Delhi Police Nailed It . Stay Green. Er Lalkishore Yadav (@imlalkishore) May 31, 2024

Here are some other reactions:

Matrimonial site Delhi Police  Sir BoiesX (@BoiesX45) May 31, 2024

Delhi police needs to hesitate  Jaywardhan Shinde (@justjay001) May 31, 2024

You Nailed it @DelhiPolice, Great Reply  Aviator Amarnath Kumar (@aviatoramarnath) May 31, 2024

Since being shared on X, the post has racked up more than 13,000 likes on the microblogging site.
France is gearing up for the upcoming Olympics and theyre ensuring every detail is right for the event. Whether youre a local or visiting for a vacation, you can bring home a piece of France with you in a unique way. Interestingly, the French Postal Service has launched a new stamp featuring a baguette decorated with a blue, white and red ribbon, and thats not it, it also smells like a freshly baked baguette. Each year on May 16, France celebrates Saint Honore, the patron saint of bakers and pastry chefs.

This year, La Poste, the postal service, decided to pay homage by launching a special stamp in his honour. Designed by Stephane Humbert-Basset, the stamp costs 1.96 Euros (approximately Rs 176) each and has a limited print run of 594,000 copies. What makes the stamp more special is the ink, containing microcapsules that release a delightful fragrance.

According to the La Poste website, The baguette, bread of our daily life, a symbol of our gastronomy, jewel of our culture. Bearer of culture and customs, the baguette is deeply rooted in the daily practices of the French. It embodies a ritual, that of going to your bakery, a local business anchored in the regions, attracting twelve million consumers every day. The making of six billion baguettes each year confirms its iconic status in French food heritage.

Talking about the process, Damien Lavaud, a printer at Philaposte, told France Bleu, This scent is encapsulated. We buy it from another manufacturer. And the difficulty for us is to apply this ink without breaking the capsules, so that the smell can then be released by the customer rubbing on the stamp.

The baguette, which is made using just four ingredients, flour, water, salt and yeast, received UNESCO heritage status in 2022. During the time, President Emmanuel Macron praised it as the spirit of French know-how. He mentioned that many attempted to replicate the bread but the results were bland industrial product.

The stamp is specifically designed for international packages weighing approximately 0.7 ounces and one can buy these stamps from the post offices and stalls across France for 1.96 Euros (approximately Rs 176).
While many of us dream of exploring the world, the costs associated with travel often put them on hold. However, one Indian family broke this barrier by embarking on an extraordinary journey through 25 cities in Switzerland in just 11 days. They accomplished this remarkable feat with a budget of just Rs 90,000. The man shared a detailed viral thread on X (formerly Twitter) explaining how they managed this remarkable expedition.

Mehul Shah, a father of two, revealed in his post that obtaining a Swiss Travel Pass was the key to their budget-friendly journey. This pass provides, access to unlimited travel by Trains, Trams, Bus and Boats and selected Cogwheel railway too and entry to 500+ museums.

We bought 2 Adults 15 days Pass for 45k each and we get a Family Card for Free which gives free travel to children less than 16 years which includes free access to exursions like Titlis, Glacier 3000 too with paying adult, Shah wrote.

No travel agency will take you to this route but here's how we travelled Switzerland with 25+ cities in 11 Days including 4 Boat Cruises for total price of Rs. 90k for family of 2 Adults and 2 Kids using Swiss Travel System A thread ( 1/n ) pic.twitter.com/k2kSkwpUB4  The Startup CA (@mehulshahca) May 28, 2024

1. Swiss Travel Pass gives you access to unlimited travel by Trains, Trams, Bus and Boats and selected Cogwheel railway too and entry to 500+ museums. We bought 2 Adults 15 days Pass for 45k each and we get a Family Card for Free which gives free travel to children less than 16 pic.twitter.com/a7NaCzpDXO  The Startup CA (@mehulshahca) May 29, 2024

On the first day of their journey, the family chose Lausanne as their base city for three days. On the second day, the family visited Gstaad and the nearby cities of Zweisimmen and Saanen. He also shared a helpful tip: You can board a Panoramic Goldenpass train from Montreux which has a more scenic route. Reservation is optional and mostly you will get seat easily without reservation. So the Swiss Pass covers more than 10+ Panoramic trains as well.

2. Day 1 We selected Lausanne as Base city for 3 days. We went to Zermatt which is a beautiful Car Free city and you will find beautiful Chalets all around. Additionally, you can either visit Matterhon ( Toblerone mountain) , or Gornergrat but I would recommend Gornergrat pic.twitter.com/BtiC6DkOlU  The Startup CA (@mehulshahca) May 29, 2024

3. Day 2 We went to Gstaad which is resort town for celebrities and alongside cities of Zweisimmen and Saanen. In 1995, Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge happened, the economy boomed. Many scenes from DDLJ were shot here and you can easily find the Cafe "Early Beck" Zweisimmen pic.twitter.com/SlJ3Tx8QTF  The Startup CA (@mehulshahca) May 29, 2024

On the third day, the family visited the Olympic Museum in Lausanne, where the entry fee of Rs 2,000 was covered by their Swiss Travel Pass. They also enjoyed a 2.5-hour cruise, free with the Swiss Pass and strolled through the lakeside towns of Montreux and Vevey along Lake Geneva.

4. Day 3 Today, we planned a somewhat relaxing Day. We went to Olympic museum in Lausanne wherein the entry ticket of 2k is included for Free on Swiss Pass. We also did a 2.5 hour cruise which is again Free with Swiss Pass and walked along the lake towns of Montreux and pic.twitter.com/IGvGEXnhVe  The Startup CA (@mehulshahca) May 29, 2024

On the fourth day, they changed their base city to Mierengen. The family took a boat cruise from Lake Brienz to Interlaken, which was also free with their Swiss Pass.

5. Day 4  Today was a Day to change the Base to Mierengen which was a perfect base to explore places near Interlaken. It is 22 min from Interlaken but you can get properties at almost 1/3rd rates from main tourist areas like Interlaken or Lucerne On same day, we also did pic.twitter.com/AX46W4MoQW  The Startup CA (@mehulshahca) May 29, 2024

Transitioning to Day 5, the family chose to explore Mannlichen mountain instead of Jungfrau which they felt was overrated. The journey till Interlaken- Lauterbrunnen  Wengen even though Cogwhell train is covered by Swiss Pass We took Cable Car from Wengen to Mannlichen and then took a Gondola from Mannlichen to Grindelwald and the excursion was opened just today for Summer 2024. The total cost for family of 4 was just Rs 7000 for two way ride, Shah added.

6. Day 5  I always felt Jungfrau  the Top of Europe as a bit overrated for cost of 9k pp so we decided to ascend to a less touristy but much more beautiful mountain Mannlichen. Mannlichen is a mountain in the heart of the Jungfrau Region with a 360 view. It's one of the pic.twitter.com/dJQXP4zlf4  The Startup CA (@mehulshahca) May 29, 2024

He went on to detail other days of their trip, including taking the train to the capital city Bern and enjoying a scenic boat cruise to Vitznau. He also shared information about the food options, highlighting the variety available, including choices suitable for Gujaratis.

10. Food options Well, we are still 2 Days to go with all your best wishes and many surprises on the way. For those asking for Lunch Options  1. Lausanne  Shanti  Indian 2. Gstaad  Mango  Indian 3. Bern  Tibis  Pure Vegan  Pay as per weight 4. Zermatt  Golden pic.twitter.com/ISw7oAZu4k  The Startup CA (@mehulshahca) May 29, 2024

Shahs post has accumulated an impressive 3.6 million views.
After ten failed attempts, a man from Maharashtra became a shining example of grit and willpower when he passed the State Class 10 board exam. Krishna Namdev Munde of Beed City, Maharashtra, highlighted how patience has led to achievement. His success story, the result of years of hard work and commitment, has sparked a wave of celebration and inspiration across his hamlet of Beed.

Krishna Namdev Mundes success story is comparable to the blockbuster Hindi film 12th Fail, which is based on the life of IPS officer Manoj Sharma, who passed the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exam on his fourth attempt after failing Class 12 on his first try.

Meanwhile, Krishna Namdev Munde not only passed his Class 10 exam, but he also inspired his entire village and brought happiness to his family. A huge procession with drumbeats was held to commemorate his achievement.

The man, who had been disappointed 10 times before, never let his failure shake his resolve. Krishna Namdev Mundes attempts to pass the Maharashtra Class 10 exam have been ongoing since 2018, and they eventually paid off this year, demonstrating that hard work can overcome any barrier.

Namdev Munde, Krishnas father, told NDTV how his family supported him during his journey. He passed after 10 attempts in 5 years. But I kept submitting the payments because I wanted to give him every possible opportunity.

According to reports, Krishna Namdev Munde, a student at Ratneshwar School in Parli Taluka, had previously failed the History subject. However, this year, he passed all of his subjects. His achievement is a personal win, demonstrating the strength of perseverance and the importance of never giving up on ones goals.

Furthermore, the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education (MSBSHSE) announced the results, which made Krishna Namdev Munde and his community, family, and neighbours very happy. His father planned a large procession to celebrate, with villagers joining in, beating drums and even putting Krishna over their shoulders to acknowledge his feat.

This year, the Maharashtra SSC or Maharashtra Class 10 results recorded a 95.81 per cent pass rate, with girls outperforming boys by 2.56 per cent. Roughly about 15 lakh students appeared for the state board exam, which was held from March 1 to March 26. Additionally, the minimum passing score for students was 33 per cent.
The rise of road stunts performed for social media fame has led to significant compromises in safety. A recent viral video highlights this alarming trend, showing a man dangerously standing atop a moving car in a blatant disregard for road safety rules. The footage, captured by a fellow commuter, features a Rajasthan-registered vehicle. In a shocking display, the driver opens the door while driving climbs to the roof and stands precariously. Also, the door was left open during the dangerous act.

The video was shared on X (Formerly Twitter) by Siya with the caption, Iska part  2 police upload karegi (Part 2 of this will be uploaded by the police). The video has caused quite a stir online. Even Mumbai Police jumped into the conversation, tagging Rajasthan police for necessary action.

Iska part  2 police upload karegi  pic.twitter.com/gvnXw1PEOw Siya (@Siya17082000) May 28, 2024

Responding in Hindi, Jhalawar Police replied with, The concerned circle officer/police officer has been informed for legal action as per rules.

 /           Jhalawar Police (@JhalawarPolice) May 29, 2024

With over 1.1 million views online, the video has triggered a flurry of reactions in the comment section.

One user, in a light-hearted manner, quipped, I think police Wale iska video shoot kar rahe honge, kabhi bhi upload kar sakte hai. Wait. (I think the police might have filmed his video and could upload it any time).

Another pointed out, @rpbreakingnews @RajCMO @RajGovOfficial @News18Rajasthan @PoliceRajasthan Aise kaise chalega? (How can this be allowed?) @MORTHIndia This behaviour is not safe for other innocent citizens, sufficient grounds to cancel his driving license. Weve already seen what has happened recently in the Pune Porsche drunk driving incident.

Some comments took a different tone. One user remarked, Speed is really slow, totally empty road , doing it on side of the road So nothings wrong with it, while another quipped, India dont need tesla car.

Why do people risk their & others life for mere views/followers on social media? Few strong examples have to be set so that others dont duplicate such acts, questioned one user.

Another took a stricter stance, Confiscate his vehicle, cancel his driving licence & put him behind bars for 30 days. Dont register any case against him.

Just last month, another alarming video surfaced online, defying all sense of safety. It depicted a man clinging to the outside of a moving car, his body secured by nothing but only plastic wrapping.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Sumit dubey (@sumit_cool_dubey)

The footage left the viewers both amazed and deeply concerned for the mans safety.
One hardly expects the press secretary for the US Department of Defense, also called the Pentagon, to display a sense of humour in what are usually the most serious media interactions. Though we now have proof that isnt always the case. A video of Air Force Major General Pat Ryder, currently serving as the Pentagon Press Secretary, tackling a question about fire in the Armys ammunition plant is going viral. The reason? He just made a reference to a Billy Joel song. The internet appreciated Ryders sense of humour and presence of mind.

During a press conference on April 16, 2024, a reporter asked Ryder, Just two quick questions, has there been any change to the US Militarys footprint in Niger? And also, there was a fire at the Armys ammunition plant in Scranton yesterday. At the risk of invoking Billy Joel, do we know who started the fire? This question was asked by Jeff Schogol, a Pentagon reporter for Task & Purpose, a military-centric news portal for the veterans.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Travis Akers (@travisjakers)

In response, Ryder said, On Niger, Jeff, no change in the US Force posture at this time. On the fire, Id have to refer you to the Army, because we didnt start the fire. The last phrase, We didnt start the fire is also the title of Billy Joels 1989 hit song.

An Instagram account that shared this video wrote, One of the greatest moments in Pentagon history occurred during todays press conference.

Commenting on it, an Instagram user wrote, Before you get made a general, you should have to pass a test where you have to listen to a question like this and give an appropriately witty answer like this all while keeping a straight face.

Another person observed, That smirk at the corner of his mouth. It was very brief, but it was there!

Someone wrote that the clip prompted them to listen to the song and remarked, I am now going from IG to Spotify to listen to a Billy Joel song that I havent heard in years. But its already playing in my head.

I love it that he has a sense of humour and can be serious, read a comment.

Poking fun at the reporters question, an Instagram user said, At the risk of invoking Billy Joel like if he hears you refer to him, hes gonna pop up, cackle maniacally, and play all 17 verses of Piano Man like some musically inclined Rumplestiltskin.
US President Joe Biden on Friday said that Israel had offered a new roadmap towards a permanent peace in Gaza, urging Hamas to accept the surprise deal as it was time for this war to end. The US President spoke of a three-phase deal that Israeli officials have offered Hamas and declared that Hamas is no longer capable of launching another large-scale attack on Israel.

In his first major address outlining a solution to the eight-month conflict, Biden said the proposal started with a six-week phase that would see Israeli forces withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza.

Its time for this war to end, for the day after to begin, Biden said in a televised address from the White House, adding that we cant lose this moment to seize the chance for peace.

Israel has offered a comprehensive new proposal. Its a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages, he said.

The 81-year-old Democrat put particular pressure on the Palestinian militant group Hamas, whose attack on key US ally Israel on October 7 last year trigged the grinding conflict in Gaza.

Hamas needs to take the deal, said Biden, who has supported Israel with military aid since the conflict began.

Biden said the first six-week phase would include a full and complete ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly, the wounded, in exchange for release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Israel and the Palestinians would then negotiate during those six weeks for a lasting ceasefire  but the truce would continue if the talks remained underway, Biden said.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, a temporary ceasefire would become, in the words of the Israeli proposal, the cessation of hostilities permanently, added Biden.

Sheer hell

Bidens announcement of the proposal comes after repeated attempts to end the war have stalled.

Hamas insists that any ceasefire should be permanent.

The group said earlier Friday it had informed mediators it would only agree a comprehensive truce agreement including a hostage-prisoner swap if Israel halts its aggression.

Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamass Qatar-based political office, reiterated that the groups core demands  including a permanent ceasefire and full Israeli withdrawal  are non-negotiable.

But Israel says it will only agree to a temporary truce of around six weeks and that it maintains its aim of destroying the Palestinian Islamist group.

Biden did not significantly address Israels assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah, into whose central area the Israeli army said Friday its troops had pushed into despite international objections.

He acknowledged however that Palestinians were enduring sheer hell.

The US president has been under growing pressure over his support for Israel since a deadly strike on Rafah set ablaze a crowded camp on Sunday. Gaza officials said 45 people were killed and about 250 wounded.

The White House however said this week that while the Israeli strike was devastating, it did not breach Bidens red lines for withholding weapons deliveries to the key US ally.

(With inputs from agency)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held separate phone calls on Friday with foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Jordan, the State Department said, to discuss a proposal to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of hostages.

The top U.S. diplomat, conducting the calls on the plane as he flew back to Washington from Prague, underscored to his counterparts that the proposal is in the interests of both Israelis and Palestinians, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
China will not attend a Ukraine peace conference in Switzerland next month because it does not meet its expectations, which include both Russia and Ukraine taking part, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Friday, confirming an exclusive Reuters report.

Switzerland is seeking a broad-based turnout from different parts of the world for the summit in mid-June, which Bern hopes will lay the groundwork for a peace process in Ukraine.

Moscow was not invited and dismisses the talks as meaningless without its participation.

The arrangements for the meeting still fall far short of Chinas requests and the general expectations of the international community, making it difficult for China to participate, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a routine briefing.

China has always insisted that an international peace conference should be endorsed by both Russia and Ukraine, with the equal participation of all parties, and that all peace proposals should be discussed in a fair and equal manner. Otherwise it will be difficult for it to play a substantive role in restoring peace.

China briefed some diplomats this week that it had declined the invitation, saying that its conditions had not been met, four sources told Reuters earlier.

These included that the conference should be recognised by both Russia and Ukraine, there should be equal participation by all parties, and there should be fair discussion of all proposals, one of the sources said.

We are very sorry that the Chinese side does not use the opportunity to present its position on the platform of the Summit in Switzerland, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian embassy in Beijing said in a statement to Reuters.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov suggested on Thursday that China could arrange a peace conference in which Russia and Ukraine take part.

During a visit to China this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine may use the Swiss talks to try to get a broader group of countries to back Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiys demand for a total Russian withdrawal.

Putin also expressed backing for Chinas plan for a peaceful settlement of the crisis, saying that Beijing had a full understanding of what lay behind the crisis.

CHINAS 12-POINT PLAN

Russia and China proclaimed a no limits relationship just days before Moscow launched its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, but Beijing has so far avoided providing actual weapons and ammunition for Russias war effort.

Beijing put forward a 12-point paper more than a year ago that set out general principles for ending the war, but did not get into specifics. More recently, China and Brazil signed a joint statement calling for Russia-Ukraine peace talks last week.

Ukraine in January invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to participate in the planned summit of world leaders in Switzerland.

Zelenskiy this week urged U.S. President Joe Biden to attend, but Washington has not confirmed who it will send.

Chinas ambassador to Switzerland in March said Beijing would consider taking part in the conference. Chinese representatives attended one preparatory meeting for the summit last summer in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Chinas special envoy for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, has carried out three rounds of shuttle diplomacy between various European and Middle Eastern countries, Ukraine and Russia since the invasion began.

In the latest round this month, Beijing put forward proposals on supporting the exchange of prisoners of war, opposing the use of nuclear and biological weapons and opposing armed attacks on civilian nuclear facilities, according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout.

But several European leaders and the United States have repeatedly urged China to do more to curb exports of dual-use items and critical components propping up Russias industrial defence base, which U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called the biggest threat to European security since the end of the Cold War.

China insists that its dual-use exports are subject to oversight and that it maintains normal trade relations with Russia.

The Russian and Swiss embassies did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Switzerland was seeking to persuade more Global South countries, as well as China, to attend the conference.
A New York jury convicted Donald Trump on all charges in his hush money case on Thursday, making him the first former US president to be convicted of a crime.

The seismic development comes barely five months ahead of the election where Trump seeks to recapture the White House.

The New York judge who presided over Donald Trumps hush money trial thanked the jury on Thursday for their service and giving the case the attention it deserved."

You were engaged in a difficult and stressful task," Judge Juan Merchan said after the jury convicted the former US president of 34 counts of falsifying business records. You gave this matter the attention it deserved."

Meanwhile, the former president said the real verdict" would be the US election in November.

COULD TRUMP STILL FIGHT POLLS AND BE PRESIDENT?

Trumps sentencing for falsifying business records will take place on July 11, just days ahead of the Republican convention where Trump is expected to be named the partys presidential nominee. According to the law, the verdict does not stop him from campaigning or fighting polls. The US Constitution only requires that presidents be at least 35 years old and natural-born US citizens who have lived in the country for 14 years.

WHAT NEXT?

The judge presiding over the case, Juan Merchan, must first approve the verdict and enter a final judgment, though this is typically a formality.

Criminal defendants in New York are typically sentenced within several weeks of conviction, but post-verdict legal wrangling can sometimes lead to months of delays. In the meantime, lawyers and prosecutors will recommend sentences and then argue over them at Trumps sentencing hearing, where Merchan will make a decision.

WILL TRUMP GO TO PRISON?

Imprisonment is unlikely in Trumps case. The maximum sentence for Trumps crime of falsifying business records is 1-1/3 to four years in prison.

It is rare for people with no criminal history who are convicted only of falsification of business records to be sentenced to prison in New York. Punishments like fines or probation are more common.

Defendants convicted of falsifying business records who get sentenced to time behind bars typically serve a year or less, and even in those cases most were convicted of other crimes such as fraud or grand larceny  unlike Trump.

If punished beyond a fine, Trump could be placed under home confinement or subject to a curfew rather than imprisoned.

As a former president, he has a lifetime Secret Service detail, and the logistics of keeping him safe behind bars could be complicated.

Trump could also be released on bail while appealing his conviction.

(With agency inputs)
Telsa CEO Elon Musk came out in support of Donald Trump hours after he became the first US president to be convicted of a crime on Thursday when a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.

The 12-member jury pronounced Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts he faced. A New York court set sentencing for July 11, just days before the Republican Party is scheduled to formally nominate Trump for president ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Trump, however, has denied wrongdoing and is expected to appeal.

Indeed, great damage was done today to the publics faith in the American legal system. If a former President can be criminally convicted over such a trivial matter  motivated by politics, rather than justice  then anyone is at risk of a similar fate, the Tesla CEO said in a post on X.

READ MORE: Real Verdict On Nov 5: Trump Defiant After Historic Hush Money Conviction, Supporters Rally Behind Him | Watch

Indeed, great damage was done today to the publics faith in the American legal system.If a former President can be criminally convicted over such a trivial matter  motivated by politics, rather than justice  then anyone is at risk of a similar fate. https://t.co/zrHCyIZazh  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 31, 2024

Supporters of Trump, enraged by his conviction on 34 felony counts by a New York jury, flooded pro-Trump websites with calls for riots, revolution and violent retribution. After Trump became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime, his supporters responded with dozens of violent online posts.

Some called for attacks on jurors, the execution of the judge, Justice Juan Merchan, or outright civil war and armed insurrection. Threats of violence and intimidating rhetoric soared after Trump lost the 2020 election and falsely claimed the vote was stolen.

From @KenPaxtonTX pic.twitter.com/c1jGpypxEV Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) May 31, 2024

As he campaigns for a second White House term, Trump has cast the judges and prosecutors in his trials as corrupt tools of the Biden administration, intent on sabotaging his White House bid. On Truth Social, he called Merchan HIGHLY CONFLICTED and criticized his jury instructions as unfair.

One commentator responded by posting a picture of a hangmans platform and a noose with the caption: TREASONOUS MOBSTER OF THE JUSTICES SYSTEM!! After Thursdays verdict, many of his supporters also said that his conviction was proof that the American political system was broken and that only violent action could save the country. House Speaker Mike Johnson said it was a shameful day in American history and the charges were purely political.

Ohio Senator JD Vance said the verdict was a disgrace to the judicial system. And Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican, said that the decision was a defeat for Americans who believe in the critical legal tenet that justice is blind. Republicans who have in the past been divided over support for their presumptive GOP presidential nominee found common ground in attacking the judge, the jury and President Joe Biden.

(With agency inputs)
An Israeli firm, STOIC was found generating comments that focused on India, criticized the ruling BJP party and praised the opposition Congress party.

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, said they disrupted the use of their platforms by the said firm for many propaganda activities to generate pro-Congress and anti-BJP content and spread those online in an attempt to disrupt the election process.

According to a report published by OpenAI, the said operation used their models to generate large quantities of short comments that were then posted across Telegram, X, Instagram and other sites.

A commercial company in Israel called STOIC was generating content about the Gaza conflict, and to a lesser extent the Histadrut trade unions organization in Israel and the Indian elections, a report by OpenAI said.

OpenAIs report, titled AI and Covert Influence Operations: Latest Trends offers a sneak peek into how actors in cyberspace are using artificial intelligence (AI) to manipulate the maases.

Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar reacted to the revelation made by OpenAI and called it a very dangerous threat to our democracy. It is absolutely clear and obvious that @BJP4India was and is the target of influence operations, misinformation and foreign interference, being done by and/or on behalf of some Indian political parties. This is a very dangerous threat to our democracy. It is clear vested interests in India and outside are clearly driving this and needs to be deeply scrutinized/investigated and exposed, he wrote in an X post.

My view at this point is that these platforms could have released this much earlier, and not so late when elections are ending, he added.

Explore in-depth coverage of Lok Sabha Election 2024 Voter Turnout, Upcoming Phase, Results Date, Exit Poll And Much More At News18 Website
Pakistans Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit China from June 4 to 8 on the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, Pakistans foreign ministry announced on Friday.

The trip to Islamabads all-weather partner will seek to upgrade cooperation under the multi-billion dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which is a key part of Beijings Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

An important aspect of the prime ministers visit will be meetings with corporate executives of leading Chinese companies dealing with oil and gas, energy, ICT and emerging technologies, Pak foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Baloch said in a press briefing.

This trip comes as Chinese investment and financial support since 2013 have been key for the South Asian nations struggling economy, including the rolling over of loans so that Islamabad can meet external financing needs at a time foreign reserves are critically low.

During his trip, Sharif will meet President Xi and hold delegation-level talks with Premier Li Qiang, Baloch added. China has also invested billions in various power projects and road networks in Pakistan under the $65 billion CPEC plan, but the implementation of various projects has slowed in recent months.

Chinese citizens and interests have been regularly attacked in Pakistan by militants, the most recent of which was the killing of six Chinese engineers in a suicide bombing in March. The engineers were working on a dam in northern Pakistan. Beijing has pressed Pakistan to guarantee the safety of Chinese organisations and personnel working there.

The announcement of Sharifs visit comes days after Pakistan announced it had arrested 11 Islamist militants involved in the bombing. Islamabad has said the militants operate out of Afghanistan. However, Kabul has rejected the charges. The arrested men belong to local Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is an umbrella group of dozens of Sunni Islamists and sectarian militant groups.

(With agency inputs)
Ivanka Trump, the daughter of former US President Donald Trump, shared a heartfelt message of support for her father on Thursday following his guilty conviction in the hush money trial in New York.

Ivanka, 42, shared a photo of a young Donald Trump holding her as a kid on his lap to Instagram Stories with the caption I love you dad and a heart emoji. The short and sweet message was her first public remarks after Trump became the first former US president to be criminally convicted.

Trump was found guilty on all counts of forging business records to hide money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about their alleged affair ahead of the 2016 election. He became the first US president to be convicted of a crime when a jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.

READ MORE: Trump Convicted In Hush Money Case In A Historic First For A Former US President. What Next?

Nov. 5 election

After two days of deliberation, the 12-member jury pronounced Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts he faced. Trump watched the jurors dispassionately as they were polled to confirm the unanimous verdict. Justice Juan Merchan set sentencing for July 11, just days before the Republican Party is scheduled to formally nominate Trump for president ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

The crime of falsifying business documents carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison, though those convicted often receive shorter sentences, fines or probation. Incarceration would not legally prevent him from campaigning, or taking office if he were to win. He will not be jailed ahead of sentencing. The verdict plunges the United States into unexplored territory ahead of the November vote, when Trump will try to win back the White House from Democratic President Joe Biden.

Trump, 77, has denied wrongdoing and an attorney representing him said they would appeal as quickly as possible. This was a disgrace, Trump told reporters afterwards as he proclaimed his innocence and repeated his complaints that the trial had been rigged against him. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, he said. Trump gave a thumbs-up sign through the tinted window of his SUV as his motorcade left the courthouse. Trump supporters stood in a park opposite the courthouse along with journalists, police and onlookers.

Opinion polls

Opinion polls show Trump and Biden, 81, locked in a tight race, and Reuters/Ipsos polling has found that a guilty verdict could cost Trump some support among independent and Republican voters. Major Republican donors rallied behind Donald Trump on Thursday, pledging millions of dollars to support the first convicted felon running for U.S. president on a tumultuous day for his election campaign. A New York jury found Trump guilty on Thursday of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.

Many conservative donors already viewed the New York hush money cash as political persecution, echoing the Republican presidential candidates claim that Democrats are trying to weaken him ahead of the Nov. 5 election against Democratic President Joe Biden. Prosecutors have dismissed those claims as untrue. In a flurry of support on Thursday, mega donors including casino billionaire Miriam Adelson and hotelier Robert Bigelow lined up behind Trump, with their donations set to bolster a wave of pro-Trump ads, door-knocking and phone banking in battleground states.

(With agency inputs)
A nine-year-old Indian girl was among the four people who were shot in Hackney, London, on Wednesday after gunfire erupted from a passing motorbike. Police said the incident occurred at 9:20 PM on May 29 on Kingsland High Street.

The nine-year-old girl, identified as Lissel Maria from Kerala, was critically injured in a drive-by shooting at the London restaurant where she was dining along with her family.

Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway expressed deep sadness over the violence, saying that an urgent investigation was underway to apprehend those responsible. The victims, including three men aged 26, 37, and 42, along with the young girl, were immediately rushed to the hospital for treatment.

Update following the shooting on Kingsland High Street last night.DCS James Conway : It saddens me deeply to say that at 9.20 last night, on Kingsland High Street in Hackney, three men and a nine-year-old girl were shot when a firearm was discharged from a motorbike  Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) May 30, 2024

Extremely concerned

While the conditions of the men are reported as stable, the Indian girl is fighting for her life, with her injuries described as potentially life-changing. Detective Conway extended thoughts and support to the girl and her family, stressing that she was an innocent victim of the indiscriminate nature of gun crime.

I know that local people will be extremely concerned by this incident. We share that concern and an urgent investigation has been launched to identify and apprehend those responsible, Detective Conway added.

According to authorities, the victims did not appear to have any connection to each other, further highlighting the arbitrary and senseless nature of the attack. Police arrived at the scene within minutes of the shooting, securing two crime scenes at Kingsland High Street and Colvestone Crescent.

At Colvestone Crescent, investigators recovered a stolen motorbike believed to have been used in the shooting, adding a new layer of complexity to the investigation. The Specialist Crime unit has taken charge of the case, with local officers providing support and assistance, the London police said.

The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, and authorities are keeping an open mind as they gather evidence and interview witnesses. Detective Conway urged anyone with information or footage from the area to come forward.
The United States will extend its temporary suspension of tariffs on Ukrainian steel by another year, President Joe Biden said on Friday, citing disruption caused by the Russian invasion.

Washington initially suspended tariffs on Ukrainian steel for one year in May 2022, months after the Russian invasion began, and extended the suspension in May 2023.

Ukraines steel industry continues to be significantly disrupted by the Russian Federations unjustified, unprovoked, unyielding, and unconscionable war against Ukraine, Biden said in a statement.

In 2023, the amount of steel imported into the United States from Ukraine accounted for less than 1% of all steel imports into the country, he added.

Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor
After Donald Trump became the first US president to be convicted of a crime on Thursday, the Republican presidential nominee denounced the conviction as a rigged trial by a conflicted judge, adding that the real verdict will be decided on the November 5 election day by the American people.

His reaction came after a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election. The jury pronounced Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts he faced. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here, Trump said outside the courtroom shortly after the verdict was read.

READ MORE: Trump Convicted In Hush Money Case In A Historic First For A Former US President. What Next?

Real verdict on election day

BREAKING: Donald Trump says the real verdict will be decided on election day November 5th, 2024, calls out George Soros after being found guilty.Its okay, Im fighting for our country Im fighting for our constitution. Trump also called out President Biden, saying the pic.twitter.com/3QibqBSCrt  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 30, 2024

Trump Campaign Video

Trump released this video shortly after he was found guilty in the New York City hush money trial. This is the final battle. With you at my side, we will demolish the deep state. We will expel the war mongers from our government. We will drive out the globalists. We will cast out the communists, Marxists, and fascists. We will throw off the sick political class that hates our country. We will route the fake news media, and we will liberate America from these villains once and for all.

JUST IN: Donald Trump releases the following video after he was found guilty in the New York City hush money trial.This is the final battle. With you at my side, we will demolish the deep state. We will expel the war mongers from our government. We will drive out the pic.twitter.com/YdVK3GJDH0  Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) May 30, 2024

Never Stop, Neve Give Up  Trump Supporters React

Republicans and Trump supporters across the country reacted to the stunning conviction Thursday of the former US President in his landmark criminal trial in New York. An emotional Trump supporter, outside the New York courtroom, said Trump is the only person who has stood up for him in his life after the former president was found guilty in NYC. Trump just won the election, Ill tell you that much, the man was quoted as saying by Ukrainian-American Journalist Oliya Scootercaster.

Never stop, never give up a Trump supporter tears up as guilty verdict is announced outside NYC Court pic.twitter.com/F8vWSXyWW9 Oliya Scootercaster (@ScooterCasterNY) May 31, 2024

Biden Campaign Reacts

The Biden campaign wasted no time slamming Trump and making a plea for campaign donations, minutes after the guilty verdict in hush money trial. In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law, Biden campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said in a statement on Thursday evening.

There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence  and the American people will reject it this November, Tyler added.

What GOP Lawmakers Said

Republican lawmakers reacted with immediate fury on Thursday as a New York jury convicted former President Donald Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records to influence the 2016 election, speaking out with near unanimity in questioning the legitimacy of the trial and how it was conducted.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said it was a shameful day in American history and the charges were purely political. Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance said the verdict was a disgrace to the judicial system. And Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, the No. 2 House Republican, said that the decision was a defeat for Americans who believe in the critical legal tenet that justice is blind. Many Republicans echoed his repeated assertions that it was a rigged, disgraceful trial. He is expected to quickly appeal.

The only thing more 3rd-world than the NY courtroom was the sham trial that played out inside: second-rate judge, third-rate prosecutors, fourth-rate star witness. The judge specifically instructed the jury that they *didnt have to agree on the crime* to convict. Shameful. Vivek Ramaswamy (@VivekGRamaswamy) May 31, 2024

The only thing more 3rd-world than the NY courtroom was the sham trial that played out inside: second-rate judge, third-rate prosecutors, fourth-rate star witness. The judge specifically instructed the jury that they *didnt have to agree on the crime to convict. Shameful, Indian-American Vivek Ramaswamy said in a post on X.
Tyler Mathieson was born and raised in the Black Hills. Tyler loves to perform. Between standup comedy, improv and acting, he finds himself in front of a crowd often. He even met his wife while performing A Christmas Carol.
Divorce can be expensive, especially when you're a billionaire found to have fathered a child with your lover behind the back of your wife of 35 years. Such is the case for Chey Tae-won, chairman of SK Group, South Korea's second-largest conglomerate. A decade after his marriage dissolved, the country's High Court has ruled the tycoon owes $1 billion in cash to the woman he wronged in what the BBC reports is South Korea's largest ever divorce settlement. In 2022, a lower court rejected Roh So-young's claim to a portion of Chey's company shares in ruling that she was owed about $48 million. But in a Thursday ruling, the High Court said the shares should be considered joint property. "As his wife, Roh played a role in increasing the value of SK Group and Chey's business activity," the court said.
Meet Ace-Liam Ankrah, a Ghana toddler who has set the record as the world's youngest male artist. His mother, Chantelle Kukua Eghan, says it started by accident when her son, who at the time was 6 months old, discovered her acrylic paints. Eghan, an artist and founder of Arts and Cocktail Studio, a bar that that offers painting lessons in Ghana's capital, Accra, said she was looking for a way to keep her boy busy while working on her own paintings, per the AP . "I spread out a canvas on the floor and added paint to it, and then in the process of crawling he ended up spreading all the colors on the canvas," she said. And that's how his first artwork, "The Crawl," was born, says Eghan, 25. With his mother's prodding, Ace-Liam kept painting.

Eghan decided to apply for the record last June. In November, Guinness World Records told her that to break a previous record, her son needed to exhibit and sell paintings. She arranged for Ace-Liam's first exhibition at the Museum of Science and Technology in Accra in January, where nine out of 10 of his pieces listed were sold; she declined to say for how much. Then, Guinness World Records confirmed the record in a statement and last week declared that "at the age of 1 year 152 days, little Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah from Ghana is the world's youngest male artist."

The overall record for the world's youngest artist is currently held by India's Arushi Bhatnagar. She had her first exhibition at the age of 11 months and sold her first painting for about $60 in 2003. These days, Ace-Liam, who'll turn 2 in July, still loves painting and eagerly accompanies his mom to her studio, where a corner has been set off for him. He sometimes paints in just five-minute sessions, returning to the same canvas over days or weeks, Eghan says. She says she won't sell "The Crawl," but instead plans on keeping it in the family. She added that she hopes the media attention around her boy could encourage and inspire other parents to discover and nurture their children's talents. "He is painting and growing and playing in the whole process," she says.

(More Ghana stories.)
As Ukrainian forces continue to defend their country's second-largest city, sources tell the AP that President Biden has given the OK to use US-provided weapons to strike inside Russia. The green light is limited strictly in the area surrounding Kharkiv, about 12 miles from the Russian border, and with no long-range strikes deep inside Russia. Civilian infrastructure also can't be attacked. "The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use US weapons for counterfire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them," a US official tells Politico , which first reported on the development.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and other Ukrainian officials had been arguing that not being able to hit inside Russia had more or less made sitting ducks out of Ukrainian forces, and talks to pull back restrictions had ramped up a couple of weeks ago, when Russia made a harder push into Kharkiv. After a May 13 meeting with their Ukrainian counterparts, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, national security adviser Jake Sullivan, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chair Gen. CQ Brown worked on a recommendation for Biden, which was presented to him two days later. Meanwhile, Zelensky put the pressure on Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the same matter during Blinken's visit to Kyiv two weeks ago.

After hearing from all of these men, Biden still "remained cautious and asked for due diligence before giving final approval," the AP notes. The guidance went into effect on Thursday. Biden had previously instructed that US weapons be used in Ukraine only, for fear of provoking Moscow and expanding the war. Other US allies, including the UK and France, have noted that Ukraine should be able to strike inside Russia with weapons from the West as needed to defend itself. Meanwhile, on Friday, Ukrainian officials say a Kharkiv suburb was slammed by Russian shelling, killing three and injuring 16, reports the BBC. (More Russia-Ukraine war stories.)
A court in Russia on Friday ordered a detained Russian-American journalist to be held until at least Aug. 5, pending investigation and trial, a further step in the Kremlin's crackdown on dissent and free speech, reports the AP . Alsu Kurmasheva, an editor for the US government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's Tatar-Bashkir service, was taken into custody on Oct. 18 and charged with failing to register as a foreign agent while collecting information about the Russian military. Later, she was also charged with spreading "false information" about the military.

A court in Tatarstan on Friday ordered her to remain behind bars at least until Aug. 5, according to OVD-Info, a Russian rights group that tracks political arrests. Kurmasheva, a dual US-Russian citizen who lives in Prague with her husband and two daughters, could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted, according to RFE/RL. Russian authorities have intensified a crackdown on Kremlin critics and independent journalists after President Vladimir Putin sent troops to Ukraine in February 2022, using legislation that effectively criminalized any public expression about the conflict that deviates from the Kremlin line.

Kurmasheva was initially stopped on June 2 on her way out of Kazan International Airport after traveling to Russia the previous month to visit her ailing mother. Officials confiscated Kurmasheva's US and Russian passports and fined her for failing to register her US passport. She was waiting for her documents to be returned when she was arrested on other charges in October. RFE/RL has called for her release. RFE/RL was told by Russian authorities in 2017 to register as a foreign agent, but it has challenged Moscow's use of foreign agent laws in the European Court of Human Rights. The organization has been fined millions of dollars by Russia. (More Russia stories.)
Sen. Joe Manchin said in November that he wouldn't seek another term in the Senatebut the West Virginia senator has now left the Democratic Party to register as an independent and analysts are wondering if his plans will change. In a statement Friday, Manchin accused both major parties of moving toward "partisan extremism while jeopardizing our democracy," Axios reports. "My commitment to do everything I can to bring our country together has led me to register as an independent with no party affiliation," he said in a post on X .

Manchin, governor of West Virginia from 2005 to 2010, was elected to the Senate in a special election in 2010. He now has several weeks to decide if he wants to run for the Senate again or launch another gubernatorial bid, though it's not clear whether he will seek either office, Politico reports. Last year, he said he had been thinking about becoming an independent for "quite some time." Manchin, who has often criticized the Democratic Party, did not disclose Friday whether he will continue to caucus with Democrats in the Senate, the AP reports. In February, Manchin ruled out a third-party bid for president. (More Joe Manchin stories.)
House Speaker Mike Johnson, who slammed Donald Trump's conviction on Thursday as political , has a fix in mind. "I do believe the Supreme Court should step in," the Republican said Friday on Fox News. "I think they'll set this straight but it's going to take a while." Before there's a case for the court to take up, Trump has to be sentenced and file an appeal in New York, Politico reports. And of course, he'd have to lose his appeal before the Supreme Court, which is dominated by Republican-appointed justices, would have anything to overturn.

The top Republican in the Senate also criticized the case but did not bring up the Supreme Court, per the Hill. "These charges never should have been brought in the first place," Sen. Mitch McConnell posted on X. "I expect the conviction to be overturned on appeal." McConnell hadn't said anything last year when Trump pleaded not guilty to the 34 felony counts. At that time, the Hill points out, there was a chance that Trump wouldn't win the GOP presidential nomination.

The Supreme Court's majority already is busy deflecting criticism over its lack of recusals involving Trump's 2020 election loss. The outcry concerns Justice Samuel Alito's "Stop the Steal" flag displays and the involvement of Justice Clarence Thomas' wife, Ginni, in trying to overturn President Biden's victory. Chief Justice John Roberts declined this week to meet with Democratic senators to discuss the state of ethics on the court. Johnson said he believes the justices will intervene for Trump because "I know many of them personally, I think they're deeply concerned about" faith in the nation's judicial system. (Trump himself slammed the verdict anew on Friday.)
President Biden on Friday detailed a three-phase deal proposed by Israel to Hamas militants that he says would lead to the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza and could end the nearly 8-month-old Mideast war. Biden added that Hamas is "no longer capable" of carrying out another large-scale attack on Israel as he urged Israelis and Hamas to come to a deal to release hostages for an extended ceasefire. In remarks from the White House, the president called the proposal "a road map to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages," the AP reports. "It's time for this war to end," he added, per the New York Times. The increments:
A Fijian man has been deported after strangling his wife and threatening her with a large knife.

The unnamed 38-year-old was convicted of charges including strangulation, grievous bodily harm, and possession of an offensive weapon.

In September 2020, an argument ensued with his wife after she refused to give him her phone. The man had been drinking alcohol.

"The appellant snatched the phone from her and went to the kitchen stating that he was going to cut her. He then held a large knife in a threatening manner before [the woman] grabbed it and put it away."

The man then placed his hands around her throat and restricted her breathing.

"On the second instance he did this, the pressure continued for approximatively one minute and made it difficult for [the woman] to breathe".

The man denied that any physical confrontation took place. His wife then obtained a protection order against him.

He was sentenced to nine months' home detention. He appealed the conviction and sentence in the High Court but both appeals were dismissed in October 2023.

In June 2023, Immigration New Zealand declined his residence application on character grounds. From that point, the man has been staying at accommodation provided by a charitable organisation while living illegally in New Zealand.
WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

The judge presiding over the case, Juan Merchan, must first approve the verdict and enter a final judgment, though this is typically a formality.

Criminal defendants in New York are typically sentenced within several weeks of conviction, but post-verdict legal wrangling can sometimes lead to months of delays. In the meantime, lawyers and prosecutors will recommend sentences and then argue over them at Trumps sentencing hearing, where Merchan will make a decision.

WILL TRUMP GO TO PRISON?

That is unlikely.

The maximum sentence for Trumps crime of falsifying business records is 1-1/3 to four years in prison.

It is rare for people with no criminal history who are convicted only of falsification of business records to be sentenced to prison in New York. Punishments like fines or probation are more common.

Defendants convicted of falsifying business records who get sentenced to time behind bars typically serve a year or less, and even in those cases most were convicted of other crimes such as fraud or grand larceny - unlike Trump

If punished beyond a fine, Trump could be placed under home confinement or subject to a curfew rather than imprisoned.

As a former president, he has a lifetime Secret Service detail, and the logistics of keeping him safe behind bars could be complicated.

Trump could also be released on bail while appealing his conviction.

CAN TRUMP APPEAL THE CONVICTION?

Yes. Trump is likely to make arguments that Merchan rejected ahead of trial, including that the indictment is legally flawed and politically motivated.

He is also likely to argue Merchan deprived him of a fair trial by making legal errors, including allowing salacious testimony by a porn star who said she had sex with Trump - testimony his lawyers said was gratuitous and aimed at inflaming the jury against him.

The defense is likely to argue that the charges themselves were legally improper. Falsifying business records on its own is a misdemeanor in New York, but is elevated to a felony when done to help commit or conceal another crime. In this case, Bragg's office said that other crime was a conspiracy to violate a state election law.

But Trump's lawyers have argued that state law does not apply to federal elections.

COULD TRUMP STILL BE PRESIDENT?

Yes. The U.S. Constitution only requires that presidents be at least 35 years old and natural-born U.S. citizens who have lived in the country for 14 years.

In theory, Trump could be sworn in from jail or prison on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20, 2025, if he were to unseat Biden.

REUTERS
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TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Deputy King, His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, praised the Bahrain Defence Forces efforts in furthering its tactical capability to safeguard the Kingdom and its citizens, noting the BDFs vital role, alongside the armed forces of allied countries in consolidating security in the region.

HRH the Crown Prince and Prime Minister was speaking as he visited the BDF General Command yesterday. He was briefed on the BDFs strategic plans, programmes, and projects, which are being implemented to enhance its overall combat readiness.

HRH Prince Salman affirmed the advanced levels of the BDFs combat readiness, competence, and efficiency under the unwavering support of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.

His Royal Highness highlighted the Kingdoms pride in the BDF personnels efforts to safeguard the Kingdoms sovereignty and accomplishments, uphold its security and stability, and further the Kingdoms comprehensive development. He expressed his gratitude to the BDFs personnel, wishing them further success in their role safeguarding the Kingdom and its citizens.

Upon arrival, His Royal Highness was received by the Commander-in-Chief of the BDF, His Excellency Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, and the Minister of Defence Affairs, H.E. Lieutenant General Abdullah bin Hassan Al Nuaimi.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

The Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF) announced that its undergraduate students have won first place in the universities category, for the third year in a row, at the 2023-2024 Trade Quest Programme, organised by Bahrain Bourse.

The programme provided students with hands-on experience in financial markets and helped them acquire the skills and knowledge required to prosper in todays global marketplace. The BIBF team, led by Dr. Hamad AlSayed, competed against several universities and managed to secure three prizes, including 1st Place Award in the Universities category, Best presentation, and the Best US Financial Performance.

The team consisted of Salma AlAbbasi, Fatema Alhashemi, Maryam AlKhawaja, Fatema Kazerooni, Amina AlDawaishan, Naser AlSayegh, Mohammed AlAlawi, and Nasir AlDarmaki The BIBFs Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ahmed Al-Shaikh said, Our students triumph in Trade Quest for the third consecutive year, is a testament to their dedication, creativity, and the exceptional quality of education at the BIBF.

This victory not only showcases their talent but also reflects the relentless commitment of our faculty and staff in nurturing future leaders. Dr. Haifa Khalaf, Head of the Academics Centre at BIBF, commended their dedication and highlighted the BIBFs unwavering commitment to empowering students.
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Al Dana Amphitheatre had an event-filled week with Scorpions on 20 May. The band rocked Al Dana Amphitheatre with a powerful performance, electrifying the crowd, followed by comedian Jo Koy on Friday, 24th of May.

The legendary rock band brought their signature sound to Bahrain for the first time, belting out their greatest hits like Wind of Change, Still Loving You, and Rock You Like A Hurricane. Fans were treated to a night of unforgettable rock and roll! Jo Koy was joined by the hilarious King Bach and Joey Guila, both of whom opened for Jo Koy on this unforgettable night.

All three comedians succeeded at spreading laughter and smiles across the venue. Damian Bush, Chief Executive Officer of Al Dana Amphitheatre, said: We were thrilled to welcome both legendary rock band Scorpions and international comedian Jo Koy to the stage at Al Dana Amphitheatre for the first time.

The eventful week offered something for everyone, and its worthy to note that Scorpions electrifying performance and Jo Koys unforgettable set thrilled long-time fans and delighted newcomers from Bahrain and beyond.

This diverse line-up reflects our commitment to hosting a wide array of global performers catering to the various musical and comedic tastes of concert goers in the region. For news on all upcoming performances, updates as well as ticketing information, follow Al Dana Amphitheatres social media accounts; Instagram (@aldana_amp), X (@ aldana_amp), Facebook (facebook.com/aldanaamphitheatre), TikTok (@aldana_amp) and Snapchat (@aldana_amp).
TORONTO, May 30, 2024 /CNW/ - Clara Gutsche of Montreal, Quebec is the winner of the 14th annual Scotiabank Photography Award.

As winner of the prestigious Award, Gutsche will receive a $50,000 cash prize, a solo Primary Exhibition during the 2025 CONTACT Photography Festival, and a published book of her work distributed worldwide by renowned art book publisher, Steidl.

Clara Gutsche. Photo credit: David Miller (CNW Group/Scotiabank) Clara Gutsche, Les Soeurs Adoratrices Du Precieux-Sang, Nicolet, 1995, The Convent series 1990-1998, Chromogenic colour 16"x20" print. (CNW Group/Scotiabank)

"Congratulations to Clara Gutsche, winner of the 14th annual Scotiabank Photography Award," says Laura Curtis Ferrera, Chief Marketing Officer, Scotiabank. "Clara's art explores the depths of personal relationships and the intersection of culture and urban landscapes through a unique and powerful photographic perspective. At Scotiabank, we are proud to have founded this award which helps to support and elevate the art of Canadian storytellers across the country and around the world."

The Scotiabank Photography Award recognizes the achievements of established mid-to-late career artists, by engaging Canadians and raising awareness through photographic art of the issues and forces of our time. The Award was co-founded by Scotiabank and Canadian photographer Edward Burtynsky with a goal of recognizing and accelerating artists' careers as they reach the next level of national and international recognition.

"Clara Gutsche has been a dedicated practitioner of the medium of photography in a classical way," says Edward Burtynsky, co-founder of the Scotiabank Photography Award and jury chair. "She embeds herself in a community over time and, with a gentle and caring eye, begins to reveal the character of the community she has focused on. It will be a treat to see her works brought together in exhibition and forthcoming book."

Nicolas Baier of Montreal, Quebec and Thaddeus Holownia of Sackville, Nova Scotia were also finalists for the 2024 Award and will each receive cash prizes of $10,000. The 2024 Scotiabank Photography Award Nominees represent the result of an annual Canada-wide search for excellence. The Scotiabank Photography Award is peer-reviewed at every stage of the nomination and adjudication process and nominees must meet eligibility criteria.

The 2024 Scotiabank Photography Award jury includes:

Edward Burtynsky, Artist, Jury Chair

Stephane Aquin, Director, Montreal Museum of Fine Arts

Andrea Kunard , Senior Curator of Photography, National Gallery of Canada

, Senior Curator of Photography, National Gallery of Gaelle Morel, Exhibition Curator at the Toronto Image Centre (TIC)

For more information about the Scotiabank Photography Award, please visit www.scotiabank.com/photoaward.

Ken Lum, winner of the 2023 Scotiabank Photography Award, has a solo Primary Exhibition at the Toronto Image Centre which will be on view from May 9  August 3, 2024.

About Scotiabank

Scotiabank's vision is to be our clients' most trusted financial partner, to deliver sustainable, profitable growth and maximize total shareholder return. Guided by our purpose: "for every future," we help our clients, their families and their communities achieve success through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With assets of approximately $1.4 trillion (as at April 30, 2024), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on X @Scotiabank.

SOURCE Scotiabank

For media enquiries only: Kelty Reid, Scotiabank, [email protected]
TORONTO, May 31, 2024 /CNW/ - Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) ("Rock Tech" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the official handover of all construction and operation permit approvals for its German Lithium refinery. Today, the state of Brandenburg's Minister for Climate Action and Environment Axel Vogel and Minister for Economic Affairs Joerg Steinbach handed over the notice of approval for the Lithium-Hydroxide Converter to Rock Tech's CEO Dirk Harbecke. The handover took place during a meeting in the State Chancellery in Potsdam. Guben's Mayor Fred Mahro and representatives from Rock Tech were also in attendance. All parties welcomed the successful completion of the approval process as a progressive step in the realisation of regional and resilient battery supply-chains.

Brandenburg Officials and members of the Rock Tech team during the permit handover. Credits: Volker Tanner, Staatskanzlei (CNW Group/Rock Tech Lithium Inc.)

Rock Tech plans to build Europe's first Lithium converter with a capacity of 24,000 tonnes of Lithium-Hydroxide per year. Lithium-Hydroxide is required as a raw material for battery production for electric cars and energy storage systems.

Rock Tech's CEO Harbecke states: "I'd like to thank the State of Brandenburg and in particular the State Office for the Environment which was responsible for the permit. The construction and operating licence for our lithium refinery is a strong signal for Rock Tech and Europe. The support of the state, the city of Guben, and other stakeholders involved is exceptionally encouraging. The permits not only allow us to now move into the last stage of financing for the project, but they are also proof that our concept works and the Guben converter will serve as the blueprint for our other refinery projects worldwide. We expect to finalise subsidy negotiations and equity term sheets with strategic partners soon. The credit approval process with our banking partners will follow shortly after and we aim to take the final investment decision (FID) in Q3 this year."

Minister Steinbach adds: "I am delighted that the approvals have now been issued and that Rock Tech's construction project is one step closer to realisation. The future production of Lithium-Hydroxide in Guben represents a further building block in the creation of an EV value-chain that is currently being established in Brandenburg. The state government is supporting Rock Tech Lithium as much as possible and has initiated all necessary steps."

Additionally, the Company announces that it has appointed Derek Sobel to the position of Chief Financial Officer as of June 01, 2024. Mr. Sobel is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) with extensive financial reporting experience in the Canadian public markets. He held the position of Head of Accounting, Audit, and Tax for Rock Tech since 2021. He follows Ms. Sonja Rossteuscher, who has held the position as CFO since November 2022.

ABOUT ROCK TECH

Rock Tech is a cleantech company with operations in Canada and Germany on a mission to produce lithium hydroxide for electric vehicle batteries. The Company plans to build lithium converters at the doorstep of its customers, to guarantee supply-chain transparency and just-in-time delivery, beginning with the Company's proposed lithium hydroxide merchant converter and refinery facility in Guben, Germany. The second Lithium converter is planned to be built in Red Rock, Ontario, Canada. Rock Tech plans to source raw material from its wholly-owned Georgia Lake spodumene project located in the Thunder Bay Mining District of Ontario, Canada, as well as procuring it from other responsibly producing mines. In the years to come, the Company expects to also source raw material from discarded batteries. To close the most pressing gap in the clean mobility story, Rock Tech has gathered one of the strongest teams in the industry. The Company has adopted strict environmental, social and governance standards and is developing a proprietary refining process aimed at further increasing efficiency and sustainability. Rock Tech's goal: to create a closed-loop lithium production system.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws and are referred to herein as "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "predicts", "believes", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "projects", "forecasts", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could" or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information pertaining to expectations concerning the Guben Converter, including the design and features of the Guben Converter, as well as the expected costs, capital expenditures, timing and outcomes thereof; statements regarding the Company's future plans, estimates, and schedules relating to the Guben Converter, including the anticipated timing of future activities taken in support of the development thereof; Rock Tech's potential financing arrangements; the expected economic performance of the Guben Converter and anticipated production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide and related processing methods employed; the estimated capital and operating costs of the Guben Converter; the anticipated timing and outcomes of a final investment decision, construction activities and commissioning of the Guben Converter; statements regarding the Company's sustainability and ESG related goals and strategy, including the benefits and achievement thereof and future actions taken by the Company in relation thereto; expected regulatory processes and final outcomes; expectations regarding the electric vehicle industry, including the demand for and pricing of battery-grade lithium hydroxide and the benefits therefrom, and the development of political and regulatory frameworks especially in Germany and the European Union; Rock Tech's opinions, beliefs and expectations regarding the Company's business strategy, development and exploration opportunities and projects; and plans and objectives of management for the Company's operations and properties.Forward-looking statements by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in the Company's most recent management's discussion and analysis and annual information form filed with the applicable securities regulators. No assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, and the Company cautions the reader not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, nor does it assume any obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changes in assumptions, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

SOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc.

Rock Tech Lithium Inc, 2400-333 Bay Street, Toronto ON M5H 2T6, CAN; Konstantin Burger, Head of Investor Relations, [email protected], +49 89 244109149
VANCOUVER, BC, May 31, 2024 /CNW/ - Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd. (TSXV: SCZ) ("Santacruz" or "the Company") reports its financial and operating results for the first quarter ("Q1") of 2024. The full version of the financial statements and accompanying Management's Discussion and Analysis (the "MD&A") can be viewed on the Company's website at www.santacruzsilver.com or on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca.

Q1 2024 Highlights

Processed 470,749 tonnes of material and produced 4,478,122 silver equivalent ounces, including:

1,581,949 ounces of silver 22,847 tonnes of zinc 2,953 tonnes of lead 256 tonnes of copper



Cash cost per silver equivalent ounce sold of $21.19

AISC per silver equivalent ounce sold of $24.12

Revenue of $52,589,000

Adjusted EBITDA of ($215,000)

Arturo Prestamo, Executive Chairman and CEO of Santacruz, commented, "Santacruz has successfully restructured its debt with Glencore, resulting in enhanced financial flexibility and a more robust balance sheet. This strategic move has bolstered the Companys financial position and should allow for better optimization of Santacruz's core business activities and the pursuit of long-term growth initiatives."

Mr. Prestamo continued, "During the first quarter, production at our Bolivian mines faced several disruptions due to various events, including national holidays, and the national population census. Caballo Blanco experienced a challenging quarter due to additional production disruptions caused by safety training and mining in areas with lower silver grades. However, the preparation of new areas is progressing well, thanks to the integration ramp. Caballo Blanco is expected to mine areas with higher silver grades in the coming months and together with less operational disruptions, the Company expects a better performance. Our AISC per silver equivalent ounces sold increased due to the decrease in silver equivalent ounce sold, with the most impact being from Caballo Blanco. However, our Zimapan mine in Mexico experienced no production variances during the quarter, with the efficiency strategies implemented in late 2023 continuing to deliver improvements."

Selected consolidated financial and operating information for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 are presented below. All financial information is prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), and all dollar amounts are expressed in thousands of US dollars, except per unit amounts, unless otherwise indicated.

2024 First Quarter Highlights



2024-Q1 2023-Q4 Change Q1 vs Q4 2023-Q1 Change Q1 vs Q1

Operational









Material Processed (tonnes milled) 470,749 489,417 (4 %) 482,497 (2 %) Silver Equivalent Produced (ounces) (1) 4,478,122 4,788,318 (6 %) 4,727,882 (5 %) Silver Ounces Produced 1,581,949 1,719,737 (8 %) 1,769,520 (11 %) Zinc Tonnes Produced 22,847 23,777 (4 %) 22,463 2 % Lead Tonnes Produced 2,953 3,130 (6 %) 3,043 (3 %) Copper Tonnes Produced 256 290 (12 %) 415 (38 %) Silver Equivalent Sold (payable ounces) (2) 3,632,938 3,813,863 (5 %) 4,380,895 (17 %) Cash Cost of Production per Tonne (3) 93.18 94.87 (2 %) 84.11 11 % Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold ($/oz) (3) 21.19 17.74 19 % 17.29 23 % All-in Sustaining Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold ($/oz) (3) 24.12 21.37 13 % 20.77 16 % Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold ($/oz) (2) (3) (4) 23.18 22.47 3 % 22.03 5 %

Financial









Revenues 52,589 57,616 (9 %) 65,378 (20 %) Gross Profit 463 1,550 (70 %) 14,680 (97 %) Net Income (loss) 129,025 16,271 693 % (176) 73,410 % Net Earnings (Loss) Per Share - Basic ($/share) 0.37 0.05 640 % 0.00 100 % Adjusted EBITDA (3) (215) 24,612 (101 %) 12,603 (102 %) Cash and Cash Equivalent 4,035 4,947 (18 %) 11,988 (66 %) Working Capital (Deficiency) 7,150 (43,168) 117 % (78,906) 109 %

First Quarter 2024 Production Summary - By Mine



Bolivar (5) Porco (5) Caballo Blanco

Group San Lucas Zimapan Total Material Processed (tonnes milled) 72,801 50,862 72,462 69,220 205,404000 470,749 Silver Equivalent Produced (ounces) (1) 1,024,492 543,414 862,142 1,032,085 1,015,989 4,478,122 Silver Ounces Produced 425,756 176,436 284,809 294,998 399,950 1,581,949 Zinc Tonnes Produced 5,063 3,160 4,702 6,279 3,643 22,847 Lead Tonnes Produced 395 169 611 427 1,352 2,953 Copper Tonnes Produced N/A N/A N/A N/A 256 256 Average head grades per mine:











Silver (g/t) 199 130 136 159 82 125 Zinc (%) 7.68 6.72 7.04 9.90 2.29 5.45 Lead (%) 0.74 0.46 1.10 0.96 0.83 0.84 Copper (%) N/A N/A N/A N/A 0.29 0.29 Metal recovery per mine:











Silver (%) 91 83 90 83 74 81 Zinc (%) 91 92 92 92 77 84 Lead (%) 74 72 76 64 79 75 Copper (%) N/A N/A N/A N/A 43 43 Silver Equivalent Sold (payable ounces) (2) 1,014,743 419,230 573,347 754,910 870,708 3,632,938

















Notes for both tables above:

(1) Silver Equivalent Produced (ounces) have been calculated using prices of $23.62/oz, $1.21/lb, $0.95/lb and $3.91/lb for silver, zinc, lead and copper respectively

applied to the metal production divided by the silver price as stated here. (2) Silver Equivalent Sold (payable ounces) have been calculated using the Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold stated in the table above, applied to the payable metal content of the concentrates sold from Bolivar, Porco, the Caballo Blanco Group, San Lucas and Zimapan. (3) The Company reports non-GAAP measures, which include Cash Cost of Production per Tonne, Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold, All-in Sustaining Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold, Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold, and Adjusted EBITDA. These measures are widely used in the mining industry as a benchmark for performance, but do not have a standardized meaning and may differ from methods used by other companies with similar descriptions. See ''Non-GAAP Measures'' section below for definitions. (4) Average Realized Price per Ounce of Silver Equivalent Sold is prior to all treatment, smelting and refining charges. (5) Bolivar and Porco are presented at 100% whereas the Company records 45% of revenues and expenses in its consolidated financial statements.

Silver Equivalent Ounces Produced

Q1 2024 vs Q1 2023

In Q1 2024, the Company processed 470,749 tonnes of material and produced 4,478,112 silver equivalent ounces including 1,581,949 ounces of silver, 22,847 tonnes of zinc, 2,953 tonnes of lead and 256 tonnes of copper. When compared to Q1 2023, total material processed was slightly less, however silver equivalent ounce production decreased 5% due primarily to lower production, silver grade and plant recovery at Caballo Blanco.

Q1 2024 vs Q4 2023

When compared to the previous quarter total material processed was slightly less. Silver equivalent ounce production decreased 6% quarter-over-quarter as a result of less material processed, along with lower silver grades from the Bolivar and Caballo Blanco mines in Bolivia.

Cash Cost of Production per Tonne

Q1 2024 vs Q1 2023

Consolidated cash cost of production per tonne of mineralized material processed was $93.18 in Q1 2024 compared to $84.11 in Q1 2023. Increases in unit production costs at the Bolivian operations, a result of lower production rates have driven the consolidated net increase in cash costs of 11% per tonne.

Q1 2024 vs Q4 2023

Consolidated cash cost of production per tonne of mineralized material processed remained stable with a slight decrease of 2% driven mostly by incremental decreases across all operations. Cash cost per tonne at San Lucas increased 12%, which was offset by the 2% decrease at all other Bolivian operations. In Mexico, cash cost of production has decreased from the Q4 2023 high to be relatively in line with the other quarters of 2023.

Cash Cost per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold

Q1 2024 vs Q1 2023

Cash cost per silver equivalent ounce sold was $21.19 in Q1 2024 compared to $17.29 in Q1 2023. There was an increase in unit costs together with a decrease of silver equivalent ounces sold mainly due to the silver equivalent conversion ratio of base metals to silver, which was higher due to the changes in realized metal prices and resulted in the reduction of silver equivalent ounces sold.

Q1 2024 vs Q4 2023

Consolidated results for Q1 2024 show an 19% increase in cash costs per silver equivalent ounce sold compared to Q4 2023. There was an increase in unit costs together with a decrease of silver equivalent ounces sold.

All-In Sustaining Cash Cost ("AISC") per Silver Equivalent Ounce Sold

Q1 2024 vs Q1 2023

Q1 2024 AISC per silver equivalent ounce sold was $24.12, compared to Q1 2023 of $20.77. This 16% increase in unit cost was due primarily to the 17% decrease in silver equivalent ounces sold.

Q1 2024 vs Q4 2023

Consolidated AISC per silver equivalent ounce sold increased 13% from Q4 2023, mainly a result of higher unit operating costs, partly offset by lower sustaining capital expenditures mostly related to the completion of the integration ramp at Caballo Blanco in Q1 2024.

Corporate Update

On May 13, 2024, the Board of Directors appointed Arturo Prestamo as CEO of the Company.

About Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd.

Santacruz Silver is engaged in the operation, acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in Latin America. The Bolivian operations are comprised of the Bolivar, Porco and the Caballo Blanco Group, which consists of the Tres Amigos, Reserva and Colquechaquita mines. The Soracaya exploration project and San Lucas ore sourcing and trading business are also in Bolivia. The Zimapan mine is in Mexico.

'signed'

Arturo Prestamo Elizondo,

Executive Chairman and CEO

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward looking information

This news release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends", "expects" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or will "potentially" or "likely" occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forwardlooking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding the benefits the Company expects to derive from restructuring its debt with Glencore, and that Caballo Blanco will achieve improved performance in the coming months. These forwardlooking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, risks that the restructured debt with Glencore will not allow for better optimization of the Company's core business activities and the pursuit of its long-term growth initiatives, that Caballo Blanco will be unable mine areas with higher silver grades in the coming months, that there will not be fewer operational disruptions at Caballo Blanco in the coming months, or that Caballo Blanco will not achieve improved performance, risks related to changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets, changes in applicable laws, and compliance with extensive government regulation, as well as those risk factors discussed or referred to in the Company's disclosure documents filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedarplus.ca.

In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, the assumption that the restructured debt with Glencore will allow the Company to better optimize its core business activities and pursuit of long-term growth initiatives, and that Caballo Blanco will be able to mine areas with higher silver grades in the coming months and together with less operational disruptions will achieve improved performance.

There can be no assurance that any forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader should not place any undue reliance on forward-looking information or statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information or statements, other than as required by applicable law.

SOURCE Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd.

Arturo Prestamo, Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., Email: [email protected], Telephone: +52 81 83 785707; Sabina Srubiski, Manager, Investor Relations, Santacruz Silver Mining Ltd., Email: [email protected], Telephone: +1 888 883 2011
Taylor Swift is about to embark to France, and fans couldnt be more excited.

Swift will head to Lyon, France to perform at the Groupama Stadium on June 2-3, and Swifties should get excited about how cheap tickets are.

The fact that tickets are under $100  cheaper than the tickets for her Lisbon concerts  means that they are most likely going to sell out fast. These prices are close 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 June 2 Eras Tour concert in France is $105 on Vivid Seats, with tickets as high as $726.

For her June 3 show, the cheapest ticket at the time of publication is $69 on Vivid Seats, with other tickets listed as high as $940.

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 SeatGeek.

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 Edinburgh, Scotland from June 7-9. Tickets are available on several secondary market sites, like StubHub, Vivid Seats, TicketCity and SeatGeek.

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.

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Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania stated that after the President's veto on the "Transparency of Foreign Influence" law was overridden and the law was passed on May 29, the Georgian ambassador was summoned.The Ministry noted that the European Commission granted Georgia candidate status on the condition of fulfilling nine recommendations. When the Parliament began considering the law, the European Union explicitly warned Georgia that the Russian-style law did not align with the standards and values of the European Union."The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its deep sorrow regarding the steps taken by the ruling party of Georgia and other actions aimed at intimidating and restricting the activities of civil society in the country.These actions fundamentally contradict the country's aspirations for EU and NATO integration [...]Several other legislative initiatives incompatible with EU integration have recently been introduced in the country. Anti-Western propaganda spread, and mass protests followed the government's campaign of intimidation and violence against civil society representatives.Lithuania is deeply concerned about these events and is discussing possible countermeasures with its partners," the statement reads.In an expedited manner during the third reading, Georgian Parliament supported the draft law amending the Election Code, which aims to dissolve the CEC advisory group.80 deputies backed the amendment.The CEC advisory group is composed of international and/or local experts chosen by representatives of the Public Defender's Office and monitoring organizations.The explanatory note states that the advisability of dissolving the advisory group "is supported by existing practical experience, which clearly demonstrates that this group has not functioned effectively, primarily due to the reluctance of monitoring organizations to participate in its activities."In addition, the registered change eliminates the requirement for the support of two-thirds of the members to make decisions in the CEC, allowing decisions to be made by a simple majority of the full composition.
A Trenton man who committed a series of armed carjackings and robberies in the city was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison Thursday, the U.S. Attorneys Office in Trenton announced.

Joshua M. Perez, 25, pleaded guilty last year in federal court in Trenton to five crimes, two counts of carjacking, robbery and two counts of illegally possessing a firearm. Hes been incarcerated since his arrest in early 2021.

Perez led a carjacking crew that committed two carjackings and a gas station robbery in October and December of 2020 in Trenton, authorities say.

Investigators linked him to the crimes by a fingerprint left in one of the vehicles, and a distinctive left arm tattoo spotted by one of the victims, and that was spotted on security camera footage, court papers say. He also wore Nike Air Force 1 sneakers during one crime, and police found that model shoe in his residence.

His coconspirators are unidentified, federal authorities said.

The first carjacking occurred on William Street on Oct. 10, 2020. Two people told police that three men popped out of a white car and ordered them out at gunpoint and stole their personal belongings, cash, phones and passports. One was Perez, then 22 years old.

Security cameras captured the crime and police suspect it was the same crew that committed two other robberies in the area within an hour, using the same white car, court papers say. (Perez was only charged federally with the William Street carjacking.)

The robbers abandoned the white car nearby, which police discovered had been stolen the day before. Inside the found one of the victims cell phones, and a fingerprint later matched to Perez, court papers say.

Three days later, one of the victims told police a credit card stolen in the robbery was used without authorization, and police investigated the transaction and found it was made by a Perez family member, who told police Perez handed it over.

On December 5, 2020, Perez and another man carjacked a driver on Ashmore Avenue in the same manner, by robbing the victim of belongings and taking their car, authorities say.

That car was used by three men to commit another armed robbery of a person an hour later, then moments later it arrived at a gas station, where three men emerged with guns.

One of them, later identified as Perez, charged inside and demanded cash and cigar wraps. He wore white Nike Air Force 1 shoes and left with all the cash in the register.

The other two robbers held two victims at gunpoint and pistol-whipped one. One of those men wore a fanny pack with the word Supreme.

The gas station security camera showed a distinctive left arm tattoo on Perez, which one of the victims also identified.

Police detectives obtained a search warrant for Perezs home and searched it on December 7, 2020. When officers arrived, Perez was there and pointed a Taurus handgun at the officers; they were able to disarm and arrest him.

They then found a pair of white Nike Air Force 1 sneakers, and a fanny pack with the word Supreme, court papers say.

Perez was initially charged by Mercer County authorities with multiple felonies alleging carjacking and robbery, as well as aggravated assault/aiming a firearm at a law enforcement officer. The charges were dismissed in court in early 2021, about a week after federal authorities took over the investigation, records show.

The crime spree occurred during the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, when city and state authorities were imploring people to stay inside as much as possible, and when pandemic-fueled crime was surging on Trentons streets.

Perezs lawyer did not immediately return a request seeking comment.

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Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com
A 2-year-old boy who had been hospitalized in critical condition after being pulled from a swimming pool at a home in South Plainfield earlier this week died on Friday morning, authorities said.

The child wasnt breathing when emergency workers were called to the home shortly after 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office said.

Responders performed CPR on the boy and brought him to an area hospital. He was later transferred to Jersey Shore Medical Center in Neptune.

Authorities didnt identify the toddler or provide the location of the home.

Anyone with information that might help the investigation is asked to call South Plainfield police Det. Craig Magnani at 908-226-7682 or Det. Javier Morillo of the Middlesex County Prosecutors Office at 732 745-8843.

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Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com.
Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts in his hush-money and election-interference trial, as a fast-moving Manhattan jury apparently was convinced by an overwhelming amount of documents and damning testimony from witnesses who once traveled in Trumps inner circle.

The verdict  which came after just 9 1/2 hours of deliberation  proclaimed Trump as the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime.

Reaction exploded immediately from all corners of the nation  from Trump supporters who insist the charges were a politically motivated hit job that targeted the presumptive Republican presidential nominee to liberals and Never Trumpers who have waited for Trump to be held accountable for a slew of alleged crimes.

This was a disgrace, Trump said minutes after the verdict was read. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt. A rigged trial. A disgrace. They wouldnt give us a venue change. We were at 5% or 6% [Trump polling] in this district, in this area.

This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. But the real verdict is going to be [election day] Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here. ... We didnt do anything wrong. Im a very innocent man. Its OK, Im fighting for our country and fighting for our Constitution.

Our whole country is being rigged right now. This was done by the Biden administration  a political opponent, and I think its a just a disgrace, and well keep fighting or fight till the end and well win because our country has gone to hell, Trump added.

We dont have the same country anymore. We have a divided mess. Were a nation in decline.

Roughly four minutes after the verdict was read, the Trump campaign sent out a fundraising email:

The Trump campaign was prepared for a guilty verdict with a fundraising pitch, posted within 4 minutes of the decision: pic.twitter.com/IHimlWeG41  Olivia Nuzzi (@Olivianuzzi) May 30, 2024

Donald Trump Jr. tweeted: Democrats have succeeded in their years long attempt to turn America into a Third World [expletive]. November 5 is our last chance to save it.

Trump is expected to quickly appeal the verdict and will face an awkward dynamic as he seeks to return to the campaign trail as a convicted felon. There are no campaign rallies on the calendar for now, though hes expected to hold fundraisers next week. It will likely take several months for Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, to decide whether to sentence Trump to prison.

Trump could face up to four years behind bars. Sentencing is currently set for July.

Trump faces three other felony counts, but the New York case may be the only one to reach a conclusion before the November election, adding to the significance of the outcome. Though the legal and historical implications of the verdict are readily apparent, the political consequences are less so given its potential to reinforce rather than reshape already-hardened opinions about Trump.

The case is the first of Trumps four indictments to reach trial  and a verdict  and marked the first-ever criminal case against a former U.S. president.

No matter what happens from here, this was a good day for America, tweeted Ed Luce, associate editor of the Financial Times.

Law and order! tweeted former GOP campaign strategist Tim Miller, who is now a Never Trumper.

As a convicted felon, Donald Trump is now prohibited from voting in his home state of Florida, tweeted Mark Joseph Stern, a journalist at Slate.

At the heart of the charges were reimbursements paid to former Trump attorney Michael Cohen for a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels in exchange for not going public with her claim about a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump.

Prosecutors said the reimbursements were falsely logged as legal expenses to hide the true nature of the transactions.

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Stargazers in some areas of the northern United States might get another shot at seeing the colorful Northern Lights glowing in the night sky this weekend and possibly again during the first week of June.

Thats the word from the National Weather Services Space Weather Prediction Center and several news reports, some of which say the lights may be visible Friday night and early Saturday morning in places that include New York state and the Delaware Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey.

Forecasters from the Space Weather Prediction Center say a moderate geomagnetic storm triggered by natural explosions on the sun may create bright colors glowing in the sky  an occurrence technically called the aurora borealis but more commonly known as the Northern Lights.

The aurora may become visible over some northern and upper Midwest states from New York to Idaho late Friday night through early Saturday morning, the agency noted in a post on social media.

Forecasters from the National Weather Service's Space Weather Prediction Center say the colorful Northern Lights may be visible from some northern states Friday night, May 31, into early Saturday morning, June 1, 2024.NWS Space Weather Prediction Center

Fox 29 in Philadelphia says its possible the colorful lights may be visible from as far south as the Delaware Valley region.

If the forecast doesnt materialize, another opportunity may arise during the early days of June, when the Northern Lights might be seen as far south as Florida, according to a report by Fox 13 in Tampa Bay.

During the early morning hours on May 11, skywatchers in New Jersey and many other states across the nation were treated to a dazzling sky show as a powerful solar storm caused the Northern Lights to flicker in places that rarely see them.

From Egg Harbor City in Atlantic County to Metuchen in Middlesex County and towns up north in Bergen County, scores of people took to social media to post photos they snapped of colorful formations in the sky.

As for this weekends event, the Boston Globe says theres a good shot of seeing the Northern Lights in northern New England.

The optimum time to look for the Northern Lights in northern New England should be between 11 p.m. Friday and 1 a.m. Saturday  but they can be present up to around 3 a.m. in that region this time of year, the Globe noted.

Current weather radar

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Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com or on X at @LensReality.
When he is sentenced on July 11 for his conviction on all 34 felony counts, former president Donald Trump faces several years in prison.

Will the Manhattan prosecutors ask for Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, to be incarcerated?

Heres what Manhattan district attorney said a few hours after the verdict was read on Thursday:

We will speak in court in that time, Bragg told reporters in a press conference on Thursday night. We also set a motion schedule. We will speak in our court filings as weve done throughout this proceeding.

He added: Im going to let our words in court speak for themselves when we get to the sentencing matter. Im not going to address hypotheticals. They raise arguments, well respond. And I think your question really underscores important point, this is an ongoing matter. We have other phases of this. Going ahead, we will continue to do our speaking about this matter, about issues like that.

The courts finding that Trump violated a gag order on 10 occasions, his lack of respect for the court and Trumps lack of remorse could weigh in favor of prison time. Prosecutors likely will point to all of the times Trump attacked the judge and his impromptu press conference immediately after the verdict was announced, when he again attacked the judge.

Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen received a three-year sentence for the same conduct  from Trumps Department of Justice. Cohen likely would have received a higher sentence had he not cooperated. Trump, on the other hand, has been beligerent toward the court.

According to the New York Times:

Mr. Trump was released on his own recognizance until his sentencing, which was scheduled for July 11. Each count carries the possibility of up to four years in prison. If Justice Merchan were to opt for prison time, he would likely impose the punishment concurrently, meaning he would have Mr. Trump serve the sentence for each count simultaneously.

Incarceration is not a given: Justice Merchan could instead opt to impose a sentence of probation, with no prison time. Mr. Trump would then be required to regularly report to New York Citys Probation Department. He could also be jailed immediately if he committed additional crimes. ...

There has been no indication yet of what Justice Merchan could decide, though he has made it known that he takes white-collar crime seriously. Mr. Trump has continually attacked and denounced him as biased and corrupt.

All the charges are class E felonies, the least serious, in New York State, and Trump is expected to quickly appeal the verdict and will face an awkward dynamic as he seeks to return to the campaign trail as a convicted felon to face incumbent President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

There are no campaign rallies on the calendar for now, though hes expected to hold fundraisers next week. It will likely take several months for Merchan, who oversaw the case, to decide whether to sentence Trump to prison.

Trump faces three other felony trials, but the New York case may be the only one to reach a conclusion before the November election, adding to the significance of the outcome. Though the legal and historical implications of the verdict are readily apparent, the political consequences are less so given its potential to reinforce rather than reshape already-hardened opinions about Trump.

Thursdays verdict centered on $130,000 in payments that Trumps company made to his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen. He paid that sum on Trumps behalf to keep porn actor Stormy Daniels from going public with her claims of a sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier. Trump has denied the sexual encounter ever happened.

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UPDATE: 2 killed in Ocean County crash, officials say

Two people were seriously injured Thursday afternoon in Jackson after a head-on collision on a busy highway, police said.

A car was traveling west when it entered the eastbound side of East Veterans Highway and smashed into another vehicle, Jackson Township Police Chief Matthew D. Kunz told NJ Advance Media.

Kunz said it was unclear why the car ended up on the wrong side of the road.

Two people were seriously injured in the crash and one was taken to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus while the other was rushed to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, the chief said.

No other information was released Thursday night as the crash was still under investigation by the department and the Ocean County Prosecutors Office.

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Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com.
For many people, visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall in Washington, D.C., is the closest theyll get to closure in Americas most divisive war.

Since its dedication in 1982, countless families, friends, and comrades have made the trip to touch a name on the black granite wall memorializing the 58,000-plus men and women who died or are confirmed missing in action.
Former GOP Congressman Denver Riggleman sounded the alarm about how Donald Trumps conviction Thursday could galvanize the former presidents base to rally behind him.

But that doesnt mean he had kind words for the first U.S. president in history to be a convicted felon.

Hes a coward. And the guy doesnt like to defend himself. He wants other people to do it for him, just like we saw on Jan. 6, Riggleman told Raw Story. The base instinct of Donald Trump is to hide behind the walls of Mar-a-Lago or wherever his homes are and let the sycophants go out there and actually do the battle. So hes scared. Hes a bit of a little boy right now.

Trump was found guilty in his criminal hush-money and election interference trial in Manhattan on Thursday, making him the first former president in history to be a convicted felon.

Trump potentially faces time behind bars after the jury came back with a unanimous verdict among the 34 felony counts he faced.

It was the second day of deliberations Thursday after the panel began the weighty task a day before. The jury deliberated for about 9 1/2 hours total: about 4 1/2 hours Wednesday and five hours Thursday.

The current GOP will rally, though, he warned.

Were gonna see the vice presidential sweepstakes start, and youre gonna see coordinated messaging from the (National Republican Campaign Committee), the (Republican National Committee) and from the (House GOP) whip team. And youre gonna see them coming out with the same exact messaging, he said.

And on whether the conviction would harm Trump in November? Riggleman isnt convinced it will.

I just dont see this having a blip on polling. Not even a blip. Its another day. Just another day, he told the outlet. I just hope that theres still enough gravitas in Congress on the right and the GOP to recognize that theres never been a former president convicted. I think it should disqualify him. And I think the American people should be very wary of a man who refused to testify in his own defense.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
Stay in line or pay the price.

Marylands popular former GOP governor whos now running for U.S. Senate in the blue state, Larry Hogan, has run afoul of Donald Trumps campaign because of what he had to say ahead of the former presidents criminal conviction.

Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leadersregardless of partymust not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law. Hogan, who has to thread the needle as a Republican to oust a Democratic senator in the state, said.

Senior Trump advisor Chris LaCivita wasnt having any of it.

You just ended your campaign. LaCivita posted.

You just ended your campaign https://t.co/LJDuQ4oj0A  Chris LaCivita (@LaCivitaC) May 30, 2024

Hogan easily won his partys nomination for the seat opened by Democratic Sen. Ben Cardins retirement. The Senate race in the solidly Democratic state would normally be a snoozer, but Hogan is a candidate unlike any other Republican.

Over his two terms as governor, Hogan won a significant number of Democratic votes and remained popular among a wide swath of the left-leaning state. Hes been a sharp Trump critic, which endears him to a segment of the Democratic electorate and can blunt attacks from the left. Thats why Senate Republicans wooed him relentlessly to run for the newly open seat, as part of their plan to flip control of the chamber from Democrats, who currently have a two-seat majority.

Candidates with cross-party appeal like Hogan used to be a staple of national politics, but they are fading fast in an era where voters routinely vote on a straight party line rather than for individual politicians. During the last two presidential elections, only one senator  Maine Republican Susan Collins  won a state that also backed a presidential candidate of a different party.

Trump was found guilty in his criminal hush-money and election interference trial in Manhattan on Thursday, making him the first former president in history to be a convicted felon.

Trump potentially faces time behind bars after the jury came back with a unanimous verdict among the 34 felony counts he faced.

It was the second day of deliberations Thursday after the panel began the weighty task a day before. The jury deliberated for about 9 1/2 hours total: about 4 1/2 hours Wednesday and five hours Thursday.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco.
Troubled by crowds of teenagers on Jersey Shore boardwalks over Memorial Day weekend, some local officials are calling for a change to state laws they say prevent cops from adequately dealing with rowdy kids.

Officials in Avalon, Seaside Heights and Sea Isle, as well as the New Jersey State Policemens Benevolent Association, are asking the state to reassess juvenile justice reforms approved in 2020 that limit when police officers can take young people committing minor offenses to the police station.

It is unclear how widespread the problem of teens on the boardwalks is at the Jersey Shore. Wildwood declared a state of emergency over Memorial Day weekend after officials said teens contributed to civil unrest that forced the closure of the boardwalk. However, city officials did not cite any specific incidents involving teenagers or what type of behavior they considered civil unrest.

Ocean City officials said a 15-year-old was stabbed last weekend when groups of teens from three municipalities got into a large fight on the boardwalk. Police issued over 1,300 curbside warnings to juveniles and took 23 teens to the police station, mostly for shoplifting and fights, but did not charge them.

Supporters say the juvenile justice reforms put in place by the state attorney general and Gov. Phil Murphys administration in 2020 have helped cut down on the number of young people, especially Black and Hispanic teens, locked up by cops. But critics say the rules have taken control away from police officers and shielded some teens from taking responsibility for their actions.

The recent juvenile outbursts are a sign that more needs to be done to allow police to protect our communities. This past weekend is just more proof that the law is broken and that there needs to be real consequences for violent, drunken, and dangerous behavior for both juveniles and adults, said Peter Andreyev, president of the New Jersey State Policemens Benevolent Association.

Bail reform needs to be completely rethought and police need the authority to bring violent or inebriated juveniles back to the station for their parents to take responsibility for their actions. Having no consequences for bad behavior has proved itself again to be a failed criminal justice policy, Andreyev said in a statement.

Wildwood, Ocean City and Seaside Heights each had incidents requiring police responses on Saturday or Sunday, ranging from a false alarm about a shooter that sent crowds running to a stabbing of a 15-year-old in a large brawl. Videos on social media showed large fights in some areas and groups of noisy teens on the boardwalks in other areas.

Wildwood police closed the citys boardwalk overnight on Memorial Day and declared a state of emergency. The boardwalk reopened the next morning.

Wildwood will not tolerate unruly, undisciplined, unparented children nor will we stand by while the laws of the state tie the hands of the police. We wholeheartedly support the City of Wildwood Police Department in protecting this community from these nuisance crowds on our boardwalk and in the city, Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr. said Monday in a statement.

He did not say if any teens were arrested or say what behavior was deemed unruly.

Murphy pushed back Tuesday, saying Memorial Day weekend was not chaotic when he answered questions on News 12 New Jerseys Ask Governor Murphy program.

The weekend was overwhelmingly a successful weekend, including even in those towns that had incidents, Murphy said.

The governor said hes heard feedback over the past few years that law enforcement didnt have enough support to go after teenagers committing minor offenses.

Many of the critics of juvenile justice reform rules have been Republican mayors and Jersey Shore officials who say the Democratic governors administration has made it more difficult for their police to deal with teenagers at the Shore.

Murphy said some changes have been made. He signed a law in January that revised some of the circumstances when police officers in New Jersey can be punished for how they deal with juveniles suspected of possessing alcohol or weed.

We think that has put us in a much better place than we were a couple of years ago, Murphy said on the television program.

It takes a village. Its law enforcement, its moms and dads, its the kids themselves, its their coaches, teachers. So lets all come together here and make sure we have a great summer on the Shore and on our lakes, he added.

The law signed in January was a step in the right direction, but it doesnt do enough to allow for our law enforcement agencies to take control of the situation, said Cape May County Commissioner Leonard C. Desiderio, whos also the Republican mayor of Sea Isle City.

While no one, including myself, wants to see our juveniles have a criminal record, we have to give our law enforcement greater opportunity to hold our juvenile wrongdoers accountable, said Desiderio.

The juvenile justice reforms approved in 2020 included a 33-page directive from the state attorney generals office that lists a variety of steps officials should take when dealing with minors in their communities. They include giving face-to-face warnings to juveniles committing minor offense instead of taking them to a police station in many cases.

The directive also said if a young person has damaged property, police should meet with his or her family members at a police station for a station house adjustment and consider writing up an agreement to fix the damage.

In addition to criticizing the new rules issued in 2020, some Shore officials have also questioned the 2021 cannabis legalization law, which downgraded marijuana and alcohol possession offenses for minors.

Social justice advocates argue that law is fair and still provides broad authority for law enforcement to police unlawful conduct.

The goal was to try to interrupt the entry points for youth coming into contact with the legal system and incurring fees and fines, which disproportionately harms youth of color, said ACLU-NJ Policy Director Sarah Fajardo.

Under the law, a person younger than 21 who possesses or consumes six ounces or less of cannabis or marijuana will face a series of written warnings issued by police rather than immediate fines. If the person is under age 18, the persons parent or guardian would also receive written notice. Subsequent offenses would require parental notification and a referral to a community-based service such as drug education or a treatment center.

Law enforcement are still able to provide warnings for possession and if theres rowdy behavior, theres still tools at their disposal to address that, said Fajardo.

While the legislation is well-intended, Avalon Mayor John McCorristin said it simply does not work in Shore communities where the population can surge during the summer season.

The one-size-fits-all approach by the state for enacting juvenile justice reforms fails to support reasonable efforts by law enforcement in beach communities to deal with large crowds, said McCorristin, a Republican.

Avalon and other seashore communities have struggled to recruit and retain summer police officers as juveniles freely express to law enforcement that they know they cannot be touched and have limited abilities to hold juveniles accountable for their actions, the mayor said.

Officials have tried to find other ways to crack down on unruly behavior.

Last year, Ocean City passed an ordinance that allows police officers to detain minors for a wide variety of infractions  including littering, vandalism and setting off illegal fireworks  as breach of peace violations.

Under the local law, teens can be taken to the police station and their parents will be called to pick them up, even if they are not charged.

Other Jersey Shore towns have implemented new rules aimed at teens in recent years, including curfews and early beach closures.

Last year, Seaside Heights passed a resolution closing beaches at 8 p.m. and implementing other restrictions aimed at minors.

Seaside Heights Mayor Anthony Vaz said the borough partnered with Ocean County Prosecutors Office, Ocean County Sheriffs Office, and the regional SWAT team to try and prepare for this years Memorial Day weekend.

We were visible, truly visible, and it still was havoc, said Vaz, a Republican.

The biggest havoc was caused by a false report of shots fired, which caused crowds of people to panic and flee the area, according to video of the scene.

The reports were false, said Vaz. But, the town was still dealing with young people causing problems, he said.

Are we looking to ruin a kids life for kicking over a garbage can? No. Were looking at kids who are totally disrespectful to law enforcement, to local businesses, and to visiting families, said Vaz.

More than 20 Jersey Shore towns have established curfews for the summer season in an effort to prevent beach pop-up parties promoted on social media and disorder on boardwalks. But some officials are saying that local curfews are not enough to solve the problem.

What needs to be done is the mayors from up north, to all the way down to Cape May, we have got to get together and brainstorm, said Vaz.

Lets rewrite the laws so that police have some teeth, Vaz said.

Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com.

Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com.
ANAHEIM, Calif.  Standing at his locker this week, Aaron Judge needed a few seconds to make sure that he answered a challenging question exactly how he wanted.

A what if was posed to the Yankees captain prior to Wednesday nights game at Angel Stadium.
NEW YORK  Ive lost count of how many times the Mets have almost earned the title as the worst team money could buy. Yep, thats my award. No one, however, has matched the 1992 club for catastrophic, dollar-for-dollar failure.

Fear not, Jeff Torborg, Bobby Bonilla, Vince Coleman, Eddie Murray and Bret Saberhagen (among others). Your place in Flushing history remains untouched.
ANAHEIM, Calif.  Yankees pitcher Clarke Schmidt looked like he was in a good mood roaming the clubhouse after Wednesday nights 2-1 win at Angel Stadium. The righty was smiling while making some small talk with NJ Advance Media.

Hes apparently good at hiding concern because he had an MRI earlier in the day on his pitching arm.
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Attorney General Todd Rokita is threatening to sue the cities of East Chicago and Gary if they do not immediately repeal their "Welcoming City" ordinances.

The Republican, originally from Munster, claims in a letter sent to the common council of each city that the ordinances  which let immigrants in danger know they can seek assistance from the police without worrying about whether they'll be asked about their immigration status  violate Indiana's 2011 prohibition on sanctuary cities.

"Unless the ordinance has been repealed on or before July 1, 2024, probable cause will exist to bring an action against (the city) to compel its compliance with Indiana law  and I will do so," Rokita said.

In 2022, the Indiana Supreme Court dismissed a sanctuary city claim against Gary following five years of litigation after the five Republican-appointed justices concluded the four Indiana residents who filed suit against the Steel City lacked sufficient standing since they've suffered no injury due to Gary's ordinance.

That lawsuit, and a similar sanctuary city claim against East Chicago dismissed by the Indiana Court of Appeals, both were supported by Rokita's office, and each was argued by prominent conservative attorney James Bopp Jr. of Terre Haute, who now works for Rokita as a contract attorney, records show.

Earlier this year, however, the Republican-controlled General Assembly approved Senate Enrolled Act 181 to bypass the standing issue that tripped up those cases.

It grants the attorney general sole power to enforce Indiana's sanctuary city ban, even as Rokita campaigns for reelection alongside Republican presidential candidate and convicted felon Donald Trump, whose anti-immigrant policies inspired Gary and East Chicago to adopt their "Welcoming City" ordinances in the first place.

Rokita's case, if filed, likely will hinge on how certain words and phrases in the ordinances are defined compared to the state statute prohibiting municipal non-cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

But, as applied, the ordinances have not prevented federal authorities from using Gary's city-owned airport for deportation flights, nor have Rokita's political allies in Texas bused any migrants to either Region city as Texas officials have to Chicago and other explicit sanctuary cities elsewhere.

Democratic Gary Mayor Eddie Melon said he will work with the council to figure out how to respond to Rokita's letter. Though Melton said it's unfortunate the General Assembly continues enacting laws targeting Gary that do nothing to help him move the city forward.

"As mayor of Gary, all I want is to create opportunities for my community to flourish. Unfortunately, within the first six months of my administration we have repeatedly experienced unwarranted attacks and been dragged into national political debates around immigration and guns," Melton said.

"These distractions take away from the hard work the governor and I are doing together to rebuild the city of Gary. I respectfully ask Attorney General Todd Rokita to help us out or leave us alone."

East Chicago Mayor Anthony Copeland, a Democrat, did not respond to a request for comment on Rokita's letter.

Rokita also sent similar lawsuit threats to West Lafayette and Monroe County.

Gallery: Indiana historical markers in the Region First Physician Great Sauk (Sac) Trail St. John's Lutheran Church Tolleston Dutch in the Calumet Region St. John Township School, District #2 The Lincoln Highway/The Ideal Section The Lincoln Highway/The Ideal Section Froebel School - side 1 Froebel School Stewart Settlement House Stewart Settlement House Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law Origin of Dr. MLK Day Law Bailly Homestead Iron Brigade Willow Creek Confrontation Ogden ski jump.jpg Teale 1.jpg Teale 2.jpg Steel 1.jpg Steel 2.jpg Civil War camps.jpg Old lighthouse.jpg Railroad.jpg Camp Anderson.jpg Boundary line 1.jpg Boundary line 2.jpg LaPorte courthouse 1.jpg LaPorte courthouse 2.jpg Carnegie 1.jpg Carnegie 2.jpg Rumely Co 1.jpg Rumely Co 2.jpg Lincoln train 1.jpg Lincoln train 2.jpg LaPorte university 1.jpg Laporte university 2.jpg Gary Roosevelt 1 Gary Roosevelt 2 Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 1.jpg Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus 2.jpg
At 5:06 p.m. on Thursday, shortly after NBC News broke in with a special report, Savannah Guthrie and Lester Holt told viewers that a verdict in the first criminal trial against an American president was imminent. After weeks of dramatic testimony that, with no cameras in the courtroom, made little impact on TV, the tension spilled onto the airwaves all at once.

Oh, here we go, Ms. Guthrie said abruptly, as the off-camera voice of Laura Jarrett, NBCs senior legal correspondent, could be heard in the background. Guys! We need to go, Ms. Jarrett said. We need to go.

Go, Ms. Guthrie exhorted. The camera jumped to Ms. Jarrett, outside a Manhattan courthouse, who over the next 87 spellbinding seconds read off each count, one by one, followed by the same two-syllable verdict:

Guilty.
Jump to: Tricky Clues

FRIDAY PUZZLE  When Will Shortz became crossword editor at The New York Times in 1993, he vowed to freshen up what had been largely seen by the public as a stodgy, uber-intellectual endeavor. To do that, he encouraged younger constructors to submit puzzles with contemporary entries and clues. In fact, he has published the work of more teenage constructors than the three puzzle editors before him did  63 out of the 70 whose puzzles have run since The Times began offering crosswords in 1942.

Make that 64 out of 71, as Aidan Deshong joins that illustrious club: He will graduate a week after his Times debut and will be headed to college in the fall. Congratulations, Mr. Deshong. Thats what Id call a big month.
Times Insider explains who we are and what we do and delivers behind-the-scenes insights into how our journalism comes together.

When you walk into the Popcast (Deluxe) recording studio on the second floor of the New York Times office in Manhattan, the first thing you notice is two colorful chairs in the center of the room with black microphones perched on the seat backs.

We were thinking elevated basement, said Jon Caramanica, a pop music critic for The New York Times and a host of the show, a weekly culture review on YouTube. Its a little Waynes World.

Mr. Caramanica and his co-host, the Times pop music reporter Joe Coscarelli, picked out the furniture for their studio at Horseman Antiques on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. The chairs are among many quirky personal touches theyve added to the space  books, photography from their work at The Times, lots of junk food  that, like the show, blend a highbrow and lowbrow aesthetic.

Both Mr. Caramanica, 48, and Mr. Coscarelli, 35, were treading new ground when they began hosting Popcast (Deluxe), The Timess first video podcast, together one year ago. The show is a spinoff of Popcast, a weekly pop music podcast that Mr. Caramanica has hosted since 2016. For the deluxe version with a broader view of pop culture, the idea was to take something that was already working  the easy and playful rapport between Mr. Caramanica and Mr. Coscarelli, a frequent Popcast guest  and adapt it for YouTube, a video platform that podcasts were increasingly moving into.
This February, Anthony Scalici discarded a fork in Florida. Detectives from New York and Florida had been watching him for weeks, waiting for a chance to get a sample of his DNA.

Fifteen years before, Mr. Scalicis uncle had been found stabbed to death in a pool of blood in the hallway of his Queens home. But the blood of an unidentified male had also been found at the scene.

The police recovered the fork, tested it, and found that Mr. Scalicis DNA matched the blood from the murder scene, as well as DNA that had been found under his uncles fingernail, according to Queens prosecutors.

Mr. Scalici, 41, was arraigned Thursday morning in Queens Supreme Court on a second-degree murder charge in the killing of his uncle Rosario Prestigiacomo, 64, according to a news release by Melinda Katz, the Queens district attorney.
For years, prosecutors debated, fought and even, in at least two cases, resigned over the fate of the Manhattan district attorneys investigation into Donald J. Trump. Some legal experts predicted it would be the downfall of the district attorney, Alvin L. Bragg.

But on Thursday, a jury swiftly and decisively vindicated the risky strategy that Mr. Bragg employed to bring 34 felony counts against the former president.

Prosecutors were helped by state election law, two judges who allowed their novel legal theory to proceed and their ability to make the most of a high-risk witness, Mr. Trumps former fixer, Michael D. Cohen.

The jurys verdict  guilty on all 34 felony counts  represented a landmark victory for Mr. Bragg, who claimed a place in history as the first prosecutor to indict, prosecute and convict a former U.S. president.
A former criminology professor who specialized in social deviancy and went on an arson spree was sentenced on Thursday to more than five years in prison after he admitted to setting four fires in California in 2021, prosecutors said.

Judge Daniel J. Calabretta of U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California sentenced the man, Gary Stephen Maynard, 49, of San Jose, Calif., to 63 months in prison, court records show. He pleaded guilty to three counts of arson on federal property in February.

Prosecutors said that Mr. Maynard had admitted to setting a series of four fires in July and August 2021, including one behind firefighters who were already battling the Dixie fire, which burned more than 960,000 acres and was one of the largest wildfires in California history. Once out of prison, he will be on supervised release for three years and must pay more than $13,000 in restitution, according to prosecutors.

Mr. Maynard had initially faced four counts of arson when he was indicted in November 2021, according to prosecutors. One count was dismissed as part of a plea agreement, court records show.
A police officer was killed in a series of shootings on Thursday afternoon in Minneapolis that left two other people dead, including the gunman, city officials said. Three people were injured, including another police officer and a firefighter.

Police officers were responding to a shooting at an apartment complex in Whittier, a neighborhood south of downtown, in which one person was killed and another person was injured, Drew Evans, the superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said at a news conference. The authorities did not identify the gunman or the motive.

Later, one of the officers, Jamal Mitchell, was shot and killed about two blocks from the apartment complex, Mr. Evans said. Officer Mitchell had been heading toward the site of the first shooting when he got out of his car to provide medical assistance to an injured person, Mr. Evans said. That person shot Officer Mitchell in an ambush, Mr. Evans said.

A bystander was shot at that location, and was in critical condition, Mr. Evans added. A firefighter was also injured in the gunfire.
Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. on Thursday declined requests to have Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack after provocative flags flew on the justices properties.

The justices make those calls on their own, Chief Justice Roberts wrote in a letter to Democratic senators.

Members of the Supreme Court recently reaffirmed the practice we have followed for 235 years pursuant to which individual justices decide recusal issues, he wrote.
WinRed, the payment processor for Republican campaign donations, crashed after former President Donald J. Trumps felony conviction, a technical issue that his campaign attributed to the number of people trying to donate in the immediate aftermath of the verdict.

So many Americans were moved to donate to President Trumps campaign that the WinRed pages went down, the Trump campaign said in a statement on social media.

The website no longer shows an error message when visiting the donation page for Trumps campaign, though it is unclear if the website is properly functioning and processing donations. The Trump campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Mr. Trump began soliciting donations off his felony conviction almost immediately after the verdict was read from the Manhattan courthouse. In statements on his social media website, Truth Social, Mr. Trump posted links to the campaigns website; it redirected to the WinRed page, which was not working properly.
Jac Venza, a shoemakers son who almost single-handedly delivered to the proverbial vast wasteland that was American television in the 1960s and 70s an oasis of cultural programming, including Great Performances and Live From Lincoln Center, died on Tuesday at his home in Lyme, Conn. He was 97.

His death was confirmed by his spouse, Daniel D. Routhier.

Mr. Venza never attended college. As an actor, he pronounced himself dreadful. As an aspiring artist, he began his career in Chicago by designing scenery for the Goodman Theater and window displays for the Mandel Brothers department store. But while still in his 30s, he began playing a vital role in bringing art to public television.

He was working as a television producer when he was asked to collaborate with other TV innovators assembled by the Ford Foundation in the early 1960s to transform a limited service that generated no original programming into National Educational Television, the forerunner of the Public Broadcasting Service.

While his fellow producers and other media experts were mulling how best to educate the viewing public through a nonprofit network, Mr. Venza recalled, he volunteered, Why dont we entertain them, too?
Its fall 1945, just after the end of World War II. Maisie has been asked to investigate the four orphaned teens who are squatting in the vacant, once-grand London mansion where she worked as a maid years ago. There, she inadvertently stumbles onto a decades-old mystery involving her first husband, who died while test-piloting an airplane.

Maisies life will be forever changed by what she discovers: Truth had at last come to the surface, had eased itself from the boundaries of the past as if it were a splinter rising up through skin. Winspear gives Maisie the grace to face her pain, and wraps up the series with a deft touch.
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NORTH KOREA: The Peoples Paradise, by Tariq Zaidi

A woman pokes her head out from a hidden room at the Kumgangsan Hotel  a place known for hosting reunions between families from North and South Korea  disrupting the sweeping autumnal landscape painted on the wall.

The image, reproduced by Tariq Zaidi in NORTH KOREA: The Peoples Paradise (Kehrer Verlag, 176 pp., $50), offers a metaphor for a country shrouded in secrecy. North Koreas daily existence has been largely shielded from Western eyes; the state has halted nearly all tourism since it closed its borders early in the Covid-19 pandemic. Those who are granted entry are subject to extreme surveillance.
The criminal justice system finally caught up to Donald Trump.

He has spent decades on the edge of legal trouble. First, he was a New York businessman whose company violated discrimination laws, failed to repay debts and flirted with bankruptcy. Then, he was a president who impeded an investigation of his 2016 campaign, tried to overturn the result of his re-election defeat and refused to return classified documents he took from the White House.

Throughout, his central strategy was the same: delay. Try to push off legal problems for as long as possible and hope that a solution somehow presented itself. It usually worked, too. And it seemed to be on the verge of working again this year, with two federal trials and one state trial in Georgia all unlikely to finish before Election Day.

Yesterday, however, a criminal jury judged Trump for the first time. The verdict was guilty, 34 times, pronounced late in the afternoon in downtown Manhattan. The prosecutors argued that Trump had falsified business records to hide a sexual affair from voters and corrupt the 2016 election. After two days of deliberation, the 12 jurors agreed. Trump has become the first former president of the United States to be a convicted felon.

Yes, the caveats are important. He will appeal, and some legal experts think he has a case, given the novel combination of accusations that the prosecutors made. It is unclear when, or even if, he will go to prison. Most important, nobody knows whether it will help or hurt his presidential campaign.
An arbitrator ruled in Netflixs favor in a high-profile dispute between the streaming giant and the Hollywood director Carl Erik Rinsch over a science-fiction series that never aired, awarding the company nearly $9 million in damages.

Mr. Rinsch had sold Netflix the television show, Conquest, near the height of the streaming boom in 2018, but he never delivered any episodes. Netflix had to write off the $55 million it had spent on the project  a fiasco that became a symbol of the era of profligate spending that Hollywood studios are trying to put behind them as they focus on increasing profits rather than simply adding subscribers.

Netflix canceled the development of Conquest in early 2021 after Mr. Rinschs behavior turned erratic. In texts and emails to Netflix executives, he claimed to have discovered Covid-19s secret transmission mechanism and told his wife, a producer on the show, that he could predict earthquakes and lightning strikes.
When officials from many of the worlds biggest oil-producing countries meet on Sunday, their menu of options for managing the market may be limited.

Over the past two years, the group known as OPEC Plus has agreed to a succession of cuts to oil output. The oil producers assumption has been that these trims would be temporary, but they have begun to take on an air of permanence as prices have been relatively subdued. Any relaxation of cuts would risk sinking prices in what looks like a soft market, analysts say.

It is a frustrating situation for oil producers like Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, which could pump additional crude, bolstering their budgets. Thats where the discomfort for some members comes, said Richard Bronze, head of geopolitics at Energy Aspects, a research firm. How do we get out of this cycle?

Mr. Bronze said OPEC Plus would most likely agree on Sunday to extend voluntary cuts of 2.2 million barrels a day by eight of the groups members, including Saudi Arabia and Russia. Saudi Arabias oil minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, who is expected to lead the meeting, relishes surprises, so other outcomes are possible.
When a withering financial crisis forced Greece to rethink its economy a decade ago, it bet big on green power. Since then, Greeces energy transition has been so swift it almost feels utopian, one Greek environmentalist said.

Mountainous ridgelines and arid islands are covered in wind turbines and solar panels that today provide nearly two-thirds of the nations electricity.

But now Greece is deliberately pivoting back toward fossil fuels, just not to burn at home. This time its betting that it can become one of Europes main suppliers of natural gas, with much of it shipped from the United States.

Both Greek and European Union subsidies have funded new pipelines that crisscross the country and connect to a brand-new import terminal that will send gas to a broad swath of Central and Eastern Europe for decades to come.
From our review:

Director Thea Hvistendahl wisely takes her time getting to any real action. Instead, with a slow-moving camera and plenty of filtered sunlight, she conjures a dreamlike state, the sense of hanging between planes of existence that tends to accompany those who grieve. There are times when the film veers too near the maudlin for comfort, but it always finds its way back to something spare and meaningful. What would you do, the story gently asks, if your fondest and most impossible wish was granted, and you realized it wasnt at all what youd hoped it would be?
For decades, New Jerseys congressional and U.S. Senate primary elections were typically low-drama affairs. But this years dozen contests involve considerable intrigue.

Among the unexpected factors in the June 4 contests: the corruption trial of Senator Robert Menendez, who bowed out of the Democratic primary but has suggested he might run as an independent in November; and a court ruling that forced Democrats to redesign election ballots across the state.

Seven candidates are vying to replace Senator Menendez, a Democrat who is standing trial in Manhattan. And his fate has had considerable impact on two down-ballot races as well. In the Eighth Congressional District, a freshman congressman  Senator Menendezs son, Representative Rob Menendez  is facing strong competition when he had been expected to coast to a second term. And in the Third District, a pair of former political allies are fighting for the House seat that became open when the incumbent, Representative Andy Kim, jumped into the Senate race.

The ballot design ruling will affect every Democratic primary in the state, after a federal judge barred the party from using a longstanding layout called the line, which gave prominent placement to candidates endorsed by party leaders. (Republicans, who were not party to the lawsuit that led to the decision, are free to continue using it.)
After a five-year investigation and a seven-week trial, Donald J. Trump was convicted on Thursday of falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal. But that will not be the last word on the case.

Mr. Trump declared on Friday that he would appeal the landmark verdict, suggesting his lawyers had several grounds.

Well be appealing this scam, he said at a rambling news conference at Trump Tower in Manhattan. Well be appealing it on many different things. He wouldnt allow us to have witnesses or have us talk or allow us to do anything. The judge was a tyrant.

The appeals process is not swift, and could take months or more to resolve, all but ensuring that Mr. Trump will remain a felon when voters head to the polls in November.
For weeks in a Lower Manhattan courthouse, prosecutors brought one witness after another who testified about various aspects of a broad scheme to help Donald J. Trump get elected president by buying damaging stories about him and concealing them from the American public.

On Thursday, the jury agreed with the prosecutions case, finding Mr. Trump guilty on all charges that he faced: 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in connection with that effort. Mr. Trump is now the first person who has served as commander in chief to be convicted of a crime.

Central to the case was a $130,000 payment made days before the election to a porn star, Stormy Daniels, who said she had had sex with Mr. Trump a decade earlier, and his reimbursements to his former fixer, Michael D. Cohen, who had paid her off. Mr. Trump was convicted of falsifying business records to try to hide his payments to Mr. Cohen.
Last week a visibly cold Rishi Sunak stood in front of No. 10 Downing Street in a downpour to announce the date of the general election  July 4, months earlier than expected  to an indifferent nation. Now is the moment for Britain to choose its future, Mr. Sunak said, as water soaked into his suit.

That it doesnt seem to have occurred to his team to hold the event inside, or even give him an umbrella, does rather symbolize the state his Conservative Party finds itself in. Perhaps Mr. Sunak, his party now routinely polling more than 20 points behind the opposition Labour Party, has given up and wants to get it over with. Or maybe it was because another expected round of election-bribe tax cuts in September looked less plausible, given recent financial forecasts, and so the thought of grimly hanging on until the fall suddenly seemed much less attractive.

Either way, by bringing the election forward, Mr. Sunak has played his last card. This damp and deflated moment will probably be the beginning of the end for Mr. Sunak's career in British politics, after a swift, almost dizzying rise to the top. And his legacy may be the reminder that it can be a very bad idea to get everything you want too soon.

Mr. Sunak became a member of Parliament in 2015 after a successful career in finance and publicly backed Leave in the Brexit referendum when many of the partys up-and-comers had stayed loyal to the party leadership and backed Remain. That proved to be a smart career decision. By 2018 he had his first ministerial position, and by 2019  after co-writing a sycophantic newspaper article for The Times of London, The Tories Are in Deep Peril. Only Boris Johnson Can Save Us  he was chief secretary to the Treasury in Mr. Johnsons government. After Mr. Johnson had an explosive row with his chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Sunak was installed as a compliant and numerate alternative.
When an opinion article published in the British weekly The Spectator last week questioned the desirability of Penelope Featherington, a character in the Netflix series Bridgerton played by the Irish actress Nicola Coughlan, it touched off a firestorm of objection. People rushed to criticize the claim that her pairing with Colin Bridgerton, the chiseled and handsome leading man played by Luke Newton, would never happen in real life because her character isnt thin.

After the shows third season debuted on Netflix this month, fans were offended by what they saw as body shaming in the piece, which bluntly stated that Ms. Coughlan is not hot, and theres no escaping it. The article concluded by arguing that efforts to prioritize equality and diversity arent enough to make a fat girl who wins the prince remotely plausible.

Many pointed out that Ms. Coughlan wouldnt even be considered fat by many  descriptors like plump and curvy came up often  but others online still echoed the same point made in the article. One Threads user wrote that she was not used to seeing a woman like Penelope get the guy like Colin and that it wouldnt have happened in real life, which was met with a flurry of responses by plus-size women sharing images of themselves, happily coupled.

Danielle Wallace, a plus-size woman from Houston, said in a phone interview that while she wasnt an avid watcher of the show, she had felt compelled to join the chorus of objectors under the post, as a woman happily engaged to a man who loves her.
I was flying from Boston, where I grew up, back to Michigan, where I had moved five years earlier to live with my boyfriend, Steve. As I reached for a packet of pretzels from the flight attendant, she grabbed my left hand and said, Oh, your ring is beautiful. Are you engaged?

Yes, I said. It was easier than explaining.

I was relieved that she didnt pursue the subject, ask when I was to be married. I would have had to say, never, because my fiance, Steve, was dead. He had never even been my fiance, really.

I had met Steve in New York State where we had both been working temporary jobs, him as an electrician traveling for a union job, and me bartending at the Hitching Post in Wappingers Falls, a post-college stint to save money for a backpacking trip across Europe.

At the Hitching Post, Steve and I hitched up. He was tall and lanky, muscular from pulling wire all day at industrial construction sites. With his mop of blonde curls and sleepy blue eyes, he was handsome in a way that caught peoples attention. When we walked in public, it was Steve who people turned toward heliotropically.
Southern Baptists will vote on whether to oppose in vitro fertilization when they meet in Indianapolis for their annual meeting in June, as anti-abortion activists seek to gain new ground after the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

It will be the first time that the largest Protestant denomination in America will ask representatives of its tens of thousands of member churches to consider such a proposal, according to Southern Baptist Convention officials. The outcome of the vote could lead to a declaration that I.V.F. is morally unacceptable, advancing the fetal personhood movement and causing turmoil for evangelical families who rely on fertility treatments.

Until now, when it comes to pregnancy, a primary focus of the denomination has been working to end abortion. When Southern Baptist leaders released on Friday the slate of pending resolutions that delegates will consider next month, one on the list would lay groundwork reminiscent of an Alabama Supreme Court justices ruling earlier this year, saying that under the states laws, frozen embryos are to be considered children.
A retired four-star admiral was arrested on Friday on charges that he took part in a bribery scheme while commanding American naval forces in Europe, Russia and most of Africa, the Justice Department said.

Federal prosecutors said that Robert P. Burke, 62, of Coconut Creek, Fla., who was once the Navys second-highest-ranking officer, steered a government contract to a company in exchange for a job at the firm with a yearly base salary of $500,000 and a grant of 100,000 stock options.

The two co-chief executives of the company, Yongchul Kim, 50, who is known as Charlie, and Meghan Messenger, 47, both of New York, were also arrested and charged with taking part in the scheme, the Justice Department said.

The company, which was not named in federal court documents, provided a work force training pilot program to a small part of the Navy from August 2018 through July 2019 until the Navy terminated its contract in late 2019 and directed it not to contact Admiral Burke, the Justice Department said.
The top four congressional leaders formally invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel on Friday to address a joint meeting of Congress, in a show of bipartisan unity that masked a fraught behind-the-scenes debate over receiving him.

The invitation, which set no date, came amid deep political divides in the United States over the war between Israel and Hamas, which has intensified after Israels recent attacks in Rafah.

Speaker Mike Johnson had been pressing to issue the invitation for weeks, seeking to hug Mr. Netanyahu closer as some Democrats, particularly progressives, repudiate him and condemn his tactics in the war, which have caused tens of thousands of civilian casualties in Gaza and a humanitarian disaster for Palestinians.

Republicans have unequivocally backed Mr. Netanyahus policies, while Democrats, many of whom view his far-right government as an impediment to peace, have been deeply split over them. On Friday, Mr. Biden called for a permanent cease-fire and said, Its time for this war to end.
Darren Van Dreel, a 58-year-old electrician from Oshkosh, Wis., has followed the twists and turns of the investigations into former President Donald Trump over the years: the Mueller report, two impeachments and a flurry of criminal cases, most of which have been mired in delays.

So on Thursday evening, while he and his wife, Misty McPhee, were on a long drive from Wisconsin to the Washington, D.C., area, there was only one thing to do when the verdict came in.

I high-fived my wife, said a grinning Van Dreel, as he waited for a sandwich on Friday morning in the liberal Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, Va. I was just so pleasantly surprised that finally somebodys holding him accountable.

When a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records on Thursday, Trumps campaign declared that the country had fallen, and his allies painted a picture of a nation consumed by rage. His supporters flooded corners of the internet with angry imagery (more on that below), and echoed his claims that the verdict was illegitimate.
Just six minutes after the jury in Manhattan found the former president guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia posted an image of the upside-down flag on social media. The post had been viewed more than 1.8 million times in a matter of hours.

That same picture was soon posted on Telegram by Ali Alexander, one of the primary organizers of the campaign to convince voters that the 2020 election had been rigged, along with the caption No one is coming to save us. Guy Benson, a Fox News contributor, posted one too.

The response was not limited to public figures, and many lower-profile Americans were posting photographs of actual flipped flags suspended from poles outside their homes. The accompanying text generally pointed to the flag serving as an act of protest against the verdict, the American justice system, President Biden and the so-called Deep State.

The inverted stars-and-stripes was not the only protest banner proliferating online after the jurys conviction. Many people loyal to Mr. Trump took to social media on Thursday to say that they had adopted the Appeal to Heaven flag, a Revolutionary War era symbol referring to a phrase by the philosopher John Locke.
Typically quiet Santa Catalina Island, off the coast of Los Angeles, erupted in tumult last fall over a bold proposal to kill all the deer on the island using sharpshooters in helicopters.

The Catalina Island Conservancy, the nonprofit group that owns 88 percent of the island, said that the 2,000 deer on the island were ravaging native plants, hurting the ecology of the island and making it highly susceptible to fires. But many Catalina residents found the proposal shocking and inhumane, and began signing petitions and staging protests.

Now, conservancy leaders have stepped back from their plan.

Sort of.

In response to concerns from residents and from elected leaders in Los Angeles County, the conservancy said this week that it had dropped its proposal to kill the deer by aerial hunting. But its scientists are considering other ways to get rid of them.

Were still dedicated to doing this  we have to remove these deer in order to restore Catalina Island, Lauren Dennhardt, the lead conservationist on the island, told me on Thursday. We know that, out of any conservation action that should happen in California, this is the one thats going to have the greatest biodiversity impact. So were dedicated to getting it done, even if the path bends and weaves a little bit.
The 81-year-old man who was arrested last week, accused of a decade-long string of vandalism with a slingshot in Azusa, Calif., died on Wednesday.

The man, Prince Raymond King, died of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease, the Los Angeles County medical examiners office reported. It described the manner of death as natural.

Mr. King faced five counts of felony vandalism and two misdemeanor vandalism charges.

Upon Mr. Kings arrest last week, the police described him as a serial slingshot shooter. They said that a slingshot and ball bearings were found on his property, which was on the same block where the crimes were carried out.

Neighbors had reported damage to car and house windows for years. Some had reported pellets narrowly missing them. Neighbors had collected pellets found in their yards over the years and paid hundreds of dollars to repair broken windows.
The Texas Supreme Court on Friday unanimously rejected a challenge to the states strict abortion ban, ruling against a group of 22 women and abortion providers who sought to expand the exceptions for medical emergencies under the law.

While the challenge will continue in trial court, the states attorney general, Ken Paxton, would almost certainly appeal any loss there, and the high courts decision Friday made clear that he would ultimately prevail.

I will continue to defend the laws enacted by the Legislature and uphold the values of the people of Texas by doing everything in my power to protect mothers and babies, Mr. Paxton said in a statement.

The lawsuit, filed by the Center for Reproductive Rights, was the first on behalf of women denied abortions after the United States Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago. While the case revolves around the question of what counts as an exception  unlike other lawsuits, it did not seek to overturn a state ban  it has changed the political debate around abortion by underscoring the potentially devastating medical consequences of abortion bans even for women who were not seeking to end unwanted pregnancies.
Birubala Rabha, an Indian social activist who fought the practice of branding women as witches in the countrys remote northeast, died on May 13 in Guwahati, the capital of Assam State in that region. She was 75.

Her death, in a hospital, was caused by cancer, her assistant, Usha Rabha, said in an interview. (They were not related.)

So-called witch hunting has been a scourge throughout India, preying on mostly village women who are often single, widowed or otherwise isolated and involved in property or marital disputes. Accused of being witches, they have been tortured and in many cases murdered; from 2010 to 2021, more than 1,500 were killed in India, according to the countrys National Crime Records Bureau.

Ms. Rabha, a slight, bespectacled woman who was born poor in an Assam village, faced down mobs for her work, badgered the police and pushed for legal protection for women. Her efforts were rewarded when legislation outlawing witch hunting was passed in Assam State in 2015. Cases there have dropped sharply, to a few per year from the several a month that were being reported when she began her campaign in the early 2000s, said Usha Rabha, who worked at Mission Birubala, the nongovernmental organization that Birubala Rabha founded.
The world does not vote in American presidential elections. Nor do its jurors play a part in the American judicial system. Nevertheless, the conviction of Donald J. Trump on all 34 felony counts in a hush-money trial in a New York court on Thursday has again made clear how consequential what happens in the United States is for the rest of the planet.

Many America-watchers are grappling with the same questions posed by people in the United States: Can Mr. Trump still run for president? (Yes.) And if so, will the guilty verdicts cut into the support from his political base? (Unclear.)

Foreign observers also began wondering if Mr. Trump, already a volatile force, would become even less likely to stay within the guardrails of normal politics and diplomacy if he won the presidency again in November.

Mr. Trumps supporters in anti-immigrant, right-wing nationalist circles abroad quickly jumped to his defense. Viktor Orban, Hungarys Kremlin-friendly prime minister, called Mr. Trump a man of honor in a post on X and said the American people should deliver their own verdict in November.
The Asia-Pacific region remains the security priority for the Biden administration, the U.S. secretary of defense, Lloyd J. Austin III, said on Saturday, while maintaining that Beijing and Washington could keep their competition from spiraling into war.

For over two years, the Pentagon has been focused on supporting Ukraine, and later on containing risks in the Middle East as Israeli forces fight Hamas. But Chinas growing military is the pacing challenge, Pentagon planners have said  meaning the key relationship that, if badly managed or neglected, could pull the United States into war.

Mr. Austin sought to assure a meeting of diplomats and defense officials in Singapore that Washington could handle those multiple global demands.

Of course, were not operating in a vacuum, Mr. Austin said in a speech to the annual meeting, called the Shangri-La Dialogue. But despite these historic clashes in Europe and the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific has remained our priority theater of operations.
The decision by the Biden administration to allow Ukraine to strike inside Russia with American-made weapons fulfills a long-held wish by officials in Kyiv that they claimed was essential to level the playing field.

The shift in policy followed declarations from nearly a dozen European governments and Canada that their weapons could be used to fire into Russia.

Freed from those constraints, Ukraine can strike into Russia with SCALP missiles from France and, potentially soon, the identical Storm Shadow missiles supplied by Britain. Although the British foreign minister, David Cameron, said on May 3 that Ukraine should be able to attack Russia with Western weapons, London has not yet given its full permission, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine told The Guardian in an interview published on Friday.

The SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles have a range of about 150 miles and are fired from Ukraines aging fleet of Soviet-designed fighter jets.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken left open the possibility on Friday that President Biden could allow Ukraine to use U.S.-made weapons to strike at a broader array of targets inside Russia, going beyond attacks he has approved on launch sites the Russians are using for their current assault on the Kharkiv area.

Going forward, well continue to do what weve been doing, which is: As necessary, adapt and adjust, Mr. Blinken said at a news conference in Prague at the end of a two-day meeting of top diplomats from member nations of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

Mr. Blinken was responding to a reporters question on whether the United States might give permission for Ukraine to use U.S.-made weapons to strike deeper into Russia. The phrase adapt and adjust is one that Mr. Blinken used in a news conference on Wednesday in Chisinau, Moldova, to suggest that Mr. Biden was about to make a major policy shift and grant Ukraine permission to use the weapons to strike in Russia, as Ukrainian and European leaders had been urging for weeks.

American officials then said on Thursday that Mr. Biden had made that decision in recent days and told the Ukrainians, but that the permission to strike in Russia was limited to sites the Russians were using for the assault on Kharkiv. U.S. officials said the ban on Ukraines using weapons for long range attacks in Russia had not changed.
Lt. Denys Yaroslavsky, a Ukrainian intelligence officer, was visiting military positions near the Russian border on Friday when he met an artillery commander whose American-made howitzer was pointed toward Russia.

The commander was in a buoyant mood, Lieutenant Yaroslavsky said, recounting the episode. Russian territory was within range. He was happy, and he said, Now we can finally hit them.

For weeks Ukrainian officials had cited the need to remove the shackles on their commanders as they appealed to allies to allow a more effective defense, using Western weaponry. That consent finally came in a significant way on Thursday when the United States amended its policy after months of resistance, saying Ukraine could use American-provided weapons to hit military targets in Russia.

The shift is narrow in scope, granting Ukraine permission to use American air defense systems, guided rockets and artillery to fire into Russia only along Ukraines northeastern border. Fighting has been raging there near the city of Kharkiv for the past three weeks after Russian troops poured over the border to open a new front in the war.
The Israeli military said on Friday that its forces had advanced into central Rafah, pushing even more deeply into the southern Gaza city despite an international backlash and pressure from allies to scale back the latest offensive and agree to a cease-fire.

Israeli special forces were engaging in intelligence-based targeted raids in central Rafah, the Israeli military said in a statement. It added that troops were performing focused and low-intensity operations in the city. On Wednesday, the military announced that it had established operational control over the border zone with Egypt, an eight-mile-long strip known as the Philadelphi Corridor on the outskirts of Rafah.

Commercially available satellite imagery taken by Planet Labs on Thursday showed that the Israeli military had set up positions in parts of central Rafah, while military vehicles and tanks could be seen as far as the outskirts of the Tel al-Sultan area in western Rafah.

As the fighting raged in Gaza, President Biden said Friday in Washington that it was time to end the war and bring about a cease-fire. At this point, Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another Oct. 7, Mr. Biden said from the White House. Its time for this war to end, for the day after to begin.
Powered by a Soviet tank engine and weighing over 5 tons, the Panzerbike is by far the worlds heaviest rideable motorcycle.

The story of the worlds heaviest motorcycle can be traced back to 2003. Brothers Tilo and Wilfried Niebel of the Harzer Bike motorcycle shop in Zilly, Germany, were in Halberstadt where a former Red Army Barracks was being demolished. The two tinkerers have always been of the opinion that old materials can be repurposed, not just discarded, so they were there looking for parts to use in their custom motorcycles. While looking around, the two brothers found an impressive cutaway model of a Soviet T-55 tank engine and were so fascinated by it that they asked if they could have it. Little did they know that this would be the beginning of a very special project that would see them claim a Guinness Record and hold it for nearly two decades.

Photo: Harzer Bike Shmiede

Tilo and Wilfried took the cutaway tank engine model home with them, and as they kept inspecting its inner workings almost every day, an idea started to take shape in their heads. Could they build a functional motorcycle powered by an actual T-55 tank engine? After careful deliberation, they decided it was worth a try. But first, they had to find a working engine, as the cutaway they had couldnt be used. It took three years to finally find one in Mecklenburg, and after buying it, the two motorcycle enthusiasts basically locked themselves in their shop for a year building the behemoth the world would come to know as Panzerbike.

Interestingly, the worlds heaviest rideable motorcycle is named after the German Panzer tank, it was built in Germany by Germans, but it is made up mostly of Soviet parts. The 38,000 cc T-55 engine comes from a Soviet tank, the giant sidecar was cut out of the transport case of a Russian medium-range missile, and the headlight comes from a Soviet border security point operated by the German Democratic Republic (GDR) during the Cold War.

Photo: Harzer Bike Shmiede

The Panzerbike may look like a war machine straight out of a Mad Max film, but it was actually meant to convey the idea of peace. Tilo and Wilfried Niebel set out to build their magnum opus using only parts originally built for military purposes. The metal piping, the wheels, all came from military vehicles and equipment. Even the diesel return line was made from a blood transfusion device that the brothers found in a military hospital.

Although the worlds heaviest motorcycle is famously known as Panzerbike, its official name is Katharina die Groe (Catherine the Great) a reference to the Russian origin of most of its components. It took a total of 5,000 hours to build, during which its creators used about 120 kg of welding wire. It was all worth it, though, as in 2007 they set a new Guinness Record for the worlds heaviest rideable motorcycle, (5.5 tons) a title that remains uncontested to this day.

Photos and videos of the Panzerbike in action regularly go viral on social media, but if you want to see it in person, your best bet is the Harzer Bike Schmiede yearly motorcycle show in Germany, where it always makes an appearance.

Fun fact about this impressive piece of machinery, its massive sidecar also has its own steering system, as the turning radius of the main front wheel of the bike is negligible. So it basically requires a minimum of two people to operate.



For more impressive vehicles, check out Kleine Johanna, the worlds largest rideable bicycle, and Big Wind, the most powerful fire truck ever made.
THE owner of a dangerously defective vehicle was handed down three three month prison sentences at Tullamore District Court.

In his evidence to the court, Garda John O'Mara said he was operating a checkpoint on the M6, Ardan Kilbeggan to Westmeath road on May 25, 2023. He stopped a truck pulling a trailer.

The driver was unable to produce a certificate of roadworthiness. However, the driver was not the owner and all charges against him were dropped.

The vehicle was owned by Noel Hughes, Jordanstown, Lusk, Dublin, who faced four summonses.

The vehicle was inspected by a member of the Road Safety Authority who gave evidence to the court that the trailer was brought to a test centre where it failed on a number of items.

He said there were no brakes on the trailer which was used to carry bulk cement. The tyres had exposed wires and the brakes were not seated properly. He told Judge Andrew Cody that if the trailer was full it would weigh 20 to 30 tonnes.

He showed Judge Cody a picture of the tyres.The CVR ( Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) had expired three months. Mr Hughes had seven previous convictions for not having a CVR.

Judge Cody described the trailer as a 30 tonne 'lethal weapon'. It is ''shocking'' he said.

Solicitor Patrick Martin said Mr Hughes was a 71 year old man who had worked in haulage for the last 45 years. He admitted that he had a 'poor record'. He said his mechanic was on holiday and that was why the tyres were not noticed.

Judge Cody asked Mr Martin if he had seen the picture of the tyres gone down to the rim, and added that the mechanic would have wanted to be gone out of the country for six months for that to happen.

Mr Martin said there is a lot of driving in quarries which are rough. He said his client had a health condition, is on kidney dialysis and is recovering from cancer. He is down to six trucks from 26. Both truck and trailer are off the road. He does intend to withdraw from the business but he is not in a position to do so at the moment. He said his wife is now looking after things and is very diligent.

Judge Cody remarked that with seven previous convictions he didn't know how diligent she was.

The judge said the offences were shocking and very serious to the public. Mr Hughes had no respect for the public, he said.

He said to blame his mechanic was self-serving and if anyone had been killed Mr Hughes would have blood on his hands.

For the offence of driving a defective vehicle he fined Mr Hughes, 2,500 and imposed three months in prison. For the defective trailer he was fined 2,500 and a three month prison sentence was imposed. For allowing the use of his vehicle without a CVR certificate he was fined 2,500 and a three month sentence. All are to run concurrently.

Mr Martin asked Judge Cody if he would consider a suspended sentence given Mr Hughes's age. ''No'' was the reply from Judge Cody who repeated that Mr Hughes was a danger to the public.

He granted leave to appeal and fixed recognisance on his own bond of 1,000 with a cash lodgement of 1,000

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CLLR Clare Claffey is calling for immediate Government intervention to address the escalating crisis in dental care services in Ireland.

Highlighting a motion recently put before Dail Eireann, Cllr Claffey, representing the Birr area on Offaly County Council, underscores the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to ensure timely and adequate dental care for all citizens, particularly children and those reliant on public dental services.

The motion acknowledges the dire state of dental care access in Ireland, noting that an estimated 104,000 children are currently on a waiting list for school dental screening services, out of 208,000 eligible children. Over the past five years, there has been a 31% reduction in the number of children seen by HSE dentists. Additionally, the number of HSE dentists has declined by 23% between 2006 and 2022.

Cllr Claffey said "I have recent personal experience of the excellent care that can be provided by the School Dentist service, but having been told that Birr will again be without a school dentist for at least six months, I can see that the system is at breaking point, and our children will be the ones to suffer because of the poor management of this government ".

The situation is equally troubling for medical card patients. The number of patients seen under the Dental Treatment Service Scheme (DTSS) has dropped by 35% in the past decade. Furthermore, the number of participating dentists has halved, from 1,600 to 810, with only 600 of these currently active.

Despite a promise from the Minister for Health in May 2021 to initiate urgent talks on a new scheme, the Irish Dental Association is still awaiting formal discussions.

The Dail motion - sponsored by Social Democrats TDs Roisin Shortall, Holly Cairns, Gary Gannon, Catherine Murphy, Cian OCallaghan, and Jennifer Whitmore - calls on the Government to:

- Guarantee that all primary school children receive their three school-based dental appointments at the appropriate age by 2027.

- Strengthen and expand public dental services for children and special care patients urgently.

- Provide the necessary funding in Budget 2025 to sustain the medical card scheme.

- Begin immediate engagement with the dental sector to reform the DTSS.

- Publish the heads of the new Dentists Bill by September 2024 to ensure patient safety, maintain professional competence, and improve regulatory frameworks.

- Address funding and capacity issues in dental education and prioritise workforce planning to recruit and retain staff.

Cllr Claffey has joined the Social Democrats leadership in calling for swift and decisive action from the Government to address these pressing issues in the dental care system, to ensure positive outcomes for the children of Offaly.
TAOISEACH Simon Harris visited Carney outside Borrisokane on Sunday last in support of the new Fine Gael election candidate Eleanor Maher who is running instead of Cllr Ger Darcy, who is retiring from the council.

During his visit, the Taoiseach said he was eager to engage with the Borrisokane Refugee Committee, where it was reported last week that about 80 refugees in Borrisokane have received eviction notification. The Taoiseach said I am very eager to engage with the committee in Borrisokane because I know they have really been a example of best practice when it comes to integration and I do want to make sure that any agreements the State reached are honoured so I look forward to engaging with them in the coming weeks.

After two hours of meeting and greeting the locals, mixing and having tea with everyone, the Taoiseach was delighted to meet the owner of the public house in Carney, 89 year old Nellie Ryan, mother of Eleanor Maher.

In his address to the large gathering he mentioned that as Taoiseach he was not going to leave any stone unturned and was going to visit every single constituency in the country and leave everything possibly on the pitch and show people that we are delivering.

He promised to work with the people as Eleanor has a direct line to me when she is elected to the council, he said as he went on to mention local issues that have to be fixed.

On the farming front he said that yes we have to take action on climate, the planet is on fire, but we dont need to be lecturing farmers, we need to support them with the transition, we need to help fund the transition, we dont need to be standing up in Dublin giving out about the farmers, we actually have to recognise that we have to do more than one thing at a time when you are in government  sort out the climate and protect agriculture, farming and the rural family farm and Im committed to that, he said.

On law and order the Taoiseach mentioned that his party knows what it is like to support the Gardai. He also mentioned that his party was committed to helping small businesses and put more money back in peoples pockets. Cafes, restaurants, pubs, a lot of them are struggling, a lot has been thrown at them in a short period of time and thats why we are giving out more grants in relation to energy efficiency, a double payment of the increase cost of business grant and in the budget in October we will see what more we can do to reduce the cost that business is facing, so we have a lot of work to do, he said.
THE Methodist community of Roscrea has raised almost 1,500 with a coffee morning and bake sale to support the work of international development agency, Christian Aid Ireland.

The annual fundraiser was held at Roscrea Methodist Church Hall on Friday May 10th to mark Christian Aid Week. Visitors from the wider Roscrea community enjoyed a coffee and sweet treat in exchange for a donation to support the aid agencys work, and there was also the opportunity to buy cakes, jam and second-hand books to take home.

The event was organised by a team of people drawn from Roscrea Methodist Church, led by Gillian Kingston who is Christian Aids representative at the church.

Gillian is a leading lay member of the Methodist Church in Ireland. She has a deep commitment to international development and has served on the Board of Christian Aid Ireland. She and her husband Tom, a retired Methodist minister, live in Shinrone, County Offaly.

Christian Aid Ireland Chief Executive Rosamond Bennett thanked Gillian and all the bakers and helpers who made the coffee event such a success.

She continued: Every year during Christian Aid Week, people across Ireland raise funds, act and pray for their global neighbours in a celebration of hope for a fairer world. Christian Aid Week brings people together to put our faith into action. Every prayer, every gift, every action makes a difference.

Christian Aid Week (May 12th-18th) began in the 1950s and is thought to be Irelands longest-running fundraising campaign. Each year, tens of thousands of people across Ireland and the UK get involved in raising funds to support the charitys work to reach people living in poverty and crisis around the world.

This years Christian Aid Week appeal focused on the charitys work in Burundi, one of the most densely populated and poorest countries in Africa. Heavily reliant on agriculture, its also one of the least prepared to combat the effects of climate change, including droughts, floods and landslides. The global cost of living crisis has intensified the challenges, leaving more than 70% of the population living in poverty and more than half of children chronically malnourished.

Christian Aid has been working in Burundi since 1995 when it first offered humanitarian assistance to people surviving the civil conflict. Now, alongside local partners, the organisation helps establish Village Savings and Loans Associations. These community-led groups mean people can save and borrow money, making small businesses possible, offering reliable incomes so families can eat regularly, get medicine when they need it, and build safer homes.

One of those supported by Christian Aid and its local partner is thirty-five-year-old Aline Nibogora. A survivor of both domestic violence and homelessness, thanks to a small start-up loan, Aline was able to begin trading avocados and peanuts locally. With her profits, she bought a bicycle to transport greater quantities of goods to markets further afield and now has the money she needs to support herself and her children.

For more information or to donate, please visit caweek.ie .
YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. On May 29, acting Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani, in a telephone conversation with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, noted that Tehran is committed to maintaining security and stability in the Caucasus, reported Mehr NA.

According to the source, the parties discussed the further development of Armenian-Iranian relations. Ali Bagheri Kani thanked the Armenian authorities for expressing condolences to Iran in connection with the death of the country's president, foreign minister and other officials, and also welcomed the visit of the Armenian Prime Minister to Tehran.

Ali Bagheri Kani reiterated Iran's commitment to have an effective role in establishing long-term security and stability in the Caucasus region.

Mehr also reported that the acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran confirmed Tehrans readiness to implement the already signed agreements with Yerevan, and also to help those affected by the floods in the Lori and Tavush regions.

Earlier, Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with Ali Bagheri Kani, acting Foreign Minister of Iran.

After the visit of the delegation of the Prime Minister of Armenia to Tehran on May 22, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan once again expressed condolences and support to his colleague in connection with the death of the Iranian President, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the persons accompanying them.

According to the source, the interlocutors emphasized that the neighborly ties between the two countries and peoples are deep and strong and will be continuous. Ararat Mirzoyan and Ali BagheriKani touched upon the bilateral and regional agenda, emphasizing mutual readiness to implement previously reached agreements and ensure the continuity of current programs.

It is noted that the Iranian side, in turn, expressed condolences and support in connection with the human casualties and damages caused by floods in Tavush and Lori regions of Armenia.
YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. The defense ministers of the member countries of the CSTO signed a series of documents in Almaty on equipping the troops with advanced weapons and on joint exercises, reported TASS.

"Documents related to the equipment of the components of the CSTO troops (Collective Forces) with modern and promising models of weapons and military equipment, planning of joint operational and combat training, improvement of the training methodology of the CSTO peacekeeping contingents, as well as the Targeted Interstate Program of the Collective Security Treaty Organization were reviewed and signed. the strengthening of the AfghanistanTajikistan border and a number of others", - reported in the press service.

The meeting of the Council of Ministers of Defense of the CSTO took place on May 31 within the framework of Kazakhstan's chairmanship in the organization.
"Trump is now a convicted felon. He can still run for president" according to msn.com, and then asked,"Can a convicted felon vote?"

The answer, from msn:

It depends.

Trump's right to vote in Florida in November's election will depend on whether he is sentenced to a term in prison and if he has finished serving that prison sentence by the time of the election.

Each state makes its own rules. Vermont and Maine allow felons to vote from prison. There has been movement in multiple states toward allowing felons on parole to cast ballots.

Trump is now a Florida resident - and Florida voters, in 2018, overwhelmingly backed a referendum to reenfranchise convicted feons. But Republican lawmakers who control the state's government first delayed and then qualified the reenfranchisement by requiring at felons must pay all fines and fees associated with their sentence.

The New York jury found him guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush-money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Unsurprisingly, Trump insists that he's "a very innocent man."

Jill Biden sums Trump up in one word, chaos.

Expect to hear from Glenn Kirschner on his youtube channel shortly.
ST. LUCIA, W.I. - May 30, 2024 - Villa C'est La Vie, a prestigious luxury rental villa nestled in the heart of Saint Lucia, invites travelers to indulge in what will surely be an unforgettable Caribbean getaway. With breathtaking views, lavish amenities, and unparalleled service, Villa C'est La Vie sets the standard for luxury accommodations in this tropical paradise. You will find Villa C'est La Vie nestled in a picturesque 
- 28 May 2024 - Tianjun Machinery, a leading manufacturer and exporter of rail wheels in China, exports 2,000 mining rail wheels to Mauritania. Established in 2005, Tianjun Machinery is located in Maanshan, China. With nearly 20 years of manufacturing experience, Tianjun Machinery has become a trustworthy brand in the rail wheel manufacturing industry. At present, we have exported our rail wheels to Germany, the United States, South Africa, Mexico, Turkey, 
The Federal Aviation Administration will continue to cap Boeings production of its 737 Max plane amid safety and quality concerns, the agency said Thursday.

The FAA plans to keep up its increased oversight of the airplane manufacturer following a January incident during which a panel blew off a 737 Max plane shortly after its takeoff from Portland, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the Renton-assembled aircraft.
Attackers shot up the bedroom of an apartment in a Southeast Portland building on Tuesday, wounding a 17-year-old girl, in what appeared to be a planned ambush.

The gunfire started around 1 a.m. in a courtyard of the 22-unit Briarwood East apartments on Southeast 122nd Avenue, where many families with children live, according to the mother of the girl who was shot. Over two dozen rounds were fired in the attack, the mother said.

It was terrifying to be literally woken up in the middle of the night by gunshots, the girls mother said. It was a wonder she only got shot in the leg.

The 53-year-old woman said she believes her daughter wasnt the intended victim. The Oregonian/OregonLive isnt naming the woman or her daughter for their safety.

The girls injuries were relatively minor, her mother said, because her bed frame had broken in the days before the shooting, leaving the mattress lower than usual as bullets came through the windows.

Had it been sitting on top of the frame, Im afraid things might have been different, the girls mother said.

She added that it sounded to her like the gunfire was coming from multiple guns.

Portland police said in a statement on Wednesday morning that the shooter or shooters were still at large and that an investigation was ongoing.

 Tatum Todd covers crime and public safety. Reach them at ttodd@oregonian.com, or 503-221-4313.

 Sujena Soumyanath is a reporter on The Oregonian/OregonLives public-safety team. You can reach her at 503-221-4309 or ssoumyanath@oregonian.com
A federal appellate court Friday upheld U.S. District Judge Michael J. McShanes order that counties across Oregon release criminal defendants from jail if theyre not appointed a lawyer within seven days of their initial court appearances.

The seven-day rule had been on hold but now will go into effect unless the state appeals the 2-1 decision by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
The man injured in a shooting by Portland police Wednesday has been identified as 44-year-old Patrick W. Myers.

The shooting happened after Portland police began serving a search warrant in the Russell neighborhood of Northeast Portland around 4 a.m., police said.

Around 6 a.m., police said Myers exited a home in the 2700 block of Northeast 137th Avenue with a rifle. An unidentified member of the Police Bureaus Special Emergency Reaction Team then shot and injured Myers at 6:08 a.m., police said.

Police identified Myers, who was recovering in a hospital as of Thursday, as the subject of a sex crimes investigation and said he had been indicted on six counts of second-degree encouraging child sex abuse and one count of encouraging sexual assault of an animal.

 Beth Slovic is a deputy editor on the public safety and breaking news team. Reach her at 503-221-8551 or bslovic@oregonian.com.

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YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, announced that Armenia increased its exports to the EEU market 14 times, and the growth of the country's GDP exceeded 8.5 percent, said Russian Prime Minister about this in an interview given to the Russia-24 TV channel on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the EEU.

Mishustin noted that all five member states benefit from participation in the EEU, clarifying that this is primarily a result of the lack of customs control at the internal borders.

"Thanks to preferential access, in general, the volumes of mutual trade have multiplied. For example, Armenia increased its exports to the Union market 14 times, Belarus and Kazakhstan more than twice, Kyrgyzstan three times," said the Russian Prime Minister.

Mishustin also referred to the growth of the gross domestic products of the EEU member states and said that the results of the previous year exceeded the world rates.

The head of the Russian government also drew attention to the fact that the GDP growth rates of the participating countries - Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan - are higher than in the CIS countries not involved in such a deep integration format.

"Last year, the growth of Armenia's gross domestic product exceeded 8.5%. The volume of industrial production was 4%. By the way, the same situation is in Kyrgyzstan, where the GDP dynamics in 2023 were also high," Mishustin said.
Portland is the No. 10 best city in the world for food, according to Time Out magazine.

Time Out polled thousands of city-dwellers to come up with its list of the 20 best cities for food. The magazine then looked to food writers in each highly ranked city to share the highlights from each spot, including hot restaurants, why to visit and the citys must-eat dish.

Not to cause another controversy, but Portlands must-eat dish? Its pizza.

Portlands pizza scene was its highest-rated cuisine in the survey, with locals calling out both its quality and affordability.

Local food writer Alice Wolfe told Time Out, What I love about the Portland food scene is that high calibre doesnt mean high prices.

The article also shouted out Kiikibaa, which was The Oregonians 2023 Restaurant of the Year.

Portland finds itself in some elite culinary company on the list. Naples, Italy, another pizza town, is the No. 1 worldwide food city on the list.

Portland is also no stranger to these kinds of accolades. Over the years, Portland has been named the best food city in the US multiple times.

 Julie Evensen covers trending topics and popular culture. She can be reached at jevensen@oregonian.com or @juliecevensen on Twitter and @julieevensen on Threads.

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A new season of MasterChef, the cooking competition presided over by Gordon Ramsay, kicked off Wednesday, and another Portlander whipped up a dish to try and earn a spot.

(No cable or antenna? Stream MasterChef live on Fubo, which offers a free trial; or watch episodes the day after they air on Hulu)

Season 14 is technically called MasterChef: Generations, because this go-round features contestants from four generations, Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials and Gen Z.

The new season kicked off Wednesday, May 29, with home cooks whose ages place them in the Millennial category auditioning to earn a spot on the show. Passing judgement were Ramsay, his fellow judges Aaron Sanchez and Joe Bastianich, and guest judge Priya Krishna.

Jeet Kaur Sawant, a 32-year-old senior human relations specialist from Portland, got things off to a tasty start. Sawant grew up in New Delhi, and her husband grew up in Kuwait, she said, so she liked to merge flavors, including those from India and the Middle East.

Sawant prepared her take on a dish she said was a very common Indian dessert, especially in the north. She hoped the dish would represent, as she said, the melting post that is Jeet.

The dish, gajar ka halwa dumplings in crispy rice paper with carrot halwa and sweet rabri sauce, just oozes confidence, Ramsay said. To move ahead into the competition, the amateur chefs needed three yes votes from the four judges. Ramsay was 100 percent yes, he said.

Krishna was also complimentary. It takes guts to cook a dish like this, she said, adding her yes vote.

Sanchez, on the other hand, couldnt get past the gumminess of the dumpling dough, he said, so he voted no.

That left the deciding vote up to Bastianich, who voted yes, and called the dish delicious.

Sawant using an air fryer to cook the dumplings was a very Millennial move, Krishna said. Then Ramsay suggested they keep the Millennial vibe going, and the judges all posed for a selfie with Sawant.

The competition continues next week, with Baby Boomer auditions. The one cook who makes it all the way through to the end will win, and take home $250,000.

MasterChef airs at 8 p.m. Wednesdays on Fox.

 Kristi Turnquist covers features and entertainment. Reach her at 503-221-8227, kturnquist@oregonian.com or @Kristiturnquist

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What kind of sentence could former President Donald J. Trump face?

Its one of the big questions now that Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican Party presidential nominee, stands convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in his efforts to quash stories about sexual trysts.

In the hour following Thursdays verdict, experts seem split on whether Trump will face jail time as punishment. But they almost agree that facing jail time and actually doing it are completely different things.

Hardly anyone sees Trump serving his hush money sentence  whatever it is  before voters decide on his political future in November. Thats based on the strong likelihood Justice Juan M. Merchan would release Trump on bail pending the completion of appeals, which are expected to run well into 2025.

For now, Trumps sentencing is scheduled for July 11.

That will follow completion of a pre-sentence investigation and a process in which both prosecutors and defense will get to make recommendations for appropriate punishment to Merchan. But the judge makes the call.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg didnt immediately weigh in on whether he will ask the judge for a prison sentence during a Thursday evening press conference, according to CBS News, saying his team will speak instead in court filings.

The statutory maximum term for New Yorks falsifying business records charge is one and one-third years to four years in prison. But Merchan could also assign a definite prison sentence of up to one year, or a wide variety of sentences that dont involve incarceration, ranging from probation to community service or a fine.

Some doubt Trump will ever face prison time.

I dont think theres going to be a sentence of incarceration. Id be very surprised, said Cheryl Bader, a Fordham University law professor said Thursday.

Bader said thats based in part on the circumstances of Trumps particular case.

He has no prior felony convictions on his record, she noted, and the falsifying business records charges are graded as Class E felonies, or the lowest category of felony in New York state.

And then theres the fact that Trump is 77 years old.

Not to mention the logistical difficulty of jailing a former president who is entitled to a Secret Service detail.

The one wildcard, Bader said, is the idea that Merchan would want to somehow hold Trump to a higher standard because he is a former president. But that would be out of character, she said, for how the judge has attempted to run the trial so far  which is to say he seems to have gone out of his way to keep things normal.

I think the judge has done a very good job of staying within what are the normal criminal procedures and process, and that under a lot of scrutiny and pressure, she said.

Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to the coverup of a $130,000 hush money payment that was made to the porn star Stormy Daniels in the days leading up to the 2016 election.

New York state data shows that while incarceration for the business records charge is not common, it is not unheard of:

According to New Yorks Division of Criminal Justice Services, of 48 cases statewide in which the business records count was the top charge for a felony or misdemeanor conviction in 2022, just 15 of those defendants  fewer than one in three  were sentenced to jail or prison. (2022 is the last full year for which data was available.)

Of two felony and misdemeanor falsifying business records convictions won in New York City that year, neither defendant received new prison time at sentencing.

In all other cases, the defendants received a time-served sentence  meaning they werent ordered to serve any more time than they already had since their arrest, not applicable in Trumps case; probation, fine or some other type of release.

In 2021, only 19 of 71 such defendants statewide got incarceration terms.

But all cases are different, and one legal expert commenting on CNN Thursday had a different take about Trumps possible fate.

Karen Friedman Agnifilo, a former chief deputy in the Manhattan district attorneys office, said there are reasons Trump could find himself in the minority of cases where a low-level felony conviction brings jail because of some specific aspects of this case:

He has three other criminal cases pending in three other jurisdictions;

His personality may prevent him from showing any remorse, and;

Hes already been fined 10 times by Merchan in this case for violating gag orders.

Given those factors, Agnifilo said, a generic defendant would absolutely fall within that 10 to 30 percent (of defendants) who would be sentenced to prison. Because his name is Donald Trump, who knows what will happen.

But those are the exact factors that any judge in New York State would take into consideration.
Magna Kubo, the Beaverton lechoneria named one of the metro areas best new restaurants of 2023, has closed.

The restaurant, which opened last June on Southwest Broadway Street in the suburbs resurgent Central Beaverton core, had called the closure an extended break in a social media post earlier this month. But Magna Kubo is actually done with Beaverton, co-owner Carlo Lamagna confirmed in a text.

I was hoping it was temporary, Lamagna wrote. But alas, cant happen. Hoping to make it a thing in Portland.

The online post chalked the closure up to a circumstances outside of our control and a lack of staff making it impossible to carry on day-to-day operations.

Before opening his suburban spinoff, Lamagna  whose Manga Kusina was Portands 2021 Restaurant of the Year  said he was inspired by visits to the Philippines, where his first stop is usually a little roadside cart with spit-roasted meats roasting slowly over coals. Magna Kubo sought to merge the flavor of those inexpensive meats with the format of a Southern-style meat-and-three.

Were Filipino, but were also chef-y chefs, Lamagna said at the time. We want to bring this style of cooking to people, have a little something for everyone and serve foods we grew up eating late-night in the Philippines.

My favorite meal, and the one that landed Magna Kubo on our guide to last years best new restaurants, was chef Kevin Balonsos mini Kamayan tray inspired by the utensil-free  and decidedly not mini  Filipino feasts of the same name.

The Mini Kamayan platter with all the meats, lumpia, pancit, garlic rice and pickles from Magna Kubo in central Beaverton.Courtesy of Magna Kubo

The Beaverton Restaurant Week special, which reminded me of a loaded pitmaster tray from some Austin barbecue hotspot, showcased the restaurants golden lumpia, crispy lechon, roast chicken, fried wings, tender beefsteak, cubed pork belly, fluffy garlic rice, stir-fried noodles and coconut milk-braised greens (whew!). Also delicious were the sweet bites from pastry chef Alexandria Allie G Guevarra, including cookies, pastries and a halo-halo fully loaded with shaved ice, leche flan and ube ice cream.

Along with next door neighbor Pips, Magna Kubo was the latest Portland food business to test the Washington County waters, taking advantage of Beavertons generous matching grants for building and storefront improvements, a list of restaurants and beer bars that includes Afuri, Breakside, Loyal Legion, Sizzle Pie, Top Burmese and many more. In April, one of the first businesses to make the jump, Bigs Chicken, announced it would close after six years at 4570 S.W. Watson St. It reopened two weeks later as Ate-Oh-Ate, a Hawaiian concept from the same restaurant group.

Further reading:

The ultimate guide to Central Beavertons 30 best restaurants

Magna Kusina is expanding with Kubo, a Beaverton lechoneria

At Magna Kubo, a roadside lechoneria heads indoors (review)

Portands 10 best new restaurants of 2023

 Michael Russell; mrussell@oregonian.com

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Oregon utility regulators rejected a proposal by PacifiCorp to protect its shareholders from paying huge sums of money to wildfire victims in future lawsuits.

In an order issued Thursday, Oregons Public Utility Commission said it recognized the need to find appropriate policy and regulatory solutions to the serious problems that wildfire liabilities create for PacifiCorp, other utilities and their customers. But the commissioners said they werent convinced that PacifiCorps sweeping proposal was a reasonable first step in solving the problem.
Tides on the Oregon coast will soon reach their lowest point of the year, once again expected to dip below two feet in some locations starting in June, according to predictions by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Forecasts show extremely low tides on five occasions between June and August, with the lowest tides predicted June 6-7 and July 22:

June 5-8

June 23-24

July 5-6

July 21-23

Aug. 20-21

Tides vary from place to place, so be sure to check local tide tables for more accurate information. You can find tide predictions online at tidesandcurrents.noaa.gov.

READ MORE: Best Oregon tide pools? Here are 12 surefire spots to explore

Coastal tides fluctuate throughout the year, driven by the phases and distance of the moon. While extreme low tides also occur in the winter, the reliably stormy weather in that part of the year makes intertidal exploration a dicier affair. Timing of the summer tides is also ideal for beachgoers, with the lowest tides usually occurring in the morning and the highest tides coming overnight.

Exceptionally low tides are always accompanied by exceptionally high tides, though the summer tides dont usually result in the kinds of flooding seen during king tide season between November and February, when storm surges push waves higher.

Intertidal areas that become exposed during super low tides can reveal hidden treasures, unseen worlds or offer temporary access to normally inaccessible places. They can also be treacherous to navigate, with many slippery spots, sharp rocks and pools of standing water.

Those treading into intertidal areas also need to take great care not to injure or destroy the plants and animals that live there. Only step on rocks and dont disturb any creatures.

Clamming is also a popular activity during low tides. Be sure to check the Oregon Department of Agricultures shellfish page to check for closures and updates about biotoxin hazards.

Youll also want to make sure to give yourself plenty of time if you go exploring at low tide. Start as the tide is receding, and head back as it starts to rise. It can be dangerously easy to get trapped in intertidal areas, an experience that can turn deadly once the tide is back in.

--Jamie Hale covers travel and the outdoors and co-hosts the Peak Northwest podcast. Reach him at 503-294-4077, jhale@oregonian.com or @HaleJamesB.

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Bad news for the overall health and well-being of Oregonians, apparently because a CBD brand (which may or may not have a vested interest in this subject) has found that Oregon is the most sleep-deprived country in the United States.

What? you say, rubbing your eyes. How could this be?

Heres how, according to Secret Nature: The study examined over 30 sleep-related Google search terms across all 50 states, grouped the searches by type, calculated the search volumes per 100,000 residents, then scored each state to rank them accordingly. This research sheds light on the severity of sleep problems residents across the United States face.

Ah, so we are best at Google searching about sleep. Which is a completely different thing. We care about self-improvement!

Astute readers will remember that back in February The Sleep Foundation found Portland to be the best city in the United States for sleep.

That study surveyed actual Portlanders and found that in Portland, only 26.2% of the population gets less than seven hours of sleep a night, which is 6.5% lower than the average nationwide.

Now, Portland is not Oregon. We know. But the Portland metro area accounts for about half of the states population, so there could be a little crossover.

Is it possible that all out sleep-problem Google searches have, gasp, led to us actually sleeping better? Does that high volume of search just mean we care more and are more committed to sleep hygiene? That we put our phones aside and drink Sleepytime tea and use blackout curtains?

Maybe, just maybe, the CBD company got it wrong. We dont need more CBD to go to sleep. Thats not even in the top five suggestions Google has given us.

 Lizzy Acker covers life and culture and writes the advice column Why Tho? Reach her at 503-221-8052, lacker@oregonian.com or @lizzzyacker

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YEREVAN, MAY 31, ARMENPRESS. Human Rights Defender of Armenia Anahit Manasyan met with the residents of the settlements affected by floods in Lori, reported the staff of the Human Rights Defender of Armenia.

"On May 31, Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan's visit to the disaster zone of Lori.

HRD, accompanied by the staff, toured the places affected by the floods.

The defender met with the residents in order to get acquainted with the problems related to rights on the spot," the message says.
After months of offering temporary shelter to its growing migrant community, Denver has launched a new strategy to help these individuals transition to more stable lives.

The plan includes six months of housing, job training, language instruction, and legal assistance with asylum claims.

New Strategy to Help Migrants Transition Into More Stable Lives

As of Wednesday, approximately 800 people have joined the program, with more anticipated by the end of the month, according to Jon Ewing, a spokesperson for Denver's newcomer response.

Denver, along with New York and Chicago, has been agonizing to take in a growth in migrants over the past two years. These cities have used hotels, tents, and other temporary shelters while trying to give social services without overwhelming their budgets.

Both Chicago and New York have imposed stricter limits on shelter stays and started evicting those who have overstayed.

"Our goal was to turn a crisis into an opportunity," said Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. "We have new arrivals who are eager to work and have valuable skills, and employers who need workers.

We aimed to connect these individuals to job training and skills needed for our local economy. Thus, we created this first-of-its-kind asylum-seeker program."

Migrants enrolled in the Denver Asylum Seekers Program, who were in the city's shelters as of April, receive support during the six-month wait for work permits after filing asylum applications, Ewing explained.

Johnston emphasized, "We viewed the six-month waiting period as an opportunity rather than a problem." Participants in the program will receive workforce training, English classes, financial literacy education, and certifications required for certain jobs.

"When they receive work authorization, they will be ready to start working immediately, benefiting Denver employers," he added.

Since Texas Governor Greg Abbott began sending migrants to Democratic cities in 2022, around 42,000 have arrived in Denver. Most have moved to other cities where they have connections.

Read Also : Migrants Can Sue Charter Flight Company That Transported Them To Martha's Vineyard

Nearly 800 People in Denver's Migrant Shelters

Currently, around 800 migrants are in Denver shelters, with about 530 in a hotel shelter and the rest in transitional housing or other short-term shelters. Some have already moved into apartments.

Denver has fewer people in its shelter system compared to Chicago and New York City. Chicago has over 7,200 migrants in shelters, while New York City has over 65,800 migrants and asylum-seekers needing shelter.

Despite having fewer migrants overall, Denver officials claim the city has welcomed more per capita. Ewing mentioned that with fewer new arrivals, about 76% of whom move to other destinations, Denver can now offer more intensive support to those staying.

In December, Denver received 144 charter buses with new migrants, swelling its shelter population to about 5,000, many of them families. This situation was unsustainable, leaving many migrants searching for under-the-table jobs, Ewing said.

"The goal now is to provide more sustainable services to a smaller, more manageable group," Ewing explained.

Denver Spent Substantial Amount of Money on Migrant Response

Denver has spent around $70 million on its migrant response since 2022, including $20-25 million this year. Shelter costs have been significantly higher than housing costs. Ewing noted that reducing reliance on shelters would lower expenses, potentially saving millions.

The city has budgeted $90 million for its new arrivals program this year, aiming to spend less if possible. This budget includes $4 million for workforce training and rental assistance, and $5.6 million for case management, including asylum clinics and work authorization.

To fund the migrant response, city officials have defended a $40 million budget cut, largely from not filling vacant positions.

Some critics have opposed an $8 million cut from the police department's budget, but the city maintains that this will not affect street patrols or recruitment plans.

Johnston hopes the program will inspire other cities to adopt similar approaches. "We believe we have a model that any city can use. Denver can't solve this problem alone," he said.
Over a million water bottles sold on Amazon are being recalled due to concerns about manganese and bacterial contamination.

The FDA announced the recall on May 23, affecting 78,533 cases of Fiji Natural Artesian Water. The recall was initiated by Fiji's parent company, Natural Waters of Viti Limited, in March after receiving complaints about discoloration in some products.

FDA Confirmed Traces of Contamination in the Affected Products

FDA testing confirmed traces of contamination in the affected products, though it's deemed unlikely to cause health issues.

Melissa England, a spokesperson for The Wonderful Company representing Fiji Natural Artesian Water, assured that the recall pertained to a past issue and didn't pose significant health risks.

She noted that the majority of the affected bottles were already recovered, with the rest stored in warehouses for return. Fiji Water emphasized its commitment to safety and quality, stating that the recalled lots posed no health risk due to manganese or bacteria.

According to the CDC, while manganese is important for health, enormous levels can damage the brain. The FDA classified the recall as class three, signifying a low likelihood of adverse health impacts.

Fiji Water specified that the affected products were Fiji Water 500mL (24-packs) sold on Amazon between February 1, 2024, and March 3, 2024, with specific rotation dates in November 2023.

England voiced that most of the recalled bottles have been recovered, and the remaining ones are collected in warehouses.

Manganese occurs naturally in water, soil, and air. Although essential, excessive exposure to manganese can lead to neurological issues, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

The EPA recommends a health advisory level of 0.3 milligrams per liter for manganese in drinking water, with a secondary guideline of 0.05 milligrams per liter to address taste concerns and discoloration.

Read Also: FDA Issues Voluntary Recall of Eye Ointments Available at CVS and Walmart Over Sterility Worries

Recall Pertains Specific Batches of Water Sold Exclusively on Amazon

As per Fiji's declaration, the recall refers entirely to particular batches of water sold particularly on Amazon between February 1 and March 3 of this year.

These affected products were packaged in 24-packs of 500-milliliter bottles, identifiable by production dates (PRD) of Nov. 11, 2023, Nov. 12, 2023, Nov. 13, 2023, Nov. 24, 2023, or Nov. 25, 2023. The Case UPC Code for the recalled items is 632565000043, while the bottle UPC is 632565000012.

"Fiji Water remains safe for purchase and consumption," the company assured on X, clarifying that this quality issue specifically impacts the designated lots sold on Amazon.com.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this recall is categorized as Class III, the least severe classification, indicating that exposure to or consumption of the affected products is "not likely to cause adverse health consequences."

A representative from The Wonderful Company, representing Fiji, informed that the majority of the recalled bottles had been retrieved.

"The FDA classification... pertains to an issue from several months ago that posed no health or safety risk," the spokesperson stated. "It impacted products sold through a single distributor, with 99% of the affected bottles already recovered, and the remainder stored in warehouses for return.

Our utmost priority is the safety and quality of Fiji Water, and there is no health or safety risk associated with manganese or bacteria in the recalled Fiji lots. Additionally, Fiji Water undergoes regular testing to ensure consumers continue to enjoy its expected smooth taste."

Customers with queries about the recall are encouraged to contact Fiji Water at 1-866-406-4149.
A FedEx truck collision with an SUV car near Eagles Pass in Texas resulted in the deaths of five family members and injured the driver of the delivery truck.

The Texas Highway Patrol confirmed to the public that the truck and SUV collision occurred near Eagle Pass, a city situated just east of the U.S.-Mexico border.

FedEx Truck Collision Resulted To Five Family Members Dead

The Eagle Pass tragedy collision involved an SUV car, a 2022 Hyundai Santa Fe, and a white 2019 FedEx delivery truck.

As revealed in the report, the FedEx truck was traveling eastbound when it veered into the westbound lane, which tragically led to a devastating head-on collision with the Hyundai SUV.

The Santa Fe car was packed with five family members as passengers. The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed the identities of the victims as Samantha Martinez, 25; Joanna Martinez, 34; Noemi Jimenez Martinez, 61; Jose Martinez, 71; and a 10-year-old girl whose name has not been disclosed.

Furthermore, Sgt. Rene Cordova of the Texas Highway Patrol also added that the tragic collision unfolded in U.S. Highway 57 at around 7:50 p.m. in which they reported that the four adult passengers in the SUV were declared dead at the scene.

The unnamed young girl managed to be rescued and transported to the hospital, but later quickly succumbed to her injuries.

Investigation Underway on the Eagle Pass Collision Tragedy

Previous reports about the incidents have mistakenly publicized that both vehicles were traveling eastbound in the same direction before the crash.

However, with subsequent investigations, it was made clear later on that the white FedEx truck crossed into the opposite lane, which resulted in directly crashing head-on into the SUV car.

All passengers in the SUV car were dead; the FedEx driver, on the other hand, also suffered injuries from the collision and was reported to have been taken to a hospital for treatment. However, details surrounding the severity of the injuries have not yet been released.

The impact of this tragic accident has rippled through the Eagle Pass community, leaving many in mourning. Local residents have expressed their grief and shock over the loss of the Martinez family.

In a statement, FedEx spokesperson David Westrick extended the company's condolences: "Our thoughts are with all those involved in this tragic accident. We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends mourning the loss of loved ones. Safety is our highest priority, and we are cooperating fully with the investigating authorities at this time."

The Texas Department of Public Safety continues to gather evidence and analyze the sequence of events that led to this tragic incident.

Authorities have called on any witnesses to come forward with information that could aid the investigation.

Read Also: Missouri Blue Springs Fifth Grader Clears School Meal Debt with Heartwarming Fundraiser

Mourning the Five Family Members

As the investigation proceeds, the community is grappling with the loss of five lives. Local leaders and residents are coming together to support the surviving family members and honor the memories of those who perished.

This tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and the devastating consequences of traffic accidents.

Funeral arrangements for the Martinez family are currently being planned, with the community expected to offer substantial support to the grieving relatives. Efforts are also being made to assist the family financially during this difficult time.

The Eagle Pass tragedy has left an indelible mark on all who knew the Martinez family, as well as on the wider community.

The investigation into the cause of the accident is ongoing, with authorities determined to uncover the factors that led to this heartbreaking loss.
First of all, I share with you some images (and their captions) that have been sent to me by Jeff Bradshaw (under the fitting title of Detective Work at Historic Sites) from Rwanda, where he and others are gathering additional material for the Interpreter Foundations Not by Bread Alone film project (on which, see here or here). It is really important to preserve these stories before memories and locations are completely lost.

I couldnt help being reminded of Mosiah 18, and particularly of Mosiah 18:30; And now it came to pass that all this was done in Mormon, yea, by the waters of Mormon, in the forest that was near the waters of Mormon; yea, the place of Mormon, the waters of Mormon, the forest of Mormon, how beautiful are they to the eyes of them who there came to the knowledge of their Redeemer; yea, and how blessed are they, for they shall sing to his praise forever. Over at the Peterson Obsession Board, one of the many accusations that are routinely launched at me is that the Interpreter Foundation seems to exist in order to fly me around the world and to provide me with good meals and an opulent, Epicurean lifestyle in exotic locales. My current presence in Europe is seen as an illustrative case in point. Of course, the Interpreter Foundation isnt paying for this trip to Europe. Not so much as a dime. Just as it didnt pay for our cruise around New Zealand a while back. Just as it didnt pay for the tour that we led in Egypt earlier this year. Just as it didnt pay for the tours that we led to Turkey and Egypt late last year. Just as it has never paid for any of our trips anywhere. The reason that were here in Europe right now is because Im going to be lecturing in Rome, Salzburg, and Goteborg. Yes, its true that somebody has generously picked up the tab for me to come over for these lectures, but it wasnt the Interpreter Foundation that did so (and it wasnt the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.) It was a person (or persons) who wanted these lectures to happen. I was invited to give these lectures. To the extent that my wife and I are here to vacation, were paying for that out of our own pockets, and my wife paid her own airfare. We came over early, for example, to spend some time in Ravenna  because we wanted to see Ravenna again and because we wanted to be done with jet lag before the lectures begin. Our Ravenna stay was on our own nickel. And we spent a few days in Virginia prior to coming to Italy. That was on our own nickel, as well. (Even at the cost of irritating a few folks on the Obsession Board, were going to continue to visit our family.)

Recently, though, it has been disapprovingly pointed out by my ever-inventive Malevolent Stalker that, while Im willing to travel in Europe, Im evidently unwilling to visit Africa. (Strictly speaking, of course, I visit Africa every time I lead a tour to Egypt. But the folks at the Obsession Board presumably have sub-Saharan Africa in mind.) Why, they demand to know, am I not traveling in the Congo and Benin and Rwanda? Why am I not there with Jeff Bradshaw and our Interpreter Foundation filmmakers?

Im not quite sure what the insinuation here is intended to be. Perhaps that Im racist. Perhaps that the food and accommodations in, say, the DR Congo wouldnt meet my sybaritic standards. Probably a bit of both.

In any case, the simple answer to the question of why Im not in sub-Saharan Africa with the Interpreter team is that I wasnt invited. And why was I not invited? Because Im not needed. Im neither a cinematographer nor a sound specialist, and I have no expertise regarding the Church in sub-Saharan Africa. Its true that Ive sometimes been invited along to prior Interpreter Foundation film sets, but not very commonly and usually only locally, and always at my own expense.

Please recall the damning accusation that the Interpreter Foundation exists, at least in part, in order to fly me to exotic locales around the world. But now it turns out that, in fact, the Interpreter Foundation doesnt exist and never has existed  not at all  to fly me to exotic locations around the world. Well, shazaam! Do you think that the character assassination will stop? Or, at least, that it might pause? That the slanderers might hesitate for a second or two? Are you kidding?

Of course, you may be asking yourself this very good question: Why does Dan Peterson bother responding to such malicious tomfoolery? Its certainly not because I entertain any expectation that the Obsession Board will ever improve. But I do take seriously any insinuation that Im profiting from apologetics and/or misusing donations to Interpreter. Im not  my wife and I are, ourselves, both donors to and volunteers for the Foundation  and I think that such accusations must be forthrightly, decisively, and directly contradicted.
I love Rome. And, perhaps rather curiously, it is the Christian heritage of the eternal city that fascinates me even more than its fascinating classical history. Here are a trio of past columns that I wrote about Rome for the Deseret News:

Why was Peter in Rome? (https://www.deseret.com/2014/6/12/20543095/why-was-peter-in-rome/)

There is much of Christian history, in stone, in St. Peters Basilica: St. Peters Basilica ranks among the greatest and most important monuments of Christian history (https://www.deseret.com/faith/2020/2/13/21129701/daniel-peterson-there-is-much-of-christian-history-in-stone-in-st-peters-basilica-catholic-vatican/)

Papal conclaves offer not only pageantry but living history (https://www.deseret.com/2013/3/10/20515760/papal-conclaves-offer-not-only-pageantry-but-living-history/)

One of my surprise favorite movies is The Scarlet and the Black, an Italian-American drama made for television, that premiered in 1983. It is based on J. P. Gallaghers book The Scarlet Pimpernel of the Vatican, which was published in 1967, which tells the true story of Monsignor Hugh OFlaherty, an Irish Catholic priest who, while working in the Vatican during the Second World War, saved thousands of Jews as well as escaped Allied prisoners of war.

The cast is very good  including the late great Gregory Peck (a serious Catholic in real life, whose tomb in the Cathedral of Los Angeles my wife and I have visited) as Monsignor OFlaherty, Christopher Plummer as SS-Obersturmbannfuhrer Herbert Kappler, and Sir John Gielgud as Pope Pius XII.

But it was the story that riveted my attention many years ago, when I first came across the movie on television while flipping through the channels one day. (It took me several years to track it down and watch it in its entirety.) Its a story, of course, of Nazi evil, but, more importantly, its a story of moral courage and physical heroism and, yes, of wit.

I understand that, in some poll or other a few years ago, Gregory Pecks Atticus Finch (from the 1962 film of To Kill a Mockingbird) was voted the greatest movie hero of all time. Im not inclined to dispute that ranking; the scene in which Atticus exits the courtroom and all of the Black people in the balcony rise to honor him (Miss Jean Louise. Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your Fathers passin) is, to me, among the most moving scenes that Ive ever seen in a film. Gregory Peck was a perfect choice to play Father OFlaherty in The Scarlet and the Black. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7CX_5D6y6E)

Incidentally, Gregory Peck also provided the voice-over narration for the landmark 1999 PBS docudrama American Prophet: The Story of Joseph Smith, which was written by Heidi Swinton and produced and directed by Lee Groberg with cinematography by T. C. Christensen. And, although Mr. Peck died in 2003, his archived voice-over narration was still able  via the miracle of technology  to be used for the 2019 PBS remake of that docudrama, Joseph Smith: American Prophet, for which Mark Goodman (who has since directed the Interpreter Foundation films Witnesses and Undaunted: Witnesses of the Book of Mormon and the forthcoming Six Days in August) joined Lee Groberg as co-director and Mitch Davis (who wrote the initial screenplay for Witnesses) joined Heidi Swinton as co-writer.

When we set out to make our docudrama Undaunted, I asked our film people if they might be able to contact Gregory Peck and invite him to participate in the project. I would have dearly loved having his voice in that film. But we didnt have enough funds in the budget to acquire his services from beyond the veil.

Another aside, about Pope Pius XII, who is portrayed in The Scarlet and the Black by Sir John Gielgud: The late Christopher Hitchens described Pius XII as a pro-Nazi pope. Mr. Hitchens wasnt original in this. He was just repeating a common but slanderously false accusation. (Mr. Hitchens wasnt exactly a careful scholar, and his writing was unhindered by any trace of sympathy for Christianity.) The best book on the subject of which Im aware was written by Rabbi Dr. David Dalin, of Brandeis University. It is entitled The Myth of Hitlers Pope: How Pope Pius XII Rescued Jews from the Nazis. The book is devastating to the charges against Pius XII.

But theres one thing that Rabbi Dr. Dalin (perhaps understandably) doesnt mention: After the conclusion of World War II, Israel Zolli, who had been serving as the Chief Rabbi of Rome, remarked that what the Vatican had done to save Jews would be indelibly and eternally engraved in Jewish hearts. Priests and even high prelates of the Church did things, he said, that will forever be an honor to Catholicism. In fact, after the war, Israel Zolli  remember that he was the Chief Rabbi of Rome  became a Catholic. And to honor Pope Pius XII for what the Pontiff had done for the Jews and for the role that he had played in Zollis own conversion, the newly baptized Catholic took as his baptismal name the name Eugenio, after the Popes own given name, Eugenio Pacelli.

Now, while Hitchens and others, comfortably removed by many decades from the reality of Fascist and Nazi-occupied Rome, have described Pius XII as pro-Nazi, its striking that the Nazis evidently didnt feel that way. In 2007, a book appeared under the title of A Special Mission: Hitlers Secret Plot to Seize the Vatican and Kidnap Pope Pius XII. Written by Dan Kurzman, its about a Nazi plot to seize Pope Pius XII and to execute him  which, of course, is what Hitler often did to his most faithful supporters. Right?

Anyway, Im in Rome and that put me in mind of The Scarlet and the Black. I commend the movie to you.

My wife and I participated in a session this afternoon at the Rome Italy Temple. Afterwards, we visited for a while in his office with President James A. Toronto and his wife, Diane. Jim and Diane, who currently serve as, respectively, the president and the matron of the temple, are longtime friends of ours; he is a former colleague of mine in the Department of Asian and Near Eastern Languages at Brigham Young University where, like me, he taught Arabic and Islamic studies. The area covered by the Rome Italy Temple at the present time includes the Arab world, and Jim has had the opportunity to perform sealings and other ordinances in Arabic. One temple worker told me of a session the previous week that had included speakers of eight different languages. We met another temple worker who, although she lives in Italy now, is a native of Egypt; I dont know that Ive ever spoken Arabic in a Latter-day Saint temple before.

The taxi driver who brought us from downtown Rome, from near Roma Termini, out to the temple probably used up most of his English when he realized our destination: American church? he said. Very beautiful. I wasnt altogether pleased that he thought of it as an American church, but I was happy to hear that he liked it. Jim Toronto tells me that the temple has really made an impression, locally. People drop by, he said, just to walk on the grounds. They notice and remark on the serenity of the place, which includes a complex of Church buildings of which the Temple is just one. And they ask questions. To illustrate the point: As my wife and I were leaving, Jim came out the front door with us in his white suit and tie. A young Italian man came over to ask what kind of a place this was. Jim gave him a good explanation in Italian (so far as I could tell!) and then sent him over to the very nice adjacent visitors center.

Posted from Rome, Italy
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***

Johann Eck (1486-1543) was a German Catholic theologian, who was arguably one of Martin Luthers two most important and formidable debate opponents, along with Erasmus (Ive compiled several of his devastating replies to Luther as well). He was ordained as a priest in 1508 and in 1510 was installed as a professor of theology at the University of Ingolstadt in Bavaria: which lasted for thirty years. He mastered both Greek and Hebrew and had a prodigious memory, boundless energy, and very considerable debating skills. He famously engaged Luther for eighteen days in the Leipzig Disputation of July 1519.

Ecks argumentation might be said to be one of the quintessential examples of the Catholic theological and polemical response to the Protestant Revolt up to the opening of the Council of Trent in 1545. This is one of many excerpts from his best-known and principal volume, Enchiridion of Commonplaces Against Luther and Other Enemies of the Church. It first appeared in 1529 and eventually went through 91 editions. I will be using a later edition from 1541 (translated by Ford Lewis Battles, Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1979; now in the public domain).

Ecks words will be in black; my interjections in blue, and citations from Luther and other famous Protestants in green. I use RSV for scriptural citations.

***

Axiom 1: That the heretics wish to receive nothing unless it be expressly proved through the Scriptures. . . .

Augustine to the Priest Casulanus: In those matters concerning which divine Scripture has established nothing certain, the custom of the people of God and the regulations of the fathers are to be considered as law; and just as the transgressors of the divine laws, so also the despisers of church customs, are to be restrained. He writes in the same vein to the Grammarian Cresconius.

Not only are those things expressly stated in the Scriptures or proved from them to be believed and kept (something the Lutherans are unwilling to do), but also it is necessary to believe and keep those things Holy Mother Church believes and observes. For not everything has been clearly handed down in the Sacred Scriptures, but very many have been left to the Church to determine (which is illumined and governed by the Holy Spirit, and on this account cannot wander from the path of truth). Hence the Savior said to his disciples [Jn 16:12f ]: I have yet many things to say to you: but you cannot bear them now. But when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will teach you all truth. Therefore the Church observes in its rites and ceremonies many things, from the intimate inspiration of the Holy Spirit, and the tradition of the Apostles, and of the holy fathers, which even if not expressly stated in the Scriptures, yet it is wicked to depart from them or take exception to them. Indeed these things are most confirmed to them, and on that account are to be enforced and observed by all true evangelical and Pauline Christians (such do the Lutherans falsely boast themselves to be). Therefore, brethren, stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned, whether by word, or by our epistle [2 Thess 2:14].

The rest I shall dispose of when I come. [1 Cor 11:34]. Here, speaking of the Sacred Eucharist, he makes clear that he did not write down everything, but when he comes to them, he is going to set forth the remaining unwritten things.

Having more things to write to you, I would not by paper and ink, for I hope that I shall be with you, and speak face to face, that your joy may be full [2 Jn v. 12]

I had many things to write to you, but I would not by ink and pen write to you. But I hope speedily to see you and we will speak mouth to mouth [3 Jn v. 13f].

Obviously many things both of the Lords words and his deeds we find omitted by the Evangelists which one reads that the Apostles either supplied by word or expressed by deed, for Paul says so in Acts 20:35: We ought to remember the word of the Lord Jesus, how he said: It is a more blessed thing to give, rather than to receive [Acts 20:35]. These words none of the four Evangelists has written down. Also no one expressed anything about the appearance to more than 500 brothers at the same time [1 Cor 15:6], which Paul describes.

Axiom 2: The Lutherans contend that the Scriptures are clear.

Therefore laymen and crazy old women treat them in a domineering manner.

Peter contradicts this, speaking concerning the Epistle of Paul. In them are some things difficult to understand, which untutored and unstable men distort, as for example some scriptures, to their own destruction [2 Pt 3:15f]. Note the difficulty of those scriptures, and how (when Paul was living) they were distorted, just as the Lutherans do today.

Jerome to Algasia: The whole letter of Paul to the Romans is wrapped in too great obscurities.

Axiom 3: Heretics evilly reject any other judge than Scripture.

In the Old Testament not the law but the high priest was judge. If  a hard and doubtful matter  [Dt 17:8]. . . . When there shall be a controversy, (the priests) shall stand in my judgment, and judge. . . [Ez 44:24]. And the Catholics also especially admit Scripture, but we differ from the heretics in our understanding of it; accordingly it is necessary for there to be another judge than Scripture, namely, the Church. By this example, taken from the modern heretics (who reject any other judge than Scripture) is shown how the Lutherans and Oecolampadians and Zwinglians contend over the sacrament of the Eucharist, as to whether here is truly and spiritually the body and blood of Christ, or only a figure and sign. Who among them will be judge? Who will ever bring them into harmony? Scripture or Church?

Apart from these no other judge can be provided. It is not indeed upon Scripture (which each contends to be the judge) that they lay their foundationall the while in the self-same words of Scriptureand thus they do not admit Scripture as judge against their own doctrine, but make themselves judges over Scripture. Accordingly the Church will be the necessary judge, which believes that, when bread and wine have, by the power of Christs words, been transubstantiated in this sacrament, they are the true body and blood of Christ, under the species of bread and wine. . . .

Even the devil quoted Scripture against Christ [Mt 4:6]: That he has given his angels charge over you etc. , but a true understanding he did not possess, as Jerome concludes in Against the Luciferlans, and the Scriptures consist not in reading as the untutored crowd of the Lutheran heresy now suppose, but in understanding. Jerome, Ibid. Therefore Tertullian powerfully demonstrates in his book, On the Prescription of Heretics: it is wicked for them to be admitted to undertake the citation of the Scriptures. All heretics fled to Scriptures ill understood by them.

Augustine: Arius quotes 42 passages of Scripture in his own support.

*
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On May 29, Microsoft began rolling out an unscheduled update for Windows 11. Patch KB5037853 is currently still optional, but the changes are expected to be applied to everyone during Junes Patch Tuesday.

The new features in Windows 11s patch KB5037853 include:

Account management improvements

Sharing updates

Personalization options

Whats changing in Windows 11 account management

Windows 11 now provides a page called Add linked devices in the settings under Accounts. There you can see and manage all PCs and Xbox consoles that are linked to the system.

However, this option is only available for the Home and Pro editions if you sign in to Windows with your Microsoft account.

get windows 11 pro for cheap Windows 11 Pro Price When Reviewed: 69,99 Euro Best Prices Today:

The new Account Manager is now in the Start menu for easier management of account settings. If you use a Microsoft account to sign in to Windows, you can get an overview of your account benefits here. In the Start menu, you can also enter an email address to recover your account.

You can now also save your sound settings and transfer them to another device. This is in the settings under Accounts, then Windows backup. There you need to tick the box next to Save my settings and also activate the boxes next to Personalization and Other Windows settings.

With the new update, its also possible to sign in to your Microsoft account in the Windows Backup app. This app saves backups to your account.

Changes to sharing in Windows 11

The new update also brings additional features for sharing under Windows 11, like preventing you from accidentally closing the Windows sharing window when you click outside the window.

Its also now possible to send emails to yourself via the Windows sharing window. (Youll receive the email at the email address in your Microsoft account.) You can also create QR codes for website URLs and cloud files directly from the Windows sharing window.

Once the patch is installed, you can use the mouse to drag files between breadcrumbs in the File Explorer address bar. This makes it easier to navigate under Windows 11. The update also simplifies operation via voice input in apps and on the web.

Last but not least, the KB5037853 update for Windows 11 fixes a few bugs. The complete list of changes can be found on the corresponding support page.
The United States Government, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) is investing $742,000 (10.8 million Ghana Cedis) in fonio production to increase food security and improve farmers livelihoods in northern Ghana.



This funding will support AMAATI, a Ghanaian social enterprise, to expand its fonio processing capacity from three to ten metric tonnes per day at its factory in Tamale.



Fonio is a drought-resistant, gluten-free, grain from the millet family. It regenerates degraded soil and is packed with numerous nutrients and health benefits.



Fonio isnt just a grain; its a symbol of resilience, empowerment, and progress, for communities across northern Ghana, especially for women who have limited access to land, said USAID/Ghana Deputy Mission Director Grace Lang during the opening of the expanded AMAATI fonio factory in Tamale.



USAID Ghana Deputy Mission Director shows off a new package of fonio - a sustainable grain grown in Northern Ghana and processed at AMAATI's factor in Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana (May 29, 2024).



Since 2021, USAIDs West Africa Trade and Investment Hub (WATIH) has supported AMAATI, which pioneered the revival of fonio in northern Ghana, to develop a 1,000-hectare fonio farm, train 8,100 landless and disenfranchised farmers, mainly women and youth, to produce and process fonio, to engage in good agricultural practices, and to export fonio worth $4.6 million (66.9 million Ghana Cedis).



This factory represents our [USAID and AMAATI] joint commitment to develop the fonio market in West Africa. It will enable more women and youth in northern Ghana to engage in fonio farming and facilitate value-added manufacturing of the super grain for domestic consumption and export Lang added.



The United States is Ghanas largest bilateral development partner. In 2023 USAIDs bilateral development assistance, totaling over $140 million, was dedicated to supporting agriculture, economic growth, health, education, governance, and more.



WATIH supports businesses, like AMAATI, to increase productivity and competitiveness, and access the U.S. market. Through the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA), Ghana can export more than 6,500 products to the United States duty free.





About USAID



USAID is the lead U.S. government agency that works to end extreme global poverty and enable resilient, democratic societies to realize their potential. USAIDs activities and strategic partnerships support Ghana to advance an integrated approach to development, promoting accountability, sustainable systems, and inclusive development.



About WATIH



The USAID-funded West Africa Trade & Investment Hub is a five-year, $116 million trade and investment facilitation activity designed to improve private sector productivity, profitability, and competitiveness in West Africa through market-based approaches. By working in partnership with the private sector and fostering co-investments, the Trade Hub generates new private-sector capital investment in key sectors to create jobs and increase trade between the United States and West Africa.



About AMAATI



AMAATI Company, Ltd. is a Ghanaian social enterprise that pioneered the revival of fonio, an ancient African grain that is gluten-free and high in nutrients. Working with farmers to produce and process fonio, AMAATI was formed with the idea of creating a sustainable livelihood for women farmers using regenerated land

Source: Isaac Kwame Owusu/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]









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The Ghana Police Service has intensified investigations into the murder of two persons in the Eastern Region town of Maame Krobo, near Donkorkrom, by deploying a Specialized Investigative Team to assist the Eastern North Regional Police Command.



The Specialized Investigative Team, which has been deployed from the Police Headquarters, includes crime scene experts, homicide investigators, and undercover officers



Police are in regular contact with the families of the victims and are working closely with community leaders to find an acceptable and quick solution to this tragic situation.



We want to urge the community to remain calm and continue to support the Police as we work towards the maintenance of peace, security, law and order.



The Police are confident the perpetrators of this heinous crime will be found and brought to face justice.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The High Court in Accra has granted Samuel Ofosu-Ampofos request for time to open his defense following complications suffered after minor surgery.



The former National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was expected in court on Thursday, May 30, 2024, to open his defense in the case in which he is facing charges alongside Anthony Kwaku Boahen.



However, when the case was called before Justice Samuel Asiedu, a Justice of the Supreme Court sitting as an additional High Court judge, counsel for Ofosu-Ampofo, Tony Lithur, said his client had 'aggravated his leg' following a long flight.



"You gave us today (Thursday, May 30) to open our defense," counsel acknowledged.



He said, "Fortunately, the first accused (Ofosu-Ampofo) is back in the country, and it appears the long flight has aggravated his leg a bit."



Counsel also informed the court that "yesterday (Wednesday), when I asked him to come for preparation, he said he couldnt walk."



Mr. Lithur said he has since "procured a medical excuse duty."



He said, "I have spoken to him, and his doctor says because it is just a swell, within a week or two, he could walk with a stick to court."



The counsel said the information has been made known to the prosecution, led by Director of Public Prosecutions Yvonne Atakora Obuobisa, and she has agreed to their request for adjournment.



Mrs. Obuobisa corroborated the submission made by Tony Lithur, saying, "We are in agreement for the adjournment."



Though the parties agreed to come back in two weeks, which would have fallen on June 13, 2024, Justice Samuel Asiedu adjourned the case to June 20, citing congestion in the court's schedule.



The case has been adjourned to June 20, 2024.



EIB Networks Legal Affairs Correspondent, Murtala Inusah, reported that while Ofosu-Ampofo was absent, Anthony Kwaku Boahen was present.



At the last court sitting on April 25, the court directed that the former Deputy Communications Officer of the NDC, Anthony Kwaku Boahen, should be ready to open his defense today should Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo remain absent.



However, the update that Mr. Ofosu-Ampofo is back in the country softens that stance.



Ofosu-Ampofo is standing trial with Anthony Kwaku Boahen, the former Deputy Communications Officer of the NDC.



They are being tried for allegedly conspiring to cause harm to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission and the Chairman of the Peace Council.



Both are also separately facing a charge of assault on a public officer, have both pleaded not guilty and have been granted bail.



Background:



Sometime in November 2023, lawyers for the former NDC Chairman, led by Tony Lithur, provided a letter indicating that their client was in the United States undergoing treatment for post-surgery complications.



The content of the letter given to the court by the prosecution indicated that his condition is such that he cannot travel for at least six months.



The prosecution, led by the Director of Public Prosecution, has closed its case after calling three witnesses.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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Despite the government's denial that the country is facing a power crisis, Ghanaians are still experiencing power outages, popularly known as 'Dumsor.'



These outages are affecting not just ordinary residents but also government activities.



Today, May 30, 2024, the Ministry of Information was not spared.



The lights went out while the Minister for Communication, Ursula Owusu, was addressing the media during a press briefing on the '5G roll-out.'



The session continued after power was restored.



The government announced a partnership with seven industry leaders to develop a new shared infrastructure aimed at delivering affordable 5G mobile broadband services across Ghana.



The seven partners include Ascend Digital, K-NET, Radisys, Nokia, Tech Mahindra, and two telecommunications companies  AT Ghana and Telecel Ghana.



The government said these partners have formed the Next-Gen Infrastructure Company (NGIC), which has been awarded a 5G license. NGIC is expected to launch 5G services across Ghana within the next six months, with plans for further expansion into other parts of Africa.



Watch the video below:





Source: ghanaweb.com









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Martin A. B. K. Amidu, a former Special Prosecutor, has vehemently rejected a demand from the Office of the Speaker of Parliament to withdraw his recent statements and apologize unreservedly within seven days.



This development follows a statement released on May 28, 2024, by the Speaker's Communications Unit, signed by Peter Bamfo, addressing all media houses and requesting an apology from Martin Amidu.



In his response, Martin Amidu asserted that the statement addressed to the media cannot be considered a rejoinder to his publication dated May 26, 2024.



He emphasized that he stands by his assertions and has no intention of withdrawing or apologizing for his statements.



Amidu criticized Speaker Alban Bagbin for allegedly dissipating public funds by seeking medical treatment in Dubai for conditions he believes could be managed within Ghana.



"I have read a statement from the Office of the Speaker of Parliament with reference number OP/SPK/K1/33 dated 28 May 2024 signed by one Peter Bamfo (Head-Speakers Communications Unit) To All Media Houses in which the Speaker requests Mr. Amidu to do the honorable thing and withdraw his statement and apologize unreservedly to the Speaker of Parliament...within seven days from the date of the release of this rejoinder.



"First and foremost, the statement addressed to all media houses cannot be termed a rejoinder to my publication dated 26 May 2024. Secondly, I have done nothing for which I need to withdraw, retract, and apologize for within seven days to Mr. Bagbin who is dissipating the public purse needlessly in Dubai for health challenges which are treatable or manageable in Ghana," he said.



Amidus original publication accused the Speaker of Parliament of being a "confessed corrupt NDC Speaker of Parliament," and questioned the integrity of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Chairmans appointment to the Parliamentary Service Board, citing a conflict of interest under Article 284 of the 1992 Constitution.



Martin Amidu also raised concerns about a supposed meeting between Speaker Bagbin and President Akufo-Addo in Dubai, which he claimed influenced parliamentary proceedings regarding the 2022 Budget Statement and Economic Policy of the Government.



Amidu acknowledged a typographical error in his publication, clarifying that the intended year of the alleged meeting was 2022, not 2021.



He apologized to his readers for this slip but maintained that his question about the meeting was directed at Asiedu Nketiah and John Mahama, not Speaker Bagbin.



"I never claimed anywhere in my publication that there was a secret meeting with the President in Dubai in 2021 (the year intended which was accidentally typed as 2021 was 2022) as my words in the question which I have quoted above testifies to. My question was directed to Asiedu Nketia and John Mahama. Mr. Alban Bagbin has no problem with my description of him as a self-confessed corrupt Speaker of Parliament but raises issues with the question that has no reference to any secret meeting for which I am still waiting for an answer from Asiedu Nketiah, John Mahama, and the NDC. By Mr. Bagbins statement to all media houses he implicitly admits that he is a self-confessed corrupt person which means that he has no reputation whatsoever that can be defamed by me. The proof of Mr. Alban Bagbins confession of being corrupt which he made in the media more than once are available in audio and online for everybody who wishes to listen to or read to do so," he said.



Amidu reiterated that he never claimed there was a secret meeting, as alleged by the Speaker.



He further asserted that Speaker Bagbins statement implicitly acknowledges his own confession of corruption, which, according to Amidu, nullifies any potential defamation claims.







Source: ghanaweb.com









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The Pan African International Students (PAIS) is deeply concerned by the recent video circulating on social media depicting Ghanaian students in Morocco struggling due to a lack of support from the Ghanaian government.



These students, sent to Morocco on government scholarships, are facing dire circumstances, lacking basic necessities like food and shelter.



A female student in the video poignantly expressed their hardship: "We are pleading with the Government of Ghana to come to our aid.



As ladies here, we cannot afford basic needs like sanitary pads..." Unable to hold back tears, her statement spoke volumes about the students' plight.



It is heartbreaking to see these brilliant young Ghanaians struggling to meet their fundamental needs, says Apostle Aheto Jacob-Paul, National Coordinator of PAIS Ghana. The video, where a female student tearfully pleads for sanitary pads, exemplifies the dire situation they face.



PAIS, dedicated to the well-being and success of international students, particularly across Africa, stands in solidarity with these distressed students. We urge the Ghanaian government to take immediate action and address these critical issues.



PAIS remains committed to supporting these students in any way possible, building upon our existing efforts towards the welfare of international students in Ghana and Kenya since our launch last year.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









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It appears District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) Administrator, Irene Naa Torshie Addo, is on a desperate spending spree" to court the support of party members to advance her running mate ambition - some New Patriotic Party (NPP) members in the Ashanti region claim.



Her activities have drawn the anger of many party members who have called on the party leadership to take immediate action on the matter in order not to jeopardise the breaking the 8 agenda.



Office influence



According to the party members she has allegedly been using her office to influence party members to back her move.



What she is doing will come back to hurt the party very soon," a concerned party member in the Ashanti Region remarked.



Deployment of her boy



A major strategy she has adopted is deploying her 'boy Augustine Collins Ntim, the Member of Parliament (MP) for Offinso North, to go round to sell her to party members.



Last Sunday, Ntim who is a former Deputy Minister of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development, managed to attend a meeting of constituency secretaries of the NPP in the Ashanti Region in Kumasi where he dwelt his speech on Naa Torshie much to the surprise of the gathering.



Ntim who lost his parliamentary primary, and was also sacked from his deputy ministerial position by President Akufo-Addo is now doing the work of her boss Naa Torshie.



Action



Party members including metropolitan, municipal and district chief executives (MMDCEs) who spoke on the matter say they suspect wrongdoing and called on President Akufo-Addo to investigate how the Common Fund is being applied.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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

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The General Secretary of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah has commended Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for his message of possibilities.



Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the presidential candidate for the governing New Patriotic Party, has been campaigning to be elected President of Ghana on the theme of "possibilities and a can do spirit" with the tagline "It Is Possible".



At an interactive meeting with the Trades Union Congress in Accra on Monday to share his vision and policy for Ghana, the General Secretary of the Union lauded Dr. Bawumia saying "Dr. Bawumia once said ideas, systems and institutions are ingredients for transforming the country. I personally listened to him during his recent campaign tour across the country and his insistence that it is possible...I see that everywhere and his positive message is very, very important for this country. It is possible!"



At the same programme, the 1st Vice Chairman of TUC, Alexander Nyarko Opoku also said Dr. Bawumia's story about his humble beginning as a student abroad driving taxi and cleaning dormitories to support his education, he (Nyarko Opoku) was convinced everyone could achieve their dreams with hard work.



"So all of us here, despite where we find ourselves, it is possible if you have a dream and you keep pursuing. From a taxi driver and a cleaner abroad, Bawumia has proven that it is possible."





Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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Harvest fisherman Jamie Culver described it as the 'most incredible experience' he's ever had on the ocean.

A group of fishermens unbelievably close encounter with a large Great White shark has left other Aussies in awe. The majestic and petrifying moment off the coast of Port Stephens, just north of Newcastle in NSW, was captured earlier this week by harvest fisherman Jamie Culver, who described it as the most incredible experience hes ever had on the ocean.

Not long after casting a line off a boat with a couple of mates, he said the Great White suddenly appeared and swam around us for nearly an hour as we continued to fish. Video footage posted to his Instagram  which has since gone viral  shows the large shark peacefully circling the vessel, and at times coming curiously close to the fishermen and their rods at the back of the boat.

To be both simultaneously petrified and in awe is a rare human experience and thats the effect this wild apex predator had on me, Jamie said online.

Ive always dreamt of stumbling across one but never imagined one this size. So graceful and peaceful in one sense but also the DNA of my nightmares. Amazing to experience it with great mates and a memory Im sure Ill never forget.

Aussies in awe of 'curious beauty'

Viewers couldnt help but share their amazement over the insane encounter, with one person describing the shark as a curious beauty.

Stuff nightmares are made off... but yet so beautiful! another said. Could watch this on repeat  absolutely amazing, another agreed.

Others detailed their own run-ins with sharks, deeming it a truly humbling experience. Had one of 4.5m tail me for a minute whilst surfing in South Africa, and as you say, it was one of the most beautiful and scary experiences of my life, a man recalled.

Late last year, a Great White shark bit off the tail of fisherwoman Isabella Sesto's catch. Source: Isabella Sesto

Why do sharks approach boats?

Speaking to Yahoo News, Dr Christopher Neff, who has spent years studying sharks and their behaviour, explained the Great White shark seen in the video was drawn to the boats motor.

Its not the fishing, they dont have anything on the line and it doesnt appear to look like significant bait. Its most likely the wattage from the metal of the propeller, he said on Friday. Sharks are so sensitive, particularly Great Whites, theyre so sensitive that they come in and check it out.

The animals behaviour is normal, Dr Neff added. You often see this. Its not about the people, they dont know what the boat is, they dont know what colour is, but they know its emitting energy and wattage.
Atik Mohammed has waded into discussions concerning Attorney-General, Godfred Dame's suit against Minority Leader, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, in an ambulance deal that the latter led between 2014 and 2016.



Ato Forson and one Richard Jakpa have been charged at the Accra High Court for causing financial loss of 2.37 million to the state in a deal to purchase 200 ambulances for Ghana.



According to the A-Gs facts, the late former President John Evans Atta Mills, in 2009, while delivering the State of the Nation, noted that new ambulances would be purchased to expand the operations of the National Ambulance Service.



He informed the nation about the move to buy 200 ambulances but only 30 ambulances were purchased at a sum of 2.37 million.



The procurement of the 30 ambulances was spearheaded by Richard Jakpa, a local representative of a Dubai-based company called Big Sea General Trading Limited, who approached the Ministry of Health with a proposal he had arranged for finance from Stanbic Bank for the supply of the 200 ambulances and Ato Forson who was then the Deputy Finance Minister.



During cross-examination in court before the trial judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, Richard Jakpa dropped a bombshell.



He stated that the Attorney-General and himself had met at the private residence of a Supreme Court Justice, Emmanuel Yonny Kulendi, in a supposed plea bargain negotiation.



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 said in court.



Reacting to the issue on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, Atik Mohammed found it unfortunate that Attorney-General would agree to meet Jakpa in Justice Kulendi's home.



To him, the meeting as well as a leaked telephone recording that Jakpa had made while having a conversation with Mr. Godfred Dame was all a plot by Jakpa against the A-G.



Atik wondered how the A-G could fall for such trap, stating "even though you wanted to act in good faith, if there were any engagements, they should have been in the office" in front of their Attorneys, stressing "having a phone conversation with the accused, I think the A-G could have done better".



On the part of the Justice Kulendi, Atik said; "The Judge erred...He had no business getting involved. So, does that mean that if your family member commits murder, you would go to speak to the Prosecutor or whatever. I mean it's bad; it doesn't look pretty" and also blasted Jakpa saying "Jakpa didn't do well; nobody would tell me he didn't plan to do this. He intentionally did this".





Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana









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

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The President of the Volta Region House of Chiefs, Togbe Tapre Hodo IV has lauded policies by the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).



Togbe Hodo IV, the Paramount Chief of the Anfoega traditional area, said Dr Mahamudu Bawumia's vision for the country is Progressive and forwarding looking ideas.



He, however, hopes Ghanaians will vote him into power to implement his ideas.



You and I agree that this country needs to move forward, we need progress, we need economic development. Let us listen carefully and ponder on all the suggestions the vice president has made .



I am not suggesting any partisanship as far as this is concerned, I am talking of a country called Ghana. We need Ghana to move forward. These progressive ideas ought to be made to bear fruits for the good of this nation. Togbe Hodo IV said during Dr Bawumia's Bold Solution tour to the region.



Adding that: We should all embrace these positive ideas.

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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Renowned Kumawood actor Kwadwo Nkansah, popularly known as Lilwin, attended the premiere of his movie, A Country Called Ghana, on Saturday night, just hours after being involved in a vehicle accident.



Multiple videos from the movie premiere captured Lilwin being ushered into the venue at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) with a plaster on his forehead, suggesting the severity of the injury he suffered from the accident.



Reports indicate that he had undergone surgery after the accident and was deemed well enough to attend the ceremony.



The accident occurred on Saturday in Amokom, a suburb of the Kumasi Metropolis, when Lilwins Benz car collided with another vehicle while he was on his way to a funeral.



Social media videos captured the aftermath, showing onlookers assisting him from his branded Mercedes Benz and transferring him into another vehicle.



The front bumper of his Mercedes Benz was severely damaged.



Despite the ordeal, Lilwins presence at the premiere was a clear indication of his resilience and dedication to his job.

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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Call it Ghana Musics Biggest Night, The Most Anticipated Event or The Grand Convocation of Celebrities, and you will be anything but wrong.



The Ghana Music Awards, celebrating its 25th Anniversary, proudly brought to you by Telecel, will climax on 1st June, 2024 with an amazing musical show and awards presentation to deserving artistes, preceded by the glam of red carpet. Ready?



This years edition will not only celebrate the 25year milestone, but also pay tribute to the people, culture, and music of Ghana. The event promises to be the most memorable yet, with performances from some of the most sort after artists on the continent, including Stonebwoy, Kuami Eugene, King Promise, Mr. Drew, Nacee, Amerado, King Paluta, Efya, Amaree, and Team Eternity.



The most anticipated moment of the night is the announcement of the coveted Artiste of the Year award. This prestigious accolade recognizes the artist who has made the biggest impact in the industry over the past year, adjudged by the board, academy and the general public.



The competition is fierce, as musicians continue to raise the bar with their talent, creativity and ingenuity. Thirty (30) categories will be awarded throughout the evening, honoring artistes of various genres, collaborative works, and individual achievements.



Join the celebration, the glitz and glamor, the unforgettable performances and the crowning moments on Saturday, 1 st of June at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre, at 7pm.



Tickets are available at Charterhouse Office for Ghc500 Premium and Ghc700 VIP. Or simply dial *713*33*25#. For VVIP Tickets call 0501288520. Alternatively catch the experience, live on TV3 at 8pm and on YouTube  Charterhouse Live.



The 25th Telecel Ghana Music Awards is powered by Charterhouse, with support from TV3, Guinness, Captain Morgan, Closeup, British Council, our media partners and proudly brought to you by Telecel, connecting energies!









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

Featured Video
The Dauphin County Library System plans to expand the McCormick Riverfront Library and renovate the adjacent Haldeman Haly House at the corner of Walnut and Front streets in Harrisburg. April 21, 2021. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
By Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman (TNS)

BOISE, Idaho  State prosecutors in the University of Idaho student homicide case relied on a federal grand jury to obtain dozens of subpoenas to build their case against suspect Bryan Kohberger, it was revealed for the first time Thursday at a pretrial hearing.

As many as 71 sealed federal subpoenas produced potential evidence against Kohberger, who is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and faces the death penalty if convicted, Latah County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Ashley Jennings disclosed in court. The material from those subpoenas has all been turned over to the defense, she said.

Bryan Kohberger, right, is escorted into a courtroom for a hearing in Latah County District Court, Sept. 13, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. (AP File Photo/Ted S. Warren, file)AP File Photo/Ted S. Warren

But Kohbergers public defense team said it wants the subpoenas themselves and demanded that the judge in the case order the state  and the federal government acting on its behalf  to turn them over. The federal grand jury, overseen by the U.S. Attorneys Office, led to what could prove to be pivotal evidence at trial and is included in the probable cause affidavit for Kohbergers arrest, the defense said.

They used a subpoena to get one of the most critical pieces of evidence in this case, and they know that, and they are going to use that, Elisa Massoth, one of Kohbergers attorneys, told the court Thursday.

Massoth did not specify which piece of evidence in the case that may be, or provide the date of that federal subpoena.

What I can tell you is that for the majority  we did state search warrants, and weve received many of these records that way, Jennings responded.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho Josh Hurwit and his office did not immediately respond Thursday afternoon to email and phone requests for comment from the Idaho Statesman.

Kohberger, 29, is accused in the stabbing deaths of four Idaho students at an off-campus home in Moscow in November 2022. The victims were seniors Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and junior Xana Kernodle and freshman Ethan Chapin, both 20.

More than 100 search warrants were obtained by city and state police detectives in their investigation into the student homicides that shocked the rural college town, state and nation. The FBI assisted with the investigation, including producing DNA evidence that prosecutors said links Kohberger to the crime scene.

Kohbergers defense is working toward filing several motions to suppress search warrants and evidence against their client, largely based around the timeline of police work leading up to Kohbergers arrest. He was taken into custody in Pennsylvania at his parents house seven weeks after the students deaths.

The information, including the dates of those federal subpoenas, will help the defense establish that timeline and justify attempts to have evidence tossed from the case  blocking its use from the eventual trial and consideration by the jury. Timing is everything in the case for the defense, Massoth said.

We are desperate to find out the timeline ... and when the state knew what and when, she told the court. Theres no question that motions to suppress are coming.

The Idaho judge handling the case has yet to set a trial date.
Criminal charges were dropped last week against three former Adams County Children and Youth workers who were accused of placing a baby back into her mothers custody a week before her death in 2020.

On May 24, Judge Howard Knisely dismissed two felony counts of child endangerment each against Steven L. Murphy, 64, of Dillsburg; Sherri R. Depasqua, 47, of Dillsburg; and Clarissa M. Kiessling, 45, of Hanover.
By Rebecca Boone, The Associated Press

BOISE, Idaho  An Idaho man has been convicted of killing his wife and his new girlfriends two youngest kids in a strange triple murder case that included claims of apocalyptic prophesies, zombie children and illicit affairs.

The jury deliberated just six hours before finding Chad Daybell guilty on all counts Thursday afternoon, capping an investigation that began in 2019 and spanned at least four states. Now jurors will be tasked with deciding if Daybell, 55, should die for the murders of Tammy Daybell, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan and 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow.

The childrens mother, Lori Vallow Daybell, was sentenced to life in prison without parole on the same conspiracy and murder charges last year. She married Chad Daybell just two weeks after Tammy Daybell was killed.

The nearly two-month trial now enters the penalty phase, with prosecutors attempting to show that the crimes merit a death sentence because they were especially depraved, heinous or cruel or that they meet one of the other aggravating factors detailed in state law. Daybells defense, meanwhile, will try to provide the jury with mitigating circumstances that could show the panel a lighter sentence is more appropriate.

The case began in September 2019, when extended family members reported the two children missing and law enforcement officials launched a search that spanned several states. The subsequent investigation took several unexpected turns.

Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were having an affair when both of their spouses died unexpectedly, investigators said. Vallow Daybells husband was shot to death by her brother Alex Cox in Arizona in July 2019; the brother told police it was in self-defense. He was not charged.

Vallow Daybell, her kids JJ and Tylee, and Cox subsequently moved to eastern Idaho to be closer to Daybell, a self-published writer of doomsday-focused fiction loosely based on Mormon teachings.

In October 2019, Tammy Daybell died. Chad Daybell initially told police she was battling an illness and died in her sleep, but an autopsy later determined that she died of asphyxiation. Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell married just two weeks after Tammy Daybell died, surprising family members.

Nearly a year after the children went missing, their remains were found buried on Chad Daybells property in eastern Idaho. Investigators later determined both children died in September 2019. Prosecutors say Cox conspired with Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell in all three deaths, but Cox died of natural causes during the investigation and was never charged.

Larry Woodcock, gets a hug after the verdict in the Chad Daybell murder trial was read at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on Thursday, May 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kyle Green, Pool)AP

Prosecutors called dozens of witnesses to bolster their claims that Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell conspired to kill the two children and Tammy Daybell because they wanted to get rid of any obstacles to their relationship and to obtain money from survivor benefits and life insurance. Prosecutors say the couple justified the killings by creating an apocalyptic belief system that people could be possessed by evil spirits and turned into zombies, and that the only way to save a possessed persons soul was for the possessed body to die.

Fremont County prosecutor Lindsay Blake said Daybell styled himself a leader of what he called The Church of the Firstborn and told Vallow Daybell and others that he could determine if someone had become a zombie. Daybell also claimed to be able to determine how close a person was to death by reading what he called their death percentage, Blake said.

With these elements, Daybell followed a pattern for each of those who were killed, Blake said.

They would be labeled as dark by Chad Daybell. Their death percentage would drop. Then they would have to die, she said in her closing argument.

Blake also said Daybell manipulated Vallow Daybell and her brother, Cox, into helping with the plan, at times bestowing spiritual blessings on Cox and warning Vallow Daybell that the angels were angry because she was at times ignoring him.

Daybells defense attorney, John Prior, rejected the prosecutions descriptions of Daybells beliefs. He described Daybell as a traditional member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a deeply religious man who talked about his spiritual beliefs every chance he could get.

Prior said police looked only for things they could use against Daybell rather than the actual facts of the case  and he claimed that the childrens late uncle, Cox, committed the crimes. He noted that Cox had previously killed JJ Vallows father in Arizona and that the two children were the only witnesses to that shooting. He also said Cox tried to frame Daybell by burying the slain children in Daybells yard in eastern Idaho.

FILE - A boy looks at a memorial for Tylee Ryan and Joshua "JJ" Vallow in Rexburg, Idaho, on June 11, 2020. (John Roark/The Idaho Post-Register via AP, File)AP

Witnesses for both sides agreed that Chad Daybell and Vallow Daybell were having an affair that began well before Tammy Daybell died.

Defense witnesses included Dr. Kathy Raven, a forensic pathologist who reviewed reports from Tammy Daybells autopsy and said she believed the cause of death should have been classified as undetermined.

Chad Daybells son, Garth Daybell, told jurors he was home the night his mother died and that he heard no disturbance. He said he later felt like police officers and prosecutors were trying to pressure him to change his story, even threatening him with perjury charges at one point.
A former Lancaster policeman is facing additional charges.

Andrew Scott Selby, 54, of Pocopson Township, Chester County, was charged by Lancaster City Bureau Police again on Thursday after he had been previously charged with rape and sexual assault earlier this month.

Lancaster Police and the Lancaster County District Attorneys office announced that as the investigation into Selby has progressed, five more victims have come forward. As a result, Selby is now facing two additional sets of criminal charges.

Selby was charged with rape forcible compulsion and sexual assault in connection to an incident that happened nearly three decades ago.

The victim at the time was 15 or 16 years old and the incident took place in 1995 or 1996, she told police. She told police she knew Selby because he was a police officer and he would frequently interact with her on duty.

Selby is awaiting a preliminary hearing with Magisterial District Judge Jodie Richardson.

He was also charged on Thursday in a 1993 incident with rape forcible compulsion, criminal attempt  rape forcible compulsion, statutory rape and criminal attempt  statutory rape. Selby is awaiting a preliminary hearing in that case with Magisterial District Judge Courtney Monson.

Selby was charged earlier this month with sexually abusing three children while on and off duty in the late 1990s. He was an officer for the city of Lancaster for six years, ending in 2000. During that time, police said he sexually assaulted a 12-year-old, a 16-year-old and another preteen  one of whom was a rape victim whose case he was assigned to investigate, according to the Lancaster Bureau of Police.

In connection to those incidents, Selby is charged with rape and sexual assault, as well as involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault, attempted rape, attempted statutory sexual assault, and attempted sexual assault.

Lancaster police said they believe there could be additional victims. Anyone with information can call Det. Sgt. Higgins at 717-735-3319 or submit a tip through CrimeWatch.
Just in time for summer, a cool Pennsylvania tradition is back.

Scooped: An Ice Cream Trail officially launched on Thursday for the 2024 season and features 41 creameries across the state.

Started in 2018, the ice cream trail is a partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and its PA Preferred program, The Department of Community and Economic Developments Tourism Office, and the Center for Dairy Excellence.

Visitors can stop at as many of the creameries as they want. The trail isnt just for ice cream, but an opportunity for visitors to meet the people behind the ice cream.

No summer getaway is complete without a scoop of ice cream from a Pennsylvania creamery, said Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding. Knowing youre supporting one of Pennsylvanias more than 4,000 dairy farms just sweetens the adventure.

Those who sign up on the ice cream trail website will accrue points every time they visit a participating creamery.

This year, those who visit five creameries will receive 500 points and a stainless steel ice cream scoop, while those who earn 1,000 points will receive a limited edition 2024 Scooped An Ice Cream Trail t-shirt.

The ice cream trail launches as Gov. Josh Shapiro recently unveiled the states new tourism slogan: Pennsylvania. The Great American Getaway.

His administration is making tourism a priority and introduced a summer marketing campaign titled Your Great American Getaway Starts Here. It runs through August in regional markets, including New York City, Washington, D.C., Cleveland, Toronto, and across the state.

For those interested in hitting the ice cream trail, here are the participating creameries and ice cream stops:

Bailys Dairy of Pocopson Meadow Farm

1821 Lenape-Unionville Road, West Chester

Batch Microcreamery

2845 Center Valley Parkway, Suite 604 Center Valley

Chester Springs at Milky Way Farm

521 E Uwchlan Ave., Chester Springs

Crystal Spring Farm

3550 Bellview Road, Schnecksville

Destiny Dairy Bar at Stover Farms

60 Horners Road, Carlisle

Fox Meadows Creamery

2475 W. Main St., Ephrata and 193 E. Main St., Leola

Gods Country Creamery

439 Pushersiding Road, Ulysses

Grecos Italian Ices and Homemade Ice Cream

9 E. Kleine Lane, Lititz

Hangry Bear Creamery

660 E. Cypress St. ,Suite 101, Kennett Square

Jackson Farms

6718 National Pike E, New Salem

Kerbers Dairy

1856 Guffey Road, North Huntingdon

Klein Farms Dairy and Creamery

410 Klein Road, Easton

Lapp Valley Farms

244 Mentzer Road, New Holland and 4040 Old Philadelphia Pike, Gordonville

Lone Oak Farm

1606 Georgeville Road, Marion Center

Manning Farm Dairy

131 Manning Road, Dalton (North Abingdon Township); 500 S. State St., Clarks Summit; 700 N. Blakely St., Dunmore; 300 Meadow Ave., Scranton; and 416 N. Main Ave., Scranton

Merrymead Farm

2222 S Valley Forge Road, Lansdale

Nittany Valley Creamery

5561 Jacksonville Road, Howard

Old Mill Creamery

6542 Buffalo Road, Mifflinburg

Patches Family Creamery

201 Fonderwhite Road, Lebanon

Penn State Berkey Creamery

Food Science Building at Penn State University, 119 Rodney A. Erickson

Perrydell Farm and Dairy

90 Indian Rock Dam Road, York

Pronto! Cafe by Brandy Camp Creamery

45 Erie Ave., Saint Marys

Ritcheys Dairy

2130 Cross Cove Road, Martinsburg

Sprinkled Sweet Bakery & Artisan Creamery

349 Pine St., Suite 4, Williamsport

Stocks Dairy Delight

2491 Cove Mountain Road, Martinsburg

The Lands at Hillside Farms

65 Hillside Road, Shavertown

The Sweet Anchor

720 Venango Ave., Cambridge Springs

Urban Churn

6391 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg; 258 Westminister Drive, Carlisle; and 1004 North 3rd St., Harrisburg

Vale Wood Farms

517 Vale Wood Road, Loretto

Way-Har Farms

7701 Bernville Road, Bernville

Widnoon Soft Serve

911 Mahoning Road, Templeton

Windy Knoll Farm Market & Creamery

2685 Spring Road, Chambersburg

Windy Ridge Dairy

457 North Tower Road, Fombell
The woman says she found a 'better' solution than forking out thousands for a repair.

The Aussie didn't want to fork out thousands of dollars for a problem she believes is Hyundai's fault. Source: TikTok

Furious Hyundai owners driving around with paint peeling off their cars have threatened the manufacturer with a class action lawsuit, claiming the paint chipping and bubbling off their car is the result of defective paint jobs.

Drivers have reportedly been afraid to touch or wash the outside of their cars in fear the paint will fall off when they do, with the peeling paint causing obvious eyesores and even flapping in the wind while motorists travel along roads.

Some have rallied together to confront the known issue claiming the manufacturer is not taking responsibility for the expensive issue, however one Aussie has found a short term solution that won't break the bank.

"Now I know what you're thinking, go get it professionally painted. I got quoted for that and it's $7,000," the woman claimed online after showing the large patches of paint missing from the front, back, side doors and roof of her car.

"I can't afford $7,000 for Hyundai's f**k up, however, this was like ten bucks," she said, holding up a Rust Oleum white spray paint can.

The Hyundai owner believes her car looked 'better' after spray painting it with the $10 product. Source: TikTok

Makeshift solution makes woman's Hyundai look 'better'

In the footage the woman shows herself sanding down the patches, with more paint flaking off as she does so, before applying the white spray paint. The outline between the spray paint and original car paint is visible up close but after she takes a few steps back, the makeshift solution does visibly improve the appearance of the car.

"So like obviously this looks s**t but it's better [than it was]," she said.

Hyundai responds to defective paint job claims

There hasn't been a class actioned launched in Australia yet but one was filed in Canada last year. It is believed the model range most affected is the company's i20's, with the majority being white. However cars of other colours have also reportedly been impacted, with thousands sharing their experience on a Facebook page created to discuss the ongoing issue.

Hyundai confirmed to Yahoo News Australia it is aware of the issue and is making a "continual effort" to address it, covering vehicle claims past the three year warranty period as a "gesture of goodwill" to customers.

"We continue to evaluate paint claims as they are submitted, and endeavour to provide satisfactory resolutions for our customers," a Hyundai spokesperson said. "We encourage customers to contact Hyundai Customer Care or their local Hyundai dealer in order for us to review the details of their case and the issue with their particular vehicle."

Hyundai drivers are furious their paint is peeling off their cars. Source: Canberra Times

It is understood most of the cars affected have been white. Source: Facebook

The manufacturer considers a variety of factors when evaluating a customer's claim including how long they have owned the car, where they purchased it and how long the issue has been present.

"Hyundai reviews cases individually and if deemed appropriate, repairs the customer's vehicle free of charge," the spokesperson said.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
By Ishani Desai, The Sacramento Bee (TNS)

A former criminal justice professor who set at least seven fires during a year featuring some of Californias most destructive wildfires  including igniting a blaze near the 2021 Dixie Fire  was sentenced Thursday to five years and three months in prison, prosecutors said.

Gary Stephen Maynard, 49, pleaded guilty to three counts of arson on federal property in February. Prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memorandum that Maynard exhibited wanton and deliberate actions while setting fires designed to harm individuals.

He intentionally made a dangerous situation more perilous by setting some of his fires behind the men and women fighting the Dixie Fire, potentially cutting off any chance of escape, U.S. Attorney Phillip A. Talbert said in a statement announcing the sentence.

The Dixie fire burns off of Highway 70 on July 21, 2021, in Plumas County, California, after igniting in the Feather River Canyon. (Xavier Mascarenas/The Sacramento Bee/TNS, file)TNS

Maynard was arrested in August 2021 after investigators tracked his black Kia Soul for hundreds of miles through Northern California. He filmed himself igniting blazes for which he hasnt been charged, prosecutors wrote.

Authorities first came across Maynard during July 2021s Cascade Fire, reported on the western slopes of Mount Shasta. The fire was contained from spreading beyond 100 to 200 square feet in the Shasta-Trinity National Forest in Siskiyou County, according to previous Bee reporting.

The next day, investigators encountered tire tracks similar to those made by a Kia hatchback near a fire burning by Everitt Memorial Highway in Mount Shasta, previous reporting said.

Authorities fastened a tracking device to Maynards car and, by also monitoring his EBT card usage, followed him around California. They pinpointed him near where the Ranch and Conard fires ignited in the Lassen National Forest.

He was finally caught settling blazes in an evacuation zone behind firefighters battling the Dixie Fire, Californias second-largest wildfire, prosecutors said.

Maynard suffered from untreated mental health issues and was homeless when arson spree began, according to a sentencing memorandum filed by his attorneys. He has been attempting to treat his illnesses while in custody and will continue his treatment in prison, the defense wrote.

Maynard taught at various schools, including as an adjunct faculty member in Santa Clara Universitys sociology department and as a lecturer at Sonoma State University specializing in criminal justice, cults and deviant behavior.

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The New York jurys verdict that found former President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a sexual scandal that threatened his 2016 candidacy, barely had time to sink in before Pennsylvania politicians began sharing their reactions. No surprise, the reactions came down along party lines.

Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa of Allegheny County said, Todays thirty-four count guilty verdicts mark an enormous moment for Donald Trump and his decades of lies and deception. The message sent today was loud and clear: no one is above the law. While its certainly unprecedented for a former president to be found guilty in this manner, its important to remember that the law must apply fairly and equally to everyone, regardless of their income, ZIP code, or occupation. Today brings mixed emotions  while Im glad that justice was served, its also sad to know that a dishonest businessman was the Commander-in-Chief for four full years. I look forward to next steps in this process as we pursue truth and justice.
Harrisburg has a strong city ordinance that protects residents from discrimination based on their race, gender, sexual orientation and more. But the body charged with enforcing it hasnt met for over two years.

The Harrisburg Human Relations Commission, which is responsible for investigating complaints of discrimination in housing, employment and public accommodations within the city, has not met since March 2022, due to failures to fill vacancies on the commission. Five of the commissions nine seats are empty.

The power to fill the vacancies, which are volunteer positions, lies with the mayor and city council, and city law directs them to do so quickly. Its unclear why they havent.

Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams initially agreed to an interview request with PennLive but pulled out at the last minute at Solicitor Neil Grovers direction, according to city spokesperson Matt Maisel. Williams did not answer follow-up questions about why the vacancies havent been filled and whether she plans to take action.

Harrisburg City Council President Danielle Bowers did not respond to multiple interview requests.

Harrisburg isnt the only city that has struggled to fully staff its commission. Lancaster and York have also dealt with vacancies and periods of inactivity in the past, but have recently found ways to revive their commissions.

In the Harrisburg commissions absence, most complaints the city receives are being funneled to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, which has the ability to handle complaints from throughout the state, Grover said.

Still, current and former members of Harrisburgs commission, as well as an official from the state commission, said local commissions are needed to educate communities, help cities qualify for federal monies and handle complaints that the state legally cant.

I really am hopeful. I want this to happen, said Russell Boggs, former chairperson of the commission, who asked the mayor to fill the vacancies in early 2022. He resigned shortly after. But, you know, thats government bureaucracy and politics.

Are local commissions needed?

Harrisburgs Human Relations Commission is one of about 60 local commissions in Pennsylvania that are supposed to work to combat discrimination in their communities. The groups span the state, from cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to small towns and boroughs such as Carlisle and Gettysburg.

But all of them are dwarfed by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, which handles thousands of complaints annually and has a budget of over $12 million this year.

The state commission fielded over 4,600 complaints from Dauphin County alone since 2019. One complaint resulted in a Harrisburg property manager being ordered in September 2023 to pay a woman $37,000 after finding the property manager had sexually harassed her.

Officials of the state commission have also been outspoken against racial discrimination after the death of 16-year-old Central Dauphin High School student Justin Johnson in April.

Given the state commissions resources and muscle, theres no need for the Harrisburg commission to exist, Grover said, adding that the city receives almost no viable complaints.

The commission, which used to have a paid staff person, was defunded due to competing priorities in the city budget, he said.

Theres always more things to do than you have money to do, Grover said.

But the lack of complaints could in part be because the commission has been defunct for over two years and has gone through other long periods of dormancy in the past, said Gretchen Little, who became the commissions chairperson after Boggs stepped down.

Its sort of the reverse Field of Dreams, Little said. If you dont build it, they wont come.

Though the state has the capacity to handle all of the complaints it receives, its still important for cities to have their own commissions, said Adrian Garcia, director of enforcement for the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. State law doesnt cover all of the same protected classes that cities often do, which means the state cant hear those cases. For example, Harrisburg law protects residents from discrimination based on their marital status, while state law doesnt.

Having a commission is also one of the easiest ways a city can prove it is fighting housing discrimination, which is a requirement to receive certain types of federal housing and development funding, Garcia said.

Thats low hanging fruit for any city, he said.

York, Lancaster commissions reinvented

While Harrisburgs commission stalls, its counterparts in York and Lancaster are reinventing themselves.

The City of York Human Relations Commission has been steadily growing its presence by hosting outreach events, drafting new city policies and collaborating with other government agencies, said Executive Director Clare Twomey. Much of that work has been possible thanks to its three full-time staffers, who work in collaboration with the volunteer commissioners. The city budgeted $153,000 for the commission this year.

Like Harrisburg, Yorks commission has also gone through periods of hardship in the past, Twomey said. But its revival has so far proven useful: The commission has received roughly 200 complaints in the past year, and city staff were able to help resolve many of them through mediation.

Weve become a place where folks can tell their story and find out whats available to them, and that in and of itself is something thats been quite valuable, she said.

The Lancaster City Human Relations Commission, which historically had a hearing body and a separate council for outreach and education, has also struggled to recruit members for each group and keep a full roster. To combat that, the Lancaster City Council voted in April to combine the two groups. The hope is that it will make it easier for the commission to form a quorum and conduct business, said Neil Albert, the investigator who screens discrimination complaints for the city.

The mayor of Lancaster has a commitment to trying to make the commission work, Albert said.

But if we cant get people to volunteer, we cant draft people.

As for Harrisburgs commission, time will tell whether city officials will orchestrate a revival of its own or not. In the meantime, its champions remain hopeful.

I believe in the [Harrisburg Human Relations Commission], Little said. I think it has a role in the vitality and the livability and the attractiveness of the city. I really do.
A bill has passed in the Louisiana state legislature that would require the Ten Commandments to be displayed in all schools and colleges that receive public funding.

Fox News reports that the bill, HB 71, passed in a 79-16 vote in the state House, having passed in the Louisiana Senate earlier this month.

The bill has gone to Governor Jeff Landry, and once signed, would make Louisiana the first state in history that would require such a measure.
SUNBURY  The Northumberland County man found guilty of voluntary manslaughter in a Sunbury convenience store shooting has been sentenced to 7 to 15 years in state prison.

County Judge Paige Rosini made note Friday in sentencing Ajani Munsh-Ousha Uhuru, 25, of Sunbury, that someone had lost their life and that person was unarmed.
Former President Donald J. Trumps conviction for falsifying business records to hide hush money payments to a porn star prior to the 2016 general election may be at once dramatically historic, and politically irrelevant to most.

Thats the first read, in any case, from a sampling of Pennsylvania voters reached by PennLive Thursday night.
The jury has spoken. Twelve men and women made history in a New York courtroom on Thursday in convicting a former president of the United States on 34 felony counts.

President Donald Trump is the first American president to be convicted of a crime, let alone 34 of them. And more trials are on the horizon. No matter what side of the political fence you sit on, its a sad day in American history.

American children will read in their textbooks how a president slept with a porn star and tried to hide it from voters by paying her off. Then, he lied about it.

Stormy Daniels testifies on the witness stand as a promotional image for one of her shows featuring an image of Trump is displayed on monitors in Manhattan criminal court, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP)AP

Its the truth; its our history, and kids are going to be tested on the sordid details for decades to come. Like it or not, Stormy Daniels and her night with former President Trump are now part of the annals of presidential history. How sad.

The Republican party is poised to offer the American people a convicted felon as its candidate for president. His sentencing is set for July 11, only a few days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. With the verdict in New York, there is a chance the Republican presidential nominee will have to campaign from a jail cell.

So far, former President Trump has shown no sign of remorse. He said hes an innocent man and a victim of a corrupt system. The whole trial, he said, was rigged. Instead of apologizing to the American people, hes lashed out at the judge, jury, witnesses, and whole judicial system. That, also, is sad.

Former President Donald Trump appears in Manhattan Criminal Court, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. Jury deliberations in Trump's criminal hush money trial enter a second day as jurors navigate the weighty task of evaluating the former president's guilt and innocence alongside the facts of the case. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, Pool)AP

Theres just no reason whatsoever to doubt that the former president received a fair trial with a competent judge and jury. Its the same system countless accused persons have faced, and most Americans believe no one, not even an American president, is above the law.

Pennsylvanians have even more reason to be sad, if not outraged.

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry quickly issued a statement echoing the former presidents unfounded attacks on New Yorks criminal justice system. And what is worse, Rep. Perry focused his attacks on President Joe Biden, who has no control over the New York judicial system. He certainly has no control over members of the jury who determined Trumps fate. And Joe Biden will have no control over whether Judge Juan Merchan sends former President Trump to jail.

U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., walks through the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 12, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images/TNS)TNS

Rep. Perry also stood with the former president in trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election that Trump lost. Rep. Perry has tied his fate to that of the former president, but it wont help Pennsylvania or the nation.

Such baseless attacks undermine the very foundation of American democracy. They increase political divisions and social discord at a time when we need to be united to face serious threats from foreign foes like Russia, Iran and China.

Our nation and our commonwealth deserve better.

We urge Pennsylvanians to demand more of their elected officials. Elections are only six months away, and voters may not only have to decide whether to send a convicted felon to the White House, but theyll have to consider whether to vote for the people who continue to support him.

Quality local journalism has never been more important. You deserve the best. Not a subscriber yet? Please consider supporting our work.

Subscribe to Battleground PA podcast for the latest in the 2024 elections!
As Gov. Josh Shapiros weeklong RV trip around the state showed, Pennsylvania offers a lot of attractions for tourists, from its natural wonders, big cities and small towns, ballparks and racetracks to its historic sites.

Among those historic sites, who could forget the state Capitol  a national architectural landmark at the center of Harrisburg? The people behind the states new Pennsylvania,The Great American Getaway tourism campaign did  at least for the time being.
By Erik Larson, Bloomberg News (TNS)

NEW YORK  The jury that convicted Donald Trump of falsifying business records had been inundated with testimony and evidence for almost five weeks before issuing the historic verdict, but several key moments stood out and likely influenced the panel during the Manhattan trial.

Trump on Thursday was found guilty of leading a conspiracy to pay hush money to suppress negative tabloid stories about his conduct with women before the 2016 election, a scheme that resulted in dozens of business records being falsified as Trump sought to cover his tracks.

Crucially, the jury that found Trump guilty on 34 false-records counts determined he broke the law with the intent to commit or conceal additional election or tax crimes, making the charges against him felonies.

The Manhattan District Attorneys office called an array of witnesses who described the conspiracy from every angle, including former Trump attorney and fixer Michael Cohen and former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker. Jurors also saw extensive evidence that knit the scheme together, from text messages and emails to call logs and a secret audio recording.

At the center of the case was Trumps repayment of $130,000 to Cohen after he paid adult-film star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair. Jurors agreed that documents tied to the repayment were falsely recorded as being for legal services under a retainer that didnt exist.

Heres the most significant evidence:

Michael Cohen departs his apartment building on his way to Manhattan criminal court, Thursday, May 16, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, file)AP

Trumps former fixer

Cohen, the star witness, was one of Trumps most trusted advisers before the 2016 election. Despite Cohens history of twisting the truth, jurors appear to have accepted much of what he had to say about his former boss, including that Trump was deeply involved in the hush-money scheme from the very beginning and that he verbally assured Cohen hed repay him if he paid Daniels.

Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the trial, instructed the jury when they started their deliberations that they couldnt base a guilty verdict on Cohens word alone because he was part of the conspiracy, meaning his testimony would need to be supported in some way by other witnesses and evidence.

Cohen provided key testimony that Trump knew all about the payment plan to reimburse Cohen for the hush money  which resulted in the false documents in the case. Trump knew the $35,000 monthly checks to Cohen in 2017 werent really for legal services, even though Cohen was technically serving as personal attorney to the president at the time, he testified.

Why, in fact, did you pay that money to Stormy Daniels? a prosecutor asked Cohen.

To ensure that story did not come out, did not affect Mr. Trumps chances of becoming president of the United States, Cohen said.

On whose direction did you commit that crime? he was asked.

On behalf of Mr. Trump.

Multiple NYPD Police buses are parked outside Trump Tower on 5th Ave on the day of President Trump's arraignment at New York County Criminal Court in New York City on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. (Julian Leshay | For NJ Advance Media, file)Julian Leshay | For NJ Advance Media

Trump Tower meeting

The August 2015 meeting where Trump hatched the hush-money scheme was described in detail by Cohen and Pecker, the other attendees at the meeting who said they wanted to help Trump win.

Pecker, a longtime Trump fan who appears to still admire the former president, supported details that were offered by Cohen, now an outspoken Trump critic. Together their testimony painted a clear picture of a concerted effort to stop negative tabloid stories about Trumps conduct with women from hurting his campaign.

The meeting was a crucial element of the case, leading to the hush-money payment to Daniels and the falsified records to cover it up. Pecker testified that the meeting lasted 20-25 minutes, wasnt put into writing and that he wanted to keep it under wraps.

I told him that we were going to try to help the campaign and to do that I want to keep this as quiet as possible, Pecker testified.

Stormy Daniels testifies on the witness stand as a promotional image for one of her shows featuring an image of Trump is displayed on monitors in Manhattan criminal court, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP, file)AP

Access Hollywood tape

Jurors heard extensive testimony about the threat posed to Trumps 2016 campaign by the release of the so-called Access Hollywood tape in which he made crass comments about sexual assault. Jurors were told how the tape motivated Trump to pay hush money to Daniels on the eve of the election because her story about an affair would have been too damaging in light of the hot-mic fiasco.

This is a disaster, total disaster, Trump said about the tape, according to Cohen. Women will hate me. Guys may think its cool, but this is going to be a disaster for the campaign.

Cohen testified that the tape raised the stakes for any other salacious stories that might come out as the election approached. Hope Hicks, who served as Trumps campaign press secretary, testified how damaging the tape was, saying it caused chaos.

Prosecutors say thats exactly why Trump agreed to pay Daniels to keep quiet, even though Cohens doing so amounted to an illegal campaign contribution.

Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court during jury deliberations in his criminal hush money trial in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool)AP

Hand-written repayment plan

Jurors saw two exhibits laying out a repayment plan to Cohen, which included handwritten notes by former Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg and Jeffrey McConney, the former controller.

The notes showed how Cohen would receive a total repayment of $420,000, which covered the Daniels hush money, plus $50,000 he claimed for another expense, a boost to cover taxes, and a revised annual bonus for 2016.

These two exhibits are the overt manifestation of the agreement to falsify business records, the prosecutor told jurors. Im almost speechless that theyre still trying to make this argument that there are legal services rendered.

Hicks also gave testimony supporting the claim that Trump repaid Cohen. She testified how Trump told her the Daniels payment was made by Cohen out of the kindness of his own heart. But she said she doubted that because such generosity would have been out of character for Cohen, who she said didnt seem to be an especially charitable person or selfless person.

Playboy model, porn star

Jurors heard testimony from multiple witnesses about how Pecker arranged for AMI to pay $150,000 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal to keep her quiet before the election about an alleged affair with Trump. AMIs payment was ultimately determined to be an illegal campaign contribution that forced the company to enter into a non-prosecution agreement with the Justice Department  another bit of context that jurors may have weighed.

The jury also heard testimony from Daniels, whose time under oath may have swayed jurors to believe that Trump indeed had sex with her in 2006 when they met at a celebrity golf tournament. The jury was shown a photo of Trump and Daniels that was taken that day, and they saw evidence showing she later visited him at Trump Tower. Her testimony, tawdry at times, may have convinced jurors that Trump really did have something to hide  and therefore worry about  as the election approached.
By MICHAEL R. SISAK, JILL COLVIN, MICHELLE L. PRICE and ALANNA DURKIN RICHER, the Associated Press

NEW YORK (AP)  Donald Trumps conviction on 34 felony counts marks the end of the former presidents historic hush money trial, but the fight over the case is far from over.

Now comes the sentencing and the potential for a prison sentence. A lengthy appellate process. And all the while, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee still has to deal with three more criminal cases and a campaign that could see him return to the White House.

After more than nine hours of deliberations over two days, the Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in the case stemming from a hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign.

Trump angrily denounced the trial as a disgrace, telling reporters hes an innocent man.

Some key takeaways from the jurys decision:

PRISON TIME?

The big question now is whether Trump could go to prison. The answer is uncertain. Judge Juan M. Merchan set sentencing for July 11, just days before Republicans are formally set to nominate Trump for president.

The charge of falsifying business records is a Class E felony in New York, the lowest tier of felony charges in the state. It is punishable by up to four years in prison, though the punishment would ultimately be up to the judge, and theres no guarantee he would give Trump time behind bars. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg declined to say whether prosecutors would seek prison time.

Its unclear to what extent the judge may factor in the political and logistical complexities of jailing a former president who is running to reclaim the White House. Other punishments could include a fine or probation. And its possible the judge would allow Trump to avoid serving any punishment until after he exhausts his appeals.

Trump faces the threat of more serious prison time in the three other cases hes facing, but those cases have gotten bogged down by appeals and other legal fights, so it remains unclear whether any of them will go to trial before the November election.

WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE ELECTION

The conviction doesnt bar Trump from continuing his campaign or becoming president. And he can still vote for himself in his home state of Florida as long as he stays out of prison in New York state.

Trumps daughter-in-law Lara Trump, who serves as co-chair of the Republican National Committee, said in a Fox News Channel interview on Thursday that Trump would do virtual rallies and campaign events if hes convicted and sentenced to home confinement.

In a deeply divided America, its unclear whether Trumps once-unimaginable criminal conviction will have any impact at all on the election.

Leading strategists in both parties believe that Trump still remains well-positioned to defeat President Joe Biden, even as the Republican now faces the prospect of a prison sentence and three separate criminal cases still outstanding.

In the short term, at least, there were immediate signs that the guilty verdict was helping to unify the Republican Partys disparate factions as GOP officials across the political spectrum rallied behind their embattled presumptive presidential nominee and his campaign reported a flood of fundraising dollars within hours of the verdict.

There has been some polling conducted on the prospect of a guilty verdict, although such hypothetical scenarios are notoriously difficult to predict. A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll found that only 4% of Trumps supporters said they would withdraw their backing if hes convicted of a felony, though another 16% said they would reconsider it.

Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court during jury deliberations in his criminal hush money trial in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool)AP

AVENUES FOR APPEAL

After Trump is sentenced, he can challenge his conviction in a New York appellate court and possibly the states highest court. Trumps lawyers have already laid the groundwork for appeals with objections to the charges and rulings at trial.

The defense has accused the judge of bias, citing his daughters work heading a firm whose clients have included Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democrats. The judge refused the defenses request to remove himself from the case, saying he was certain of his ability to be fair and impartial.

Trumps lawyers may also raise on appeal the judges ruling limiting the testimony of a potential defense expert witness. The defense wanted to call Bradley Smith, who served on the Federal Election Commission, to rebut the prosecutions contention that the hush money payments amounted to campaign finance violations.

But the defense ended up not having him testify after the judge ruled he could give general background on the FEC but couldnt interpret how federal campaign finance laws apply to the facts of Trumps case or opine on whether Trumps alleged actions violate those laws. There are often guardrails around expert testimony on legal matters, on the basis that its up to a judge  not an expert hired by one side or the other  to instruct jurors on applicable laws.

The defense may also argue that jurors were improperly allowed to hear sometimes graphic testimony from Daniels about her alleged 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, which he denies ever happened. The defense unsuccessfully pushed for a mistrial over the tawdry details prosecutors elicited from Daniels. Defense lawyer Todd Blanche argued Daniels description of a power imbalance with the older, taller Trump, was a dog whistle for rape, irrelevant to the charges at hand, and the kind of testimony that makes it impossible to come back from.

A DEFENSE THAT CENTERED ON CREDIBILITY

The verdict shows the jury wasnt persuaded by Trumps defense, which hinged on assailing the credibility of some key witnesses  especially Michael Cohen, the Trump attorney-turned-adversary who directly implicated Trump in the hush money scheme.

As in many criminal cases, Trumps lawyers tried to make a lot of their points while questioning prosecution witnesses. The defense called just two witnesses of its own, including Robert Costello, a defense attorney who had sought to represent Cohen after the latter came under federal investigation due to his work for Trump.

The move may have backfired because it opened the door for prosecutors to question Costello about a purported pressure campaign aimed at keeping Cohen loyal to Trump after the FBI raided Cohens property in April 2018.

Costello buoyed the defense by testifying that Cohen denied to him that Trump knew anything about the $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels.

But prosecutors portrayed Costello as a double agent whose agenda was really to keep Cohen from turning on Trump and confronted him with emails he sent to Cohen in which he repeatedly dangled his close ties to Trump ally Rudy Giuliani. In one email, Costello told Cohen: Sleep well tonight. you have friends in high places and relayed that there were some very positive comments about you from the White House.

The pugnacious Costello annoyed the judge  at times in view of the jury  by continuing to speak after objections and rolling his eyes. At one point, after sending the jury out of the room, the judge became enraged when he said Costello was staring him down. Merchan then briefly cleared the courtroom of reporters and scolded Costello, warning that if he acted out again, hed be removed from the courtroom.

LAYING THE GROUNDWORK FOR A LOSS

While projecting confidence, Trump and his campaign also spent weeks trying to undermine the case ahead of a potential conviction. He repeatedly called the whole system rigged  a term he also used in false descriptions of the election he lost to Biden in 2020.

Mother Teresa could not beat these charges, Trump said Wednesday, invoking the Catholic nun and saint.

Trump has lambasted the judge and complained about members of the prosecution team as he tried to paint the case as nothing more than a politically motivated witch hunt brought by Bragg, a Democrat.

He has also complained about a gag order that restricted him from speaking about some people involved in the case. Instead of testifying in the case  and subjecting himself to cross-examination  Trump has focused on the court of public opinion and the voters who will ultimately decide his fate.
The documentarians started off making a little film. But as they continued, what they discovered got worse and worse.

Embarrassed is how a pair of Aussie filmmakers say theyll feel once their confronting new wildlife documentary is screened internationally. But after four years chronicling the sad demise of the countrys most iconic native mammal for their feature The Koala, its an outcome producer Georgia Wallace-Crabb and director Gregory Miller think is unavoidable.

As Australians it would be embarrassing to turn up overseas at a festival and to be asked about how bad the situation is, Miller told Yahoo News. "Because most people see Australia as a wealthy, organised, safe, secure, modern country.

The pair began filming The Koala after hearing a population of the cuddly marsupials would be displaced by a new multimillion dollar housing development planned for Sydneys south-west.

I was driving my car when I heard that, and it just made me so angry that the government had decided that little colony didnt matter, because thered always be another one somewhere else, Miller said.

Koalas in more trouble than filmmakers first thought

The film started as an investigation into that small population of koalas, but quickly expanded into an expose on the demise of koalas across the country as federal and state governments continue to preference native forest logging and housing over nature.

From then on it was a descent into: Oh my god this is worse than we thought, Miller said.

Related: Can koalas survive the NSW housing crisis?

As koala habitat was destroyed, neighbours began seeing them in their backyards for the first time. Source: The Koala

Across the country, they found little battles which only appeared in local newspapers that werent big enough to garner national attention. Again and again they saw community members trying in vain to stop politicians and industry from destroying koala habitat.

All of these feuds across Australia were not directly connected, but as they edited each patch of the story together into a single quilt, the severity of pressures facing koalas finally became clear.

In terms of the extinction crisis, its all connected. People often look at local flash-points about road crossings or the cutting down of one patch of habitat, but theres a bigger issue underlying it all  land management, Wallace-Crabb said.

If we want native animals then we need to have native habitat. If we choose to commodify all of our landscape to the nth degree then we wont just lose koalas, there are also these smaller species going extinct on our watch  frogs and gliders and all kinds of things.

Pressure on koalas around Australia

Why Aussies are seeing more wildlife in their backyards

In the towns they visited along the east coast, the filmmakers became aware that many locals had only recently become aware of the wildlife living around them.

Local knowledge of koalas was growing as people started to become aware they had koalas in their backyards, their streets, places they hadnt seen them before. And it was a pattern we saw across the country, Miller said.

Theyd often just be reported as curiosities. People would be wondering why theyd never noticed them before.

And it was only later that it became clear why this was happening. It was because they were being squeezed more and more out of the areas theyd traditionally been sitting in. Their habitat was disappearing under our eyes.

Related: Can koalas survive the Queensland housing crisis?

As koalas continue to lose their existing habitat, they may eventually survive by living in semi-urban areas. Source: The Koalas

Wallace-Crabb believes many Australians think of their countrys wildlife as almost vermin, as the animals that have lived their for millennia often stand in the way of turning land into a fast and easy profit.

Youve heard people like [former NSW Deputy Premier] John Barilaro calling koalas 'tree rats', she said. And before that in the 20th century koalas were actively hunted. So thats often the mindset.

During the 2019/2020 Black Summer bushfires, NSW lost a third of its koalas and its population, along with those in Queensland and the ACT, were later declared endangered. But despite their listing, their habitat continues to be reclassified as land that should be bulldozed for housing developments and its expected they'll be extinct in NSW by 2050.

As their habitat shrinks or becomes untenable due to the risk of bushfire, Wallace-Crabb believes the species may only survive cohabitating in towns with people.

If they actually have clever planning designs, with lovely green corridors, then people would have their lives enhanced with the presence of native animals and that would be amazing, she said.

The Koala will premiere at the Castlemaine Documentary Festival and then show in cities and regional centres around Australia. You can find session dates and times here.

Love Australia's weird and wonderful environment? Get our new newsletter showcasing the weeks best stories.
Hilcorp applies to expand Milne Point unit

A map accompanying Hilcorp's Dec. 29 application shows the majority of the expansion area to the north of the existing unit, with one smaller proposed expansion near the unit's southeast edge.

The expansion area includes parts of six leases: ADL 355017, ADL 355018, ADL 355021, ADL 355016, ADL 28232 and ADL 394167.

Hilcorp said three of those, ADL 355017, ADL 355018 and ADL 355021, are net profit share leases.

Hilcorp earlier applied to the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission for a smaller expansion to the northwest of the existing Schrader Bluff oil pool as described in AOGCC Conservation Order 477. (See story in Jan. 23 issue of Petroleum News.)

The AOGCC request lists four affected leases, two of which coincide with the six leases in the unit application expansion.

In addition to being a larger expansion, the unit expansion request includes both Kuparuk and Schrader Bluff reservoirs.

Hilcorp told the division it proposes to drill 10 wells in the expansion area this year and next, three Kuparuk formation wells -- one from K Pad and two from F Pad -- and seven Schrader Bluff wells, all from R Pad. The company told the division an additional 18 wells targeting Schrader Bluff across two leases, ADL 355018 and ADL 355021, are planned by the end of 2008.

Both of those leases are listed in the Schrader Bluff expansion request to AOGCC.

--KRISTEN NELSON

See full story in March 17 issue of Petroleum News, available online Thursday, March 14, at www.PetroleumNews.com.
Shell surrenders W. Harrison Bay leases

The May 6 email from Shell was addressed to DNR Commissioner John Boyle and DNR Deputy Commissioner John Crowther from William Langin, SVP Exploration West & Deepwater.

"Since the WHBU was formed on December 7, 2020, Shell has worked to analyze the geologic data, design an exploration drilling plan, and bring in a co-owner to commence an exploration campaign. However, despite numerous engagements with potential co-owners and significant interest before, during, and after the Covid-19 pandemic, Shell has been unable to secure a suitable co-owner," Langin wrote.

"With the WHBU Agreement nearing its expiration, Shell respectfully requests the approval of the Director of the Division of Oil and Gas to voluntarily terminate the WHBU under Section 14.2 of the Unit Agreement. Concurrent with this request, Shell surrenders the leases underlying the WHBU by filing the attached written surrender under Section 19 of the leases," he wrote.

"Shell requests the continued confidentiality of the geologic information submitted to the Department of Natural Resources under AS 38.05.035(a)(8)," Langin added.

--KAY CASHMAN

Editor's note: See story in May 19 issue of Petroleum News, available Thursday, May 16, at www.PetroleumNews.com.
Armstrong exploration drilling campaign extends prolific Brookian topset fairway 65 miles to east In 2013, Armstrong Oil & Gas Inc. and its partner Repsol kicked off the prolific Brookian topset play with the multi-billion-barrel oil discovery of the Pikka field west of the central North Slope. Large follow-on - look-alike- new field discoveries have been made at Willow, Stirrup, Mitquq and Coyote. These fields are currently in the early stages of development, and in aggregate, have projected resources in excess of 5 billion barrels. With Armstrong- s understanding of these new discoveries, the company identified multiple - look-alike- prospects 70-90 miles east on the eastern North Slope. Lagniappe, an Armstrong affiliate company (holding a 25% working interest ownership) drilled three of these prospects during the 2024 winter exploration season as operator on behalf of partners APA Alaska LLC (50% WIO), an APA Corp. affiliate company, and Oil Search (Alaska) LLC (25% WIO), a Santos affiliate company. The three wells (King Street #1, Voodoo #1, Sockeye #1) each targeted large 3D-defined opportunities. King Street discoveries The King Street #1 well was drilled to a total depth of 10,241 feet. Hydrocarbons were found in two separate hydrocarbon zones at depths of 8,130 feet and 9,850 feet. Wireline evaluation, sidewall cores and MDT data from the well indicate pay in both lower and upper zones in high-quality late Cretaceous clastic reservoirs. Further evaluation will be undertaken to determine the scope and focus of future appraisal drilling necessary to determine the size and extent of these discoveries, Armstrong said in an April 23 press release. The Sockeye #1 well and the Voodoo #1 well were unable to reach their targeted depths due to a number of operational and weather-related challenges. Both wells were plugged before reaching the targeted formations as it was determined there would not be sufficient time to drill and evaluate prior to the end of the drilling season. "Wildcatting is a challenging endeavor. The wells we drilled this year were located 70-90 miles east of older Brookian topset discoveries. Only two wells had ever been drilled on our 275,000-acre land position (one well/215 square miles)," Bill Armstrong, president of Armstrong Oil & Gas, said. "Despite the lack of well control, our regional geologic studies indicated evidence for connectivity to a working petroleum system, and our objectives have potential for very favorable (porous and permeable) rock properties," he said. "Additionally, the seismic geometries of our prospects looked similar to older Brookian topset discoveries. Our King Street discovery well proved all that to be accurate. - That said, we need to do a complete analysis of all the data accumulated this year. Operationally, this year proved to be quite difficult, and a late start to the drilling season coupled with multiple shutdowns due to high winds shortened the drilling window considerably preventing us from reaching the targeted formations at Sockeye and Voodoo. We will make the proper drilling adjustments and determine implications on future drilling seasons," Armstrong said. "Any successful campaign on the North Slope is the result of extensive cooperation among local, State, and Federal stakeholders," he said. "Armstrong would like to thank its partners in Lagniappe and all the agencies involved in the 2024 campaign that helped ensure safe operations. In particular, the support of the North Slope Borough, the State of Alaska, Department of Natural Resources' Division of Oil and Gas, and the Alaska Oil and Gas Conservation Commission were paramount to Lagniappe's progress in 2024," added Nathan Lowe, vice president, Armstrong Oil & Gas. --Kay Cashman See full story in April 28 issue of Petroleum News, available Thursday, April 25 at www.PetroleumNews.com.
Jade files request for reconsideration with ADNR commissioner

Jade is the 100% working interest owner of ADL 343112 Segment 2 in Area F.

"On behalf of Jade and as an eligible person affected by your decision, I hereby request reconsideration of the Point Thomson Area F 2024 6th POD -- Held in Abeyance (12 February 2024 issue date), which appears not to have a related Case Number listed," Erik Opstad, Jade managing member, wrote to Boyle in the request for reconsideration.

"The basis for reconsideration is an apparent ADNR/DOG misperception relative to work accomplished by Jade Energy during the 5th POD. Jade feels that this communication breakdown may have, exacerbated by changes in ADNR/DOG project managers over the past several years.

"We respectfully request a meeting with you prior to ADNR/DOG holding Jade in default," Opstad wrote.

"The Jade principals and management team involved in this Project are the same team from Alaska that invested in, managed and re-started the Badami Unit in 2012 and managed, invested in and successfully drilled 10 wells since then; several of these wells were up to 112 miles off North Slope gravel infrastructure," Opstad wrote.

"We believe, if we all can get together and 'reset,' then we can continue to provide this Alaskan expertise to move this Project forward with the goal of delivering oil to Skid 50 meter as soon as Q2 2025 and an overall objective of this Project coming fully online and producing 35,000 bbls oil per day by 2028, making it the next project in the 'queue' for supporting construction and operation jobs in the O&G industry. Can we confirm that Alaska is truly 'open for business' or is this phrase just an empty public relations slogan?" Opstad concluded.

--KAY CASHMAN

See full story in March 10 issue of Petroleum News, available online Thursday, March 7, at www.PetroleumNews.com.
A new toileting rule is in place for popular Aussie camping areas  and people have been warned rangers are on the lookout.

From June 1, people must now bring their own portable toilets - and there's a strict criteria they must meet. Source: Queensland Government

Visitors at one the country's most pristine campsites have been warned there's a strict new protocol on the way for when nature calls, amid an "unacceptable" poo problem in the area.

From tomorrow, June 1, campers at Dorrigo South or Pelican Bay camping areas in Inskip Peninsula Recreation Area in Queensland, will be prohibited from "bush toileting"  the act of relieving oneself in nature  and instead will be required to bring a portable toilet.

According to Queensland National Parks, people defecating in the bush has "posed an unacceptable risk to the health and safety" of campers and visitors, and "threatens the area's natural environment".

Travellers warned of $464 fines: 'Rangers won't be fooled'

Local authorities on Friday warned tourists that they would be on the look out to make sure people had the requisite equipment.

"Add portable toilets to your 'must bring' list and help us keep these waterfront camping areas beautiful and healthy," it said in a statement. "Bag and open bucket style toilets are not going to fool our Rangers who will be on 'portaloo-patrol' making sure you have your loo and providing education on the benefits of using portable toilets."

Visitors to a popular coastal campsite have been warned 'bush toileting' is no longer acceptable. Source: Queensland Government

Acceptable portable toilets must have a sealed waste holding tank, be transportable and suitable for emptying into a portable toilet waste disposable facility, the authority added.

Speaking to Yahoo News Australia, a spokesperson for Queensland National Parks said: "It is an offence to camp in this area without a portable toilet, with an on-the-spot penalty of $464 applying."

Affected areas include Dorrigo South and Pelican Bay, which are located just south of K'gari.

Poo problems occur all over the country

Human waste is not good for the natural world and environmental authorities all over the country have in recent times tried to put a stop to bush toileting.

Earlier this year, Yahoo News Australia reported that the act was particularly prevalent in Tasmania, with a ranger revealing she's noticed an "unprecedented" amount of human poo in wilderness areas throughout the state.

Olivia Hickey said some bushwalkers and campers simply "don't know how to toilet" while outdoors in "very fragile alpine ecosystems". She and her colleagues find faeces near rivers, lakes, streams, and campsites and even next to toilets.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Asher Conniff battled back from a five-to-one chip disadvantage during heads-up play to claim his first WSOP bracelet in Event 1: $5,000 Champions Reunion and picked up the $408,468 winner's purse that came with it. Conniff defeated Halil Tasyurek in a heads-up duel that spanned three levels and saw the Turkish player bag $272,305 for his runner-up spot.

A total of 493 players turned out for the opening event of the 2024 WSOP, which created a prize pool of $2,047,800.

PokerNews had a chance to catch up with Conniff after his momentous victory.

"It's incredible, man, just to not have to think about trying to win one anymore is great, and obviously the money, the experience  it's awesome, I'm so happy," replied an elated Conniff when asked how he was feeling.

"I think one of the advantages that I have is that I've been in live streams and spots before where people can see my cards [on the stream], and there's bright lights, and it's stressful. I've been here before, so I know what to do," said Conniff in response to whether he felt that running deep in previous big tournaments had helped him.

2024 WSOP Event #1: $5,000 Champions Reunion Final Table Results

Rank Player Country Prize (USD) 1 Asher Conniff United States $408,468 2 Halil Tasyurek Turkey $272,305 3 Yuzhou Yin China $188,342 4 Jonathan Pastore France $132,545 5 Terry Fleischer United States $94,936 6 David Coleman United States $69,231 7 Nenad Dukic Serbia $51,416 8 Michael Acevedo Costa Rica $38,903 9 Bryce Welker United States $29,999

The Champions Reunion attracted a wealth of poker talent and offered free entry into the tournament for any previous WSOP Main Event champion. However, the rest of the field were gunning for the champion's scalps as a $10,000 2024 WSOP Main Event seat would be awarded to whoever managed to eliminate one of the previous winners. Four of them managed to make the money with Greg Merson (67th), Daniel Weinman (52nd), Dan Harrington (37th), and Qui Nguyen (21st) all picking up a payday on Day 2.

Day 3 began with ten hopefuls all looking to get their hands on the coveted gold bracelet. Two former bracelet winners were in the field with Aram Zobian and Jonathan Pastore both looking to become two time champions. It was Zobian

who fell first during the opening level when his ace-jack didn't improve against the pocket jacks of Pastore which brought around the unofficial final table of nine.

Terry Fleischer topped the counts coming into the day and had maintained that lead entering the final table. The player that entered the day as the short stack, Bryce Welker, was the first man out of the final table after his king-queen didn't find any help against the ace-queen of the eventual champion and earned himself $29,999 for his efforts.

Michael Acevedo

Michael Acevedo never managed to get anything going on the final day and eventually succumbed to David Coleman after three-bet shoving jack-ten and running into ace-king. The Costa Rican player bagged himself $38,903 for his eighth-place finish.

Serbia's Nenad Dukic came into the day fourth in the counts but was eliminated in seventh at the hands of Fleischer during Level 29. Dukic was all in with king-jack and couldn't catch up to the pocket nines of his opponent and he picked up $51,416.

Coleman's stack had dwindled to nothing more than dust, and he eventually got his chips in with ace-nine, but ran into the ace-jack of Conniff. No help arrived from the dealer which left Coleman on the rail in sixth for $69,231.

Fleischer's chip lead had evaporated, and his stack went in the direction of Halil Tasyurek after a bluff attempt went horribly awry which left the American player on the sidelines but $94,936 richer.

Jonathan Pastore

Pastore's stack had been on a rollercoaster journey throughout the day but when his chips were in the middle in a coinflip situation with pocket fours, the Frenchman's sailboats couldn't hold on against the overcards of Tasyurek. Pastore was ever-so-close to the second bracelet but the $132,545 payday for fourth will make the journey home a bittersweet one.

Yuzhou Yin had laddered up the payouts as best he could but eventually was eliminated at hands of Tasyurek after getting his ace-deuce in against the ace-nine of the Turkish player. No help arrived on the board which meant Yin took the first of the podium spots in third for $188,342.

Tasyurek entered heads-up play with an over five-to-one chip advantage, and it seemed to be only a matter of time before he closed out the tournament and got his hands on the bracelet. It could have been over within minutes of the restart after Conniff got his king-five all in against the ace-seven of Tasyurek but a five on the flop gave Conniff the lifeline he needed.

Halil Tasyurek

Conniff found himself all in and behind once again with king-ten against the ace-ten of his opponent. Just as it seemed the curtains were closing on Conniff's chances of a bracelet, a king on the flop sent his rail into a frenzy and almost evened out the chip stacks.

The pair continued to battle it out, and Conniff eventually took the chip lead for the first time in the heads-up match during Level 32 with an epic ace-high hero call that really swung the pendulum in his direction.

In the final hand of the night, Tasyurek shoved all in with jack-nine and ran into the pocket tens of Conniff. As the rail watched on, a clean runout secured the victory for Conniff which meant Tasyurek had to settle for the runner-up prize of $272,305.

Asher Conniff Wins 2024 WSOP Event 1

That concludes the coverage for this tournament but PokerNews will be reporting on all 99 bracelet events throughout the series so be sure to stay tuned to keep up to date with the latest bracelet action.
Welcome back to PokerNews, the official media partner of the 2024 World Series of Poker and home of live updates from all bracelet events.

Today sees the start of Event #9: $1,500 Limit Hold'em (8-Handed) here at Horseshoe and Paris, Las Vegas.

This three-day event gets underway at 2 p.m. local time with late registration open for nine levels. There will be 15-minute breaks every three levels, with no dinner break scheduled on Day 1.

The starting stack is 25,000 chips with the plan for Day 1 to play 15 levels. Day 2 resumes at 1 p.m. Saturday when levels increase to 60 minutes.

Last year's event saw 527 players generate a prize pool of $703,545. The winner was Vadim Shlez, who defeated Rostyslav Sabishchenko heads up in a Ukrainian one-two. Shlez took home $146,835 and his first WSOP bracelet.

Ive been working on it for pretty much my whole life, Shlez told PokerNews. I started poker pretty much with the World Series of Poker [...] I didnt expect to win in this discipline, even though it was my favorite game when I started.

Year Entries Winner Country Payout 2023 527 Vadim Shlez Ukraine $146,835 2022 522 Michael Moncek United States $145,856 2021 422 Yuval Bronshtein Israel $124,374 2019 541 David Baker United States $161,139 2018 596 Robert Nehorayan United States $173,568

Planning on playing this event? PokerNews activates MyStack for every WSOP event, regardless of that tournament's buy-in, allowing you to directly adjust your chip counts in our live reporting

MyStack is a free poker tool that puts you in control of your chip counts on our live reporting pages. Once you have created a free PokerNews account, you can use MyStack to update your chip counts in real time; hopefully, your stack will continue increasing throughout the event!

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What Else is Happening at the WSOP?
Eight Republican Senators, including J.D. Vance, Mike Lee, and Tommy Tuberville, vowed not to cooperate with Democrats on anything not related to national security or safety.

Here is the statement from the senators:

Strongly worded statements are not enough. Those who turned our judicial system into a political cudgel must be held accountable. We are no longer cooperating with any Democrat legislative priorities or nominations, and we invite all concerned Senators to join our stand. pic.twitter.com/H0CzIjXgwC  Mike Lee (@SenMikeLee) May 31, 2024

The letter was also signed by MAGA senators Marsha Blackburn, Rick Scott, Marco Rubio, Roger Marshall, and Eric Schmitt.

None of the eight names on the letter were any sort of a surprise. Trump is not as popular with Republicans in the Senate as he is in the House, but he does have his fans in the upper chamber of Congress.

The letter is a political gesture that in practical terms doesnt mean anything. The Republicans who signed the letter arent known for the bipartisanship and cooperation, and the document was a grandstanding political statement that reflected the tantrum within MAGA over Trumps conviction.

The federal government had nothing to do with Trumps conviction and prosecution by Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg.

Look for Republicans to gin up more of these empty tantrums and gestures because they are trying to appease and appeal to an audience of one newly convicted felon.

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If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here.

We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value.

[wpedon id=344887 align=center]
TW: This article contains mentions of sexual assault.

A few months ago, I sat with Becky Hill backstage before her sold-out Brooklyn Steele performance. As we chatted about her collaborations and the struggle of being taken seriously as a solo artist, I could feel Hills passion. Shes an artist who takes her craft very seriously, someone whos both humble and fiery all at once, with a voice that can bring an entire room together.

Now, as I sit listening to Beckys album a month before its released into the world for the critics and fans to pick apart and devour, I remember her desire to create real drum and bass music. I remember her promises of a record in the works, but I had no idea that it would be so powerful. The new album in question, Believe Me Now?, is a perfect summation of Becky Hills already illustrious career.

Sure, she was discovered on season one of The Voice UK, but shes also the only Voice contestant to score a #1 UK single. Despite mega-hit features on essential chart-topping house tracks like Crazy What Love Can Do with David Guetta, Lose Control with MEDUZA and Goodboys, Gecko (Overdrive) with Oliver Heldens, and HISTORY with Joel CorryBecky Hills voice has been the main event- deserving of shining on its own, and not just because a male DJ is attached to the track.

Which brings us to now: the release of her third and resoundingly best album, Believe Me Now? The album pushes boundaries: intertwining her classic, beloved drum-and-bass style with powerful ballads, sprinkling in her classic dance club roots with honest, vulnerable lyricism. Its a sign of maturity and growth as a vocalist that Hill digs so deep within her songs, reflecting on heartache, love, and all the struggles shes endured throughout her life.

Songs like Swim will be instant favorites for those who love Beckys classic upbeat dance momentsbut songs like True Colours give us a glimpse into a darker time where Hill details her experience with being sexually assaulted and her healing process.

Believe Me Now? proves that Becky Hill indeed is a voice of our generation. Shes left it all on the table, showing her real self with no holding back, no bulljust Becky. The album rips her away from The Voice contestant or feature artist and into a realm of her own: one where we know who the real Becky Hill is and her music alone is what matters.

And 2024 just may be her year: with the new album coming out May 31 and a US tour looming in Novemberwere ready to see what else Becky Hill has in store. It feels like she has it all figured out in terms of who she wants to be as an artist and who she is as a womanwhich is why Believe Me Now? is an instantaneous classic. You can listen to the album here:

Ahead of Becky Hills album release, I spoke to her about the real Becky Hill, dealing with her trauma, and more. Check it out below!

PD: The title of the album, Believe Me Now?, seems to serve the message that youre not messing around, youre the real deal. Do you think your voice has finally been heard? Is this album the real Becky Hill?

BH: Ah thank you so much! so lovely to speak to you guys again & Im so glad you like the album!! This album has definitely felt like the coming of age of a lost girl thats grown into a woman! I feel the most collected & comfortable in my own skin, like the hard work Ive put into my career is finally starting to pay off & this album really reflects where I am in my life!

PD: From starting on The Voice to now, what have you learned about yourself as an artist and a songwriter?

BH: I guess before The Voice I was used to writing songs on my own in my bedroom & when I joined the music industry I started writing with other people. When lockdown happened I wasnt sure if I could even write songs on my own anymore but I absolutely could. I wrote a couple of drum & bass songs on my own (Hold On  Netsky & Here For You  Wilkinson) & when starting this next album I wasnt sure if I still had things to say, but I definitely did, they just grew with me. This album showed me how lonely Ive been feeling & actually, on the business side of things, how determined I am to continue & build on the success Ive had so far.

PD: The track True Colours written with Lauren Aquilina is about your experiences with sexual assault. I know it can be difficult to open up about traumatic experiences in your music, but what made you do it with Believe Me Now?

BH: I had taken all the steps of healing that I needed. I confronted the rapist, told my old friends, reported it to the police, had my old friends validate & apologize to me & now release a song about it. Its felt like the final piece to the puzzle, being able to talk about something I used to feel so much pain & shame around & now to have released all that & show the world there was never anything for me to feel ashamed of in the first place has been so powerful. I spoke to my therapist about it last week, I guess I didnt realize how much it had affected me speaking about it, she called it the shame hangover & promised me that this was going to help others. Self Esteem is on the record too who has been dealing & talking about her experiences of sexual assault for a while now, so its been incredibly useful to have another artist to guide me through publicly speaking about such a sensitive subject.

PD: These feel like some of your most emotionally vulnerable recordsand yet you balance them perfectly with dance and house elements. Growing up in the dance community, what about it inspired your career?

BH: Thanks!! Thats exactly the angle I was trying to create when making this album! It was the stories that my brother would tell of going to raves & having the best nights. The emotions I would feel that I didnt know I had at such a young age that dance music would give me. The community of friends I had that were all so passionate about new releases on labels & artists & festivals. I loved all of it. It felt at its most prolific at the time I was discovering myself & my own taste in music. Dance has really changed my life, soundtracked it & taught me so much

PD: This album showcases Becky Hill alone, not just who you can be on a collaboration. What was important to you while making this album and creating more solo work?

BH: I guess Ive always had different battles. Being a contestant on The Voice, or being a feature artist or not being able to release a song without having a feature on my record. I wanted to create a fully deep rooted dance pop album that showed I didnt need anyone else featuring, that I could be a dance artist in my own right & that us girls can do it just as well, if not better than the boys!

PD: Your headline tour starts in June. What are you most looking forward to?

BH: Playing the new stuff!! Im so glad I get to go out with new singles that people may not have heard already & show them the new stuff! The best part is seeing streams go up after gigs which shows that people want to listen back at home too, such a great feeling & I cant wait to see everybody having a great time, thats what my summers all about!
In NSW, police can issue a licence suspension at the roadside if a driver is caught speeding by more than 45kph over the speed limit.

A driver has lost his licence and copped an almost $3000 fine after he was allegedly caught speeding 60 kilometres over the limit. Source: NSW Police Highway Patrol

A young driver has lost his licence and copped an eye-watering fine after police say he was caught speeding at an astonishing 60 kilometres over the limit.

The 25-year-old Honda driver copped a $2,794 fine after he was found to be driving 130kph in a 70kph zone in Sydney's south.

The driver had his licence suspended on the spot for a total of six months and will be forced to cough up almost $3,000 as a result of what police described on Friday as a "poor decision".

The driver has been forced off the roads for a total of six months. Source: NSW Police Highway Patrol

In NSW, police can issue a licence suspension at the roadside if a driver is caught speeding by more than 45kph over the speed limit.

Police also have the right to impound a vehicle or confiscate its number plates. These offences also carry demerit points that will be added to your record.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
The staff, comprising of a woman in her 20s, two others in their 40s and a fourth in her 50s, were taken to Cairns Hospital.

Several Jetstar cabin crew have been hospitalised after reporting an "unusual smell" mid-flight. Source: Getty

Four Jetstar cabin crew members have been hospitalised after being affected by an "unusual smell" on board a flight from the Gold Coast to Cairns on Thursday.

While the plane landed as scheduled in Cairns, in the state's far north, a crew member aged in her 40s reported feeling nauseous and faint at about 9.30am. Jetstar said in a statement to media the woman's colleagues had to support her so she wouldn't fall after collapsing.

According to Queensland Ambulance, the all-female crew, comprised of a woman in her 20s, two others in their 40s and fourth in her 50s, each experienced nausea, headaches, burning in their eyes and lightheadedness after apparently being exposed to fumes.

Unusual smell 'not common'

The crew members were given oxygen by paramedics upon landing and were transported to hospital in a stable condition. Staff say the "unusual smell" was coming from the cabin and they detected it prior to the incident.

"Four of our cabin crew reported an unusual smell and started feeling unwell after the flight," Jetstar said in a statement. "The four crew members were assessed by paramedics and taken to hospital for observation.

The cabin crew were taken to hospital yesterday after the strange event. Source: Getty

"There were no passenger reports of the smell and the aircraft landed normally in Cairns. The aircraft will be thoroughly checked by our engineers."

The two pilots on board the aircraft did not report any smell from the cockpit and no passengers were affected.

Queensland Ambulance Service Senior Operations Supervisor Joanne Selby said staff also experienced a "funny taste in their mouths".

"Its always concerning when theres a large number of patients and we dont know what caused it," Selby said, 7News reported. "Its not a common occurrence."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
A racist street name in northern NSW is set to disappear, but not all residents are happy about it.

Byron Shire councillors will consider a recommendation to change the name of Hottentot Crescent in Mullumbimby to Moonlight Close after council resolved to commence the name changing process for the crescent in November following a concerned residents request.

While John Simons change.com petition calling the removal of the name Hottentot, which is a racial slur in South Africa, garnered 383 signatures, not all residents and community members supported the change.

The name of Hottentot Crescent, in Mullumbimby, is set to change. Picture: Google Maps

Last year, 12 submissions to council from past and present residents objected to the proposal, with one writing that they firmly believed Hottentot Crescents name should be retained.

My understanding is that our street name was chosen decades ago, after a tree, the Hottentot Bean Tree (Schotia Brachypetala). Never in my time as a resident here, have I heard another person ever relate the street name in regards to a racial slur, the resident wrote.

While I appreciate the concerns raised, it is essential to acknowledge that names can change in meaning and connotation over the years.

Altering the street name would greatly impact residents and the council long term with endless administrative changes and potential financial costs.

- NCA NewsWire
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SOUTH SAINT PAUL, MN / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 / Archcraft Exteriors, formerly known as Archer Exteriors, is thrilled to announce its rebranding initiative, marking a significant milestone in the company's journey. The exciting change reflects the company's broader vision for growth and expansion. Their commitment to delivering excellence, innovation, and unparalleled customer service in the exteriors construction industry is stronger than ever.Archcraft Exteriors Archcraft Exteriors stacked logo with solar shingle roof background.As the company prepares for its sixth roofing season, co-owner Paul Reckinger shares the strategic decision behind the rebranding. Reflecting on the journey since its inception five years ago with nothing but a vision and a couple of trucks, Paul expresses profound gratitude for the team's growth and camaraderie."While our name has changed, our amazing people and core values remain steadfast," says Paul Reckinger. "Archcraft Exteriors continues to embody quality craftsmanship, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to surpassing customer expectations." Craftsmanship has always been at the core of Archcraft Exteriors' values, and the new name reflects the company's dedication to superior craftsmanship. With the same reliable service, attention to detail, and commitment to quality, Archcraft Exteriors is poised for continued success."We are excited to unveil our new identity as Archcraft Exteriors," adds Paul. "This rebranding symbolizes our company's progression and reinforces our dedication to delivering exceptional service and unmatched expertise to our customers." The company's popular arrow logo and vibrant orange brand color will remain unchanged, symbolizing their commitment to continuity and evolution.For more information about Archcraft Exteriors and its services, please visit www.goarchcraft.com Stay updated on Archcraft Exteriors' transformative journey and connect with us through our website and social media channels:Facebook: Archcraft ExteriorsInstagram: @goarchcraftAbout Archcraft Exteriors:Archcraft Exteriors is a leading exteriors construction company specializing in roofing, siding, windows, gutters and more. With a commitment to excellence and customer satisfaction, Archcraft Exteriors has established a reputation for delivering high-quality craftsmanship and unmatched service to homeowners and businesses across the region. Visit www.goarchcraft.com to learn more.Contact InformationMaddie KranzMarketing & Media Specialistmaddiek@ goarchcraft.com 7635161720SOURCE: Archcraft ExteriorsView the original press release on newswire.com
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is investigating potential claims on behalf of purchasers of Bayerische Motoren Werke AG ("BMW" or "the Company") (OTC PINK:BMWYY). Investors who purchased BMW securities are encouraged to obtain additional information and assist the investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/BMWYY Investigation Details:On May 20, 2024, One America News published an article titled "Report: Investigation Finds BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, Volkswagen Linked To Forced Labor In China." The article stated that a Senate Finance Committee investigation found that multiple major automakers, including BMW, Jaguar Land Rover, and Volkswagen, relied on forced labor in China by purchasing parts that were flagged by the U.S. government for links to forced labor camps in the western Chinese province of Xinjiang. The two-year investigation also found that BMW and Jaguar Land Rover continued importing the flagged parts as recently as last month, even after they were informed of the forced labor. Following this news, BMW stock dropped that same day.What's Next?If you are aware of any facts relating to this investigation or purchased BMW securities, you can assist this investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/BMWYY . You can also contact Peretz Bronstein or his client relations manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC: 332-239-2660.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Nathan Miller332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-31 17:05:00

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CKH Group Announces the Grand Opening of Its Hawkinsville Office on May 31, Marking Its First Expansion Within the United StatesHAWKINSVILLE, GA / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 /CKH Group, an Atlanta-based CPA firm providing assurance, tax, accounting, and advisory services, is excited to announce the grand opening of its new office in Hawkinsville, Georgia. This expansion marks a significant milestone as CKH Group strengthens its presence in the southeastern United States.CKH Group Hawkinsville Office This new office is located at 104 Commerce Street, Hawkinsville, GA 31036. On May 31, the new location had its grand opening with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and catered lunch open to the public. "I am excited to have been given the opportunity to open this location for CKH Group," Kyle Heyl, the office manager at this new location says. "It reminds me that hard work and dedication does pay off and nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it." Hawkinsville, known as the "Harness Horse Capital" of Georgia, is a historic river town situated along the Ocmulgee River. The city's rich history, coupled with its welcoming community, provides an ideal environment for CKH Group's new office. The town's central location in Georgia offers CKH an opportunity to better support local governments and communities within Georgia.This expansion aligns with CKH Group's commitment to community engagement and support. "In the heart of a caring community, we uplift one another, nurturing growth and creating a brighter future together," said Eon van Wyk, Chief Financial Officer at CKH Group. The firm has already participated in local events, such as the Hawkinsville High School Job Fair, and has become a local champion within the Hawkinsville-Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce."I see this as an opportunity to serve our current government customers and communities in order to help push the state of Georgia forward," Roger Nixon, VP of Business Development says. CKH Group's Hawkinsville office will enable CKH Group to provide tailored solutions to local government entities and businesses, addressing their unique needs and challenges. This is on the heels of CKH Group helping to secure state and federal funding for local governments through its annual financial audit services.While this is the first expansion within the United States, CKH Group also has several office locations across the world. For more information about this new office opening, please read this article by CKH Group.About CKH GroupCKH Group is an Atlanta-based CPA firm offering comprehensive assurance, tax, accounting, and advisory services to small businesses, global enterprises, and government entities. With a commitment to excellence and a client-centric approach, CKH Group provides customized solutions to meet the diverse needs of its clients. The firm's expansion into Hawkinsville, Georgia, underscores its dedication to serving local communities and fostering economic growth. For more information about CKH Group and our services, please visit https://www.ckhgroup.com or reach out for more details.Contact Information:Clara BuseMarketing Coordinatorckhmarketing@ ckhgroup.com 770-495-9077SOURCE: CKH GroupView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-31 15:04:26

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THUNDER BAY, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Clean Air Metals Inc. ("Clean Air Metals," "Clean Air" or the "Company") (TSXV:AIR);(OTCQB:CLRMF);(FRA:CKU) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mike Garbutt as its new President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) effective July 1, 2024. Mr. Garbutt, a seasoned mining professional with a record of success, has significantly contributed to the Company's strategic vision and development as COO over the past few years. Mike has the ideal skillset to lead the Company through potential asset acquisitions, resource expansion plans, and, ultimately, a mine development project."Succession planning has been at the forefront of our minds since Mike joined Clean Air Metals 2 years ago," said Jim Gallagher, outgoing CEO and returning Board Chair. "Mike's leadership and involvement, particularly in the due diligence review of other PGE assets in Northwestern Ontario, have been invaluable. He has demonstrated that he is uniquely qualified to carry forward our strategic initiatives." Mr. Garbutt's tenure as President and CEO comes at a crucial juncture for Clean Air Metals, as the Company demonstrates its resilience in the face of industry headwinds. Despite these challenges, Clean Air Metals has maintained a strong cash position, honed its project targeting, and strategically planned for resource base expansion through the potential acquisitions of other PGE assets."Being appointed CEO of Clean Air Metals is a tremendous honour," said Mike Garbutt. "I am excited to lead this exceptional team as we execute our strategy, capitalize on the opportunities ahead and create value for our shareholders. With Jim's continued support on the Board, alongside our recent additions of Dr. Lionnel Djon as VP of Exploration and Dr. David Peck to the Board of Directors, I am confident that we have one of the strongest teams in the junior sector." Clean Air Metals remains steadfast in its strategic focus on PGEs with associated copper exploration in Northern Ontario, leveraging the region's unique potential and scarcity of active exploration efforts. With an ongoing commitment to technical innovation and exploration excellence, the Company is well-positioned to seize the opportunities presented by the impending commodities super cycle, further enhancing its competitive edge."I am pleased to be able to hand the reins to Mike after a challenging year during which we redefined the Company's strategy and strengthened the team," said Jim Gallagher. "I started my mining career as a labourer at INCO's Levack mine 47 years ago. It is time for me to step back from Clean Air's day-to-day activities, but I'll remain on the Board of Directors supporting Mike and the rest of the team as they execute the strategy moving forward. In my long career, I have lived through several metal price super cycles and truly believe that with the low investment environment over the last few years combined with the Green Energy revolution and the desperate need for Critical Metals, we are on the cusp of one of the greatest metal cycles of recent times. I believe Clean Air Metals is well poised to take full advantage of the upcoming super cycle." Jim Gallagher will assume the role of Non-executive Chair of the Board of Directors starting July 1, 2024. He replaces Dean Chambers, who will continue his board roles as Chair of the Audit and Governance, Nominating and Compensation committees. We thank Dean for serving as Chair of the Board over the last year.About Jim Gallagher, PEng. Jim Gallagher, a mining engineer and experienced executive, was the CEO of North American Palladium from 2015 to 2019. He was responsible for the Company's operational and financial turnaround and eventual sale to Impala Platinum of South Africa for just under C$1 Billion. Jim served as Executive Chair of Clean Air Metals when the Company began to trade on the TSX Venture Exchange in early 2020. He assumed the role of CEO in June 2023.About Mike Garbutt, PEng. MBA Mr. Garbutt is a professional mining engineer with over 25 years of experience in mine operations, projects, and engineering. He has strong business acumen, has led successful mine operations, transitioned capital projects to operations, and has undertaken numerous project studies. He joined Clean Air Metals in May 2022 as its Chief Operating Officer. He was previously Deputy General Manager for IAMGOLD's Cote Gold Project, Senior Principal and Mining Sector Leader at Stantec Consulting, and General Manager of Sudbury Operations at KGHM. He held several senior technical and operating roles during a 14-year career at Glencore. Mr. Garbutt holds an MBA from Laurentian University and serves on select non-profit boards.The Company also announces that it has filed its audited consolidated financial statements and management's discussion and analysis for the year ended January 31, 2024, available for viewing on www.sedarplus.ca Financial HighlightsTotal assets as at January 31, 2024 of $39,205,074 Total cash as at January 31, 2024 of $5,913,395 Working capital as at January 31, 2024 of $3,201,899 Shareholder's equity as at January 31, 2024 of $35,726,113 Financial SummaryFor the year ended January 31, 2024 January 31, 2023Operating Expenses $ 3,930,784 $ 5,565,889Net Loss and Comprehensive Loss (3,529,771 ) (4,816,873 )Loss per share - Basic and Diluted $ (0.02 ) $ (0.02 ) Total Assets $ 39,205,074 $ 42,290,356Total Liabilities 3,478,961 3,425,984Total Shareholders' Equity $ 35,726,113 $ 38,864,372 Full details of the financial reports and operating results for the year ended January 31, 2024 are described in the Company's audited consolidated financial statements with accompanying notes and related Management's Discussion and Analysis, available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca About Clean Air Metals Clean Air Metals is a project consolidator assembling a portfolio of viable PGE/Copper/Nickel assets in Northwest Ontario. It is advancing its flagship, 100% owned Thunder Bay North Critical Minerals ("TBN") project, 40 km northeast of Thunder Bay, Ontario. The TBN project, accessible by road and next to established infrastructure, hosts two (2) deposits - the Current and Escape deposits, only 2.5 km apart. Together, the deposits host a 13.8 Mt indicated mineral resource containing 2.4M Pt eq. oz (Technical Report on the Thunder Bay North Project, Ontario Canada, NI43-101, SLR Consulting Canada Ltd, June 19, 2023) with significant potential for expansion down-plunge.One of the rare primary platinum resources outside of South Africa with significant copper mineralization, the TBN project is in a stable and
PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-31 05:25:18

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LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Cydar Medical, a pioneer in AI-based software solutions that improve the outcomes of minimally invasive image-guided endovascular surgery, is proud to announce a strategic alliance with MarinHealth, a respected healthcare enterprise with deep roots in Northern California.This collaboration will facilitate the implementation of state-of-the-art Cydar Maps. This AI-based solution empowers clinicians to create intricate patient-specific 3D maps for procedure planning, image-guided navigation, and post-operative review. Cydar Maps revolutionizes visualization during treatment and augments surgeons' decision-making throughout the care pathway.According to independent studies1, Cydar Maps significantly reduces procedure time, minimizes radiation exposure to both the patient and the clinical team, enhanced imaging during surgery decreases contrast agent volume for patients. These advancements make it a safer and more efficient option for patients and clinicians."We are excited to bring Cydar Maps to MarinHealth. Cydar's AI-based solution will enable us to improve patient care. The advances in real-time intraoperative image guidance will allow us to treat aortic aneurysms more effectively and in a safer environment. Reductions in operating time, contrast volume, and radiation exposure are of huge benefit to the patient and the OR team. We look forward to using advanced tools such as the Automatic Aortic Volume Assessment tool, which will empower us to improve our patient follow-up. Tracking aneurysm volume over time in this robust manner will enable us to improve the long-term outcomes of our patients," commented Allan Conway, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, UCSF and MarinHealth."We look forward to realizing the benefits of Cydar Maps, empowering our physicians to make more informed decisions that can positively impact patient outcomes," commented David Klein, MD, CEO of MarinHealth. "This collaboration is part of MarinHealth's ongoing commitment to staying at the forefront of innovation and technology while providing our community access to the best treatment options available." "The partnership with MarinHealth is a stride forward for Cydar Medical. It reflects our dedication to enhancing surgical precision and efficiency through AI-driven solutions. We are proud to collaborate with MarinHealth and support their commitment to providing exceptional patient care," said Paul Mussenden, CEO at Cydar Medical.1Southerland, K., Nag, U., Turner, M., Gilmore, B., McCann, R., Long, C., Cox, M., & Shortell, C. (2018). IF09. Image-Based Three-Dimensional Fusion Computed Tomography Decreases Radiation Exposure, Fluoroscopy Time, and Procedure Time During Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair. Journal of Vascular Surgery, 67, e61.###About Cydar MedicalCydar Medical, based in Cambridge, United Kingdom, offers a suite of tools designed to enhance minimally invasive image-guided endovascular surgeries. Leveraging the power of AI, Cydar enhances surgical visualization and decision-making not only in the operating room but throughout the entire patient pathway.About MarinHealthMarinHealth is an integrated healthcare enterprise with deep roots in the North Bay. With a world-class physician and clinical team, an ever-expanding network of clinics, and a new state-of-the-art hospital, MarinHealth stops at nothing to help patients achieve their best health. MarinHealth is comprised of MarinHealth Medical Center, a 327-bed hospital located in the heart of Marin since 1952, the MarinHealth Medical Network with 55+ primary care and specialty clinics located in Marin, Sonoma, and Napa counties, and the MarinHealth Foundation. A long-time partnership with UCSF expands MarinHealth's world-class capabilities and its portfolio of services to serve more of our North Bay community in new and better ways. For more information, visit MyMarinHealth.org Contact Information:Toni Lee Cheibtoni.cheib@cydarmedical.com +44 (0)1223 778020Emma DeanfieldHead of Investor Relations & Fundraisingemma.deanfield@cydarmedical.com +44 (0)1223 778020SOURCE: Cydar MedicalView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-31 15:01:21

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EvGateway Opens Three EV Fast Charging Sites in Vestal, Ithaca and OwegoITHACA, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 / EvGateway is pleased to announce the inauguration of its new Direct Current Fast Charging (DCFC) sites across New York's Southern Tier. This initiative is supported by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) through its clean transportation DCFC fast charger program and marks a significant step forward in expanding the state's electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure.The newly launched DCFC sites are strategically located at key hospitality venues to provide convenient and reliable charging solutions for EV drivers. The sites are situated at the Hampton Inn Owego, Courtyard by Marriott Binghamton in Vestal, and the Holiday Inn Express in Ithaca. Each of these locations is now equipped with four DCFC chargers, each offering a robust 180kW capacity, along with two alternating current (AC) charging stations. All sites are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ensuring accessibility and convenience for all EV users."We are thrilled to bring these advanced charging facilities to New York's southern tier," said Reddy Marri, President at EvGateway. "This project represents our commitment to supporting the growth of electric vehicle adoption and contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable future. We are grateful for the support from NYSERDA, which has been instrumental in making this project a reality." The installation of these high-capacity charging stations addresses a critical need for fast and efficient charging options in the region. By providing drivers with reliable access to rapid charging, EvGateway is helping to reduce range anxiety and encourage more drivers to switch to electric vehicles. This initiative aligns with New York State's broader goals of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting renewable energy sources.NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, "NYSERDA is proud to work with EvGateway on improving access to fast charging for electric vehicles in the Southern Tier. As more drivers make the switch to EVs, deploying infrastructure to ensure New Yorkers are able to find a charge when they need it is essential, and these centrally located sites are strategically placed to benefit both residents and visitors to the region." EvGateway's new charging stations are designed to serve a diverse range of EV models, ensuring that all drivers can benefit from the latest in charging technology. The company's focus on strategic placement and high-power output underscores its dedication to providing practical solutions for today's EV drivers.About EvGateway EvGateway is a hardware-agnostic Electric Vehicle Charging network that provides turnkey, customizable solutions to the end customer regardless of their requirements and charging needs. Our charging management network offering includes white label software development, mobile and 24x7 support for the EV Charging stations. We partner with some of the world's leading companies to make charging convenient.For more information, visit www.evgateway.com or email sales@ evgateway.com Contact Information Laura PichardoVice President - marketinglaura@ evgateway.com 949-945-6300SOURCE: EvGatewayView the original press release on newswire.com
PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-31 14:26:30

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TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 / Forward Water Technologies Corp. ("Forward Water" or the "Company") (TSXV:FWTC) announces today a commercial update based on enquiries received since its press release of March 20, 2024. With respect to the opportunities currently being pursued by Forward Water to develop direct lithium extraction projects, the Company estimates that should commercial scale plants be built incorporating FWTC's process technology, each plant could represent approximately US$25 million of revenue to FWTC. This estimate is based on information and specifications provided by an array of parties that have engaged with FWTC to date. Revenue from each plant would be recognized over approximately 36 months but exact amounts and timelines will vary.FWTC also continues to purse multiple industrial wastewater opportunities with its marketing partners. The applications of FWTC's technology process vary by customer and application but preliminary engineering work to date suggests that each opportunity could represent US$2-6 million of revenue to FWTC should they proceed.It should be noted that this information is not to be construed as a forecast and none of these projects may advance to commercial contracts.About Forward Water Technologies Corp.Forward Water Technologies Corp. is a publicly traded Canadian company dedicated to saving the earth's water supply using its patented Industrial Forward Osmosis (iFO) technology. The Company was founded by GreenCentre Canada, a leading technology innovation centre supported by the government of Canada. The Company's technology enables the extraction of clean water from challenging process and waste streams that conventional technologies can not be operated on. Due to its high-water extraction ability, iFO is used in DLE processes for the hyper-concentrating of lithium prior to conversion. The Company's mandate is to focus on the large-scale implementation of its technology in multiple sectors, including industrial wastewater, oil and gas, mining, agriculture and ultimately municipal water supply and re-use market sectors.For more information, please visit www.forwardwater.com Contact InformationFor more information or interview requests, please contact: C. Howie Honeyman - Chief Executive Officer howie.honeyman@forwardwater.com 519-333-5888Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.Forward-Looking StatementsThis document includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements with respect to the potential revenue which may be achieved from various types of projects as well as statements with respect to our beliefs, plans, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions. The words "may", "will", "could", "should", "would", "suspect", "outlook", "believe", "plan", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "forecast", "objective", "hope" and "continue" (or the negative thereof), and words and expressions of similar import, are intended to identify forward-looking statements.By their nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, which give rise to the possibility that predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. Certain material factors or assumptions are applied in making forward-looking statements and actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in such statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements as a number of important factors, many of which are beyond our control, could cause our actual results to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the ability to finalize agreements for the Company's projects, general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and globally; unanticipated operating events; the availability of capital on acceptable terms; the need to obtain required approvals from regulatory authorities; stock market volatility as well as the other risks and uncertainties applicable to the Company as set forth in the Company's continuous disclosure filings filed under the Company's profile at www.sedarplus.ca . The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as required by applicable law.Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended.SOURCE: Forward Water Technologies Corp.
PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-31 18:17:06

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 / Sav-Rx has disclosed a data breach affecting the personal health information of more than 2,800,000 individuals. Levi & Korsinsky, LLP is investigating this breach to determine whether affected consumers are entitled to compensation.WHAT'S THIS ABOUT?On October 8, 2023, Sav-Rx detected a disruption in its computer network. In response, the company immediately secured its systems and enlisted the help of third-party cybersecurity experts.WHAT INFORMATION WAS INVOLVED?The information that may have been accessed or acquired included name, date of birth, social security number, email address, address, phone number, eligibility data, and insurance identification number.WHY AM I ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION?Compensation may be available for Sav-Rx account holders who received notice that their personal information had been breached. Data breaches are serious matters that can cause long-term damage. Hackers break into networks to steal personal information, which can be sold on the dark web or used to commit identity theft, financial theft, or other frauds. The company may be liable for failing to secure your privacy.HOW DO I KNOW IF I WAS AFFECTED?If you received a data breach notification letter from Sav-Rx or A&A Services, you are affected. There is no cost or obligation to participate. Follow the link below to find out if you may be eligible for compensation.Levi & Korsinsky is a nationally recognized consumer advocacy law firm that has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars against large corporations. The firm's team of over 70 extraordinary attorneys and professionals have a winning track record going against the most powerful defense attorneys in the world and know how to maximize your compensation. The firm is a 100% contingency firm - we don't get paid unless you get paid! Please visit us as www.zlk.com for more information. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.CONTACT: Levi & Korsinsky, LLPJoseph E. Levi, Esq.Ed Korsinsky, Esq.33 Whitehall Street, 17th FloorNew York, NY 10004 jlevi@ levikorsinsky.com Tel: (212) 363-7500Fax: (212) 363-7171 https://zlk.com/ SOURCE: Levi & Korsinsky, LLP
PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-31 23:25:52

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A new exhaustive report details the Institutional Investors & private funds invested in ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, as the most visible example of a longstanding pattern of U.S. venture capital & private equity investments into Chinese technology companies.SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 / Data compiled by nonprofit firm, Future Union, indicates that numerous institutional investors - the largest source of capital for venture capital, private equity, and hedge funds - have considerable interests in ByteDance, the controlling parent company of TikTok. The recently released report, titled " The ByteDance Spotlight Report ," highlights the investors in TikTok and serves as a specific case study review of the most visible example of the pervasive role that U.S. venture capital and private equity, and associated institutional investors, have had in elevating Chinese startups - and the commensurate technology innovation ecosystem - enabling China to achieve a technological sophistication that matches, or exceeds, U.S. capabilities across numerous technological disciplines.In a statement, Andrew King Executive Director of Future Union said:"History shows that there are no days off' to safeguarding national security, protecting democratic institutions and upholding the U.S.-led, global rules-based order. China aspires to create a new rubric for global leadership where protections for intellectual property rights and the rule of law have proven illusory, and under China's revised National Privacy Law all efforts in the private sector are simultaneously required to be pledged to assist the state in pursuit of all national sovereignty goals. America and our allies face a new future in which our technology - the plans for our ships, our jets, our offensive and defensive strategies - has been turned against us. Make no mistake, as China charts a new path using our expropriated intellectual property, our technology, our research, and our capital, the U.S., and indeed, the world will suffer if investors fail to act to safeguard our collective security." As the report indicates, U.S. investors are the single largest source of funding for ByteDance. The private equity, venture capital, and hedge funds that have invested in ByteDance since its founding in 2012 are some of the largest, most well-known, and politically connected funds in the world.The release of this report follows the April 2024 Congressional approval of legislation restricting Chinese ownership of TikTok, which has catapulted the deep ties between American investors and Chinese technology companies into the spotlight. Future Union reviewed the investors and financial ties between Wall Street, global finance, and China's technology acceleration, which included the U.S. public pensions, university endowments, and nonprofits/foundations, detailing for the first time the complicated ties and extent of Western investments in Chinese venture funds and U.S. funds investing in Chinese-based startups. Future Union's prior report, titled the " Rubicon Report: Venture Capital and Private Equity Funds Invested in China ," illustrated the role that such investors and capital allocators have had in China's rise, more specifically manifested in ByteDance's fundraising history, which was illuminated in the case study. As the ByteDance Spotlight Report data reveals, U.S. venture capital and private equity funds have had an outsized role in the evolution and growth of China's rival technology base, with firms such as Sequoia Capital China (now HongShan) and GGV Capital (now Granite Asia) also prominently featured in the bipartisan Outbound Investment report released by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party on February 8, 2024 that investigated five U.S. venture capital firms for their investments in technology startups in China and the implications of those investments.This report, as well as Future Union's Rubicon Report findings, released in conjunction with the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party's Outbound Investment report, demonstrates that more forward-looking, principled investment leadership is demanded in order to discourage and restrict critical technologies from reaching Countries of Concern1, like China, and emerging on proxy battlefields like Syria and Ukraine.###About Future UnionFuture Union is a bipartisan organization designed to galvanize the private sector to address a new wave of emerging security and technology challenges facing the United States and its allies. We believe that democracy can no longer just exist to promote capitalism. Capitalism must be a force for democracy.Future Union is intent on catalyzing the private sector to make a difference for technological and capital markets-led democracy, specifically, by safeguarding free market principles and limiting the economic power that Countries of Concern1 wield in the U.S. and in the free markets. We aim to fuse private sector innovation and democratic-capitalism to ensure that the mutuality of contract under equal rule of law principles are abided by, thus, preserving free and fair markets competition.As America and our allies vie to lead the next generation of innovation and technology, Future Union hopes to encourage a broad corporate re-evaluation and definition of risks to ensure that democratic, free market principles remain at the forefront of geopolitical leadership and prevail against competing systems.Contact:media@ futureunion.co Andrew King www.futureunion.co 1 Countries of Concern are set forth as those with military capabilities that could threaten democratic national security. The most recent "foreign countries of concern" designation was made by the Secretary of State on December 29, 2023, and included the People's Republic of China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, the Russian Federation, and the Islamic Republic of Iran, among others.SOURCE: Future Union
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NEW ORLEANS, LA / ACCESSWIRE / May 30, 2024 / Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until June 24, 2024to file lead plaintiff applications in a securities class action lawsuit against Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE:LNC), if they purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's securities between November 4, 2020 and November 2, 2022, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action is pending in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.What You May DoIf you purchased securities of Lincoln National and would like to discuss your legal rights and how this case might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email ( lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com) , or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-lnc/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in this class action, you must petition the Court byJune 24, 2024 .About the LawsuitLincoln National and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws.On November 2, 2022, post-market, the Company released its 3Q 2022 financial results, disclosing a net loss of $2.6 billion for the quarter, compared to a net income of $318 million for the third quarter of 2021 the previous year, due to "net unfavorable notable items of $2.0 billion, or $11.62 per share, related to the company's annual review of DAC and reserve assumptions," and that the Company "incurred a $634 million goodwill impairment to the life insurance business." On this news, the price of Lincoln's shares fell by $17.27, or 33.2%, to close at $34.83 per share on November 3, 2022, on unusually heavy trading volume.The case is Meade v. Lincoln National Corporation, et al., No. 24-cv-01704.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 www.ksfcounsel.com Contact:Kahn Swick & Foti, LLCLewis Kahn, Managing Partner lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com 1-877-515-18501100 Poydras St., Suite 960New Orleans, LA 70163SOURCE: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC
PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-31 17:04:59

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ROCK HILL, SC / ACCESSWIRE/ May 31, 2024 / Today marks another important IRS deadline for filing 5498 Series forms and distributing recipient copies as needed. This series of forms is an essential filing requirement for trustees and custodians of retirement accounts, health savings accounts, and certain educational savings accounts.These custodians, typically financial institutions, are responsible for reporting the account contributions and other important information to the IRS. TaxBandits, an IRS-authorized e-file provider, offers a streamlined filing solution that helps alleviate the pressure of last-minute filing.A Brief Overview of 5498 Series FormsForm 5498: IRA Contribution InformationForm 5498 is filed by trustees or custodians of Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) to report contributions, including rollovers, conversions, recharacterizations, and the fair market value of the IRA account.Form 5498-ESA: Coverdell ESA Contribution InformationForm 5498 ESAis used to report information about Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), which are designed to help fund the educational expenses of the account's beneficiary. A custodian or trustee manages this type of account, which must initially be set up as a Coverdell Education Savings Account to be recognized by the IRS.Form 5498-SA: HSA, Archer MSA, or Medicare Advantage MSA InformationForm 5498-SA is an IRS tax form used to report information about contributions made to various health savings accounts, such as Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), Archer Medical Savings Accounts (Archer MSAs), and Medicare Advantage Medical Savings Accounts (MA MSAs).TaxBandits Smooth Last-Minute E-Filing:TaxBandits understands the urgency of last-minute filings and offers tailored solutions to simplify the e-filing process and ensure compliance. Here's how TaxBandits can help efficiently e-file Forms 5498, 5498-SA, and 5498-ESA:Ensuring Tax Compliance on Deadline Day: TaxBandits offers their clients a simple solution for maintaining compliance, even on deadline day. The TaxBandits e-filing process is designed to enhance filing accuracy, with built-in error checks using IRS Business Rules. Their Bulk Upload option allows clients to complete multiple forms at once, making last-minute filing possible.Dedicated Customer Support: TaxBandits is committed to providing exceptional customer support for their clients, especially on and around deadlines like today. The team is well-versed in the filing process for the 5498 series of forms and is available for quick assistance via phone, email, and live chat.Recipient Copy Distribution: To comply with IRS regulations, recipients must be provided with a copy of their 5498 Form. TaxBandits offers two options for this: Postal Mailing and Online Access services. Clients can choose to have TaxBandits print and mail copies to recipients or provide secure online access to the copies through the TaxBandits Portal.TaxBandits PRO Features - Tailored Exclusively for Tax Professionals:Client Management: To ensure a seamless and satisfying experience for clients, CPAs can leverage our customized client portal, dashboard, personalized email notifications, and branding options. TaxBandits streamlines the process of communicating with clients regarding their filing status and keeping them informed.Staff Management: TaxBandits' comprehensive solution enables unlimited member additions, assignment of diverse responsibilities, management of access levels, task delegation, activity monitoring, and member classification based on their office location, especially in cases of multiple locations.When asked about today's deadline, Agie Sundaram, CEO and co-founder of SPAN Enterprises (the parent company of TaxBandits), highlighted, "TaxBandits is dedicated to offering efficient solutions for last-minute filers, ensuring they can meet deadlines smoothly and securely. Our all-inclusive platform simplifies the e-filing process for Forms 5498, 5498-SA, and 5498-ESA. We provide dedicated customer support to assist our clients every step of the way." TaxBandits is dedicated to continuously improving and upgrading the filing procedures for Form 5498, 5498-SA, and 5498-ESA. To take advantage of these enhancements, businesses and tax professionals can start filing at www.TaxBandits.com today by creating a free account.About TaxBanditsThe 1099 and W-2 experts! TaxBandits is a SOC 2 Certified, IRS-authorized e-file provider ofForms 1099 ,Form W-2 ,1095 ,940 ,941 , andW-9 , serving businesses, service providers, and tax professionals of every shape and size.Software providers and other high-volume filers can take advantage ofTaxBandits API . The integration allows them to add client value and expand monetization efforts. TaxBandits API enables seamless preparation and e-filing of 1099, W-2, 941, 940, and ACA 1095 forms. Software providers can also use the developer-friendly1099 APIto request W-9s and automate 1099 filings efficiently.About SPAN EnterprisesHeadquartered in Rock Hill, South Carolina, SPAN has been developing industry-leading software tools for e-filing and business management tools for over a decade.The SPAN Enterprises Portfolio of products includesTaxBandits ,ACAwise ,ExpressExtension ,123PayStubs , andTruckLogics .Please direct all media inquiries to Stephanie Glanville, Marketing Manager, atstephanie@ spanenterprises.com ###SOURCE: TaxBandits
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MONTREAL, QC / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 / SRQ Resources Inc. (TSXV:SRQ) ("SRQ" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will participate in a virtual non-deal roadshow to discuss the encouraging Ni-Cu results from its recent drilling campaign on the newly discovered Ultramafic Magmatic ("UM") intrusive complex at its Lac Brule project in Quebec, Canada.Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, SRQ's President & CEO, will present the results from SRQ's May 28, 2024 press release in addition to its 2024 follow-up exploration plans during a live virtual non-deal roadshow hosted by Renmark Financial on Monday, June 3, 2024, at 12:00 P.M. EDT. Investors and interested parties are invited to register here using the latest version of Google Chrome: Access to a replay of the event will be available on the SRQ website or on Renmark Financial's website at www.renmarkfinancial.com/vndrs The drilling program comprised 11 drill holes for 3,015 metres ("m") and was conducted between April 19 and May 05, 2024, using existing access. Assay results are pending.Highlights from May 28, 2024 news release(consult the full news release here):Results from the Phase III 10-hole program for 2,064m at the Gossan Zone: Confirmed continuity over a 550m strike Phase III 1 hole - discovery of "Target 900", a significant, highly prospective new geological structure: Located 6 km from the Gossan Zone At the heart of a 3.5 km x 1.7 km exceptionally strong gravity anomaly Intersected 735m of continuous UM intrusive pyroxenite Potential near-miss scenario Lac Brule ProjectSRQ's discoveries are being made on its 100%-owned Lac Brule property located 50 km north-west of the former Renzy nickel-copper mine in the Upper Laurentian region of Quebec and a five-hour drive from Montreal. The former Renzy mine operated from 1969 to 1972. UM intrusive bodies host mineralisation at both the Renzy mine and at Lac Brule. Both sites present several striking similarities including mineralogy, petrology and timing of emplacement.The technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, Ph. D geology, P. Geo and President and CEO of SRQ Resources, and a Qualified Person', as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.About SRQ Resources Inc.SRQ is a Canadian base metals company exploring for nickel. copper and platinum in the province of Quebec. A near-surface Ni-Cu project. Lac Brule is located on a 288 km virgin exploration property at a five-hour drive from Montreal. The project's prospectivity for base metals has been confirmed by geological mapping. the presence of a surface gossan. and geophysical surveys. The presence of the historic Renzy Ni-Cu mine located 50 kilometers to the south-east and at the heart of the large regional pattern further adds to the area's mineral exploration appeal. For more information about SRQ. please visit SRQ's website at www.srqexploration.com/ About Renmark Financial Communications Inc.Founded in 1999. Renmark is a privately held full-service investor relations firm. located in Atlanta. New York. Toronto and Montreal. For the past 25 years. Renmark has provided services in investor relations. media relations and web development representing small. medium and large cap public companies listed on all major North American exchanges. On a daily basis, Renmark team of professionals enhance client's visibility within the retail market space as corporate communicators. With the largest roadshow footprint in North America. and a state-of-the-art media studio, Renmark hosts a multitude of live streaming Virtual Non-Deal Roadshows across North America and Europe.Contact Information:Marc-Antoine Audet. President and CEO ceo@ srqexploration.com Tel: (514) 726-4158Renmark Financial Communications Inc. Bettina Filippone: bfilippone@ renmarkfinancial.com Tel: (416) 644-2020 or (514) 939-3989 www.renmarkfinancial.com/ Forward-Looking Statements and Forward-Looking InformationCertain of the statements made and information contained herein are "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements and forward-looking information characterized by terms such as "will", could", "expect", "estimate", "evidence", "potential", "appears", "seems", "suggest", are inherently subject to significant business, economic, and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information, and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, but are not limited to: the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development; assumptions relating to the trading price of the Company's common shares; the ability of the Company to convert resources in reserves, its ability to see through the next phase of development on any project, its ability to produce a pre-feasibility study or a feasibility study regarding any project, its ability to execute on its development plans in terms of metallurgy or exploration, the availability of financing for activities, risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results and the estimation of mineral resources and reserves, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, metal price fluctuations, environmental and regulatory requirements, availability of permits, escalating costs of remediation and mitigation, risk of title loss, the effects of accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration or development, the potential for delays in exploration or development activities, the inherent uncertainty of cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses, commodity price fluctuations, currency fluctuations, expectations and beliefs of management and other risks and uncertainties. Many of these uncertainties and contingencies can affect the Company's actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements and forward-looking information made by or expressed on behalf of the Company. Readers are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements or forward-lo
PR-Inside.com: 2024-05-31 16:10:39

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HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / May 31, 2024 / Texas Steel Conversion, Inc. (TSC), a leader in steel tubular processing and drill pipe manufacturing, is proud to announce the installation of a state-of-the-art internal plastic coating (IPC) line at its Miller Road plant in Northeast Houston. This significant investment reinforces TSC's commitment to innovation and customer service excellence in the oil and gas industry.Texas Steel Conversion, Inc. www.TexasSteelConversion.comThe new IPC line, expected to be operational in early 2025, will enhance the performance and longevity of our customers' pipe used in the most demanding drilling, completion, and transportation environments. The line will initially be able to apply coating to tubulars ranging from 2.375" to 12.750" in both Range 2 and Range 3. The IPC line will employ advanced technology to apply a uniform and durable powder coating throughout the internal diameter of the pipe. By integrating this process within our operations, TSC gains greater control over the coating schedule, thus enabling us to offer our customers reduced operational interruptions. This move also allows TSC to fully control its quality standards. TSC's process will allow customers to select a highly specialized IPC product capable of withstanding modern-day drilling fluid requirements for improved flow rate and productivity.About Texas Steel Conversion:Texas Steel Conversion (TSC) is a Houston-based company specializing in the manufacturing and processing of high-quality steel tubular products for the oil and gas industry for over 48 years. TSC focuses on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction.For more information about TSC and the new IPC line, please contact Stephanie Williams, Marketing Specialist, at stephanie@ texassteelconversion.com or www.TexasSteelConversion.com Contact Information:Stephanie WilliamsMarketing Specialiststephanie@ texassteelconversion.com 832-230-8228Related FilesTSC Drill Pipe_Press Release_New IPC LineSOURCE: Texas Steel Conversion, Inc.View the original press release on newswire.com
Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has condemned the killing of soldiers in Abia State, south-east Nigeria.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how masked gunmen, on Thursday morning, attacked and killed four soldiers in Obikabia Junction in Aba, the commercial hub of the Abia State.

The gunmen, who also burnt the soldiers patrol truck, were said to be enforcing the sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) across the South-east to mark the Biafra Day which is celebrated annually in the region.

IPOB is a group seeking to carve out a sovereign state of Biafra from the south-east and some parts of the south-south of Nigeria.

The Nigerian Army is yet to comment on the attack and killing of the soldiers.

Its unfortunate

Reacting hours later, Mr Uzodinma, who is also the chairperson of the South-east Governors Forum, described the attack and killing as unfortunate.

The governor spoke while briefing reporters in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Channels TV reported.

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On behalf of my brother governors in the South-east Governors Forum, I condemn that incident and loss of the lives of soldiers who were on their duty posts, he said.

He also asked security agencies to track down those who killed the soldiers in the state.

Without any provocation, they were attacked by the men of the underworld. I want to condemn that and also to urge security agents to go all out and ensure that those behind that are caught and brought to book, he stated.

Set back

Mr Uzodinma said the attack and killing of the soldiers would act as a setback to efforts being made to solve rising attacks in the South-east.

The unfortunate thing is that it is going to act as a major setback to the peace process which the governors from the South-east have been pursuing in talking to the federal government, security agencies, and other critical stakeholders on how best to resolve the problem of insecurity in the South-east, he said.

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More than 1,900 incidents involving slips, trips and falls were reported to Sydney Trains last year.

Sydney Trains are warning passengers to 'slow down' as the city braces for wet weather. Source: Sydney Trains

Millions of Aussies commuters are being warned to "slow down" as the wet, wintery weather settles in, with blustery conditions contributing to a spike of injuries at train stations. More than 1,900 incidents involving slips, trips and falls were reported to Sydney Trains last year, Transport for NSW said on Friday.

Footage released by the government to showcase some of the real-life accidents that occurred on slippery platforms show travellers falling down stairs head first, or stumbling up ramps as they attempt to jump on a train before it departs. The mishaps resulted in nearly 900 injuries to passengers.

Mauren Clark, Sydney Trains Executive Director of Customer Experience, said such incidents can easily be avoided if commuters simply take more care.

"Injuries caused by passengers rushing to catch their train or being distracted by a device are avoidable. Just take your time," she said. "Rushing is a risk not worth taking as there will always be another train not far behind."

Hurrying claims top spot for train platform accidents

The majority of accidents that occur on station platforms involve commuters rushing to try and catch their train before it leaves, with 578 people harmed last year. There were also just over 450 incidents of people getting hurt on escalators, stairs and ramps while distracted by a device or hurrying.

"This is also a reminder for those who do rush to be aware of others around them as one misstep or one knock is all it takes to cause a serious injury to another passenger," Clark said.

The warning comes after predictive data showed another La Nina event is on its way, with wet and cold weather expected. According to ABC meteorologist Thomas Saunders, a downward trend on the graph shows La Nina "is gathering steam fast" and Sydney Trains are urging commuters to be careful in the months ahead.

On rainy days, train station staff will make additional announcements reminding passengers to slow down and be attentive, Transport for NSW said. They will also "offer umbrella wrappers at many stations and have wet weather mats rolled out to manage wet floors".

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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The Defence Headquarters has vowed to retaliate against the killing of soldiers by gunmen in Abia State, Nigerias south-east.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how masked gunmen, on Thursday morning, attacked and killed soldiers in Obikabia Junction in Aba, the commercial hub of the Abia State.

The gunmen, who also burnt the soldiers patrol truck, were said to be enforcing the sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) across the South-east to mark their Biafra Day, which is celebrated annually in the region.

IPOB is a group seeking to carve out a sovereign state of Biafra from the South-east and some parts of the South-south of Nigeria.

The Director of Defence Media Operations, Edward Buba, in a statement on Friday, said the Nigerian military needed to carry out reprisals against IPOB members for killing the soldiers.

Accordingly, it is imperative that the military retaliate against this dastardly act against troops. The military would be fierce in its response. We would bring overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat, Mr Buba, a major general, said.

Number of soldiers killed

PREMIUM TIMES had reported that four soldiers were killed during the attack, while one other soldier was seriously injured.

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But Mr Buba confirmed that five soldiers were killed in the attack.

The media director said the soldiers were among the troops of Udo Ka deployed at the junction in Obingwa Local Government Area, near Aba.

He said they were helping to ensure peace in the area and protect residents of the area before suspected IPOB members and their armed militant wing, Eastern Security Network, launched a surprise attack against the soldiers.

He added that some of the hoodlums stormed the area in three tinted Prado Toyota SUVs while other members of the group from the area teamed up with them to attack the soldiers.

The attack sadly took the lives of five personnel of the armed forces (who were) killed in action. The armed forces mourn the death of these troops as every soldier lost in battle is a terrible loss, he said.

Meanwhile, investigations are ongoing concerning the attack.

Do residents support IPOB members?

Mr Buba suggested that some residents, rather than support the security operatives, appear to offer support to IPOB members in their attacks on security forces.

Winning the war without the support of the people is close to impossible.

The IPOB capitalised on this to perpetrate attacks on the troops. The situation leaves more to be desired, he said.

The deadly attack on the Nigerian troops is similar to a recent one in a community in Delta State, South-south Nigeria, where 16 soldiers, including a commanding officer and two majors, were ambushed and savagely murdered by local residents.

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The Abia State Government has placed a N25 million bounty on killers of five soldiers in the state.

The Commissioner for Information in Abia State, Okey Kanu, disclosed this in a statement on Friday.

PREMIUM TIMES reported how masked gunmen, on Thursday morning, attacked and killed the soldiers in Obikabia Junction in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State.

The gunmen, who also burnt the soldiers patrol truck, were said to be enforcing the sit-at-home order declared by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) across the South-east to mark their Biafra Day which is celebrated annually in the region.

The Nigerian military would later vow to retaliate the killing of the soldiers.

IPOB is a group seeking to carve out a sovereign state of Biafra from South-east and some parts of the South-south of Nigeria.

Serious affront

Mr Kanu said the government considers the killing of the soldiers as a serious affront to the state governments resolve to rid Abia of criminals.

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Criminals, he said, are determined to bring back the days of insecurity in Aba.

This is more regrettable in the light of the fact that unprecedented investments have been made in the last one year to restore the citys public infrastructure and reposition it as an attractive investment destination for local and foreign businesses, Mr Kanu said.

To underscore its resolve, the state government is offering a N25 million reward to anyone with useful information that could lead to the location and arrest of any of the criminals connected to the unfortunate killings, and the subsequent state of apprehension across the city of Aba and environs, he stated.

The commissioner said security agencies in the state have been directed to treat informants with confidentiality to guarantee their cooperation and assistance until the killers were arrested.

Mr Kanu said the Abia State Government will respond appropriately to reassure residents and investors that the government could be relentless in prosecuting anyone or group that constitutes threat to peace and security in the state.

Support for slain soldiers families

Mr Kanu said the Abia State Government commiserated with the Chief of Army Staff, Taoreed Lagbaja, and other military authorities over the incident.

The information commissioner announced that the government will take up the responsibility of supporting the families of the slain soldiers, which he said include the payment of regular stipends to their spouses, and the education of their children to university level.

He said the government commended all military officers and men of the Nigerian army in the state for maintaining a high sense of professionalism in their response to the very distressing event.

Mr Kanu urged residents to go about their lawful businesses, assuring that the necessary measures had been put in place to ensure their safety in the state.

The state (government) will also encourage our military and security personnel to continue to show restraint, whether at the checkpoints, on patrol, or while engaged in other security duties, even as the government continues to work with all relevant stakeholders, including the security high commands, traditional and community leaders to gather and process all intelligence information which will ultimately lead to the capture of the perpetrators of the heinous crime at Obikabia Junction, and anyone directly or remotely connected to it in any form, he said.

Warning to traditional rulers

Mr Kanu said the state government has warned traditional rulers in the state against harbouring those responsible for the killing of the soldiers.

The state government shall not hesitate to bring the full weight of the law to bear on any traditional or community leader found to be harbouring criminals in their domains, he said.

The commissioner advised the traditional rulers and other leaders in communities across the state to set up suitable local intelligence gathering mechanisms in their localities for sharing new information with security agencies.

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On 24 April, Nigerias Senate President Godswill Akpabio, during the National Summit on Justice 2024 held in Abuja, recalled his frustrations in trying to secure the release of a serving senator from detention.

Konbowei Benso, who represents Bayelsa Central Senatorial District, was remanded in prison in March by a judge in Abuja after the lawmaker was arraigned for alleged forgery.

The senator (Mr Benson) was there (in prison) for many days. If I have an opportunity, I will use this case as part of our (justice sector) reform. The rich also cry if Nigeria fails to reform its justice system, Mr Akpabio, who was a minister and governor of oil-rich Akwa Ibom State, said.

Mr Benson, despite his privileged status, spent about a week in detention because of his inability to immediately meet his bail conditions. The process is difficult owing to the bottlenecks in Nigerias criminal justice system. The result of this is that Nigerias detention facilities are filled with many indigent defendants awaiting trial with no respite in sight.

Mr Akpabios lamentation, limited in scope as it was, signals that all is not well with Nigerias justice system.

President Bola Tinubu took office on 29 May as Nigerias fifth democratically-elected president since the return of civil rule in 1999, after running a campaign promising to uphold the rule of law and human rights.

We will ensure that our nations legal framework is appropriate for the type of society we seek to build  a society that is fair and which provides enforceable rights to all Nigerians, his manifesto read in part.

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It further pledged that a Tinubu government will operate on the premise that the rule of law is paramount without giving details of how to make a difference in a country with a long history of egregious human rights violations under successive military and civilian administrations.

Inefficient justice system

Now a year in the saddle, the Tinubu-led government falters in upholding human rights and the rule of law in Nigeria.

While the problem of long delays in hearing and determination of cases is caused by multiple factors across the justice system, poor coordination among the different actors in the sector and lack of effective legal aid to help the poor access justice remain as major obstacles to a functional justice system, the President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Yakubu Maikyau, said at the recent justice summit in Abuja.

Mr Tinubu and the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) acknowledged in their separate remarks at the summit that many Nigerians lack access to justice.

Access to justice remains a distant reality for far too many Nigerians, Mr Ariwoola said.

Undoubtedly, Nigeria has made progress with the enactment of legislations such as the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, the Nigeria Correctional Service Acts 2019, and the Nigerian Police Act 2020, but there are still challenges ahead in achieving a justice system that works in the interest of Nigerians, Mr Maikyau, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), noted.

Like former Nigerian presidents who pledged to transform the countrys justice system for better service delivery, Mr Tinubus promise to deliver a legal framework appropriate for the type of society we seek to build  a society that is fair and which provides enforceable rights to all Nigerians, cannot be said to have started after one year in office as president.

The present challenge is to translate these statements of commitment to tangible outcomes for all Nigeriansevery aspect of the infrastructure of our justice system requires fundamental rethinking and retooling, Mr Maikyau said.

Rule of law still tottering

The Tinubu administration, through the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, tried to cut off from the poor human rights profile of the past administration of then-President Muhammadu Buhari, by terminating treasonable felony charges it filed against civil rights activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore.

But by that time, Mr Tinubus democratic credentials had already been called into question.

His administrations arbitrary arrests of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Godwin Emefiele, the chairperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Abdulrasheed Bawa, were early indicators of what was ahead.

In breach of the provision of section 35 of Nigerias constitution, the pair were detained for months by the State Security Service (SSS) in Abuja.

Subsequent events also showed that the administration has yet to adopt the rule of law as a non-negotiable policy.

On his watch in the last year, law enforcement agencies and the military routinely engage in arbitrary arrests, detention and torture of civilians and in extreme cases, extrajudicial killings, while the courts are clogged with thousands of cases with less than a thousand judges adjudicating on them.

Riding on an amended Cybercrime Act, under the Tinubu administration, at least eight Nigerian journalists have been arrested and jailed, the US-based Committee to Protection Journalists (CPJ) said. CPJ, a nonprofit organisation, promotes press freedom across the globe.

The figure for the total number of press freedom violations by state actors is even higher, according to the Press Attack Tracker of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development. There have been 37 such incidents since Mr Tinubu assumed office with 23 of them happening in the last five months.

Two recent incidents highlight that there has been no improvement in press freedom in the country.

Segun Olatunji and Daniel Ojukwu, both Lagos-based journalists in southwestern Nigeria, were abducted by state authorities  military and police, respectively  over reports they authored.

Messrs Olatunji and Ojukwu were ferried from Lagos to Abuja, Nigerias capital, and held at separate times for almost two weeks before they regained their freedoms owing to sustained pressure from journalists and civil society organisations.

Mr Olatunji who worked at an online news outlet, FirstNews, was abducted by soldiers from his home in Lagos before he was handcuffed, blindfolded and thrown into the dungeon in Abuja.

Although Mr Olatunji has since resigned from FirstNews following the newspapers retraction of the offensive article which was against President Tinubus Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Gestapo manner his rights were trampled upon reminds Nigerians of the jackboot era of military dictatorship.

Upon his release, he described the military as operating like bandits who abduct people from their homes only to dump the captives on a road after payment of ransom.

As Nigeria was preparing to join the rest of the world in commemorating the International Press Freedom Day on 4 May, Mr Ojukwu was abducted by the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Inspector General of Police. He was detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti in Lagos for some days before he was flown to Abuja.

For a couple of days, the whereabouts of Mr Ojukwu who works at the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) were unknown.

Fisayo Soyombo, founder of FIJ, an online newspaper, in a series of social media posts, said Mr Ojukwu was abducted by the police in breach of his fundamental rights as a journalist.

Just so nobody is in doubt, what has happened to FIJ Nigeria reporter Ojukwu Justin Daniel is an abduction and not an arrest, Mr Soyombo, an award-winning Investigative journalist, wrote.

Mr Soyombo said the police cannot be acting like bandits in a stable democracy where journalists responsibilities have statutory backing.

But the police have insisted they acted right after releasing Mr Ojukwu from a nine-day detention on 10 May. The police said their action was lawful, saying it was backed by a warrant of arrest from a magistrate court. The explanation has attracted similar condemnation from many Nigerians on X.

The Cybercrimes Act on which the police based their crackdown on journalists was amended recently by the National Assembly, expunging some of the provisions aimed at stifling Nigerias media space.

A major aspect of the law, section 24 which codifies the crime of cyberstalking, has been deployed relentlessly to hound journalists and human rights activists.

Before the amendments of the legislation last February, Section 24 criminalised the use of a computer in sending messages considered grossly offensive, pornographic or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.

Despite the amendments, Omoyele Sowore, a pro-democracy activist and former presidential candidate, said the police have continued to use the law to harass and cower journalists and human rights campaigners in Nigeria. .

Acknowledging the abuses that might have occurred in the application of Section 24 of the Cybercrimes Act, a veteran journalist and human rights advocate, Richard Akinnola, referenced the arrest of Chioma Okoli by the police on account of reviewing a product on social media.

He recalled President Tinubus somewhat cordial relationship with the human rights community during the latters days as governor of Lagos.

Mr Akinnola, however, noted that the president cannot be absolved of the recent clampdown on journalist Olatunji by the Defence Intelligence Agency.

Nigeria ranks among the worst in press freedom

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in its latest World Press Freedom Index ranked Nigeria as one of the most dangerous West African countries for journalists.

RSF is a global nonprofit organisation that defends the rights of people to have access to free and reliable information.

Data on the 2024 World Press Freedom Index by RSF ranks Nigeria 112th out of 180 countries where journalists are routinely monitored, attacked and arbitrarily arrested.

The 2024 ranking is an improvement over the 123rd place Nigeria occupied in 2023, but the RSF maintained that the level of governmental interference in the news media in Nigeria is significant. Major indices of the ranking were based on political, legislative, economic, social and security issues.

It can involve pressure, harassment of journalists and media outlets, and even censorship. This interference is even stronger during electoral campaigns. Addressing political issues in a balanced way can also be difficult, depending on the media outlets owner. To a large extent, government officials have a say in the appointment and dismissal of media officials, whether in the public or private sector, RFS said in the report.

Despite the pervading atmosphere of harassment and gross rights violations of journalists, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Fagbemi, told the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva that Nigeria remains one of the safest countries for journalists to ply their trade.

Presenting the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of Nigeria in Geneva, Switzerland in January, Mr Fagbemi cited the Nigerian constitution which empowers journalists to hold the government accountable to the people, saying journalists go about their duties with any form of intimidation. The UPR is a unique mechanism of the Human Rights Council that calls for each UN Member State to undergo a peer review of its human rights records every four and a half years.

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Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka has described the guilty verdict passed on former president of the US, Donald Trump, in his hush-money criminal trial as a daybreak on a new democratic promise.

In a personally signed statement on Friday, Mr Soyinka noted that the verdict presented a clear warning that sooner or later, the clamour of equity would break down the stoutest gates on guard across the citadel of impunity.

In a seven-week-long historic trial, a New York jury on Thursday found Mr Trump guilty on all 34 counts he faced. The former Republican president, set to face off against Democratic incumbent Joe Biden in Novembers election, had pleaded not guilty.

Mr Trump was accused of 34 felony counts of falsifying business documents in relation to a hush money payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 US Presidential election, which he won.

At the end of Thursdays proceedings, a sentencing date was set for 11 July at the request of defence lawyer Todd Blanche. The hearing falls four days before the start of the Republican National Convention in Wisconsin, where Mr Trump is expected to be officially recognised as the partys presidential nominee.

Reacting to the verdict, however, Mr Soyinka expressed the belief that for millions in anguished parts of the world, certainly for us in vast swathes of the African continent, this is a daybreak on a new democratic promise.

The social crusader noted that the Trump debacle was also a challenge, a call to preparedness and steadfastness.

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Installed and putative fascisms  secular, military or theocratic  will extract from this only the wrong lessons, batten down and crackdown in self-protection. It is Not yet Uhuru, not anywhere close for humanity in our global village, he said.

While the world awaits Mr Trumps sentencing on 11 July, Mr Soyinka declared that nonetheless, a celebration, albeit in a minor key, is justified.

In light of the Trump verdict, the Nobel laureate also hinted that he might choose to apply for restoration of his card of Permanent Residence in the US.

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After spending three nights in prison, Chioma Okoli, who is being prosecuted by the police for her critical review of an Erisco Foods product, was, on Friday, granted N5 million bail by the Federal High Court in Abuja.

The police charged her with cybercrime offences for her review of a tomato paste produced by Erisco Foods Limited, which she shared on social media. The authorities accused her of defaming Erisco, following a complaint by the company.

The Nigerias Cybercrime Act, under which Mrs Okoli is being prosecuted, has been used by the police to target voices, including many journalists, seen to be critical of influential people. The law, eseecially its section 24, often deployed for such prosecution, although has now been amended to be more liberal, is viewed by many rights advocates as a weapon of oppression by the government and powerful individuals.

Mrs Okoli was remanded at the Suleja Correctional Centre, near Abuja, on Tuesday, after she was arraigned on two charges before the trial judge, Peter Lifu.

The prosecution lawyer, Abdulrashid Sidi, while arguing the defendants bail request, prayed the judge to reject Mrs Okolis application. He said the defendant might jump bail.

But, ruling on Mrs Okolis bail request on Friday, the judge said denying the defendant bail will amount to wrong application of discretion.

Mr Lifu referenced Section 36 (5) of the Constitution, which presumes the defendants innocence until proven otherwise.

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Bail conditions

Aside from the N5 million bail bond, the defendant was ordered to produce two sureties who must be her spouse or a relative.

The two sureties must be persons with proven means of livelihood and resident in Abuja, the courts jurisdiction. They are to deposit their passport photographs with the court.

Also, the judge ordered Mrs Okoli to deposit her passport with the chief registrar of the court.

The judge adjourned proceedings until 13 June for trial.

Addressing journalists shortly after Fridays proceedings, defence lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, commended the judge for exercising his discretion judiciously in granting his client bail on very liberal terms.

Defendants ordeal

The defendants husband, Chizoba Okoli, recounted his wifes ordeal at the hands of the police and Erisco Foods Limited management since September 2023.

Mr Okoli told journalists after Fridays hearing in Abuja that his wife had been through emotional trauma that caused her a miscarriage.

He said his wifes incessant arrest and incarceration by the police brought their family immeasurable pain.

Similarly, the defence lawyer repeatedly accused the police of violating Mrs Okolis fundamental rights to freedom of expression and liberty.

Mrs Okolis plight drew wide condemnation from many Nigerians who asked the police to drop the criminal charges for a civil case.

Fridays hearing drew dozens of womens rights activists to the court in solidarity with Mrs Okoli.

Background

In September 2023, the police arrested Ms Okoli for claiming in a review in a Facebook post that a tomato paste that she bought in a market in Lagos, Nagiko tomato mix, tasted sugary.

In the post seen by PREMIUM TIMES, Ms Okoli said she had gone to the market on 16 September 2023 with the intention of buying Gino or Sonia brand of tomato paste but could not find them.

She made the critical review of the tomato paste, manufactured by Erisco Foods Limited, in a post on her Facebook page on 17 September 2023.

The post drew comments that either sided with her review or defended the product.

A commenter asked her to stop spoiling my brothers product and urged her to use another product or report her complaint to Eriscos customer care instead of bringing the mattet to the social media.

Responding, Ms Okoli said, Help me advise your brother to stop ki***ing people with his product, yesterday was my first time using (it) and its pure sugar.

A few days later, police operatives in Lagos apprehended Ms Okoli, based on Eriscos complaint, accusing her of cyberbullying, cyberstalking and demarketting its product.

The police then flew her to Abuja where they subsequently charged her under the Cybercrime Act.

Erisco Foods Limited described as untrue and unfounded Ms Okolis claims about its product.

In a statement issued by its management, the company said it was built on the vision and mission to manufacture and promote healthy and wholly made-in-Nigeria tomato products with a commitment to feed Africa, including Nigeria.

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Kenyan President William Ruto last week made the first state visit to the United States (US) by an African leader in 16 years, and only the sixth state visit President Joe Biden has hosted since he took office.

Kenya has clearly emerged as Americas leading strategic partner  if not in Africa as a whole, then at least in sub-Saharan Africa. At a time when Africa and other parts of the world are polarising, with Russia-leaning juntas evicting Western militaries from Sahel states and South Africa and others tilting towards Russia and China, Kenya is becoming increasingly significant.

In geopolitical terms, the most important outcome of the visit was that Biden designated Kenya as a Major Non-NATO Ally  the only one in sub-Saharan Africa. This status doesnt include the mutual defence obligations of NATO membership but provides countries with preferential access to US military training, surplus equipment, joint research, etc. The designation confirmed Kenya as one of the US most important strategic military partners.

For Mr Ruto, the US visit is also critical, probably more economically than geopolitically. Kenya is struggling with debt and balance of payments problems and needs US help with debt relief.

The US and Kenya have been security partners for a while, helping Somalias government fight the persistent al-Shabaab extremists. The two leaders said they discussed options for a multilateral mission to follow the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia, which is due to leave by year-end.

Ruto has agreed to deploy 1,000 paramilitary police officers to help calm ongoing gang-fuelled mayhem in Haiti, which the US regards as its responsibility to address. But that perilous mission, largely funded by the US, has run into several difficulties, including court challenges in Kenya where its unpopular. Last week the deployment was delayed by three weeks due to logistical problems.

Economically, Kenya and the US have many common interests. Green energy is paramount, with Kenya already deriving over 90 per cent of its energy from renewables. They also agreed to cooperate in building semiconductors to diversify supply sources as part of a broader agreement to bolster collaboration between Silicon Valley and Kenyas flourishing Silicon Savannah.

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Messrs Ruto and Biden vowed to accelerate negotiations for their Strategic Trade and Investment Partnership (STIP) by the end of the year. The countries have been unable to conclude a free trade agreement, and this STIP  under negotiation since mid-2022  is the next best thing, providing a comprehensive trade and investment facilitation deal.

The presidents said they would welcome the timely reauthorisation of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which grants exports from eligible sub-Saharan countries duty-free access to the lucrative US market. They noted that Kenyan apparel exports to the US under AGOA were worth hundreds of millions of dollars annually. Also, more USAID and Kenyan private sector investments were expected to generate an extra $250 million in apparel exports to the US and create over 20,000 jobs.

Perhaps the most important outcome for Mr Ruto  who faces the challenge of repaying over $76 billion in debt  was securing Mr Bidens support for debt relief measures. The two launched the Nairobi-Washington Vision, which called for greater debt relief for developing countries that invested more in their peoples development. They also announced several measures to increase lending to developing countries from the multilateral development banks.

Mr Ruto has effected quite a remarkable turnaround in his relations with the US. Before Kenyas 2013 elections, then US Ambassador Johnnie Carson famously told voters that choices have consequences. This was a warning to not vote for Uhuru Kenyatta as president and Ruto as his running mate, as the International Criminal Court had indicted both for orchestrating violence against their opponents after the 2007 elections. They were elected anyway  and the cases closed as witnesses mysteriously disappeared.

However, Mr Rutos successful Washington visit underlined to some African critics that hes too pro-Western. He has tried to balance that by finalising negotiations for a trade deal with the United Arab Emirates in February. And he has irked the West by visiting China  probably wise since Kenya owes it around $6 billion  and by hosting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Irans late president Ebrahim Raisi.

But unlike South Africa, which abstained from the United Nations General Assembly resolutions condemning Russias aggression in Ukraine, Kenya supported them all, except one. That was the resolution demanding Russias suspension from the Human Rights Council. Kenya abstained  thereby maintaining a more principled balance between non-alignment and support for national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The US and the West have also appreciated Kenyas posture on the Gaza war, which they see as more balanced than South Africas.

Chatham Houses Fergus Kell noted last week that the US and others hoped Kenya could fill a leadership vacuum created by Ethiopias internal struggles, the fall from grace of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, and Rwandas entanglement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo .

Mr Kell said that For Kenya, this visit offers a chance to reinforce its status as a key strategic interlocutor. That Mr Ruto appears to have done. Indeed, many observers believe Mr Ruto is trying to displace Rwandas President Paul Kagame as the self-proclaimed leader of Africa. Mr Ruto is pushing for Raila Odinga to become the AU Commissions next chairperson, which would boost Mr Rutos wider ambitions. Some AU sources say however that Mr Rutos pro-Western reputation may count against Mr Odinga.

Mr Rutos Washington excursion was not unanimously popular back home, perhaps not surprisingly, since hes a politically divisive figure in Kenya, as one anonymous observer says. His supporters are delighted at the prestige his visit brought Kenya, and the promise of greater US investment and debt relief. His critics argue that hes overpromising again, and while preaching about austerity, he hired an expensive private jet from Dubai to take him to the US, this observer says.

According to Institute for Security Studies Senior Researcher in Nairobi, Willis Okumu, The visit could be seen as a win for Ruto, but is it for Kenyans? To me, it looks more like Ruto is being used to spearhead a neo-colonialist agenda, given the recent changes in Africa where heads of state including Museveni have rebuffed Western-backed policies.

He said it could be argued that: Ruto is desperate for the Western embrace, for political and economic reasons, while America, as its power wanes globally due to loss of geopolitical influence to China, [needs] a head of state who can champion its ideals. Where does this leave the people of Kenya?

Foreign relations are not necessarily a zero-sum game, and the fact that an enhanced alliance suits the US doesnt mean it wont help Kenya. But, as Mr Okumu cautions, the evolving relationship should be closely monitored to clearly distinguish between Mr Rutos and Kenyas interests.

Peter Fabricius, Consultant, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Pretoria

(This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish).

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An unusual presence of security agents was recorded at the Kano Central Mosque as the reinstated emir of the city, Sanusi Lamido, led the Muslim congregational Jummat prayer there on Friday.

PREMIUM TIMES observed that local hunters have been providing security service at the Gidan Rumfa palace since Mr Sanusi returned there on Saturday.

Before the Friday prayer, the police had issued a statement to allay the fear of a possible clash between loyalists of Mr Sanusi and the supporters of his rival to the Kano stool, Aminu Ado Bayero, after the two announced their plans to lead the congregational Jummat prayer at the central mosque in the town.

The two men have asserted claims to the position and are acting as such from two different palaces.

While Mr Sanusi is holding court at the main palace, the man deposed by the state government, Mr Ado Bayero, is at the mini palace at the Nassarawa GRA of the city.

Mr Sanusis group on Thursday in a statement signed by the Danburan Kano called on residents to attend the prayer at the central mosque where Mr Sanusi would lead the prayer.

A separate statement from Mr Ado Bayeros camp circulated on social media invited residents to join him at the emirs palace Friday mosque for the prayer.

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The statement said Mr Ado Bayeros movement to the main palace mosque from his Nasarawa palace would start at 12.30 p.m.

However, the police advised residents to disregard the false information on social media that Mr Ado Bayero would lead the Jummat Prayers at Kofar Kudu Central Mosque.

The police spokesperson in the state, Abdullahi Kiyawa, said they have provided security for the emirs to perform the weekly congregational prayers in their respective palaces.

The Commissioner of Police, CP Mohammed Usaini Gumel, FIPMA, psc further assured that all necessary security arrangements have been made for Alhaji Aminu Bayero to observe his Jummah Prayers in the Mosque where he lives at the Nasarawa Palace.

The CP also assured that the police and all other state security agencies will provide adequate security at the palace where Emir Muhammadu Sanusi II is expected to observe his Jummaat Prayers.

Members of the public are therefore advised to ignore the false reports and misinformation circulating on social media and to go about their activities without fear of molestation or intimidation assuring that the police will continue to provide the necessary security for ensuring that residents observe their Friday congressional prayers peacefully and without threats to their lives and property, Mr Kiyawa said.

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The World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Director, Matshidiso Moeti, has called for a complete ban on public smoking and the use of e-cigarettes and vaping in every African country.

This was contained in a statement issued by the organisation on Friday to mark 2024 World No Tobacco Day, which is themed: Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference.

Mrs Moeti said African countries need to implement stringent measures to protect children from the usage of tobacco and nicotine products.

According to her, the tobacco industry is designing marketing strategies that are targeted at attracting the younger generation to smoking and nicotine addiction.

As tobacco use continues to decline among adults, the tobacco industry has diversified its arsenal to attack and subvert any strong tobacco control efforts and has been trying to grow its portfolio, adding new markets for tobacco and nicotine products. The industry uses marketing strategies for new products specially designed to appeal to youth, she said.

Some of these products are e-cigarettes, flavoured products, smokeless tobacco, snacks, and pouches. She noted that they are aggressively promoted through social media.

This shows that more efforts are still needed to stop the tobacco industrys relentless efforts to market its products to young people.

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What data says

Across the world, theres an increase in the rate of nicotine intake among young people, according to Mrs Matshidiso.

She said, globally, more than 37 million young people aged between 13 and 15 years use tobacco, while in Africa, about 7 million people between aged 13 and 15 use tobacco.

She also noted that an estimated 1.3 million people die from second-hand smoke each year.

These deaths are entirely preventable. People exposed to second-hand tobacco smoke are at risk of dying from heart disease, stroke, respiratory diseases, type 2 diabetes, and cancers.

Meanwhile, the prevalence of tobacco use among adults in the region has declined from 14.9 per cent cent 2010 to 9.5 per cent in 2023.

The 2023 WHO Global Report on Trends has shown that 22 countries in the African region are on track to achieve a 30 per cent reduction by the year 2025 relative to 2010 rates.

The regional director said: We know that young people in the region are exposed to tobacco products through extensive social media and streaming platform campaigns, as well as the use of social media influencers to promote tobacco products to the youth covertly.

This poses a significant threat to their health and well-being. We also know that the tobacco industry isnt just in the business of producing, marketing, and selling tobacco products.

It also spends considerable time and funds promoting misleading science, lobbying, and performing so-called corporate social responsibility activities. These tactics are meant to attract young people and to influence policies to favour its commercial interests over public health.

What African countries must do

As a result, Mrs Moeti has urged the countries to accelerate the implementation of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), with stringent measures on marketing new and emerging tobacco and nicotine products, particularly designed to appeal to youth.

She asked that countries apply high excise tax and price measures to reduce tobacco consumption.

She also called for the implementation of effective measures to communicate health risks through graphic health warnings to populations, including children and youth.

She said: I urge our member states in the African region to step up their efforts to protect young people from tobacco industry interference by ensuring governments honour and abide by their obligations under WHO FCTC Article 5.3 by introducing safeguards to protect tobacco-control policy from tobacco industry interference.

Counter tobacco industry tactics through evidence-based arguments and best practices with full involvement of civil society organisations.

Raise awareness among the public on the tactics of the tobacco industry; and expose industry efforts to target youth and attract generations of people with addiction through innovative approaches, including marketing new and emerging products and using flavours.

In an innovative measure to counter increasing tobacco leaf production, WHO and other UN agencies and governments have supported over 5000 tobacco farmers in Kenya and Zambia to switch to alternative crops.

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The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA), a pan-African organisation, has urged the government to raise the taxes on tobacco as part of its effort to control its use among children in the country.

The non-profit said the high tax on tobacco would increase the cost, making it unaffordable for children and, as a result, reduce intake.

The CAPPA Executive Director, Akinbode Oluwafemi, said this in a statement issued on Thursday to mark the 2024 World No Tobacco Day (WNTD).

The WNTD is themed: Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry Interference and is focused on improving the level awareness on how the tobacco industry continues to target young persons as replacements for smokers who die or quit the habit.

Speaking on this, Mr Akinbode urged the governments at all levels to intensify their efforts to enforce the National Tobacco Control Act 2015 and the National Tobacco Regulation 2019.

According to him, the enforcement of these acts would ensure the protection of children from tobacco addiction and its implications, according to the organisation.

He said: Those provisions in the Tobacco Act that are targeted at protecting the youth include the ban of tobacco advertisement sponsorship and promotion, ban on the sale of tobacco to, or by minors, and smoke-free public places, among others.

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Apart from those measures, there is also the need to raise tobacco taxes so they are priced beyond the reach of our children and the ban of the sale of tobacco products around schools and educational institutions, he added.

High number of tobacco smokers

Data from the World Health Organisation (WHO) showed that in 2022, no less than 37 million young people between 13 and 15 years will use some form of tobacco globally.

Mr Akinbode said many youths are taking to new products in the industry, including electronic cigarettes and Shisha.

With growing evidence showing that the tobacco industry deliberately targets our youths, the Nigerian government must intensify efforts for diligent enforcement of the Tobacco Act, particularly sections that protect initiation and the health of young ones, he said.

Speaking further, Mr Akinbode commended the Nigerian Films and Censors Board (NFVCB) for introducing regulations to end the subtle or overt glamorisation of tobacco and nicotine products in Nigerian movies and films.

He maintained that the regulation will help curb youth initiation in the country.

Our children should enjoy healthy screens. We applaud the censors board for this timely, public health-driven regulation, which has also been commended by a great number of practitioners in the Nigerian movie industry and will be looking forward to its effective enforcement, he said.

WHO started World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to increase understanding of the health dangers linked to tobacco use and promote measures to lower tobacco usage.

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Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has suggested a political approach to resolve the case between the federal government and the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

Atiku, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last general election, maintained that the release of the IPOB leader from detention would reduce security challenges in the South-east region.

The former vice president stated this in a statement on Friday issued to condemn the killing of soldiers in Aba, Abia State.

At least four soldiers were killed on Thursday when gunmen attacked them in Aba, the commercial hub of the state.

PREMIUM TIMES gathered that the hoodlums, numbering about 15, attacked soldiers at about 8: 00 a.m. at a military checkpoint in Obikabia Junction in the commercial city.

The gunmen were said to be enforcing a sit-at-home order declared by the IPOB across the South-east to mark Biafra Day, which is celebrated annually in the region.

Atiku, in the statement, condemned the attack on Nigerias military personnel.

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He urged relevant security agencies to track and prosecute the perpetrators.

The violence that led to the killing of soldiers and civilians in Abia State on Thursday stands condemned. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those who may have lost a loved one. May their souls rest in peace. But even more profound is the impact of yesterdays sit-at-home in the South-east region of our country on students writing WAEC examinations.

The veil of the so-called Unknown Gun Men hiding undercover to unleash death and mayhem must be lifted to ensure that criminal elements are separated from legitimate agitators.

To this end, without prejudice to the ongoing legal processes, I think the time has come to explore a political resolution to the Nnamdi Kanu and other associated issues. I believe that this will diffuse the compressor cooker situation in the region. It will be a win-win for all parties, he said.

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The United Nations Childrens Funds (UNICEF) has said it intends to support the Nigerian government with the provision of two Primary Healthcare Centres (PHC) in each ward across the country.

The Chief of Public Health UNICEF Nigeria, Eduardo Celades, disclosed this while addressing journalists at a media dialogue on Immunisation and Vaccine in Kano on Thursday.

He said this is to improve access to quality health services and the coverage of vaccination and immunisation among infants and young children in the country.

We are supporting the Federal Ministry of Health with its current plan which should be launched soon to construct at least 2 PHCs per ward, he said.

He said the goal is to get more than 16,000 fully operational health centres across the country.

We at UNICEF, as partners, are committed to supporting this effort under the guidance of the ministry, he said.

PREMIUM TIMES had earlier reported that the federal government had earmarked N260 billion to revitalise the PHCs across the country.

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According to the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Mohammad Pate, the financial injection would address several challenges faced by primary healthcare centres, including inadequate infrastructure.

Mr Eduardo said the increased functional PHCs would improve the availability of health services to the people and the immunisation and vaccination of children across the country.

We know that vaccines save lives. Now, we are celebrating 50 years since the programme of immunisation started in the world and Africa and our research has shown that the programme has saved about 154 million lives.

So we know that vaccines work. This means about 10 billion years of lives have been saved, especially against measles. Thats massive, he said.

Vaccine, immunisation hesitancy

However, the UNICEF official noted that the progress in immunisation coverage has dwindled due to the hesitance to vaccination amongst people.

Mr Edurodo said there are still a high number of children yet to be administered vaccines of any kind, the zero-dose children, across the world.

In Nigeria, he noted, more than 2 million children are yet to be administered vaccines and are exposed to different kinds of viruses.

We need to address vaccine hesitancy. The rumours, the misinformation, and disinformation. It is going to be the most limiting factor for Nigeria in the next five to 10 years for immunisation if we dont do anything, he said.

Soon, it is not going to be an issue of supply but of demand for the vaccine.

Also speaking at the event, Chisom Jeff-Obi, the chief executive director of Brook Insight, an organisation focused on promoting health and development through research, said Nigeria has a history of disruptive vaccine hesitancy which seems to be thriving further.

She said the hesitation of the population is caused by a lack of knowledge, misconception about the vaccine, negligence of the parents, poor service delivery and in some cases, poor attitude of health workers.

Ms Jeff-Obi said Nigeria has also grappled with vaccine hesitancy resulting from misinformation and loss of public confidence.

For instance, she noted, the oral polio vaccine rumour led to a boycott of polio vaccination in Northern Nigeria in 2003 and that the rumour that the military was vaccinating schoolchildren with the monkeypox virus led to vaccine refusal in the South-East in 2017.

The immunisation coverage in Nigeria is regressing, she noted, adding that; The National Immunisation Coverage Survey (NICS) revealed that only 56 per cent of the children received the third dose of the Penta vaccine.

What can be done

According to the UNICEF Chief of Field Office in Kano State, Micheal Banda, managing vaccine misinformation is crucial to combating vaccine-preventable diseases among infants and young children in the country.

He pointed out that while efforts have been made to increase awareness, disinformation remains a major opponent to improving the coverage of vaccination.

Poor knowledge and concerns about vaccine safety, side effects, and efficacy are the reasons for the lack of vaccination. Also, misinformation continues to undermine peoples confidence in vaccines, he said.

Mr Benda called for increased media coverage and more enlightenment of the population on the importance of vaccination.

Unvaccinated children are extremely vulnerable to immunisation-preventable diseases such as polio or measles and this is unacceptable, he said.

He also stated that functional PHCs that provide health services to mothers and children are crucial to improving vaccination coverage.

He said: Experiencing good and sustained economic growth which are priorities for Kano State and Nigeria as a whole depends on the adequate investment in good health.

UNICEF will continue to support the government in ensuring that quality healthcare is provided to everyone and its goal is to ensure there are PHCs.

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After the killing of five soldiers by gunmen in Abia State, former Vice-President, Atiku Abubakar, has said it is now time for a political solution to be explored for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

PREMIUM TIMES reported how masked gunmen, on Thursday morning, attacked and killed the soldiers in Obikabia Junction in Aba, the commercial hub of the Abia State.

The gunmen, who also burnt the soldiers patrol truck, were said to be enforcing the sit-at-home order declared by IPOB across the South-east to mark their Biafra Day which is celebrated annually in the region.

The Nigerian military would later vow to retaliate the killing of the soldiers.

IPOB is a group seeking to carve out a sovereign state of Biafra from South-east and some parts of the South-south of Nigeria.

Time to explore political solution

Mr Kanu, the IPOB leader, is being detained at the facility of the State Security Service (SSS) in Abuja since he was repatriated to Nigeria from Kenya in 2021.

He is facing charges of alleged terrorism at a Federal High Court in Abuja.

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Several Igbo leaders and South-east governors have repeatedly appealed to the Nigerian government to explore a political solution in order to release the IPOB leader.

The Nigerian government has ignored the appeals.

In a post on his X handle on Friday, Atiku said with the killing of the soldiers in the region, exploring the political solution for Mr Kanus release has become imperative.

Without prejudice to the ongoing legal processes, I think the time has come to explore a political resolution to the Nnamdi Kanu and other associated issues.

I believe that this will defuse the compressor cooker situation in the region. It will be a win-win for all parties, he said.

The former vice-president condemned the killing of the soldiers and said the identities of the gunmen hiding under the cover of Biafra agitation to carry out attacks must be unmasked.

He said this would ensure that criminals in the South-east were separated from legitimate agitators.

Atiku expressed worry that the impact of the sit-at-home on students sitting for West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination in the South-east would be even more profound.

Background

Mr Kanu was first arrested in 2015 under the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Court of Appeal, Abuja, on 13 October 2022, held that the IPOB leader was extraordinarily renditioned to Nigeria and that the action was a flagrant violation of the countrys extradition treaty and also a breach of his fundamental human rights.

The court, therefore, struck out the terrorism charges filed against Mr Kanu by the Nigerian government and ordered his release from the SSS facility.

But the government refused to release the IPOB leader insisting that he Kanu could be unavailable in subsequent court proceedings if released and that his release would cause insecurity in the South-east, where he comes from.

The government, through the office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, later appealed the court ruling and subsequently obtained an order staying the execution of the court judgement at the Supreme Court.

Delivering judgement on the appeal on 15 December, the Supreme Court reversed the acquittal granted to Mr Kanu by the lower court and consequently ordered continuation of his trial at the Federal High Court Abuja.

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Live updates with partial results from South Africas parliamentary polls reappeared on the electoral commissions website, following a glitch of at least two hours.

The results are closely watched amid early indications that the countrys governing African National Congress could lose its parliamentary majority for the first time in the 30 years since it assumed governance.

The electoral commissions portal was briefly blank on Friday morning, but displayed results by afternoon, according to CNBC news.

Reuters reported that the disruption was a result of a technical glitch that technicians at the results centre in Midrand, north of Johannesburg, were attending to.

The Electoral Commission confirms that it has experienced interruption in the replication of data from its national data centre and the various Results Operation Centres, the electoral umpire said in a statement.

The data in the data centre remains intact and the results have not been compromised. All services have since been restored and the leaderboard is working normally. Result processing continues unaffected.

Election Results

With more than 80 per cent of the results from the voting districts,

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the ruling African National Congress (ANC) is in the lead having gained 42 per cent of the votes. However, it is falling short of a majority.

The Democratic Alliance is second with 22 per cent.

The new party, MK, led by ex-President Jacob Zuma has done very well in his heartland of KwaZulu-Natal, the BBC reported.

Nationally the MK party has 13 per cent of the vote and is currently third overall.

To get a parliamentary majority, the ANC may need to form some sort of coalition.

The electoral commission was projecting a 70 per cent voter turnout in this election, up from 66 per cent in the last national election in 2019. The ANC won 57.5 per cent of the vote in that last election, its worst performance to date.

In a pre-election analysis, Africa News argued that this years election was seen as a direct referendum on the unbroken three-decade rule of the ANC, which freed South Africa from the apartheid regime in the famous all-race vote of 1994 but has seen a steady decrease in its popularity over the last 20 years.

Nearly 28 million people out of South Africas population of 62 million were registered to vote.

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The other element about this government is the recurrent use of lies as a governance management policy. So many things have been said that turned out false and too many achievements claims, in terms of massive amounts of foreign investments coming in from different countries, only for the said countries to subsequently deny these. Let me be clear, governance is serious business and cannot be conducted on the basis of gimmicks and lies. Reality is persistent and will continue to show itself, so the earlier this government sits up and does its work the better for it.

To distract Nigerians from the first-year poor performance in governance, the President and his cronies in the National Assembly decided to divert attention from ongoing criticisms by passing and signing the Bill on reverting to the old National Anthem. Yes, another gimmick as Nigerians complain bitterly about deepening poverty, growing hunger, rising insecurity and the general nonchalance of the governing class. The old anthem would allegedly promote peace, unity, and prosperity more effectively than the one in use. Lawmakers claimed that the current anthem, introduced during military rule, does not fully reflect Nigerias democratic values and commitment to nationhood.

The said anthem, which speaks of a native land populated by differing tribes and tongues, is the answer to the current Nigerian crisis, they want us to believe. As my good friend, Modibbo Kawu, argued, this anthem is an: Unacceptable, racist characterisation of colonised people that emerged from 19th-century colonial anthropology. What would be the relevance of having fought for independence if our lawmakers would be hankering for an empty and meaningless return to a past anthem thats steeped in a very colonial anthropological source? Dont they know? Cant they see? Are they not thinking? The sole purpose is to distract people from the non-performance of the Tinubu administration. What is even more upsetting is that Nigeria is a very young nation in which 75 per cent of the population was not born when the old anthem was in use. How can we be so crass and inconsiderate as to impose colonial phraseology on them without even introducing them to the words and finding out whether it is as pleasing to them, as it is to those of us who were born during the colonial era? We await their response.

President Tinubu avoided an assessment of his achievements after one year in office because he has none. The fact of the matter is that he does not even have a programme of action or work plan for his government. That is why we were subjected to long boring presentations by his ministers, claiming great achievements because they organised a series of meetings about grandiose ideas that will regenerate the economy and lead to trillions of naira worth of productions, without any information on what, how and when such projects would be implemented. The claims appear to have been directed at pleasing Hadiza Bala Usman, Presidents Tinubus stern monitor on performance, who would issue a report card that will determine which minister will face the sack or stay on the job.

This message is even clearer from the infamous construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which began amid a myriad of fiscal and due process irregularities. The 700-kilometre stretch of road infrastructure, which will take eight years to complete, will gulp a staggering N15 trillion. This figure is actually mythical because the project started without the contract being written, not to talk of being signed.

For me, the marker of the first year of the Tinubu presidency is the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, who admitted to a 20 December 2023 memo which shows that she requested the Accountant General of the Federation, Oluwatoyin Madein, to transfer public funds  N585.2 million  into the private account of an official in her ministry. The transfer contravened various sections of Nigerias Financial Regulations 2009, which are meant to prevent fraud and other forms of corruption. It turned out that in her first few months in office, she had simply transferred billions of naira from the Ministrys accounts into her own private accounts and those of her cronies. Thats not the story. The story was that when all hell broke loose over the extent of her crimes, she was simply suspended from office and nothing more was said about the case thereafter. In other words, the decision taken was not to make an example of her excessive corruption but to allow the matter to quietly fade from the news, in the hope that Nigerians would forget about it all. As we say it in Nigerian English, the body language of the administration is that the corrupt would not suffer. They will thrive.

This message is even clearer from the infamous construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, which began amid a myriad of fiscal and due process irregularities. The 700-kilometre stretch of road infrastructure, which will take eight years to complete, will gulp a staggering N15 trillion. This figure is actually mythical because the project started without the contract being written, not to talk of being signed. It was given to the Presidents buddy without a bidding process and the mystery about the whole affair is still unfolding and we shall learn more.

Meanwhile, the pilot phase of the construction started at the Eko Atlantic City and it will terminate at Lekki Deep Seaport, for which N1.06 trillion has already been released. It is a highway of 10 lanes, which will cost N4 billion per kilometre, and would be the first of its kind in Africa, said the Minister of Works, David Umahi. His zealousness in its implementation brooks no dissent, and sometimes it gets spiteful. The first set of victims, such as the Landmark hotel, whose properties were demolished to pave the way for the construction, have been weeping and gnashing their teeth.

In addition, why was the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) phase of the project not done before work began? We now know for sure that it was a project disaster because after construction started, the government then learnt that it was impossible to go ahead as planned because it would destroy the communication cables in the sea by the shore line. Its a very disturbing message about the future of programme implementation under the Tinubu administration.

The project did not go through a competitive bidding process, which is imperative for such a huge venture, in line with the 2007 Public Procurement Act, as enunciated in Section 16 (1) (1) and (d), to create transparency, accountability and value for money. The minister admitted that the award sidestepped the public tender competitive bidding process. This raises the question: Is the government bidding farewell to the transparency and accountability of public tenders and the competitive bidding process? In addition, why was the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) phase of the project not done before work began? We now know for sure that it was a project disaster because after construction started, the government then learnt that it was impossible to go ahead as planned because it would destroy the communication cables in the sea by the shore line. Its a very disturbing message about the future of programme implementation under the Tinubu administration.

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The other element about this government is the recurrent use of lies as a governance management policy. So many things have been said that turned out false and too many achievements claims, in terms of massive amounts of foreign investments coming in from different countries, only for the said countries to subsequently deny these. Let me be clear, governance is serious business and cannot be conducted on the basis of gimmicks and lies. Reality is persistent and will continue to show itself, so the earlier this government sits up and does its work the better for it.

A professor of Political Science and development consultant/expert, Jibrin Ibrahim is a Senior Fellow of the Centre for Democracy and Development, and Chair of the Editorial Board of PREMIUM TIMES.

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For is it not the case that a case for qualification for being remembered in this life is itself quasi-eschatological? Well, so be it: eschatology or no eschatology, you will not be forgotten, Professor Ayo Banjo. And speaking now only for myself, I know that when I think of you, when I remember that you were here, the remembrance will be accompanied by a wish to pass on the great bequest that you left me/us  as I have tried to do in this farewell tribute.

If eschatology is philosophical and theological thought and discourse(s) pertaining to the last, final things about this life and the life that will follow it after this one, it is not eschatology that is primarily on my mind as I mourn the passing of our beloved teacher and mentor, Professor Ayo Banjo. I speak of our teacher and mentor here because without presuming to speak for them, I am thinking here of so many other students of the late former Vice Chancellor of University of Ibadan with whom I have shared countless rounds of expressions of wonder and gratitude for what we received from our mentor. Among these are three bosom friends who were also students of Professor Banjo. They are Yemi Ogunbiyi, Femi Osofisan and Niyi Osundare.

I have dared to invoke their names here without asking for their permission because I am absolutely certain that like me, it is not eschatology that will primarily be on their minds as they, too, privately mourn the transition of our mentor. So, if not eschatology, then what? It is, quite simply, the life that Professor Banjo lived itself through the years and decades that we knew him and drew immeasurably from the abundance of his graciousness, generosity, kindness and good cheer. This is what, like me, I think Yemi, Femi, and Niyi will have on their minds, not eschatology. Among the four of us, Yemi is the only (still) practicing Christian or religionist. I am not sure whether, like Femi, Niyi is a lapsed Christian; all I know is that like WS, his religious and philosophical thought and sensibilities are deeply inflected with refinements of Yoruba/African animist teachings about life and existence.

If anyone reading this tribute to and in celebration of our teacher and mentor are wondering what this perambulation about eschatology is about, heres my clarification: Professor Banjo was a practicing Christian and so are many members of the Banjo family. For this reason, eschatology must be on their minds as they bid their father/grandfather/uncle/cousin farewell to eternal life with God, the Saviour and the saints. I am in profound agreement with their eschatological wishes and prayers for the eternal soul of the departed. But I simply wish to register herein that eschatology is not the only dimension through and in which we should celebrate his life: he was here and he will be remembered here on this plane of existence!

I personally used to marvel at the sheer moral and spiritual enormity of the fact that of all the men and women that I have met and known well in my life, Professor Banjo was one of two people  two people only  of or about whom I never heard anyone speak ill. Yes: only two and Professor Banjo was one of the two! And also, as I wrote in my celebration of his life when he turned 80, he was one of only THREE teachers in the course of my education from primary school level to the conclusion of my postgraduate studies whose intellectual unraveling of the mysteries, the perplexities of the most challenging moments in my education enabled me to become who and what I am today as a scholar and teacher myself. Please, I ask of all readers of this piece, with such a bequest from Professor Banjo, why would I be fixated on eschatology in my celebration of his life, why?

Most of us, most of human beings who have lived and will live in the future ahead of us will not be remembered beyond at most fifty to a hundred years after they are gone. Beyond that, only a few will be remembered, that is to say remembered in ways and terms close to how they were known, admired, respected and cherished in their lifetimes. I confess that this is as much a wish as a guesswork for my/our beloved teacher and mentor.

So therefore, it is a little, little bit of eschatology that I will invoke in my final words of peroration in celebration of his life.

Most of us, most of human beings who have lived and will live in the future ahead of us will not be remembered beyond at most fifty to a hundred years after they are gone. Beyond that, only a few will be remembered, that is to say remembered in ways and terms close to how they were known, admired, respected and cherished in their lifetimes. I confess that this is as much a wish as a guesswork for my/our beloved teacher and mentor.

Do you see, dear readers, dear fellow mourners and celebrants, why I have tried so hard to stay clear of eschatology in this tribute? No matter how much you try to steer clear from it, it sneaks back into the equation, the summation! For is it not the case that a case for qualification for being remembered in this life is itself quasi-eschatological? Well, so be it: eschatology or no eschatology, you will not be forgotten, Professor Ayo Banjo. And speaking now only for myself, I know that when I think of you, when I remember that you were here, the remembrance will be accompanied by a wish to pass on the great bequest that you left me/us  as I have tried to do in this farewell tribute.

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Biodun Jeyifo describes himself as an atheist with one foot in the agnostic equivalence of belief and unbelief and another foot in interfaith ecumenism.

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Zenith Bank Plc, on Thursday, 30th May 2024, launched a state-of-the-art digital/LED screen at Ajose Adeogun roundabout, solidifying its commitment to innovation and community engagement. The monumental digital installation, an upgrade from its previous LED screen launched in 2013 at the same location, features a resolution of 3936960 pixels compared to the previous 1024256 pixels.

Measuring 6.46.4 metres, it represents a significant investment in enhancing the urban landscape while providing a dynamic platform for advertising, information dissemination, and public engagement. Positioned strategically at one of Lagos busiest intersections, the screen will captivate audiences with high-definition visuals and dynamic content.

Speaking during the launch, the outgoing Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of Zenith Bank Plc, Ebenezer Onyeagwu, expressed his delight in the landmark digital infrastructure and lauded the efforts of Institutional Quantum for facilitating the project. He remarked, When the idea of upgrading this LED screen came up earlier this year, I was initially sceptical, believing our current standard was sufficient. However, once presented with a graphic illustration of the proposed upgrade, I had no choice but to agree, asking, How soon can we have this installed? I want to thank Quantum for their foresight and innovative spirit, which has resulted in this imposing and outstanding LED screen.

It has been about 13 years since we installed the old screen, and the transformation is remarkable. The previous screen had a resolution of 1024256 pixels, while the new one boasts 3936960 pixelsa 14-fold increase in resolution, density, and visual capabilities. The new screen offers a 3D effect, making it a live, illuminating, and exciting display that leaves a lasting impression on viewers.

He added, At Zenith, our focus is not solely on profit; we also prioritise community welfare. From its inception, Zenith has been a digitally-led organisation, a vision our Founder instilled. Our motto, People, Technology, and Service, guides our actions. Its not just about the messages we send but about the connections we create with people. This facility is captivating and enriching, creating bonds and attractions.

Bardia Olowu, a representative of Institutional Quantum, also spoke, expressing gratitude to Zenith Banks management for their unwavering support. He said, We at Institutional Quantum sincerely thank Zenith Bank, particularly Dr Ebenezer Onyeagwu, for his tremendous support over the years. We commend his innovative mindset, which consistently keeps Zenith at the forefront. We are proud to launch this 3D screen under his leadership.

Designed to seamlessly blend with the urban environment, the digital/LED screen boasts advanced technology, ensuring optimal visibility day and night, regardless of weather conditions. From vibrant advertisements to holiday greetings, the screen will serve as a dynamic platform for communication and engagement.

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Zenith Banks track record of excellent performance, especially in innovation and technology, has earned the brand numerous awards. These include being recognised as Best Bank in Nigeria for the fourth time in five years (2020 to 2022 and 2024) in the Global Finance Worlds Best Banks Awards; Best Bank for Digital Solutions in Nigeria in the Euromoney Awards 2023; Best Commercial Bank, Nigeria; and Best Innovation in Retail Banking, Nigeria in the International Banker 2022 Banking Awards.

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A retired civil servant in Niger State has expressed concerns over the failure of Governor Mohammed Bago of Niger State to fulfil some of his promises to retired civil servants in the state with respect to their retirement benefits.

The comment was against the backdrop of the governors announcement of his approval of N25 billion for the payment of pensioners in the state.

Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES correspondent, the retiree Yakubu Ibrahim, noted that the governor came into office promising that settlement of pensions and gratuities would be one of his priorities, but that the pensioners have seen nothing forthcoming.

Pensioners are dying of hunger and frustration every day. We are tired of empty promises, we want to see you in action; pay us our retirement benefits, Mr Ibrahim said.

Retirees live from hand to mouth and every day we hear empty promises. People laughed and clapped their hands but no action, by way of releasing the money, to the retirees. This is sad and very unfortunate.

Mr Ibrahim urged Governor Bago to order the immediate release of the pensions and other retirement benefits to the retirees and not just make promises to attract public applause.

He also urged the governor to investigate the pension sector, adding that many pensioners who retired as far back as 10 years have not been paid while some who retired after them have received theirs.

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As part of activities to mark his first anniversary in office, Governor Bago had on Wednesday announced the approval of the sum of N25 billion for the payment of pensions and gratuities of retired state and local government civil servants.

As part of measures to cushion the effects of economic hardship caused by the federal governments fuel subsidy removal, the governor also announced free transportation for students and medical personnel working in state government-owned health facilities.

Mr Bago stated this at the commissioning of 124 different models of vehicles to mark his first year in office.

The governor said in recognition of civil servants as critical stakeholders who actualise the policies and programmes of governments, his administration would ensure that their entitlements are adequately paid on retirement.

He also said all civil servants due for promotion would be promoted, while students and medical personnel would enjoy free transport to and from work.

Governor Bago also said the government has procured 1, 000 electric vehicles to empower the youths in line with the promotion of the green economy.

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The death toll from the 15 May attack on a mosque at Gadan, a community in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State, has risen to 21, an official has said.

Residents said they have buried at least 21 victims, mostly aged persons since the incident occurred last week.

A resident of the community, Shafiu Abubakar, had sprayed the mosque with fuel, locked worshippers inside and set it ablaze. The police initially said Mr Abubakar used a petrol bomb, but locals believed no explosive device was involved.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that one person died while on admission at the Murtala Muhammad Specialists Hospital following the incident that affected almost 40 worshippers, including children.

But more victims receiving treatments at the Murtala Muhammad Specialists Hospital in Kano have since died. On Thursday, the figure rose to 21 after four more victims died.

The Chairperson of Friends of the Hospital (a civic group), Bature Abdulaziz, told reporters about the situation on Thursday when he led some members of the Kano Business Community on a sympathy visit to the community.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who was also in the community on a sympathy visit, announced a donation of N15 million to the relatives of the victims and the community.

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Additionally, in response to the communitys request, I donated N10 million for the purchase of land to be used as a burial ground and N5 million for the injured and families of the deceased, Mr Jibrin said.

Mr Jibrin also pledged to build a modern mosque for the community.

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The Kano Emirate crisis has left district heads, council members and other senior traditional title holders in a dilemma over where to place their loyalty between the different palaces being occupied by the two men tussling for the stool of the emir of the ancient city.

Aminu Ado Bayero, who was sacked last week by the state government, and Lamido Sanusi, who was immediately reinstated to replace him, have both been holding court in the two different palaces.

While the Kano state government had directed the officials to the main emirs palace where Mr Sanusi is, Mr Ado Bayero has also been receiving some officials at the mini palace at the Nasarawa GRA. Both palaces are located inside Kano City.

Insiders told PREMIUM TIMES that some of the officials, who are old men, find the development strange and troubling. Some of them were said to be keeping out of sight, choosing instead to send representatives to both sides of the conflict to urge for calm.

Ironically, some officials whose offices have been abrogated by the repeal of the Emirate Council Law of 2019 have been paying homage to the reinstated emir as directed by the state government. Prominent among them is the Madakin Kano, Yusuf Nabahani; who was the District Head of Dawakin Tofa.

But some others have apparently decided not to take sides until the issue is resolved. For instance, the Barden Kano and former district head of Bichi, Idris Bayero, who is the elder brother to the late Emir Ado Bayero, has not been sighted in either of the two palaces, insiders said.

The officials of the four emirates dissolved by the new emirate council law, 2024 have stayed on the side of Mr Ado-Bayero.

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Hunters take charge of palace security

While Mr Ado-Bayero is guarded by federal security agents at the Nasarawa palace, his rival, local hunters armed with machetes and other locally fabricated weapons are providing security service at Gidan Rumfa, the main emirs palace where Mr Sanusi is staying.

The hunters, known locally as Yan Tauri, were drawn from across the state and deployed to the palace following a rumour of an alleged that federal authorities planned to relocate Mr Ado-Bayero to the main palace.

However, some officials at the palace said they expected more members and supporters of the ruling New Nigeria People Party (NNPP) in the city to join the local hunters there.

This reporter, on Sunday, at the main Emirs palace, eavesdropped on a discussion in which a group of officials were complaining that residents of the city had not shown solidarity to their cause.

The official lamented how a local government caretaker committee chairman refused to release feeding allowance to the hunters until some of the hunters protested against the delay.

Doctors withdraw service

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has directed its members at Hasiya Bayero Paediatric Hospital, situated opposite the emirs palace, to withdraw their services after some female health workers were attacked by hoodlums.

The notice of withdrawal was contained in a statement signed by the local branch secretary of the union, Abdulrahman Aliyu, on Tuesday.

It is with great concern and urgency that we bring to your attention the recent appalling incident that occurred at Hasiya Bayero Paediatric Hospital (HBPH) in Kano State. On the 27th of May 2024, at approximately 2:43 am, two female doctors on duty were subjected to a terrifying ordeal of assault and gun threat by unidentified individuals, including some accompanied by hospital security guards.

The doctors, who were attending to their duties diligently, were abruptly confronted by armed men who forcibly entered their call room. Despite their efforts to explain the situation, the doctors were verbally abused, threatened, and even had a gun pointed at them.

READ ALSO: Death toll rises to 21 in Kano mosque explosion as deputy senate president announces support

This harrowing experience lasted for nearly an hour, with no assistance forthcoming from hospital management or external authorities. This incident is not isolated; it reflects a distressing pattern of violence and harassment against healthcare professionals within the facilities in the state. Despite previous complaints and pleas for enhanced security measures, our concerns have been largely ignored. The safety and well-being of medical personnel at HBPH are not adequately prioritised.

In light of these grave circumstances, we deemed it necessary to withdraw our members from HBPH effective immediately until their safety and security is guaranteed. We cannot continue to risk the lives of our members while enduring such hostile working conditions without assurance of protection, the NMA said in the statement.

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The police in Delta State say they have recovered weapons from suspected kidnappers in Agbarho Community, Ughelli North Local Government Area of the state.

Bright Edafe, the police spokesperson in the state, told reporters on Friday in Warri, that the police have launched a manhunt for the fleeing suspects.

He said that the weapons were recovered on Thursday by police operatives attached to the Agbarho division, following an intelligence report.

Mr Edafe, a superintendent of police, identified the weapons as three AK-49 rifles, two AK-47 rifles, and 207 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition.

The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Agbarho Division, CSP Josephine Ekebuike led police operatives into the bush on Thursday.

The operation followed an intelligence report by a concerned vigilante member, on the hideout of some suspected kidnappers that have been terrorising Ughelli, Agbarho, Warri, Sapele and environs in the bush, at Uwurghelli village by the rail tracks.

They cordoned off the entire area and carried out an intensive search, during which hidden sacks were sighted in the bush.

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Upon searching the bags, three AK-49 rifles, two AK-47 rifles, and 207 rounds of 7.62mm live ammunition were recovered, he said.

Mr Edafe said the Commissioner of Police in the state, Abaniwonda Olufemi while commending the DPO and the gallant operatives, urged the public to continue to partner the police by providing useful information about crimes and criminals.

He quoted the police commissioner as assuring the residents of the police readiness to act promptly on information received that could aid in the fight against crime.

The commissioner, according to the police spokesperson, warned residents to shun unlawful activities, declaring that he would leave no stone unturned in flushing out criminals from the state.

(NAN)

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Nazrin Abdul

AIQ, a frontrunner in AI technologies for the energy sector, debuts as the gold sponsor of the Baku Energy Week, featuring the renowned Caspian Oil and Gas Exhibition, the Caspian International Energy and Green Energy Exhibition, and the prestigious Baku Energy Foruma pinnacle event in the global energy industry.

According to Azernews, from June 4 to 6, AIQ will unveil its latest innovations at the Caspian Oil and Gas conference, offering interactive platforms and presentations to demonstrate the practical application of IT technologies in the energy domain.

At the forum, AIQ will elucidate how IT technologies can optimize energy transition initiatives, showcasing a suite of advanced solutions tailored to enhance operational efficiency, safety protocols, environmental protection, and carbon emissions reduction.

Over its three-year tenure, AIQ has developed more than 20 cutting-edge products, three of which will take center stage at the Baku event:

RoboWell: The world's pioneering autonomous solution for gas lift well management, boasting self-regulating capabilities to maximize production efficiency by up to 30%, facilitating a potential 5% increase in good production.

AR360: A data-driven intelligent reservoir management solution offering a comprehensive 360 view of reservoirs. This innovation integrates subsurface data into a single system, leveraging AI and automation to optimize field development plans, extending active well service life by 20% and reducing drilling costs by 5-10%.

SMARTi: Designed to bolster safety and labor protection in industrial settings, SMARTi utilizes AI analysis of video surveillance data for intelligent monitoring, incident detection, and safety rule enforcement. With over 90% accuracy in identifying violations and events, SMARTi enhances industrial safety protocols significantly.

AIQ's participation in the Baku Forum signals a strategic shift following its acquisition by Presight (ADX: Presight), a UAE-based big data analytics and AI technology company. This move aims to broaden market reach and expand the client base.

Headquartered in Abu Dhabi, AIQ aligns with the UAE's ambitious goals to lead in AI by 2031. The company's solutions drive productivity, efficiency, safety, and sustainability in industrial operations.

As an active advocate for the UAE's AI aspirations, AIQ contributes to Abu Dhabi's AI ecosystem, spearheading technological innovation and sustainable development in the energy sector.

For more information, visit: https://aiqintelligence.ae/
With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information.

Spy shots of BYDs FANGCHENGBAO BAO 3 released

Ms. Xiong Tianbo, general manager of BYDs FANGCHENGBAO business division, released on Weibo the official spy shots of the highly-anticipated BAO 3 SUV.

Photo credit: Weibo@Xiong_Tianbo

Li Auto rolls off 20,000th unit Li L6 SUV

On May 31, 2024, the 20,000th unit of Li Autos Li L6 five-seat family SUV rolled off the production line. The production capacity of the Li L6 is steadily increasing and is expected to surpass 20,000 units next month.

VOYAH FREE 318s pre-sale orders reach 8,637 units in 24 hours

On May 31, VOYAH announced that pre-sale orders for the new FREE 318 SUV reached 8,637 units within 24 hours since commencement. The pre-sale period for the VOYAH FREE 318 began on May 30 and will continue until June 14.

Geely launches Galaxy Flyme Auto smart cockpit system

On May 30, Geely Automobile unveiled the Galaxy Flyme Auto smart cockpit system, co-developed with DreamSmart. Alongside this, Geely introduced the industry's first AI smart audio system, Flyme Sound. Both systems will be integrated into Geely's Galaxy new energy vehicle range, with customization based on different model requirements.

KargoBot receives Tianjin's first L4 autonomous truck road test permit

Recently, KargoBot, the autonomous trucking solution developer backed by DiDi, received Tianjin city's first "Intelligent Connected Vehicle Road Test Permit" for L4 autonomous trucks.

NETA to make foray into Brazilian market in H2 2024

Chinese new energy vehicle maker NETA Auto recently held its first press conference in Brazil, officially kicking off the countdown to the launch of its models in the Brazilian market, the company announced on May 31 via its WeChat account.

SAIC Volkswagens Tiguan L PRO hits market with enhanced intelligent features

On May 30th, SAIC Volkswagen officially put the fire new Tiguan L PRO onto the market. The new SUV is available in six trim levels, with prices ranging from 236,800 to 266,800 yuan. A limited-time offer includes a 20,000-yuan purchase tax reduction and a worry-free trade-in policy at 80% of the original value within three years.

BYD inaugurates first store in Saudi Arabia

On May 28th local time, BYD celebrated the grand opening of its first store in Saudi Arabia, which is located the countrys capital city, Riyadh, according to BYD's press release.

GAC AION opens second flagship store in Hong Kong, China

On May 30th, GAC AION celebrated the grand opening of its own-brand store in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, according to a post on its WeChat account. This is AION's second flagship store in Hong Kong, following the opening of the Kowloon store.

Renault, Geely announce foundation of HORSE Powertrain Limited



Shanghai Following the signing of a joint venture agreement on July 11, 2023, and receiving prior approval from relevant regulatory authorities, Renault Group, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, and Geely Automobile Holdings Limited (collectively referred to as "Geely") have officially established HORSE Powertrain Limited, which is headquartered in London, UK, Renault Group announced on May 31.
For the start of Pride month in June, the ACS report highlights critical issues concerning cancer prevention, treatment and care for this population

ATLANTA, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a first-of-its-kind study, the American Cancer Society (ACS) today released "Cancer in People who Identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Gender-nonconforming (LGBTQ+)". The article provides the latest statistics on the prevalence of cancer screening and modifiable risk factors in LGBTQ+ populations, as well as a review of literature on cancer occurrence and obstacles to cancer prevention and treatment. These important findings are published in the journal Cancer, alongside its consumer-friendly companion, Cancer Facts & Figures 2024 Special Section: Cancer in People Who Identify as LGBTQ+.

Perhaps the greatest health disparity faced by LGBTQ+ communities is the presumption-of-care gap, which is the fear that a provider will refuse care due to gender identity or sexual orientation. The concern is especially valid for the 20% of this population who reside in the nine states where it is legal to refuse care to LGBTQ+ individuals due to "conscience clauses" that allow healthcare providers, staff and insurers to deny care and services based on personal and religious beliefs.

"One of the biggest take-aways from our report is that LGBTQ+ people are probably at higher risk for cancer, yet experience multiple barriers to high-quality healthcare access like discrimination and shortfalls in provider knowledge of their unique medical needs," said Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director, cancer surveillance at the American Cancer Society and senior author of the study. "Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to prevent and detect cancer early, which is why it's so important to remove these roadblocks for this population."

LGBTQ+ individuals in the United States have elevated prevalence of smoking, excess body weight, and other factors that increase cancer risk. For example, bisexual women are twice as likely as heterosexual women to smoke cigarettes (23% versus 10%) and drink heavily (14% versus 6%). "Minority stress" is a likely contributor to behaviors like smoking that increase cancer risk according to other studies. Although these findings suggest cancer disparities, cancer incidence and mortality for this population are not available because sexual orientation and gender identity are not routinely collected in healthcare settings, despite the community's willingness to report this information.

"We are very proud of this report," said Tyler Kratzer, associate scientist II, cancer surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the study. "It is meant to facilitate critical conversations around the need to improve the routine collection of sexual orientation and gender identity data at all levels of healthcare."

For the study, researchers examined prevalence of risk factors across the U.S. based on the National Health Interview Survey (for information on sexual orientation) and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (for gender identity), which are both collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Other highlights from the report include:

Excess body weight appears to be elevated among bisexual women according to one national survey, although the gold-standard source for this metric that includes an in-person physical exam  the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey  does not collect data on sexual orientation or gender identity.





The prevalence of cancer-causing infections, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), human papillomavirus (HPV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are considerably higher in some LGBTQ+ population groups. According to the CDC, for example, 70% of HIV infections are attributed to male-to-male sexual contact (versus 22% to heterosexual contact and 7% to injection drug use). HIV-infected individuals are at a higher risk for at least 10 cancers.





Screening for some cancers is low among transgender people; for example, 46% of transgender men are up-to-date on colorectal cancer screening compared to 60% of cisgender men and 68% of transgender men with a cervix are current for cervical cancer screening compared to 87% of cisgender women.





Only 25% of medical students are confident in the healthcare needs of transgender patients and 30% are not comfortable treating transgender patients according to one study.

"All people should have a fair and just opportunity to live a longer, healthier life free from cancer," said Lisa A. Lacasse, president of ACS' advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). "As part of our mission to advocate for public policies that reduce the cancer burden for everyone, ACS CAN urges policymakers and lawmakers to prioritize policies that address the serious challenges and barriers to comprehensive access to health care that LGBTQ+ people experience. Importantly, passing laws that facilitate and increase the appropriate collection of sexual orientation and gender identity data is crucial to better understanding cancer disparities and to ultimately improving health outcomes.

Other ACS researchers participating in the report include Dr. Ahmedin Jemal, Jessica Star, Dr. Farhad Islami, Dr. Priti Bandi, and Angela Giaquinto.

About the American Cancer Society

The American Cancer Society is a leading cancer-fighting organization with a vision to end cancer as we know it, for everyone. For more than 110 years, we have been improving the lives of people with cancer and their families as the only organization combating cancer through advocacy, research, and patient support. We are committed to ensuring everyone has an opportunity to prevent, detect, treat, and survive cancer. To learn more, visit cancer.org or call our 24/7 helpline at 1-800-227-2345. Connect with us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.

SOURCE American Cancer Society
CHICAGO, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Illinois chapter of American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to individuals affected by suicide. Throughout June, the chapter will be hosting a variety of educational programs and participating in Pride events to raise awareness about suicide prevention and provide resources to those in need.

"As we head into June, we are excited to offer a variety of activities aimed at raising awareness about suicide prevention and providing resources to those in need," said Angela Cummings, executive director of AFSP-IL. "From educational programs to our presence at Pride events, we're committed to reaching diverse communities and encouraging open conversations about mental health. By working together, we can help save lives and build a more supportive world for everyone."

Educational Programs:

June 1st : Northwestern University Campus Walk (http://www.afsp.org/northwestern)

Northwestern University Campus Walk (http://www.afsp.org/northwestern) June 8th : Soul Shop for Black Churches ( https://il-ssbc24.attendease.com/ )

Soul Shop for Black Churches ( ) June 14-15 : Suicide Bereavement Support Group Facilitator Training (https://ilsgft2024.attendease.com/)

: Suicide Bereavement Support Group Facilitator Training (https://ilsgft2024.attendease.com/) June 18 th : Virtual Research Connection (https://springrc24.attendease.com/)

Virtual Research Connection (https://springrc24.attendease.com/) June 26th : Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to Suicide Prevention in the LGBTQ Community (https://2024-tsl-lgbtq.attendease.com/)

Pride Events:

June 8th : AFSP Illinois Booth at Lake County Pridefest ( https://lgbtqlc.com/lake-county-pridefest-2024/ )

AFSP Illinois Booth at Lake County Pridefest ( ) June 9th : AFSP Illinois Booth at Aurora Pride ( https://www.aurorapride.org/ )

AFSP Illinois Booth at Aurora Pride ( ) June 22nd & 23rd: AFSP Booth at Chicago Pridefest ( https://northalsted.com/main-events/chicago-pride-fest/ )

Suicide Prevention Resources

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. In 2022 The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports that 1,533 Illinois residents died by suicide, or 11.7 deaths for every 100,000 members of the population. AFSP Illinois emphasizes the importance of knowing the warning signs of suicide and reaching out to those who may be struggling.

Learn the signs of someone who may be at risk for suicide. Often there are changes in behavior such as mood swings, angry outbursts, or loss of interest in activities they love.

Often there are changes in behavior such as mood swings, angry outbursts, or loss of interest in activities they love. Reach out to someone who you think may be struggling . Trust your gut if you are concerned. Ask directly if they have thoughts of ending their life  research shows this is helpful and does not put the thought in their mind.

. Trust your gut if you are concerned. Ask directly if they have thoughts of ending their life  research shows this is helpful and does not put the thought in their mind. Suicide Prevention Resources: https://afsp.org/suicide-prevention-resources

Suicide Warning Signs: afsp.org/signs

Media: Reporting on Suicide Prevention: https://afsp.org/reporting-on-suicide-prevention

PSAs: https://talkawaythedark.afsp.org

Connect with those who are struggling to help. Share the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline as well as general and other resources for minority communities

AFSP and its Illinois chapter are dedicated to improved research, education, and advocacy. Through its statewide network of volunteers, AFSP Illinois offers prevention education programs that emphasize the importance of research-proven self-care techniques as well as the value of engaging professional support.

If you or someone you know is at risk of suicide, please call or text 988 for the Suicide Crisis Lifeline. Or text TALK to 741741 or go to https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org / .

About the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:

Ame rican Foundation for Suicide P revention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to individuals affected by suicide. The organization creates a culture that is smart regarding mental health through educational programs, advocation for suicide prevention, and providing support for those affected by suicide. All donations go towards these efforts with the goal of greatly reducing the national suicide rate. For more: https://afsp.org/chapter/illinois

SOURCE American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Five $10,000 grants awarded to schools to advance the massage therapy profession

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. and EVANSTON, Ill., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA), today announced the winners from the third round of massage school grants funded by Massage Envy to support the future of the massage therapy profession. AMTA is the largest non-profit, professional association serving massage therapists, massage students and massage schools. Massage Envy is the nation's No. 1 provider of massage in the U.S. collectively across its franchise network and a national leader in skincare.

Five $10,000 grants, funded by Massage Envy, will be awarded to the following schools to help institutions attract, train and graduate future generations of highly qualified massage therapists:

American Academy of Massage & Wellness

International School of Skin, Nailcare & Massage Therapy

Laurel School of Massage

of Massage National Holistic Institute-Ontario Campus

Parker University

"Congratulations to the latest round of AMTA grant winners!" said Todd Schrader, Massage Envy CEO. "Massage Envy is thrilled to be able to support the next generation of massage therapists and provide resources to the institutions that educate them."

"AMTA is proud to continue to collaborate with Massage Envy on these school grants to help advance massage therapy education," said Kim Kane-Santos, AMTA President. "Supporting our massage schools is vital to developing new massage therapists who will make a positive impact on the profession."

Massage Envy does not sponsor or administer the grant program, and Massage Envy is not affiliated with and does not endorse any massage school, including those receiving the grants.

About Massage Envy

Massage Envy, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, is a national franchisor and does not independently own or operate any of the Massage Envy franchised locations nationwide. The Massage Envy franchise network, through its franchise locations, is the leading provider of massage services. Founded in 2002, Massage Envy has approximately 1,100 franchise locations in 49 states that have together delivered more than 200 million massages and skin care services. For more information, visit www.massageenvy.com or follow @MassageEnvy on Instagram, X and Facebook.

About The American Massage Therapy Association

The American Massage Therapy Association, the most trusted name in massage therapy, is the largest non-profit, professional association serving massage therapists, massage students and massage schools. The association is directed by volunteer leadership and fosters ongoing, direct member-involvement through its 51 chapters. AMTA works to advance the profession through ethics and standards, the promotion of fair and consistent licensing of massage therapists in all states, and public education on the benefits of massage. To find a qualified massage therapist in your area, please visit AMTA's Massage Therapist Locator Service.

SOURCE Massage Envy
Cradled between a labyrinth of wild forests and the glittering coasts of the Flores Sea, TA'AKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa invites guests to immerse in the rich culture and breathtaking seascapes of Labuan Bajo

Download images here

LABUAN BAJO, Indonesia, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The Luxury Collection, part of Marriott Bonvoy's global portfolio of over 30 extraordinary hotel brands, today announces the opening of TA'AKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Labuan Bajo in one of Indonesia's most scenic and distinctive leisure destinations. The waterfront property, Marriott International's first in Labuan Bajo and The Luxury Collection's second property in Indonesia, is nestled between a canopy of surrounding wild forests and the beauty of the Flores Sea.

TAAKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Labuan Bajo

Located in the heart of Labuan Bajo, the resort serves as a gateway to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Komodo National Park and is just steps away from an array of cultural attractions such as Mirror Stone Cave, Rumah Tenun, Melo Village, and more. Short direct flights from Jakarta and Bali to Komodo International Airport, followed by a convenient 10-minute drive to TA'AKTANA, ensure seamless connectivity and easy access for discerning travelers.

"TA'AKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Labuan Bajo, marks a significant landmark as not only the first property in East Nusa Tenggara for The Luxury Collection brand, but also the first for the Marriott International portfolio at large," says Philipp Weghmann, Vice President and Global Brand Leader, The Luxury Collection. "As we continue our global foray into the resort category, TA'AKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Labuan Bajo is a natural and stunning fit. The Luxury Collection provides today's global travelers with rare experiences that are deeply reflective of the destination, and through that lens we invite guests to discover the beauty and vibrant history of Labuan Bajo."

Generously spread across 16 hectares and designed by ANP Interiors, TA'AKTANA features 70 guest rooms including 25 villas and 45 suites that boast outdoor balconies with sweeping views of breathtaking sunsets. Seven overwater villas offer unrivaled luxury and tranquility, celebrating the Indonesian Sea Nomads' way of life. Known for living on handcrafted longboats, the curved interiors masterfully capture the cultural significance with handcrafted wood finishings, rich textures, and airy layouts to celebrate the natural surroundings. Guest rooms also feature elegant furniture and artwork that reflect the region's indigenous crafts. Those staying in a villa have access to a dedicated 24-hour butler, ensuring that every aspect of their stay is perfectly tailored to their preferences and needs.

"We are proud to introduce TA'AKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Labuan Bajo as the latest addition to our portfolio," says Ramesh Jackson, Area Vice President at Marriott International, Indonesia & Malaysia. "This marks a noteworthy milestone for Marriott International as we extend our presence into the captivating landscapes of Labuan Bajo. We invite travelers to explore and connect with the soul of Flores island, where luxury seamlessly intertwines with the rich cultural treasures of this captivating destination."

The name "TA'AKTANA", meaning green land, is derived from the Manggarai language of Flores island and is an ode to Lingko Field, distinctive web shaped rice fields that serve as a cherished part of traditional Manggarai culture. Remaining true to its roots, the hotel embodies the destination's history, culture, and indigenous traditions, offering global explorers unique and authentic experiences of Labuan Bajo.

TA'AKTANA invites guests to discover Labuan Bajo's rich epicurean traditions with three distinctive restaurants, a lounge and bar, which authentically showcase the styles and presentations of the region's cuisine. Leros is the hotel's all-day dining restaurant serving a curated menu influenced by Indonesia's vast archipelago. Umasa features an authentic Indonesian culinary experience, served family-style, using products of local provenance. Taba, a Robata grill, specializes in carefully-sourced ingredients from the archipelago, prepared with Japanese techniques and finesse. Nera Lounge enchants guests with captivating sunset views while they savour a variety of tapas and an array of beverages, including crafted cocktails, coffee, and tea. Unwind at Maiga!, a vibrant bar with panoramic sea views, providing an innovative selection of re-interpreted quintessential drinks & snacks.

Guests can enjoy an invigorating workout in an exclusive Fitness Center, and for the ultimate indulgence, the hotel's Di'a Spa invites guests to be immersed in a serene sanctuary inspired by the mystical caves of Labuan Bajo. Featuring six private treatment rooms, a steam room, plunge pool and more, the spa invites guests to rejuvenate and reconnect with Mother Nature. With the resort's stunning design providing the perfect backdrop, TA'AKTANA is poised to welcome all occasions, from business meetings with two spaces to choose from, to weddings with an oceanfront chapel.

"It is an honor to welcome guests to our haven in Labuan Bajo," says Peter-Paul Kleiss, Resort Manager of TA'AKTANA, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa, Labuan Bajo. "Our resort is not just a destination; it's a journey into the heart of Labuan Bajo's heritage and breathtaking landscapes. The property is a testament to our commitment to providing a unique and authentic guest experience, where luxury meets tradition. I am excited to lead our dedicated team in ensuring that every guest discovers the magic of TA'AKTANA, delivering unparalleled experiences in this extraordinary corner of Indonesia."

For more information and reservations, please click here.

About The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts

The Luxury Collection is comprised of world-renowned hotels and resorts offering unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. For the global explorer, The Luxury Collection offers a gateway to the world's most exciting and desirable destinations. Each hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination's charms and treasures. Originated in 1906 under the CIGA brand as a collection of Europe's most celebrated and iconic properties, today The Luxury Collection brand is a glittering ensemble of over 110 of the world's finest hotels and resorts in 40 countries and territories. All of these hotels, many of them centuries old, are internationally recognized as being among the world's finest. For more information and new openings, visit theluxurycollection.com or follow Instagram and Facebook. The Luxury Collection is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit marriottbonvoy.com.

About Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy's extraordinary portfolio offers renowned hospitality in the most memorable destinations in the world, with more than 30 brands that are tailored to every type of journey. From The Ritz-Carlton and St. Regis to W Hotels and more, Marriott Bonvoy has more luxury offerings than any other travel program. Members can earn points for stays at hotels and resorts, including all-inclusive resorts and premium home rentals, and through everyday purchases with co-branded credit cards. Members can redeem their points for experiences including future stays, Marriott Bonvoy Moments, or through partners for luxurious products from Marriott Bonvoy Boutiques. To enroll for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit marriottbonvoy.com.

SOURCE Marriott International, Inc.
BOERNE, Texas, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Grossman Law Offices, with its principal office in Dallas, TX, reports on an accident that occurred on April 29, 2024, around 7:15 a.m. on Interstate 10 in Kendall County, TX . An Arizona woman lost her life in a truck versus pedestrian accident.

Details About the Kendall County Truck Accident:

The incident happened near the on-ramp to I-10. According to authorities, a 46-year-old woman from Phoenix, AZ, was on foot, apparently assisting or involved in previous crashes during foggy conditions. As the woman and others were at the scene, a semi-truck allegedly made faulty evasive maneuvers trying to avoid the previous crashes. The truck veered into the median, striking the Arizona woman and resulting in her death. There were no other reported injuries.

Following initial investigations, authorities believe that the truck had issues with its brakes prior to the incident. No other information is available at this time.

Related Reading: The Media Is Missing Serious Accidents: What Is to Be Done?

About Grossman Law Offices:

Grossman Law Offices is a Texas-based personal injury and wrongful death firm with a commitment to educating the public about road safety awareness. For more than 30 years, their firm has highlighted crashes that don't make the news.

For More Information:

For additional details about this incident or to learn more about Grossman Law Office's public outreach and educational initiatives, please visit our website at Grossman Law Offices or contact us at 866-513-3847 .

SOURCE Grossman Law Office, P.C.
Beijing (Gasgoo)- On May 31, Xiaomi EV announced that the OTA 1.2.0 update for the Xiaomi SU7 sedan will be rolled out starting June 6. This update will introduce urban NOA (Navigate on Autopilot) in ten cities and support the integration of more Mi Home devices, enhancing the overall smart ecosystem experience between Xiaomis vehicles, homes, and users.

Photo credit: Xiaomi

The new urban NOA feature will be available to SU7 users who meet the "smart driving safety distance" criteria. The criteria refer to the distance driven with minimal dangerous driving behavior. Xiaomi EV will prioritize the rollout of this feature to users who have accumulated 1,000 kilometers of safe smart driving distance by May 31, 2024.

Eligible users in the core areas of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Chengdu, Xi'an, Nanjing, and Suzhou cities will be able to utilize the urban NOA on major roads.

Smart driving is a key focus for Xiaomi EV. Previously, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun stated that the company's goal is to become a leading player in the smart driving sector by 2024. In Xiaomi's Q1 2024 earnings call, Xiaomi Groups President Lu Weibing emphasized the company's commitment to investing in autonomous driving, with a budget of approximately 1.5 billion yuan for this year. The total investment for the first phase is projected to reach 4.7 billion yuan. Xiaomi's smart driving team currently exceeds 1,000 members, with plans to expand to 1,500 by the end of the year and to 2,000 by 2025.
LONDON, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- In a bold and transformative move, BEYOUROWN is now welcoming both men and women into its prestigious Inner Circle. This change marks a significant step towards fostering a more inclusive and collaborative environment for business leaders across diverse industries. Founded by Forbes-honored entrepreneur Samanah Duran in 2016, BEYOUROWN has been a beacon of empowerment for women entrepreneurs. Now, with this new initiative, the Inner Circle is set to redefine the landscape of elite professional networking and support.

Since its inception in 2016, BEYOUROWN has been dedicated to empowering women entrepreneurs by providing them with unparalleled networking opportunities, business insights, and a supportive community. By extending membership to men who able to invest and consult, the Inner Circle aims to create a more dynamic and inclusive environment where high achievers from all backgrounds can connect, collaborate, and thrive together.

"We believe that true innovation and progress come from diverse perspectives and inclusive collaboration," says Samanah Duran, founder of BEYOUROWN. "By welcoming both men and women into our private network- the Inner Circle, we are expanding our community's potential and opening up new avenues for growth and success to support women even more so."

The BEYOUROWN Inner Circle caters to elite professionals and founders across a variety of industries, including STEM, Finance, Retail, Hospitality, Sports, Wellness, PR and Media. Members benefit from exclusive access to high-end networking events, tailored business support, and opportunities for personal and professional growth within a curated community of like-minded individuals.

About BEYOUROWN

BEYOUROWN was founded by Samanah Duran, an entrepreneur recognized by Forbes for her contributions to the business world. The organization has grown into a leading platform that supports and empowers entrepreneurs through the BEYOUROWN brand and its various initiatives, including the Inner Circle Private Members Club.

For more information or to apply for membership, please visit BEYOUROWN Inner Circle.

SOURCE BEYOUROWN
Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) testing for minimal residual disease (MRD) can reduce costs by up to 21% across health plan populations when half of eligible patients with stage II colorectal cancer are tested for treatment decisions

SECAUCUS, N.J. and BALTIMORE, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- A blood test could help reduce costs for health plans by reliably identifying patients who might be able to safely forgo chemotherapy after surgery for stage II colorectal cancer, according to a study published today in JAMA Health Forum, a member of the JAMA Network. Researchers from Haystack Oncology, a Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) company and developer of the Haystack MRD tumor-informed ctDNA MRD technology, City of Hope and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research conducted the study.

The analysis is the first of its kind published in a peer-reviewed journal to demonstrate the potential of circulating tumor DNA minimal residual disease (ctDNA MRD) tests to help reduce costs of adjuvant chemotherapy to U.S. health plans without compromising recurrence-free survival in patients with colorectal cancer.

ctDNA MRD tests are highly advanced blood or "liquid biopsy" tests that help identify early evidence of residual or recurrent cancer after surgical removal of a solid tumor.

"This study provides compelling evidence that health plans can reimburse for ctDNA MRD testing with neutral affect to their budgets while also gaining clinical insights into disease risk that other routine tests may not provide," said Afsaneh Barzi, MD, PhD, senior author of the study and a medical oncologist at Duarte Cancer Center in Duarte, California, specializing in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers.

"We hope this latest data gives healthcare policy makers greater confidence to adopt tumor-informed ctDNA MRD testing as an economically and clinically valuable facet of colorectal cancer care," said co-author Jeanne Tie, MBChB, FRACP, MD, Medical Oncology Lead for the Lower Gastrointestinal tumor stream at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre and a senior research fellow within the division of personalized oncology at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute.

Building Evidence from the DYNAMIC Trial

In June 2022, a randomized clinical trial (DYNAMIC) demonstrated that a tumor-informed ctDNA MRD test performed on patients with stage II colorectal cancer reduced the application of adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) by nearly half (15% vs. 28%) without compromising recurrence-free survival. While many patients can safely forgo ACT, physicians cannot reliably identify these patients with conventional pathological and clinical metrics. This information could help reduce the administration of ACT, thus decreasing the risk of adverse events and the related costs ($44,022 to $65,792 per patient). Results from the DYNAMIC study demonstrate that post-surgical evaluation with an appropriate ctDNA MRD test can significantly improve the identification of patients that stand to benefit from ACT.

"The DYNAMIC trial showed that testing with an appropriate tumor-informed ctDNA MRD approach more precisely identifies patients that stand to benefit from ACT," said Dan Edelstein, general manager and co-founder, Haystack Oncology. "This new study shows that the value of this new ctDNA information can help guide clinicians to make a more informed decision around ACT that benefits not only the individual patient but can also deliver broad economic benefit."

The Haystack ctDNA MRD technology is a highly optimized version of the Safe-SeqS chemistry used in the DYNAMIC study.

In the new analysis, hypothetical health plans with 1 million covered lives included 35 commercial health plan members and 102 Medicare Advantage members aged 75 years of age or younger with stage II colon cancer who were eligible for ctDNA MRD testing. The analysis compared standard clinical evaluation to a hypothetical treatment model in which 50% of patients are managed with tumor-informed ctDNA MRD testing.

Among the study's key findings:

ctDNA MRD testing would reduce costs by 21% (1,068,040 vs. 846,356, a savings of $221,684 in total or $0.018 per member per month [PMPM]) for a commercial plan population and by 5% (2,550,029 vs. 2,433,309, a savings of $116,720 in total or $0.01 PMPM) for a Medicare Advantage plan population. Differences in cost savings between commercial and Medicare plans are related to differences in average age of plan members and associated clinical practice patterns.

in total or per member per month [PMPM]) for a commercial plan population and by 5% (2,550,029 vs. 2,433,309, a savings of in total or PMPM) for a Medicare Advantage plan population. Differences in cost savings between commercial and Medicare plans are related to differences in average age of plan members and associated clinical practice patterns. Using ctDNA MRD for greater than 50% of patients would produce even higher cost savings.

The number-needed-to-test to avoid ACT use in one patient was estimated to be 4 in the commercial health plan population and 10 in the Medicare Advantage population.

The budget-neutral cost for ctDNA testing was $16,202 for a commercial health plan and $5,793 for a Medicare Advantage payer. While the base-case model assumed 6 months of ACT, savings were also observed for a more conservative 3 months of therapy.

"The absolute reduction in ACT use in ctDNA-guided treatment vs. standard clinical evaluation-based treatment is expected to be the most significant factor affecting budget, based on our analysis," said lead author Yonghong Li, PhD, Director, Science and R&D, Quest Diagnostics. "If more than 50% of patients who are eligible are tested, cost savings may even be higher."

The analysis had several limitations, including lack of consideration for the costs of potential disease recurrence and mortality and uncertainty of actual ACT use rate in ctDNA-guided treatment in real-world clinical practice. Strengths included that the budget impact analysis was based on a landmark clinical trial showing the clinical utility of ctDNA testing in colon cancer and that model parameters were derived from large studies and claims in the U.S. population. This analysis provides a model where payers can input parameters observed in their health plans to estimate potential budget impact.

Quest acquired Haystack Oncology in June 2023, adding the best-in-class Haystack MRD tumor-informed ctDNA MRD test to its portfolio of oncology services. Quest Diagnostics and Haystack Oncology will also be exhibiting at this year's American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) meeting in Chicago, IL, at booth #35145.

Colorectal cancer is among the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United States. In 2023, an estimated 106,970 individuals were projected to be diagnosed with the disease, with up to 25% having stage II disease and 52,550 individuals succumbing to disease.1

About Haystack Oncology

Haystack Oncology represents the culmination of over 20 years of collaboration to advance technical and clinical development in liquid biopsy technologies by cancer genomics pioneers at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. The company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics, developed Haystack MRD, a next generation tumor-informed approach for the measurement of minimal residual disease. Haystack MRD uses an error-corrected ctDNA technology to detect down to one ctDNA molecule in a million normal DNA molecules. Haystack Oncology works with biopharmaceutical companies to accelerate and better inform clinical development programs and advance important therapeutics to global markets, from early phase clinical development to companion diagnostics.

Haystack MRD was developed and validated in a CLIA-certified laboratory and is available for testing in clinical research in laboratories located in Baltimore, Maryland; Hamburg, Germany; and Helsinki, Finland. Quest Diagnostics is now offering the test to select providers through an early experience program and plans to launch a clinical version of the Haystack MRD test broadly in the U.S. later this year. Learn more at haystackmrd.com.

About Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics works across the healthcare ecosystem to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We provide diagnostic insights from the results of our laboratory testing to empower people, physicians and organizations to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from one of the world's largest databases of de-identifiable clinical lab results, Quest's diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our nearly 50,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives and create a healthier world. www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

1 https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3322/caac.21772

SOURCE Quest Diagnostics
ANCHORAGE, Alaska, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Aleutian Airways, operated by Sterling Airways, is excited to announce a new way to purchase flights to Aleutian destinations, and earn Alaska Airlines miles in the process. The new partnership between Aleutian Airways and Alaska Airlines allows guests that are Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members to earn Alaska Airlines miles when traveling across the Aleutian Airways network, when they book their flights directly on AlaskaAir.com.

Aleutian Airways has expanded from its modest start of serving the Anchorage to Dutch Harbor route, adding service to Cold Bay, Sand Point, King Salmon, and Homer over the past year. Utilizing a fleet of Saab 2000 aircraft, the airline has built a reputation of providing safe, reliable, and efficient travel to the communities it serves. Voted Alaska's best new startup last summer by Alaska Business Magazine, Aleutian has quickly become known for its exemplary customer service.

"We are honored and thrilled to partner with Alaska Airlines," said Wayne Heller, President & CEO of Aleutian Airways. "This achievement wouldn't have been possible without the dedication and commitment to excellence by our outstanding team members who support our operation and serve our guests."

"Partnering with Aleutian Airways is a great way for Alaskans to have more options when flying, including connecting more of Alaska to our extensive out of state network," added Marilyn Romano, Alaska Airlines Regional Vice President  Alaska. "The ability for Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members to now be able to book travel on Aleutian Airways through AlaskaAir.com and earn Alaska Airlines miles is an added benefit."

About Aleutian Airways

Aleutian Airways, operated by Sterling Airways, is a joint venture between Wexford Capital and McKinley Alaska Private Investment, to answer the community's need for airline service to the Aleutian Islands as well as other destinations throughout Alaska. Operating Saab 2000 aircraft Aleutian Airways is the Strongest Link in the Chain. More information can be found at flyaleutian.com.

About Sterling Airways

Sterling Airways dba Aleutian Airways, a portfolio company of Wexford Capital LP, has the mission to set a new standard in aviation. Led by a team of experienced airline professionals, Sterling provides the highest level of safety, customer service and professionalism in the industry. For more information visit flysterling.com

About Alaska Airlines

Alaska Airlines and our regional partners serve more than 120 destinations across the United States, the Bahamas, Belize, Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Mexico. We offer our guests a premium flying experience with award-winning customer service and an industry-leading loyalty program, Mileage Plan. With our fellow oneworld Alliance members and additional global partners, our guests have more choices than ever to purchase, earn or redeem on alaskaair.com across 30 airlines and more than 1,000 worldwide destinations. Learn more about Alaska at news.alaskaair.com and follow @alaskaairnews for news and stories. Alaska Airlines and Horizon Air are subsidiaries of Alaska Air Group.

Contact: Ashley Hammers, Director of Branding & Communication, 907-600-7071; [email protected]

SOURCE Sterling Airways dba Aleutian Airways
Engagement coincides with National Cancer Survivors Day

WILMINGTON, N.C., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Starting on June 2, National Cancer Survivors Day, Catalyst Oncology, the biotech-focused oncology CRO brand of Catalyst Clinical Research, will start a collaboration with Imerman Angels, a renowned nonprofit organization providing free, personalized one-on-one cancer support.

Catalyst Oncology seeks to increase the visibility of the support and resources Imerman Angels makes available to cancer patients, survivors, and caregivers to ensure no one faces cancer alone.

"Catalyst is excited to collaborate with Imerman Angels, an organization that shares our dedication to improving the lives of those affected by cancer," said Keya Watkins, Senior Vice President, Catalyst Oncology. "This connection is a great reminder that we are part of a larger community that can make an impressive impact alongside Imerman Angels, which provides comprehensive support to patients and their families. This also reinforces Catalyst Oncology's commitment to help our innovative biotech clients develop therapies to support cancer patients."

"We are looking forward to working with Catalyst Oncology," said Jonny Imerman, Co-founder and Chief Mission Officer, Imerman Angels. "Together, we can reach more individuals, provide more support, and make a greater impact in the cancer community."

The collaboration will be marked at a private event on National Cancer Survivors Day, a day dedicated to honoring and celebrating cancer survivors, their families, and caregivers, which occurs during the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual conference in Chicago.

About Catalyst Oncology

Catalyst Oncology is a full-service, specialty clinical research organization (CRO) built to serve the global biotech industry. Backed by leading retention rates and a culture rooted in its core values, Catalyst Oncology provides customers with teams experienced across all functions, knowledgeable in complex drug classes and study designs, and with data-centric methodologies that help bring next-generation therapies to cancer patients.

Catalyst Oncology is one of two established, branded solutions offered by Catalyst Clinical Research and employs more than 1,000 staff and several offices in the United States, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. Catalyst's flexible service model comes from more than a decade of listening to customers, devising customer-centric solutions, and helping customers advance clinical studies by leveraging expert teams and innovative technologies. Visit Catalyst online at CatalystOncology.com, and follow us on LinkedIn.

Catalyst is a portfolio company of QHP Capital, a leading healthcare and life sciences investment firm.

About Imerman Angels

Imerman Angels is a global organization providing free, personalized one-on-one cancer support for cancer fighters, survivors, previvors, and caregivers. Their unique matching process connects individuals with Mentor Angels who have similar stories and experiences, ensuring no one faces cancer alone.

Media Contact for Catalyst Oncology:

Elizabeth Humphrey

[email protected]

+1 (984) 459-2090

Media contact for Imerman Angels:

Josh Kaufmann

[email protected]

+ 1 (312) 273-1301

SOURCE Catalyst Clinical Research
BEIJING, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheetah Mobile Inc. ("Cheetah Mobile" or the "Company") (NYSE: CMCM), a China-based IT company, today announced that it will report its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2024, before the U.S. market opens on Friday, June 7, 2024. The earnings release will be available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.cmcm.com.

Cheetah Mobile's management will hold an earnings conference call at 7:00 AM on Friday, June 7, 2024, U.S. Eastern Time (7:00 PM on Friday, June 7, 2024, Beijing Time/Hong Kong Time).

Participants may access the call by dialing the following numbers:

Main Line:

International: 1-412-317-6061

United States Toll Free: 1-888-317-6003

Mainland China Toll Free: 4001-206115

Hong Kong Toll Free: 800-963976

Conference ID: 8764416

English Translation:

International: 1-412-317-6061

United States Toll Free: 1-888-317-6003

Mainland China Toll Free: 4001-206115

Hong Kong Toll Free: 800-963976

Conference ID: 0625357

The replay of the conference call will be accessible through June 14, 2024 by dialing the following numbers:

Main Line:

International: 1-412-317-0088

United States Toll Free: +1-877-344-7529

Access Code: 3225752

English Translation:

International: 1-412-317-0088

United States Toll Free: 1-877-344-7529

Access Code: 1141549

A live and archived webcast of the conference call will also be available at the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.cmcm.com.

About Cheetah Mobile Inc.

Cheetah Mobile is a China-based IT company with a commitment to AI innovation. It has attracted hundreds of millions of users through an array of internet products and services on PCs and mobile devices. At the same time, it actively engages in the independent research and development of its AI technologies, including LLM technologies. Cheetah Mobile provides advertising services to advertisers worldwide, value-added services including the sale of premium membership to its users, multi-cloud management platform to companies globally, as well as service robots to international clients. Cheetah Mobile is also committed to leveraging its cutting-edge AI technologies, including LLM technologies, to empower its products and make the world smarter. It has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange since May 2014.

SOURCE Cheetah Mobile
SEOUL, South Korea, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 27, 2024, the 8th China-Japan-South Korea Business Summit convened in Seoul, South Korea, highlighted by a delegation led by Ren Hongbin, Chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. The program featured the China-South Korea Economic Exchange Meeting and the 2nd China International Supply Chain Expo (CISCE) Roadshow, which attracted over 200 representatives from various business associations and companies from the two countries.

CIEC, the organizer of CISCE, signed a MOU for the 2nd CISCE with the South Korea-China Private Sector Economic Cooperation Forum and the World Electric Vehicle Association (WEVA).

China International Exhibition Center, the event's organizer, signed the Memorandums of Understanding for the 2nd CISCE with the South Korea-China Private Sector Economic Cooperation Forum and the World Electric Vehicle Association (WEVA).

Mr. Ren emphasized the robust economic and trade cooperation between China and South Korea, describing it as the bedrock of bilateral relations and essential for practical cooperation between the two nations. He expressed China's eagerness to strengthen business connections, particularly in emerging sectors, such as the digital economy, green development, high-end manufacturing, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence (AI). He warmly welcomed South Korean firms to join the upcoming Expo in November.

Mr. Xing Haiming, Chinese Ambassador to South Korea, underscored the vital and indispensable role of efficient and resilient industrial and supply chains amid the ongoing process of globalization. He expressed optimism for future collaboration between two countries in exploring opportunities in green energy, the digital economy, and other burgeoning sectors.

Mr. Lee In-ho, Vice President of the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), remarked on the substantial growth of two countries. He stressed the importance of leveraging their existing economic and trade cooperation to jointly pursue opportunities in advanced technologies.

Ms. Yoo Myung-hee, former Trade Minister at South Korea's Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, spotlighted the critical need for stabilizing and managing the interconnected supply chains between the two countries in today's economic climate. She called for enhanced communication channels and increased resilience against disruptions to the supply chain.

Mr. Ji Yong-mo, Chairman of the South Korea-China Private Sector Economic Cooperation Forum, praised the achievements of the South Korea-China Private Sector Economic Cooperation Forum in organizing member companies to participate in the inaugural CISCE last year. He reaffirmed the Forum's unwavering commitment to fully support the upcoming the 2nd edition of CISCE.

The second CISCE will be held in Beijing from 26th-30th November this year. Please visit https://en.cisce.org.cn/ for more information.

SOURCE China International Supply Chain Expo
RADNOR, Pa., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The law firm of Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP informs investors that the firm has filed a securities fraud class action lawsuit against Doximity, Inc. (NYSE: DOCS) ("Doximity" or the "Company") on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired Doximity common stock between February 9, 2022, and April 1, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). This action, captioned Kissler v. Doximity, Inc., et al., Case No. 3:24-cv-02281-JST was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California.

Important Deadline Reminder: Investors who purchased or otherwise acquired Doximity common stock during the Class Period may, no later than June 17, 2024, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class.

If you suffered Doximity losses, you may CLICK HERE or go to: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/doximity-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=docs&mktm=r

You can also contact attorney Jonathan Naji, Esq. of Kessler Topaz by calling (484) 270-1453 or by email at [email protected].

CANNOT VIEW THIS VIDEO? PLEASE CLICK HERE or go to: https://youtu.be/sbkgMGltWR8

DEFENDANTS' MISCONDUCT

Doximity operates a digital platform that provides connections between, medical information to, and patient scheduling tools for medical professionals. The Class Period begins on February 9, 2022, following the release of Doximity's quarterly financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2022, which ended December 31, 2021, after the market closed the night prior. During the February 8, 2022 quarterly investor earnings call, Defendant Anna Bryson, the Company's Chief Financial Officer, emphasized that "marketers have been able to witness the value of running these digital programs" and that it was this "value that's the main reason we're seeing this sustained demand from our customers and not new [COVID] variants." To this end, Defendant Bryson further assured investors that the Company was "focused on . . . really building a business that can provide years of sustainable growth with high margins."

Throughout the Class Period, Defendants continued to tout the sustainability of the Company's business prospects while also downplaying the importance of customer upsell rates on the Company's financial performance. Notwithstanding Defendants' repeated claims regarding the sustainability of Doximity's growth and profitability, investors began to learn the truth about the Company on August 8, 2023, when, after the market closed, Doximity reported its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, which ended June 30, 2023. While the Company exceeded its quarterly revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance for the first quarter, the Company provided disappointing guidance for the second quarter of fiscal year 2024 and slashed its guidance for the full fiscal year 2024. In conjunction with the disappointing guidance, Doximity announced that it would reduce its workforce by approximately 10%. The Company further noted that the workforce reduction is expected to cost approximately $8 million to $10 million.

In explaining this about-face, Defendant Bryson admitted that the Company's "major upsells have materially underperformed, and we expect this to continue in the near term." Defendant Tangney further explained that Doximity failed to close sales due, in part, to "fewer face-to-face meetings with our clients." On this news, the price of Doximity common stock declined $7.49 per share, or nearly 23%, from a close of $32.79 per share on August 8, 2023, to close at $25.30 per share on August 9, 2023.

Investors learned more about the unsustainability of the Company's revenue growth on April 1, 2024, when Jehoshaphat Research published a report alleging, among other things, that "Doximity's underlying sales . . . are declining at a negative -3-6% rate, but that this decline has been masked through accelerated revenue recognition." On this news, the price of Doximity common stock declined $1.11 per share, or more than 4% over two trading-days, from a close of $26.91 per share on March 28, 2024, to close at $25.80 per share on April 2, 2024.

WHAT CAN I DO?

Doximity investors may, no later than June 17, 2024, move the Court to serve as lead plaintiff for the class, through Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP or other counsel, or may choose to do nothing and remain an absent class member. Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP encourages Doximity investors who have suffered significant losses to contact the firm directly to acquire more information.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE CASE OR GO TO: https://www.ktmc.com/new-cases/doximity-inc?utm_source=PR&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=docs&mktm=r

WHO CAN BE A LEAD PLAINTIFF?

A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of all class members in directing the litigation. The lead plaintiff is usually the investor or small group of investors who have the largest financial interest and who are also adequate and typical of the proposed class of investors. The lead plaintiff selects counsel to represent the lead plaintiff and the class and these attorneys, if approved by the court, are lead or class counsel. Your ability to share in any recovery is not affected by the decision of whether or not to serve as a lead plaintiff.

ABOUT KESSLER TOPAZ MELTZER & CHECK, LLP

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP prosecutes class actions in state and federal courts throughout the country and around the world. The firm has developed a global reputation for excellence and has recovered billions of dollars for victims of fraud and other corporate misconduct. All of our work is driven by a common goal: to protect investors, consumers, employees and others from fraud, abuse, misconduct and negligence by businesses and fiduciaries. For more information about Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP please visit www.ktmc.com.

CONTACT

Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP

Jonathan Naji, Esq.

280 King of Prussia Road

Radnor, PA 19087

(844) 887-9500 (toll free)

[email protected]

May be considered attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

SOURCE Kessler Topaz Meltzer & Check, LLP
Customers can now implement SAP's S/4HANA in 1 year or less.

ASHBURN, Va., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC), a leading Fortune 500 global technology services provider, today announced its new DXC Fast RISE with SAP service, which enables customers to dramatically accelerate their S/4HANA projects and to realize the extensive value provided faster than ever before.

DXC Fast RISE with SAP allows customers to complete SAP deployments in less than twelve months so that businesses can achieve quicker time-to-value. The service is designed to be scalable, allowing clients to adapt and grow without significant disruption. By streamlining the implementation process, businesses can lower their total cost of ownership associated with SAP adoption.

"DXC is using its unmatched history and trusted client relationships and with SAP to innovate at a world-class level," said Keith Costello, General Manager and Global SAP Lead. "This solid foundation for the SAP service line underpins our ability to distinguish DXC in the SAP ecosystem as demonstrated by our first-to-market capabilities and unparalleled IP across multiple industries. With DXC Fast RISE with SAP, we look forward to partnering with clients to deliver the tremendous value of SAP S/4HANA faster."

"At SAP, we're excited to see the growth and investment in the SAP service line within DXC Technology, highlighting its commitment to expanding its global reach with our purpose-built SAP solutions. Our enduring, trusted partnership with DXC forms a solid foundation for global growth and provides an opportunity for DXC to lead with proven delivery capabilities and future-ready innovations," says Lloyd Adams, President of SAP North America.

"DXC Technology's Fast RISE with SAP program includes a broad assessment that helps clients to understand the full scope of the RISE with SAP transformation program. The result may be a 12-month project to migrate legacy SAP systems to S/4HANA in the cloud. It may also include additional projects to address the full scope discovered in the assessment," said Brian Wood, Research Director, IT Consulting and Systems Integration Services, IDC.

DXC recently received the America's SAP User Group (ASUG) Innovation Award for the DXC Fast RISE with SAP implementation at Energy Harbor and have since completed additional deployments in Europe.

To learn more about DXC Fast RISE with SAP, click here.

Forward Looking Statements

All statements in this press release that do not directly and exclusively relate to historical facts constitute "forward-looking statements." These statements represent current expectations and beliefs, and no assurance can be given that the results described in such statements will be achieved. Such statements are subject to numerous assumptions, risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in such statements, many of which are outside of our control. For a written description of these factors, see the section titled "Risk Factors" in DXC's upcoming Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, and any updating information in subsequent SEC filings. No assurance can be given that any goal or plan set forth in any forward-looking statement can or will be achieved, and readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements which speak only as of the date they are made. We do not undertake any obligation to update or release any revisions to any forward-looking statement or to report any events or circumstances after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events except as required by law.

About DXC Technology

DXC Technology (NYSE: DXC) helps global companies run their mission-critical systems and operations while modernizing IT, optimizing data architectures, and ensuring security and scalability across public, private, and hybrid clouds. The world's largest companies and public sector organizations trust DXC to deploy services to drive new levels of performance, competitiveness, and customer experience across their IT estates. Learn more about how we deliver excellence for our customers and colleagues at DXC.com.

SOURCE DXC Technology Company
ATLANTA, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Equifax  (NYSE: EFX) will participate in several upcoming investor conferences in June.

Mark W. Begor, Chief Executive Officer, and John Gamble, Chief Financial Officer, will attend the Baird Global Consumer, Technology & Services Conference on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, including a Fireside Chat at 12:15 P.M. Eastern Time, and the Stifel Cross Sector Insight Conference on Wednesday, June 5, 2024, including a Fireside Chat at 3:00 P.M. Eastern Time.

Trevor Burns, Senior Vice President of Corporate Investor Relations, will attend the JP Morgan Canada 1X1 Forum on Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

The company invites investors to join live webcasts of Fireside Chat events at: https://investor.equifax.com/news-events/ir-calendar . A replay of each Fireside Chat will be available within 24 hours after the event on the company's Investor Relations website.

ABOUT EQUIFAX INC.

At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employers, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by nearly 15,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 24 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com .

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Sam McKinstry for Equifax

[email protected]

SOURCE Equifax Inc.
CTEK Battery Charger Can Bring Peace of Mind with Advanced Charging Modes

CHICAGO, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Looking for a unique gift for the Dad who has everything? This Father's Day, give dad the gift of the ultimate emergency kit for all his vehicles from cars to motorcycles to even recreational vehicles with the CTEK CS Free. AAA predicts a busy summer that began Memorial Day Weekend with 43.9 million travelers heading 50 miles or more from home.

Fathers Day Ultimate Emergency Kit From CTEK

With dad at the wheel, having the CTEK CS Free, along for the ride translates to the added confidence of knowing that the family vehicle won't fail on account of a dead battery. When used as a hi-tech power bank, dad will never have to worry about uncharged devices again, just hook it up to the solar panel and he will never run out of power. Keep dad's head cool and give him the gift of CS FREE for worry-free travelling wherever he goes.

Don't get dad another tie or cologne for Father's Day, get him a gift he will enjoy all year long. With a CS FREE for dad, he will not need to worry or wonder if someone left the interior car light on or charged their cellphone, zapping the last bit of juice from the car battery. The unique adaptive booster can safely restart a dead vehicle battery within only 15 minutes. It's a safe-start that can be used instead of jump starting or using a traditional booster  it won't damage the battery or the vehicle electronics. With the portable solar panel kit, he can even recharge it when he's out in the middle of nowhere. The CS FREE can be used to charge a vehicle's battery, making sure that dad and the family can travel far and wide, or boost a battery when it's running out of charge.

"Fathers can focus on enjoying their families with a proactive intervention that will contribute to making memories," said Bobbie DuMelle, President of CTEK North America. "Having peace of mind knowing that all batteries are fully charged for the road trip is the ultimate gift for dad."

CTEK products are available in the U.S. through a network of stocklists detailed on the CTEK website www.smartercharger.com

About CTEK

Established in Dalarna, Sweden , CTEK is the leading global brand in vehicle charging solutions.

, CTEK is the leading global brand in vehicle charging solutions. CTEK offers products ranging from 12V and 24V battery chargers to charging solutions for electrical vehicles. CTEK's E-mobility solutions range from individual EV chargers to larger corporate and commercial installations with multiple charging stations, that require load balancing and integrate seamlessly with monitoring and payment equipment.

CTEK's products are sold via a carefully selected network of global distributors and retailers: as original equipment; supplied to more than 50 of the world's leading vehicle manufacturers; and through charge point operators, property owners and other organizations/individuals providing EV charging infrastructure.

CTEK takes pride in its unique culture based on a passion for innovation and a deep commitment to supporting the transition to a greener mobility, by adhering to industry leading ESG standards.

Press Contact:

Michelle Suzuki

310-444-7115

SOURCE CTEK
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On May 30th, GAC AION celebrated the grand opening of its own-brand store in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, according to a post on its WeChat account. This is AION's second flagship store in Hong Kong, following the opening of the Kowloon store.

Photo credit: GAC AION

Wan Chai, located on the northern shore of Hong Kong Island, features a blend of Eastern and Western cultures blend. It boasts numerous world-class commercial centers and skyscrapers and is one of the oldest and most culturally rich areas in Hong Kong. Its unique financial and historical heritage continually attracts high-end talent from around the globe. GAC AION stated that the grand opening of the Wan Chai store marks a key strategic move in establishing an international presence and targeting the global high-end market.

AION Y Plus; photo credit: GAC AION

On the opening day, models such as the AION Y Plus and Hyper HT were displayed in the showroom, garnering enthusiastic attention from the guests present.

Currently, to achieve carbon neutrality and reduction goals, Hong Kong is actively implementing various decarbonization measures to accelerate its green transition and regional carbon reduction efforts. Focusing on the Hong Kong market, GAC AION not only provides new energy vehicle (NEV) products to local users but also continuously improves the building of local energy replenishment ecosystem. According to the plan, GAC AION will establish over 300 supercharging sites with 1,000V capabilities across various locations, including office buildings, shopping malls, hotels, airports, and government public areas, fully addressing the energy replenishment needs of Hong Kong users.

As a global free port and a crucial bridge connecting the East and the West, the Hong Kong market is undoubtedly an important window for the international community to understand Chinese automobile technologies and products. Through its intensive presence in the Hong Kong market, GAC AION's global influence continues to expand. Since the opening of its first store in Hong Kong in January this year, GAC AION's international expansion has progressed rapidly, now covering 19 countries and regions worldwide. In May alone, it completed the first batch of deliveries to car owners in Singapore, opened its first flagship store in Myanmar, put the AION Y Plus onto the Malaysian, delivered 1,000 AION Y Plus vehicles to Tajikistan, and opened its first store in Nepal.
New funding from the third round of the EPA's Clean School Bus Program means 25 electrified school buses for the Buffalo Public Schools

BUFFALO, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Wednesday, First Student, the leading school transportation provider in North America, and industry leader in electrification, and the Buffalo Public Schools were awarded $8,625,000 million in rebates from the third round of funding of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean School Bus Program. First Student has been the transportation provider for Buffalo schools for nearly 40 years and these rebates awarded is the result of a joint application to electrify the Buffalo bus fleet. The award was announced at an event in downtown Buffalo featuring representatives from the EPA, Buffalo and First Student. Among those in attendance were U.S. EPA Regional Administrator Lisa F. Garcia, U.S. Rep. Tim Kennedy, David Hills, COO, Buffalo City School District, and Kevin Matthews, Head of Electrification for First Student. This round of EPA funding will enable First Student to deploy 25 electric school buses in Buffalo City School District, providing healthier and safer rides to students.

"We are so proud to help secure this funding for the Buffalo Public Schools and deliver electric school buses to our partners of almost 40 years," said First Student Head of Electrification Kevin Matthews. "These rebates from the Environmental Protection Agency are a game changer for Buffalo. It will ensure the students of Buffalo are transported to school in cleaner, quieter, safer vehicles, and arrive at school ready to learn while providing healthier air for this community. We are looking forward to continuing our close work with the school district to invest in an upgraded fleet that will benefit students and families well into the future."

"Buffalo Public Schools has been committed to moving towards electrifying buses for the health and wellbeing of its students and the residents of the city of Buffalo," Superintendent Dr. Tonja M. Williams said. "I applaud Frist Student for collaborating with our transportation team to provide expertise on how to implement low-emission electric school buses in order to better serve our students and the community. Given that diesel-fueled school buses have been linked to a number of respiratory illnesses and conditions, the Buffalo Board of Education approved a resolution in August 2023 supporting the district's goal of having electric buses transport our students. This funding for 25 electric school buses will go a long way towards the Buffalo Public Schools' goal of all of our transportation becoming electric."

"The benefits for our communities and students of providing daily transportation on a clean and quiet electric school bus are immense in the short and long term," Buffalo Public Schools Chief Operating Officer David Hills said. "Our communities will reap a legacy of improved wellness as this initial investment begins the journey toward full electrification of our transportation fleet."

The Clean School Bus Program allocates funds for school districts to help cover the cost of replacing fossil fuel school buses with zero-emission vehicles and associated charging infrastructure. Round two was competitively bid grant, while rounds one and three were lottery rebate awards. Today's award is part of the third tranche of funding First Student has received through the program, and the first grant for Buffalo Public Schools. In awarding the rebates, the EPA recognized First Student's ability to bring utilities and municipalities together with school districts, like Buffalo, to build the charging infrastructure and create a seamless experience for schools.

First Student has successfully deployed over 350 electric buses across North America and has logged over 3 million miles of operation in pursuit of its commitment to transition 30,000 diesel vehicles to electric by 2035. Today's EPA investment will accelerate that plan. Scaling the use of these zero-emission vehicles will provide significant and tangible improvements for the environment. Replacing just one diesel school bus with an electric school bus can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 54,000 pounds each year.

In January 2024, the EPA awarded First Student more than $140 million  the largest amount awarded among all contractors  to enable First Student to deploy more than 370 new electric school buses in school districts across the United States. In November 2022, First Student worked with 11 districts to secure EPA grants under the first round of funding. This funding  approximately $60 million  is designed to provide 11 school districts with of a total of 160 electric school buses. In awarding the rebates and grants, the EPA recognized First Student's ability to bring utilities and municipalities together with school districts in order to build the charging infrastructure and create a seamless experience for schools.

First Student works directly with school districts on their electrification goals, collaborating with them on the applications to the EPA and in deploying and maintaining the vehicles once they are in service. First Student operates a team of internal expert consultants called First Consulting that works closely to make sure grant applications reflect specific school district needs.

B-ROLL/RESOURCES: Watch a video that showcases First Student's electric school bus fleet.

About First Student

As a leading school transportation solutions provider in North America, First Student strives to provide the best start and finish to every school day. With a team of highly trained drivers and the industry's strongest safety record, First Student delivers reliable, quality services, including full-service transportation and management, special-needs transportation, route optimization, and scheduling, maintenance, and charter services with a fleet of about 45,000 buses. For more information, visit firststudentinc.com .

CONTACT

Jen Biddinger

513.362.4600

SOURCE First Student
TAMPA, Fla., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AutoInsurance.org recently released a report on insurance companies pulling out of Florida and other high-risk states like California.

While many companies have discontinued coverage in these states, those that still offer coverage have rapidly increased annual premiums by $150 on average since 2023 and a combined $450 since 2021.

State of Insurance in Florida

Many providers have calculated their risk in Florida and decided they're likely to lose money in the region.

Consumers face a lack of access to insurance policies for both car and home insurance. AutoInsurance.org reports that the following companies have discontinued writing new auto insurance policies in Florida:

Farmers Insurance

Bankers Insurance Group

Lexington Insurance Company

Centauri Insurance

AAA

Successful businesses avoid losing money, so many providers have pulled out of the Florida market.

Cause of High Insurance Risk in Florida

Several risks combine to create a situation with a high probability of loss for auto insurers.

First, significant storms are prevalent in Florida. Sitting between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, Florida is in the path of many hurricanes. These storms can damage or destroy vehicles by flooding, broken branches, and flying debris.

Second, the population increases traffic. Higher traffic results in a more significant risk of crashes. Additionally, higher population density means more people are affected when a hurricane causes damage.

Third, insurance laws in Florida have made suing worth people's time. As a result, a high number of people sue insurance companies. Scams contribute to this growing sector.

Getting Auto Insurance in Florida

Although fewer competitors offer coverage in Florida, there are still several options. Drivers can start their journey to finding the best fit for their needs by comparing quotes.

Once a driver narrows down the companies that offer the best deal on premiums, they should research the reliability and stability of the contenders.

Melanie Musson, a nationally recognized auto insurance expert with AutoInsurance.org, encourages Florida residents, "Fortunately, getting auto insurance is not as problematic as securing home insurance in Florida, so most drivers will find success securing coverage in the competitive marketplace."

Read AutoInsurance.org's entire report here: Auto Insurance Companies Pulling Out of Florida .

SOURCE AutoInsurance.org
GUANGZHOU, China, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- From May 18th to 27th, Mr. Chu Shijia, Vice President and Secretary-General of the Canton Fair, and Chairman and President of China Foreign Trade Centre Group Ltd, led a dedicated team in conducting 4 promotion events for the 136th Canton Fair. These events took place in Los Angeles and New York in the United States, Toronto in Canada, and Tokyo in Japan. Through these engagements, the delegation facilitated profound discussions with local top-tier enterprises, further propelling the momentum of friendly trade exchanges and fostering economic collaboration between China and global counterparts.

"The 136th Canton Fair features an enhanced thematic structure, elevated exhibitor standards, a richer array of unique products, and an improved overall exhibition experience," remarked Mr. Chu during the conferences. He emphasized the development journey of the Canton Fair and highlighted the latest features of its 136th edition. Additionally, he extended a sincere invitation to business leaders from around the globe to attend and exhibit at the Fair. Mr. Chu underscored the importance of leveraging the comprehensive open platform provided by the Canton Fair to strengthen economic and trade exchanges and collaborations between Chinese enterprises and their international counterparts.

The Canton Fair delegation also engaged in meetings and exchanges with various institutions from different regions, including U.S. Department of Commerce's International Trade Administration, the California Governor's Office of Business and Economic Development, Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), Los Angeles Regional Export Council (LAREXC), Canada China Trade Council, Export Development Canada (EDC), Japan International Trade Promotion Association, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO), the prominent U.S. retailer Big Lots, and the leading New York catering service enterprise Merchant Hospitality. Additionally, they conducted on-site visits to renowned retailers such as Daiso and Nitori in Japan, and Canadian Tire, the largest retailer in Canada, to thoroughly grasp local market trends and buyer demands, thus laying a solid foundation for deepening international trade exchanges.

Furthermore, the delegation engaged in discussions with New York Javits Center and Emerald Expositions in the United States concerning the green and sustainable development of exhibition venue and the enhancement of services for buyers.

The 136th Canton Fair invited traders worldwide to gather in Guangzhou, China, promising an abundance of new highlights and features at the exhibition. For more information about the Canton Fair, kindly register at https://invitation.cantonfair.org.cn/BuyerUser/RegisterUser?MediaType=16.

SOURCE Canton Fair
UTRECHT, Netherlands, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- FutureBridge, a leading techno-commercial consulting and advisory company focussing on R&D, innovation, strategy, scientific evidence, markets, reimbursement and regulatory aspects, is set to engage with industry leaders at two prestigious upcoming conferences. The company's life sciences practice advises and provides strategic guidance to large global companies in the pharmaceutical, biotech, medtech, diagnostics, and animal health sectors.

FutureBridge at 2024 ASCO and BIO 2024 International Conference

FutureBridge will participate in the 2024 ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology) Annual Meeting in Chicago from May 31st to June 4th, as well as the BIO International Conference 2024 in San Diego from June 3rd to June 6th.

"At these conferences, we look forward to sharing our expertise on the future of medicines, healthcare solutions, disruptive trends, emerging technologies, and therapeutic platforms," said Shivali Jasrotia, Senior Consultant at FutureBridge. "We aim to strengthen relationships with existing clients and establish new collaborations with industry, academia, patient advocates, innovators, and key opinion leaders."

ASCO 2024, with over 40,000 members, will showcase breakthroughs in oncology, including advancements in immune checkpoint blockade optimization, lung cancer treatment, breast cancer diagnostics, early melanoma intervention, and early-stage rectal cancer management. Major pharmaceutical companies will present outcomes and updates of their clinical programs, reflecting the diverse and dynamic progress in oncology.

"We will be covering key clinical trial abstracts presented at ASCO 2024 by companies like AstraZeneca, Janssen, Bristol Myers Squibb. We are passionate about these topics and will be writing a short but incisive analysis about the coverage of these at ASCO for some of our industry colleagues who can't attend this event. We would be more than happy to share this with anyone who desires access to our analysis," said Shivali Jasrotia, Senior Consultant at FutureBridge. These analyses can be requested here, she further added.

The BIO International Conference is the premier biotech networking event, attracting over 20,000 industry leaders. This year's participants include leading biopharmaceutical companies such as Amgen, Pfizer, Novartis, Merck, and Gilead Sciences. The event facilitates the discovery of new opportunities and the development of partnerships within the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors.

Why Should you meet FutureBridge at ASCO 2024 or BIO International this year?

"FutureBridge tracks Early Signals in the Industry and their Implications. We track and advise on the future of therapies, novel treatment modalities/platforms, and patient journey from a 1-to-25-year perspective. We offer solutions for the VUCA world through our, advisory and consulting services. We believe that business uncertainties from rising failure risks, declining R&D productivity, high unmet clinical needs, and margin pressures could be overcome with a culture of collective and open innovation. Conferences like ASCO, ESMO, and BIO International bridge gaps in scientific data, uniting the competition, world, and technology for a better future. We are there at these events to talk to the industry about how we have helped solve some substantial challenges for our clients and at other times helped create new opportunities," said Manoj Jiandani, Practice Area Head at FutureBridge.

Meet us at ASCO 2024 and BIO 2024 by scheduling a meeting here or you can write to [email protected] to learn how our evidence-based consulting solutions can drive results for pharma leaders and address their most critical business challenges.

About FutureBridge:

FutureBridge is a techno-commercial consulting and advisory company. We track and advise the Top 200 clients of the Fortune 500 on the future of industries from a 1-to-25-year perspective. The company offers solutions through its hyper-personalised advisory services and intelligence platforms, The company's advisory unit leverages proprietary frameworks such as Hopper  Opportunity, Prioritization & Evaluation (HOPE), Weak Signal Management (WSM), and Scientific & Market Sentiment (SMS) that can identify weak and strong signals to become a trend in the future.

Connect with FutureBridge: www.futurebridge.com | LinkedIn | Twitter

Video: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2426513/futurebridge_at_asco.mp4

SOURCE FutureBridge
Clinical progress to be highlighted in key presentations at New York Valves

MENLO PARK, Calif., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Half Moon Medical today announced the treatment of 15 patients with its second generation Half Moon transcatheter mitral valve repair technology (TMVr) as part of an ongoing pilot study. Half Moon Medical also announced two upcoming presentations by leading physicians at the New York Valves conference in June 2024.

The investigational Half Moon mitral valve repair device is designed to restore mitral valve function in patients with severe symptomatic mitral regurgitation (MR), a disease where blood leaks backwards within the heart due to the mitral valve's inability to close properly. The device is deployed using a percutaneous (from the leg) delivery catheter, which is navigated through the vasculature to the diseased native mitral valve. The Half Moon device has been shown to produce significant, sustained reduction in MR without an increase in pressure gradient across the valve in a wide range of valve anatomies not addressable by other percutaneous therapies.

Leading interventional cardiologists in the US and Australia have implanted the Half Moon device in the ongoing pilot study. "The Half Moon device allowed us to successfully treat a patient with severe mitral regurgitation who had no other meaningful treatment options. We are very excited about the opportunity to expand our percutaneous toolbox for the treatment of mitral valve disease" said Dr. Stan Chetcuti, Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at University of Michigan, who treated the 15th patient with the Gen 2 Half Moon device along with his team consisting of Dr. Neal Duggal, Director of Anesthesia for Structural Heart Interventions, and Dr. Matthew Romano, Associate Professor of Cardiac Surgery.

Two physician-led presentations highlighting the Half Moon device will be featured at the New York Valves Conference in New York City, June 5-7th, 2024. Dr. Azeem Latib, System Director of Interventional Cardiology at Montefiore Health System in Bronx, NY, will be presenting interim data from the Half Moon pilot study on Wednesday June 5th, 2024. On Thursday June 6th, 2024, Dr. Hemal Gada, President of UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute in Harrisburg PA, will present a case he performed with the Half Moon device in a patient with complex mitral valve pathology that could not be addressed by transcatheter edge to edge mitral valve repair or transcatheter mitral valve replacement.

"We are encouraged by the promising results we have seen to-date with the Gen 2 Half Moon device significantly reducing mitral regurgitation in a wide range of challenging anatomies" said Matt McLean, CEO and Co-Founder of Half Moon Medical. "We are also thankful to our physician partners who are bringing this innovative therapy to patients in need."

About Half Moon Medical

Half Moon Medical (Menlo Park, CA) is privately held company that was founded in 2017 at The Foundry LLC (Menlo Park, CA), a leading medical device incubator that rapidly transforms concepts into companies. Half Moon Medical is developing a minimally invasive technology to treat mitral regurgitation, a disease affecting an estimated four million people. Half Moon Medical is enrolling patients in a pilot study in the US, Canada and Australia.

Contact: Matt McLean, [email protected]

SOURCE Half Moon Medical
BEIJING, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 30, Huatu Education Group (Huatu) and the National University of Malaysia (UKM) formally signed an agreement to establish the ASEAN College at UKM. The signing ceremony took place at Huatu's headquarters with the attendance of Datuk Ahmad Shalimin and Prof. Dato Dr. Ekhwan from UKM, along with Huatu's founder and president Yi Dinghong, and co-founder and senior vice president Li Pinyou.

In a harmonious and collaborative environment, both parties signed this significant cooperation agreement aimed at leveraging their respective strengths. The partnership seeks to provide exceptional education and training to both domestic and international students, fulfilling the high demand for skilled professionals by large Chinese enterprises while promoting deeper educational cooperation between China and Malaysia.

The National University of Malaysia, ranked among Malaysia's top five research institutions, is renowned for its high-quality teaching and research, earning a 'Five-Star University' rating from QS and gaining global recognition for its diplomas and qualifications. Huatu Education, a leader in China's education sector, brings its extensive expertise and resources in recruiting and training civil servants and teachers, supported by a network of over a thousand branches across China. This robust alliance promises to invigorate educational exchanges between China and Malaysia.

According to the agreement, Huatu Education Group will be responsible for the investment and construction of the ASEAN College, while UKM will provide the facilities and instructional support. The college is set to implement advanced educational techniques and methods, aiming to deliver top-tier education and training. Students who meet the graduation requirements will receive globally recognized degrees.

The primary objective of this collaboration is to create a training and teaching hub at UKM specifically designed to prepare employees. This initiative is expected to elevate UKM's international reputation and influence.

The initiative encompasses a China-Malaysia talent training program, which is expected to enhance educational, economic, and cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and Malaysia.

The establishment of the ASEAN College at the National University of Malaysia (UKM) is set to broaden educational opportunities for Malaysian and Chinese students and invigorate the academic pursuits within both nations. For Huatu Education Group, launching the ASEAN College is a critical step in its strategy to deepen its engagement with the Chinese education market, extend its influence globally, and create a platform for training international talent.

SOURCE Huatu Education Group
SHANGHAI, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Petal Ads, Huawei's mobile advertising platform, had a rewarding time at ITB China 2024, fostering deeper ties between Europe and China. Held at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Center, ITB China is one of the most important B2B travel trade shows for the Chinese market  drawing tourism and travel leaders, and international visitors from across the globe.

Maria Ramiro, Sales Director of Ads Business at Huawei Mobile Services Europe, presents at ITB China

Running from 27 May to 29 May, the event kicked off with Huawei delivering a keynote speech showcasing Petal Ads' game changing, one-stop advertising solutions to drive growth in the tourism industry both locally and internationally. Huawei also shared key achievements in helping travel and luxury partners expand successfully.

Petal Ads' Data-Driven Advertising Solutions Drive Global Connectivity

Bringing borderless opportunities to European industry partners seeking to connect with Chinese consumers, Petal Ads leverages AI, big data, and online and offline channels, on top of its deep understanding of China's market.

This allows Petal Ads to identify the preferences of Chinese consumers; developing targeted marketing strategies that help partners connect with this audience and discover new market opportunities. The smart marketing platform draws comprehensive data from the Huawei ecosystem built on their interconnected system of hardware, software, and services.

Petal Ads is equipped to meet the advertising goals of tourism partners  no matter which stage they may be at. Huawei's diverse touch points of devices, including Huawei media and third-party apps also draw consumers in through native advertisements, live videos, and more, with localised creative content that showcase the scenic views and stories of tourist destinations.

Additionally, Skytone, a Huawei-developed app, delivers high-speed network access for compatible Huawei or Honor smartphones in over 100 countries and regions in a single touch.

Huawei Nurtures Partnerships in Tourism, Luxury, Education

Looking ahead, Huawei will continue to strengthen China-Europe relations through mutually beneficial partnerships in tourism, luxury, and education. By leveraging their combined expertise, Huawei is constantly improving on their suite of innovative, full-service advertising solutions.

For instance, Huawei is working with online tourism service platforms to develop advertising strategies, and to build reliable data models and visual dashboards based on key metrics of travel destinations. Ultimately, this offers more valuable insights, which tourism partners can draw upon to elevate their strategies. The platform is also working with leading brands in tourism, automobile, and luxury to continuously upgrade their capabilities.

At ITB China 2024, demonstrating their commitment to fostering closer ties between Europe and China, Huawei enjoyed a productive meeting with representatives from tourism industry stakeholders, such as the Europe Travel Commission, TourSpain, and Visit Portugal.

About Petal Ads

Petal Ads is a fast-growing and industry-leading mobile ad platform powered by Huawei Technologies for publishers, advertisers and marketers who want to drive growth and extend their audience.

Petal Ads achieves this through its extensive platform of over 360,000 publishers globally and advertisers coming from a diverse range of over 200 industries, with agencies and businesses reaching over 730M new customers.

Petal Ads provides first-class targeting solutions harnessing hardware, software, and service insights, and using knowledge gained from first party data and through an intelligent system of user tags to help advertisers with audience calculation, insight analysis, and retargeting.

The award-winning, cost-effective advertising platform is perfect for those who want to reach untapped and valuable new audiences. Chosen by well-known partners, Petal Ads is committed to security and user privacy, coupled with local and global support teams offering customised solutions.

For more information on Petal Ads, visit: ads.huawei.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2425858/Huawei_1.jpg

SOURCE Huawei Consumer Business Group
Historic effort will invest $180 million to nearly double organization's litigation docket capacity and sustain organization's work for the fight ahead

NEW YORK, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Lambda Legal today announces its $180 million comprehensive "Unstoppable Future" strategy  the largest campaign in the history of the equality movement  to fight against the wave of anti-equality legislation and discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community and those living with HIV. The historic campaign outlines a multipronged strategy to defend against anti-LGBTQ+ attacks, win new protections, and prepare for the future to ensure civil rights for the next generation.

"The LGBTQ+ movement finds itself at a moment of great peril, but we remain steadfast and resolute, unafraid of facing hate and discrimination in the courts of law and public opinion," said Lambda Legal CEO Kevin Jennings. "We understand what is at stake and are rising to the occasion with the most forceful response in the history of our movement. We will defend ourselves against harmful legislation, prevent a rollback of the rights we have won over the last 50 years, and win new protections for the most vulnerable of our community  ensuring an unstoppable future for the next 50 years and beyond."

STRATEGY TO BUILD ON VICTORIES WITH EXPANDED LITIGATION CAPACITY

A primary goal of the campaign is to invest in Lambda Legal's capacity to litigate for LGBTQ+ rights. By the end of 2026 the organization plans to grow its legal team by 42%, hire additional litigators, and increase the number of pro bono hours, expanding the organization's comprehensive litigation docket capacity by 86%.

"Litigation has driven huge advancements for LGBTQ+ rights since 1973, and Lambda Legal has been at the forefront of that advocacy," said Lambda Legal Chief Legal Officer Jenny Pizer. "We continue to fight back against these unconstitutional, discriminatory, and cruel attacks  winning again and again. By hiring more litigators, growing our policy team, and creating a robust pro bono program, we can increase our capacity and ensure an unstoppable future for our equality and freedom movement."

The attacks on the LGBTQ+ community are undeniable.

Since 2022, more than 1,200 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in 48 different state legislatures.

Over 130 of those bills have become law and enacted in 24 different states.

In 23 states, LGBTQ+ people may be denied service in businesses or lodging in hotels.

In 25 states, transgender youth face bans on gender-affirming healthcare.

Lambda Legal has won historic victories at the U.S. Supreme Court, is winning today, and will continue.

Already argued its way back to the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court again in 2024 to force an end to unconstitutional anti-LGBTQ+ legislation  harkening back to 50 years of progress through celebrated victories including Obergefell v. Hodges and Lawrence v. Texas.

and Active and successful in all of the types of cases related to the transgender community evolving from these anti-LGBTQ+ bills: banning gender-affirming care, access to bathrooms and public facilities consistent with gender identity, changes to gender on identification, and transgender athletes.

Won 82% of its recent lawsuits against legislation limiting access to transgender healthcare.

Also active and successful in all of these additional case types of key importance to LGBTQ+ equality: privacy; freedom of speech and assembly rights; access to healthcare; employment anti-discrimination; safe, welcoming schools and youth welfare policies; marriage benefits and rights; housing anti-discrimination; immigrants' rights; and so much more.

STRATEGY TO EDUCATE, ACTIVATE, AND ENGAGE MORE THAN 500,000 ANNUALLY

"The assault on LGBTQ+ civil rights demands a forceful response from Lambda Legal because in too many of those states, there simply aren't enough votes to stop dangerous legislation from becoming law," said Lambda Legal Board Chair Michelle Riley. "It falls to Lambda Legal to educate the community and serve as the last line of defense. Marriage equality, transgender rights, employment protections, healthcare equity, parental rights, safety at school, and so much more are at stake."

Knowing that the court of public opinion is as essential as the court of law in this election year and beyond, Lambda Legal will defend and protect the LGBTQ+ community and our allies through:

Engage and educate 500,000 community members annually through the "Know Your Rights" Initiative  directly combating deliberate falsehoods and misinformation designed to create fear.

Increase bandwidth to support nearly 5,000 annual inquiries to our Help Desk  the only to address discrimination based on gender identity, HIV status, and sexual orientation.

Dedicate staff to expand educational resources, legal education, and public engagement to support the most vulnerable populations.

Contribute to valuable research that will further support the needs of LGBTQ+ communities, such as our Safe Havens and Protected and Served reports on discrimination in the legal system.

and reports on discrimination in the legal system. Communicate directly with the public, the majority of whom support individual freedoms for LGBTQ+ persons and all Americans.

COMMUNITY AND ALLIES RALLY TO EMPOWER STRATEGY THROUGH HISTORIC FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS

Lambda Legal has already secured over $147 million in commitments toward its $180 million goal through cash and pledges, as well as planned giving intentions. This includes more than 85 leadership commitments of at least $100,000.

The campaign is bolstered by a transformational gift of $25 million from the Kathryn G. Graham Trust, the largest in the organization's history, as well as a $16 million gift from MacKenzie Scott.

"Prior to the campaign, Lambda Legal had received two seven-figure gifts in its 50-year history from living donors," said Lambda Legal Chief Development Officer Josh Pushkin. "Through the campaign we have already realized thirteen gifts over $1 million, thanks to the incredible generosity of our donors and look forward to welcoming new leaders to join us and ensure an unstoppable future."

ABOUT LAMBDA LEGAL

Lambda Legal has been at the forefront of the fight for LGBTQ+ rights for 50 years as a national legal nonprofit organization committed to achieving full recognition of the civil rights of LGBTQ+ individuals and people living with HIV. Lambda Legal's lawyers have won precedent-setting civil rights cases on everything from marriage equality to expressions of gender identity to health care discrimination. Through education, advocacy, and legal action, Lambda Legal strives to protect and advance the rights of the LGBTQ+ community, advocating for a society that embraces diversity and inclusivity. www.lambdalegal.org

Contact: Andrea Christman; C: 202.302.1511; Email: [email protected]

SOURCE Lambda Legal
MILAN, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- InSilicoTrials (IST) is honored to have received the AI Startup of the Year award at Startup Grind Global 2024 in Silicon Valley, California. IST won amidst intense competition from 650 startups and was one of only 142 selected to present and demonstrate their innovations. The key factors that led to IST's win were the platform's proven efficiency outcomes (aligned with global regulatory bodies' guidelines), the substantial savings in R&D costs, and the extended market exclusivity period it generates.

InSilicoTrials CEO receives AI Startup of the year award.

On behalf of InSilicoTrials, both CEO Luca Emili and COO Mario Torchia were present at the event. Luca Emili presented IST's transformative solutions, showcasing the platform's impact on healthcare innovation. Mario Torchia engaged with other industry leaders to discuss the broader implications of AI in the healthcare sector today. IST's commitment to regulatory science was highlighted by its contribution to the open-access book - Toward Good Simulation Practice published by Springer Nature. The book features a foreword by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is co-edited by CEO Luca Emili.

This recognition, which has also been featured in Forbes- celebrates IST's innovative use of advanced artificial intelligence in healthcare. The Forbes article, titled "A Culture Of Innovation: Inside The Bay Area's Thriving Tech Scene" underlines the dynamic tech environment of the Bay Area. CEO Luca Emili was quoted: "Attending events like Startup Grind in person is crucial for entrepreneurs because it offers unique opportunities for face-to-face networking, direct feedback, and real-time collaboration. These interactions are invaluable as they allow startup founders to share ideas, strategies, and experiences, gaining diverse perspectives from peers who are navigating similar challenges."

What Startup Grind says about us

James Gee, Global Partnerships Manager at Startup Grind, highlighted InSilicoTrials' win, stating, "We are thrilled to announce that InSilicoTrials has been honored as the AI Startup of the Year at the Startup Grind Global Conference! Emerging victorious from a pool of 29 incredible AI startups and as one of our top 40 Accelerate/Growth startups (out of 142), InSilicoTrials captivated our attention and the interest of numerous investors, becoming one of the most sought-after companies for 1:1 meetings.

"What truly sets them apart is their profound impact on human life. After diving deep into their pitch deck and meeting their impressive team, we were blown away. InSilicoTrials has built a groundbreaking platform that leverages AI models from over 70 scientific partners, integrates models from the FDA, and employs virtual patients to revolutionize drug development, saving up to 40% in time and money. Their mission resonates deeply with us: to accelerate the go-to-market timeline for new drugs by up to four years, providing earlier treatment access to patients and enhancing market exclusivity for commercialization. Their dedication to advanced digital twin technology streamlines drug development, ensuring timely delivery of critical treatments and improving commercial outcomes."

About InSilicoTrials

InSilicoTrials aims to become the leading problem solver in drug development by leveraging computational modeling and simulation (in silico) techniques. Using AI and advanced predictive technologies, we support emerging biotech companies by generating robust digital evidence that enhances funding prospects and clinical outcomes. Our in silico methods reduce R&D time and costs, offering virtual patient and AI-enhanced trial accuracy, cloud-based simulations for comprehensive virtual assessments & regulatory-compliant data to support clinical programs.

Our commitment has not gone unnoticed: besides the AI Startup of the Year Award by Startup Grind Global 2024, we are also proud recipients of the Innovation Radar Prize 2023 by the European Commission in the AI & Smart Devices category.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2426250/InSilicoTrials.jpg

SOURCE InSilicoTrials
HAMILTON, Bermuda, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Itasca MGA Limited ("Itasca MGA"), an aviation-focused managing general agent created by alternative investment manager Castlelake and Pine Walk Capital, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Fidelis Partnership, today announced it has supported Virgin Atlantic in respect of an insurance-backed financing solution for delivery of its final A350-1000 aircraft.

The policy underwritten by Itasca MGA helped enable the airline to efficiently acquire and finance the new fuel-efficient A350-1000 aircraft, which supports Virgin Atlantic's sustainability ambitions of achieving net zero by 2050 while becoming sustainably profitable, continuing to serve as one of leading long-haul, transatlantic premium carriers from London Heathrow. La Banque Postale, MUFG and Natixis CIB acted as senior lenders and mandated lead arrangers in the finance lease transaction, which was structured as a French optimized lease, combined with an Itasca MGA underwritten senior loan. In addition, a junior loan was provided by Tamweel Aviation Finance which was arranged and structured by Novus Aviation Capital.

"Virgin Atlantic has been committed to innovation and collaborating with the best partners since 1984, as demonstrated by this latest partnership with Itasca MGA, MUFG, Natixis, La Banque Postale and Novus Aviation Capital," said Ansar Hussain, VP of Corporate Finance at Virgin Atlantic. "The Airbus A350 plays a significant role in our fleet transformation, enabling us to fly one of the youngest, cleanest fleets which is now fully financed through to Q4'25."

The aircraft, G-VELJ was delivered to Virgin Atlantic on 24th May.

About Itasca MGA

Itasca MGA is a managing general agent housed within the Pine Walk Group that specializes in underwriting, structuring and managing risk associated with secured commercial aviation financing on behalf of The Fidelis Partnership and Itasca Re Limited, a Bermuda-licensed reinsurance company established by Castlelake that specializes in insurance-backed financing solutions for buyers and owners of commercial aircraft assets. To support airline and lessor customers, Itasca MGA uses insurance capacity provided by Fidelis Insurance Ireland DAC and Fidelis Underwriting Limited alongside Starr Europe Insurance Limited and Starr Europe Insurance Limited, with the latter two continuing to be reinsured by Itasca Re. For more information, visit https://www.itascare.com/.

Media contact:

Itasca MGA

+1 612 851 3083

SOURCE Itasca MGA
Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On May 28th local time, BYD celebrated the grand opening of its first store in Saudi Arabia, which is located the countrys capital city, Riyadh, according to BYD's press release.

Photo credit: BYD

Located in the heart of Riyadh's Al Ghader district, this store integrates a flagship showroom, exploration center, and service center, aiming to provide local consumers with a comprehensive new energy vehicle (NEV) experience. The opening of BYD's first flagship store in Saudi Arabia marks its deeper penetration into the Saudi market, accelerating the transition to green transportation in the region.

Photo credit: BYD

The opening ceremony was jointly hosted by BYD and its Saudi distributor, Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Company. The event featured meticulously designed interactive experience zones and test drive sessions, inviting guests to personally experience BYD's vision of sustainable mobility. Participants had the opportunity to get up close and test drive three all-electric vehicle models: the Han, Yuan PLUS (known as BYD ATTO3 outside of China), and Seal, as well as two plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) models: the Qin PLUS and Song PLUS.

AD Huang, General Manager of BYD's Middle East and Africa Sales Division, stated, "According to the Saudi government's plan, by 2030, NEVs are expected to account for 30% of Riyadh's vehicle sales. In addition to launching a diverse range of NEV products, BYD will collaborate with Al-Futtaim to continuously build a NEV ecosystem, jointly contributing to the rapid development of the local NEV industry."

Since BYD's foray into the Saudi market in February this year, the company has deepened its investment, now boasting an elite team of over a hundred members dedicated to providing comprehensive car purchasing services for Saudi consumers. In the future, BYD plans to open more stores in Saudi Arabia and enhance its sales network, offering local consumers a more convenient and comfortable car buying and owning experience.
BOSTON, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) (the "Fund"), a closed-end fund managed by John Hancock Investment Management LLC and subadvised by Manulife Investment Management (US) LLC, announced today sources of its monthly distribution of $0.0825 per share paid to all shareholders of record as of May 13, 2024, pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan. This press release is issued as required by an exemptive order granted to the Fund by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Notification of Sources of Distribution

This notice provides shareholders of the John Hancock Premium Dividend Fund (NYSE: PDT) with important information concerning the distribution declared on May 1, 2024, and payable on May 31, 2024. No action is required on your part.

Distribution Period: May 2024 Distribution Amount Per Common Share: $0.0825

The following table sets forth the estimated sources of the current distribution, payable May 31, 2024, and the cumulative distributions paid this fiscal year to date from the following sources: net investment income; net realized short term capital gains; net realized long term capital gains; and return of capital or other capital source. All amounts are expressed on a per common share basis and as a percentage of the distribution amount.





For the period 05/1/2024-05/31/2024

For the fiscal year-to-date period

11/1/2023-05/31/2024 1 Source

Current

Distribution ($)

% Breakdown

of the Current

Distribution

Total Cumulative

Distributions ($)

% Breakdown

of the Total

Cumulative

Distributions Net Investment Income

0.0740

90 %

0.3561

62 % Net Realized Short- Term Capital Gains

0.0000

0 %

0.0243

4 % Net Realized Long- Term Capital Gains

0.0000

0 %

0.0000

0 % Return of Capital or Other Capital Source

0.0085

10 %

0.1971

34 % Total per common share

0.0825

100 %

0.5775

100 %



































1 The Fund's current fiscal year began on November 1, 2023 and will end on October 31, 2024.









Average annual total return (in relation to NAV) for the 5 years ended on April 30, 2024

4.00 %





Annualized current distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of April 30, 2024

8.13 %





Cumulative total return (in relation to NAV) for the fiscal year through April 30, 2024

20.30 %





Cumulative fiscal year-to-date distribution rate expressed as a percentage of NAV as of April 30, 2024

4.74 %

You should not draw any conclusions about the Fund's investment performance from the amount of this distribution or from the terms of the Fund's managed distribution plan.

The Fund estimates that it has distributed more than its income and net realized capital gains; therefore, a portion of your distribution may be a return of capital. A return of capital may occur, for example, when some or all of the money that you invested in the Fund is paid back to you. A return of capital distribution does not necessarily reflect the Fund's investment performance and should not be confused with "yield" or "income."

The amounts and sources of distributions reported in this Notice are only estimates and are not being provided for tax reporting purposes. The actual amounts and sources of the amounts for tax reporting purposes will depend upon the Fund's investment experience during the remainder of its fiscal year and may be subject to changes based on tax regulations. The Fund will send you a Form 1099-DIV for the calendar year that will tell you how to report these distributions for federal income tax purposes.

The Fund has declared the May 2024 distribution pursuant to the Fund's managed distribution plan (the "Plan"). Under the Plan, the Fund makes fixed monthly distributions in the amount of $0.0825 per share, which will continue to be paid monthly until further notice.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact your financial professional or call the John Hancock Investment Management Closed-End Fund Information Line at 1-800-843-0090, Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.

Statements in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined by the United States securities laws. You should exercise caution in interpreting and relying on forward-looking statements because they are subject to uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond the Fund's control and could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

An investor should consider a Fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing.

About John Hancock Investment Management

A company of Manulife Investment Management, we serve investors through a unique multimanager approach, complementing our extensive in-house capabilities with an unrivaled network of specialized asset managers, backed by some of the most rigorous investment oversight in the industry. The result is a diverse lineup of time-tested investments from a premier asset manager with a heritage of financial stewardship.

About Manulife Investment Management

Manulife Investment Management is the global brand for the global wealth and asset management segment of Manulife Financial Corporation. We draw on more than a century of financial stewardship and the full resources of our parent company to serve individuals, institutions, and retirement plan members worldwide. Headquartered in Toronto, our leading capabilities in public and private markets are strengthened by an investment footprint that spans 18 geographies. We complement these capabilities by providing access to a network of unaffiliated asset managers from around the world. We're committed to investing responsibly across our businesses. We develop innovative global frameworks for sustainable investing, collaboratively engage with companies in our securities portfolios, and maintain a high standard of stewardship where we own and operate assets, and we believe in supporting financial well-being through our workplace retirement plans. Today, plan sponsors around the world rely on our retirement plan administration and investment expertise to help their employees plan for, save for, and live a better retirement. Not all offerings are available in all jurisdictions. For additional information, please visit manulife.com.

SOURCE John Hancock Investment Management
The agreement marks an exciting first foray into the Canadian market for LAZ and will bring LAZ's best-in-class services to Canadian customers and clients; people-first focus to new team members.

HARTFORD, Conn., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- LAZ Parking, the largest, fastest-growing privately owned parking operator in the United States, is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a contract to manage parking services at Edmonton International Airport (YEG), the major air passenger and cargo facility serving the Edmonton Metropolitan Region of Alberta, Canada. The contract marks an exciting first foray into the Canadian market for LAZ and will bring LAZ's best-in-class services to Canadian clients as well as the company's people-first focus to new team members.

Edmonton International Airport (YEG) parking products.

"We are thrilled to have been selected by Edmonton International Airport to oversee parking services at this busy international hub of passenger and cargo air traffic," said Alan Lazowski, Chairman and CEO of LAZ Parking. "Breaking into the Canadian market is both an acknowledgment of our reputation for providing superior, best-in-class services to customers and clients and an opportunity to bring that same high level of service to the first of what we hope will be many new customers and clients in Canada."

Under the agreement, LAZ will take over self-parking and valet parking services at the airport as well as ground transportation and shuttle services. With more than 10,000 parking spaces, Edmonton International Airport is Canada's fifth-busiest airport by passenger traffic and the largest major Canadian airport by land area. The airport is located 8 miles south of Edmonton, the provincial capital of Alberta. It offers non-stop service to more than 50 destinations that include major cities in Canada, the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, Central America and Europe. In 2023, YEG welcomed 7.5 million passengers and continues to be a hub facility for Western Canada and Northern Canada.

"We are thrilled to welcome LAZ Parking to our airport ecosystem. Their innovative solutions and proven customer service align with our commitment to providing the best possible passenger experience," said Carmen Donnelly, Vice President of Passenger Experience and Terminal Operations at Edmonton International Airport (YEG). "Parking is an important part of the travel journey at YEG, and it's our goal to make this process as convenient and seamless as possible."

LAZ founding partner Jeff Karp expressed excitement about the new partnership and the opportunity to enhance service delivery and technology solutions at the Edmonton Airport. "The YEG team has developed an impressive parking and transportation operation with a variety of products and services available for travelers in the Edmonton region," he said. "By selecting LAZ as the new service provider, the airport is well positioned for future growth as our two organizations collaborate to introduce new technological innovations that further enhance the traveling experience."

YEG joins a growing number of airport clients in the United States for which LAZ Parking provides full-service solutions inside and outside the terminal. LAZ Airport Services focuses on maximizing annual operating revenues and minimizing costs while providing premium customer service to airport visitors and passengers. The full scope of services includes parking management, shuttle bus transportation, valet parking services, 24/7 customer care call center, ground transportation & curbside management, business intelligence, data analytics, and more.

"At LAZ, we take pride in providing airport customers and clients with the most convenient, seamless parking and ground transportation experience by offering cutting-edge technology and parking solutions second to none in the business," said Rick Ingram, Vice President of Airport Services for LAZ. "This contract is a validation of our many years of hard work and the trust that Edmonton International Airport has placed in LAZ to serve its customers. We are honored by this new partnership and excited to now be able to offer superior parking services to clients and customers in Canada."

About LAZ Parking

LAZ Parking is the largest, fastest-growing privately owned parking operator in the United States and a pioneer in digital parking technology. Founded in Hartford, CT, LAZ has been providing best-in-class parking management and transportation services since 1981 and operates over 1.6 million parking spaces in over 3,800 locations in 42 states and 477 cities in the U.S. and Canada. LAZ is an industry leader in business intelligence, remote monitoring, eCommerce solutions, and Proximity On-Demand Services or "LAZ PODS". We leverage our international network of parking facilities to offer cutting-edge, tech-enabled solutions, that include EV charging, micro warehousing, last-mile logistics, working across the hospitality, commercial, healthcare, airports, transportation, universities, government, retail, events, residential, and shuttle service industries. LAZ is a people-first, conscious capitalist company, committed to elevating humanity through business. Additional information can be found at www.lazparking.com.

About Edmonton International Airport

Edmonton International Airport (YEG) is a self-funded, not-for-profit corporation driving economic prosperity for the Edmonton Metropolitan Region and beyond. YEG is Canada's fifth-busiest airport by passenger traffic and the largest major Canadian airport by land area, generating an economic output of over $4.9 billion and supporting over 21,000 jobs. A global leader in supporting innovation in the aviation industry, YEG's Airport City Sustainability Campus is fostering advancements in areas such as hydrogen and drone delivery. YEG approaches equity, diversity and inclusion by creating an Airport for Everyone.

For more information, please visit: flyeia.com, follow @flyyeg on X, Instagram, LinkedIn or Facebook.

SOURCE LAZ Parking
June 7 Kick-Off

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Arden, an award-winning Agrihood community in South Florida, and homebuilder Lennar's Palm Atlantic Division, announce a partnership with Hibiscus Children's Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting children for over 30 years. This year-long collaboration will feature a series of events to benefit the children's center, starting with a kickoff charity drive open to all at the Arden Lakehouse on June 7, 2024, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. Arden Lakehouse is located at 2825 Arden Park Drive, Loxahatchee, Fla.

Lennar's Palm Atlantic division and Arden Agrihood announce plans for year-long donation drive to benefit Hibiscus Children's Center. This initiative is part of a long-standing relationship between Lennar and Hibiscus Children's Center. Most recently, the team (pictured) painted and refurbished a home at Hibiscus Children's Village.

"We are deeply grateful for the support from Arden and Lennar Palm Atlantic Division," said Michelle King, Hibiscus Children's Center Chief Development Officer. "Their commitment to our cause will help us continue our mission to provide a safe and nurturing environment for children. This generosity goes a long way in making a difference in these children's lives."

Based in Jensen Beach, Florida, the Hibiscus Children's Center has been a beacon of hope and security for children and teens. The center offers comprehensive programs that focus on mental health, preventive care, and life skills development, empowering youth to navigate life's challenges with resilience and confidence.

Homeowners and community members are invited to bring new and gently used items from the specified list of needs, including clothing, personal hygiene items, beach items, and more. Everyone is welcome to drop off their donations at the Arden Lakehouse.

"We are excited and honored to partner with Hibiscus Children's Center and support their vital cause through our community donation drives at Arden," said Michael Meyers, Palm Atlantic Division President for Lennar. "We believe that the strong sense of community among Arden residents will spark a wave of kindness and support. We encourage everyone to pay it forward and contribute to this meaningful cause."

Lennar has a longstanding tradition of supporting local communities. Through Lennar's Focused Acts of Caring initiative, Lennar's Palm Atlantic Division has dedicated its time, efforts, and resources to numerous charitable activities. These include a blood drive with One Blood, a food drive benefiting the Urban League of Palm Beach County, a toy drive for Toys for Tots, fundraising for the Dolphins Cancer Challenge, and offering a home to a wounded veteran through Operation Finally Home at Arden.

For more information about donating, leaving a Legacy gift, or getting involved, please contact Michelle King at (561) 452-5791 or email [email protected]. To learn more about the Hibiscus Children's Center, click here.

For more information about the Arden community, please visit https://ardenfl.com/.

ABOUT LENNAR

Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation's leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar's Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title and closing services primarily for buyers of Lennar's homes and, through LMF Commercial, originates mortgage loans secured primarily by commercial real estate properties throughout the United States. Lennar's Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. LENX drives Lennar's technology, innovation, and strategic investments. For more information about Lennar, please visit www.lennar.com.

ABOUT ARDEN

Arden's scenic landscape includes 175 acres of magnificent lakes, including a mile-long central lake, 20 miles of trails, and 500 acres of parks, playgrounds, and green space. Arden is also home to one of the first Agrihoods in Florida. Arden's 5-acre farm and event barn are central components of community life here, offering fruits, vegetables, and herbs shared among the residents. Wellington's world-famous equestrian centers are just 12 minutes from Arden. Arden is also close to major employment centers. A-rated Wellington schools, top-rated medical centers, white sand beaches, shopping, dining destinations, and world-class golf, and direct access to sophisticated Palm Beach, Palm Beach International Airport, and South Florida's major cities makes Arden's location second to none.

SOURCE Lennar Corporation
CANTON, Mass., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- EquipNet, Inc., a member of the 3S Circular Network, welcomes Marc Swirsky as the Managing Director of the organization's industrial business. Swirsky joins as a tenured and experienced professional, known in the manufacturing industry for his expertise in industrial capital equipment auctions and liquidations.

With a distinguished career spanning multiple continents, Swirsky has sourced, secured, and managed over 1,000 auctions and capital equipment projects. In addition, he played a pivotal role in the start-up operations of one of the largest industrial liquidation firms in the United States and was the co-founder of a multi-million dollar used equipment sales, auction, and appraisal company.

Marc Swirsky Joins EquipNet, Inc. as Director for Managing Industrial Surplus Equipment Post this

"Our entire team is elated to welcome Marc Swirsky as the new Industrial Managing Director," said Roger Gallo, EquipNet's President & CEO. "Marc's extensive experience and proven leadership in the industrial auction and liquidation space are invaluable assets." Gallo continued by saying, "We are confident that his expertise will significantly contribute to our growth and strengthen our commitment to providing sellers with sustainable solutions to manage their surplus equipment, allowing them to contribute to the circular economy."

With a track record of developing operations, project management, and quality assurance models, Swirsky's leadership is set to enhance EquipNet's capabilities and drive its continued success of connecting sellers with prospective buyers in the industrial industries.

About EquipNet, Inc.

EquipNet is a leading provider of proactive asset management solutions and services to leading corporations in the pharmaceutical, chemical, electronics, industrial, and consumer packaged goods industries. EquipNet's vision is to revolutionize the way companies manage their surplus assets by maximizing financial returns and minimizing the risks associated with idle capital assets. If you have surplus you are looking to sell or are looking for pre-owned equipment at an affordable price, visit us at www.equipnet.com.

SOURCE EquipNet, Inc.
LOS ANGELES, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Mint Blockchain, the Ethereum L2 network for NFT industry, has completed a US$5 million seed funding round joined by Jsquare, SNZ Capital, Antalpha Ventures, Mask Network, BlockAI Ventures, Predator Capital, GoPlus, Whitelist Ventures, PANONY Group, and individual investors Victor, founder of Smart Token Labs, and Mike, founder of GoPlus. This funding round will be used for Mint Blockchain's global market brand building and NFT infrastructure development.

In addition to the successful seed round, the Mint mainnet launched in May 2024. It currently has more than 400,000 active users worldwide and supports 80+ applications. Mint Blockchain is an Ethereum L2 network jointly launched by NFTScan Labs and the MintCore developer team.

Mint Blockchain is built on OP Stack, the open-source development stack developed and maintained by the Optimism Collective. As an EVM-compitble network and a genuine Ethereum L2, developers in the Ethereum ecosystem can seamlessly extend their projects to the Mint Blockchain network.

Mint Blockchain greatly reduces the gas fee cost of on-chain interactions and helps provide effective scalability for the Ethereum ecosystem. Additionally, Mint Blockchain is a member of OP Superchain and a strategic partner of the Optimism Foundation in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mint Blockchain has been designed with NFT assets and their holders in mind, providing Web3 developers with one-stop underlying infrastructure services including NFT asset issuance, trading, indexing, storage, and other related services. The team behind Mint Blockchain is committed to advancing the decentralization of the network. These features are sure to provide a safe and stable decentralized network with an interactive environment for all users and builders.

From the innovative incentives from the NFT assets of the underlying protocol standards to NFT issuance, transaction, and settlement, to the construction of NFT asset Metadata storage layer, and finally to the decentralized indexing of NFT asset data, Mint Blockchain will develop into the most distinctive Ethereum L2.

Consider Mint Blockchain the L2 network with uniquely strong positioning to give Web3 developers the sound NFT development tools and infrastructure they need to bring their apps to the next level!

Website: https://www.mintchain.io/

X: https://x.com/Mint_Blockchain

SOURCE Mint
PERKINSTON, Miss., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

The following is written by Mary S. Graham, Ph.D., President, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, a member of the American Association of Community Colleges.

Mary S. Graham, Ph.D., president of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

In the realm of educational innovation, the Mississippi Artificial Intelligence Network (MAIN) emerges as a groundbreaking collaboration encompassing all 15 community colleges and numerous state universities in Mississippi. As the president of Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (MGCCC) and a proud participant in MAIN, I am compelled to underscore the profound significance of this statewide initiative, marking a historic milestone in the landscape of AI education and workforce development.

The involvement of all 15 community colleges in MAIN is a testament to our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring that the advantages of AI education permeate every corner of our state. Fueled by AccelerateMS funding, this visionary collaboration empowers community colleges to assume a central role in establishing AI labs, facilitating student recruitment and training, and launching awareness campaigns. It also challenges leaders in higher education to reevaluate workforce practices and become early adopters of AI technologies.

At MGCCC, the integration of AI into instruction at every level is championed by Dr. Jonathan Woodward, vice president of Teaching & Learning/Community Campus, who has played a key role in driving this initiative at both the state and program levels. Jason Stuart, a language arts instructor, has provided invaluable training to our faculty and other educational groups across the state and region, demonstrating how AI can be seamlessly incorporated into classrooms. And finally, Dr. Kollin Napier, MAIN director, located at MGCCC, facilitates online classes in AI for not only community college employees but also K-12 teachers and university faculty interested in gaining experience in this booming field.

While the widespread embrace of AI by every faculty member and administrator may still be evolving, the statewide reach of MAIN positions Mississippi as a pioneering force in advancing AI awareness, training, and implementation. This innovative model, the first of its kind nationally, serves as a guiding light for other states seeking to replicate a collaborative approach to AI education and workforce development.

We are particularly fortunate to have two high-tech companies working with us on this initiative: Intel Corporation and Dell Technologies. Intel's participation, notably through its AI for Workforce program, aligns perfectly with MAIN's vision of creating a robust AI talent pipeline. This collaboration extends beyond individual higher education institutions, creating a network that leverages the strengths of both community colleges and state universities to prepare a diverse and skilled workforce.

Dell's commitment to providing AI-ready technology and an AI curriculum further cements MAIN's status as a comprehensive and forward-thinking initiative. The collaboration between industry leaders and educational institutions underscores the vital importance of public and private sectors uniting to bridge the gap between education and real-world applications.

As MAIN garners national attention, it stands as a testament to Mississippi's unwavering dedication to AI education and serves as a replicable model for the nation. The success of MAIN hinges on the collaborative spirit of community colleges, state universities, and industry partners, laying the foundation for a future where AI education is accessible, inclusive, and transformative on a statewide scale.

MAIN is not merely a network; it is a movement that can propel Mississippi to the forefront of AI innovation. I am excited to see what happens as we collectively navigate this new technological landscape.

Uniquely American, community colleges serve more than 10 million students annually, providing critical access to higher education in academic and workforce development. As the voice of the nation's community colleges, the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC), delivers educational and economic opportunity for more than 10 million diverse students in search of the American Dream. Uniquely dedicated to access and success for all students, AACC's member colleges provide an on-ramp to degree attainment, skilled careers, and family-supporting wages. Located in Washington, D.C., AACC advocates for these not-for-profit, public-serving institutions to ensure they have the resources and support to increase economic mobility for all. https://www.aacc.nche.edu/

SOURCE American Association of Community Colleges
Myasthenia gravis community members around the world take action in June to spread awareness and advocate about the challenges and treatments for MG.

BOSTON, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America (MGFA), the largest, leading patient advocacy organization solely dedicated to the myasthenia gravis (MG) community, announced the official kickoff of MG Awareness Month in June around the world.

The global MG Community is turning Awareness into Action to educate everyone about the challenges of the rare neuromuscular disease myasthenia gravis (MG). Individuals diagnosed with myasthenia gravis as well as caregivers, medical experts and researchers, pharmaceutical and biotech companies, and MG Community members are participating in all kinds of activity to drive new awareness of the disease as well as communicate methods of more effectively managing MG.

Leading POA MGFA Kicks Off MG Awareness Month for June. Post this

"This time of the year is so special and important because the entire global MG community leans in and takes action to do something  no matter how large or small  in order to drive awareness of this debilitating rare disease," said Samantha Masterson, president and chief executive officer at the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America. "Myasthenia gravis profoundly impacts the lives of those diagnosed, but as we continue to educate and inform, and advocate and empower, and fund critical research, we believe that our work could lead to improved diagnosis times, and an overall improved quality of life through better treatments and disease management strategies. The needle continues to move and each year we see more impact."

MG Community members from many countries are coming together as part of an international "collaboration" to creatively plan and conduct activities  everything from media relations, international events and gatherings, legislative advocacy, social media sharing, fundraisers, and more  that will increase awareness of the effects of the disease while outlining new treatments and research progress.

Approximately 70,000 to 90,000 are diagnosed and living with MG in the United States alone. MG patients suffer with debilitating physical symptoms such as extreme fatigue and muscle weakness that impact a person's ability to see, swallow, smile, walk or breathe. MGFA focuses on funding promising research discoveries for better treatments while providing impactful programs, guidance, and education to support members of the MG Community.

MGFA provides toolkits, ideas, and methods of taking action and driving awareness. The organization also raises funds through its DARE to CARE program that supports MG research grant funding and educational materials or events creation.

MGFA Contact Information:

Michael Antonellis

Vice President, Global Marketing & Communications

[email protected]

+1-617-610-2411

Kate Stober

National Director, Digital and Content Marketing

[email protected]

+1-480-744-2705

SOURCE Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, Inc.
BURLINGTON, N.C., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- National OnDemand, Inc., a leading communications and utilities infrastructure provider, is pleased to announce the appointment of Richard Jordan as the new Executive Vice President of Operations.

National OnDemand, Inc. is a premier communications and utilities infrastructure provider, offering comprehensive service solutions to the Fiber, Wireless, Energy, and Technology sectors. Based in Burlington, North Carolina, National OnDemand delivers full turnkey infrastructure solutions on demand, anywhere in the U.S., and is recognized for its successful mergers and acquisitions, along with steady organic growth.

Richard Jordan brings a wealth of experience to National OnDemand, having spent over three decades in various leadership roles within the telecommunications and broadband sectors. His extensive background in operations management, strategic planning, and team leadership makes him an invaluable addition to the National OnDemand team. Most recently, Richard served as Senior Vice President of Operations at Mears Broadband, a Quanta Services Company, where he was instrumental in driving operational excellence and expanding the company's footprint across the United States.

Douglas Boteler, CEO of National OnDemand, expressed his enthusiasm about the new appointment: "We are thrilled to welcome Richard Jordan to our executive team. His proven track record and deep understanding of the industry will be instrumental as we continue to grow and enhance our service offerings. Richard's leadership will undoubtedly strengthen our operations and support our mission to provide top-tier infrastructure solutions across the U.S."

Richard Jordan commented on his new role: "I am excited to join National OnDemand, a company renowned for its commitment to quality and innovation. I look forward to contributing to the company's continued success and working with the talented team to drive operational excellence and deliver outstanding service to our clients."

National OnDemand, Inc. continues to lead the market with its full turnkey infrastructure solutions, delivering unparalleled service to the Fiber, Wireless, Energy, and Technology sectors. Headquartered in Burlington, North Carolina, the company remains dedicated to expanding its reach and impact through strategic growth and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

About National OnDemand, Inc.

National OnDemand, Inc. is a premier communications and utilities infrastructure provider, offering comprehensive service solutions to the Fiber, Wireless, Energy, and Technology sectors. Based in Burlington, North Carolina, National OnDemand delivers full turnkey infrastructure solutions on demand, anywhere in the U.S., and is recognized for its successful mergers and acquisitions, along with steady organic growth.

For more information, please visit https://www.nationalondemand.com or contact:

Media Contact:

Jay Daugherty

Director of Marketing

National OnDemand, Inc.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 833-8-ONDEMAND (833-866-3362)

SOURCE National OnDemand, Inc.
TORONTO, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Rock Tech Lithium Inc. (TSXV: RCK) (OTCQX: RCKTF) (FWB: RJIB) (WKN: A1XF0V) ("Rock Tech" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the official handover of all construction and operation permit approvals for its German Lithium refinery. Today, the state of Brandenburg's Minister for Climate Action and Environment Axel Vogel and Minister for Economic Affairs Joerg Steinbach handed over the notice of approval for the Lithium-Hydroxide Converter to Rock Tech's CEO Dirk Harbecke. The handover took place during a meeting in the State Chancellery in Potsdam. Guben's Mayor Fred Mahro and representatives from Rock Tech were also in attendance. All parties welcomed the successful completion of the approval process as a progressive step in the realisation of regional and resilient battery supply-chains.

Brandenburg Officials and members of the Rock Tech team during the permit handover. Credits: Volker Tanner, Staatskanzlei (CNW Group/Rock Tech Lithium Inc.)

Rock Tech plans to build Europe's first Lithium converter with a capacity of 24,000 tonnes of Lithium-Hydroxide per year. Lithium-Hydroxide is required as a raw material for battery production for electric cars and energy storage systems.

Rock Tech's CEO Harbecke states: "I'd like to thank the State of Brandenburg and in particular the State Office for the Environment which was responsible for the permit. The construction and operating licence for our lithium refinery is a strong signal for Rock Tech and Europe. The support of the state, the city of Guben, and other stakeholders involved is exceptionally encouraging. The permits not only allow us to now move into the last stage of financing for the project, but they are also proof that our concept works and the Guben converter will serve as the blueprint for our other refinery projects worldwide. We expect to finalise subsidy negotiations and equity term sheets with strategic partners soon. The credit approval process with our banking partners will follow shortly after and we aim to take the final investment decision (FID) in Q3 this year."

Minister Steinbach adds: "I am delighted that the approvals have now been issued and that Rock Tech's construction project is one step closer to realisation. The future production of Lithium-Hydroxide in Guben represents a further building block in the creation of an EV value-chain that is currently being established in Brandenburg. The state government is supporting Rock Tech Lithium as much as possible and has initiated all necessary steps."

Additionally, the Company announces that it has appointed Derek Sobel to the position of Chief Financial Officer as of June 01, 2024. Mr. Sobel is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) with extensive financial reporting experience in the Canadian public markets. He held the position of Head of Accounting, Audit, and Tax for Rock Tech since 2021. He follows Ms. Sonja Rossteuscher, who has held the position as CFO since November 2022.

ABOUT ROCK TECH

Rock Tech is a cleantech company with operations in Canada and Germany on a mission to produce lithium hydroxide for electric vehicle batteries. The Company plans to build lithium converters at the doorstep of its customers, to guarantee supply-chain transparency and just-in-time delivery, beginning with the Company's proposed lithium hydroxide merchant converter and refinery facility in Guben, Germany. The second Lithium converter is planned to be built in Red Rock, Ontario, Canada. Rock Tech plans to source raw material from its wholly-owned Georgia Lake spodumene project located in the Thunder Bay Mining District of Ontario, Canada, as well as procuring it from other responsibly producing mines. In the years to come, the Company expects to also source raw material from discarded batteries. To close the most pressing gap in the clean mobility story, Rock Tech has gathered one of the strongest teams in the industry. The Company has adopted strict environmental, social and governance standards and is developing a proprietary refining process aimed at further increasing efficiency and sustainability. Rock Tech's goal: to create a closed-loop lithium production system.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements contained in this news release constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable securities laws and are referred to herein as "forward-looking statements". All statements, other than statements of historical fact, which address events, results, outcomes or developments that the Company expects to occur are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "predicts", "believes", "estimates", "intends", "targets", "projects", "forecasts", "may", "will", "should", "would", "could" or negative versions thereof and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward-looking information pertaining to expectations concerning the Guben Converter, including the design and features of the Guben Converter, as well as the expected costs, capital expenditures, timing and outcomes thereof; statements regarding the Company's future plans, estimates, and schedules relating to the Guben Converter, including the anticipated timing of future activities taken in support of the development thereof; Rock Tech's potential financing arrangements; the expected economic performance of the Guben Converter and anticipated production of battery-grade lithium hydroxide and related processing methods employed; the estimated capital and operating costs of the Guben Converter; the anticipated timing and outcomes of a final investment decision, construction activities and commissioning of the Guben Converter; statements regarding the Company's sustainability and ESG related goals and strategy, including the benefits and achievement thereof and future actions taken by the Company in relation thereto; expected regulatory processes and final outcomes; expectations regarding the electric vehicle industry, including the demand for and pricing of battery-grade lithium hydroxide and the benefits therefrom, and the development of political and regulatory frameworks especially in Germany and the European Union; Rock Tech's opinions, beliefs and expectations regarding the Company's business strategy, development and exploration opportunities and projects; and plans and objectives of management for the Company's operations and properties.Forward-looking statements by their nature are based on assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors discussed in the Company's most recent management's discussion and analysis and annual information form filed with the applicable securities regulators. No assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, and the Company cautions the reader not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, nor does it assume any obligation to update or revise any of the forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, changes in assumptions, future events or otherwise, except to the extent required by applicable law.

SOURCE Rock Tech Lithium Inc.
Annual total is first of its kind for on-the-ground conservation

MEMPHIS, Tenn. , May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time in its 87-year history, Ducks Unlimited acres has delivered 1 million of conservation across North America in one year thanks to more than a million supporters and partners including private landowners, hunters, corporations, major donors, and state and federal agencies.

"One million acres of tangible conservation in one year is an achievement that's nearly 90 years in the making," said DU CEO Adam Putnam. "This is a testament to the hard work of our dedicated staff and volunteers following years of exponential conservation growth. We don't just advocate for wetlands - our mission moves dirt. Ducks see it. Communities see it. Partners see it. Each acre represents in-the-field success. Combined with our most ambitious comprehensive campaign in history, Conservation For a Continent, DU members and supporters are more motivated than ever before to make an impact on the wetlands and waterfowl we love."

"We don't just advocate for wetlands - our mission moves dirt. Ducks see it. Communities see it. Partners see it." Post this

The historic international fundraising campaign, "Conservation For a Continent. Our Wetlands. Our Legacy." aims to raise $3 billion by 2026 to provide cleaner water for communities and wildlife.

The announcement was made during Ducks Unlimited's 87th National Convention in San Diego, California.

Also announced during the convention was the largest-ever gift to Ducks Unlimited. Alex Taylor, CEO and Chairman Cox Enterprises announced a $100 million gift to support conservation in honor of Jim Kennedy, chairman emeritus of Cox Enterprises and chairman of the James M. Cox Foundation. The gift will help support protection and restoration efforts of North America's Prairie Pothole Region. Jim Kennedy is DU's largest supporter, has been a volunteer with Ducks Unlimited for over 50 years, has served on its board of directors and was Wetlands America Trust's founding president. The gift directly supports the continental campaign and prepares DU to conserve millions more acres of habitat.

"Wetlands provide many services to our communities, including flood storage, groundwater recharge, carbon sequestration, enhanced fish habitat and more," said DU Chief Conservation Officer Dr. Karen Waldrop. "But we can't do this alone. The unprecedented success during FY24 is because DU's industry-leading partnerships with state and federal agencies, private corporations, farmers and individual donors."

Ducks Unlimited has restored or protected more than 18 million acres. For more information about DU's conservation work across North America, visit www.ducks.org.

Media contact:

Gregg Powers

[email protected]

SOURCE Ducks Unlimited, Inc.
A $25K Jeep EV Sounds Like a Pipe Dream, But Stellantis Says It's Happening photo

Stellantis on the whole isnt exactly on the forefront of electric vehicles, having many in the works but, so far, only getting the subcompact Fiat 500e out the door here in the U.S. Nevertheless, CEO Carlos Tavares told the public this week that a $25,000 all-electric Jeep is on a journey to the States, and itll be easy for the company to pull off, because itll use the same technology as its cheap European EVs.

The same way we brought the 20,000 Citroen e-C3, you will have a $25,000 Jeep very soon, because we are using the same expertise, Tavares said at a Bernstein Conference in New York, according to the Wall Street Journal .

While that might make sense at face value, of course Stellantis already sells a small European EV here, and it costs $34,095. While Tavares wasnt specific about the sort of vehicle Jeep might sell at a $25,000 price tag, its difficult to envision how itll be able to manufacture a larger vehicle thats perhaps nominally capable off-roadat least, more so than a 500ewhile coming in at $10,000 less, at the effective basement of modern EV pricing. Even if this mythical bargain EV is built in the U.S. and therefore qualifies for a tax credit, Stellantis is still going to have to do a lot of cost trimming.

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However it gets there, Jeep needs to start selling some less expensive cars, electric or otherwise. The brands newer cars are more luxurious, high-margin products targeting wealthier buyers, whereas its entry-level offerings are incredibly dated and yet, still, somehow far too expensive for how uncompetitive they are.

Jeep dealers have complained that the brands just too pricey these days for most people and, when you consider that a base-model Cherokee starts at $39,290 once you factor in shipping, its hard to disagree. Even the Jeep Renegade a front-wheel-drive compact crossover built in Europe, on one of Stellantis cheap (and old) econobox platformscosts $30,040. The Jeep Compass gets close to Tavares target price point, at $27,495, but for that price there are still loads better alternatives out there.

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So how does Stellantis expect us to believe that it can build and sell an all-electric Jeep for $25,000? Supposing it can deliver on that promise, will Jeep customers even want it? Jeep is a brand famous for rugged dependability and off-road capability. Does it seem like a proper home for what sounds like a rebadged Citroen e-C3?

That could be where the EV market is headed, though. The Chevrolet Bolt will eventually make a comeback, since GM realized far too late that it was a mistake to kill it , while Ford has thrown the idea around of a low-priced EV. Both of those brands have electric car expertise, though. With established EV makers moving toward lower price points, Stellantis might have no choice but to at least try to do the same. But its current U.S. lineup doesnt inspire much confidence.

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VANCOUVER, BC, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ - Optimi Health Corp. (CSE: OPTI) (OTCQX: OPTHF) (FRA: 8BN), a leading Health Canada-licensed GMP psychedelics pharmaceutical manufacturer specializing in controlled substances such as botanical psilocybin and MDMA, is pleased to announce it has closed a third and final tranche of its non-brokered private placement (the "Offering"). The Offering consisted of units (each a "Unit") at CAD$0.30 per Unit for gross proceeds of CDN$1,500,000. Optimi raised CDN$544,990 in the third tranche closed May 29, 2024, CDN$400,000 in the second tranche closed May 10, 2024, and CDN$555,010 in the first tranche which closed February 23, 2024.

Each Unit under the Offering is comprised of 1 common share in the capital of the Company (each a "Common Share") and 1/2 of a transferable Common Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant a "Warrant"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to acquire 1 Common Share at CAD$0.40 for 2 years from the date of issuance, subject to an accelerated expiry provision, whereby in the event the closing price of the Company's Common Shares on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the "Exchange") exceeds CAD$0.50 for a period of 20 consecutive trading days, at the Company's election, the period within which the Warrants are exercisable, will be reduced and the holders of the Warrants will be entitled to exercise their Warrants for a period of 30 days commencing on the day the Company provides notice, any outstanding Warrants not exercised during the 30 day period will expire. The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering to obtain its Drug Establishment License, facilitate commercialization, and for general working capital.

All securities issued, including securities issuable on exercise thereof, are subject to a hold period expiring 4 months and 1 day from the date of issuance, in accordance with the rules and policies of the Exchange and applicable Canadian securities laws.

In connection with the final tranche, the Company paid finders' fees of CDN$2,400, equal to 8% of the total proceeds raised by eligible finders.

ABOUT OPTIMI (CSE: OPTI) (OTCQX: OPTHF) (FRA: 8BN)

Optimi Health Corp. is a leading Health Canada licensed psychedelics pharmaceutical manufacturer, specializing in controlled substances such as psilocybin and MDMA, as well as functional mushrooms that focus on the health and wellness markets. Built with the purpose of producing scalable psychedelic formulations for transformational human experiences, the Company's goal is to be the number one trusted, compassionate supplier of safe drug candidates throughout the world. Optimi's products are grown and manufactured at its two facilities comprising a total of 20,000 square feet in Princeton, British Columbia.

FORWARD  LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements") that relate to Optimi's current expectations and views of future events. Any statements that express, or involve discussions as to, expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, through the use of words or phrases such as "will likely result," "are expected to," "expects," "will continue," "is anticipated," "anticipates," "believes," "estimated," "intends," "plans," "forecast," "projection," "strategy," "objective," and "outlook") are not historical facts and may be forward-looking statements and may involve estimates, assumptions and uncertainties which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. forward-looking statements made in this news release include the proposed use of the proceeds of the Offering. No assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements included in this news release should not be unduly relied upon. These statements speak only as of the date of this news release.

Forward-looking statements are based on a number of assumptions and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Optimi's control, which could cause actual results and events to differ materially from those that are disclosed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Optimi undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Optimi to predict all of them or assess the impact of each such factor or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Any forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE Optimi Health Corp.
Monika Seyfried Will Use Her Grant to Research Using Plants for Sustainable Data Storage

GREENWICH, Conn., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- O'Shaughnessy Ventures LLC ("OSV"), an investment firm that empowers creators, has awarded an O'Shaughnessy Fellowship to Monika Seyfried, an interaction designer based in Poland.

Seyfried will leverage the biotechnology expert community to conduct technological research into storing digital data in plants and living organisms. She will build a scientific research venture aimed at transforming how we interact with data and addressing the significant carbon dioxide emissions caused by data storage.

2024 O'Shaughnessy Fellow, Monika Seyfried

Seyfried is a multidisciplinary interaction designer whose research focuses on leveraging living systems and the natural world to develop sustainable data storage technologies. She is the co-founder of the Grow Your Own Cloud initiative, which is developing clean data solutions via DNA data storage in plants. Grow Your Own Cloud was awarded the Science Breakthrough of the Year 2022 Award by the Falling Walls Foundation and was a winner of the 2019 United Nations Unite Ideas Circular Economy Challenge. Seyfried's work has been recognized by organizations such as the World Economic Forum and the World Government Summit.

OSV's founder and CEO, Jim O'Shaughnessy, commented, "In an era where global data creation and consumption is increasing, this potentially groundbreaking research could revolutionize how we interact with and store our data, ultimately leading to significant environmental benefits. We are hugely impressed by Monika's achievements, accolades and vision, and we look forward to supporting her over the coming months."

Seyfried said, "I am thankful to Jim for supporting groundbreaking ideas that could change the way we interact with the world. I am honored to receive a Fellowship, and I hope to pave the way for data storage via plants and living organisms to create a positive impact on our environment."

About the Fellowship Program

OSV launched the O'Shaughnessy Fellowships in 2023. It is a one-year program for ambitious people who want to build something great. Fellows receive a $100,000 grant and access to OSV's network of founders, investors and experts to support them in bringing their projects to life. More information about last year's Fellows is available on OSV's website.

In 2024, OSV will award ten $100,000 Fellowships. Applicants for the Fellowships will also be considered for its sister program, the O'Shaughnessy Grants. Under this program, OSV will make twenty additional $10,000 grants to promising creators, who will also be provided with access to OSV's network.

Applications for the 2024 Fellowships are now closed and will reopen on January 1, 2025. Creators interested in learning more can visit OSV's website.

About O'Shaughnessy Ventures

OSV is a creative investment firm that empowers and inspires creators to bring their ideas to life. Founded by Jim O'Shaughnessy, a pioneer in quantitative investing, founder of O'Shaughnessy Asset Management, and author of four books on investing, OSV aims to provide financial support and to partner in growing the next life-changing creative ideas.

OSV combines Jim's deeply rooted interest in all things art, science, investing, and tech with his long-held desire to establish scenarios designed to help promising creators and their inspiring ideas succeed, regardless of age, location, job history, or level of education. For more information, visit https://www.osv.llc .

Media Contact:

Ena Gong

O'Shaughnessy Ventures LLC

(917) 355-7420

[email protected]

SOURCE O'Shaughnessy Ventures
ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING RULE 15 PROPOSALS

NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION (IN WHOLE OR IN PART) IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION.

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- On 24 May 2024, Bidco and K1 announced that the offer document (the "Offer Document") in relation to Bidco's offer to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of MariaDB plc (the "Offer") had been published and posted to shareholders of MariaDB plc.

In accordance with Rule 15(c) of the Irish Takeover Panel Act, 1997, Takeover Rules 2022 (the "Irish Takeover Rules"), Bidco today announces that a letter dated 31 May 2024 containing details of its proposal (the "Proposal") to (i) holders of options and (ii) holders of restricted stock units, each as granted under the MariaDB Equity Plans, had been sent to such holders.

The Proposal will be made available free of charge, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, on K1's website at https://k1.com/meridian-offer-update/.

A separate proposal will be made in due course to MariaDB Warrantholders.

Capitalised terms used but not defined in this announcement have the same meaning given to them in the Proposal and the Offer Document.

Enquiries

Lazard (Financial Advisor to K1 and Bidco) Adrian Duchini, Keiran Wilson, Charles White Tel: +44 20 7187 2000



Haven Tower Group (Public Relations Advisor to K1) Donald Cutler, Brandon Blackwell Tel: +1 424 317 4850

Important Notices

The K1 Responsible Persons (being the investment committee of K1), the Bidco Officers and the Topco Officers accept responsibility for the information contained in this Announcement. To the best of the knowledge and belief of the K1 Responsible Persons, the Bidco Officers, the Topco Officers, (who have taken all reasonable care to ensure that such is the case) the information contained in this Announcement for which they have accepted responsibility is in accordance with the facts and does not omit anything likely to affect the import of such information.

Lazard Freres & Co. LLC, together with its affiliate Lazard & Co., Limited (which is authorised and regulated in the United Kingdom by the Financial Conduct Authority) ("Lazard"), is acting exclusively as financial adviser to K1 and Bidco and no one else in connection with the Offer and will not be responsible to anyone other than K1 and Bidco for providing the protections afforded to clients of Lazard nor for providing advice in relation to the Offer or any other matters referred to in this Announcement. Neither Lazard nor any of its affiliates owes or accepts any duty, liability or responsibility whatsoever (whether direct or indirect, whether in contract, in tort, under statute or otherwise) to any person who is not a client of Lazard in connection with this Announcement, any statement contained herein or otherwise.

Disclosure requirements of the Irish Takeover Rules

Under Rule 8.3(b) of the Irish Takeover Rules, if any person is, or becomes, 'interested' (directly or indirectly) in 1% or more of any class of 'relevant securities' of MariaDB, all 'dealings' in any 'relevant securities' of MariaDB or any securities exchange offeror (including by means of an option in respect of, or a derivative referenced to, any such 'relevant securities') must be publicly disclosed by not later than 3:30 pm (U.S. Eastern Time) on the 'business day' following the date of the relevant transaction. This requirement will continue until the 'offer period' ends. If two or more persons cooperate on the basis of any agreement either express or tacit, either oral or written, to acquire an 'interest' in 'relevant securities' of MariaDB, they will be deemed to be a single person for the purpose of Rule 8.3 of the Irish Takeover Rules.

Dealing Disclosures must also be made by any offeror and by any persons acting in concert with them in accordance with Rule 8.2 of the Irish Takeover Rules.

In general, interests in securities arise when a person has long economic exposure, whether conditional or absolute, to changes in the price of the securities. In particular, a person will be treated as having an 'interest' by virtue of the ownership or control of securities, or by virtue of any option in respect of, or derivative referenced to, securities. Terms in quotation marks are defined in the Irish Takeover Rules, which can be found on the Irish Takeover Panel's website.

Details of the offeree company in respect of whose relevant securities Dealing Disclosures must be made can be found in the Disclosure Table on the Irish Takeover Panel's website at www.irishtakeoverpanel.ie, including details of the number of relevant securities in issue, when the offer period commenced and when any offeror was first identified. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not you are required to disclose a 'dealing' under Rule 8, please consult the Irish Takeover Panel's website at www.irishtakeoverpanel.ie or contact the Irish Takeover Panel at telephone number +353 1 678 9020.

Further Information

This Announcement is for information purposes only and is not intended to, and does not, constitute an offer to sell or invitation to purchase any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction pursuant to the Offer or otherwise, nor shall there be any sale, issuance or transfer of securities in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable law. In particular, this Announcement is not an offer of securities for sale into the United States. No offer of securities shall be made in the United States absent registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, such registration requirements. The release, publication or distribution of this Announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law and therefore persons in such jurisdictions into which this Announcement is released, published or distributed should inform themselves about and observe such restrictions.

This Announcement has been prepared for the purpose of complying with the laws of Ireland and the Irish Takeover Rules and the information disclosed may not be the same as that which would have been disclosed if this Announcement had been prepared in accordance with the laws of jurisdictions outside of Ireland.

Overseas Shareholders

The laws of certain jurisdictions may affect the availability of the Offer (including the Unlisted Unit Alternative) to persons who are not resident in Ireland. Persons who are not resident in Ireland, or who are subject to laws of any jurisdiction other than Ireland, should inform themselves about, and observe, any applicable legal or regulatory requirements. Any failure to comply with any applicable legal or regulatory requirements may constitute a violation of the laws and/or regulations of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, the companies and persons involved in the Offer (including the Unlisted Unit Alternative) disclaim any responsibility and liability for the violation of such restrictions by any person.

Unless otherwise determined by Bidco or K1 or required by the Irish Takeover Rules, and permitted by applicable law and regulation, the Offer (including the Unlisted Unit Alternative) will not be made available, directly or indirectly, in any Restricted Jurisdiction, and the Offer will not be capable of acceptance from within a Restricted Jurisdiction where to do so would violate the laws in that jurisdiction. The release, publication or distribution of this Announcement in or into certain jurisdictions may be restricted by the laws of those jurisdictions. Accordingly, copies of this Announcement and all other documents relating to the Offer (including the Unlisted Unit Alternative) are not being, and must not be, released, published, mailed or otherwise forwarded, distributed or sent in, into or from any Restricted Jurisdiction. Persons receiving such documents (including, without limitation, nominees, trustees and custodians) should observe these restrictions. Failure to do so may constitute a violation of the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable Law, K1, the K1 Group and Bidco disclaims any responsibility or liability for the violations of any such restrictions by any person. MariaDB Shareholders who are in any doubt regarding such matters should consult an appropriate independent professional adviser in the relevant jurisdiction without delay. Further details in relation to overseas shareholders are contained in the Offer Document.

If you are a resident of the United States, please read the following:

This Announcement is not intended to, and does not, constitute or form part of any offer (including the Offer), invitation or the solicitation of an offer to purchase, otherwise acquire, subscribe for, tender, exchange, sell or otherwise dispose of, any securities, or the solicitation of any vote or approval in any jurisdiction, nor will there be any acquisition or disposition of the securities referred to in this Announcement in any jurisdiction in contravention of applicable Law or regulation.

This Announcement is not a substitute for the Offer Document and the Form of Acceptance or any other document that Bidco may file with the SEC in connection with the Offer, if any. A solicitation and an offer to buy MariaDB Shares will be made pursuant to a Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO that Bidco intends to file with the SEC. At the time the tender offer is commenced, MariaDB will file a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 with the SEC with respect to the tender offer. MARIADB SHAREHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ ANY SUCH DOCUMENTS FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE OFFER. SUCH DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE ANY DECISION IS MADE WITH RESPECT TO THE OFFER. Investors and MariaDB Shareholders will be able to obtain free copies of these materials (if and when available) and other documents containing important information about MariaDB and the Offer once such documents are filed with the SEC through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.

The Offer, if made, will be made in the United States pursuant to the Exchange Act and otherwise in accordance with the requirements of the Irish Takeover Rules. Accordingly, the Offer will be subject to disclosure and other procedural requirements, including with respect to withdrawal rights, offer timetable, settlement procedures and timing of payments that may be different from those typically applicable under U.S. domestic tender offer procedures and law. In addition, the Offer Document and any other documents relating to the Offer have been or will be prepared in accordance with the Irish Takeover Rules and Irish disclosure requirements, format and style, all of which may differ from those in the United States.

MariaDB is incorporated under the laws of Ireland. Some of the directors on the MariaDB Board at the date of this Announcement are resident in a country other than the United States. As a result, it may not be possible for United States holders of MariaDB Shares to effect service of process within the United States upon MariaDB or some of the directors of MariaDB or to enforce against any of them judgements of the United States predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States. It may not be possible to sue MariaDB or its officers or director(s) in a non-US court for violations of US securities laws. In addition, US holders of MariaDB Shares should be aware that, if K1 and Bidco elect to proceed pursuant to a scheme of arrangement (as described herein), the federal securities laws of the United States may not be applicable.

Publication on website

A copy of this announcement and the documents required to be published pursuant to Rule 26 of the Irish Takeover Rules will be made available, subject to certain restrictions relating to persons resident in Restricted Jurisdictions, will be made available on K1's website (https://k1.com/meridian-offer-update/). Neither the content of any such website nor the content of any other website accessible from hyperlinks on such website is incorporated into, or forms part of, this Announcement.

SOURCE K1 Investment Management
Domestic and international markets in Asia surging as CPHI & PMEC China welcomes 60,000 attendees and 3500 exhibitors

SHANGHAI and AMSTERDAM, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- CPHI & PMEC China (June 19-21st) returns to the Shanghai New International Expo Center amid soaring demand across the pharmaceutical supply chain in Asia. China, already the primary source of pharmaceutical ingredients and starting materials globally, has also seen domestic demand improve rapidly post-pandemic. Consequentially, exhibitors are reporting robust growth across most Asian countries, with expected attendance significantly up year-on-year.

This latest positive boon for the region follows rapid rises in domestic pharma share prices, record drug approvals [60 in 2023] and unprecedented numbers of out-licencing deals in China  all reported in the last few months[1][2][3].

Jenny Leung, Regional Manager, Informa Markets, commenting on the event's continued success: "Last year, we had a record-breaking attendance, and we anticipate an even more international platform this year with numbers up once again. China remains unrivalled as 'the' source of ingredients and starting materials, while its domestic market is also booming. Regional drug makers are expanding exports and increasingly serving China's consistently growing domestic healthcare demand."

CPHI & PMEC China is at the heart of the world's second-largest pharma economy and its largest manufacturing centre. In total, 3500 exhibitors will partner with 60,000 attendees from 150 countries across a massive 220,000+SQM of exhibition space.

Exhibitors will span 12 different zones with the entire supply chain in attendance from ingredients, machinery, clean rooms and finished dosages to contract services, packaging, laboratories and biologics. The event will also host China Pharma Week, which features seven networking streams and a comprehensive agenda to offer extra opportunities for meaningful connections and new learnings.

A notable highlight is the CPHI & PMEC China Awards, spanning seven categories, and celebrating regional innovation with a distinguished ceremony and networking dinner on June 19th. The Awards are open to exhibiting pharmaceutical companies with categories covering API development, partnering, global expansion, sustainability influencers, excipients, natural ingredients, and packaging innovation.

The event will play host to some 100+ conference sessions to help attendees understand this increasingly complex supply network. Beyond the comprehensive Chinese language programme, CPHI & PMEC China 2024 will also feature a series of insightful English-language seminars and conferences.

Attendees can look forward to the China-World Innovation and Development Forum 2024 and the 9th China Biopharmaceuticals Outlook Summit. Further sessions will explore guidance on working in China and overcoming cultural barriers, International Regulatory Agencies Updates and Q&A Session, out-licensing in emerging markets, and the future of Traditional Chinese Medicine and other natural health products. Finally, there will be a deep dive into renewable power and decarbonization efforts in China, collectively providing a rich exchange of ideas and innovations to cater to the event's increasingly global audience.

In fact, hundreds of international exhibitors will be present as China continues to cement its reputation as the global hub for pharmaceutical supply chain sourcing.

Leung emphasised the continued strength of the Chinese Pharmaceutical industry, adding: "Demand for regional partners is incredibly competitive, and the event will welcome significant numbers of new exhibitors in 2024. Supply chains across Asia are diversifying, and we encourage all companies working in China and regionally to attend now. It's an invaluable opportunity to gain a head start on tomorrow's key developments, expand local networks, and prepare for the substantial growth anticipated in the next 18 months."

Notes to editors

At the heart of Pharma

CPHI & PMEC China (19-21 June, 2024 at SNIEC  Shanghai, China); CPHI South East Asia (12-14 July, 2024 at QSNCC, Bangkok, Thailand); CPHI Korea (27-29 August, 2024 at COEX  Seoul, Korea); CPHI Milan (8-10 October 2024 at Fiera Milano  Milan, Italy); CPHI & PMEC India (26-28 November 2024 at the India Expo Mart, Greater Noida, Delhi NCR  Delhi, India); CPHI Middle East (10-12 December, 2024 at Riyadh Front Exhibition & Convention Center  Riyadh, Saudi Arabia); Pharmapack Europe (22-23 Jan, 2025 at Paris Expo, Porte de Versailles - Hall 7.2, Paris); CPHI Japan (09-11 April, 2025 at the Tokyo Big Sight Tokyo, Japan); CPHI North America (20-22 May, 2024 at Pennsylvania Convention Center, United States); with support from year-round pharma news, products and services at CPHI Online.

About Informa Markets

Informa Markets creates platforms for industries and specialist markets to trade, innovate and grow. Our portfolio is comprised of more than 550 international B2B events and brands in markets including Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals, Infrastructure, Construction & Real Estate, Fashion &

Apparel, Hospitality, Food & Beverage, and Health & Nutrition, among others. We provide customers and partners around the globe with opportunities to engage, experience and do business through face-to-face exhibitions, specialist digital content and actionable data solutions. As the world's leading exhibitions organizer, we bring a diverse range of specialist markets to life, unlocking opportunities and helping them to thrive 365 days of the year.

For more information, please visit www.informamarkets.com.

For media enquiries, please contact:

Alex Heeley or Nidhi Narain

De Facto Communications

T: +44 (0) 203 735 8165 / +44 (0) 7834784764

E: [email protected] / [email protected]

SOURCE CPHI & PMEC China 2024
LOS ANGELES, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

A federal court authorized this Notice.

Toyota has agreed to a class action settlement to resolve claims of certain 2012 to 2015 Camry XV50 vehicles purchased or leased in California ("Subject Vehicles"). The Settlement provides a reimbursement program for certain expenses.

What is this lawsuit about?

Plaintiffs allege that the Subject Vehicles contain a defective heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system ("HVAC System"). Toyota denies all claims and allegations brought against it in the lawsuit, but has agreed to the Settlement to resolve the case. The Court has not decided who is right.

Who is Included in the Settlement?

You are included in the Settlement if you are an individual who reside(d) in California and own, lease, or previously owned or leased a Subject Vehicle as of May 31, 2024. You can visit www.ToyotaCaliforniaHVACSettlement.com, which contains a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) lookup tool, to check the eligibility of your vehicle.

What Are the Settlement Benefits?

The proposed Settlement provides: (i) reimbursement for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred on or before May 31, 2024, to replace and install a charcoal filter in a Subject Vehicle and/or flush the evaporator on a Subject Vehicle; and (ii) reimbursement up to $100 for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that are incurred after May 31, 2024, to replace and install a charcoal filter in a Subject Vehicle.

What are my options?

FILE A CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES. You are entitled to file a Claim for the reimbursement of the reasonable, unreimbursed out-of-pocket expense incurred on or before May 31, 2024, to: (i) replace and install a charcoal filter in the Subject Vehicle; and/or (ii) have the evaporator flushed on a Subject Vehicle. A Claim for reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses incurred on or before May 31, 2024, must be postmarked (in the case of mailed claims) or filed with the Settlement Notice Administrator (in the case of electronic claims) by May 31, 2025.

You are also entitled to file a Claim for the reimbursement up to $100 of the reasonable, unreimbursed out-of-pocket expense incurred after May 31, 2024, to replace and install a charcoal filter in the Subject Vehicle.

For model year 2014-2015 Subject Vehicles, claims for out-of-pocket expenses incurred after May 31, 2024, must be postmarked (in the case of mailed claims) or filed with the Settlement Notice Administrator (in the case of electronic claims) by May 31, 2026.

For model year 2012-2013 Subject Vehicles, claims for out-of-pocket expenses incurred after May 31, 2024, must be postmarked (in the case of mailed claims) or filed with the Settlement Notice Administrator (in the case of electronic claims) by May 31, 2025.

You may submit a claim for reimbursement at www.ToyotaCaliforniaHVACSettlement.com.

OBJECT. You may write to the Court to explain why you do not like the Settlement. If you object to the Settlement you will remain a member of the Class (if you are otherwise eligible) and you will still release the claims covered by this Settlement. You must object by September 30, 2024.

EXCLUDE. If you wish to exclude yourself from the Settlement and not receive settlement benefits, you must submit a request to exclude yourself from, or "opt out" of, the Settlement postmarked by September 30, 2024. If you do so, you will preserve your rights to sue Toyota.

GO TO THE FAIRNESS HEARING. The Court will hold a hearing on October 30, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. PDT, to consider whether to grant final approval to the Settlement, including attorneys' fees up to $4.1 million and litigation expenses up to $350,000, as well as Plaintiff service awards up to $7,500 for each of the two Plaintiffs. The hearing date may change, so please check the Settlement website regularly for updates. You do not need to attend, but are welcome to at your own expense.

DO NOTHING. If you are a member of the Class and do nothing, you will not receive the benefits provided under the Settlement, and you will give up the right to sue Toyota about the issues in the lawsuit.

For more information, call 1-888-907-6966 or visit www.ToyotaCaliforniaHVACSettlement.com.

Si desea recibir esta notificacion en espanol, llamenos o visite nuestra pagina web: www.ToyotaCaliforniaHVACSettlement.com.

URL: www.ToyotaCaliforniaHVACSettlement.com

SOURCE United States District Court, Central District of California
LOS ANGELES, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Resecurity (USA), a global leader in cybersecurity solutions protecting major Fortune 500 organizations and government agencies, announces the launch of its state-of-the-art Digital Identity Protection (IDP) solution in Thailand. With the recent surge in data breaches and identity theft incidents, Resecurity's IDP aims to empower individuals and organizations in Thailand to safeguard their digital identities against emerging cyber threats proactively.

IDP Thailand

The need for enhanced digital identity protection has become increasingly urgent in light of recent data leak incidents targeting consumers and businesses, highlighting the critical importance of robust cybersecurity measures to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.

Resecurity has been at the forefront of assisting organizations in identifying and addressing cybersecurity threats, and its latest IDP solution is poised to revolutionize Thailand's digital identity protection landscape. Leveraging cutting-edge technology and real-time threat intelligence, Resecurity's IDP solution offers a holistic defense mechanism to monitor, detect, and mitigate risks associated with identity theft and unauthorized access to personal information.

Key features of Resecurity's IDP solution include:

Advanced Monitoring Capabilities: Continuous monitoring of digital footprints across online and social platforms to detect unauthorized access or suspicious activities related to individual identities. The feature is powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robust data-science, enabling us to detect and identify impersonation of users, as well as detect and flag negative and malicious content such as phishing emails and spam comments. Additionally, our monitoring solution uses AI and data-science to perform risk-scoring, providing a comprehensive assessment of identity risks, including credit risk, identity risk, and other potential threats.

Real-Time Threat Intelligence: Integration with Resecurity's proprietary threat intelligence platform to provide users with timely alerts and actionable insights into emerging cyber threats targeting personal information. Threat intelligence includes monitoring of Dark Web activity alerts, which identify potential threats to user identity. This also includes new data breach indicators, such as stolen credit card numbers or exposed passwords, as well as threat actor chatter and fake social media profiles targeting user identity.

Proactive Risk Mitigation: Utilization of machine learning algorithms and behavioral analysis techniques to identify potential threats and prevent unauthorized access to sensitive data before any harm occurs. The solution supports seamless integration with Single Sign-On (SSO), Active Directory (AD), Office 365, and other essential systems that manage user identities, such as LDAP directories or cloud-based identity management platforms.

User-Centric Interface: Intuitive dashboard interface for individuals and businesses to manage and monitor their digital identities effectively, with customizable alerts and notifications for added convenience. The solution is also available via mobile application, published in the Apple Store and Google Play Marketplace.

Ben Ouano, Chief Operating Officer (COO) APAC of Resecurity, emphasized the company's commitment to delivering cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions to its clients in Thailand. He stated, "At Resecurity, we recognize the critical importance of protecting digital identities in today's interconnected world. With the introduction of our IDP solution in Thailand, we aim to empower individuals and organizations to take proactive steps towards safeguarding their personal information and mitigating the risks of identity theft and cyber fraud."

For more information about Resecurity's Digital Identity Protection solution and other cybersecurity offerings, please visit https://www.resecurity.com

About Resecurity

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence. Known for providing best-of-breed data-driven intelligence solutions, Resecurity's services and platforms focus on early-warning identification of data breaches and comprehensive protection against cybersecurity risks. Founded in 2016, it has been globally recognized as one of the world's most innovative cybersecurity companies with the sole mission of enabling organizations to combat cyber threats regardless of how sophisticated they are. Most recently, Resecurity was named as one of the Top 10 fastest-growing private cybersecurity companies in Los Angeles, California by Inc. Magazine. An Official Partner of the Cybercrime Atlas by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Member of InfraGard National Members Alliance (INMA), AFCEA, NDIA, SIA, FS-ISAC and the American Chamber of Commerce in Saudi Arabia (AmChamKSA), Singapore (AmChamSG), Korea (AmChamKorea), Mexico (AmChamMX), Thailand (AmChamThailand), and UAE (AmChamDubai). To learn more about Resecurity, visit https://resecurity.com.

SOURCE Resecurity Inc.
NEW YORK, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft ("Deutsche Bank" or the "Company") (NYSE: DB). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Deutsche Bank and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On April 26, 2024, Deutsche Bank issued a press release announcing that "[i]n a hearing on April 26, 2024, the Higher Regional Court of Cologne assessed the claims of certain former Postbank shareholders that a higher offer price in connection with Deutsche Bank's voluntary takeover offer of October 7, 2010, should have been paid. During the hearing, the Court indicated that it may find elements of these claims valid in a later ruling." Accordingly, Deutsche Bank advised that "the court's statements will impact Deutsche Bank's estimation of the probability of a future outflow, resulting in a legal provision in the second quarter of 2024. This provision will impact Deutsche Bank's second quarter and full-year profitability and capital ratios. The estimate of the full amount of all claims, including cumulative interest, is approximately 1.3 billion euros."

On this news, Deutsche Bank's stock price fell $1.53 per share, or 8.61%, to close at $16.24 per share on April 29, 2024.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, May 30, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Primerica, Inc. ("Primerica" or the "Company") (NYSE: PRI). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.

The investigation concerns whether Primerica and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.

[Click here for information about joining the class action]

On April 18, 2024, The Bear Cave published a short report on Primerica, which described the Company as "a pyramid scheme". The Bear Cave cited "extensive evidence suggesting that Primerica's highest producing agents are engaged in misleading, false, or deceptive conduct including 1) a recorded Zoom presentation from a Senior National Sales Director that alleges crooked conduct, 'fake numbers,' and appears to suggest an ongoing internal investigation, 2) a text message recruiting script for new agents that appears to deliberately obfuscate their association with Primerica, 3) agent presentations that emphasize recruiting over serving independent customers and 4) a presentation by a high-producing agent saying 'it's normal to be a millionaire.'" The Bear Cave also cited "complaints obtained through public records requests", which "allege forged signatures on six-figure investment contracts" and "'institutionalized theft[.]'"

Following publication of the Bear Cave report, Primerica's stock price fell $1.55 per share, or 0.73%, to close at $210.09 per share on April 18, 2024.

Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered billions of dollars in damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.

CONTACT:

Danielle Peyton

Pomerantz LLP

[email protected]

646-581-9980 ext. 7980

SOURCE Pomerantz LLP
NEW YORK, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global textile machinery market size is estimated to grow by USD 10.71 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of almost 6.74% during the forecast period.

For more insights on the forecast market size and historic data (2018 - 2022) - Download Free sample report in minutes

Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Textile Machinery Market 2024-2028

Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered Product (Spinning machinery, Knitting machinery, Weaving machinery, Texturing machinery, and Finishing and other machinery), End-user (Garment and apparel factory, Cotton and wool mills, Home textile, and Technical textile), and Geography (APAC, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America) Region Covered APAC, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America Key companies profiled ATE Pvt. Ltd., Batliboi Ltd., Camozzi Group SpA, KARL MAYER Holding SE and Co. KG, Lakshmi Machine Works Ltd., MURATA MACHINERY USA, INC., OC Oerlikon Corp. AG, Qingdao Jingtian textile machinery co.,Ltd, Qingdao Lebon Industry Co., Ltd., Radici Partecipazioni Spa, Rieter Holding AG, Santex Rimar Group, SAURER AG, SHIMA SEIKI MFG., LTD., Tessenderlo Group NV, Toyota Industries Corp., Trutzschler Group SE, TSUDAKOMA Corp., VANDEWIELE NV, and YAMUNA MACHINE WORKS LTD

Key Market Trends Fueling Growth

Textile machinery automation is transforming the textile industry by enhancing product quality and cost competitiveness. In fiber manufacturing, automation ensures consistent production of various fiber types by monitoring diameter, polymer characteristics, temperature, and tension. Automation in yarn manufacturing improves homogeneity and reduces unevenness through advanced systems like chute feed systems, auto levelers, auto-corners, and splicing.

Weaving and dyeing processes also benefit from automation, optimizing production and ensuring accurate monitoring of ingredients, water levels, temperature, and time. Overall, automation in textile machinery is reducing labor costs, increasing efficiency, and improving product quality, driving the growth of the global textile machinery market.

The textile machinery market is experiencing notable advancements in technology. Three-dimensional printing is gaining traction in the industry, with producers focusing on printing textiles. Nanotechnology is another trend, with decortication and digitization being key areas of application. Laser technology is used for senory printing, while automation and robotics are streamlining production processes.

Comfort and sustainability are driving factors, with fibres and finishing techniques being areas of innovation. Traditional processes such as spinning, weaving, and dyeing are being enhanced through technology. Producers are also focusing on improving productivity and reducing costs through process optimization.

Market Challenges

The textile machinery market experiences challenges due to the high upfront costs of acquiring and installing advanced equipment, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This financial barrier hinders SMEs from adopting modern technology, creating an uneven competitive landscape.

Large firms with greater financial resources have an advantage. Solutions include financing options, government incentives, and industry collaborations to encourage SMEs' use of sophisticated textile machinery. This significant initial investment may negatively impact the market's growth during the forecast period.

The Textile Machinery Market faces several challenges in the current business environment. These include the need for cost reduction and efficiency gains, increasing competition, and the adoption of new technologies. Producers must stay up-to-date with the latest production processes and technologies to remain competitive. Fiber production, processing, and finishing techniques are constantly evolving, requiring significant investment in research and development.

Additionally, the trend towards sustainability and eco-friendly practices is driving demand for new and innovative textile machinery solutions. The challenge lies in balancing the need for innovation with the need to keep costs down and maintain profitability. The market is also subject to regulatory pressures, particularly in areas such as labor laws and environmental regulations. Overall, the Textile Machinery Market requires a strategic approach to remain competitive and profitable in the face of these challenges.

Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend, driver and challenges - Download Free sample report in minutes

Segment Overview

Product

1.1 Spinning machinery

1.2 Knitting machinery

1.3 Weaving machinery

1.4 Texturing machinery

1.5 Finishing and other machinery

End-user

2.1 Garment and apparel factory

2.2 Cotton and wool mills

2.3 Home textile

2.4 Technical textile

Geography

3.1 APAC

3.2 Europe

3.3 North America

3.4 Middle East and Africa

and 3.5 South America

1.1 Spinning machinery- The textile machinery market is driven by the increasing demand for spinning machinery, particularly short-staple spindles, used in converting processed fibers into fine threads for textile manufacturing. Key Asian countries, including China, India, Vietnam, Turkey, and Indonesia, are major investors in this segment due to rising fiber production. China, India, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Pakistan lead in installed capacities for short-staple spindles. Cotton-spinning powerhouses like China, India, Pakistan, Turkey, Bangladesh, and Vietnam contribute significantly to global cotton spinning. This trend is expected to continue, fueling the growth of the global textile machinery market.

For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) - Download a Sample Report

Research Analysis

The Textile Machinery Market is experiencing significant growth due to the automation of textile production processes in multinational firms. Robots and advanced technology, including Plasma technology, Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology, are revolutionizing the industry. New machinery in spinning, weaving, dyeing, finishing, and digitalization are increasing productivity and sustainability in the global market.

Key technologies like Laser printing, 3D printing, and Non-woven fabrics made from Polyester fiber are driving innovation and expanding the application areas of textile products. The integration of these advanced technologies is transforming the textile industry and creating new opportunities for textile producers.

Market Research Overview

The Textile Machinery Market encompasses a wide range of machinery and equipment used in the production and processing of textiles. These include spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, finishing, and printing machines. The market is driven by factors such as increasing demand for textiles in various industries, technological advancements, and automation in textile production. The global textile industry is a significant contributor to the economy, with major markets in Asia, Europe, and North America.

The market is competitive, with numerous players offering a diverse range of products to cater to the specific needs of customers. The use of sustainable and eco-friendly technologies is a growing trend in the market, as consumers and regulators demand more environmentally friendly production methods. The market is expected to grow at a steady pace in the coming years, driven by these factors and others.

Table of Contents:

1 Executive Summary

2 Market Landscape

3 Market Sizing

4 Historic Market Size

5 Five Forces Analysis

6 Market Segmentation

Product

Spinning Machinery



Knitting Machinery



Weaving Machinery



Texturing Machinery



Finishing And Other Machinery

End-user

Garment And Apparel Factory



Cotton And Wool Mills



Home Textile



Technical Textile

Geography

APAC



Europe



North America



Middle East And Africa



South America

7 Customer Landscape

8 Geographic Landscape

9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends

10 Company Landscape

11 Company Analysis

12 Appendix

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions.

With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios.

Contacts

Technavio Research

Jesse Maida

Media & Marketing Executive

US: +1 844 364 1100

UK: +44 203 893 3200

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.technavio.com/

SOURCE Technavio
HUNTINGTON, W.Va., May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Joseph Thomas Holley is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Lifetime Achiever for his contributions in the Industrial Piping Supply Industry.

Mr. Holley, a distinguished figure in the industrial piping supply sector, continues to demonstrate unparalleled expertise and dedication in business management and public accounting. With over five decades of experience, Mr. Holley's leadership has been instrumental in driving growth and success for Jabo Supply Corporation.

Joseph Thomas Holley

As the steward of Jabo Supply Corporation, Mr. Holley oversees critical aspects of the business, including financial statement preparation, tax management, and fraud examination. His astute management and strategic acumen have positioned the company as a trusted provider in the regional industrial piping supply market.

Mr. Holley's academic background is a testament to his commitment to excellence. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Marshall University in 1968 and pursued law studies at West Virginia University. Furthermore, Mr. Holley holds several prestigious certifications, including chartered global management accountant, certified public accountant, certified information technology professional, and certification in financial forensics.

Throughout his illustrious career, Mr. Holley has been recognized for his outstanding public service and professional achievements. He received the Medal of Exceptional Public Service from the Secretary of Defense and was honored as Ombudsman of the Year by the United States Department of Defense. In 2008, he was inducted into the Marshall Lewis College of Business Hall of Fame, a testament to his enduring legacy in the industry.

Mr. Holley's unwavering commitment to excellence extends beyond his professional endeavors. He has dedicated himself to various volunteer roles, including serving on the IRS Taxpayer Advocacy Panel and as a member of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve committee.

Looking ahead, Mr. Holley is poised to achieve remarkable milestones for Jabo Supply Corporation. With current revenue standing at $48 million, he is confident in reaching the company's sales target of $50 million. His philosophy of persistent efforts and determination underscores his vision for continued growth and success in the industrial piping supply industry.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
Read the full story on The Auto Wire

Angry Florida Man Rams Deputys Car

One of the most dangerous calls a cop can respond to is domestic violence. Emotions run hot in those situations, so they can escalate quickly to a deadly level. This incident involving a Florida man ramming a deputys cruiser with his car perfectly illustrates just how out of hand domestic violence calls can be.

Seattle Police allegedly just watch abuser flee with victim in his car.

The suspect in this case wouldnt leave the house when the sheriffs deputy showed up and asked him to come talk to him outside. Instead, Mr. Tough Guy punched a window a few times, clearly showing he wasnt in a good state of mind.

ADVERTISEMENT

Things really get out of hand in the bodycam footage when the guy emerges from the house finally and gets in his car. People think theyre impervious in vehicles and to an extent theyre not wrong. After all, your vehicle can be a downright deadly weapon when used incorrectly.

This is why police can and often will use deadly force if you try hitting them with your car. Try hitting your ex or someone else you dont like with your vehicle and youre attempting murder. Its not a funny thing to do flippantly.

As the guy backs down the driveway, the deputy doesnt try to stop him from fleeing the scene. Other deputies are obviously on their way and they can stop him if he does take off. But the already irate and clearly stupid suspect decides hes going to ram the deputys cruiser a few times, we guess to disable it so he cant be chased?

None of this makes sense and thats why domestic calls are so wildly unpredictable. They dont follow the laws of logic, reason, or even common sense. Somehow, the guy doesnt flee but instead follows commands to lay on the ground as backup arrives. This situation could have been so much worse.

Dont use your car like its a weapon.

Watch the video for yourself (warning: language and violence).

Image via PoliceActivity/YouTube

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ROCKWALL, Texas, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Velma M. McMillan is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Professional Member for her contributions in Franchise Management and Leadership.

Velma M. McMillan, a seasoned entrepreneur and business leader, continues to make waves in the franchise industry with her dynamic approach to management and leadership.

Velma M, McMillan

As the CFO of Quantum Alliance, McMillan spearheads initiatives to boost sales and enhance customer retention through comprehensive personal and business policy packages. Her expertise extends across various domains, including auto insurance, homeowner coverage, business lines, and roadside assistance. With a keen eye for financial management, she oversees budget reconciliation, revenue tracking, and staff onboarding and training.

McMillan's academic credentials reflect her commitment to excellence. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and Management, earned in 2016, followed by a Master of Business Administration with a specialization in marketing in 2018, both from Capella University. Her professional qualifications include claims adjuster licenses in over 10 states and property and casualty licenses in 35 states, underscoring her proficiency in the insurance industry.

Actively engaged in her community, McMillan is a member of the Professional Women's Association of Rockwall and supports local initiatives through the Rockwall Chamber of Commerce. Her entrepreneurial journey began with roles in insurance sales, underwriting, accounting, and marketing at the Apollo Managing General Agency before co-founding Quantum Alliance alongside her husband.

Beyond her professional pursuits, McMillan finds joy in attending women's conferences, traveling for relaxation, and cherishing moments with her grandchildren. She attributes much of her success to the unwavering support of her husband, Charles McMillan, highlighting the importance of family in her journey.

Looking ahead, McMillan envisions continued growth and success in her business endeavors. With plans to expand her franchise operations and open additional Blo Blow Dry Bar locations, she remains committed to leaving a prosperous legacy for her family and contributing to her community through civic advocacy and philanthropy.

Guided by her belief in dedication and hard work, McMillan exemplifies perseverance and determination in her entrepreneurial pursuits, inspiring others to pursue their dreams with passion and tenacity.

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE The Inner Circle
SHANGHAI, May 31, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Yum China's Chinese Dining Business Unit  which includes the Little Sheep and Huang Ji Huang brands  made exciting new progress since the beginning of 2024, with new stores added to its domestic and global portfolio and innovative new store formats introduced to serve a broader range of party sizes.

In May 2024 alone, nine new Little Sheep stores were added in multiple first-, second-, and third-tier cities across China. Internationally, Little Sheep recently returned to the U.S. market in March 2024 with a new store at the American Dream Meadowlands shopping complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Domestically, Little Sheep introduced new store formats, including one-person hotpot modules which cater to smaller party sizes.

Huang Ji Huang is also poised to extend its presence both within China and across international markets this year. Earlier this month, Huang Ji Huang announced its new logo, updated store design and brand strategy, to help reinforce its positioning as an industry-leader in the simmer pot category and drive further interest among younger consumers.

The Little Sheep and Huang Ji Huang brands mark their 25th and 20th anniversaries respectively this year. Under Yum China's Chinese Dining Business Unit, both brands benefit from enhanced economies of scale and stronger food innovation capabilities which help to achieve a high standard of customer experience and operating efficiencies. Yum China expects its Chinese dining store count to reach approximately 800 by the first half of 2024.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. We intend all forward-looking statements to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts and by the use of forward-looking words such as "expect," "expectation," "believe," "anticipate," "may," "could," "intend," "belief," "aim," "plan," "estimate," "target," "predict," "project," "likely," "will," "continue," "should," "forecast," "outlook," "look forward to" or similar terminology. These statements are based on current estimates and assumptions made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable under the circumstances, but there can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance and are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and could cause our actual results or events to differ materially from those indicated by those statements. We cannot assure you that any of our expectations, estimates or assumptions will be achieved. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are only made as of the date of this press release, and we disclaim any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law. All forward-looking statements should be evaluated with the understanding of their inherent uncertainty. You should consult our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including the information set forth under the captions "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations " in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q) for additional detail about factors that could affect our financial and other results.

About Yum China Holdings, Inc.

Yum China is the largest restaurant company in China with a mission to make every life taste beautiful. The Company has over 400,000 employees and operates over 15,000 restaurants under six brands across more than 2,000 cities in China. KFC and Pizza Hut are the leading brands in the quick-service and casual dining restaurant spaces in China, respectively. In addition, Yum China has also partnered with Lavazza to develop the Lavazza coffee concept in China. Little Sheep and Huang Ji Huang specialize in Chinese cuisine. Taco Bell offers innovative Mexican-inspired food. Yum China has a world-class, digitalized supply chain which includes an extensive network of logistics centers nationwide and an in-house supply chain management system. Its strong digital capabilities and loyalty program enable the Company to reach customers faster and serve them better. Yum China is a Fortune 500 company with the vision to be the world's most innovative pioneer in the restaurant industry. For more information, please visit http://ir.yumchina.com.

SOURCE Yum China Holdings, Inc.
If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this





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Bengaluru, May 31 : The Special Investigation Team (SIT) officers who arrested the absconding JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, the prime accused in the alleged sex video scandal, have sent him to their office located in the premises of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Bengaluru in the wee hours of Friday.

Prajwal Revanna was sent to the SIT office in a Bolero vehicle and was made to sit in the middle seat. The woman officers posted with the SIT sat on his either side.

Barring the driver and one male staffer, all others were women staffers.

Sources say that the SIT officers had given the official intimation to Prajwal Revanna.

He will spend the night as an accused at the SIT office on Friday.

He was arrested from the Bengaluru International Airport soon after his arrival from Munich, Germany, in the wee hours of Friday.

Thirty three-year-old Prajwal Revanna was taken into custody by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) upon arrival.

He has been handed over to the SIT probing the case.

Sources said that the CISF cordoned off the Lufthansa flight which arrived from Munich and took the custody of Prajwal Revanna, who was seen walking with the CISF personnel towards the Immigration department.

The grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, Prajwal Revanna, had left the country on April 26, following the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka after the alleged sex video scandal came to light.

The authorities had issued an arrest warrant, a look out notice, and a Blue Corner notice against him.

Prajwal Revanna arrived here on Lufthansa flight No. LH764 from Munich on a business class ticket.

Sources said that Prajwal will be taken to the Bowring Hospital for medical test later on Friday.

The authorities will present him before the judge within 24 hours of his arrest.

The JD-S workers and his advocates did not turn up at the airport and also in the premises of the CID.
NEW YORKIn a historic moment for the United States, former President Donald Trump has been found guilty of 34 felony counts by a Manhattan-based jury.

Trump is now the first former U.S. president ever to become a convicted felon. Sentencing is set for July 11.

Nothing in existing case law or the U.S. Constitution disqualifies a convicted felon from running for office or even serving as president while incarcerated or carrying out a sentence prescribed by the court. Trump cannot pardon himself from the New York felonies, however, if he is re-elected president this November.

He promised his supporters that he would continue to run.

The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people, Trump said to mixed crowds of supporters, hecklers and journalists outside the court. "[They] know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here. He called himself a "very innocent man."

Barring the fact that no court had tested the legality of a president's self-pardoning, Trump legally cannot pardon or commute a conviction at the state level.

Only New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, would do that. But it is highly likely that Trump will not face incarceration.

For his years of controversy and dubious ethical conduct, Trump had never been convicted of a crime until now. Since this is his first conviction, he will likely be granted some sort of supervised release and probation that would probably be served concurrently.

In theory, Trump could still run for office and win but still have to check in with a probation officer or case manager in New York to ensure compliance with the release.

A felony conviction against Trump could also harm his ability to visit foreign countriesa function vital to the presidency. Canada is one such country that prevents criminals convicted of a felony from entering upfront unless the national government grants exceptions.

As noted, this is theoretical. If Trump were to win back the White House but still have the felonies on his record, there is no way to tell if his criminal past would impact international travel.

Judge Juan Merchan must still officially accept the jury's verdict, but this is typically a formality. Trump is expected to appeal the conviction, likely arguing that the case is flawed, prejudicial and politically motivated. This could take months if not years.

AVN has reported on this case due to the central involvement of Hall of Famer Stormy Daniels. A jury of 12 New Yorkers has declared, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Trump had an affair with Daniels in 2006, and the former president went to great lengths to cover up the affair by way of a deal and subsequent payment of $130,000 to silence her. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his office indicted Trump for falsifying business records to try and hide the payment to Danielsall felonies.

During the trial, prosecutors presented documentary evidence and heard from several star witnesses, like Trumps former attorney and fixer Michael Cohen.

It was revealed that Cohen was tasked with silencing any accusations of infidelity during the 2016 election. With David Pecker, former publisher of the National Enquirer, Trumps former personal attorney managed to temporarily catch-and-kill the story of the Daniels affair and another affair between 2006 and 2007 involving former Playboy model Karen McDougal.

Pecker, who was also a witness for the prosecution in the trial, admitted that he purchased the rights to McDougals story for $150,000 on behalf of the Trump campaign.

Pecker, a senior editor for the National Enquirer, and executives for the tabloids parent company, American Media Inc., and a Los Angeles-based attorney, Keith Davidson, negotiated the deal on behalf of McDougal. Davidson, who also testified in the trial, revealed that he also represented Stormy Daniels in negotiations with Cohen.

Cohen tied together the various story arcs and recollections from the witness testimony of 20 people called by the prosecution. The defense only called two witnesses.

In 2018, Special Counsel Robert Muellers probe into potential Russian and external influence on the 2016 presidential election found Cohen committed campaign finance violations on behalf of Trumps campaign. The key in the case against Cohen was documented proof that he broke federal law by paying $130,000 to an unnamed adult film star.

Daniels was the individual Cohen paid off. Cohen pleaded guilty to the campaign finance violation, tax evasion and other felony counts.

All of this was used by prosecutors to paint a scheme originating from Trump and his inner circle to sway the 2016 election in his favor.

The crimes Trump has now been convicted of dont revolve around paying money to someone for their silence. Specifically, it was the way Trump directed Cohen and Peckers media properties to carry out the payments and how the payments were covered up to circumvent legal scrutiny that is the criminal issue. Jury members saw ample evidence derived from an uncovered paper trail containing email chains pages long, thousands of text messages, bank documents, and evidence from other criminal cases against former Trump associates.

While Trumps defense floundered under the weight of evidence, the former president himself provoked the ire of Judge Merchan. Merchan held Trump in contempt a total of 10 times for violating a standing gag order the judge implemented at the very beginning of the trial before the jury selection.

The defense team, led by attorney Todd Blanche, was also admonished at times for their professional conduct in the courtroom during prosecution witnesses' testimony. Trump was given the opportunity to testify during the trial but was likely advised by counsel not to do so because anything he would have said could have come to haunt him.

Regardless, attorneys for District Attorney Braggs office were able to formulate a convincing case for Donald Trumps guilt in the catch-and-kill scheme. There are still three pending criminal trials against Trumptwo at the federal level and one in Georgia.

AVN has reported extensively on the personal and legal disputes between Stormy Daniels and Donald Trump, including the hush money trial.
New York, May 31 : Former US President Donald Trump has been convicted on criminal charges relating to hush money paid to buy the silence of a porn star alleged that she had a sexual tryst with him.

The jury of 12 ordinary citizens on Thursday found him guilty of all 34 charges in the case after two days of deliberations.

Most of the charges are repetitive and are basically that he falsified his business records by showing the payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels as legal expenses for his lawyer, Michael Cohen, who became the prosecution's star witness.

Outside the court, a crowd of his opponents sent out loud cheers as the verdict trickled out.

This is the first time that a former President faced a criminal case and was convicted.

The verdict comes in the middle of the presidential campaign and has the potential to sway it.

The conviction will not disqualify from running for President and being elected, under US law.

Exiting the court, a stone-faced Trump said the real verdict will be in November when the country goes to the polls.

He called the trial "rigged and disgraceful" and said Judge Juan Merchan was "corrupt".

Merchan set the sentencing for July 11, just four days before the Republican Party Convention that is expected to formally declare him the candidate for President.

He faces a range of sentences, that could be a probation or fine, or be as much as four years in prison.

Trump will almost certainly appeal the verdict.
Los Angeles, May 31 : A second human case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A (H5) virus infection has been identified in the state of Michigan, marking the third human case associated with an ongoing multistate outbreak of A (H5N1) in US dairy cows, US health authorities said.

The new case is a dairy farm worker with exposure to infected cows, probably resulting from cow-to-person spread, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as quoted by Xinhua news agency report on Thursday.

This is the first human case of H5 in the US to report more typical symptoms of acute respiratory illness associated with influenza virus infection, including A (H5N1) viruses, according to the CDC.

The CDC continues to closely monitor available data from influenza surveillance systems, particularly in affected states, and there has been no sign of unusual influenza activity in people, including no increase in emergency room visits for influenza and no increase in laboratory detection of human influenza cases.

The risk for the US general public who do not have exposure to infected animals remains low, said the CDC.

However, this development stresses the importance of recommended precautions in people with exposure to infected or potentially infected animals, according to the CDC.

People with close or prolonged, unprotected exposures to infected birds or other animals, or to environments contaminated by infected birds or other infected animals, are at greater risk of infection and should take precautions, the CDC added.
Nicosia, May 31 : Cypriot government spokesman Konstantinos Letymbiotis has said that international aid is still on its way to Gaza despite damage caused by rough seas to the temporary pier there.

"Aid is being loaded on ships at Larnaca and is being transferred temporarily to boats off the Gaza coast in anticipation of the pier becoming operational again in the next few days," he added on Thursday.

He said 11 ships had left the Larnaca port so far, Xinhua news agency reported.

Officials at the Larnaca port said around 14,000 pallets of humanitarian aid have arrived in Cyprus and that 4,134 pallets have been dispatched.

Of these, more than 2,000 pallets have been transported and unloaded on the Gaza coast, while around 2,000 have been received for storage and distribution.
New York, May 31 : In a historic verdict that could impact the presidential elections with reverberations around the world. Donald Trump, who is in the middle of a campaign to reclaim the White House, has become the first former President to be convicted of crimes.

The verdict came on Thursday from a jury of 12 ordinary citizens -- seven men and five women -- who convicted Trump on 34 criminal charges relating to hush money paid before the 2016 election to buy the silence of a porn star who alleged that they had had a sexual tryst.

US laws, however, do not prevent him from running for President or getting elected.

Of the four criminal cases pending against him, this is the first to conclude with a verdict before the November election and the others may be delayed.

Trump was charged with falsifying business records to cover up the hush money payments by showing them on his company ledgers as legal expenses paid to his lawyer Michael Cohen, an offence under New York state laws.

He faces a range of sentences from probation or a fine to prison sentences of as many as four years for each of the 34 charges.

Even if he is sentenced to prison, he could still stay out and campaign with an appeal to a higher court which is most likely.

Leaving the court, Trump said, "This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt."

"This is long from over," he added.

Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the case, set the sentencing for July 11, just four days before the Republican Party Convention that is expected to formally declare him its candidate for President as he has won an overwhelming majority of the delegates in the primaries, the intra-party elections.

Trump said the real verdict will be in November when the presidential elections are held.

A poll sponsored by the government-subsidised Public Broadcasting Service showed that 67 per cent of voters said his conviction would not influence their vote; among independents, it was 74 per cent.

Trump is evenly matched in polls with President Joe Biden, with less than 1 per cent lead in the aggregation of polls by RealClear Politics and even a small percentage of voters switching away from him could sway the outcome.

Biden campaign's Spokesperson Michael Tyler said, "There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president."

Trump for now carries the taint of criminal conviction, a boon for Biden's campaign.

Speaker of the House of Representatives Mike Johnson, a Republican, said, "Today is a shameful day in American history."

He said, "The weaponisation of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden Administration, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents."

In New York, the local prosecutors are elected in partisan elections and Alvin Bragg won as a Democrat with the indirect backing of groups linked to the controversial international political financier George Soros.

Bragg's predecessor and federal prosecutors had declined to prosecute Trump on business records falsification charges.

This court victory puts a national spotlight on the local prosecutor, who has come for criticism for being lenient towards violent criminals.

Falsifying business record is a non-criminal minor offence, a misdemeanour, but Bragg raised it to a criminal offence by asserting that it was a "conspiracy" to promote another crime, election interference.

Even though Trump was not charged with it, Bragg maintained that buying Stormy Daniels' silence amounted to election interference because it suppressed a scandal that could have adversely affected him at the polls.

High drama that included salacious tidbits punctuated the trial.

Stormy Daniels, the porn star, testified on the witness stand about the sexual position they allegedly adopted.

Trump's former lawyer and fixer Cohen, the prosecution's star witness after falling out with Trump, said in court that he stole $30,000 from Trump and admitted to having lied under oath.

Trump's lawyers hammered these admissions to the jury to dent his credibility, but apparently they were not swayed.

Trump made personal allegations against Merchan, his family and witnesses prompting the judge to impose fines and to threaten him with jail if he continued the attacks.

Undeterred, Trump continued the attacks.

If Trump gets a prison sentence and is denied bail and ordered to prison there will be the unusual scenario of Secret Service agents accompanying him there as by law he has to have their protection.

Of the other cases, the one accusing him of conspiring to change the election results in Georgia is caught up in a controversy over the prosecutor having an affair with one of the lawyers she hired with a payment of $650,000 to help prosecute the case even though he did not have experience in the matter.

The federal case in Washington is centered on the riots when his supporters invaded the Capitol in January 2021 and he is charged with trying to prevent Congress from certifying the election of President Joe Biden.

That case is held up while the Supreme Court considers an appeal from Trump that he has presidential immunity from those charges.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)
Sultanpur : , May 31 (IANS) A woman died and her son was hospitalised due to suspected heat stroke here, the police said.

Kishori Devi, 58, a resident of Chandigarh, was returning home from Chhapra in Bihar in the Harihar Express train with her son Pradeep Mahto and daughter Sarita when her and her son's condition deteriorated, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) officials said.

Sarita said her mother was fine till the train reached Varanasi.

As the train left from Varanasi, her mother suddenly started vomiting and was then taken to the hospital in Sultanpur where she died.

The son has been hospitalised and his condition is said to be serious.

Meanwhile, according to reports, nearly two dozen people have been hospitalised in a critical condition in hospitals in Uttar Pradesh following heat-related disorders.

However, the government spokesman said that there had bene no death due to heat wave conditions in the state.
WASHINGTON, July 30, 2019 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to reporters before leaving the White House in Washington D.C. the United States, on July 30, 2019. (Photo by Ting Shen/Xinhua/IANS). Image Source: IANS News

Washington, May 30 : The historic guilty verdict will not legally prevent former US President Donald Trump from continuing his campaign for the White House, but it could seriously impede his chances of winning as many polls have shown some of his supporters could desert him which could prove costly in a closely elected race that the 2024 election is expected to be.

A recent poll by Reuter and Ipsos showed that 13 per cent of respondents who said they will vote for Trump prior to his conviction will not vote for him if he was held guilty in any one of the four criminal cases against him, now three with the conclusion of the hush money case ending in conviction. And the same poll showed that 21 per cent of Republicans said they will not vote for him if he was convicted.

Trump leads President Joe Biden by a narrow margin of 0.9 per cent in the RealClearPolitics average of polls and the desertion of a sizable number of his supporters severely imperil his prospects.

The other three cases -- mishandling of classified papers, involvement in the January 6 assault on US Congress and attempt to change the outcome of the presidential election outcome in Georgia state a" are not going into trial before the November elections.

But the New York cases were pronounced by legal experts on both sides of the aisle as the weakest of them. A conviction in this case, therefore, could sound alarm bells in the ranks and files of the Republican party -- the leadership is packed with Trump relatives (daughter-in-law Lara Trump is the co-chair of the top decision-making body) and supporters.

The Trump campaign has responded with predictable bravado with its surrogates telling TC news channels that there was a massive spike in online donations immediately after the verdict. They were not asked and they did not specify if these were return donors or first time Republican donors who were incensed enough by the conviction to pull out their wallets.

The 2024 presidential election will be decided by a handful of swing states that Biden won in 2020 by slim margins, Wisconsin, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia and Nevada. Trump leads Biden in polls in most of these states now, but a conviction could eat up the margin.

An acquittal, alas, would have allowed Trump to restate what he has said all along that this and the other three cases are all politically motivated to prevent him from winning a second term. And he will use it to tighten his grip on Republican voters and strive to pry away Biden's voters, which he has already started. He was in New York's Bronx, which has a coloured majority, appealing directly to Hispanic and Black voters.

But Trump might be more focussed on his appeal petition now.

Biden's loosening hold on Black voters has been worrying Democrats and the President and Vice-President Kamala Harris launched a drive on Wednesday to win back these key voters at a rally in Pennsylvania.
Tehran, May 31 : Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has said his country and Syria should further expand their cooperation to overcome political and economic pressure from the US and Europe.

He made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his accompanying delegation in the Iranian capital Tehran, according to a statement published on Thursday on the leader's website.

He added that Iran's Interim President Mohammad Mokhber would continue to promote cooperation between Tehran and Damascus, emphasising that the two countries are among the resistance front's pillars, Xinhua news agency reported.

The resistance front is a term often used to refer to an unwritten regional coalition comprising mainly Shia countries and groups in West Asia, which seek to fight Israel and end its occupation of the Palestinian territories and free the region from the West's domination.

He said resistance was Syria's defining identity, which gave it a distinguished standing in the region, and urged Syria to maintain this feature for national unity.

Khamenei added that the Westerners and their "stooges" in the region sought to destroy Syria's political system and omit the Arab state from regional equations, but they failed to do so, adding, "They still seek to eliminate Syria from the region's equations through resorting to other methods, such as giving promises they would never fulfill."

The Syrian President, for his part, extended condolences over the deaths of Iran's late President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage, describing Syria-Iran ties as strategic.

He praised the late Iranian President for deepening relations between Syria and Iran after Raisi took office in August 2021.

Assad stressed that his government's position had always been that retreating in the face of the West would only further embolden it.

Both Iran and Syria are under sanctions imposed by the US and some European countries.
TikTok plans to ban links to e-commerce websites such as Amazon: Report. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, May 31 : Chinese short-video-making app TikTok, which is facing a nationwide ban in the US, on Friday denied a media report that it is splitting its source code to create a US-only algorithm to bypass the ban.

A media report claimed that TikTok is working to create a version of its recommendation algorithm that operates independently from Douyin, the Chinese version operated by its parent company ByteDance.

"The Reuters story published today is misleading and factually inaccurate," TikTok said in a post on X social media platform.

The company said that as per its court filing, "the qualified divestiture demanded by the Act to allow TikTok to continue operating in the United States is simply not possible: not commercially, not technologically, not legally".

"And certainly not on the 270-day timeline required by the Act," TikTok added.

The Chinese company is trying hard to convince US lawmakers to avoid the ban.

Earlier this month, TikTok and its Chinese parent company filed a legal challenge against the US government over a law forcing ByteDance to sell off the ultra-popular app or face a nationwide ban in the country.

Last month, US President Joe Biden signed a TikTok ban bill into law, after it was passed by both Houses of Congress.

It gives ByteDance 270 days to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese buyer, with the possibility of a 90-day extension if the US President determines it necessary.
London, May 31 : Forces of the UK and US have struck Houthi targets in Yemen in the fifth combined operation since January.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed strikes took place against the Houthis on Thursday as part of a response to Houthi attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The MoD said intelligence had confirmed two locations near Hudaydah as being involved with the anti-shipping attacks, with buildings identified as housing drone ground control facilities and providing storage for very long-range drones.

Surface-to-air weapons used to impede coalition operations to safeguard shipping in the region were also believed to be on-site.

A set of Houthi facilities at Ghulayfiqah, further south on the Yemeni coast, were also identified as being involved in the command and control of the group's anti-shipping campaign.

RAF Typhoon FGR4s conducted strikes on the target buildings at the three locations, using Paveway IV guided bombs.

The MoD said the "utmost care" was taken in planning the strikes to "minimise any risk to civilians or non-military infrastructure."

Two people were killed and ten others injured in one of the strikes, according to the Houthis' Al Masirah satellite news.

This is the fifth time the US and UK militaries have conducted a combined operation against the Houthis since January 12.

The Houthis, in recent months, have stepped up attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, demanding that Israel end the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians.

The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on October 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 hostage.

The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the US Maritime Administration.

Shipping through the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden has declined because of the threat.

--IANS/DPA

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Mumbai, May 31 : Indian equity indices snapped their five-day fall and opened higher on Friday following an over five per cent fall in the Indian Volatility Index (India VIX).

At 9:50 am, Sensex was up 484 points or 0.67 per cent, at 74,380 and Nifty was up 125 points or 0.56 per cent, at 22,613.

Banking shares are also bullish in early trade. Nifty Bank is up 342 points or 0.70 per cent at 49,043.

Among the other indices, auto, Fin service, pharma, FMCG, metal, realty, and infra are gainers. Only the IT index remains in the red.

India VIX is down over five per cent at 22.90 points.

Seven out of 30 Sensex stocks are trading in red.

L&T, M&M, Bajaj Finance, Ultratech Cement, Titan, Tata Motors, IndusInd Bank, ITC, HDFC Bank, Reliance, and Bajaj Finserv are gainers. Infosys, Kotak Mahindra, TCS, Bharti Airtel, and Axis Bank are losers.

Asian markets are trading with gains. Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Bangkok, and Seoul are in green. Only Jakarta markets are trading in the red. American markets closed in the red in Thursday's session.

Vaishali Parekh, Vice President - Technical Research, Prabhudas Lilladher, said that Nifty has witnessed a steady slide for the 4th consecutive session with bias weakening and index currently precariously placed with the significant 50EMA zone lying near 22380 levels.

"The index needs a decisive move past the 22700 zone for the bias to improve. With the election outcome event nearing, high volatility and fluctuations are expected in the coming days," Parekh added.
New Delhi, May 31 : Tobacco-funded research continues to appear in highly-cited medical journals, reveals a study published in The BMJ on World No Tobacco Day on Friday.

The findings by The Investigative Desk -- an independent platform for investigative journalism -- showed that the tobacco industry has a long history of subverting science.

Even then most of the leading medical journals do not have policies that ban research wholly or partly funded by the tobacco industry.

The study based on research into the PubMed database showed hundreds of relationships between Big Tobacco's medical and pharmaceutical subsidiaries and medical research.

Further, the tobacco policies of 10 leading general medical journals and 10 journals in each of the three therapeutic areas especially affected by smoking were analysed.

The results showed that of the 40 journals, only 8 (20 per cent) had policies prohibiting studies wholly or partly funded by the tobacco industry.

"Of the 10 journals in the field of respiratory medicine, six had a tobacco policy, but in oncology only one did, and in cardiology, none had one. Among the 10 general medicine journals, only The BMJ had such a policy."

Institutions, professionals, and scientific journals should refuse involvement with the tobacco industry, said Ruth Malone, professor of social behavioural sciences at the University of California, US.

As the tobacco industry is known for its "long-standing history of dishonesty" it is "very straightforward" that researchers should cut ties with them after they are acquired by big tobacco, else they would be "working with the tobacco industry" and contributing to their profits, added Nicholas Hopkinson, professor of respiratory medicine at Imperial College London.
Mumbai, May 31 : Actress Niyati Fatnani, one of the contestants in 'Khatron Ke Khiladi' season 14, is taking a unique and unconventional approach to fitness by opting for pole dance workouts.

The diva, known for her work in 'Pyaar Tune Kya Kiya' and 'Yeh Moh Moh Ke Dhaage', has harnessed the power of this physically demanding art form to sculpt her body and strengthen her mind for the challenges that lie ahead in the stunt-based reality show.

Talking about her secret fitness routine, Niyati shared: "Pole dance workouts inspired me to step out of my comfort zone and explore a typical path to fitness. I feel at peace when I'm in the studio, doing my pole workouts and dancing my heart out. It relieves my stress and helps me build a stronger core."

"While pole dancing looks graceful to others, there's a lot of hard work behind the scenes. Some days, my muscles are stretched to the limit, and my skin gets pulled, but it only makes me stronger. Pole dancing requires grace, agility, and immense focus -- qualities that will come in handy as I take on the challenging tasks on 'Khatron Ke Khiladi 14'," said Niyati, who has also featured in the web series 'Dear Ishq'.

The actress concluded by saying, "I hope viewers enjoy watching my performances and get inspired to try something new and daring for their fitness routines."

The new season is themed 'Darr ki nayi kahaaniyaan' in Romania.

The participants of this season include Krishna Shroff, Shilpa Shinde, Abhishek Kumar, Samarth Jurel, Gashmeer Mahajani, Asim Riaz, Shalin Bhanot, Karan Veer Mehra, Aashish Mehrotra, Aditi Sharma, Sumona Chakravarti, and Nimrit Kaur Ahluwalia.

'Khatron Ke Khiladi 14' will air soon on Colors.
Berlin, May 31 : The Fridays for Future movement aims to demonstrate climate protection and democracy in Germany on Friday.

With the European elections scheduled in nine days, protests are to take place in around 100 cities in Germany, the organisation says.

Protests are planned in 13 other EU countries by July 7.

The movement is calling for an EU-wide phase-out of coal, oil and gas by 2035 and a doubling of investment in renewable energies and climate-neutral industries.

The new European Parliament must take a clear stance in favour of climate protection and democracy, Frieda Egeling, spokeswoman of Fridays For Future Berlin, said in a statement.

Larger demonstrations and rallies will take place in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, as well as in Hamburg and Munich.

In Berlin, 10,000 participants have been registered. Some 15,000 protesters are expected in Hamburg and some 8,000 in Munich.

Climate activists want to use the upcoming rallies to draw attention to the importance of the EU in tackling the climate crisis.

The European elections will be held on Sunday, June 9, in Germany.

--IANS/DPA

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Amritsar: A voter gets her finger marked with phosphoric ink after voting for Punjab panchayat elections, at a polling booth in Amritsar on Dec 30, 2018. . Image Source: IANS News

Chandigarh, May 31 : The border state of Sikh-dominated Punjab, where the BJP and its former ally Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) going solo, is heading for a four-way fight on all 13 parliamentary seats with 328 candidates in the fray.

On seats like Khadoor Sahib and Faridkot (reserved), the entry of jailed Sikh radical Amritpal Singh, head of 'Waris Punjab De' who is locked in an Assam jail under the National Security Act, and Sarabjit Singh, the son of one of the assassins of prime minister Indira Gandhi, respectively, both as Independents, has swayed a 'radical' wave.

Also in the fray is sitting MP and Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) President Simranjit Singh Mann, a proponent for a separate Sikh homeland, from Sangrur, once the traditional bastion of AAP leader and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. AAP lost this seat in 2022 by-poll, just three months after coming to the helm.

Also, this is the first election in the state in a long time that two stalwarts -- Akali patriarch Parkash Singh Badal and two-time chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who was unceremoniously removed by the Congress from the CM's post and later joined the BJP in September 2022 -- missing from the political landscape.

While Badal is no more, Capt Amarinder Singh has even skipped Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first rally in his hometown Patiala from where his wife and four-time MP Preneet Kaur is in the fray.

State's main Opposition Congress, the ruling AAP, the BJP and the Akali Dal in month-long high-octane electioneering tried to build up momentum on issues like the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, apprehensions over subversion of the Constitution, farmers' issues, sharing of river waters and reopening of Indo-Pak trade apart from issues of infrastructure development, especially in border areas, drugs, law and order effective reinforcement, declining productivity both in industry and agriculture and civic problems.

Several Sikh issues, including heavy cut off in the blacklist of Sikh foreign nationals and the reopening of a corridor to visit Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara, among the holiest of holy shrines believed to be the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, by the BJP-led Centre also remained dominant issues on the religious side.

Unlike many other states, Punjab has had no exclusive vote banks based on caste, despite being the home turf of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) founder Kanshi Ram and having a Dalit population of 32 per cent.

Of 52 candidates declared by the BJP, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal, 14 are turncoats.

Among the turncoats fielded by the BJP, which has been going solo for the first time since 1996, are sitting MPs, Preneet Kaur (from Patiala), Ravneet Bittu (Ludhiana) and Sushil Rinku (Jalandhar reserved) and former state minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi (Ferozepur), all once in the Congress.

Likewise, three-time Akali Dal legislator Manjit Singh Manna Mianwind is the BJP's candidate from Khadoor Sahib and Gejja Ram Valmiki, who switched loyalties to the BJP from the Congress, is in the fray from Fatehgarh Sahib.

Among the defectors fielded by AAP are sitting Congress legislator Raj Kumar Chabbewal from Hoshiarpur (reserved) and former legislators Gurpreet Singh GP and Pawan Tinu. While Gurpreet Singh is the Congress turncoat and is contesting from Fatehgarh Sahib, Tinu, who jumped ship from the Akali Dal, is trying luck from Jalandhar.

However, Congress has reposed faith in three turncoats. They are four-time legislator Jeet Mohinder Singh Sidhu from Bathinda, Amarjit Kaur Sahoke from Faridkot and ex-MP Dharamvira Gandhi from Patiala.

The Akali Dal has reposed faith in former Congress MP Mohinder Singh Kaypee from Jalandhar.

Among the noticeable turncoats is BJP's Jalandhar candidate Rinku who has switched loyalties twice in a year.

A Congress rebel Rinku joined AAP after being expelled from the previous party for alleged "anti-party activities" in April 2023 and won the subsequent by-poll in Jalandhar, which was necessitated due to the death of Congress MP Santokh Singh Chaudhary, by a margin of 58,691 against the Congress' Karamjit Kaur, the wife of Chaudhary.

Karamjit Kaur, who is not in the fray, too jumped in the run-up to parliamentary polls and joined the BJP.

The interesting contests are on Congress strongholds Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala seats, Akali Dal bastion Bathinda and Hindu-dominated Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur seats.

Also in a last-minute bid, AAP is aiming to re-win Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's bastion Sangrur that was won by Sikh radical Simranjit Singh Mann in June 2022 by-poll necessitated following the resignation of Mann.

The BJP is largely banking on Prime Minister Modi's four rallies that it believes pivotal in swaying and consolidating votes, particularly in urban Hindu-dominated segments.

Political observers told IANS that AAP aims to repeat its 2022 assembly success of sweeping 92 seats in the House of 117, while the main Opposition Congress and the Akali Dal look to regain ground. In the 2022 polls, the Akali Dal was reduced to three seats.

Chief Electoral Officer Sibin C said the state has 2,14,61,739 voters, comprising 1,12,86,726 men, 1,01,74,240 women and 773 transgender voters.

According to him, 538,715 voters belong to the 18-19 age group, who will be casting their votes for the first time.

Similarly, 189,855 voters are aged above 85 years. The total number of 'Divyang' voters is 158,718.

For the 13 Lok Sabha seats, a total of 24,451 polling stations will be set up, with 16,517 in villages and 7,934 in cities. In Punjab, 100 per cent photo identity cards (EPIC) have been made.

In 2019, the BJP in alliance with the Akali Dal had contested three Lok Sabha seats (Amritsar, Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur), while the latter contested the remaining 10 seats.

At that time, the state ruling Congress had won eight seats -- Amritsar, Faridkot, Anandpur Sahib, Jalandhar, Khadoor Sahib, Ludhiana, Fatehgarh Sahib and Patiala seats -- while the Akali Dal won Bathinda and Ferozepur and the BJP Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur seats. AAP won from Sangrur.

Punjab recorded a voter turnout of 65.96 per cent in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)
Seoul, May 31 : North Korea, on Friday, said it conducted a firing drill involving super-large multiple rocket launchers in a bid to demonstrate its resolve to stage a preemptive strike against South Korea if provoked.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un supervised the "power demonstration firing" drill involving 600 mm multiple rocket launchers on Thursday, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA).

The South Korean military said it detected the North's launch of around ten short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea on Thursday. It was unusual for Pyongyang to fire a salvo of some ten missiles at a time, reports Yonhap news agency.

The KCNA said the drill was aimed at showing North Korea's "corresponding will not to hesitate to carry out a preemptive attack by invoking the right to self-defence at any time when the enemies attempt to use military force against it."

The North's super-large multiple rocket launch system is classified as a short-range missile that could put the entire South Korean territory within range. Pyongyang has claimed a tactical nuclear warhead could be mounted on such a weapon.

The firing "will serve as an occasion in clearly showing what consequences our rivals will face if they provoke us," Kim was quoted as saying by the KCNA.

He stressed North Korea's nuclear forces should be more "thoroughly" prepared in a bid to promptly and correctly carry out a mission of deterring a war.

Photos carried by state media showed 18 artillery shots being fired from multiple rocket launchers on transporter erector launchers (TELs).

The provocation came as North Korea made a botched attempt to launch a spy satellite on Monday. The North also sent hundreds of balloons carrying trash and manure into the South earlier this week in a "tit-for-tat" action against Seoul activists' campaign of sending anti-Pyongyang leaflets across the border.

The KCNA said South Korea staged a "clumsy counteraction of dangerous armed demonstration" against the North's legitimate exercise of the sovereign right in an apparent reference to the South's latest aerial drills.

South Korea's military staged an air exercise involving around 20 fighter jets on Monday near the border with North Korea, hours after North Korea informed Japan of a plan to launch a satellite by June 4.

North Korea has claimed that the development of a spy satellite is the exercise of its sovereign right to pursue a space development program. But any launch using ballistic missile technology by the North is a violation of the United Nations Security Council's multiple resolutions against North Korea's nuclear and missile programs.

"We strongly denounce North Korea for issuing menacing rhetoric and staging illegal provocations while repeatedly violating the UNSC resolutions and threatening to conduct a preemptive attack against us," Kim In-ae, deputy spokesperson at Seoul's unification ministry, told a press briefing.
Kolkata, May 31 : As sporadic violence marred the sixth phase of Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, sensitive Basirhat, especially Sandeshkhali, is under special scanner of the Election Commission of India, where polling will be held in the seventh and the last phase of the elections on Saturday.

Insiders from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO), West Bengal said that out of the total number 1,882 polling booths under Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency, 1,096 are sensitive, implying that over 58 per cent of the booths under it are sensitive.

Basirhat has more sensitive booths compared to all other eight constituencies in the state going to the polls tomorrow.

CEO office sources said that out of the seven assembly constituencies under Basirhat Lok Sabha, Sandeshkhaliwill be under special scanner, which grabbed the national headlines again and again during the last few months because of the sustained movement by the local women there against sexual harassment by a section of the local ruling Trinamool Congress leaders.

The CEO office sources said that any untoward incident at Basirhat, especially Sandeshkhali, on the polling day will once again create a nationwide uproar.

"That is why the commission has kept Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency under special scanner. As many as 116 companies of Central Armed Police Forces have been deployed for Basirhat alone on the polling day," the sources said.

The BJP has fielded the face of the Sandeshkhali movement Rekha Patra as the candidate from Basirhat.

Even the CPI(M) candidate Nirapada Sardar, a former party legislator from Sandeshkhali, grabbed the headlines recently for organising the local people to protest against complaints of illegal land grabbing, extortion and sexual harassment.

Trinamool Congress has fielded Haji Nurul Islam, who was Basirhat MP (2009 and 2014).

In Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency in South 24 Parganas district, of the total of 1,879 booths, 686 are sensitive.

Of the seven assembly constituencies under Jadavpur, the most sensitive is Bhangar, which has prolonged records of poll-related violence.
New Delhi, May 31 : The Delhi High Court on Friday transferred Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar's plea challenging his arrest in connection with the Swati Maliwal assault case.

New Delhi, May 31 (IANS) The Delhi High Court on Friday transferred Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwalas aide Bibhav Kumaras plea challenging his arrest in connection with the Swati Maliwal assault case.

Justice Navin Chawla transferred Kumaras plea to the roster bench handling cases involving Members of Parliament and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MP/MLAs).

The judge directed that the case be heard by the judge assigned to MP/MLA matters, given that the complainant in the case is a Rajya Sabha member.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma, the roster judge for criminal cases involving sitting and former MPs/MLAs, is expected to hear the matter later today.

Kumar is seeking compensation for what he terms his "illegal arrest".

Kumar's plea argues that his arrest was conducted in violation of the Supreme Court's guidelines established in the landmark Arnesh Kumar judgment, which outlines the procedures and conditions under which arrests should be made to prevent unnecessary detentions.

In his petition, Kumar has urged the High Court to declare his arrest unlawful, asserting that the authorities did not adhere to the legal standards mandated by the Supreme Court.

The Arnesh Kumar judgment says that arrests should only be made in cases where it is absolutely necessary and mandates that police officers must provide reasons for arresting an individual in writing.

Kumar contends that his arrest did not meet these criteria and therefore, constitutes a breach of his legal rights.

He has also sought financial compensation for the alleged illegal detention, arguing that it caused him undue distress and damage.

A Delhi court on Monday dismissed the bail plea of Kumar in the case. He is currently in judicial custody.

During the hearing, Maliwal broke down in the courtroom alleging character assassination and life threats being given to her.

Delhi Police had opposed Kumaras counselas submission that Maliwal went to the CMas residence with the intent to malign his aide, while his counsel had alleged a three-day delay in filing an FIR.

His counsel had further argued that Bibhav was not present at the CMas residence and that Maliwal had no appointment.

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.

--IANS

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Los Angeles, May 31 : Three people, including a police officer and the suspect, were killed, and three others injured in a shooting in Minneapolis, a major city in the US state of Minnesota, authorities said.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed at a news conference that the police officer killed in the shooting was Jamal Mitchell, reports Xinhua news agency.

"This officer gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect and save the lives of others," he added.

The shooting happened as police officers responded to a report of a double shooting on the 2200 block of Blaisdell Avenue, said Minneapolis Police Department's Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell.

After an exchange of gunfire with the suspect, two officers were shot and immediately brought to a nearby hospital.

Mitchell died at the hospital, and another officer received non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect was also injured and pronounced dead at the scene.

Two civilians were shot as well, with one killed and another one gravely injured, said Blackwell, adding that a firefighter was also injured during the gunfire.

"The State of Minnesota stands ready to provide any resources necessary. Praying for all the first responders on the ground working to keep the community safe," Minnesota Governor Tim Walz wrote on X.
Jaipur, May 31 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma has accused the former Congress government of gross mismanagement during its five-year rule, which according to him, is spelling trouble for the state at present.

According to Bhajanlal Sharma, who became the Chief Minister of Rajasthan in December 2023, the previous state government that was operating from within the confines of five star hotels for many months, failed to provide good governance and hence was rejected by the people.

In an exclusive interview with IANS, CM Sharma said that the power and water crisis in Rajasthan were the result of this mismanagement.

Answering a question on a power crisis amid the heatwave he said, "Rajasthan is synonymous with sizzling summers. However, ignoring this fact, the Congress government in 2022-23 borrowed power from different states in August and September and signed a MoU for its return.

"Now, we are facing issues because 1.67 lakh units of power are being returned to these states that is creating a demand-supply imbalance in the state. Besides this, we are also supplying regular power to people.

"Further, the Jal Jeevan Mission, aiming to address water woes in the state was also not implemented on time by the previous government.

"The project was about to get completed in 2023, however, the Congress government failed to implement it."

"In fact, they misused the Jal Jeevan Mission funds," the CM said.

He said that the ruling Rajasthan Government was committed to providing these basic amenities to the people.

"We have signed MoUs worth Rs 1.60 lakh crore to boost energy production, strengthen the energy transmission system in the state and establish new projects for the production of thermal and renewable energy.

"In the next two years, each citizen of Rajasthan, including farmers, will get a smooth power supply and Rajasthan will become a power surplus state.

"We have also implemented the Eastern Rajasthan canal project and signed an agreement with the Haryana government to share the excess water flowing from its Hathnikund barrage, especially during the rainy days," he added.

Continuing his attack on the former government, he said that the Congress has a tendency to mismanage things.

"Their government ran from hotels for many days due to which they were unable to redress the grievances of the people. Eventually, they ousted the Congress government in the Assembly polls," the CM added.
Cairo, May 31 : Egypt denied that it has agreed with Israel to reopen the vital Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip, an Egyptian TV channel reported on Friday.

Earlier this month, Israel took control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, in an operation that halted aid deliveries via the facility into the heavily populated coastal strip.

Citing a high-level source, Egypt's state-affiliated al-Qahera News TV said on Friday that "there is no truth" in media reports about an Egyptian-Israeli agreement to reopen the crossing.

"Egypt insists on a full Israeli withdrawal from the crossing as a condition to resume its work," the source said.

Since the closure of the crossing, Egypt has indicated it will not coordinate aid transports through Rafah until the Israeli forces withdraw.

Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. But, the ongoing military campaign in Gaza has inflamed anti-Israeli sentiment in the Arab world's most populous nation and apparently strained their decades-old ties.

Cairo is also concerned that an expansion of the Israeli offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, crowded by refugees fleeing the fighting, could trigger a mass exodus into Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

Israel deems Rafah the last stronghold of Hamas, which killed hundreds of civilians in Israel in October last year.

--IANS/DPA

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Seoul, May 31 : South Korea and the Netherlands held working-level diplomatic talks on Friday on disarmament and nonproliferation issues, including North Korea's latest launch of a military spy satellite, Seoul's foreign ministry said.

Youn Jong-kwon, director general for international security at Seoul's foreign ministry, discussed the issues with Joost Flamand, director for security policy at the Netherlands' foreign ministry, reports Yonhap news agency.

They discussed the North's nuclear and missile programmes, including Pyongyang's botched attempt to launch a military spy satellite earlier this week and the North Korean sanctions regime in the UN Security Council.

The two sides also discussed artificial intelligence (AI) cooperation with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and maritime security.

Later this year, in September, South Korea and the Netherlands plan to hold a high-level dialogue on the military use of AI in Seoul.
Seoul, May 31 : Provincial government heads in South Korea, on Friday, proposed various policy directions to develop their cities as a potential solution to the country's rapidly ageing population coupled with a low fertility rate.

The remarks were made during a session hosted by Yonhap News TV on global branding policies for globalisation at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, an annual international peace forum held on South Korea's southern resort island, Jeju.

"Global branding of cities is expected to be a good solution for revitalising local cities," said Seong Ghi-hong, CEO and President of Yonhap news agency, during the session's opening remarks.

South Korea's total fertility rate, or the average number of children expected to be born to a woman over her lifetime, reached a record low of 0.72 in 2023, one of the lowest in the world.

Yonhap reported that North Gyeongsang Province Gov. Lee Cheol-woo highlighted the importance of regional integration in addressing the low birthrate.

"The main cause of the low birth rate is the concentration in the wider Seoul area. To prevent this, regional areas must have good schools, medical facilities and cultural facilities like those in the area," Lee said.

North Jeolla Province Gover Kim Kwan-young emphasised his province as a "test bed for South Korea's future," vowing to lead the country with his province.

"North Jeolla Province has been known by its name for 128 years, but it was renamed North Jeolla Special Self-Governing Province on January 18 this year," Kim said.
Kyiv, May 31 : At least five people were killed and more than 24 injured in Russian missile attacks in the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram on Friday.

Most of the victims lived in a five-storey apartment block. The attacks also damaged a fire engine and an ambulance, he said.

At least 20 residential buildings were damaged as a result of the attack. The Russian military fired five missiles at the city, he said.

The capital, Kyiv, was attacked with at least one cruise missile, the authorities said, adding that a car repair shop, a car wash and half a dozen vehicles were damaged by falling rocket debris.

A transformer station was damaged, the energy company DTEK said, but the power supply has already been restored. There were no casualties.

Ukraine has been fending off a full-scale Russian invasion for over two years. Due to Russian attacks on the Ukrainian power supply, there are repeated power cuts.

--IANS/DPA

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Beijing/Bangkok, May 31 : Direct talks between the defence ministers of the superpowers, the US and China, took place on Friday as a major security conference kicked off in Singapore.

The meeting between new Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun and his US counterpart Lloyd Austin was held on the sidelines of the three-day Shangri-La Dialogue.

The bilateral discussions covered issues relating to Taiwan and the South China Sea, both sides said.

Austin expressed concerns about the activities of the Chinese army around Taiwan, according to the US Defence Department. He also spoke about China's role in supporting Russia's defence industry.

At the three-day conference in the South-East Asian Economic Centre, which kicked off on Friday, hundreds of ministers, military officials and experts from across the globe plan to discuss the world's current trouble spots and threats.

Topics such as artificial intelligence (AI), cyber defence and future types of warfare are also expected to be discussed.

Under Dong's now-disappeared predecessor, Li Shangfu, there was radio silence between the defence authorities on both sides, as Washington had imposed sanctions on Li in connection with Russia's war in Ukraine.

Li had not been seen since a public appearance at the end of August, then Beijing dismissed him for reasons that have not been revealed officially.

Since the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden in San Francisco in November, the military on both sides have also resumed contact.

--IANS/DPA

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Kolkata, May 31 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials have brought under the scanner the allied income sources of suspended Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan which are in addition to illegal land grabbing, fisheries and fish exports.

Sources said that the Central agency got information that the fund flow from the alleged income sources was much less compared to that from illegal land grabbing, fisheries and fish exports, but these added up substantially in crores to the kitty of Shahjahan and his associates.

According to sources, one of the principal sources of this allied income was rents from local shop-owners at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district who were running their businesses on lands owned by Shahjahan.

The ED officials have cross-checked that the rent money flow was mainly unaccounted for since the rents were paid in cash and that too without any receipts.

Apart from the rent, Shahjahan associates used to collect small amounts daily from all show-owners as protection money. Although the daily amounts collected from the show-owners were nominal, when added up finally the inflow from these sources was substantial.

The third source of allied income, according to sources, was from the state government contracts in Sandeshkhali which Shahjahan bagged because of his influence in the ministerial circle.

Apart from that share of profit in the multi-crore ration distribution case in the state was another important source of this allied income. Shahjahan was known as an extremely close confidant of the former State Food & Supplies and Forest Minister Jyotipriyo Mallick, who is currently behind bars in the ration distribution case.

The ED, on May 27, submitted a charge sheet at a special PMLA court in Kolkata, where the Central agency officials accused Shahjahan of collecting Rs 261 crore through illegal land grabbing in Sandeshkhali.

The ED counsel informed the court that the Central agency officials have identified 180 bighas (59.5 acres) of land illegally grabbed by Shahjahan in Sandeshkhali.

Besides Shahjahan, his brother Sheikh Alamgir and his close associates Didar Bux Molla and Siboprasad Hazra have been named as accused in the charge sheet. The ED has so far confiscated assets and property worth Rs 27 crore owned by Shahjahan.

Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested on February 28 for attacking the officials of the Enforcement Directorate.
United Nations, May 31 : UN relief to Syria has been increasingly underfunded amid escalating humanitarian demands, outgoing UN relief chief Martin Griffiths said, calling for international support.

"Over the past three years, we have seen a steady reduction in funding for the Humanitarian Response Plan -- from 55 per cent funded in 2021 to only 39 per cent last year," the biggest gap since the crisis began, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Griffiths said in a farewell address on Thursday, reports Xinhua news agency.

In Syria, 16.7 million people require humanitarian assistance, more than at any time during the conflict, he said at the Security Council briefing on the humanitarian situation in Syria.

"Children continue to be killed, women and girls continue to fear for their safety," and more than seven million people remain displaced, he said.

Violence has also disrupted daily humanitarian efforts, posing persistent risks to civilians and aid workers, he added.

Despite challenges, Griffiths welcomed the Syrian government's recent extended use of key border crossings, which is crucial for delivering aid to millions in the northwest, but voiced concerns over the upcoming deadlines.

Though humanitarian efforts are crucial, they are not a solution to the crisis, he said.

The "only sustainable solution" is "via an inclusive and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria and encourages the meaningful participation of all spheres of society, in particular of Syrian women," he said.

"We cannot wait for the next cataclysm to make genuine progress towards ending this catastrophe," he said, warning that the deepening economic crisis and the conflict in Gaza threaten to spill across the region.
Ayushmann Khurrana: Im travelling all the way to my hometown Chandigarh to vote. Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, May 31 : Actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who has been roped in by the Election Commission of India (ECI) to encourage young voters to participate in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, will travel to his hometown Chandigarh to cast his vote on June 1.

"I completely believe in the fact that everyone must participate in the electoral process and exercise their right to vote. We must all contribute in choosing the leaders who would represent us in the Parliament for the next five years, thus participating in nation-building," Ayushmann told IANS.

He said it is very important for each and every individual to vote.

The actor feels "honoured and humbled" that the Election Commission of India roped him in to encourage the youth of India to vote in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"We are a young nation and the youth must participate in how India shapes up in the next five years," he said.

Ayushmann urged the people from Chandigarh to go out and vote.

"I am travelling all the way to my hometown Chandigarh to vote and I really urge the people from my city and places where the election is happening on June 1, to please reach the polling booths to cast their votes," the actor added.

"Let's all be the architects of our future and let us show the world the strength of our democracy."

On the work front, Ayushmann will be seen alongside actress Sara Ali Khan in an action comedy, produced by Karan Johar and Guneet Monga. Directed by Aakash Kaushik, the project marks Ayushmann's debut collaboration with Karan Johar.
Bengaluru, May 31 : Following the arrest of JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna in the sex videos case on Friday, his father HD Revanna and mother Bhavani Revanna are also fearing imprisonment in a case related to the kidnapping of one of the victims in which they have been named.

Both the parents are awaiting verdicts on two separate cases related to their bail pleas that have been taken up for hearing on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Friday served a notice to former ZP member Bhavani Revanna, in connection with the kidnapping case under CrPC Section column 41(a).

The SIT has directed Bhavani Revanna to remain at her residence in Holenarasipur town in Hassan District for questioning.

The kidnapping case has been lodged at the KR Nagar Police Station in Mysuru District.

Earlier, in a letter to the SIT on May 15, Bhavani Revanna had stated that she would be available at her Holenarasipur residence for questioning if the need arose.

The SIT team, also comprising women, would question her anytime between 10 A.M. and 5 P.M on June 1 (Saturday).

Earlier, the special court for peopleas representative had reserved its order on the conditional bail plea of Bhavani Revanna and is slated to give its verdict later on Friday.

The SIT has vehemently argued that Bhavani Revannaas petition should not be entertained.

Sources said that Bhavani Revanna has been out of public eye for the last 15 days and is holed up at an undisclosed location.

If her bail plea is rejected by the court, the SIT is most likely to arrest her and its sleuths have already been hunting for her since Friday morning, sources said.

Meanwhile, the High Court on Friday took up the SITas petition questioning the conditional bail to JD(S) MLA HD Revanna, who is Prajwal Revannaas father.

Senior counsel and former Advocate General Prof. Ravivarma Kumar, is arguing the case for the SIT.

SIT sources said that they have new evidence against HD Revanna and are confident of his conditional bail being cancelled in the kidnapping case in which he is the prime accused.

The SIT is maintaining that both MLA Revanna and his son Prajwal Revanna raped the house help, who is the complainant in the case.

The grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Prajwal Revanna, had left the country on April 26 after the sex videos came to light.

He was arrested in the early hours of Friday at the Bengaluru International Airport.
Chennai, May 31 : Tamil Manila Congress (Moopanar) President and former Union Minister G. K. Vasan on Friday called upon the Tamil Nadu government to postpone the reopening of school by a week and take measures to protect school-going children from the scorching heat.

In a statement, the former union minister urged the Tamil Nadu government to postpone the reopening of schools till June 13.

The schools in the state are scheduled to open on June 6.

The leader said that the searing heat was continuously increasing, affecting the public and the livestock.

Vasan said, "During the current summer season, people in many parts of the state are unable to go outside during daytime. The intense heat is preventing students, youth, women and the elderly from going out and engaging in their activities properly. Due to heatwave conditions in various states across the country, people have fainted and in some cases died."

He also cited reports of schools in Delhi and other states postponing the reopening of schools due to heatwaves and temperatures reaching up to 50 degrees Celsius.

Vasan added that there were reports of water scarcity in many regions of the state and this was affecting the drinking water supply in schools.
Bhubaneswar, May 31 : Following several sunstroke-related deaths in Odisha's Sundargarh district, the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) Satyabrata Sahu on Friday issued an advisory urging people not to venture out from 11 am to 3 pm.

SRC Satyabrata Sahu urged people to avoid going outside during the peak hours of the day between 11 am to 3 pm for the next three days to avoid any eventualities due to severe heatwave conditions, especially in Western and Central Odisha.

"I advise the people of Odisha to not go outside from 11 am till 3 pm as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that severe heatwave conditions will prevail during the next three days in western and central parts of the state," SRC Sahu said while addressing a press meeting.

Sahu said that the administration will be forced to take action against anyone found carrying out any activities by violating the instructions, be it any government department or private agencies, under the Disaster Management Act.

He said that the Sundargarh district has reported sunstroke deaths of 12 persons while six cases of sunstroke deaths have been reported from the Jharsuguda district.

He said that a post-mortem is being conducted in each of the cases to know the actual cause of the death.

He stated that in most of the alleged heatstroke death cases reported, the victims were labourers and truck drivers. The SRC also noted that a separate team has been sent by the Health Department to probe the heatstroke death cases in Rourkela city of Sundargarh district.

Sahu said mercury has crossed 40 degrees Celsius at 19 stations where the temperature is recorded in the above parts of the state. Out of these, at 12 places the temperature even crossed 44 degrees Celsius. The mercury touched 47 degrees Celsius along with high humidity in the Jharsuguda district on Thursday.

The IMD, Bhubaneswar has intimated that the heat wave situation may continue for the next five days.
Islamabad, May 31 : Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has come under severe criticism from his political opponents for giving a clean chit to the US and other Western countries on their alleged involvement in the ouster of his government in April 2022 and instead putting the entire blame on friend-turned-foe former Army Chief General (Retd.) Qamar Javed Bajwa.

In an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, Khan retracted from his earlier stance where he had slammed the US for orchestrating a regime change in Pakistan and being part of a conspiracy along with Bajwa and opposition political parties to ensure the implementation of a successful Vote of No Confidence (VONC) against him in the Parliament on April 9, 2022.

Khan, after two years of his government's ouster, now believes that General Bajwa is solely to be blamed for the entire episode.

"After 11 months in prison, I am certain that this ordeal was orchestrated solely by General Bajwa. He meticulously planned and executed this scheme, presenting himself as a deceitful figure, creating lies and false narratives to cause both national and international chaos a" all to secure his extension," the former PM said while responding to written questions sent to him in prison by Hasan.

"I hold no one else responsible," Khan added.

His comments, however, have not gone down well with several analysts and political leaders in the country.

"Imran Khan is a liar. He carried out a massive public campaign against the US, blaming Washington for ousting his government and gave many reasons why they wanted him out," said Talal Chaudhry, senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Muslim Leaguea"Nawaz (PML-N).

"He had claimed he was ousted for not giving bases to the US forces and for going to Russia. He also claimed that the then US Under Secretary Donald Lu met the Pakistani Ambassador in the US and warned him of the consequences if the vote of no confidence against Khan was unsuccessful. And today, 'Einstein' Khan says the US had nothing to do with his ouster. That means his whole campaign after the ouster was based on a fake narrative and lies," added Chaudhry.

Experts also believe that Khan's latest statement is part of his political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) making attempts to normalise ties with the West.

"It is known to all that PTI has hired lobbying companies in the US to activate its contacts with the US government. And that is why Imran Khan is backtracking from his previous claim of US-led regime change. But the fact is that in 2022, Imran Khan addressed over 80 public gatherings on the same narrative. It was the most popular anti-establishment, anti-government and anti-US narrative at the time," said political analyst Rizwan Razi.

"Khan raised popular slogans like 'absolutely not' and 'are we slaves' slamming the US and the West for hatching a conspiracy against his government and teaming up with the military establishment and opposition parties to oust his government. He would call the military establishment 'janwar' (animals). Back then, it was the popular political narrative because it was useful for his political resistance. Today, he wants the US intervention for his own benefit. How blatantly convenient!" said Razi.

Imran Khan is currently serving a jail term in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi and is staring at a long legal battle with tonnes of cases piled up against him.

Khan is also among the most popular leaders of Pakistan with a support base spread across the country and abroad, majorly because of his regime change narrative, anti-military stance and refusal to team up with his political opponents, who he claims have taken power through an illegitimate polling process in February, this year by stealing his party's mandate.

"This government lacks legitimacy," Khan said, adding that the world should not ignore the struggle for democracy and the "plight" of the people in Pakistan.
Kolkata, May 31 : At least ten people were injured in pre-poll violence that erupted in the Bhangar area of West Bengal's Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency on Friday.

Jadavpur is going to polls in the seventh and last phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Saturday.

Since Friday morning there have been repeated reports of clashes between the local Trinamool Congress and All India Secular Front (AISF) activists in Bhangar, where two groups hurled crude bombs towards each other. According to local police sources as many as 10 persons were injured in the clashes.

According to the cops, the violence is a continuation of the tension on Thursday morning, after an AISF activist was severely beaten up by the ruling party activists following his refusal to participate in a roadshow on Wednesday afternoon in support of Saayoni Ghosh, the actress-turned-politician and Trinamool Congress candidate from Jadavpur.

The AISF activists retaliated and in that, a local Trinamool Congress leader was beaten up severely. Since then tension has prevailed in Bhangar, and clashes have been taking place between the two groups.

In the wake of the continued violence at Bhangar, the Election Commission of India (ECI) has decided to restrict the movement of Saokat Molla, the Trinamool Congress legislator from the Bhangar-adjacent Canning-Purba Assembly constituency on the polling day.

As per ECI's order, Molla, who has a substantial organisational influence in Bhangar also, will not be able to step out of his constituency of Canning-Purba throughout Saturday.

Molla has, however, blamed the AISF activists for the continuing tension in Bhangar. "The AISF legislator from Bhangar, Naushad Siddique, is responsible for this entire tension there. He should be arrested," Molla said.
Thiruvananthapuram, May 31 : Kerala State Minister of Devasoms K. Radhakrishnan on Friday denied the allegations of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D. K. Shivakumar that a ritual involving animal sacrifice (black magic) is taking place in one of the temples of Kerala to bring trouble to the Congress government in Karnataka.

Radhakrishnan said that the Kerala government would look into the allegations made by the Shivakumar.

"I am certain that no such thing is taking place at any temple in Kerala. However, the Kerala government will investigate if such a thing is taking place," the minister said.

On Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister Shivakumar said that his political detractors are conducting a Shatru Bhairavi Yaga, in Raja Rajeshwari temple, a ritual involving animal sacrifice, to bring trouble to the Congress government in Karnataka, at a temple in Kerala.

"We have information that 21 red goats, three buffaloes, 21 black sheep and five pigs are being sacrificed for this black magic. Let them do whatever they want to do. The divine power I believe in is stronger," Shivakumar said.

Meanwhile, the officials of the Kannur-based Raja Rajeshwari temple strongly rejected the allegations.

"It's most unfortunate that he has taken our temple's name. We have also investigated and nothing was found. We know such a thing will never happen at our temple. It is wrong to make baseless allegations," said a temple official.
Seoul, May 31 : The unification ministry of South Korea on Friday warned that "unendurably" painful measures would be taken against North Korea if it continues to stage "irrational" provocative acts, such as this week's sending of balloons carrying trash to South.

Earlier this week, North Korea flew hundreds of large balloons carrying trash and manure into South Korea and staged GPS jamming attacks in waters near South Korea's northwestern border islands for a third straight day until Friday. The country also fired a salvo of short-range ballistic missiles on Thursday, reports Yonhap news agency.

The ministry in charge of inter-Korean affairs voiced "strong" regret over North Korea's "senseless and irrational" provocative acts.

"The government is taking the North's latest provocations very seriously. We will not tolerate such moves," the ministry spokesperson, Koo Byoung-sam said.

"If North Korea does not stop its provocative acts, the government will take all measures that North Korea cannot endure. We sternly warn that all responsibility for what will take place afterward will rest on North Korea," it noted.
Brussels, May 31 : The NATO military alliance on Friday concluded a four-month military exercise called Steadfast Defender 2024, the largest live exercise it has conducted for decades.

"More than 90,000 forces, more than 50 ships, more than 80 aircraft flying hundreds of sorties, and more than 1,100 combat vehicles from all 32 NATO Allies were involved in the exercise," a NATO press release said.

Steadfast Defender was a show of force as the alliance's European members moved to rearm in the face of Russia's war against Ukraine, reversing the atrophying of military spending that followed the end of the Cold War.

The exercise "demonstrated the incredible strength of the trans-Atlantic bond between NATO allies in Europe and those in North America," NATO's European commander, General Christopher G Cavoli, said in the press release.

"The highly complex military activities conducted over the course of this exercise have demonstrated that this alliance is capable and ready to conduct our core mission of collective defence," Cavoli said.

--IANS/DPA

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New Delhi, May 31 : If wishes were movies, then beggars would act. Or, if aspirations were power, the wannabes would conquer.

That's precisely what many giants of Hindi cinema have become, what with their cravings turning into opportunities fulfilling their desires. Only because they have the power (read money!) to make a movie starring one from within their family.

I am not grudging their success, but if you're the audience, then it is a blow to your brain. That's it!

'Savi' is produced by Mukesh Bhatt, Bhushan Kumar and Krishan Kumar under the banners of Vishesh Films and T-Series Films, and, as the publicity material indicates, it is a modern-day adaptation of the mythological story of Savitri and Satyavan.

With Divya Khossla playing the titular character of Savi, or Savitri Sachdeva, the film begins with her driving, furiously, zigzagging across snow-clad mountainous paths in the middle of the night in Liverpool, UK. She stops, pulls out a male body, drags it to a corner, plonks it against a railing and whizzes away.

Next we are told in the flashback that Savi has a happy family with husband Nakul (Harshvardhan Rane) and son Adi. Their world falls apart when Nakul becomes the key accused in a murder, that too of the boss of a construction company. The family is shattered as Nakul is picked up by detectives. Nakul insists he is being framed and Savi too is convinced of his innocence.9

Crushed and traumatised, Savi must act fast and save her husband and family. Once in prison, Nakul is tortured by the inmates and risks losing his life if he does not comply with their unreasonable demand that he engage in drug trafficking.

A helpless Savi looks for ways to help Nakul, come what may. She then orchestrates a jailbreak (no less!) to free him, enlisting the help of an ex-convict, Joydeep Paul (Anil Kapoor), who has many books to his credit.

What follows as a jailbreak thriller is Savi's persistent struggle to comprehend the intricacies involved in the judicial proceedings, the logistics entailing day-to-day prison activities, and the state of her finances. She wonders how to augment her expenses to be able to pay Paul and also buy a gun to fight criminals along the way. Her bold escape plan seems foolproof but includes a risk, which she is willing to take at any cost.

Fortunately for her, Paul takes to her and is willing to help her execute her plan, and is also forever ready with elaborate disguises. Paul and Savi orchestrate Nakul's daring jailbreak, even as the Liverpool police uncover many clues at Savi's home when she goes missing. It becomes a cat and mouse game as Savi relentlessly pursues her mission.

There have been many films made on similar story lines in Hollywood -- and not all of them have been worth watching. Nearly all of them, barring a movie like 'Danger Diabolic', had the criminal minds getting away with murder even in the climax. It is the sameness of plots and escape routes for the innocent in most films that look like a cut-and-paste job.

Based on 'The Next Three Days' by Paul Haggis, the narrative has been Indianised and blended with the mythical tale of Savitri, who does everything possible to save her husband and bring him back from the clutches of Yamraj. Savi, in the film, also goes all out to save her husband.

Divya Khossla, by any stretch of imagination, is not an actress.

She tries hard to capture the mental and emotional turmoil of Savi, but manages to interpret to some extent only her physical and financial stress. Kapoor has a role that he tries initially to give a lot of gravitas to. In the few scenes at the outset, he looks mysterious and menacing. Gradually, though, he becomes what we have been watching him as -- Munna.

Chinmay Salaskar's photography captures some beautiful locales, and there are some hummable songs by Vishal Mishra, Javed-Mohsin, Piyush Shanker and Arkadeep Karmakar.

But a request to the producers: If you have the wherewithal to make a film with a decent storyline, why not cast actors who can act?

Film: Savi

Duration: 126 minutes

Director: Abhinay Deo

Cast: Divya Khosla, Anil Kapoor, Harshvardhan Rane

Cinematography: Chinmay Salaskar Music: Vishal Mishra, Javed-Mohsin, Piyush Shanker and Arkadeep Karmakar

IANS Rating: **1/2
Mumbai, May 31 : Sharvari Wagh, along with her cast mates Mona Singh and Abhay Verma, broke into the hook step popularised by the song 'Taras' while promoting their upcoming film 'Munjya' in Mumbai.

Dressed in a denim-inspired outfit, Sharvari joined her co-stars to perform the dance step that has taken social media by storm. The song, which was recently released by the makers of 'Munjya', features Sharvari in a bold avatar, and her dance moves have quickly gone viral.

During the promotional event, Sharvari also showed that she cares for the people who care for her by distributing water bottles to the paparazzi stationed outside the Maddock Films office. This gesture earned her the praise and goodwill of both fans and the media.

The horror comedy, helmed by Aditya Sarpotdar and presented by the makers of 'Stree' and 'Bhediya', revolves around 'Munjya', a character drawn from the folklore of the Konkan coast. It is being billed as the first Hindi film with a CGI main character. The Dinesh Vijan film is slated for a June 4 release.
Bengaluru, May 31 : Sex video scandal prime accused and JD-S MP Prajwal Revanna, who was arrested on his return to the country early on Friday, was produced before a court here with the SIT demanding his 15 days custody.

After arguments and counter-arguments, the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate reserved its order.

Special Public Prosecutor Ashok Nayak, seeking 15 days custody, argued that Prajwal Revanna is facing rape charges and can be dubbed a sadist, having videographed his own acts. He had made WhatsApp calls and demanded the victims strip, he added.

Nayak noted that there are more than 100 victims in the case, and the JD-S leader, the grandson of JD-S supremo and former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, had obtained an injunction order against the media a few months ago. After the videos went viral, he fled to a foreign location, he submitted.

The SPP said that following the videos going viral, the victims are facing a crisis, with their husbands viewing them with suspicion. Prajwal Revanna's mobile phone has a face lock, and he left the country to avoid arrest, he argued. The episode has become global news and Prajwal Revanna returned to India only to avoid arrest abroad. This case could result in imprisonment for life, Nayak added.

He also contended that the complainant in the case is a labourer, while the accused is wealthy and powerful. "He is not a common man, he enacts the law," the SPP said.

Counsel for Prajwal Revanna argued that the rape charge was not made in the initial complaint, there is no video record of the complainant, and it is a four-year-old case.

He said the rape charge was added following the victim's statement in court under CrPC's Section 161, while there was no mention of a rape charge between April 28 and May 2.

Counsel also argued that the prosecution has used particular words to project the case as they want it, and the case, initially bailable, has been made non-bailable. A sexual harassment case has been turned into a rape case, he claimed, noting that a woman officer should have recorded the victim's statement, and it should have been recorded on video. However, a ready-made complaint was filed, he submitted.

"I donat know why the SIT needs 15 days of custody. One day is enough, as Prajwal is ready to cooperate with the investigation," counsel said.

Prajwal Revanna had undergone a medical test at Bowring Hospital before being presented before the court.
Gaza, May 31 : The Israeli army has withdrawn from the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip after nearly three weeks of military operation there, Palestine TV reported on Friday.

The civil defence agency in Gaza said that rescuers found a large number of bodies in the area from which the Israeli army has withdrawn, and the search and rescue work is still ongoing, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 36,224, according to a statement released by health authorities in the Palestinian enclave on Thursday.

The Israeli army has accused Hamas of "trying to rebuild its capabilities" in northern Gaza, vowing to take countermeasures in the region.

Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on October 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and around 250 were taken hostage.
Hamburg, May 31 : An infamous 95-year-old Holocaust denier has been ordered to stand trial in Germany on charges of incitement, authorities announced on Friday.

Ursula Haverbeck was sentenced to 10 months in jail in November 2015 for denying that the Nazi German regime systematically murdered people at the Auschwitz concentration camp.

She has appealed that sentence and will go back to trial over the charges beginning next Friday in a district court in Hamburg.

Haverbeck made her comments during the 2015 trial of former Nazi SS member Oskar Groning, a guard and administrator at Auschwitz. Groning, who died in 2018, was convicted of accessory to murder in the deaths of 3,00,000 people.

She claimed in a television interview with regional public broadcaster NDR that the Nazis did not use Auschwitz as an extermination camp. She allegedly also claimed to journalists covering Groning's trial that Auschwitz was only a labour camp.

At least 1.1 million people were murdered by the Nazis at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp complex.

Haverbeck is popular with the far-right fringe in Germany. She has repeatedly faced court proceedings over her comments in Germany, where hate speech and Holocaust denial are prohibited under law.

She was criminally convicted and fined in 2004. She served two years in prison in western Germany for Holocaust denial.

In 2022, she was again sentenced to one year in prison without probation by a Berlin court for incitement to hatred, in a judgement that is now final.

--IANS/DPA

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Nazrin Abdul

Elchin Amirbeyov, the Representative of the President of Azerbaijan for special tasks, noted the widespread interest among many countries to provide financial assistance for Azerbaijan's demining efforts, Azernews reports.

"Among these countries, Saudi Arabia stands out as a significant participant. We anticipate positive news in the near future. Additionally, our partners from neighboring regions are poised to contribute to these endeavors. Notably, the European Union leads the way as the primary donor in this domain and has expressed readiness to escalate its support," he added.

"However, Armenia's reluctance to furnish accurate information regarding mined areas remains a concern. The data provided thus far has been inadequate and ineffective. We remain hopeful that Armenia will respond to our request with more precise information. Such cooperation holds the potential to serve as a confidence-building measure between the parties," emphasized E. Amirbeyov.




Mike Beglinger, deputy director of planning and program management at Smithsonian's Office of Planning , Design and Construction, introduces an artist's rendering of the new pair of giant pandas near the David M. Rubenstein Family Giant Panda Habitat at the National Zoo on Wednesday. Photo by Zhao Huanxin / China Daily

Global Times-According to the website of the Chinese Embassy in the US, the Smithsonian's National Zoo held a media event on Wednesday to announce that it will start a new round of cooperation on panda conservation with China and welcome a new pair of giant pandas, Bao Li and Qing Bao, by the end of the year. This new cooperation carries the hopes of the people of both countries, once again connecting China and the US through pandas.

According to The Associated Press, multiple signs at the Smithsonian's National Zoo read "The Pandas Are Coming!" A staff at the zoo was quoted as saying that "We are super super excited," and "Honestly, we never gave up faith. We knew they were going to come back eventually."

The American people are eagerly anticipating and welcoming the giant pandas to reside in the US. These pandas will continue to serve as "ambassadors" of China-US friendship and cooperation, acting as a bridge between the people of China and the US. They will facilitate cultural exchanges and inspire heartwarming stories between the people of both countries.

Giant pandas have generally helped create positive perceptions of China among Americans. However, some individuals in the US have distorted the image of pandas into a political conspiracy, using them to construct political narratives, Lu Xiang, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times. In late 2023, certain US media outlets falsely reported the normal practice of giant pandas returning to China after agreements with overseas zoos had ended as a political maneuver, claiming that "China appears to be gradually pulling back its giant pandas from multiple Western zoos." Their purpose was to insinuate that China was becoming less friendly toward the US-led West.

When the public eagerly hoped for giant pandas to travel to the US, US media viewed giant pandas as a politicized symbol. This reflects, to some extent, the disconnection between the US government and the American people.

The US has repeatedly suppressed people-to-people exchanges between China and the US and often ideologizes cultural exchanges, using them as excuses to discredit China. This is a result of ideological prejudices of Western countries, led by the US, in recent years. Politicizing non-political issues will inevitably harm cultural exchanges and normal bilateral relations between the two countries, said Sun Xihui, an associate research fellow with the National Institute of International Strategy at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

The fact that China and the US will carry out a new round of cooperation on panda conservation continues the decades-long history of the exchange of pandas, releasing hopes for strengthening cultural exchanges between the two countries. The panda is not only a national treasure of China, but also deeply welcomed and loved by people from all over the world, serving as a bridge of friendship. China is willing to enhance collaboration with partners, including the US, on issues such as species protection and cultural exchange. This cooperation has made the voices attacking China and politicizing pandas self-defeating.

People's love for giant pandas knows no national boundaries, touching the softer side of people's hearts and playing a positive role in communication between China and other countries. Lovable giant pandas were once a witness to the improvement of China-US relations; in the future, it is hoped that giant pandas continue to be the "ambassadors" of peace and friendship to the world and China-US cultural exchanges.
Bengaluru, May 31 : Arrested JD(S) MP and prime accused in the sex videos case, Prajwal Revanna, was produced before the 42nd Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (ACMM) on Friday.

After arguments and counterarguments, the court gave his custody to the SIT till June 6.

Videos allegedly showing former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda's grandson Prajwal Revanna sexually abusing women surfaced during the Lok Sabha elections and created a furore in Karnataka.

Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Ashok Nayak submitted to the court that Prajwal Revanna should be handed over to the custody of the SIT for 15 days.

He argued that Prajwal Revanna is facing rape charges and can be dubbed as a sadist as he videographed his own acts.

"His videos surfaced during the Lok Sabha election. There are more than 100 victims in the case, and Prajwal Revanna had obtained an injunction order against the media a few months ago.

"He had made WhatsApp calls and demanded that the victims strip.

"After the videos went viral, he fled to a foreign location," Nayak submitted.

Nayak said that following the circulation of the videos on social media, the victims are facing a crisis, with their husbands viewing them with suspicion.

"Prajwal Revanna has made it a habit to commit atrocities. His mobile phone has a face lock, and he left the country to avoid arrest," the SPP argued.

SPP Nayak further stated that the episode had become global news and that Prajwal Revanna returned to India only to avoid arrest abroad.

"This case could result in imprisonment for life. The complainant in the case is a labourer, while the accused is wealthy and powerful. He is not a common man; he enacts the law," he stated.

Arun, the counsel for Prajwal Revanna, submitted that the rape charge was not made in the initial complaint.

"There is no video record of the complainant. It is a four-year-old case. According to the complaint, the rape charge was added following the victim's statement in court under CrPC Section 161. There was no mention of a rape charge between April 28 and May 2.

"The prosecution has used particular words to project the case as they want it. This case, initially bailable, has been made non-bailable. The sexual harassment case has been turned into a rape case.

"A woman officer should have recorded the victim's statement, and it should have been recorded on video. However a readymade complaint was filed," Arun submitted before the court.

"I don't know why the SIT needs 15 days of custody. One day is enough, as Prajwal Revanna is ready to cooperate with the investigation," counsel Arun stated.

The courtroom was teeming with counsels and others.

Earlier, Prajwal Revanna had undergone a medical test at Bowring Hospital in Bengaluru.
Sanaa, May 31 : Yemen's Houthis on Friday claimed responsibility for launching ballistic missiles at the US aircraft carrier Eisenhower in the Red Sea and said that the attack was accurate.

The group's military spokesman, Yahya Sarea, said in a statement that the attack was "in response to last night's multiple airstrikes launched by the US-British coalition" against Houthi positions in the Yemeni Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, the capital Sanaa, and the southwestern province of Taiz, reports Xinhua news agency.

He added that his group "will not hesitate to respond directly and immediately to every new aggression on Yemeni territory by targeting all sources of threat and all hostile American and British targets in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea."
Mumbai, May 31 : Amid talk of a breakup with actor Arjun Kapoor, actress Malaika Arora shared a cryptic post on Friday, saying "the greatest treasure on Earth are the people who love and support us".

Taking to Instagram Stories, Malaika, who has 18.8 million followers, shared a quote that read: "The greatest treasure on Earth are the people who love and support us. They cannot be bought or replaced, and each of us has only a few of them."

Earlier in the day, a source close to IANS confirmed that Malaika and Arjun, who started dating in 2018, have split.

"Going by Arjunas body language and how he is right now, it has happened. They have been dating for so long; hence, it has been very peaceful, dignified, and respectful. Malaika and Arjun are still amicable with each other," the source said.

The rumours about the duo dating spread in 2018 after they were spotted together at a fashion show. However, it was on Malaika's 45th birthday in October 2018 that they confirmed their relationship status.

They were often seen expressing love for each other on social media by dropping love-filled pictures and posts. They also went for romantic getaways to New York, Berlin, and Salzburg in Austria.

On the personal front, Malaika was earlier married to actor Arbaaz Khan, and they have a son, Arhaan. They were officially divorced in May 2017.

On the work front, Arjun is set to showcase his shades of gray in Rohit Shettyas upcoming film 'Singham Again' starring Ajay Devgn and Deepika Padukone.

He also has 'No Entry 2', a comedy film directed by Anees Bazmee along with Varun Dhawan and Diljit Dosanjh.
Panaji, May 31 : In the next three months tourists visiting Goa will get the taste of real Goan cashew nuts with a Geographical Indication (GI) label on its packet, rather than taking back home poor quality stuff, officials said.

Usually tourists purchase the cashew nuts labelled as 'Goa Cashew' which in fact come from Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala and Maharashtra. Hence, the purchaser doesn't get the taste of Goan cashew. It is mostly imported from Benin, Ivory Coast and Indonesia.

Though the Food and Drugs Administration had raided shops in the coastal areas which sell cashew nuts imported from other states under the 'Goan Cashew' brand, the officials could not stop this practise due to the absence of strong legislation.

"Officials conduct raids but they are helpless as there is no strong legislation. The traders pay a fine but soon they start selling the same cashew nut under some other name," a cashew processor said.

Speaking to IANS, Goa Cashew Manufacturers Association (GCMA) president Rohit Zantye said that the trend of selling imported cashew nuts under the name of 'Goan Cashew' can be stopped if the government takes strong action.

"We are optimistic that things will change after we start selling GI labelled cashew nut packets, which will give a real taste of Goa to tourists. We have no issue that shops in the coastal areas sell cashew nuts, but they should not sell imported nuts or poor quality nuts labelled as 'Goan Cashew'," Zantye said.

"We are framing the rules so the GI tag is not misused. We will have to seek a license number from the GI registry in Chennai. This will take around two to three months and later we can sell it under GI tag," he said.

According to him ICAR, Goa Agriculture Department, FDA, Cashew Growers Association are part of the committee framing rules for GI tag labelling.

"There are 18 processing units registered under us, out of which only 4 to 5 have shown interest in getting a GI label. Those who process imported cashew nuts have not shown any interest as they sell their product in Gujarat or in other states," Zantye said.

"GI labelling will benefit us only when action is taken against those who sell products illegally under the Goa brand. Then they will be forced to take 'Goan cashew nuts' from GI labelled units,' he pointed out.

Sources informed that local raw cashew production is around 26,000 tonnes. However the societies who purchase it from 'the growers' sell it to units from other states. Thus Goan units are forced to import raw cashew from Africa.

Once processed, the units pack these nuts in 25 types of grades, ranging from Rs 700 to Rs 1400 per kg.

Deepak K Parab, nodal officer of Patent Information Centre, Goa State Council for Science and Technology, said that they have already designed the GI logo and are waiting for finalisation of the rules.
New Delhi, May 31 : Actor Gurpreet Ghuggi, who is all geared up for the release of his upcoming film 'Ni Main Sass Kutni 2', feels the graph of the Punjabi film industry has gone up with an increase in professionalism.

Gurpreet, who first starred in the 2002 Punjabi movie 'Jee Aayan Nu' featuring Harbhajan Mann and Priya Gill in the lead roles, has acted in films like 'Asa Nu Maan Watna Da', 'Yaaran Naal Baharan', 'Mera Pind', 'Carry On Jatta', and 'Ardaas Karaan', among many others.

On the changes he saw in the Punjabi film industry over the years, Gurpreet told IANS: "I have been witnessing the Punjabi film industry for over 20 years now. When our first picture was released on 14 to 15 screens, we thought it was a great deal that we were being shown in so many cities. Today, our films are released on 1,400-1,500 screens... What bigger development can we see than this?"

"Earlier we used to be happy that our films were released in 15 cities, but today Punjabi films are getting released in 25 countries. Yet we wonder why the films are not being released in more countries. I have seen all these developments... I have seen the graph going up," he added.

Speaking about the budget and business of Punjabi films these days, Gurpreet said: "Today, movies are being made with a budget of Rs 20-25 crore and they are doing business of Rs 100 crore. Now we have added grandeur, VFX, and the market has also increased. There is more professionalism today and I am very happy for that."

Directed by Mohit Banwait, 'Ni Main Sass Kutni 2' also stars Tanvi Nagi, Karamjit Anmol, Nirmal Rishi, Nisha Bano, and Anita Devgan.

The film will hit the theatres on June 7.
Mumbai, May 31 : The RBI has told the top executives of Asset Reconstruction Companies (ARC) that they should not directly or through their recovery agents harass distressed borrowers while recovering overdue loans and play by the rule book.

The issue was taken up by RBI Deputy Governor J. Swaminathan at a meeting with the CEOs, managing directors and executive directors of ARCs in Mumbai recently.

"ARCs need to be conscious of their conduct vis-A -vis the distressed borrowers. Even a single incident of misconduct can potentially snowball into a controversy which the sector should guard against. While we acknowledge the rights of the ARCs to recover overdue loans, they or their recovery agents should not resort to harassment of borrowers," Swaminathan told the top executives of ARCs.

He highlighted the fact that a comprehensive fair practice code (FPC) for ARCs has been put in place which requires ARCs to follow transparent and non-discriminatory practices in this regard.

aThis becomes that much more critical at the present juncture when the share of retail loans in the financial assets acquired by the ARCs has increased (from 9 per cent, as of March 31, 2020, to 16 per cent as of March 31, 2023)," Swaminathan said.

Swaminathan emphasised that ARCs must improve their overall governance by bringing more independent directors on their boards in accordance with the regulations.

He pointed out that not all ARCs have implemented the revised guidelines on the composition and functioning of the Board.

"I would take this opportunity to urge all ARCs to implement these guidelines in the right spirit. Also, failure to meet regulatory guidelines and wilful violations would invite strict supervisory and enforcement action, if warranted," Swaminathan was cited as saying in an RBI statement issued on Friday.

The Deputy Governor said that the RBI regulations were intended to promote the integrity and effectiveness of the sector.

The leaders of the ARC sector should endeavour to ensure that the sector remains focused on course charted through legislative and regulatory intent and should ensure that any negative perception about the functioning and governance standards of the ARCs is dispelled, he added.

Swaminathan observed that the thrust of RBI regulations going forward is on developing a market for distressed assets by considering the inclusion of additional stakeholders with strong fundamentals and possessing expertise in resolution.

This is expected to increase competition among buyers of distressed assets, giving a competitive advantage to the entities with superior resolution and recovery mechanisms capable of achieving optimal outcomes.

--IANS

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Hyderabad, May 31 : The 10th Formation Day of Telangana will be different from the earlier occasions, with both ruling Congress and main Opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) vying with each other to celebrate it in a befitting manner.

This is the first Telangana Formation Day celebration after BRS lost power to the Congress.

While the Congress is going all out to organise a grand celebration by inviting its top leader Sonia Gandhi, the BRS has also lined up a series of events to mark the occasion.

Ever since Telangana came into existence in 2014, both Congress and BRS have been claiming credit for its formation.

While the Congress says that it was the initiative of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) which realised the long-cherished dream of the people of Telangana, TRS (now BRS) maintains that the credit goes to its leader K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR), who led the mass movement, forcing then Congress-led UPA government to carve out the state.

Victory in the 2014 elections, held a few weeks before the formal creation of Telangana state, gave TRS a chance to position itself as the champion of the Telangana cause.

It projected itself as the only party dedicated to the cause of Telanganaas development and welfare.

By retaining power in 2018, KCR further consolidated his position. However, the victory in Assembly elections held in November 2023 has finally given a chance to the Congress to stake claim for Telanganaas creation.

The Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy-led government appears to be making full use of this opportunity.

In every election held since 2014, the Congress projected Sonia Gandhi as the amother of Telanganaa who heard the people's voice and fulfilled their aspirations.

Its leaders tried to impress upon the people that she carved out Telangana state despite knowing fully well that the Congress will suffer politically in Andhra Pradesh.

In the recent elections, CM Reddy and other Congress leaders had urged the people to bring the Congress to power as their gratitude to Sonia aammaa (mother) for delivering a separate state for them.

Itas no wonder that after coming to power the Congress decided to invite former party chief, Sonia Gandhi, to the main event to be held on June 2.

The state Cabinet decided to felicitate her in recognition of the key role played by her in the formation of the state.

CM Reddy visited Delhi a few days ago to invite her and she accepted the invitation.

Sonia Gandhi will participate in the main event at Parade Ground Secunderabad with the hoisting of the national flag, a parade and a march past by police contingents. This will be her second visit to Telangana after Congress stormed to power in the state.

She along with former Congress chief, Rahul Gandhi and senior leader Priyanka Gandhi, had attended the swearing-in ceremony of the Chief Minister and his Cabinet colleagues on December 7 at LB Stadium.

CM Reddy had arrived for the oath-taking ceremony with Sonia Gandhi in a flower-bedecked open-top vehicle.

At the state formation day celebrations, the Congress government will also felicitate those who participated in the movement for Telangana state.

It is likely to honour those who sidelined by the BRS government.

Political analysts say as KCR dominated the politics of Indiaas youngest state for the last 10 years and built his image as afather of Telanganaa, CM Reddy is keen to counter this narrative.

Itas for this reason that CM Reddy reversed the decisions of the BRS government.

He replaced aTSa with aTGa as the stateas abbreviation.

The Congress government also approved a new state anthem, which will be released at the formation day event.

CM Revanth also wanted to unveil a new emblem in place of the existing one designed by the KCR government.

However, his move to remove Kakatiya Kala Thoranam (Kakatiya arch) and Charminar from the emblem ran into problems with the BRS threatening state-wide protests.

As the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) too opposed the move to remove Charminar, the Congress government dropped plans to unveil a new emblem saying a decision will be taken after discussion in the Assembly.

The Chief Minister has already decided to have a new statue of aTelangana Thallia (mother Telangana), replacing the one designed by the previous government.

The BRS has also announced plans to celebrate the state formation day with three-day-long festivities.

The BRS leaders will take out a candlelight rally from Telangana Martyrsa Memorial at Gun Park to the Amara Jyoti memorial built by the BRS government in honour of those who sacrificed their lives in the Telangana movement.

The main celebrations will be held on June 2 at BRS headquarters Telangana Bhavan.

Though CM Reddy has invited KCR to the main official celebration, the latter is not likely to attend it. KCR will address the event to be held at Telangana Bhavan.
Chennai, May 31 : An Additional Superintendent of the Tamil Nadu police who was part of the Special Task Force that gunned down forest brigand Veerappan was suspended a day prior to his superannuation.

S. Velladurai, Additional Superintendent of Police, Crime Records Bureau, Tiruvannamalai, was placed under suspension by the Tamil Nadu home department on Thursday.

The officer, according to sources, was suspended for his alleged involvement in custodial torture leading to the death of aKokkia Kumar alias Ramu in Sivaganga district of Tamil Nadu in 2013.

aKokkia Kumar was an accused in the killing of police sub- inspector T. Alwin Sudhan during Maruthupandiar Jayanthi on October 27, 2012. The police arrested 13 people including aKokkia Kumar in the case.

The CB-CID which probed the case had filed a report in the designated court recommending that further action be dropped.

Velladurai gained fame when he gunned down a history sheeter Ayothikuppam Veeramani in 2003 in Chennai when he was a Sub- Inspector. He was also part of the Special Task Force that shot dead forest brigand Veerappan in 2004.

The Tamil Nadu government had also appointed Velladurai as a special officer of the State Police Special Wing to monitor and control rowdy elements and anti- socials that targeted industrial units and entrepreneurs in Kancheepuram district in 2021 when the DMK government assumed office.
Mumbai, May 31 : Clamping down on the menace of illegal power connections, Adani Electricity Mumbai Limited detected 26.21 million units of power thefts worth an estimated Rs 46.04 crore in the city last year, an official spokesperson said on Friday.

In the financial year 2023-2024, the company lodged 974 FIRs for power thefts, compared to the 778 FIRs registered in the previous fiscal (2022-2023). Power theft is a non-bailable offence that attracts a stringent fine/jail term of three years for the offenders.

During multiple raids carried out last year, the company seized 60.5 tonnes of illegal wires and the actions resulted in bringing down the Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) losses by 0.46 per cent - from 5.93 per cent (2022-2023) to a commendable 5.47 per cent (2023-2024), the official said.

This has placed Adani Electricity with the lowest AT&C losses among all Discoms nationwide, given its extensive power network and diverse consumer base, the official added.

Among the major power thieves caught last year was Jaini Traders in Kurar village, Malad East, for illegally using a three-phase direct supply that led to theft worth Rs 1.33 crore. The case was probed by the Kandivali police station in June 2023.

In July 2023, the company's vigilance teams caught Crohast Plastic Moulding Mfg. Ltd in Andheri for using an illegal power connection worth Rs 1.09 crore, and the matter was probed by the Kherwadi police station.

The third case was lodged by Kandivali police station in December 2023 when the Kinny Farmhouse and Resort in Malad West was caught using an illegal power connection worth Rs 1.04 crore.

Adani Electricity teams, along with the concerned police authorities, conduct regular mass raids, apprehend the offenders, and confiscate the equipment used for power theft.

The incidents of power theft are rampant in high-demand areas like slum clusters, where new network development is challenging due to space constraints, while overload of the existing infrastructure increases maintenance costs due to more frequent cable and transformer failures.

"Power theft unfairly burdens the honest, paying consumers, and we at Adani Electricity are committed to eliminating the menace of power theft to safeguard the interests of our customers. We shall intensify the efforts in specific areas to further reduce AT&C losses this year," said the spokesperson.
New Delhi, May 31 : One more infant -- around 2 months old -- who was rescued after a fire broke out at Baby Care New Born Hospital here in the Vivek Vihar area, succumbed to injuries during treatment on Friday, an official said, adding that the death toll from the tragedy has now risen to seven.

"She succumbed to injuries on Friday morning. Further probe in connection with the fire incident is going on," a senior police officer said without divulging more details on the case.

The fire incident happened on May 25.

"In the hospital, there were 12 newborn babies admitted and one was already dead before the fire incident. All the 12 newborn babies were rescued from the hospital with the help of other people and shifted to East Delhi Advance NICU Hospital, for treatment. Six died during the treatment," said the official.

As per police sources, Baby Care New Born Child Hospital flouted the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) regarding the storage of oxygen cylinders.

According to an MHA circular dated April 23, 2021, on guidelines for the safe storage, transportation, and handling of liquid oxygen for medical use, oxygen must be kept at least 20 feet away from flammables and combustibles.

Additionally, "No Smoking" and "No Open Flames" signs must be posted.

Delhi Police has arrested the hospital owner and the doctor on duty at the hospital in connection with the incident.

The owner was identified as Naveen Kichi, a resident of Bhairon Enclave, Paschim Vihar while the doctor was identified as Aaksh (26), a resident of district Charkhi Dadri in Haryana.
St. Johns United is expanding its mission of providing living opportunities within nurturing environments of hope, dignity and love into downtown Billings.

Community stakeholders, including Deputy Mayor Mike Boyett, gathered recently at 3940 Rimrock Road at for the ribbon cutting of St. Johns United Center for Generations Child Development Center.

In the fall of 2022, St. Johns was one of 30 recipients statewide of the competitive Childcare Innovation and Infrastructure grant through the American Rescue Plan Act. The project is part of the larger continuum of support from the State of Montana for the child care industry aimed at enhancing the availability, affordability, and accessibility of high-quality child care for children and families in Montana.

St. Johns utilized these funds, in combination with other fundraising efforts, to develop 5,695 square feet of space, previously used for senior housing, into a state- of-the-art child development center that is embedded within the retirement community.

David Trost, St. Johns United CEO, states, As the third-largest employer in the City of Billings, we understand that providing quality childcare for our employees is key to recruiting and retaining a workforce. The project will be supported by developing partnerships with a coalition of large business to develop an employer-subsidized, membership model, where the members employees will have priority access to available childcare slots.

St. Johns Center for Generations Child Development Center (CFG) was established in 1996 to meet the child care needs of St. Johns employees. CFG provides early infant care to Pre-K classes, as well as school-age after school and summer programs. The programs focus is on early childhood development, complimented by intentional inter-generational programming designed to build relationships between children and older adults.

Tom Schlotterback, St. Johns Foundation President, adds, For more than 20 years, children have graced St. Johns United West End campus with their daily presence. Babies have been rocked and cooed over by countless surrogate grandmas and grandpas. Toddlers have brought their mischief and delight to residents and staff as they parade the halls. School-aged children have shared projects and the days events with young and old alike. The presence of youth is life giving, is spirit filled and most importantly, it is missional.

St. Johns United is a Montana not-for-profit organization that provides human services and care spanning the arc of life.
New Delhi, May 31 : The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed, as withdrawn, the plea filed by an independent candidate from Bihar's Jehanabad Lok Sabha constituency challenging the rejection of his nomination form.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Aravind Kumar told petitioner Abhishek Dangi to file a letter patent appeal before the high court or rather, institute an election petition in the matter.

Sensing the disinclination of the apex court, counsel representing the petitioner sought permission to withdraw the matter. Ultimately, the petition was dismissed as withdrawn with the liberty to exhaust the other available alternative remedies.

The special leave petition, filed through advocate Suvidutt M.S., alleged that the petitioneras nomination form was rejected due to ulterior and hidden motives of the local administration which can only be cured by the apex court since he has lost hope in the government and electoral machinery.

On May 21, the Patna High Court dismissed Dangi's writ petition challenging the rejection of his nomination papers by the District Magistrate-cum-Returning Officer.

"A suit, an appeal or a writ petition challenging the acceptance or rejection of nomination paper in an election to Central or State legislature is not competent. In view of the pronouncement of law by the Honable Supreme Court, this writ petition is dismissed as being not maintainable," said a single-judge bench of Justice Prabhat Kumar Singh.

The plea said that the petitioneras nomination form was rejected for not answering Question No. 8(ii) B which was a follow-up question in case the answer to Question 8 (ii) A was "Yes" but the applicable and correct answer in Petitioneras case is aNo" as he has not stayed in accommodation provided by the government at any time during the last ten years before the date of notification of the current election.
Mumbai, May 31 : Actress Shambhavi Singh, who has bagged the lead role in the upcoming thriller '10:29 Ki Aakhri Dastak', has shared that convincing her family to agree to her career choice was one of the toughest battles she faced.

Shambhavi, who hails from Patna, said: "Entering the acting field was quite challenging for me, especially coming from a small town where pursuing a career in acting was not easy as everyone used to think it is not a stable profession. My father was initially against the idea, and convincing my family was one of the toughest battles I've faced."

"Even after convincing my parents, it was a challenge to get a good role, and coming to Mumbai and managing things by myself was a big task. Although I had done one show before, landing the lead role in '10:29 Ki Aakhri Dastak' is a monumental achievement for me," she said.

Sharing details about her character, Shambhavi said: "I am playing Preeti, which is a very different character than the one I played before. I hope the viewers will like the show and shower love on my character. Starting my career with a show on such a prestigious channel is a fantastic opportunity. I am thrilled about the show, particularly because of its unique and compelling storyline."

The show also starring Rajveer Singh, Aayushi Bhave, and Krip Suri will air in June on Star Bharat.
New Delhi, May 31 : The Crime Branch of the Delhi Police has arrested a sharpshooter of the Tillu-Tajpuria gang from the national capital, said an official, adding that a 'proclamation' under section 82 CrPC was also issued against the accused, who was instructed by the gang leaders lodged in jail to eliminate rival gang members.

The accused was identified as Vishal a.k.a Ghaisal (24), a resident of Rohtak district in Haryana.

According to the police, the Crime Branch was tasked to arrest the gang members active in Delhi and its periphery.

"Subsequently, a specific input was received regarding Vishal's arrival near Bhalswa Jheel, Bhalswa Dairy. The team raided the place and Vishal was nabbed," said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Satish Kumar.

On interrogation, it was revealed that from an early age, he has been known to one Sumit a.k.a Jhumka, who is a member of the Tillu-Tajpuria gang.

Sumit is involved in the recent murder reported in the Alipur police station and is absconding.

"Through Sumit, he came in contact with another gang member named Himmat a.k.a Chiku. He started working on their directions. In December 2020, on the direction of Himmat, he along with one Paramjeet a.k.a Chita planned to murder Boga (a sharpshooter of gangster Rajesh Bawaniya) but when they were on the way to execute the plan, the police caught them," said the DCP.

After being released from jail, he remained in touch with Sumit. "In March 2024, he met Sumit who gave him money to sustain himself and assured him that they would use him for killing rival gang members," said the DCP..

About 15-20 days ago, Vishal received arms and ammunition on the instructions of Sumit. "He was further instructed to reach near Bhalswa Jheel to meet another member of the Tillu-Tajpuria gang to start working on the target assigned by Himmat. However, he was arrested by the team," the DCP added.
Chandigarh, May 31 : Giving a clarion call to vote for the BJP for a progressive Punjab, state party chief, Sunil Jakhar on Friday said the answer to a drug-free Punjab lies in strengthening the party both at the Centre and the state.

In a statement on Friday, Sunil Jakhar said Home Minister Amit Shah had already shown the resolve when he said "the BJP will not only end narcotic abuse in Punjab, the party will completely uproot the menace that Punjab is grappling with."

"Punjab requires a political will to root out drugs. If need be, the BJP will open new offices of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and other stringent measures to weed out the menace from Punjab's soil. Every vote for the BJP will save the generation," he said.

Slamming the AAP government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, he called upon the electorate to deliver a decisive mandate in favour of the BJP if Punjab is to be released from the clutches of fear and threat.

Citing the example of Uttar Pradesh, he said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Yogi Adityanath Government has turned the state into a law and order-driven progressive state by uprooting the rule of the mafia and gangsters.

"Today Punjab's industry is relocating to UP. Punjab needs a strong leadership if its future has to be secure," he said.

He said the government stands exposed with unbridled rampant drug abuse and unemployment.

Sunil Jakhar alleged, "Today nobody wants to go to a minister's doorsteps fearing loss of dignity or outraging of modesty. The sad part is that the Punjab Congress has timidly surrendered before Mann fearing police action."

He claimed that the Congress and AAP were in cahoots and were seeking votes not for Punjab's betterment but to see that they don't go to jail.

He asked, "Why do Congress leaders not speak against AAP for its failure on drugs? Why don't they speak against Mann for forfeiting the interest of farmers by blocking the grant of Rs 6,000 under the Kisan Nidhi scheme? It's because Congress leaders in Punjab fear Mann. They fear going to jail for their corrupt ways and wrongdoings if they speak against Mann."
New Delhi, May 31 : In the world of aviation, the role of flight attendants is often less valued.

Beyond serving food and beverages, they are the guardians of passenger safety, comfort, and well-being.

These trained professionals handle emergencies with grace, maintain the security of the aircraft, and ensure smooth operations throughout the journey.

On International Flight Attendant Day (May 31), IANS takes a look at how the cabin crew makes the fliers' lives easy with their tireless efforts.

On January 14 this year, Akasa Air flight QP 1519 from Kochi to Mumbai faced an unexpected medical emergency. However, the crew comprising Dhanya Devasia, Zargaam K, Arnav Agarwal, and Kritika Rana swiftly assessed and managed the situation.

Their professionalism was so impressive that a doctor on board, who assisted in the emergency, praised their efforts on X.

In a post on X, he commended the flight attendants for their exceptional care and composure, highlighting the importance of preparedness and teamwork in critical moments.

Just a week earlier on January 7, a passenger on an Akasa Air flight from Port Blair to Chennai suffered a cardiac arrest. The quick-thinking cabin crew -- Nida Khan, Anuja Sharma, Sumiya Khatoon, Gracy Rongmei, and Pragya Singh -- revived the passenger, who began responding verbally.

Their timely intervention was crucial in stabilising the passenger until the flight landed safely.

IndiGo's cabin crew member Imtinaro Jamir also shared a touching story of resilience and hope on International Flight Attendant Day.

Diagnosed with Stage III nasopharyngeal carcinoma during the Covid-19 pandemic, Jamir faced a daunting battle against cancer. Her journey, marked by pain and anxiety, transformed into a story of triumph with the unwavering support of her family, friends, and the IndiGo team.

"My uniform motivated me to keep pushing forward," Jamir said, recounting her return to flying after 14 months of treatment.

Promoted to Core Lead, she credits IndiGo for the support and seamless insurance process that eased her financial burdens. Miraculously, after just seven chemotherapy sessions, she was declared cancer-free on December 14, 2020.

Jamir's story underscores the power of mental strength and the importance of a supportive community.
Mumbai, May 31 : A senior citizen couple's joy knew no bounds when the Railway Protection Force (RPF) officials helped recover the woman's purse, containing cash and jewellery worth over Rs 17 lakh, which she had inadvertently forgotten at the parking of the busy Bandra Terminus on Friday.

Hansa Joishar, 71, along with her husband Himmatlal Joishar, alighted from the Kutch Express at Mumbai's Bandra Terminus as they returned from a short pilgrimage to Bhuj.

They trudged out with their luggage to the open parking area in the blistering summer heat. While there were no cabs available to take them home to Neelam Nagar in Mulund, the coupleas son Kushal Joishar had sent a regular cabby to pick them up.

The driver helped the senior couple put the luggage in the taxi boot, but near Sion, Himmatlal Joishar felt thirsty and asked the cabby to stop briefly so he could get his water bottle kept in the trunk. When the couple opened the boot and took out the bottle, Hansa was stunned to discover that her purse with cash, gold and diamonds, was missing.

Her equally shaken husband suspected that she could have forgotten it on the train, but the shocked woman insisted that it was there with her all the time.

"Considering it as a goner, we still decided to go back and check if we could somehow recover ita Even the driver was rattled as he felt the blame could fall on him, and immediately offered to take us back to Bandra Terminus," Hansa Joishar told IANS.

Meanwhile, RPF woman constable Janabai happened to spot the purse, apparently abandoned in the parking lot with nobody around. She gingerly picked it up and took it to her senior, Sub Inspector Arjun Singh.

The two carefully opened the bag and were stunned as out flowed Rs 1,21,210 in cash, plus gold and diamond bangles, necklaces, rings and other jewellery, totally worth a" as the Hansa Joishar informed later a" a staggering Rs 17,71,210. There was a chit with the phone number of Kushal Joishar, whom the police called and he provided his mother's number, after which the police contacted her just as they were returning to Bandra Terminus.

The Joishars reached the RPF office, where the police confirmed and cross-checked all the items, the elderly coupleas train journey and all other aspects, and after fully satisfying themselves, handed over the bag with its valuables to the much-relieved couple. "This is a divine blessing in a city like Mumbaia We are pleased to know that there are good police personnel and honest citizens as my purse could have disappeared in no time. We are extremely thankful to the RPF and God for saving our day," said the overwhelmed Hansa.

A similar incident happened a couple of years ago to retired lecturer Ramila Desai of Vile Parle's N.M. College, as reported by IANS on November 2, 2022. She had gone with friends to celebrate her birthday over lunch at a restaurant in Dadar West and dropped her gold bracelet worth over Rs 1.50 lakh somewhere. The birthday feast ruined, Desai and her friends left to start a frantic search for the lost ornament and finally found it after over five hours - still on the pavement where it had fallen off.

(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: q.najmi@ians.in )
New Delhi, May 31 : A Delhi court on Friday sent Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's aide Bibhav Kumar to 14-day judicial custody in the Swati Maliwal assault case.

New Delhi, May 31 (IANS) A Delhi court on Friday sent Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwalas aide Bibhav Kumar to 14-day judicial custody in the Swati Maliwal assault case.

Bibhav Kumar was arrested on May 18 in connection with the assault on Maliwal, an Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha member and former Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, on May 13.

The Delhi Police had moved an application seeking Bibhav Kumar be sent to judicial custody. While his counsel opposed the plea, the prosecution said that Kumar might interfere with the current investigation.

In a related development, the Delhi High Court on Friday reserved its order on the maintainability of Kumaras plea challenging his arrest in the case. On Monday, the Tis Hazari Court had dismissed Kumar's bail plea.

During the hearing, Maliwal broke down in the courtroom, alleging character assassination and citing life threats being made to her. Delhi Police had opposed the claim of Kumaras counsel that Maliwal went to the CMas residence with the intent to malign his aide, and alleged a three-day delay in filing an FIR. He had further argued that Kumar was not present at the CMas residence and that Maliwal had no appointment.
Mannheim : , May 31 (IANS/DPA) A knife-wielding attacker in the German city of Mannheim on Friday targeted a gathering of the anti-Islam right-wing group Pax Europa, according to members of the group.

The police shot at the attacker, who, sources told DPA, suffered life-threatening injuries and is awaiting surgery.

A policeman also suffered severe injuries and is being treated at a hospital.

Pax Europa board member Michael Sturzenberger was also injured in the attack, according to the group's treasurer, Stefanie Kizina.

"He was hit in the leg and face and is undergoing emergency surgery. There is apparently no danger to life," Kizina told the Bild newspaper on Sturzenberger's injury.

A video apparently of the attack circulated online on Friday, showing a man stabbing several people who appeared to be participants at the Pax Europa event. He can also be seen stabbing the policeman.

People can be heard shouting "get the knife away" in the video. The video also shows an officer shooting at the attacker. Several police officers then restrain him on the ground.

Mannheim's market square, where the incident happened, is located in the centre of the city.

The police did not immediately confirm whether the attack was on the Pax Europa gathering, but a spokeswoman for the city of Mannheim confirmed that the group had registered an event on the market square for Friday.

The square was later cordoned off with red and white police tape, screens had been erected and a nearby tram station was closed as investigators combed the area searching for evidence.

Emergency services and a rescue helicopter were deployed to treat the injured.

Many questions remain unanswered. The police were initially unable to say how many people were injured or had been taken to hospital.

A police spokesman described the injuries as "serious in some cases".

Details about the identity of the suspect or his motive for the attack also remain unclear. A police spokesman said authorities were looking into whether there was a potential political motive for the attack.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his shock at the violence.

"The images from Mannheim are terrible. Several people have been seriously injured by an attacker," Scholz wrote in a post on X. "My thoughts are with the victims. Violence is absolutely unacceptable in our democracy. The perpetrator must be severely punished."

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser also expressed horror at the images of the attack, and wished all the victims a speedy recovery.

"My thoughts are especially with the police officer who was seriously injured by knife wounds. I would like to thank the police officers who intervened immediately and the doctors and paramedics who are fighting for the lives of the victims of this terrible crime," Faeser said.

Mannheim's Mayor Christian Specht said: "This brutal attack shakes and shocks us, it leaves us speechless."

Specht said his thoughts are with the injured police officer and other victims.

At the same time, he called on people not to speculate about the attacker's background or motives, but instead to wait for the results of the investigation.

Faeser, however, suggested that religious and political extremism might have motivated the attacker.

"If the investigations reveal an Islamist motive, then this would once again confirm the great danger posed by Islamist acts of violence, which we have warned about," Faeser said.

--IANS/DPA

int/as/arm
Mumbai, May 31 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet against a Mumbai realtor who was arrested for allegedly cheating hundreds of flat buyers of Rs 400 crore and diverting the money for personal use and money laundering, officials said here on Friday.

The ED launched the probe against Lalit Tekchandani linked with Supreme Construction & Developers Pvt. Ltd. (SCDPL), and 15 other persons/entities following complaints lodged against them at the Chembur and Taloja police stations in Mumbai and Raigad, respectively.

The central investigating agency filed its charge sheet against the accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, before the special PMLA court here, which took cognisance of the same on Wednesday.

The probe found that SCDPL and Tekchandani, along with others, allegedly collected huge funds to the tune of Rs 400 crore from home buyers for its upcoming project in Taloja.

However, after long delays, the prospective buyers did not get their promised home or refund of their money, leaving them in the lurch.

The ED probe found that Tekchandani, with the help of the other accused, misappropriated the properties of SCDPL though he had quit as the owner and director of the company.

The accused also siphoned off the funds of the company into the accounts of associate entities, and committed other irregularities, leading to Tekchandanias arrest on March 18. Presently he is in judicial custody.

His custodial interrogation by the ED revealed that he had laundered the customersa money for personal gains and for investing in assets in his name and that of other family members.

After identifying the proceeds of the crime, ED slapped provisional attachment orders on movable and immovable properties worth Rs 113.5 crore.

The ED also froze/seized other assets in the form of shares/bank deposits/mutual funds, etc., worth Rs 43 crore.

Further probe is underway.
Shimla, May 31 : Himachal Pradesh seems to be heading for a bipolar contest for four parliamentary seats along with a bypoll of six assembly seats on Saturday between the two conventional arch-rivals -- the state ruling Congress and the BJP -- whose prominent faces comprise Union minister and four-time MP Anurag Thakur, Rajya Sabha Congress veteran Anand Sharma, and Bollywood actress-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut, the BJP's greenhorn.

The BJP, which won all Lok Sabha seats in 2014 and 2019, seems to be banking high on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "charisma" after his three elections rallies to retain all Parliamentary seats and win six Assembly seats, while the Congress is eyeing on its strong vote bank of 2.5-lakh government employees, whose demand of restoring the old pension scheme has been implemented by its government led by Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) remained missing from the state's political landscape, like the November 2022 Assembly polls.

Political observers told IANS the BJP has managed an edge over the Congress by holding a statewide campaign with public meetings by Prime Minister Modi and party's national leadership, comprising Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP president J.P. Nadda, Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh and Piyush Goyal.

The Congress, however, largely banked on Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Rahul Gandhi.

The Congress on December 8, 2022, got an absolute majority in the Assembly elections, winning 40 seats -- six over than the half-way mark of 34 in the 68-member House, while the outgoing BJP was reduced to 25.

For the Assembly bypoll, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has given tickets to all six Congress rebels, who had supported it in the Rajya Sabha elections.

The candidates are Sudhir Sharma from Dharamsala, Rajinder Rana from Sujanpur, Ravi Thakur from Lahaul-Spiti, Inder Dutt Lakhanpal from Barsar, Chaitanya Sharma from Gagret and Devender Bhutto from Kutlehar.

These seats fell vacant due to the disqualification of the legislators for defying the party whip while passing the state budget.

Through the electioneering, Chief Minister Sukhu claimed he "is not afraid of conspiracies" being hatched against him. He accused the BJP of attempting to destabilise the elected government.

In the constituency watch, Union Minister Anurag Thakur is eyeing to retain the Hamirpur Lok Sabha seat for the fifth time in a row.

This time, he is aiming to surpass the 2019 historical win with a victory margin of about 4 lakh votes, underscoring the electorate's continued support for the BJP in the hill state.

Hamirpur is BJP's bastion from where Anurag Thakur's father and two-time Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal was thrice elected as an MP.

Traditionally, this Lok Sabha seat, made up of 17 Assembly constituencies, has been with the BJP since 1998, when Suresh Chandel was elected as the MP. He continued till 2004.

In 2007 Dhumal became the MP from Hamirpur but he later resigned to take over as the Chief Minister. This necessitated the bypoll and since 2008 Anurag Thakur has been the MP. His maiden electoral victory was at the age of 34.

Ground reports say it will not be a challenge for the Union Minister to retain this seat as legislators of three of five Assembly seats in Hamirpur, the home district of the father-son duo, which were earlier won by the state ruling Congress in December 2022 polls, have switched sides and joined the BJP.

The Congress won four of the five Assembly constituencies in the district, while an Independent won the seat, once the stronghold of the Dhumal family.

Interestingly, BJP's National President J.P. Nadda who has represented the Bilaspur (Sadar) Assembly seat three times, also falls under the Hamirpur parliamentary constituency. In December 2022 Assembly polls, the BJP won all three seats in Bilaspur.

In a unique electoral showdown in the Mandi Parliamentary constituency, the battleground shifts between "royalty" and "stardom", as Congress legislator Vikramaditya Singh, the scion of the erstwhile royal family, challenges Bollywood's 'queen', Kangana Ranaut.

Amid the clash of heritage and stardom, the sprawling constituency, one of the toughest and covers almost two-thirds of the state, saw a riveting electoral spectacle.

Even PM Modi at an impressive rally in Mandi last week tried to build bond by saying: "Times have changed but Modi hasn't. The relationship between Modi and Himachal remains as strong as evera I proudly declare Himachal as my home while serving as Prime Minister. Similarly, a former President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai says that Himachal is his home."

The Mandi seat is currently represented by Pratibha Singh, mother of Vikramaditya Singh who belongs to the erstwhile royal family of Keonthal state. She is a three-time MP from Mandi.

Seeking votes with folded hands was tough for Congress veteran and four-time Rajya Sabha MP Anand Sharma in his new battleground Kangra, the largest Lok Sabha constituency in the state in terms of voters which plays a crucial role in state politics.

The Congress has pitted former Union Minister Sharma, known to be a 'mentor' to Chief Minister Sukhu, against debutante Rajiv Bhardwaj of the BJP, which ignored the sitting MP, Kishan Kapoor.

For Sharma, who belongs to Shimla, this would be his first electoral battle for the Lok Sabha. With a political career spanning over four decades, Sharma, who first entered the Rajya Sabha in 1984, is a surprise pick by the party.

In the Shimla (reserved) seat, the battle between BJP's sitting MP Suresh Kashyap and Congress first-time legislator from Kasauli, Vinod Sultanpuri, seems neck and neck owing to annoyance of apple growers against the BJP-led Centre over failure to regulate imported apples that is impacting the local fruit economy.

Besides riding high on his father K.D. Sultanpuri's popularity, who had represented this seat for record six times on the trot from 1980, the junior Sultanpuri is hopeful to retain the seat, which the Congress lost in the past three Lok Sabha polls, as the Congress won 13 of the 17 assembly seats that fall in the Shimla Lok Sabha constituency in the 2022 assembly polls.

Travelling to every nook and corner, Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi tried to strike an emotional chord by saying the hill state is her "home" as her cottage is located in Charabra, on the outskirts of Shimla.

During campaigning, she took digs at PM Modi, accusing him of abandoning the people when disaster struck owing to heavy rain in 2023, despite his claims of considering Himachal "to be his home".

With the electorates, in the Lok Sabha polls, traditionally favouring the party at the helm in the state, these elections are being seen as a referendum on Himachal Pradesh's 17-month-old Congress government.

According to the Election Commission, a total of 57 lakh electorates will decide the future of 37 candidates in the fray for the four Lok Sabha seats and 25 for the Assembly by-polls on six seats.

In the 2019 general polls, the BJP had won all four parliamentary seats. Later in the bypoll, the Congress won the Mandi seat.

Vote count will be held on June 4, as in the rest of the country.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at gulatiians@gmail.com)

--IANS

vg/pgh
Bengaluru, May 31 : A court here on Friday rejected the anticipatory bail plea of Bhavani Revanna -- the mother of Janata Dal-Secular MP Prajwal Revanna who has been arrested in connection with the sex video scandal.

According to sources, the SIT is likely to arrest Bhavani Revanna in the kidnapping case of the victim in the alleged sex scandal.

The SIT vehemently argued in court that Bhavani Revanna's petition should not be entertained.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Friday served a notice to Bhavani Revanna -- a former Hassan Zilla Panchayat member -- in connection with the kidnapping case.

The SIT has directed Bhavani Revanna to be present at her residence in Holenarasipur town in Hassan district for questioning.

The kidnapping case has been lodged at the KR Nagar Police Station in Mysuru district.

Earlier, in a letter to the SIT on May 15, Bhavani Revanna stated that she would be available at her residence for questioning if the need arose.

The SIT team, which includes women personnel, could question her anytime between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on June 1 (Saturday), according to sources.

Sources said that Bhavani Revanna has been out of the public eye for the last 15 days and is staying at an undisclosed location.

As the anticipatory bail plea has been rejected, the SIT is "most likely" to arrest her.

Earlier, counsel for the SIT, B.N. Jagadish submitted that Bhavani Revanna had made calls to Satish Babu, the second accused in the kidnapping case, and others.

He argued that it is not possible to obtain additional information without arresting Bhavani Revanna.

"She is politically connected, rich, and powerful, making her arrest inevitable. Bhavani Revanna had prevented the victim from registering a complaint against her son," Jagadish said.

The counsel also submitted that they have recorded the victim's statement and enough evidence was gathered against Bhavani Revanna, he stated.

Senior counsel Sandeep Chowta, arguing for Bhavani Revanna, maintained that there are no direct allegations against her.

"She is linked to the case based on the call list of another person. The argument is based on circumstantial evidence. The victim who came to meet Bhavani Revanna was safely sent back to her home. Despite this fact being clear in the complaint, Bhavani Revanna is being implicated in the case," he said.

Bhavani Revanna had written a letter to the SIT stating that she would cooperate with the investigation.

"In this context, she should be granted bail," the counsel pleaded before the court.
Kochi, May 31 : The Kerala High Court on Friday granted bail to 19 students accused in the death of second-year veterinary student Sidharthan, who was found hanging in the toilet of his hostel at the state-run Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University in Wayanad in February this year.

The decision is a setback to the CBI, which is probing the matter.

Initially, when Sidharthan's body was discovered, a case of unnatural death was registered by the Kerala Police.

But after the parents and the opposition parties protested, the Pinarayi Vijayan government handed over the probe to the CBI in March.

When the bail application came up before the High Court, the counsel for the accused argued that they had every right to bail. The CBI strongly opposed this, stating that the accused were guilty of brutally ragging and assaulting Sidharthan.

But the judge ruled that "on an overall consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case, prima facie, I do not find sufficient material to establish any positive act on the part of the accused to have instigated or aided the deceased to commit suicide" as he granted bail.

Reacting to the verdict, Sidharthan's parents said they had no clue why the court took such a stand. "We will not sit idle hearing this judgment and we will do the needful. Itas now become very clear that the Kerala Police was guilty of destroying crucial evidence in the case, which led to what happened today," Sidharthan's father said.
Berlin, May 31 : Germany's Federal Minister for Interior and Home Affairs, Nancy Faeser, has expressed serious concerns about the dangers posed by "Islamist acts of violence" after a knife-wielding attacker in Mannheim, a city in the country's southwest, targeted a gathering of the anti-Islam right-wing group, Pax Europa, on Friday.

Besides the group's board member Michael Sturzenberger, a policeman also suffered severe injuries in the attack before the attacker was shot at by the security officials.

The chilling video of the crime has now gone viral on social media.

"The knife attack in Mannheim is a terrible crime. The images of the crime are shocking. I hope the victims make a full recovery. My thoughts are also with the seriously injured police officer. My thanks go to the police and rescue services," Faeser posted on X.

"The investigation will clarify the background to this crime. If the investigation reveals an Islamist motive, then that would be further confirmation of the great danger posed by Islamist acts of violence that we have warned about," she added.

German news agency DPA quoted a police spokesman describing the injuries as "serious in some cases".

It said that details about the identity of the suspect or his motive behind the attack also remain unclear.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also expressed his shock over the violent incident.

"The images from Mannheim are terrible. Several people have been seriously injured by an attacker," Scholz wrote in a post on X.

"My thoughts are with the victims. Violence is absolutely unacceptable in our democracy. The perpetrator must be severely punished," he added.

Germany has been taking a number of legislative, organisational, and social policy measures to fight international terrorism.

The country's government believes that Islamist-motivated international terrorism "is now and will for the foreseeable future" remain the "greatest threat" to security and one of the greatest challenges for the authorities.
Hyderabad, May 31 : Telangana's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Friday arrested two more officials, including a former aide of former Animal Husbandry Minister T. Srinivas Yadav and a senior official for their alleged involvement in irregularities in sheep distribution, a flagship scheme by the previous BRS government.

Those arrested have been identified as Sabavath Ramchander, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Telangana livestock Development Agency, formerly MD, TSSGDCF (Telangana State Sheep and Goat Development Cooperative Federation Ltd) and Gundamaraju Kalyan Kumar, former OSD for the then Minister for Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, Fisheries and Cinematography.

The ACB alleged that they colluded and conspired with private persons, resorted to gross illegal acts and violations in the course of discharge of their duties.

According to the agency, they violated instructions issued for procurement of sheep and deliberately involved private persons/brokers in the procurement process.

Both deliberately gave instructions to all district Joint Directors/DVAHOs of the Animal Husbandry Department to facilitate misappropriation of government money by private persons.

The accused, along with private persons, illegally obtained undue advantage, and caused wrongful loss to the government exchequer, and thus misappropriated government funds worth Rs 2.10 crore.

With this, the number of accused arrested in the case has gone up to 10.

In February, the ACB had arrested four officials.

The ACB launched an investigation in January into the sheep distribution scheme following allegations that some beneficiaries were cheated.

A case was registered in December 2023 after some people filed complaints against the officials and middlemen, including two assistant directors of the animal husbandry department and two contractors.

The Sheep Rearing Development Scheme (SRDS) was launched by the state government in April 2017 to provide sustainable livelihoods to traditional shepherd families and improve their economic standard.

Under the first phase, each family was given 20 sheep with a unit cost of Rs 1.25 lakh on a 75 per cent subsidy. A total expenditure of Rs 4,980.31 crore was incurred for the implementation of the scheme.

About 82.74 lakh sheep were procured from other States and distributed among 3.92 lakh members of the Primary Sheep Breeders Co-operative Societies (PSBCS).

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), in its report presented to the state Assembly in February, hinted at massive irregularities in the implementation of the scheme.

CAG report on general, social and economic sectors of Telangana for the year ended March 2021 suspects fraud in the implementation of the scheme.

During the test-check of the implementation of the scheme in seven districts, the audit observed serious deficiencies like non-maintenance of beneficiary-wise files, non-availability of invoices in support of transportation of sheep; payments made on improper/ manipulated invoices, invoices containing fake vehicle registration numbers and invoices showing transportation of higher number of sheep units than that was possible/permitted.

In one instance, it found that a two-wheeler was used to transport as many as 126 sheep in a single trip.

Two-wheelers, cars/vans, buses and even ambulances were claimed to have been used to transport sheep.

Not just passenger vehicles, even fire trucks, water tankers and mobile compressor vehicles were shown as used for the transportation of sheep.
Paris, May 31 : Three-time champion and women's World No.1 Iga Swiatek perfectly celebrated her birthday as she romped into the fourth round of the French Open, beating Czech Marie Bouzkova in straight sets on Court Philippe-Chatrier on Friday.

Swiatek became the seventh player into the womenas fourth round, beating Czech Bouzkova 6-4, 6-2 at Stade Roland Garros to set up a clash with Anastasia Potapova in the fourth round. Potapova overcame Chinaas Xinyu Wang 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-4 in a third-round match on Court 14.

Tunisian star Ons Jabeur also made it into the second week after negotiating a tricky test against Leylah Fernandez from Canada. Jabeur sealed a 6-4, 7-6(5) win in a third-round encounter. The eighth seed was a point from being forced into a decider late in the second but managed to quell the fightback. Jabeur, a three-time major finalist, next plays Denmark's Clara Tauson in the fourth round on Sunday.

In other matches, Denmark's Clara Tauson advanced into the fourth round at a major for the first time, beating former runner-up Sofia Kenin 6-2, 7-5. Another runner-up here in recent years, Marketa Vondrousova, cruised through against French wildcard Chloe Paquet 6-1, 6-3.

The Polish two-time defending French Open champion took care of business, spending her 23rd birthday on the court to safely seal a berth in the Round of 16 for the sixth year in a row.

Swiatek had saved four match points on her way to victory in what many pundits called the match of the tournament against Naomi Osaka in the second round.

On Friday, Swiatek found it much easier to control the outcome of points against World No.42 Bouzkova -- who had beaten No.29 seed Veronika Kudermetova in Paris' opening round but missed much of the clay-court season due to injury and played just two matches in the six weeks before Roland Garros.

In her first-ever meeting against Bouzkova, Swiatek broke serve four times, doubled Bouzkova's total of winners, and won seven of the last nine games in 1 hour and 33 minutes on the court in total.

American Coco Gauff too advanced to the Round of 16 with a straight-sets victory against Dayana Yastremska. Her 6-2, 6-4 victory sent her flying into the second week at Roland Garros -- and had her nasty return game to thank.

The No.3-seeded Gauff won five of Yastremskaas nine service games (56 percent), against a player who reached the Australian Open semifinals as a qualifier earlier this year. In three matches here, Gauffas a sizzling 15-for-25.
Bengaluru, May 31 : Facing backlash from the opposition, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is considering asking Minister B. Nagendra to resign to avoid embarrassment over the suicide case of a tribal welfare board employee, sources said on Friday.

The death of Chandrashekaran P (52), the Superintendent of Karnataka Maharishi Valmiki Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation (KMVSTDC), who allegedly died by suicide on Sunday after leaving a note purportedly blaming senior officials for coercing him to facilitate misappropriation of funds, has triggered a political row in Karnataka.

The Congress government is reportedly concerned about the possibility of the CBI taking over the case after the Union Bank of India filed a complaint in this regard with the central agency.

Alleging that Rs 187.33 crore was transferred to individual accounts as per Nagendra's instructions, the BJP has given a deadline of June 6 for his resignation.

Meanwhile, state BJP chief B.Y. Vijayendra visited Chandrashekaran's family members on Friday and accused the Congress government of taking away articles, including a laptop, from the deceased's residence to wipe out evidence.

Minister for Youth Empowerment, Sports, and Tribal Welfare, B. Nagendra, met CM Siddaramaiah in New Delhi on Friday and clarified that he has no role in the case.

The state government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to probe the matter and is waiting for a preliminary report.

CM Siddaramaiah is likely to ask Nagendra to resign soon after receiving the report, sources said.

The Chief Minister and others are reportedly concerned about the developments surrounding the case, as the BJP is projecting the Congress government as anti-Dalit, accusing it of misappropriating funds reserved for tribal welfare to fund the general elections in a neighbouring state, the sources said.

Meanwhile, the management of the Union Bank of India filed a complaint with the CBI on Friday in connection with fraudulent transactions, after placing three branch officials under suspension pending inquiry.

However, Home Minister G. Parameshwara said on Friday that the state government will not transfer the case to the CBI.

"The probe by the CID will reveal the facts. But we will not hand over the case to the CBI ourselves," he said.

Chandrashekaran allegedly committed suicide after writing a six-page note in which he mentioned corruption in the corporation and a minister's involvement in it.

Acting on a complaint by Chandrashekaran's wife, a case has been lodged against KMVSTDC Managing Director J.G. Pabmanabh, accountant Parashurama Durgannanavar, and Union Bank Manager Suchismitha Ravul, sources said.

In the purported death note, which came to light on Monday, the deceased alleged the role of a minister in illegally transferring Rs 85 crore. He also claimed that Rs 183.53 crore in grants was transferred to different accounts.

Chandrashekaran also claimed that he was tortured and humiliated for questioning the illegal transactions.

The family claimed that Chandrashekaran was under tremendous pressure following the transfer of money without his knowledge.
New Delhi, May 31 : Panic gripped the New Delhi Railway Station after a 'grenade' was found in a bag in the garbage on Friday but police clarified that it was only a "training device" and did not pose a threat.

Police said that at 6.30 p.m., information was received regarding an unclaimed bag in the garbage area at the New Delhi Railway station, Paharganj side, following which a police team rushed to the spot.

"The Bomb Disposal Squad scanned the spot, including the suspected bag. However, no explosive was detected by them and there was no threat," a senior police official said.

"The discovered grenade is a training device used by the army, containing only gunpowder. It does not have any explosive material capable of causing harm to life or property," the official said. "There is no cause for panic, as all standard operating procedures (SOPs) are being followed at the site."
Guwahati/Agartala, May 31 : Uncertainty continued over the resumption of railway services, which are cut off between Tripura, Mizoram, Manipur, southern Assam, and the rest of the country for the fourth consecutive day on Friday, as most railway tracks remained waterlogged and damaged due to the landslides in the Lumding Division of the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR).

Railway tracks in Silchar, New Haflong, Bandarkhal and Chandranathpur section faced damages due to waterlogging caused due to the incessant rains in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal earlier this week.

Amid the uncertainty about the resumption of railway services, road communications are also badly affected in several northeastern states due to flood in Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and other northeastern states.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have expressed their deep concern over the flood situation in the northeastern region and assured to help these states.

HM Shah spoke over phone with Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, Mizoram CM Lalduhoma and Manipur CM N. Biren Singh and assured them of the Central assistance to deal with the situation.

Prime Minister Modi posted on X: "Unfortunately, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Tripura and West Bengal have witnessed natural disasters in the aftermath of Cyclone Remal. My thoughts and prayers are with all those who have been affected there.

"Took stock of the prevailing situation. The Central Government has assured all possible support to the states and is continuously monitoring the situation. Officials are working on the ground to assist those affected."

Meanwhile, HM Shah wrote on X: "Deeply concerned about the natural disasters triggered by Cyclone Remal in Assam, Tripura, Manipur, Meghalaya, and Mizoram. Also briefed PM Modi on the situation, who expressed solidarity with those affected. Spoke to the respective state Chief Ministers, took stock of the situation, and assured them of all possible help.

"Our thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones and prayers with those injured for a speedy recovery. The situation is being closely monitored and authorities are providing all possible assistance to the affected."

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi also expressed their deep concern over the flood situation in the northeastern region and urged the government to normalise the situation at the earliest.

An NFR official said that railway tracks were either inundated or the water is overflowing over the tracks and the soils under the tracks washed away due to incessant rains or have been damaged in at least 10 places in Lumding Division in Assam's Dima Hasao district, which is a connecting route to south Assam, Tripura, Manipur, and Mizoram.

The official said that though the water levels of all rivers including Barak, Madhura, and Jiri are receding, the situation was not favourable to start full-fledged restoration work.

"Currently, intermittent rain and other adverse conditions also badly hampered the repairing work. However, our engineers and workers are working round-the-clock to restore rail services at the earliest," an NFR official said.

Since Tuesday, the NFR had cancelled more than three dozen express, passenger and goods trains to and from south Assam, Tripura, Manipur and Mizoram.

The cancellation of trains would continue till June 2, the official said.

Tripura Food and Civil Supplies minister Sushanta Chowdhury on Friday once again urged the people "not to panic" and said the state has got sufficient food stocks and enough petrol, and diesel stocks to last another week.

Chowdhury, who on Friday held meetings with the traders and officials to review the situation, told the media that he spoke to the NFR General Manager, who assured him that disrupted railway connectivity would be restored soon.

Passenger and goods train services have been affected in the region since April 25 owing to heavy landslides causing damage to railway tracks in the Jatinga Lumpur-New Harangajao section under the Lumding Division after heavy rains lashed the mountainous Dima Hasao district.

Considering the damaged railway tracks and weak soil in the region, the NFR recently operated a limited number of trains in the daytime on the hilly route, besides regulating long-distance, express and goods trains.

The disruptions in services caused a major shortage of transport fuel -- petrol and diesel -- and other essential goods in southern Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Manipur.

Due to the heavy rain and landslides, highway connectivity was also affected in these states, which are heavily dependent on fuel, essential items, food grains and other commodities from the outside.
New Delhi, May 31 : With the results of the general elections set to be announced on June 4, the Lok Sabha Secretariat has introduced several innovative measures to welcome, register and assist the newly-elected MPs.

Under the supervision of Lok Sabha Secretary General Utpal Kumar Singh, who reviewed the arrangements on Friday, several initiatives are being designed to streamline the registration process and enhance the overall efficiency of parliamentary procedures.

One of the key improvements is implementing an integrated software application aimed at reducing paperwork and expediting the formalities associated with the registration of MPs.

This online system will allow newly-elected members to register seamlessly, eliminating the need to sign multiple documents across various branches. This innovation is expected to save considerable time for the MPs, allowing them to focus on their legislative responsibilities.

To minimise complications arising out of the multi-desks approach of the past, all formalities relating to the registration, nominations, transit accommodation and a host of other matters are proposed to be completed with minimum movement of MPs.

"The Secretariat has made arrangements from 2 p.m. on June 4 and the process will remain operational from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 5-14, including on Saturdays and Sundays. Earlier, the registration of newly-elected members used to take place in the old Parliament House building (now Samvidhan Sadan). This time, the Secretariat has made such arrangements in the Parliament House Annexe," it said in a statement.

As many as 20 digital registration counters with as many computers, 10 each in Banquet Hall and Private Dining Room, have been set up in the Parliament House Annexe.

As many as 70 officers/officials have been trained to man the registration counter in shifts. The liaison officers have also been imparted training to make data entry through the tabs while the MPs are waiting in the designated waiting area (banquet hall in EPHA building).

"A team has been assigned the task of keeping a close tab on the Election Commission website on the day of the declaration of results and entering the contact details of successful candidates in near real-time. The team using a software application would be able to check whether the successful candidate is a new or re-elected MP," it said.

The same information would be shared with liaison officers through software applications to make further data entry of their tour programmes.
Colombo, June 1 : A wanted handler of four Sri Lankan ISIS suspects, who were taken into custody in Gujarat's Ahmedabad, was arrested by Lankan Police Intelligence on Friday.

The 46-year-old suspect, Osman Pushparaja Gerard, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Colombo, Sri Lanka Police Media Spokesman said.

After the arrests of four suspects by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) for having links with the banned outfit Islamic State, Sri Lanka launched a high-level investigation with the participation of two main intelligence branches of the police, the CID and the Terrorist Investigation Division (TID) and other military intelligence services.

In the hunt for Osman or the coordinator of four ISIS suspects, earlier Sri Lanka Police offered a cash reward of Sri Lankan Rs two million to any informant.

Sri Lanka Police had so far arrested six suspects, including the handler who was linked with the four arrested in India.

Among those others arrested in Sri Lanka are: a suspect who had prepared a flag with an ISIS logo before which the suspects had taken an oath, two other oath takers who originally planned to go to India but later refused (making two newcomers to join the four arrested at Ahmadabad) and another suspect who handled the financial transactions.

On May 19, the ATS had arrested four suspects who had arrived on an Indigo flight from Colombo to Chennai.

Among the arrested individuals, Mohammed Nusrat, 35, who was involved in selling imported telecommunication devices and electrical equipment from Singapore, Malaysia, and Dubai had a criminal history.

In September 2020 he had been arrested in Colombo for keeping heroin in his possession while the other suspect 27-year-old Mohammad Nafran, had been running a business of importing clothing material and chocolates from India and Dubai.

In 2017, Nafran was arrested by the Sri Lanka Police under the National Gem and Jewellery Authority Act.

He was also the son of Mohamed Niyas Naufer alias 'Potta Naufer', a notorious underworld druglord who was sentenced to death for the killing of a High Court judge in Colombo.

The other two suspects are Mohammad Faris, 35, and Mohammad Rashdeen, 43, both from Colombo who had made their first visit to India.
Islamabad, June 1 : Pakistani security forces successfully killed two wanted terrorists and injured two others two days ago in an intelligence-based operation conducted in the northwest Peshawar district, the military said.

The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said on Friday in a statement that the operation targeted a terrorist hideout based on credible intelligence reports in the Hassan Khel area of Peshawar, the provincial capital of northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

The troops engaged the location effectively, resulting in the killing of the terrorists, including a ringleader, said the ISPR, adding that the killed and wounded terrorists were involved in numerous terror activities against security forces and the killing of innocent civilians, Xinhua news agency reported.

The operation led to the recovery of a substantial cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosives from the neutralised terrorists, the ISPR added.

Local residents expressed their appreciation for the operation, which they believed had significantly contributed to the safety and security of the area.

The military also reaffirmed its commitment to eradicating terrorism from Pakistan, emphasising that such operations will continue until the threat is entirely neutralised.
Juba, June 1 : The South Sudan government has received the first consignment of 645,000 doses of malaria vaccine, which will be introduced into the country's routine immunisation programme.

Health Minister Yolanda Awel Deng said on Friday that the R21 malaria vaccines will be distributed to 28 counties, Xinhua news agency reported.

"Malaria is a major concern for our country. We are committed to reducing the impact of malaria and improving the health outcomes for our children," Deng told journalists in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

Obia Achieng, deputy representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in South Sudan, said the country faces one of the highest malaria burdens in the region, with an estimated 7,630 cases and 18 deaths daily.

He said that in 2022, South Sudan recorded a staggering 76 per cent surge in reported malaria cases, highlighting the urgent need for effective intervention.

"The availability of this new malaria vaccine, after nearly 60 years of development, represents a monumental breakthrough for science, malaria control and child health," Achieng added.

Janet Michael, director general of primary health care in the Ministry of Health, said that almost a quarter of all disease diagnoses in health facilities are malaria-related in the country, adding that this has contributed to the high infant and maternal mortality rate in the country.
Beirut, June 1 : A paramedic from Hezbollah's Islamic Health Authority was killed, and another was wounded in an Israeli airstrike targeting an ambulance in the western sector of southern Lebanon, a Lebanese military source said.

The source, who spoke anonymously, said on Friday that the ambulance was burned after an Israeli drone targeted it with two air-to-surface missiles when it was travelling from the Lebanese town of Naqoura to the city of Tyre, Xinhua news agency reported.

Civil defence teams worked to extinguish the fire and transported the body of the victim and the injured individual to a hospital in Tyre, the source said.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said on Friday that it had launched a combat drone attack on Israeli artillery units in al-Zaoura bunkers, causing damages.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on October 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah towards Israel in solidarity with Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon.
Here we round up new and forthcoming childrens titles, including a picture book about relative size, a picture book debut celebrating beach coifs, a middle grade series addition about a sea adventure, and more.

Are You Small? by Mo Willems. Union Square, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-4549-5145-2. Readers explore the concept of size as they search for smaller and smaller items.

Beach Hair by Ashley Woodfolk, illus. by Nina Mata. Simon & Schuster, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-665-92098-8. In her picture book debut, Woodfolk pays homage to seaside dos of all kinds.

The City Beyond the Sea by Pari Thomson. FSG, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-374-39139-3. Daisy and her friends will need to make new allies as the Grim Reapers chase them across the sea in the second book of the Greenwild series.

The Deep Dark by Molly Knox Ostertag. Graphix, $27.99; ISBN 978-1-338-84000-1; $16.99 paper ISBN 978-1-338-83999-9. As childhood friends Mags and Nessa rekindle their easy friendshipand start a romancethey unearth memories from their past of a boys decade-old accidental death and its cause. The graphic novel received a starred review from PW.

Desert Song by Laekan Zea Kemp, illus. by Beatriz Gutierrez Hernandez. Holiday House/Porter, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-5392-4. A desert sunset cues a large family to make music alongside a myriad of creatures. The picture book received a starred review from PW.

Four Eids and a Funeral by Faridah Abike-Iyimide and Adiba Jaigirdar. Feiwel and Friends, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-2508-9013-9. Former best friends Said Hossain and Tiwa Olatunji reunite when the local Islamic center burns down, and they must work together to try and raise the money to both restore the building and throw an amazing Eid celebration.

Gorgeously Me! By Jonathan Van Ness, illus. by Kamala Nair. Flamingo, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-62284-1. Im perfectly, happily, gorgeously methe repeating sentiment empowers in Van Nesss affirming title, which foregrounds themes of confidence and self-acceptance.

Heiress Takes All by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka. Little, Brown, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-56675-9. Ousted from her lavish lifestyle following her parents divorce, Olivia Owens assembles a motley crew of classmates and plots a heist to infiltrate her fathers upcoming wedding.

Kisses from Space by Anna Menon and Keri Vasek, illus. by Andy Harkness. Random House, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-593-81114-6. Polaris Dawn crewmember Menon, in collaboration with Vasek, pens an affectionate ode to adventure and familial connection on Earth, and beyond.

Life After Whale: The Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall by Lynn Brunelle, illus. by Jason Chin. Holiday House/Porter, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-5228-6. This picture book captures the grace of a blue whale in life alongside the bustling ecosystem that surrounds it in death, as its body provides nourishment for countless creatures. The picture book received a starred review from PW.

Little Shrew by Akiko Miyakoshi. Kids Can, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-5253-1303-5. Miyakoshi examines the everyday life of a small shrew who lives modestly among humans. The early reader received a starred review from PW.

Lockjaw by Matteo L. Cerilli. Tundra, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-77488-230-6. Outsider Paz is the only one who knows that the death of her classmate Chuck wasnt an accident. Chuck was killed by a monster, and if Paz cant prove its existence, she fears that it will return to tear the town apart. The YA book received a starred review from PW.

Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell. Heartdrum, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06331-867-0. Blackfeet teens Loren Different Black Bird, Eli First Kill, Samantha White Tail, Brody Clark, and Mara Racette become the prime suspects in the death of Samantha, and when they launch their own investigation, they uncover connections to several other crimes against Indigenous girls. The YA book received a starred review from PW.

Louder Than Words by Ashley Woodfolk and Lexi Underwood. Scholastic Press, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-338-87557-7. After Jordyn is repeatedly targeted by an anonymous gossip show, she sets out to unmask the podcaster and take a stand against bullyingeven as she endures escalating threats demanding that she publicize her own deep, dark secret.

My Book and Me by Linda Sue Park, illus. by Chris Raschka. Red Comet, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-63655-094-7. Newbery Medalist Park and two-time Caldecott Medalist Raschka celebrate the ways children shower their books with loveand what they get in returnin this picture book that catalogs the pleasures of reading.

The New Girl by Cassandra Calin. Graphix, $24.99; ISBN 978-1-338-76246-4; $12.99 paper ISBN 978-1-338-76245-7. In this autobiographical graphic novel debut, 12-year-old Lia, having just moved from Romania to Montreal with her family, struggles to acclimate to her new home. The graphic novel received a starred review from PW.

Past Present Future by Rachel Lynn Solomon. Simon & Schuster, $19.99, ISBN 978-1-665-90195-6. In the sequel to Today Tonight Tomorrow, Rowan and Neil adjust to a long-distance relationship as they navigate their first year of college in new places.

Red Bird Danced by Dawn Quigley. Heartdrum, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-0632-2362-2. Ojibwe author Quigley crafts a story of Ariel and Tomah, two Ojibwe kids learning to cope with sorrowful life events. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.

Roswell Johnson Saves the World! by Chris Colfer. Little, Brown, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-51504-7. Eleven-year-old Oklahoma native Roswell Johnson is accidentally abducted by aliens who have sinister plans for Earth and must travel the galaxy to gather support in order to thwart them before its too late.

Soul Step by Jewell Parker Rhodes and Kelly McWilliams, illus. by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu. Little, Brown, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-316-56271-3. Mother-daughter team Rhodes and McWilliams feature a mother-daughter duo in this energetic picture book rooted in the history of step.

Spilled Ink by Nadia Hashimi. Quill Tree, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-306049-4. After her brother publicly defends his heritage at an open mic, Afghan American 17-year-old Yalda Jamali and her family navigate how unchallenged racism can lead to violence. The YA book received a starred review from PW.

The Spindle of Fate by Aimee Lim. Feiwel and Friends, $17.99; ISBN 978-1-2508-8619-4. Twelve-year-old Chinese American Evie Mei Huang traverses the netherworld in search of her mother.

Storm: Dawn of a Goddess by Tiffany D. Jackson. Random House, $20.99; ISBN 978-0-593-30885-1. In this origin story of the X-Men hero, young Ororo must escape the Shadow King who seeks to steal her soul by finally tapping into the powers shes been losing control of.

Take All of Us by Natalie Leif. Holiday House, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-5661-1. Something has been temporarily raising the dead and Ian is the latest victim, just as everyone is ordered to leave the city. He and his new allies investigate what triggered the evacuation as well as whats reanimating Kittakoops dead. The YA book received a starred review from PW.

They Call Me No Sam by Drew Daywalt, illus. by Mike Lowery. Clarion, $15.99; ISBN 978-0-3586-1-2902. Sam the pug is adopted into a new family and via diary entries shares the daily life of a pup whose bark is worse than his bite, but whose determination to protect and love his family is fiercer than any threat.

Until You Find the Sun: A Story About Discovering Home Wherever You Go by Maryam Hassan, illus. by Anna Wilson. Crocodile, $18.95; ISBN 978-1-62371-693-6. With the support of a grandparent, a child comes to grips with moving with her family and leaving him behind.

For more childrens and YA titles on sale throughout the month of June, check out PWs full On-Sale Calendar.
Lois Evans at Random House/Make Me a World has acquired Akimbobo, the YA debut of National Book Award nominee Nafissa Thompson-Spires (Heads of the Colored People), a satire about a summer camp for misfit Black kids, driven by a suspenseful plot that comments on larger issues of identity, policing, and the often cyclical nature of abuse. Publication is slated for fall 2026; PJ Mark at Janklow & Nesbit sold North American rights.



Anum Shafqat at McElderry Books has bought world rights to Selma Soren's debut YA novel The Lost Gods of Duat, in which a girl finds herself entangled in a vicious conspiracy against the descendants of Egyptian gods when she accidentally gets stuck in the underworld after following her ex-boyfriend, who just so happens to be the descendent of Apep, the God of Chaos. Publication is set for spring 2026; Chelsea Hensley at KT Literary brokered the deal.



Kiara Valdez at First Second has acquired Chasing Sunspots, Victoria Ying's YA graphic novel about a high school girl who, in her attempt to find validation for her art and chase her dreams to enter the comics industry, finds the strength and self-worth to overcome a manipulative relationship with a much older cartoonist. Publication is planned for 2027; Jennifer Azantian at Azantian Literary did the deal for world English rights.



Michelle Lee at Dial has bought, in an exclusive submission, So Over Sharing by Elissa Brent Weissman, a middle grade novel about two new friends whose private struggles, each with her own "momfluencer," go very public. Publication is scheduled for spring 2025; Elise Howard at DeFiore & Company sold North American rights.



Wendy Loggia at Delacorte Press has acquired Grin by D.W. Gillespie (Give Me Something Good to Eat), a middle grade novel that follows a boy who spends the summer of his dreams at his uncle's vintage-inspired arcade, until a game haunted by a notorious serial killer begins wreaking havocand threatens his life in the process. Publication is slated for summer 2025; Kimberly Brower and Aimee Ashcraft at Brower Literary did the two-book deal for world English rights.



Nick Thomas at Levine Querido has bought debut picture book If I Lived in the Sky, written and illustrated by Abigail Rajunov, an original folktale about a forest creature that longs to be a bird, but cannot fly. Publication is set for spring 2026; Aliza R. Hoover at the CAT Agency negotiated the deal for world rights.



Siobhan Ciminera at Simon Spotlight has acquired two picture books by Geisel Honor winner Jonathan Fenske: We Are All Ears and A Flea. A Frog. A Pad. A Dog. Publication is planned for summer 2026 and spring 2027; Carrie Hannigan at HG Literary sold world rights.

Melissa Manlove while at Chronicle bought world rights to Find Your Fate, a picture book by Sydney Taylor Gold Medalist and Geisel Award winner Laurel Snyder (l.), illustrated by Caldecott Medalist and National Book Award winner Dan Santat. This choose-your-path picture book adventure in the tradition of Endlessly Ever After follows a young shepherdess on a harrowing journey through Greek myths and legends; Emily Daluga will edit. Publication is scheduled for fall 2026; Tina Dubois while at CAA represented the author (now represented by Holly McGhee at Pippin Properties), and Jodi Reamer at Writers House represented the illustrator.



Nancy Paulsen at Penguin/Nancy Paulsen Books has acquired world rights to Faraway Family by Padma Venkatraman (l.) (The Bridge Home), illustrated by Nicole Wong, a picture book about a girl who feels uncomfortable with all the love her faraway grandparents shower on her when they first meet, but through the power of their imaginative shadow puppet play, these strangers soon begin to feel like family. Publication is set for spring 2026; Rob Weisbach at Rob Weisbach Creative Management represented the author, and James McGowan at BookEnds represented the illustrator.



Taylor Norman at Holiday House/Neal Porter Books has bought world rights to Not Everything by Mk Smith Despres (l.), illustrated by Hannah Salyer, a picture book that explores the complex world that exists outside of binary thinking. It's slated for spring 2026; Amy Thrall Flynn at Aevitas Creative Management represented the author, and Stephen Barr at Writers House represented the illustrator.



Tara Weikum at HarperCollins has acquired world English rights to Katherine Applegate's picture book adaptation of The One and Only Ruby, third in her bestselling The One and Only series, illustrated by Lita Judge. Publication is scheduled for winter 2026; Elena Giovinazzo at Pippin Properties represented the author, and Jennifer Laughran at Andrea Brown Literary Agency represented the illustrator.



Natalia Vazquez Torres at Charlesbridge has bought world rights to Biracial, Like Me by Daralyse Lyons (l.), and Ellie Erhart has bought world rights for illustration by Teju Abiola. The picture book is about a biracial girl's excitementand nervesas she learns she will become a big sister and wonders who the baby will look like. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Lane Clarke represented the author while at ArtHouse Literary Agency, and the illustrator represented herself.



Emma Sakamoto at Groundwood Books has acquired Taking Turns with Turtles by Shari Becker (l.), illustrated by Brittany Lane, a picture book inspired by true events about the rescue of cold-stunned turtles over land, air, and back to seaand the many hands and hearts involved in their rehabilitation journeys. Publication is slated for winter 2026; Miranda Paul at Erin Murphy Literary Agency represented the author, and Hilary McMahon at Westwood Creative Artists represented the artist.



Carolyn Yoder at Astra/Calkins Creek has bought world rights to A Heart on Fire: Quaker Benjamin Lay's Fight for Equality in Colonial America by Jan Lower (l.), illustrated by Carlyn Beccia, a nonfiction picture book about the 18th-century Quaker abolitionist Benjamin Lay, whose dramatic protest techniques are still relevant to activists today. Publication is set for spring 2026; Stephanie Fretwell-Hill at Red Fox Literary represented the author, and Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary represented the illustrator.



Emma Hintzen at Sourcebooks eXplore has acquired world rights to The Power Tool Alphabet by Katherine Choppy (l.). illustrated by Jen Taylor. This ABC board book introduces the power tools every budding builder should know, from drills to jackhammers to yard saws and everything in between. Publication is planned for fall 2025; Ammi-Joan Paquette at Erin Murphy Literary represented the author, and Emily Fernandez at the Bright Agency represented the illustrator.



Cecily Kaiser at RISE x Penguin Workshop has bought, in an exclusive submission, world rights to Color to the People by author-illustrator Andrea Pippins (The Spark in You), a picture book introducing young readers to the elements of color theory and coexistence. Publication is scheduled for spring 2026; Lilly Ghahremani at Full Circle Literary brokered the deal.



Adah Li at Algonquin Young Readers has acquired world rights to The Green Duckling by author-illustrator Ellie Fortune. Sprout, a fire-breathing dragon, must learn to embrace her special spark at the risk of losing her adopted duck family in this humorous take on "The Ugly Duckling." Publication is slated for fall 2026; Carey Blankenship-Kramer at Belcastro Agency negotiated the deal.



Sarah Rockett at Sleeping Bear Press has bought You Can't, a picture book written and illustrated by Marty Kelley, exploring what is possible and impossible for people to do, for publication in spring 2026. Abigail Samoun at Red Fox Literary sold world English rights.
Hachette Book Group is in the process of revamping its sales department, an effort that has eliminated some positions, including two VP roles, and reenvisioned others. The reorganization follows last falls appointment of Lauren Monaco as EVP and group sales director, succeeding the retiring Alison Lazarus.

In a memo sent to employees late last week, Monaco outlined the changes, which an HBG spokesperson said are designed to strengthen HBGs customer relationships, bring our books to market as effectively as possible, and to position the team to identify and capitalize on marketplace opportunities."

As part of the restructuring, HBG has posted eight new openings, among them national account managers for a number of huge clients, including Barnes & Noble, Readerlink, Target, and Walmart. (The postings can be found in PW Job Zone.) The reorganization of the team will allow us to be nimble and market focused, ensuring our sales team is aligned with opportunities for growth in the market, the spokesperson added.

The changes in the HBG sales department are coming at a time when the HarperCollins sales operation has also been undergoing a restructuring under Ed Spade, who was named president of sales last year. Earlier this week, HC made a number of promotions following the departure of Mary Beth Thomas and buyouts offered to other sales department employees.

In addition to the restructurings at HC and HBG both occurring under new leadership, both companies, like most publishers, are looking for new ways to improve the discoverability of booksparticularly for frontlist titlesas many new books struggle to find readers.
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The best-case scenario is that the BJP will top out at around 50 seats in UP -- a drop of 12 from the 62 it had won in 2019.

Taken in tandem with Maharashtra and Karnataka, this is what is likely to put paid to the BJP's ambitions of a third term for Modi, argues Prem Panicker.

IMAGE: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Narendra D Modi welcomed during a Mahila Sammelan in Varanasi. Photograph: ANI Photo

"Democracy ki baat karo to banda zinda hai."

A close friend relayed the quote to me, from an influential person in Uttar Pradesh.

So true. If, back in January when the country was collectively marinating in the imminence of Ram Rajya, someone had told me that the Constitution would become an issue in the 2024 elections, I'd have taken good care to put distance between me and him. Or her.

And yet here we are -- in a world where 'Samvidhaan ko bachana hai' has moved from the "wooly-headed Khan Market Le-Li" circles into the political mainstream, and is applause-bait when an Opposition leader invokes it from the stump.

I'm not complaining -- I'm cheering.

For now, focus is on the seventh and finally final phase of these elections, the campaigning for which ended on Thursday evening.

***

In Uttar Pradesh, where Narendra Modi as the mukya yajaman led the pran prathishta of the under-construction Ram temple on January 22 and ushered in Ram Rajya, who would have thought rampant unemployment would be the hidden tripwire lying in wait for the BJP?

Ground reports, local journalists and vox populi gathered by journalists of all stripes dovetail into one conclusion: There is a perfect storm hitting the ruling party where it hurts the most -- in the state where they expected to make the most gains by riding the Hindutva wave in the wake of the Ayodhya event, and where the party's campaigner-in-chief fashioned his message around the temple:

The Congress will put Ram Lalla back in a tent... Congress will put a Babri lock on the Ram temple... Congress plans to bulldoze Ram temple...

In this final phase the last 13 seats in the state, all in the Purvanchal region in eastern UP that includes the prime minister's constituency, will vote.

In 2019, the BJP won 10 of those constituencies. Its sleeping partner the BSP won one, and NDA ally Apna Dal won two (including Anupriya Singh Patel, who became minister of state in the Modi ministry).

The Samajwadi Party was a distant runner up in six seats and lost closely fought elections in two others; the BSP placed second in three; the BJP in two (behind the BSP both times); and the Congress struck out.

The only competitive seats in 2019 were Chandauli, where the BJP defeated the SP by a margin of 1.29% of the votes, and Ballia where the BJP won by 1.57% of the votes (with SP again on the losing side). Every other seat saw winning margins in excess of 10%.

On paper, no contest. On the ground the reverse is true, and the reasons for the turnaround are many.

There is, obviously, the SP/Congress alliance which has been working surprisingly smoothly, not just at the leadership level but also on the ground.

The Congress, junior partner in the alliance, has been given two seats in this phase. The benefits are not arithmetical, though -- the Congress does not have a big enough voting base in this region for vote transfer to make a significant impact.

What the Alliance has going in its favour is that the voter seems increasingly taken with the obvious chemistry between Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi (with a nod to Priyanka Gandhi, who has been campaigning vigorously across the state and drawing large crowds of women).

Gandhi's presence has also helped swing the Muslim community, which had otherwise deserted the Samajwadi Party, back onto the side of the Alliance, linking up with the Yadavs, disaffected OBCs and EBCs, and Dalits.

IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav at an election meeting. Photograph: ANI Photo

The real problem for the BJP, however, comes from elsewhere: Palpable farmer unrest coupled with youth anger over chronic, and rising, unemployment; women upset with rising poverty and seduced by the Congress promise of Rs 8,500 per month; the drift away from the BSP, with the Dalit community increasingly seeing Mayawati as a proxy for the BJP and not the defender of Dalit interests she positions herself as being; and surprisingly, the relentless barrage of hate speech from Modi, Amit A Shah, Adityanath and others that appears to have jarred on an electorate with more visceral concerns on their minds.

Then there is the Agniveer issue. Of all the states in the Union, UP sends the most number of young men and women to the Indian armed forces, and the BJP's 'masterstroke' has gone down badly with this constituency.

Agniveer is not merely a political hot potato, but increasingly a national security issue as well. A recent news report said the army is increasingly worried by the shortfall in recruitment, which is exacerbating an existing shortage of personnel.

Against 71,804 soldiers recruited in the 2015-2016 period, the numbers slipped to around the 50,000 mark in the next three years. Recruitment rallied briefly in 2019-2020 with 80,572 soldiers joining the army, but there was no recruitment in the following three years owing to Covid and related issues.

In 2023-2024, a merely 13,000 soldiers were recruited and, in this connection, note that the Agniveer scheme was launched on 14 June 2022.

The army, worried that it is falling well below operational strength, is reported to be 'taking stock' of feedback from serving Agniveers and, simultaneously, announcing plans to hold 96 recruitment rallies around the country.

The groundswell of discontent forced Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to say in March this year, that the government is open to making changes in the scheme if required.

IMAGE: Several applicants wait outside an examination centre to appear for the Indian Army Agniveer exam. Photograph: ANI Photo

For analysts, the Agniveer scheme is a national security issue -- and so it should be. But policy makers and stroke-the-masters types forget that policy is, ultimately, for and about people. A journalist from the heartland who I work with at IndiaSpend briefed me on the societal side of the issue.

Young men who were preparing for the army recruitment exams decided, when the scheme was launched and its implications became widely known, that they would rather try out for other jobs. "I don't want to join the army and clean toilets there," was and remains a common refrain.

In the heartland, there is a huge cachet to being a soldier, or being a family with a soldier son. There is no social cachet, however, to having an Agniveer son -- in fact, the reverse is true.

Families refuse to give their daughters in marriage to Agniveers, arguing that after four years he will be jobless, with no benefits, and therefore in no position to look after a wife. The young men know this, and it gives them yet another reason to steer well clear of that form of soldiering.

It is not national security considerations that is moving the voter in the heartland -- it is this very real societal issue that speaks to their sense of self-worth, and equally to their prospects.

That is why Gandhi, who likely picked up on this during his foot-slog across the country, has been hammering away -- to the accompaniment of prolonged cheers -- at the promise to tear up the scheme and chuck it in the dustbin if and when the Alliance assumes power at the Centre.

Akhilesh and Rahul have in their campaigns focussed almost manically on these three faultlines: Farmers, women, and unemployment/Agniveer. Akhilesh has been particularly shrewd in linking two discrete faultlines into one.

Thus, he picked on the anger over the leak earlier this year of question papers for the constable recruitment and promotion exam in UP and linked it to growing unemployment, flogging the line that the papers were leaked deliberately in order to get the exams cancelled and thus avoid having to provide jobs.

Note that after the army, joining the police is the biggest aspiration for young men in the region, as evidenced by the fact that for the exams in February, approximately 48.2 lakh (4.82 million) aspirants appeared for just 60,244 posts.

In an election that is being fought on local issues, all of these coalesce into a huge headache for the BJP -- and then there are the hyper-local ones that may not ramify across the whole region, but can impact outcomes in individual seats.

One such is centred in Ghazipur, home base of the gangster/politician Mukhtar Ansari who died in late March. Fifteen days before his death, Ansari had been given a life sentence in connection with a fake arms licence case.

UP CM Adityanath made political capital out of the case, pointing to it as an example of his government's zero-tolerance policy towards crime. On the day Ansari was produced in court to hear his sentence, Adityanath spoke of how Ansari had 'wet his pants' when he was 'dragged to court'.

Ansari's family believes he was murdered, and segments of the local populace share that belief. They point to the fact that 10 days before his death, Ansari had told a court in Barabanki that he was experiencing continuous pain in his limbs, and that he suspected that some poison was being introduced into his food.

In the wake of his death, the UP government ordered a magisterial inquiry, of which nothing has been heard since; Akhilesh Yadav had at the time demanded that a judge of the Supreme Court should conduct an inquiry.

In Ghazipur and surrounding areas, none of this has gone down well -- Ansari was by repute an old-fashioned don, involved in every criminal enterprise going but equally, taking care of the needs of the ordinary citizen who sought his help, irrespective of their religion or caste.

Mukhtar's brother Afzal Ansari had won the Ghazipur constituency in 2019 on a BSP ticket, defeating the BJP candidate by a 10.8% margin (which, by the way, points to the Hindu community's support for the brother of the Muslim don). This time, Ansari is contesting on an SP ticket against the BJP's Paras Nath Rai, and ground reports say the result is a foregone conclusion.

IMAGE: Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra with SP leader Dimple Yadav hold a roadshow in support of INDIA bloc candidate from Varanasi, Ajay Rai for the Lok Sabha election. Photograph: ANI Photo

Another seat with local interest is Mirzapur, where Union Minister Anupriya Singh Patel of the Apna Dal (S), a BJP ally, is seeking a third term. The seat should have been a stroll in the park for Patel, who in 2019 retained it with a margin of 232,000 votes -- but it isn't. And the reason is the entry of an influential spoiler.

Raghuraj Pratap Singh aka Raja Bhaiyya wields significant influence over the Rajput community, which is openly incensed with the BJP and which, along with Brahmins and Vaishyas, forms the core of Patel's vote base. And late into this election cycle Singh, the MLA from Kunda, decided to take a hand and has, since then, been campaigning in the constituency against Patel and on behalf of the SP candidate.

Whether Raja Bhaiyya will be able to swing sufficient numbers to help the SP snatch the seat out from under the two-time MP is hard to tell -- ground reports suggest that Patel will hold. But the development has tightened the race, and forced the BJP to pump resources into a seat the party had imagined was theirs for the taking.

IMAGE: A child dressed as Modi during the Mahila Sammelan in Varanasi. Photograph: ANI Photo

Elections in the Purvanchal region that goes to polls on June 1 are a mix of the local and the hyper-local. Add to this a subcutaneous and sustained unrest among RSS cadres fuelled by the fear -- assiduously fanned at the ground level by the Opposition -- that Adityanath will be sidelined if the BJP wins a majority, and it all adds up to a situation where almost every seat of the 13 going to the polls in the final phase is seriously in play.

A conservative estimate based on available feedback suggests that the BJP will not be able to defend all ten of its seats in this phase; that the best-case scenario is that it will retain half (5) and that cumulatively, the party will top out at around 50 seats in UP -- a drop of 12 from the 62 it had won in 2019.

Taken in tandem with Maharashtra and Karnataka, this is what is likely to put paid to the BJP's ambitions of a third term for Modi.

A side note on Maharashtra: This week, the allies who were supposed to help the BJP win big in the key state gave the clearest indication yet of the BJP-led alliance's prospects.

Chhagan Bhujbal of the Ajit Pawar faction of the NCP was the first to sound the alarm. The BJP's char sau paar slogan has adversely affected the Mahayuti's chances, the NCP minister said.

Bhujbal also critiqued the state government's -- his government's -- attempt to pander to the Hindutva base by introducing the Manusmriti, the Gita etc into the draft State Curriculum Framework for School Education.

IMAGE: Aam Aadmi Party Convener Arvind Kejriwal during a roadshow in Chandigarh, May 29, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Elsewhere, Ajit Pawar pointed to the 'surprising trend' of minority voters aligning with Uddhav Thackeray -- though why that was a surprise considering the high-decibel hate that was dished out by the BJP during its campaign in the state, he did not explain. He did, however, echo Bhujbal on the Manusmriti issue.

What you can infer is a. That Maharashtra has proved more disastrous than even the Mahayuti anticipated and b. That Ajit Pawar, whose faction is widely expected to end up with a blank slate, is pre-emptively blaming the BJP for the outcome he expects on June 4.

Agniveer, and the serial splits engineered in Maharashtra, will go down in the tier of any list of the BJP's 'masterstrokes; turned boomerangs -- but that is for another day.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Who else do we know who meditated so with such impeccable timing (much of the Lok Sabha elections over and with only the last phase to go) and hordes for unsolicited defence of the grand meditation at public expense? asks Shyam G Menon.

IMAGE: Narendra D Modi will meditate at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari from the evening of May 30 to the evening of June 1.

Modi will meditate at the same location where Swami Vivekananda medidated at the Dhyan Mandapam, here and below. All photographs: ANI/X

"What a lucky man!" I thought as I read the news item on Prime Minister Narendra Modi heading to Kanyakumari for a 45 hour stay with meditation session included.

On Wednesday, when the world was informed of the trip, temperature had nudged (if not crossed) record high levels in the national capital.

In contrast, over the May 30-June 1 period of Modi's meditation, the south west monsoon was scheduled to set in over southern Kerala.

Meditation or none, a visit to the deep south in time to experience the monsoon's onset and the way it moderates temperature in the region is a nice way of escaping Delhi's punishing heat. And that is without the political heat of an unpredictable Lok Sabha election, factored in.

What makes this escape to Kanyakumari as epic as John Sturges's unforgettable The Great Escape, is the accompanying cavalry, albeit not in the form of soldiers to elude (as in the movie) but as uniformed police personnel at the elite visitor's disposal -- some 2,000 of them assigned to guard and make sure everything goes okay.

Then there is the sanitisation of the areas nearby, clearing it of dispensable 'others' so that the visit and the meditation may proceed smoothly, undisturbed and safely.

It doesn't end there, with the location of meditation being a rock in the sea and the sea as much a dreaded source of insecurity as land in the eyes of our security pundits, news reports did not fail to mention the Coast Guard and the Indian Navy also drafted in to maintain vigil while the VIP meditated.

Modi's fan base, ever protective of its precocious God of a leader, has already lauded the meditation drama as an act of national integration and undying love for Tamil Nadu.

Makes me feel: saying "What a lucky man!" isn't enough; it should be "Indeed what a lucky man!" I mean, tell me: Who else do we know who meditated so with such impeccable timing (much of the Lok Sabha elections over and with only the last phase to go) and hordes for unsolicited defence of the grand meditation at public expense?

In fact, the only precedent is Modi himself -- some years ago, he had sat in meditation in a specially prepared cave near Kedarnath in Uttarakhand with tight security to boot.

I remember the impression it made; the imagery that the widespread publicity of the exercise evoked.

My neighbour in Thiruvananthapuram told me wide-eyed after seeing photographs of the VIP ascetic in the media, "He is something, isn't he?" That the impression was partly fueled by the extremely settled, householder life my neighbour led with hardly any adventure therein for comparison, wasn't part of his reasoning.

He didn't know that sitting in a cave at moderate elevation was very do-able and has been done by many with far less facilities at hand.

The whole iconography and narrative around a prime minister, already a messiah of sorts to many, pictured in deep meditation in a cave, shook him up.

There was discipline, there was simplicity, there was toughness -- everything the images conjured up ran counter to the conventional picturisation of Indian VIP life.

Like many others, my neighbour turned a blind eye to the behind-the-scenes preparations of many that made the imagery possible.

End May 2024, the VIP gaze in search of meditation, has shifted from the Himalaya to the Indian peninsula's southern tip -- Kanyakumari, and the rock there with a statue of Swami Vivekananda, respected by Indians and uniquely this June 1, as Kolkata heads to the polling booth, also remembered as one of Bengal's greatest sons.

Not surprisingly, the ruling party of that state, which counts the BJP as a political foe in Bengal, has threatened to approach the Election Commission should the meditation event in Kanyakumari be telecast live.

While that does take a bit away from the luck I attributed earlier to the VIP, it certainly adds to that talent for immaculate timing and that appetite for political mischief and one-upmanship, which Modi's fans love to celebrate like a poke in the Opposition's side. They love it, when they irritate the Opposition -- don't they?

For some others however, rationalism and level headed perspective rules. "This is a joke," my yoga-worshipping friend said after I shared the media report of the exclusive meditation event, in a sanitised zone in the deep south with security forces keeping vigil alongside.

I agree with him. But I think there will be many like my neighbour from years ago, who will be highly impressed by the much-publicised VIP act around what is essentially a human endeavour to withdraw from everything and find peace within.

I can't expect everyone to notice the irony of so many losing their peace so that one man may meditate in peace. I may be wrong, but I suppose expecting somebody to meditate for long in Delhi's high temperature is impractical.

Even with all the air conditioning our nation can command? But then, I am guilty of overlooking what it means to be lucky and entitled to do anything, anywhere.

Shyam G Menon is a freelance journalist based in Mumbai.

Photographs curated by Manisha Kotian/Rediff.com

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
'Logic, Research, Science Are Modi Government's Limitations.'

All Photographs and Videos: Rajesh Karkera for Rediff.com IMAGE: Dr Sandeep Saurav, the Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist candidate for the Nalanda Lok Sabha seat.

Like many netas who now sport party symbols on their kurtas, Dr Sandeep Saurav wears the Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist symbol -- three stars inside a flag -- on his white kurta.

Dr Saurav is contesting his first Lok Sabha election from Nalanda and turned 37 on May 27, five days before election in his constituency which polls on June 1.

Among the youngest candidates in the fray, he won the Paliganj assembly seat in Bihar in 2020 and is throwing a tough challenge to the Janata Dal-United, his principal opponent in Nalanda.

IMAGE: Sandeep Saurav's election office.

Hardly a political greenhorn, he previously won student elections as general secretary of the Jawaharlal University Students Union and the All India Student Association.

A PhD in Hindi, he turned down an appointment as an assistant professor in Hindi, choosing politics instead of a regular paying job.

"If not for the Modi regime's sharp attack on India, I would have joined lectureship. My task is to battle against this government," says Dr Saurav who attempted raising funds for his Lok Sabha election campaign through crowd funding without much success -- he was only able to raise Rs 54,000.

The CPI-ML does not have enough funds for its own party offices in many places, he says.

"But we have the daring to pick up challenges of the new generation. Our party is the voice of the voiceless."

IMAGE: An autorickshaw used for campaigning for Sandeep Saurav.

His campaign office operates out of an unfinished structure which also houses him and other comrades who have assembled to help. There are a handful of students around as well.

The office-cum-living quarters on the national highway in Bihar Sharif is abuzz with activity the morning we meet him. Tejashwi Yadav is to address two public gatherings in the constituency that afternoon and Saurav is to head there in a short while with his supporters.

The CPI-ML and Rashtriya Janata Dal are part of the INDIA bloc. DR Saurav's opponent is sitting JD-U MP Kaushalendra Kumar who has won election in Nalanda thrice. The JD-U is part of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance.

IMAGE: CPI-ML activists assemble before they spread out to campaign in the Nalanda constituency.

Seated in a roomful of supporters from the Congress, RJD and Left, Dr Sandeep Saurav spoke to Rediff.com, interrupting the interview with the Communist greeting 'Lal Salam' to passing comrades.

Watch part 1 of his interview: 'This government wants to end dissent'

Part 2 of the Interview: 'Democracy Will be Weakened In Modi 3.0'

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Following a New York jury's verdict, former President Donald Trump stands convicted on all 34 felony charges of falsifying business records, raising pertinent questions about his future political endeavours and voting rights, CNN reported.

IMAGE: Former US President Donald Trump's looks on following the announcement of the verdict of his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, outside Trump Tower, in New York City, on May 30, 2024. Photograph: Andrew Kelly/Reuters

As the verdict reverberates across political circles, one of the most pressing inquiries emerges: Can a convicted felon run for president? The answer, unequivocally, is yes.

The United States Constitution outlines three prerequisites for presidential candidates: natural-born citizenship, a minimum age of 35, and at least 14 years of US residency -- criteria that Trump satisfies.

Although the 14th Amendment imposes restrictions on individuals engaged in insurrection, a special law invocation by Congress remains necessary, an unlikely scenario in the current political landscape, according to the CNN report.

Judge Juan Merchan has slated Trump's sentencing for July 11, strategically coinciding with the Republican National Convention's commencement in Milwaukee, just four days later.

Speculation looms over the possibility of a prison sentence for Trump, despite the likelihood of a non-incarceration outcome for most Class E felony convictions in New York, according to CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig.

Notably, Trump's status as a former president entitles him to lifetime Secret Service protection, ensuring security regardless of his legal predicament.

However, the prospect of a presidential campaign from a prison cell is not unprecedented.

Eugene Debs, the socialist leader, mounted a presidential bid from a federal prison in Atlanta during his 10-year sentence for sedition in 1920.

While Trump's eligibility to run for president remains intact, questions regarding his voting rights post-conviction linger.

State regulations dictate felons' voting privileges, with Vermont and Maine permitting voting from prison.

Trump's residency in Florida introduces additional complexities, as the state's referendum to re-enfranchise convicted felons in 2018 was accompanied by stipulations mandating the payment of fines and fees associated with sentences.

Neil Volz, deputy director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition, predicts minimal obstacles for Trump's voting rights restoration, given Florida's deference to felony conviction jurisdiction.

Despite the state's ongoing efforts to streamline eligibility confirmation for formerly incarcerated individuals, confusion persists regarding fee requirements, hindering many from exercising their right to vote, CNN reported.
The Met blamed the malfunctioning of sensors kept at the Automated Weather Station for the gaffe.

IMAGE: A man drinks a cooling drink offered by locals in Narela, Delhi. Photograph: Priyanshu Singh/Reuters

On Wednesday, May 29, 2024, the India Meteorological Department said Mungeshpur, on the outskirts of Delhi, recorded an all-time high temperature of 52.9 degree Celsius, which is an abnormal reading.

The reading immediately went viral and became the talk of the town. The Met quickly corrected it and blamed the sensors at the Automated Weather Station (AWS) for the howler.

It has ordered an investigation into it and has stationed a team of senior scientists to ascertain its cause.

The error has put a spot of doubt also on Tuesday's highest reading for the city -- 49.9 degree Celsius -- also in Mungeshpur.

So in what conditions does an AWS malfunction? And how is it different from a thermometer-based temperature reading?

Experts say between the two, thermometer-based reading, which in the case of Delhi is done at the Safdarjung observatory, is a more reliable measurement due to the nature of the device.

This is not to say that an AWS does not give correct measurements but it is prone to going wrong if not calibrated properly, placed wrongly, or if the exposure is not correct.

The enclosure where the thermometer is kept, like the one at the Safdarjung observatory, is called a 'Stevenson Screen'.

This is nothing but a wooden box-shaped enclosure used to protect meteorological instruments against precipitation and direct heat radiation from outside sources, while allowing air to circulate freely around them.

IMAGE: Commuters use scarves to shield themselves from the heat on a hot summer day in Gurugram. Photograph: ANI Photo

Dry bulb and wet bulb thermometers in the 'Stevenson Screen' are placed vertically while the maximum and minimum thermometers are kept in a horizontal position.

The wooden box opens on the north side so that it is not exposed to direct sunlight.

"This helps in measuring temperature accurately," Mahesh Palawat, vice-president, meteorology and climate change, in private weather forecasting agency Skymet, told Business Standard.

Oon the other hand, Palawat said, an AWS was a sensor-based device and although its installation is also done in accordance with prescribed standards sometimes due to paucity of space the sensors are not accurately calibrated with the actual readings.

Also, if maintenance is not proper and the AWS is placed in an inappropriate place such a rooftop or over a concrete structure it tends to be affected by the nearby topography and overheat.

He said it was natural for an AWS to overheat but then the scientist who had taken the reading should have been careful before making it public.

Half a century is just a number as Delhi's Mungeshpur makes history About 90 minutes drive from Connaught Place took Ashish Tiwari to Mungeshpur, bordering Haryana, on Thursday. Sanjay Kumar, a farmer who also runs a grocery shop, reacts to the sudden media interest in his own way. "This heat is not something new that we have encountered," he says. He adds in a matter of fact way that almost everyone in this village has air conditioners and nobody ventures out during hot afternoons such as these. This non-descript village in north-west Delhi, with a population of less than 3,500 according to the last Census, courted prosperity in recent years through sale of agriculture land for construction of factories and new age real estate projects. But that's not why it's in the headlines. Mungeshpur's automatic weather station on Wednesday recorded India's highest-ever temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius. However, officials at the India Meteorological Department have revised it downwards. The blazing heat may not be a problem for those like Sanjay Kumar, but it's a challenge for those working in the industrial area. "Most of us come from neighbouring villages," a labourer points out. The industrial zone has micro, small and medium scale enterprises making rubber products, tin items, plastic bottles etc. All of them energy guzzling and smoke spewing. Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena on Wednesday had ordered paid leave to workers at construction sites from noon to 3 pm. But few know about it. It's past noon and near the industrial area, several construction workers are resting: "Just for an hour we will rest and then resume work," says Ramesh, the youngest of the lot. When asked about the LG's order, they wondered if it was fake news. "But even if my contractor gives me this relief, he wouldn't pay me for these hours," says Yogesh Sahu, a migrant from Chhattisgarh. "Per day we get Rs 800. If any contractor doesn't pick us up by 9 or 10 am, the day goes for a toss and we have to return home empty-handed." Tarun, their contractor, who has not heard of the '12-3 pm rule' says, "I am aware of the extreme heat situation. But I also have to fulfill the targets set by my boss... If they do not come to work, I will find many replacements at the chowk." A worker has just recovered from high fever and is back at work. "My body got so heated up that I fell on this mud pile. Then my fellow workers took me to the nearest clinic... But now, I am fit for work," he says. For Jogindar (34), working at a toll booth, just a table fan is a blessing. He has a 10x10 room for himself, where he must complete his eight hour shift. "For relief from this heat, my boss has given me two cold water canisters and a table fan," he says. It's another matter that the power demand skyrocketed on the hottest day in Mungeshpur and the transformer blew up. Power was restored after several hours of sweat. Apart from a mohalla clinic, there's no hospital in this village. Dr Abhishek Garg, senior consultant at the clinic, says there's no case of heat stroke yet. He says having a hospital in such a small village could be a waste of resources. The International Labour Organisation in a 2019 report had said India will be one of the most affected countries from heat stress. India has lost 4.3 per cent of working hours in 1995 and is projected to lose 5.8 per cent of working hours in 2030. Oblivious of such data, Rajesh, a Delhivery executive, stops at the Mungeshpur village circle at around noon. He complains about the heat while enquiring about an address. "Of course, my whole body burns while riding, but afternoon is the only time I get my consignments. So, there is no option, but to get the work done." With inputs from Shreya Jai

Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
Initiating a comprehensive investigation into the gold smuggling incident involving a female crew member of an Air India Express flight, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence sleuths on Friday arrested a senior male crew member of the same airline on Friday for his alleged "significant role" in recruiting her into the smuggling ring.

IMAGE: An Air India Express flight. Photograph: ANI Photo

According to a source, Suhail Thanalot, a senior crew member of AIE and a native of Thillenkeri in Kannur district, was apprehended following intelligence and evidence compiled by the DRI regarding his involvement in the gold smuggling incident.

He was apprehended three days after Surabhi Khatun, who belongs to Kolkata, was arrested by the DRI for allegedly attempting to smuggle nearly one kilogram of gold from Muscat to Kannur by concealing it in her rectum. She was remanded in judicial custody on Thursday.

According to the source, Suhail, who has around 10 years' experience as cabin crew, is suspected of playing a significant role in recruiting Khatun into the smuggling syndicate.

He will be produced before the judicial magistrate with a request for remand, the source said.

With regard to Khatun's arrest, Air India Express had confirmed that Customs was investigating an incident involving their employee.

"We confirm that an incident is being investigated by the Customs authorities at CNN (Kannur) airport involving an employee. We are cooperating with the investigative authorities," a spokesperson of the airline had said.

The airline, however, has not reacted to the arrest of Suhail.

Based on specific intelligence by DRI Cochin, officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI - Kannur) intercepted Khatun.

Her personal search had resulted in the recovery of 960 grams of smuggled gold in compound form that was concealed in her rectum.

This is the first case in India where an airline crew member has been apprehended for smuggling gold by concealing it in the rectum, the source had claimed.
The Aam Aadmi Party-led Delhi government on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking a direction to Haryana to release surplus water provided by Himachal Pradesh to the parched national capital for urgent mitigation of its water woes compounded by scorching heat.

IMAGE: People gather to collect drinking water from a tanker as they face water scarcity on a hot summer day, in New Delhi, May 30, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

The plea, filed by Delhi's water minister Atishi, has made the Centre, Bharatiya Janata Party-governed Haryana and Congress-ruled Himachal Pradesh parties to the petition and said access to water is essential for survival and one of the basic human rights.

Access to water is one of the basic human rights of an individual. Not only is water essential for sustenance, but access to water also forms an essential component of the guarantee of dignity and a quality of life guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution.

The current water crisis, which may only get worse given peak summers and ongoing water shortage, violates the right to a dignified and quality life of the people of the NCT of Delhi, who are unable to access even adequate clean drinking water, the plea said.

It, according to sources, has sought a direction to the Haryana government for immediate and continuous release of water at the Wazirabad barrage, including but not limited to the full surplus water provided by the Respondent No. 2 (Himachal Pradesh) for the National Capital Territory of Delhi, in order to mitigate the water crises in the NCT of Delhi.

The city government said it was constrained to file the plea on account of acute shortage of water being faced by the citizens due to the ongoing severe heat conditions in north India, particularly Delhi.

The record-high temperatures and heat wave in Delhi, which has resulted in maximum temperature rising up to around 50 degrees Celsius at some places, have caused an extraordinary and excessive surge in water demand in the city. As a result, the national capital is dealing with a water shortage which has led to frequent supply cuts in many parts of the NCT, and has disrupted the daily life of the ordinary residents, the plea said.

The AAP government said it has taken all measures to ensure optimisation, rationing and targeted supply of water, yet, the shortage remains acute and it is clear, by all indicators, that the NCT of Delhi is in dire need of additional water.

It said all treatment plants in the national capital are treating and supplying the water being sent, and to address the present crisis, it is necessary to augment water supply.

The city government said it has sought the direction as a one-time measure and not filed the plea for resolving any outstanding inter-state water dispute.

The Petitioner is praying for the said relief of release of surplus water only as a stop-gap arrangement to remedy the current crisis till such time the monsoon season arrives and the temperature of the city goes down....thereby reverting the situation to normal, it said.

Without prejudice to the inter-federal rights of Delhi, especially as a lower riparian state to shared water resources, the plea is filed only because of the unprecedented surge in temperature, which has triggered a surge in the demand for water, it said.

Such excessive and unanticipated demand has precipitated an emergency in the form of a full-fledged water and sanitation crisis and has necessitated an emergent solution, the plea said.

In order to deal with the demand in summer months, the Delhi government has devised a solution under which Himachal Pradesh has agreed to share its surplus water with Delhi, the petition said.

Since Himachal Pradesh does not share boundary with Delhi, the surplus water released by it has to be transported through the existing water channels in Haryana and released to Delhi at the Wazirabad barrage, it said, adding Therefore, Haryana's facilitation and cooperation, which is not being provided as on date, is imperative.

It is also necessary to point out that, presently, the water levels in the Sonia Vihar and Bhagirathi barrages, which constitute the other primary sources of water for the NCT of Delhi, are operating at their optimum level and meet the stipulated standards, therefore, any increase in water supply can only be considered at the Wazirabad barrage, it said.

During the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the BJP to ask its governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to provide water to the national capital for a month to ease the situation.

The national capital has been facing a severe water shortage and Water Minister Atishi has accused Haryana of not releasing Delhi's share of water.
The Pune police have written to the Juvenile Justice Board (JJB) seeking permission to probe the minor allegedly involved in the Porsche crash that left two techies dead, amid the new twist involving blood samples, an official said on Friday.

Photograph: ANI Photo

Police claim the 17-year-old was driving the luxury car in an inebriated state when it met with the fatal accident in Pune's Kalyani Nagar area on May 19. He is in an observation home till June 5.

"We have written to the JJ Board and sought their permission to allow us to probe the minor in the case," said Shailesh Balkawade, additional commissioner of police (crime).

According to the Juvenile Justice Act, the inquiry of a minor is to be conducted in the presence of parents.

The cops would probe the teen amid new developments in the accident case, including the alleged swapping of blood samples at the Sassoon General Hospital in which two doctors have been arrested.

The JJB granted bail to the teenager, son of real estate developer Vishal Agarwal, a few hours after the May 19 crash and asked him to write a 300-word essay on road safety. Amid heavy criticism, police again approached the JJB, which modified the order and sent him to an observation home till June 5.

After the bail was given to the juvenile by a single member of the JJ Board, the Maharashtra government had set up a committee to probe the conduct of the JJB members and check if norms were followed while issuing orders in the Pune car crash case.

"The committee, headed by a deputy commissioner, is currently carrying out the inquiry and will submit its report by next week," said Prashant Narnavare, commissioner of the Women and Child Department.

He added that the JJB comprises a member from the judiciary and two persons appointed by the state government and the current enquiry has been set up to probe the conduct of the state-appointed members.

The minor's father and grandfather have been arrested for allegedly wrongfully confining their family driver, luring him with cash and gifts and later threatening him to take the blame for the crash.

The police have also arrested two doctors and a staffer from Sassoon General Hospital here for allegedly manipulating the teenager's blood samples to show that he was not drunk at the time of the accident.
Fifty-seven seats across seven states and the Union territory of Chandigarh will go to polls in the seventh and final phase of Lok Sabha elections on Saturday that include Varanasi, from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a third consecutive term.

IMAGE: Polling officials carrying EVMs and other election materials leave for the respective polling booths on the eve of the last phase of the Lok Sabha polls, in Deoghar, Jharkhand, May 31, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Polling is scheduled in all 13 seats of Punjab and four of Himachal Pradesh, 13 constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, nine in West Bengal, eight in Bihar, six in Odisha and three seats in Jharkhand besides Chandigarh. Polling for the remaining 42 assembly constituencies of Odisha and bypolls to six assembly seats in Himachal Pradesh will also take place simultaneously.

Other prominent candidates among the total 904 contestants in fray are Union minister Anurag Thakur, Mamata Banerjee's nephew Abhishek Banerjee, Lalu Prasad's daughter Misa Bharti and actor Kangana Ranaut.

Over 10.06 crore citizens, including nearly 5.24 crore men, 4.82 crore women and 3,574 third gender electors are eligible to vote in this phase.

Saturday's voting will mark the end to the marathon polling process that began on April 19 month and has already covered 486 Lok Sabha seats in 28 states and Union territories.

The assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim also went to polls. Counting of votes will be taken up on June 4.

According to Election Commission guidelines, television channels and news outlets will be able to run exit poll data and its results on June 1 after 6.30 pm.

The EC said polling parties have been dispatched along with machines and poll materials to their respective polling stations. At the 1.09 lakh polling stations, basic facilities including ample shade, drinking water, ramps, and toilets are being provided to ensure that polling takes place in a comfortable and secure environment, it said.

The poll panel has also directed CEOs and state machineries to take adequate measures to manage the adverse impact of hot weather or rainfall wherever predicted.

The commission called upon voters to turn out in greater numbers and vote with responsibility and pride.

The turnout in the first six phases was 66.14 percent, 66.71, 65.68, 69.16, 62.2 and 63.36 percent respectively.

The campaigning for the last phase which ended Thursday evening saw BJP leaders led by Modi accusing the Congress and the INDIA alliance of being corrupt, anti-Hindu and engaging in loot, appeasement and dynastic politics.

The Opposition parties have been claiming that the BJP is anti-farmer, anti-youth and will change and scrap the Constitution if they win the elections.

On Thursday evening, Modi headed to Kanyakumari where he is meditating till June 1 at the site associated with Swami Vivekananda. Modi had 206 public outreach programmes, including rallies and roadshows, since the Election Commission announced the Lok Sabha election schedule on March 16.

The parliamentary seats where polling will take place in Uttar Pradesh are Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Bansgaon (SC), Ghosi, Salempur, Ballia, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur and Robertsganj (SC), spread across 11 districts.

Uttar Pradesh is a seeing a direct contest between the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance and the coalition of INDIA bloc members Samajwadi Party and Congress.

From Chandauli, Maharajganj and Mirzapur, Union ministers Mahendra Nath Pandey, Pankaj Chaudhary and Anupriya Patel respectively are contesting.

Late Mukhtar Ansari's brother Afzal Ansari is in the fray from Ghazipur and former prime minister Chandrashekhar's son Neeraj Shekhar is contesting from Ballia.

In Varanasi, those contesting against Modi are Ajay Rai (Congress), Ather Jamal Lari (BSP), Kolisetty Shiva Kumar (Yuga Thulasi Party), Gagan Prakash Yadav, (Apna Dal, Kameravadi), and independents Dinesh Kumar Yadav and Sanjay Kumar Tiwari.

The polls in South Bengal, a traditional TMC stronghold, will test the party's dominance amid an 'old versus new' power struggle, with the national spotlight on Sandeshkhali in Basirhat due to allegations of atrocities on women and land grabs.

The seventh phase will cover Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jayanagar, Mathurapur, Diamond Harbour, Jadavpur, Kolkata Dakshin, and Kolkata Uttar, where the Trinamool Congress secured victories in the 2019 elections.

TMC heavyweight Abhishek Banerjee, considered the party's de facto number two, is contesting from Diamond Harbour. Banerjee's performance in this seat, which the TMC touts as a 'model constituency', will be closely watched as the opposition attempts to paint it as a 'laboratory of violence'. The two-time MP faces Communist Party of India-Marxist's Pratikur Rahaman and BJP's Abhijit Das in a three-way contest.

The minority-dominated Basirhat Lok Sabha seat, and specifically the Sandeshkhali segment, is a microcosm of the broader electoral battle as it garnered national attention due to allegations of atrocities on women and land grabs by local TMC leaders.

The BJP has capitalised on these issues by nominating Rekha Patra, a prominent local protestor, against TMC veteran Haji Nurul Islam. The CPI (M) has fielded former MLA Nirapada Sardar, making this a three-cornered contest.

In Punjab, prominent candidates in the fray are four-time MP Preneet Kaur, former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, three-time MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal and Ravneet Singh Bittu.

The BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal are contesting the polls on their own for the first time since 1996 while two INDIA bloc parties - the Congress and AAP - have fielded their own candidates.

The prestige of Ranaut and Himachal Pradesh minister Vikramaditya Singh Singh, the heir of the erstwhile Rampur royal family and son of six-time former chief minister Virbhadra Singh, is at stake in Mandi.

Stakes are also high for Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Thakur, who is seeking a fifth term from Hamirpur, and former Union minister Anand Sharma, who is the Congress candidate from the Kangra Lok Sabha constituency, while for Sukhu, the six assembly bypolls are for survival and stability of his 17-month-old government.

In Bihar, Union minister RK Singh is aiming at a hat-trick from Arrah, where his principal challenger is Sudama Prasad, a sitting MLA of the CPI(ML) Liberation.

In Patna Sahib, veteran BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad is aiming at a second consecutive Lok Sabha term. His principal challenger is Congress spokesman Anshul Avijit, son of former Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and grandson of Jagjivan Ram.

In Pataliputra, Misa Bharti is trying her luck for the third time. BJP MP Ram Kripal Yadav is aiming at a hat-trick.

Karakat is witnessing a multi-cornered fight which is being most talked about because of Bhojpuri superstar Pawan Singh, who is contesting as an Independent. Singh entered the fray after having earlier turned down a BJP ticket from Asansol in West Bengal. The move has led to his expulsion from the party.

Upendra Kushwaha, a former Union minister who heads the Rashtriya Lok Morcha, had won the seat in 2014 but lost it five years later upon quitting NDA.

He is hopeful of wresting the seat back following return to the BJP-led coalition. The CPI(ML), which has a strong presence in the area, has fielded Raja Ram Kushwaha, a former MLA and farmer leader. The pitch has been queered further with the AIMIM fielding Priyanka Chaudhary, a Zila Parishad member.
Donald Trump on Thursday became the first former United States president to be convicted of a felony as a grand jury in New York found him guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records.

IMAGE: Former US President Donald Trump gestures following the announcement of the verdict of his criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, outside Trump Tower, in New York City, on May 30, 2024. Photograph: Andrew Kelly/Reuters

The Biden Harris Campaign said no one is above the law while Trump said the verdict is a result of a rigged political system.

Trump's sentencing is scheduled for July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he will be formally nominated as the party's presidential candidate against incumbent Joe Biden in the November elections.

"This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. It's a rigged trial, a disgrace. They wouldn't give us a venue change. We were at 5 per cent or 6 per cent in this district, in this area. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial," said Trump shortly after the verdict was read.

Trump is the presumptive presidential nominee of the Republican party.

"The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people. And they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here. You have a Soros-backed DA, and the whole thing, we didn't do a thing wrong. I'm a very innocent man, and it's okay, I'm fighting for our country. I'm fighting for our Constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now," Trump said.

Trump alleged that this was done by the Biden administration to wound or hurt a political opponent.

"And I think it's just a disgrace. And we'll keep fighting. We'll fight till the end, and we'll win because our country has gone to hell," he said.

The Biden Harris campaign welcomed the jury's verdict.

"In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law," said Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director Michael Tyler.

"Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his gain. But today's verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president," he said.

"The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator 'on day one' and calling for our Constitution to be 'terminated' so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans' freedoms and fomenting political violence -- and the American people will reject it this November," Tyler said.
Few in Varanasi expect the result to be different from 2014 and 2019.

The only point of interest is whether Narendra Modi will increase his winning margin against his rivals.

IMAGE: Senior Bharatiya Janata leader Narendra D Modi greets BJP karyakartas in Varanasi, May 14, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

On Thursday, May 30, 2024, as the campaigning for the Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency wound down in its labyrinthine bylanes under the scorching summer sun, its MP, Narendra Modi, issued a nearly six minute-long appeal in chaste Bhojpuri, the region's dialect, for its nearly 2 million electors, urging them to turn up to vote in greater numbers on Saturday for the cause of building a 'new Kashi' and a 'Viksit Bharat'.

Modi, who has represented Varanasi in the Lok Sabha for 10 years since 2014, appealed to the constituency's electorate to create a 'new record', possibly referring to the voter turnout registered on the seat in 2019.

IMAGE: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Samajwadi Party Chief Akhilesh Yadav, Ajay Rai, the INDIA bloc candidate from the Varanasi constituency, and others at an election meeting in Kushinagar, May 28, 2024 Photograph: ANI Photo

In 2014, Modi's first outing as a contestant in Varanasi, the voter turnout was 58.35 per cent.

Five years later, while Modi's winning margin and his share of total votes polled increased from 56.37 per cent to 63.6 per cent, the voter turnout declined from 58.35 per cent to 57.13 per cent.

Few in Varanasi expect the result to be different from 2014 and 2019.

The only point of interest is whether Modi would increase his winning margin against his rivals, the Congress' Ajay Rai, supported by the Samajwadi Party, and the Bahujan Samaj Party's Ather Jamal Lari.

IMAGE: BJP supporters cheer Modi during the Mahila Sammelan in Varanasi, May 21, 2024 Photograph: ANI Photo

People in Varanasi, including those unhappy with the BJP rule, acknowledge the unprecedented development work carried out in Varanasi in the last 10 years.

In his message posted on X, Modi discussed some of the development works in Varanasi, stressing that the constituency has been at the heart of all central government schemes.

He listed the Kashi Vishwanath Dham Corridor, the improvement of Ganga's ghats, the ropeway project, and the increased tourist footfall, which are creating job opportunities.

He called upon the youth, women, and farmers to turn up in greater numbers. 'Each vote from you will renew my strength,' Modi said.

IMAGE: Modi during the Mahila Sammelan in Varanasi, May 21, 2024 Photograph: ANI Photo

At Vijay Chai Kendra in Varanasi's bustling Chetganj locality, 65-year-old Vijay Kumar Sharda, the shop owner, was amused when asked about the political scene in Varanasi ahead of the polling day.

"Who else other than Modi? He has facilitated projects worth several crores of rupees in Varanasi and given a massive facelift to the civic landscape after becoming the PM."

Others earning their livelihoods in the bylanes of Varanasi concurred. Santosh Kumar Gupta, 70, who owns a provision store in Chetganj, said Modi would win easily as his rivals, Rai and Lari, were pushovers.

Rai, a former BJP legislator from Varanasi before he joined the Congress, unsuccessfully contested against Modi in 2014 and 2019.

Political commentator Atri Bharadwaj noted that while there is no evident wave this time, unlike in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Modi had a clear edge as the voters had no option but to vote for him again.

"Even if Ajay Rai could save his deposit in the elections, it would be a good achievement for the INDIA bloc candidate," she said.

The Varanasi parliamentary constituency comprises five assembly segments: Rohaniya, Varanasi North, Varanasi South, Varanasi Cantonment, and Sevapuri.

The Opposition camp believes it stands a chance to better the BJP in a couple of these constituencies, especially Rohaniya.

However, members of the minority community also accept that Modi's win from Varanasi is a foregone conclusion.

IMAGE: BJP leader Amit A Shah arrives to offer prayers at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, May 30, 2024 Photograph: ANI Photo

Mazhar, a 30-year-old trader from Gauriganj, a law graduate, said Varanasi witnessed rapid development after Modi became the PM and that it was a matter of pride that he represented the local constituency.

"Sadly, there is an overdose of mandir-masjid narrative during polls which does no good to any community. There is much to be done for the local weavers, textile manufacturers, and traders. Most of the big contracts are going to companies from other states, especially Gujarat," he lamented.

IMAGE: Samajwadi Party leader Dimple Yadav and Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra hold a roadshow in Ajay Rai'S support for the Lok Sabha election in Varanasi, May 25, 2024 Photograph: ANI Photo

Modi held a roadshow with Yogi Adityanath in Varanasi a fortnight ago, but couldn't visit the constituency as he was busy addressing public meetings across the country, including in the rest of Purvanchal.

Still, nearly all prominent BJP leaders, including Amit A Shah, BJP national President J P Nadda, Adityanath, and Union ministers Piyush Goyal, S Jaishankar, and others visited Varanasi in the past few days.

Nadda attended a meeting of local weavers on Monday hosted by the UP Institute of Design and Research, which is part of the state government's MSME department.

But the INDIA bloc did not give up on Varanasi. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and the SP's Dimple Yadav held a roadshow on Saturday.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and SP President Akhilesh Yadav held a rally in Varanasi on Tuesday.

IMAGE: Yogi Adityanath holds a trident during a public meeting in Varanasi, May 27, 2024 Photograph: ANI Photo

"Modi will win hands down for several reasons. First and foremost is the pace of development in the constituency after he came to power. The poor will vote on the basis of the free ration and other welfare schemes of the Centre. Besides, there is little choice before the electorate," local journalist Ajay Misra said.

Apart from Varanasi, other constituencies in UP to witness polling on June 1 include Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Bansgaon, Ghosi, Salempur, Ballia, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Mirzapur and Robertsganj.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
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Gordon Hayward of Westminster writes about individual men and women who contribute day in and day out to the life of our community here in Southeastern Vermont.
The first ever Brattleboro Committee Fair was held Wednesday, May 30, 2024, at Brooks Memorial Library.
TOWNSHEND  NewBrook ranked the best of the three elementary schools in the West River Education District for consolidating them, according to
Windham County Sheriff Mark Anderson and State Sen. Wendy Harrison, D-Windham County, look at the water levels at the Townshend Dam in Townshend on July 11, 2023.
Around a dozen motorcyclists rode up one-by-one to an empty lot near The Shop in south Bismarck on Monday.

Members of the Apathy Original Motorcycle Club would soon join hundreds of other bikers on their way to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery to honor deceased American servicemen and women for Memorial Day.

Jory Stevenson said the club has been taking part in the ride for more than a decade. Its broader mission is to give back to North Dakota communities and veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and advocate for the Second Amendment.

Stevenson noted a specific veteran the group would be honoring, Sgt. Terry Rishling, who died while serving in Kosovo.

"We're riding to honor our brother who is buried out there," he said.

Apathy joined at least 600 bikers on their way to the cemetery south of Mandan. John "Butch" Olson, owner of The Shop and organizer of the event held by the Viet Nam Vets/Legacy Vets Motorcycle Club, said that the number of attendees has remained steady for years now, with bikers coming from all over North Dakota, and some from other states too.

He said the first ride was in 1998 with a small crowd, and rain. Skies were clear this Monday.

"God put the sun out here so we could have a nice ride; that's what today's all about, so we could honor the vets that served this country," Olson said.

The bikers were just a fraction of those who attended Monday's ceremony, where songs were performed, gun salutes were fired and remarks were made by Gov. Doug Burgum; Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard; and Adm. Stuart Munsch.

'Brings tears to my eyes'

A large group of volunteers helped organize and set up the event. One of them, Janette Fetch with the American Legion, was busy handing out stickers with red poppies and the words "Remember and Honor" just before the ceremony started. The flowers symbolize sacrifice, according to the American Legion.

Fetch said her father and uncle are buried at the cemetery. She has been helping with the event for about a decade.

"It still brings tears to my eyes seeing all the support," she said.

Fetch was not the only one with tears. As stories of those who had given their lives in service to the United States were told, the voices of those telling them cracked with emotion.

Dohrmann, who is retiring, said he felt compelled to honor the members of the Guard who died in the war on terror. These are names he said he keeps on his desk.

Dohrmann also took a moment to honor veterans who had taken their own lives. "Please know we will never forget," he told their families.

Dohrmann's speech was followed by Munsch, who is commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Africa, and he commander of Allied Joint Force Command, Naples.

Though the North Dakota native has traveled the world, he said the state is "the one place where I truly feel at home."

Three themes

Munsch's speech touched on the unique character of North Dakota and how those traits are reflected in those who served. He focused on three themes, which went along with three North Dakotans who died while serving.

The first theme was the prairie, which represents a "quiet strength," Munsch said. Gunner's Mate Lowell Nelson, from Grand Forks, who fought in the Pacific during World War II represented the prairie. Nelson died while putting out a fire on a ship which was struck. This in turn saved the lives of over 1,300, Munsch said.

Munsch's second theme was the wind, which he said is "the great communicator."

Cpl. Richard Blue Earth, of Cannonball, represented the wind. Blue Earth, along with other Native Americans, helped the U.S. through the use of Native languages, which rival European powers could not interpret. Though Native Americans were still not granted U.S. citizenship when Blue Earth served in World War I, he decided to fight anyway, Munsch noted, and paved the way for the success of the famous Navajo Code Talkers in World War II.

The last feature of North Dakota that Munsch spoke about was the birds, which "are the angels of the prairie," he said. Lyle Johannes of Kulm -- also Munsch's hometown -- who was killed due to an accidental shooting while serving in Vietnam, represented the birds. Munsch spoke of the impact the shooting incident had on him at a young age as well as on the small town of Kulm.

Burgum noted the many who have given their lives.

"That was somebody's son, somebody's daughter. Many were moms and dads, aunts and uncles, because we know when one person serves, the whole family serves," he said.

Example of community

There were also some lighter moments, along with examples of the community that has formed around those who have served.

Prior to the ceremony, Marlon Whiteman, Jerry Stearns and Alvin Sernholdt sat speaking near a group of flags. The three Marine Corps veterans are part of a local honor guard which provides military honors at funerals.

"The ceremony brings back a lot of the camaraderie, seeing all the branches together," Whiteman said.

Both Whiteman and Stearns said they have been part of the honor guard for around five years.

Sernholdt said he joined a year ago.

"I missed being around Marines," he said.
The gathering will mark the 75th anniversary of the loss of territory to Vietnam.

Buddhist monks burn Vietnamese flags made of paper as they join other protesters near the Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh on Oct. 8, 2014.

Phnom Penh authorities on Friday signed off on a public gathering to commemorate a French colonial decision to cede much of the lower Mekong Delta to Vietnam, but organizers were given strict guidelines on what can be said at the event.

The June 9 gathering will mark the 75th anniversary of the loss of territory known as Kampuchea Krom  a decision that still angers many Cambodians. The region comprises much of present-day southern Vietnam.

The event can be held as long as speakers dont politicize the event or make any statements that impact the relationship between Cambodia and Vietnam, according to minutes from a meeting between Khmer Kampuchea Krom Association officials and Mean Chanyada, the municipalitys deputy governor.

Association officials requested that 500 people be allowed to attend the event at Phnom Penhs Wat Samaki Rainsy, but authorities said they would only allow 300 people, and the event could only last for four hours in the evening.

Speakers are also prohibited from inciting people to violence and using any language that affects King Norodom Sihamoni, according to the minutes.

Thach Setha, a prominent vice president of the countrys main opposition, Candlelight Party, talks to media members near the Vietnam Embassy in Phnom Penh on Aug. 10, 2014. (Heng Sinith/AP)





Cambodias government is dominated by officials from the ruling Cambodian Peoples Party, which has historical ties to Vietnam. Critics and leading opposition officials such as Thach Setha  who is Khmer Krom  have faced criminal incitement charges for comments related to Vietnam.

Additionally, authorities regularly deny permits for public marches or protests, and police have often arrested activists to prevent or stop demonstrations.

Restrictions and controls

The nearly 1.3-million strong Khmer Krom indigenous community live in a part of Vietnam that was once southeastern Cambodia. They have faced restrictions on freedom of expression, assembly and movement.

Additionally, the Vietnamese government has tried to restrict and control Buddhist temples attended by Khmer Krom people, who are ethnically similar to most Cambodians.

In April, about 100 people protested in Phnom Penh to demand that Cambodia urge Vietnams government to release 13 activists and monks who were recently arrested.

That event was also held at Wat Samaki Rainsy after the government didnt grant permission for the use of Phnom Penhs Freedom Park  the site of large political demonstrations in past years.

The June 9 event will feature a Buddhist ceremony with 75 monks. The commemoration will highlight the suffering of Khmer Kampuchea Krom under the Vietnamese government, association coordinator Kim Sisamna said.

It is a lesson for all Khmer to remember history, to wake them up and strengthen the spirit of nationalism in the future, he said.

Translated by Yun Samean. Edited by Matt Reed and Malcolm Foster.
The sanctions come in response to Thursdays guilty verdicts against 14 pro-democracy activists.

Police ask supporters to leave the entrance of West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts building during the hearing of the 47 pro-democracy activists charged with conspiracy to commit subversion under the national security law, in Hong Kong, China February 6, 2023.

The United States will impose visa bans against unnamed Hong Kong officials in response to Thursdays guilty verdicts against 14 democracy activists on subversion charges, the State Department said Friday.

The Chinese citys High Court found 14 leading pro-democracy activists guilty of subversion under the tough new National Security Law, which was passed into law in March, following a 118-day trial for 16 protesters who pleaded not guilty after arrests in 2021.

In a statement, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said the United States was deeply concerned by the guilty verdicts for the pro-democracy activists and called for Hong Kong authorities to immediately release these unjustly detained individuals.

The defendants were subjected to a politically motivated prosecution and jailed simply for peacefully participating in political activities protected under the Basic Law of Hong Kong, Miller said, referring to the citys governing law since the British handover in 1997.

Miller said the United States was taking steps to implement sanctions on Hong Kong and Chinese officials responsible for the verdict under Section 212(a)(3)(C) of the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act, which deals with people ineligible for entry into the United States.

Lawmakers vote for Article 23 in the chamber of the Legislative Council after the conclusion of the readings of the Article 23 National Security Law, in Hong Kong on March 19, 2024. (Peter Parks/AFP)

The statement does not identify which Hong Kong officials would be targeted, and the State Department has a policy against commenting directly on the visa status of individuals due to privacy concerns.

The 14 activists found guilty on Thursday were part of a group of 47 protesters who were arrested by Hong Kong police in 2021, which drew international condemnation, including from U.S. lawmakers.

Of the 47, 31 pleaded guilty to the charge and are still awaiting sentencing on the charges that under Marchs tough new laws carry up to life imprisonment. Two were acquitted on Thursday.

Members of League of Social Democrats hold banner outside the West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts in Hong Kong, Thursday, May 30, 2024, ahead of verdicts in national security case. The banner reads "Exercising Constitutional rights is not a crime." (Chan Long Hei/AP)

The sanctions were issued a day after U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell met with his Chinese counterpart, Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, for talks at the State Department in Washington.

According to a readout issued by the U.S. side on Friday, the two officials held a candid and constructive discussion on a range of topics including areas of difference and areas of cooperation.

Campbell brought up Chinas destabilizing actions around Taiwan, according to the readout, as well as U.S. concerns about Beijings alleged ongoing support to Russias defense industrial base.

He also raised Americas concerns about human rights abuses in China, including in Hong Kong, the readout said.

Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Younger people involved in the 'white paper' movement say they are seeking change despite official silence.

A group of journalists supports the pro-democracy protest in Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China, on May 17, 1989. (Carl Ho/Reuters)

The relatives of civilians killed by Chinese troops who crushed pro-democracy protests in Beijings Tiananmen Square with machine guns and tanks on the night of June 3-4, 1989, have written to President Xi Jinping calling for an official reckoning with the bloodshed on the 35th anniversary of the crackdown.

"We will never forget the lives that were lost to those brutal bullets or crushed by tanks on June 4 35 years ago," the letter said.

"Those who disappeared, whose relatives couldn't even find their bodies to wipe away the blood and bid them a final farewell," the letter said. "It is too cruel that this happened along a 10-kilometer stretch of Chang'an Boulevard in Beijing in peacetime."

Public mourning for victims or discussion of the events of spring and summer 1989 are banned in China, and references to June 4, 1989, are blocked, filtered or deleted by the Great Firewall of government internet censorship.

Hundreds, perhaps thousands, died when late supreme leader Deng Xiaoping ordered troops into the Chinese capital to clear protesters and hunger-striking students from Tiananmen Square.

While any account of the events of that summer have been scrubbed from the public record, younger people have been able to find out about it by visiting overseas websites, and have started taking part in annual commemorative activities around the world alongside exiled Hong Kongers.

Campaigning for accountability

The letter is the latest to be addressed to China's highest-ranking leader in what has become an annual ritual for the Tiananmen Mothers, a group of bereaved relatives that campaigns for official accountability, transparency about the death toll and compensation for victims' families.

It said official rhetoric on the crackdown was "intolerable" to the families of victims because it "reverses right and wrong, and ignores the facts."

The letters have never gotten a reply, and bereaved relatives are typically asked to keep a low profile when the sensitive anniversary of the bloodshed rolls around.

Calls to group spokesperson You Weijie and member Zhang Xianling rang unanswered on Friday after the letter was published.

Former 1989 student protester Zheng Xuguang, who now lives in the United States, said he isn't surprised by the deafening silence from Beijing, which has described the weeks-long student-led pro-democracy movement on Tiananmen Square as "counterrevolutionary rebellion," or political turmoil.

A military helicopter drops leaflets above Tiananmen Square, Beijing, on May 22, 1989, which state that the student protesters should leave the square as soon as possible on Monday morning. (Shunsuke Akatsuka/Reuters)





"How can they admit that they were wrong to kill people?" Zheng said. "Xi Jinping and the Communist Party are co-dependent; if Xi were to reappraise the official verdict of June 4 ... the Communist Party would fall from power."

"I don't think he's going to do that, because there's no room in his ideology for these ideas."

Tseng Chien-yuen, an associate professor at Taiwan's Central University, said today's China is in sore need of some reflection on the massacre, however.

"They need to look at it again and reappraise it, apologize and compensate the innocent students and others who were shot and killed back then, and think about whether to hold those responsible accountable," Tseng said.

"I don't think Xi Jinping would need to bear the historical responsibility for the legacy of [late supreme leader] Deng Xiaoping," he said.

Poll: What would you do?

RFA's Mandarin Service asked its followers and listeners in a poll on X whether they would join the 1989 student movement today, if they could travel back in time to 1989.

Many listeners responded outright that they would, while others said their view of the tragedy was colored by the official view, and didn't change until they left China. Others said they have become more radical than the 1989 protesters.

"We were very naive back then, because we didn't want to overthrow the Communist Party, but to reform it," a person who gave only the nickname Matt responded. "Unfortunately, the Communist Party didn't even give people the chance to do that."

"For our generation, June 4 is an unfamiliar expression," wrote a high schooler from the northeastern city of Qingdao. "Growing up under the red flag of this fake party, we have been indoctrinated with the idea that loving the party and loving the country are the same thing."

Another responded by email that they hadn't believed overseas media reports about the massacre at first, despite finding them on overseas websites.

"Mainland Chinese were either misled by their pro-party stance, or they knew a little more than that, but still thought that the protests had to be brought to an end somehow," they said.

A respondent who gave the nickname Key said he had learned about the massacre and the student movement from older people in his family, and said he admired the 1989 protesters, but added: "Times have changed, and the younger generation needs to fight for their rights in a peaceful and rational way."

User "wophb" wrote: "35 years on, the June 4 incident still has a profound impact on us and is worth reflecting on. Each generation has a unique mission."

Drawing a parallel with the "white paper" protests across China in 2022, the user said they would consider taking part in the 1989 movement if they could go back in time.

Successful brainwashing

Wu Heming, a Chinese student currently in California, said he is still noticing the after-effects of his education at the hands of the Chinese Communist Party two years after arriving on American soil.

"This is mainly because the Chinese Communist Party's brainwashing in education is very, very successful," Wu said. "From childhood onwards, people have no other channels through which to access any other information, so all of your thought patterns get solidified by that rhetoric."

Another student and former "white paper" protester Zhang Jinrui said the two movements had a lot in common. 

"If you compare those who participated in the June 4 incident and those who participated in the white paper movement, they were both trying to promote democracy in China, but in different contexts," Zhang said.

White paper protesters got their name from holding up blank sheets of paper during spontaneous protests at the end of November 2022 amid pent-up frustration with years of COVID-19 restrictions that came to a head after an apartment building fire in Urumqi, in the far-western part of the country, killed inhabitants who reportedly were trapped inside.

Author and university professor Rowena He, who took part in the 1989 movement, in dialogue with former Human Rights Watch China director Sophie Richardson at a symposium marking the 25th anniversary at Georgetown University on April 18, 2014. (Kitty Wang/RFA)





Zhang also believes that times have changed, however.

"Many people of my generation have absorbed liberal ideas that have developed in the world over the past few decades, including national self-determination, respect for the identities of sexual minorities and of ethnic minorities," Zhang said.

"In the 1980s, a lot of people were asking 'what kind of China do we want?' instead of wondering whether the concept of China is even necessary," he said. "Now my generation is starting to deconstruct this concept."

More darkly, Zhang added: "I think they were motivated by hope, while our generation is motivated by despair -- we did what we did out of despair under [COVID-19] lockdown. All we could do was to take a gamble."

Author and university professor Rowena He, who took part in the 1989 movement, said she still marks the anniversary every year, and holds onto the hope she felt back then.

"We all felt that we had nothing," she told a symposium marking the 25th anniversary at Georgetown University on April 18. "They had guns, tanks, and machine guns."

"But in the end, I think many of my generation...still kept the faith alive, while Hong Kong lit candles for us for 30 years, for truth and justice."

"I think history is on our side," He said. "One day we will see truth and justice."

Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster.
Analysts said first in-person talks between Lloyd Austin and Dong Jun would yield little but break the ice.

China's Defense Minister Dong Jun, center, walks out after a bilateral meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin on the sidelines of the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue summit at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore, May 31, 2024.

Defense chiefs from China and the United States met in Singapore on Friday at a security forum in an encounter aimed at improving communication between the two powers amid rising tensions in the Indo-Pacific region.

Dong Jun and Lloyd Austin had a one-hour meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security forum, being held this year from May 31 to June 2.

Few details emerged from the closed-door meeting but Chinese defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian said that Dong and Austin discussed Taiwan, the war between Russia and Ukraine, and the conflict in Gaza during talks he described as constructive.

Wu told reporters that the Chinese minister warned the U.S. against interfering in Chinas affairs with Taiwan.

A U.S. spokesman said that Austin expressed concern about recent provocative PLA activity around the Taiwan Strait, referring to the Chinese military by its official name, the Peoples Liberation Army.

He reiterated that the PRC should not use Taiwans political transition  part of a normal, routine democratic process  as a pretext for coercive measures," the spokesman, Maj. Gen. Patrick Ryder, said in a statement, referring to the Peoples Republic of China.

A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that the meeting marked an important step in opening lines of communication.

The official said Austin also brought up Chinas nuclear, space and cyber developments.

Dong is the third Chinese defense minister  after Li Shangfu and Wei Fenghe  that Austin has seen in three consecutive years at the Shangri-La Dialogue as secretary of defense, but the second minister that hes held talks with as Li declined the offer of a meeting in 2023.

The two defense chiefs had a conversation via video last month to discuss bilateral relations, as well as regional and global security issues.

Military ties between China and the U.S. have been fraught with problems that show no sign of abating as Beijing ramps up aggression against the democratic island of Taiwan and the Philippines in the South China Sea.

The U.S., at the same time, has also been holding military exercises with allies in the region to emphasize its free and open Indo-Pacific doctrine.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, center, walks out after a bilateral meeting with China's Defense Minister Dong Jun on the sidelines of the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore, May 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)





Analysts said that the Dong-Austin meeting, the first in-person talks between defense chiefs since 2022, indicates an attempt to restore communication and mend ties by both sides, but they had very low expectations for much more.

Lyle Goldstein, director of Asia Engagement at Defense Priorities, a U.S. think tank, told RFA that he had long advocated for more sustained, widespread, longer and deeper engagement between the U.S. and Chinese military establishments.

But what we have now is very narrow, only at the very top level, and extremely brief, he said. It's better than a handshake, but not by much.

Such in the spotlight engagements also tend to push the already truncated meetings into gotcha moments where leaders aim for soundbites to impress the audience at home, said Goldstein, a China expert who spent 20 years at the U.S. Naval War College.

Friction points

Both Austin and Dong plan to speak at the Shangri-La Dialogue to outline their countries approaches to global and regional security.

Austin is due to speak on Saturday and Dong on Sunday.

The Chinese admiral, who took office in December after a major shake-up at Chinas ministry of national defense, is expected to take a tougher stance against trouble-stirring by countries from outside the region, according to Chinese media.

On Thursday, a ministry spokesperson condemned the U.S. deployment of an intermediate range missile system during recent Balikatan military drills in the Philippines, saying it brought risk of war in the region.

There are a host of friction points between the U.S. and China on the security front, the most prominent of which include Taiwan, the South China Sea, and Ukraine, said Alexander Vuving, professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies in Hawaii.

In Vuvings opinion, both China and the U.S. would seek to use the Shangri-La Dialogue to strike the weak points of the other.

China will likely portray the U.S. as an interventionist that stirs up tensions everywhere it gets involved, from Taiwan to the South China Sea to Ukraine to Gaza, the political scientist said.

The U.S. will heavily criticize Chinas coercive actions, especially over Taiwan and in the South China Sea. It may also criticize Chinas non-transparent practice regarding Ukraine and bases in Cambodia, he added.

During the teleconference in April, the Pentagon chief underscored the importance of respect for high seas freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea to his Chinese counterpart.

The Shangri-La Dialogue, held by the International Institute for Strategic Studies since 2002, has become a major platform for government officials and security experts to discuss regional security.

Chinese experts, however, take a dim view of the forum. Chinas state-run tabloid Global Times quoted unidentified analysts as saying that while the conference presented opportunities for Beijing to set the record straight, it could also be a stage where Western countries use to launch malicious accusations against China.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is expected to deliver a keynote speech on Friday evening, in which he will talk about the South China Sea and other challenges that his country faces.

Edited by Mike Firn and Taejun Kang.
Soldiers attend military service training as part of the second round of recruitment efforts on May 28, 2024.

Myanmars junta has recruited nearly 4,000 men nationwide in its latest round of conscription as it seeks to reinforce the ranks of its army in the face of battlefield setbacks to insurgents battling to end military rule, a nonprofit group said.

Under the Peoples Military Service Law, enacted by the junta in February, men between the ages of 18 and 45 can be conscripted. The announcement has triggered a wave of killings of administrators enforcing the law and driven thousands of draft dodgers into neighboring Thailand.

A new round of conscriptions was undertaken in mid-April, according to the analysis and data group Burma Affairs and Conflict Study. Training for the nearly 4,000 new recruits began on May 14 in 16 schools across the country, the group said in a release on Wednesday.

One mother was relieved that her two sons were not selected in a raffle system used for the recruitment. She said all families with military aged men had to pay 10,000 kyats (US$ 2) to support the recruits.

Im so worried that my sons will be picked in the next round, she told RFA on Friday. The woman declined to be identified.

About 5,000 people were recruited in the first round of conscription in early April, which brings the total number to about 9,000, according to the research group.

Spokesmen for the junta were not immediately available for comment on Friday but they said in state-backed media during the first round of recruitment that people were not being forced to join and only volunteers were allowed to begin training.

However, civilians reported mass arrests of young people in the Ayeyarwady and Bago regions, as well as village quotas that included adolescents and threats to burn residents houses down if recruits did not come forward.

Senior junta official Gen. Maung Maung Aye, who is in charge of the national recruitment drive, said at a meeting in the capital of Naypyidaw on May 20 that the second round of recruitment had begun successfully.

Those who failed to attend would be dealt with according to the law, he said.

Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Kiana Duncan and Mike Firn.






Thailands Labor Ministry is requiring migrant workers to return to Myanmar to extend their stay.

Migrant workers from Myanmar test the quality of monitors as they work on a TV assembly line at a factory in Bangkok, Thailand July 22, 2019.

Burmese migrant workers in Thailand are worried that a new policy requiring them to apply for an extension to their stay from Myanmar will subject them to conscription into the junta military, according to aid groups.

Under the Peoples Military Service Law, enacted by the junta in February, men between the ages of 18 and 45 can be conscripted after junta forces have suffered battlefield defeats to rebel forces. The announcement triggered a wave of killings of administrators enforcing the law and drove thousands of draft dodgers into rebel-controlled territory and neighboring Thailand.

In April, the Thai Labor Ministry announced that workers from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos working under a government visa sponsorship program will have to return to their own countries to extend the terms of their four-year contracts when they expire.

Ye Min, with the Aid Alliance Committee, which assists Burmese workers in Thailand, confirmed the new visa requirements in an interview with RFA Burmese and said he believes Myanmars junta requested the policy as part of its conscription drive.

Normally, workers can renew their books in Thailand, and work at their same workplace  they prefer this system, said the aid worker, who is also a leader of the Migration Health Assessment Center. However, they now have to return home for an extension after they have worked in Thailand for four years due to pressure from the Myanmar junta.

Myanmar migrant workers enter Mae Sot, a border town of Thailand under the MoU system via the Myawaddy township of Kayin state, May 11, 2022. (Myanmar Labor Attache Office via Facebook)

Ye Min noted that many Burmese migrants in Thailand are supporting or actively participating in Myanmars anti-junta movement, and he suggested that the junta may have pressured Bangkok to make the new requirements as part of a bid to cut supplies and support to the rebellion.

A migrant who is working at a chicken-processing plant in LopBuri, Thailand, told RFA on condition of anonymity that two groups of workers from Myanmar at his plant have already returned home after their contracts expired.

[The contract] of another group of Myanmar workers is set to expire on June 13 or 14 and they will be sent home, said the migrant, who declined to be named due to security concerns. About 26 workers have already returned home in two groups. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of workers will have to go back.

Returnees at risk

On May 1, the junta activated the mandatory military services law and its labor ministry announced that young men would no longer be allowed to work abroad.

Kyaw Ni, the deputy labor minister of Myanmars shadow National Unity Government, or NUG, told RFA his administration has requested that the Thai government allow Burmese migrant workers to continue working inside the country without having to return home.

Attempts by RFA to contact the juntas labor ministry and the Myanmar Labor Attache Office in Bangkok about the new requirements went unanswered Friday.

The Aid Alliance Committees Ye Min said it is extremely risky for migrant workers to go back to Myanmar.

"Its not easy to re-enter Thailand within one or two months, so its a very risky system for repatriated workers, he said.

Myanmar migrant workers enter Mae Sot, a border town of Thailand under the MoU system via the Myawaddy township of Kayin state, May 11, 2022. (Myanmar Labor Attache Office via Facebook)

Aung Kyaw of the Thailand-based Labor Rights Foundation told RFA that his group has also called on the Thai government to allow the migrant workers to continue living there on humanitarian grounds.

The migrant workers will be forced into conscription if they are in the age range, he said. The junta is on the attack both day and night, so the lives of these migrant workers are at risk in the country.

On May 1, in observance of World Labor Day, labor groups rallied in Bangkok to demand that workers be allowed to apply for extensions to their four-year work contracts from within Thailand.

Translated by Aung Naing. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster.
The Philippine president also urged Beijing and Washington to responsibly manage their rivalry.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. used a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore on Friday to criticize Beijings assertive moves in the South China Sea and to call for responsible management of the U.S.-China rivalry.

Speaking to an audience of some 600 international security experts and senior government officials, Marcos condemned assertive actions that aim to propagate excessive, baseless claims through force, intimidation and deception.

While he did not name a specific country, China and the Philippines have been at loggerheads over reefs that lie within the Philippines exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea but are also claimed by China.

Chinese coast guard vessels have been accused of harassing and preventing Filipino fishermen and law enforcement agencies from operating in the disputed waters.

Chinese coast guard vessels fire water cannons towards a Philippine resupply vessel as it made its way to the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, March 5, 2024. (Adrian Portugal/Reuters)

Beijing claims historic rights over 90% of the South China Sea despite protests from other littoral states, including the Philippines. An international tribunal in 2016 also rejected all Chinas claims but Beijing has refused to recognize the rulings.

The life-giving waters of the West Philippine Sea flow in the blood of every Filipino, we cannot allow anyone to detach it from the totality of the maritime domain that renders our nation whole, Marcos said to a round of applause in the auditorium, using a term preferred by Manila for part of the South China Sea.

When asked by an audience member whether a red line would be crossed if the Chinese coast guard killed a Filipino, the president responded in the affirmative.

If a Filipino citizen is killed by a wilful act, that is, I think, very, very close to what we define as an act of war and therefore we will respond accordingly, he said. And our treaty partners, I believe, also hold that same standard.

However, Marcos, who took office in 2022, added that differences amongst nations must always be solved peacefully, through legal and diplomatic processes, and never through the threat or use of force.

Peace and stability

Marcos said that the vision of the 10-member Association Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, for peace, stability and prosperity remains for now a distant reality, with illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions continuing to violate our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction.

He also called for restraint in the Taiwan Strait, explaining that by virtue of his countrys geographic proximity to the island and the presence of Filipinos in Taiwan, the Philippines has legitimate interests in cross-strait issues.

The Filipino people have a long history of fraternal bonds with the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Peace and stability must prevail, Marcos said.

He called on the two worlds major powers  China and the United States  to manage their rivalry in a responsible manner as their contest is exacerbating flashpoints and has created new security dilemmas.

But Chinas influence in the region is a permanent fact," he allowed, and the United States is a stabilizing presence crucial for peace in the Indo-Pacific.

Marcos is the first Filipino head of state to address the Shangri-La Dialogue, which has been held annually by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, IISS, since 2002 and considered one of Asia's most significant security gatherings.

His policies towards the United States and in the South China Sea, meanwhile, have been deemed by many commentators to be a striking U-turn from those of his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who was seen as more friendly toward China.

Under Marcos, Manila and Washington recently also signed a deal that gave the United States access to a total of nine Philippine military bases.

Marcos stance on the South China Sea has almost certainly got him this prime-time speaking slot, because hes such a game changer in how the strategic situation plays out, said Ray Powell, director of the SeaLight project at Stanford University.

Manilas latticework

However, Marcos speech was not only about the South China Sea, since the president also likely wanted to look balanced, Powell noted.

He also wants to be seen as having other partners other than the U.S., the maritime expert said, pointing to what observers call a latticework of expanded ties that Manila has forged with other U.S. allies and partners in the region.

Shahriman Lockman, an expert in Southeast Asian maritime security at the Institute of Strategic and International Studies (Malaysia), said he believed Marcos had a made conscious effort to give ASEAN sufficient prominence in the speech.

Marcos was primarily casting the Philippines as an ASEAN member rather than an ally of the U.S., Lockman said, noting that Marcos called ASEAN centrality a core element of his foreign policy and spotlighted Manilas other regional alliances.

Marcos speech has been depicted by Chinese analysts as not helpful to the situation in the South China Sea.

Ma Bo, an associate professor from the School of International Studies at Nanjing University, told the state-run tabloid Global Times that the tone for this years forum is to emphasize tensions in the South China Sea and cast blame on Beijing.

Ma was quoted as saying that Marcos speech would only add fuel to the fire.

At the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin will deliver a speech on Washingtons strategic partnerships in the Indo-Pacific.

Edited by Alex Willemyns and Malcolm Foster.

BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news organization, contributed to this report from Manila.
Welcome to The Azadi Briefing, an RFE/RL newsletter that unpacks the key issues in Afghanistan. To subscribe, click here.

I'm Abubakar Siddique, senior correspondent at RFE/RL's Radio Azadi. Here's what I've been tracking and what I'm keeping an eye on in the days ahead.

The Key Issue

The only technocrat in the Talibans cabinet has been dismissed and replaced by a hard-line cleric.



Taliban chief Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada on May 28 removed Health Minister Qalandar Ebad, a trained doctor, and named Noor Jalal, a former deputy interior minister, as his successor.



The move has triggered criticism and added to fears over the health sector in Afghanistan, which has been in crisis over a lack of funding.



Former Afghan lawmaker Arif Rahmani said on X, formerly Twitter, on May 28 that the move was irrational and accused the Taliban leadership of carelessness and arrogance. He added that a technocrat was needed to oversee the health-care system.



Gholam Dastgir Nazari, a former Health Ministry official, said that providing health care was impossible without good professional leadership.

Why It's Important: The move appears aimed at purging non-Taliban Afghans, including technocrats and professionals, from the Taliban-led government.



The Talibans theocratic regime is dominated by senior Taliban veterans and loyalists, most of them clerics from the Pashtun ethnic group.



Ali Latifi, an Afghan-American journalist based in Kabul, said Ebads removal was significant because he was considered to be a capable and effective administrator.



Latifi said health-care professionals believed that Ebad was trying to keep medical treatment available to Afghans across the country, including women.



Under Akhundzadas leadership, the Taliban has imposed restrictions on womens access to health care and limited womens ability to work in the health sector.



Akhundzada has previously replaced ministers who have defied his hard-line policies with loyal clerics, including the minister of education.

What's Next: The move is likely to further damage the health-care system in Afghanistan, which has been in free fall since the Taliban seized power in 2021. International donors immediately cut financial funding and imposed sanctions on the Taliban government.



Hundreds of health facilities have been shuttered in the past two years, with no funds to pay the salaries of doctors and nurses. Hospitals that are still open suffer from severe shortages of medicine.



Ebads sacking could also be part of a wider overhaul of the Taliban government. There has been speculation that Akhundzada wants to establish an administration that would be entirely made up of clerics loyal to him.

What To Keep An Eye On

The first freight train from Afghanistan reached Turkey via Iran on May 29. The nearly 2,200-kilometer journey took 40 days.



The train transported over 1,100 tons of talc from the western Afghan city of Herat to the eastern Turkish city of Van.



"The customs clearance process caused the delay," Mohammad Yusuf Amin, director of the Herat Chamber of Commerce and Investment, told Radio Azadi.



Talc exporters hope the new route will allow them to access international markets. Afghanistan currently exports up to 500,000 tons of talc annually.

Why It's Important: Transport by railway is seen as the fastest and cheapest means of moving goods.



For decades, Afghan governments have participated in regional railway projects to better connect the landlocked country to Central Asia and western Asia.



New railway links or the revival of dormant railways can open more routes and markets for Afghan exports.



Railway transport can help reduce Afghanistans dependence on neighboring Pakistan. Transit goods of Afghan traders have been sporadically stranded in Pakistans ports and border crossings because of bilateral tensions.

That's all from me for now.

Don't forget to send me any questions, comments, or tips that you have. You can always reach us at azadi.english@rferl.org

Until next time,

Abubakar Siddique

If you enjoyed this briefing and don't want to miss the next edition, subscribe here. It will be sent to your inbox every Friday.
TBILISI -- As global attention focused on the Georgian parliaments attempts to pass a controversial foreign agent law, the government made another move that could strain ties with the West when it announced that a Chinese consortium would build a strategic port on Georgias Black Sea coast.

The decision to make this announcement the day after the 'foreign agent' vote doesnt look to be an accident, Tinatin Khidasheli, the Georgian defense minister from 2015-16, told RFE/RL. Its been an open secret that the government has wanted to award this to the Chinese, but this choice of companies is very concerning, and the timing sends something of a message.

The move came one day after the ruling Georgian Dream partys May 28 override of a presidential veto that blocked the "foreign agent" bill.

The companies involved in the new port deal are all state-owned Chinese firms. While they have extensive global experience, theyve also courted international controversy and scandal, from fraud accusations in the Philippines to bribery in Bangladesh. Two companies in the consortium have also been banned from participating in World Bank-financed construction projects.

The selection of Chinese companies with a track record of corruption accusations could also further inflame the countrys ties with the West and reshape the so-called Middle Corridor, a global trade network that ships goods between Europe and Asia in which Georgia serves as a strategic node.

Anaklia is the crown jewel of the Middle Corridor, Romana Vlahutin, a distinguished fellow at the German Marshall Fund and former European Union ambassador-at-large for connectivity, told RFE/RL. If you have China building such a key point, then you are giving them the capacity and opportunity to control a very important route for trade between Europe and Asia.

Few details have emerged about the deal so far, but Georgian Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Levan Davitashvili said on May 29 that the China Communications Construction Company and Singapore-based China Harbor Investment were the only bidders in a tender to build and operate a deep-sea port in Anaklia, a Black Sea resort town of some 1,500 people. He added that two other Chinese companies -- China Road and Bridge Corporation and Qingdao Port International -- would serve as subcontractors for the project.

A deep-sea port in Georgia -- which would allow larger ships to transport increased volumes at a more efficient rate -- would raise the Middle Corridors prospects as an alternative trade route that bypasses Russia, but Chinas 49 percent stake in the project could also be a blow to Brussels strategy of looking to grow the corridor following Moscows 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

This is not good news for the EU, and I think the fact that [China is now building] the port shows a lack of strategic thinking in Brussels, Vlahutin said.

Who Are The Companies?

During a recent press conference, Davitashvili said that over months of consultations, a Swiss-Luxembourg consortium led by Terminal Investment Limited Holding, which operates shipping ports across Europe and Asia, was also involved.

But the minister said that only the Chinese-state companies submitted a final proposal and that while some technical formalities must still be carried out, the application is complete [and] the relevant bank guarantees have been presented by the Chinese consortium.

Terminal Investment Limited Holding did not reply to RFE/RLs request for comment about why it didnt submit a final offer.

China Communications Construction Company, which headlines the Chinese proposal, is a key player in Chinese leader Xi Jinpings signature foreign policy project, the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

China's ambassador to Georgia, Chou Qian, told journalists on May 30 that the company is one of the most famous and one of the strongest construction companies in the world and has carried out projects in more than 153 countries.

But the company has also faced scrutiny for how it has conducted business overseas, in areas ranging from Malaysia to Equatorial Guinea.

From 2011 to 2017, the World Bank banned the firm and its affiliates from participating in World Bank-funded construction projects due to a fraud scandal in a road project in the Philippines in 2009. China Communications Construction Company is also the legal successor of the China Road and Bridge Corporation, which will work as a subcontractor on the Anaklia port and was also banned by the World Bank for the same incident in the Philippines.

China Communications Construction Company also had a contract to build a port in Tanzania terminated in 2014 after allegations surfaced that Tanzanian officials had inflated project costs to accommodate the demands of the Chinese firm.

In 2020, the United States also sanctioned the company for its involvement in constructing artificial islands and promoting militarization in disputed parts of the South China Sea.

China Harbor Investment is based in Singapore and is the overseas investment arm of China Harbor Engineering Company, which is an engineering contractor and subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company.

China Harbor Engineering Company was ensnared in a high-profile corruption case in 2018 where the company was blacklisted by the Bangladeshi government for attempting to bribe a senior official over a large contract to expand a major highway.

A Strategic Port On The Black Sea

Reaction to the Georgian governments announcement about Anaklia has been limited, but a NATO official who spoke on condition of anonymity in order to speak freely raised concerns about Chinas role in the deal.

Its well known that China has long sought influence in major overseas infrastructure projects. The Black Sea remains an area of strategic importance to NATO, the official told RFE/RL.

A State Department spokesperson told RFE/RL that the United States respects countries' sovereign decisions regarding who they want to engage or do business with, but added that when doing business with Chinese entities that its important to [exercise] due diligence, understand the potential impacts on critical infrastructure and sovereignty, and ensure the economic relationship is fair, transparent, and benefits Georgia.

Georgia is no stranger to awarding high-profile infrastructure deals to Chinese firms.

In addition to the deep-sea port in Anaklia, Chinese companies are building infrastructure across the country, including a large section of highway through Georgias mountainous countryside, a project whose growing price tag is approaching $1 billion.

Looking more closely at Anaklia, the government will retain 51 percent ownership of the port project, with 49 percent going to the other partners.

This deal marks the second attempt to build a deep-sea port in Anaklia.

Previously, a consortium formed between Georgia's TBC Bank and the U.S.-based Conti International was canceled by the government in 2020 after years of political controversy that saw TBC co-founders Mamuka Khazaradze and Badri Japaridze facing money-laundering charges.

The pair were charged but released without jail terms, and Khazaradze has claimed the authorities were trying to sabotage the project. The contract for that deal was worth $2.5 billion.

Davitashvili said that more details would be unveiled in the coming days when he spoke to reporters. Khidasheli, the former defense minister who now chairs the Civic Initiative for Democratic and Euro-Atlantic Choice, a Tbilisi-based NGO, said she will be watching events closely.

To understand things deeper, we will need to see the actual contract, she said. Legally, the document is supposed to be made public, but you never know what will be made confidential by this government.

Written and reported by RFE/RLs Reid Standish in Prague with reporting by RFE/RL Georgian Service correspondent Luka Petraia in Tbilisi.
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.
Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait has sent a letter of congratulation to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of May 28-Azerbaijan's Independence Day.

Azernews presents the letter:

"His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan

Your Excellency,

I am pleased to extend to you my sincere congratulations on the anniversary of the national holiday of your friendly country - the Independence Day.

Taking this opportunity, I express my wish for the continued development of the existing strong relations between our friendly countries and peoples.

Dear Mr. President, I wish you long life, good health, and continuous progress and prosperity to the friendly people of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

Respectfully,

Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah

Crown Prince of the State of Kuwait"
Airline passenger numbers at North Dakota's major airports in April were up 8% overall from the previous year, with most airports seeing double-digit percentage increases.

The number of airline boardings in Bismarck, Williston, Dickinson, Minot, Fargo, Grand Forks, Devils Lake and Jamestown during the month totaled 94,112 -- up from 87,223 in April 2023, according to the North Dakota Aeronautics Commission.

Boardings were up over the previous year at all airports except Grand Forks, which saw a drop of 8.2%. Bismarck's boardings were up 15.2%, while Williston's rose 18.3% and Dickinson's increased 20.3%. Other increases: Fargo (4.5%), Minot (10%), Devils Lake (14.6%) and Jamestown (18%).

The Fargo and Devils Lake airports set new records for April, with 41,466 and 635 passengers, respectively. The previous April record for both airports was last year.

Year-to-date boardings statewide stand at 388,452, up 5.7% from the same point in 2023. Bismarck's boardings are up 10.5%, Dickinson's 11.1% and Williston's 29%.

The Jamestown Regional Airport's primary runway closed in early May and will remain so until mid-June for a pavement rehabilitation project.

"Commercial flights will not occur during this time period, and the May and June boarding numbers will reflect impacts by this closure," the commission said.

The airport's crosswind runway will remain open for general aviation use during the duration of the project.

The average aircraft load statewide in April was 78%. There were 1,439 flight departures and three cancellations, for a cancellation rate of 0.2%.

Delta Air Lines had the largest North Dakota market share during the month, at 39%, followed by United with 27% and Allegiant with 21%. American had 11% and Frontier 3%. Percentages are rounded, resulting in the total of 101%.

Travelers can fly nonstop out of Bismarck to Minneapolis, Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Orlando and Tampa Bay. The Tampa Bay flights began in mid-May.

The full April boardings report is at bit.ly/3WDnije.
Activist Kristo Talakhadze was forcibly detained by Georgian security forces during a protest against the so-called "foreign agent" law in Tbilisi. Talakhadze was able to identify one of the men who dragged her from the protest and ripped the Georgian flag out of her hands. At a later demonstration, Talakhadze confronted the man to ask him why he had attacked her peaceful protest.
Known by the acronym ALZHIR, the Aqmola camp for the "wives of traitors to the motherland" was a Stalin-era labor camp in the Aqmola region of Kazakhstan. In the 15 years that it was in operation -- from 1938 to 1953 -- nearly 18,000 women passed through it, some of whom never left. ***** AQMOLA, Kazakhstan -- To get a sense of the bleak harshness, one should visit here during the winter months, when the snow-covered steppe blends into the thick gray sky and the frigid, stinging wind pierces deep into your bones. These were the conditions faced by the camp's initial prisoners when they arrived in the winter of 1938 at the height of Soviet dictator Josef Stalin's repressions. Galina Stepanova-Klyuchnikova, a student at the Moscow Institute of Transport Engineers, was among the first prisoners to arrive. Following the arrest of her husband, she was condemned to five years of forced labor in Stalin's gulags, from 1938 to 1942. She wrote of her harrowing experiences: "The barracks, made of adobe, not yet dried, were filled by women from different cities. Most of them were from Moscow, but there were also from Ukraine, Belarus, and Georgia. The sight of them stunned me. They all had their heads shaved. The pitiful, scared women looked like ridiculous teenagers." Their crime? Being in a relationship with "traitors to the Motherland," which made it sufficient grounds for them to also receive a prison sentence. After her experience at the camp in Aqmola, Stepanova-Klyuchnikova was sent into exile in Petropavlovsk. In October 1956, following the historic 20th Congress of the Communist Party, which denounced the personality cult of Stalin, she was rehabilitated.

The Memorial Complex In front of the museum, located in the village of Aqmol, three workers are struggling to attach a new banner to a roadside billboard with the inscription "ALZHIR Museum and Memorial Complex." The blustery wind causes the banner to whip back and forth as a metal ladder on which a man stands sways dangerously. The museum is preparing for May 31: the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of Political Repression and Famine in Kazakhstan. It is a day when floral tributes are laid and vigils are held and visits to museums such as this are made.

The museum in Aqmola was not built on the original site of the camp -- on the shore of Lake Zhalanash -- but several kilometers away. Today, at the former site where so many suffered and some died, only reeds and trees stand. The museum, a large, unsightly building lined with rough brown tiles in a brutalist style, is not a welcoming site. It instead opts to make its visitors feel uncomfortable.

In front of the entrance stands the 18-meter-high Arch Of Sorrow monument, which symbolizes a woman mourning her dead husband and lost children. It is customary to walk under the arch with your head bowed in memory of those who survived the torment in the camps.

Stepanova-Klyuchnikov wrote: "The days flashed by, the nights flew, sometimes cold in winter, sometimes stuffy from the Kazakh dry wind in summer. Our whole life merged into a hopeless, difficult, gray day. In the morning, there is a general roll call in front of the barracks, then a ladle of thin porridge in the dining room. Work after breakfast. For dinner, the same barley porridge without any signs of fat, and again work 12-14 hours a day, seven days a week."

In front of the entrance to the museum stands a simple green tower from where a mannequin stands watch where one of Stalin's wagons delivered their next batch of women. According to museum staff, upwards of 70 people would be crammed into each carriage. It is difficult to imagine how so many people could fit in such a small space.

Author Eugenia Ginzburg, who was also subjected to Stalin's repressions, wrote in her book Steep Route about her journey to the camp: "I noticed that the carriage they squeezed me into is marked with the number seven. There are so many people crammed into it that it seems there will be nowhere to even stand. After all, the 'law' of the prison states that 'the tighter, dirtier, and hungrier they are, the rougher the convoy, and the greater the chance of survival.' So far, this has proven true."

Depictions of camp life form the basis of the museum's exhibition: a prisoner under interrogation, a prisoner at work, a prisoner next to a cradle in which a fake baby lies. It is hard not to notice the impression it makes on the museum's visitors. Most rarely talk or take pictures with their phones; instead, they opt for silence, which is only broken by the voices of the guides. "We have a lot of visitors here, especially foreigners and Russians," one of the museum employees said, before adding, "They come in groups, families, diplomatic delegations. There are also many Kazakhs, of course. Schoolchildren are often brought in when the program begins to study the history of the Soviet period." As for the schoolchildren, the employee said that some look at the exhibits indifferently, while others try to joke, but nearly everyone is touched by what they experience. "I can see it in their eyes," the employee said.

The Prison For Mothers Women who were expecting or who had small children were housed in a separate barracks called the "Mother's House." The children were watched over by a prisoner nanny while the mothers were forced to work. During the camp's existence, 1,507 children were born in the camp. When they reached the age of 3, they were placed in orphanages. Stepanova-Klyuchnikova recalled: "A year of strict regime passed -- without letters, without parcels, without any news of freedom. And suddenly the whole camp was excited by an unusual event. A real letter with a stamp and postmark arrived. On the envelope, in a child's handwriting, was written 'City of Aqmol -- Prison For Mothers.' An 8-year-old girl wrote that after her mother and father were arrested; she was also arrested and put in an orphanage."

An exhibition of personal belongings that were donated to the museum by descendants is now on display. Of note are the personal artifacts from children who lived in the camp: a simple cap, a vest, and a shirt. Prisoner Lotta Rice sewed them for her children from pieces of old women's underwear, which she exchanged for tobacco from fellow inmates.

On the top shelf stands a homemade folding book with an inscription on the cover: "To my son Kolya." Rice made this book using wooden planks and a wood-burning device. They say that this was the only toy her son had. "Pooh-pooh, oh-oh-oh,

My little bunny is dying!

They brought him home

He turned out to be alive."

Kolya was born in 1946 at the camp in Karlag, at the time one of the largest gulags in the Soviet Union. The boy survived, later moving from Kazakhstan to Germany, where he became Conrad Rice. In 2022, with a group of tourists, he visited the museum, where he told the staff the story of his life, about his childhood in the camp, and about how he had recorded the memories of his elderly mother. Conrad Rice donated to the museum items that his mother sewed for him and his little sister, who died in the camp when she was 8 months old. Behind The Door During Stalin's terror, prisoners were subjected to brutal interrogations that could last up to eight hours, or until the victims collapsed. "The entire interrogation system is designed for the moral, psychological, and physical exhaustion of those under investigation," wrote camp historian Anfisa Kukushkina.

The door at the pretrial detention center is another exhibit. Massive, rough, and securely put together, it is impossible to knock down. Behind these doors, no one could hear the screams of the prisoners. Nearby stands a mirror wall with a fake lattice, which is held by dozens of hands. This is the installation called Shackles. The mirror canvases behind the bars reflect the visitor's barely recognizable features, momentarily transporting them beyond the line that runs between the present and the past. This is how the installation in the museum is explained.

Though the museum building is small, you can walk around its silent grounds for hours. Behind the museum stands a wall with the names of victims. During the 15 years of the camp's existence, an estimated 600 women died here.
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
PRAGUE -- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on May 31 that the military alliance must enhance its role in supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia's unprovoked invasion and make clear to Moscow that Western backing for Kyiv will continue for as long as necessary.

"We need to make sure that Moscow understands that we are prepared for the long haul in our support for Ukraine," Stoltenberg told journalists ahead of the start of a second day of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

The NATO gathering in the Czech capital, which is being attended by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, will discuss an aid package for Ukraine that would be presented at NATO's summit in Washington in July.



During the ministers' meeting, talks are scheduled on a plan presented by Stoltenberg in April on a framework that would transfer responsibility for military and civilian aid for Ukraine from an informal, U.S.-led group to the formal structures of the alliance.



NATO is currently not officially offering lethal military supplies to Kyiv.

Individual NATO member states have been channeling supplies through the Ukraine Contact Group (UCG), an initiative chaired by the United States known informally as the Ramstein Group.



"We will address how to sustain and step up our support for Ukraine, and I have proposed that NATO should play a bigger role in the coordination of the supply of the security assistance and training for Ukraine," Stoltenberg said.

"I also proposed a multiyear financial pledge to ensure more accountability and predictability in the support we provide for Ukraine."

The ministers are also likely to debate allowing Kyiv to use Western-provided weapons to strike targets inside Russia as Germany on May 31 followed in the footsteps of the United States and conditionally agreed with such a move.

Kyiv had the "right under international law to defend itself" against attacks coming from Russia, close to the border with Ukraine, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said in a statement.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, meanwhile, clarified that the approval "only refers to combating [Russian] attacks" on the Kharkiv region, which has been targeted repeatedly in recent weeks.

Pistorius told RFE/RL during a visit to Moldova's capital, Chisinau, that "however, with regard to weapons that can operate over a long distance of hundreds of kilometers, there is still a reluctance on our part."

Berlin's change of position came after several U.S. officials familiar with the matter told the media on May 30 that President Joe Biden had given Ukraine the go-ahead to use U.S. weapons to strike inside Russia for the limited purpose of defending the eastern city of Kharkiv.

The reported move, which came amid pleas from Ukraine to allow its forces to defend the country against attacks originating from Russian territory, was hailed by Serhiy Nykyforov, the press secretary of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who said it will "significantly boost" Ukraine's fightback.

Biden's reported change of heart came as pressure had been growing on the United States to allow the strikes.

Stoltenberg on May 31 reiterated that allies should consider lifting restrictions on the use of NATO weapons by Ukraine to hit targets on Russian territory, as it is part of Kyiv's right to self-defense.



"This is even more urgent as we see that Russia has opened a new front," Stoltenberg said.

"They have attacked from the north into the Kharkiv region and the front line and border line are more or less the same. They are hitting Ukraine with missiles, artillery based inside Russia, and of course Ukraine must be able to hit back and to defend themselves. This is part of the right to self-defense," he said.

In recent months, Russia has launched withering air and ground assaults against Ukraine, which has struggled with ammunition shortages. Kyiv has pleaded for an acceleration of deliveries of ammunition and also has asked to be allowed to use longer-range weapons -- which came with restrictions on their usage into Russian territory -- to their full extent.



"Allies are delivering many different types of military support to Ukraine and some of them have imposed some restrictions on the use of these weapons.... These are national decisions," Stoltenberg said in a speech delivered in Prague on May 30.



Both Stoltenberg and Blinken are due to hold news conferences after the end of the meeting later on May 31.
PRAGUE -- NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says hes more confident that Ukraine can successfully defend the eastern city of Kharkiv now that NATO allies have eased restrictions on the use of weapons they supply to hit targets inside Russia.

Stoltenberg told RFE/RL that the shift in policy, which was formally announced by the United States on May 31 and followed by Germany, was "legitimate" as Ukraine defends itself, particularly the city of Kharkiv, which lies just 35 kilometers from Ukraines border with Russia and has been under almost daily attack since Russia launched a new cross-border offensive about three weeks ago.

Until now, Ukrainian forces had been unable to strike Russian forces massing in Russian territory with Western-supplied weapons, because of concerns by the United States and some of Ukraine's other Western allies that doing so would escalate the war.

"The right of self-defense also includes the right to strike targets on the territory of the aggressor. And that's exactly what Ukraine must be able to do," Stoltenberg said, speaking to RFE/RL on the sidelines of a NATO foreign ministers' meeting in Prague.

Stoltenberg said it would be very difficult if artillery batteries, missile batteries, and airfields on the Russian side continued to be "safe for Russians" because the Ukraine was prevented from using the weapons supplied by NATO allies against them.

"I welcome, therefore, that the NATO allies have eased restrictions and made it clear that, of course, Ukraine has right for self-defense," he said.

The NATO chief said that the alliance was prepared to give Ukraine the support it needs to prevail and "stop the Russian invader." More weapons and ammunition are coming in from NATO allies, "and therefore, I am confident that Ukraine absolutely can prevail," Stoltenberg said.

Asked specifically about reports of a lack of air defenses on NATO's eastern flank, Stoltenberg said NATO was ready and able to protect all NATO allies and had agreed on new defense plans.

"We increased ambitions because we live in the more dangerous world. So there's a need to invest more to meet those requirements coming from the new defense plans, and that includes also investing more in air defense," he said.

He cited an agreement to acquire or to field 700 or more fifth-generation fighter jets, which he said will enhance air defense; that U.S. defense contractor Lockheed Martin has agreed to build a new factory for Patriot missiles in Germany; and Poland and other allies are buying "huge amounts of advanced air-defense systems."

Many other allies are ramping up production, he said, "so there will be more, and we are investing more, including air defense."

Alliance members have been under pressure for years to ramp up defense spending after agreeing more than a decade ago to raise it to 2 percent of GDP.

Stoltenberg reiterated in the interview that only a few years ago, the number of countries that met that threshold was less than 10. As of February, it was 18, and he expects that number to increase even further.

Georgia Concerns

Stoltenberg also commented on the situation in Georgia, where the parliament is on the verge of passing a so-called "foreign agent" bill that mirrors similar legislation in Russia that has been used to stifle independent media and NGOs.

Asked whether it would be necessary in response to scale down NATOs engagement with Georgia, a country that has applied for NATO membership, Stoltenberg said the foreign agent bill takes Georgia in the wrong direction and NATO allies have expressed concern about it.

"We need to ensure that the aspirations of the Georgian people to live in a democratic society is something which is met," he said.

The partnership between NATO and Georgia "has broad support" within the alliance, he added, and while concerns have been raised, there has been no discussion of consequences related to the "foreign agent" legislation.
NATO foreign ministers have dismissed warnings by Russian President Vladimir Putin after allowing Kyiv to use Western weapons to strike inside Russia for the limited purpose of defending the eastern city of Kharkiv. NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Ukraine had the right to defend itself as foreign ministers from the alliance gathered on May 31 for an informal meeting in the Czech capital, Prague. Putin has raised the risk of nuclear war in warning NATO members against allowing Ukraine to fire their weapons into Russia.
A court in Kazan, Russia, has extended the pretrial detention of RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva until August 5 and rejected her lawyers' request to move her to house arrest. Kurmasheva, a dual U.S. and Russian citizen based in Prague, has been detained since October on charges considered baseless by press freedom groups. At the May 31 hearing, she spoke about receiving inadequate medical care in prison and being denied the chance to speak to her two daughters.
A court in Russia on May 31 extended the pretrial detention of Alsu Kurmasheva, a Prague-based journalist with RFE/RL who holds dual U.S. and Russian citizenship, until August 5.

The Sovetsky district court of Kazan also rejected another request by Kurmasheva's lawyers to have her detention switched to house arrest.

While deliberations were held behind closed doors, representatives from the Australian and Czech embassies, along with reporters, were allowed into the courtroom for other parts of the hearing.

"The injustices multiply every day in this needless, cruel prosecution. Alsu's fundamental rights as an American citizen are being denied by Russian authorities who have now imprisoned her for 227 days," RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus said in a statement after the decision.

"In that time, Alsu has not even had a single phone call with her loving children and husband; she's been denied U.S. consular access as well as basic, adequate levels of health care. Alsu should be home in Prague with her daughters helping them study for final exams -- not locked up in a Russian prison on baseless charges."

Before the decision was handed down, Kurmasheva, who has been held in detention since October 18, 2023, showed reporters children's drawings she has received.

"Parents independently sent me drawings by their children.... They asked them to draw freedom, happiness, joy, and so the children drew such wonderful drawings. Considering that this is probably the only grass and trees I will see this summer, this is priceless," Kurmasheva told spectators from behind the glass-walled defendant's box in the courtroom.

She added that she has been feeling steadily worse and needs surgery to correct issues she's suffering from.

Kurmasheva, 47, was arrested in Kazan last October and charged with failing to register as a foreign agent under a punitive Russian law that targets journalists, civil society activists, and others. Shes also been charged with spreading falsehoods about the Russian military and faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

RFE/RL and the U.S. government say the charges are reprisals for her work as a journalist for RFE/RL in Prague. She had traveled to Russia to visit and care for her mother and was initially detained while waiting for her return flight on June 2 at Kazan airport, where her U.S. and Russian passports were confiscated.

Many critics and rights group say the so-called foreign agent law is used by the Kremlin to crack down on any dissent.

Moscow also has been accused of detaining Americans to use as bargaining chips to exchange for Russians jailed in the United States.

In February, 23 countries nominated Kurmasheva for the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano 2024 World Press Freedom Prize.

The prize, created in 1997, is an annual award that honors a person or a group of people who make an "outstanding" contribution to the defense and promotion of press freedom across the globe despite the "danger and persecution" they face.

Kurmasheva is one of four RFE/RL journalists -- Andrey Kuznechyk, Ihar Losik, and Vladyslav Yesypenko are the other three -- currently imprisoned on charges related to their work. Rights groups and RFE/RL have called repeatedly for the release of all four, saying they have been wrongly detained.

Losik is a blogger and contributor for RFE/RLs Belarus Service who was convicted in December 2021 on several charges including the organization and preparation of actions that grossly violate public order and sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Kuznechyk, a web editor for RFE/RLs Belarus Service, was sentenced in June 2022 to six years in prison following a trial that lasted no more than a few hours. He was convicted of creating or participating in an extremist organization.

Yesypenko, a dual Ukrainian-Russian citizen who contributed to Crimea.Realities, a regional news outlet of RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, was sentenced in February 2022 to six years in prison by a Russian judge in occupied Crimea after a closed-door trial. He was convicted of possession and transport of explosives, a charge he steadfastly denies.
Earlier this week, a Russian early warning radar installation was hit by unidentified projectiles; Ukrainian drones, Ukraines military intelligence agency claimed.

It was unclear if there was any significant damage, but of more significance was where the facility was located: around 1,800 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.



Throughout the 27 months since Russia launched its all-out invasion, Ukraine has been attacking sites inside Russia: first quietly and sporadically, then boldly and loudly, including cross-border raids by loosely affiliated paramilitary groups and spectacular drone strikes in the heart of Moscow.



But Ukraine has chafed at the restrictions that have kept it from utilizing its Western-supplied arsenal to make more substantive attacks further inside Russia: on troop staging grounds, or railways, or weapons depots, for example. A 3-week-old offensive near Kharkiv in the northeast that has stretched Ukraines forces thin has added to the impatience.



As of May 30, thats changed, as the United States joined more than a dozen NATO allies and signaled for the first time it would give Ukraine permission to strike some targets inside Russia itself.

The shift is limited in scope, allowing Ukrainian forces to use short-range missiles from HIMARS launchers, or artillery, to hit command-and-control posts, arms depots, and other military targets used as part of the Kharkiv offensive. Ukraine will still be barred from using longer-range surface-to-surface missiles known as ATACMS against targets inside Russia.



U.S. President Joe Biden recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S.-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them, a U.S. official told RFE/RL. Our policy with respect to prohibiting the use of ATACMS or long-range strikes inside of Russia has not changed.



The change was first reported by Politico.



Ukraine has the right to strike targets in Russia, Jack Watling, senior researcher at the Royal United Services Institute in London, said during a Financial Times podcast prior to the announcement. It is at war with Russia, and Russia is striking targets in Ukraine every day.



But he said the question is what kinds of weapons Ukraine would be allowed to use to make a substantial difference. Howitzers fired across the border are one thing; longer-range Storm Shadow or Scalp cruise missiles or ATACMS missiles are another.



I think if we just draw a hard line and say, Strikes in Russia? No. Thats very unhelpful, he said. But we do also need to appreciate that there are different kinds of strikes using different kinds of systems that hold quite different risks.



Red Lines



In the past, Russia has warned that Washington supplying longer-range weaponry to Ukraine would cross a red line. But even as Western weapon supplies have grown in frequency and number, Russia has refrained from targeting shipments or depots where they could be located.



Asked about the reported change in U.S. policy, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov claimed that Moscow knew nothing about it and suggested that the Russian government did not see it as a significant change in the status quo.



Its well known that on the whole American weapons have already been used to try and target Russian territory, he said on May 31. That is enough for us to know and is very eloquent evidence of the level of involvement of the United States in this conflict.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

Ukraine for months has enthusiastically gone after targets in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula that Russia seized in 2014. Russia has a substantial deployment of troops, aircraft, and equipment there, not to mention its Black Sea Fleet naval ships, which until recently have been based in the port of Sevastopol.



In late April, Ukraine used ATACMS, or Army Tactical Missile System, to hit an airfield in Dzhankoy in Crimea. Though Ukraine had received shorter-range versions of the ATACMS in the past, the Dzhankoy attack was the first time Ukraine had used the longer-range model -- something that the United States had secretly supplied months prior.



Ukraine has also used the British-French-designed Storm Shadow missiles to target Russian naval facilities in Crimea.



Since the United States, like most of the international community, does not recognize Russias claim to Crimea, there were few, if any, restrictions on Ukraine targeting sites in Crimea.



Ukrainian forces have been struggling on the battlefield for months now, a situation caused in part by the pause in U.S. weapons supplies that resulted from political infighting in Washington.



On May 10, their struggles deepened further when tens of thousands of Russian troops crossed the border north of the city of Kharkiv, opening up a new offensive and forcing Ukrainian commanders to rush more experienced units to the region from other hot spots.



The policy change will allow for Ukraine to target Russian troops, especially high-value targets such as command-and-control elements, artillery, logistics, and air-defense units that are located on Russian territory near Kharkiv and concentrating or rehearsing future operations against Ukraine, Mick Ryan, a retired Australian Army major general, said in an e-mail newsletter. This is the kind of operational strike -- the ability to destroy Russian military forces before they are committed to combat operations -- that is essential while Ukraine reconstitutes its forces in 2024.



One of the reasons Russia is making gains at present is its dominance of the air. Russia has been able to use jet-dropped glide bombs to devastating effect, said Johan Norberg, a senior analyst and expert on Russias military at the Swedish Defense Research Agency FOI.



Ukraine has been unable to push back due to a lack of robust air defenses such as U.S.-made Patriot systems.



With Western weaponry and the ability to strike Russian airfields, Ukraine should be able to curtail Russias ability to attack effectively with planes, Norberg said.



They have to move farther away, also making things more difficult in terms of the frequency of sorties you can make over Ukraine, he told RFE/RL. And then the military rationale is clear. There could be other arguments I could find, like striking on command postsdeeper inside Russia or various logistics hubs. But I think right now, air power seems to be some of the Ukraine's biggest problems at the moment.

'Boiling A Frog Slowly'



Its unclear exactly what prompted the Biden administration to change its policy. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who traveled to Kyiv last month, reportedly received a sober assessment of the ability of Ukraines forces to hold out. In Congress, lawmakers from both parties had criticized the White House for holding Ukraine back.

Speaking to Blinken at a hearing of the House Foreign Affairs Committee on May 22, the committees Republican chairman, Michael McCaul, accused the Biden administration, and White House national-security adviser Jake Sullivan more specifically, of creating a sanctuary for Russian forces across the border.



Germany, which has been one of the most hesitant NATO members where Western weaponry is concerned, on May 31 signaled it was in agreement with the new U.S. policy. Ukraine has repeatedly asked Berlin for its Taurus KEPD-350 cruise missile.



Over the past two weeks, a growing chorus of NATO members have come out in support of using various Western weaponry more aggressively, to hit targets inside Russia itself.



However, with regard to weapons that can operate over a long distance, of hundreds of kilometers, there is still a reluctance on our part, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters during a visit to Moldova.



Looking at where we are today, where wesupply missiles, armored vehicles, what have you -- they would have been out of the question two years ago. But everything is done very gradually, Norberg said. Whether this was deliberate to, sort of, slowly boil the frog, and not pass any Russian red lines, or just because of decision-making taking a long time at the West, I don't know.



Complicating the discussion: Ukraines willingness to go after Russian targets  civilian or military  on its own, with its own technology, in all likelihood without U.S. and NATO approval. The attack on the Voronezh-M radar installation near the city of Orsk on May 27 was the latest example.



That drew criticism from some arms control experts who say its potentially dangerous for Ukraine to target military objects used for nuclear deterrence  not something directly related to the Ukraine conflict.

RFE/RL correspondent Todd Prince contributed to this report from Washington, D.C.
PRAGUE -- U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says President Joe Biden has given Ukraine the go-ahead to use U.S. weapons to strike inside Russia for the limited purpose of defending the eastern city of Kharkiv amid pleas from Ukraine to allow its forces to defend the country against attacks originating from Russian territory.

Speaking in Prague on May 31 at an informal meeting of NATO-member foreign ministers, Blinken said Ukraine had asked Washington for authorization to use U.S. weapons to strike inside Russia as it tries to defeat Russian troops that began a full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensive, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war in Ukraine, click here.

"Over the past few weeks, Ukraine came to us and asked for the authorization to use weapons that we're providing to defend against this aggression, including against Russian forces that are massing on the Russian side of the border and then attacking into Ukraine," Blinken said.

"And that went right to the president, and as you've heard, he's approved use of our weapons for that purpose. Going forward, we'll continue to do what we've been doing, which is as necessary adapt and adjust," Blinken said.

Blinken's confirmation came after media reports quoting U.S. officials -- including one who spoke to RFE/RL -- that Biden has partially lifted the ban.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg had already added his backing to such a move saying during the Prague meeting that allies should consider lifting restrictions on the use of NATO weapons by Ukraine to hit targets on Russian territory.



The decision is a reversal of the U.S. refusal to let Ukraine use American weapons to hit targets inside Russia over fears that it would cause an escalation in the conflict.

Germany, for example, has expressed opposition to allowing the use of NATO-provided weapons to strike inside Russia, though a government spokesman on May 31 said it had also agreed that Kyiv could now use weapons supplied by Berlin to defend itself against strikes from positions just inside Russia.

"We are jointly convinced that Ukraine has the right, guaranteed under international law, to defend itself against these attacks," a German government spokesperson said in a statement.

"To do so, it can also use the weapons supplied for this purpose in accordance with its international legal obligations; including those supplied by us."

In an interview with RFE/RL in Prague on May 31, Lithuania's top diplomat, Gabrielius Landsbergis, said allies need to change how they are looking at the war in Ukraine and allow Kyiv to use weapons to a fuller extent.

"We should not be limiting Ukrainian ability to fight back because now it looks like they're fighting with one hand tied behind their back and it's not the way that you win war," he said.

"If we're serious about them winning, then we should allow them that to do that," he added.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised a response, warning of "serious consequences," especially for what he called "small countries" in Europe.



Russia's RIA Novosti news agency quoted Andrei Kartapolov, the head of the Russian parliament's lower house Defense Committee as saying on May 31 that Biden's decision would have no impact on Moscow's military operations against Ukraine.
A Minot woman who was accused of killing her longtime boyfriend by putting antifreeze in his iced tea has changed her plea to guilty.

Ina Kenoyer, who is in her late 40s, was charged with one count of murder in the October 2023 death of Stephen Riley, 51, also of Minot. She pleaded guilty Thursday and will be sentenced in August following a presentence investigation, according to court records.

Those court records do not indicate any type of agreement with prosecutors regarding a potential sentence in exchange for Kenoyer's guilty plea. The maximum possible penalty is life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Authorities allege Kenoyer's motive was a reported inheritance of roughly $30 million. That inheritance was ultimately determined to be a scam, according to Ward County authorities.

Kenoyer allegedly poisoned Riley after learning not only of the alleged inheritance, but of Riley's reported plans to break off a relationship spanning more than a decade, according to an affidavit. The document states Kenoyer often referred to herself as Riley's common law wife, even tough North Dakota doesn't recognize common-law relationships as legal.

Court documents indicate Kenoyer previously pleaded not guilty to the charge and a defense attorney petitioned she be evaluated at the North Dakota State Hospital in Jamestown to determine if she was mentally capable to stand trial. A report of Kenoyer's fitness was entered into court records on March 8. The exact contents of that report are confidential under state law.

Following Riley's reported discovery of the reported inheritance and plans to end his relationship with Kenoyer, she served him iced tea laced with antifreeze and refused him medical attention despite attempts by friends to intervene, according to the affidavit. The document states an autopsy revealed that fatal concentrations of ethylene glycol, an active ingredient in antifreeze that causes death, was present in Riley's blood.

Kenoyer is being held without bond at the Ward County jail until sentencing. A previous bond of $1 million cash was revoked.
An art workshop with community art facilitator Veronica OConnor will take place as part of the Bealtaine Festival for those 50 years + at Boyle Library on May 31st from 3-5 p.m... Suitable for beginners and other levels. This workshop is free-of-charge, and materials are supplied. Booking required, phone 071/ 9662800 or e-mail boylelibrary@roscommoncoco.ie

CE SCHEME VACANCY

Boyle Group Scheme Ltd., Boyle, have the following positions available on its Community Employment Scheme, One Support Worker/Receptionist (Citizens Information Office), Three General Operatives. No experience is necessary and accredited training will be provided to support your career development. The contract is for a minimum of one year. Please contact your local Department of Social Protection for eligibility status or telephone 086 1456519 or email healyboylegroupscheme@gmail.com

Deputy Frank Feighan pictured on stage singing Oh What a Beautiful Morning from Oklahoma during the Boyle Musical Societys ruby anniversary concert at St. Josephs Church Boyle on Sunday night last. Pic. Enda Regan

CONNECT CAFE

Boyle Family Resource Centre will be hosting its monthly community Connect Cafe on this Thursday, May 30th from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m...The cafe is open to everyone in the community to call in have a cuppa and chat or maybe just a cuppa and a sweet treat. This is a free cafe. Thank you to Roscommon County Council and Mental Health Ireland for funding this initiative. Looking forward to meeting everyone, spread the word and bring a friend!

COMMUNITY FESTIVAL OF FUN

The Community Festival of Fun will be held on Friday, May 31st from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Courtyard Market , in the grounds of King House. This is a free event for all the community, with food stalls, face painting, balloon making, music and much more.

PARENT SUPPORT GROUP

A parent support group takes place on Friday, May 31st (monthly meet up) from 9.30 a.m. to 11 a.m. in Boyle FRC. The group is open to any parent/guardian who is parenting a child with additional needs or awaiting a diagnosis. This is an inviting space for parents to receive peer support and also guest speakers.

Niamh OConnor, Fiona Drury and Janet Feeney pictured before performing at Boyle Musical Societys ruby anniversary concert at St. Josephs Church Boyle on Sunday night last. Pic. Enda Regan

ENGLISH CLASSES

English language classes continue on Monday at 10.30 a.m. in Boyle Family Resource Centre. New students always welcome.

AQUATHON

Lough Key will host the fourth round of the Midlands Aquathon series 2022 on Wednesday, June 19th. The Midlands Aquathon series takes place every Wednesday evening in June, each week a different club hosts the event. The distance is a 750m open water swim followed by a 5km run. There is also a shorter option with a 250m swim and 5 km run. The short option is ideal for anyone new to triathlon. A relay team is also an option. Entry is only 10 and is confined to current members of the five clubs involved or any other triathlon club.

GAA LOTTO

The online Lotto was drawn on Sunday, May 12th for 8,900. The numbers drawn were 6, 12, 19 & 30. The Match 3 was won by Emma Butler and John Finneran and the jackpot was not won. The jackpot now stands at 9,000 and will be drawn at the changed time of 9 p.m. on Monday, June 3rd.

COOTEHALL/CROSSNA/DRUMBOYLAN

MUSIC SESSION

A music session will be held in Cleen Hall, Knockvicar, F52A497 on Sunday, June 2nd from 4 p.m.-6 p.m.. All welcome.

Brendan McGee, Donal OConnor, Danny Doherty, Tom Nolan, Kit OConnor and John Reynolds pictured before performing at Boyle Musical Societys ruby anniversary concert at St. Josephs Church, Boyle on Sunday night last. Pic. Enda Regan

SEWING CLASSES

Sewing classes are starting in the Drumboylan Community Centre for beginners and improvers. Contact Annette on 086 8069613 if interested.

ARDCARNE GRAVEYARDS COMMITTEE

Ardcarne Parish Graveyards Committee has just set up a new draft website. It can be accessed at the following link; tinyurl.com/ardcarne-parish-graveyards.

CROSSNA CHURCH IMPROVEMENTS

A group has been set up to organise and oversee some necessary improvement works to Crossna Church. Initially, an assessment will be done to determine the extent of works to the roof and church exterior. Volunteers have kindly offered to paint the exterior church doors. This work will commence shortly and is much appreciated. Many thanks to all those who voluntarily carried out essential maintenance to outside the church and surrounds last week.

CIRCUIT TRAINING

Outdoor circuit training is starting at the Keadue Astro Pitch commencing Tuesday, May 28th 6-7 p.m.. Cost is 50 for the six week programme payable on the first night. Any queries please contact 087 7907886.

Ronan Smith, Oisin Dowling, Cathal Tivnan and Darragh Beirne pictured before performing at Boyle Musical Societys ruby anniversary concert at St. Josephs Church Boyle on Sunday night last. Pic. Enda Regan

CHAT AND CUPPA

Patricia, Agnes & Anne invite the Active Age Community to join them for a chat and a cuppa on Thursdays at 11 a.m. in the McGahern Barracks, Cootehall. Looking forward to seeing you all.

ARDCARNE PARK DEVELOPMENT

The committee will host a bake sale on Friday, June 7th from 6.30 p.m. at Ardcarne Community Centre. The committee has recently carried out much needed maintenance on the community centre and is now available to all local groups for various activities. All support would be appreciated.

DADS & LADS

The Dads & Lads group take to the pitch at 9 p.m. on Wednesday s at Ardcarne Park. New blood is always welcome so come along and join in - an enjoyable hour is guaranteed. Contact 0868328337 for more information.
Eimear Dodd

A former Circuit Court judge who was convicted of sexually abusing six young men when he was a teacher 30 years ago has been jailed for four years.

On Friday, Gerard O'Brien (59) was given an effective global sentence of five years and nine months with 21 months suspended under strict conditions. He will also be subject to a two-year post-release supervision order.

OBrien (59), of Old School House, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, Co Tipperary, was convicted last December at the Central Criminal Court of one count of attempted anal rape and eight counts of sexual assault in relation to six victims.

The offences occurred at locations in Dublin between March 1991 and November 1997.

During this period, O'Brien was a teacher at CBC Monkstown and aged between 27 and 33. The victims  four of whom were students or former students  were then aged between 17 and 24.

The six victims had previously indicated they wished for O'Brien to be named but to maintain their anonymity.

O'Brien pleaded not guilty to all the charges. He resigned as a Circuit Court judge in January, having been appointed in 2015, but had been on leave since the allegations came to light.

Imposing sentence, Mr Justice Alexander Owens said the breach of trust involved in the offending and its significant impact on the victims were amongst the aggravating features of this case.

He said O'Brien's legal career after he left teaching in 1997 and his subsequent appointment to the judiciary made it perhaps inevitable that his victims would come forward.

Mr Justice Owens remarked that O'Brien's conviction shows, in my view, he was unsuitable to hold judicial office.

Mitigating factors

Mr Justice Owens said he had taken into account the mitigating factors including O'Brien's age and disability when devising the sentence.

He noted the contents of a report from the Irish Prison Service and that prison will not be a pleasant place for O'Brien due to his age, disability and former position in society.

All six victims, along with a large number of supporters and family members, were in court for today/yesterday's hearing.

At a previous hearing, Garda Inspector Jonathan Hayes told Anne Marie Lawlor SC, prosecuting, that five of the six victims woke up to find OBrien performing sexual acts on them that they had not consented to.

Of these victims, four woke to O'Brien performing oral sex on them, with the fifth saying he woke to O'Brien licking his face and pressing his penis against his buttocks.

One of these five victims also said O'Brien attempted to rape him anally. The final injured party's allegation related to an act of masturbation in the toilets of a pub.

OBrien was born with a rare congenital condition, Phocomelia, a side effect of the drug Thalidomide. During the trial, O'Brien said in evidence that his mother was convinced she took the drug.

This condition resulted in OBrien being born with no upper limbs and missing one lower limb. The court heard he requires assistance with everyday tasks, including toileting. He has no previous convictions.

Insp Hayes outlined that the six victims had all provided assistance to O'Brien with everyday tasks, including toileting on occasions before the sexual assaults occurred. The court heard that alcohol was a feature of each incident, with drink taken by the six men and O'Brien.

Michael O'Higgins SC, defending, asked the court to take into account all relevant mitigating and personal circumstances when determining a sentence. He suggested the court consider a non-custodial sentence and asked for as much leniency as possible for his client.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can call the national 24-hour Rape Crisis Helpline at 1800-77 8888, access text service and webchat options at drcc.ie/services/helpline/ or visit Rape Crisis Help.
The announcement of 69 new beds for Sligo University Hospital (SUH) has been welcomed by the hospital and the Saolta University Health Care Group.

This ambitious plan will develop adult acute inpatient beds over the course of the next seven years.

The new beds include 26 medical beds at a refurbished ward at St. Johns, which will be under SUH governance, the building of a 42 bed ward block and a further bed already committed to.

The design team has been appointed for the St. Johns refurbishment works and is now awaiting approval to proceed with upgrading works. The main contractor for the ward block works is expected to proceed to site in Q3 of this year.

We welcome the commitment to enhancing infrastructure and capacity that we know we badly need in our region. This investment will help address the Urgent and Emergency Care pressures and support a regional balance of capacity provision, said Ann Cosgrove, Interim CEO of the Saolta University Health Care Group.

Grainne McCann, SUH hospital manager also welcomed the announcement adding: These new beds will greatly benefit our local communities and we look forward to progressing these plans as quickly as possible.
The annual Tibohine Fly-In, a staple in the flying and community calendar, will take place this weekend, Saturday, June 1st, and Sunday, June 2nd, with all proceeds going to Childhood Cancer Ireland (CCI).

The event, run by James Morrisroe and members of Tibohine Flying Club, fell victim to the bad weather last year, but this year all involved are hoping to build on the substantial sum of approximately 48,000 which has been raised for various local charities over the years.

Speaking about the Fly-In, James said: We are delighted to bring the community together for this fun event and to raise money for our chosen charity, Childhood Cancer Ireland, which will benefit the local community directly. The charity supports families throughout the county and its fantastic to know that our event can have a positive impact for families in the area at a really difficult time in their lives.

Childhood Cancer Ireland is the national parent and survivor-led charity giving voice to children and young people with cancer, survivors and their families. They know what its like to hear those terrifying words "your child has cancer" and they raise funds to provide a range of practical and emotional supports to families throughout the country.

Laura Cullinan, from Strokestown, and CEO of Childhood Cancer Ireland, said that funds raised at Tibohine Fly-In would contribute to upgrading regional hospital facilities for childhood cancer-related treatments and illnesses.

Every year, approximately 350 children and young people (aged 0-24) are diagnosed with cancer in Ireland, said Laura.

Children attend the National Childrens Cancer Service at Crumlin for their treatment but children and young people in Roscommon also attend regional hospitals in Mullingar, Sligo and Galway for other elements of their treatment and will have to rush to one of these hospitals every time they get a temperature. Because infection is so dangerous for them, they have to be treated in isolation rooms and cannot leave to use any ward facilities.

Tibohine Airfield is located not far from Frenchpark. Admission for spectators and families is a minimum donation of 5, all of which goes to Childhood Cancer Ireland.

There will be a barbecue on both days and lots of fun for all the family over the weekend from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Artificial nests for the Danube falcon

Protection measures for an endangered species

The Danube falcon Photo: Emil Todorov / sursa SOR

Eugen Coroianu, 31.05.2024, 14:00

A number of 60 artificial nests will be placed on high voltage poles in the south of the country this year, the Romanian Ornithological Society has announced. The first nine nests had already been mounted on poles by mid-April, based on a partnership with Transelectrica, in several places in Dobruja and Baragan. The measure is part of an international protection project of the Danube falcon, a species included on the Red List of endangered species in both Romania and Bulgaria. This measure is needed because, from the observations made in other areas where the falcon lives, an important element for population growth is the availability of nests, since these birds do not build their own nest, but occupy the nests of other species.

The nest is built after a model used in similar projects in Europe. It is made of aluminum, has a volume of 0.2 cubic meters and weighs approximately 8 kg. It has a metal net at the base, which prevents the accumulation of rainwater, over which a protective layer of gravel was laid. The artificial nest can also be occupied by other species of birds of prey. One of the advantages of these nests is that they offer a permanent nesting place, compared to natural nests that are periodically removed to prevent potential damage to the power lines, an activity carried out by the relevant companies outside the nesting season, according to Romanian ornithologists. At the same time, power lines provide protection against nest poaching, a major threat to many species of birds of prey, including the Danube falcon.

In addition, human disturbance near the nests, which can lead to reproductive failure, is also avoided. If adults leave their eggs or chicks unattended due to disturbance, they may die or be eaten by other animals. On the other hand, in the 1980s, 1990s of the last century and the beginning of the 2000s, the robbing of nests represented one of the major threats to the Danube falcon, causing its rapid decline in Bulgaria, where the eggs and chicks were traded illegally. Alida Barbu, with the Romanian Ornithological Society, tells us why this species is important: (track): All natural species are important. The endangered ones, which are very close to disappearing from nature at some point, require but greater conservation efforts on our part. The ecosystem has a reduced number of species, and an even smaller number of species that adapt to a poorer habitat, which means a less healthy ecosystem and less resistance to change. That is why, at least at the European level, considerable efforts are being made to increase the number of breeding pairs of Danube falcons. We have two sub-populations: in the south-east of Romania and in the west of Romania. In the ecosystems where they live, or used to live, because it was a relatively common species in Romania in the past, its importance is given by the fact that it is a specialized predator, a top predator, located somewhere at the top of the trophic chain, and its presence in a certain habitat tells us that it is a rich habitat, a healthy steppe habitat, able to support a species as specialized as the Danube falcon.

In the following months, the project will be further developed in the same area, the placement of artificial nests taking place both in the Nature 2000 sites included in the LIFE for Falcons project, and in their vicinity. The project Ensuring the recovery of the Danube falcon population, an endangered species in Bulgaria and southern Romania has a duration of 5 years and is co-financed by the LIFE Program of the European Union. Among the falcon species present in Romania, we can say that the Danube falcons are so rare that we could count them on our fingers. A nesting species in the south and east of the European continent, it prefers open, arid, steppe areas. It is a large, powerful, but agile and fast falcon, very aggressive and persistent in chasing its prey. All these qualities drew the admiration of the people, the bird even receiving the name of sacred falcon, but it also caused its decline. Since 2004, the Romanian Ornithological Society has been involved in several projects for this species. The almost two decades of constant monitoring have shown that constant measures are needed to ensure its survival. The current project is developed on four pillars: protection against poaching, poisoning and electrocution, improvement of food resources, protection of nesting areas and support for local communities. (EE)
HIMARS maintenance facility in Bacau

The first HIMARS maintenance facility in Europe was inaugurated in Romania.

HIMARS systems in (Credits: Laurentiu Turoi)

Mihai Pelin, 31.05.2024, 14:00

The first maintenance facility for HIMARS systems in Europe was inaugurated in Bacau (northeast), with Minister of Defense Angel Tilvar attending the opening ceremony. Romania thus benefits from a strategic advantage by securing the maintenance of its own HIMARS systems, the Romanian official said. In addition, the new facility also has an impact on the economic development of the area, the Minister of Defense also said:

We have managed to have the best quality, state-of-the-art technological equipment and, last but not least, and I refer to the efforts to endow the Romanian Army, equipment to ensure our operational needs. I hail the fact that 2,000 people were given jobs here in Bacau. We had the opportunity to visit the places where they carry out their activity and, together with other colleagues part of our delegation, we believe these workplaces offer good work conditions. Last but not least, I appreciate the companys concern for specialized education. Dual education has a place to flourish here, in Bacau, and thats a very good thing.

In 2021, Romania became the first European country to use this type of system. HIMARS has proven its operational effectiveness in real conflicts, being tested during military operations, the Ministry of National Defense says. The facility in Bacau was developed in partnership with Lockheed Martin, an American company that Romania also contracted for the maintenance of Romanias Black Hawk gunships and F-16 aircraft. Angel Tilvar hailed the establishment of the center as an exceptional achievement, which puts Romania on the global map of maintenance facilities and logistic support for one of the best performing and most advanced artillery systems at present. Minister Tilvar reiterated his Ministrys determination to connect the national defense industry to all the endowment programs it plans, both in terms of maintenance of cutting-edge equipment designed to equip the armed forces, and, above all, in terms of integrating production lines at national level to the largest possible share. Romania has procured three such systems. The first two were delivered in 2021 and 2023, with the third expected to arrive this year. HIMARS is a long-range multi-missile launcher operated by a three-man team  a driver, a gunner and a commander. Missile systems are mounted on vehicles with light armor protection. They are light enough to be transported by air, thus being ideally suited to changing warfare tactics. With remarkable strike accuracy, the system can launch GPS-guided missiles that can hit targets 80 km away. Moreover, HIMARS is capable of launching missiles weighing 1.7 tons with a maximum range of 310 km. (VP)
Semiconductor major STMicroelectronics N.V. announced Friday its plan to build a new manufacturing facility in Catania, Italy for the mass production of 200mm silicon carbide or SiC wafers.

The plant, which is expected to be the world's first fully integrated silicon carbide facility, will be built under the company's projected 5 billion euros multi-year investment program, including 2 billion euros support provided by the State of Italy in the framework of the EU Chips Act.

Earlier in the day, the European Commission approved Italian state aid measures worth 2 billion euros as direct grant for STMicroelectronics to support the construction and operation of the semiconductor manufacturing facility for SiC power devices.

In its statement, STMicroelectronics said the new high-volume 200mm SiC plant is for power devices and modules, as well as test and packaging. These new facilities will form ST's Silicon Carbide Campus, along with the SiC substrate manufacturing facility being readied on the same site.

The new facility is targeted to start production in 2026 and to ramp to full capacity by 2033, with up to 15,000 wafers per week at full build-out.

According to the company, the creation of the new Catania Silicon Carbide Campus is a key milestone as part of its vision of a fully vertically integrated manufacturing facility for the mass production of SiC on one site.

The company plans fully vertically integrated SiC capabilities from R&D to manufacturing, from substrate to module, on the same site. This would enable automotive and industrial customers in their shift to electrification and higher energy efficiency.

ST currently manufactures its flagship high-volume SiC products on two 150-millimeter wafer lines in Catania and Ang Mo Kio in Singapore. The company is also constructing a third 200-millimeter facility in China as a joint venture with Sanan Optoelectronics.

Jean-Marc Chery, President and Chief Executive Officer of STMicroelectronics, said, "The fully integrated capabilities unlocked by the Silicon Carbide Campus in Catania will contribute significantly to ST's SiC leadership for automotive and industrial customers through the next decades. The scale and synergies offered by this project will enable us to better innovate with high-volume manufacturing capacity, to the benefit of our European and global customers as they transition to electrification and seek more energy efficient solutions to meet their decarbonization goals."

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
President Joe Biden will embark on a five-day state visit to France next week.

First Lady Jill Biden will accompany the President for the tour.

On June 6, the President will deliver remarks and participate in engagements with to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy, which paved the way for the liberation of France and Europe.

73,000 Americans landed at Utah and Omaha beaches in Normandy on June 6, 1944. The President will greet American veterans and their family members while in France to honor their sacrifice, the White House said.

On June 7, Biden will deliver remarks at Pointe du Hoc about the importance of defending freedom and democracy.

The next day, French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron will host Biden and Jill Biden for a State Visit in Paris. "The State Visit will reflect the enduring and comprehensive relationship between the United States and France, our oldest ally, founded on shared democratic values, economic ties, and defense and security cooperation," the White House said.

The two leaders will discuss a wide range of global challenges and bilateral issues.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
A Michigan farmworker has been infected with bird flu virus, taking the total human cases to three in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The new case involves a worker who had direct exposure to an infected cow. The new patient suffers from respiratory issues and is recovering after being treated with Tamiflu, an antiviral drug.

"This individual had respiratory symptoms, including a cough, congestion, sore throat and watery eyes," Dr. Nirav Shah, the principal deputy director of the CDC said at a press meet.

"What the respiratory symptoms tell us, more than anything, is that this virus, like many viruses, can present in more than one way, and for that reason, we should remain alert, not be alarmed," he urged.

In the first case reported in Michigan, the worker was exposed to the virus due to a direct splash of infected milk in the eye.

Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive for Michigan, said, "Neither individual was wearing full personal protective equipment. This tells us that direct exposure to infected livestock poses a risk to humans, and that PPE is an important tool in preventing spread among individuals who work on dairy and poultry farms. We have not seen signs of sustained human-to-human transmission, and the current risk to the general public remains low."

The CDC advised people to avoid close exposure to sick or dead animals, especially wild birds and poultry, and to get a seasonal flu vaccine for precaution.

The health officials are monitoring around 220 people in Michigan due to potential exposure to the virus.

"Farmworkers who have been exposed to impacted animals have been asked to report even mild symptoms, and testing for the virus has been made available," Bagdasarian said.

For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com

Business News
The reason Western films and shows are so popular is the vast incredible mythology. Throughout the history of the United States push west, there are countless larger-than-life characters ripe for big action-packed cinematic exploits. From lawmen to outlaws, the West was a wild untamed land. Characters like Wyatt Earp, Wild Bill Hicock, and Bat Masterson became legends through dimestore pulp novels, comic books, television series, and films. However, Bass Reeves, a man with just an illustrious career behind the badge as the first black U.S. Mashall west of the Mississippi has stayed out of the Hollywood gaze - until recently that is.

For Chad Feehans Lawmen: Bass Reeves, we meet our titular lawman (David Oyelowo) at the most humblest of beginnings: a slave riding side-by-side with his master Major George R. Reeves (Shea Whigham) in a battle against Union soldiers. When he takes his chance to escape, Bass knows a brief period of peace. But when he starts a family and has mouths to feed, he becomes the possum man for Marshal Sheriil Lynm (Dennis Quaid). Intelligent, with a lethal aim and a handle on the civilized native languages, Bass proves to be an incredible asset for Hanging Judge Parker (Donald Southerland) as the first black U.S. Marshal west of the Mississippi. But as he spends more and more time away from home and family, Bass must confront his legacy as a peace officer who always gets his man.

As a kid growing up loving Westerns, I had to do my part to read up on actual history. Dont get me wrong, I love a grand sparkly Hollywood epic, but so often is the case the real grit is washed clean in favor of a morally flawless hero. So when you see those early cleaned-up versions of Wyatt Earp in films like My Darling Clementine, youre barely scratching the surface of actual history. In trying to find some good reads, I came across a few scattered stories and thin biographies of legendary lawman Bass Reeves. A fascinating character with thousands of arrests, I always wondered why he never had a larger presence in films - especially during the Blaxploitation period of the 70s. Melvin Van Peebles should have been all over that story!

In recent years, Bass Reeves as a character has popped up here and there in some shows and films, but he was never the star. Its series creator Chad Feehan and producer Taylor Sheridan who gives the man his due on screen with Lawmen: Bass Reeves. Starring and produced by David Oyelowo, we have one hell of an eight-part mini-series event. Admittedly, at eight parts it gets a tad clunky in the home stretch, it probably could have been done in six episodes, but its a heck of a production.

Its been several years since I picked up a book about the man, but from memory, many of the key moments in his life are on screen along with a range of colorful side characters. Through each episode we see Oyelowo give the man real humanity and heart. He grows from a bound but capable fighter during the war into a man who would not be cheated of his freedom and into an honorable man of society. He was intelligent and sincere, believing everyone deserved their day in court.

My only real twitch with this show is the fictitious Esau Pierce played by Barry Pepper. He becomes something of a side-quest villain that never really comes to life beyond the cliched You and me are the same yadda, yadda speeches. Make no mistake Pepper is fantastic and formidable, but his presence wasnt necessary considering the number of late-in-life events that are even more fascinating than a rote revenge/justice storyline. Just as one example, when his son Benjamine was charged with murder, there are stories Bass may have been the man to bring him in! (Benjamine was convicted, and served eleven years before his sentence was commuted.)

In all, Reeves brought in over 3000 prisoners, some reports estimate over 4000. When Lawmen: Bass Reeves is at its best, the show squares the weight of his duty to law and order with his life as a family man. Id put it that this show could have done in six episodes what it accomplished in eight, but I don't regret the time spent. Its never dull. The time doesnt linger or waste for an all-around exciting venture. Hopefully after Bass Reeves, well see more entries in this Lawmen series.









Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray

Lawmen: Bass Reeves enters the physical media fray with a three-disc release from Paramount Home Entertainment. The series is spread between three Region Free BD-50 discs, three episodes each for discs one and two, two episodes for disc three. Bonus features are spread between them all. The discs are housed in a standard multipack case with identical slipcover. Discs two and three were stacked on top, no scratching or playback issues occurred. Each disc loads to a static image main menu with traditional navigation options.
Have you seen the recent Chewy commercial in which a cat inherits the lion's share of a rich man's estate (including his coveted summer house), much to the chagrin of his indignant offspring? It's pretty funny, but whoever came up with the gag just might've stolen it from the 1951 low-budget comedy You Never Can Tell. In director Lou Breslow's film, it's a canine named King who inherits millions from his dead master. The bonkers bequest makes national headlines and puts Ellen Hathaway (Peggy Dow), the tycoon's private secretary, in the spotlight as well...because if anything happens to King, then Ellen becomes the beneficiary of the magnate's millions.

One day, Perry Collins (Charles Drake), a former World War II GI, pays a visit to King. Perry says he bonded with the smart, agile German Shepherd after rescuing him from a jeep accident. Perry takes a shine to Ellen, who returns his affections, but their romance hits a snag when - horrors! - King is found dead, the victim of a sadistic poisoning. Up in animal heaven, King's spirit beseeches the celestial lion who watches over his angelic flock to return to Earth as a human so he can solve his own murder.

The lion indulges King, sending him back to terra firma as Rex Shepard (Dick Powell), a private investigator. For good measure, he gives Rex a sidekick, a former racehorse once known as Golden Harvest but now named Goldie Harvey (Joyce Holden). The one catch? The duo must find King's killer and return to heaven before the next full moon or else they'll remain on Earth as humans for the rest of their newfound lives.

Animals morphing into humans was new cinematic territory in 1951, and though You Never Can Tell requires more than a little suspension of disbelief to succeed, the amiable script and performances help us buy into the fantasy. Clever quips and bits of amusing physical comedy punctuate the screenplay by Breslow (who also co-wrote the infamous Ronald Reagan classic Bedtime for Bonzo) and David Chandler, which deftly mixes core elements of detective yarns and film noir with madcap farce. Though Breslow churned out dozens of scripts throughout the 1930s and '40s, You Never Can Tell is the only feature film he ever directed, and while he doesn't rival Hitchcock, Ford, or Hawks, he possesses a fine grasp of the medium and keeps the audience engaged throughout.

After years as a crooner and romantic lead in several Busby Berkeley extravaganzas, Powell reinvented himself as a film noir tough guy, portraying Raymond Chandler's iconic private eye Philip Marlowe to perfection in Murder, My Sweet. He mildly spoofs that role here, displaying a flair for comedy while fully embracing his inner dog. Most of the movie's charm springs from Powell's canine antics, but he never overplays the moments when King's four-legged spirit shines through. Seemingly dumb roles like this one are often the most difficult to pull off, but Powell bridges the gap between man's best friend and man himself with aplomb. (Holden also shines as his gal Friday, amusingly brandishing equine characteristics.)

Dow only made nine feature films over the course of three short years before eschewing Hollywood's hurly-burly in favor of a quiet domestic life in Oklahoma with her oil baron husband. Lucky for us, KLSC has revived interest in the actress by releasing several of her movies on Blu-ray (Woman in Hiding, Shakedown, Bright Victory), and as a result, I've become mildly obsessed with Dow. Her natural, unaffected air, engaging personality, sincerity, and understated beauty enhance every picture in which she appears, and You Never Can Tell is no exception. She anchors and grounds this crazy tale, and if she can help put over this far-fetched fantasy, it's anybody's guess how far she could have gone and how high her star might have ascended had she decided to continue pursuing her Hollywood career.

You Never Can Tell exceeded my expectations and stands as an enjoyable trifle that will appeal to adults and kids alike. Though a minor blip on the career radar of both Powell and Dow, the film shows off both stars well and will make their fans crow...or should I say bark.

Vital Disc Stats: The Blu-ray

You Never Can Tell arrives on Blu-ray packaged in a standard case. Video codec is 1080p/AVC MPEG-4 and audio is DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 mono. Once the disc is inserted into the player, the static menu with music immediately pops up; no previews or promos precede it.
   

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By Elshad Bayramov, Day.az





The rogue Konstantin Zatulin will not calm down and continues to repeat the old narratives of the past. After a short break, the pro-Armenian propagandist reappeared in the Armenian information space and said nonsense in his desperate attempt to restore relevance to his person.



This time he latched on to the favorite topic of the Armenians - the historical heritage of the Armenians in Karabakh. Zatulin accused Azerbaijan of appropriating the past, as well as other cultural crimes. It is not clear what he hopes for, because only the Armenians, the politicians and propagandists they paid for, blame Azerbaijan for this. The rest of the world knows perfectly well who owns what and accepts the existing reality.



Numerous trips by diplomats, representatives of business organizations, foreign travelers and tourists are an indicator that the world does not take into account the lies of Armenians and the politicians they bought.



Zatulin just cant accept that Karabakh is Azerbaijan, and his feeder from where he has been feeding for the last 10 years at the expense of the Armenian Diaspora has ended. That's why he sheds crocodile tears over the past days and dreams of them returning again. But alas, time cannot be turned back for him.



And he will have to dream endlessly. After all, nothing will change. The rules have changed, and now the future of the region and relations in the South Caucasus is determined based on the position of Baku. But Zatulin and businessmen like him remain out of work and in the dustbin of history due to their unsuitability and erroneous position and corruption.



These propagandists will only have to give interviews to second-rate publications, unsubscribe from their social networks and continue to touch on topics that everyone has already forgotten about.



And who cares about the opinions of people who are known only for their scandalousness and corruption? Everyone understands perfectly well that every word of Zatulin and others like him must be treated with a very large degree of skepticism.
RBC Capital Markets upgraded Centrica on Friday to outperform from sector perform and lifted the price target to 170p from 145p.

"A more positive outlook on numbers drives an increase in our valuation and an upgrade to outperform, whilst we think that upcoming reporting could provide a positive catalyst to shareholder returns," the bank said.

RBC noted that the British Gas owner has traded broadly in line with gas prices year to date, with a positive uptick over the past month partially offset as the UK announced an election.

"We approach a number of touchpoints for CNA in terms of reporting where we think the downside risk is relatively limited, yet there is potential to the upside given the strong position on the balance sheet, recovering commodities and a more favourable outlook in retail YTD than we previously forecast," it said.

"We expect CNA may give a market update alongside its AGM next week and see the interim results in July as a significant touchpoint for the balance sheet and shareholder returns."

The bank also said its more positive on its UK retail outlook with lower competition providing a positive tailwind at the start of the year, although partially offset by milder weather.

"Elsewhere, a recovery in commodity environment is helpful for sentiment, whilst recent volatility should benefit Centrica Energy," it said.

"Bills are likely to be high on the political agenda; however, Labour policy appears to favour a more structural approach to lowering bills through the build out of additional renewables, whilst the party maintains a pro nuclear stance."

At 1035 BST, the shares were up 3.5% at 144.08p.
The competition watchdog is to investigate the proposed 2.9bn acquisition of Virgin Money by Nationwide Building Society , it was confirmed on Friday.

The Competition and Markets Authority has invited interested parties to comment on the all-cash deal, and has until 26 July to decide whether to press ahead with a more in-depth phase 2 probe.

The regulator said the phase 1 investigation would consider if the proposed merger could result in a "substantial lessening" of competition.

The unusual takeover of a listed bank by a member-owned building society, first announced in March, would create the UKs second-largest savings and mortgage provider.

The recommended offer was put to Virgin Money shareholders earlier this month, with investors voting in its favour. Nationwide members have not been asked to vote.

Publishing Nationwides annual results last week, chief executive Debbie Crosbie said the tie up offered an "exciting opportunity to create a more diverse business".

Nationwide is currently the countrys third-largest mortgage provider, while Virgin Money is the UKs sixth-largest retail bank by assets with around 6.6m customers.
Claire Messud

(photo: Lucian Wood)

Claire Messud is the author of nine books, including The Emperor's Children, The Woman Upstairs, and The Burning Girl. In 2020, she published the essay collection Kant's Little Prussian Head & Other Reasons Why I Write, which focused on her peripatetic upbringing as the daughter of a Canadian mother and a pied-noir father of Algerian descent. She returns to this material in This Strange Eventful History (reviewed in this issue), a sprawling multigenerational saga that follows a family like her own from 1940 to 2010.

What inspired you to return to your family's history in fiction, rather than essays?

There are several pieces in Kant's Little Prussian Head about my family, but in my mind they didn't begin to explore what that generation's lives were like. My second novel, The Last Life (1999), was in some ways my first approach to family material--it's not autobiographical, but it's about a family of French colonials, or pieds-noirs, after Algerian independence. We all write out of our experiences (even when writing fictions set on other planets or in other centuries), and the themes of life and of my family's history have been with me since I started out. It feels as though there's always more to discover; I'm not sure I have any conclusions, though.

Every chapter in the book is in third person except for those from the perspective of Francois and Barbara's younger daughter, Chloe. Why did you choose to present her chapters in this style?

The novel, in my mind, proceeds from a more traditional storytelling form in the earliest sections to an increasingly interior narrative, whether in third or first person. It seemed to me necessary that the first person should break into the novel about halfway through--it happens in the fourth decade of seven--so hopefully readers understand that while there are numerous subjectivities involved, one of them is more intimate, situated in a particular place in time and in a particular relation to the other characters.

Could you talk about the link between family and world histories?

Yes, absolutely--the book is about the interconnectedness of our small personal lives and the big historical events always unfolding around us. The title comes from Jaques' famous soliloquy in As You Like It: "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players...." As I considered my own family's history, I was aware that in the 20th century, everyone's life, however small and broadly insignificant, intersected repeatedly with History--wars and displacements, colonialism and decolonization, constant upheaval and migration. (This of course describes the 21st century equally well!) So I'm following a small group of people, a particular family, in their meanderings through the strange, eventful history of the 20th century--and yet one could focus on almost any person or people and bump up against the greater forces of the era. Our lives are shaped by these external forces--there's no escaping History.

Do you have thoughts you'd like to share regarding religion and its role in shaping strange, eventful histories?

Yes, some of the characters in the novel are devoutly religious--not just Denise but Gaston and Lucienne, whose devotion shapes everything in their lives--while others are committedly secular. Religion is for the grandparents' generation a great solace, a helpful structure. In wartime, in poverty, when they're separated, when they're lost--Gaston and Lucienne trust in God's plan. (I can't tell you how often God is invoked in my grandparents' correspondence.) This is a bulwark that the secular don't have, of course; the world looks very different without faith. But faith is also, as we know, itself responsible for many terrible things, for war and oppression and so on. My aim was simply to try to convey the very different experiences people have of the same events, depending on many factors, including one's attitude towards religion.

In the passage in which Mrs. Fisk makes derisive comments about Aborigines, Chloe and her sister, Loulou, tell her about the myth of the Rainbow Serpent, thought of as a god to Aboriginal Australians. Mrs. Fisk responds, "Aren't their myths fascinating? Who'd like a Life Saver?" Can you talk about the role of myth in histories, both those of a country and those that emerge within a family, and their possible intersection?

I wanted to convey, there, the indifference with which this older, white Canadian woman meets the stories of the native Australian peoples. Chloe, learning these myths at school at the same time as she learns Bible stories, grasps that there are differing foundational myths (the Rainbow Serpent and, say, Adam and Eve, or Jesus Christ) and to her, they're equally valid: she isn't quite able to differentiate between the traditions. Her grandmother, on the other hand, limited and formed by her particular education and beliefs, believes the Bible stories to be, if not literally true, then at least spiritually true, while she considers the myths she's not familiar with to be merely quaint stories.

We're all shaped by internalized beliefs of which we're not even aware--and some, of course, that we see more clearly, and call into question. Individuals and generations adopt different sets of myths--the American dream, for example, is one that sustained generations of Americans and determined a lot of people's life choices; but now, perhaps, people have lost faith in it. Indeed, broadly, culture is formed in myth, in beliefs the provenance and veracity of which are unclear--even as, as a character wisely observes in an Anthony Powell novel, "It's not what happens, it's what you think happens, that matters."

What are your thoughts on the role of cinema in shaping perceptions of other countries, other religions, and so on?

I know from reading family letters from the 1950s and 1960s that, while my Canadian grandparents acquired a TV in the late '50s, my French grandparents didn't have one. Instead, for entertainment they went every weekend to the movies, shows that started with the newsreels followed by one or two features. Cinema was a massive part of their lives; and of course, as I tried to convey in the novel, a lot of the movies they were seeing--in French North Africa, or in Argentina or later, when I was a kid in Australia--were Hollywood movies. The influence of American cinema through the 20th century and into the 21st is of course massive--that's a significant part of the cultural imperialism of which so many other nations have complained, and complain still. I think it's perhaps hard for Americans to understand how much power these narratives--these myths of America, if you will!--have had outside the USA over the past century.

The multigenerational family saga is one of the oldest and most enduring styles in literature. Do you have any favorite works from that genre, and did any previous family sagas influence you as you wrote this book?

There are so many multigenerational novels that I love--from Thomas Mann's Buddenbrooks or Tolstoy's War & Peace to Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude, Min Jin Lee's Pachinko or There, There by Tommy Orange--and many more. I believe we're as much unconsciously influenced by what we've read as we are consciously--so I'll claim influence from all of them! --Michael Magras
Eve J. Chung is a Taiwanese American lawyer specializing in women's human rights. She has worked on a range of issues, including torture, sexual violence, contemporary forms of slavery, and discriminatory legislation. Her writing is inspired by social justice movements, and the continued struggle for equality and fundamental freedoms worldwide. Chung's debut novel is Daughters of Shandong (Berkley, May 7, 2024), about a mother and her daughters' harrowing escape to Taiwan as the Communist revolution sweeps through China.

Handsell readers your book in 25 words or less:

My book is about daughters who were abandoned during China's Communist revolution, and traveled over a thousand miles to confront those who left them behind.

On your nightstand now:

How Do You Live? by Genzaburo Yoshino. I haven't opened it yet, but it came highly recommended from a friend, who said that it was Hayao Miyazaki's favorite childhood book, so I had to check it out.

Favorite book when you were a child:

I had many, but loved the Animorphs series by K.A. Applegate and the Dragonlance Chronicles by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman.

Your top five authors:

This list changes all the time! Isabel Allende is always on it because I love all her work (The Wind Knows My Name is her newest), but I would say recently, my favorites are Jamie Ford, who wrote my favorite love story (The Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet), Shubnum Khan, who wrote the most recent book that I can't stop talking about (The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years), Ruta Sepetys, who taught me about historical events that I was completely unfamiliar with (Between Shades of Gray), and Jesse Q. Sutanto, whose Auntie books make me laugh out loud (Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers).

Book you've faked reading:

Oh, a lot of Shakespeare. I might have read one or two of his books that were assigned in high school, but generally looked up the summaries. Romeo and Juliet is probably my least favorite read of all time.

Book you're an evangelist for:

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. I didn't like it when I was a child, but loved it as an adult, possibly because it reminds me of the innocence of childhood.

Book you've bought for the cover:

The Apology by Jimin Han. As a child, I loved persimmons, which are on the hardcover version of the book. It turned out to be a great book, about a 105-year-old Korean woman who must correct a mistake that she made to cover up a family secret.

Book you hid from your parents:

I didn't have to hide books from my parents--they were always very supportive of me reading, but English was also their second language so they were unlikely to police my reading when I was at a level that was more advanced than their own.

Book that changed your life:

The Mists of Avalon by Marion Zimmer Bradley. I loved that she took a popular story and spun it from a woman's perspective, and then laced it with magic.

Favorite line from a book:

I have so many, but a recent line that I admired so much that I wrote it down was from Slow Noodles by Chantha Nguon, a memoir about the Cambodian civil war and ensuing genocide: "The murderers among us would have us believe that history is slippery and unknowable. Insisting otherwise is an act of defiance."

Five books you'll never part with:

I have moved so many times in my life and parted with many books, so I'll have to say there aren't really any books that I feel like I MUST keep. Clearing out my shelf gives me an excuse to buy new books, so I'm pretty ruthless about it. Everywhere I go, I also immediately find my local library and find a sense of permanence there. One book that I might hold onto for sentimental value is I Dream of Popo by Livia Blackburne and illustrated by Julia Kuo, which is about missing one's relatives who are far away, and grief after losing one's grandma--it is a very Taiwanese book, with illustrations that reminded me of my relatives.

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

The Djinn Waits a Hundred Years by Shubnum Khan was so beautifully written, and unlike any other story--it is a blend of a ghost story, mystery, and romance. I had gotten an early ARC of it, which I read twice, just to savor the language again (and then I bought the book).

What book did you wish was around when you were a child?

I don't read much MG or YA now, but there are so many books that I wish had been around when I was younger. They were books that I probably needed to see myself in, and would have helped me deal with some of the issues that I faced in middle and high school. Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao is a book that I would have loved to have as a teenager because it combines feminist rage with a fantastic story.
The 5th Edition Connected Africa Summit  Africas Premier Telecom Summit, co-hosted by Accenture, concluded with resounding success, marking a pivotal moment in the telecommunications landscape of the continent. Held in the vibrant city of Johannesburg, this year's event served as a testament to the region's leadership in driving innovation and excellence in the telecom sector.

A Dynamic Gathering of Telecom Leaders

With an impressive turnout of over 300 attendees representing diverse sectors of the telecommunications industry, the summit fostered an environment of collaboration, innovation, and forward-thinking. The event provided a platform for industry leaders, experts, and visionaries to exchange insights, ideas, and experiences, propelling discussions towards shaping the future of telecom in Africa.

Stellar Lineup of Speakers

The summit boasted a stellar lineup of speakers, including prominent figures such as Christian Bombrun, CEO Group Digital Services, MTN; Nitesh Marcel Singh, Managing Director Communications Media & Technology (CMT) Lead Africa, Accenture; and Mohale Ralebitso, CEO, Vodacom Lesotho, among others. Their expertise and vision ignited engaging discussions on critical industry trends, from digital transformation to the impact of 4IR on Africa's telecom landscape.

Appreciation for Our Sponsors

The success of the 5th Edition Connected Africa Summit  Telecom Innovation & Excellence Awards 2024 would not have been possible without the generous support of our sponsors and exhibitors. Accenture, Wipro, and Comric played instrumental roles in elevating the summit to its remarkable success, contributing to an environment conducive to learning, networking, and impactful discussions.

Looking Ahead

As we celebrate the achievements of this year's summit, we eagerly anticipate future opportunities for collaboration and growth. The unwavering support and dedication of our partners have been instrumental in our success, and we look forward to continuing this journey together. Together, we will shape the trajectory of telecom in Africa and drive innovation for the benefit of all.
Google is intensifying its efforts to bolster its cloud business by recruiting two top executives from rival companies Amazon and Microsoft, reports suggest. Market analysts indicate that while Amazon currently leads the cloud computing sector, Microsoft follows closely behind, with Google trailing in third place.

According to insider information cited by The Information, Google has secured the services of Saurabh Tiwary from Microsoft and Raj Pai from Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Saurabh Tiwary, formerly a corporate vice president at Microsoft, is slated to join Google Cloud as the general manager of cloud AI, a newly established position. Meanwhile, Raj Pai, previously a vice president at AWS, will take on the role of overseeing product management for the cloud AI team, reporting directly to Tiwary. Pai's appointment follows the departure of June Yang, a former Google vice president.

This move by Google reflects a broader trend of high-profile talent acquisitions within the tech industry, driven by escalating competition in the market. Earlier this year, Microsoft recruited Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind and Inflection, to lead a newly formed organization dedicated to advancing its consumer AI products and research. Karen Simonyan, another Inflection co-founder, also joined Microsoft as chief scientist for the new AI group.

Microsoft product chief Panos Panay to head its devices and services unit, replacing longtime Amazon executive Dave Limp. Similarly, Amazon made waves last year by appointing formerchief Panos Panay to head its devices and services unit, replacing longtime Amazon executive Dave Limp.

Meanwhile, Apple made strategic hires from Google, assembling a team of 36 experts to work in its secretive European laboratory known as the 'Vision Lab' in Zurich. This facility reportedly focuses on developing cutting-edge AI models and products.

As Google ramps up its efforts in the cloud computing arena, the recruitment of top talent from industry rivals underscores its determination to strengthen its position in this highly competitive market segment.
India Medtronic, a subsidiary of the global healthcare giant Medtronic plc, has announced the appointment of Mandeep Singh Kumar as its new Vice President and Managing Director, effective May 2024. Kumar succeeds Michael Blackwell, who has returned to the United States to pursue fresh endeavors.

With a career spanning over 25 years in the healthcare, pharmaceutical, and medical technology sectors, Kumar brings a wealth of experience and expertise to his new role. His background includes strategic development, execution, commercial excellence, and team leadership. Prior to joining Medtronic, Kumar served as the country leader at Intuitive India, where he played a pivotal role in expanding patient access and building a robust ecosystem for robotic-assisted surgery.

In his new capacity, Kumar will be tasked with overseeing sales, marketing, and commercial operations for Medtronic's business in India. His appointment underscores Medtronic's commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery and driving innovation in the Indian market.

Feng Dong, Vice President of Asia region-led markets at Medtronic, commended Kumar's leadership acumen and deep understanding of the Indian healthcare landscape. Dong expressed confidence that Kumar's strategic vision would facilitate the localization of innovations, foster strategic partnerships, and positively impact healthcare outcomes in India.

Expressing his enthusiasm for joining Medtronic, Kumar stated, It gives me immense pleasure to commence a new journey with Medtronic, a company that is globally renowned for transforming healthcare. Medtronic's unwavering commitment to alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending lives resonates deeply with me, and I am elated to join the team in keeping the mission alive in India. I am excited about the opportunities that lie ahead, and I am looking forward to collaborating with our talented teams, engaging with our customers and partners, and driving greater milestones in India's healthcare sector.
Shimla, the "Queen of Hills," is a popular location that draws visitors from all over the world. Although its well-known sites and famous monuments provide a peek into its attraction, real explorers want to find the undiscovered treasures and secret locations that are a bit off the main tourist routes.

Stepping off the well-travelled paths guarantees a genuine experience that unveils the hidden gems and untold tales that make Shimla so fascinating. For those seeking adventure and discovery, a journey into Shimla's secret corners, armed with a reliable 9 seater tempo traveller on rent in Delhi, promises an unforgettable odyssey.

Unveiling Shimla's Secrets

Ahead of the frisky lanes lies the discovery of hidden jewels and mysterious places which are not well known compared to the world famous attractions of Shimla. Be on a route to discover each nook and corner with a reliable Delhi to Shimla one way taxi service.

Let us dive into a list of some of the more unexplored areas of Shimla and escape our monotonous daily lives for the real spirit of the captivating hill station.

Chadwick Falls

Chadwick Falls is a peaceful retreat for nature enthusiasts in Shimla. After a refreshing walk through lush greenery, travellers see water falling into a steep valley. A picnic lunch beside the falls is soothing and invigorating. In the quiet of the woodland, the waterfall seems like a great retreat.

Tara Devi Temple

Tara Devi Temple radiates spiritual peace and stunning views of the vistas from a mountaintop. This mediaeval temple, rarely visited by tourists, offers a serene sanctuary for contemplating Shimla's rich culture. The drive to the shrine is especially beautiful, with lush scenery and pure mountain air.

Craignano

Craignano, the oldest hidden mansion among the woods, offers you serenity and breaks the routine of the ordinary. This noteworthy Italian style villa, once a summer solace, is encircled by luxurious forests and wide lawns, offering their pleasures to nature loving travellers. Craignano also contains many beautiful parks great for strolls and picnics, and it also showcases colonial architecture.

Koti-Kanasar

Koti-Kanasar, in addition to the destination and experience, also serves as a venue for lovers of nature and couples with its wonderful woods and meadows. Here is a place that displays nature at its unique best, with the tallest Deodar trees in Asia.

The locality of Budher Gupha and Deoban will give you the opportunity to experience adventurous walks and enjoy the amazing scenery of nature. The Forest Rest House is strategically located on a hilltop, making it a perfect choice for a different view of the area.

Fagu

Fagu, at 2,500 metres, is a magical place shrouded in clouds and mist. Fagu is a picturesque and solitary retreat among the snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. This hidden gem is enhanced by luscious apple orchards and pine and cedar woodlands. Fagu, one of Shimla's hidden treasures, feels like floating in the clouds.

Wrapping Up

Finding the hidden treasures and secret places in Shimla reveals a freshness that goes beyond the typical tourist experience. Embarking on this journey with a reliable Delhi to Shimla one way taxi from Savaari Car Rentals ensures a convenient and hassle-free exploration of these off-the-beaten-path destinations. Accept your adventurous spirit, go beyond the well-travelled routes, and discover the lesser-known treasures that make Shimla a really fascinating place.
The UK is undergoing a positive digital transformation, with the healthcare, energy, and utility sectors leading the charge. Businesses are embracing modern technologies like cloud computing to overcome legacy infrastructure challenges and reduce IT maintenance costs. However, this IT modernization comes at the cost of aging and expensive on-premise infrastructure and maintenance. These complexities make businesses look for consultancies that offer cost-effective cloud computing solutions and a customer-centric-driven company that caters to each clients needs to help them adapt to new technologies.G V Tech Solution is an IT consultancy that delivers practical automation and cost-effective IT solutions across the healthcare, finance, and energy sectors. It offers services to companies that need software development, mobile app solutions, and IT assistance.We start by understanding the clients working methods, then gradually tailor a solution and seek their agreement. We then present three to four options, refine them based on their feedback, and proceed with the chosen method. We ensure stakeholder satisfaction by showcasing the benefits of following this process, says Anshuman Pandey, director of G V Tech Solution.

The company solves clients' problems through the assessment of needs and stakeholder engagement processes. For instance, in a medical setup, it gathers insights from nurses, doctors, and administrative staff to understand existing workflows and challenges. Based on this assessment, detailed requirements are gathered and analyzed to identify areas for improvement. It then collaborates closely with stakeholders and designs user-friendly solutions that align with existing systems. The chosen solution is later developed according to the client's feedback at each stage to ensure it matches their expectations. Employees are then trained t006F use the systems provided by the company for the successful adoption of the solution. This is implemented step by step, starting with a pilot group before full rollout. Ongoing support and maintenance are offered to address any issues and achieve long-term success.



This allows G V Tech Solution to provide clients with solutions tailored to their requirements and goals. These involve developing strategic plans for a smooth transition of clients to modern IT, making their work more accessible and affordable for the company.



G V Tech Solution's services range from web and mobile app development to consulting, architectural guidance, tendering process support, end-to-end solutions, and IT project development, making it a versatile IT partner capable of meeting various client needs and challenges. An example that demonstrates its process and the importance given to each client is when G V Tech Solution partnered with a traditional energy and utilities company to modernize their IT infrastructure.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Police raided a residential property in Castleton Corners where they arrested a senior after allegedly finding his stash of real and fake guns on Memorial Day.

But an attorney claims that the defendant has a legal right to own and carry the firearms, and called it a simple licensing issue.

Officers armed with a search warrant swarmed the home and property of Eric Schweizer, 65, on Governor Road at about 2:45 p.m. on Monday, according to the criminal complaint and police.

A large NYPD response was seen at his home on Memorial Day after an EMS call led to first responders allegedly spotting a gun in the home.

A police spokesperson initially said that inert grenades were also discovered, but firearms were the only devices described in the criminal complaint.

The criminal complaint alleges that police recovered three real firearms during their investigation. A black charger pistol, a Ruger PC, was loaded with 17 rounds of 9 mm bullets in its magazine. A Heckler & Koch pistol had eight rounds of 9 mm ammunition in its clip. A 40-caliber Heckler & Koch pistol was fortified with 13 bullets in its magazine.

Officers confiscated about 21 imitation pistols that substantially duplicated or could reasonably be perceived to be actual firearms in that the entire exterior surface of said imitation firearms were black, making the pistols appear to be real handguns, according to the criminal complaint.

A computer check of the defendants records determined the defendant had no license to possess a firearm in New York, and is not a dealer in firearms in New York City, according to the criminal complaint.

Schweizer has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon, criminal possession of a firearm and administrative code violations for the imitation pistols, according to the criminal complaint.

Prosecutors requested that bail be set at $500,000 cash and $1,500 bond, but the defendant was granted supervised release.

Schweizer has pleaded not guilty to all charges and his next court date is July 18, according to public records.

Attorney Michael Vitaliano maintained the innocence of his client, Schweizer.

Mr. Schweizer has been a law-abiding citizen for his entire life, Vitaliano said. This case is nothing more than a licensing issue as Mr. Schweizer legally purchased the firearms with a concealed carry permit for another state. We look forward to presenting this evidence to the District Attorneys Office and swiftly resolving this matter.

EMS CALL MORPHS INTO POLICE RAID

The episode began about around 5 a.m. on Monday when EMS responded to a call of a man on the floor of the home on Governor Road.

According to police, while inside the residence, EMTs allegedly saw a firearm on a bed. The NYPD was notified, which led to police obtaining a search warrant and returning hours later to do the inspection.

The man was transferred to Richmond University Medical Center, West Brighton in stable condition, police said.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Gov. Kathy Hochul is considering a ban on smartphones in schools as several state officials aim to keep children safe online from social media platforms and their impact on youth mental health, according to a recent report.

In an interview with The Guardian, Hochul said she plans to introduce a bill later this year that would ban smartphones in schools. If passed, it means kids would be allowed to carry cell phones  not smartphones  that cant access the internet but can send text messages.

The governor did not share how the ban would be enforced.

The potential legislative action would be planned for the next session, which begins in January 2025. Currently, there is no formal legislative proposal to ban smartphones in schools.

Hochul pointed to the addiction of social media that is plaguing children and young adults in the state and country during an interview with MSNBC.

Im saying, leave our kids alone, said Hochul during the MSNBC interview. Let them socialize. They can talk to their friends, but stop doing this. Stop selling our kids personal data for your financial gain. And also, parents should be able to turn it off at midnight, let the kids get some rest till 6 a.m. because otherwise, theyre going to this place all night long and theyre exhausted.

Hochul said that students could still have a flip phone that allows text messages for parents to still communicate with their children  but would prevent the inevitable clicks to social media platforms.

But I think talking to the parents I have already, this is something they would welcome, Hochul added. They want their kids to be kids again and not be held captive to this force. Just be a kid again.

The remarks this week come months after Hochul outlined her priorities for the year in her 2024 State of the State address, which included numerous efforts to expand the availability of youth mental health services and crack down on social media features deemed harmful to childrens mental well-being.

In October, two bills were introduced that aim to protect children by prohibiting online platforms from collecting and sharing personal data without consent and limiting addictive features of social media platforms that could harm mental health and development.

The officials cited recent research that has shown devastating mental health effects associated with children and young adults social media use, including increased rates of depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation and self-harm. Children could face risks when data is collected online  and viral challenges also have endangered kids and young adults.

The first bill, called Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, would require social media companies to restrict the addictive features that most harm young users. Currently, platforms serve content to users that they dont follow or subscribe to  curated using algorithms that gather and display content based on a variety of factors.

The second bill, called The New York Child Data Protection Act, would prohibit online sites from collecting, using, sharing, or selling personal data or anyone under the age of 18 for the purposes of advertising, unless they receive informed consent or unless doing so is strictly necessary for the purpose of the website. For users under 13 years old, this informed consent must come from a parent.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Staten Island students staged a walkout from Susan E. Wagner High School for a pro-Palestinian rally on Friday as part of a student-led citywide effort to show solidarity.

A crowd of approximately 60 students walked out of the school building in Sea View waving flags, holding signs and lining the sidewalks in support of Palestine.

To walk out  they dont care about leaving their classes and theyre doing it for the sake of Palestine ... Its very courageous, said a ninth-grade student who walked out of class and declined to give their name.

The rally drew a large NYPD response outside the school in the afternoon, with metal barricades set up to contain the demonstrators to the sidewalk. Others joined the rally, including members from The Party for Socialism and Liberation.

Students held signs with Stand with Palestine. End the occupation now! and Save Gaza. End Genocide as they chanted out phrases like, From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.

According to online postings on social media, students were asked to walk out of their school around 11:30 a.m. and eventually continue protests outside the Department of Education (DOE) headquarters at Tweed Courthouse in Lower Manhattan.

Chancellor David C. Banks said during a press conference on Thursday that the city was aware of a handful of schools across the five boroughs that were planning to stage a walkout. City education officials have met or are planning to meet with schools to discuss strategies to engage students in other ways that arent walkouts.

Im a big believer in student voice, and kids standing up for the things that they believe in and they want to see addressed, said Banks. I dont think you need to have continued walkouts to do that. And I think to some degree the students have missed their mark when you do that if it just becomes a regular thing. Now kids are just walking out of school, just to walk out of school.

Banks added that it is against DOE policy for staff to promote such demonstrations.

Mark Rampersant, the DOEs chief of Safety and Prevention Partnership, explained that the city is keeping all boots on the ground around schools participating in a walkout on Friday to make sure students stay safe. Schools have also received updated guidance on expectations for staff during demonstrations.

If students are going to a particular location, were going to partner up with our our agency partners in the Police Department to ensure that things are happening peacefully, young people are not getting hurt and, as educators are trained to do, theyre going to make parent outreach to apprise them of any young person that walks out the door and do all the things that we prepare them to do in these cases, said Rampersant.

The DOE said it plans to provide schools with a more proactive approach to honor the voice of students, according to Dr. Miatheresa Pate, interim executive chief of teaching and learning at the DOE. The agency will partner with impacted schools to give action plans that would allow students the opportunity to share concerns and challenges about current events and issues.

I think the most important thing to note is that we value the voice of every student and we are committed to supporting leadership at schools, but also students who want and have something very, very important to say, said Pate.

Fridays walkout isnt the first at Wagner  there was a large demonstration on March 15 and another on April 8.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  A 25-foot-long, bus-sized asteroid will fly close to Earth on Saturday, according to NASA.

An asteroid is an inactive body orbiting the sun that are typically composed of rocky, dusty, and metallic materials. Most orbit within the main asteroid belt, between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, but some follow paths that circulate into the inner solar system, including near-Earth asteroids.

A bus-sized asteroid  named 2024 KB1  will be 226,000 miles away during its closest approach to Earth on Saturday around 12:43 a.m.

Two larger asteroids that are the size of airplanes will also make a close approach to Earth on Saturday. The asteroid 2024 JC1, which is 110 feet long, will come within 3.59 million miles of earth. The asteroid 2024 JP1, which is 78 feet long, will come with 4.4 million miles of earth.

You can view thousands of asteroids and comets in real-time on NASAs website.

You can see the next close approaches to Earth, while also exploring past, present, and future missions to asteroids and comets using NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratorys Center for Near Earth Object Studies (CNEOS) interactive visualization. It computes high-precision orbits for Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) in support of NASAs Planetary Defense Coordination Office.

There are currently about 1.3 million known asteroids.

View the visualization at www.jpl.nasa.gov/asteroid-watch/eyes-on-asteroids.
CITY HALL -- Staten Islanders joined groups from across the Big Apple to rally at City Hall on Friday against a long list of proposed changes to New York Citys zoning laws that could completely reshape the way housing is developed throughout the five boroughs.

More than 75 New Yorkers chanting, Say no to City of Yes rallied on Friday against the controversial housing proposal, which is currently being considered by community boards across New York City as part of the public review process. The plan calls for significant citywide zoning changes designed to spur development of new homes and apartments amid a citywide housing shortage.

We worked hard many years ago, in 2000, to down zone the South Beach area and just about all of Staten Island, said Joe McAllister, who was speaking as the head of Staten Island Civics United, and also heads up the South Beach Civic Association.

We continued in the downzoning with further text amendments. Now, with this City of Yes proposal, they want to remove it all. Its like it never happened, he added.

A protester holds up a sign that reads 'Staten Island says no to City of Yes.' (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi

With protestors calling the proposal The City of Cement, Paul Graziano, added: Lets make this clear. We are not playing. This is not a joke.

Why is Mayor Adams, the Department of City Planning and their allies in government, including on the Council, trying to destroy our communities? Because its all about the money. Its not about affordable housing; its about rental units replacing owner-occupied neighborhoods that are one- and two-[family homes] and co-ops and condos. And we have had enough. We are being disrespected by our own elected officials; they dont want us to exist, he added.

The proposed zoning reforms, which include allowing accessory dwelling units on one- and two-family properties, small apartment buildings in areas where theyre not currently permitted and removing off-street parking mandates for new residential construction, have been met with fierce opposition by Staten Islanders whove argued they would change the character of the boroughs neighborhoods and exacerbate existing issues with the boroughs infrastructure.

With these accessory dwelling units, we get complaints every single month about about flooding, and most of those complaints are where people have plumbing in their basement, said Mark Anderson, a member of the Staten Island Chapter of American Institute of Architects.

Over a dozen Staten Islanders joined more than 75 New Yorkers from all five boroughs at City Hall on Friday to rally against a long list of proposed changes to New York Citys zoning laws. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi

And what theyre proposing to do is exactly that -- put people in basements, and theyre going to be required to put plumbing down there. Our sewer system cannot handle that. So, what theyre recommending is that people be put in these hazardous conditions, he added.

Said Jack Bolembach, of the Staten Island Civic Coalition, I happen to know what this type of legislation could do. It can destroy the quality of life for a homeowner. Owning a home is the most important thing that a middle class working person can have.

Only the very, very wealthy are going to benefit from this. They dont even live here. Theyre going to make fortunes over this. ... Theyll buy the house, and then theyll rent out everything, and its just a way of expanding their wealth, he added.

Staten Islanders joined groups from across the Big Apple to rally at City Hall against a long list of proposed changes to New York Citys zoning laws that could completely reshape the way housing is developed throughout the five boroughs. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya Shahi)Priya Shahi

REASON FOR THE ZONING OVERHAUL

The catalyst for the zoning overhaul is to ease the housing crisis in New York City.

The Adams administrations City of Yes for Housing Opportunity proposal achieves two goals: paving the way for a little more housing across our city while protecting the integrity of our neighborhoods, said City Hall spokesperson in response to the rally.

As this proposal goes through public review, a small, vocal minority are spreading fear and falsehoods about it  but New Yorkers should ignore the noise. This housing crisis impacts everyone  from grandmothers who cannot afford to stay in their homes, to young people returning from college feeling priced out of the market, and everyday New Yorkers who see their rents going up. The price we have to pay for decades of no is felt in the pockets of everyone, and thats why we are urging the City Council to embrace becoming a City of Yes  yes to more housing in our backyards, in our neighborhoods, and in our city. Yes to the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity.

The zoning reform proposal includes eight major changes to the citys zoning laws, with city officials claiming that current laws, many of which were implemented by the 1960s, are outdated, restrictive, limit developers ability to build new homes and make new housing that is built more expensive.

NEXT STEPS IN THE PROCESS

Now that the boroughs community boards have seen presentations on the proposal from City Planning, they will review the potential zoning changes before voting on them at next months full board meetings.

The city has provided each community board with proposal feedback worksheets, which are also available online, allowing residents to note which parts of the proposal they support and oppose, and provide comments on each individual aspect of the plan.

Once the Department of City Planning is done receiving feedback on the proposal from the citys borough presidents and community boards, it will go to the City Planning Commission for a vote. If passed, the proposal would then move to a City Council vote thats expected to take place before the end of 2024.
Editors note: This story was first co-published with Puente News Collaborative in partnership with palabra by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Puente News Collaborative is a bilingual nonprofit newsroom, convener and funder dedicated to high quality, fact-based news and information from the U.S.-Mexico border.

By Alfredo Corchado, Angela Kocherga, Wendy Fry, Beatriz Limon | Edited by Dudley Althaus

CIUDAD JUAREZ  The tortuous path toward a more equal and democratic Mexico was first carved decades ago on the gritty streets of communities bordering the United States.

The denied election wins of mostly conservative politicians in Ciudad Juarez, Matamoros, Tijuana and other border cities started a process that eventually led to prying loose the one-party grip on national power in 2000.

Now, after 24 years of men from alternating political parties holding the presidency, many Mexicans say theyve not yet found what they seek.

Thats why many voters  like Jesus Avila, an employee of a small business in Ciudad Juarez, across the Rio Grande from El Paso  believe its time to give a woman a chance.

I have faith that she, the next one, will be the good one, Avila said, referring to Claudia Sheinbaum, 61, a former Mexico City mayor and acolyte of populist outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

Rodrigo Perez, a homeless man in Ciudad Juarez, gave a thumbs up at the possibility of candidate Claudia Sheinbaum becoming Mexico's first woman president. He said Sheinbaum is his favorite candidate because of government aid. Photo by Luis Torres/Puente News CollaborativePalabra

Sheinbaum, 61, holds about a 20-point advantage over her nearest opponent in a three person race, according to a poll by Puente News Collaborative  an El Paso-based nonprofit news organization. A slew of other polls give her about the same advantage.

Xochitl Galvez, also 61, is a self-made tech entrepreneur and conservative politician who grew up poor in a household led by an indigenous father.

Puentes poll gives Galvezs three-party coalition 34% support. A final candidate, Jorge Alvarez Maynez of the center-left Citizens Movement party, has about 12% support.

The Puente poll  conducted by Mexico Citys Buendia & Marquez firm and funded in part by the Center for the U.S. and Mexico at Rice Universitys Baker Institute and UC-San Diegos Center for U.S. Mexican Studies  interviewed 1,000 demographically diverse people. Skewed slightly to areas near the U.S. border, the poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.5%

As a border resident having an election in your native country and another in my new homeland is close to madness.

Before this century, Mexico had never known electoral democracy. Its politics through most of the 20th century were dominated by the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, a machine that controlled public offices from the presidency to local police commissioners.

This year, Mexicos national election coincides with the U.S. presidential vote, as it does every dozen.

Manuel Coss, 30, will leave work Friday in El Paso and drive more than 3 hours south to vote in his native Chihuahua City. And then, Coss said, hell fret about the U.S. presidential election in November.

Manuel Coss working from his office in El Paso. Photo by Luis Torres/Puente News CollaborativePalabra

As a border resident having an election in your native country and another in my new homeland is close to madness, Coss said. On the border we feel the impact from both directions.

The Puente poll finds that Mexicans favor Joe Biden over Donald Trump as U.S. president, 69 to 11%.

Like many border residents, Coss said he worries about the place that criminal gangs will hold in Mexicos future.

Were on the wrong side of history, Coss said this week. Violence is my main concern.

The most-recent push for democracy began in the early 1980s and resulted in denied victories in Chihuahua, bordering West Texas and New Mexico, and in Tamaulipas, which hugs Southeast Texas and and the Gulf of Mexico.

In 1988, the PRI-held federal government was forced to abort a vote count that many believed would have given the presidency to leftist Cuauhtemoc Cardenas. The PRIs Carlos Salinas de Gortari was declared the winner, and soon negotiated a free trade deal with the United States and Canada that has industrialized northern Mexico.

Mexican President Carlos Salinas, back left, President George Bush, center, and Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, right, participate in the initialing ceremony of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in San Antonio, Texas. Photo by David Valdez/National Archives and Records AdministrationPalabra

The PRI won the presidency again in 1994, by a slight margin, but its power then quickly eroded as democracy forces accelerated. Later that decade, Cardenas captured Mexico Citys mayorship and opposition parties gained a combined majority in the national congress.

Vicente Fox, a business executive from Galvezs National Action Party, won the presidency in 2000, followed in another disputed vote in 2006 by National Actions Felipe Calderon. AMLO lost that race by less than half a percent of the vote.

Today, a once imperial-presidency is curbed by fragmented political power and a press comparatively freer than in the days of the PRIs absolute control. However, Mexico remains a dangerous, often deadly, country for journalists due to the spread of narco violence and political corruption.

But his many critics contend that Lopez Obrador has been trying to gut institutions painfully built through 30 years meant to guarantee free and fair elections as well as checks and balances of divided government.

Just a few years ago it was almost impossible to think a woman could win the presidency.

Lopez Obrador has already distorted the countrys political system to tilt the electoral playing field in his partys favor, political analyst Denise Dresser writes in the U.S. publication Foreign Affairs. He has shown himself willing to sacrifice anything in order to win, including democracy itself.

Perla Olivares, a low wage factory worker in Ciudad Juarez, said she has yet to see significant political improvement.

I remember as a child walking with my parents demanding change, Olivares said in a recent interview. My parents are gone. But that Mexico they wanted never came.

In Tijuana, on the California border near San Diego, Sandra Lopez, 50, said she always votes for the PRI, despite frequent disappointment. Shes now hoping that either Sheinbaum as president might prove more adept than the male leaders of the past.

Morena candidate Claudia Sheinbaum speaks to supporters at the capital's main public square during the mandated end of her campaign. According to the Puente survey, Sheinbaum leads with up to 54% of the Mexican vote. Photo by Omar Ornelas/El Paso TimesPalabra

Sometimes a woman thinks better than a man, she laughed.

Marco Arreortua, 52, a Mexican journalist now living in Phoenix, worries about Mexicos future but believes electing a female president matters a lot. He plans to travel to Mexico to witness the moment.

For me its very significant and will mark Mexicos political history, said Arreortua, who will vote online. Just a few years ago it was almost impossible to think a woman could win the presidency.

Others doubt that gender-bending politics will lead to much difference.

Unfortunately, theyre won over by the money, the good position, said Josefina Gonzales, 52, a Ciudad Juarez grandmother who earns a scant living cleaning houses. While they reach the highest levels, the poor stay at the bottom.

-----

Dudley Althaus has reported on Mexico, Latin America and beyond for more than three decades as a staff newspaper correspondent. Beginning his career at a small newspaper on the Texas-Mexico border, Althaus had an award-winning 22-year stint as Mexico City bureau chief of the Houston Chronicle. After a four-year run as a Mexico correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, Althaus covered immigration and border issues as a freelancer based in San Antonio for Hearst Newspapers. He has covered every Mexican presidential election since 1988, when Mexicos troubled transition to democracy began. @dqalthaus

Alfredo Corchado is the award-winning Mexico/Border Correspondent for The Dallas Morning News. Hes the author of Midnight in Mexico and Homelands. @ajcorchado

Angela Kocherga, an award-winning journalist and news director of the public radio in El Paso, and NPR contributor for regional and national stories about the border. Shes also a co-host for the Texas Standard statewide daily news program. @AngelaKBorder

Wendy Fry from CalMatters covers inequality, immigration, reparations, and issues affecting families in the Cali-Baja region. She has covered Tijuana, Baja California, and the border since 2009. @WendyFry_

Beatriz Limon is a freelance journalist with extensive experience in the field of communications. During her career, she was a correspondent in Arizona and New York for the international news agency EFE, as well as for The Arizona Republic, where she contributed to the Latino publication La Voz. She earned a B.A. in communication sciences from the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California and a masters in history. She has received fellowships from the Solutions Journalism Network and has contributed articles for the SJN Labor Cohort. She is currently a Education Writers Association fellowship working on a series of articles on the topic: The worrisome mental health situation among Latino students in Arizona. In addition to her journalistic work, she is an accomplished professional photographer and a columnist for the newspaper El Imparcial. Additionally, she actively contributes to outlets such as Arizona Luminaria, palabra and Conecta Arizona. @BetyLimon16
Can old office suburban offices, sitting idle and unloved, be converted into logistic hubs?

Its a question occupying minds in the property industry as office occupancy dwindles and little used buildings face redundancy.

Some older buildings in Parramatta could be converted to warehouses near main roads. Credit: Ben Rushton

With the scarcity of industrial space close to high-density suburbs, landlords are looking at any adaptive re-use they can find, and lower-grade office blocks sitting on or near main roads are on their radar.

The e-commerce industry needs more last-mile delivery centres, but logistics space is tight. In the latest Property Council office reports, suburban vacancy  with the main areas being Parramatta in Sydney and Melbournes St Kilda Road  was at record highs of close to 25 per cent.
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 What I knew about the extraordinary Bubu Ogisi before a few weeks ago was an embarrassing near-zilch. The Nigerian creative was a scant credit in a short caption under a clip of a quirky little frocklet shed assembled from loose-linked flat metal hoops (like sheets of arty earrings) that caught my scrolling eye as supermodel Naomi Campbell walked it, tinkling, through a 2023 Victorias Secret social media campaign shoot. I loved everything about it: the kinetic weight and sound of it against Campbells skin, its symbolism of divinity, spirituality and womanly power that was puffily explained in the caption. Even its Paco Rabanne-esque echo of Paris past was intriguing. Naomi Campbell wears Bubu Ogisis dress of loose-linked flat metal hoops. Credit: Getty Images I Googled that frocklet and dropped down a proverbial rabbit hole. From another wondrous frocklet shed made of watery glass gobbets (ode to Olokun, goddess of the sea) for actor Julia Fox, to Ogisis amazing life since the early 2010s, jagging back and forth across Africa. Her collections smack of modernity and layered meanings, mostly in off-beat materials made to ancient African formulas such as Mutuba tree bark cloth, handmade by a thrashing, laborious, multi-step process in the Congo. Raffia, another of her favourites, is a whispering, rustling material common in many African garments and masquerade costumes. She would tell me later: I want to engage all the senses ... raffia when it moves ... has a sound like the rain. Social media has rocket-fuelled interest in African fashion. Just as consumers are hungering for less planet-wrecking practices, more slow craft, more stories, more meaning in their clothes, lo and behold a whole continent of fascinating designers bubbles into the popular imagination with their modern couture, heritage narratives and pings of art, ancient crafts and naturally embedded sustainable practices. Ogisi, like many of the designers featured in the Africa Fashion exhibition opening at the National Gallery of Victoria on May 31, is internationally renowned and Africa-focused. She often road-trips around the continents 50-plus countries, harvesting histories, cultures and political narratives.

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She collaborates with craftspeople on hand-looms and traditional textiles, adornments and accessories in materials from camel bone and native metals to found plastic yarn, loading all her learning into her work as creative director, artist, designer, poet, performer and writer of IAMISIGO, her brand now known and shown from Lagos to Paris and beyond. (The name is a blend of I am with Ogisis surname spelt backwards.) Bubu Ogisi (centre) with three of her designs from the Chasing Evil collection, AW2020, and Gods of the Wilderness (bottom left), SS2019. Credit: Main: Diego Asamoa I love to describe myself as a traditional contemporist, Ogisi explains on a Zoom call from Kenya, where she and her crew have paused briefly on yet another research trip. We use past processes, for the present time, in order to preserve our cultures for the future. Her collections are strikingly original and modern, embedded not only with those ancient cultural links, but Ogisis subtle modes of protest against colonialism and neo-colonialism. Were about decolonising, she says, figuring out a new way to marry different worlds; the spiritual world, the physical world, to embrace concepts of borderless society ideologies, and to figure out where the body fits into all this. Africa Fashion is a watershed exhibition of 200 exhibits mustered by renowned fashion industry veteran and academic Christine Checinska. She was appointed Londons V&A (Victoria and Albert) Museums first curator of African and African diaspora textiles and fashion in 2020. Stephen Tayo, models holding hands, Lagos, Nigeria 2019. Credit: Courtesy Lagos Fashion Week There are some brilliant designers coming out of the African continent and the diaspora who are becoming part of fashions vocabulary, Checinska says via Zoom from London. Thebe Magugu, Orange Culture, IAMISIGO ... so many. Theyre on the radar.

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Checinska talks passionately about the African fashion movement as a deep and permanent and industry-altering thing. Theyre not just a flash in the pan, she says. They produce these knockout garments that you can understand aesthetically, purely as just brilliant fashion, but they also make you think, prompt you to question your own consumption and the true cost of a garment. For the majority of African designers, sustainability is already ground zero. They see sustainability as about truly understanding the value of skills, the value of people, place and resources and many are quite happy to stay at a certain size to enable them to do that. Alchemy collection, Thebe Magugu, Johannesburg, South Africa, AW2021. Credit: Tatenda Chidora Checinska split works by 50-odd designers from 20-odd countries into two huge sections in the exhibition. One grounds an evocative history lesson straddling the fashion, film, music, literature and arts that African creatives proudly reclaimed and evolved in waves of postcolonial liberation and independence. The next section breaks down contemporary practice by African and diaspora designers, glancing into socio-cultural factors (celebrity spotting, social media) still powering their rise. Aesthetic stylists are loosely grouped; minimalists to colour-mashing mixologists. Exhibits from haute couture by legendary hands to cutting-edge on-trend and riskier experiments pose compelling questions, and invitations to deep dive into their mille-feuille of meanings. Ogisis exhibit, Chasing Evil from her AW2020 collection, for example, is a sulphur yellow jacket and wide-leg set spiked and fringed with wriggling palm leaf raffia, infused with backstories of Congolese and Nigerian politics and spirituality. Of course, there are some people who just want to make beautiful clothes, Checinksa says. Not every person wants to draw on a deeper meaning. But its tricky not to fish for them in the warp, weft and Ugandan organic cotton.

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Imane Ayissi, for example, the former ballet dancer, now famous Paris couturier, learnt his cutting skills by dismantling clothes that belonged to his mother, Juliene Honorine Eyenga Ayissi, crowned Miss Cameroon in 1960 and subsequently dubbed Miss Independence. Imane Ayissi, Paris, France Mbeuk Idourrou collection, AW2019. Credit: Fabrice Malard, courtesy of Imane Ayissi Ayissis regal fuscia pink satin set debuted in 2019 and now is a star piece in Africa Fashion. Its three-metre rectangular silk shawl was flat-cut, fairy-stitched with a deep, audibly rustling palm leaf raffia fringe, swathed to layer across the upper body and drop dramatically over pink shot-silk tailored trousers. Its like the coming together of two worlds, Checinska says. The textile traditions of the (African) continent ... and Parisian haute-couture details. For London-trained, Nigerian-born and based creative Adeju Thompson, fashion without a socio-political sub-strata is an anathema. This I how want to speak, he says on Zoom from Lagos, recalling his childhood goal to become a designer. I realised fashion could be a tool for very serious conversations, it could be a tool for protest, it could be all these things and it could also be very cool to express ones individuality. Adeju Thompson (centre) with two of his designs for Lagos Space Programs Project 8, Cloth as a Queer Archive, SS2024. Credit: Lagos Space Program Thompsons non-binary luxury label, Lagos Space Program, is a rigorous and dynamic practice, he says, based on impeccable couture techniques, aesthetics inspired by his own queer experience and the beauty of traditional dress and adornments unique to his indigenous Yoruba people.

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Eating outGood Food events New snack series is a fun and tasty way to try six of Melbournes top restaurants for less Hatted restaurants Serai, Prince Dining Room and Sunda are among the line-up using an underrated type of chicken to create limited edition dishes from just $7. Bianca Hrovat May 31, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

The ultimate snack tour is coming to Melbourne, where hatted and fine dining restaurants are transforming seldom-seen cockerel meat into limited edition small plates, served exclusively for under $25 during the month of June. Restaurants Prince Dining Room, Serai, Maha, Sunda, Lee Ho Fook and Reine & La Rue have each partnered with Aurum Poultry Co. for Good Food Events inaugural Snack Series, transforming the worlds most popular meat into sausages, grilled shish, skewers and consomme. But its not your typical chicken theyre using. Rather, chefs like Mitch Orr, Brendan Katich and Victor Liong are taking on cockerel: young male roosters, preferred by some chefs for their lean meat, crispy skin and nutritional density. Loading Prince head chef Ben Parkinson says he became familiar with cockerel while working in France, where it is traditionally used to make coq au vin.

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Its nice to be able to use it and highlight it in Australia because I feel like its definitely undervalued and underrated, Parkinson says. Together with executive chef Orr, Parkinson has developed a cockerel neck sausage, served with puffed bread and onion jam ($14 for two). Limited edition chicken snack at Prince Dining Room in St Kilda. Supplied Aurum Poultry Co. is one of Australias largest privately owned poultry producers, but it started small. Melbourne-based brothers Danny and Sam Wong missed eating the type of chicken theyd grown up with in Vietnam: chicken with a deeper flavour and silky, dense texture similar to guinea fowl. They now farm cockerel, ducks and game birds, and have become a professed favourite of fine dining chefs like Orr.

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Beyond the heightened flavour, the production and consumption of cockerel also prevents waste  typically, male chicks are considered worthless to the farming industry and an estimated 12 million are culled in infancy each year. Chicks on an Aurum Poultry Farm. Elke Meitzel Were always looking to innovate and showcase the myriad of ways our poultry can be presented, says Aurums general manager John King. Were eager to see how Melbournes finest chefs transform our products. Diners will be given a QR coded bingo card for the Snack Series, enabling them to record each snack they try. Once theyve sampled all six, they go into the running for prizes like restaurant vouchers and a night at The Prince Hotel in St Kilda.

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Snack Series presented by Aurum Poultry Co. runs from June 1 until June 30. For more information, visit the Good Food Events website. Prince Dining Room head chef Ben Parkinson and executive chef Mitch Orr. Supplied The ultimate snack tour Prince Dining Room

Cockerel Neck Sausage, Puffed Bread, Onion Jam ($14 for two)

2 Acland Street, St Kilda, theprince.com.au

Cockerel Neck Sausage, Puffed Bread, Onion Jam ($14 for two) 2 Acland Street, St Kilda, theprince.com.au Maha

Grilled cockerel shish, herb paste, nasturtium, almond hummus ($15 per piece)

21 Bond Street, Melbourne, maharestaurant.com.au

Grilled cockerel shish, herb paste, nasturtium, almond hummus ($15 per piece) 21 Bond Street, Melbourne, maharestaurant.com.au Lee Ho Fook

Confit cockerel, green olive, pickled chilli, black vinegar, fragrant Sichuan chilli oil ($7 each)

11-15 Duckboard Place, Melbourne, leehofook.com.au

Confit cockerel, green olive, pickled chilli, black vinegar, fragrant Sichuan chilli oil ($7 each) 11-15 Duckboard Place, Melbourne, leehofook.com.au Sunda

Deboned cockerel marinated in sambal balado, grilled on charcoal, with a sweet soy glaze ($12 per skewer)

18 Punch Lane, Melbourne, sunda.com.au

Deboned cockerel marinated in sambal balado, grilled on charcoal, with a sweet soy glaze ($12 per skewer) 18 Punch Lane, Melbourne, sunda.com.au Reine & La Rue

Disc of pressed confit cockerel, chicken consomme poured at the table, crispy chicken skin shard ($22)

380 Collins Street, Melbourne, reineandlarue.melbourne

Disc of pressed confit cockerel, chicken consomme poured at the table, crispy chicken skin shard ($22) 380 Collins Street, Melbourne, reineandlarue.melbourne Serai

Skewered cockerel hearts cooked on fire, glazed with Filipino BBQ sauce, pickled papaya ($24 for two skewers)

Racing Club Lane, Melbourne, seraikitchen.com.au

Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up
Bette was a legend at American and throughout the industry, inspiring generations of flight attendants, American Airlines said in a statement announcing her death. Fly high, Bette. Well miss you.

Nash, who died on May 17, brought friendliness and a touch of elegance from flyings golden era to her record-setting 67-year career as an American Airlines flight attendant. Nash never formally retired from the airline before her death due to complications from cancer, according to American Airlines and the Association of Professional Flight Attendants. She was 88.

In seven decades of transformation in the airline industry, commercial air travel has swapped glamour for efficiency, expanded technology, shrunk legroom and banished smoking. Security is tighter, and meals arent as fancy, but in-flight movies are better. One constant through it all was Washington-based flight attendant Bette Nash.

Nash started her career in 1957 with the now-defunct Eastern Air Lines, when a ticket cost $12 and reservations werent required. She spent much of her time based out of Reagan National Airport flying daily routes, including the DC-to-Boston shuttle that became known to regulars as the Nash Dash. (On her 60th anniversary, American Airlines noted that as its most senior flight attendant, Nash was allowed to fly any route she wished).

Washington attorney Kenneth Feinberg, known for his work as special master of the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund, was among Nashs regulars. During his frequent flights to Boston, New York and Philadelphia, he would fly with her about twice a week. He recalled Nash as a warm and friendly presence who loved to wax nostalgic about the old days of flying and chat with her passengers about their families and travels.

Feinberg said Nash once explained that while much of the flying public thinks flight attendants tend to be energetic young people, a surprising number had been on the job long enough to amass 30 to 40 years of seniority. Then he recalls Nash telling him, But youre looking at number one.

American Airlines flight attendant Bette Nash checks on her passengers en route from Boston to Washington, then in her 60th year of working in the clouds. Credit: Getty

Feinberg said he and other regular passengers agreed with that assessment, dubbing her the Babe Ruth of flight attendants, adding that it was because she was the best.
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 Australian universities are facing an existential crisis, and they feel attacked from all sides. Just one year ago, some in the sector were hopeful once-in-a-generation reform would come from the release of Labors promised University Accord review. Instead, universities have become the centre of Labors plan to slash migration. As a result, a business model that produces billions of dollars in international student fees is under threat. On top of this, pro-Palestinian encampments have tested the limits of free speech on campus, exposed divisions between institutions, led to allegations of antisemitism and even seen politicians calling for vice-chancellors heads. Underscoring it all is a central problem for the lobbying power of higher education: there are no votes for universities. Students from some countries have been almost entirely banned. Credit: Getty

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The news The federal government wants to slash migration from 528,000 to 260,000 by next year, and its main mechanism for doing this is by cutting the number of international students in Australia. Since last year, the government has toughened visa processing, making it much harder for students from certain countries to study in Australia. In a dramatic escalation, the government last month announced it would impose caps on the number of students at universities and vocational colleges. It can even impose these caps at a course level. It comes on top of measures put in place to weed out dodgy operators who have rorted the visa system, with institutions enrolling students who want to enter the country for work instead of study. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has also vowed to reduce international student numbers which he claims will free up homes for Australians. It comes at the same time universities are dealing with student encampments on campus, with pro-Palestinian demonstrators demanding institutions cut ties with Israeli universities and weapons manufacturers.

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The great international student surge International student numbers were steadily rising when enrolments for most institutions fell off a cliff during COVID-19. This was a big problem for universities which have come to rely on foreign student fees to prop up important research and development funding. When borders reopened, the Morrison government introduced incentives for foreign students to stay in the country including offering more work hours and cheaper visas to help plug workforce shortages. Students numbers and migration surged, and now Labor, with an election expected by next year, set its sights on slashing immigration, and targeting students is key. The largest educator of international students  Sydney University, which relies largely on Chinese students  last year made $1.46 billion from international students  almost double what it made in 2017.

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Its unclear exactly how a cap would be imposed, but university chiefs have voiced concern it could lead to a black hole in education funding if the government went too far. Incoming Western Sydney University vice-chancellor George Williams said part of the problem was the government saw universities as a convenient target. A lesser target and also less votes to be lost I suspect if were targeted than some other sectors, he said on the Group of Eights podcast this month. Pro-Palestinian encampments turn up the temperature The now dismantled pro-Palestinian encampment at Melbourne University Credit: LUIS ENRIQUE ASCUI Off the back of similar protests in the US, pro-Palestinian encampments took over Australian campuses in April and many remain more than five weeks later. The protesters  which are demanding institutions cut ties with Israeli universities and weapons companies - have exposed divisions in how different institutions have been willing to deal with them.

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University chiefs have come under pressure from Jewish groups and the opposition to forcibly close down the camps, amid concerns that Jewish students do not feel safe on campus. The activists have used slogans including intifada and from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free - which some Jewish groups regard as a call for the elimination of Israel, while others have insisted it is simply a call for freedom and equal rights for Palestinians. What is clear is many of the protest groups - which include some Jewish members - do not support a two-state solution or Israels right to exist. We dont want your two-state, we want all of 48, the Sydney University encampment has chanted, in reference to the establishment of Israel in 1948. The Sydney University encampment. Credit: Kate Geraghty In Victoria, Deakin University and La Trobe University ordered protesters to disband, while students at Monash said they were told they would face disciplinary action for chanting slogans like intifada. Melbourne University protesters agreed to disband after they reached an agreement with the institution for it to disclose its ties to weapons companies.

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A woman has been killed every four days in 2024. We bring you stories of lives lost in recent years. Some of the cases featured are still before the courts.

A man who murdered his 19-year-old girlfriend after bingeing on five boxes of nangs in the days before has been sentenced to a maximum of 20 years behind bars for the extremely violent and merciless attack.

The couples Sydney apartment was littered with empty canisters of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas.

Liqun Pan, 19, was stabbed to death by her boyfriend in her Wolli Creek apartment. Credit: NSW Police

Weijie He stabbed Liqun Pan to death inside the Wolli Creek unit on June 27, 2020, before jumping four floors and spending months in a coma.

Justice Julia Lonergan found he was under a self-inflicted drug-induced transient psychosis at the time of the murder from prolonged nang use, which He developed after the pair travelled from China to Australia to study together.
New height limits and other planning controls designed to help NSW achieve its housing targets could be intensified if they fail to deliver enough new homes, the states planning boss has told development industry leaders.

Department secretary Kiersten Fishburn said the measures will be given time to settle, but the government would review them if necessary to ensure housing projects were feasible.

Turrella, which is one of the transport-oriented development locations. While controls may change, the locations will not, the planning secretary said. Credit: Dion Georgopoulos

If the controls arent right, we will amend the controls, she told the Urban Development Institute of Australia following the release of the Minns governments five-year housing targets this week.

What is unlikely to change is the locations because we need to give the development community certainty about where we see the 20-year pipeline. But if controls need adjusting, the department will certainly look at it. Its a little bit of a watch this space.
A man accused of almost 70 domestic violence offences involving multiple victims has been arrested at Brisbane Airport after arriving on a flight from the Philippines.

The 55-year-old, who cannot be named because of the nature of the offences, had been living in the Philippines but was wanted over the alleged crimes committed on the Gold Coast between 2016 and 2017.

The man was arrested by authorities at Brisbane Airport on May 9. Credit: Queensland Police

Australian Federal Police, Queensland police and international authorities had been investigating the man, and he was detained by officers in the Philippines earlier this year.

The man arrived in Australia on May 9, when he was arrested by Queensland police at Brisbane Airport. Police body-worn camera footage showed the man standing with his luggage as he spoke to authorities, before being escorted into a police vehicle.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story is part of the June 1 edition of Good Weekend. See all 13 stories . What would it look like the second time around? The Donald Trump restoration. The former president has a habit of semaphoring his intentions, so anticipating what Trump 2.0 might look like hardly requires a great leap of imagination. We can build a picture from what hes already said and done and the tell-all books of officials who served at his side. Maybe, on January 20, 2025, he would get to stage the mammoth military parade he reportedly wanted ahead of his first inauguration. Make it look like North Korea, he told aides as he prepared to enter the White House in 2017, tanks and choppers. Perhaps a stealth bomber would fly ominously overhead, as this symbol of United States pre-eminence had done at his Salute to America pageant on July 4, 2019. Perhaps from that inaugural platform, after barking out the oath of office with the palm of his hand on the God Bless the USA Bible he spruiked during the 2024 campaign for $US59.99 ($90), he would instantly pardon the J6 hostages, as he has taken to calling the unbelievable patriots who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Maybe there would be time to fly the J6 inmate choir to Washington in time for them to perform at one of his inaugural balls. Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, the Trump devotee and conspiracy theory peddler, could welcome them on stage. What would Trump say in his second inaugural address? Would Americas 47th president accuse immigrants of poisoning the blood of our country, as he did in a rally speech in New Hampshire in December 2023? Would he repeat the claim, made on the America First podcast in March 2024, that any Jewish person who voted Democrat hated their religion? Would he signal that the US would abandon NATO or give a green light to the Russian President Vladimir Putin to advance on Kyiv? What would be the most ringing phrase? A repeat of American carnage from his 2017 address, or something even darker and more dystopian? In evaluating the threat Trump poses to US democracy, what he has already done in office, and what he has already threatened, offers disturbing portents. Once the ceremonial cannons had been fired, and Trump had been paraded down Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House, what would be his first executive action? How would he flourish his Sharpie felt-tip pen? Perhaps he might pardon himself, an act of self-absolution that would instantly take America into a constitutional grey zone. Almost certainly, he would instruct his new attorney general to drop the federal charges mounted against him by the Department of Justice which, because of his legal teams delaying tactics, had not gone to trial before election day. He might begin drawing up plans to deport 11 million undocumented migrants, which hed revealed in an interview with Time magazine  a mass deportation without precedent.

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Perhaps, he would invite his MAGA brethren onto the lawns of the White House, as his presidential soulmate Andrew Jackson, another demagogic authoritarian, had done after his victory in the 1828 election. Perhaps, he might address them from the balcony of the White House, thus re-enacting the theatrics of his return home from hospital after recovering from COVID-19  a puffed-up primetime spectacular that looked like a scene from Benito Mussolinis Rome. Protests mounted by his opponents that night would likely be met with an iron fist. Military helicopters might fly again at low altitude over Washington, their downdrafts scattering the crowds, in a repeat of the response to the George Floyd protests in the summer of 2020. Maybe the US commander in chief would stride out with the Pentagons top brass, as he had done in the immediate aftermath of what was dubbed the Battle of Lafayette Square in the park opposite the White House, when riot police beat a crowd of largely peaceful protesters. Mark Milley, the four-star general whod participated in this martial show of force, later strongly implied that Trump was a wannabe dictator. Many Americans, however, yearned for a strongman as president. Occupants of the White House who displayed signs of frailty or weakness rarely got to serve a second term: Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush  and now Joe Biden? Trump himself had boasted during the 2024 campaign of acting like a dictator on day one, but his totalitarian tendencies would surely extend beyond those first 24 hours and maybe even define his four years in office. Then what? Perhaps in 2028, he would attempt to remain in power, violating the constitutional amendment that presidents should serve only two terms. Trump, after all, had suggested in December 2022 that he could terminate the US Constitution, with its checks and balances on presidential power. A disposition to political violence can be traced back to the American War of Independence. Credit: Getty Images In evaluating the threat Trump poses to US democracy, what he has already done in office, and what he has already threatened, offers disturbing portents. This is a former president, after all, who reportedly suggested while in office that an alligator moat should be built along the southern border with Mexico, stocked also with snakes. If that failed to act as a deterrent, unauthorised immigrants could be shot in the legs to hamper their advance. Loading From his first presidential campaign, when he encouraged supporters to knock the crap out of protesters who infiltrated his rallies, violence had been central to his grievance-fuelled politics. Between Trump and the MAGA diehards, it served as a bonding mechanism, a marker of cultural affinity. According to his then national security adviser, John Bolton, he said that journalists who didnt reveal sources should not merely be imprisoned but eliminated. These people should be executed, Trump said at a meeting in July 2019, they are scumbags. When protesters gathered outside the White House at the height of the George Floyd protests in 2020, he asked Milley, then the USs highest-ranking military officer: Cant you just shoot them? When his lawyers appeared before the Supreme Court in April this year to argue that he should not face criminal prosecution, one of the theories they aired was that a president should enjoy complete immunity even if they ordered hits against political opponents.

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Those who think the threat Trump poses to democracy is overblown could not have been watching on January 6, 2021, when his supporters took his commands to march on the Capitol and to fight like hell both seriously and literally. Or perhaps they have simply banished the memory of Trumps militia ransacking Congress. But, then, misremembering the past is as American as apple pie. When, towards the end of the 1960s  a decade that had witnessed the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King jnr and Robert Kennedy  then-president Lyndon Johnson asked a panel of scholars to investigate why there was so much political violence in America, they highlighted the problem of historical amnesia. All countries were guilty of a selective recollection that masks unpleasant traumas of the past, their report concluded, adding, but Americans have probably magnified this process of selective recollection, owing to a historic vision of ourselves as a latter-day chosen people, a new Jerusalem. In other words, a positive sense of American exceptionalism blinded it to its negative aspects, in this instance a disposition towards violence that could be traced back to the War of Independence and the revolutionary credo that political violence was glorious. What I have set out to do in my new book, The Forever War: Americas Unending Conflict with Itself (Viking, out June 4), is to shine more of a light on the darker aspects of US history that many Americans would rather forget: the very episodes that make sense both of the rise of Trump and the strong possibility that he could win Novembers presidential election. For Trump is not some temporary aberration. Though he is often still portrayed as a freak of history, he is as much a product of his countrys past as Franklin Delano Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama. That troubling thought might challenge our historical belief system about America, but so much of our understanding is based on false narratives, self-validating folklore and fake history. The January 6 insurrection showed how political violence is still seen as legitimate and even rendered heroic. Take democracy itself. Even now, America likes to think of itself as a global exemplar, a shining city upon a hill. However, it was not until the mid-1960s that the country achieved universal suffrage. The long-overdue passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act meant that blacks in the American south could finally cast ballots unhindered and no longer be subjected to humiliating literacy tests where they would be asked unanswerable questions such as how many bubbles were in a bar of soap. No sooner had this landmark legislation become law, moreover, than efforts to subvert it started. Loading So began what has turned out to be a decades-long campaign of de-democratisation, targeted in the main at people of colour and driven by a Republican Party aided and abetted to an alarming degree by what has been, since the turn of the century, the conservative-dominated Supreme Court. January 6, 2021, marked the culmination of that prolonged undermining of democracy. And even after the insurrectionists had been dispersed, the attack continued when almost 150 Republicans returned to the chambers hours later to challenge Bidens victory.

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It looks like a scene from a classic whodunnit murder mystery. Theres fluoro orange tape plastered around the kitchen, red string pinned across walls littered with maps, photos and newspaper clippings.

But this isnt a traditional crime-scene mock-up. Instead, its an exhibition  part urban planning, part art installation  inside Melbourne architect Paul Van Herks Parkville apartment.

Architect Paul van Herk and masters student Gabriela Amstalden Martins with their RMIT-backed exhibition. Credit: Penny Stephens

The title is What Killed Fishermans Bend?

Like many of his generation of local architects, when Van Herk graduated, one of his first projects was designing developments in Fishermans Bend  which is still officially billed as Australias biggest urban renewal project, where 80,000 people are expected to live and work by 2050.
Trial by Water, Episode 2 is available right now. Click here for access the episode.

If you were in Australia after about 2005, youll probably remember the Robert Farquharson case. He was the dad who drove his three sons into a dam on Fathers Day. He got out of the car, but the boys didnt. All three of the children drowned.

The case was in and out of the courts for years. And for the whole time, Robert Farquharson insisted it was an accident. Police were equally sure he drove them into the water deliberately.

In 2010, Farquharson was convicted of triple murder. But 14 years after the gate slammed on Farquharson, he and a small band of supporters continue to insist hes innocent. In the past few years, a group of scientists, lawyers and doctors has joined them. Theyre suggesting that the evidence doesnt stack up, and asking: what if the system got it wrong here?

This question, and many others, are the basis of Trial by Water, a new five-part podcast investigation from The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.
Housing affordability in St Kilda has plummeted, alongside the closures of three-storey rooming house the Gatwick and boarding house Oslo Hotel in Grey Street, pushing many people, including sex workers, out of the suburb in search of secure housing. Sex worker Blaire Hunter has observed a wave of her colleagues turn to the internet and subscription sites such as OnlyFans since the pandemic, seeking to diversify their incomes. Sex worker Blaire Hunter. Her image has been blurred to protect her identity. Credit: Supllied Hunter, who is in her early 30s and has been a sex worker for about seven years, said in many ways this shift was positive. But she said hidden risks lurked in the online world of sex work, including a rise in image-based abuse.

It has helped normalise the adult industry, said Hunter, who also runs Ivy Societe, an online escort directory created for independent sex workers. Loading When I tell people what I do for work, the reactions are much more accepting now and the use of social media like Instagram and Twitter has almost become essential. Roberts, who has worked in the industry for more than a decade, said sex workers increasingly required online payment services  and banks continued to refuse services to them. In his case, Mint Payments emailed him to tell him the fintechs risk management considered his business to be within a restricted category.

If I relied on cash, I would have lost more than half my income, the advocate for sex workers rights said. This win is an example of how these laws can actually change lives. Victoria passed anti-discrimination protections as part of its broader decriminalisation of sex work and associated providers, including brothels, in May 2022. Animal Justice MP Georgie Purcell. Credit: Eddie Jim Animal Justice Party politician Georgie Purcell said she had been overwhelmed by the number of sex workers reporting discrimination due to their work.

Ive had sex workers come to me after being discriminated against at work due to the fact they are a current or former sex worker, she said. Purcell, who used her first parliamentary speech to reflect on her own experience of being outed as a stripper and a topless waitress without her consent, said many sex workers were taking legal action to get justice. She said sex work had shifted dramatically since the lockdowns, when the industry was severely challenged by people not being allowed to physically interact outside their households. It is a trend that has seen the number of street-based sex workers continue to decline as privately run or online businesses boom. A lot of sex workers moved to the digital space and platforms during the pandemic, like OnlyFans and webcamming. They began working privately in the online space, and they have stayed there, Purcell said.

Loading Thats been a really good thing in terms of acceptance and normalisation of sex work. But, of course, it has raised other challenges. Gyomber said the rise of online platforms had created a more competitive marketplace for street-based sex workers. While sex workers on the streets were less visible in St Kilda, the demand for support endured. The Gatehouses drop-in centre, which is open to all sex workers irrespective of where they work, reports about 4000 visits a year from roughly 370 people. Gyomber estimates about 68 per cent of them are working as sex workers. Only about five per cent of them use online platforms for their work.

She said the National Disability Insurance Scheme had also been a lifeline for many sex workers, who had physical or mental health disabilities. Once they had been provided with a support worker, their engagement in street-based sex work significantly decreased, she said. But Gyomber said the mental health of many street-based sex workers was poorer now than ever, amid a shift from heroin use to polydrug consumption driven by the increasing availability of methamphetamines. We have noticed an increase in aggressive behaviour among the women we serve and greater difficulties in reducing drug use, she said. This leads to a continuing need to work in a highly flexible context. Since the legislation was fully enacted in 2023, Southside Justice  a free legal service in St Kilda which has the states only specialist sex-work lawyers  has reported a 118 per cent increase in sex workers seeking legal support for discrimination or abuse. This includes instances where sex workers had been discriminated against for accommodation, employment, education and at banks due to their profession.

But Purcell and sex work advocates warn Victorias laws do not go far enough. Purcell also noted while the decriminalisation act introduced many vital improvements for sex workers, the laws retained some criminalisation of street-based sex workers, including at certain places and on certain days. Emily Smith, acting manager of the sex worker legal program at Southside Justice, said the trust and relationship between street-based sex workers and police needed to be improved. Until all sex work is decriminalised were not ready to completely celebrate, Smith said. We want to see the full decriminalisation of street-based sex work. A spokesperson for Vixen Collective said the peer-only sex worker organisation was thrilled to see sex workers able to fight discrimination under the new laws.
Nearly a fifth of about 150 former immigration detainees freed following the High Courts landmark decision in November have since been charged with state offences. Just a third of 39 sex offenders released from detention were required to wear ankle monitors. One detainee went on to allegedly bash an elderly woman. Another detainee released under a different set of Labor rules has allegedly committed murder.

Immigration Minister Andrew Giles is facing opposition calls to resign. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

Its a sorry sight for the Albanese government just a year away from a federal election, as it scrambles to respond to a slew of offences committed by those released from immigration following a High Court ruling last year that indefinite immigration detention was unlawful, overturning a 20-year precedent.

In November, the government acted swiftly to quell community safety concerns about the release of detainees who had served time for committing crimes, including some with serious convictions. Labor imposed curfews and employment restrictions and enforced the use of electronic monitoring devices in moves that left Opposition Leader Peter Dutton calling for more and tougher restrictions, while legal experts lambasted the human rights violation of non-citizens who had served their full sentences, plus the extra years of unlawful detention, and were now subject to more punitive and invasive measures.

Since then, two former detainees allegedly bashed an elderly woman, Ninette Simons, in Perth in April, including one offender released after the High Court ruling who was not required to wear a surveillance bracelet.
The stunning aurora australis light display might have dimmed, but astronomy lovers have sky-high hopes for the next celestial event that promises to dazzle stargazers.

Astronomers say while there is a chance of another aurora show next week, excitement is building for the arrival of a comet that may be visible to the naked eye later this year.

A view of the aurora australis at Fingal on the Mornington Peninsula. Credit: Getty

Monash University astronomy associate professor Michael Brown said because the sun is almost at its solar maximum there might be some more glimpses of aurora lights, particularly in dark country skies away from other sources of light.

You might see something quite beautiful, he said.
The existence of a drone program to monitor former detainees has been thrown into doubt after under-fire Immigration Minister Andrew Giles made the claim in defence of the governments handling of multiple visa crises.

Despite Giles assertion, government sources say drones are not being used to track detainees after the practicality of the program was questioned by a security expert and the Coalition demanded to know details of the secret measures.

Andrew Giles said the government was using drones to monitor former detainees. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

While facing a political storm over his ministerial direction 99 being used by a tribunal to justify reinstating the visas of a series of serious criminals, Giles also responded to fresh Home Affairs figures showing three freed murderers and 26 sex offenders were not wearing monitors.

He told Sky News on Thursday the government had invested $250 million to boost monitoring through various means of the cohort released after the High Court ruled indefinite immigration detention was unlawful.
Tyrone Pennick waited nine years for his day in court, all but two in local jails, before a federal jury found him guilty of drug dealing in October 2018.

Then, he waited more than five years to be sentenced Thursday  and that delay did not end well for the 48-year-old Amherst man, either.

After nine years, Buffalo man goes on trial  and loses Tyrone Pennick waited nine years for his day in court. On Wednesday, the man accused of heading up a major cocaine ring was found guilty by a jury in the first of his two federal court trials. Arrested in 2009, Pennick invoked his constitutional right to a speedy trial to eventually gain home confinement in 2014. But he lost it two years

U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara sentenced Pennick to 310 months in prison, nearly 26 years.

Its reasonable to conclude the streets will be safer without you, Arcara told him at a sentencing hearing.

Arcara agreed with the prosecutors request for an above-guideline sentence for the man authorities say once headed up a major cocaine ring.

Is 8 years too long to wait for federal trial? A series of prosecutions have cast a spotlight on Buffalos federal courts and how they enforce a defendants constitutional right to a speedy

Pennick became a leader in the distribution of multi-kilogram amounts of cocaine in Western New York, Houston and Atlanta, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joel L. Violanti said.

Arrested in 2009, Pennick was released from jail and gained home confinement in 2014 after he invoked his constitutional right to a speedy trial. But he went back to jail two years later after new charges of drug dealing were filed against him.

In November 2016, Erie County sheriffs investigators conducted surveillance near Pennicks residence at 489 Emerson Drive in Amherst. They observed a woman leaving the residence carrying an open-top, tote style bag. When they pulled her car over, they found two containers of cocaine.

Investigators then searched Pennicks home and found cocaine, equipment commonly used to distribute cocaine and nearly $50,000 hidden in a dishwasher.

How much lack of respect for the law can you have? Violanti asked.

Federal drug defendant arrested again An Amherst man already facing federal drug distribution charges was arrested again Thursday after a search of his home and vehicle resulted in the discovery of $50,000 in cash and about 5 pounds of suspected cocaine. Tyrone Pennick, 40, of Emerson Drive is charged with conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Also charged

Defense attorney Donald M. Thompson asked Arcara to fashion a sentence that took into account all the time Pennick spent in jail and home confinement before his trial and the 68 months he was in local custody following his conviction.

Thompson called Pennicks time in local jails and time he spent in home confinement extra onerous, given the lack of programming, recreational opportunities, vocational resources, limited access to medical care and other shortcomings of what is supposed to be, but often is not, short-term, temporary confinement.

Fourteen and half years in, Mr. Pennick has effectively been institutionalized, Thompson told the judge.

An evidentiary hearing for his sentencing was held after the jury verdict, followed by adjournments and extensions of time granted by the judge for Pennicks lawyer to discuss stipulations with the prosecution, make objections to the presentence report and file other responses. Arcara noted that more than a dozen requests for adjournments came from the defense.

Pennick told the judge that the years he has spent confined in local jails has made him feel like a caged animal, like my life wasnt worth nothing.

I accept full responsibility for all my bad decisions, Pennick told the judge, apologizing to his children for missing so much of their lives.

Pennick said nobody in the courtroom can fully understand what I went through during his years locked up.

I feel like Ive done a hell of a job, he said of coping in local jails for so long.

Pennicks time in custody spanned the entire duration of the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in lockdowns and further restrictions on what he could do, Thompson said. While in local custody, Pennick contracted Covid-19.

The defense attorney did not ask for a specific term in prison for Pennick, but he asked Arcara to give Pennick two days credit for each day of local incarceration or home detention served  which would have totaled more than the sentence Arcara rendered.

Violanti asked for a prison sentence of 292 to 365 months.

Pennick objected to the sentencing guidelines calculations that accounted for the damaging testimonies of witnesses against him, saying it overstated his criminal conduct.

At hearings in September 2020, the government called several witnesses to testify as to Pennicks continuous and historical drug dealing, as well as a witness who testified Pennick solicited him to murder Geneva Smith, a 30-year-old woman who had been spotted leaving Pennicks home with a large tote bag containing 2 kilograms of cocaine.

Smith maintained her innocence and eventually won her release from pretrial custody. A few months later, she was murdered at her South Buffalo home.

Pennick denied any role in her death, saying the witness against him lied.

I never did that, Pennick said. I accept full responsibility for mistakes I made. I aint killed nobody.

Jurors convicted Pennick of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine; possession with intent to distribute, and to distribute, 500 grams or more of cocaine; maintaining a drug premises for the purpose of manufacturing and distributing cocaine; and for committing drug felonies while on conditions of pretrial release.
Tim Tszyus anticipated fight against undefeated knockout specialist Vergil Ortiz has been cancelled.

Tszyu was poised to take on Ortiz for the WBA super-welterweight interim world title at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles on August 4 (AEST). It was supposed to mark the Australians return to the ring after his defeat to Sebastian Fundora in March, the first loss of his career.

Tim Tszyu copped a horrific head cut against Sebastian Fundora in March. Credit: Getty

However, the showdown will no longer go ahead after medicos said Tszyu required more time to recover from the head wound he suffered against Fundora.

We are bitterly disappointed with the setback and Tim is extremely frustrated after a great pre-camp with Kostya [Tszyu], No Limit CEO George Rose said.
This series of interlinked canals and rivers  plus occasional sheltered Atlantic bays  runs from Florida to Rhode Island along Americas east coast, with a variety of itineraries taking in interesting destinations such as Yorktown in Virginia (associated with the War of Independence) and wonderful college town Annapolis in Maryland. Southern cities such as Charleston in South Carolina and Savannah in Georgia have gracious historical architecture and languid atmospheres.

See americancruiselines.com Elbe River, Germany/Czechia This compact and at times too-shallow little river  avoid the late summer season  winds through northern Czechia and eastern Germany, where its sandstone cliffs provide stunning scenery in a region nicknamed Saxon Switzerland. Cultural highlights are baroque city Dresden and its fabulous Green Vault treasure museum, the porcelain factory and whopping Castle Hill at Meissen, and historic Wittenberg. Cruises often begin and end at Prague or Berlin, reached on land transfers. See vikingrivercruises.com Ohio River, US The Ohio, cutting diagonally from Pennsylvania into the Mississippi River in southern Illinois, divides the Midwest from the American South. Cruises often run between Pittsburgh and either music-rich Memphis or Louisville, which is associated with bourbon and horse racing. Madison is an historic steamboat port, and Cincinnati has the raucous appeal of a city at the crossroads of river and rail routes. Meanwhile Marietta in Ohio is a charming centre of culture. See aqvoyages.com

Chobe River, Botswana Itineraries of just a few days on very small ships and along a short stretch of river make this more a putter around than a cruise. The reward? A congregation of stunning wildlife in Chobe National Park, with its flat but beautiful floodplains. Youll see lurching giraffes feeding on acacia trees, kingfishers flitting between clumps of papyrus, and hippos snorting in pleasure. The highlight might be an elephant herd drinking at the waters edge. See zqcollection.com Loire River, France A chateau on the Loire. Credit: iStock The Loire is Frances longest river and, where it runs west of Paris, is famous for its associations with royal history and particularly its wealth of chateaus. Yet perplexingly, it remains little cruised, and only CroisiEurope operates there. Itineraries take in some of the choicest chateaus, including those at Azay-le-Rideau, Villandry and Chenonceau, but ships sail downriver as far as the cities of Angers, Nantes and ship-building town Saint-Nazaire on the Atlantic coast. See croisieurope.travel

Amazon River, Peru The Amazon Rainforest from above. Credit: iStock Some cruises sail the Brazilian Amazon, but most depart from ramshackle, former rubber-producing port town Iquitos in Peru, which has the distinction of being the largest city (population: half a million) without road connections to the outside world, though it does have an airport. The muddy river and its lagoons and tributaries are surrounded in immense rainforest inhabited by wildlife such as monkeys, toucans, sloths and scintillating butterflies. Occasional villages add human interest. See expeditions.com Brahmaputra River, India This mighty river, one of the worlds biggest, changes names several times between Tibet and the Bay of Bengal. Some cruises sail between Jorhat and Guwahati before joining the Ganges-Hooghly to finish in Kolkata, others operate round-trip from Guwahati. You wont only see the Himalayas on the horizon, but can visit national parks that protect rhinos, elephants and tigers. Hindu temples, Buddhist monasteries, tea plantations and silk-weaving villages are other attractions. See pandaw.com
It may be the oldest working harbour in the southern hemisphere, but since the late 1980s, Cape Towns redeveloped V&A Waterfront has also been the place to be seen in the Mother City, enticing tourists and locals with its upmarket restaurants, bars and boutiques, galleries and studios, as well as heritage sites and attractions, all set against the picturesque backdrop of Table Mountain.

New look  Cape Grace.

And since 1996 the Cape Grace Hotel has been a centrepiece to all that, earning a reputation for being the best hotel in South Africas oldest town and legislative capital, hosting leading lights from politics, the arts, science and business in its eateries, bars and lodgings.

Now, after finding new owners, the landmark hotel has upped its game, and has just relaunched as Cape Grace, a Fairmont-managed hotel.

A new look in the foyer and reception, bedrooms and suites, the refreshed swimming pool and spa, signature restaurant, Library bar and the Bascule Bar has been inspired by South Africas heritage, culture, and craftsmanship and is by 1508 London. Their work encompasses many other high-end hotels and residences. Art from local practitioners is showcased throughout.
London: French security services have arrested a teenager suspected of plotting an Islamic State-inspired attack during the Paris Olympic Games, officials said on Friday.

An 18-year-old man from Chechnya, who wanted to die and become a martyr, was said to be targeting the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne, which will hold football matches during the Games to be held from July 26 to August 11.

Police officers patrol the Trocadero plaza near the Eiffel Tower in October 2023. Security authorities have foiled a plan to attack soccer events during the Paris Olympics. Credit: AP

France is on its highest terror alert level ahead of the Games, when about 10 million visitors and 10,000 athletes are expected. The events will be held mostly in the capital, but other towns and cities around the country will also host some disciplines as well as individual games.

The domestic intelligence agency, the DGSI, arrested the teen in Saint-Etienne, south-west of Lyon, on May 22, authorities said, calling it the first foiled attack against the Olympic Games.
Dear Editor,

The recent events surrounding the government formation process in St. Maarten warrant a thorough and critical analysis. Here's a timeline of events that highlight the complexities and challenges faced, which the public needs to scrutinize.

On January 13, 2024, the 2x4 coalition agreement was signed, a mere two days after the elections. The Governor then appointed Dr. Luc Mercelina as formateur on January 15, 2024. By February 10, 2024, the new members of Parliament were sworn in with a new majority, setting the stage for the formation of the government.

On January 18, 2024, the Governor appointed Dr. Nilda Arduin and Drs. Candia Joseph RO EMIA as informateurs and requested them to submit their report by February 2, 2024. In the report, the Governor requested that the informateurs pay specific attention to seven key areas including but not limited to public finances, employment conditions, the economy, and healthcare. The informateurs surmised that they were not able to present the broadest support in Parliament and that all six parties expressed an inclination to work with others based more on personal affiliation than on party selections over alternative policies and/or the implementation of specific public policies.

The informateurs also stated that they could not establish the common goals, objectives, approaches, and other aspects for coalition forming, nor identify notable arguments and/or positions brought forward to support the formation of a coalition government by the four parties that signed a coalition agreement on January 13, 2024. Lack of a response to the questionnaire by one of the coalition partners prevented a broader review based on eight seats (Beyond the Coalition Handshake, Arduin & Joseph, 2024). I dont have to think long and hard to figure out, or at least make an educated guess, which coalition partner didnt submit their questionnaire. The informateurs concluded by indicating that it would be up to the formateur to ensure there is common ground between all parties to execute their vision for St. Maarten. The informateurs' report was delivered by the requested date, and the Governor once again appointed Dr. Luc Mercelina as the formateur on February 5, 2024.

However, the process encountered significant delays. On February 28, 2024, the Governor granted Dr. Luc Mercelina his first extension until March 29, 2024, due to ongoing background screenings of candidate ministers. This deadline was extended for a second time on March 28, 2024, to April 26, 2024, as the screenings were still incomplete.

Complications further arose on May 2, 2024, when three coalition members did not attend the Parliament meeting to approve the credentials of two incoming MPs. Two of these MPs had provided notices of absence. Rumors suggested that MP Emmanuel's absence was due to dissatisfaction over not being sworn in as a minister, given an ongoing investigation against him. According to opposition members, they walked out of the meeting due to their questions not being answered or clarity not being given. Members of the opposition asked the Chairlady of Parliament, how it was possible that two outgoing Members of Parliament who had resigned, one effective immediately on May 1, 2024, and the other effective May 2, 2024, could currently be sitting in Parliament vetting credentials. The second question was, how does Parliament handle letters sent in during public holidays? Due to the opposition walking out, there was no longer a quorum, and the meeting had to be adjourned. The following day, May 3, 2024, seven out of the nine candidate ministers of the 2x4 Government were sworn in by the Governor.

On May 4, 2024, Mr. Raeyhon Peterson wrote to Governor Ajamu Baly, demanding clarification on his non-appointment as a minister, stemming from an incident in 2018. Despite this request, clarity on the matter remains to be seen. The Party for Progress (PFP) has prided itself on transparency and integrity. Even by its own admission in a Facebook post on April 22, 2024, it mentioned that it was not communicating about what was happening, apologized for its absence, and promised to provide more frequent updates. I find their messaging at that point in time to be rather convenient, but who am I to judge? I also find it ironic that the party, based on transparency and integrity as its foundational pillars, would find itself in the crosswinds of such a conundrum.

It is also ironic that the same party was not able to have one of its ministers pass screening, then blamed the Governor for not signing off on their candidate ministers' decree due to the lack of a screening law. It sounds to me like they are trying to play with technicalities, the same technicalities they chastise other parties for playing. These are the same technicalities they used to join this 2x4 government when they knew well that MP Emmanuel wanted to become a minister. This paved the way for Mr. Buncamper to come into Parliament and once again be suspended due to his pending case, for which he has been convicted twice and is currently appealing at the high court for his final appeal.

They also speak about accountability, but Ive yet to hear them speak up about the recent Lees Roadside Bar & Grill verdict, where St. Maarten was held liable for damages because former notary Speetjens favored himself by passing a deed to a company in which he had an interest. This same piece of domain land, which was occupied by Lees Roadside Bar & Grill, was granted to Waters Edge Development by former Minister of VROMI Theodore Heyliger on May 18, 2012, three days before leaving government after the UPP/DP government lost majority support in Parliament. Maybe Mum's the word on accountability because they are currently in a coalition with the former Minister of VROMI's wife. Who knows? But I hope we are all judged by the same yardstick, and a rule for one is a rule for all.

It is crucial to note that this government has been in place since February 10, 2024, not just for the 17 days often cited. Public disagreements within the 2x4 coalition were evident during the 2024 budget debate, underscoring internal strife. Given these complexities, it is apparent that the personalities within the 2x4 government were likely to clash. Maybe the informateurs were doing a bit of foreshadowing?

These few months provided ample time for the formateur to display his inexperience and shortcomings in the political arena. They also provided time for coalition members to show the people of St. Maarten that their personal ambitions come before the nation's needs by literally holding a proverbial gun to the formateur's head, insisting on becoming a minister by hook or by crook. The formateur's lack of transparency to his coalition partners about the formation process stemmed from a fear that the coalition might break. Finally, the formateur, now turned Prime Minister, called for elections before reaching out to MP Kevin Maingrette to solve the impasse, which they eventually did just four days later. The detriment to the people of St. Maarten is evident. We now face another election within the same calendar year, and the coffers of St. Maarten suffer, as the Minister of Finance suggests we are living month to month.

St. Maarten deserves a government that prioritizes the people's interests over personal ambitions and feelings. As citizens, we must critically analyze all events to hold our leaders accountable and demand a government that truly serves its people.

Sincerely,

Charles Darnay
PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Council of Ministers (CoM) convened a meeting with NV GEBE representatives to address the ongoing load-shedding issues affecting the community.

The meeting centered on gaining insight into the current challenges and discussing NV GEBEs near-term and strategic solutions to ensure a dependable and sustainable energy supply for all residents and businesses.

During the CoM meeting, the operational status of NV GEBE's power generation plant was reviewed. The utility company provided insight into the underlying causes of the load shedding, citing technical challenges and infrastructure obstacles.

Both parties acknowledged the impact on the community and emphasized the urgent need to address these issues promptly.



NV GEBE has outlined its strategy, including short-, medium-, and long-term solutions to mitigate the current load shedding and pave the way for a sustainable energy future.

The company has initiated measures to address the immediate power supply disruptions. These include accelerated maintenance, optimizing existing resources, and securing additional temporary power generation capacity.

These measures are expected to decrease the frequency and duration of power outages, ensuring a more reliable electricity supply in the short term.

In the medium term, NV GEBE is committed to enhancing the power grid's resilience and reliability. This includes implementing enhanced systems and upgrading outdated equipment to improve operational efficiency.

NV GEBE will implement these initiatives to build a stronger and more reliable energy infrastructure that can effectively meet the community's increasing needs.

Looking towards the future, NV GEBE intends to transition towards renewable energy sources. The company is exploring investments in solar and other renewable energy projects to diversify the energy mix and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. This long-term vision aligns with the governments global sustainability goals.

Prime Minister Dr. Luc Mercelina expressed the government's support for NV GEBE's approach to address the current challenges and ensure a sustainable energy future for Sint Maarten.

NV GEBE's Temporary Manager, Troy Washington, reiterated his commitment to the community. He acknowledges and understands the inconvenience and challenges caused by load shedding.

The Supervisory Board and management are focused on delivering reliable, safe, and sustainable energy to all residents and businesses in Sint Maarten.
PHILIPSBURG:--- On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, representatives from all the unions representing the public and private sectors convened with the Council of Ministers (COM) upon invitation. The meeting, initiated by the COM, centered on crucial topics, including Vacation Allowance, Cost Of Living Allowance (COLA), Justice Matters, payment to subsidized schools, Social and Health Insurance (SZV), Med Works, and National Health Insurance (NHI).

While commending the COM for extending the invitation, the unions expressed concerns regarding the current political atmosphere. They sought clarity on the purpose of the meeting, considering the government's caretaker status. Despite extensive discussions, the outcomes did not align with the unions' expectations or satisfaction. Many queries raised by the unions remained unanswered, prompting a promise of a follow-up update within a week.

COLA AND VACATION ALLOWANCE:

Of particular concern to the unions was the terminology surrounding Vacation Allowance and COLA. The COM's reference to these as promises from the previous administration was contested. The unions clarified that these were outcomes of negotiations between the COM and the union representatives, with agreements solidified through a covenant signed by both parties. The negotiations involved key representatives from the government's Human Resource Department, Finance, and Legal Affairs, as well as union presidents from CCSU, WITU, WICSU-PSU, and ABVO. The unions had a lengthy discussion where the covenant that was agreed on with the previous Council of Ministers that the members of the current Council of Ministers indicated to have not read; however, revealed that the COLA and the Vacation Allowance could not be paid as the amendment to the law was not done.

The unions that were represented in the CCSU during this negotiation were informed that the amendment to the existing Bezoldigings Regeling was at the Council of Advice. It is very concerning for the unions to hear that this process has not been started. The Minister of Finance also indicated that due to the non-existence of the amended law, she is not comfortable paying the increase in the vacation allowance or the 2% COLA as she is not ready to go to jail. The unions informed that Jurisprudence had already been established when the vacation allowance was paid in 2022 even though the law was not amended nor lifted that governed the 12.5% ordinance. The unions were also informed that the calculations were included in the 2024 budget for both payments. The unions would like to caution the current Council of Ministers that the unions secured on behalf of their members a covenant that must be upheld as the discussion was prided on continuity.

The unions representing the public sector is cautioning the Council of Ministers that the members in the public service are expecting and anticipating the payment of their vacation allowance by June 15, 2024, and their COLA within the next 30 days as the budget 2024 has already been approved. Anything, besides that positive message of payment being made will not be a message that any union will take back to its members.

Additionally, discussions encompassed issues such as LBs for justice workers, where the disbursing process does not meet the approval of the unions; in the absence of the Justice Minister, the TEATT Minister gave an update on his behalf and informed the unions that a further update and the way forward will be given on his return.

SZV and MEDWORK.

The unions were concerned about the services offered by SZV and the non-payment of the first two days of sick leave. The COM requested information from the unions on the matters brought forward and will respond to the concerns accordingly.

1% Outstanding Subsidized School Boards.

The unions sought clarification on the process and timeline for payments owed to the school boards and

inquired if all school boards submitted their calculations and, if not, if it can be indicated who is missing according to Government records.

National Health Insurance.

Regarding NHI, the unions questioned whether concerns raised by both the unions and the community were being addressed. The Minister of VSA informed us that a committee has been formed that comprises persons across various ministries. She indicated that there was no information left behind from her predecessors. The unions offered to present relevant documents to aid in the process even though this document is a public document as it was registered in the Government system.

In response to the union's concerns, the Minister of General Affairs committed to discussing these issues

with relevant ministers and pledged to provide a written update within a week on the matters of the

Vacation Allowance and within two weeks on the matters affecting the Charlotte Brookson Academy.

https://www.facebook.com/100091277919160/posts/pfbid022NKkJmv74WSMtWVky5ojUbRD6VTj3p8WdzvYMjayEUmXvYNaNz85sRRpiA2fhDMZl/?mibextid=WC7FNe
The article notes that Macron's behavior in the situation in New Caledonia is causing controversy among political groups in France.

Nauna stressed that Macron's visit to New Caledonia last week was also a propaganda move aimed at political gain.
Foxconn eyes 40 percent global AI server market share



Taipei, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



Taiwanese tech giant Foxconn said Friday its global market for artificial intelligence servers is expected to increase to 40 percent this year, with AI products being the main driver for growth.

Foxconn -- known officially as Hon Hai Precision Industry -- is the world's biggest contract electronics maker and builds devices for several global brands, most notably Apple's iPhone.

It has also moved to diversify beyond electronics assembly, pushing into areas ranging from electric vehicles to semiconductors and servers.

Chairman Young Liu said at an annual shareholders' meeting in Taipei that the company was "the leading manufacturer" in AI servers.

"It is estimated that our market share (for AI servers) this year will reach 40 percent, which is the same level for all of our servers," he said, adding that would be an increase from 30 percent last year.

"We also believe that the AI industry is still in its early stages of rapid growth... it will also be one of the main driving forces for our future growth."

Liu added that AI server revenue will grow more than 40 percent this year, and it will also account for more than 40 percent of overall server revenue to "soon become Foxconn's next-trillion revenue product".

The firm reported a 72 percent jump in net profit in the first quarter of 2024 thanks to robust demand for AI technology.

It said at an earnings call earlier this month that revenue from AI servers in the first three months grew "nearly 200 percent" on-year, and is expected to improve.

The company has also invested significantly to be part of the AI technology market in the hopes of transitioning into a "comprehensive situations platform provider".
African tech startups cater to continent's needs



Marrakesh, Morocco, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



African startups, addressing overlooked needs, are putting the spotlight on a burgeoning tech scene, despite challenges like inequality and limited digitalisation.

At the GITEX Africa fair in the Moroccan city of Marrakesh this week, innovations in remittances and healthcare that cater to the continent's demands underscored the thriving sector.

One of those at the show, Jean-Charles Mendy, launched an app with his business partner three years ago, giving people working abroad better control over the money they send to their families back home.

"The market for sending money by Africans in the diaspora is huge," the 40-year-old Senegalese entrepreneur told AFP on the sidelines of the gathering that drew about 1,500 startups, companies and banks.

The app, only available to the Senegalese diaspora for now, enables direct payment of bills, including electricity or phone expenses, or conversion into vouchers for supermarket purchases.

Remittances to sub-Saharan Africa reached over $50 billion last year, according to the World Bank.

People in the diaspora "find that they sacrifice too much for their money to be misused", said Mendy.

"If you are not Senegalese, you won't imagine that this is a problem that people encounter," he said.

"All solutions we have put in place are a combination of European solutions used to meet African needs, thanks to technology."



- Fast growth -



The International Finance Corporation, the World Bank's private sector arm, says Africa's startup ecosystem, particularly in mobile payments, is the world's fastest growing.

But significant inequality plagues the continent, characterised by widespread lack of digitalisation and a challenging financial environment.

The Partech Africa private equity fund says the continent's tech ecosystem was valued at $3.5 billion last year, marking a 46 percent decline from 2022, with half of its active investors lost.

Bennie Mmbaga, head of investments at Maua Mazuri, a biotechnology startup aimed at boosting banana yields, said when it was established in 2020, foreign investors "failed to understand the need" for its innovative approach.

"In East Africa, bananas are used for everything," and although Tanzania has some of the largest banana plantations in the world, yields fall far behind other countries, partially owing to a virus that has been particularly rampant since 2020, he added.

Today, his startup helps 1,000 farmers with resistant seeds and makes up to $655,000 in revenues per year.

"Investors realise now that there is a need," he added.

Healthcare technology is another growing sector in Africa, where more than half of the 1.4 billion people currently live in poverty and lack medical coverage, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, or UNECA.

"Governments spend only six percent of their GDP on healthcare," said Mactar Seck, head of innovation and technology at UNECA.

"We have to do something. Half of Africa's population doesn't have health care coverage."



- Healthcare -



Renee Ngamau cofounded CheckUps, a company providing "tech-enabled" medication and delivery services in remote areas of Kenya and South Sudan.

Through its mobile app, patients find access to affordable medical coverage without age or medical record criteria, get small loans from a partner bank, or promptly get in touch with the nearest nurse.

The company also provides services to relatives of the main beneficiaries.

"We understand the ecosystem in which we are," said Ngamau, 53. "The African family is structured differently, so we allow our beneficiaries to share their benefits with their parents, neighbours, whoever is important to them."

In Kinshasa, doctor and entrepreneur Ulrich Kouesso launched LukaPharma, an app with a map of nearby pharmacies where medication is available in the Democratic Republic of Congo capital.

Kouesso said the app solves three problems: the waste of time looking for pharmacies in the city of 15 million people, the phenomenon of "fake pharmacies" operating without a licence, and finding coveted medication, especially anti-cancer drugs.

"People are not aware of the potential that technology can bring to solving their problems," said Kouesso.

"Knowing that the Congolese population is around 100 million, imagine the potential lives that can be saved with such an application," he added. "And also the potential in doing business."
UN refugee chief blasts Security Council as millions displaced by war



United Nations, United States, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2024



The United Nations refugee chief criticized the Security Council on Thursday over the growing number of people displaced by war and persecution, saying 114 million people had fled their homes worldwide.

"Next month, we will update that figure. It will be higher," UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi told the Security Council, which he lamented for its inaction since he gave his last toll in October.

"Seven months have passed but the situation has not changed -- if at all, it has grown worse," Grandi said, citing increased violations of international law and the pressures on humanitarian workers.

Grandi pointed to the tens of thousands killed in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Myanmar and "so many other places."

Criticizing the Security Council -- long divided by tensions among its veto-wielding permanent members -- he said its "cacophony has meant that you have instead continued to preside over a broader cacophony of chaos around the world."

Grandi added that it is "not too late to try and save countless millions more from the scourge of war."
Biden lets Ukraine hit Russia with US arms to defend Kharkiv: officials



Washington, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2024



President Joe Biden has lifted restrictions on Ukraine using weapons supplied by the United States against targets on Russian territory, but only to defend the under-fire Kharkiv region, US officials said Thursday.

Biden has come under increasing pressure from a desperate Ukraine to ease his ban, but had so far resisted amid fears it could drag NATO into direct conflict with Moscow.

"The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use US-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them," a US official said on condition of anonymity.

"Our policy with respect to prohibiting the use of ATACMS or long range strikes inside of Russia has not changed," the official said, referring to long-range missiles recently sent by Washington to Kyiv.

A second US official confirmed Biden's change of policy.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pressing Kyiv's supporters -- chiefly the United States -- to allow it to use the longer-range weaponry they supply to hit targets on Russian soil.

Some countries including Britain and the Netherlands say Kyiv has the right to use their weapons to strike military targets in Russia.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had hinted on Wednesday that Biden could change course.

Blinken said the United States had "adapted and adjusted" as the "battlefield has changed," as he spoke to reporters on a visit to Moldova on the eve of NATO talks in Prague.

Blinken, who traveled Kyiv earlier this month to see the increasingly grave situation as Russia pushes forward towards Kharkiv, had been widely reported to be pressing Biden to ease the rules.

Ahead of the NATO meeting, which starts with a dinner on Thursday, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said repeatedly it was time for members to reconsider those limits because they hampered Kyiv's ability to defend itself.

French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to shift the dial forward on Tuesday when he said Ukraine should be allowed to "neutralize" bases in Russia used to launch strikes.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, however, remained less sure, saying Ukraine should act within the law -- and Berlin had not supplied weapons that could hit Russia anyway.

Pressure has also been mounting ahead of a series of key meetings in Europe in coming weeks where Kyiv's plight will be in focus.

Biden will attend ceremonies in France marking the World War II D-Day landings in early June where Ukraine's Zelensky will also be present.

The US president will also meet leaders of the world's top economies at the G7 summit in Italy.
Air strikes hit several sites in Yemen: witnesses, UK



Sanaa, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2024



Joint US-British air strikes hit several sites in Yemen including the capital Sanaa and a key port city overnight Thursday to Friday, witnesses and UK authorities said.

AFP journalists heard loud explosions in Sanaa and in the port city of Hodeida.

The rebel Huthi-controlled channel Al-Masirah said strikes also targeted telecoms infrastructure in the town of Taez.

It reported that "several" people were killed or injured in the strikes.

It was not immediately possible to independently verify the claim.

The British defence ministry said in a statement that its planes launched strikes in "a joint operation with US forces against Houthi military facilities to degrade their ability to persist with their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden".

Since January, the United States and Britain have launched retaliatory strikes on Huthi targets in Yemen in response to attacks on shipping.

The strikes have done little to deter the Huthis, who have vowed to target US and British vessels as well as all ships heading to Israeli ports.

They said on Wednesday that they had attacked a Greek-owned bulk carrier and several other vessels in response to Israeli strikes on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah.
US says Russia using N. Korea missiles in Ukraine



Washington, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



Russia is using North Korean ballistic missiles in Ukraine, a new Pentagon report says, citing debris analysis to confirm long-standing allegations that Pyongyang has been sending weapons to Moscow.

The report by the Pentagon's Defense Intelligence Agency used open-source imagery to confirm that debris found in Ukraine's Kharkiv region in January this year is from a short-range ballistic missile made in North Korea.

"Analysis confirms that Russia used ballistic missiles produced in North Korea in its war against Ukraine," the DIA said in a statement released with the report on Wednesday.

"North Korean missile debris was found throughout Ukraine," it added.

South Korea accuses Pyongyang of sending thousands of containers of munitions to Russia, which would violate rafts of United Nations sanctions on both countries.

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this month denied the allegations that Pyongyang is shipping weapons to Russia, calling the claim "absurd".

Pyongyang has "no intention to export our military technical capabilities to any country," Kim Yo Jong said.

But experts maintain that a recent testing spree -- which has seen the North repeatedly fire off rockets, cruise and ballistic missiles -- may be of weapons destined for use on battlefields in Ukraine.

The DIA report compares images in North Korean state media to other photographs showing missile debris in Ukraine's Kharkiv region in January.



- 'Clear evidence' -



The photos featured in the report were released by North Korea and show Kim visiting military factories in August last year to inspect the country's tactical missiles and launch vehicles, said Hong Min, a senior analyst at the Korea Institute for National Unification in Seoul.

"They appear to provide clear evidence that these were used in the attack on Ukraine, and clearly demonstrate that the recent statement by Kim Yo Jong denying Russian arms transfer is blatantly false," Hong told AFP.

North Korea's testing spree, which includes showing off the large-scale production and operational capabilities of its weaponry, "seems to be part of efforts to supply additional weapons to Russia ahead of President (Vladimir) Putin's visit to North Korea," he added.

South Korea's defence ministry told AFP it has no comment to give on the report.

Soo Kim, a former CIA analyst, told AFP the fact Russia was using North Korean missiles was not a surprise.

"What's concerning, though, is the ongoing and uninhibited cooperation between the two nations," said Kim, who currently works in policy for LMI Consulting.

"As time passes and as the conflict unravels, the depth of cooperation is bound to become more extensive and diversified."

Pyongyang and Russia have moved to boost ties in recent months.

Kim Jong Un visited Russia last year for a summit with Putin to cement the deepening ties, in a rare foreign trip for the reclusive North Korean leader.

The Kremlin told Russian media this month that a return visit by Putin to North Korea was "being prepared".

Putin last visited Pyongyang in 2000, just months after entering the Kremlin, for a meeting with Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un's father and predecessor.

North Korea is barred by UN sanctions from any tests using ballistic technology.

But Moscow used its UN Security Council veto in March to effectively end UN monitoring of violations, for which Pyongyang has specifically thanked Russia.

cdl/ceb/rsc
US, Chinese defence chiefs meet in Singapore



Singapore, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



The US and Chinese defence chiefs held rare direct talks in Singapore on Friday, offering hopes for more military dialogue that could help prevent disputes over Taiwan and other flashpoint issues from spinning out of control.

The meeting between the United States' Lloyd Austin and China's Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue is the first substantive face-to-face talks between the two countries' defence chiefs in 18 months.

Dong and Austin began the talks shortly before 1:00 pm (0500 GMT) at the luxury hotel hosting the security forum, a member of the US delegation told reporters.

Defence chiefs and officials from around the world are attending the annual forum that has in recent years become a barometer of US-China relations.

This year's edition comes a week after China held military drills around Taiwan and warned of war over the US-backed island following the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, who Beijing has described as a "dangerous separatist".

The dispute over democratic Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory, tops the list of disputes between the rivals.

Beijing is also furious over Washington's deepening defence ties in the Asia-Pacific, particularly with the Philippines, and its regular deployment of warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.

China views this as part of a decades-long US effort to contain it.

President Joe Biden's administration and China have been stepping up communication to ease friction between the nuclear-armed rivals, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken visiting Beijing and Shanghai last month.

A key focus has been the resumption of military-to-military dialogue.

China scrapped military communications with the United States in 2022 in response to then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

Tensions between Washington and Beijing were stoked further during 2023 by issues including an alleged Chinese spy balloon that was shot down over US airspace, a meeting between Taiwan's then-president Tsai Ing-wen and Pelosi's successor Kevin McCarthy, and American military aid for Taipei.

The two sides agreed after a summit between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Biden in November last year to restart high-level military talks.



- Pressure points -



That includes a communications channel between the US Indo-Pacific Command chief and Chinese commanders responsible for military operations near Taiwan, Japan and in the South China Sea.

Chinese and American forces have had a series of close encounters in the disputed waterway that China claims almost entirely.

Austin warned prior to Biden and Xi agreeing to resume military-to-military dialogue that accidents have the potential to spiral out of control, especially in the absence of open lines of communication between American and Chinese forces.

Friday's meeting between Austin and Dong follows a phone call between the pair in April, and offers hope of further military talks to cool tensions.

Austin and Dong will give speeches this weekend at the Shangri-La Dialogue in which they are expected to touch on a range of their nations' pressure points.

The United States, increasingly worried about China's fast-developing military capabilities, has been strengthening its alliances and partnerships in the region to counter China's growing assertiveness over Taiwan and in the South China Sea.

In a post on X early Friday announcing his arrival in Singapore, Austin said he would meet with regional counterparts and continue his department's work with "like-minded Indo-Pacific partners to promote our shared vision for a free and open region".

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, who has sought to deepen defence cooperation with the United States as he stands up to Chinese actions in waters off the Southeast Asia country, will deliver the Shangri-La Dialogue's keynote speech on Friday.
US, UK air strikes on Yemen kill 14: Huthi TV



Sanaa, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



The United States and Britain carried out air strikes on Yemen in what they said was a bid to degrade Iran-backed rebels' maritime attack capabilities, with Huthi media on Friday reporting 14 killed.

The Huthis have been attacking shipping around the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden since November, citing solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, where Israel has been at war with the militant group Hamas since October 7.

AFP journalists heard loud explosions in the capital Sanaa and the port city of Hodeida overnight from Thursday to Friday.

The Huthi-controlled Al-Masirah television channel said 14 people were killed and more than 30 were wounded in the strikes that also targeted telecoms infrastructure in the town of Taez.

It was not immediately possible to independently verify the toll.

The British defence ministry said its planes launched strikes in "a joint operation with US forces against Huthi military facilities to degrade their ability to persist with their attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden".

The ministry said intelligence indicated two sites near Hodeida had been involved in the attacks on shipping, "with a number of buildings identified as housing drone ground control facilities and providing storage for very long-range drones, as well as surface to air weapons".

Further south, another site "had also been identified as being involved in the command and control of their anti-shipping campaign", it said in a statement.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement that a total of 13 Huthi-held sites were targeted, adding the strikes were "necessary to protect our forces, ensure freedom of navigation, and make international waters safer and more secure".



- Ships hit -



Since January, the United States and Britain have launched retaliatory strikes on Huthi targets in Yemen in response to the rebels' attacks in the vital waterways.

But the strikes have done little to deter the Huthis, who have vowed to target US and British vessels as well as all ships heading to Israeli ports.

The Iran-backed Huthis said Wednesday that they had attacked a Greek-owned bulk carrier and several other vessels in response to Israeli strikes on the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah.

The bulk carrier Laax, a Marshall Islands-flagged and Greek-operated vessel, reported being hit by three missiles, according to CENTCOM and maritime security firms. The vessel was damaged but able to continue its voyage.

In March, a ship loaded with fertiliser sank in the Gulf of Aden after it was damaged by missiles fired by the Huthis.

And in November, the rebels seized the vehicle transporter Galaxy Leader and its crew in a helicopter-borne attack.

The Huthi attacks have prompted some shipping companies to detour around southern Africa to avoid the Red Sea route, which normally carries about 12 percent of global trade.
NATO chief downplays Kremlin escalation threat after US Ukraine shift



Prague, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Friday played down the threat of escalation from Moscow, after the United States authorised Kyiv to use American weapons to hit targets inside Russia.

US officials said Thursday that President Joe Biden had secretly lifted restrictions on Ukraine using American-supplied weapons against targets on Russian territory, but only to defend the under-fire Kharkiv region.

Biden had come under increasing pressure from a desperate Ukraine to ease his ban, but had so far resisted amid fears it could drag NATO into direct conflict or even a nuclear standoff with Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has threatened "serious consequences" if Western countries allowed Ukraine to use their weapons to strike targets in Russia.

"I welcome that allies are providing support to Ukraine in many different ways, but I will not go into the details," Stoltenberg told journalists at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague.

"Ukraine has the right for self-defence, and that includes also the right to strike legitimate military targets inside Russia."

The head of the Western military alliance said letting Western weapons hit targets in Russia was "nothing new" as Britain had long sent cruise missiles to Kyiv without restrictions.

"It has also been the case for a long time that every time NATO allies are providing support for Ukraine threatening us to not do that," he said.

"This is part of efforts by President Putin and Moscow to prevent NATO allies from supporting Ukraine to defend themselves, and, again, Ukraine has the right for self-defence and we have the right to help Ukraine."

Pressure had been building on key backer Biden to shift his position on Ukrainian strikes in Russia after French President Emmanuel Macron said Kyiv should be able to hit back against attacks.

Ukraine's outgunned forces are struggling to hold back Moscow's offensive in the Kharkhiv region near the border that has seen the Kremlin launch attacks from its own territory.

Germany -- which has refused to give Ukraine long-range Taurus missiles -- has been ambiguous about its stance after long being reluctant to let Kyiv strike across the border.

"We have made very clear from the beginning on that the right of self-defence is our line of support, and we are doing everything that NATO is not being torn into this war," German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock said.

Other NATO countries that have been clamouring for Ukraine's key backer to remove its limits welcomed the decision by Biden.

"It makes sense to stop those attacks before they happen on the territory of Ukraine," Czech foreign minister Jan Lipavsky said.

Lithuania's top diplomat Gabrielius Landsbergis said that the Ukrainians "are absolutely capable of defining the targets".

"I have full confidence that they know, they see and they understand what is needed," he said.
US-China to resume military-to-military dialogue in 'coming months': Austin



Singapore, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



The United States and China will resume military-to-military communications "in the coming months", US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday, as Beijing hailed the "stabilising" security relations between the countries.

Austin met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in the first substantive face-to-face talks between the two defence chiefs in 18 months.

Dong and Austin met for over an hour at the luxury hotel hosting the security forum that is attended by defence officials from around the world and in recent years has become a barometer of US-China relations.

Austin said telephone conversations between US and Chinese military commanders would resume "in the coming months", according to a readout released by the Pentagon.

He also welcomed plans for a "crisis-communications working group" with China by the end of the year, the statement said.

Describing the talks as "positive", Chinese defence spokesman Wu Qian told reporters that military-to-military relations were "currently stopping their decline and stabilising".

Wu cautioned that it was not possible for Beijing and Washington to solve all bilateral problems in one meeting, but said "talking is better than not talking".

This year's Shangri-La Dialogue comes a week after China held military drills around Taiwan and warned of war over the US-backed island following the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, who Beijing has described as a "dangerous separatist".

Self-ruled Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory, tops the list of disputes between the rivals.

China is also furious over the United States' deepening defence ties in the Asia-Pacific, particularly with the Philippines, and its regular deployment of warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.

Beijing views this as part of a decades-long US effort to contain it.

US President Joe Biden's administration and China have been stepping up communication to ease friction between the nuclear-armed rivals, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken visiting Beijing and Shanghai last month.

A key focus has been the resumption of military-to-military dialogue, which is seen as critical to preventing flashpoint disputes from spinning out of control.

China scrapped military communications with the United States in 2022 in response to then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

Tensions between Washington and Beijing were stoked further during 2023 by issues including an alleged Chinese spy balloon that was shot down over US airspace, a meeting between Taiwan's then-president Tsai Ing-wen and Pelosi's successor Kevin McCarthy, and American military aid for Taipei.

The two sides agreed after a summit between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Biden last November to restart high-level military talks.

That includes a communications channel between the US Indo-Pacific Command chief and Chinese commanders responsible for military operations near Taiwan, Japan and in the South China Sea.



- Pressure points -



Chinese and American forces have had a series of close encounters in the disputed waterway that China claims almost entirely.

Austin warned prior to Biden and Xi agreeing to resume military-to-military dialogue that accidents have the potential to spiral out of control, especially in the absence of open lines of communication between American and Chinese forces.

Friday's meeting between Austin and Dong follows a phone call between the pair in April, and offers hope of further military talks to cool tensions.

Austin's last significant interaction with a Chinese counterpart was in November 2022 when he met with Wei Fenghe in Cambodia.

Wei was subsequently replaced by Li Shangfu, who shook hands and spoke briefly with Austin at the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2023 but did not hold a formal meeting with him.

Austin and Dong will give speeches this weekend at the Shangri-La Dialogue in which they are expected to touch on a range of their nations' pressure points.

The United States, increasingly worried about China's fast-developing military capabilities, has been strengthening its alliances and partnerships in the region to counter China's growing assertiveness over Taiwan and in the South China Sea.

In the meeting, Austin underscored the United States' commitment to the one China policy, but insisted that it would continue to "fly, sail and operate" wherever international law allowed, the Pentagon readout said.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, who has sought to deepen defence cooperation with the United States as he stands up to Chinese actions in waters off the Southeast Asia country, will deliver the Shangri-La Dialogue's keynote speech on Friday.

bur-amj/dhw
Did anybody really need another reason to be angry at the Diocese of Buffalo?

There is already a good deal of unpleasant baggage marring its reputation, including a massive Chapter 11 bankruptcy case, brought on by more than 900 abuse claims against local clergy. This abuse caused unimaginable suffering that its victims have been living with for decades.

Parishioners throughout the region are enduring the closures of their neighborhood houses of worship, partially as a result of the impending settlements expected drain on resources. Fewer and fewer men are entering the priesthood. And churches that have already been abandoned by the diocese crumble dangerously in the citys most blighted neighborhoods.

Now the diocese has announced the cancellation of a June 5 concert at St. Josephs Cathedral because, as stated by a spokesman, the Buffalo Gay Mens Chorus was scheduled to perform.

It is unquestionably the prerogative of the diocese to decide which groups may perform in St. Josephs, its chief church and home of the bishops seat. But canceling an entire concert that included five other choral groups  with less than two weeks notice  just because the Buffalo Gay Mens Chorus was to sing two songs seems unnecessarily stringent. Maybe even petty.

Its also confusing because the cathedrals music director and rector initially invited the chorus to perform. To invite the group and then cancel at the last minute is both inconsiderate and indicative of poor judgment.

Over the past few years, attitudes from the Catholic Church hierarchy toward homosexuality have softened, leaning toward inclusion rather than rigid barriers against those whose lifestyles may not conform to its doctrine. Indeed, the church, itself, has infamously fallen short of its doctrines.

While its true that the churchs Catechism names homosexual acts as intrinsically immoral and contrary to the natural law, recent statements from Pope Francis have indicated a tolerant attitude. When asked about gay people early in his papacy, he famously responded, Who am I to judge?

But its not necessary to wade into doctrine to arrive at a commonsense conclusion that the diocese would have been far wiser to let the concert proceed.

We are talking about a musical performance, including songs that have been sung in churches for hundreds of years. The Buffalo Gay Mens Chorus has performed in local Catholic churches many times.

Holy Trinity Lutheran has stepped up to host the performance, but that doesnt excuse the dioceses poor decision. This was badly done.
Iraq hangs 8 convicted of 'terrorism': security, health sources



Nasiriyah, Iraq, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



Iraqi authorities have executed eight people convicted of "terrorism" over links to the Islamic State group, a security source in the country's southern Dhi Qar province said Friday.

The source told AFP that eight Iraqis "convicted of terrorism and of being members of the Islamic State group were executed by hanging" Thursday at Al-Hut prison in the city of Nasiriyah "under the supervision of a justice ministry team".

A local medical source confirmed that the health department had received the bodies of eight executed people.

Under Iraqi law, terrorism and murder offences are punishable by death, and execution decrees must be signed by the president.

The eight Iraqis were hanged "under Article 4 of the anti-terrorism law", the security source said, requesting anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.

On May 6, Iraqi authorities executed by hanging 11 people convicted of "terrorism", security and health sources told AFP. It was the second such group put to death since late April.

The execution on April 22 of 11 people sparked concern among rights groups, with Amnesty International condemning an "alarming lack of transparency".

Al-Hut is a notorious prison in Nasiriyah whose Arabic name means "the whale", because Iraqis believe that those jailed there never walk out alive.

Iraqi courts have handed down hundreds of death and life sentences in recent years for people convicted of membership in a "terrorist group", an offence that carries the death penalty regardless of whether the defendant had been an active fighter.
US-China to resume military-to-military dialogue in 'coming months': Austin



Singapore, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



The United States and China will resume military-to-military communications "in the coming months", US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday, as Beijing hailed the "stabilising" security relations between the countries.

Austin met with his Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore in the first substantive face-to-face talks between the two defence chiefs in 18 months.

Dong and Austin met for over an hour at the luxury hotel hosting the security forum that is attended by defence officials from around the world and in recent years has become a barometer of US-China relations.

Austin said telephone conversations between US and Chinese military commanders would resume "in the coming months", according to a readout released by the Pentagon.

He also welcomed plans for a "crisis-communications working group" with China by the end of the year, the statement said.

Describing the talks as "positive", Chinese defence spokesman Wu Qian told reporters that military-to-military relations were "currently stopping their decline and stabilising".

But Wu cautioned that it was not possible for Beijing and Washington to solve all bilateral problems in one meeting, highlighting their thorniest dispute over Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory.

This year's Shangri-La Dialogue comes a week after China held military drills around self-ruled Taiwan and warned of war over the US-backed island following the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, who Beijing has described as a "dangerous separatist".

"The Taiwan issue is purely China's internal affairs, external forces have no right to interfere, and the United States' actions seriously violate the one China principle," Wu said, referring to Washington's decision to congratulate Lai and send a delegation to the ceremony.

Austin said China's military exercises were "provocative" and insisted it should not use Taipei's "political transition... as a pretext for coercive measures."



- Resuming dialogue -



US President Joe Biden's administration and China have been stepping up communication to ease friction between the nuclear-armed rivals, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken visiting Beijing and Shanghai last month.

A key focus has been the resumption of military-to-military dialogue, which is seen as critical to preventing flashpoint disputes from spinning out of control.

China scrapped military communications with the United States in 2022 in response to then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

Tensions between Washington and Beijing were further stoked by issues including an alleged Chinese spy balloon that was shot down over US airspace, a meeting between Taiwan's then-president Tsai Ing-wen and Pelosi's successor Kevin McCarthy and American military aid for Taipei.

China is also furious over the United States' deepening defence ties in the Asia-Pacific, particularly with the Philippines, and its regular deployment of warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.

Beijing views this as part of a decades-long US effort to contain it.

The two sides agreed after a summit between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Biden last November to restart high-level military talks, including over military operations near Taiwan, Japan and in the South China Sea.



- Pressure points -



Chinese and American forces have had a series of close encounters in the disputed waterway that China claims almost entirely.

While meeting Dong, Austin underscored the importance of "high seas freedom of navigation", especially in the South China Sea, and insisted that the United States would continue to "fly, sail and operate" wherever international law allowed, the Pentagon readout said.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, who has sought to deepen defence cooperation with the United States as he stands up to Chinese actions in waters off the Southeast Asia country, will deliver the Shangri-La Dialogue's keynote speech on Friday.

Austin and Dong will also give speeches in Singapore this weekend in which they are expected to touch on a range of their nations' pressure points.

Their meeting on Friday follows a phone call between them in April, and offers hope of further military talks to cool tensions.

Austin's last significant interaction with a Chinese counterpart was in November 2022 when he met with Wei Fenghe in Cambodia.

Wei was subsequently replaced by Li Shangfu, who shook hands and spoke briefly with Austin at the Shangri-La Dialogue in 2023, but they did not hold a formal meeting.

bur-amj/lb
NATO chief seeks 'at least' 40 bn euros a year in Ukraine aid



Prague, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Friday called on members to commit to keeping annual military aid for Ukraine at a minimum of 40 billion euros ($43 billion), after alliance foreign ministers debated long-term support for Kyiv.

NATO members -- led by the United States -- have given the vast bulk of military aid to Kyiv to help it battle against Russia's invasion since Moscow attacked in 2022.

"Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, allies have provided approximately 40 billion euros worth of military aid to Ukraine each year. We must maintain at least this level of support each year, for as long as necessary," Stoltenberg told journalists after foreign minsters met in Prague.

"I have also proposed that allies should share this burden equitably."

The head of the Western military alliance said he wanted NATO's 32 countries to hammer out the "multi-year financial pledge for Ukraine" to announce it at a summit of leaders in Washington in July.

"We need a firm commitment for the long haul to ensure that Ukraine is able to plan, to ensure that Ukraine has the predictability they need to conduct this war of self-defence," Stoltenberg said.

He said that one way to measure each country's commitment could be to tie it to the size of their gross domestic product, but the plan was not finalised.

"We will now start the work on the details of such a financial pledge," Stoltenberg said.

Over two years into Russia's all-out war on Ukraine, Stoltenberg is seeking to put NATO's support on a firmer footing ahead of a possible return to the US presidency of Donald Trump.

After pressing hard at a summit last year, Kyiv has been told firmly by NATO countries -- led by the United States and Germany -- that it should not expect any concrete progress toward joining the alliance in Washington.

Last month Stoltenberg floated an overall target figure of 100 billion euros ($108 billion) over five years for Ukraine support, but that fell flat among allies confused over what it would involve.

Czech foreign minister Jan Lipavsky welcomed Stoltenberg's latest proposal and said it seemed manageable as it only represented a miniscule fraction of defence expenditure.

But he said how to ensure countries stuck to their commitments remained if governments change in the future "the trillion dollar question".
France bans Israel firms from upcoming defence fair



Paris, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



France authorities have banned Israeli defence firms from exhibiting at a trade show next month near Paris, organisers said on Friday.

"By decision of the government authorities, there will be no stand for the Israeli defence industry at the Eurosatory 2024 fair," organisers Coges Events said.

Neither Coges nor the defence ministry provided an explanation.

Seventy-four Israeli firms had been set to be represented at the event from June 17 to 21 at fairgrounds close to Paris' main international airport, with Coges previously saying around 10 of them were to exhibit weapons.

Contacted by AFP, the Israeli embassy said it did not wish to comment.

The incident comes days after the Israeli bombing of a camp for the displaced in the Gaza Strip sparked international outrage and protests in France.

The air raids killed at least 45 people in the town of Rafah in the night of Sunday to Monday in the south of the besieged Palestinian territory, according to local authorities, almost eight months into the latest Gaza war.

The conflict erupted after Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,189 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 more than 36,000 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry.

A group of activists last week in a legal warning urged Coges to take measure to avoid the buying and selling of weapons that could be used in "crimes" committed in Gaza or other parts of the occupied Palestinian territories.

ASER, Stop Arming Israel, Urgency Palestine and the France-Palestine Solidarity Association also warned against profits from the fair "reinforcing the economic power of firms likely to participate in these crimes".

Coges told AFP it was "a fair solely for the presentation of defence and security equipment... and in no means a place for deals."
EU adds six people to N.Korea sanctions list



Brussels, Belgium, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



The EU on Friday added six individuals and three companies to its sanctions list against North Korea over the country's ballistic missile and nuclear programmes, and its military support to Russia in the war on Ukraine.

The additions were announced by the Council of the EU at the same time as the G7 expressed concern about deepening cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow.

The measures applied to five North Koreans and one Russian official, and two North Korean firms and a Russian one. All were linked to arms or money transfers benefitting North Korea.

A US defence department report this week said Russia was using North Korean ballistic missiles in Ukraine, based on debris analysis.

The Council of the EU statement said the new measures were being applied "in view of sanctions evasion activities... that could generate funds for (North Korea's) illegal nuclear and ballistic missile programmes... and in view of the military support given by the DPRK (North Korea) to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine".

One of the North Koreans sanctioned, Kim Chol Sok, was listed as an intelligence officer operating casinos, bars and other businesses in Cambodia to funnel money to Pyongyang.

Another, Rim Yong Hyok, was said to be a senior official in a mining company operating in Syria that was "the primary arms dealer and main exporter of goods and equipment related to ballistic missiles and conventional weapons" from North Korea.



- Weapons shipments -



The Russian, Oleg Nikolaevich Kozhemyako, is governor of Russia's Primorsky Krai region and said to have furnished North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with weapons when the latter visited in September last year.

The Russian firm sanctioned, a port operator called Eastern Stevedoring Company, was accused of facilitating the transfer of "thousands of containers of DPRK weapons and ammunition" to Russian forces to be used in Ukraine.

The two other firms listed were Hapjanggang Trading Corporation and Korea Namgang Trading Corporation.

The first was said to be part of North Korea's rocket industry ministry, while the second makes money handling the expatriation of North Korean workers as "illicit labourers", then channelling it back to the Pyongyang government.

The EU says it has now sanctioned 77 individuals and 20 entities over North Korea's weapons programmes, on top of UN-mandated sanctions.

"The EU is determined to prevent the flow of components, finance and knowledge that could be used by the DPRK (North Korea) to support the development of its nuclear, WMD (weapons of mass destruction) and ballistic missile programmes," the statement said.
Philippines' Marcos says US presence crucial to regional peace



Singapore, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said Friday that the presence of the United States was "crucial to regional peace", as the Southeast Asian country faces growing Chinese pressure in waters off its coastline.

Marcos has sought to deepen defence cooperation with the United States as he stands up to Chinese actions in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely.

"China's determining influence over the security situation and the economic evolution of this region is a permanent fact," Marcos said in a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, a major security forum attended by defence ministers from around the world.

"At the same time, the stabilising presence of the United States is crucial to regional peace. It's never a choice. Both countries are important."

The Philippines, a treaty ally of the United States, is a key focus of Washington's efforts to strengthen alliances and partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region as it seeks to counter China's growing military might and influence.

Given its position in the South China Sea and proximity to self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as its own, Philippine support would be crucial for the United States in the event of any conflict.

The Philippines expanded a 2014 agreement last year to give US military access to another four of its military bases, taking the total number to nine, including two in the far north of the country, less than 450 kilometres (280 miles) from Taiwan.

The Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) allows US troops to rotate through and store defence equipment and supplies.

The United States' growing presence in the region and its regular deployment of warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea have infuriated China's leaders in Beijing.

China has accused the United States of using the Philippines as a "pawn to stir up trouble in the South China Sea".

Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime territorial disputes, but tensions have worsened under Marcos, who has insisted the Philippines will not give up a "square inch of our territory".

Marcos said on Friday that the South China Sea dispute is an issue that goes beyond the Asia-Pacific region.

"The peace and stability of the South China Sea and the freedom of navigation in the South China Sea is a world issue," Marcos said.

"It is not just (about) ASEAN member states. It is quite easy to see that it is in fact the world that has become the stakeholder."
NATO chief seeks 'at least' 40 bn euros a year in Ukraine aid



Prague, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Friday called on members to commit to keeping annual military aid for Ukraine at a minimum of 40 billion euros ($43 billion), after foreign ministers from alliance countries debated long-term support for Kyiv.

NATO members, led by the United States, have given the vast bulk of military aid to Kyiv to help it battle against the invasion launched by Russia in February 2022.

"Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, allies have provided approximately 40 billion euros worth of military aid to Ukraine each year. We must maintain at least this level of support each year, for as long as necessary," Stoltenberg told journalists after the foreign ministers met in Prague.

"I have also proposed that allies should share this burden equitably," he said.

He said he wanted NATO's 32 countries to hammer out the "multi-year financial pledge for Ukraine" so it could be announced at a summit of leaders in Washington in July.

"We need a firm commitment for the long haul to ensure that Ukraine is able to plan, to ensure that Ukraine has the predictability they need to conduct this war of self-defence," Stoltenberg said.

He said that one way to measure each country's commitment could be to base it on gross domestic product, but the plan was not finalised.

"We will now start the work on the details of such a financial pledge," he said.

Over two years into Russia's war on Ukraine, Stoltenberg is seeking to put NATO's support on a firmer footing ahead of a possible return to the US presidency of Donald Trump.

After pressing hard at a summit last year, Kyiv has been told firmly by NATO countries -- led by the United States and Germany -- that it should not expect any concrete progress toward joining the alliance in Washington.

Last month Stoltenberg floated an overall target figure of 100 billion euros ($108 billion) over five years for Ukraine support, but that fell flat among allies confused over what it would involve.



- 'Trillion dollar question' -



Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavsky welcomed Stoltenberg's latest proposal and said it seemed manageable as it only represented a small fraction of defence expenditure.

But he said how to ensure countries stuck to their commitments remained if governments change in the future, calling it "the trillion dollar question".

One area where NATO seems closer to a final agreement is a plan for the alliance to take over from the US coordination of weapon supplies to Ukraine.

So far, Washington has been in charge as NATO has stayed clear of involvement in delivering arms because of worries Moscow would see it as a provocation.

Proponents say making the alliance responsible overall could help insulate future deliveries if Trump wins back the White House, though others fear it might just add more bureaucracy to the process.

Stoltenberg said NATO had furthered the "plans to play a greater coordinating role in the provision of equipment and training".

"Practically all military aid to Ukraine -- 99 percent -- comes from NATO Allies. So, it makes sense that NATO should play a greater role in these efforts," he said.
Blinken says US to keep adapting to Ukraine military needs



Prague, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday that the United States will keep adapting its weapons decisions for Ukraine based on needs, after giving the green light to Kyiv to strike Russian territory.

US officials said Thursday that they had authorized Ukraine to use US weapons to strike Russian forces amassed just across the border as they mount a major assault on the northeastern region around Kharkiv.

Asked if the United States could eventually relax rules further and let Ukraine strike deeper into Russia with US weapons, Blinken said that President Joe Biden's administration wanted Kyiv to be able to operate "deliberately and effectively".

"Over the past few weeks, Ukraine came to us and asked for the authorisation to use weapons that were provided to defend against this aggression," Blinken told reporters after NATO talks in Prague.

"That went right to the president," Blinken said.

"He's approved use of our weapons for that purpose. Going forward, we'll continue to be doing what we've been doing, which is, as necessary, adapt and adjust," Blinken said.

Russia launched a major offensive shortly after the US Congress approved a major new weapons package to Ukraine after a long delay.

Despite battlefield gains in recent weeks by Russia, Blinken voiced confidence that Ukraine would regain ground with the arrival of the weapons.

"Thanks to the extraordinary bravery of Ukrainians, and thanks to this enduring, strong support from our partners, the front in the east -- northeast -- is stabilising," he said.
EU sanctions Iran's defence minister, IRGC over drones, missiles



Brussels, Belgium, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



The European Union on Friday imposed sanctions on Iran's defence minister, Mohammad Reza Ashtiani, and the country's Revolutionary Guards for sending missiles and drones being used against Israel and Ukraine and in the Red Sea.

The high-profile measures also targeted the commander of the Guard's Quds Force for his role in transferring missiles used by Iran's Hezbollah proxy militia against Israel, and those used by Huthis firing from Yemen.

A key armed forces command centre, the head of a state aviation company and an electronics company were also sanctioned.

The listings followed Iran's April 13 air assault on Israel, in which it launched more than 300 drones and missiles, most of which were shot down.

That assault was in response to an air strike on Iran's diplomatic compound in Syria, widely blamed on Israel, that killed eight Revolutionary Guards members.

The EU vowed in the wake of the air attack to impose new sanctions on Iran. The United States and Britain already did so in late April.

The EU sanctions also come as the West looks to punish Iran and North Korea for giving military help to Russia in its war in Ukraine, and as Western warships seek to counter Iran-supplied missiles fired by Huthis in the Red Sea.

The Council of the EU said in a statement that those listed were involved in sending drones to Russia and drones or missiles to "armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region".

"As defence minister, Ashtiani is directly involved in Iran's UAV (drone) programme and is involved in transferring Iran's UAVs to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine," the EU sanctions listing said.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy was listed for "facilitating the transport of Iranian arms," including drones and missiles to "armed groups like the Huthis and Hezbollah to undermine peace and security in the Middle East and Red Sea region," it said.



- Quds Force commander -



The Quds Force commander, Esmail Qaani, was likewise accused of helping transfer drones and missiles to those groups.

The Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force is the elite unit responsible for marshalling, supplying and training Iran's proxies in the Middle East, and for foreign operations.

The army command centre listed, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, "is at the core of Iran's military forces and therefore involved in transferring UAVs to Russia in support of its war of aggression against Ukraine and to armed groups and entities undermining peace and security in the Middle East and the Red Sea region," the EU said.

Its commander, Gholam Ali Rashid, was included in the sanctions.

The electronics firm targeted was Kavan Electronics Behrad, along with its CEO and chairman, for international procurement of components used in the manufacture of drones, and for helping transfer drones to Russia.

The sanctions -- which prohibit any EU citizen or company doing business with the listed individuals and organisations -- are some of the most prominent Brussels has imposed on Iran.

Tehran is currently gearing up for carefully managed elections to name a successor to president Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash on May 19, along with his foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian.

Real power, however, remains in the hands of Iran's elderly supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and the thousands of shadow officials that surround him.
Blinken says NATO to respond to rising Russian hybrid attacks



Prague, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



NATO allies are alarmed and will respond to a rising campaign of hybrid attacks against them by Russia, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday.

Speaking after two days of talks in Prague among NATO foreign ministers, Blinken said: "Virtually every ally was seized with this intensification of Russia's hybrid attacks.

"We know what they're up to, and we will respond both individually and collectively as necessary," Blinken told reporters.

Blinken pointed to a series of incidents short of military strikes against the 32-member transatlantic alliance, which considers an attack on one an attack on all.

Russia last week removed buoys demarcating the border with Estonia in the River Narva.

Blinken also pointed to incidents inside NATO of "setting fire and sabotaging supply warehouses" as well as growing cyber attacks and disinformation campaigns attributed to Russia.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna this week told AFP that Russia was "pushing the limits and also playing with our fears".

NATO earlier this month condemned Russian "malign activities" on its territory, saying actions like disinformation, sabotage, violence and cyberinterference threatened the alliance's security.

Authorities in the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Britain have recently investigated and charged people in connection with "hostile state activity".

The incidents come as Russia mounts an offensive in northeastern Ukraine, scoring battlefield victories more than two years into its invasion.

Blinken confirmed that President Joe Biden has approved Ukrainian requests to use US weapons to strike Russian forces involved in the offensive even if they are immediately across the border.

The top US diplomat repeated his warning that a victory by Russia would embolden not only Moscow but other "would-be aggressors".

"We know that if Russia's aggression is allowed to proceed in Ukraine with impunity, it will not stop with Ukraine," Blinken said.
News / National

by Staff reporter

President Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday urged the mining industry to leverage technology and innovation to enhance operations and productivity. Speaking at the Chamber of Mines Zimbabwe 2024 annual mining conference in Victoria Falls, Mnangagwa, represented by Mines Minister Winston Chitando, emphasized the need for innovation in the sector."The mining industry must harness the power of technology and innovation to optimise mining operations and enhance productivity. The fourth industrial revolution presents unprecedented opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and mitigate risks in the mining sector," he stated.Mnangagwa highlighted the importance of digitalisation, automation, and renewable energy in creating a resilient and competitive mining industry, stressing the priority of worker well-being and safety. "By embracing digitalisation, automation, and renewable energy solutions, we can create a more resilient and competitive mining industry. We must never lose sight of the human dimension of mining. The well-being and safety of our workers must always be our top priority."He underscored the government's commitment to responsible resource management and sustainable development, advocating for environmentally sound mining practices, skills development, and equitable benefit-sharing with local communities. "We must strive to create a workplace culture that values diversity, promotes inclusivity, and upholds the highest standards of occupational health and safety. Let us approach the challenges and opportunities before us with courage, determination, and vision."Mnangagwa also noted the critical role of mining in the economy, contributing significantly to GDP, employment, and infrastructure development. "Mining has long been the cornerstone of our economy. To restore the viability of mining operations in Zimbabwe, we must adopt a multi-faceted approach that addresses both short-term challenges and long-term sustainability. This requires collaboration and partnership between government, industry stakeholders, and local communities."Despite challenges like weak commodity prices, power supply constraints, foreign exchange shortages, capital constraints, and high taxes, Mnangagwa reaffirmed the government's efforts to create an enabling environment for investment and innovation. This includes streamlining regulatory processes, improving infrastructure, and providing fiscal incentives to attract both domestic and foreign investment."The government continues to undertake extensive infrastructural initiatives such as rehabilitating roads, upgrading airports, enhancing power generation, particularly through the expansion of the Hwange Power Station, and constructing dams. These efforts are aimed at establishing essential foundations for the development of our economic sectors, including mining."Mnangagwa concluded with a call for collaborative efforts to navigate current challenges and build a prosperous future for Zimbabwe. "Together, we can navigate these turbulent times and restore the viability of mining operations in Zimbabwe. By working collaboratively, we can build a brighter, more prosperous future for Zimbabwe and all its people."
Philippines' Marcos says US presence crucial to regional peace



Singapore, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos said Friday that the presence of the United States was "crucial to regional peace", as the Southeast Asian country faces growing Chinese pressure in waters off its coastline.

Marcos has sought to deepen defence cooperation with the United States as he stands up to Chinese actions in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost entirely.

"China's determining influence over the security situation and the economic evolution of this region is a permanent fact," Marcos said in a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, a major security forum attended by defence ministers from around the world.

"At the same time, the stabilising presence of the United States is crucial to regional peace. It's never a choice. Both countries are important."

The Philippines, a treaty ally of the United States, is a key focus of Washington's efforts to strengthen alliances and partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region as it seeks to counter China's growing military might and influence.

Given its position in the South China Sea and proximity to self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as its own, Philippine support would be crucial for the United States in the event of any conflict.

The Philippines expanded a 2014 agreement last year to give the US military access to another four of its bases, taking the total to nine, including two in the far north of the country less than 450 kilometres (280 miles) from Taiwan.

The Enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement allows US troops to rotate through and store defence equipment and supplies.

The United States' growing presence in the region and its regular deployment of warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea have infuriated China's leaders in Beijing.

China has accused the United States of using the Philippines as a "pawn to stir up trouble in the South China Sea".



- 'Illegal, coercive, aggressive' -



Manila and Beijing have a long history of maritime territorial disputes, but tensions have worsened under Marcos.

In an effort to win international backing for its stance, Manila has published images of incidents involving Chinese and Philippine vessels and invited local and foreign media on its patrol boats.

China Coast Guard vessels have used water cannon against Philippine boats multiple times in the contested waters, where there have also been collisions that injured several Filipino troops.

"Illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive actions continue to violate our sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdictions," Marcos said Friday.

"I do not intend to yield," he said. "Filipinos do not yield".

Beijing defends its actions as "legitimate" and "necessary law enforcement measures" in response to Philippine vessels that it says have illegally entered its territorial waters.

"China has never used its size to bully smaller countries, nor would it ever do so, but China has always been principled, and has bottom lines," He Lei, a Chinese general and former vice president of the Academy of Military Sciences, told reporters after Marcos's speech.

"It will never allow certain countries to act outrageously."

China claims almost the entire waterway, brushing off rival claims from other countries, including the Philippines, and ignoring an international ruling that its claims have no legal basis.

To assert its stance, Beijing deploys coast guard and other boats to patrol the waters and has turned several reefs into artificial islands that it has militarised.

Many of the confrontations between Chinese and Philippine vessels have happened near Second Thomas Shoal in the Spratly Islands.

The reef, where a handful of Filipino troops are garrisoned on a grounded navy vessel, is about 200 kilometres (120 miles) from the western Philippine island of Palawan, and more than 1,000 kilometres from China's nearest major landmass, Hainan island.
UN mission in Iraq to end after two decades



United Nations, United States, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



At the request of Baghdad, the UN Security Council unanimously decided Friday that the United Nations political mission in Iraq will leave the country at the end of 2025 after more than 20 years.

Earlier this month, in a letter to the council, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohamed Shia al-Sudani called for the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) to be closed.

Al-Sudani said UNAMI had overcome "great and varied challenges" and that "the grounds for having a political mission in Iraq" no longer exist.

The UNSC resolution adopted on Friday extended the mission's mandate for "a final 19-month period until 31 December 2025 after which UNAMI will cease all work and operations."

Farhad Alaaldin, the Iraq prime minister's advisor for foreign affairs, welcomed the move, expressing on X his "thanks to UNAMI for all their work during the past two decades."

The mission was established by a UN Security Council resolution in 2003 at the request of the Iraqi government after the US-led invasion and fall of Saddam Hussein.

It has about 700 staff, with key tasks including advising the government on political dialogue and reconciliation, as well as helping with elections and security sector reform.

During the mission's previous renewal in May 2023, the Council asked the secretary-general to launch a strategic review, which was overseen by German diplomat Volker Perthes.

In a report issued in March, Perthes signaled that the closing schedule would reassure reluctant Iraqis that the transition "will not lead to a reversal of democratic gains or threaten peace and security."



- Sovereignty -



Given that UN missions can only operate with the host nation's consent, Russia, China, Britain and France this month all voiced support for a transition in the United Nations role in Iraq.

"The people of Iraq are now ready to assume full responsibility for the country's political future," said Russia's deputy UN ambassador Anna Evstigneeva.

"We express our firm support for Iraq sovereignty and oppose any interference in the country's internal affairs."

The United States drafted the resolution, after initially being more wary.

"We all recognize that Iraq has changed dramatically in recent years, and UNAMI's mission needed to be realigned as part of our commitment to fostering a secure, stable, and sovereign Iraq," deputy US ambassador to the UN Robert Wood said on Friday.

Analysts say that the prime minister was seeking a political win, and that the UN was not pulling out of Iraq.

"This does not mean they want to end UN programs," Renad Mansour, senior research fellow at Chatham House, said.

"This is all part of Prime Minister Sudani's attempts to show Iraq as a country entering a new phase, one he hopes can be defined by sovereignty."

He added UNAMI had some limited successes but had struggled "to ensure accountability and create the space for a thriving and independent civil society."

The UN has been facing hostility in recent years, in Africa in particular.

Several countries have forced UN missions to depart -- in Mali, for example, where MINUSMA pulled out last year. December also saw the Security Council end the political mission to Sudan at the request of authorities.

"Council members now seem resigned to the fact that many states which have hosted UN missions for a long time want them gone," Richard Gowan of the International Crisis Group told AFP.

"For a long time, the Council's default position was to keep UN missions in place indefinitely. Now the new default is to let them go quietly."
News / National

by Staff reporter

South Africa's recent elections have highlighted what some perceive as the double standards of Western observers, as practices they criticized in Zimbabwe's general elections last year were deemed standard in South Africa.During Wednesday's polls in South Africa, political parties conducted entrance and exit polls, a widely accepted practice. However, when Zimbabwe's ruling Zanu-PF party implemented similar polls during the previous year's elections, Western observers and opposition members claimed it was a rigging tactic, despite no restrictions on setting up such stations.Zanu-PF was invited to observe the South African elections, with a team including the party's Secretary for External Relations, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, and Deputy Secretary for National Security, Tendai Chirau. Chirau noted on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle that the South African elections were orderly and exposed the Zimbabwean opposition's lack of exposure to modern campaign practices."Entrance and exit poll stations by different parties in SA elections. Such stations were set up in Zimbabwe in the 2023 elections by our party, and those who are not exposed to such arrangements cried. It's not our problem that they are not exposed to modern campaign trends," he wrote.In contrast to the Zimbabwean opposition, South Africa's main opposition leader, Julius Malema of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), accepted the election results. "We will accept the willingness of the voice of the people of South Africa, whatever the outcome, we will not have any query because we campaigned and no one stopped us," Malema said.Opposition leader Nelson Chamisa, however, denounced the election results in Zimbabwe even before the election day, demonstrating political immaturity according to his critics.South Africa's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) reported that at least seven percent of polling stations opened late due to delays in the delivery of election materials. Similar delays in Zimbabwe's elections were labeled as rigging tactics by Western observers.Additionally, long queues were seen during the South African elections, interpreted as a sign of high voter turnout. In contrast, long queues in Zimbabwe were viewed negatively by Western observers.South African voters queued late into the night, forcing polling stations to remain open beyond the stipulated closing time, a situation that was also seen negatively in Zimbabwe's elections.The South African elections have been seen by some as validating Zimbabwe's electoral processes and the Second Republic's democratic rule.
We believe that these two points create a situation where major bank brands may be understood by the public to be more sustainable than they are  thus representing potential greenwash in the UK banking sector, given that most UK consumers have a relationship with these banks, the letter noted.
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There are so many easy targets in the arts sector, this book should be shooting fish in a barrel. Trouble is, its a shockingly bad read. Its like being stuck in a confined space with a teenager with a sense of grievance about global warming, colonialism, the pay gap, the NHS and Black Lives Matter... only with the grievances directed at the arts. Youre not going to get any nonsense about Art for Arts sake from our author; shes too much taken up with issues around art in the service of equality, diversity and inclusion. Shes signed up to every modish cause: repatriate the Benin Bronzes and the Elgin Marbles? Of course! Parity of representation for Latinx, black and trans curators and artists? Yep. The NHS strikes? Shes with them all. As for her yoga teacher asking her to find the space between cynicism and magic, she lost me there.
News / National

by Staff reporter

Today, the Zimbabwe School of Infantry in Mbalabala is hosting a combined graduation parade for nine courses, presided over by Chief of Staff Major General Emmanuel Matatu.This marks the 88th graduation parade since independence, with students completing an arduous 18-week training period across various instructional courses.Five of these courses commenced on January 29, while the others began at the end of February this year, totaling 388 instructors across diverse fields.Among the graduates are students from sister military institutions, including one from the Air Force of Zimbabwe, eight from the Zimbabwe Republic Police, eleven from the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, and one female student from the Namibian Defence Forces.
Despite Dippy the Diplodocus retirement (for now, at least), the entrance hall of the Natural History Museum is as magnificent as ever: it is currently home to the 25-metre long skeleton of Hope the blue whale instead, which hangs from the ceiling as a reminder of humanitys responsibility to protect our planet. Inside its galleries, discover mind boggling bits of the natural world, from a 147-million-year-old Archaeopteryx to one of Charles Darwins very own pigeons.
In a statement on Friday, the organisers said: "We are appalled by the treatment of Faiza Shaheen, who was democratically selected to represent our community. We call for her immediate reinstatement as the Labour Party candidate and the right to vote for her to be our local MP."
"There is an ongoing threat that the Houthis pose, 197 attacks since November, all our intelligence indicates that previous sets of strikes have been successful in degrading military capabilities of the Houthis: targeting supply, command and control launch sites for missiles and there is also a risk in inaction that would damage the global economy and further risk our international security."
Canada is clashing with France over the country's share of the Atlantic halibut fishery. (Shutterstock - image credit)

Tensions are rising between Canada and France over fishing quotas for halibut, a valuable groundfish that migrates across the jurisdictions of both countries.

Fisheries and Oceans told CBC News in a statement Friday it is aware of vessels from Saint Pierre and Miquelon as well as the Faroe Islands taking part in recent fishing activity for Atlantic halibut adjacent to Canadian fisheries waters.

"We are deeply concerned about the impacts of this activity on the sustainability of this important fish stock, and we will take further actions as appropriate," said DFO spokesperson Axel Rioux.

"Canada continues to encourage France to engage in meaningful discussions to achieve a fair agreement that ensures the health and sustainability of the Atlantic halibut stock, and that recognizes the importance of this fishery to coastal communities in Atlantic Canada."

DFO's comments come after the Canadian halibut industry accused France of seeking an exorbitant share of the fishery in negotiations with Canada on quotas.

'Aggressive actions'

Canadian fishermen from Nova Scotia to Nunavut would be the losers if France prevails, said Bruce Chapman, executive director of the Atlantic Halibut Council, representing both inshore and offshore Canadian harvesters.

French territorial waters extend into the Atlantic from the islands of Saint Pierre and Miquelon, 25 kilometres from the southern coast of Newfoundland and Labrador.

"We urgently need the government of Canada's help to address and resolve this matter with France and Saint Pierre and Miquelon, whose aggressive actions are putting at risk the otherwise collegial and collaborative relationship between the two fishery interests, if not also more broadly," said Chapman.

Processing companies leading an effort to learn more about the migration and spawning of northern cod

Bruce Chapman of the Atlantic Halibut Council wants to see the government of Canada step in. (Patrick Butler / CBC)

For decades, the two countries have negotiated quota shares for so-called straddling stocks but have been unable to formalize an agreement on sharing halibut quota, most recently in 2016.

In a May 28 letter to the industry, Chapman said those negotiations were based on respective catch history, and the Saint Pierre and Miquelon share amounted to 1.5 per cent of the combined catch.

The Atlantic-wide landings were 4,000 tonnes in 2023. The fishery was valued at $100 million.

The French land halibut mostly as a bycatch in fisheries targeting other species, but that is changing.

When a French-flagged vessel  Terre Nuevas  began a targeted halibut fishery out of Saint Pierre, Canada asked to recommence negotiations, said Chapman.

French vessel landed 124 tonnes

Last September, in a Federal Court of Canada admiralty action over payment for the Faroese vessel, new owners SPM Ocean said the 37-metre liner caught 124 tonnes of halibut in French waters in 2023.

In his letter to industry, Chapman said France has increased "its previous demand, now wanting a quota percentage share in the order of four times its average catch history, well beyond its highest catch ever, ignoring the reality that any increase in the percentage share for Saint Pierre [and] Miquelon fishers would require a reduction in catch by Canadian fishers."

Beyond fishing in French waters, Chapman and other sources say directed halibut fishing is taking place just outside Canada's 200-mile limit off Newfoundland.

Earlier this month, the Terre Nuevas was halibut fishing beyond Saint Pierre and Miquelon waters in international waters just outside the limit, Chapman said.

FFAW Secretary-Treasurer Jason Spingle says fishermen are united in wanting change in the fishing industry.

Jason Spingle of the FFAW-Unifor union says he wants to see Canadian fishermen hold on to the share of the quota they've had historically. (Mark Quinn/CBC)

Jason Spingle, secretary-treasurer of the FFAW-Unifor fisheries union in Newfoundland and Labrador, said he wants Canada to protect its historic share of the quota.

"We need to get this resolved," he told CBC News. "We don't want this to spiral out of control here in any fashion."

A readout of a March 2024 meeting between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron noted the leaders "discussed common solutions to fishing interests and long-term sustainability."

On Thursday, the Prime Minister's Office declined to say if that was a reference to the disputed halibut fishery.

MORE TOP STORIES
Windows Server 2025 Now Available in Public Preview

Microsoft's Windows Server 2025 is now available in public preview  the next milestone toward full release.

Interested organizations can access the public preview via the Evaluation Center here. ISOs of the Datacenter and Standard editions are available for evaluation. Organizations can also test drive Windows Server 2025 using pre-built Azure images. Users will have the option to install the comparatively lightweight Server Core version, which is managed remotely and lacks a GUI, or the complete Server with Desktop Experience, which has the full GUI.

Windows Server 2025 is expected to become generally available sometime this fall as a Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) release, meaning it will be eligible for mainstream support benefits for five years, and extended for-pay support for five more.

Microsoft had previously explained that Windows Server 2025 will feature an easier update process, a pay-as-you-go subscription option on top of the usual perpetual license, improvements to Azure Stack HCI, hotpatching, broad availability of SMB over QUIC, and more improvements.

In a blog post, Ian LeGrow, head of Azure Edge + Platform at Microsoft, described a few more enhancements coming to Windows Server 2025, which he described as the "most secure and innovative version yet."

Other features described by LeGrow include:

New identity management capabilities via Active Directory.

Support for multisite workloads.

Azure Arc-enabled multicloud management.

GPU-related enhancements with the goal of supporting AI workloads.

New network management features.

Improved Hyper-V scalability and performance.

"This release delivers advanced security, new Azure hybrid features, a high-performance platform for your existing apps and AI workloads, and a modernized Windows Server experience," LeGrow said.

For more information, visit the Microsoft site.
ST. ANN  A Florissant man on Friday was sentenced to 25 years in prison for killing a man he lured to a home with the promise of paid sex.

Antonio Jones in April pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree robbery in St. Louis County.

He was sentenced Friday to serve 25 years in prison.

Jones and another man were charged after Joshua A. Vaughn, 33, was shot and killed in February 2023 inside a St. Ann home in the 10300 block of Millwood Avenue. Hed been shot five times.

Marlois Tre Tre Moore, of St. Charles, was arrested at the scene. A search dog helped find Jones, 19 at the time, hiding in a nearby shed.

Moore pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and first-degree robbery in March, according to records. He was sentenced two weeks ago to a total of 15 years in prison.

According to charging documents, Moore and Jones invited Vaughn into the home and demanded money, which Vaughn transferred electronically. Then, while Jones and Moore tried to force him to the basement, Vaughn turned around and struggled with one of them, and the other shot him, charging documents say.

St. Ann police Lt. George Ravens said Vaughn received an out-of-the-blue message on Instagram from Moore. Ravens said Moore reintroduced himself in the message as someone Vaughn had met when he worked at the Missouri Department of Social Services Division of Youth Services, the agency responsible for the care and treatment of juveniles committed to state custody.

Ravens said subsequent correspondence outlined an agreement that Vaughn would come to the home in St. Ann to pay for sex.
JEFFERSON CITY  After weathering a sticky ethics investigation in his final year as speaker of the Missouri House, Rep. Dean Plocher, a Republican candidate for secretary of state, is now being sued in connection with the events leading up to the probe.

Dana Rademan Miller, the nonpartisan chief clerk of the House, filed a whistleblower lawsuit Friday seeking financial damages in excess of $25,000 for the conduct of Plocher and his hand-picked chief of staff, former House Speaker Rod Jetton.

She is accusing them of mismanagement, abuse of authority, violations of policy, wasting of public resources and retaliation.

We have a culture of fear now in that building, Miller told reporters on the steps of the Cole County Courthouse just blocks from the Capitol.

Miller, an employee of the House for more than two decades, said she was attacked for reporting possible wrongdoing.

In a statement, Miller said Plocher failed to act in good faith and honor the rules and regulations to ensure honest government.

This behavior continues even now. I have tried, and continue to try, to take measures to protect myself and my colleagues from this inexcusable treatment. But I cant keep silent anymore, Miller said.

The timing of the filing was notable. It came a day after Plocher gaveled out the Houses spring session for the final time. Although lawmakers are on a summer break, he remains speaker until January and is expected to preside over the House during the September veto session.

Plocher, a former municipal judge, has been on a statewide tour touting the successes of a legislative session that produced the fewest number of policy bills in recent memory.

The ethics inquiry by the committee began last year after Plocher allegedly attempted to steer an $800,000 software contract for the House around the standard bidding process and then repaid a series of travel bills that he had charged to taxpayers.

Plocher fired two long-time House aides in the dust-up and another employee resigned from the leadership team.

Miller played a key role in raising questions about the proposed software purchase, which was being pushed by a well-connected lobbyist, John Bardgett.

The chief clerk also serves as the House Administrator and supervises the activity of eight nonpartisan administrative staff divisions.

Allegations included possible discussions of campaign contributions related to a successful contract.

We need to get this program up and going before the next campaign cycle kicks in, Plocher told Miller, according to the lawsuit.

Later, the filing shows Rep. Dale Wright, R-Farmington, suggesting that Plocher would retaliate if Miller didnt capitulate to the purchase.

Plaintiff understood this to be an explicit threat due to her voicing her continued opposition to what she saw as a flawed project meant only to line the pockets of a political contributor to Plocher that would result in him receiving political contributions despite the fact that the House did not need or want this expensive program, the suit says.

I do not believe that the people of this state would endorse a culture that exists on threats and fear, Miller said.

Treatment of women

The filing says concerns about Plochers behavior were not new.

According to the lawsuit, in May 2022, Miller privately counseled Plocher about complaints she had received about his treatment of female Republican lawmakers, including former Rep. Sara Walsh of Ashland, whom he called stupid.

Plochers reaction to plaintiffs sharing of those concerns was to be dismissive. He replied, They are like an invasive species.

When Miller expressed her confusion over that statement, Plocher clarified, Stupid Republican women  they are an invasive species.

Walsh, contacted Friday, confirmed Plocher called her stupid, adding Plocher was upset that she had introduced an amendment to repeal a gas tax increase approved the year before.

He said I was too stupid to draft it myself, Walsh said.

Plocher has claimed that the ethics probe was a sham and that it was a product of a deep state bureaucracy that wanted to depose him.

A spokesman did not respond to a request for comment.

The report did not find direct evidence that Plocher committed ethical violations related the various scandals and the only punishment it recommended was a letter of disapproval.

After the House Ethics Committee voted to dismiss the complaint against him in April, the Des Peres Republican compared himself to former President Donald Trump, a now convicted felon who has faced a litany of legal problems as he seeks a second term in the White House.

The committees decision to dismiss the case came despite evidence showing Plochers camp had tried to obstruct the investigation.

Among examples cited in the report: On three occasions in March and April, Plocher refused to sign off on subpoena requests by the committee.

Plocher also was accused of threatening witnesses and creating a culture of fear and retaliation.

House Ethics Committee Chairwoman Hannah Kelly, R-Mountain Grove, also accused Plocher of taking steps to threaten witnesses, block our investigation, and prevent this process from reaching its natural conclusion.

Surrounded by loyalists

Plocher surrounded himself with loyalists, including Jetton, the former speaker. Jetton, too, has faced legal challenges.

Jetton, who has helped organized Plochers recent statewide tour, faced felony charges following a sexual encounter where he was accused of physically assaulting a woman to the point of unconsciousness. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and was placed on probation.

The lawsuit says Jetton was micromanaging Miller because Plocher had lost all confidence in her. Jetton also is accused of considering the replacement of nonpartisan House Communications Director Benjamin Peters because Peters wasnt partisan enough.

Miller said she plans to stay in her post through the end of her term in January.

I feel diminished in my capacity, said Miller, who served under 11 speakers. She added none of Plochers predecessors had expressed sexist comments to her.

According to the most recent reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission, Plocher leads his seven Republican opponents in the fundraising race for the secretary of state post.

Plocher reported more than $1.3 million between his campaign account and an allied political action committee; the competitor closest to his dollar amount was state Sen. Denny Hoskins, R-Warrensburg, who had nearly $255,000 on hand.

Other Republicans running include state Rep. Adam Schwadron, state Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, Valentina Gomez, Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller, Jamie Corley and Mike Carter.

Schwadron, who called on Plocher to resign as speaker last year, said Friday, after the lawsuit was filed, that this is par for the course with him and thats a shame.
A gavel rests on the judges bench in the courtroom of the 39th Air Base Wing legal office at Nov. 14, 2019, at Incirlik Air Base, Turkey. (Joshua Jospeh Magbanu/U.S. Air Force)

Four Defense Department police officers and another civilian employee will each spend at least one year in federal prison after admitting they conspired to steal military gear from Anniston Army Depot in Alabama to be sold at a nearby military surplus store, the Justice Department announced Thursday.

The owner of the military surplus store in central Alabamas Sylacauga and two others described by the Justice Department as middlemen were also sentenced to more than one-year prison terms, federal authorities said. Seven of the eight individuals pleaded guilty to the conspiracy last year, while the other was convicted at trial, according to DOJ. They were recently sentenced in federal court.

Federal prosecutors said police officers from the Anniston Army Depot Directorate of Emergency Services  including two high ranking officers  and DOD civilians spent years stealing night vision gear from warehouses, including scopes that attached to military weapon systems to provide operators with instant nighttime engagement capabilities and/or improved target acquisition. The police and DOD civilians delivered the stolen items to middlemen who then provided it to the military surplus store for sale. The conspirators split the profits of their scheme, prosecutors said.

Those sentenced recently were:

 Jerry Baker, 63, of Hokes Bluff, Ala., who was a captain with the depots Directorate of Emergency Services. Baker pleaded guilty to one charge of conspiracy to steal U.S. property. He was sentenced to 25 months in federal prison and ordered to pay restitution of $3.75 million to the Defense Department.

 Kelvin Battle, 54, of Anniston, Ala., who was a sergeant with the depots Directorate of Emergency Services. Battle pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal U.S. property and was sentenced to 21 months in prison and ordered to pay restitution of $2,414,582 to the Defense Department.

 Eric Matraia, 54, of Munford, Ala., who was a guard with the Directorate of Emergency Services. Matraia pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal U.S. property, and he was sentenced to 16 months in prison and ordered to pay $3 million restitution to the Defense Department.

 Shane Farthing, 42, of Gadsden, Ala., who was a guard with the Directorate of Emergency Services. Farthing pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal U.S. property and was sentenced to 15 months in prison and ordered to pay $707,000 restitution to the Defense Department.

 Scott Bunch, 54, of Alexandria, Ala., who was a Defense Logistics Agency supervisor. Bunch pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal U.S. property and was sentenced to 12 months in prison and ordered to pay $3.75 million restitution to the Defense Department.

 Christopher Price, 55, of Childersburg, Ala., who was the owner of a military surplus store in Sylacauga. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal U.S. property and was sentenced to 14 months in prison and ordered to pay $3,940,940 restitution to the Defense Department.

 Steve Bonner, 63, of Goodwater, Ala., who was a middleman. Bonner was found guilty of conspiracy to steal U.S. property following a four-day trial, and he was sentenced to 30 months in prison and ordered to pay $1,873,300 in restitution to the Defense Department.

 James Kenneth Scott, 73, of Sylacauga, who was a middleman. Scott pleaded guilty to conspiracy to steal U.S. property and was sentenced to 12 months in prison and ordered to pay $3.5 million in restitution to the Defense Department.

Two other Defense Logistics Agency employees, Stantillio Whitfield and Tevin Fletcher, pleaded guilty in 2022 for their roles in the gear stealing scheme.

The Justice Department brought charges against the men in 2022 and 2023 after an investigation by the Defense Department inspector generals Criminal Investigative Service, the Defense Logistics Agency inspector general and the Army Criminal Investigation Division.

Officials said the scheme not only cost the Defense Department money and equipment but also eroded the Armys combat readiness.
The U.S. Coast Guard fast-response cutter Glen Harris sails in the Arabian Gulf in October 2023. (William Hunter/U.S. Army)

Nearly 250 Coast Guard members who were unlawfully forced into retirement under the guise of a force reduction could be entitled to millions of dollars in back pay and benefits, according to a federal court decision.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in March upheld a lower courts 2021 decision that the Coast Guards use of what it called performance-based panels to thin the upper enlisted ranks violated federal law and the due-process afforded troops when separated from the service. The Coast Guard had until Thursday to appeal to the Supreme Court but did not, said Nathan Mammen, the attorney who filed the suit in 2018.

Were supposed to trust our leadership to do the right thing, and if they dont do the right thing, they need to be held accountable, said Mike Bumgardner, a retired master chief named in the lawsuit.

Now the Coast Guard must provide back pay and benefits to Bumgardner and five other retired service members named in the suit. Mammen said he plans to ask the court to ensure the other 237 members who signed onto the lawsuit receive the same.

Most of them were serving on enlistment contracts with no end date, so its unclear exactly how the Coast Guard will determine what each individual is owed, he said.

The Coast Guard referred comment on the lawsuit to the Justice Department, which provided attorneys for the case. The Justice Department also declined to comment.

The lawsuit stemmed from a Coast Guard decision in 2010 to rebalance the force, according to court documents. At the time, senior enlisted members could reenlist indefinitely and many were sticking around for a full 30-year career. Service leaders felt this limited promotion opportunities for lower enlisted members, so the Coast Guard held Active Duty Enlisted Career Retention Screening Panels from 2010 to 2014 and removed more than 800 members as a reduction in force.

Going this route to retire people saved the Coast Guard money and avoided some administrative hurdles, said Marc Lippman, a master chief petty officer forced to retire in 2015.

I get the ax, and I dont know why. I cant appeal it. I cant know the charges against me. None of those protections, he said. They said the reason for this is because there was a reduction in force. But I know there wasnt a reduction in force.

Lippman filed the first lawsuit against the Coast Guard about the panels in 2015 and settled in 2018, setting the groundwork for the class action lawsuit later that year.

In July 2021, the U.S. Court of Federal Claims ruled the panels were not a reduction in force because no job positions were eliminated. Instead, members were moved out of those positions to make way for others to take the jobs.

It really tore a part of my soul from me, said Jason Boop, a retired chief petty officer who has joined the lawsuit. Its almost like youre wearing a scarlet letter like youve done something bad in your career to make the Coast Guard boot you out.

Outwardly, Coast Guard leaders told these service members that the panels were performance and conduct-based panels and those removed by them were no longer good enough to serve, Mammen said.

The panels stopped short of saying these service members had committed some form of misconduct because that would trigger a costly and timely process in which the Coast Guard is required to provide service members legal representation to fight the allegations.

When Boop found out in 2013 that he was being forced to retire, he said he was serving as a commanding officer in Portsmouth, Va., feeling about as happy with his military career as he had ever been in his more than 20 years of service. He was aiming to become a warrant officer. Instead, he has worked in insurance for the past decade.

Had I stayed in all that time, I wouldnt need a second job. My wife wouldnt need a second job. Were both working our butts off, Boop said. Theres a lot of these repercussions that come every day that I think about it, and so Id like to let go of the past because I have two beautiful children.

The lawsuit ending is one step toward that closure, he said.

In the five years that the Coast Guard ran the panels, it retired 832 enlisted members, according to court documents. However, only those retired between 2012 and 2014 were eligible to sue in 2018 because of the statute of limitations.

Brian Schenk, an attorney who has been following the case, said he is hopeful the retirees who could not join the lawsuit can take the courts ruling to the Board for Correction of Military Records of the Coast Guard and get their military records corrected.

Previous efforts to appeal to the board had not been successful, he said.

Lippman said he saw those failures and determined a lawsuit was his best course of action. In his settlement, the Coast Guard increased his years of service from 23 years to 27 because thats how long hed been fighting the service in court. He got back pay of about $200,000 and now gets retirement checks for the increased years of service.

If the Coast Guard were to offer a similar settlement to all 243 members of the class action lawsuit, it could cost the service roughly $45 million, Lippman said.

People who instituted this program need to be called in front of a congressional committee, he said.

For Bumgardner, hes looking more for an apology.

I think the Coast Guard needs to admit that it failed and that it was wrong in the way they went about the process, he said. When all this went down there was a feeling in the workforce that the people who were subjected to this were dirtbags. It had all kinds of negative connotations to it. It was difficult.
U.S. Marines and Australian troops plan movements during the Southern Jackaroo exercise at Townsville Field Training Area in Queensland, Australia, May 25, 2024. (Earik Barton/U.S. Marine Corps)

Four hundred U.S. Marines are in Australia preparing for the live-fire phase of a multinational exercise as Aussie sailors help crew a Navy submarine tender that recently arrived Down Under.

The Marines are at Townsville Field Training Area, Queensland, for the annual Southern Jackaroo exercise. Jackaroo  Australian slang for a young person working on a farm to gain experience  began March 20 and runs through June 10.

The training involves nearly 2,300 troops from the United States, Australia, Japan and Papua New Guinea.

There have been many lessons learned during this exercise, which prepare us to respond to events together in the region if required, Australian army Brigadier Dave McCammon, commander of the Townsville-based 3rd Brigade, said in a statement Friday.

The Marines  members of a 2,000-strong force that arrived in the Northern Territory in late March for a six-month rotation  went to Townsville by air while contractors shipped their tactical vehicles more than 1,500 miles by road, said Maj. Neal Jones, Marine Rotational Force  Darwins executive officer for ground combat.

The Marines are from 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment out of Camp Pendleton, Calif., he said by phone Thursday. Their specialties include infantry, combat logistics, mortars, anti-armor, medical and engineering.

Its early in the rotation, he said. We are generating readiness by getting down here and conducting field training.

Southern Jackaroos warfighting component involves battling an adversary played by Australian soldiers from 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, Jones said. Soon, theyll start live-fire training with missiles, rockets, mortars, machine guns and rifles.

The best part has been the Marines getting to see another part of Australia and working with another Australian unit, he said.

Meanwhile, the submarine tender USS Emory S. Land is making a port call on Darwin that includes community and cultural events on shore. Australian sailors have helped crew the Guam-based vessel since January, Australias Department of Defence said in a statement Thursday.

The submarine tender USS Emory S. Land prepares to pull into HMAS Coonawarra, a navy base in Darwin, Australia, on May 28, 2024. (Reyes Villatoro/U.S. Navy)

Australia is gearing up to operate its own nuclear-powered submarines using technology shared by the U.S. and United Kingdom under the AUKUS alliance.

More than 30 of our people have spent the last five months in Guam with our US Navy partners, learning the ropes of nuclear submarine tender maintenance, Australian Vice Adm. Mark Hammond said in the statement.

This unique program will contribute significantly to our Navys future, developing our people to have the skills to operate, maintain and steward conventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines, he said.
Chief Petty Officer Bryce Pedicini, seen here in 2021, was sentenced May 29, 2024, to 18 years in military prison for attempted espionage. (Facebook)

A sailor convicted of attempted espionage was sentenced to 18 years in prison by a military judge on Wednesday.

Chief Petty Officer Bryce Pedicini, formerly a fire controlman aboard the Japan-based guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins, also received a dishonorable discharge and a reduction in rank to seaman recruit, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service announced in a next-day news release.

This sentence holds Mr. Pedicini to account for his betrayal of his country and fellow service members, NCIS director Omar Lopez said in the release. The criminal act by this lone individual should not diminish the incredible sacrifices made by our service members and their families on a daily basis to protect our nation.

Pedicinis sentencing comes more than a month after his April 19 court-martial conviction in San Diego, where he was found guilty of attempted espionage, failure to obey a lawful order and attempted violation of a lawful general order.

He was initially charged with violating Article 103a of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which covers espionage and attempted espionage. The charges included seven specifications of espionage and one of attempted espionage, according to his charge sheet.

NCIS spokesman Jeff Houston declined to comment on why Pedicini was convicted of attempted espionage over espionage, in an April 22 email to Stars and Stripes.

Pedicini pleaded guilty to a charge related to taking a personal phone into a secure room but contested the other charges, San Diegos ABC 10 News reported April 16.

The guided-missile destroyer USS Higgins departs Yokosuka Naval Base, Japan, on May 16, 2024. (James Kimber/U.S. Navy)

The sentence will take effect following an appeal of the judges dismissal of another charge  communication of defense information  but that appeal is unlikely to affect the sentence, NCIS said in Thursdays release.

Between November 2022 and February 2023, Pedicini transmitted at least seven documents to a foreign agent via Facebook Messenger, the encrypted messaging service Telegram and other electronic means, according to court records provided by the Office of the Judge Advocate General.

In May 2023, he sent photographs of material accessed through a computer screen connected to a Defense Department network used to transmit classified information.

Court records show that a person identified only as a citizen and employee of a foreign government first contacted Pedicini through Messenger on Oct. 24, 2022, offering money for details about U.S. military capabilities and strategies in the region.

ABC 10 News identified that individual as a woman in an April 11 report citing prosecutor Leah OBriens court statements.

As a fire controlman, Pedicini worked with everything from radars, fire control systems and computer systems to the Navys most advanced missile system, Aegis, which is used aboard guided-missile destroyers and cruisers, according to the Navys description of the job.

The woman convinced Pedicini to send classified information on a ballistic missile system and documents that outlined Chinese and Russian threats, OBrien said at the court-martial.

Pedicini first received $50 for filling out a survey and later $1,000 for initial documents.

The woman offered him more money based on the value and sensitivity of the information and specifically asked for classified information, according to court records.

Posing as a researcher is a tactic increasingly used by foreign adversaries to obtain national defense information, NCIS said in Thursdays release.

Pedicini, who has remained in pre-trial confinement since being detained by NCIS on May 19, 2023, will serve his sentence at a military prison, according to NCIS.
Paratroopers with the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 9th Psychological Operations Battalion, Utah National Guard and Moroccan armed forces land in a drop zone near Ben Guerir, Morocco, during exercise African Lion on May 20, 2024. (Nathaniel Free/Army)

This years African Lion became real-world action for members of the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, who airlifted a U.S. soldier with a gastrointestinal infection from Tunisia to Ramstein Air Base in Germany three weeks into the major exercise.

The ailing soldier was flown from El Aouina Air Base aboard a Tunisian C-130J Super Hercules on May 4 after receiving treatment at a local hospital, according to a statement this week by the 86th Airlift Wing.

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Chelsea Castro, assigned to the 349th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, and members of the Moroccan armed forces train together on aeromedical evacuations during exercise African Lion at Kenitra Air Base, Morocco, on May 24, 2024. Earlier in May, the 86th AES evacuated a U.S. soldier from El Aouina Air Base, Tunisia, to Ramstein Air Base in Germany. (Jenna Bond/Air Force)

Wing officials did not immediately respond Friday to requests for an update on the condition of the soldier, who had complications to upper and lower extremities at the time of evacuation, Capt. Maria Oliver said in the statement.

The airlift was a textbook case of the sort of cooperation fostered between the U.S. and allies by African Lion, which was recognizing its 20th anniversary before wrapping up Friday after six weeks.

I loved working with the Tunisian air force because they were so accommodating and eager to help us complete our mission, Staff Sgt. Dylan Cruse, a technician with the 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, said in the statement. They went out of their way to help us.

A Senegalese soldier fires an M249 squad automatic weapon while Maryland National Guardsman Sgt. Mathew Angell serves as a range safety officer during African Lion in Dodji, Senegal, on May 23, 2024. (Nicholas J. De La Pena/Army)

This years African Lion took place in Tunisia, Ghana, Senegal and Morocco. It was the largest yet, with more than 8,100 participants from 27 nations, organizers said.

What started as a bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Morocco 20 years ago now has expanded in size and scope.

The biggest thing is the consistency. It continues to grow and get bigger and attract more partners, Lt. Col. Michael Weisman, a spokesman for the Southern European Task Force, Africa said Thursday in an interview.

U.S. Army Maj. Amber Morton-Chism, a public health nurse with U.S. Army Health Center Vicenza, Italy, consults with a translator as part of exercise African Lion in Damongo, Ghana, on May 17, 2024. (Caitlinn Belcher/Army)

Although the majority of participants are African countries, the U.K., Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands and other countries under a NATO contingent join as well.

This year, some countries were concerned about counterterrorism because of an increase in violent extremist organizations in West Africa, Weisman said.

So we offer training like how to sustain a brigade, what does medical infrastructure look like, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, building trust with the population, he said. The ultimate solution to terrorism is not military. Its a whole-government approach.

This years African Lion coincided with Flintlock 24, an exercise to strengthen partner nations ability to counter violent extremist organizations and cooperate across borders.

Still, some past partners were missing this year. Most notable was Niger, which participated in Flintlock last year and hosted it in 2014.

But after a military coup in July 2023, the U.S. froze security support as required by law and paused counterterrorism activities in the country.

In April, the U.S. agreed to remove its troops from Niger, putting the future of the $110 million American drone base in Agadez in doubt.

And this month, Nigers ruling group revoked an accord in place since 2012 that allowed U.S. military personnel in the country.

The rifts have created opportunities for Russia, which has dispatched troops to train Nigerien forces.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversees a multiple launch rocket system drill in Pyongyang, May 30, 2024, in this image from the state-run Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA)

CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea  North Koreas leader oversaw a super-large multiple launch rocket drill on Thursday, an act the United States, South Korea and Japan described as short-range ballistic missile testing.

Kim Jong Un supervised the drill that used 600mm artillery rockets to hit a maritime target 225 miles from Pyongyang, well within range of Seoul, according to a Friday report by the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

The drill aimed to ensure the sovereignty and security of the state with powerful and overwhelming means of war, the report said.

Photos released by KCNA show at least 18 launchers firing simultaneously as Kim watched.

South Koreas military characterizes those rockets as short-range ballistic missiles due to their large, 600mm size compared to conventional artillery.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversees a multiple launch rocket system drill in Pyongyang, May 30, 2024, in this image from the state-run Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA)

Seoul said at least 10 ballistic missiles were fired from Pyongyang at 6:14 a.m. Thursday that flew 217 miles before splashing down in the East Sea, better known as the Sea of Japan.

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command issued a statement Thursday saying the weapons used technology that violated U.N. Security Council resolutions prohibiting North Korea from testing ballistic missiles.

These launches continue [North Koreas] reckless behavior, which poses a grave threat to the Korean Peninsula, the region, and international peace and security and undermine the global non-proliferation regime, the statement said.

Thursdays salvo came three days after Pyongyang attempted to place a military spy satellite in orbit. The rocket carrying the satellite  the communist regimes fourth attempt in 12 months  failed shortly after takeoff and exploded over the Yellow Sea.

North Korea also floated around 260 balloons carrying bags of trash and manure over the Demilitarized Zone and into several South Korean provinces Wednesday. KCNA said they were a response to balloons regularly sent northward by South Korean human rights activists.

The activists frequently send balloons carrying money, food and household goods in hopes theyll reach North Korean civilians.

Another 600 balloons carrying paper scraps, cigarette butts and other household trash were discovered south of the border late Saturday.

It is customary in South Korea that some government officials speak to the media on condition of anonymity.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is seen in Singapore on May 31, 2024. (Idrees Ali/REUTERS)

SINGAPORE  The U.S. and Chinese defense chiefs locked horns on Taiwan in their first face-to-face meeting in two years on Friday, while Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr slammed illegal, coercive actions in the South China Sea, a clear censure of Beijing.

The exchanges at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asias biggest defence forum, came amid reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy would fly in to attend the meeting on Saturday.

He is expected to try to drum up support for a Ukraine peace conference to be hosted by Switzerland in mid-June. Russia has not been invited and China has confirmed it will not attend.

Zelenskiy has urged U.S. President Joe Biden to attend, but Washington has not confirmed who it will send.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinas defense minister, Dong Jun, met on the sidelines of the Singapore conference earlier in the day, reiterating their differences on Taiwan and other issues but emphasizing the need to keep military-to-military communications open.

Austin expressed concern about Chinese military activity near Taiwan, including after the islands presidential election and the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te this month, U.S. Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder said in a statement.

The secretary expressed concern about recent provocative PLA activity around the Taiwan Strait, and he reiterated that the PRC should not use Taiwans political transition - part of a normal, routine democratic process - as a pretext for coercive measures, Ryder said after the 75-minute meeting.

He was referring to the Peoples Liberation Army and the Peoples Republic of China.

Dong warned Austin that the U.S. should not interfere in Chinas affairs with Taiwan, defense ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told reporters. China claims the democratically governed island as its own territory.

The U.S. approach to Taiwan violates commitments made by the United States and sends the wrong signal to separatist forces in Taiwan, the spokesperson quoted Dong as saying. Beijing calls the new president, Lai, a separatist.

A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the meeting marked an important step in opening lines of communication.

The official said Austin was firm but professional and also brought up Chinas nuclear, space and cyber developments.

The two sides also discussed the South China Sea and the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTE

Marcos, making a keynote address at the meeting, said that the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries had a vision for peace, stability, and prosperity in the disputed South China Sea, but that this was being undermined by other actors, although he did not name China.

Illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions continue to violate our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction, Marcos said.

Encounters between the Philippines and China in Asias most contested waters have grown more tense and frequent over the past year as Beijing presses its claims on shoals sitting in waters that Manila says are well within its territory.

Chinas coast guard has stepped up so-called grey-zone activities such as use of water cannons, collisions and ramming tactics to try to stop the Philippines patrolling and resupplying its troops.

The Philippines dispute with China coincides with an increase in its security engagements with the United States under Marcos, including expansion of U.S. access to Philippine bases. The U.S. and the Philippines are treaty allies.

Marcos, however, underlined that both Beijing and Washington had a major role in keeping peace in the region.

The continued stability of this region requires China and the United States to manage their rivalry in a responsible manner, he said. Their contest is exacerbating flashpoints and has created new security dilemmas.

China claims sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Taiwan Defense Minister Wellington Koo told reporters in Taipei on Friday that increased tensions around the island would diminish if Beijings military drills there ceased.

If China stops its provocation and intimidation then peace and stability can be maintained, he said.

The region has seen a sharp uptick in such exercises in recent years, according to a report by the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) released on Friday.

Although both the United States and China have significantly increased the volume of military exercises across Asia, Beijings drills still lag in scale and complexity, the study found.

The Shangri-La Dialogue, in its 21st iteration, is held every year in Singapore by IISS, gathering military and political leaders to discuss security issues.

Austin addresses the meeting on Saturday and Dong on Sunday. Indonesias President-elect Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to speak to delegates on Saturday.

Reporting by Idrees Ali, Xinghui Kok, Fanny Potkin, Joe Brock and Tom Westbrook in Singapore, Mikhail Flores in Manila and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Writing by Gerry Doyle; Editing by Jamie Freed and Raju Gopalakrishnan
Xi urges greater efforts to build China-Arab community with shared future

Xinhua) 08:03, May 31, 2024

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and delivers a keynote speech at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on China and Arab states to deepen cooperation and step up the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future.

Xi made the remarks in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF).

CHINA-ARAB RELATIONS SCALING NEW HEIGHTS

China-Arab relations have kept scaling new heights since the beginning of the new century. At the first China-Arab States Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2022, China and Arab states agreed to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era.

Xi said that China is satisfied with the progress that has been made in delivering on the first China-Arab States Summit's outcomes. China will work with the Arab side to enhance the role of the summit in providing strategic guidance for continued "leapfrog growth" of China-Arab relations.

Xi announced that China will host the second China-Arab States Summit in 2026, which is set to be another milestone in China-Arab relations.

As changes unseen in a century unfold rapidly across the world, both China and Arab states strive to accomplish their historical missions of national rejuvenation and faster national development. Building a China-Arab community with a shared future is a strong statement of the common desire for a new era of China-Arab relations and a better future for the world, Xi said.

Xi said China will work with the Arab side to make China-Arab relations a model for maintaining world peace and stability, a fine example of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, a paradigm of harmonious coexistence between civilizations, and a model for promoting good global governance.

It is believed that the strategic mutual trust between China and Arab states will be further consolidated, cooperation in various fields will be comprehensively promoted, and the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future will see more solid steps, said Li Chen, ambassador for CASCF affairs of China's Foreign Ministry.

FIVE COOPERATION FRAMEWORKS

At the first China-Arab States Summit in 2022, Xi put forward "eight major cooperation initiatives" for practical cooperation.

Early harvests have been achieved in all the "eight major cooperation initiatives," Xi said, adding that China is ready to work with the Arab side on that basis to put in place "five cooperation frameworks" to step up the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future.

The five frameworks consist of a more dynamic framework for innovation, an expanded framework for investment and finance cooperation, a more multifaceted framework for energy cooperation, a more balanced framework for mutually beneficial economic and trade ties, and a broader framework for people-to-people exchanges.

China will build with the Arab side 10 joint laboratories in such areas as life and health, artificial intelligence (AI), green and low-carbon development, modern agriculture, and space and information technology. The two sides will also enhance cooperation on AI to make it empower the real economy and to promote a broad-based global governance system on AI, Xi said.

China is ready to establish with the Arab side an industry and investment cooperation forum, Xi said, adding that China supports closer cooperation between financial institutions from the two sides, and welcomes Arab banks to join the Cross-border Interbank Payment System.

China will further enhance strategic cooperation with the Arab side on oil and gas, and is ready to work with the Arab side on new energy technology R&D and equipment production, according to Xi.

China stands ready to accelerate the negotiations on bilateral and regional free trade agreements, welcomes active participation of the Arab side in the China International Import Expo, and is willing to expand import of non-energy products from the Arab side, especially agricultural products, Xi noted.

China is ready to establish with the Arab side the China-Arab Center of Global Civilization Initiative, Xi said, adding that China plans to work with the Arab side to achieve the goal of 10 million two-way visits of tourists in the next five years.

The development of Arab-China relations has broad prospects and great potential, and both sides have a sincere desire to further enhance relations and strengthen cooperation. It is believed that the work and achievements of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum will have a pragmatic and positive role in promoting the development of both sides in various fields, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said.

STICKING TO TWO-STATE SOLUTION

The Middle East is a land bestowed with broad prospects for development, but the war is still raging on it. Since last October, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has escalated drastically, throwing the people into tremendous sufferings, Xi said.

He stressed that war should not continue indefinitely, justice should not be absent forever, and commitment to the two-State solution should not be wavered at will.

China firmly supports the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital. It supports Palestine's full membership in the U.N., and supports a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference, he added.

China will continue to provide assistance to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support post-conflict reconstruction, and support the work of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in providing emergency humanitarian assistance to Gaza, Xi said.

China has fully implemented the Global Security Initiative, actively promoted the political settlement of regional hotspot issues, and brokered a historic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a move that not only helped ease tensions within the region but also catalyzed a wave of reconciliations among Arab states and within the broader region, said Wu Sike, China's former special envoy to the Middle East.

Bahrain highly appreciates China's firm support for the just cause of the Arabs, especially on the Palestinian question, its tremendous efforts to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza and its full support for the establishment of an independent State of Palestine, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa said.

The 10th ministerial conference of the CASCF adopted the Beijing Declaration, the CASCF execution plan for 2024-2026, and a China-Arab states joint statement on the Palestinian issue.

During the conference, China also signed a number of bilateral and multilateral cooperation documents with the participating countries and the General Secretariat of the Arab League.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and delivers a keynote speech at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Chinese President Xi Jinping poses for a group photo with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Tunisia's President Kais Saied, the United Arab Emirates' President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, and heads of delegations of 22 Arab countries in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and delivered a keynote speech at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Thursday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and delivers a keynote speech at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and delivers a keynote speech at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
A pack of European gray wolves moves through the U.S. Army training area in Grafenwoehr, Germany, in a photo captured by a trail camera July 8, 2023. (Federal forestry office Grafenwoehr)

GRAFENWOEHR, Germany  A population of European gray wolves, a species hunted to extinction in Germany by the end of the 19th century, is now thriving in the vast expanse of the U.S. Army training range in this Bavarian town.

Following the arrival of a pair of wolves in 2016, their number at the Grafenwoehr Training Area has grown to at least 17 in what appears to be two distinct packs. That tally is expected to grow in the coming weeks as pups emerge from their dens and are spotted by trail cameras.

The 90-square-mile training area, home to the 7th Army Training Command, is the services largest in Europe. Its unspoiled forest is home to numerous food sources for wolves, including red and roe deer, wild boars, beavers and otters.

Wildlife really has a paradise out there, said Stefan Haertl, an environmental engineer for U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria. There is no disturbance by tourists or (dog walkers). They have adjusted to firing or tanks moving.

Alexander Krone, head of Germanys federal forestry service in Grafenwoehr, said the ranges also have low speed limits, making crashes involving a wolf unlikely. Soldiers are given a field card with instructions should they have an encounter with one.

The animal has made a comeback in the country in the years since the 1990 passage of the Federal Nature Conservation Act, which affords wolves the highest protection status and makes it illegal to kill them, Krone said.

Lone wolves began to trickle in from eastern countries like Poland after World War II, Krone said. However, hunting was allowed in the former East Germany, largely stopping them from moving west.

After the Berlin Wall fell in 1989 and conservation efforts took shape in the wake of German reunification, the species expanded to new territories. Now wolves come from all directions, Haertl added.

We estimate we have stable territories of two reproducing females, Krone said of the Grafenwoehr population. I think we have to accept that the wolf is here.

Through April 2023, there were 1,339 wolves in 184 packs reported across Germany, up from 1,175 wolves in 161 packs the previous year, according to data from Germanys Federal Office for Nature Conservation.

The animals are not considered a threat to humans or livestock if the appropriate precautions are taken, Krone said. Information is the key to avoiding conflict.

A female European gray wolf is captured by a trail camera on March 5, 2024, while moving through the U.S. Army training area in Grafenwoehr, Germany. (Federal forestry office Grafenwoehr)

Wolves are naturally afraid of humans, according to a federal forestry service fact sheet. They will remain elusive unless they feel threatened or become accustomed to humans by being fed or stumbling upon discarded food. Domesticated dogs should be kept on a leash while walking in the forest, especially during mating season months of February and March.

After a wolf killed a sheep off base a few years ago, shepherds and farmers were asked to put safeguards in place to protect livestock, Haertl said. Electrified fences and highly trained guard dogs now protect herds.

Since then, there havent been any incidents, but even so, public sentiment in the Grafenwoehr area remains mixed, Haertl said.

Anyone who sees a wolf in the wild should remain calm and give the animal time to retreat, according to the forestry service fact sheet. Make noise like clapping or shouting if the wolf gets too close and throw stones or sticks as a last resort.

No one has to be afraid of being attacked by a wolf, Haertl said. If you know you live in a wolf territory, like we do around the training area, its just a matter of following the rules.
This photo illustration created on April 13, 2023, shows Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira reflected in an image of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. (Stefani Reynolds, AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

WASHINGTON  The Massachusetts Air National Guard unit of which Jack Teixeira was a member when he leaked classified documents will resume its intelligence operations June 1, the Air Force announced Friday.

The [102nd] Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group will resume its intelligence mission in support of Distributed Ground Station-Massachusetts, Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said in a statement.

The Air Force suspended the units operations after Teixeira, 22, was arrested in April 2023. Officials said he had been sharing top-secret information with other users of the social media site Discord. The leaks included intelligence on Russias war in Ukraine, terrorist plotting in Afghanistan and the threat posed to Taiwan by China.

The 102nd Intelligence Wings mission is to provide worldwide precision intelligence and command and control  for expeditionary combat support and homeland security, according to a statement on its website.

Teixeira, a member of the wing at Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod, joined the Air National Guard in 2019 and attained the rank of airman first class and became a Cyber Transport Systems journeyman. The job is like an information technology specialist.

The Air Force found Teixeira acted alone but disciplined 15 officials, concluding they were derelict in their duties and failed to respond appropriately to the situation, the service inspector general said in December.

Col. Sean Riley, commander of the 102nd Intelligence Wing, was relieved of his command, and Col. Enrique Dovalo, the wings surveillance and reconnaissance group commander, received an administrative action for concerns with unit culture and compliance with policies and standards. Also, commanders from the 102nd Intelligence Support Squadron and the detachment overseeing administrative support for airmen in the unit were permanently removed, according to the IG report, which did not name them.

The Air Force took the intelligence mission from the 102nd after the leaks were discovered and the groups mission was reassigned to other units.

Teixeira pleaded guilty in March and faces more than 16 years in federal prison after reaching a plea deal with the Justice Department on six counts of willful retention and transmission of national defense information. He remains in custody while awaiting sentencing scheduled for the fall.

The Air Force opened preliminary criminal proceedings on May 14 because Teixeira faces military charges. He is accused of obstructing justice and failing to obey orders. The hearing was the first step in determining whether the case should proceed to a court-martial.
Retired Adm. Robert Burke, then the commander of Joint Force Command Naples, speaks to NATO military members in June 2021 in Romania. (NATO )

WASHINGTON  A former vice chief of naval operations faces up to 30 years in prison after being arrested Friday along with two business executives on criminal charges involving a U.S. government contract bribery scheme, the Justice Department announced.

Retired Adm. Robert Burke, 62, of Coconut Creek, Fla., is accused of having been involved in the scheme from 2020 to 2022, according to an indictment unsealed Friday. Burke was the 40th vice chief of naval operations from June 2019 until June 2020 and concurrently served as commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa from 2020 until his retirement in 2022, according to his service biography.

Business executives Yongchul Charlie Kim and Meghan Messenger of New York were also arrested. They are the co-CEOs of a company referred to as Company A in the indictment. A website for a technology and services company called Next Jump identifies a Charlie Kim and a Meghan Messenger as co-CEOs.

All three were charged with bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery. Burke is also charged with performing acts affecting a personal financial interest and concealing material facts from the United States, the Justice Department said.

Burke could face up to 30 years in prison, while Kim and Messenger each face up to 20 years.

Company A provided a workforce training pilot program to a small component of the Navy from August 2018 to July 2019, according to the Justice Department. The Navy terminated the contract with the company in late July and directed Company A not to contact Burke.

At the meeting, the charged defendants allegedly agreed that Burke would use his position as a Navy admiral to steer a sole-source contract to Company A in exchange for future employment at the company, the Justice Department said. They allegedly further agreed that Burke would use his official position to influence other Navy officers to award another contract to Company A to train a large portion of the Navy with a value Kim allegedly estimated to be triple-digit millions.

Burke in December 2021 ordered his staff to award a contract to Company A to train personnel under his command in Italy and Spain. Company A carried out the training in January 2022, according to the Justice Department.

Burke tried to convince a senior Navy admiral -- not identified by federal authorities -- to award another contract to the company.

To conceal the scheme, Burke allegedly made several false and misleading statements to the Navy, including by creating the false appearance that Burke played no role in issuing the contract and falsely implying that Company As employment discussions with Burke only began months after the contract was awarded, the Justice Department said.

After retiring, Burke began working at Company A in October 2022 at a yearly starting salary of $500,000 and a grant of 100,000 stock options.

The Department of the Navy has fully cooperated with this investigation from the onset. We take this matter very seriously and will continue to cooperate with the Department of Justice, Rear Adm. Ryan Perry, Navy chief of information, said in a statement.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott greets Texas National Guard troops at Forward Operating Base Eagle Pass on May 31, 2024. (Office of the Texas Governor)

AUSTIN, Texas  Roughly 300 Texas National Guard troops on Friday moved into an 80-acre base being constructed along the U.S. border with Mexico as part of a mission to stop migrants from crossing into the United States, the states governor said.

Forwarding Operating Base Eagle Pass on the Rio Grande in southwest Texas is still being built, but it will eventually house up to 1,800 troops in single-occupancy rooms who are all working on the state-sponsored mission known as Operation Lone Star.

Maj. Gen. Thomas Suelzer, commander of the Texas National Guard, and Gov. Greg Abbott hosted a media tour of the base Friday and answered questions in front of a backdrop of Guard soldiers standing at ease.

The three-year-old, multibillion-dollar mission puts Guard members at the border alongside state police to deter illegal activity such as human smuggling and drug trafficking. Abbott and the Texas National Guard have been tight-lipped about the total number of troops assigned to the mission.

Once the new base at Eagle Pass is fully operational in about five months, the Guard will close three smaller base camps scattered along the Texas border, Suelzer said. The Guard will also move its Operation Lone Star headquarters to the new base from McAllen, which is about 290 miles southeast. It will also move most of its logistical supplies there.

This will save the state about $11.5 million each month in the cost of housing troops, Suelzer said. That estimate does not include the cost of gas to drive back and forth to more distant bases or hotels.

Its operationally more effective and efficient to build this base here. Its right in the middle of the 1,254 miles of border that were taking operational control of, Suelzer said.

The new base is about six miles from Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, a city-owned park on the Rio Grande seized earlier this year by the Texas Guard. State troops have blocked federal immigration agents from entering the 47-acre park, which is enclosed with wire barriers.

Abbott said only about two people a day make their way in and are arrested by state police.

The desire to maintain control of Shelby Park is not long term, he said. It will reopen when there is operational control of the border.

The buildings at the new base are modular, and some facilities are trailers and tents, according to a presentation from the contractor Team Housing Solutions that was posted to the states budget website.

The New Braunfels-based company received the $131 million contract in February to construct the base, which appears to have facilities similar to those at Camp Walker in Laredo and Camp Alpha in Del Rio  but on a larger scale.

The empty terrain in Eagle Pass required utilities to be built and established before anything else could be done, Suelzer said. When finished, there will be 95 buildings.

The base in Eagle Pass will remain operational so long as it is needed, Abbott said.

No one knows the future of whats going to happen, he said. The reality is this base is going to be needed as long as people are crossing the border illegally into the state of Texas.
Flags greet World War II veterans at American Airlines headquarters in Dallas-Fort Worth before heading to France for the 80th anniversary commemorations of D-Day in Normandy. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes)

DALLAS  With American flags and enthusiastic applause, veterans of World War II were given a rousing sendoff Friday before departing for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy.

American Airlines is taking 66 veterans and two Rosie the Riveters  women who took defense industry jobs to the men could fight  to the ceremonies, which culminate with Thursdays anniversary of the June 6, 1944 invasion.

Delta Airlines is taking about 50 veterans to Normandy on a separate flight.

The veterans answered the call to serve the country, David Seymour, chief operating officer for American Airlines, told an audience of veterans, airline employees and others at its corporate headquarters.

World War II veteran Don Graves smiles as he is cheered on Friday, May 31, 2024, before heading off to France for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. Graves fought as a Marine at Iwo Jima. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes) A well-wisher shakes the hand of World War II veteran Bill Kelly Jr. on Friday, May 31, 2024, at Dallas-Fort Worth. ()

Now we want to take the opportunity to thank them.

Only an estimated 119,000 of the 16.4 million people who served in the U.S. military during the war are still living, according to the National Museum of World War II in New Orleans.

Actor Gary Sinise, whose foundation helped with preparing the trip, thanked the veterans for their service.

To all our veterans here today, thank you for saving the world, Sinise said. Everyone here is in your debt.

During the tour, the veterans will also pay homage to American war dead at a U.S. cemetery in the outskirts of Paris, then travel to Normandy and the sites of the U.S. landings at Omaha and Utah beaches and the Army Ranger assault on the 110-foot cliffs at Pointe du Hoc.

World War II veteran Art Leach, a Navy flyer who served in air combat on the USS Yorktown, arrives for a sendoff ceremony at Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, on Friday, May 31, 2024. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes) World War II veteran Max Gurney is cheered on Friday, May 31, 2024, before heading off to France for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy. Gurney was a German born veteran who fought in the Army in Italy. (Robert H. Reid/Stars and Stripes)

An estimated 4,414 Allied troops were killed in the June 6, 1944 landings, including 2.501 Americans.

Most of the American dead were killed at Omaha.

The Old Glory Honor Flight, a non-profit group which takes war veterans on tours to Washington, is also supporting the D-Day pilgrimage.
The court heard OCallaghan had been released from prison last week

A serial burglar who broke into two homes while the occupants were present, entering the bedroom of a 21-year-old student and stealing car keys from her bedside locker as she slept, has been sent back to prison just a week after being released after the Court of Appeal found that his original sentence was too lenient.

Wayne OCallaghan (35) of Brooklodge Grove, Glanmire, Cork was sentenced to two and a half years imprisonment with the final four months suspended by Judge James McCourt at Cork Circuit Court on November 21, 2023 for burglary at an address at Vienna Wood Villas, Glanmire, Cork on October 1, 2022.

He was further sentenced to 12 months imprisonment for the unauthorised taking of a car from Marwood Close, Riverstown, Glanmire, Cork on September 30, 2022 with both sentences to run concurrently.

OCallaghan had pleaded guilty to both offences. Three further charges of trespass with intent at other residential properties in Marwood Close on September 30, 2022 were taken into account.

The court heard OCallaghan had been released from prison last week.

Quashing the original sentence at the Court of Appeal today, and resentencing OCallaghan to five years in prison, Ms Justice Tara Burns said the court was of the opinion that the original headline sentence of three years for burglary and 15 months in respect of the unauthorised taking identified by the sentencing judge was simply too low and represented an error in principle. She said there were a number of aggravating factors in the case.

Ms Justice Burns said OCallaghan had entered the property in Glanmire through a faulty locked door. He entered the downstairs bedroom where a 21-year-old woman was sleeping alone at the time and took the keys to her car from the locker next to where she slept. He then took the vehicle, which contained her laptop worth 3,000, from the driveway.

Ms Justice Burns said CCTV footage showed OCallaghan entering three other neighbouring premises on the same occasion.

Later that night, just after 1am, he entered another residential address through an unlocked door where three family members were sleeping. He stole a number of items from the house including Apple watches and iPhones, car keys and a purse containing 100. The total value of the goods taken was over 2,700.

Ms Justice Burns noted that the respondent had started abusing drugs in his early teens and was labouring under a significant drug addiction at the time of the offending.

The judge said the court was of the view that an appropriate headline sentence in respect of burglary was one of seven years imprisonment. Taking mitigating factors into account, including his early guilty plea, the court would reduce this to five years in prison. A two year sentence was imposed for the unauthorised taking, with both sentences to run concurrently.

During todays hearing, the State had argued that the original sentence imposed was too lenient and should be increased.

Aoife OLeary BL, for the DPP, said the trial judge had erred in failing to attach appropriate weight to the aggravating factors in the case and in particular failed to have appropriate regard to the relevant previous convictions of the respondent.

She noted that OCallaghan had 68 previous convictions, including 15 for burglary, two for robbery and 12 for unauthorised taking of motor vehicles.

Antoinette Simon BL, for OCallaghan, submitted that the sentencing judge carefully considered the applicable case law in determining the ultimate sentence which was one that was within the margin of appreciation afforded to him.
Crew members noticed Xing Li was missing when they did a head count

A Dublin man has been convicted by an Italian Court of murdering his wife on a cruise ship and destruction of her body.

German national with Irish citizenship Daniel Belling (45) has been sentenced to 26 years in jail for killing his wife Xing-Li (38) in 2017 during their Mediterranean cruise.

Mr Belling, Ms Xing and their two children boarded cruise ship MSC Magnifica in the Italian port of Civitavecchia on February 9, 2017 - but later crew members noticed that she was missing when they did a head count.

Mr Belling spent 14 months on remand in an Italian prison before he was released and returned to Ireland in 2018.

His trial eventually began in absentia.

The Court of Assizes of Rome accused the IT worker of throwing the body into the sea after locking it in a trolley.

But the lawyer for Belling said on Thursday that his client was not in jail and wasnt even in Italy.

He is not in Italy, he was not extradited, his lawyer, Mr Conti, stated.

MSC Magnifica (Kees Torn)

It is thought that the convicted man may be residing in Coolock.

The indictment by the state accused Mr Belling of causing the death of his wife, who was travelling with him and two young children and in order to achieve impunity for the crime just committed, he disposed of the corpse, hiding it or otherwise causing its destruction.

Mr Belling has always maintained his innocence in the case.

She would not have left the children like this. Why would she not come back? It doesnt make any sense, he previously told reporters.

I think (someone) may have killed her. Maybe she knew something. I dont know, she just said on the cruise I will be back, I need to do some business. She had said that to me earlier before too so I was just like ok. That was the day before.

I think she was depressive in her anger management issues so I think its something psychological also. I dont know why she wouldnt come back. Like, is she in a coma maybe?

It was (upsetting). But not anymore.

The German national later indicated he did not think he would end up in prison.

One cannot have an opinion about any court case where one is not involved. That stupid prosecutor in Italy, shes responsible the children being without anyone and being in an orphanage while I was in prison for 14 months for nothing. They dont have any evidence. I think it's a career move, he claimed.

I have no intention of going to jail. It would be unjust. Crazy, he added.

Xi Ling and Belling

Prosecutor Francesco Basentini had requested a 24-year sentence for the Dubliner.

According to Daniel Belling's defence lawyer, the trial was based only on clues and no evidence.

Back in 2022, the now convicted man was given a three-and-a-half-year suspended sentence after he successfully applied for a mortgage with Bank of Ireland using falsified documents.

He used the mortgage of 112,000 in buying a property in Clongriffin, Dublin, for 125,000 in 2014.

Belling rented the property to two tenants to cover the mortgage repayments and took a case with the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) after they allegedly stopped paying rent.

He eventually sold the property for 310,000.

Belling used fake documents, including a German ID card with an incorrect date of birth, payslips overstating his salary as 90,000, bank statements with incorrect information and an altered P60 when he applied for a mortgage for the property.

It was his fourth time applying for a loan with Bank of Ireland. The other attempts were unsuccessful.

He told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that the plan to dishonestly gain mortgages was his wifes. He said she knew Chinese people involved in forgery and she liaised with them to forge the fake documents, payslips and ID card.

It has been reported that Belling has been living in Ireland for the past 6 years straight.
Judge Owens said the accused had been "fully trusted" by his victims and grossly abused this trust to "manipulate" them into sexual activity.

A FORMER judge has been jailed for four years for the sexual abuse of six young men while he was a secondary school teacher almost 30 years ago.

Gerard OBrien (59) sexually assaulted the victims and also attempted to rape one of them at locations in Dublin in the 1990s.

At the Central Criminal Court today, Mr Justice Alexander Owens gave him a sentence of five years and nine months, with 21 months suspended.

Judge Owens said OBrien engaged in predatory behaviour when he grossly abused the victims trust to "manipulate" them into sexual activity.

Sitting in the dock, O'Brien did not react as the sentence was handed down.

This case sends a clear message that nobody is above the law, a senior garda said after the hearing.

O'Brien, of Old School House, Slievenamon Road, Thurles, Co Tipperary, was convicted last December by a jury of one count of attempted rape and eight counts of sexual assault.

He had denied all the charges.

Gerard OBrien

The trial had heard the abuse happened between March 1991 and November 1997, when he was in his late 20s and early 30s and teaching in south Dublin.

The victims  four of whom were his students or former students  were then aged between 17 and 24.

OBrien, who was appointed as a Circuit Court judge in 2015, resigned in January, following his conviction.

The court had heard he was born missing both hands and a foot and would ask students to assist him in going to the toilet.

Many stayed overnight in his homes to help him get dressed in the morning.

Five of the victims said they had gone to sleep beside him when they woke to find him performing sexual acts on them.

Four said O'Brien performed oral sex on them. One of the five said O'Brien assaulted and also attempted to rape him. The sex assault on the sixth victim was in the toilets of a pub.

O'Brien had admitted sexual contact with three of the victims but claimed it was consensual. He denied any sexual activity at all with the others.

Today, Judge Owens said the accused was academically gifted but had an unhappy childhood and had himself been abused. This was not an excuse, and his sexual difficulties as a gay disabled man also did not reduce his culpability, the judge said.

Neither did any failures or lax regulations at the school where he taught.

OBrien misused his position as a teacher to win his pupils complete trust." They looked up to him as a role model and friend and were lulled into a false sense of security.

He was fully trusted and admired by his pupils who wanted to help him, and abused that, the judge said.

OBrien would have been aware his actions were inappropriate and there was no good reason any student should have been put in the position of sharing a bed with him or assisting him in using the toilet, the judge continued.

OBrien had been on the lookout for opportunities and potential victims.

They had all been adversely affected, blamed themselves and felt revulsion.

The court heard when the final victim fled and reported the assault in 1997, it brought OBriens teaching and offending to an abrupt end.

After that, he got treatment and sorted himself out." O'Brien, who had a law degree, returned to practice as a solicitor before his eventual appointment as a judge.

He had now lost his legal career as a result of the case, but with his high profile it was inevitable the victims would eventually come forward.

Hes brought this misfortune on himself, Judge Owens said, because the convictions showed OBrien was unsuitable to hold judicial office.

He had shown no remorse and appears to blame others for his present predicament.

This attitude is unrealistic, self-indulgent and in my view lacks insight, the judge said.

The court was taking into account OBriens "positive contribution to society" since 1997, lack of further offending and his disability.

Prison may not be pleasant for him but hes likely to have special arrangements made for him, I suspect he wont be with the general prison population, the judge said.

OBrien stood when asked if he acknowledged the bond for his suspended sentence and replied: I do. He will be on probationary supervision for two years after his release.

Breaking the silence around sexual crime is a courageous and crucial step towards achieving justice, Detective Chief Superintendent Colm Noonan said outside court.

These crimes will have a lasting effect on the victims and their families and I hope sincerely that they are now able to move forward with their lives.

This case sends a clear message that nobody is above the law. Nobody is immune from prosecution for sexual crimes, he added.

Previously, the victims said they were conned and manipulated by an extremely egotistic and conniving man who was in a position of privilege and power and abused the trust they placed in him.
Keith Lee (42) was found dead in the bathroom area of a specially adapted cell for wheelchair users in Mountjoy Prison on April 12, 2018

A forthcoming inquest into the death in prison of a man accused of murdering his estranged wife is expected to focus on the frequency of checks carried out by prison officers on the deceased as well as psychiatric services provided to him while in custody.

Keith Lee (42) was found dead in the bathroom area of a specially adapted cell for wheelchair users in Mountjoy Prison on April 12, 2018.

Lee was being held on remand at the time after being arrested and charged for the murder of his estranged wife, Joanne Lee.

The body of the 38-year-old native of Coolock, who was also known as Joanne Ball, had been found wrapped in a sleeping bag in a wardrobe in a flat in Ranelagh on February 15, 2018  several days after Lee had reported her missing to gardai.

A pre-hearing of the inquest into Lees death at Dublin District Coroners Court on Friday heard that over 20 witnesses are scheduled to give evidence in the case including prison officers, prison medical staff and gardai.

Joanne Lee

The coroner, Aisling Gannon, ruled that CCTV footage from the prison landing housing Lees cell would be available to the parties but would not be shown at a public hearing due to GDPR issues.

Counsel for the deceaseds family, Alison Fynes BL, sought a copy of a log book of prison officers relating to checks carried out in the hours before his death to be made available.

Ms Fynes also requested details on the policy of the Irish Prison Service for prisoners given special observation status.

Lee, a professional chef who had a history of drug and alcohol abuse, suffered serious injuries including two broken legs after jumping from a third-storey window of the property on Ranelagh Road after gardai arrived at the scene where his wifes body was found.

As he was lying on the ground, Lee was prevented from trying to inflict further injuries on himself in a second attempt to take his life by the intervention of a garda.

A report by the Inspector of Prisons into Lees death which was published in 2020 revealed that only 24 out of 48 scheduled checks on the prisoner were carried out on the night he died.

The interval between checks ranged from eight to 62 minutes.

However, the report also acknowledged that prison officers carrying out checks on Lees cell had been fooled into thinking he was asleep by his use of a dummy on his bed which created the impression he was lying fully under a duvet.

The inspector, Patricia Gilheaney, observed that Lee had been psychiatrically reviewed during his 25 days in custody following his release from hospital with medical staff concluding that he had not shown any evidence of major mental illness.

Lee had also consistently denied suicidal intent.

The report noted that the prisoner was placed on special observation after he was identified as a possible suicide risk when suicide notes and an improvised knife had earlier been found in his cell on March 24, 2018 while he was being detained in Cloverhill Prison.

The prisoner had been due to be transferred to Arbour Hill Prison but following the discovery of the notes, he was moved to Mountjoy which was considered more suitable for a remand prisoner in need of wheelchair accessible facilities.

The inspector concluded that the IPS had successfully managed Lees status as a protected prisoner as well as his psychiatric and medical needs.

There was no indication that his placement in Mountjoy or threats from other prisoners played any part in his demise, it added.

However, her report noted that Lees family had raised several questions over the care provided to the deceased while in custody.

It also recorded that his relatives felt they were not treated with respect by the IPS.

The coroner listed September 5 as a provisional date for the hearing of the full inquest.
Kevin Coyle (33) is also alleged to have shouted rats at tradesmen who were called to remove a lock at the gates to the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centre at Dolcain House in Clondalkin.

A far-right agitator and local election candidate accused of verbally abusing garda by calling them c**ts and culchie bastards while protesting outside a centre housing refugees has had his case adjourned.

Kevin Coyle (33) is also alleged to have shouted rats at tradesmen who were called to remove a lock at the gates to the International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS) centre at Dolcain House in Clondalkin.

Mr Coyle, an independent local election candidate for the Artane-Whitehall area, had his case adjourned for hearing until later this year when he appeared before Judge David McHugh at Blanchardstown District Court.

The accused, with an address at Corbally Rise, Saggart Abbey, Tallaght, is charged with threatening, abusive or insulting behaviour and failing to provide his name and address to gardai at Monastery Road in Clondalkin on May 21 last year.

In relation to the allegation, Sergeant Stephen Walshe said gardai were called to Dolcain House in Clondalkin on May 21, 2023, following reports of a protest at an IPAS centre.

Sgt Walshe said when he arrived he noted there were about 20 protesters at the scene.

Sgt Walshe alleged six males were the most vocal, and they were behaving very aggressively towards gardai and others.

The sergeant alleged a lock was put on the outside of the gate, trapping staff and residents in the building, and no one could get in or out.

Tradesmen were called to remove the lock, and Sgt Walshe alleged Mr Coyle shouted rats at them.

The Public Order Unit was called to the scene, the court heard, and the gate was unlocked shortly after 6pm.

Sgt Walshe alleged Mr Coyle recorded gardai on his phone, called officers c**ts and culchie bastards and told him someone is going to smack that smirk off your face.

It was alleged Mr Coyle walked up to a garda vehicle and started inspecting the tax disc.

Sgt Walshe further alleged that the demand was made for Mr Coyle to provide his name to gardai, but he tried to walk away, telling him you know my name.
Dylan Fogarty (29) was served with the book of evidence when he appeared before Blanchardstown District Court.

A man accused of leaving cannabis and heroin in a place where a prisoner could get them has been sent forward for trial.

Dylan Fogarty (29) was served with the book of evidence when he appeared before Blanchardstown District Court.

The accused, of Moorfield Drive in Clondalkin, is charged with possession of cannabis and heroin at Cherry Orchard Green in Ballyfermot on February 26, 2023.

It is further alleged Mr Fogarty unlawfully impeded or obstructed a garda who was trying to search him, at the same time and place.

It is alleged that Mr Fogarty tried to run away from the officer after he was told he was going to be searched.

The accused is also facing two counts of placing a controlled drug, namely cannabis and heroin, in a place outside of a prison, with the intention that it should come into the possession of a person inside Wheatfield Prison in Clondalkin.

A state solicitor said the book of evidence had been served on the accused, who goes forward to the present sittings of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Judge David McHugh gave Mr Fogarty the formal alibi caution.

The judge assigned defence solicitor Michael Staines and one junior counsel on free legal aid.

The accused has not yet indicated how he intends pleading to the charges.
Sources say the break-up could have far-reaching consequences, with the security forces ready to exploit the divisions.

Top dissidents Carl Reilly and Tony McDonnell have had a major terror tiff and gone their separate ways, we can reveal.

The Sunday World has learned the former pals  pictured by us last August having a summer love-in after a paramilitary powwow  are warring, ironically, over peace fund cash.

Sources close to the pair have told this paper 54-year-old McDonnell has walked away from 48-year-old Reilly after the latter accepted funding from a peace project.

Meanwhile Oglaigh na hEireann (ONH) boss Reilly was furious with McDonnell for taking a luxury holiday to Thailand at a time when there was a crisis within their ranks concerning an alleged sex scandal.

But the convicted republicans fallout has had devastating consequences for ONH and their political wing Republican Network for Unity (RNU), with dozens of members walking away with McDonnell.

Carl Reilly

Sources say the break-up could have far-reaching consequences, with the security forces ready to exploit the divisions.

Theres a massive split within RNU and ONH in Belfast and Lurgan, said a source.

Carl and Tony have come head to head over funding that Carl is getting from a peace project. Tony is not happy with the peace money and wants to go in a different direction and has walked out of RNU.

This has been going on for some time now. Tony has had enough. Carl viewed Tony as his most trusted confidante but thats out the window.

McDonnell was the chair of RNU in Belfast.

Sources say RNU had been facing a difficult time in recent months and the police have been all over Reilly since he was released from prison three months ago after getting 30 months for IRA membership.

Over the last few months the party has been dealing with security issues and affairs within the party, and claims of sex scandals going on.

Carl and Tony fell out big time a few weeks ago as Tony came back from a luxury holiday in Thailand and Carl was not happy that Tony went away and left him to sort all those issues on his own.

Another 20 members of ONH have left to back Tony up, including some senior figures who are all not too happy with the peace-building project.

Its has caused a big split in ONH in Belfast. They are going on a different route now. Carl is not happy and he thinks that Tony will try to ruin RNU in Belfast.

Since Carl got out of jail he has not liked the way Tony was running RNU in Belfast, and it has to be Carls way or no way.

The security forces will be all over this split and will try and use it to get more intelligence on the group.

Tensions are high in Belfast as a split in ONH can lead to violence. As we have seen in past years some members were shot for not going in the right direction, so to speak.

Carl always gets his own way, but Tony is well respected in republican circles and its a big hit for RNU in Belfast to lose him.

The split between the two top dissidents is a far cry from their summer meeting last year when we snapped them embracing each other.

Last August we pictured them after the pair had met in west Belfast days after the PSNI data breach and the revelation that those details had fallen into the hands of dissident republicans.

Reilly chaired the secret summit in an office in the Andersontown Road area, during which the PSNI data breach was discussed as well as perceived MI5 harassment of members of the terror group.

Reilly was pictured alongside veteran republican McDonnell, who has convictions for having information on serving police officers that was likely to be used for terrorist offences.

McDonnell also saw his west Belfast home searched by cops.

The Ballymurphy-born dissident, jailed in 2013 for collecting information on police officers, also had his property raided on numerous occasions in connection to several alleged offences.

McDonnell has previously been under threat from rival dissidents.

In March we revealed that Reilly had been released from prison after being inside for three months for IRA membership, having already served the majority of his term on remand awaiting trial.

Reilly celebrated with family and friends after being released from Maghaberry Prison.

He was pictured with his arm raised in triumph upon his release, but was banned from meeting most RNU members due to their criminal pasts.

Just after his release, Reilly took to social media to attack the PSNI and claimed no new laws would change him.

His post read: So after 9 years of being stitched up just before Christmas I was finally released from a British prison last night at 7pm. I will be on licence until the end of August this year.

I want to thank everyone who sent letters or cards or kind regards to me, it meant a lot...

He addedI remain a proud republican and no new laws will change that. P.S. Always remember folks whats normal for the spider is chaos for the fly.
The Irish national will remain in prison until his sentence is complete

An Irishman has been given a nine-year prison sentence in Costa Rica for stabbing a local in the chest with a knife.

The un-named Irish national was charged with attempted murder in the city of Perez Zeledon this week.

The local Criminal Court stated the injured party was named Urena and that he was attacked from behind on April 16, 2023.

The stabbing happened in the early morning hours, apparently the victim was preparing to board a vehicle that was parked in the town of San Isidro de Perez Zeledon, Costa Rican news channels report.

At which time the now sentenced person approached him from behind, with the apparent intention of killing him.

The Irishman was reportedly carrying a sharp weapon and used it on the named Urena, causing injury to his chest.

A group of passers-by apparently intervened to stop the violent Irish individual in the middle of the incident.

However, the convicted man did not achieve his goal of killing the victim, because several people who were present in a commercial establishment noticed what happened and collaborated, so the victim was immediately treated at a centre by doctor minutes after this event, the PZ Actual news site reports.

The injured victim was taken to the Escalante Pradilla Hospital where doctors managed to save his life.

The Irish national will remain in prison until his sentence is complete, reports add.

This indicates either that parole is not an option or that an appeal has already been lodged by the Irishman.
Dublin Fire Brigade posted an image of the scene near the top of Buckingham Street

The scene of the crash this afternoon

There are currently traffic delays in Dublins north inner city as emergency services attend to a crash.

Dublin Fire Brigade posted an image of the scene near the top of Buckingham Street.

Firefighter/Paramedics along with our Advanced Paramedics have attended a road traffic collision in Summerhill

Delays in the area, DFB stated.

More to follow...
He had made his way back to the property by taxi having earlier been the victim of a violent assault in the Tallaght area.

Two women and a man have been arrested on suspicion of the murder of a convicted killer in Dublin.

Kevin Stretch Walsh (34), who had a conviction for manslaughter, died in January after being discovered seriously injured at a house in Lucan.

He had made his way back to the property by taxi having earlier been the victim of a violent assault in the Tallaght area.

Detectives launched a murder investigation after he was pronounced dead the following day and in the initial stages were attempting to establish if he was attacked by a person known to him.

On Thursday, the investigation team, based in Crumlin Garda station, arrested three people as part of the murder probe.

Sources told the Irish Independent that all three suspects are being detained on suspicion of murder.

They are all being held at different Garda stations in Dublin and can be detained for up to 24 hours.

A Garda spokesperson said: "Two women in their 40s and a man in his 30s were arrested today (Thursday 30th May 2024) as part of this investigation. They are currently being detained at a number of Garda Stations in the Dublin region under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

"This investigation is continuing from an Incident Room at Crumlin Garda Station under the direction of a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO). A Garda Family Liaison Officer (FLO) continues to keep the deceased's family informed of developments.

"Gardai are continuing to appeal to the public for information in relation to this incident."

The assault occurred on the weekend of January 6 and 7 last.

In 2006, Kevin Walsh was convicted of the manslaughter of James Burke (20) at a green area near the N4 in Clondalkin in 2005.

The trial heard that Walsh, who was aged 16 at the time, fatally attacked the victim because he was English. Mr Burkes body remained in a field near the shopping centre for two days before being discovered.

Walsh was charged with murder but later found guilty of manslaughter. The killer, who had 34 previous convictions at the time including for burglary and theft, was sentenced to eight years imprisonment with the final five years suspended.

After his release he remained involved in crime and in 2013 was jailed for the violent hijacking of a taxi driver.
Saying goodbye to nearly 40 years of Anglican ministry  including 12 years based at St Georges Anglican Church at Gate Pa  is a decision Reverend John Hebenton and his parishioners have marked this week with a liturgical farewell.

With a service led by Bishop Andrew Hedge, the gathered congregation expressed sadness at the end of Johns tenure, with some older members lamenting that he would not be there to conduct their funerals.

As of now, there are no immediate plans to replace him, and the parish will rely on a roster of available priests and several lay leaders to maintain church activities.

Its an interesting time for the Anglican church in Tauranga.

"The vicar at the Mount is retiring in a month, says John.

The other full-time priest is going to run a roster of available priests who will help out in the parish on a roster system for communion services.

"Lay leaders will organise non-Eucharist services.

Unexpected

Johns path to ministry was unexpected.

Growing up in Wellington, he initially pursued a career as a science teacher and was involved in the Anglican Society at Victoria University.

However, a profound experience at St Pauls Symonds St in Auckland, suggested by both his charismatic and Anglican friends, led him to realise his calling to priesthood.

I had this overwhelming sense that I was going to be ordained, that this is what God wanted for me, he recalls.

Despite initial reluctance, John felt an overwhelming sense of purpose, leading him to St Johns Theological College in 1984.

His career began as a curate in Feilding, followed by running Wellington Diocesan adventure camps and youth ministry alongside his wife, Bonnie.

Nearly 13 years ago, he was invited by Bishop David Rice to serve as the vicar of the Anglican Parish of Gate Pa, a role that significantly shaped his ministry.

I hadnt been a vicar before, so coming to Gate Pa, I had to work out what that means, says John.

I started just before Lent, which for us Anglicans is a big deal.

"We were straight into it, and it took me a while before I worked out what I was doing.

During his time at Gate Pa, John was appointed Minister Provincial for the Anglican Franciscans in the Pacific region, covering the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Polynesia, and New Zealand, and then Minister General for the world.

His retirement was initially planned for last year but was extended due to the Covid-19 pandemic and his commitment to seeing through the 160th commemoration of the Battle of Gate Pa in April 2024.

Significant achievement

Johns collaboration with Buddy Mikaere and the iwi for the 150th commemoration of the Battle of Gate Pa stands out as a significant achievement.

The church became a hub of activity, hosting meetings, practices, and media operations, exemplifying their commitment to the community.

It was amazing to watch. It was such an important day to be part of.

Johns impact extended to educational initiatives, including the annual Remember the Battles services and a popular lecture series on the battles of Gate Pa and Te Ranga, and the Treaty of Waitangi.

These events drew large crowds and highlighted the churchs role in honouring local history and fostering understanding.

Its been really good, people have appreciated it, and its been an important part of honouring those stories.

John and his wife Bonnie, who will continue teaching at Merivale School, plan to remain in their home near Bayfair Shopping Centre.

John intends to take time to recover from an upcoming surgery before contemplating the future.

Well see what next year brings, he says.

Rev John Hebenton inside St Georges Anglican Church in Gate Pa. Photo: John Borren.

Grateful

Looking forward, John is eager to focus on two key areas: the history of Tauranga City and the Treaty of Waitangi, and climate change.

He remains grateful for the support and collaboration of the Gate Pa parish, particularly their efforts in building relationships with Ngati Ranginui.

I may have had all sorts of ideas, but the parish were already doing some of that work and building those relationships particularly with Ngati Ranginui.

"I have come and added some bits to work they were already doing.

Among the many aspects of his ministry, John will miss the annual SPCA Animal Blessing service and the All Souls service for those who have experienced loss.

These services were crafted to be more community-focused, reflecting the churchs broader mission.

The All Souls service, in particular, provided solace to many hurting people and was a testament to the parishs outreach.

Theres been a lot of hurting people. To offer that has been important.

After presiding over his last service, John formally concluded his ministry on May 26 with a symbolic liturgy that marked the end of his time at Gate Pa and the end of his ministry.

It will look different going forward, he acknowledges.

While his future plans remain open, his legacy of faith, service, and community engagement will continue to inspire those at St Georges.
Te Pati Maori has issued a declaration of political independence with the intention of starting a Maori Parliament, coming off the back of a mass protest against the Government.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets around the country on Thursday morning to protest against the Governments policies affecting Maori, with vehicle convoys advancing along the countrys biggest cities motorways.

And as the Government announced its Budget, Parliaments front lawn was awash with the red, white and black of Tino Rangatiratanga flags waved by protesters voicing their anger against a perceived attack on Maori.

About 150 police officers monitored gatherings in Auckland, where people met at three locations on the citys outskirts about 6am and converged on the CBD about lunchtime.

The vehicle convoys were dubbed carkois by protest organisers, a portmanteau of car and hikoi (march or walk).

Protest organisers maintained disciplined convoys, with those joining in urged not to stop on motorways. Some protest leaders claimed motorists disrupted by the convoys supported them by waving and beeping their horns.

Commute times were more than tripled in Auckland, with hour-long delays reported on Thursday morning. Buses leaving the central city were also disrupted about midday.

A police headquarters statement says protesters were well behaved with no incidents of note reported.

Police are in attendance and are focused on maintaining public safety while recognising the right to peaceful protest.

Elsewhere in New Zealand, marches and convoys descended on Waikato University in Hamilton, some 500 people gathered at the Hastings Clocktower, crowds met at four locations around Rotorua, people congregated at Heipipi Park in Gisborne and protesters in Wellington assembled at Parliament at 2pm.

There were many more protests, including in smaller towns and in the South Island.

In Wellington, Te Pati Maori co-leaders spoke to the crowd.

Co-leader Rawiri Waititi says: This House set out to exterminate us 100 years ago. They failed. We are 20 per cent of the population. We are one million strong.

In a statement on Thursday, May 30, Te Pati Maori says: We have mobilised our people in a matter of days in a beautiful harmonious activation against this Government. What we have witnessed today is te iwi Maori across Aotearoa telling this Government that enough is enough.

We will no longer let decisions made by this House determine our oranga [health, welfare or livelihood], the oranga of our people, our mokopuna [grandchildren], the land and te iwi Maori katoa [all the Maori people].

Te Pati Maori co-leaders Debbie Ngarewa-Packer (left) and Rawiri Waititi want to see a Maori Parliament established, issuing a declaration of independence. Photo / Mark Mitchell.

We now begin the process of establishing our own Parliament. Our people will design what this looks like for us, nobody else.

Te Pati Maori dubbed its declaration of independence Te Ngakou o Te Iwi Maori (the heart of Maori).

The party says its declaration asserted Maori sovereignty as outlined in He Whakaputanga, the Declaration of Independence signed by Maori chiefs in 1835, and as affirmed in the Treaty of Waitangi.

It says the hypothetical parliament would be anchored in our tikanga (customs) and kawa (protocols); focussed entirely on mokopuna livelihood; [and] established as part of transforming Aotearoa into a nation which represents the tino rangatiratanga of tangata whenua, and creates a safe home for all peoples.

This is the type of transformation our people have been waiting for, the party says.

This Budget tells us Maori dont matter  Waititi

Waititi says the Governments Budget should be focused on the future, but it did not.

What this Budget tells us is that Maori dont matter, that we signed Te Tiriti o Waitangi but we continuously allow this House to assume that it has sovereignty and absolute superiority over Maori.

Waititi says Te Pati Maoris independence declaration challenged the assumption Parliament had superiority over Maori.

We now make up a million people. One in five people here in Aotearoa are Maori, he says.

I am 20 per cent of this country. I expect nothing less than 20 per cent of the total Budget in this country. Thats what I expect in a kawanatanga [governance] space.

Waititi then says Maori should receive the Budget proportion that their population makes up in prisons and Oranga Tamariki.

This is what a Budget should look like for Maori in a kawanatanga space. Were all taxpayers, were all ratepayers and remember that this Government continues to make its funds and its money and its ability to have a Budget on stolen Maori land, assets and resources.

Waititi says there was no mention of Maori within the Governments Vote Health or Vote Education policies.

He says the coalition Government was giving less to national kapa haka festival Te Matatini than the previous government.

We want by Maori, for Maori, to Maori, kaupapa. Not by Pakeha to Maori, weve had enough of that.

Waititi says it was time to have a serious conversation about how the Government supported tangata whenua.

We have been made to feel like second-class citizens in our own country for far too long.

-Rotorua Daily Post.
If Reihana Marx is successful in Taurangas election this year, she believes she will be the first transgender woman elected to the city council.

The 25-year-old student is standing for the Te Papa ward. She is one of 86 candidates vying for seats in the election.

Marx hopes to provide the same kind of inspiration for others as she drew from trailblazer former Carterton mayor and Wairarapa MP Georgina Beyer.

Marx (Ngati Raukawa, Ngapuhi, Whakatohea, Ngati Tuwharetoa) says she wants to be a voice for the community.

Certain people need to be represented in council. Everyones voices [should] be heard because its not only one group of people living in Tauranga, says Marx/

In Tauranga, 10 per cent of people identify as LGBTI, according to council data.

Marx attended school in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga and in Australia before returning to New Zealand about five years ago when she worked in Auckland as a healthcare assistant.

She says it was through this work, and becoming a smokefree practitioner and volunteer at Tauranga and Whakatane hospitals during the Covid-19 pandemic, that she realised how important representation was for certain communities.

I think that was the first time where Ive seen, firsthand, inequity addressed in a fast and kind of diverse way. We had all sorts of people with all sorts of background  it was the best form of teamwork Id ever seen and [its] that kind of teamwork we need, in the council.

Marx is studying political science and social policy at the University of Waikato and will reduce her studies if elected.

She says she has not been to any council meetings.

I dont have much experience  I do have, surrounded around me, experts and people who know those fields that I can go to and ask for advice, she says.

Marx works as a peer support at Gender Dynamix New Zealand and says her community-focused career background also mitigated the lack of local government experience.

She lists infrastructure, public transport, housing and parking as key issues that need addressing.

She says the city needs both intensification and urban sprawl to cope with its growing population.

I think certain areas could be expanded but areas like Te Papa, where theres kind of no more space available, we have to utilise what we already have and I think were starting to get to that point where a lot of suburbs are like that.

Marx says electing a good council team will help Tauranga tackle those issues.

She references the work of Beyer, the worlds first openly transgender mayor and MP.

Beyer, who died on March 6, 2023 aged 65, is a key influence in Marxs decision to stand for council.

Former mayor and MP Georgina Beyer, pictured shortly after receiving an MNZM for services to LGBTI rights. Photo / Mark Tantrum.

Marx says she watched footage of Beyer in 2004 confronting Destiny Church members protesting civil unions and was moved by Beyers mana and advocacy for the Rainbow community.

She led the takatapui (LGBTI) movement in ways that I hope to be able to.

She has inspired me to kind of stand up and be more political and voice concerns and struggles for the takatapui community.

Marx began her transition journey in 2021 and says she's prepared for what the election campaign might throw at her, particularly criticism from conservative sectors of society.

Just being takatapui in itself is a struggle. Ive already had to kind of create my own safe space and my own kind of network I can go to to be supported.

So, its nothing new to me. I understand its going to be more intense and more frequent but Im honestly used to it  being looked at sideways, going to malls, walking down the streets. That doesnt bother me anymore.

A 2023 Tauranga Vital Update survey report found 56 per cent of Rainbow community respondents believed the city was fairly to very welcoming and 61 per cent said they felt lonely some or all of the time; compared to 36 per cent overall.

Marx says recent incidents in New Zealand targeting LGBTI people, such as rainbow crossings being painted over, and threats targeting Rainbow storytime, meant some in the community felt so unsafe they could not leave their homes.

I want to show those people that there is support out there for them and that there are people fighting for them and their rights  I hope I can get that chance to be that someone that they can look up to.

Marx says Taurangas first city council election in five years is an opportunity to create a better and more inclusive city: I think Taurangas ready.

In 2020, the Local Government Minister sacked the elected council and replaced it with commissioners, whose term ends in July with the election.

A Tauranga City Council spokesperson says the council doesn't collect data on the gender of elected members but staff don't believe a transgender person has been elected before.

Electoral officer Warwick Lampp says data is not collected about candidates gender.

Marx says from her research, she believes she could be Taurangas first transgender councillor.

That victory, if I do get elected, would kind of be a victory for the entire city and New Zealand.

When is the Tauranga election?

June 29-July 3: Voting papers delivered

June 29: Special voting begins

July 17: Last day to post your voting form

July 19: Last day to enrol and be able to vote

July 20: Election day, voting closes at noon

July 20: Preliminary results announced

July 23-25: Final results due

Source: Tauranga City Council

-Bay of Plenty Times.
An about $20M co-investment to help improve flood resilience for communities across the Bay of Plenty is a welcome announcement from Budget 2024, says Toi Moana Bay of Plenty Regional Council chair Doug Leeder.

As part of the Budget 2024, the coalition Government outlined plans for the Regional Infrastructure Fund to support regional productivity, prosperity and resilience.

This fund, $1.2 billion over three years, will invest in new and existing infrastructure across regional New Zealand.

Among the first projects to be funded through this will be flood protection and resilience projects, with an initial $200 million allocated, of which up to $101.1 million is committed to 42 projects nationally.

The co-investment, which will be administered through Kanoa - Regional Economic Development and Investment Unit, will support Regional Council in its delivery of flood protection infrastructure projects across three of its five rivers and drainage schemes.

This includes future stages of Project Future Proof, a multi-stage project to rebuild the flood defences in Whakatane city centre, improving and replacing flood infrastructure in the lower Kaituna River, and upgrading stopbanks around Opotiki.

Leeder says the co-investment recognises how critical infrastructure can help protect lives and livelihoods across the region.

Flooding is the most common natural hazard in Aotearoa, with a major flood event occurring on average every eight months. This is only set to increase with the effects of a changing climate.

Most of New Zealands flood infrastructure was not built for the scale or intensity of the weather events we are seeing today or will see in the future, which is why we need to act now.

Flood protection plays a key role in not just protecting people, but also reducing the risk on high-value businesses, productive land, transport routes and critical services in a flood event. The cost of doing nothing  economically, socially and culturally  is significantly more than upfront investment.

Doug Leeder.

This co-investment builds on the existing joint Resilient River Communities programme between regional and unitary councils and Kanoa, where post-Covid recovery funding has helped alleviate increasing costs to ratepayers since it began in 2020.

Leeder says this latest round of co-investment is expected to do the same.

Flood infrastructure and protection schemes require regular maintenance and management to be fit for purpose. Around the country, these schemes are the responsibility of regional councils and unitary authorities, and are funded through general and targeted rates.

This is an unsustainable funding model, which is why we look to Central Government to come on board as a co-investment partner for our major works.

Regional Council has recently completed deliberations on its Long Term Plan. Due to the timing of the Budget 2024 announcement, the implications on Regional Council rates are currently being worked through and will be available publicly once the Long Term Plan is adopted on 26 June.
Gov. Tony Evers has appointed three new members to the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, which includes a seat currently held by a regent appointed by former Gov. Scott Walker who has said he doesnt plan to step down despite his term's expiration.

Evers on Friday named Tim Nixon, Jack Salzwedel, and Desmond Adongo to fill vacancies created by the May expiration of three former appointees terms.

Nixon, a commercial lawyer at Godfrey and Kahn, was appointed to fill the seat currently held by Regent Robert Bob Atwell, who has said he was advised by Assembly Speaker Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, that he can hold the seat until the Senate confirms his successor. Atwell's term expired in May.

When we have these games being played with Board of Regents members, that's a problem," Evers told reporters in Madison Friday. "I know Bob Atwell and as I said before, he was a person of extraordinary integrity. Something happened along the way that caused that not to happen."

"I do believe that at some point in time he'll decide to get off, but we have good people ready to go and for sure two of the three will be will be on the board at the next meeting," Evers continued.

Nixon, who holds degrees from UW-Green Bay and UW-Madison, described the appointment as "an opportunity to give back, in a unique way, to an institution that has done much for me and my family.

Evers appointed Salzwedel, the former chair and CEO of American Family Mutual Insurance Company, to fill the seat previously held by Regent Mike Jones.

"This work, while not easy, is very important  and I look forward to serving the university system and all the people affiliated with it for the betterment of our great state," Salzwedel said in a statement.

The terms for Nixon and Salzwedel expire May 2031.

Adongo, who is double-majoring in economics and environmental studies at UW-Oshkosh, was appointed to fill the board's non-traditional student regent position previously held by Jennifer Staton. Adongo's term expires May 2026.

"As a non-traditional student, I hope to bring a unique perspective to enhance and prioritize all student experiences on every UW campus regardless of their backgrounds or circumstances," Adongo said in a statement.

The governors appointments are subject to confirmation from the full Senate, which is not expected to convene until early next year. That means Atwell could serve at least eight months of Nixon's seven-year term, should he not resign first.

"(UW system President Jay Rothman) has confirmed this understanding. In light of that, I will remain on the Board until I resign or my successor is seated," Atwell wrote in a recent letter to Rothman, Regents President Karen Walsh and the board's executive director, Megan Wasley. "I hope that my temporary continuation as a regent can support good communication between the Legislative Council and the BOR."

Atwell is citing a 2022 ruling by the Wisconsin Supreme Court that allows appointees to stay in power indefinitely if lawmakers do not confirm a successor. The case was brought after Fred Prehn, a Wausau dentist on the state Natural Resources Board, refused to step down after his term expired in 2021.

The decision has since been weaponized throughout Wisconsin's government: Three people overstayed their terms on the Wisconsin Technical College System's governing board, despite some of their unconfirmed successors attending meetings; and attempts to remove Meagan Wolfe, the Wisconsin Election Commission's administrator, hit snags after a vote to oust her was not considered to be legal and she had no successor despite her term expiring last summer.

Evers' appointments are also not guaranteed. Senate Republicans have fired more than a dozen of the governor's appointees, including individuals on the Public Service Commission, state natural resources policy board, Wisconsin Elections Commission and UW Hospital Board, known formally as the UW Hospital and Clinics Authority.

Photos: Frank Lloyd Wright's Hillside Theatre at Taliesin Hillside Theatre at Taliesin Hillside Theatre at Taliesin Taliesen Theatre 12-05242024153204.jpg Taliesen Theatre 11-05242024153204.jpg Taliesen Theatre 08-05242024153204.jpg Taliesen Theatre 10-05242024153204.jpg Hillside Theatre at Taliesin Hillside Theatre at Taliesin Hillside Theatre at Taliesin Hillside Theatre at Taliesin Hillside Theatre at Taliesin Taliesen Theatre 09-05242024153204.jpg
New exhibits are on show at Gibraltar National Museum The opening of the displays is taking place on 1 June between 10am and 6pm and offers a look at unique artwork and artefacts with origins on the Rock

Myrto Kaltsidou Friday, 31 May 2024, 14:39 | Updated 14:54h. Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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Two new exhibits are on show at Gibraltar National Museum, the opening of which is taking place on 1 June between 10am and 6pm. The displays aim to illustrate the richness and diversity of artwork and artefacts with origins on the Rock.

The first of these exhibits presents the restored antler of a red deer, which was in a fragmented state when it was excavated from the Neanderthals' Grotto last summer. In fact, recent results indicate that the antler was left at the site between 100,000 and 103,000 years ago, according to director of the museum's Natural History Department Dr Stewart Finlayson. However, it took museum conservator Nelia Bonillo several months to restore the piece before it could be exhibited for the first time.

Zoom The restored antler of a red deer, excavated from the Neanderthals' Grotto. SUR

The display also features large limpets brought to the site by the Neanderthals, which also form part of a study conducted by senior scientific officer at the museum Dr Alex Menez.

The second display reflects the work carried out during archaeological watching briefs coordinated by senior researcher at Gibraltar National Museum Tyson Lee Holmes. Many items were recovered over the course of this work, including 14th century Merinid ceramics, crockery from the 1970s, as well as ceramics which are thought to date back to the capture of Gibraltar in 1704.

Zoom Minister for Heritage John Cortes views the restored antler of a red deer, excavated from the Neanderthals' Grotto last summer. SUR

According to the government of Gibraltar, safeguarding their cultural heritage is an important part of the legislation and planning process. The physical assets, whether buildings, monuments or archeological remains, are a material consideration, the requirements of which are determined by the Ministry for Heritage as advised by government archaeologist Dominic Lopez.

Also on show are two recently acquired 19th-century watercolour paintings. The first is a portrayal of Beefsteak Cave, located south of the Rock, which was painted by Frederick Leeds Edridge in 1832 and was donated to the museum by the Nevill family. The other is a late 19th century depiction of the convict hulk, HMS Owen Glendower, painted by James Lewis Holloway and donated to the exhibit by Professor Larry Sawchuk from Toronto, Canada.

Zoom Minister for Heritage John Cortes visited the exhibits on Thursday. SUR

In reponse to the displays, the minister said, "Once again our national museum proudly presents our fascinating heritage for all to see. These displays show once again the value of the work at Gorham's Cave World Heritage Site, but also validate the importance of archeological watching briefs that are required in all construction sites today as they can reveal so much of our past."
Francisco Gutierrez Malaga Friday, 31 May 2024, 14:34 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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The University of Malaga (UMA) has decided to temporarily suspend collaboration agreements with Israeli universities and research centres while the military offensive in the Gaza Strip continues, or until they receive a firm commitment of peace and strict compliance with international humanitarian law. This decision was taken by the university rector, Teo Lopez, who informed the extraordinary governing council of this decision, in which a series of cooperation actions with Palestinian universities were also approved.

By virtue of his powers, the rector has decided to temporarily suspend existing agreements with Israeli universities, namely Tel Aviv University, Technion International University, Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design, Jerusalem University and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, until there is a clear position from the universities concerned, requiring them to pronounce a firm and unequivocal commitment to peace.

Zoom The rector convened an extraordinary meeting of the governing council to address the situation in the Gaza Strip. Nito Salas

The cooperation with these universities is carried out within the Erasmus+KA171 mobility programme (with non-EU third countries).

Meanwhile, work is being carried out to intensify cooperation with the Palestinian scientific and higher education system and to extend the current cooperation, volunteering and care programmes for the refugee population, as well as activities programmed in the centres. The vice-rector's office for research is also working to incorporate different actions in its own plan to strengthen cooperation and research networks with Palestinian universities.

Invited as guests representing the UMAxPalestine Network were lecturers Carolina Jimenez Sanchez, from the area of International Public Law and International Relations, and Rosa Isabel Martinez Lillo, from the area of Arab and Islamic Studies, who spoke about the conflict from their respective areas of knowledge and reiterated their willingness to continue collaborating with the University of Malaga, as they have been doing in recent weeks, in the analysis and future actions that arise in relation to this conflict.

With regard to agreements with Palestinian universities, there are mobility agreements with Al Quds University, Al Quds Open University, Birzeit University, AL-Aqsa University and a framework agreement with The Health Work Committees. Among the international cooperation projects, the UMA is developing the initiative 'The human rights of Palestinian women: stories of resilience in times of Covid 19', funded by the Andalusian Agency for International Development Cooperation.

Protest continues

The students, who have occupied the general library for 23 days, have gathered in front of the rector's office while this governing council was being held. Their spokespersons have assured that the protest actions will continue, as they consider the measures agreed to be insufficient.

The protestors demand a "clear and forceful" position from the University of Malaga against the genocide of the Palestinian people and the immediate cessation of all current and future relations with entities, such as banks, that maintain relations with Israel. The Malaga for Palestine platform has expanded its demands to put an end to the lockdown: they are also asking Malaga City Council to condemn the genocide and break off relations with Israel, while at the same time asking the UMA to provide permanent premises for this organisation.

The young people have denounced a strategy of "harassment and attrition" by the UMA against those locked in the general library. In front of the rector's office, they chanted 'Israel murders, the UMA sponsors' and 'the university cannot remain indifferent to the genocide in Palestine'.
Juan Cano Malaga Friday, 31 May 2024, 13:26 | Updated 14:05h. Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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Threee people in Malaga are accused of mistreating a three-month-old child, who is alleged to have suffered broken legs, and are due to face trial. The parents, who are no longer together, and the baby's maternal grandmother will sit in the dock. The Malaga Public Prosecutor's Office is asking for the same sentence - five years in prison - for each of them for a continuous crime of injury.

It so happens that the mother, who is Spanish and in her thirties, already has a conviction for the death of another baby, a three-month-old girl who died with signs of severe malnutrition and trauma.

The first case occurred in 2016. A young man got on a bus in Malaga with his unresponsive daughter in his arms and went to the hospital. When he arrived at the emergency department, the little girl was already dead.

The paediatricians activated the protocol on suspicion of child abuse and quickly alerted the National Police, who arrested the father on the spot and searched for the mother, who claimed she was at work. She was also arrested.

The couple, in their early twenties, were remanded in custody in view of the findings of the autopsy and the visual inspection of the house, a rented house in the Puerto de la Torre neighbourhood, which was unhygienic and unsanitary.

The parents were sentenced in December 2018 to 20 years' imprisonment for the crime of murder - with treachery exploiting vulnerability - with the aggravating circumstance of kinship. The jury concluded that they did not intend to cause the death of their daughter, but that they were aware that they were providing her with insufficient food for her to survive.

The court ruling highlighted the situation of absolute defencelessness of the baby and recalled that the two parents were the only people in charge of caring for her. Despite this, they continued to feed her insufficiently and did not seek medical assistance, according to the court ruling, which stated: They were indifferent to the fact that she might die.

The little girl was born on 6 August 2016 weighing 3.68kg and measuring 52cm. She died on 10 November of the same year with a weight of 2.9kg and a height of 54.5cm. In other words, in her three months of life, not only did she not gain weight, but she lost almost 700 grams.

The TSJA reduced the parents' sentence from 20 to four years in prison, considering that the baby's death was not a murder, but manslaughter due to gross negligence

The court ruling stated that the girl suffered a fall at the end of October or beginning of November 2016 which caused a traumatic brain injury without the defendants, who were present when it happened, taking her to any health centre for her to be examined.

The fundamental cause of death was the severe malnutrition he suffered, explained the sentence of the Provincial Court, which stated that the immediate cause of death was bronchopneumonia caused by the lack of food. The result of death was aided by the trauma due to its location in the central nervous system, the ruling concluded.

The couple, who separated during the trial, appealed the sentence of the court. In May 2019, the top court in Andalucia (TSJA) reduced the sentence from 20 years in prison for murder to four years for the crime of reckless manslaughter, considering that they did not act deliberately.

The sentence of the TSJA opened the door to prison, where she reportedly rebuilt her life with a new partner, 20 years older. On leaving prison, the young woman became pregnant and in April 2021 gave birth to a baby boy. They settled in the area of Heroe de Sostoa, in Malaga city, with her mother.

The Public Prosecutor's Office, which had requested revisable permanent imprisonment for the death of their first daughter, appealed to the Supreme Court, which in June 2021 annulled the sentence of the TSJA as it found contradictions in the wording of the proven facts and ordered a new one to be handed down. The TSJA corrected the ruling and, although it acknowledged that the parents' actions bordered on malice aforethought, which would have led to the murder, it upheld the conviction for manslaughter and sentenced them to four years in prison.

The last sentence was dated 15 July 2021. She received it while already in prison. Just one day earlier, she had been imprisoned for allegedly mistreating her second child. Her new partner, the father of this baby, was also arrested, although he was provisionally released with a restraining order. Subsequently, her mother, with whom they lived together at the Heroe de Sostoa home, was also charged.

The prosecution maintains that, on the afternoon of 10 July 2021, the defendants - the child's mother and grandmother - with the intention of harming his physical integrity, allegedly caused a fracture in his right tibia, a bruise on his right eyelid and a bruise on his left foot without either of them taking the child to hospital.

The following morning, at around 6.30am, the father allegedly dropped the baby while giving him a bottle and, on picking him up, caused a fracture to his left femur. At 7.42am on 11 July, the police went to the Hospital Materno Infantil, where they activated the protocol and discovered the mother's history.

The child required analgesic and orthopaedic treatment - with a special harness - which took around 33 days to heal, of which 10 days were with severe injury and 23 with moderate injury. Fortunately, he has not suffered any after-effects. He is currently in the care of a foster family pending the conclusion of the judicial process. The parents are not allowed to go near him, as the restraining order imposed by the Court of Instruction number 2 of Malaga remains in force.
Domenico Chiappe Madrid Friday, 31 May 2024, 13:40 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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Using black spray paint, young activists from two environmental organisations, Rebelion o Extincion (Rebellion or Extinction) and Rebelion Cientifica (Scientific Rebellion), have defaced the hulls of some large yachts, moored at the docks of the Marina Port Vell, in Barcelona. Just as the painting over works of art in museums, this act, which could be considered vandalism although it does not cause irreparable damage, was done as a protest against climate inaction.

In this case, the organisers oppose "fossil fuel subsidies", which "not only push us into the climate and ecological abyss, but also generate huge inequalities and harmful models such as luxury tourism in the middle of a severe drought for the benefit of a privileged minority". They claim to have used "biodegradable paint".

Zoom A spray-scratched mega-yacht in Port Vell. Rebelion Cientifica / EoR

It happened on Sunday afternoon, and they left their mark on "several mega-yachts", while other activists unfurled banners with slogans such as: "fossil subsidies + luxury tourism = climate crisis + drought".

Why luxury yachts? Because "the richest 1% of the world's richest people still pollute more than the poorest 50%" and "billionaires are primarily responsible for the eco-social crisis". Added to this is the drought and its consequences on the agricultural sector and the price of food and energy, they explained.

Zoom Young activists display their banners in Barcelona's marina. Extincion o Rebelion / RC

Rebelion o Extincion and Rebelion Cientifica have acted together in other protests, together with other European organisations. Now they are promoting the campaign 'Stop EU Fossil Subsidies', on the eve of the European elections. "States finance polluting fuels, the main driver of climate change," they maintain, and calculate that in 2023 "at least 405.1 billion euros have been allocated in subsidies to the fossil industry in the European Union", in direct and indirect aid, "ten times more than in climate policies".
Approaching the end of his tenure in Madrid, Elliott looks back at the success stories, challenges and, above all, people who have left their mark

Rachel Haynes Malaga Friday, 31 May 2024, 18:43 Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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It has been an eventful five years since Hugh Elliott landed in Madrid to take on the role of British Ambassador to Spain. He was expecting to have to deal with the consequences of the UK's departure from the EU but he had not envisaged having to contend with a global pandemic. These challenges, however, revealed the resourcefulness and generosity of the "extraordinary people doing amazing things" he came across in all the communities of British residents in Spain.

Elliott, who will be handing over to his successor, Alex Ellis, later this summer, spoke to SUR in English prior to attending this newspaper's Top International Business Guide and Awards presentation on Tuesday this week.

You are here to help SUR in English launch its international business guide. How important is the relationship between Andalucia and British business?

It's increasingly important. What I've seen in my last five years is a significant growth of Andalucia and Malaga in particular as a place for companies to set up. And the tech side is quite extraordinary. I'm about to visit Vodafone's new centre here, just one example of British companies across sectors choosing Malaga.

And Brexit hasn't made it more complicated for UK firms?

Britain is the biggest international investor in Andalucia. I think the numbers speak for themselves.

Business "British companies are the biggest international investors in Andalucia; the numbers speak for themselves"

Brexit has added an extra complication at passport control for UK tourists to Spain. Will the new EU Entry/Exit system expected to be brought in this autumn make this better or worse?

This will be a new biometric system which, once it's implemented, will mean that people will not need to have their passport stamped necessarily. So that offers the prospect, once it's up and running, of a smoother experience at the airports for British visitors.

But there could be issues during its implementation?

With any new system in a place like Malaga where there are a lot of flights coming in and out from the United Kingdom, you don't know until it's been put in place, but we're in touch with the Spanish authorities, with the interior ministry, with the airports authority and of course with the airlines and everyone involved in the introduction of this new system so that we can understand what's planned and help communicate those plans to make sure the British visitors and residents have got the latest information about what they'll need to do to register and how it will work afterwards.

Border Control "The new biometric system offers the prospect, once it's up and running, of a smoother experience at the airports for British visitors"

Zoom Hugh Elliott in the SUR newspaper library. Migue Fernandez

And as a result you are encouraging British residents using an old green certificate to get their TIE (foreigners ID card) if they haven't got one already.

All the stories I hear from the British communities across Spain are that life is easier with the TIE - it's as simple as that. With the added incentive that this will facilitate your move across the border once the automatic system is in place.

We were at one point hopeful that Spain would bring in a change to the 90/180 day rule for home owners. But is that likely?

I still hear from British citizens who ask, 'why does the UK allow 180 days in 365 and Spain only 90 in 180?'. The explanation is that it's an EU rule; it's what was agreed. But if Spain should choose to change that then I personally see that as a win-win, as British visitors here for a longer period of time contribute a great deal to local communities. One of the things that has really struck me in my five years here has been just what a vibrant contribution Brits do make to communities in Spain.

It had been hoped that there would be a deal over the Gibraltar border status before the EU elections; are they at a stalemate?

The last formal discussions took place on 16 May in Brussels. We continue to make good progress. This is a process that has been going on for some time. The UK has been working shoulder to shoulder with the government of Gibraltar to try to secure a deal that is in everyone's interest; for Gibraltar, for the Campo de Gibraltar, for the benefit of everybody.

Will the EU or UK elections interrupt progress?

These talks have been going on in one form or another for most of my time here and during that time we've had all sorts of elections, both in UK and Spain, and of course that has an impact, but the negotiations have continued. We have a tremendously clear will and commitment on the part of the Commission, the Spanish government, the government of Gibraltar and ourselves. What we're trying to do is a hard thing to do, everybody is aware of that, but the commitment to get the right result for everybody is there.

Gibraltar "What we're trying to do is a hard thing to do, everybody is aware of that, but the commitment to get the right result for everybody is there"

If you had to name three highlights of your time as ambassador to Spain, what would they be?

People, people and people. The most extraordinary thing about this job are the people you meet travelling around this extraordinary country with its wealth of connections to the UK. There is a story around every corner and that is partly due to the 416,000 or so British residents here and the 380,000 Spanish residents in the UK and partly the 17.3 million tourists who were here last year, more this year, and partly the sheer wealth of the commercial relationship we were talking about before.

In the British communities you find around Spain I meet extraordinary people who do amazing things. I was reading your paper this week and saw that Cudeca had 2,000 people out for their Walkathon. It's amazing. It was Joan Hunt OBE who put that together and look where that's come! And then there are the Spanish who are so welcoming, hospitable, in ways that sometimes astonish me.

People "The most extraordinary thing about this job are the people you meet travelling around this country with its wealth of connections to the UK"

Then the people who work in our eight consulates around the country with extraordinary dedication. We saw this during the complications of Brexit. It meant a lot of change for people here and people visiting. When Thomas Cook sadly went bust and there were hundreds of thousands of people dotted around Spain trying to get home, everybody mucked in to go and help solve those problems.

And then of course the pandemic: I remember the amazing work that loads of people did in my teams; there are around 300 of us in the embassy and consulates around Spain. People went from working physically to remotely almost overnight and working flat out trying to help people stay safe and get through what was a difficult situation.

So there's no need to ask what the biggest challenge has been.

The pandemic was a most extraordinary challenge. It was nothing any of us had ever envisaged or conceived of; we had no idea how that was going to affect our lives, of the tragedies and upheaval it was going to bring. Any organisation managing and living through that had a huge amount of work, understanding rules and regulations and policies and processes and the evolution of the health situation in Spain and in the UK.

Crime "I dont think there is anywhere here that is safe for British criminals. We have an extraordinarily close cooperation between our law enforcement agencies"

Are you going to be haunted forever more by the words "driving licence"?

There was a time when people did come up to me if I was flying back to the UK and discuss driving licences with me in an emotional way, but I completely understand that - it really affected people in their everyday lives. Our team worked very hard to resolve it; it took much longer than we hoped, but we got there.

What three things will you be leaving in the in-tray for the next ambassador?

[A long pause for thought] Thats an excellent question. The first thing is that there will be no shortage of stuff sitting in the in-tray; the second is that the next ambassador is a very good friend of mine so I wouldnt do anything to make his life difficult. I was thinking of saying that occasionally something to keep you going through the day would be quite useful, but instead I would say, just pop out and have a glass of coke or a cana and a nice pincho and carry on.

Crime reports on the Costa del Sol, especially those related to shootings and organised crime, more often than not mention international suspects, many of them Brits. How are the two countries working together to fight crime?

It is an unfortunate consequence of that proximity of relationship we enjoy that we find all walks of life that end up in Spain and in Andalucia. We have an extraordinarily close cooperation between our law enforcement agencies, we run all sorts of joint campaigns such as our most-wanted campaigns when we have sought public support to try to identify criminals who are wanted in the UK and citizens in Spain have collaborated to help track them down with tremendous success. I dont think there is anywhere here that is safe for British criminals and that will continue for as long as it needs to continue. My hope is that success continues and that the need reduces over time. The cooperation is simply excellent.

Tourism "The pandemic has taught us first of all that tourism is the lifeblood of so many parts of this wonderful country"

You mentioned earlier the millions of British tourists who come to Spain. Meanwhile popular destinations, such as the Canary Islands, are reacting against overcrowding and calling for a different model. Is this going to be an ongoing problem?

I think every tourist destination in Europe is going to struggle with numbers and the impact of those numbers on convivencia . During the pandemic the question I was asked by everyone was when are the British tourists coming back?' Now the questions are related to how do you deal with the pressures that the numbers of tourists bring.

The pandemic has taught us first of all that tourism is the lifeblood of so many parts of this wonderful country and its taught us to appreciate that and everything that tourism brings with it. The numbers bring huge benefit; the average British tourists probably spend more than certainly many of their European Union counterparts when they come to Spain and governments are looking for ways to manage appropriately so we can have that coexistence, or convivencia, that everybody wants to see.

From our perspective, British tourists who come here are the guests, and so from the embassy and consulate our job is to understand what policies may be in place and to be as respectful as we possibly can, as you would if you were in anybodys house as a guest.
The European elections are taking place on Sunday 9 June in Spain and between 6 and 9 June across the EU.

Jennie Rhodes Malaga Friday, 31 May 2024, 17:16 | Updated 19:33h. Opciones para compartir Copiar enlace

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Time magazine christened 2024 "the ultimate election year", with almost half the world's adult population going to the polls at some point over the twelve months. Across the European Union over 370 million people have the opportunity to vote in the European elections between 6 and 9 June. Spain will vote on Sunday 9 June.

Registered EU citizens may vote in their country of origin, from abroad or in the EU country in which they are resident. In fact, 302,958 foreign residents from the EU have expressed their wish to vote in Spain - 17,528 nationals from other EU countries will be voting in Malaga province.

Suzanne Mastbroek "Registering to vote in the Netherlands was very easy"

Mario Blancke "I always vote in honour of all the people who gave their lives for the right to vote"

Helen Sijsling "My husband and I received two ways to vote, one from the Netherlands and one from Spain"

Nolwenn Gaudin "I had the choice to register in France or Spain and living here with very few voting rights it's important to vote whenever possible"

For those who have opted to vote in Spain, there are 33 parties and coalitions that are running. Currently the Socialist PSOE party has 21 seats, the centre-right Partido Popular (PP) has 13 and Ciudadanos has seven. The leftist Unidas Podemos party has six, right-wing Vox have four and there are a further seven seats split between minority parties.

Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) generally belong to wider European parties that reflect their national views, so the PP is part of the European People's Party (EPP) and the PSOE is part of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats. Other parties are Renew Europe to which VOX has belonged and the Greens/European Free Alliance, European Conservatives and Reformists, Identity and Democracy and the Left group in the European Parliament - GUE/NGL.

Suzanne Mastbroek is originally from the Netherlands but lived in Belgium for many years before moving to Malaga province three years ago. She opted to vote in the Netherlands because she says, "As a resident in Spain I could also have voted here, just like last year for the municipal elections, but for now I know too little about Spanish politics to do that. Maybe next time." Suzanne points out that registering to vote in the Netherlands "was very easy".

Mario Blancke is originally from Belgium. He got involved in local politics in Malaga province as part of the Save our Homes Axarquia association to fight for the rights of owners of illegal houses, He says he always votes "in honour of all the people who gave their lives for the right to vote." Mario goes on to say, "Looking back at all the problems we faced with the regional and national government, SOHA decided to fight, and we made the difference."

Helen Sijsling, a Dutch national who lives in Malaga, says that for her "it is important to vote for the EU for solutions to big problems that do not stop at a border like climate change". She adds, "There is so much to be gained by working together."

Helen explains, "My husband and I received two ways to vote, one from the Netherlands, as we are Dutch, and one from Spain as we live here." The couple decided to vote in the Netherlands.

Nolwenn Gaudin is originally from France and lives in Malaga. She decided to vote in Spain and says: "I had the choice to register for France or Spain and living here with very few voting rights, it's important to me to vote whenever possible."

She adds, "While the EU is not exactly the dream organisation that was described at its inception, many rights, subsidies and political decisions that better our everyday life do come from it. So it matters to me to vote for representatives that will defend my rights and opinions at the EU Parliament."

Anyone voting in Spain should take an original ID document (no photocopies) which can be a national identity card, passport or driver licence. For more information visit: www.elections.europa.eu/en/how-to-vote/es/
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Tariff Tradeoffs: The 2023 CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY Top 50 Published: 31 May 2024 by Mike Buetow by Mike Buetow

Buoyed by the US-China trade war, Mexico and Malaysia are making their move.

On Jan. 6, 2023, the Wuxi Welnew Microelectronics plating plant in Wuxi, China, was decimated by a fire.

Youve probably never heard of Welnew. It is a supplier of electroplating (Sn, SnBi, SnCu, L/F Ag, ZnNi, and so on) to a host of semiconductor manufacturers including Infineon, Vishay, Bosch, Osram, Onsemi, Renesas, Toshiba and others. Welnew is critical to the supply chain: It claims a 60% market share for plating parts ranging from Mosfets, RF devices and LED drivers.

This happens in supply chains. If its not a typhoon, its a volcano. If its not a flood, its a fire. If its not an epidemic, its a pandemic. Lines and factories go down. Disruptions occur. Prices and lead times fluctuate, sometimes madly.

We bring this up to remind readers that, in electronics manufacturing services, the trend toward tighter supply chains and local vendors owes to a host of reasons, not just tariffs and infectious diseases. All of the above, it appears, is informing the geographical repositioning that is taking hold in the industry on a scale not seen since the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Over the past year, memory prices have dropped and component inventories have started to clear.1 Parts availability in almost all instances have ceased to be an issue. Yet prices for tin, copper, gold and other metals approached or surpassed all-time highs.2 Meanwhile, OEMs and EMS companies pared their order windows, giving suppliers less of a view of longer-term buying patterns. Relaxed pricing pressure on components  the leading driver of end-product costs  has for many companies had a downward effect on revenues.

Market Dynamics

The overall market for EMS and ODM services is estimated somewhere between $423 billion and $700 billion, depending on whom you ask. One of the fundamental reasons for the variance stems from how and when the data are counted. Some research firms conduct surveys and add up the results of every company they can count, regardless of where in the calendar their fiscal year starts and ends. Thus, for a company whose fiscal ends June 30  for instance, Plexus  only 50% of its actual sales days fall inside the research window. In other cases, some ODMs are included while others inexplicably left out.

While we do not attempt to measure the total EMS/ODM market size, we do have a process for determining the financials of the individual companies included in the CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY Top 50. We have always attempted to dial in to the actual calendar year (January to December) and cast a wide net, under which Foxconn is included, as are its main competitors: Pegatron, Quanta and Compal, among others.

Malaysia and Mexico

China continued to take it on the chin in 2023. Tariffs and anti-dumping investigations by the US and EU, coupled with increased saber-rattling across the Taiwan Strait, has prompted more OEMs to look elsewhere for suppliers.

While India, Thailand and Vietnam take up most of the oxygen surrounding the migration from China, dont overlook two other nations: Malaysia and Mexico.

New investment in the US has made major headlines, yet a bigger story is taking place south of the US border. Foxconn, Pegatron, Quanta, Jabil, Kimball, Vexos, Kaga Electronics, Neo Tech, GPV, OSI Electronics, TT Electronics, plus cable and wire harness makers like Sinbon Electronics and Lisconn are among those adding capacity south of the US border. India-based ODM VVDN Technologies has on its roadmap to expand to Mexico within the next 18 months. The forecast capacity additions total in the millions of square feet.

An ocean away, in Malaysia, Celestica, Kitron, TT Electronics, Neways, Aurelius Technologies and Entech Electronics are among the EMS companies adding capacity in and around Penang which, as suppliers like Texas Instruments, Ericsson, Bosch, Lam Research, TTM Technologies and AT&S also fuel the expansion boom there, is looking more and more like Silicon Valley East every day (Figure 1).



Figure 1. A map showing the major industrial manufacturers in Penang. (Source: Invest Penang)

How the Data are Counted

Many reports on the market refer to various tiers of companies, typically Tier 1, II, III and IV (or micro). CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY uses broader definitions of these segments. We feel revenue is an obvious measure of classification, but hardly the only one. While the top tier firms are widely agreed upon, the middle tiers are harder to compare. For example, a single-site, privately held company is a very different animal from a publicly traded competitor with operations in multiple countries or regions, even if their revenues are similar.

For the purposes of the CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY Top 50 (Table 1), how the tiers are defined matters less than the revenue, which is the only metric we are using here. That said, we do not attempt to characterize the ranked firms by their business model. Some are dedicated to SMT assembly. Others offer design, fabricate various types of circuit boards or components, or provide engineering services and box-builds or sheet metal fabrication. A few self-brand their own products.

Table 1. The CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY Top 50 EMS Companies, 2023



We dont penalize companies for being either horizontal or vertical, even if they private label goods on behalf of someone else. The question we ask is, does it perform electronics assembly on behalf of third parties?

We do, however, attempt to rationalize the revenue for companies that offer services or products that are clearly outside the scope of electronics assembly. For instance, Sanmina, Zhen Ding Technology, Flex and Nippon Mektron all have board fabrication operations of varying sizes. Not all those firms report their bare board and assembly revenue separately. As such, we use an admittedly crude formula for reporting the EMS side of their respective businesses.

We call it crude because we are keenly aware of its inaccuracy. To wit, a camera module could contain an unpopulated flex circuit, whose value might be 15% of the total unit cost. The flex circuit in a cellphone board, by contrast, might be worth some 40% of the total cost, with components comprising another 40% and labor and equipment amortization the rest. But we have no way of knowing the product mixes of these multibillion-dollar players, and as such where the companies dont break out their non-EMS sales, we apply a highly generic 40% assembly value to the overall sales of the flex makers.

That said, we do our best to exclude non-ODM/EMS revenue from the data. Its not easy. Case in point: Jabils diversified approach ranges from traditional EMS and ODM work to materials science and development and health care devices. If we include just the EMS unit, calendar 2023 revenues were $15.1 billion, about 45% of its overall sales. The diversified manufacturing services unit, however, includes some degree of revenues that would otherwise be EMS had Jabil chosen a different reporting configuration.

Others provide a clearer delineation. Based on the prior years annual reports, we deducted 15% from Luxshares revenues to account for connector sales. We reduced Flexs sales by $2.4 billion to account for its Nextracker (solar products) and Sheldahl (flex circuits and materials) subsidiaries. Something goofy is going on with Goerteks financials: The Chinese ODM of smart electronics wearables and home devices reported exactly the same revenue and cost of sales in 2022 and 2023 for its precision components and other business segments. Impossible. We deducted 14% from its Top 50 figure to account for the component sales, but that has to be a mistake. The results of BYD, Kaga Electronics and Dixon Technologies are EMS only, not automotive, distribution, white goods or LEDs. DSBJs (M-Flex) figures are based on the 65% of its revenue that comes from PCBs, then weighted for (estimated) EMS value. There will be mistakes.

Currency Effects

Currency effects always influence the rankings. The US dollar index in fall 2022 reached its highest point in nearly 20 years. It softened somewhat against some currencies in 2023 (Table 2). For those companies reporting revenues in non-US currencies, we converted the numbers using the averages set forth on May 27, 2024. Currency fluctuation will account for why some companies appear on some industry lists and not others. Likewise, CIRCUITS ASSEMBLY attempts in all cases to use the calendar year, not company financial years. Again, differing methodologies explain variances with other rankings.

Table 2. Currency Conversions



Wheres Tata?

Tata Group, Indias biggest name in automotive, is a $150 billion behemoth. And while we noted in the past how Luxshare was quickly ascending the rankings using a model similar to that of Foxconn (including building for Apple), over time Tata Electronics might prove an even more effective climber.

Tata Electronics Pvt. Ltd. (TEPL) is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Group, Indias largest conglomerate. Incorporated in 2020, it made waves with its $131 million acquisition3 of Wistrons 2.2 million sq. ft. iPhone assembly campus in India. Tata doesnt break out TEPLs revenue, however, and the business is also pushing hard into semiconductor fabrication, having committed at least $10 billion to the venture.4 This makes the enterprise similar in some respects to Foxconn, albeit considerably smaller as an ODM. We have seen some estimates value the offloaded Wistron business at $600 million, which seems reasonable. That revenue, however, was recorded by Wistron in 2023, as the deal did not close until October. As such, Tata is left off this list, although it almost certainly will join next year.

Other omissions often seen on other lists include Hana Microelectronics (half its overall sales of $710 million from were EMS, the rest from components); Deihl Controls ($606 million) just missed; Orient Semiconductor (OSE) ($515 million); Bitron (havent been able to separate the EMS portion of its $1.5 billion in overall sales); Melecs ($513 million) and PC Partner (mostly OEM sales). And we are admittedly confused by the inclusion of FIC/Prime/3CEMS as separate entities on some lists, as they are one and the same. Kinpo Electronics, which last year raised its stake in publicly traded Cal-Comp Electronics (Thailand) to 49.99%, reports the latter's results in its consolidated financial statements. As such, the two entities are combined for the purpose of this list.

Table 3. Top 50 Entrants by Nation



Acquiring Minds

Every year brings major  and usually unexpected  deals, and 2023 was no different. What was most surprising, perhaps, is how Asia-centric the M&A activity has become.

In addition to the aforementioned Wistron deal, Tata Electronics is reportedly in talks to buy Pegatrons Indian iPhone manufacturing facility. It is Pegatrons last iPhone factory, having sold a plant in China to Luxshare last year.

Jabils $2.2 billion sale of its mobility unit to BYD was the largest deal in terms of sale price, but over time, it may well take a backseat  pun intended  to the amassing of iPhone factories by Tata.

Not to be outdone, Dixon Technologies is reportedly in talks to acquire a majority stake in Transsion Holdings Indian unit as it looks to strengthen its presence in Indias smartphone market.

Lincoln International, a Chicago-based investment bank, tracks EMS deals each quarter. The firm reported 29 completed deals in 2023, but in our estimation that undercounts the actual number of transactions by at least half. Thats not a criticism: Its tough to track everything, especially when so many companies are foreign-owned and private. To wit, Wistron and Ge-Shen were responsible for a half-dozen deals between them, and insofar as we can tell, none of them were accounted for by Lincoln.

Interestingly, of the initial public offerings in 2023, none was on Western exchanges. Avalon Technologies and Elin Electronics were listed on the BSE in India, JLC Technology Group (primarily a bare board fabricator) went public on the Shenzhen exchange, and Cape EMS was listed on the Bursa Malaysia board. SFO Technologies, which announced plans to list within the next two years, reported revenues of about $300 million.

Final Notes

The next business trend to watch for: EMS/ODMs investing in semiconductor operations. Foxconns plans are well known. But others, including Tata (semiconductors) Syrma (die), AST and Saharsa Electronics (packaging) are in planning stages or nearing production as well. Business models in EMS are always changing.

As always, any errors are those of the author.

References

SEMI, 2023 Global Semiconductor Materials Market Revenue Declines From 2022 Record High, SEMI Reports May 6, 2024. Harry Dempsey and Sally Hickey, Rush of Fund Manager Interest Drives Metals Prices to Fresh Highs, Financial Times, May 22, 2024. Wistron, Wistron Announces Q1 Financial Results, May 13, 2024, https://www.wistron.com/en/Newsroom/2024-05-13. Dia Rekhi and Aashish Aryan, Tata Electronics Begins Export of Semiconductor Chip Samples from Bengaluru Centre, ETtEch, May 8, 2024, https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/tata-begins-export-of-chip-samples/articleshow/109899909.cms

Mike Buetow is president of PCEA (pcea.net); mike@pcea.net.
Syracuse, N.Y. -- The public has another chance to comment on Micron Technologys plans to build a massive chipmaking plant in the town of Clay -- this time on the impact on wetlands.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which oversees federally designated wetlands, has opened a public comment period on Microns proposal. The deadline for comments is July 1.

Microns construction of four fabrication plants, or fabs, at Route 31 and Caughdenoy Road would permanently destroy more than 200 acres of wetlands and 6,716 feet of stream banks, the corps said in a public notice. (See maps below.)

Micron would need approval of the Army Corps to fill in those wetlands and streams. The company would be obligated to buy or create wetlands property nearby to offset the losses caused by construction of the complex. Micron is working with the nonprofit Wetland Trust, in Ithaca, to find and set aside wetlands, the corps said.

Micron would avoid building on about half of the wetlands on the 1,400-acre White Pine Commerce Park, the corps said.

The decision to approve or deny this permit request will be based on an evaluation of the probable impact, including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest, the Army corps said in a public notice issued this week. That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources.

The summary of Microns application can be found at the agencys Buffalo office website.

No public hearing is required, although anyone can ask for one in writing. If the corps receives a request, the agency would determine whether a hearing would give more information than it would receive through written comments only.

The Army corps held a public hearing in March, but that was when the agency had been designated to lead the entire federal environmental review of the Micron project. In April, the CHIPS Program Office took over that overall review. The Army corps remains responsible for preparing an environmental report on the impact on wetlands and deciding whether to issue a permit.

Micron plans to build the first two fabs by 2029 and the last two by 2041. The company said it could spend $100 billion on the complex, which could employ 9,000 people. It would be the largest private investment ever in New York state and could spur the creation of tens of thousands of other jobs.

The entire complex would be as big as Syracuse Universitys main campus.

The U.S. Department of Commerce has tentatively agreed to give Micron $6.1 billion to build the first two fabs in Clay and one at the companys headquarters in Boise, Idaho. The total amount of taxpayer subsidies from federal, state and local governments is likely to exceed $20 billion.

Comments can be submitted via email and by regular mail. Direct comments to Margaret Crawford and include the application number, LRB-2000-02198.

Heres the mail address:

US Army Corps of Engineers

Buffalo District

Attn: Margaret Crawford

7413 County House Road

Auburn, New York 13021

Wetlands on Micron Technology site

This map shows wetlands (blue) in White Pine Commerce Park, in Clay, (outlined in red) where Micron Technology plans to build and fill in more than 200 acres of wetlands. The construction is largely to the southwest corner of the site, avoiding most of the big extent of wetlands to the north.

Micron would destroy 200 acres of wetlands

This map shows the site plan for Micron Technologys planned semiconductor complex superimposed over wetlands (in light green) that would be destroyed by the construction. The black dotted line shows the area that would be disturbed in building the four fabs and accompanying buildings.
Liverpool, N.Y.  A live bullet left in a bag of training rounds was mistakenly loaded into a handgun and fired by an instructor during a safety course at Onondaga Community College, police said.

The shot fired in January at OCCs Liverpool building was accidental and no crime was committed by the instructor, an off-duty Camillus police officer, a New York State Police investigation into the incident found, according to Camillus police Chief Michael Schreyer.

The gun was fired during a demonstration of a malfunctioning handgun, Schreyer said Thursday. The class was being held in the OCC building at 8015 Oswego Road

The instructor, Capt. James Nightingale, had the gun pointed at a wall and away from students when it was accidentally fired, Schreyer said. No one was injured.

Before the demonstration, Nightingale and students inspected the bag of training rounds  ammunition without gunpowder, the chief said.

But a live round in the bag was missed and unknowingly loaded into the gun, he said.

Schreyer said he didnt know how the live round got into the bag. Some training rounds can easily be confused for live ones, he said.

No equipment from the Camillus Police Department was used during the safety course, Schreyer said.

The police department temporarily revoked Nightingales authorization to work as an instructor through OCC while they investigated the incident. That authorization has been reinstated, Schreyer said.

Nightingale was not disciplined, the chief said.

Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him at falba@syracuse.com.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Former Rep. Jim Walsh, a 10-term Republican, urged Americans to accept Thursdays historic court verdict in which Donald Trump became the first former president convicted of felony crimes.

The jury found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor.
Esopus, N.Y.  After a train crashed into an SUV in Upstate New York, responders combed the area surrounding the tracks to find and help anyone injured in the crash.

Troopers eventually found the driver of the smashed-up vehicle uninjured in a nearby patch of woods. Detectives then made a surprising discovery: The man intentionally parked his 2022 Chevrolet Equinox on the railroad tracks before abandoning the SUV to be crumpled by a train, deputies said.

The crash happened around 2:05 p.m. south of the Esopus Avenue railroad crossing in Esopus, a town in the Hudson Valley.

Emergency responders rushed to the tracks and found a damaged SUV with a car seat in the back on the west side of the railroad, the Ulster County Sheriffs Office said in a news release. A deputy crawled into the back of the vehicle to make sure no child was trapped inside, deputies said.

A driver from Connecticut drove an SUV onto railroad tracks in Esopus, N.Y. on Tuesday, May 28, 2024 and abandoned the vehicle to be struck by a train, deputies said. Photo: Ulster County Sheriff's OfficePhoto: Ulster County Sheriff's Office

Firefighters from two departments worked with deputies to search the area surrounding the tracks for victims.

Deputies were still scanning the wooded area when New York State Police troopers reported they were chasing a man through woods a few miles away near the Shaupeneak Ridge trailhead and Old Post Road, the sheriffs office said. Deputies responded to the trail and helped troopers take the disorderly man into custody, deputies said.

The man  David Rivera, 31, of Bridgeport, Connecticut  was not injured.

No charges were immediately announced. Deputies said the investigation remains open and active.

The train involved in the crash had engine damage, deputies said, and was repaired by CSX mechanics. Railroad traffic resumed just before 7 p.m. Tuesday after the damaged SUV was removed.
Ays7 BHPian

Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: Mumbai Posts: 154 Thanked: 893 Times

Re: Underage drunk driver rams unregistered Porsche Taycan into 2-wheeler at high speed | 2 dead I did read somewhere that the company officials from Porsche will also inspect the car and confirm whether there was any malfunction. I do not see the officials admitting to any malfunction and so their testimony, if any will only aid the prosecution.





What we are forgetting is that all this material will only come into picture once the final chargesheet is filed, typically within 90 days for offences that carry a jail term of more than seven years.





Whatever the defence lawyers claim right now is just hogwash which they will use to try and secure bail for their clients. Once the bail is granted, the trial will take a few years to end.



All the witness statements, driver's statement, etc collected will only have a perfunctory value. In a criminal prosecution, witnesses routinely turn hostile.



What police will need is to independently establish the following:

1. The Youth was driving the car - not just based on statements, may be photographs or cameras if any.

2. He was drunk at the time.

3. The blood samples were swapped. (I think police have the back up samples now that can show that the teen was drunk).



As for teen's father and grandfather, they can be charged with multiple charges, including witness tampering, intimidation, wrongful confinement of driver, and evidence tampering, all of which independently carry severe punishments and jailtimes, regardless of what happens to the teen.



Just my 2 cents.
A dash-mounted hardware player that brings your Spotify tunes to your car speakerssounds like a no-brainer, right? Or at least it did in early 2022, when Spotify put its Car Thing device into wide release.

But Spotify hit the brakes on its Car Thing experiment barely four months later, yanking the $90 device from store shelves. Now, the streamer says Car Thing hardware will stop working entirely by the end of this year. (Spotify is said to be offering refunds after enraged customers threatened to sue.)

If youre appalled by Spotifys crazy Car Thing debacle, well, smart home users know the feeling.

From the doomed Dropcam to the abandoned Revolv smart hub, theres a long, sad parade of smart home devices that have turned into paperweights.

As will soon befall Spotifys Car Thing, these deactivated smart home gadgets have either mostly or completely ceased to function, and in some cases, no refunds were in the offing.

Weve compiled a list of 10 infamous examples of killer smart home products thatfor one reason or anotherwere abandoned by their manufactures, leaving customers high and dry.

Read em and weep.

10 stone-dead smart home gadgets

Amazon Echo Look

Launched: 2017

Original list price: $200

Date deactivated: July 24, 2020

Amazon Amazon Amazon

It was a heady concept: an Alexa-powered smart camera that could scan your daily outfits and give you fashion advice. Indeed, the Echo Look was one of the original look what Alexa can do! devices, predating such out-there Alexa gadgets as the Echo Loop (Alexa on a ring) and the Amazon Astro (Alexa on a robot).

But the Echo Look never really took offin part, perhaps, because the Looks camera lacked a privacy shutter, a minus for a device thats supposed to sit on your bedroom dresserand in May 2020, Amazon announced that the Look would go dark just two months later.

Amazon did offer Echo Look owners a free Echo Show 5 in compensation, but still, the $90 smart display didnt exactly cover the $200 asking price for the dead-as-a-doornail fashion camera.

Amazon Echo Connect

Launched: 2017

Original list price: $35

Date deactivated: February 29, 2024

Amazon Amazon Amazon

Landing right around the same time as the doomed Echo Look, the Echo Connect unlocked a killer Alexa feature: the ability to make phone calls on your landline using voice commands. All you had to do was plug your landline cable into the back of the Connect box, no additional fees required.

But as landlines gave way to cell phones and Alexa gained the ability to place calls from mobile phone numbers, the Echo Connect began to look increasingly outdated, and some bad reviews didnt help.

Still, Echo Connect users were caught off guard when, in February 2024, Amazon gave them just a few weeks notice that the Connect would soon go dead. On the bright side, each Echo Connect owner got a $10 Amazon gift card for their trouble.

Revolve smart home hub

Launched: 2013

Original list price: $299

Date deactivated: May 15, 2016

YouTube YouTube YouTube

One smart hub to rule them all? That was the idea behind Revolv, a fire engine-red gadget packed with seven wireless radios that allowed you to control smart products from different manufacturers, all from a single app.

That was, at the time, a killer conceptso killer that Nest, which had itself just been acquired by Google, snapped up Revolvs parent company in 2014 and promptly yanked the hub from store shelves.

Initially, Nest promised to keep existing Revolv smart hubs up and running. But by early 2016, Revolv owners learned that their hubs would stop working entirely by May of the same year, leaving them stuck with $300 paperweights while scrambling for alternatives.

Iris by Lowes Home Automation platform

Launched: 2012

Original list price: $50 hub, $99 Security Pack (with various contact and motion sensors, plus a keypad), $129 Automation Pack (contained Security Pack components plus a smart plug and button)

Date deactivated: March 31, 2019

Lowes Lowes Lowes

Lowes jumped into the smart home market early, going all-in with a hub (a second-generation hub landed in 2015 as a free upgrade for original hub owners) and a variety of sensors, security cameras, smoke detectors, and other smart components.

But from the start, Lowes Iris platform was beset with problems, from a lengthy and bug-ridden setup process to promised features that were slow to materialize (such as professional home monitoring), while support for third-party smart brands arrived only in dribs and drabs. Lowes eventually rolled out a raft of welcome updates to address the lengthy list of customer complaints, but the Iris platform never truly recovered from its rocky launch.

By 2019, Lowes finally threw in the towel, announcing that its Iris products would stop working by March 31 of that year.

While Iris users were faced with the prospect of rebuilding their smart home setups, Lowes at least offered to refund customers for any Iris products that wouldnt work on any other platforms, while Samsung SmartThings stepped up to help Iris users migrate to its own smart platform.

Hive home security products

Launched: 2017

Original list price: Various

Date deactivated: September 1, 2023 (Hive Leak sensor), August 1, 2025 (all other Hive security products)

Amazon Amazon Amazon

UK-based Hive had big plans for the smart home back in 2017. Originally focused on smart heating and thermostats, the brand was poised to branch out into home security with the Hive HomeShield alarm and the Hive View indoor and outdoor cameras (pictured above), while the Hive Leak Sensor would keep its wireless-enabled feelers out for water leaks.

But by 2019, Hive began dialing down its smart home ambitions, first withdrawing from the U.S. and Candian markets (Hive gave instructions to users in North America on how to dispose of its useless smart gadgets on a support page) and then announcing it would exit the home security market altogether, with its portfolio of camera and security devices slated to go dead by August 1, 2025. (The Hike Leak lost support and connectivity last year.) And as for refunds, the options arent great.

Hive chose to chop the products because as a smart technology brand in the middle of a climate crisis, we know our focus needs to change, according to a company statement.

Samsung SmartThings first-generation Hub, ADT SmartThings Home Security & Safety System, SmartThings Link

Launched: 2014 (first-gen Hub), 2017 (ADT SmartThings Home Security & Safety System), 2018 (Samsung Link)

Original list price: $99 (hub), $550 and up (ADT SmartThings Home Security kits), $40 (SmartThings Link)

Date deactivated: June 20, 2021

Jared Newman / Foundry Jared Newman / Foundry Jared Newman / Foundry

One of the biggest and most stalwart of smart home brands, Samsung SmartThings has nonetheless seen fit to turn some of its older products into paperweights.

Back in 2021, Samsung pulled support for the original SmartThings Hub from 2014not a huge shock, given that the hub was seven years old. Still, due to compatibility issues, first-generation Hub owners were faced with the prospect of recreating their smart home setups from scratch.

More vexing was the decision to axe the much newer Samsung Link (a dongle that allowed the Nvidia Shield to perform double duty as a SmartThings hub, pictured above) and the pricey ADT SmartThings Home Security system, which were (respectively) only three and four years old.

Samsung and partner ADT offered owners of their dead products a combination of refunds and discounts on newer hardware, and the SmartThings ecosystem itself lives on.

Phillips Hue Bridge (first-generation)

Launched: 2012

Original list price: Included in a $199 Hue starter kit

Date deactivated: April 2022

Signify Signify Signify

Signify-owned Philips Hue first began selling its industry-leading smart lights way back in 2012, and the first Hue Bridge (pictured above on the right, with a big red slash through it) came bundled with three Hue bulbs.

Hue discontinued the original Bridge in 2015 in favor of an upgraded (and now square) model with more robust processing power and Apple HomeKit support, but continued to keep the older Bridge operating with frequent software updates.

By 2020, however, Philips Hue announced that first Bridge no longer has the resources to guarantee the evolution of the Hue system.

While owners of the outdated Bridge could still use it locally with the Hue app (so strictly speaking, its not stone dead), the device lost all online services after April 2020, including out-of-home control and voice commands.

Leeo Smart Alert Nightlight

Launched: 2014

Original list price: $99

Date deactivated: Late 2019

Best Buy Best Buy Best Buy

Released back in 2014, the Leeo Smart Alert Nightlight was a simple connected device that could listen for smoke, carbon dioxide, and water leak detectors going off. Doubling as a night light, the Leeo Smart Alert could warn you via mobile alert if it heard any home alarms blaringand best of all, the monthly service charge was zip, a rarity in the smart home world.

Sadly, the no-cost service (meaning no recurring income for Leeo) may have sealed the fate of the Smart Alert Nightlight. After notifying customers in August 2019 that it was facing choppy financial waters (the company said it explored the possibility of imposing monthly fees, but never followed through), Leeo announced two months later that it was unable to keep the network on.

Its internet connection gone, the Smart Alert lost all its smarts, although it could still work as a nightlight. (The color-capable light turned white once the network support shut down).

Dropcam HD and Dropcam Pro

Launched: 2012 (Dropcam HD), Dropcam Pro (2013)

Original list price: $149 (Dropcam HD), $199 (Dropcam Pro)

Date deactivated: April 8, 2024

Amazon Amazon Amazon

Two of the original smart security cameras, the Dropcam HD and Dropcam Pro revolutionized the DIY home security market with their handsome designs, top-notch (for the time) video quality, and affordable price tags.

None of this escaped the notice of Nest, which scooped up Dropcam in 2014, just prior to Googles acquisition of Nest.

Unlike what happened with the Revolv smart hub, Nest kept both Dropcam units operational for a decade before finally cutting off online support for both models in early April, 2024. Nest even offered the last remaining Dropcam users a free Nest Cam, provided they were Nest Aware subscribers.

Nest Secure

Launched: 2017

Original list price: $499

Date deactivated: April 8, 2024

Google Google Google

The Dropcam HD and Dropcam Pro werent the only products that Nest reached out and killed on April 8, 2024. On the same day, the Google-owned brand also pulled the plug on Nest Secure, its DIY home security system.

Released in 2017, the Nest Secure bundle includes the central Nest Guard component, which offers an integrated keypad, siren, and motion sensor, plus two contact sensors and a pair of NFC-equipped Nest Tags that can arm or disarm the system with a tap.

Nest Secure garnered some admiring notices for its attractive industrial design, as well as the tight integration with Nests other smart home devices. But the hefty $500 price tag for just two contact sensors and an alarm was a major turnoff, and Nest discontinued Secure in 2020right around the time that Google sunk $450 million in ADT.

As with the Dropcams, Nest Secure stopped working in April 2024, rendering its alarm and window/door sensors useless. That said, Google did offer Nest Secure users a new ADT security system worth up to $485either that or a $200 Google Store credit.
In a nutshell: Panic just recovered nearly $400,000 worth of Playdate handhelds stolen earlier this year. The company found the loot consisting of about 45 boxes on Thursday in front of an unfinished restaurant in North Las Vegas.

The true crime drama started when FedEx misdelivered a shipment of around 2,000 Playdates. Instead of dropping them off at Panic's fulfillment center, the driver unloaded the cargo at a nearby construction site. Panic co-founder Cabel Sasser informed the press of the incident during a March Q&A session at GDC 2024.

Sasser said employees didn't notice the missing units until doing inventory sometime after the misdelivery. FedEx representatives told management that records showed the driver dropped off the parcels successfully. A similar thing had happened with a previous shipment, so employees checked the mistaken location. However, nothing was there.

"It's a bit of a true crime drama," Sasser remarked.

At that point, most companies might have written it off as a loss and moved on, but as a small company, half a million dollars in stolen merchandise is a huge deal, and it's legally considered grand theft, so Panic wasn't going to let it go so quickly.

Presumably, the company notified Las Vegas Police, but there is only so much the police can do, and these types of incidents  porch piracy on a grand scale  tend to be back burnered for lack of physical leads. So Panic did some sleuthing on its own and, eventually, got the thief/thieves to return the shipment to a restaurant near its fulfillment center. The company tweeted photos of the returned goods showing the unfinished restaurant with Panic's warehouse in the background (above).

Hey who said no boxes were opened and no Playdate systems were missing or sold? More on that in the inevitable podcast/write-up, as it's a crucial part of how we got these back!  Playdate (@playdate) May 31, 2024

Panic's X post was vague regarding the details of its investigation and how it got the bandit to return the property mostly intact. It did note that some boxes were opened and missing contents. It also claimed it knew that at least a few Playdates were sold. The company promised it would share all the details in an upcoming podcast.

Losing half a million dollars and recovering most of it later is a stressful rollercoaster ride. Still, Playdate admitted that it "enjoyed" its detective work and joked that it should consider rebranding the stolen units as Playdate Hot Limited Edition.

"For now, this was our best possible outcome, the result of lots of time and detective work, (Which, ok fine, we enjoyed)," it admitted. "The real question is, can we sell these as a limited edition? Playdate Hot"
In a nutshell: Spotify has started issuing full refunds to Car Thing owners after receiving numerous complains following a recent announcement that the device would reach end-of-life status and be rendered useless later this year.

It's been roughly one week since Spotify announced it would be shutting down Car Thing in December, and it didn't take long for the complaints to start pouring in. A company representative told Engadget on Thursday of this week that as of last Friday (May 24), customers with proof of purchase could reach out to customer service for a full refund.

Spotify originally said they had no plans to offer a replacement or new version of the device, nor would they be offering any trade-in options or subscriber credit. Some, however, were reportedly able to get Spotify Premium credits from customer service reps for their troubles.

Others took to social media to voice their concerns, while a select group went the legal route by filing a class action lawsuit in Manhattan federal court. According to Billboard, the suit was filed on May 28 although Spotify claims it started issuing refunds days earlier.

It's easy to see why Car Thing owners are upset. Spotify started testing the device with a limited number of users in 2019 before rolling it out to the general public in early 2022. Later that year, the company quietly discontinued the gadget due to weak demand and supply chain issues, but continued to sell it at a discount on its website.

Car Thing has worked as advertised ever since, but that'll change later this year. Spotify is pulling the plug on December 9, and after that it will no longer be operational. Owners are encouraged to reset the device to factory settings and safely dispose of it following local electronic waste guidelines.

Personally, I'd hang on to it in hopes of the community one day figuring out how to unlock its full potential for other uses. It's a neat gadget with loads of promise, and sending it to an early grave seems unjust.
The US House of Representatives recently introduced a new bill seeking to boost national security review for connected vehicles built by automakers from China and other countries of concern.

US House of Representatives Addressing Security Concerns

A new bill introduced in the House aims to enhance national security review concerning connected vehicles made by automakers from China and other countries of concern. The bill, proposed by Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), seeks to address concerns about the potential exploitation of vehicle software for espionage purposes.

If enacted, the Connected Vehicle National Security Review Act would mandate thorough security assessments for connected vehicles produced by Chinese automakers and those from other designated nations.

It would also grant the Department of Commerce the authority to impose restrictions or outright bans on selling such vehicles in the US before they reach consumers, pending the outcome of security reviews.

Slotkin emphasized the increasing sophistication of modern vehicles equipped with advanced sensors, cameras, and data processing capabilities.

She highlighted the potential risks posed by Chinese-connected vehicles, suggesting they could provide the Chinese government with valuable intelligence on the US. This includes gathering data on military installations, critical infrastructure such as the power grid and traffic systems, and even tracking specific US leaders if desired.

Read Also : US Plans to Bar Chinese Telecoms Over National Security Concerns

Navigating the Concerns of Chinese EVs in US Market

Earlier this month, Slotkin addressed the House floor, drawing attention to the potential infiltration of the American market by Chinese electric vehicles (EVs). These vehicles, typically priced lower than their US and European counterparts, pose a significant threat of capturing a substantial portion of the market.

Slotkin cited the rapid growth of Chinese vehicles since their introduction in 2019 in the European market, where they now constitute nearly a quarter of all sales.

She pushed Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to act on the potential security risks these Chinese vehicles pose.

Legislators may alternatively consider enacting a comprehensive data privacy law rather than addressing these issues incrementally. The bill was introduced after the Biden administration decided to quadruple import tariffs on Chinese EVs.

This move saw tariffs increase from 25 percent to 100 percent, a response to the significant rise in China's EV exports, which surged by 70 percent between 2022 and 2023.

In February, the White House announced a Department of Commerce probe into the risks associated with connected vehicles from China and other foreign adversaries. Since this move was executed through an executive order, it is still susceptible to potential reversal by future administrations.

Slotkin's proposed legislation seeks to address these vulnerabilities, although its fate in Congress remains uncertain amid today's politically charged environment.
Leaked documents have exposed discrepancies between Google's public statements and the actual processes of its search algorithm.

This leak, encompassing 2,500 pages, was first reported by SEO expert Rand Fishkin, offering a rare and controversial glimpse into the inner workings of Google Search, which has remained largely unscrutinized for 26 years.

Leaked Documents Show How Google Runs Search

Gizmodo reports that the leak, brought to Fishkin's attention by Erfan Azimi, who discovered the API documentation on GitHub, reveals critical details about Google's search ranking factors.

These documents include information on 14,000 ranking features, which have major implications for SEO experts and website owners.

In an email to Gizmodo, Fishkin highlighted a major concern: "I think the biggest takeaway is that what Google's public representatives say and what Google search engine does are two different things."

For years, Google representatives have made statements about their algorithms that now appear to be contradicted by these leaked documents.

Shocking SEO Revelations from Google Leak

One of the most startling revelations involves Google's use of website authority scores, something the company has denied in the past. This means users are likely to find results from large websites instead of the most appropriate ones from smaller sites.

Another bombshell feature is the "homepagePagerankNs," which suggests that the notoriety of a website's homepage can positively impact the rankings of all its pages.

Google's guidelines for Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness (E-E-A-T) are also revealed to be not that influential than publicly acknowledged. However, the documents indicate Google tracks author information, particularly for news and scientific content.

Additionally, the discovered "NavBoost" system, which measures clicks to boost rankings, confirms long-held suspicions that click-through rates influence search results. This finding is at odds with past statements from Google representatives who have stated, "Using clicks directly in ranking would be a mistake."

Read Also : Google Research Shows How AI-Powered Misinformation Spreads at Lightning Speed

How the Search Algorithm Has Been Crushing Small Publishers

The leak also mentioned the existence of features like "smallPersonalSite" which suggests that Google categorizes and potentially biases against small, personal websites.

SEO expert Mike King tells Gizmodo, "So many of these small sites are getting crushed right now," pointing to a significant drop in traffic for smaller sites.

This has raised concerns that Google's ranking system favors larger, more established publishers, compressing diverse information sources. 'Lied' is harsh, but it's the only accurate word to use here," King said.

How Google Search Deals with Pandemics and Elections

Kristen Ruby, CEO of Ruby Media Group questioned two of the features leaked "isElectionAuthority" and "isCovidLocalAuthority." Ruby is interested in what Google's criteria are for deeming certain sources authoritative in these sensitive topics.

Ruby criticized the lack of transparency, stating, "It is problematic to me that Google is providing no context on critical items in the data such as 'isElectionAuthority' or 'isCovidLocalAuthority.'"

Google Has Confirmed the Leak

Speaking with The Verge, Google has confirmed the authenticity of the documents but cautioned against drawing inaccurate conclusions.

A spokesperson stated, "We would caution against making inaccurate assumptions about Search based on out-of-context, outdated, or incomplete information."

They emphasized that disclosing too much could enable bad actors to game the system.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
Tesla was previously pulling out all the stops to persuade shareholders to approve its move to Texas and CEO Elon Musk's $56 billion pay package. However, we might have judged the company's next move too soon.

This week, the American automaker has upped the ante, offering shareholders a chance to win a factory tour with Musk and chief designer Franz von Holzhausen. This sweepstakes-for-votes strategy includes an exclusive tour of the Tesla factory in Austin and an invitation to the June 13 annual meeting.

Tesla Shareholder Sweepstakes

Two key decisions for shareholders include the potential reinstatement of Musk's $56 billion pay package and the proposal to move Tesla's incorporation from Delaware to Texas. This initiative aims to engage shareholders more deeply in the company's future direction.

No Voting Bias in Sweepstakes Entry

Tesla's sweepstakes rules are clear: shareholders must submit proof of voting, but it doesn't matter how they vote.

According to Tesla's website, shareholders can enter the drawing regardless of whether they vote for or against the proposals. This inclusive approach ensures all shareholders have a chance to participate.

"You do not need to vote for or against any proposals to be eligible for entry. You are eligible to vote and to enter the drawing, only if you were a stockholder of record or a beneficial owner at the close of business on April 15, 2024," the website says.

It is unclear whether this incentive violates any U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) rules.

With a select group of stockholders, Elon Musk and Franz von Holzhausen will lead the tour through the Model Y and Cybertruck manufacturing lines.

Legal Challenges to Musk's Pay Package

Earlier this year, a Delaware judge rejected Musk's substantial pay package, citing concerns about the board's independence and the lack of transparency to shareholders during the 2018 vote. However, Chancellor Kathaleen McCormick has recently allowed the possibility of the case being relitigated in Texas, although she reserves the right to reconsider her ruling if necessary.

In her April court letter, McCormick said that if she had incorrectly interpreted the defendants' position, the court officers would be responsible for correcting it. She added that the defendant's statements gave her "great comfort."

Tesla shareholders will vote on June 13 regarding Musk's pay package and the incorporation move to Texas. The deadline to submit proof of voting is June 7, just before midnight Central Time. The exclusive Gigafactory tour will occur on June 12 at Tesla's headquarters in Austin.

Alternative Entry for Non-Voting Shareholders

Tesla offers an alternative method for shareholders who prefer not to vote but still wish to enter the drawing. They can send a postcard to Tesla Gigafactory Tour, c/o FGS Global, 475 Sansome St., Suite 1750, San Francisco, CA 94111. The postcard must include the shareholder's name, postal address, and email address and confirm that they were a stockholder of record or beneficial owner as of April 15, 2024.

Fisker Faces Another Round of Layoffs

In other EV industry news from TechCrunch, struggling startup Fisker has undergone another round of significant layoffs. Sources indicate that hundreds of workers have been let go recently.

Fisker, which employed approximately 1,135 employees as of April 19, now has only about 150 remaining after layoffs in late April and this latest cut. The company has been in a downward spiral for months, and these reductions are hitting hard.
Artificial intelligence can now automatically create someone's autobiography by simply asking someone questions about their life, all within an application that is reportedly the latest AI venture by startup Autobiographer.

The business is experimenting in a contentious field where many people oppose the notion that AI could take the role of writing, art, and other creative pursuits.

However, in Autobiographer, the AI helps the user narrate their tale in their own words and then compiles it into an output that can be exported as a PDF and, possibly, bound and printed in the future. Put differently, it functions more as a partner than as the only creator.

The software might not replace expertly written stories, but it could be useful for recording friendships or family history or making a keepsake for your kids.

Read Also : How to Improve Your Workflow with Canva's Most Advanced AI Tools

Autobigrapher's Founders

As per Tech Crunch, Matt Bowman, the CEO and co-founder of Autobiographer, views the app as a means of leaving a legacy for his godchildren. Bowman was stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan while serving in the Army Special Forces before working at Facebook in the Bay Area. Thus, he has experienced losses that have influenced his perspective on the world.

Bowman partnered with James Barnes, who had also worked at Facebook during the 2016 and 2018 elections. Barnes was among the first to identify the problems with the Cambridge Analytica data harvesting scandal, resulting in his participation in multiple depositions and subpoenas.

Later, he quit Facebook to launch a Super PAC to challenge Trump. While experimenting with OpenAI's GPT-3, he discovered that artificial intelligence could assist him in processing his own life experiences, including these significant events.

AI-Generated Books

Companies continue to extend artificial intelligence applications, most notably in the creative and production industries. Just last October, 2023 authors found AI-generated books being sold on Amazon.

More precisely, when perusing the website for his book, author Rory Cellan-Jones came across a book on Amazon that resembles his memoir exactly. However, upon closer inspection, he discovered that AI software, not a human, had authored this biography.

This puzzled Cellan-Jones, considering the difficulties he had in selling autobiographical novels and other authors' sudden appearance of autobiographical books.

His autobiography, "Ruskin Park: Sylvia, Me and the BBC," details his lonely childhood and the complicated dynamics of his relationship with his mother.

The writer was shocked by the AI-written book and thought it was all made up. He drew attention to the passages that portrayed the Cellan-Jones family as learned people seated around a table, led by a benevolent father and a teaching mother.

The matter allegedly took a concerning turn after receiving an email from Amazon suggesting that he buy the fake book rather than his own.

Cellan-Jones was especially irritated by this development since it appeared that Amazon's algorithm gave the phony book more publicity than his meticulously produced work. He pointed out that this essentially permitted book spam and suggested it to the one who was most irritated by it.

At that time, Amazon removed the book written by a mysterious person, pseudonymized as "Steven Walryn." This author produced over 30 novels, 15 of which were published in a single month.
For several months, OpenAI has taken it upon itself to fight against the spread of disinformation created using its tools by countries like Russia, Iran, and more in a recent campaign. The company revealed that it could monitor certain access to its generative AI systems, which were used to create these deceptive campaigns that did not gain traction online.

OpenAI Thwarts AI Disinformation Campaigns

OpenAI released a new blog post detailing its latest report about how it prevented the spread of a massive AI-generated disinformation campaign from countries including Russia, Iran, Israel, and China. The post centered on OpenAI's detection of "covert influence operations" (CIO) from these countries that aim to dissuade and manipulate the public in various ways.

These CIOs may have been motivated by influencing political disputes or public opinion, but nonetheless, OpenAI went the extra mile to prevent these campaigns from succeeding.

According to OpenAI, the four countries above launched five CIOs, namely Bad Grammar and Doppelganger from Russia, China's Spamouflage, Iran's International Union of Virtual Media (IUVM), and the Zero Zeno operation targeting Israel's STOEIC.

AI Tools for Online Disinformation

For three months, OpenAI closely monitored the situation where these bad actors used its AI tools to create their deceptive push. The company claimed they disrupted as many as five CIOs to launch deceptive activities online. In its monitoring earlier this month, the said campaigns did not get the right traction or reach their target audiences thanks to OpenAI's efforts.

OpenAI's Efforts for Safer Generative AI Use

International adversaries and threat actors launch massive misinformation campaigns against their enemies. With the massive rise of generative AI, they have found a way to make it easy and widespread. In the previous US elections, it was hit with a misinformation campaign believed to be Russian, with OpenAI recently stalling its voice cloning tool release to prevent it from being used by bad actors.

Recently, OpenAI also introduced its election misinformation policy, which aims to combat the use of its AI for deepfake, impersonation, and misinformation generation and protect the sanctity of a user's vote.

In various efforts, the company took it upon itself to improve its data and information generation and avoid sharing fake news or hallucinations with users searching for answers.

Despite OpenAI's efforts, many bad actors can still access its AI and create campaigns in it, which could have global ramifications if the company had not stepped in. The latest report from the renowned AI company detailed how it prevented such covert influence operations from disrupting the world, especially among countries that want to manipulate the world with their AI-generated campaign attempts.
Apple's voice assistant Siri could soon be powered by more advanced artificial intelligence, allowing users to control other individual application functions via voice. This move could reflect the iPhone maker's broader AI strategy.

The people, who wished to remain anonymous because the initiative isn't public, claimed that the new approach would enable Siri to take control of every app feature for the first time. According to sources, this shift will be a focal point of the company's revived AI push.

The update will see a rewrite of Siri's underlying software utilizing big language models, a fundamental component of generative AI. This new system will help Siri operate and maneuver an iPhone or iPad more precisely.

This entails sending and deleting emails, opening specific publications in Apple News, email web links, opening individual documents, moving notes to different folders, and even asking the device to summarize an article. While cloud computing will handle more sophisticated capabilities, devices will execute more basic AI activities during the rollout.

The update is a part of the business's wider AI plan, which will be revealed on June 10 at its Worldwide Developers Conference. Apple is developing several capabilities, such as AI-generated emojis, automated message answers, automated webpage and notification summaries, sophisticated photo editing, and voice memo transcriptions and summaries.

Currently, Siri can only be used for more general tasks, such as managing smart home equipment, playing music playlists, and searching for information. Additionally, the business provides developers with app intents, which let them create custom ways for Siri to access specific features.

Apple's Broader AI Strategy

Additionally, the business has been negotiating with OpenAI to incorporate the startup's chatbot and other technologies into the iOS operating system, and it is still in discussions with Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, about future usage of its Gemini software.

For this year's operating system upgrades, Apple software chief Craig Federighi has instructed his teams to create as many new AI features as possible.

Going one step further, the new system will use AI to monitor user behavior on devices and trigger the activation of Siri-controlled features. At first, it will only work with Apple apps, but the business hopes to enable hundreds of commands.

According to the people, the feature-one of Apple's more intricate AI projects-willn't be available until possibly early in the upcoming year, when it's included in an iOS 18 update. September will see the release of the initial iteration of the new operating system, coinciding with the release of the upcoming iPhone models.

Siri, Bixby, and AI

Apple's potential AI Siri overhaul follows just a few months after Galaxy AI was integrated into Samsung's virtual assistant, Bixby. However, Bixby can only initiate Samsung's Galaxy AI tools for customers hands-free; as a result of the integration, AI is not fully supported; rather, Bixby merely serves as a means of launching Samsung's other AI features.

However, according to earlier reports, a top Samsung official claims that the business is competing with Apple to have its voice assistant, Bixby, driven by generative artificial intelligence.

Executive vice president of Samsung's mobile division, Won-Joon Choi, said he thought the company needed to rethink Bixby's function so that it would get smarter and use generative AI in the future.

Choi said that Samsung is "working so hard" on developing generative AI capabilities for Bixby, but they, at the time, could not specify when those features may become accessible.
Robotics and AI have led Cambridge researchers to develop the "Third Thumb," ushering in the next phase of motor augmentation.

Professor Tamar Makin of the Medical Research Council's (MRC) Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit and Dani Clode created the "Third Thumb," a robotic accessory that improves range of motion. According to Interesting Engineering, this wearable tech improves gripping and hand-carrying.

Third Thumb: The Next Evolution Stage

Devices like the Third Thumb make difficult jobs possible. It also allows a disabled person to do complicated chores with one hand without assistance. Professor Makin stressed that such technology is reinventing humanity, and inclusion is key to its progress.

Pressure sensors beneath each big toe operate the third thumb, worn opposite the biological thumb. Right toe pressure pushes the thumb across the hand, whereas left toe pressure moves it toward the fingers.

The apparatus was tested at the Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition in 2022 with 596 three- to 96-year-olds. Before manipulating objects, participants had a minute to learn the thumb. Within a minute, 98% could use the Third Thumb.

Participants picked up pegs from a board, placed them in a basket, and handled foam items of varied sizes and shapes. The study showed that nearly everyone could use the gadget instantly, proving its ease and accessibility.

Researchers observed that older individuals, kids, and teens struggled with the "Third Thumb," whereas both genders fared comparably.

Meanwhile, contrary to predictions, musicians and those with dexterity-based vocations did not use the Third Thumb better than others.

These findings will help researchers improve the Third Thumb to make it more accessible and user-friendly for a broader range of people, improving its potential advantages across age groups and skill levels.

Dani Clode stressed the need for inclusive and accessible wearable gear. Co-author Lucy Dowdall underlined that wearable technologies should easily interact with users' motor and cognitive capacities, taking demographics and personal characteristics into account, as reported by UPI.

To have a better understanding of how the Third Thumb works, Cambridge researchers demonstrated it in this video:

How Did Humans Developed Fingers?

Scientists discovered that two genes, hoxa11 and hoxa13, form fish and human fin rays. According to a University of Chicago study, these genes, essential for fish fin ray production, also develop human fingers. This discovery illuminates a major evolutionary change.

Based on discovered fossils, early humans had polydactyl hands with more than five digits. Hence, scientists are puzzled as to why modern people have five fingers.

Researchers at Montreal University used fish-type hoxa11 gene regulation to create mice with seven fingers on each paw, per the Daily Mail. Their investigations showed that mutations changing gene activity caused the digit decrease, not gene addition.

The scientists found that fish activate the hoxa11 and hoxa13 genes in overlapping fin areas, but mice and humans activate them in distinct domains. This difference shows the fin-to-hand evolution.

The study suggests a new perspective on evolution. It proposes that regulatory sequence mutations, rather than gene mutations, may be the driving force behind morphological changes. This finding underscores the importance of animal models in understanding prenatal abnormalities and opens up new avenues for fundamental research.

Moreover, the research expands on Charles Darwin's discovery that species have a skeletal structure despite their limbs' diverse functions. Darwin found limb-bone similarities in humans, moles, horses, porpoises, and bats.

Building on Charles Darwin's observations, modern scientists have made significant strides. With the aid of advanced technology, they have identified genetic ties that likely influenced the development of innovative solutions like the Third Thumb, a promising wearable tech. This progress in our understanding of evolution is a testament to the power of scientific advancement.
Aiming to illustrate autonomy from its Chinese parent company amid legislative scrutiny in the US, TikTok is reportedly separating its source code to create a distinct algorithm for its US platform.

These discussions hint at separating TikTok from ByteDance's engineering resources.

Alleged Code Division of TikTok

TikTok is reportedly in the process of dividing its source code to establish a distinct algorithm exclusively for its US platform. Despite TikTok's denial of a report suggesting the replication of its recommendation algorithm for its 170 million US users for autonomous operation from its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, Reuters reported otherwise.

Since last year, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that efforts have been underway to create a standalone version of TikTok's recommendation algorithm, separate from Douyin, ByteDance's Chinese variant.

The sources noted that the completion of this project, anticipated to span over a year, aims to show lawmakers the independence of TikTok's US operations from its Beijing-based parent company.

The insiders noted that discussions about the project have occurred during company-wide meetings and via TikTok's internal messaging platform, Lark. They also said that separating the source code would disconnect TikTok from the significant engineering resources available through its parent company.

Response of TikTok

In response, TikTok tweeted that the Reuters article released today contains misleading and factually incorrect information. TikTok spokesperson Michael Hughes addressed concerns surrounding the platform's efforts to safeguard authenticity.

Hughes noted that these initiatives were unrelated to any potential divestment and categorically denied assertions regarding splitting the app's code. He maintained that the claim was completely untrue.

To address concerns about its ties to China, TikTok previously introduced "Project Texas," an initiative aimed at ensuring data security and fostering user confidence in its US operations.

While Project Texas was meant to ensure the separation of TikTok's US operations from ByteDance's Chinese executives, reports suggest that collaborations between the two entities persisted, casting doubt on the initiative's effectiveness.

Despite TikTok's assurances of data isolation and privacy, concerns linger about whether user data remained secure and inaccessible to Chinese counterparts. The disparity between promises and reality regarding data segregation raises questions among users and policymakers alike.

Journalist Alex Heath's exploration of TikTok's Transparency and Accountability Center last year shed light on doubts regarding the project's efficacy. Policymakers also remained skeptical about its ability to avert a potential ban in the US.

TikTok is suing the US government over a law that gives its parent company until January 19, 2025, to hand over control of the app to someone else or face a ban. TikTok maintained that there's no plan to separate the companies yet, but splitting the code could make it easier to sell off the app's US operations in the future.
How deep is NASA James Webb Space Telescope's vision? It is apparently so deep that it made a cosmic-shattering discovery, identifying the most distant galaxy ever observed.

NASA James Webb Space Telescope Peers Into the Cosmic Dawn

Over the past two years, scientists have been utilizing the telescope's powerful infrared eyes to delve into Cosmic Dawn, a pivotal era shortly after the Big Bang when the universe was in its infancy.

During this period, galaxies were in their nascent stages, providing crucial insights into the evolving dynamics of stars, gas, and black holes, according to NASA.

A team of astronomers from around the world utilized the capabilities of the Webb telescope as part of the JWST Advanced Deep Extragalactic Survey (JADES) project.

In October 2023 and January 2024, they employed Webb's NIRSpec instrument to capture the spectrum of a galaxy that broke previous distance records, observed only 290 million years after the Big Bang.

Among the team members were Stefano Carniani from Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa, Italy, and Kevin Hainline from the University of Arizona in Tucson. They embarked on a mission to unravel the mysteries surrounding this remarkable discovery.

Initially spotting the galaxy due to its high redshift, they encountered some intriguing anomalies. The galaxy's unexpectedly high brightness and its close proximity to another galaxy suggested a larger interconnected structure.

Further observations in October 2023 bolstered the hypothesis of a high-redshift galaxy. However, it was not until January 2024 that the galaxy, dubbed JADES-GS-z14-0, underwent intense scrutiny using NIRSpec. Subsequent analysis confirmed a redshift of 14.32, surpassing the previous record.

Read Also : NASA James Webb Space Telescope Catches Formation of 3 of the Earliest Galaxies in Universe

Sprawling Structure Spanning Over 1,600 Light-Years

Analysis of the galaxy's properties revealed fascinating insights into its composition and evolution. Extensive imaging unveiled a sprawling structure spanning over 1,600 light-years, primarily illuminated by young stars rather than a burgeoning supermassive black hole.

The sheer amount of starlight emitted raises intriguing questions about the mechanisms underlying galaxy formation within a relatively brief period, according to NASA.

Further examination uncovered additional peculiarities within the galaxy. An unusual reddish hue suggested the presence of dust, a surprising phenomenon given the galaxy's early formation.

Notably, observations using Webb's MIRI detected ionized gas emissions indicative of hydrogen and oxygen. NASA noted that the existence of oxygen at such an early stage suggests the existence of various generations of massive stars preceding the galaxy's observation.

These findings challenge prevailing theoretical models, highlighting the unique nature of JADES-GS-z14-0. Its luminosity and structural characteristics defy conventional expectations, prompting a reevaluation of assumptions regarding early universe galaxies.

Moreover, its discovery holds implications for future astronomical endeavors, suggesting the possibility of uncovering additional luminous galaxies in the cosmos. The findings of the team were published in arXiv.




Peru and Slovakia have recently become signatories to the Artemis Accords, a set of guidelines aimed at promoting responsible space exploration. With these latest additions, the total number of countries endorsing the accords has reached 42.

Peru and Slovakia Join the Artemis Accords

In ceremonies held at NASA Headquarters on May 30, Peru's foreign minister, Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea, and Slovakia's minister of education, research, development, and youth, Tomas Drucker, officially signed the Artemis Accords alongside representatives from NASA and the U.S. State Department.



According to NASA's official statement, Administrator Bill Nelson expressed his satisfaction with Peru's decision to join the Artemis Accords during a ceremony held in Washington. This move aligns Peru with 40 other nations committed to advancing goals for safe and transparent exploration of celestial bodies such as the Moon and Mars.



Javier Gonzalez-Olaechea, acting on behalf of Peru, affirmed the nation's commitment to the Artemis Accords, emphasizing Peru's desire to collaborate with other member countries, particularly the United States, in exploring space and utilizing its resources sustainably.

"This giant leap forward for our countries is a result of decades of work Peru has done to further its reach in the cosmos. We live in the golden era of space exploration. Together, we will continue to explore the cosmos openly, responsibly, as partners, for all," Nelson said in an official statement.



Similarly, Slovakia formally joined the Artemis Accords during a ceremony hosted by Nelson at the agency's headquarters. Tomas Drucker, representing Slovakia, signed the Accords, making Slovakia the 42nd nation to join the international community in pledging to explore space peacefully, transparently, and responsibly.



In his remarks, Drucker emphasized Slovakia's view of the Artemis Accords as an opportunity to establish guidelines for the responsible and sustainable exploration of outer space.

Read Also : NASA Hubble Space Telescope Unveils Breathtaking Image of Spiral Galaxy That Lies in Ancient Egyptian Queen's Hair

All About the Artemis Accords

In 2020, the United States and seven other nations became the inaugural signatories of the Artemis Accords, marking a significant step toward promoting the constructive utilization of space for the benefit of humanity.



These accords, rooted in foundational treaties like the Outer Space Treaty and complemented by agreements such as the Registration Convention and the Rescue and Return Agreement, embody a set of early principles.



These principles also include the adoption of best practices and norms of responsible conduct, including the transparent dissemination of scientific data, a cause championed by NASA and its partners.



NASA expects that more nations will join the Artemis Accords in the future, bolstering the collective commitment to space exploration and collaboration.



The commitments outlined in the Artemis Accords, coupled with the active endeavors of its signatories to advance the implementation of these principles, play a pivotal role in supporting NASA's Artemis initiative alongside its international partners.



Additionally, they are expected to contribute to the overall success of safe and sustainable exploration activities undertaken by all signatories to the accords, as per NASA.
Spain's data protection watchdog, the Agencia Espanola de Proteccion de Datos (AEPD), has recently ordered the provisional suspension of two new tools by Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, due to concerns over potential data privacy violations.

Spain Data Watchdog Blocks Meta's Election Tools

Reuters reports that these tools, named "Election Day Information" (EDI) and "Voter Information Unit" (VIU), were set to be deployed on Meta's social media platforms for the upcoming European elections.

The AEPD's decision came on Friday, May 31, stressing significant privacy concerns under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The watchdog claimed that the tools might breach fundamental data protection principles, including lawfulness, data minimization, and limitation of the retention period.

Meta planned to use EDI and VIU to inform eligible voters about the upcoming elections. A Meta spokesperson defended the tools, explaining that their election tools are designed to respect users' privacy and comply with the GDPR. Despite disagreeing with the AEPD's assessment in this case, Meta has cooperated with their request.

The AEPD's primary concern revolves around how Meta planned to identify eligible voters. The company proposed using data from users' profiles, such as their city of residence and IP addresses.

However, the watchdog argued that this approach was "unnecessary, disproportionate, and excessive." It noted that this method could exclude EU citizens living abroad and include non-EU citizens residing in Europe.

Additionally, the collection of users' ages was seen as problematic due to the unreliable nature of self-reported data, and the processing of interaction data was deemed disproportionate, a violation of Spanish data protection regulations.

Moreover, the AEPD criticized Meta for not justifying the need to store this data after the elections, suggesting an additional purpose for the data processing operation. This lack of transparency has added to the watchdog's concerns.

A photo taken on April 3, 2024 shows the logo of US online social media and social networking service Facebook on a smartphone screen in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany.

EU Launches Election Misinformation Probe on Meta

This suspension is part of a broader context of heightened scrutiny over Meta's handling of election-related information. Earlier this year, the European Union launched an investigation into Meta over its efforts to combat election disinformation.

The European Commission is examining whether Meta has violated the Digital Services Act (DSA), a comprehensive set of regulations aimed at safeguarding internet users and ensuring the integrity of social media platforms. Non-compliance with the DSA could result in fines of up to 6% of Meta's annual revenue.

European Commissioner Thierry Breton has stated that Meta is under investigation for potential failures to prevent the spread of "deceptive advertisements, disinformation campaigns, and coordinated inauthentic behavior" that could undermine electoral processes and consumer rights.

The concern extends to the potential misuse of generative AI technologies to create deepfakes and other forms of disinformation, which could be exploited by malicious entities to interfere with elections.

In a recent effort to address such issues, Meta removed hundreds of Facebook accounts associated with six covert influence operations from countries including China, Iran, and Israel. These operations used AI-generated content to manipulate public opinion and promote specific political agendas.

The June elections will see citizens from the EU's 27 member states elect lawmakers to the European Parliament. With rising concerns about election integrity and foreign influence, authorities are intensifying efforts to protect the electoral process.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.
Chinese IT suppliers are rapidly growing in Southeast Asia, challenging Taiwanese enterprises that have long been backed by major tech firms Google and Apple.



Due to rising US-China tensions, Google first outsourced manufacturing to Foxconn, Compal Electronics, Quanta Computer, Pegatron, and Inventec. Goertek and BYD, two Chinese businesses, have joined.



Sources said Goertek would manufacture Pixel watches in Vietnam by 2025, replacing Taiwanese manufacturers. While BYD is competing to make Pixel phones in Southeast Asia, as reported by Nikkei Asia.



Southeast Asia's manufacturing attraction is due to its less expensive labor and proximity to China. According to Apple's current supplier list, 37% of Chinese vendors are located in Vietnam, indicating significant development.



Many Chinese companies are expanding abroad due to economic challenges and the recession. Taiwanese builder and actor general manager Lai Ming-Kuen remarked that Chinese firms offer low prices and have "diplomatic ties" with local governments.



According to Advantech's Vincent Chang, Chinese tech suppliers are "no longer second-tier suppliers" and have defied their past reputation as low-cost, low-quality providers.



He acknowledged the "fierce" competition between Chinese and Taiwanese firms as the former is quickly increasing their quality to draw more resources and customers.



Printed circuit board manufacturing illustrates this rivalry, with Chinese businesses investing in 33 of 55 suppliers in Thailand. Taiwan Printed Circuit Association Chairman Maurice Lee noted that the usual strategy to win customers is "by cutting prices."

Southeast Asia's Booming Digital Economy

According to ASEAN Briefing, over 50 tech businesses in Southeast Asia have become unicorns. Singapore's Carro, Vietnam's MoMo, and Indonesia's GoTo Group are notable. Increasing use of smartphones, the internet, and an expanding middle class drive tech investment.

Read also:

Southeast Asia's digital economy is projected to hit $330 billion GMV by 2025 as e-commerce, food delivery, and ICT solutions in education, healthcare, finance, and banking have grown rapidly since the COVID-19 pandemic. E-commerce in the region also boomed as more people purchased online.



Fintech investments in Southeast Asia exceeded $4 billion in the first nine months of 2022, demonstrating financial inclusion's value creation potential.

China Tech Industry to Overtake Real Estate

Separately, Bloomberg Economics projected that China's high-tech industry may outperform real estate by 2026 in driving economic demand. Economists Chang Shu and Eric Zhu anticipate that high-tech might contribute roughly 19% of GDP by 2026, up from 14.3% last year, nearing the property sector.



Beijing is transitioning from property-driven to "high-quality development," which focuses on high-tech manufacturing and IT, big data, and AI innovation.



Bloomberg anticipated 2023 high-tech demand at 18 trillion yuan ($2.5 trillion), or 14.3% of GDP, across medical, sophisticated equipment, IT, and communications. In contrast, the property industry contributed 20.1%.



The property industry is likely to decrease, making high-tech companies a promising economic engine. Spillovers account for about 25% of high-tech demand. Economic demand rises 1.3 yuan for every 1 yuan growth in high-tech output.



However, global technology decoupling threatens this growth as the US and its allies limit sophisticated technology exports to China.
Cala, the cat who went viral on social media for her video "I Go Meow" has died, leaving millions of netizens heartbroken.

The "devastating" news of Cala's passing was announced by Cala's fur mom Elizabeth (elizabethtoth23) on TikTok, which has 894,000 followers and 31 million likes.

Elizabeth shared in the video that she adopted the adorable Cala "thinking she was young with a full life ahead of her." She added that the celebrity feline was admitted to the emergency room.

"Tests revealed she was much older than initially thought by the shelter and her vet," she stated in the TikTok video.

Elizabeth continued that despite her condition, Cala "fought very hard" and they were optimistic that her fur baby would recover. However, Cala "was not improving."

"She ultimately passed away in my arms due to old age," she added.

Elizabeth went on to express gratitude to their social media followers for their support

"You all will allow her to live on forever. To never be forgotten for how special she is," she stated in the Thursday video, which now has 11 million views.

Go Meow Forever, Cala

Meanwhile, netizens express their grief at Cala's passing. Some paid tribute, sharing how the ginger cat impacted them.

"This cat brought me so much happiness hearing her sing when I was down. I am lost for words. I am so sorry for your loss," user montif_clare posted.

Danielle Marie Elizabeth commented: I'm in tears she brought so much joy to everyone who heard her "I go meow" I'm so sorry for ur loss

Meanwhile, User LimitlessQueen expressed shock, saying, "Wait, what?! She was so full of life, I don't understand"

Another user named TorieLane13 said she would roam her hallways saying "I go meow" forever.

How Long Do Cats Live?

Cat longevity depends on healthcare and living situations. According a Forbes article, cats typically live 13-17 years; however, some can survive into their late teens, twenties, or thirties.

A cat's lifespan depends on care. Regular exams, diagnosis, and treatment of common ailments can help cats live long and healthy lives. Pet insurance can cover these expenditures.

Breed affects lifetime. The average Maine Coon lifespan is 11-12 years. Obesity and outdoor lifestyles shorten cats' lives.

The average lifespan is 13-17 years for indoor cats. Westside Veterinary Center associate veterinarian Danielle Rutherford noted that "Outdoor cats are at risk more than indoor cats. He noted that such felines are in danger of "vehicular trauma, parasites, malnutrition, extreme weather, and animal abuse."

Outdoor cats live half as long as indoor cats due to risks and a lack of veterinary care. Cats that spend time indoors and outdoors are at risk for injuries and sickness, which can decrease their longevity, even with care at home.

Consequently, experts advise keeping cats indoors and providing regular care to extend their longevity.

Meanwhile, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), certain research suggests that pets may lower cortisol and blood pressure levels. Other research suggests having animal friends can lessen loneliness, boost social support, and boost happiness.

NIH added that it is undertaking large-scale studies to examine household pet diversity and health benefits.
Since 2016, the use of Pegasus, a spyware from NSO Group, has received criticism from international human rights and privacy protection organizations.

The joint investigation by Access Now and The Citizen Lab revealed that Pegasus was used to target at least seven journalists living in the EU. These targeted attacks were conducted between 2020 and 2023.

Some targeted individuals approached The Citizen Lab when they received security notifications from Apple. Some of their devices were forensically examined to confirm the Pegasus attacks.

Five of the seven individuals were targeted and infected, meaning the Pegasus operator had access to their information. The other two were also targeted, but the devices were not infected.

The targeted individuals are:

Name Description Location Evgeny Erlikh Israeli-Russian journalist with RFE/RL Riga, Latvia Evgeny Pavlov Latvian journalist, formerly with RFE/RL and Novaya Gazeta Baltija Riga, Latvia Maria Epifanova Russian journalist, general director of Novaya Gazeta Europe Riga, Latvia Natallia Radzina Belarusian journalist, editor-in-chief of Charter97.org Warsaw, Poland Andrei Sannikov Belarusian opposition politician and activist Warsaw, Poland Anonymous 1 Russian independent media journalist Vilnius, Lithuania Anonymous 2 Belarusian civil society member Vilnius, Lithuania

The targeted individuals had sought exile in European Union countries after they faced threats and attacks from their home countries.

The list includes journalists who spoke against the Russian invasion of Ukraine and media personalities and opposition activists/politicians from Belarus.

The investigation report also suggests that a single Pegasus user in the EU conducted at least five attacks. A total of 4 Apple IDs were used by the operators behind the five attacks.

Access Now and The Citizen Lab arrived at this conclusion after finding identical Apple IDs on the targeted devices. These Apple IDs were recorded when the Pegasus spyware attempted to exploit HomeKit bugs on iPhones.

The report from The Citizen Lab has not suggested who could be behind these Pegasus attacks. However, in its report, Access Now has offered some insights.

It adds that Belarus, Russia, and Lithuania do not use Pegasus. Even though Poland used Pegasus, it has not since 2021. While Latvia uses Pegasus, it is not known for targeting individuals outside its borders.

Thus, the potential operator is suggested to be Estonia, which is known for its extensive use of Pegasus.

Both reports have made one concern clear.

The organizations are concerned that these individuals are being targeted by an entity within the EU, where they have sought exile in the first place.

Access Now and The Citizen Lab ask all countries to suspend digital surveillance equipment until human rights laws are implemented.

As the investigation continues, Access Now has opened support channels for those who think they are being targeted by Pegasus.
Mexico heat wave deaths rise to 61 since March



Mexico City, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2024



Mexico has registered 61 deaths in a series of heat waves since March, the health ministry said Thursday in an updated toll.

The figure marked an increase of 13 from a week earlier, although not all the additional deaths happened in recent days but instead reflected delays updating the data.

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 has described this year's heat as "exceptional."

On Saturday, Mexico City recorded its highest-ever temperature of 34.7 degrees Celsius (94.5 degrees Fahrenheit), according to the National Meteorological Service.

The capital, which sits at 2,240 meters (7,350 feet) above sea level, has traditionally enjoyed a temperate climate but has not been spared from this year's heat waves.
Vulnerable island states adopt 10-year development plan



United Nations, United States, May 30 (AFP) May 30, 2024



Small developing island states (SIDS), which are among the first victims of climate change, on Thursday adopted a 10-year plan seeking international support in fending off severe and even existential threats.

"It is the beginning of a 10-year sprint. And I hope that there'll be no brakes that will be put on the SIDS," UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said, highlighting the "global injustice" they face.

Speaking at the end of the fourth UN Conference on these states, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne, whose capital hosted the forum, said the plan will be used to "agitate and to advocate on behalf of SIDS" among various global bodies.

"We are celebrating a new beginning for a brighter future for SIDS," he said.

The group of 39 countries -- hailing from the Caribbean and the Pacific and Indian oceans -- are home to 65 million people.

They share characteristics that make them vulnerable, including small territories, scattered population, geographic isolation and poorly diversified, import-dependent economies.

"The next 10 years are critical for small island developing States," said the declaration.

Global warming is sharpening the threat, bringing droughts, floods, and hurricanes. Rising sea levels can literally erase some of the states from the map, such as the Maldives and Tuvalu.

For the states to achieve "sustainable development and resilient prosperity," they must "diversify their economies and strengthen State and productive capacities," the document adopted Thursday said.

They are investing in advanced technology and the digital economy, developing renewable energy and boosting trade.

Tourism will remain a focus, with the sector representing 20 percent of GDP for almost two-thirds of these states, and up to 65 percent of the economy of the Maldives, according to the IMF.

The countries will promote "resilient and sustainable tourism" including by minimizing pollution and protecting biodiversity, especially fragile coral reefs that attract divers from all over the world.

But in a global environment posing economic, climate and geopolitical threats, "without the full support of the international community, small island developing States will endure potentially far-reaching consequences," the document said.

Many of these island states, some of them saddled with debt, are classified as middle-income countries and therefore ineligible to receive international aid and financing at preferential rates from development banks.

They are urging reforms of the international financial system, with several envoys in Antigua calling for factors like economic dependence and exposure to climate change to be taken into consideration, and not just GDP.
Revived reservoir a lifeline for Syria farmers



Bala, Syria, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



For the first time in over a decade of conflict, farmers in Syria's rebel-held northwest are irrigating their crops more easily thanks to the rehabilitation of a vital reservoir, bringing life back to parched fields.

Water from the Bala reservoir is once again flowing to a fertile plain in the Idlib area, home to several million people, many of them displaced during the country's devastating civil war.

"More than 10 years ago, water stopped flowing into the reservoir because of a lack of electricity" for the pumps, said Mohammed Ramadan, 42, irrigating his crops in the village of Bala.

Farmers have relied on rainwater ever since, but it was never enough for their crops to thrive, he added.

"Now, thank God, water is flowing again," he told AFP, with farmers diversifying their crops to include vegetables like eggplant and peppers rather than just the bare essentials.

The reservoir went back into service after years of problems, including poor maintenance and damage to some of its facilities due to bombardment.

Pumps at a nearby station were repaired and reconnected to the electricity grid, while other cleaning and maintenance work was also carried out, according to the authorities.

It collects rainwater in the winter, while water is also pumped in from the Orontes River area nearby.

Agriculture is the main source of income for many in the roughly 60 villages in the Rouj plain, a vast patchwork of green and golden crops cutting rectangular shapes around the reservoir.

"When water began to flow again, the entire Rouj area was revived," Ramadan said, pumping water from a nearby canal.



- 'Where will our sheep graze?' -



Livestock grazed near the reservoir's edge, while children swam in an adjoining canal.

"We were limited to growing beans and tomatoes" before the reservoir was rehabilitated, said farmer Walid Mohammadia, 40, as he harvested zucchinis.

"But today we can grow crops that we couldn't afford to plant before," he said, visibly excited.

"When water flowed again, life returned," he added.

The reservoir has a maximum storage capacity of 14.5 million cubic metres (512 million cubic feet), said Tammam al-Hamud, an official in charge of water resources.

The Syrian war erupted from 2011 anti-regime protests and evolved into a complex conflict involving international powers and proxies. More than half a million people lost their lives, with millions displaced.

Jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, led by Syria's former Al-Qaeda affiliate, and affiliated armed factions run the Idlib bastion, which also includes slivers of neighbouring Hama, Aleppo and Latakia provinces.

When the renovation project -- expected to cost around $2.5 million -- is fully completed, the reservoir will be able to irrigate more than 10,000 hectares of farmland, compared to about 4,000 hectares currently, Hamud added.

He expressed hope the stores would help increase crop yields, especially for more water-intensive cotton, whose cultivation is crucial "because it provides raw material for factories" that employ many people in the region.

Jihad al-Sawaq, an official in charge of pumping stations in the area, said the aim of repairing the reservoir was to "increase the irrigated areas to boost crop production".

"We will encourage planting several strategic types of crops including sugar beets, sunflowers and soybeans, which we had stopped producing in 2011," he said.

But not everybody is happy with the project.

"Our sheep used to graze inside the reservoir, and now it's filled with water," said shepherd Zakwan al-Hamdun, 53, who lives in a nearby displacement camp.

"Where will our sheep graze now?" he asked, his livestock nibbling on meagre tufts of grass between the camp's tents.

"We want the (local) government to at least help by providing fodder," he added.
Norway vows to strengthen control over Arctic Svalbard



Oslo, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



Norway announced on Friday it planned to strengthen its control over the Svalbard archipelago in the Arctic, a strategic territory which is attracting the interest of foreign powers.

Svalbard, whose main island is twice the size of Belgium, straddles the European continent and the polar region.

Worsening tensions between Russia and the West have boosted its geopolitical and economic value.

So has the shrinking of the Arctic's sea ice cover due to global warming, which is opening up the possibility of lucrative shipping routes and more resource extraction.

"Svalbard is an important part of Norway. In this time of significant changes, management of Svalbard should be predictable and follow a precise course," Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl said as she presented a policy document on the territory.

"We will strengthen national control over the archipelago and support Norway's presence there."

Svalbard is governed under an unusual legal framework that allows foreign entities to gain footholds in the region.

A treaty signed in 1920 recognises Norwegian sovereignty over the territory but it also gives citizens of the signatory powers -- which include Russia and China - the same rights to exploit its mineral resources.

Russia's state-owned Trust Arktikugol has several coal-mining operations on the islands.



- Science, tourism plans -



According to Norwegian statistics office SSB, just over 3,000 people live on Svalbard today.

Around 2,600 of them reside in the Norwegian settlements of Longyearbyen, the main town, and Ny-Alsund.

The other 400-odd are in the Russian localities of Barentsburg and Pyramiden.

Russia says it now wants to develop scientific and tourist activities there, a project that sometimes comes into conflict with regulations put in place by Norway.

China, which defines itself as a state "close to the Arctic", is also showing a growing interest in the region.

Among the measures unveiled in its white paper on Friday, the Norwegian government says it wants to give the state greater powers to boost energy security in Longyearbyen, one of the northernmost communities in the world.

It also plans to better protect the natural environment by limiting the range of human activities permitted on Svalbard, which is on the forefront of climate change, in a region that is heating up faster than any other on the planet.

Since 2022, non-Norwegian residents -- who comprise more than a third of the population of Longyearbyen -- have been restricted from voting in its local elections.

Only people who have lived for at least three months in mainland Norway have the right to cast their ballot.
Climate activists march on Amsterdam business district



Amsterdam, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



Thousands of climate activists marched Friday in Amsterdam's southern business district to protest Dutch companies' involvement in what marchers called an "investment in climate destruction."

Carrying placards and shouting slogans, an estimated crowd of more than 10,000 walked a circular route through the Zuidas financial area, and AFP correspondent saw.

The affluent area is home to major banks, manufacturing and petroleum companies and other multinational industries and is seen as the most important business hub in Europe's fifth-largest economy.

"The Zuidas is the financial heart of the Netherlands," Greenpeace Netherlands director Marieke Vellekoop said.

"We are here to tell them to stop investing in nature destruction," she told AFP.

Protesters were carrying placards saying: "We're making a fist against polluters" and "Stop fossil violence" as they called on companies to halt subsidies to fossil fuel industries.

Climate change is a significant issue in the upcoming June 6 European elections, especially among younger voters, political observers said.

Marchers included members of Greenpeace, Extinction Rebellion and Milieudefensie -- the group which won a major environmental case against multinational oil giant Shell three years ago.

Shell is currently appealing that ruling, while environmental groups are accusing it of not doing enough.

Milieudefensie was also targeting top Dutch bank ING -- headquartered just outside Amsterdam -- in new legal proceedings, accusing it of financing polluting organisations.

The bank announced in December it was phasing out financing upstream oil and gas activities by 2040 and has pledged to substantially up financing in renewable energy.

Friday's march followed one held in Amsterdam in November last year attended by tens of thousands of activists including Greta Thunberg.

At that march she was interrupted by a man on the stage who said: "I have come here for a climate demonstration, not a political view" after protesters chanted pro-Palestinian slogans.

Only a handful of marchers were seen carrying Palestinian flags on Friday, an AFP correspondent said.

jhe/rlp

Shell
DR Congo capital hosts forest forum



Kinshasa, May 31 (AFP) May 31, 2024



The DR Congo capital Kinshasa on Friday launched a youth forum seeking innovative ideas to help save the Congo Basin, the world's second biggest tropical forest after the Amazon.

The basin spans 220 million hectares (850,000 square miles) across several countries including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Congo-Brazzaville and Gabon.

"Current and future generations" must be able to profit "from ecosystems and and resources from the Congo River Basin forests," Environment Minister Eve Bazaiba told the opening session.

But, if it is "good to talk about saving humanity, we must also think about our population: we live in the forest, we live from the forest".

"We must know how to reconcile the need for oxygen and the need for bread," the minister said.

Mounira Mfossi Woussafit, a 25-year-old from Cameroon said she hopes the two-day event will produce resolutions aimed at "reducing deforestation and degradation as much as possible".

But the environmental engineer and member of the Central African Forest Youth Network, said she regretted that at the forum "we distribute paper badges and notebooks, which are made from wood".

Denise Zanabu, from DR Congo, is a youth parliament member in the war-torn North Kivu province.

She said she wanted the forum to "have elements of advocacy both in favour of the forest and of the displaced populations" who are forced to go into the forest to survive.

"If a displaced woman does not cut wood, she cannot eat", the 32-year-old lawyer said.

The forum precedes the 20th meeting of the Congo Basin Forest Partnership in Kinshasa from June 3-5 which will focus on how governments, civil society, local communities and the private sector can help protect Central Africa's forests.
Sitting in insufferable heat, in a dirty tent filled with 50 men living in bunk beds, Kurdish refugee Mostafa Azimitabar was desperate for distraction and tranquillity. He was living in an immigration detention camp on Manus Island, Papua New Guinea.

Looking around the tent, he spied a cup of coffee and a toothbrush. He had previously begged an officer for art supplies  something to help pass the time.

Mostafa Azimitabar with his portrait of artist and friend Angus McDonald, which is a finalist in the Archibald Prize at the Art Gallery of NSW. Credit: Janie Barrett

They gave me the reasons why they couldnt  because paints are chemicals, Azimitabar recalls. Just imagine if you refugees eat the paint. Its harmful and could kill you, they said.

I poured the instant coffee in hot water, then just plonked the toothbrush in the coffee and I dragged it on a small piece of paper  [thinking] this is a mountain, this the sun, these are the trees.
The NSW environmental watchdog has described a plan to extend the life of one of the Hunter Valleys biggest coal mine operations to 2050 as the largest coal mining proposal ever in the state, and warned that the rest of the economy would have to make steeper cuts to greenhouse gas emissions to compensate.

The extension of Hunter Valley Operations (HVO) from 2025 to 2050 for the north mine and from 2030 to 2045 for the south mine would produce an additional 437.6 million tonnes of thermal coal and 59.7 million tonnes of metallurgical coal for the export market. Thermal coal is the emissions-heavy fuel directly burned for energy, while metallurgical coal is used in steelmaking.

The north and south Hunter Valley Operations mines, as seen from above. Credit: Google Maps

A letter from the NSW Environment Protection Authority warns that the project has significant unabated greenhouse gas emissions and heavily relies on offsets, but there is no information about where the offsets would be generated.

This proposal is the largest coal mining proposal ever put forward in NSW, the letter states. In its current form, the modelling indicates this proposal is likely to make up approximately 14 per cent of future new coal production in NSW between 2024 and 2050 and has significant unabated [greenhouse gas] emissions.
For the vets at Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, releasing a wedge-tailed eagle into the wild, stitching up a wounded red-bellied black snake, or treating a stranded whale is just another day in the office.

Since opening in October 2020, the charity has treated more than 7000 wildlife patients, of whom almost half were successfully returned to care or released into the wild.

Dr Bree Talbot, general manager of veterinary services at the Byron Bay Wildlife Hospital, said no two days were alike, with the team treating everything from a 3-gram tree frog to a 70-kilogram loggerhead turtle in one day.

Talbot said three out of five patients were birds, often after being hit by a car or mauled by a pet dog or cat.
It was arguably the most audacious hoax of the Second World War. With the Allied forces preparing the D-Day invasion on the Normandy Beaches of northern France it was essential to take the occupying Nazi forces unawares.

Britains military planners instigated what was dubbed the biggest bluff of all time to deceive the German high command. The idea was to let the Germans see the Allied commander, Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, known as Monty, somewhere overseas. In reality, he was in Britain working on invasion plans.

The real Monty: Field Marshal Montgomery leaving the Maastricht conference in 1958. Credit: Imperial War Museum

All that was required was someone to impersonate Monty. Enter stage left, Australian actor Meyrick Clifton James, the son of a former West Australian chief justice who was working in Leicester, England as a lieutenant in the pay corps and entertaining the troops on the side.

The D-Day landings on June 6, 1944, altered the course of the war. Ahead of their 80th anniversary on Thursday, the actors family has spoken of the hoax and for the first time opened the family photo album.
On Cooper Onyetts last day of school camp, his mother took home the backpack she sent him off with but not her precious boy.

The eight-year-old had slipped below the surface of the Belfast Aquatics Community Pool and Fitness Centre in Port Fairy as his classmates played.

Cooper Onyett (centre) with his older brother Jett and mother Skye Meinen. Cooper drowned at Port Fairy in 2021.

A swimmer saw Cooper at the bottom of the pool, waited a short time thinking he was holding his breath, then alerted staff when he didnt come to the surface.

But it was too late. The year 2 student at Merrivale Primary School in Warrnambool died during his first overnight school camp in May 2021.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles will call out Chinas recent unsafe confrontations with Australian naval forces, its aggression in the South China Sea, and recent military drills around Taiwan as a threat to global stability in a speech to a high-powered defence summit.

Marles, who is also defence minister, will use a speech to the Shangri La Dialogue in Singapore on Saturday to say that security in the Indo-Pacific rides on China playing a key leadership role, but that this is being undermined by Beijings disregard for international law and the sovereignty of its neighbours.

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles will call on China to play a stronger leadership role in the Asia-Pacific region. Credit: Wayne Taylor

Confidence  and indeed trust  in Chinese leadership will be the single most important ingredient to the maintenance of the global rules-based order. And by extension, it will be at the heart of building a stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific region, Marles will say during a panel at the dialogue, according to a draft copy of his remarks.

He will say that there is no indelible hostility to China from Western powers, and will echo similar concerns expressed by American and European leaders about Chinas ongoing support for Russia despite its invasion of Ukraine.
Senior members of Victorias police union agreed to a new pay deal after months of negotiations, paving the way for a nine-day fortnight for frontline police.

The Police Association of Victoria and Victoria Police reached an in-principle agreement on a new industrial deal on Friday afternoon. During the week, Chief Commissioner Shane Patton had pushed back a planned holiday in a sign the deal was close to being resolved.

Police Association secretary Wayne Gatt announcing the industrial campaign. Credit: Luis Ascui

The deal was unanimously endorsed by the union, but must still go to a vote of members.

It delivers a key demand from the association  a nine-hour, nine-day fortnight that will be introduced in a staggered approach to minimise disruption.
Late last year, best-selling author, food blogger and Good Food columnist Nagi Maehashi of RecipeTin Eats exchanged to buy a heritage Victorian manor in Hunters Hill, settling on it in March amid expectations it was to be her forever home.

She even lodged plans a month ago for almost $1 million worth of alterations and additions to the 1883-built sandstone house, known as Daybreak, that included expanding the living and bedroom areas.

The 1883-built Victorian manor Daybreak is being sold by food blogger Nagi Maehashi. Credit: Domain

But her plans clearly changed this week when, just three months after she took the keys, Maehashi returned it to the market, no doubt hoping to recoup what she paid for it.
For a while, it felt like Australian hotel dining was destined to lag behind its northern hemisphere counterparts, relegated a cultural cringe. Savvy guests knew to skip the boring buffet and pricey room service club sanger and head out for a good meal.

But an Australian hotel restaurant renaissance is under way  travellers tastes have evolved, and hoteliers and top chefs are taking note, with a slew of significant launches slated for this year alone.

Bistrot Bisou marks restaurateur Luke Mangans first Melbourne opening in more than a decade. Credit: Jana Langhorst

IHG Hotels and Resorts Hotel Indigo Melbourne is the latest to unveil its new dining concept, with the opening of Bistrot Bisou on Friday by renowned chef and restaurateur Luke Mangan. It marks the chefs first Melbourne restaurant in more than a decade, and quietly replaces the hotels Spanish diner Beso, which only launched in August 2023.

Featuring modern twists on French classics like steak frites and twice-baked gruyere souffle, Mangan has tapped Rory Kennedy (of hatted Vex Dining, Northcote) as head chef, teasing home-made rooster terrine, salmon smoked in-house, and dishes kissed by smoke and fire thanks to a new wood-fire grill installed in the kitchen.
22 passengers killed, 57 hurt asbus falls into gorge in Akhnoor





JAMMU :

AT LEAST22 people were killed and 57 injured after a bus carrying pilgrims skidded off the road and rolled down into a gorge in Jammu district on Thursday, officials said. The bus rolled around 150 feet down into the gorge. A magisterial probe has been ordered into the incident, the Jammu District Magistrate informed on X. He also said 22 people have lost their lives and 57 sustained injuries in the tragedy. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha has expressed anguish at the loss of lives and announced an ex-gratia amount of Rs 5 lakh each for the next of kin of the deceased. The bus was carrying devotees from Haryanas Kurukshetra and was headed towards Shiv Khori in Reasi. It had started its journey from UP.

The bodies have been shifted to the Akhnoor sub-district hospital, the police spokesperson said, adding that the injured have been taken to the Government Medical College (GMC) hospital in Jammu. The Army, police and locals used ropes and made human chains to carry the bodies and the injured people uphill. The Army used cranes to pull the bus out of the gorge. A car was coming from the opposite direction. The driver tried to negotiate a blind curve but failed, Amar Chand, one of the injured people said.
CAMPAIGN OVER PM Modi begins spiritual sojourn





KANYAKUMARI :

AFTER hectic campaigning for Lok Sabha elections culminated, Prime Minister Narendra Modi began his 45- hour long meditation at the famed Vivekananda Rock Memorial here on Thursday evening. After arriving from nearby Thiruvananthapuram by a helicopter, Modi worshipped at the Bhagavathi Amman temple and reached the rock memorial by a ferry service and started meditation that is scheduled to go on till June 1. Clad in a dhoti and a white shawl, Modi prayed at the temple and circumambulated the garbhagriha.

Priests performed a special arthi and he was given temple prasad that included a shawl and a framed photograph of the presiding deity of the temple. Later, he reached the rock memorial by a ferry service operated by the State Government-run shipping corporation and began his meditation at the dhyan mandapam. Before he embarked on the dhyan exercise, for a while, Modi stoodonthe stairs leading to the mandapam that offers breathtaking viewsofthesea that surrounds the memorial from all sides. Modi visited the Thiruvalluvar statue, next to the memorial. Both the memorial and 133 ft statue were built on tiny islets, that areseparateandmound-like rocky formations in the sea. While outfits including Thanthai Periyar Dravidar Kazhagamstagedablackflag demonstration in Madurai opposingModi,socialmedia platform X also witnessed a flood of #GoBackModi posts, amid political opposition to the broadcast of his meditationinviewoftheseventhfinalphaseof voting for the LS elections on June 1.

All arrangements, including heavy security, are in place forModis 45-hour stay at the famed memorial named after the revered Hindu saint. This is the firsttimethePM will be staying at the memorial,amonumentbuiltintribute to Swami Vivekananda, whomeditatedovertherocks inside the sea towards the end of 1892. While the PM chose Kedarnath cave to reflect and meditate following the end of campaign in 2019LokSabhapolls,nowhe has chosen a spiritually significant place in the southernmost tip in the mainland of the country. Followingtheculmination ofthe hectic Lok Sabha election campaign in which he presidedandaddressedover amultitudeofpoliticalevents such as roadshows and rallies, Modi will be meditating in an ambience of quietude, where probably only the sound of breaking waves could be heard. While security personnel teemed the memorial premises, security has been beefed up in the entire Kanyakumari district and about 2,000 police personnel have been deployed, besides heightened vigil by the Coast Guard and Navy
CoalScam: 3 years RI to Mohan Agrawal 2 years RI to Rakesh Agrawal





Staff Reporter

A SPECIAL CBI Court in Delhi on Thursday awarded three years rigorous imprisonment (RI) to industrialist Mohan Agrawal and two years RI to Rakesh Agrawal, both directors of Nagpur-based M/s B S Ispat Ltd for cheating and criminal conspiracy in a case related to irregularities in the allocation of a coal block in the state. Special Judge Sanjay Bansal imposed a fine of Rs 50 lakh on the convicted company, B S Ispat Ltd. The Special Court also imposed a fine of Rs 10 lakh each on both of them. Mohan Agrawal (73) is the former President of Vidarbha Industries Association. Rakesh Agrawal (49) is Mohans nephew. They were held guilty under sections 420 (Cheating) and 120-B (Criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code by the court, which noted that the prosecution proved the case beyond any reasonable doubt. The judge refused to release them on probation, saying The cheating committed in the present case was not any ordinary cheating.

The efforts of the convicts were aimed at securing allocation of the coal block at any cost. They were successful in securing allocation of the coal block. They got access to a prime source of energy i.e Coal which was a natural resource. The importance of coal need not be described in words. Thus, despite strenuous arguments of counsel for the convicts, I am not persuaded to accept that this is a fit case for granting benefit of probation, the judge said. The judge, however, noted that the two convicts had exited the company in the year 2011 and the benefits of the allocation were practically enjoyed by the company and successor directors and not by these two. The judge further noted that Mohan Agrawal was suffering from various ailments and his younger son was also ill and dependent on his father. Regarding Rakesh Agrawal, the judge noted that he joined the family business at a young age after his father's death and that it is natural that he must have worked under influence of his uncle Mohan Agrawal. Though he was working under control and guidance of convict Mohan Agrawal, it cannot be said that he did not know what he was doing, the judge added.

The judge said while personal circumstances of the convicts must be given due consideration, at the same time, the crime in question also cannot be forgotten. The fact that an offence of cheating was committed with the Government of India also cannot be lost sight of. The convicts deserve some lenient view but at the same time they need to be reminded that what they did was an offence of serious nature, unworthy of granting benefit of probation. Hence they deserve to be sentenced to imprisonment and fine, the judge said. This was the 16th case related to the coal scam in which the court pronounced its judgment. The case pertains to irregularities in the allocation of Marki Mangli-I coal block situated in Maharashtra in favour of the company.The offence carried a maximum punishment of a seven-year jail term. The CBI prosecution team examined as many as 31 witnesses in the case. The Special Judge had convicted Mohan Agrawal, Rakesh Agrawal and their company on May 27 and the sentence was pronounced on Thursday. The prosecution was represented by Special Public Prosecutor R S Cheema, Additional Legal Advisor Sanjay Kumar and Adv A P Singh.
Dilemma Of Jordans King





By James M Dorsey

JORDANS King Abdullah is caught between a rock and a hard place. Hamas and its regional supporters, as well as Israeli politicians and vigilantes, are pressuring King Abdullah from both ends of the political spectrum. Iranian-backed Syrian and Iraqi militants seek to draw the kingdom, in which Palestinians account for at least 50 per cent of the population, into the Gaza war. Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Iran want to turn Jordan into a regional flashpoint and funnel for weapons for Palestinian militants on the West Bank. The Iranians have instructions to recruit Jordanians and penetrate the Jordan arena through agents. Their recruitment efforts span all segments of society, said Saud Al Sharafat, a former senior Jordanian intelligence official. In support of Hamas, Iranian-backed Iraqi groups in January attacked a US military base, killing three American soldiers and wounding at least 34 others. Iran was quick to rein in the militias after the United States retaliated with a series of airstrikes. At the other end of the political spectrum, vigilante Israeli settlers have attacked Jordanian humanitarian truck convoys as they traversed the West Bank en route to Gaza. At the same time, Israeli politicians, with far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir in the lead, complicate King Abdullahs life with provocative visits to the Jordanian-administered Temple Mount or Haram ash-Sharif, Islams third holiest site.

Jordan is Haram ash-Sharifs custodian. King Abdullah has put himself in the firing line by intercepting Iranian drones traversing Jordanian airspace in the Islamic Republics massive April 19 drone and missile attack on Israel and cracking down in March and April on pro-Palestinian demonstrations. He defended the downing of Iranian drones violating Jordanian airspace as an act of self-defence, insisting Jordan will not be a battlefield for any party. Even so, King Abdullah, dependent on US military and economic support, may not have had a choice but to take down the drones. Critics posted concocted images on social media of the king wrapped in an Israeli flag or donning an Israeli military uniform with comments such as traitor and Western puppet. The crackdown and assistance in Israels defence have drowned out the fact that Jordan is the only Arab country to have withdrawn its ambassador to Israel and consistently sends aid to Gaza. Jordan is one of five Arab countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Israel. Meanwhile, Jordanian sources assert the Muslim Brotherhood organised the protests. With an unemployment rate of approximately 22 per cent and nearly half of young people unable to find a job, officials feared that the pro-Palestinian demonstrations could morph into social and economic protests. Long a close US ally, King Abdullahs predicament highlights the Gaza wars potential to further destabilise the Middle East.

Jordans geography doesnt help with the West Bank on its Western border, Syria in the north, and Iraq in the east. The pressure on King Abdullah comes as politics could spark paradigm shifts in several key Middle Eastern States, including Israel and Iraq. King Abdullah likely sees benefit in Binyamin Netanyahus space to manoeuvre narrowing as a result of mounting Israeli public pressure to free Hamas-held hostages by ending the Gaza war and international courts acting to force Israel to halt its offensive in Gaza and hold the Prime Minister and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant accountable for its war conduct. Hamass recent rocket attack on Tel Aviv will probably offer Netanyahu a brief relief, if at all. King Abdullah may also see mileage in popular Iraqi Shia cleric Moqtada Al Sadrs decision to re-enter politics and compete in next years elections in a move that would challenge the pro-Iranian Coordination Framework, the backbone of Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudanis Government. For now, King Abdullahs crackdown on mass pro-Palestinian protests has reduced domestic pressures, even if widespread anger continues to bubble at the surface.

Even so, Jordan sources said earlier this month that security services had foiled a suspected Iranian-led plot to smuggle weapons into the kingdom to help King Abdullahs opponents carry out acts of sabotage. The sources said an Iranian-backed Syrian militia had sent the weapons to Jordanian Palestinian members of the Muslim Brotherhood with links to Hamas, a Brotherhood affiliate. In March, Israels Shin Bet domestic security agency said it had foiled attempts by Iran to smuggle large amounts of advanced weapons into the West Bank. Shin Bet said the smuggling was organized by Unit 4000, the intelligence unit of the Special Operations Division of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, and the Special Operations Unit 18840 of the Guards Quds Force in Syria. The agency said Munir Makdah, a senior Lebanon-based official of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Al Fatah movement, was involved in the foiled smuggle. There is no evidence of an Islamic fighting force in tightly controlled Jordan despite mounting public anger, a limited number of border incidents, and the efforts by Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, and Iranian-backed groups.

Much of the threat of renewed protest and increasing militancy may be more bluster than real. (IPA/By arrangement with the Arabian Post) In response to the most recent plot, Hamas insisted it had no ties to any acts targeting Jordan. A Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood official said its arrested members had acted independently. Even so, Hamas leaders have repeatedly called on Jordanians since the Gaza war erupted in October to step up to the plate. Senior Doha-based Hamas official Khaled Mishaal, who survived an Israeli assassination attempt in Amman in 1997, told a womens gathering in Jordan in a video address that Jordan is a beloved country, and it is the closest to Palestine, so its men and women are expected to take more supportive roles than any other people towards the land of resistance and resilience. Iranian-backed Iraqi militants asserted in April that they stood ready to arm 12,000 fighters of the Islamic Resistance in Jordan that would open a new front against Israel. Abu Ali al-Askari, a Kataib Hezbollah security official, suggested the offer was inspired by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihads assessment that all Jordanian militants needed was access to weapons.
Further process will follow if Prajwal doesnt return: Ktaka Home Minister





BENGALURU,

Hours ahead of JD(S) MP Prajwal Revannas scheduled return from abroad to face the law over sexual abuse allegations, the Karnataka Government on Thursday said the next course of action, such as cancellation of his passport, will follow if he fails to show up as promised. Prajwal, facing charges of sexually abusing several women, had said in a video statement earlier this week that he will return on May 31 and appear before a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case. He has booked ticket in private flight from Munich that is scheduled to land here at 12.30 IST on Friday.

On Thursday, State Home Minister G Parameshwara said that in case Prajwal Revanna does not return to the country on May 31 as stated, further action such as cancellation of his passport will follow. Prajwal will be arrested upon his return and the legal process will be initiated, he added. The anticipatory bail plea moved by the 33-year-old suspended JD(S) MP in a rape case is pending before a city special court and is likely to come up for hearing on Friday. Earlier, some media outlets, including PTI, had erroneously reported that the court had dismissed his bail petition.

The information is he (Prajwal) will come, he has booked the flight ticket. SIT has made necessary preparations. If he comes the legal process will begin, Parameshwara told reporters. As per law, a warrant has been issued against him, so he will have to be arrested, SIT will decide and do it. He himself has said in the video statement that he will appear before SIT on May 31 at 10 am, not us. So I feel that he will come... In case he doesnt, the process will follow, like cancelling his passport; we will again request the Interpol through CBI, as the State Government cannot do it directly, we will have to do it through Government of India agencies, he added. A team of SIT officials is camping at the airport here to arrest Prajwal.




Legal Correspondent

Orders for re-investigation of the nursing colleges found eligible in the presence of Judicial Magistrate. The High Court has given instructions to get videography and photography done. The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered re-investigation of the 169 nursing colleges found eligible by the CBI in the presence of Judicial Magistrate. The division bench of Justice Sanjay Dwivedi and Justice A K Paliwal has directed the CBI to get the investigation videographed and photographed. During this, the director and principal of the college will also be compulsorily present. The next hearing on the petition has been scheduled for July 15.

A petition was filed in the High Court by the Law Students Association challenging the fake nursing colleges. During the hearing of the petition, the High Court was told that out of the 364 nursing colleges operating in the State, the Supreme Court has issued stay orders on the investigation of 56 colleges. A total of 308 nursing colleges were investigated by the CBI. Out of which 169 colleges have been found eligible. In the investigation, there are 74 colleges which can be improved and 65 colleges are ineligible. In the application presented by the petitioner in the High Court, it was said that trusting the investigation report presented by the CBI, the High Court had earlier issued detailed orders regarding the operation of nursing colleges and inclusion of students in the examination.

It was said on behalf of the applicant that in the current situation, it has come to light that the entire investigation report of the CBI is not trustworthy. The CBI officers who were part of the investigation of nursing colleges are accused of being involved in corruption. Delhi CBI has filed an FIR against them and arrested them. A copy of the FIR registered by CBI Delhi was also presented along with the application. It was said in the application that in such a situation, the investigation report of CBI cannot be trusted. The division bench passed the above orders after hearing. Advocate Alok Bagrecha pleaded on behalf of the petitioner.
Iran rules out sabotage explosion behind Raisis helicopter crash





TEHRAN,

Iran has ruled out the possibility of a sabotage explosion leading to the helicopter crash that resulted in the deaths of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and his entourage, local media reported. The General Staff of Irans Armed Forces released the second report on the causes of the helicopter crash on Wednesday, reports the official news agency IRNA.

The report said given the results of the tests on the helicopters wreckage and remaining parts and the way the remains had been scattered at the scene of the incident as well as their distance from the fuselage, the possibility of an explosion caused by an act of sabotage during the flight or moments before the choppers crash into the mountain was dismissed.

No sign of an act of electronic warfare was detected on the crashed helicopter, it said, adding that the weather conditions on the way back to Tabriz, the capital of East Azerbaijan province, would need further investigations. According to the report, the total weight of the passengers and equipment onboard was proportionate to the helicopters maximum load limit at the time of takeoff and during the flight. In addition, during the flight and until 69 seconds before the incidents occurrence, contact had been maintained with the crashed helicopters flight crew on the specified frequencies, which dismisses the possibility of any disruption in the communication system or frequency interference, reports Xinhua news agency. The first report of the investigation committee of the General Staff of Irans Armed Forces was released on May 23.
Judicial custody of 4 accusedextendedin liquor scam





Staff Reporter

Raipur,

A court in Raipur on Thursday extended judicial custody of four accused arrested in liquor scam for the next 14 days. The accused including Anwar Dhebar, Arun Pati Tripathi, Arvind Singh and Trilok Singh Dhillon were produced before the court from where they were again sent to jail on judicial remand. Meanwhile, a team from Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) Special Task Force also reached capital Raipur on Thursday for arresting the accused in duplicate hologram case in connection to which an offence in Noida has been registered against them. Unconfirmed sources informed that the UP STF has initiated legal measures to take remand of the accused in duplicate hologram case. The STF has reportedly also moved an application in the court for issue of production warrant against them on which the hearing will be held in the coming days. The STF officers reportedly want to interrogate the accused in the duplicate hologram case and pursuing investigation in the case, the team on Thursday reached Raipur.
MADC gives its NOC, DGCAs nod awaited





By Vikas Vaidya

Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) has issued No Objection Certificate (NOC) for carrying out flying training at Chandrapur (Morwa) airstrip as second base of Nagpur Flying Club. Expressing happiness over the development Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar told The Hitavada that he would now shape the project so that students of Chandrapur region would be benefitted. Now, the Flying Club has to seek permission from Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). Swati Pandey, Vice Chairperson and Managing Director of MADC, granted the NOC to Nagpur Flying Club. In her letter to Deepali Motiyele, Managing Director of Nagpur Flying Club, granting NOC, Swati Pandey made it clear that MADC has leased Chandrapur (Morwa) Airport (excluding terminal building) for a tenure of 5 years initially at a nominal charge of Rs 1 per annum to Nagpur Flying Club for establishing second flying base at Chandrapur (Morwa) Airport with some conditions. A lease agreement between MADC and Nagpur Flying Club to take necessary action will be signed within 21 days of receipt of this NOC.

There are a lot of positive things taking place after Swati Pandey took over as VC MD of MADC. The NOC to Nagpur Flying Club is one of those developments. Considering the heavy air traffic at Nagpurs Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Divisional Commissioner Vijayalaxmi Bidari had planned to provide more flying hours to the students of Nagpur Flying Club (NFC) at Morwa, near Chandrapur. The students find it difficult to complete their stipulated flying hours in Nagpur due to the increased traffic. So, Bidari took a step to utilise the facilities at Morwa airport at Chandrapur. Mungantiwar said,We are ready to get our infrastructure developed on our own. Now we need to build a good hostel near the airport where our students can stay.

It is an expansion of Nagpur Flying Club but 20 students of Chandrapur and Gadchiroli will get an opportunity to take flying training. There will be bifurcation of categories in those 20 seats--SC, ST, OBC, Open, Tribal and those coming from Socially Backward category. We will take care that these students will not face any financial burden.There will be subsidy of Rs 48 lakh. Mungantiwar pointed out that the students will get 200 flying hours. District Collector of Chandrapur Vinay Gowda too has taken efforts for the project expressed joy over the receipt of NOC from MADC. The conditions on which MADC has granted NOC include all charges related to maintenance (pavement wear and tear, painting, grass cutting), security, water electricity, housekeeping. In case airport is planned for development, prior notice will be issued to Nagpur Flying Club for vacating premises. Nagpur Flying Club will have to take complete responsibility for getting all statutory approvals for establishment of FlyingTraining Office as second base at Chandrapur (Morwa).
Major Radhika Sen honoured with UN award





NEW DELHI,

MAJOR Radhika Sen of the Indian Army has been awarded the prestigious United Nations Military Gender Advocate of the Year award for the year 2023, according to an official release. This accolade comes in recognition of her outstanding contributions to promoting gender equality and womens empowerment in United Nations peacekeeping operations. Major Radhika Sen was deployed to MONUSCO (United Nations Organisation Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) from March 2023 to April 2024, where she took charge as the Engagement Team Commander of the Indian Rapidly Deployed Battalion. While serving as the Engagement Platoon Commander of the Indian Rapidly Deployed Battalion in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), she demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment.

She led a team comprising of 20 women soldiers and 10 male soldiers. Her work primarily focused on interacting with civilians, addressing security concerns of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), and advocating for the voices of women, girls, and children in conflict zones," the release stated. Under her leadership, the engagement teams conducted educational sessions on essential topics, including womens health, education, childcare, gender equality, and employment. These initiatives, coupled with skill development programs, have not only enhanced self-reliance among local populations but also built trust and facilitated effective information gathering.
MLA Ashok Rohani, workers stage protest at Ranjhi Police Station





Staff Reporter

Expressing ire over alleged assault on a BJP worker by police personnel, MLA Ashok Rohani along with a number of party workers staged protest at Ranjhi Police Station, on Thursday. Rohani said Chetan Lahuria, General Secretary of Bhagat Singh Mandal of BJP had been visiting Ranjhi Police Station for the past four days to obtain his character certificate. Despite being summoned again on Thursday at 11 am, when he arrived on time, his character certificate was not issued for the fourth consecutive day. When Lahuria questioned for the delay in providing the certificate, Reader Suraj allegedly began verbal abuse and subsequently initiated physical assault against him.
Modi first PM to lower dignity of public discourse, says ex-PM Manmohan Singh





NEW DELHI,

IN A scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday accused him of lowering the dignity of public discourse and the gravity of the office of the PM by giving hateful speeches during the poll campaign. In an appeal to voters of Punjab ahead of the seventh-phase of Lok Sabha polls on June 1, Singh asserted that only the Congress can ensure growth-oriented progressive future where democracy and Constitution will be safeguarded. The senior Congress leader also hit out at the BJP Government for imposing an ill-conceived Agniveer scheme on the armed forces. The BJP thinks that the value of patriotism, bravery and service is only four years. This shows their fake nationalism, he said in a letter to voters of Punjab. Mounting an attack on Modi, Singh said, I have been keenly following the political discourse during this election campaign.

Modi ji has indulged in the most vicious form of hate speeches, which are purely divisive in nature. Modi ji is the first Prime Minister to lower the dignity of public discourse, and thereby the gravity of the office of the Prime Minister. No Prime Minister in the past has uttered such hateful, unparliamentary and coarse terms, meant to target either a specific section of the society or the Opposition. He has also attributed some false statements to me. I have never in my life singled out one community from the other. That is the sole copyright of the BJP, the former Prime Minister said.
By Sanyogita Agrahari

Residents and commuters in Kolar area are facing significant inconvenience as the ongoing construction project continues to drag on with no clear end in sight. Through the sources it has been revealed that the reconstruction of six lane road was initiated six to eight months ago which is stretching from Chuna Bhatti to Kolar which was intended to address the severely deteriorated road condition. However, the slow progress has led to extensive traffic jams and congestion, affecting daily life and business activities. The road in question had long been a source of complaints from the public with uneven surfaces making travel hazardous. While intention was to improve the infrastructure, the incomplete execution is resulting worse condition for the commuters. The Kolar area is a critical connectivity point for several localities and the reconstruction has affected not only commuters but also local business. Im frustrated with the ongoing road construction in our area. The reconstruction process has been taking months, and its causing immense inconvenience to us.

The traffic jams and congestion are a daily nightmare, and its affecting our daily lives. I remember when the officials started the reconstruction work, we were all relieved that finally, something was being done about the terrible road conditions but instead of relief it has become nightmare us, said Kolar resident, Ankur Yadav. Similarly, a college student, Abhishek Singh mentioned that I travel through the Kolar area daily to go to my university. The traffic jams are getting worse by the day and especially during the peak sun hour. It is so frustrating for me stand in traffic for long in extreme heat. Also, construction dust is not good people who live, work and commute here. I understand that reconstruction is necessary, but the authorities should have a plan in place to minimise the inconvenience caused to the public long going construction work can cause numerous problems as construction activities can generate significant amounts of dust, which can contain harmful substances like silica, heavy metals, and asbestos.

Inhaling these particles can cause respiratory problems and other health issues. Secondly, living near a construction site can cause stress, anxiety, and other mental health issues due to the constant noise, disruption, and inconvenience. And the further concern is as the monsoon season approaches, fear of further deterioration in road condition loom large. The combination of heavy rain and poorly constructed roads could spell disaster for the area with the potential for flooding and increased accidents.
SELF-EXPLAINING





THE fact that there has been a rise of 104% in the number of political parties between 2009 and 2024, is good enough to explain how democracy is thriving in the country. This finding of the Association for Democratic Rights (ADR) should silence all the sections of the society wondering if democracy is on the verge of dying. This figure is good enough to assert that the critics are mounting a fake narrative on the country when they accuse the Narendra Modi regime as a time when democracy is dying. The statistical details state that the story is exactly the opposite and democracy is in good health in India. This is certainly a matter of celebration -- though the common people always believed that democracy is in its safest haven in India. In the current socio-political situation in the country, this is an important detail since the propaganda that democracy is dying here has reached its political peak. The propaganda is purely political in nature, and indicates that enough freedom of speech and expression is available to all people of India, no matter their respective ideologies. For reasons that are rarely explained, many countries around the world have been given to understand that democracy is getting weaker every day in India.

This impression has been created by some political elements belonging to the Congress fold. Through seminars and speeches in prestigious places of academics in England and the United States plus a few other countries, political persons such as Mr. Rahul Gandhi have gone to the extent of asking interested elements in those countries to intervene to save democracy in the country. Hence the importance of the statistical details that India had recorded more than 104% growth in the number of political parties in the past fifteen years. Disturbed by the negative propaganda, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi had chosen to explain in detail most dimensions of democracy in India. One of the points of his speech in the United States Congress was that the country boasted of as many as 2,500 political parties -- which indicated the importance India gave to free speech, an essential dimension of democracy. When Mr. Modi said this with a clearly visible tinge of pride in the country, there was a huge round of applause from the Senators and Representatives in the US Congress. Mr. Modi insisted in his speech that democracy was thriving in India like never before and had a great future in the land.

In the past ten years, an ugly ecosystem has been operational in the country accusing the Modi regime as a time when democracy is not thriving. Thankfully, it must be noted that democracy is thriving because of many robust reasons -- belonging to system, belonging to political maturity of the Indian leadership and the larger society ...! The 104% increase in the number of political parties in just past fifteen years is a great indication of a thriving democracy. It is unfortunate that some elements keep making attempts to malign the countrys image in the world by stressing that democracy has been on a decline in the country. These elements are shameless about their attempt to spread fake narratives in the country and the world. By indulging in false propaganda, they are interested in garnering whatever anti-Modi vote they could and oust the Prime Minister. Ousting one person is not the issue at all -- for all right-thinking persons in the country across political dividing lines. No matter how strong a particular political leader is, he -- or she -- has to walk into sunset some moment. But that does not mean that falsehood should be heaped on the society. Such propaganda will never succeed in India.
Slight relief as heat wave subsides Monsoon expected by June 15-20





Staff Reporter

After five days of intense heat, the effect of the heat wave has slowly subsided in the city as it entered the sixth day of Nautapa. The State capitals temperature dropped by almost 2 degrees in a day. On Thursday, Bhopal recorded a maximum temperature of 42.4 degrees Celsius, but night temperatures are still above normal, reaching over 30 degrees Celsius and resulting in warm nights. Sidhi topped the chart in the State with 48.2 degrees Celsius. According to IMD Bhopal, monsoon activities have commenced in the country with the south-west monsoon setting in over Kerala and advancing into most parts of north-east India, including Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and most parts of Tripura, Meghalaya, and Assam on Thursday. Thus, the monsoon is expected to arrive in the state by June 15 to 20. The Weather Department also reported that severe heat wave conditions have significantly subsided in the state, although heat wave conditions persist in 10 districts: Datia, Gwalior, Shivpuri, Sidhi, Satna, Rewa, Shahdol, Nowgong, Damoh, and Tikamgarh.

Additionally, two districts reported severe heat wave conditions, and Gwalior, Datia, Damoh, and Tikamgarh experienced warm nights. Rainfall was recorded in several cities in the last 24 hours. In western MP, Bhind received 0.9 mm of rainfall, while in the east, Anuppur recorded 6.8 mm, Damoh 3.0 mm, Sagar 2.0 mm, Panna 1.4 mm, Rewa 0.5 mm, Satna 0.3 mm, and Katni 0.2 mm. Speaking about the current weather conditions, weather scientist Arun Sharma of IMD Bhopal said, There is a cyclonic circulation over north-west Uttar Pradesh and its neighbourhood, extending up to 1.5 km above mean sea level. Additionally, a trough line runs from the cyclonic circulation over north-west Uttar Pradesh to West Bangladesh, resulting in cloud cover and light rainfall with thunderstorms in several parts of MP.

For Friday, the Meteorological Department has forecast significant relief from the heat wave for major parts of the state. Heat wave conditions will primarily prevail in Rajgarh, Guna, Ashoknagar, Shivpuri, Gwalior, Datia, Bhind, Morena, Singrauli, Sidhi, Rewa, Mauganj, Satna, Panna, Maihar, and Tikamgarh, with temperatures expected to remain between 45 degrees Celsius and 47 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, from June 1, heat wave conditions are likely to subside across the entire State. On Thursday, 10 cities recorded maximum temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius, including Chattarpur at 46.5 degrees Celsius, Singrauli at 46.3 degrees Celsius, Shivpuri at 46 degrees Celsius, Datia at 45.8 degrees Celsius, Satna at 45.7 degrees Celsius, Shahdol at 45.2 degrees Celsius, and Gwalior at 45.1 degrees Celsius. Notable cities that recorded a dip in temperature include Indore with a maximum temperature of 39.6 degrees Celsius, Jabalpur at 43.5 degrees, and Ujjain at 41 degrees Celsius.
Vayu Seva Sangharsha Samiti, students demand direct flights to major cities





Staff Reporter

After announcement of flights from Jabalpur to Mumbai, there is now a growing demand for air services to Pune, Bengaluru and Chennai. Meanwhile, Vayu Seva Sangharsh Samiti is also making preparations for No Flying Day on June 6. Senior office-bearers of the Samiti said it is not just Jabalpur but entire Mahakoshal regions youth require air services to these major cities because IT and engineering sectors predominantly attract youth towards these three cities. Absence of direct air services has caused significant inconvenience for them. Himanshu Khare, Coordinator of the Samiti, said there is lack of direct rail services from Jabalpur to Pune and train travel to Bengaluru and Chennai consumes a significant amount of time. Moreover, getting confirmed reservations on trains is also quite challenging. Therefore, youth of Jabalpur strongly believe that direct air services should be initiated for these three cities as well.

Likewise, Geeta Sharat Tiwari, Dr P G Najpande and Himanshu Rai stated that Jabalpurs youth mainly travel to Pune, Bengaluru and Chennai for higher education. Due to unavailability of direct air services, parents also face great difficulty in visiting their children. Similarly, Dr Rajesh Dhirawani, Shankar Nagdev, Anoop Agrawal and Jitendra Pachori mentioned that companies from outside are unable to conduct campus placements at Jabalpurs colleges. Apart from that youth of Jabalpur are struggling to find good job opportunities. They said major multinational companies conduct campus placements in cities that have direct air services and unfortunately, Jabalpur is deprived of the facility.
Wake-up call





Our Correspondent

Janjgir- Champa,

In a brazen display of defiance, people allegedly involved in illegal land plotting are fearlessly cutting down trees in a designated green zone just a short distance from the Collectors office. Despite being fully aware of the situation, district administration pretends to be unaware of the issue, raising serious questions about the district administrations effectiveness. The green zone, established along the main road from Collectorate Chowk to the Collectors office, was once a testament to environmental preservation. Trees like Arjun, Neem, and Gulmohar were planted and protected with fencing at government expense. However, this green oasis is now under threat as land brokers continue their illegal activities unhindered, cutting down government-planted trees to make way for unauthorised roads. The negligence of the district administration has sparked a public outrage. Daily, officers and employees, including the Collector and SP, pass by the area yet take no action has been initiated against the blatant tree-cutting activities. This lack of enforcement is emboldening the land mafia, who are reportedly preparing to cut down more than two dozen trees in the green zone, alleged a resident.

The environmental damage is compounded by the increasing risk of pollution, as the district loses its greenery while illegal profiteers grow richer. Even when the temperature is soaring n a unexpected manner across the globe and environmentalist call for planting more trees, here the government officials and the enforcement agencies are turning a blind eye to the blatant defiance of cutting trees. Despite governments harelip and other campaigns for plantation aimed at promoting greenery wherein crores of rupees is spend, this illegal felling of trees undermines the efforts of the government for a green cover. Crores of rupees are spent on these campaigns, yet the very officers responsible for protecting the environment appear negligent. The systematic destruction of trees not only degrades forest areas but also harms the overall environment. A month ago, concerned citizens filed a written complaint with district officials, demanding action against the land mafia responsible for the illegal felling of trees on Collectorate road.

Yet, despite the urgency and the gravity of the situation, no action has been taken. The administrations inaction has emboldened the land brokers, who continue their illegal activities with impunity. ADM S.P. Vaidya acknowledged the issue, stating that the district administration is aware of the illegal tree felling on government land for plotting purposes on Collectorate Road. He confirmed that the SDM and Tehsildar have been instructed to investigate the matter on-site. If the trees are found to have been cut illegally, they have been directed to seize the felled trees and take necessary action. A complainant said that the situation demands immediate and decisive action from the district administration to halt the illegal activities, protect the remaining trees, and restore the green zone. The environmental and social implications of the tree being chopped and the inaction of the administration cannot be ignored.
On the last day of campaigning for the seventh and last round of the Lok Sabha elections, Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee said in all likelihood Narendra Modi is not returning to power in Delhi. I do not make irresponsible statements. In all likelihood Modi is not coming back to power, she said while addressing a gathering before starting a 12- km road show at Sukanta Setu this afternoon. She took part in the road show in favour of partys nominees from Jadavpur, Sayoni Ghosh, and Kolkata South, Mala Roy.

The road show started from Sukanta Setu in Jadavpur and ended at Chetla More, proceeding via Gariahat Road upto Ballygunge Phari. Then the procession took a left turn to reach Sarat Bose Road via Hazra Road and then took a left turn at Chakraberia to reach Hariash Mukherjee Road and Chetla More. Trinamul Congress leaders Mohua Moitra, Sayoni Ghosh, Firhad Hakim, Javed Khan, Debashis Kumar, Baisanor Chatterjee walked the entire stretch with Miss Banerjee.

Coming down heavily on Mr Modi she said: I have never seen a Prime Minister who speaks more lie than truth. He talks volumes of lies and has deprived Bengal deliberately. We have cleared the dues of 59 lakh MGNREGA job card holders and through Karmashree scheme they will be given 50 days work. The first instalment of Awas Plus scheme will be given to the beneficiaries by 31q December. Miss Banerjee added: When the country is suffering from mounting unemployment, price hike, Modi did not say a single word on these issues and now he is busy in meditation. I do not mind whether he meditates or nor but it is a private practice.

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Why he is taking photographer to show him meditating. He is an expert on drama. Miss Banerjee criticised a section of the media and said: They are there to project Modi. When people are in distress they do not show anything and from morning till night they project Modi as they are scared of the enforcement agencies. Do not get scared to show the results of BJP on the day of counting. There are seven Assembly segments. The media will highlight the areas where the BJP is leading. Wait till the end to see the final result, she said. Miss Banerjee said the state government will reconstruct the houses that have been destroyed by the cyclone Remal.
Due to a severe shortage of drinking water, numerous people in Siliguri were seen queuing at various locations to purchase potable water today.

The citizens of Siliguri are facing a grave situation as the Siliguri Municipal Corporation (SMC) has advised against consuming the water due to its test results. According to laboratory evaluations, the water is deemed hazardous due to low levels of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD).

However, political groups have begun to protest about the problem of a shortage of drinking water in Siliguri.

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The BJP has called for the resignation of the SMC mayor, prompting Left organizations to protest in front of the SMC today.

Today, the Left politicians stopped mayor Goutam Deb from supervising the arrangements of safe drinking water distribution through different methods. Both Mr Deb and his deputy Ranjan Sarkar faced Left supporters ire. The disagreement started with the deputy mayor Mr Sarkar when Left activists, including SUCI (C), objected to the decision to distribute contaminated drinking water to the public. The police ultimately resolved the situation today.

Asok Bhattacharya, a former minister and SMC mayor, alleged that the current mayor is guilty of distributing unsafe drinking water and should be reported to the police.

The citizens of Siliguri have gathered here for legitimate purposes, not for political reasons. During my term as mayor, members of the Trinamul Congress physically assaulted me because the public health engineering department had to halt the water supply for only two days, Mr Bhattacharya added.

Siliguri mayor Goutam Deb expressed his disappointment to the media, stating that the actions of the Left party are regrettable. The situation became dire after the occurrence of a natural disaster, making it a challenging task to combat mother natures wrath. It is disheartening that instead of working together to resolve the crisis, the Left leaders are using it as a political opportunity, Mr Deb said, adding, They should prioritize finding solutions rather than playing politics in this critical situation.

He hoped common sense would prevail.

The water shortage problem started when the irrigation and waterways department chose to start fixing the Teesta Barrage Projects embankments and other problems. It was agreed that raw surface water from Teesta river would continue to be provided from 25 May. However, due to heavy rainfall in the upper catchment regions, the officials were unable to complete the necessary repairs within the designated time frame.

According to BJP leader Shankar Ghosh, Mr Deb is not morally obligated to remain in his position. It is regrettable that while his ward, 33, has been provided with alternative arrangements for 24 hours, other wards are only receiving water tanks once a day.

In response to the residents of Siliguri purchasing water from private sources, mayor Goutam Deb has instructed the police to closely oversee the market to prevent traders from inflating the prices of bottled water. He also stated that the police will investigate the origins of the water being sold in the market.

In Siliguri, locals are being compelled to purchase water from stores due to poor quality of drinking water supply through tanks.

It has been reported that the corporation had to procure water from nearby bottlers in order to address the present crisis.

The Siliguri Welfare Organisation (SWO) has raised concerns about the current issue of drinking water shortage. Members of SWO are also worried about the unscientific and illegal extraction of groundwater, as well as the lack of attention given to rainwater harvesting and widespread deforestation in the area. In response, SWO has launched a programme called Adopt a Tree in Siliguri.

Debarati Dasgupta, a member of the SWO, responded to the current water shortage by suggesting that a public interest litigation could be brought against the Corporation for providing contaminated drinking water to the people of Siliguri.

A group of individuals are expressing their dissatisfaction and debating that the Corporation should have conducted tests on the purified waters of Mahananda before distributing it to the public.
With the high-octane campaigning coming to an end for the last and seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections on Thursday, the message from the global market investors is clear  if Prime Minister Narendra Modi returns to power, the Indian stock market will remain strong and economic growth will touch new highs.

From ace investor Mark Mobius to Jim Rogers, PM Modis return to power for the third term will ensure the continuation of the governments robust policies across the economic spectrum.

According to Mobius, if PM Modi gets more than 400 seats, then we will see another big push in India for big changes taking place, particularly in the infrastructure area.

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Mobius showed his interest in infrastructure-related stocks, saying infrastructure is going to see a good push going forward.

On the other hand, Rogers said that PM Modi has put in place several initiatives which are beneficial to the economy.

If PM Modi secures victory, I expect the Indian stock market to remain strong, he was quoted as saying in reports.

If the Indian stock market goes down a lot then I would change my strategy and start investing in India again, he added.

On Wednesday, top global brokerage S&P Global upgraded Indias outlook to positive from stable, called a good omen for the economy by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

According to FM Sitharaman, the rating revision is a validation of Indias robust growth and promising economic outlook.

Meanwhile, the Indian stock markets went through a bit of volatility since the start of the first phase of polls  a norm seen in previous polls too.

Sensex largely remained in the 73,000-75,000 zone while Nifty hovered between the 22,000-23,000 levels since April 19 when the polls commenced.

Market experts said on Thursday that ahead of the general election results on June 4, foreign institutional investors (FIIs) and individual traders are net long on index futures.

It shows that there is a high possibility that the NDA will succeed, said Vaibhav Vidwani, Research Analyst, Bonanza Portfolio.

Additionally, profit booking is evident in the current market as investors seek to protect themselves against unexpected losses in this highly volatile market, Vidwani noted.
The Delhi unit of the BJP staged a protest here on Friday against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over the water crisis in the national capital and demanded resignation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

The BJP workers under the leadership of its Delhi unit president Virendra Sachdeva held the demonstration at the ITO here.

Addressing the party workers, Sachdeva said, The water crisis in Delhi is not natural but is created by the corruption and mismanagement of Arvind Kejriwal, which the people of Delhi have understood.

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If the people of Delhi are suffering for every drop of water today, the sole person responsible for it is Arvind Kejriwal. Even in 2021, the court reprimanded the Delhi government, stating that Delhi receives sufficient water but the government has failed to prevent water wastage, he said.

The Delhi BJP chief also accused AAP MLAs of selling water through tankers and filling their pockets with the proceeds of water theft.

Echoing similar sentiments, Delhi BJP leader Bansuri Swaraj said, Delhi is reeling under a water crisis created solely by Kejriwal.

The significant loss incurred by Delhi Jal Board, which had a profit of Rs 600 crore in 2013, but is now in a deficit of Rs 73,000 crore, she said.

Swaraj also accused the Kejriwal government of promoting tanker mafia instead of addressing water scarcity.

Another party leader Praveen Khandelwal said, The water crisis in Delhi is proof of Kejriwals incompetence and corruption.

He accused Kejriwal of deceiving the people and failing to take concrete steps to address water scarcity.
Expressing concern over the citys water crisis, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday asked Bharatiya Janata Party not to do politics over the issue, and urged the saffron party to come together and help in resolving the issue by providing relief to the people of the city.

Kejriwal, taking to social media platform X, wrote that the BJP people are protesting against the Delhi government, which will not solve the problem.

He further suggested that if the BJP talks to governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh and gets some water for Delhi then the citys residents will appreciate this greatly.

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The Delhi CM further said that the scorching heat was not under anyones control, but if efforts were put together then relief could be brought to the people who were taking a hit amid the extreme weather and the shortage of water.

Kejriwal also mentioned that unprecedented heat was being experienced this time across the nation, causing a water and electricity crisis.

The Delhi CM, mentioning the rise in the electricity consumption of the city said that last year, the peak demand for electricity in Delhi was 7438 MW, and in comparison, this year the peak demand has reached 8302 MW.

He further said that despite the elevated demand, the power situation in Delhi was under control, and so far there were no power cuts like in other states.

Kejriwal pointed that due to the scorching heat and high temperatures, the demand for water had increased a lot in the city, and claimed that the water received in Delhi from neighbouring states has reduced.

Meanwhile, the BJP staged a massive protest against the AAP government, alleging that the current water crisis was the result of alleged corruption and mismanagement by the Kejriwal government.

The city has been facing water shortage , although the government has taken several measures to ensure that supply of the natural resource is made available amid the heat wave conditions.
Saayani Ghosh, Trinamul Congress candidate from Jadavpur is on a litmus test. Someone, who has earned the affection of Trinamul chairperson Mamata Banerjee and also been in the shoes of Abhishek Banerjee as Youth Trinamul Congress president, Sayani feels Jadavpur is a constituency which can make or break a candidate.

The strong-willed, articulate and hardworking candidate speaks to Ashok Chatterjee about her political journey, being blessed by Mamata Banerjee and her mass connect.

How much of your vast constituency have you managed to cover?

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Im on the ground running from the day my name was announced in March. There are seven Assembly constituencies within Jadavpur LS constituency. Ive been working with the MLAs and organisational heads in designing my campaigns. It is a new experience in terms of covering such areas like Jadavpur, Bhangar, Baruipur etc. Each of them have their own character and demand a different approach, while some booths need more attention. In some places, you have intelligentsia and in others, very ordinary people. Im trying to strike a balance. Public meetings and communication have always been my forte. I love people and vice versa, the bond is absolutely unconditional.

When you started, the city was in the midst of a heat wave and now the cyclone!

Campaigning in the extreme heat has been difficult but we have dealt with such situations before, be it during Assembly election or the earlier LS election. Polls usually happen in the summers. It has been tough being in the scorching sun. I kept myself and my team hydrated with coconut water, sugarcane juice, ORS and very light meals. One has to take care of ones health to be out and meet people, do rallies. Work has to go on. As an actor I need to be extra careful about sun tan, blisters etc (laughs).

You have contested for an Assembly seat before. How different is fighting for a Lok Sabha seat?

When I started in 2021, I had very little knowledge of politics, on the demarcations and demands of block, booth and organisational districts. This time Im more seasoned. Also, my experience of working for the organisation for a few years has helped. I recognise people, the MLAs and know their contributions. They also know my capabilities as a youth leader. Im not their MP yet, its all hopes and promises now. But, I think people are convinced with me. Im more of a politician than an actor. I have done 3-4 films in last three years but done 350-400 political meetings, sabhas, rallies and campaigns till now, all over India. Im not a part-time politician.

What has been the biggest challenge in Jadavpur LS constituency?

Water! Our chief minister has assured us that the problem of drinking water will be sorted by the end of this year. Providing them tap water is a huge process and takes time. When I visit areas, I can see a lot of work has already been done. The distribution lines have been laid, digging to lay the underground pipes is on. You just have to tell people about the progress and assure them. Peoples foremost demand is that they want their MP to be seen more often amidst them. They want my attendance in Parliament; want me to be with them in their hour of need.

You have a huge responsibility after being chosen to contest from Jadavpur. Mamata Banerjee became an MP for the first time in 1984 from here.

It also puts a lot of pressure on you when you think of these associations. When I was given the post of youth president of the party, Mamata di had told me, I was the partys youth president. All these years, I did not assign this post to any woman. You are getting it after me. There are a lot of challenges and you have to work very hard. As Trinamul youth president, it also meant fitting into Abhishek Banerjees shoes. He also gave me ample scope to work and a free hand. So Jadavpur has the capacity to either make you or break you. I believe what Jadavpur thinks today, Bengal thinks tomorrow. This election will be very decisive for the people of Jadavpur and also for me as it will decide what course I take after this.

Which is your first choice, Jadavpur or Asansol as you also contested from there?

Jadavpur is my home ground. I have practically grown up here, went to school and college here and have an emotional-connect. I also lost my mother here, who also worked for the people. I have memories in every lane and bylane here. I have been working in Tripura, Bengal-Bangladesh border, Bengal-Jharkhand border, Goa and have given very little time to Jadavpur per say, as far as organisational work is concerned. Now, when Im stepping here, the expressions of the people tell me that Im like their daughter.

You are a natural crowd-puller at your public meetings. You crack jokes, sing for them.

Im a diploma holder in music, so I like singing at meetings. At these political meetings, people are not just entertained by lectures, after some time it becomes boring. You have to get into their wavelength. You have to create fun moments through music, dance etc.

Jadavpurs last MP was Mimi Chakraborty from your party and was also an actor like you. Are you conscious about your image?

People have been seeing me. They know Im not a full-time actor like her. Im mostly in a sari and slippers, with least make-up and hairstyling. I wont do anything which gives the impression that an actress has come in their midst. I do nothing to alienate myself. That also gives them hope. Even for the roles I play on screen, Im not the typical heroine. I have done parallel films, sensible films. People know that Im not an armchair politician. People have seen me that I have not vanished after losing in Asansol in 2021.

You are known to be close to Mamata Banerjee. How much have you learnt from her?

Im at a loss of words when I have to talk about her. Mamata Banerjee is an idea. My biggest takeaway from her is her simplicity, her selflessness and the drive that she has within. From morning 6 a.m. to 2 a.m., she is at it, challenging the Prime Minister, running around the state, without a break. That motivates me. I learnt the true meaning of simple living, high thinking from her.

Will acting continue or will it take a backseat now?

Of course, it will continue but there are limitations. I represent so many people, I have to take care of my fellow workers. They have an idea of me and I have to be careful about my dialogues, characters and the production team I work with. I think it is better to do quality work than quantity work.

You are known for your fiery personality, been arrested for saying khela hobe, have faced CBI grilling.

What doesnt break you makes you stronger. The shock value is over for me. I have realised that if you have to fight the BJP, its all in the package. You cannot be playing safe; politics is not a bed of roses. You need to be focused. For me, there is no going back.
All eyes are now in coastal Odisha electoral landscape, which has turned out to be the impregnable stronghold of ruling BJD for more than two decades, ahead of the 1 June final phase of simultaneous polls in Mayurbhanj, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapara and Jagatsinghpur parliamentary constituencies.

Around one crore voters are expected to cast their franchise in final phase elections in six Lok Sabha constituencies and 42 Assembly segments coming under these parliamentary seats.

With the Congress in general and the BJP in particular, firing all artilleries targeting the BJD from all perceivable fronts, the regional party, apparently on the back foot in the wake of strong anti-incumbency, is fighting its toughest poll battle to sustain the political dominance in the coastal belt, which is regarded as the prestigious battlefield of political heavyweights.

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Of the six constituencies, Balasore and Mayurbhanj are the sole exceptions where the BJP has recorded victories in LS polls. While Salkhan Murmu of the BJP won the seat twice in 1998 and 1999, incumbent union minister Bishweswar Tudu won the seat on party ticket in 2019. The BJD won the seat twice since 1998, while JMM registered its maiden victory in 2004.

The BJP won the Balasore seat on four occasions since 1998 with the Congress and the BJD emerging victorious one-time only. In 2019, BJPs Pratap Chandra Sarangi tasted victory. Kharabela Swain had recorded victories on the BJP ticket from Balasore in 1998, 1999 and 2004.

The BJD has solidly maintained its winning streak in the remaining 4 LS seats winning on all occasions since 1998.

In Jagatsinghpur, BJD emerged victorious in 1999, 2004, 2014 and 2019 while in 2009; the CPI won it with a pre-poll alliance with BJD.

The key coastal parliamentary constituencies of Kendrapara, Jajpur and Bhadrak have all along been BJDs bastion with the party winning the seats in uninterrupted sequences since the late nineties.

Prominent among those who figures in the list candidates fighting last phase Lok Sabha polls are BJPs former Union minister Pratap Sarangi, national vice-president Baijayant Panda; Congresss former union minister Srikant Jena, BJDs incumbent minister in Odisha cabinet Sudam Marndi and JMMs Anjani Soren (daughter of JMM patriarch Shibu Soren and sister of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren)

The voters will decide the fate among others of the Odisha unit BJP president Manmohan Samal, BJD ministers Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak and Preetiranjan Gharei, Ganeswar Behera (contesting on BJD ticket and a former Congress minister) and Congress former state president and Minister Niranjan Patnaik in the Assembly polls.

The last phase of polls is poised to be fierce with a majority of seats for the LS and Assembly set for a bipolar contest. The Congress on the strength of its candidates and organisational base is in the race in some of the seats, making the contest triangular, analysts said citing examples of Balasore parliamentary seat and Bhadaripokhari assembly seat where former union minister Srikant Jena and former Odisha Congress President Niranjan Patnaik are trying out their electoral luck.
Kerala Devaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan on Friday dismissed Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumars claim that a ritual named Shatru Bhairavi Yaga, which involves the sacrifice of animals, was performed at a temple in Kerala, targeting him, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in the state.

The Kerala Devaswom minister said that the allegation made by DK Shivakumar is unlikely to happen in Kerala .

 This is something that can never happen in Kerala, Radhakrisnan said in a press release here on Friday. The minister said that he will investigate if anything like this happened in Kerala.

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Shivakumar on Thursday claimed that a ritual called Shatru Bhairavi Yaga, involving the sacrifice of animals, was being conducted at a temple in Kerala, targeting him, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, and the Congress government in the state.

Shivakumar , without disclosing specific names, accused certain political figures in Karnataka of orchestrating the ritual and said that Aghoris (monastic order of ascetic Shaivite sadhus) were being consulted for it.

A big experiment is going on against me in Kerala and our government. Someone has given (details) about it to me in writing, about the pooja that is going on. Someone gave me in writing as to where it is being done and who is doing it, Shivakumar said.

Shatru Bhairavi Yaga is being performed near Rajarajeshwari temple in Kerala for Shatru Samhara (destruction of enemies). For this yaga Pancha Bali (five kinds of sacrifice) is being given21 goats, three buffaloes, 21 black sheep, five pigsAghoris are being approached. It is going on, he added.

More than their yagya, I have the blessings of God and people, also my belief, he said.

On a query about the potential involvement of political figures, Shivakumar said If not political individuals, then who else would orchestrate it? Check near the Rajarajeshwara temple, and youll understand.

Meanwhile, Akeeramon Kalidasan Bhattathiripad, president of the Yogakshema Sabha, a welfare association for the Namboothiri community, rejected the Karnataka Deputy CMs claim. He said it is Shivakumars political gimmick.

Rubbishing the claim, Akeeramon said there is no such perversity in the Hindu society.

CPI-M state secretary MV Govindan said DK Shivakumar is crazy and made a statement mocking the cultural life of Kerala. The CPI-M leader clarified that the Rajarajeswara temple is not a place where such magical poojas take place.
With polling parties despatched for their respective booths on Friday, all arrangements for the smooth conduct of polling in the last phase of the general election in Uttar Pradesh have been completed.

Around 2.50 crore voters will exercise their franchise across 25,658 booths in 13 Lok Sabha seats of Purvanchal on Saturday from 7 am to 6 pm. The by-election for the Duddhi assembly segment in Sonbhadra district will also be held along with the Lok Sabha elections.

In the Robertsganj Lok Sabha seat, polling timings for the Robertsganj assembly and Duddhi assembly segments will be from 7 am to 4 pm.

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Elaborate security measures have been made for this phase as around 2 lakh security personnel, including 230 companies of Central forces, will be deployed to ensure peaceful polling.

This phase will witness the VVIP Varanasi seat, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi is contesting for the third time.

Along with the Prime Minister, the fate of three Union ministers  Anupriya Patel (Mirzapur), Dr Mahendra Nath Pandey (Chandauli)and Pankaj Choudhury (Maharajganj)  will be decided in this phase. A total of 144 candidates are in the fray for these elections.

Besides, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths political acumen would be tested on his home turf of Gorakhpur, which he has won five times. Bhojpuri actor Ravi Kishan Shukla is trying his luck for the second time.

All eyes will also be on the performance of UP Congress president Ajay Rai, who is pitted against the PM in Varanasi. The Ghazipur seat holds significance in determining which way it will go in the absence of notorious mafia figure Mukhtar Ansari.

During this phase in 2019, the BJP had won 9 seats while its ally Apna Dal (Sonelal) secured victories in the Mirzapur and Sonbhadra seats. On the opposition front, the BSP, which had an alliance with the SP, had won the Ghazipur and Ghosi seats.

However, the soaring temperatures, exceeding 45 degrees Celsius in Purvanchal, have affected the campaigning and could have an impact in the polling percentage.

A report from Robertsganj in Sonbhadra said that seven polling personnel suffered heatstroke while being given polling material at the Polytechnic ground on Friday afternoon.

The 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in this phase include Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Bansgaon (SC), Ghosi, Salempur, Ballia, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, and Robertsganj (SC), spread across 11 districts.

In the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies going to polls in the seventh phase, there are over 2.49 crore voters, comprising 1.32 crore male and 1.17 crore female voters. There are a total of 14,183 polling stations and 25,658 polling booths in these constituencies.

Addressing concerns about the scorching heat, state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Navdeep Rinwa said here on Friday that necessary arrangements have been made at the polling stations. These arrangements include provisions for cold drinking water, toilets for men and women, as well as wheelchairs and chairs for people with disabilities and elderly voters.

Additionally, shades have been installed on the polling station premises, extending to the voter queue. Paramedics and ASHA workers stationed at each polling station have been equipped with an ample supply of ORS and medical kits to safeguard themselves against the heat. Paramedic staff have also been deployed alongside Sector Magistrates, he said.

The CEO said that emergency ambulance services in the districts have been stationed at various locations so that, if needed, they can be quickly sent to the polling stations and polling booths.

The Chief Electoral Officer has advised polling personnel and voters to wear light cotton clothes and take necessary precautions to avoid the heat.

To shield oneself from the scorching sun, wear a cap, carry an umbrella, or use a white cotton towel or any other cloth to cover the head. Besides, keep a water bottle, and intermittently drink plain water, lemonade or ORS as per the requirement. On the voting day, voters should reach the polling booths in large numbers and cast their vote before the sun is at its peak, Rinwa appealed to voters.

The CEO said to keep a vigilant eye on the voting, the Commission has also deployed 3 special observers, 13 general observers, 8 police observers, and 14 expenditure observers. Apart from the above, 1,861 Sector Magistrates, 243 Zonal Magistrates, 130 Static Magistrates, and 2,550 Micro Observers have also been deployed.

During the seventh phase of elections, extensive arrangements have been made to ensure the safety and well-being of voters and personnel involved. Alongside the deployment of paramilitary and police forces, arrangements have also been made for air ambulances and helicopters for medical assistance in case of emergency. The location of the helicopter will be in Gorakhpur on May 31 and June 1 and the location of the air ambulance will be in Varanasi on June 1. Live webcasting has been arranged at more than 50 per cent polling places (13,092), which will be supervised at all three levels by the District Election Officer, Chief Electoral Officer, and the Election Commission of India. Apart from this, arrangements for videography have also been made at 2,304 polling locations.

In the seventh phase, a total of 288 model polling stations have been established with 100 women, 42 disabled, and 56 youth personnel managing polling stations.
JD-S leader and BJP-led NDAs Hassan Lok Sabha seat candidate Prajwal Revanna was sent to police custody till June 6 in connection with sexual abuse allegations against him.

Revanna was taken into custody by the SIT team shortly after his arrival early today after he landed at Bengaluru airport from Munich.

The Hassan lawmakers lawyers will be allowed to meet him every day between 9.30 am to 10.30 am, a city court said on Friday.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case had sought 15-day custody of Revanna in the first of three sexual assault cases filed against the JD-S MP.

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Prior to his arrest, Prajwal had moved a local court for anticipatory bail in a case of kidnapping of a rape victim.

There was a posse of women police personnel led by women IPS officers waiting to execute the arrest warrant against the suspended JD(S) MP after he alighted from the plane from Munich.

Revanna was then taken in a jeep, accompanied by only women police, to the CID office. A SIT source said that it was a conscious call to send all women officers to arrest Prajwal, sending home a message that the 33-year leader had exploited his power as an MP with women.

The airport security handed over Revanna to the SIT, after which he was taken to the CID office in Bengaluru. Revanna is facing allegations of sexual assault and criminal intimidation by a woman who used to work in his residence. Earlier in the month, his father HD Revanna was arrested on sexual assault and kidnapping charges in a case linked to the Hassan MP.

Earlier in the day, Revannas medical tests were conducted at the citys Bowring Hospital.

His mother Bhavani Revanna will be questioned by the SIT on Saturday.

The grandson of former prime minister HD Deve Gowda is wanted in sex abuse cases after a pen drive containing his purported obscene videos went viral. After videos and photos allegedly showing MP Revanna sexually abusing women circulated in Karnataka, and a woman filed a case against him, he fled to Germany.

The government on Thursday said it has initiated the process of cancelling the diplomatic passport of Revanna. At a media briefing here, Ministry of External affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the MEA received the request for cancelling Ravannas passport on May 21. On May 23, the MEA issued a show cause notice to Revanna in accordance with the Indian Passport Act, asking him why his passport should not be revoked. He has to respond to the show cause notice within ten days, the spokesperson added.

We are waiting for his reply for further action in the matter, he said.

The arrest of Revanna comes days after he announced in a video message that he would appear before the SIT on May 31 and fully cooperate in the investigation. This announcement came after his grandfather Deve Gowda wrote an open letter directed to people vilifying the family over Prajwals sex scandal and asked him to surrender.

Revanna, who is seeking a fresh term in the Lok Sabha from Hassan as an NDA candidate, left the country on April 27, a day after voting for the Lok Sabha elections in his constituency.
On the eve of the final phase of polling for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 to be held on Saturday, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath urged all voters nationwide and in the state to turn out in large numbers.

Emphasising the importance of their participation, CM Yogi stated that their invaluable vote would serve as the foundation for a brighter future for the next generation.

This phase is particularly crucial for Uttar Pradesh, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is contesting from Varanasi. Voting will also take place in Gorakhpur, CM Yogis own constituency.

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Addressing voters ahead of the seventh phase, CM Yogi on Friday remarked, On the eve of the seventh phase of the Lok Sabha elections, I urge all esteemed voters to cast their ballots to build a self-reliant and developed India and to realise the vision of Ram Rajya. Your single vote will lay the groundwork for a prosperous future for the coming generations. Therefore, Pehle Matdaan, Fir Jalpaan.

Voting will occur on 57 Lok Sabha seats across the country on Saturday. In Uttar Pradesh, voters will cast their ballots in 13 Lok Sabha constituencies and the Duddhi Vidhan Sabha by-election.

The Uttar Pradesh constituencies, where polling is scheduled to be held on Saturday, include Maharajganj, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Deoria, Bansgaon (SC), Ghosi, Salempur, Ballia, Ghazipur, Chandauli, Varanasi, Mirzapur, and Robertsganj (SC). The Duddhi Vidhan Sabha constituency is located in the Sonbhadra district.
South Korea held a virtual meeting with the US on Thursday to enhance mutual understanding of their respective telemedicine industries and explore areas of cooperation, officials said.

According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, the session with some 30 companies from both countries followed up on the South Korea-US Supply Chain and Commercial Dialogue (SCCD) held in March, Yonhap news agency reported.

The SCCD is a regular ministerial forum designed to discuss the promotion of resilient supply chains for key products, including semiconductors, batteries, and critical minerals.

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The event came as the demand for mobile-based telemedicine services is anticipated to grow down the road amid the rapidly ageing population.

South Korea has high potential in the digital health sector on the back of its vast amount of clinical data and advanced information technology, an official from the industry ministry said.

The ministry is seeking to support the commercialisation of related products and services while fostering experts to establish the industrial ecosystem for the digital health sector, the official added.
The political landscape of Odisha today sees Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik standing at a crossroads, seeking to extend his already impressive tenure of over 24 years. If successful, he will become Indias longest-serving chief minister, surpassing the record held by Mr Pawan Kumar Chamling of Sikkim. Already, the record shows he has been one of the most effective state leaders this country has seen.

This election, however, poses perhaps his greatest challenge yet. The formidable organisational strength of Mr Patnaiks party, the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), cannot be overlooked. Despite internal conflicts that plague all three major parties, the BJD, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Congress, the ruling partys well-oiled machine continues to dominate. The BJP, while growing in influence, and the Congress, now a distant third, lack the grassroots cadre that the BJD commands. The BJDs robust network has been pivotal in maintaining its electoral dominance. Yet, the BJP has carved out a significant presence in Odishas politics. Historically, the BJP shared power with the BJD until their alliance dissolved in 2009.

The BJP witnessed resurgence, particularly in the 2019 elections which saw it capturing eight of Odishas 21 Lok Sabha seats, an impressive leap from just one seat in 2014. This shift was largely driven by the national popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a strategic campaign that resonated with a broad voter base. The changing demographics of Odisha present both a challenge and an opportunity. A new generation of voters, many of whom are young, middle-class, and digitally savvy, show a growing preference for the BJP. These voters, often influenced by social media, are less emotionally tied to Mr Patnaiks legacy. This demographic shift signals a potential erosion of the BJDs traditional voter base, which has largely remained loyal over the decades.

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Women voters, however, remain a stronghold for Mr Patnaik. His administrations initiatives on womens health and empowerment have created a loyal female electorate. This support played a crucial role in the BJDs resounding victory in the 2019 assembly poll, countering the BJPs aggressive campaign. The silent endorsement of women voters could again be a decisive factor. Despite the rising challenge, Mr Patnaiks popularity endures. His image remains relatively untarnished by corruption scandals, a rarity in Indian politics. This clean image, coupled with his track record of governance, has helped him maintain a significant portion of the electorates trust.

However, his administrations reliance on Mr V.K. Pandian, a bureaucrat-turnedpolitician, has sparked controversy. Mr Pandian has become a focal point of opposition attacks, suggesting that any potential BJD losses might be attributed more to perceptions of his influence than to Mr Patnaik himself. As Odisha prepares for the last phase of the polls on June 1 when voters in six constituencies cast ballots, the potential outcomes may well mirror those of 2019. However, the unpredictability of electoral dynamics means that a shift cannot be entirely ruled out.
My waiting period for the election results this time is limited to just 2-plus days because the polling in the constituency where I vote is set for June 1. But this time, the nations electorate as a whole has to wait anywhere from two days to six and a half weeks to find out the outcome. How excruciating is this kind of anxiety, I wonder? Well, Mother Jones editor-in-chief Clara Jeffery described the collective anxiety of the American electorate in the context of the 2020 US presidential elections by saying, The entire country is awaiting a biopsy result. Furthermore, although it takes a bit longer to count the ballots in the US, recall that no one had to wait more than six weeks for counting.

Yes, it can be stressful to wait for the results of an election, especially if you are more politically conscious than the average person. The stress or anxiety can be described in a variety of ways, though. For instance, Charlie Warzel wrote the following in a New York Times article on 2 November 2020, against the backdrop of the US presidential election, as people anxiously awaited the results: Right now you probably feel like a spring thats been tightly compressed under enormous weight. From the outside, it appears still. Inside it is coursing with intense potential (anxious!) energy just dying for release.

Lets hear it from someone who studies the psychology of waiting. She is Kate Sweeny, a psychology professor at the University of California, Riverside (UCR), in the USA. In a 2020 media interview, Professor Sweeny remarked, I joked with my friends that I wished someone would, like, knock me over the head on election morning and wake me up when the decision is made. But is everyone feeling the same level of anxiety? Perhaps not. There is some intriguing research that links anxiety to election results, mostly in an American setting. For instance, Sweenys research revealed that while many people were understandably scarred by the surprise results of the 2016 election, the 2020 contest didnt feel the same as it did four years earlier, regardless of the result. In 2016, Sweeny and her team conducted a study evaluating the anxiety levels of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trumps supporters.

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A month from Election Day, both sides were dead, even in their worry about the outcome. As Election Day drew nearer, those who were most anxious were Trump supporters. In a 2019 paper published in the journal Motivation and Emotion, Sweeny and UCR graduate student Kyle Rankin surveyed 699 Americans who voted in the 2016 US presidential election and 376 voters who voted in the 2018 midterm elections. They discovered that voters who thought the election was more significant, who were more politically involved, and who thought waiting was tough in general expressed greater concern about the outcome of the vote. Curiously, there was no discernible correlation between an individuals degree of media exposure and increased anxiety.

Sweeny examined a new, relevant group of voters of 446 people in 2020 who cast ballots in the presidential election; 242 of them supported Democrat Joe Biden, 182 supported the incumbent President Donald Trump, and 22 supported a third party. And the outcomes had been reversed. Supporters of Biden were significantly more anxious about the result than those of Trump in 2020. Nonetheless, as one might comprehend, there was a significant confounding factor in 2020. Its no secret that many Americans were additionally tense during the 2020 elections due to the interruptions to daily living caused by the Covid-19 outbreak and worried about their future. I came across another interesting analysis regarding the US presidential elections of 2020 and 2016.

In October 2020, the American Psychological Association offered advice for managing election stress ahead of the 2020 elections. The headline of their analysis and recommendation was 2020 Presidential Election A Source Of Significant Stress For More Americans Than 2016 Presidential Race. According to a Harris Poll survey done on behalf of the American Psychological Association, more than two-thirds of American adults (68 per cent) said that the 2020 presidential election, perhaps the most divisive American election in decades, was a significant source of stress in their lives, up significantly from 52 per cent who said the same during the 2016 election.

According to the survey, the majority of respondents  76 per cent of Democrats, 67 per cent of Republicans, and 64 per cent of Independents  said that the election was a major source of stress, regardless of their political affiliation. But, again, while talking about the 2020 scenario, it is important to remember that it was a year unlike any other in recent memory. In addition to being in the midst of the pandemic of the century, Americans were also experiencing growing animosity and division throughout the presidential race. Racial unrest, an unstable economy, and climate change, which had exacerbated extensive wildfires and other natural disasters, were other factors.

As a result, Americans were experiencing mental and physical health stress due to a build-up of pressures. So, it might be difficult to enumerate the exact effect of electionrelated anxiety in 2020. However, upon examining these studies within the American context, I found myself wondering if any similar research is being conducted in India to determine which political parties supporters are experiencing higher levels of anxiety at the moment. Or any thorough investigation to comprehend peoples anxiety during the electoral process, especially during the interval between casting a ballot and waiting for the outcome. Is research also being conducted to determine the number of voters who voted in Phase 1 or 2, but would have chosen a different party had they cast their ballots later (in Phase 6 or 7, for instance)? Or someone casting a ballot at a later phase feeling that she would have voted for any other party had she voted in an earlier phase?

And is there anyone who cast a ballot in Phase 1 and doesnt feel nearly any anxiety and forgot who she voted for? How is the waiting, be it short, medium, or long? What is the situation with the candidates (who stand a chance of winning), party workers, and the common electorate  both devoted followers and swing voters? And for those who chose not to cast a ballot? How does it stand for various social groups? How is it going for both regular business people and industry titans? Regarding the stock market, what? What relevance does it have to the global community? Is Elon Musk, for example, waiting eagerly to schedule a meeting with the Prime Minister of India shortly after the election results? And are certain resort operators crossing their fingers? But for that, a close result is a must, perhaps. In general, you cant ignore the tension associated with waiting. For example, not only do students who write significant exams, but their parents and other family members also eagerly await the results.

Waiting for the EVM counts, like most other waiting scenarios, includes two uncomfortable states: powerlessness and uncertainty, although the nature and goal of the waiting may differ. These are all incredibly uncomfortable feelings. When you combine them, it feels excruciating, like youre strapped into a roller coaster that is going up a hill, and you are powerless to stop it. Simply keep your fingers crossed. (The writer is Professor of Statistics, Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata.)
As New Delhi recorded an unprecedented temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius, it is evident that northern India is grappling with an extreme heat crisis. This situation underscores the urgency for both immediate relief measures and long-term strategies to mitigate the effects of rising temperatures, exacerbated by climate change. The heat has brought life to a standstill in parts of Delhi.

The soaring temperatures have led to severe health risks, with students fainting in schools and a scarcity of drinking water adding to the woes. These conditions are not just inconvenient but life-threatening. The government has rightly taken steps to manage water supply and curb wastage, imposing fines of Rs 2,000 on those found washing cars or wasting water. However, these measures, while necessary, are reactive rather than proactive. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has highlighted the need to verify the data from Mungeshpur in north Delhi, suggesting that there might be anomalies. Yet, even if the exact figures are contested, the broader trend is unmistakable.

Delhi, along with other parts of north India, is experiencing unprecedented heat levels that demand a comprehensive response. Climate experts have pointed to the unusual transition from El Nino to La Nina as a factor contributing to the prolonged heat. This shift has disrupted typical weather patterns, preventing the influx of moisture-laden winds that could alleviate the heat. However, attributing the crisis solely to natural phenomena overlooks the significant role of humandriven climate change. Rapid urbanisation and industrial activities in Delhi and other parts of India have undoubtedly contributed to the escalating temperatures.

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In the short term, there is an urgent need to protect vulnerable populations, particularly children, the elderly, and those without access to adequate shelter. Ensuring that schools are equipped with functioning fans and, where possible, desert coolers, can mitigate the immediate impacts on students. The closure of schools in Bihar until June 8 is a prudent step that should be considered by other states facing similar conditions. Long-term solutions must address the root causes of climate change. This includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions through stringent regulations on industries and promoting the use of renewable energy sources. Urban planning must also prioritise green spaces, which can help moderate urban temperatures and provide respite from the heat. Moreover, public awareness campaigns are crucial in educating citizens about the dangers of heat waves and the importance of water conservation.

Community initiatives, such as distributing free cold drinks, as seen in parts of Delhi, should be encouraged and supported by local authorities. The recent contrast in weather conditions within India ~ extreme heat in the north and heavy rains in the east and northeast ~ highlights the complex challenges posed by climate change. While parts of Rajasthan face temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius, states like Mizoram and Assam are dealing with floods and landslides. This dichotomy underscores the need for adaptive strategies tailored to diverse regional climates.
The stage is ready for the seventh phase of the general election tomorrow.

The election will start at 7 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. Election will be held in nine seats tomorrow. They are Dum Dum, Barasat, Basirhat, Jadavpur, Joynagar, Mathurapur, Diamond Harbour, Kolkata South and Kolkata North.

A total of 967 companies of Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) along with 33,292 state police personnel would be on duty tomorrow.

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The first phase of the election was held on 19 April. The other days of election were 26 April, 7 May,13 May, 20 May and 25 May.

All the political parties had organized public meetings and roadshows. Prime minister Narendra Modi, Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee were the key campaigners. Trinamul Congress and BJP had engaged star campaigners to canvas for their party colleagues.

Election Commission of India (ECI) has taken elaborate measures to ensure a free and fair election in the last phase tomorrow.

About 1,63,40.345 voters will exercise their franchise at 17,470 polling stations in the state tomorrow.

The Election Commission today asked the presiding officers at every polling station to do webcasting, and if any glitch is detected, then polling in that booth will be suspended till it is put back in service.

Moreover, the video camera put up at every polling station should be working uninterruptedly. If it is found to be malfunctioning, the concerned presiding officer would be held up. A departmental proceeding would also follow in that case.

The poll panel in a directive also made it clear that teachers of any government and government-aided schools, permanent or contractual, are strictly barred from being counting agents of any candidates.

Meanwhile, the Election Commission has raised the number of Quick Response Team (QRT) to a total of 1,958 in the nine LS constituencies going to polls tomorrow.

Of which, 600 QRT have been deployed alone in the city and close surveillance would be maintained from the rooftop of at least 72 high rises by the central force and the city police.

Keeping an eye on the alleged volatility of the situation at Basirhat police district, particularly at Sandeshkhali, Election commission has provided more thrust on the security arrangement in both the Basirhat district and Baruipur district as well.

While at Basirhat district, the poll panel had identified 58.23 per cent of the total of 1,882 polling stations critical or sensitive.

At Basirhat only, about 116 companies of central forces of the total 967 companies have been deployed, while at Baruipur district police 140 companies along with 4,368 state police have been deployed.

The election commission has also sent six senior ranking police officers at Basirhat to oversee the security on the polling day.
South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday said that the country will push for a space project to send a space exploration vehicle to the Moon by 2032 and plant a national flag on Mars by 2045.

Yoon unveiled the plan to invest 100 trillion won ($72.5 billion) by 2045 during the opening ceremony of the nations new space agency, the Korea AeroSpace Administration (KASA), in Sacheon, about 300 km from Seoul, Yonhap news agency reported.

We will land our space exploration vehicle on the Moon in 2032 and plant the Taegeukgi on Mars in 2045, Yoon said in his opening remarks, referring to the name of the national flag.

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Yoon pledged to increase the budget and investment in the space and aerospace industries to enhance their competitiveness.

We will expand the related budget to over 1.5 trillion won by 2027 and attract about 100 trillion won in investment by 2045, he said.

The government will also designate May 27, the establishment of KASA, as Space Aerospace Day to raise awareness of space exploration, he said.

In the face of an intensifying global space race, Yoon underscored the importance of playing a leading role in setting standards in space and related industries.

Last year, South Korea successfully completed the third launch of the 200-ton Nuri, also known as KSLV-II, putting eight practical satellites into orbit.

It has also sent two military reconnaissance satellites carried by the SpaceX rocket into orbit in December and April, respectively, to better monitor North Korea.

South Korea plans to acquire five spy satellites by 2025 and plans to acquire around 60 small and micro-sized spy satellites by 2030, which would enable the military to monitor the Korean Peninsula every 30 minutes or less.

The smaller satellites are expected to be launched on a homegrown solid-fuel space rocket currently under development. In December, the military conducted the third flight test of a solid-fuel space rocket.


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The Indonesian Competition Commission (KPPU) has reportedly ruled that Starlinks aggressive discounts on its VSAT terminal kits and subscriptions do not amount to predatory pricing.

According to government news agency Antara, Starlink  which officially began offering LEO satellite bradband services in Indonesia on May 19  has been offering a 40% discount on its VSAT devices in Indonesia until June 10. The devices, which normally retail at IDR7.8 million (US$480), are being offered at IDR4.68 million.

The KPPU has been fielding allegations that this constitutes predatory pricing and unfair competition. According to media reports, the Indonesia Satellite Association (ISSA) has complained that Starlinks VSAT pricing is negatively impacting players in both the enterprise and retail VSAT segments.

ISSA also claims Starlinks monthly subscription packages are predatory. A monthly subscription to Starlink starts at IDR750,000 per month. While thats more than twice the average amount Indonesians typically spend on consumer internet services, its far below unlimited VSAT service packages offered by existing players, which are in the ballpark of IDR 3.5 million, ISSA says.

However, following a closed-door focus group discussion on the matter on Wednesday, the antimonopoly watchdog said the VSAT prices were promotional, not predatory, the report said.

KPPU member Eugenia Mardanugraha told Antara that predatory pricing involves an active strategy to sell products below cost to eliminate competitors and establish a monopoly. "Predatory pricing is not just about low prices, she said.

According to Indonesian national newspaper Kompas, KPPU Commissioner Hilman Pujana said it will continue to monitor Starlinks activities in the market to ensure it plays by the rules.
Experts have revealed that the southern zone of India turns out to be the largest consumer of gold, with Kerala being the in highest position. The new CEO of the World Gold Council for India, Sachin Jain, said Kerala is where the heart of gold business lies. He also mentioned that Keralas statistics have contributed immensely to the charts of India, in a press meeting with All Kerala Gold and Silver Merchants Association.



The experts have mentioned that the first quarter of 2024 was one of the strongest quarters that the industry witnessed with 12,096 tons of gold being consumed globally. Despite the surge in price and drop in jewellery demand, the industry is flourishing with an increased demand in the technology sector. The manufacturing of new micro-processors now uses gold instead of silver, which increased the gold consumption for about 10% in the technology sector.

The Kerala gold industry focuses on purity and 100% hallmarking, thus maintaining the unanimous connection of gold to every household in Kerala. Sachin Jain has assured that the World Gold Council will provide assistance to enhance the prosperity of Keralas jewellery industry. He has also mentioned that the use of gold per person is seen to be higher in the state of Kerala.

In India, the consumption of gold for the first quarter was 8.5% higher than the consumption for the same quarter, last year. The CEO says that the investment in bars and coins has increased rapidly and it is the first time the industry is witnessing such a significant increase. Jewellery, bars and coins, central banks and technology have been the major contributors to the industry.

The resource person also shared that the industry has seen many unexpected, yet favourable outcomes. In a global point of view, the projection of consumption for the year 2024 is anywhere between 700-800 tons. The industry expects an increase in gold consumption in the coming years, along with a hike in per capita income. The biggest steps that were seen and supported by the industry were the implementation of GST and hallmarking.

Sachin Jain mentioned that it has been a fundamental change that has happened in the country. He also said that the geopolitical stance which is very fragile right now, has a direct effect on the industry. But with the existing environment, he says that it is a fertile environment for gold prices. Even with the rapidly changing lifestyle the experts have said that the demand for gold will stay the same as they aim to connect the new-age consumer to gold-emotion.
Kerala Brahmin outfit Yogakshema Sabha rubbished black magic claims of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and the latters claims were just his political gimmick.

Akeeraman Kalidasan Bhattathiripad, president of the Yogakshema Sabha, a welfare association for the Namboothiri community told OnManorama that it was Shivakumar's political gimmick. Calling the allegation baseless, Akeeraman added there was no such perversity in the Hindu society, the publication reported.

Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar claimed politicians from Karnataka are conducting a black magic ritual in Kerala to topple the Siddaramaiah-led government in the State. The deputy CM asserted that the force in which he believes will save him.

Shivakumar told presspersons that he has received credible information that Shatru Bhairavi Yaga is being performed against him, CM Siddaramiah near a temple in Kerala to topple the state government. A big experiment is going on against me in Kerala and our government. Someone has given (details) about it to me in writing, about the pooja that is going on. Someone gave me in writing as to where it is being done and who is doing it," Shivakumar said.

The Karnataka Congress chief said aghoris were consulted and pujas are being performed at a place near Rajarajeshwari temple in Kerala for Shatru Samhara (destruction of enemies). For this yaga 'Pancha Bali' (five kinds of sacrifice) is being given - 21 goats, three buffaloes, 21 black sheeps, five pigs... Aghoris are being approached. It is going on," he added.

The Congress leader, responding to a question whether BJP or JD(S) people are doing it, Shivakumar said, "I know who is doing it, who is getting it done, they are experts in it....I don't want to talk much as you (media) will take it to somewhere else. You, too, would know who it is."

"More than their yaga, I have the blessings of God and people, also my belief," Shivakumar said.

-with inputs from agencies.
Ministers of Kerala's Left Democratic Front (LDF) cabinet reacted strongly after Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar claimed that his rivals are conducting black magic in the neighbouring state to topple the Congress government.



According to DK Shivakumar, he has received credible information that a Shatru Bhairavi Yaga is being performed against him and Karnataka CM Siddaramiah near a temple in Kerala. DKS, who is also the chief of Karnataka Congress, went on to claim that aghoris were consulted and pujas are being performed at a place near Rajarajeshwari temple in Kerala for Shatru Samhara (destruction of enemies). For this yaga 'Pancha Bali' (five kinds of sacrifice) is being given - 21 goats, three buffaloes, 21 black sheep, five pigs... Aghoris are being approached. It is going on," he said

Someone has given (details) about it to me in writing, about the pooja that is going on. Someone gave me in writing as to where it is being done and who is doing it," Shivakumar added.

Meanwhile, the claims were rubbished by two members of Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan cabinet on Friday. Kerala Dewaswom Minister K Radhakrishnan vehemently rejected the Congress leader's claims. While it is highly unlikely for such an activity to take place in Kerala, the ministry will look into it without fail, Radhakrishnan said. Devaswom Ministry is responsible for the smooth operation in accordance with traditional rituals and customs.

Minister of Higher Education and Social Justice R Bindu also reacted to the allegations levelled by DKS. Seconding the Devaswom's Minister's words, the CPI(M) leader condemned the absurd allegation but added that the government will ensure such primitive practices remain unwelcome in Kerala.

"This is Kerala. I don't think such a ritual will happen here. We will ensure such activities, that can pull the land backwards, don't reach Kerala. Such things can be expected when fiction gets priority over history. Kerala's approach has been scientific and rational in perspective," Minister Bindu said.

Earlier the day, Kerala Brahmin outfit Yogakshema Sabha rubbished the claim , calling it a political gimmick.

Akeeraman Kalidasan Bhattathiripad, president of the Yogakshema Sabha, a welfare association for the Namboothiri community told OnManorama that it was Shivakumar's political gimmick. Calling the allegation baseless, Akeeraman added there was no such perversity in the Hindu society, the publication reported.
Delhi is facing an acute water crisis as desperate thousands wait for water tankers to arrive in the blazing sun, hoping to fill at least one bucket.

Several areas in Delhi, including Chanakyapuri's Sanjay Camp area and the Geeta colony area, are facing acute water shortages. Hundreds were seen lining up on footpaths to fill water from tankers. Some were seen jumping queue to get to the top of them to fill their vessel. Children, men and women were also seen climbing atop the water tanker.



"We need water, otherwise we will die. Earlier, six to seven water tankers used to come, but now there is just one, exacerbating the crisis," Deepak Srivastava, a resident of one of the affected areas in Chanakyapuri, told PTI.



Some feel the authorities aren't doing anything to help the thirsty residents but instead engaging in a political slugfest. According to a Chanakyapuri resident, the area has witnessed extreme water shortage for at least three decades.



The residents of Geeta Colony in East Delhi too have also complained that they aren't receiving sufficient water supply. "It has become a very big problem, only one tanker comes and the colony is so big. We have written two applications to the government but who listens to the poor? We have to buy the water to drink it. One bottle costs us 20 rupees," Rudal, a resident of the Geeta colony, told ANI.



She added that one tanker wasn't enough to meet the demands of the entire colony.



VIDEO | Delhi water crisis: People queued up at Delhi Jal Boards water emergency counter to book tankers amid shortage of water earlier on Thursday.



(Full video available on PTI Videos - https://t.co/n147TvqRQz) pic.twitter.com/yALl4UOIoB  Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) May 30, 2024 #WATCH | Delhi: Due to the water crisis, people are facing problems in many areas of Delhi. Water is being supplied to the people through tankers.



(Visuals from Chanakyapuri's Sanjay Camp area) pic.twitter.com/5HgqL7tj5O  ANI (@ANI) May 31, 2024

Videos doing rounds on Twitter also showed the mad scramble for water as tankers arrived. Some videos showed people running after water tankers with containers while youngsters climbed atop the vehicles with water pipes.



Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has appealed to BJP to "shun politics" and help the state government address the issue.



"In this scorching heat, the water demand has increased a lot. And the water that Delhi used to get from the neighbouring states has also been reduced. That means the demand has increased a lot and the supply has reduced. We all have to solve this together," Kejriwal wrote in a post on X.



"I see that BJP colleagues are protesting against us. This will not solve the problem. I request everyone with folded hands that instead of doing politics at this time, let us come together and provide relief to the people of Delhi. If the BJP talks to its governments in Haryana and UP and gets some water for Delhi for a month, then the people of Delhi will greatly appreciate this step of the BJP. Such scorching heat is not in anyone's control. But if we all work together, can we provide relief," he said.



This came as Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva hit out at Kejriwal alleging he was not bothered about residents facing acute shortage of water and instead was busy campaigning in Punjab for election.


Telangana's ruling Congress party waded into choppy waters by wanting to change the existing state emblem. The attempt has invited opposition from not just political corners but also from a section of minorities.



Telangana's existing state emblem, formalised by the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), featured images of the Charminar and an arch popularized by the Kakatiya rulers, aiming to showcase the history and composite culture of Hyderabad and Telangana. However, the Revanth Reddy government, which entered office in December, has labelled the design a symbol of monarchy. The Congress wants to come up with an emblem that will represent the spirit of the Telangana struggle and martyrdom.

The controversy erupted at a time when Congress was trying to get closer to the minorities. The main opposition party, BRS, seized the moment and amplified its protest by taking to the streets of Hyderabads old city. BRS working president and former IT minister, KT Rama Rao, staged a protest near Charminar. This move is seen as a strategic one aimed at winning back the favor of the minorities, who had solidly rallied behind the party for years but have recently been drifting towards the Congress, as inferred from the last Assembly elections.

AIMIM party leader and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi also demanded that the Congress government retain the image of Charminar in the states emblem. On social media, many users have expressed their displeasure over the government move.

A Twitter user named Khanzada tweeted to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Feeling very sad and disrespected after removing Charminar from state emblem, never expected this from secular Congress govt to whom 91% Muslims voted in the state, such a disgrace to people of Telangana Rahul Gandhi ji plz add Charminar in state emblem

The Congress party was forced to backtrack after many also objected to the proposed omission of the arch symbolizing Kakatiya rulers' architecture. The party has now postponed the unveiling of the new emblem as the issue is gaining momentum and is working against it.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said he will return to jail on June 2 as the interim bail granted by the Supreme Court till June 1 ends. Kejriwal, in an emotional message posted on X, said he is going to prison to save the country from dictatorship.

Asserting that he will not bow down even if he is harassed in jail, Kejriwal said his spirits are high. "Tomorrow the 21 days are getting over, the day after tomorrow I have to surrender. I dont know how long they will keep me in jail this time. But my spirits are high. I am going to jail to save the country from dictatorship. I am proud of this. They tried to break me many times, tried to make me bow down but I didnt," he said.



Kejriwal was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court till June 1 for Lok Sabha election campaigning. After being released from jail, Kejriwal campaigned in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Delhi and Maharashtra.



"They tried to break me. They stopped my medicines while I was in jail. My weight reduced by six kg after being arrested. My weight was 70 kg when I was arrested. I have not gained weight after coming out of jail," Kejriwal said, adding that doctors have advised several tests and "they feel this could be a sign of some underlying medical condition".



The chief minister said he will leave his residence around 3 pm on Sunday to surrender at Tihar jail.



"After going back to jail, I will be worried about you (people). I want to assure you that your services won't stop. I will soon start providing Rs 1,000 to my mothers and sisters," he said, referring to a scheme to give Rs 1,000 monthly honorarium.



All your work will continue, wherever I live, inside or outside, I will not let the work of Delhi stop. Your free electricity, mohalla clinics, hospitals, free medicines, treatment, free bus travel for women, 24-hour electricity and all other work will continue"



He also urged the people to pray for his ailing parents. "Today I am asking something from you for my family. My parents are very old. My mother is very ill. I worry a lot about them in jail. Take care of my parents after me, pray for them, pray to God. Prayer has great power," he said.



"We are all fighting against dictatorship together. Do not be sad even if something happens. I am alive today because of your prayers. Your blessings will protect me in future too. In the end, I would just like to say, if God wishes, this son of yours will come back very soon, the Delhi CM added.


On the eve of the last phase of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) locked horns over acute water shortage in Delhi at a time when the city is grappling with an intense heatwave, with maximum temperature hovering around 50 degrees Celsius for the past few days.

The AAP government accused Haryana of not releasing adequate water causing the water levels to dip. On Thursday Delhi minister Atishi wrote a letter to Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighting the alarming decrease in water levels at the Wazirabad barrage due to Haryana's failure to release the required quantity into the Yamuna river.

Delhi BJP leaders and workers who staged a protest from Shahidi Park up to the central secretariat over the water scarcity in the capital rubbished the allegations. Blaming the AAP government for the water crisis, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva claimed that Haryana is supplying more water to the city than agreed upon.

Just a few days ago officials from the Delhi government returned satisfied with the water levels. The question arises, what is the reason for the supply crisis in Delhi when it is receiving more water than promised? Water is being wasted and stolen and the Delhi government has completely failed to stop this wastage and theft, Sachdeva alleged while accusing the AAP of colluding with the tanker mafia.

In response, Delhi minister Atishi appealed to the BJP to refrain from doing politics on the issue and instead urged its governments in Haryana and Uttar Pradesh to release additional water until the monsoon to alleviate the severe water crisis gripping the national capital.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal earlier in the day expressed similar sentiments, emphasising the need for constructive cooperation rather than politicising the issue. I request everyone with folded hands that instead of doing politics at this time, let us together provide relief to the people of Delhi, Kejriwal said on X.

During a virtual press conference, Atishi criticised the BJP for staging a protest outside the Delhi Secretariat amidst the severe heatwave and water shortages plaguing the city and accused the saffron party of engaging in dirty politics at a time when unity and collaboration are crucial.

The Delhi government on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking the supply of additional water from Haryana to the crisis-hit national capital. The AAP government stated in the petition that the water demand in the city has risen significantly due to heatwave conditions and it is the responsibility of all to work towards fulfilling the water needs of Delhi.

Meanwhile, Delhi LG V.K. Saxena accused the AAP government of blaming other states for its alleged failures. From the last few days, we can see the irresponsible attitude of the Delhi government towards the water crisis in Delhi. Today in Delhi, people are seen risking their lives and running behind tankers to get water. But the government is blaming other states for its failures. The Chief Minister's promise of 24-hour water supply in Delhi has so far proved to be a trick. Haryana and Uttar Pradesh are continuously supplying their fixed quota of water to Delhi, Saxena was quoted as saying.
Flight operations at the Srinagar International Airport had to be halted for an hour on Friday after a bomb threat as the authorities took preventive measures, officials said.



The Air Traffic Control (ATC) at the Srinagar Airport received a bomb threat on an Air Vistara flight from New Delhi, prompting a response from the authorities, including the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is responsible for the security at the airport, the officials said.

They said a threat call was made to the airport around noon about the flight, which had 178 passengers onboard. Immediately after the flight landed at the airport, it was directed towards an isolation bay and the passengers and the crew were evacuated, they added.

A thorough search of the plane was carried out and bomb disposal squads and sniffer dogs were also deployed to check any suspicious items, they said. After an exhaustive search, no explosives were found on the plane, they added.

Flight operations, which had to be halted for about an hour, resumed later, the officials said. Officials added investigations on the origin of the threat call have been initiated.
Now and then, whenever Chinas cutting-edge J20 mighty dragon fighter aircraft operates near the Indian borders, much hype follows.



The latest buzz has come about after a few satellite images captured by All Source Analysis showed at least half a dozen J-20 fighter jets being parked at the Shigatse air base, about 150km away from the Sikkim border.

First tested in 2011, the J-20 has evolved much. With the J-20 technology being constantly upgraded, the motive of the latest development could be to test the new technology of the aircraft to operate in high altitude zones.

While the Russian Saturn AL-31 aero engine was the first one used on the fighter, it was replaced with the locally-developed Shenyang WS-10 Taihang aero engine before being fitted with the WS-15 in 2023, which is a further upgrade.

A China state-owned media outlet quoted Li Gang, a J-20 ace test pilot, on Wednesday: The J-20 is constantly improving, keeping pace with the times, and continuously perfecting its mission system to achieve its expected combat objectives.

Along with the air bases in Lhunze and Burang, the Shigatse base is among the recent infrastructural development projects taken up by the Tibet Civil Aviation Administration. But the fact remains that all Chinese air bases have both civilian and military facilities.

The Shigatse air base is closest to the Doklam plateau, near the tri-junction between Indias Sikkim, Bhutan and southern Tibet. Doklam was the site of the 73-day standoff between Indian and Chinese soldiers in 2017.

The Lhunze base is just across the border from Arunachal Pradeshs Upper Subansiri district while the Burang base is located in the tri-junction in Chinas Tibet, bordering Nepal and Pithoragarh in Indias Uttarakhand.

Several J-20 fighters had landed in the Hotan air base in August 2020, less than two months after the Galwan clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers on June 15, 2020, where at least 20 lives were lost while about 76 were injured.

Situated in southwestern Xinjiang, Hotan is about 130km away from the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

From the Chinese military standpoint, these three bases are critical as they can act as launch bases for support of troops and supplies that can be a challenge in the high-altitude Tibetan region.

It is another challenge for aircraft to take off from the 4km high Tibetan plateau as the air is rarified and aircraft cannot acquire full thrust, as a result of which there is a limit to the payload that they can carry.

The J-20 is a much-hyped fighter aircraft of the Chinese Air Force reportedly under mass production now. What gives the J-20 a larger-than-life image is its stealth capability besides being much faster, more manoeuvrable and its better avionics than the older generations.

The J-20 is the worlds third stealth fighter aircraft to be deployed after the F-22A Raptor and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, both of which are with the US military.
Political pundits will admit that Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janta Dal supremo Naveen Patnaik, 77, faced the most aggressive challenge of his 27-year-old political career from Bharatiya Janta Party this time. Led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who on February 3 called CM Patnaik Param Mitra (dearest friend), made four trips during four phases of the election to lead campaigns.



Earlier, Prime Minister Modi had said he prioritized the development of Odisha over maintaining amicable ties with Naveen Patnaik. In an interview with ANI, he had said, If I had to sacrifice my relations, I will do that for Odishas bright future. Here is the question whether I should bother about maintaining my relations or should I think about Odishas fate."

That the onslaught by BJP was such that it unleashed an army of central ministers and party heavyweights including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari S.Jayashankar, Smruti Irani, Assam Chief Ministers Himanta Biswa party chief J P Nadda to take Patnaik head-on.

Naveen Patnaik, meanwhile, conducted himself in his usual western liberal lingo and countered Modi and co with a befitting grace. The Prime Minister, in his last phase of campaign, expressed concern about Patnaiks deteriorating health after a viral clip showed his hand trembling. Modi announced that after the BJP comes to power in the state, a special committee would be formed to probe what led to the sudden deterioration of Patnaik's health. The Chief Minister immediately reacted by saying, "If PM is so concerned about my health after having stated publicly that I am a good friend of his, all he had to do was to pick up the telephone and ring me to enquire about my health. I understand a number of people in BJP in Odisha and Delhi have been spreading rumours about my health for the last ten years. Let me assure PM that I am in perfect health and I have been campaigning in the state since last month. If he were to form a committee, I suggest he form a committee to look into people who are spreading such rumours."

Talks bout BJD supporting the Modi government at the national level on major issues and supporting union Railway Minister Aswini Vaishnavs Rajya Sabha nomination repeatedly for two terms and pre-poll alliance speculation went into the wind after Modi announced during his election campaign that BJD will be out of power and first BJP Chief Minister will take oath on June 10. Modi went on to add that Patnaik cannot name the capitals of Odishas districts without seeing papers.

CM Patnaiks close aide and former bureaucrat Mr V.K.Pandian, who has become BJD's star campaigner, has said that Patnaik will take oath as Chief Minister for the sixth time on June 9. He added that BJD has already got the required number of assembly seats to form the government from the first three phases of polls.

While Prime Minister and BJP leaders raised the bogey of missing keys of Puri Jagannath Temples Ratna Bhandar, it was also aimed towards Pandian. Though the Chief Minister has campaigned all over the state, Pandian attended more election rallies than him. So, the BJP broadly wanted to place a narrative that the Chief Ministers health was failing and Pandian was trying to take over.

Starting from Modi, BJP leaders spoke about Odisha Asmita (pride) which broadly meant a non-Odia is trying to succeed Naveen Patnaik. That way BJP tried to create a feeling and placed itself as the perfect alternative. However, Pandian in the last month countered all allegations of BJP leaders including that of the Prime Minister through statements, public speeches and media interviews in Odia. He went to the extent of placing Odisha above Gujrat(Modis state) in many development parameters through official data.

Just before the last phase of polling Chief Minister told news agency ANI that Pandian is not his successor and that the people of Odisha will make the decision of picking his heir. The timing of Patnaiks clarification is crucial. It may be meant to address anti-Pandian feelings prevalent among some sections of voters before the last phase of polling in coastal and north Odisha.

On Pandian taking decisions on his behalf, the Chief Minister said, "this is ridiculous. I have said it often before. This is an old allegation. It holds no weight." On grooming Pandian politically, the Chief Minister said, "I cannot understand these exaggerations. You may have noticed that he is not even standing for election."

But Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarna immediately took to X and questioned Naveens interview with ANI. "Naveen Babu was unable to answer why Pandian was the only person to be seen with him, either holding his mike or controlling his hands." Assam CM further wrote that "Naveen Babus successor is immaterial as Pandian already has a firm back door entry in running the administration. He has pervasive control over the Chief Minister", the Assam CM claimed.

The rivalry between BJD and BJP were seen on different fronts. On BJPs allegation of interference in the election process, the Election Commission of India suspended Mr D.S.Kuttey, IPS, Special Secretary to Chief Minister and fixed his headquarters at the office of Resident Commissioner, Govt Of Odisha, New Delhi. It ordered a medical test of another IPS officer Asis Singh who is on leave.

The Commission had transferred Sujata Kartikayan IAS from the post of Mission Shakti secretary. Pandian said it was unfortunate that ECI has taken action against such outstanding officers.

Chief Minister in his interview with ANI adopted a cautious stance on potential support for the NDA, indicating a willingness to evaluate the situation when needed. Patnaik said the comments from the BJP showed their popularity was on the wane. "I see that they are getting more and more desperate particularly as their popularity is waning in the country."

Chief Minister has strongly condemned the rude behaviour of the political leaders coming to the state from outside. In a video statement, he said that opposition leaders are disrespecting him with abusive language. They are making harsh personal attacks, he said adding that the people of Odisha will give them a befitting reply. He said while he never disrespects anyone, outside leaders have ironically come and spoken harshly against him.

Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in his last leg of electioneering repeated that the BJD and BJP are in no real fight. Rahuls remark came a day after Congress President Mallikarjun Kharges comment that BJD and BJP marriage has ended in divorce. Rahul claimed that Naveen and Modi are partners and both share common ideologies.

Odisha elections: Phase four

In the fourth phase on Saturday, polling is to be held for six Lok Sabha seats of Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Balasore and Mayurbhanj and 42 assembly segments in these areas. In 2019, BJD had won 12 Lok Sabha seats and 112 assembly seats in the state out of 21 and 147 respectively.
The Delhi Court on Friday dismissed a PIL filed against a few media houses for disclosing Aam Aadmi Partys Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal in connection with her alleged assault case.



Hearing the plea, a division bench of acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Manmeet Pritam Singh Arora of Delhi High Court rejected the plea saying it had political colour the AAP MP herself was going to the media, talking about the case.

It is very clear that your vision is coloured and blurred. You are not talking about victim shaming... There is a political hue in this petition. It is very very apparent. You have done this only for publicity, the bench observed dismissing the plea, Bar and Bench reported. I want to ask the Bar Association, what are the lawyers doing today? Not fair what you are doing today, the bench said. The petition was filed by advocate Sanser Pal Singh.

The bench asked if the victim is going to television channels and talking about, who the petitioner is to file a public interest litigation.

The petition said outraging the modesty of a woman is also a sexual offence and in such a case, name of the victim along with the entire facts of the case should not be revealed, published or aired.

Rajya Sabha MP Maliwal has alleged that Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals aide Bhibhav Kumar assaulted her at the chief minister's official residence on May 13. Kumar was arrested on May 18 and he was recently remanded to judicial custody.

-with inputs from agencies.
Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna arrived at Bengaluru airport in the early hours of Friday, 34 days after he fled to Germany. The MP, who is facing allegations of sexually assaulting several women, was arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case, soon after he landed.

He was taken to the CID office for interrogation. He would be taken for a medical examination on Friday before being produced in front of a court.

The 33-year-old MP landed at the Kempegowda International Airport from Munich on a Lufthansa flight around 12:30 am. Clad in a hoodie, the MP walked directly into the CISF custody. He was soon handed over to the SIT which formally arrested him. A large number of policemen were deployed at the airport to ensure he was taken safely for investigation.

The police then escorted him through a different exit, keeping in mind his security. The SIT team also confiscated two of his check-in bags and took them away in separate cars. He was then taken to the SIT office in Bengaluru under tight security.

The MP had released a video stating he would appear before the SIT on May 31. In the video, the MP termed the cases against him as false and alleging political conspiracy. He added that he had gone into depression.

Also read: Prajwal Revanna says he will appear before SIT on May 21 in sex videos case

Karnataka | Suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna, who is facing sexual abuse charges was arrested by SIT at Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport.



(Screengrabs from a viral video) pic.twitter.com/A8KcRjtoLu  ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2024

Revanna had left the country on April 27, just after pen drives containing obscene videos of him sexually abusing women went viral. He has been so far booked in three cases of sexual assault.

A controversy erupted after Congress alleged the BJP and JD(S) allowed him to flee the country. A 'Blue Corner Notice' seeking information on his whereabouts has been issued by Interpol earlier, following a request by the SIT via the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

A Special Court for Elected Representatives issued an arrest warrant on May 18 against Prajwal Revanna, following an application moved by the SIT. The Congress-led Karnataka government has urged the Centre to cancel his diplomatic passport.

He had also filed an anticipatory bail plea at the Principal City and Sessions Court for Elected Representatives on May 29, which issued a notice to the SIT to file objections, before posting the hearing for Friday.
As suspended JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna, accused of sexually abusing several women, landed at the Bengaluru airport on Friday, a posse of women cops, led by women IPS officers, were waiting to execute the arrest warrant against him.

The cases of Prajwal Revanna sexual abuse came to light after a number of pen drives allegedly containing explicit videos involving the Hassan MP were reportedly circulated in the district, ahead of Lok Sabha polls there on April 26. The MP left the country for Germany a day after Hassan went to polls.

According to sources in the Special Investigation Team (SIT), as soon as Prajwal Revanna alighted from the plane from Munich in Germany to Bengauru, he was received by women in Khaki.

During the procedure of executing the arrest warrant, he was flanked by the women police who were led by two IPS officers, Suman D Pennekar and Seema Latkar, reported news agency PTI.

Prajwal Revanna was then taken to the CID office in a police jeep which only had women police.

"It was a conscious call to send all women officers to arrest Prajwal, sending home a message that the JD(S) leader exploited his seat and power as an MP with women. The same women have authority to arrest him through all legal proceedings," PTI quoted a source in SIT as saying.

According to the SIT source4, this was also a symbolic message to the victims that women officers were not afraid of anyone.
In the latest development in the Pune Porsche car accident case, two friends of the 17-year-old, accused, have told the police that he was drunk at the time of the accident, reported NDTV citing sources.

The two friends were in the passenger seat when the accident took place on March 19. Two IT professionals from Madhya Pradesh-- Aneesh Awadhiya and Ashwini Koshta--were flung into the air as an impact of the accident 'caused' by the accused minor.

According to witnesses, the car was travelling at 200 km per hour when it hit the bike carrying the deceased.

The CCTV footage from a city bar showed the accused drinking along with his friends. The police had questioned the bar owner and the staff were arrested for serving liquor to a minor.

The police had also arrested the father and the grandfather of the boy in connection with manipulation. The local court in Pune on Friday remanded the father and grandfather for 14 days in judicial custody over their roles in the alleged kidnapping and wrongful confinement of their driver.

The father-son duo allegedly threatened the driver to take the blame for the accident. They allegedly kidnapped him and illegally confined him to their house. The driver was also in the car when the accident took place.

Also, two cops were suspended after lapses were found in the initial investigation. When questions about the boys alcohol level were raised, lapses were found on the part of the arresting cops. The cops did not take the teen for an immediate blood test.

Meanwhile, allegations of doctors and staff manipulating the tests by altering the samples were also raised. Police have arrested Dr Ajay Taware, then head of the department of forensic medicine at Sassoon Hospital, medical officer Dr Shrihari Halnor and employee Atul Ghatkamble for allegedly manipulating the minor's blood samples.

The juvenile has been sent to an observation home till June 5. Pune police have sought the Juvenile Justice Board's permission to probe the minor. We have written to the JJ Board and sought their permission to allow us to probe the minor in the case, said Shailesh Balkawade, additional commissioner of police (crime).

According to the Juvenile Justice Act, the inquiry of a minor is to be conducted in the presence of parents.
Hassan MP Prajwal Revanna (33) accused of sexually abusing several women was on Friday sent to six-day police custody.

The suspended JDS MP, also the NDA candidate from Hassan, had gone absconding soon after the polling on April 26, after pen drives carrying sleazy video footage allegedly involving him surfaced a few days prior to the polling.

Prajwal, grandson of former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda, who is believed to have flown to Germany on a diplomatic passport landed in Bengaluru on Thursday post-midnight in a Lufthansa flight from Munich. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the pendrive case detained him at the Kempegowda International Airport on his arrival. The MP who spent the night at the SIT office was taken to the Bowring and Lady Curzon hospital the next morning for a medical examination.

The SIT on Friday morning produced the accused before the 42nd ACMM court (Special Court meant to try criminal cases related to the elected representatives) in the rape and sexual assault case filed by a former domestic help at the Revanna family in Hassan. In her complaint filed at Holenarsipura (Hassan) town police station on April 28, the former domestic help had alleged that both Prajwal and his MLA father H.D. Revanna had sexually assaulted her. While Prajwal was sent to six-day police custody, his father Revanna is out on bail in a kidnap case involving another farmhouse worker.

On May 4, the SIT arrested Revanna (66) after his bail plea was rejected by the special court in the kidnap case. The son of a farmhouse worker in KR Nagar had filed a police complaint stating that his mother had been kidnapped by the Revanna family after video footage of his mother being sexually assaulted by Prajwal had gone viral. Revanna who spent six days in jail was given conditional bail.

The former minister has appealed to the High Court to quash the FIR (in the kidnap case), while SIT has appealed for revoking the bail granted to Revanna. The court which met on Friday, adjourned the hearing in the case till June 3. Meanwhile, the special court on Friday rejected the bail plea of Bhavani Revanna, mother of Prajwal, who is also an accused in the kidnap case.

The former chief minister and JDS state president H.D. Kumaraswamy, who is the uncle of Prajwal, has appealed to Prajwal to return to India and face the probe, chose to stay away from Bengaluru when Prajwal finally landed in Bengaluru 34 days after he had gone absconding. Kumaraswamy, along with his wife, actor son Nikhil and his wife Revathy and grandson shared videos of his family chilling at a resort in Nagarhole National Park.

JDS patriarch H.D. Deve Gowda and his wife Chennamma visited the Lakshmi Venkatramana temple. Revanna was on a temple run and was spotted praying at Anjaneya temple in the city, while his wife Bhavani has not been seen publicly for a fortnight.

BJP leader and former CM Basavaraj Bommai demanded that the SIT should also investigate who circulated the pendrive video as it was also a very serious offence.
The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday shared visuals of Prime Minister Narendra Modis spiritual sojourn at Vivekananda Rock Memorial in Kanyakumari. Modi reached the southern tip of the country on Thursday afternoon to meditate for 45 hours at the Vivekananda memorial.

With captions Indias sunrise, When spirituality is your strength and Faith meets worship..., the BJP shared images of the prime minister meditating and offering prayers at Dhyan Mandapam in the memorial, the place where Swami Vivekananda meditated.

Modi reached the coastal town on Thursday afternoon and visited the Bhagavathi Amman temple before taking a ferry to reach the rock memorial to start the meditation. On reaching the memorial, Modi showered flowers on the portraits of Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, mother Sri Sarada Devi and also paid floral tributes to Swami Vivekananda, whose life-size statue on a high pedestal adores the mandapam. He later commenced the sadhana (spiritual practice) in the mandapam.

Glimpses from NaMo meditating at the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/dcFLGhL5p8  BJP (@BJP4India) May 31, 2024

Before he embarked on the dhyan exercise, for a while, Modi stood on the stairs leading to the mandapam that offers breathtaking views of the sea that surrounds the memorial from all sides.
Russia did use North Korean missiles in Ukraine, according to a report by a Pentagon intelligence agency. A report by the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) said the analysis of debris imagery confirmed that Kremlin had been using ballistic missiles and artillery rounds made in North Korea in Ukrainian territory.

The report reasserts US findings that Russia received ammunition from North Korea after the country's leader Kim Jong Un, met Russian President Vladimir Putin last September.



The DIA report showed different aspects of North Korean solid-propellant short-range ballistic missiles in the missile debris found in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, according to Reuters. The wreckage was compared with the images published by North Korean state media.



"Analysis confirms that Russia used ballistic missiles produced in North Korea in its war against Ukraine. North Korean missile debris was found throughout Ukraine," the DIA said in a statement accompanying the release of an unclassified summary of the report.



Not just the US, but even Ukrainian state prosecutors have said that they examined debris from 21 of around 50 North Korean ballistic missiles launched by Russia between late December and late February. The Ukrainian military says the North Korean missiles have killed at least 24 people and injured more than 70.



According to Conflict Armament Research (CAR), an organisation that retrieves weapons used in the Ukraine war, the wreckage of a missile that landed in Ukraine, estimated to be made in Korea, revealed the latest foreign technology. While most of the electronic parts had been manufactured in the US and Europe over the past few years, it also had a US computer chip made as recently as March 2023. This showed that the country, despite all the sanctions imposed on it, had been procuring vital weapon components illegally.



However, Russia and North Korea have denied arms deals, which would violate U.N. embargoes on Pyongyang, but have vowed to deepen cooperation in all sectors.

This comes as North Korea said on Friday it had fired 18 short-range ballistic missiles during a drill, which South Korea said was a possible display for would-be weapons buyers, including Russia. Photos released by state media showed Kim watching from a distance at least 18 projectiles soaring after being fired from launch trucks.



However, Pyongyang claimed the drill was a demonstration of its willingness to launch a pre-emptive strike against South Korea's "gangsters' regime" if necessary to counter an attack.



Experts say North Korea's large-sized artillery rockets blur the boundaries between artillery systems and short-range ballistic missiles because they can create their thrust and are guided during delivery.


A jury composed of 12 Manhattan residents found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felonies in the hush money case on Thursday. The conviction was a quick one, the jury found Trump guilty in just two days, after a trial that lasted nearly 50 days.

Justice Juan Merchan set sentencing for July 11, just days before the Republican Party is scheduled to formally nominate Trump for president ahead of the November 5 election.

Meanwhile, there is intense speculation whether Trump would face prison time, now that he has been found guilty.

The hush money case involves Trump falsifying business documents to cover up the $130,000 payment made to adult movie actor Stormy Daniels to ensure her silence about an alleged sexual encounter in 2006. The payment was made during the 2016 presidential election season. Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying records to hide the payments. Each one of them carries a maximum sentence of four years and a fine of $5,000, but there is a 20-year sentencing cap in New York for such offences. The judge could also decide that the sentences could be served concurrently. And the New York penal code permits judges to impose lenient sentenceslike less than a yearfor first-time convicts in non-violent cases.

Conventional wisdom, however, suggests that Trump is unlikely to go to jail because class E felonies are the least serious category and Trump has no previous felony convictions. Moreover, he is 77, is a former president, is the presumptive Republican nominee in this year's presidential elections and the crime in question is not a violent one. An analysis of recent similar cases prosecuted by the Manhattan district attorney shows that only one in ten convicts had to serve jail time.

As the jury has given a guilty verdict, the next step would be reassessing Trump's bail conditions. Prosecuting attorneys might ask for an increased bail and/or stricter bail terms. But since Trump is not exactly a flight risk and he has already posted a $175 million bond, the presiding judge, Juan Merchan, is unlikely to change the terms.

The next stage is sentencing which nearly coincides with the Republican National Convention, where Trump would be formally anointed as the party's presidential nominee.

Merchan, the presiding judge, has the sole authority of sentencing Trump. State law gives him a fairly wide margin in deciding the punishment. He could send Trump home by considering time served, deeming that the time spent for trial in itself is the punishment. Or Merchan could opt for a conditional discharge, essentially setting Trump free and ordering him to perform some sort of community service. Another option is probation, in which case Trump will have to report to a probation officer regularly and may face jail time if he breaks any law or violates any other conditions imposed by the judge. The last option is to impose a prison sentence.

Going by Merchan's statements so far, he may not be keen to send Trump to jail, especially because of its political ramifications. "He is a candidate for the presidency of the United States. So those First Amendment rights are critically important," observed Merchan. "I also worry about the people who would have to execute that... court officers, correction officers, Secret Service detail."

During the trial, Merchan had imposed a gag order on Trump to stop him from threatening and publicly criticising witnesses and court officials. He found Trump in contempt for violating the order ten times and fined him $1,000 for each violation. Although Merchan said he would consider putting Trump in jail for the repeated violations, he chose not to follow up on the threat.

If Trump is indeed awarded a prison sentence, he will certainly appeal the verdict, and the process could take months or even years, till all possible options are exhausted. He would have 30 days to file a notice of appeal and then six months to file a full appeal. Trump's first stop would be the appellate division in Manhattan and if the guilty verdict is upheld, he can approach the court of appeals in Albany. The seven-member body is the highest appellate court in New York, which also has the discretion over whether to admit the appeal or not.

If the court of appeals upholds the verdict, Trump is likely to approach the Supreme Court. But since the case deals with a state issue, Trump will have to convince the apex court that there has been some federal or constitutional violation for the court to admit the appeal. On the practical side, this means that it could take a long time before Trump actually sees the inside of a New York jail. However, if the conviction stands, Trump will not be able to pardon himself as this is a state crime and only the governor of New York has the power to issue a pardon.

If Trump receives a sentence of one year or less, he would be sent to the infamous Rikers Island, home to the Department of Correction's seven jails. And, he would be eligible for parole after serving two-thirds of his sentence. But if the sentence is for more than a year, the New York Department of Corrections would choose from one of its 44 prisons to house the former president.

Trump would continue to enjoy Secret Service protection even when he is in jail as the agency is mandated to protect the former president round the clock. Trump will have to be kept away from other inmates and his food and other personal items will have to be monitored and tested all the time. According to a New York Times report, a detail of Secret Service agents would work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, rotating in and out of the facility.... While firearms are obviously strictly prohibited in prisons, the agents would nonetheless be armed.

Interestingly, Trump can run for president even if he is lodged inside a New York prison. That is because nothing in the US Constitution prevents a convicted or incarcerated person from running for the highest office if he is a natural-born citizen who is at least 35 years old and has lived in the US for at least 14 years. He could still run and win even if he is in jail. But what happens next will be interesting, for instance, how Trump will take oath as president and discharge his official duties from a prison cell. Technically, the vice president and a majority of the cabinet could invoke the 25th Amendment and transfer the presidential authority to the vice president if the president is unable to discharge his duties. But all those cabinet positions will be filled by hardcore Trump loyalists so nothing could happen without Trump's approval.

Clearly, the founding fathers never contemplated the possibility of a convicted felon running the country.
In an unfortunate incident, an unidentified man went on a stabbing spree in the central square in the southwestern German city of Mannheim on Friday. Police had shot the attacker, who was also hurt.

According to the police the violence took place after 11:30 am (0930 GMT). Several people suffered injuries in the attack. However, the specific number of those who got injured is yet to be confirmed, said the officials. Among the victims included a police officer as well.

Police in a statement said that there was no danger to the public.

An islamic terrorist in Germany just went on a stabbing rampage. A journalist and a blogger vocal about the problems of Islam were stabbed during a live streaming.



Ban Islam, NOW. pic.twitter.com/ystoaZ4qtR   SPIKE  (@IDFs_airsupport) May 31, 2024

Reportedly, the incident occurred on the sidelines of an event organised by a group known as Pax Europa. The group describes itself as an organisation that cautions the public about the dangers posed by the increasing spread and influence of political Islam.

The group added one of its anti-Islam activists, Michael Strzenberger, was also among the injured.

The motive behind the attack is still unclear. Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said that it's up to the investigation to determine a motive. In a statement, she said that if the investigation shows an Islamist motive, that would be another confirmation of the great danger from Islamist acts of violence that we have warned of.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz wrote on X that the pictures from Mannheim are terrible and that violence is absolutely unacceptable in our democracy.

The stabbings happened on the Marktplatz, a square in Mannheim's downtown area. The city of about 300,000 people is located south of Frankfurt.
Bryan Kohbergers defense says there are holes in the evidence against the murder suspect, including missing video footage and cellphone location data.

His attorney Anne Taylor filed motions to compel the prosecution to turn over certain discovery she believes could be relevant to the case. A hearing on the matter was held Thursday in Latah County District Court.

Moscow Police Department Cpl. Brett Payne and cellular data expert Sy Ray took the witness stand to face questioning from Taylor in front of District Judge John Judge.

Payne was the lead detective in the Nov. 13, 2022, quadruple murder case and wrote the probable cause affidavit leading to Kohbergers arrest warrant.

Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary in the November 2022 stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. He faces the death penalty if convicted.

Taylor asked Payne about the videos that were collected during the murder investigation, particularly along the Moscow-Pullman Highway and U.S. Highway 95. Taylor inquired about video footage from Red Start Coffee Company along Pullman Road, and Wasankari Construction on U.S. Highway 95.

Payne said thousands of hours of video footage were collected across Moscow. He could not recall specifically if videos were collected from those businesses, but he directed Taylor to the Moscow Police digital forensics office.

Latah County Deputy Prosecutor Ashley Jennings confirmed with Payne that police collected videos from stores, restaurants, gas stations and banks from all highways leading to and from Moscow. She said videos were collected from 79 businesses. Payne said all evidence collected by the Moscow Police Department has been turned over to the prosecution.

Video footage and cell tower data was used in Paynes affidavit of probable cause to detail the alleged route Kohberger took to and from the King Road crime scene. The affidavit says Kohberger appears to have traveled south on U.S. 95 toward Genesee between 4:50 a.m. and 5:26 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2022. Then he allegedly traveled west toward Uniontown and back into Pullman.

Payne said he relied on FBI special agent Nick Ballance to analyze cellphone records.

When questioned, Payne said Thursday that U.S. 95 was a route Kohberger could have taken. He also said there are other paths he could have traveled, including Palouse River Drive, which turns into Sand Road when it crosses the Washington border.

Taylor said she has not yet been given all the relevant video footage in this case. She also complained that it would take days for her team to go through all the video evidence investigators collected, as the video is on uncategorized thumb drives.
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of spending some time at Hampi, learning about the region's ancient history and exploring the capital of the Vijayanagara Empire, the last great Hindu kingdom in history.

Situated in the Southern bank of the Tungabhadra River in the state of Karnataka, Hampis boulders welcome geologists from all parts of the world while the 14th and 15th Century monuments have been an active archaeological site since 1865. With over 1,600 structures uncovered till date, the nationally protected monuments were declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1986.

Given the monuments' cultural importance, protected status and UNESCO tag, I was rather disappointed to read about the collapse of a portion of the Virupaksha Temple. If a site of such prominence is neglected, what is the hope for the other protected monuments of India? Do these badges of honour hold no value? Besides making sensational headlines, social media news and leading to over tourism in many cases.

The issues and threats at Hampi are not new. I recall my conflicting excitement on seeing this archaeological marvel and the masses of tourists flocking and thinking good management was the need of the hour. Later I was informed that unplanned development has not only impacted the local community but also affected the Tungabhadra River, which once provided natural fortification for the Vijayanagara

kingdom. Unauthorised building, encroachment near the river, has led to excessive dumping in the river and, in turn, eutrophication, causing the loss of invaluable marine life. The polluted, dried up river is now being cleaned.

Why are we always on the defence, practising damage control measures after the damage has been done? These monstrosities seem to be happening despite there being proper guidelines in place for nationally protected monuments as well as for heritage structures that hold a UNESCO tag.

The Vitthala Temple Complex, is the most popular temple at Hampi. The complex not only welcomes pilgrims but also invites lovers of cultural heritage, architecture, history and art. The temple complex consists of one of the most majestic pieces of architecture at Hampi, a beautifully carved stone chariot.

The attraction for the stone chariot eventually led to it becoming the logo of Karnataka tourism. In an attempt to project the chariot as a tourism icon for the state and display its importance the Archaeological Survey of India, installed floodlights in the temple. This was supposedly done to enhance the beauty of the temple and attract more visitors.

However, it has led to a number of concerns by professional conservators and locals, such as the effect of the continuous heat directly and in close proximity with the stones. Historic structures as ancient as Hampis monuments require professional care and maintenance. I would assume a body such as the ASI, must have the experts required.

Several parts of Hampi are being restored by the CSR branch of Jindal Steel Works (JSW). However, private-public partnerships can only be so effective. The onus is on the Archaeological Survey of India.

One of the most advanced structures of Dravidian architecture in the complex, the Rang Mandapa (pillar) includes 56 musical pillars, which produce melodious chimes when struck on. The increase in tourists combined with the inadequate security has resulted in a large number of people coming and hitting the pillars not realising that the pillars are fragile and cannot be misused. A group of tourists who were

curious to find out the source of the sound ended up damaging two such pillars. The damage done could not be undone but it did wake up the authorities and as a result the number of tourists entering the Mandapa has been regulated.

Why were there no clear rules, regulations and guidelines in place prior to this destruction? The World Heritage tag has played an important role in attracting tourism, especially internationally, at Hampi. But sadly it seems to have no impact where proactiveness and monument conservation is concerned. The recent collapse of a part of the Virupaksha Temple is testimony to this. Which is surprising, as one of the criterias for the monument getting the tag is its exemplary temple architecture.

While restoration has been taken up in a phased manner, the authorities seem to have slept for too long before beginning this work. Badges and tags, will hold no meaning if the purpose they were given for, will soon cease to exist. It is time we took a hard look at the way we maintain our monuments and preserve the ancient temples we have instead of resurrecting new ones.
New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) Registration of properties in the Mumbai municipal region rose by 22 per cent in May to 12,000 units on higher housing demand, according to Knight Frank.

Mumbai city (area under BMC jurisdiction) recorded property registration of 12,000 units till 9.25 pm on May 31 as against 9823 units in the same month last year, Knight Frank India said in a statement quoting state government data.

Of the overall registered properties in May 2024, residential units constitute 80 per cent.
New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) The country's leading economists, including Former NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar, on Friday hailed the GDP growth rate of 8.2 per cent in FY24, which was "above all estimates and forecasts".

Kumar said this is the third year in which India has grown at over 7 per cent, outpacing all other large economies.

India's economy grew 7.8 per cent in the March quarter, pushing up the annual growth rate to 8.2 per cent, according to official data released on Friday.

"Well Done India! FY24 GDP growth comes in at 8.2 per cent well above all estimates and forecasts. This is the third year in which Indian economy has grown at 7 per cent+ outpacing all other large economies. Mfg and mining sectors recorded strong growth," Kumar said in a post on X.

India's G20 Sherpa Amitabh Kant also said India continues to reinforce its position as the fastest-growing large economy in the world.

"The latest estimates for FY24 reveal a remarkable Real GDP growth of 8.2 per cent, surpassing the 7.0 per cent growth in the previous year. This exceptional performance is a testament to India's robust economic momentum and resilience," Kant said.

Growth in the January-March period was lower than the 8.6 per cent expansion in the December quarter.

"Once again defying expectations, India's GDP for 4th quarter of fiscal year 2023-24 grew at 7.8 per cent & the real GDP growth for FY24 stands at 8.2 per cent. Highest among major economies again," Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister (EAC-PM) member Shamika Ravi said in a post on X.

The growth propelled the Indian economy to USD 3.5 trillion and set the stage for achieving the USD 5-trillion target in the next few years.

CRISIL Ltd Chief Economist Dharmakirti Joshi said, "India's growth continues to surprise on the upside. Despite a poor showing by agriculture, provisional estimates peg India's GDP growth for fiscal 2024 at 8.2 per cent. This beats the 7.6 per cent growth estimated by National Statistical Office (NSO) in February."

Industry body Assocham in a statement said the GDP growth momentum will continue in FY25 as well.

"GDP growth of 8.2 per cent for 2023-24 and 7.8 per cent in the last quarter of the fiscal has beaten even optimistic expectations, helped by a stellar performance of manufacturing, which is expected to sustain momentum in the current financial year as well," Assocham Secretary General Deepak Sood said.

Aditi Nayar, Chief Economist, Head of Research and Outreach at ICRA Ltd, said, "While the growth in India's GDP and GVA moderated to a four-quarter low of 7.8 per cent and 6.3 per cent, respectively, in Q4 FY2024 from the revised prints of 8.6 per cent and 6.8 per cent in Q3, it exceeded both our and market expectations."

The wedge between the two narrowed only slightly to 148 bps from 178 bps in Q3, amid the high 22.2 per cent growth in net indirect taxes in real terms, she said.

"With such a high growth of net indirect taxes unlikely to sustain in FY25, we expect GDP and GVA growth to print closer to each other, especially in terms of the annual numbers," Nayar said.
Bhopal, May 31 (PTI) Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Friday alleged that more than 300 nursing colleges in Madhya Pradesh were granted permission to function in return for money by the state's previous BJP government and sought a probe into these irregularities through an SIT under a sitting judge of the Hight Court.

Terming irregularities in nursing colleges and paramedical courses as "Vyapam-2" and "Vyapam-3", respectively, he also praised the Central Bureau of Investigation for taking action against its own officials.

The CBI is probing the scam pertaining to gross irregularities in the functioning of several nursing colleges that lacked infrastructure while some existed only on paper. The central agency arrested two of its officers for allegedly taking bribes from institutes to give favourable reports after inspection.

In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rajya Sabha MP Singh alleged the "scam" took place under the previous Shivraj Singh Chouhan government and then medical education minister Vishvas Sarang in connivance with health department officials.

Singh also said in the letter that the High Court ordered a CBI probe but the premier investigative agency's officials were also caught taking bribes, which had made the entire probe suspicious.

The former chief minister, while talking to reporters, termed the scam as Vyapam-2 and Vyapam-3. The Vyapam scam refers to irregularities in the admission to professional medical courses and recruitment in government services which took place several years ago. It was probed by the CBI on court orders.

In the letter, Singh alleged that, violating all norms during the COVID-19 pandemic, officials who were given protection by the ruling regime gave permission to open more than 300 nursing colleges and run paramedical courses in the state.

Singh urged the PM to set up an SIT under an HC judge and comprising honest CBI officials to probe the "scam".

Earlier in the day, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, while addressing a press conference, said his government will act as per directives of the court. He was replying to media queries on the alleged involvement of Sarang.

On Monday, the CBI had said it had arrested 13 people, including two of its own inspectors, in connection with a "nursing scam" in Madhya Pradesh, which is being probed by the central agency following a High Court order.

These accused, including CBI inspectors Rahul Raj and Sushil Kumar Majoka, three alleged touts Om Goswami, Ravi Bhadoria and Jugal Kishore as well as three women, a CBI release had stated.
Russia conducted an array of aerial attacks on Ukraine with cruise missiles, drones and ballistic missiles, Ukraines air force said Thursday, while the chief of the army said Russia is increasing its troop concentration in the Kharkiv region where Moscows forces have made significant advances in a spring offensive.

Ukraines GUR military intelligence operation said that sea drones destroyed two Russian KS-701 patrol boats in the Black Sea off the Russia-annexed Crimean Peninsula. Russian officials didnt immediately comment.

The air force said that the overnight attacks included eight S-300 ballistic missiles, 11 cruise missiles and 32 Shahed drones. All the drones and seven of the cruise missiles were shot down, the air force said, but didnt provide further details.

In Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, seven people were wounded and a municipal services building caught fire in the attacks, regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. Russian aerial strikes were also reported in Khmelnytskyi and Dnipropetrovsk, but there were no injuries.

Ukrainian army chief Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi said on his Facebook page on Thursday that Russia is bringing army units into the Kharkiv region from other parts of Ukraine to supplement forces in the two main flashpoints of fighting, the towns of Vovchansk and Lyptsi. Syrskyi said that Ukraine has also moved reserve troops into the area.

Russias Defense Ministry said that its air defenses shot down eight U.S.-made ATACMS missiles over the Azov Sea, which borders both Russia and Russia-held Ukrainian territory.

One person was wounded by a drone explosion in Russias Belgorod region, which borders Kharkiv and comes under daily attack from the Ukrainian side.

A lengthy delay in U.S. military aid and Western Europes inadequate military production has slowed crucial deliveries to the battlefield for Ukraine, and Russia has exploited the delays to make advances in the Kharkiv region.

Russian missiles and bombs also have pummeled Ukrainian military positions and civilian areas, including the power grid.

On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken assailed Russian attempts to sow discord in democracies with misinformation, after hinting that the Biden administration may soon allow Ukraine to use American-supplied munitions to strike inside Russia.

In Prague for a NATO foreign ministers meeting, Blinken cited Moscows use of misinformation and disinformation, calling it a poison and signing an agreement with the Czech government to combat it.

Blinken said Wednesday that U.S. policy on how Ukraine deploys American weapons is constantly evolving, suggesting that Washington may rescind an unwritten prohibition on Ukraines use of them for attacks on Russian territory.

Although U.S. officials insist there is no formal ban, they have long made clear that they believe the use of American weapons to attack targets inside Russia could provoke an escalatory response from Moscow, something that Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised.

(AP)
Police coordinated by the European Unions justice and police agencies have taken down computer networks responsible for spreading ransomware via infected emails, in what they called the biggest-ever international operation against the lucrative form of cybercrime.

The European Unions judicial cooperation agency, Eurojust, said Thursday that police arrested four high value suspects, took down more than 100 servers and seized control of over 2,000 internet domains.

The huge takedown this week, codenamed Endgame, involved coordinated action in Germany, the Netherlands, France, Denmark, Ukraine, the United States and United Kingdom, Eurojust said. Also, three suspects were arrested in Ukraine and one in Armenia. Searches were carried out in Ukraine, Portugal, the Netherlands and Armenia, EU police agency Europol added.

It is the latest international operation aimed at disrupting malware and ransomware operations. It followed a massive takedown in 2021 of a botnet called Emotet, Eurojust said. A botnet is a network of hijacked computers typically used for malicious activity.

Europol pledged it would not be the last takedown.

Operation Endgame does not end today. New actions will be announced on the website Operation Endgame, Europol said in a statement.

Dutch police said that the financial damage inflicted by the network on governments, companies and individual users is estimated to run to hundreds of millions of euros (dollars).

Millions of people are also victims because their systems were infected, making them part of these botnets, the Dutch statement said.

Eurojust said that one of the main suspects earned cryptocurrency worth at least 69 million euros ($74 million) by renting out criminal infrastructure for spreading ransomware.

The suspects transactions are constantly being monitored and legal permission to seize these assets upon future actions has already been obtained, EU police agency Europol added.

The operation targeted malware droppers called IcedID, Pikabot, Smokeloader, Bumblebee and Trickbot. A dropper is malicious software usually spread in emails containing infected links or attachments such as shipping invoices or order forms.

This approach had a global impact on the dropper ecosystem, Europol said. The malware, whose infrastructure was taken down during the action days, facilitated attacks with ransomware and other malicious software.

Ben Jones, CEO at Searchlight Cyber, a company that provides intelligence on the dark web, hailed the operation as an example of how international cooperation can crack down on cybercrime.

Where cybercriminals previously used their ability to operate across borders to evade the arm of justice, operations like Endgame  coordinated across multiple jurisdictions  demonstrate that this evasion tactic is increasingly untenable, Jones said in comments emailed to The Associated Press. Law enforcements net is widening and the safe zones for cybercriminal activity are becoming harder and harder to come by.

Dutch police said that the actions should alert cybercriminals that they can be caught.

This operation shows that you always leave tracks, nobody is unfindable, even online, Stan Duijf, of the Dutch National Police, said in a video statement.

The deputy head of Germanys Federal Criminal Police Office, Martina Link, described it as the biggest international cyber police operation so far.

Thanks to intensive international cooperation, it was possible to render six of the biggest malware families harmless, she said in a statement.

German authorities are seeking the arrest of seven people on suspicion of being members of a criminal organization whose aim was to spread the Trickbot malware. An eighth person is suspected of being one of the ringleaders of the group behind Smokeloader.

Europol said it was adding the eight suspects being sought by Germany to its most-wanted list.

(AP)
Manure. Cigarette butts. Scraps of cloth. Waste batteries. Even, reportedly, diapers. This week, North Korea floated hundreds of huge balloons to dump all of that trash across rival South Korea  an old-fashioned, Cold War-style provocation that the country has rarely used in recent years.

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un confirmed Wednesday that North Korea sent the balloons and attached trash sacks. She said they were deployed to make good on her countrys recent threat to scatter mounds of wastepaper and filth in South Korea in response to the leafleting campaigns by South Korean activists.

Experts say the balloon campaigning is meant to stoke a division in South Korea over its conservative governments hardline policy on North Korea. They also say North Korea will also likely launch new types of provocations in coming months to meddle in Novembers U.S. presidential election.

Heres a look at what North Koreas balloon launches are all about.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Since Tuesday night, about 260 balloons flown from North Korea have been discovered across South Korea. Theres no apparent danger, though: The military said an initial investigation showed that the trash tied to the balloons doesnt contain any dangerous substances like chemical, biological or radioactive materials.

There have been no reports of damages in South Korea. In 2016, North Korean balloons carrying trash, compact discs and propaganda leaflets caused damage to cars and other property in South Korea. In 2017, South Korea found a suspected North Korean balloon with leaflets again. This week, no leaflets were found from the North Korean balloons.

Flying balloons with propaganda leaflets and other items is one of the most common types of psychological warfare the two Koreas launched against each other during the Cold War. Other forms of Korean psychological battle have included loudspeaker blaring, setting up giant front-line electronic billboards and signboards and propaganda radio broadcasts. In recent years, the two Koreas have agreed to halt such activities but sometimes resumed them when tensions rose.

WHAT DOES NORTH KOREA WANT?

The Norths balloon launches are part of a recent series of provocative steps, which include its failed spy satellite launch and test-firings of about 10 suspected short-range missiles this week. Experts say the Norths leader, Kim Jong Un, will likely further dial up tensions ahead of the U.S. election to try to help former President Donald Trump return to the White House and revive high-stakes diplomacy between them.

The balloon launches arent weak action at all. Its like North Korea sending a message that next time, it can send balloons carrying powder forms of biological and chemical weapons, said Kim Taewoo, a former president of South Koreas government-funded Institute for National Unification.

Koh Yu-hwan, an emeritus professor at Seouls Dongguk University, said North Korea likely determined that the balloon campaign is a more effective way to force South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeols government to clamp down on the Souths civilian leafletting.

The point is to make the South Korean people uncomfortable, and build a public voice that the governments policy toward North Korea is wrong, Koh said.

North Korea is extremely sensitive to leaflets that South Korean activists occasionally float across the border via their own balloons, because they carry information about the outside world and criticism of the Kim dynastys authoritarian rule. Most of the Norths 26 million people have little access to foreign news.

In 2020, North Korea blew up an empty, South Korean-built liaison office on its territory in protest of South Korean civilian leafleting campaigns.

WAS ANYTHING LEARNED FROM THE TRASH?

North Korea is one of the worlds most secretive countries in the world, and foreign experts are keen on collecting any fragmentary information coming from the country.

But Koh said that there wont be much meaningful information that South Korea can gain from the North Korean trash dumps, because North Korea would have not put any important items into balloons.

If the manure is the kind made of animal dung, its examination may show what fodder is given to livestock in North Korea. Looks at other trash can provide a glimpse into consumer products in North Korea. But observers say outside experts can get such information more easily from North Korean defectors, their contacts in North Korea and Chinese border towns, and North Korean state publications.

WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS ON TENSIONS ON THE KOREAN PENINSULA?

The Norths balloon activities may deepen public calls in South Korea to stop anti-North Korean leafleting to avoid unnecessary clashes. But its unclear whether and how aggressively the South Korean government can urge civil groups to refrain from sending balloons toward North Korea.

In 2023, South Koreas Constitutional Court struck down a contentious law that criminalized the sending of anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets, calling it an excessive restriction on free speech.

From Pyongyangs perspective, this is a tit-for-tat and even restrained action to get Seoul to stop anti-Kim regime leaflets from being sent north. However, it will be difficult for democratic South Korea to comply, given ongoing legal disputes over the freedom of citizens and NGOs to send information into North Korea, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul.

The immediate danger of military escalation is not high, he said, but recent developments show how sensitive and potentially vulnerable the Kim regime is to information operations.

(AP)
French President Emmanuel Macrons office said Thursday that U.S. President Joe Biden will make his first state visit to France next week after attending D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations in Normandy.

Macron will be hosting Biden and his wife Jill on June 8, the statement said.

Both presidents will discuss the need for unwavering, long-term support for Ukraine at a time when war has returned to Europe, 80 years after the landings that led to the liberation of France and the continent from Nazi Germanys occupation, Macrons office said.

In Normandy next week, major commemorations will draw 25 heads of state and government, along with dozens of World War II veterans, to honor the nearly 160,000 troops from Britain, the United States, Canada and other nations that landed on June 6, 1944.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is among those expected to attend.

Bidens state visit will allow close coordination between France and the U.S. on world crises ahead of international events including the summit of the Group of Seven major economies next month in Italy and the NATO summit in Washington in July.

Discussions also will include climate-related issues and will focus on strengthening bilateral cooperation, particularly in the economic, space and nuclear fields, the statement said.

Macron and his wife Brigitte went on a state visit to the U.S. in Dec. 2022.

(AP)
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday assailed Russian attempts to sow discord in democracies with misinformation after hinting the Biden administration may soon allow Ukraine to use American-supplied munitions to strike inside Russia.

With an increasing number of officials saying Ukraine must be able to defend itself by attacking targets in Russian territory, Blinken joined NATO foreign ministers for a meeting in Prague, where he said Moscows use of misinformation and disinformation was a poison and signed an agreement with the Czech government to combat it.

He also toured a Czech military base, where he saw armored vehicles that Prague is sending to Kyiv to help fight Russias invasion and received a briefing on a Czech initiative to supply Ukraine with a million rounds of ammunition by the end of the year.

We know that a major front in the competition that we have, the adversarial relationship that we have, notably with Russia, is on the information front, Blinken said.

He said the agreement with the Czechs  the 17th such accord the U.S. has signed with partner nations  would help to effectively deal with misinformation and disinformation, which is a poison being injected into our democracies by our adversaries.

The more were able to do together both between our countries but also with other countries, the more effective were going to be exposing it and dealing with it, Blinken told reporters at a signing ceremony with Czech Foreign Minister Minister Jan Lipavsky.

Lipavsky agreed, noting that Czech authorities had recently exposed a major Russian-backed misinformation campaign.

We are facing confrontation between democracies and autocracies, Lipavsky said. The Kremlin has started targeting targeting democracies all around the world with cyber warfare, propaganda and influence operations and this danger simply cannot be underestimated any more.

At a separate NATO-related event on Thursday, Lipavsky said Ukraine needs resources to counter Russias relentless assault.

Ukraine cannot fight against Russia with one hand tied behind its back, he said. Ukraine must be able to fight against Russias barbaric invasion even on Russian territory. Political resolve must be backed by credible capabilities.

Norways foreign minister, Espen Barth Eide, told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that his country believes Ukraine has a crystal-clear right under international law to attack Russia inside Russia as part of the defense of its territory.

Russias invasion of Ukraine and support for Ukrainian attempts to repel it will be a major focus of the NATO foreign minister meetings on Thursday and Friday  the alliances last major diplomatic gathering before a leaders summit in Washington in July to mark the 75th anniversary of its founding.

On Wednesday in Moldova, Blinken said that U.S. policy on how Ukraine deploys American weapons is constantly evolving, suggesting that Washington may rescind an unwritten prohibition on Ukraines use of them for attacks on Russian territory.

Although U.S. officials insist there is no formal ban, they have long made clear that they believe the use of American weapons to attack targets inside Russia could provoke an escalatory response from Moscow, something that Russian President Vladimir Putin has promised.

That position appears to be being reconsidered, and Blinken noted that it was a hallmark of the Biden administrations stance on Ukraine to adapt and adjust as needed. Blinken visited Kyiv earlier this month and heard a direct appeal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to use U.S. military assistance to strike positions in Russian from where attacks on Ukraine are launched.

As the conditions have changed, as the battlefield has changed, as what Russia does has changed in terms of how its pursuing its aggression, escalation, weve adapted and adjusted too, and Im confident well continue to do that, Blinken said at a news conference in Chisinau.

At every step along the way, weve adapted and adjusted as necessary, and so thats exactly what well do going forward, he said. Were always listening, were always learning, and were always making determinations about whats necessary to make sure that Ukraine can effectively continue to defend itself, and well continue to do that.

Earlier this week, French President Emmanuel Macron and NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said that Western countries should not object if Ukraine needs to strike inside Russia to defend itself. Stoltenberg reaffirmed that position on Thursday.

I believe that time has come to (re)consider some of these restrictions to enable the Ukrainians to really defend themselves, he said. We need to remember what it is. This is a war of aggression launched by choice by Moscow against Ukraine.

The right to self-defense, he said,  includes also striking legitimate military targets outside Ukraine.

(AP)
Politicians of all political stripes reacted to former President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush money case. Here is a sampling from around the Pacific Northwest.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little on X: The American people will deliver the only verdict that matters in November. #TRUMP2024

Rep. Mike Simpson, representing Idahos 2nd Congressional District, on X: It is crystal clear Democrats have weaponized our judicial system against President Trump. From the beginning Ive voiced my concerns about the political motivations of District Attorney Bragg. The American people are smart and can see this absurd political trial for what it is. President Trump has indicated he will appeal this verdict, and I fully support that decision.

Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, Idahos Republican senators, did not immediately issue statements about the verdict on social media, but did take time to recognize Thursday as the International Day of the Potato and pay homage to the tubers economic and cultural importance in (southern) Idaho.

Washington Democratic Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray did not immediately issue statements, nor did Republican Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers.

Republican Mike Baumgartner, running to succeed McMorris Rodgers in Washingtons 5th Congressional District, on X: Todays conviction of a former President by a state court on flimsy charges in a hyper partisan setting sets a bad precedent that is likely to haunt both political parties in the years to come. Its a bad day for the rule of law, brought on by leftists with a political agenda. Using courts of law as political weapons is banana republic stuff.

Republican Brian Dansel, running to succeed McMorris Rodgers, on X: Todays verdict is a complete disgrace and an absolute travesty. I unapologetically stand with President Trump, as I have since 2015. We MUST elect him in November. #MAGA #Trump2024
A Greek-owned, Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier that came under attack by Yemens Houthi rebels earlier this week had a cargo of grain bound for Iran, the groups main benefactor, authorities said Thursday.

The attack on the Laax comes as the Houthis continue their attacks on shipping throughout the Red Sea corridor, part of a campaign they say aims at pressuring Israel and the West over the war in Gaza. However, as shipping through that artery has dropped during the months of attacks, the rebels have struck vessels associated with Iran, as well as Tehrans economic lifelines of China and Russia.

Initially after the attack, the Laax had listed its destination as Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. On Thursday, however, its listed destination instead appeared to be Bandar Khomeini, Iran.

A statement released by French naval forces based in the UAE that patrol the Middle East also identified the vessels grain shipment as being bound for Iran. It said that a team from Djibouti had inspected the damage caused by the attack, which it said involved both drones and missiles, and found no remaining dangerous explosives onboard the ship.

Images released by the French navy showed damage both at the waterline of the vessel, as well as on its deck.

Tuesdays attack saw five missiles hit the Laax during the hourslong assault, the private security firm LSS-SAPU told The Associated Press. LSS-SAPU, which earlier helped evacuate mariners from the Houthi-attacked Rubymar that later sunk, said there had been no prior warning by radio from the Houthis.

LSS-SAPU had three armed security guards onboard the Laax at the time of the attack. Among the ships crew were 13 Filipinos and one Ukrainian, the Philippine Department of Migrant Workers said in a statement.

The Houthis in recent months have stepped up attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, demanding that Israel end the war in Gaza, which has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians there. The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage.

The Houthis have launched more than 50 attacks on shipping, killed three sailors, seized one vessel and sunk another since November, according to the U.S. Maritime Administration.

On Wednesday, another U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone apparently crashed in Yemen, with the Houthis claiming they fired a surface-to-air missile at it. The U.S. Air Force didnt report any aircraft missing, leading to suspicion that the drone may have been piloted by the CIA. As many as three may have been lost this month alone.

(AP)
YWN regrets to inform you of the tragic petirah of Shmuel Brog zl, who was niftar following a horrific accident in Jackson today. He was approximately 5 years old.

Shmuel zl is the son of R Avrumy and Ayala Brog. R Avrumy is well known as one of the directors of Oorahs summer camp, The Zone. His grandfather is Harav Yisroel Brog, the rosh yeshiva of Tiferes Avigdor in Wickliffe, Ohio.

Shmuel zl, was riding in a van when it collided with another vehicle on E. Veterans near Cleveland Court. The young boy was critically injured, and went into traumatic arrest.

Hatzolah paramedics were able to regain a heartbeat at the scene and rushed him to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where he was tragically niftar a short time later.

Levaya details will be published when available.

The driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash also went into traumatic arrest. She was rushed to Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, where she was sadly pronounced dead. Her identity has not yet been released and additional information regarding her will be published when available.
A poll released on Thursday shows President Biden holding an uncomfortably slim lead over former President Donald Trump in New York, a traditionally Democratic stronghold. The Emerson College Polling/The Hill/PIX11 survey found that Biden leads Trump by 7 points, 48% to 41%, in a head-to-head matchup. This lead expands to 10 points when undecided voters are factored in.

The poll also reveals that Trump performs better when third-party candidates are included, garnering 44% support to Bidens 38%. Notably, independent voters in New York are backing Trump by a significant margin, with 43% supporting him compared to 33% for Biden.

Th poll result is significant, as a Republican presidential candidate has not won New York in the general election since 1984, when Ronald Reagan defeated Walter Mondale. In 2016 and 2020, Trump lost the state to Hillary Clinton and Biden, respectively, by substantial margins.

Last week, Trump held his first campaign rally in New York since 2016, drawing a crowd of 8,000-10,000 people in the South Bronx. While smaller than his recent rally in New Jersey, which drew around 100,000 people, the event demonstrated Trumps ability and willingness to campaign in traditionally Democratic areas.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
President Joe Biden ridiculed a reporter when asked if he would serve a full four-year term if reelected in November. The exchange occurred on the tarmac at Philadelphia International Airport, where Biden was surrounded by a group of people.

The reporter asked, President Biden, will you be serving your full four-year term or handing over power to Vice President Harris? Biden pointed to his head and replied, Are you OK? Are you all right? Youre not hurt, are you? The reporter repeated the question, saying he couldnt hear the president, to which Biden responded, I said, are you OK? Did you fall on your head or something?

The president then turned away and spoke to nearby women. At 81, Biden is the oldest person to hold the presidency, and polls have shown many voters are worried about his ability to handle the demands of the job.

A Harvard CAPS-Harris Poll in March found 63% of respondents believed Biden is too old to be president, and 57% thought he is mentally unfit. Additionally, Biden has been accompanied by aides when walking across the White Lawn, a change from his previous solo walks.

With polls showing Biden trailing former President Donald Trump in swing states, a majority of Democrats approve of replacing Biden as the Democratic Party candidate, according to a recent Rasmussen Reports poll. Vice President Kamala Harriss approval rating is also low, with only 38% of Americans approving of her as vice president, according to FiveThirtyEight polling.

Biden and Harris visited Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state, to launch a new Black voter outreach initiative. They stopped at Girard College, an independent boarding school with a predominantly Black student body, and visited a small business to speak to members of the Black Chamber of Commerce.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
by Chaim Weber

The Gemara in Bava Metzia (88b) discusses two sets of mitzvos when it comes to feeding workers.

The first is the negative prohibition not to muzzle an animal while its working  lo sachsom shor bdisho.

The second is the positive commandment to allow human workers to eat from the produce they are working on, as long as the produce is harvest-ready.

As these mitzvos both relate to feeding a worker, the Gemara compares these mitzvos and derives halachos from one to the other. However, R Chaim Soloveitchik (Meila 8:1) explains that these two mitzvos are still different at their core.

The prohibition against muzzling an animal is a commandment to be benevolent and not prevent a hard-working animal from eating.

However, when it comes to the positive commandment allowing a worker to eat from produce he is working on, this isnt just a mitzvah on the boss to be benevolent. Rather, its a monetary obligation that a worker is entitled and owed this produce. The produce belongs to the worker. Not to his boss.

Can a Worker Eat Hekdesh Produce?

R Chaim uses this to explain a difficult Gemara in Bava Metzia.

The Gemara (87b) learns from a dedicated verse that although a worker is allowed to take produce, he cannot take produce if he is working with consecrated property (hekdesh).

Tosfos and the Tosfos Harosh explain that the same way a worker is allowed to take produce from the owner despite the potential prohibition against stealing, we would have thought that he can similarly take produce from hekdesh. This is why we need a dedicated verse prohibiting it.

The obvious question is: Why?

Why would we have thought that a worker can take hekdesh produce?

When it comes to hekdesh, there is a prohibition of meila  that one is forbidden to derive benefit from hekdesh property. Unlike ordinary theft, this carries a penalty of misah bidei shamayim  death carried out through Heaven  if performed willingly according to some Tanaim and at the very least, requires a special korban when done accidentally. Why would I think that the same way a worker can circumvent the prohibition against stealing, he can also circumvent the prohibition against meila?

R Chaim explains that although the penalty of meila is severe, its essentially a theft-related prohibition. Its a prohibition against benefiting (and thereby stealing) from hekdesh.

What Tosfos means to say is the following:

The same way a worker is entitled to take food from his boss and its not considered stealing  because the produce belongs to the worker  similarly, when working with hekdesh property, its not considered meila to take hekdesh produce because the produce no longer belongs to hekdesh. It belongs to the worker. This is why I would have thought to permit it without a dedicated verse telling us otherwise.

R Yehonason of Lunil seems to disagree.

He learns that the Gemara never had any thought to permit produce that was actually hekdesh. The Gemara only thought that the Torah might obligate the Temple treasurer to release produce from its hekdesh state in order to feed the worker. Similarly, the Ritva learns that the Gemara was dealing with a case where the hekdesh was made conditionally. Otherwise, there would be meila and the worker would not be allowed to take produce.

The Halacha  Can the Worker Demand Payment?

The Shulchan Aruch (Choshen Mishpat 337) quotes the halacha that a boss is not allowed to prevent a worker from eating on the job. The Rema adds that if a boss does prevent the worker, he has to pay. (Although the Gemara in Bava Metzia 88b says that a boss who muzzles his worker and prevents him from eating is exempt, this is only an exemption from lashes, not from an obligation to pay.)

This works well with R Chaims explanation that the obligation to allow workers to eat is in fact a monetary entitlement. Therefore, if the owner prevents the worker from eating, he will have to pay.

The Bottom Line  It Goes Both Ways

These mitzvos demonstrate the Torahs will that employers treat workers with care and not take advantage of them. This is also seen in many other mitzvos, such as the mitzvah to pay a worker timely and to not delay his wages.

That said, there are also obligations that a worker has to his boss.

The Rambam (Sechirus 11:3) rules that theres a Torah prohibition for a worker to take produce if he isnt actually working and that theres also a prohibition to take extra produce to-go.

Additionally, the Shulchan Aruch concludes the siman dealing with this topic by noting (337:20) that a worker needs to be careful to not be lax in his work and to learn from Yaakov Avinu, who served Lavan with dedication and with all of his abilities.

Sadly, in our current times, many wrong-headed people and sonei yisrael have latched onto the idea that the world is divided into oppressors and oppressed. That all people in positions of power are wrong and that the oppressed are never to blame for their actions.

Responsibilities go both ways. Both an employer and an employee have to act with yashrus. Both the wealthy and the needy have to follow halacha.

The Gemara in Shabbos calls Seder Nezikin (the Seder dealing with damages and monetary laws) the seder of yeshuos. Hopefully our keeping of these halachos will indeed bring yeshuos, bekarov.
Officials from Glenbrook South and Glenbrook High School District 225 in Illinois have denounced a student entry in the 2023-2024 yearbook that appears to praise the October 7, 2023, attacks on Israel. The entry, titled October 7 War in Gaza, quotes a student as saying, The first day, I woke up and I saw what Palestine did, and I was happy because theyre finally defending themselves. The student also refers to the area as their home country.

District officials expressed their profound regret over the entry in a letter to students and families, stating, The statements in the piece in no way represent the views of Glenbrook South or District 225. The letter acknowledged the district has received a tremendous number of inquiries and feedback on the topic and assured that they are in conversation with students, families, staff, and community members about the situation.

However, the Student Press Law Center, a Washington, D.C.-based organization, despicably defended the entry, arguing that it protects the yearbooks editorial decisions under the Illinois Speech Rights of Student Journalists Act.

The district says it has launched an internal investigation into the matter and will continue until a resolution is reached.

In a separate incident at another Illinois high school, officials confiscated all student yearbooks after a student or students signed them with swastikas.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
President Joe Biden has announced a comprehensive new proposal to end the Israel-Hamas conflict, urging Hamas to accept the deal that he says would bring all hostages home, ensure Israels security, and pave the way for a better future for both Israelis and Palestinians.

The proposal, which the White House says was green-lit by Israel and transmitted to Hamas by Qatar, has three phases. The first phase would last six weeks, during which there would be a full ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces from populated Gaza areas, and the release of hostages, including women, the elderly, and the wounded, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. American hostages would be among those released in this first stage.

Additionally, the remains of hostages who have been killed would be returned to their families, bringing closure to their grief. Palestinian civilians would return to their homes and neighborhoods, and humanitarian assistance would surge with 600 trucks carrying aid into Gaza daily.

During the first phase, Israel and Hamas would negotiate arrangements for a permanent end to hostilities. The subsequent negotiations will be difficult, but the proposal allows for an extension beyond six weeks if talks continue. The US, Egypt, and Qatar would ensure these talks continue until an agreement is reached.

Once terms are finalized, phase two would begin, releasing all remaining living Israeli hostages, including male soldiers, and Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza. If Hamas commits to its obligations, the temporary ceasefire would become permanent.

Finally, in phase three, a major reconstruction plan for Gaza would commence, and the final remains of killed hostages would be returned to their families.

President Biden urged Hamas to accept this comprehensive proposal, saying, Thats the offer thats now on the table.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
Britain's competition regulator will launch an initial probe into Nationwide Building Society's 2.9billion takeover of Virgin Money UK.

The Competition and Markets Authority said it's exploring whether the deal, which will create Britain's second-largest savings and mortgage provider if approved, could result in a 'substantial lessening of competition' within any UK market.

The potential takeover, announced in March, has already attracted criticism after Nationwide refused to give its members a vote on the deal.

Nationwide-Virgin Money UK tie-up will create Britain's second-largest savings and mortgage provider if approved

Virgin Money UK's biggest independent investor, fund management firm Allan Gray, agreed members should have had a vote on the deal, which it slammed as being 'likely to sell shareholders very short'.

When the deal was announced, analysts had suggested it could actually improve competition in the UK mortgage and savings market.

For their part, Nationwide and Virgin Money UK insist the deal will leave the combined group 'better placed to deliver value to our members and customers, both now and in the future'.

But the CMA is inviting comment on the deal as it launches the first stage of an investigation.

The regulator now has until 26 July to decide whether a deeper 'phase 2' investigation will be warranted.

Nationwide and Virgin Money UK declined to comment on the CMA probe, expectations of which were cited in previous investor communications on the deal.
Taking a hit: Donald Trump owns a 65 per cent stake in the company

Donald Trump yesterday saw more than 400million wiped off his fortune as shares in his social media company fell in the wake of his criminal conviction.

New York-listed Trump Media & Technology (TMT) dropped by as much as 9 per cent during choppy trading a day after he was found guilty of falsifying documents to cover up hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels.

The former president owns a 65 per cent stake in the company, which controls his social media platform, Truth Social.

TMT is a favourite among so-called 'meme stock' traders  those who pile into stocks made popular on social media forums such as Reddit even if they are shunned by mainstream Wall Street investors. It also offers a chance for Trump supporters to bet on his political resurgence.

The company's more than 600,000 shareholders are mainly retail investors.

The loss-making company's valuation at 7.2billion  prior to the verdict against Trump  meant it was trading at a valuation of more than 2,000 times its 3.2million revenue in 2023.

Art Hogan, chief market strategist at wealth manager B. Riley Wealth, said: 'The volatility is not surprising. The valuation of that stock has always been a bit of a question mark.

'It certainly isn't making any money and is trading almost at an unfathomable level.'

The shares have been hugely volatile since it joined the stock market in March, peaking at more 60 before falling to as low as 37 yesterday.
Heres a recap of recent funding developments from Australia, India, the US and beyond.

Kintsugi AI Secures $6 Million for AI-Powered Automation

Fintech startup Kintsugi AI announced a successful $6 million funding round, valuing the company at $40 million, for its innovative tax automation platform.

Link Ventures spearheaded the series A funding, with contributions from Venture Highway, KyberKnight, Plug and Play, and DeVC, accompanied by a consortium of prominent angel investors. The influx of capital will fuel Kintsugi AIs efforts to develop automated VAT solutions tailored for Canada and Europe, thereby assisting customers engaged in international sales.

Victoria Government Offers $50,000 Grants to AgTech Startups

The Victorian government has allocated an additional $1 million towards a grants program supporting agtech startups. Agriculture Minister Ros Spence announced the AgTech Grants program, facilitated by the government-backed startup agency LaunchVic, providing $50,000 grants to startups. These grants offer founders access to dedicated mentoring from startup experts to foster business growth and capitalize on emerging opportunities.

Following the success of the inaugural round, the government has committed an additional $1 million. Notable recipients from the first round include Drone-Hand, creator of the first commercially available AI-driven, automated flight-app for livestock monitoring.

Applications are open until June 30, 2025. Apply for the grant at launchvic.org.

Musks AI Challenger, xAI, Nets $6 Billion in Massive Funding Round

Elon Musks AI startup, xAI, has secured a staggering $6 billion in a Series B funding round, propelling it to the forefront of the booming generative AI sector. This investment, one of the largest in the field, highlights the growing interest and potential of artificial intelligence that can create entirely new content.

Sequoia Capital and Andreessen Horowitz, two of the biggest names in venture capital, participated in the round, solidifying xAIs position as a major player in the race to develop next-generation AI technology.

Bailador Technology Investments Invests $20 Million in Telehealth Platform Updoc

Venture capital firm Bailador Technology Investments has injected $20 million into telehealth startup Updoc. Co-founded in 2021 by Dylan Coyne and Clifton Hodgkinson, Updoc provides online GP consultations for various healthcare needs, including advice, online prescriptions, specialist referrals, pathology referrals, and medical certificates.

Forward Secures $16 Million to Challenge Stripe

Forward, a burgeoning player in the payment solutions arena, has announced $16 million in seed financing. Commerce Ventures, Elefund, and Fiserv led the investment round. CEO Lloyd plans to utilize the new funds to bolster the companys customer base and advance technological developments, particularly in machine learning and artificial intelligence.

Iyris Raises $16 Million in Series A Funding

Iyris, a provider of agricultural solutions aimed at assisting farmers in addressing climate change challenges, has secured $16 million in a Series A funding round. San Francisco-based climate and sustainability fund Ecosystem Integrity Fund (EIF) led the round, joined by investors including Global Ventures, Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF), Kanoo Ventures, Globivest, and Bonaventure Capital.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
BIDV and Agribank will sell gold to retail consumers without profit to stabilize its prices, representatives for the state-owned lenders have said.

BIDV will start selling bullion at its counters in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on June 3, CEO Le Ngoc Lam said in a statement published by the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV).

It will later expand sales to other localities like Da Nang City, Can Tho City and Ba Ria  Vung Tau Province.

The prices would depend on the central banks prices, and the goal is to narrow the gap between domestic and international rates, Lam said.

Agribank CEO Pham Toan Vuong said there would measures in place to verify buyers identities and prevent money laundering.

A representative of another state-owned lender told VnExpress earlier that the bank would sell gold within the price band allowed by the central bank.

The SBV allows unrestricted sales to individuals but prohibits sales to businesses and organizations, he added.

On Thursday it had said it would stop auctioning bullion to and would instead sell to the four state-owned lenders who would in turn sell in the retail market.

The nine auctions it held in recent weeks have not resulted in narrowing the gap between domestic and international rates.

Global rates are around 20% higher than domestic prices, which are around VND88 million ($3,456.75) per tael of 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.
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The United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), the UK's national fusion energy laboratory, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Nova. . .
Despite the historic turn of events, a conviction of former Prez Trump in an NYC hush money trial has elicited mostly boring partisan responses.

To the credit of our blog community . . .

Yesterday we talked up the news and other than tacit threats and habitually tough talk . . . A comment asking if Melania was dating kinda cracked up TKC.



However, it's not all fun and games.

Here are a few takeaways that might hold some local connection . . .



- Whilst Missouri & Kansas politicos were chatting up their slings & arrows. We noticed that KCMO politicos were strangely quiet. As of this writing, Mayor Q has yet to weigh-in.



- The fundraising fight is the most telling. MAGA & GOP are raising so much cash that former Prez Trump's donation page on his website crashed. Prez Biden's response is merely to warn his followers that MAGA victory in November is very much a possibility.



- Tucker Carlson has turned into self-parody but his sentiment about an inevitable MAGA Presidential Victory is being echoed across the more stridently conservative media landscape.



And so, once again we're going to focus on reactions that start close to home and then move outward.



Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Local political experts weigh in on the impact of Trump's conviction What happened Thursday afternoon, when a New York jury issued a guilty verdict on 34 felony counts against former President Donald Trump, will likely end up in history books.

KS, MO elected officials comment on former President Trump's felony conviction in New York Elected officials across Kansas and Missouri took to social media Thursday afternoon to offer their thoughts after a New York jury found former President Donald Trump guilty.

Missouri Republicans say Trump's conviction is a 'sham.' Democrats call it a 'victory for justice' Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a GOP candidate for governor and the official who oversees Missouri elections, claimed "the democrats are trying to steal another election." U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat, said that nobody is "above accountability."

KS lawmakers, Derek Schmidt, more speak on Trump's guilty verdict TOPEKA (KSNT) - Kansas lawmakers, the former Kansas Attorney General and a congressional candidate comment on Donald Trump's guilty verdict Thursday. May 30, U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall (R...

Elected officials from Kansas, Missouri react after former President Trump found guilty Elected officials from Kansas and Missouri are reacting to the verdict of former President Donald Trump.

Stunned Trump fans burst into tears at courthouse as he's found guilty There was a stunned silence in the park across the courtroom where a jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

Biden fundraises off guilty verdict in Trump's hush money case as GOP rushes to play defense | CNN Politics President Joe Biden was quick to fundraise off the guilty verdict in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial, while top congressional Republicans rushed to Trump's defense.

Trump guilty verdict fires up Republican donors, who pledge millions (Reuters) -Major Republican donors rallied behind Donald Trump on Thursday, pledging millions of dollars to support the first convicted felon running for U.S. president on a tumultuous day for his election campaign. A New York jury found Trump guilty on Thursday of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.

Donald Trump is convicted of a felony. Here's how that affects the 2024 presidential race Having been convicted of 34 felonies, Donald Trump cannot own a gun, hold public office or even vote in many states

Is Trump going to jail? Ex-president's odds of lockup over his felony convictions are slim to none, legal experts say A jury found Trump guilty on all counts in his New York hush-money trial. But it's unlikely the former president will go to jail.

Developing . . .
Call it justice or a show trial . . .

Today is American history.

We (sorta) trust our Kansas City blog community will share more honest and entertaining local reaction than anything we'll watch on the news today given that this is the only story that matters right now . . .

"Not only is Trump the first former president to be found guilty of a felony, hes also the first major-party presidential nominee to be convicted of a crime in the midst of a campaign for the White House. And if he defeats President Joe Biden in November, he will be the first sitting president in history to be a convicted felon."

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Trump found guilty in hush money trial | CNN Politics A Manhattan jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 charges of falsifying business records Thursday, an unprecedented and historic verdict that makes Trump the first former president in American history to be convicted of a felony.

KS, MO elected officials comment on former President Trump's felony conviction in New York Elected officials across Kansas and Missouri took to social media Thursday afternoon to offer their thoughts after a New York jury found former President Donald Trump guilty.

Biden campaign on Trump verdict: 'No one is above the law' The campaign also stressed that it still needs voters to stop Trump at the ballot box and recognize that, for better or worse, Trump will be the GOP nominee.

'Shameful': Republicans quickly come to Trump's defense after his conviction As a jury found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts in his New York criminal trial, Republicans quickly came to their presumptive presidential nominee's defense.

FAQ: Can Trump still run for president? Can he still vote? Here's what the guilty verdict means Former president Trump has been found guilty of all 34 felony charges. Here's what that means.

Developing . . .
The crux of the aftermath perspective and a great deal of controversial rhetoric from an activist news outlet:



This isnt the first time Mayor Lucas has shown his anti-Palestinian bias. As previously reported by The Defender, Mayor Quinton Lucas silenced Emreson Jaz Hays by withdrawing Hayss zoning board nomination after Hays spoke out against israel.



In an open letter to local leaders, the Kansas City Defender detailed how leaders in Kansas City betray a storied legacy of civil rights activism by openly supporting an apartheid and genocidal regime.



Lets dispel a convenient fiction that some, such as Mayor Lucas, deploy as a rhetorical smokescreen: The claim to empathize with Palestinians while simultaneously supporting israel is a moral paradox that disintegrates under scrutiny.



On the same docket, Councilmember Nathan Willet proposed a resolution that would fuel even more anti-Muslim and anti-Palestinian hate. Willets resolutionwhich aimed to amend a previous resolution adopting a Working Definition of antisemitismwould add a WHEREAS section to include the events from October 7, 2023, but no mention israels years of illegal occupation in Palestine.



Lucas took to X to address both Bunchs and Willets resolution stating, We are here to legislate for the people of Kansas City for real-life solutions that we can control. I value all views, but cannot support the dueling messaging items on todays City Council docket.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Actually, we're gonna feature a quote from the baller's lawyer because it offers a new perspective and a great deal of backstory on the allegations . . . Check-it:



Isaiah vehemently denies the truthfulness of the allegations and charges asserted against him today. Under no circumstance does Mr. Buggs condone the mistreatment of any animal. The dogs at issue did not belong to him and he was unaware they remained at the property in question.



Furthermore, we believe the City of Tuscaloosas decision to file the charges today is part of a concerted effort by the City of Tuscaloosa and its Police Department to besmirch Mr. Buggs name and reputation as part of an ongoing subversive campaign to force the close of his local business Kings Hookah Lounge.

These efforts are not new as Mr. Buggs was arrested at his business on misdemeanor charges on two separate occasions in the past two months, but each time no public record was made of these arrests. Rather, the City used the threat of pursuing and publicizing both the allegations filed today and these arrests as leverage against Mr. Buggs by offering to drop and not pursue them in exchange for his voluntary surrender of his business license. Mr. Buggs declined the Citys offer as he has serious concerns about the Citys and Police Departments motivation for deciding to target his business, which he plans to bring to light as part of his defense of the allegations and charges filed against him and his reputation and business.



-- Trey Robinson, Buggs' agent

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

VIDEO: Chiefs DT Isaiah Buggs surrenders to police over animal cruelty charges Video shows Kansas City Chiefs DT Isaiah Buggs pushing a TV camera as he left jail in Alabama.

Chiefs defensive lineman 'vehemently denies' allegations of animal cruelty Another Kansas City Chiefs player is in legal trouble this off-season.

Developing . .
Right now author, lawyer, biz lady & reality show star hottie Kim inspires our latest look at pop culture, community news and top headlines.

Check TKC news gathering . . .

Celebrating Local Attractions

14 reasons Kansas City should be your next trip Kansas City has been hitting the headlines in a big way - even before Taylor Swift started showing up in a box at Arrowhead Stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs...

Historic Political Perspective

Think American politics are nasty today? That's nothing compared to the violent 1800s | Opinion Congress actually had to ban dueling in 1839, but the violence didn't end. | Opinion

Diva Soon To Arrive Dowtown

Nicki Minaj brings 'Pink Friday 2 World Tour' to T-Mobile Center in Kansas City on Oct. 1 Nicki Minaj announced she is bringing her "Pink Friday 2 World Tour" to Kansas City's T-Mobile Center.

Kansas Newspaper Arguments

Former Marion councilwoman files federal lawsuit over 'conspiracy' to silence her and newspaper * Kansas Reflector Former Marion Councilwoman Ruth Herbel alleges in federal court that city officials orchestrated an illegal raid of her home - alongside the raid of the Marion County Record - as part of a conspiracy to silence criticism.

Show-Me Another Tax Fight

Missouri Court Rules in Favor of Remote Workers Against St. Louis Earnings Tax - Show Me Institute https://youtu.be/bU8_7eH-sXE?si=ix436hpHmvD2dCAW On May 29, David Stokes joined Mike Ferguson in the Morning on NewsTalkSTL to discuss a Missouri appeals

Hipster Highlights Amid Death Of Retail

If you've seen 200 20-somethings run past you on KC's Country Club Plaza, here's why "I know specifically young people are desperate for a community that isn't the bars."

Home Team Drops Another

Royals give away the house, blow four-run lead in 7-6 loss A few errors, some walks, and Ryan Jeffers sealed their doom

Celeb Exposes Lip Gloss

Kim Kardashian reveals what she carries in her mini Hermes Kelly bag Kim Kardashian can fit exactly three things in her mini Hermes Kelly bag that cost her more than $37,000. n the latest episode of The Kardashians, she revealed what's is in her purse.

Prez Trolls Predecessor

Biden campaign reacts to Trump conviction: "No one is above the law" "The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater."

Tech Billionaire Power Play

Elon Musk has been getting Trumpier. A direct line to Trump may be next | CNN Business Elon Musk has sought to accumulate political capital commensurate with his extravagant wealth. In the past year, Musk has publicly opined on global conflicts, met with numerous world leaders and US senators to discuss artificial intelligence and his space and satellite technologies. And he has courted senior Chinese officials on their home turf.

Supreme Snub

Roberts declines meeting with Senate Democrats about Alito controversy Chief Justice John Roberts on Thursday declined a request to meet with Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) about their push for Justice Samuel...

Holy Land Fights To Limit

Israel takes control of southern side of Gaza's land border with Egypt Israel said Thursday that it has seized control of the Philadelphi Corridor, an important buffer zone that runs along the southern side of Gaza's eight-mile border with Egypt. Imtiaz Tyab has more.

Debate Over Firepower Report

US partially lifts ban on Ukraine using US weapons to strike Russia The Big Story US partially lifts ban on Ukraine using US weapons to strike Russia The Biden administration has partially lifted a ban on Ukrainian forces using U.S.

Old School Rules

I lost my virginity to a granny who's 37 years older than me - she's now my wife A 26-YEAR-OLD man has opened up about how he went from dating a man to a gran-of-18 37 years his senior. Quran Mccain, now 26, met his wife Cheryl, 63, when he was just 15 years old. The pair had n...

Weekend Ahead Sneak Peek

Weekend Possibilities | Tacos and Tequila, Disney Music, Prairie Village Art Show Jump into June with a full weekend of festivals, Pride Day at "The K" or a cup a fresh Cuban coffee.

Rent To Damn High For Veggies

Owners of popular eastern Jackson County farmers market decide to close An Eastern Jackson County farmers market closed after its owners said they couldn't afford the necessary permits to stay open.

Latest Local Forecast . . .

WEATHER BLOG: Lots of chances for rain coming up, Nick Bender says While severe thunderstorms are not expected, some storms may produce small hail, gusty wind and locally heavy rain.

Brandy - I Wanna Be Down was a 1994 Billboard #1 hit. The tune serves as today's #TBT song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now.
The bright side is that the economic border war to loot the Chiefs & Royals might not get accomplished either . . . Here's the word . . .



The two sides dont exactly seem terribly thrilled with each other.



Now she says shes ready to work with the legislature? Ottawa GOP state Rep. Rebecca Schmoe scoffed on social media. Weve already compromised multiple times and sent her true bipartisan tax plans.



So yeah. The spirit of compromise doesnt exactly seem ascendant.



Still, it would be good news for Kansans if the two sides can reach an agreement. The states coffers are flush with extra money. Some of that should go back to the people who actually earned it.



Everybody seems to agree on that much, at least.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Again . . .

The context here is that the dude is dying and probably shouldn't buy any green bananas and a lot of this legal wrangling isn't really going to matter in less than six months.

Meanwhile . . .

Here's the recent ruling after activist outrage for the foodie jaunt . . .



Federal Magistrate Judge Rachel Schwartz called it highly unusual for the government to seek this revocation based on a single violation.



Judge Schwartz said Golubski did violate the terms of his pre-trial release by going to the Culvers and noted his own attorney acknowledged he failed to request permission from his supervisor or notify that supervisor at all about the trip.



But the judge said its the only violation in the roughly year-and-a-half since she set those pre-trial conditions, and it didnt rise to the level of revoking Golubskis pre-trial release conditions.



According to court records filed by his attorney Chris Joseph, Golubski, a diabetic, stopped at the fast-food restaurant on his way home from a doctors appointment to keep his blood sugar in check.



Judge Schwartz warned Golubski he needs to have snacks and water with him if he goes to a doctor, his attorney, or court during his house arrest to deal with his blood sugar as opposed to going to a restaurant or store.



The judge added language to his pre-trial release conditions to make it clear Golubski has very limited options to leave his home.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .
Singapore Airlines has announced changes to its in-flight policies and altered a flight route following a severe turbulence incident that resulted in one fatality and left several injured.

The incident occurred on the SQ321 flight from London to Singapore, which was forced to make an emergency landing in Bangkok on Tuesday. The Boeing 777-300ER aircraft was carrying 211 passengers and 18 crew members at the time of the incident.

Singapore Airlines Enhances Safety Measures

In response to the tragedy, Singapore Airlines stated that it would no longer serve hot beverages or meals when the seatbelt sign is on, aiming to ensure the safety of passengers and crew.

The airline emphasized that reviewing and enhancing safety procedures is a priority and that it is committed to taking all necessary steps to prevent such incidents in the future.

Additionally, Singapore Airlines has adjusted the usual route for its daily London-to-Singapore flights.

Since the incident, the airline has avoided flying over the part of Myanmar where the turbulence occurred. Instead, the flights have taken a detour over the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea. Tracking data confirms that the flight duration remains largely unaffected by this change.

As per CNN, the decision to alter the flight path and tighten safety measures comes after photographs from inside the plane showed significant damage, including gashes in the overhead cabin panels and dislodged oxygen masks.

The airline reported that 46 passengers and two crew members were hospitalized in Bangkok, with 20 of them in intensive care suffering from severe injuries, including spinal and skull injuries.

Singapore Airlines is recognized globally for its high standards in aviation safety and has not experienced any major incidents in recent years.

This recent response to the turbulence incident reaffirms the airline's commitment to maintaining its passengers' and crew's safety and well-being.

Related Article : Singapore Airlines Faces Tragic Turbulence, Leaving One Dead and Many Hurt

Investigation Reveals Causes of Turbulence

Last week, a severe turbulence incident on Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 led to the death of a 73-year-old British man and injuries to dozens of passengers. The flight experienced a 54-meter altitude drop, causing those not buckled in to be momentarily airborne.

According to Al Jazeera, Singapore's Ministry of Transport revealed that the flight data indicated a rapid fluctuation in gravitational force, with vertical acceleration swinging from -1.5G to +1.5G in just four seconds.

This intense change resulted in an altitude reduction from 37,362 feet to 37,184 feet over 4.6 seconds, leading to the injuries.

Continuing investigations involve officials from Singapore's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau, U.S. regulators, and Boeing.

Singapore Airlines has expressed commitment to the safety of its passengers and crew, emphasizing that it is fully cooperating with the ongoing investigation.

In response to the incident, Singapore Airlines has implemented stricter measures to handle in-flight turbulence, including halting meal services whenever the seatbelt sign is on, ensuring passenger safety remains a priority.
Starting June 1, Georgia will require all travelers from 95 visa-exempt countries to show proof of travel health insurance upon entry. The new mandate aims to ensure that visitors are covered for medical expenses in case of unexpected health issues during their stay.

Georgia Ensures Safety with New Insurance Rule

The Georgian government has introduced this requirement to enhance the safety of tourists and other visitors. Until now, those traveling to Georgia without a visa did not need to purchase travel health insurance.

Travel and Tour World reported that the updated policy mandates that the insurance must cover at least 30,000 in medical expenses and remain valid throughout the visitor's stay in the country.

Travelers can stay in Georgia for up to a year without a visa. This flexibility makes it a popular destination for tourists from around the world.

However, if someone wishes to stay longer than a year for purposes such as work, study, or family reunification, they must apply for a residence permit. This application is processed at the Public Service Hall in any of Georgia's major cities.

Authorities advise travelers to secure their travel health insurance approximately 15 days before their planned departure. The insurance document must be presented at the point of entry and should be in either Georgian, English, or Russian.

This new rule underscores Georgia's commitment to the well-being of its visitors. By ensuring that all travelers have insurance, the country can better manage any potential medical emergencies that occur, making visits safer and more secure for everyone.

Georgia Faces U.S. Visa Restrictions Now

On May 23, the U.S. State Department criticized a new law in Georgia and imposed visa restrictions on key figures believed to be undermining democracy in the country. This includes those involved in enacting Georgia's "foreign agents" law and their families.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a review of U.S.-Georgia relations and expressed hope that Georgia's leaders will rethink the legislation. He labeled the law as stifling to freedom of expression and association. It mandates organizations receiving foreign funds in Georgia to register as "foreign agents," a move similar to a Russian policy used to suppress dissent.

As per The Kyiv Independent, the law, passed by Georgia's ruling party, Georgian Dream, on May 14, has led to widespread protests across the country. These demonstrations have turned violent at times, with police reportedly using water cannons and rubber bullets against protestors.

President Salome Zourabichvili of Georgia vetoed the legislation shortly after its passage, but the party plans to override this veto.

In response to these developments, Blinken stated that the U.S. would impose visa restrictions on those responsible for repressive actions against civil society and peaceful assembly in Georgia.

Additionally, there are discussions in Washington about potential incentives for Georgia, including military support and trade benefits, if it reverses the anti-democratic trends.

The European Union is also considering sanctions, with some members suggesting suspending Georgia's visa-free travel status and its EU candidacy.
LATAM Airlines is heating up this summer with an exciting sale, offering affordable flights to top destinations in South America. The airline, headquartered in Santiago, Chile, has slashed prices for both economy and business class seats.

If you're planning a South American adventure, now might be the perfect time to book your tickets.

Fly South with LATAM Airlines Deals

You can find these deals on LATAM Airlines' website, included in their "Big Deals" promotion. This limited-time offer is available on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's wise to act fast.

Economy fares to places like Bogota, Medellin, and Quito start at under $400, and even luxurious business class seats are surprisingly affordable.

For those near cities like Boston, Miami, or Orlando, you can fly economy to Bogota, Colombia, without breaking the bank.

If Medellin is on your radar, cities like Atlanta and Chicago have you covered with low fares. Quito, Ecuador, also joins the list with budget-friendly options from Baltimore, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Looking for a more elevated experience? Business class fares are also on sale. Fly from Baltimore or Raleigh-Durham to Bogota starting at just $1,148.90. Routes to Lima from cities including Baltimore and San Francisco start at $1,818.25, while flights to Santiago from Miami are priced from $1,897.30.

Since merging with LAN Airlines and TAM Airlines in 2016, LATAM Airlines has expanded its network.

Although it left the Oneworld alliance in 2020, a partnership with Delta Air Lines was formed in 2022, enhancing benefits like mileage credits to Delta SkyMiles, extra baggage allowances, priority boarding, and access to Delta Sky Club lounges.

This summer, LATAM Airlines invites you to explore South America at prices that are hard to resist. Don't miss out on these amazing deals. Make your travel plans today and start packing for the adventure of a lifetime.

Related Article : LATAM Airlines First in South America to Offer Disney+ Onboard

About LATAM Airlines

LATAM Airlines Group S.A. is making waves in both passenger and cargo air transport, serving vital domestic markets such as Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru, as well as numerous international destinations.

This extensive network offers a wide range of destinations and enhances connectivity through frequent flights and varied connection options.

LATAM Airlines stands out in an industry known for rapid changes and challenges by offering travelers unique opportunities to explore the world. Passengers enjoy several benefits that enhance their travel experience, setting the airline apart in a competitive market.

Moreover, LATAM Airlines is deeply committed to diversity and sustainable development across South America. The airline actively promotes inclusive practices and environmental sustainability, striving to make a positive impact in the regions it serves.

This commitment positions LATAM Airlines as a leader in air travel and fostering growth and development within the community.

As the airline continues to expand its services and initiatives, it remains a prominent player in the global aviation industry, dedicated to delivering exceptional service and value to its customers and the community.
Deputy Prime Minister Le Minh Khai (R) and Lao Minister of Finance Santiphab Phomevihane. (Photo: VNA)

At a reception for visiting Lao Minister of Finance Santiphab Phomevihane, he said the Vietnamese Party, State, and people always give top priority to consolidating and enhancing the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

Over the past time, the two sides have closely coordinated in implementing high-level agreements, and the outcomes of the 46th meeting of the Vietnam-Laos Intergovernmental Committee, co-chaired by the two Prime Ministers in Hanoi on January 7, along with meetings between other high-ranking leaders, he said.

For the collaboration between the two ministries, Khai said it has helped both fulfill their finance-budget tasks, and expressed his hope that they will continue working together to materialise agreements of the committee, and their joint statements and agreements in particular, contributing to socio-economic development in each country.

The Deputy PM noted his hope that Santiphab Phomevihane will pay more heed to the efficient use of capital assistance and removing obstacles to the cooperation.

For his part, the Lao official informed his host that the two sides have completed 80% of the plan set in their cooperation agreement, saying they will work harder to implement cooperation agreements and strengthen the time-honoured friendship between the two countries./.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and representatives of Vietnamese intellectuals in the RoK (Photo: VNA)

In his address, Minister Bui Thanh Son stressed that the BAViK's establishment marks an important milestone in the growth of the Vietnamese business community in the RoK and contributes to the overall development of OV communities abroad.

He noted that in 2022, the two countries established their comprehensive strategic partnership, with the RoK ranking first in foreign direct investment (FDI), second in official development assistance (ODA), and third in labour and trade cooperation.

The Vietnamese Party and State always offer special policies and mechanisms in support of OV business community, the minister said, urging Vietnamese entrepreneurs and firms to fully tap economic cooperation advantages and opportunities, foster connection with domestic partners, and contribute to both Vietnam's development and the Vietnam-RoK comprehensive strategic partnership.

The BAViK, officially recognised by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese on October 21, 2023, now has over 40 member companies operating in various sectors. Notably, they have invested in 29 projects in Vietnam out of a total of 421 by OVs from 32 countries and territories.

The same day, Minister Bui Thanh Son attended a dialogue with young Vietnamese intellectuals and scientists working in sci-tech fields in the RoK. He told the intellectuals that the Vietnamese Party, State and Government always appreciate the OVs economic, investment and brainpower potential.

The minister stressed that the Vietnamese Government is committed to promoting research and development (R&D), artificial intelligence (AI), and semiconductor industry. He highlighted favourable policies and institutions to attract talent, support entreprises and train human resources.

He informed the OV intellectuals that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a dedicated task force for semiconductor industry development, which is ready to work to connect OV expertise and technology with domestic partners to serve the cause of industrialisation and modernisation.

Expressing confidence in the Party and States policies and guidelines on national development, participants also offered specific proposals for sci-tech development at home./.
Ukraine's air defense units intercepted four Russian Shahed attack drones and an Iskander-K cruise missile on Friday, May 31.

Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported this on the Telegram messaging app, according to Ukrinform.

On the night of May 30 to 31, the Russian army attacked Kharkiv with five S-300/S-400 air defense missiles fired from the Belgorod region and Kyiv with an Iskander-K cruise missile launched from the Kursk region.

The enemy also launched four Shahed-131/136 type attack UAVs from the Yeysk area.

As a result of the combat work, anti-aircraft missile units and mobile fire groups destroyed four Shahed drones in the Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Dnipropetrovsk regions, as well as an Iskander-K missile in the Kyiv region.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has discussed current issues and Ukraine's priorities with the ambassadors of the EU countries.

He announced this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

According to Shmyhal, this is "the launch of Ukraine's membership negotiations in June, the implementation of reforms, the seizure of Russian assets, the Peace Formula, energy, and weapons."

Shmyhal said it was important for Ukraine to be able to use the weapons of its partners for strikes inside Russia, which will help strengthen the country's ability to defend itself.

He thanked the countries that have already announced this possibility publicly.

"Another priority is artillery ammunition. I thanked the Czech Republic for the initiative. We are counting on rhythmic and continuous deliveries of shells. We also considered the topic of increasing the production of Ukrainian weapons," Shmyhal said.

He also emphasized the need for air defense. At least seven Patriot systems and F-16 fighter jets will significantly help protect people and critical infrastructure, Shmyhal said.

The participants in the meeting paid special attention to energy.

"I thanked [the EU ambassadors] for the provision of the necessary equipment to restore facilities. I also called [on them] to consider increasing the capacity of electricity import from 1.7 GW to 2.2 GW. This is important against the background of Russian energy terror," Shmyhal said.

He thanked the EU countries for their "unwavering support and understanding of urgent needs to continue the struggle for our common values."

Photo credit: Denys Shmyhal/Telegram
Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Vo Van Hoan presents books about Ho Chi Minh City to Ms. Carmen Cano de Lasala, Spanish Ambassador to Vietnam. (Photo: hcmcpv.org.vn)

At the meeting, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Vo Van Hoan expressed his belief that Ambassador Carmen Cano de Lasala's visit to Ho Chi Minh City will be a premise for many new projects and cooperative activities between Spain and Vietnam, and with Ho Chi Minh City; helping the two sides better understand the untapped potential and opportunities for cooperation.

He noted that Vietnam and Spain are seeing good development in trade and investment relationships. Spain is one of Vietnam's leading partners in Europe. Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Vo Van Hoan said that Spain is one of Ho Chi Minh City's important trade and investment partners. In 2023, two-way trade turnover between Ho Chi Minh City and Spain reached more than USD300 million, of which Ho Chi Minh City exported about USD180 million to Spain and imported about USD120 million from Spain.

Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Vo Van Hoan said that Ho Chi Minh City and Spain still have a lot of room and potential to develop cooperative relations, especially in the fields that Ambassador Carmen Cano de Lasala proposed, such as green growth, trade, investment, people-to-people exchange and Spanish language training. He also noted that Ho Chi Minh City plans to build seven more urban railway lines and he hoped that Spain could participate in these projects.

On behalf of Ho Chi Minh City leaders, he invited Spain and its localities to participate in the Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum held in Ho Chi Minh City in September 2024.

Spanish Ambassador to Vietnam Carmen Cano de Lasala expressed her impression of the dynamic development in Ho Chi Minh City, adding that Spain and Vietnam, including Ho Chi Minh City, have many similarities as well as challenges to promote cooperation in the future. Noting that Spanish businesses increasingly want to cooperate with Vietnam and Ho Chi Minh City, she proposed a number of areas that Spain can share experiences and promote cooperation with Ho Chi Minh City such as green growth, adaptation to climate change, high-speed railway development, and tourism development./.
The organizing board welcomes contestants from over 50 schools across Hungary. (Photo: VNA)

The contest, running from March to the end of April, received 346 entries, while its Facebook fanpage saw 87,867 posts by contestants.

The Vietnamese Women's Association in Hungary and the Vietnamese Embassy in Budapest have jointly organized the award ceremony for the contest.

The first prize of the contest was given to two Hungarian students, with Szabo Zeteny winning first prize for ages one to four and Sebok Lilla claiming the first prize for ages five to eight.

With a desire to widely popularize Vietnam's culture, land and people to international friends, as well as the second and third generations of Vietnamese people in Hungary, the organizing board initiated the idea of the painting contest, which received a positive response from the community.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Hungary Nguyen Thi Bich Thao highly appreciated the Vietnamese Women's Association in Hungarys initiative of organizing the drawing contest about Vietnam.

This is a new, very effective direction in popularizing Vietnam. We not only introduce the nation to Hungarian friends, but also inspire and encourage students, teachers, and parents to actively learn about the land, people, traditions, landscapes and development of Vietnam, she said.

Graphic artist Molnar Peter said that entries in the contest highlight the image of Vietnam with thousands of years of history vividly blended with a modern Vietnam with international integration.

Along with famous landscapes of Vietnam, the paintings also feature the costumes of ethnic minority groups of Vietnam, natural masterpieces, and buildings of Vietnam, providing insight into a modern and bustling nation with peaceful spaces, he said.

At the award ceremony, Ambassador Thao awarded Certificates of Merit to six prize winners. In addition to the two first prizes, the second and third prizes went to contestants from Vietnam, China and Denmark. The Organizing Board also received a certificate of merit for its creative ideas and successful organization of the competition./.
At the meeting (Photo: thoidai.com.vn)

At the meeting, Ms. Kate Bui introduced the International Master of Business Administration (IMBA) program that NTU Singapore is implementing in Vietnam. This is a 15-month part-time program, taught in English. With strengths in science and technology, NTU Singapore equips students with important skills and knowledge to thrive in the green and technological economy. Working people can study this program in Vietnam. Upon completion, students receive a degree from NTU Singapore.

On October 12, 2023, NTU Singapore coordinated with University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City to deploy the IMBA program in Vietnam. Ms. Kate Bui hopes that the Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association will support NTU Singapore in connecting with Vietnamese businesses so that the university can share more with them about the IMBA program and its cooperation model.

Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Nguyen Duc Hung welcomed NTU Singapore's IMBA program in Vietnam and believed that the program will contribute to promoting educational cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore.

He said that the Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association is ready to support NTU Singapore in connecting with a number of universities and businesses in Vietnam. He also suggested that NTU Singapore, with the support of the Singaporean Embassy in Vietnam and the Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association, could organize meetings and seminars to introduce its training program to representatives of businesses and universities in Vietnam./.
In a bold and controversial move, Richard Corcoran, President of New College of Florida, has threatened to withhold the degrees of students who disrupted the college's May 17 commencement ceremony.

The protest was sparked by the commencement address of Joe Ricketts, a conservative billionaire and former CEO of TD Ameritrade, whose speech was cut short due to the students' actions. The unfolding events have raised significant debate about free speech, academic freedom, and the consequences of student activism.

The Protest at Commencement

The tension at New College of Florida's commencement ceremony was palpable as students booed and jeered at the invited speaker, Joe Ricketts. The protestors, visibly agitated, wore stoles representing the Palestinian flag and chanted "Free Palestine!" throughout the event. Ricketts, known for his conservative views and a past controversy involving leaked emails containing racist and Islamophobic sentiments, attempted to discuss his journey to wealth and the potential dangers of artificial intelligence. However, the persistent interruptions forced President Corcoran to cut his speech short. As Ricketts stepped away from the microphone, he was overheard expressing frustration, "I hate it, but they really don't care what I have to say."

The student protest was not entirely unexpected. New College of Florida, a public liberal arts institution located on Florida's Gulf Coast, has been a hotbed of political controversy since Governor Ron DeSantis overhauled the university's board of trustees in January 2023. The newly appointed conservative members swiftly fired the former president, Patricia Okker, eliminated the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) office, and witnessed the departure of approximately one-third of the faculty. This tumultuous backdrop set the stage for the student unrest witnessed at the commencement ceremony.

READ MORE : New College Of Florida Appoints Scholar Advocating Colonialism, Raises Concerns Amid Conservative Overhaul

Potential Consequences and Institutional Response

Following the protest, President Corcoran announced severe potential consequences for the students involved, including withholding their degrees. Other disciplinary actions could range from mandatory enrollment in a class on civil discourse to suspension or even expulsion. In a statement obtained by The Sarasota Herald-Tribune, Corcoran emphasized the need for order and respect for diverse viewpoints, highlighting the administration's commitment to maintaining a disciplined academic environment.

New College officials underscored their stance by filing five conduct violation complaints against the protesting students, citing their failure to adhere to pre-established instructions regarding the consequences of such actions. Prior to the ceremony, the college had issued a memo outlining its expectations for decorum, which included a warning against political protests during the event. The memo stated, "While we respect and honor the First Amendment, a commencement ceremony is not the time nor place to hold a political protest."

Corcoran reiterated this sentiment in an opinion column published in The Wall Street Journal, where he argued that the students' actions reflected a troubling intolerance for diverse viewpoints. He assured that the students would receive due process through the school's upper-level conduct hearings, emphasizing that New College would not be ruled by an "illiberal attitude."

Broader Implications and Ongoing Debate

The incident at New College of Florida has sparked a broader debate about the role of free speech and student activism in higher education. Critics argue that Corcoran's actions represent an overreach of administrative power and a stifling of student expression. They contend that commencement ceremonies are significant public forums where students should be allowed to voice their concerns and dissent, particularly on pressing social and political issues.

Supporters of Corcoran's stance, however, argue that maintaining order and respect during formal academic events is crucial. They believe that the students' disruptive behavior undermined the spirit of the commencement ceremony and disrespected the speaker's right to share his views. This camp views Corcoran's response as a necessary measure to uphold the values of civil discourse and academic decorum.

The controversy at New College also reflects the broader ideological battles being waged within American higher education, particularly in states like Florida, where conservative leaders are actively seeking to reshape public universities. Governor DeSantis's overhaul of New College's board of trustees and the subsequent policy changes have been part of a larger effort to promote conservative values and limit progressive influences on campus.

As New College of Florida navigates the fallout from the commencement protest, the institution finds itself at the center of a national conversation about free speech, academic freedom, and the limits of student activism. President Corcoran's decision to threaten the withholding of degrees has highlighted the tensions between maintaining order and respecting diverse viewpoints. As the college moves forward with its conduct hearings, the outcome will likely have lasting implications for the students involved and the broader academic community.
In recent years, academic freedom and university autonomy have come under increasing threat from a wave of legislative actions across the United States.

A new report by the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) sheds light on this concerning trend, revealing that more than 150 bills aimed at undermining academic freedom and university autonomy were introduced in 35 state legislatures between 2021 and 2023.

The Rise of Legislative Attacks

The AAUP report, titled "Manufacturing Backlash: Right-Wing Think Tanks and Legislative Attacks on Higher Education," paints a troubling picture of the state of academic freedom in the United States. According to the report, 21 of the bills introduced during this period were signed into law, reflecting a significant and growing threat to academic freedom. These bills target a range of issues, including academic gag orders, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) bans, and anti-tenure measures, all of which are seen as attempts to stifle free speech and academic inquiry.

READ MORE : Campus Free Speech And Academic Freedom Clash Amid Targeting Of Pro-Palestinian Expression

The Role of Right-Wing Think Tanks

Central to the AAUP's report is the identification of 11 right-wing think tanks that have played a key role in promoting and supporting these legislative attacks on higher education. These think tanks, which include well-known organizations such as the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute, have been instrumental in shaping public opinion and influencing policymakers. By framing higher education as a bastion of liberal indoctrination, these think tanks have helped generate public support for measures aimed at restricting academic freedom.

Impacts on Higher Education

The implications of these legislative attacks on higher education are profound and far-reaching. One of the most immediate impacts is the chilling effect it has on faculty speech and academic freedom. As the AAUP report highlights, many faculty members now feel pressured to self-censor or avoid controversial topics for fear of retribution. This not only undermines the quality of education but also threatens the very foundation of academic freedom.

Another major impact is the empowerment of governing boards to prioritize conservative viewpoints in curricula and hiring. By mandating certain viewpoints or limiting the discussion of certain topics, these laws effectively undermine the academic integrity of universities and colleges. Moreover, by imposing restrictions on DEI efforts, these laws hinder efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable learning environment for all students.

In the face of these challenges, the AAUP and other organizations are advocating for a renewed commitment to academic freedom and university autonomy. This includes pushing back against legislative attacks through advocacy and legal action, as well as promoting a broader understanding of the importance of academic freedom in a democratic society.

At the same time, universities and colleges must also take proactive measures to protect academic freedom within their institutions. This includes ensuring that faculty members are free to pursue research and teaching without fear of reprisal, as well as promoting a culture of open inquiry and debate.

Ultimately, the defense of academic freedom is not just a matter for educators and policymakers; it is a fundamental principle that underpins our democracy. As such, a concerted effort from all stakeholders is required to protect and preserve it for future generations.
May 31 2024

A former care home is to become assisted living apartments for young adults to live independent lives in a managed environment.

Thornhill Care Home in Wishaw closed its doors in 2023 before being bought by South Lanarkshire care provider Keane Premier Healthcare. Working with S2 Architecture the team will construct a single-storey extension and undertake internal and external modifications as part of the change of use from a nursing home to assisted living flats.

In a statement, S2 director Steven Strang told Urban Realm: "The previous Thornhill Care Home will be converted into apartments for assisted living for 9 young adults to live independently with care provided 24/7 in a structured environment. Although living independently we have introduced spaces internally and externally for the young adults to come together and live as part of a community."

External works include the removal of a fire escape stair, replacement windows and over-cladding the first-floor area above the porch in natural timber. The bulk of the work will take place internally, however, notably the single-storey extension which will be partitioned to provide four flats each with independent access from new window and door openings.
Pakistan on Friday reiterated its call for India to stop its ongoing campaign to suppress political activists and intimidate the Kashmiri public in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st May, 2024) Pakistan on Friday reiterated its call for India to stop its ongoing campaign to suppress political activists and intimidate the Kashmiri public in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

"The headquarters of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference in Srinagar also remains sealed. India must stop its ongoing campaign to suppress political activists and intimidate the Kashmiri public. The people of Jammu and Kashmir should be able to freely exercise their right to self-determination as enshrined in the relevant UN Security Council resolutions," the Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at her weekly press briefing here.

Highlighting the unabated Indian authorities' campaign to crush dissent in IIOJK and the confiscation of properties, she told the media that earlier this week, the properties including lands and a shop of two more Kashmiri youth were sealed in Shopian District. The Indian authorities had so far seized hundreds of properties across the occupied territory to punish Kashmiri activists, she added.

The spokesperson reiterated Pakistan's resolve to continue extending political, diplomatic, and moral support to Kashmiris for the just and peaceful settlement of the dispute as per the UN Security Council resolutions.

She told the media that during his visit from May 29-30, Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Acting President Yousuf Raza Gilani, besides holding in-depth talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar.

The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral strategic relations and broaden the scope of cooperation in all areas of mutual interests and agreed to enhance parliamentary exchanges, strengthen cultural cooperation, and promote people-to-people exchanges.

The spokesperson mentioned a symposium held by the foreign ministry in connection with Vesak Day that brought together foreign delegates, including at the ministerial level, prominent Buddhist monks, and scholars on Buddhism and interfaith understanding.

Besides showcasing Pakistan's rich cultural heritage, the event explored the dimensions of Gandharan Heritage that emerged over 3,000 years ago in Northwest Pakistan, the importance of building bridges and understanding between different communities.

Spokesperson Baloch highlighted the fourth round of Pakistan-Greece Bilateral Political Consultations held on May 29 in Athens, and the sixth round of Pakistan-Hungary Bilateral Political Consultations on May 27 in Budapest.

During the meetings, the respective sides agreed to further advancing high-level dialogue and cooperation, and work together on maintaining a positive trajectory in bilateral ties.

She told the media that on May 29, Pakistan and St. Lucia formally established diplomatic ties at a ceremony in New York. The joint communique was signed by Pakistan's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Munir Akram, and his counterpart from St. Lucia.

"Over the last three years, Pakistan has established diplomatic relations with Palau, Kiribati, the Dominican Republic, St. Kitts & Nevis, and the Commonwealth of Dominica. This decision reflects Pakistans firm commitment to enhance its diplomatic outreach and expand cooperation with countries around the globe," the spokesperson remarked.

The spokesperson announced that at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif would undertake an official visit to China from June 4-8.

In Beijing, he will meet President Xi and hold delegation-level talks with Premier Li, besides meeting with Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, and heads of key government departments. The prime minister will also visit the cities of Xi'an and Shenzhen.

An important aspect of Prime Minister Shehbaz's visit will be meetings with corporate executives of leading Chinese companies dealing in oil and gas, energy, ICT, and emerging technologies.

In Shenzhen, he will address the Pakistan-China Business Forum with leading businesspersons, entrepreneurs, and investors from both countries. He will also visit economic and agricultural zones in China.
Since its premiere in May, the TV series To the Wonder has sparked widespread discussions across the nation. Adapted from Li Juan's celebrated prose collection My Altay, the series revolves around the character Li Wenxiu, inspired by the author herself, commencing with Li's return from the bustling city to her rootsa tranquil village nestled in the Altay Prefecture, situated in the northernmost reaches of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China. The series explores the lives of Li and her family, portraying their daily interactions with Kazakh friends like Batay and Token amidst the pastoral wonder. With the popularity of the series, Altay Prefecture has now emerged as a source of fascination for audience in search of "poems and dreams".

A still from the TV series To the Wonder shows the scenery of the summer pasture in Altay, northwest China's Xinjing Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

The image shows Yu Shi during an interview with Guangming Online.

In this episode: Yu Shi, cast as Batay, joins Guangming Online to delve deeper into the essence of the character and explore his observations of the lives of Kazakh nomadic herders in Altay.

A still from the TV series To the Wonder shows Yu Shi as Batay playing the guitar. (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

Describing Batay, Yu Shi highlighted his complexity. "He is a rough-looking man with a delicate heart, a young Kazakh with a strong inner core and pure childlike heart," Yu said. Batay's personality is shaped by the demanding yet serene environment of Altay. "As a Kazakh child, he shoulders heavy responsibilities early on, like herding sheep while the environment, devoid of urban complications, cultivates a pure heart."

A still from the TV series To the Wonder shows Yu Shi as Batay tending a horse. (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

Yu Shi observed that life for Kazakhs in Altay, while tough, is marked by a sense of freedom and purity. "The troubles and challenges they face can be solved with their bare hands. They might worry about a sudden snowfall while moving to a new pastoral area or if they need to move to the winter pasture early. These issues can be solved with their hands and their wisdom, which not necessarily causes mental anxiety. "

There is a saying that the word "Kazakh" inherently means "brave and free people migrating across vast grasslands." In China, Kazakhs are mainly distributed in the Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture in northern Xinjiang, the two Kazakh autonomous counties of Mulei and Barkol in eastern Xinjiang, and the Aksay Kazakh Autonomous County in Gansu. Li Juan, the original author of My Altay, mentioned in another of her works, Sheep Path, that "Kazakh herders in the nomadic regions of northern Xinjiang are probably the last and purest nomadic people in the world. The distances they migrate each year and the frequency of their moves are astounding."

In the series, Batay's father rides a horse to herd the sheep during the migration. (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

Horses, referred to as the "wings" of the Kazakhs, have been the longest-standing companions of this nomadic people. Regarding the role of horse-riding in Kazakh culture, Yu Shi noted that Kazakh boys typically learn to ride not for competitions but for practical purposes like herding sheep. However, a twist of fate reveals to Batay the many other possibilities of horse-riding, such as becoming an athlete, veterinarian, or horse trainer. This openness to new experiences characterizes Batay's growth and increasing interest in the wider world.

A still from the TV series To the Wonder shows Yu Shi as Batay grazing sheep. (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

In To the Wonder, Batay faces a major life choice: return to nomadic life or embrace the city. This conflict mirrors a generational divide among Kazakhs. Yu Shi, who spent months in Altay, feels a deep connection to the culture." Batay, unlike most Kazakh boys, loves new things like music and has long hair, hinting at his rebellious and artistic nature," Yu noted. This character's evolution reflects the broader narrative of younger Kazakhs grappling with tradition and modernity.

A still from the TV series To the Wonder shows Yu Shi as Batay shooting an arrow. (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

Drawing from his interactions with local Kazakhs, Yu Shi remarked, "Many young Kazakhs are trying to preserve their culture. They can embrace the city, but they should also remember their own culture." This sentiment reflects the delicate balance between embracing modernity and preserving cultural heritage.

Some media outlets have reported that many young Kazakhs have modernized traditional herding practices. Among them,some now graze sheep using motorcycles and engage in livestreaming while herding. With access to better education, some young Kazakhs attend universities in Beijing. After graduation, they choose diverse paths: some remain in the city, while others return to their hometowns to start businesses, such as selling Kazakh embroidery and handicrafts through livestreaming. As Xinjiang's tourism industry flourishes, some become tour guides, leading visitors on hiking and horseback riding trips in the mountains, staying in yurts, and enjoying local dairy products and meat dishes.

While some young Kazakhs move away from traditional herding jobs, their unique culture remains vibrant, especially in festivals, cuisine, clothing, and performing arts such as music and dance, including the playing of the dombra and the dance Kara Zhorga. Kazakhs place great importance on their festivals, such as Kurban-Ait and Nauryz.During these celebrations, they partake in traditional games like kokpar, a rugged test of riders' skills where they strive to seize and deliver a ram carcass, alongside horse racing, and kyz kuu, which translates to "catch up with the girl." Despite the passage of time, these cultural traditions have remained largely unchanged.

As To the Wonder continues to captivate audiences, it does more than just tell a story; it acts as a bridge between the past and the present, the traditional and the contemporary. The series not only highlights the unique cultural tapestry of the Kazakh people but also prompts viewers to reflect on their own cultural roots and the impacts of modernization.

Li Wenxiu's journey back to her roots and Batay's struggle between two worlds resonate with many young people today who are navigating similar paths of self-discovery and cultural preservation. The series serves as a reminder that while progress is inevitable, it is equally important to cherish and maintain one's heritage.

The scenic landscapes of Altay, beautifully captured in the series, invite viewers to appreciate the natural beauty and rich cultural history of Xinjiang. This visual and narrative feast has sparked a newfound interest in the region, encouraging more people to explore and understand the lives of its inhabitants.

Ultimately, To the Wonder is a celebration of cultural diversity and resilience. It encourages a dialogue about the importance of cultural identity in an increasingly globalized world. As viewers follow the characters' journeys, they are inspired to honor their own histories while embracing the possibilities of the future.

Editor: WXY
Director Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco), A.K.M Shafaat Ali said on Friday that PAKSAT MM-1 satellite will enter in its orbit above earth surface in next few days

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st May, 2024) Director Pakistan Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco), A.K.M Shafaat Ali said on Friday that PAKSAT MM-1 satellite will enter in its orbit above earth surface in next few days.

PAKSAT MM-1 satellite is a five-ton multi-mission satellite, equipped with advanced communication gadgets, will enable effective internet provision in remote areas such as Gwadar and Gilgit Baltistan, where optical fiber was not available, he told a private news channel.

"The satellite will provide a range of communication services, including broadband internet, tv broadcasting, mobile banking, and VSAT connectivity," he said and added, this will also contribute to the establishment of a sophisticated communication network, meeting the growing demands of the telecom sector and addressing the increasing demand for high-speed internet and seamless connectivity.

Dr Ali said that the Primary objective of PAKSAT MM-1 was to strengthen Pakistan's communication infrastructure, paving the way for broadening the horizons for connectivity, serving the unserved, and transforming Pakistan into a digital powerhouse.

To a query, he emphasized that successful launching of PAKSAT MM-1, is a testament to country's commitment to harnessing the power of technology to drive economic growth, improve lives, and bridge the digital divide.

It may be mentioned here that Pakistan has launched its second communication satellite, PAKSAT MM-1, from China's Xichang Satellite Launch Centre on May 30. This development comes after the country launched its first satellite as part of China's Chang'e-6 lunar mission from Hainan earlier this month.
Sindh Home Minister, Zia ul Hassan Lanjar, Friday said that Sindh government had released Rs 1 billion for the first phase of Karachi Safe City Project aimed at making the metropolis a peaceful and crime free city

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st May, 2024) Sindh Home Minister, Zia ul Hassan Lanjar, Friday said that Sindh government had released Rs 1 billion for the first phase of Karachi Safe City Project aimed at making the metropolis a peaceful and crime free city.

While chairing a meeting held here at DIG CTD office to discuss the first phase of the Karachi Safe City Project, the home minister emphasized the need of swift completion of the project within 12 months.

He mentioned that Sindh government had transferred Rs 3 billion to the project account for expediting the necessary works for launch of the project. The objectives of the safe city project are to eliminate crime and apprehend criminal elements and the government wants to expand it to other cities of the province after its launch in the capital Karachi, he added.

The minister expressed his commitment to the objective of making Karachi a peaceful, secure and crime free city and underscored the importance of the Safe City Project in achieving the goal.

Briefing the participants of the meeting on the progress and priorities of the project, Director General Safe City Project, Asif Aijaz Sheikh informed that Pakistan's largest screen and data centre would be established under the project.

As many as 12000 cameras will be installed at selected locations in Karachi while 2000 existing cameras to be upgraded, he said adding that plans were underway to install 10,000 more cameras across the city and all the cameras would be connected through fiber optic cables.
The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Friday organized a special stakeholder discussions on World Tobacco Day being observed under the theme Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry here and to evolve strategies for preventing over 1200 adolescent and youth opting smoking per day in this country

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st May, 2024) The Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) on Friday organized a special stakeholder discussions on World Tobacco Day being observed under the theme Protecting Children from Tobacco Industry here and to evolve strategies for preventing over 1200 adolescent and youth opting smoking per day in this country.

Opening the discussion, Abdul Rahman, Director Operations, Punjab food Authority (PFA) said without strict penalty to the violators, no outcome was possible in stemming smoking among the youth.

Media and communications are important tools to create impact on hazards of smoking and guiding the youth

to shun misleading concepts on opting smoking through health risks. Moreover, the universities should abstain from offering leniency towards smoking in its premises, he said.

The major consumption of tobacco was at educational institutions that could be managed through stringent punishments like business closures, he added.

Syed Ali Wasif Naqvi, Head of Policy, Advocacy and Outreach, SDPI in his presentation said as per the 2022 data, over 37 million adolescents aged 13-15 globally use tobacco.

In the WHO European Region, 11.5% of boys and 10.1% of girls in this age group are tobacco users.

Notably, electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches are increasingly popular among youth, with 12.5% of adolescents in the European Region using e-cigarettes in 2022 compared to 2% of adults, he said.

Naqvi mentioned that with over 1200 children initiating tobacco use daily in this country, and permeation of electronic tobacco and nicotine products in schools, colleges, and universities, the statistics are showing an alarming situation.

The tobacco industry, he said targets youth to replace millions of customers lost annually to death or cessation.

The industry employs appealing products and advertising tactics aimed at children and adolescents, using social media and streaming platforms, he added.

Dr Minhaj us Siraj, CEO Health Syndicate said the tobacco industry was engaging with children through labour in the tobacco fields, whereas those kids were not able to enter schools to acquire education for life. He also mentioned green leaf disease. He underlined that the exposure of adolescents to dangerous chemicals in tobacco processing was causing severe health complications among them. He said that child protection from tobacco industry needs to be started from the fields.

Dr Siraj underlined that SRO 2024 implementation needs to be done in true letter and spirit, whereas his organization during the advocacy and awareness efforts had approached mosques to flag the issue in jumma sermons, and also in 2020, it was highlighted in Makkah.

He pointed out that online sale of tobacco products was a major challenge at present as it was going unchecked.

Lancet journals study claimed that developed countries were involved in suppressing less developed countries achieving positive results in smoking reduction efforts. Pakistan is among the 28 countries where the tobacco ending game is near and also leading in Eastern Mediterranean region in 2023, Dr Siraj mentioned.

He highlighted that without the civil societys support, no achievement in this cause was possible.

Dr Amina Khan, Executive Director, The Initiative, said, Generally 1 out of 3 people die of tobacco who do not quit tobacco use or smoking, whereas 1200 children between the age of 6-15 start smoking every day in this part of the South Asian region. Two out of five adult smokers start smoking at the age of 10 which rings alarm bells for all to start focusing on the toddlers.

She noted that the policy and implementation by Pakistan was ranked very well globally whereas it should be kept abreast with the emerging trends of the tobacco industry as modern products like vapes, velo, and smokeless tobacco products are introduced that don't fall under the legislation.

To protect youth, she said the availability of single cigarettes, advertisement, and prevention needs to be given a high priority in the enforcement, policy, and awareness endeavours.

Youth engagement in policy-making is important to devise policy actions that are well guided and properly conceived in line with the ground realities to bear optimum results, she added.

Muhammad Aftab Ahmed, Project Manager Tobacco Control Cell at MoNHSR&C said the government is working on introducing the first smoke-free model for youth in the Federal capital to promote no smoking culture among the juvenile and youth.

Ahmed, said the SRO 72 of 2020 has not been implemented completely which could help remove cigarettes from the racks of the shopkeepers whereas presently the focus is on reducing advertisements of tobacco products, increasing taxes, and embracing a paradigm shift over a tobacco-free generation.

He said the government was intending to levy a 30% increased tax on tobacco products in this budget.

Dr Waseem Janjua, Research Fellow, SDPI said the tobacco industry was increasing "misleading tactics" through advertisements promoting tobacco products that were trapping the innocent youth of the country.

He said according to a study in the US, the tobacco industry was pumping in $7.62 billion in lieu off tobacco promoting advertisements that indicated the massive magnitude of capital investment to mislead masses on smoking.

Secretary General PANAH, Sanaullah Ghumman said the responses to challenges and crises matters in the fight against tobacco risk and other issues. He added that awareness and advocacy were an expensive and time-consuming laborious task that could be replaced with the option of increasing penalties for smoking and tobacco usage amongst children which could more encouraging outcomes.

Over 100 countries have increased taxes on cigarettes making it inaccessible for children that can help protect the 1200 children at risk, he said.

In his vote of thanks, Khurram Hashmi said the session was a much-needed discussion on World No Tobacco Day that helped convene the experts for their insights that should be promoted further in the policy and community circles.
Prague, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st May, 2024) NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Friday called on members to commit to keeping annual military aid for Ukraine at a minimum of 40 billion Euros ($43 billion), after alliance foreign ministers debated long-term support for Kyiv.

NATO members -- led by the United States -- have given the vast bulk of military aid to Kyiv to help it battle against Russia's invasion since Moscow attacked in 2022.

"Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, allies have provided approximately 40 billion euros worth of military aid to Ukraine each year. We must maintain at least this level of support each year, for as long as necessary," Stoltenberg told journalists after foreign minsters met in Prague.

"I have also proposed that allies should share this burden equitably."

The head of the Western military alliance said he wanted NATO's 32 countries to hammer out the "multi-year financial pledge for Ukraine" to announce it at a summit of leaders in Washington in July.

"We need a firm commitment for the long haul to ensure that Ukraine is able to plan, to ensure that Ukraine has the predictability they need to conduct this war of self-defence," Stoltenberg said.

He said that one way to measure each country's commitment could be to tie it to the size of their gross domestic product, but the plan was not finalised.

"We will now start the work on the details of such a financial pledge," Stoltenberg said.

Over two years into Russia's all-out war on Ukraine, Stoltenberg is seeking to put NATO's support on a firmer footing ahead of a possible return to the US presidency of Donald Trump.
Prague, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st May, 2024) NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg Friday downplayed Kremlin threats of escalation after President Joe Biden secretly lifted restrictions on Ukraine using US-supplied weapons against targets inside Russian territory, as five people were killed in an overnight strike on Kharkiv.

The daily pounding of Ukraine's second-biggest city has caused a shift in Washington's thinking, which has heretofore resisted allowing Ukraine to use longer-range US weapons to attack Russian territory, fearing it could drag NATO into the direct conflict with Russia.

The Kremlin accused the West on Thursday of "entering a new round of escalations in tensions".

Stoltenberg, speaking to reporters at a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague, responded that "this is part of efforts by President (Vladimir) Putin and Moscow to prevent NATO allies from supporting Ukraine to defend themselves, and, again, Ukraine has the right for self defence and we have the right to help Ukraine."

US officials said Thursday that Biden had lifted restrictions on Ukraine using weapons supplied by the United States against targets on Russian territory, but only to defend Kharkiv.

Overnight, Russian strikes on a residential area in Kharkiv city killed five people and wounded at least 23 others, including two children, regional police said early Friday, warning residents could still be trapped under the rubble.

"The rescue and search operation continues. All services are working at the scene," said Oleg Synyegubov, Head of Kharkiv Region Military Administration.

Kharkiv Mayor Igor Terekhov said there had not been "a single military person, not a single military object" present.

The city is located just across the border from Russia's Belgorod and regularly comes under attack from Russian missiles.

Russian strikes that hit a hardware superstore in Kharkiv last weekend killed 16 people.

On the other side of the border, in Russia's southern Krasnodar region, Russia's military said on Friday that it had shot down 29 Ukrainian drones overnight that were targeting the port city of Novorossiisk and an oil depot in Temryuk.

The Temryuk strike sparked a fire, which raged for several hours before being extinguished, and wounded several oil depot workers, Krasnodar Region Governor Venyamin Kondratyev wrote on the Telegram social media channel.

No injuries were reported in the Novorossiisk strike, local authorities said.
Abuja, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st May, 2024) The Nigerian army said on Friday that five soldiers and six civilians were killed in a clash between soldiers and separatists in the southeast during an ambush on a checkpoint.

The main separatist group denied launching an attack on Thursday, as the region commemorated the more than one million people who died in the Biafra war and famine half a century ago.

The army said the armed wing of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement "sprang a surprise attack" near the city of Aba in Abia State.

"The attack sadly took the lives of five personnel," spokesman Major General Edward Buba said in a statement.

He later said "six civilians were killed in the crossfire."

The army vowed to retaliate, saying it would be "fierce in its response" against the group.

IPOB -- which wants a separate state for the ethnic Igbo people in southeast Nigeria -- routinely denies it is behind attacks, which have also been carried out by criminal gangs and political rivals using the group's name.

It had issued a strict order for people to remain indoors on Biafra Day and said it had not struck at a "time of mourning".

"We condemn the attack on military on duty in Aba," spokesman Emma Powerful said, blaming politically motivated "criminals".

Separatism is a sensitive topic in Nigeria, where a three-year civil war broke out in 1967 after Igbo army officers declared an independent Biafra state.

More than one million people died -- most of them Igbos -- from war, famine and disease.

The Nigerian government has banned IPOB as a terrorist organisation and accused it of stoking ethnic tensions by claiming genocide against Igbos.

Gunmen have targeted police, soldiers and electoral offices in the southeast in recent years in attacks authorities say are carried out by IPOB's Eastern Security Network paramilitary wing.
Geneva, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 1st Jun, 2024) Negotiations towards a global agreement on how to handle future pandemics seemed on course Friday to be extended for up to a year as countries try to bridge their differences.

Nations meeting at the annual World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva have been trying to work out the way forward, after two years of talks concluded last week without a deal.

In December 2021, spooked by the devastation caused by Covid-19 -- which killed millions of people, shredded economies and crippled health systems -- the WHA commissioned the drafting of an accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

The ambitious deadline was before the start of this week's WHA, the gathering of the World Health Organization's 194 member states and the UN agency's top decision-making body.

On Tuesday, the assembly tasked South Africa's Precious Matsoso and Roland Driece of the Netherlands, who co-chaired the two years of talks, to lead efforts to stake out the next steps.

Matsoso updated the assembly late Friday, saying the wording for an extension had effectively been agreed.

"It is text that was greened", meaning approved, "agreed to this morning", she said.

Matsoso said that once additional operative paragraphs were finalised, the group would "present it formally as a resolution" on Saturday, the assembly's final day.
Seoul, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st May, 2024) More trash-filled balloons from North Korea are expected to litter the South from Saturday, Seoul's military said, days after Pyongyang began its campaign to punish its neighbour.

North Korea sent around 260 balloons carrying bags of trash -- including waste batteries, cigarette butts and what appeared to be manure -- from Tuesday night to Wednesday, according to Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff, which condemned the move as "low-class" and inhumane.

Pyongyang has defended the move, saying the "sincere gifts" were retaliation for balloons full of propaganda against Kim Jong Un's rule sent northwards by activists in the South.

From Saturday, "north winds are forecasted, so the release of balloons carrying waste from the North to the South is expected", an official from the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Friday.

"We are closely monitoring the movements of the North Korean military and if such balloons are launched, an announcement will be made to the media," the official said, advising the public to refrain from touching the balloons if spotted and to report them to authorities.

The announcement by the JCS came a day after Pyongyang fired a salvo of short-range ballistic missiles.

North Korea also attempted to jam GPS signals for a third consecutive day on Friday but it did not hinder any military operations in the South, Seoul's military said.

Seoul's unification ministry condemned Pyongyang's latest provocations, calling them "irrational and nonsensical".

The moves "clearly reveal the true nature and level of the North Korean regime to the world", it said.

Seoul "will take all measures that North Korea will find difficult to bear" if Pyongyang does not cease such activities, the ministry said.

We "sternly warn that all responsibility for any subsequent situations will lie entirely with North Korea", it said.
One South African soldier was killed and 13 more wounded in a battle with M23 rebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the army said Friday

Johannesburg, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st May, 2024) One South African soldier was killed and 13 more wounded in a battle with M23 rebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the army said Friday.

South African troops have been deployed in the DRC as part of a Southern African Development Community (SADC) force helping the government put down a rebellion.

There have been several clashes between the force and the M23, the latest on Thursday at Sake, a town 25 kilometres (14 miles) west of Goma in restive North Kivu.

According to a statement from South African Defence Headquarters, a "battle ensued between M23 and our forces" in which "13 members were injured and one was fatally wounded".

"All the injured members were evacuated to Goma Hospital and are recuperating. Meanwhile two armoured personnel carriers were damaged during the engagement," it said.

The March 23 Movement resumed its armed campaign in eastern DRC at the end of 2021, seizing swathes of territory in war-torn but mineral-rich North Kivu province.

The Congolese army has tried to repel the rebel group, which has almost entirely encircled Goma, the provincial capital, where hundreds of thousands of displaced people have sought shelter.
Singapore, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 31st May, 2024) The US and Chinese defence chiefs were in Singapore on Friday for a major security forum where they are set to hold rare direct talks, with Taiwan and other flashpoint disputes expected to dominate the three-day event.

The meeting between the United States' Lloyd Austin and China's Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue will be the first substantive face-to-face talks between the two countries' defence chiefs in 18 months.

Defence chiefs and officials from around the world are attending the annual forum that has become a barometer of US-China relations in recent years.

This year's edition comes a week after China held military drills around Taiwan and warned of war over the US-backed island following the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, who Beijing has described as a "dangerous separatist".

The dispute over democratic Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory, tops the disputes between the rivals.

Beijing is also furious over Washington's deepening defence ties in the Asia-Pacific, particularly with the Philippines, and its regular deployment of warships and fighter jets in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea.

China views this as part of a decades-long US effort to contain it.

President Joe Biden's administration and China have been stepping up communication to ease friction between the nuclear-armed rivals, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken visiting Beijing and Shanghai last month.

A key focus has been the resumption of military-to-military dialogue.

China scrapped military communications with the United States in 2022 in response to then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan.

Tensions between Washington and Beijing were stoked further during 2023 by issues including an alleged Chinese spy balloon that was shot down over US airspace, a meeting between Taiwan's then-president Tsai Ing-wen and Pelosi's successor Kevin McCarthy, and American military aid for Taipei.

After a summit between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Biden in November last year, the two sides agreed to restart high-level military talks.
BEIJING, May 29 (Xinhua) -- The State Council Information Office of the People's Republic of China on Wednesday released a report on human rights violations in the United States in 2023.

The following is an abstract of the report.

The Report on Human Rights Violations in the United States in 2023

Abstract

The human rights situation in the United States continued to deteriorate in 2023. In the United States, human rights are becoming increasingly polarized. While a ruling minority holds political, economic, and social dominance, the majority of ordinary people are increasingly marginalized, with their basic rights and freedoms being disregarded.

Gun violence spills over, while the government's control policies are ineffective. There were at least 654 mass shootings in the United States in 2023. Approximately 43,000 people were killed by gun violence in 2023, averaging 117 deaths per day. Driven by partisan polarization and interest groups, a growing number of state governments have taken the initiative to push legislation to expand residents' rights to own and bear arms. In 2023, at least 27 states did not require a license to carry a handgun.

The government has abused its power to monitor citizens' privacy, suppressing freedom of speech and expression. The FBI redirected Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to conduct domestic surveillance, "persistent and widespread" monitoring of the communications of members of the Congress, congressional campaign donors, and anti-racist protesters. A growing number of states have passed legislation banning public schools from using educational materials and books that address specific topics such as race, history and gender. The number of faculty members punished or fired for speech and expression on U.S. college campuses has reached a 20-year high.

Deaths from police brutality hit a record high, rendering the police enforcement accountability system virtually non-existent. Police brutality persisted and at least 1,247 deaths were attributed to police violence, an average of roughly three people killed by officers each day. Internal-affairs departments are often more interested in exonerating colleagues than investigating misconduct, making it difficult for police to be held accountable, and more than half of police killings were incorrectly labeled as "general homicide or suicide" in CDC's official death statistics database.

The prominent issues of mass incarceration and forced labor make it a "prison nation." The United States is home to 5 percent of the world's population, but 25 percent of the world's prisoners, making it the country with the highest incarceration rate and the largest number of incarcerated individuals globally. Prisons force inmates to work for low or no pay, without benefits, while generating billions of dollars' worth of goods and services annually.

The two parties continue to manipulate the election. On the opening day of the 118th U.S. Congress in January 2023, the House of Representatives faced a "Speaker crisis," and 2023 was the lowest water mark for Congress' productivity ever since the American Civil War. The two parties continue to change their ways to manipulate the redistricting and distort public opinion for the sake of party self-interest. There are 16 states that have significant manipulation of congressional district boundaries, and 12 of them are states with serious manipulation of districts as a whole. The general public in the United States is extremely disappointed with the federal government and politics at all levels. A staggering 76 percent of Americans believe that their nation is in the wrong direction.

Ethnic minorities in the United States face systematic racial discrimination, as the chronic disease of racism persists. African American are three times more likely to be killed by police than whites, and 4.5 times more likely to be incarcerated. Nearly three quarters of Chinese Americans had experienced racial discrimination in the past year, and 55 percent feared that hate crimes or harassment would jeopardize their personal safety. Native Americans have lived in a constant state of cultural oppression, with their religious beliefs and traditional practices ruthlessly stifled. Racist ideology is spreading virulently in the United States and spilling across borders.

Growing economic and social inequality makes life extremely difficult for the poor. The United States has been refusing to ratify the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. The wealth gap has hit a record high since the Great Depression of 1929 under systematic designs to exploit the poor, subsidize the rich, and segregate the classes. The "working poor" caught in structural poverty lack equal opportunities and are difficult to move upwards. The number of homeless people in the United States exceeds 650,000, the highest since reporting began in 2007. Drug and substance abuse keeps raging. Suicide rates continue to rise.

The United States has not ratified the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, and remains the only UN member state which has not ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child. The U.S. Constitution does not prohibit gender-based discrimination. It is also the only country in the world that sentences children to life in prison without parole. The number of people dying from pregnancy-related causes in the United States has more than doubled in the last 20 years. More than 2.2 million U.S. women of childbearing age do not have access to obstetric care. At least 21 states in the United States ban or severely restrict abortion, where safe abortion is largely unavailable. Pregnancy discrimination is widespread, forcing nearly 54,000 women in the United States to leave their jobs every year. Millions of children have been excluded from the federal government's Medicaid health insurance program. Thousands of foster children go missing every year. Audits found state agencies failed to report an estimated 34,800 cases of missing foster kids across 46 states.

The humanitarian crisis along the border has escalated, causing heart-wrenching struggles of undocumented migrants. The U.S.-Mexico border is the world's deadliest land migration route, according to the United Nations migration agency. At least 149 migrants perished in the El Paso border patrol region in the 12 months ending on Sept. 30, 2023. In the fiscal year 2023, the number of immigrants apprehended or deported at the U.S. southern border reached more than 2.4 million, another record high. Migrants are also subjected to torture and other forms of inhuman treatment. U.S. border policies facilitate modern slavery. The U.S. government's border policies exacerbate the problem of human trafficking. Unaccompanied migrant children suffer from brutal forced labor and exploitation.

The United States has long pursued hegemonism, practiced power politics, and created humanitarian crises. In the theaters of war where the United States conducted overseas "counter-terrorism" operations following the 9/11 attacks, the total death toll ranges from at least 4.5 to 4.7 million people. The U.S. military violates the sovereignty and human rights of other nations via "proxy forces" programs and continued providing arms to conflict zones, resulting in massive civilian casualties. The notorious Guantanamo prison which severely violates human rights is still in operation. Prolonged and indiscriminate use of unilateral sanctions has caused serious humanitarian consequences. The United States has used more sanctions than any other country in the world.

In the United States, human rights is essentially a privilege enjoyed only by a few. The country's various human rights problems seriously threaten and hinder the healthy development of the world human rights cause. Enditem

Editor: WRX
USM Business Students Reach Second Round of Community Bank Case Study Competition

Fri, 05/31/2024 - 06:42am | By: Van Arnold

A team of business students from The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) has advanced to the second round of the 2024 CSBS Community Bank Case Study Competition.

Team members include: Julian Atehortua Martinez, Tyler Pierce, Walter Johnson, Garrett Lamky, and James Ankiewicz. They will join 10 other teams for the second round of judging.

The teams were chosen from a pool of 27 student teams that represent 21 colleges and universities across the nation. This marks the 10th year of the competition, which is open to undergraduate students in all fields of study as an opportunity to gain valuable first-hand knowledge of the banking industry.

This year, the teams have partnered with local community banks to learn about the closures of Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and First Republic Bank, identify the case study banks expectations for regulatory and supervisory change, and how they use social media in their daily operations.

We are thrilled to be among the top 11 teams to make it through the first round in this prestigious competition, said Chase Blankenship, Pine Belt Division Manager with The First and a part-time faculty member in the School of Finance at USM. Being the only team from Mississippi to advance is a tremendous honor, and it highlights the exceptional talent and commitment of these Southern Miss Business students. They have worked incredibly hard, and we are eager to continue our journey in the competition."

Results from the second round of judging will be announced on June 4. The top three teams will be announced on June 25.

Each student member and faculty advisor of the first-place winning team will receive a $1,000 scholarship and present their findings at the Community Banking Research Conference in St. Louis in early October. Their work will be published in the annual CSBS Journal of Community Bank Case Studies.

Teams that place second and third also will receive scholarships and have their works published in the journal. Learn more at www.csbs.org/bankcasestudy.
Vietnam Briefing has developed into a premium source for insight on doing business in Vietnam. It publishes business news concerning foreign direct investment into Vietnam, including the most important tax, legal and accounting issues. The Vietnam Briefing Magazine was first published in 2009, and is contributed to by investment professionals based in Vietnam.
Zhong Yuanzhang (1st L) communicates with colleagues on an experimental platform in Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)

Zhong Yuanzhang shows a model of Hualong One reactor at Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)

This file photo taken in August 2017 shows the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) of the No.5 unit of China National Nuclear Corporation's Fuqing nuclear power plant in southeast China's Fujian Province. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua)

Zhong Yuanzhang shows a nuclear reactor part at Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)

This file photo taken in August 2017 shows the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) of the No.5 unit of China National Nuclear Corporation's Fuqing nuclear power plant in southeast China's Fujian Province. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua)

Zhong Yuanzhang (2nd R) communicates with colleagues at an experimental platform in Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)

Zhong Yuanzhang (C) communicates with colleagues at Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)

Zhong Yuanzhang shows a 3D-printed nuclear reactor part at Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)

Zhong Yuanzhang (3th L) communicates with colleagues on an experimental platform in Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)

Zhong Yuanzhang shows a model of Hualong One reactor at Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)

Zhong Yuanzhang (1st R) communicates with colleagues on an experimental platform in Nuclear Power Institute of China in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 24, 2024. Zhong was the deputy chief designer of Hualong One nuclear power project of the Nuclear Power Institute of China. Since his graduation from Chengdu University of Science and Technology (now Sichuan University) majoring in chemical engineering in 1986, Zhong has been engaged in reactor structure design and participated in the R&D of more than half of China's nuclear power plants. (Xinhua/Liu Kun)

Editor: WXL
The 12-month grace period for student loan borrowers ended on September 30. The "on-ramp" period helped borrowers who are struggling to make payments avoid the risk of defaulting and hurting their credit score.

"The end of the on-ramp period means the beginning of the potentially harsh consequences for student loan borrowers who are not able to make payments," said Persis Yu, Deputy Executive Director at the Student Borrower Protection Center.

Around 43 million Americans have student loan debt, amounting to $1.5 trillion. Around eight million of those borrowers had enrolled in the SAVE plan, the newest income-driven repayment plan that extended the eligibility for borrowers to have affordable monthly student loan payments. However, this plan is currently on hold due to legal challenges.

With the on-ramp period and a separate program known as Fresh Start ending and the SAVE plan on hold, student loan borrowers who are struggling to afford their monthly payments have fewer options, added Yu. Student loan borrowers who haven't been able to afford their monthly payments must consider their options to avoid going into default.

If you have student loans, here's what you need to know.

What was the on-ramp period?

The Education Department implemented this grace period to ease the borrower's transition to make payments after a three-year payment pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. During this year-long period, borrowers were encouraged to keep making payments since interest continued to accumulate.

"Normally, loans will default if you fall about nine months behind on making payments, but during this on-ramp period, missed payments would not move people towards defaulting and then being subject to forced collections. However, if you missed payments, you still be falling behind ultimately on repaying your loans," said Abby Shaforth, director of National Consumer Law Center's Student Loan Borrower Assistance Project.

Since this grace period has ended, student loan borrowers who don't make payments will go delinquent or, if their loans are not paid for nine months, go into default.

Borrowers who cannot afford to make payments can apply for deferment or forbearance, which pause payments, though interest continues to accrue.

What happens if I don't make my payments?

Borrowers who can't or don't pay risk delinquency and eventually default. That can badly hurt your credit rating and make you ineligible for additional aid and government benefits.

If a borrower missed one month's payment, they will start receiving email notifications, said Shaforth. Once the loan hasn't been paid for three months, loan servicers notify to the credit reporting agencies that the loan is delinquent, affecting your credit history. Once the borrower hasn't paid the loan for nine months, the loan goes into default.

If you're struggling to pay, advisers first encourage you to check if you qualify for an income-driven repayment plan, which determines your payments by looking at your expenses. You can see whether you qualify by visiting the Federal Student Aid website. If you've worked for a government agency or a non-profit organization, you could also be eligible for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program, which forgives student debt after 10 years.

What happens when a loan goes into default?

When you fall behind on a loan by 270 days  roughly nine months  the loan appears on your credit report as being in default.

Once a loan is in default, it goes into collections. This means the government can garnish wages (without a court order) to go towards paying back the loan, intercept tax refunds, and seize portions of Social Security checks and other benefit payments.

What if I can't pay?

If your budget doesn't allow you to resume payments, it's important to know how to navigate the possibility of default and delinquency on a student loan. Both can hurt your credit rating, which would make you ineligible for additional aid.

If you're in a short-term financial bind, you may qualify for deferment or forbearance  allowing you to temporarily suspend payment.

To determine whether deferment or forbearance are good options for you, you can contact your loan servicer. One thing to note: interest still accrues during deferment or forbearance. Both can also impact potential loan forgiveness options. Depending on the conditions of your deferment or forbearance, it may make sense to continue paying the interest during the payment suspension.

What is an income-driven repayment plan?

The U.S. Education Department offers several plans for repaying federal student loans. Under the standard plan, borrowers are charged a fixed monthly amount that ensures all their debt will be repaid after 10 years. But if borrowers have difficulty paying that amount, they can enroll in one of several plans that offer lower monthly payments based on income and family size. Those are known as income-driven repayment plans.

Income-driven options have been offered for years and generally cap monthly payments at 10% of a borrower's discretionary income. If a borrower's earnings are low enough, their bill is reduced to $0. And after 20 or 25 years, any remaining debt gets erased.

What is the latest with the SAVE program?

In August, the Supreme Court kept on hold the SAVE plan, the income-driven repayment plan that would have lowered payments for millions of borrowers, while lawsuits make their way through lower courts.

Eight million borrowers who had already enrolled in the SAVE plan don't have to pay their monthly student loan bills until the court case is resolved. Debt that already had been forgiven under the plan was unaffected.

The next court hearing about this case will be held on October 15.

What happened with the Fresh Start program?

The Fresh Start program, which gave benefits to borrowers who were delinquent prior to the pandemic payment pause, also closed on September 30. During this limited program, student loan borrowers who were in default prior to the pandemic were given the opportunity to remove their loans from default, allowing them to enroll in income-driven payment plans, or apply for deferment, among other benefits.
Mexico goes into Sunday's election deeply divided: friends and relatives no longer talk politics for fear of worsening unbridgeable divides, while drug cartels have split the country into a patchwork quilt of warring fiefdoms. The atmosphere is literally heating up, amid a wave of unusual heat, drought, pollution and political violence.

It's unclear whether Mexico's next president will be able to rein in the underlying violence and polarization.

Soledad Echagoyen, a Mexico City doctor who supports President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's Morena party, says she can no longer talk about politics with her colleagues.

"In order to not lose friendships, we decided not to bring up politics starting six years ago, because we were arguing, and the attacks started to get personal," said Echagoyen.

Being a critic of the current administration does not appear to be easier.

"There's too much hate," said Mexico City student Luis Avalos, 21. He said some of his friends accuse him of "betraying the country" for not supporting Lopez Obrador.

Opposition presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez has focused her ire on Lopez Obrador's "hugs not bullets" policy of not confronting the drug cartels.

She faces former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, who is running for Lopez Obrador's Morena party. Sheinbaum, who leads in the race, has promised to continue all of Lopez Obrador's policies.

Lopez Obrador himself likes to depict every issue as a struggle between the forces of the "good people" and shadowy conservative conspiracies, and he has done a lot to stoke the flames of division and anger.

"More than an election, this is a referendum to choose the kind of country we want," Lopez Obrador said recently. And it really is a referendum on him: he  much like Donald Trump in the United States  is the central figure in the campaign.

In Mexico, just as across the globe, forces of angry, charismatic populism are fighting it out with an income-polarized liberal democracy. Issues of national identity, the influence of foreigners and economic exclusion have divided the country into warring camps.

"In this country, what's being built isn't a sense of citizenship, but rather of voter bases," said Gloria Alcocer, the director of the civic-minded magazine Voz y Voto, roughly "Voice and Vote." Lopez Obrador is prohibited by law from running for reelection to another six-year term.

The battle lines are drawn: the ruling Morena Party already holds the governorships of 23 of the country's 32 states, and is going for them all. It already has a simple majority in both houses of Congress, and wants a two-thirds majority so it can amend the constitution at will.

It is hard to describe how chilling that is for some Mexicans who spent more than four decades trying to build a formal democracy, with checks and balances, watchdog agencies and strict electoral rules, almost all of which Morena has said it would like to defund or eliminate if it gets the chance.

Like the old ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party  which held Mexico's presidency without interruption for a record 70 years  Morena hasn't hesitated to use the government's power to influence elections, hand out money or embark on big building schemes that may never be truly finished.

But it's also hard to describe how attractive Lopez Obrador policies have been for many Mexicans who have felt excluded under 40 years of what he calls "neo-liberal," market-oriented administrations.

Under Lopez Obrador, Mexico has more than doubled its still-tragically low minimum wage (now about $15 per day, or about $2 per hour). While that's not going to change anybody's life  a Big Mac now costs about $5.19 in Mexico, compared to an average of $5.69 in the U.S.  it is the underlying appeal of Morena's platform that draws many voters.

The implicit message for many Mexicans during market-oriented governments over the decades was that they were somehow wrong for not learning more English, working in manual labor and not in the tech economy, receiving government subsidies and living in a traditional, family-dominated culture.

Lopez Obrador turned this narrative on its head: he intentionally mispronounces English phrases, glorifies manual labor, says subsidies are good, favors state-run companies and says Mexico is strong precisely because of its family values and Indigenous culture: he has even claimed those same values make Mexicans immune to drug addiction.

Lopez Obrador says fighting the drug cartels  which have taken over large swaths of Mexico, extorting protection money from all walks of life  is a foreign idea, one imposed on Mexico by the United States. He has opted instead for a "hugs not bullets" approach and limiting cooperation with U.S. authorities in fighting the gangs.

Sheinbaum is an academic who lacks Lopez Obrador's charisma, folksy style and mass appeal. She says her administration will follow the outgoing president's policies, but with more data to back up her decisions.

Galvez, a woman who went from a poor Indigenous town to starting her own tech firm, has been the wild card in the race: her plain-spoken, folksy approach has produced both punchy phrases and monumental gaffes. Both women are 61. A third little-known male candidate from a small party has trailed far behind both women.

Sunday's elections  which will also decide congressional seats and thousands of local posts  are different from those of the past in other ways.

About 27 candidates  mostly running for mayor or town councils  have been killed so far this year. While that number is not much higher than in some past elections, what is unprecedented is the mass shootings: candidates used to be murdered in direct attacks that killed only them, but now criminals have taken to spraying whole campaign events with gunfire.

And, as international studies professor Carlos A. Perez Ricart notes, "where there are no shootings, it's because (local government) institutions have already been taken over" by the cartels.

Mexico has also been baking under a heat wave so intense that howler monkeys have literally been dropping dead from the trees. Almost all of the country is suffering some level of water shortage and air pollution has been so bad in the capital, that a fifth of the cars have been banned from driving.

All of that is not exactly helping cool tempers or drawing people toward reconciliation. In the present scenario, perhaps the only positive thing is that it doesn't appear the election will be particularly tight.

"This country couldn't really handle a narrow margin of victory," said Perez Ricart. "We are lacking true democrats on both sides."
Nearly eight months after a freelance journalist disappeared on assignment in Russian-occupied Ukraine, Moscow confirmed that the reporter is in its custody.

Victoria Roshchyna, a contributor to Ukrainian media outlets including Ukrainska Pravda, had planned to report on what life is like for those living under Russian occupation.

But shortly after passing through a border post on Aug. 3, 2023, communication between Roshchyna and her family ended. Since then, her family and colleagues have been trying to locate the journalist.

Then last month, Russias Defense Ministry confirmed in a letter to the family that the reporter has been detained in Russian territory.

The status of her health  as well as her specific whereabouts  are still unknown. Its also unclear whether she has been charged with any crime.

For the International Womens Media Foundation, or IWMF, which awarded Roshchyna its 2022 courage award, there was a certain amount of relief in knowing that the journalist was detained.

Because there was also serious concern that she had been killed, IWMF executive director Elisa Lees Munoz told VOA.

Now their attention is on trying to secure Roshchynas release.

Theres no question that the detention is unjust. But theres also little hope that there will be some sort of real justice applied in the near future, Munoz said.

The Russian Defense Ministry delivered the news of Roshchynas detention in a letter to her father. He then alerted the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, or NUJU, about her detention.

The media union released a statement this week demanding the immediate and unconditional release from captivity of Victoria Roshchyna and other illegally captured journalists.

Russias Washington embassy did not immediately reply to VOAs email requesting comment.

Roshchynas family reported the journalist missing to Ukrainian authorities about a week after their last call, during which she said she had passed a border post.

At the time, the Security Service of Ukraine, or SBU, told the family that the journalist may have been captured by Russian occupation forces.

We know that Ukrainian journalists working for independent media in the occupied territories are being hunted down by Russian forces, Jeanne Cavelier, the head of the Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk at Reporters Without Borders, said in an October 2023 statement, about two months into Roshchynas disappearance.

Russia ranks among the worlds worst jailers of journalists, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ. In late 2023, the press freedom group documented 22 journalists jailed by Russia.

Of those, 12 were foreign nationals, including two Americans and 10 Ukrainians.

Roshchyna was previously abducted by Russian forces in March 2022 while reporting in Berdiansk, in occupied southeastern Ukraine. She was released after nine days.

In an interview last year, Roshchynas father said that he had asked her to be careful after that incident. But, he said, she was unstoppable  she was not able to stop covering the news of this war on the occupied territories for her readers.

Munoz said that Roshchyna has long been known for being an extremely vocal and brave journalist.

She really dedicated her career to writing about some of the most dangerous topics you could write about in Ukraine, Munoz said.

She recalled how when the IWMF invited Roshchyna to the United States to accept the courage award in person, Roshchyna declined, saying she needed to keep reporting.

That is who Victoria is, Munoz said.
Australian researchers say a simpler and cheaper method to remove salt from seawater using heat could help combat what they call unprecedented global water shortages." The desalination of seawater is a process where salt and impurities are removed to produce drinking water.

Most of the worlds desalination methods use a process called reverse osmosis. It uses pressure to force seawater through a membrane. The salt is retained on one side, and purified water is passed through on the other.

Researchers at the Australian National University (ANU) say that while widespread, the current processes need large amounts of electricity and other expensive materials that need to be serviced and maintained.

Scientists at ANU say they developed the worlds first thermal desalination method. It is powered not by electricity, but by moderate heat generated directly from sunlight, or waste heat from machines such as air conditioners or other industrial processes.

It uses a phenomenon called thermo diffusion, in which salt moves from hot temperatures to cold. The researchers pumped seawater through a narrow channel, which runs under a unit that was heated to greater than 60 degrees Celsius and over a bottom plate that was cooled to 20 degrees Celsius. Lower-salinity water comes from the water in the top section of the channel, closer to the heat.

After repeated cycles through the channels, the ANU study asserts, the salinity of seawater can be reduced from 30,000 parts per million to less than 500 parts per million.

Juan Felipe Torres, a mechanical and aerospace engineer at the Australian National University and the projects lead chief investigator, explained his pioneering work.

We use a phenomenon people have not used before, he said. We are exploring its applicability in this context but in essence (it) should be something super simple, something as simple as a channel where you have water flowing through it and you are going to produce some sort of separation, and this is what thermal desalination is doing.

The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization has stated that by 2025, 1.8 billion people around the world are likely to face absolute water scarcity.

Torres said the ANUs invention could help ensure water supplies to communities under threat because of climate change.

Our vision, lets say, for the future to have a more equitable world in terms of water security and food security is a method that does not require expensive maintenance or to train personnel to continue running it. So, we think thermal desalination would enable that, he said.

The ANU team is building a multi-channel solar-powered device to desalinate seawater in the Pacific kingdom of Tonga, which is enduring a severe drought.

The research is published in the journal Nature Communications.
In a shift from his previous position, U.S. President Joe Biden has allowed Ukraine to use American-provided weapons to counter Russian attacks in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, located just 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the border with Russia.

Speaking from Prague on Friday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed the change in policy. Over the past few weeks, Ukraine came to us and asked the authorization to use weapons that we're providing to defend against this aggression, including against Russian forces that are massing on the Russian side of the border and then attacking into Ukraine, he said.

Blinken left open the possibility of the policy being applied to other regions of the conflict. Going forward, we'll continue to do what we've been doing, which is, as necessary, adapt and adjust, he said.

U.S. policy prohibiting the use of long-range missiles known as ATACMS, or Army Tactical Missile System, that could hit targets deep inside Russia has not changed.

"This applies to counter-fire capabilities that are deployed just across the border. It does not apply to ATACMS or long-range strikes," said Michael Carpenter, senior director for Europe at the White House National Security Council.

"This is meant to enable Ukrainians to defend themselves against what would otherwise be a Russian sanctuary across the border," Carpenter said in a Friday interview with VOA.

Fearing escalation, Biden had been reluctant to authorize the use of weapons to hit targets inside Russia despite pressure from Ukraine and European allies. However, Moscows advances on Kharkiv in recent weeks may have persuaded him.

The White Houses decision does the minimum to help Ukraine with a difficult situation in the northeast, removing a major burden on Ukraines efforts to defend civilians in Kharkiv and to stop the Russian offensive, said John Herbst, senior director of the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center and former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. At the same time, it makes public a range of restrictions that seem designed to temper Moscows reaction.

This half step is certainly better than none, Herbst said, but it does not send the necessary message of American resolve to the Kremlin.

Russian assets

Biden is hosting Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo at the White House on Friday, following formal adoption of a plan by the European Union earlier this month to use profits from Russian central bank assets frozen in the EU for Ukraine's defense.

To punish Moscow over its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, G7 economies, including the United States and the EU, have immobilized vast sums of Russian central bank assets. U.S. and European officials have been debating on how to unlock these funds to help Kyiv.

Biden signed legislation in April allowing Washington to seize the roughly $5 billion in Russian assets located in the United States. However, most of the approximately $280 billion Russian assets are in Europe, including $225 billion held by EU countries, the majority of which are frozen in Belgium.

Last week G7 finance ministers said they will back the EUs plan. Biden and other G7 leaders are set to formally give their support during their summit in Apulia, Italy, this June.

Under the plan agreed to by the EU, interest and other investment returns accruing on these assets could total more than $3 billion each year and will be used by Western allies to pay themselves back for funds they provide to Ukraine in the near term.

Details of the plan are still unclear, said Ian Lesser, distinguished fellow and adviser to the president at the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

What is clear is that it's going to be collected and used in the European level, he told VOA. The funds could be used for economic support for Ukraine but also to back the purchase arms for Ukraine and support the European defense industries, he said.

Russian officials have suggested they could retaliate by confiscating U.S. and European assets in Russia. While some countries may be concerned by the threat, others are worried about the precedent of using frozen assets under international law.

If this goes ahead, others who may be exposed to historic grievances of all kinds may find that they are having their assets ceased as reparations, Lesser said.

The plan is projected to yield as much as $50 billion for Ukraine in the near future. However, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the ultimate goal is to seize Russian assets, not just the interest. "With all our gratitude for this decision today, the amounts are not commensurate [with the amount of frozen assets]," he told reporters.

De Croos visit to Washington came days after his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Belgium. The leaders signed a security agreement which includes the delivery of 30 U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets, another move to bolster Kyiv's defense capabilities against Moscow.

"These F-16 jets will be provided to Ukraine as soon as possible. Our aim is to be able to provide first aircraft before the end of this year, 2024," De Croo said at a press conference with Zelenskyy earlier this week.

However, he underscored those jets cannot be flown in Russian territory.

De Croo is also expected to urge Biden to exert more pressure on Israel to change its war conduct and allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

After Spain, Ireland and Norway said they would recognize a Palestinian state earlier this week, several parties pushed the Belgian Federal Government to do the same but failed to reach an agreement.

Iuliia Iarmolenko contributed to this report.
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and delivers a keynote speech at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on China and Arab states to deepen cooperation and step up the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future.

Xi made the remarks in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF).

CHINA-ARAB RELATIONS SCALING NEW HEIGHTS

China-Arab relations have kept scaling new heights since the beginning of the new century. At the first China-Arab States Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2022, China and Arab states agreed to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era.

Xi said that China is satisfied with the progress that has been made in delivering on the first China-Arab States Summit's outcomes. China will work with the Arab side to enhance the role of the summit in providing strategic guidance for continued "leapfrog growth" of China-Arab relations.

Xi announced that China will host the second China-Arab States Summit in 2026, which is set to be another milestone in China-Arab relations.

As changes unseen in a century unfold rapidly across the world, both China and Arab states strive to accomplish their historical missions of national rejuvenation and faster national development. Building a China-Arab community with a shared future is a strong statement of the common desire for a new era of China-Arab relations and a better future for the world, Xi said.

Xi said China will work with the Arab side to make China-Arab relations a model for maintaining world peace and stability, a fine example of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, a paradigm of harmonious coexistence between civilizations, and a model for promoting good global governance.

It is believed that the strategic mutual trust between China and Arab states will be further consolidated, cooperation in various fields will be comprehensively promoted, and the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future will see more solid steps, said Li Chen, ambassador for CASCF affairs of China's Foreign Ministry.

FIVE COOPERATION FRAMEWORKS

At the first China-Arab States Summit in 2022, Xi put forward "eight major cooperation initiatives" for practical cooperation.

Early harvests have been achieved in all the "eight major cooperation initiatives," Xi said, adding that China is ready to work with the Arab side on that basis to put in place "five cooperation frameworks" to step up the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future.

The five frameworks consist of a more dynamic framework for innovation, an expanded framework for investment and finance cooperation, a more multifaceted framework for energy cooperation, a more balanced framework for mutually beneficial economic and trade ties, and a broader framework for people-to-people exchanges.

China will build with the Arab side 10 joint laboratories in such areas as life and health, artificial intelligence (AI), green and low-carbon development, modern agriculture, and space and information technology. The two sides will also enhance cooperation on AI to make it empower the real economy and to promote a broad-based global governance system on AI, Xi said.

China is ready to establish with the Arab side an industry and investment cooperation forum, Xi said, adding that China supports closer cooperation between financial institutions from the two sides, and welcomes Arab banks to join the Cross-border Interbank Payment System.

China will further enhance strategic cooperation with the Arab side on oil and gas, and is ready to work with the Arab side on new energy technology R&D and equipment production, according to Xi.

China stands ready to accelerate the negotiations on bilateral and regional free trade agreements, welcomes active participation of the Arab side in the China International Import Expo, and is willing to expand import of non-energy products from the Arab side, especially agricultural products, Xi noted.

China is ready to establish with the Arab side the China-Arab Center of Global Civilization Initiative, Xi said, adding that China plans to work with the Arab side to achieve the goal of 10 million two-way visits of tourists in the next five years.

The development of Arab-China relations has broad prospects and great potential, and both sides have a sincere desire to further enhance relations and strengthen cooperation. It is believed that the work and achievements of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum will have a pragmatic and positive role in promoting the development of both sides in various fields, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said.

STICKING TO TWO-STATE SOLUTION

The Middle East is a land bestowed with broad prospects for development, but the war is still raging on it. Since last October, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has escalated drastically, throwing the people into tremendous sufferings, Xi said.

He stressed that war should not continue indefinitely, justice should not be absent forever, and commitment to the two-State solution should not be wavered at will.

China firmly supports the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital. It supports Palestine's full membership in the U.N., and supports a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference, he added.

China will continue to provide assistance to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support post-conflict reconstruction, and support the work of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in providing emergency humanitarian assistance to Gaza, Xi said.

China has fully implemented the Global Security Initiative, actively promoted the political settlement of regional hotspot issues, and brokered a historic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a move that not only helped ease tensions within the region but also catalyzed a wave of reconciliations among Arab states and within the broader region, said Wu Sike, China's former special envoy to the Middle East.

Bahrain highly appreciates China's firm support for the just cause of the Arabs, especially on the Palestinian question, its tremendous efforts to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza and its full support for the establishment of an independent State of Palestine, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa said.

The 10th ministerial conference of the CASCF adopted the Beijing Declaration, the CASCF execution plan for 2024-2026, and a China-Arab states joint statement on the Palestinian issue.

During the conference, China also signed a number of bilateral and multilateral cooperation documents with the participating countries and the General Secretariat of the Arab League.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and delivers a keynote speech at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Chinese President Xi Jinping poses for a group photo with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Tunisia's President Kais Saied, the United Arab Emirates' President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, and heads of delegations of 22 Arab countries in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and delivered a keynote speech at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Thursday. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and delivers a keynote speech at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and delivers a keynote speech at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

Editor: WXL
The White House is finalizing plans for a U.S.-Mexico border clampdown that would shut off asylum requests and automatically deny entrance to migrants once the number of people encountered by American border officials exceeded a new daily threshold, with President Joe Biden expected to sign an executive order as early as Tuesday, according to four people familiar with the matter.

The president has been weighing additional executive action since the collapse of a bipartisan border bill earlier this year. The number of illegal crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border has declined for months, partly because of a stepped-up effort by Mexico. Still, immigration remains a top concern heading into the U.S. presidential election in November, and Republicans are eager to hammer Biden on the issue.

The Democratic administration's effort would aim to head off any potential spike in crossings that could occur later in the year, as the fall election draws closer, when the weather cools and numbers tend to rise, two of the people said. They were not authorized to speak publicly about the ongoing discussions and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.

The move would allow Biden, whose administration has taken smaller steps in recent weeks to discourage migration and speed up asylum processing, to say he has done all he can do to control the border numbers without help from Congress.

The talks were still fluid, and the people stressed that no final decisions had been made.

The restrictions being considered are an aggressive attempt to ease the nation's overwhelmed asylum system, along with a new effort to speed up the cases of migrants already in America and another meant to quicken processing for migrants with criminal records or those who would otherwise be eventually deemed ineligible for asylum in the United States.

The people told the AP that the administration was weighing some of the policies directly from a stalled bipartisan Senate border deal, including capping the number of encounters at an average of 4,000 per day over a week and whether that limit would include asylum-seekers coming to the border with appointments through U.S. Customs and Border Protection's CBP One app. Right now, there are roughly 1,450 such appointments per day.

Two of the people said one option is that migrants who arrive after the border reaches a certain threshold could be removed automatically in a process like deportation and would not be able to return easily. Migrants were able to more easily return to the border if they were expelled under the pandemic-era policy known as Title 42. Under that arrangement, Mexico agreed to take back some non-Mexican nationalities, including migrants from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador.

Migrants, especially families, claiming asylum at the southern border are generally released into the United States to wait out their cases. But there are more than 2 million pending immigration court cases, and some people wait years for a court date while they live in limbo in the U.S.

Anyone can ask for asylum regardless of whether they arrive illegally at the border, but U.S. officials are increasingly pushing migrants to make appointments, use a legal pathway that avoids the costly and dangerous journey, or stay where they are and apply through outposts in Colombia, Guatemala and Costa Rica.

The Biden administration has grown ever more conservative on border issues as the president faces ceaseless criticism from Republicans and there are large numbers of migrants crossing into the U.S. from Mexico who are not easily returned, especially as global displacement grows from war, climate change and more.
In the U.S. presidential race, President Joe Biden has consistently been outpacing challenger Donald Trump in campaign fundraising, but that changed recently with the Trump campaigns record haul.

In April, Trump raised more money than Biden for the first time. Trump pulled in more than $50 million at a donor event in Palm Beach, Florida, in the beginning of the month, Reuters reported.

Generally, campaigns raise money from committees directly affiliated with a political party and individuals. The Federal Election Campaign Act limits how much money political organizations and individuals can contribute to each election.

Candidates must report who has donated, how much money each entity has contributed, and where the funds are being spent. The Federal Election Commission (FEC) regulates funding by maintaining a database of campaign finances.

Campaign spending, on the other hand, is unlimited.

"Theres no limits on political spending in the United States. So under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, as interpreted by the Supreme Court, you cant tell any group, any individual for that matter, how much they could spend in politics. This means theres no laws that limit political spending," said Ray La Raja, a political science professor at the University of Massachusetts, in a briefing with the State Department.

The following breakdown looks at the campaign finances for Biden and Trump during the 2024 election campaign season.

Financial fundraising summaries

Bidens FEC financial summary for the 2024 election, with data that spans January 1, 2021, until April 30, 2024, includes nearly $195 million in receipts. Donald Trumps financial summary, which includes data from November 15, 2022, until April 30, 2024, has just more than $124 million in receipts.

Biden has notably outranked Trump in contributions from individuals in the financial summaries. Biden has received $71 million from individuals, while Trump has raised $1 million in individual contributions.

However, Trump has seen larger support in contributions from committees other than the party committee directly affiliated with the political party. While Biden has received just more than $60,000 in contributions from other committees, Trump has received more than $200,000 from other committees, more than tripling what Biden has received.

A further breakdown of the data shows differences between the two candidates authorized committees, where each presidential candidate must authorize a specific campaign committee to take contributions and make expenses for the candidate. Biden has authorized the Biden for President committee; Trump has designated Donald J. Trump for President 2024, Inc. The authorized committees fundraising efforts make up most of the financial summaries.

The Biden for President committee, which has been fundraising from January 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024, has raised a total of more than $180 million. Donald J. Trump for President 2024, Inc., has raised a total of about $120 million from January 1, 2023, to April 30, 2024.

Campaign expenditures

Along with campaign fundraising come campaign expenses. Since January 1, 2023, Biden has outspent Trump. Biden has accumulated almost $100 million in disbursements, while Trump has spent almost $75 million.

The money goes to a variety of causes. The Trump committees weightiest expenses include media creation, legal consultation and postage. Some of the recent expenses include ground transportation, such as Uber rides.

The most expensive items in the Biden committees financial footprint look similar. The committees top 10 expenses go to media production and digital consulting. Most recently, the committee has been allocating contribution refunds.

With the balance of fundraising and spending, each candidate has some money left in the bank for future endeavors. Biden, with $84 million cash in hand, outstrips Trump, who has $49 million.

While Biden has generally outperformed Trump in fundraising thus far, both candidates are hitting the campaign trail this summer, hoping to rake in more money before the fall election.
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Limas Chinatown was founded by Chinese migrants who arrived in Peru as indentured laborers. Back then, it was a meeting place for fellow countrymen, but today, its a vibrant commercial hub intertwined with Peruvian society. Adriana Nunez Rabascall has the story from Lima.
Donald Trump becomes the first former U.S. president in the nations history to be convicted of felony crimes after a New York jury finds him guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election. And with the 2024 election just five months away, Joe Biden and Donald Trump have very different views on fighting climate change. Another European country moves toward recognizing Palestinian statehood. How much for the price of a Big Mac? McDonalds responds to social media posts complaining of price increases
For the first time in American history, a former president has been found guilty of a felony. A look at Ukrainian children abducted from their homes and a reversal of policy from some of Ukraines Western allies now allows them to use weapons theyve supplied against targets inside Russia. The Secretary of Defense is in Singapore to discuss threats in the Indo-Pacific and South Africas election may have finished, but the politics are far from over.
Armed men killed at least six civilians and five soldiers in an attack in Nigeria's southeastern Abia state, the military said Friday, prompting the state government to offer a $16,850 reward for information on the gunmen.

The attack on Thursday was the latest in a string of raids in a region rife with separatist violence.

The assailants killed five soldiers deployed as peacekeepers in the area, and the six civilians who died were caught in the crossfire, defense spokesperson Major-General Edward Buba said.

No group claimed responsibility, but the army blamed the outlawed separatist Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, which wants the surrounding region to secede from Nigeria.

The attack was at a military checkpoint at Obikabia junction in Obingwa local government area, Buba said in a statement.

"The military will be fierce in its response. We will bring overwhelming military pressure on the group to ensure their total defeat," he said.

Abia information commissioner Prince Okey Kanu urged the military to show restraint in their response.

The military has previously been accused by rights groups of using excessive force and targeting innocent civilians when responding to similar attacks, charges it denies.

The unrest in the southeast has put pressure on a government and military already struggling to contain attacks and kidnappings in the northwest, a 15-year-old Islamist insurgency in the northeast, and sectarian and herder-farmer clashes in central regions.

IPOB campaigns for the secession of southeastern Nigeria, where the majority belong to the Igbo group.

The movement's leader  Nnamdi Kanu, a British citizen arrested in Kenya in 2021  is now on trial in Nigeria on terrorism charges.

More than a million people died, mostly from starvation, during a three-year civil war in the late 1960s when the region attempted to secede under the name of the Republic of Biafra.
A coalition of Iranian dissident groups assembled on Thursday outside the Metropolitan Police headquarters in London to object to what they perceive as law enforcement's inaction toward the aggressive conduct of Islamic Republic sympathizers.

The Iranian demonstrators rallied to denounce what they said was the London police's failure to promptly identify and apprehend those responsible for assaulting protesters outside the recent memorial ceremony in London for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who died in a helicopter crash earlier this month along with seven others.

"The aggressive behavior exhibited by backers of the Islamic Republic and their violent clashes with dissenters undoubtedly constitute criminal offenses, Vahid Abazari, one of the participants in the May 24 protest, told VOA. The country purporting to uphold human rights must be held accountable for its failure to initiate investigations or apprehend the perpetrators."

Navid, who would give only one name, was injured during an assault by Islamic Republic supporters at an anti-government rally in London.

"Despite the severity of my physical injuries, my spirits are high, and once I am discharged from the hospital, I'll be ready to continue my fight against the Islamic Republic," he told VOA from his hospital bed on May 26.

At the Raisi memorial ceremony a week ago in Wembley, a faction of Islamic Republic supporters launched an attack on demonstrators. The Metropolitan Police reported four individuals sustained minor injuries during the altercation, with one person arrested on suspicion of instigating disorder and violence.
A New York jury on Thursday convicted former U.S. President Donald Trump of illegally trying to influence the outcome of the 2016 election that sent him to the White House, unanimously finding him guilty on all of the 34 felony charges he faced.

The 12-member jury deliberated for two days before returning the verdict against Trump, 77, in the first-ever criminal trial of an American president.

Trump is the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee in the November election against President Joe Biden, the Democrat who defeated him in the 2020 election. But Trump now also faces the possibility of being placed on probation or imprisoned for up to four years.

Trumps sentencing was set for July 11, in the middle of his campaign to return to the White House and just days before the opening of the Republican National Convention on July 15, where he would be formally nominated as the partys 2024 presidential candidate.

Trump defense lawyer Todd Blanche asked that the verdict be overturned, but New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan quickly rejected his request.

Inside the courtroom, Trump showed little emotion as he learned his fate. But when he emerged from the courtroom, with his jaw tensed, he told reporters that the verdict was "a disgrace."

With a somber expression, he vowed, "This is long from over."

On his Truth Social platform, Trump said in all caps, "My civil rights have been totally violated with this highly political, unconstitutional, and election interfering witch hunt. Our failing nation is being laughed at all over the world!"

Just after the verdict was announced, the Trump campaign sent out a fundraising email in which the former president said, again in all capital letters, "I am a political prisoner!"

From the start of the trial in mid-April, Trump had treated the case with disdain, disparaging prospective witnesses against him despite Merchan's gag order prohibiting him from doing so. Merchan found Trump in contempt of court 10 times and fined him $10,000, which the judge acknowledged was a pittance for a billionaire like Trump.

Merchan had excluded himself and prosecutor Alvin Bragg from his gag order. As a result, Trump virtually every day of the trial assailed them as he walked into court, especially the judge, whom he described as "corrupt" and "conflicted," apparently because he made a $35 donation to Biden and Democrats in 2020.

Biden did not comment on the guilty verdict, but his presidential campaign called for voters to defeat Trump in the November 5 national election.

"Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain," the Biden campaign said. "But today's verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president."

Trump is certain to appeal his conviction and can continue to run for the presidency. There is no U.S. constitutional prohibition against his becoming president as a convicted felon.

As a president, if he wins the November election, Trump would have broad pardon power related to convicted federal defendants, but he could not pardon himself in a state case like the New York trial in which he was convicted.

Trump is facing three other indictments, including two accusing him of illegally trying to upend his 2020 election loss. But all three cases are tied up in legal wrangling between his lawyers and prosecutors. As a result, the New York case may be the only one decided before the November election.

Trump was convicted after Michael Cohen, his onetime political fixer-turned-acidic critic, testified that Trump told him to "just do it"  pay $130,000 in hush money days ahead of the 2016 election to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels to silence her claim she had a one-night sexual encounter with Trump a decade earlier.

Trump had denied any liaison with Daniels but did not testify in his own defense, as was his right.

A hush money deal is not illegal, but Trump was convicted of all charges in the 34-count indictment accusing him of falsifying business records at his Trump Organization real estate conglomerate to hide the 2017 reimbursement of the hush money payment to Cohen, which Trump claimed was for money owed to Cohen for his legal work.

The 34 counts covered 11 invoices Cohen filed with Trump company officials to be reimbursed, 12 ledger entries in the company's records and 11 checks sent to Cohen, nine of which Trump signed.

The Trump defense team claimed Cohen, of his own volition and without Trump's knowledge, wired the hush money to Daniels' lawyer.

The former president had denied the entirety of the indictment against him.
The shadow of five journalist killings since the start of the year is hanging over Pakistans media.

Karachi-based journalist Amber Rahim Shamsi says the violence has created a sense of numbness among the countrys reporters.

"I dont know if its about fear as much as normalization, she told VOA. That kind of numbness, to me, is more worrying than an open expression of fear.

Of the killings so far this year, four took place this month, including a bombing in Balochistan province that killed journalist Muhammad Siddique Mengal. The deaths make May the deadliest month on record for journalists in Pakistan, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists, or CPJ.

The killings come amid increased risks for Pakistans already beleaguered media.

Also in May, watchdogs reported on two cases of reporters being disappeared; a press club raid in the city of Quetta; the detention of two reporters for objecting to the raid; and the passing by Punjabs provincial government of a defamation law that critics warn could be used to stifle the media.

'Dissent is being criminalized'

The space for freedom of expression is shrinking, and dissent is being criminalized, Iqbal Khattak, the Pakistan representative for Reporters Without Borders, or RSF, told VOA from the capital, Islamabad.

Pakistans journalists already work under significant pressure. Despite a historically vibrant media landscape, watchdogs say that reporters are forced to walk a fine line because of the limited space for criticism of the country's powerful military and intelligence agencies.

The Inter-Services Intelligence agency in particular has for years been accused by rights groups of forcibly disappearing or even killing critical reporters.

Pakistans Washington embassy and Foreign Ministry did not reply to VOAs emails requesting comment.

Some analysts say the recent surge in attacks may be a byproduct of the political turmoil that has gripped Pakistan since former Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted two years ago.

With political insecurity comes greater pressure on the media, Khattak said.

Up until March of this year, no journalists had been killed in Pakistan since 2021. But the CPJ has recorded dozens of cases of journalists singled out for attack or killed on risky assignments since it started keeping track in 1992.

A lack of justice  or impunity  in targeted cases exacerbates the problem, experts say. Of the 37 cases where CPJ confirmed the journalists were directly slain for their work, 34 cases remain unresolved.

In Pakistan, impunity reigns when it comes to journalist killings because the government doesnt care about holding the perpetrators accountable, according to Saroop Ijaz, who works on Pakistan at Human Rights Watch.

Journalists are viewed as adversaries, as opponents, Ijaz told VOA from Lahore.

Reporters and news outlets are also facing heightened pressure of legal threats.

Analysts are concerned by a defamation law that Punjabs provincial government adopted earlier this month.

The laws supporters say it will help combat the spread of disinformation.

But critics are concerned about the harsh penalties, including fines and the threat of entire outlets being shut down. They also warn of potential for abuse, with a coalition of Pakistani media organizations calling it a black law for press freedom.

On the surface, the law sounds like a good thing because it ostensibly aims to reduce the spread of fake news, according to Michael Kugelman, director of the South Asia Institute at the Wilson Center think tank in Washington. But in practice, the law will likely be used to target opposition voices, he said.

Who makes the decision about what is fake news? Kugelman said. I fear that it can be used as a pretext to essentially go after anyone who happens to say or write or broadcast anything that happens to be inconvenient or critical.

Under the law, court proceedings would also be kept secret, which journalist Munizae Jahangir said she finds concerning.

Are these kangaroo courts? Are we going back to the times of martial law? she told VOA from Islamabad.

Jahangir, who hosts the current affairs program Spot Light for the Pakistani news channel Aaj TV, serves as co-chair of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.

Chilling effect

The law may also compound self-censorship. Some red lines shift based on the political tides of the moment, according to Pakistani journalists and experts, but criticism of the countrys military and intelligence agencies, and of Islam, are understood to be off limits.

Pakistan is really like a minefield, Jahangir said. You do not know what the no-go areas are. You do not know once you put your foot somewhere whats going to explode, whats going to happen to you next. You just have to figure it out.

Shamsi, who has worked for outlets including the BBC World Service and Dawn, said she worries about the next generation of journalists in Pakistan. They havent known anything else, she said, referring to the poor press freedom landscape.

But she finds optimism in the robust history of resistance among Pakistani media in the face of severe safety threats.

Jahangir agreed. We have to tell the truth no matter how high the price may be, she said. Journalists in Pakistan have always pushed the envelope.
An umbrella body representing 77 environmental protection groups in Namibia is voicing opposition to proposed green hydrogen production in the Tsau Khaeb National Park by a German company because of the harm they say it poses to animals and plant life in that area.

The Tsau Khaeb National Park in southern Namibia is one of 36 recognized globally recognized hotspots for biodiversity. It is renowned for succulent plants as well as wildlife that includes antelopes, leopards and brown hyenas.

However, this biodiversity will be harmed if green hydrogen is to be produced in that pristine wilderness, said Chris Brown, the head of the environmental coalition known as Namibias Chamber of Environment.

When Germany and to a certain extent other countries in the European Union are offsetting the costs of green hydrogen, offshoring it, and we are carrying the burden of those costs and we are carrying the long-term, permanently long-term cost of losing a national park with all its future developments, to provide relatively short-term cover for Germanys energy, that is a major problem," Brown told VOA at his offices in Windhoek. "Its a moral problem as well as a long-term economic problem and a welfare problem for Namibia.

Green hydrogen is produced using wind, water and solar power to produce ammonia, which is then converted to hydrogen, which can be used for steel production and as a fuel for ships and vehicles.

In a rush to decarbonize, European member states like Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands have allocated millions of euros to pilot projects along Namibias sunny and windy coastline for green hydrogen production.

Ambassador Ana Beatriz Martins heads the EU delegation to Namibia. She held a public lecture on green hydrogen at Namibias University of Science and technology on Wednesday.

Private European companies are already invested in some of the nine projects of green hydrogen, with the pipeline of investments of 401 billion Namibian dollars on our side," Martins said. "We have grants and loans - you can see here, I dont need to mention that. We also have public money.

However, environmental law expert Hans-Christian Mahnke questions the legality of allowing green hydrogen production to take place in the 2 million-hectare Tsau Khaeb National Park.

Thats another legal aspect," he said. "There is the Park Management Plan, which is a contract between the government and the people. Now, certain NGOs and communities ... have concessions in the park. The park plan is a contract - its not a policy or whatever. They agreed [to] something [in] which [the] government said that this is how its gonna go. But the moment green hydrogen comes in, then they have to throw that Park Management Plan out of the window, which they havent done yet.

In its quest to become carbon neutral, Europe wants to cut carbon emissions by 57 percent by 2030, and this means producing 10 million tons of green hydrogen in Europe and importing the same amount from countries like Namibia.

The Chamber of Environment coalition says that it does not oppose green hydrogen production itself, but that it should not be done at the expense of Namibias environment.
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Rao Aimin)

BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing on Thursday.

Xi noted that the UAE is an important comprehensive strategic partner of China. In recent years, China-UAE relations have maintained a sound momentum of development, setting a good example for China-Arab states relations in the new era.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE, Xi said, adding that it is an important juncture for China-UAE relations to build on past achievements and forge ahead.

He said China stands ready to work with the UAE to continue to grasp the general direction of bilateral relations from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, and ensure the vigorous development of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi said that China supports the UAE in pursuing an independent development path and safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and is willing to consolidate political mutual trust and strengthen cooperation with the UAE to jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity.

He said China stands ready to work with the UAE to continuously promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, strengthen synergy of development strategies, and take the establishment of a high-level committee on China-UAE investment and cooperation as an opportunity to push for more outcomes in bilateral cooperation.

Xi called on the two sides to consolidate cooperation in areas such as trade, energy and infrastructure, expand cooperation in high-tech fields such as information technology, artificial intelligence, digital economy and new energy, and strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation.

Xi noted he had recently replied to letters from Chinese language learners in the UAE, encouraging them to master the language, get to know more about China and contribute to promoting friendship between the two countries.

China is willing to continue to support the "Hundred Schools Project" of Chinese language education, push forward the construction of a Chinese culture center in the UAE, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and promote mutual understanding and friendship, he added.

Noting that at present the trend towards a multi-polar world is unstoppable, Xi said multi-polarization in essence should mean mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among different civilizations, systems and paths.

Countries in the Middle East are an important part of developing countries and an important force in the multi-polarization of the world, he said, adding that China supports countries in the region to continue to follow their development paths suited to their national conditions, firmly follow the path of unity and strength, peace and reconciliation, resolve differences through communication and consultation, and hold their future and destiny in their own hands.

Xi said China is ready to work with the UAE and other Arab countries to host the second China-Arab States Summit and promote the building of a community of shared future between China and Arab states.

China is willing to strengthen its strategic partnership with the UAE, expand multilateral cooperation and safeguard the common interests of countries in the Global South, he added.

Mohamed said that he was very happy to once again visit China, his second hometown, and attend the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum together with President Xi.

He said the relations between Arab and Gulf countries and China boast a solid foundation. Deepening and developing relations with China conforms to the common aspiration and fundamental interests of the people of Arab and Gulf countries.

Mohamed said that UAE-China relations are based on mutual trust, mutual respect and common interests, and cooperation in various fields has reached an extraordinary level.

The UAE attaches great importance to developing relations with China, places China at the top of its diplomatic priority and regards China as a long-term and reliable strategic partner, he said, adding that the UAE is willing to take the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to further deepen and expand cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, investment, energy, science and technology, education and culture.

The government of the UAE firmly adheres to the one-China policy, opposes "Taiwan independence" in any form and supports China's efforts to achieve national reunification, he said.

Mohamed added that the UAE highly appreciates and actively supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi, will continue to actively participate in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, and is willing to work closely with China in multilateral communication and coordination to promote peace, development and prosperity of the region and the world at large.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Xi stressed that the top priority is a comprehensive ceasefire and cessation of fighting to ease the humanitarian crisis, and the international community should unanimously support an early negotiated settlement of the Palestinian issue on the basis of the two-State solution.

Xi said China and the UAE have the same stance on the Palestinian issue and should work together to push for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the issue.

After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in various fields including investment, jointly building the Belt and Road, science and technology, peaceful use of nuclear energy, Chinese education, culture and tourism.

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Chinese President Xi Jinping and President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witness the signing of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Gao Jie)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Editor: WXL
The U.S. Treasury Department announced new sanctions Friday aimed at disrupting Irans unmanned aerial vehicle, or UAV, program, which has been providing deadly UAVs to Russia for use in attacks against Ukraine.

In a release, the Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control, or OFAC, said it was targeting an Iranian aviation executive and four commercial entities associated with the previously-sanctioned Rayan Roshd Afzar Company that have procured critical parts for the UAV program.

The targeted executive is Iran Aviation Industries Organization (IAIO) Chief Afshin Khajeh Fard, who is based in Tehran.

The department says Khajeh Fard oversees IAIOs efforts to produce UAVs and missiles, and he has promoted the innovation of Irans UAV program and its reduced reliance on foreign suppliers.

Friday's sanctions mean all property and interests in property related to Khajeh Fard or the four companies in or controlled by people in the United States are frozen.

Iran has supplied thousands of Shahed kamikaze drones to Russia throughout its invasion of Ukraine launched in February 2022. They have been used to exhaust Ukrainian air defenses and target Ukraines energy infrastructure.

In the statement, Treasury Undersecretary Brian E. Nelson said, Treasury will continue to impose costs on those who seek to procure the components Iran needs for its UAV programs and enable the shipment of these weapons to destabilizing actors around the world.

The European Union on Friday also announced it is targeting Irans drone industry.
Nigeria is experiencing its worst economic crisis in a generation, leading to widespread hardship and anger. Some Nigerians are demanding a reversal of government policies one year after authorities embarked on bold but unpopular economic reforms. President Bola Tinubu has so far refused to change course, insisting his reforms will improve Nigeria's ailing economy. Timothy Obiezu reports from Abuja. Camera: Timothy Obiezu
Eleven militants accused of being involved in carrying out the deadly March suicide attack on Chinese engineers are in custody, according to Pakistani officials.

Following the arrests, Beijing urged Islamabad to continue the investigation. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Monday that China was attaching great importance to the progress made by Pakistan.

"China supports Pakistan in continuing to get to the full bottom of what happened and hunting down and bringing to justice all the perpetrators," she said.

The suicide attack killed five Chinese engineers on March 26 along with their Pakistani driver. They were on their way to work at the largest dam at Dasu in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistani officials said. A suicide bomber rammed a vehicle filled with explosives into their convoy.

Pakistan blames Afghanistan as a launching pad for militants who attack Pakistan  an accusation the Taliban has repeatedly denied. Islamabad said the suicide bomber who targeted the Chinese engineers was an Afghan national.

"The attack on the Chinese engineers at Shangla (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) is not the only attack. There are several attacks that are carried out by Afghan nationals in Pakistan, their dead bodies were there, and they were identified as Afghans," Abdullah Khan, an Islamabad-based researcher for the Pakistan Institute of Conflict and Security Studies, told VOA.

Mounting security threats have prompted Pakistani officials to introduce security protocols requiring residential addresses of Chinese nationals and information about their mobility in the country.

Baloch separatist groups and Islamist militants have been targeting Chinese interests and personnel in Pakistans resources-rich southwestern Balochistan and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Militants associated with the Baloch separatist groups have claimed past attacks on Chinese nationals and interests.

Earlier this month, the army said its troops were carrying out 100 intelligence-based operations daily, as part of its fight against terrorism.

Militants associated with radical Islamists groups claimed an attack in 2021 targeting a bus carrying workers to the same hydropower project. The attack killed 13 people, including at least nine Chinese nationals. The two Islamist militants accused of the crime were sentenced to death for that attack.

No group has accepted the responsibility for the latest suicide attack on the Chinese engineers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Pakistan announced on May 23 the government will pay $2.58 million to the victims of the March attack.

Pakistan is host to Chinese workers connected to Beijings mega projects under the umbrella of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), an initiative with $62 billion in overall Chinese investments. Pakistani officials say the pace on the Chinese projects has slowed in recent years.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will be visiting Beijing the first week of June to persuade China to revive CPEC, according to media reports.

This story originated in VOAs Deewa Service.
Pakistan's space agency on Thursday launched its second satellite in a month from a launch site in China's northwest Sichuan province.

According to Pakistans Space & Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), PakSAT-MM1 is a high-power multimission satellite designed to provide a range of communication services.

"Based on advanced communication technologies, PakSAT-MM1 will play a pivotal role in the socio-economic uplift of the country," SUPARCO said on its website, adding that the satellite is "the hallmark of technological cooperation between" China and Pakistan.

SUPARCO added, "It will prove to be a stepping stone in the transformation of the country into digital Pakistan."

Chinese state news agency Xinhua said Thursday that the country successfully launched Pakistan's multimission communications satellite.

"At 20:12 on May 30, my country [China] successfully launched Pakistan's multi-mission communication satellite into space using the Long March 3B carrier rocket at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center," Xinhua said. "The satellite smoothly entered its predetermined orbit, marking a complete success of the launch mission."

According to Xinhua, the launch marks the 524th flight of the Long March series of carrier rockets.

Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif congratulated the nation on the launch of the satellite, according to a tweet by the Government of Pakistan.

"The satellite will play a key role in improving the communication system, enhancing e-commerce, economic activities, and e-governance," Sharif said.

According to PTV, Pakistan's state broadcaster, the satellite will provide top-tier internet services nationwide, enhancing TV broadcasts, cellular connectivity and broadband. Its services are set to launch in August.

Prior space collaboration

Beijing-Islamabad space cooperation dates to 1990 when a communication satellite developed by Pakistan was launched into space aboard a Chinese Long March 2E rocket.

This collaboration has since evolved, culminating in the recent launch of Pakistan's first lunar satellite, ICUBE-Qamar (ICUBE-Q), on May 3, aboard China's Long March 5 rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan province.

The ICUBE-Q satellite, a joint project between Pakistan's Institute of Space Technology, SUPARCO, and Shanghai Jiao Tong University, captured its first image of the moon on May 8, according to Science and Technology Commission of Shanghai.

Ge Ping, deputy director of the China National Space Administrations Lunar Exploration and Space Engineering Center, said that this ongoing cooperation enhances friendship between the two countries and fosters diverse aerospace collaboration.

"I believe that this cooperation is of great significance to promoting friendly relations between the two countries and enriching people's understanding of the moon," Ge said. "We welcome Pakistan's participation in China's lunar and deep space exploration missions, and we will conduct extensive exchanges and cooperation related to space technology."

During the first satellite launch this month, Pakistan's Sharif remarked in an official statement that the friendship between Pakistan and China has "gone beyond borders to reach space."

He described the Pakistan-China friendship as "higher than the Himalayas, deeper than the oceans, and sweeter than honey," emphasizing that it has now expanded to transcend the boundaries of space with this mission.

On its website, Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs says Pakistan regards China as one of its closest friends and partners, while China considers Pakistan its "Iron Brother."

Economically, China stands as Pakistan's largest trading partner and a significant investor, particularly in the infrastructure and energy sectors, according to Pakistan's Foreign Ministry.

Pakistan, hosting a multibillion-dollar flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, maintains a close relationship with its neighbor China.

Pakistan shares a border with China's northwest region of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, where some Western parliaments and the U.S. government accuse Beijing of committing genocide and crimes against humanity against its Muslim Uyghur population. However, Beijing vehemently denies these accusations, and Pakistan supports Beijing's policy in Xinjiang.

Notably, Pakistan delivered a statement on behalf of more than 70 countries at the U.N. General Assembly last October, expressing support for China's actions in Xinjiang toward Uyghur Muslims.

BRI and beyond

Beijing views space cooperation as integral to its BRI, referring to these endeavors as the "Space Silk Road," according to the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee.

China's Space Silk Road aims to connect China's BRI partner countries through China's BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS).

BDS serves as an alternative to the U.S. Global Positioning System (GPS), Russia's GLONASS, and the European Galileo system. BDS offers China and its BRI partners global positioning, navigation and tracking capabilities for both civilian and military uses.

In 2018, Pakistan ended reliance on the GPS system and fully transitioned to China's BDS, which covers the entire country.

According to the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington, China has become Pakistan's foremost arms supplier in value terms over the past decade, with Pakistan receiving nearly 40% of Beijing's arms exports.

Additionally, China has supported Pakistan's nuclear weaponization efforts, aiding in bomb designs and explosive component development, and enhancing nuclear delivery capabilities by developing and transferring solid-propellant missiles.
Pakistans prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, will lead a high-level delegation to China next week on an official 5-day visit, Islamabad announced Friday.

During the visit that will begin June 4, Sharif will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and hold delegation-level talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, according to the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Sharif, who will be accompanied by ministers and government officials as well as a group of Pakistani business leaders, will also meet high-ranking government officials and tycoons during the trip that will end June 8.

The two sides will undertake discussions to further strengthen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership; upgrade China-Pakistan Economic Corridor; advance trade and investment; enhance cooperation in security and defense, energy, space, science and technology, education; and promote cultural cooperation and people-to-people contacts, said foreign ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch at the weekly news briefing.

The visit, that was expected to occur in May, comes at a time when Islamabad is anxiously seeking to ramp up the multibillion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, or CPEC, in a bid to spur its ailing economy. However, Beijing is deeply concerned about the safety of Chinese citizens working in Pakistan on the flagship project of its global Belt and Road Initiative.

In recent weeks, Pakistan has ramped up efforts to meet Beijings key demand that Islamabad enhance the security of Chinese workers, and arrest and punish the perpetrators of a March suicide attack that killed five Chinese nationals and their Pakistani driver on their way to work at a hydropower project in the mountainous north.

Although no group claimed responsibility for the attack, Pakistan has said the attacker was an Afghan citizen whose handlers were based in Afghanistan.

A high-ranking Pakistani delegation visited Kabul Thursday to share the findings of its probe with the Afghan Taliban and demanded cooperation in arresting the perpetrators. Just days earlier, Islamabad revealed arresting 11 suspects that belonged to the banned militant outfit Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan or TTP.

Along with enhancing security protocols for Chinese nationals, Islamabad also recently announced more than $2.5 million in compensation for the families of the slain foreign workers.

Responding to VOA on whether Pakistan was confident it could satisfy Chinas security concerns in the upcoming visit, Baloch said she disagreed with the notion that Beijing has doubts in our approach on the issue of terrorism.

Theres already a robust dialogue on terrorism that takes place between Pakistan and China. The two countries have a history of trust and confidence in each other and that makes our relation much more effective, the spokesperson said.

When asked if Islamabad had formally requested Beijing talk to Kabul to curb cross-border terrorism in Pakistan, Baloch refused to share details.

I am not in a position to share the internal deliberations and privileged diplomatic conversations between Pakistan and its iron brother China, she said responding to VOA.

A joint statement after a mid-May meeting between Pakistani and Chinese foreign ministers in Beijing called for international efforts to help Afghanistan pursue good-neighborliness and firmly combat terrorism, including not allowing its territory to be used for terrorist acts.

Despite United Nations reports and research by Washington-based research groups indicating otherwise, the Afghan Taliban deny the presence of terror groups on their soil.

Commenting on the Pakistani prime ministers upcoming visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told media Friday that Chinese and Pakistani leaders will jointly draw up a blueprint for the growth of bilateral relations.

China stands ready to work with Pakistan through this visit to make greater progress in our all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and take new steps in the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, she added.

Earlier in the week, Mao expressed support for Pakistans efforts to investigate the March attack while assuring cooperation in enhancing security for its workers there.

China supports Pakistan in continuing to get to the full bottom of what happened and hunting down and bringing to justice all the perpetrators, Mao said. China will continue to work with Pakistan to strengthen security cooperation and ensure the safety and security of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in Pakistan.

At least 17 Chinese nationals have been killed in targeted attacks in Pakistan in recent years, dealing a blow to CPEC.
A Russian court on Friday again extended the pretrial detention of American-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva  this time by two months, until August 5.

A Prague-based journalist with VOAs sister outlet Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Kurmasheva has been jailed since October 2023 on charges of failing to self-register as a so-called foreign agent and spreading what Moscow views as false information about the Russian military.

Kurmasheva and her employer reject the charges, which carry a combined sentence of up to 15 years in prison. Press freedom groups have widely condemned the charges as bogus, and the U.S. government has called for her immediate release.

On Friday, the Sovetsky District Court of Kazan also rejected a request by Kurmasheva's lawyers to have her detention switched to house arrest.

The injustices multiply every day in this needless, cruel prosecution. Alsu's fundamental rights as an American citizen are being denied by Russian authorities who have now imprisoned her for 227 days, RFE/RL President and CEO Stephen Capus said in a statement after the decision.

"In that time, Alsu has not even had a single phone call with her loving children and husband; she's been denied U.S. consular access as well as basic, adequate levels of health care. Alsu should be home in Prague with her daughters helping them study for final exams  not locked up in a Russian prison on baseless charges, Capus said.

A dual U.S.-Russian national, Kurmasheva traveled to Russia in May 2023 for a family emergency. When she tried to leave the country in June of that year, her passports were confiscated. The journalist was waiting for them to be returned when she was detained in October 2023.

Kurmashevas husband Pavel Butorin condemned the ruling in a statement on the social media platform X.

Alsu is not a criminal. Shes not an activist, not a member of the Russian opposition, and presents no threat to the Russian government. Alsu doesnt belong in prison. She doesnt belong in Russia, said Butorin, who is the director of Current Time TV, a Russian-language TV and digital network led by RFE/RL in partnership with VOA.

As todays ruling by Judge Sukhova proves, we cant expect justice from the Russian justice system. Alsu and her family rely on the U.S. government to mobilize the resources necessary to secure her safe release from wrongful detention in Russia, Butorin said.

Press freedom groups have criticized the State Department for not declaring Kurmasheva wrongfully detained, which would open additional resources to help secure her release.

When American journalist Evan Gershkovich was detained in March 2023, the U.S. government quickly designated that the Wall Street Journal reporter as wrongfully detained.

Gershkovich is jailed on espionage charges that he, his employer and the U.S. government have denied. He faces up to 20 years behind bars.

In Kurmashevas case, deliberations were held behind closed doors Friday, but representatives from the Australian and Czech embassies, along with journalists, were allowed into the courtroom for other parts of Kurmashevas hearing.

Before the decision was handed down, Kurmasheva showed reporters children's drawings she had received.

Considering that this is probably the only grass and trees I will see this summer, this is priceless, Kurmasheva told reporters as she held up the drawings from inside the glass-walled defendants box in the courtroom.

Kurmasheva, 47, also spoke of her health issues, saying she has been feeling steadily worse and needs surgery.

The Russian Embassy in Washington did not immediately reply to VOAs email requesting comment.

The National Press Club in Washington on Friday described the extension of Kurmashevas pretrial detention as a disgrace.

This is a cruel and disturbing outcome, National Press Club President Emily Wilkins said in a statement. We call, again, for the U.S. government to do the right thing and declare Alsu wrongly detained. Doing so would send a strong message that Alsu's government is fully behind her. She deserves no less.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists also called on the United States to declare Kurmasheva wrongfully detained. In a statement Friday, the CPJ said that Russian authorities should also grant consular access and appropriate medical care.
South Africas long-ruling African National Congress party, which gained power under President Nelson Mandela, has received less than 50% of the vote in early election results.

If the ANC loses, it would be the first loss of its majority since the end of apartheid in 1994.

Roughly 27% of the votes from Wednesday's election have been counted as of Thursday. The independent electoral commission says the final vote will be delivered by Sunday.

ANC has 43% of the partial vote based on results from about 6,000 of the 23,000 polling stations across South Africas nine provinces.

If the ANC does not secure a majority, it would need support from other parties to reelect President Cyril Ramaphosa for a second term.

Ramaphosa is a former anti-apartheid activist and has served as South Africas fifth president since 2018.

Losing the majority would also require the ANC to co-govern and find a coalition partner.

Up to the start of the election, the ANC said it was confident it would keep a majority. It has not signaled how it would establish a coalition government.

Nomvula Mokonyane, ANC deputy secretary-general, said she saw the partial results as better than some earlier projections.

"We remain optimistic," Mokonyane told the South African Broadcasting Corporation. "Everybody was looking at the ANC [to receive] around 36% to 40%, and we are quite certain that we will surpass that.

Early election results show South Africas largest opposition parties trailing the ANC. Democratic Alliance has received about 25% of the vote and the Economic Freedom Fighters party, 8%.

Some information for this report came from The Associated Press.
The city of Sumy, Ukraine, is just 32 kilometers from the Russian border. Sumy and the region have been shelled more times in the first five months of 2024 than during all of last year, yet some villages on the Russian border still stand. Olena Adamenko visited the city for this story, narrated by Anna Rice. Videographer: Oleh Demianenko; Video editor: Mykhailo Zaika
The historic conviction of former U.S. President Donald Trump in a New York court on 34 felony counts Thursday drew swift reaction from across the political spectrum.

The campaign of Trump's election opponent and Democratic presidential nominee, President Joe Biden, said the New York jury's decision to convict a former president showed that no one is above the law.

"Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain," the Biden-Harris campaign said in a statement. "But today's verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box."

The Trump campaign alleged in a statement that he was not able to have a fair trial in one of the more liberal areas of the nation.

"This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. It's a rigged trial, a disgrace. They wouldn't give us a venue change. We were at 5% or 6% in this district, in this area. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial," Trump said in a statement.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, a top-ranking Republican, said in a statement, "Today is a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one."

Strength of system

Congressional Democrats said the verdict proved the strength of the American legal system.

"An individual who has been convicted of 34 felony counts and shows zero respect for the rule of law is not fit to lead the greatest nation in the world," said Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, chair of the Senate judiciary courts subcommittee. "It's only in honest courtrooms that the former president has been unable to lie and bully his way out of trouble. Americans trust juries for good reason."

The verdict marked the first time a former U.S. president has been convicted of a felony. The decision, however, does not prevent Trump from running for office, and it faces a lengthy appeals process.

Barbara Perry, co-chair of the Presidential Oral History Program at the University of Virginia's Miller Center, told VOA that if the appeal fails, Trump will mark another historic first for a U.S. president.

"Let's say that this felony conviction stands all the way through November 5, this upcoming presidential election day. It would be the case that if he maintains his residency in Florida, a state where convicted felons are not allowed to vote, that he literally would not be allowed to vote for himself. The other irony of this, in addition to it being unprecedented  is that he and many Republicans have typically tried in recent years to suppress votes."

Trump could also face a jail sentence or could be put under house arrest if the conviction stands.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, in a statement, criticized the process that led to the guilty verdict.

"A political hack prosecutor manufactured charges in one of the most liberal legal venues in the country. An obnoxious and biased judge who should have been disqualified conducted a trial in a way to ensure Donald Trump's conviction. A jury pool that comes from one of the most liberal areas of America," Graham said.

Perry disputed Republican allegations that the trial was a sham.

"Most objective observers would say [this] was a very fair judge. And even if they thought the judge was unfair, did they think that all 12 jurors were unfair? Did they think they were all partisan?" she said. "All 12 of these jurors were approved by both sides in this trial, and to say that our entire legal system is a sham, I would indicate that that borders almost on treason."

White House counsel spokesperson Ian Sams said, "We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment." The White House had not yet responded to VOA's question on whether it had prepared for a heightened threat assessment after the verdict.

Trump faces criminal cases on unrelated charges in Florida, Georgia and Washington.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to appeal his guilty verdict, a day after a jury of New York citizens convicted him of all 34 felony counts related to his attempt to illegally influence the outcome of the 2016 national election.

It was a rigged trial, exclaimed the former president, who spoke to a small group of reporters and supporters Friday inside his midtown Manhattan Trump Tower.

Trump, for 33 minutes, delivered an unscripted and rambling list of grievances about the case, the country and President Joe Biden. Trump claimed  without evidence  that the judge in his case was corrupt and unfair, and that the New York state legal proceedings were orchestrated by Biden and federal officials.

I'm very honored to be involved because we're fighting for our Constitution, added Trump during his remarks.

Biden, at the opening of a White House speech about the Middle East, noted that the unanimous verdict against Trump came after the jury heard five weeks of testimony and that the former president was given every opportunity to defend himself.

And its reckless, its dangerous, its irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they dont like the verdict, said Biden on Friday.

The 12-member jury deliberated for about 10 hours over two consecutive days before returning Thursdays verdict, making Trump the first U.S. president to be tried and convicted on criminal charges.

Trump is the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee in the November election against Biden, the Democrat who defeated him in the 2020 election. But Trump now faces the possibility of being placed on probation or imprisoned for up to four years.

Sentencing has been set for July 11, in the middle of his campaign to return to the White House and just prior to the start of the July 15 Republican National Convention, where he would be formally nominated as the party's presidential candidate.

Following the verdict, Trump defense lawyer Todd Blanche immediately asked that it be overturned, but New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan rejected the request.

Inside the courtroom, Trump showed little emotion as he learned his fate. But when he emerged from the courtroom Thursday, he said the verdict was "a disgrace."

The Trump campaign then quickly sent out a fundraising email quoting the former president stating, in all capital letters, "I am a political prisoner!"

From the start of the trial in mid-April, Trump had treated the case with disdain, disparaging prospective witnesses against him despite Merchan's gag order prohibiting him from doing so. Merchan found Trump in contempt of court 10 times and fined him $10,000, which the judge acknowledged was a pittance for a billionaire like Trump.

Merchan had excluded himself and prosecutor Alvin Bragg from his gag order. As a result, Trump virtually every day of the trial assailed them as he walked into court, especially the judge, whom he described as "corrupt" and "conflicted," apparently because he made a $35 donation to Biden and Democrats in 2020.

Noting that Trump, convicted felon or not, will be the Republican nominee for president, Biden campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler said the opportunity to halt the now convicted felons return to the White House Oval Office will come on November 5 at the ballot box, adding the threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater.

Trump is certain to appeal his conviction and can continue to run for office. There is no U.S. constitutional prohibition against him becoming president as a convicted felon.

Eugene V. Debs, who had run unsuccessfully for president four times previously and was a household name of the era, ran again as the Socialist Party nominee in 1920 while imprisoned for violating the Espionage and Sedition acts. He was allowed by authorities to issue one written statement weekly from the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary. Debs captured more than three percent of the vote in the general election.

There has been only one federal officeholder who was successfully elected while imprisoned. Congressman Matthew Lyon, of the Democratic-Republican Party, in 1798, was reelected to his Vermont seat while jailed for sedition for his criticism of President John Adams.

If Trump, who is 77, wins a non-consecutive second term in November he would have broad pardon powers related to convicted federal defendants, but he could not pardon himself for the New York conviction because it was a state case distinct from federal jurisdiction.

Trump faces three other indictments, including two accusing him of illegally trying to upend his 2020 election loss. All three cases are tied up in legal wrangling between his lawyers and prosecutors. As a result, the New York case may be the only one decided before the November election.

Trump was convicted after Michael Cohen, his onetime political fixer turned critic, testified that Trump told him to "just do it"  pay $130,000 in hush money days ahead of the 2016 election to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels to silence her claim she had a one-night tryst with Trump a decade earlier.

Trump again on Friday denied any liaison with Daniels.

Nothing ever happened, he said.

A hush money deal is not illegal. Trump was convicted of charges of falsifying business records at his Trump Organization real estate conglomerate to hide the 2017 reimbursement of the hush money payment to Cohen, which Trump claimed was for Cohens legal work.

It's not hush money. It's a nondisclosure agreement  totally legal. Totally common. Everyone has it, Trump told reporters Friday.

The 34 counts covered 11 invoices Cohen filed with Trump company officials to be reimbursed, 12 ledger entries in the company's records and 11 checks sent to Cohen, nine of which Trump signed.

The Trump defense team claimed Cohen, of his own volition and without Trump's knowledge, wired the hush money to Daniels' lawyer.

Trump said Friday that because of the judges gag order he cannot refer to his former attorney by name, before calling Cohen a once-effective lawyer who turned out to be a sleazebag.

VOAs Ken Bredemeier contributed to this report.
By Wang Ruoxin, Wang Xinyuan, Junye Zhang

Since its premiere in May, the TV series To the Wonder has captivated audiences nationwide, sparking widespread discussions. Adapted from Li Juan's acclaimed prose collection My Altay, the series revolves around Li Wenxiu, a character inspired by the author herself. It begins with Li's return from the bustling city to her roots in a tranquil village in Altay Prefecture, the northernmost part of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China. The series delves into the lives of Li and her family, depicting their daily interactions with Kazakh friends like Batay and Token against the backdrop of the pastoral wonder. With the series' popularity, Altay Prefecture has emerged as a source of fascination for audiences in search of "poems and dreams."

A still from the TV series To the Wonder shows the scenery of Altay, northwest Chinas Xinjing Uygur Autonomous Region. (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

The image shows Alima during an interview with Guangming Online.

In this episode: Alima, who portrays Token in the series, recently joined Guangming Online to discuss her role and her insights into the cultural heritage and modern development of the Kazakh people in Xinjiang.

Character and Cultural Insights

When asked about her character Token, Alima described her as a typical Kazakh woman who is hardworking, diligent, and resilient. Despite facing numerous hardships, Token remains upbeat and optimistic. Alima attributes Token's positive outlook to the changing seasons in the pastoral areas. "In winter, the environment is very harsh, but in summer, everything turns green and beautiful," she explained. "This makes Token who she istough in challenging times and optimistic when troubles are behind her."

A still from the TV series To the Wonder shows Alima as Token grazing sheep. (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

Life and Modernization in Altay

Alima, a native of Altay who left as a teenager, shared her observations on the changes in her hometown. She noted significant improvements in the quality of life, particularly for herders, thanks to the housing project. This government initiative has provided herders with stable housing and modern amenities, transitioning them from a nomadic lifestyle to a more settled existence. Despite these changes, Alima emphasized that the simple and authentic spirit of the Kazakh people remains unchanged.

A still from the TV series To the Wonder shows Alima as Token tapping pine resin. (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

Kazakh Hospitality and Traditions

Kazakh hospitality, a prominent theme in the series, is also a key aspect of real-life Kazakh culture. Alima recounted an episode where a negotiation over sheep ends with the sheep being served for dinner, illustrating the Kazakh tradition of prioritizing hospitality over business. "We always treat our guests with milk tea and never let them leave without eating anything," she said, highlighting the deep-rooted customs of Kazakh hospitality.

A still from the TV series To the Wonder shows Alima as Token using pine resin as chewing gum. (Photo provided to Guangming Online)

Tourism Recommendations

With the surge in tourism interest in Altay, Alima recommended a self-drive tour to fully appreciate the vast and scenic beauty of the region. She advised dressing in layers due to the variable temperatures, especially in the mountains. For food enthusiasts, she recommended trying local specialties like hand-grabbed mutton, fried chicken, milk tea, Bawrsak, and Kazakh breakfast, which includes fresh milk tea with ghee and creme.

Editor: JYZ
Ugandan authorities objected Friday to new U.S. sanctions over what the United States calls significant corruption and gross human rights violations, saying the sanctions target parliament Speaker Anita Among and other officials who backed the 2023 Anti-Homosexuality Law.

On Thursday, the U.S. State Department placed travel and financial sanctions on Among for what it called significant corruption tied to her leadership position.

Others sanctioned were ministers Amos Lugolobi, Agnes Nandutu and Mary Goretti Gitutu for allegedly misusing public resources and diverting materials from Ugandas neediest communities.

Ugandan State Minister for Foreign Affairs Oryem Okello argued that all the ministers who were sanctioned are currently facing Ugandan courts of law, which have yet to find rule on the cases.

The sanctions also target Lieutenant General Peter Elwelu for his role in clashes between Ugandan security forces and a local militant group that resulted in the deaths of over 100 people.

However, Okello said the U.S. governments action is really targeting Among.

"My belief is that this is an insult and undermines our judicial system, Okello said.

The sanctions are unjust. They are punitive, he said. They are bullish because they know that we cannot do anything against it. And its just deliberate to punish the speaker for her role and leadership to fight LBGTQ and homosexuality in Uganda.

The U.S. State Department said it stands with Ugandans advocating for democratic principles, a government that delivers for all its citizens and accountability for actions committed by those who abuse their positions through corruption and gross violations of human rights.

Ugandan political analyst Mary Anne Nanfuka said that those people targeted by the sanctions are not acting on their own and that sanctions never work as a deterrent.

I see that these Western countries want to pander to their electorate, Nanfuka said.

They know very well that they need the government to cooperate with them in certain areas. So, once push comes to shove, they will let it pass. Yes, its a gesture, but no, we are still not impressed, she said.

Chris Obore, the head of public affairs in the Ugandan parliament, said the corruption allegations are political and vendetta-driven, otherwise they would have targeted the entire Ugandan cabinet.

The State Department specifically mentioned a giveaway of iron roofing sheets that were meant for a poor community but were instead shared by top government members among themselves.

It is a sign of their latent anger against the speaker for presiding over the anti-homosexuality law, Obore said. It is clear that the U.K., U.S., Canada have been putting pressure when that law was being debated here. Because it is not about iron sheets. How did the speaker personally benefit from those iron sheets when public schools that were roofed are there?

Okello said Uganda will engage U.S. government officials and get to the bottom of how the State Department decided to approve the sanctions.
The number of people fleeing their homes because of war, violence and persecution has reached 114 million and is climbing because nations have failed to tackle the causes and combatants are refusing to comply with international law, the U.N. refugee chief said Thursday.

In a hard-hitting speech, Filippo Grandi criticized the U.N. Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, for failing to use its voice to try to resolve conflicts from Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan to Congo, Myanmar and many other places.

He also accused unnamed countries of making "short-sighted foreign policy decisions, often founded on double standards, with lip service paid to compliance with the law, but little muscle flexed from the council to actually uphold it and  with it  peace and security."

Grandi said non-compliance with international humanitarian law means that "parties to conflicts  increasingly everywhere, almost all of them  have stopped respecting the laws of war," though some pretend to do so.

The result is more civilian deaths, sexual violence is used as a weapons of war, hospitals, schools and other civilian infrastructure are attacked and destroyed, and humanitarian workers become targets, he said.

Calling himself a frustrated humanitarian and looking directly at the 15 council members, Grandi said that instead of using its voice, "the council's cacophony has meant that you have instead continued to preside over a broader cacophony of chaos around the world."

The high commissioner for refugees told the council it's too late for the tens of thousands who have been killed in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and other conflicts.

"But it is not too late to put your focus and energy on the crises and conflicts that remain unresolved, so that they are not allowed to fester and explode again," Grandi said. "It is not too late to step up help for the millions who have been forcibly displaced to return home voluntarily, in safety and with dignity."

It's also not too late to save millions of people from the scourge of war, the refugee chief said.

But the Security Council is increasingly polarized, and its five veto-wielding permanent members are at odds, with the U.S., Britain and France often strongly opposed to the views of Russia and China.

On the Gaza war, the council has not called for a cease-fire because of opposition from the United States, Israel's closest ally. And on Ukraine, the council has been ineffective as Russia, a key party to the conflict after Moscow invaded its smaller neighbor in February 2022, would veto almost any resolution.

Grandi called what's happened in Gaza since Hamas' surprise attack on October 7 and the "atrocious" recent events in the southern city of Rafah after an Israeli airstrike led to a deadly fire at a camp for displaced Palestinians an example of the "brutal conduct of hostilities meant not only to destroy but also to terrify civilians," who increasingly more often have no choice but to flee.

He said Gaza is also "a tragic reminder of what happens when conflicts (and by extension a refugee crisis) are left unattended" for decades. He also pointed to Syria where after 13 years of conflict, 5.6 million Syrian refugees remain in neighboring countries including Lebanon and Jordan which also host Palestinian refugees.

Grandi said violations of international law, including forcing people to flee, are having a devastating effect on people around the world.

For example, in Myanmar, more than 1.5 million people have been displaced by fighting since October, bringing the total to over 3 million, "with many trying to seek refuge in neighboring countries," he said.

In Ukraine, international humanitarian law is violated every day with Russian attacks on the country's power networks, houses and other civilian infrastructure, he said.

And in Congo, Grandi said, "violence between men with guns is so common that no other place on Earth is as dangerous for women and children than the east of that country."

"But how can members of the United Nations, how can 'we the peoples' pay so little attention and have so much inaction in a place where sex with a child can be bought for less than a cold drink?" the refugee chief asked.

"What a shameful stain on humanity!" Grandi said.
A senior United Nations official said Friday that the organization remains deeply concerned about growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, following North Koreas latest attempted launch of a spy satellite and firing of ballistic missiles.

We encourage all member states, and members of this council, to seek unity, and for all parties to create an environment conducive to dialogue and cooperation, U.N. assistant political chief Khaled Khiari told a meeting of the Security Council. At this particularly difficult moment in securing global peace and security, it is imperative to de-escalate the rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

Several council members, including the United States, Japan and South Korea, requested the meeting after North Korea unsuccessfully launched a spy satellite on May 27. That was followed on Thursday by the firing of a barrage of ballistic missiles toward its eastern sea.

Washingtons envoy said Pyongyang is advancing its prohibited weapons program at an alarming rate, and has launched more than 100 ballistic missiles since the beginning of 2022.

Each of these launches  successful or not  is a flagrant violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, U.S. Deputy U.N. Ambassador Robert Wood said. Each launch informs the DPRK of its capability gaps and allows Pyongyang to further advance its weapons programs.

DPRK is the abbreviation for North Korea's official name: the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.

While the spy satellite exploded shortly after it was fired, an earlier launch in November was successful. In December, Pyongyang announced that it plans to launch three more military satellites this year.

North Koreas U.N. envoy was defiant.

We make it clear once again that the DPRKs possession of space reconnaissance capabilities is an independent right that can never be abandoned or bartered for anything else, Ambassador Kim Song told the council. It is an important undertaking of absolute necessity for defense of the state sovereignty and legitimate self-defense.

North Koreas Monday launch took place just hours after a rare trilateral dialogue wrapped up in Seoul among Chinas premier, Japans prime minister and South Koreas president, with a call for the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.

Chinese Ambassador Fu Cong said Friday it is imperative all parties adopt a rational and practical approach, swiftly resume dialogue, act calmly and not intensify tensions.

He expressed concern about a planned U.S. joint military exercise on the peninsula planned for August.

Such a plan will only increase tensions and the risk of war and turmoil on the peninsula, making the goal of long-term stability ever more elusive, he said. China opposes the plan.

South Koreas ambassador said Pyongyangs nuclear policy and its rhetoric are becoming increasingly hostile and aggressive towards his country.

Pyongyang no longer regards its nuclear arsenal as just a deterrent against the U.S., but instead as a means to attack my country, the Republic of Korea, which the North Korean leader himself called in January not a fellow nation but, the most hostile foreign enemy to be subjugated, Ambassador Hwang Joon-kook said.

Hwang added that North Korea announced Friday that the multiple short-range ballistic missiles it fired on Thursday were aimed at his country, and that Pyongyang says it will not hesitate to carry out a preemptive attack on the enemies.

Faced with these menacing threats, the Republic of Korea has to take all necessary measures to protect national security and our people by maintaining a robust combined defense and deterrence posture, Hwang said.

Russia-DPRK military cooperation

The United States and several other council members also raised, not for the first time, Russias procurement of weapons and munitions from North Korea for use in its war in Ukraine, in violation of the councils own sanctions and arms embargo.

The DPRK has also unlawfully transferred dozens of ballistic missiles and over 11,000 containers of munitions to aid Russias war against Ukraine, prolonging the suffering of the Ukrainian people, Ambassador Wood said.

We continue to monitor closely what North Korea gains in return, said Ambassador Kazuyuki Yamazaki of Japan. We cannot let the current situation become the new normal.

Both Moscow and Pyongyang have previously denied the weapons allegations.

Several council resolutions prohibit North Korea from developing a ballistic missile program, as well as ban it from exporting arms or related material to other states.

Russias envoy said accusations that their activity with North Korea is illegal are absolutely unfounded and Moscow is simply cooperating with a friendly neighbor.

The cooperation between Russia and the DPRK is exclusively constructive and lawful in nature, Deputy Ambassador Anna Evstigneeva said. It doesnt threaten anyone or violate anyone, and it will continue.

On March 28, Russia used its council veto to shut down the panel of experts who monitor implementation of the Security Councils sanctions on North Korea, drawing criticism that it was trying to shield itself from scrutiny.

Since 2006, the council has adopted several sanctions resolutions intended to limit North Korea's access to funds and materials for its illicit nuclear and ballistic missile weapons programs. The council created the panel of experts in 2009, and since then they have documented implementation and alleged violations of council resolutions. But despite tough sanctions, Pyongyang continues to advance its weapons programs.

VOA Seoul Correspondent William Gallo contributed to this report.
Senior officials from the United States and the People's Republic of China held diplomatic talks in Washington on Thursday to try to defuse tensions, to discuss efforts to maintain military-to-military communication, and to advance cooperation.

Deputy U.S. Secretary of State Kurt Campbell hosted China's Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu at the State Department for talks aimed at maintaining open communication to prevent miscalculations and unintended conflicts, especially during times of tension.

Following two hours of face-to-face discussions, U.S. and Chinese officials had a working lunch at the State Department. Later in the afternoon, U.S. deputy national security adviser Jon Finer continued discussions with Ma.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan also stopped by the meeting to greet Ma and exchanged views on key issues.

"The two sides discussed ongoing work to continue military-to-military communication and advance cooperation in areas where our interests align, such as counternarcotics," the White House said in a statement, ahead of the expected meeting between U.S. and China defense chiefs during the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

They also discussed areas of disagreement.

"Finer affirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. He underscored U.S. support for international law and freedom of navigation in the South China Sea. The two sides also discussed Russia's war against Ukraine, challenges in the Middle East, and efforts to advance the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula," the White House statement said.

The visit by Ma follows U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's trip to Shanghai and Beijing in April. Officials said it builds on the U.S.'s intensive diplomacy with the PRC to responsibly manage competition in the relationship, even in areas where the two countries disagree.

The State Department has said the U.S. is engaging in face-to-face diplomacy with China to clearly and directly communicate Washington's positions and intentions, aiming to make progress on bilateral, regional and global issues.

A spokesperson from PRC's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Ma would also "interact and communicate with representatives from various sectors in the U.S." during his visit to the country Thursday to Sunday.

State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said Thursday that the U.S. would continue its engagement with China at senior levels while raising concerns over contentious issues, including Beijing's support for Russia's war efforts in Ukraine.

"If China does not curtail its support for Russia's defense industrial base, the U.S. would be prepared to take further steps," Patel told reporters during a briefing.

He added, "The PRC's reconstitution of the Russian defense industrial base not only threatens Ukrainian security but also threatens European security," a view held by the United States, the G7, the European Union and NATO countries.

However, Patel declined to preview any potential U.S. sanctions.

While in Beijing last month, Blinken voiced "serious concern" regarding China's support for Russia's defense industry, warning Chinese leaders that Washington could impose sanctions over the matter.

China has defended its approach to Russia, saying it is engaged only in normal economic exchanges with a major trading partner.

On Wednesday, Campbell renewed the U.S. warnings, saying Chinese support was helping to revitalize Russia's military capabilities, including long-range missiles, artillery, drones and battlefield tracking.

During his visit to Brussels, Campbell emphasized the urgent need for European and NATO countries "to send a collective message of concern to China about its actions, which we view are destabilizing in the heart of Europe."

The latest U.S.-China talks occur just days after China conducted a large-scale, two-day military exercise involving 111 aircraft and 46 naval vessels around Taiwan. Washington has strongly urged Beijing to exercise restraint and has reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.

Mark Lambert, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state for China and Taiwan, met virtually on May 23 with Hong Liang, the PRC's director-general for boundary and ocean affairs. During the meeting, Lambert expressed profound concerns regarding People's Liberation Army joint military drills in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held their first in-person meeting on the sideline of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on Friday.

The two officials exchanged views on a range of contentious issues, including the rising tension across the Taiwan Strait, the ongoing confrontation between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea, as well as major global conflicts like Russias war in Ukraine and the Middle East conflict.

During the 75-minute meeting, Austin and Dong both highlighted the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between the two militaries and vowed to resume the hotline between theater commanders from both sides in the coming months.

Austin reiterated Washingtons concern about Chinas recent two-day military exercise encircling Taiwan and urged Beijing not to use Taiwans political transition, which he characterized as part of a routine democratic process, as "a pretext for coercive measures" against the democratic island.

At a news conference Friday following the meeting between the two defense officials, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told journalists from more than a dozen Chinese and foreign media outlets, including VOA, that the Taiwan question remains purely Chinas internal affairs and that external forces "have no right to interfere in the issue."

Washingtons behavior "severely violated the commitments made by the U.S. side" and sent wrong signals to "the Taiwan independence separatist forces," Wu said during the 50-minute news conference.

In addition to the rising tension across the Taiwan Strait, Austin and Dong also exchanged views on the ongoing confrontation between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea.

Austin said the United States will continue to "fly, sail, and operate" wherever international law allows safely and responsibly while stressing the importance of respecting high seas freedom of navigation under international law, especially in the South China Sea.

During the meeting, Dong said the Philippines has broken its promises due to support from "outside forces" and keeps making provocations on the disputed Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea, which both Beijing and Manila view as its territories, according to Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu.

The Chinese defense minister also criticized Washington for deploying mid-range missile systems to the Philippines "under cover of a military exercise," warning that such a move poses a real threat to regional security.

"We remain committed to resolving the disagreements with the Philippines side through consultation on an equal footing, but our tolerance for continued and intensified provocations will have a limit," Wu told journalists during the press conference.

Apart from the two contentious issues in the Indo-Pacific region, Austin and Dong also exchanged views on the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. The U.S. defense secretary expressed Washingtons concerns about North Koreas "direct contributions to Russia's ongoing assault on Ukraine."

Dong reiterated that China has maintained a "just and impartial position" on the Ukraine conflict, honored the promise of not providing weapons to either side in the war and strictly controlled the "export of military items and dual-use goods in accordance with relevant laws and regulations."

He urged the United States not to shift the blame for the ongoing war onto China and said that Beijing will continue to play a constructive role in promoting peace talks, according to Wu.

The Chinese Defense Ministry said the two sides will have ongoing consultations regarding future exchanges between the two militaries, with engagements between military academies and potential bilateral policy dialogues being the potential starting point.

"We believe that having meetings is better than no meeting and having dialogues is better than having no dialogue at all," Wu told journalists, adding that bilateral exchanges like this meeting can help develop "the sound and stable" military-to-military relationship.

Some analysts say the meeting between Austin and Dong is mainly focusing on "posturing" and sharing the fundamental and core interests and red lines from Beijing and Washingtons perspectives.

"The talk is not about negotiation or high-level diplomacy but more about establishing lines of communication for the hard work that usually goes on at the lower level," Stephen Nagy, a regional security expert at the International Christian University in Japan, told VOA.

While military-to-military communication between Beijing and Washington is important and has the effect of de-escalating growing regional tensions, one thing that remains to be seen is whether the Chinese side will "pick up the phone" in the event of an actual crisis.

"Due to the nature of Chinas political system, power has been highly centralized under Xi Jinping, [so] we are not sure if our Chinese counterpart would be able to pick up the phone, communicate and make decisions in a crisis situation," he added.

Despite this uncertainty, some experts say conversations between defense leaders remain "incredibly helpful." The two officials can have a conversation about intentions thats incredibly stabilizing to the overall relationship, [but] I dont think there is a lot of room for adjusting each sides red lines," Rorry Daniels, managing director of the Asia Society Policy Institute, told VOA by phone.

But with tensions rising in several parts of Asia, including the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, and the Korean Peninsula, some observers, say Fridays dialogue between Austin and Dong will be increasingly crucial for the region, especially at a time when there are two ongoing military conflicts in the world.

"It is a way both sides can turn down the temperature, exchange information in a multilateral security forum, and have corridor diplomacy, which is extremely important for high-context Asian culture that shies away from talking about volatile issues openly and frankly in the public," Lim Tai Wei, Professor at the National University of Singapore, told VOA in a video interview.

VOA Seoul Correspondent William Gallo contributed to this report.
Senior officials from the United States, Japan, and South Korea convene in historic Little Washington, Virginia, on Friday, amid growing threats from North Korea and other pressing regional and global security issues.

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell hosts Japans Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano, and South Korea's Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun at his farmhouse nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains near Washington.

The trilateral dialogue, a key deliverable from the historic 2023 Camp David Summit, reaffirms cooperation on economic security, critical and emerging technologies, and maritime security.

It also addresses various regional and global challenges, including North Korean threats, Russia's war on Ukraine, stability in the Taiwan Strait, and humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, according to the State Department.

The latest trilateral talks follow North Korea's launch of suspected ballistic missiles toward its eastern sea May 30, reported by South Korea's military.

The launches occurred shortly after the country's unsuccessful attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite and after North Korean balloons dropped feces and garbage on South Korea's busy streets and public areas.

Any kind of aerial object, certainly, we would find destabilizing and provocative, and we continue to consult closely with the Republic of Korea and Japan against these kinds of malign and destabilizing behaviors, said State Department Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel during a briefing on Thursday.

We condemn the DPRKs May 29th ballistic missile launch, he noted, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea.

Friday's talks follow the recent revival of high-level dialogue among China, Japan, and South Korea after almost five years.

The countries are expected to discuss the outcomes of the trilateral summit held in Seoul on Monday, attended by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, and Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

Former U.S. intelligence officials and analysts said the alliance between Washington, Tokyo, and Seoul is especially crucial amid rising military threats from the Peoples Republic of China.

James Fanell, a retired U.S. Navy captain and former director of intelligence and information operations for the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said, Given the current military threats from the PRC, as exemplified by last weeks large-scale drills near Taiwan, and the ongoing rapid military buildup, all three nations should break free from incremental changes and adopt a much more assertive approach to regional security.

Others told VOA that countries in the region are not only worried about the economic fallout from any type of war, citing the importance of maintaining the status quo of the Taiwan Strait as an international waterway, but they also are very concerned about immediate Chinese threats following a potential forcible takeover of Taiwan.

"If China were to take Taiwan by force, then Chinese forces would be that much closer to their outlying territories. Especially in Japan, there's a fear that this would be the first step toward Chinese seizure of some of the southwestern islands, said Jennifer Kavanagh, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

On Friday morning, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Campbell met with South Koreas vice foreign minister, Kim, for a bilateral discussion.

The previous day, the State Departments second-ranking diplomat held an inaugural vice-ministerial meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Okano, to focus on infrastructure development cooperation in other countries. That initiative is widely viewed as a key part of the two allies' strategy to counter China's influence in Southeast Asia and beyond.
Vietnam protested what is said was Chinas violation of its sovereignty after Beijing dispatched a navy hospital ship to the Paracels, a group of small coral islands and reefs in the South China Sea currently occupied by China but claimed by Vietnam and Taiwan.

China Central Television first reported the story on May 21.

Doan Khac Viet, deputy spokesperson for the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said his country objected to the ships presence. He spoke May 23 in response to a question from the Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper regarding the Youai hospital ship being sent to the archipelago, known as Hoang Sa in Vietnamese.

"Vietnam resolutely opposes any activities infringing upon Vietnams sovereignty over Hoang Sa," Viet emphasized.

The Youai hospital ship is under the command of the Chinese People's Liberation Armys Southern Theater Command. According to a report in the Global Times, citing China Central Television, the ship sailed around the Paracels, covering around 1,000 kilometers, and stopped at some islands to provide health service and treatment to Chinese soldiers.

Viet said Vietnam "objects to any action that hinders and infringes on the sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction" of Vietnam over the Paracels in accordance with the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, the online VnExpress newspaper reported.

VOA contacted the Chinese foreign affairs ministry and its embassy in Washington for comment but received no response at the time of publication.

"This would appear to be a pro forma objection by Vietnam, intended to publicly respond to Chinas public announcement of the hospital ships voyage, and thus register Hanois continued claim of sovereignty over the Paracel Islands," Raymond Powell, a fellow at Stanford Universitys Gordian Knot Center for National Security Innovation, told VOA via email.

"China consolidated its control over the Paracels 50 years ago when it seized the western islands from South Vietnam, at a time when Hanois chief interest was in prosecuting its conquest of the South," Powell said.

China has since developed and militarized its presence in the Paracels, making any change in the status quo highly unlikely.

According to Powell, "This makes Hanois claims largely defensive in nature, more intended as a lawfare bulwark against future encroachments into Vietnams waters by staving off international recognition of a Chinese exclusive economic zone claim based on the Paracels."

In 1959, China set up government offices in the Paracels, and in 1974, acquired and obtained full control of the islands after its naval battle against the then-South Vietnamese government.

The floating hospital, commissioned in November 2020 and equipped with a helicopter landing pad, is expected to provide support in Chinas "multidimensional drills in the South China Sea," according to China Military online.

Earlier in May, the ship took part in a series of training, including transporting the wounded in emergency situations and rescuing damaged vessels, China Central Television reported.

"As Vietnam has recently deepened its relations with both China and the U.S., I think it is a good idea for Vietnam to maintain the quo status in the South China Sea, as well as to continue to occupy its outposts in the Spratly Islands," Hoang Viet told VOA in a recent phone interview. He is an expert on South China Sea disputes at the National University of Ho Chi Minh City.

In January, Pham Thu Hang, a spokesperson for Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Vietnam had "sufficient evidence to claim sovereignty over the islands" as it marked the 50th anniversary of Chinas invasion of the Paracel Islands.

Pham spoke in Hanoi in response to reporters questions on Vietnam's position concerning China's invasion of the Hoang Sa Islands in 1974.

Four days later, the Chinese foreign ministry said Beijings claims of the islands were "fully supported by history and jurisprudence," the Reuters news agency reported.

"China was the first to discover, name, develop and manage these islands and archipelagos, and continues to exercise sovereign jurisdiction over them," Wang Wenbin, a foreign ministry spokesperson, said at a regular news conference on January 24.

"China always opposes relevant countries' illegal claims on China's territory and will continue to firmly safeguard its sovereignty," Wenbin said.
Police in Zambia have arrested five people on espionage charges following their earlier allegations via social media that the government was involved in the apparent abduction of independent lawmaker Jay Jay Banda last week.

Police spokesperson Danny Mwale confirmed to journalists in Lusaka on Thursday the arrests of opposition lawmakers Munir Zulu and Maureen Mubonga, opposition activist Brebner Changala, and opposition party chiefs Edith Nawakwi and Danny Pule.

All suspects earlier this week were charged with spreading hate speech related to last weekends alleged abduction of Banda, who has since resurfaced. Mwale further said that police charged Zulu, Mubonga and Pule with proposing a tribal war.

In Zambia, espionage charges carry up to a maximum 25 years in prison upon conviction while hate speech charges carry a punishment of up to $6,000 in fines and two years in prison.

Makebi Zulu, a lawyer representing some of the suspects, all of whom are awaiting court appearances in police custody, called the charges unacceptable and demanded immediate courtroom hearings.

Political analyst Boniface Cheembe at the University of Zambia has urged political leaders from both the ruling United Party for National Development and the opposition to focus on improving the lives of ordinary Zambians.

We need to do more as a country," Cheembe said, "Our citizens need to demand more from their political leaders to focus on issues" such as economic difficulties, infrastructure needs and provision of services.

Earlier this week, President Hakainde Hichilema warned that anyone promoting hate speech and tribalism to disturb social peace would face the full force of the law.

Thursdays arrests came barely a week after opposition Patriotic Front Secretary General Raphael Nakachinda was sentenced to 18 months of hard labor for violating a now-defunct presidential defamation law, stemming from his December 2021 allegations that Hichilema had coerced and intimidated Zambian judges into politically favorable rulings.

Human Rights Watch said Nakachindas sentencing has had a broad chilling effect on the right to freedom of expression in Zambia.
By Luc Cohen, Jack Queen and Andy Sullivan

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Donald Trump became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime on Thursday when a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election.

After deliberations over two days, the 12-member jury announced it had found Trump guilty on all 34 counts he faced. Unanimity was required for any verdict.

Trump watched the jurors dispassionately as they were polled to confirm the guilty verdict.

Justice Juan Merchan set sentencing for July 11, days before the July 15 start of the Republican National Convention expected to formally nominate Trump for president.

Merchan thanked the jurors for their service. Nobody can make you do anything you dont want to do. The choice is yours, Merchan said.

The verdict plunges the United States into unexplored territory ahead of the Nov. 5 presidential election, when Trump, the Republican candidate, will try to win the White House back from Democratic President Joe Biden.

Trump, 77, has denied wrongdoing and was expected to appeal.

"This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt," Trump told reporters afterwards.

"The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people," Trump said, adding: "I am a very innocent man."

He faces a maximum sentence of four years in prison, though others convicted of that crime often receive shorter sentences, fines or probation. Incarceration would not prevent him from campaigning, or taking office if he were to win.

Trump will not be jailed ahead of sentencing.

Opinion polls show Trump and Biden, 81, locked in a tight race, and Reuters/Ipsos polling has found that a guilty verdict could cost Trump some support from independent and Republican voters.

A source familiar with the Trump campaign's inner workings said the verdict was expected to prompt him to intensify deliberations on picking a woman as his vice presidential running mate.

Biden's campaign said the verdict showed that no one was above the law, but noted that Trump still would be able to run for president.

"There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box," the campaign said in a statement.

The jury notified the court they had reached a verdict at 4:20 p.m. (2020 GMT) and read out all 34 guilty counts shortly after 5 p.m.

Trump's fellow Republicans quickly condemned the verdict. "Today is a shameful day in American history," House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said in a prepared statement.

The jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business documents after sitting through a five-week trial that featured explicit testimony from porn star Stormy Daniels about a sexual encounter she says she had with Trump in 2006 while he was married to his current wife Melania. Trump denies ever having sex with Daniels.

Trump's then-fixer Michael Cohen testified that Trump approved a $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels in the final weeks of the 2016 election, when he faced multiple accusations of sexual misbehavior.

Cohen testified he handled the payment, and that Trump approved a plan to reimburse him through monthly payments disguised as legal work. Trump's lawyers hammered Cohen's credibility, highlighting his criminal record and imprisonment and his history of lying.

Trump lawyer Todd Blanche asked Merchan to throw out the guilty verdict, arguing that it was based on the unreliable testimony of Cohen. Merchan denied his request.

Trump's near-certain appeal of his historic conviction on criminal charges in New York is likely to focus on porn star Daniels' salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter as well as the novel legal theory prosecutors used in the case, but he faces long odds, legal experts said.

Falsifying business documents is normally a misdemeanor in New York, but prosecutors in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's office elevated it to a felony on grounds that Trump was concealing an illegal campaign contribution.

Trump complained that he could not get a fair trial in his heavily Democratic hometown.

The case was widely regarded as the least consequential of the four criminal prosecutions Trump faces. Jurors heard testimony of sex and lies that have been public since 2018, although the charges themselves rested on ledger accounts and other records of Cohen's reimbursement.

It was known as the "zombie case" because Bragg brought it back to life after his predecessor opted not to bring charges.

This case was also likely to be the only one to go to trial before the election, as the others are delayed by procedural challenges.

If elected, Trump could shut down the two federal cases that accuse him of illegally trying to overturn his 2020 election loss and mishandling classified documents after leaving office in 2021. He would not have the power to stop a separate election-subversion case taking place in Georgia.

Trump has pleaded not guilty in all the cases, and has portrayed his various legal troubles as an effort by Biden's Democratic allies to hurt him politically.

(Reporting by Luc Cohen and Jack Queen in New York and Andy Sullivan in Washington; Additional reporting by Steve Holland in Washington; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Howard Goller)
HARARE, ZIMBABWE  Faced with the growth of anti-smoking campaigns and a drop in cigarette use worldwide, Zimbabwe, Africa's largest tobacco producer, has asked its tobacco research body to look into the viability of large-scale cannabis production.

Kumbirai Mateva, a plant breeder at Zimbabwes Tobacco Research Board, says the agencys decision to research cannabis resulted from the World Health Organizations efforts to discourage tobacco use and the governments directive to explore agricultural alternatives.

We see this as an opportunity to lead in the agricultural innovation and sustainability, ensuring that Zimbabwe remains at the forefront of progressive farming practices, he said. We are excited about the prospect on the horizon as we draft a variety of protocol for a new hemp variety, which we expect to launch in the near future.

Munyaradzi Chedondo, formerly a tobacco farmer, got a 5-year license to be one of the cannabis growers at his farm about 40 kilometers north of Harare.

Medicinal cannabis, it's just good business, he said. On a comparative level with tobacco, it pays better, and then you need to invest, because there's a lot of infrastructure involved. There's just a lot of money, seeds you import. On fertilizers, you need to do it organically, so there are costs. And returns are there.

Mike Querl was a fruits and fish farmer who is now growing medicinal cannabis on 44 hectares near Bulawayo, Zimbabwes second-largest city.

Cannabis look[s] good due to our weather pattern in Zimbabwe and the price for the crop, he said. We have grown it for the past 2-3 years; it has done really well. It will be a huge business for Zimbabwe, due to the fact that we can grow all year round. And we can grow three times; three harvests out of a year in [same] field. We [are] very excited about it. Smoking cigarettes with nicotine and tars is very unhealthy; we have CBD cigarettes that are being produced now, which are much healthier. It will help our people with smoking less.

U.N. agencies are urging farmers to move away from tobacco given the health hazards, such as lung cancer caused by smoking. Because of those risks, demand for tobacco has dropped in the last 25 years, according to the WHO  though it remains popular in Zimbabwe.

Clemence Rusenga is a senior research associate at the School for Policy Studies of the University of Bristol in England. He is studying Zimbabwes cannabis policy.

He said Zimbabwes tobacco farmers can transition to cannabis farming  but there are a number of issues that need to be addressed. He said the current cost for a 5-year cannabis license  $50,000  is prohibitive.

As a result, many people, especially those who do not have a lot of resources, they are not able to afford this, he said. The industry has become exclusionary, meaning that even those who [were] producing cannabis before illegally, it makes it difficult for them to transition into the legal market. Number two, I think it is the costly production setup that cannabis farmers are facing in Zimbabwe. You need a lot of money because of the requirements, which I think some of which could be reduced if the regulators work with the stakeholders, so it is very costly as a result, very few cannabis farmers are producing currently.

There is also the issue that recreational marijuana remains illegal in Zimbabwe.

Rusenga said that Zimbabwe needs to take advantage of the growing cannabis industry globally to allow its farmers to thrive.
The Ming-style chair must be one of the most well-known pieces of Chinese furniture in the world, because of its precious wood, comfortable design, simple decoration and superb craftsmanship.

Ou Jinze Photo: Courtesy of the exhibition hall

The opening exhibition at Ou's Traditional Woodwork Exhibition Hall in Zhongshan, South China's Guangdong Province, has not only seen the beauty of the 50 ancient chairs but also Chinese wisdom and the craftsmanship behind it.

"The chair reshaped the lives of Chinese people more than 1,000 years ago to a certain extent. It is also the furniture with the closest relationship to people. Ancient craftsmen put a lot of effort into their production," Deng Bin, a teacher at the School of Design, Jiangnan University and scholar of ancient Chinese arts and crafts, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Through the exhibition, titled Seat of Honor: Ancient Chinese Seating Furniture from Collection of Liu Yu Study, Deng hopes that audiences "can get a glimpse of ancient Chinese furniture, the rich and diverse culture, and understand the wisdom and extraordinary skills of ancient Chinese craftsmen."

Shaped by Chinese culture

It took hundreds of years for the chair to gain popularity throughout China with the influence of foreign customs and the spread of Buddhism. Before that, the ancient Chinese knelt or sat cross-legged upon woven mats surrounded by various furnishings, including low tables and armrests. However, chairs were also adapted into China's culture as Chinese people's lifestyles transformed over 1,000 years, including dining customs and the use of musical instruments.

"Wood has been closely connected to us. Chairs have the closest relationship to people. They are also the most frequently used furniture. It is not easy to preserve an excellent ancient chair to the present day," added Deng, who echoed Ou Jinze's sentiments about the importance of presenting such woodwork to more audiences through a special exhibition.

And that's how Ou Jinze, the director of Ou's Traditional Woodwork Exhibition Hall, and his father Ou Shengchun realized their dream. Ou Shengchun was once a skilled wood craftsman and operated a furniture business decades ago.

"Both my father and I hope more people can come to understand the connotation and charm of classic furniture and feel the beauty of traditional Chinese culture," said director Ou.

With a total of 370 exhibits, the hall aims to give a full picture of China's traditional woodworking history including historical and cultural introductions to ancient furniture, and its related literature and study. Chapters like the story of wood, a brief history of ancient Chinese furniture, and tools and materials used are all included.

According to Deng, the ancient furniture pieces are all treasures in China's history. They have "experienced the cooperation, dialogue, and interaction between craftsmen and cultural elites at that time." They are not only furniture but also provide a profile of an era and culture. They came from all over the country, served people from different social classes in ancient times, and were made with different materials and techniques. These pieces of furniture were all made by unknown craftsmen.

"Each piece of ancient furniture is a book written by ancient craftsmen for the future," he added.

Traditional Chinese wood chairs on display at Ou's Traditional Woodwork Exhibition Hall in Zhongshan, South China's Guangdong Province Photo: Courtesy of the exhibition hall

For young people

Traditional Chinese furniture was introduced into the West through various ways as Westerners marveled at China's creative designs and craftsmanship. To this day, there are still many ancient Chinese furniture collections at overseas museums such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in the UK, which houses a number of rarely-seen furniture from the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.

The texture of wood was fully utilized to reveal natural beauty. Writings and paintings by well-known calligraphers and painters were engraved on desks and chairs. Inspired by Chinese designs, Western furniture borrowed various elements.

Ou Jinze said that simple structure and minimal decoration set off the natural beauty of the wood. This meaningful simplicity was achieved without sacrificing comfort. Scientific protection for the bodily form was reflected in details such as curves, lines, height and size. Traditional Chinese culture emphasizes the positive interplay between nature and human beings.

"What we do is to attract young people as well as young kids to get in touch with such good Chinese heritage," said the director.

As a museum lover, Ou has absorbed many means of building interactions with visitors based on his own museum experience. He worked with Deng's team to bring in the "experience corner" to help visitors distinguish between different fragrances of different woods and to offer public lessons for young kids.

Far from just Guangdong, across China, more and more craftsmen and artists are pouring their efforts into building the "world of wood." Jiangmaoshe, a studio in East China's Shandong Province, has expanded woodwork to all aspects of life. "Let Gen Z fall in love with wood," said Da Yu, the studio's founder, who sees it as their goal and responsibility.

Editor: WRX
Retired Israeli general Yitzhak Brik [1] told the Maariv newspaper that a conflict between Egypt and Israel, due to the siege of Rafah by the Israeli army  in the south of the Gaza Strip, on the border with Egypt  would turn into a tragedy for Prime Minister Netanyahus troubled government, because Israel has no way of dealing with Egypt.

According to Brik, the Egyptian army is one of the most powerful in the Middle East boasting around 4,000 tanks, including 2,000 modern ones, as well as powerful ships and fighter planes: breaking the peace with the Egyptians would be a catastrophe for the security of Israel in all respects and, in the event of a conflict, Israel would have no other recourse than to pray to God.

The conflict could be triggered by the military stranglehold of the Palestinian city of Rafah, where we know that nearly a million civilians were forced to flee [2]. At the same time, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Choukri announced that his country would join South Africas case against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), as reported by the Voltaire Network in its latest International Newsletter [3]. To boot, Egypt called on the UN Security Council to oppose Israels military invasion of Rafah.

However, Israel violated the Camp David agreements [4] by penetrating with its tanks into the demilitarized zone known as the Philadelphia Corridor: a strip of land 14 km long by 100 meters wide, which has been administered since 2005 by Egypt and the Palestinian Authority, currently chaired by Mahmoud Abbas". The Voltaire Network recalls that, for nine years, Egypt alone has controlled the Rafah crossing point, while the Israeli army occupies the Palestinian side of the border post, blocking the entry of humanitarian aid.

Brik predicts that the worst possible war for Israel is approaching: the Egyptians will bury Israel, it is a red flag and an emergency alarm for all Israeli citizens. The retired general warns that the military invasion of Rafah will be the final nail in the coffin of Israels ability to defeat Hamas and he worries, despite his professional war experience, that a regional war, more dangerous and more horrific than the current conflict in the Gaza Strip, is looming on the horizon. He lambasted the five Israeli leaders  referring to the war cabinet comprising Prime Minister Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, Chief of Staff Hertzi Halevi and the two generals Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot  for having drawn Israel into a regional war (sic).

Brik attacks the five members of the war cabinet who, after seizing 80% of the Gaza Strip, excluding Rafah, pulled back the Israeli troops, thus allowing Hamas to regain control of the entire area: Losing against Hamas and losing against Egypt, the war chiefs are leading Israel towards disaster" [5].

He claims that the current reality of the Israeli army is that it does not have the power to crush Hamas, even if the war drags on. Furthermore, it cannot push Hezbollah back across the Litani River - the very opposite of what Israels toxic war propaganda claims! Brik exposes the erosion (re-sic) to which the Israeli army is prey, and which is likely to spread if it continues a war which has already lost its reason for being and has not achieved its objectives ".

Nine days after Briks foreboding of imminent insubordination, a hooded Israeli soldier in Gaza threatened a "military coup (sic sic sic)" in a video addressed to Prime Minister Netanyahu - all in the style of the Jalisco Cartel Nueva generacion  with 100,000 reservists (mega-sic) to prevent the handover of the Gaza government to either Palestinian group [6]. The video was put out by Yair, the controversial 32-year-old son of Prime Minister Netanyahu, who now lives comfortably in Miami [7].
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Contents of N89

EDITORIAL

 1313 Will NATO member states individually or collectively go to war against Russia?

AMERICAS

 1314 In 1983, a Canadian Nazi awarded an honorary degree to the future King Charles III

 1315 Congress diverts part of semiconductor industry plan to Pentagon

 1316 Donald Trump pledges to withdraw the United States from Ukraine

 1317 Chuck Schumer denounces Benjamin Netanyahus visit to the United States

 1318 House of Representatives Releases Hunter Biden Case Documents

 1319 Pentagon claims that Russia has installed weapons in space against allied satellites

 1320 China Report on Human Rights in the United States

EUROPE

 1321 Boris Johnson receives a delegation from the Azov regiment

 1322 Rishi Sunak proposes to reinstate compulsory military service

 1323 France prepares to adopt a law prohibiting extra-European political influence

 1324 French public broadcasting is not neutral

 1325 Belgium, Spain and Portugal sign security agreements with Ukraine

 1326 Rapprochement of the French and German points of view

 1327 Annalena Baerbock heckled over her pro-Israel policies

 1328 Denmark and the recognition of the State of Palestine

 1329 According to Radosaw Sikorski, the Pentagon planned to retaliate against the use of tactical nuclear bombs in Ukraine

 1330 Investigation into Robert Ficos assassination attempt points to the involvement of a group of people

 1331 According to Viktor Orban, European media and politicians are preparing their public opinion for a war against Russia

 1332 European Union tries to circumvent Hungarian sovereignty

 1333 The European Union and the United Nations

 1334 The European Council consults Arab States

 1335 Europeans are becoming less and less supportive of the EU, according to Allianz

 1336 Norway closes its borders to Russian tourists

 1337 Georgia finally adopts the Foreign Interference Law

 1338 Armenian ultra-nationalists against Soros man

 1339 Belarus suspends the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe

 1340 Volodymyr Zelensky accuses Russia of burning Ukrainian books

 1341 NATO still fails to use its guided munitions in areas covered by Russian EW

 1342 The Ukrainian army announces that it has already signed the dispatch of French instructors

 1343 Ukraine attacks an element of Russian nuclear defense

 1344 Ukraine uses authorized and unauthorized chemical weapons

 1345 Ukrainian Unit N110 would perform medical experiments on living Russian prisoners

 1346 Mikhail Khodorkovskys revelations cast a disturbing light on the privatization of Soviet public goods

 1347 Vladimir Putin wants his country to maintain its technological lead in armaments

 1348 According to Moscow, the only purpose of the Conference on the "Ukrainian Peace Formula" is to legitimize the unelected President Volodymyr Zelensky

 1349 The FSB claims that the attack on the Crocus City Hall was organized by the Ukrainian services

 1350 Ukrainian peace proposal by China and Brazil

AFRICA

 1351 China supports Egypt

 1352 Washington dissuades Tunis from allying with Moscow

 1353 Daesh encroaches on al-Qaeda in the Horn of Africa

 1354 Kenya recognized as a "major non-NATO ally"

 1355 Chadian Prime Minister Succes Masra resigns

ASIA

 1356 Israel takes retaliatory measures against Spain

 1357 Israel Katz accuses Ali Khamenei and Yahya Sinwar of wanting to eliminate the Israelis and Pedro Sanchez of being their accomplice

 1358 IDF investigates 70 alleged violations of the laws of war

 1359 IDF appoints a commission to supervise military prisons

 1360 Attack on UNRWA camp in Rafah

 1361 Omnipresence of Israeli military censorship

 1362 A Commission of Inquiry into the Hidden Origin of the October 7 Attack and the Equivocal IDF Response

 1363 Benny Gantz reportedly makes a secret pact with the Haredim against Benjamin Netanyahu

 1364 Mossad tried to blackmail and turn over ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda

 1365 Human toll of Operation Iron Sword

 1366 Palestine is supported by China at the UN

 1367 Hassan Nasrallah promises surprises to Israel

 1368 EU renews unilateral coercive measures against Syria

 1369 Saudi Arabia reopens its embassy in Damascus

 1370 Iran exports 3.6 million barrels of oil per day

 1371 The International North-South Transport Corridor (NSTC) could cross Afghanistan

 1372 Sheikh Hasina denounces US entry into the Bay of Bengal

 1373 North Korea fails to launch a second spy satellite

 1374 Sino-Japanese-South Korean summit

 1375 China offers to mediate in the Red Sea conflict

 1376 PLA simulates capture of Taiwan

INTERGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS

 1377 The United Nations General Assembly establishes a world day to commemorate the Srebrenica genocide

 1378 The International Court of Justice orders Israel to withdraw from Rafah

 1379 NGOs call on the ICC to prosecute Ursula von der Leyen for "complicity in war crimes"

 1380 SCO resists the "three forces" set in motion by the "collective West"

 1381 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum
Spokesman for the German government Steffen Hebestreit said his country opposed the deployment of NATOs anti-missile system on Ukrainian territory.

The German point of view matches that of Secretary General of the Alliance Jens Stoltenberg who said in an interview with The Economist: "The time has come for allies to reflect on whether they should lift some of the restrictions on the use of weapons given to Ukraine (...) Especially now, when a lot of fighting is taking place in Kharkov, near the border, denying Ukraine the ability to use these weapons against legitimate military targets on Russian territory makes it very difficult to defend it."

He also said: "We have no intention of sending NATO ground troops to Ukraine because our objective... is twofold: to support Ukraine as we do, but also to ensure that it does not escalate into a full-scale conflict"

According to the New York Times, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken would be in favor of this second proposal. Steffen Hebestreit, for his part, evaded journalists questions on this subject.

 Extending the protection of the Atlantic anti-missile shield to Ukrainian territory would mean going to war collectively against Russia. But allowing Ukraine to attack Russia with weapons supplied by NATO member states would mean their individual entry into war against Russia.

For his part, Italys deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini commented: "This gentleman [Jens Stoltenberg] is dangerous because talking about World War III, Western weapons capable of striking and killing inside Russia, seems to me very, very dangerous and reckless (...) NATO cannot force us to kill in Russia, nor can anyone force us to send Italian soldiers to fight or die in Ukraine."

Russian president Vladimir Putin told reporters: "This constant escalation can lead to serious consequences. If these serious consequences occur in Europe, how will the United States behave, given our parity in the field of strategic weapons? Its hard to say. Do they want a world conflict?". "Let them [European NATO member states] remember that their territory is small and their population is dense," he continued.

Russian senator Dmitry Rogozin, former director of Roscosmos, directly warned Washington: "We are not only on the threshold, but already on the edge, beyond which, if the enemy is not stopped in such actions, an irreversible collapse of the strategic security of the nuclear powers will begin."

In all likelihood, Poland is expected to be the first NATO member state to allow Ukraine to strike Russia with the weapons it has supplied. Moscow would then have to retaliate by striking at least the NATO logistics center on Polish territory in Rzeszow. It will be up to the other NATO member states to consider whether or not to activate Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty and start World War III.

From a strategic point of view, the deployment of US medium-range missiles on the borders of Russia and China now exposes them to this eventuality. That is why Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced that the two countries reached a joint defense agreement during President Vladimir Putins last visit to Beijing. In addition, Russia is currently conducting simulations with Belarus of the use of tactical (not strategic) nuclear weapons.
In Tel Aviv, Israeli police continue to arrest demonstrators in the midst of hostage families protests against Prime Minister Netanyahus policies.

John Mearsheimer, renowned professor at the University of Chicago  anathematized by multimedia controlled by the Israeli lobby [1], gave a conference at the CIS (Centre for International Studies) in Australia on May 15 [2], which he summarized in his interview with Judge Andrew Napolitano [3].

Mearsheimer has no need to surround himself with hired cheerleaders, and is considered by Tom Switzer of the Australian CIS to be the third most important geopolitician in the United States. He belongs to the neorealist school of international relations [4] and, in his dazzling dissertation, he takes as a point of reference the situation in Israel before and after October 7, when war broke out between the Sunni Palestinian guerrillas of Hamas and Israel under the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Beyond the genocide, ethnic cleansing and apartheid of the pariah state of Israel, his central thesis at the moment of the water divide is that Israel is in serious trouble, considering that the government of Prime Minister Netanyahu failed to achieve his two declared goals: 1) defeating Hamas and 2) freeing the Israeli hostages kidnapped by Hamas.

Mearsheimer alludes to the stance of the recently inducted US Deputy Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell, who replaced the Khazarian [5] Vicky Nuland, humiliated by her defeat in Ukraine while aiming for a strategic defeat of Russia, coupled with a regime change, increasingly more difficult to achieve. Kurt Campbell is doubtful about a total victory for Israel on the battlefield against Hamas [6]. Beyond the vicious pro-Israeli propaganda that we experience in the overwhelming majority of Western multimedia, Israels serious problem with Hamas has been overshadowed by the more sophisticated Lebanese Shiite guerrillas of Hezbollah, which possess an arsenal of 150,000 missiles (sic sic sic), and Yemens Ansar Allah (followers of God) guerrillas, popularly known as the Houthis, who have just launched their first missile against Israel.

With this in mind, Mearsheimer argues that Israel is the big loser in the ongoing conflict and that this pariah state has unwillingly dragged the United States into a defeat - admittedly less important than that of its staunch ally - that has caused deep uneasiness among its Arab allies (Egypt, Jordan and the six petro-monarchies of the Persian Gulf). This defeat has benefited Russia, back in the region, and the spectacular new entry of China on the scene, which has established excellent relations with Saudi Arabia and Iran. In my opinion, the relative defeat of the United States in Gaza is much less than that which it suffered in Ukraine and the slap in the face represented by the recent effusive double hug of Chinese President Xi with his Russian counterpart Putin [7]. The failure of the United States in Ukraine outlines the contours of the new world order, while Israels entrapment of the United States in Gaza only deepens it.

Mearsheimers explanation of Irans relative triumph is simply fascinating and hinges on three pivotal dates, beginning with April 1, when Israel bombed the Iranian consulate in Damascus without warning its closest ally, the United States; on April 14, when Iran showed its muscles, launching, with advance notice negotiated with the United States via Oman, its missiles and drones against Israel, half of which were shot down, according to a tacit arrangement with the United States; and on April 19, when Israels dreaded reprisal consisted of the obstetric roar of a mouse coming out of a mountain: it managed to destroy only one radar in Isfahan.

Mearsheimer diagnoses the reason why Israel is the big loser, on the basis of its having lost its legendary deterrence from the escalation dominance [8]. But he does not address the issue of the nine undetectable hypersonic missiles that struck two Israeli air bases near the Dimona nuclear power plant, yielding to Iran the only hypersonic deterrent in the region [9] Mearsheimer also does not speak of Israels possession of more than 300 clandestine nuclear bombs, which could give rise to a situation of mutual deterrence between Israel and Iran, with Iran being able to start equipping itself with nuclear bombs at any time .
Here are a few things I can never get enough of on Evil: our merry band of assessors being the cutest best buds on the planet; Sheryl and Lelands ongoing demon office feud; the Bouchard girls hanging out with Ben the Magnificent; and Victor LeConte being as mysterious and hot as ever. And guess what? All of those things play into Evils second outing of its final season (I have to keep saying it so it feels real, you know?). How lucky are we? The bad news, however, is that racist robot dogs might be a thing. Hey man, the world is a scary place  Evils simply pointing out whats already there.

The case of the week: Father Ignatius has sent our team werewolf hunting. No, seriously. Apparently, Father Ignatius does not believe in any of what theyre doing and so just sends them on any old case that crosses his desk. I love that for them, and I love that for us; Wallace Shawn and Father Ignatius are gifts that keep on giving. Anyway, this of course, isnt a straightforward werewolf case. Something werewolf-like has been spooking congregants of a small church near a graveyard and the team has been asked to investigate. After an overnight spent waiting in the back of a pickup, hanging out, and making fun of each others 30-second ghost stories, the team comes face-to-face with the beast when it comes out of the shadows and promptly attacks David. Its no werewolf, though  its a robot dog, a piece of tech people use to secure their property.

They definitely arent supposed to be attacking at will, though, so somethings off. When they bring the robodog back to the church, they learn that another one of these dogs recently attacked Sister Agnes, a missionary from Senegal, outside of the church. David starts to wonder if somebody has programmed these dogs to attack Black people  its horrifying, but it wouldnt be unheard of. Thankfully, Bens ol pal Katie from Science Club has moved on from her job at VidTap (Evils answer to TikTok) and now works for the company that builds these dogs. She gives them one of their demo-dogs to compare to the one they found and they realize it must be the specific dog that was reprogrammed to attack Black people  the owner must have jailbroken the software (very much a crime). They need to find the dogs specific owner.

Are robots actually scarier than werewolves? Maybe! That night, its Lexis who hears something scratching at the back door and finds the robodog, which Ben definitely shut down earlier, switched on and begging to come inside. Imagine Kristens delight the next morning when she finds her daughters completely in love with the thing. But Bens hot on the tail of the owner  he tracks him down while looking into the software code (and hanging out with the Bouchard girls) and gives the guy, Harley, an ultimatum  he wont report him to the authorities for the crime he committed and hell give him the dog back if he tells them what he changed in the software code.

When they meet with Harley, the team is in for a surprise  Harleys Black, he definitely did not reprogram his dog to attack Black people. He tells them he used a link he found on a Reddit board to change the software to extend its battery life. The meeting leads them to a few important discoveries. Ben has a new theory: What if the software was reprogrammed to target people in another way, say, tracking GPS apps people have on their phones to determine if they are Catholic or not? David has an app to help him find local mass times, and Sister Agnes and some of the congregants at the church at the original sighting more than likely have the same app. When they meet with Harley again and learn that the dude really hates the Catholic Church, Bens theory is confirmed. And they have Katie there to record the whole conversation and inform him that her company will be suing him for a whole lot of money, so thats cool. Now we just need to wait until Kristen realizes that the reason the robodog started to go after Lynn in the end is because she, too, has that app on her phone. I truly cant wait until Kristen is forced to confront that her daughter wants to become a nun. The amount of canned margaritas that woman will have to drink in order to process that revelation!

Perhaps more important to the greater mythology of the show: When the team digs a little deeper into these links Harley found on the Reddit board and head to the creators site, can you guess what the persons avatar is? Yet another one of our 60 demon sigils. Everything is connected on Evil! Something tells me well find out just how connected in about 30 days when Lelands antichrist baby is born. So much to look forward to!

Speaking of Leland, he might think that hes in complete control over at DF Global Industries, but Sheryl may just end up surprising us all. Hes over there leading board meetings, touting some great trends in numbers as far as turning the population demonic, and boasting about his incoming antichrist win, but Sheryl refuses to be overlooked; she brought them Kristen, after all. Alas, as Sheryl learns, you can sell your soul to satan and youre still going to have to deal with the hell that is misogyny in the workplace. Even when she handles a mission to temper a demon in a man who is starting to peek out with aplomb  she basically tells the guy to fuck off and cuts off his finger, as one does  Leland and the Manager agree that shell never get promoted within the organization because shes a woman. Like, could you even imagine? A woman in a leadership role?! Insane. They do appease her though by offering her a corner office on the executive floor. She immediately realizes theyre just messing with her, though, when she steps into the office to find a comically low glass ceiling. Above her, Leland and all the men and demons look down below, laughing at her as they continue on with their important business. Im coming for you assholes, she vows. She is really going to make Lelands life miserable and it is going to be an absolute delight to watch.

Lelands plans for global demonic domination might be thwarted by some other players, too. The Entity is honing in on what it believes to be its secret weapon in this battle between good and evil: David Acosta. Victor LeConte shows up for another hilariously mysterious meeting with David. This time, his instructions wind up sending David on a strange test to prove that he may have some budding remote viewing skills. (Remote viewing is basically like a clairvoyance, or an extra-sensory perception in which a person can see or sense an object that is nowhere near them). It was our favorite prophetess, Grace Ling (who apparently is not doing well since the Monsignor was murdered trying to protect her), who put the Entity on to Davids unique skill set. Victor LeConte isnt one to buy into remote viewing, so instead hes passing David off to another member of the Entity, Father Dominic. David remains unenthused about being jerked around by these people with little to no explanation and instead of hearing more about what Father Dominic has to say, he tells them hed much rather be spending his time helping his friends. Were only two episodes in and already there seems to be a major conflict brewing for Davids loyalties: He seems less and less willing to choose his vows over his friends. Itll be interesting to see that come into play as things get, lets call them, more chaotic.

Church Bulletin

 Agh! Whats happening to Andy?! After Kristen urges him to go to the doctor for more tests, the doc finds needle injection sites between his toes and his bloodwork points to major drug use. Kristen and Andy are at a loss. Later, we find him in the bathtub, feverish and shivering. His daughters find him and are able to intercept another one of those triggering calls from Leland and Feliz Navidad. Instead, they calm their dad down by singing one of their favorite childhood songs with him. I swear, if Andy dies and we have to watch these sweet girls lose their dad, I will not survive it!!

 Ben attempts to science [his] way out of the jinn hes been seeing since the ion beam, and while he thinks hes onto something  it must be a trick of the eye  he later learns that his theory is wrong; The jinn begins appearing much more frequently. What does Ben decide to do? Well, he seeks professional help  from Kurt Boggs. This is not going to go well, is it?

 Kristen and Davids one-on-one at the top of the episode while werewolf hunting was so sweet and moving and a testament to the great character development thats gone on over four seasons. He has more questions about her egg being hijacked by Leland  hes worried about her and her too-casual reaction to a wildly horrifying thing. She assures him that shes done letting the people trying to make this crazy world crazier control her; she is done giving any of them, especially Leland, her power.

 Even Kristens assurance when David asks if he can ask her about it  Not only can you ask me, but you never have to ask me if you can ask me  is such a sweet friendship beat. I know this show is full of freaky scares and big questions about good and evil and deliciously biting social commentary, but honestly, I love it the most for the friendship? Im a softy!
Photo: Mark Mainz/Getty Images

The executors of Michael Jacksons trust told the King of Pops kids and mom to beat it, for now, at least. A May 28 lawsuit revealed that beneficiaries, including Paris, Prince, Bigi, and Jacksons mom, Katherine, will not receive financial distributions from the estate until a dispute with the IRS is cleared up, People reports. Attorneys for the family requested that a portion of the estate be withheld and remain subject to administration. The estate rejected their request, arguing they cannot possibly determine what amount could be safely distributed at this time, the filing says.

Why exactly are they locking the family out of the estate? Executors have been stuck in an ongoing dispute with the IRS since 2021 over the estates federal tax return. It began when the agency issued a notice of deficiency, claiming the estate undervalued its assets and owed an additional $700 million in taxes and penalties, according to the filing. Since then, the estate won a 2021 legal dispute in tax court. Things could have settled there, but the estate continued the battle by filing a motion for reconsideration of the courts value of Jacksons music catalogue, Mijac, which is still pending. To complicate matters, the trust says 20 percent of the estate as valued for federal estate tax purposes must go to charity before anything is distributed to beneficiaries. Executors hope to figure out a family allowance while they wait for the new valuation.

The latest battle between the the Michael Jackson estate and its beneficiaries comes two months after Katherines feud with grandson Bigi over her decision to use the trust fund to pay her legal fees in a dispute with Sony. First the King of Rock and Roll had trust issues, and now the King of Pop  whos next?
Tibetan antelopes migrate in Wudaoliang area in Hoh Xil, northwest China's Qinghai Province, May 27, 2024. The peak season for the migration of Tibetan antelopes to the heart of northwest China's Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve to give birth has arrived, according to the Hoh Xil reserve administration. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

XINING, May 28 (Xinhua) -- The peak season for the migration of Tibetan antelopes to the heart of northwest China's Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve to give birth has arrived, according to the Hoh Xil reserve administration.

Every year, tens of thousands of pregnant Tibetan antelopes migrate to Hoh Xil between May and July to give birth, while they will leave the area together with their offspring in August. Zonag Lake at the heart of Hoh Xil is known as the "delivery room" of this species.

"The migration of Tibetan antelopes this year started on May 7, and it has entered the peak period. At its peak, more than 800 Tibetan antelopes cross the Qinghai-Xizang Highway each day," said Karma Yingphel, deputy director of the Wudaoliang protection station of the Hoh Xil reserve administration.

During the migration of Tibetan antelopes, members of the Wudaoliang protection station continue to patrol along the Qinghai-Xizang Highway. Those on patrol use telescopes to visually measure the distance between Tibetan antelopes and the highway, wait for Tibetan antelopes to get near, and then intercept vehicles on the highway, thereby allowing Tibetan antelopes to safely cross the Qinghai-Xizang Highway while vehicles are stationary.

More than 2,500 female Tibetan antelopes have passed through the Wudaoliang area of the Qinghai-Xizang Highway so far this year, according to the administration. "Thanks to traffic control, vehicles and tourists can consciously be kept away from migrating Tibetan antelopes. With our explanation of this need, everyone expressed their understanding," said a member of the patrol staff at Wudaoliang protection station.

Under first-class state protection in China, the once-endangered Tibetan antelope is mostly found in the Xizang Autonomous Region, Qinghai Province, and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. Their population has increased over the past three decades thanks to a ban on illegal hunting and measures implemented to improve their habitat. 

Tibetan antelopes migrate in Wudaoliang area in Hoh Xil, northwest China's Qinghai Province, May 27, 2024. The peak season for the migration of Tibetan antelopes to the heart of northwest China's Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve to give birth has arrived, according to the Hoh Xil reserve administration. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

Tibetan antelopes migrate in Wudaoliang area in Hoh Xil, northwest China's Qinghai Province, May 27, 2024. The peak season for the migration of Tibetan antelopes to the heart of northwest China's Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve to give birth has arrived, according to the Hoh Xil reserve administration. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

Tibetan antelopes migrate in Wudaoliang area in Hoh Xil, northwest China's Qinghai Province, May 27, 2024. The peak season for the migration of Tibetan antelopes to the heart of northwest China's Hoh Xil National Nature Reserve to give birth has arrived, according to the Hoh Xil reserve administration. (Xinhua/Zhang Long)

Editor: JYZ
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Italy issues new data on smoking habits ahead of World No Tobacco Day.

One in four adults in Italy smokes, with this figure rising to one in three among young people, according to a report by the Higher Institute of Health (ISS) for World No Tobacco Day.

The number of adults smoking in Italy has dropped by six per cent over the last 15 years, down from 30 per cent in 2008 to 24 per cent today.

The data showed that the majority of people in Italy aged between 18 and 69 do not smoke (59 per cent) or have kicked the habit (17 per cent).

"In the last 15 years the percentage of smokers has decreased, but too slowly" - said ISS president Rocco Bellantone - "This process must be accelerated by focusing on prevention, which must start from schools."

Smoking is more prevalent among young people, according to the ISS report, with just over 30 per cent of 18-25 year olds using either traditional cigarettes, heated tobacco products or electronic cigarettes.

The study showed that almost one in three teens between the ages of 14 and 17 (just over 30 per cent) had used a tobacco or nicotine product in the last 30 days.

The report found that teens had little problem buying tobacco, with the majority of those surveyed saying they purchased the products in person at the bar or from the tobacconist.

In about one in three cases, parents are aware that their children use a tobacco or nicotine-based product and appear to tolerate the use of the new electronic devices more than traditional cigarettes.

The battle to protect young people from the tobacco industry is reflected in the theme of this year's World No Tobacco Day which focuses on "advocating for an end to the targeting of youth with harmful tobacco products".

The ISS report showed that in Italy there are more men smoking than women (28 per cent versus 21 per cent), with the habit much more prevalent among people with economic difficulties, low education rates and in the central-southern regions.

The report also revealed a steady fall in the percentage of those who exclusively use traditional cigarettes (down from 25 per cent in 2014 to 20 per cent in 2023) with a rise in those who use both cigarettes and electronic devices.

There are more than 93,000 smoking-related deaths in Italy every year, costing the economy more than 26 billion annually, according to Alessandro Miani, president of the Italian Society of Environmental Medicine (SIMA).

Smoking in Italy has been banned in public places including bars, restaurants and offices since 2005.

Photo credit: Stefano Carnevali / Shutterstock.com.
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Sculptures by Chinese artist Wu Weishan, titled In Search of Wisdom - Confucius Asking Lao Tzu about the Tao, stand at the Batlle Park in Montevideo, capital of Uruguay, on May 29, 2024. Photo: Courtesy of the National Art Museum of China

Sculptures of the great Chinese philosophers Confucius and Lao Tzu by Chinese artist Wu Weishan were unveiled at Batlle Park in Montevideo, capital of Uruguay, on Wednesday.

The bronze artwork, titled In Search of Wisdom - Confucius Asking Lao Tzu about the Tao, consists of two pieces, each weighing more than 6 tons. This project was

conceptualized during an official Uruguayan visit to China in 2018 and was realized after nearly six years of joint efforts.

Wu, director of the National Art Museum of China (NAMOC), noted in a letter read at the inauguration that his work represents an important reference in the development of Chinese civilization: the philosopher Confucius asking another philosopher, Lao Tzu, about the Tao, a central idea in Taoism. Tao represents the fundamental nature and source of the universe, encompassing the underlying order and flow of all life.

According to Wu, the statues of Confucius and Lao Tzu, each more than 7 meters tall, stand like monumental peaks, symbolizing the benevolence of a mountain and the wisdom of water. Benevolence and wisdom represent the Tao of the Chinese people.

In Search of Wisdom demonstrates that only by combining exploration and practice can extensive dialogue be generated worldwide, fostering understanding and emotional connections, promoting development and building a community of shared future for mankind, Wu said in his letter .

China's ambassador to Uruguay, Huang Yazhong, stated in his speech that Confucianism and Daoism, represented by Confucius and Lao Tzu respectively, are important components of traditional Chinese philosophy. The classic story of Confucius asking Lao Tzu about the Tao showcases mutual tolerance and respect, a cultural legacy from the ancestors of the Chinese people.

The Global Civilization Initiative proposed by China also advocates respect for the diversity of world civilizations, maintaining equality, mutual learning, dialogue, and inclusiveness among civilizations. Cultural exchange is an important part of China-Uruguay relations, and China hopes the relationship will continue to develop smoothly and the friendship between China and Uruguay will grow stronger, added the diplomat.

Mauricio Zunino, the mayor of Montevideo, noted in his speech that the placement of statues of China's two greatest philosophers adds a new scenic spot to Montevideo that will bring new cultural enjoyment to citizens and tourists.

"Wu's masterpiece showcases the profound heritage of Chinese culture and embodies great wisdom and values," Zunino said.

The artwork also demonstrates that although China and Uruguay are geographically distant, their pursuit of wisdom is the same. Uruguay looks forward to further deepening exchanges and cooperation in various fields with China, bringing the people of both countries closer together, Zunino added.

At the unveiling ceremony, Huang and Zunino planted a ginkgo tree next to the sculptures, symbolizing the enduring friendship between China and Uruguay.

Editor: WRX
WATERFORD CITY & TRAMORE

Christine Dempsey nee White, Tramore, Waterford, who was called from this life on Thursday, May 30. Her remains were removed from Falconers Funeral Home, Tramore, on Sunday, June 2, to the Holy Cross Church, Tramore. Burial took place after funeral Mass, which was celebrated on arrival, to St. Declans Cemetery, Tramore.

Larry Flavin, Tramore, Waterford, who passed away on Tuesday, May 28. His remains were removed from Falconers Funeral Home, Tramore, on Saturday, June 1, to the Holy Cross Church, Tramore. Burial took place after funeral Mass, which was celebrated on arrival, to St. Patricks Cemetery, Tramore.

Michael Dunphy, Ballynaneashagh, Cork Road, Waterford, who died on Tuesday, May 28. A private cremation was celebrated.

Mary Byrne nee Fallon, Ferrybank, Waterford, and late of Galway, who was called from this life on Monday, May 27. Her remains were removed from Tom Hennessys Funeral Home, Johnstown, on Wednesday, May 29, to the Sacred Heart Church, Ferrybank. Burial took place after funeral Mass, which was celebrated on arrival, to St. Killians Cemetery, Ferrybank.

Christopher Christy Carroll, Viewmount, Waterford, who passed away on Monday, May 27. His remains were removed from his residence, on Thursday, May 30, to St. Marys Church, Ballygunner. Burial took place after funeral Mass, which was celebrated on arrival, to the adjoining cemetery.

Dr. Martin OBoyle, Tramore, Waterford, who died on Monday, May 27. A private cremation was celebrated.

Michael Mel Dunphy, Congress Place, Waterford, who was called from this life on Saturday, May 25. His remains were removed from Thompsons Funeral Home, Barrack Street, on Wednesday, May 29, to the Holy Family Church, Luke Wadding Street. Burial took place after funeral Mass, which was celebrated on arrival, to Kilbarry Cemetery.

COUNTY WATERFORD

Sean Comerford, Carrick-on-Suir, who was called from this life on Thursday, May 30. His remains were removed from Walshs Funeral Home, Carrick, on Sunday, June 2, to St. Mollerans Church, Carrickbeg. Burial took place after funeral Mass, which was celebrated on Monday, June 3, to St. Marys Cemetery.

Thomas McCarthy, Ballymacarbry, Waterford, and late of Tyrone, who passed away on Monday, May 27. His remains were removed from Drohans Funeral Home, Dungarvan, on Saturday, June 1, to St. Marys Church, Touraneena. Burial took place after funeral Mass, which was celebrated on arrival, to the adjoining cemetery.

Johnny Ryan, Lemybrien, Waterford, who died on Thursday, May 30. His remains were removed from the Kiely Funeral Home, Dungarvan, on Saturday, June 1, to St. Brigids Church, Kilrossanty. Burial took place after funeral Mass, which was celebrated on arrival, to the adjoining cemetery.

Sheila Devitt nee Hassett, Ardmore, Waterford, and late of Cork, who was called from this life on Tuesday, May 28. Her remains were removed from Egans Funeral Home, Youghal, on Friday, May 31, to St. Declans Church, Ardmore. Burial took place after funeral Mass, which was celebrated on arrival, to the Holy Cross Cemetery, Ardmore.

Dmitrijs Lomass, Mullinavat, who passed away on Monday, May 27. His remains were removed from Powers Funeral Home, Ferrybank, on Monday, June 3, for cremation service at Mount Jerome Crematorium, Dublin.

Edna Barron nee Walsh, Old Parish, Dungarvan, and late of Dublin, who died on Saturday, May 25. Her remains were removed from Drohans Funeral Home, Dungarvan, on Thursday, May 30, to Old Parish Church, Dungarvan. Burial took place after funeral Mass, which was celebrated on arrival, to the adjoining cemetery.

Hayley Ferguson, Lismore, Waterford, and late of Kerry, who was called from this life on Saturday, May 24. Her remains were removed from Walshs Funeral Home, Tallow, on Thursday, May 30, to the Island Crematorium, Cork, for cremation service on arrival.

Nora McGrath, Stradbally, Waterford, who passed away on Sunday, May 28. Her remains were removed from Drohans Funeral Home, Dungarvan, on Friday, May 31, to the Holy Cross Church, Stradbally, with burial at a later date in the Northwood Cemetery, Isle of Wight.
A Slieverue man has been jailed for two years for the criminal damage of a car.

Christopher McDonald (30), of New Houses, Slieverue, Co Kilkenny, pleaded guilty to causing criminal damage on the night of October 27-28, 2022.

He destroyed a vehicle with a UK registration that was parked in the iPairc car park, on Meagher's Quay in Waterford City.

McDonald appeared before Judge Eugene O'Kelly at Waterford Circuit Court to be sentenced.

The court viewed CCTV footage from the night in question, with the owner of the vehicle driving into the carpark shortly after midnight.

Footage revealed McDonald throwing an object at the front windscreen of the car, and later returned to dance on the roof of the car.

The owner of the car recalled seeing McDonald in the carpark as he was leaving the car park, but the men had no interaction with one another.

The victim was visiting family in Waterford and had been living in the UK for a number of years. In the victim impact statement, he explained that he had recently bought the car after saving up for years.

When he discovered his destroyed vehicle the next morning, he called his UK insurers who made arrangements to bring the car from Ireland to the UK. The damage was valued at 8,070.

Unfortunately, the car was assessed to be internally damaged and had to be written off. The insurers offered the victim 6,000, half the value of the car, according to the victim.

"My insurance went from 500 to 1,800 through no fault of my own."

The impact of the damage affected his ability to work, as he drove a long commute to work.

It has also affected his plans to marry his fiance in Waterford, as the offence has soured both his partner and his family's perception of Waterford.

He stated: "My mother blames herself, my fiance's UK relatives are nervous to come to Waterford."

Defence counsel Garreth Hayden told Judge O'Neill that his client was deeply remorseful for his actions, and could not offer a reason as to why he behaved in the way he did.

Judge O'Kelly said: "He must have known that it sends out the completely wrong message if visitors' cars can be damaged in the town."
A man narrowly avoided serving a custodial sentence after pleading guilty to a charge of possession with intent to supply cannabis.

Jamie Allen (29), of Patrick Street, Waterford, was discovered to be in possession of just over 6,000 worth of cannabis herb and resin, when the Gardai Drugs Unit entered into his home on April 19, 2022.

At Waterford Circuit Court, a Garda witness said that Allen was "not majorly involved in the operation, he was struggling to pay rent".

Defence counsel Gareth Hayden told the court that Allen "found himself in substandard, rodent-infested accommodation" and was a hard-working man who worked "2-3 jobs to make ends meet".

Mr Hayden explained that the experience left his client "embarrassed and ashamed", that he had no previous convictions and had a low risk of reoffending.

Judge Eugene O'Kelly passed a suspended two-year sentence, stating: "Mr Allen has used his chance."
South East Technological University (SETU) will release a statement calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

In May, 183 members of staff signed a letter condemning the ongoing war in Gaza and calling on SETU to review their links with Red Hat media, due to their involvement with the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).

The letter had five directives: 1) For SETU to express abhorrence at the events of October 7 when Hamas militants murdered over 1,100 Israeli civilians and took hundreds more hostage; 2) To condemn the ongoing Israeli-led war in Gaza that has claimed the lives of over 36,000 Palestinians; 3) A call for an immediate ceasefire; unhindered aid; the release of all hostages in Gaza, and of Palestinians unlawfully detained in Israeli jails; 4) A commitment to sever ties with Red Hat; 5) To review and boycott any links with companies that are complicit with, or profit from, the war in Gaza or the Israeli occupation more generally.

A representative of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanction Campaign (BDS) stated that Red Hat was a "complicit company".

On Thursday, May 30, staff members met with President Veronica Campbell, the Chair of SETU's Governing Body, and the Vice-President for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion to discuss the letter and the possibility of severing ties with Red Hat. A review of SETU's relationship with Red Hat will be subject to "further discussion and consideration".

SETU lecturer Mark Graham said: "No firm time was given for the release of a statement or for a conclusion of discussions and considerations around points 4 and 5, but the urgency of the situation was underlined to the parties present."

A SETU spokesperson stated: "SETU had a collegiate meeting with staff on the matters raised in their recent letter concerning the conflict in Gaza. There is consensus on certain aspects of the first three points of the letter with a statement to be issued by the University in due course. The University has no comment to make in relation to specific partnerships with industry."
Cate McCurry and Cillian Sherlock, PA

Taoiseach Simon Harris has said he is open to a migration reform that would involve asylum seekers having their applications processed in third countries.

The policy has been put forward by the European Peoples Party (EPP), of which Fine Gael party is a member.

Mr Harris had been asked about a similar deal that Italy has with Albania.

Minister for Integration Roderic OGorman said the Governments focus should be on domestic immigration measures.

Tents which have been pitched by asylum seekers along a stretch of the Grand Canal (Niall Carson/PA)

Asked if Fine Gael supports the proposal put forward by the EPP, Mr Harris said: I think we should have a very open mind in relation to this because if weve learned anything about the migration challenges, that it is a global challenge.

Indeed so much of the migration that we see here in Ireland  immigration is a good thing by the way, our country has benefited from it  but we do have to have rules and a rules-based system.

So much of the migration and immigration that comes to Ireland is through secondary movements. So the idea that we wouldnt have a composite look at migration, migration policy and law from a European level, to me just would seem absurd, and therefore that brings you into the space of looking at the borders of the European Union.

But I think of course, it raises questions as to at what point and where you assess peoples application.

The Migration Pact does deal with a lot of this. So its not simply a matter of the European Peoples Party view. This has happened in some cases already within the European Union and Albania, I think Turkey on occasions as well.

Anything that would have to happen in this space would have to be fully compliant with human rights law, and with the European Court of Human Rights as well.

I think we should keep an open mind in relation to this but only if any such actions were proven to be beneficial to the overall migration pact and be in most important compliance with human rights.

However, Mr OGorman said the Government should be concentrating on strengthening the immigration system within Ireland.

Asked if the Green Party would agree with the Taoiseachs comments, Mr OGorman said: I think our focus has to be on strengthening our own system here in Ireland  I think we all recognise that the system wasnt fit for purpose. And a huge amount of work has taken place over the last two years.

He added: You look at the UK, theyve been selling this notion that theres a other-country solution to the pressures of migration through the Rwanda scheme  it never worked, its never delivered.

I would think, and the focus of Government up to this point, has been strengthening, delivering, growing our own capacity to process peoples applications, get their answer more quickly.

Yes: allow them to integrate in Ireland. No: ask them to leave, and ultimately, if they dont leave, to provide for deportation.

Pressed if the Taoiseach was wrong to suggest the third-country scheme should be examined, he repeated: I think the focus should be on what weve delivered already.

Ireland has been grappling with a sharp rise in the number of asylum seekers.

Last December, the Government said that it could no longer offer male asylum seekers state accommodation. Since then, encampments have sprung up in different parts of the city because of a lack of accommodation.

Mr Harris said he has concerns around some countrys migration policies and its compliance with human rights, however he refused to name which countries he was referring to.

The crucial point that Ireland will always adopt, and I think theres a political consensus around this point, is that anything that is done in relation to migration policy and processing has to be human rights compliant, he said.

There have been other countries, and Im not referencing Australia, where wed have very significant concerns around the compliance of their actions with the ECHR (European Convention on Human Rights) and human rights.

This idea that Ireland, a small island on the geographic periphery of Europe, can consider how best to address the global migration challenge on its own rather than being part of a composite conversation, series of laws and processing systems at a European level to me would seem misplaced.
Donald Trump being found guilty on all 34 counts in his hush money trial, making him the first former US president to be convicted of a crime, dominates Friday's front pages.

The Irish Times, Irish Examiner and Irish Independent all lead with the Trump verdict.

The Echo leads with a story on a shortage of beds for long-term care patients in Cork.

Donald Trump's hush money trial also makes the front page of the Irish Sun and Irish Daily Mail.

Today's front page of The Irish Sun pic.twitter.com/F2LaUjyx01  The Irish Sun (@IrishSunOnline) May 31, 2024

Tomorrow's front page pic.twitter.com/dlbXdhdOyP  The Irish Daily Mail (@irishdailymail) May 30, 2024

The Herald leads with former Dublin GAA star Diarmuid Connolly pleading guilty to an "unprovoked" attack on two men.

In the North, the Belfast Telegraph reports former DUP leader Jefferey Donaldson, who has been charged with historical sex offences, could receive a 60,000 per year MP's pension.

The Irish News leads with a story on the Lyra McKee murder trial.

Today's front page:



MTV documentary footage was played to Lyra McKee's murder judge



Parties met senior civil servants 100 times before returning to Stormont pic.twitter.com/1LhAviyPG3  The Irish News (@irish_news) May 31, 2024

The guilty verdict for former US president Donald Trump in a hush money trial features heavily among a variety of stories on the front pages of Fridays UK newspapers.

The Daily Telegraph, Daily Mirror and the i simply lead with Trump guilty and Guilty as Trump became the first president to be convicted of a crime.

The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph:



'Trump guilty'#TomorrowsPapersToday



Sign up for the Front Page newsletterhttps://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/5b2reZMzhh  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) May 30, 2024

The Daily Star says he is guilty on all counts, while The Times writes Trump found guilty in hush money trial.

THE TIMES: Trump found guilty in hush money trial #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/Yo34KTxnW9  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) May 30, 2024

Back home, The Guardian leads with the pressure on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to end the purge of the Labour left.

THE GUARDIAN: Pressure on Starmer to end purge of Labour left #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/L8aMiD7ljM  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) May 30, 2024

The Independent says Labours Angela Rayner has backed Diane Abbott to stand for Labour at the July 4th UK general election.

Voters are braced for tax increases despite assurances from both parties they will not increase VAT, according to the Financial Times.

Just published: front page of the Financial Times, UK edition, Friday 31 May https://t.co/cfY0XIfrmI pic.twitter.com/KunBNurt6Q  Financial Times (@FT) May 30, 2024

The Daily Mail leads with thousands of NHS patients who will get personalised cancer vaccines over the next year in a landmark breakthrough.

MAIL: Cancer patients to get tailored vaccines on NHS #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/sXjwDSTjdx  Neil Henderson (@hendopolis) May 30, 2024

And the Metro reports on Fiona Beal, who was jailed for life after the murder of Nicholas Billingham.

Tomorrow's Paper Today 



'COLD-BLOODED MONSTER'



 Mother's verdict... as teacher who knifed and buried partner is jailed

 Labour denies purge of lefties as Tories talk tax#tomorrowspapertoday pic.twitter.com/KDS0Aitvxb  Metro (@MetroUK) May 30, 2024

The New York Times front page features a large photograph of Donald Trump with the simple headline 'Guilty'.
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Eating outBrisbane First look: a cult pair of Byron Bay and Burleigh eateries lands in Brisbane Finn Poke is serving barramundi bowls, while Two Yolks dishes up gooey egg burgers with Cape Grim beef and Bangalow pork. And theres a chef with Michelin-star pedigree attached. Matt Shea May 30, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

It started at a hole-in-the-wall in downtown Los Angeles. It was this really cool spot [called Rice Bowl], Jem Jacinto says. It was, like, $12 a bowl. I tasted the food and thought, Wow, this is extremely sophisticated for a hole-in-the-wall. So I started talking to the chef. Two Yolks burgers feature imported American buns, Cape Grim grass-fed beef and Bangalow pork. Markus Ravik Jacinto, now co-owner of Jacinto Group, wanted to open a poke bowl restaurant in Byron Bay, but didnt know much about poke. He also didnt know that who he was talking to, Charles Olalia, was the former executive chef of Los Angeles fine diner Patina, and had come up under Thomas Keller at The French Laundry and Guy Savoy at the two-Michelin starred Restaurant Guy Savoy, both in Las Vegas. We didnt have much budget at the time, Jacinto says. So I thought, I can do a deal with this guy, get him to design a menu and maybe give him a free trip to Byron Bay.

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14.5 / 20 Review This elevated south-side spot may be Brisbanes best-value restaurant It was only when we hired a PR company for the opening and I got [Olalia]s bio that I realised his experience. It all correlates: the flavours, the balance in that $12 bowl. I realised Id hit the jackpot. The result was Finn Poke, which opened in mid-2017, and before long was turning heads with its local take on traditional Hawaiian poke bowls. Olalia then oversaw the menu for Two Yolks, an Instagrammable all-day burger spot that opened in Burleigh Heads and Pacific Fair in 2021; these days, hes executive chef partner at Jacinto Group. Two yolks features neon signage, diner-style booths, fluted glass and Japanese mosaic tile floors. Markus Ravik Now, the group is coming to Brisbane, opening Finn Poke and Two Yolks side-by-side in the South Brisbane spot previously occupied by dessert bar Cowch.

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Brisbane is a natural integration for us, Jacinto says. Ive always loved Brisbane. Especially now, oh my god, its really coming out. There are so many places Im discovering. Its such an emerging market that I want to be a part of. Finn Poke is little more than a counter on Grey Street, with picnic-style outside tables to be in place upon opening. Markus Ravik Its a tricky time [in hospitality], but during COVID we came across one of our best locations with Connor Street in Burleigh  sometimes the best opportunities come out of the hardest times. We were struggling financially at that time, but we needed to make it work. Regular Jacinto Groups designer Studio MKZ has lent both venues slick fit-outs, with plenty of timber panelling, tiles and neon. Finn Poke references its seafood with its aquamarine detailing but is otherwise little more than a counter, with some picnic tables to be set up on the footpath once the venues open this Monday, June 3.

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A barraumdi poke bowl at Finn Poke. Markus Ravik Two Yolks is more substantial, and features diner-style booths, fluted glass and Japanese mosaic tile floors, its bright-orange palette inspired by a barn-found 1980 Mercedes W123 wagon Jacinto and his wife bought in Brisbane years ago. Against the back wall are a pair of turntables and a collection of vintage vinyl. For food, Finn Poke serves a stack of signature and warm bowls built on protein such as tuna, salmon, pulled pork and wagyu brisket. There are also vegetarian options, and you can make your own using organic black and brown rice, soba noodles or locally farmed kale, before adding a protein. Two Yolks is open daily from breakfast to late at night. Markus Ravik Finn Poke Brisbane is also introducing barramundi sourced from Humpty Doo in the Northern Territory to replace swordfish, after Jacinto found the latter to be too inconsistent season to season.

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In Two Yolks, its a long menu of breakfast and all-day burgers, along with burritos and sides such as truffle fries and chilli cheese potato tots. Two Yolks has a pair of turntables and a wall of vintage vinyl. Markus Ravik In the morning you might order the Sausage, Egg and Cheese (pork patty with American cheese and chipotle mayo), the Bennys Bangs (free-range bacon, organic egg, rocket, chives and hollandaise), or the Triple B (smashed beef patty, free-range bacon, house-made sausage, American cheese, eggs, tater tots and a house-made barbecue sauce). Theres also Bourdains Mortadella, named after chef Anthony Bourdain (grilled mortadella, provolone, egg and dijonnaise). All-day, theres the Double Truffle (two smashed patties with American cheese, rocket, pickled red onion, truffled cheese sauce and truffled aioli), the Old Skool (single smashed patty with American cheese, ketchup and mustard, Japanese mayo, and house-prepped pickles) and the Cali Style (two smashed patties with double American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, caramelised onion, pickles and a house-made special sauce), among many others. Jem Jacinto: Its a cool spot with cool vibes that appeals to a wider demographic. Markus Ravik

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Jacinto talks good game with his produce. For Finn Poke, beyond Humpty Doo hes using MSC-certified seafood from Walker Seafoods in Mooloolaba. Two Yolks uses grass-fed Cape Grim beef and Bangalow pork, and Martins potato buns imported from Chambersburg in the US. And Im using imported American cheese, Jacinto says. Youve got to use real American cheese, right? Two Yolks and Finn Poke open this Monday, June 3. Markus Ravik Two Yolks also features a short booze menu that includes a mimosa, a bloody mary and an orange spritz; theres also a clutch of craft beers.

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Its designed to suit all ages, Jacinto says. A young person could come here for a date because its a cool place to hang out, but they could also come back with their parents ... Were just a burger joint, but were a pretty cool-looking burger joint  I love it. Open daily 7am-10pm (Two Yolks), 10.30am-8.30pm (Finn Poke) 179 Grey Street, South Brisbane twoyolks.com.au finnpoke.com.au
Her protagonists voice is crystal cut with observations about gentrification, sexism and an economic system that tells women they are nothing without expensive serums and Peloton machines. In one amusing scene we hear Annas inner demon try to persuade her that only a weak, lazy loser would walk away from a high-paid job in beauty PR. You there, Anna Walsh, yes you, you dedicated grafter, you can buy anything you want right now! How about an air fryer? You never cook and you dont know what an air fryer actually does, but thats not important. Keyes says she was inspired by seeing several friends quit senior jobs after the pandemic, as well as by her younger sister Caitriona, an oncology nurse in New York, who decided to return home more regularly after lockdown. For all the astute social observations, though, the book was born out of a need to hide away from the world. Two years ago, when we were emerging from the pandemic and Russia invaded Ukraine, Keyes said she felt she had nothing left inside, no stamina for the sharp and pointy bits of the world. She abandoned a book, a 40-year opus about people who had been friends since their 20s, because it involved characters who had got rich by unethical means. She didnt want to write about a world that I recognise where democracy is manipulated, where entitled people prosper. In fact, for the past two years she has not really read or watched the news. I know thats irresponsible. It was never meant to go on this long. I know broad brushstrokes and thats all I can cope with. Its perhaps no surprise, then, that Keyes decided to write a midlife forgive-yourself book.

Keyes, who was born into a large Irish family (shes the eldest of five siblings), says her life has been divided into two halves. In the first 30 years she was completely clueless about myself ... It was all about the bad boys ... all about the fake passion of dysfunctional relationships. From a young age she found the world frightening and human beings baffling, so she studied people. I wanted to know the rules. I wanted to know how to behave like other people. After studying law at University College Dublin she took an administrative job and moved to London, where she felt she was failing in all her aspirations. Her alcoholism and clinical depression spiralled and when she was 30 she attempted suicide, ending up in rehab for three months. I love for a person to admit something and for me to think, Oh thank God, its not just me. MARIAN KEYES Thats when the second half of her life began. Shortly after rehab she got together with her husband, Tony Baines (a former IT system designer who since 1998 has worked, in his words, as her dogsbody, finance person, IT person, driver). She was impressed by how he loved books by female writers and Irish music and is nice ... and I deserved nice, so I thought, well give it a go.

Eighteen months later, she had her first novel published. Her books are all about the gap between the way we present ourselves and who we really are. I love for a person to admit something and for me to think, Oh thank God, its not just me. Many of those admissions are in this novel. The struggle with the menopause and the frustrations of trying to get HRT (Keyes is a big advocate: I love it), the ugly feelings of jealousy and anger, and the anguish of falling out with a friend. Loading There is huge shame about female friendships that break down, Keyes says. There is a myth around female friendship that it just stays without challenges. When it doesnt work, and Ive been there, I have felt there is something wrong with me. We dont get beyond our youthful pain or mistakes, even in our 60s, Keyes says. There are days when she feels as ancient and wise as Mount Everest and others when she just wants to browse Etsy for Hello Kitty doorknobs. She talks a lot about the need to do things that bring her joy, such as hiking and  more niche  framing Swedish tapestry (I could just weep at the gorgeousness of it all).

On the subject of Irish novelists, she has plenty of theories about why they have enjoyed so much recent success, especially the women. The influence of the Catholic Church has waned and social media has allowed them to be less parochial and more connected to their British and American counterparts. Of Sally Rooney, she says: Im so proud of a young Irish feminist Marxist woman getting people queuing outside bookshops! More generally, she believes Irish writers have moved on from questions of who we are to wider economic inequalities. A lot of these great young writers came of age at the time of the economic crash in 2009 and it woke them up to how events in the wider world affect individuals. They expect to be listened to on a bigger stage. We were told to sit down and be quiet. No chance of that now. Keyes leans over and whispers conspiratorially: Anger is kind of wonderful. Its very, very empowering. Better than becoming bitter, I suggest. Yes, if its used properly, anger gets things done. Bitterness doesnt change things  theres no entry point for a conversation  whereas anger can open up the channels of communication. Look again at that portrait. Theres a fire raging behind that smile. My Favourite Mistake (Penguin Random House) by Marian Keyes is out now.
A Queensland government decision to protect one of the worlds largest underground freshwater reservoirs has prompted calls for a federal carbon capture storage ban.

Queensland Premier Steven Miles said he would ban carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the Great Artesian Basin, a water source for 180,000 inland people with an estimated 65 million gigalitres.

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The proposed laws will extend the ban to any enhanced oil or petroleum recovery that uses a greenhouse gas stream.

The Great Artesian Basin is just too important to Queensland to mess with, Miles said on Friday. Thats why Im announcing today that we will ban CCS in the Great Artesian Basin.

Environment lobby group Lock the Gate Alliance called on the federal government to follow Queenslands lead and ban CCS projects.

The Albanese government needs to scrap the dangerous Future Gas Strategy, and other states and territories that overlay the basin ought to follow Queenslands example, national co-ordinator Ellen Roberts said.

Miles said Queensland would lobby the federal government and other states to protect the basin, which spans almost 1.7 million square kilometres across four states and territories.
The Australian Federal Police has warned that security threats to members of parliament are on the rise after senior Labor ministers had their offices vandalised in an escalation of protests over the war in Gaza.

Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong condemned the protests as violent and unacceptable and accused the Greens of being complicit after pro-Palestine activists threw red paint across MPs electorate offices and smashed windows of the United States consulate in Melbourne early on Friday morning.

Bill Shortens office was vandalised on Friday morning. Credit: Joe Armao

Wong cited safety concerns for workers inside the office buildings as she demanded Greens leader Adam Bandt censure the protesters. I understand, and I share the depth of concern, the depth of feeling, that Australians have about what is occurring in Gaza and what is occurring in Rafah, she said on Friday morning.

But the depth of the feelings that people have does not justify, in this country, a resort to violent protests and Adam Bandt should act as a leader and make that clear.
The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has lavished praise on American students for protesting US-backed Israels war on Hamas.

Khamenei, in an open letter and social media posts, told student protesters they were standing on the right side of history by opposing the US and Israeli governments.

Student protesters at Yale University. Credit: AP

Dear university students in the United States of America, this message is an expression of our empathy and solidarity with you, the leader wrote in a letter this week. As the page of history is turning, you are standing on the right side of it.

Calling Israel an apartheid Zionist regime that is committing genocide in Gaza, Khamenei wrote: You have now formed a branch of the Resistance Front and have begun an honorable struggle in the face of your governments ruthless pressure.
Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young has branded former US president Donald Trump as a risk to democracy, as federal MPs across the political spectrum react to his conviction over hush money.

Education Minister Jason Clare agreed with Deputy Opposition Leader Sussan Ley, saying the relationship we have with the US is more important and bigger than any one leader or government.

Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

The US is our closest ally and irrespective of who the president is or who the prime minister is or which party is in office, the ties that bind our two countries together are strong and everlasting, Clare told Sunrise.

But Hanson-Young maintained Trump was a risk to democracy across the world.

We have to start having some hard discussions and deep thought about what this means for our relationship, she said.

Hes a bad guy, hes a felon, and he doesnt believe in democracy.

Greens leader Adam Bandt used social media to declare Trump as unfit to be president and wrote on X that it would be a disaster for the USA, Australia [and] the world if he is elected again.

Earlier today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated the importance of Australias relationship with the United States. He acknowledged the importance of Trumps convictions, but said it was important he avoided commenting on court cases that didnt involve Australians.

We regard that as a matter for the United States and their system as we regard the election of the US president to be a matter for the people of the United States, he said.

The relationship between Australia and the United States is a relationship between nations, not just between individuals.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton suggested Trump might use the revelations to galvanise his political base.

Theres obviously two tribes here ... the one tribe who detest him and hate him. And the other tribe love him and adore him, and for different reasons on both sides.

And all it will do is reinforce the views on both of those camps, but obviously it will make for an even, you know ... more exciting election, I suppose, in November.

Former prime minister Scott Morrison  who said Trump had been subjected to a pile on in the United States after he met him in New York a fortnight ago  has not yet reacted publicly.

On May 15, Morrison posted a photo of himself with Trump and wrote on X:

Was pleased to meet with former President Donald Trump on Tuesday night at his private residence in NY. It was nice to catch up again, especially given the pile on he is currently dealing with in the US.

With AAP
New York: Donald Trump has been found guilty of falsifying business records to cover up an affair that could have derailed his chances of winning the White House, making him the first former US president in history to be criminally convicted.

With less than six months before his election rematch against President Joe Biden, Trump now faces the prospect of jail, probation, or other restrictions set by the judge after a jury of 12 New Yorkers found he was part of a hush money scheme to influence the 2016 election.

Former president Donald Trump after being found guilty of 34 counts. Credit: AP

The 77-year-old Republican watched with a frowned expression as he was found guilty on all 34 counts, in a decision that will reshape the 2024 race and further fracture an already divided nation.

His supporters flooded pro-Trump websites, including the ex-presidents own Truth Social platform, Patriots.Win and the Gateway Pundit with calls for riots, revolution and violent retribution. Some called for attacks on jurors, the execution of the judge, or outright civil war and armed insurrection.
New York: The judge overseeing Donald Trumps historic criminal conviction in New York faces a monumental choice: whether to sentence the 2024 Republican presidential candidate to time behind bars.

Prison time is rare for people convicted in New York state of felony falsification of business records, of which Trump, a businessman-turned-politician, was found guilty after a six-week trial. But legal experts said precedent can only be so helpful in guiding Justice Juan Merchans decision on the appropriate sentence in the first criminal trial of a US president past or present.

A felon convicted of falsifying records in the state of New York was sentenced to two nights a week at the Rikers Island jail complex in the Bronx, New York. Credit: AP

Typically this is not the kind of case where you would expect a first-time white-collar offender to receive a sentence of incarceration, said New York defence lawyer Andrew Weinstein, who in 2009 represented a man sentenced to three years conditional discharge after pleading guilty to falsifying business records as part of a cheque-cashing scheme.

But everything about Trump is different, so I dont think you can look historically at other sentences because hes just a different animal, Weinstein said. Trump, 77, was found guilty of all 34 charges of falsifying his New York-based real estate companys books to cover up his former lawyer Michael Cohens $US130,000 payment to buy porn star Stormy Daniels silence about an affair before the 2016 election.
Achim Steiner, head of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) speaks in an interview with Xinhua during the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States in St. John's, capital of Antigua and Barbuda, May 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

by Xinhua writers Wang Zhiying, Tian Rui and Li Muzi

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua and Barbuda, May 30 (Xinhua) -- "China can be a very important partner to many Small Island Developing States (SIDS)," said Achim Steiner, head of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), in a recent interview with Xinhua during a UN conference held in Antigua and Barbuda.

Steiner, who attended the fourth International Conference on SIDS, said that China is today a major partner to many countries because it provides affordable technologies for building renewable energy infrastructure.

The conference, held under the theme "Charting the course toward resilient prosperity" Monday through Thursday, addressed the world's most pressing challenges, including climate change and achieving sustainable development goals.

He told Xinhua that one of the great challenges of the coming years for the small island countries is moving to a renewable energy platform rather than importing fossil fuels to power their energy systems, diesel generators and their cars and trucks.

"The SIDS have to spend roughly 3 billion U.S. dollars or 3.3 percent of their GDP just on importing fuel to power their economy," added Steiner.

Faced with the challenges, "UNDP has a long tradition of working with SIDS, and over the last 10 years, it has invested over 4 billion dollars and mobilized financing resources to support SIDS with almost 1,900 projects," he said.

UNDP data indicates that from 1970 to 2020, SIDS suffered a loss of 153 billion dollars due to extreme weather, a substantial amount compared to the average GDP of 13.7 billion dollars for SIDS.

Steiner said that China has played an important role in collaborating with UNDP in some of the early recovery and reconstruction work by helping SIDS invest in climate resilience and adaptation to make weather in the future much more predictable.

According to remarks made by Representative of the Chinese government and Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu during the conference, since 2018, China has approved and implemented some 200 cooperation projects with SIDS in trade, investment, infrastructure, medical services and health.

Steiner said that in this sense, the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Chinese government's Global Development Initiative both share the goal of sustainable development.

"These are all means by which China can be a very valuable partner," he said.

The conference concluded Thursday and adopted an inter-governmentally agreed effort to pursue a more resilient future.

Steiner believes that the international community should recognize SIDS's uniqueness, vulnerability and fragility and shoulder the responsibility of supporting them.

"Many SIDS and their economies are in some ways quite sophisticated and need to address issues in a systematic way," said Steiner, adding that the development in different fields should interact and support one another.

"I think the South-South cooperation is certainly a tremendous opportunity to learn lessons from one another between SIDS and between countries across Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean," he said.

"The international community, including China, can help these countries to pivot into an economy of tomorrow -- a blue-green economy," Steiner said.

Achim Steiner, head of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) speaks in an interview with Xinhua during the fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States in St. John's, capital of Antigua and Barbuda, May 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Muzi)

Editor: WRX
From 13 to 16 May 2024, Djibouti hosted a national workshop aimed at updating the national customs tariff, in accordance with the current version of the Harmonized System (HS). Organised within the framework of the EU-WCO Programme on the Harmonized System in Africa (HS-Africa Program), this workshop, funded by the European Union, brought together around 15 customs officials from Djibouti and was led by experts from the World Customs Organization (WCO).

The main objective of this workshop was to raise awareness among the Customs Administration of Djibouti, Contracting Party to the HS Convention, of the importance of aligning the national customs tariff and statistical nomenclature with international standards. It was also a matter of supporting them in the work of updating this tariff. This workshop also made it possible to recall certain key concepts concerning the theoretical and practical aspects of the implementation of the HS 2022.

In his opening speech, the Secretary General of the Djibouti Ministry of the Budget, Mr. Simon MIBRATHU, thanked the WCO for its valuable assistance in updating the national tariff. He underlined the commitment of the Djibouti Customs Administration to align its customs instruments and tools with international standards, in particular those of the WCO, a global reference in customs matters.

He insisted on the importance of customs controls, in particular the verification of the classification of goods, which is an essential pillar for the recovery of customs revenue. These revenues represent a significant part of the state budget of Djibouti. Mr. MIBRATHU expressed his confidence in the cooperation with the WCO and the EU Programme, believing that it would be fruitful and conclusive. He assured that this mission will have a lasting impact, ensuring a timely transition to the next version of the HS, in line with the commitments made under the HS Convention.

The workshop, preceded by an analysis of Djiboutis current national tariff via virtual meetings, began with a presentation from Djiboutian customs on the current state of their customs tariff. This presentation was followed by practical group work to develop a methodology taking into account the volume of work to be carried out and the commitments of the Djibouti Customs Administration as a Contracting Party to the HS Convention. The workshop facilitators provided detailed explanations on the main models to follow in order to align national tariffs with the current edition of the HS, namely the 2022 edition.

At the end of the workshop, the participants, with the support of WCO experts, managed to formulate concrete ideas to move forward in the updating process. They defined the approach to follow and established a detailed action plan, including the different stages of updating, verification and validation of the updated version of the Djibouti customs tariff according to HS 2022.

At the end of the mission, advisor Mr. Abdourahman Aouad IZZI expressed the satisfaction of the Director General of Customs, rejoicing at the results obtained. He congratulated the experts and participants for their commitment, efficiency and willingness to finalise the update as soon as possible. He recalled the importance of implementing HS amendments in time to facilitate trade and the collection of statistics. Finally, he thanked the WCO and the European Union for their continued support to African Customs Administrations, with a view to strengthening skills for effective and uniform application of the HS.

Thanks to the successful contribution of Djibouti Customs, WCO experts developed a work plan to further strengthen the HS skills of the Djibouti Customs Administration. This plan will be implemented by the HS-Africa Programme, funded by the European Union.

For further information, please contact wcoHSAfrica@wcoomd.org
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Mayo's beaches have received 12 Blue Flags and eight Green Coast Awards for 2024.

The awards were announced by An Taisce and presented by Hildegarde Naughton TD, Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Education, at a ceremony held in the Galway Bay Hotel on Monday week last.

The Blue Flag is an international award that recognises beach excellence and water quality. The Blue Flag Programme is operated in Ireland by An Taisce.

Mayo has received Blue Flags for the following beaches: Clare Island; Keem Beach, Achill Island; Dooega Beach, Achill Island; Dugort Beach, Achill Island; Elly Bay, Belmullet; Golden Strand, Achill Island; Keel Beach, Achill Island; Bertra Beach, Murrisk; Mullaghroe Beach, Belmullet; Mulranny Beach; Old Head, Louisburgh and Ross Beach, Killala.

The Green Coast awards are given to beaches which have excellent water quality but may be less developed and less populated than Blue Flag beaches. The Mayo beaches are: Tranaun Beach, Inishturk; Cross, Louisburgh; Carrowniskey Beach; Srah Beach; Termon Beach; Cross, Erris Peninsula; Rinroe and Portacloy Beach.

Jim Horan, Administrative Officer, Environment, Climate Change and Agriculture at Mayo County Council, welcomed the news.

Once again we are delighted to have been awarded 12 Blue Flag beaches in Mayo. The Blue Flag award is international recognition of the excellent beach and water quality at these Mayo beaches.

We are also delighted to have been given eight Green Coast awards this year, up by two on the 2023 season. Both Portacloy and Cross Beach, Louisburgh having regained their Green Coast status this year.

The Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards are a global recognition of the high standards of Mayo beaches, and I would like to acknowledge to all our local community groups, stakeholders, and other agencies for all their efforts in ensuring that our beaches continue to be maintained to the high standards required to be awarded Blue Flag and Green Coast for the 2024 bathing season. The continued partnerships and co-operation are reflected in these excellent 2024 awards.

Finally, we would ask all beach users this summer to continue to be responsible, follow the instructions of the lifeguards, be aware of dog restrictions and to leave nothing behind on the beach except their footprints.
European elections have always tended to draw quite a bit of indifference and even confusion among the Irish electorate.

It was superbly captured by a vox-pop carried out by RTEs Jim Fahy in Ballaghaderreen in 2009. One of those he interviewed hit a full house for matters that were not under the remit of the European Parliament.

The weather  we need weather, said one man who was asked about his priorities for the European election. Thats what we need. Farmers need weather and they need to get rid of the Government... Totally annihilate them. They dont know what theyre doing. All thats between their ears is sawdust.

Many might agree with his last point, especially in 2009, but it is telling that he brought matters back to national politics.

In terms of electoral politics, European elections have tended to draw less interest than general elections in Ireland.

The figures back it up. In the 2020 General Election, the turnout was 62.9%. This was the fourth lowest ever in terms of general elections but notably higher than the turnout for the 2019 local and European elections, at just 49.3%.

One can only speculate how low the turnout for European elections would be if they did not run parallel with local elections but its reasonable to conclude they would be considerably lower.

When you look at the last term of the European Parliament for the Midlands North West constituency, it is easy to understand why there is disengagement.

Four MEPs were elected but only two of them lasted the term. Sinn Feins Matt Carthy was elected to Europe but then ran for and was elected to Dail Eireann the following year. It meant Chris McManus was co-opted to Europe in his stead.

Fine Gaels Mairead McGuinness was the first elected in the constituency but when she was appointed as Irelands EU Commissioner, her MEP role was vacant and so Colm Markey was co-opted in her stead.

Such a scenario would cause a by-election at Dail level. Im not suggesting that should happen in Europe  one can imagine turnout figures would be very low. However, it doesnt speak volumes for the probity of the election when only half of those elected represented Midlands North West for the full term. That is no slight on Chris McManus or Colm Markey, simply a statement of fact.

And now you have the situation going into this election where Peadar Toibin of Aontu has declared that if he is elected as an MEP for Midlands North West, he will still stand in the next general election. Should he get elected there, he would appoint his sister Eimear, a Meath county councillor, as the MEP.

If he  or any of the other TDs running for Europe  are elected, it could well force an early general election.

The election of any TD to the European Parliament would trigger a by-election. That has to take place within six months of the seat becoming vacant.

It seems highly unlikely the Government would have a by-election in the latter half of 2024 and then a general election a few short months later. So we might be going to the polls by the end of the year in such a scenario.

And were Peadar Toibin to be elected to Dail Eireann after being elected to Europe, it would mean he was an MEP for only a matter of months. And you wonder why people dont always take the European elections seriously?

There is also a general disconnect. European matters can often seem quite weighty and hard to follow. People tune into national matters such as health, housing, taxation and employment. There is a sense that European matters do not impact on them to the same extent.

And ownership of the European institutions is hard to feel. Whether everyone likes the Irish Government or not, there is a general acceptance that they are put there by the people.

The electorate may elect MEPs but powerful EU commissioners are appointed by the member states as is the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, though that appointed must be franked by the Parliament.

But of course, Europe plays a huge role in our lives. Agriculture is defined by Europe. For all the criticisms of EU imposed climate change targets that the agriculture industry has to hit, Irelands agriculture and food sectors would clearly not be as strong today were it not for the EU and the Common Agricultural Policy.

But agriculture sometimes overly dominates European discussions in Ireland and lip service is given to other key issues.

Funding for major infrastructural projects that can define the very prosperity or otherwise of entire regions comes from Europe.

The Trans European Network  Transport (TEN-T) has a Core funding network worth hundreds of billions of euros and represents 90 percent of the EUs infrastructural budget to 2030. Only projects on the Core network can apply for Core funding. States must financially contribute to the project also.

The Western Arc from Cork-Limerick-Galway-Sligo-Derry-Belfast was on that Core network and could draw down huge volumes of funding support from Europe for the likes of the N17, Knock Airport and the Western Rail Corridor. However, in his wisdom, Leo Varadkar, when he was Minister for Transport in 2011, decided to remove the Western Arc with one stroke of his pen. It meant the only parts of Ireland now in the Core network are from Belfast to Dublin to Cork and from Portlaoise to Limerick, further accelerating imbalanced regional development.

I recall, on a trip to Strasbourg in 2016, quizzing a sitting Irish MEP on the Western Arc only to be told they had never heard of the Western Arc. It would appear even some politicians are disengaged.

Regional development is keenly monitored from Europe. Were in the Ireland Northern and Western region  not the same as the Midlands North West constituency, to further add to the confusion.

The Northern Western Region incorporates the five counties of Connacht as well as Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan.

In 2022, the European Commission downgraded us to a lagging region when our GDP fell to 71% of the European average. We are ranked 218th out of 234 regions across the EU in terms of infrastructural development. Yet our own Government wrote us out of a multi-billion Euro fund that might attempt to redress that.

Sawdust seems an apt description.
Ive had the good fortune, since my last contribution, to have spent a week in the care of the good people of the Galway Clinic. I wont go into too much detail because Im not well up on medical terminology (and have no wish to learn) and in any event, Im fairly confident readers of the column have no great interest in the finer details.

Ive mentioned on a number of occasions the itch. Its an affliction that simply wont go away. Ive had it now for nine months and no amount of creams and medicines, not to mention heartfelt prayers and the inducements of faith healers, has had any impact on the itch. There has been some improvements in various aspects of my tormentor but no cure. The itch is impervious to prayer and cursing alike.

So, after many disappointments and failed attempts to get the dermatology people in Galway interested, at the advice of my GP, I went in pursuit of a solution via a blood test in the Galway Clinic. In no time at all the test was arranged. Dont ask me what kind of test it was but it involved introducing a dye into the bloodstream and then checking the results for some anomaly that might explain the itch.

The solution to the itch remains elusive but, fortunately for me and for you dear readers who might have been deprived of your weekly column, the test showed up an aneurism of the aorta (again, dont ask me, but an aneurism of the aorta is not to be sneezed at) that required pretty urgent attention. It might be speculated that the itch could have saved my life, but having been tortured for nine months, Im not inclined to give the itch much credit.

Even so, it came about that, on Tuesday, May 14 (Four Goal Willie McGees birthday!), I was flat out undertaking a variety of tests, x-rays and scans to check my suitability for the aorta repair that had been prescribed. Everything was going swimmingly until the final test, a check-up on the heart, and lo and behold, if it did not transpire that the heart that had brought me up and down the Reek a thousand times, across the Bangor Trail a hundred times and up and down Kilimanjaro was showing signs of distress.

There was a narrowing of two arteries that required stents before any repair to the aorta could be attempted. Despair, you might say, grabbed me by the throat for all of a second before relief set in. Had the heart issue not been revealed, it could have been curtains.

I dont pretend to know anything about these things and you probably wont believe it anyway, but my understanding is that my good doctor and his wonderful team of assistants, each of whom has a specific and vital job to do, inserted a tiny camera into a vein on my right wrist and with tremendous precision pushed it up the problem area. Ive said it before, but its worth repeating, this is incredible stuff and I would not believe it myself except that I saw it with my own two eyes. I was, of course, lying flat on my back but by looking left and straining my neck I could see very clearly, on the monitor, the dimple in the vein that was restricting the flow of blood to the heart. Amazing.

And, perhaps even more amazing, three stents have since been inserted to correct the flaws and Im at home in the bosom of my family, compiling this column so as not to disappoint you, and looking forward to the next appointment that will tackle the problem with this aneurism.

We hear a lot about hospital overcrowding and trolleys and deficient management and disastrous outcomes with huge payouts, and ministerial neglect, but we dont hear much about the great people who work in our hospitals and who, every day are responsible for life-saving decisions, for providing care and comfort and healing for thousands of patients every year.

And it is not just the Galway Clinic. Last year I spent a couple of weeks in Mayo University Hospital. I spent time on a trolley in the Emergency Department and saw the skill, efficiency, care and dedication of the doctors, nurses and admin staff and yet I hear nothing but criticism of the health service.

There is something rotten in the state of Ireland when we cant acknowledge how lucky we are to have the health service we have. And yes, I know there will always be hiccups and poor and even bad outcomes. But they are the exception and we generally only hear of them on the footsteps of the courthouse. I wonder if our judicial system was subjected to the same scrutiny as the health service would they come out smelling of roses? I doubt it.

Recognising Palestine

So, Ireland has done the decent and correct thing and along with Spain and Norway has recognised the state of Palestine. That recognition wont do anything for Palestine in the short term but, in time, it may come to be seen as a contribution of sorts to peace in the Middle East. It was to be expected that Israel would be upset. Even before the announcement, the Israeli President Isaac Herzog was on the phone to the Taoiseach seeking to bully him into a change of heart. Simon Harris stood firm and defended the Irish position.

Israeli handlers got in on the act and tried to sow confusion but fair play to Harris he stood by his guns and let Israel know that theirs is not the only side of the story. The Palestinian people also have their story to tell and any fair-minded person can see that Palestine has been more sinned against than sinning.

During their Nakba (catastrophe) which started prior to the founding of the state of Israel and which continued after Israel was recognised by the international community, the people of Palestine were hounded out of their homes. The state of Israel was built on the massacres of the Palestinian people, the forced displacement of 750,000 people and the continued expansion of the lands that were allocated by UN mandate.

Massacres and forced evictions continue to be the Israeli way. Settlers move in and take over entire Palestinian villages. Those who resist are killed, others flee. The Israeli police/army stand by and watch and more often than not support the settlers. When Palestinians protest, they are shot or rounded up and jailed.

Netanyahu says he wont stop the war in Gaza until the last of the Hamas fighters are killed and the hostages are returned safely to their families. That surely must be the most blatant contradiction imaginable. If Hamas are even half as depraved as Netanyahu and Israeli spokespersons would have us believe then the last act they will do before they themselves are destroyed will be to have their act of revenge by killing the hostages.

And if Netanyahu thinks he can destroy Hamas simply by killing those members of Hamas who remain in Rafah then he is deluded. Far from destroying Hamas, he has created the next generation of Hamas fighters. The two-state solution that most people espouse is further away than ever. That will please the Israelis. They have Joe Biden on their side and they dont want a two-state solution.
Reading, PA (19601)

Today

Mainly clear skies; no frost overnight, and no Northern Lights displays expected like last night either. .

Tonight

Mainly clear skies; no frost overnight, and no Northern Lights displays expected like last night either.
Case Seminar with Dr Judy Dlamini

When: Friday, 31 May 2024 Where:

Wits Business School, 2 St David's Place Parktown Start time: 17:00 Enquiries: Thembeka Hlatshwayo

on thembeka.hlatshwayo1@wits.ac.za or 011 717 3617 RSVP: Please use this link to RSVP

The Remarkable Story of Khonology Digital Solutions: Values-Driven Entrepreneurship.

The Wits Business School is pleased to invite you to a special seminar which will take a deep dive into a new case study written by Dr Judy Dlamini, Chancellor of Wits University and WBS alumna.



The case is on Khonology Digital Solutions, a young South African start-up with a vision of becoming Africas leading digital enabler. In September 2023, ten years after Khonology was founded, the management team of Dapo Ayedemo, Africa Nkosi and Mosa Nyamande realised they still had a long way to go in realising their vision. What would it take for the company to move out of the shadows and truly achieve its goal of digitising the African continent and expanding its services to the rest of the world?



Presenting a unique opportunity of witnessing a case study come to life, Dr Dlamini will be chatting to the three entrepreneurs featured in the story. Please join us for a rich, interactive learning experience about overcoming the barriers to entrepreneurial success.
New Student Entrepreneurship Hub launched

The E-Hub marks the beginning of a new era in fostering student-led innovation and entrepreneurship.

Officially launched on 8 May 2024, the E-Hub is a collaboration between Wits University and the Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA), supported by the Department of Small Business Development.

Speaking at the launch, Professor Zeblon Vilakazi, Wits Vice-Chancellor and Principal, said the E-Hub heralds in a new era for Wits students to hone their entrepreneurial skills: This is part of what we envisage as a university, to not only educate but to create a space for entrepreneurship.

Located in The Matrix building (ground floor) on the Braamfontein Campus East, the E-Hub is a communal space where student entrepreneurs can meet and collaborate to develop innovative solutions and sustainable businesses. This initiative is part of the Student Entrepreneurship Education and Development (SEED) programme, coordinated by the Development and Leadership Unit in the Centre for Student Development, a division of Student Affairs.

Luke Renton, a third-year Bachelor of Science in Computer Sciences student who represented the University at the Innovation Summit in Kigali, Rwanda earlier this year, expressed his excitement: "It is so exciting to be a part of an Entrepreneurship Hub where I can meet people and be inspired to grow in entrepreneurship," he said.

The Dean of Student Affairs at Wits, Jerome September, highlighted the significance of the new space, stating, "This space will enhance student participation in entrepreneurship and boost the students self-immersion in the student entrepreneurship programmes as a pathway to engagement in innovation." The E-Hub boasts modern amenities designed to meet the diverse needs of student entrepreneurs, including an expansive events area, co-working booths, and versatile meeting rooms.

Echoing this, Nkosinathi Mbatha, acting CEO of SEDA, emphasised the importance of supporting and funding local innovation, I challenge this centre. In the next five years, we need to see a few entities coming from this centre that have been supported through funding and other business development support activities," said Mbatha.

The event concluded with an exhibition showcasing the businesses of student entrepreneurs from the SEED programme, demonstrating the transformative impact of the E-Hub and the SEED programme on their entrepreneurial journeys. "The future is in SMMEs in terms of the economic growth of this country," proclaimed Thulisile Manzini, Deputy Director General of Small Businesses, during her keynote address.

To watch the live stream recording of the launch, please click here.
Oracle bone inscriptions displayed at the new hall of the Yinxu Museum in Anyang, Henan Province. [Xinhua]

ZHENGZHOU  Nestled beside the tranquil Huanhe River in Anyang, Central China's Henan Province, stands the new hall of the Yinxu Museum, a striking structure in the shape of a bronze square ding, or ancient cauldron. Its exterior walls are adorned with classic Shang Dynasty (c. 16th century-11th century BC) bronze decorations, and the lintels above its three main doors feature the characters Da Yi Shang in bronze.

Anyang, the last capital of the Shang era, China's second dynasty, has been a focal point of archaeological significance since work began at the Yin Ruins in 1928. The site has yielded a wealth of exquisite bronzes, oracle bone inscriptions and other cultural relics that highlight Chinese civilization's enduring charm and grandeur.

"The characters Da Yi Shang mean the 'Great Settlement of Shang'. At that time, this was the most populous and prosperous city in China, and the Shang people proudly referred to it using this name," said Tang Jigen, one of China's most senior archaeologists on Shang, as he explained the meaning of Da Yi Shang, derived from oracle bone inscriptions, to three visiting American scholars on May 17.

The Director of the National Museum of Asian Art in the United States Chase Robinson, Deputy Director Lori Duggan Gold and Curator of Ancient Chinese Art J.Keith Wilson, traveled to this ancient city for inter-museum exchanges. In a single day, they explored the museum, visited the archaeological sites of Shang's largest palace ruins discovered so far and its royal tombs and held in-depth discussions with their Chinese counterparts. As the sun set, they found it difficult to leave, moved by the deep cultural connections they had forged.

America's National Museum of Asian Art in Washington consists of the Freer Gallery of Art and the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and is part of the Smithsonian Institution, the largest museum complex in the world. The Freer Gallery of Art, founded in 1923 and the Smithsonian's first art museum, sponsored China's early works of the Yin Ruins archaeological excavation that began in 1928. In February 2023, to commemorate the centennial of the Freer Gallery, the National Museum of Asian Art held a special exhibition titled Anyang: China's Ancient City of Kings, which displayed over 200 artifacts from Shang. The exhibition continued until April 28.

"It was one of three major exhibitions that we mounted for our centennial. It's the only one that was up for 13 months. It occupied the main exhibition space in our museum and was very popular, not only with the public but also with critics and museum professionals," says Robinson, adding that it narrated a story of Shang civilization, technology, industry, city planning, archaeology and collaboration.

The exhibition's popularity in the US also inspired Chinese archaeology and cultural heritage scholars to bring the exhibition closer to Chinese audiences in Anyang by displaying several photos during the planning of the new hall of the Yinxu Museum.

The American scholars were delighted by the museum's design and the depth of their exchanges and mutual learning with their Chinese counterparts.

"Worldwide, we work together. It's very exciting for us to be featured here," says Gold. Her museum regards exchanges in arts as a big responsibility and takes very seriously how to share works and form partnerships and collaborations with the world.

"Seeing your exhibition was a stunning experience. Having more people see the Yin Ruins and sharing the discoveries with a broader audience is our shared mission," Zhao Qingrong, executive deputy director of the Yinxu Museum, told Gold.

"Over a century, the museum has been committed to understanding ancient Chinese civilization," says Robinson, expressing his wish to continue this tradition and carry out joint exhibitions, research projects and staff exchanges.

Chinese archaeologist Tang Jigen (left) introduces Simuxin Ding, an ancient bronze cauldron, to visiting curators from the National Museum of Asian Art in the United States, including Chase Robinson (right), director of the American museum. [Zhai Xiang/Xinhua]

In 1977, Wilson visited China for the first time while attending college. Experiencing China's history and culture in person strengthened his determination to study it. Today, he has become a revered Sinologist in the US. He believes that Shang's most notable contribution to world civilization was the technology to produce bronzes, jades and ceramics of "incredible beauty and technical complexity".

Wilson refers to his visit to Anyang as "coming home". During his first visit to Anyang in the 1990s, he became good friends with Tang.

This visit showed not only friendship but also the power of international attraction of Anyang studies, Wilson says.

"The symbolism of having the Anyang exhibition at the time of our centennial was very rich," says Wilson, adding that the centennial was a moment to look forward and identify goals important for the next century.

Reflecting on his experiences since joining the National Museum of Asian Art in 2006, Wilson mentions that he has curated exhibitions on the Xiangtangshan Grottoes, Houma Bronzes and ancient Chinese music. He looks forward to continuing to introduce American audiences to important moments in Chinese history.

Digital products at the Yinxu Museum, such as 3D artifact short films and immersive digital exhibitions, left a deep impression on the American scholars.

"Many museums around the world hold artifacts from the Yin Ruins. We could bring together artifacts collected in different places in the form of a digital return of Yin Ruins artifacts," says Niu Shishan, a senior archaeologist of Shang's royal tombs.

Li Xiaoyang, director of the Anyang Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics, proposed various collaborative efforts, such as exchanging information on cultural relics, sharing digital projects and coproducing documentaries.

In response, Robinson says that these proposals are attractive and research projects, collaborations and exchanges can be outlined through a memorandum of understanding. Archives concerning the archaeological projects of the Yin Ruins housed at Freer can also be made available.

Gold congratulates her Chinese counterparts on "the beauty of the building and the excellent interpretation for visitors to the gallery".

She adds, "I took many photographs today of how you designed the spaces to share with audiences."

Robinson says, "You have an extraordinary facility, an extraordinary collection and a wonderful story to tell."

As Robinson concluded his first visit to the Chinese mainland, he reflected on the importance of building trust and exploring possibilities together: "I'm very pleased that we've gotten such a good start.

"What impressed us most was the great expertise that's gone into the creation of this museum. There is also great expertise on the part of the archaeologists working on the site."

May 18 marked International Museum Day, with this year's theme being Museums for Education and Research. Robinson says America's National Museum of Asian Art owns the digital platform Teaching China, which is devoted to middle school students and teachers.

"It's been immensely successful. There is a real appetite from Americans to understand Chinese culture, history and Chinese civilization," he says.

"Expertise and knowledge are the foundation for great museums. It's the foundation for great archaeology, and you have a very strong foundation."

(Source: Xinhua)
China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong speaks at a United Nations (UN) Security Council High-Level Debate on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security: The Role of Women and Young People at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 28, 2024. Fu on Tuesday called for efforts to protect the safety of women and youth at the Security Council meeting on the subject. [Xinhua/Xie E]

UNITED NATIONS, May 29 (Xinhua)  China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong on Tuesday called for efforts to protect the safety of women and youth at a Security Council meeting on the subject.

The international community should make efforts to "promote a ceasefire and cessation of violence so as to protect the safety of women and youth," Fu said at a United Nations (UN) Security Council High-Level Debate on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security: The Role of Women and Young People.

"The world today is far from being tranquil. From the Middle East to Africa, from Eurasia to Haiti in the Caribbean, wars and violent conflicts continue unabated with women and youth being the first victims," he said.

"When safety and even the very survival are under threat, nothing else is possible. The Security Council should assume its primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security and make unremitting efforts to promote a ceasefire and an end to the fighting," said the ambassador.

"China calls on parties to the conflict to comply with their obligations under international humanitarian law, to refrain from using women and youth as military targets, to effectively guarantee access to humanitarian supplies, and to return as soon as possible to the political track of dispute resolution," he said.

On the role of women and youth in peace efforts, the envoy said that at present, the degree and the level of participation of women and youth in political and peace processes vary from country to country, and the potential talents and contributions of women and youth have yet to be fully recognized and utilized.

"China supports the full implementation of Security Council resolution 1325 and 2250, which provide equal opportunities for women and youth to participate in peace processes by eliminating discrimination, prejudice, and obstacles," he said.

"It is essential to enhance the motivation and sense of participation of women and youth and to encourage them to contribute their ideas to conflict prevention, political development, and social governance," he said. "We must fully leverage their advantages of quick thinking, understanding and tolerance, so that they can become an indispensable force in the maintenance and building of peace."

The ambassador also called for efforts to support the economic empowerment of women and youth so as to strengthen the foundation of peace.

"One of the major reasons that some young people and women were hoodwinked to join armed groups and terrorist organizations is their lack of access to education, employment, and development," he said.

Fu urged the international community to increase their access to education and employment opportunities, so that they can determine their own destiny and become a major force for social stability and development.

Speaking of China's efforts in this regard, the envoy said that China has always supported the economic empowerment of women and youth.

"In Mali, the Senou vocational training center, which was built with China's assistance, has helped more than 500 young people acquire professional knowledge in construction and electrical engineering, and many women have acquired new skills, bringing hope to their families. In Fiji, China has trained more than 2,400 people with Juncao technology since 2014. The local people have planted more than 2,000 hectares of Juncao grass, which has raised the incomes and improved the lives of many women and young people," the ambassador said.

Fu called for efforts to strengthen the global partnership in advancing the cause of women and youth.

"The UN and all countries are duty-bound to implement the women, youth, peace, and security agenda," he said.

UN agencies including UN Women should not only increase investment in addressing existing problems such as the elimination of violence, poverty reduction, education, and gender equality, but also work to tackle new challenges such as digital, technology, and intelligence divides, so that women and youth from underdeveloped countries and regions will not be left behind in the new round of technological revolution.

"We call on developed countries to effectively fulfill their official development assistance commitments and to make the promotion of women and youth in developing countries a key area of their investment," he said.

"Multilateral financial institutions such as the International Monetary Fund should allocate more funds to improve the livelihoods of women and youth and other groups in developing countries," he added.

"China stands ready to work with the international community to build a better world, so that women and youth from all countries can live in the sunshine of peace and development," said the ambassador.

The United Nations Security Council High-Level Debate on the Maintenance of International Peace and Security: The Role of Women and Young People is held at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 28, 2024. China's permanent representative to the United Nations Fu Cong on Tuesday called for efforts to protect the safety of women and youth at the Security Council meeting on the subject. [Xinhua/Xie E]

(Source: Xinhua)
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and delivers a keynote speech at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. [Xinhua/Ding Haitao]

BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on China and Arab states to deepen cooperation and step up the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future.

Xi made the remarks in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF).

China-Arab Relations Scaling New Heights

China-Arab relations have kept scaling new heights since the beginning of the new century. At the first China-Arab States Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2022, China and Arab states agreed to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era.

Xi said that China is satisfied with the progress that has been made in delivering on the first China-Arab States Summit's outcomes. China will work with the Arab side to enhance the role of the summit in providing strategic guidance for continued "leapfrog growth" of China-Arab relations.

Xi announced that China will host the second China-Arab States Summit in 2026, which is set to be another milestone in China-Arab relations.

As changes unseen in a century unfold rapidly across the world, both China and Arab states strive to accomplish their historical missions of national rejuvenation and faster national development. Building a China-Arab community with a shared future is a strong statement of the common desire for a new era of China-Arab relations and a better future for the world, Xi said.

Xi said China will work with the Arab side to make China-Arab relations a model for maintaining world peace and stability, a fine example of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, a paradigm of harmonious coexistence between civilizations, and a model for promoting good global governance.

It is believed that the strategic mutual trust between China and Arab states will be further consolidated, cooperation in various fields will be comprehensively promoted, and the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future will see more solid steps, said Li Chen, ambassador for CASCF affairs of China's Foreign Ministry.

Five Cooperation Frameworks

At the first China-Arab States Summit in 2022, Xi put forward "eight major cooperation initiatives" for practical cooperation.

Early harvests have been achieved in all the "eight major cooperation initiatives," Xi said, adding that China is ready to work with the Arab side on that basis to put in place "five cooperation frameworks" to step up the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future.

The five frameworks consist of a more dynamic framework for innovation, an expanded framework for investment and finance cooperation, a more multifaceted framework for energy cooperation, a more balanced framework for mutually beneficial economic and trade ties, and a broader framework for people-to-people exchanges.

China will build with the Arab side 10 joint laboratories in such areas as life and health, artificial intelligence (AI), green and low-carbon development, modern agriculture, and space and information technology. The two sides will also enhance cooperation on AI to make it empower the real economy and to promote a broad-based global governance system on AI, Xi said.

China is ready to establish with the Arab side an industry and investment cooperation forum, Xi said, adding that China supports closer cooperation between financial institutions from the two sides, and welcomes Arab banks to join the Cross-border Interbank Payment System.

China will further enhance strategic cooperation with the Arab side on oil and gas, and is ready to work with the Arab side on new energy technology R&D and equipment production, according to Xi.

China stands ready to accelerate the negotiations on bilateral and regional free trade agreements, welcomes active participation of the Arab side in the China International Import Expo, and is willing to expand import of non-energy products from the Arab side, especially agricultural products, Xi noted.

China is ready to establish with the Arab side the China-Arab Center of Global Civilization Initiative, Xi said, adding that China plans to work with the Arab side to achieve the goal of 10 million two-way visits of tourists in the next five years.

The development of Arab-China relations has broad prospects and great potential, and both sides have a sincere desire to further enhance relations and strengthen cooperation. It is believed that the work and achievements of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum will have a pragmatic and positive role in promoting the development of both sides in various fields, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said.

Sticking to Two-State Solution

The Middle East is a land bestowed with broad prospects for development, but the war is still raging on it. Since last October, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has escalated drastically, throwing the people into tremendous sufferings, Xi said.

He stressed that war should not continue indefinitely, justice should not be absent forever, and commitment to the two-State solution should not be wavered at will.

China firmly supports the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital. It supports Palestine's full membership in the U.N., and supports a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference, he added.

China will continue to provide assistance to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support post-conflict reconstruction, and support the work of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in providing emergency humanitarian assistance to Gaza, Xi said.

China has fully implemented the Global Security Initiative, actively promoted the political settlement of regional hotspot issues, and brokered a historic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a move that not only helped ease tensions within the region but also catalyzed a wave of reconciliations among Arab states and within the broader region, said Wu Sike, China's former special envoy to the Middle East.

Bahrain highly appreciates China's firm support for the just cause of the Arabs, especially on the Palestinian question, its tremendous efforts to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza and its full support for the establishment of an independent State of Palestine, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa said.

The 10th ministerial conference of the CASCF adopted the Beijing Declaration, the CASCF execution plan for 2024-2026, and a China-Arab states joint statement on the Palestinian issue.

During the conference, China also signed a number of bilateral and multilateral cooperation documents with the participating countries and the General Secretariat of the Arab League.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and delivers a keynote speech at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. [Xinhua/Yin Bogu]

Chinese President Xi Jinping poses for a group photo with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Tunisia's President Kais Saied, the United Arab Emirates' President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, and heads of delegations of 22 Arab countries in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and delivered a keynote speech at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Thursday. [Xinhua/Huang Jingwen]

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and delivers a keynote speech at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. [Xinhua/Yin Bogu]

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and delivers a keynote speech at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. [Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan]

Full text: President Xi's keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum

(Source: Xinhua)
Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. [Xinhua/Rao Aimin]

BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing on Thursday.

Xi noted that the UAE is an important comprehensive strategic partner of China. In recent years, China-UAE relations have maintained a sound momentum of development, setting a good example for China-Arab states relations in the new era.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE, Xi said, adding that it is an important juncture for China-UAE relations to build on past achievements and forge ahead.

He said China stands ready to work with the UAE to continue to grasp the general direction of bilateral relations from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, and ensure the vigorous development of bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

Xi said that China supports the UAE in pursuing an independent development path and safeguarding its national sovereignty, security and development interests, and is willing to consolidate political mutual trust and strengthen cooperation with the UAE to jointly build a community with a shared future for humanity.

He said China stands ready to work with the UAE to continuously promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, strengthen synergy of development strategies, and take the establishment of a high-level committee on China-UAE investment and cooperation as an opportunity to push for more outcomes in bilateral cooperation.

Xi called on the two sides to consolidate cooperation in areas such as trade, energy and infrastructure, expand cooperation in high-tech fields such as information technology, artificial intelligence, digital economy and new energy, and strengthen law enforcement and security cooperation.

Xi noted he had recently replied to letters from Chinese language learners in the UAE, encouraging them to master the language, get to know more about China and contribute to promoting friendship between the two countries.

China is willing to continue to support the "Hundred Schools Project" of Chinese language education, push forward the construction of a Chinese culture center in the UAE, enhance people-to-people exchanges, and promote mutual understanding and friendship, he added.

Noting that at present the trend towards a multi-polar world is unstoppable, Xi said multi-polarization in essence should mean mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among different civilizations, systems and paths.

Countries in the Middle East are an important part of developing countries and an important force in the multi-polarization of the world, he said, adding that China supports countries in the region to continue to follow their development paths suited to their national conditions, firmly follow the path of unity and strength, peace and reconciliation, resolve differences through communication and consultation, and hold their future and destiny in their own hands.

Xi said China is ready to work with the UAE and other Arab countries to host the second China-Arab States Summit and promote the building of a community of shared future between China and Arab states.

China is willing to strengthen its strategic partnership with the UAE, expand multilateral cooperation and safeguard the common interests of countries in the Global South, he added.

Mohamed said that he was very happy to once again visit China, his second hometown, and attend the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum together with President Xi.

He said the relations between Arab and Gulf countries and China boast a solid foundation. Deepening and developing relations with China conforms to the common aspiration and fundamental interests of the people of Arab and Gulf countries.

Mohamed said that UAE-China relations are based on mutual trust, mutual respect and common interests, and cooperation in various fields has reached an extraordinary level.

The UAE attaches great importance to developing relations with China, places China at the top of its diplomatic priority and regards China as a long-term and reliable strategic partner, he said, adding that the UAE is willing to take the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to further deepen and expand cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, investment, energy, science and technology, education and culture.

The government of the UAE firmly adheres to the one-China policy, opposes "Taiwan independence" in any form and supports China's efforts to achieve national reunification, he said.

Mohamed added that the UAE highly appreciates and actively supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi, will continue to actively participate in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, and is willing to work closely with China in multilateral communication and coordination to promote peace, development and prosperity of the region and the world at large.

The two sides also exchanged views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Xi stressed that the top priority is a comprehensive ceasefire and cessation of fighting to ease the humanitarian crisis, and the international community should unanimously support an early negotiated settlement of the Palestinian issue on the basis of the two-State solution.

Xi said China and the UAE have the same stance on the Palestinian issue and should work together to push for a comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the issue.

After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in various fields including investment, jointly building the Belt and Road, science and technology, peaceful use of nuclear energy, Chinese education, culture and tourism.

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. [Xinhua/Li Xueren]

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. [Xinhua/Shen Hong]

Chinese President Xi Jinping and President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan witness the signing of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. [Xinhua/Liu Bin]

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. [Xinhua/Gao Jie]

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. [Xinhua/Li Xueren]

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. [Xinhua/Shen Hong]

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in the Northern Hall of the Great Hall of the People prior to their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Xi held talks with Sheikh Mohamed in Beijing on Thursday. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. [Xinhua/Li Xueren]

(Source: Xinhua)
BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua)  British chemist David Evans cherishes a necktie adorned with Chinese characters representing chemical elements. The distinctive accessory not only reveals his passion for science but often reminds him of the moment when he met Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Four years ago, at a Spring Festival reception in Beijing, the Chinese president noticed Evans' tie while shaking hands with him. Xi said to Evans, "I can guess your profession. We could have been fellows, (because) I studied chemical engineering (at university)."

Evans, a professor at Beijing University of Chemical Technology, was pleasantly surprised to learn of the Chinese president's academic background at Tsinghua University in the 1970s.

But what amazed him even more was Xi's speech at a symposium attended by scientists in September 2020, in which a lot of scientific knowledge, principles, and historical facts were cited.

"I have rarely seen a state leader having such an ability to engage in an in-depth discussion of scientific logic and laws," said Evans.

Noting that the key to Chinese modernization lies in science and technology, Xi has shown a keen interest in frontier areas. He is no stranger to the world of cutting-edge advancements, and concepts like AI, quantum, and self-driving technology dot his speeches. During his inspection visits nationwide, he has visited research institutions and sci-tech enterprises, and is often seen checking out the latest gadgets at tech exhibitions.

He also has deep respect for heroes behind the country's numerous sci-tech breakthroughs.

While presenting top national awards to wheelchair-bound scientists, or hosting video calls with orbiting taikonauts, he expresses care for the people at the forefront of the nation's innovation.

Before the launch of the Shenzhou-10 manned spaceship in 2013, Xi requested that sticky rice dumplings be added to the spaceship pantry so that the orbiting crew could celebrate Dragon Boat Festival in space, like what they do at home on Earth.

In addition to ensuring that all contributions are acknowledged and celebrated, Xi has made it his mission to alleviate the burdens of scientists and engineers and address any problems they face.

In May 2021, when addressing a meeting of academicians and sci-tech worker representatives, he highlighted the efforts on management reform in the sci-tech field, such as freeing sci-tech workers from formalistic and bureaucratic activities and abolishing the outdated evaluation criteria for talent that solely focused on papers, certificates or awards. Instead, he proposed a new evaluation system that was based on innovation, ability and contribution.

Recognizing the financial pressure that they often face, he advocated granting scientists greater decision-making power over technical routes and the use of funds.

Sci-tech workers, who celebrate the eighth National Science and Technology Workers' Day on May 30, have benefited from improved working conditions and increased government support as they strive for innovation.

Over the past decade, China has seen a significant boost in funding for research and development, which rose from 1 trillion yuan (about 140 billion U.S. dollars) in 2012 to 3.09 trillion yuan in 2022. As an important indicator measuring sci-tech manpower input, the number of full-time equivalent R&D personnel in China increased from 3.247 million in 2012 to 6.354 million in 2022.

Xi has also paid particular attention to foreign scientists, especially those from developing countries, who are committed to sci-tech exchanges and cooperation with China.

Last year, he replied to a letter from renowned Cuban scientist Pedro A. Valdes-Sosa, whose team in China chalked up great progress in brain science research and China-Cuba neurotechnology cooperation.

Xi expressed the hope that China-Cuba cooperation in various fields including science and technology could continue in the new era and better benefit the people of the two countries.

The Chinese president's encouragement for international sci-tech collaboration is reflected in many initiatives. China's top science awards are now open to foreign candidates; the Belt and Road Initiative has supported thousands of young foreign scientists to engage in scientific research and academic exchanges in China; and the country's space missions are made available for foreign scientific research payloads.

"We are striving to extend the benefits of scientific and technological innovation to more countries and people," Xi once said.

(Source: Xinhua)
The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka held an important public meeting last week.

The May 23 online event titled Oppose imperialist war was a part of the International Committee of the Fourth Internationals (ICFI) fight for an independent international anti-war movement of workers and youth based on socialist policies. It followed the ICFIs recent May Day rally.



As well as focusing on Israels escalating genocide in Gaza and the US-NATO war against Russia in Ukraine, the meeting unanimously adopted a resolution pledging support for the ICFIs global campaign to free the Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk.

Syrotiuk is a leading member of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL), a Trotskyist organisation based in former republics of the Soviet Union, including Russia and Ukraine, and affiliated with the ICFI. He has been imprisoned since April 25 by the SBU, the Ukrainian secret police, under the bogus charges of being an operative of Russian war propaganda (see SEP (Sri Lanka) public meeting demands immediate release of Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk).

Last Thursdays event, which was simultaneously translated into Tamil, was chaired by SEP Assistant Secretary Saman Gunadasa and the main report was given by SEP General Secretary Deepal Jayasekera.

In his introductory remarks, Gunadasa commented on the significance of the International Criminal Courts arrest warrants against Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for genocidal war crimes. That such a judgment was made, he said, expresses the intensity of public opinion against Israels genocide.

Gunadasa added: At the same time, the US and NATO are ratcheting up their war effort against Russia in Ukraine and war preparations against China Protests against the genocide in Gaza globally, which must be welcomed, alone cannot stop these wars. The working class must intervene with its own independent class action. For that, the working class must be organised in rank-and-file committees independent of the union bureaucracy and the fake-left.

SEP General Secretary Deepal Jayasekera addressing a previous meeting

SEP General Secretary Deepal Jayasekara told the meeting that the genocide in Gaza, the war in Ukraine and the US-led military preparations against China were not episodic, regional wars but the interconnected fronts of a global imperialist war drive to redivide the globe.

The global mass movement against the Gaza genocide, he said, spread further when the Biden administration attempted to snuff out protests in the US universities by unleashing a brutal police crackdown on them. Since then, protests have developed all over the world, with students setting up encampments at their universities.

Jayasekera said the slanderous branding of all those opposing the Gaza genocide as antisemitic was bogus. This was exposed by the fact that many of the workers and students involved in the demonstrations are Jewish. He then explained how the growing danger of a world war was shaping the political situation in Sri Lanka, India and South Asia as a whole.

Under the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India has been transformed into a frontline state of the US war drive against China In response to ever increasing pressure from the US and India, the Wickremasinghe government is integrating Sri Lanka into their war preparations against China.

At the end of April, Sri Lankan and US naval forces were involved in a joint exercise off the Trincomalee coast in the islands eastern province. The Wickremasinghe government has been a supporter of Israels genocide in Gaza from its inception and sent a warship to the Red Sea to join with the US-led coalition.

Jayasekera pointed out how the whole of South Asia has been dragged into a vortex of deepening geopolitical tensions, which could lead to a nuclear third world war, as a result of aggressive moves by the US and India to integrate countries in the region into their military-strategic offensive against China.

The basic political conclusion workers and youth in South Asia must draw from these developments is the urgent need for building an international anti-war movement based on socialist policies.

Jayasekera explained that the SEPs position on war was based on the fight for the unity of the international working class. Our position is a class position. We do not base our position on who fired the first shot.

The speaker reviewed the SEPs principled opposition to the Putin regimes invasion in Ukraine and explained how Russias invasion was provoked by aggressive moves by the US and NATO following the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union. He also drew attention to the 2014 right-wing coup in Ukraine, sponsored by the US and Germany, to overthrow the then pro-Russian Yanukovych government and the installation of a pro-EU regime.

Jayasekera concluded with a call for workers, youth, rural poor and intellectuals in Sri Lanka, India and the whole of South Asia to join with the SEP/IYSSE to build a global anti-war movement of workers and youth based on international socialist policies.
The following speech was delivered by Thomas Scripps, the assistant national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (UK), to a meeting entitled Free Julian Assange! Oppose imperialist war! held online and in Sydney by the Socialist Equality Party (Australia) on May 26. A full report of the meeting is published here.

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Let me begin by saying Im sure Im speaking to an audience of people very familiar with the course of the Assange case: The many steps in his persecution, the twists and turns of the legal case, up to this past Monday when he was granted a right to appeal against the order for his extradition to the United States.

Australia is perhaps the country with the highest level of awareness of Assanges situation and the significance of his case, in substantial part due to the activity of the Socialist Equality Party in Australia.

Given that assumed level of knowledge, I want to begin by speaking about the legal case in overviewthe key issues, as theyve been advanced by Assanges legal team and as theyve emerged in the back-and-forth with lawyers for the US government.

You would not know it from the slim and disinterested coverage in the corporate media, but the full extradition hearing held in SeptemberOctober 2020 was an extraordinary legal and political event.

I was observing and reporting proceedings for the World Socialist Web Site for each of the four weeks or so that it ran; I hope Ill be forgiven for citing myself in reading out some of the article we published summing up proceedings.

We said:

The four weeks of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assanges extradition hearing were a watershed in the collapse of democracy and the descent of world imperialism into abject criminality. Three decades after the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the unchecked explosion of US militarism, and two decades after the declaration of the war on terror, not a single legal principle, democratic or basic human right, is left standing While Assange sat in the dock charged with espionage, the crimes he exposed were recounted by defence witnesses. Their phrases hung in the air of the courtroom, an indictment of the whole capitalist order: collateral murder (the wilful killing of unarmed and injured civilians); extraordinary rendition (the illegal seizure of untried persons and their disappearance into CIA black sites); enhanced interrogation (with torture delivered against hooded and chained subjects via beatings, sodomy, controlled drowning and the use of coffin boxes); and wars of aggressionthe crime for which the Nazi leaders were indicted at Nurembergleading to the sociocide of Afghanistan and Iraq and the deaths of up to one million people.

The judge in that court, as you will know, ruled against extradition, but on the sole ground that it would be oppressive by virtue of Assanges mental health, in particular the risk of suicide. Every other reactionary legal argument advanced by the United States was accepted.

As we explained at the time, this served three purposes. First, it provided the fig leaf of due legal consideration to the UK courts and government. Second, it left Assanges fate hanging by a single thread that US lawyers could cut in the appeal process. Third, it narrowed the focus of that long appeal process to Assanges mental state, excluding the political issues that are really at the heart of this case.

Julian Assange [AP Photo/Matt Dunham]

More than three years later, that has finally been partially reversed. The two grounds for Assanges appeal at the next hearing are centred on the denial of his right to free speech or freedom of publication as a journalist, protected under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and the First Amendment of the US Constitution.

The lead US prosecutor has openly stated that Assange could be prevented from raising that protection in his defence at trial in the US, and this was explicitly endorsed and defended by the US government lawyers on Monday.

As we wrote in our summary of proceedings: Here is US imperialisms case stripped bare: That it can use the Espionage Act to seize journalists it deems a threat to its national interests and try them without key legal and democratic protections.

We have moved, in other words, to some of the substantial issues in this case: the assault on press freedom and the denial of basic democratic rights. The fact that it has been brought to this stage reflects, in part, the strength of the case mounted by his lawyers, which has been excellent throughout.

Butand this is the crucial pointwe cannot view any step in the Assange case as a purely legal question and in isolation of its political context, which is ultimately decisive.

Citing again from our report of Mondays hearing:

The last time a decision went in Assanges favour against the grain of the case was the initial refusal of extradition on January 4, 2021. At that time, the future of the US government was in turmoil, with Bidens replacement of Donald Trump challenged by an attempted coup and the storming of the Capitol building just two days later. Another political crisis is raging now. Biden is haemorrhaging support over his backing of the Gaza genocide, ahead of another presidential election contest with Trump in November. There will be a faction of opinion in the White House happier to see a delay in proceedings against Assange rather than the rapid arrival of another potentially explosive political issue for the Democrats, as the WikiLeaks founder is dragged through the US courts. However, such considerations grant nothing more than a delayand a prolonged detention under intolerable conditions in Belmarsh. Nor are they a guarantee against sections of the US state as happy to trample publicly over Assanges democratic rights as they are the rights of students protesting the slaughter of the Palestinians.

All of which is to say that relying on the legal process alone to free Assange would be disastrous.

If legal and democratic rights had been properly observed and acted upon by the courts, Assange would never have been imprisoned in the first place, either in Belmarsh or in the Ecuadorian embassy. The fact that he was is testimony to the essential function of the capitalist courts as instruments of the ruling class and state policy.

It should be noted here that although the question of free speech is now back under discussion in the UK courts, the issues that remain excluded include threats against Assanges right to lifethat is, the exposed plots for his assassination; the clear political motivation behind his prosecution; and numerous violations of his rights to fair legal treatment.

We can only speculate why this latest ruling has gone in Assanges favour. But we can say two things for certain:

To put it mildly, there is no guarantee that the appeal hearing will find in his favourhowever overwhelming the legal merit of his case. That this next phase of the legal proceedings provides a vital opportunityin terms of time, and by foregrounding the key political issues involved in Assanges persecutionto build a mass movement in his support.

To that task, his supporters in every country on the planet now have to turn their attentions and their most determined energies.

I hope its already partially clear from what Ive said that we are not speaking about a campaign of purely moral pressure to bring out President Bidens better nature.

It is, of course, entirely correct, as Assanges supporters have done, to demand that Biden abandon the persecution of Julian Assange. But such an outcome can only be the result of an overwhelming popular movement, not the pricking of the presidents conscience.

Jeremy Corbyn speaking outside the High Court, London, February 20, 2024

Speaking outside the High Court on Monday, the former leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, told reporters:

My message to President Biden is this: You call yourself a Democrat. You walk in tradition, some of which is a good tradition, of people that stood up. Those that stood up over Watergate, those that stood up against the Vietnam war, those that stood up for the Civil Rights movement. That tradition is, as he knows, alive and well in many parts of the USA. Join that tradition, drop the appeal, free Julian.

The first thing that has to be said is that this is an account of Democratic Party history that will be unrecognisable to the exploited and oppressed in the United States and around the worldits in keeping with his career-long whitewash of the record of the Labour Party in the UK.

But focussing on the perspective it advances for Assanges freedom, to call this naive would be overly generous. In reality, it is pulling the wool over the eyes of Assanges supporters about the struggle they face.

Biden leads an administration that has declared war on the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court for even investigating the charge of genocide in Gaza and seeking arrest warrants for Israeli leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant.

Bidens Secretary of State Antony Blinken has pledged to work with far-right Republican members of Congress to sanction the International Criminal Court for its actions.

And in the United States itself, the Democratic Party is carrying out an unprecedented, brutal crackdown on students peacefully protesting the Gaza genocide. There have now been roughly 3,000 arrests carried out nationwide in a series of violent police raids, not to mention the expulsions, cancelled graduations and so on.

Of course, weve had the same response from Assanges jailors, the government of the United Kingdom.

The persecution of Assange is not some accident or, as many among the official Assange campaign tend to present it, an unfortunate and inexplicable hangover of the Trump presidency; it is part and parcel of this crackdown on democratic rights and opposition to imperialist war.

In fact, as we have argued from the beginning, Assange was targeted to punish the exposure of past crimes in preparation for even bloodier crimes in the future, like those now being carried out by Israel. He is viewed with the same violent hatred as the 150 or so journalists killed in Gaza.

And it is not only Gaza. The imperialist powers are risking unimaginable destruction with their continued escalation of the NATO proxy war against Russia in Ukraine, whose population is being slaughtered on the sacrificial altar of the US drive for regime change in Moscow.

Back in the Middle East, the imperialist powers are ready to leverage Israels genocide into a regional war directed against Iran itself, along with Russia, a stepping stone to the defining conflict of our era between US imperialism and China.

We tried to make this point as clear as possible to readers of the World Socialist Web Site when Assange took his appeal to the High Court this February. We published an article headlined: The fight to free Assange is the fight against war! And in it, we wrote:

The case of Assange embodies the struggle against imperialist war, the authoritarian measures used to suppress anti-war sentiment and the propaganda lies used to justify it all. He was targeted by Washington and London for publishing leaked documents detailing the crimes of the US government and its allies in Afghanistan and Iraq, and their conspiracies with dictatorships around the world. Assange sought to warn the population of the brutality the ruling class was capable of Those warnings are now being daily and horrifically confirmed by the NATO-Russia war in Ukraine, where hundreds of thousands have likely lost their lives, and in the Israeli genocide in Gaza, already responsible for at least 30,000 deaths, mainly women and children. Both are rooted in the drive by the imperialist powers for a new redivision of the globe, its people and its resources, which marks the ever-deeper descent into a third world war. The persecution of Assange, which includes a CIA assassination plot and which has ravaged his health and stolen over a decade of his life already, has been the spearhead of a crackdown on opposition to war, in preparation for the eruption of military violence now underway. It was intended to set a chilling precedent that anyone who gets in the way of the war plans of the imperialist powers will be silenced and destroyed.

That point has to be made very sharply at this point in time. For years now, the policy of the official defence campaign has been to appeal to various figures in the establishment as the liberators of Assange, from presidents to prime ministers, to politicians in various national parliaments, media organisations, and NGOs.

The most criminal form this perspective has taken has been the embrace and elevation of figures who, in an earlier period, contributed to Assanges persecution by maligning him or remaining silent on his treatment. The likes of the Guardian and the New York Times, who published countless vile slanders, and of Jeremy Corbyn, who kept a complicit silence over Assanges plight throughout the entirety of the two general elections he fought as Labour leader.

What all of these people and organisations have in common is a politics premised on imperialisms supposed capacity to see reason and its supposed concern for peace and legal rights. Their professed opposition to Assanges persecution, where it is not purely for the record, is circumscribed by a total opposition to any struggle which seriously threatens the interests and stability of the imperialist states.

And, consequently, the years of leadership by the official campaign have been years in which Assange has been left at the mercy of his captors, his voice silenced and his work through WikiLeaks cut short.

We have argued from the beginning, and we repeat today, that Assanges real liberators are those with the sharpest interest in overturning the imperialist world order and defending democratic rights and with the social power to do so: the international working class and youth. Today, we are not pointing to a purely potential force but a real movement that is underway.

Millions have demonstrated all over the world against the crimes being carried out in Gaza, with the complicity of their own governments. This is an event contributing to a profound radicalisation of wide layers of workers and young people.

As some of you may know, a snap general election was called in Britain this week. We now have an extremely short campaign period, barely more than a month, before the nation goes to the polls on July 4.

The Socialist Equality Party will be fielding candidates, myself included, and we will make the fight for Assanges freedom a centrepiece of our campaign.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak makes his statement from Downing Street, London March 1, 2024 [Photo by Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street / CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak himself trailered his partys election campaign by warning, The world is closer to a dangerous nuclear escalation than at any point since the Cuban missile crisis and indicting an axis of authoritarian states like Russia, Iran, North Korea and China.

In our initial response to his election announcement, we wrote, The fundamental issue facing the working class in this election is war and the offensive against social and democratic rights this demands. Assange is at the heart of those issues; we will make that plain.

In particular, we will wage an offensive against the current leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmerthe overwhelming favourite to win this electionwho played a direct and essential role in Assanges persecution as head of the Crown Prosecution Service during his effective house arrest in the Ecuadorian Embassy.

A final point, hopefully without treading on the toes of the speakers to come, before I finish. We have held eventsin-person and online meetings, rallies, protests, street campaigns and so onin Assanges support for years. And we frequently hear from people who are with us all the way on this issuesee its importance, its urgency, feel something should be donethat nothing can be done because we dont have the power to do so.

Well, the answer is very simple: We need to create that power. And we need to do so by the only means known to human history, which is the organized application of time and effort.

If you are convinced by what you hear todayif you were convinced coming into the meeting, eventhen now is the time to act, to make yourself available. Get in contact with the SEP and the World Socialist Web Site where you are; say, I want to do my bit for Assange. I want to be part of the campaign. And we can discuss with you how best you can contribute, in collaboration with ourselves and others.

However the legal case now develops, more than five years in a maximum-security prison, twelve years deprived of his liberty, is outrage enough to make freeing Julian Assange our urgent responsibility and it is only made more so by the conditions of worsening war and escalating geopolitical conflict with which his persecution is inextricably intertwined.
On Saturday, the World Socialist Web Site hosted an online public meeting where workers around the country spoke out in support of the protests and called for action by the working class to end the war. Many made powerful contributions connecting the fight against war with the attacks on jobs and working conditions at home.

A particularly powerful contribution was made by Clare, a teacher formerly from Alabama, who connected the war policies with the reopening of schools during the height of the pandemic. The WSWS is publishing portions of her remarks below, edited for clarity and length.

Im an educator. Ive tried for years, especially during what we went through with COVID, to get teachers out of the mystification of believing that you cant strike

What they did to us during COVID, making us come back early, ignoring all health concernswhen they made us come back, they gave us maybe a months worth of cleaning supplies and that was it. No training, no help. No plan of action for what happens if this happens

They literally let teachers die. Left and right. In my own city we had eight teachers die. Four back to back, within a span of 48 hours. It wasnt until the 8th teacher died that they let us go home

As the working class we need to understand they dont care about our lives. They dont even care about the law. The Constitution means nothing to them. Randi Weingarten [American Federation of Teachers president]she goes to Israel back and forth from money that is paying her salary to take care of schools.

And yet we have dilapidated, decrepit school buildings that should be shut down all over the country. But shes using her money for travel overseas for nothing that has to do with education. And they wanna tell us what we can or cannot strike about?

Those students who were protesting at universities, they were peaceful. They didnt fight or cause any problems. They sent the police to aggressively arrest them. They will arrest you for disorderly conduct. And youre no longer protected in your strike. Thats complete lies.

They keep us uneducated. They create another law to deny us our rights.

We stand with every strike. The media calls it antisemitic. Were not antisemitic, were anti-war. Theres a big difference. Im not anti-Israel, Im pro-Palestine. Theres Israelis saying now that we dont want this. Theres survivors of the Holocaust who said stop. But thats not whos being listened to. The media is just paid along to continue to write the narrative the way they want to. So business can continue to keep us under their control.

But were the working class. They cannot have control if we dont let them have it. And if we dont let them have it, thats our power. People dont realize the power we have. History has shown us what our power is.

Im a member of the Socialist Equality PartyWere standing to demand Free Bogdan Syrotiuk [an anti-war socialist imprisoned by the Ukrainian government]. Theres a statement I made [on the petition to demand his freedom] I just wanted to read quickly.

Teachers in the US need to realize that the system is feeding the war in Ukraine the same way that it is making it impossible to live here. Money that will be used to resolve education and budget cuts is being directed to war. Funding that we should be receiving for better schools, better pay, a better economy is being diverted.

When we stand with Bogdan we are standing for ourselves too. Theyre holding him in prison for crimes that are not real. He was just reporting on what they saw. Just like our students here are processing what they are seeing in Gaza. And the rights of our students are being violated.

We have to learn that its our right not only to strike. We have a right to strike when our rights are being violated or anywhere else. If we stand together as a working class, they cant stop us.

They cant fire us all. If nobody comes to work, theres nobody to run the school. If nobody comes to the auto factories, nobody can build the cars. And I feel for nurses and doctors. But we have to take a stand, they cant do anything. We have to learn what our power is. We have to stand together. Its not about our different industries, or even other countries. We all have to stand together to protest the capitalist system.
US President Joe Biden has approved the firing of US missiles into Russia by the far-right Ukrainian regime, while French President Emmanuel Macron could announce the deployment of military trainers to the country as early as next week.

These developments underscore how the American and European imperialist powers are recklessly escalating the war with nuclear-armed Russia towards a global conflagration, which can be halted only through the political mobilization of the international working class.

A US Army soldier prepares the crane for loading the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) on to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) in Queensland, Australia, July 26, 2023. [AP Photo/Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Dickson]

The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use US weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv, according to a US official. This revelation followed Mondays meeting of NATOs Parliamentary Assembly in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia at which the military alliance committed to inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia in Ukraine. These developments make clear that the leaders of American imperialism are rapidly escalating the war with Russia, a nuclear-armed state.

The apparent premise of Biden and his advisers is that Putin will not retaliate, and therefore they are free to attack Russia. This is an extraordinarily reckless assumption, all the more so because it all but compels Putin to prove them wrong. Moreover, Putin may just as well assume that NATO will not react to an attack by immediately resorting to nuclear weapons. Of course, Putin thereby places pressure on NATO to prove him wrong.

This is how the escalation to nuclear war proceeds. Each side is compelled to prove that the strategic calculations of its adversaries are wrong. They are placing themselves in a trap from which they cannot escape.

The European imperialists are major players in the escalating war. Germany, which has supplied more weaponry to Ukraine than any other country apart from the United States, announced a further 500 million in military equipment for Kiev Thursday. An anonymous diplomat speaking to Reuters about Macrons impending decision to send troops to Ukraine commented, The arrangements are very advanced, and we could expect something next week.

The imperialists are staking everything on war to achieve their global ambitions in trying to find a way out of their intractable domestic social and political crises. They have demonstrated the lengths to which they are prepared to go with their complicity in Israels genocide of the Palestinians.

As David North, chairman of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site, wrote on X, The Biden administration, having decided to authorize direct attacks on Russia, is all but daring and double daring Putin to strike back against NATO. It is likely that he will, and then it is only a matter of time before the conflict escalates to the use of nuclear weapons.

North observed that the mood of total recklessness in Washington and Europes capitals is driven by the delusional belief that Putins reactionary nationalist regime will not retaliate if it is attacked by NATO. This is the latest in a series of disastrous miscalculations by Biden, German Chancellor Scholz, Macron and British Prime Minister Sunak since the outbreak of the war.

The sanctions adopted against Russia at the wars outset were supposed to bring about the collapse of its economy, but they did not. The great Ukrainian counter-offensive, touted by the Western media as a turning point in the war, was a debacle. It made a major contribution to the estimated 500,000 Ukrainian lives sacrificed as cannon fodder by the imperialist powers.

Bret Stephens, who just this week wrote a New York Times column arguing that leaders are canonized if they achieve morally compromised victories in wars by removing all limits on their actions, wrote last year that the Ukrainian counter-offensive would be the end game for Russia, inflicting a crushing and unmistakable defeat.

The broad consensus for unbridled aggression and brutality in the war with Russia signifies a ruling class that has lost its head.

During the Cold War, American imperialism recognised certain limits on its actions to avoid triggering nuclear armageddon. Gen. Douglas McArthur was fired during the Korean War for advocating the use of a nuclear bomb against Chinese troops. During the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, the desire of top military commanders to bomb Cuba was sidelined. But now, confronted with intersecting domestic and global crises for which it has no progressive answers, the capitalist class has decided to adopt a course that leads to all-out war.

Posing the decisive question, North continued, Now comes the greatest and most catastrophic miscalculation of all: that NATO can launch attacks on Russian territory without being subjected to counterattacks. How will Biden, Scholz, Macron, Sunak or Starmer respond when they are proven wrong?

None of the imperialist leaders in North America or Europe feel any obligation to tell the population how many more lives they are prepared to sacrifice for Wall Street, and the stock exchanges in Frankfurt, Paris, and London. In an extraordinary passage in a New York Times article published prior to Bidens decision, David Sanger wrote:

But if Mr. Biden reverses course, officials concede he most likely will never announce it: Instead, American artillery shells and missiles will just start landing on Russian military targets.

The madness of the imperialists policy has very definite objective roots. Flowing from the historic bankruptcy of world capitalism, which is riven by contradictions for which the ruling elites have no solution, they are compelled to massively escalate the war with Russia as part of a global redivision of the world. In the 20th century, the imperialist madmen of the First and Second World Wars plunged humanity into unprecedented barbarism in a bid to overcome the conflict between the national economic and geostrategic interests of the ruling class of each country and the global character of economic life.

The same class interests that produced millions of dead in the trenches on the Western Front and the Nazis gas chambers during the Holocaust are today impelling the imperialist powers to risk the very survival of humanity in a nuclear conflict for the sake of their predatory global ambitions. These interests are subjugating Russia to the status of a semi-colony in order to plunder its natural resources, backing Israels final solution of the Palestinian question as part of preparations for a war against Iran, and setting the stage for war with China for control over the Eurasian landmass.

The relentless escalation of the imperialist war against Russia must be averted through the fight for the independent political mobilisation of the working class against war and the capitalist profit system that produces it.

As the World Socialist Web Site wrote at the beginning of the year:

The prospects for humanity would be bleak were it not for the historically verified fact that the contradictions that drive capitalism to destruction also set into motion the conditions for its overthrow and the reorganization of society on a new and progressive, i.e., socialist, foundation. The potential for this reorganization is rooted in the objective being of the working class. The class struggle is the means by which the objective possibility of socialist reorganization is realized in practice.

The correctness of this analysis has been demonstrated by the rapid growth of opposition to the Gaza genocide, including the ongoing strike by academic workers at the University of California to protest the police crackdown on anti-genocide protesters.

The urgent political task facing workers internationally is to fuse their struggles against capitalist austerity measures and attacks on their jobs, wages and conditions to pay for war with the burgeoning anti-war protests on university campuses and beyond.

It is the working class, which produces all of societys wealth, that can and must stop the imperialist war machine in its tracks by shutting down arms production and unifying workers in all countries, including Russia and Ukraine, in a political struggle for the socialist transformation of society.

Everything now depends on building the International Committee of the Fourth International, the revolutionary socialist political leadership fighting to develop the growth of social opposition in the working class into a conscious movement for socialism.
Former President Donald Trump walks outside of the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York after a jury convicted him of felony crimes for falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election, on Thursday, May 30, 2024. [AP Photo/Steven Hirsch]

Late Thursday afternoon, a jury in New York City found former President Donald J. Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in relation to a six-figure payment he made to an adult film actress ahead of the 2016 election. After deliberations began on Tuesday, it took the jurors less than 10 hours to reach their unanimous decision on all counts.

Thursdays conviction marks the first time in US history a former president has been found guilty of a felony. It will intensify the ongoing crisis of the American political system. Barely five months before the November election, it is unclear if either Trump, now a convicted felon, or President Biden, an increasingly senile and hated war criminal, will actually be on the ballot.

While Trump was found guilty of all 34 charges and each charge carries with it a maximum sentence of four years, there is no guarantee that Judge Merchan will sentence Trump to any prison time. He set sentencing for July 11, just four days before the Republican National Convention is to be held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. No matter what sentence is handed down, Trump will exhaust every opportunity to appeal.

Following his conviction, Trump gave a brief fascistic statement outside the courtroom. He fumed against the rigged trial orchestrated by the Soros-backed DA Alvin Bragg (a reference to Hungarian American billionaire George Soros, who is Jewish and a financial supporter of the Democratic Party) and corrupted judge Juan Merchan. As he does in every campaign speech, Trump attacked immigrants and accused Biden of allowing millions to pour into our country from prisons and mental institutions.

In a written statement released by Trump, the ex-president complained, They wouldnt give us a venue change and said the real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people. Repeating his antisemitic slur, Trump wrote, And they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here. You have a Soros-backed DA and the whole thing, we didnt do a thing wrong.

Several leading Republicans released statements after the verdict backing their embattled would-be Fuhrer. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson called the trial a purely political exercise, not a legal one and, mimicking Trump, bemoaned the weaponization of our justice system.

Georgia Republican Rep. Mike Collins tweeted that it was Time for Red State AGs [attorney generals] and DAs [district attorneys] to get busy, i.e., to retaliate by prosecuting Democrats. Fellow Georgia Representative and QAnon fascist Marjorie Taylor Greene retweeted an anti-immigrant statement from former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that read, in part, Import the Third World, become the Third World.  Anyone who defends this verdict is a danger to you and your family.

While there is no question that Trump is a criminal, the charges he was found guilty of pale in comparison to his real crimes against the international working class, above all, the January 6, 2021 fascistic coup.

The current commander-in-chief is commonly referred to around the world as Genocide Joe Biden due to his unstinting political, economic and military support for Israels genocide in Gaza, which has killed more than 45,000 and injured more than 80,000.

In a statement issued after the conviction, Socialist Equality Party candidate for US president Joseph Kishore called the jurys decision appropriate, and added:

Many will welcome this verdict as the long overdue blow to a political monster, who has gotten what he deserved. But it would be a mistake to take the symptom, Trump, for the cause of the crisis of American democracy. The very fact that a fascist like Trump could rise to the top of American politics expresses a profound degradation of democratic forms of rule, which have been hollowed out by decades of unending war and ever-rising social inequality. Even if Trump were to be removed as a candidate for president as a result of his conviction, whoever followed him in the Republican Party would be someone no less reactionary.

Kishore continued:

There can no longer be any lesser of two evils argument. The Democrats and Republicans represent the corporate and financial oligarchy, which is careening towards dictatorship. While Trump attempted to overthrow the Constitution on January 6, 2021, Biden is sanctioning and supporting mass murder in Gaza and rushing headlong toward nuclear war with Russia, while carrying out an unprecedented crackdown against peaceful student protesters on college campuses across the US.

Among workers and youth, there is broad dissatisfaction with both political parties and the entire socio-economic system. In a recent poll conducted among young registered voters (aged 18-30) by Blueprint and reported by Semafor, 51 percent of respondents agreed that the political system in the US doesnt work for people like me.

The poll found a whopping 65 percent agreed either strongly or somewhat that nearly all politicians are corrupt, and make money from their political power,only 7% disagreed.

The guilty verdict comes amidst a massive eruption of US imperialist violence abroad. The Israeli military, backed by the US government, continues its ethnic cleansing campaign in Gaza.

On Thursday, US military officials confirmed that US and British fighter jets carried out airstrikes in Yemen, including in the capital, Sanaa. The Associated Press reported that this is at least the fifth joint operation by the US and British militaries in Yemen since January 12.

It is unclear how many people were killed in the latest military strikes. Also on Thursday, multiple news outlets confirmed that Biden has given Ukraine the green light to strike targets, including cities, inside Russia with US-supplied weapons, greatly exacerbating the danger of nuclear war.
New York Universitys Ronald O. Perelman Center for Emergency Services [Photo by Flickr user Eden, Janine and Jim / CC BY 4.0

NYU Langone Health in New York recently fired Hesen Jabr, a labor and delivery nurse, for publicly calling Israels ongoing mass murder of Palestinians in Gaza a genocide. Jabr, a Palestinian-American, made her remarks while accepting an award for the outstanding care that she has provided. Her abrupt termination is the latest attack not only on the right to free speech, but also on mass opposition to the genocide among healthcare workers and the working class more broadly.

Jabr had worked at NYU Langone since 2015. Earlier in May, she received an award reserved for, in the hospitals words, a nurse who exemplifies what it means to provide compassionate care to patients and their families during perinatal bereavement. In the speech that she gave to accept the award, Jabr connected her work in the United States with the grief experienced by thousands of mothers in Gaza whose children have been killed.

It pains me to see the women from my country going through unimaginable losses themselves during the current genocide in Gaza, said Jabr, according to footage that she posted on Instagram. This award is deeply personal to me for those reasons. Even though I cant hold their hands and comfort them as they grieve their unborn children and the children they have lost during this genocide, I hope to keep making them proud as I keep representing them here at NYU. The workers in attendance applauded Jabrs speech.

Jabrs use of the term genocide is entirely justified. During the week of Jabrs speech, the International Court of Justice invoked the 1948 Genocide Convention and issued an emergency order for Israel to 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. This ruling arose during proceedings against Israel under the Genocide Convention that South Africa initiated in December 2023.

As of May 30, Israel had killed 36,224 people and wounded 81,777 others since October 7, according to the Gaza health ministry. These figures are likely to be underestimates. Moreover, about 80 percent of Gazans (a population of 2.3 million) have been displaced by the onslaught. Parts of the territory are experiencing famine, according to United Nations officials.

After the award ceremony, Jabr returned to work on May 22. As soon as I walked into the unit, I was dragged into an impromptu meeting with the president and vice president of nursing at NYU Langone to discuss how I put others at risk and ruined the ceremony and offended people because a small part of my speech was a tribute towards the grieving mothers in my country, she wrote on Instagram. I was sent back to work my shift while the hospital spent the day figuring out what to do with me. After working almost the entire shift, I was dragged once again to an office where I was read my termination letter by the director of human resources, Austin Bender, and escorted off the premises by a plainclothes police officer.

As of this writing, Jabrs Instagram post has received nearly 2,400 likes. Mothers who lost their babies and healthcare workers who have faced similar retaliation for voicing support for the Palestinians commented on the post with words of appreciation and encouragement.

In a threadbare attempt to justify the firing, Steve Ritea, a spokesperson for NYU Langone, told the New York Times that Jabr had been involved in a previous incident as well. He did not describe the alleged incident, much less attempt to reconcile this with the hospitals decision to give her an award for ouststanding service. In reality, this incident was an earlier use by Jabr of her First Amendment right to free speech. She had been warned in December not to bring her views on this divisive and charged issue into the workplace.

In practice, this means that NYU Langone, which bears the name of billionaire and Republican Party donor Kenneth Langone, will only tolerate expressions of support for the Zionist state.

Jabr is not the first worker that NYU Langone has fired for supporting Palestinians and opposing Israels genocide. Last fall, the administration removed Dr. Zaki Masoud from service at a Long Island, New York, hospital after he posted a comment in support of Palestinian resistance on Instagram. More than 100,000 people signed a petition to protest the termination, and Masoud was quietly reinstated.

Jabrs courageous statement reflects growing international opposition to the genocide. Protests and rallies have been held at colleges and universities throughout the United States. Earlier this month, about 250,000 people in London marched against the genocide. Large protests also occurred at the Eurovision song contest in Malmo, Sweden.

The ruling class is openly defying this mass opposition. White House National Security spokesman John Kirby brazenly stated that President Joe Biden does not make decisions or execute policy based on public opinion polling. These scornful words are being coupled with violent police repression. In the past two months, almost 3,000 Americans have been arrested for demonstrating against the genocide.

The most significant response to this police repression has been the strike of academic workers at the University of California (UC) system. About 48,000 workers at the system, who are members of the United Auto Workers (UAW), voted to strike against the police crackdown on anti-genocide protesters. This action marks the initiation of an explicitly political struggle by a section of the working class.

The UAW, however, opposes this strike and is sparing no effort to sabotage it. It held the strike vote only due to intense pressure from the workers. First, the UAW leadership delayed the strike, then it limited it to UC Santa Cruz. Workers anger forced the UAW to expand the strike to UC Los Angeles and UC Davis. Nevertheless, the union leadership is negotiating an agreement with the UC administration that will end the strike without stopping the genocide or addressing workers demands. In fact, the UAW has already abandoned the workers call for the removal of police from the campuses.

The UAW leadership, like the bureaucrats at the heads of the other trade unions, are enforcing the demands of the Democratic Party, which is united with the Republicans in support of the genocide. Both capitalist parties falsely label the protests as anti-Semitic, and both favor the suppression of the protests with batons and tear gas.

As important as the student protests have been, the working class, including healthcare workers like Jabr, must emerge as the leading force in the fight against the genocide and in defense of democratic rights. Workers can only wage this fight by establishing their independence from both warmongering capitalist parties and the trade unions that serve them. The first step will be for workers to form rank-and-file committees at every workplace. The fight to end the genocide is a political struggle that ultimately must aim to overthrow the capitalist system, which is the root cause of war and exploitation.
Detroit police attacked a protest encampment at Wayne State University in the early hours of Thursday morning, detaining 12 people. Five people were released from jail early Thursday evening, while the remaining seven were issued trespassing citations.

The move is the latest in the ongoing and savage crackdown on student protests against the US-backed genocide in Gaza. The encampment was formed on the previous Thursday night and continued despite an order to disperse earlier this week by campus administration.

On Thursday morning, riot cops encircled the demonstration, which included 200 people at its peak, preventing protesters from leaving, then moved in to break it up, according to the Detroit Free Press. One student who spoke with the newspaper said that police appeared to be deliberately targeting women in the encampment. Police also used pepper spray against the demonstrators. A video posted to Instagram also showed a cop attacking a leader of the campus chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine with a baton.

Later that afternoon, at least 100 demonstrators gathered outside of the local jail where the five students were being held.

The World Socialist Web Site denounces these arrests and demands the immediate dropping of all charges against demonstrators. This includes not only any legal charges but any and all discipline by the university against either individuals and groups involved in the encampment, such as Students for Justice in Palestine.

The WSWS urges autoworkers throughout Detroit and the wider region to come to the defense of students, both at Wayne State and around the country. Autoworkers should form rank-and-file defense committees, linking up with other sections of the working class to prepare actions against the war and in defense of the right to free speech.

The crackdown will not stop at the students, but also be used to attack autoworkers opposing mass layoffs in the auto industry.

Socialist Equality Party vice presidential candidate Jerry White issued a statement denouncing the attack on the encampment. This was organized at the highest levels, starting with the Biden administration, [Michigan] Governor Whitmer, and the Democratic mayor of Detroit, Mike Duggan.

The WSWS spoke with several autoworkers about the attack on student. They are looking at stopping these protests before they even get started, one Detroit autoworker said. I think people have the right to speak out. They are US citizens. A lot of it is discrimination.

The fine print is that there are certain protests they dont want to have  I have seen many protests over the years that they didnt try to stop. For some reason now they are fearful something is going to happen.

The US only feeds who they want to feed, he concluded. They pick and choose based on who they are going to make a profit out of.

The assault took place during an ongoing anti-genocide strike by thousands of academic workers, who are also members of the United Auto Workers, at the University of California system. This is a major development because it poses the need for the working class, using the methods of the class struggle, to emerge as the basic political force against war and dictatorship.

This question is posed even more sharply by the fact that the attack on the right to protest has now spread to a university located in the heart of US auto industry. A commuter school with nearly 24,000 students, Wayne States student body includes not only many children of autoworkers, but even students with jobs in the factories. The university also has nearly 3,000 Asian students, mostly from the metro areas large Middle Eastern and South Asian communities.

But responsibility for the attack also lies with the UAW bureaucracy. While claiming to support a ceasefire, the bureaucracy supports Genocide Joe and even threw out protesters from their own conference earlier this year where Biden personally accepted the UAWs endorsement.

The UAW is deliberately isolating the UC strike to three out of 10 campuses, in defiance of the will of 48,000 academic workers to strike across the entire system. The apparatus has also done nothing to even inform workers in Detroit about the strike. Autoworkers are finding out about the UC strike primarily through the efforts of the World Socialist Web Site.

A section of the strike of academic workers at UC Davis.

A few weeks of university students withholding labor at a few campuses will not be enough to get University of California to disclose and divest, one engineering graduate student at UC Davis said. The UAW needs to escalate. More campuses need to strike and more workers need to stand in solidarity. Classes and research dont represent enough profit to UC to get the administration to yield. Shipments to UC need to stop. Construction needs to stop. All UC campuses should be fully shut down.

An auto worker at Stellantis Detroit Assembly Complex told the WSWS:

They acted as though the students were armed and dangerous. Young people have the right to protest. Its scary to see the government bully them. They want to frighten people, make them think that if they speak out they will end up in jail or lose their lives. Im against these wars and the government putting all this money into them when we need the resources here. These wars are not in our interests. I remember the war in Iraq, where all the politicians pushing for the war had some connections to the oil or the defense industry. It was just plain thievery to get the oil in Iraq. This is personal for me because my son is in the military. I dont want him fighting or dying for these corporations. Now, Biden wants Ukraine to fire US weapons into Russia, even though Putin says that means war. The University of California workers are doing the right thing, and all UAW members should support them. But we havent even heard about the strike because the UAW isnt telling us about it. I would tell the UC strikers: It is best that that they all walk out together instead of this phony stand up strike business. [UAW President Shawn] Fain did that to us last year. Instead of us all going out, only a handful of plants went on strike, and it didnt change what the companies were offering. The rest of us were kept on the job working 12-hour days and mandatory Saturdays. Beware you are not used as pawns like we were.

A representative of the Wayne State chapter of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, the youth movement of the Socialist Equality Party which publishes the WSWS, denounced the attack.

The raid by Wayne County and Detroit police  on the encampment is an affront to any notion of free speech. This only shows the steps taken by Biden and university presidents to silence anyone from speaking out against the genocide. As one of my IYSSE comrades has pointed out, from day one the administration demeaned the encampment as having legal, health and safety, and operational challenges towards the community.  more recently, the administration shifted the school to remote operations because of public safety concerns. In reality, there had been no violence until the police raided the encampment These actions by Wayne State are not unique; similar attacks have been taking place at schools throughout the US and the world. Politicians like Genocide Joe allow and support this genocide while suppressing opposition. They are not accountable to the democratic will of the people or international law. They will do whatever is in the interest of the billionaires, the capitalists, the people who run everything from weapons manufacturing to universities. That is why the US has continued to support Israel, no matter what.

The genocide cannot be stopped by students alone. The working class must get involved. But action has been stifled by the bureaucracy of unions like the UAW. Working on behalf of Biden, they have limited the walkout at the University of California system to only a few thousand people out of nearly 50,000.

But the overwhelming opposition to the war is only partly revealed by the encampments. The same sentiment exists in the working class all over the world. Workers have the power to stop the genocide completely. They are the ones who ship the supplies, make the weaponry, and who are ultimately sent to fight in the wars. They are the ones who can stop it.
A well-attended online public meeting, titled Oppose imperialist war, organised by the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) in Sri Lanka last week denounced the imprisonment of Ukrainian Trotskyist Bogdan Syrotiuk and unanimously passed a resolution demanding his immediate release.

Held on May 23, the event was attended by workers, students and youth from across the island, along with supporters from India.

Statements by an academic, a senior journalist and several prominent artists in Sri Lanka condemning the frame-up of Syrotiuk have been published this week.

Bogdan Syrotiuk, April 2023

The online meetings resolution published below was in response to the global Free Bogdan campaign initiated by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI) and the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS):

Twenty-five-year-old Bogdan Syrotiuk, a leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL), which is active in Russia, Ukraine and other countries in the former Soviet Union, has been imprisoned in a maximum-security prison in Nikolaev in southern Ukraine, after being arrested by the SBU, the state security service of the fascistic Ukrainian regime of President Zelensky. He is accused of treason and faces the prospect of a lifetime prison term, which is akin to capital punishment.

The SBU charges are directed not only against Bogdan but all left-wing and socialist opponents of the Zelensky regime, and the International Committee of the Fourth International and the WSWS in particular.

The SBU, which denounces the WSWS as an organ of an anti-Ukraine information war operated by Russia, accuses Bogdan of engaging in preparation of statements authorised by WSWS representatives, which is a propaganda and information agency of Russia.

Countering the SBUs bogus accusations, David North, Chairperson of the International Editorial Board of the WSWS, summarises the principled history of the International Committee in a perspective published on May 17, 2024:

The ICFIs opposition to the US-NATO war in Ukraine is an essential element of its political program, deeply rooted in the socialist and internationalist principles of the Trotskyist movement. The attempt of the Ukrainian regime to portray this opposition as an instrument of Putins propaganda network is as viciously mendacious as it is politically absurd. The intransigent opposition of the International Committee of the Fourth International to the Putin regimewhich emerged as a consequence of the Stalinist bureaucracys final betrayal of socialism and the restoration of capitalism in the former USSRis a fundamental political fact that is substantiated not only in written texts numbering in the hundreds, but also in the exhaustively documented activity of the Trotskyist movement spanning decades.

We, the participants of todays meeting titled Oppose imperialist war, organised by the Socialist Equality Party and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, fully endorse these facts.

We also completely reject the SBUs claim that the YGBL is an agent of the Putin regime. Countless articles published by the YGBL make clear that it has taken a consistent proletarian internationalist standpoint against the Putin government.



The YGBL statement entitled For the organization of an international movement of workers and young people against war! published on the WSWS on October 12, 2022, has powerfully explained its position:

The reactionary regime of Vladimir Putin emerged from the treacherous dissolution of the Soviet Union by the Stalinist bureaucracy and the restoration of capitalism. The policies of Putin, in the final analysis, are aimed at safeguarding the wealth of the post-Soviet oligarchy against the pressure of Western imperialism from above and, even more critically, against the movement of the Russian working class from below.

Contrary to the SBU charges, Bogdan and the YGBL fight for the mobilisation of the international working class on an international socialist program. They fight in particular to build a Ukraine-Russia Socialist Republic as part of a World Socialist Federation, by uniting the working class in Ukraine and Russia against the Zelensky and the Putin regimes.

The real dynamic of the show trial against Bogdan is the fear of the Zelensky regime that the perspective of the Trotskyist YGBL and the ICFI will find an expression in the enormous popular opposition developing against its policies that have led to the deaths of 500,000 Ukrainians and untold suffering for the Ukrainian people.

From the imperialist centres to the countries in South Asia, where we live, capitalist governments subject those who oppose and reveal their crimes to state terror. These governments have accelerated the attacks on basic democratic rights, mainly freedom of thought and expression, to levels not seen since World War II.

Only the international working class, armed with the program of world socialist revolution, can end the war and the attacks on social and democratic rights.

In the perspective cited above, David North states, The fight for Bogdans freedom must be taken up by workers, students and all those who are committed to the defense of democratic rights and opposed to the escalation of imperialist wars that, unless stopped, threaten humanity with a nuclear catastrophe.

We pledge to take up this responsibility. Thus, we express our complete support for the global campaign initiated by the ICFI to demand the immediate release of Bogdan Syrotiuk from prison and the withdrawal of the political frame-up against him!
Andree Goldberg, the woman at the center of a viral confrontation with Kylie Kelce, the wife of retired Philadelphia Eagles' great Jason Kelce, has issued a public apology for the tirade at the Jersey shore captured on video Memorial Day weekend when the couple declined a photo with her.

Goldberg, who owns a Main Line choolate shop, issued the statement to various news outlets.

"In a heated moment, I said things that were out of character for me and that I regret and for that, I am sorry. Although I apologized directly to the Kelce family on Saturday, I want to publicly apologize to them, and our community," read Goldberg's apology. "My anger, and my actions, are not who I am, and certainly not indicative of the welcoming community of Margate. As an adult and proud member of my community, I should have recognized and respected their right to privacy from the onset.

"I am deeply appreciative of the grace and understanding shown to me by the Kelces and wish them nothing but the best."

Kylie Kelce video from Margate goes viral

Published reports indicate the confrontation occurred at Steve & Cookies Restaurant and Oyster Bar in Margate City at around 5 p.m. Saturday, May 25, and the situation escalated after the Kelces initially politely declined a photo-op request on their way into the popular spot.

The brief confrontation, captured on video and pushed to social media by the Word to the Wise podcast, shows Kylie going eyeball-to-eyeball with the shouting photo seeker, now identified as Goldberg, before being led away reportedly by her father.

Kylie Kelce confronted by angry woman: Video shows Kylie Kelce shouting fight with aggressive photo seeker at Jersey shore

The Word to the Wise podcast also posted the video to its Instagram account.

Although some of the confrontation is muffled, Goldberg can be heard yelling something to the effect of not caring who the Kelces were and they were never going to be allowed "in this town." The Kelces are said to have a house at the shore and are regulars there.

Kylie, who at this point is towering a bit over the screaming Goldberg, puts down a perfect pancake block.

"You have alcohol on your breath," Kylie can be heard saying, rather coolly, on the video. "You're embarrassing yourself."

Retired Eagles great Jason Kelce with his wife, Kylie. The woman who confronted Kylie Kelce in Margate over Memorial Day Weekend has since issued a pubic apology.

Margate mayor also apologies to Jason and Kylie Kelce, offers make-up meal

In response to the gone-viral confrontation, Margate Mayor Michael Collins issued a formal apology to the couple with the offer of a redo  on him.

Margate Mayor apologizes to the Kelces: Dinner on me: Margate mayor apologizes to Jason and Kylie Kelce after shore skirmish

Collins made the public apology via a post on Margate City's official Facebook page.

"On behalf of the city of Margate, I'd like to formally apologize to Jason and Kyle Kelce for the experience they had in Margate City over the holiday weekend," read Collins' apology and offer. "As a father with young children, I know as well as anyone the importance of a date night with your wife and would like to offer a redo date night with dinner on me."

Damon C. Williams covers trending and regional developments for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Kylie Kelce gets apology from Andree Goldberg after Margate viral video


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Before she could write her new work of fiction, This Strange Eventful History, Claire Messud had to wait for people to die.

Thats because the acclaimed novelist wanted to tell her familys story, but not while her grandparents, aunt, or parents were still alive. There wasnt ever really any question in my mind of writing a nonfiction book [instead], Messud says via Zoom from her home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. And since this is a novel, theres a certain amount that is just full-on fictionalized. She continues, Theres always the question that to write about anything that comes close to ones life and to the people in ones life is a betrayal. If my parents were alive, I would never have written, could never have written this book.

Now that This Strange Eventful History is on shelves, the author of The Woman Upstairs believes she was right to wait. I couldnt see my parents or grandparents clearly when I was bound up in the complexities of familial relations with them, she says. After their deaths, I was able to reach a point where I have huge compassion for all of themcompassion and love and tenderness.

Although the book isnt exactly autofiction, This Strange Eventful History evokes much of Messuds own family history. Observing the imperialism, global conflict, emigration, corporate greed, and art that influenced her own ancestors, she then transmitted those themes to a fictional family, one whose beginnings in French colonial Algeria lead to endings (and then more beginnings) in North America.

Set across seven decades, from 1940 to 2010, the novel introduces readers to characters inspired by her close relatives: Messuds father was a pied noir, a European descendant brought up in French colonial Algeria, and her mother a Canadian, while Messud herself was born in the U.S. In History, protagonists Gaston and Lucienne Cassar are also pieds noirs, who meet and fall in love in the city of Tlemcen in 1928. They raise their children, Francois and Denise, to believe in both their undying love and in Roman Catholicism, but as the Second World War strikes, the kids are left in the care of family members back in Algeria. Francois eventually attends college and graduate school in the United States, marrying the Canadian Barbarafrom whom he could not be more differentand fathering two daughters, Chloe and Loulou. Ultimately, it is Chloe who becomes convinced that chronicling her family members stories is the only way to provide them with the closure they need. (Chloe, no surprise, bears some resemblance to Messud herself.)

Shop Now This Strange Eventful History by Claire Messud bookshop.org $27.89 W. W. Norton & Company

The author says she originally wanted to write This Strange Eventful History as four separate, but connected, novels: My husband [James Wood, books critic for The New Yorker] laughed at me, and then my editor [Jill Bialosky, executive editor at W. W. Norton] laughed at me, so I couldnt do that. It then became all about figuring out how to capture the sweep of time and how everything shifts over time.

Part of what shifts for the Cassar family isnt only time but also geography. As a French naval attache, Gaston must serve during and after World War II, leaving his wife, Lucienne, and their children, Francois and Denise, to bounce between Algeria, Lebanon, and France.

This ever-shifting reality made Messud think closely about the ethics of family-rearing in times of conflict. I remember, while growing up, hearing about World War II all the time and everyone was like, Okay, there were the bad guys and these were the good guys, she says. But while some parts of that were very clear, others were less so. Whatever strange place you found yourself in June 1945 could mean, What should I do? Wheres my wife? Wheres my children? How can I find my family? Even if you were considering the greater good, you also were thinking about personal concerns.

For Gastons son Francois, as well as for Messuds real-life father, personal concerns about family were part of the choice to immigrate to North America. Like Francois, [my father] wanted his children to be North American; we were in Canada, Messud says. He wanted us to be in the new country. Also like Francois, Messuds father wanted his children to be free of his familys devout Roman Catholicism, which Messuds grandfatherlike Gastonconsidered the foundation of everything: When communicating by telegram, my grandfather would add the line, Keep faith in Him, an extra expense, but part of what he considered the greater good.

Although the Cassar family patriarchs drive much of the books action, Messud found it especially important to explore the motivations of the Cassar womenand, particularly, of Francoiss sister, Denise, inspired by Messuds own aunt. In the book, Denisea fragile and sickly childgrows up and trains as a lawyer, living her entire life as a single woman without children. The lives of all the women in this book are complicated, Messud says. I could totally understand, growing up, the frustrations that my mother faced, but I dont think I understood, or even still understand, the frustrations that my aunt had. Her internalized culture was so different from mine. She was brought up to believe, as a devout Catholic, that marrying and having children was a womans role on earth. And she did not want to do that.

At one point in This Strange Eventful History, Denise thinks: Why must she be herself? Why was it so unacceptable to be herself? Of this dilemma, Messud says, Theres a line at the end of Magda Szabos novel The Door: Its very difficult to be a woman alone for whom nobody will make a place in the world. I feel I failed my aunt while she was still alive by trying to impose my idea of how her later life should unfold, rather than just really listening, and trying to support her in her wishes.

Similarly, in History, Chloe struggles with her responsibility to her aunt: After Gastons funeral, shes asked to stay and care for Denise, andas Messud puts itsort of thinks, Do I have to? Why do I have to? And I was that person. I was not as gracious as I would wish. It was ultimately Messuds own family archives that helped her have compassion for her younger self, and to better understand the relatives whod inspire her characters. These archives consisted of photos and certificates; letters between her grandparents, parents, and extended family members; and a nearly 500-page memoir by her grandfather, which he titled Everything That We Believe In.

Reading these words directly from the source, Messud says, from people whose real-life voices were so known to memy mother, in particular, was a wonderful letter writerallowed me to see aspects of their personalities I didnt know. In her role as novelist, she feels, the accretion of time and experience. I feel my job is to create an absence of myself, to convey people as they are, not as other people want them to be. That was part of the learning trajectory of this book: to get myself out of the way. I think I used this metaphor 20 years ago, but its still true for me. As a writer, youre a safecracker. Youre listening for the click when things fall into place.

One of those things that clicked for Messud was how identity connects to place. The pieds-noirs of Algeria existed because France had colonized the country. They grew to nearly one million in population, but when they exercised rights pertaining to French citizenship, or relocated in France, they were often subject to great racism and prejudice. I feel as though in the beginning of this century we cant just put it all behind us, Messud says. In our own country, questions of identity, racism, and enslavement are not far behind us.

Both Gaston and Francois, in their professional livesGaston as a naval officer and bureaucrat, and Francois as an executive for a large aluminum corporationhold to the idea that the world is becoming more connected in positive ways. (Messud pushes up her chunky black eyeglass frames and sighs. We havent done a great job of that, she says.) But tellingly, the two men with a shared vision of global peace had very different marriages. While Gaston and Lucienne hewed to the traditional model, in which a husband ventured into the wider world and a wife cared for home and children, Francois and Barbara begin their partnership at the cusp of great societal change. As Francois chases money and promotions, political events affect his companys fortunes, and as his wife begins to work and their daughters enter college, he becomes increasingly angry and devoted to Tanqueray. Francoisirascible, reserved, yet devotedstands in for the first-gen aspect of Messuds own heritage: her father, the person who chose a completely new path on a new continent, and the person who made the authors work possible.

In life, you realize things that might superficially look like failures are actually sort of amazing acts of great persistence and courage and love and grace, Messud says. I wrote this book for both of my parents, but my motherwho was lovableknew she was loved. In an important way, this book is for my father, who always doubted his own lovability.

She continues, Ive needed to write [this book] for a long time, and it wasnt until now that I was able and ready to write it. I hope people enjoy it. If they dont, thats okay. Because the thing is that I wrote it and its there, and thats meaningful to me.

Messud has cracked open the safe of her familys history, giving her familys treasured memories a new life through narrative. The real-life Messud family members, including the authors children, have a new perspective on their background. And the fictional Cassars of Tlemcen, Algeria, now belong to the wider world.

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"Don't Dream It's Over" and "Weather With You" have gone down as pop classics. Now Australian-New Zealand band Crowded House are releasing a new album. Can they live up to their instant catchiness in the 90s? BMG/dpa

Crowded House, famous worldwide for catchy songs like "Weather With You" (1991) and "Don't Dream It's Over" (1986), has a new album out and it won't disappoint the band's many fans.

You can still hear those older songs on classic rock stations around the world, especially the latter, which hit charts in the US, among other countries.

Frontman, guitarist and songwriter Neil Finn still has happy memories of it, he told Rolling Stone magazine in 2021.

"Im actually grateful that that song has done what it has. It seems special," he said. "I just think to have a song that has travelled so far is a wonderful thing. The other thing Im really grateful for is that I actually like the song still."

Some people are in the unfortunate position of having a novelty song that they wrote become their most famous song, he says. "I feel a bit concerned for people in that sense. At least I feel proud of that song."

Ever since their debut album in 1986, people have been comparing Crowded House to the Beatles thanks to their musical range, which draws on folk, pop and rock elements plus their poetic lyrics and catchy melodies.

Aging and mortality in 'Gravity Stairs'

That association comes up again with their latest album, the band's eighth, "Gravity Stairs" coming out on May 31 - and its first song, "Magic Piano."

It's a melancholic song with a gentle melody, richly arranged and pairs harmonic complexity with the finest lyricism - "These are the dark forces now/Making shadows dance on the stairway/Who's that joker with the crooked smile?"

These were the elements that proved the band's worth on album "Woodface" (1991), hailed as a masterpiece, at least by critics.

Now, merely three years after their comeback album "Dreamers Are Waiting," Crowded House have released a work with 11 songs that contains several highlights (including "Some Greater Plan (for Claire)," "The Howl," and "Night Song").

Musically and thematically, it's a fairly serious album, starting with the title song, where "Gravity Stairs" is a metaphor for getting older and being aware of your own mortality and physicality, Finn said ahead of the release.

"Things are getting a little harder, and there's more determination needed to get to the top, but there's still the same compulsion to climb," he said.

The hymn-like song "Oh Hi" in the middle of the album - the first single - brings a slight plateau. The feather-light guitar song is inspired by Finn's commitment to a non-profit organization that focuses on building schools in remote parts of Kenya and Tanzania.

Finn's sons return

This album also sees Finn's sons getting involved again. Liam and Elroy worked on "Gravity Stairs," as they did on the last album, and are official members of the five man band alongside Nick Seymour and Mitchell Froom.

"I like to think the songs can be equally as good. Some people will find them not as immediately catchy or classic-sounding, but its worth remembering that when we handed our first record into Capitol, nobody was saying it was going to go straight onto the radio," Finn told Australian's Rolling Stone some time ago of the new album.

That may sounds almost slightly apologetic, but there is absolutely no reason for it. The album may not contain earworms as we know from the radio, but it is a record that Paul McCartney would certainly enjoy.

He has already publicly expressed his enthusiasm for brilliant Finn, saying "I love his songs" on more than one occasion.

"Gravity Stairs" from Crowded House is out on May 31. BMG/dpa
MILAN  Donatella Versace was presented the title of Grand Ufficiale dellOrdine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana in Milan on Friday.

One of the countrys highest honors, the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic is bestowed by Italys president upon people who have excelled in the fields of literature, the arts, the economy, public service, or social, philanthropic and humanitarian activities. In the case of Versace, it recognized her contribution to Italian fashion and culture as well as her humanitarian work.

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Established in 1951 by the second president of the Italian Republic, Luigi Einaudi, the investitures take place twice a year, traditionally to coincide with the anniversary of the foundation of the republic and of the promulgation of the Italian constitution. Versace will meet Italys President Sergio Mattarella at the Palazzo del Quirinale in Rome on Saturday as part of the countrys annual celebrations.

On Friday, 25 other people were presented the Knighthood of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic title. They included Pietro Beccari, chairman and chief executive officer of Louis Vuitton; fashion designer Chiara Boni; Giovanni Sgariboldi, chairman of cosmetic company Euroitalia; Matteo Lunelli, chairman of Altagamma and Cantine Ferrari, as well as Marina Berlusconi, the eldest daughter of Italys former prime minister and media tycoon Silvio Berlusconi and president of the family holding company Fininvest and publisher Mondadori for more than two decades.

Pietro Beccari, chairman and chief executive officer of Louis Vuitton.

I am hugely honored to be receiving this award from the president of Italy. It is a recognition not just for me but for the company we founded over four decades ago, for my fantastic team and for the global Versace community who champion Made in Italy every single day, Versace said. On the eve of Pride Month, this award also recognizes the very urgent need to champion minority voices, freedom of expression and inclusivity, both here in Italy and globally. Tolerance, understanding and unconditional love has never been more important in our world.

To be sure, at the private ceremony in Milan, the designer was accompanied by her family and friends, including Alessandro Zan, whose DDL Zan bill against homotransphobia Versace has repeatedly supported in the past, as reported.

Overall, the designer has long voiced her support for LGBTQIA+ equality. For previous iterations during Pride Month, Versace has launched dedicated capsule collections, with sales benefiting charities that are active in shaping a more inclusive, equal world. For instance, in 2020 the Versace x Pride collection benefited Pride Live in the U.S. and Arcigay in Europe, while 10 percent of the sales of this years Pride capsule will aid the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Versace also is co-chair of The Rocket Fund, the campaign to raise $125 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation to help with its mission to end AIDS by 2030.

The Versace Pride Collection 2024.

In 2019, the Pride Live organization appointed the designer as Stonewall ambassador. At the time, Versace made an appearance alongside Lady Gaga in Manhattans Greenwich Village to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the uprising at the Stonewall Inn, which paved the way for gay rights.

Versace is global ambassador of the LGBT Center in Los Angeles and supporter of Checkpoint, one of the only independent sexual health clinics for the LGBTQIA+ community operating in Milan.

She has won multiple global awards, including the CNMI Humanitarian Award for Equity and Inclusivity last year and The Changemaker Award at The Green Carpet Fashion Awards in Los Angeles earlier this year.

In her speech after receiving the former recognition, Versace recalled that when she was 11, her brother Gianni told her he was gay. For me, this changed nothing. I loved him and I did not care who he loved. His love and encouragement made me who I am, she said at the time, adding that she fights for freedom, equity and inclusivity every day.

Versace was beside her brothers side ever since the company was founded in 1978. She supervised the legendary campaigns by photographers such as Richard Avedon, Herb Ritts and Helmut Newton, contributing to the supermodel phenomenon of the early 90s. In 1994 she became head designer of Versus, and three years later she stepped in as artistic director of Versace following the murder of her brother.

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FILE - Jennifer Lopez participates in a Netflix "Atlas" photo call at the Four Seasons Hotel on Saturday, May 4, 2024, in New York. Lopez has canceled her 2024 This Is Me...Live tour, representatives for Live Nation confirmed to the Associated Press. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP)  Jennifer Lopez has canceled her 2024 North American tour, representatives for Live Nation confirmed to The Associated Press.

Jennifer is taking time off to be with her children, family and close friends, they said in a statement.

The tour was to be her first in five years, in support of her first solo album in a decade, This Is Me... Now" and its companion film.

The tour was scheduled to kick off on June 26 in Orlando, Florida, and conclude in Houston on Aug. 31. Live Nation shared that attendees who purchased tickets through Ticketmaster will be automatically refunded.

Lopez offered her own statement to fans on her OntheJLo website and newsletter, writing, I am completely heartsick and devastated about letting you down. Please know that I wouldnt do this if I didnt feel that it was absolutely necessary."

She continued: I promise I will make it up to you and we will all be together again. I love you all so much. Until next time

This Is Me... Now was released early this year, 20 years after her hit album, This Is Me... Then. Lopez told the AP that the new album was a miracle and a second chance. And Id love to capture this moment in time the way that album captured that moment in time.
The Milwaukee County Parks Department and Parks Foundation doubled down on canceling the July 3 fireworks, issuing a statement Friday saying that they had already "exhausted every effort" to find new sponsors  and that even if last-minute funding was found, it would be too late to pull off the popular lakefront event.

"Milwaukee County Parks and Milwaukee Parks Foundation exhausted every effort to secure sponsorship and remained hopeful throughout the process," the joint statement read. "However, given the scale of this event, even if funding could be secured at this late stage, the limited timeframe of four weeks is insufficient to organize and execute it to the standards our community deserves."

Fireworks light up sky during the Milwaukee lakefront fireworks on Monday, July 3, 2023.

The County Parks Department announced late on May 24 that the July 3 fireworks  one of the signature events of Milwaukee's summer for more than 60 years  would not take place this year due to a "lack of sponsorship." Since then, there's been talk in the community about efforts to revive it.

RELATED: Milwaukee is canceling its July 3 fireworks. Someone must step up. | Opinion

But the joint statement issued May 31 seems to put a damper on that.

"We've had dozens of conversations over the years with donors about supporting the July 3rd fireworks show. In 2024, the private sponsorship simply did not come together due to lack of interest from funders," Rebecca Stoner, executive director of Milwaukee Parks Foundation, said in the statement. "On a daily basis we work with the reality that our Milwaukee County Parks system has the same level of funding it did in the 1980s, which means there are many parks that require significant investment.

"I would welcome a conversation with any potential supporters who want our park system to be more vibrant, equitable, and financially sustainable."

The Parks Department reiterated the point: "Despite our extensive efforts to secure sponsorship for this year's event, we were unable to obtain the necessary funding to cover the significant expenses. The fireworks display alone costs $350,000 with an additional $20,000 allocated for operational costs such as staffing, portalets, dumpsters, etc."

As with the original announcement, the Parks Department suggested residents instead check out the July 4 fireworks in 14 county parks: Hales Corners Park in Hales Corners; Sheridan Park in Cudahy; Kletzsch Park in Glendale; Grant Park in South Milwaukee; and Alcott, Wilson, Mitchell, Washington, Noyes, Lincoln, Jackson, Humboldt, Gordon and Lake parks.

Although its roots go back to the early 1960s, Milwaukee's July 3 fireworks have had a rocky time of it in recent years.

Begun as part of a downtown festival that included the Great Circus Parade, the lakefront fireworks initially were sponsored by Jos. Schlitz Brewing Co. and held on July 4 starting in 1963. The date was switched to July 3 in 1966.

Schlitz dropped its sponsorship in 1980, but First Wisconsin Corp., the Milwaukee-based banking company took over the role. The bank and its successor owners, including U.S. Bank, continued sponsorship until 2018.

After U.S. Bank pulled out, the 2019 fireworks were almost canceled  but were rescued in early April of that year by a partnership involving the Parks Department, the Milwaukee Brewers, American Family Insurance and T&M Partners, a holding company controlled by investor/philanthropist Ted Kellner, along with Brewers outfielder Christian Yelich.

A similar alliance was lined up to sponsor the 2020 fireworks, only to have them canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The fireworks were canceled again in 2021, when the county said it didn't have the staff and resources necessary to prepare for the event and clean up afterward.

The fireworks returned in 2022 and 2023; the 2023 sponsors included American Family Insurance, J&M Displays, the Milwaukee Parks Foundation and T&M Partners.

The corporate sponsors didn't re-up for 2024.

RELATED: Milwaukee's lakefront fireworks tradition started with beer, and some griping

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: It's too late to revive July 3 fireworks, Milwaukee parks official say
Morgan Wallen's This Bar to open in Nashville on Lower Broadway on June 1

For Morgan Wallen's success as an artist-branded restaurateur to match his commercial acclaim as a singles-selling country star, over 120 million liters of whiskey or family-recipe biscuits will need to be sold over the next six years at his Lower Broadway honky-tonk, called This Bar.

That math will finally be tested as his long-awaited six-story venue, at 107 Fourth Ave. N., adjacent to Ryman Auditorium, is slated to open at 11 a.m. CT June 1.

Were thrilled to welcome our first guests on Saturday, June 1, to This Bar leading into CMA Fest, said Grant Burlingame, vice president of operations at TC Restaurant Group, the hospitality company behind the bar and restaurant. This venue has been a labor of love for us and Morgan. His fans and music lovers alike will love the experiences they will find at This Bar. Were proud to open its doors.

An interior shot of Morgan Wallen's This Bar Lower Broadway venue, open June 1, 2024

The 30,000-square-foot space will feature three live music stages, six bars and an open-air rooftop. Wallen's East Tennessee roots  including childhood photos, memorabilia, merchandise and nods to memorable performances  are slated to be featured at the venue.

The bar is eponymously named after a 2019 song of the same title about maturity and self-discovery that includes the lyrics, "I found myself in this bar / Makin' mistakes and makin' new friends / I was growin' up and nothin' made sense / Buzzin' all night like neon in the dark."

"I sing about finding myself in 'this bar' and now it's coming to life," said Wallen in a news release. "This venue will hold true to everything I love and is inspired by my fans and the way they have embraced me and my music."

The menu  curated by Wallen with Chef Tomasz Wosiak, corporate executive chef and vice president of culinary development for TC Restaurant Group  will feature offerings including Wallen's own East Tennessee family recipes.

Delays regarding opening

On May 22, Nashville's Metro Council rejected plans for a 20-foot sign advertising "Morgan Wallen's This Bar." The council cited the country music star's past use of a racial slur and pending felony and misdemeanor charges over a chair thrown off another Broadway bar's six-story rooftop in April.

"I don't want to see a billboard up with the name of a person who's throwing chairs off of balconies and who is saying racial slurs," At-Large Council member Delishia Porterfield said.

The council voted 30-3 to deny the aerial encroachment and allow the construction and installation of the sign. Four council members, including 5th Congressional District challenger Courtney Johnston, abstained. Council approval is needed when a sign is constructed over a public right of way  in this case, a Lower Broadway sidewalk.

Two days later, Wallen's bar officially delayed its opening past its previously announced Memorial Day weekend opening date. Representatives of TC Restaurant Group said "the ground-up construction of a six-story venue launching with hundreds of team members is a tremendous amount of work and a complex process."

"When we open, we want This Bar to be an exceptional experience for guests," the statement continued. "Unfortunately, the process requires more time, and we are not able to open and provide that experience this Memorial Day weekend. Rest assured, it will be well worth the wait. We look forward to welcoming guests soon."

What does This Bar have planned for CMA Fest weekend?

A media statement adds that after June 1, fans and guests can visit social channels and the venue's website for updates on the space's opening hours leading into CMA Fest.

Morgan Wallen is one of the most sought-after stars in the music industry, and we are thrilled that he has trusted us to deliver a concept that will bring him closer to his fans, hold fast to his roots and enshrine his name among an exclusive group of artists who can claim international stardom with a Lower Broadway destination fans all over the world seek out, said Adam Hesler, president at TC Restaurant Group.

Reporters Molly Davis, Audrey Gibbs and Cassandra Stephenson contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Morgan Wallen's This Bar to open on Nashville's Lower Broadway on June 1
When Ted Kaczynski killed himself in a federal prison last June, it closed a confounding chapter in the history of American domestic terrorism. Unlike fascists, white supremacists and antigovernment conspiracists, Kacyzinski espoused righteous principles: protecting the environment and facing the destructive role of technology. [T]hreats to the modern individual tend to be MAN-MADE, he wrote in a 35,000-word manifesto that ran in the New York Times and Washington Post in 1995. They are not the result of chance but are IMPOSED on him by other persons whose decisions he, as an individual, is unable to influence.

He wasnt wrong. But the papers only published his words on the recommendation of the FBI and U.S. attorney general to prevent him from doing more harm  beyond the three people hed murdered and nearly two dozen hed injured with mail bombs.

Maxim Loskutoffs second novel, Old King, is an attempt to sort through Kaczynski's contradictions, to acknowledge the manifestos prophetic elements while stressing its the product of a sociopath. Thats fine fodder for a novel  the stuff of Dostoyevsky, even  though Loskutoff isnt trying to deliver a Karamazov-grade philosophical tale. Rather, Old King is a more modest blend of police procedural and great-outdoors yarn.

Set largely in the Montana wilderness where Kaczynski holed up, the novel explores the line where independence becomes so distant from empathy that its toxic. Loskutoff writes beautifully about nature  Old King refers to a massive tree towering over the Montana landscape. But nature on its own, he observes, can be menacing and brain-scrambling as well.

Before Kaczynski claims the novels stage, Loskutoff introduces a set of characters who evoke his crisis in miniature. In 1976, Duane is a young father who has just left his marriage and home in Utah to move to Lincoln, Mont., for work. Hes not especially skilled, and nature alienates him at first. (Branches rustled, reaching toward him, offering up his failures.) But he soon lands a logging job and gets to know the locals: Mason, a forest ranger; Hutch, owner of an ad hoc animal rescue; the Carter family, a clan of cranky separatists; and Jackie, Masons ex and a diner waitress. Settling in, Duane gifts Jackie with a microwave he liberated from his broken marriage, a small symbol of both warm domesticity and cold technology.

Indeed, its likely no other microwave in the history of American literature has been asked to carry so much metaphorical weight. Even without dwelling on the device, its clear that everybody in the area is trying to figure out to what degree they can balance the wilderness capacities for wonder and alienation. Mason, the ranger, is the most sophisticated thinker on the matter, questioning whether his job is preserving the environment or helping to accelerate a land rush: By arresting poachers and running old trappers out of business, hed clear the way for rich tourists to build second homes Their contracting crews killed animals by the score with bulldozers, and the cement they poured left no way for the trees to grow back.

As the narrative moves into the 80s, Mason is increasingly troubled by the irony of his work. Duane, meanwhile, acknowledges the healthy fear the environment puts in him: Seeing a grizzly, he falls into a wild, plunging panic, as if hed come here to be eaten, having finally crossed the line between civilization and his dreams. Both responses qualify as a kind of wilderness intelligence. By contrast, Kaczynski, a brilliant mathematician before becoming the Unabomber, is rendered as a more crazed, lunkheaded type: The bear was the first real killer hed ever encountered. He wanted to be a killer.

Theres an unwritten law that literary fiction set in the high plains be sturdy and simple  sentences firm as fence posts, commas hammered in as clean as barn nails. Kent Harufs novels are the exemplar of the form, but the sensibility runs through books by Thomas McGuane, Marilynne Robinson, Peter Heller, Ivan Doig and more. Loskutoff, who set both his novel Ruthie Fear and story collection Come West and See at least partly in Montana, has mastered his own take on the form. He deftly captures how the environment is both enchanting and fearsome, and though his set pieces have a familiar ring  bar fights! dangerous animals!  he focuses more on whats troubling his characters than overselling some myth of rough-and-ready swagger.

Read more: Weaving the personal and the political during the tumultuous 1970s

Still, the plainspoken approach means some characters lack depth. Jackie, the waitress, rarely rises above the trope of the straight-talking done-wrong Western woman who cant find a good man. The trouble is more acute in Kaczynskis case. Luskatoff introduces a postal inspector, Nep, whos trying to chase down the Unabomber and grasps the threat he poses to Americas sense of self, then and now. (Race riots, serial killers, assassinations, superfund sites. The great ship of America going down with all the lights blazing.) But Nep is basically a stock detective, and Kaczynski little more than an angry narcissist who derides everyone around him as fools. His contempt for humanity is clear. But then why was he concerned for it?

For Loskutoffs purposes, Kaczynski serves less as a character than a warning. The Unabomber was more than a 90s headline; his past is closer to our present than we think. When a Montana local tells Mason about a brutal act of violence that happened in the 20s, Mason brushes it off: That was fifty years ago. The man scoffs: You think thats a long time?

Mark Athitakis is a writer in Phoenix and author of The New Midwest.

Get the latest book news, events and more in your inbox every Saturday.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Pop up a batch of popcorn and grab the remote. The streaming service, Hulu, plans to release a three-part series on Redding mom Sherri Papini, who in 2016 faked her own kidnapping and was eventually sent to prison for lying to the FBI about the crime and defrauding the federal government, the Shasta County Sheriff's Office and others out of more than $300,000.

Hulu plans to air the three-part documentary series, "The Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini," beginning June 20.

For those who have somehow never heard of Papini, she allegedly went missing on Nov. 2, 2016 while she went for a jog near her home north of Redding.

Her disappearance set off a search that duped much of Redding, law enforcement and the media as the case drew worldwide attention.

Sherri Papini, center, enters a vehicle waiting for her after her sentencing at the Robert T. Matsui U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building in downtown Sacramento on Monday, September 19, 2022. Senior U.S. District Judge William B. Shubb sentenced Papini to 18 months in federal prison for faking her kidnapping in 2016. The judge said he gave Papini a longer sentence to prevent others from committing similar crimes.

She was found 22 days later on Thanksgiving, bound in chains along a rural road near Interstate 5 in Woodland, north of Sacramento, telling law enforcement that she had been kidnapped by two Hispanic women. She also claimed to be beaten and branded by her captors.

But it all unraveled as a hoax that investigators uncovered when they learned that during the time she claimed to be held against her will she was staying with an ex-boyfriend at a home in Orange County.

In a news release on the upcoming premiere of the series, Hulu claims to have fresh material on a news story that has been told thousands of times by outlets around the world.

"Keith (her husband) and Sherri Papinis seemingly idyllic family life is shattered when Sherri vanishes from their Northern California neighborhood, triggering a frenzied search that becomes news around the world. With unprecedented access to Sherris family and friends  as well as the investigators who struggled for six years to solve the mystery of her disappearance  this limited documentary series intimately explores the jaw-dropping revelations of a relationship that wasnt what it seemed," Hulu said in a news release about the documentary.

She was charged with lying to the FBI and defrauding the federal and state government out of hundreds of thousands of dollars from Social Security and the California Victim Compensation Board.

She was sentenced in federal court to 18 months in prison, but served less than a year. As part of her sentence, she also was ordered to repay the money she received and the FBI's and sheriff's office's cost of investigating her disappearance.

Spoiler alert: Papini and her husband have also divorced, with her husband receiving sole custody of their two children.

Reporter Damon Arthur welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834, by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on Twitter at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today!

This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: Sherri Papini kidnapping hoax Hulu docuseries will air in June
Taylor Momsen Gets Bit by a Bat While Opening for AC/DC: I Must Really Be a Witch

In true glam goth spirit, Taylor Momsen of the American rock band the Pretty Reckless was bit by a bat as she was performing the bands song Witches Burn in Sevilla, Spain. The band is touring as a supporting act for the European leg of AC/DCs Power Up trek.

Momsen uploaded footage of her encounter with a flying bat on Friday morning, and in the caption she wrote, SoROCK AND ROLL MOMENTin Sevilla Wednesday during Witches Burn of all songs a BAT flew onto me and clung to my leg.

More from Variety

In the video shared by Momsen, she appears to be unaware of the critter hanging on the side of her short slip dress as fans are pointing to it, trying to catch her attention.

In the moment I was performing and had no idea until the incredible crowd kept screaming and pointing, Momsen wrote. In the footage, you can hear Momsen say, I must really be a witch. In the caption of her post, she continues, He was cute, but yes he bit meso rabies shots for the next two weeks. thanks to all the staff at the hospital who dubbed me #batgirl after seeing it on the local news that morningmore footage to comethats one for the books!!!! @acdc #pwrup #BATGIRL.

The Pretty Reckless has been supporting AC/DC on the hard rock bands spring and summer dates. Momsen and her bandmates also opened for The Rolling Stones earlier this month in Las Vegas.

AC/DCs Power Up tour will run through August, hitting the Netherlands, Germany, Austria and Switzerland before stopping at Londons Wembley Stadium for shows on July 3 and 7, then moving on to other parts of Europe.

See Momsens post below.

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Witness to slaying of General Hospital actor in Los Angeles speaks out

Witness to slaying of General Hospital actor in Los Angeles speaks out

As details emerge in the slaying of General Hospital actor Johnny Wactor, the woman with him on the night he was fatally shot is speaking out and hoping for justice.

The tragedy unfolded on May 25 at around 3:15 a.m. as Anita Joy, a friend and coworker of the 37-year-old actor at Level 8 Restaurant & Lounge in downtown Los Angeles, was walking with Wactor to their cars at the end of their shift.

As the pair neared the corner of Pico Boulevard and Hope Street, they saw something odd.

We noticed his car was at an angle, she told KTLAs Omar Lewis. So, he was like, Oh, Im getting towed, and we look around and this guy stands up by his right tire, his front tire, with a big jack already lifting up the car.

Joy added that there were two other men inside his car. The three suspects were in the process of stealing Wactors catalytic converter.

Both of us were like, Hey, what youre doing, man? This is his car, but Johnny was not aggressive or confrontational, she explained.

Thats when she said Wactor stepped in front of her and a gunman immediately fired a deadly shot that hit him in the chest.

I grab him, and I go, Johnny, honey, are you okay? and he goes, Nope, shot. He just says those two words, Joy said. Once I saw his chest, I just started screaming for help.

Anita Joy seen with friend and coworker Johnny Wactor in this undated image. (viewer photo)

Actor Johnny Wactor, 37, seen in this undated image. (viewer photo)

Johnny Wactor, who appeared in more than 160 episodes of General Hospital, was shot and killed in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, May 25, 2024, according to TMZ. (Getty)

This image released by ABC shows Johnny Wactor in character as Brando Corbin from the daytime series General Hospital. Wactor was shot and killed Saturday when he interrupted thieves stealing the catalytic converter from his car in Los Angeles. He was 37. (Scott Kirkland/ABC via AP)

L.A. police on the scene of the fatal shooting of Johnny Wactor on May 25, 2024. (OnScene TV)

L.A. police on the scene of the fatal shooting of Johnny Wactor on May 25, 2024. (OnScene TV)

First responders on the scene of the fatal shooting of Johnny Wactor on May 25, 2024. (OnScene TV)

Coworkers heard her screams and ran over to help, while his killers, all wearing dark clothing with ski masks and driving a dark-colored sedan, fled northbound on Hope Street.

Joy, who had known Wactor for eight years, said he died in her arms.

As she mourns the loss of her friend, shes also seeking justice.

Catching [the suspects] is the first thing, Joy said. Thats the priority and then the conviction is what everyone is concerned about because this has happened before and people get a slap on the wrist and thrown back onto the streets.

Joy has since quit her job at Level 8, located in the 1200 block of Hope Street. While shes not blaming her former employer for what happened, shes hoping they will start providing safe parking for their employees.

Several friends of the 37-year-old have planned a call to action on Friday where they plan to reach out to L.A. City Councilman Kevin de Leon to demand justice in this case.

A GoFundMe page created to help Wactors family wit the expense of travel and investigation into finding his killers can be found here.

Hidden cameras found surveilling more Southern California homes spark concern

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call Detectives Gonzales or Martinez at 213-996-4142. Those who wish to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477 or leave tips online at lacrimestoppers.org.

Wactor appeared as Brando Corbin in 164 episodes of the popular soap opera, General Hospital between 2020 and 2022. He also appeared in other shows such as Westworld and Criminal Minds.

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.
Now is typically the time when many of us who love dining out start visiting our favorite iconic restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton, as tourist season is finally over and everything has slowed down as we ease into summer.

But that's not what happened this May.

Six new restaurants opened in Sarasota and Manatee counties during the month. Alas, three restaurants closed. Looking for more positive dining news? One Sarasota County establishment was named among the best beach bars in Florida.

Presented in no particular order, here are the biggest restaurant openings, closings, and honor that we reported on during May in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

10 best restaurants in Sarasota and Bradenton to visit now that tourist season is over!

Ticket Newsletter: Sign up to receive restaurant news and reviews plus info on things to do every Friday

Flavio's on Main closes in downtown Sarasota, Cuba 1958 to open

Flavio's on Main, which opened in 2015 under the name Beulah, has closed and been sold, according to owner Flavio Cristofoli. A new restaurant called Cuba 1958 Authentic Cuban Cuisine plans to open in its place.

After opening in 2015, originally under the name Beulah, downtown Sarasota Italian restaurant Flavio's on Main has closed. The restaurant at 1766 Main St. was owned by Flavio Cristofoli, who also owns Siesta Key's Flavio's Brick Oven & Bar, which remains open. Cristofoli still owns the Main Street property and is leasing it to a new restaurant, Cuba 1958, which hopes to open in June. Cuba 1958 is an offshoot of Westfield, New Jersey's 1958 Cuban Cuisine, with the Sarasota restaurant to feature largely the same menu and concept.

Italian restaurant sells downtown Sarasota location, new Cuban restaurant to open there

First Watch opens Lakewood Ranch location

First Watch, the national restaurant chain based in Sarasota-Manatee that serves breakfast and lunch dishes such as the lemon ricotta pancakes pictured here, has opened a new Lakewood Ranch area location.

Breakfast and lunch restaurant chain First Watch, which has locations nationally but is headquartered in Sarasota-Manatee, opened its latest area establishment in Lakewood Ranch. The 14475 State Road 70 E. space previously housed Nancy's Bar-B-Q, which then relocated to Sarasota's Rosemary District before permanently closing earlier this year. While First Watch's original location opened in California in 1983, it has been based in Sarasota-Manatee since 1986, with its current corporate headquarters in the University Park area. First Watch also plans to open at 8990 U.S. 301 N. in Parrish by the end of 2024.

Locally based national breakfast and lunch restaurant chain opens new Lakewood Ranch location

EnRich Bistro opens in Bradenton

Rich Knowles is the chef and owner of enRich Bistro, which opened in May in Bradenton. He's also the owner of the Innovative Dining catering company and co-owner of the Bradentrucky Grub Truck.

Chef and owner Rich Knowles' enRich Bistro delighted a loyal following of discerning diners with its "elevated American entrees and small plates" for about six years before closing in July 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and strained lease negotiations. Now, the restaurant is once again welcoming guests at a new, larger, and more alluring location in West Bradenton, surpassing its previous spot nearby. The new enRich Bistro is at 5239 Manatee Ave. W., in the same Fairway Center shopping plaza as the pizzeria Agrigento. EnRich previously operated just down the road on Manatee Avenue West.

Ticket Editor: One of Sarasota and Bradenton's top restaurant openings of 2024 is this week

Fat Rabbit opens in downtown Sarasota

Fat Rabbit restaurant and bar is upstairs at 1359 Main St. in downtown Sarasota. It is on top of OfKors Bakery and Main Street Creamery, with a sign hanging above the sidewalk between the two businesses, where guests can enter Fat Rabbit via stairs or elevator.

Following the popularity of their original Fat Rabbit pub in Tampa, owners John Kuemmel and Shawn Diehl have opened a new Fat Rabbit location in downtown Sarasota. Situated at 1359 Main St., Fat Rabbit is located above OfKors Bakery and Main Street Creamery, with a sign hanging above the sidewalk between the two businesses, allowing guests to enter via stairs or elevator. The restaurant spans 4,400 square feet with 123 seats, supplemented by an additional 20 at the bar. Fat Rabbit aims to offer guests an elevated pub experience marked by higher-end comfort food and cocktails.

New restaurant serving upscale pub food, cocktails opens today in downtown Sarasota

Sharkys on the Pier in Venice named among best beach bars in Florida

Southern Living magazine included Sharkys on the Pier in its recently published article titled "The 12 Best Beach Bars in Florida for Sun, Surf, and Stiff Drinks." No other Sarasota or Manatee county businesses made the list. Previously voted best beach bar in Florida, Sharky's is a Venice landmark dating back to 1987. Located at 1600 Harbor Drive S., at the base of the Venice Fishing Pier first built in 1966, Sharky's places guests right on the sand of the beach Brohard Park overlooking the Gulf of Mexico. Southern Living praised Sharky's for "serving up seafood and stiff frozen cocktails" and recommends the Megalodon Margarita (tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, sour mix, and fresh Florida orange juice.) "The two-story deck is a prime spot for taking in the sunset, or you can watch it from the lower level with your toes in the sand," reads the Southern Living blurb.

Sarasota County beach bar named one of best in Florida by Southern Living

Fat Point Brewing closes in University Town Center, Florence and the Spice Boys to open

Fat Point Brewing at 257 N. Cattlemen Road #90 in University Town Center, photographed here July 26, 2023, has closed. Florence and the Spice Boys plans to open a second location in the space.

After relocating from Punta Gorda to University Town Center last year, Fat Point Brewing  which takes its name from the English translation of Punta Gorda  has closed. Along with its beers, Fat Point offered a menu of dishes such as its umami burger. Set to take over the 257 N. Cattlemen Road #90 property is a second location for modern Middle Eastern fusion street food spot Florence and the Spice Boys. Initially operating as a food truck, Florence and the Spice Boys opened its first brick-and-mortar restaurant in Sarasota shopping plaza The Landings.

Ticket Editor: One of the best restaurants in Sarasota's University Town Center permanently closed

Popular Sarasota food truck-turned-restaurant to open second location

Sarasota dining icon Hob Nob Drive-In closes after 67 years in business

Cary Spicuzza, right, and Annette Gargett, are owners of Sarasotas Hob Nob Drive-In. They posed for this photo on May 15, 2024, a day after their restaurant closed following 67 years in business.

One of Sarasota's oldest and most beloved restaurants, which opened during the 1950s when the likes of Elvis Presley and Marilyn Monroe were the biggest stars of the day, closed after 67 years in business. Hob Nob Drive-In, occupying a prominent spot along U.S. 301 at 1701 N. Washington Blvd., just north of downtown Sarasota, served its final burger and fries on May 14. "We've been here since Nov. 7, 1991, and this past summer was the first time I lost money  we usually break even during the summer (with our biggest profits coming during the winter tourist season)," said owner Cary Spicuzza. "I'm 67 ... it's time to stop and smell the roses."

Sarasota restaurant closes after 67 years, owner says time to stop and smell the roses

Taverna Toscana opens in downtown Bradenton

Celebrity chef Fabio Viviani has opened the Italian restaurant Taverna Toscana in downtown Bradenton.

Fabio Viviani, an Italian native perhaps best known for his appearances on the Bravo show "Top Chef," created a buzz last summer when he announced via social media that he was opening a Taverna Toscana in downtown Bradenton. Occupying a large, standalone structure found in front of the SUNZ Insurance Company building at 1301 Sixth Ave. W., near other popular downtown Bradenton restaurants Chateau 13 and Sage Biscuit, Taverna Toscana is now open. "Picture a modern Italian kitchen paired with the hearty allure of a top-tier steakhouse," Viviani said in an Instagram post. "And yes, we've also curated a selection of craft cocktails that will knock your socks off."

Celebrity chefs first Sarasota, Bradenton area restaurant to open next month

Anna Maria Oyster Bar opens in North Port

Anna Maria Oyster Bar's North Port location is at 14132 Tamiami Trail, in the former space of Family Table Restaurant.

Locally owned and operated seafood restaurant chain Anna Maria Oyster Bar is now open in North Port at 14132 Tamiami Trail, the former Family Table space. It is the first Sarasota County location and sixth overall for AMOB, which also has restaurants in University Town Center, Anna Maria Island's Bridge Street Pier, Cortez Road, Ellenton and "Landside" near Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport. Oysters Rock Hospitality operates AMOB along with St. Armands Circle staple Cafe L'Europe and recently acquired Kefi Streetside Cafe, which closed its downtown Bradenton location and plans to reopen in a new space.

Popular Bradenton seafood restaurant opens first Sarasota County location

Mouthole Smashburgers and BBQ opens in Sarasota

Mouthole Smashburgers and BBQ, which serves dishes such as The Meat Locker featuring various meats and sides pictured here, is now open in Sarasota's Gulf Gate neighborhood.

Opening in 2014 as a food truck, then briefly operating at a different Sarasota location, Mouthole Smashburgers and BBQ is now open in Gulf Gate at 2637 Mall Drive, the former Shiny Gumbo space. Mouthole serves smash burgers that differ from most others by using a 5.5-ounce patty rather than the more typical 2.5 or three ounces. It currently offers barbecue such as pulled pork and brisket twice a week, and St. Louis-style smoked ribs once a week. It also hopes to add a monthly Hawaiian brunch with dishes such as Kalua pork, macaroni salad and poke bowls.

New restaurant serving barbecue, smash burgers now open in Sarasota

Email entertainment editor Wade Tatangelo at wade.tatangelo@heraldtribune.com. Email entertainment reporter Jimmy Geurts at jimmy.geurts@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism by subscribing.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: 6 Sarasota restaurants open, 3 close, beach bar named best in Florida
Here are 9 nature preserves & trails in the Hilton Head area to best enjoy the summer sun

With summer temperatures rising in Beaufort County, many families will begin to step outside and enjoy the outdoors, despite the Lowcountry humidity and recent storms.

And for lots of those families, exploring the countys many nature preserves and trails is a great choice.

Have you ever been to any?

Here is a list of nine local parks and trails to explore in Beaufort County this year.

Pinckney Island National Wildlife Preserve

Located in between Hilton Head Island and Bluffton off of the U.S. 278 bridge connecting the island to the mainland, Pinckney Island National Wildlife Preserve is dedicated to hosting an abundance of local wildlife. The preserve attracts thousands of migratory birds annually and provides a rookery, a nesting habitat for colonial wading birds such as ibis, egrets, and herons. Other local species such as alligators, armadillos, various snakes, turtles, butterflies, bats and salamanders make their home at the wildlife preserve as well. Visitors may enjoy activities such as hiking, biking and wildlife viewing during the parks sunrise to sunset visiting hours.

Sea Pines Forest Preserve

Found on the south end of Hilton Head Island, Sea Pines Forest Preserve is a 605-acre piece of protected land in the Sea Pines community dedicated to wildlife habitat and outdoor exploration. Following the construction of the preserves first trails in the early 1970s, the area has grown to include bridle paths, wetland boardwalks, bridges and fishing docks. Aside from exploring the preserve through the many leisurely walking trails, there are horseback rides, guided boat tours, fishing expeditions and wagon tours available for guests enjoyment. Visiting hours for the forest preserve are sunrise to sunset, offering plenty of time for exploration.

Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve

Victoria Bluff Heritage Preserve can be found in Bluffton off of Sawmill Creek Road. Guests can explore 4 miles of walking trails and firebreaks on the 977 acre preserve while observing the local wildlife and botanical spectacles, such as a rare plant called pondspice. Beginning in January, the preserve was freshly reopened between dawn to dusk following the most recent hunting season for deer, which closed the preserve for hikers between October through December.

New River Linear Trail

The New River Linear Trail is a 3.4 mile-long route in Bluffton, which is shared with power lines along an abandoned Seaboard Air Line Railway corridor. For those looking for an adventure, the Linear Trail takes advantage of the old railroad underpass around its midpoint. Visitors can experience a mixture of hardwood forest and swampland in the northern section with turkeys, deer, waterfowl, armadillos and alligators frequently seen in the area with long-abandoned rice fields visible from the southern parts of the trail. Visitors enjoy the scenery, wildlife viewing, walking, horseback riding and biking at the New River Linear Trail.

Widgeon Point Preserve

Widgeon Point Preserve is located at 43 Okatie Highway in Beaufort and is open from dawn to dusk for hiking, walking, wildlife observation and picnicking. Aside from parking, restrooms and water fountains, the preserve offers a picnic pavilion, bird blind, event barn, and a 0.7-mile loop nature trail. Wading birds, songbirds and alligators may be viewed from the area in addition to the occasional coyote, deer and bobcat. Widgeon Point Preserve comprises 162 acres of mixed-pine hardwood forest, salt marshes and freshwater depression wetlands along the Broad River in Port Royal Sound.

Altamaha Town Heritage Preserve

Altamaha Town Heritage Preserve is located on Old Baileys Road off of Highway 170 in Okatie and is open to the public from dawn until dusk. With picnic tables, benches and a primitive trail at this preserve, visitors have the opportunity to enjoy wildlife observation, hiking, walking and picnicking when they make the trip over. Biking is not permitted at this site, but the trail is only 1.6 miles long.

The preserve is 100 acres of oak-hickory forest and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1994. The land is saturated with history and remnants of a Yamasee village and Colonial-era cemetery as well as being named for a Yamasee chief.

Hunting Island State Park

Hunting Island State Park has numerous selections for your family to choose from. Whether your wish to spend the day there or go camping, there is no end to the possibilities for your visit. The park holds 5 miles of beaches, a saltwater lagoon, an ocean inlet, 5,000 acres of Lowcountry beach, marsh and maritime forest, a historic lighthouse built in 1859, a nature center, fishing pier and picnic shelter. There are also 102 standard campsites and 25 rustic tent sites. Visitors may hike, walk, observe wildlife, bird watch, geocache, bike, boat, swim and even horseback ride to their leisure. For those wanting to make a last-minute decision to go fishing, bait, equipment and other supplies can be purchased at the park store, which can be found at the campground.

As Hunting Island is a state park, there is an admission fee. The fee is $8 per adult; $5 for seniors; $4 for children aged 6 to 15 and free admission for children aged 5 years old and younger.

Port Royal Cypress Wetlands

The Port Royal Cypress Wetlands and Rookery can be found at 1700 Paris Avenue in Port Royal between 7 a.m. until 8 p.m. The area consists of protected wetlands that contain walking trails, boardwalk, an amphitheater and an abundance of local flora and fauna.

Visitors are encouraged to stroll throughout the 0.56 miles of trails on the property while reading the informational signs throughout the walk that educate guests on the many varieties of wildlife found at the local wetlands, as well as stop by the on-site activity center.

Crystal Lake Park

Beaufort Countys Crystal Lake Park can be found at 124 Ladys Island Drive in Beaufort on Ladys Island from Dawn until Dusk. With parking and restrooms onsite, guests can easily spend their time exploring the trails, boardwalk and pier while catch-and-release fishing, hiking, walking and viewing the abundance of nearby wildlife.

The park is made up of 25 acres and consists of a salt marsh, forested habitats and a man-made pond.
Big or small, palms are the aristocrats of the plant kingdom. Check these beauties out

If palms are the royalty of the plant kingdom, Bismarck palm (Bismarckia nobilis) just might be the king. This massive fan-leaved species from Madagascar was named to honor Baron von Bismarck, German chancellor from 1871 to 1890.

Two botanical luminaries  Carl Linnaeus and David Fairchild  never met, but both were stunned by the beauty of palms, considering them the best the plant kingdom had to offer.

Linnaeus (1707-1778) devised a simple yet elegant means for naming and classifying plants and animals  a system still used today. He regarded palms as "the princes of the plant kingdom." Fairchild (1869-1954) spent his life scouring the planet for beneficial plants, from grasses to forest trees. He wrote extensively about his travels and was at his most eloquent when describing palms hed encountered.

As is plain from the common and scientific names bestowed on numerous palms, other folks also deem them plant royalty. A good example is Bismarck palm (Bismarckia nobilis), a massive fan-leaved species from Madagascar most often seen in a silver-leaved form. It was named to honor Baron von Bismarck, who served as German chancellor from 1871 to 1890. Sun and sand constitute the recipe for success for this magnificent, cold-hardy plant, which even as a juvenile specimen steals the show.

A Majesty Palm grouped with various succulents creates visual interest because of the varying sizes.

Also from Madagascar, but thriving in radically different conditions, is majesty palm (Ravenea rivularis), a single-trunked, feather-leaved species. In Central Florida, majesties  especially young plants  revel on moist sites in filtered light. Interestingly, for a plant that can reach 40 feet in height, majesty palm does well as a houseplant.

Continuing our run of royalty is queen palm, a cold-hardy, feather-leaved species from Brazil. Although targeted by overzealous native-plant boosters because it self-sows, this palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana) poses no threat to our environment. Up to 40 feet tall in sun or moderate shade, specimens on enriched and mulched sites grow rapidly, while plants in poor soil often demonstrate nutritional deficiencies. In addition, queen palms are somewhat susceptible to lethal bronzing disease.

Queen palm is a cold-hardy, feather-leaved species from Brazil.

A native species with a distinctly aristocratic bearing is Florida royal palm (Roystonia elata), a superb species suitable only for moist, sunny sites in warm, sheltered locations. Even coconut palms cant compete with well-grown royals.

Vastly different is lady palm (as in lords and ladies), a small, clumping species (Rhapis excelsa) from East Asia. Notable for its elegance, this shade-loving, pinnate plant grows up to eight feet tall on enriched sites. Extremely cold hardy and low-maintenance, lady palm should be grown much more widely.

Mandarin hat This Himalayan shrub is easy to grow and its flowers are irresistible to butterflies

A bit too cold-sensitive for Central Florida is King Alexander palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae), aka king palm. This Australian species  up to 40 feet tall in bright light  bears lustrous arching leaves that contain 100 or more leaflets.

Plant to ponder: Violet wood sorrel

Violet wood sorrel is a non-native Oxalis featuring charming pink or lavender blossoms from spring through autumn.

This non-native Oxalis features charming pink or lavender blossoms from spring through autumn. Plants (O. violacea) form mounds up to 16 inches tall on moist sites in bright, filtered light. Propagate with seeds, which are available online.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Big or small, palms are the aristocrats of the plant kingdom
I took some time off last week to take a fishing trip with a group of guys down to the St. Johns River in the middle of Florida. The excursion was a little out of my comfort zone because it has been a long time since I took a four-night trip without someone living within 40 feet of my living room attending. It was all guys for five days.

This was not the inaugural journey to the St Johns River for this group of fellows, but it was mine. Some of the guys have been going for 30 years and I can see why they keep heading back annually.

The trip down was typical of anything my buddy Ed and I do; we had a tire blow out before we hit Millen and lost a large cooler to the 70 mph winds on I-16, but we made it down in time to get the boat in the water before dark. We stayed in the fishing community of Astor, Florida in a cool, open house that slept at least 13 comfortably. The front room had windows all across the front and was literally an underhanded rock throw to the water in front of us. There was a large dock for sitting and tying up boats. As soon as we arrived, we all hopped in the boat and rode about half a mile down the river to a restaurant directly on the water. And we repeated this dining experience four nights in a row.

Campbell Vaughn is the UGA Agriculture and Natural Resource agent for Richmond County.

The St. Johns River is the longest river in Florida at 310 miles and flows north. The headwaters are at Blue Cypress Lake about 80 miles southeast of Orlando. The river meanders inland but finalizes its journey to the Atlantic Ocean near Jacksonville.

If there is anyone who doesnt think that Florida isnt flat, the St. Johns Rivers headwaters are only 27 feet higher in elevation than where it ends. That makes for a lazy river with a drop of about an inch per mile over its total length of 310 miles. The watershed for the St. Johns is about 9,000 square miles which is almost 16% of the state.

Where we stayed in Astor is part of the middle basin of the St. Johns, which is home to more than 100 springs, one-third of the manatee population in Florida and the second largest lake in Florida, Lake George. The water is mostly brackish, which means it is a mixture of salt and fresh water. We saw alligators, snapping turtles, all kinds of wading birds, more osprey than you could count and plenty of rednecks with lots of interesting tattoos.

The fishing was great. We rode around looking for bream beds and between our group found some great spots. We fished hard for two days and caught plenty enough shellcrackers, bluegill and redbreast to have several large fish fries.

Campbell Vaughn: Mosquitoes are seemingly everywhere. Here's how to keep them away.

The third day on the water we loaded up and went to Silver Glen Springs off Lake George. The Glen was an experience. The spring itself is back up in a nook that looks like a little creek off the big water. The spring has crystal clear water measuring about 200 feet in diameter which uses two large vents to pump out 65 million gallons of water a day. The water flows from this head a little over half a mile back to Lake Georgia with the entire area of water encompassing 22 acres. Hopping in the water after being in 90-degree hot Florida sun can open your eyes a little because the spring maintains a 72-degree temperature year around. Once you get acclimated, it feels great.

There were no less than 250 boats back in the Glen with some huge house boats that looked like they stayed year around. Everyone was having a great time barbequing, swimming, listening to music and just enjoying a fun Memorial Day weekend.

It is fun to get out and see and do some new things that are not part of my normal routine. Getting to hang out with friends, make some new friends, eat well, fish a bunch and enjoy some amazing nature was just what this extension agent needed after a busy spring. If you get a chance and enjoy that kind of fun, that area of Florida was an incredible place to visit and be with folks you enjoy.

This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: Campbell Vaughn: Fishing on the St. Johns River in Florida
One of the most popular waterfalls in the North Carolina mountains has reopened after it closed for two years.

The National Forest Service wanted to improve access to the Catawba Falls in McDowell County after numerous rescues and deadly accidents.

PREVIOUS: Catawba Falls to close for at least 9 months for safety improvements

A full parking lot at the trailhead on Friday was a clear sign of just how popular the hike is. Officials are even prepared to bus people in over the weekend.

The National Forest Service wanted to improve access to the Catawba Falls in McDowell County after numerous rescues and deadly accidents.

The National Forest Service wanted to improve access to the Catawba Falls in McDowell County after numerous rescues and deadly accidents.

The National Forest Service wanted to improve access to the Catawba Falls in McDowell County after numerous rescues and deadly accidents.

The National Forest Service wanted to improve access to the Catawba Falls in McDowell County after numerous rescues and deadly accidents.

The National Forest Service wanted to improve access to the Catawba Falls in McDowell County after numerous rescues and deadly accidents.

The National Forest Service wanted to improve access to the Catawba Falls in McDowell County after numerous rescues and deadly accidents.

The National Forest Service wanted to improve access to the Catawba Falls in McDowell County after numerous rescues and deadly accidents.

Channel 9s Dave Faherty went on the newly reopened trail Friday. Not only could he see the falls, but he also saw the 30 stories of stairs that now run up the mountainside. A family from Kentucky told Faherty they were glad to see them.

I greatly appreciate it, Virginia Jewell said. With two littles, it does feel a lot safer for us to go up. And well be able to go to the top to see everything.

The 530 stairs connect the lower falls to the upper falls. There are places to look out onto the falls and the mountains that surround it.

At first, I wasnt thrilled about it, said Shea Holden. I thought they were going to ruin it. But I really like what weve seen.

ALSO READ: Fishhooks found in dog treats left on Appalachian Trail

For nearly 50 years, Randy Vess has responded to dozens of rescues at the falls as people tried to climb the mountainside to reach the upper falls. During that time, the Crooked Creek firefighter has seen hikers who have died and rescuers who have spent hours trying to get injured hikers out safely.

To get up where the steps are was basically cliffs. You had to climb steep, steep rocks and part of it was with ropes, Vess said. And we would have an awful lot of people slip and fall.

A new trail that circles back to the parking lot will allow first responders to reach the upper falls quicker.

Jennifer Holden is glad she made the hike Friday.

This is magnificent, so it was well worth all the stairs, she said.

The hike to the bottom of the falls isnt bad, but the 580 stairs may not be for everyone. The entire hike is about 3.5 miles.

VIDEO: Man suffers multiple injuries after falling 60 feet off NC waterfall, park officials say




Six Port St. Lucie restaurants get a chance to showcase their most delectable menu items to a national audience May 31 when the Food Network airs an episode of Best Bite In Town, produced by spikey-haired celebrity chef and sometime South Florida resident Guy Fieri.

As I write this, I can't say which of the six restaurants Fieri's panel of culinary experts selected as the winner of the competition on the show's season finale.

Here's a huge spoiler alert, though: Regardless of which restaurant takes the top prize, Port St. Lucie is the overall winner.

Food Network publicity can boost Port St. Lucie's reputation

Erik Espinosa, Guy Fieri and Smoke Inn proprietor Abe Dababneh pose for a photo in Smoke Inn, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, in Port St. Lucie. Fieri along with Espinosa promoted the hand-crafted Knuckle Sandwich cigar line, signing autographs and taking photos with patrons who bought a box of the cigars.

This isn't one of those cheesy, "everyone gets a participation trophy" arguments. As I wrote when Fieri shared with me his plans to feature Port St. Lucie restaurants last September, showcasing these local eateries represents an opportunity to give Florida's sixth largest city a massive image boost.

That's important. Port St. Lucie was developed as a retirement community marketed to northerners who were interested in buying cheap land in a warm-weather climate in the general vicinity of the ocean.

In its early years, Port St. Lucie didn't have aspirations to be a hub of commerce or a magnet for tourists. The original settlers, by the accounts I've seen anyway, were content for Port St. Lucie to be a fairly nondescript place, provided it was safe and comfortable.

I'm not sure that thinking has changed entirely since General Development Corp. began platting and selling land tracts back in the early 1960s, but there are clearly people who live in the city now who would like for it to be more than just a place to sit in the sun and grow old.

Image building requires more than wishful thinking

Guy Fieri smokes one of his Knuckle Sandwich cigars at Smoke Inn in Port St. Lucie, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. Fieri, a restaurateur, author, and television presenter, hosted the event with Espinosa Cigars partner Erik Espinosa for a meet-and-greet with fans who wished to purchase a box of cigars for an autograph and photo with the pair.

The trouble is, it's not that easy to mold a city's image. A city can proclaim itself to be a technology center or whatever, but that won't necessarily make it so.

Port St. Lucie learned that lesson the hard way with with its costly overtures toward Digital Domain, VGTI and the Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies. There are steps cities can take to encourage certain types of businesses to locate there, but it doesn't always happen. Businesses choose where they want to set up shop based on a variety of factors, with civic boosterism probably ranking very low in the minds of most.

More recently, the city has been trying to market itself as "the heart of the Treasure Coast." It's a geographically accurate description, but as I noted in a column about the giant heart sculpture in Tradition a couple of years ago, it's not a very original theme.

If you took a poll of 1,000 cities, an overwhelming number of them would almost certainly claim "the hearts of local residents" to be among their greatest assets.

So what does that leave? Well, as I've suggested before, I believe the city could make the St. Lucie River a focal point in refining its civic identity. The city is planning a grand opening for its Port District June 15  and I have high hopes the district will become an increasingly popular gathering spot for local residents.

The truth is, though, a lot of what goes into shaping a city's image has to happen organically. It's not something city leaders or chamber of commerce executives or tourism officials or newspaper columnists can orchestrate on their own.

Change doesn't have to be hard to digest

Ramen Hana & Wings in Port St. Lucie is in what might be called a warehouse district with car repair shops and trades businesses as neighbors. But inside, you are immediately struck by the serenity of the decor.

People feel certain kinds of ways about cities because of what they have heard, or because they have gone to those places and had experiences that shaped their viewpoints, for better or worse.

Which leads me back to this Food Network program and the restaurants that will be featured: Francesca's Pizza, Ketch a Fire Jerk and Seafood, Ramen Hana & Wings, My Brother's BBQ, Babalu's Cuban Cafe and Think Greek.

The competition's winner will have bragging rights over all the rest, but all will benefit from the positive publicity. It's better in the overall scheme of things to have some diversity in any case.

After all, no restaurant in town has the capacity to accommodate every resident and visitor every night. Some people prefer less-crowded dining experiences, anyway. Remember the words of the great Yogi Berra, who once said of a restaurant: "No one goes there anymore. It's too crowded."

An abundance of choices is a good thing.

The types of foods served at the restaurants featured on the program couldn't be more different, either. Three of them are located on Port St. Lucie Boulevard, but the rest are spread out elsewhere.

It's one thing for a town to have a single restaurant featured on a Food Network show. But when you have a lot of them, featuring different types of cuisine, it reinforces the idea that people visiting Port St. Lucie have options for getting a good meal.

Some final food for thought

BLAKE FONTENAY

Don't get me wrong: I'm not suggesting this one program is going to air, and then suddenly foodies are going to abandon Miami's tony restaurants in favor of the city's smaller cousin up the road.

But image building has to start somewhere. If publicity about this show leads to more publicity in other media, or even good word-of-mouth, then Port St. Lucie may be on its way to accomplishing something not even high-priced image consultants can deliver.

When the city's leaders refer to Port St. Lucie as the Treasure Coast's heart, maybe they're aiming too high. Maybe they should start focusing on the region's stomach instead.

This column reflects the opinion of Blake Fontenay. Contact him via email at bfontenay@gannett.com or at 772-232-5424.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Appealing to people's taste buds could unlock PSL's true identity
Jeff Gill

This Sunday Im looking forward to attending worship in the Wyandot Mission Church in Upper Sandusky and hearing Chief Billy Friend of todays Wyandotte Nation preach there. Hes a preacher and a leader for his people in Oklahoma but with deep roots still in Ohio.

In advance of Friend coming to preach, I looked online about the establishment of that Methodist mission station, the first in this county for them, the church building constructed in 1824.

I found an 1884 volume, talking about the early 1830s for a Methodist circuit rider in Ohio, Elnathan Gavitt, who was born in Granville in 1809. Gavitt, as a young preacher, had an older and perhaps more loquacious partner who at this time helped cover a large preaching circuit in northern Ohio, which centered on the Wyandot mission at Upper Sandusky. He tells this story from 1831 or 1832:

Faith Works: On being faithfully an American Christian

"On the Scioto river, near where the Pisgah Church now stands, was a log tavern kept by a friend, not a member of the Church. This was one of our preaching places where we remained over night with the landlord; and in the morning when we called for our bill he said he would prefer settling with us at the close of the year. This being the best we could do, we had to trust to his liberality in the final settlement, though with our limited means we could have wished it otherwise. However, as he was a friend to the cause of Christianity, we hoped for the best. At the close of the year we called for a final settlement. He said, as there was some credits in our favor, he would have to look over our account.

This was a mistake, as we had not paid him anything during the year, but he insisted that he had kept a correct account, and knew more about it than we did. His account against us was quite reasonable, and somewhat better than we had expected; and now the next thing was to see for what we could have credit. Turning over the next page, he showed that he had credited us with every sermon preached, with every instance of worship, and with every blessing asked at the table. For a long sermon the credit was twenty-five cents; for a short sermon, fifty cents; long family service, twelve and one-half cents; short prayer and chapter, twenty-five cents, and the same in proportion for grace at the table. Being young and often embarrassed, all my services had received his approbation, and he now fell in my debt. My colleague being older and more prolific, fell in his debt.

Faith Works: As election season approaches, here's why tend to steer clear of politics

However, considering the benefit the community had received, as well as his family, and allowing something for good company, he would balance the account and call it all settled, provided we would call on him another year, if we were returned to the same charge; he then presented each of us with five dollars.

As a preacher myself, I'm going to keep that fee scale in mind. The Pisgah church is no more; it was near the Shawnee Ford on the Scioto River in Hardin County, Dudley Township, at Pfeiffer Station (unincorporated). On my way home, I may stop by there and offer a prayer of thanksgiving for the generosity of Mr. Wheeler (as he was later named in Gavitts account), in advancing the Gospel on the Ohio frontier.

Jeff Gill is a writer, storyteller, and preacher in central Ohio; hes been known to go on sometimes. Tell him what you thought about this story at knapsack77@gmail.com, or follow @Knapsack77 on Threads.

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Faith Works: Granville preacher's Wyandot work inspires centuries later
This Gorgeous Coastal City Was Just Named the Best Spot for Digital Nomads Thanks to Its Low Cost of Living

Get out and explore in between meetings.

Matthew Micah Wright/GETTY IMAGES

About one-third of the American workforce now works remotely, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And that number, some academics suggest, may be underselling it. That means that more and more people have the opportunity to live and work from anywhere, making the "digital nomad" lifestyle a reality. But where, exactly, should you go live out those dreams? Freaking Nomads created an index of the best cities for nomads to help you decide.

In early May, the website dedicated to digital nomads released the index that it created using nine factors, including the ease of access for remote working visas, the cost of living, rent, going out to eat, the local purchasing power, and groceries relative to New York City, along with the number of coworking spaces, and the average mobile data speed. Every city it analyzed was given a weighted score to create a total index score out of 100. After looking at all the information, the team named Hoi An, Vietnam the best place for digital nomads with a score of 73.94 out of 100.

"A hidden gem on Vietnams coast, Hoi An ranked third for cost of living with a score of 85.48 out of 100 and joint 34th for visa accessibility with 77.78 out of 100," the findings revealed. "As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the ancient city is home to well-preserved old buildings, colorful lanterns, and winding streets that create a magical atmosphere. Hoi Ans quaint historic charm will appeal to digital nomads wanting to start afresh in a unique corner of the world."

Delhi, India, wasn't far behind, coming in second with a score of 73.77.

"Indias capital placed first for cost of living with 89.03 out of 100 and joint 34th for visa accessibility with 77.78," the team added. "Delhi is a dynamic melting pot of culture that has something for everyone  from its vast historic attractions, such as the majestic Red Fort, to markets offering local artisan products and diverse food from all over India."

Joining these two destinations is Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in third with a score of 72.02, followed by Da Nang, Vietnam in fourth with an index score of 71.32. Mumbai, India, rounded out the top five with a score of 69.81 thanks not only to its lower cost of living but also to its cultural riches, including its "expansive beaches, bustling street markets, and delicious cuisine." But really, as a digital nomad, you don't have to choose. Instead, you can choose to live in each for as long as you want. And isn't that neat?



Related: This Is the Most Affordable European City for Remote Workers and Digital Nomads

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Read the original article on Travel & Leisure.
Here's a demonstration of how NOT to photograph bison at Yellowstone, courtesy of two tourists

Each year, the National Park Service warns the public that bison are dangerous, but each year some people choose not to listen  like these two visitors who decided to wander off the boardwalk to snap selfies with a particularly large animal.

A video of the pair (recorded by another park visitor from a safe distance) was shared via Instagram account TouronsOfYellowstone this week. The account specializes in calling out bad behavior at US National Parks, which all too often involve people interfering with wildlife  including chasing bears and taunting elk.

Just last month, a man from Idaho was arrested for kicking a bison at Yellowstone (and being injured in the process). The 37-year-old was was arrested for disorderly conduct, approaching wildlife and disturbing wildlife, driving under the influence, and failure to yield to emergency light activation.

A post shared by TouronsOfYellowstone (@touronsofyellowstone) A photo posted by on

Disturbing wildlife is a federal crime, and those found guilty face hefty fines, or even jail time. In 2021, 25-year-old Illinois resident Samantha Dehring was fined and sentenced to four days in custody after approaching a grizzly bear and her two cubs at Yellowstone to take photos.

"Approaching a sow grizzly with cubs is absolutely foolish," said acting US attorney Bob Murray on behalf of the District of Wyoming at the time. "Here, pure luck is why Dehring is a criminal defendant and not a mauled tourist."

Stay safe at Yellowstone

"The animals in Yellowstone are wild and unpredictable, no matter how calm they appear to be," warns the National Park Service. "The safest (and often best) view of wildlife is from inside a car."

You should always stay at least 100 yards away from bears and wolves, and at least 25 yards from all other animals, including elk and bison. For more advice, see our guide wildlife safety: eight tips for unexpected encounters, which is packed with advice for how to avoid close calls, and how to handle the situation if you find yourself in a difficult situation with an animal.

The best binoculars: get a better view of wildlife, from a safe distance
For more than 50 years, Thomas Donut and Snack Shop has been a sweet Bay County staple

Thomas Donut & Snack Shop in Panama City Beach has been a Bay County fixture for more than 50 years. It's known best for its donuts but serves a wide variety of other food.

PANAMA CITY BEACH  If you ask Michael Thomas what makes his donut and snack shop stand out, he says "the loyalty of our customers."

Thomas is the general manager of Thomas Donut and Snack Shop in Panama City Beach, which has been serving up treats since April 1971. The shop is known for its classic glazed donuts but serves a lot more.

"We have fourth-generation customers and young kids come here as a destination to hang out," Thomas said. "Coming here is a tradition and experience rather than just locals coming to get breakfast."

"We have 40 different varieties of donuts that we make every day," said Michael Thomas, the general manager. "We have really good hamburgers, sandwiches and fresh Gulf shrimp."

Along with the classic glazed donuts, Thomas also has a wide variety of cake donuts and cinnamon twists. New specialty donuts are made each day with different flavors.

"We have 40 different varieties of donuts that we make every day," Thomas said. "We have really good hamburgers, sandwiches and fresh Gulf shrimp."

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And the shop expands its offerings each year.

"Every year, we try to add different food," Thomas said. "Last year, we started making pizza for our customers to widen our menu. We don't plan too far ahead, but we try to get something new on our menu each year."

Thomas Donut and Snack Shop is located at 19208 Front Beach Road.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Thomas Donut and Snack Shop has served up sweets and more since 1971
Maybe youve seen it scrolling social media. That sponsored ad popping up with canoes, blue skies, stands of bald cypress, and rustic treehouses to pitch a one-of-a kind overnight paddling odyssey on the Edisto River. Deftly delivering the ultimate outdoor adventure fantasy, the algorithms know me well. Though Ive canoed and kayaked on the West Coast and across the Southeast, Ive never done so and then slept in a treehouse.

Under the spell of savvy marketing, I was soon on the phone inquiring about booking.

Headquartered in St. George, South Carolina, about 90 miles north of Savannah off I-95, Carolina Heritage Outfitters offers this unique river opportunity for individuals, small groups, and families. You can make reservations online, but since I wanted to go solo, chatting with someone about safety and other precautions seemed most reasonable.

Owner Chris Burbulak promptly answered. He confirmed that recently a few women had done the two-day trip alone without issue. But emphasized that since canoes are a bit unwieldy for solo paddling, hed set me up in a kayak and deliver my supplies to the treehouse. The three treehouses, he went on, had propane stoves for cooking but lacked running water and electricity, so Id need to bring drinking water, a headlamp, and be prepared to use the outhouse. Chris also stressed insect repellant and rain gear as necessities.

Since no one else had yet booked on my dates, and likely wouldnt, he figured Id probably be alone on the 300-acre property. The final itinerary, he revealed, would entail paddling 13 miles on the Edisto, staying overnight in the treehouse, and paddling 10 more miles the next day to the pick-up point where hed meet me after having collected my gear. With all things in tow, wed then return to headquarters.

One of three treehouses on Carolina Heritage Outfitters's 300-acre Edisto RIver property

It sounded perfect, amazing in fact, especially that detail about getting to spend the night alone on the densely forested treehouse property. I would just need to be patient for a few more days until it all unfurled.

On adventure day, though, a massive storm system was wreaking havoc across the Southeast, and Chris and I agreed it would be safest for me to paddle the first day and stay in the treehouse, but on the next morning hed come get me in advance of the storm. He offered to let me return and paddle another time to make up for what Id miss.

And with that, on a drizzling gray Monday morning, I launched a little before 10 a.m. in a fire red kayak, with lifejacket, snacks, water, rain gear, and bug spray ready to roll on the Edisto.

From its forked headwaters in the sandhills of Saluda and Edgefield counties, the Edisto River runs unobstructed about 310-miles before greeting the Atlantic Ocean at Edisto Beach. It is the longest free-flowing blackwater river in the United States, and its watershed is home to old-growth tupelo and bald cypress, anadromous striped bass, shortnose and Atlantic sturgeon. Tracts of adjacent forest serve as lush breeding grounds for migratory birds like summer tanagers, yellow-billed cuckoos, and Mississippi kites. The endangered red cockaded woodpecker also lives within the old growth riverine system.

Exploring a side channel of the Edisto River near St. George, South Carolina

In my kayak, the rain-swollen blackwater moved unexpectedly fast, and at intervals, I noted large trees having recently succumbed to the current. Tussles of green waved above the surface from sunken branches, and great upended roots exposed masses of knots and runners no longer able to anchor the trees within the saturated bank. Maneuvering was more technical than Id anticipated, and for the first two hours, alertness was key. The current combined with one too-slow turn of the boat could result in disaster, potentially capsizing the kayak and pinning me beneath a fallen giant.

Eventually, the river widened, slowed, and I relaxed. Life carried on loudly around me. The birds had been riotous from the start, but here in the calm, their calls were magnified, making it easier to hear the three-dimensionality of songs overlapping with notes nearby, mid-distance, and farther away. Cheering wrens, chortling tanagers, cacophonous cardinals, robins, eastern flycatchers, swallow-tail kites, questioning barred owls (yes, calling at mid-day!), Mississippi kites, night herons, hermit thrushes, and pileated woodpeckers all raucously united in a halleluiah chorus of avian delight.

At the peak of spring migration, I was blessed to be alone on the Edisto River, experiencing the force of nature that is the diversity of birds flitting and shifting in flight, sustained in fervent song. This is how and where magic begins, I mused. The clarion melodies of springtime rising and falling around cypress, tupelo, wild blueberries, water lilies to awaken them once again to the glories of photosynthesis and reproductionthis is it. Birdsong, a rarefied magic sparking all urges necessary and primordial.

I continued down the Edisto a few more hours before landing at the treehouse very much ready to get out of damp clothes and cook a hot meal. As promised, Chris had delivered my food, sleeping bag, and backpack near the stove beneath the house. After unpacking, I made a meal of mushroom and cheese ravioli with fresh red peppers, olives, and parmesan, and though I brought blueberries for dessert, I ate most of them while chopping veggies for the pasta.

Small stream feeding into the Edisto, half mile upriver from the treehouse property

After dinner, I went back out on the river to explore a cut Id noticed. Paddling upstream was formidable, but once off the main channel, the effort was much easier. In the calm blackwater, cathedrals of tupelo and bald cypress cradled nests of cackling black-crowned night herons. I maneuvered slowly so as not to startle them and lingered in the shallows as the watery forest grew darker. I paddled to the river, and with the swift current behind me, was back at the treehouse in under 20 minutes.

Around 7 p.m. the barred owls began calling, and by 7:30 p.m. I was tucked in my sleeping bag and didnt wake until 7:30 a.m. when Chris texted to let me know hed be there in an hour. The big thunderstorm was anticipated to hit the area around 10 a.m.

I was packed and ready when he arrived, but nothing in me wanted to leave. Experiencing the birds and great trees of this stretch of the Edisto made an indelible impression that I hope to be part of again later this summer. Sleeping in the treehouse beside the constant push of the river with the sounds of owls and whip-poor-wills lulling me to sleep was a gift of some of the best rest Id had in months.

A side channel, or cut, of the Edisto River where recent heavy rains toppled a number of large trees

If such an adventure appeals to you, and this summer youve the time and means, I recommend booking it. The experience wont fit everyones budget. Going into it, I didnt reveal I was a writer and purposely paid the full $200 because I wanted to see what the experience would be like as a solo, paying woman, and not as someone paid or invited to review it. And to that end, a young family now owns the property and business after having painstakingly purchased it six years ago. Adventuring with Carolina Heritage Outfitters not only gets you a unique and supported experience on the free-flowing Edisto but also directly sustains a South Carolina-local familymaking it a win on many, many levels.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: experience a wild blackwater river on the Edisto in South Carolina
Heres the real reason why flight attendants greet passengers when they board  theyre not just being friendly

Greeting travelers who are boarding a plane might seem like a polite courtesy, but there's another reason flight attendants welcome people aboard with a smile.

Theres more here than greets that eye.

Welcoming travelers aboard a plane might seem like a polite courtesy, but theres another reason flight attendants greet people with a smile: to size them up.

A stewardess recently spilled the beans on this ulterior motive in a video with more than 6.2 million views on TikTok.

Did you know that your flight attendant greets you not only out of politeness? Rania, a flight attendant with Hungarian budget carrier Wizz Air, wrote in the caption over footage of her making an inflight announcement.

Wizz Air flight attendant Rania spills the beans on this airplane policy. @itsmekikooooo/TikTok

She revealed that their greeting is to check whether you are too drunk or sick to fly, adding that it also is helpful to see who could help us in an emergency.

In industry terms, crew members are looking for able-bodied passengers (ABPs) who could potentially assist in evacuating an aircraft.

They want to look for the opposite as well so that they dont place certain passengers  including children, the elderly and those with physical and mental disabilities  in an exit row, where a lack of mobility could impede an evacuation.

Flight attendants greet boarding passengers. sorapop  stock.adobe.com

An airline welcoming committee also acts as an unofficial second security checkpoint.

Airplane greeters check for suspicious bags like coolers and, as Rania indicated, also try to determine whether passengers are too drunk to fly by giving everyone a quick hello.

Commenters shared mixed feelings about learning the truth behind the hospitable-seeming measure.

Rania explained that flight attendants are checking to see who could help us in an emergency. @rania_ibo/Instagram

Flight attendants should mind their business, one viewer bizarrely said, while another wrote, I knew you were judging me!

I was expecting because they have to' said a third.

Interestingly, commenters seemed most perturbed by crew members purported drunk-testing duties.

I have to be drunk to fly otherwise Im terrified, fretted one viewer before asking for any tips to help them.

Another claimed, Once I had to take a breathalyzer because I said to the really pretty flight attendant good night when she said hello. I was sober.

Nonetheless, testing whether or not passengers are tipsy appears increasingly essential given the spate of booze-fueled shenanigans plaguing the friendly skies of late.
Is it safe to stay in your Miami high-rise during a tropical storm or hurricane? What to know

If you live in a Miami high-rise, its time to prepare.

The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is here, and you have some things to think about:

Do you have enough food and water? Does your complex have a generator in case the power goes out? And most important, can you wait out the storm in your condo tower  or will you have to leave?

Whether youre a longtime resident or new to the state, heres what to know about surviving a hurricane in a high-rise:

Is it safe to be in a high-rise during a storm?

Generally, its safe to stay in your building during a storm. Florida has some of the strictest building codes in the country. The building code is stricter in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, in the states high velocity hurricane zone.

Thousands of people in Miami Beach, Coconut Grove, Brickell and Sunny Isles Beach, for example, live in modern condo and apartment towers that can withstand winds up to 175 mph. But not every building is the same, and resilience to hurricane-force winds can depend on what code was in effect at the time of construction.

And while some older buildings may have been renovated to meet stricter standards, others may be more vulnerable to a storm. The good news is that most of Miamis residential high-rises meet the stricter codes that would protect people during a storm.

Miami-Dade building code requires the first 30 feet of any high-rise to be equipped with high-impact windows, which can withstand being hit by a nine-pound 2x4 traveling at 50 feet per second. ... Above 30 feet, windows are required to use mall missile impact glass, which can withstand being struck by a small steel ball bearing traveling at 130 feet per second, a 2019 Miami Herald article explains.

Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie recommends people check if their homeowners association has kept up with the buildings maintenance, when the buildings structural integrity was last inspected, and if the building is hurricane-rated. The division handles the states response to disasters.

If your building is old, youll also want to check its recertification status.

However, even if everything is up to date, Guthrie says you might not want to wait out a storm in a high-rise if you live in South Floridas coastal areas, such as downtown Miami, Surfside and Miami Beach.

Strong, gusty winds arent the only hazard hurricanes bring. Theres also storm surge. And if your neighborhood or your buildings parking lot or garage floods, you might not be able to leave your home for a few days after the storm. Flooding in the neighborhood could also cut you off from police and paramedics.

How can I check if Im in an evacuation zone?

Massive rainfall from Tropical Storm Alex in June 2022 left cars and businesses flooded in the Brickell area near downtown Miami.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava can issue an evacuation order for people who live in certain areas of the county ahead of a storm, based on its projected track and storm surge risk. Most of Miami-Dades coastal areas, including Brickell, downtown Miami and Miami Beach, are in evacuation zones.

These areas tend to flood during thunderstorms and king tides, so flooding is also likely during hurricanes.

While county officials cant force you to leave your home, you should do so if an evacuation order is issued. And dont forget about your pets. If its too dangerous for you to ride out a storm in your apartment, its dangerous for them, too.

If theres ever a doubt in your mind as whether or not to evacuate or not, then go ahead and evacuate, Guthrie said. Thats a good rule of thumb. Based on the situation youre facing at hand, if theres a doubt  Should I stay or should I go?  always go.

To check if your Miami-Dade neighborhood is in an evacuation zone, visit miamidade.gov/hurricane. You can also find your zone at FloridaDisaster.org/Know. Evacuation zones are designated from A to F, and generally, Zone A is most likely to be evacuated first.

Monitor local media, including the Miami Herald, for updates on evacuation orders.

Tip: If an evacuation order is issued for your neighborhood, youll find information on evacuation centers and bus pickup locations on the countys website. If you dont want to visit a storm shelter, go to the home of a family member or friend.

Will my condo lose power?

The cooling tower, which is what keeps the AC running in the building, is usually shut off for safety during a hurricane. And whatever you do, dont open your window or balcony during the storm, even if its sweltering inside.

The very first rule is to close every single opening and make sure the wind cannot get in, because the amount of air that comes in is so great, and the pressure is so high, it would start demolishing the walls, Alan Ojeda, CEO of the real estate developer Rilea Group, told the Miami Herald in 2019.

Guthrie says you should also consider your living situation whether you live in a condo tower or a house. If you or a family member is power-dependent, say for oxygen, you shouldnt spend the storm in a place that could be without power for hours, days or weeks.

Also, if you live on a higher floor, think about what youll do once the storm has passed, the power is out and the elevators arent working. Will you A: Stay in your condo COVID-lockdown style? Or B. Walk up and down four, five or more flights of stairs (with no AC) to get around?

If a storm is coming, where do I leave my car?

If a tropical storm or hurricane is coming, park your car in a covered garage on a floor where it will be safe from flood damage and wind shear. But you might not be able to get to your car immediately once the storm is over. The streets might be flooded.

If your parking space is in an open area, move your car away from trees and power lines, and park it next to buildings (but away from windows) to provide some protection from the wind.

Tip: Cities like Miami usually open municipal garages ahead of a storm to give residents a place to park at least one of their cars. Check with your city to see whats offered and what the requirements are. Miami, for example, requires city residents and employees to enroll for hurricane parking to be eligible.

What if Im in my condo during the storm and start to feel unsafe?

Heres the thing about preparation: You need to have everything ready before the storm is at your door. That means if you decide to stay in your high-rise condo, you cant change your mind in the middle of the bad weather.

Regardless of whether youre in a high-rise or a house, if you no longer feel safe inside your home, you cant just run out the door.

As soon as you step out into those hurricane-force winds, theyre probably going to sweep you away and knock you down the street, said Guthrie, the state emergency director.

Instead, stay away from windows and figure out the safest place in your apartment or condo tower.

In high-rises, the safest, strongest section of the building is generally the stairwell. But once the storm is over, rescuers might not be able to reach you because of flooding or other hazards.

Some information in this article comes from a 2019 Herald article written by former staff writer Rene Rodriguez.
After a ribbon-cutting ceremony Wednesday to celebrate Charlottes new, $34 million state-of-the art aviation museum, officials are looking forward to re-opening the doors to the public on Saturday.

One of the guests in attendance was former U.S. Airways airline pilot Capt. C.B. Sully Sullenberger. The former Carolinas Aviation Museum was renamed in his honor for safely piloting the Miracle on the Hudson plane that was bound for Charlotte in 2009. Its now known as the Sullenberger Aviation Museum.

The museum with 105,000 square feet of space near Charlotte Douglas International Airport is being supported through the Infusion Fund, a partnership between the city of Charlotte, the Foundation For The Carolinas and other donors.

The museum is affiliated with the Smithsonian, the worlds largest museum and research complex.

The aviation museum opened in 1992 by aviation enthusiasts who wanted to restore and display historic aircraft.

It closed in 2019, after the property  a 40,000-square-foot hanger at the end of one of the airports runways  was re-purposed for private aviation needs to meet FAA requirements, The Charlotte Observer reported. Manufacturing tech giant Honeywell came to town and occupied the space.

Museum leaders had to find a new space in July 2019. Museum President Stephen Saucier led efforts to create a campaign to build a new facility. Construction for the upgrades began in 2022.

More than 120,000 visitors are expected each year after the museum reopens on Saturday, according to the museum.

Former US Airways airline pilot Capt. C.B. Sully Sullenberger stands next to the jet he landed on the Hudson River in 2009. Sullenberger landed Flight 1549 on the Hudson River after both engines were disabled by a bird strike. All the passengers and crew survived the landing. Sullenberger and local dignitaries and business leaders were on hand at the Sullenberger Aviation Museums ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Charlotte, NC.

The Miracle on the Hudson

On Jan. 15, 2009, Sullenberger and his crew, landed Flight 1549 safely in New Yorks Hudson River after a flock of geese struck both engines. The passengers and crew all survived the landing.

The plane had taken off from taking off from LaGuardia Airport. and was headed for Charlotte.

In January 2023, officials announced that the Charlotte museum would be renamed for Sullenberger.

The US Airways plane Sullenberger flew is one of many exhibits at the museum. It has been part of the museums collection since 2011.

The US Airways Airbus A320-214 that former US Airways pilot Capt. C.B. Sully Sullenberger landed on the Hudson River in 2009 is displayed in the gallery of the Sullenberger Aviation Museum in Charlotte.

What else is inside?

The museum is a multi-building campus with the Dowd Foundation Welcome Center, the main gallery, an education wing and the historic hanger.

Sections at the museum will have attractions like flight simulators, wind tunnels, photo booths, and games for guests of all ages. More than 45 aircraft will be on display.

STEM and other education-related careers will be a major aspect of the museum. Aviation is an exploding industry, Saucier said. You see the airports growth. Its growing and busting at the seams. There are so many opportunities for career at the airport.

Here are some of the exhibits:

 Replicas of the Wright Brothers Flyer and Glider planes

 Vietnam-era F-4S Phantom II, one of only two manufactured Skystreak planes used to test breaking the sound barrier

 P-80 (TV-1 Shooting Star), one of the first jet fighters used during combat

 F-14 that is rumored to have made an appearance on the tarmac in Top Gun,

 Aviation City, an exhibition featuring local and global contributors to the aviation industry, will open later this fall at the WPA/Douglas hangar. It will have an F-84 Thunderjet, a Stearman biplane, and a Lockheed T-33 and more.

Heres a view of the Sullenberger Aviation Museum, which is reopening to the public on Saturday.

How much did the museum upgrades cost?

The project was made possible through the largest capital campaign in the museums history.

Museum leaders raised $34 million to build the facility with funds coming from the state, Mecklenburg County, the city of Charlotte, individuals and companies.

This project doesnt come together by any single person or entity, Saucier said. This community, Charlotte is incredibly generous if you got a good plan that can address an acute need.

Charlotte Douglas International Airports Cannon Fund donated $5 million for future facilities.

Honeywell added another $1.5 million to help. A Honeywell-produced auxiliary power unit played a critical role in enabling the Airbus A320 aircraft to touch down safely in the Hudson River, The Charlotte Observer previously reported.

Bank of America contributed $1 million to name and sponsor the Miracle on the Hudson exhibit. The bank had close to two dozen employees on Flight 1549.

Ric Elias, a survivor of the 2009 incident and CEO of Red Ventures in Fort Mill, South Carolina, was one of the donors. He gave $1 million for the museums capital campaign, in addition with $500,000 from Red Ventures Lonely Planet, a travel media company.

How to visit

Tickets for Saturday are sold out for the grand re-opening. But visitors will have other chances to see the museum at 4108 Minuteman Way, Charlotte.

The museum will be open 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4:30 p.m. on Sundays. For more information about ticket prices and availability, visit www.sullenbergeraviation.org.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated when the museum had closed years after opening in 1992. It was in 2019.
'Too outside-y.' Read the most absurd 1-star reviews of Indiana state parks in time for summer

Yelp reviewer "Philip B." from Highland had "no idea" why they made Indiana's famous sand dunes into a national park. While other Yelp users expressed admiration for its breathtaking scenery and diverse wildlife, he remained unimpressed.

"Very underwhelming," he wrote in June 2022. "Don't waste your time. Unless you want to spend a vacation on the beach at Lake Michigan or climb sand dunes."

Gee, who would want to do that?

We get it. People are entitled to their opinions. If petting zoos had unicorns, online reviews would include comments like:

"The rainbows coming out of the unicorn's magic horns aren't all that impressive."

"None of the unicorns would pose for my Instagram photos."

"Honestly, it's just a slightly less fat rhinoceros, 1 out of 5 stars, do not recommend."

Indiana Dunes State Park is one of 23 others managed by the Indiana State Parks System, which handles an additional seven small satellite locations, eight reservoir properties, two state forest recreation areas and two off-road riding areas. These are places where generations of Hoosiers have marveled at Indiana's natural beauty.

Of course, not everyone is dazzled, as evidenced by the following 1-star reviews, edited for clarity and length, from people who looked at these same places and thought, "Meh."

Others are reading: 10 popular Indiana state parks and what to know before visiting

Indiana Dunes State Park: 'Too sandy'

The Indiana Dunes National Park.

Why people go: Indiana Dunes State Park in Porter County is a popular summer destination. Its glacial sands "pushed and pulled by time" can rise nearly 250 feet, offering spectacular views of Lake Michigan's blue waters and roaring surf. Nature enthusiasts can saunter through 2,200 acres of lush, primitive landscape teeming with hundreds of species of birds. And that's the state park. There's a national park next door with 50 miles of hiking trails spread across 15,000 acres.

What the reviews say overall: The dunes have garnered upwards of 17,000 reviews between Google and Yelp, most of which are favorable. The national and state parks have earned 4.6 and 4.7 out of 5 stars on Google, respectively.

All of which failed to impress these people.

The 1-star reviews:

"The blue water is too wet and the golden sand is too hot. Dont waste your time. The hiking trails are sandy and too outside-y."  Jennifer Ryan, March 2024.

"No swimming allowed due to waves that weren't that big."  Brian Reynolds, 2022.

"The flies were eating me alive."  Geogeann Coop, 2020.

"Our neighbor was a lunatic. He fed marshmallows to raccoons and harassed us to take part in viewing his nonsense. He taunted our lack of food supply."  Sam C., June 2019.

"Way too many idiots from Illinois there."  Scott Cronn, 2019.

How to get to the park anyway: Drive to 1600 N. 25 E, Chesterton, IN 46304 or visit the state park's official website at the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. Visitors to Indiana Dunes National Park can reach it via Interstate 94, the Indiana Toll Road (Interstate 80/90), U.S. Highways 12 and 20, Indiana State Road 49 and other state roads, according to park officials. The Indiana Dunes Visitor Center is located on Indiana State Road 49.

Turkey Run State Park: 'Not a single running turkey'

Why people go: Moss-covered rock formations, waterfalls and verdant greenery make for an enchanting hike at Turkey Run State Park. It sits about 30 minutes southwest of Crawfordsville. Among other amenities, there's a cabin commemorating Richard Lieber, the father of Indiana's state park system. Midwest Living Magazine called Turkey Run one of "best places to hike" in the Midwest.

Overall: Turkey Run has earned 4.8 out of 5 stars on Google from upwards of 6,700 reviews.

The 1-star review:

"Been here about 10 times now...never seen a single running turkey. False advertising. The hiking trails were fun though."  Dimitris Valioulis, 2019.

How to get to the park: Drive to 8121 E. Park Road, in Marshall, Indiana.

Others are reading: Is this Indiana State Park in Marshall really the Midwest's best place for hiking?

Cecil M Harden Lake, Raccoon Lake State Recreation Area: You can't play your music (during quiet hours)

A view of the Cecil M Hardin Lake at Raccoon State Recreation Area in Parke and Putnam counties.

Why people go: Raccoon Lake State Recreation Area is roughly one hour west of Indianapolis and nestled on Cecil M. Harden Lake. In addition to the park's forests and swimming areas, attendees can check out the historic Mansfield Roller Mill, a flour mill from the 1880s.

Overall: The park has earned 4.6 out of 5 stars from more than 1,500 reviews on Google.

The 1-star reviews:

"I'm giving it 1 star because I wish the tourists would stay away. Most don't know how to drive, which results in accidents."  xFatalPhenomx, 2020.

"Worst camping site I have ever been to. You can't even play your music nor play corn hole after 11!"  Mikey Daugherty, 2017.

How to get to the park: Drive to 1588 S. Raccoon Parkway in Rockville, Indiana.

Scrub Hub: How are Indiana state park hiking trails designed?

McCormick's Creek State Park: The raccoons were doing what, now?

McCormick's Creek State Park is Indiana's oldest state park and features beautiful waterfalls.

Why people go: McCormick's Creek has the honor of being Indiana's first state park. About an hour away from Indianapolis outside of Bloomington, the park is known for its waterfalls, flowing creeks, limestone canyons and often hosts concerts at its amphitheater.

While the park has been closed since a deadly EF-3 tornado struck the area on March 31, 2023, crews have been busy making trails accessible again.

Overall: McCormick's Creek has upwards of 3,731 reviews on Google, most of which are favorable at 4.8 out of 5 stars. One lady's experience with raccoons, however, cost the park her 5-star rating.

The 1-star review:

"The raccoons at this park are out of control. ...We were asleep and a raccoon tore a hole in my tent and was eating the bread beside us. There was another raccoon in our firepit and another getting into our cooler," wrote Stevie Meyer on Google in 2015. "We tried going back to bed only to have the raccoon get back into my tent right beside me, hiss at me and run back."

How to get to the park: Drive to 250 McCormick's Creek Park Road in Spencer, Indiana, but be aware that not all of its facilities have reopened to the public.

While the campground and some park trails remain closed, McCormick's Creek State Park's nature center, Canyon Inn, cabins, most shelters and some hiking trails are now open, according to DNR. The public pool is scheduled to reopen Friday, May 1, while the Saddle Barn will remain closed.

Tippecanoe River State Park: For some, if the mosquitoes don't bug you the rednecks will

There are lots of steps to climb in the old fire tower at Tippecanoe River State Park in Winamac, but it pays off with a view over the treetops. Tribune Photo/JOSEPH DITS

Why people go: Tippecanoe River State Park attracts canoers and kayakers who want to experience some of the best river scenery Indiana has to offer. The state park is a sanctuary for bird species and a stop on the Indiana Birding Trail. Guests to the park have spotted warblers, wild ducks and red-headed woodpeckers. In addition to 23 miles of trails  9 hiking-only with 14 miles reserved for both hiking and horse trails  the park has a 90-foot fire tower offering visitors a surrounding view of the countryside.

Overall: The park has mostly favorable ratings on Google, earning 4.6 out of 5 stars from 974 reviews. On Tripadvisor, Tippecanoe River State Park had 42 reviews  18 rated it "excellent," 15 called the park "very good" and seven people said it was "average." The remaining two thought the park was "terrible."

The harshest critiques both from Google and Tripadvisor cited mosquitoes and loud music.

The 1-star reviews:

"The mosquitoes are like a biblical swarm."  Douglas McLanahan, May 2024.

"The campground is crowded in the midst of all that Indiana farmland with lots of trees. Trees sound good until you try to back your camper in. All the ones around us had scrape marks. Then there were the rednecks and screaming kids. They did shut up around 10 p.m., but lots of noise until then."  Goff42, June 2017.

"Beautiful area, but the air was swarming with mosquitoes and we had to pick ticks off our bodies and our dogs bodies for days."  Bill W. May 2014.

How to get to the park anyway: Drive to 4200 N US Hwy 35 in Winamac, Indiana.

Others are reading: Here's when every full moon shines in 2024

John Tufts covers trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana Dunes too sandy? Funny 1-star reviews of Indiana state parks
As a mom in my 40s, I love to travel for work and family vacations. The best of those trips involve warm weather, ocean water and great food. This year, the family trip involved all of those thingsbut was very uniqueas it marked my first visit to a Blue Zone.

I had seen Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones on Netflix, and wondered what these people know about living life the longestin the happiest and most healthful ways. Booking a trip to Guanacaste, Costa Rica was easy (thanks to a direct flight from most large US cities!). And opening my heart and mind to learn what theyve known for centuries was a beautiful journey.

Starting at Liberia airport, we had a 2+ hour bumpy car ride to our first destination, Punta Islita, in the Nicoya Peninsula. As the experience manager of the hotel said, bad roads bring good people, which is so true. You always have to go farther to find the most beautiful places (off the beaten path). We were tired, hot and very hungry on the ride (especially our tween daughter, who was officially over all the traveling by hour eight). When we asked the driver to make a stop en route, we were blown away by the gem we uncovered. It was a side-of-the-road fruit standno different than many others in Central and South Americabut wonderful. As I watched my daughter thrill over the machete-trimmed coconut and the ready-to-eat slices of pineapple, mango and papaya, I knew we had been transported to a new kind of place. One where $5 for fresh fruit delivered happiness unlike any American grocery store ever would. As she sipped fresh OJ (seriously, from-the-tree fresh) from the corner of a baggie, I watched her enjoy juice as she never had before. It was so nice to see that, within a day, small transformations were already beginning.

I had seen pictures of Punta Islita, a secluded jungle hideaway, but I was overtaken at our arrival. The lush greenery and stunning views opened wide after driving through canopies of trees with fresh mangoes and white-faced monkeys. We were met with cold hibiscus tea (something integral to the region) and the standard rican greeting of pura vida; something we heard a lot while visiting. I will keep that with methe saying and the sincerity that goes along with itpure life. Pure life. Pure life. It truly embodies the simple, happy, humble culture and lifestyle that Costa Rica offers.

We experienced many special, unique moments at Punta Islita and their sister property, El Mangroove, but what was most special was watching the elements of the Blue Zone unfold around us and seeing my daughter naturally mold into each of the experiences. She snorkeled in open waters surrounded by octopus and dolphins, rode horseback on the beach, read in a hammock (screen-free!), tried so many fruits she had never tasted before, and spoke in Spanish with love to every person we encountered. That is the true lesson of the Blue Zone. Eat fresh food, stay active, live as close to your family as possible (many families live multi-generationally) and understand that its not money that makes you happier or helps you live longer, but rather appreciating all that nature offers us.

10 health-focused habits that stayed with me from the Blue Zone in Guanacaste, Costa Rica

1. Eat fresh, whole food

I once asked our server is it organic? and the response was a laugh. You dont need to ask if its organic in Costa Rica: it just is. The rich, colorful, plant-based food was so REAL. Buying tropical fruits like mango and papaya is pricey at home, but the taste and health benefits are worth it, in my opinion. At Punta Islita, they proudly created a Permaculture Project, which follows traditional indigenous farming practices. The food from the Permaculture farm showed up as incredible fresh juices each morning at breakfast (combos like pineapple/mango/cucumber and pineapple/basil/tamarind) and in meals like breakfast ice cream (a very cold spirulina with granola, coconut and almond butter). Back at home, weve already pulled the juicer out from the garage and are putting it to use in a much more imaginative way than before.

Punta Islita, Autograph Collection

2. Savor your coffee

The darker the roast, the less caffeinethat was a lesson I learned from coffee growers in Costa Rica. They use a traditional method called the Grandma method which is basically a pour-over coffee using a wooden chorreador and a fabric filter/sock. If you want to make authentic Costa Rican coffee once youre home, this is the typical method. Its a slow, simple process that reminds us to take our time enjoying our coffee. For me, its a reminder that we only need one delicious cup (not a whole pot!) focusing on the ritual rather than the rush.

3. Sip hibiscus tea

Served cold, and at most meals, the hibiscus tea was sweet, cinnamony and refreshing. But more than that, its a native drink with healing powers. The hibiscus plant is rich in antioxidants such as beta-carotene, vitamin C and anthocyanin. Its known to support everything from fighting inflammation to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Its refreshing and light (and my daughter loved it!). Were already preparing it at home with a cinnamon stick (another plant used as an antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties)both hot and cold.

Punta Islita, Autograph Collection

4. Carve out time for self-care

At the Nanku Wellbeing Spa, I was able to experience century-old healing traditions, using the Nicoyan peoples secrets of holistic healing. Shirodhara is their most meditative and relaxing treatment, part of ancient Ayurvedic medicine. They poured a steady flow of coconut oil and hot honey over my forehead and the sixth chakra (the third eye and the intuition energy center). During this healing experience, I had a whole-body massage with passion fruit oil. The smell was so sweet and delicious and lingered on my skin for a good 2 to 3 days. I will forever associate that scent with this trip. The massage was followed up with a soak in the tub (also infused with passion fruit oil). I forgot how nice it was to take an uninterrupted soak. Its high on my list of things I need to continue to do back at homecarving out the time for the quiet and relaxation of a hot bath.

5. Learn from the macaws

These endangered animals mate for life. They also split the family duties! At sanctuaries throughout Costa Rica, ongoing efforts are working to replenish the species almost completely lost to deforestation for pineapple and other farms. Through their revival we can watch and learn from these prehistoric birds. Stay close to family. Pick a solid partner. Work together. Mating for life works when we split the family work and raise children together. Why should humans do it differently?

Punta Islita, Autograph Collection

6. Surround yourself with greenery

The variety of plants in the Nicoya region is astounding, especially considering that dry season is DRY. Yet somehow youre surrounded by lush, tropical, large-leafed plants everywhere you turn. The native trees and fruit in Costa Rica have been used in local healing for generations. While you may not be able to find fresh lemongrass and guanabana back at home, any type of plant can have a positive impact. Plants are actually known to improve air quality in enclosed spaces and lets face it, plants make us all happier.

Punta Islita, Autograph Collection

7. Honor Earth Hour

At Punta Islita, and many resorts in Costa Rica, theyve adopted Earth Hour. Each month, for one hour after dinner, they turn off all of the lights in the public spaces. Its Earth Hour. A time for us all to be with each other, device-free, to acknowledge and give thanks for our time here. I have a memory of local students coming to dance by candlelight. Its a good reminder to take time to unplug in the evening hours, and a way to teach kids how to enjoy down-timea huge lesson itself.

8. Enjoy the soothing sounds of nature

Sadly, I cant bring back the natural jungle sounds, where the cacophony of macaws is loud and vibrant, but I can ask Google to play soothing music when I need a moment to de-stress. I will remember the sounds of the birds in the morning which turned to howler monkeys in the afternoonloud, yet so peaceful. Its a reminder that work is not more important, and sometimes taking it all in gives you the clarity to see things differently, from a bigger perspective.

9. Move slowly in the mornings

The heat can be brutal in Costa Rica (95-100 most days in early spring) with the blazing sun, but the mornings are pure pleasure. Even if youre not a meditation personsit, enjoy, relax. Take in the views and the sounds. Savor the beauty of nature. The crash of the waves, the pair of bright green squawking parakeets passing by. The lush greenery. The black sand. Breathe it in. At home, this has turned into taking a few minutes each morning to myself before or after the morning rush. Its a new day. Every day.

10. Embrace pura vida

Ricans end every conversation with itand they mean it. Its not just for surfers and travelers. Its a recommendation for life. Do your best. Love the moments. Appreciate your health. Relish your children. Pura vida.
WELLSVILLE, Utah (ABC4)  A main road in Cache County was shut down early Friday morning, May 31, after a semi-truck was involved in a head-on collision.

Lt. Cameron Roden with the Utah Highway Patrol confirmed with ABC4.com that the crash happened on SR-101, or Main Street, near Wellsville.

Roden said a Thunderbird was driving westbound when it crossed into the eastbound lanes and struck an oncoming semi-truck hauling cattle. The driver of the Thunderbird, who has yet to be identified, was taken to a local hospital where he later died due to his injuries.

The driver of the semi-truck was uninjured, however, two cows died in the crash.

Roden said SR-101 was closed in both directions and is expected to reopen by 11:30 a.m. on Friday, May 31.

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 federal lawsuit has been filed on behalf of the owner of a blind and deaf dog that was repeatedly shot by a Missouri police officer after it became lost in someones yard earlier this month.

The complaint, filed on behalf of dog owner Nicholas Hunter on Tuesday against the city of Sturgeon and police officer Myron Woodson, seeks more than $1 million in damages, the Animal League Defense Fund announced Wednesday.

Woodson had been called in to help find the owner of the dog, a 13-pound Shih Tzu named Teddy. The officer shot him twice at point-blank range, as seen in body camera footage. Minutes after the shooting, Hunter, whod gotten a call from a friend about Teddy escaping his backyard kennel, confronted the officer.

Teddy was filmed being shot twice by the officer after a woman said she found him lost in her backyard and requested help locating his owner. supplied

At no time during the encounter between Teddy and Defendant Woodson did Teddy show any aggression towards Defendant Woodson, states the complaint. Teddy never barked, growled, or even moved towards Defendant Woodson. Instead, the small, blind and deaf dog simply kept trying to walk away, oblivious to the danger that Defendant Woodson posed to him.

The city failed to properly train, supervise and discipline Woodson, resulting in the unlawful seizure and killing of Teddy, Hunters lawsuit maintains.

The city had initially defending Woodson, saying he acted within his authority to protect citizens from the dog. But Sturgeon Mayor Kevin Abrahamson resigned after the dogs death, and Woodson was placed on leave until further notice, the city announced over the weekend.

Representatives for the city and police department did not immediately respond to HuffPosts requests for comment Friday.

I hope this case can generate attention that will result in state-level laws to provide mandatory training and procedures for all law enforcement or anyone that could possibly have interactions with animals, Hunter said in a statement released by the ALDF on Wednesday. I just dont want anyone else to experience what were going through.

In an earlier interview with HuffPost, Hunter said Woodson admitted to him that he felt Teddy posed no threat to him and that he only killed Teddy because the small dog looked injured or abandoned.

He carried his head sideways and he walked funny because he cant see or hear, Hunter said of Teddy, who was 5. The vet diagnosed him with a neurological issue, which was the cause of him going deaf and blind.

The woman who called the city for help finding Teddys owner also insisted that the dog was harmless and she merely wanted assistance so he wouldnt get hurt, she told HuffPost.

The dog drank water from a bowl I provided and licked my arm and leg. He was in no way a threat, said the woman, who declined to share her name publicly out of fear of retaliation.

This is such an unnecessary, and preventable problem, ALDF Executive Director Chris Green said in a statement. It all comes down to providing police officers with adequate training and then holding all involved accountable. The goal is to prevent these tragedies from ever happening in the first place.

The ADLF, citing statistics from the Justice Department, said the number one reason a police officer discharges their firearm in the U.S. is to shoot a dog. This results in an estimated 10,000 dogs being shot and killed by police annually.

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For The 11th Year In A Row, Every Graduate At This Predominantly Black Chicago High School Were Accepted To College

Its raining Black excellence at Southland College Prep Charter High School!

For the 11th year in the row, its senior class, which is predominantly Black, have all been accepted to college, Black News reports. In fact, $50 million in merit and need-based scholarships have already been offered to students, with that number expected to exceed $60 million.

And the amount of money rises each year, senior Lundyn Williams told CBS News.

Dr. Blondean Y. Davis, Southlands CEO and superintendent of Matteson School District 162, told Black News:

Our students faced unprecedented challenges, and they addressed every one of them and more than met them.

Davis adds when she founded the Chicago, IL, area school in 2010, she was told by others that students from our area would not be able to access the Ivy League or top schools in the country.

Clearly, she has proven doubters wrong.

I have been accepted to 43 different schools and applied to 51, Williams mentioned, according to CBS News.

Davis shared, per Black News, This is what happens when what seemed impossible becomes a reality and a vision is realized. This is what happens when a communitys dreams for their children are achieved.

Offers have been pouring in from schools including the University of Chicago, University of California-Berkeley, University of Southern California, Stanford, Northwestern, Columbia University, Vanderbilt, University of Michigan, Barnard College, Wellesley College, and top Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) such as Howard University, Spelman College, Morehouse College, Xavier University of Louisiana, and Hampton University, among others.

These college admissions and the financial aid and scholarships these students have worked hard for and earned represent hope for the future of not just these students and their families, but for our communities in the south suburbs, Robert Lane, Southlands director of college admissions, said according to Black News.

Congrats to the 2024 graduation class at Southland College Prep Charter High School for raising the bar!
Protesters holding placards march on a street as they take part in a rally against the proposed amendments to extradition law in Hong Kong, Sunday, June 9, 2019. The amendments have been widely criticized as eroding the semi-autonomous Chinese territory's judicial independence by making it easier to send criminal suspects to mainland China, where they could face vague national security charges and unfair trials. | Kin Cheung

A guilty verdict was handed down to 14 pro-democracy activists in Hong Kong on Thursday in the Chinese territorys largest national security case, coming more than three years after the defendants arrests.

The charges

In Hong Kong, 47 activists, including politicians and academics, were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion for their involvement in an unofficial primary election. The government accused the activists of trying to subvert state power by planning to use their legislative positions to force the city leader to resign and create a political crisis, per NBC News.

The charges fall under the Beijing Hong Kong National Security Law, imposed in 2020, which aims to prevent and punish activities that are considered threats to Chinas national security within Hong Kong.

The legislation targets political offenses like treason and insurrection with penalties as harsh as life imprisonment and expands the scope of what can be considered criminal behavior, The New York Times said.

NBC news reported that 14 of the 47 were convicted while two former district councilors, Lawrence Lau and Lee Yueshun, were acquitted. The convicted sentences range from three years to life in prison.

Many of these activists have been detained since their arrest back in 2021.

The Washington Post reported that the trial was conducted by three judges who have been strategically selected, bypassing Hong Kongs usual common law system of trial by jury. These judges have been picked by the government specifically to try national security cases.

Who are the 47 activists?

The 47 activists consist of some of Hong Kongs most prestigious and well-known pro-democracy advocates, ranging from 20 to 60 years old, according to The Associated Press.

According to the AP, among the activists are legal scholar Benny Tai, around a dozen pro-democracy lawmakers and well-known activists Josua Wong and Lester Shum.

The 16 people were the only ones to plead not guilty from a group of 47 charged in early 2021 after mass dawn raids on their homes and offices by national security police. The 31 who pleaded guilty, including four who testified for the prosecution, are still awaiting the outcome of their cases, The Guardian reported.

The controversy

Critics argue the law severely limits freedoms that previously protected Hong Kong. Freedom of speech, assembly and the press have been tainted.

NBC news stated, The trial symbolizes the decline of freedoms in the international financial hub amid a crackdown on dissent following mass anti-government protests in 2019.

According to The Washington Post, the defendants represented the full gamut of Hong Kongs once-thriving pro-democracy opposition  from students to lawyers, veteran activists and relative newcomers, their views ranging from moderate to more radical.

This is a very significant moment for the history of Hong Kong, a man surnamed Wong, 26, told NBC News outside the courthouse after the ruling. This trial is one of the landmark trials that will dictate the future of Hong Kong, per NBC News.
Tony Cooper and Elijah Hodge, both 13, rushed over to help a driver whose vehicle ended up in a Florida canal

Two Florida teenagers are being hailed as heroes for saving a man whose truck went into a canal.

According to a statement issued to PEOPLE by the Broward County Sheriffs Office, authorities "responded to a call about a vehicle in a canal near the 7100 block of West McNab Road in North Lauderdale" on the evening of Wednesday, May 29. They added that the emergency responders arrived at the scene and found "the driver, who managed to get out of the vehicle and swim onto the embankment."

The driver, who said there were no other occupants in the vehicle, was evaluated by paramedics at the scene and released, per authorities. He also told responders "a juvenile reached for his hand and assisted him to the embankment."

Related: In Life-or-Death Situations, Kids Are Proving Superheroes Come in All Ages: Look Out for Each Other

According to FOX affiliate WSVN, friends Tony Cooper and Elijah Hodge, both 13, saw the vehicle, a Toyota truck, go into the canal and hurried over to help the driver.



We rushed and took off our shoes and stuff, Cooper told WSVN. We literally jumped on the hood and then we took off the seat belt and then we pulled them out. I started screaming at him because he was heavy while he was in the car. We [were] screaming, he woke up, we helped him get out of the car and after that, he was on the hood and then we pulled him onto the grass.



Witness Dorothy Borgelin also told the outlet that she saw the truck in the water and then Cooper and Hodge helping out at the scene.

Related: Calif. Teen Rescued From Bridge After Equipment Fails While Filming Stunt on Video

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They were on the other side, Borgelin said of the teens, and then they just jumped into the water. One of them went on top of the hood and the other one was in the water, trying to pull the men out. They did an amazing job to save the mans life.

Among those who praised the teens for their efforts was North Lauderdale Mayor Samson Borgelin, who issued a statement to WSVN. I am incredibly proud of these young citizens and their heroic efforts. I will be reaching out to them and their families to formally recognize their bravery, he said.

Related: Faced With Deadly Danger, Davyon Johnson, 11, Sprang Into Action: 'I Saved 2 People's Lives In 1 Day'

A WSVN viewer who heard about the story met Cooper and Hodge in person and gave them each a check for $250. Im just so proud of you boys, the viewer said, per the outlet.

When asked how they feel about what happened, Cooper said, per WSVN, I feel great. Hodge added, I feel happy.

Per the sheriff's office, "The circumstances surrounding the incident is under investigation."



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Read the original article on People.
2 injured in Russian missile attack on Odesa port infrastructure

Russian troops attacked port infrastructure in the southern city of Odesa on May 31, injuring two people, Governor Oleh Kiper reported.

An explosion was reported in Odesa at 7:30 p.m. local time almost immediately after an air raid alert went off in the region.

The governor said that according to preliminary information, Russia hit the port with a ballistic missile equipped with a cluster munition warhead.

A 28-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man reportedly suffered shrapnel injuries and were hospitalized in moderate condition.

Odesa Oblast and other southern regions of Ukraine are regular targets of Russian missile and drone attacks.

Russia on May 1 launched ballistic missiles at Odesa, hitting a postal depot of Ukraine's largest privately-owned postal service, Nova Poshta.

The attack injured 14 people and destroyed 15.5 metric tons of shipments worth almost Hr 3 million ($76,000).

Read also: Swiss volunteer injured in Russian attack on Vovchansk

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Two men are under arrest after a stolen vehicle crashed into a church overnight in north Charlotte, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police confirmed.

Officers were at the crime scene around 3:30 a.m. Friday, May 31, where a vehicle crashed into Bible Presbyterian Church at the intersection of North Graham Street and Rumple Road.

Queen City News is tracking CRIME in your area  >> Latest stories here

An initial investigation stated that the two suspects robbed another man overnight and then stole his vehicle before crashing it following an attempted traffic stop by officers.









Both men face charges including simple assault, felony larceny of a vehicle, common law robbery, and drug possession. The victim was punched in the face during the initial robbery and crack cocaine and marijuana were found inside the vehicle, according to the police report.

The identities of the two men have not yet been released by CMPD.

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.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  An update to a 20-year-old murder case that came to the forefront is set to air on Dateline Friday night.

Kristi Johnson, a 1999 graduate of Saugatuck High School, was murdered in Los Angeles in February of 2003 by serial killer Victor Lawrence Paleologus.

Paleologus encountered 21-year-old Kristi Johnson at the Century City Mall, and under the false pretense of a movie audition, lured her to a vacant Hollywood Hills home. There he attacked, raped and murdered her, then threw her lifeless body down a canyon.

The case aired on Dateline nearly 20 years ago but was given a new life this year thanks to a group of women who had also been targeted by a Paleologus.

Dateline correspondent Keith Morrison shared their story as a Dateline podcast series that was number one on the charts for weeks. Now, the true crime original is sharing the updates on the case and bringing it back to television.

Morrison will share how a group of strangers who were targeted by the same man turned into a sisterhood determined to make sure this dangerous predator and killer never struck again.

Keith Morrison spoke with News 8 Friday ahead of the episode airing, you can watch the conversation with him in the video above.

To hear the full story surrounding the death of Kristi Johnson and to find out how women victimized by the same predator stood up to make sure he never struck again, you can watch The Girl with the Hibiscus Tattoo on Dateline at 9 p.m. Friday on WOOD TV8.

Justice for Kristi, a group organized to honor Kristi Johnson, an innocent victim of rape and murder, launched their campaign to block serial killer Victor Lawrence Paleologus from being released from prison for his upcoming parole hearing in 2025. You can learn more about their efforts 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 WOODTV.com.
An aerial view shows high voltage power lines on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Twenty-one states are joining a push by President Joe Bidens administration to modernize the nations aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing mix of power generation and severe weather. (Joe Raedle | Getty Images)

Twenty-one states are joining a push by the Biden administration to modernize Americas aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing power generation mix that includes lots of wind and solar and severe weather.

The administration, which has set a goal of a carbon-free power sector by 2035, announced Tuesday that the states had joined what it called the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative, which is intended to help drive grid adaptation quickly and cost-effectively to meet the challenges and opportunities that the power sector faces.

In exchange for federal technical and financial assistance opportunities, participating states will prioritize efforts that support the adoption of modern grid solutions to expand grid capacity and build modern grid capabilities on both new and existing transmission and distribution lines.

That means in part focusing on ways to get more out of existing transmission lines, since building new ones can take a decade or more in some cases.

There are technologies we can use to optimize the current infrastructure we have, said Verna Mandez, director of transmission at Advanced Energy United, a clean energy trade group.

Those include reconductoring existing lines to handle more juice as well as so-called grid-enhancing technologies, a suite of tools that include sensors, power-flow controls, software and hardware that can better deliver real-time weather data, among other technologies.

In many cases, those technologies have been adopted in other countries but uptake has lagged here, in part because utilities arent incentivized to adopt them and generally dont face consequences as a result of grid congestion, which costs electric customers billions of dollars each year.

Most transmission providers get more money when they build transmission projects, Mandez said.

The White House said in a news release that adopting newer technologies means that renewables and other clean sources of power can be integrated sooner and more cost-effectively than waiting for new transmission construction, which will address load growth challenges more rapidly, create good-paying jobs and lower Americans utility bills.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has also in several orders prodded utilities and grid operators to consider more use of grid-enhancing technologies.

And some states are taking action on their own. Virginia, which did not join the initiative announced Tuesday, passed legislation signed by GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin that requires utilities to consider grid-enhancing technologies in their planning. Last year, Montana passed legislation aimed at increasing use of advanced reconductoring. Minnesotas legislature also voted this month to add grid-enhancing technologies to the states transmission planning process and require some utilities to evaluate the tools for highly congested lines.

More tools than ever

To get a more reliable and cleaner electric grid, as well as accommodate electric demand thats growing for the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. needs lots of new transmission capacity, experts agree.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy found that almost all regions of the country would benefit from more transmission lines and a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study estimated that getting to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035 could require anywhere from 1,400 to 10,100 miles of new high capacity transmission lines per year starting in 2026.

Thats why the Biden administration has been pushing hard to remove roadblocks to new transmission lines, which can take a decade or more to develop in some cases, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission published a landmark new rule on regional transmission planning and cost allocation. Last month the administration also announced a public-private partnership to upgrade 100,000 miles of transmission lines over the next five years and the Department of Energy has identified 10 potential national interest electric transmission corridors, a designation that would help expedite the projects and give developers access to federal financing.

The power sector, which is responsible for a quarter of annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, now has more tools than ever  including unprecedented financial support, efficient permitting, and long-term regulatory certainty  to reduce pollution and upgrade the grid to support more factories, electric vehicles and other growing sources of electricity demand, the White House said.

The states joining the effort are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The post 21 states join Biden administration in bid to modernize nations aging grid appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
An aerial view shows high voltage power lines on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Twenty-one states are joining a push by President Joe Bidens administration to modernize the nations aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing mix of power generation, and severe weather. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

Twenty-one states are joining a push by the Biden administration to modernize Americas aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing power generation mix that includes lots of wind and solar, and severe weather.

The administration, which has set a goal of a carbon-free power sector by 2035, announced Tuesday that the states had joined what it called the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative, which is intended to help drive grid adaptation quickly and cost-effectively to meet the challenges and opportunities that the power sector faces.

In exchange for federal technical and financial assistance opportunities, participating states will prioritize efforts that support the adoption of modern grid solutions to expand grid capacity and build modern grid capabilities on both new and existing transmission and distribution lines.

That means in part focusing on ways to get more out of existing transmission lines, since building new ones can take a decade or more in some cases.

There are technologies we can use to optimize the current infrastructure we have, said Verna Mandez, director of transmission at Advanced Energy United, a clean energy trade group.

Those include reconductoring existing lines to handle more juice as well as so-called grid-enhancing technologies, a suite of tools that include sensors, power-flow controls, software, and hardware that can better deliver real-time weather data, among other technologies.

In many cases, those technologies have been adopted in other countries but uptake has lagged here, in part because utilities arent incentivized to adopt them and generally dont face consequences as a result of grid congestion, which costs electric customers billions of dollars each year.

Most transmission providers get more money when they build transmission projects, Mandez said.

The White House said in a news release that adopting newer technologies means that renewables and other clean sources of power can be integrated sooner and more cost-effectively than waiting for new transmission construction, which will address load growth challenges more rapidly, create good-paying jobs, and lower Americans utility bills.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has in several orders prodded utilities and grid operators to consider more use of grid-enhancing technologies.

And some states are taking action on their own. Virginia, which did not join the initiative announced Tuesday, passed legislation signed by GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin that requires utilities to consider grid-enhancing technologies in their planning. Last year, Montana passed legislation aimed at increasing use of advanced reconductoring. Minnesotas legislature also voted this month to add grid-enhancing technologies to the states transmission planning process and require some utilities to evaluate the tools for highly congested lines.

More tools than ever

To get a more reliable and cleaner electric grid, as well as accommodate electric demand thats growing for the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. needs lots of new transmission capacity, experts agree.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy found that almost all regions of the country would benefit from more transmission lines and a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study estimated that getting to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035 could require anywhere from 1,400 to 10,100 miles of new high-capacity transmission lines per year starting in 2026.

Thats why the Biden administration has been pushing hard to remove roadblocks to new transmission lines, which can take a decade or more to develop in some cases, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission published a landmark new rule on regional transmission planning and cost allocation. Last month, the administration announced a public-private partnership to upgrade 100,000 miles of transmission lines over the next five years and the Department of Energy has identified 10 potential national interest electric transmission corridors, a designation that would help expedite the projects and give developers access to federal financing.

The power sector, which is responsible for a quarter of annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, now has more tools than ever  including unprecedented financial support, efficient permitting, and long-term regulatory certainty  to reduce pollution and upgrade the grid to support more factories, electric vehicles, and other growing sources of electricity demand, the White House said.

The states joining the effort are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The post 21 states join Biden administration in bid to modernize nations aging grid appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
New Delhi  At least 22 people were killed and more than 70 others injured when a bus veered off a mountain road Thursday and plunged into a 150-foot gorge in the Akhnoor area of northern India's Jammu region. The bus was carrying pilgrims to the Shiv Khori shrine, a popular Hindu holy site in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir state.

The victims include at least eight women and two children, according to government officials.

"It seems like a human error," Rajinder Singh Tara, Jammu and Kashmir state's Transport Commissioner, told reporters. "The driver perhaps could not negotiate the sharp turn on the road, resulting in the bus going down into the gorge."

A man injured in a bus accident in Akhnoor, northern India, is brought to a hospital in Jammu, May 30, 2024. / Credit: AFP/Getty

The state Transport Department ordered an investigation into the cause of the accident.

People injured in the crash were rescued by teams of police and local residents and taken to the Government Medical College hospital in Jammu for treatment.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "anguished by the loss of lives" in the accident. He announced that each family of a person killed in the crash would receive 200,000 Indian rupees (approximately $2,400) from the government, and 50,000 Indian rupees (approximately $600) for the families of those injured.

The state's Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha described the accident as "heart-rending" and announced a separate compensation package for the victims.

Much of northern India is nestled in Himalayan mountains and surrounding hills, where high altitude roads are often narrow and feature many sharp curves, making them prone to accidents.

In November last year, at least 39 people were killed and 19 injured in a similar accident in the state's Doda district  when a passenger bus fell into a 300-foot gorge.

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3 of 4 men who escaped a Louisiana jail have been captured, 1 remains at large

One of the escaped Louisiana inmates who has been on the run since last weekend has been captured, according to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs office.

Omarion Hookfin, 19, has been taken into custody, according to the sheriffs office. Authorities did not specify when or where Hookfin was captured.

Jamarcus Cyprian, 20, remains at large as of Friday afternoon.

The two were part of a group of four who escaped from the Parish Jail while participating in their recreation time on the yard, CNN previously reported.

Two of the inmates are believed to have escaped the jail in Amite City on Saturday afternoon, while the other two fled on Sunday, according to Sheriff Daniel Edwards.

Avery Guidry, 19, and Travon Johnson, 21, were found on Monday hiding in a dumpster behind a Dollar General store.

The four inmates were all held in connection with violent crimes prior to their escapes from the Tangipahoa Parish Jail north of New Orleans, authorities said.

Hookfin, Guidry and Johnson were awaiting trial after being charged in connection with a deadly home invasion in 2022, leaving a father dead and his 12-year-old daughter injured, CNN affiliate WDSU reported.

CNN has reached out to the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriffs Office for more information.

This story has been updated with additional information.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
3 arrested in Priceville after search, accused of chemically endangering child

PRICEVILLE, Ala. (WHNT)  A man and a Decatur couple were arrested for endangering a child and exploiting the elderly after the Priceville Police Department (PPD) searched a home on Thursday.

PPD Officer Terry Turk Jones was investigating 37-year-old Kristopher James Clemons, who was arrested on April 26 for first-degree possession of a forged instrument and was out on bond.

Decatur Police Chief releases plan aimed to bridge the gap between residents and police

On May 30, Jones obtained a search warrant for the home of Kristopher Clemons and his wife, 39-year-old Roxann Clemons, and arrested the couple at the house. While searching the home, PPD also arrested Willie Elbert Wherley, 58.

Officers say all three were transported to the Morgan County Jail.

Two juveniles were at the home, and investigators state that they were released into Department of Human Resources (DHR) custody.

Both Kristopher Clemons and Roxann Clemons were charged with first-degree financial exploitation of the elderly, first-degree theft, trafficking stolen identities and chemical endangerment of a child. Both were held in place of bonds totaling $210,000 each.

Wherley was charged with chemical endangerment of a child and held in place of a bond totaling $10,000.

The case remains open as police say other offenders have been identified and will face charges.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Three Gresham firefighters were injured, with one still in critical condition after a Southeast Portland duplex fire Thursday night, authorities say.

At around 9 p.m. crews from both Gresham Fire and Portland Fire & Rescue responded to the reports of the duplex fire at the Southeast 182nd Avenue and Madison Way.

Officials say firefighter Spencer Tejedas and the other two firefighters rushed into the burning home because they were told a child with disabilities was inside. However, Gresham Fire says when the three entered the duplex, the teen  believed to be trapped in a bedroom- was safely outside the home.

Drew Gordon, former 76ers player, killed in Clackamas County car crash

They were not surprised that he went in without the protection of a hose line because he thought there was a child in that duplex, said Gresham Fire Chief Scott Lewis. Hes the kind of guy that you want on your crew, hes the kind of guy that you backing you up, hes the kind of guy you want to follow into the trouble.

Gresham firefighter Spencer Tejedas is in critical condition after battling a duplex fire on May 30, 2024. (Courtesy: Greg Muhr)

The flames quickly reached ceiling height and all three were able to get themselves out before being rushed to Legacy Emanuel Medical Center, authorities say.

Two of the injured firefighters were treated and released from the hospital. But Tejedas, is still in critical condition at the Oregon Burn Center and intubated after suffering severe burns on almost half of his body, officials say.

Two Oregon counties investigate case of abandoned, disabled pugs

His family thought it was important to say, this is our husband, our father, our son, to release his name, and hes, hes burned pretty bad, Lewis added. The burn surgeon last night estimated about 45% of his body. Thats a huge number and hes got a long road ahead of him.

Described as dedicated and driven, Tejedas worked with Gresham Fire since November of 2020. Authorities say outside of the three firefighters, no one else was hurt during the blaze.

Investigators believe it likely was sparked by an unattended lit candle.

Woman dead in Hazelwood shooting identified, suspect in custody

Lewis emphasized this is an incredibly difficult time for the department and a reminder of the dangerous risk they each take on daily.

Firefighting is a dangerous occupation, he said. When everybody else is running out of a building, we expect our firefighters to run in and thats what they do. While they can be bigger than life, there are people like the rest of us and its important to remember that.

KOIN 6 will continue to closely track Tejedas condition as this develops. In the meantime, the Gresham Fire says their hearts go out to his family and they are asking the public to respect their privacy.

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.
This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post with more information as it becomes available.

Update. 10:09 p.m.: One man is dead after Thursday evenings drive-by shooting in Murray.

Reardon said the three men were transported to an area hospital, where one died upon arrival.

Detectives said they are working to identify the victims and interview witnesses, but believes it to be an isolated incident between two groups.

The suspects were seen leaving the area in a white, four door, passenger car.

This is an active investigation, and authorities said the intersection will be closed for several hours as the scene is processed.

Police are asking that anyone who may have witnessed this incident or have any information please call Murray Police at 801-840-4000 and reference case MR24-16439.

ORIGINAL STORY: MURRAY, Utah (ABC4)  Three men were injured in a drive-by shooting near a Utah Transit Authority TRAX station Thursday evening.

Murray Police Department spokeswoman Kristin Reardon, told ABC4.com the incident happened just after 7 p.m. near 4295 S 50 W and West Fireclay Avenue.

According to Reardon, the injuries range from minor to critical.

There are no confirmed suspects at this time.

There is no further information available at this time.

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2 children, 1 adult trapped in car that rolled down embankment into Plymouth river, police say

Emergency crews responded to a report of several people trapped in a car that rolled down an embankment off a Plymouth highway Friday afternoon.

According to State Police, troopers from the Bourne barracks received several 911 calls just after 5 p.m. for a motor vehicle crash on Route 3 southbound. Arriving authorities found the car had rolled down an embankment and into the Eel River.

Officials say three people were trapped and troopers, along with Plymouth firefighters, extricated them in about 20 minutes. The 50-year-old male driver sustained serious injuries and was flown via medical helicopter to a Boston hospital, according to authorities. A 9-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl were also in the car and transported to an area hospital by ambulance.

I think the efforts of Plymouth Fire personnel, Brewster Ambulance, and Plymouth Police was a true team effort to provide the care that all the patients needed, and that made a difference, Chief Neil Foley said.

The left travel lane remains closed while crews investigate. Two right lanes are open and MassDOT is assisting with traffic and arrow boards.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

No further information was immediately available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

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Police officer dies after being 'ambushed' while responding to Minneapolis shooting call: Officials

A Minneapolis police officer has died after they were "ambushed" while responding to a call about a shooting, officials said Thursday night.

Officers from the Minneapolis Police Department responded to reports of a double shooting on the 2200 block of Blaisdell Ave. S., earlier Thursday, the department's assistant chief of operations, Katie Blackwell, told the media. Upon arriving, the officers immediately received gunfire and exchanged gunfire, she said.

Two officers were injured in the incident and taken to a nearby hospital. Officer Jamal Mitchell died at the hospital, she said. The second officer, who has not been named, suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to the assistant chief.

Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said Mitchell had just arrived on the scene and was rendering first aid when he was shot.

"As Officer Mitchell neared the scene, he located individuals that were injured and got out of his car, and as he was attempting to provide assistance to them -- medical assistance -- he was ambushed," Evans said at Thursday's media briefing.

PHOTO: Law enforcement officers work at the scene of a shooting in Minneapolis, on May 30, 2024. (KSTP)

MORE: Man stabbed in both legs with a machete in Times Square

Two individuals were found at the scene with gunshot wounds, according to Blackwell, who spoke at a press briefing Thursday night. One of the individuals was pronounced dead at the scene. The other person was gravely injured, she said.

A firefighter also suffered life-threatening injuries, Blackwell said.

The suspected gunman died at the scene, officials said.

PHOTO: Police tape is shown at the scene of a shooting in Minneapolis on May 30, 2024. (KSTP)

Addressing the death of Officer Mitchell, Blackwell said he "was exceptional in every way."

She said Mitchell joined their department a little over a year ago and received an award on his third day on the job. According to a February 2023 post on the department's Facebook page, Mitchell was newly sworn in when, alongside a fellow officer, he helped save two older adults from a house fire.

The investigation is ongoing.

Police officer dies after being 'ambushed' while responding to Minneapolis shooting call: Officials originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
MERCED, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Over 40 people were arrested and several pounds of narcotics as well as numerous guns were seized following Operation Red Rooster focused on a criminal street gang in Merced, the California Department of Justice announced.

As a result of the operation, the DOJ says over 60 pounds of narcotics were seized and 27 guns were confiscated.

The investigation began in 2021 after the Livingston Police Department investigated a homicide and attempted homicide connected to a prominent criminal street gang.

The DOJ says one of the shooters was arrested but the other one remained at large.

As the investigation grew, so did the amount of agencies involved in the operation.

Officers and officials from the California DOJ, the Livingston Police Department, the Merced County Sheriff, the Merced Police Department, and the U.S. Attorneys Office all joined the fray.

Operation Red Rooster was a success because of the hard work of so many dedicated law enforcement partners, said Attorney General Rob Bonta. Our work to address the organized criminal street gang crisis is saving lives and making communities safer  but there is more to be done. We wont rest until California communities are free from gang activity, including here in the Central Valley.

Officials say one of the suspects arrested is Freddy Hernandez, the responsible for a November 2022 homicide in Livingston.

I just really feel for her knowing that hopefully, this will bring some closure. I hope shes watching today and well notify her soon that we have arrested the perpetrator whos accused of killing her son, said Nicole Silveira, Merced County District Attorney.

The DOJ says the operation lasted about 18 months and concluded on Thursday morning with the arrest of 41 suspects accused of homicide, attempted homicide, gun trafficking, and drug trafficking charges with gang enhancements.

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Five deported orphans have been brought back to Ukraine after being held in the occupied territory of Ukraine and later transported to Russia.

Source: Mykola Kuleba, the founder and CEO of the Save Ukraine NGO, on Facebook

Details: According to reports, all of the children are from the Novopetriv orphanage in Mykolaiv Oblast. After the war began, they spent the first three months on the front lines, sheltering in the basement from bombs and missiles with no food or water.

According to Kuleba, Russians took the children at gunpoint and relocated them to occupied Ukraine in mid-July 2022.

Quote: "Children were detained at the Kherson centre for social and psychological rehabilitation. Every day, the soldiers came to them and checked to see whether anyone had suddenly fled, prohibited them from communicating with family, and threatened them.

In October 2022, the invaders brought them to Crimea, then to Anapa in Krasnodar Krai. From there, the children were rescued and sent to a safer location, Georgia."

Details: Kuleba noted that with the help of Save Ukraine, 356 children have already been brought back from Russia, 90 of them are orphans.

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The recipients are:

$5,000.00  Lawrence Humane Society (Lawrence, KS)

Supporting the Crisis Pet Retention Program

The Crisis Pet Retention Program at Lawrence Humane exemplifies how an animal shelter can become an essential social service agency in the community. LHS partners with a local food bank, mental health center, housing and homeless organizations, and agencies serving children and families. This program helps keep pets in their homes rather than being relinquished to a shelter, even as their owners face obstacles such as poverty, job loss, and other inequalities. The program supports Douglas County but has expanded to help pets in neighboring communities where resources are scarce. To help ensure that finances are not a barrier to someone being able to care for a pet, Lawrence Humane provides low cost spays and neuters, dentals, and even speciality surgeries such as amputations. The shelter also hosts monthly vaccine and microchip clinics, emergency boarding, and sponsors pet deposit fees for renters.

$2,500.00  Have a Heart TNR (Clifton, KS)

Sponsoring Spay and Neuter Surgeries

Have a Heart TNR was launched in 2019 in a complete pet resource desert. The goal continues to be to stop the breeding of community cats by providing trap-neuter-return services. Have a Heart TNRs program stops the cycle of cats and kittens suffering and dying on the streets and reduces the flow of felines into shelters. As a state licensed rescue, Have a Heart TNR also takes in abandoned cats and finds forever homes for them. Once admitted to their shelter, they are spayed/neutered, vaccinated and treated for fleas and ticks, and any other veterinary care needs. Through this grant, Have a Heart TNR will be able to provide more spays and neuters at a rate that allows them to maximize their impact.

$2,500.00  Friends of Animals Inc (Junction City, KS)

Establishing a New Spay and Neuter Program

Friends of Animals Inc. has been helping the public as well as the Junction City Animal Shelter and Fort Riley Pets for more than two decades. Shelters and vet clinics are able to transfer pets to Friends of Animals Inc. to alleviate their space and increase their chances of being adopted. In addition to rescuing pets, they also provide vet care and training to help pets stay in their homes. This grant will be used as seed money to allow Friends of Animals Inc. to partner with a local veterinary clinic to offer subsidized spays and neuters for owned pets. This rescue takes in many unwanted litters which puts a tremendous strain on all of their resources. We applaud Friends of Animals Inc. for taking a proactive approach in addressing the pet overpopulation crisis in their community.

$1,000.00  Street Cats Club (Emporia, KS)

Subsidizing Veterinary Care

This grant will go towards supporting the veterinary costs incurred by the various programs offered by the Street Cats Club in Emporia. This all volunteer organization works with local veterinarians and they have even undergone training to do as much in-home care as they can to reduce their vet costs. They also partner with several other cat organizations in the area. So far this year Street Cats Club has seen an alarming increase in the number of cats being admitted to their program that require veterinary care.

$1,000.00  Doniphan County Pet Rescue (Bendena, KS):

Underwriting Spay and Neuter Operations

This grant will allow Doniphan County Pet Rescue to provide more spays and neuters for pets in the community. With very limited resources in their area, we know that this will have a major impact. This will allow the Pet Rescue to focus on allocating funds towards other needs such as caring for shelter pets and purchasing supplies.
5 things to know about the Tulsa Race Massacre, 103 years later

On May 31, 1921, one of the worst incidents of racial violence in America began in Tulsa, Okla.

For 18 hours, thousands of homes and businesses were burned to the ground  and anywhere from 50 to 300 people were dead. The two days of violence would become known as the Tulsa Race Massacre.

More than 100 years later, survivors are still calling for justice.

Here are five things to know about the Tulsa Race Massacre.

What was Black Wall Street

The massacre targeted Black Wall Street, a flourishing business district of an all-Black community in Oklahoma.

The Greenwood District was built in the early 1900s in northern Tulsa. The neighborhood was home to some 10,000 residents, two newspapers, multiple churches and a library, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society.

But the community was known for its thriving Black businesses.

More than 70 businesses were clustered along Black Wall Street: Hotels, grocery stores, restaurants and theaters made up just some of the businesses in the community.

Almost all the businesses were owned by Black entrepreneurs.

About 40 percent of Greenwoods residents were professionals or skilled craftspeople, such as doctors, pharmacists, carpenters and hairdressers, according to a New York Times analysis of the 1920 census.

But many of the businesses and homes would be burned to the ground in the late spring of 1921.

Dick Rowland and Sarah Page

On May 31, 1921, 19-year-old Dick Rowland stepped into an elevator on the third floor of the Drexel Building. The elevator was operated by 17-year-old Sarah Page.

Rowland was Black; Page was white.

Its not entirely clear what happened in the elevator  there were no witnesses. But at some point, Rowland and Page allegedly had physical contact. Some say it was as simple as him stepping on her foot. Others say Page told police Rowland grabbed her arm.

Page screamed, drawing the attention of an employee at a department store in the building. Rowland fled, but the department store employee called the police. Rowland was arrested the next morning.

The city was already on edge  the previous August, a Black man was lynched by a mob that included the citys mayor.

So police moved Rowland to the top floor of the courthouse in the hopes of keeping the peace.

But the Tulsa Tribune published an article with the headline To Lynch Negro Tonight!

A mob of white men gathered outside of the Tulsa Courthouse hoping to attack Rowland. In response, some 50 or so armed Black men  many veterans  began to arrive in the hopes of protecting Rowland.

According to the National Endowment for the Humanities, things were  relatively  peaceful until about 10:30 p.m., when all hell broke loose.

Bullets flew and buildings were looted. But it didnt stop there.

In the predawn hours of June 1, Black residents woke to bullets ripping through the windows and walls of their homes.

Post-massacre rebuilding

According to the Oklahoma Historical Society, four hotels, eight churches, seven grocery stores, two Black hospitals, two candy stores, two pool halls, two Masonic lodges, real estate offices, undertakers, barber and beauty shops, doctors offices, drugstores, auto garages and choc joints were all destroyed.

In addition to the businesses, 1,256 homes were destroyed and another 400 were looted.

Oklahomas Tulsa Race Massacre Commission reported that 100 to 300 people were killed, though some estimate the number may be even higher.

Still, Black Americans worked to rebuild what was lost  and they had help from some of the most high-profile Black scholars of the time.

Booker T. Washingtons National Negro Business League held its annual meeting in Tulsa in 1925. More than 200 Black businesses were rebuilt by 1945.

On the centennial anniversary, Bloomberg Philanthropies gave Tulsa $1 million for a public art project called the Greenwood Art Project.

In this image provided by the City of Tulsa, Crews work on an excavation at Oaklawn Cemetery searching for victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre on Oct. 26, 2022, in Tulsa, Okla. Officials say the search for remains of victims of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre has turned up 21 additional graves in the citys Oaklawn Cemetery. (City of Tulsa via AP)

Attempts to identify those killed continues

For many years, Tulsa officials tried to eliminate the massacre from the historical record, despite promises to rebuild the Black neighborhood, according to The New York Times.

But in recent years, authorities have been working to find and identify all those who were killed during the massacre. They are believed to have been buried in unmarked mass graves, approved by the white authorities of the time.

In November 2022, researchers uncovered 38 unmarked graves, including two child-sized graves.

Last April, officials said they were able to create genetic genealogy profiles for six of 22 bodies exhumed from Oaklawn Cemetery in 2021, though its not certain they were victims of the massacre.

But the profiles will allow genealogists to determine their last names and help begin the process.

Survivors call for reparations

Only two survivors of the massacre remain living today: Viola Ford Fletcher, known as Mother Fletcher, and Lessie Benningfield Randle are both 109.

Fletchers brother, Hughes Van Ellis, died at 102 in October.

They have been fighting for not only recognition of what happened in 1921, but for reparations.

Since 2021, the survivors have been entangled in court battles alleging the city of Tulsa and other departments were complicit in the massacre. They add that the effects of the massacre are still being felt today.

In 2021, Hughes Van Ellis testified before Congress about what his family endured 100 years previously.

Because of the Massacre, my family was driven from our home. We were left with nothing. We were made refugees in our own country, Van Ellis said in his written testimony.

Last year, Oklahomas Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal of a lawsuit seeking relief from damage inflicted during the massacre and to recover for unjust enrichment others gained from the exploitation of the massacre.

None of the survivors or their families ever received any compensation from state or city officials.

The plaintiffs have asked the Supreme Court to give them the opportunity  before they die and there are no other survivors of the Massacre  take the stand, take an oath, and tell an Oklahoma court what has happened to them, their families and their community.

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Editors note: On Sunday, The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press will launch the series Shots Fired: Combatting a culture of gun violence in Hampton Roads, a yearlong project that will explore why the problem is so prevalent here and what can be done about it.

VIRGINIA BEACH  Survivors and family members of the victims who died in a mass shooting at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center five years ago are still trying to heal. Theyve found some solace in connecting with others who have had a similar experience. And theyre hopeful financial support for their ongoing mental health care will soon come from a new state fund.

But the pain of that horrid day has stayed with them. Many sons, daughters, siblings, spouses of the victims suffer from endless grief, confusion and isolation.

They long for closure that may never come, but have not entirely given up hope.

Dont think if a person wasnt physically affected, wasnt physically there, that they dont carry some scars from it, said Dwight Brown in a video produced by VTVCare, a nonprofit organization founded by families affected by the 2007 Virginia Tech mass shooting.

Browns sister, LaQuita Brown, died in the May 31, 2019, shooting inside Building 2 at the municipal center. A city engineer shot and killed 12 people and injured six others that afternoon before he was fatally shot by police.

Brown and several other family members of the deceased and a survivor have shared their grievances in a series of video testimonials. Sarah Gayle Leonard, whos mother, Mary Lou Gayle, was shot and killed that day, speaks in one of the videos. She has started to embrace the journey by advocating for the recovery of people like her who are affected by a mass shooting. Leonards mother worked for the city for 24 years.

Definitely being able to put our hearts together, to tell our stories together, its helpful to be able to connect with victims of tragedy across the country, Leonard said.

Shes also been an integral part of 5/31 Families United, a group of relatives of the victims who last year held a separate candlelight vigil and moment of silence from the city-organized service.

Many of the family members have unresolved frustration with how Virginia Beach government handled the shootings aftermath. Leonard wants the city to be more proactive, to meet with the families to hear their concerns. She also wants financial support for her growing mental health expenses.

___

Establishing a care fund

VTVCare, a program of the nonprofit VTV Family Outreach Foundation, worked with the 5/31 families to push for a permanent $10 million endowment fund in Virginia that will reimburse mass-shooting survivors and families of the slain for certain expenses not covered by their insurance and other funds.

The Virginia Mass Violence Care Fund will invest the money to yield an expected $400,000 per year for victims. A work group will determine investment details and eligibility requirements by Sept. 1. The General Assembly likely will take up a bill in the 2025 session to launch the fund. Money could be available for victims in 2026.

The first eligible recipients will be the survivors and families of mass shootings at the Virginia Beach Municipal Center in 2019, and the University of Virginia and the Chesapeake Walmart in 2022, according to Joseph Samaha, a member of the work group. In Virginia Beach, city officials said 507 people filed workers compensation claims related to the shooting.

Other states also are working to create such funds as part of their emergency response plans for the long-term care needs of people impacted by mass violence.

Samaha, whose daughter Reema was killed in 2007 at Virginia Tech, also helps lead VTVCare, which launched a national campus safety initiative and created a funding model for covering victims expenses.

Through his work at VTVCare, hes remained in communication with 5/31 survivors and family members who have shared their feelings of isolation.

Many of them are on islands, said Samaha. Weve been through this out of the VA Tech shooting. We understand some of the trauma they are going through, some of the advocacy theyve been seeking to get more help out of the city.

Samaha recently reached out to Virginia Beach City Council members about opening up the dialogue.

I have proposed baby steps.  to embrace those families and survivors five years later because many of them have not gotten better, he said.

Victims of tragedy need truth, accountability and apology, Samaha said. You apologize because you sincerely care for the community or the person where it happened.

Family members have said they feel promises made by the city to ensure their needs would be met have been broken. They want city leaders to publicly address security shortfalls cited in the mass shooting investigations and share corrective measures being taken.

Accountability gives survivors purpose, said Samaha. It reassures them that their loved ones didnt die in vain.

___

Changes implemented by the city

In the years since the mass shooting, an independent investigation and a state commission report recommended steps the city and state can take to improve workplace security, safety and communication to prevent violence.

Some have been implemented, according to the city.

At the time of the 5/31 shooting, Virginia Beach didnt have a centralized system for tracking employee complaints. In January 2021, the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. (Report Employee Situations Promptly to Enable Change Together) online reporting system was established to track incidents of potential workplace violence and complaint investigations. One of the shooters coworkers had expressed concerns about him and another employee to her spouse the night before the shooting.

The citys Emergency Management department has created a security division which implemented a mobile alert app called the Rave Panic Button. Its an emergency notification tool that allows employees to privately communicate with one another if an emergency occurs in their work area and places a 911 call.

An effort to educate new city employees about the 5/31 shooting and ways they can be supportive colleagues is now part of the onboarding process.

Staff from public utilities, planning, public works and information technology departments who were relocated after the shooting are in the process of moving back to the municipal campus. An city transition team has been created to ease the move, according to a city spokesperson.

Building 2 was gutted and renovated into the Virginia Beach Police Departments new First Police Precinct. The new facility opened in 2023 with a new Real Time Crime Center to monitor public safety information and incidents at the municipal campus and throughout the city. A memorial plaque was installed in the entrance.

The VB Strong Center, which has offered programming and services for those affected by the tragedy, has been open for five years. However, some family members, including Leonard, are disappointed with what they describe as the lack of support from the center. It will close in September with mental health services transitioning back to the city through a dedicated in-house mental health professional, according to the city.

___

5/31 Memorial progress

A 5/31 memorial committee selected a memorial site at the corner of Nimmo Parkway and Princess Anne Road. The city has approved funding  $1.2 million for design and $8.5 million for construction. But a construction request for proposal this month didnt receive any responses and will be reissued next month, according to the city.

Throughout May, Virginia Beach has offered ways to remember victims and honor the first responders. Among them, remembrance flags featuring the Love For VB forget-me-not flower are being flown at more than 40 locations.

A memorial ceremony marking the anniversary of the shootings will be held at 4 p.m. Friday at the site of the future memorial. The event will include a moment of silence, reading of names and dedication of the site. Attendees will be able to share memories and sentiments on biodegradable paper to be buried at the memorial. It will be livestreamed on virginiabeach.gov/media and the citys Facebook page.

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
The 54 charges Trump faces after his New York conviction

Thirty-four criminal charges settled, 54 to go.

Former President Trump ended his time in a New York courtroom this week with a conviction, found guilty on all counts in his hush-money trial. But state charges in Georgia and federal ones Florida and Washington, D.C., await.

Trump made history as the first former U.S. president to become a convicted felon after the jury found him guilty on Thursday afternoon of falsifying business records to conceal his alleged affair with adult film actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Judge Juan Merchan set a sentencing hearing for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention where Trump is set to formally accept the GOPs presidential nomination.

Trump faces an additional 54 criminal charges, though it is unclear if any will reach a jury before Novembers election.

10 charges in Georgia 2020 election interference case

Trump, along with 18 other defendants, was charged with entering an unlawful conspiracy to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia. Each defendant was charged under the states racketeering law.

The former president was originally charged with 13 state felony counts by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D), but three of them have been tossed out by Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee.

Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Willis, who saw her case partially derailed after one of Trumps co-defendants tried to have her removed over a romantic relationship with a special prosecutor assigned to the case, is appealing the dismissal of some counts.

Trump has appealed McAfees decision to allow Willis to continue with the case provided her former lover, Nathan Wade, stepped aside, which he did.

In April, McAfee rejected Trumps attempt to toss the charges under the First Amendment.

The judge has not set a trial date yet in the case.

4 charges in federal election interference case

Trump faces four federal felony counts that allege he pressured state legislators, developed false electors, leveraged the Department of Justice, pressured then-Vice President Mike Pence and exploited the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot in an attempt to stay in power after losing the 2020 presidential election.

The Supreme Court is currently weighing whether Trump should be immune from prosecution under his contention he was conducting presidential acts. The courts decision is expected to be delivered by the end of June.

The high court appeal has essentially left the court in limbo with no trial date scheduled, though officials had previously indicted a desire to move on the case quickly.

If the justices allow special counsel Jack Smith to continue his prosecution, Trump could be on trial during the heat of the general election campaign.

40 charges in federal classified documents case

Trump is facing 40 federal charges in Florida that he mishandled White House records and tried to obstruct the government from retrieving them after he left office.

The files allegedly contained classified national defense and weapons information, including some top-secret documents.

The FBI searched Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2022. He has pleaded not guilty on the charges.

In early May, Judge Aileen Cannon indefinitely postponed the trial, delaying some court dates into late July and declining to set a trial date.

She issued the postponement order less than two weeks before the trial was set to begin May 20, citing the need to resolve numerous issues.

Last week, Trump falsely claimed President Biden and the FBI were ready to take me out in the FBI search of his South Florida estate. The agency said its standard protocol for search policies to include a statement allowing deadly force only when necessary.

Smith has called on Cannon, a Trump-appointed judge, to impose a gag order in the case so Trump cant speak about it in a way that could endanger law enforcement officials, a call she rejected Tuesday.

What happens next

Its not yet known how Thursdays verdict will affect the proceedings in Trumps other legal battles.

Trumps attorney Will Scharf said his legal team is considering all options to appeal the hush money conviction.

Scharf said the team is going to trust that the New York appellate courts understand the potential ramifications the verdict has on the legal system. When asked if the appeal would be brought to the U.S. Supreme Court, Scharf said all options are on the table.

The former president may face prison time, though first-time offenders on similar charges rarely are incarcerated.

Shortly after the jurys decision was announced, Trump said the real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, referring to Election Day.

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A heroic officer was ambushed and killed by a gunman he tried to help. Another victim is dead, and several others are wounded

A Minneapolis officer hailed as a hero last year was killed by a gunman who ambushed the officer as he responded to the scene of another shooting, police said.

Officer Jamal Mitchell, 36, was one of two people killed Thursday in a pair of shootings that also left four people wounded, authorities said.

The gunman, who Minnesota authorities identified on Sunday as Mustafa Ahmed Mohamed, 35, was also killed.

Police initially responded to a call about two people shot at an apartment building in Minneapolis Whittier neighborhood around 5:15 p.m. Thursday. When officers arrived, someone shot at them immediately, and the officers returned fire, Assistant Police Chief Katie Blackwell said.

Mitchell and the suspect were killed and another officer was injured, Blackwell said. She said authorities later found three other civilians who had been shot, one of whom died at the scene.

The suspect and the other victim killed, identified as Osman Said Jimale, 32, both died of multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Hennepin County Medical Examiners Office.

Among the four surviving injured, a Minneapolis police officer and a firefighter suffered non-life-threatening injuries, Blackwell said. They have since been treated and released.

The other two suffered life-threatening injuries, including a person who was shot in his vehicle and another who was found in an apartment, Minneapolis police said. They were still in the hospital as of Friday afternoon.

A hero, a son, a father, a fiance was killed

Just three days after he was sworn in to the police department in 2023, Mitchell rushed into a burning, smoke-filled house with another officer to rescue an elderly couple. The rookie Minneapolis cop told CNN he didnt hesitate to go in.

Were not trained to run into fires, but we are trained to put others lives in front of ours, Mitchell told CNN last year. So when we found out possibly that someone was in that house, we didnt second guess running in.

Officer Jamal Mitchell, center, is honored with a Lifesaving Award by Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara during a ceremony on October 4, 2023. - Renee Jones Schneider/Star Tribune/AP

In his final moments Thursday, the young officer responded to a shooting and tried to render first aid to those who had been injured, authorities said.

One of the people he was trying to help turned out to be the gunman who would kill him, authorities said.

Mitchell was attempting to assist the individual that shot him, Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans said.

It happened very fast  he ambushed him.

Mitchell was a hero, a son, a father, a fiance and an officer who is so deeply committed to protecting and serving, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said.

He would run towards danger when the rest of us would run in the other direction, the mayor added.

Even though he was a Minneapolis officer for less than two years, Mitchell made a profound impact on the department.

Ive never met an officer that received an award on the third day on the job, Blackwell said.

And the officer gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect and save the lives of others, Frey said.

We will honor his sacrifice. We will remember his name, the mayor said. We will never forget what he did for the people of our city.

Speaking early Friday morning, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian OHara said, There are not words to appropriately describe this tragedy. Its the worst call a police chief can receive.

OHara says that he had known Mitchell personally. He died a hero, the chief said. He died doing what we asked him to do for the rest of us.

The motive remains a mystery

Its still unclear what prompted the gunfire that led to a shootout and two victims killed.

Authorities say homicide detectives were trying to determine the motive.

Witness Reuben Molina was watching TV with his girlfriend in a third-floor apartment when he heard a bang.

Then we heard it again and again and again in rapid succession, and then me and her were like, Oh, thats gunshots, Molina told CNN affiliate WCCO. He said he thought the sounds came from the floor below them.

Molina said they left the apartment to see what was happening. He told WCCO he kept hearing gunshots and saw people shooting, but couldnt tell whether those opening fire were officers or civilians.

Law enforcement officers gather on Franklin Avenue in Minneapolis after two people were killed and several others were wounded Thursday. - Ben Hovland/Minnesota Public Radio/AP

When officers arrived, they received gunfire immediately and they exchanged gunfire, Blackwell said.

Two officers  Nick Kapinos and Luke Kittock  who shot at the suspect are on critical incident leave, according to a Sunday news release from the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Kapinos has 10 years of law enforcement experience and Kittock has nine. Kittock was injured during the exchange of gunfire but was later treated and released from the hospital, authorities said.

Forensic scientists are collecting evidence, and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension is working with Minneapolis police to help determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting deaths. Authorities said Friday they are still working on gathering a timeline for the incident that unfolded.

There is both body-worn and squad car camera video of this incident, the bureau said in the news release Sunday. Agents are reviewing all available video as part of their active investigation.

CNN has reached out to the Minneapolis Police Department for more information.

This cannot be the norm

Across the country, the US has suffered at least 180 mass shootings in just the first five months of this year, according to the Gun Violence Archive. Like CNN, the archive defines a mass shooting as one in which four or more people are shot, not including the shooter.

And in the first four months of this year, at least 136 officers have been shot in the line of duty  including 20 who were killed, according to the National Fraternal Order of Police.

This cannot be the norm, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Thursday night.

Its now happened four times in the last couple of months where weve had public safety officers responding to the call that people make to 911, rushing into that situation, and in this case being ambushed and a loss of life for Officer Mitchell.

And even though Minneapolis is strong and resilient, the mayor said, We got to do everything possible to make sure that these tragic events, this epidemic of gun violence, this kind of stuff never happens again.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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Judge John K. Stargel voted, along with Judge Mary Alice Nardella, who wrote the opinion, that Florida's 8-4 jury recommendation could apply even to crimes that occurred before the law was changed. Judge Keith F. White dissented.

The 6th District Court of Appeal in Lakeland denied an appeal Friday in a Polk County death penalty case asking the court to rule that only a unanimous jury can recommend a death sentence for a crime that occurred before Florida's law changed..

Currently under Florida law, a jury recommendation for the death penalty requires only an 8-4 majority, contrary to previous Florida law mandating a unanimous recommendation. The change in law was passed by the Florida Legislature in 2023 and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis after three of 12 jurors refused to vote for a death sentence for Nikolas Cruz, who killed 17 people at Margory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland in 2018.

But it's met challenges in state and federal courts. Defense attorneys in Polk County and elsewhere have argued the Constitution's ex post facto clause requires a unanimous jury recommendation in cases where the crimes occurred before the law changed. The clause prevents the state from retroactively changing the consequences for a defendant's actions.

The 6th DCA's ruling Friday applied to the death penalty case of Angel Lobato. He and his brother, Jo Lobato, are accused of killing Danne Frasier in 2020 and dumping his body near a citrus grove in Lake Wales. Jo Lobato went on trial in April, but it ended in a mistrial over an evidentiary issue while Lobato was on the witness stand.

Some legal confusion

There's been some legal tussling over the application of the law in state courts.

Last year in the case of Bryan Riley, accused of killing four members of a North Lakeland family in a predawn home invasion in 2021, 10th Circuit Judge J. Kevin Abdoney ruled that the jury would need to be unanimous in its recommendation of the death penalty, citing the ex post facto clause.

After that ruling in the Riley case, the 5th DCA in Daytona Beach upheld the 8-4 threshold in Florida vs. Victorino.

In January, citing the 5th DCA's decision, Abdoney ruled that the 8-4 threshold would apply in the death penalty case of Marcelle Jerrill Waldon.

Circuit Judge J. Kevin Abdoney has presided over several capital cases in Polk County since state law was changed in 2023 to allow an 8-4 jury recommendation for the death penalty. And his rulings have shown some confusion over how the law can be applied to crimes that occurred before it was changed.

Waldon was convicted on Jan. 31 of killing former City Commissioner Edie Yates Henderson and her husband, David Henderson in their Lake Morton home in November 2020. Six days later, the jury voted 11-1 to recommend the death penalty.

On learning of the DCA decision, Waldons attorney pointed to another court decision that is certain to be debated in August at Waldon's Spencer Hearing, which is the last chance for his defense to offer mitigating circumstances that could convince a judge to spare his life.

According to defense attorney Debra Tuomey, there is a Tampa judges order from April in another capital case that cited an existing state law that says new criminal statutes can only be imposed prospectively.

In granting the order, 13th Circuit Judge Mark D. Kiser wrote, the existing law ... prohibits the amendment of a criminal statute from affecting an ongoing prosecution, the Court finds Defendant is entitled to the relief he seeks.

As the newest appeals court in Florida, 6th DCA judges were all appointed by DeSantis. Mary Alice Nardella wrote the opinion in the Lobato appeal with Judges John K. Stargel confirming and Keith F. White dissenting.

According to the Death Penalty Information Center website, Florida became the state with the lowest threshold for juries to recommend death sentences. Alabama is next with a 10-2 decision needed.

Florida also is the state with the highest number of exonerations in the country at 30, the DPLC said. Most exonerations were of convicts sent to death row by non-unanimous juries.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: 6th DCA decision keeps death penalty jury recommendations at 8-4
Ukraine brought back 75 people from Russian captivity, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 31.

This includes service personnel of the Armed Forces and the National Guard, border guards, and four civilians.

The former captives were exchanged for 75 Russian soldiers, RIA Novosti claimed, citing the country's Defense Ministry.

"Throughout all of this time, we have not stopped working for a single day to bring everyone home from Russian captivity," Zelensky said on X.

"We remember about every person. We are making every effort to find each and every one of our people. I am grateful to the team responsible for the exchanges."

The released captives include 70 men and five women, including 19 defenders of Snake Island, 14 personnel who defended the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and 10 defenders of Mariupol, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported, confirming that they were released as part of an exchange.

This is the 52nd prisoner exchange since the outbreak of the full-scale war. As of May 31, 3,210 Ukrainian soldiers have been freed from Russian captivity, the headquarters said.

The headquarters thanked the United Arab Emirates for their role in facilitating the latest exchange.

Zelensky named a possible all-for-all prisoner of war (POW) exchange as one of the ideas to be discussed during the upcoming global peace summit in Switzerland in June.

The previously reported prisoner exchange occurred on Feb. 8, with 100 Ukrainian POWs freed from Russian captivity.

Before that, on Jan. 3, 230 prisoners were exchanged in the largest prisoner exchange since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

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Ukraine has managed to bring home 75 Ukrainians from Russian captivity.

Source: Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on social media; Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War

Quote: "Throughout all of this time, we have not stopped working for a single day to bring everyone home from Russian captivity. And today, we have an important result: 75 more of our people have been brought back to Ukraine. The [members of the] Armed Forces, National Guard, border guards, and four civilians. All of them are already on their native land.".

The Coordination Headquarters noted that this is the first prisoner swap after a long break since February 2024.

A total of 75 Ukrainian defenders, as well as Ukrainian civilians, are coming back to their families. Among the liberated defenders are 70 men and five women, and out of them, six are officers and 65 are privates or sergeants. At least a third of the rescued soldiers have been injured, seriously ill or disabled.

This time, 37 members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were released from captivity, including 13 members of the Navy and two members of the Air Force. Also, 21 soldiers of the National Guard were released from captivity. Seven border guards, six soldiers of the Territorial Defence Forces and four Ukrainian civilians are coming back home.

Ukraine has managed to bring back 19 defenders of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island, 14 servicemen who guarded the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and ten defenders of Mariupol. Ukrainians captured on the Kharkiv, Kyiv, Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Sumy fronts were released.

This prisoner swap is the 52nd since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. As of today, 3,210 Ukrainian defenders have been released from captivity.

The Coordination HQ expressed special gratitude to the United Arab Emirates for its active participation in the swap.

Quote: "There are still many Ukrainian defenders and civilian Ukrainians in enemy captivity. Despite all the difficulties and opposition of the aggressor state, the Coordination Headquarters continues to make efforts to ensure that all our people come back home as soon as possible."

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Donald Trumps guilty verdict on 34 counts of falsifying business records in his hush money trial could make it harder for the Senate to get much work done in the next few months  at least, if a group of pro-Trump senators has their way.

Eight Republican senators said Friday they would try to slow down the Senates business in response to the verdict.

Unlike the House, the Senate runs its day-to-day business under small, temporary agreements between the majority Democrats and minority Republicans. Its a system that can be undermined sometimes by even one obstinate senator.

The White House has made a mockery of the rule of law and fundamentally altered our politics in un-American ways. As a Senate Republican conference we are unwilling to aid and abet this White House in its project to tear this country apart, said the eight senators in a letter.

Signatories included Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

Specifically, the group promised three things: to not allow any increase in non-security funding or spending bills that fund partisan lawfare; to not vote for any of the White Houses political or judicial nominees; and to not allow faster consideration of Democratic legislative priorities not directly relevant to the safety of the American people.

Those who turned our judicial system into a political cudgel must be held accountable, Lee said in a social media post about the letter.

We are no longer cooperating with any Democrat legislative priorities or nominations, and we invite all concerned Senators to join our stand.

The signers all hail from the most right-wing part of the Republican Party in the Senate. Even prior to Trumps verdict, they were not seen as particularly cooperative, so its unclear how much of an effect this declaration will have.

If the signers follow the letters provisions strictly, though, the Senate could take longer for even non-controversial nominees for low-profile posts in the Biden administration to be confirmed, for example.

The eight senators could raise objections to passing a stopgap spending bill when the governments funding authority runs out on Sept. 30. While a short-term bill that would allow lawmakers to leave the Capitol and hit the campaign trail is almost certain to be passed by then, any bill that funds the Department of Justice may, to Lees group, count as lawfare. The group could force the Senate to spend more time on such a bill and scramble to avoid a shutdown.

But with the most important issues settled  funding through September, a reauthorization of aviation programs and renewed foreign spying authority  Congress faces few must-pass bills until Sept. 30.

One potential exception is the need to extend the compensation program for some victims of U.S. Cold War-era atomic bomb testing. Claims under the current law can only be accepted through June 10.

Related...
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A 911 call revealed the scary moments after a man made a bomb threat to the Florida Department of Transportations Tampa office on April 17.

Gregory Parsons of Jacksonville took his own life after police said he told a receptionist that he had a bomb and was going to drive his car into the building, which is located along McKinley Drive.

8 On Your Side spoke with several FDOT employees who said they are still shaken from the incident. Once said he has PTSD.

WFLA obtained 911 calls from the terrifying incident.

Man who shot self at Tampa FDOT building was outraged with transportation officials

Dispatcher: 911 Whats the nature of your emergency?

FDOT employee: Theres a bomb threat at the Florida Department of Transportation building. 11201 McKinley building. Our receptionist just received a call theres somebody that allegedly is in our parking lot in front of the building with a bomb.



He said he had a bomb, said Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw. He said he was going to cause harm in addition to what the officer saw in the vehicle.



The FDOT employee who called 911 told the dispatcher the man was inside a blue SUV across from the entrance.

Its a blue SUV directly in front of the building. Evacuate the building! Evacuate the building, its not a drill, the employee said.



The receptionist for the FDOT employee was very excellent and de-escalating the situation and being calm so until our officers got here, he was able to prevent something from happening, said Bercaw.

Hillsborough agencies ready to respond to mass casualty events: HCFR

Parsons referred to himself as a transportation engineering consultant and was no stranger to attending Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization meetings. He had been pitching his traffic design concept to transportation officials and blamed FDOT and MPO for costing taxpayers millions of dollars.



When officers arrived at the scene, Parsons took his own life.



The car went silent. The phone is active, but the man is not speaking, and the receptionist thinks he believes the guy has a gun, the employee is heard saying in the 911 call.



Law enforcement searched parsons SUV and found two guns, high-capacity magazines, and cans of gasoline. Investigators are still searching for a motive as to what triggered the chaos.

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.
95-year-old Holocaust denier to go on trial in Germany

An infamous 95-year-old Holocaust denier has been ordered to stand trial in Germany on charges of incitement, authorities announced on Friday.

Ursula Haverbeck was sentenced to 10 months in jail in November 2015 for denying that the Nazi German regime systematically murdered people at the Auschwitz concentration camp.

She has appealed that sentence, and will go back to trial over the charges beginning next Friday in a district court in Hamburg.

Haverbeck made her comments during the 2015 trial of former Nazi SS member Oskar Groning, a guard and administrator at Auschwitz. Groning, who died in 2018, was convicted of accessory to murder in the deaths of 300,000 people.

She claimed in a television interview with regional public broadcaster NDR that the Nazis did not use Auschwitz as an extermination camp. She allegedly also claimed to journalists covering Groning's trial that Auschwitz was only a labour camp.

At least 1.1 million people were murdered by the Nazis at the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp complex.

Haverbeck is popular with the far-right fringe in Germany. She has repeatedly faced court proceedings over her comments in Germany, where hate speech and Holocaust denial are prohibited under law.

She was criminally convicted and fined in 2004. She served two years in prison in western Germany for Holocaust denial.

In 2022, she was again sentenced to one year in prison without probation by a Berlin court for incitement to hatred, in a judgement that is now final.
(Bloomberg) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is under pressure from his closest party allies to form a coalition with the opposition Democratic Alliance after this weeks crushing election blow, according to people familiar with the matter.

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The difficulty hes facing is that theres also a push by his detractors within the African National Congress to form an alliance with former President Jacob Zumas new party and the populist Economic Freedom Fighters, the people said, asking not to be identified because theyre not authorized to comment. It would be untenable for Ramaphosa to remain in office in such a scenario, they said.

Investors favor a tie-up with the Democratic Alliance. Which way the party goes will be partly determined by whether the ANC increases its share of the vote as final election results are announced this weekend. That will inform talks on the shape of the next government that are expected to intensify in the coming days.

The rand strengthened as much as 0.6% and traded 0.2% stronger at 18.7194 per dollar by 1:22 p.m. in Johannesburg.

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The ANC is poised to win about 41% of the vote, an extrapolation of the latest tally shows, after hemorrhaging support across the country. Compared with the 57.5% it obtained five years ago, that would mark a humbling of a party that led the fight against apartheid and has dominated South African politics since it took power in the countrys first democratic elections in 1994.

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Uncertainty about which way things are headed has undermined South African assets. The rand has weakened 2.5% since initial projections showed the ANC would lose its parliamentary majority. Theres also been a selloff of bonds and stocks.

Investor Anxiety

Coalition talks as well as the speed at which a government is formed will be watched carefully by investors, said Shamaila Khan head of emerging markets at UBS Asset Management in New York. A coalition with less market-friendly parties will lead to a repricing of South Africa risk.

Investors favor an alliance with the Democratic Alliance, which looks set to retain its position as the main opposition with about 23% of the vote, because it espouses free-market principles. Any ANC deal with the DA may prove tricky because the two parties have long had an adversarial relationship, clashing over everything from health and education policy to the management of the national budget.

What Next for South Africa After Seismic Election?: QuickTake

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Still, such a tie-up makes the most sense as both parties are economically conservative, said Lukhona Mnguni, an independent political analyst. To ensure the stability of a future government, an ANC-DA alliance would likely include the Inkatha Freedom Party, a business-friendly party thats set to secure about 3%.

In unsanctioned informal talks, Ramaphosas allies raised concerns about the DAs opposition to his governments foreign policy position. Under Ramaphosa, South Africas government resisted US pressure to condemn Russias invasion of Ukraine and led a successful case against Israels war with Hamas at the International Court of Justice.

The DA would likely compromise on the foreign-policy position and it is unlikely to be an obstacle to an alliance, the people said. The partys top leaders will meet this weekend to unpack the election results and chart a way forward on a potential coalition, said Solly Malatsi, a DA spokesman.

ANC Chairman Gwede Mantashe said its too soon to talk about coalitions and declined to comment further. The party had been banking on forming a government with the IFP on its own, but that plan has been obliterated because Zumas uMkhonto weSizwe Party, or MKP, has eroded its share of the vote.

Read More: South Africa Election Results With 60.8% Voting Districts In

The alternative of joining forces with the MKP and the EFF would be a bitter pill for Ramaphosa to swallow: Zuma has criticized his successor at every turn. The MKP drew substantial support from Zumas home province of KwaZulu-Natal and has been the biggest contributor to the ANCs decline.

Any support that Zuma gives to forming an alliance with the ANC would be contingent on Ramaphosa being removed as the head of government, the people said.

Such a scenario wouldnt be unprecedented  the ANC removed Thabo Mbeki as president in 2008 after Zuma replaced him as its leader. And Zuma himself was forced to quit in 2018, two months after Ramaphosa took control of the party.

Populist Concessions

Complicating matters is the fact that while Zuma heads the MKP, he insists he remains a member of the ANC  which in turn has said it plans to discipline him for campaigning for a rival.

The ANC would have to justify how its in a coalition with the party of a leader they are still here to discipline in their own structures, Mnguni said. Do they keep him a member of the ANC? And I think it just opens up a really, really a lot of unknowns politically.

A third pillar in an ANC-MKP alliance would be the EFF, led by Julius Malema. He was previously expelled from the ANC and also has an acrimonious relationship with the president. Malema has indicated hed be open to such a tie-up, but would likely try and extract a number of concessions, including trying to ensure that all land is placed under state custodianship.

Ramaphosa is unlikely to agree to any deal with the EFF and the MKP, according to two of his close allies. He would likely offer to resign should his fellow party leaders opt to go that route, they said.

Presidency spokesman Sibongile Besani didnt respond to a request for comment.

The ANCs top leadership is set to meet in the coming days to discuss a course of action. A resolution is expected soon  under South African law, a government needs to be formed within 14 days of the election results being announced.

If Ramaphosa did step down, the ANC is expected to try and replace him with his deputy, Paul Mashatile.

You can follow Bloombergs reporting on Africa on WhatsApp. Sign up here.

--With assistance from Thomas Hall.

(Updates with rand reaction in fourth paragraph.)

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Indiana Attorney Todd Rokita is pictured in front of the Statehouse in an official video. (Screenshot from X)

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita on Friday publicly threatened four local units of government with legal action unless they repeal so-called sanctuary city ordinances by July.

Lawmakers last session gave his office the power to enforce a state ban on local policies that restrict immigration-related cooperation with federal authorities..

The flood of illegal immigrants entering the United States is a problem that harms all of us, Rokita said in a news release. The ones paying the price for this lawlessness are Hoosier taxpayers, who must bear increased costs for health care, education and other services used by illegal immigrants.

His office said it sent letters to East Chicago, Gary, West Lafayette and Monroe County.

In a letter to the East Chicago Common Council, dated May 14, Rokita asked if a welcoming city ordinance was still in effect and said a repeal was due by July 1.

Thats because, in Senate Enrolled Act 181, lawmakers empowered Rokitas office to enforce a 13-year-old sanctuary city ban.

Indiana Code has long barred local governments and their employees from refusing to communicate or cooperate with federal immigration authorities about the immigration status  lawful or unlawful  of an individual.

Help us out or leave us alone.

 Gary Mayor Eddie Melton

The General Assembly approved that ban in 2011, but it didnt stop some local units from passing sanctuary city ordinances.

Last sessions proposal came after Indianas two highest courts dismissed, for lack of standing, resident-led lawsuits against two cities. The law goes into effect July 1.

After that day, Rokita warned East Chicago and the other units, I will be statutorily required to bring an action to compel the city  to comply  . Having an ordinance still on the books would constitute probable cause, he added.

East Chicago declined to comment, while Monroe County didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a statement, Gary Mayor Eddie Melton asked Rokita to help us out or leave us alone.

Melton described Garys welcoming city ordinance as thoroughly litigated and upheld by the Indiana Supreme Court but said hed work with the citys lawmakers to address the legal threat.

It is unfortunate that we continue to see laws passed  that target Gary. All the issues associated with these laws predate my administration, but the laws do nothing to help me move the city or the state of Indiana forward, said Melton, a former state lawmaker who assumed the mayors office in January.

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As Mayor of Gary, all I want is to create opportunities for my community to flourish. Unfortunately, within the first six months of my administration we have repeatedly experienced unwarranted attacks and been dragged into national political debates around immigration and guns, he continued. These distractions take away from the hard work the Governor and I are doing together to rebuild the City of Gary.

West Lafayette Common Council President Larry Leverenz said via email that he was out of the country and hadnt seen Rokitas letter.

A potential political opponent, meanwhile, criticized Rokitas actions.

Destiny Wells, an Indiana Democratic Party executive, lawyer and veteran, called Rokitas approach to immigration divisive and detrimental to the unity and safety of our communities. She is running for the nomination to face Rokita in the fall.

As Attorney General, I will not attack localities for making decisions best suited for their unique circumstances, Wells said in a news release. Immigration policy is fundamentally a federal issue, and I will provide the latitude for federal authorities to address these matters appropriately. If the federal government asks for our assistance, we will assist within our duties. However, we will not go looking to use our statutory authorities to meddle in local affairs.

We must find a balance that respects the rule of law, supports our federal partners, and honors the autonomy of our local communities, she added. Hoosier taxpayers deserve policies that are both just and effective, not political grandstanding that jeopardizes our unity and safety.

The post AG Rokita threatens legal action against locals with sanctuary city laws on the books appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle.
AUGUSTA (WJBF)  The Richmond County Sheriffs Office says an Aggravated Assault suspect is no longer wanted.

According to authorities, 49-year-old Taurus Luttrell Farrar was wanted for an incident that happened on the 3200 block of Wrightsboro Road on May 29th.

The Richmond County Sheriffs Office says that the BOLO for Farrar has been canceled.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
The Air Force is allowing the intelligence unit that enabled Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeira to leak some of the government's most closely held secrets to an online forum for months to resume its mission, the service announced Friday.

"The 102d Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group (ISRG) will resume its intelligence mission in support of Distributed Ground Station-Massachusetts on 1 June 2024 following approval by the commander of Air Combat Command," Air Force spokeswoman Ann Stefanek said in a statement.

Teixeira agreed in March to plead guilty to sharing classified information and faces up to 16 years in prison. The Air Force also went after his unit, where it found that airmen who worked around Teixeira and supervised him were derelict in their duties.

Read Next: Anguish, Uncertainty: 66 Families Wait to Bury Loved Ones Amid Suspension of Horse-Drawn Funeral Services at Arlington

The Massachusetts National Guard, in its own statement released Friday, said that its "airmen look forward to returning to serving, protecting, and defending our nation and our state."

In April 2023, just days after Teixeira was arrested for leaking dozens of documents that included classified information about the war in Ukraine and U.S. relations with allies to an online platform used by gamers, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall took the 102nd off its mission and ordered the inspector general to look into the unit's compliance with classified document safeguards.

By December, the Air Force was ready to hand out punishments.

The service's inspector general released a report that found members of Teixeira's unit failed to take proper action after becoming aware of him seeking the intelligence. The Air Force punished 15 Air National Guard enlisted troops and officers as a result.

Col. Sean Riley, the commander of the 102nd Intelligence Wing, the unit that oversaw Teixeira's, was relieved of command for cause. Col. Enrique Dovalo, the commander of the 102nd ISRG, received an undisclosed administrative action.

The Air Force also said that other prior commanders from the 102nd Intelligence Support Squadron who were previously suspended in the wake of the leak investigation had been permanently removed.

The Massachusetts National Guard said that it gained knowledge "from this challenging experience" and it "welcomed the opportunity to help identify problems with Air Force processes that could jeopardize the safe handling of classified information."

Stefanek added that "a new organizational structure was implemented to enhance oversight" of the unit's operations and "inspection teams, with participation from members of the headquarters staff, evaluated the remaining open deficiencies, as well as sampling security procedures and culture across the wing."

Military.com asked the Air Force to provide more details about what the "remaining open deficiencies" were but did not receive a reply in time for publication.

Meanwhile, Teixeira is set to be sentenced in September. In addition to his charges in federal court, Teixeira is also being prosecuted by the military justice system.

Two weeks ago, he appeared before a military hearing officer who will recommend whether the Guardsman should be court-martialed on three charges: one count of failing to obey a lawful order and two counts of obstructing justice.

Related: Jack Teixeira Faces Article 32 Hearing as Air Force Considers New Charges in Classified Leak Case
How will the Air Force's initiative for a new stealth bomber affect Dyess and Abilene?

Changes may be coming to Dyess Air Force Base and the Abilene area as the nation's new stealth bombers take to the skies.

Dyess AFB is preferred as the second base for the B-21 Raiders and will receive the aircraft, still in development, as they become available, according to a May 22 military statement.

On May 24, the Air Force released the final environmental impact statements for B-21 missions at Dyess and Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri.

The environmental impact statement's purpose is to analyze potential environmental consequences at the bases under consideration for B-21 operations.

A loading truck carrying an inert bomb approaches a B-1 bomber during a Global Strike Challenge at Dyess Air Force Base on Aug. 16, 2019.

In June 2021, the Air Force selected Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota as the first base for the B-21 aircraft. Dyess was considered an alternative, and in March 2023, was announced as the proposed second location.

In December 2023, public scoping meetings were held to inform residents about proposed actions and potential environmental impacts of the B-21 beddown. Residents were also allowed to comment and express concerns to Air Force officials.

The publication of the final environmental impact statements began the 30-day waiting period before a decision naming candidate bases designated as the second and third main locations for the new bomber.

More: Department of Defense looking to make Dyess AFB operational for new bomber aircraft

Impacts to Abilene

The environmental impact statement studied aspects that could affect Dyess with the B-21 beddown.

The base's airspace and land use, noise, air quality, socioeconomics, environmental justice, hazardous materials and waste, health and safety, transportation, utilities and infrastructure and biological, cultural and physical resources were evaluated.

As part of the process, the Air Force identified possible mitigation measures to implement in case of adverse impacts from construction or B-21 flight training.

Planners evaluated both candidate bases for operational readiness while factoring base-specific site constraints to minimize mission impact, maximize facility reuse and minimize cost.

The findings of the final environmental impact statement summary indicate Dyess will not experience significant impacts to the environment. But, changes in personnel, airfield operations, airspace utilization and facilities and infrastructure are expected.

Due to the mission's construction projects and expected increase of military and civilian personnel and dependents, Abilene can anticipate "positive, long-term economic impacts" for employment, housing, education and public services.

However, on-site and off-site residents in the Abilene area will experience temporary changes affecting transportation, noise levels and utilities and infrastructure caused by the influx of activity and people.

Compared to current operations, the beddown will cause an increase in personnel and a decrease in the number of airfield and airspace operations flown per year.

Construction of 27 new facilities or facility additions, renovations or repair of 10 facilities and demolition of 10 facilities are expected and required to support the mission for the new bomber at Dyess AFB.

The environmental impact statement evaluated affects to local wildlife with the B-21 beddown.

Although "no federally listed species or federally designated critical habitat" reside at Dyess, proposed mitigation measures will be implemented to protect migratory birds and state-listed threatened Texas horned lizards.

B-21 Raider

The B-21 Raider under development will eventually replace existing B-1 and B-2 aircraft. The new B-21 bomber will implement national defense strategy by modernizing U.S. bomber fleet capabilities.

The B-21 is "being developed to carry conventional payloads and to support the nuclear triad by providing a visible and flexible nuclear deterrent capability that will assure allies and partners through the United States commitment to international treaties," according to the final environmental impact summary.

The aircraft is undergoing flight testing at Edwards Air Force Base in California and is expected to meet Air Force program timelines for deployment, according to an official statement.

More: US Air Force releases first in-flight photos of B-21 Raider, newest nuclear stealth bomber

The B-21 is anticipated to enter service in the mid-2020s, and the Air Force intends to have at least 100 aircraft built, according to the environmental impact summary.

Physical copies of the summary are available at the main branch of Abilene Public Library, 202 Cedar Street; Anson Public Library, 1137 12th Street, Anson; and Merkel Public Library, 100 Kent, Merkel.

More: New stealth bomber unveiled; B-21 to be maintained at Tinker Air Force Base

More on Dyess Air Force Base: Bombers launch from Dyess AFB over weekend for airstrike mission following Jan. 28 deaths

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: U.S. Air Force plans for B-21 beddown at Dyess
A Massachusetts Air National Guard unit will resume its intelligence mission that was suspended after one of its airmen leaked highly classified military documents last year, the Air Force said Friday.

The 102nd Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Group will again provide analysis to combatant commands worldwide on June 1, following approval by the head of Air Combat Command, which oversees intelligence units, according to Air Force spokesperson Ann Stefanek.

Military prosecutors seek court-martial for Discord leaker

The groups mission was reassigned to other organizations within the Air Force as federal investigators probed Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeiras unauthorized disclosure of classified information over the course of several months in what became one of the largest national security breaches in recent history.

Teixeira, who in March pleaded guilty to collecting documents about the war in Ukraine and other national security secrets from intelligence briefings and posting them on the social media platform Discord in or around 2022 through his arrest in early 2023, is scheduled to be sentenced in Bostons federal court in September, according to the Associated Press. He has agreed to a prison sentence that could last nearly 17 years.

Teixeira, who worked as an information technology specialist with the 102nd Intelligence Support Squadron at Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts, also faces charges within the military justice system.

Results of an Air Force investigation released in December found that Teixeiras superiors repeatedly directed him to stop seeking out classified intelligence but did not properly report suspicious incidents involving the airman. Fifteen people were disciplined in connection with the leak, including removal from command.

The intel groups mission was allowed to be reinstated following an Air Combat Command-led recertification process that was authorized after a new organizational structure was implemented to enhance oversight of [the groups] operations, Stefanek said.

The inspection teams, with participation from members of the headquarters staff, evaluated the remaining open deficiencies, and sampled security procedures and culture across the wing, she added.
Air-raid warning issued in Kyiv for second time at night: loud explosion heard

An air-raid warning was issued for the second time in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast on the night of 30-31 May, and a loud explosion was heard.

Source: Ukraines Air Force; an air-raid warning map; Ukrainska Pravda journalist

Quote: "Attention! There is a high-speed target flying towards Kyiv!"

Updated at 05:06: The air-raid warning was extended to the north-western oblasts of the country.

At 05:16, the all-clear was given.

Background: On the night of 30-31 May, Russian Shahed attack drones reached Kyiv Oblast.

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Pictured is Elroy Chaparral's autonomous electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft for middle-mile logistics, humanitarian aid shipping, and military resupply. A new public-private partnership in Utah called Project Alta aims to transform transportation with autonomous passenger vehicles and drone deliveries in Utah by 2034. (Courtesy of Elroy Chaparral)

It may sound like something out of the The Jetsons, but Utah visionaries insist flying air taxis  think Uber but in the sky, via electric autonomous aircraft  are a reality on Utahs horizon.

Perhaps, even by 2034.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox joined a news conference Thursday with Utah tech and business leaders to launch a new public, private partnership called Project Alta, an acronym for Air Logistics Transportation Alliance.

At the helm of the initiative is 47G, formerly known as the Utah Aerospace and Defense Association, a network of over 120 aerospace, defense and cyber companies and 20 academic institutions working to innovate in the three sectors.

As part of Project Alta, 47G is partnering with the Utah Governors Office, the Utah Department of Transportation, the Utah Inland Port Authority and other industry partners with a mission to establish an advanced air mobility system for Utah.

The group has been tasked with creating a new air transportation system in the state that could revolutionize how Utahns travel and how packages are delivered to their doorsteps  all by 2034.

We know that we cant continue to add lanes to our freeways as Utah continues to grow, Cox said at Thursdays news conference outside the West Valley City-based center of research and technology for Hexcel, an advanced composites technology company that supplies carbon fiber for air taxis made by Archer Aviation.

Project Alta  with a goal that would align with Utahs chance to host the 2034 Olympic Winter Games  brings an opportunity for us to reimagine what transportation can be here in our state, the governor said.

We cant keep widening, he said. But we can start going vertical. And thats exactly what were going to do.

Challenges ahead include not just developing the technology, but also building infrastructure and shaping local and federal regulations to help pave the way for the new modes of transportation, which would require creating an entirely new system of air pathways for drone deliveries, and eventually autonomous passenger vehicles, or air taxis.

Drone delivery company Zipline displays a model during a press conference announcing the launch of Project Alta outside Hexcels center for research and technology in West Valley City, Utah on May 30, 2024. (Katie McKellar / Utah News Dispatch)

Whats ahead for Project Alta

Chris Metts, a former senior-ranking Federal Aviation Administration official and now executive director of Project Alta, told Utah News Dispatch the project will begin with a safety-focused phased approach, starting first with expanding small package drone deliveries, then working up to larger cargo and, eventually, people.

Today, drones are already delivering packages to Utahns, but in limited areas. In 2022, Walmart launched a drone delivery pilot program in Lindon and Herriman. Later that same year, Intermountain Health and drone company Zipline launched a program to deliver prescriptions and medical products directly to certain yards in the Salt Lake Valley area.

Chris Metts, executive director of Project Alta, speaks to reporters after a press conference announcing the launch of Project Alta outside Hexcels center of research and technology in West Valley City, Utah on May 30, 2024. (Katie McKellar / Utah News Dispatch)

Meanwhile, well be watching what happens in the rest of the world, Metts said. Well be improving the technology, well be partnering with the electric vehicles takeoff and landing companies to try to expand the abilities and to take advantage of the approvals they get in other parts of the country to bring those services here.

Additionally, he said well be focusing on first-responder access, like transporting equipment and eventually transporting first responders themselves.

The ultimate goal is passenger transport  and while it may be a ways off, especially considering the work ahead for federal regulations  Metts said its not unrealistic at all.

If you talk to the manufacturers of those aircraft, they are moving down that road now, he said.

Aerial vehicles are already planned to launch in cities like Dubai, London and New York, as reported by National Geographic. Metts pointed to areas like Dubai, where regulators are a little more willing to move the technology forward, he said.

Launch and landing locations are still limited and the technology of how far they can go is still limited, but he said eventually what youll probably find is there will be communities that dont have passenger air traffic that will eventually be able to develop passenger air traffic.

In Utah, we are reshaping our local communities  in a way that will have transportation hubs that will likely include some form of advanced air mobility, Metts said, adding that technology could range from electric vehicles to advancement in existing technologies like helicopters.

It will be a step at a time  a phase at a time  emphasizing, once again, safety and economic viability to make this be something that is supported by the community and supportable by the community, Metts said.

Paul Damron, UDOT advanced air mobility manager, said in a prepared statement that Utahs transportation officials will work closely with 47G to create a well-functioning transportation system in the air that connects seamlessly with the transportation system on the ground.

Imagine a world where you can hop on an air taxi and travel anywhere along the Wasatch Front in 20 minutes, he said.

A legislative mandate on 47G

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox speaks during a press conference announcing the launch of Project Alta outside Hexcels center of research and technology in West Valley City, Utah on May 30, 2024. (Katie McKellar / Utah News Dispatch)

Cox said he and the Legislature have given 47G the mandate to lead the states advanced air mobility strategy, which he and other business leaders depicted as a future of drones delivering packages  including life-saving medicine and care  as well as electric air taxis that would be quieter and more environmentally friendly than helicopters.

This year, more than $3 million in state funding has been set aside to advance Utahs air mobility goals.

The 2024 Utah Legislature appropriated $1.15 million in one-time state funding along with intent language included in the spending bill HB3 that the money go toward an advanced air mobility center of excellence and ecosystem accelerator that will be used by 47G to support the states air mobility efforts and foster growth through services to companies competing in this space in partnership with the Utah Department of Transportation, Governors Office of Economic Opportunity, Utah Inland Port Authority, and private business.

Lawmakers told 47G to use the money to foster more investment in the industry, as well as work with the states workforce development programs to jumpstart the project.

The Legislature intends that 47G use the funds to assist in matchmaking with larger defense contractors and work in coordination with the Utah Innovation Lab to develop an investment ecosystem of venture capital and private equity investors and work with Talent Ready Utah to support workforce needs, the bill states.

In addition to the $1.15 million set aside for the initiative, the 2024 Utah Legislature also appropriated roughly $1.9 million for the Utah Department of Transportation to set up a test site for advanced air mobility, Matthew Maass, director of UDOTs division of aeronautics, told Utah News Dispatch after Thursdays news conference.

When asked about the appropriations from the Legislature, Aaron Starks, 47G president and CEO, told Utah News Dispatch we take a lot of pride in knowing that the governors office and the Legislature is partnering with us to advance the economy.

Any capital put into 47G is then deployed into longer-term economic initiatives, Starks said.

Aaron Starks, 47G president and CEO, speaks during a press conference announcing the launch of Project Alta outside Hexcels center of research and technology in West Valley City, Utah on May 30, 2024. (Katie McKellar / Utah News Dispatch)

Correction: An earlier version misspelled Matthew Maass last name.

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ALABAMA, Ala. (WHNT)  Alabama lawmakers are reacting after Former President Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in a New York Court.

Trump faced charges in connection with a hush money payment his former attorney Micheal Cohen made to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election so she would keep an alleged affair with the then-candidate a secret. The former president has denied the affair and pleaded not guilty before the verdict.

Jury finds Trump guilty on 34 counts; first president convicted of felony: Live updates

The verdict makes Trump the first former president to be convicted of a felony.

Since the verdict come out on Thursday afternoon, mutliple Alabama lawmakers have reacted on social media and sent statements to News 19.

North Alabama Congressman Dale Strong said he was disheartened by the verdict in his statement on social media.

I strongly believe that these charges would not have been brought against Donald Trump had he not sought the office of President. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought this case because of politics, not justice. It is clear Democrats weaponized our court system to try to undermine President Trump. Congressman Dale Strong

Hartselle man indicted for abusing, burning child in 2023

Congressman Robert Aderholt also commented on the verdict on social media. You can find his statement here:

Trump Verdict: The prosecutors in this case, with I believe help from the bench, had to take the law and make origami out of it to try and get the verdict they wanted. This was not about justice. This was about politics. This will be overturned on appeal. ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT. Congressman Robert Aderholt

Senator Katie Britt also took to social media to express her disappointment in the verdict.

Today is a sad and shameful day, she said. Democrats just set the dangerous, destructive precedent of the party in power weaponizing prosecutorial powers against their political adversary. This is a hallmark of a banana republic, not a constitutional republic. Make no mistakeAmericans wont tolerate a two-tiered system of justice, and the real verdict will come on November 5.

Senator Tommy Tuberville also posted an image with a lengthy statement on X, formerly Twitter, about the verdict. Tuberville said the trial was political from the start.

You can see his full statement here:

Its a very dark day in American history. This trial was a political witch hunt from the start. The fact that the Biden campaign staged a press conference outside the court tells you everything you need to know. Liberal activist Alvin Bragg and Biden-donor Judge Merchan had a shared goal: to put President Trump behind bars. Whether you consider the lopsided jury, the gag order issued to silence only President Trump, the prosecutions failure to outline the alleged underlying crimes, or the lack of a unanimous verdict required for conviction, this trial was a complete joke and a massive misuse of taxpayer dollars. This is pure election interference and the American people will see through it. We cant have a two-tier justice system. If we dont return to our Constitution, which guarantees every U.S. citizen the right to free speech and the right to a fair trial by an impartial jury, we are no better than Venezuela or communist China. Senator Tommy Tuberville

The Associated Press has addressed the claim the the jury did not have to reach a unanimous verdict. AP said some social media users have claimed that but it distorts the Judges instructions.

The news organization reported that The judge told the jury that to convict Trump on any given charge, they will have to find unanimously  that is, all 12 jurors must agree  that the former president created a fraudulent entry in his companys records or caused someone else to do so, and that he did so with the intent of committing or concealing a crime.

Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director Micheal Tyler also released a statement on the verdict.

In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator on day one and calling for our Constitution to be terminated so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence  and the American people will reject it this November. Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director Michael Tyler

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.
YATES COUNTY, N.Y. (WETM)  An Alabama man is facing multiple charges in connection to a child pornography case that has been under investigation in Yates County since April.

According to the Yates County District Attorneys Office, Austin G. Pace, 25, is facing a 19-count indictment on the charges of sex trafficking of a child, promoting prostitution of a person under 15, compelling prostitution of a person less than 18, coercion, use of a child under 17 in a sexual performance, promoting sex performance by a child under 17 and obscenity in the first degree, following the investigation.

Ithaca man arrested on drug charges after search

It is alleged that Pace used a variety of social media and online chat platforms to communicate with and enter into a sexual relationship with a minor, as well as used force or intimidation to coerce her to engage in sexual activity and the creation of child porn for his own satisfaction daily.

The Yates County Sheriffs Office began the investigation back in April with assistance from the New York State Police Computer Crimes Unit, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and the Cullman County Sheriffs Office. The investigation ended with a presentation to a Yates County grand jury on May 9.

Following the investigation, investigators from the Cullman County Sheriffs Office, along with the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation and Homeland Security Investigations, executed a search warrant on Paces home after receiving cyber tips that linked him to child pornography from the Yates County investigation. At this time, Alabama Law Enforcement agencies confiscated several electronic devices that will be processed along with the contents of the social media accounts that contained videos and images.

Monroeton man sentenced on DUI meth charge

During the execution of the search warrant, Pace was arrested on a superior court warrant out of Yates County and extradited by the Yates County Sheriffs Office on May 29. He was then arraigned on May 30 on the 19-count indictment.

Paces bail is set at $50,000 cash, $100,000 bond and $200,000 partially secured bond. He is due back in court on June 11.

If he is found guilty of the above charges, Pace will face a maximum of 25 years in prison, and up to 20 years of supervised release. He also faces the possibility of consecutive sentencing for the charges.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
Ali: The jury has spoken. What happens next will be a great test of American democracy

Former President Trump walks out of court Thursday after being found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. (Seth Wenig / Associated Press)

The verdict is in. Former President Trump was found guilty Thursday of all 34 felony counts against him in the New York hush money case in connection with falsifying records around a payment made to silence porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election.

Now the real test begins.

Will Americans who disagree with the outcome respect the rule of law, and more importantly, the safety of the jurors who decided the case? Or, as a country, are we so conditioned along partisan lines that we vehemently reject all outcomes that dont serve our political interests?

Trump wasted no time delegitimizing the verdict, the trial and the rule of law when he addressed the media outside the courtroom. He said the trial was rigged, the judge was corrupt, the "country's gone to hell" and the verdict was disgraceful." He also took the opportunity to campaign, claiming incorrectly that this was done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt an opponent  a political opponent.

Read more: Guilty: Trump becomes first former U.S. president convicted of felony crimes

The presumptive Republican presidential nominees response to losing was predictable. Wed seen him use the same language to discredit the results of the 2020 election. The rant outside the courtroom was clearly pulled from the same playbook. But like polling numbers and election results, the jurys verdict was not as easy to predict.

The news that he was found guilty on all felony counts was stunning, even in an era when nothing should stun us. We are, after all, living through one of the most tawdry chapters of American history, when the cover-up of an alleged tryst between a porn star and a then-reality TV host might have influenced the outcome of a historic election. If only our decade had a gallant narrative for the history books to counterbalance all of the sleaziness, like when the Continental Army took over airports during the Revolutionary War.

Verdicts on all 34 counts had not even been read before the partisan spin began  including a fundraising appeal from the Trump campaign calling the ex-president a "political prisoner."

But it is important to acknowledge the gravity of the moment. The legal system worked, despite all the outside scrutiny, pressure and organized efforts to invalidate the proceedings by those whod prefer to see their guy in the Oval Office rather than a jail cell. We should be buoyed by the fact that prosecutors, the judge and a jury of 12 citizens refused to be intimidated by the defendant, his GOP surrogates and radical followers.

But we now face a bigger stress test: Will folks believe in the legal system or the discreditation of it by Trump and his acolytes?

Fox News was immediately on the defense, which of course means offense. The Biden-Harris campaign is now free to call him a convicted felon, one reporter said.

Anchor Jeanine Pirro naturally took it a step further: Americans believe in justice, and in their gut, they realize that there is something that is very wrong here, she said. Weve gone over a cliff in America. This verdict is the verdict of someone who was forced to fight a 1,000-pound gorilla with both hands tied behind his back. This is a defendant for whom crimes were created.

Read more: What verdict will voters render after jury finds Trump guilty in hush money case?

Surrogates from the GOP, such as Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson of Louisiana, were also quick to denounce the verdict as unjust  or worse.

Today is a shameful day in American history, Johnson said in a statement released minutes after the guilty verdict was announced. The American people rightfully see this is lawfare, and they know it is  dangerous.

Pitting the people against the legal system isnt just a disingenuous move, its dangerous.

Violent threats and doxxing have been prevalent in connection with all four of the ex-president's criminal cases. Also prevalent are the portrayals by Trump and the right-wing media of the prosecutors, judges and anyone else who might compromise his chances of winning as being crooked or a tool of the Democrats. Last summer, Trump supporters posted the names and addresses of the Fulton County grand jurors who indicted him and 18 of his codefendants. As recently as this week, false reports about jury instructions proliferated across right-wing media, leading to more threats against Judge Juan Merchan.

Several conservative news personalities, including some affiliated with Fox News, falsely claimed that Judge Juan Merchan, as one Fox News anchor put it in a viral post on X, told the jury that they do not need unanimity to convict. That's not true," reported NBC.

Read more: Column: Trump is officially a convicted felon, but that may not stand in his way

Thursday's guilty verdict followed weeks of salacious testimony around a sexual encounter alleged between Trump and Daniels and falsifying records around a $130,000 payoff to ensure her silence. Sentencing is set for July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention opens in the swing state of Wisconsin.

Trump tried to bulldoze past the jurys decision Thursday when he proclaimed outside the courtroom, The real verdict will be Nov. 5 by the people.

When it comes to selecting our next president, that is true.

But we are a nation of laws. And that means with this jury's judgment, the presumptive Republican nominee has earned a new title.

Convicted criminal.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
As the Supreme Court careens toward the explosive end of its term, Justice Samuel Alito keeps digging himself deeper into an ethics scandal that is equal parts comical and execrable. Alito sent a letter to congressional Democrats on Wednesday resisting their calls for him to recuse from Jan. 6related cases, once again blaming the presence of two insurrection flags flying over his homes on his wife, Martha-Ann. A day later, the court released several opinions, including a 63 death penalty case authored by Alito that took familiar liberties with the law and the facts. And just a few hours after that, Chief Justice John Roberts notified Senate Democrats that he would snub their request for a meeting about ethics, citing separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence.

On a bonus Slate Plus episode of Amicus, Dahlia Lithwick and Mark Joseph Stern discussed this unholy concatenation of court-related drama as SCOTUS itself rolls right off the rails. Their conversation has been edited for length and clarity.

To listen to the full episode of Amicus, join Slate Plus.

Dahlia Lithwick: I think the merits can get lost when we talk about the flags. But there is a substantive problem that were starting to pick up on, and that is Justice Alito, in recent weeks, making very real and serious errors in his opinions. Theyre actually prompting corrections from sources that he cites, who say, No, my work reflects the opposite of what youre claiming. Id love for you to unpack that.

Mark Joseph Stern: This happened just last week in the racial gerrymandering case out of South Carolina. Alito cited the Brennan Center, a left-leaning pro-democracy group, to support the proposition that the racial turnout gap is growingwhite people are voting at significantly higher rates than racial minorities. And Alito said this fact leads to the conclusion that racial data is actually less useful in drawing maps, so the court should assume that the map-drawers didnt look at racial data, because its not very useful. Even though the map-drawers in this case shifted 30,000 Black residents to a new district with almost surgical precision to make a competitive district less diverse.

The Brennan Center responded that Alito completely misunderstood its work, and in fact got it backward. Bizarrely, he cited an old blog post rather than a more recent, comprehensive analysis of this issue, which wouldve shown why he was wrong. The Brennan Center said that what it actually showed was that South Carolina has better data, on the individual and community level, about racial identity than political affiliation. If Alito had read four more sentences of the blog post he cited, or read the full report that elaborates on this issue, he would have seen that the map-drawers in this case had every incentive to look at racial data! Its clearer and more useful than data about voters political preferences. Alito just butchered the Brennan Centers analysis and used it to mean the opposite of what it meant.

He received a similar rebuke from a source he cited in his dissent from the CFPB decision, too, right?

Yes. In his dissent asserting that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded unconstitutionally, Alito cited a book by Georgetown Law professor Josh Chafetz called Congresss Constitution. Not once, not twice, but eight times. And its a very good book! But Alito cited it for the proposition that the Framers would never have wanted to let a federal agency draw its budget the way the CFPB does. And that the Framers and their English forebears would have wanted the judiciary to limit how Congress funds the executive branch.

Chafetz was so irritated by this that he felt moved to tweet that Alito got it dead wrong. Because Chafetz preemptively rebutted the theory that Alito embraced: In the book, he wrote that text of the Constitution allows for indefinite appropriations in all contexts other than the army, which is limited to two-year appropriations. That explicitly contradicts Alitos pseudo-originalist claim. Also, Chafetz wrote about how the appropriations power was, early on, used in a broad and nonspecific way, which Alito deemed unconstitutional. And Chafetz wrote that this power was meant as a check on the executive by the legislative, not a judicially enforceable limit on Congress. Again, thats the opposite of what Alito asserted. Yet the justice cited Chafetzs book for support over and over again!

This dovetails with something weve talked about so much over the years, which is that the Supreme Court does not have an error-correction mechanism. It doesnt have a roundup at the end of the week saying, This is all the stuff that we got wrong in our opinions, like Slate does. Once you put something false into an opinion, it becomes doctrine, and Alito is very good at this. Dont forget, it was just last week that Justice Kagan had to tell Alito that he was misreading her own majority opinion. And theres no corrective. Its just choose-your-own-ending.

Theres another phenomenon, which is related but quite different: Alito seems to be substituting his own fact-finding for the work of the lower courts. We saw that again on Thursday.

This case, Thornell v. Jones, is about a man condemned to death by a judge on the basis of incomplete information: It looks like his counsel did not present all of the potentially mitigating evidence that might have led the judge to spare him from a capital sentence. And the 9th Circuit found ineffective assistance of counsel. The Supreme Court reversed in an opinion bywho else?Alito. First, Alito said: We disagree with the 9th Circuit that this defendant had ineffective assistance of counsel. And that should have been the end of it.

Instead, Alito went a step further and did what the lower courts usually do, which is to re-weigh the evidence that could have been presented to the judge. He looked through thousands of pages of this very complex, highly contested record, purported to weigh the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, decided which were true and false, and drew his own conclusions. So, for instance, the defendant said he was sexually abused, and suffered brain trauma in early childhood, and experienced substance abuse and PTSD. But Alito dismissed these claims through his own appellate fact-finding, and declared that the defendant should, indeed, be sentenced to death.

As all three liberals said in their dissents, that is not what the Supreme Court is supposed to do. Yet its very similar to what happened in the racial gerrymandering case, where Alito looked at what the district court had found after a lengthy trial and hearing and rejected it point-by-point, saying I know better than you. This is King Alito declaring that he alone may speak the truth. Whats really alarming is that the other conservatives are going along with it. They just accept that King Alito can decree these new realities and facts and histories.

I would just add that this is entirely predictable from somebody who has proven, day after day after day, that he doesnt believe reality. Justice Alito is at a place where he thinks the entire Justice Department is going after Trump and Jan. 6 insurrectionists because theyre witch-hunters. He believes the media is a bunch of liars and the world is out to get him. He believes the insurrectionist flag is benign, a foam finger that screams Go George Washington.

So yes, its entirely predictable that somebody like Alito would bend every single fact to conform with their own reality. That he would be the I did my own research justice. Its really cognitively frightening, separate and aside from the politics of it. This is mistrust of every institution, materialized as a human being who decides the cases that control our lives.
Ameren asks dog owners to keep watch of pets while employees work

ST. LOUIS, Mo.  Ameren is reminding dog owners to be wary of anxious or protective pets while employees are at work around their homes.

Crews must access neighborhoods and backyards to efficiently address Amerens 100,000 miles of powerlines and 23,000 natural gas pipelines. That can mean a lot of dog encounters, both friendly and not-so-friendly.

Ameren officials say dog bites and injuries related to dog chases can pose serious safety concerns. Even sweet dogs may get snippy when scared, startled, or simply guarding their territory. Since 2020, 39 Ameren field workers have required medical attention as a result of an aggressive dog interaction.

Now, Ameren wants to remind customers to safely secure their pets when a utility worker is scheduled to visit their home or business.

Anonymous call saves puppys life in Vermilion County

While we appreciate and understand that owners love their pets, were seeing too many employees being injured or attacked by dogs when entering back yards to service our customers natural gas and electric equipment, said Karen Boulanger, Director of Safety. In addition to providing training to our workers on how to avoid a dog bite, we need our customers to do their part to keep pets away from our employees so they can safely perform their work.

Ameren highlighted a few recent incidents in which personnel were hurt in dog encounters: in March, an Illinois employee was bit by a customers leashed dog while reading a natural gas meter. In Missouri, a dog charged at an employee who was standing in a driveway. This caused the worker to fall to the ground and twist his ankle, subsequently missing nine days of work.

The HART behind the pets in Our Town Hoopeston

To prevent more unpleasant pet vs. worker interactions from happening, here are some safety tips:

Never leash a pet to a meter, pole, supporting wires, or other utility equipment.

If an Ameren worker is inside, keep dogs securely away in a separate room. If the worker is outside, secure the pet indoors.

Be aware that an invisible electric fence is not a sure-fire way to keep a dog in-bounds. A determined dog can still break through.

Post a Beware of Dog sign on your fence or house to keep utility workers aware of your dogs presence.

Always keep your dogs vaccinations and inoculations for rabies and parasites up-to-date.

Call Ameren Illinois at 1-800-755-5000 to notify them of your pet. Staff can then make a note of it on your customer account.

Ameren field workers are trained to never assume a dog is friendly and to give them space. They are also trained not to run away, and how to demonstrate confidence and dominance when interacting with a dog.

To defend yourself from a dog attack, Ameren suggests changing your stance from front-facing to a side position. Then loudly yell, No, Get back, or Stop.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  The American Red Cross is teaming up with the creators of the iconic best-selling video game Tetris to incentivize people to donate blood in a time where fewer donors are rolling up a sleeve.

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According to a press release, the partnership is a celebration of the video games 40th anniversary and to build the blood supply for patients in need.

American Red Cross and Tetris t-shirt (American Red Cross)

In commemoration, all who answer the call to help on May 20-June 9, 2024, will get an exclusive Tetris + Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last, plus be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to New York to meet Tetris creator, Alexey Pajitnov, the release said.

The need for blood donations

Officials emphasize the need for blood donations since about 20,000 fewer blood donations were collected over the past month than needed to maintain the Red Cross national blood supply.

Further, the release notes that the U.S. is approaching what the AAA calls the 100 deadliest days of summer  a time when it is critical that hospitals have blood products on hand for trauma and accident victims.

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How to donate blood

Those who wish to donate blood or wish to get more information about blood donations can:

Download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App

Visit the American Red Cross website

Call the American Red Cross at 1-800-733-2767

Enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device

Once setting up an appointment, those who meet certain requirements can donate blood.

A blood donor card or drivers license or two other forms of identification for check-in

Individuals who are 17 years old or 16 with parental consent can donate by state law

Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health

High school students and other donors 18 years of age and under must meet certain height and weight requirements

5 guys rescued after being stranded in the Gulf  faith and this device saved their lives

Pajintov, who is a recent first-time blood donor, said, I think its very important to not just talk about people united together and helping each other, but doing it with your real action, and thats what I tried to do this time. So, play Tetris and donate blood!

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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By Phil Stewart, Jonathan Landay and Max Hunder

WASHINGTON/KYIV (Reuters) - President Joe Biden's decision to relax some restrictions on Ukraine's use of U.S. weaponry inside Russia is a small but significant step deeper into the two-year-old war that experts say could help blunt Russia's cross-border Kharkiv offensive.

Since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Biden's administration had argued it was too risky to allow Ukraine to strike targets on Russia territory with U.S.-supplied weapons. It feared a major Ukrainian attack could trigger direct conflict with nuclear-armed Russia.

It was a rule that fit neatly with other U.S. prohibitions on supplying higher-end weaponry to Kyiv that have also since crumbled, from advanced U.S. fighter jets to long-range ATACM missiles.

Biden administration officials say the latest decision, which went into effect on Thursday, was narrowly tailored to the battle in the Kharkiv region. U.S. officials say it allows Kyiv to use U.S.-supplied weapons to fire back against Russian forces "attacking them or preparing to attack them" from across the border.

That gives Ukrainians on the frontlines a green light to fire over the border at Russian forces using U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers armed with Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) missiles, and other weaponry, experts say.

"This can stabilize the frontline and possibly create conditions to push back (Russians) from Kharkiv region before they have dug in," said Mykola Bielieskov, research fellow at the Ukrainian National Institute for Strategic Studies, an official think-tank in Kyiv.

Philip Ingram, a former British military intelligence officer, said Biden's decision will reduce Kyiv's need to draw troops away from critical battle fronts in the eastern Donbas region.

"The Russians are now going to find themselves on the back foot and will have to rethink the tactics they have been using in their attack into Kharkiv," he said.

SLOW-CHURN DECISION

Biden's decision-making process dates back weeks.

Ukraine raised its request to use U.S. weapons across the border in the Kharkiv region during a secure video conference on May 13 with White House National Security Director Jake Sullivan, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General C.Q. Brown, a U.S. official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Sullivan, Austin and Brown developed a recommendation in favor of relaxing the restrictions, which Sullivan took to Biden on May 15. Biden agreed Ukraine should be able to strike back against Russian forces attacking them from the safety of Russian soil, the official said. Biden's administration had been finalizing the decision since then.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy publicly called for Ukraine's partners to take such a step in a May 20 interview with Reuters, but at the time said: "So far, there is nothing positive."

Rob Lee, a senior fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute's Eurasia Program, said Russia had been exploiting Biden's prohibition on strikes inside Russian territory by using it as a safehaven to launch attacks in Kharkiv region.

Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, is just 19 miles (30 km) from the border.

"Russia could keep its artillery right across the border. It could keep air defense, electronic warfare, command and control (there)," Lee said. "It had maybe a degree of kind of sanctuary." Still, Lee and other experts this decision on its own may not alter the frontlines anytime soon.

"I don't think (the decision) is going to change the movement of the frontline that much, if at all. But it will make it more difficult for Russia to continue this kind of cross-border operation," Lee said. Ingram said Russia lacks enough troops for a major push into Kharkiv.

"The Russians don't have the ability to generate sufficient combat capability to properly threaten Kharkiv from the northeast," he said. "To do that, it would denude their troops in eastern combat areas."

DEEPER STRIKES IN RUSSIA?

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned NATO members against allowing Ukraine to fire their weapons into Russia and on Tuesday once again raised the risk of nuclear war.

Still, Ukraine appears ready to seek to expand its ability to use U.S. weaponry elsewhere in Russia in the weeks and months to come, particularly after a difficult year in which Russia seized the momentum on the battlefield.

On Friday, less than a day after Washington announced its policy shift, Zelenskiy was quoted in an interview with the Guardian newspaper calling for U.S. approval to hit targets deep inside Russian territory.

Mark Cancian, a former Pentagon official now at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think-tank in Washington, said Biden's move was just a first step.

"It's not a radical departure (in policy). But it's a step," Cancian said.

"Ukrainians and officials in the administration will argue for the next step: To strike a broader set of targets -- maybe targets in Russia that are not directly threatening Kharkiv, but are in other areas."

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, speaking on Friday in Prague, declined to say whether the Biden administration could expand its policy to allow strikes elsewhere in Russia. But he did not rule it out.

"Going forward, we'll continue to do what we've been doing, which is as necessary adapt and adjust," Blinken said.

(Reporting by Phil Stewart, Jonathan Landay, Steve Holland in Washington, Humeyra Pamuk in Prague, Max Hunder in Kyiv; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president in 2024, speaks during a press conference at Trump Tower on May 31, 2024 in New York City. Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump, now a convicted felon, vowed to launch an appeal based on many things he considered unfair during his New York trial, he said Friday in the lobby of Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan.

Meanwhile Friday, legal and political analysts predicted he will spend little if any time in jail depending on the outcome of that appeal, fundraising among supportive Republicans appeared to surge and eight GOP members of the U.S. Senate pledged they will not support any Democratic priorities or nominations.

The reactions came as Americans continued to digest the news that on Thursday, a jury in Lower Manhattan found the Republican Partys presumed 2024 presidential nominee guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, a felony in New York.

The roughly seven-week proceeding marked the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president.

Were going to be appealing this scam, Trump said at his late-morning press conference, referring to New York Justice Juan Merchan as a tyrant.

Over about 30 minutes of often misleading or false comments delivered in his familiar stream-of-consciousness style that jumped from topic to topic, Trump complained about aspects of the trial, said the case shouldnt have been prosecuted at all and made campaign-style appeals on immigration and crime.

Trump has centered his public relations defense on the idea that the prosecution was politically motivated, often blaming the Biden administration, and he repeated the theme throughout his Friday remarks.

If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone, he said.

President Joe Biden said Friday that Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself.

It was a state case, not a federal case. It was heard by a jury of 12 citizens, 12 Americans, 12 people like you, like millions of Americans whove served on juries. This jury was chosen the same way every jury in America is chosen. It was a process that Donald Trumps attorney was part of, Biden said from the White House before delivering remarks on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Biden said Trump now has the opportunity as he should to appeal, just like anyone else who is tried in the U.S.

Thats how the American system of justice works, Biden said. Its reckless, its dangerous, its irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they dont like the verdict.

Jail time?

Trump told the crowd Friday morning he could spend 187 years in jail for being found guilty of falsifying business records. It was not clear how he arrived at that number.

Most observers of his trial and the New York justice system disagree with that estimate.

Merchan set Trumps sentencing for July 11 at 10 a.m. Eastern, just four days before the Republican National Convention kicks off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the GOP will officially nominate Trump for president in Novembers election.

Trump is convicted of class E felonies, the lowest level felony in New York state, and each carries the possibility of probation to up to four years in prison.

Any incarceration sentence up to a year would be served in the citys Rikers Island jail or another local facility. Incarceration beyond that time frame would be served at a state facility.

If that jail sentence happens, it probably will be less than a year, said Norm Eisen, former White House special counsel in the Obama administration, who has been commenting on the indictment and trial for months.

Eisen spoke during a virtual press conference hosted by the Defend Democracy Project.

New York state law experts say Merchan may not be inclined to imprison a former, and possibly future, U.S. president. And, if he sentences Trump to any length of incarceration, it will likely be stayed  a temporary stop to the action pending appeal.

Trump could remain free on bail conditions set by the court, or no bail conditions, subject to a decision by the appeals court and potentially any other review if an appeals judge sends the case to the states highest court.

When there is a stay pending appeal, generally, the process is expedited more quickly than it would be if the defendant was at liberty and there was no stay. But even so, this is going to go beyond the election, said retired New York Supreme Court Judge Michael Obus at the press conference with Eisen.

Appeal strategy?

While Trump said Friday morning he plans to appeal the verdict based on many things, legal observers speculate his teams approach may come down to a few options.

In New York, falsifying a business record is illegal in the first degree when the intent to defraud includes an intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal the commission thereof.

While the jurors had to unanimously agree on an intent to commit another crime, they did not have to agree unanimously on what that underlying crime was, according to Merchans instructions to the jury prior to deliberations.

Merchan said jurors could consider three options for the other crime: violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act; falsification of other business records; or, violation of tax laws.

Obus said a non-frivolous argument that Trumps team might use is that one of those underlying crimes was a federal, not a state crime.

Thats the kind of argument that we might see on appeal  the argument being that New York courts dont have the authority to prosecute the case with that being the object crime because its a federal crime, Obus said. I dont think thatll be successful.

In addition to the challenge regarding federal election law, Shane T. Stansbury of Duke Law told States Newsroom in an interview Friday that he expects to see Trumps legal team challenge evidentiary issues.

For example, I would expect that the defense would make a claim that the salacious testimony by Stormy Daniels about the details of her sexual encounter with Donald Trump was unfairly prejudicial, Stansbury said.

Also, Trumps lawyers might challenge the judges decision to strike from defense attorney Todd Blanches closing statement a plea he made to the jury, asking them to not send Trump to prison.

The charge against Trump could, or could not, result in prison time.

You can imagine the defense saying that that correction may have prejudiced the jury. Now, I should say that those kinds of evidentiary issues are a much steeper climb for the defense, Stansbury said.

A legal expense

Trump remains under a gag order imposed by Merchan in March to keep the former president from further attacking court staff and potential witnesses online.

Trump violated the order 10 times, leading Merchan to fine him $9,000 on April 30, and again $1,000 on May 6.

During his comments Friday morning, Trump complained of having to pay thousands of dollars because of his nasty gag order.

Still, Trump spent several minutes during his remarks talking about one of the prosecutions star witnesses, his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen.

According to testimony and document evidence presented during trial, Cohen wired $130,000 of his own money to porn star Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 presidential election to silence her about an alleged affair with Trump. Trump then reimbursed Cohen the following year under the guise of legal expenses.

Prosecutors never should have brought the case accusing him of falsifying business records, Trump said.

The payments to Cohen were for Cohen to create a nondisclosure agreement with Daniels and secure her signature, which is legal, Trump said Friday. That was a legal service, and the payments were properly recorded that way, he said.

I paid a lawyer a legal expense, he said.

The whole thing is legal expense was marked down as legal expense, he said. Think of it: This is the crime that I committed that Im supposed to go to jail for 187 years for.

Trump, who wouldnt say Cohens name Friday because of the gag order, said Cohen was not a fixer as he is often described, but a lawyer in good standing.

By the way, this was a highly qualified lawyer, Trump said. Now Im not allowed to use his name because of the gag order. But, you know, hes a sleazebag. Everybody knows that. Took me a while to find out. But he was effective. He did work. But he wasnt a fixer. He was a lawyer.

Trump said he wanted to testify at his trial, but was advised not to by his lawyers.

Attacks on Biden

Trump pivoted nearly immediately after his remarks began to campaign-style attacks on Bidens administration and the anti-immigration positions that comprise Trumps most consistent policy message since his political career began in 2015.

He focused on immigrants from predominantly non-white countries and made false claims that many had been institutionalized in prison and mental hospitals.

Millions and millions of people are flowing in from all parts of the world, not just South America, from Africa, from Asia and from the Middle East, and theyre coming in from jails and prisons, and theyre coming in from mental institutions and insane asylums, he said. And we have a president and a group of fascists that dont want to do anything about it.

He also called crime rampant in New York. He added that Biden wanted to quadruple taxes and make it impossible for you to get a car, neither of which are based on Bidens actual policy positions.

In a statement, Biden campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler called Trumps remarks unhinged.

America just witnessed a confused, desperate, and defeated Donald Trump ramble about his own personal grievances and lie about the American justice system, leaving anyone watching with one obvious conclusion: This man cannot be president of the United States, Tyler wrote. Unhinged by his 2020 election loss and spiraling from his criminal convictions, Trump is consumed by his own thirst for revenge and retribution.

GOP convention in less than two months

The Republican National Convention begins July 15. The Republican National Committee, which called Thursdays verdict rigged, did not immediately respond to questions Friday about whether it will adjust plans in the event Trump is placed under any restrictions during his July 11 sentencing.

Trump encouraged supporters to continue backing his campaign as a response to the verdict, calling Nov. 5  Election Day  the most important day in the history of our country.

Throughout his remarks Friday, he touted an online poll conducted by J.L. Partners and published in the conservative British tabloid The Daily Mail on Friday that showed Trumps approval rating gained points after the verdict.

There were signs that showed Republican support, at least, consolidated even more behind Trump following the verdict.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the campaign organization for U.S. Senate Republicans, said it had its highest fundraising day of the cycle Thursday, bringing in $360,000 in donations that the group directly attributed to the verdict in Manhattan.

Other official GOP channels, including the Republican National Committee social media accounts, echoed Trumps message that the former president was the victim of a political prosecution and predicted the conviction would push voters toward Trump.

Elected Republicans throughout the country continued Friday to almost universally reject the verdict and defend Trump.

A group of eight U.S. Senate Republicans  Mike Lee of Utah, J.D. Vance of Ohio, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Rick Scott and Marco Rubio of Florida and Roger Marshall of Kansas  signed a letter Friday pledging to increase their resistance to administration priorities in response to the verdict.

Those who turned our judicial system into a political cudgel must be held accountable, Lee said in a post to X. We are no longer cooperating with any Democrat legislative priorities or nominations, and we invite all concerned Senators to join our stand.

The Biden administration and congressional Democrats played no role in the trial, which was in New York state court.

No one is above the law

The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, said that Thursdays verdict shows that no one is above the law.

Nadler was joined by Eisen, along with accountability advocates and historians, on a Friday webinar for the press hosted by watchdog group Public Citizen. Eisen participated in multiple press appearances Friday.

Nadler said that Republicans are attempting to sow distrust in the verdict, as the chair of the Judiciary Committee, Jim Jordan of Ohio, has already sent a letter to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg requesting that he testify in a hearing before the panels Weaponization of the Federal Government Subcommittee on June 13.

Nadler said he disagreed with Jordans decision to request testimony from the DA who prosecuted Trump.

Its a continuing attempt to bully the prosecutors into abandoning prosecutions and to tell the country the false story of persecution of the president (Trump) and to help undermine confidence in the criminal justice system, Nadler said.

Nadler said the New York trial was important because its likely going to be the only trial that finishes before the November elections. Trump faces two federal criminal cases, and another criminal case in Georgia.

It is very important for the American people to know, before an election, that theyre dealing with a convicted felon, Nadler said.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a history professor at New York University who specializes in authoritarianism, propaganda and democracy protection, said during the virtual press conference that the trial was a demonstration of American democracy being upheld.

The fact this trial took place at all and was able to unfold in the professional way it did is a testament to the worth and functioning of our democracy, she said.

The post An angry Trump pledges to appeal this scam conviction as Republicans vow resistance appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president in 2024, speaks during a press conference at Trump Tower on May 31, 2024 in New York City. Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump, now a convicted felon, vowed to launch an appeal based on many things he considered unfair during his New York trial, he said Friday in the lobby of Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan.

Meanwhile Friday, legal and political analysts predicted he will spend little if any time in jail depending on the outcome of that appeal, fundraising among supportive Republicans appeared to surge and eight GOP members of the U.S. Senate pledged they will not support any Democratic priorities or nominations.

The reactions came as Americans continued to digest the news that on Thursday, a jury in Lower Manhattan found the Republican Partys presumed 2024 presidential nominee guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, a felony in New York.

The roughly seven-week proceeding marked the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president.

Were going to be appealing this scam, Trump said at his late-morning press conference, referring to New York Justice Juan Merchan as a tyrant.

Over about 30 minutes of often misleading or false comments delivered in his familiar stream-of-consciousness style that jumped from topic to topic, Trump complained about aspects of the trial, said the case shouldnt have been prosecuted at all and made campaign-style appeals on immigration and crime.

Trump has centered his public relations defense on the idea that the prosecution was politically motivated, often blaming the Biden administration, and he repeated the theme throughout his Friday remarks.

If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone, he said.

President Joe Biden said Friday that Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself.

It was a state case, not a federal case. It was heard by a jury of 12 citizens, 12 Americans, 12 people like you, like millions of Americans whove served on juries. This jury was chosen the same way every jury in America is chosen. It was a process that Donald Trumps attorney was part of, Biden said from the White House before delivering remarks on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Biden said Trump now has the opportunity as he should to appeal, just like anyone else who is tried in the U.S.

Thats how the American system of justice works, Biden said. Its reckless, its dangerous, its irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they dont like the verdict.

Jail time?

Trump told the crowd Friday morning he could spend 187 years in jail for being found guilty of falsifying business records. It was not clear how he arrived at that number.

Most observers of his trial and the New York justice system disagree with that estimate.

Merchan set Trumps sentencing for July 11 at 9 a.m. Central, just four days before the Republican National Convention kicks off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the GOP will officially nominate Trump for president in Novembers election.

Trump is convicted of class E felonies, the lowest level felony in New York state, and each carries the possibility of probation to up to four years in prison.

Any incarceration sentence up to a year would be served in the citys Rikers Island jail or another local facility. Incarceration beyond that time frame would be served at a state facility.

If that jail sentence happens, it probably will be less than a year, said Norm Eisen, former White House special counsel in the Obama administration, who has been commenting on the indictment and trial for months.

Eisen spoke during a virtual press conference hosted by the Defend Democracy Project.

New York state law experts say Merchan may not be inclined to imprison a former, and possibly future, U.S. president. And, if he sentences Trump to any length of incarceration, it will likely be stayed  a temporary stop to the action  pending appeal.

Trump could remain free on bail conditions set by the court, or no bail conditions, subject to a decision by the appeals court and potentially any other review if an appeals judge sends the case to the states highest court.

When there is a stay pending appeal, generally, the process is expedited more quickly than it would be if the defendant was at liberty and there was no stay. But even so, this is going to go beyond the election, said retired New York Supreme Court Judge Michael Obus at the press conference with Eisen.

Appeal strategy?

While Trump said Friday morning he plans to appeal the verdict based on many things, legal observers speculate his teams approach may come down to a few options.

In New York, falsifying a business record is illegal in the first degree when the intent to defraud includes an intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal the commission thereof.

While the jurors had to unanimously agree on an intent to commit another crime, they did not have to agree unanimously on what that underlying crime was, according to Merchans instructions to the jury prior to deliberations.

Merchan said jurors could consider three options for the other crime: violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act; falsification of other business records; or, violation of tax laws.

Obus said a non-frivolous argument that Trumps team might use is that one of those underlying crimes was a federal, not a state crime.

Thats the kind of argument that we might see on appeal  the argument being that New York courts dont have the authority to prosecute the case with that being the object crime because its a federal crime, Obus said. I dont think thatll be successful.

In addition to the challenge regarding federal election law, Shane T. Stansbury of Duke Law told States Newsroom in an interview Friday that he expects to see Trumps legal team challenge evidentiary issues.

For example, I would expect that the defense would make a claim that the salacious testimony by Stormy Daniels about the details of her sexual encounter with Donald Trump was unfairly prejudicial, Stansbury said.

Also, Trumps lawyers might challenge the judges decision to strike from defense attorney Todd Blanches closing statement a plea he made to the jury, asking them to not send Trump to prison.

The charge against Trump could, or could not, result in prison time.

You can imagine the defense saying that that correction may have prejudiced the jury. Now, I should say that those kinds of evidentiary issues are a much steeper climb for the defense, Stansbury said.

A legal expense

Trump remains under a gag order imposed by Merchan in March to keep the former president from further attacking court staff and potential witnesses online.

Trump violated the order 10 times, leading Merchan to fine him $9,000 on April 30, and again $1,000 on May 6.

During his comments Friday morning, Trump complained of having to pay thousands of dollars because of his nasty gag order.

Still, Trump spent several minutes during his remarks talking about one of the prosecutions star witnesses, his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen.

According to testimony and document evidence presented during trial, Cohen wired $130,000 of his own money to porn star Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 presidential election to silence her about an alleged affair with Trump. Trump then reimbursed Cohen the following year under the guise of legal expenses.

Prosecutors never should have brought the case accusing him of falsifying business records, Trump said.

The payments to Cohen were for Cohen to create a nondisclosure agreement with Daniels and secure her signature, which is legal, Trump said Friday. That was a legal service, and the payments were properly recorded that way, he said.

I paid a lawyer a legal expense, he said.

The whole thing is legal expense was marked down as legal expense, he said. Think of it: This is the crime that I committed that Im supposed to go to jail for 187 years for.

Trump, who wouldnt say Cohens name Friday because of the gag order, said Cohen was not a fixer as he is often described, but a lawyer in good standing.

By the way, this was a highly qualified lawyer, Trump said. Now Im not allowed to use his name because of the gag order. But, you know, hes a sleazebag. Everybody knows that. Took me a while to find out. But he was effective. He did work. But he wasnt a fixer. He was a lawyer.

Trump said he wanted to testify at his trial, but was advised not to by his lawyers.

Attacks on Biden

Trump pivoted nearly immediately after his remarks began to campaign-style attacks on Bidens administration and the anti-immigration positions that comprise Trumps most consistent policy message since his political career began in 2015.

He focused on immigrants from predominantly non-white countries and made false claims that many had been institutionalized in prison and mental hospitals.

Millions and millions of people are flowing in from all parts of the world, not just South America, from Africa, from Asia and from the Middle East, and theyre coming in from jails and prisons, and theyre coming in from mental institutions and insane asylums, he said. And we have a president and a group of fascists that dont want to do anything about it.

He also called crime rampant in New York. He added that Biden wanted to quadruple taxes and make it impossible for you to get a car, neither of which are based on Bidens actual policy positions.

In a statement, Biden campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler called Trumps remarks unhinged.

America just witnessed a confused, desperate, and defeated Donald Trump ramble about his own personal grievances and lie about the American justice system, leaving anyone watching with one obvious conclusion: This man cannot be president of the United States, Tyler wrote. Unhinged by his 2020 election loss and spiraling from his criminal convictions, Trump is consumed by his own thirst for revenge and retribution.

GOP convention in less than two months

The Republican National Convention begins July 15. The Republican National Committee, which called Thursdays verdict rigged, did not immediately respond to questions Friday about whether it will adjust plans in the event Trump is placed under any restrictions during his July 11 sentencing.

Trump encouraged supporters to continue backing his campaign as a response to the verdict, calling Nov. 5  Election Day  the most important day in the history of our country.

Throughout his remarks Friday, he touted an online poll conducted by J.L. Partners and published in the conservative British tabloid The Daily Mail on Friday that showed Trumps approval rating gained points after the verdict.

There were signs that showed Republican support, at least, consolidated even more behind Trump following the verdict.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the campaign organization for U.S. Senate Republicans, said it had its highest fundraising day of the cycle Thursday, bringing in $360,000 in donations that the group directly attributed to the verdict in Manhattan.

Other official GOP channels, including the Republican National Committee social media accounts, echoed Trumps message that the former president was the victim of a political prosecution and predicted the conviction would push voters toward Trump.

Elected Republicans throughout the country continued Friday to almost universally reject the verdict and defend Trump.

A group of eight U.S. Senate Republicans  Mike Lee of Utah, J.D. Vance of Ohio, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Rick Scott and Marco Rubio of Florida and Roger Marshall of Kansas  signed a letter Friday pledging to increase their resistance to administration priorities in response to the verdict.

Those who turned our judicial system into a political cudgel must be held accountable, Lee said in a post to X. We are no longer cooperating with any Democrat legislative priorities or nominations, and we invite all concerned Senators to join our stand.

The Biden administration and congressional Democrats played no role in the trial, which was in New York state court.

No one is above the law

The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, said Thursdays verdict shows that no one is above the law.

Nadler was joined by Eisen, along with accountability advocates and historians, on a Friday webinar for the press hosted by watchdog group Public Citizen. Eisen participated in multiple press appearances Friday.

Nadler said Republicans are attempting to sow distrust in the verdict, as the chair of the Judiciary Committee, Jim Jordan of Ohio, has already sent a letter to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg requesting that he testify in a hearing before the panels Weaponization of the Federal Government Subcommittee on June 13.

Nadler said he disagreed with Jordans decision to request testimony from the DA who prosecuted Trump.

Its a continuing attempt to bully the prosecutors into abandoning prosecutions and to tell the country the false story of persecution of the president (Trump) and to help undermine confidence in the criminal justice system, Nadler said.

Nadler said the New York trial was important because its likely going to be the only trial that finishes before the November elections. Trump faces two federal criminal cases, and another criminal case in Georgia.

It is very important for the American people to know, before an election, that theyre dealing with a convicted felon, Nadler said.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a history professor at New York University who specializes in authoritarianism, propaganda and democracy protection, said during the virtual press conference that the trial was a demonstration of American democracy being upheld.

The fact this trial took place at all and was able to unfold in the professional way it did is a testament to the worth and functioning of our democracy, she said.

The post An angry Trump pledges to appeal this scam conviction as Republicans vow resistance appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president in 2024, speaks during a press conference at Trump Tower on May 31, 2024 in New York City. Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump, now a convicted felon, vowed to launch an appeal based on many things he considered unfair during his New York trial, he said Friday in the lobby of Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan.

Meanwhile Friday, legal and political analysts predicted he will spend little if any time in jail depending on the outcome of that appeal, fundraising among supportive Republicans appeared to surge and eight GOP members of the U.S. Senate pledged they will not support any Democratic priorities or nominations.

The reactions came as Americans continued to digest the news that on Thursday, a jury in Lower Manhattan found the Republican Partys presumed 2024 presidential nominee guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, a felony in New York.

The roughly seven-week proceeding marked the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president.

Were going to be appealing this scam, Trump said at his late-morning press conference, referring to New York Justice Juan Merchan as a tyrant.

Over about 30 minutes of often misleading or false comments delivered in his familiar stream-of-consciousness style that jumped from topic to topic, Trump complained about aspects of the trial, said the case shouldnt have been prosecuted at all and made campaign-style appeals on immigration and crime.

Trump has centered his public relations defense on the idea that the prosecution was politically motivated, often blaming the Biden administration, and he repeated the theme throughout his Friday remarks.

If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone, he said.

President Joe Biden said Friday that Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself.

It was a state case, not a federal case. It was heard by a jury of 12 citizens, 12 Americans, 12 people like you, like millions of Americans whove served on juries. This jury was chosen the same way every jury in America is chosen. It was a process that Donald Trumps attorney was part of, Biden said from the White House before delivering remarks on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Biden said Trump now has the opportunity as he should to appeal, just like anyone else who is tried in the U.S.

Thats how the American system of justice works, Biden said. Its reckless, its dangerous, its irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they dont like the verdict.

Jail time?

Trump told the crowd Friday morning he could spend 187 years in jail for being found guilty of falsifying business records. It was not clear how he arrived at that number.

Most observers of his trial and the New York justice system disagree with that estimate.

Merchan set Trumps sentencing for July 11 at 10 a.m. Eastern, just four days before the Republican National Convention kicks off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the GOP will officially nominate Trump for president in Novembers election.

Trump is convicted of class E felonies, the lowest level felony in New York state, and each carries the possibility of probation to up to four years in prison.

Any incarceration sentence up to a year would be served in the citys Rikers Island jail or another local facility. Incarceration beyond that time frame would be served at a state facility.

If that jail sentence happens, it probably will be less than a year, said Norm Eisen, former White House special counsel in the Obama administration, who has been commenting on the indictment and trial for months.

Eisen spoke during a virtual press conference hosted by the Defend Democracy Project.

New York state law experts say Merchan may not be inclined to imprison a former, and possibly future, U.S. president. And, if he sentences Trump to any length of incarceration, it will likely be stayed  a temporary stop to the action pending appeal.

Trump could remain free on bail conditions set by the court, or no bail conditions, subject to a decision by the appeals court and potentially any other review if an appeals judge sends the case to the states highest court.

When there is a stay pending appeal, generally, the process is expedited more quickly than it would be if the defendant was at liberty and there was no stay. But even so, this is going to go beyond the election, said retired New York Supreme Court Judge Michael Obus at the press conference with Eisen.

Appeal strategy?

While Trump said Friday morning he plans to appeal the verdict based on many things, legal observers speculate his teams approach may come down to a few options.

In New York, falsifying a business record is illegal in the first degree when the intent to defraud includes an intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal the commission thereof.

While the jurors had to unanimously agree on an intent to commit another crime, they did not have to agree unanimously on what that underlying crime was, according to Merchans instructions to the jury prior to deliberations.

Merchan said jurors could consider three options for the other crime: violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act; falsification of other business records; or, violation of tax laws.

Obus said a non-frivolous argument that Trumps team might use is that one of those underlying crimes was a federal, not a state crime.

Thats the kind of argument that we might see on appeal  the argument being that New York courts dont have the authority to prosecute the case with that being the object crime because its a federal crime, Obus said. I dont think thatll be successful.

In addition to the challenge regarding federal election law, Shane T. Stansbury of Duke Law told States Newsroom in an interview Friday that he expects to see Trumps legal team challenge evidentiary issues.

For example, I would expect that the defense would make a claim that the salacious testimony by Stormy Daniels about the details of her sexual encounter with Donald Trump was unfairly prejudicial, Stansbury said.

Also, Trumps lawyers might challenge the judges decision to strike from defense attorney Todd Blanches closing statement a plea he made to the jury, asking them to not send Trump to prison.

The charge against Trump could, or could not, result in prison time.

You can imagine the defense saying that that correction may have prejudiced the jury. Now, I should say that those kinds of evidentiary issues are a much steeper climb for the defense, Stansbury said.

A legal expense

Trump remains under a gag order imposed by Merchan in March to keep the former president from further attacking court staff and potential witnesses online.

Trump violated the order 10 times, leading Merchan to fine him $9,000 on April 30, and again $1,000 on May 6.

During his comments Friday morning, Trump complained of having to pay thousands of dollars because of his nasty gag order.

Still, Trump spent several minutes during his remarks talking about one of the prosecutions star witnesses, his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen.

According to testimony and document evidence presented during trial, Cohen wired $130,000 of his own money to porn star Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 presidential election to silence her about an alleged affair with Trump. Trump then reimbursed Cohen the following year under the guise of legal expenses.

Prosecutors never should have brought the case accusing him of falsifying business records, Trump said.

The payments to Cohen were for Cohen to create a nondisclosure agreement with Daniels and secure her signature, which is legal, Trump said Friday. That was a legal service, and the payments were properly recorded that way, he said.

I paid a lawyer a legal expense, he said.

The whole thing is legal expense was marked down as legal expense, he said. Think of it: This is the crime that I committed that Im supposed to go to jail for 187 years for.

Trump, who wouldnt say Cohens name Friday because of the gag order, said Cohen was not a fixer as he is often described, but a lawyer in good standing.

By the way, this was a highly qualified lawyer, Trump said. Now Im not allowed to use his name because of the gag order. But, you know, hes a sleazebag. Everybody knows that. Took me a while to find out. But he was effective. He did work. But he wasnt a fixer. He was a lawyer.

Trump said he wanted to testify at his trial, but was advised not to by his lawyers.

Attacks on Biden

Trump pivoted nearly immediately after his remarks began to campaign-style attacks on Bidens administration and the anti-immigration positions that comprise Trumps most consistent policy message since his political career began in 2015.

He focused on immigrants from predominantly non-white countries and made false claims that many had been institutionalized in prison and mental hospitals.

Millions and millions of people are flowing in from all parts of the world, not just South America, from Africa, from Asia and from the Middle East, and theyre coming in from jails and prisons, and theyre coming in from mental institutions and insane asylums, he said. And we have a president and a group of fascists that dont want to do anything about it.

He also called crime rampant in New York. He added that Biden wanted to quadruple taxes and make it impossible for you to get a car, neither of which are based on Bidens actual policy positions.

In a statement, Biden campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler called Trumps remarks unhinged.

America just witnessed a confused, desperate, and defeated Donald Trump ramble about his own personal grievances and lie about the American justice system, leaving anyone watching with one obvious conclusion: This man cannot be president of the United States, Tyler wrote. Unhinged by his 2020 election loss and spiraling from his criminal convictions, Trump is consumed by his own thirst for revenge and retribution.

GOP convention in less than two months

The Republican National Convention begins July 15. The Republican National Committee, which called Thursdays verdict rigged, did not immediately respond to questions Friday about whether it will adjust plans in the event Trump is placed under any restrictions during his July 11 sentencing.

Trump encouraged supporters to continue backing his campaign as a response to the verdict, calling Nov. 5  Election Day  the most important day in the history of our country.

Throughout his remarks Friday, he touted an online poll conducted by J.L. Partners and published in the conservative British tabloid The Daily Mail on Friday that showed Trumps approval rating gained points after the verdict.

There were signs that showed Republican support, at least, consolidated even more behind Trump following the verdict.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the campaign organization for U.S. Senate Republicans, said it had its highest fundraising day of the cycle Thursday, bringing in $360,000 in donations that the group directly attributed to the verdict in Manhattan.

Other official GOP channels, including the Republican National Committee social media accounts, echoed Trumps message that the former president was the victim of a political prosecution and predicted the conviction would push voters toward Trump.

Elected Republicans throughout the country continued Friday to almost universally reject the verdict and defend Trump.

A group of eight U.S. Senate Republicans  Mike Lee of Utah, J.D. Vance of Ohio, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Rick Scott and Marco Rubio of Florida and Roger Marshall of Kansas  signed a letter Friday pledging to increase their resistance to administration priorities in response to the verdict.

Those who turned our judicial system into a political cudgel must be held accountable, Lee said in a post to X. We are no longer cooperating with any Democrat legislative priorities or nominations, and we invite all concerned Senators to join our stand.

The Biden administration and congressional Democrats played no role in the trial, which was in New York state court.

No one is above the law

The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, said that Thursdays verdict shows that no one is above the law.

Nadler was joined by Eisen, along with accountability advocates and historians, on a Friday webinar for the press hosted by watchdog group Public Citizen. Eisen participated in multiple press appearances Friday.

Nadler said that Republicans are attempting to sow distrust in the verdict, as the chair of the Judiciary Committee, Jim Jordan of Ohio, has already sent a letter to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg requesting that he testify in a hearing before the panels Weaponization of the Federal Government Subcommittee on June 13.

Nadler said he disagreed with Jordans decision to request testimony from the DA who prosecuted Trump.

Its a continuing attempt to bully the prosecutors into abandoning prosecutions and to tell the country the false story of persecution of the president (Trump) and to help undermine confidence in the criminal justice system, Nadler said.

Nadler said the New York trial was important because its likely going to be the only trial that finishes before the November elections. Trump faces two federal criminal cases, and another criminal case in Georgia.

It is very important for the American people to know, before an election, that theyre dealing with a convicted felon, Nadler said.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a history professor at New York University who specializes in authoritarianism, propaganda and democracy protection, said during the virtual press conference that the trial was a demonstration of American democracy being upheld.

The fact this trial took place at all and was able to unfold in the professional way it did is a testament to the worth and functioning of our democracy, she said.

The post An angry Trump pledges to appeal this scam conviction as Republicans vow resistance appeared first on Washington State Standard.
: Former President Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president in 2024, speaks during a press conference at Trump Tower on May 31, 2024 in New York City. Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. (Photo by David Dee Delgado/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Former President Donald Trump, now a convicted felon, vowed to launch an appeal based on many things he considered unfair during his New York trial, he said Friday in the lobby of Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan.

Meanwhile Friday, legal and political analysts predicted he will spend little if any time in jail depending on the outcome of that appeal, fundraising among supportive Republicans appeared to surge and eight GOP members of the U.S. Senate pledged they will not support any Democratic priorities or nominations.

The reactions came as Americans continued to digest the news that on Thursday, a jury in Lower Manhattan found the Republican Partys presumed 2024 presidential nominee guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, a felony in New York.

The roughly seven-week proceeding marked the first-ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president.

Were going to be appealing this scam, Trump said at his late-morning press conference, referring to New York Justice Juan Merchan as a tyrant.

Over about 30 minutes of often misleading or false comments delivered in his familiar stream-of-consciousness style that jumped from topic to topic, Trump complained about aspects of the trial, said the case shouldnt have been prosecuted at all and made campaign-style appeals on immigration and crime.

Trump has centered his public relations defense on the idea that the prosecution was politically motivated, often blaming the Biden administration, and he repeated the theme throughout his Friday remarks.

If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone, he said.

President Joe Biden said Friday that Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself.

It was a state case, not a federal case. It was heard by a jury of 12 citizens, 12 Americans, 12 people like you, like millions of Americans whove served on juries. This jury was chosen the same way every jury in America is chosen. It was a process that Donald Trumps attorney was part of, Biden said from the White House before delivering remarks on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Biden said Trump now has the opportunity as he should to appeal, just like anyone else who is tried in the U.S.

Thats how the American system of justice works, Biden said. Its reckless, its dangerous, its irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they dont like the verdict.

Jail time?

Trump told the crowd Friday morning he could spend 187 years in jail for being found guilty of falsifying business records. It was not clear how he arrived at that number.

Most observers of his trial and the New York justice system disagree with that estimate.

Merchan set Trumps sentencing for July 11 at 10 a.m. Eastern, just four days before the Republican National Convention kicks off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where the GOP will officially nominate Trump for president in Novembers election.

Trump is convicted of class E felonies, the lowest level felony in New York state, and each carries the possibility of probation to up to four years in prison.

Any incarceration sentence up to a year would be served in the citys Rikers Island jail or another local facility. Incarceration beyond that time frame would be served at a state facility.

If that jail sentence happens, it probably will be less than a year, said Norm Eisen, former White House special counsel in the Obama administration, who has been commenting on the indictment and trial for months.

Eisen spoke during a virtual press conference hosted by the Defend Democracy Project.

New York state law experts say Merchan may not be inclined to imprison a former, and possibly future, U.S. president. And, if he sentences Trump to any length of incarceration, it will likely be stayed  a temporary stop to the action pending appeal.

Trump could remain free on bail conditions set by the court, or no bail conditions, subject to a decision by the appeals court and potentially any other review if an appeals judge sends the case to the states highest court.

When there is a stay pending appeal, generally, the process is expedited more quickly than it would be if the defendant was at liberty and there was no stay. But even so, this is going to go beyond the election, said retired New York Supreme Court Judge Michael Obus at the press conference with Eisen.

Appeal strategy?

While Trump said Friday morning he plans to appeal the verdict based on many things, legal observers speculate his teams approach may come down to a few options.

In New York, falsifying a business record is illegal in the first degree when the intent to defraud includes an intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal the commission thereof.

While the jurors had to unanimously agree on an intent to commit another crime, they did not have to agree unanimously on what that underlying crime was, according to Merchans instructions to the jury prior to deliberations.

Merchan said jurors could consider three options for the other crime: violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act; falsification of other business records; or, violation of tax laws.

Obus said a non-frivolous argument that Trumps team might use is that one of those underlying crimes was a federal, not a state crime.

Thats the kind of argument that we might see on appeal  the argument being that New York courts dont have the authority to prosecute the case with that being the object crime because its a federal crime, Obus said. I dont think thatll be successful.

In addition to the challenge regarding federal election law, Shane T. Stansbury of Duke Law told States Newsroom in an interview Friday that he expects to see Trumps legal team challenge evidentiary issues.

For example, I would expect that the defense would make a claim that the salacious testimony by Stormy Daniels about the details of her sexual encounter with Donald Trump was unfairly prejudicial, Stansbury said.

Also, Trumps lawyers might challenge the judges decision to strike from defense attorney Todd Blanches closing statement a plea he made to the jury, asking them to not send Trump to prison.

The charge against Trump could, or could not, result in prison time.

You can imagine the defense saying that that correction may have prejudiced the jury. Now, I should say that those kinds of evidentiary issues are a much steeper climb for the defense, Stansbury said.

A legal expense

Trump remains under a gag order imposed by Merchan in March to keep the former president from further attacking court staff and potential witnesses online.

Trump violated the order 10 times, leading Merchan to fine him $9,000 on April 30, and again $1,000 on May 6.

During his comments Friday morning, Trump complained of having to pay thousands of dollars because of his nasty gag order.

Still, Trump spent several minutes during his remarks talking about one of the prosecutions star witnesses, his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen.

According to testimony and document evidence presented during trial, Cohen wired $130,000 of his own money to porn star Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 presidential election to silence her about an alleged affair with Trump. Trump then reimbursed Cohen the following year under the guise of legal expenses.

Prosecutors never should have brought the case accusing him of falsifying business records, Trump said.

The payments to Cohen were for Cohen to create a nondisclosure agreement with Daniels and secure her signature, which is legal, Trump said Friday. That was a legal service, and the payments were properly recorded that way, he said.

I paid a lawyer a legal expense, he said.

The whole thing is legal expense was marked down as legal expense, he said. Think of it: This is the crime that I committed that Im supposed to go to jail for 187 years for.

Trump, who wouldnt say Cohens name Friday because of the gag order, said Cohen was not a fixer as he is often described, but a lawyer in good standing.

By the way, this was a highly qualified lawyer, Trump said. Now Im not allowed to use his name because of the gag order. But, you know, hes a sleazebag. Everybody knows that. Took me a while to find out. But he was effective. He did work. But he wasnt a fixer. He was a lawyer.

Trump said he wanted to testify at his trial, but was advised not to by his lawyers.

Attacks on Biden

Trump pivoted nearly immediately after his remarks began to campaign-style attacks on Bidens administration and the anti-immigration positions that comprise Trumps most consistent policy message since his political career began in 2015.

He focused on immigrants from predominantly non-white countries and made false claims that many had been institutionalized in prison and mental hospitals.

Millions and millions of people are flowing in from all parts of the world, not just South America, from Africa, from Asia and from the Middle East, and theyre coming in from jails and prisons, and theyre coming in from mental institutions and insane asylums, he said. And we have a president and a group of fascists that dont want to do anything about it.

He also called crime rampant in New York. He added that Biden wanted to quadruple taxes and make it impossible for you to get a car, neither of which are based on Bidens actual policy positions.

In a statement, Biden campaign spokesperson Michael Tyler called Trumps remarks unhinged.

America just witnessed a confused, desperate, and defeated Donald Trump ramble about his own personal grievances and lie about the American justice system, leaving anyone watching with one obvious conclusion: This man cannot be president of the United States, Tyler wrote. Unhinged by his 2020 election loss and spiraling from his criminal convictions, Trump is consumed by his own thirst for revenge and retribution.

GOP convention in less than two months

The Republican National Convention begins July 15. The Republican National Committee, which called Thursdays verdict rigged, did not immediately respond to questions Friday about whether it will adjust plans in the event Trump is placed under any restrictions during his July 11 sentencing.

Trump encouraged supporters to continue backing his campaign as a response to the verdict, calling Nov. 5  Election Day  the most important day in the history of our country.

Throughout his remarks Friday, he touted an online poll conducted by J.L. Partners and published in the conservative British tabloid The Daily Mail on Friday that showed Trumps approval rating gained points after the verdict.

The Trump campaign on Friday kicked off a grassroots organizing program to engage tens of thousands of new volunteers, according to a press release.

Trump voters and Republicans are more motivated than ever to do their part to defend President Trump from Joe Biden and his band of corrupt liberals while supporting his mission to save our country from destruction, Trump campaign co-managers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles said in a statement Friday announcing the launch.

Described in the release as a joint effort of the Trump Campaign and Republican National Committee, the program titled Trump Force 47 (if he is elected he would be the 47th president) will be focused on canvassing efforts in key battleground states and districts.

The Trump campaign had less cash on hand at the end of April than Bidens campaign; he had $49.1 million compared to Bidens $84.5 million, according to campaign filings with the Federal Election Commission.

The Biden campaign opened 10 offices across Pennsylvania in March, and added another 14 offices in April. On Friday, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the Trump campaign plans to open its first office in Philadelphia next week.

There were signs that showed Republican support, at least, consolidated even more behind Trump following the verdict.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee, the campaign organization for U.S. Senate Republicans, said it had its highest fundraising day of the cycle Thursday, bringing in $360,000 in donations that the group directly attributed to the verdict in Manhattan.

Other official GOP channels, including the Republican National Committee social media accounts, echoed Trumps message that the former president was the victim of a political prosecution and predicted the conviction would push voters toward Trump.

Elected Republicans throughout the country continued Friday to almost universally reject the verdict and defend Trump.

A group of eight U.S. Senate Republicans  Mike Lee of Utah, J.D. Vance of Ohio, Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, Eric Schmitt of Missouri, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Rick Scott and Marco Rubio of Florida and Roger Marshall of Kansas  signed a letter Friday pledging to increase their resistance to administration priorities in response to the verdict.

Those who turned our judicial system into a political cudgel must be held accountable, Lee said in a post to X. We are no longer cooperating with any Democrat legislative priorities or nominations, and we invite all concerned Senators to join our stand.

The Biden administration and congressional Democrats played no role in the trial, which was in New York state court.

No one is above the law

The top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York, said that Thursdays verdict shows that no one is above the law.

Nadler was joined by Eisen, along with accountability advocates and historians, on a Friday webinar for the press hosted by watchdog group Public Citizen. Eisen participated in multiple press appearances Friday.

Nadler said that Republicans are attempting to sow distrust in the verdict, as the chair of the Judiciary Committee, Jim Jordan of Ohio, has already sent a letter to Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg requesting that he testify in a hearing before the panels Weaponization of the Federal Government Subcommittee on June 13.

Nadler said he disagreed with Jordans decision to request testimony from the DA who prosecuted Trump.

Its a continuing attempt to bully the prosecutors into abandoning prosecutions and to tell the country the false story of persecution of the president (Trump) and to help undermine confidence in the criminal justice system, Nadler said.

Nadler said the New York trial was important because its likely going to be the only trial that finishes before the November elections. Trump faces two federal criminal cases, and another criminal case in Georgia.

It is very important for the American people to know, before an election, that theyre dealing with a convicted felon, Nadler said.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a history professor at New York University who specializes in authoritarianism, propaganda and democracy protection, said during the virtual press conference that the trial was a demonstration of American democracy being upheld.

The fact this trial took place at all and was able to unfold in the professional way it did is a testament to the worth and functioning of our democracy, she said.

Kim Lyons of the Capital-Star staff contributed reporting.

The post An angry Trump pledges to appeal this scam conviction as Republicans vow resistance appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The City of Austin said it wants input from community members regarding its search for the Austin Police Departments next chief.

The city said a survey has been released, and responses will be collected anonymously.

RELATED: Austin begins search for new Chief of Police

The survey, which closes on June 10, allows the public to share their preferences regarding the priorities and characteristics of Austins next Chief of Police. It also includes space to provide additional open-ended recommendations, the city said in a release.

The position, which was posted May 15, remains open until June 10, according to the city.

Candidates are expected to be identified shortly after the position closes, and the city said it would then begin the interview process.

Interview panels will include community members, law enforcement personnel, and City leadership, the city said. Additionally, a meet-and-greet community event with the finalists will be scheduled.

The finalist for the position will be selected by Austin City Manager T.C. Broadnax and presented to Mayor Kirk Watson and the city council for confirmation.

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.
NEW YORK (AP)  Will Donald Trump go to prison? Could he pardon himself? What about the election? The first criminal conviction of a former American president raises a host of legal and political questions.

Trump was convicted by a Manhattan jury Thursday of 34 felony counts related to a scheme during his 2016 presidential campaign to pay off a porn actor who said the two had sex. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee denies having sex with Stormy Daniels, has said he did nothing wrong and slammed the jury's verdict.

Here are answers to some of the biggest questions surrounding Trump's conviction:

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

Trump remains free on his own recognizance. He will have to be back in the Manhattan courtroom on July 11, when he is set to be sentenced. That is just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where GOP leaders  who remain steadfast in their support of Trump  are expected to formally make him their nominee for the November election.

Before sentencing, Trump will be interviewed for a presentence report that Judge Juan M. Merchan will use to help decide his punishment. The report is typically prepared by a probation officer, a social worker or a psychologist working for the probation department who interviews the defendant and possibly that person's family and friends, as well as people affected by the crime. Presentence reports include a defendants personal history, criminal record and recommendations for sentencing. Trump has no prior convictions.

Trump is charged in three other criminal cases, but it's possible none of them will go to trial before the election. The 2020 election interference case in Washington, for example, remains on hold while the U.S. Supreme Court weighs Trump's claim that he is immune from prosecution for actions taken as commander in chief.

WILL HE GO TO PRISON?

It's not clear. That will be up to the judge, who Trump has repeatedly accused of being biased against him. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who brought the case, refused to say Thursday whether prosecutors will seek prison time.

Each count of falsifying business records is punishable by up to four years behind bars, but it's possible that Trump will get only fines or probation. New York court records and newspaper archives show defendants convicted of the charge are seldom sentenced to prison for that offense alone. Often, the charge is coupled with more serious felonies such as grand larceny.

And even if the judge sentences him to time behind bars, his lawyers would almost certainly push the judge to allow the former president to remain free until he exhausts his appeals.

Trump faces the threat of more serious prison time in the three other cases. For example, the most serious charges in Trumps Washington and Georgia election interference cases carry maximum 20-year sentences.

CAN HE STILL RUN FOR PRESIDENT?

Yes. There's nothing barring Trump from continuing his bid to reclaim the White House or from becoming president. There are only three qualifications for president spelled out in the Constitution: Candidates must be at least 35 years old, be natural born citizens and must have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years. There are no restrictions on his travel at this point either, so he can continue to campaign normally.

CAN HE APPEAL?

Trump attorney Todd Blanche said on the Today show Friday: Were going to appeal, and were going to win on appeal. Trump's lawyers laid the groundwork throughout the trial to challenge the verdict on multiple issues.

Blanche suggested they will challenge the judge's decision not to recuse himself. Trump has repeatedly argued Merchan should not have presided over the case, citing cash he's given to Democrats and the fact that his daughter is a party consultant. Merchan has acknowledged making several small donations to Democratic causes during the 2020 campaign, including $15 to Trumps Democratic rival, Joe Biden, but rejected Trump's claims he cannot fairly preside over the case.

Trump's lawyers may also challenge rulings from the judge they claim unfairly hampered his defense, including limiting the testimony of an expert witness they wanted to put on the stand.

COULD HE PARDON HIMSELF?

No. It's a state conviction, so Trump would not be able to pardon himself if he were to become president again. Presidential pardons apply only to federal crimes. And it's a legally untested question as to whether Trump would even have the power to pardon himself if he's convicted in the federal cases. No president has attempted to do so while in office because no president before Trump had ever been charged or convicted.

CAN HE VOTE IN NOVEMBER?

He can, as long as he is not in prison. Trump's home state of Florida defers to other states disenfranchisement rules for residents convicted of out-of-state felonies. And New York law removes the right to vote for people convicted of felonies only while theyre incarcerated. Once theyre out of prison, their rights are automatically restored, even if theyre on parole, per a 2021 law passed by the states Democratic legislature.

WILL IT HURT HIM POLITICALLY?

Trump said Thursday that the real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, referring to Election Day.

It's unclear to what extent his guilty verdict will impact his bid to unseat Biden. The election is expected to be incredibly tight, and its not clear how voters who are on the fence  especially independents and other key voting blocs  will feel when they go to the polls.

Republican lawmakers who have been divided in the past over their support for Trump lined up behind him in the wake of the conviction, slamming the judge and prosecutors.

Trump's campaign hopes his supporters will be similarly galvanized by the case, which Trump has cast as an effort to tank his White House bid. His campaign immediately began fundraising off the conviction with messages such as: I WAS JUST CONVICTED IN A RIGGED TRIAL! Another message to supporters read: If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone.

Trumps campaign said Friday morning that it raised a record $34.8 million in small online contributions off his conviction  nearly double its previous largest haul.

___

Richer reported from Washington. Associated Press journalists Jill Colvin and Luke Sheridan in New York contributed to this report.
RUSSELL COUNTY, Va. (WJHL)  Acres of fresh-mown hay seemed to undulate behind local farmer David Wallace until they blended with a forested ridge that hid the winding Clinch River behind it.

Just a few miles beyond that ridge as the crow flies, a private company is courting Russell Countys Board of Supervisors (BOS) in hopes of establishing a huge landfill on the site of an abandoned coal preparation plant. Wallace and dozens of other Russell Countians oppose the idea in a county that Wallace said needs to focus on sustainable agriculture and tourism.

There needs to be a lot more work done on sustainability and protecting these woods, and this is not the way to do this, Wallace told News Channel 11, standing on his farmland in Reeds Valley.

Wallace farms and collects medicinal herbs  and hes part of We Say NO to Moss 3 Landfill, a group advocating for the BOS to reject the proposal. The landfill would be on a section of the abandoned Moss 3 Coal Preparation Plant.

If Nova  the company wanting to bury trash in pockets left behind by reclaimed coal waste  succeeds, Russell County could collect hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, even several million, depending on the average amount of trash accepted daily. At least thats what one draft host agreement shows, but those havent been publicly shared with Russell County citizens.

David Wallace on his farm in Reeds Valley, Va., several miles from the proposed landfill. (Photo: News Channel 11)

(The revenue) would be attractive to Russell County, but in my eyes youre putting money over people at that point, Wallace said.

The public has a copy, the latest copy somehow, Russell County BOS Chairman Steve Breeding told News Channel 11 Thursday in a phone interview. I dont know how they got it.

Breeding said he and his colleagues reviewed the latest version last weekend in a closed meeting with company representatives. Theyre marking it up so the attorney representing them in the landfill issue can send it back to the company.

Breeding, an engineer by trade, stressed that he was speaking as an individual and not for the board. He wouldnt comment on details of the current host agreement but said from a macro view, he believes the site could host an environmentally sound operation that would meet all Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulations.

We want to do due diligence, and we want to make sure that everybody is satisfied, Breeding said. Its a very emotional issue for people that dont have intimate personal knowledge about landfills.

Breeding said the BOS has tried to provide informational meetings, including one in January that News Channel 11 attended. Monday night, theyll hear public comment on the landfill, but wont have a finalized host agreement to vote on, he said.

PREVIOUS: Community members express concern over proposed landfill in Lebanon, Va.

Some people will listen and some people have already made up their minds, but well probably continue to do that and over the next month or so maybe have DEQ coming in and do some presentations, Breeding said.

A road leads steeply up to the proposed landfill site, 400 feet above the flat bottom area of the former Moss 3 Coal Preparation Plant. (Photo: WJHL)

Judging by the dozens of anti-landfill signs on Russell County roadsides, the BOS may have its work cut out for it.

NO landfill Moss 3

We Say NO To Moss 3 Landfill, an informally organized but passionate group, has been growing since last fall.

Thats when Castlewood resident Amy Branson first learned about the proposed landfill. A pharmacist who investigates retail pharmacies for the state, Branson said she put her investigative background to work immediately.

Shes submitted public information requests and researched and collected hundreds of pages of information about the Moss 3 sites past, ownership and funding that has gone to reclamation efforts.

Branson is more than willing to speculate about what she suspects are some questionable connections among some of the key players, but putting those suspicions aside, she said her main concerns are environmental and economic.

As coal trucks rolled by on Gravel Lick Road, Branson stood with a flat 232-acre industrial site directly behind her, and behind that, a 400-foot high, steep slope. At the top of it, out of sight, is the 30 or more acres of flattened land where the owners are removing coal waste and taking the usable portions to be burned at the Virginia City energy plant.

According to Breeding, the pockets left as that waste is removed are where liners would be installed and waste would be deposited.

Amy Branson of Castlewood helps lead the We Say NO to Moss 3 Landfill group. (Photo: WJHL)

I love it here, Branson said, wearing a camouflage T-shirt with the words Overcome Evil With Good surrounding the crossed-out word Landfill. The slogan and shirt are an homage to the Pittston Coal strike that occurred in the area in 1989 and 1990. That strike included a four-day sit-down strike at Moss 3 that was among its most dramatic episodes.

Ive always lived here. Its a beautiful area, and were worth so much more than trash. Putting a super-mega landfill site taking out-of-state trash on an unstable site next to the Clinch River is a terrible idea.

Branson said the effort started meagerly, but has grown as more people have read the material the group has provided. Included are people who live downriver in other counties. The We Say No to Moss 3 Landfill Public Group on Facebook has 3,555 members.

I cant really think of anybody except for the developer and a couple of the board members who see this is a quick and easy money fix that actually want anything to do with this project, Branson said.

For his part, Breeding said money is a factor. He said the countys solid waste costs have steadily risen and are the third-largest cost in the countys $30 million general fund budget. The county sends its trash from transfer stations to a landfill in Blountville, Tenn. and has budgeted $2.6 million this fiscal year for the combined services.

In fiscal 2023, the county spent $2.25 million, compared to $1.6 million two years earlier.

This is just an opportunity to stabilize a major, major cost that we do not charge anything for, Breeding said. Waste disposal comes directly out of the general fund. We havent charged anything for it for years, and  unless we can come up with some way to pay for it as these costs continue to rise, I would imagine were eventually going to have a user fee or raise taxes to cover the cost of that.

Dave Cheek doesnt think the landfill is an answer. Like Breeding, the Russell County resident is an engineer. He said he approached the landfill discussion with an open mind.

I wanted to come into it with, the countys a poor county and if they can come up with a revenue stream that works and negotiate the deal in such a way you get the revenue stream youre owed, it could be good, Cheek said.

Youve got train tracks, youre isolated, theres not a well within a half a mile  these things look good, he said.

But Cheek said the additional research hes done leaves him concerned.

Youre always concerned about things not working the way they say, he said. In looking at the soils here  I come out here, I met with a number of miners and we went up there and looked. Based on that and looking at the topography but also the soils, thats got an issue  settlement.

Remnants of the former large operation at the Moss 3 Preparation Plant. (Photo: WJHL)

Breeding, who has been in direct contact with Nova, doesnt think those kinds of concerns are warranted based on the removal of the refuse and use of the resulting pits.

Theyre clearing out spaces where this landfill could go, theyll take it right back down to solid, put liner in, everything youre required to do in it, they would just fill it back up with trash and it would be reclaimed, Breeding said. Its done all over the United States.

Breeding said everybody has the taste of Bristol in their mouth, referring to the failed quarry landfill in Bristol, Va. that is costing in the tens of millions of dollars to remediate.

Thats a quarry, completely different situation. Theres new sets of regulations and theyre going to be very, very stringent and theyre going to watch anything that goes in from now on. Theyll watch it very closely. Im certain about that.

Out-of-county concerns and the Kilgore connection

Amy Bransons passion about the landfill led her outside Russell County, downriver along the Clinch to Scott County.

They suffer from the same things that we do in this county like poor economic development. You rely on tourism, and theyre downriver, we share an environment, Branson said.

Water from the landfill site would flow into Dumps Creek, then the Clinch. Home to rare and endangered species, the Clinch  along with the Powell River to its north  was selected for protection by the Nature Conservancy for protection.

The organization cites the rivers status as the only undammed tributaries of the Tennessee River, and their abundance of rare and often imperiled animal species, as reasons it focuses protection efforts on them.

The Nature Conservancy says the Clinch Valleys land, water and natural resources sustain human communities and their economies and aims to promote economically compatible approaches to conservation that not only protect the Clinch River as a natural resource but also allow for its sustainable economic use.

Threats to those goals include (d)eclining water quality, a legacy of coal mining and unsustainable agricultural practices.

Branson said she fears the landfill project could fulfill two of those threats and risk the regions longer-term economic future. She approached Scott Countys Board of Supervisors and persuaded them to write a letter outlining some of their concerns about the landfill.

Turtles sun themselves along the Clinch River in St. Paul, Va. May 30, 2024. (Photo: WJHL)

First drafted May 13 and addressed to Breeding and the BOS, the letter recognized the potential economic benefits for Russell County. But it added that Scott County supervisors believe it is essential to consider the broader impact on the environment, public health, and neighboring communities.

The draft letter covered tourism and outdoor recreation issues, as well as the areas historical and cultural significance, even mentioning the Pittston strike. It asked the Russell County leaders to thoroughly assess the environmental impact, engage in transparent dialogue with neighboring communities, and consider our concerns.

Several days later, Virginia Delegate Terry Kilgore (R-Gate City) called Scott Countys BOS Chairman Michael Brickey. According to an email from Brickey to other supervisors sent early May 17, Kilgore asked May 16 that the BOS not send a letter in opposition, and told Brickey any leaching would be contained and danger from the landfill would be closely monitored

We also talked about how our BOS should not get involved in the affairs of other counties, Brickey wrote.

In addition to being a delegate, Kilgore normally serves as Russell Countys attorney. He has recused himself from the landfill deliberations citing a conflict his firm had on the issue.

News Channel 11 contacted Kilgore Friday and he confirmed the call, responding by text that it is fine for me to call my supervisor and ask whether we should really be involved in another countys business.

We have worked hard in Southwest Virginia to bring counties together and I for one did not want to see counties at odds over issues.

Kilgores reply came several hours after the Scott County BOS voted, with only Brickey opposed, to sending the letter to Russell County.

Disputing the long-term economic gain

Back up in Reeds Valley, David Wallace said he believes the countys most prosperous future lies in economic sectors like agriculture and tourism. He said the countys potential for industrial development is limited, but its natural resources could yield sustainable economic benefits.

Thats what we need to be focusing on, and a project like this really hurts everything that you do on that, he said.

I just see the effects that this thing could have on our business and everyone around here and all the projects and programs that were trying to do to build up the mountains and the woods  and this is going to just tear everything down.

A section of the former Moss 3 Preparation Plant with forested mountains and the Clinch River (not visible) in the background. (Photo: WJHL)

Someday, he said, the landfill would close and any economic gains from it would end.

Im just borrowing this land for my kids, and I need to take care of this land as much as possible. There needs to be a lot more work done on sustainability and protecting these woods. This is not the way to do this.

Wallace said he prays every night that (BOS members) listen to the residents in Russell County and make a decision based on what we think.

For her part, Branson thinks the process to date has lacked transparency, from the entire BOS meeting in closed session with the landfill company and not sharing drafts of the host agreement to the Kilgore-Brickey phone call.

An attorney whos recused himself of being the county attorney on the landfill matter shouldnt be calling another countys board to influence them not to send a letter, Branson said, gaining steam as she addressed what Kilgore allegedly said about leachate and safety.

I would also like to know where he got his environmental degree, and where he got that information, because if he has information about the environmental integrity of the site, then wed like to see that.

Branson said she believes the supervisors have an obvious path in front of them.

Its not a hard decision. You can just vote no and thats the end of this, and we can go back to all these volunteers that have spent thousands of hours in opposing this, she said.

We can bring in industry. We can get a slaughterhouse to give food to Food City to be locally grown. We can do so much more with tourism if we would invest in it. We as a family of impoverished counties in Southwest Virginia, we come together, we could make this a mecca of tourism and agriculture.

Breeding said he anticipates a finalized host agreement for the BOS to consider within weeks. He believes that whatever BOS agenda consideration ends up on  whether a called meeting or as part of a regular monthly one  that agenda packet will likely include a copy of the proposed host agreement.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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AP analysis finds 2023 set record for US heat deaths, killing in areas that used to handle the heat

FILE - Jessie Fuentes, who works providing people with canoes and kayaks, walks along the Rio Grande with the sun pushing the temperature into the 90s on July 6, 2023. The death certificates of more than 2,300 people who died in the United States last summer mention the effects of excessive heat, the highest number in 45 years of records, according to an Associated Press analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. With May already breaking heat records, 2024 could be even deadlier. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

David Hom suffered from diabetes and felt nauseated before he went out to hang his laundry in 108-degree weather, another day in Arizona's record-smashing, unrelenting July heat wave.

His family found the 73-year-old lying on the ground, his lower body burned. Hom died at the hospital, his core body temperature at 107 degrees.

The death certificates of more than 2,300 people who died in the United States last summer mention the effects of excessive heat, the highest number in 45 years of records, according to an Associated Press analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. With May already breaking heat records, 2024 could be even deadlier.

And more than two dozen doctors, public health experts, and meteorologists told the AP that last year's figure was only a fraction of the real death toll. Coroner, hospital, ambulance and weather records show America's heat and health problem at an entirely new level.

We can be confident saying that 2023 was the worst year weve had from since ... weve started having reliable reporting on that, said Dr. John Balbus, director of the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity at the Department of Health and Human Services.

Last year, ambulances were dispatched tens of thousands of times after people dropped from the heat. It was relentless and didn't give people a break, especially at night. The heat of 2023 kept coming, and people kept dying.

Its people that live the hot life. These are the ones who are dying. People who work outside, people that cant air-condition their house, said Texas A&M climate scientist Andrew Dessler, who was in hard-hit southern Texas. It's really quite, quite grim.

Dallas postal worker Eugene Gates Jr., loved working outdoors and at 7:30 a.m. June 20, the 66-year-old texted his wife that it was close to 90 degrees. He kept working in the heat that felt like 119 degrees with the humidity factored in and finally passed out in somebody's yard. He ran a fever of 104.6 degrees and died, with the medical examiner saying heat contributed to his death.

The way that my husband died, it could have been prevented, said Carla Gates.

There's just very low awareness that heat kills. It's the silent killer, said University of Washington public health scientist Kristie Ebi, who helped write a United Nations special report on extreme weather. That 2012 report warned of future dangerous heat waves.

Ebi said in the last few years, the heat seems like it's coming faster. It seems like it's more severe than we expected."

DEATHS DOWN SOUTH

Last summer's heat wave killed differently than past ones that triggered mass deaths in northern cities where people weren't used to the high temperatures and air conditioning wasn't common. Several hundreds died in the Pacific Northwest in 2021, in Philadelphia in 1998 and in Chicago in 1995.

Nearly three-quarters of the heat deaths last summer were in five southern states that were supposed to be used to the heat and planned for it. Except this time they couldn't handle it, and it killed 874 people in Arizona, 450 in Texas, 226 in Nevada, 84 in Florida and 83 in Louisiana.

Those five states accounted for 61% of the nation's heat deaths in the last five years, skyrocketing past their 18% share of U.S. deaths from 1979 to 1999.

At least 645 people were killed by the heat in Maricopa County, Arizona, alone, according to the medical examiner's office. People were dying in their cars and especially on the streets, where homelessness, drug abuse and mental illness made matters worse.

Three months after being evicted from her home, 64-year-old Diana Smith was found dead in the back of her car. Her cause of death was methamphetamine and fentanyl, worsened by heat exposure, Phoenix's medical examiner ruled.

In the last five years, we are seeing this consistent and record kind of unprecedented upward trend. And I think its because the levels of heat that we have seen in the last several years have exceeded what we had seen in the last 20 or 30," said Balbus, of the Office of Climate Change and Health Equity at the Department of Health and Human Services.

UNRELENTING HEAT

Phoenix saw 20 consecutive days of extreme heat stress in July, the longest run of such dangerously hot days in the city since at least 1940, according to the data from the Copernicus Climate Change Service.

Phoenix wasn't alone.

Last year the U.S. had the most heat waves since 1936. In the South and Southwest, Last year was the worst on record, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

It was crazy, said University of Miami tropical meteorology researcher Brian McNoldy, who spent the summer documenting how Miami broke its daily heat index record 40% of the days between mid-June and mid-October.

Houston's Hobby airport broke daily high temperature marks 43 times, meteorologists said. Nighttime lows set records for heat 57 times, they said. That didn't give people's bodies chances to recover.

Across five southern states, the average rate of emergency department visits for heat illness in the summer of 2023 was over double that of the previous five summers, according to an analysis of data from the CDC.

THE DEATHS

Experts warned that counting heat mortality based on death certificates leads to underestimates. Heat illness can be missed, or might not be mentioned.

They pointed to excess death studies for a more realistic count. These are the type of long-accepted epidemiological studies that look at grand totals of deaths during unusual conditions  such as hot days, high air pollution or a spreading COVID-19 pandemic  and compare them to normal times, creating an expected trend line.

Texas A&Ms Dessler and his colleague Jangho Lee published one such study early last year. According to their methods, Lee said, about 11,000 heat deaths likely occurred in 2023 in the U.S.  a figure that would represent a record since at least 1987 and is about five times the number reported on death certificates.

Deaths are also up because of better reporting, and because Americans are getting older and more vulnerable to heat, Lee said. The population is also slowly shifting to cities, which are more exposed to heat.

THE FUTURE

In some places, last year's heat already rivals the worst on record. As of late May, Miami was on track to be 1.5 degrees warmer than the hottest May on record, according to McNoldy. Dallas' Murphy pointed to maps saying conditions with a broiling Mexico are eerily similar to what we saw last June so he is worried about a very brutal summer.

Texas A&M's Dessler said last year's heat was a taste of the future."

I just think in 20 years, you know, 2040 rolls around ... were going to look back at 2023 and say, man, that was cool," Dessler said. The problem with climate change is if if it hasnt pushed you over the edge yet, just wait.

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Borenstein reported from Washington, Wildeman from Hartford, Connecticut, and Snow from Phoenix. Kendria LaFleur contributed from Dallas.

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Read more of APs climate coverage at http://www.apnews.com/climate-and-environment

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Follow Seth Borenstein on X at @borenbears and Anita Snow at @asnowreports

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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.
AP Decision Notes: What to expect in the New Mexico presidential and state primaries

FILE - A ballot drop box awaits deposits at an early voting center in Santa Fe, N.M., on June 1, 2022. New Mexico voters will be among the last to cast ballots for presidential nominees when the state holds its presidential and state primaries on June 4, 2024. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  New Mexico voters will be among the last to cast ballots for presidential nominees when the state holds its presidential and state primaries on Tuesday.

That day includes the final four contests on the Republican side and is the penultimate presidential primary day on the Democratic side. Both parties have had their presumptive nominees  former President Donald Trump on the Republican side and President Joe Biden on the Democratic side  since mid-March.

New Mexico has voted reliably Democratic in recent presidential elections, but its downballot contests have been more competitive.

In 2022, Democrats won all three of New Mexicos congressional districts, aided by a new map that shifted a Republican-leaning district to the left. In the fall, the most closely watched district will be the 2nd, a swing seat along the Mexican border where first-term Rep. Gabe Vasquez will face a rematch with the incumbent he defeated, former Rep. Yvette Herrell. Herrell is uncontested in the Republican primary.

The sole contested U.S. House primary is on the Republican side in the 1st District. Businessman Louie Sanchez and accountant Steve Jones are running in the Albuquerque-based district, the most Democratic-leaning in the state. The winner will face incumbent Rep. Melanie Stansbury, who has represented the district since winning a special election in 2021 to succeed current Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland.

Also on the ballot are 19 contested state Senate primaries and 22 contested state House primaries. All 42 state Senate and 70 state House seats are up for election this year, but many of the primaries are uncontested.

Heres a look at what to expect on election night:

PRIMARY DAY

The New Mexico state and presidential primary will be held Tuesday. Polls close at 9 p.m. ET.

WHATS ON THE BALLOT

The Associated Press will provide coverage for the Democratic and Republican presidential primaries, one U.S. House primary and 41 state legislative primaries.

The Democratic ballot includes Biden, Marianne Williamson and an uncommitted option.

The Republican ballot includes Trump, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, Chris Christie and an uncommitted option. For Trump, Tuesday marks the first primaries since he became the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes.

WHO GETS TO VOTE

New Mexico has a closed primary system, which means that only voters registered with a political party may participate in that partys primary. Democrats may not vote in the Republican primary or vice versa. Independent or unaffiliated voters may not participate in either primary.

DELEGATE ALLOCATION RULES

New Mexicos 34 pledged Democratic delegates are allocated according to the national partys standard rules. Seven at-large delegates are allocated in proportion to the statewide vote, as are four PLEO delegates, or party leaders and elected officials. The states three congressional districts have a combined 23 delegates at stake, which are allocated in proportion to the vote results in each district. Candidates must receive at least 15% of the statewide vote to qualify for any statewide delegates and 15% of the vote in a congressional district to qualify for delegates in that district.

There are 22 delegates at stake in the Republican presidential primary. Since the Republican primary is taking place within 45 days of the Republican National Convention, the delegates will be considered unbound. However, a spokesperson from the state party told the AP that the party expects the delegates will vote at the convention in accordance with the results of its presidential primary.

DECISION NOTES

In the presidential race, Biden and Trump are the favorites in their primaries as neither candidate faces credible challenges. The first indications that they are winning statewide on a level consistent with the overwhelming margins seen in most other contests held this year may be sufficient to determine the statewide winners. There is an organized protest vote against Biden in New Mexico, which may be strongest in and around the cities of Santa Fe and Albuquerque. If there are protest votes against Trump, they are likely to be most evident in the same areas, as Haleys best performances in the campaign this year have come from states Democratic areas.

The 1st District includes all of Torrance County and parts of Bernalillo, Sandoval, Santa Fe and Valencia counties. The bulk of the districts votes are concentrated in and around Albuquerque, about three-quarters of which falls in the district.

The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when its determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

In New Mexico, federal races with a vote margin of 0.25 percentage points or less are subject to an automatic recount. State legislative races are subject to a mandatory recount if the margin is within 0.5 percentage points. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is eligible for a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

WHAT DO TURNOUT AND ADVANCE VOTE LOOK LIKE

As of April 30, there were 1,336,178 registered voters in New Mexico. Of those, 43% were Democrats and 31% were Republicans.

In the 2022 primary election, turnout was 9% of registered voters in the Democratic primary and 10% in the Republican primary for the 1st Congressional District.

As of May 29, a total of 71,258 voters had cast ballots before Election Day. About 61% of ballots were cast in the Democratic primary and 38% in the Republican primary.

HOW LONG DOES VOTE-COUNTING USUALLY TAKE?

In the 2022 primary election, the AP first reported results at 9:11 p.m. ET, or 11 minutes after polls closed. The election night tabulation ended at 2:50 a.m. ET with about 99% of total votes counted.

ARE WE THERE YET?

As of Tuesday, there will be 41 days until the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, 76 days until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and 154 until the November general election.

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Follow the APs coverage of the 2024 election at https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024.
A sign for an early voting site at the Stead Park Recreation Center is photographed in northwest Washington, on May 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Robert Yoon)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Democrats in the nations capital will get their chance to weigh in on the race for the White House on Tuesday as the presidential primary calendar enters its final days. Voters in Washington, D.C., will cast ballots in the Democratic presidential primary as well as for Congress and city offices.

President Joe Biden is the only major candidate left on the ballot in the city that delivered him a higher share of the vote than any state in the 2020 general election against then-President Donald Trump. After Tuesdays contests in D.C., Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota, as well as two caucuses in Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands on June 8, Biden will be poised to officially accept the nomination that he unofficially clinched on March 12.

D.C.s city-run presidential primary will feature only the Democratic contest. Republicans held a party-run primary in March, the first of two victories former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley scored against Trump.

Voters will also decide contested primaries for the citys non-voting delegate to the U.S. House as well as for several seats on the city council. The citys unofficial shadow U.S. House seat and one of two shadow U.S. Senate seats are also on the ballot. Created in 1990, the shadow senators and representative are not officially members of Congress and instead serve as advocates for D.C. representation and statehood.

While most of the city primaries on the ballot involve incumbents running for reelection, the Ward 7 city council Democratic primary is an open-seat race featuring 10 candidates. The incumbent is former Mayor Vincent Gray, who is retiring after suffering a series of health challenges in recent years.

The primary will for the first time allow noncitizens to cast ballots for city offices, including Tuesdays city council races, but not for president or other federal offices. Republicans in the U.S. House lead an effort to keep the voting law from going into effect for Tuesdays primary. The measure passed the House on May 23, but a similar bill in the U.S. Senate was blocked, effectively leaving the law in place. The issue of noncitizen voting has become a centerpiece of Republican messaging.

Heres a look at what to expect on Tuesday:

PRIMARY DAY

The Washington, D.C., primaries will be held Tuesday. Polls close at 8 p.m. ET.

WHATS ON THE BALLOT

The Associated Press will report vote totals and declare winners in the Democratic presidential primary, as well as in contested primaries for U.S. delegate to Congress, city council, shadow senator and shadow representative. Candidates on the presidential primary ballot are Biden, Marianne Williamson, Armando Perez-Serrato as well as a spot for write-in candidates.

WHO GETS TO VOTE

Only voters registered with a party may participate in that partys primary. Republicans cant vote in the Democratic primary. Independents or unaffiliated voters may not participate in any partys primary.

DELEGATE ALLOCATION RULES

D.C.s 20 pledged Democratic delegates are allocated according to the national partys standard rules. Five at-large delegates are allocated in proportion to the citywide vote, as are two PLEO delegates, or party leaders and elected officials. The city has lumped its eight wards into two districts with a combined 13 delegates at stake, which are allocated in proportion to the vote results in each district. Candidates must receive at least 15% of the citywide vote to qualify for any citywide delegates, and 15% of the vote in a congressional district to qualify for delegates in that district.

DECISION NOTES

Biden heads into the D.C. primary as the prohibitive favorite, as neither of his remaining challengers has made much of an impact on any primary or caucus to date. The first indications that he is winning citywide on a level consistent with the overwhelming margins seen in most other contests held this year may be sufficient to determine the citywide winner.

For local races, five of the seven contested Democratic primaries feature incumbents running for reelection, most of whom won their last primary by large margins. The incumbent with the smallest margin of victory in the last primary is shadow Rep. Oye Owolewa, who won the 2022 Democratic nomination by a margin of 5 percentage points. The past primary results for these five races will provide a good benchmark of how each incumbent is faring as results come in on Tuesday night.

Determining the winner in the Ward 7 city council primary could take longer than the incumbent races given the 10-candidate field. Gray won a six-way primary in 2020 with just 45% of the fewer than 12,000 votes cast. With four more candidates running and no incumbent on the ballot, this years race could come down to a relatively small number of votes.

The AP does not make projections and will declare a winner only when its determined there is no scenario that would allow the trailing candidates to close the gap. If a race has not been called, the AP will continue to cover any newsworthy developments, such as candidate concessions or declarations of victory. In doing so, the AP will make clear that it has not yet declared a winner and explain why.

In D.C. elections, recounts are automatic in U.S. House and city council races if the margin is less than 1% of the total vote. The AP may declare a winner in a race that is eligible for a recount if it can determine the lead is too large for a recount or legal challenge to change the outcome.

WHAT DO TURNOUT AND ADVANCE VOTE LOOK LIKE

As of April 30, there were 450,750 registered voters in Washington. Of those, 77% were Democrats, 5% were Republicans and 16% were not registered with any party.

In the 2022 primaries, turnout was 26% of registered voters in the Democratic primary and less than 1% in the Republican primary. About 76% of primary voters cast their ballots before primary day that year.

As of Tuesday, a total of 31,421 ballots had cast ballots before primary day.

HOW LONG DOES VOTE-COUNTING USUALLY TAKE?

In D.C.s 2022 primaries, the AP first reported results at 8:30 p.m. ET, or 30 minutes after polls closed. The election night tabulation ended at 11:59 p.m. ET with about 69% of total votes counted.

ARE WE THERE YET?

As of Tuesday, there will be 41 days until the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, 76 days until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and 154 days until the November general election.

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Follow the APs coverage of the 2024 election at https://apnews.com/hub/election-2024.
Mt. Fuji is seen through a hole on a black screen installed across from a convenience store in Fujikawaguchiko town, Yamanashi prefecture, central Japan on May 24, 2024. The town that erected the huge black screen last week in an attempt to stop tourists from snapping photos of Mount Fuji and overcrowding the area has discovered holes in the screen and is working to repair them, officials said Tuesday. (Kyodo News via AP)

May 24-30, 2024

A Japanese town that erected a huge black mesh net last week to stop tourists from snapping photos of Mount Fuji discovered holes in the screen. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang for the first trilateral meeting in four years. Lopburi, in central Thailand, began efforts to control its monkey population, luring them into cages with fresh fruit, before finding them new homes.

This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images in the Asia-Pacific region made or published by the Associated Press in the past week.

This selection was curated by AP photo editor Masayo Yoshida in Tokyo.

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews

AP Images on Twitter: http://twitter.com/AP_Images

AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com
A "Kullagua'' dancer performs in the annual parade honoring the "Lord of Great Power" in La Paz, Bolivia, May 25, 2024, Bolivians celebrate one of the country's biggest and most extravagant religious festivals, which pays tribute to Jesus Christ in a fusion of Indigenous beliefs and Catholicism. (AP Photo/Juan Karita)

May 24 - 30, 2024

Bolivians paid tribute to Jesus Christ in one of the country's biggest and most extravagant festivals, featuring a mixture of Catholicism and Indigenous beliefs.

Due to rising sea levels, about 300 Indigenous Guma families are set to relocate from Gardi Sugdub island on Panama's Caribbean coast to homes on the mainland built by the government.

As Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa gave his first report to the nation six months into his term, supporters held cut-outs of him near the country's National Assembly. Elsewhere, Claudia Sheinbaum closed her campaign to become Mexico's next president with a rally in the Zocalo, Mexico City's main square. And in Argentina, President Javier Milei celebrated the 214th anniversary of the beginning of his country's independence from Spain.

The selection was curated by photographer Matias Delacroix based in Panama City.

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AP Images blog: http://apimagesblog.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/apnews

X: http://twitter.com/AP_Images
State courts require juveniles sentenced to lengthy prison terms to be allowed to petition for a new sentence after 20 years. That does not apply to adults, Friday's ruling says. (Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

A New Jersey appeals court declined Friday to expand a judicial doctrine requiring resentencing hearings for certain juvenile offenders to cover some young adults.

The three-judge panels opinion found ruling in favor of three long-jailed men would have exceeded the intermediate courts authority, rejecting plaintiffs arguments that young adults incomplete cognitive development should require leniency.

Our institutional role as an intermediate appellate court is a limited one, Judge Lisa Rose wrote for the panel. We are bound to follow the precedents of the United States Supreme Court and the Supreme Court of New Jersey, regardless of whether those precedents might seem outmoded.

Earlier court decisions limiting lengthy sentences lay at the root of appeals lodged by Sean Jones, Timothy Harris, and Richard Roche, all of whom were between the ages of 18 and 20 when they committed murder and other crimes in the late 1980s or early 1990s.

A series of U.S. Supreme Court decisions issued in the last two decades limit life sentences without the possibility of parole for offenders under the age of 18, and New Jerseys Supreme Court in 2022 ruled juvenile offenders are entitled to petition for resentencing after they spent 20 years in prison.

The state and federal court decisions shared the same rationale: Because children are less mature and more susceptible to outside pressures than adults, the law must give them some ability to demonstrate their maturity and rehabilitation.

Jones, Harris, and Roche argued that doctrine should be expanded to cover some young adults, citing research that found individuals in their early 20s, like adolescents, have less impulse control because their brains are not fully developed.

The panel rejected those arguments in Fridays ruling, noting New Jerseys Supreme Court said in a separate 2020 decision that the principles limiting lengthy sentences for juveniles do not apply to crimes committed by individuals 18 and older.

At the time, the high court noted 18 is indeed an arbitrary age but conceded a line must be drawn.

A spokesperson for the Office of the Public Defender, whose attorneys represented the three men, did not immediately return a request for comment.

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A Lebanese-American lawyer accused a national law firm of discrimination in a recently filed lawsuit alleging she was fired the day before she was set to start a job at the firms Chicago office in late October because of her Muslim and Arab identity.

Jinan Chehade alleged in a complaint filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court that Foley & Lardner discriminated against her because of her Arab Muslim background and political statements shed made on social media and at public meetings about Israels bombardment of Gaza.

According to the complaint, Chehade, a Georgetown Law School graduate, had been interning with Foley & Lardner in July 2022 when they offered her a full-time position to begin in fall 2023. Then, 15 hours before she was set to start work, she was fired, according to the complaint.

The Sunday before her slated first day of work, Foley & Lardner asked her to come to the office where she said they interrogated her for two hours in a very hostile manner, Chehade alleged in the complaint.

As soon as we all sat down, they pulled out a packet of about 15 to 20 pages with screenshots of my social media posts, about speeches that Ive made, about my background, my identity, Chehade said. When I really started to feel the anxiety and panic was when they asked me about my dad, and where he worked  and obviously as a child of immigrants, a big law firm asking you about your father alarm bells just started going off in my head, Chehade told the Tribune in an interview Thursday.

Chehades father, she said, works at the Mosque Foundation in Bridgeview.

The firm also questioned her about her associations with Students for Justice in Palestine and public comments she had made regarding a proposed ceasefire resolution at a Chicago City Council Meeting, said Chehade, who is Lebanese but has family who live in Gaza.

It was devastating when they turned against me and vilified me in this way when I really respected their supposed commitment to diversity, Chehade said.

In an emailed statement, a Foley & Lardner representative said they believed Chehades complaint was without merit.

We stand behind our decision to rescind Ms. Chehades employment offer as a result of the statements she made surrounding the horrendous attacks by Hamas on October 7, a firm representative said.
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  On Thursday afternoon former president Donald Trump was found guilty on all counts by a New York jury in his ongoing hush money trial.

Here in Arkansas, some locals like Valary Ward are taking the news as long overdue.

Trump has done a lot of things, Ward said.

Jury finds Trump guilty on all counts in hush money case

The verdict caps off a case involving an alleged scheme to hide stories about Trump during his 2016 election campaign.

Its definitely an interesting kind of case, Nicoles Moore said.

Ward said she hopes after the trial that this will change where trump stands politically.

He shouldnt even be allowed to even participate as a candidate, Ward said.

Moore is calling the jurys verdict unfair.

I didnt think the evidence was there for finding guilt beyond unreasonable doubt, but I think thats why we have a judicial system where hell be able to appeal and see where it goes from there, Moore said.

Trumps sentencing has now been scheduled for July 11, a day many people said they are anxious about with wonders as to whats to come.

Arkansas lawmakers react to Trumps guilty verdict in New York hush money trial

What are they going to do? Because I dont know if anything is going to happen or not, Ward said.

Pray for the country and hope that we could all come together and see what happens, Moore said.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  The Arkansas attorney generals office is warning that scammers have devised a toll road trick to scam money from unsuspecting Arkansans despite the state not having any toll roads.

Attorney General Tim Griffin warned Friday that a new scam is reaching Arkansas. In the scam, Arkansans get a cell phone text from a purported state toll service telling them they must deposit funds.

Arkansas DFA sounds warning about stolen car VIN scam

Griffin said the unsuspecting consumer pays a toll on a website, risking exposing their personal and financial information and losing money.

The attorney general said a typical fake toll scam looks like this:

[State Toll Service Name]: Weve noticed an outstanding toll amount of $12.51 on your record. To avoid a late fee of $50.00, visit [fraudulent website link] to settle your balance.

Pulaski County Clerks Office warning of increase in scams

Griffin explained that the scam occurs in the summer when people travel, occasionally to states with toll roads. Because of this, scammers have started targeting consumers in non-toll-road states, he said.

If you get one of these texts, please fill out the robocall reporting form on my website, and do not send payment to any entity that only contacts you via text, Griffin said.

This type of fraud using a text message is called smishing, Griffin said, a combination of SMS for text messages and phishing, where scammers impersonate a service.

Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin warns about price gouging and rebuilding scams after the storms

Griffin gave these additional safety tips to avoid becoming a smishing victim:

 Do not click on the link.

 Delete the text message and report it as junk.

 If you believe the message may be legitimate, contact the states tolling agency. Be sure to use a phone number or website you know is legitimate, not the information in the text message.

 If you did click any link, take steps to protect your personal information. Change your passwords, monitor your financial accounts, and dispute unfamiliar charges.

5 signs its a scam call before you even pick up, according to an expert

For more information or to file a Consumer Complaint, contact the Office of the Attorney General at 501-682-2007, email oag@arkansasag.gov or visit ArkansasAG.gov .

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Secretary of Education Jacob Oliva discusses draft rules with state board of education members during a work session in Little Rock on March 6, 2024. (Antoinette Grajeda/Arkansas Advocate)

Arkansas education chief withdrew from legislative review a $99.4 million contract with an Indiana-based education company following pushback from lawmakers on the proposals high cost and the vendors effectiveness.

During Fridays Arkansas Legislative Council meeting, Sen. Scott Flippo, R-Bull Shoals, said Education Secretary Jacob Oliva asked to withdraw a proposed seven-year contract with Solution Tree, which has implemented its professional learning community program in Arkansas since 2017.

In a Thursday email to ALCs co-chairs, Sen. Terry Rice and Rep. Jeff Wardlaw, Oliva requested that the contract be pulled from the agenda and said his agency would let them know when it intends to resubmit it.

A copy of the email was provided by Arkansas Department of Education spokeswoman Kimberly Mundell, who also issued the following statement:

ADE is responsible for ensuring a fair and transparent procurement process; the department is neutral on the vendor selected for this contract. Based on feedback and concerns expressed over the last week regarding the procurement process, ADE felt it was prudent to do its due diligence and address additional questions and concerns before moving forward with the contract.

According to the proposed contract, Solution Tree would receive $15.7 million in the first year for professional development training. The total projected cost over the contracts term is $99.4 million. The company describes the training as a research-based cohesive synchronized system of professional learning, professional learning communities, providing support to adult and student learners across the State.

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The state first awarded a $4 million no-bid contract to Solution Tree in 2017. In February, lawmakers requested an audit of the companys contract after learning Solution Tree has received more than $140 million from the state, school districts and education cooperatives, according to the Arkansas Times. The audit has not yet been completed.

Olivas request to withdraw the contract comes after much discussion in Tuesdays ALC Review subcommittee meeting, during which lawmakers asked why the cost of the contract was significantly higher than other bids and how the vendor was selected.

Office of State Procurement Director Jessica Patterson said Solution Tree was awarded the contract after receiving the highest total score by five evaluators. Bids from other vendors included $18.9 million from Floridas MGT, $22.89 million from Pennsylvanias Carnegie Learning Inc. and $25.97 million from Mississippis Bailey Education Group.

Lawmakers also questioned whether it was wise to continue a contract with a provider that has failed to yield desired results.

According to a new report from the University of Arkansas Office for Education Policy, participation in Solution Trees PLC at Work program yielded no statistically significant effect on weighted student achievement or student value-added growth.

At Tuesdays meeting, Rep. Hope Duke, a Cave Springs Republican and former school board member, questioned why the state would go back to a company that didnt significantly move the needle and are more expensive.

Every year we dont meet the mark, we are failing kids, Duke said. And so Im having a hard time understanding why we are going back and taking another bite at the apple with a company that had seven years of our students and the data shows they didnt make that big a difference.

Let us know what you think...

Oliva said Tuesday that the program can be used to help implement components of the LEARNS Act, a 2023 law that made sweeping changes to the states education system, including increasing the minimum teacher salary to $50,000 and creating a school voucher program.

A sustainability plan was not part of the first round of implementing professional learning communities in Arkansas, but will be now, Oliva said. The state doesnt currently have the capacity to lead this work on its own, so the goal with a continued Solution Tree partnership would be to train Arkansans to take over the work at the end of the seven-year contract.

We should not rely on a company to do this work, Oliva said. We have experts and practitioners that have dedicated their lives to improving learning, they should be trained to lead this work. We should not be bringing in people from other states that dont know whats best for our students when theyre already here.

The new contract would also include performance objectives that would be focused on student learning and reviewed annually, Oliva said.

If were not seeing evidence of student learning, then were going to have to renegotiate this contract, he said.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) Moments after former President Donald Trump was found guilty of all 34 felony counts in his New York hush money trial, Arkansas lawmakers took to social media to respond to the verdict.

Senator Tom Cotton on X

This verdict, like the case itself, is a travesty of justice. The nakedly partisan judge biased the trial at every turn, from allowing an unconstitutional indictment in the first place to excluding key evidence to rigging the jury instructions. The American people will see right through Joe Biden and the Democrats weaponization of the legal system.

Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on X

This is a politically-motivated sham trial.

The American people decide our elections.

Donald Trump will be our next president.

Statement from Former Gov. Asa Hutchinson



It is not easy to see a former President and the presumptive GOP nominee convicted of felony crimes; but the jury verdict should be respected. An appeal is in order but lets not diminish the significance of this verdict.

Guilty: Trump becomes first former U.S. president convicted of felony crimes

Senator John Boozman on X

The trial and verdict against Pres. Trump are deeply concerning given the many questions that have been raised about its fairness from the outset, undermining Americans confidence in the justice system at a time when we can least afford it.

Republican Party of Arkansas Chairman Joseph K. Wood on Facebook

Its abundantly clear that the process in New York was biased against President Donald J. Trump from Day One. The Republican Party of Arkansas stands with President Trump. As he said today, the real verdict will be November 5th by the people.

Statement from Rep. French Hill

Most Americans saw this trial of former President Donald Trump for what it was  a political gotcha game and a misuse of the judicial process. Todays verdict sets a dangerous precedent and harms the faith that Americans have in our justice system.

Former Gov. Mike Huckabee on X

Equally sad than a travesty of a trial-people celebrating this sham of a trial with a compromised, corrupt judge, a DA who manufactured charges. If this is what Dems want the courts and our country to become, they will rue the day.

Rep. Rick Crawford on X

I am saddened that our nation had to go through this trial. The prosecution inflated a charge for a misdemeanor crime  failing to accurately report expenses  for which the statute of limitations had expired, into a federal election crime for purely political purposes. The prosecution wouldnt have done this had the target not been former President Trump. Justice in America is supposed to be blind. Everyone should be treated equally under the law. I doubt that any other individual who had failed to report business expenses in the appropriate manner would have been put through this type of trial.

This story will be updated as more lawmakers respond. Stay with KNWA/FOX24 for the latest.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
Arkansas Supreme Court (Courtesy Photo)

The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed by supporters of proposed ballot initiatives that would change absentee voting procedures and require elections be conducted with paper ballots.

Arkansas Voter Integrity Initiative Inc., its CEO Conrad Reynolds and Restore Election Integrity Arkansas, a ballot question committee, filed the original jurisdiction complaint against Secretary of State John Thurston and the State Board of Election Commissioners in January.

Petitioners asked the Arkansas Supreme Court to independently certify the legal sufficiency of the measures ballot titles and popular names and order them placed on the November 2024 ballot.

They also asked the states high court to declare unconstitutional two laws  one that requires the attorney general to approve proposed ballot measures and one that requires petitioners to gather signatures from 50 counties instead of 15, as specified in the Arkansas Constitution. The latter law is being challenged in court separately by the League of Women Voters of Arkansas.

Arkansans can amend the state constitution through an initiative, and repeal or adopt legislative measures through a referendum. The process first requires the approval of a ballot title and popular name by the attorney general. Supporters can then collect the requisite number of signatures that must then be certified by the Secretary of State before being placed on the ballot.

The defendants, represented by the attorney generals office, filed a motion to dismiss the complaint for lack of original jurisdiction and for failure to state a claim. They argued the courts original jurisdiction arises only after the secretary of state has determined whether the proposal qualifies for the ballot.

Additionally, the state contended that neither the State Board of Election Commissioners nor the secretary of state has authority to certify ballot initiatives before signatures have been gathered.

Writing for the majority, Associate Justice Rhonda Wood said the constitution gives the state Supreme Court original jurisdiction over sufficiency of ballot titles, so the question is not whether the court has original jurisdiction, but rather when it can be exercised.

While we have original jurisdiction, we exercise that jurisdiction only after the Secretary of State has made a sufficiency determination, Wood wrote. As a result, we cannot act under this jurisdiction until the Secretary of State has acted.

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With regard to ruling on the constitutionality of the two state laws, Wood said the lawsuit was a request for declaratory relief, which falls outside the courts original jurisdiction.

While we recognize it would be helpful to have a determination of the constitutionality of both these statutes on the front end, that process could have occurred by filing a declaratory-judgment action in the circuit court, Wood wrote.  circuit courts have original jurisdiction over declaratory-judgment actions, and we have appellate jurisdiction. Our jurisdiction derives from the Arkansas Constitution, and it grants this court limited original jurisdiction. We cannot expand it.

Chief Justice Dan Kemp and Associate Justices Karen Baker, Courtney Hudson and Shawn Womack concurred.

In a statement, Attorney General Tim Griffin called the decision a tremendous victory for Arkansans and the ability to vote on questions that arent vague or misleading.

After Griffin rejected Restore Election Integritys initial submissions, petitioners resubmitted their proposals. Griffin in January edited and certified the absentee ballot measure and rejected the paper ballot measure as misleading.

I applaud the Court for dismissing this specious and ill-informed attempt to go around state law and place proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot with no review, Griffin said. This second consecutive win at the Supreme Court over the same group challenging our states election laws illustrates how Arkansas elected officials have passed laws that stand up to scrutiny.

The Arkansas Supreme Court in April upheld a lower courts dismissal of a lawsuit filed by Arkansas Voter Integrity Initiative Inc. and Reynolds that argued voting machines do not comply with state law.

Reynolds could not be reached for comment Thursday.

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Sign up for CNNs Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more.

Astronomers were in for a surprise when NASAs Lucy mission flew by an asteroid named Dinkinesh in November and spotted a contact binary  two smaller space rocks that touch each other  orbiting the asteroid like a moon.

It was the first time a contact binary has been discovered orbiting an asteroid.

Now, researchers have had a chance to study Lucys observations, and the findings, published Wednesday in the journal Nature, reveal that Dinky and its contact binary, now named Selam, are even more complex than expected.

The complexities of both space rocks could change the way astronomers understand how asteroids, and even planets such as Earth, formed during the early days of our solar system.

We want to understand the strengths of small bodies in our solar system because thats critical for understanding how planets like Earth got here, said lead study author Hal Levison, Lucy principal investigator at the Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, Colorado, in a statement.

Basically, the planets formed when zillions of smaller objects orbiting the Sun, like asteroids, ran into each other. How objects behave when they hit each other, whether they break apart or stick together, has a lot to do with their strength and internal structure.

Dinkinesh is in the main asteroid belt, which exists between Mars and Jupiter.

In addition to the discovery of Selam, Lucys observations showed a ridge and a trough on Dinkinesh. At some point in Dinkineshs history, one-quarter of the asteroid suddenly shifted and broke off.

The Lucy mission captured additional imagery revealing that the asteroid Dinkineshs moon is actually two space rocks that are touching one another. - NASA/Goddard/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL

The trough suggests an abrupt failure, more an earthquake with a gradual buildup of stress and then a sudden release, instead of a slow process like a sand dune forming, said study coauthor Keith Noll, Lucy project scientist at NASAs Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, in a statement.

The trough, and Dinkineshs earthquake-like response, is helping scientists to better understand the internal structure of the asteroid.

Dinkineshs rocky history

Dinkinesh is not a perfect sphere, so the asteroid receives an unequal amount of sunlight on different sides.

The solar radiation puts pressure on it, and over time, the asteroid starts spinning up, and when it gets fast enough, material sheds off, said study coauthor Jessica Sunshine, professor of astronomy and geology at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Yellow and rose dots pinpoint the trough and ridge features, respectively. - NASA/GSFC/SwRI/Johns Hopkins APL/NOIRLab

The heating and faster spinning of Dinkinesh likely took place over millions of years, and the centrifugal forces on the space rock caused part of the asteroid to shift into an elongated shape and shed debris. Then, the debris entered into a close orbit around Dinkinesh, with some of the material falling back on the asteroid to form a ridge, while the remaining material likely formed Selam.

If Dinkinesh was made of weaker, sandier material, particles of the asteroid would have shifted toward the space rocks equator and released into space as it rotated more rapidly. But Lucys images show that Dinkineshs rocky body held together for much longer and more strongly, eventually fragmenting into large pieces.

These features tell us that Dinkinesh has some strength, and they let us do a little historical reconstruction to see how this asteroid evolved, Levison said. It broke, things moved apart and formed a disk of material during that failure, some of which rained back onto the surface to make the ridge.

But Selam and the exact process behind how it formed still baffle astronomers. No current theories explain how two pieces of virtually equal size flew off Dinkinesh and then eventually came together as a contact binary, Sunshine said. But figuring out how Selam formed is all part of the fun, she said.

Sunshine was also part of the research team of NASAs Double Asteroid Redirection Test. Also known as DART, the September 2022 mission intentionally sent a spacecraft hurtling into a moonlet, named Dimorphos, orbiting a larger near-Earth asteroid named Didymos to change the motion of a celestial object in space.

Im personally very excited to compare the Didymos binary system with (Dinkinesh), especially as they appear to share many similarities such as size, general shape and possibly composition despite being in totally different parts of the solar system, she said. They have very different features, but we think they may have undergone similar processes to become what we know of them today.

The NASA Galileo mission spotted the first asteroid known to have a lunar satellite, snapping a photo of the asteroid 243 Ida and its moon on August 28, 1993.

Since then, scientists have discovered more asteroids with moons, referred to as binaries.

Something like 15% of the near-Earth asteroid population now have binaries, Sunshine said.

Unlocking the secrets of asteroids

Lucys flyby of Dinkinesh was part of a test of the spacecrafts equipment before tackling the missions primary goal: surveying the swarms of Trojan asteroids around Jupiter. The flyby of Dinkinesh, which means marvelous in the Amharic language of Ethiopia, wasnt even added to Lucys itinerary until January 2023.

Lucys next close encounter, set to occur in 2025, will be with another main belt asteroid called Donaldjohanson. And then, the spacecraft will set off to see the Trojans.

The Trojan asteroids, which borrow their name from Greek mythology, orbit the sun in two swarms  one thats ahead of Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, and a second one that lags behind it. Too distant to be seen in detail with telescopes, the asteroids will get their close-up when Lucy reaches the Trojans in 2027.

The mission borrows its name from the Lucy fossil, the remains of an ancient human ancestor discovered in Ethiopia in 1974. The skeleton has helped researchers piece together aspects of human evolution, and NASA Lucy team members hope their mission will achieve a similar feat regarding the history of our solar system.

Selam was named after the fossil of a 3.3 million-year-old tiny female toddler, considered to be the child counterpart of the Lucy fossil. Selam means peace in the Ethiopian Amharic language.

The asteroids are like fossils themselves, representing the leftover material hanging around after the formation of giant planets in our solar system, including Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Our ultimate goal is to understand the formation of celestial bodies, Sunshine said. How do planets form? How was Earth formed? We know that big planets are formed by smaller bodies, so studying these little asteroids lets us see how materials behave and interact on a smaller scale. With Dinky and the other asteroids were flying by, were laying the groundwork for understanding how planets are made.

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The publishing group behind the movie 2,000 Mules is apologizing to a Georgia man after the film falsely accused him of ballot fraud during the 2020 election.

On its website, Salem Media Group said it is Americas leading radio broadcaster, Internet content provider, and magazine and book publisher targeting audiences interested in Christian and family-themed content and conservative values.

The group said in the statement that it has removed the film from Salems platforms, and there will be no future distribution of the film or the book by Salem.

The widely debunked film includes surveillance video showing Mark Andrews, his face blurred, putting five ballots in a drop box in Lawrenceville, an Atlanta suburb, as a voiceover by conservative pundit and filmmaker Dinesh DSouza says: What you are seeing is a crime. These are fraudulent votes.

It was never our intent that the publication of the 2000 Mules film and book would harm Mr. Andrews. We apologize for the hurt the inclusion of Mr. Andrews image in the movie, book, and promotional materials have caused Mr. Andrews and his family, the statement said.

TRENDING STORIES:

A state investigation found that Andrews was dropping off ballots for himself, his wife and their three adult children, who all lived at the same address. That is legal in Georgia, and an investigator said there was no evidence of wrongdoing by Andrews.

The film uses research from True the Vote, a Texas-based nonprofit, and suggests that ballot mules aligned with Democrats were paid to illegally collect and deliver ballots in Georgia and four other closely watched states. An Associated Press analysis found that it is based on faulty assumptions, anonymous accounts and improper analysis of cellphone location data.

Salem said it relied on representations by Dinesh DSouza and True the Vote, Inc. (TTV) that the individuals depicted in the videos provided to us by TTV, including Mr. Andrews, illegally deposited ballots.

Lawyers for DSouza and True the Vote did not immediately respond to emails Friday afternoon seeking comment on Salems statement.

Andrews filed a federal lawsuit in October 2022 against DSouza, True the Vote and Salem. The case is ongoing, and representatives for Salem and for Andrews legal team did not immediately respond to emails asking whether the statement came as a result of the lawsuit.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.




BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. Four directions of the Azerbaijan Rapid Technical Assistance Facility (AZTAF) are nearing completion, Country Manager of the World Bank (WB) Office in Azerbaijan, Stefanie Stallmeister, said during today's second annual reporting meeting of AZTAF, funded by the European Union (EU) and managed by the WB, in Baku, Trend reports.

"AZTAF is a technical assistance program funded by the European Union and implemented by the World Bank. The program was created in close collaboration with the government of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Economy as the main partner, as well as in consultation with other state institutions.

AZTAF aims to support the key goals and priorities of national development outlined in the Azerbaijan Socio-Economic Development Strategy for 2022-2026," she emphasized.

Stallmeister pointed out that AZTAF's technical assistance activities directly support the implementation of the activities and main directions of this strategy.

"The program covers a wide range of topics, from energy efficiency to women's entrepreneurship and 'smart villages', addressing a total of nine areas. It's encouraging that all nine directions, about which we will hear more detailed information today, are actively progressing towards achieving development goals, with four of these initiatives already nearing completion," she added.

To note, AZTAF was launched to support the Azerbaijani government in achieving the goals outlined in the Azerbaijan Socio-Economic Development Strategy for 20222026.

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Attorney for former New Orleans priest Lawrence Hecker withdraws

Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

NEW ORLEANS (WGNO)  An attorney for former New Orleans priest Lawrence Hecker is withdrawing from the case.

Attorney Robert Hjortsberg told WGNO Thursday that his reason for withdrawing is a confidential matter between himself and Hecker.

New details in investigation of skull found in Bayou St. John

The 92-year-old priest faces charges of aggravated rape, kidnapping, crimes against nature and theft.

A grand jury indicted him on those charges in September 2023, after a 1999 document surfaced, containing what is believed to be his confession of sexually molesting and harming several teenagers between 1966 and 1972.

Louisiana governor signs 25-foot police buffer bill into law

Hecker last appeared in court on May 23 for a competency hearing, where he was brought into the courtroom in a wheelchair with medical supplies and a space heater.

The next court hearing is scheduled for June 13.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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DENVER (KDVR)  An Aurora police officer has been placed on paid administrative leave after he shot and killed a suspect wanted out of Denver for attempted first-degree homicide.

According to the Aurora Police Department, officers first encountered the suspect on Thursday, May 23, while assisting the Denver Police Departments fugitive unit with surveillance of a suspect who had an active warrant for an attempted first-degree homicide from May 5.

The Aurora Police Department SWAT team was called to assist in the surveillance after the suspect was located driving a red sedan in Aurora. The agencies reported following the suspects vehicle to the 300 block of Ironton Street, arriving at an apartment complex just before noon.

Video shows deadly Aurora police shooting of suspect on May 4

When the suspect parked and exited their vehicle, officers attempted to arrest the suspect. During the attempt, an Aurora SWAT officer fired his weapon and struck the suspect.

A SWAT team medic provided immediate medical care until emergency medical responders could arrive on scene. The suspect was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment and died at the hospital on Saturday, May 25. The suspects identity will be released by the Arapahoe County Coroners Office.

The Aurora SWAT officer was identified as Michael Dieck, a 12-year veteran of the Aurora Police Department who has been assigned to the agencys SWAT team for over eight years. The department placed Dieck on paid administrative leave.

The 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team is investigating to determine if the officers actions were legal. The Aurora Police Departments Internal Investigations Bureau is also conducting an administrative investigation to see if the officers actions were aligned with agency policies and training.

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Austin meets with Chinese counterpart for the first time since 2022

SINGAPORE  U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with his Chinese counterpart for the first time, ending an almost 18-month break since the two countries top defense officials last spoke in person.

According to a Pentagon readout of the meeting, Austin and Chinas Minister of National Defense Adm. Dong Jun discussed aggressive Chinese behavior around Taiwan, the freedom for U.S. forces to operate in the region, North Korea, and Chinas support for Russias war in Ukraine.

Senior U.S. defense officials, briefing reporters after the conversation, said that Austin also discussed Chinas strategic capabilities, such as space, cyber and nuclear weapons. In the last several years, Beijing has led a faster-than-expected nuclear buildup, more than doubling its number of warheads since the start of the decade.

Top American officials have been warning China for months that continued support for Russias defense industry  one of the main reasons Moscow has been able to quickly reconstitute its military  is unacceptable to Washington.

That message appeared again in this meeting, one of the American officials said.

He [Austin] said quite clearly that if Chinas support for Russias defense sector continues, then the United States with our allies will have to take further measures, according to the official, who didnt explain what those consequences would be.

Austin and Dong spoke on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, a defense summit in Singapore that draws officials from across Asia. As secretary, Austin has attended the event each year  excepting a yearlong pause during the coronavirus pandemic  while the U.S. tries to work with more countries in the region, and do so more closely.

The Pentagons approach to the Indo-Pacific during Joe Bidens presidency has been defined by this kind of team building. Its expanded defense agreements with Australia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea and other countries, such as India. And its gotten existing allies, in particular Japan and South Korea, to better cooperate.

Motivating those changes, in part, has been an increasingly assertive China.

Beijing has harassed Philippine vessels trying to resupply an outpost on Second Thomas Shoal  a reef in the South China Sea that China claims ownership over, despite a 2016 United Nations ruling stating otherwise. Its also grown more aggressive around Taiwan, running a large military exercise around the island only weeks before the conference here.

Chinas government considers Taiwan a rogue breakaway province that will eventually unite with the mainland, by force if necessary.

Until late last year, Chinas military was conducting what the Pentagon called a series of unsafe and unprofessional intercepts of U.S. and allied forces. The military equivalent to cutting off a car on the highway, the intercepts risked a collision that could spiral into a crisis. They stopped late last year after Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping met in California.

A challenge

Austins meeting with Dong is meant to help cool what many in the region thought was an overheating relationship. Beijing severed military communication with the United States after then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in the summer of 2022. Since Biden and Xi spoke, the two countries have restarted such talks.

Austin and Dong spoke over the phone in April  the first time they talked. Dong is Chinas third defense minister in as many years amid a purge of top military officials due to corruption in the Peoples Liberation Army. Last year at the same conference, Chinas former defense minister declined an offer to meet with Austin, leading to a short, awkward handshake between the two.

Even though communications have restarted, the lack of agreement between America and China overall often leaves little to talk about.

I expect that very little will come out of it, said Bonnie Glaser, an expert on U.S.-China relations at the German Marshall Fund, of the Austin-Dong summit. I think it will be an exchange of talking points.

Glaser cautioned that she still thinks its good for the two sides to engage, a point echoed by the American officials traveling with Austin.

Per the readout, Austin and Dong discussed restarting communication between their two countries top military officers in the region  the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command and Chinas Eastern and Southern Theater commanders.

The conversation also included mention of a U.S.-China crisis-communications working group that would convene by the end of the year.

A separate issue is candor, a second American official said, referencing Chinas space, nuclear and cyber capabilities specifically.

Its continuously been a challenge to engage on those issues, the official said.

Both Austin and Dong will speak at the conference over the weekend, a symbol of the relationship defining Indo-Pacific security. The International Institute for Strategic Studies, the think tank that hosts Shangri-La, released its annual report on the region just before the dialogue began. In it, experts warned of a draining decade marked by competition between the two superpowers that is spilling out beyond issues of security.

To that end, conversations only have so much value, the first American official noted.

China remains the Department of Defenses pacing challenge and no meeting will change that.
Michael Carpenter, Senior Director for European Affairs at the US National Security Council, has said that the US decision to allow Ukraine to strike with US weapons on Russian territory is not limited to Kharkiv Oblast.

Source: Carpenter in an exclusive interview with TSN on the national joint 24/7 newscast on the evening of 31 May, European Pravda reports

Carpenter noted that for reasons of operational security, he could not disclose the details of the conditions under which Ukraine could launch strikes on Russian territory.

However, when asked, he confirmed that the territories in question were not only those near Kharkiv Oblast, but also those in Sumy Oblast.

Quote: "This applies to the entire region in the north (of Ukraine  ed.), where Russian forces are firing on Ukraine from what would otherwise be relative sanctuary, but now enabling Ukrainian forces to [use] munitions and weapons to be able to fire back," the US National Security Council official said.

Carpenter declined to say whether Washington's decision could be extended to other Russian territories.

"This guidance applies to the northern border in the Kharkiv and Sumy region, where precisely Russian forces are firing on Ukraine," he stressed.

Background:

Since February 2022, the United States has refused to allow any weapons it supplies to Ukraine to be used for strikes on Russian territory. Ukraine has been allowed to strike targets in Crimea because it is located within Ukraine's internationally recognised borders, and Washington says Moscow's annexation of the peninsula is illegal.

As European Pravda previously reported, Ukraine received confirmation authorising limited strikes on Russian territory with US-supplied weapons. However, President Zelenskyy was careful to comment on how this would be implemented in practice.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken believes it is right to adjust restrictions on the use of weapons Ukraine receives from the United States.

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How bad has Kansas tornado season been so far? See the current numbers, history

With one more month left of tornado season, Kansas has already seen more tornadoes this year than all last year. But that doesnt necessarily mean its been a record-breaking year.

Preliminary data shows the state has seen 59 tornadoes this year, National Weather Service forecaster Vanessa Pearce told The Wichita Eagle. None have been reported in Sedgwick County.

[Its] preliminary information because theres a lot of finalizing that happens, Pearce said.

The total includes a fatal tornado that killed one person in Westmoreland and destroyed least 22 homes and damaged 13 more. Westmoreland is about 2 1/2 hours from Wichita.

The state saw a total of 44 tornadoes in all of 2023, so its been a more active season in 2024. But when you look at averages since tornadoes started to be recorded in 1950, this years number doesnt seem that high.

From 1950 to 2023, the average tornadoes Kansas saw per year was 61.

Were not too far off that, and were only through May right now, Pearce said.

The number seems even lower when you look at the average from the last 30 years, which is 81 tornadoes per year.

When will tornado season end in Kansas?

Tornadoes are typically most active April through June.

Tornadoes can happen at any point throughout the year, Pearce said.

Tornado activity usually dwindles after the first half of June, but Pearce said its a safe bet to consider the whole month of June part of tornado season.

It can get a little more active in western Kansas, especially northwest Kansas, for the entire month, Pearce said.

The Wichita area has seen its fair share of thunderstorms and tornado watches in the past month, and the area could see some chances of storms this week.

There are going to be scattered chances for thunderstorms essentially through Wednesday, Pearce said. Doesnt mean everyones going to get a thunderstorm.

Wichita weather outlook

Heres a look at the National Weather Services forecast for Wichita this upcoming week:

Saturday: 20% chance of thunderstorms before 7 a.m., high around 83 and low near 65. Theres a 30% chance of thunderstorms after 1 a.m.

Sunday: 30% chance of thunderstorms before 1 p.m., a high around 83 and low near 67. Theres a 40% chance of thunderstorms in the evening.

Monday: 40% chance of thunderstorms during the day with a high around 83. Well see a 50% chance of thunderstorms in the evening and a low near 68.

Tuesday: Sunny during the day with a high near 90. Evening brings a 40% chance of thunderstorms and a low near 67.

Wednesday: 20% chance of thunderstorms during the day and a high around 86. Itll be mostly clear at night with a low of 63.
Barnstable County Sheriffs Office employee accused of assault, placed on leave, officials say

A Barnstable County Sheriffs Office employee was recently placed on leave pending an alleged assault investigation.

According to a statement from the sheriffs office, an employee allegedly committed assault and battery on a person entrusted to their care and custody.

It is unclear when the alleged incident happened or the extent of injuries caused to the victim.

The Cape and Islands District Attorneys Office is actively investigating the incident. A spokesperson for District Attorney Robert J Galibois declined to comment further on the allegations.

The employee has been placed on administrative leave, according to authorities.

No further information was immediately available.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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In a battleground congressional district north of L.A., Trump verdict may be a wildcard in the November election

Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Santa Clarita) speaks during a Memorial Day event in Newhall last weekend. Garcia is fighting to keep his seat in one of the nation's most hotly contested congressional races. (Dania Maxwell / Los Angeles Times)

Sharing a salt-and-butter breakfast roll with her grandson at a Newhall bakery, stalwart Republican Jill Brown said former President Trump's guilty verdict in a Manhattan courtroom wont dent her plans to vote for him in the November presidential election.

The longtime Santa Clarita resident and retired teacher, who voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, suspects Biden was also guilty of unspecified crimes and didn't know why prosecutors were focusing on Trump's actions.

Hush money has been going on since the beginning of time. So I don't know why they're making such a big deal about it, Brown, 69, said Friday.

In Santa Clarita, nestled in a hotly contested congressional district that is expected to help determine which party controls Congress next year, Trumps guilty verdict did little to sway Brown or other hardcore Republicans.

But it may nudge moderate swing voters, and that could be pivotal in deciding the fate of Rep. Mike Garcia (R-Santa Clarita) this election.

Still, it remains to be seen whether the verdict  and any corresponding stain on the presumptive Republican presidential nominee  will affect a congressional race in which the overheated national discourse has often taken a backseat to the issues affecting the day-to-day lives of Californians.

"Those who try to nationalize this race and make everything super partisan fundamentally misunderstand our district," said Charles Hughes, an Antelope Valley resident and president of the local Republican central committee. Hughes didn't think the verdict would have any impact on the race or support for Garcia.

Garcia is hoping to fend off Democratic challenger George Whitesides in California's closely divided 27th Congressional District, where voters have twice reelected their Republican congressman  despite a double-digit Democrat voter registration advantage. In the 2020 presidential election, Biden beat Trump in the district by 12 percentage points.

About an hour's drive from the solidly liberal confines of downtown Los Angeles, the congressional district sprawls from Santa Clarita into the folds and valleys of the San Gabriel Mountains and high desert frontier of Lancaster and Palmdale.

Once staunchly red territory, this district has been on the front lines of partisan warfare since a millennial Democrat unseated the Republican incumbent in a nationally watched 2018 race. But her meteoric rise met an equally quick fall, with Rep. Katie Hill resigning less than a year later amid a sex scandal. Garcia won the seat in a special election and has managed to retain it in two subsequent regular elections.

Read more: Six California House races that could help determine control of Congress

Kevin Mahan, 72, an independent voter, hasnt decided how hell vote in the November congressional race. As a recent transplant from Glendale, he doesnt know much about Santa Clarita politics or Garcia. But Mahan said hed be unlikely to support Garcia, adding, If somebodys in bed with Trump, Im not gonna vote for him.

The historic criminal conviction of Trump was a sad day for America, Mahan said.

Outside money, busloads of volunteers and unabated national attention have poured in during each of the recent election cycles. 2024 will be no different: The race for the 27th remains one of the most competitive congressional contests in the nation, and the results will undoubtedly help shape partisan control of the House. It's one of four California races rated as a "toss up" by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report.

But the Trump verdict and potential associations for Garcia  who had been endorsed by Trump in the past  could influence independent voters, who account for more than a fifth of the district's electorate.

Views of the trial and verdict have been shaped by a voters' underlying political allegiances, with polling showing that Democrats overwhelmingly saw the trial as fair, whereas only a tiny fraction of Republicans agreed with that sentiment. Independents were evenly split on the relative fairness of the trial.

Garcia has yet to comment on the verdict. Whitesides used it as an opportunity to highlight the ties between the former president and the L.A.-area congressman, saying in a statement that "Garcia is focused on defending Trump, rather than serving us" and noting that his opponent was one of several California Republicans who voted against certifying the 2020 election results.

Read more: Most California Republicans in competitive congressional races are silent on Trump's conviction

Democratic allies, like Santa Clarita Valley Democrats Chair and founder Andrew Taban and former Democratic candidate Christy Smith, who ran three unsuccessful campaigns against Garcia in the past, were hopeful that the trial could push independent voters toward Whitesides.

"The key thing to remember about CA-27 is that while the biggest voting bloc of registered voters are Democrats, the second largest bloc are independent voters, and independent voters consistently in this district have broken for President Biden," Smith said. With "the right kind of exposure," she posited, Garcia's ties to Trump could impact how those independents vote in the November congressional race.

Democratic challenger George Whitesides, pictured at a 2019 conference in Beverly Hills, noted that rival Rep. Mike Garcia was one of the California Republicans to vote against certification of the 2020 presidential election results. (Kyle Grillot / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

As his group canvasses for Whitesides and other local Democratic candidates, Taban said he expected the verdict might come up in conversations with voters, particularly as he and other club members plan to underscore the fact that Garcia is "for sure a Trump loyalist."

But at the end of the day, congressional swing voters are going to be much more focused on economic issues such as gas and grocery prices, crime and the border, said Jon Fleischman, a Republican strategist and former state GOP executive director.

"I'm not saying that voter opinions about Trump do not matter," Fleischman said. "I just don't think the verdicts Thursday change many minds."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
BAY MINETTE, Ala. (WKRG)  An upcoming event brings the chance to dunk school resource officers for a good cause.

Gulf Shores Surf Rescue team rescues 7, finds 18 missing people over busy Memorial Day weekend

The opportunity comes as the Bay Minette Police Department School Resource Officers are getting ready to host Donut Day tomorrow.

The event is scheduled for Friday, May 31, from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at Lickin Good Donuts.

DONUT DAY LOCATION:

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According to the release, attendees to the event will have the chance to dunk Bay Minette PD Resource Officers in a dunking booth.

Donations from the will be collected and proceeds will go to support the Special Olympics, the release 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 WKRG News 5.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. The World Bank is ready to support Azerbaijan in improving the efficiency of its heating system, World Bank energy specialist Florian Kitt said, Trend reports.

He made the announcement at the second annual reporting meeting of the Azerbaijan Rapid Technical Assistance Facility (AZTAF) program, funded by the European Union (EU) and managed by the World Bank (WB).

Globally, about 30 percent of energy consumption is in buildings. The figure in Azerbaijan is about 38 percent in the residential sector alone. If you include industry and other sectors, you get about 50 percent. The average energy consumption of buildings in Azerbaijan is about 0.85 gigajoules, he emphasized.

Florian Kitt noted that a plan for further actions by the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan to improve the efficiency of the heating system was presented.

We are ready to provide support in addressing these issues, and we, as the World Bank, are ready to discuss and provide project financial support in the form of loans in this direction, he stated.

Furthermore, Florian Kitt mentioned that carbon and climate finance play a key role in supporting the government's ambitious strategy to increase the use of renewable energy in Azerbaijan.

Energy efficiency is the most affordable and fastest measure to reduce the skyrocketing energy consumption caused by the increasing use of heating, cooling, and cars. It is the one that can help reduce costs, free up funds for other economic activities, and support Azerbaijan's strategy to diversify its energy sector, he said.

Kitt also noted that wind, solar, geothermal, and bioenergy are areas that require special attention.

We appreciate the support of our European partners who agree that these topics need to be promoted to successfully realize nationally determined contributions (NDC) and move to a new economic basis based on renewable energy sources rather than oil and gas, he added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A Beaverton middle school student has been selected as one of the winners of the 16th annual Doodle for Google contest  sharing her vision of equality for the White House and beyond.

Tumwater Middle School student Inchara Shrees artwork titled Dear Madame President was selected as one of the 55 state and territory winners out of thousands of submissions.

As part of the contest, Google asked K-12 students to answer the prompt My wish for the next 25 years through their art.

Time Out ranks Portland as the 10th-best city for food across the globe

Madame in French means lady. My wish for the next 25 years is to see more female leaders, specifically a U.S. president. Never in history has there been one U.S. woman president, and all Im hoping for in the future is peace, equity, and equality, Shree explained.

Over a few days, Shree created the artwork using different media including colored pencils and oil paint.

My whole inspiration came from my social studies class, originally, when we were learning about the difference between equality and equity. Ever since then, Ive just been really inspired and Ive become aware of the history of the of the USA and its presidential office, Shree told KOIN 6 News. I feel like if we had a female president, we will be able to benefit from the diverse perspectives, just like how we saw with President Obama. I feel like it would be amazing to see this in the future.

Powells Books will hold major warehouse sale to make room for fresh inventory

Shree discovered her work was selected in one of the surprise celebrations Google held in each of the winners hometowns.

It was that morning of the school day, and my parents were coming with me to school; they were dropping me off early. They were saying, We just had to go talk with the science teacher about something, just a small little meeting. And I had no clue that they would be helping set up the surprise, Shree said.

I went to my class, and then when the bell rang, I saw the whole Google Doodle setup and I was like, Oh my golly, what is happening? And then they announced my name. I felt so shocked and proud. I was very happy.

Next, voters will decide the top five finalists and the ultimate winner of the contest.

Voting is open through June 4.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko shake hands during a joint statement following Russian-Belarusian negotiations at the Palace of Independence in Minsk, Belarus, Friday, May 24, 2024. (Mikhail Metzel, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

TALLINN, Estonia (AP)  Belarusian authorities on Friday started proceedings in a trial in absentia of 20 prominent political analysts who work with the world's biggest universities and think tanks, the latest in a yearslong crackdown on dissent in the country.

The analysts, all of whom have left Belarus, are accused of conspiracy to overthrow the government and taking part in an extremist group. If convicted, they face up to 12 years in prison upon returning to the country and the seizure of their assets.

In a statement, the analysts rejected the accusations against them as absurd and said they don't expect a fair trial.

Belarus was rocked by mass protests after a 2020 presidential election that gave the country's authoritarian president, Alexander Lukashenko, his sixth term in office. Lukashenko is a close ally of Russia's President Vladimir Putin. The opposition and the West disputed Lukashenko's reelection and denounced the vote as rigged.

More than 35,000 people have been arrested, thousands brutally beaten in custody, dozens of independent news organizations and rights groups shut down, and journalists imprisoned.

About 500,000 people, including key opposition figures, have since fled the country of 9.5 million, and the authorities this year began a campaign against Belarusians abroad who call for tougher sanctions against Lukashenkos government.

Authorities allege the analysts were advising and helping opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya as she ran against Lukashenko in 2020. She left the country shortly after the vote under pressure from the authorities, and was herself last year convicted in absentia and sentenced to 15 years in prison for conspiracy to overthrow the government and creating an extremist group.

Those on trial include Ryhor Astapenia, director of the Belarus Initiative at the Chatham House; Yauheni Kryzhanouski, associate researcher at the University of Strasbourg; Katsiaryna Shmatsina, policy analyst and PhD fellow at Virginia Tech University, and others.

Unfortunately, we have no doubts that we will be sentenced to prison terms requested in the indictments, like thousands of Belarusian men and women convicted in similar politically motivated cases, read the analysts' statement, released by the Viasna center, Belarus' oldest and most prominent human rights group.

According to the Viasna, there are currently 1,403 political prisoners in Belarus, a nation of 9.5 million, including its founder Ales Bialiatski, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2022.

Tsikhanouskaya, who lives in exile in Lithuania since 2020, denounced on Friday the trial against the analysts and urged think tanks around the world to express solidarity and support for those who preserve the free thinking in Belarus.
Belgium does not allow Ukraine to strike Russian territory with its weapons

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo stated that his country would not allow Ukraine to use its weapons, specifically F-16 jets, to strike Russian territory.

Source: Alexander De Croo during a visit to the United States on 31 May, writes Belga news agency, as reported by European Pravda

Details: De Croo highlighted that Belgium signed a bilateral security agreement with Ukraine last week, which includes the supply of 30 F-16 fighters, the greatest number among Ukrainian allies.

Quote: "However, the agreement is extremely explicit. We are talking about fighter jets that Ukrainians can use on Ukrainian territory. This is the arrangement that we reached, and I want to stick to it," the Belgian Prime Minister emphasised.

In his opinion, the top priority should be to make sure that the United States and other NATO countries can continue to offer military support to Ukraine.

"There is a tremendous demand for air defence. Combat aircraft can assist with this, but additional resources will be required. As a result, we must consider how to deliver speedier and more efficient equipment", said De Croo.

Earlier, writes Belga, Belgian Defence Minister Ludivine Dedonder stated that Belgian military weapons could only be deployed in Ukraine.

His statement came after a decision by a number of allied countries, particularly the United States and Germany, to allow Ukraine to attack Russian military facilities with the weapons they provided, but on certain conditions.

According to the European Commission, under international law Ukraine has the right to defend itself from armed aggression, including striking military targets on Russian territory.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg insisted that Ukraine has the right to strike Russian territory and emphasised that more and more allies agree with this.

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Belleville man witnessed fatal shooting of father, who he remembers as a joyful person

When a Belleville man was shot dead on Memorial Day morning on his driveway, there were multiple witnesses.

One of those who saw the shooting of 49-year-old Anthony Wilbourn was his son, Izhail Hoffman.

Hoffman, 21, said his father was a fun person who deeply loved his family. Wilbourn was known to his family and friends as Tony Rude, Hoffman said.

Hes just a joyful person, is how Hoffman described his dad.

He always had the best advice.

Hoffman said his father always wanted to do the utmost for his family.

And Hoffman said it was a family member, Wilbourns niece, that he wanted to protect on Monday morning in the moments before the fatal shooting at 7300 W. A St. on the west side of Belleville.

Hoffman said a man wanted to enter the home as part of a domestic dispute sparked after Wilbourns niece broke up with him the Saturday before. Wilbourn blocked his way.

Hoffman said his cousins car was found vandalized in several ways, including its tires being slashed, Monday morning. There also was property damaged at the ex-boyfriends house, police said.

This prompted her ex-boyfriend to respond back to her residence for a confrontation, Belleville Assistant Police Chief Mark Heffernan said in a statement. Unfortunately, this confrontation resulted in a tragic loss of life. Police in America exist so citizens do not have to seek instant justice which often has tragic consequences.

Wilbourn was pronounced dead on his driveway.

Wilbourn did not have a gun with him in the confrontation, which was witnessed by several people, Hoffman said. He also said he saw the other man pull out a gun. Police have said one firearm was recovered at the scene.

Elijah C. Nelson, 22, of the first block of Kingsway Drive in unincorporated Belleville, was arrested at the scene and subsequently charged with murder and unlawful use of a weapon/automatic weapon in connection with the shooting of Wilbourn.

Nelson was being held in the St. Clair County Jail on Thursday.

Nelson was scheduled to have a pretrial detention hearing Thursday afternoon but that hearing was moved to June 10 as his family looks to hire an attorney to represent him. His family members declined to comment at the courthouse after the hearing was rescheduled.

Hoffman, who resided with his father, said he wished police had immediately responded to the home when he first called police about 7:45 a.m. Monday about the vandalism to his cousins car. He said his father was shot at about 8:18 a.m. but would not have been shot if police had arrived earlier.

Hoffman noted, however, that the confrontation happened quickly.

You never know whats going to happen in a situation like that, he said.

Heffernan declined to release specific dispatch records for this case since it is pending in court. However, he said the police department prioritizes calls and noted that the original report stated that criminal damage to property had occurred overnight.

A report generated after the crime has occurred where the suspect is no longer on scene is not categorized as a high priority call, he said.

Officers of this department attempted life-saving measures to help the victim in this case, and our heartfelt condolences go to the family of the deceased, Heffernan said in a statement. We do not intend to lay blame, but we will vigorously defend the men and women of this department who work tirelessly to promote public safety in Belleville.
(Bloomberg) -- Benin has agreed to allow Nigers crude to be exported through its port after China stepped in to mediate a dispute between the two West African neighbors.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Landlocked Niger relies on an export terminal in Benin to ship its oil through a 1,200-mile (1,930-kilometer) pipeline from the Agadem field operated by China National Petroleum Corp. However, a diplomatic row led Benin to block Nigerien crude exports earlier this month  jeopardizing Chinas investments.

Benins government has authorized for crude from the Niger-Benin pipeline to be loaded for export, Beijings ambassador to Benin Peng Jingtao told journalists late Thursday. The government of Benin has also agreed to continue to strengthen cooperation in this project.

Benin President Patrice Talon confirmed the development. Bloomberg reported earlier Thursday that Benin was readying to resume exports.

Read more: Beijing-Based AIIB Eyes $1 Billion Africa Projects

The CNPC-built pipeline is part of an investment of as much as $7 billion in Nigers oil industry. The country was expected to start exporting 90,000 barrels per day this month, which will increase to 110,000 barrels once the link is fully operational.

CNPC holds a 57% interest in the crude production from the Agadem block in Niger. A unit of Taiwans CPC holds about 18%, with the remaining 25% stake held by the government of Niger, which was taken over by a military junta last July.

Read more: Chinas $400 Million Oil Deal to Help Niger Repay Debt

The International Monetary Fund has forecast that Nigers economy would expand 10.4% in 2024  the most in Africa  driven by the ramp-up of crude production and exports. Niger, one of the worlds poorest countries, plans to use part of its crude revenue to repay a $400 million loan from CNPC.

Diplomatic Feud

The dispute between the two nations escalated when Niger closed its border to Benin after trade sanctions imposed by the West African regional bloc, the Economic Community of West African States, following the July coup. The ruling junta has kept the border closed for goods coming and going from Benin despite the sanctions being lifted earlier this year.

Officials in Niger also refused to meet Benins Mining Minister Samou Adambi when he traveled last week carrying a conciliatory message to Nigers military leader, Abdourahamane Tiani, according to Benin President Patrice Talon.

Despite the strained ties, shipments will be allowed to resume, Talon told the national broadcaster late Thursday. Niger needs to exempt crude from its land border blockade for customs formalities to be completed, he said.

Earlier this month, Benin allowed one shipment to be loaded as a gesture of good faith following a week-long impasse, Benins Foreign Affairs Minister Shegun Bakari told Bloomberg.

A Niger junta spokesperson didnt respond to a request for comment.

(Updates with comment from Chinese ambassador in third paragraph, adds background)

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Berlin to consider Kyiv using German arms to strike inside Russia, Pistorius says

Berlin will consider permission for Ukraine to strike Russian territory with German-provided weapons, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on May 30 at the press briefing in Odesa, Ukrinform reported.

The U.S. and Germany are the top providers of military aid to Ukraine. Both countries have repeatedly said that Ukraine should not use their weapons to strike Russian territory due to fears this would lead to an escalation of the war.

Politico reported that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is now "in favor of allowing the use of Western weapons against targets inside Russia," citing a person familiar with the German government's position.

Scholz said at a May 28 press conference that Ukraine could use German-supplied weapons "within the framework of international law," which does not prohibit it from striking Russian soil. The German government did not give Kyiv explicit and public permission to do so, however.

Pistorius reminded at the Odesa press briefing that Scholz "clearly" said about the use of German-provided weapons under international law by Ukraine.

"This is something we will consider," the minister said in answer to the question about the permission for Kyiv to strike Russian soil with German-supplied weapons.

Pistorius also said bilateral agreements exist that are "not to be discussed publicly, to draw some 'red lines' as to what is tolerated and what is not."

Calls for Ukraine to be allowed to strike military targets on Russian territory with Western weapons have grown after Russia launched a new offensive in Kharkiv Oblast on May 10, with 30,000 troops reportedly involved in the operation.

Kyiv said it was unable to launch preemptive strikes on Russian forces amassing on the border due to the restrictions on how Western weapons may be used.

Read also: Ukraine urges allies to lift Western arms ban on hitting targets inside Russia. Will they?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Editor's note: This story was updated with Germany Defense Minister Boris Pistorius's remarks.

Ukraine can use German-supplied weapons to strike legitimate military targets inside Russia, Deutsche Welle reported on May 31, citing a German government spokesperson.

Berlin has been long opposed to Kyiv using German weapons to strike at Russian soil, but multiple recent statements and media reports indicated that this position is shifting.

The announcement comes shortly after multiple media outlets reported that according to U.S. officials, Washington has also lifted the ban, but only regarding Russian military targets near Kharkiv Oblast.

The information about the U.S.'s decision was confirmed for the Kyiv Independent by President Volodymyr Zelensky's spokesperson, Serhii Nykyforov.

In contrast, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said on May 30 that there has been no change in the U.S. policy regarding the ban but did not specifically mention Kharkiv Oblast.

"We believe that Ukraine can be effective by focusing on tactical and operational targets that directly affect the conflict within its boundaries without going after larger geopolitical targets within Russia," Singh said.

A source of the Politico news outlet source also said that Washington had not allowed long-range strikes deep inside Russia with U.S. weapons, limiting its permission to the area near Kharkiv.

Germany Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said during a visit to Moldova on May 31 that Berlin's decision also applies to the area around Kharkiv, according to Bild journalist Julian Ropke.

Read also: Biden quietly allowed Ukraine to strike Russia with US arms but solely near Kharkiv, media report

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Head to downtown Sacramento for a creative pizzeria paired with natural wines, to the Elk Grove border for halal Laotian noodles with a kick or to Yolo County for cheese and honey at one-of-a-kind pollination station.

These were the top meals I enjoyed around the Sacramento region in May. All reviews were first published in my free weekly newsletter; sign up for future ones, along with more restaurant news, at bit.ly/bee_food_drink_newsletter.

Pizza Supreme Being

Pizza Supreme Beings non-pizza options include a lamb chopped cheese sandwich on housemade bread.

Downtown Sacramentos hottest pizzeria is Pizza Supreme Being, Ben Roberts creative outpost just south of the Capitol. PSB, as its known to fans, is cutting-edge infused with a hefty dose of Americana nostalgia, a place where a bespoke natural wine called Pizza Grease was served alongside a recent Jimboys Tacos-inspired pizza special.

For a dollar inserted into an arcade claw machine, customers can try to grab coupons for a soft serve ice cream cone, a slice of pizza or even a sweatshirt bearing the words Sacramento is just Sacramento, Roberts memorable quote to conclude a New York Times article praising the citys restaurant scene.

PSBs Hawaiian ($5 per slice/$34 per pie) makes a strong argument that pineapples do, in fact, belong on pizza. The key is that Roberts slices fresh pineapple, not the syrupy canned version, into thin sheets and cooks them in the oven alongside jalapeno slivers and cubed Spam. Esquire recently named it one of the best Hawaiian pizzas in the United States; at the very least, its the best in Sacramento.

Pepper slivers aside, the Hawaiian pales in contrast to PSBs heatwave ($5/$37), a mouth-burner that hikes up the Scoville scale on the back of fiery coppa and Zabs hot honey. The crispy-bottomed sourdough crust is chewy throughout, ripe for dipping in a cup of housemade ranch.

Salads and sandwich specials went beyond typical pizza parlor fare as well, such as lamb chopped cheese ($16) on a house-baked sesame hoagie roll that riffed on New York Citys bodega creations. Fresher elements such as citrus-garlic aioli, cucumber slices, iceberg lettuce and red onion effectively counterbalanced the shaved merguez sausage with provolone.

Address: 1425 14th St., Suite C, Sacramento.

Hours: 12-8:30 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, closed Monday and Tuesday.

Phone: (916) 917-5559

Website: https://www.pizzasupremebeing.com/

Drinks: Natural wine is a focus, along with craft beer.

Vegetarian options: Many.

Noise level: Relatively loud.

Outdoor seating: Many tables stretched over two patios.

The Hive Tasting Room & Kitchen

The Hives Napoletano flatbread comes with roasted pear, portobello mushrooms, Gorgonzola cheese and housemade honey.

Youll want to eat and drink everything at The Hive Tasting Room & Kitchen. Call it a honey-do list.

The Woodland restaurant and shop is an ode to all things honey, from jars of royal jelly to a mead bar and savory-sweet food menu. Ishai Zeldner founded the familys honey business under the name Moon Shine Trading Co. in 1979, and grew it from a home project to a Winters storefront to The Hive, a 20,000-square foot facility that produces Moon Shine honey and also sells other bee-adjacent products from around California.

Ishais son Josh Zeldner is The Hives nectar director these days, flanked by his sister Shoshi and mother Amina Harris. Chef Diego Wilk leads the food program, whipping up small plates for customers to enjoy on The Hives 2-acre grounds as bees buzz by Mexican Palo Verde trees yellow flowers.

The Napoletano flatbread ($20) may be the heartiest item on The Hives current menu. Four slices of oblong pizzetta were topped with roasted pear and portobello mushroom slices, half-melted Gorgonzola and Moon Shines California Black Button Sage honey, all of which were propped up nicely on a chewy crust.

Honey and cheese are natural bedfellows, a harmonious match that sang in The Hives whipped goat cheese and coriander honey dip ($15) with batard toast slices. Tangy, feathery and sprinkled with microgreens, the whipped Laura Chenel felt uplifted, not drowned, by a restrained drizzle of Moon Shines California Coriander honey, as with the truffled burrata caprese ($16) salads orange blossom honey and Seka Hills olive oil.

Address: 1221 Harter Ave., Woodland.

Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday.

Phone: (530) 668-0660

Website: https://zspecialtyfood.com/the-hive-in-woodland-2/

Drinks: Got a need for mead? This is your place. Craft beer and wine also available.

Vegetarian options: More than half the menu is vegetarian, including a brie batard toast with honey-apricot-cherry spread, Mediterranean eggplant rolls and a chopped quinoa salad.

Noise level: Generally quiet outside of a Friday concert series.

Outdoor seating: Plentiful.

Namaste Sacramandu

Namaste Sacramandu specializes in Nepalese dishes such as Newari choila, made with grilled lamb or chicken.

Unimpressed with Sacramentos Nepalese food offerings, Muna Khatiwada and Sajal Nepal opened Namaste Sacramandu in 2022 in Arden Arcade. Along with chef Yogya Raj Kharel, who went to South India to master Chicken 65 and emerged with a grasp of dosa and Manchurian dishes, the Nepal natives have established one of the Sacramento regions better Nepalese and Indian restaurants.

The framed artwork of goddesses and countrysides adorning Namaste Sacramandus walls, coupled with the sounds of flutes and sitars emanating from the speakers, creates a soothing ambiance in the understated restaurant looking out on Fulton Avenue. Itll lull you into tranquility  right up until the flavor-packed, reasonably-portioned dishes come out.

Take Newari choila ($10), tangy grilled lamb or chicken tossed with onions and red bell peppers. Coated in a reddish-brown marinade of Sichuan peppercorns, mustard oil and roasted garlic, its a vibrant representation of a lip-smacking appetizer traditionally made by Newar people, a group native to Khatiwadas home in the Kathmandu Valley.

A dozen varieties of momo ($10-$14 for eight), Nepalese dumplings filled with chicken or a paneer/onion/cabbage mixture, come served on a charcoal board with a tomato chutney enlivened thanks to fenugreek and mustard seeds. I recommend the kothey momo, pan-fried to a buttery crisp on one side and left steamed and soft on the other.

Durbar fish curry ($18) is a house specialty, a favorite of Khatiwadas mother that she learned from chefs in Hyderabad. The South Indian-inspired auburn dish became popular after being served in historic Indian and Nepalese rulers courts; today, its a delightfully bouncy, joyful rendition of slow-cooked tilapia served with saffron basmati rice.

Address: 1148 Fulton Ave., Suite A, Sacramento.

Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and 4:30-9 p.m. Wednesday-Monday, closed Tuesday.

Phone: (279) 345-2444

Website: https://www.namastesacramandu.com/

Drinks: Domestic and South Asian beer and soda, and a surprisingly well-rounded, affordable wine list.

Vegetarian options: Many.

Noise level: Medium-quiet.

Outdoor seating: None.

KBs Thai Hut

KBs Thai Hut dishes are named after the owners nieces and nephews, such as Lois pad lo-lay crazy noodles.

The cozy atmosphere at KBs Thai Hut, Katherine Chanhthathep and Thouie Bounmys halal Thai/Laotian restaurant near Sacramentos southern border, can lull you into a noodle-induced fog. But theres plenty of low-key heat as well, waiting to kick your taste buds upon request.

Bamboo-covered walls and orange puffballs hanging from the ceiling surround KBs mellow dining room, where small plastic water cups are painted silver and dishes are named after Chanhthatheps many nieces and nephews.

I threw in a late order for Nickas nam khao ($13) as an afterthought. It ended up being our tables favorite dish. A crispy, crunchy Laotian rice salad meant to be scooped into lettuce cups, it shone thanks to fermented beef chunks (pork is typically used at non-halal restaurants) that cut through the conciliatory backdrop.

Lois pad lo-lay crazy noodles ($13) were more familiar. Egg noodles stir-fried with red bell peppers, onions broccoli and Chinese broccoli were smothered in a sumptuous garlic-chili-soy sauce along with chicken, beef or shrimp. Two out of five on KBs heat scale was plenty strong for me without completely overshadowing other components of the dish.

I was excited to try Pungs pho Lao ($13), a regional variation thats often sweeter than the Vietnamese noodle soups. While I enjoyed the garlicky beef meatballs, hefty shrimp and full bowl of noodles, the mild, opaque broth needed lots of condiment add-ins to take on a full flavor.

Address: 8055 Elk Grove Florin Road, Suite F, Sacramento.

Hours: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. and 3:30-8 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday, closed Monday.

Phone: (916) 681-8286

Website: https://www.instagram.com/kbs_thai_hut/

Drinks: Tea, lemonade, sodas and housemade concoctions with condensed milk or dragonfruit.

Vegetarian options: Many.

Noise level: Quiet.

Outdoor seating: None.
Biden says its time for this war to end as he lays out Israeli ceasefire proposal

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the verdict in former President Donald Trump's hush money trial and on the Middle East, from the State Dining Room of the White House, on May 31. - Evan Vucci/AP

President Joe Biden asserted Friday that Hamas has been degraded to a point where it can no longer carry out the type of attack that launched the current eight-month conflict in Gaza, laying out a three-phase proposal Israel has submitted to wind down the grinding crisis as he declared, Its time for this war to end.

It was perhaps the furthest Biden has gone in telling Israel its stated goals for its operation in Gaza have been met, and that the time has arrived to stop the fighting as part of a hostage deal.

At this point, Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another October 7, just one of Israels main objectives in this war, and quite frankly a righteous one, Biden said at the White House.

He had just laid out a three-phase Israeli proposal that would pair a release of hostages with a full and complete ceasefire, a plan he said presented the best hope to bring peace to Gaza.

This is truly a decisive moment, he said.

Biden said the Israeli proposal was transmitted this week. The first phase would last six weeks and include the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza and release of a number of hostages, including women, the elderly, the wounded in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

He said Phase 2 would allow for the exchange for the release of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers.

And as long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire would become, in the words of the Israeli proposals, the cessation of hostilities permanently, Biden said.

In Phase 3, the president said, a major reconstruction plan for Gaza would commence and any final remains of hostages whove been killed will be returned to their families.

Less than an hour after Biden detailed the Israeli proposal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted the country would not end the war until Hamas is defeated.

The Israeli government is united in the desire to return our hostages as soon as possible and is working to achieve this goal, the Prime Ministers Office said in a statement. Therefore, the Prime Minister authorized the negotiating team to present an outline for achieving this goal while insisting that the war will not end until all of its goals are achieved, including the return of all our hostages and the elimination of Hamas military and governmental capabilities.

The Prime Ministers Office insisted that the exact outline of Israels proposal allows Israel to maintain these principles.

Shortly after the statement was released, it was announced that the top four congressional leaders have formally invited Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress, though no date was specified for it to take place.

Hamas released a statement later on Friday saying it viewed the proposal positively.

The Islamic Resistance Movement Hamas views positively what was included in US President Joe Bidens speech today, the statement said. The movement affirms its position of readiness to deal positively and constructively with any proposal based on a permanent ceasefire, complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction, the return of the displaced to all their places of residence, and the completion of a serious prisoner exchange deal if the occupation declares its explicit commitment to that.

Former President Barack Obama, in a rare statement about current events, said the ceasefire proposal is clear, realistic and just.

A ceasefire alone wont ease the terrible pain of Israelis whose loved ones were butchered or abducted by Hamas, or the Palestinians whose families have been shattered by the subsequent war, Obama said. It wont resolve the longstanding conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, or answer contentious issues surrounding a two-state solution or continuing settler activity in the West Bank. But what it can do is put a stop to the ongoing bloodshed, help families reunite and allow a surge of humanitarian aid to help desperate, hungry people.

Nearly identical to Hamas own proposals

Israels four-and-a-halfpage proposal was submitted to Hamas on Thursday evening, a US senior administration official said, and matches closely a deal the group itself recently proposed.

Its nearly identical to Hamas own proposals of only a few weeks ago. So if thats what Hamas wants, they can take the deal, the official said.

Indirect talks between Israel and Hamas on securing the hostages release were paused three weeks ago after the sides could not come to an agreement on some of the terms.

On Thursday, Hamas said it had informed mediators that it is prepared to reach a comprehensive agreement that includes a full hostage and prisoner exchange deal if Israel stops its war in Gaza.

A statement from the group said while it had shown flexibility and positivity in dealing with the efforts of the mediators throughout all previous rounds of indirect negotiations. Israel, Hamas said, had used the months of ongoing talks as a cover to continue its war in Gaza.

Hamas and the Palestinian factions will not accept being part of this policy of continuous negotiations in the face of aggression, killing, siege, starvation, and genocide of our people, the Hamas statement said.

Netanyahu has repeatedly insisted that the war must continue until Hamas is destroyed.

In his speech from the White House, Biden acknowledged divisions inside Israel that could prevent a hostage deal from being reached.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some, some are even in the government coalition, he said, an unsubtle reference to hardliners in Netanyahus government who have resisted efforts to mediate an end to the conflict.

They made it clear they want to occupy Gaza. They want to keep fighting for years, and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said.

Though he did not name anyone in his speech, Biden has previously singled out National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir as among those in Netanyahus governing coalition who are making any progress difficult.

Blinken briefs counterparts on proposal

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday briefed his counterparts from Jordan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia about the Israeli proposal.

The top US diplomats calls, made from his plane as he returned to Washington after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague, are expected to be just the beginning of the diplomatic pressure aimed at getting Hamas to accept the deal. Blinken is expected to have more calls with counterparts on Saturday, a senior State Department official said.

In his calls Friday, Blinken outlined the benefits of the deal and walked the foreign ministers through the deal that was sent to Hamas last night, making sure that they  understood the benefits to the Palestinian people, the benefits to Israel and the benefits to long-term security plans that weve been working on, the official told reporters traveling with Blinken.

Blinken said that the ball is in Hamas court to accept the deal without delay, and he specifically emphasized that countries with relations with Hamas  Turkey  should urge the group to take the deal.

The official stressed that the proposal is materially different from previous proposals because it would lead to a permanent ceasefire.

The official said the Saudi, Turkish and Jordanian foreign ministers had not been briefed on the specific terms of the proposed deal before their calls with Blinken.

The official said part of the reason the US made the terms of the deal public was to prevent any inaccurate information from getting leaked, potentially endangering the proposal.

Its important that the entire world knows the details of this proposal, the official said.

Appeal for Israeli public support

In his speech, Biden made a direct appeal to ordinary Israelis to voice their support for a hostage agreement that would result in a ceasefire.

I need your help. Everyone who wants peace now must raise their voices and let the leaders know they should take this deal. Work to make it real, make it lasting, and forge a better future out of the tragic terror attack and war, he said.

Biden also spoke directly to Americans who have criticized the violence in Gaza, admitting that too many civilians had been killed and calling the situation one of the hardest, most complicated problems in the world.

We all saw the terrible images from a deadly fire in Rafah earlier this week following an Israeli strike  targeting Hamas, Biden said, in his first comments since a strike left dozens of civilians dead. Even as we worked to surge assistance to Gaza  the humanitarian crisis still remains.

The president, who returned to the White House from his beach home in Delaware earlier in the morning, had avoided commenting on the situation in Israel for several days.

Earlier on Friday, Israel said its forces have entered central Rafah, the city in southern Gaza that Biden has warned should not be the target of a major ground offensive.

The White House called images from the disaster heartbreaking but said the incident had not crossed Bidens red line for withholding some US weapons shipments to Israel.

The president told CNNs Erin Burnett in an interview this month that he would limit some US arms to Israel if the countrys military go into Rafah.

But he has remained vague about how he will quantify such a decision, leading to frustrations and a degree of confusion over his stance. Many Democrats, along with foreign leaders who the US counts as allies, say Israels actions clearly cross a red line  if not Bidens, then their own and those of international law.

White House officials have sought this week to explain Bidens stance, suggesting his barometer for changing policy would be a major ground invasion of the city.

This story has been updated with additional details.

CNNs Jeremy Diamond, Hamdi Alkhshali, Kareem Khadder, Annie Grayer, AnneClaire Stapleton and Jennifer Hansler contributed to this report.

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Officials from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in 2018 toured the construction site of Unit 3 nuclear reactor at Plant Vogtle, located near Augusta. On May 29, Georgia Power announced the reactor was working at full capacity. Photo by Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Officials with the U.S. Energy Department plan to celebrate the completion of Georgia Powers controversial nuclear power expansion at Plant Vogtle in Waynesboro on Friday.

President Joe Bidens National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi and Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm are set to tour Plant Vogtle, which has become the nations largest nuclear power plant and the largest source of carbon-free electricity. In the next 60 to 80 years, the two new nuclear units are estimated to generate enough electricity for one million homes and businesses.

The historic occasion is also being celebrated by representatives from Georgia Power, Georgia Public Service Commission, top state lawmakers and a number of other business and community leaders who say the project is a shining example of how nuclear energy can create well-paying, high quality jobs while also producing electricity in a way that tackles the climate crisis.

The two Vogtle units are the first nuclear reactors to be built in the United States in more than 30 years and the projects supporters say Vogtle demonstrates how nuclear energy can generate high-paying jobs while producing electricity in a way that combats climate change.

Six Georgia energy and consumer groups released a report Thursday analyzing the true cost of nuclear power, citing the severe problems while constructing Vogtle that resulted in seven years of delays and $21 billion of cost-overruns.

The two Vogtle units were under construction for 15 years at a cost of $36.8 billion. Unit 3 was completed in August while Unit 4 began producing electricity in April.

Vogtle could serve as the selling point for further nuclear development in the United States, with the Biden-Harris administration hosting a summit at the White House this week to highlight the ongoing collaboration between the public and private sectors.

The Biden-Harris administration announced Wednesday the formation of a nuclear power project working group composed of experts in nuclear power and mega-construction.

The White House released a statement this week that says that nuclear energy has been the largest source of clean energy for decades, currently accounting for 19% of national energy production and directly employing 60,000 workers.

Alongside renewable power sources like wind and solar, a new generation of nuclear reactors is now capturing the attention of a wide range of stakeholders for nuclear energys ability to produce clean, reliable energy and meet the needs of a fast-growing economy, driven by President Bidens Investing in America agenda and manufacturing boom, the White House statement said.

However, a report released by Georgia consumer advocates contends that more nuclear development is not the best course of action for the future of the nations energy supply.

The report titled Plant Vogtle: the True Cost of Nuclear Power in the United States, was commissioned by Georgia consumer advocacy organizations like the Center for a Sustainable Coast, Concerned Ratepayers of Georgia and Cool Planet Solutions. It was authored by Kim Scott, executive director of Georgia WAND, Glenn Carroll, coordinator of Nuclear Watch South and Patty Durand, former president of the Smart Energy Consumer Collaborative and a Democratic Party candidate for the state PSC.

The average Georgia Power residential customer began paying an additional $5.42 per month, or a 3.2% increase, after Unit 3 began commercial operations last August.

The two Vogtle units prompted the latest in a series of rate increases Georgia Power customers will continue to bear in the coming months.

According to the report, the average monthly bill for Georgia ratepayers will increase by $35 over the next two decades as Vogtles Units 3 and 4 are operational, or more than twice the $15 increase Georgia Power currently estimates.

The report contends that Georgia Powers average household bill will rise by $420 annually in order to cover the cost of nuclear power that is seven times as expensive to produce as wind, solar and natural gas.

The analysis says that shareholders of Georgia Powers parent company Southern Co. will continue to benefit from Vogtles financial windfall as the utility significantly expands its base rate.

The reports authors blame Georgia Power officials for a decade-long pattern of providing misleading costs estimates to state regulators in order to continue justifying the Vogtle expansion. The construction of Vogtle was plagued by delays due to worker shortages, a strike, technical problems and its original contractor Westinghouse Electric Co. filing bankruptcy in 2017.

Vehicle leaving Plant Vogtle nuclear expansion site in 2019 on the road to nowhere. John McCosh/Georgia Recorder

Brionte McCorkle, report co-author and executive director of Georgia Conservation Voters, said that Plant Vogtle is a cautionary tale for the rest of the country and that Georgians deserve safe, clean and affordable energy instead of wasting money to bring Vogtles nuclear reactors online.

Imagine all of the renewable power, battery storage and energy-efficiency investments we could have made in the time it took to build the two new reactors at Plant Vogtle at a fraction of the cost, McCorkle said in a statement. Imagine what we could have done with the $35 billion dollars instead of dumping them in this radioactive money-pit.

Scott, the executive director of Georgia WAND, said that Georgia Power is more concerned with its own economic interests as Vogtles expansion is leaving its customers stuck with paying exorbitantly high power bills.

So it is clear that Georgia Power is looking out for its own economic interests and (is) not concerned about moving Georgia to a clean-energy economy, let alone protecting the health of Georgians who live in and around nuclear power Plant Vogtle, Scott said.

Republicans Gov. Brian Kemp and House Speaker Jon Burns joined executives with Georgia Power and Vogtle co-owners Oglethorpe Power, Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and Dalton Utilities to celebrate the Vogtle project earlier this week.

Georgia Power owns 45.7% of Plant Vogtle, followed by Oglethorpe Power Corporation at 30%, Municipal Electric Authority of Georgias 22.7%, and Dalton Utilities 1.6.%.

Kim Greene, chairman, president, and CEO of Georgia Power, said the new Vogtle units are a key component in supporting the companys goal of meeting growing electricity demands in Georgia. A large share of that demand is driven by new data centers opening across the state.

As we mark the completion of the Vogtle 3 and 4 expansion, were grateful for the leadership and foresight of the Georgia PSC, as well as the steadfast dedication from all of the projects co-owners, Greene said. (Wednesday), we welcomed business and community leaders, as well as elected officials and other guests from across Georgia, to celebrate the first newly constructed nuclear units in the U.S. in more than 30 years  representing a long-term investment to benefit our customers and the state. It is truly a great day for Georgia.

Originally, the five-member Georgia Public Service Commission approved a $4.4 billion construction budget for Vogtle, but in 2017 state regulators and Georgia Power agreed that $7.3 billion would be considered a reasonable cost.

In December, the Public Service Commission approved terms of a financial agreement requiring Georgia Power to cover at least $2.6 billion of the expected $10 billion in construction and capital costs. The terms were outlined in a stipulated agreement reached in August between Georgia Power, PSC advocacy staff, the Georgia Association of Manufacturers and consumer and watchdog advocacy organizations Georgia Watch and the Georgia Interfaith Power & Light and Partnership for Southern Equity.

As part of the settlement, Georgia Power agreed to about a 50% expansion of energy efficiency programs and also offered up to 96,000 additional low-income seniors to participate in a program that would reduce their monthly bills by an average of $33.50.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. The Association of Banks of Azerbaijan (ABA) and the Union of Judges of Azerbaijan have signed a memorandum of cooperation, Trend reports.

ABA president Zakir Nuriyev and chairman of the Union of Judges Ramiz Rzayev signed the memorandum.

The memorandum envisages the expansion and strengthening of bilateral relations.

To note, the ABA was founded by commercial banks in 1990. Its main purpose is to represent member organizations, support their needs in various business services, and coordinate their activities. The ABA now counts 23 financial institutions and 6 non-financial groups among its members.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
The Biden administration is preparing to roll out a sweeping border executive action as early as Tuesday, according to two sources familiar with the discussions, who cautioned that timing is fluid.

White House officials have begun reaching out to mayors who represent cities along the US southern border to potentially join President Joe Biden when he announces the order, two other sources familiar with those conversations said.

For weeks, administration officials have been working through an executive action that would dramatically limit migrants ability to seek asylum at the US southern border  part of a strategy to try to give Biden the upper hand on one of his Republican rivals key campaign issues. The action is designed to potentially blunt Republican attacks on border security and preempt former President Donald Trump ahead of the first presidential debate, which will be held on June 27 on CNN.

Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza confirmed to CNN that the administration contacted him on Saturday to attend a Tuesday event at the White House.

The order is expected to be reminiscent of a controversial measure from the Trump era. It involves using an authority known as 212f between ports of entry to try to clamp down on unlawful border crossings.

CNN previously reported that officials were discussing announcing the executive action after Mexicos election on Sunday and before the first presidential debate. Biden is scheduled to travel to France on Wednesday.

While Congressional Republicans chose to stand in the way of additional border enforcement, President Biden will not stop fighting to deliver the resources that border and immigration personnel need to secure our border, a White House spokesperson said in a statement. As we have said before, the Administration continues to explore a series of policy options and we remain committed to taking action to address our broken immigration system.

Several Texas mayors have previously expressed frustration over the hyperpolarization over immigration as tensions between Biden and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott escalated. During his February trip to the US southern border, Biden met with Garza, Brownsville Mayor John Cowen, San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, and Weslaco Mayor Adrian Gonzalez.

A White House official told CNN that no final decisions have been made on additional executive actions.

With border arrests down this year, thanks in part to Mexico stepping up its own enforcement efforts in January, the White House is looking to take advantage of a brief reprieve from one of the most politically fraught issues Biden faces in his reelection campaign.

Some Democrats on Capitol Hill have also encouraged White House officials to consider having the president make another visit to the border in the coming weeks. A White House spokesperson previously told CNN that no border trip for Biden is under consideration at the moment.

Over recent weeks, the administration has trotted out a series of policy changes to try to dissuade migrants from journeying to the US and convince skeptical voters they are working to tighten up immigration at the border.

That includes rolling out new guidance and regulations that would tighten the immigration system to quickly reject migrants who are ineligible for asylum and speed up court cases for some migrants  measures Biden officials hope will, in part, keep the number of border crossings low.

This story has been updated with new reporting.

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US President Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event at Girard College, a majority Black school in Philadelphia. David Muse/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

US President Joe Biden has presented a new ceasefire proposal from Israel and called for an agreement to stop the Gaza war.

"We can't lose this moment," Biden said at the White House on Friday.

Israel had presented a plan which envisaged three phases of de-escalation - including Israel's withdrawal from Gaza - and it has been sent to Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which has controlled the Gaza Strip.

"It's a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the release of all hostages," added Biden, who said aid to Gaza would also be boosted and hostages would be sent home under the deal.

If Hamas really wants a ceasefire, it could prove this by agreeing to the deal, the US president added. However, he also suggested Hamas would not be in power after any agreement was implemented.

Biden also believes Israel could enter into the deal without fearing for its own security.

After several months of war, Hamas is no longer in a position to carry out a terrorist massacre like the one on the Jewish state on October 7, Biden said.

"I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely," Biden continued.

"Some are even in the governing coalition, and they have made it clear they want to occupy Gaza...I urge the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal."
President Biden announced Friday he planned to appoint two key union leaders to an advisory committee on international trade, including United Auto Workers (UAW) President Shawn Fain.

The White House announced Fain and Brian Bryant, who serves as the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) president, would be appointed to the advisory group.

The Presidents Export Council serves as the main national committee advising the White House on matters of international trade. The group discusses and works to resolve trade-related issues around business, agriculture and labor.

The appointment of Fain is the latest instance of the UAW leader emerging as one of Bidens closest allies in organized labor. Biden walked the picket line with UAW members in Michigan during a strike last year, and Fain and the group endorsed Bidens reelection bid in January, citing the presidents solidarity with workers.

This choice is clear. Joe Biden bet on the American worker while Donald Trump blamed the American worker, Fain said during his endorsement. We need to know whos gonna sit in the most powerful seat in the world, and help us win as a united working class.

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Biden camp: Trump railing against verdict should prove he cant be president

President Bidens reelection campaign argued Friday that former President Trumps response to his conviction should prove he cannot be president, following Trumps press conference railing against the outcome of his hush money trial.

America just witnessed a confused, desperate, and defeated Donald Trump ramble about his own personal grievances and lie about the American justice system, leaving anyone watching with one obvious conclusion: This man cannot be president of the United States, Biden communications director Michael Tyler said in a statement.

Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts in New York on Thursday and, earlier on Friday, he tore into Judge Juan Merchan and the district attorney who brought the case, Alvin Bragg (D), in lengthy remarks.

He said the trial was a scam and rigged and vowed to appeal the conviction.

The Biden campaign, in its response, said Trump is only focused on himself, attempting to set a distinction between him and the president.

Thats what Joe Biden and Kamala Harris are fighting for. Donald Trump is sowing chaos, attacking the rule of law, and fighting for the only thing in the world he gives a damn about: Donald Trump, Tyler said.

The Biden campaign has seized on Trumps guilty verdict, calling him a convicted felon to raise money for the 2024 race.

Biden also called for donations, posting on social platform X, Theres only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box.

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President Bidens reelection campaign seized on former President Trumps guilty verdict by calling him a convicted felon to raise money for the 2024 race.

Soon after a jury found Trump guilty on all counts of falsifying business records to conceal alleged affairs during his 2016 campaign, the Biden campaign sent an email.

Despite a jury finding Donald Trump guilty today, there is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box, the campaign said in the Thursday fundraising email and text. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.

The campaign, in its first statement after the verdict, also called Trump a felon.

There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president, communications director Michael Tyler said.

The president issued a shorter statement on social platform X, calling for donations and saying, Theres only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box.

The Biden teams focus on the November election after the verdict echoes Trumps response. The former president called the trial rigged and disgraced, adding, The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people.

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Well before the Manhattan jury finished deliberating on Thursday, most of President Joe Bidens advisers concluded that a guilty verdict wouldnt drastically alter their 2024 election strategy.

But it has stoked some hopes among supporters of the president that if 12 people who focused on Trump voted to find him guilty, there might actually be enough undecided voters who, if the Biden campaign can figure out how to get them to focus on Trump, will vote to keep him from returning to the White House.

Aides have discussed among themselves whether the Biden campaign would use the term criminal to describe the likely Republican nominee in their messaging, even as they acknowledge the former presidents legal issues are largely baked in and voters care about other issues more.

Still, a guilty verdict is a guilty verdict, and 34 of them hardly makes for bad news for Bidens campaign five months before Election Day. The convictions might not move the needle in a major way in the election, those close to the Biden reelection effort told CNN, but an acquittal could have really helped Trump  and that makes Thursdays historic decision a win for the Biden campaign, if only because it is not a loss.

A sense of despondency had started to creep in from top supporters and donors in recent weeks, as more moments that reelection campaign strategists had projected would shift the race  the beginning of the 2024 calendar year, the end of the Republican primaries, the coming of spring when they figured more people would pay attention to Trumps recordhave come and gone without any notable movement in the polls or overall dynamics. So much frustration built inside the Wilmington headquarters that on Tuesday  with attention locked on the Manhattan courtroom  they sent out Robert DeNiro to shout at the crowd, and at the reporters.

But the conviction on 34 counts has reassured some of their mantra that the more people focus on Trump and the choice ahead of them, the better Bidens November is going to be  and to push back on the nothing matters sensibility that has helped power Trump through so many other dark moments over his last nine years in politics.

A senior administration official leaving the West Wing on Thursday evening  asked to respond to the verdict  raised his eyebrows and said, It matters. Campaign aides, meanwhile, have been instructed to remain tight-lipped in response to reporters and on social media.

Biden-centric operatives say an acquittal would not just have validated Trumps claims of being unfairly persecuted, but fed even more fatalism from already deflated Biden supporters who have come to believe nothing can touch Trump.

An acquittal would have fed into Trumps view that hes just constantly under attack and everyones out to get him  but 12 people, a jury of his peers, convicted him, said one former Biden aide. I cant get 12 people to agree on what to get for dinner.

And though they expect Trump to get a tsunami of online fundraising over calling himself a political prisoner and assumed his backers would send a flood of statements attacking the verdict and the judge, several said theyre partial to the kind of thinking expressed by anti-Trump Republican pollster Sarah Longwell on X after the verdict: It wont be a public opinion earthquake. But in an election where inches will matter, this just created a new barrier for undecided swing voters: voting for a convicted felon.

Bidens official reaction to the verdict was almost identical to the newly minted felon and presumptive Republican nominee on one key point.

Theres only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box, Biden wrote on social media, linking to a fundraising page.

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, the Democrat who is chair of the Judiciary Committee, echoed that even as he praised the verdict.

Consistent with the rule of law, a jury of his peers found the former president guilty on all counts, Durbin said in a statement. Now, it is up to the American people to decide if he is worthy of the seat behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office.

In substance, if not style, the sentiment matched exactly Trumps assertion outside the courtroom that the real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people.

The day that ended in a historic guilty verdict for his predecessor began at mass for Biden, where a politician who thinks often in terms of fate and Irish poetry was marking the ninth anniversary of the death of his beloved son Beau, whom Biden has said he wanted to be president instead of him.

Absorbing the jurys decision hundreds of miles south of the courthouse at his beach home in Delaware, and as his aides were transfixed by the news coverage of the verdict in the West Wing where foot traffic slowed to a halt, Biden did not alter his evening with family. There were no rushed plans to appear in public, instead leaving it to his campaign and White House spokespeople to respond.

Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president, campaign communications director Michael Tyler wrote in a statement. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater.

We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment, said Ian Sams, a White House counsels office spokesman.

There remains a possibility Biden could weigh in on Friday, when hell return to the White House for a closed-door meeting with the Belgian prime minister to discuss plans to utilize Russian assets sitting in Western banks to continue funding Ukraines defense.

Later, Biden is set to welcome the Kansas City Chiefs to the White House to celebrate the teams second consecutive Super Bowl win in an event that is usually light-hearted.

Perhaps of more value, according to some Biden allies, will be the verdicts loud reminder that Trump is his partys nominee  a fact they believe many voters have not truly internalized. Bidens campaign, which continues to grapple with the reality of a tuned-out electorate, views any reminder of Trumps potential return to office as a net positive.

Instead of a major campaign shift centered around his rivals new status as a convicted criminal, Biden is expected to use the coming weeks to advance his warnings about Trumps threats to democracy, culminating in CNNs June 27 debate.

Two separate trips to Europe, including for the 80th anniversary of D-Day and the Group of 7 summit, will focus thematically on issues of democracy. The White House said Thursday the president would deliver a speech on the importance of defending freedom and democracy at Pointe du Hoc, one of the sites of the Allied landings in Normandy.

With wall-to-wall coverage of the trial now complete, it could be easier for the presidents message to be heard over the noise.

The risk of the conviction is that there are people who continue to think that theres something that will prevent Donald Trump from being the nominee or being president, the former Biden aide said. That is not the case. If you dont want Donald Trump, if you have to vote against him.

CNNs Kayla Tausche contributed to this report.

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Biden Campaign on Trump Conviction: No One Is Above the Law

President Joe Bidens campaign reacted to Donald Trumps criminal conviction shortly after the former president was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to his 2016 hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Through a statement issued on social media, the campaign wrote that In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law.

Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box, the campaign added of Bidens predecessor and current opponent.

The campaign noted that a criminal conviction would not bar Trump from continuing this campaign for the presidency, or serving in office.

Biden-Harris Campaign Statement on Todays Verdict pic.twitter.com/TEmdNsPmzP  Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) May 30, 2024

The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator on day one and calling for our Constitution to be terminated so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence  and the American people will reject it this November, the campaign wrote.

Other prominent Democrats reacted to the verdict with similar sentiments. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that Donald Trump is a racist, a homophobe, a grifter, and a threat to this country. He can now add one more title to his list  a felon.

Donald Trump is a racist, a homophobe, a grifter, and a threat to this country. He can now add one more title to his list  a felon.  JB Pritzker (@JBPritzker) May 30, 2024

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) wrote on X that Today, our legal system has reaffirmed that no one is above the law, not even a former president.

The 34 guilty verdicts in President Trumps case mean that a jury of his peers, after impartially reviewing the evidence presented and having sworn an oath to perform their duties faithfully, unanimously determined beyond a reasonable doubt  34 separate times  that the former president broke the law, he added.

My statement on a jury finding former President Trump guilty of 34 felonies. pic.twitter.com/Zz6Hw1wJWT  Sen. Cory Booker (@SenBooker) May 30, 2024

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) highlighted Trumps past legal record in his reaction. First, a court found Donald Trump to be a sexual abuser. He was then found to be a fraudulent business owner. Now Donald J. Trump is a convicted felon. All are an affirmation of the rule of law. And Trumps unfitness for office, he wrote.

Trump is a convicted criminal, Massachusetts Senator Ed Markey (D) wrote simply.

Trump himself called the verdict the result of a rigged, disgraceful trial, and declared the real verdict is going to be November 5th, by the people.

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In early May, as Russian artillery began landing in northern Kharkiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy found himself in a position hed been in many times before: asking President Joe Biden to change his mind on how far hed go to aid Kyiv.

Time and again since Russias invasion in 2022, Zelenskyy and others had successfully gotten Biden to switch from no to yes, whether it involved sending missiles, tanks or fighter jets.

But this latest request was arguably even bigger: For more than two years, Washington had told Ukraine that using weapons supplied by the U.S. to hit targets inside Russia was a no-go, and risked escalating the tensions between the two superpowers.

Still, Zelenskyy ultimately succeeded this week, thanks to a coalition of lawmakers and senior officials in Washington and Kyiv who used the desperate situation in Kharkiv to get Biden to lift his restrictions.

This story is based on interviews with 18 senior U.S., Ukrainian and European officials and lawmakers  most of whom were granted anonymity to speak freely about sensitive diplomatic conversations.

It shows how the group of officials gamed out how to apply pressure  on both national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Biden himself  to agree to what could be the biggest yes of the war.

Russia advances in Kharkiv

The loss of Kharkiv to Russia was a growing possibility and one that would deal a significant blow to Ukraines position on the ground. If Russia were to take Kharkiv, it would have a significant opening to take over other crucial areas in eastern Ukraine. It would also undermine Bidens bet on Kyiv  one hes propped up with billions of dollars worth of weapons and other aid. If there was one battle Biden could be convinced to say yes rather than no, it was Kharkiv.

Even before the offensive in Kharkiv, officials at the Pentagon and U.S. European Command headquarters in Ramstein, Germany, were growing concerned about Ukraines position on the battlefield. DOD had not been able to send badly needed weapons to Kyiv since December, when it ran out of funds to replenish its own stockpiles, and Congress had stalled for months on passing a new supplemental. As a result, Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines were fast running out of ammunition and air defenses.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his team watched with alarm as Russian forces began making progress on the battlefield and, in mid-April, began amassing on the Russian side of the border near Kharkiv. Austin and his team became concerned that Moscow could capture the city. The Pentagon chief began discussing with his team the military utility of allowing the Ukrainians to attack Russian targets across the border to defend against Moscows attacks in the Kharkiv region, according to a DOD official.

As consensus was growing in Washington that Ukraine needed to hit inside Russia, one of the administrations most passionate advocates for Kyiv in its fight against Moscow landed in Ukraine.

In March, Michael Carpenter, the former U.S. representative to the Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe, based in Vienna, started at the National Security Council as senior director for European affairs. His sentiments toward Kyiv are rooted in his experience meeting with and hearing stories from survivors of the 2022 Bucha massacre where hundreds of people, including children, are reported to have been killed by Russian forces.

He traveled to Kyiv for meetings with Zelenskyy and his aides on May 13  just three days after the Russian offensive in Kharkiv began. Kyivs message was clear: We need you to lift the restrictions on U.S. weapons immediately. More than 4,000 people had evacuated from Kharkiv, but several civilians had already been killed in the fighting  and the death toll would likely rise.

Western intelligence appeared to corroborate Kyivs assertions about the state of fighting on the battlefield in Kharkiv. Russia had the upper hand  by far. Its aircraft could strike inside Kharkiv without ever leaving Russian airspace. And Ukraine could not intercept its glide bombs  which have ranges of anywhere between 40 and 60 kilometers  without going against Washingtons demands.

That same day  May 13  Sullivan, Austin and Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. C.Q. Brown met with Zelenskyy and his aides over a secure video conference. Kyiv officially requested that the White House lift the restrictions on the weapons so they could use them to hit Russian positions across the border. They also asked for an accelerated delivery of anti-tank and air defenses, a request Austin committed to working on.

Following the call, Sullivan, Austin and Brown agreed to make an official recommendation to Biden that the U.S. lift the restrictions.

The only question was whether Biden would agree.

Full court press

That same day in Washington, a coalition of Ukrainian lawmakers landed for discussions on Capitol Hill. The lawmakers frequently visit the U.S. to try to persuade Congress and the administration to do more to help Ukraine  more weapons, more training for pilots, more money.

The U.S. has traditionally moved slowly when making decisions on which weapons to send and under what conditions it will allow Kyiv to use them, and the Ukrainians use each trip to push for one big request. Its a gamble whether the administration will agree that day, in a week or months down the road.

This time, they asked for three things: more training for Ukrainian pilots inside the U.S., air defense systems and the lifting of restrictions on striking inside Russian territory.

In a series of conversations with both Democrats and Republicans, Ukrainians told Congress just how vulnerable the Ukrainian military was in Kharkiv and how many civilians would be killed if Kyiv could not hit inside Russia across the border. The U.S. fears about escalation were valid, they argued, but they did not outweigh what would be lost if Ukraine could not fight back with the weapons  and quickly.

The U.S. has said for years it is worried about escalation, one Ukrainian lawmaker said. We were beginning to think it was just an excuse.



On Capitol Hill, several lawmakers met with the Ukrainians to discuss how to pressure the White House to change course. Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) and Rep. Mike Turner (R-Ohio), the heads of the House Intelligence Committee, and Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-Va.), wrote a letter May 20, urging the administration to support Kyivs requests.

Himes spoke with Sullivan again, urging the administration to seriously consider the damage already done in Kharkiv and the consequences to allowing a second Russian front to open in Ukraine.

I feel like the White House has always been overly conservative on the types of munitions provided, Himes said in an interview. But when the Russian offensive into Kharkiv occurred, this is what really brought the issue to the forefront. The Russians knew the Ukrainians had their hands tied and couldnt reach this artillery that was wreaking havoc in Kharkiv.

By the time the meetings with lawmakers wrapped on the Hill, Sullivan was finalizing the recommendation to take to Biden, which he presented May 15. In the Oval Office, Sullivan argued that Ukraine should be able to use U.S. weapons to fend off Russian attacks in Kharkiv specifically for counterfire purposes  a limited lifting of the restriction.

The president agreed, and instructed Sullivan and the Pentagon to get to work on the change.

At the same time as those conversations were happening at the White House, Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv for another, sobering round of discussions with Ukrainian officials.

During a May 15 press conference in Kyiv, Blinken stressed that the United States was rushing an array of weapons to help Ukraine. And while he said Washington has not encouraged or enabled strikes outside of Ukraine, he also noted that ultimately Ukraine has to make decisions for itself about how its going to conduct this war.

While Biden had already instructed Sullivan and the Pentagon to push ahead with a final round of internal discussions about the decision, but it was a May 17 conversation with Blinken that further assured the president it was the right move.

Blinken, whos spent many years at Bidens side, briefed the president on his visit to Kyiv, saying that Russians were taking advantage of the presidents ban to attack Kharkiv with impunity.

The decision

While the U.S. deliberated and planned, it watched more than a dozen countries give similar permissions to Ukraine. The Biden administrations isolation grew in recent days after Frances president, NATOs chief and the United Kingdoms top diplomat threw their support behind lifting restrictions.

On May 20, at the Pentagon, top defense and military leaders from across the world met virtually with the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. The meeting, led by Austin and Brown, touched on whether to allow Ukraine to use U.S. weapons to strike across the border in Russia.

The U.S. focus is on supporting the close battle in various areas. And were paying attention to whats going on in and around Kharkiv, Brown told reporters after the meeting, hinting at the internal discussions.

Earlier this week, Sullivan gave the Pentagon the final green light to inform Ukraine of the administrations official decision. A classified letter was sent to Ukraines military, outlining the details of exactly which weapons it could use in Kharkiv and under what circumstances.

Officials in Washington and Kyiv agreed to keep the news of the decision quiet while Ukraine planned its counteroffensive.

Blinken on Wednesday publicly offered the world its first wink-wink, nudge-nudge of what had already been decided.

A hallmark of the Biden administrations approach has been to adapt as the conditions have changed, as the battlefield has changed, as what Russia does has changed, he said during a visit to Moldova, a country also in the Kremlins crosshairs. Weve adapted and adjusted, too, and well continue to do that.

The next day, U.S. officials confirmed the shift in policy. POLITICO first broke the news.

The looming question now is whether the Biden administration will eventually give Ukraine more leeway to use American weapons on Russian territory beyond the Kharkiv area.

Two people close to the Zelenskyy administration said there is some frustration in Kyiv over how geographically limited the Ukrainian use of U.S. weapons will be, restricted to the border area in Kharkiv, a limitation other countries have not imposed. But its a start.

Zelenskyy will meet with Austin on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on Saturday, where the issue will be high on the agenda.

At a news conference in Prague on Friday, Blinken was pushed on how far the Biden team will let Ukraine go. He didnt rule out the possibility of targets elsewhere in Russia.

Going forward, well continue to do what weve been doing, which is, as necessary, adapt and adjust, Blinken said. And that, as I said, has been a hallmark of our engagement; it will continue to be.

Paul McLeary, Jonathan Lemire and Alexander Ward contributed to this report.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. Preparation of the roadmap for the National Renovation Program (NRP) in Azerbaijan will be completed by July this year, Head of the Energy Efficiency Department of Azerbaijan's Energy Ministry Nargiz Bagirli said, Trend reports.

She made the remark during today's second annual reporting meeting of the Azerbaijan Rapid Technical Assistance Facility (AZTAF), funded by the European Union (EU) and managed by the World Bank (WB), in Baku.

Preparation of the roadmap for the National Renovation Program in Azerbaijan will be completed by July this year. As part of this work, significant activities have been undertaken to support the activities of the Energy Efficiency Fund and the preparation of the NRP roadmap. In particular, data has been collected on public buildings, except for the territories liberated from occupation. These buildings, classified by typology and climate zones, were subjected to energy audits. Ten public buildings in the cities of Ganja, Sheki, and Gakh have been audited, she noted.

To note, the AZTAF program was launched to support the Azerbaijani government in achieving the goals of the "Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-economic Development" strategy.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  The Biden-Harris campaign released a statement after former President Donald Trump was found guilty on felony charges Thursday, stating that no one is above the law.

In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law, Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director Michael Tyler said in a statement.

Following four weeks of testimonies, Trump, who appears to be the top Republican candidate for president, was found guilty in a New York courtroom of 34 felony charges for falsifying business records in an attempt to keep information from voters in 2016.

Trump is the first former president to become a convicted felon.

Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president, Tyler continued.

Tyler said the threat Trump poses to democracy has never been greater, adding that the presidential hopeful pledged to be a dictator while urging voters to reject his political violence come November.

The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator on day one and calling for our Constitution to be terminated so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence  and the American people will reject it this November, he concluded.

Trumps guilty verdicts come with many questions surrounding his potential return to the White House, such as whether he can still vote, become president, if he will go to jail and whether he can pardon himself if hes reelected?

The guilty verdict cannot stop him from continuing his run for presidency.

Trump will be sentenced on July 11. He could face possible fines, probation time or prison time.

The 77-year-old faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison with each felony county carrying up to four years in jail, making it a total of 136 years. However, New York limits the sentence to a max of 20 years for this type of crime.

Although the Biden-Harris campaign has spoken out about Trumps conviction, neither Biden nor Harris has formally released an official statement regarding Thursdays decision.

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.
After intensive diplomacy carried out by my team, my many conversations with leaders of Israel, Qatar and Egypt, and other Middle Eastern countries, Israel has offered a comprehensive new proposal. Its a roadmap to an enduring cease-fire and the release of all hostages, Biden said. He said that while the proposal has been transmitted to Hamas via Qatar, he indicated the U.S.-designated terrorist organization that runs the Gaza Strip had not yet formally accepted the plan. This is truly a decisive moment. Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a cease-fire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it. Hamas needs to take the deal, Biden said. Biden also pleaded from the White House podium for Israelis to back the deal, arguing the military has devastated Hamas since the war began in way in which Oct. 7 cannot be repeated. While adding he knows there are Israelis who may not agree with the negotiated deal, he warned against allowing for an indefinite war. I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some are even in the government coalition. Theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years, the hostages are not a priority for them, he said. I urge Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes. When questioned if Biden meant that Israel has effectively won the war against Hamas, senior administration officials on a call with reporters after Biden spoke said Israel has had success in degrading Hamas military capacity. The official added that the offer wouldnt have been possible three months ago. Biden laid out the proposal in three phases: An initial phase would include a six-week cease-fire, then a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, and the release of all remaining hostages taken from Israel on Oct. 7. It also includes parameters for internally displaced Palestinians to return to their homes and reconstruction efforts of the devastated coastal enclave. According to the arrangement, each of the three phases would be about 42 days long, a senior administration official outlined. Read the full report at TheHill.com.
The Biden administration has partially lifted a ban on Ukrainian forces using U.S. arms to strike within Russian territory in a bid to defend Kharkiv, a U.S. official confirmed Thursday.

President Biden recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S.-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them, a U.S. official told The Hill.

But they stressed that the administrations policy to not allow the use of ATACMS or long-range strikes inside of Russia has not changed.

The move, first reported by Politico, is a major roll back of the staunch U.S. policy to prohibit American-provided weapons from being used by Kyivs forces to hit targets over the border with Russia, a position that Washington kept to prevent an escalation of the conflict.

Ukraine has recently ramped up pressure on U.S. officials to change their position, while Russia has warned of serious consequences if western weapons strike its soil.

Kyiv reportedly asked the U.S. to make the policy change after Russias offensive on Kharkiv began earlier this month, with the administration in the last few days granting Ukraine wiggle room in defending itself from attacks on the border near the city, Politico reported.

But in the hour leading up to when news of the changes broke, the Defense Department firmly denied any policy change.

Theres been no change in our policy, deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh told reporters at the Pentagon. The security assistance that we provide Ukraine is to be used within Ukraine and we dont encourage attacks or enable attacks inside of Russia. We believe that Ukraine can be effective by focusing on tactical and operational targets that directly influence the conflict within its boundaries rather than going after larger geopolitical targets within Russia.

Asked again about any modification to the U.S. policy after reports emerged of the administrations caveat to Ukraine, a DOD spokesman said they had no new announcements regarding this, referring questions to the NSC.

While Kyiv can now use U.S. rockets and rocket launchers to shoot down Russian missiles or bombers firing toward Kharkiv, as well as at troops gathering just over the border near the city, they cannot hit at civilian infrastructure or launch long-range missiles to hit military targets far inside the other country, officials told Politico.

The administration first hinted Wednesday that the U.S. could change its stance on allowing Russian assets to be hit inside Kremlin borders, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken noting that Washington has adapted and adjusted, too, and well continue to do that.

That was followed by comments from White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby, who said that while there was no change in policy, U.S. support to Ukraine has evolved appropriately.

Alex Gangitano contributed reporting

Updated: 6:10 p.m.

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 pushed for a new cease-fire deal Friday that included a hostage exchange and an end to Israeli hostilities in Gaza, and he criticized some Israeli leaders who he said wanted to keep fighting for years.

The presidents remarks seemingly left the door open for Hamas to remain the governing authority in Gaza  a sticking point for Israel, which has rejected cease-fire deals that didnt include destroying the group or removing it from power. Hamas has said it would not take part in negotiations amid Israeli military operations, though it said Thursday that it was prepared to reach a comprehensive agreement that included an end to the war.

On Friday, Israeli officials confirmed that the countrys military forces were on the ground in central Rafah, a southern city that had previously become a refuge for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fleeing Israel Defense Forces advancing in the north. Biden had previously said an invasion into Rafah would mark a red line that, if crossed, would lead the United States to stop supplying weapons to Israel, but he made no mention of such a line on Friday.

More than 36,000 Palestinians have died in the war since Oct. 7, when militants from the Gaza Strip surged into Israel, killing an estimated 1,200 people and taking hundreds of hostages. The toll of Israels retaliatory military operation became even clearer Sunday when an Israeli strike killed dozens of Palestinians seeking refuge in a tent camp in Rafah.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called that strike a mistake, but other Israeli strikes have since killed dozens more Palestinians at tent camps near a field hospital and a United Nations facility, underscoring the ongoing danger to Palestinians no matter where in the Gaza Strip they flee to.

Biden on Friday referred to terrible images of the aftermath of Sundays strike in Rafah but repeated Israels claim that it had targeted Hamas. He also acknowledged that thousands of children had been killed in Gaza.

The deal Biden outlined was similar to ones proposed in the past, in which hostages held in Gaza and Palestinians jailed in Israel would have been released. Aside from a brief period in November that included such an exchange, however, negotiators have not agreed on terms for any pause or end in the fighting.

The president introduced the plan by saying Israel had offered it but later said he had urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal.

The deal Biden outlined Friday included a six-week temporary cease-fire and withdrawal of Israeli troops from populated areas of Gaza, which would in turn become a full withdrawal of Israeli forces and the cessation of hostilities permanently if the deal continued according to plan.

In exchange, he said, captives in Gaza, including Americans, would be swapped for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel. At first, that swap would include women, the elderly and the wounded, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Eventually, he said, the swap would include male Israeli soldiers and the remains of hostages who had died. A surge in humanitarian aid would begin immediately if the deal was agreed to, Biden said, and Palestinians would be able to return to their homes throughout the Gaza Strip.

There are a number of details to negotiate between the first and second phases of the deal, Biden acknowledged, before saying that the cease-fire would continue as long as negotiations were ongoing. The third and final phase of the deal would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and the final return of any remains of hostages.

Hamas Future Is Vague Under The Deal

Biden said near the start of his short remarks that one of the principles guiding Americas role in the cease-fire negotiations was creating a better day-after in Gaza without Hamas in power.

However, he did not say that the deal he outlined would require Hamas to step down from power.

At this point, Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another Oct. 7, which is one of the Israelis main objectives in this war, and quite frankly a righteous one, Biden said, after describing Hamas forces as devastated by Israel. He said a future rebuilding of Gaza would be done in a manner that does not allow Hamas to re-arm.

He said separately that Israel will always have the right to defend itself against the threats to its security and to bring those responsible for Oct. 7 to justice. And the United States will always ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself. If Hamas fails to fulfill its commitments under the deal, Israel can resume military operations, but Egypt and Qatar have assured me, and they are continuing to work to ensure, Hamas does not do that.

In fact, Hamas status in Gaza  not simply its ability to carry out another massive ground attack against Israel, as happened on Oct. 7  has been a major sticking point in past attempts to negotiate a cease-fire.

Earlier this month, reports indicated that Hamas had agreed to a cease-fire deal involving a hostage swap and the gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza but that Israel had rejected the deal because it allowed the continued existence of Hamas. Netanyahu said at the time, Israel will not allow Hamas to restore its regime of evil in the strip. Israel will not allow it to rebuild its military capabilities. Netanyahu previously said, The day after is the day after Hamas. All of Hamas.

Notably, after Bidens speech, an English-language statement from Netanyahus office reiterated Israels demand for Hamas governing capabilities to be destroyed along with its military capabilities  a demand that Biden had not laid out in his own remarks.

The Government of Israel is united in its desire to return the hostages as soon as possible and is working to achieve this goal, the statement said. The Prime Minister authorized the negotiating team to present a proposal to that end, which would also enable Israel to continue the war until all its objectives are achieved, including the destruction of Hamass military and governing capabilities.The actual proposal put forward by Israel, including the conditional transition from one phase to the next, allows Israel to uphold these principles.

Hamas said in a statement that it viewed Bidens speech positively and would work toward any proposal based on a permanent ceasefire, complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction, the return of the displaced to all their places of residence, and the completion of a serious prisoner exchange deal if the occupation declares its explicit commitment to that, according to Axios Barak Ravid.

Biden Criticizes Hard-Line Israelis

The president also criticized hard-line Israelis in his remarks, saying they were pushing for years of fighting.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely, Biden said. Some are even in the government coalition. And theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years, and the hostages are not a priority to them.

Well, Ive urged leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes, he said. We cant lose this moment. Indefinite war in pursuit of an unidentified notion of total victory will only bog down Israel in Gaza, drain the economic, military and human resources, and further Israels isolation in the world.

For the long term, Biden said, Israels acceptance of the deal would lead to a potential historic normalization agreement with Saudi Arabia  a priority for the Biden administration, HuffPost has reported.

Later in the speech, Biden referenced Hamas calls for a cease-fire and said, This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it. He separately addressed everyone who wants peace now, urging them to pressure leaders to accept the deal.

Still, he made no mention of conditions on American support  politically, monetarily or via military supplies  if Israel continued its military operations in Gaza.

Related...
Mr Biden has proposed new staff to ease the migrant backlog and to police the border - David Peinado/Anadolu via Getty Images

Joe Biden is reportedly planning to launch a scheme to deport illegal migrants to Greece or Italy in a similar vein to the UKs Rwanda policy.

According to CBS News, which cited two people familiar with the governments plans, the Biden initiative is designed to discourage people from travelling to the US-Mexico border.

The US presidents plan comes weeks after his rival Donald Trump was reported to be considering a similar plan, involving resettlement to Guatemala or Panama.

Britain last month passed a law that is set to see asylum seekers flown to live in Rwanda.

The Biden plan would involve Greece and Italy welcoming migrants processed at immigration offices that the Biden administration set up last year in four Latin American countries to screen migrants who hope to reach the US.

The centres, officially known as Safe Mobility Offices, allow certain migrants in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador and Guatemala to apply to come to the US or other countries legally.

Under the new arrangements, Greece and Italy would join Canada and Spain in resettling some of those processed at the offices. One of the sources said Italy and Greece would likely accept a relatively small number of migrants, roughly 500 or fewer each.

Diplomatic discussions with other countries

A spokesman for the State Department said the Safe Mobility Offices have enabled a six-fold increase in the number of refugees resettled from the Western Hemisphere.

Given the success of the program, the spokesman added, we are in diplomatic discussions with other countries about joining this initiative to expand lawful pathways for resettlement but have no additional information to share at this time.

On May 20, US officials met with diplomats from Canada, Italy, Spain and the countries hosting the Safe Mobility Offices to discuss the initiative, according to internal Department of Homeland Security documents. In an interview with CBS News last week, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas appeared to refer to the reported agreement with Greece.

We work with Canada, Spain, and just recently, Greece, to build lawful pathways for individuals to arrive in their countries, out of the hands of smugglers who just seek to exploit these individuals for profit, said Mr Mayorkas.

Italy has not responded but Greece categorically denied the report.

The CBS report is untrue. There is neither an agreement nor a request from the US to resettle legal immigrants in Greece. Greek immigration policy is clear and effective, despite international difficulties, said Dimitris Kairides, the Greek immigration and asylum minister, told SKAI 100.3 radio.

We are in a pre-election period, it is not a politically neutral time, some may want to make an impression.

Earlier this month, Trumps team was reported as saying he hoped to have a full plan for illegal migration ready to launch on the first day of his presidency if he wins the US election in November.

The scheme could involve illegal migrants from El Salvador or Honduras being sent to Guatemala, the Wall Street Journal reported.

The scheme is thought by some advisers to be a solution to the US migrant crisis, which saw more than 2.4 million people attempt to cross the southwestern American border in 2023.

Trump has made a mass deportation policy a central feature of his 2024 campaign, declaring that he hopes to remove almost 20 million people  6 per cent of the US population.

The former president has also pledged to revive his plans for a border wall and endorsed the use of the National Guard on the Texas border by Greg Abbott, the states Republican governor.

The UK announced its Rwanda scheme in April 2022, but it has been mired in legal difficulty after being challenged in the courts.

Last month, the Government passed legislation to declare that the East African nation was a safe country to send migrants to in an attempt to shut down appeals by human rights charities.

The first flights are scheduled to take off at the end of June or early July, but Home Office sources have suggested the planes may have fewer than 10 passengers because of ongoing litigation.

The US and UK have similar issues with long backlogs in migrant processing, which experts have warned create additional incentives for migrants to make the dangerous crossing over the English Channel or the Rio Grande.

Mr Biden has proposed new staff to ease the migrant backlog and to police the border.

The issue is expected to be one of the major debates of the presidential election campaign, with Trump claiming that illegal migrant animals are responsible for violent crime.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
President Joe Biden delivered remarks on the conviction of former President DonaldTrump before announcing a proposal for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in the State Dining Room of the White House on Friday. Photo by Michael Reynolds/UPI

May 31 (UPI) -- Israel has proposed a three-part plan to end the war in Gaza and release all hostages, President Joe Biden said on Friday.

Biden said the proposal comes after "intensive diplomacy" carried out by his administration. The plan has been delivered to Hamas via Qatar, but the U.S.-designated terrorist group has not yet responded to the plan.

"This is truly a decisive moment. Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a cease-fire. This deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it. Hamas needs to take the deal," Biden said.

The first phase involves a six-week total cease-fire, during which Israeli forces would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza, and women, children and elderly hostages will be released.

The initial phase also includes parameters for displaced Palestinians to return to their homes.

Israeli forces have advanced into central Rafah in southern Gaza, the Israeli military confirmed Friday, despite international pressure warning against a large military operation in Rafah. Photo by Jim Hollander/UPI

Biden said there "a number of details" for Israel and Hamas to negotiate before moving to phase two, which involves the release of all living hostages, including male soldiers, in exchange for Palestinians held in Israel.

The cease-fire will continue if phase one negotiations take longer than six weeks, Biden said.

U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on Friday. Photo by Michael Reynolds/UPI

"As long as Hamas lives up to its commitment, a temporary cease-fire would become, in the words of the Israeli proposal, a cessation of hostilities permanently," he said.

The final phase includes the return of the remains of dead hostages and a major reconstruction plan for Gaza, which involves the United States and Arab nations working with Israeli and Palestinian leaders to ensure Hamas is not able to rearm itself.

U.S. President Joe Biden acknowledged that there exist "a number of details" for Israel and Hamas to negotiate before moving to the second phase of the cease-fire plan. Photo by Michael Reynolds/UPI

In urging Israeli leaders to honor the plan, Biden said Hamas has been "devastated" by Israel's response to the Oct. 7 attack and that it cannot carry out a similar attack.

"The people of Israel should know, they can make this offer without any further risk to their own security because they've devastated Hamas ... for the past eight months. At this point, Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another Oct. 7, which is one of Israel's main objective of this war and, quite frankly, a righteous one," he said.

A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he authorized the government to "present an outline" that included "the return of all our abductees and the elimination of Hamas' military and governmental capabilities."

Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed to destroy Hamas since Oct. 7 but has faced pressure from the families of hostages and centrist members of his coalition who argue he is not doing enough to ensure their release.

Far-right members of Netanyahu's cabinet, meanwhile, favor the continuation of the war and a total occupation of Gaza.

Biden's announcement comes days after Israeli forces continued to hammer the city of Rafah, where many Palestinians fled to escape the fighting.

Israel continued its siege of Rafah despite Biden urging Netanyahu against it and halting a large shipment of weapons to Israel earlier this month.

Despite his vocal frustrations with Netanyahu, Biden on Friday reiterated his "lifelong" commitment to Israel.

"I ask you to take a step back, think what will happen if this moment is lost. We can't lose this moment," he said. "Indefinite war in pursuit of an identified notion of total victory will ... only bog down Israel and Gaza."
President Biden announced the terms of an Israeli-led proposal Friday that includes a three-part road map toward an end to fighting and the release of all remaining hostages taken Oct. 7, giving the strongest indication yet for a potential end to the war between Israel and Hamas.

After intensive diplomacy carried out by my team, my many conversations with leaders of Israel, Qatar and Egypt, and other Middle Eastern countries, Israel has offered a comprehensive new proposal. Its a road map to an enduring cease-fire and the release of all hostages, Biden said.

The proposal has been transmitted to Hamas via Qatar, he said, but he indicated the U.S.-designated terrorist organization that runs the Gaza Strip had not yet formally accepted the plan.

This is truly a decisive moment. Israel has made their proposal. Hamas says it wants a cease-fire  this deal is an opportunity to prove whether they really mean it. Hamas needs to take the deal, Biden said.

Biden also pleaded from the White House podium for Israelis to back the deal, arguing the military has devastated Hamas since the war began to the extent that Oct. 7 cannot be repeated.

The people of Israel should know, they can make this offer without any further risk to their own security, because theyve devastated Hamas  for the past eight months. At this point, Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another Oct. 7, which is one of Israels main objective of this war, and quite frankly a righteous one, the president said.

While adding he knows there are Israelis who may not agree with the negotiated deal, he warned against allowing for an indefinite war.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some are even in the government coalition. Theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years; the hostages are not a priority for them, he said. I urge Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

When questioned if Biden meant that Israel has effectively won the war against Hamas, senior administration officials on a call with reporters after Biden spoke said Israel has had success in degrading Hamass military capacity. The official added that the offer wouldnt have been possible three months ago.

Biden laid out the proposal in three phases. An initial phase would include a six-week cease-fire, then a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, and the release of all remaining hostages taken from Israel on Oct. 7. It also includes parameters for internally displaced Palestinians to return to their homes, and reconstruction efforts of the devastated coastal enclave.

According to the arrangement, each of the three phases would be about 42 days long, a senior administration official outlined.

Phase one, during the six-week cease-fire, would include the beginning of rehabilitation, return of essential services, clearing rubble, and relief to the people of Gaza such as temporary shelters and housing.

Phase two would involve the release of all remaining hostages, including male soldiers, which would require another set of negotiations. It would include a cessation of hostilities permanently and withdrawal of all Israeli forces.

Phase three would involve an extensive three-to-five-year reconstruction program for Gaza backed by the U.S. and the international community, which is focused on rehabilitation and stabilization of the strip.

During the six-week break in fighting, Israel and Hamas would negotiate the necessary arrangements to get to phase two, but if those negotiations lasted longer than six weeks, the cease-fire would continue while plans were hashed out, Biden said.

There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected, but the proposal says [if the] negotiations take longer than six weeks from phase one, the cease-fire will still continue as long as negotiations continue, he said.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitment, a temporary cease-fire would become, in the words of the Israeli proposal, a cessation of hostilities permanently.

The latest proposal comes less than a month after cease-fire talks that sparked optimism from the White House ended without an agreement between Hamas and Israel. The U.S., Egypt and Qatar had worked for weeks on that truce proposal, which would have secured the release of Israeli hostages and paused fighting in Gaza.

Fridays announcement also comes as Israeli forces are operating in central Rafah, expanding a military operation despite warnings from the White House against widely targeting the densely populated area in Gaza.

The White House earlier this week said an Israeli strike that triggered a secondary explosion and killed Hamas leaders and dozens of civilians did not cross a red line that would have led to a shift in policy toward aid for Israel.

The president noted he has had a lifelong commitment to Israel and visited the country when the war began to reaffirm his support for the country.

I ask you to take a step back, think what will happen if this moment is lost. We cant lose this moment, he said. Indefinite war in pursuit of an identified notion of total victory will  only bog down Israel and Gaza.

Biden has long supported the idea of a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, and senior administration officials suggested Friday that the latest proposal could lead to that in the long term.

We have to have a Gaza with Hamas no longer in power, with Hamas no longer able to threaten Israel, he said. When the president talks about the importance of the day after in his speech, all the elements of that are part of a day after.

Brett Samuels contributed.

Updated at 3:28 p.m. ET

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.
Insights from Mother Jones, Al-Monitor, and Middle East Eye

The News

US President Joe Biden said Friday that it was time for this war to end, as he outlined a new ceasefire agreement proposed by Israel aimed at ending the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.

The plan, Biden said at a press conference, will be split into three phases: The first phase would see a six-week full and complete ceasefire and allow up to 600 aid trucks into Gaza daily in exchange for Hamas releasing a number of Israeli hostages. The rest of the hostages would be released in phase two in exchange for a complete Israeli military retreat from Gaza. Phase three would initiate the reconstruction of Gaza.

Israel has promised a cessation of hostilities permanently, said Biden, if Hamas agrees to certain negotiations during the first phase.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Ceasefire proposal nearly identical to previous one that Israel rejected

Sources: Mother Jones' David Corn, Journalist Seamus Malekafzali

The timing of Bidens pronouncement to end the war is significant as it comes just two days after a top Israeli official said the conflict will continue through 2024, noted Mother Jones David Corn. One Middle East writer pointed out that the Israel proposal outlined by Biden appeared to be nearly identical to the Qatar-brokered deal that Hamas had agreed to weeks ago, but Israel ultimately rejected, a characterization confirmed by a US administration official who said: What is now in front of everybody is basically the terms by which Hamas was prepared to move forward.

Bidens red line on Israel actions in Gaza keeps shifting

Sources: Al-Monitor, The New York Times

Israel is testing Bidens shifting red line on what he will tolerate in Gaza, Al-Monitor wrote. The White House said that Israels deadly airstrike in Rafah that killed dozens of Palestinians did not violate the presidents red line for suspending weapons shipments. For Biden, drawing clear red lines is a politically dangerous thing to do, said one security analyst, as his Israel policy faces criticism from both Republicans and Democrats for different reasons. The White House is deliberately offering blurry descriptions of Bidens red line, a Middle East expert told The New York Times, because they dont want to pin themselves down by identifying an exact point or line that gets across because Israel will absolutely cross that line.

Hamas shows flexibility in post-war governance

Source: Middle East Eye

Hamas officials have expressed flexibility in post-war governance of Gaza, and have shown willingness to relinquish power so long as the US or Israel dont have authority to take over the strip, Middle East Eye reported. But the transfer of power is easier said than done. The militant group has rejected proposals for the Palestinian Authority  which partially governs the West Bank  to rule the strip, since Hamas considers it too politically linked to Israel, Middle East Eye wrote. And while Hamas is open to governance negotiations, it firmly believes that nobody can bypass it since Gazans still view it as a resistance [that] is fighting on their behalf, according to a source close to Hamas.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. President of the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) Rovshan Najaf met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Kazakhstan to Azerbaijan Alim Bayel, Trend reports citing SOCAR.

It was noted that Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan successfully cooperate in all areas, including the energy sector. In this regard, the dynamic development of relations between SOCAR and Kazakh companies was emphasized.

At the meeting, an exchange of views took place on the current state of cooperation between SOCAR and KazMunayGas, the transit of Kazakh oil through the territory of Azerbaijan, opportunities for cooperation in the framework of production projects and other issues of mutual interest.
President Biden weighed in Friday on former President Trumps verdict in his New York hush money case, saying Trumps contention that the trial was rigged is irresponsible and reckless.

Its reckless, its dangerous, its irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they dont like the verdict, the president said.

Our justice system should be respected, and we should never allow anyone to tear it down; its as simple as that, he added.

Biden also said that its within Trumps right to appeal the verdict.

Now hell be given the opportunity  as he should  to appeal that decision just like everyone else has that opportunity, Biden said. Thats how the American system of justice works.

A jury found Trump guilty Thursday on all counts of falsifying business records to conceal alleged affairs during his 2016 campaign. Trump has since called the trial rigged, vowed to appeal the case, and tore into Judge Juan Merchan and Alvin Bragg (D), the district attorney who brought the case.

On Friday, Biden stressed that Trumps attorneys were a part of the jury selection process and that jurors heard five weeks of evidence before the verdict. He also noted that the case was heard by a New York state court while the former president has claimed the Biden administration is behind his legal issues.

The American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed. Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself. It was a state case, not a federal case, the president said. It was heard by a jury of 12 citizens  like millions of Americans who served on juries, this jury was chosen the same way every jury in America has chosen.

It was a process that Donald Trumps attorney was part of. The jury heard five weeks of evidence, Biden added. They found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts.

The president issued a short statement Thursday evening on social platform X, calling for donations to the 2024 race and saying, Theres only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box.

His campaign called Trump a convicted felon in its first statement after the verdict and has seized on the verdict to raise money for the 2024 race.

Following Trumps press conference on the outcome of the case, Bidens reelection campaign argued earlier Friday that Trumps response to his conviction should prove he cannot be president.

Updated at 1:53 p.m. EDT

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 Steve Holland and James Mackenzie

WASHINGTON/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday laid out what he described as a three-phase Israeli proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza in return for the release of Israeli hostages, saying "it's time for this war to end" and winning a positive initial reaction from Hamas.

The first phase involves a six-week ceasefire when Israeli forces would withdraw from "all populated areas" of Gaza, some hostages - including the elderly and women - would be freed in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, Palestinian civilians could return to their homes in Gaza and 600 trucks a day would bring humanitarian aid into the devastated enclave.

In this phase, Hamas and Israel would negotiate a permanent ceasefire that Biden said would last "as long has Hamas lives up to its commitments." If negotiations took more than six weeks, the temporary ceasefire would extend while they continued.

In the second phase, Biden said there would be an exchange for all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers, Israeli forces would withdraw from Gaza and the permanent ceasefire would begin.

The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and the return of the "final remains" of hostages to their families.

"It's time for this war to end and for the day after to begin," said Biden, who is under election-year pressure to stop the Gaza conflict, now in its eighth month.

Hamas, which Biden said received the proposal from Qatar, released a statement reacting positively.

Hamas said it was ready to engage "positively and in a constructive manner" with any proposal based on a permanent ceasefire, withdrawal of Israeli forces, the reconstruction of Gaza, a return of those displaced, and a "genuine" prisoner swap deal if Israel "clearly announces commitment to such deal".

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said he had authorized his negotiating team to present the deal, "while insisting that the war will not end until all of its goals are achieved, including the return of all our hostages and the destruction of Hamas' military and governmental capabilities."

Separately, the Israeli military said its forces have ended operations in north Gaza's Jabalia area after days of intense fighting, while probing further into Rafah in south Gaza to target what they say is the last major Hamas redoubt.

The conflict began on Oct. 7 when gunmen led by the Islamist Palestinian group stormed into southern Israel on motorcycles, paragliders and four-wheel drive vehicles, killing 1200 people and abducting more than 250, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel then invaded the Gaza Strip in what Netanyahu has called an effort to destroy Hamas, the militant Palestinian group that seized control of the area from the Fatah Palestinian faction in a violent struggle in 2007.

Talks mediated by Egypt, Qatar and others to arrange a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas have repeatedly stalled, with each side blaming the other for the lack of progress.

AN INDEFINITE WAR

In his speech, Biden called on the Israeli leadership to resist pressure from those in Israel who were pushing for the war to go on "indefinitely," a group he said included some in the Israeli governing coalition.

"They want to occupy Gaza. They want to keep fighting for years and hostages are not a priority for them. Well, I've urged leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes," he added.

He implored Israelis not to miss the chance for a ceasefire.

"As the only American president who has ever gone to Israel at a time of war, as someone who just sent the U.S. forces to directly defend Israel when it was attacked by Iran, I ask you to take a step back, think what will happen if this moment is lost," he said. "We can't lose this moment."

The Gaza war has put Biden in a political bind.

On the one hand, he has long been a staunch supporter of Israel and would like to ensure funding and support from the pro-Israel community in the United States in his Nov. 5 election rematch against Republican former President Donald Trump.

On the other, progressive elements of Biden's Democratic Party have grown increasingly angry at the president for the suffering the conflict has caused civilians in Gaza.

Palestinian health authorities estimate more than 36,280 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel attacked, and the United Nations says over a million people face "catastrophic" levels of hunger as famine takes hold in parts of the enclave.

Signaling a U.S. effort to build support for the proposal, the State Department said U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his Jordanian, Saudi and Turkish counterparts.

Speaking to the Turkish foreign minister, "he emphasized that Hamas should accept the deal and that every country with a relationship with Hamas should press it to do so without delay,' the State Department said.

In a sign of support for Israel despite the partisan divide in the United States, leaders of the Democratic-led U.S. Senate and of the Republican-led House of Representatives on Friday invited Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress.

The week has been dominated by the fallout from an Israeli air strike in Rafah on Sunday that killed 45 Palestinians.

"The Palestinian people have endured sheer hell in this war," Biden said on Friday. "We all saw the terrible images from the deadly fire in Rafah earlier this week."

(Reporting by Steve Holland and Stephanie Kelly in Washington, James Mackenzie in Jerusalem; Additional reporting by Henriette Chacar, Nidal Al Mughrabi, Ahmed Tolba, Dan Williams and Patricia Zengerle; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Deepa Babington and Cynthia Osterman)
Israeli military vehicles continues on the border line near the city of Rafah, Gaza. At least 45 people were killed, mostly women and children, and nearly 250 others injured in the Israeli strike on the camp on 26 May. Saeed Qaq/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

US President Joe Biden has unveiled a new proposal from Israel to end the war in Gaza and secure the release of hostages.

"We can't lose this moment," Biden said at the White House on Friday.

"Indefinite war in pursuit of an unidentified notion of total victory ... will only bog down Israel in Gaza, draining military, economic and human resources and further Israel's isolation in the world.

"That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security."

The US president said the new plan envisaged three phases of de-escalation, principally featuring a truce that would become permanent and Israel's withdrawal from the Palestinian territory.

He said that the Israeli proposal - which had been forged with the help of US, Egyptian and Qatari mediators - had already been sent to negotiators with the Islamist group Hamas.

If Hamas really wants a ceasefire, it could prove this by agreeing to "take the deal," the US president added. However, Biden also suggested Hamas would not be in power after any agreement was implemented.

A high-ranking US government official said later that the proposal was set out in detail on four and a half pages and was sent to Hamas on Thursday evening. It is nearly identical to what Hamas itself proposed a few weeks ago, the official said.

The details of the deal

\- The first phase would last six weeks and would include the following: A complete and unrestricted ceasefire and a withdrawal of Israeli forces from all densely populated areas of Gaza. A select group of hostages would be released first - including women, the elderly and the wounded. In return, hundreds of Palestinians imprisoned in Israel would be freed. Hamas would also have to return the remains of some of the hostages killed to their families. The aim would be to bring large amounts of humanitarian aid to the coastal area immediately after the start of the ceasefire and to begin the clean-up work.

\- During phase one, Israel and Hamas would negotiate the necessary agreements to reach phase two: a permanent end to the fighting. In this second phase, all remaining living hostages would be released, including male soldiers. And the Israeli military would have to withdraw completely from the Gaza Strip.

\- In phase three, reconstruction would begin in the Gaza Strip - over a period of three to five years, supported by the United States and the international community. In addition, the last remains of killed Israeli hostages would be returned to their families.

The plea to Israel

Biden said he believes Israel could enter into the deal without fearing for its own security.

After several months of war, Hamas is no longer in a position to carry out a terrorist massacre like the one on the Jewish state on October 7, Biden said.

"I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely," Biden continued.

"Some are even in the governing coalition, and they have made it clear they want to occupy Gaza ... I urge the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal."

Israel has declared the destruction of Hamas as one of its war aims and has so far refused to end the fighting on the grounds that the goal has not yet been achieved.

Following Biden's remarks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu repeated Israel's war aims. The war will not end until all hostages are returned and the leadership and military capabilities of Hamas are destroyed, according to a statement from his office.

Netanyahu had given his negotiating team the green light to submit a proposal with which these goals could be achieved, it added. It was not clear from the statement whether this referred to the proposal presented by Biden.

In a statement on Friday evening, Hamas welcomed the proposal revealed by Biden.

"The movement affirms its position of readiness to deal positively and constructively with any proposal based on a permanent ceasefire, a complete withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, reconstruction, the return of the displaced to all their places of residence, and the completion of a serious prisoner exchange deal if the occupation declares its explicit commitment to that."

Israel advances farther into Rafah

Israel's army is now operating in the centre of Rafah, the military said as it pursued a much-criticized offensive in the Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli troops had discovered rocket launchers, tunnels and Hamas weapons there, the army said on Friday.

Although witnesses had seen Israeli tanks in the centre of the city earlier in the week, there had been no confirmation that ground troops were deployed there until now.

A week ago, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague ordered Israel to end the military operation in Rafah immediately given the dire humanitarian situation there.

Rafah was the last major urban centre to be entered by Israeli forces, nearly eight months after the start of the war.

Withdrawal from Jabalia

Earlier on Friday, Israel's army announced the end of its operation in the town of Jabalia in the north of the Gaza Strip.

Hundreds of Palestinian fighters are said to have been killed in close combat and airstrikes there.

At least 70 bodies have been found in the Jabalia refugee neighbourhood, the Palestinian coastal civil defence said.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on former President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on May 31, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Biden said Trump had a fair trial and an impartial jury found him guilty on all 34 counts and added it is dangerous for anyone to say the trial was rigged. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire proposal from Israel on Friday, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war.

Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure the Iran-backed terrorist organization to take the deal. If successful, it would begin with a six-week ceasefire and end with the reconstruction of Gaza.

For months, people all over the world have called for a ceasefire, Biden said. Now its time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal and end this war that they began.

Biden also called on Israels leaders to be firm in their commitment to the ceasefire proposal, urging them to reject those within the country and its government who believe the war should continue no matter what.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some  some  are even in the government coalition and theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. Well, Ive urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

Rejecting this proposal, or not working genuinely to move through its three phases, would be detrimental to Israels safety, Biden said.

That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security, Biden said.

Months of war, thousands of deaths

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Ever since, Israel has been at war with the terrorist organization throughout Gaza.

The civilian death toll in the occupied territory has risen significantly during the eight-month war and has been exacerbated by a lack of clean water, food, shelter and medical care. The number of dead has risen to more than 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, who say the majority are women and children.

Biden has faced mounting pressure from within the United States to find an end to the war, with thousands of Democrats voting uncommitted in their states presidential primaries to voice their frustration with how hes handled the conflict.

Protesters have also shown up at several of Bidens official and campaign events to demand he do more to implement a permanent cease fire and increase the supply of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Six-week first phase

The first phase of the agreement would include a six-week ceasefire, during which time Israels military would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza and civilians would be able to return to their homes, including in the north. Hamas would release women, elderly, the injured and American hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Remains of hostages who have died would be returned to their families during phase one, bringing some degree of closure to that terrible grief, Biden said.

Humanitarian assistance to Gaza would increase significantly, Biden said, with at least 600 trucks entering the territory every day.

With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it, Biden said. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units would be delivered by the international community. All that and more would begin immediately.

Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire

The second phase of the agreement would begin after Israel and Hamas successfully completed negotiations during the first phase to reach a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.

Now Ill be straight with you: There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two, Biden said. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected. But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, a ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States all hope to keep those negotiations going, he said.

During the second phase there would be an exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. Israels military would withdraw from Gaza.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire will become  in the words of the Israeli proposal  a cessation of hostilities permanently, Biden said.

Reconstructing Gaza

The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and any remains of deceased hostages not previously returned to their families would be sent back at that time.

Biden said his administration would work with allies to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza.

To help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war, he added.

Completing all three phases of the proposed ceasefire, Biden said, could lead to Israel and Saudi Arabia normalizing relations.

Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran, Biden said. All this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack. All this would create the conditions for a different future, a better future for the Palestinian people  one of self-determination, dignity, security and freedom.

The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on former President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on Friday in Washington, D.C. Biden said Trump had a fair trial and an impartial jury found him guilty on all 34 counts and added it is dangerous for anyone to say the trial was rigged. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) (This image cannot be republished unless you have a Getty subscription.)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire proposal from Israel on Friday, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war.

Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure the Iran-backed terrorist organization to take the deal. If successful, it would begin with a six-week ceasefire and end with the reconstruction of Gaza.

For months, people all over the world have called for a ceasefire, Biden said. Now its time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal and end this war that they began.

Biden also called on Israels leaders to be firm in their commitment to the ceasefire proposal, urging them to reject those within the country and its government who believe the war should continue no matter what.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some  some  are even in the government coalition and theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. Well, Ive urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

Rejecting this proposal, or not working genuinely to move through its three phases, would be detrimental to Israels safety, Biden said.

That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security, Biden said.

Months of war, thousands of deaths

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Ever since, Israel has been at war with the terrorist organization throughout Gaza.

The civilian death toll in the occupied territory has risen significantly during the eight-month war and has been exacerbated by a lack of clean water, food, shelter and medical care. The number of dead has risen to more than 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, who say the majority are women and children.

Biden has faced mounting pressure from within the United States to find an end to the war, with thousands of Democrats voting uncommitted in their states presidential primaries to voice their frustration with how hes handled the conflict.

Protesters have also shown up at several of Bidens official and campaign events to demand he do more to implement a permanent cease fire and increase the supply of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Six-week first phase

The first phase of the agreement would include a six-week ceasefire, during which time Israels military would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza and civilians would be able to return to their homes, including in the north. Hamas would release women, elderly, the injured and American hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Remains of hostages who have died would be returned to their families during phase one, bringing some degree of closure to that terrible grief, Biden said.

Humanitarian assistance to Gaza would increase significantly, Biden said, with at least 600 trucks entering the territory every day.

With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it, Biden said. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units would be delivered by the international community. All that and more would begin immediately.

Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire

The second phase of the agreement would begin after Israel and Hamas successfully completed negotiations during the first phase to reach a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.

Now Ill be straight with you: There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two, Biden said. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected. But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, a ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States all hope to keep those negotiations going, he said.

During the second phase there would be an exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. Israels military would withdraw from Gaza.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire will become  in the words of the Israeli proposal  a cessation of hostilities permanently, Biden said.

Reconstructing Gaza

The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and any remains of deceased hostages not previously returned to their families would be sent back at that time.

Biden said his administration would work with allies to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza.

To help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war, he added.

Completing all three phases of the proposed ceasefire, Biden said, could lead to Israel and Saudi Arabia normalizing relations.

Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran, Biden said. All this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack. All this would create the conditions for a different future, a better future for the Palestinian people  one of self-determination, dignity, security and freedom.

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The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war appeared first on Oklahoma Voice.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on former President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on May 31, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Biden said Trump had a fair trial and an impartial jury found him guilty on all 34 counts and added it is dangerous for anyone to say the trial was rigged. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire proposal from Israel on Friday, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war.

Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure the Iran-backed terrorist organization to take the deal. If successful, it would begin with a six-week ceasefire and end with the reconstruction of Gaza.

For months, people all over the world have called for a ceasefire, Biden said. Now its time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal and end this war that they began.

Biden also called on Israels leaders to be firm in their commitment to the ceasefire proposal, urging them to reject those within the country and its government who believe the war should continue no matter what.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some  some  are even in the government coalition and theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. Well, Ive urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

Rejecting this proposal, or not working genuinely to move through its three phases, would be detrimental to Israels safety, Biden said.

That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security, Biden said.

Months of war, thousands of deaths

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Ever since, Israel has been at war with the terrorist organization throughout Gaza.

The civilian death toll in the occupied territory has risen significantly during the eight-month war and has been exacerbated by a lack of clean water, food, shelter and medical care. The number of dead has risen to more than 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, who say the majority are women and children.

Biden has faced mounting pressure from within the United States to find an end to the war, with thousands of Democrats voting uncommitted in their states presidential primaries to voice their frustration with how hes handled the conflict.

Protesters have also shown up at several of Bidens official and campaign events to demand he do more to implement a permanent cease fire and increase the supply of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Six-week first phase

The first phase of the agreement would include a six-week ceasefire, during which time Israels military would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza and civilians would be able to return to their homes, including in the north. Hamas would release women, elderly, the injured and American hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Remains of hostages who have died would be returned to their families during phase one, bringing some degree of closure to that terrible grief, Biden said.

Humanitarian assistance to Gaza would increase significantly, Biden said, with at least 600 trucks entering the territory every day.

With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it, Biden said. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units would be delivered by the international community. All that and more would begin immediately.

Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire

The second phase of the agreement would begin after Israel and Hamas successfully completed negotiations during the first phase to reach a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.

Now Ill be straight with you: There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two, Biden said. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected. But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, a ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States all hope to keep those negotiations going, he said.

During the second phase there would be an exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. Israels military would withdraw from Gaza.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire will become  in the words of the Israeli proposal  a cessation of hostilities permanently, Biden said.

Reconstructing Gaza

The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and any remains of deceased hostages not previously returned to their families would be sent back at that time.

Biden said his administration would work with allies to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza.

To help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war, he added.

Completing all three phases of the proposed ceasefire, Biden said, could lead to Israel and Saudi Arabia normalizing relations.

Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran, Biden said. All this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack. All this would create the conditions for a different future, a better future for the Palestinian people  one of self-determination, dignity, security and freedom.

The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 31: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on former U.S. President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush-money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on May 31, 2024 in Washington, DC. Biden said Trump had a fair trial and an impartial jury found him guilty on all 34 counts and added it is dangerous for anyone to say the trial was rigged. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire proposal from Israel on Friday, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war.

Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure the Iran-backed terrorist organization to take the deal. If successful, it would begin with a six-week ceasefire and end with the reconstruction of Gaza.

For months, people all over the world have called for a ceasefire, Biden said. Now its time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal and end this war that they began.

Biden also called on Israels leaders to be firm in their commitment to the ceasefire proposal, urging them to reject those within the country and its government who believe the war should continue no matter what.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some  some  are even in the government coalition and theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. Well, Ive urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

Rejecting this proposal, or not working genuinely to move through its three phases, would be detrimental to Israels safety, Biden said.

That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security, Biden said.

Months of war, thousands of deaths

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Ever since, Israel has been at war with the terrorist organization throughout Gaza.

The civilian death toll in the occupied territory has risen significantly during the eight-month war and has been exacerbated by a lack of clean water, food, shelter and medical care. The number of dead has risen to more than 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, who say the majority are women and children.

Biden has faced mounting pressure from within the United States to find an end to the war, with thousands of Democrats voting uncommitted in their states presidential primaries to voice their frustration with how hes handled the conflict.

Protesters have also shown up at several of Bidens official and campaign events to demand he do more to implement a permanent cease fire and increase the supply of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Six-week first phase

The first phase of the agreement would include a six-week ceasefire, during which time Israels military would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza and civilians would be able to return to their homes, including in the north. Hamas would release women, elderly, the injured and American hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Remains of hostages who have died would be returned to their families during phase one, bringing some degree of closure to that terrible grief, Biden said.

Humanitarian assistance to Gaza would increase significantly, Biden said, with at least 600 trucks entering the territory every day.

With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it, Biden said. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units would be delivered by the international community. All that and more would begin immediately.

Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire

The second phase of the agreement would begin after Israel and Hamas successfully completed negotiations during the first phase to reach a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.

Now Ill be straight with you: There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two, Biden said. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected. But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, a ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States all hope to keep those negotiations going, he said.

During the second phase there would be an exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. Israels military would withdraw from Gaza.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire will become  in the words of the Israeli proposal  a cessation of hostilities permanently, Biden said.

Reconstructing Gaza

The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and any remains of deceased hostages not previously returned to their families would be sent back at that time.

Biden said his administration would work with allies to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza.

To help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war, he added.

Completing all three phases of the proposed ceasefire, Biden said, could lead to Israel and Saudi Arabia normalizing relations.

Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran, Biden said. All this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack. All this would create the conditions for a different future, a better future for the Palestinian people  one of self-determination, dignity, security and freedom.

The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on former President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on May 31, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Biden said Trump had a fair trial and an impartial jury found him guilty on all 34 counts and added it is dangerous for anyone to say the trial was rigged. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

President Joe Biden delivers remarks on former President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on May 31, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Biden said Trump had a fair trial and an impartial jury found him guilty on all 34 counts and added it is dangerous for anyone to say the trial was rigged. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire proposal from Israel on Friday, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war.

Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure the Iran-backed terrorist organization to take the deal. If successful, it would begin with a six-week ceasefire and end with the reconstruction of Gaza.

For months, people all over the world have called for a ceasefire, Biden said. Now its time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal and end this war that they began.

Biden also called on Israels leaders to be firm in their commitment to the ceasefire proposal, urging them to reject those within the country and its government who believe the war should continue no matter what.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some  some  are even in the government coalition and theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. Well, Ive urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

Rejecting this proposal, or not working genuinely to move through its three phases, would be detrimental to Israels safety, Biden said.

That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security, Biden said.

Months of war, thousands of deaths

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Ever since, Israel has been at war with the terrorist organization throughout Gaza.

The civilian death toll in the occupied territory has risen significantly during the eight-month war and has been exacerbated by a lack of clean water, food, shelter and medical care. The number of dead has risen to more than 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, who say the majority are women and children.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some  some  are even in the government coalition and theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them.

 President Joe Biden

Biden has faced mounting pressure from within the United States to find an end to the war, with thousands of Democrats voting uncommitted in their states presidential primaries to voice their frustration with how hes handled the conflict.

Protesters have also shown up at several of Bidens official and campaign events to demand he do more to implement a permanent cease fire and increase the supply of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Six-week first phase

The first phase of the agreement would include a six-week ceasefire, during which time Israels military would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza and civilians would be able to return to their homes, including in the north. Hamas would release women, elderly, the injured and American hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Remains of hostages who have died would be returned to their families during phase one, bringing some degree of closure to that terrible grief, Biden said.

Humanitarian assistance to Gaza would increase significantly, Biden said, with at least 600 trucks entering the territory every day.

With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it, Biden said. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units would be delivered by the international community. All that and more would begin immediately.

Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire

The second phase of the agreement would begin after Israel and Hamas successfully completed negotiations during the first phase to reach a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.

Now Ill be straight with you: There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two, Biden said. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected. But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, a ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States all hope to keep those negotiations going, he said.

During the second phase there would be an exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. Israels military would withdraw from Gaza.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire will become  in the words of the Israeli proposal  a cessation of hostilities permanently, Biden said.

Reconstructing Gaza

The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and any remains of deceased hostages not previously returned to their families would be sent back at that time.

Biden said his administration would work with allies to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza.

To help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war, he added.

Completing all three phases of the proposed ceasefire, Biden said, could lead to Israel and Saudi Arabia normalizing relations.

Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran, Biden said. All this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack. All this would create the conditions for a different future, a better future for the Palestinian people  one of self-determination, dignity, security and freedom.

The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war appeared first on Tennessee Lookout.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on former President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on May 31, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Biden said Trump had a fair trial and an impartial jury found him guilty on all 34 counts and added it is dangerous for anyone to say the trial was rigged. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden announced a cease-fire proposal from Israel on Friday, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war.

Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure the Iran-backed terrorist organization to take the deal. If successful, it would begin with a six-week cease-fire and end with the reconstruction of Gaza.

For months, people all over the world have called for a cease-fire, Biden said. Now its time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal and end this war that they began.

Biden also called on Israels leaders to be firm in their commitment to the cease-fire proposal, urging them to reject those within the country and its government who believe the war should continue no matter what.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some  some  are even in the government coalition and theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. Well, Ive urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

Rejecting this proposal, or not working genuinely to move through its three phases, would be detrimental to Israels safety, Biden said.

That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security, Biden said.

Months of war, thousands of deaths

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Ever since, Israel has been at war with the terrorist organization throughout Gaza.

The civilian death toll in the occupied territory has risen significantly during the eight-month war and has been exacerbated by a lack of clean water, food, shelter and medical care. The number of dead has risen to more than 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, who say the majority are women and children.

Biden has faced mounting pressure from within the United States to find an end to the war, with thousands of Democrats voting uncommitted in their states presidential primaries to voice their frustration with how hes handled the conflict.

Protesters have also shown up at several of Bidens official and campaign events to demand he do more to implement a permanent cease fire and increase the supply of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Six-week first phase

The first phase of the agreement would include a six-week cease-fire, during which time Israels military would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza and civilians would be able to return to their homes, including in the north. Hamas would release women, elderly, the injured and American hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Remains of hostages who have died would be returned to their families during phase one, bringing some degree of closure to that terrible grief, Biden said.

Humanitarian assistance to Gaza would increase significantly, Biden said, with at least 600 trucks entering the territory every day.

With a cease-fire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it, Biden said. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units would be delivered by the international community. All that and more would begin immediately.

Negotiations for a permanent cease-fire

The second phase of the agreement would begin after Israel and Hamas successfully completed negotiations during the first phase to reach a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.

Now Ill be straight with you: There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two, Biden said. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected. But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, a cease-fire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States all hope to keep those negotiations going, he said.

During the second phase there would be an exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. Israels military would withdraw from Gaza.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary cease-fire will become  in the words of the Israeli proposal  a cessation of hostilities permanently, Biden said.

Reconstructing Gaza

The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and any remains of deceased hostages not previously returned to their families would be sent back at that time.

Biden said his administration would work with allies to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza.

To help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war, he added.

Completing all three phases of the proposed cease-fire, Biden said, could lead to Israel and Saudi Arabia normalizing relations.

Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran, Biden said. All this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack. All this would create the conditions for a different future, a better future for the Palestinian people  one of self-determination, dignity, security and freedom.

The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. Azerbaijan's experience, support remain crucial for us, the Secretary General of the Tavini Huiraatira Party Victor Maamaatuaiahutapu said at a conference in the Azerbaijani parliament on May 30, Trend reports.

According to him, some issues today cannot be resolved alone.

Thats why we started a dialogue with Azerbaijan with the Baku Initiative Group. The event is discussing topics on which Azerbaijan has already found a solution. We came here to hear the opinion of Azerbaijan and exchange views. The countrys support is very important for us, and we thank you for this.

We thank Azerbaijan for giving us the opportunity to express our opinion and convey our voice to the international community, said the MP.

To note, the Tavini Huiraatira Party has been fighting for the independence of French Polynesia for many years.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on former President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on May 31, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Biden said Trump had a fair trial and an impartial jury found him guilty on all 34 counts and added it is dangerous for anyone to say the trial was rigged. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire proposal from Israel on Friday, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war.

Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure the Iran-backed terrorist organization to take the deal. If successful, it would begin with a six-week ceasefire and end with the reconstruction of Gaza.

For months, people all over the world have called for a ceasefire, Biden said. Now its time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal and end this war that they began.

Biden also called on Israels leaders to be firm in their commitment to the ceasefire proposal, urging them to reject those within the country and its government who believe the war should continue no matter what.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some  some  are even in the government coalition and theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. Well, Ive urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

Rejecting this proposal, or not working genuinely to move through its three phases, would be detrimental to Israels safety, Biden said.

That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security, Biden said.

Months of war, thousands of deaths

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Ever since, Israel has been at war with the terrorist organization throughout Gaza.

The civilian death toll in the occupied territory has risen significantly during the eight-month war and has been exacerbated by a lack of clean water, food, shelter and medical care. The number of dead has risen to more than 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, who say the majority are women and children.

Biden has faced mounting pressure from within the United States to find an end to the war, with thousands of Democrats voting uncommitted in their states presidential primaries to voice their frustration with how hes handled the conflict.

Protesters have also shown up at several of Bidens official and campaign events to demand he do more to implement a permanent cease fire and increase the supply of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Six-week first phase

The first phase of the agreement would include a six-week ceasefire, during which time Israels military would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza and civilians would be able to return to their homes, including in the north. Hamas would release women, elderly, the injured and American hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Remains of hostages who have died would be returned to their families during phase one, bringing some degree of closure to that terrible grief, Biden said.

Humanitarian assistance to Gaza would increase significantly, Biden said, with at least 600 trucks entering the territory every day.

With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it, Biden said. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units would be delivered by the international community. All that and more would begin immediately.

Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire

The second phase of the agreement would begin after Israel and Hamas successfully completed negotiations during the first phase to reach a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.

Now Ill be straight with you: There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two, Biden said. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected. But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, a ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States all hope to keep those negotiations going, he said.

During the second phase there would be an exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. Israels military would withdraw from Gaza.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire will become  in the words of the Israeli proposal  a cessation of hostilities permanently, Biden said.

Reconstructing Gaza

The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and any remains of deceased hostages not previously returned to their families would be sent back at that time.

Biden said his administration would work with allies to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza.

To help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war, he added.

Completing all three phases of the proposed ceasefire, Biden said, could lead to Israel and Saudi Arabia normalizing relations.

Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran, Biden said. All this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack. All this would create the conditions for a different future, a better future for the Palestinian people  one of self-determination, dignity, security and freedom.

The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on former President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on May 31, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Biden said Trump had a fair trial and an impartial jury found him guilty on all 34 counts and added it is dangerous for anyone to say the trial was rigged. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire proposal from Israel on Friday, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war.

Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure the Iran-backed terrorist organization to take the deal. If successful, it would begin with a six-week ceasefire and end with the reconstruction of Gaza.

For months, people all over the world have called for a ceasefire, Biden said. Now its time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal and end this war that they began.

Biden also called on Israels leaders to be firm in their commitment to the ceasefire proposal, urging them to reject those within the country and its government who believe the war should continue no matter what.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some  some  are even in the government coalition and theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. Well, Ive urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

Rejecting this proposal, or not working genuinely to move through its three phases, would be detrimental to Israels safety, Biden said.

That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security, Biden said.

Months of war, thousands of deaths

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Ever since, Israel has been at war with the terrorist organization throughout Gaza.

The civilian death toll in the occupied territory has risen significantly during the eight-month war and has been exacerbated by a lack of clean water, food, shelter and medical care. The number of dead has risen to more than 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, who say the majority are women and children.

Biden has faced mounting pressure from within the United States to find an end to the war, with thousands of Democrats voting uncommitted in their states presidential primaries to voice their frustration with how hes handled the conflict.

Protesters have also shown up at several of Bidens official and campaign events to demand he do more to implement a permanent cease fire and increase the supply of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Six-week first phase

The first phase of the agreement would include a six-week ceasefire, during which time Israels military would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza and civilians would be able to return to their homes, including in the north. Hamas would release women, elderly, the injured and American hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Remains of hostages who have died would be returned to their families during phase one, bringing some degree of closure to that terrible grief, Biden said.

Humanitarian assistance to Gaza would increase significantly, Biden said, with at least 600 trucks entering the territory every day.

With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it, Biden said. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units would be delivered by the international community. All that and more would begin immediately.

Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire

The second phase of the agreement would begin after Israel and Hamas successfully completed negotiations during the first phase to reach a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.

Now Ill be straight with you: There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two, Biden said. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected. But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, a ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States all hope to keep those negotiations going, he said.

During the second phase there would be an exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. Israels military would withdraw from Gaza.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire will become  in the words of the Israeli proposal  a cessation of hostilities permanently, Biden said.

Reconstructing Gaza

The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and any remains of deceased hostages not previously returned to their families would be sent back at that time.

Biden said his administration would work with allies to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza.

To help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war, he added.

Completing all three phases of the proposed ceasefire, Biden said, could lead to Israel and Saudi Arabia normalizing relations.

Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran, Biden said. All this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack. All this would create the conditions for a different future, a better future for the Palestinian people  one of self-determination, dignity, security and freedom.

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The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on former U.S. President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush-money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on May 31, 2024 in Washington, DC. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire proposal from Israel on Friday, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war.

Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure the Iran-backed terrorist organization to take the deal. If successful, it would begin with a six-week ceasefire and end with the reconstruction of Gaza.

For months, people all over the world have called for a ceasefire, Biden said. Now its time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal and end this war that they began.

Biden also called on Israels leaders to be firm in their commitment to the ceasefire proposal, urging them to reject those within the country and its government who believe the war should continue no matter what.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some  some  are even in the government coalition and theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. Well, Ive urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

Rejecting this proposal, or not working genuinely to move through its three phases, would be detrimental to Israels safety, Biden said.

That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security, Biden said.

Months of war, thousands of deaths

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Ever since, Israel has been at war with the terrorist organization throughout Gaza.

The civilian death toll in the occupied territory has risen significantly during the eight-month war and has been exacerbated by a lack of clean water, food, shelter and medical care. The number of dead has risen to more than 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, who say the majority are women and children.

Biden has faced mounting pressure from within the United States to find an end to the war, with thousands of Democrats voting uncommitted in their states presidential primaries to voice their frustration with how hes handled the conflict.

Protesters have also shown up at several of Bidens official and campaign events to demand he do more to implement a permanent cease fire and increase the supply of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Six-week first phase

The first phase of the agreement would include a six-week ceasefire, during which time Israels military would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza and civilians would be able to return to their homes, including in the north. Hamas would release women, elderly, the injured and American hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Remains of hostages who have died would be returned to their families during phase one, bringing some degree of closure to that terrible grief, Biden said.

Humanitarian assistance to Gaza would increase significantly, Biden said, with at least 600 trucks entering the territory every day.

With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it, Biden said. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units would be delivered by the international community. All that and more would begin immediately.

Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire

The second phase of the agreement would begin after Israel and Hamas successfully completed negotiations during the first phase to reach a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.

Now Ill be straight with you: There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two, Biden said. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected. But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, a ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States all hope to keep those negotiations going, he said.

During the second phase there would be an exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. Israels military would withdraw from Gaza.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire will become  in the words of the Israeli proposal  a cessation of hostilities permanently, Biden said.

Reconstructing Gaza

The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and any remains of deceased hostages not previously returned to their families would be sent back at that time.

Biden said his administration would work with allies to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza.

To help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war, he added.

Completing all three phases of the proposed ceasefire, Biden said, could lead to Israel and Saudi Arabia normalizing relations.

Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran, Biden said. All this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack. All this would create the conditions for a different future, a better future for the Palestinian people  one of self-determination, dignity, security and freedom.

The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on former President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on May 31, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Biden said Trump had a fair trial and an impartial jury found him guilty on all 34 counts and added it is dangerous for anyone to say the trial was rigged. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire proposal from Israel on Friday, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war.

Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure the Iran-backed terrorist organization to take the deal. If successful, it would begin with a six-week ceasefire and end with the reconstruction of Gaza.

For months, people all over the world have called for a ceasefire, Biden said. Now its time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal and end this war that they began.

Biden also called on Israels leaders to be firm in their commitment to the ceasefire proposal, urging them to reject those within the country and its government who believe the war should continue no matter what.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some  some  are even in the government coalition and theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. Well, Ive urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

Rejecting this proposal, or not working genuinely to move through its three phases, would be detrimental to Israels safety, Biden said.

That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security, Biden said.

Months of war, thousands of deaths

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Ever since, Israel has been at war with the terrorist organization throughout Gaza.

The civilian death toll in the occupied territory has risen significantly during the eight-month war and has been exacerbated by a lack of clean water, food, shelter and medical care. The number of dead has risen to more than 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, who say the majority are women and children.

Biden has faced mounting pressure from within the United States to find an end to the war, with thousands of Democrats voting uncommitted in their states presidential primaries to voice their frustration with how hes handled the conflict.

Protesters have also shown up at several of Bidens official and campaign events to demand he do more to implement a permanent cease fire and increase the supply of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Six-week first phase

The first phase of the agreement would include a six-week ceasefire, during which time Israels military would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza and civilians would be able to return to their homes, including in the north. Hamas would release women, elderly, the injured and American hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Remains of hostages who have died would be returned to their families during phase one, bringing some degree of closure to that terrible grief, Biden said.

Humanitarian assistance to Gaza would increase significantly, Biden said, with at least 600 trucks entering the territory every day.

With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it, Biden said. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units would be delivered by the international community. All that and more would begin immediately.

Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire

The second phase of the agreement would begin after Israel and Hamas successfully completed negotiations during the first phase to reach a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.

Now Ill be straight with you: There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two, Biden said. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected. But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, a ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States all hope to keep those negotiations going, he said.

During the second phase there would be an exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. Israels military would withdraw from Gaza.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire will become  in the words of the Israeli proposal  a cessation of hostilities permanently, Biden said.

Reconstructing Gaza

The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and any remains of deceased hostages not previously returned to their families would be sent back at that time.

Biden said his administration would work with allies to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza.

To help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war, he added.

Completing all three phases of the proposed ceasefire, Biden said, could lead to Israel and Saudi Arabia normalizing relations.

Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran, Biden said. All this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack. All this would create the conditions for a different future, a better future for the Palestinian people  one of self-determination, dignity, security and freedom.

The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war appeared first on NC Newsline.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on former President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on May 31, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Biden said Trump had a fair trial and an impartial jury found him guilty on all 34 counts and added it is dangerous for anyone to say the trial was rigged. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  U.S. President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire proposal from Israel on Friday, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war.

Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure the Iran-backed terrorist organization to take the deal. If successful, it would begin with a six-week ceasefire and end with the reconstruction of Gaza.

For months, people all over the world have called for a ceasefire, Biden said. Now its time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal and end this war that they began.

Biden also called on Israels leaders to be firm in their commitment to the ceasefire proposal, urging them to reject those within the country and its government who believe the war should continue no matter what.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some  some  are even in the government coalition and theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. Well, Ive urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

Rejecting this proposal, or not working genuinely to move through its three phases, would be detrimental to Israels safety, Biden said.

That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security, Biden said.

Months of war, thousands of deaths

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Ever since, Israel has been at war with the terrorist organization throughout Gaza.

The civilian death toll in the occupied territory has risen significantly during the eight-month war and has been exacerbated by a lack of clean water, food, shelter and medical care. The number of dead has risen to more than 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, who say the majority are women and children.

Biden has faced mounting pressure from within the United States to find an end to the war, with thousands of Democrats voting uncommitted in their states presidential primaries to voice their frustration with how hes handled the conflict.

Protesters have also shown up at several of Bidens official and campaign events to demand he do more to implement a permanent cease fire and increase the supply of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Six-week first phase

The first phase of the agreement would include a six-week ceasefire, during which time Israels military would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza and civilians would be able to return to their homes, including in the north. Hamas would release women, elderly, the injured and American hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Remains of hostages who have died would be returned to their families during phase one, bringing some degree of closure to that terrible grief, Biden said.

Humanitarian assistance to Gaza would increase significantly, Biden said, with at least 600 trucks entering the territory every day.

With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it, Biden said. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units would be delivered by the international community. All that and more would begin immediately.

Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire

The second phase of the agreement would begin after Israel and Hamas successfully completed negotiations during the first phase to reach a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.

Now Ill be straight with you: There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two, Biden said. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected. But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, a ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States all hope to keep those negotiations going, he said.

During the second phase there would be an exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. Israels military would withdraw from Gaza.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire will become  in the words of the Israeli proposal  a cessation of hostilities permanently, Biden said.

Reconstructing Gaza

The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and any remains of deceased hostages not previously returned to their families would be sent back at that time.

Biden said his administration would work with allies to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza.

To help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war, he added.

Completing all three phases of the proposed ceasefire, Biden said, could lead to Israel and Saudi Arabia normalizing relations.

Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran, Biden said. All this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack. All this would create the conditions for a different future, a better future for the Palestinian people  one of self-determination, dignity, security and freedom.

The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
President Joe Biden speaks on the Middle East at the White House on May 31, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden on Friday announced a ceasefire proposal offered by Israel, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war.

Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure the Iran-backed terrorist organization to take the deal. If successful, it would begin with a six-week ceasefire and end with the reconstruction of Gaza.

For months, people all over the world have called for a ceasefire, Biden said. Now its time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal and end this war that they began.

Biden also called on Israels leaders to be firm in their commitment to the ceasefire proposal, urging them to reject those within the country and its government who believe the war should continue no matter what.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some  some  are even in the government coalition and theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. Well, Ive urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

Rejecting this proposal, or not working genuinely to move through its three phases, would be detrimental to Israels safety, Biden said.

That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security, Biden said.

Months of war, thousands of deaths

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Ever since, Israel has been at war with the terrorist organization throughout Gaza.

The civilian death toll in the occupied territory has risen significantly during the eight-month war and has been exacerbated by a lack of clean water, food, shelter and medical care. The number of dead has risen to more than 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, who say the majority are women and children.

Biden has faced mounting pressure from within the United States to find an end to the war, with thousands of Democrats voting uncommitted in their states presidential primaries to voice their frustration with how hes handled the conflict.

Protesters have also shown up at several of Bidens official and campaign events to demand he do more to implement a permanent cease fire and increase the supply of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Six-week first phase

The first phase of the agreement would include a six-week ceasefire, during which time Israels military would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza and civilians would be able to return to their homes, including in the north. Hamas would release women, elderly, the injured and American hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Remains of hostages who have died would be returned to their families during phase one, bringing some degree of closure to that terrible grief, Biden said.

Humanitarian assistance to Gaza would increase significantly, Biden said, with at least 600 trucks entering the territory every day.

With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it, Biden said. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units would be delivered by the international community. All that and more would begin immediately.

Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire

The second phase of the agreement would begin after Israel and Hamas successfully completed negotiations during the first phase to reach a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.

Now Ill be straight with you: There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two, Biden said. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected. But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, a ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States all hope to keep those negotiations going, he said.

During the second phase, there would be an exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. Israels military would withdraw from Gaza.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire will become  in the words of the Israeli proposal  a cessation of hostilities permanently, Biden said.

Reconstructing Gaza

The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and any remains of deceased hostages not previously returned to their families would be sent back at that time.

Biden said his administration would work with allies to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza.

To help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war, he added.

Completing all three phases of the proposed ceasefire, Biden said, could lead to Israel and Saudi Arabia normalizing relations.

Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran, Biden said. All this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack. All this would create the conditions for a different future, a better future for the Palestinian people  one of self-determination, dignity, security and freedom.

The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on former President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on May 31, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Biden said Trump had a fair trial and an impartial jury found him guilty on all 34 counts and added it is dangerous for anyone to say the trial was rigged. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire proposal from Israel on Friday, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war.

Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure the Iran-backed terrorist organization to take the deal. If successful, it would begin with a six-week ceasefire and end with the reconstruction of Gaza.

For months, people all over the world have called for a ceasefire, Biden said. Now its time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal and end this war that they began.

Biden also called on Israels leaders to be firm in their commitment to the ceasefire proposal, urging them to reject those within the country and its government who believe the war should continue no matter what.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some  some  are even in the government coalition and theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. Well, Ive urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

Rejecting this proposal, or not working genuinely to move through its three phases, would be detrimental to Israels safety, Biden said.

That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security, Biden said.

Months of war, thousands of deaths

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Ever since, Israel has been at war with the terrorist organization throughout Gaza.

The civilian death toll in the occupied territory has risen significantly during the eight-month war and has been exacerbated by a lack of clean water, food, shelter and medical care. The number of dead has risen to more than 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, who say the majority are women and children.

Biden has faced mounting pressure from within the United States to find an end to the war, with thousands of Democrats voting uncommitted in their states presidential primaries to voice their frustration with how hes handled the conflict.

Protesters have also shown up at several of Bidens official and campaign events to demand he do more to implement a permanent cease fire and increase the supply of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Six-week first phase

The first phase of the agreement would include a six-week ceasefire, during which time Israels military would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza and civilians would be able to return to their homes, including in the north. Hamas would release women, elderly, the injured and American hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Remains of hostages who have died would be returned to their families during phase one, bringing some degree of closure to that terrible grief, Biden said.

Humanitarian assistance to Gaza would increase significantly, Biden said, with at least 600 trucks entering the territory every day.

With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it, Biden said. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units would be delivered by the international community. All that and more would begin immediately.

Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire

The second phase of the agreement would begin after Israel and Hamas successfully completed negotiations during the first phase to reach a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.

Now Ill be straight with you: There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two, Biden said. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected. But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, a ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States all hope to keep those negotiations going, he said.

During the second phase there would be an exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. Israels military would withdraw from Gaza.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire will become  in the words of the Israeli proposal  a cessation of hostilities permanently, Biden said.

Reconstructing Gaza

The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and any remains of deceased hostages not previously returned to their families would be sent back at that time.

Biden said his administration would work with allies to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza.

To help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war, he added.

Completing all three phases of the proposed ceasefire, Biden said, could lead to Israel and Saudi Arabia normalizing relations.

Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran, Biden said. All this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack. All this would create the conditions for a different future, a better future for the Palestinian people  one of self-determination, dignity, security and freedom.

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The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war appeared first on Maine Morning Star.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on former President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on May 31, 2024, in Washington, D.C. Biden said Trump had a fair trial and an impartial jury found him guilty on all 34 counts and added it is dangerous for anyone to say the trial was rigged. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire proposal from Israel on Friday, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war.

Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure the Iran-backed terrorist organization to take the deal. If successful, it would begin with a six-week ceasefire and end with the reconstruction of Gaza.

For months, people all over the world have called for a ceasefire, Biden said. Now its time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal and end this war that they began.

Biden also called on Israels leaders to be firm in their commitment to the ceasefire proposal, urging them to reject those within the country and its government who believe the war should continue no matter what.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some  some  are even in the government coalition and theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. Well, Ive urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

Rejecting this proposal, or not working genuinely to move through its three phases, would be detrimental to Israels safety, Biden said.

That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security, Biden said.

Months of war, thousands of deaths

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Ever since, Israel has been at war with the terrorist organization throughout Gaza.

The civilian death toll in the occupied territory has risen significantly during the eight-month war and has been exacerbated by a lack of clean water, food, shelter and medical care. The number of dead has risen to more than 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, who say the majority are women and children.

Biden has faced mounting pressure from within the United States to find an end to the war, with thousands of Democrats voting uncommitted in their states presidential primaries to voice their frustration with how hes handled the conflict.

Protesters have also shown up at several of Bidens official and campaign events to demand he do more to implement a permanent cease fire and increase the supply of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Six-week first phase

The first phase of the agreement would include a six-week ceasefire, during which time Israels military would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza and civilians would be able to return to their homes, including in the north. Hamas would release women, elderly, the injured and American hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Remains of hostages who have died would be returned to their families during phase one, bringing some degree of closure to that terrible grief, Biden said.

Humanitarian assistance to Gaza would increase significantly, Biden said, with at least 600 trucks entering the territory every day.

With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it, Biden said. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units would be delivered by the international community. All that and more would begin immediately.

Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire

The second phase of the agreement would begin after Israel and Hamas successfully completed negotiations during the first phase to reach a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.

Now Ill be straight with you: There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two, Biden said. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected. But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, a ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States all hope to keep those negotiations going, he said.

During the second phase there would be an exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. Israels military would withdraw from Gaza.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire will become  in the words of the Israeli proposal  a cessation of hostilities permanently, Biden said.

Reconstructing Gaza

The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza, and any remains of deceased hostages not previously returned to their families would be sent back at that time.

Biden said his administration would work with allies to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza.

To help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war, he added.

Completing all three phases of the proposed ceasefire, Biden said, could lead to Israel and Saudi Arabia normalizing relations.

Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran, Biden said. All this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack. All this would create the conditions for a different future, a better future for the Palestinian people  one of self-determination, dignity, security and freedom.

The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks on former President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on May 31, 2024 in Washington, D.C. Biden said Trump had a fair trial and an impartial jury found him guilty on all 34 counts and added it is dangerous for anyone to say the trial was rigged. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire proposal from Israel on Friday, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war.

Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure the Iran-backed terrorist organization to take the deal. If successful, it would begin with a six-week ceasefire and end with the reconstruction of Gaza.

For months, people all over the world have called for a ceasefire, Biden said. Now its time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal and end this war that they began.

Biden also called on Israels leaders to be firm in their commitment to the ceasefire proposal, urging them to reject those within the country and its government who believe the war should continue no matter what.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some  some  are even in the government coalition and theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. Well, Ive urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

Rejecting this proposal, or not working genuinely to move through its three phases, would be detrimental to Israels safety, Biden said.

That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security, Biden said.

Months of war, thousands of deaths

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Ever since, Israel has been at war with the terrorist organization throughout Gaza.

The civilian death toll in the occupied territory has risen significantly during the eight-month war and has been exacerbated by a lack of clean water, food, shelter and medical care. The number of dead has risen to more than 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, who say the majority are women and children.

Biden has faced mounting pressure from within the United States to find an end to the war, with thousands of Democrats voting uncommitted in their states presidential primaries to voice their frustration with how hes handled the conflict.

Protesters have also shown up at several of Bidens official and campaign events to demand he do more to implement a permanent cease fire and increase the supply of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Six-week first phase

The first phase of the agreement would include a six-week ceasefire, during which time Israels military would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza and civilians would be able to return to their homes, including in the north. Hamas would release women, elderly, the injured and American hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Remains of hostages who have died would be returned to their families during phase one, bringing some degree of closure to that terrible grief, Biden said.

Humanitarian assistance to Gaza would increase significantly, Biden said, with at least 600 trucks entering the territory every day.

With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it, Biden said. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units would be delivered by the international community. All that and more would begin immediately.

Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire

The second phase of the agreement would begin after Israel and Hamas successfully completed negotiations during the first phase to reach a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.

Now Ill be straight with you: There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two, Biden said. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected. But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, a ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States all hope to keep those negotiations going, he said.

During the second phase there would be an exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. Israels military would withdraw from Gaza.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire will become  in the words of the Israeli proposal  a cessation of hostilities permanently, Biden said.

Reconstructing Gaza

The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and any remains of deceased hostages not previously returned to their families would be sent back at that time.

Biden said his administration would work with allies to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza.

To help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war, he added.

Completing all three phases of the proposed ceasefire, Biden said, could lead to Israel and Saudi Arabia normalizing relations.

Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran, Biden said. All this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack. All this would create the conditions for a different future, a better future for the Palestinian people  one of self-determination, dignity, security and freedom.

The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
President Joe Biden delivers remarks Friday on former President Donald Trumps guilty verdict in his hush money trial before speaking on the Middle East at the White House on in Washington, D.C. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden announced a ceasefire proposal from Israel on Friday, saying the three-phase plan presented to Hamas represents the best chance to end the war.

Biden, speaking from the White House, urged people around the world who have been calling for an end to the war in the Middle East to pressure the Iran-backed terrorist organization to take the deal. If successful, it would begin with a six-week ceasefire and end with the reconstruction of Gaza.

For months, people all over the world have called for a ceasefire, Biden said. Now its time to raise your voices and demand that Hamas come to the table, agree to this deal and end this war that they began.

Biden also called on Israels leaders to be firm in their commitment to the ceasefire proposal, urging them to reject those within the country and its government who believe the war should continue no matter what.

I know there are those in Israel who will not agree with this plan and will call for the war to continue indefinitely. Some  some  are even in the government coalition and theyve made it clear they want to occupy Gaza, they want to keep fighting for years and the hostages are not a priority to them, Biden said. Well, Ive urged the leadership in Israel to stand behind this deal, despite whatever pressure comes.

Rejecting this proposal, or not working genuinely to move through its three phases, would be detrimental to Israels safety, Biden said.

That will not bring hostages home. That will not bring an enduring defeat of Hamas. That will not bring Israel lasting security, Biden said.

Months of war, thousands of deaths

The war began on Oct. 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking more than 200 hostages. Ever since, Israel has been at war with the terrorist organization throughout Gaza.

The civilian death toll in the occupied territory has risen significantly during the eight-month war and has been exacerbated by a lack of clean water, food, shelter and medical care. The number of dead has risen to more than 35,000, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, who say the majority are women and children.

Biden has faced mounting pressure from within the United States to find an end to the war, with thousands of Democrats voting uncommitted in their states presidential primaries to voice their frustration with how hes handled the conflict.

Protesters have also shown up at several of Bidens official and campaign events to demand he do more to implement a permanent cease fire and increase the supply of humanitarian aid entering Gaza.

Six-week first phase

The first phase of the agreement would include a six-week ceasefire, during which time Israels military would withdraw from all populated areas of Gaza and civilians would be able to return to their homes, including in the north. Hamas would release women, elderly, the injured and American hostages. Israel would release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

Remains of hostages who have died would be returned to their families during phase one, bringing some degree of closure to that terrible grief, Biden said.

Humanitarian assistance to Gaza would increase significantly, Biden said, with at least 600 trucks entering the territory every day.

With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it, Biden said. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units would be delivered by the international community. All that and more would begin immediately.

Negotiations for a permanent ceasefire

The second phase of the agreement would begin after Israel and Hamas successfully completed negotiations during the first phase to reach a permanent ceasefire, Biden said.

Now Ill be straight with you: There are a number of details to negotiate to move from phase one to phase two, Biden said. Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected. But the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks for phase one, a ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States all hope to keep those negotiations going, he said.

During the second phase there would be an exchange of all remaining living hostages, including male soldiers. Israels military would withdraw from Gaza.

As long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, the temporary ceasefire will become  in the words of the Israeli proposal  a cessation of hostilities permanently, Biden said.

Reconstructing Gaza

The third phase would include a major reconstruction plan for Gaza and any remains of deceased hostages not previously returned to their families would be sent back at that time.

Biden said his administration would work with allies to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza.

To help repair communities that were destroyed in the chaos of war, he added.

Completing all three phases of the proposed ceasefire, Biden said, could lead to Israel and Saudi Arabia normalizing relations.

Israel could be part of a regional security network to counter the threat posed by Iran, Biden said. All this progress would make Israel more secure, with Israeli families no longer living in the shadow of a terrorist attack. All this would create the conditions for a different future, a better future for the Palestinian people  one of self-determination, dignity, security and freedom.

The post Biden urges Hamas to accept new Israeli ceasefire plan intended to end war appeared first on Missouri Independent.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. The people of French Polynesia have once again felt the support of Azerbaijan, a member of the delegation of French Polynesia visiting Azerbaijan, chairman of the Commission for Budget and Finance Control of the Assembly of French Polynesia Maurea Tuaiahutapu said at a press conference in the Azerbaijani Parliament, Trend reports.

I express my gratitude to the government, parliament of Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijani people for creating these conditions for French Polynesia, my people. There are expectations from the conference in Baku on French Polynesia's right to decolonization - challenges and prospects," and we believe that through this conference, the voice of the people affected by French colonization will be brought to the world community. We once again felt the support of the Azerbaijani government at this conference, he said.

Heads and secretaries of commissions of the Parliament of French Polynesia (Ma'OHI Nui), as well as the leadership of the ruling Tavini Party, have arrived in Azerbaijan on a visit.

The purpose of the four-day visit is to consider the possibility of establishing inter-parliamentary, economic, and humanitarian cooperation between Azerbaijan and French Polynesia, as well as cooperation in science, education, sports, health, and other spheres.

The visit of the delegation of French Polynesia took place at the invitation of the Baku Initiative Group, acting in the field of combating colonialism and its new manifestations in the XXI century.

The visit was organized following the provisions of the Cooperation Agreement signed between the Baku Initiative Group and the Tavini Party within the framework of the international conference Liberation from Colonialism: Consequences of Assimilation and its Impact on the Realization of Human Rights organized by the Baku Initiative Group on April 30 at the UN Office in Vienna.

To note, the Tavini party has been fighting for the independence of French Polynesia for many years.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Biden after verdict: Only way to keep Trump out of the White House is at the ballot box

Biden after verdict: Only way to keep Trump out of the White House is at the ballot box

President Biden on Thursday said that the only way to keep former President Trump out of the White House is at the polls in November, after he was found guilty in his New York hush money case.

Theres only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box, Biden said on X, sharing a link to a donate to his campaign.

Trump became the first former U.S. president to be a convicted felon after a jury found him guilty on all counts of falsifying business records to conceal alleged affairs during his 2016 campaign.

Biden is not expected to speak on Thursday following the verdict. The president is in Delaware for the nine-year anniversary of his son Beau Bidens death.

White House spokesperson for investigations Ian Sams said, We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment when asked for the official response to the verdict.

Meanwhile, the Biden campaign released a statement, noting that Trump will be the Republican nominee for president, despite the conviction.

In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law, said Biden communication director Michael Tyler.

Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain, he added.

Tyler also argued that Trump poses a threat to democracy, a warning that the Biden campaign has echoed for the last several months. And, he reiterated its argument that Trumps campaign is unhinged and one of revenge and retribution.

Trumps campaign also fundraised off his conviction Thursday.

I was just convicted in a RIGGED political Witch Hunt trial: I DID NOTHING WRONG! his campaign said in a fundraising email. Theyve raided my home, arrested me, took my mugshot, AND NOW THEYVE JUST CONVICTED ME!

But with your support at this moment in history, WE WILL WIN BACK THE WHITE HOUSE AND MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!

Updated: 6:02 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Academic workers at UCLA picket on Tuesday, alleging their workers' rights have been violated by University of California actions during pro-Palestinian protests and encampment crackdowns. The rolling strike is to expand next week. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)

The UC union representing 48,000 graduate teaching assistants, researchers and other academic workers said Friday that it would expand its ongoing strike next week by calling on thousands of workers at UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine to walk off the job, a major escalation of labor tensions that would involve six of the system's 10 campuses.

The decision by leaders of United Auto Workers Local 4811 comes as the union and University of California are battling before a state labor board over the legality of the strike  and are awaiting a ruling on the issue. The union alleges its rights were violated by the UC's actions during pro-Palestinian protests and encampment crackdowns.

Academic workers at UCLA and UC Davis went on strike Tuesday, following UC Santa Cruz union members, who have been picketing since May 20. Union members in San Diego and Santa Barbara are scheduled to walk out Monday. Irvine workers would start Wednesday. The strikes are taking place during finals, a critical time of year when the work of union members  who lead discussion groups, grade papers and administer exams  is particularly important.

UC leaders are "disheartened" at the union's announcement, which they argue will further harm students at the crucial academic moment, said Heather Hansen, a UC spokesperson.

Read more: How pro-Palestinian protests led to a massive UC strike, injecting new fuel into antiwar activism

Hours before the expansion announcement, police in riot gear entered the UC Santa Cruz campus, arresting pro-Palestinian protesters who set up an encampment and blocked the main entrance to campus. A UC Santa Cruz official said the university brought in law enforcement to disband the encampment after repeatedly instructing students  for weeks and Friday morning  to stop their intentional and dangerous blockade of campus entrances.

It was not immediately known whether union members were among the protesters or those arrested.

Union members authorized the strikes in mid-May, charging UC leaders with violating the free speech rights of members to speak out about their workplaces when police were called in to remove pro-Palestinian encampments or disperse protests at several campuses, resulting in arrests and suspensions. They also say the university violated members' rights as workers by failing to protect them when a mob attacked protesters at UCLA, including union members, and police took hours to intervene.

UC leaders contend that the strike is illegal because of a no-strike clause in the union's contract, which won significant raises for workers after a 2022 strike.

The union says that provision is irrelevant to its strike because it is based on unfair labor practice charges it filed with the state labor board citing the university's treatment of dozens of pro-Palestinian workers at UCLA, UC Irvine and UC San Diego.

The two parties are currently in mediation via the state's Public Employees Relations Board.

Read more: Police arrest dozens of pro-Palestinian protesters at UC Santa Cruz

Last week, the board denied UCs request to halt the strike on grounds that it was causing irreparable harm to students, research and operations.

The university doubled down on its injunction request Wednesday, filing evidence citing the spread of strikes this week to UCLA and UC Davis and arguing that union members have disrupted classes and access to campuses. The strikes, it said, were to the detriment of tens of thousands of students, faculty and other campus community members.

In a response filed Thursday evening, the union said the university has failed yet again to prove its point and that its allegations are speculative and unsubstantiated. In some cases, the UAW put the blame for campus disruptions and blockages on pro-Palestinian undergraduates or other nonunion groups.

"For the last month, UC has used and condoned violence against workers and students peacefully protesting on campus for peace and freedom in Palestine," UAW 4811 President Rafael Jaime, a UCLA doctoral student, said Friday in a statement. "Rather than put their energies into resolution, UC is attempting to halt the strike through legal procedures. They have not been successful, and this strike will roll on."

He called on UC to address the unfair labor practices charges and begin "with dropping all criminal and conduct charges that have been thrown at our members because they spoke out against injustice.

UC said the strike is causing "irreparable impacts."

"We are disheartened that UAW continues publicly escalating its unlawful strike in violation of its contracts no-strike clause and encouraging its members to disrupt and harm the ability of our students to navigate finals and other critical year-end activities successfully," Hansen said in a statement. "UAWs goals of 'maximize chaos and confusion' have come to fruition, creating substantial and irreparable impacts on campuses and impacting our students at a crucial time of their education. We are hopeful PERB will intervene and ask the court to end this precedent-setting, unlawful action."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Nearly a year after five people died aboard the OceanGate "Titan" submersible while on a deep-sea voyage to the site of the Titanic, a billionaire has announced plans to go to the infamous wreck.

Entrepreneur and real estate investor Larry Connor said this week that he and Triton Submarines CEO Patrick Lahey are planning their own deep-sea expedition in a submersible.

PHOTO: Larry Connor speaks with 'Good Morning America.' (ABC News)

Asked why, Connor told "Good Morning America" correspondent Will Reeve that the purpose of the voyage is to "demonstrate safety" of certified submersibles.

"If you look at submersibles that have been DNV certified ... there's never been an accident," he said. "The OceanGate vessel was not certified and never would have been."

While on a tour of the Titanic wreckage off the coast of Newfoundland, Canada, in June 2023, the OceanGate submersible imploded underwater, killing all five people on board, including OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush. Following a dayslong search, the remnants of the missing submersible were found on the ocean floor about 1,600 feet from the bow of the wrecked Titanic.

Experts called the carbon fiber construction of the Titan fundamentally flawed and a whistleblower who worked on a predecessor to the Titan vessel raised concerns about the inefficiency of the hull design. Rush had previously defended the decision to manufacture the submersible with carbon fiber, saying he believed it would have a better strength-to-buoyancy ratio than titanium. The exact cause of the implosion remains under investigation by federal authorities.

PHOTO: An OceanGate submarine is seen underwater in an undated photo. (AP)

MORE: James Cameron compares submersible tragedy to Titanic sinking: 'I'm struck by the similarity of the Titanic disaster'

OceanGate, which suspended all exploration and commercial operations after the deadly implosion, could not be reached for comment.

Connor said he and Lahey are designing a new, safer and certified submersible, known as the Explorer, that could take two people to the Titanic site. The submersible will cost $13 million to $15 million and have an acrylic hull and offer a near-panoramic view.

Connor said he is "very confident" about the plan and would not do a dive if he was not "100% convinced" that the submersible was safe.

"The moment we don't meet one standard, the project is done," he said. "We will not compromise safety."

PHOTO: RMS The bow of the Titanic is seen in the Atlantic Ocean, north of Newfoundland in 1996. (Xavier Desmier/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

In addition to proving safety, he said continued deep-sea dives carry scientific benefits.

"Almost three-quarters of the earth is covered in water. Isn't doing research important and worthwhile, given that fact?" he said.

MORE: Why Titanic continues to captivate more than 100 years after its sinking

Hakeem Oluseyi, a physicist and ABC News contributor, said he doesn't think deep-sea submersibles "should be abandoned for a single accident."

"If you think about the early days of space travel, we lost an entire crew," he said. "But that tells us what we've done wrong in the past and how to get it right in the future."

Billionaire explains why he's planning voyage to Titanic site nearly year after submersible implosion originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially been invited to deliver an address to Congress, according to a letter obtained by The Hill.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Friday sent Netanyahu a formal invitation to speak during a joint meeting of Congress, and the invitation featured the signatures of all four Congressional leaders: Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.).

We join the State of Israel in your struggle against terror, especially as Hamas continues to hold American and Israeli citizens captive and its leaders jeopardize regional stability, the letter reads. For this reason, on behalf of the bipartisan leadership of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, we would like to invite you to address a Joint Meeting of Congress.

A source familiar told The Hill the address is expected to take place as soon as the next eight weeks or soon after August recess. It would be Netanyahus fourth address to a joint meeting of Congress, following speeches in 2015, 2011 and 1996.

The invitation left Washington after weeks of delay from Schumer who, during a high-profile floor speech in March, declared Netanyahu had lost his way and called for new elections in Israel, drawing the ire of the longtime Israeli leader, Republicans and some Democrats.

Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in U.S. history, and his office on a number of occasions said the Senate leader was supportive of having Netanyahu address Congress, despite his sharp criticism of the Israeli leader, but the New York Democrat did not sign the letter until recently.

Netanyahus visit to the Capitol  if it comes to fruition  is certain to spark intense anger among liberals in both chambers who have denounced the conservative leaders handling of the Israel-Hamas war, especially as the number of humanitarian deaths in the Gaza strip continues to rise.

Those feelings deepened last week after a prosecutor with the International Criminal Court (ICC), which the U.S. is not a party to, filed arrest warrants for Netanyahu and other Israeli and Hamas leaders, alleging that they bear criminal responsibility for a list of war crimes.

Some progressives in the House told The Hill last week that they would likely skip the speech if it materialized, taking aim at the Israeli leaders conduct during the war.

I think therell be a lot of people who wouldnt go, just given the fact that he is pushing this war into a place that no one wants it to go into just to save his own butt, which makes Israel less safe and the region less safe, said Rep. Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-Fla.), who added that he would probably boycott the event.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky (Ill.), a Jewish Democrat who called Netanyahu a menace, said she boycotted his last visit. I certainly will not attend this one.

Its not going to help move us forward  its a detriment, she added. Should he come for any reason, in any venue, I am not going to be there.

During Netanyahus 2015 visit to the Capitol, the Israeli leader used his speech to attack then-President Obama over the Iran nuclear deal, an extraordinary display that was denounced by Obamas Democratic allies.

The formal invite for Netanyahu to address Congress marks the culmination of a weeks-long discussion over whether the Israeli leader would be given the opportunity to speak to lawmakers in the Capitol.

The idea first cropped up in March, when Johnson said he planned to invite the Israeli leader to deliver an address following Schumers controversial comments calling for new elections in the Middle East country.

Johnson said he sent Schumer a draft letter inviting Netanyahu to the Capitol in mid-March. Invitations for foreign leaders to address Congress are typically extended on behalf of congressional leaders. There are not, however, formal procedures for inviting foreign leaders to address Congress, according to the Congressional Research Service.

In late-April, however, the Speaker said Schumer had not yet signed the letter, telling The Hill its been sitting on Chuck Schumers desk. Responding to Johnsons remarks, Schumers office told The Hill that the Democratic leader intends to join the invitation, the timing is being worked out.

Johnson upped the pressure on Schumer to sign the letter last week, when he said the House would move ahead with an invitation on its own if the Democratic leader did not join his letter soon.

Schumer again reiterated that he would support having Netanyahu visit the Capitol, telling reporters Im discussing that now with the Speaker of the House, and as Ive always said, our relationship with Israel is ironclad and transcends any one prime minister or president.

Updated at 4:22 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Sen. John Thune, Sen. Mike Rounds and Rep. Dusty Johnson attend a forum at Dakotafest in Mitchell on Aug. 16, 2023. (Joshua Haiar/South Dakota Searchlight)

South Dakota Searchlight readers were recently treated to two very different views of bipartisanship and governance.

First came the story about an analysis of bipartisanship in the U.S. Congress. Released by the Lugar Center and the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, the report had good news about South Dakotas congressional delegations willingness to work with the other political party.

Rep. Dusty Johnson ranked 106th in bipartisanship in the 435-member House. In the 100-member Senate, Sen. Mike Rounds ranked 20th and Sen. John Thune ranked 42nd.

Thunes ranking in the top half of senators is an oddity given that he is the right-hand man of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. Despite carrying so much water for McConnell, Thune still managed to be more bipartisan than 30 of his Republican Senate colleagues, according to the analysis. That bodes well for the Senate should Thune ascend to the top job as McConnells replacement.

Johnsons high rank in the House is a testament to his refusal to get involved in the Donald Trump-inspired shenanigans that have taken up so much of that chambers time. His spurning of the Trump-backed messes made by Marjorie Taylor Greene and her ilk stands in stark contrast to the leadership of South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem.

Usually someone has to be a suspected terrorist to be banned from nine sovereign nations. To earn her status on the no-reservation list, all Noem had to do was lob a few verbal bombs at the states tribes.

Noem has become something of a contortionist, trying to shape herself into the person that Trump would choose as his vice president. Her approach to bipartisanship is neatly summed up in the title of her new book, No Going Back. While her publisher will be going back to correct mistakes in the book, Noem holds true to a course that calls for never admitting a mistake and never making an apology.

This was evident in another South Dakota Searchlight story about a rare news conference Noem hosted where she once again linked the problems at the nations southern border to drug cartels and the states Native American reservations. Noems previous comments on these topics suggested that tribal leaders were benefiting from the drug cartels and characterized children on the reservation as having no hope.

That didnt sit well with the tribal leaders of the states nine reservations, each of which has moved to ban Noem from its lands. Usually someone has to be a suspected terrorist to be banned from nine sovereign nations. To earn her status on the no-reservation list, all Noem had to do was lob a few verbal bombs at the states tribes.

The tribal bans are symbolic at best. Its any easy bet that as governor, Noem has spent more time traveling out-of-state  first as the darling of the Republican Party and lately during the worlds worst book tour  than she ever has on the states reservations.

The recent news conference would have been the perfect time to walk back some of her previous statements, express some remorse or even apologize for her harsh prediction about the lives of children on the reservations. Instead, she was true to the title of her book with no going back.

Had she apologized to tribes, they might be inclined to be more bipartisan. Instead of banning Noem, they might invite her to visit the reservations often and at some length. As South Dakotans, they could press the governor to bring the full weight of the states resources to bear in the areas of law enforcement, health and human services, social work, education and whatever else is needed.

Instead, theyve symbolically slammed the door on the state official who could help them the most.

Whats most important in the Lugar Center analysis is the fact that bipartisanship is hard work. That makes the high marks for this states congressional delegation all the more laudable. Bipartisanship takes a willingness to listen, discuss and compromise  attributes that are too often missing in todays political climate.

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The post Bipartisanship alive with congressional delegation, not so much with governor appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
TechCrunch

Fidelity Investments, one of the world's largest asset managers, has confirmed that over 77,000 customers had personal information compromised during an August data breach, including Social Security numbers and driver's licenses. The Boston, Massachusetts-based investment firm said in a filing with Maines attorney general on Wednesday that an unnamed third party accessed information from its systems between August 17 and August 19 "using two customer accounts that they had recently established. We detected this activity on August 19 and immediately took steps to terminate the access, Fidelity said in a letter sent to those affected, adding that the incident did not involve any access to customers Fidelity accounts.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed the U.S.s recent foreign policy pivot to allow Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied weapons to strike targets inside Russia.

Adapt and adjust. And that, as I said, has been a hallmark of our engagement, Blinken said.

The weapons are meant to counter Russian attacks on Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, just miles from the border.

Secretary Blinken addressed the change while meeting with NATO leaders in Prague.

It reflects a very deliberate determination to make sure were getting Ukraine what they need, when they need it, Blinken said.

Ukraines President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, reacted to the policy shift, saying he couldnt share details of the move, but believes it could help.

I want to see in practice what will be, but I think, anyway, this is some step forward, Zelenskyy said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg defended Ukraine, saying it has the right to self-defense.

And that includes also the right to strike legitimate military targets inside Russia, Stoltenberg said.

Secretary Blinken also said the U.S. and allies are working to build a bridge for Ukraine to join NATO. He said more tangible steps will be taken at a summit in Washington this July.

Ukraine will become a member of NATO. As Ive said, its a bridge youll see emerge at the summit thats both very strong and very well lit, Blinken said.

The U.S. is pushing back against Russia in other ways, too. In his trip to eastern Europe, Blinken pledged $135 million in aid to Moldova to counter Russian influence.

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(Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held separate phone calls on Friday with foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Jordan, the State Department said, to discuss a proposal to achieve an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and secure the release of hostages.

The top U.S. diplomat, conducting the calls on the plane as he flew back to Washington from Prague, underscored to his counterparts that the proposal is in the interests of both Israelis and Palestinians, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said.

(Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk; editing by Costas Pitas)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. The residents of Azerbaijan's Khojaly town returned to their homeland and began to build a new life on the 32nd anniversary of the Khojaly genocide, political analyst Azer Garayev told Trend.

He pointed out that Azerbaijan drew the attention of the whole world by liberating Karabakh from occupation in the autumn of 2020, which is one of the greatest historical achievements of recent decades.

"At the same time, on the battlefield, we avenged the Khojaly genocide. During this genocide, committed by Armenia in Khojaly in 1992, 613 civilians were brutally killed, and 32 years later, under the leadership of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the country managed to return the residents of Khojaly to their native lands and restore the settlements," Garayev said.

The analyst highlighted that the reconstruction process, which began after the liberation of Karabakh from occupation, demonstrated Azerbaijan's will to the whole world.

"The Azerbaijani government is implementing a number of projects related to the restoration of Khojaly and the surrounding territories, with a budget and effective investments aimed at reconstruction and recovery in the region," he said.

Furthermore, according to him, as part of the reconstruction process, the construction of a memorial complex dedicated to the Khojaly genocide victims has begun in the town.

The analyst also mentioned that today the Armenian church and revanchist forces in Armenia, as well as its diaspora abroad, oppose any agreement with Azerbaijan.

"They do not want to accept the reality of the return of historical Azerbaijani lands to Azerbaijan. Therefore, serious accusations are being made against official Yerevan. Taking these factors into account, the Azerbaijani Army is constantly being strengthened and stands ready to prevent any provocations," Garayev emphasized.

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Ukraine has managed to bring back 212 bodies of fallen defenders to Ukraine, in particular from the Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, Luhansk and Kharkiv fronts, as well as from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

Source: Coordination Centre for the Treatment of Prisoners of War on social media

Details: It is reported that the repatriation of the bodies took place with the assistance of the Coordination Headquarters, the Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories, the Commissioner for Missing Persons in cooperation with the Joint Centre at the Security Service, the Department of Civilian-Military Cooperation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, other law enforcement agencies, departments and international organisations.

The transfer of the bodies of fallen soldiers was carried out in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine will transport the repatriated bodies and remains to designated state institutions. Representatives of law enforcement agencies and forensic experts will identify them.

After identification, the bodies of the defenders will be handed over to their families for a decent burial.

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Boise womans 50 cats left feces in destroyed motel room. She may not have to pay for it

Heather Lee Hawkings cats left her Boise motel room a mess, with furniture destroyed, urine and feces everywhere and a litter of kittens born under the box spring of the bed.

But that doesnt necessarily mean she owes the motel owner money, according to an Idaho Supreme Court decision issued Thursday.

Hawking took about 50 cats to the Super 8 motel on Elder Street by the Boise Airport for several days in July 2018, according to court documents. While there, the cats scratched furnishings, fabrics and fixtures, the court opinion said, and urinated and defecated throughout the room. Hawking was charged with misdemeanor malicious injury to property for the damages.

After nearly three years of court proceedings, 4th District Judge David Manweiler ordered Hawking to pay Super 8 $3,700 in restitution. But by then, the motel had been sold to a new owner. The U.S. District Court of Idaho also agreed with the restitution order after Hawking appealed the case over the new ownership.

But the Idaho Supreme Court reversed the previous court rulings.

A former general manager for the Super 8 testified during a restitution hearing when the case was still under Manweiler, according to the justices opinion. The manager had told the magistrate judge that she wasnt sure whether any parts of the damaged room had been replaced before the hotel was sold to the new owner. She also wasnt sure whether the purchase price of the motel included the replacement costs for any remaining damage. Hawking argued that the new owner may not have incurred any monetary damages from her stay.

The Supreme Court said in its opinion that the state of Idaho failed to include the terms of the motel sale in its argument, leaving in question who was actually the victim in the case.

The Thursday decision doesnt close the book on the case. The Supreme Court reversed the restitution ruling, but it returned the case to the Ada County magistrate court, where proceedings will continue. Hawking, who does not contest the fact that her cats damaged the motel room, may still owe restitution if the state determines who the appropriate victim is.
Photo via Fulton County Sheriff's Office

Its been nearly four years since I wrote that the Republican Party may not be dead yet, but its probably time to put it out of our misery.

GOP acolytes probably thought I was being mean-spirited. Looking back, it seems I was being generous.

As it turns out, the GOP isnt just dead, its now morphed into an army of partisan zombies wholly determined to kill democracy.

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In the wake of Thursdays guilty verdict against former president Donald J. Trump, the newest incarnation of the undead (or are they just brain-dead?) is being led by a growing phalanx of pro-Trump sycophants.

Reacting to news of Trumps conviction on 34 felony counts, House Speaker Mike Johnson called it shameful. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas labeled the decision a disgrace, adding, Now more than ever, we need to rally around @realdonaldtrump, take back the White House and Senate, and get this country back on track.

Writing on X, Republican Congressman Steve Scalise proclaimed he wouldnt stand by while the leader of our party is ambushed by our own government. His post had a link to Trumps fundraising site.

And to round things out, rather disingenuously, New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, the House GOP Conference chair, said Trumps trial was a sham and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott called it a hoax, even as he claimed the U.S. justice system hunts Republicans while protecting Democrats. (Stefanik and Scott, it should be no surprise, are vying to be Trumps vice presidential running mate.)

Real zombies, of course, are infamous for chomping on the brains of their victims. In a fresh twist, these guys seem satisfied with simply infecting their preys vacuous noggins with outright lies and demagoguery.

Doesnt the GOP claim to be the party of law and order? Or does law and order only apply to Trumps critics and political opponents.

The Republican Party has morphed into an army of partisan zombies wholly determined to kill democracy.

Just to be clear, Trump was found guilty by a jury of his peers on charges that he committed business fraud to hide the fact that he had sex with a porn star because he believed if news of this (not his first) extramarital dalliance got out it could cripple his 2016 presidential election campaign.

To Trumps inveigled zombie base, all I can do is repeat the question I posed to a close relative after he blew off news of the New York jurys guilty verdict as BS.

So, you dont think thats a crime? I asked half rhetorically. Not to mention, though the jury didnt consider this, it also happens to be immoral. Or does none of that matter to you?

I wouldnt defend what Trump did if my own father or son did it. So, why do his supporters think we should tolerate any sort of criminality from a man, a former president no less, who once swore on a Bible to uphold our nations laws and preserve, protect and defend, this countrys master legal blueprint, the Constitution of the United States?

Is there nothing Trump can do to allow his supporters to see him for what he is: the single most corrupt and dishonest man to run for president in American history?

In the end, I take comfort in knowing that Trump was found guilty by 12 average citizens, and that no amount of threats or insults, or high-paid lawyers, and endless lies by the former president swayed them from their sworn duty.

The jury just did its job. And we should salute them.

To Trumps army of brainwashed zombies: I hope you eat each other alive.

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Boris Johnson has dismissed Donald Trumps conviction as the result of a liberal hit job that would only make his re-election more likely.

The former prime minister, who enjoyed warm relations with the then president while in office, said: This was no ordinary political assassination. This was a machine-gun mob-style hit-job on Trump.

But he said the anti-Trump lawfare is backfiring, and has helped to make his victory more likely, not less in his rematch with Joe Biden.

On Thursday, a New York jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to buy the silence of Stormy Daniels, an adult film star.

Mr Johnson is the most high-profile British politician to back Trump so far, piling pressure on Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer to do the same to safeguard the special relationship between the US and UK.

The two men sought to avoid expressing an opinion on the case while on the campaign trail on Friday. Whoever is Prime Minister following the general election faces having to work with Mr Trump if he triumphs in the US election in November.

America is still coming to terms with the first conviction of a former president - REUTERS/Stephani Spindel

Appearing at a press conference in New York on Friday, Trump said the corrupt trial proved America had become a fascist state and he vowed to appeal the verdict that had made him the first convicted felon former president.

Mr Johnson backed the Republican 2024 nominee in his column for the Daily Mail. He wrote: The vast mass of American voters could see what I believe was really happening: that the liberal elites were just appalled at Trumps continuing popularity and his ability to connect with voters  and they were using anything they could find to derail his campaign.

Earlier in the day, Mr Sunak had refused to discuss the outcome while out campaigning.

You wouldnt expect me to comment on another countrys domestic politics or judicial processes, the Prime Minister said.

On Friday evening, Mr Sunak went further, saying: What I would say is the US has always been a key partner and ally of the United Kingdom. Ive always had a good relationship with my opposite number, any British prime minister should prioritise that.

He added: Of course I respect the justice system of the United States.

Sir Keir, a former director of public prosecutions, also said he respects the courts decision.

However, the Labour leader insisted the conviction would not change the partys recent charm offensive with the Trump campaign.

Should Labour win the general election on July 4, he said: We will work with whoever is elected president  but it is an unprecedented situation, there is no doubt about that.

A source on the Conservative campaign said: Its much more of a problem for [Labour] than it is for us.

There is a danger for Keir Starmer that he is just going to be constantly asked to condemn what one of his candidates has said about Trump.

Mr Biden condemned his opponent on Friday night in his first direct comments on the conviction.

Its reckless, its dangerous, its irresponsible, for anyone to say this was rigged, just because they dont like the verdict, the US president said.

Trumps conviction does not disqualify him from seeking the White House or occupying it should he beat Mr Biden, 81, in Novembers presidential race.

The 77-year-old blamed the president and the devil judge overseeing his hush money trial for his conviction in his rambling speech from Trump Tower, the site of his victorious 2016 campaign launch.

The former president warned that, if he could be convicted, it can happen to anyone.

Describing the presiding judge, Juan Merchan, he said: He looks like an angel, but hes really a devil.

Mr Merchan will sentence Trump on July 11, just days before the Republican national convention, where his party is set to crown him as the GOP presidential candidate.

Trump faces a maximum penalty of four year imprisonment, but experts agree a custodial sentence for the former, and possibly future president, is unlikely.

If Trump were to get a prison term, his secret service protection officers would be required to guard him in jail.

More lenient punishments include probation or a fine.

Any punishment could be delayed until after Trumps appeal process, which could run far beyond election day on Nov 5.

It came as Trump claimed to have raised $39 million, largely from small-dollar donors, since his conviction. He argued that the vast sum had been matched by a bump in the polls, which previously had him level-pegging with Mr Biden, and was proof Americans saw that his guilty verdict went far beyond me.

This is bigger than Trump. This is bigger than me, this is bigger than my presidency, he said.

Senior Republicans in Congress have rallied behind their presidential candidate, including Mitch McConnell, the GOP Senate leader, who has endured a frosty relationship with Trump.

Mr McConnell said the charges against him never should have been brought and he expected them to be overturned on appeal.

Writing in the Daily Mail, however, Mr Johnson said: The vast mass of American voters could see what I believe ... that the liberal elites... were using anything they could find to derail his campaign.

Mr Johnson repeated his endorsement of Mr Trump in the 2024 race, saying: Whatever his detractors may say, I believe that Donald Trump  at his best  could offer the world the strong, confident leadership that it needs.

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Bradenton man gets life in prison after sexually abusing 2 girls for several years

A judge sentenced a 41-year-old Bradenton man to life in prison on child sexual abuse charges, the United States Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Florida announced.

In February, a federal jury found Roger Lee Caldwell Jr. guilty of producing child sexual abuse material, possession of child sexual abuse material and transporting minors with intent to engage in sexual activity, according to a news release.

Following the jurys guilty verdict, U.S. District Judge Kathryn K. Mizelle sentenced Caldwell to life in prison.

Prosecutors say Caldwell sexually abused two girls over six years and produced an image of one of the minors while forcing them to engage in a sex act.

Investigators say the image, which they recovered from Caldwells phone, showed him wearing a uniquely designed belt that he was also wearing when he was arrested.

Prosecutors say the victims reported Caldwells sexual abuse after he traveled out of state with the girls in 2022. According to an arrest report, Caldwell repeatedly sexually abused the girls at a hotel in Ohio.

The girls were 13 and 12 at the time, according to an arrest report.

When they returned to Florida, prosecutors say both minors disclosed the sexual abuse to family members and law enforcement.

In an interview with the Manatee County Sheriffs Office, detectives say they learned that Caldwell had been sexually abusing the girls for several years. One of the girls told detectives she had been sexually abused by Caldwell starting at the age of 7, according to an arrest report.

The girls also said Caldwell threatened that they would pay if they ever told anyone, according to the report.

After an investigation, law enforcement discovered a collection of child sexual abuse material on a computer during a search of Caldwells home, according to a news release.

The investigation involved the Manatee County Sheriffs Office, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Bradenton Police Department, the Palmetto Police Department and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, according to a news release.
Bragg declines to say whether prosecutors will seek jail time for Trump

Bragg declines to say whether prosecutors will seek jail time for Trump

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) at a Thursday press conference declined to say whether prosecutors will seek jail time for former President Trump after he was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal an affair.

Asked about seeking jail time for Trump, Bragg said prosecutors would speak through their court filings in the coming weeks.

The only voice that matters is the voice of the jury. And the jury has spoken, Bragg said.

When asked how he felt now that a verdict has been reached, he said, I did my job.

While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial and ultimately today at this verdict in the same manner as every other case that comes to the courtroom doors: by following the facts and the law, in doing so, without fear or favor, Bragg said.

The district attorney was joined by the full trial team from the Manhattan office, who spent the last several weeks persuading jurors that the former president was responsible for the falsified business records.

Most remained stoic, but prosecutor Becky Mangold appeared to be brimming with pride. Braggs paralegals  two of whom testified in the trial  also stood by his side during the press conference.

The room where Bragg held his press conference was not nearly as full as the courtroom where, an hour earlier, Trump was convicted. Reporters huddled around the podium where the district attorney made his remarks.

Bragg had entered the building just moments earlier after coming from the courthouse across the street. He and the trial team gathered in the hallway outside for a few moments, where they smiled and briefly chatted about the verdict before heading inside.

The 12 everyday jurors vowed to make a decision based on the evidence and the law and the evidence and the law alone, Bragg said.

Their deliberations led them to a unanimous conclusion beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant Donald J. Trump is guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree to conceal a scheme to corrupt the 2016 election.

Trump became the first former president to be convicted of a felony. The former president has frequently attacked Bragg since being indicted on the charges more than a year ago, saying that the local prosecutor was politically motivated in bringing the case.

The charges stemmed from a reimbursement made to Trumps ex-fixer, Michael Cohen, for a payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels to stay quiet about an alleged affair with Trump that he denies.

The former president criticized both Bragg and Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, in comments shortly after the verdict was read Thursday, saying, We didnt do a thing wrong.

Im a very innocent man, and its OK, he said. Im fighting for our country; Im fighting for our Constitution.

This was a rigged decision right from day one with a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case. Never, Trump continued. And we will fight for our Constitution. This is long from over. Thank you very much.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Erin Maze and Shannon Conway are no longer the children who walked the halls of St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School in their Catholic school uniforms two decades ago.

Maze, 32, is an outgoing lawyer and parent who talks quickly and laughs easily. Her shyer friend Conway, 31, works in political science and has a skill for diligent research.

Both women still live in Baltimore, not far from where they grew up. They share love for their respective cats, grief for a mutual friend who was killed years ago and complicated memories of the now-closed Hampden school where they were students of David A. Czajkowski, a lay teacher convicted of sexually abusing students.

Maze and Conway are speaking out publicly for the first time about their experiences. The women submitted claims before Fridays deadline in the bankruptcy case of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, which does not include Czajkowski on its list of credibly accused priests and lay teachers.

Despite them adding lay teachers, and despite him being convicted, he is not on that list, Conway said in an interview with The Baltimore Sun. And I dont know why.

Although a law that took effect in October made it possible for people to sue institutions for child abuse no matter when it happened, the archdiocese filed for bankruptcy, funneling any claims against the church though that money-oriented process.

A Maryland attorney generals 2023 report on decades of sex abuse in the archdiocese also did not list Czajkowski. His name is included in a statewide database The Sun published in December.

The women hope that by sharing their stories  including memories they have come to fully understand only recently  they can gain greater accountability for the harm they say shaped a generation of students. They also seek to enlighten parents about the subtle forms that child abuse and manipulation can take.

I just want the truth, as much of it as I can get, Conway said. I dont want this to happen to other people.

Christian Kendzierski, an archdiocese spokesperson, said the archdiocese and its Independent Review Board, starting in 2002, has listed priests and brothers because of the particularly important role they play in our churches. The archdiocese, he said, publicizes credible allegations against lay employees in other ways, reports allegations against them to authorities and removes them from employment.

The use of our list to highlight abuse by priests and brothers in no way minimizes the horrendous abuse committed by others, Kendzierski wrote in an email to The Sun. The Archdiocese has repeatedly spoken publicly about Czajkowski, calling his behavior reprehensive and adding that his subsequent conviction and prison sentence are the proper consequences for his actions.

A spokesperson said the attorney generals office cannot comment on the inclusion or noninclusion of specific individuals in its report, but investigators still are reviewing information they received from survivors after the reports release.

Czajkowski was charged with molesting 11 students and pleaded guilty in 2002 to three counts of sex abuse, receiving a five-year prison sentence. Each time a reporter visited the Baltimore County home that state real estate records say is his primary residence, the former teacher did not answer the door. Nor did Czajkowski, 60, respond to notes seeking comment.

The year Czajkowski was convicted, 2002, marked a turning point for the Catholic Church in the United States, as The Boston Globe revealed the scope of the cover-up of clergy sex abuse and church leadership put in place stronger reporting and prevention procedures.

But even as decades-old abuse came to light elsewhere, the alumni of St. Thomas in North Baltimore, now adults reaching their early 30s, suffered new and lasting trauma.

Multiple children reported abuse to school leaders before Czajkowski was fired, according to lawsuits brought by students families. In May 2002, a few months after the teachers arrest and in anticipation of new zero-tolerance policies, church officials asked the Rev. William Simms, who had admitted to previous abuse, to move out of the parish rectory that shared a campus with the school.

One afternoon earlier this year, Maze returned to the brick building near The Avenue in Hampden that once held the parish school of about 200 students. She pointed at the second-floor windows of the former school  the classroom where Czajkowski taught.

Simms lived in the home attached to the church, with windows overlooking the parking lot where children played at recess. Students were frequently sent to the rectory to run errands, Maze and Conway said.

Having been granted immunity from prosecution in the 1980s through an agreement with Anne Arundel County, Simms had been living in the rectory since 1992.

To the two women, Czajkowskis abuse and Simms presence in their parish together showed a breach of trust.

I feel disappointed that someone like him was also in our midst during our childhood, Conway said of Simms. It feels creepy. It feels avoidable.

Maryland Catholic Church abuse database: Search the list

The survivors

Like many of the families of pupils at the now-shuttered school, Maze and Conways parents worked blue-collar jobs, proudly saving up to put their kids through Catholic school.

The Sun does not identify victims of sex abuse without their consent. Conway and Maze agreed to be named for this article. Baltimore-based Jenner Law represents them and three other victims of Czajkowski, attorney Elisha Hawk said.

The two girls were a grade level apart  Maze is a year older  but their families knew each other through Hampdens close-knit Catholic community.

In an interview at the Jenner Law offices in January, Maze flipped through yearbooks from the late 90s and early 2000s of smiling kids in uniforms, while Conway spoke with emotion about what shes learned about Czajkowski and Simms.

In part because of the toll the abuse took on her, Maze never wanted biological children of her own, but now shes raising her cousins 5-year-old. She grapples with how to protect her child without passing along the anxiety she feels.

It makes me a bit of a crazy parent, she admitted.

Similarly, Conway long struggled to trust men and worked hard to avoid a trap of relying on substances to cope. The two women grew closer in 2010, when their 19-year-old friend and classmate Patrick Dolan was killed in an attempted robbery

As the end of the attorney generals four-year investigation into the archdiocese approached, they began to talk about their shared experiences in Czajkowskis classes, including bizarre reenactments of slave auctions, which came with the physical inspection of students bodies.

We were all suffering in silos, thinking the same thing, and 22 years later, you start calling friends and youre hesitant, Conway said. Youre like, Hey, I kind of want to talk to you about something, and what you realize is that no one forgets about it.

Over the next 20 years, many in their 4th and 5th grade classes suffered lasting issues like substance abuse and early pregnancies, Conway and Maze said. Although such setbacks were impossible to trace to a single cause, both wonder if the abuse contributed.

Research shows that survivors of childhood sex abuse are more likely to suffer with mental health issues like depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder, and engage in risky sexual behaviors, self-harm and disordered eating. They also can be more prone to conditions like heart disease, irritable bowel syndrome and some cancers.

Our childhood was destroyed, Conway said. Our innocence was gone, our trust in people. I think a lot of us were tormented for years.

Abuse comes in all forms

When Mazes parents first asked her if Czajkowski touched her inappropriately, she told them that he tucked her shirt into her sweatpants once and adjusted her Peter Pan-style uniform collar.

However, different memories began to return years later in 2017, the year Maze was assaulted while working at a bar and Netflix released The Keepers documentary. It detailed abuse by A. Joseph Maskell, a priest at Seton Keogh High School in Southwest Baltimore.

She remembered that Czajkowski abused her at his home, Maze said, after her mom brought her to go swimming with the teacher and his son and left for about an hour.

Conways experience with Czajkowski was different, she said. A good student who didnt make waves, she said she suffered mental abuse and grooming at St. Thomas. She sat in her teachers lap daily, as he whispered how special she was and how he loved her differently than other people, Conway said.

What I want people to know is that abuse comes in all forms, Conway said. I think its important for people to ask your kids, OK, when youre around this teacher, what are your daily interactions like? Conway said. Does he ask you to keep secrets? How often? Does his body come into contact with yours? Does he have weird nicknames for you? Does he tell you that you cant talk to certain friends?

At least seven families settled lawsuits against the archdiocese and Czajkowski in 2003, according to court records. Conway and Maze were not among them, although Conway said her family filed a claim for therapy costs a few years later.

The family of a 9-year-old girl who reported Czajkowski began molesting her in 2001 brought one lawsuit, which it settled for $110,000. Attorneys for the family wrote that two other 4th graders reported abuse to the principal months before the girl came forward.

The principal told one student in late 2001 that the teacher was on employee probation and that she neednt worry further, according to the complaint.

The girl, now an adult, said in an interview with The Sun that the abuses impact sent her on a self-destructive path as a teen, including becoming pregnant at 15 by someone else.

She said that after improbably being named the honor roll in 4th grade, despite being mostly absent from school, she felt teachers treated her differently for missteps in 5th grade and middle school.

Maze and Conway said students whose families filed civil lawsuits were singled out by school staff over the next few years.

I was always in trouble, the woman said. It was like there was an X on my back and they all just kind of would jump on me for everything.

She said the staff appeared scared that she would speak about the abuse in class.

They almost treated me like I was a liability, she said. If I opened my mouth to say anything and I was upset, they would send me out of the classroom.

With wider Catholic Church abuse probe, Maryland attorney general seeks to add staff

Seeing it in print

Last spring, Conway was optimistic. She expected to see Czajkowskis name in the attorney generals report, given his conviction. She hoped that the report, which covered six decades of abuse in much of Maryland, would bring information to light or at least affirm the experiences of those who didnt want their pain to be forgotten.

Maybe this report will tell me something I dont know, or will confirm what I do know, but itll be in print, Conway told herself.

Conway praised the investigation for the scope of abuse it captured, but she and Maze were disappointed they didnt see Czajkowskis name in the report.

When it wasnt, Conway said, I felt like I had to do all this research. Without her ordeal reflected in the record, she felt like a dog with a bone.

She began filing public records requests, contacting reporters and researching information about Czajkowski. Hes not currently listed on Marylands sex offender registry, although his plea agreement required registration. That disturbs Conway, Maze and the woman who reported abuse as a 9-year-old.

At the time of his 2002 conviction, the maximum length of registration for many sex offenses was 10 years.

The archdioceses decision to file for bankruptcy last fall felt like another blow for Conway and Maze because the process barred further lawsuits against the archdiocese. Maze was frustrated when she thought she had lost the chance to testify against Czajkowski and saw the bankruptcy as a silencing brick wall.

We both felt so many doors slamming in our face, so many shutdowns, Maze said. The first one was, of course, him not being in the report.

Still, Conway said, if telling her story publicly means another former student or someone with a similar experience feels seen, it would have been worth bringing up the painful memories.

If one person reads this, whether they were in our class or somewhere across the city in another school and they identify with it, I think that thats enough, she said. Nobody should feel alone in this.
Plans for the giant Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project now include a street grid connecting the industrial neighborhood of Queensgate and the west side of downtown Cincinnati.

Transportation officials on Friday unveiled seven design updates, including the grid pushed by Bridge Forward, a Cincinnati grassroots group.

"Getting the street grid is big," Bridge Forward founder Brian Boland said. "It can really activate Queensgate."

Plans for the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project now include a street grid between Queensgate and the western side of Downtown Cincinnati. The grid will include new intersections.

What would the grid look like?

As proposed, the grid would include:

a new north-south street on the east side of Interstate 75 to connect to Winchell Avenue at Ninth Street.

a reconfigured Gest Street for north-south travel on the west side of the interstate.

east-west travel on Fifth, Sixth, Seventh and Ninth streets, which would tie into the north-south streets.

new intersections on Gest at Sixth and Ninth, with an improved Gest and Seventh intersection.

more sidewalks for foot and bike travel.

"All of those improvements are going to create that grid feel," said John Brazina, director of the Cincinnati Department of Transportation & Engineering.

As the grid opens new development possibilities for long-neglected Queensgate, so will new attention to the city's 2010 Revive Cincinnati plan. That project, which calls for revitalizing neighborhoods along I-75, will get a new look starting this summer, Brazina told The Enquirer.

At the completion of the $3.6 billion Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project, the existing Brent Spence will be used for local traffic and a new companion bridge to the immediate west will carry interstate travelers.

What else is changing?

Managers of the $3.6 billion Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project outlined six other changes on Friday, all inspired by input gathered from members of the public and others stakeholders in late 2023.

In Ohio:

A portion of southbound I-75 coming through Downtown will be moved west. That will open up another acre of land for the city to develop along Central Avenue, between Third and Ninth streets  and comes on top of 9 acres the city won in that vicinity with a 2023 design change.

the Second and Third street ramps off southbound I-75 will be combined.

U.S. 50 will be consolidated as a single east-west highway as it runs through downtown, instead of being split into separate roadways.

The gazebo and shelter area of Covington's Goebel Park will not be impacted by the Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project.

Will Kentucky see any changes?

Three elements of the bridge project are changing in Northern Kentucky:

I-71/75 will be about 30 feet lower as it passes through Covington, reducing visual obstructions between Northern Kentucky communities.

Access to I-71/75 will be eliminated at Ninth Street in Covington, but maintained at Pike Street. That will reduce the impact to Covington's Goebel Park, running along the east side of the interstate.

I-71/75 will shift to the east at what is called the "cut in the hill" south of Covington, eliminating the need for about 94,000 square feet of retaining wall.

The $3.6 billion Brent Spence Bridge Corridor project will be completed in three phases. A new bridge will be built along the western side of the Brent Spence first, with improvements to the existing bridge to follow.

Will the changes alter the project price tag?

Some of the changes will save Ohio and Kentucky money. Some will be easier to build, a savings in labor costs. Officials could not immediately break out any specifics on spending, however.

How many changes were considered?

The Brent Spence Bridge team evaluated 117 suggestions during what they called the late-2023 innovation period. They adopted 26, dismissed 24 and are still reviewing 67. They called the ones presented Friday "major" and noted they apply only to the interstate portion of the project, not the existing Brent Spence or the new bridge that will be built to its immediate west.

Bridge Forward founder Brian Boland, left, won support from former Cincinnati Mayors John Cranley, center, and Mark Mallory for his group's hopes for a street grid between the west side of Cincinnati and Queensgate.

What did other leaders have to say?

Friday's news was not expected. Boland was only invited to an informal press conference that morning. News outlets were notified an hour before the briefing.

Officeholders weighed in via prepared statements:

The street grid is "a major positive step forward," said Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval, calling it "an opportunity to reclaim land and improve connectivity between communities that were torn apart by the decisions of the 20th century."

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said the changes were about "improving safety, reconnecting communities, and enhancing the lives of those who live, work and visit the area."

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear called the new features "a testament to the collaboration, teamwork and goals each state shares" to improve roads while being good neighbors.

What's next for the bridge project?

Planners are aiming to complete 30% of the project's final design by the end of summer, with hopes of revealing a rendering of the new bridge by the end of the year, said Tommy Arnold, project director in Ohio.

Construction work will not be underway until next year, he said.

The Federal Highway Administration gave the project a boost in early May when it approved Ohio and Kentucky's environmental assessment, clearing the way for final design work and then construction.

The new bridge over the Ohio River could be what's called "cable-stayed" (the top design) or tied arch. The design should be revealed later this year, officials said Friday.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What is changing in the Brent Spence Bridge project?
A Portland, Maine, police department after-action report on a mass shooting last year describes a scene of "utter chaos" with officers who had not been dispatched showing up in civilian clothing, some of them dressed similarly to how the gunman was described as being dressed. The report said this could have led to an accidental friendly fire incident. It also said a tactical team from another agency almost crashed its armored vehicle into another police vehicle. Officers also reported smelling alcohol from inside that tactical team's vehicle, and members of the team said they had just come from a funeral.

The post Brickbat: All Hands on Deck appeared first on Reason.com.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. International organizations must exert pressure on Armenia to release mine maps, thereby accelerating the demining process of Azerbaijan's liberated lands, MP Sevinj Huseynova told Trend.

According to her, Azerbaijan is currently the country most affected by mines.

"During the 30 years of occupation, Armenians installed numerous mines in our territories. Armenia's mine terrorism against our country continued even after Azerbaijan liberated its lands from occupation in the 2020 second Karabakh war. After the trilateral statement signed on November 10, 2020, the Armenian side, grossly violating the provisions of the statement, continued the mining process on Azerbaijani territory," the MP said.

She pointed out that Azerbaijan is currently among the countries most contaminated with mines.

"Since the second Karabakh war, about 100 Azerbaijanis have been killed or injured by mine explosions. Mines are also the biggest obstacle to reconstruction and construction work in the liberated territories.

After the second Karabakh war, Armenia claimed that it did not have mine maps, but later it disclosed some of them, which turned out to be inaccurate. Such behavior by Armenia contradicts international conventions and constitutes a criminal offense because people are becoming victims of mines in these territories, creating a serious obstacle to the return of our compatriots to their homeland," she emphasized.

The MP mentioned that international organizations should respond to this and put pressure on Armenia to disclose mine maps, thereby accelerating demining efforts.

Commenting on the issue, political analyst Ilyas Huseynov highlighted that holding various conferences and roundtables on the processes taking place in the entire region is essential.

"The international demining conference is being held in Zangilan at Azerbaijan's initiative for the third time. The country ranks among the world's most landmine-contaminated areas. Millions of anti-personnel and anti-tank landmines, as well as unexploded ordnances from the first and second Karabakh wars, are planted in Karabakh and Eastern Zangazur. These landmines and unexploded ordnances claim lives.

I especially want to emphasize that Azerbaijan is conducting demining using its own resources and financial means, and international donor organizations are not providing adequate assistance. Drones, special technical equipment, mine-detection dogs, and other support are needed.

The mine threat prevents our former internally displaced persons from returning to their native lands as soon as possible," he added.

To note, after the second Karabakh war, more than 360 people have become landmine victims in Azerbaijan's liberated areas, resulting in 68 fatalities and over 290 injuries.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Viveak Taneja worked at Phoenix Whirlpools and was repeatedly called 'Vikesh' by his sales director - LinkedIn

Calling an ethnic minority colleague by the wrong name could be race harassment, a tribunal has ruled.

An employment judge said misnaming someone can count as unwanted conduct in the case of a bathroom salesman whose boss got his name wrong four times in one day.

A tribunal in Watford heard that Viveak Taneja, who worked at Phoenix Whirlpools, was repeatedly called Vikesh by sales director Dana Davies.

He was awarded more than 9,000 after Employment Judge Sally Cowen ruled he was a victim of race harassment and said his dignity had been violated.

The tribunal heard that Mr Taneja, who is British Indian, was one the best salesmen at the bathroom firm, which he joined as an area sales manager in 2021.

But in March 2022, he was late picking up his boss Mr Davies from Kings Cross Station, resulting in the pair enduring a toxic journey.

It was heard Mr Davies questioned Mr Taneja about his work and sales targets and referred to him as Vikesh on two separate occasions.

Each time, he was corrected and told it was actually Viveak, but Mr Davies did not apologise for the errors.

Less favourable treatment

They eventually stopped at a McDonalds for coffee, where a meeting about his work took place. The panel heard he used the name Vikesh twice more to refer to Mr Taneja.

After the third time, Mr Taneja] became angry and upset and started to pack his belongings to leave, the hearing was told.

He told Mr Davies that he hadnt listened when he had corrected him previously and that if he didnt make the effort to pronounce his name correctly, then he would make no effort with Mr Davies.

As he walked away from Mr Davies [Mr Taneja] referred to him as both an idiot and a racist.

The panel heard there was a further altercation as Mr Davies blocked Mr Tanejas route to his car and told him he was finished and terminated if he drove off, which he did anyway.

Mr Taneja was dismissed that day and took his complaints to the tribunal.

Giving a verdict of race harassment, Judge Sally Cowen said: We accepted that [Mr Taneja] has a genuine emotion and sensitivity about his name, as it holds a significant meaning in Hindi.

We therefore accepted that this behaviour did occur and that it did amount to less favourable treatment.

Mr Davies acted in a manner which was arrogant and lacked respect towards [Mr Taneja] to acknowledge his name, or take any time or effort to correct himself or to recognise his inappropriate behaviour.

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Its painful to think and even harder to say but its no less true. The Supreme Court of the United States doesnt seem as supreme as it once did. Ideology, questionable ethics, the intrusion of politics, tortured rationales, hypocrisy and miscues have taken their toll. The signs are hard to miss or explain away. Theyre everywhere.

Over my lifetime, I have always respected our Supreme Court and the justices who served there, even when I didnt agree with a particular decision. The courts powerful and essential role in American life and its moral and constitutional authority to protect our democracy and our people from unlawful infringement captured and sustained my respect from my earliest memories. It has always represented to me Americas best hope to try to fulfill its essential promises with honor, fairness, consistency, decency, and integrity. I was quite content to have the Supreme Court be the last word when a thoughtful, reasoned and impartial last word was needed. But to be honest, Im not so sure how I feel anymore.

John Broderick

Our Supreme Court, once respected, if not revered, by most Americans has set itself on fire. Its decisions now too frequently smack of partisan politics, moral bromides, ad hominem attacks, unbecoming predictability, ideology, intellectual smugness and rigidity. It has become an amalgam of personalities some of whom feel emboldened to speak their mind before special interest groups and in ways inappropriate for any appointed judge.

To make matters worse, the Supreme Court is decidedly ungoverned by any code of ethics we can follow or enforce and seems responsive only to its own views of right and wrong. It has resisted all public efforts to have it adopt the same or similar code of ethics that governs the conduct of every other federal judge in America and provide a mechanism to enforce it. Nowhere else in government is that level of arrogance tolerated nor should it be. Elected and appointed judges are public servants and they need to be ethically accountable as they exercise their public trust.

The Supreme Court seems tone deaf to the mischief it has made. Remember the leaked Dobbs decision that preceded by a few months the actual release of that enormously consequential decision overturning constitutional rights recognized for almost 50 years? The chief justice had an internal investigation conducted to determine what happened to allow this historic lapse but unfortunately what was ultimately found and who was at fault was never disclosed. None of our business? We deserved better. Transparency matters.

At least one member of the court we recently learned has accepted lavish travel, family home purchases, and family school tuition payments from interested third-party billionaires whom he passes off as dear friends. Others have been less than diligent in completing their financial disclosure forms.

Does anyone really believe that if Justice Clarence Thomas was not on the Supreme Court any of his newfound friends with strongly held ideological and political views would be underwriting parts of his life? I wonder if their friendship might be more reasonably explained by his high station and his potent vote to reconfigure American life that attracts their largesse? Even if none of that generosity influenced his rulings, it should never have happened. Appearances matter and at the U.S. Supreme Court they matter most. Or should.

Justices, of late, fail to recuse themselves from cases where the need for them to do so seems obvious. How can Justice Thomas sit on the Jan. 6 immunity appeal when the facts of the underlying indictment reveal that his wife was writing e-mails to the presidents chief of staff supporting the steal on the very day of the insurrection? Or Justice Samuel Alito sitting on that same immunity appeal having hung an American flag upside down on his flagpole in this political climate  or any political climate for that matter. I was taught to honor the flag. Ill bet you were, too. It signifies more than a dispute with your neighbor. Its disturbing.

The Supreme Court is quickly losing its moral authority. The polls prove it. For me, its not about agreeing or disagreeing with the wisdom of any decision but with the questionable motives now at play in crafting them and the seeming indifference displayed when it comes to ethics, transparency and general integrity. In the administration of justice perception is reality. At the Supreme Court perception needs to be the coin of the realm. Reality does, too. Nothing less will suffice. Or shouldnt.

Something is wrong. This is not the Supreme Court I remember. This is not what I grew up respecting. If our highest court continues to slip away from its anchor and succeeds in eroding public trust and confidence, we will have lost the only respected, independent referee democracy has to protect our liberties and ensure our equalities. If we accept the current state of affairs, we will guarantee it. The legal profession needs to step up and speak up as does every citizen who cares about the country our kids will inherit.

John T. Broderick Jr. is a former chief justice of the New Hampshire Supreme Court.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Broderick: Supreme Court of the United States doesnt seem so supreme
In an era defined by complex geopolitical dynamics and emerging security threats posed by the Peoples Republic of China, Russia, and North Korea, the Indo-Pacific region stands as a pivotal theater where strategic alliances and partnerships are crucial for maintaining stability and safeguarding common interests.

In recent years, notable progress has been made in fostering multilateral relationships within the Indo-Pacific region, moving beyond traditional bilateral frameworks towards mini-lateral arrangements.

Defense Innovation Unit embed to connect INDOPACOM to commercial tech

Just this month, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin convened the inaugural quadrilateral defense ministers meeting in Honolulu, bringing together allies Australia, Japan, and the Philippines. This gathering followed landmark joint patrols conducted by these nations in the South China Sea and a first trilateral U.S.-Japan-Philippines leaders summit held in April.

Concurrently, the U.S. continues to strengthen its trilateral ties with Japan and South Korea while expanding its quadrilateral cooperation with Australia, Japan, and India. Despite these advancements, however, a significant gap remains apparenta deficient information sharing network that fails to adequately reflect the depth and scope of our evolving partnerships.

The current structure, largely rooted in antiquated bilateral information systems, lacks the agility and robustness required to address the multifaceted challenges of the 21st century.

While the U.S.-Japan-South Korea have a trilateral sharing agreement, information exchange between Tokyo and Seoul remains in its early stages and largely centered on the nuclear and missile threats by North Korea, less so on the other security and economic threats in the region. Efforts to establish information sharing among the U.S., Japan, Australia, and India are still ongoing, with discussions centered on how to cooperate on cybersecurity.

By year-end, the U.S. and the Philippines will hopefully finalize the General Security of Military Information Agreement, which would enable real-time information sharing and technology across domains, and perhaps could serve as a catalyst to make these new groupings into a more robust information sharing network.

Five Eyes

Despite these efforts, we are still a long way off in establishing a secure network that connects these separate channels together, allowing concurrent secure communications across partners under one system that incorporates databases and exchanges via email, text, or video. Currently, the only cross collaboration or communication of information among allies is under the Five Eyes rub, of which Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and New Zealand are part of, and even under this structure the system isnt perfect.

Having a joint capability to track maritime, ground, and air activities or any other coercive activities in the Indo-Pacific would be immensely useful, particularly as the Peoples Liberation Armys activities grows more dangerous every day. Additionally, it is even more important for the U.S. and its partners to identify and mitigate economic security risks, critical technology concerns, and supply chain vulnerabilities as well as the opportunities to collaborate effectively against these risks.

To be effective, we need to create a secure, zero-based trust network that would allow the transfer of sensitive information, enhance situational awareness, and fortify joint operations and operating pictures. Much of this could be built on the zero trust architecture that DoD directed to be built by 2027 to enable secure data-sharing. Last year, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) accelerated efforts to construct such a network called the INDOPACOM Mission Network (IMN), which has its pedigree to the DoDs larger Mission Partner Environment (MPE), and would allow the command to rapidly share information as well as operate a common operating picture with allies and partners, representing a critical step towards overcoming these challenges.

IMN would essentially incorporate and replace stove-piped bilateral collaboration networks and create an interconnected web of communication and integration among U.S. and its allies and partners. It would also eventually feed into INDOPACOMs Joint Fires Network, which will integrate systems across the entire battlespace among the services as well as key international partners.

The value of an integrated information sharing network would also extend beyond traditional defense considerations. A network that serves as the bedrock for addressing broader strategic imperatives such as economic resilience, defense industrial base requirements, technological innovation, and safeguarding critical infrastructure is greatly needed. Eventually, this network  or an offshoot that feeds into IMN  could enable cleared private industries within participating nations that are supporting government efforts to better collaborate on these issues.

Three steps

To realize this vision, several critical steps must be undertaken:

First, there is an urgent need to set what the baseline security standards and protocols are needed for countries to participate in a zero-trust information sharing network, particularly as it relates to cleared personnel, training, practices, cybersecurity infrastructure, and any necessary information agreements. These standards should not only ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of shared information but also facilitate interoperability and collaboration across diverse platforms and systemscontrolling security permissions as necessary.

Second, each country needs to ensure it has its own secure infrastructure and common operating picture to share information within its own interagency. The use of U.S. security cooperation authorities or even Foreign Military Sales could support partners to acquire such capabilities and train personnel to standardize security clearances, practices, and infrastructure in those nations. Private industry could help in this effort.

Third, adequate funding and alignment DoD is imperative to support the development and implementation of IMN. Without sufficient resources, cohesive governance structures, and top-down leadership, even the most well-conceived initiatives are destined to falter or not progress. Over the last five years, and perhaps more, IMN and its precursor MPE has been a recurrent unfunded Commanders priority. Even though the Indo-Pacific region is stated as DoDs priority theater, $124,000 million of IMN remains unfunded for FY2025 and should get funded this year.

Finally, for this endeavor to succeed, it necessitates focused attention and prioritization at the highest echelons of leadership. Its progress is contingent upon the commitment of senior DoD leaders and the availability of resources provided to execute it. Civilian leadership at the senior level within the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy must support and accelerate such steps. Considering the scope of implementation across allies and partners and the imperative to standardize processes and data across various services, it also might make sense for a civilian czar to accelerate these efforts.

In charting the course forward, it is imperative to draw lessons from successful models of collaboration, while tailoring them to the unique dynamics of the Indo-Pacific, and to accelerate the positive momentum occurring with our allies and partners in the region. By leveraging the expertise and capabilities of like-minded nations, we can expedite the standardization of protocols and technologies across these new multilateral and bilateral groupings  ensuring seamless, secure, and efficient communication channels that are indispensable in both peacetime and conflict scenarios.

Kimberly Lehn is a senior associate (non-resident) at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a senior fellow (non-resident) at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments and a former professional staff member on the House Armed Services Committee.
SAN DIEGO (Border Report)  U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-California, has asked the United States Supreme Court to dismiss Mexicos lawsuit against American firearms manufacturers.

The court case, Mexico v. Smith and Wesson Brands Inc., was originally rejected by a Massachusetts District Court, but the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston overturned the ruling.

Mexico scores legal win in fight against US gunmakers

The suit alleges that American gun makers and wholesalers are responsible for criminal gun trafficking through the southern border, which affects the health and safety of people in Mexico.

Issa says the case disregards American sovereignty and violates the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Pact.

Americans charged with taking Glocks, AK-47s to Mexico

The case dismisses the clear reading of our sacred Second Amendment and blaming American private business for the crime and lawlessness we are seeing on both sides of Bidens open borders, Issa said.

Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border

Other Republican lawmakers, including U.S. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas, support Issas motion to have the Supreme Court dismiss the case.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
(photo/Facebook)

On June 1, 2024, California will mark a historic milestone in its educational history with the Legacy of Alice Centennial Celebration. The event will take place in Big Pine, Calif., on the steps of the Big Pine Unified Schools, where a Native American teenager and her peers challenged segregation in schools a century ago, paving the way for equality for American Indian children statewide.

In June 1924, during Californias segregation era, Alice Piper, a 15-year-old from the Big Pine Paiute Tribe, challenged injustice alongside six Native American peers from Inyo County, sparking a legal battle that would take them all the way to the states Supreme Court.

Their mission was to enroll in the local public school and challenge discriminatory practices that confined American Indian children to segregated facilities. Despite facing immense opposition and legal hurdles, Piper and her companions persisted in their pursuit of equality, capturing national attention and sparking a legal battle that ended in a landmark victory.

During their legal battle, Piper and her companions brought their case to the Supreme Court of California. Their perseverance paid off when the court ruled in their favor, dismantling segregation barriers hindering American Indian childrens education statewide.

Chief Justice Earl Warren later cited their case as a precursor to the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education decision in 1954.

After Pipers legal triumph, she dedicated more than 25 years to advancing education at the Stewart Indian School in Carson City, Nevada.

The Legacy of Alice Centennial Celebration promises tributes, exhibits, and speeches celebrating Alice Pipers role in desegregating schools. Attendees will reflect on the progress made since her victory and the ongoing challenges in ensuring educational equity for all.

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
California has long depended on incarcerated people to battle wildfires.

Since the end of World War II, the state has relied on inmates to staff its more than 200 hand crews deployed each fire season to lay hoses and help contain the blazes by cutting fire lines free of vegetation.

But a steady decline in the states prison population due to sentencing reform has left many of Californias minimum security conservation camps operating at half capacity or less. And as the 2024 fire season kicks into high gear, Cal Fire is short 110 of its 236 budgeted hand crews. Only 126 crews were fully staffed as of Thursday, the agency formally known as the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

Hand crews are truly what extinguishes wildland fires, said Erich Schwab, division chief for Cal Fires AEU sector, which responds to blazes in Sacramento, El Dorado, Amador and Alpine counties. And we dont have enough of those in the state right now.

Most viable solutions to the hand crew shortage are far more expensive than inmate hand crews  a daunting prospect given the states estimated $45 billion budget problem.

But the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation hopes a new two-year pilot targeted at younger inmates will help revive the conservation camp model and boost the pipeline for hand crew laborers.

An expansion of CDCRs existing Youth Offender Program allows qualified inmates under the age of 26 to serve their sentences in a conservation camp alongside trained inmate mentors. CDCR said the purpose of the program is to promote rehabilitation and provide important job skills. The program still excludes inmates who have a history of escape or are convicted of murder, arson or sexual assault.

Cal Fire Inmate Michael Nguyen, second from left, lines up his Crew 5 team members as they demonstrate their skills at the Growlersburg Conservation Camp in Georgetown in March. The California Department of Corrections is piloting a new Youth Offender Program where inmates between under age 26 who have more severe sentences on their record are eligible for fire camps on a case-by-case basis.

The first group of 30 inmate participants and their mentors arrived at Growlersburg Conservation Camp in Georgetown last November. All came from Valley State Prison in Chowchilla, which claims to be leading the charge on implementing the more rehabilitative California Model of incarceration.

Capt. Fred Money, CDCRs liaison for conservation camps, told reporters in March that inmate firefighters can absolutely be hired by Cal Fire after they leave on parole. Money said he would be retired today if it wasnt for the camp program. Hes a firm believer in the power of the conservation camp model.

I love this program, and theres work that we can do with it still, Money told reporters at Growlersburg camp. Without a doubt, if there is a program within the state that can help somebody go from an incarcerated life to never coming back to an incarcerated life, this is the program that can do it.

How does inmate shortage affect Cal Fires ability to fight wildfires?

Ten years ago, Schwab said he could order 20 hand crews for help and no one would bat an eye. But now, if he were to go to a wildland fire and try to call in help from 20 crews, the response hed get is, We dont have them.

Hand crews are teams of 15 to 20 firefighters who cut vegetation-free perimeters to prevent flames from spreading. Theyre essential for steep terrain where bulldozers cant safely go. After hiking several miles into a fire zone, crews use chainsaws and hand tools  such as Pulaski axes and McLeod rakehoes  to cut miles of fire line. Those borders help keep the blaze contained so other firefighters can extinguish the flames, often with water from miles of hoses that the hand crews are also in charge of laying out.

In January 2010, close to 4,000 people lived in Californias fire camps. As of early May, only 1,867 of the camps beds were filled.

Sentencing reforms in the past two decades, including credits for good behavior, decreased the inmate population even before the COVID-19 pandemic. The suspension of inmates into state prisons during COVID-19 continued the decline of available inmates for conservation camps.

The administration currently projects that the states prison population will decline by roughly 7 percent between 202324 and 202526, according to a February 2023 report from the Legislative Analysts Office. These declines, should they materialize, likely would result in further reductions to the population housed at conservation camps.

Given the shrinking incarcerated population, Gov. Gavin Newsom closed eight camps as part of the 2020-21 state budget. The closures reduced the total camp capacity to about 3,650 people and permanently cut 40 hand crews from CDCRs ranks.

Of the 152 remaining crews, an average of just 56 were fully staffed and available for statewide response during the 2021 fire year. In 2022, only 48 of those crews were fully staffed. Today, though, the department had 69 crews staffed in the spring, according to spokesperson Tessa Outhyse.

The state also closed the California Correction Center in Susanville in 2022. The Susanville Training Center was responsible for training inmate firefighters for 14 of CDCRs camps. The Sierra Conservation Center in Jamestown is now responsible for providing the majority of trained inmate firefighters.

CDCR has tried to triage the decline in fire camp populations by expanding eligibility to inmates who were traditionally labeled as higher risk. People with certain violent convictions, such as armed robbery or aggravated assault, could apply to live and work in a fire camp so long as they had a track record of good behavior and met other requirements such as education and physical fitness.

Safety helmets rest on the wall inside a sawmill at the Growlersburg Conservation Camp in April. An expansion of CDCRs existing Youth Offender Program allows qualified inmates under the age of 26 to serve their sentences in a conservation camp alongside trained inmate mentors.

To make up for the decline in inmate firefighters, Cal Fire entered partnerships with the California Conservation Corps and the California Military Department to source more hand crews. Last years state budget approved close to $120 million and more than 500 additional positions for Cal Fire, the vast majority of them hand crews. Cal Fire also requested more than $100 million and 270 positions as part of the 2022-23 budget to staff hand crews from the California Conservation Corps and California Military Department

While CDCR inmate firefighters earn about $3 to $5 a day depending on skill level (and an extra $1 an hour when actively fighting fires), members of the California Conservation Corps and California National Guard earn upwards of $15 an hour. CDCR adopted new regulations April 16 that doubled wages for incarcerated workers  firefighters now earn roughly $6 to $10 a day, said CDCR spokesman Todd Javernick.

Cal Fire also now staffs three full-time hand crews of its own, Schwab said. That requires employing 120 firefighters, two battalion chiefs, 11 captains, seven engineers, several cooks and a staff services analyst.

The budget for all those Cal Fire salaries totals about $15 million.

Its a lot of money. An insane amount, Schwab said. Its not a cheap fix, but its a fix.

One silver lining of Cal Fire hiring extra crews is todays inmate firefighters could have a greater chance of landing a seasonal job with Cal Fire after they parole.

Weve diversified our program a little bit recently because of the lack of inmates, said Damon Godden, deputy chief for the hand crew program at Cal Fires Sacramento headquarters. It turns out that by having our own firefighter crews, weve built an avenue for our parolees and ex-inmate firefighters to get jobs with us. So theres a lot of benefits to us diversifying a little bit.

What is life like for an inmate firefighter?

Tucked away in the woods, free of electric fences, barbed wire and guard towers, fire camps are an attractive alternative to traditional prison yards. Instead of wearing shackles and being escorted by guards, inmates at California conservation camps can walk around freely within camp.

For Branden Lee Lerma, Growlersburg is more than a colorful and nature-filled escape from the dull gray walls of prison. It also serves as a safe space where hes able to breathe for once.

Lerma, 23, is from Winters and was was convicted of four felonies in February 2020, when he was just 19. The year before, Lerma participated in two separate robbery plots where he shot the victims, stole their possessions and abandoned them on the side of a road in Solano County. He pleaded no-contest to all four counts and was sentenced to 18 years in state prison.

Lerma said the robberies were obviously poor decisions, but at the time he was going through a lot of traumatic events. He said he had hit rock bottom and instead of seeking help, he allowed his environment and gang affiliations to control him.

He arrived at Growlersburg in November and has so far enjoyed his experience. When not on fire duty, Lerma and his fellow crew members work eight-hour days from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They assist with trail maintenance and restoration, facilitate prescribed burns and cut back overgrowth and foliage to improve visibility along major roadways.

I used to hurt my community, and now I just want to give back, Lerma said. Im tired of destroying. I want to build something with my hands.

Lerma also hopes to shave time off his sentence through his service at the fire camp, although he said that wasnt the sole reason driving him to Growlersburg. As part of Proposition 57, passed by California voters in 2016, inmates can accrue sentence credits by participating in rehabilitative programs. Those who work full-time in fire camps can shave time off their sentence. Lerma has already served four years in prison. Hes on track for parole in about five years, March 2029.

Once he leaves custody, Lerma hopes to find work as a seasonal firefighter for Cal Fire. But he also wants to share his own experience with at-risk youth in his home community and help them learn to manage their emotions and just be better.

If Lerma didnt get into the Growlersburg camp pilot, he said he wouldve continued on with his programming at Valley State Prison. He had plans to become an Offender Mentor and work alongside certified counselors to facilitate substance use disorder treatment. Hes also on track to receive his associates degree in sociology from Lake Tahoe Community College later this year.

The only complaint about Growlersburg Lerma has so far, he said, is the size and quality of the lunch portions  a viewpoint that fellow firefighters and also camp leaders share.

We need some more food, Lerma said. We get hungry.

He described most lunches as a small sandwich  two pieces of white bread with a few slices of bologna  plus an apple. Thats not enough to sustain hours of hard manual labor, Lerma said, plus the hiking that the crews do to get to and from their assigned sites.

In his 14 years at Growlersburg, Camp Commander Lt. Michael Hill says hes never blown the budget. But, this year, he was in the hole $20,000, largely due to food costs. Hill said he was expected to feed each firefighter on $4 a day, an allowance that Hill says hasnt increased since the 1980s. Thats not enough money, in his opinion, to adequately feed a hard-working firefighter whos burning hundreds of calories hiking, sawing and raking all day.

We want the folks from (the Department of) Finance to see that four dollars is not sufficient. Its not gonna get it done, Hill said. Im not going to sacrifice the quality of food when my guys are out here working every single day.

Cal Fire Inmate mentor Alexander Horn, 26, leads Crew 5 as it demonstrates its fire fighting skills in April by cutting a fire break at the Growlersburg Conservation Camp in Georgetown.

Advocates disagree on the ethics of California fire camps

Some advocates question whether inmates actually reap the benefits of fire training once they parole and are searching for jobs in the community. Anyone convicted of more than one felony is automatically banned from receiving an emergency medical technician license, and those with a single felony conviction must wait 10 years after release before theyre eligible.

A 2020 law created a path for former inmate firefighters to apply to expunge their records. But the expungement process is lengthy and difficult to navigate without support, said Amika Mota, a former inmate firefighter at the California Institution for Women who is now executive director of the nonprofit Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition. Firefighting jobs are also notoriously competitive, and ex-inmates are often competing with several other qualified candidates for Cal Fire and municipal jobs.

Were still really, really excluded from entering firefighting careers, Mota said. I just dont feel like its always the most viable work for people who are reentering society.

Additionally, Mota and other critics of the fire camp model argue that decarceration should be the priority, rather than continuing to expand access to the camps. If someone is low enough of a risk to go offsite and fight wildfires, Mota argues, there should be some questioning about whether that person should even be incarcerated.

I have really mixed feelings, as somebody who loved the work that I did when I was incarcerated but 100% will not give an ounce of credit to prison for the change that I made in my life, Mota said. If we are deeming folks safe enough to working in the community, these people are safe enough to be home.

Cal Fire Inmate Crew 5 demonstrates its fire-fighting skills in April by cutting a fire break at the Growlersburg Conservation Camp in Georgetown. The state has relied on inmates to staff its more than 200 hand crews.

Margot Mendelson, executive director of the nonprofit Prison Law Office, says conservation camps and other minimum security facilities have helped improve the quality of life for many of the clients her organization represents. While she and her organization are glad that inmates have the opportunity to live in lower-security settings, Mendelson pointed out that camps walk a fine line between providing rehabilitation through training and exploiting inmates for inexpensive labor.

Asking people to risk their lives fighting fires for paltry wages is unconscionable and should not be tolerated, Mendelson wrote in an email.

In contrast, Esteban Nunez said he wishes he wouldve been eligible for fire camp when he was incarcerated. The current political strategist and lobbyist for the Anti-Recidivism Coalition was excluded from fire camp due to the severity of his convictions  manslaughter and assault. But after former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger famously commuted his sentence, one of Nunezs first jobs out of prison was mentoring youth who were headed for the Pine Grove conservation camp. All of the youth mentees hes talked to who have come home from fire camp have spoken highly of the program.

I do think that fire camps, at least in my experience have really helped a lot of the people that Ive seen come out of it, Nunez said. Theyve come out with good heads on their shoulders.

What will happen to Californias fire camps?

The future of Californias fire camps largely depends on whether CDCR can fill them and prove theyre worth funding even with a tight budget.

The Legislative Analysts Office has suggested the state continue shuttering or repurposing prison facilities as the inmate population continues to decline. Last year, the office recommended the Legislature reject a Newsom administration budget proposal to replace buildings at Growlersburg camp. And, earlier this year, analysts estimated the state could shut down five additional prisons and save $1 billion annually.

Mota said she would like to see fewer barriers for formerly incarcerated firefighters so they have a better chance at landing jobs after they leave prison. The Ventura Training Center for parolees is an intriguing solution that she hopes could provide a direct path to jobs for people after they leave fire camps. Above all though, Mota said decarceration should be the top priority. In particular, the idea of expanding access to inmates under the age of 26 feels sticky and uncomfortable to her.

I dont think CDCR is the right entity to be holding our young folks, Mota said.

She fears the state might use understaffed Cal Fire crews as a justification for keeping low-risk inmates in prison rather than allowing them to return to their communities.

We are not free. Even though we can see the trees and breathe the air, and yes thats a blessing compared to those cement walls were used to, its not freedom, Mota said. Its a step in that direction, but its not freedom.

On the other side, Nunez believes fire camps present the ultimate opportunity for restorative justice. Allowing inmates to protect their communities from wildfires, as well as perform rescue operations and maintain public lands, gives them a different understanding of what it means to protect your community, Nunez said, and on the flip side, what it means to harm your community.

Even though the state has come a long way since he got out of prison, Nunez wants to see more pathways open for parolees to secure firefighting and forestry jobs. He also hopes state lawmakers continue fully funding and supporting the fire camp program.

It provides hope that somebody partaking in this program can do enough to be accepted back into the community, right? To do enough, to prevent enough harm, that it can make up for the harm they caused. That helps rid people of their shame, and it allows people to be the best versions of themselves.
California has long depended on incarcerated people to battle wildfires.

Since the end of World War II, the state has relied on inmates to staff its more than 200 hand crews deployed each fire season to lay hoses and help contain the blazes by cutting fire lines free of vegetation.

But a steady decline in the states prison population due to sentencing reform has left many of Californias minimum security conservation camps operating at half capacity or less. And as the 2024 fire season kicks into high gear, Cal Fire is short 110 of its 236 budgeted hand crews. Only 126 crews were fully staffed as of Thursday, the agency formally known as the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.

Hand crews are truly what extinguishes wildland fires, said Erich Schwab, division chief for Cal Fires AEU sector, which responds to blazes in Sacramento, El Dorado, Amador and Alpine counties. And we dont have enough of those in the state right now.

Most viable solutions to the hand crew shortage are far more expensive than inmate hand crews  a daunting prospect given the states estimated $45 billion budget problem.

But the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation hopes a new two-year pilot targeted at younger inmates will help revive the conservation camp model and boost the pipeline for hand crew laborers.

An expansion of CDCRs existing Youth Offender Program allows qualified inmates under the age of 26 to serve their sentences in a conservation camp alongside trained inmate mentors. CDCR said the purpose of the program is to promote rehabilitation and provide important job skills. The program still excludes inmates who have a history of escape or are convicted of murder, arson or sexual assault.

Cal Fire Inmate Michael Nguyen, second from left, lines up his Crew 5 team members as they demonstrate their skills at the Growlersburg Conservation Camp in Georgetown in March. The California Department of Corrections is piloting a new Youth Offender Program where inmates between under age 26 who have more severe sentences on their record are eligible for fire camps on a case-by-case basis.

The first group of 30 inmate participants and their mentors arrived at Growlersburg Conservation Camp in Georgetown last November. All came from Valley State Prison in Chowchilla, which claims to be leading the charge on implementing the more rehabilitative California Model of incarceration.

Capt. Fred Money, CDCRs liaison for conservation camps, told reporters in March that inmate firefighters can absolutely be hired by Cal Fire after they leave on parole. Money said he would be retired today if it wasnt for the camp program. Hes a firm believer in the power of the conservation camp model.

I love this program, and theres work that we can do with it still, Money told reporters at Growlersburg camp. Without a doubt, if there is a program within the state that can help somebody go from an incarcerated life to never coming back to an incarcerated life, this is the program that can do it.

How does inmate shortage affect Cal Fires ability to fight wildfires?

Ten years ago, Schwab said he could order 20 hand crews for help and no one would bat an eye. But now, if he were to go to a wildland fire and try to call in help from 20 crews, the response hed get is, We dont have them.

Hand crews are teams of 15 to 20 firefighters who cut vegetation-free perimeters to prevent flames from spreading. Theyre essential for steep terrain where bulldozers cant safely go. After hiking several miles into a fire zone, crews use chainsaws and hand tools  such as Pulaski axes and McLeod rakehoes  to cut miles of fire line. Those borders help keep the blaze contained so other firefighters can extinguish the flames, often with water from miles of hoses that the hand crews are also in charge of laying out.

In January 2010, close to 4,000 people lived in Californias fire camps. As of early May, only 1,867 of the camps beds were filled.

Sentencing reforms in the past two decades, including credits for good behavior, decreased the inmate population even before the COVID-19 pandemic. The suspension of inmates into state prisons during COVID-19 continued the decline of available inmates for conservation camps.

The administration currently projects that the states prison population will decline by roughly 7 percent between 202324 and 202526, according to a February 2023 report from the Legislative Analysts Office. These declines, should they materialize, likely would result in further reductions to the population housed at conservation camps.

Given the shrinking incarcerated population, Gov. Gavin Newsom closed eight camps as part of the 2020-21 state budget. The closures reduced the total camp capacity to about 3,650 people and permanently cut 40 hand crews from CDCRs ranks.

Of the 152 remaining crews, an average of just 56 were fully staffed and available for statewide response during the 2021 fire year. In 2022, only 48 of those crews were fully staffed. Today, though, the department had 69 crews staffed in the spring, according to spokesperson Tessa Outhyse.

The state also closed the California Correction Center in Susanville in 2022. The Susanville Training Center was responsible for training inmate firefighters for 14 of CDCRs camps. The Sierra Conservation Center in Jamestown is now responsible for providing the majority of trained inmate firefighters.

CDCR has tried to triage the decline in fire camp populations by expanding eligibility to inmates who were traditionally labeled as higher risk. People with certain violent convictions, such as armed robbery or aggravated assault, could apply to live and work in a fire camp so long as they had a track record of good behavior and met other requirements such as education and physical fitness.

Safety helmets rest on the wall inside a sawmill at the Growlersburg Conservation Camp in April. An expansion of CDCRs existing Youth Offender Program allows qualified inmates under the age of 26 to serve their sentences in a conservation camp alongside trained inmate mentors.

To make up for the decline in inmate firefighters, Cal Fire entered partnerships with the California Conservation Corps and the California Military Department to source more hand crews. Last years state budget approved close to $120 million and more than 500 additional positions for Cal Fire, the vast majority of them hand crews. Cal Fire also requested more than $100 million and 270 positions as part of the 2022-23 budget to staff hand crews from the California Conservation Corps and California Military Department

While CDCR inmate firefighters earn about $3 to $5 a day depending on skill level (and an extra $1 an hour when actively fighting fires), members of the California Conservation Corps and California National Guard earn upwards of $15 an hour. CDCR adopted new regulations April 16 that doubled wages for incarcerated workers  firefighters now earn roughly $6 to $10 a day, said CDCR spokesman Todd Javernick.

Cal Fire also now staffs three full-time hand crews of its own, Schwab said. That requires employing 120 firefighters, two battalion chiefs, 11 captains, seven engineers, several cooks and a staff services analyst.

The budget for all those Cal Fire salaries totals about $15 million.

Its a lot of money. An insane amount, Schwab said. Its not a cheap fix, but its a fix.

One silver lining of Cal Fire hiring extra crews is todays inmate firefighters could have a greater chance of landing a seasonal job with Cal Fire after they parole.

Weve diversified our program a little bit recently because of the lack of inmates, said Damon Godden, deputy chief for the hand crew program at Cal Fires Sacramento headquarters. It turns out that by having our own firefighter crews, weve built an avenue for our parolees and ex-inmate firefighters to get jobs with us. So theres a lot of benefits to us diversifying a little bit.

What is life like for an inmate firefighter?

Tucked away in the woods, free of electric fences, barbed wire and guard towers, fire camps are an attractive alternative to traditional prison yards. Instead of wearing shackles and being escorted by guards, inmates at California conservation camps can walk around freely within camp.

For Branden Lee Lerma, Growlersburg is more than a colorful and nature-filled escape from the dull gray walls of prison. It also serves as a safe space where hes able to breathe for once.

Lerma, 23, is from Winters and was was convicted of four felonies in February 2020, when he was just 19. The year before, Lerma participated in two separate robbery plots where he shot the victims, stole their possessions and abandoned them on the side of a road in Solano County. He pleaded no-contest to all four counts and was sentenced to 18 years in state prison.

Lerma said the robberies were obviously poor decisions, but at the time he was going through a lot of traumatic events. He said he had hit rock bottom and instead of seeking help, he allowed his environment and gang affiliations to control him.

He arrived at Growlersburg in November and has so far enjoyed his experience. When not on fire duty, Lerma and his fellow crew members work eight-hour days from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They assist with trail maintenance and restoration, facilitate prescribed burns and cut back overgrowth and foliage to improve visibility along major roadways.

I used to hurt my community, and now I just want to give back, Lerma said. Im tired of destroying. I want to build something with my hands.

Lerma also hopes to shave time off his sentence through his service at the fire camp, although he said that wasnt the sole reason driving him to Growlersburg. As part of Proposition 57, passed by California voters in 2016, inmates can accrue sentence credits by participating in rehabilitative programs. Those who work full-time in fire camps can shave time off their sentence. Lerma has already served four years in prison. Hes on track for parole in about five years, March 2029.

Once he leaves custody, Lerma hopes to find work as a seasonal firefighter for Cal Fire. But he also wants to share his own experience with at-risk youth in his home community and help them learn to manage their emotions and just be better.

If Lerma didnt get into the Growlersburg camp pilot, he said he wouldve continued on with his programming at Valley State Prison. He had plans to become an Offender Mentor and work alongside certified counselors to facilitate substance use disorder treatment. Hes also on track to receive his associates degree in sociology from Lake Tahoe Community College later this year.

The only complaint about Growlersburg Lerma has so far, he said, is the size and quality of the lunch portions  a viewpoint that fellow firefighters and also camp leaders share.

We need some more food, Lerma said. We get hungry.

He described most lunches as a small sandwich  two pieces of white bread with a few slices of bologna  plus an apple. Thats not enough to sustain hours of hard manual labor, Lerma said, plus the hiking that the crews do to get to and from their assigned sites.

In his 14 years at Growlersburg, Camp Commander Lt. Michael Hill says hes never blown the budget. But, this year, he was in the hole $20,000, largely due to food costs. Hill said he was expected to feed each firefighter on $4 a day, an allowance that Hill says hasnt increased since the 1980s. Thats not enough money, in his opinion, to adequately feed a hard-working firefighter whos burning hundreds of calories hiking, sawing and raking all day.

We want the folks from (the Department of) Finance to see that four dollars is not sufficient. Its not gonna get it done, Hill said. Im not going to sacrifice the quality of food when my guys are out here working every single day.

Cal Fire Inmate mentor Alexander Horn, 26, leads Crew 5 as it demonstrates its fire fighting skills in April by cutting a fire break at the Growlersburg Conservation Camp in Georgetown.

Advocates disagree on the ethics of California fire camps

Some advocates question whether inmates actually reap the benefits of fire training once they parole and are searching for jobs in the community. Anyone convicted of more than one felony is automatically banned from receiving an emergency medical technician license, and those with a single felony conviction must wait 10 years after release before theyre eligible.

A 2020 law created a path for former inmate firefighters to apply to expunge their records. But the expungement process is lengthy and difficult to navigate without support, said Amika Mota, a former inmate firefighter at the California Institution for Women who is now executive director of the nonprofit Sister Warriors Freedom Coalition. Firefighting jobs are also notoriously competitive, and ex-inmates are often competing with several other qualified candidates for Cal Fire and municipal jobs.

Were still really, really excluded from entering firefighting careers, Mota said. I just dont feel like its always the most viable work for people who are reentering society.

Additionally, Mota and other critics of the fire camp model argue that decarceration should be the priority, rather than continuing to expand access to the camps. If someone is low enough of a risk to go offsite and fight wildfires, Mota argues, there should be some questioning about whether that person should even be incarcerated.

I have really mixed feelings, as somebody who loved the work that I did when I was incarcerated but 100% will not give an ounce of credit to prison for the change that I made in my life, Mota said. If we are deeming folks safe enough to working in the community, these people are safe enough to be home.

Cal Fire Inmate Crew 5 demonstrates its fire-fighting skills in April by cutting a fire break at the Growlersburg Conservation Camp in Georgetown. The state has relied on inmates to staff its more than 200 hand crews.

Margot Mendelson, executive director of the nonprofit Prison Law Office, says conservation camps and other minimum security facilities have helped improve the quality of life for many of the clients her organization represents. While she and her organization are glad that inmates have the opportunity to live in lower-security settings, Mendelson pointed out that camps walk a fine line between providing rehabilitation through training and exploiting inmates for inexpensive labor.

Asking people to risk their lives fighting fires for paltry wages is unconscionable and should not be tolerated, Mendelson wrote in an email.

In contrast, Esteban Nunez said he wishes he wouldve been eligible for fire camp when he was incarcerated. The current political strategist and lobbyist for the Anti-Recidivism Coalition was excluded from fire camp due to the severity of his convictions  manslaughter and assault. But after former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger famously commuted his sentence, one of Nunezs first jobs out of prison was mentoring youth who were headed for the Pine Grove conservation camp. All of the youth mentees hes talked to who have come home from fire camp have spoken highly of the program.

I do think that fire camps, at least in my experience have really helped a lot of the people that Ive seen come out of it, Nunez said. Theyve come out with good heads on their shoulders.

What will happen to Californias fire camps?

The future of Californias fire camps largely depends on whether CDCR can fill them and prove theyre worth funding even with a tight budget.

The Legislative Analysts Office has suggested the state continue shuttering or repurposing prison facilities as the inmate population continues to decline. Last year, the office recommended the Legislature reject a Newsom administration budget proposal to replace buildings at Growlersburg camp. And, earlier this year, analysts estimated the state could shut down five additional prisons and save $1 billion annually.

Mota said she would like to see fewer barriers for formerly incarcerated firefighters so they have a better chance at landing jobs after they leave prison. The Ventura Training Center for parolees is an intriguing solution that she hopes could provide a direct path to jobs for people after they leave fire camps. Above all though, Mota said decarceration should be the top priority. In particular, the idea of expanding access to inmates under the age of 26 feels sticky and uncomfortable to her.

I dont think CDCR is the right entity to be holding our young folks, Mota said.

She fears the state might use understaffed Cal Fire crews as a justification for keeping low-risk inmates in prison rather than allowing them to return to their communities.

We are not free. Even though we can see the trees and breathe the air, and yes thats a blessing compared to those cement walls were used to, its not freedom, Mota said. Its a step in that direction, but its not freedom.

On the other side, Nunez believes fire camps present the ultimate opportunity for restorative justice. Allowing inmates to protect their communities from wildfires, as well as perform rescue operations and maintain public lands, gives them a different understanding of what it means to protect your community, Nunez said, and on the flip side, what it means to harm your community.

Even though the state has come a long way since he got out of prison, Nunez wants to see more pathways open for parolees to secure firefighting and forestry jobs. He also hopes state lawmakers continue fully funding and supporting the fire camp program.

It provides hope that somebody partaking in this program can do enough to be accepted back into the community, right? To do enough, to prevent enough harm, that it can make up for the harm they caused. That helps rid people of their shame, and it allows people to be the best versions of themselves.

Cal Fire Inmate Crew 5 demonstrates its skills at the Growlersburg Conservation Camp last month in Georgetown. CDCR and Cal Fire are praising the Youth Offender Program as a great success and would like to see it expand to other facilities.
A medical school planning to build a $1 billion Natomas hospital using a city of Sacramento financial incentive is facing another lawsuit.

California Northstate University, an Elk Grove-based for-profit medical school, is being sued by a former professor alleging that the university was at fault for a major 2023 data breach.

The lawsuit, filed April 29 in federal court, alleged that a ransomware group in February 2023 stole W-2 tax forms from former professor Erika Titus-Lay as well as from thousands of former and current employees and students. The lawsuit alleged Titus W-2 was published on the dark web, and that cybercriminals filed a fraudulent tax return in her name. It also alleged the university did not notify the people whose data was stolen for months.

California Northstate spokesman Doug Elmets declined comment for this story; city spokesman Tim Swanson did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Its the latest setback for the university, which has been facing a series of issues spanning several years.

In 2019, an accrediting agency gave the school provisional accreditation, a step down from full accreditation. That same year, a state agency ordered the university to cease offering two programs designed to fast track students into careers in medicine. In 2022, the accrediting agency placed the school on probation for undisclosed reasons. As of Wednesday, it remained on probation.

The school has also been hit with a series of lawsuits. Three students in 2021 filed a class action lawsuit alleging the university committed fraud when it promised medical school admission to students who had enrolled in an undergrad program, then denied their admission. That lawsuit is still active.

The schools issues face a higher level of public scrutiny because the city plans to award a sizable financial incentive for the school to build the Natomas hospital. The $1 billion hospital, at the former Sleep Train Arena site, is planned to receive a so-called enhanced infrastructure financing district.

Under that mechanism, new property tax revenue that would normally go toward the coffers of the city, facing a $66 million budget deficit, is redirected toward helping the developer fund the project  paying for infrastructure such as roads, stormwater and sewer improvements. The city recently approved a financing district of up to $30 million for the UC Davis Aggie Square project in Oak Park.

The council took a step toward the financial incentive last month, a day after Titus-Lay filed her lawsuit, but it has not yet taken the vote to approve it.

In 2022, Councilwoman Katie Valenzuela and other council members grilled the universitys president Dr. Alvin Cheung on whether the hospital will become a nonprofit, whether it will accept Medi-Cal patients and whether it will allow its staff to unionize.

Valenzuela pressed Cheung again to commit to language that would make it easier for hospital workers to unionize  called card check neutrality  during the April 30 meeting.

I know you run hospitals so I know you know what it means what it takes to work with workers and have these agreements in place so it shouldnt be new, Valenzuela told Cheung during the meeting. Theres a certain baseline we should expect of everyone who gets money from the city and this is one of them.

Cheung said, Im open to do discussion.

Councilwoman Lisa Kaplan, who represents Natomas, said she didnt want to add the union language to the April 30 motion but wants to in the future.

That language should be in with the hospital plans but I dont feel it is appropriate or legal to put it in with the EIFD, Kaplan said.

The hospital  which will be 11 to 14 stories and include 250 to 500 patient beds  is expected to take about eight years to build. It will also include housing, park space and a child care center.

A data breach has hit at least one other Sacramento area hospital recently. Sutter Health announced last year over 800,000 patients had their personal information compromised from a ransomware attack.
Former President Donald Trump's conviction Thursday spurred an avalanche of reactions from some of California's leading political figures in the hours following the jury's historic announcement.

As the most populous state in the nation and a Democratic stronghold, the Golden State has brandished itself a cradle of Democrat-led MAGA opposition ever since the 2016 election. Though the state has a Democratic super-majority, a handful of Republican-held districts are expected to be among the tightest and most consequential races in the bid for House control.

Any impacts of Trump's conviction in these districts are unclear at this point, but a steady trickle of comments from Republican and Democratic party leaders may offer a glimpse into how the verdict will play into in campaign messaging aimed at undecided and moderate voters.

Former President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media on May 30, 2024, following his hush money trial in New York, where he was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial.

More: Trump guilty, now what? Why the verdict isn't the most shocking part of the trial

California GOP, Democratic party leaders weigh in on Trump verdict

California Republican Party Chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson called the decision a "dark day," alleging a "politically-motivated case brought by a far-left district attorney" in a statement released a few hours after Trump's 34-count guilty verdict was read.

Despite Democrat-led efforts to interfere with the presidential election, Americans will have the final say this November when they re-elect President Trump and send him back to the White House to fix the many failures of the Biden administration and put our nation on a pathway to success," Patterson said.

Claims popularized by Trump and his allies in the Republican Party of election interference, rigging and other types of fraud have been repeatedly disproved by independent experts and election officials.

More: Don't be fooled: 5 types of misinformation we expect this election season

The state's Democratic party chair Rusty Hicks released his own statement on the verdict as well, striking a jubilant tone in stark contrast to Patterson's "dark day."

"Today, the People of New York have returned a guilty verdict and rendered Donald Trump a convicted felon," Hicks said in a statement on X. "In November, the American People will render him a two-time loser for President. And California Democrats are going to do our part to make it so."

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 29: Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at the California GOP Fall convention on September 29, 2023 in Anaheim, California. Presidential candidates set to speak at the convention include former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott, and entrepreneur, Vivek Ramaswamy. The event takes place from September 29 through October 1. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 776038048 ORIG FILE ID: 1697758353

Candidates for California's U.S. Senate seat Schiff and Garvey

In California's race to fill the late-Dianne Feinstein's Senate seat, Trump's shadow looms large over Republican candidate Steve Garvey, who has repeatedly refused to clarify his level of support for the former president. While Trump is a potential poison pill for the Republican candidate in deep-blue California, it's long been a political rallying cry for his opponent.

Congressman Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, catapulted onto the national stage for leading the prosecution in Trump's first impeachment trial. In debates before the March 5 primary, he often brought up Trump's name, echoing many other leading Democrats in positioning himself as a bulwark against Trump an MAGA Republicanism.

More: Trump found guilty in hush money trial ahead of convention, November election. What's next?

More: How will Donald Trump's guilty verdict hit his reelection bid? Is his political fallout here?

Schiff celebrated the Manhattan jury's decision in a Thursday post on X, formerly Twitter, minutes after the verdict.

"Today, twelve ordinary American citizens found a former president guilty of dozens of felonies," Schiff said in the Thursday post. "Despite his efforts to distract, delay, and deny  justice arrived for Donald Trump all the same. And the rule of law prevailed."

As of Thursday afternoon, Garvey has not released public comment on the verdict.

Steve Garvey, Republican candidate for the open California U.S. Senate gestures to the crowd during his election night watch party in Palm Desert, Calif., on Super Tuesday., March 5, 2024.

California's House members take to social media

Republican Tom McClintock, representing the 5th Congressional District in the Central Valley and Sierra Nevada Foothills, said the verdict "perverts the rule of law." In his post on X, he calls the prosecutor "poisonously partisan" and the jury pool "contaminated."

Republican Doug LaMalfa called it a "miscarriage of justice," mirroring McClintock and Patterson in claiming the prosecution was partisan. He went one step further, claiming the judge "purposely rigged the entire process" to ensure a guilty verdict.

Democrat Eric Swallwell said on the social media platform Thursday that Trump's conviction is a win for the rule of law and for "the idea that we all follow the same rules."

One of California's two ranking House Democrats, Rep. Ted Lieu, said on X: "In America, no one is above the law: not the rich, not the powerful, and certainly not any former President of the United States."

Kathryn Palmer is an elections fellow for USA TODAY. Reach her at kapalmer@gannett.com and follow her on X @KathrynPlmr.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Reaction to Donald Trump hush money trial verdict in California
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov met with the Commander of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Chief of General Staff Asim Munir, within the framework of his official visit to Pakistan on May 30, 2024, Trend reports.

The prospects of cooperation between the two countries in the defense and military spheres, as well as issues of cooperation between the specialized structures of the two countries in the field of defense industry, were discussed during the meeting.

Bayramov emphasized the importance of mutual visits and close contacts between Azerbaijan and brotherly Pakistan for cooperation in the military-technical sphere.

Additionally, the importance of bilateral as well as trilateral military exercises in the Azerbaijan-Turkiye-Pakistan format was emphasized for increasing the efficiency of interaction between the armed forces of the two countries, as well as the exchange of experience between the relevant branches of the armed forces.

Jeyhun Bayramov also informed the interlocutor about the peace agenda and the process of normalizing relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as the latest agreements reached in the process of the return of four Azerbaijani villages and the delimitation of a certain section of the border.

The meeting exchanged views on other bilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
California woman arrested again for attempting to kidnap children at park

LOS ANGELES (KTLA)  A California woman who was previously arrested on suspicion of kidnapping a child from a Target store was arrested again Tuesday on similar charges.

The woman was identified as Yara Vanessa Pineda, 27, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.

Officers responded to Seoul International Park in Koreatown at around 5:14 p.m., after witnesses said Pineda had approached several children at the park playground and picked them up, but let them go after being confronted by their parents.

The woman was reportedly seen fighting with the parents when they told her to leave.

Photo of Yara Vanessa Pineda, 27, wanted in connection with an alleged attempted kidnapping on Feb. 25, 2024, in L.A. (LAPD)

Photo of Yara Vanessa Pineda, 27, wanted in connection with an alleged attempted kidnapping on Feb. 25, 2024, in L.A. (LAPD)

Seoul International Park located on the 3200 block of San Marino Street in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles. (KTLA)

A witness captured the moment Yara Vanessa Pineda was arrested for attempted kidnapping at Seoul International Park on May 28, 2024.

Seoul International Park located on the 3200 block of San Marino Street in the Koreatown neighborhood of Los Angeles. (KTLA)

LAPD Community Alert notification on Feb. 25, 2024. (LAPD)

Witnesses recalled the frightening scene as the woman continued running around the park.

There was a crazy lady running around and she was picking up little kids and the kids were running from her, recalled a young boy named Anwar. They got scared. She was catching them and running away with them. She asked me for candy and I said, No! and I ran away.

Anwar said the woman picked up his sister and later pushed her to the ground.

New battery technology alerts parents if a child swallows it

A parent, Alberto Lopez, recalls intervening when the woman tried to grab his young son.

She looked homeless, Lopez said. I said, Dont touch my boy, and she tried but I said, Dont touch him!'

I just saw the lady and she creeped from the back and grabbed [my son] and I just screamed and she let him go, another parent recalled. I almost had a heart attack. I was scared. I just screamed.

Parents called the police and kept an eye on her while awaiting their arrival. Pineda fled the area before officers could arrive. An LAPD airship spotted the woman running from the park toward Normandie Avenue.

Officers confronted her and a taser was eventually used to subdue her and take her into custody. When police arrived, Pineda was seen throwing her bags at them and spitting at them, witnesses said.

Pineda was taken into custody on kidnapping charges.

What is cyber kidnapping and how can you protect yourself?

Pineda was previously arrested on Feb. 25 for allegedly trying to kidnap a 4-year-old boy from a Target store in Westlake.

During that incident, Pineda allegedly grabbed the boy from behind and carried him out of the store before putting the child down after being confronted by his parents.

The boys family told police they did not know the woman. She was released from jail about a week before the latest park incident, according to public records.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Former Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell at a Biden campaign event in Phoenix on May 30, 2024. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

Two former U.S. Capitol Police officers who carry with them physical and mental reminders of the violence they encountered at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 stopped in Phoenix Thursday to campaign for President Joe Biden.

Sgt. Aquilino Gonell and Officer Harry Dunn gathered with local Democrats at the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees headquarters in Phoenix to share their personal experiences on Jan. 6, 2021, and to urge accountability for perpetrators of political violence.

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Gonell was stationed that day at a tunnel entrance by the Lower West Terrace of the Capitol that became a focal point for violent clashes that turned deadly.

Police engaged in a tumultuous three-hour battle with rioters at the tunnel, who were attempting to breach the Capitol, some brandishing weapons like sledgehammers and poles. Gonell recalled for Arizona journalists on Thursday being hit by a flagpole wielded by one of the rioters in the tunnel.

Multiple officers were injured, dragged and beaten in the tunnel as police and rioters exchanged blows and chemical agents.

His colleague, Dunn, was brought into the Capitol from outside to help injured officers and guard then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosis office. He has said in interviews that he bloodied his knuckles during clashes with rioters throughout the day. Dunn unsuccessfully ran for Congress in Maryland as a Democrat this year.

In an exclusive interview with the Arizona Mirror, the two men talked about their concerns for the country should former President Donald Trump get elected again, political violence and the countrys divided opinions on the events of Jan. 6.

Both men stressed that accountability for what happened on Jan. 6 is necessary to deter future political violence. Gonell was attacked by more than 40 different rioters throughout the day and he has testified in more than 20 cases against people who attacked him and his fellow officers.

But both Dunn and Gonell said that not only should the rioters be liable for their actions, but so should those who helped incite and provide the avenue for them to commit those crimes. Both men said they hope that Trump is held legally accountable for his role in the Jan. 6 riot.

Republican Arizona state Sens. Janae Shamp and Anthony Kern both were present at the Capitol that day, with Shamp near the tunnel during some of the more violent clashes.

Kern later invited Jacob Chansley, the QAnon Shaman who was considered by some to be the face of the Capitol riot, to be a special guest of the legislature.

They got into a position of power even though the state could have held them accountable, Gonell said when asked for his thoughts on the two state senators. Gonell said he would have liked to see Arizona treat the two senators the same way New Mexico treated Couy Griffin, who was removed from office as a county commissioner because of his participation in an insurrection.

Some have made attempts to do the same to lawmakers in Arizona, but those attempts have failed in court.

Dunn and Gonell also stressed that politicians are still actively creating an atmosphere ripe for political violence, like what was seen on Jan. 6, to flourish.

Theyre downplaying violence, Dunn said, citing statements by U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican who has said if she was in charge of the events of Jan. 6, they would have won, later claiming it was a sarcastic joke.

Donald Trump is the same, Gonell added. Hes dangling pardons.

The former president has said that, if he is reelected, he would pardon those who participated in the riots that day, something that Dunn and Gonell both said gives people the false impression that they can willfully break the law.

Dunn said that rhetoric is also creating an environment of fear. But rather than give into that fear, he said that people should use it as motivation.

We have to make the process of voting seamless and secure, Gonell said, adding that fears of alleged voter fraud are creating political violence in the form of voter intimidation. In Arizona, ballot drop boxes during the mid-terms became a contentious point as armed men  fueled by misinformation about non-existent widespread voter fraud  watched over them and recorded those who were dropping off their ballots.

Gonell, who fought with the Army in Afghanistan, said that everyone has the right to vote and that voting is one of the only cures for political violence. But false narratives around the process undermine faith in elections.

I dont win and you dont see me burning down the lotto, Gonell said about the way some voters are reacting to the process.

This fear is real, Dunn said of voter concerns heading into the 2024 general election. Were literally on the brink of dictatorship or democracy.

The two each said they believe they can help voters make competent decisions by continuing to tell their stories of what happened that day, even as conspiracy theories around the riot continue to flourish online.

January 6 shouldnt have happened, and it happened in broad daylight, Gonell said. The former sergeant carries around a piece of broken glass from the Capitol building in a small wooden frame with him wherever he goes as a reminder, beyond his physical and mental injuries, of what happened on that day.

Not on our watch, Dunn said when asked about the public forgetting about the events of Jan. 6.

***CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story said that Harry Dunn was currently running for Congress, but he ended his campaign earlier this year.

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The post Capitol police officers who battled Trump-backing insurrectionists stumped for Biden in Phoenix appeared first on Arizona Mirror.
Carjacking suspect in Southern California turns himself in to police

A man from Pasadena accused of a carjacking in Ventura County is in custody after turning himself in, authorities announced this week.

Officials at the Ventura County Sheriffs Office said that on May 17, Ismael Arellano approached a 34-year-old woman at an In-N-Out Burger in the 1300 block of Ventura Boulevard in Camarillo under the pretense of needing to use her cellphone.

Subsequently, the suspect used force to take the victims vehicle keys and drove off with the stolen vehicle, a VCSO news release stated.

Arellano, investigators later learned, was on active parole for assault with a deadly weapon at the time of the carjacking.

The victims vehicle was found abandoned days later in downtown L.A. near the Los Angeles Police Department where the 28-year-old had voluntarily turned himself in.

Carjacking suspect in SoCal turns himself in to police

Arellano was arrested by LAPD, and his parole was revoked.

After authorities in Ventura issued an arrest warrant for him, he was taken into custody on May 23 at the L.A. County Jail and transferred to the Ventura County Sheriffs Office pre-trial detention facility.

He has since been charged by the Ventura County District Attorneys Office with felony carjacking, possession of stolen property and unlawful taking of a vehicle. He remains in custody on $200,000 bail.

He is due to appear in court on June 5.

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CARTHAGE, Mo.  Its official: Carthage City Administrator, Greg Dagnan has been fired.

Mayor Dan Rife notified Dagnan Thursday (5/30) that on the advice of his attorney  he was going to allow the councils decision to fire him, stand.

Rifes attorney said he believes the citys charter should be interpreted to mean either the mayor or the council could fire the city administrator.

In essence, the newly elected council members, whose mission it was to get rid of Dagnan, will get their way.

Greg has worked hard for the people of Carthage for more than 15 years and has stood up for good government. The petition he has filed in court speaks for itself. We look forward to a judge and jury hearing the case. Statement from Dagnans attorney, Aaron Hadlow

Dagnan filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against the city two weeks ago. In that lawsuit, Dagnan says he was targeted because he reported theft of city funds by city employees and other wrongdoing on the councils part. Dagnan says his reputation has been damaged during this process.

The council is still scheduled to hold an impeachment hearing to get rid of Mayor Rife. That hearing is supposed to take place on June 5.

Thursday evening we caught up with Councilmember Lori Leece and Mayor Rife:

He (Dagnan) doesnt blame me for this. I didnt fire him. I wouldnt fire him and he knows that, but at this point, sadly, I dont have the means to stop it, said Mayor Rife.

I just dont want the wrong thing done to people, just because somebody doesnt trust somebody. Ive asked multiple times for them to just give me a reason why. I have pleaded for them to give me a reason why, and nobody has given me an answer, said Councilmember Leece.

Dagnan declined comment Thursday because of the litigation. No other council members would go on camera.

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A new type of cat coat color has officially been discovered.

Named salmiak, or salty liquorice, the cats have hair strands that start out black, and become white the further they grown from the follicle.

It turns out the unique color is caused by a recessive genetic mutation, rather than the expression of a gene known to turn cats white.

Youve probably heard of spooky black cats, chaotic orange cats, and distinguished-looking tuxedo cats. If youre really into cats, you might have even lesser-known color variants like seal point and ticked tabby. But theres officially a new cat color in town salmiak, or salty liquorice.

The pretty black, white, and grey shadenamed for a popular snack food in Finland, where this coat color has been making itself knownis thanks to a fur strand that starts off black near the root, but grows whiter and whiter out towards the tip. The coat was first spotted in 2007, and in 2019, it was brought to the attention of a group of cat experts lead by feline geneticist Heidi Anderson. Since then, the group has been trying to figure out exactly what causes this shade to express itself, and recently, they finally figured it out. A paper on the discovery has been published in the journal Animal Genetics.

When youre digging into cat colorsor expressions of genetic traits in general, honestlyyou start with the obvious and work your way out. So, the researchers naturally started by assuming that this new variant was just a fun way for the white-making dilution gene to make itself known.

See, technically speaking, cats only come in two colorsblack and orange. Any other color is either a combination of those two colors, a faded version of one of those colors (which is caused by the dilution gene) or both. So, when experts started seeing salt-and-pepper kitties running around, the natural assumption was that these were an interesting new expression of the dilution gene coming into play. Add a little more white than usual to your standard black cat, and you get salty liquorice.

But after digging through all the known genetic variations that control the expression of that dilution gene in coat color, the team came up empty. So, they took the next stepsequencing the entire genome of two of these special felines and digging through the whole mess of genetic data to find what was causing these new coats to appear.

It turns out that the answer was in what wasnt there. There was a huge chunk of sequence missing downstream from the KIT gene, Anderson told New Scientist, referencing a gene known to affect white patterns in the coats of animals. And these cats were just missing a piece of DNA right nearby.

After testing 181 cats to make sure they knew what they were seeing, the team was able to confirm that the missing sequence was in fact responsible for the salmiak coat color. And the mutation was recessivethe cat would only express this color if it inherited the mutation from both parents, which explains why this coloration isnt a common one.

Now that theyve solved the mystery, the team is happy to sit back and admire their pretty kitties along with the rest of the world. These coats have aroused a lot of admiration for years, Anderson told New Scientist. Its really exciting that we now have some genetic explanation for it.

But theyre not just putting their feet up. According to a blog post written by Anderson, the solving of this puzzle both enriches our understanding of feline coat color genetics and could be valuable for breeding efforts, potentially contributing to the preservation of this trait in our feline companions.



Hopefully, well continue to see these fancy felines for years to come.

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CEDAR CITY, Utah (ABC4)  Major changes are coming to the Cedar City Regional Airport as work begins on a 10-month expansion project to give the airport its first major improvement in nearly 20 years.

The airport will remain open during the ambitious expansion project and will continue to fly daily to Salt Lake City through SkyWest Airlines.

The $5.2 million project, which is mainly funded by the Federal Aviation Administration, will provide numerous improvements. These improvements include an upgrade to the airports security system, a new screening machine for passengers and adding a new area for advanced screening equipment.

Aside from security, the airport will also improve the passenger experience when flying out of Cedar City. The project will add a new passenger gate, quadruple the seating capacity after the security checkpoint, add two new restrooms and install a new roller system for baggage claim. Finally, a new vending area and a service animal relief station will be available for passengers after going through security.

Provo Airport adds American Airlines to fleet of carriers with flights to Arizona, Texas

Our current amenities and seating have exceeded our daily need for quite a while, said Airport Manager Tyler Galetka. These new improvements will not only provide our guests with an elevated experience but will give us the space we need pending any future air service expansion.

In a press release, Galetka said a pilot shortage created by the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on expanding essential air service at the airport. Still, it remains a top priority for the Cedar City Council.

Cedar City Mayor Garth O. Green explained that Cedar City is a gateway to adventure in Southern Utah, due to its proximity to many of Utahs Might Five National Parks.

We dont do anything special to tell people to move here or visit here, said Green. People visit because of our location and access to the outdoors and its our job to maintain the quality of life for all, which includes providing a great experience at our Airport.

New two-story liquor store opening in downtown Salt Lake City

Airport staff and city officials started the expansion project on Tuesday, May 28. While there may be some dust from the expansion, the airport does not expect any major impacts or flight interruptions.

The expansion project is scheduled to be completed in early 2025.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
There's been an unhappy update on Charlotte, the pregnant stingray at Hendersonville's Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO.

The stingray gained national and international attention when aquarium staff announced earlier this year that Charlotte had become pregnant without having a mate in her tank.

On the evening of Thursday, May 30, aquarium staff posted an update on Facebook, the first since May 17. The post stated that Charlotte has developed "a rare reproductive disease that has negatively impacted her reproductive system." The team added that the findings were sad and unexpected, and their current priority is to remain focused on Charlotte's health and well-being.

The post from ECCO also said that they will work with veterinarians and specialists to better understand the disease and potential treatment options. Staff also said that research on the disease Charlotte has is limited, but they remain hopeful that Charlotte's case and treatment will "positively contribute to science and be of benefit to other rays in the future."

Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO assistant director Kinsley Boyette poses with Charlotte in February.

The post made no mention of the exact disease Charlotte is suffering from. It was also not confirmed whether the ray is still pregnant.

"We sincerely appreciate the incredible outpouring of love and support for Charlotte," said ECCO staff in the post. "Please respect Charlotte and her care team as we navigate this unexpected news and work to determine the best path forward. Updates will be given as we are able."

The Citizen Times has reached out with questions to Team ECCO.

Update: ECCO 'searching for more information'

At around 10:30 a.m. this morning, May 31, another update was added to the Team ECCO Facebook page. Staff acknowledged the many requests received for the name of the reproductive disease afflicting Charlotte, and stated that "it is simply found under that text reproductive disease."

The post also stated that the team is actively searching for more information on the disease, but added that studies have been conducted only on southern rays; The ECCO team said that they have not yet found any studies on round stingrays, Charlotte's species.

Charlotte the pregnant stingray updates

ECCO's full statement made on May 30 updating the public on the sad news about Charlotte:

"We regret the delay of updates regarding Charlotte. This time was necessary to gather data and analyze lab and testing results. These reports were shared with our care team. The reports show that Charlotte has developed a rare reproductive disease that has negatively impacted her reproductive system. The findings are truly a sad and unexpected medical development. Our priority is to focus on Charlottes health and wellbeing. We will work with, and be guided by, veterinarians and specialists to better understand this disease and the treatment options for Charlotte. While the research of this disease is limited, we hope that Charlottes case and medical treatment will positively contribute to science and be of benefit to other rays in the future. We sincerely appreciate the incredible outpouring of love and support for Charlotte. Please respect Charlotte and her care team as we navigate this unexpected news and work to determine the best path forward. Updates will be given as we are able."

ECCO's full second statement about Charlotte's health problems made on May 31:

"Good morning. Many are asking the name of the reproductive disease, but it is simply found under that text reproductive disease. We are actively searching more information ourselves. These have been studies done on southern rays, but we have not found any yet done on round rays."

How did Charlotte the stingray become pregnant?

"Parthenogenetic pregnancy" is the development of a sex cell without fertilization. Parthenogenesis can occur in lower plants such as mosses and lichens, invertebrate animals like wasps and ants and, more rarely, vertebrate animals such as Charlotte. Kinsley Boyette, a member of Team ECCO, previously told Blueridgenow that a parthenogenic embryo was "basically a clone of the mother."

While Charlotte's case is unique, she isn't the first vertebrate animal to undergo parthenogenetic pregnancy in captivity. Thelma, a reticulated python at Louisville Zoo in Kentucky, gave birth to six female offspring in 2014, according to National Geographic. At the Chester Zoo in the UK between 2005-2006, Komodo dragons Sungai and Flora laid 22 and 25 eggs, respectively, without fertilization, the Guardian reported.

Charlotte the stingray due date: Did Charlotte the stingray give birth yet?

ECCO staff first saw signs of Charlotte's pregnancy in September 2023. She has not yet given birth as of May 30, 2024, meaning that her pregnancy has been significantly longer than many fans expected. And the May 30 news throws into question whether Charlotte will be able to give birth.

More: 5 venomous snakes in NC, Asheville: What to know about rattlesnakes, copperheads, more

How long is a stingray pregnant?

The average gestation period for stingrays is three to four months according to previous reporting from Blueridgenow, but Team ECCO has reminded fans that there is no known data for parthenogenetic pregnancies.

"Charlotte's pregnancy is a unique situation," a Team ECCO employee explained in a recent post. "There is no set precedent on how long a parthenogenetic pregnancy is in this species. Charlotte is the first known documented California round stingray to do parthenogenesis in captivity."

In previous interviews, ECCO staff said that Charlotte was being observed day and night to ensure that any pups delivered are safe and healthy, and in hopes to capture the birth on video.

More: Still no 'miracle' birth? What to know about Charlotte the pregnant stingray

What kind of stingray is Charlotte the stingray?

Charlotte, a stingray at Hendersonville's Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO, is pregnant through a process called parthenogenesis. She's expecting to give birth to one to four pups, according to aquarium staff members.

Charlotte is a round stingray, found in the wild in the Eastern Pacific, from Humboldt Bay in northern California south to the Gulf of California and Panama City, Panama, according to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California.

Iris Seaton is the trending news reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at iseaton@citizentimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Is Charlotte the stingray still pregnant? The latest: 'rare' disease
Charlotte the stingray has 'rare reproductive disease,' aquarium says after months of speculation

Team Ecco, the organization responsible for the now-internet famous Charlotte the stingray, has shared an update about the animal amid mounting scrutiny.

Charlotte, held in The Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team Ecco in Hendersonville, North Carolina, captured attention across the U.S. in February when Team Ecco announced she had become pregnant despite being the only female stingray held in her enclosure.

Now, says the team, it has been discovered Charlotte has developed "a rare reproductive disease that has negatively impacted her reproductive system."

When initially announcing her pregnancy, the team speculated as to a possible "stingray-shark hybrid," as Charlotte was housed with male sharks, but multiple scientists quickly debunked the theory, pointing out that it is biologically impossible for such a cross-mating to occur.

Instead, it was later announced that Charlotte likely was likely pregnant via a process called parthenogenesis, a form of asexual reproduction that is scientifically interesting but not uncommon, according to experts.

Team Ecco did not respond to request for comment.

Expert weighs in: Could a shark have impregnated a stingray at a North Carolina aquarium?

Charlotte, a stingray at Hendersonville's Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team Ecco, is pregnant through a process called parthenogenesis. She's expecting to give birth to one to four pups, according to aquarium staff members.

Charlotte has 'rare reproductive disease'

The excitement around Charlotte's alleged pregnancy faded in recent months, however, as concern began to creep in for her well-being.

Stingrays have a typical gestation of four, maybe five months, while Charlotte has allegedly been pregnant since roughly November and was due in February, according to Team Ecco, meaning she is nearly four months overdue.

While the timeline has been fuzzy and the team has pointed out that this specific breed of Ray has not been historically known for parthenogenesis, experts say there is no evidence this form of reproduction would prolong gestation.

Speculation of disease being the true culprit of her condition as opposed to pregnancy soon abound. Team Ecco seemed to confirm this, at least in part, Thursday with a post on its Facebook page.

"Charlotte has developed a rare reproductive disease that has negatively impacted her reproductive system," the post read. "The findings are truly a sad and unexpected medical development."

The priority is a focus on Charlottes health and wellbeing, the post continues, saying veterinarians and specialists will be called in to better understand and treat the disease.

"While the research of this disease is limited, we hope that Charlottes case and medical treatment will positively contribute to science and be of benefit to other rays in the future," said the post. It ended with a request that Charlotte and her care team receive "respect" and updates will be given as available.

Internet speculation puts pressure on Team Ecco

Charlotte, a stingray that is about to give birth through parthenogenesis, swims in her tank at the Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team Ecco in Hendersonville.

Concerns about the health of Charlotte have proliferated on social media platforms, where the initial idea of a shark impregnating a stingray took off.

One expert, Larry Boles, Director of the Aquarium Science Program at Oregon Coast Community College, told USA TODAY that he and other colleagues in the marine biology space have been "screaming" about the situation since it first came to light earlier this year.

The initial speculation about a hybrid baby immediately raised red flags in the community, said Boles, who first heard of the situation through a large email list of organizations and people who work in the aquarium and marine biology industry.

Upon reading the claims of a shark-stingray mating, Boles and others on the chain quickly identified the claim as "preposterous."

"That statement alarmed everyone with even a moderate understanding of biology, that the shark fatherhood thing. It's just, it's like saying your dog and your cat are having a baby."

He said the other situation mentioned, the possibility of parthenogenesis, was interesting but "not a scientific breakthrough" and therefore not a story that would get much attention.

"Clearly what the media turned out for was the shark daddy story," he continued.

In an initial private email response, Boles wrote back and said it was impossible to have a shark fathering this offspring, but wished the team luck in having healthy babies. He also told the team the animal needs to see a vet.

On Feb. 6, the Ecco Team posted on Facebook that Dr. Robert Jones, of The Aquarium Vet based in Australia, and Becka Campbell, PhD candidate at Arizona State University, had "confirmed" the pregnancy via ultrasound.

On Feb. 15, Jones responded to an email chain within the profession listserv on the subject, viewed by USA TODAY, clarifying his involvement and stressing that he did not endorse the shark-stingray hybrid idea despite his name being involved in the first social media posts and news reports. The vet said that he was contacted by team Ecco to look at ultrasound images, and from those images, he confirmed what looked like an early pregnancy.

USA TODAY has reached out to Jones for additional comment.

Tides turn on the Charlotte story

It was only after months of sporadic and deleted posts, inconsistent timelines, deleted comments and meandering stories from Team Ecco that the public began to cast its own doubt on the situation, helping the conversation spread across the internet.

Netizens, both laymen and professionals, have left many now-removed comments reviewed by USA TODAY expressing concerns for Charlotte on Team Ecco's Facebook page, only to have them deleted or their accounts blocked. This online behavior has inspired some to look even deeper into the organization, its animal care standards and its lack of accreditation.

Professionals who tried to point this out on social media were quickly silenced and admonished, said Boles.

"My main goal [when commenting] was correcting non-factual statements about biology, which just would not go away. I mean, people are still talking about shark daddies now," he said. "Any time one of us said, 'actually, this isn't possible' or 'actually, this animal needs to see a vet,' I probably heard a lot of us had our accounts blocked multiple times for things like that."

Boles and others have questioned the ultrasound that was shared by Ecco, self-admittedly not done by someone qualified to perform ultrasounds and diagnostic testing.

"There are these dubious ultrasounds that they've been showing," Boles said. "They're not qualified, as they say in their own videos."

Concerns about Charlotte's care have boiled down not only to social media behavior and the observations of the general public and scientists but by what some believe to be the team's apparent lack of proper professionals on staff.

"First of all, we don't know the animal's ever been pregnant, but it is displaying unusual body condition, even if we're generous," said Boles. "If the animal was pregnant, it should have delivered, so it's not having a normal pregnancy and it's certainly probably not going to deliver any viable pups. That alone is cause for immediate veterinary care."

Boles said professionals and laymen alike have noticed and been alarmed by Charlotte's body condition.

Charlotte has long since been displaying abnormal body conditions, said Boles, specifically when it comes to a loss of muscle mass. Recent observations have shown the skeletal elements in Charlotte's wings become visible, which they should not be. Sores on her back were also pointed out by commenters online.

"A biologist can look at and say this animal is in poor body condition. That is, that's not a diagnosis of a disease. It's an observation of the condition," he explained. "It's not different from me seeing a human being that's underweight and their bones are showing...I'm comfortable saying this animal is not in a normal body condition even for a pregnant stingray."

Boles said Charlotte should have begun receiving robust veterinary care long ago. In an accredited zoo aquarium, he said, a veterinary response would have come as soon as unusual body condition was observed and would result in examination including things like an ultrasound and blood draws by aquatic vet teams.

Aquarium Shark and Lab Team Ecco director Brenda Ramer, left, opens the doors on Feb. 28 to allow people in to see Charlotte, the stingray who is close to giving birth.

"I don't have high hopes for the outcome for this animal at this point, unfortunately," said Boles.

Team Ecco has not responded to repeated requests for comment.

What is Team Ecco and who is behind it?

Team Ecco is a grassroots program founded and run by Brenda Ramer, a former public school teacher.

According to the aquarium's website, it sees an average of 10,000 visitors annually. It also hosts a variety of education and internship programs in partnership with organizations like the North Carolina Science Network and local schools and tourist organizations.

It was started in a small commercial space and is not accredited by The Association of Zoos and Aquariums, (AZA) or similar programs, which generally require rigorous and thorough annual examinations to ensure the quality of any organization putting animals on display.

It is unclear what marine life professionals constitute the Ecco Team. No staffing details nor care team credentials are listed on the organization's website. No specific veterinarian or scientist has been named publicly as working with the organization in recent weeks.

USA TODAY has repeatedly reached out to the Ecco Team PR representative for clarification.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Charlotte the stingray has 'reproductive disease,' NC aquarium says
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. In the novel Shagreen Skin by the great French writer Balzac, a boy finds a marvelous skin that makes all his dreams come true.

However, as the boy's dreams come true, the skin shrinks, which depletes his physical energy. Apropos of the Skin, there is a famous work by the great Georgian writer Shota Rustaveli, "The Knight in the Tiger's Skin", which is considered the pinnacle of Georgian literature.

We remembered Balzac because today's Georgia has turned from "The Knight in the Tiger's Skin" into that young man in Shagreen Skin. A few days ago, the president of the country of "knights" Salome Zurabishvili, dressed in "tiger skin" invited French President Emmanuel Macron to Georgia to improve processes in the country.

Georgia's journey to Europe began many years ago. The already deteriorating relations with Russia after the "Rose Revolution" of 2003, caused, no doubt, by pro-Western forces, led to the situation in Abkhazia and South Ossetia reaching its peak of confusion in 2008, finally breaking Georgia's "wings" on its way to Europe, thus depriving it of regions that are considered its sovereign territory under international law.

Indeed, it was at this time that Georgia should have realized that it had to fully comply with the demands of the West to follow the chosen path to the end. However, the process did not go as planned. Serious unrest started in the country, which was granted the status of an EU candidate, in protest against the law "On Transparency of External Influence" presented by the parliament, and this time deputies from different European countries joined the protesters in Georgia and supported their actions.

To understand the full picture, it is necessary to call everyone by name:

Pavel Fischer, chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Czech Parliament; Bogdan Klich, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Polish Senate; Michael Roth, head of the Foreign Relations Committee of the German Parliament; Zygimantas Pavilionis, chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Lithuanian Seimas; and Sebastian Tynkkynen, head of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Finnish Parliament.

Head of the German Bundestags Foreign Affairs Committee, Michael Roth, addresses the protesters.

The culmination of events is probably the moment already mentioned above - the president of the country called on the head of the French state, Emmanuel Macron, for help.

Here is an even more interesting moment: Emmanuel Macron was invited to Georgia to help Salome Zurabishvili, who enjoys the right to veto the law that passed the third reading in the Parliament, but the French Senate passed the bill on "Foreign Agents" on May 23.

Curiously, why can such a law be adopted in France but not in Georgia?

There is a nuance here that Georgia overlooks. Eurointegration would not end simply with a visa-free regime, convenient receipt of financial support from the IMF, and the fact that Georgia is a close friend of Europe in the South Caucasus region. Eurointegration presupposes the fulfillment of all requirements imposed on Georgia. Would those who opened their arms to Georgia have given it freedom otherwise?

For example, according to a report by the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB), Georgia is the leader in drug use in the South Caucasus. Drug use among adolescents in the country is twice as high as in Europe. Marijuana use was legalized in Georgia in 2018. Unfortunately, Georgia is also a country in the South Caucasus where LGBT propaganda is quietly taking place. But the country also has a large number of dissenting voices.

Integration implies acceptance of all European values. This is what the countries that are on this path today should take into account. Surprisingly, Georgia, which has traveled such a path and received the status of a candidate for membership in the European Union, has now reached an impasse and is at such a stage that it is forced to make a choice. The US Secretary of State (the country that passed this law for the first time in world history) Blinken just the other day threatened Georgia that if the law is passed, relations with Georgia will be reconsidered and visa restrictions have already started to take effect.

Apparently, the West intends to impose everything, even double standards, on Georgia. Of course, both the US and France can accept this law, but if we are talking about Georgia, an Eastern European country, everything must be accepted, including the double standards of the West.

Yes, Georgia has found Shagreen skin, but now all its strength and energy are about to run out. Georgia is facing a historical choice, and perhaps if it could have foreseen the situation and stepped on this path, the result would have been different nowadays.

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After months of social media speculation, Team ECCO confirmed that Charlotte the California Round Ray has a 'reproductive disease'

HANDOUT/Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO/AFP via Getty Images Charlotte the Stingray at the Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO

Months after making headlines with news of their stingray's mystery pregnancy, a North Carolina aquarium says the fish is facing a rare disease.

Back in February, marine biology organization Team ECCO announced in a livestream video that Charlotte, a California Round Ray at their Aquarium and Shark Lab in Hendersonville, was pregnant and expected to give birth to four pups.

In the initial livestream, the aquariums executive director, Brenda Ramer shared Charlottes ultrasound and confirmed that it was possible that she couldve gotten pregnant through parthenogenesis or mated with one of the fellow sharks that also live in the same tank. The comments around a potential shark-ray hybrid ended up sparking controversy within the science community.

Now, Team ECCO shared in a statement on Instagram that "the reports show that Charlotte has developed a rare reproductive disease that has negatively impacted her reproductive system."

"Our priority is to focus on Charlottes health and wellbeing, Team ECCO said in their May 31 statement, We will work with, and be guided by, veterinarians and specialists to better understand this disease and the treatment options for Charlotte."



While they did not share information on the specific reproductive disease that Charlotte has, they did confirm that the research of this disease is limited, we hope that Charlottes case and medical treatment will positively contribute to science and be of benefit to other rays in the future.

Team ECCO also did not clarify whether Charlotte is still or ever was pregnant. The organization did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.

Ahead of the latest news, PEOPLE spoke with Eric Hovland, an animal care specialist at The Florida Aquarium, earlier this week about the stingray's situation. Hovland believes that it wouldnt be possible for Charlotte to have mated with a shark since they both have an entirely different reproduction systems, but that a virgin birth isnt all that uncommon in the animal kingdom.



[An animal] may have less advantages because there's less genetic diversity, but its not the go-to strategy," Hovland, who is not on Charlotte's care team, says.



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.



HANDOUT/Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO/AFP via Getty Images The Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO

Over the last several months, Team ECCO had been unusually quiet about updates around Charlottes pregnancy  which they addressed in their Friday statement  which brought up a lot more questions about the fish's health status.



According to Hovland, the typical pregnancy timeline for a stingray like Charlotte could last around three to four months, but the timing could vary because parthenogenesis "hasn't been documented yet in this particular species."



Before revealing the news about Charlottes reproductive disease, Team ECCOs last update was shared on Facebook on May 17. At the time, they stated that Charlotte continues to appear healthy and has shown little to no change in any of her behaviors or temperament, but the aquarium did not release any additional photos or videos.

HANDOUT/Aquarium & Shark Lab by Team ECCO/AFP via Getty Images Charlotte the California Round Ray

Of note, Team ECCO's facility is not accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). The accreditation ensures that facilities like an aquarium and zoo are up to a specific standard for animal care and public education. Its not a federal requirement for a zoo or aquarium to have an AZA accreditation.



Even with all of the social media speculation around Charlotte and Team ECCO, Hovland is glad that its gotten everybody talking about stingrays and sharks and in a positive light.



It helps our public build empathy and curiosity with sharks and rays that can hopefully become infectious so we start to understand the role they play in the wild, Hovland tells PEOPLE. That gives me hope that they can start caring about sharks and rays and start changing our behaviors for the better for our whole planet.



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(KRON)  Brenntag Pacific, a multi-billion dollar chemical distribution company with a base in Contra Costa County, received multiple violations by Contra Costa Healths Hazardous Materials Program (CCHHMP) on May 23.

According to CCHHMP, the violations relate to a lack of hazardous waste training and failure to minimize the possibility of a fire, explosion, or any unplanned sudden or non-sudden release of hazardous waste, the violations read.

During their initial investigation, CCHHMP observed multiple chemical spills around their production and loading areas, including an area with a PH of 1. According to health officials, a PH of 1 is the most acidic a substance can be, using a scale from 1-14.

SF mayoral candidate floats plan for universal childcare

During the same week as the CCHHMP investigation, 18 workers from Brenntag Pacific, represented by Local 315s International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union, were locked out of the facility for several days after negotiations for a new contract fell through. This left the Contra Costa County facility prone to chemical waste spills.

Brenntag Pacific told CCHMP approximately 9 employees from other Brenntag facilities in Texas and Oklahoma had been brought to the site to conduct site operations at a reduced capacity, CCHHMP said.

The previous three-year contract expired on January 31, 2024. After months of good-faith negotiations and at the Unions request, Brenntag Pacific presented its last, best and final offer to the Union on May 1. The Companys final offer includes historic wage increases, provides for exceedingly affordable healthcare under a Union-sponsored plan, and maintains contributions to the Unions pension plan. A Brenntag representative told KRON4

Despite months of negotiation, union workers claim the offer was insufficient. According to 315 members, workers were given no retroactive pay since January 31, a freeze to pension contributions, and triple the health care premiums workers currently pay.

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? Its unfair, and its keeping us from getting back to work, said Miguel Delgado, a Brenntag warehouse worker and 20-year Local 315 member.

InspectionReport-Brenntag-RichmondDownload

As a result of the violations, Brenntag Pacific has since been ordered to provide adequate training to its workers and to immediately clean up the hazardous waste spills. The company told KRON4 they immediately responded to all issues in a manner consistent with industry standards and the safety of the facility, employees and the public in mind.

A union representative told KRON4 that the lockout regarding the workers is still ongoing as of this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Chicago man charged in scheme to bill $6.2 million to Medicare in one month for COVID tests never performed

CHICAGO  A North Side man has been charged with participating in a scheme to fraudulently bill $6.2 million to Medicare in just over a month for COVID-19 tests that were never performed, part of what prosecutors say is an ongoing crime epidemic that has bilked tens of millions of dollars from government-funded pandemic relief programs.

Fasiur Syed, 46, a native of India who has lived in Chicago for the past eight years, was arrested last week on a criminal complaint charging him with health care fraud.

Prosecutors asked that he be held without bond pending trial, arguing he had little incentive to remain here to face the charges and could be under threat from other behind-the-scenes co-schemers.

These schemes are an epidemic in this district and they need to be stopped, Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Hayes said at a detention hearing Thursday.

Syeds attorney, Jack Corfman, argued Syed was a relatively low-level cog and made little money himself from the alleged fraud. He lives with his cousin in an apartment in Chicagos West Rogers Park neighborhood and is employed as a ride-share driver and Amazon warehouse worker, Corfman said.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Jeffrey Cole said he was taking a chance letting Syed, who is not a U.S. citizen, out on bond, but that prosecutors had not met their burden to keep him locked up. He ordered Syed freed on a $25,000 unsecured bond and required him to surrender his passport and submit to a curfew during nonworking hours.

The judge also warned Syed that his life would become much more complicated if he tried to run.

Dont flee, Cole said. They will catch you.

According to the 27-page complaint, law enforcement earlier this year detected an extraordinary spike in billing for COVID-19-related tests from a Bensenville-based laboratory called Advanced Diagnostic Solutions Inc, which was incorporated under Syeds name.

From Jan. 29 to March 13, a period of just 38 days, Advanced Diagnostic Solutions billed approximately 29,411 claims to the Medicare program, with payment of approximately $6.2 million, according to the complaint.

Over 97% of the patients Syeds lab billed for live outside Illinois, including in New York, California, Florida, Alaska, Puerto Rico and Hawaii, the complaint stated. Many of those interviewed by law enforcement said they had never been tested for COVID, never sought such tests and never heard of Advanced Diagnostic Solutions.

Syeds company submitted one bill to Medicare for $323, claiming to have performed tests for a patient identified as JC in January, the complaint stated. On Feb. 7, JC, who lives in Arkansas, told agents they had never had their mouth or nose swabbed and there was no way in this world they had received any COVID-19 tests from Syeds company, according to the complaint.

Agents tracked the companys bank transactions to a Chase branch on West Peterson Avenue, near Syeds apartment, according to the complaint. After Syed was arrested on May 24, he told agents he was being directed to make the transactions by someone he knew as Afroz, who had promised to pay him $50,000 to $70,000 for fronting his name on the company and acting as signatory for the bank accounts, the complaint stated.

Syed claimed he did not know who performed the billing or purchases lab supplies for Advanced Diagnostic Solutions, the charges stated. Syed stated his conduct was wrong at the time, it was easy money, and yet he engaged in the conduct anyway.

The charges were the latest court action to stem from a wave of similar fraud schemes, mostly taking advantage of government programs to ease costs for consumers for pandemic-related testing, including a recent effort by the Biden administration to provide free at-home test kits to anyone by having the providers directly bill Medicare.

Court records show federal investigators have recently seized more than $60 million in bank accounts around the Chicago area tied to companies engaged in similar schemes as Advanced Diagnostic Solutions.

Last year, federal authorities filed warrants to seize $43 million in fraudulent Medicare payments for test kits billed by a shell company called SK Diagnostics, which was headquartered in an empty store front on North Cicero Avenue, court records show.

Another warrant earlier this year sought to hold $5.1 million in Medicare payments to a company called State Scientific, which like Syeds company had billed a massive amount of tests in a very short time period, court records show.

On June 5, 2023, law enforcement went to State Scientifics so-called headquarters in the 1500 block of North Mannheim Road in Stone Park and found that it was actually a restaurant, court records show.

Immediately next to the restaurant was a vacant area with a sign that read, For Rent, with no apparent presence of State Scientific, the seizure warrant stated.

And last month, Baqar Hussain Razv Syed, who is not related to Fasiur Syed, pleaded guilty in Chicagos federal court to being the front man for a fraud involving Schaumburg-based Luna Labs, which in one three-month period in 2023 billed Medicare for more than $14 million in fraudulent tests, court records show.

Baqar Syeds plea agreement with prosecutors stated his co-schemers, who have not been charged, agreed to pay him $10,000 a month for his services.

He is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kennelly on July 18.

_____
In this Feb. 6, 2019 file photo, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts answers questions during an appearance at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. Chief Justice Roberts declined a meeting with Democratic senators on Supreme Court ethics. | Mark Humphrey

Chief Justice John Roberts wont meet with Democratic senators who called for Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito to recuse himself from cases dealing with the 2020 presidential election.

The news comes after Alito said he wouldnt recuse himself from these cases.

Sens. Dick Durbin, D.Ill., and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., penned a letter to Roberts in the wake of media reports about two flags that were flown outside Alitos residences. In addition to calling for Alitos recusal, the senators wanted to meet to discuss Supreme Court ethics.

We also renew our call for the Supreme Court to adopt an enforceable code of conduct for justices, wrote Durbin and Whitehouse. And we request a meeting with you as soon as possible, in your capacity as Chief Justice and as presiding officer of the Judicial Conference of the United States, to discuss additional steps to address the Supreme Courts ethics crisis.

The flags

The letter came after a May 16 report from The New York Times. The report stated an upside-down flag was flown on Alitos residence in Virginia on Jan. 17, 2021.

After the 2020 election presidential election, as some Trump supporters falsely claimed that President Joe Biden had stolen the office, many of them displayed a startling symbol outside their homes, on their cars and in online posts: an upside-down American, reported the Times.

The Washington Post reported that one of its reporters went to the Alito residence after receiving a tip about the flag in January 2021. Martha-Ann Alito reportedly told the journalist to leave and said in response to questions, its an international signal of distress!

U.S. Flag Code states, 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.

In an interview with Fox News, Alito said his wife spoke to his neighbors after the neighbors put a sign that said (Expletive) Trump. After that conversation, Alito said the neighbors put up a sign directly attacking his wife and personally blaming her for the events that transpired on Jan. 6 at the nations capital. An incident followed, Alito said, in which his wife was called a epithet and then she decided to fly the flag.

Neighbor Emily Baden told the Times that she did call Mrs. Alito the lewd epithet. A text message and the police call  corroborated by Fairfax County authorities  indicate, however, that the name-calling took place on Feb. 15, weeks after the inverted flag was taken down, The Times reported.

There was a second flag controversy on whats called the Appeal to Heaven flag.

The flag depicts a pine tree and says An Appeal to Heaven. The words come from John Locke in his Two Treatises of Government and it was commissioned when Gen. George Washington was commander in chief of the Continental Army. The Massachusetts Council established it as the flag of the state navy in 1776. According to Forbes, part of the flags controversy comes from its use by members of the Stop the Steal movement and its use during the Capitol riot.

San Francisco had flown the flag for a number of years until this week when it was removed. Jeff Cretan, spokesperson for the city mayor, told The New York Times, Our responsibility is to represent the values of our country and the city and county of San Francisco, and the values of our city and county arent aligned with those who tried to overthrow the government.

The New York Times reported the flag was flying at the Alito in July and September 2023.

Response to the flags

In the wake of these reports, Alito has received criticism and defense from various politicians.

I never thought he was impartial, but appearing to be impartial is also important, Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, told The Hill. Id be less alarmed if he had a Trump flag. Nation in distress is a very specific thing people do with the American flag.

Its very unfortunate and we ought to take a look at it, said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, to media, per CNN.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said it was a mistake to have the upside down flag. It creates a bad image. It created a situation that were all talking about. So, yeah, I think it was a mistake, Graham told CNN.

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has been vocally supportive of both the Alitos.

Martha-Ann Alito has every right to hang whatever flag she wants. In whatever manner she wants. She is a free-citizen, said Lee on social media. And a freedom-loving American patriot. Her husband doesnt speak for her. And she doesnt speak for her husband. Why cant the left accept that?

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told CNN the reports about the flag were the latest attempt by the left to attack and question the Supreme Court and he criticized calls for recusal.

Alitos letter

Alito addressed the flags in his letter to lawmakers and said a reasonable person not motivated by politics wouldnt think he needed to recuse himself.

As I have stated publicly, I had nothing whatsoever to do with the flying of the flag, said Alito. I was not even aware of the upside-down flag until it was called to my attention. As soon as I saw it, I asked my wife to take it down, but for several days, she refused.

His wife flew the flag around the time she experienced distress due to a neighborhood incident where Alito said the neighbor used a misogynistic epithet to address his wife.

Regarding the second flag, Alito said his wife was solely responsible for having flagpoles put up at our residence and our vacation home and has flown a wide variety of flags over the years.

Alito said he wasnt familiar with the flag at the time it was being flown.

I was not aware of any connection between that historic flag and the Stop the Steal Movement, and neither was my wife, said Alito. She did not fly it to associate herself with that or any other group, and the use of an old historic flag by a new group does not necessarily drain that flag of all other meanings.
(Bloomberg) -- Chiles government indicated that SQM and Codelco will proceed with the signing of a binding lithium partnership by Fridays self-imposed deadline even as the deal faces mounting headwinds.

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We hope that the agreed deadlines will be met, Finance Minister Mario Marcel, 64, said Thursday in an interview from New York. Any agreement of this size does not end simply with the signing of a document. Theres a whole implementation process that continues.

His comments suggest the two firms have opted to sign documents for a deal that would come into effect next year as they continue to address opposition from an SQM investor and some lawmakers. The arrangement would see Codelco take a majority stake in SQMs Atacama salt flat assets in exchange for 30 more years of operations. Its a pillar of Chilean President Gabriel Borics agenda to have more state control in key assets while boosting output of the battery metal in the transition away from fossil fuels.

A definitive deal would clear the way for the new public-private partnership to ramp up production from less than 200,000 metric tons toward 300,000 tons, thereby giving battery makers greater assurances on future supplies of a key raw material.

But potential obstacles remain. SQMs second-largest shareholder, Tianqi Lithium Corp., has been pushing to have the deal go to a stockholder vote, alleging SQM failed to disclose key terms during the negotiation process. The Chinese firm, which has also left the door open to legal action, has endured restrictions to SQMs sensitive information since buying its 22% stake for $4 billion in 2018.

Some lawmakers from the ruling coalition argue that current boardroom restrictions on SQMs top shareholder, Julio Ponce, and his immediate family members should also be reflected in the Codelco arrangement. Ponce, the former son-in-law of dictator Augusto Pinochet, was fined in 2014 for illegal trading of shares in his holding companies. Around the same time, SQM was embroiled in a case involving illegal financing of political parties.

Indigenous groups in the area have also criticized the way Codelco and SQM communicated their plans.

A binding contract signed on Friday would ratify a preliminary accord forged between the two firms. The minister declined to comment on the value of the deal, saying an amount would be communicated in the official announcement.

We are going through stages, Marcel said. We had the MOU in December of last year, now its a matter of meeting the deadline for signing the definitive agreement and then come all these other implementation issues that involve regulatory, financial requirements, etc.

Economic Growth

An economist trained at University of Cambridge, Marcel and other top officials including central bank Governor Rosanna Costa traveled to Toronto and New York this week to hold meetings with investors and global banks.

Their trip comes at a time of increased optimism on the economy, with domestic growth estimates rising on stronger consumption and higher prices of copper, which is Chiles top export. At the same time, they are seeking to address concerns over topics including the governments reform proposals.

The Finance Ministry sold 1.97 trillion Chilean pesos (around $2.15 billion) in social bonds due in April 2033 and October 2040, according to a release late on Thursday.

Chiles gross domestic product expanded 1.9% in the first quarter, marking the fastest expansion since 2021, according to the central bank. Earlier in May, the government lifted its 2024 growth forecast to 2.7%.

One of the main messages that Chilean officials are bringing to investors is that the domestic economy has been stabilized, Marcel said.

While it takes time for the full impact of higher copper prices to reverberate through the economy, there are more immediate effects such as an improving current account balance and greater income for public coffers, he said.

The Chilean economy is already in a period of expansion, Marcel said. On top of that, you have more favorable situation in the copper market which adds to the growth impulse for 2024 and probably 2025.

(Updates with additional comment from Marcel in section under Economic Growth)

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China has denied it is supplying Russia with arms to use in Ukraine, insisting it does not provide either side with weapons and has an "impartial position" on the war, a Chinese spokesperson said on May 31.

The spokesperson was referring to Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun's claim made during a meeting with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in Singapore, AFP reports.

"We have honored our commitment not to provide weapons to either side of the conflict. In accordance with laws and regulations, we have implemented strict controls on exports of military items," the spokesperson said.

The denial comes after the U.S. accused China of giving Russia "every support behind the scenes" towards its war in Ukraine, describing its actions as "destabilizing in the heart of Europe."

Speaking to reporters on a visit to Brussels on May 29, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said NATO and European countries need to send "a collective message of concern to China about its actions."

"What we've seen from China to Russia is not a one-off or a couple of rogue firms involved in supporting Russia," Campbell said, adding: "This is a sustained, comprehensive effort that is backed up by the leadership in China that is designed to give Russia every support behind the scenes."

China officially declares itself a neutral party to Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine and has denied providing lethal aid, but Beijing and Moscow continue to develop closer ties, most recently with Russian President Vladimir Putin visiting his counterpart Xi Jinping earlier in May.

On May 22, U.K. Foreign Secretary Grant Shapps said he was declassifying new intelligence to reveal the "quite significant" development that the U.K. and U.S. had reports that "lethal aid is now, or will be, flowing from China to Russia and into Ukraine."

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan subsequently distanced himself from Shapps' assertion, saying that the U.S. had seen no evidence of it either in the past or "to date."

Although Sullivan declined to confirm Shapps' assertion, he did say that China is clearly providing weapons components to Russia, which the U.S. has "taken action to deal with."

It's not clear if Campbell's latest comments refer to the same intelligence or other information.

Also on May 31, it was reported China will not attend Ukraine's global peace summit next month.

The summit will take place on June 15-16 in Switzerland, and some 90 countries have already confirmed their participation as of this week. Ukraine invited China back in January.

Beijing declined the invitation as the terms they required to attend were not met, Reuters reported, citing several sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

One source said China had insisted the summit should be recognised by both Russia and Ukraine and both countries should participate.

Publicly, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that attending would be "difficult" as the "arrangement of the meeting still falls short of China's requirements."

Read also: China wont attend Ukraines global peace summit, Reuters reports, citing sources

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China has more countermeasures if US endangers its interests: state media

BEIJING (Reuters) - China has more powerful countermeasures, if the United States continues to violate and endanger the country's sovereignty and security interests on core issues, or squeeze the development of Chinese firms, state media said on Friday.

The remarks came from a social media post from Yuyuan Tantian, which is affiliated with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, that quoted sources with government knowledge on foreign policy.

The United States on Wednesday accused China's leadership of supporting Russia's war in Ukraine and warned that Beijing could face further sanctions in response from the United States and other NATO countries.

(Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Writing by Bernard Orr; Editing by Jacqueline Wong)
Reuters, citing informed sources, reported that China has confirmed that it will not participate in Ukraine's Peace Summit, which will be held in Switzerland next month.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Reuters

Details: Three agency sources report that Beijing declined the invitation because the conditions for its presence, in particular, the participation of both Russia and Ukraine, were allegedly not met.

The Swiss government wants the summit to bring together representatives from different parts of the world on 15-16 June. Bern hopes they will pave the way for the peace process in Ukraine.

This week, one of the sources said China informed diplomats that the conditions that were not met included Russia's and Ukraine's recognition of the conference, equal participation of all parties and fair discussion of all proposals.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

On Monday, a Chinese Foreign Ministry official said that Beijing supports holding a peace conference recognised by both sides, with equal participation of all parties.

Background:

China has close ties with Russia and refrains from criticising its invasion of Ukraine. Western governments have repeatedly accused the Chinese government of helping Russia wage war.

At the same time, China offered its assistance in a peaceful settlement.

Bloomberg previously reported that only a high-ranking government official from China could attend the Peace Summit.

Recently, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the leaders of other countries, particularly China and the United States, to participate in the event.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. The Milli Majlis (Parliament) of Azerbaijan has discussed the draft law, On execution of the state budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2023," Trend reports.

According to the draft law, income from the execution of the state budget of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2023 was approved in the amount of 35.23 billion manat, or $20.72 billion, expenditures - 36 billion, 457 million, 956.1 thousand manats, or $21.44 billion.

Following the on-topic discussion, a vote adopted the document.

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Editor's note: The article was updated at 3:30 p.m. local time with a comment by the Ukrainian embassy in Beijing for the media.

China will not attend Ukraine's global peace summit next month, Reuters reported on May 31, citing its sources.

The summit will take place on June 15-16 in Switzerland, and some 90 countries have already confirmed their participation as of this week. Ukraine invited China back in January.

Beijing declined the invitation as the terms they required to attend were not met, the news outlet reported, citing several sources with direct knowledge of the matter.

One source said China had insisted the summit should be recognised by both Russia and Ukraine and both countries should participate.

Publicly, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that attending would be "difficult."

"The arrangement of the meeting still falls short of China's requirements and the expectations of the international community, making it difficult for China to attend," said Mao Ning, the ministry's spokesperson.

"We are very sorry that the Chinese side does not use the opportunity to present its position on the platform of the summit in Switzerland," a spokesperson of the Ukrainian embassy in Beijing told Reuters.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said he hoped the summit would address several key areas, such as energy security, the exchange of captives, the return of deported children, global food security, and other topics.

Russia was not invited to the talks, but the Swiss hosts said that Moscow's representatives will have to take part in the process "sooner or later."

Kyiv has warned that Russia is attempting to disrupt the summit.

Speaking on May 16 at a press conference during Russian President Vladimir Putin's two-day visit to China, Chinese President Xi Jinping claimed both leaders agreed that a "political solution" to the war in Ukraine is "the correct direction."

Earlier this week, the U.S. accused China of giving Russia "every support behind the scenes" towards its war in Ukraine, describing its actions as "destabilizing in the heart of Europe."

Speaking to reporters on a visit to Brussels on May 29, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell said NATO and European countries need to send "a collective message of concern to China about its actions."

"What we've seen from China to Russia is not a one-off or a couple of rogue firms involved in supporting Russia," Campbell said, adding: "This is a sustained, comprehensive effort that is backed up by the leadership in China that is designed to give Russia every support behind the scenes."

China officially declares itself a neutral party to Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine and has denied providing lethal aid, but Beijing and Moscow continue to develop closer ties, most recently with Putin visiting his counterpart earlier in May.

In another blow to Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on May 23 that U.S. President Joe Biden is likely to miss the peace conference as it clashes with a campaign fundraiser.

Reuters wrote, citing an undisclosed American official, that the U.S. will send a representative to the summit, but it remains unclear who will be the delegate.

Read also: US accuses China of every support for Russias war in Ukraine, threatens more sanctions

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
BEIJING (Reuters) - Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu urged the United States to refrain from "smearing" China and to stop imposing "abusive" sanctions on Chinese companies at talks this week in Washington, China's foreign ministry said on Friday.

Ma met U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell and deputy national security adviser Jon Finer on Thursday, a day after the U.S. accused Beijing's leadership of supporting Russia's war in Ukraine and said China could face further Western sanctions.

"(We) urge the U.S. to stop smearing and exerting pressure on China, stop imposing abusive unilateral sanctions on Chinese enterprises, and play a constructive role in the resolution of the Ukraine crisis," the Chinese foreign ministry quoted Ma as telling Campbell.

Ma said China-U.S. relations were at a "critical stage" of stabilising from deterioration and called Taiwan issue "the most important, sensitive and explosive issue" between Beijing and Washington.

"If the U.S. really wants peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, it should abide by the one-China principle and the Three Joint Communiques, and honour its commitment not to support 'Taiwan independence'," Ma added.

State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel described Campbell's meeting with Ma as part of intensive diplomacy to responsibly manage competition in the U.S.-China relationship, and said the U.S. expected more such senior-level engagement.

Patel said the U.S., its G7 partners and other EU and NATO countries shared the view that China's support for Russia in the Ukraine war "not only threatens Ukrainian security, it threatens European security."

He declined to provide details of any future sanctions when asked whether those might target Chinese leaders given Campbell's comment.

The Biden administration has stepped up warnings about China's support for Russia and issued an executive order in December that threatened sanctions on financial institutions helping Russia skirt Western sanctions.

Last month the U.S. imposed sanctions on 20 companies based in China and Hong Kong, following repeated warnings from Washington about China's support for Russia's military.

(Reporting by Ella Cao and Liz Lee; Editing by Timothy Heritage)
The hush money trial was a process that was run with incredible integrity, said Chris Hayes Thursday night following Donald Trumps guilty verdict. He continued, And basically, I think that the kind of liberal democratic order were trying to hold onto here rises or falls on our ability to agree to fair or neutral processes that were all subject toan ability hes not sure the Republican Party still values.

What were seeing in the Republican Party is basically rejecting the idea that democracy guarantees a fair process, not a favorable outcome, he added. For the GOP, if you lose an election, the elections no longer legitimate. If youre convicted at trial, then the system is no longer legitimate.

That perspective is a deeply held part of Donald Trumps personal view of the world that is authentically held, in his own strange way. But now that perspective has metastasized to take over the party, Hayes said.

WATCH @chrislhayes: For the Republican Party, "if you lose an election, the elections no longer legitimate. If you're convicted at trial, then the system is no longer legitimate." pic.twitter.com/KIiF5i9VSW  All In with Chris Hayes (@allinwithchris) May 31, 2024

The result, he concluded, is Republicans removing themselves from the consensual collaborative enterprise were all engaged in.

Donald Trump was convicted on Thursday of all 34 counts of criminal fraud by a Manhattan jury of seven men and five women. This marked the first time a former president was convicted of a crime.

An infuriated Trump was immediately defiant following the verdict. He told reporters, This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a corrupt judge. Its a rigged trial, its a disgrace. They wouldnt give us a venue change, we had 5 percent in this jurisdiction, in this area. The real verdict will be Nov. 5, by the people.  Im a very innocent man.

Trumps claims that the system is rigged against him are many and varied. In 2016, he claimed the rigged system was the reason Hillary Clinton was not charged for using a private email server as Secretary of State, and in 2021 he called for a televised debate to continue to parrot his claims the 2020 election was stolen and rigged against him.

In fact, those claims are the basis for another federal case against Trump. In August, he was charged with illegally conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

At the time, he wrote on his Truth Social network: I am now going to Washington, D.C., to be arrested for having challenged a corrupt, rigged and stolen election. It is a great honor, because I am being arrested for you. Make America great again!!!

Also on Thursday, Rachel Maddow said she believed delegitimizing the legal system in the U.S. the bedrock of the rest of his presidential campaign. While addressing the question Trumps campaign will have to addresswhy should Americans vote for a convicted felon?she said, His answer will be that hes only a convicted felon because the American legal system is illegitimate, and Vote for me and Ill destroy it, being the implication. I mean, this is where we are right?

That hes not running against Joe Biden. Hes running against the American system of government, and that will become more acute.

Watch the clip from All In with Chris Hayes in the video above.

The post Chris Hayes Says Trump Verdict Show Americas Democratic Order Hinges on Our Ability to Agree to Fair Processes | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
Christian Lamb who was a serving Wren at the time of D-Day, looks through a photograph album at her home in London, Thursday, April 11, 2024. D-Day, took place on June 6, 1944, the invasion of the beaches at Normandy in France by Alied forces during World War II.(AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

LONDON (AP)  Working alone in a tiny office in London, Christian Lamb tried to make sure British troops were in exactly the right place when they scrambled onto Normandy's beaches under enemy fire during the D-Day landings.

Referring to huge maps of the French coast on the wall in front of her, the young Womens Royal Naval Service officer painstakingly created detailed maps to guide the crews of landing craft that ferried the men to shore.

The maps showed railways, roads, churches, castles, every possible feature that could be visible to an incoming invader and from every angle, Lamb, now 103, told The Associated Press. It was intense and exciting work, and obviously detail was vital. It was crucial that the maps were 100% accurate.

Lamb recalls an air of tension as senior military and civilian officials around her prepared for Operation Overlord, the long-discussed Allied invasion of Europe that eventually ended the Nazis' grip on the continent. Occasionally passing Prime Minister Winston Churchill on the stairs on her way to work, she wondered what kind of pressure Britains leader was under.

He was such an amazing man. I mean, he made these speeches which everybody listened to, she said. And I could hear him now saying, Well fight on the beaches, fight in the hills. Well never surrender. We all felt just like that. Absolutely.

By June 1944, Lamb had been doing her part to defeat the Nazis for almost five years.

In the summer of 1939, she was in France preparing to go to Oxford when her father, a Royal Navy admiral, sent a telegram telling her to come home because war was about to break out. Arriving in Britain on the day war was declared, she immediately joined the Wrens.

A year later, she was in charge of degaussing ships as they entered and exited the Thames estuary. That meant she ensured that ships were demagnetized so they were less susceptible to damage from magnetic mines.

Her next assignment was as a plotting officer at Portsmouth, the home of the Royal Navy. Lamb was part of a team of Wrens who used information from radar stations and coast guards to plot ship movements through the English Channel on a large flat table.

She later took on a similar role in Belfast, plotting the movements of convoys that carried supplies from North America. That included staffing her post as the news came in that a convoy escorted by her future husbands ship, the destroyer HMS Oribi, had been attacked by a U-boat wolf pack.

Twelve of the convoys 43 ships were lost, but HMS Oribi made it safely to Newfoundland. The couple were married six months later in December 1943.

Lamb said she had a special resolve to help drive the Nazis out of France, particularly the centers of art and culture like Caen and Bayeux, where she had studied.

I really wanted (to do) anything that would help me to get  France back to the French," she said. We wanted them to belong to each other again.
City of Atlanta fined by state officials for more than 100 illicit discharges in local rivers

The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Environmental Protection Division is fining the City of Atlanta for what it said were more than 100 illicit discharges of pollutants and sewage into local rivers and creeks.

According to a consent decree obtained by Channel 2 Action News, Atlanta officials have 30 days to send a check to Georgia DNR for $163,000 as part of an agreed settlement over the spills.

The consent decree said multiple unpermitted discharges occurred across the area the Atlanta Department of Watershed Management has responsibility for from 2022 to 2023 led to spills of raw sewage and partially treated wastewater entering state waters.

From July 1, 2022 to June 30, 2023, the Respondent reported a total of one hundred and six (106) instances of spills of raw sewage into waters of the State of which eight (8) were major spills exceeding 10,000 gallons in volume, the consent decree says.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Spills occurred at the R.M. Clayton Water Reclamation Center, South River Water Reclamation Center, Utoy Creek Water Reclamation Center and Clear Creek Combined Sewer Control Facility.

These discharges caused an upset to the treatment process of water in the area on multiple occasions, causing violations of fecal coliform limits, levels of ammonia, phosphorus and dissolved oxygen, excessive turbidity in sand filters and loss of settleability of secondary clarifiers, among other impacts on the water system.

TRENDING STORIES:

Within thirty (30) days of the execution date of this Order, pay $163,056.81 to the Georgia Department of Natural Resources for the violations listed in this Order, the order says.

Additionally, Atlanta will have 90 days to submit a plan for investigating and reducing the amount of illicit substances entering R.M. Clayton Water Reclamation Center, the facility tied to several of the spills in violation of the Water Quality Act, according to DNR.

Atlanta water officials will also have to submit a report to DNR evaluating the cause of elevated solids in the water treatment process within 30 days, along with what steps theyre taking to correct the issues and a timeline for implementation.

Channel 2 Action News has reached out to the City of Atlanta and Department of Watershed Management for comment on the consent decree and fines and are waiting for their responses.

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IN OTHER NEWS:
City of Austin plans to address mail theft as stolen master key issue persists

AUSTIN (KXAN)  Mail theft has touched so many communities across Central Texas. The City of Austin said three Austin-area mail carriers have been robbed for their arrow key since 2023.

Those are also known as master keys which can open a variety of mail boxes.

RELATED COVERAGE: City of Austin to take on mail theft as stolen master key issue persists

A resolution brought forward by Council Member Paige Ellis will direct the city manager to find ways to educate the public on, and address mail theft.

10 reasons to pay attention to Thursdays massive Austin City Council agenda

What is the plan?

The resolution asks the city manager to gather neighborhood representatives, law enforcement, the postal service and other groups to look for solutions to mail theft. Those will be brought back to city council later this year.

It also asks for the following:

add secure postal delivery to its federal legislative agenda

send a letter to U.S. Postmaster Louis Dejoy regarding Project Safe Delivery in Austin

create a mail theft awareness campaign heading into the holiday season

This is an issue that communities all over Austin are dealing with, said Ellis. This has far reaching implications for identity theft, check fraud and has resulted in the assault of mail carriers.

It makes you uneasy

When Paul Daniels opens his mail box, he worries itll be empty.

It makes you uneasy. Its an inconvenience, because then youre checking your mail daily to make sure it doesnt get stolen. Paul Daniels

His neighborhood dealt with mail theft in the past. It happened three times within just a few months last year.

Daniels said the mail theft started around the holiday time in 2023. (Photo: Paul Daniels)

Daniels said the mail theft started around the holiday time in 2023. (Photo: Paul Daniels)

Daniels said the mail theft started around the holiday time in 2023. (Photo: Paul Daniels)

A lot of money was lost. Items that were you know, gifts and whatnot, Daniels said. It was a mail key that was being used to break in because there was no evidence of any prying or anything like that on the mailboxes.

Daniels said hes encouraged by the citys resolution and hed love to be a part of the group that discusses possible solutions.

We need some brilliant minds to think of different concepts and ways on how to prevent this, he said.

Grace Reader contributed to this report

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Clinton claimed 2016 election was tainted. Trump wanted to overturn 2020 results. Can the two responses be equated?

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde makes remarks during the 2024 Republican Party Of Wisconsin State Convention on Saturday May 18, 2024 at the Fox Cities Exhibition Center in Appleton, Wis.

As Election Day looms, many Republican politicians are facing the same question from reporters on the campaign trail: Will they accept the results of the 2024 election?

Amid former President Donald Trumps repeated false claims that he won the 2020 election, including in Wisconsin, some Republicans took up his case, casting doubt on the results and advocating for probes and policy changes they say were aimed at making elections more secure.

Today, their answers to that question are mixed.

In a May 2, 2024, interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Trump did not commit to accepting the results of Novembers election in Wisconsin if he lost, saying he would only do so if everythings honest. The Cap Times reported that U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, said May 19, 2024, he would reject the outcome if he believes its not honest.

Republican businessman Eric Hovde, who is running to oust Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin from office, has struck a different tone.

Appearing May 19, 2024, on WISN-TVs Upfront, Hovde said he would accept the results of his election in November and that he believes everybody should. He also asserted its not just his party that deserves scrutiny on the issue.

I love how this has been framed recently that this is just a Republican issue, he said. Lets not forget, in 2016, Hillary Clinton said the election was stolen  Russian interference.

Its not the first time that a politician has sought to link the voter fraud claims Republicans pushed in 2020 to statements Clinton made in 2016.

But the comparison isnt quite apples to apples.

Heres what to know about the issue.

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton holds hands with Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, during an event in June, 2016, in Washington, DC. Hillary Clinton addressed Planned Parenthood members on "what's at stake for reproductive health care and women's rights in the upcoming presidential election."

Clinton has said 2016 election was tainted

In 2016, Trump bested Clinton with 306 Electoral College votes to Clintons 232. However, Clinton won the popular vote, a scenario that has happened just a handful of times in American history.

Clinton has said on several occasions that election was tainted, including in 2019, when she said, You can run the best campaign, you can even become the nominee, and you can have the election stolen from you.

The 2019 comment was part of a speech in Los Angeles, where she said shed been telling candidates for the 2020 Democratic nomination that even if they ran a perfect campaign, the election could be stolen from them.

She said shed been reading the report on Russian election interference from special counsel Robert Mueller, and warned the same tactics could be alive and well in 2020.

(The report and a bipartisan investigation conducted later by the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee found that Russia did run a campaign to help Trump win, but did not draw a conclusion on whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia.)

In a CBS News interview later that year, Clinton referred to Trump as an illegitimate president and said he knows about the many varying tactics they used, from voter suppression and voter purging to hacking to the false stories.

And in a 2017 interview with National Public Radio, she said she would not rule out questioning the legitimacy of the 2016 election if it was learned that Russia interfered more deeply than currently known.

Unlike Trump, Clinton didnt take steps to change election results

In 2020, President Joe Biden beat Trump with 306 Electoral College votes to Trumps 232, as well as in the popular vote, getting more than 81 million votes to Trumps 74 million. In some states, the vote totals were much closer  like in Wisconsin, where Biden won by about 20,000 votes.

Trump refused to concede to Bidens 2020 win, repeating unfounded conspiracy theories and launching legal battles across the country to try to overturn the results  many of which were thrown out because no widespread fraud was found. His insistence that he won the election, and Republican support of his claims, drove the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Trump maintains he won Wisconsin in 2020, but his loss has been confirmed by recounts he paid for in Dane and Milwaukee counties, court rulings, a nonpartisan state audit and a study by a prominent conservative group.

Clinton  and other Democrats  have been plain about calling the 2016 election fishy due to events during the campaign leading up to it. But even when Clinton said she wouldnt rule out questioning the legitimacy of the results, she never took steps to do so. She conceded Trumps win immediately after the election.

In the 2017 National Public Radio interview, she noted challenging the results of her election loss would be unprecedented and said, I just dont think we have a mechanism for it. Thats where the comparison with Republicans claims of election fraud breaks down.

As such, while both of them raised questions about their election losses, what each decided to do about it was pretty different. Trying to equate the two responses is a stretch.

Our conclusion

Its not hard to find proof that Clinton did have questions and theories that led her to believe her loss in 2016 wasnt fair. She even used the term stolen to describe it.

But equating her response to that election with the Republican response to the 2020 election leaves out key context. Unlike Trump, Clinton immediately conceded, and her statements questioning the legitimacy of the 2016 election werent followed by action to change the results.

It makes the two responses not so similar after all.

Sources

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Wisconsin's 10 Electoral College votes cast for Biden as GOP pushes an alternate slate, Dec. 14, 2020

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson from Wisconsin to join 10 others from GOP in refusing to certify Electoral College results, Jan. 2, 2021

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Tom Tiffany, Scott Fitzgerald say they would have rejected Biden's victory in Wisconsin had there been a vote in Congress, Jan. 6, 2021

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, In interview, Trump doesn't commit to accepting Wisconsin election results if he loses, May 2, 2024

The Cap Times, Top Wisconsin Republicans mixed on accepting 2024 election results, May 19, 2024

YouTube, Upfront: Eric Hovde 1-on-1, May 19, 2024

USA TODAY, 'You can have the election stolen from you,' Hillary Clinton warns 2020 Democrats, May 6, 2019

National Public Radio, Senate Releases Final Report On Russia's Interference In 2016 Election, Aug. 18, 2020

The Washington Post, Hillary Clinton: Trump is an illegitimate president, Sept. 26, 2019

National Public Radio, Clinton Won't Rule Out Questioning 2016 Election, But Says No Clear Means To Do So, Sept. 18, 2017

PolitiFact, Did Democrats suggest 2016 presidential election was stolen? Oct. 5, 2022

Politico, Clinton concedes to Trump: We owe him an open mind, Nov. 9, 2016

National Public Radio, 'Far From Over': Trump Refuses To Concede As Biden's Margin Of Victory Widens, Nov. 7, 2020

National Public Radio, Trump Election Lawsuits Have Mostly Failed. Here's What They Tried, Nov. 10, 2020

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Eric Hovde claims Clinton said 2016 election was stolen. Can it be compared to 2020?
Jury finds Christopher Palmiter guilty of failing to report Madalina Cojocari missing

CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A jury has found Christopher Palmiter guilty of failing to report Madalina Cojocari missing.

The jury deliberated for less than 15 minutes before declaring their guilty verdict.

The judge sentenced Palmiter to 6-17 months in prison but suspended that sentence to 30 months supervised probation because Palmiter has already been in jail for 244 days

The prosecution stated in its closing argument that Palmiter knew his daughter was missing from school. An FBI phone analyst testified about texts, emails, and phone calls found on Palmiters phone which they said indicated he knew that Madalina wasnt showing up to school and that searches from Palmiters phone about truancy laws days before Diana reported Madalina missing, 23 days after she had last been seen. The prosecutor, Attorney Austin Butler, said thinking that somebodys safe is not a defense.

He was the person in the role of supervising her and he failed, thats why hes sitting in this seat, Butler said in court.

Palmiters defense attorney stated in his closing arguments by talking about how finding Madalina Cojocari takes precedence over everything, but that this trial is not about that, and rather whether Palmiter knew his stepdaughter was missing.

MORE FROM QUEEN CITY NEWS

Continuing Coverage

The defense said Palmiters wife and Madalinas mother, Diana Cojocari, manipulated Palmiter, and he believed her, thinking Madalina was safe with her.

Palmiters attorney said Chris believed Diana had a plan to hide Madalina to protect her and theres no evidence to show that Chris didnt believe her and doesnt want Madalina found.

Palmiters brother, Paul Palmiter, testified Thursday afternoon that in May 2022, about six months before Madalina was last seen, Christopher and Diana made separate visits to his familys house in Michigan saying Diana was afraid people from her past were tracking her, and they were asking Paul Palmiter for help in hiding out Diana and Madalina.

Paul testified that he did have concerns for his familys safety if they went through with the plan, and he didnt want the Russian mafia showing up at his house.

Detective Gina Patterson, the lead detective in the case with the Cornelius Police Department, took the stand Thursday. The defense showed receipts during her testimony of Diana sending thousands of dollars to her mom in Moldova and a church or priest in Moldova, her home country, right around the time but before Diana reported Madalina missing in Dec. 2022.

Judge Osman presided over the case, Attorney Brandon Roseman represented Palmiter, and Butler prosecuted the case on behalf of the state.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer challenged Sen. JD Vance (R-OH) on Friday to square how Republicans can call themselves the party of law and order when their presumptive presidential nominee was just convicted on 34 felony charges.

Blitzer also pushed back when the MAGA senator insisted that Donald Trumps supporters are not violent people, noting that a far-right mob attacked the U.S. Capitol to protest Trumps 2020 election loss.

One of Trumps vice presidential hopefuls who attended the ex-presidents hush money trial, Vance has led the charge in the GOPs outrage over the guilty verdict. While the outcome of this trial will no doubt be subject to appeal, its a disgrace to our judicial system that such measures will be necessary, he said in a statement on Thursday.

Appearing on CNNs Inside Politics on Friday afternoon, the one-time Trump critic parroted the ex-presidents grievances about the Manhattan prosecutions case, which accused Trump of falsifying business records related to payments made to a porn star to silence her ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

The entire purpose of this trial was to allow the media and the Democrats to say exactly that, Vance declared. This was never about justice, this is about plastering convicted felon all over the airwaves when in reality the only thing that Donald Trump is guilty of is being in the courtroom of a political sham trial.

Blitzer, however, quickly began rebutting Vance, noting that Trump was convicted by a jury that was approved by the ex-presidents defense team. Vance, on the other hand, invoked Judge Juan Merchans small contribution to President Joe Bidens campaign and the judges daughters work for Democrats to portray the trial as politics masquerading as justice.

From there, Vance accused Biden of orchestrating the trial in order to throw his political opponent in jail, prompting the veteran CNN anchor to remind the senator that this was a state case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The Ohio lawmaker, though, noted that a member of Bidens Department of Justice joined the New York prosecutors office prior to the charges being filed, suggesting that this proved a connection to the White House.

This absolutely is connected to Joe Biden, Vance contended. Beyond that, you had Robert De Niro showing up at a Biden campaign rally on the day of jury instructions.

After more back and forth over the merits of the prosecutions case, which Vance described as a literal paperwork violation, the veep hopeful then echoed more of the ex-presidents rhetoric by warning that Americans are going to wake up in a banana republic because of the conviction.

Eventually, Blitzer confronted the Hillbilly Elegy author on Republicans tough-on-crime posturing in the wake of the guilty verdict.

Whatever happened to the Republican Party being the party of law and order? the veteran CNN anchor flatly asked.

We are the party of law and order, Vance shot back.

This former president has been convicted 34 times for violating the law, Blitzer retorted.

The senator continued to lean on his description of the case as a political sham prosecution while once again referencing Merchans donation to Biden, which Blitzer noted was merely $15. Vance was then asked whether he was concerned MAGA supporters would resort to violence in the wake of Trumps conviction.

Oh, not at all. Donald Trumps supporters are not violent people. You live in a country of 330 million people, of course, some people are gonna do some bad things, he replied before urging Republicans to donate to Trumps campaign.

Werent Trumps supporters involved in the January 6th violence at the U.S. Capitol? Blitzer fired back.

Wolf, a few people were violent, certainly, but I dont think the majority of Donald Trumps supporters are violent because you had a few people get violent on January 6, Vance shrugged.

Of the hundreds of rioters who have been charged and convicted for their participation in the Jan. 6 insurrection, 210 defendants have told the courts that they were answering Donald Trumps calls when they traveled to Washington and joined the violent attack on the Capitol.

Before wrapping up the tense but cordial interview, Blitzer brought up Trumps recent gripe that his conviction shows the United States has become gripped by fascism. You dont believe we live in a fascist state, do you? Blitzer wondered.

I think that what happened in New York, if you applied it across all 50 states, it would be the definition of fascism, throwing your political opponents in jail, Vance reacted. Thank God it only happened in New York and not the rest of the country.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Cohen says Trump hush money verdict exactly what America needs right now

Cohen says Trump hush money verdict exactly what America needs right now

Michael Cohen celebrated the guilty verdict in former President Trumps hush money trial Thursday, arguing the accountability is exactly what America needs right now.

Thirty-four counts, one after the other, one after the other of guilty. Its accountability. Its exactly what America needs right now. We need for accountability to be had by all those that break the law, because we like to continuously state, No one is above the law, and todays verdict demonstrates that, Cohen said Thursday in an interview with MSNBCs Rachel Maddow.

Michael Cohen leaves his apartment building on his way to Manhattan criminal court in New York on May 20, 2024.

Trump was found guilty Thursday on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, making him the first-ever former U.S. president to become a convicted felon.

The charges stem from reimbursements made to Cohen, Trumps onetime fixer and attorney, for a hush money payment made to porn actor Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Trump.

Cohen was one of several witnesses called to the stand and was a key witness for the prosecutions case.

Asked for how he is doing following the verdict, Cohen answered, I guess the word is relieved, and said he was not surprised by the verdict.

This has been six years in the making, he added. So, this is a six-year process within which for accountability to finally be at.

The former president is slated to be sentenced July 11, just four days before the 2024 Republican National Convention this summer in Milwaukee. He could face jail time, though first-time offenders on charges like Trumps are rarely incarcerated.

Shortly after the conviction came down, Trump called the case a rigged, disgraceful trial.

The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here, Trump said Thursday.

Trump attorney Will Scharf said the former presidents legal team is considering all options to appeal the conviction.

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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. NATO and the European Union's confrontational stance toward Russia is causing increased tension in Georgia and affecting Armenian-Azerbaijani relations, Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov said at the meeting of the Defense Ministerial Council of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Trend reports via TASS.

The Russian defense minister noted that some NATO nations are trying to fortify their positions in the Caucasus in order to obtain resources from the Caspian Sea and enter Central Asia directly.

The situation is being destabilized, and protests in Georgia, aimed at promoting active anti-Russian actions, are being financed, Belousov emphasized.

He added that mediation services are being forcefully imposed on Armenia and Azerbaijan to resolve conflicts, with proposals to sign a peace treaty exclusively on Western platforms and under Western influence.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Note to readers: The News-Press and Naples Daily News are providing special coverage this week of all things weather in Southwest Florida as a new hurricane season is about to start (June 1).

Award-winning photographer Andrew West likes making pictures. But not necessarily pictures of natural disasters.

Being a journalist in Southwest Florida requires the ability and courage to cover unpleasant moments  crime scenes, vehicular fatalities, fires and a plethora of breaking news that can be classified as disturbing.

More: 2024 will be a busy hurricane season in Florida. Here's what you should start doing now

For West, near the top of that list is covering hurricanes. No one wants a catastrophic hurricane to come along, killing people and turning communities upside down. When it does happen, photo journalists like West need to be on the front lines, even being outside when the storm is at its fiercest.

West has covered numerous hurricanes throughout his career. We asked him to select some of his most memorable images and share his thoughts about how he captured the moment and its meaningfulness.

Hurricane Charley: 2004

Cecil Cavenaugh hugs his grandson, Jacob,2, while taking a look through the home that Jacob and his sister live in with their grandmother in Suncoast Estates on Friday, August 13, 2004. Hurricane Charley ripped through the estates causing widespread damage. (Credit: ANDREW WEST/The News-Press)

This photo taken the day of the storm (Aug. 13, 2004) was one of the first images I captured. After the hurricane passed through, we got the all-clear to go shoot from our editors. I was trying to get something before dark. I can't recall the exact circumstances, but I ran into Cecil Cavenaugh and his grandson Jacob as they were going through the remains of the home. They graciously let me document them for a few moments before I had to move on because of deadlines.

I try to shoot in the most respectful way possible to find the human element to show how people are affected by these tragedies. Documenting is literally visual storytelling. My role is to capture the people and their emotion in the moment. To me the photo above conveys a sense that family is most important and that material things can be rebuilt.

Hurricane Michael: 2018

Becky Daniel reacts to seeing her Beacon Hill home, behind her, on Oct. 11, 2018. It was destroyed in Hurricane Michael. The area is right next to Mexico City, which was ground zero for the hurricane.

The day after the Hurricane Michael made landfall, reporter Mike Braun and I were tasked with heading to Mexico Beach where the hurricane had come ashore and caused some of the worst overall damage. We drove all day because people were lined up trying to get back to their homes. We drove up and down the devastated streets looking for people. We saw a vehicle pull up to a destroyed home. From across the street, we saw Becky Daniel surveying her house and the neighborhood. We stayed back for a few moments to give her some time and space. We slowly approached, and she let us know that she did not mind us being there. We spoke for a few moments, and then she turned around to survey her neighborhood. I took the photo above as she looked at a neighbor's house, which was destroyed.

Members of the Devore and Waddell family from Parker, Fla., including Trinity, Christian, Qatara and Caris, are comforted by their mother, Shekinah Waddell, as they ride out Hurricane Michael in the Country Inn and Suites in Panama City on Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2018. The eyewall of the storm passed right over the hotel. Part of the roof ripped off and a natural gas line was severed, causing a large amount of stress for guests of the hotel.

I shot this photograph from the hotel where reporter Mike Braun and I sheltered to wait out Hurricane Michael. We were there with several other media members covering the storm along with a packed hotel of guests who had evacuated their homes. The hurricane approached, and we found ourselves in the direct path of the storm. As the winds intensified, and we could feel and hear the hotel start coming apart. Water was coming through the light fixtures in the ceiling, and families were putting mattresses up against windows. People were terrified. We went to a stairwell of the hotel where a lot of guests were waiting, praying, and hugging. I made eye contact with Shekinah and slowly documented her comforting her kids as the wind and rain battered the sturdy structure. Capturing these interactions with them gave me a focus and a reprieve from my own stress. After the storm, we found that our vehicle had miraculously survived with minor damage. Mike and I surveyed the devastation at a nearby apartment complex and documented more scenes before having to find a place to transmit our content The intensity of emotions felt in that stairwell created one of the most poignant memories I have from my many years covering hurricanes.

Hurricane Dorian: 2019

Extensive damage from Hurricane Dorian can be seen in aerial footage on the Island of Abaco on Wednesday, September, 4, 2019 in the Bahamas. The Category 5 storm slammed the island chain. This is Marsh Harbour (Credit: Andrew West, The News-Press/The USA Today Network

Seeing the destruction from Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, especially from the air, floored me. The storm raged over this area for over 24 hours with very little movement. I shot the image above from the back of a small airplane with the seats taken out. A photojournalist for Getty Images and I were asked by our respective employers if we were willing to fly. Of course, I said yes. We were tied to the back of the airplane so we wouldn't fall out as the pilot made bank turns. The further east we flew, the worse the damage from the Category 5 storm became. We landed on one of the islands to fuel up with gas cans the pilots had brought. There, we talked to people trying to evacuate from the hard-hit areas. As we flew over Marsh Harbour, I was shooting so furiously that I could not fully process the extent of the damage. I knew I needed to get as many good images as I could in a little bit of time. We could only make a few passes because the hardest-hit area was so far out. We were also bouncing around a lot as well. Once I started looking through the images back on land, I started to comprehend the degree of catastrophic damage caused by the storm. The photo above shows the devastation of the Mudd community, an area built by Haitian immigrants that was destroyed by the storm.

Several weeks after Hurricane Dorian ripped through the Bahamas, reporter Amy Williams and I went back to document the aftermath and effects of the hurricane on its residents and community. After dealing with a slew of access issues, we were able to make it out to Marsh Harbour via a plane from Nassau. We spent a couple of days scouring the area for stories and ended up in The Mudd, one of the hardest-hit areas where many people died. While looking for survivors or any signs of life, I saw this dog slowly strolling through a makeshift path. In a surreal moment, it lay down on a mattress right in front of me. I started to wonder how we both ended up there at the same time. I desperately wanted to understand the dogs journey through the storm to that moment on the mattress. The dog conveyed to me that it had found what used to be his home. Working as a journalist in disaster zones can be mentally, emotionally and physically, exhausting--and, as in this case, heartbreaking.

Hurricane Ian: 2022

Stan Pentz walks out of a Iona neighborhood on Thursday Sept 29, 2022, A day after Hurricane Ian made landfall on Thursday, Sept. 28, 2022. He survived by swimming and holding onto items around his home.

Hurricane Ian was the hardest storm I have covered in my more than 25-year career. I had to juggle work and my personal life. My home was severely damaged by the storm on Fort Myers Beach as was the case with many of our friends and neighbors. We had evacuated off the Beach to a friend's home, so, we were safe. I was able to capture some images on the day of the storm, but I had to turn back as streets were flooded, trees were down, and a veritable river had formed on Summerlin Road. This image of Stan was taken the next morning. I had picked up two new reporters, Dan Glaun and Samantha Neely from WGCU, which had turned into a mini newsroom and living quarters for some. We were tasked with going to the Sanibel Causeway because we were hearing rumors that it had been wiped out. We made it to the Port of Sanibel, but we were turned back by law enforcement. The environment was chaotic with boats and debris strewn everywhere. I glanced behind the Tanger Outlets and noticed a flooded street with emergency officials starting search and rescue efforts. I photographed people walking out of the neighborhood, some were holding belongings. Stan was one such survivor. In the image above, he is juxtaposed with the damage on the flooded street. He told us his terrifying story of surviving the storm. While not being able to fully document the wrath of the storm, this photo conveyed a sense of what some of our residents went through.

Two weeks after Hurricane Ian, Leonard Hunte, 77, a lifelong shrimper, surveys damage to shrimp boats that were washed ashore by storm surge from the Category 4 hurricane. He rode out the storm at his home at a nearby trailer park. He plans on shrimping when the boats are back in the water, until he turns 80.

The shrimping industry in Fort Myers Beach was severely impacted by Hurricane Ian. It almost destroyed it. Almost all the boats were deposited on shore, even though their captains were on them through the storm desperately trying to navigate them to safety. I spent months documenting the aftermath and the hurricanes devasting effect on the industry. During one of my first visits to the docks, I met up with Leonard. He was hanging out in the shade of the towering hulls of the boats with several other shrimpers. This turned into one of my favorite photos from the hurricane. He told me his story of surviving the storm in a nearby trailer park. The crews had since made makeshift paths through the wreckage and deposited shrimp boats. I photographed him as he was looking at the hull of one of the boats. Leonards maroon beret and his expression as he gazed at the boats added dimension to the moment. The light bouncing off the boats in all directions helped make the scene strikingly and surprisingly beautiful given the backstory. I am simultaneously devastated for the tragedy and honored to be able to document it. As a photojournalist, my job to capture visuals in an honest and artistic way to promote awareness, understanding, and empathy within the communities I serve.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Florida hurricanes in photos: Journalist shares memorable images
Columbia airport is losing more summer flights than most of US. But theres more to the story

Columbia Metropolitan Airport was second in the country on a Bloomberg list of airports cutting flights for summer travel this year. Only Jackson, Mississippi, has had a higher percentage of its summer flights reduced from what was initially planned in January, according to an analysis of summer flight data by Bloomberg.

The Bloomberg data shows Columbias airport offering 13.8% fewer seats than what was planned in January  the second-highest percentage cut in the country. That translates to more than 32,000 seats being cut from the airports summer flight schedule from what was planned in January, according to Bloomberg.

But those numbers only paint part of a picture, Columbia Metropolitan Airport spokesperson Kim Crafton explained.

The Columbia airport is on track to surpass 1.38 million passengers this year, which it previously estimated would take until 2028 to reach that many annual passengers, Crafton said via email. The airport hit its previous record of 1.35 million passengers in 2019, before dipping during the pandemic. In 2023, it served 1.23 million passengers.

But the airport has still been affected by a nationwide trend of airlines reducing flights this summer, driven largely by United and Delta airlines, which both operate in Columbia.

Nationwide, airlines have cut more than 6 million seats across airports that reach at least 100,000 passengers between June and August. The South has been the most affected, with more than two-thirds of those cut seats being for flights to or from Southern airports, according to the Bloomberg analysis.

Greenville will have 7.4% fewer seats and Myrtle Beach will have 7% fewer seats this summer than previously scheduled, according to Bloomberg.

Delta, United and American airlines operate at the Columbia airport, and all of those airlines have cut flights from their summer schedules.

Nationwide, Delta has reduced seats by 2.3 million for its June through August flight schedules, and United has cut 1.4 million seats, according to Bloombergs analysis. American Airlines has cut 1 million seats for that timeframe.

Earlier this year, United Airlines asked pilots to take time off in May because they simply did not have enough airplanes to meet demand, according to the Associated Press. The shortage of airplanes has partly been driven by Boeing delivering fewer new planes, the AP reporting also noted.

Indeed, United Airlines is offering 3,164 fewer seats this summer than it did last summer in Columbia. But Delta is actually providing 7,488 more seats than it offered at the Columbia airport between June and August 2023.

Year over year, the airport is seeing 4,324 more available seats between those two airlines than it did last summer, Crafton said.
Columbus childcare worker arrested after investigation into abuse allegations, police say

A child care worker in Columbus has been arrested following an investigation into allegations of abuse at a local childcare facility.

Police said Pamela Marie Cook, 61, was arrested Thursday and charged with three counts of simple battery.

Cook was an employee at Childcare Network located at 3009 University Avenue in Columbus, according to police.

Columbus police officers investigated three incidents involving victims under 11-months-old in which the investigation supported criminal charges in two of the three cases, according to a release.

Police said Cook was identified as the responsible employee and she quit her employment before the investigation was complete.

Cook is scheduled to appear in Columbus Recorders Court at 9 a.m. on July 1, according to police.
Sens. Angus King of Maine, 80, and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, 82, are expected to easily win reelection in November. (Associated Press)

In 2018, Dianne Feinstein was elected to her fifth full U.S. Senate term. She was 85.

Her opponent, Kevin de Leon, was more than 30 years younger and made Feinstein's age a central part of his campaign. "Time for a change," he told voters. Time for "a new voice that expresses the values of California today, not yesterday."

After winning, Feinstein spent her final years suffering a much-chronicled physical and cognitive decline. She faced incessant calls to quit, which the Democrat studiously ignored, dying hours after a last vote on the Senate floor. She was 90.

Angus King and Bernie Sanders, two geriatric members of the U.S. Senate, are now up for reelection, seeking their third and fourth terms, respectively. King would be 86 and Sanders 89 in January 2031 when those terms expire.

Both are independents who caucus with Democrats. Each is heavily favored to win in November.

"I'd be stupefied if he did not," Chris Potholm, an emeritus professor at Maine's Bowdoin College, said of King.

"Unbeatable" was how the University of Vermont's Garrison Nelson described Sanders. "He's as solid as can be in the race."

Read more: Column: Champagne wishes and caviar dreams ... of a Senate seat in Wisconsin?

As the two oldest presidential candidates in history battle for the White House  and President Biden, in particular, faces persistent questions about his mental and physical acuity  it's striking how little the longevity of the two incumbent senators seems to matter in their reelection bids.

"I have not seen any pushback on Sen. King related to his age," said Amy Fried, an emerita political science professor at the University of Maine.

The same goes for Sanders, who suffered a heart attack in 2019 during his second run for president.

"I don't think the age factor is significant enough to threaten his reelection," said Matthew Dickinson of Vermont's Middlebury College.

That's in part because voters typically view political offices through different lenses.

They are "significantly more accepting of an aging person in a legislative position, being one of a hundred in the Senate, or one of 435 in the House, than in an executive post," said Charlie Cook, who has spent decades handicapping elections nationwide.

"While being a senator or congressman is a more demanding job than many think ... it is nothing like being the chief executive."

That said, was there another standard  a double standard  applied to Feinstein, as an 80-something-going-on-90 woman serving in a body that is still very much a men's club?

Many of her defenders thought so. Among examples, they pointed to the deference shown Sens. Edward M. Kennedy and John McCain after they were diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Both stayed in office and were gone from Washington for extended periods receiving medical care. Neither faced the hue and cry that enveloped Feinstein.

The glide paths that King and Sanders are following to reelection would also seem to underscore the notion that Feinstein, their generational peer, was treated more harshly based on her gender.

Read more: Dianne Feinstein's final day in the Senate

But there are important distinctions.

Not least, there is no evidence that either King or Sanders suffer the obvious impairments that plagued Feinstein during her final years in office, which were marked by several prolonged absences owing to health issues.

King "has a wicked hard schedule," said Potholm, who has written a half dozen books on Maine politics. "Talk to him for five minutes and you'll see he's sharp as a tack."

Sanders "shows no slippage, no discernible stuttering or muttering or age-related disconnect," said Nelson, who has known the senator for more than half a century, going back to Sanders' rabble-rousing days as a repeatedly unsuccessful candidate for statewide office.

Size also matters.

Maine, with 1.4 million residents, and Vermont, with 650,000, are small states, in both size and population. That makes it easy for voters to get to know politicians on a personal level, forging a connection that's not possible in California, where politics tend to be more transactional  as in, what have you done for me lately?

Much of the agita surrounding Feinstein stemmed from her stance on policy, particularly from those on the left who long considered the former San Francisco mayor too moderate for their taste. They sought to pressure her into quitting so Gov. Gavin Newsom could appoint someone more reliably liberal.

Read more: Column: In last farewell to Feinstein, San Francisco celebrates its 'forever mayor'

As Feinstein's health teetered, the stakes were heightened by the Senate's near-even split.

She chaired the Judiciary Committee until concerns about her fitness forced her to relinquish the post two years after reelection. She stayed on the committee, but her absences jeopardized Democrats' ability to confirm Biden's judicial nominees.

That, and not Feinstein's gender, made her age "get a lot more of the spotlight" than it might have under different circumstances, said Michele Swers, a Georgetown professor who has authored two books on women in Congress.

In February 2023, Feinstein had the good sense to announce she would not seek another term, clearing the way for a robust campaign to succeed her. When she died last September, Newsom appointed Laphonza Butler as a caretaker.

At 45  a youngster, by Senate standards  Butler had this to say about King and Sanders: Every 80-year-old isnt the same.

Moreover, she told Politico, "To judge one person, or five people, or two people based on the number on their birth certificate is probably not the best representation of American freedom.

But don't take her word, or anyone else's. It's up to voters in Maine and Vermont, who'll have the final say in November.

Get the latest from Mark Z. Barabak

Focusing on politics out West, from the Golden Gate to the U.S. Capitol.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
What comes next in major shift of SCs health and environmental agencies

The Dominion Energy utility campus is set to be the new home of four South Carolina health-related agency in a major overhaul of the state's health and environmental sysytem. (Provided by SC Department of Administration)

COLUMBIA  The breakup of South Carolinas public health and environmental agency and creation of a health campus happens July 1 by law. But the actual split and move of thousands of state health employees out of downtown Columbia isnt likely to start until January at the earliest.

Legislators have approved the rental agreement, but they still need to officially pay for it through the state budget thats weeks away from being finalized. Only after the budget takes effect July 1 can renovations to employees new office home begin.

The process will start with South Carolina taxpayers shelling out $30 million for a years worth of rent and building improvements for a former utility company office complex in Cayce.

The expansive, renovated campus will eventually house workers from four health-related agencies.

But they wont occupy the space until six months or more into the first year of a 20-year contract being inked between the state and a Columbia-area real estate developer whos also a political mega-donor.

The idea of splitting the state Department of Health and Environment Control and rearranging other public health services has been batted around for years in the Legislature.

Supporters argued the dual-purpose agency, with its roughly 3,000 employees, had grown too large and experienced a revolving door of leaders who couldnt adequately handle its mission.

The agency has wide-ranging responsibilities that include tracking and preventing the spread of infectious diseases, permitting hospital expansions, inspecting health facilities and restaurants, as well as inspecting dams and monitoring air and water quality.

Last year, the effort succeeded, with Gov. Henry McMaster signing into law the bill separating the agency into the Department of Public Health and Department of Environmental Services.

At the same time, the state commissioned a study on its litany of other health-related agencies, laying the groundwork for future department mergers.

Uncertainty

Still, the massive overhaul has hit roadblocks, creating uncertainty for thousands of state workers.

An ultra-conservative faction within the state House pushed back and, on the last day of the regular session, succeeded in blocking part of the plans  at least temporarily.

With the clock ticking down to the mandated 5 p.m. cutoff May 9, members of the House Freedom Caucus blocked a vote, killing a bill that would have combined six health-related agencies into one Executive Office of Health and Policy, to be overseen by a director who answered directly to the governor.

The new mega-agency would have become South Carolinas largest, with more than 6,300 employees.

It would combine agencies overseeing services for the elderly, mental health issues, disabilities, patients covered by Medicaid, and those addicted to drugs and alcohol, plus an estimated 1,140 workers brought over after the health and environmental agency breakup.

The idea was studied for more than two years by a private consultant hired by the state, who concluded in a report that South Carolina is the most fragmented structure for health and human services delivery in the country.

One of the architects of the bill still hopes to resurrect it in the Legislatures extended session in June.

Legislators could take the unusual step of amending the temporary law that governs what they can tackle in the limited, extended session. But adding the health care merger to the agenda requires supermajority approval of both chambers. The chances are likely slim.

Confusion has ensued.

Columbia commercial real estate brokers say two of the agencies that are part of the proposed merger but not part of original plans to move  agencies that oversee Medicaid and services for the elderly  have switched to a month-to-month lease. Theyre hesitant to sign new long-term leases in case they end up with a new boss.

Major moves

With the DHEC split underway, legislators last year decided the time was right to seek new offices for the divided agencies, as well as others located along Columbias redeveloping Bull Street corridor, House Ways and Means Chairman Bruce Bannister previously told the SC Daily Gazette.

The state Cabinet agency that serves as a clearinghouse for all state property was charged with finding buildings to rent. What it recommended was two locations: a campus for four of the states health agencies and a separate space for environmental regulators.

The estimated cost: $496 million over two decades.

Thats $335 million more than it would cost in operations and maintenance over 20 years to simply keep the agencies where they are, according to the state Department of Administration.

Specifically, the state agencies that provide services for people with disabilities, mental health issues, and alcohol and drug addictions, as well as the public health side of the divided DHEC, would move to the office complex of Dominion Energy in Cayce.

The environmental agency had been slated to move to the Columbia-area headquarters of the Colonial Life insurance company, which can hold almost 1,000 workers. But mere days after members of a legislative fiscal oversight board signed off on the office rentals, that deal fell through.

Realtors representing Colonial Life insurance company told the state it was unable to relocate an existing tenant and wouldnt have space.

The beneficiary of what remains of that massive deal is Bill Stern.

The Columbia developer is a political mega-donor, giving mostly to the states ruling Republicans but also to Democratic incumbents. He is also chairman of the state Ports Authoritys governing board.

Stern retains the option to buy the Dominion property but has yet to close on the sale. The purchase price is unknown. Dominion has already relocated its employees to one of its other office buildings, according to area real estate professionals.

The entire deal depended on the Legislature funding it in the state budget that starts July 1  a date that coincides with DHECs split, as per last years law. Legislators obliged, with both the House and the Senate setting aside $30 million:

$11 million in lease payments (a rate which will go up 3% annually) $5.5 million to renovate the space to fit agency needs roughly $3 million for estimated annual property tax and utility payments $10.5 million on moving costs and the rent and utility bills to maintain agencies current offices while the new one is renovated, plus potential repairs to the new space. (The contract calls for the state to cover all repairs under $100,000.)



That doesnt include yet-to-be-found space for the environmental agency and the Department of Social Services.

So far, the Department of Administration has been unsuccessful in its search for their new homes.

On Tuesday, the Legislatures fiscal oversight panel told agency Director Marcia Adams to keep looking.

A better deal?

Though they ultimately failed, Freedom Caucus members also sought to kill the health care campus deal in the final days of the session, with one member questioning whether the Dominion Energy property was the best spending choice.

Administration faced a tough deadline and tight parameters, according to Rep. Jordan Pace, who works as a commercial real estate broker in the Lowcountry.

Given more time and flexibility, he argued, the state likely would have received better offers.

Lets at least do a favor for our constituents to not pay sticker price for something that we rushed into, the Berkeley County Republican said. We have other options if we take the time to look.

The SC Daily Gazette reviewed the eight bids submitted to the Department of Administration for consideration.

Five of the properties were much smaller. They could house just one or two of the smaller agencies, though at a fraction of the cost.

Only three properties had enough space for a multi-agency complex.

The Department of Administration ruled one of them out quickly in the process  the former Blythewood headquarters of DXC Technologies  even though it would have cost taxpayers roughly $113 million less than the Dominion property over the next 20 years.

Its unclear why. The vacant building along Interstate 77 had enough space for four of the health agencies, plus it had a fitness center, cafeteria, auditorium and lots of parking.

According to Administration, four properties were rejected for issues including noncompliance with the Americans for Disabilities Act, insufficient parking, ongoing construction, availability of amenities, and availability timeframe. But the agency didnt specify which properties were passed over for which of those reasons.

If the state had been willing to wait until 2029, Colonial Life also claimed it could house all 4,000 state employees working at the five state agencies currently located along Bull Street at cheaper rates.

The add-on costs are what make the rental of the former Dominion offices so expensive.

Seven of the eight properties offered all-inclusive leases, with repairs and utility costs part of the rental rate.

Only Stern sought a so-called triple-net lease, leaving the state responsible for utilities, taxes and maintenance costs.

The deal also required the state to take on the whole campus, which is 118,000 square feet more than needed for the four agencies it will house but not large enough to accommodate DSS or the environmental agency.

And because maintenance is not included in the lease, the state must hire a property manager for the new campus. So far, it has been unsuccessful in finding one.

The other properties also offered several months of free rent, which would have saved the state money while it prepares the agencies to move. And the other property owners were willing to chip in to cover a portion or all of the alterations that the state needed, instead of leaving that cost to taxpayers.

But ultimately, if lawmakers were set on a 2025 move of multiple agencies and creation on a health care campus, only the Dominion property fit the bill.

Administration spokeswoman Brooke Bailey said the department is studying the potential for moving other agencies to the campus  though the small Department of Aging is likely the only other one that could fit in the leftover space.

Whats next

The Department of Administration will list for sale the Department of Mental Health, the only Bull Street area building to be fully vacated at this time.

As a major redevelopment project in Columbias BullStreet District takes shape, the land the building sits on has become more valuable.

One other financial task still remains to make the environmental and health split happen.

House and Senate budget negotiators must decide whether to approve $20 million in one-time spending that agency officials say they need to have two separate information technology offices, with costs including a second set of software licenses.

So far, the two agencies have already spent $1.5 million for IT-related costs. Environmental Services also has spent $55,000 with a pair of companies Chernoff Newman for marketing services and A3 Communications for a new secure ID badge system.

All in, the split and move is expected to cost taxpayers upwards of $60 million dollars in the first year and at least $13 million to $20 million annually for the next two decades.

The post What comes next in major shift of SCs health and environmental agencies appeared first on SC Daily Gazette.
Following the shooting Thursday evening that left Minneapolis police officer Jamal Mitchell and two civilians dead, and another officer critically wounded, law enforcement agencies and public officials rushed to offer condolences and support to the Minneapolis police.

"Maple Grove Police Department is grieving, along with the entire police community, at the tragic loss of a Minneapolis officer killed in the line-of-duty today," Chief Eric Werner wrote in a post on X. "Our hearts and prayers are with the officer's family and our @CityMinneapolis police brothers and sisters."

"Our hearts are heavy this evening as we mourn the loss of yet another peace officer serving a community here in Minnesota. To our brothers and sisters with Minneapolis Police Department, know that the entire state is mourning with you this evening," read a statement from the South St. Paul Police Department.

Others celebrated the courage of the 28-year-old Mitchell.

"The officer exemplified unmatched dedication, bravery, and service in defense of the public," said Brian Peters, executive director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, in a statement. "The officer's unwavering commitment to safeguarding others will leave a legacy of service that will always be remembered."

"Please keep these officers, families, and partners in your thoughts and prayers in addition to the civilians caught up in this senseless act of violence," read a statement from David Miller, president of the Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police.

County sheriffs from across Minnesota offered their support as well.

"Our deepest condolences are with the Minneapolis Police Department as they mourn the loss of an officer who was gunned down during another senseless attack on law enforcement," read a statement from the Clay County Sheriff's Office in Moorhead. "We also pray for the speedy recovery of the other officer and civilians who were injured during this incident.

Gov. Tim Walz said the state is ready to help Minneapolis.

"The State of Minnesota stands ready to provide any resources necessary," Walz said in a statement. "Praying for all the first responders on the ground working to keep the community safe."

"The loss of a member of the law enforcement family today is heartbreaking," said Rep. Paul Novotny, R-Elk River, a former police officer. "I am praying for his family, for the other injured officer to make a full recovery, and for all the other victims of this horrific shooting."
A day after his conviction on 34 felony charges, former president Donald Trump held a rambling press conference Friday during which he bad-mouthed the U.S. justice system and just about everybody but himself. Capitalizing on this this, the Biden administration issued a statement that called the Republican candidate and convicted felon unfit for public office.

America just witnessed a confused, desperate, and defeated Donald Trump ramble about his own personal grievances and lie about the American justice system, leaving anyone watching with one obvious conclusion: This man cannot be president of the United States, Michael Tyler, the Biden campaign communications director, said in a statement.

To secure the last nail in the coffin, Tyler added: Unhinged by his 2020 election loss and spiraling from his criminal convictions, Trump is consumed by his own thirst for revenge and retribution.

President Joe Biden went on to hold his own press conference where he took his own jabs at Trump.

The American principle that no one is above the law was reaffirmed, Biden told reporters. He noted that Trump had opportunities to defend himself (he chose not to testify) and that the jury was in his hush money case was chosen, as with any other case, with input from the defense counsel. Like "everyone else," Biden said, Trump also has the right to appeal the verdict.

That's how the American system of justice works, Biden said. And it's reckless, it's dangerous, and it's irresponsible for anyone to say this was 'rigged' just because they don't like the verdict. Our justice system has endured for nearly 250 years and it literally is the cornerstone of America.

In addition to Trump, numerous elected Republicans have come out against the jury's verdict, which House Speaker Mike Johnson asserted was a "shameful" instance of "lawfare."

In a shout out into the void, Biden concluded his remarks on the Trump verdict by arguing that the justice system should be respected by all, including Republicans, and that nobody should ever be allowed to tear it down.
House and Senate leadership formally invited Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to deliver a joint address to Congress despite increased criticism of the war in Gaza against Hamas.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sent a letter on Friday inviting Netanyahu, though it did not indicate a specific date for him to speak.

The leaders said they chose to formally request the prime minister to speak in response to the war sparked by Hamas launching a surprise attack on Israel on October 7 that led to the deaths of 1,200 people and the taking of 252 hostages.

The existential challenges we face, including the growing partnership between Iran, Russia, and China, threaten the security, peace, and prosperity of our countries and of free people around the world, he said. To build on our enduring relationship and to highlight Americas solidarity with Israel, we invite you to share the Israeli governments vision for defending democracy, combatting terror, and establishing a just and lasting peace in the region.

Congressional leadership invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to deliver a joint address to Congress (AP)

Netanyahu has delivered a joint address to Congress on three occasions during: once in 1996 during his first run; again in 2011 and a third time in 2015 during his second run. This will be his first address since he reassumed office in 2022.

Johnson told The Independent last week that Schumer agreed to invite Netanyahu to deliver an address, but that they were working on a date. Other Democrats, including progressive Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, criticized the invitation, calling it a divisive and unproductive activity.

Previously, Netanyahu had addressed the Senate Republican conference during a closed-door lunch.

But the invitation comes after the top prosecutor for the International Criminal Court announced he was seeking arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and senior Hamas officials. All four major leaders condemned the announcement, as did many other senior congressional leaders when Secretary of State Antony Blinken testified before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Palestinians walk through the destruction in the wake of an Israeli air and ground offensive in Jebaliya, northern Gaza Strip, (AP)

The invitation comes despite the fact that Schumer, the highest ranking Jewish-American official, called for new elections in Israel earlier this year, which Johnson and McConnell swiftly denounced.

The invitation also comes the same day that President Joe Biden urged Israel and Hamas to accept an Israeli-supported plan for a full and complete ceasefire.

Last year, Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered a joint address to Congress, which some progressives boycotted and led to Herzog criticizing them.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. On May 31, 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 Lachin from the Garadagh district of Baku, Trend reports.

At this stage, another 20 families (68 people) moved to the city of Lachin.

The resettled families will settle in the houses where they once lived in Lachin, which were restored or rebuilt on the basis of instructions from the head of state after the end of the Armenian occupation. Lachin 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 Lachin has been provided for 513 families - 1,906 people.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has accepted an invitation from US congressional leaders to address a joint meeting of Congress, his office said in a statement Saturday.

I am very moved to have the privilege of representing Israel before both Houses of Congress and to present the truth about our just war against those who seek to destroy us to the representatives of the American people and the entire world, Netanyahu said.

The top four US congressional leaders on Friday formally invited Netanyahu to address a joint meeting of Congress.

We join the State of Israel in your struggle against terror, especially as Hamas continues to hold American and Israeli citizens captive and its leaders jeopardize regional stability, the letter from House Speaker Mike Johnson, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reads.

For this reason, on behalf of the bipartisan leadership of the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate, we would like to invite you to address a Joint Meeting of Congress.

The letter, which does not provide a date for the address, is signed by the top Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate.

The invitation comes after much speculation as additional military aid to Israel remains in question and Democrats are facing pressure from their left wing as the party remains divided over Israels handling of the war against Hamas.

President Joe Biden on Friday laid out a three-phase proposal Israel has submitted to wind down the grinding crisis in Gaza.

Claiming that Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another October 7, Biden made the argument that Israel has met its stated goals for its operation in Gaza and that the time has arrived to stop the fighting as part of a deal to release Israeli hostages held by Hamas.

Less than an hour after Biden detailed the Israeli proposal, Netanyahus office insisted Israel would not end the war until Hamas is defeated and all of its goals are achieved.

CNN previously reported that during a closed-door conference meeting in March, House Republicans raised the idea of inviting Netanyahu. Following the meeting, Johnson told reporters that its one of the things that we have in mind, adding that its very important for us to show solidarity and support for Israel right now.

This story and headline have been updated with new information.

CNNs Kaanita Iyer, Haley Talbot, Melanie Zanona, Clare Foran, Kevin Liptak, Nikki Carvajal and Samantha Waldenberg contributed to this report.

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GETZVILLE, N.Y. (WIVB)  A Getzville man has admitted to stealing more than $250,000 from a woman he befriended.

The crime, committed by 64-year-old Victor Marinaccio, took place between July 2018 and August 2022, according to the Erie County District Attorneys office. Prosecutors said he misrepresented himself in order to get the victims life savings, with the DAs office referring to him as a conman.

In doing this, the DAs office said Marinaccio used her credit cards and conducted wire transfers to steal the money he used for travel and other personal expenses.

Wanted on an indictment warrant, Marinaccio was found by members of the United States Secret Service living in a hotel in Las Vegas. At the time of his arraignment, he had no permanent address and was ordered to surrender his passport.

After waiving extradition in September 2022, Marinaccio was brought back to Western New York. He was ordered to pay $250,000 in restitution at the time of his sentence.

When hes sentenced on August 19, Marinaccio could spend up to 15 years in prison. For now, he remains free on his own recognizance.

A temporary order of protection has been issued on behalf of the victim.

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Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award, JANY Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
A growing list of conservatives have spoken out against no-fault divorce. Peter Dazeley via Getty Images

Ben Carson made headlines earlier this month upon the release of his new book, which calls for lawmakers to put a stop to no-fault divorce in the U.S.

For the sake of families, we should enact legislation to remove or radically reduce incidences of no-fault divorce, the former cabinet member for Donald Trump writes in The Perilous Fight: Overcoming Our Cultures War on the American Family, which hit shelves on May 14.

The reason this matters is that no-fault divorce legally allows marriages to end much more quickly than in previous decades, he continues. When there are relatively few legal or financial consequences connected with divorce, its natural for people to gravitate toward that option when their marriage hits a rough patch. What those people often dont consider, however, is the harm  both present and future  inflicted on their children once a divorce is finalized.

Carson is the latest in a growing list of conservative politicians who have spoken out against no-fault divorce.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in a 2016 sermon that no-fault divorce laws were among the cultural shifts that gave rise to a completely amoral society in which young people feel compelled to go into their schoolhouse and open fire on their classmates.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) decried the rise of no-fault divorce laws in a 1997 editorial he wrote for the Harvard Crimson while he was a student at Harvard University. Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) has also expressed support for making divorces harder to obtain.

In recent years, conservative state politicians have pushed for legislative changes that would roll back no-fault divorce in Oklahoma, Texas, South Dakota and beyond.

But what exactly does no-fault divorce mean, and why is it emerging as a hot-button issue in U.S. politics? Below, legal experts break down its history and the reasons people have such strong opinions.

What is no-fault divorce?

A no-fault divorce usually means either spouse can file a divorce petition without the need to show the other spouse did something wrong, said B. Robert Farzad, managing partner at Farzad & Ochoa Family Law Attorneys. Using California as an example, either spouse can file for divorce based simply on irreconcilable differences. Neither spouse needs to show anything other than that to start the divorce process or obtain the dissolution of the marriage.

This stands in contrast to fault divorce, which generally requires one spouse to prove in court that the other engaged in some sort of misconduct, like adultery, cruelty, abandonment or substance abuse.

Essentially, one party typically blames the other for the demise of their marriage, said divorce attorney Nicole Sodoma, who emphasized that specific state laws can vary significantly. While all states have the option of filing for no-fault divorces, less than 20 states exclusively recognize them, meaning the court will prohibit parties to allege fault grounds in order to get divorced.

California was the first state to legalize no-fault divorce when then-Gov. Ronald Reagan signed the Family Law Act of 1969 into law. Reagan, who would go on to become the nations first divorced president, said in a statement at the time:

Divorce is a tragic thing and while we cannot eliminate it or its causes through legislation, this bill will do much to remove the sideshow elements of many divorce cases. I believe it is a step towards removing the acrimony and bitterness between a couple that is harmful not only to their children but also to society as a whole.

Over the next four decades, other states would pass similar laws, until New York became the final state to adopt a no-fault divorce statute in 2010.

Fault divorce was incredibly expensive and time-consuming, and the damage done to the individuals by protracted litigation over the reasons for the failed marriage made avoiding the question of fault better for everyone involved, said Marilyn Chinitz, a partner in the matrimonial and family law practice at the law firm Blank Rome.

Prior to no-fault divorce, even couples who mutually wanted to end their marriage had to prove some kind of wrongdoing in court. As a result, many would create fake scenarios  some even going so far as to hire a good-looking woman to get caught with an allegedly cheating husband.

In 1934, the New York Mirror published an article called I Was the Unknown Blonde in 100 New York Divorces! which profiled a woman named Dorothy Jarvis. A professional other woman, Jarvis would collect $50 to $100 to be photographed in compromising situations with married men.

Although this sort of collusion was technically illegal, it was so commonplace that a 1934 New York Times article about perjury declared it was most flagrant in divorce courts.

For couples with less dramatic flair, migratory divorce was also a popular option. Spouses who wanted to end their marriage would move together to a state with less-restrictive divorce laws, allowing for a quicker and easier split.

Reno, Nevada was known as the Divorce Capital of the World for much of the 20th century due to the states lax requirements for divorce, coupled with the citys efficient courthouse process and infrastructure that catered to married folks seeking singledom.

A view of a hotel sign in Reno, Nevada circa 1940. Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Obtaining a divorce under fault-based laws was not only logistically complicated, but it could also lead to punitive outcomes.

Prior to the implementation of the no-fault statute, the question of fault would result in a different allocation of the assets and debts in a divorce, especially marital support or maintenance, Chinitz said.

As a result, the party deemed responsible for the breakup of the marriage could be ordered to pay more in alimony due to their actions  almost like a penalty, she explained. No-fault laws have helped change this.

Thankfully, when making decisions about the division of assets and debts, support, and even custody, courts have moved away from the concept of punishment, Chinitz said.

What are the benefits of no-fault divorce?

The shift away from punitive practices in divorce is one of many benefits to no-fault divorce touted by lawyers like Chinitz. She emphasized that this approach allows couples to end their marriage with greater privacy and less conflict.

Theres no reason for the court to hear the dirty laundry that takes place between couples and inflame unhappy people, Chinitz said. The divorce process should be focused on reducing conflict between the parties, not requiring them to provide evidence or statements outlining the bad behavior of their spouse.

Requiring a legal battle to prove fault unnecessarily lengthens the divorce process and makes it even more contentious, she argued.

There is no benefit to keeping unhappy people married. It is toxic and causes people to remain in unhealthy relationships, which has a deleterious effect on every member of the family, especially the children, Chinitz added. Why spend years and thousands of dollars when getting a divorce to prove that someone is accountable for the breakdown of the marriage? Isnt it enough to simply state that the marriage has irretrievably broken down and that it is important for both sides to move forward with the divorce process?

Reducing the time, money and stress involved in divorce lessens animosity and allows for more amicable splits.

Since many spouses also have children, that means the children need not see their parents go through an emotionally charged court process that unavoidably trickles down into the familys day-to-day life, Farzad said.

He noted that no-fault divorce also keeps the courts from getting clogged with contested, fault-based proceedings. And in contrast to those 20th century stories of fabricated affairs and collusion, the no-fault system doesnt incentivize otherwise honest people to lie.

Societal norms and attitudes toward divorce have changed over time, allowing for a greater emphasis on individual happiness and autonomy, Sodoma said. No-fault divorces align more closely with these contemporary values by allowing couples to end their marriages without assigning blame.

Many believe no-fault divorce promotes gender equality because it allows women  whove historically had fewer rights in marriage  to be on equal footing with men in the dissolution of marriage, she added.

No-fault divorce is particularly significant for victims of domestic violence, who may be less likely to seek divorce or report their abuse when faced with the prospect of a drawn-out legal battle, in which theyd need to prove fault and could face intimidation and retaliation from their partner.

By enabling abused women to exit marriages without the burden of detailing their abuse in court, no-fault divorce laws offer a vital avenue for escape and safety, Sodoma said.

A 2004 paper from economists Betsey Stevenson and Justin Wolvers reported a 30% decrease in domestic violence for both men and women in states that passed no-fault divorce laws  as well as an 8-16% decline in female suicides and 10% drop in the number of women murdered by their partners.

Although the courts have shifted away from punitive measures for the spouse considered to be at fault in a divorce, wrongful conduct like physical abuse can still be a factor in resolving certain issues.

In California, for example, if one spouse commits domestic violence and is criminally convicted, that abusive spouse may also suffer significant financial consequences in the divorce, including on issues such as spousal support, division of retirement benefits, attorneys fees and more, Farzad said.

And while no-fault divorces are generally more straightforward, the process varies by state. Some even require a separation period of one year or longer before a judge can grant the divorce.

U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson and his wife Kelly are in a more restrictive union known as a covenant marriage. Johnson has stated that no-fault divorce laws were among the cultural shifts that gave rise to a completely amoral society in which young people feel compelled to go into their schoolhouse and open fire on their classmates. Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images

Why are people talking about this now?

Its been more than 50 years since California became the first state to allow no-fault divorce, but the its legal status is increasingly at risk.

In January, newly-elected Oklahoma state Sen. Dusty Deevers (R) introduced a bill that would effectively abolish no-fault divorce by no longer permitting spouses to file for divorce on the grounds of incompatibility.

I want to see no-fault divorce come back to at-fault in divorce and even public shaming for those who are at fault in divorce, Deevers declared months earlier, during his campaign.

Every year since 2020, GOP South Dakota state Rep. Tony Randolph has put forward a bill to amend the list of valid grounds for divorce, specifically to remove irreconcilable differences (which 97.4% of divorcing couples in South Dakota cite as the cause of their split).

Today, the official platform for the Republican Party of Texas specifically urges the state legislature to rescind unilateral no-fault divorce laws, and the Nebraska GOP has called for no-fault divorce to be limited to situations in which the couple has no children of the marriage. Louisiana Republicans have reportedly discussed backing a similar resolution.

Rescinding unilateral no-fault divorce laws would be a terrible mistake, and it is alarming to even hear the rumblings of a platform seeking to rescind no-fault divorce laws, Chinitz said. Repealing no-fault divorce laws does not restore fundamental fairness in our family court and could have a devastating impact on the lives of so many forced to stay in unhappy relationships.

Along with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Chinitz said she believes the movement against no-fault divorce laws is another example of a dangerous trend in which politicians roll back freedoms and legal protections previously afforded to women.

The motivation behind this push is fueled by a desire to rewrite society to fit within conservative faith-based family values, where one man and one woman marry, have children, and remain married until death, Samantha Chapman, the advocacy manager for the ACLU of South Dakota, wrote on the organizations website. While this is a lifepath that many people choose, its also a vision that leaves little room for the complexities we face in our ever-changing world and the various ways these complexities impact our lives. This simply isnt the way things shake out for everyone.

In tandem with some conservatives efforts against no-fault divorce is their promotion of covenant marriage  a type of union that is only legally recognized in Arizona, Arkansas and Louisiana. Modeled after religious covenants, this type of marriage requires premarital counseling and makes it significantly more difficult for couples to get divorced.

Johnson and his wife Kelly were one of the first couples to choose a covenant marriage after Louisiana officially recognized these unions in 1997. Although Cottons Harvard Crimson piece from that year included predictions that many states would enact similar measures and covenant marriages would soon account for half of all new marriages in Louisiana, the practice has remained very limited.

Data from the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals found that of the 373,068 marriages performed in Louisiana between 2000 and 2010, just 1 percent were covenant marriages, according to AL.com.

Because so few people have chosen covenant marriage in Louisiana, it seems like an unpopular idea, Johnson told a reporter back in 2001. Its not unpopular  its just unknown. Once the message is out there, a whole lot more people will choose it.

Perhaps the limited reach of covenant marriage explains why proponents now seem more focused on placing restrictions on traditional unions by ending no-fault divorce.

Conservative politicians sometimes advocate making a divorce harder or at least creating more legal hurdles before filing or obtaining one, Farzad said. But a perspective like that sometimes misses the point. It assumes that people who go through divorces are doing something they really want to do  as if they have no respect for the institution of marriage  versus doing something they feel they must do.

He emphasized that keeping a domestic violence victim in an abusive relationship simply because they decided to enter into a legal contract in the past does nothing to preserve the sanctity of marriage.

Keeping a spouse being coercively, financially controlled in a marriage where the spouse fears leaving the other spouse and essentially becoming homeless and losing custody of their children is a societal wrong we have significantly corrected by abolishing fault-based divorce statutes, Farzad added. It doesnt make sense to go backwards, and neither religion nor politics justifies it.

Related...
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  A Columbus man who police said previously spent time in prison for child abuse was arrested Thursday for allegedly possessing and creating child sexually oriented material.

Timothi L. Cramer, 43, was arrested Thursday by the Columbus SWAT team on one charge of pandering obscenity involving a minor. Police said more charges may be filed as the evidence is processed.

City digs up womans yard. Shes still getting high water bills.

According to Columbus Police, an arrest warrant was filed for Cramer after an investigation by the Franklin County Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force and Columbus Police Exploited Children Unit.

Court records state that the investigation started after Google filed a report in March that an account allegedly controlled by Cramer contained 399 files that contained child sexual abuse material. Investigators also allegedly found a photo of a nude child Cramer had regular contact with.

Cramer is being held in Franklin County Jail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Franklin County Municipal Court on Friday.

Columbus police said Cramer served prison time in Florida from 2006 to 2022 after being convicted of one charge of aggravated child abuse  torture. According to court records, Cramer starved a 2-year-old child and locked the child inside a closet. He spent 17 years in prison after receiving a 20-year sentence, according to court records.

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.
Donald Trump made history again on Thursday by becoming the first president to be convicted of a crime. Twelve of his fellow New Yorkers found the former president guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records for his hush-money payments to an adult-film star during the 2016 election. What happens next will be a mixture of the familiar and the uncertain in the long quest to hold Trump accountable.

The conviction has no legal impact on Trumps campaign for the presidency. While some states bar people with criminal convictions from holding state-level public office, the U.S. Constitution imposes no such restrictions on federal office-holders. Socialist Party candidate Eugene V. Debs famously ran in the 1920 election while serving a prison sentence for sedition after encouraging draft resistance during World War I.

Shortly after the jurys verdict was announced, Trump signaled that he plans to use the verdict as a campaign tool. The real verdict is going to be [on] November 5 by the people, he told reporters outside the courthouse, referring to the election date. Trump has often deflected from scandals and allegations by claiming that his perceived enemies are actually attacking his MAGA supporters, rather than himself, and he will likely make this an animating theme of his campaign.

It is unclear whether Trump will be able to vote for himself at the end of it, however. While he would theoretically be eligible to vote in New York as long as he is not imprisoned on Election Day, he recently changed his primary residence to Florida, which has a much stricter felon-disenfranchisement regime. Legal experts are divided on whether his felony conviction in New York would affect his voting rights in Florida.

Some things have stayed the same. Trump repeated many of his criticisms of the trial and the prosecutor. This was a disgrace, he complained to reporters. This was a rigged trial by a crooked judge who was corrupt. Journalists present inside the courtroom reported that Trump sat unresponsive and expressionless with a glum look on his face, according to The New York Times.

He is also about to enter the labyrinth of the American penal system for the first time. The next major step in the trial is the sentencing phase. Judge Juan Merchan has scheduled the hearing for July 11, a handful of days before Trump is set to be formally nominated at the Republican National Convention. He remains free on bond until then.

Under New York law, falsifying business records in the service of another crime is a class E felony. Each charge theoretically carries a prison sentence of between 16 months and four years. It is exceedingly unlikely that Trump will be sentenced to the maximum penalty for each of those charges. He may not even face prison time at all.

Over the next six weeks, Trump will meet with New York Citys probation department, which has the responsibility of writing pre-sentencing reports for people convicted in the city. That report will include potential reasons why he should receive a lighter sentence like probation. These could include Trumps lack of prior criminal convictions, his advanced age, and the non-violent nature of these particular crimes.

Even sentencing will not end Trumps courtroom appearances in this case. He has made clear that he plans to appeal the jurys verdict and seek to have it overturned. During the trial, Trumps lawyers made multiple efforts to preserve grounds for appeal that could be used to challenge a conviction. While some of these attempts were dubious, others might prove to be more fruitful.

For one thing, Trump might seek to challenge the underlying legal theory that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg used to prosecute him. Falsifying business records only becomes a class E felony if carried out in the service of another crime. Prosecutors raised multiple potential crimes that jurors could use to reach that conclusion, including violating federal election laws and evading federal and state taxes. Trumps lawyers could challenge that theory on the basis that Trump was not convicted of any other crime.

Another route that Trumps lawyers have already signaled they would pursue is Stormy Daniels testimony earlier this month. The adult-film star, with whom Trump allegedly had an extramarital affair in 2006, testified during the trial about receiving $130,000 in hush-money payments from Michael Cohen, Trumps former legal fixer, in exchange for burying her story before the 2016 election. Illicitly routing those payments through Trumps company and campaign formed the basis for the falsified business records charges.

Merchan limited prosecutors from introducing evidence about Trumps other alleged infidelities, but rejected the Trump legal teams efforts to block Daniels from testifying. While on the stand, Daniels went into exacting detail about her alleged sexual encounters with Trump. Witnesses are allowed to mention background details to bolster their credibility on the stand; Trumps lawyers argued that Daniels went beyond that by claiming she had blacked out during the encounter. Todd Blanche, Trumps lawyer, unsuccessfully sought a mistrial for those remarks and others, claiming that Daniels testimony was a dog whistle for rape, even though she did not allege it.

In past legal proceedings, Trump has also sought to challenge every aspect of a case or complaint against him in an effort to prevail. That could lead him to raise less fruitful lines of attack on appeal. Despite a gag order, for example, Trump has complained that Merchans daughter is a Democratic consultant and claimed it amounted to proof of bias. His legal team also previously sought to have the trial moved out of Manhattan, where Trump has lived for decades, because of the perceived political bias that he would allegedly face in the Democratic stronghold.

An appeal will likely take years to unfold, however, meaning that Trump will have to live with the conviction for now. His ultimate escape hatch may be the November election. If convicting a former president of a crime is unprecedented in American history, then the prospect that a sitting president might be under criminal sanctions while in office is completely uncharted waters. If Trump receives a prison sentence that would extend into a potential second term, it could set up a major legal battle over whether he must be released to go to the White House.

The Supreme Court, which has already gutted the Fourteenth Amendments Disqualification Clause for Trumps sake, may be inclined to side with him on federalism grounds. State governments are generally prohibited from obstructing the federal government in carrying out its constitutional functions. Trump might ultimately argue that that principle extends to forbidding state governments from imprisoning a sitting president as well

Trumps reputation for political escapology is legendary. He avoided conviction in two separate Senate impeachment trials and successfully delayed three other criminal trials from taking place before Election Day. But his luck finally ran out in a Manhattan courtroom on Thursday afternoon. Trump is now a convicted felon despite his best effortsand he will remain one for the foreseeable future.
Convicted felon Donald Trump might need to turn to some of his ex-allies in order to help him out with his newfound legal guiltnamely, Tiny D Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

Trumps ability to vote for himself in November will depend on the details of his sentence, which is expected July 11. His vote is further complicated by his choice of permanent residenceFloridawhich bars felons from participating in elections. And Floridas regulations on the issue are particularly restrictive: even if a person is convicted of a felony in another state, as long as the state recognizes the crime, they still wont be allowed to cast their ballots until they complete their sentence.

Trump has another option, though: DeSantis, whom Trump has also dubbed Meatball Ron and Pudding Fingers, could make a special exception for his former primary competitor.

New York Justice Juan Merchan could sentence Trump to up to four years in prison. He could also impose probation, supervised release, or order Trump to do community service or pay fines. Trump would need to complete all portions of his sentence before hed be allowed to vote again in Florida, Alex Saiz, legal director of the Florida Justice Center, explained to Politico.

Lets say for whatever reason, Donald Trump gets just a fine and no [prison] sentence. If he doesnt pay that fine, then he cant vote until that fine is paid, Saiz told the publication. But if he gets given time served and a $500 fine, once he has paid that $500 fine and owes no more money and has no more supervision, then he is eligible to vote in the state of Florida.

If Trump completes his sentence, he may still be loath to ask DeSantis for help. But considering the fact that DeSantis seems perfectly happy fundraising for the man who once called him a groomer, he may be willing to intervene.
One day after being found guilty on all 34 counts in his hush-money trial, Donald Trump remained brash as he addressed reporters at Trump Tower -- where he repeated many of his grievances with the case and vowed to appeal.

Trump spoke on Friday morning from the atrium of the New York skyscraper, steps away from the golden escalator he famously rode down in 2015 when he kicked off his first bid for president.

Nearly nine years later, and after becoming the first U.S. president to ever be convicted of crimes, Trump said in a rambling speech that he will continue to fight against the legal battles that have consumed much of his third White House bid.

MORE: Trump running as a convicted felon: Badge of honor, or stumbling block?

PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump holds a press conference following the verdict in his hush-money trial at Trump Tower on May 31, 2024 in New York City. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

"If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone," Trump said as he kicked off his remarks, which were filled with falsehoods about the case. "These are bad people. These are, in many cases, I believe, sick people."

Trump then dove into some of his signature campaign rhetoric, going after migrants coming to the United States and economic competition with China. But his attention quickly returned to the New York criminal trial, and remained there for much of his 35-minute remarks. He did not take any questions from the press.

Trump continued to falsely claim the trial was "rigged" with a biased judge and prosecutors.

While Trump avoided directly naming Judge Juan Merchan and his former attorney Michael Cohen, citing the gag order against him, he made references to both. He alluded to Cohen as a "sleazebag" and the judge a "tyrant."

He also sought to portray himself as a political martyr -- a theme that has been central to his 2024 campaign.

MORE: Michael Cohen says Trump's guilty verdict has been 'a long time coming'

"In a way, I'm honored," he said. "It's not that it's pleasant. It's very bad for family, it's very bad for friends and businesses, but I'm honored to be involved in it because somebody has to do it, and I might as well keep going and be the one."

"So we're going to show them that we're going to fight  It's something where I'm wired in such a way that a lot of people would have gone away a long time ago," he later added.

Trump signified that they plan to appeal the decision and reiterated many reasons why he and his team believe they should, again criticizing the venue of the trial and timing of the case.

"The people of our country know it's a hoax, they know it's a hoax, they get it," Trump said. "You know, they're really smart. And it's really something, so we're going to be appealing this scam."

PHOTO: Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump attends a press conference at Trump Tower in New York City,May 31, 2024. (Brendan Mcdermid/Reuters)

Trump continued to try to downplay the counts he was found guilty of, still claiming his non-disclosure agreement was "totally legal" and not a hush-money payment.

Despite being a convicted felon, Trump said he still believes this will only propel him to win in November, as he continued to falsely accuse the Biden administration of creating political persecution despite the case being handled solely by New York prosecutors.

"I don't know if Biden knows too much about it, because I don't know if he knows about anything, but he's nevertheless the president, so we have to use his name. And this is done by Washington," Trump said.

MORE: 'Shameful': Republicans quickly come to Trump's defense after his conviction

The Biden-Harris campaign quickly responded to the speech, criticizing Trump for "attacking the rule of law" and "sowing chaos."

America just witnessed a confused, desperate, and defeated Donald Trump ramble about his own personal grievances and lie about the American justice system, leaving anyone watching with one obvious conclusion: This man cannot be president of the United States. Unhinged by his 2020 election loss and spiraling from his criminal convictions, Trump is consumed by his own thirst for revenge and retribution," Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler said in a statement. "He thinks this election is about him. But its not. Its about the American people: lowering their costs, protecting their freedoms, defending their democracy."

Trump also touted his fundraising haul since the verdict, arguing his record haul shows the support he has behind him while also getting angry as he said he wished this didn't happen. The campaign claimed earlier Friday they raised $34.8 million, though Trump placed the number higher at $39 million in his speech.

The former president and presumptive Republican nominee was joined by a couple dozen supporters, his legal and campaign team, and his son Eric Trump and his wife Lara who cheered and clapped as he entered the Trump Tower atrium.

ABC News' Gabrielle Abdul-Hakim, Fritz Farrow and Will McDuffie contributed to this report.

Trump promises appeal in grievance-filled speech day after his conviction originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Cop found locked in back of squad car with female suspect lied about sexual conversations, probe finds

A San Diego police officer lied about multiple sexual conversations with a female suspect who he was later found with locked in the back of his squad car, according to a newly-released internal report.

Anthony Hair resigned a month after the August 2023 incident with the unidentified woman after investigators found hed failed to follow proper procedures and falsified police reports, a violation of law.

Now, the full investigation has been released, and details the allegations against Hair, including that he made provable false statements about the sexual or personal conversations he had with the woman.

According to the report, Hair stated during a voluntary interview on August 16, 2023 that there was no sexual or personal conversations between him and [redacted] as they interacted throughout the contact.

The report highlighted that there were, in fact, at least three separate occasions in which the two had interacted or spoken about something in a personal or sexual manner.

San Diego Police arrested a woman in August 2023, pictured, who told then-officer Anthony Hair she was down to f***. Hair was later found in the backseat of his cruiser with the woman. (San Diego Police Departmnet)

Body-cam footage recorded a conversation between Hair and the woman as he drove her to the Las Colinas Detention Center in his squad car on August 15. 2023.

In the recording, she asked Officer Hair if he was married or single, telling him: Youre not too bad. Whats it going to hurt me if I work the system, you know what I mean?

Im down to f*** right now, she continued.

Dont say that right now, Mr Hair responded. Dont say that right now because everything is being recorded right now.

Hair had been untruthful, the report concluded. When comparing several statements put forth by Officer Hair to the evidence and circumstances, he made provable false statements, it stated.

A single incident could be attributed to a lapse in memory or confusion. However, Officer Hairs verifiable false statements emerged as he described multiple facets of the events.

Hairs actions also demonstrated a significant lack of understanding and competency: in regard to his directives and the role of a police officer in general, the report stated.

A newly-released internal investigation found Anthony Hair had been untruthful and failed to follow multiple procedures, which had led to a criminal allegation against him (San Diego Police)

Officer Hairs inability to perform and abide by the Departments procedures, combined with the circumstances of a solo male officer locking himself in the rear cabin of a patrol vehicle outside of Las Colinas, required PSU to investigate a possible sexual assault by an officer, the report stated.

If Officer Hair had followed the multiple Department procedures he neglected to obey, the criminal allegation and investigation may have been moot.

Hair told investigators that he had stopped the car and gotten into the back with the woman after believing her to be having a medical issue. He had accidentally shut the door behind him, locking them in the holding cage together.

Hair also claimed he knocked his body camera off its clip when he exited the vehicle. Roughly 20 minutes after the car stopped, Hair called an officer asking if he had a master key for the vehicle, sounding panicky.

The woman later told investigators Hair asked for her phone number and to meet up when she was released from jail, though she also denied that there was any sexual contact between them.

The San Diego District Attorneys Office told NBC 7 they cannot comment on whether charges will be brought against Hair.

The Independent has contacted the San Diego District Attorneys Office and the San Diego Police Department for comment.
Minneapolis Cop Was Ambushed in Shooting That Left Him, 2 Others Dead

A 28-year-old cop in Minneapolis was ambushed and shot dead Thursday afternoon by a man he was trying to give medical care to, state officials announced in a late-night press conference.

The cop fatally shot was identified as Jamal Mitchellan officer in just his second year of duty, said Minneapolis PD Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell.

The fatal gunfire broke out while Mitchell and another officer responded to a shooting outside an apartment complex near downtown.

He was rushing toward danger, said Drew Evans, the head of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. We answered a call for service and the first thing he did when he got out of his car was help victims at the scene and he was ambushed.

Evans said Mitchell rushed to give a shooting victim medical care after being dispatched to the scene. Once out of his cruiser, the same man whose life Mitchell was trying to save pulled out a gun and shot him dead, Evans said. He added that the horrific encounter was captured by Mitchells body-worn camera.

The two slain civilians were not identified, nor was the second injured officer. The shooting suspect was shot dead by police at the scene, Blackwell said, with first responders unable to revive him.

Mitchell died at a downtown hospital despite all life saving measures, Blackwell said, fighting back tears. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said Mitchell was a courageous hero who saved an elderly couple from a house fire on just his third day on the joba heroic act that made its rounds on local TV news at the time.

Mitchell was a father, Blackwell said, and his family is hurting tremendously.

He was courageous in every action that he did, she said. He was a wonderful human being... He was exceptional in every way.

Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN), who represents a portion of the city, was the first to confirm that an officer was killed in the carnage.

The killing of a police officer in Minneapolis and another officer wounded, plus other victims, is a terrible tragedy, she said. We are a waiting for more details.

My heart breaks for the families, friends, and colleagues of the 28 year-old Minneapolis police officer killed tonight and the one fighting for his life.



Incessant violence and disrespect for law enforcement is endemic, and we must restore a culture of consequences immediately.  Dean Phillips (@deanbphillips) May 31, 2024

Blackwell said a firefighter was also injured by gunfire, but his injuries were not life-threatening. The other officers injuries are also not life-threatening, she added, despite Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) writing in a statement that the cop was fighting for his life. A bystander was also struck by gunfire and was in critical condition on Thursday night, Evans said.

Evans said authorities will release more information about the shooting suspect soon. He said those involved in the initial shooting before Mitchell arrived were likely acquainted with each other.

Incessant violence and disrespect for law enforcement is endemic, and we must restore a culture of consequences immediately, Phillips said.

Police said shots broke out in the citys Whittier neighborhood, an up-and-coming area thats home to the Minneapolis Institute of Art and a number of trendy restaurants. Videos from the scene showed officers arriving in armored vehicles, with automatic rifles strapped over their shoulders.

A motive for the shooting has not been released. Other details about the shooting, including how many shots were fired and what type of firearms were used, have not been released.

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz released a statement on the shooting saying he was praying for first responders. In a Thursday evening press conference, he said the uptick in shootings involving police in Minnesota cannot be the norm.

The Minnesota Star Tribune reported that dozens of officers descended upon a hospital downtown after calls of officer down went out over the radio. There, the paper reported that officers wept and consoled each other.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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In what could be a hot, dry summer, Utah prepares to fight fires from the air

A helicopter carries a water bucket to fight a wildfire near Richfield, Utah. (Photo by harpazo_hope via Getty Images)

Ahead of whats expected to be a hot and dry summer in the Mountain West, Utah is expanding its aviation-based wildland firefighting capabilities.

The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands on Wednesday announced the creation of the Diamond Fork Helitack crew, stationed at the Spanish Fork Airport. Meanwhile the National Weather Service is predicting above average temperatures for much of Utah this summer, with precipitation levels slightly below average.

And according to the National Interagency Fire Center, much of northern Utah could see above normal fire activity this July and August.

The state says its been working to expand its helicopter-based fire suppression for some time. The newly announced eight-person crew will aggressively attack fires around the state through a contract with Mountain West Helicopter  a state official on Thursday said Utah will pay a daily operating cost of $3,550 to have access to the helicopter and pilot. The state will pay an additional $1,600 per flight hour for the aircraft, while Mountain West Helicopter will pay for the fuel used and a pilot, mechanic and fuel truck driver.

That contract will run for five years and will give the state access to an aircraft for 120 days annually, though the division can extend that window if there is high fire activity.

The new crew will be able to fight fires in Utahs remote corners, improving response times during the important initial attack phase, the division said. The helicopter can also carry a bucket to perform water drops, bring equipment to other fire crews, transport firefighters and provide reconnaissance.

Adding this helitack crew is the next logical step in expanding our aviation capabilities within the Division, Mike Melton, Utahs deputy state fire management officer for aviation, in a statement. This is our third contracted helicopter. Adding this aircraft and crew augments our heavy lift aircraft capabilities by getting boots on the ground quickly into inaccessible areas as well as the wildland-urban interface.

Overall, the Division of Forestry, Fire and State Lands expects an average fire season this summer, with moisture from the last two above-average winters resulting in a late start to fire season and more favorable conditions.

So far, most of 2024s fires around Utah prescribed burns, according to the Great Basin Coordination Center. The largest wildfire of the year came in April, when the Leota Fire burned about 65 acres on Ouray National Wildlife Refuge. According to BasinNow.com, the fire was sparked by heavy machinery.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. The second day of the traditional international humanitarian conference on demining is being held in Baku under the joint organization of the Azerbaijan Republic Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Trend reports.

The theme of the III International Humanitarian Demining Conference held on May 30-31 this year is Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for a Safe and Green Future.

The first day of the conference was held in Zangilan, and the second day is being held in Baku.

The conference aims to discuss ways to communicate Azerbaijan's mine problem to the world, strengthen international partnerships in humanitarian demining, and mobilize financial resources to reduce the environmental impact of mines and other explosive remnants of war pollution.

The conference is receiving great attention from the international community. More than 300 delegates from 75 countries are taking part in the III International Humanitarian Demining Conference organized by Azerbaijan. Among the participants are high-ranking officials from several countries, senior staff of the UN head office, representatives of authoritative international organizations, officials of demining centers of various countries, as well as officials of diplomatic missions accredited in Azerbaijan.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Marija Pejcinovic Buric, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, has condemned the trial in absentia against a group of experts, journalists and opposition politicians in Belarus.

Source: Council of Europe Secretary General on X (Twitter), European Pravda reports

Pejcinovic Buric condemned the trial in absentia of the group on trumped-up charges.

I condemn todays trial in absentia of Belarusian experts, journalists & opposition politicians on spurious charges. Held in blatant violation of due process, this case is part of wider political repressions @coe stands w/defendants & all who support a free & democratic Belarus  Marija Pejcinovic Buric (@MarijaPBuric) May 31, 2024

Quote: "Held in blatant violation of due process, this case is part of wider political repressions. The Council of Europe stands with defendants and all who support a free and democratic Belarus," she said.

Background:

On 31 May, Minsk began the trial in absentia of 20 "members of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Analytics extremist group", including Yury Drakakhrust, a journalist of the Belarusian service of Radio Liberty, and Anna Krasulina, the press secretary of Belarusian opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya.

In April, Alexander Lukashenko, the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, hinted at a meeting of the All-Belarusian People's Assembly that Belarusian services could put pressure on the members of the Belarusian opposition who went abroad by targeting their relatives inside the country.

In January, widespread raids against relatives of political prisoners and former political prisoners were reported in Belarus.

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From the Boiling Frogs on The Dispatch

Last night, a friend and I were discussing The Event and he threw a hypothetical at me.

What if Ken Paxton, the attorney general of Texas, had brought charges there this year against Joe Biden similar to those Donald Trump was just convicted on? And what if a jury in Paxtons solidly Republican state had found Biden, a Democrat, guilty months before the election?

How would Biden voters feel about that?

I take his point. In some ways, the analogy understates how dubious Trumps prosecution was.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg didnt just indict him in the thick of a presidential cycle, he indicted him for something that happened eight years ago, before Trump became president. The only reason the statute of limitations didnt bar him from doing so is because of an esoteric legal theory Bragg used to elevate misdemeanors to felonies by dint of a related but unproven second crime that Trump had supposedly committed. The offenses with which Trump was charged are rarely used in New York to support an indictment, too. Typically theyre lesser charges in a case alleging more serious crimes.

And Bragg isnt any random Democratic prosecutor. During his campaign for district attorney, he implied that his office would make holding Trump accountable a priority. That sales pitch ended up getting him elected in 2021 in a district dominated by liberals. Realistically, you couldnt ask for more evidence of a political motive.

It is fundamental to our American system of justice that the government prosecutes cases because of alleged criminal conduct regardless of who the defendant happens to be. In this case the opposite has happened, Sen. Susan Collins said last night. The district attorney, who campaigned on a promise to prosecute Donald Trump, brought these charges precisely because of who the defendant was rather than because of any specified criminal conduct.

Thats the whole argument against Braggs case in three sentences. A few days ago in a piece for National Review, former Bush official John Yoo went a step further by quoting a famous line from Stalins notorious capo, Lavrentiy Beria. Show me the man and Ill show you the crime, Yoo wrote, imputing that attitude to the various prosecutors who have charged Trump over the past 15 months.

Weeks before he was indicted in Manhattan last spring, I laid out my own misgivings about the charges. If youre going to drop a legal atomic bomb on an already fraught presidential race, it has to be for something graver than falsifying business records nearly a decade ago. Theres no better way to cultivate the sort of contempt for institutions on which Trumpy populism thrives than for its opponents to treat respect for civic norms as conditional.

A conscientious citizen is obliged to worry about this. But a conscientious citizen is not obliged to sit quietly while post-liberal cretins in Trumps cult disingenuously lecture them about it.

Lets talk about Ken Paxton.

Show of hands: Who thinks Ken Paxton, out of solemn respect for civic norms, would decline to indict Joe Biden if he had probable cause to believe Biden had committed a crime?

Paxton is the same Trump sycophant who filed the inane lawsuit after the 2020 election that sought to exclude the electoral votes of swing states won by Biden. Had he prevailed, America would have faced a constitutional crisis unlike any since 1860. Paxton also happens to be so corrupt that he came this close to being impeached and removed as attorney general by a legislature dominated by his own party. He avoided that fate only because Trump himself intervened on his behalf.

Its not norms thats stopped him from prosecuting Biden in Texas. Its the fact that, unlike Alvin Bragg, Paxton doesnt have evidence of a crime. The same goes for House Republicans endless investigation into the president. If Reps. James Comer and Jim Jordan had the goods, they would eagerly impeach Biden in an election year. In fact, refusing to do so out of concerns for norms would likely mean the end of their careers once Trump got wind of their disloyalty.

They havent impeached Biden because they cant find anything to pin on him. Full stop.

Bone-deep dishonesty about respect for norms is the first thing to recognize in the dark warnings today that two can play at this game! from people who enthusiastically supported a coup attempt three years ago. Coup apologists do not care about norms, by definition. Theyre not angry that Democrats havent shown proper respect for electoral fair play by convicting Trump, theyre angry that this was something done to their side rather than something their side did to the other.

The entire point of Donald Trumps worldview is to be unapologetically ruthless in seeking advantage, norms be damned. And from the jump, the right has embraced it. The party that has thrice nominated a greedy, prideful, mendacious, wrathful, bigot who gleefully slanders others, admitted to sexual assault on tape, [and] defrauded poor people who attended his fake university somehow believe they have been taking the moral high ground? an astonished Tim Miller asked today about the sudden Strange New Respect for norms on the right.

I think they do believe it. I get the sense from many Trump supporters that theyd be willing to go much further than a coup or putting Joe Biden on trial in the name of excluding leftists from power permanently and should be appreciated for the restraint theyve shown thus far. The sentiments were seeing on social media today, e.g., I used to hate Trump but then he got convicted for a crooked cover-up of a hush-money scheme so now Im a fascist, suggest that the verdict in Manhattan has become a timely excuse to shed a little more of that restraint.

Being MAGA means forever blaming others for your own illiberal impulses.

Another strain of dishonesty in the backlash to Trumps conviction is the particular focus on Alvin Bragg. As noted, there are sound reasons to find his handling of the case problematic. It smells of politics, its legally shaky, and its caused an enormous amount of civic tumult already over crimes that simply arent that serious. He didnt need to bring these charges.

The dishonest part is that most Republicans whining about Bragg today would be whining just as much if Trump had been convicted in one of the other three cases pending against him. And those cases are considerably stronger on the evidence and significantly graver with respect to the crimes they allege: One has to do with Trumps chicanery in trying to overturn the election, another has to do with his election tampering in Georgia, and the third has to do with him obstructing the Justice Departments effort to recover classified material stashed at Mar-a-Lago.

All of those speak directly to his fitness as president. Someone who cares earnestly about norms and good governance should want him to answer those charges. His supporters emphatically do not, needless to say.

Even conservatives who should know better, like John Yoo, arent above trying to delegitimize the other three cases by lumping them together with Braggs much weaker indictment. In bringing a series of deeply flawed cases against Trump, Yoo wrote, both federal and local prosecutors have  targeted an unpopular figure first and looked for the crime second.

Pure nonsense. The truth is literally the opposite: Trumps coup plot was so egregious, and his concealment of classified documents so brazen, that he all but dared law enforcement to hold him accountable for either. No one had to look for the crimes; he committed them in plain sight, seemingly believing that his political stature would shield him from accountability.

His fans seemed to believe it too. Their problem with the Bragg case fundamentally isnt that its too weak to justify prosecuting him, its that they regard any attempt to hold Trump criminally accountable as per se unfair so long as hes active in politics. The tantrum theyre throwing today would hardly have been different had he been convicted in the January 6 case or the Georgia case or the classified documents case. They want Trump placed above the law, not just in Manhattan but everywhere.

Sometime soon the Supreme Court will rule that, no, of course presidents dont enjoy absolute immunity from criminal charges for anything and everything they might do while in office. When that ruling is issued, pay attention to how the MAGA droogs screeching about a banana republic today react. Are they pleased that the judiciary struck a blow for the rule of law by refusing to grant monarchical privileges to the head of the executive branch?

Or are they screeching again?

Another question: Does Alvin Braggs case against Trump gain any legitimacy from the fact that it ended with a conviction?

One can argue that it doesnt, as Americans have been lawfully convicted of all sorts of dubious crimes over the last 200-plus years. Rosa Parks was found guilty of disorderly conduct for refusing to give up her seat on a bus to someone white, entirely by the book at the time. I dont think the fact of a conviction redeems Braggs decision to pursue a case whose civic cost will grossly exceed the benefit of holding Trump to account for falsifying business records.

But most of us would agree that the case would have lost legitimacy from an acquittal, no?

Some Trumpers are putting on a brave face today by boasting that his conviction will end up helping him in the polls (its certainly helped his fundraising!), but that has a doth-protest-too-much air about it and not just because it makes his determined efforts to delay his other trials hard to explain. The obvious truth is that an acquittal would have been a tremendous political victory for him. Hed have beaten the deep state at its own game; the verdict would have been seen as validation of the rights critique that Braggs case was a castle built on sand, illegitimate to its core. The jury had seen through Democrats lawfare and repudiated it, wed be told.

Acquittal would have almost guaranteed a Trump polling bounce, I think. It would have cast doubt by association on the merits of the other cases pending against him and given undecided voters moral cover to conclude that civic concerns about a second term for him must be overblown.

Instead, we have a conviction. And insofar as a conviction does anything to redeem Braggs case, its this: Twelve citizens who arent part of the deep state looked at the evidence and concluded, Yep, he did it.

Wade through right-wing social media today and youll find endless comparisons between Trump and famous martyrs of oppressive legal systems, each one stupider and more offensive than the lastAlexei Navalny, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, the apostles, even Jesus Christ himself. The wrinkle in Trumps case is that he was prosecuted using the same procedures that Republicans typically take for granted as hallmarks of due process. He was indicted by a grand jury; he had the right to remain silent; he mounted a defense, albeit not very effectively; and not until 12 Americans drawn from outside the justice system said so was he held responsible.

When Lavrentiy Beria said find me the man and Ill find you the crime, that isnt what he had in mind.

If they can do it to him, they can do it to you, some Trump apologists warned after the verdict, neglecting to explain why they havent done it to all manner of other prominent Republicans like Ron DeSantis. But itd be truer to say that if they can do it to you, they can do it to him. Thats what it means for someone to not be above the law: Trump gets the same rights and procedures in court that you would if you were charged with a crime. How else should a country that doesnt recognize titles of nobility operate?

Frankly, youll get less due process than he got. If youre ever on trial and the presiding judge finds you in contempt 10 times, the penalty will be more than a fine and a lecture, I promise.

Had Trump been acquitted, the idea that if they can do it to him, they can do it to you would have been more potent. It would have been outrageous that Bragg had brought a case like this to trial that couldnt withstand a jurys scrutiny. The DA would have smeared the Republican nominee for president with allegations of crimes that the evidence ultimately couldnt prove. In the middle of a national campaign, he would have abused the power of the state to baselessly impugn a political figure despised by his party.

But it wasnt baseless, it turns out. Trump did it. Does that count for anything?

It does not, it seems. The jurys verdict means so little to Trump supporters that Larry Hogan, the GOPs nominee for Senate in Maryland, was all but excommunicated from the party by Trumps campaign manager when he tweeted that Americans should respect the verdict and the legal process. Literally overnight, believing that no jury in a blue district can fairly convict a populist hero has become a Republican litmus test.

Thats post-liberalism in its glory. Ones respect for the system depends entirely on its ability to deliver the desired outcomes, not the desired procedures.

Every pundit who comments on the trial is professionally obligated to predict whether the verdict will help Trump in the polls or hurt him.

There are good arguments both ways. Maybe the supernova of media coverage will reach some of those disengaged voters weve heard so much about lately and move them into Joe Bidens column. Or maybe itll convince a bunch of partisan conservatives whove been looking for excuses to support Trump to finally take the plunge: Thanks to Democrats, their only choice now is to defend the rule of law by reelecting a guy whos still facing 57 criminal charges related to election tampering and national security and whose last act as a public official four years ago was trying to stage a putsch.

Whether you think Trump will benefit or not from the verdict is, I suspect, a function of how civically perverted you believe Americans generally and the right more broadly to be in 2024. Is this country so far past saving that a jury conviction on felony charges might actually increase a candidates presidential chances?

You can guess my answer to that.

Im okay with it, though. Lately Ive found that the likelier it becomes that Trump is reelected, the more at peace with it I am. For this simple reason: Those who vote for him will deserve what he does to this country in a second term. Truly.

And theres some moral satisfaction in that. In a properly functioning democracy, the people get the government they deserve. Our democracy must be functioning properly because we deserve Trump and I think were going to get him.

If you took a Time Machine and told Republican leaders in 2015 that Trump would end up being convicted on some porny business-fraud stuff, Im sure they would have been shocked and assumed no possible explanation except the end of democracy, Semafors Benjy Sarlin joked on Friday. But thats not really a joke. That Trump would get tangled up in all manner of unethical and eventually illegal behavior, that he would turn politics into an authoritarian clown show, that his personality cult would become a cancer on American institutions, was apparent from the start of his political career. The Never Trump faction emerged early for a reason.

Republicans either never reckoned with his destabilizing influence or they grew to cherish it, even after January 6 when a credible populist like DeSantis presented himself as an alternative. So, nine years later, the ethos of Trumps party is a sinister twist on Berias sinister quote: Show me the man and Ill show you why he cant ever be held accountable for the crime.

In the end, I think the only thing to celebrate about the verdict in the Bragg case is that itll make a Trump victory in November a bit more embarrassing for the United States. The coup plot, the impeachments, the hide-the-documents fiasco at Mar-a-Lago, the comically over-the-top demagoguery in which he now routinely engages on the stump are all deeply humiliating in The Peoples Choice, but convicted felon will make the disgrace we deserve that much more robust.

Maybe something good will come from the Bragg case after all.

Read more at The Dispatch

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PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  A Staff Sergeant with Western Tidewater Regional Jail (WTRJ) has been charged in connection with breaking into an apartment while armed, according to court documents.

Court documents reveal that on May 19, 2024, 27-year-old Jamaica Perry, along with Jaquay Collins, broke into an apartment around 11 p.m. Perry was armed with a knife and pepper spray, and Collins was armed with a gun in her pocket, according to the document.

According to the victim, who was hiding in a closet with her children, Perry and Collins began yelling for her to come out and see them, saying b- come out. The victim then grabbed her personally owned firearm and approached Perry and Collins.

Perry and Collins both fled the apartment after seeing the firearm pointed at the both of them.

The apartments front door was found to be severely damaged and unable to be secured.

According to the documents, Perry, who has been an employee at WTRJ since Sept. 27, 2021, was the victims childs fathers ex-girlfriend.

The victim told officials that she had been receiving threatening texts and phone calls from both Perry and Collins in the days leading up to the break-in.

Perry was charged on May with breaking and entering while armed with intent to commit assault and battery.

10 On Your Side has reached out for more information on this incident.

Check with WAVY.com 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 WAVY.com.
I Was In The Courtroom When Donald Trump Was Found Guilty. Here's What You Didn't See.

Yep, that's me. You're probably wondering how I got here. Illustration:Jianan Liu/HuffPost; Photo:Getty Images

The description Ive settled on when people ask what it was like seeing Donald Trump in court every day for seven weeks is that it was like watching a cartoon character come to life.

I was in the courtroom pretty much every day of the trial, chronicling the proceedings on HuffPosts live blog from my spot on the unforgiving wooden benches that felt like church pews.

Security protocols in the courthouse meant that reporters were barred from coming close to the former president  we had to sit still while he moved between rooms so as not to pass him in the hallway, and the aisle seats in the public gallery were blocked off to put more distance between him and the people sitting there. He was no ordinary defendant, to be sure.

So when he sauntered up and down the aisle, reporters watched him carefully. The man most Americans have only seen on their TV and phone screens walks with a slight stoop, arms usually dangling, face usually steely  although he occasionally found somebody in the gallery to single out with either a greeting or a glare. (He was particularly pleased to see Fox News pundit Jeanine Pirro, a staunch ally, seated in court one day. He was particularly displeased by MSNBCs Lawrence ODonnell.)

On the day of his verdict, Trump left looking flushed. His face, already such a unique tone, was darkened.

The case revolved around whether hed falsified business records connected to a scheme to repay his former fixer, Michael Cohen, for a hush money payment to the porn actor Stormy Daniels, which Cohen made just before the 2016 presidential election.

Everybody in the courtroom felt the whiplash just after 4:30 p.m., when New York Supreme Court Judge Juan Merchan announced the jury had reached a decision and just needed a little more time to fill out their verdict sheet. Minutes earlier, hed gathered all the parties to say he was going to dismiss the jury for the day.

At the word verdict, there was a gasp. Merchan, in his soft voice, told the courtroom to refrain from making any outbursts.

The jury came back in, and the foreperson stood. The courtroom held its collective breath.

An officer of the court went down the list, asking for the jurys verdict on Count 1, Count 2, Count 3, and so on.

Guilty. Guilty. Guilty, came the responses in swift succession, the jurors tone signaling they werent going to suddenly switch it up. Thirty-four guiltys in all. A historic verdict.

For the news media, though, there was an extra layer of drama: All day, the courthouse Wi-Fi had barely been working. The walls of the 1941 building are so thick that they make connecting to 5G hotspots more difficult. But by some act of God, the connection held as the foreperson read out the verdict, before it promptly failed again. Tensions between reporters and New York state court officers flared as some tried using their phones, which are not allowed to be visible.

I have officially requested the New York State court system turn the WiFi off and on again on behalf of the Fourth Estate and the nation at large  Molly Crane-Newman (@molcranenewman) May 30, 2024

As we sat there  shellshocked  Merchan praised the jurors for their service and told them he would thank them all individually later in private. He denied a motion from Trump attorney Todd Blanche to toss the verdict, siding with prosecutors who said there was plenty of evidence to convict the defendant in the case. He set the date for the sentencing hearing: July 11.

And soon we were shooed out of the courthouse by court officers, whod had the unfortunate task of joining us over the course of the trial while standing the entire time.

The reporters, sardined into elevators, appeared somewhat stunned. More than one person offered a wow.

Across the street, a circus had materialized, with lights, cameras, microphones and a mess of cords and cables stretching the whole length of the block, as helicopters circled overhead. In the park that faces the courthouse, the spectacle had attracted curious onlookers, who recorded the scene on their phones. Several protesters carrying handmade anti-Trump signs appeared overjoyed upon hearing the leading Republican presidential candidate is now a convicted felon.

The intense interest in the trial also gave me pause. Merchan had told the jurors they were now free to talk about the case with anyone they liked, including the media. I doubted whether anyone would want that kind of attention. But I dont know the jurors. Throughout the proceedings they remained a somewhat inscrutable presence in their box. All 12 of them, with six alternates, focused on the evidence that was being laid out for their benefit. They took notes  one alternate filled three notebooks worth  and studied their screens when exhibits appeared there. They did not look at Trump when they filed in to give their verdict.

The judge ordered the media not to reveal too many identifying details about the jury, for their safety. But curiosity about them  people who were chosen for their apparent lack of fervent opinion about such a divisive figure  is understandable. Many of them said they enjoyed outdoorsy hobbies, and either avoided the news or mainly read the headlines.

Every day the jury departed the courthouse in a van with darkly tinted windows.

The judges safety was another question. Trump has a special ability to criticize someone and allow his most fervent supporters to translate his words into real threats, and he has now focused his ire on Merchan.

On Friday morning, Trump called him a devil.

He looks so nice and soft. People say, Oh, he seems like such a nice man. No, unless you saw him in action, he said of the judge, at a press conference the former president convened to complain about the trial.

Trump remains under a gag order, which ostensibly prevents him from making negative comments about figures in the case while he awaits sentencing, although he repeatedly toes the line and sometimes crosses it. I cant help but wonder what he will say when the leash comes off.

Its been an exhausting and wild ride helping to write, as they say, the first draft of history. But Ill be back in the courthouse come July.

Related...
CHICAGO  A man shot himself during a police standoff Friday on the South Side after he was suspected of shooting his ex-girlfriend and two children earlier this month, according to law enforcement.

SWAT teams responded first to the incident to the 9600 block of South Perry Avenue in the Longwood Manor neighborhood overnight.

The FBI Matteson police and Chicago Police Department were called to the scene. Authorities closed in on 43-year-old Lander Coleman, who had a nationwide arrest warrant out for him after he was suspected of shooting his ex-girlfriend and her two kids in Matteson earlier this month.

Second woman charged in 2019 murder of Marlen Ochoa-Lopez gets 30-year sentence

All three survived and police have been searching for Coleman for more than a week.

Sources said Coleman became aware of police Thursday night, and officers said he pulled out a gun and the standoff began. Colemans family members were present at the scene and said they tried to deescalate the incident.

The hours-long standoff ended around 9 a.m. Friday when Coleman shot himself and suffered a graze wound to the head, according to a source. He was transported in stable condition to the University of Chicago Medical Center and is in FBI custody.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
The Chicago Police Department will soon bolster its public database of misconduct investigation files to make the records more searchable, leaders of the CPD and Community Commission for Public Safety and Accountability announced Thursday.

The Accountability Dashboard currently allows searches by internal affairs case number, but the department will soon expand the dashboard to let members of the public query by an officers name or badge number, as well.

We need to explain what good, constitutional policing looks like. We need to be clear and open when we get it right and when we get it wrong, CPD Superintendent Larry Snelling said in a statement. And when someone makes a complaint about one of our officers, they deserve to know how that case got resolved. Transparency benefits everyone and makes us a better department.

Beyond the enhanced search features of the dashboard, CPD also planned to publicly release the full closing summary reports for all investigations, which detail the evidence reviewed in a case and BIAs findings and recommendations.

While the Civilian Office of Police Accountability serves as the main intake for all CPD misconduct complaints, more than half of those received in 2023  3,007 out of 5,281  were referred to internal affairs.

This is a huge step forward for transparency. BIA handles some of the most serious cases of alleged police misconduct and for decades, weve been kept in the dark about those cases, CCPSA President Anthony Driver said in a statement. But going forward, well have much more information about BIAs decisions in individual cases, and that will allow us to better understand the accountability system and assess how well it is working.

The announcement comes about two months after a Cook County judge ruled that CPD officers accused of serious misconduct have the right to have their cases adjudicated either by a third-party arbitrator or the Chicago Police Board. However, the judge ruled, those arbitration hearings would remain public.

The Fraternal Order of Police, the union representing rank-and-file CPD officers and detectives, has indicated it will appeal the ruling. Union President John Catanzara did not respond to a request for comment Thursday.

While the fight over police discipline hearings has carried on, the City Council last year approved the lions share of the new collective bargaining agreement with the FOP. The new package provides CPD officers with a 20% raise over four years, while also creating a new disciplinary mechanism to more quickly adjudicate minor misconduct cases.
From the G-File on The Dispatch

Dear Reader (good news, we found a sport at which Wisconsinites might excel)

Albert Jay Nock was one of the great magazine editors. As I have recounted before, in his Memoirs of a Superfluous Man, he tells a story.

When he was running The Freeman (the first one), a young writer came to look for writing opportunities. The writer-on-the-make asked if Nock had any sacred cows that could not be violated in Nocks pages. Yes, he recounted in his memoir, we had three of them, as untouchable and sacred as the Ark of the Covenant.

The first one, I said, is that you must have a point. Second, you must make it out. The third one is that you must make it out in eighteen-carat, impeccable, idiomatic English. But is that all? the young man countered. Isnt it enough for you? Why, yes, I suppose so, but I mean, is that all the editorial policy you have? the young man asked incredulously. As far as I know, it is, I said, rising. Now you run along home and write us a nice piece on the irremissibility of post-baptismal sin, and if you can put it over those three jumps, you will see it in print. Or if you would rather do something on a national policy of strangling all the girl-babies at birth, you might do that  glad to have it.

Now, take it from the editor-in-chief, this is not exactly the editorial policy at The Dispatch. I mean, we do try to live by those three sacred cows, but I dont think wed stop there. What I mean is, barring some Swiftian tour-de-force, we would not run a piece defending the strangulation of girl-babies at birth. Or boy babies. Indeed, generally speaking, while Steve and I havent put it all down on paper, theres just an implicit understanding here at The Dispatch that we dont run pieces condoning strangling babiesor pretty much any other category of human. All Im trying to say is that while we welcome divergent perspectives, we tend not to run stuffno matter how well-writtenthat we dont think is factually, morally, or intellectually defensible. This doesnt mean we all have to agree with it, but we set the standards a bit higher than Nock suggests above (though I dont think he would have actually published a piece advocating wholesale infanticide).

Why do I bring this up? Because while I agree with our policy of not peddling hot takes for clicks or efforts to bend principles to fit partisan priorities, I have a soft spot in my heart for the Nockian approach. Sometimes the conventional wisdom is unwise, reigning pieties do not deserve to reign, and the things that arent supposed to be said deserve to be said.

This is all a long-winded way of saying in the matter of the People of the State of New York v. Donald J. Trump, I want to make the case for blaming the victim.

Blaming the victim is one of those things everyone knows were never supposed to do. Interestingly, this is not some ancient biblical or Thomistic injunction. The phrase blaming the victim is barely a half-century old. The phrase was almost nonexistent before the 1971 book Blaming the Victim by William Ryan. Angry at the Moynihan Report, Ryan argued that Daniel Patrick Moynihans diagnosis of family breakdown in the African American community as the driver of urban crime and dysfunction was outrageous. It was a seminal text of the root causes arguments we are so familiar with today. It took on added ideological baggage in the context of rape and sexual assault. Andlet me just sayrightly so. Blaming women for being attacked because they dress provocatively or get drunk in unwise situations or locations is morally reprehensible. But, as the curmudgeonly father of a young woman, I feel compelled to say that this doesnt mean that women shouldnt be mindful of their circumstances. The matter of blame morally and most emphatically legallyshould and must reside squarely on the criminal.

But lets set intergenerational poverty and sexual predation aside. As a matter of real life, we all can think of circumstances where we, or people we know, went looking for trouble. I think most reasonable people can hold two independent ideas simultaneously. The person who hurls a string of F-bombs at a cop and gets a beating as a result was behaving stupidly. Indeed, its fair to saynot as a matter of law, but of common sensethat he was asking for it. But we can also believe that the police officer should not have beaten the victim. We have all sorts of moral intuitions of this sort. The teenager who thinks hes good at parkour was an idiot for jumping from rooftop to rooftop, and its tragic that he fell to his death. But it is not as tragic as the teen who is struck by a stray bullet while doing her homework. The hiker who is mauled by a bear for trying to take a selfie with some cubs does not arouse the same sympathy as the visitor mauled by a bear at a zoo because the zookeeper left the enclosure unlocked.

Donald Trump had sex with an adult film actress while his third wife was nursing their newborn child. He had an affair with a former Playboy model. He denies this, but as far as I can tell no one else does. Even Trumps staunchest defenders dont tryat least not very hardto do so. He falsely recorded his effort to pay off to Stormy Daniels as legal expenses. He spent his entire professional life abusing the legal system, stiffing contractors out of their fees by threatening to bankrupt them in frivolous legal actions. As a landlord, he violated fair housing laws. As a presidential candidate, he promised to put his business interests in a blind trust, but once elected he didnt and monetized the presidency for his own benefit. Also as a presidential candidate, he led chants of Lock her up! about his political opponent. He invited Russia to release information about her. He was impeached (the first time) for abusing his power in an attempt to intimidate a foreign leader to investigate Joe Biden for corruption. When he tried to steal the 2020 election, he pressured his own Justice Department to allege crimes to buttress his false claims that the election was illegitimate. This was also around the time he encouraged a mob that visited riotous violence upon the Capitol in an effort to intimidate Congress out of fulfilling its constitutional duties. Hes promised to pardon people who beat up cops on his behalf. He calls them hostages and plays their warbling rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner before his rallies, like some weak-tea Americanized version of the Horst-Wessel-Lied. He defended the mob that chanted Hang Mike Pence. Hes arguedthrough lawyers in courtand in his own words that he should be immune to any criminal charges that stem from actions he took as president, and to a certain extent, as ex-president. Hes vowed that when hes president again he reserves the right to do what hes outraged is being done to him. I could go on, but you get the picture.

Now, I want to be clear: Except for the misdemeanor of false records, none of these things are proven crimes and some of them are not crimes at all. Contrary to a lot of talking heads, politicians are not legally barred from trying to influence an election. That is what running for office is. Nor is paying off parties to adulterous engagements illegal. If it were, I have no doubt many politicians would be in the clink.

But as a matter of common sense, karma, moral intuition, or whatever term you like, I am utterly incapable of mustering the slightest sympathy for Donald Trump. If I were to publish a dictionary of common phrases, I would put his picture next to the entry on Fk Around and Find Out.

His entire life has been one extended experiment with testing, violating, and abusing the rulessome legal, some moral, some normativefor his own benefit. The system isnt supposed to apply to him. This, in almost dialectic fashion, has invited responses that also violate the rules of the system. Ive been making this point for nearly a decade now. Trumps violations of norms have elicited countless violations of norms from his opponents. Thats what happens when you break the rules: You give permission to others to break them, too.

The amazing thing is how people go blind to the rule-breaking of their own team. Sen. Mike Lee thinks that the prosecution of Donald Trump is an affront to all he holds dear, invoking A Man for All Seasons with the Democrats as Richard Rich, defenestrating the rule of law not for Wales, But for Biden. Trumps myriad transgressions seem to be utterly invisible to him.

But as I said, we can hold two ideas simultaneously. I think this case against Donald Trump should never have been brought. As a matter of lawnot karmaAlvin Bragg is in the wrong. I dont necessarily believe that he thinks hes breaking the rules, but theres a lot of that sort of motivated reasoning going on with rule-breakers these days. This case would not have been brought against anyone but Trump, as Elie Honig and others have argued. I am unconvinced by the argument he committed a felony. I dont blame the jurors for reaching that conclusion. I might have reached the same given the instructions of the judge, the evidence presented by the prosecution, and the abysmal defense mounted by the Trump team. But I still think the verdict is wrong.

This brings up another reason to blame Trump. He didnt let his lawyers mount the sort of defense that might have gotten him acquitted. Refusing to give an inch, he wouldnt let them concede the affairs, or pursue a strategy that didnt align with what he thinks are his political and psychological interests. Deny everything, and always punch back, are the Roy Cohn rules Trump lives by, and why not? Theyve worked for him until now.

And they may continue to work for him. One of the problems with the backlash that Trump invites from his enemies is that it often elicits yet another backlash against them. The flimsiness of this case is causing some peopleand nearly all elected Republicans and most conservative punditsto rally to Trump. Its not at all far-fetched to imagine that Trump comes out of this stronger. Or he might not. No one really knows. But the fantasy that this will be the thing that rids us of Trump has taken many forms and has never paid off.

I have no problem with reasonable criticism of this case and the verdict. Why would I? I agree with much of it. Where I part company is with the idea that this proves Donald Trump was right about the system. Hes like a human monkey wrench hurling himself into the gears of the system and then, when mangled by it, crying about how hes a victim and that his victimhood proves the system never worked.

It is abhorrent and reprehensible to call this case a Stalinesque show trial. If you know anything about Stalins Great Terror and say this, you are whitewashing profound evil and slandering the United States. In Stalins show trials, the accused were tortured. Their families were tortured. Victims were threatened with deathand the deaths of their familiesif they didnt sign and repeat false confessions. Rep. Nancy Mace plays a similar game. Theres no difference: Putin silences Navalny, Bidens DOJ targets Trump. The lefts outrage over Navalny is hypocritical as they cheer on Bidens tyranny.

If you know anything about Putin or Navalny and can say, with a straight face, Theres no difference the best one can say in your defense is that you are a staggering idiot. I dont think Mace deserves such generosity. This is not like Castros Cuba, as Marco Rubio says either.

It is entirely defensible to say that this verdict undermines faith and confidence in the judicial system. That is exactly what I thought it would do, and so I was a skeptic of bringing it all along. But you know what else undermines faith and confidence in the judicial system? Claiming that we are no different than Stalins or Putins Russia.

Our legal system has never been perfect. Its produced a fair number of miscarriages of justice. But normally, politiciansparticularly ones who claim to be conservatives and admirers of the American experimentdo not respond to such mistakes by defecating from a great height on their country. But they are willing to do so, not for Wales, but for Trump.

A note on Nock.

Some readers will recall I am a fan of much of Nocks writing. My podcast is named The Remnant as a modest nod to his essay Isaiahs Job.

Nocks self-description to himself as a superfluous man was a mild nod to the literary character type found in 19th-century Russian literature. But he meant something a little different. The Russian superfluous man, found in the novels of Pushkin, Lermontov, and others, was an aloof nobleman, sometimes of considerable influence and power, who defied the norms of polite society. Nocks superfluousness was certainly aloof, but it was aimed more at those in power. The demagogues and politicians who manipulated public passion for their own ends exasperated him, but not to the point where he let their exasperation cause him to mimic their effects. He believed in a remnant of decent, somewhat stolid people who didnt get seduced by the kulturkampfs of the moment.

Nock is something of a cautionary tale, as he ended his life in anti-democratic crankery and in an antisemitism that betrayed his own previous denunciations of it. Obviously, I dont subscribe to any of that. M.D. Aeschliman recently penned a fascinating corrective of Nock, William F. Buckley, and the concept of the remnant. I dont necessarily agree with it entirely, but hes a brilliant scholar and the piece is worth reading. I think whether youre using Nocks version or Matthew Arnolds, the idea stands on its own.

I bring this up in part to answer some questions posed by readers, but mostly to make a more relevant point. I think its fine to be angry about the Bragg case. I also think its fine to think justice was done, or that it will be done pending appeal. Reasonable people can disagree. But I think moments like this demand a little of that superfluousness. Watching cable news and perusing social media last night, I felt utterly out of step with the defining political passions of this moment. It was only when I watched the livestream of Advisory Opinions that I heard anyone acknowledge the conflicting truths of this case, the competing shades of gray that define the reality and the facts.

You dont owe anyone your passion. Its fine to be loyal to a party or even a politician. But you shouldnt relinquish the keys to your supply of anger or righteousness. The loudest voices make the same error, but from different directions: They invest in Donald Trump the future of Americas soul. But America is about more than Donald Trump. If he loses in his battles, it will not be proof that America is irremissibly lost. And if he wins, it will not be proof that America is irremissibly lost. Both visions are predicated on a lie about this country and how it works. But that lie can become true only if enough people decide to believe it. So dont give the monkey wrench that power.

Various & Sundry

Canine update: Its been a very exciting week for the dogs. Over Memorial Day Weekend we took them on an adventure in the Sprinter. We spent two days at a bed and breakfast in Chestertown, Maryland, a really charming small town in Eastern Maryland that has an annual Tea Party Festival. Dogs arent permitted at the festival itself, though we saw a few rule-breakers. But this was a good opportunity to test the Sprinters climate control, which worked perfectly. We parked it under a shade tree and set the temperature to 70 degrees. We left the festival a little early, because as confident as I was, the consequences of getting it wrong were too terrible to contemplate. We came back to them sleeping in quiet comfort and took them to a dog beach where they had a great time (may you one day know the joy of a spaniel at the beach). I was particularly pleased that Zoe behaved herself around so many dogs. She even let a Corgi sniff her butt, which a younger Zoe would never have tolerated. We then took the beasts camping in northern Maryland outside Taneytown (where I learned Fred Gwynn spent his final years). They took to it well. Pippa got to swim in a creek about 600 times. We cooked brats over a campfire and watched The Man Who Would Be King in the van. A grand time was had by all. Meanwhile, Gracie stayed in D.C. Our daughter had friends over and they each took turns paying homage. Later in the week, our daughter had more friends over, including boys. I am proud to say that Zoe and Pippa did not like this and were insistent that they be allowed to monitor them. They protested vociferously when we made them come upstairs. Pippa seemed happy to be home until the thunderstorms came. She opted to hide in the safe room that is the bedroom closet. Things are back to normal now. Pippa has decided to sleep late pending sufficient belly rubs, which Zoe believes is a moral outrage. And she spends a good deal of time during the day, manning the wall.

In other news 

I have a new research assistant at AEI, Aliza Fassett (which admirably rhymes with basset). And as a result, I am happy to announce the return of weird links!

And now, the weird stuff:

81-year-old serial sling-shot shooter arrested in California.

Giant pandas to return to National Zoo.

Michigan man in court for driving with a suspended license joins virtual court hearing Zoom  while he was driving.

Woman builds six-foot tall palace for her dogs out of Legos.

Flock of 100 feral chickens terrorizes English village.

Gods Influencer canonized as first millennial saint.

Drunk Russian monkey goes on a jealous rampage after his owner finds a husband.

Read more at The Dispatch

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DA: Man abducts 16-year-old stepdaughter, shoots her then himself in apparent murder-suicide

Authorities are investigating after they say a teen girl allegedly abducted by her stepfather was found shot and killed in Acton on Thursday.

According to the Middlesex District Attorneys Office, police received a call just after 4 p.m. that 49-year-old Juliano Santana abducted a 16-year-old teen, who was his stepdaughter.

Santanas probation officer reportedly told police that Santana was wearing a GPS bracelet for a pending case out of Middlesex Superior Court.

Officers responding to his location in a parking lot outside the teen victims residence on Great Road found both Santana and the 16-year-old deceased from apparent gunshot wounds in Santanas car, according to authorities.

Investigators say the 49-year-old abducted the victim while she was walking on Great Road near her house after school and later shot her and himself.

The victim in this incident had an active restraining order against Santana for nearly three years.

The DAs office says on September 7, 2021, the victim reported that Santana sexually assaulted her on several occasions.

He was arrested and arraigned at the time on 6 counts of aggravated child rape, where bail was set at $30,000 and he was ordered to stay away from the victim and minors along with wearing a GPS bracelet.

The trial date for that case was scheduled for July 29, 2024.

The investigation remains ongoing. No further information was immediately available.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. I hope that Karabakh will be completely cleared of mines in the near future, Director of Analytics at Agora Diplomatico David Martinez said, Trend reports.

Martinez made the remark during today's panel discussion, "Creating National Skills for Sustainable Environmental Rehabilitation," at "Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future" conference in Baku.

He stressed that mines are a "silent danger posing a serious threat to human life and the environment".

Demining territories is also our moral burden. International human rights play a very important role here. Experiences must be exchanged on this issue.

Along with society, the international community must participate in the process. The work done to clear mines gives us hope," he added.

To note, the second day of the traditional international humanitarian conference on mine clearance under the joint organization of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is being held in Baku.

The III International Conference on Humanitarian Demining on the theme "Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future" is being held on May 30-31.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg speaks out after Trump is convicted: Jury is 'the only voice that matters'

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said the "only voice that matters is the voice of the jury" after former President Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in a historic trial.

"While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial, and ultimately today at this verdict, in the same manner as every other case that comes through the courtroom doors -- by following the facts and the law, and doing so without fear or favor," Bragg, whose office prosecuted the case, told reporters Thursday.

"I did my job," he added. "Our job is to follow the facts and the law without fear or favor. And that's exactly what we did."

PHOTO: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg holds a press briefing following former President Donald Trump's conviction in the hush money trial, May 30, 2024. (ABC News)

A jury found Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been convicted on criminal charges.

Bragg said this type of white-collar prosecution "is core to what we do at the Manhattan District Attorney's office."

Bragg also thanked the jury for their service and the "careful attention" they paid to the evidence and the law over the past several weeks.

"The only voice that matters is the voice of the jury," he said.

MORE: Trump trial live updates: Trump found guilty on all counts in historic case

Moments after the jury reached their verdict, Trump claimed, without evidence, that the trial was "rigged".

"This was a disgrace," Trump told reporters while speaking outside the courthouse Thursday. "This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. It's a rigged trial, a disgrace."

PHOTO: Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump exits the courtroom after he was convicted in his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, May 30, 2024. (Justin Lane/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump referenced the upcoming presidential election in November, calling that the "real verdict."

"The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5, by the people. And they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here," he said.

MORE: Donald Trump calls hush money trial 'rigged' after being found guilty on all counts

Trump had pleaded not guilty to the 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election following the release of the Access Hollywood tape.

Sentencing has been set for July 11.

Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg speaks out after Trump is convicted: Jury is 'the only voice that matters' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Dadeville man who allegedly killed girlfriend was out on bond for domestic violence charge

DADEVILLE, Ala. (WRBL)  The man accused of murdering his girlfriend, 30-year-old Quanisha Davis, was out on bond for alleged domestic violence in which Davis was the victim.

According to court documents obtained by WRBLRobert Young, 55, was arrested for alleged domestic violence (menacing) and certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm on January 7, 2024, by Dadeville police. Young made bond in those cases on January 8, a condition of which was no contact with the victim, Quanisha Davis.

Just four months later, on May 30, Davis remains were located in the woods off Herren Street in Dadeville, a few miles away from where her SUV was found dumped along North Loop Road on Wednesday. Tallapoosa Sheriff Jimmy Abbett announced Young was arrested at his Dadeville home and charged with the murder of Davis. Investigators say they cannot comment on the evidence that led to Youngs arrest.

Dadeville man arrested for girlfriends death, Columbus man dies after late-night shooting, and Phenix City brings Starbucks and Chipotle to citizens

Young remains in the Tallapoosa County Jail pending a future bond hearing. The District Attorneys office has filed a motion to revoke bond in the January domestic violence allegations. The motion reads, The Defendant has been charged with the murder of the victim, Quanisha Davis, and thereby has violated the no-contact provision of his bond order, as well as incurred a new criminal charge.

Davis body has been transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Science for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

Authorities are urging anyone with additional information regarding Quanisha Davis whereabouts before her death to contact the Alexander City Police at (256) 234-3421 or Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867).

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.
On May 31, 2003, Eric Robert Rudolph, the long-sought fugitive in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing, was arrested. File Photo courtesy of the FBI

On this date in history:

In 1790, President George Washington signed a bill creating the first U.S. copyright law.

In 1859, construction concluded and bells rang out for the first time from London's Big Ben clock tower.

In 1889, a flood in Johnstown, Pa., left more than 2,200 people dead.

In 1902, Britain and South Africa signed a peace treaty ending the Boer War.

Former presidential candidate and U.S. Sen. John Edwards arrives at federal court in Greensboro, N.C., on April 24, 2012. Edwards was acquitted on charges of taking illegal campaign contributions on this day in 2012. File Photo by Nell Redmond/UPI

In 1916, the Battle of Verdun passed the 100-day mark. It would continue for another 200 days, amassing a casualty list of an estimated 800,000 soldiers dead, injured or missing.

In 1921, the Tulsa race massacre was set off when a mob of White residents attacked the Black residents and businesses in the Greenwood District. The total number of those killed in the violence is unknown, with an Oklahoma commission established in 2001 estimating between 75 to 100 people dead. The number of displaced Black residents was far greater.

Smoke rises from the Greenwood District on June 1, 1921, after the Tulsa race massacre. File Photo courtesy of the U.S. Library of Congress

In 1940, a thick fog hanging over the English Channel prevented the German Luftwaffe from flying missions against evacuating Allied troops from Dunkirk.

Troops evacuated from Dunkirk on a destroyer about to berth at Dover, England, on May 31, 1940. File Photo courtesy of the Imperial War Museum

On May 31, 1859, construction concluded and bells rang out for the first time from London's Big Ben clock tower. File Photo by Hugo Philpott/UPI

In 1985, seven federally insured banks in Arkansas, Minnesota, Nebraska and Oregon were closed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. It was a single-day record for closings since the FDIC was founded in 1934.

In 1996, Israeli voters elected opposition Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister.

French troops man a captured German Maxim MG 08 machine gun mounted on a sledge at Fort Douaumont, Verdun, ca. 1916. File Photo courtesy Imperial War Museums

In 2003, Eric Robert Rudolph, the long-sought fugitive in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bombing and attacks on abortion clinics and a gay nightclub, was arrested while rummaging through a dumpster in North Carolina. Rudolph, whose bombings killed two people and injured many others, was sentenced to four life terms in prison.

In 2005, Mark Felt admitted that, while No. 2 man in the FBI, he was "Deep Throat," the shadowy contact whose help to Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein on the 1972 Watergate break-in led to U.S. President Richard Nixon's resignation.

File Photo by Alexis C. Glenn/UPI

In 2012, John Edwards of North Carolina, former U.S. senator and presidential candidate, was acquitted on a charge of taking illegal campaign contributions, and a judge declared a mistrial on five other charges against him.

In 2014, U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, 28, captured in Afghanistan nearly five years earlier, was released by the Taliban in exchange for five detainees held at the Guantanamo Bay detention camp in Cuba. In March 2015, the Army announced that Bergdahl had been charged with desertion.

In 2019, a shooting a a Virginia Beach, Va., municipal center left 12 victims and the shooter -- a disgruntled former employee -- dead.

In 2021, China announced plans to allow couples to have a third child, scrapping its controversial two-child policy amid a slumping birth rate and aging population.

File Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI
A disciplinary board associated with the D.C. Bar recommended disbarring Rudy Giuliani Friday, over efforts he took to prevent the transfer of power after former President Trump lost the 2020 election.

The recommendation  which must still be approved by the D.C. Court of Appeals  offers a scathing review of Giulianis efforts to fight Trumps loss in Pennsylvania.

Giuliani urged a federal judge to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania voters even though he had no objectively reliable evidence that any such scheme existed, the Board of Professional Responsibility wrote.

The board noted disbarment is not often proposed for filing frivolous lawsuits, but wrote that no other cases involve the aggravating factors seen in Giulianis case.

No prior disciplinary cases involving frivolous litigation are remotely comparable to this case. We conclude that disbarment is the only sanction that will protect the public, the courts, and the integrity of the legal profession, and deter other lawyers from launching similarly baseless claims in the pursuit of such wide-ranging yet completely unjustified relief.

Giuliani, who is facing election interference charges alongside Trump, is likewise facing similar charges in Arizona and is an unnamed, unindicted co-conspirator in the federal case against the former president related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

The former mayor was central in numerous efforts to help Trump resist the transfer of power, including making calls to statehouse leaders.

A spokesperson for Giuliani asserted without evidence that the determination was the result of partisan Democrats.

Taking away the mayors law license is meant to discourage lawyers from representing clients like President Donald Trump or anyone else who is willing to take on the prevailing political establishment, Ted Goodman said in a statement.

Other attorneys involved in Trumps efforts to stay in power have similarly risked their law license.

Attorney Jenna Ellis had her law license suspended for three years in Colorado as a result of her guilty plea in the Georgia case. And John Eastman, who crafted the memo encouraging former Vice President Mike Pence to not certify the election results, currently has his law license suspended as proceedings over his disbarment continue.

The recommendation is just the latest legal turmoil for Giuliani, who is also facing bankruptcy proceedings after losing a defamation suit brought by a mother-daughter duo of election workers the former mayor falsely claimed were changing votes.

Creditors this week asked a judge to take control of his assets.

Updated at 6:28 p.m.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Donald Trumps former lawyer Rudy Giuliani is one step closer to being disbarred.

The professional responsibility board in Washington, DC, recommended Friday that the ex-New York mayor and federal prosecutor lose his law license because of his involvement in a bogus 2020 election fraud lawsuit.

Giulianis law license had already been suspended due to his work boosting Trumps false assertions about his electoral loss. It is up to the DC Court of Appeals to decide whether to permanently disbar Giuliani.

We conclude that disbarment is the only sanction that will protect the public, the courts, and the integrity of the legal profession, and deter other lawyers from launching similarly baseless claims in the pursuit of such wide-ranging yet completely unjustified relief, the attorney discipline board wrote Friday.

The opinion follows a trial-like proceeding held by a hearing committee of the board in late 2022, which weighed the ethics charges brought by the DC Bars disciplinary counsel. Giuliani was accused of violating attorney conduct rules with a lawsuit filed in Pennsylvania that sought to throw out more than 1 million votes in the state, which President Joe Biden won in 2022.

The disciplinary board on Friday agreed with the committees findings that Giuliani had likely broken the rules.

We agree with the Hearing Committee that the Pennsylvania litigation was based only on speculation, mistrust, and suspicion, the opinion said.

The board concluded that Giuliani had put forward no facts to support the claims he made and his opinion that election impropriety occurred does not meet the requirements for filing a lawsuit.

Ted Goodman, Giulianis spokesperson, said in a statement the recommendation comes as no surprise as partisan Democrats continue to destroy the credibility of the American justice system all in an effort to beat President Trump and to hold onto power.

Giuliani is one of several attorneys who face professional misconduct proceedings for aiding Trumps election reversal schemes.

Earlier this week, attorney Jenna Ellis saw her Colorado law license suspended for three years because of her guilty plea in the criminal 2020 election interference case brought in Georgia. John Eastman, who engineered a plot to disrupt Congress certification of the 2020 election results, was found by a California Bar court judge to have committed exceptionally serious ethical violations, and his license is suspended while the proceedings over whether he should be disbarred move forward.

This story has been updated with additional details.

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DC man charged for shooting, killing another DC man in Prince Georges County

PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  The Prince Georges County Police Department (PGPD) charged a man for his involvement in fatally shooting another man in Fort Washington.

45-year-old Monte Brown Jr. of Washington, D.C. was charged with shooting and killing 19-year-old David Frye, also of D.C.

3 people, including girl, hit in District Heights shooting

On May 15 at around 6:40 a.m., officers from the Maryland-National Capital Park Police and PGPD responded to a park in the 11900 block of Autumnwood Lane after receiving a report of a man who was unconscious there.

When officers arrived, they found Frye suffering from gunshot wounds. He died there.

Police identified Brown as a suspect in the shooting and he was taken into custody on Thursday. MPD said the two men knew each other.

The motive for the shooting was still being investigated.

Brown was charged with first and second-degree murder and other related charges. He was taken to the Department of Corrections and was being held without bond.

Anyone with information was asked to call (301) 516-2512 or submit a tip on the P3 Tips 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 DC News Now | Washington, DC.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  D.C. police said a man was shot in Northwest D.C. Friday afternoon.

DC police investigating shooting as homicide after victim dies 2 years later

The Metropolitan Police Department said the shooting happened in the 1300 block of Nicholson St. There, officers found a man who had been shot in the lower body. He was still conscious.

Anyone with information was asked to call 911 with the event number I20240271358.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A man died due to his injuries nearly two years after he was first shot. On Friday, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) announced it would be investigating his death as a homicide.

Officers responded to the shooting back on May 10, 2022, in the 2500 block of Pomeroy Rd. SE. They found 40-year-old Cesar Barrera of Southeast D.C. at the scene suffering from gunshot wounds.

He was taken to a hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.

Arlington County police search for suspect who stabbed man during robbery

On Feb. 7, 2024, Barrera died. The DC Office of the Medical Examiner determined Barrera died due to complications caused by the shooting. MPD ruled the incident to be a homicide.

Anyone with information is asked to call MPD at (202) 727-9099 or text the departments tip line at 50411. A reward of up to $25,000 is offered to anyone who can provide information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved.

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TOPEKA (KSNT)  On Friday, the Shawnee County Sheriffs Office announced that a 37-year-old was placed under arrest after an investigation found dead dogs at an abandoned residence.

At 9:15 p.m. on May 29, deputies responded to a deceased animal call in the 3100 block of Southeast Arbor Drive. Concerns over the yard and residence led to the discovery of the deceased animals, according to the Shawnee County Sheriffs Office.

According to the Sheriffs Office, the 37-year-old homeowner abandoned their residence in February. An investigation found a dead female mastiff and a dead male poodle trapped in a basement room with no food or water.

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The 37-year-old was arrested and booked on charges of felony cruelty to animals and malicious torture or killing.

The incident is still under investigation.

For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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Chinese Numbers: China-Arab trade booms over two decades

Xinhua) 08:11, May 31, 2024

BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Trade between China and the Arab League has witnessed robust expansion as the two sides bolstered economic cooperation since the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum was established 20 years ago, customs data showed.

Total goods trade volume between China and members of the Arab League surged to 2.8 trillion yuan (about 393.75 billion U.S. dollars) in 2023 from 303.81 billion yuan in 2004, an increase of 820.9 percent, according to China's General Administration of Customs (GAC).

In the first four months of 2024, China's imports and exports with the Arab League climbed 3.8 percent year on year to a historic high of 946.17 billion yuan, accounting for 6.9 percent of the country's total foreign trade value.

The United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia are China's top six trade partners in the Arab League in terms of trade value. They took up 84.8 percent of the total China-Arab trade in the first four months, GAC data revealed.

China is the largest source of automobile imports, as well as textiles and garments, to the Arab League. Between January and April this year, Chinese exports under these two catalogs increased by 66.3 percent and 3.2 percent year on year, respectively.

The Arab League is China's largest import source of energy products. In the first four months of 2024, China imported 397.29 billion yuan worth of energy products from the Arab League, or 38 percent of China's total energy product imports in this period.

Also, in the first four months of this year, trade between China's private enterprises and the Arab League totaled 497.14 billion yuan, up 16.3 percent year on year. In the same period, it accounted for 52.5 percent of the total China-Arab trade, an increase of 5.7 percentage points compared with a year ago.

The 10th ministerial meeting of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum was held in Beijing on Thursday. During the conference, China signed a number of bilateral and multilateral cooperation documents with the participating countries and the General Secretariat of the Arab League.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. I express my gratitude to Azerbaijan for creating sustainable solutions to demining issues, EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Peter Michalko said, Trend reports.

He made the statement during a panel discussion on "Creating National Skills for Sustainable Environmental Remediation" at the conference "Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future".

Michalko emphasized the EU's focus on cooperation on climate change.

Speaking about mines, we have to understand the damage they cause to the environment. There have been very tragic mine-related events in Azerbaijan, the consequences of which will linger for a long time.

Yesterday, while in Karabakh, we familiarized ourselves with the reconstruction and construction works carried out. For these works to be carried out, the demining process must be carried out first. Azerbaijan is successfully doing this.

The European Union has always supported Azerbaijan's efforts, he added.

To note, the second day of the traditional international humanitarian conference on demining is being held in Baku under the joint organization of the Agency of the Republic of Azerbaijan for Mine Action (ANAMA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The theme of the III International Humanitarian Demining Conference, held on May 30-31, this year, is "Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future".

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Death of a Filipino in South China Sea clashes would be very close to act of war, Philippines leader warns

The death of any Filipino citizen at the hands of another country in the South China Sea would be very close to an act of war, Philippines President Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos Jr. warned Friday as his nation faces increasingly fraught clashes with Chinese vessels in the South China Sea.

Marcos delivered the keynote speech of the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore, a regional gathering of global security leaders, including US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Chinese counterpart Adm. Dong Jun.

The Philippine president was asked by a member of the audience whether a red line would be crossed if Chinese Coast Guard ships, which have frequently deployed water cannons against Philippine vessels in recent months, ended up killing a Filipino sailor.

If a Filipino citizen is killed by a willful act, that is, I think, very, very close to what we define as an act of war and therefore we will respond accordingly, he replied.

And our treaty partners, I believe, also hold that same standard, he added.

China has increasingly pushed its territorial claims in the South China Sea, and China Coast Guard ships, reinforced by maritime militia boats, have been involved in a series of fraught clashes over the last year that has seen Philippine ships damaged and Filipino sailors injured by water cannon.

With confrontations increasingly souring the Beijing-Manila relationship, Marcos has sought out closer ties with the United States, with which the Philippines maintains a mutual defense treaty.

As part of that relationship, the US has gained increased rights to use Philippine military bases and the two allies have expanded bilateral military exercises. US officials consistently say the mutual defense pact is iron-clad and Philippine naval, coast guard and civilian vessels are covered by it.

That raises the prospect that should one of the many maritime clashes between Chinese and Philippine vessels in the South China Sea turn deadly, it could pile pressure on Washington to support its ally  and even drag the US military into a conflict.

We already have suffered injury. But thank God we have not yet gotten to the point where any of our participants, civilian or otherwise have been killed, Marcos said, referring to increasingly fraught clashes with Chinas coast guard ships.

But once we get to that point (a fatality) we would certainly have crossed the Rubicon. Is that a red line? Almost certainly it is going to be a red line, he said.

A China Coast Guard vessel sails close to a Philippines ship during a day of clashes in the South China Sea, March 5, 2024 - Rebecca Wright/CNN

Key global waterway

China claims indisputable sovereignty over almost all of the 1.3 million-square-mile South China Sea  one of the worlds busiest waterways. But portions of it are also claimed by governments in Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Taiwan as well as the Philippines.

In 2016, in a case brought by the Philippines, an international tribunal in the Hague ruled that Chinas claim to historic rights to the bulk of the sea had no legal basis.

But Beijing has rejected the tribunals ruling and continued its military buildup, with many features lying hundreds of miles away from Chinas mainland. It also maintains a large presence of coast guard and fishing vessels  which has frequently stoked tensions with its neighbors.

Marcos addressed the dispute multiple times in his speech.

Illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions continue to violate our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction, he said, adding that the Philippines would defend its sovereignty to the last square millimeter.

The life-giving waters of the West Philippine Sea flow in the blood of every Filipino. We cannot allow anyone to detach it from the totality of the maritime domain that renders our nation whole, he added.

In the past week, Marcos has been raising concerns over a new Chinese policy that give its coast guard new powers of detention in Chinese-claimed areas of the South China Sea, including areas that lie within the Philippines Exclusive Economic Zone.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Navy said it is prepared to protect the rights of Filipinos and would be increasing patrols in the South China Sea, including the areas of contested sovereignty, according to the PNA.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said earlier this week that the new regulations are in line with common international practices.

As long as there is no illegal behavior by any individual or entity, there is no need to worry, spokesperson Mao Ning said.

What I want to emphasize is that it is not China but the Philippines that has frequently escalated the situation in the South China Sea, Ning added.

In his speech Marcos also warned that growing rivalry between the United States and China was impacting the entire Asia-Pacific region.

The strategic competition between China and the United States is permeating the evolving regional landscape. This rivalry is constraining the strategic choices of regional states. This contest is exacerbating flashpoints, it has created new security dilemmas, Marcos told delegates.

The continued stability of this region requires China and the United States to manage that rivalry in a responsible manner, he added.

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DECATUR, Ala. (WHNT)  Decatur Police Chief Todd Pinion has laid out a plan for review that would bridge the gap in a fractured relationship between some members of the community and the police department, but some community leaders say they were left out of the process.

Pinion said that over the past several months, he met with multiple members of the community to outline a plan that supports the citys journey toward healing.

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But community leaders say they have reservations because they were never included.

Morgan County NAACP president Rodney Gordon told News 19 that he has little idea of what members of the community pinion would have met with. Decatur city activists and community leaders say that they have been omitted from a plan announced by the police chief and they want answers as to why.

How are you going to make a plan and you dont even know what we want? Gordon asked. You havent even discussed anything with us or with the community. The black community is mostly affected by this plan, but it still affects the whole city so, How do you have a plan.

Last week pastors and activist groups who have been protesting and calling for police reform after the shooting death of Stephen Perkins sent a letter criticizing the chiefs reform plan.

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The letter to city leaders from community activists reads in part; It has come to our attention that a local organization attached themselves to recent efforts and have potentially misrepresented themselves as qualified intermediaries on our behalf.

The letter also mentions Decatur Morgan County Minority Development Association (DMDA) president, Murphy Brown and argues that any meetings between Brown, DMDA and the police were held without the awareness, participation, or approval of the community at large.

DMDA was established in 1993 to develop and maintain relationships aimed at community improvement. According to its website, it has 200 members.

The people who have shown up from the very beginning, we do not know what his plan is, said Aneesah Lige, cofounder of Standing In Power. Its showing what weve said from the beginning; that Pinion has not been transparent, and he hasnt learned. What you did 30, 40 years ago I understand, but were talking about 2024.

Here is the community leaders full letter to city leadership:





The chiefs plan would address the concerns of the community through six points which include developing a comprehensive communication and information system for the city and conducting a thorough review of the departments policies and procedures.

The plan would also aim to hold structured sessions so residents can advocate for transformative steps the department can take to improve harmony in the city. Pinion also said the department should implement a leadership development and cultural education system for the department along with an officer wellness system.

Pinion added in his statement;

While this is a fluid plan, I wanted to provide insight into the direction we intend to move. Some of these items are already in motion, while others may take some time to put in place. It is my goal as chief to not only ensure everyone lives safely and without fear, but to assist in bridging the gap between our community and our department.

You can read Pinions full plan here.

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BLANCHARD, Okla. (KFOR)  A brand new Veterans Memorial now stands tall in Blanchard and an official ceremony to celebrate it was held Thursday morning.

Cars lined up and Blanchard residents ignored the rain to honor those still serving and those who never returned home.

LOCAL NEWS: 45th Infantry Museum holds Memorial Day Ceremony

Its absolutely beautiful, its impressive, Air Force Veteran Darryl Pool said of the memorial.

Each branch is represented along with their story. The idea started in 2017 with a simple question as to why they didnt have one. About six years and $450,000 in funding later, it now stands tall at the corner of Highway 62 and Van Buren Avenue on the east side of town.

This park stands as a testament to their courage, their resilience and their unwavering commitment to the ideals on which our country was founded, Ret. Rear Adm. And former Under Secretary of the Navy Greg Slavonic said.

Ive been all over the state and I dont think Ive seen a memorial park like this so impressive, Assistant Adjutant General of the Oklahoma National Guard Col. Bradley Carter said.

The design uses the theme the mark of a servant. It refers to the sacrifice of those serving in both war and peace.

It was a dedication to our country, to serve in the U.S. Air Force, Pool said of his service.

Pool left his boot prints overseas while serving in the Air Force. He said he hopes the memorials eternal flame can spark the curiosity of future generations.

To help them understand, honor and respect the military personnel who served for this great country, he said.

Gov. Kevin Stitt, Lt. Gov. Matt Pinnell also attended and spoke at the dedication.

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German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius attends a joint briefing with Minister of Defence of Ukraine Rustem Umerov in Odesa, southern Ukraine. -/Ukrinform/dpa

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said that the country's decision to allow Ukraine to use German-supplied weapons against targets in Russia is a "strategic adaptation to changing conditions."

"This decision is the right one. It is what we have always done since the beginning of the war that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is waging against Ukraine. We have adapted to the situation and adjusted our strategy accordingly," Pistorius said on Friday during a visit to the Moldovan capital Chisinau.

The decisions by Germany and its allies to allow Ukraine to hit targets within Russia have very clear parameters and is permitted under international law, Pistorius said.

They related "in particular to the defensive campaign around Kharkiv, because the proximity to the border is particularly obvious there," he said.

Weapons systems supplied by Germany and other Western countries could play a role in defensive operations by the Ukrainians to defend the city, he said.

Pistorius visited the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa on Thursday, and he said that the German government announcement addresses what Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov told him about the necessities in the region.
A defendant in the Feeding Our Future trial testified Thursday that he doled out food to thousands of children in Bloomington, but wasn't responsible for any of the financial paperwork that resulted in millions of dollars in federal reimbursements.

Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff, 33, of Burnsville, was the only one of the seven defendants in the joint trial to take the stand to testify and the only one who called witnesses in his defense. The six others rested their case without any testimony.

Shariff's attorney, Frederick Goetz, asked Shariff if he was involved in the dozens of invoices, child attendance rosters, reimbursement claims or meal count forms that the Bloomington company he was CEO of submitted in the federal child nutrition programs  forms that prosecutors have alleged were inflated or made up to rake in money.

"No, that wasn't my role," Shariff said Thursday, the second day of his testimony, adding that he didn't even review some documents that he forwarded on to Feeding Our Future, the St. Anthony nonprofit at the center of the case. But, he added: "I had no reason to believe there was an issue."

Thursday was the final day of testimony in the high-profile six-week trial. Attorneys will give their closing arguments Friday and Monday before the jury starts deliberations.

The trial is the first one in a broader FBI investigation that's led to charges against 70 people accused of stealing money meant to fund meals for kids in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Prosecutors say it's one of the largest pandemic-related fraud cases in the U.S., with more than $250 million stolen from U.S. Department of Agriculture reimbursements given to schools, daycares and nonprofits for feeding low-income children after school and during the summer.

Prosecutors allege the defendants created shell companies to launder money disguised as consulting fees, submitted rosters of made-up children's names and inflated meal claims to receive more than $40 million for 18 million meals at food sites across the state.

Shariff testified for about five hours while his mother, wife and other family members looked on. The married father of two was asked by Goetz about the businesses he built pre-pandemic. Were they shell companies, Goetz asked.

"Absolutely not," Shariff said.

He said he was born in Somalia, immigrated with his family to the U.S. when he was 5 years old and grew up on the East Coast. He later moved to Seattle and worked as a software engineer at Microsoft, then for a technology consulting company. In his free time, he said, he ran his own consulting company to help small businesses and the Somali embassy with digital marketing. When his job went remote in 2020, he and his family moved to Minnesota.

At a Bloomington mosque, Shariff met Mahad Ibrahim, who was charged in the same indictment. Ibrahim and other leaders wanted to start a cultural center called Afrique, and they tapped Shariff to be the CEO, he said.

They landed about $700,000 in private investments to fund the project, he said. One of those investors, Sulekha Hassan, testified Thursday  the last of nine witnesses Shariff's defense team called  that she invested $460,000. She said through a interpreter that she immigrated to the U.S. in 2002 and saved up money from working two jobs to buy multiple businesses. She testified she wasn't aware that any federal funding went toward the project and she hasn't been paid back any of the money from the defunct company.

On cross examination, Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea Walcker asked Hassan about being repaid a $250,000 loan by another person, who used federal money and was charged in the broader case. She said she didn't know where the person got their money.

Shariff testified that he had only lived in Minnesota for about a month when Ibrahim asked him to help with meal programs, which he said he knew nothing about. He said Ibrahim, whom he considered to be a mentor, told him to submit forms and run the logistics of the food distribution.

"I didn't have much knowledge of the program," Shariff said. "I relied on his knowledge."

Shariff said Ibrahim, who was Afrique's CFO, and others put together the meal reimbursement forms, menus and attendance rosters and ordered the food from vendors  including Empire Cuisine & Market, the Shakopee restaurant led by two defendants.

Shariff said he and his team assembled the juice boxes, oranges, crackers and other produce into grocery bags, loaded the bags into trucks and distributed the bags to families at a Bloomington mosque and nearby middle school every Saturday in 2021. Goetz showed the jury several photos and videos of the food distributions.

Goetz asked if the meal count forms showing 2,000 to 3,000 children a day receiving meals in Bloomington sounded reasonable to Shariff given his direct knowledge of the work. Shariff said yes, adding later that there were "tons and tons of food coming in."

Under cross-examination, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson questioned Shariff about dozens of checks to Afrique, invoices and meal count forms. Shariff answered that he didn't know anything about the entities or people  including other defendants  and didn't prepare the forms because Ibrahim oversaw that as the CFO.

"I didn't handle any of the payments," Shariff said, adding he didn't know where the money was coming from or how recipients spent funds.

On redirect examination, Goetz asked why Shariff didn't know the details of the forms he submitted. Shariff said Ibrahim handled financials while Shariff focused on the food distributions and worked to secure city permitting and architect designs for the cultural center, which was like a full-time job, he said.

Goetz asked if Shariff ever knowingly made a false statement, submitted bribes or had reason to believe the food program money was the result of criminal activity.

"Absolutely not," he said.

In the past month, prosecutors have called more than 30 witnesses. Shariff's attorneys called nine witnesses Wednesday and Thursday, with several people saying they saw long lines of people outside Bloomington sites receiving meals.

Shariff and the other defendants  Said Shafii Farah, Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, Mohamed Jama Ismail, Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, Abdiwahab Maalim Aftin and Hayat Mohamed Nur  were charged in 2022 with wire fraud and money laundering, among other charges.
State prosecutors in the University of Idaho student homicide case relied on a federal grand jury to obtain dozens of subpoenas to build their case against suspect Bryan Kohberger, it was revealed for the first time at a hearing Thursday.

As many as 71 sealed federal subpoenas produced potential evidence, Latah County Senior Deputy Prosecutor Ashley Jennings disclosed in court, in the case against Kohberger, who is charged with four counts of first-degree murder and faces the death penalty if convicted. The materials collected from those subpoenas have all been turned over to the defense, she said.

But Kohbergers public defense team said it wants the subpoenas themselves and demanded that the judge in the case order the state  and the federal government acting on its behalf  to turn them over. The federal grand jury, overseen by the U.S. Attorneys Office, led to what could prove to be pivotal evidence at trial and is included in the probable cause affidavit for Kohbergers arrest, the defense said.

They used a subpoena to get one of the most critical pieces of evidence in this case, and they know that, and they are going to use that, Elisa Massoth, one of Kohbergers attorneys, told the court at one of two scheduled hearings Thursday.

Elisa Massoth, left, and Anne Taylor are two of the three attorneys who make up Moscow homicide suspect Bryan Kohbergers public defense team.

Massoth did not specify which piece of evidence against Kohberger that may be, and declined to provide the date of that federal subpoena in the public hearing.

What I can tell you is that for the majority  we did state search warrants, and weve received many of these records that way, Jennings responded.

The prosecution contacted the U.S. Attorneys Office about the subpoenas, and was told they wont be turned over, she said.

U.S. Attorney for the District of Idaho Josh Hurwit and his office did not respond Thursday to email and phone requests for comment from the Idaho Statesman.

Kohberger, 29, is accused in the stabbing deaths of four U of I students at an off-campus home on King Road in Moscow in November 2022. The victims were seniors Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21, and junior Xana Kernodle and freshman Ethan Chapin, both 20.

Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson, who is leading the cases prosecution, seated a grand jury in the county in May 2023 exclusively to review the Kohberger case. The grand jury  a confidential prosecutorial tool  returned a unanimous indictment against Kohberger on the four murder charges and one count of felony burglary.

Kohberger stood silent at his arraignment a week later. The judge in the case, Judge John Judge of Idahos 2nd Judicial District in Latah County, entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

Judge has yet to set a trial date for Kohberger.

Defense presses for more video footage

More than 100 search warrants were obtained by Moscow and Idaho State Police detectives in their investigation into the student homicides that shocked the rural college town, the state and the nation. The FBI assisted in the investigation, including with producing DNA evidence that police and prosecutors said links Kohberger to the crime scene.

A separate, closed-door hearing was held later in the day Thursday so the two sides in the case could make arguments before Judge over sealed evidence records. The defense aimed to have some of the DNA records from the FBIs use of an advance police technique known as investigative genetic genealogy, or IGG, be made public, which prosecutors opposed.

But the revelation Thursday that the U.S. Attorneys Office helped obtain evidence for the Kohberger case is yet another wrinkle that further emphasizes the level of federal involvement in the high-profile case.

During the three-hour early afternoon hearing, Kohbergers defense lawyers said they are working toward filing several motions to suppress search warrants and evidence against their client, largely based around the timeline of police work leading up to Kohbergers arrest. He was taken into custody in Pennsylvania at his parents house seven weeks after the students deaths.

Additional information, including the dates of those federal subpoenas, will help the defense establish that timeline and support their attempts to have evidence tossed from the case, Massoth said, which would block its use from the eventual trial and consideration by the jury. That timing is everything for the defenses case, she added.

We are desperate to find out the timeline in this case and when the state knew what and when, Massoth told the court. Theres no question that motions to suppress are coming.

Through the legal process known as discovery, Kohbergers defense also is seeking from the prosecution more video footage that police obtained from around the Moscow community in the days and weeks after the killings. Security and surveillance camera footage that was acquired during the investigation from approximately 79 area businesses and 10 private residences contributed to investigators suspicion of Kohberger as the alleged perpetrator.

Judge John Judge, bottom, of Idahos 2nd Judicial District, listened in as Moscow police Cpl. Brett Payne, top right, answered questions from defense attorney Anne Taylor during a pretrial hearing for Moscow college student homicide suspect Bryan Kohberger, on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at the Latah County Courthouse in Moscow, Idaho.

Anne Taylor, Kohbergers lead public defender, said her team still lacks a number of those videos  some of which may include evidence that could help her clients defense. Two Moscow police officers who were integral to the investigation testified  one last week and one today  that they were each unaware where the missing footage may be.

I need to know where these videos are, Taylor said Thursday. Theyve been collected, but nobody can tell me where.

Among other pieces of evidence Kohbergers defense said theyre still due from prosecutors are some highly technical cellphone tower data and reports, missing work product from Moscow police detectives and FBI investigators, and all other information that the state relied upon for each affidavit used to justify all warrants.

Thats like a big one, Judge quipped.

Some of the defenses discovery requests are for records that either dont exist or that the prosecution is still working to retrieve, including from the FBI, Jennings said. The state will deliver everything that prosecutors are required to provide to the defense under Idaho criminal rules and court precedents, she said.

We cant give over what we dont have, Jennings told the court.
FILE - Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., speaks during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, July 11, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Manchin says he has registered as an independent, raising questions about his future political plans. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia announced Friday he has switched his registration to independent, raising questions about his political plans since the move could help his chances should he seek elected office again in a state that has turned heavily Republican.

Manchin, 76, has often been at odds with the Democratic Party and an obstacle to many of President Joe Bidens legislative priorities. But he played a central role in helping Biden get a landmark climate change and health care bill over the finish line in 2022.

He had already announced in November that he wouldnt seek re-election to the Senate, giving Republicans a clear path to picking up his West Virginia seat in their bid to retake the majority next year.

Manchin has served in the Senate since 2010 and is the chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He said in a statement that over the past 15 years he has seen both major political parties leave their constituents behind for "partisan extremism while jeopardizing our democracy.

Today, our national politics are broken and neither party is willing to compromise to find common ground, Manchin said. To stay true to myself and remain committed to put country before party, I have decided to register as an independent with no party affiliation and continue to fight for Americas sensible majority.

Manchin will continue to caucus with Democrats and keep his chairmanship, according to a person familiar with his thinking who was granted anonymity to share his plans. The move helps Democrats preserve their slim 51-49 majority in the Senate.

Still, facing potential retirement from politics, Manchin appears to be keeping his options open.

He has long wanted to switch his party affiliation to become an independent, according to a second person familiar with the situation who was granted anonymity to discuss it. But a looming deadline in West Virginia forced the issue.

Candidates must file their political affiliation 60 days prior to a Aug. 1 deadline to run in this year's election.

Now registered as an independent, Manchin still has time to mount another Senate race or a potential run for governor, a position he held from 2005 to 2010.

He had gone back and forth for months before announcing he wasnt running for reelection to the Senate. Many questioned whether he could win against the immensely popular Gov. Jim Justice, the Republican Senate nominee who Manchin helped recruit to run for governor as a Democrat in 2016. Justice switched to Republican at a rally with then-President Donald Trump not long into his first term.

Should the Senate candidates stumble, Manchin could be poised to try to keep his seat. But a run for governor could be more favorable.

Manchin has defeated the Republican nominee for governor, state Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, once before, in 2018. That Senate campaign was Manchin's toughest in his three-plus decades in West Virginia politics. He defeated Morrisey by just over 3 percentage points.

Steve Williams, who is the Democratic nominee for governor and the mayor of Huntington, said last week he doesnt believe Manchin intends to enter the gubernatorial race, adding that they've been friends for decades.

West Virginia Democratic Party officials said Friday Manchin did not give them a heads up he was switching to independent. In a statement Friday, state Democratic Party Chair Mike Pushkin said he was disappointed.

While the senator has been one of the most independent senators in the country, and has sometimes opposed the Democratic agenda, well always be grateful for his votes to impeach President Trump, to create the January 6th Commission, and his warning that, if re-elected, Trump will destroy democracy in America, he said.

Manchin first entered the Senate after winning a special election following the death of Robert C. Byrd in 2010. The state's political tilt has changed dramatically since then.

Registered Democrats outnumbered Republicans during Manchins first two Senate campaigns, but those numbers have flipped. Now, about 40% of registered voters are Republicans, compared with 31% for Democrats and about 24% with no party affiliation.

Both chambers of the Legislature have Republican supermajorities, and Trump overwhelmingly won the state in 2016 and 2020.

Manchin had also flirted with the possibility of running for president as a third-party candidate, but decided against that in February, saying he didnt want to be a spoiler.

Manchin, the last in a line of powerful Senate Democrats from West Virginia who promoted coal interests at the national level, has increasingly lamented the two-party system in the past year. During a tour of a Charleston stamping plant in October, he said he identified more with independents than either party.

Dont worry about the D or the R, worry about the person  who is that person? he said. There can be a good D and a bad D and a good R and a bad R, but the identity  I like more the independent identity.

-

Associated Press writers Farnoush Amiri and Mary Clare Jalonick contributed to this report. Willingham reported from Charleston, W.V.
Liberal Democrats are going after President Biden for his approach to Israels incursion into Rafah, accusing the president of caving on his red line warning to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to storm into the city for fear of outsize civilian casualties.

The Democrats say Netanyahu has clearly crossed that line, as Israeli tanks have reportedly reached the center of Rafah and Israeli missile strikes have killed dozens of Palestinian civilians seeking refuge in what Israel describes as the last Hamas stronghold. They want the president to make good on his vow to halt the delivery of certain weapon systems to Israel as a result of those military operations  a step the administration has so far refused to take.

It absolutely has crossed the red line, perhaps even before this, Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) told The Hill in an interview. I am frustrated by the reluctance to hold Netanyahu accountable for what I believe is just worsening security and peace for Israelis and Palestinians. And I see this as dragging the United States into Netanyahus war.

Jayapal, the chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, questioned what Bidens true red line is, after Israeli forces carried out operations that led to conditions the president had feared.

He was worried about people being displaced; that has already happened, a million people have already been displaced. He was worried about tanks going into the city; that has already happened. He was worried about strikes on dense areas; that had already happened, Jayapal said.

So I really dont know what the red line is anymore, because it feels fairly clear that this has certainly crossed the red line, and anything more than this would be a complete devastation of people, and at that point, its too late. And so, I already feel like this is somewhat late.

Other liberals are piling on.

The IDFs attack on a tent camp of innocents in Rafah is an indefensible atrocity, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) wrote on the social platform X. This was done in open defiance of @POTUSs red line and the [International Court of Justices] call for a ceasefire. It is long past time for the President to live up to his word and suspend military aid.

Biden earlier in the month announced he would halt the delivery of some weapons to Israel if Netanyahu sent troops into Rafah, a densely populated city in southern Gaza where Hamas militants remain in control and where many people displaced from other parts of Gaza have sought refuge in.

I made it clear that if they go into Rafah  they havent gone in Rafah yet  if they go into Rafah, Im not supplying the weapons that have been used historically to deal with Rafah, to deal with the cities  that deal with that problem, Biden told CNN on May 9.

The Israeli military, nonetheless, continued its offensive into Rafah over the weekend, striking a displaced persons camp in the southern Gazan city  which set fire to the area  killing roughly 45 Palestinians and injuring 200 others.

Faced with growing outrage over the deadly strike on civilians, administration officials have expressed concerns but also emphasized that they dont consider Israels operations in Rafah to meet the criteria of the major ground operation that would violate Bidens red line.

A major ground operation is, you know, thousands and thousands of troops moving in a maneuvered, concentrated, coordinated way against a variety of targets on the ground, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby told reporters this week.

We havent seen that at this point, he added when pressed on the matter.

Progressive Democrats, however, are hammering away at that analysis, arguing in no uncertain terms that the weekend strike on Rafah crosses the administrations self-imposed red line and calling for consequences in response to Israels latest act.

The scenes out of Rafah have been utterly horrific and a clear crossing of a red line, Rep. Nydia Velazquez (D-N.Y.) wrote on X. The US should not supply weapons to fuel these atrocities, and our government must use every tool it can to stop this killing and bring about an immediate ceasefire.

How many children have to die? Were past the red line, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) wrote on X. Its time to stop sending military aid to Israel. Not one more dime.

The concerns are not limited to the House.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) noted this week that Bidens red line warning was designed to prevent an Israeli invasion into Rafah because such an incursion would not only lead to a spike in civilian casualties but would also make it tougher to deliver humanitarian aid and to free the remaining hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7. Israels recent military operations in Rafah, Van Hollen said, raise new questions about the wisdom of providing more U.S. weapons to the fight.

All the things that President Biden was worried about have come to pass, Van Hollen said in an interview Wednesday with CNNs Christiane Amanpour. The United States needs to get a full and clear commitment from the Netanyahu government on their plans going forward before we continue to shovel more offensive military assistance to the Netanyahu government.

The weekend strike in Rafah has emerged as the latest flash point in the long-simmering tensions in the House Democratic Caucus over Israel, where staunchly pro-Israel Democrats are finding themselves at odds with pro-Palestinian liberals up in arms over the mounting deaths in the Gaza Strip.

The issue has created an enormous headache for Biden and other Democratic leaders, who are attempting to walk a delicate line by defending a democratic ally in a time of war without alienating the partys liberal base.

While liberals have called on the U.S. to halt weapons supplies to Israel  contending that Tel Aviv crossed the red line  pro-Israel Democrats have argued that Hamass unwillingness to release hostages is the reason why Israeli forces are continuing to press into Rafah.

Make no mistake about it: The reason why theres a Rafah operation is because Hamas has not agreed to a temporary cease-fire to release the hostages, Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.) said on Fox News Sunday.

But liberals have rejected that argument, saying the humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached a point that the U.S. should no longer support sending arms to Israel.

We have to recognize that if we continue down this course of supporting Netanyahu with zero conditions, and despite the fact that hes doing things that we have said we wont tolerate, we lose not only credibility with the international community, but were just continuing to lose credibility here at home about what values we actually stand for, Jayapal said. And I think both of those things are very important at this moment.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
House Democrats cheered former President Trumps conviction in the New York hush money case Thursday, hailing the guilty verdict as a victory for the justice system and proof that nobody  including an ex-commander in chief  is above the law.

Some liberals appeared giddy immediately following the reading of the verdict, expressing a sense of excitement that a 12-person jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, a verdict that could lead to jail time for the former president.

Hallelujah!!! Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) wrote on social platform X. My predictions came true! I predicted three years ago at a speech with the Human Rights Campaign that Stormy Daniels would be the one to get Trump, my faith in the criminal justice system has been strengthened!

YES! Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) echoed on X, followed by a scales of justice and American flag emoji.

Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.), a former chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, shared a GIF of late-night television host Seth Meyers saying guilty as hell.

Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.), meanwhile, paid homage to the lock her up chant  a call for Hillary Clinton to be put behind bars  that used to inundate Trump rallies.

Hows that chant go that he used to lead at rallies? Garcia wrote on X.

Thursdays guilty verdict  which followed roughly 11 hours of jury deliberations and weeks of witness testimony  makes Trump the first former U.S. president to be a convicted felon, etching his name in history books once again. The former president railed against his conviction in brief remarks shortly after the verdict was read, calling it a disgrace and maintaining hes a very innocent man.

The judge set a sentencing date for July 11, which falls just four days before Trump is set to formally become the GOP nominee at the Republican National Convention.

While some House Democrats were animated in the immediate aftermath of Trumps conviction, others offered a more measured reaction, describing the verdict as a somber moment.

This is a serious and somber moment for our country, but one that we arrived at because the rule of law held strong, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) wrote on X.

Today, 12 Americans found Donald Trump guilty of all 34 counts, making it the first time in our nations history that a president was determined to be a felon, a sobering moment, Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) echoed on X.

Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), who led both impeachments against Trump, said Today, justice was served in Lower Manhattan.

Former President Trumps relentless attempts to subvert the justice system and undermine the rule of law were unable to overcome the overwhelming, damning evidence presented by District Attorney Alvin Bragg, he said. As I have said from the beginning of this trial, no one is above the lawnot even a former President.

The New York Democrat, however, added that he couldnt be more proud to be a New Yorker now that Manhattan has led the way in convicting him as a felon.

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.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. The Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Colonel General Zakir Hasanov met with a delegation led by the Chief of the Main Intelligence Department of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Turkiye, Colonel General Ismail Gunaydn, who is on an official visit to Azerbaijan, Trend reports, referring to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry.

The Defense Minister welcomed the guests to Azerbaijan and stressed that sincere connections between heads of state improve military cooperation and other areas.

Expressing satisfaction with his visit to the fraternal country on May 2930 this year at the invitation of the Minister of National Defense of the Republic of Turkiye, Yasar Guler, Colonel General Hasanov commended the organization of the EFES-2024 multinational exercise in Turkiye and the servicemen's professionalism.

Colonel General Gunaydn, in his turn, thanked for the hospitality. It was highlighted that the friendly and fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Turkiye are based on mutual trust and support.

The meeting discussed the current state and prospects for the development of cooperation in the military and military-educational spheres, as well as emphasized the importance of events held within the Azerbaijani-Turkish High-Level Military Dialogue Meeting.

Next, Colonel General Karim Valiyev, the First Deputy Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan and Chief of the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, met with the Turkish delegation.

During the meeting at the General Staff of the Azerbaijan Army, the sides expressed satisfaction with the current state of bilateral military cooperation between our countries. It was stressed that such meetings are important in terms of expanding mutual cooperation between the two fraternal countries.

There was also an in-depth discussion on many other topics of interest to both parties during the meeting.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
BALTIMORE TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  Two people face murder charges in connection to the death of a 79-year-old southwest of the village of Nashville, Barry County authorities say.

The Barry County Sheriffs Department says deputies were called to Cloverdale Road west of North Avenue in rural Baltimore Township around noon Wednesday on a report of an unresponsive man lying in a driveway. When they got there, they found 79-year-old Jimmy Sykes dead.

The sheriffs department described the case as a homicide, though it did not say how Sykes, of Battle Creek, died.

Two people were taken into custody, the sheriffs department said Friday. Their names were not released pending arraignment, but the prosecutors office said both faced charges of open murder as fourth-time habitual offenders.

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Deputies did not release any information about what led up to the death or how the suspects may have known Sykes.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Details of Ukraine's security agreement with Sweden: there is prospect of transferring Gripen aircraft

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Sweden Ulf Kristersson signed an Agreement on Security Cooperation in Stockholm. Photo: Ukraine's President's Office

The security agreement signed between Ukraine and Sweden provides for military assistance to Kyiv worth SEK 75 billion (about 6.5 billion), and also includes "the prospect of providing Ukraine with JAS 39 Gripen aircraft".

Source: press service of the Office of the President of Ukraine

Details: The Office of the President noted that Sweden would provide this military assistance for 2024-2026, which would amount to approximately 2.2 billion a year.

The amount of assistance will increase over the ten-year term of the document.

Military support to Ukraine includes aircraft and air defence, armoured vehicles, artillery, maritime security, mine clearance assistance and unmanned aerial vehicles.

Sweden has already provided and will continue to provide Ukraine with Archer artillery systems and CV90 combat vehicles, for which the possibilities of joint Swedish-Ukrainian production will also be explored.

"A unique part of the agreement with Sweden is the provision of specialised ASC 890 aircraft, as well as the prospect of providing Ukraine with JAS 39 Gripen aircraft, including relevant training," the statement said.

Sweden will also support the development of Ukraine's modern defence industry potential and develop bilateral cooperation on the localisation, repair, maintenance and production of Swedish defence products in Ukraine.

Separate blocks of the agreement relate to support for the Ukrainian peace formula, sanctions, reparations and accountability for Russia, as well as assistance to Ukraine in economic recovery, reconstruction, and protection of critical infrastructure.

In addition, Sweden has clearly reaffirmed its support for Ukraine's path to EU and NATO membership.

Background: In total, Ukraine has already signed 13 bilateral security agreements: with the UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Spain, Belgium, Portugal and Sweden.

Zelenskyy announced that three security agreements would be signed during his visit to Stockholm.

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A trip to the top of the world is in order for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) this weekend as it presents Richard Strauss An Alpine Symphony, the composers last and largest orchestral work.

Virtuoso violinist Nemanja Radulovic will join the Detroit Symphony Orchestra for Aram Khachaturians "Violin Concerto in D minor" May 31 - June 2, 2024.

Conductor Jader Bignamini described the piece as a chronicling a day trip mountain climbing in the European Alps region, starting at sunrise.

You can smell the atmosphere, he said. (It takes you) through different climatic situations, different weather and times of day. This is a fantastic trip through natural weather and mountains. There is an incredible moment when we are on top of the mountain; this is the most beautiful and poetic moment with the full orchestra.

My job there is to create one sound with 110 people onstage, and this is one of the most beautiful, incredible pieces of music. Im so proud of all my musicians. The DSO is so technically precise, but also very emotional as an orchestra. They can do incredible colors, incredible nuances in the sounds, and Im very lucky. This is very helpful for a challenging and very difficult piece like this.

Rockstar violinist Nemanja Radulovic will also join the DSO for Aram Khachaturians Violin Concerto in D minor, making his debut with the orchestra.

More: Potentially stormy Memorial Day weekend delivers diverse arts options in metro Detroit

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Itll be our first time with him, Bignamini said. He was one of the first names that I suggested to have in Detroit when I became musical director (of the DSO). Hes incredibly, incredibly busy, but I love him because hes a natural talent with an incredible technique on his instrument. I love these kind of soloists, that want to make music together with the orchestra, and this is a perfect concerto for him because its very sparkling and the second movement very expressive.

The DSO will perform at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, June 1, with a 3 p.m. Sunday performance. Tickets start at $19 and can be purchased at dso.org.

Contact Free Press arts and culture reporter Duante Beddingfield at dbeddingfield@freepress.com.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: DSO to present Strauss' 'Alpine Suite' and a rockstar violinist
Marty Green, a Northbridge property manager, was the main subject of a Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, being found at fault for discriminating against one of his tenants at 2-24D St. in Whitinsville regarding a no-pet policy.

NORTHBRIDGE  A property manager is challenging a state agency's findings that he discriminated against a couple when he threatened to evict them for violating a no-pet policy, after the couple claimed that their dog had been trained to help manage diabetes.

Marty Green, who managed a two-building complex along D Street in Whitinsville from 2015 to 2020, claims that the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination has a bias against landlords and small-business people.

The commission is an independent state agency that enforces Massachusetts antidiscrimination laws by investigating complaints of bias in employment, housing, public accommodations and other aspects of everyday life.

There's no transparency, no accountability and no interest in protecting the rights of small-business people, said Green in a phone interview.

They're the investigator, they're the attorney and the prosecutor, the judge and the jury."

The commission's investigation, which concluded in 2022, found Green liable for discrimination against tenant Nicole Evangelista and her boyfriend at the time, Joshua Fortin, over Green's threat to evict them.

Fortin, who has Type 1 diabetes, moved in with Evangelista in the summer of 2015, and brought with him an American Staffordshire bull terrier named Samantha.

When Green confronted the couple with the building's no-pet policy, the couple responded that Fortin  who was not named on the lease  needed Samantha to keep his blood sugar levels in check, as since youth she had acted abnormally and nudged him nonstop  (which) coincided with (the boyfriend) having symptoms consistent with a low BSL, according to the commission's investigation.

Green said he and Evangelista were in contact on multiple occasions throughout 2016 about Samantha, with him asking that she remove the dog.

The situation culminated in February 2017, when, Green said, he hand-delivered a notice to terminatetenancy at will after Samantha had intimidated a neighbors daughter. The commission's investigation states that the notice was issued due to "violation of her tenancy agreement and Sam 'was presenting a health and safety concern for other tenants.'"

Evangelista said Samantha never barked or growled at the girl, and she had only run toward her to greet her.

She was the absolute friendliest dog you could ever meet, said Evangelista in a phone interview. You could leave her with a newborn child up to an elderly lady, and you would not have a thing to worry about.

I would trust her with anybody and anything.

A month after the incident, in March 2017, Fortins doctor provided a letter stating that it was medically necessary for him to be with the dog.

Later in the month, the couple filed a disability discrimination complaint.

Although Green never issued an eviction notice with Housing Court regarding the disagreement over Samantha, he did so in July over nonpayment of rent. He told the T&G that Evangelista "owed over $2,200" in rent at that point.

Evangelista applied for financial assistance through the Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance and made some payments. The eviction notice was dismissed, and neither she nor Fortin left the property.

"He put that down as a reason, because he knew he couldn't evict me because of Samantha," said Evangelista.

"I wasn't working at the time. My mother was the only one working, so she was the only one able to pay, so had I made him aware of the situation." said Evangelista. "It was a verbal agreement that we will pay you with however much we can, when we can, if we can pay more, we'll pay more.'

"He was fine with that, until one day he woke up on the wrong side of the bed and had it out for me."

The investigation by the Commission Against Discrimination did not start until 2022, by which time the dog had already died.

A commission hearing officer hired a dog trainer to assess Samanthas ability to provide medical assistance based on witness statements.

In the documents, the hearing officer stated that the trainer had never heard of a dog spontaneously alerting its owner regarding the owners diabetic condition without training and has never heard of a dog being born a diabetic-alert dog.

However, the trainer also said, it is possible that without the help of a trainer an owner can train a dog to help manage the owners diabetes and that a dog does not have to be certified by a trainer to provide a service to a person.

While Fortin did not respond to attempts to reach him, Evangelista said that Samantha knew before he did that was going to happen, referring to rising blood sugar levels.

He got her when she was about six weeks old, and it just was an instant thing," said Evangelista. Whenever his sugar would drop, he would make it known to her.

Even it if it was at night, she would nudge him and nudge him and nudge him until he wakes up and she won't leave his side until she knows he's OK."

When reached out for comment, a Commission Against Discrimination spokesperson said in response that housing discrimination is a serious issue in the Commonwealth that the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) is statutorily charged with addressing through the investigation, prosecution, and adjudication of complaints of discrimination.

Complaints alleging housing discrimination against persons with disabilities, like the one filed against Marty Green and his co-Respondents in the case of Fortin and Evangelista v. Green et. al, are unfortunately common, said the statement.

The spokesperson did not respond to requests about specific findings of the investigation.

Following the investigation, the Commission Against Discrimination found that Green had retaliated against Evangelista and Fortin, ordering him and former property owner Hang Ngo to each pay over $40,000 in fines and damages for emotional distress to Evangelista and Fortin.

Green was also ordered to pay $42,000 for legal fees.

Green appealed the decision with the commission, but the appeal was denied on May 16. He said that next he plans to appeal to the Superior Court.

In the appeal, the commission stated that even though Evangelista and Fortin referred to Samantha as a service animal at various times, they did not have to prove she was a service animal to be afforded protection under the housing laws.

It's a very dangerous road to get down because what you're doing is you're inviting and enabling people to make false presentations about their animal to the detriment of the people who need it, said Green.

In rejecting the appeal, the commission deemed that argument "unconvincing."

In another instance, the commission made the connection between Green's displeasure with Samantha being on the property and the eviction notice issued due to rent, saying that he made "exceptions to how and when Evangelista paid rent, and that practice changed after Evangelista made the request for accommodation on behalf of Fortin. Therefore, we affirm the Hearing Officers decision concerning retaliation.

Sam was helpful to Fortin in the actual management of his diabetes, said the commission, not just his diabetes-related anxiety.

Green said he has reached out to Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll multiple times in writing, even addressing them during a segment of Boston Public Radio on Nov. 27, 2023, about the case.

He says he has never received a response.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Northbridge property manager angry after state discrimination ruling
Students at Dine College leave the Ned Hatathlie Center at the school's Tsailie, Arizona, campus. Photo courtesy Dine College

Navajo students interested in studying the fundamentals of Navajo Nation law can now do so closer to home, as Dine College and Arizona State University are joining forces to offer a new Bachelor of Arts in Navajo Law.

We wanted to have a program that would meet students where they are, said Stacy Leeds, dean of the Sandra Day OConnor College of Law at Arizona State University.

The new bachelors law program, which will launch at Dine College in the fall, is the first of its kind collaboration between a tribal college and a top public law school.

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The inception of the BA in Navajo Law program predates the pandemic, born out of the pressing need for legal professionals deeply versed in Navajo fundamental law, federal and state statutes, and Navajo Nation legal frameworks, Patrick Blackwater, dean of the School of Business and Social Sciences at Dine College, said in a press release.

Dine College said the curriculum will cover various aspects of the legal system, including regulations, policy development, the judicial structure, and formal and informal legal methodologies.

This program is meticulously crafted to furnish students with a holistic comprehension of legal fundamentals, empowering them to pursue impactful careers as legal scholars, advocates, policymakers, and educators within the legal sphere, Blackwater added.

The new program will offer students an immersive, hands-on learning experience, according to Dine College, and it will emphasize the practical application of laws and the nuanced navigation of legal landscapes.

Our mission is to furnish students not only with theoretical knowledge but also with the practical acumen to effectively apply laws and legal processes within the Navajo Nation and beyond, Dine College President Charles Roessel said in a written statement. This program serves as a beacon of hope, a testament to our steadfast commitment to advancing justice and sovereignty through education.

Leeds said both schools worked together to develop the bachelors program curriculum, and Dine College examined what courses they may have had that would qualify for this type of program.

Each university will be working with people who have practiced law on the Navajo Nation, Leeds said.

She said that the programs are also looking to include community input because they want to ensure that the students are getting the best experiences and are on their best path if they are going to take the Navajo bar.

It really was a collaborative effort, and well continue to have it be a collaborative effort moving forward, Leeds said.

Leeds told the Mirror that the bachelors degree program offered at Dine College in collaboration with ASU is designed for undergraduate students fresh out of high school, starting an undergrad degree or transferring schools.

Students in the bachelors program will get their undergraduate degree entirely at Dine College. When they complete the program, they can quickly enter the workforce or continue their education in the graduate programs available at ASU.

If the bachelors degree is all the education the student wishes to pursue, Leeds said they will be prepared to be legal professionals, hopefully on the Navajo Nation.

But alongside the new bachelors program, Leeds said that ASU now offers graduate-level Master of Legal Studies and the Master of Laws degrees in tribal policy, law, and government, with an emphasis on Navajo law.

When they finish that masters degree program, they would be equipped to take the Navajo Bar and pass that and be an advocate there on the reservation, Leeds said.

The ASU law school has a long-standing partnership with the Navajo Nation, including recruiting and retaining Navajo students within ASU Laws Juris Doctor program, which features an Indian law certificate program.

From the bachelors program to ASUs juris doctor program, there are now four interrelated degree programs available to Indigenous students that maximize their opportunities in education.

According to ASU, the degree programs will collectively increase the number of legal professionals licensed to practice law on and around the Navajo Nation.

Leeds said they focused on Navajo Nation law because its legal system is special. The tribe has been able to retain traditional law and legal systems.

Its very impressive, Leeds said because, over the last century, the Navajo Nation has held on to those foundational laws while many other tribes have not had the same experience.

She said that is why it was important for the Navajo Nation to take the lead on their collaboration with the ASU law school, which provides a way for the tribe to continue to retain and grow their body of laws significantly.

Being able to bring a legal program to Dine College has been discussed for several years, Leeds said, and she recalls participating in the discussion in 2019 before she started working at ASU, which is why shes happy to see it come to fruition.

I really think that this model that weve mapped out could really be replicated with other tribes and other universities, Leeds said. Its a great model for making sure that you have a real comprehensive approach to legal education, that its not limited to a few people who are lucky enough to get an opportunity to go to an American law school.

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A remarkable fossil finding in Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe has led to a new dinosaur species being named by researchers: Musankwa sanyatiensis.

The fossilized remains of the species' single hind leg, including its thigh, shin, and ankle bones were discovered embedded into a rock in the lake's shoreline, according to a study published in Acta Palaeontologica Polonica on Thursday.

Researchers say the remains date back to the Late Triassic period, approximately 210 million years ago.

PHOTO: Musankwa sanyatiensis leg bones as they were discovered in the ground on Spurwing Island, Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe. (Paul Barrett)

After analyzing Musankwa Sanyatiensis, researchers note the new species is among the Sauropodomorpha, a clade of long-necked dinosaurs that lived during the Late Triassic.

"Despite the limited fossil material, these bones possess unique features that distinguish them from those of other dinosaurs living at the same time," Dr. Kimberley "Kimi" Chapelle, assistant professor at Stony Brook University and an honorary associate at the Evolutionary Studies Institute at Wits said in a press release for the study Thursday.

MORE: New flying dinosaur skeleton discovered on Isle of Skye in Scotland

The discovery of Musankwa Sanyatiensis marks the fourth dinosaur species to be named in Zimbabwe.

PHOTO: Artist reconstruction of Musankwa sanyatiensis, walking in Triassic shallow waters past a metoposaur. (Atashni Moopen)

Previous findings from the African nation include Syntarsus rhodesiensis in 1969, Vulcanodon karibaensis in 1972 and Mbiresaurus raathi in 2022, according to the press release.

The study was conducted by researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, the Natural History Museum of Zimbabwe, Stony Brook University in New York and was led by professor Paul Barrett from the Natural History Museum in London.

MORE: 70 million-year-old dinosaur skeleton discovered by a man walking his dog

In March 2024, a 70 million-year-old fossil that turned out to be a nearly complete skeleton of a long-necked titanosaur was discovered by a man walking his dog in France.

Damien Boschetto stumbled upon the massive skeleton in the forests of Montouliers, near his home in Cruzy, a village in southern France.

New dinosaur species discovered in Zimbabwe named Musankwa sanyatiensis originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A man in Florida has been indicted on a second-degree murder charge in the 2009 killing of his uncle in New York City after authorities say DNA collected from a discarded fork linked him to the crime.

Rosario Prestigiacomo, 64, was stabbed to death at his Queens home on Feb. 10, 2009, according to a news release from the Queens County District Attorney's Office. A neighbor heard a disturbance and called police, who found Prestigiacomo face down in a pool of blood. The investigation found that he had been stabbed 16 times in the face, neck, torso and extremities, and that he had blunt-force injuries as well.

Blood swabs were collected from the location, according to the district attorney, and the city's medical examiner used the material on them to create DNA profiles for the victim and an "additional unknown male." The second profile was entered into databases, but did not match any profiles currently in the system.

The case remained cold until March 2022. That's when the district attorney's office and the NYPD cold case squad joined forces with Othram, a private laboratory, and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to use forensic genetic genealogy to try to learn more about the second person. Forensic genetic genealogy uses genetic research and DNA analysis to try to identify DNA profiles.

Othram was able to use advanced DNA testing to create a "comprehensive genealogical profile" from blood left at the murder scene, the district attorney said. Meanwhile, the NYPD's Forensic Investigations Division used databases and public records to build a family tree of the victim to try and determine possible suspects.

That family tree helped lead investigators to Anthony Scalici, Prestigiacomo's nephew. Scalici, now 41, lived in Boynton Beach, Florida.

Detectives from the NYPD and the Boynton Beach Police Department surveyed Scalici in Florida, working to obtain a DNA sample. On Feb. 17, 2024  almost exactly 15 years after his uncle was murdered  police were able to retrieve a discarded fork that Scalici had used.

Anthony Scalici was arrested earlier this month in Florida. / Credit: CBS New York

That fork was analyzed and a DNA profile matched the unknown DNA found at the murder scene, the district attorney said. Matching DNA was also recovered from under Prestigiacomo's fingernail.

United States Marshals, the Boynton Beach Police Department and the NYPD's Regional Fugitive Task Force arrested Scalici on May 14. He was extradited to New York City on Wednesday.

The New York Times reported that Scalici's lawyer, David Cohen, said his client had pleaded not guilty. He is being held at Rikers Island, the Times reported, and will next appear in court on July 8.

Scalici faces up to 25 years to life in prison if convicted.

Invesitgators say at this time the motive is unclear, CBS New York reported.

The district attorney's office said this is the first time forensic genetic genealogy has been used to identify and arrest a homicide suspect in New York City.

"I formed a Cold Case Unit to bring closure to grieving families and seek justice on behalf of victims," said district attorney Melinda Katz in the news release. "This case is an example of the perseverance and determination of the investigators on this, and every cold case, and highlights the successful partnership formed between my office and the NYPD Cold Case Squad. Defendants should not be able to evade justice no matter how much time has passed."

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Biden rebukes Trump's response to New York conviction
Photo: State Committee for Refugees and IDPs of the Republic of Azerbaijan

BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. Another group of former internally displaced persons (IDPs), sent from the Garadagh district of Baku, has arrived in Azerbaijan's Lachin on May 31, Trend reports.

At this stage, another 20 families  68 people  returned to the Lachin district in accordance with the Great Return program.

Lachin residents were greeted in a solemn atmosphere, they admired the beautiful panorama of their native area.

Lachin residents returning to their native land expressed gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva for all-round state care. They also expressed gratitude to the Victorious Azerbaijani Army, heroic soldiers and officers who liberated their native lands from occupation, and with deep respect honored the memory of martyrs who gave their lives on this way, wished patience to their families.

By now 513 families (1,906 people) have been provided with permanent residence in Lachin city.

Following the instructions of President Ilham Aliyev all conditions have been created for the resettled families in the town of Lachin to live in houses that were restored or rebuilt.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  A physician will spend a month in jail and has to pay thousands of dollars in fines after he was convicted of practicing medicine at a Grand Rapids clinic without a license.

Husam Thamin Abed, 54, of Sterling Heights was sentenced Wednesday to 30 days in the Kent County Jail and will have to pay a $2,000 fine, another $1,000 in court costs, $60 in DNA costs, $130 Crime Victim Rights assessment and $340 in state costs.

State: Doctor treated girls for conditions they didnt have

In March, a jury found Abed guilty of six counts of the unauthorized practice of a health profession. The charges came after the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs investigated and filed a complaint against him saying Abed did not follow acceptable medical standards. They suspended his license on May 23, 2022.

But five days later, LARA investigations allege Abed treated another patient at his clinic.

Any former patients of Abed who would like to contact the AGs office can call the Health Care Fraud Division Hotline at 1.800.24.ABUSE.

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 WOODTV.com.
New documentary looks into racism in nursing

(KXAN)  Burnout, stress and unsafe working conditions are all reasons nurses are leaving their jobs, according to research.

But a new documentary highlights another problem.

One of the things that we found in a recently published research is that eight out of 10 nurses reported experiencing or seeing racism from patients, towards their colleagues and another six out of 10 reported experiencing racism and discrimination from their own colleagues, said Michelle Larken with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The non-profit took the research and talked with nurses nationwide about their experience with racism, like Katie Boston-Leary.

Ive been a nurse for 31 years, and I was exposed to some harms, intentionally and unintentionally over the years and I can write multiple books. It takes some time for you to realize what is really happening to you.

Dr. Leary is not only part of the documentary but part of the research as the director of nursing programs with the American Nurses Association.

The research thats being done at the ANA and Robert Johnson Foundation is making a lot of nurses of color, including me, feel like were not alone. And it wasnt just me, I wasnt the problem. Its validating.

Larkin hopes the new documentary, titled Everybodys Work: Healing What Hurts Us All, starts a conversation.

This documentary really helps highlight and illustrate some of the profound effects of racial discrimination on nurses and patients. It helps the audience be able to experience that through their own personal stories, while at the same time giving them some glimpses into solutions.

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.
Does Evergy trim trees before they fall on power lines? How to report potential hazards

His official title is Director of Distribution Contractor Operations  but most of his colleagues at electricity giant Evergy know him as the tree guy.

David Martin oversees the crews that do maintenance on trees and other vegetation throughout the companys service area in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. Its all part of a year-round mission to prevent power outages caused by falling limbs, downed trees, climbing vines and other natural hazards.

We have a small army of folks out there every single day doing that preventative maintenance, Martin told The Star. If you dont see them, its easy to think its not happening. But it is happening every single day.

As storm season arrives in the metro and plunges whole neighborhoods into darkness, The Star has heard from readers wondering what Evergy does to curb power outages before they happen.

Heres a closer look at how the company trims and removes problem trees before they bring down power lines.

How does Evergys tree maintenance program work?

Evergys service area across Kansas and Missouri contains around 35,000 miles of power lines  and keeping trees away from them all is no easy feat.

Martin told The Star that Evergy contracts with local tree service companies to remove hazards along roughly 6,000 miles of lines per year. They cycle through the full network of wires every five to six years.

Any dead branches or trees that look liable to fall, limbs growing too close to electrified wires and trees with serious defects like internal rot or splits from lightning are marked for trimming or removal.

Eight Evergy supervisors plan maintenance routes and dispatch the companys 175 contracted crews, which employ around 500 workers. The company also contracts with around 50 tree inspectors. Their job is to assess each tree on the route and determine whether it poses a risk to electrical wires in the area.

If a tree qualifies for a full removal, Evergy first must get permission from the landowner before taking it down. Martin said that while local governments and public entities generally agree to the companys plans, around 80% of private landowners never give their permission to have their tree removed. Many never answer Evergys requests at all.

As a result, the company removes around 35,000 trees per year  but the number the company wants to remove annually is closer to 175,000. Evergy also trims around 315,000 more trees every year along its pre-scheduled maintenance routes.

Customers can also call in potential hazards to be removed before they cause an outage.

How do I report a hazardous tree in my area?

If you have a dead, hanging or hazardous branch or tree near power lines in your area, you can tell the company about it by calling 888-471-5275. You can also submit an online request on Evergys website for an inspector to check out the hazard in person.

The hazard you report can be anywhere in Evergys service area. Martin says he has an employee whose job is to monitor the companys database of customer submissions in order to prioritize where they send crews first.

We would prioritize those based on the immediacy of the hazard, regardless of how many customers are going to be impacted, he told The Star. That means a severely damaged tree or a dangling branch can get moved to the front of the line so crews can get it down before it falls.

Evergy currently maintains a 7-14 day turnaround time for the company to visit and assess dangerous tree conditions, although this can vary in the aftermath of severe weather events.

Two thirds of the calls Martins division receives arent hazards to electrical wires  instead, a branch might be getting close to comms wires carrying internet or phone service. These wires are important, but they wont cause a widespread power outage if they go down.

Still, its difficult for the average person to tell the difference between a charged electrical wire and other types of wires on the same utility pole. For that reason, Martin advised customers to let Evergy come out and assess the hazard for themselves.

The public does a good job of letting us know when there is a hazard, he said. Id rather folks over report things than not report them at all.

Tell the Service Journalism team about your experiences with tree maintenance and power outages in the Kansas City area at kcq@kcstar.com.
Does pineapple belong on pizza? 4 Sacramento restaurant owners sound off on controversy

Does pineapple belong on pizza?

Its a question that has divided foodies for decades.

The Sacramento Bee asked four Sacramento-area restaurant owners on their thoughts on the controversial fruity topping.

Heres what they had to say.

How did pineapple end up on pizza?

Pineapple is a popular topping on pizzas along with ham, bacon and jalapeno peppers.

Where did the idea come from? Despite its name, Hawaiian pizza was not invented in Hawaii.

According to the British Broadcasting Corp.., a restaurant owner in Ontario, Canada, was the first to put pineapple on pizza in 1962.

After sampling pizza on a trip to Naples, Sam Panopoulos added the dish to his diners menu. He started experimenting with toppings and tried adding canned tropical fruit just for the fun of it, he later told the BBC.

The move kicked off a controversy that continues today.

In 2017, the president of Iceland declared that he was fundamentally opposed to pineapple pizza and would ban the topping if he could.

In response, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau declared himself a member of Team Pineapple.

I have a pineapple. I have a pizza. And I stand behind this delicious Southwestern Ontario creation, Trudeau wrote in a 2017 post on X.

A Hawaiian pizza with ham and pineapple is cut into slices with cheese pull.

Sacramento restaurant owners: Skip the pineapple

Vanessa Garcia, co-owner of Luigis Pizza Parlor in Sacramento, said pineapple is a popular topping among customers  but she doesnt enjoy it herself.

It is a topping that we sell a ton of, said Garcia, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Josh, and their business partners, Mark and Dara Delgado.

If youre asking me personally, its nothing I would ever order, Vanessa Garcia said.

When it comes to pineapple on pizza, the restaurateur added, Youre either all in or youre all out.

You wont find pineapple on pizza at Zeldas Gourmet Pizza in midtown Sacramento.

People call here and want chicken or white sauce, or my favorites. When they ask for pineapple and I just have to laugh, Zeldas owner Kerry Matthews told The Bee in April. Pineapple does not belong on pizza.

The Zeldas menu has remained, for the most part, the same since it opened in 1978.

Anything we have we had when ( Zelda Breslin) was alive, Matthews said. We havent introduced anything since then. Theres no need to.

Hawaiian pizza with pineapple and ham is seen close up on a black background.

Fruit on pizza: Is it time to move on?

Hot Italian Pizza & Panini Bar owner Fabrizio Cercatore doesnt serve Hawaiian pizza at his Sacramento restaurant, which specializes in traditional Italian-style fare. However, he said hes open to the concept.

Cercatore said he tried the Hawaiian style pizza on a trip to Hawaii a few years back and enjoyed it.

I know Italians are all horrified about the thought of pineapple on a pizza, he said, but he believes everyone should give it a shot and experience what the world has to offer.

Other restaurant owners are simply tired of discussing the subject.

Are we still asking this stupid question? Robert Masullo, owner of Masullo Pizza in Sacramento, asked in an Instagram message to The Bee, adding that its time to move on.

Its been on pizza for 50 years, he said. People like it. Let them enjoy it.

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Ask our service journalism team your top-of-mind questions in the module below or email servicejournalists@sacbee.com.
How does the Waffle House help you gauge hurricane danger? See what can happen

When youre trying to figure out a hurricane forecast, plenty of places have answers: the National Weather Service, the National Hurricane Center, the Weather Channel, the news site you are reading right this moment.

But your local Waffle House?

The chain is known for its 24/7 restaurants where you can fill up on waffles, eggs, greasy-cheesy hash browns and coffee. But its also known for a hurricane gauge.

When your Waffle House closes its doors, you know its about to get really bad outside.

You see, the place with the yellow sign sign never closes  except in a severe hurricane.

If you had any doubts about how strong Hurricane Idalia in 2023, this should clear things up:

Up to seven Waffle House Florida locations in the path of the storm were shut down for a day, according to the company.

Theres even a Waffle House index to determine how bad a storm is and whether restaurants in a hurricane zone close.

Here are the three color-coded scales in the Waffle House Index, which are used to measure the damage after a storm, not risk before it hits:

Green means the restaurant is serving a full menu, a sign that damage in the area is limited and theres still power.

Yellow means theres a limited menu, which means the restaurant is getting power from a generator and has low food supplies.

Red means the restaurant is closed, which is a sure sign that the area is severely damaged or unsafe.

MORE: When Waffle House surrenders to a hurricane, you know its bad

In 2017, a Waffle House in Bradenton shut its doors before Hurricane Irma hit, worrying locals. And in Davie, a Waffle House had to close for repairs after Hurricane Irma blew out a window.

The Waffle House Index is an unofficial metric from the former head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Craig Fugate.

Said Fugate back in 2011: If you get there and the Waffle House is closed? Thats really bad.
CHARLESTON, WV (WVNS)  The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) was recognized by the National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) for its policy strategies to help with the workforce.

Paint date night hosted by Summers County ARH Hospital

The strategies were shared at the State-Federal Respite Summit on West Virginias partnership with managed care organizations (MCOs) and were also shared with the universities that train the workforce that deals with children and adults that suffer from serious emotional disorders.

Earlier this year, NASHP hosted 16 state teams and federal officials from eight agencies in Washington, DC. They came for a program where they learned innovative models, strategies, and policies to help with access to respite care services. These ideas had significant themes which included awareness and outreach, educating and strengthening the workforce, payment policy improvements, serving diverse populations, and cross-agency collaboration.

As we strive to enhance our workforce infrastructure, its essential to intentionally address the needs of our diverse population. Our Children with Serious Emotional Disorders Waiver Program exemplifies our commitment to supporting West Virginia caregivers through innovative investments, said Cindy Beane, DoHS Bureau for Medical Services Commissioner.

DoHS administers a respite for caregivers of children ages 3 to 21 who suffer from serious mental, behavioral, or emotional health conditions through the Medicaid 1915(c) Children with Serious Emotional Disorders Waiver (CSEDW) program.

The DoHSs Bureau for Medical Services (BMS) and MCO partner Aetna have both focused on the workforce with forecasting and network expansion. Recently, West Virginia has also worked with West Virginia University to create a trauma training program for in-person and online for West Virginia home and community-based service (HCBS) direct service providers.

NASHPs Respite Summit Paper was brought to all states outlining the ideas for respite care, which was also shared at the Summit. NASHP is a nonpartisan organization that helps with state health policies and solutions.

Summer jobs: What opportunities are out there for students?

Other states involved during the Summit along with West Virginia were Arizona, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
It will take months, if not years, for America to fully digest the verdict handed down by 12 jurors in New York today. But former President Donald Trumps conviction on 34 charges of falsifying business records carries the historic significance of the moon landing, the resignation of Richard M. Nixon and the invasion of Iraq.

For the first time, a former president of the United States is now a convicted felon, facing the possibility of prison when sentencing occurs on July 11.

The gravity of the matter was obvious in the quiet courtroom as the verdict on the first count was read, and Trump briefly closed his eyes and shook his head. Thirty-three more guilty counts would follow before the jurors were dismissed and the former president was free to leave.

Afterwards, devoid of his usual bluster, Trump stood outside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse and proclaimed his innocence. Then, unexpectedly, he said something we can all agree upon.

We dont have the same country anymore, Trump said, with muted anger. We have a divided mess.

That is more true today than in 2015 when the flamboyant businessman and TV star took the most famous escalator ride in history to announce he was running for president. Its just four miles from Trump Tower to the Criminal Courthouse, but it feels like 400,000, considering all that has transpired in the years between the escalator and the courthouse steps. And this journey is nowhere near done.

What will follow is a contentious round of appeals that many legal experts, including George Washington Universitys Jonathan Turley, say will likely overturn the convictions. For all the talk right now by Trump and his supporters about a corrupt and weaponized judicial system, this is a system that allows ample opportunity to right wrongs.

Additionally, there are the remaining criminal cases against the former president. And, of course, an enormously consequential election.

Trump is betting on his chances on Election Day, saying outside the courtroom, The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people. His optimism about that is not unwarranted. As far back as February, most voters had already made up their minds about whether they would vote for Trump or President Joe Biden, and in most polls Trump is ahead.

Moreover, throughout the trial ordinary Americans have shown a remarkable disinterest in proceedings that were front and center on talk shows and cable news. In one poll just 13% of respondents said they were following the trial closely, and nearly 70% said that it would not change their opinions about Trump, leading pollster James Johnson to write that the case against Trump would have no tangible impact on the electorate. Other polling supports Johnsons view.

A toxic political climate gives rise to dangerous hyperbole, like those who proclaimed on cable news after the verdict that America is now the equivalent of a banana republic, and those on social media who posted photos of an upside-down American flag accompanied by the words America RIP.

But out in the real world, for most people, the afternoon proceeded normally. People finished up at work, figured out what they would have for dinner, bathed their kids, read them books and tucked them in bed, while social media continued to seethe and Trump went to a fundraiser.

This is not a banana republic, not anything near it.

Nor is it true that American democracy will end if Trump is elected again, a tiresome trope used by his opponents for years.

As Yuval Levin, author of the forthcoming book American Covenant, has said, People have a crazy view of the stakes of our politics. Everybody thinks the next election will determine the future of human civilization, and our political system at its best is built to help us reduce the stakes of our politics. The next election is just an election. Theres going to be another one after that. If we get it wrong, well get another chance at this.

Its not so much Donald Trump, Joe Biden or any other individual that Americans should fear, but our own collective mistrust in each other and in our institutions; it is this mistrust that is most damaging to the republic in the long term.

This is not to say that Trumps legal travails are inconsequential. They are not. Today was a somber day for America, and anyone who is celebrating the convictions has some soul-searching to do. The case was sordid; its details and the testimony embarrassing, not just for Trump, but for the country. And arguments that the prosecution was politically driven cannot be easily dismissed, especially with the sentencing scheduled four days before the Republican National Convention.

Good people can disagree on whether a case involving money paid to an adult-film star to buy her silence about a sexual encounter should have been brought before a jury in solidly blue Manhattan, and whether the case amounts to election interference or is simply an unfortunate result of a series of bad choices, the sort of calamity that can befall any of us when we stop paying attention to our God-given moral compass. Good people can also disagree on whether Donald Trump is the best choice for America in November, or Joe Biden, or Robert F. Kennedy.

But right now, the verdict demands something of us: a moment of silence, and preferably much more  a time of reflection on how America got here, what comes next, and how we can keep this from happening again. Trump might be the first American president convicted of a felony. But if we all learn something from this distasteful morass, perhaps he might be the last.
Following his historic guilty verdict, former President Donald Trump held a press conference on Friday to address the hush-money trial.

After over nine hours of deliberation spanning two days, the Manhattan jury convicted the former President of fabricating business records in relation to a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign.

In addition to slamming the jury for his conviction, Donald Trump also took aim at the "record levels of terrorists" entering the nation.

Inside Donald Trump's Hush-Money Trial

MEGA

Donald Trump was on trial after he was accused of giving out "hush money" regarding an alleged sexual encounter he had with adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2016.

Both Cohen and Daniels testified that the money was sent as a way to prevent her from telling media outlets that she had sex with Trump one time in 2006. He was found guilty on all 34 charges.

I am a very innocent man, Trump said outside the courthouse on Thursday. This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt.

The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people, and they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here, he added.

Donald Trump Found Guilty On All 34 Counts

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The falsifying business records charges carry up to four years behind bars for each of the 34 felony counts he was convicted of -- totaling a maximum prison sentence of 136 years. However, New York caps its prison sentences at 20 years.

Despite facing jail time, legal experts say its unlikely that Trump will go to prison because he does not have a criminal record.

He also faces a fine of up to $5,000.

Shortly after the verdict was read, Donald Trump said he would appeal.

Donald Trump Addresses 'Terrorists' In His Post-Trial Press Conference

MEGA

During his press conference on Friday, in addition to slamming the jury and the judge in his hush-money trial, former President Donald Trump also claimed that record levels of terrorists have come into our country.

And, just like in the past, Trump once again claimed that Chinese migrants are arriving in the U.S. to build an army, saying 29,000 have arrived in the last few months.

According to the Associated Press, the count of non-nationals on the terrorist watch list has risen, yet federal immigration authorities assert that they are very uncommon."

This Isn't The First Time...

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Friday was by far the first time the former President Donald Trump took aim at the "terrorists" in the United States.

In 2015, he claimed he would kill the families of terrorists if that's what it took to win the fight against ISIS.

The other thing with the terrorists is you have to take out their families, when you get these terrorists, you have to take out their families. They care about their lives; dont kid yourself. When they say they dont care about their lives, you have to take out their families, Trump said on Fox News Fox and Friends."

He added that he would knock the hell out of ISIS.

Donald Trump Breaks Silence On Guilty Verdict

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Just moments after the jury read the guilty verdict, Donald Trump spoke to the press outside of the courthouse.

"Our whole country is being rigged right now. This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound, to hurt an opponent. A political opponent," he said. "And I think it's just a disgrace, and we'll keep fighting, we'll fight till the end, and we'll win because our country has gone to hell. We don't have the same country anymore, we have a divided mess."

He continued, "We are a nation in decline, serious decline of people pouring into our country right now. From prisons and from mental institutions. Terrorists and they're taking over our country. We have a country that's in big trouble, but this was a rigged decision right from day one, with a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case. Never!"

Donald Trump Jr. also spoke out, claiming, "It's just a sad day for America" and "Obviously [no one was] probably expecting anything different with this jury, with this biased judge, whose daughter is profiteering from this stuff."

Trump's sentencing has been scheduled for July 11, 2024.
Read our ongoing coverage of Donald Trumps first criminal trial here.

At 4:37 p.m. on Thursday, gasps could be heard in the Manhattan courtroom where former President Donald J. Trumps hush money trial was taking place. Justice Juan Merchan announced that the jury had reached a verdict.

After just under 12 hours of deliberations, the jury found Trump guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. Trump now faces the potential for four years in prison for each count, though any sentence would likely be set to run concurrentlyand the logistics of imprisoning a former president along with Secret Service officers may make such a sentence unlikely.

The end result is that Donald Trump is a convicted felon looking at possible jail time. He is unlikely to receive such a sentence during the course of the likely yearslong appeal. If he is elected again in November, he may never face justice for his crimes.

Before the verdict was read out, Trump sat cross-armed, glaring ahead as his lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove whispered to him. His son Eric Trump briefly left the courtroom but returned immediately. (One reporter asked if there was time to use the restroom before the verdict was read, and an officer politely told her no, to laughter, adding, Do you really want to leave now?) District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose team achieved the victory of the first prosecution and conviction of a U.S. president in American history, also joined the courtroom for the initial time following the news of the verdict, chatting with his seatmate and putting his hand to his chin as he waited in anticipation.

As they had done throughout the proceedings, none of the jurors made eye contact with Trump as they passed him on the way to the jury box. The courtroom was silent as the foreperson listed off guilty 34 separate times to each individual count related to the falsification of 11 checks, 11 invoices, and 12 ledger entries. And as he has done throughout the trial, after the verdict was read, Trump appeared to close his eyes. Blanche put his face in his hands.

Blanche requested that the verdict be thrown out based on the jurys reliance on the testimony of Michael Cohen, who Blanche claimed perjured himself on the stand, but the request was quickly denied.

After each member of the jury affirmed that guilty was their verdict, Merchan thanked them for their service over the course of the six-week-long trial and set a sentencing date for 10 a.m. on July 11. As Trump left the courtroom, he seemed to reach to grab his son Eric. The tension and silence in the room were deafening, even as courtroom reporters struggled to relate the news due to downed Wi-Fi.

After the verdict was announced, the capstone of his career, Bragg stared ahead with a poker face.

I think it is a real credit to the American jury system that they were able to deliver a verdict, particularly given the amount of evidence in the case, former New York Judge Vincent J. Grasso told me as we left the courtroom. After all the evidence that I saw, I thought it was a very fine verdict.

Trump was, predictably, livid. This was a disgrace, he said in the hallway afterward. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt. A rigged trial. A disgrace. They wouldnt give us a venue change. We were at 5 percent or 6 percent in this district in this area. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the American people.

Ultimately, the prosecution told a coherent and convincing story: that Donald Trump had engaged his fixer Michael Cohen to pay off Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election as part of a conspiracy to unlawfully promote Trumps victory, then falsified records in the ensuing scheme to cover up the reimbursement to Cohen.

The defense, meanwhile, struggled to convincingly explain the vast trove of documentary evidence showing that the $420,000 Trump paid Cohen in 2017 had been part of the reimbursement scheme and not for a legal retainer, even though no such physical document existed.

This scheme, cooked up by these men, at this time, could very well be what got President Trump elected, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass said during closing arguments. Well never know if this effort to hoodwink the American voter impacted the election, but thats something we dont need to prove.

Looking back through the present lenswith the shock of Trumps 2016 victory, his 2020 attack on the election, and his 2024 comeback playing into a sense of apparent invincibilityit is hard to credit the view that if the Stormy Daniels story had come out in October 2016, it would have changed anything.

When you look closer at the series of events as laid out at this trial, though, the impact of the criminal conspiracy, for which Trump has now been convicted, feels far greater than how we see it today.

Recall that had Hillary Clinton flipped a combined 80,000 votes in the Rust Belt, she would have been president. Also, the trial painted a portrait of a successful conspiracy to elevate Trump not only during the 2016 general election but throughout the Republican primary. Most importantly, this was all going on at a time when Trump himself didnt know he would win. Indeed, almost all of the events in question happened when the election was very much up in the air. The key portions, indeed, happened after the release of the Access Hollywood tapewhen Trumps support had tanked but before the FBI announced that it had reopened an investigation into Clintons email scandal, trashing her own polling.

Consider that timeline, as laid out by the prosecution. On Oct. 8, the Access Hollywood tape was published by the Washington Post, sending Trumps campaign into disarray. After a series of phone calls with Trump three days later, Michael Cohen began to set up his shell company to pay off Daniels. Trump then, however, tried to slow-walk the compensation to Daniels until after the election so that he wouldnt have to pay her. Ultimately, that was untenable. After a series of phone calls between Trump and Cohen on Oct. 24, 26, and 28, Cohen finalized the deal on Trumps orders. On Oct. 26, the $130,000 payment to Daniels was deposited from Cohens personal HELOC account into the shell company. On Oct. 27, the wire transfer was filled out from Cohen to Daniels attorney Keith Davidson. One day later, the story broke about the reopening of the FBI investigation of Clintons email scandal, completely upending the election. A little more than a week later, Trump won the presidency.

Davidson texted National Enquirer editor Dylan Howard as the votes were being counted and as it was becoming clear that Trump would win: What have we done?
VANDALIA, OHIO -Former U.S. President Donald Trump and Ohio Republican U.S. Senator JD Vance. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images.)

A Manhattan jury made history Thursday when it convicted Donald Trump of 34 felonies. They relate to how he paid a porn star to stay quiet just before the 2016 election  and his actions cast doubt on Trumps legitimacy during his one term as president.

Despite now being a felon, Trump is for the third time the GOP nominee. Most of Ohios Republican leaders reacted with outrage to his conviction, while the governor didnt have much to say, and the one statewide Democrat said the jury had spoken.

Sen. J.D. Vance is on the shortlist to be Trumps vice presidential pick and he took to the airwaves to call Trumps prosecution political, and to say a lot of other stuff as well. On X Thursday, Vance falsely accused the Democratic Party of inventing a crime just to prosecute Trump and he made reference to a conspiracy theory with anti-semitic overtones.

This decision is a disgrace to the rule of law and our Constitution, Vance wrote. Dems invented a felony to get Trump, with the help of a Soros funded prosecutor and a Biden donor Judge, who rigged the entire case to get this outcome. This isnt justice, its election interference.

Actually, as the jury found, it was Trump who committed election interference. And legal experts pointed out that Trumps lawyers helped pick the jury, put on witnesses and had input in the jurys instructions. Trump himself could have taken the witness stand, but chose not to.

Speaking from the White House Friday, President Joe Biden criticized Trump supporters for claiming that the justice system was rigged against Trump without providing any concrete evidence.

Its reckless, its dangerous, its irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they dont like the verdict, Biden said.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a likely contender for the GOP nomination to be governor in 2026, also slammed the proceedings that ended in Trumps conviction.

This verdict is likely to be overturned. It is not the first unjust verdict, and it is why we have courts of appeals, he said on X. The aptly named (Manhattan District Attorney) Alvin Bragg picked his defendant and campaigned on prosecuting him  disreputable and unethical conduct that tarnished the justice system.

When it comes to courts of appeal, Yost has had his own difficulties. A panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday ruled that Yost was improperly blocking signature gathering for a proposed amendment to the state Constitution that would reduce immunities the state has have from being sued. Yost on Thursday said hed seek a ruling from the entire court.

Some of the AGs critics have accused him of stalling.

He refused to approve a summary of the ballot language, which supporters need if theyre to gather 420,000 verified signatures from registered voters in time for the measure to make the November ballot. Yost is refusing to answer questions about a similar maneuver in 2019 that helped kill a voter-initiated repeal of a law at the center of the biggest bribery scandal in Ohio history.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted is likely to vie with Yost for the gubernatorial nomination. Like many other Ohio Republicans, he, too, said he was outraged over Trumps conviction for having an extramarital tryst with a porn star, paying to silence her in order to improperly influence an election and then falsifying business records to cover it all up.

This quote from President Trump is ultimately the truth of the matter: The real verdict is gonna be Nov. 5, by the people,' Husted said on X. He then reposted that while saying further, If you are mad about it, do something about it by donating, volunteering and voting.

Ever merciless, some commenters reminded the lieutenant governor that he was roundly booed at a 2020 Trump rally in Vandalia as he encouraged attendees to wear masks at the height of the coronavirus pandemic. Trump played a lead role in politicizing mask wearing and downplaying a scourge that has killed nearly 1.2 million Americans.

Ohios top elections official also rushed onto social media to defend a newly minted felon who tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election and thereby steal the votes of 81 million Americans.

Partisan prosecutor, Secretary of State Frank LaRose said on X. Activist judge. Sham trial. Bogus verdict. Its a sad day in America when a political party is so afraid of losing its grip on power that theyre willing to abuse justice to game an election. This will not stand.

LaRose is a key player in Ohios epic gerrymandering, questionable voter purges and restriction of voting access, so its interesting that hed accuse others of desperately clinging to power.

One wag also pointed out that a jury had just found that Trump falsified numerous business records to further his conspiracy and that as Secretary of State, LaRose is in charge of Ohios business records. Its unclear what  if anything  LaRose would have done if the former president faked them here in the Buckeye State.

Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno, who is challenging Democrat Sherrod Brown for Ohios other Senate seat, was also vociferous in his support of the only ex-president to also bear the title felon.

Today is a dark day for American democracy, Moreno said on X. Joe Biden and his leftwing allies engaged in election interference to prosecute their top political opponent on bogus charges. This verdict is representative of a banana republic, not a democracy. Sherrod Brown and DC Democrats should be ashamed of this weaponization of our justice system.

His statement ignores the fact that the Biden Justice Department declined to prosecute Trump on the charges of which the New York jurors found him guilty. It also ignores the fact that the Biden Justice Department is prosecuting the presidents own son and a sitting Democratic senator.

Brown, his Democratic opponent, is facing a hard reelection in a Republican-leaning state. When asked to comment on Trumps conviction Friday, Sen. Brown stuck to general principals.

Im not a lawyer or a judge but Ive said from the beginning that no one is above the law, he said in an email. Ultimately this is up to the legal system to sort out and for the American people to decide in November.

Gov. Mike DeWines office didnt immediately respond to a request for comment. Hes a Republican who got on Trumps bad side early in the pandemic, when DeWine implemented health orders that were recommended by experts.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. We should focus on the danger posed by mines during COP29, Deputy Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan Nusrat Suleymanov said today at the 3rd International Conference on Mine Action held on May 30-31, Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future," Trend reports.

"Through this conference, we share our experience in humanitarian demining," he said.

Suleymanov noted that mines pose a significant threat to both people and the environment, including water and soil.

"We must eliminate these threats to humanity, including through mine clearance. As the host country of COP29, we need to highlight the dangers posed by mines. At COP29 in Azerbaijan, this issue should also be a focal point," he emphasized.

The 3rd International Conference on Mine Action, held on May 30-31, Mitigating Environmental Impact of Landmines: Resource Mobilization for Safe and Green Future," was held in Zangilan and Baku on May 30-31. The event was organized by the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The conference aimed to inform the world about Azerbaijan's mine problem, strengthen international partnerships in humanitarian demining, and discuss ways to mobilize financial resources to mitigate the environmental impact of mine contamination.

Over 300 delegates from 75 countries attended the conference, including high-ranking officials, senior UN staff, representatives from reputable international organizations, officials from various countries' demining centers, and members of diplomatic missions accredited in Azerbaijan.

On the opening day of the International Conference, a Declaration of Intent was signed between ANAMA and the UN Development Program. The document was signed by Vugar Suleymanov, Chairman of the Agency's Board, and Alessandra Roccasalvo, UN Development Program Resident Representative a.i. in Azerbaijan.

This November, Azerbaijan will host COP29. This decision was made at the COP28 plenary meeting held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Baku will become the center of the world and will receive about 7080,000 foreign guests.

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference with the climate system. COP - the Conference of the Parties - is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change. There are 198 countries that are parties to the Convention. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the COP is held annually. The first COP event took place in March 1995 in Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Donald Trump is convicted of a felony. Here's how that affects the 2024 presidential race

NEW YORK (AP)  Having been convicted of 34 felonies, Donald Trump cannot own a gun, hold public office or even vote in many states.

But in 158 days, voters across America will decide whether he will return to the White House to serve another four years as the nation's president.

Trump's conviction in his New York hush money trial on Thursday is a stunning development in an already unorthodox presidential election with profound implications for the justice system and perhaps U.S. democracy itself.

But in a deeply divided America, it's unclear whether Trump's status as someone with a felony conviction will have any impact at all on the 2024 election. Trump remains in a competitive position against President Joe Biden this fall, even as the Republican former president now faces the prospect of a prison sentence in the run-up to the November election.

In the short term at least, there were immediate signs that the unanimous guilty verdict was helping to unify the Republican Partys disparate factions as GOP officials in Congress and in state capitals across the country rallied behind their presumptive presidential nominee, while his campaign expected to benefit from a flood of new fundraising dollars.

Standing outside the courtroom, Trump described the verdict as the result of a rigged, disgraceful trial.

The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people," Trump said, referring to Election Day. This is long from over.

The immediate reaction from elected Democrats was muted by comparison, although the Biden campaign issued a fundraising appeal within minutes of the verdict suggesting that the fundamentals of the election had not changed.

We're THRILLED that justice has finally been served, the campaign wrote. But this convicted criminal can STILL win back the presidency this fall without a huge surge in Democratic support.

Strategists predict a muted impact

There has been some polling conducted on the impact of a guilty verdict, although such hypothetical scenarios are notoriously difficult to predict.

A recent ABC News/Ipsos poll found that only 4% of Trumps supporters said they would withdraw their support if hes convicted of a felony, though an additional 16% said they would reconsider it.

On the eve of the verdict, the Trump campaign released a memo from its polling team suggesting that the impact of the trial is already baked into the race in target states.

Trump campaign advisers argued the case would help them motivate their core supporters. So many donations came into WinRed, the platform the campaign uses for fundraising, that it crashed. Aides quickly worked to set up a backup platform to collect money pouring in.

Trump headed Thursday night to a fundraising event scheduled before the verdict, according to a person familiar with his plans who was not authorized to speak publicly.

His two most senior campaign advisers, Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita, were not with him in New York, but in Palm Beach, Florida, where the campaign is headquartered.

And while it may take days or weeks to know for sure, Trump's critics in both parties generally agreed that there may not be much political fallout, although some were hopeful that the convictions would have at least a marginal impact in what will likely be a close election.

Sarah Longwell, founder of Republican Voters Against Trump, who conducts regular focus groups, suggested the guilty verdict may help Biden on the margins by pushing so-called double haters  a term used to describe voters who dislike Trump and Biden  away from Trump.

But more than anything, she suggested that voters simply haven't been following the trial very closely.

The best thing about the trial ending is that it ended," Longwell said, describing the courtroom proceeding as a distraction from more serious issues in the campaign. There will now be an opportunity to focus the narrative on who Trump is and what a second Trump term would look like.

Republican pollster Neil Newhouse predicted that the trial may ultimately have little impact in a lightning-fast news environment with several months before early polls open.

Voters have short memories and even shorter attention spans, Newhouse said. Just as the former presidents two impeachments have done little to dim Trumps support, this guilty verdict may be overshadowed in three weeks by the first presidential debate.

A plan to campaign after sentencing

The judge set sentencing for July 11, just four days before the scheduled start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Each of the falsifying business records charges carries up to four years behind bars, though prosecutors have not said whether they intend to seek imprisonment. Nor is it clear whether the judge  who earlier in the trial warned of jail time for gag order violations  would impose that punishment even if asked.

Trump will be able to vote in Florida, where he established residency in 2019, if he is not in prison on Election Day.

And imprisonment would not bar Trump from continuing his pursuit of the White House.

Trumps daughter-in-law Lara Trump, who was with the former president in court this week and also serves as co-chair of the Republican National Committee, said in a Fox News Channel interview before the verdict that Trump would still try to campaign for the presidency if convicted.

If Trump is given a sentence of home confinement, she said, We will have him doing virtual rallies and campaign events if that is the case. And well have to play the hand that were dealt."

There are no campaign rallies on the calendar for now, though Trump is expected to hold fundraisers next week.

Biden himself has yet to weigh in.

He was spending the night at his familys beach house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, after marking the anniversary of his son Beaus death earlier in the day at church.

Voters grapple with the verdict

Texas voter Steven Guarner, a 24-year-old nurse, said hes undecided on who he'll vote for in the upcoming election.

Guarner, an independent, said the verdict will be a deciding factor for him once he studies the details of the trial. He didn't think it would sway the many voters who are already decided on the Biden-Trump rematch, however.

I think his base is the type that might not care much or might agree with him about the court system, Guarner said of Trump.

Indeed, Republican officials from Florida to Wisconsin to Arkansas and Illinois condemned the verdict as a miscarriage of justice by what they described as a politically motivated prosecutor and blue-state jury.

Brian Schimming, chairman of the Republican Party of Wisconsins executive committee, called the case against Trump a sham and a national embarrassment.

There was no justice in New York today, Schimming charged.

And Michael Perez Ruiz, a 47-year-old who was ordering food shortly after the verdict at Miami's Versailles restaurant, an icon of the city's GOP-leaning Cuban American community, said he would continue to stand by Trump.

I would vote for him 20 times, Perez Ruiz said.

___

AP writers Emily Swanson and Zeke Miller in Washington; Jill Colvin and Michelle L. Price in New York; Todd Richmond in Madison, Wisconsin; Adriana Gomez Licon in Miami; and Valerie Gonzalez in McAllen, Texas, contributed.
WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR)  Donald Trump became the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony crime. He was found guilty of all 34 charges in the hush money trial.

Trump was convicted by the New York jury for falsifying business records before the 2016 election.

This was a rigged disgraceful trial, said Trump.

Trump was furious after he left the courtroom.

We didnt do a thing wrong. Im a very innocent man, he said.

Trump faces a possible punishment of four years in prison.

New York District Attorney Alvin Bragg calls this a huge win.

We should all be thankful for the careful attention that this jury paid to the evidence and the law, said Bragg.

Jury deliberations took place over two days. The verdict came near the end of the second day.

The only voice that matters is the voice of the jury, said Bragg.

Some of the presidents most loyal supporters, like Colorado Republican Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, call this a political prosecution.

This is malpractice of our judicial system, said Boebert.

Victoria Nurse with Georgetown Law school says the jury did its job how it was supposed to.

They actually did their homework. They asked for the replay of the testimony. I think they did their job, said Nurse.

Trumps sentencing for the hush money case is scheduled for July 11th at 10 am.

Trumps legal team has already laid the groundwork for an appeal and Trump himself said this isnt over and hes going to continue to fight.

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.
From the The Collision on The Dispatch

Welcome to a special, post-verdict edition of The Collision, as promised. On Thursday, a jury of Donald Trumps peers in Manhattan found him guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. This makes Trump the first former president to be convicted of a felony, and it could make him the first convicted felon to be elected president.

Hopefully, youve followed our coverage of the ins and outs of this trial, and theres no need to rehash the arguments from the prosecution and the defense. But we know there are some burning questions out there about what happens next. Well dive right in and try to answer them as best we can, with this blanket caveat: Theres a lot that, at this point, is just unknowable.

What happens next?

Judge Juan Merchan has set a date for Trumps sentencing: July 11, just four days before the Republican National Convention is set to begin in Milwaukee. Following the conviction, Merchan released Trump on his own recognizance, so he wont need to return to court until the sentencing hearing.

What will Trumps sentence be?

The maximum penalty for the crime Trump has been found guilty of is four years in prison and a fine of $5,000 per count, but its just that: a maximum penalty. Prosecutors will ask the judge for a sentence based on their assessment of the public interest and the defense will have the opportunity to respond. Judge Merchan has a reputation for giving out harsh sentences for white-collar crime, but he also will take into account Trumps age, his lack of a criminal record, and the fact that there was not a victim in this case.

One lawyer who has looked into past convictions for this crime found that roughly 1 in 10 people who have been convicted of falsifying business records are imprisoned and that those cases typically involved other crimes. This has led many lawyers to conclude that a prison sentence is unlikely in this case.

If not prison, its possible Trump will be ordered to pay a fine, serve probation, or a combination of some or all of these penalties. But as of now, we simply dont know.

Will Trump appeal the verdict?

Yes. There is no question that Trump will appeal and on a lot of different grounds. In no particular order, he could argue that the prosecution did not meet its burden as a matter of law, meaning prosecutors did not have enough evidence for a reasonable jury to find him guilty. He could argue that the judge made important errors during the course of the trialfor example, by letting Stormy Daniels provide lurid testimony that was more prejudicial than probative. He could argue that the jury instructions incorrectly stated the law to the jury. Most importantly, he could argue that the law itself violated his rights by allowing a jury to more or less convict him of an underlying federal campaign finance crime that he wasnt charged with and that wasnt actually a crime.

If Trump is sentenced to prison time, will he be free pending an appeal?

Most likely, Trump will remain free while his appeals are pending. For a nonviolent, first-time offender who isnt a flight risk, a judge will likely grant the defenses request to keep a convicted felon out of prison during the appeals process, which can be lengthy.

Can he still run for president?

Yep! The Constitution lays out the requirements to run for president: A candidate must be over the age of 35, a natural born citizen, not have been elected to the office twice. Theres nothing about having a clear criminal record. And, of course, Eugene Debs ran for president from federal prison in 1920 after being convicted of sedition for speaking out against American involvement in World War I.

Can he still vote for himself in November?

Under New York law, convicted felons who are not incarcerated can still register and vote. And under the laws of Florida, where Trump is a resident and registered to vote, a felons ability to vote is determined by the rules in the state in which they were convicted. So if Trump is behind bars on Election Day or during the early voting period in Florida, he wont be able to vote. But given some important factorsincluding the possibility he will not be sentenced to prison time or that appeals could delay his incarcerationit seems likely that Trump will be able to vote for himself for president.

What other rights does Trump lose once hes convicted of a felony?

Some of this will depend on Trumps sentence. According to the federal Gun Control Act, for instance, Trump would be ineligible to ship, transport, receive, or possess firearms or ammunition if he is convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year. Additionally, in Florida, Trump will have certain civil rights, such as the ability to serve on a jury and to hold public office, suspended until after fulfilling his sentence. But waitdoesnt that prohibit Trump from holding the office of president of the United States? No, as we laid out above, the Constitution is very clear about the requirements for holding that office, and the Constitution will supersede any state law in a matter like this.

What happens if he is sentenced to prison, then elected president?

This situation has obviously never occurred before. The clemency and pardon powers of the president dont extend to state criminal proceedings. But Trump as president-elect would immediately file a petition in federal court arguing that the state of New York is interfering with Article II of the Constitution, which holds that he is to be sworn in as president and execute the powers of the presidency. To the extent being in prison interferes with those job responsibilities, he would argue that any remaining time left on his sentence would have to be suspended while he is president of the United States. This separation-of-powers logic would apply to the requirements of probation or parole as well.

How is the Trump campaign reacting to the conviction?

Trump himself gave brief remarks outside the courthouse following his conviction. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial, but the real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people, he said.

From there, the Trump campaign and its surrogates have been aggressively pushing for support and donations online under the banner of Never Surrender. And Trump also announced a press conference scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at Trump Tower in New York.

What about Bidens campaign? And the White House?

Heres a statement released Thursday evening by Michael Tyler, the Biden campaigns communications director, as obtained by our colleague David Drucker:

In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator on day one and calling for our Constitution to be terminated so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence  and the American people will reject it this November.

The White Houses response was shorter: We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment, said Ian Sams, a spokesman for the White House Counsels Office.

Read more at The Dispatch

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On Thursday, former President Donald Trump was found guilty of all 34 counts against him in a New York hush money trial brought against him by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Trump, who also faces three other criminal cases related to election interference, the January 6 insurrection and mishandling classified documents, is now the first president in U.S. history to be convicted of felony crimes. What does this mean for Trumps freedom, presidential campaign and more?

What were the charges against Trump?

Trump was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records for intentionally mislabeling payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence about a sexual encounter she alleges happened between her and Trump in 2006. During Trumps 2016 presidential campaign, Daniels was paid $130,000 by Michael Cohen, Trumps lawyer and fixer, and reimbursed by Trump; the reimbursements were labeled as legal expenses on various documents to conceal the nature of the arrangement with Daniels. While falsifying records this way would usually be a misdemeanor offense, Bragg elevated them to felonies under New York law by connecting them to another crime: illegally attempting to sway the results of the 2016 presidential election in a scheme involving Trump, Cohen, National Inquirer publisher David Pecker and more to manipulate news coverage of Trump during the campaign. The jurys verdict indicates they believed the DAs case and rejected Trumps defense that the payments were a legitimate legal expense and not primarily aimed at the 2016 election.

Will Trump go to jail, and when? Next steps in the case

Now that Trump has been convicted, he is scheduled for a sentencing hearing on July 11 by Judge Juan Merchan, who Trump frequently insulted during the criminal proceedings. Each count against Trump allows the judge to impose a fine and the option of up to four years of incarceration. Any prison sentence would likely be served concurrently, meaning he would be jailed for no more than four years. Experts differ on whether Trump will be sentenced to jail time. Some believe he will not be sent to prison because of his age and because other people convicted of similar crimes have avoided incarceration; he could be given probation or home confinement as an alternative to prison. However, criminal defense lawyer Ron Kuby recently told NBC News that Judge Merchan is known for being a harsh sentencer when it comes to white-collar crimes committed by people who have wealth and privilege and power. Regardless of the sentence, Trump will likely stay out of jail while he appeals the verdict, a process that will almost certainly go past the November election and could stretch out for years if his case goes to the Supreme Court.

Impact on the 2024 presidential race

Trumps criminal conviction does not disqualify him from running for president, and he remains the presumptive Republican nominee. Trump will likely still be free to attend his formal nomination at the Republican National Convention, which will begin four days after his sentencing hearing. Trumps supporters will probably continue to support him throughout his legal troubles. Still, some swing voters have indicated in past polls that they would reconsider or switch votes if Trump was convicted. While hoping that the conviction might sway voters, the Biden campaign has already emphasized that theres only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box, while using the guilty verdict for fundraising.

Theres only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box. Donate to our campaign today: https://t.co/aJXS9oti0a  Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) May 30, 2024

While it may take months or even years to know what Trumps final legal punishment will be, the more immediate impact of his conviction will be political. The months ahead will show if Trumps conviction will sway voters and potentially change the outcome of a close presidential race.
Now that Donald Trump is a convicted felon, his list of countries to visit has gotten much shorter.

Trump was found guilty on Thursday of 34 counts of falsifying records in an effort to keep adult film star Stormy Daniels quiet about an affair that occurred in the 2000s. That means certain freedoms Mr Trump once enjoyed may be out of his reach  and could have a serious effect on his ability to carry out his presidential duties, including traveling to foreign countries.

Nearly 40 nations - including Canada and the UK - have strict policies when it comes to allowing individuals with criminal records across their borders, and barring a special accommodation, Trump would be held to those same standards. Its unclear if he would be allowed to visit if he wins the presidental election in November, but remains a felon.

Here are just five of the over 35 nations that can now ban Trump from entry now that he's a felon:

Former President Donald Trump may not be allowed to enter nearly 40 countries now that hes a convicted felon (AP)

Israel

Despite Trump once retweeting someone who referred to him as the "King of Israel" and bragging that he moved the US embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, Trump may not be able to visit the nation now that he's a felon.

Israel reserves the right to refuse entry to anyone with a criminal record, including felonies. Border control forces in Israel have the authority to bar entry for anyone suspected of committing a crime or with a record, and Trump meets both of those qualifiers.

Canada

According to the Canadian government's tourist hub, any "US Citizen or permanent resident that has a felony conviction on their criminal record may be deemed inadmissible to Canada for the purposes of immigrating, or even if they're merely coming to Canada to visit."

Canada even retains the right to bar individuals "arrested or accused of a felony crime ... even though you have not been convicted," meaning Trump would have faced issues visiting the US's northern neighbor the moment he faced charges.

The government notes that "a felony will likely result in inadmissibility."

Then-president Donald Trump talks with Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during the plenary session of the NATO summit in 2019 (AFP via Getty Images)

Japan

Japan is fairly strict with its immigration and visitation rules, including laws preventing convicted criminals from entry.

Under Japanese law anyone convicted of a violation of "any law of regulation" of any country and has been sentenced to "imprisonment with or without work for 1 year or more, or to an equivalent penalty" can be barred from entry.

Japanese law does note that individuals convicted of a "political offense" are not subject to those rules. In Trump's mind, at least, he could qualify to visit under those terms. It's unclear if Japan would buy his version of events.

UK

Under UK law, a felon can visit England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland with some restrictions and requirements in place. However, Britain can bar access to convicted felons.

Unless an Immigration Officer is satisfied that admission would be justified for strong compassionate reasons, they can refuse access to any convicted felon so long as the crime they committed would also be punishable by imprisonment in the UK.

In 2019, British Prime Minister Theresa May, Prince of Wales Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, President Donald Trump and First Lady of Melania Trump attended the D-day 75 Commemorations on June 05 in Portsmouth, England. (Getty Images)

China

China has strict policies when admitting anyone over its borders. Chinese officials conduct character assessments for anyone applying for a visa, and that includes a criminal history check, including felonies.

Even minor offenses can get someone barred from entering China, so Mr Trump may not be able to chide the Chinese in person if he were ever so inclined.

Full list of countries that restrict visits from felons

Argentina Australia Brazil Cambodia Canada Chile China Cuba Dominican Republic Egypt Ethiopia India Indonesia Iran Ireland Israel Japan Kenya Malaysia Macau Mexico Morocco Nepal New Zealand Peru Philippines Singapore South Africa South Korea Taiwan Tanzania Tunisia Turkey Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom
Idaho political leaders voiced support for former President Donald Trump almost immediately after the leading Republican candidate for the White House was found guilty of crimes Thursday, becoming the first U.S. president in history to be convicted of a crime.

Trump was convicted by a Manhattan jury Thursday afternoon on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with his efforts to become president in 2016. During that years presidential campaign, Trump orchestrated a $130,000 payment to a porn star with whom he had an alleged affair in 2006 to prevent her story from becoming public.

GOP political leaders in Idaho, including Gov. Brad Little, were quick to dismiss the legal conviction and cast doubt on the New York judicial system, joining a chorus of national Republicans. Trump has used the trial to fundraise for his presidential campaign and attempted to cast the proceedings as the most recent example of efforts to persecute him.

The American people will deliver the only verdict that matters in November, Little wrote on X, formerly Twitter. #TRUMP2024.

Idahos Republican congressional delegates also weighed in.

U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson on X said Democrats have weaponized our judicial system, attacked the attorney who prosecuted the case and without evidence called it an absurd political trial. Sen. Mike Crapo similarly called the case politically motivated on X and said it could lead to prosecutions based on an individuals mere existence.

Sen. Jim Risch suggested the verdict was politically motivated and called it a mock trial that made no attempt at even the appearance of fairness.

This is what we expect from third world countries, Risch said. A government, like New York, that conducts itself in such a fashion deserves to be feared, not cherished by its people.

The Idaho Freedom Caucus, a far-right faction of Republican state legislators, falsely said President Joe Biden was involved in the prosecution in a news release. The Department of Justice was not involved in prosecuting the New York state case, which began years before Biden entered office.

The hush money payments to adult-film actor Stormy Daniels were made by Michael Cohen, Trumps former fixer, who was later reimbursed for the disbursements through invoices that were falsely labeled as legal services. Some of the reimbursement checks were signed after Trump had moved into the White House.

Cohen, who testified at trial, was a key witness for the prosecution. Trump denies the sexual encounter, which Daniels described under oath in the New York courthouse.

Trump could face up to four years in prison for his crimes, in a case that has tested the durability of the countrys political and judicial systems. He faces dozens more charges in federal criminal proceedings, including more serious charges stemming from his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

The New York verdict, which the former president is expected to appeal, is the only one expected before Election Day, in part because of trial delays the election interference case faces before the U.S. Supreme Court. Trumps sentencing is scheduled for July.

Boise lawyer Terri Pickens, a Democratic candidate for Idaho governor, blasted Little on Thursday for his comments on the conviction and said he had betrayed his own oaths to defend the rule of law.

Our governor is saying the rule of law doesnt matter anymore, she said in a news release. For years, Little and other Republicans have closed their eyes and covered their ears to all the shady, nasty and cruel behavior surrounding Mr. Trump. But they always said he was innocent until proven guilty. They dont have that excuse anymore.

You simply cant claim that jury convictions do not matter and be trusted as Idahos top executive officer in charge of implementing those same laws and defending Idahos constitution, she added.
Donald Trump found guilty in hush money trial: What happens next?

Donald Trump found guilty in hush money trial: What happens next?

MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11)  Former President Donald Trump was found guilty Thursday on all 34 counts in his hush-money case, making him the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony criminal charges.

Now what happens next?

Can Trump still run and be president of the United States?

Trump will be holding a news conference at Trump Tower Friday morning. Hes expected to appeal the verdict and called himself a very innocent man outside of the Manhattan courtroom on Thursday after the historic trial.

This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be on Nov. 5 by the people and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here, Trump said.

Trump lashes out after jury announces guilty verdict: This is far from over

Its believed hell comment on the verdict, his sentencing and the presidential election during Fridays news conference.

A jury rendered its unanimous decision after more than nine hours of deliberation over two days. Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign.

Here are the crimes Trump committed in NYC hush-money case

Because its such a unique and important and credible case for this country, its very likely that this will eventually work its way to the New York Court of Appeals, the highest court in New York State, and perhaps even to the Supreme Court beyond that, said legal analyst Janos Marton.

Trumps campaign sent out text messages after the verdict, calling him a political prisoner and selling merchandise branding the May 30 verdict date as a dark day in history.

Reactions to former President Donald Trumps hush money trial

Trump is due back in court on July 11 for sentencing, just days before Republicans are set to formally name the partys presidential nominee at their convention on July 15.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has not yet said if prosecutors are seeking prison time for Trump.

Erin Pflaumer is a digital content producer from Long Island who has covered both local and national news since 2018. She joined PIX11 in 2023. See more of her work here.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.


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Former president Donald J. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee for president this year, was convicted by a New York court on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a $130,000 hush-money payment to ex-porn star Stormy Daniels.

After becoming the first president to face criminal charges, Trump is now the first former president to be a convicted felon. What does that felony status mean for Trump's 2024 presidential campaign, and everything else to come this year? Let's break it down:

[table-of-contents] stripped

Can he still run for president?

Yes. There's no legal prohibition on running for president as a convicted felon, or serving as president as one. The U.S. Constitution has just three requirements for presidential candidates: be a natural born citizen; be at least 35 years old; have been a U.S. resident for at least 14 years.

He may not be able to vote for president, however: Florida, where Trump is a registered voter, requires felons to complete their full sentence (including probation, or jail time and parole) before getting voting rights back. With Election Day just 117 days after his sentencing date, it's unlikely Trump will complete his sentence before then. However, CNN notes that "Florida actually defers to the jurisdiction of a felony conviction as to whether a felon can vote,"and New York's felon voting laws are different. In New York, convicted felons who are not incarcerated are eligible to vote.

Can he appeal the decision?

Yes, he can appeal, and it's almost certain that he and his legal team will. As CNBC explains, "But that appeal process would play out over many months, if not years, they said. That means that even if Trump eventually overturns his conviction, he wont be able to do so before Election Day."



When is he sentenced?

Trump's sentencing is set for July 11 at 10 a.m. eastern. Before the sentencing, Trump has to sit with an interview with a probation officer for a pre-sentencing report. His possible sentence could be as little as probation to up to four years in prisonhe's charged with class E felonies, the lowest tier.

As the New York Times notes, "If Justice Merchan hands down a punishment that lands the former president behind bars  what is known as a custodial sentence  Mr. Trump would be no ordinary prisoner. Thats because the United States Secret Service is required by law to protect former presidents around the clock, which means its agents would have to protect Mr. Trump inside a prison if he was sentenced to serve time."



The logistics of that requirement would be unprecedented. "Obviously, its uncharted territory," Martin F. Horn, who served as commissioner of New York City's correction department, said. "Certainly no state prison system has had to deal with this before, and no federal prison has had to either."

If he receives probation, he would have to report regularly to a probation officer in New York City.

Can Trump pardon himself?

If Trump is elected president this November, and then takes office in January, would he be able to pardon himself? No: Presidents can only pardon federal convictionssomeone was convicted in a United States District Court, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, or a military court-martial. This ruling is from New York State.

What does this mean for his other criminal cases?

It has no other impact on his three pending criminal cases: Two are federal cases, about his handling of classified documents, and one is a case in the State of Georgia, regarding election interference. Those three cases are not likely to go to trial before Election Day.

Has President Biden said anything about the conviction?

President Biden himself has not directly commented, but Ian Sams, a spokesman for the White House Counsel's Office, said "We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment."

We'll update this as we learn more about what's next for Donald Trump following his conviction.







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NEW YORK  Donald Trump was found guilty Wednesday of falsifying New York business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in a conspiracy to defraud the voting public in 2016, a historic verdict labeling him a felon and making him the first American president to face the indignity of a criminal conviction.

The former president and presumptive Republican nominee in this years election sat still and stone-faced as he learned his fate just after 5 p.m. on the 15th floor of Manhattans storied 100 Centre Street courthouse, staring straight ahead as the foreman stood and declared him guilty on all 34 counts  each tied to his reimbursement to his former fixer Michael Cohen for paying off the adult film actress to stay silent about a seedy sexual encounter in a Lake Tahoe hotel room a decade prior.

Members of the jury, listen to your verdict as it stands recorded. You and each of you say through your foreperson that you find the Defendant, Donald J. Trump, guilty of all 34 counts charging falsifying business records in the first degree, and so say you all. Is this the verdict? state Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan addressed the twelve jurors.

Yes, the panel of seven men and five women said in unison.

The 77-year-old Trump could face up to four years in prison at his sentencing on July 11 at 10 a.m., or a term of probation.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg declined to say whether his office planned to request Trump serve time behind bars for his crimes when asked by the New York Daily News at a press conference following the stunning verdict, saying the prosecutions plans would be revealed when the former president returns to court.

While this defendant may be unlike any other in American history, we arrived at this trial and ultimately today at this verdict in the same manner as every other case that comes through the courtroom doors: by following the facts and the law and doing so without fear or favor, the DA said in his remarks.

Trump aggressively shook his son Erics hand after being found guilty before darting out of the courtroom with his entourage. He decried the case outside.

This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial, Trump told reporters. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here.

Just minutes before Merchan announced the jury had a note communicating theyd reached a verdict around 4:30 p.m., the judge announced he intended to send them home, with all in attendance expecting to return for a third day of deliberations Friday. Trump, cracking jokes at his lawyers, stiffened up upon learning about the change of plan.

Merchan swiftly denied a motion from his attorney, Todd Blanche, requesting a judgment of acquittal based on Cohens testimony, knowing that he committed perjury.

Im sure you misspoke when you said knowing. Youre not suggesting that I know anybody committed perjury; right? the judge asked Trumps lawyer.

Correct, Blanche said.

The verdict caps the first of four criminal cases facing the 45th U.S. president  the only one expected to resolve before the election in November  and determines he committed felonies after his last successful bid for the White House. Immediately after the verdict came down, New Yorkers flooded Collect Pond Park across the street, silently watching as TV crews broadcast the news worldwide.

The jury, which got the case just before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, took less than 12 hours to render their decision.

They heard from 22 witnesses during the monthlong case that began April 15, hearing extensive testimony from Trump loyalists and dissidents about a plot to corrupt the 2016 election devised at a meeting just over a year before at Trump Tower between the newly minted candidate, Cohen, and David Pecker, the former chairman of American Media, Inc., or AMI.

Front-page stories lauding the presidential candidate with input from Trumps campaign that ran in the AMI-run National Enquirer were part of the ruse to boost Trumps candidacy and hit jobs maligning his opponents.

Pecker, the media magnate friendly with Trump for decades, during four days on the stand told the court he agreed to keep an eye out for stories that could harm his chances with voters, leading to payoffs silencing Daniels, former Playboy model Karen McDougal and a doorman at Trump Tower about a series of alleged sex scandals.

Cohen, who took the stand as the states last and star witness, told the jury of how he hastily arranged the $130,000 payoff to Daniels in the waning days of the 2016 race at Trumps behest with the assurance from his longtime boss and mentor that hed be reimbursed. Trumps defense team doggedly sought to undermine his credibility by highlighting his perjury conviction.

The jury heard that the bombshell release of the Access Hollywood tape, in which Trump boasted about sexually molesting women, served as the catalyst for the hush money payoff to Daniels, with the Trump campaign fearing her allegations would tip him over the edge with female voters.

Just take care of it, Cohen recalled Trump saying. This was a disaster, a fking disaster. Women will hate me.

In a statement to the Daily News, Cohen said it was an important day.

While it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters, Cohen said.

In the states closing argument, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked the jury to hold the ex-president to the same standard as every citizen and find him legally accountable for causing the filing of bogus business records to disguise a conspiracy to hide information from voters, in violation of New York election law, to get him elected.

A lot of people say this: Who cares? Who cares if Mr. Trump slept with a porn star 10 years before the 2016 election? Plenty of people feel that way, as I said. But its harder to say that the American people dont have the right to decide for themselves whether they care or not, that a handful of people sitting in a room can decide what information gets into those voters hands, Steinglass said.

There is no special standard for this defendant. Donald Trump cant shoot someone during rush hour on Fifth Ave. and get away with it.

Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in April 2023 and denied knowledge of the false entries documenting his bloated payback to Cohen. Jurors saw his infamous Sharpie signature on monthly $35,000 checks to Cohen that were falsely logged in the books as compensation for legal services in a payment plan dictated by Trumps convicted ex-finance chief Allen Weisselberg.

Defense attorney Todd Blanche, in his final statements to the jury, denied the existence of the catch and kill scheme to influence the election or that his client knew about internal bookkeeping practices at the Trump Organization.

Campaigns want to amplify the good things about their candidate and expose the bad things about their opponents. Again, this is a campaign. This is an election. This is not a crime, Blanche said.

Trump still faces 54 felonies in three cases in Washington, D.C., Fulton County, Ga., and Fort Pierce, Fla., which respectively allege he plotted to overturn Bidens 2020 win, subvert the results of that election in Georgia, and mishandled highly sensitive classified documents and thwarted efforts by law enforcement to recover them. Hes pleaded not guilty to all counts.

_____
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NEW YORK  Donald Trump was found guilty of falsifying New York business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in a conspiracy to defraud the 2016 electorate, a historic verdict making Trump a felon and the first American president to suffer the indignity of a criminal conviction.

Jurors found Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsification of business records tied to his reimbursement to Michael Cohen in 2017 for paying off the adult film star two weeks before his victory against Hillary Clinton to stay silent about her claims of an extramarital liaison in a Lake Tahoe hotel room a decade prior.

Trump sat stone-faced as the verdict was read, looking over at the jury as it was polled.

Judge Juan Merchan then excused the jurors, thanking them for their time and service. You gave this matter the attention it deserved, he said.

Trump, 77, could receive a sentence of up to four years in prison when sentenced, or a term of probation. Sentencing is set for July 11.

This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial, Trump said outside the courtroom. This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here.

His lawyer, Todd Blanche, moved to have the verdict tossed on the basis that the states key witness, Cohen, perjured himself and lied. Merchan swiftly denied the motion.

The verdict caps the first of four criminal cases facing the 45th U.S. president  and the only one expected to resolve before the election in November  and determines he committed felonies during his last successful bid for the White House.

The panel of seven men and five women, who heard from 22 witnesses, got the case midday Wednesday, following a monthlong case in which prosecutors presented extensive testimony about a plot to influence Trumps candidacy devised in August 2015 at Trump Tower between the newly minted candidate, Cohen, and David Pecker, the former chairman of American Media Inc., or AMI, who spent four days on the stand.

Front-page stories lauding the presidential candidate with input from Trumps campaign that ran in the AMI-run National Enquirer were part of the ruse to boost Trumps candidacy and hit jobs maligning his opponents.

Pecker, the media magnate friendly with Trump for decades, told the court he agreed to keep an eye out for stories that could harm his chances with voters, leading to payoffs silencing Daniels, former Playboy model Karen McDougal, and a doorman at Trump Tower about a series of alleged sex scandals.

In the states closing argument, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass asked the jury to hold the ex-president to the same standard as every citizen and find him legally accountable for causing the filing of bogus business records to disguise a conspiracy to hide information from voters, in violation of New York election law, to get him elected.

A lot of people say this: Who cares? Who cares if Mr. Trump slept with a porn star 10 years before the 2016 election? Plenty of people feel that way, as I said. But its harder to say that the American people dont have the right to decide for themselves whether they care or not, that a handful of people sitting in a room can decide what information gets into those voters hands, Steinglass said.

There is no special standard for this defendant. Donald Trump cant shoot someone during rush hour on Fifth Avenue and get away with it.

Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in April 2023 and vehemently denied knowledge of the false entries documenting his bloated payback to Cohen  monthly $35,000 checks logged in the books as compensation for legal services.

Defense attorney Todd Blanche, in his final statements to the jury, denied the existence of the catch and kill scheme to influence the election or that his client knew about internal bookkeeping practices at the Trump Organization.

There is no other way to categorize an invoice from a lawyer to President Trump than to call it a legal expense. The Government has criminalized that, has said that that was a crime ... Thats absurd. Its not a crime, Blanche said.

Campaigns want to amplify the good things about their candidate and expose the bad things about their opponents. Again, this is a campaign. This is an election. This is not a crime.

Trump still faces 54 felonies in three cases in Washington, D.C., Fulton County, Georgia, and Fort Pierce, Florida, which respectively allege he plotted to overturn Bidens 2020 win, subvert the results of that election in Georgia, and mishandled highly sensitive classified documents and thwarted efforts by law enforcement to recover them. Hes pleaded not guilty to all counts.

_____

___
On Thursday, May 30, 2024, history was made as former President Donald Trump is the first president to be convicted of a crime after a jury found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

Following the verdict, many are asking if Donald Trump, now a convicted felon, can still run for President of the United States.

Former President Donald Found Guilty On All 34 Counts Of Falsifying Business Records

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Former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all counts in his New York criminal hush money trial, which focused on allegations that he falsified business records to conceal a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.

Those records include 11 invoices from Michael Cohen, 11 checks paid to former lawyer Michael Cohen, and 12 entries in Trump's ledgers.

A jury consisting of 7 men and 6 women from New York reached the historic decision, making Trump the first President in U.S. history to be convicted of a crime. They alleged that Trump falsified the records to conceal unlawful interference in the 2016 presidential election through the $130,000 hush money payment, elevating the falsification charges to felonies.

Donald Trump Breaks Silence On Guilty Verdict

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Following the verdict, the former President broke his silence.

"Our whole country is being rigged right now," he told the press outside the courtroom. "This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound, to hurt an opponent. A political opponent and I think it's just a disgrace, and we'll keep fighting, we'll fight till the end, and we'll win because our country has gone to hell. We don't have the same country anymore, we have a divided mess."

He continued, "We are a nation in decline, serious decline of people pouring into our country right now. From prisons and from mental institutions. Terrorists and they're taking over our country. We have a country that's in big trouble, but this was a rigged decision right from day one. With a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case never. And we will fight for our constitution."

Trump concluded, "This is more from over. Thank you very much."

Donald Trump Can Still Run For President Despite Being a Convicted Criminal

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As the US Constitution only has three requirements for presidential candidates, former President Donald Trump can continue with his election run.

Per the US Constitution, candidates must:

Be a natural born citizen.

Be at least 35 years old.

Have been a US resident for at least 14 years.

Because Trump meets all three requirements, it does not legally matter if he has been convicted of a crime.

In fact, Trump would not be the first to run for President as a criminal. In 1920, Socialist leader Eugene Debs ran his presidential campaign from federal prison in Atlanta, where he was serving a 10-year sentence for sedition.

Michael Cohen Provided Testimony, But Donald Trump Did Not

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Despite initially declaring that he would "absolutely" testify, Trump did not take the witness stand to provide his own account of events.

Michael Cohen was the only witness to provide testimony about Trumps direct involvement in the $130,000 payment and the subsequent reimbursement plan.

Trump's attorney, Todd Blanche, spent several days questioning Cohen's credibility, leading him to admit his history of lying, even under oath. Additionally, Blanche got Cohen to concede that he had defrauded Trump and his company of $30,000 by falsely claiming he had paid $50,000 to a technology company on Trump's behalf when he had actually paid closer to $20,000.

What's Next For Donald Trump?

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In his closing argument earlier this week, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass told the jury that the law is the law and it applies to everyone equally. There is no special standard for this defendant.

You, the jury, have the ability to hold the defendant accountable, Steinglass added.

With Donald Trump found guilty on all charges in his Manhattan hush money trial, he still faces criminal charges in three other cases, including two for allegedly attempting to illegally overturn the 2020 election he lost to President Joe Biden.

Donald Trump will be sentenced on July 11, 2024. He faces a fine of up to $5,000 and up to four years in prison for each of the 34 felony counts he was convicted of.
In late May, Donald Trump was convicted by a New York court on 34 counts of falsifying business records, making him the first former president to be a convicted felon. While there are many questions that remain about what's next for Trump, one major one is: Will Trump be able to vote in the 2024 election?

For starters, Trump, who is the presumptive Republican nominee for president, can still run for president. (The U.S. Constitution has very few requirements for presidential candidates.) However, his residency in Florida calls into question whether or not he'll be able to vote.

In Florida, people convicted of felonies cannot vote until they've completed all terms of their sentence (including probation and parole). That said, if a person is convicted in another statelike how Trump was convicted in New YorkFlorida law defers to the voting laws of that state. In New York, people convicted of felonies can vote as long as they are not currently incarcerated.

"As just this one instance shows, the state of Florida has made it extraordinarily difficult and some cases impossible for somebody with a criminal record to know whether they are eligible to vote," Nicholas Warren, an attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, told NBC Miami. "The rules around whether you can vote should be easy and clear to understand, and it is the obligation of the state to provide that information to everybody who wants to exercise that role."

Trump's sentencing is set for July 11, so if the judge decides to sentence him to jail timeand that jail time lasts through Election Dayhe would be ineligible to vote. However, the Tampa Bay Times notes, "If he is incarcerated, Floridas clemency board  made up of Republicans Gov. Ron DeSantis, Attorney General Ashley Moody, Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis  could restore his right to vote."

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Can Donald Trump Vote for Himself? Heres What Florida Law Says About Felons

Trump's dueling titles of "convicted felon" and "presidential candidate" have many wondering whether he will even be allowed to vote for himself in November

Mark Peterson / POOL / AFP/ Getty Donald Trump leaves the Manhattan criminal court after a jury convicted him on 34 felony counts on May 30, 2024

Donald Trump's unprecedented status as both a convicted felon and major party presidential candidate poses a new question about whether he's eligible to vote for himself in the 2024 election.

Even if his guilty verdict on 34 felony counts sticks following an appeal, Trump will not be disqualified from running for president  the Constitution only requires that a candidate be at least 35 years old, a natural-born U.S. citizen and have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years.

Whether he can cast a vote for the presidency is an entirely different story that largely depends on how he's sentenced on July 11.



Related: Is Donald Trump Going to Jail After Guilty Verdict? What to Know About Sentencing on July 11

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Donald Trump sits inside a Manhattan courtroom on May 21, 2024, as his criminal trial stretches into its sixth week

Trump is now a full-time Florida resident, meaning Florida decides whether he's eligible to vote as a convicted felon.

Florida statute 97.041(2)(b) says that "a person who has been convicted of any felony by any court of record" is stripped of their voting rights. In cases like Trump's, where the crimes were not violent in nature, convicted felons can restore their right to vote after completing their sentence and paying off all fines.

But according to Michael Morley, director of Florida State University's Election Law Center, there's another layer to Trump's voting eligibility, because he was convicted in New York, not in Florida.

For residents who were convicted out of state, Florida defers to that state's disenfranchisement guidelines. In other words, if New York would disqualify Trump from voting, then Florida will too.

New York's current law, which was updated in 2021, allows convicted felons to vote so long as they aren't actively incarcerated. Therefore, Trump's eligibility to vote depends on how he's sentenced  and how quickly that sentence is enforced.

Related: Donald Trump Expected to Appeal Guilty Verdict, Which Could Delay His Sentence

Brandon Bell/Getty Donald Trump at a New Hampshire campaign rally on Jan. 16, 2024

As it stands now, Trump faces up to four years in prison for his crimes. (Technically he faces up to four years per count, but the sentences would run concurrently to avoid giving him 136 years in prison for a non-violent crime.)

New York Judge Juan Merchan also has the option to give Trump a lesser sentence of probation and/or a fine, which is the more likely outcome.

Related: Trump's Defense Attorney Says He Was 'Expecting' Guilty Verdict as He Makes the Case for Lesser Sentence

Several factors play into sentencing considerations, and while Trump has spent negative energy trying to get on the court's good side, Merchan is expected to treat the former president like he would with any other defendant in the same situation. That means he'll be taking Trump's age, family and criminal history into account.

As a 77-year-old and first-time offender, particularly one whose charges were relatively white-collar in nature, Trump has a strong chance of avoiding the maximum penalty. Merchan's challenge will be determining a sentence that is stern enough to deter Trump and others from committing similar crimes in the future, but reasonable enough to show he is acting without bias.

Merchan will hear Manhattan prosecutors' sentencing recommendation on July 11, then make the final decision himself.

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.

If Trump is not sentenced to prison time, he will retain his eligibility to cast a ballot for president in November. If he is sentenced to prison time but allowed to wait until his appeal is decided on, he may also still be able to vote if the appeals process has not concluded before Election Day.

The only way Trump will lose his ability to vote for himself for president is if he is both sentenced to prison and actively behind bars on Nov. 5.



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Read the original article on People.
Cable-news anchors broke out the hyperbole after former President Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 felonies on Thursday afternoon.

Hyperbole that was, for once, appropriate. No one can overstate the magnitude of these convictions, though the talking heads on Fox News certainly put their own weird MAGA spin on it. Someone needs to get Jeanine Pirro a cold drink and a couch. Whatever is beyond hyperbole is what she was dipping into. Words like unhinged rant come to mind.

Think of what has transpired. Trump is not just the first former president tried and convicted of a felony (or of 34 of them). He is also the presumptive Republican nominee for president in the 2024 election. It was, as Jake Tapper said on CNN, an unbelievable moment in American history.

I guess. Im getting kind of tired of this sort of history. Its more like every time you turn on the TV you wander into Bizarro World.

Can convicted felons like Trump vote? What comes next after guilty verdict

'The nation is collectively holding its breath'

What a day of TV news. All the networks kept a clock on-screen as the jury deliberated Wednesday and Thursday. This was a reminder that there is no treading water like a cable-news anchor trying to pass the time while waiting for something to happen.

But once the jury told the judge it had a verdict, the energy changed.

I think its fair to say that the nation is collectively holding its breath right now, Dana Bash said on CNN.

Its not an exaggeration to say the eyes of the nation and the world are on this New York courtroom right now, Ari Melber said on MSNBC.

And you know what? They were right.

It was a real butterflies-in-the-stomach moment. Of course, no one had any idea what the verdict was at that point, though the quick decision favored conviction. I actually thought it would be yesterday, Andrew McCarthy said on Fox News. I dont think its good for the president.

Note to Mr. McCarthy: Trump is not the president. But he was right about the not-good part.

Arizona reacts to Trump verdict: What they are saying about conviction in hush-money trial

The Trump trial was stranger than fiction

What made the whole thing even stranger from a TV perspective was how little it resembled what weve come to expect from years of shows like Law & Order. We didnt see a jury foreman read the verdicts. We watched Tapper and the other anchors read them off as they got them.

Maybe that sounds less compelling. It was not. It was more like how Nicole Wallace described it on MSNBC: A political car crash that rolled out in slow motion.

With the verdict in, the dissection began. The whats-it-all-mean aspect was fairly routine, if only because Trump has dragged national politics and the media that covers it through such a hellscape of absurdity that even the biggest moments threaten to lose some of their impact. Which is the whole idea on his part, of course.

Not this time, though.

Follow along: Donald Trump found guilty on all counts in historic NY hush money case

'I did nothing wrong' is Trump's mantra

Think, in addition to Trumps convictions, what else the trial entailed: testimony about hush money paid to a porn star to keep her quiet about an alleged affair with Trump.

A primer on the sleazy world of catch and kill, the practice of buying rights to a story and then never publishing it, a common practice of the National Enquirer, which also planted negative stories about Trumps opponents in the 2016 Republican primary  really trashy stuff, only now the people he smeared are his sycophants.

Daily screeds from Trump about how crooked the judge was, how the whole thing is rigged against him. Screeds he continued after he left court on Thursday as a convicted felon, as well. "I did nothing wrong," that sort of thing.

Opinion: President Joe Biden still can, and should, pardon Donald Trump of federal offenses

Fox News shifted into Trump-defense mode

Former President Donald Trump's supporters show their support near his Mar-a-Lago estate on May 30, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla., after he was found guilty in his criminal trial in New York City.

If CNN and MSNBC were going the huge-story route, Fox News immediately shifted into Trump-defense mode, a remarkable thing to watch. Jonathan Turley was saddened by the verdict. Ill bet.

McCarthy, who played it fairly straight before the verdict, went from Jekyll to Hyde in short order.

Its a historic trial of a former president of the United States by his partisan adversaries, he said. Whatever you think of the results its inconceivable in New York that anyone else other than Donald Trump would ever have been indicted this way.

Donald Trump is now a convicted felon: Can he still run for president?

Jeanine Pirro lost it on Fox News

But this was nothing compared to Pirro, who attended the trial occasionally. She wound up and they just let her go. It was stunning TV.

She started out towing the Fox News line, that the judge wouldnt let Trumps attorneys put on the defense they needed. This is a new era in America, and I think it goes against the ilk of who we are as Americans and our faith in the criminal justice system, she said.

Pirro was just getting started. She ranted about the trial, about the judge, about the prosecutor, who she falsely claimed is funded by George Soros  about anything she could think of, really. Her voice rose. Her speech accelerated. She was blasting out things like, This is an anti-Trump judge! An anti-Trump prosecutor! Americas going to respond to this! This is a gut punch.

It was certainly a Trump punch. It was indeed historic. And with more trials on the horizon (though none likely before the election), we may see history repeat itself.

Sex acts to online rants: How Trump trial coverage misses the point

Reach Goodykoontz at bill.goodykoontz@arizonarepublic.com. Facebook: facebook.com/GoodyOnFilm. X: @goodyk. Subscribe to the weekly movies newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Donald Trump verdict: Fox News lost it, CNN called it 'unbelievable'
Democrats will be applauding the verdict of the New York jury, which found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts in his hush money trial. We all know what they're thinking. They're happy, gleeful, even smug.

But 36% of Americans identify as conservatives, including myself. So what are we thinking?

Conservatives who love Trump saw this coming. They were upset he got indicted in the first place, and a guilty verdict has now raised Trump to martyrdom status. But we fall into a couple of groups now having to respond to the verdict.

Trump verdict will only energize MAGA Republicans

Former President Donald Trump's supporters show their support near his Mar-a-Lago estate on May 30, 2024, in Palm Beach, Fla., after he was found guilty in his criminal trial in New York City.

This doesn't mean he actually is a martyr. He's not in any sense of the political term. But to Republicans who think Trump is God and MAGA is their religion, a guilty verdict now means they'd rather roast on hot coals all day and crawl to a voting booth 30 seconds before closing than not cast a vote for Trump on Election Day.

Nothing will keep them from voting for him  especially not now. They believe the criminal justice system in New York is biased and the "system" is rigged, and the trials in every other state with this same verdict will not convince them otherwise.

Trump is guilty: It won't matter at all this election.

For some Republicans who maybe are not quite as pro-Trump, this verdict could take these folks by surprise a bit. It might reinforce their notions that Trump is not an ethical or honest man, but they're surprised a jury finds him now a convicted felon.

This could raise red flags for these Republicans  and not just about Trump.

On her own show, former Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, before the verdict, captured how these people might be thinking.

"Now we've seen the prosecution's case in full against Donald Trump and it's even more outrageous than we knew," she said. "There's a reason (Manhattan District Attorney) Alvin Bragg was playing cutesie with us, on what this case was built upon, from the moment he indicted Donald Trump. And we heard that reason for the first time during closing arguments in this case. Donald Trump was not afforded due process in this case. Not by a long shot. They refused to tell the defendant, who had to answer to criminal charges, what they were charging him with. We only found out hours ago. After his defense attorney sat down and had no additional chance to address the jury. This is an outrage. This is disgusting."

These Republicans are suspicious of the verdict and are asking themselves: Who even goes on trial for this anyway? They may still vote for him out of spite for what they consider to be an untrustworthy system.

The rest of us Republicans don't support Trump  but are still conservative

There is a sect of Republicans, like myself, who supported Trump first but don't now. But we're still conservatives.

We don't think the 2020 election was rigged, we don't think the world is out to get Trump or us, and we're fairly logical, decent-minded people with conservative values.

We wish Trump was not the presumptive nominee, but we aren't miracle workers and we cannot persuade the Republican National Committee to give Trump up.

For Republicans who knew that Trump was unethical and immoral, this verdict confirms our suspicions. The guilty verdict makes these Republicans all the more frustrated that the GOP has chosen Trump as its de facto nominee.

Republicans support a criminal now: Trump, guilty on all counts, carries a new label into 2024 election: Convicted felon

This verdict proves he was and continues to be the wrong choice. It's not even a "gotcha" moment; it's sad and discouraging. It's outrageous. They're law-and-order Republicans who believe conservatives want better and can do better than offer the nation a convicted criminal as the nominee.

These Republicans will have the hardest time voting in November.

Democrats can snag them with the selling point that their nominee is not a convicted criminal. However, Biden's also one of the worst Democrats to run for office in the past two decades. It would not be surprising to see many of these folks support a write-in candidate or opt out of voting altogether.

Republicans now have some tough questions to ask ourselves

While the jury may have deliberated on this case, observing merely the facts of the trial and found Trump guilty, their verdict speaks volumes to Republicans across the country. For MAGA Republicans, a guilty verdict will only endear Trump to them further. It will throw gasoline on the grassroots fire.

For anti-Trump Republicans, it'll only reinforce the notions we already had about how awful of a person Trump is.

Regardless of whether Republicans think that Trump was guilty or that the hush money trial was an example of lawfare, it's still sad, even maddening, that we're choosing to nominate a person who is now a convicted felon.

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It's still frustrating that any of us have to ask these questions. Is Trump really guilty? Was the hush money trial legitimate? If it were Biden on trial, would we even be asking?

We shouldn't have to answer these questions because we shouldn't be choosing someone who forces us to do so. Lawfare or not, guilty verdict or not, we could choose someone who doesn't make choices that land him anywhere near criminal indictments. We could choose better.

Nicole Russell is an opinion columnist with USA TODAY. She lives in Texas with her four kids.

You can read diverse opinions from our Board of Contributors and other writers on the Opinion front page, on Twitter @usatodayopinion and in our daily Opinion newsletter.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: I'm a former Trump supporter. Guilty verdict proves he's wrong choice
"Don't rule it out": Experts say "anyone else" convicted of Trump's crimes would get prison time

In his closing arguments, former President Donald Trump's lead attorney warned the jury that a conviction could mean time behind bars.

You cannot send someone to prison and you cannot convict somebody based upon the words of Michael Cohen, Todd Blanche declared. That quickly earned him a rebuke from Judge Juan Merchan, the one man who  now that the jury ignored Blanches pleading  has the ultimate power to decide whether Trump gets hit with a fine, put on probation or is sentenced to time behind bars.

Sentencing wont happen until July 11. And because Trump, like any convicted felon, has the right to appeal, its unlikely he would serve any carceral sentence, if one is even handed down, until 2025. But considering the facts, many legal experts say that a man just found guilty of 34 class E felonies in the state of New York, with a similar inability to even fake remorse, would likely be looking at time behind bars.

Trump, after all, was found guilty not just of falsifying business records, but doing so in the service of an underlying crime: as part of a conspiracy, the prosecution said, to evade campaign finance laws ahead of the 2016 election, preventing voters who had just heard him boast of sexual assault on the Access Hollywood tape from learning that he had also allegedly cheated on his wife in a problematic sexual encounter with an adult film star.

For a first-time convicted offender like Trump, there is no minimum sentence under New York law. This means the judge will have discretion in imposing a sentence, taking into account the seriousness of the conduct on which Trump is convicted, the evidence at trial, Trumps testimony, and other factors, according to an explainer from Just Security, a legal affairs website affiliated with the New York University School of Law, published before the trial began.

Trump's behavior during the trial did not make things better for the defendant. Ten times he was found in contempt of court for violating a gag order and attacking jurors, witnesses and the judges family. In the closing days, the defense called a witness, attorney Robert Costello, whose testimony only aided the prosecution, which introduced an email from him discussing his efforts to pressure Cohen against cooperating with law enforcement, complaining that the ex-Trump fixer was playing with the most powerful man on the planet. And following the verdict, the defendant himself, instead of acting contrite or respectfully pledging to continue his legal battle, denounced it all as a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt.

For anyone else, this would mean jail, Andrew Weissmann, a former federal prosecutor who worked with special counsel Robert Mueller, said on MSNBC. Trump is not only lacking in remorse, he said, but flaunting its absence.

Trump and his allies are right when they complain of two-tiered justice in America, but it is people like the Republican nominee  a billionaire and former president  who typically evade consequences for actions that would land others who lack such money and power in a prison cell. And it is Trumps status that remains his strongest defense today, even with a judge he has repeatedly insulted.

Karen Friedman Agnifilo, a former prosecutor with the New York District Attorneys Office, said that if you were to remove the name Donald Trump, it would be an easy call. Trump has three open other felony indictments in three other jurisdictions, in both state and federal court, she told CNN, and has shown disdain for the entire justice process. Well see what happens, but anyone else in that position would get prison.

In 2015, for example, a construction company executive who falsified business records to cover up a bribe had to spend every weekend in jail for a year  a sentence, noted by Just Security in its guide to potential punishments for Trump, that points to how creative Merchan could choose to get if he believes a former president deserves to be behind bars.

I do anticipate that the district attorney will ask for some sentence of incarceration, Ryan Goodman, a professor at NYU School of Law, said on CNN. And I do think that there is a good likelihood that the judge will impose some sentence of incarceration, he said, adding that he does not believe such a sentence would come into effect until after Trump has exhausted his appeals.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Norm Eisen, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, said that if anyone deserves prison for falsifying business records it is this particular defendant.

This is the most serious falsifying business records case in the history of the state of New York, Eisen said on CNN. I think Alvin Bragg is going to ask for a sentence of incarceration and I think Judge Merchan will very seriously with that.

Look, said Eisen: Donald Trump engaged in a conspiracy to interfere with the 2016 election and covered it up. Thats how you get a felony: the underlying conspiracy. That is as serious a crime, tampering with American democracy, that you can have. And the judge knows that. So I think [theres] a serious risk of a jail sentence.

I thoroughly agree, conservative attorney George Conway posted on Threads. Guilty of thirty-four felonies. No acceptance of responsibility. Total contempt for the law and the legal process. Literally held in contempt ten times. Attacks on witnesses and jurors. Theres no substantial justification for not sending him to prison.

If prison seems like an anti-Trump fantasy, consider that so did a conviction on nearly three dozen felonies in a case that at one point looked like it would never even be brought.

Anthony Michael Kreis, a constitutional law professor at Georgia State University College of Law, previously doubted that incarceration could be in the cards. But Trumps blatant disrespect for the rule of law will be hard to ignore come his July 11 sentencing hearing.

Trump is going to rant and rant and rant about the process being corrupt and declaring his innocence, he posted on social media. Judges arent going to take kindly to that no matter who they are.

Trump loyalists like Ari Fleischer, White House press secretary under former President George W. Bush, are already preparing their followers for what once seemed impossible.

Brace yourself, said the man best known for telling America that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. It wont surprise me if Judge Merchan sentences to prison, he posted on X, bemoaning the fact that Democratic activists believe Trump is a threat to democracy and prison is where he belongs.

Dont rule it out, he warned.
Chad Daybell at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, ID, on May 30, 2024. - Credit: AP Photo/Kyle Green, Pool

Chad Daybell, the Idaho man charged with the 2019 killings of his former wife, Tammy Daybell, and two children of his current wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, was found guilty of first-degree murder by an Idaho jury on Thursday, CBS reported.

Daybell was also found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder in his former wifes death, conspiracy to commit murder and grand theft by deception in the deaths of Loris seven-year-old son JJ Vallow and 16-year-old daughter Tylee Ryan, and insurance fraud. The prosecution requested the death penalty, and the case will proceed to sentencing phase. Jurors were informed by Judge Steven Boyce that the schedule for the sentencing phase would be determined by them, per the outlet.

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The verdict arrives nine months after his second wife, Lori, was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murders of her two children, as well as conspiring to kill his first wife, Tammy.

Daybell, an author, had gained a Mormon audience interested in his self-published books filled with end-of-days visions. In 2018, he met Lori at a religious conference in St. George, Utah; both were part of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint. At the time, she was married to her fourth husband, Charles Vallow.

The case gained national attention due in part to the grisly details of the crimes. Loris brother, Alex Cox, shot and killed Charles in 2019, successfully claiming self-defense, and died himself later that year of natural causes. Months later, Daybells wife, Tammy, died in her bed, with a delayed autopsy ultimately finding that she had been asphyxiated.

Daybell and Lori married in Hawaii just 17 days after Tammy was discovered dead. While the couple lived alone in Hawaii, reportedly on the life insurance money Daybell received after his wifes death, relatives became concerned after they were unable to determine the whereabouts of the two children.

After Lori failed to produce the children to authorities, she was arrested and extradited to Idaho for nonsupport and desertion of her children in February 2020. Months later, the childrens remains were found buried together on Daybells Rexburg, Idaho property. Daybell was arrested that summer.

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DOVER  Already embroiled in debates over a budget deficit and town management, Dover officials dove into another controversy this week on the eve of LGBTQ+ Pride Month.

Four members of the Dover LGBTQ Advisory Committee resigned after Mayor James Dodd and the town council voted 6-2 Tuesday to approve an ordinance restricting the types of flags that can be flown above town hall to the federally-approved U.S., state and POW-MIA flags.

The resignations from the advisory committee, including that of Council Member Sandra Wittner, followed a heated discussion pitting LGBTQ+ community supporters against Dodd, and tense exchanges among the elected officials.

Dover school board President Daniella Mendez spoke out Tuesday against a council resolution that critics saw as an attempt to ban LGBTQ+ Pride flags from flying over town hall.

Dover vote: Pride flags in park, not over town hall

Dodd said his support of the resolution had nothing to do with anti-LGBTQ+ bias. Instead, he said he wanted to avoid having to "pick and choose" which community organizations would be permitted to fly flags above Town Hall. His predecessor, former mayor Carolyn Blackman, authorized a Pride Flag to be raised above the municipal building on North Sussex Street last year.

The mayor also pointed to a provision in the resolution that allows the council to authorize other flags, possibly including the Pride Flag, to be raised on flagpoles at other town properties, including JFK Park. The Pride flag was also raised there in 2023.

But that was not enough to quell an onslaught of criticism during the public comment portion of the meeting.

Critics see 'hatred and intolerance'

Daniella Mendez, president of the Dover Board of Education and the first transgender woman voted into elected office in New Jersey, cited the lessons learned after the Stonewall Uprising in 1969, when New York officials authorized police raids on gay establishments and were, in Mendez's words, "on the wrong side of history."

"Here we are, 50 years later, at a crossroads in the movement," she said. "Violence against LGBTQ+ folks is on the rise. The same hatred and intolerance influence resolutions like [the Dover flag resolution]. Tonight I stand before you, asking you to open your hearts and minds and understand the significance of Pride celebrations and flag raisings."

The council then cast its vote on the flag resolution, with Karol Ruiz and Sandra Wittner voting against it.

The council followed with a 7-1 vote in favor of another resolution to "recognize and support" June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month. Dodd was among the votes in favor. The lone vote against it was cast by Geovani Estacio.

Wave of resignations

Following the 6-2 vote in favor of the new flag restrictions, Mendez stood again to announce her resignation from the LGBTQ Advisory Committee. So did Maria Chacon, who called the committee "a farce." TC McCourt also resigned.

More: Dover councilman makes first court appearance after allegedly assaulting homeless man

"Resolution 157 is a slap in the face to the LGBTQ+ community in this town," McCourt said. "Flying the flag above our seat of power, not hidden away in a park, is a symbol of acceptance, inclusion and progress."

"This is like a sham," Chacon said. "I wasted my time, my energy and emotions putting forth a proposal that went nowhere."

A tense exchange between council and critics

Ruiz pushed back against the mayor and council majority, saying their discussion of the issue was "disingenuous at best." That earned a loud rebuke from Council Member Michael Scarneo.

"How dare you sit there and tell us what we are thinking?" he shouted. "You're unbelievable. You really are!"

"We gave them the advisory committee role," Ruiz responded, "and they give us their votes, and we would not even give them the time of day to listen what they had to say."

Scarneo raised concerns the town could be sued by groups who were denied flag permits while others were approved.

Dover Mayor James Dodd said the town needed to avoid having to "pick and choose" which organizations were allowed to fly flags.

"We approve one group and we piss off everybody else," Scarneo said

Mayor Dodd: 'What about our beliefs?'

Dodd said he felt the resolution's authorization to allow flags at other town sites was "a good compromise."

"This is a government municipal building, and I don't appreciate the fact of you coming here and you're saying we're banning the Pride Flag," Dodd said. "We're not. And it's amazing to me how everyone is coming here tonight and asking us to understand your beliefs, but when we don't agree with you, you automatically become haters.

"What about our beliefs? What about the belief that the only flag that should fly over the Municipal Building is the American flag?"

A similar initiative was enacted earlier this year in Boonton, where a new Republican-majority council voted to amend an existing ordinance. The move effectively banned the flying of any flags on municipal land other than those representing the U.S., New Jersey, Morris County, the town or the military.

Dodd and all eight members of the Dover council are Democrats. Mendez had a warning for them on Tuesday.

"Let me be clear: LGBTQ+ folks are an increasing electorate in Dover," Mendez said. "Let me be clear: We are prepared to use our voting power and influence to ensure we are represented by this mayor and this council. Let me be clear: We expect our Democrat council to act in accordance with Democratic values, and not the far-right agenda."

William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com Twitter: @wwesthoven

This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Dover NJ slammed by LGBTQ+ community over flag restrictions
A still from a video recorded on March 25 shows a 2015 black Chevy Silverado accelerating into a crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters, while they try to get the truck to stop, to avoid it hitting anyone else. (Screenshot from video courtesy of ABQ4 Ceasefire Collective)

Video shows a large truck with tinted windows slowly creeping into an entrance of the Jewish Community Center of Greater Albuquerque where around 40 demonstrators wave Palestinian flags as they protest a scheduled speech by an Israeli official.

Some people run toward the vehicle and attempt to block it. Almost immediately, the truck accelerates into the crowd and breaks through onto the private property.

By all accounts, no one was seriously injured, but since that March 25 evening, demonstrators have been trying to figure out who drove the big pickup truck that at least six eyewitnesses say could have hurt or killed someone.

Turns out, it was Jeff Apodaca, a New Mexico politician with a lifelong orbit around the governors office, first as a child when his father served one term starting in 1975, and later as an adult where his pitch to voters ended in a Democratic Party primary loss to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in 2018.

This election cycle, he has founded and is president of The New Mexico Project, a nonprofit corporation spending money on legislative races. Last week, Apodaca and the group were sued by the State Ethics Commission to disclose where the moneys coming from that they spend on influencing Roundhouse races.

The group has been running radio and Facebook ads in support of pro-moderate and pro-business candidates who are going to help us bring more doctors, better health care here, that are going to bring more business, and be business friendly, Apodaca explained in April to TJ Trout on KKOB News Radio less than a month after the protest.

Over the course of six weeks, Source New Mexico conducted separate interviews with 11 eyewitnesses, and reviewed videos and photographs to independently verify a community-led investigation into the incident.

The reporting culminated in sharing the findings with and asking for a response from Apodaca, who then admitted to being behind the wheel of the black truck at the March protest.

The Albuquerque Police Department was there that night and prepared a riot squad, but never sent it in, according to spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos.

Still at the scene about six minutes after the incident, witness Bill Tiwald called 911, described the truck to the dispatcher and told them someone was not allowing him to take a picture of the vehicle, according to the call log obtained through a public records request.

Tiwald said just before calling 911, he walked toward where he saw the truck go, and a security guard told him to stop, had his hand on his gun, but did not draw it.

Police called Tiwald back later, and he told them there werent any injuries, and he would not be filing a report at the nearby substation, the log shows.

Were still waiting for APD to hand over any written reports by police officers about the incident. No criminal charges have been filed at this time against Apodaca, protesters or anyone else present at the event.

John Gutierrez showed up at the protest to volunteer as a medic and said Apodacas truck pushed him 20 feet up the driveway outside the Jewish Community Center (JCC). He said hes shocked that he returned home to Santa Fe without any major injuries to himself or others.

They could have easily killed or mutilated somebody, he said. It is almost so, so lucky that not a single person ended up underneath that vehicle.

In a written response to questions on May 24, Apodaca confirmed he drove the truck and said he felt threatened when he saw a group of three protesters attack his truck.

The incident at the JCC was a result of unwarranted aggression towards me and my property on private property, he said. I uphold the First Amendment right to peaceful protest and denounce any form of violence. I believe in supporting all faiths and their rights, and I advocate for peaceful coexistence between different communities.

Apodaca said hes been a member of the center since 2010, and went there after work that day for his routine workout, solely for exercise purposes, unaware of the event happening inside.

Although he said he wasnt at the center for the speech that night by Livia Link-Raviv, consul general of Israel to the Southwest U.S., he did share his views on the international policies between the countries.

I stand by my support for American-Israeli policies and the rights of both nations to defend themselves. I am deeply saddened by the ongoing conflicts in the region and pray for the well-being of all affected parties, he said.

It is not clear that any of those views motivated his actions outside the JCC.

Apodaca didnt open his window or get out to interact with the protesters, Gutierrez said. The response last week is the first time Apodaca said anything publicly about the incident that happened more than two months ago.

Their first choice of action was violence, Gutierrez said.

Witnesses describe truck accelerating into crowd

Tanya Hyde, an organizer with Jewish Voice for Peace Albuquerque, helped bring a safety team and legal observers to the protest of a speech by Link-Raviv.

Hyde and Bill Tiwald, a member of the local chapter of Veterans for Peace, said they saw the truck drive through the crowd and shared their experiences before Apodaca responded.

My perception would be that they were aggravated at the picketers, that it was purposeful, Hyde said of the drivers actions.

Hyde said what started as protesters reading the names of dead Palestinian children from Gaza became 40 people marching back and forth across the main driveway off of Wyoming Boulevard at the front of the JCC, with the goal of preventing drivers from reaching the speech.

About 45 minutes to an hour before the talk was supposed to start, Hyde and another witness said most drivers trying to reach the JCC slowly turned away once they saw the march.

At that point, drivers heading into the community center were deterred only at that entrance, Hyde said. Protesters hadnt blockaded other driveways until later, she said.

Video shows Apodacas truck arrive just before 5:27 p.m. The truck turns east into the JCC entrance where people are seen marching on the sidewalk back and forth in front.

The vehicle was not going to give way to the marchers, Hyde said. Apodoca inched the truck up the curb ramp into the entrance little by little, she said, until he was right in the middle of all the protesters, then he stepped on the accelerator.

Video shows the truck blaring its horn and accelerating, pushing back two protesters, including one who stood in front of the truck and pushed against it. The truck continued up the driveway, stopping and starting again, pushing more people. Another protester hit the truck with a flag.

Source New Mexico reviewed and verified the original video, which was first published on X (Twitter) in April.

Tiwald said he participated in the protest and witnessed the incident from the drivers side of Apodacas truck, where he said he saw it strike Bob Anderson, the president of their local Veterans For Peace chapter.

I thought the guy was going to run over us, Anderson said. I thought I was a goner for a moment there.

Anderson said the trucks left front fender hit him, pushing but not injuring him.

Gutierrez said he was facing away, standing in a circle with other medics when he heard screaming, turned around and saw the truck pushing through the crowd.

Before the truck reaches the circle of medics, the video shows someone looking away from it, unaware of whats behind them, before other protesters pull them out of the way.

The vehicle basically would come through, and then stop, and then leap forward, like a huge leap, and then basically throw people out of the way, Gutierrez said.

After Gutierrez saw the truck do this twice, he moved toward it, and stood right in front of the bumper. He said the driver kept jumping at him with the truck, pushing him back about 20 feet, while he was hitting the hood with the palms of his hands, trying to get the person to stop.

Civil rights attorney and Palestinian rights advocate Jeff Haas said Gutierrez was trying to protect others from being hurt.

Gutierrez said he jumped out of the trucks way, and the driver drove into the parking lot and out of sight. Another street medic who witnessed the incident said protesters tried to chase after the truck, but private security for the JCC turned them away.

In Apodacas version of events, as he reached the JCC, he encountered the protest near the main entrance and passed through without incident and didnt contact police afterwards because he did not want to burden APD with minor damages.

He said he then drove onto JCC property when, Suddenly, a woman and two men jumped in front of my truck.

They started attacking my truck with various objects as I drove through the premises, he said.

As I drove up to the building JCC security approached to see if I was OK, who witnessed the entire altercation, Apodaca said. The Jewish Community Center has not yet responded to a request for comment.

Apodaca said a group of three people tried to open his trucks door, and then damaged the trucks window with a handgun.

He said one man, hit my window twice with the butt of a gun, apparently trying to break it and drag me from my vehicle. As he hit my window with what I now recognize as a 9 mm weapon, I feared for my safety.

Apodaca did not provide evidence, descriptions of the attacker, or respond to additional questions about whether he documented this encounter. No one else interviewed for this story mentioned a firearm.

No one reported seeing a gun, civil rights lawyer Haas said, nor did Mr. Apodaca ever make this claim until six weeks later, after he was confronted as the owner of the truck because legal observers at the scene took down his license plate.

Apodaca said he is now considering legal action to address the assault and damages caused by the protestors.

It is crucial to differentiate between peaceful protestors and agitators who incite violence against innocent citizens, he said.

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The post Driver who accelerated into a demonstration identified as 2018 candidate for NM governor appeared first on Source New Mexico.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. Huawei Cloud enhances customer experiences, reshapes industry applications, and elevates cloud services, Vice President of Consulting Solution Sales Dept of Huawei Cloud Middle East & Central Asia Roy Luo told Trend in an exclusive interview.

According to him, building a 'data-driven modern enterprise' has become the core goal of more and more enterprises and organizations.

"Data will disrupt everything, as evidenced by the exponential growth of data, cloud computing's faster data-driven acceleration, and artificial intelligence's inventive data convergence. Businesses are beginning to place a greater emphasis on the utility of data. The transition from "Data plus AI" to "Data4AI and AI4Data" is being fueled by the growth of foundation models, and data-AI convergence is starting to gain traction in the market. It clears the path for an effective data foundation, optimizes data value for AI, gets rid of data silos, lowers costs, and boosts productivity for businesses and governments," he stated.

Roy Luo noted that digitalization and intellectualization are deepening and becoming new requirements and features of the digital transformation of government and enterprise customers, which affects all industries, and the impact of artificial intelligence will help businesses across industries gain a competitive edge.

"At Huawei Cloud, our journey is marked by a steadfast commitment to delivering cutting-edge solutions and ensuring the stability and security of our services. We envision a future where AI is an integral part of every industry, making businesses more efficient and innovative. Huawei Cloud has proposed an "AI for Cloud" and "Cloud for AI" strategy. By leveraging AI and foundation models, Huawei Cloud enhances customer experiences, reshapes industry applications, and elevates cloud services," the Vice President mentioned.

He stressed that today Huawei Cloud has served more than 800 governments, 500 financial institutions, 120 carriers, and many other top players worldwide.

"Huawei Cloud is aware of industry trends. Huawei is a real economy business with established digital skills. We can help other real-economy businesses transition to digital with benefits. For the whole process, from R&D through production and supply chains to sales and services, we offer cloud migration, data import into the lake, and AI enablement. This enhances user satisfaction, maximizes productivity, and fosters creativity. For instance, automating the creation of monthly operating reports in the smart finance space will cut down report generation durations from 18 days to 5," Roy Luo underscored.

At the same time, the Vice President added that the company has accumulated a wealth of digital experience in the Internet industry, especially in China, one of the world's largest Internet markets.

"For example, we help Weibo, the biggest social media platform in China, handle more than 50 traffic bursts every year. This ensures uninterrupted services for the microblogging platform with over 250 million daily average users during major events while supporting the continuous growth of user numbers. Huawei Cloud technology has also helped boost the user conversion rate by more than 20 percent for Xiaohongshu, a leading e-commerce and social platform in China with 450,000 new posts every day," he noted.

Speaking about the rapidly changing environment of customers from different industries, he stressed that in order to reduce the gap between technology and industry needs, Huawei proposed Pangu Model 3.0, an innovative hierarchical architecture with 5+X+N decoupling consisting of 5 - L0 foundation models, N - L1 industry-tailored models, and X - L2 AI applications.

"The L0 layer of foundation models consists of NLP, CV, multimodal, prediction, and scientific computing, which provide general skills to power an endless possibility of industry-specific applications. In our Pangu Models 3.0 series, we have built over 30 industry models, including Finance, Government, Meteorology, Healthcare, Education, Automotive, and Utilities, and have 400 AI use cases with over 150 partners for 200 customers. The data volume of each industry exceeds 50 billion tokens. It is a system of pre-trained models that can be quickly adapted to meet scenario-specific needs and address complex challenges across multiple industries," the Vice President announced.

Roy Luo stressed that Huawei Cloud adheres to the "AI for Industries" strategy, and that is why Pangu models have been developed, adding that by solving serious tasks, Pangu models will open up more opportunities for all industries in the Middle East and Central Asia.

"The launch of the Riyadh Region last year was a huge milestone as it will help Huawei Cloud provide better services for the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa. Huawei will continue operating in the Middle East and leverage our unique strengths in cloud-network-edge-device synergy to bring cutting-edge cloud, AI, and other emerging technologies to the Middle East and Central Asia," he concluded.
Drones have been spotted over the territory of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan. An air-raid warning has been issued, the airspace over the republics capital Kazan has been closed and the evacuation of employees of several businesses in the city is ongoing.

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agencies RBC and RIA Novosti; Russian Telegram channels

Quote from RIA Novosti: "The Russian Federal Air Transport Agency reported that temporary restrictions on the arrival and takeoff of aircraft have been introduced at the airports of Kazan and Nizhnekamsk."

Details: Propagandists did not specify the reason for this, however, Russian Telegram channels are publishing photos and videos of drones in the sky over Tatarstan.

  '     .    Telegram- Mash pic.twitter.com/IS0dJ9rYgs  up (@up_pravda) May 31, 2024

It is reported that an air-raid warning had been issued in the capital of the republic.

     , .    Telegram- Baza pic.twitter.com/0iFK3382n1  up (@up_pravda) May 31, 2024

Local residents reported that employees of several businesses had been evacuated.

People on videos say they saw at least two drones, allegedly "there was one explosion and the second [drone] is flying".

The Telegram channels do not specify where exactly the drones were seen. But Russia manufactures Shahed kamikaze drones in Tatarstan. Russia's Alabuga special economic zone in Tatarstan is located more than 200 km east of Kazan, near the cities of Yelabuga and Nizhnekamsk.

Update: Later, the Russian Telegram channel Baza reported that one of the drones was supposedly shot down in the Atninsky district of Tatarstan. Some eyewitnesses said that the drone was flying towards the Orgsintez plant in Kazan.

As of 08:20, air-raid warnings were reportedly still sounding at several plants. At the same time, the previously imposed restrictions on airports had been lifted, and the airspace had been reopened.

Why this is important: In the summer of 2023, it was reported that several hundred students at Alabuga Polytechnic College in Tatarstan were involved in the assembly of Iranian Shahed drones.

The White House released a satellite image in June 2023 that showed the construction of a plant in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan to produce Iranian kamikaze drones which Russia is using to destroy civilian infrastructure facilities in Ukraine.

On 2 April, the authorities of the Russian Federation's Tatarstan Republic reported a drone attack on company premises in Yelabuga and Nizhnekamsk, which resulted in an explosion and caused injuries. Earlier, it was reported that Shaheds were being assembled in Yelabuga. Ukrainska Pravda sources in Ukrainian intelligence have indicated that the attack was carried out by Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), which deployed large aeroplane-like drones.

On 28 May, The Wall Street Journal reported that a plant in Russia's Alabuga special economic zone in Tatarstan, which was attacked by Ukrainian drones in early April, was supposed to produce 6,000 Shahed attack drones annually; as of the end of April, it was ahead of schedule and had already delivered 4,500 UAVs to Russia.

Yelabuga is located 1,500 km from the Ukrainian border. Recently, Mykhailo Fedorov, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, said that Ukraine had drones that could fly over 1,000 kilometres.

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A U.S. B-2A Spirit bomber assigned to the 509th Bomb Wing and a Royal Netherlands air force F-35A conduct aerial operations in support of Bomber Task Force Europe 20-2 over the North Sea March 18, 2020. Bomber missions provide opportunities to train and work with NATO allies and theater partners in combined and joint operations and exercises.

The Netherlands has become the first nation to declare that its F-35 stealth fighters are now fully responsible for the nuclear strike role, something that had been expected since the aircraft was fully certified to carry the B61-12 thermonuclear bomb earlier this year. Coming amid repeated nuclear saber-rattling from Russia, the development is an important one in the context of NATOs nuclear deterrence posture in Europe.

The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) announced that the F-35A will fully take over the Dutch nuclear role tomorrow, June 1. The mission will be passed from the F-16 previously used in the nuclear role at Volkel Air Base. The F-35 unit responsible for the mission is 313 Squadron, and its weapons are provided under a NATO nuclear sharing agreement arrangement.

A U.S. Air Force F-35A drops a B61-12 during a test at Edwards Air Force Base, California. U.S. Air Force

The wording of the statement suggests that, in recent months, the F-16 and F-35 shared responsibility for nuclear strike at the same base, although this hasnt been confirmed. However, the RNLAF had previously said it expects to declare full operational capability with its F-35s in early 2024 . Since full operational capability implies that the aircraft can carry out all previous F-16 missions, the stealth jets were likely operational in the nuclear strike tasking at least since then.

https://www.twitter.com/nukestrat/status/1796226511504093211

The Netherlands is one of the NATO allies that contribute Dual-Capable Aircraft to NATOs nuclear deterrence and is the first European country transitioning to the F-35 in that context, the RNLAF stated in its announcement .

At the same time, Netherlands Minister of Defense Kajsa Ollongren informed the Dutch House of Representatives about the development.

An aircraft marshal signals during the arrival of the first four F-35s at Volkel Air Base on June 30, 2022. Photo by JEROEN JUMELET/ANP/AFP via Getty Images

The Dutch transition from the F-16 to the F-35 for the nuclear role within NATO was initiated many years ago, the RNLAF continued. In the last couple of years, the F-35 underwent a comprehensive testing and certification process for the nuclear role of the Netherlands. The RNLAF already started using the F-35 for conventional tasks.

The transition reaffirms the Netherlands long-term commitment to the Alliances nuclear deterrence, the statement continued. NATOs nuclear deterrence is essential to the security of the Alliance, and therefore also to the security of the Netherlands. The fundamental purpose of NATOs nuclear capability is to preserve peace, prevent coercion, and deter aggression.

An artists impression of a Dutch F-35A carrying JASSM-ER weapons. Dutch Ministry of Defense

Its worth noting that, in addition to the nuclear-armed F-35s, the Netherlands is also considerably expanding its conventional long-range strike capabilities. As we have discussed i n the recent past , the Dutch are planning to acquire conventionally armed Tomahawk cruise missiles for its next class of submarines, as well as the AGM-158B Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range, or JASSM-ER , for its F-35s, and the Israeli-made PULS (Precise and Universal Launch System) multiple rocket launcher.

While the RNLAF confirmed that the Netherlands is the first European operator to start using F-35s for the nuclear mission, the status of the U.S. Air Forces efforts in this regard is less clear. TWZ has approached the service for clarification about the nuclear capability of its F-35s.

The red tail of an inert B61-12 is visible inside the bomb bay of this F-35A during a test flight. The jet also carries at least one AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile in its weapons bays. U.S. Department of Defense

Overall, the openness of the RNLAF in this context is highly noticeable, especially after many years in which NATOs nuclear mission in Europe, via Dual-Capable Aircraft, was barely spoken about by official channels.

The Dutch transparency around the mission is something that TWZ has reported on before starting in November 2023 when it was confirmed that Dutch F-35s had received initial certification for the deterrence mission  a reference to their ability to carry the B61-12 nuclear bomb.

Next came full certification for the F-35 in the nuclear mission , announced by the F-35 Joint Program Office (JPO) in March of this year. That announcement confirmed that the full certification had actually been issued the previous October.

Overall, the pattern of announcements provides useful insight into the length of the process involved in getting the F-35 operational in a nuclear strike role.

Notably, the process has been accelerated. For example, full certification had been previously planned for January 2024, before being moved forward to October 2023.

There is no evidence that these changes came in response to the increasing tensions between Russia and NATO , although they will surely have a wider strategic impact in this context.

As we have reported in the past, the addition of the F-35 as a nuclear delivery platform in Europe is a significant advance for NATO. Previously, this deterrent was reliant upon the fourth-generation F-16, as well as the Panavia Tornado strike aircraft, of a similar vintage.

A Weapons Storage and Security System vault at a European NATO air base in the raised position and holding an earlier model of B61 nuclear bomb. The vault is within a Protective Aircraft Shelter. Public Domain/WikiCommons

In contrast, the F-35 is a highly survivable fifth-generation fighter that possesses what is currently a unique ability to penetrate hostile air defenses, while being able to fight its way to and from the target if necessary. Having a stealth nuclear delivery platform permanently based in Europe seriously complicates Russian defensive plans.

Central to the F-35s nuclear tasking as a Dual-Capable Aircraft is the B61-12, a weapon we have discussed in detail in the past .

A B61-12 test specimen. Sandia National Laboratories

Measuring 12 feet long and weighing 825 pounds, the B61-12 costs more than its weight in gold, despite being produced via refurbishment of older B61 versions . Most important among its advances is a new guidance package, combining an inertial navigation system (INS) and a precision guidance tail kit. This ensures a much greater degree of accuracy than was previously the case.

Within Europe, the B61-12s full capabilities will, for the time being, only be available to nuclear-tasked F-35s and U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle fighters. Back in 2022, the U.S. Air Force confirmed to TWZ that there were no plans for U.S. Air Force or NATO F-16s or German or Italian Tornado strike aircraft to be able to use the bombs precision-guidance tail kit.

A Dutch F-16 Fighting Falcon is towed into a hardened aircraft shelter at Volkel Air Base. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Master Sgt. Keith Reed

It appears likely that U.S. Air Force F-35s with the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in England will also have a nuclear mission reinstated, the last nuclear bombs having been removed from the base in 2008.

Meanwhile, F-35s belonging to Belgium, Germany, and Italy will eventually also join the DCA enterprise, also receiving B61-12s . Germany, which has yet to receive any F-35s, chose the stealth fighter primarily on account of its nuclear capability . Looking further ahead, Poland, another F-35 customer has said that it wants to join NATOs nuclear weapons-sharing program.

A map of current and former locations where B61 bombs are located in Europe under the NATO nuclear weapon sharing arrangements and a table breaking down estimated total bombs at each current site as of 2022. FAS

The timeline for the arrival of B61-12s for these operators is a closely guarded secret although we now know, thanks to the RNLAFs announcement, that these advanced weapons are now fielded in Europe.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P1JGe1jj9u0

NATO having nuclear-capable stealth aircraft in Europe is a major development for the alliance. Its impossible to view it outside the context of the rapidly deteriorating relations between Russia and NATO and theres every chance that the Kremlin will use it to try and justify further changes in its own nuclear posture, should they come.

As for the F-35, this latest news further reinforces the aircrafts status within NATO, where it is fast becoming one of the alliances most prolific as well as most versatile platforms.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  Fresnos mayor and the council vice president are speaking out and are appealing an overturned decision that the Planning Committee made after an 82-unit market-rate apartment complex was denied permit approval.

City officials say the City of Fresno received eight appeals from the decision. The decision, approved by the Planning and Development Director on March 25, proposed an 82-unit market-rate apartment complex for 7056 North Prospect Ave. in Fresno.

The Planning Commission heard the appeals on May 15, and they overturned the Directors approval of the permit.

According to city officials, on May 22, a request was received by the applicant of the 82-unit apartment complex seeking an appeal of the Planning Commissions determination, which would allow the matter to be reviewed by the city. The applicant suggested that the action taken by the Planning Commission may have violated the California Housing Accountability Act.

Additionally, officials say they were receiving countless phone calls, emails, and letters from concerned residents and households from the area worried about traffic congestion, parking, and the four-story height of one section of the proposed complex.

Deciding to appeal the Planning Commissions findings was a decision I wrestled with greatly, said Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer. I tried to view the situation as if I lived in the neighborhood, while also recognizing my mayoral responsibility to look out for the financial interest of the entire city.

City officials say they must take into account both the responsibility to protect the citys financial interests and act in the best interest of the residents to maintain the communitys trust.

With that in mind, Mayor Dyer and Council Vice President Mike Karbassi say they considered the following items:

The City Attorneys Office has advised that the findings made by the Planning Commission fall short of the required criteria to deny the project. As a result, the City has been placed at substantial risk of litigation that will likely result in substantial fines and the courts approving the project as it stands proposed today by the developer.

It is logical to presume that if the Planning Commissions decision is not appealed, the applicant could litigate and has a strong likelihood of winning, resulting in the proposed

development being approved as is.

In addition to the time and resources involved in litigation, there are also fines for violating the Housing Accountability Act. These fees range from a minimum of $10,000 to $50,000 per unit. This could equate to a City fine between $820,000  $4.1 million.

Nearby residents continue to express opposition to elements of the proposed multi-family

housing development, concerns ranging from traffic congestion, parking, and the four-story

height of one section of the proposed complex.

Insufficient community dialogue has been reported by residents, indicating the applicant

refused to meet with the community to discuss concerns. It is clear the community desires an opportunity to meet with the applicant.

Should the applicant apply for a new housing development, the 3.7-acre lot allows density for up to 111 units. Should a new application include a percentage of units reserved for affordable housing, the City would have no other option but to approve within a 90-day time period. Depending on income levels and unit counts proposed under this potential scenario, density bonuses can also be applied which range from 20-40 additional units. As part of the density bonus program, which could allow up to 151 units, additional parking reductions plus other concessions like height, setbacks, and landscaping can also be made.

Karbassi says that based on the evidence at the public hearings and that the developer was unwilling to engage in conversation, it is no surprise the projects proponents are grossly outnumbered by such overwhelming opposition.

In the end, Council Vice President Karbassi and I did not have a real choice in this matter based on California law under the Housing Accountability Act, which was made clear to us by our attorneys. To not appeal, in our opinion, would have been worse for the neighborhood based on the options available to the developer. I am committed to facilitating a meeting between the developer and the residents, Dyer said.

City officials say the appeal will protect their right to bring this item to the City Council for further review in a reasonable period of time.

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TYLER, Texas (KETK)  Former president Donald Trump was found guilty on all counts by a jury in his hush money case and politicians from across Texas are reacting to this historic conviction.

Jury finds Trump guilty on all counts in hush money case

Trump is the first former president to ever be convicted of a federal crime. Hes been found guilty of 34 different charges and now awaits sentencing.

Rep. Nathaniel Moran, a Republican who represents Tyler in the House of Representatives, took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to weigh in on the verdict:

Today in NY, we saw a politically motivated travesty of justice and a mockery of the American legal system. This verdict must not stand, Moran said.

State Sen. Bryan Hughes, a Republican Texas State Senator who represents Mineola, shared a black and white image of Trump and the following message on X:

The democrats set a dangerous precedent today: If you cant win at the ballot box, then try and put your opponent in jail. This is not the American way. It is a horrible abuse of the justice system. The real verdict will be delivered by the American people in November. #trumpverdict #txlege, Hughes said.

The verdict: Inside the courtroom as Donald Trump learned he had been convicted

Texas Rep. Matt Schaefer, a Republican who represents Tyler in the Texas House of Representatives also took to X to say he thinks this verdict will backfire:

Trumps criminal conviction is a bunch of bull crap. Americans have a deep sense of fairness, and they will reject this injustice. Democrats have unleashed the justice system against Trump purely for political gain, but it will backfire. #txlege, Schaefer said.

Texas Rep. Cole Hefner, a Republican who represents Mount Vernon, Lindale and Gilmer in the Texas House, posted on X to blame Trumps verdict on corrupt leftist cowards:

Today a dangerous line was crossed. President Trumps conviction is a dirty last-ditch effort by corrupt leftist cowards to rig this election. Hes never had a fair day in court. Doubt he ever will. We have a sitting president, The Big Guy, selling out American interests to support his crime family syndicate, and this is what they do to his opponent. This is not the American way, said Hefner.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, took to X to share that he thinks this was a kangaroo court:

This was a sham show trial. The Kangaroo Court will never stand on appeal. Americans deserve better than a sitting U.S. President weaponizing our justice system against a political opponent all to win an election. We must FIRE Joe Biden in November, said Abbott.

Republican Senator for Texas, Ted Cruz said in a post on X that this was a dark day for America:

Photo courtesy of Sen. Ted Cruz.

Texas State Senator for San Antonio and Uvalde, Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat and former candidate for United States Senate said the following in a press release:

Trump has acted recklessly and with impunity for decades  years of chaos, impeachment trials, and a violent attack on the U.S. Capitol  we must now turn our efforts towards squashing him in November, Gutierrez said. Trump cannot buy his way out of court, and he will not steal his way back into the White House. Trump wannabes like Abbott, Paxton, and Cruz should take note. Justice was served today. Trumps corruption has no place in our politics.

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The felony conviction of Donald Trump in a Manhattan courtroom Thursday was a momentous event, even if the charges  falsifying business records  are less weighty than others the former president is facing. The prospect of a convicted felon being elected president ought to give pause to voters who havent been persuaded to reject him despite his manifest unfitness.

Trump was convicted of all 34 counts in the indictment accusing of him of falsifying business records related to payments to his former lawyer Michael Cohen. Prosecutors argued that the payments were reimbursements for money Cohen provided out of his own pocket to adult film star and director Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged sexual encounter in 2006 with Trump that if made public could have affected the outcome of the 2016 election.

Read more: Q&A: Yes, Trump could be elected president as a convicted felon

Ordinarily, falsifying business records is a misdemeanor, but the prosecution contended that it rose to the level of a felony because it was done to conceal another crime such as a violation of federal campaign finance law. That layered argument provoked considerable criticism from actual lawyers and the armchair variety, but the jury seems to have grasped its complexity and concluded that Trump was guilty.

The charges of which Trump has been convicted pale in comparison with the other charges he faces connected with his attempt to overturn the 2020 election and his retention of national defense documents after he left the White House. Lamentably, it seems unlikely that he will face trial on those allegations before the November election. To its discredit, the Supreme Court has contributed to the delay of a trial of Trump on federal charges connected to the 2020 election by dithering on Trumps absurd claim of immunity for "official acts," defined broadly to cover some of his election-related actions.

Read more: Editorial: Only dictators have immunity from criminal acts while in power

Trumps unfitness for another term as president does not depend on the outcome of any of these prosecutions. Even if he had been an exemplary chief executive  which he wasnt  he should be disqualified for scheming to overturn the 2020 election, a disgraceful assault on democracy that culminated in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Trumps outrageous attempt to subvert the democratic process isnt the only reason to oppose his return to the White House. He also should be rejected by voters because of his authoritarian tendencies, his propensity for falsehoods and his volatile temperament. The latter two character flaws were evident in his unhinged attacks on the judge in this case and his incredible claim that his prosecution by the state of New York was instigated by the Biden administration. (After the verdict was announced, Trump also asserted that the trial had been rigged, the same absurd accusation he has continued to make about the 2020 election he lost.)

It shouldnt take a criminal conviction to convince conscientious voters of Trumps epic unfitness. But those who support him must now reckon with the fact that their candidate of choice is a convicted felon.

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
GREENBUSH, Kan.  Educational services in southeast Kansas will soon get a big financial boost, thanks to a new digital literacy grant.

Kansas Governor, Laura Kelly announced that $2.8 million is being invested in 15 organizations around the state, through the Digital Opportunities to Connect Kansans or DOCK program.

The DOCK grants are intended to improve the digital skills of Kansans who have not yet been able to fully capitalize on the power of the internet.

Locally, the Learning Tree Institute at Greenbush will receive part of the grant funding.

The money will go toward creating 200 digital literacy products, establish distribution channels, and reach 15,000 seniors  aged 55 and older  to improve access to information, enhance health care access, and boost employability.

You can learn more about the Education Service Center at Greenbush, HERE.

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The Department of Education said that FAFSA is up and running after turbulence in the rollout of a new application. File Photo by Brian Kersey/UPI

May 31 (UPI) -- The Department of Education is urging student loan borrowers to complete their FAFSA applications following an error-filled rollout of the new application.

Compared to last year, 10% fewer high school seniors have completed the FAFSA application. Advocates for student loan borrowers say that the botched new application process has caused some to put off college, risking the chance of never going at all.

The Department of Education has largely fixed the problems and award letters are being delivered, James Kvaal, department undersecretary, tells UPI.

"We've made a lot of progress. We've processed more than 8 million FAFSA applications," Kvaal said. "Students who come to FAFSA today can expect us to send their records to the school in one to three days. Our focus now is making sure that students know FAFSA is up and running."

People from low-income or mixed-status families -- children of immigrants -- and first-generation borrowers have been the most negatively impacted by application issues. A FAFSA award is more crucial in the decision to attend institutions of higher learning for them, Sayda Martinez-Alvarado, higher education policy analyst with The Education Trust, tells UPI.

"Without a financial aid offer, how are students supposed to make that decision?" she asks. "Because of the very botched rollout, some students are choosing not to go to college at all or choosing to go to a different college than they want to. Because of the delays and errors, there's been a huge erosion of trust in the Department of Education."

The Department of Education promised a revamped FAFSA process for students seeking to attend college in the fall. The new process would streamline parts of the application, such as auto-filling some data including IRS data. This would make the application easier and quicker to complete.

The application typically opens in the fall but it was pushed back toward the end of December. Many students were unable to log on and fewer could successfully complete the application.

Students from mixed-status families had an even more difficult time. If their parents did not have a Social Security number, they were left unable to complete the form.

When forms were completed, there were many cases in which the college did not receive the application and was not able to send an award letter.

These issues continued for months.

Organizations like The Education Trust, Higher Learning Advocates, National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and National College Attainment Network have stepped in to provide support to students and administrators who are navigating the FAFSA issues.

Martinez-Alvarado's organization conducts research and creates policy recommendations to increase access to education, particularly for underserved communities. The Education Trust created a hub to help guide borrowers through the FAFSA application because, as Martinez-Alvarado highlights, it can be difficult to parse the large amount of information provided by the Department of Education.

"We have also been hosting quite a few webinars in the education policy, nonprofit space," she said. "We recognize a lot of families just need someone to walk it through with them."

Martinez-Alvarado stressed that there is a counselor crisis in schools, making it difficult for counselors to work one-on-one with students struggling through their applications. With high schools across the country finishing their spring terms in the coming weeks, it is a critical time to ensure applications are completed. She said it is much more difficult to urge students to complete their applications when there is not a point of contact, such as a counselor.

NASFAA is an organization that represents financial aid administrators on college campuses. Senior Policy Analyst Jill DesJean said in an interview with UPI that administrators have had to be flexible throughout the last five months.

The organization has been advising colleges to extend their application deadlines, which DesJean says has largely received a positive response.

"FAFSA opened really late. Then once it opened it was really buggy," DesJean said. "Many students couldn't complete it. Then when that was resolved students couldn't get the data, and when they did it was wrong. Every time we thought it would be OK to make offers to students, some other piece of bad news would come through."

DesJean said there has been a marked improvement over the last month but she is still concerned about the students that have been turned off by the negative experience.

Those students are also on the mind of Tanya Ang, managing director of advocacy for Higher Learning Advocates. Her organization works with other organizations and institutions of higher learning to support students directly and through policymaking.

"Higher education is an opportunity to get the training necessary to increase your economic trajectory throughout life," Ang told UPI. "When you're not able to pursue that, it has an impact not just on them but their families as a whole. I think you also have to consider the impact it will have on the workforce."

Ang called the problems with the FAFSA rollout an "all hands on deck" situation. The Department of Education has responded by announcing FAFSA Student Support Strategy funds. These funds will be used for organizations to make advisers and counselors available for extended hours and during the summer to help students complete FAFSA.

The program is putting up to $50 million toward the effort.

"We're leaving no stone unturned here," Kvaal told UPI.

Catherine Brown, senior director of policy and advocacy at the National College Attainment Network, told UPI that many members of her organization are holding FAFSA completion events to encourage borrowers to finish their applications.

A list of resources and events categorized by state can be found on the NCAN website.

While the push for borrowers to finish their FAFSA applications continues, Brown and others are waiting for information about when the application will open for the next school year. Again they are hoping for an Oct. 1 opening but that has not been announced.

"It's critically important for college access programs to know when it's going to come out," Brown said. "One of the challenges last year was the uncertainty."

Kvaal said he understands that it will take effort for the department to regain the trust of borrowers but he again urges that they should be sure to complete their applications.

"You have to deliver reliably to earn people's trust over a period of time," he said. "We've been clear in sharing information with colleges and school counselors in terms of where the FAFSA is and the challenges we're seeing. And trying to be as transparent as we can. Hopefully people will be coming into FAFSA seeing applications processed quickly."
By Farah Saafan

CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt has detained several students who were trying to promote pro-Palestinian boycotts and solidarity campaigns, the latest sign that it does not want to leave space for activism over the war in Gaza despite growing official criticism of Israel.

The students are among dozens of people held in connection with protests against Israel's military campaign, some of them detained in October when state-sanctioned rallies spilled over to unauthorised sites including Cairo's Tahrir Square.

Analysts say Egyptian authorities fear that demonstrations over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict could fuel domestic political dissent, which has been suppressed in a broad crackdown lasting more than a decade.

According to the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), an independent Cairo-based group, at least 125 people have been arrested since the Gaza war began in October, 95 of whom are still being held in pre-trial detention on charges including membership of a banned group or spreading false news.

Three students were arrested earlier this month over their attempt to create a group called Students for Palestine, according to Nabeh El Ganadi, a human rights lawyer who represents two of the students. They include Ziad Bassiouny, a 22-year-old student at an arts institute in Giza.

About 40 members of the security forces were deployed to arrest Bassiouny at his apartment in the early hours of May 9, his mother Fayza Hendawy told Reuters.

"They pointed their rifles at us so that none of us could move," she said, describing the overnight raid.

The students "did not call for protests or anything like that", she said. "It's not a political group, they're just students calling on Egyptian students to stand with Palestine and show their support publicly like the rest of the universities globally."

Egypt's state information service did not respond to a Reuters request for comment, and an interior ministry official could not immediately be reached.

Egyptian officials have publicly stated their support for Palestinian rights in the context of the war, and have strongly criticised Israel's military campaign. "What is astonishing is that this is their official position," Hendawy said.

CRACKDOWN ON DISSENT AFTER MASS UNREST

Rights groups say tens of thousands of people from across Egypt's political spectrum have been arrested for dissent since 2013 when then-army chief Abdel Fattah al-Sisi led the ouster of President Mohamed Mursi of the Muslim Brotherhood, freely elected the year before after protracted "Arab Spring" unrest.

Hamas, Gaza's ruling Palestinian Islamist group, is an offshoot of the Brotherhood and Egypt helped Israel impose a blockade on Gaza after Hamas seized control of the territory in 2007.

Supporters of Sisi, who has been president since 2014, say the security crackdown has been needed to stabilise Egypt, and that the judiciary is independent. Officials say they have taken steps to protect rights and expand political participation, though critics say the measures are largely cosmetic.

Public demonstrations are generally outlawed.

Nineteen activists were detained in late April as they held a rally outside a United Nations office in Cairo to show solidarity with women in Gaza and Sudan, before being released on bail, according to EIPR. Earlier in the month, security forces detained people at a protest in the centre of the capital where slogans criticising Sisi were chanted.

Ganadi, the human rights lawyer, said the arrests fitted a pattern of authorities trying to block organised movements including professional and student associations.

"No one is doing anything, but they might, so since they might do something and this is something on the table, why shouldn't we arrest them or hold them accountable?" he said.

(Reporting by Farah Saafan; writing by Aidan Lewis; editing by Mark Heinrich)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. Azerbaijan's digital skills needs assessment report is underway, consultant of the World Bank (WB) Khalisa Shahverdiyeva said during the second annual reporting meeting on the Azerbaijan Rapid Technical Assistance Facility (AZTAF) program funded by the European Union (EU) and managed by WB, Trend reports.

"A report on the digital skills needs assessment in Azerbaijan is being prepared and will be presented to partners by the end of June. The assessment covers individuals and various stakeholders in Baku and ten communities in the Barda, Sharur, Agdash, Hajigabul, Kangarli, Gakh, and Oguz districts. Data collection has been completed. The report will provide recommendations on improving access to Internet services, addressing related challenges, enhancing digital skills, and other relevant issues," she said.

To note, the AZTAF program was launched to support the Azerbaijani government in achieving the goals of the "Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-economic Development" strategy.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  El Paso residents have divided feelings after hearing former President Donald Trumps guilty verdict on 34 counts of falsifying business records on Thursday afternoon, May 30.

Trumps scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election came through hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star.

Some El Pasoans said the verdict was a step in the right direction and others said just how complicated the situation was.

Its a good thing but at the same time, its like, is it really a good thing because of the power that he holds? I mean, as a convicted felon, loses the right to vote, doesnt lose the right to run for office. So, its like whats really going to happen to him, Jasmine Panduro said.

Dr. Todd Curry, a political science professor at the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP), said this is the first president in history of the United States to be convicted of a crime.

In that essence, its unprecedented and it has not happened before. We simply dont have historical facts to compare this to, Curry said.

One El Pasoan told KTSM that with this being a complicated situation, theres a lot of opinions whether people like Trump or not. Meanwhile, another said he feels good as its in the right direction for American politics.

I feel like over the years, weve kind of lost our grit as a society, especially in the government where we dont act on laws and enforce them on politicians. I think we should be as hard on our leaders as we are on our people. If we cant even get that right, then, you know, who are we as a country? Miguel Flores said.

Curry said that moving forward, Trump cannot pardon himself if elected for president again.

Curry also said that due to Trumps age and lack of criminal history, it could potentially help him face the consequences during his sentencing on Thursday, July 11.

I expect that a judge wouldnt even give a prison sentence in a case like this that would probably be a shorter term, its most likely what will happen. No incarceration whatsoever, Curry said.

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Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) is backing out of appearing at a conference next week for an organization whose leaders have expressed support for Hamas Oct. 7 attack and have ties to U.S.-designated terrorist groups.



The Palestine Digital Activist Forum is a two-day online event that aims to empower and enrich Palestinian digital activity, with sessions this year that include The Palestinian Telecommunications Sector: Between War, Destruction, Innovation and Artificial Intelligence and AI in Wartime: Gaza, Automated Warfare, Surveillance and the Battle of Narratives.



Warrens two-minute videotaped speech, which her team tells Jewish Insider has since been canceled, was titled How do we protect the public and develop ethical artificial intelligence?



Senator Warren will not participate in the digital forum, a spokesperson in Warrens office said. Her office has received a large volume of claims about individuals associated with the event, and, although we do not assume any of the claims are true, we have not had capacity to sift through it all and have decided to focus our time and energy opposing [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahus unfolding catastrophe in Gaza in other ways.



Warren has been one of the Senates most vocal critics of Israels war in Gaza, and has called for restricting military aid to Israel. She voted in favor of the national security supplemental (which provided aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan) in April, but said that same month that she believed international officials would find that the war in Gaza legally constitutes a genocide.



The forum is hosted by 7amleh (pronounced hamleh), an organization that advocates for Palestinians digital rights. A large part of its advocacy efforts push back against Jews and Israelis efforts to fight antisemitism on social media. The organization has campaigned against Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) policies against incitement to violence, as well as the use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliances working definition of antisemitism, calling them an attack on free speech.



7amleh board member Nevin Abu Rahmoun, who is also speaking at the conference, wrote on Facebook on Oct. 7 that the message of the resistance is clear, it has started and it shall escalate and shall impose a new reality.



The organizations project coordinator, Mohammad Badarneh, said that the only important value of a human being living under occupation is the extent of his resistance to that occupation, in all possible means. (The posts have since been deleted.)



In November 2023, 7amleh published a paper on the silencing of Palestinian voices after Oct. 7, lamenting that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, immediately censored the Arabic hashtag [Al-Aqsa Flood] on the first day of the escalation.



That hashtag was being used on the first day of the escalation, meaning while Hamas was massacring Israeli civilians at kibbutzim and a rave near the Gaza border, to label violent videos  some broadcast live  of the terrorist attack. This is a frequent 7amleh tactic NGO Monitor described as the active recasting of pro-terror content as neutral.



7amleh is a founding member of The Palestinian Digital Rights Coalition, which includes Al-Haq, Addameer, Al Mezan and UAWC, organizations proscribed by Israel in 2021 as fronts for the U.S.-designated terrorist organization the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.



Before Oct. 7, 7amlehs monitoring and documentation officer, Ahmad Qadi, celebrated terrorist attacks on synagogues in Jerusalem in 2023  writing that every Israeli crime is met with greater determination for sacrifice, broader resistance andvictory.



CORRECTION: Warrens planned speech was a two-minute recorded address; an earlier version of this story reported it was 45 minutes long.





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ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM)  A new Federally Qualified Health Center or FQHC is set to open in September on the second floor of Saint Josephs Hospital. It will be called Elmira Community Health. Federally Qualified Health Centers aim to improve healthcare services in underserved communities and retain local doctors and nurses.

The new center is a partnership between Arnot Health, which runs St. Josephs Hospital and Cayuga Health. It will be funded by federal taxpayer dollars from the Department of Health and Human Services.

Ive said this for several years, a healthy community equals a healthy economy, said Derrick Murry, Executive Director of Cayuga Community Services, Inc. So, it really is exciting to be able to pitch this idea to you all, because I think that theres a lot of great opportunity.

Murry presented the plan in front of the Elmira City Council on Thursday morning, after holding a presentation at the Chemung County legislature on Tuesday.

Were working together with Cayuga Health as well as Arnot Health to build a sustainable system that will absorb the primary care offerings that Arnot Health has in your community. Primary care, adult care, as well as walk-in care and after-hours care, Murry said. Were looking at providing physical health care, behavioral health care and dental care. We understand that those are all areas that need to be showing up in the community.

When you look at a heat map of the zip code area 14901 and 14905, where I think Arnot Ogden is, 14901 which is roughly this area, is red hot on many of the indicators that the federal government uses and designating funds. That would include the economy, various comorbidities, hypertension, diabetes, all of those indicators, which really drives the cost of healthcare, Murry added.

How many patients does this facility expect to handle on a daily basis, and how many people will be hired in terms of physicians, nurses and staff?

Currently there are 6,000 unique patients that are being served by the facility thats in place, Murry said. We are hoping to grow that number with the outreach we discussed today. We are looking at adding two full-time physicians, many of the physician staff right now are not full time.

This is all very good news for the city of Elmira, said Fourth District City Council Member Gary Brinn. Mayor Dan Mandell agreed.

What does it mean to the community? It means a lot, Mayor Dan Mandell told 18 News. Its going to help with individuals who need healthcare, especially those that are on Medicaid, they get better reimbursement on the Medicaid costs. Also, the big component is they are going to bring in psychiatric treatment and dental, which is desperately needed in our community. And this is not just for people on Medicare either, anyone can utilize this facility, Mandell said.

You can watch the full presentation below:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
Elon Musk criticized the verdict that made Donald Trump the first former American president to be criminally convicted Thursday, with the Tesla boss claiming that the trial had been politically motivated.

After Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in relation to a scheme to silence a porn star and unlawfully influence the 2016 election, Musk moaned that the history-making outcome of the trial is bad news for all Americans. Indeed, great damage was done today to the publics faith in the American legal system, he wrote in a post on X.

Ivanka Offers Just Four Words of Support After Dad Becomes a Felon

Musks comment came in response to another user who bemoaned that the first conviction of a former president had occurred not because of the Iraq or Afghanistan wars, illegal CIA coups, drone striking weddings, or spying on Americans but rather because Trump misclassified a $130,000 payment for a porn stars NDA.

Musk apparently also saw Trumps crimes as insignificant and questioned the legitimacy of the prosecution. If a former President can be criminally convicted over such a trivial mattermotivated by politics, rather than justicethen anyone is at risk of a similar fate, he wrote.

The billionaire also concurred with points made by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a former candidate for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination who has more recently become a champion of Trumpthe man who relentlessly mocked DeSantis as his campaign went up in flames.

Todays verdict represents the culmination of a legal process that has been bent to the political will of the actors involved: a leftist prosecutor, a partisan judge and a jury reflective of one of the most liberal enclaves in Americaall in an effort to get Donald Trump, DeSantis wrote on X.

He went on to claim that the case would not have been brought if the defendant wasnt Trump and said the rule of law should be applied in a dispassionate, even-handed manner, not become captive to the political agenda of some kangaroo court.

Well said, Musk replied to DeSantis screed. He also said the verdict is Troubling indeed, adding: The American people as a whole should decide who is president. Its not exactly clear how he believes the verdict affects the electionTrump can still run despite being a convicted felon.

The Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday that Musk and Trump have grown closer recently, speaking on phone calls several times a month and discussing issues around immigration, tech, and science. The Journal also reported that the pair had spoken about a possible advisory role for Musk if Trump returns to the White House in November, though Musk publicly denied any such conversation had taken place.

There have not been any discussions of a role for me in a potential Trump Presidency, he said Thursday.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Not My President

After taking pains to distance himself from Donald Trump's potential presidency, Elon Musk is now raging on the GOP frontrunner's behalf over his guilty verdict.

In a post on his social network X-formerly-Twitter, Musk suggested that the outcome of the highly publicized case against Trump  on which he was found guilty on all 34 counts  is a slippery slope, essentially implying that it's fine to falsify business records related to hush money paid out to an adult film star.

"If a former President can be criminally convicted over such a trivial matter  motivated by politics, rather than justice  then anyone is at risk of a similar fate," the multi-hyphenate tycoon tweeted.

Posting in agreement with someone else's hot take  it's certainly not the first time  Musk co-signed an argument from an economics analyst account, which decried Trump being the first ex-president to ever be found guilty of a felony when so many others had overseen and directed war crimes.

"The first felony conviction of a former US President wasnt for the Iraq or Afghanistan wars, illegal CIA coups, drone striking weddings, or spying on Americans," the Musk-approved account wrote. "It was because Trump misclassified a $130,000 payment for a porn stars [non-disclosure agreement]."

Mixed Signals

Salient as parts of that point may be, it's currently the rallying cry of certain partisan hacks that seek to dismiss the severity of Trump's crimes and lies. It's the kind of rhetoric that Musk had sought to denounce as recently as yesterday, when in another X post he agreed with libertarian senator Rand Paul about both parties being responsible for the national debt.

In another of the mercurial billionaire's tweets this week, he also denied the Wall Street Journal's reporting that he'd been in talks with Trump to reprieve his short-lived 2017 role as a White House advisor.

"There have not been any discussions of a role for me in a potential Trump Presidency," Musk wrote in response to a video that had clearly caught his attention.

While there's no reason to think he's lying or obfuscating on that point, Musk jumping to Trump's defense does send somewhat mixed signals about where he stands with the former and potential future president  though it's crystal clear, at least, that he's not pleased with the way things are being run in his adoptive country.

"Indeed," the nearly 53-year-old demagogue wrote in his quote-tweet, "great damage was done today to the publics faith in the American legal system."

More on Musk: Elon Musk Blind With Rage After Analysts Recommend Rejecting His $56 Billion Pay Package
Elon Musk is going to bat for Trump, calling his guilty verdict on 34 counts a 'trivial matter'

Elon Musk is going to bat for Trump, calling his guilty verdict on 34 counts a 'trivial matter'

Elon Musk defended Donald Trump on X after Trump's felony conviction in Manhattan.

"Indeed, great damage was done today to the public's faith in the American legal system," Musk wrote on X.

Musk called the Trump case a "trivial matter." Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts.

Elon Musk took to X to defend former President Donald Trump hours after the latter was convicted in Manhattan.

"Indeed, great damage was done today to the public's faith in the American legal system," the Tesla chief wrote in a post on X.

"If a former President can be criminally convicted over such a trivial matter  motivated by politics, rather than justice  then anyone is at risk of a similar fate," Musk added.

Musk's comments came after a Manhattan jury convicted Trump of 34 counts of falsifying business records in his hush-money trial on Thursday. This verdict means Trump is officially a felon and will now face sentencing on July 11.

Earlier on Thursday night, Musk also commented on a post written by Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, a one-time political protege of Trump's.

In that post, DeSantis claimed the legal process had been weaponized to prevent Trump from clinching a second term  an argument big voices in the MAGA base have often trotted out.

"I think any objective person would have to agree with @GovRonDeSantis here," wrote Bill Ackman.

"Troubling indeed. The American people as a whole should decide who is president," Musk wrote in response to Ackman and DeSantis.

Musk is embroiled in his fair share of litigation. He got very mad after one court ruling in particular, where a Delaware judge struck down his $55 billion Tesla compensation package, ruling that the process leading to the approval of the compensation plan was "deeply flawed."

"Never incorporate your company in the state of Delaware," Musk wrote on X after the verdict.

As for Musk's political endorsements, he has said he is unlikely to vote for President Joe Biden . Musk has not yet endorsed Trump, despite reports from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times about a private breakfast meeting they had in March at investor Nelson Peltz's estate in Palm Beach, Florida.

The Wall Street Journal also reported earlier in May that Trump is considering giving Musk an advisory role in the White House.

Musk, for his part, says there haven't been any discussions of a job for him in a potential Trump administration.

Musk and a representative for Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Business Insider sent outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
TOPEKA (KSNT)  With the worlds premier gravel event taking place in Emporia, the city wants to keep residents and visitors safe.

Thursday, May 30 is the start of Unbound Gravel. The Emporia Police Department (EPD) posted on social media a list of traffic changes people should anticipate going into Friday, May 31. To err on the side of caution, the emergency shelters have been put in place for any severe weather that may occur during the bike race.

Regional travel is easier: KTAG will soon work in Colorado

According to the City of Emporias website, Emporia Main Street has created three emergency shelters downtown in the case of severe weather. The emergency shelters are in the following locations:

First United Methodist Church, 823 Merchant Street, west side doors

St. Andrews Episcopal, 828 Commercial Street, front doors

Emporia Presby, 802 Commercial Street, rain and lightning only shelter

If you have any questions, contact Emporia Main Street, (620) 340-6430.

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.
Paula Lamas learned to overcome adversity when political turmoil left her family suddenly immigrating to the United States. Now through her work, she shares stories like hers  about Tri-Cities Latinos building resilience and finding opportunity and hope in their own communities.

In her early 20s in 2001, Lamas traveled with her mother from Venezuela to California and Nevada to celebrate the holidays.

By the end of the trip, it became clear that she and her mother couldnt safely return home to Venezuela due to political unrest there.

We went to Miami to wait until the political situation got better, Lamas said. It continued to get worse and worse.

Lamas mother, a former consultant for the Venezuelan military, later received a call telling them not to return for security reasons.

The uncertainty was the worst part because we werent prepared mentally, physically and economically to immigrate.

She and her mother moved into an apartment with her aunt and cousins for four months, and Lamas began a job as a hostess at a restaurant in Miami. At the same time, she enrolled at South East University and started taking night classes in communication. In Venezuela, she studied at Santa Maria University.

Paula Lamas is the creator and host of the bilingual podcast and radio show, Power Moment with Paula Lamas, which launched in 2019.

She soon began an internship at a local radio station, Caracol Radio 1260-AM. On her first day, she proposed a list to her supervisor with the things she felt she could do to contribute to the newsroom.

Now a Richland resident, Lamas received an Emmy Award nomination for Best News Anchor from the National Academy of Television Arts and Science Northwest chapter for her work with Univision.

Lamas is the first Latina journalist in Washington to receive the nomination. The recipient will be announced on June 1.

Journalist Paula Lamas

In her 20-year broadcast career, Lamas worked at Univision Seattle, CNN Latino Miami, CNN en Espanol and Fox Business News, among other television and radio newsrooms.

Lamas was a reporter and producer at Univision Seattle for over eight years. It was the only local Hispanic newscast in the Puget Sound region before shutting down in December 2023.

Working in Seattle, she had a mission to share positive news about Hispanic communities.

I didnt feel like I was losing something when Univision Seattle closed because I already lost everything when I became an immigrant. I knew the community was going to lose its only Spanish newscast, but thanks to technology, people can still be informed. News is going to transform, she said.

Lamas is the creator and host of the bilingual podcast and radio show, Power Moment with Paula Lamas, which launched in 2019, and manages a Hispanic marketing consulting company. In Tri-Cities, she is working on connecting with local nonprofits, schools and through social media.

She sees an opportunity to tell stories about Latinos as the Hispanic population grows in Tri-Cities.

I try to showcase the accomplishments and contributions of Latinos in the Tri-Cities, and serve as a bridge between Latino heritage and American culture, particularly for younger generations, fostering better cross-cultural understanding, Lamas said.

The show provides a platform for Latino voices and stories, fostering a sense of belonging and community, she said. Personally, I choose guests who could be role models, highlighting stories of overcoming adversity. The show can inspire Latinos of all ages to persevere through their own challenges, and equip listeners with tools and strategies for navigating their own challenges.

Power Moment with Paula Lamas is available on the radio every Saturday at noon in La Z 96.7-FM and on digital platforms, including Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

To learn more, visit paulalamas.net.
Woman sentenced to more than 14 years in prison for conspiring to murder Connecticut mom

Michelle Troconis stands in Connecticut Superior Court at the start of her sentencing hearing in Stamford, Conn., Friday, May 31, 2024. Troconis, convicted of helping her boyfriend plot and cover up the murder of his estranged wife, Jennifer Dulos, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. (Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool)

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP)  A woman convicted of helping her boyfriend plot and cover up the murder of his estranged wife, Jennifer Dulos, during contentious divorce proceedings in Connecticut was sentenced to more than 14 years in prison Friday, after Dulos' mother and children testified about their heartbreak.

Michelle Troconis, 49, was convicted in March of conspiracy to commit murder, hindering prosecution, evidence tampering and other charges in the 2019 disappearance of Dulos, whose body has never been found. A probate judge declared her legally dead last year.

Prosecutors say Fotis Dulos killed Jennifer Dulos at her New Canaan home and drove away with her body. He died by suicide in 2020, soon after being charged with murder. He had denied killing his wife.

Troconis was living with Fotis Dulos when his wife disappeared. She and her lawyer said she had nothing to do with the plot.

Judge Kevin Randolph in Stamford on Friday issued a 20-year prison sentence, to be suspended after 14 1/2 years. Troconis must then serve five years probation. She could have been sentenced up to 45 years.

Some of Jennifer Dulos' family and friends said the sentence wasnt nearly long enough.

Troconis lawyer asked the judge to release her on bond pending an appeal. Randolph denied the request.

About 80 people packed the courtroom for the sentencing, with Jennifer Dulos family and friends on one side and Troconis supporters on the other. All five of Dulos children and her mother Gloria Farber attended.

Jennifer Dulos has not been seen since she dropped her children off at school on May 24, 2019.

Farber told the court she knew something terrible had happened when her daughter did not return calls or texts that day. She said her daughter only wanted to give and get love and be a loving mother.

Dulos oldest child, 18-year-old Petros Dulos, said his mothers death left him with a hole inside of me that I know I will never fill.

He said he had been close to his mother but that he struggled during the divorce.

I will never be able to tell my mom how sorry I am for not being a better son when she needed me, he said.

Lauren Almeida, the Dulos family's nanny, asked Troconis: Where is she, Michelle?

Jennifer Dulos' disappearance was the subject of documentaries and a made-for-TV movie, Lifetimes Gone Mom.

She belonged to a wealthy New York City family. Her father, the late Hilliard Farber, founded the brokerage Hilliard Farber & Co. after running Chase Manhattan Bank's bond trading desk. She also was a niece by marriage of fashion designer Liz Claiborne.

Troconis, a dual American and Venezuelan citizen, said she co-founded a horse-riding therapy program, had owned a TV production company in Argentina, and hosted a snow-sports show for ESPN South America. Fotis Dulos was a luxury home builder from Greece.

Troconis' family and friends asked the judge for mercy Friday, describing her as upright and caring.

Her mother, Marisela Arreaza, said Traconis was a loving mother to her teenage daughter and not the homewrecker portrayed by Dulos' friends.

When Michelle met Fotis Dulos, he presented himself as a family-oriented man going through an amicable divorce, Arreaza said. Michelle believed Fotis and had no reason to doubt him."

Troconis' daughter, Nicole, 17, told the judge: Michelle isnt just my mother. Shes my best friend, my rock and my guiding light."

Troconis spoke last, saying: I am a person of profound faith and I have been praying and continue to pray for those who have suffered and continue to suffer. She said she regretted her relationship with Fotis Dulos.

Jon Schoenhorn, Troconis' lawyer, said she will appeal the convictions.

I still believe there was not sufficient evidence presented to prove that Michelle knew anything about what Fotis Dulos was planning, he said outside the court.

Authorities believe Fotis Dulos killed his wife because he was frustrated with their divorce and child custody proceedings.

Jennifer Dulos had been living with the children in New Canaan while Fotis Dulos stayed in another home about 70 miles (115 kilometers) away in Farmington.

Hours after Jennifer Dulos was last seen alive, surveillance video recorded Troconis accompanying Fotis Dulos on a trip to Hartford, where he discarded trash bags from his pickup truck. Police later found some of the bags by using location data from Fotis Dulos' cellphone.

At Troconis trial, the prosecution and state forensic experts showed a shirt, bra and zip ties with blood-like stains that were found in one of the trash bags. DNA testing linked the items to Jennifer Dulos.

Troconis told police she didn't know what was in the bags or why Fotis Dulos dumped them.

Prosecutors also said Fotis Dulos left his cellphone at home on the day Jennifer Dulos vanished and Troconis answered a call to it from his friend that morning. They say that shows Troconis was in on the plot and tried to help him create an alibi. She denied the allegation.

Kent Mawhinney, a friend and former lawyer of Fotis Dulos, is awaiting trial on a murder conspiracy charge in Jennifer Dulos' disappearance. He has pleaded not guilty.

___

Associated Press reporters Karen Matthews and Philip Marcelo contributed from New York City.

___

This story has been corrected to show Troconis was sentenced to 14 1/2 years in prison, not 20 years.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. Interest in the digital industry, especially online transactions and internet banking, is growing in Azerbaijan, consultant of the World Bank (WB) Khalisa Shahverdiyeva said, Trend reports.

She made the remark during today's second annual reporting meeting of Azerbaijan Rapid Technical Assistance Facility (AZTAF) program, funded by the European Union (EU) and managed by the WB, in Baku.

Research shows that 47 percent of the population is eager to learn more about conducting online transactions, and 40 percent are interested in Internet banking, Shahverdieva said.

She found that Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan had the largest need for digital learning, with 87 percent of Kangarli district people and 79 percent of Sharur district residents wanting to improve their digital skills.

Additionally, the agricultural sector can also benefit from access to the internet by adopting smart farming techniques such as digital farming, precision farming, and marketing, she added.

To note, AZTAF was launched to support the Azerbaijani government in achieving the goals outlined in the Azerbaijan Socio-Economic Development Strategy for 20222026.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Alfredo Reyes Jr. knows what its like to live on Austins streets all too well. Recently homeless, Reyes now works with Vocal Texas, a group that advocates for people experiencing homelessness.

In February Reyes was offered a lifeline in the form of rapid rehousing.

And Im just now getting settled and trying to get a job and trying to get permanent housing, Reyes said.

Rapid rehousing is one of the strategies the City of Austin uses to get people out of homelessness by helping pay rent and connecting people to services. After one or two years, the clients are supposed to be able to live independently.

Our ER is our emergency shelters and our street outreach. So when we talk about rapid rehousing and permanent supportive housing, thats more like inpatient care, Austins Homeless Strategy Officer, David Gray, said.

But a huge chunk  tens of millions of dollars  of the Citys budget for rapid rehousing comes from one-time federal pandemic funding, American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) dollars. Gray says the city allocated that money to rapid rehousing to address a backlog in people waiting for that service.

That funding will run out. ARPA dollars have to be spent by no later than Dec. 2026 if governments want to keep the money. Gray told some council members last week that when it comes to the roughly $100 million the city dedicated to homelessness in ARPA funding, most of that money has been allocated or spent.

That drop off in funding wont just impact people like Reyes, Gray says there could be a trickle-down effect, which could slow down the Citys efforts to sweep homeless camps  and get those people to shelter  too.

We need to find a way to make sure that we can continue to fund rapid rehousing so that we can continue to move people off the street, into shelter and then from shelter into a housing opportunity, Gray said.

The homeless strategy officer said theyre going to have to a least partially lean on service providers to do that. But for people in the system right now, that unknown is scary.

A lot of people just need to know whats going on, they need the knowledge and need somebody to come and help them just like somebody came and helped me, Reyes said.

Is rapid rehousing working?

The city says it helped more than 2,200 people with rapid rehousing last fiscal year.

Of the people who have exited the program so far, 510 did so positively, thats nearly 75%. And 117 people exited negatively, thats roughly a quarter of those people.

Those negative exits include people returning to homelessness.

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.
Enraged MAGA Fans Vow To Vote For Donald Trump Now More Than Ever After Guilty Verdict

The historic guilty verdict in former President Donald Trump's criminal case has sent a shockwave across the world, as he is the first U.S. president to ever be convicted of a crime.

Trump has since condemned the outcome of the trial, which spanned five weeks and included testimonies from various individuals, including the ex-president's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, and former adult film star, Stormy Daniels.

Now, MAGA fans have taken to social media to slam the verdict, echoing Trump's claims that it was rigged and that the judge presiding over the case was "biased" and "conflicted."

Donald Trump's MAGA Supporters Slam Verdict

MEGA

Taking to social media, Trump's MAGA supporters expressed their anger at the verdict, with several individuals condemning the justice system and proclaiming their intention to still vote for the ex-president come November.

One furious MAGA fan wrote on Instagram, "Import the Third World, become the Third World. Thats what we just saw. This wont stop Trump. Hell win the election if hes not killed first. But it does mark the end of the fairest justice system in the world. Anyone who defends this verdict is a danger to you and your family."

Another noted, "Trump will only get more popular! A completely corrupt trial. Hand picked Liberal Judge and Liberal."

A third MAGA supporter stated, "These verdicts pissed off MILLIONS of Americans who are tired of our two-tiered bullsh-t justice system and basically ensures your fathers re-election. LETS GOOO."

One more incensed MAGA fan claimed, "The witch hunt started before he was elected, and right after; this is just the continuation of corrupt lawfare by the Democrats."

Donald Trump Was Found Guilty Of 34 Felony Counts

MEGA

The jury in Trump's hush money trial has found the former president guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records in payments made to former adult film star Stormy Daniels.

On Thursday, the jury pronounced the verdict in the historic trial after deliberating for only two days. The hush money trial was filled with several dramatic moments, including multiple outbursts from the Republican presidential hopeful about the gag order placed on him at the start of the criminal trial.

The jury's shocking verdict makes Trump the first president in history to be convicted of a crime. Now he faces up to four years in prison, but as a first-time offender, the billionaire mogul could be given a lighter sentence.

Trump's sentencing has now been scheduled for July 11, 2024.

Donald Trump Addresses Guilty Verdict

MEGA

Trump has since addressed the historic verdict in his criminal trial. He shared his frustration at the jury's decision while repeating the claim that the trial was orchestrated by the incumbent president, Joe Biden.

The Republican presidential hopeful also stated in his speech that the fight is not over, implying his intention to appeal the verdict.

"Our whole country is being rigged right now," Trump told the press outside the courtroom. "This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound, to hurt an opponent. A political opponent. And I think it's just a disgrace, and we'll keep fighting, we'll fight till the end, and we'll win because our country has gone to hell. We don't have the same country anymore, we have a divided mess ."

He continued, "We are a nation in decline, serious decline of people pouring into our country right now. From prisons and from mental institutions. Terrorists and they're taking over our country. We have a country that's in big trouble, but this was a rigged decision right from day one. With a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case never. And we will fight for our constitution. This is more from over. Thank you very much."
A polar bear breaks through thin Actic Ocean ice Aug. 23, 2009. A new legal challenge to the Alaska North Slope natural gas pipeline project cites potential risks to polar bears and other Endangered Species Act-listed populations: Cook Inlet belugas and Eastern North Pacific right whales. (Photo by Patrick Kelley/U.S. Coast Guard)

Two environmental groups filed a new legal challenge to the Biden administrations approval of a yet-to-be-built project that would send the Alaska North Slopes vast reserves of natural gas to markets.

In a petition filed with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, the Center for Biological Diversity and the Sierra Club argued that federal agencies failed to properly consider harms that the massive natural gas project would cause to Endangered Species Act-listed animals living in the affected marine areas: polar bears, Cook Inlet beluga whales and Eastern North Pacific right whales.

The petition was filed against the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service, along with the agencies parent departments, the Department of the Interior and Department of Commerce.

The Biden administration last year renewed an approval of exports from the project, which has been pursued in various forms since the 1970s but never built. The current plan is being promoted by the state-owned Alaska Gasline Development Corp. It proposes a 42-inch-diameter pipeline running about 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope to tidewater at Cook Inlet, where a new facility would convert the product to liquefied natural gas and load it onto tanker vessels for export to Asian markets.

The Biden administrations most recent approval, which follows numerous other permits and approvals over the years, was based on flawed biological reviews, the environmental groups argued.

The rubber-stamp approval of the Alaska LNG project was reckless in many ways, Sierra Club Alaska Chapter Director Andrea Feniger said in a statement. The project will be devastating to vulnerable wildlife already struggling to face the catastrophic impacts of climate change. The agencies responsible for assessing the impacts on whales, polar bears, and other species neglected to take proper care in evaluating the full scope of harm Alaska LNG will cause.

The lawsuit comes about a week after a different case was filed that challenges the project. On May 22, a group of young Alaskans sued the state to block the project because of its anticipated carbon emissions and impact to climate change. That case was filed in Alaska Superior Court in Anchorage.

The cases are unrelated and the timing of the two is coincidental, said Kristen Monsell, senior attorney for the Center for Biological Diversity. However, it just goes to show how damaging this project would be in a variety of different ways, she said by email.

The environmental groups legal claim was filed directly in the appeals court, bypassing lower courts, in accordance with the Natural Gas Act, Monsell said.

Under the acts judicial review provision, challenges to permits for LNG projects other than those issued by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission are to be filed directly in appeals courts in which projects are located, she said.

A rare North Pacific right whale is seen swimming in Alaska waters in this undated photo. The whale, spotted during a scientific survey conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is demonstrating the distinctive V-shaped exhale for which right whales are known. Environmentalists challenging approvals for Alaska liquefied natural gas exports say the states yet-unbuilt pipeline project could harm the critically endangered Eastern North Pacific right whale population. (Photo provided by NOAA Fisheries)

A previous lawsuit challenging the export approval was filed last August by the same environmental groups in a different court. That challenge, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia against the U.S. Department of Energy, alleged that federal approval decisions overlooked both climate and nonclimate environmental impacts of the yet-unbuilt LNG project. That lawsuit remains pending; the most recent action was a series of briefs filed by opposing parties earlier this month.

A spokesperson for the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., responding to the latest legal challenge, said numerous reviews have already found the project to be worthwhile.

Alaska LNG has withstood intensive environmental scrutiny by two successive administrations because of its obvious and abundant benefits, which include reducing global emissions by up to 2.3 billion tons, strengthening allied energy security, and finally ending longstanding air quality problems plaguing Interior Alaska villages and communities, corporation spokesperson Tim Fitzpatrick said by email.

The Alaska North Slope has about 35 trillion cubic feet of known natural gas reserves, with more than that believed to exist in different areas of the region, including both conventional sources that would be produced through normal drilling technology and unconventional sources that would require more advanced techology, according to the U.S. Geological Survey estimates.

While oil has flowed from the North Slope since 1977, the natural gas that exists in the same fields has been stranded without a market and without any means of delivery to a market. The natural gas that is pumped up with oil in the North Slope fields is mostly reinjected into the ground to help push up more oil.

State, federal and industry officials have for decades pursued plans for pipelines to send that natural gas to markets  including a plan that was endorsed by then-President Jimmy Carter in the 1970s  but none has proved economically feasible.

The Alaska Gasline Development Corp. estimates its plan would cost $39 billion.

The Alaska Legislature, in its operating budget passed earlier this month, appropriated money to continue the state-owned corporations operations through the fiscal year starting on July 1.

Legislators allocated about $2.5 million in general-purpose state money to the Alaska Gasline Development Corp., less than the $4.5 million the corporation had requested at the start of the session. The corporation can also spend up to $3.1 million from a special gasline-specific account, under the operating budget.

Earlier in the session, some lawmakers expressed skepticism about continued state funding of the Alaska Gasline Development Corp. and its efforts.

Reporter James Brooks contributed to this article.

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European Commission Presidency candidates Ursula von der Leyen and Nicolas Schmit speak during the candidates for the presidency of the European Commission debate at the European Parliament. -/EUROPA PRESS/dpa

There is an alternative to the far right in European elections taking place next week, the Party of European Socialists (PES) lead candidate, Nicholas Schmit, emphasized in an interview with the European Newsroom (enr).

The Luxembourg politician hit out at the European Peoples Party (EPP) for not ruling out cooperation with the extreme right after the elections, as other political groupings in the European Parliament had done.

No room for hateful rhetoric

The EPP is the largest grouping in the European Parliament and the party of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen who is in the race for a second term.

The Socialists and Democrats (S&D) - a grouping which the PES is part of in the European Parliament - currently has 139 members in the EU legislative chamber, making it the second largest.

Schmit, the current European commissioner for jobs and social rights, is cautious but optimistic about his partys prospects a week before the start of the European elections.

If we keep the same [number of] seats, it will be fair, but I think we could still win a few more, said Schmit, who is in the race to become the next European Commission president.

Speaking to enr on Wednesday, the 70-year-old politician declined, however, to reveal any of his political groups strategy to be part of the leadership of the European Unions institutions or the commission portfolios they hope to hold.

He warned of an imbalance that the second-largest European party will have a minority number of commissioners because it is not a member of enough governments in the EU.

Alternative to the far right

With the election campaign drawing to a close, the Socialists will focus on showing voters that their party has ideas and projects in contrast to the far right, he said.

Schmit added it was vital to inform the widest possible circle of voters not to support parties that promote hateful rhetoric.

When asked about the recent shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and attacks on German politicians, he said that over the last years, there has been discourse of mainly  but not only  extreme right forces which does not respect a certain level of dignity."

He added: If you see this kind of discourse developing, the next step will be physical violence and thats where we are now.

EPP is no long a "Christian Democratic force"

The Socialists, together with the Liberals, the Left and the Greens, recently condemned the violence in a joint statement and pledged not to cooperate with far-right parties after the elections.

The EPP did not sign this statement, and the EPP's leading candidate, von der Leyen, does not exclude the possibility of cooperation with the extreme right.

The fact that they didnt sign is a real shock for me," Schmit said, "because the Christian Democrats I know were among the fathers  and mothers, if I also take [former German chancellor] Angela Merkel in there  of the European integration process.

"Now they do not exclude alliances with those who are fundamentally against this project of Europe.

The EPP is not anymore the Christian Democratic force that contributed to the deepening of integration.

"It has become a conservative party which does not exclude opening to the extreme right. This is a fact and this is a responsibility they take which is huge, Schmit stated.

Schmit added that Christian Democratic politicians such as Konrad Adenauer, first chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Alcide De Gasperi, first prime minister of the Italian Republic, must turn in their graves.

Both are regarded, among others, as founding fathers of the European Union.

Meloni: a "wolf in sheep's clothing"

Schmit believes that there is no decent extreme right in the EU, as some describe the party of European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR), headed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Madame Meloni has, up until now, played a more moderate game in the [European] Council [..] but what she is doing in Italy shows that she is still the same, she has not changed, he said, adding that its not this kind of transformation that  oh, now, Madame Meloni has become a great democrat and she has really broken with the fascist past of her party and herself.

Schmit recalled that the Italian had said that she was bringing the revolution she was enacting in Italy to Europe.

In Italy, Meloni has started with restrictions on abortion, controlling the public media and fewer rights for the LGTBIQ+ community, he warned.

So, is this a person I can really trust to share the same fundamental view on the future of Europe? Its to laugh [at], said Schmit who later called Meloni a wolf in sheeps clothing.

Von derLeyen's management criticised

During the interview, Schmit also referred to the controversy over the migration agreements signed between the EU and Tunisia to outsource the management of migration.

He criticized the fact that, beyond the questionable content, von der Leyen gave the members of the commission only an hour on a Friday afternoon to give their opinion on the pact.

Madame Meloni was better informed than me, said Schmit.

EU Enlargement: Focus on process not specific dates

The EU must handle further expansion in Eastern Europe and in the Western Balkans after the European elections, Schmit said.

Schmit emphasized the importance of focusing on the enlargement process itself rather than setting specific dates for countries to become members, as this could create unrealistic expectations and potential disappointments.

The commissioner said that he was hoping the process could be accelerated and managed better, adding that the commission had made proposals for the enlargement process which should be more dynamic, more step by step, more progressive.

On the subject of EU membership candidate Georgia, which recently passed a controversial legislation on foreign influence, Schmit said that the country should not be prevented from entering the union.

However, it must be made clear that the adoption of this law is not in line with the efforts for EU membership.

Georgia shows clearly what geopolitical situation we are [in]. It also shows very clearly that Russia has not given up to dominate, to create turmoil and to limit the sovereignty of what Russia considers its close neighbourhood, Schmit said further.

Schmit: Israeli response to Hamas attacks disproportionate

When asked about the current situation in Israel and Gaza, Schmit called not to question what happened on October 7 which has been a terrible crime while acknowledging that the Israeli response is absolutely disproportionate."

He pointed out that in addition to not respecting international law, it even goes beyond the rules of war.

Regarding this weeks trip to Israel by European Commissioner for Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi, Schmit said that continuing to talk, to visit and to exchange is always important.

He added that its not by silence that you will reach anything.
Eric Bolling, host of Newsmaxs The Balance, exited the right-wing network Friday after three years. He said that he is taking off to embark on new endeavors.

The departure was announced in a statement on Bollings website, which said that the host and network simply decided to part ways, alluding to news on his future projects coming soon.

A Newsmax spokesperson provided a similar explanation for the hosts exit, saying in a statement that it was a mutually agreed departure and that the network wishes Eric Bolling well in his future endeavors.

The spokesperson added that Bollings 8 p.m. ET show The Balance will be canceled and replaced temporarily by Prime News starting Monday, helmed by rotating hosts until a new primetime show is announced this summer.

The statement on Bollings website reads, Eric and Newsmax are grateful for their time together and proud of the work they have produced.

The fight to inform the American people will remain paramount for Eric as he takes his audience on a new path with new partners, the statement continued.

According to Mediaite, which first reported Bollings departure, the host left specifically for a better work opportunity.

Bolling joined Newsmax in 2021 after hosting a Sunday program for Sinclair Broadcast Group. He spent a large portion of his career at Fox News  however, he was ousted by the network in 2017 following an investigation into claims of sexual harassment.

The post Eric Bolling Exits Newsmax appeared first on TheWrap.
On May 17, the Diverse Erie commission awarded a $15,000 grant to the fitness business of Erie personal trainer Steven L. Spearman.

The grant is part of the commission's publicly funded program to support small businesses in Erie County that are owned by or serve the BIPOC community, for Black, Indigenous and people of color.

A week after his fitness business won the grant, Spearman pleaded guilty in federal court in Erie to a felony count that he distributed nearly 38 grams of crack cocaine in 2017.

Spearman, 55, who was indicted on that single count in February 2021, faces a term of probation to two years in federal prison at his sentencing on Sept. 12.

The May 24 guilty plea has led Diverse Erie to review the grant it awarded to Spearman's business, Personal Results Fitness, at 524 W. 17th St., near Walnut Street in Erie's impoverished Little Italy neighborhood.

Erie fitness trainer Steven L, Spearman, 55, was awarded a $15,000 Erie County Diverse Erie grant for his business, Personal Results Fitness, on May 17.

A day after the Erie Times-News informed Diverse Erie's chief administrative officer of Spearman's guilty plea, Diverse Erie said it is investigating Spearman's case.

Diverse Erie's solicitor said the commission will not disburse the $15,000 grant to Spearman's business until the investigation is over and until the commission discusses the matter at its next meeting, on July 18.

"The commission is investigating the recent information it has received regarding Mr. Spearman's guilty plea and how that will impact the grant," the solicitor, Tim Wachter, told the Erie Times-News on Thursday. "The grant was issued to his business, not to him individually, and the commission does not perform criminal background checks on the owners of business applicants."

Wachter also said that Diverse Erie had yet to receive an executed grant agreement from Spearman's business. The agreement details all the reporting requirements for Personal Results Fitness, Wachter said. Until Diverse Erie receives a signed agreement and it completes its investigation, "it is under no obligation to fund the grant," Wachter said.

Spearman's grant application for Personal Results Fitness lists him as the sole proprietor and owner. The application, which the Erie Times-News obtained through a request under the Right-to-Know Law, states that Personal Results Fitness was established in 2007 and that it provides "training and education to the community."

The application states that Personal Results Fitness serves underprivileged youth, "most of whom are young black men," and that Spearman and his team train many of them to wrestle and box. Personal Results Fitness intends to use the grant money to expand its gym, according to the application.

The application does not mention Spearman's criminal history.

Diverse Erie said it did not know about Spearman's criminal case

Diverse Erie had been unaware of the active criminal case against Spearman, said Wachter and Diverse Erie's chief administrative officer, Gary Lee.

Lee said Diverse Erie does not perform criminal background checks on grant applicants partly because of the large number of applications it receives.

For its latest round of grants, Diverse Erie received 75 applications and awarded a total of $300,000 in grants to 25 businesses, including Spearman's. Diverse Erie uses Erie County's share of pandemic-era American Rescue Plan money to fund the commission's Small Business Mini Grant program. Diverse Erie was originally known as the Erie County Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commission.

Lee also said the grant process is "predicated on being for a business," meaning that Diverse Erie's evaluates the applicants using business-related criteria. He said Diverse Erie considers such factors as applicants' personal and business taxes, number of employees, level of sales and areas of concentration.

Diverse Erie must also abide by the anti-discrimination regulations the Erie County Human Relations Commission. Its ordinances prohibit discrimination based on "criminal history" as well as a number of other factors, such as race, sex and gender identity.

'We look at it from a business standpoint'

For Diverse Erie, grant recipients are businesses located in Housing and Urban Development Qualified Census tracts that primarily serve beneficiaries earning less than 60% of the median income in Erie County. The grants range from $5,000 to $20,000.

"We look at it from a business standpoint," Lee said. "It is strictly based on the business  on the application itself."

Steven L. Spearman operates his Personal Results Fitness business in a building he owns at 524 W. 17th St., near Walnut Street in Erie's Little Italy neighborhood.

In light of Spearman's criminal case being "active," the situation warrants further review, Lee told the Erie Times-News on Wednesday, when the newspaper informed him about Spearman's guilty plea.

"Now that we know of it, the commission is going to take a look at it," Lee said.

"That may be something we have to take into account," Lee said. "We may have to revisit that, because it is government money."

Lee on Wednesday said he would discuss the matter with the commissioners and Wachter, the solicitor.

Wachter then commented on Thursday.

Spearman says fitness business is for 'at-risk youth'

After he was awarded the $15,000 grant, Spearman said the money would boost his business.

"We deal with over 100 at-risk youth, Spearman, who is Black, told the Erie Times-News on May 17. Weve been a quiet organization for years, but it's time for us to start getting a little exposure so we can make sure that these kids have what they need."

The Diverse Erie commission said it is investigating after it awarded a $15,000 grant to a business whose owner pleaded guilty in a federal crack cocaine case. The commission includes Chief Administrative Officer Gary Lee, third from left. Commission Chairman Ricardo Escajadillo is standing.

"This is a big help," Spearman also said. "This will be a part of the money that will go towards our extensions on the back of our gym. I'm very grateful for this board agreeing to take care of my facility in Little Italy where there's a lot of at-risk youth and poverty."

Spearman has been free on a $10,000 unsecured bond since he was indicted on Feb. 17, 2021. Following his May 24 plea hearing, which the Erie Times-News attended, Spearman said that he had been charged "a long time ago."

"I just want it to get it behind me," Spearman said of why he pleaded guilty.

He declined further comment when the Erie Times-News contacted him Thursday about Diverse Erie's decision to investigate his case.

Spearman is due a break at sentencing under plea deal

The Erie Times-News published a story on Spearman's indictment after the case was unsealed on March 31, 2021. The Pittsburgh-based U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Pennsylvania, which includes Erie, issued a news release on the indictment. The Erie Times-News story and the news release are still accessible on the internet.

The case took several years to resolve because Spearman's lawyers filed several motions to extend deadlines for filing pretrial motions, according to court records. Spearman in February 2023 got a new court-appointed lawyer, adding to the defense's need for more time.

By pleading guilty, Spearman admitted to selling 37.9 grams of crack  about 1.3 ounces  for $2,800 in an undercover buy on July 14, 2017, according to evidence Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Sellers presented at the plea hearing. Sellers said the FBI captured the exchange on audio and video and watched it under surveillance.

Spearman was indicted on a count that he distributed more than 28 grams of cocaine. A federal conviction for having at least 28 grams of crack  about an ounce  typically triggers a mandatory minimum sentence of five years.

Spearman escaped the mandatory minimum sentence as part of the plea deal. He pleaded guilty to distributing "a quantity" of crack rather than an amount that was more than 28 grams, according to the plea letter. The letter states that the change reduces Spearman's potential sentence to probation to two years in federal prison, according to the federal sentencing guidelines.

Steven L. Spearman pleaded guilty to a crack offense in U.S. District Court in Erie.

The U.S. Attorney's Office agreed to the change in accordance with what is known as the "Garland memo," after U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland, Sellers said in court. The memo, which Garland issued on Dec. 16, 2022, directs U.S. attorneys to apply sentencing standards for powder cocaine to crack cocaine cases, when appropriate.

The change is meant to eliminate the sentencing disparities for defendants convicted of distribution related to powder cocaine as compared with those defendants convicted of distribution related to crack. Before the memo, the length of federal sentences for crack were typically more than those for offenses related to powder cocaine, with a larger percentage of Black defendants sentenced for crack.

Spearman was sentenced for crack before

Spearman's current case in U.S. District Court in Erie is not his first.

In March 1996, he was sentenced to two years and nine months in federal prison and three years of supervised release, according to court records. Spearman, then 27, received the sentence after he pleaded guilty in October 1995 to a count that he possessed several grams of crack with the intent to distribute in Erie in 1994, according to court records and the Erie Times-News' accounts of the case.

Spearman returned to federal court in Erie in July 2021. He was not a defendant. He was a witness for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the cocaine case against Adelfo Rodriguez-Mendez, who ran what was known as the East Coast Monster Garage in the 400 block of West 12th Street in Erie.

Rodriguez-Mendez, known as "Mexican Mike," was convicted at trial of using the garage as a base for a drug-trafficking ring from August 2015 to June 2017. He was sentenced in February 2022 to 18 years in federal prison.

Rodriguez-Mendez argued that the evidence was insufficient to convict him. The presiding judge, Stephanie L. Haines, cited the testimony of Spearman and other witnesses when she rejected Rodriguez-Mendez's arguments in an opinion issued in December 2021.

The U.S. Attorney's Office, Haines said in her opinion, presented testimony of witnesses including "Steven Spearman, all of whom testified as to Defendant's knowledge of, and active participation in, the drug distribution activities occurring at the East Coast Monster Garage.

"The testimony from these individuals detailing events involving Defendant that took place over multiple years suggested a longstanding pattern of illicit activity between them and the Defendant and others, from which a rational juror could conclude that Defendant understood that he was participating in a drug distribution conspiracy."

Contact Ed Palattella at epalattella@timesnews.com or 814-870-1813. Follow him on X @ETNpalattella.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: His Erie business got DEI grant. Then he pleaded guilty in crack case
ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  A homeless man was arrested on various charges after he was found asleep in a laundromat in Escambia County, according to law enforcement.

The Escambia County Sheriffs Office shared on Facebook that deputies were called to Rockys Laundromat on Thursday for a reported trespasser.

Mobile Police find body of missing man

When deputies arrived, they reportedly found a man, later identified as 45-year-old Calif Pierre Gossett, sleeping inside the business.

According to the post, Gossett tried to give deputies a false name and leave. However, deputies learned that Gossett had an active warrant for felony petit theft at a Wal-Mart and had already been trespassed from the laundromat back in January.

Once deputies learned of the warrants, they attempted to handcuff Gosset who allegedly struck one of the deputies in the face.

After a struggle Gossett was arrested and found with a glass pipe that tested positive for cocaine residue, the post said.

5 guys rescued after being stranded in the Gulf  faith and this device saved their lives

Gossett, who had a lengthy criminal history including 7 felony charges and 17 misdemeanors, including battery of a Law Enforcement Officer and battery of domestic violence and 7 active trespass warnings from local businesses, now faces the following charges, according to the post:

Punching a deputy

Resisting an officer with violence

Trespassing after a warning

Possession of drug paraphernalia

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.
Surfside commission meetings have been notorious for going off the rails in recent years: Officials flipping the middle finger. Mayors seeking to have residents removed. Ad hominem attacks against political opponents.

But Shlomo Danzinger, the towns ex-mayor who is now running for mayor of Miami-Dade County, took it too far last August when he presented a slideshow during a town commission meeting that amounted to campaigning, the Miami-Dade County Commission on Ethics and Public Trust found at a May 15 meeting.

Danzinger, who was still the Surfside mayor at the time and had filed to seek reelection, made a presentation during the commission meeting on Aug. 8, 2023, titled Decorum, in which he blasted political enemies, displayed an image from his campaign website and touted his record as mayor.

A slide titled Shlomo Danzinger 2022 Campaign Website featured the platform from Danzingers first campaign and highlighted a section called Restoring Civility and Dignity to the Office.

My platform slogan was, and still is, in every email I send out, Dedicated to a Better Surfside, Danzinger said during the presentation. Over the last year, I have delivered on that promise. Our efforts have reshaped this town into an inviting place that places emphasis on initiatives which foster community and family values.

An image from Surfside Mayor Shlomo Danzingers campaign website was featured in a slideshow Danzinger presented at a Town Commission meeting on Aug. 8, 2023.

At one point during the presentation, Commissioner Nelly Velasquez cut in to object, telling Danzinger it seems like youre campaigning. In response, Danzinger said Velasquez could file an ethics complaint, but please let me finish this camp this presentation. The slip-up, in which Danzinger seemingly began to say the word campaign before correcting himself, drew laughter from members of the audience.

Velasquez filed an ethics complaint in November, making a host of allegations against Danzinger. While the Ethics Commission found no probable cause for claims of impropriety Velasquez made regarding an earlier commission presentation by Danzinger and an email he sent to voters, it did find probable cause that he had exploited his position by using public resources for campaign purposes during the August 2023 presentation.

His speech strayed from its stated public purpose of decorum, as he indicated that he has delivered on his campaign promise and touted his other success in office which had nothing to do with decorum, Ethics Commission Advocate Radia Turay wrote in a probable cause memo.

In a statement Friday on the Ethics Commissions finding, Danzinger said the report was rife with inaccurate and false information and that he has requested a hearing to challenge the decision.

Former Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett  a subject of scorn in Danzingers August presentation  defeated Danzinger to regain his mayoral seat in March amid a wave of political change in the small beach town.

Weeks later, Danzinger, 44, filed to run for mayor of Miami-Dade County.

Danzinger, who is one of several Republicans seeking to unseat Democratic Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, also invoked Thursdays guilty verdict against former President Donald Trump in his statement to the Miami Herald.

The American people have just witnessed the weaponization of the justice system against President Trump, Danzinger said. As a vocal conservative and Republican running for mayor of Miami-Dade County, I anticipated a tough battle. Its unsurprising to see the entrenched Democratic political establishment resorting to extreme measures to suppress opposition.

Shlomo Danzinger stands in front of Surfside Town Hall on March 23, 2022.

Danzinger became mayor in March 2022 by defeating Burkett, less than a year after the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condo building in Surfside that left 98 people dead.

During his two-year tenure, Danzinger was a polarizing figure, sparring with fellow elected officials and residents. He made waves by declining to support the flying of an LGBTQ Pride flag and by traveling to Dubai to meet with the developer of the former Champlain Towers South property, a trip first reported by the Herald.

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Palestinians inspect the damage to one of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) buildings in Gaza City. Omar Ishaq/dpa

The European Commission said on Friday it disbursed 16 million ($17.3 million) to the embattled UN agency for Palestinians refugees (UNRWA) to go toward health and educational services.

UNRWA hit the headlines in January when Israel claimed that 12 of its employees were involved in the Hamas massacres on October 7 and that the organization as a whole had been infiltrated by the Islamist group. UNRWA is the main humanitarian provider in Gaza.

Major donors like Germany temporarily withheld funding as a result.

An audit report by independent experts presented in New York last month concluded that UNRWA had established a number of "robust" mechanisms to ensure that the principle of neutrality was upheld, but that there was still room for improvement.

The panel of experts also stated that Israel had never provided evidence for some of its most serious allegations.

The European Commission, which serves as the EU's executive arm, said it was also sending 25 million to the Palestinian Authority to go toward the salaries and pensions for Palestinian civil servants in the West Bank.

This is the second instalment to be disbursed to the Palestinian Authority as part of a 118.4 million aid package agreed in December 2023. The first instalment of 25 million was paid out in March.
FILE - South Sudan's President Salva Kiir arrives at Juba's Presidential Palace, South Sudan, Friday, Feb. 3, 2023. The European Union delegation in South Sudan has denied it was working to delay the country's election as had been alleged by Kiir. South Sudan is due to hold its first election in December 2024. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File)

JUBA, South Sudan (AP)  The European Union delegation in South Sudan has denied reports that it is working to delay elections in the country as was alleged by President Salva Kiir.

Deputy Head of the EU Delegation Lothar Jaschke said Thursday that his group is fully supporting an environment to enable elections, a constitution and transitional justice.

Kiir had alleged on Saturday that Western powers wanted to delay elections, but he did not explain how they were doing that. Kiir said he was committed to ensuring elections proceed in December as planned and warned that a postponement would spark violence.

South Sudan is due to hold its first election in December, but crucial processes that include the adoption of a permanent constitution and a unified police force are not in place.

Last week, the interim chairperson of an international commission to oversee South Sudan's 2015 peace agreement, Charles Tai Gituai of Kenya, said there was no evidence of sufficient preparation to conduct elections. He cited the lack of electoral bodies at the state level and a delay in the publishing of a voters register.

South Sudan is also going through an economic crisis, with reduced oil exports, due to the war in neighboring Sudan. Civil servants have not been paid for months.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. Bulgaria imported 44.6 million cubic meters of natural gas from Azerbaijan in March 2024, as compared to 44.5 million cubic meters in March 2023, marking a 0.22 percent year-on-year increase, Eurostat, the European Union's statistical office, told Trend.

The total value of these imports decreased from 30.5 million euros to 23.8 million euros, reflecting a 28.2 percent decline.

Bulgaria imported more than 920 million cubic meters of gas from Azerbaijan in 2023 with total value of 311.5 million euros.

Bulgaria commenced importing gas from Azerbaijan through the Greece-Bulgaria interconnector (IGB), which became operational on October 1, 2022. The contractual volume of gas supplies through this interconnector is 1 billion cubic meters per year, while the total capacity of the IGB stands at 3 billion cubic meters, expandable to 5 billion cubic meters annually.

Azerbaijan supplies gas to Europe via the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), a component of the Southern Gas Corridor, with a capacity of 10 billion cubic meters, expandable to 20 billion cubic meters per year.

Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
Exterior of EMA, European Medicines Agency is seen in Amsterdam

(Reuters) - The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has recommended the use of Pfizer's gene therapy for a rare bleeding disorder called hemophilia B, which typically requires regular infusions of a blood-clotting protein, the regulator said on Friday.

The regulator has recommended granting a 'conditional marketing authorization,' which is for the approval of a medicine addressing unmet medical needs of patients based on less comprehensive data than normally required.

The decision comes months after the one-time therapy received regulatory approvals in the United States and Canada, where it is branded Beqvez.

Any recommendation by the EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) has to be formally approved by the European Commission, which usually follows the regulator's decision.

The therapy carries a price tag of $3.5 million in the U.S. - the same as Australian drugmaker CSL Ltd's rival gene therapy Hemgenix.

In the EU, it will be sold under the brand name Durveqtix.

People with hemophilia have a fault in a gene that regulates production of proteins called clotting factors, which can cause spontaneous as well as severe bleeding following injuries or surgery. It predominately affects males.

The therapy is designed to stimulate production of the protein, called factor IX (FIX), by the patient's own body instead of intravenous infusions of FIX multiple times a week or a month.

The recommendation comes based on a late-stage trial in which a single dose of the therapy was shown to work as well as standard-of-care protein infusions after a year, with bleeding completely eliminated in 60% of patients versus 29% who received infusions.

Pfizer said it will continue to monitor for long-term durability and safety of the treatment over the course of 15 years.

More than 38,000 people worldwide are living with hemophilia B, said Pfizer, citing the World Federation of Hemophilia.

(Reporting by Sriparna Roy and Puyaan Singh in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber)
(Reuters) -The European Medicines Agency (EMA) recommended Valneva's single-dose chikungunya vaccine for use on Friday, setting it up as the first preventive shot against the disease in Europe.

EMA's recommendation for the French firm's vaccine Ixchiq comes as the mosquito-borne disease, for which no approved drugs exist, has been spreading due to climate change.

While environmental conditions in Europe are not yet favorable for chikungunya, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warns of potential risks, citing the influx of potentially infected travelers and a population that could be susceptible to it.

By April end, chikungunya globally affected about 240,000 people, mostly in the Americas, Asia and Africa, and led to over 90 deaths, according to ECDC.

Valneva said the European Commission, which usually follows the EMA's recommendation, is expected to decide on the vaccine in the third quarter of 2024.

Ixchiq received the U.S. health regulator's nod in November last year, making it the first preventive shot to be approved in the country.

The EMA's recommendation was based on late-stage trials where the vaccine-induced antibody levels that could neutralise the chikungunya virus in 98.9% of participants for 28 days post-vaccination.

Currently, the World Health Organization recommends bed rest with mosquito netting, fluids, and the use of Acetaminophen and Paracetamol to treat the symptoms of chikungunya.

The chikungunya virus is spread to people through the bite of an infected mosquito. The most common symptoms of infection are fever and joint pain. Other symptoms may include headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash.

(Reporting by Christy Santhosh in Bengaluru; Editing by Ravi Prakash Kumar)
The late President of Iran Ebrahim Raisi (L) and Minister of Defense of Iran Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiani (R) attend a ceremony on the Army Day of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Ashtiani is among the targets of a new round of EU sanctions on Iran for the Islamic Republic's support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Mohammad Javad Ostad/Iranian Presidency/dpa

Defence Minister Mohammad Reza Gharaei Ashtiani is among the targets of a new round of EU sanctions on Iran for the Islamic Republic's support of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

European Union states agreed on Friday to adopt sanctions on six individuals and three Iranian entities for their role in the transfer of drones to Russia for use in Ukraine, or for sending weapons to armed groups in the Middle East and Red Sea region.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy was sanctioned for sending drones and missiles to militants groups like the Houthis in Yemen and Hezbollah in Lebanon. The Iranian proxy militias have dramatically escalated their attacks against Israeli interests since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

The affected individuals will be subject to asset freezes and travel bans in the European Union. In addition, the direct or indirect provision of funds and economic resources to the listed individuals and organizations is prohibited.
COLOGNE, Germany  The European Union is considering setting up its own air defense shield after bloc leaders threw their support behind a Greek-Polish initiative to that effect this week.

The two countries prime minsters, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Donald Tusk, respectively, pitched the idea to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in a letter earlier this month.

After von der Leyen, who is eyeing a second term following elections in early June, swiftly endorsed the idea, the EUs top diplomat, Josep Borrell, also signaled support.

I welcome that member states say that to defend our airspace, why should we look at that in a fragmented manner? Borrell said ahead of a May 28 meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels.

Borrell told reporters the idea raises plenty of questions. But the devil is in the details, he said. Where will these air defenses be put? At the border? Which border? With which capacities? With which funding?

In their letter, Mitsotakis and Tusk said they envision a comprehensive air defense system to protect our common EU airspace against all the incoming threats, citing Russias war against Ukraine as key motivation.

Besides the tangible, military benefits such an endeavor could bring, the two leaders argued that a joint flagship program would signal to would-be attackers that the EU is united on defense.

That wording could be seen as a veiled dig at Berlin, where officials are well underway in assembling an air defense coalition under their European Sky Shield Initiative, which now counts 21 member countries. German officials created the initiative in 2022 amid the shock over Russian troops targeting Ukrainian infrastructure and population centers with missiles and drones.

Polands Tusk previously said he wants his country to join, but he has faced opposition from the president, Andrzej Duda, who was reelected in 2020 with backing of the then-ruling Law and Justice party.

The project is essentially a European outgrowth of NATOs air defense architecture, aimed at coordinating national procurements and ensuring interoperability between sensors and interceptors.

But not all EU member states have bought into the idea, partly because the aperture for sourcing the requisite hardware leans heavily on non-European products, including the Israeli-American Arrow 3 missile and the U.S. Patriot system.

The German reaction to the Greek-Polish proposal has been muted, with officials saying they have nothing against it as long it doesnt interfere with their initiative.

NATO remains the biggest and most important defense alliance for Europe, State Secretary Siemtje Moller told reporters ahead of the Foreign Affairs Council meeting this week. She floated the idea of using the blocs procurement and funding channels as a feeder mechanism for Germanys initative.

In the end, the council meeting came and went without any action on the issue, according to officials in Berlin and Brussels. A spokesperson with the German government said the Greek-Polish proposal came up only on the periphery, while an EU spokesperson said formalizing national proposals wasnt the panels job to begin with.
By Xinghui Kok, Fanny Potkin and Idrees Ali

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is expected to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore this weekend, six sources said, as Ukraine faces a renewed assault two years after Russian forces invaded.

Security assistance for Ukraine is expected to be one of the key issues discussed at this year's dialogue, Asia's premier security conference. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and the Chinese defence minister, Dong Jun, are among those attending.

Two of the sources said Zelenskiy would address delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday. All of the sources declined to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The Ukrainian embassy in Singapore did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Zelenskiy's office in Kyiv did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

There has been no Russian delegation at the Singapore security meetings since 2022.

Zelenskiy, who is currently in Sweden, said on Wednesday that Russia was still trying to disrupt a separate world "peace summit" next month devoted to the invasion and that it was putting pressure on countries to stay away from the gathering.

Zelenskiy wants the peace summit, scheduled for June 15-16 in Switzerland, to produce a front to support the withdrawal of Russian troops and the restoration of Ukraine's 1991 borders.

The Shangri-La Dialogue, held annually in Singapore by the International Institute of Strategic Studies for the last 21 years, ends on June 2.

(Editing by Gerry Doyle and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
David Essah, director of public utility regulation at the State Corporation Commission, far right, presents to the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation in 2023. (Charlie Paullin/Virginia Mercury).

Virginias commission tasked with reviewing energy-related legislative proposals now has an executive director, after announcing the hiring of a Virginia Department of Energy member to fill the position.

Carrie Hearne, of Richmond, will begin as executive director of the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation next month. She will take the role after five years at Virginia Energy, where she was the director of affordability and competitiveness.

This is a pivotal time for the clean energy transition in Virginia, all while electricity demand is growing, Hearne said in a statement. The policy and regulatory landscape has a tremendous impact on whether and how energy projects get deployed across Virginia to ensure a reliable, affordable and clean energy system.

Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax  the commissions chair who reinvigorated it through legislation in 2023 following years of dormancy  noted Hearnes experience working for the state under both Democratic and Republican administrations.

From load growth and energy demand to decarbonization and grid modernization, Virginia faces a string of energy challenges over the coming years that must be faced, said Surovell in the statement. Carrie brings a wealth of public- and private-sector energy policy experience.

The Commission on Electric Utility Regulation, or CEUR, reviews requests to change Virginias energy laws and regulations.

Currently, Virginias most comprehensive law regarding electricity generation from the states two largest utilities, Dominion Energy and Appalachian Power Company, is the Virginia Clean Economy Act, which passed under Democratic control in 2020 and seeks to decarbonize the electric grid by 2050.

Since passage of the VCEA, which sets targets for increasing electricity generation from renewable sources like solar and wind, several legislators have introduced measures to change electric utility laws and regulations. Those efforts havent made it through the legislative process.

The proposed changes included a bill this past session from Sen. Schuyler VanValkenburg, D-Henrico, to require localities to consider proposals to convert land to solar use, so long as the land covered by panels took up no more than 4% of the localitys total land. But members of the House of Delegates Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns subcommittee voted to continue the legislation to 2025 with a request for the CEUR to review it further because of the land use implications it may have had for localities.

Other proposals sent to the CEUR in recent years included an option to have Dominion procure its next required amount of offshore wind electricity from a third party, a bill that advocates said can reduce costs. The utility, however, said it strayed away from the current regulated oversight, which is now being used for the $9.8 Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind project off the coast of Virginia Beach.

The CEUR is also charged with creating ratepayer impact statements, reviewing Dominions and Appalachian Powers Integrated Resource Plans  the non-binding long-term planning documents for future investments by the utilities  as well as receiving updates from the State Corporation Commission, which oversees Virginias utilities.

In December, the CEUR heard a presentation from the U.S. Department of Energy on loans to fund clean energy energy projects should the state establish a State Energy Financing Institution, a program that wouldve been created by legislation from Surovell this session that was vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. The governor had released his energy plan in 2022 calling for continued use of natural gas and new forms of nuclear energy.

Glenn Davis, a former legislator chosen by Youngkin to be the director of Virginia Department of Energy, said Hearne was instrumental in the state receiving an unprecedented amount of federal grant dollars, including $156 million under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys Solar for All program.

She is a strong choice for executive director of CEUR and I look forward to working with her in her new role, Davis said.

Tarah Kesterson, a spokeswoman for Virginia Energy, said the agency will very soon be advertising on their website and social media the vacancy Hearnes hiring creates.

Its a crucial role to our state energy office and the agency, Kesterson said.

Another recent addition to the commission is Josephus Allmond, a staff attorney at the Southern Environmental Law Center. Allmond joins Cassidy Rasnick and Howard Shafferman as the other citizen members who sit on the board alongside the legislative members.

The post Executive director named for Virginia Commission on Electric Utility Regulation appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Q. Why might President Joe Biden not be on the ballot in Ohio??

A. The federal government of the United States does not administer elections. This is true even for federal offices like the President. Each state sets its own rules, and the elections are run by local authorities consistent with both state and federal law. For example, in Florida, the elections are administered at the county level by the office of the County Supervisor of Elections which designs the ballots, establishes the polling locations, and counts the returns.

In Florida, the Supervisor of Elections is an elected position, but has traditionally operated in a non-partisan manner. There is an advantage to having such decentralized elections. Any outsider that wants to attempt to penetrate our presidential elections is going to have to figure out how to do it across fifty states and over three thousand counties using different systems, machines, and technology. Every county has its own methods. Some use touch screens, while others use some type of marking on paper like scantrons.

President Joe Biden wears sunglasses as he takes a selfie with supporters after speaking about the PACT Act, which expands coverage for veterans exposed to toxic substances, at a YMCA in Nashua, N.H. on May 21. But why won't Ohio officials welcome him on the November ballot?

The downside of this decentralization is that some jurisdictions are more efficient and effective at running elections than others. In most election cycles, we will see stories of long lines in some areas, or broken machines, polling locations opening late or other issues. Most are remedied fairly quickly, but it is troubling that some locations consistently have issues with long lines.

It also means that one county can create significant issues, especially in a close election. I am sure many still remember the implications of Palm Beach County deciding to use a butterfly punch ballot in 2000, which caused enough confusion for local voters that it might well have shifted enough votes to affect the outcome of the race between George W. Bush and Al Gore.

Another Civics Project column: How does the U.S. Secret Service work? Can it protect a president in prison?

The Ohio matter is a bit simpler, though troubling. In Ohio, there is a state law which requires parties to certify their presidential candidates for the November ballot by August 7th. The Democratic Convention is scheduled for August 19th, meaning that Joe Biden will not officially be the Democratic candidate for President until after the state deadline. The political convention for the incumbent President occurs after the challenger, so this is more commonly (though not always) an issue for the sitting President.

This scheduling problem has happened before, but you may not have noticed, since it is usually fixed by state lawmakers without much controversy. Just this year, both Alabama and Washington made changes that would allow Biden to appear on their ballots as they too had deadlines that would otherwise have created ballot problems. For the most part, this is not a partisan issue and state leaders have worked to ensure that voters have the opportunity to vote for their candidate of choice.

Another Civics Project column: Has American politics always been this bad?

Ohios early deadline makes this a predictable and repeated problem for the state. It is also one they regularly fix. The Ohio legislature made exceptions for Mitt Romney in 2012, and Donald Trump in 2020. Why not this year? Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) said, There's just not the will to do that from the Legislature." If the legislature does not act, I suspect a lawsuit will be next.

Kevin Wagner

But, here's the latest: The issue may be moot, as it appears the Democratic Party will attempt to avoid the issue by having Biden nominated, virtually, prior to the deadline and well ahead of the national convention.

Kevin Wagner is a noted constitutional scholar and political science professor at Florida Atlantic University. The answers provided do not necessarily represent the views of the university. If you have a question about how American government and politics work, email him at kwagne15@fau.edu.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Why President Biden might not be on the election ballot in Ohio
By Anait Miridzhanian, Joe Bavier

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -For the first time in South Africa's democratic era, the African National Congress (ANC) will have to seek one or more coalition partners to govern with after it fell well short of a majority in last week's national election.

Here are scenarios of what could happen next in South Africa and which parties the ANC might partner with:

WILL RAMAPHOSA GET OUSTED?

The ANC won just 40% of votes, by far its worst result since democratic elections began in 1994 after the end of apartheid and leaving it short of a majority in parliament.

Some political analysts say this could lead to party leader and South Africa's president, Cyril Ramaphosa, having to step down, as he comes out of the election badly weakened. But ANC leaders said on Sunday the party would not bend to pressure from other political forces to ditch him.

"That is a no-go area," Fikile Mbalula, the party's secretary general, told a press briefing.

Over the past four electoral cycles the ANC's share of the vote gradually dropped, but never by more than five percentage points from one election to the next.

If Ramaphosa survives the voters' backlash, he would carry on at least for a while to broker a coalition deal with another party in a bid to secure a parliamentary majority, though analysts say he may struggle to serve for a second full term.

Tipped as potential successors are other ANC politicians such as Deputy President Paul Mashatile or Gwede Mantashe, currently in charge of the mines and energy ministry.

In any case, the ANC needs to move quickly as the constitution says the new National Assembly must convene within 14 days of the election results being declared to elect a new president.

WHO ARE THE POTENTIAL COALITION PARTNERS?

The ANC will likely have no choice but to seek support from one of its three largest rivals: the pro-business, white-led Democratic Alliance (DA), uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), led by former president Jacob Zuma, or the Marxist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

The price of a deal with either of those would likely be significant policy concessions by the ANC, as well as the offer of some senior government or parliamentary positions for their partner.

Some analysts say that the ANC was unlikely to pick the DA as its sole coalition partner, even though its market-friendly stance would sit well with Ramaphosa.

The Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP), a conservative Zulu party with a power base in KwaZulu-Natal, won nearly 4% of the vote and could prove useful in making up the numbers.

"I would almost certainly think they wouldn't just go with the DA. They would most probably go with somebody like the IFP as well just because of the perception that the DA is a very white party," said Melanie Verwoerd, a political analyst.

"It's a perception that's very strong, and therefore I think they would prefer to have a balance in the coalition with either the IFP or a few smaller parties as well," she said.

An alliance with the DA would be favoured by investors, though some commentators say it is difficult to envisage a stable arrangement under this scenario, and South Africa could be facing a period of unprecedented government volatility.

The EFF, led by Julius Malema, a former leader of the ANC's youth wing, may be a more natural fit for the ANC than the DA, but relations are tense between Malema and some ANC factions.

On 9.5% of the vote, the EFF said in April it would partner with the ANC if it got the powerful post of finance minister. The ANC has not disclosed its thinking on any non-majority scenario.

MK WILDCARD

A deal with the MK, which emerged as the third biggest party with 14.6%, would also be difficult to digest for the ANC, which has struggled to clean up its reputation after the corruption scandals of the Zuma era.

"What we do know now is that the ANC is in a trilemma," said Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh, a political analyst at the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg.

Though bitter rivals, the EFF and MK, as off-shoots of the ruling party, are more ideologically aligned with the ANC, he said. A coalition with the DA, on the other hand, would require reaching across the aisle of South African politics.

"Any one of those coalitions is politically unprecedented," he said.

Complicating the situation for the ANC, the MK has repeatedly said it would not enter any coalition government if Ramaphosa stays on, and has threatened to challenge the electoral results in court despite faring better than expected.

(Editing by Silvia Aloisi and Ros Russell)
Explosions heard in occupied Crimea: fire breaks out in Port Kavkaz

A series of explosions occurred in Russian-occupied Crimea on the night of 30-31 May and Port Kavkaz on the Chuska Peninsula in Russia's Krasnodar Krai is on fire.

Source: Telegram channel Krymskyi Viter (Crimean Wind)

Details: Local residents reported that there had been 8-10 explosions.

People also reported a large fire at the port.

 ,  Google

 ,  Google

Local journalists wrote that there is an oil depot at the port that supplies fuel to the Russians in Crimea and the occupied territories of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

Background:

On 30 May, Defence Intelligence of Ukraines special unit Group 13 destroyed two Russian KS-701 Tunets (Tuna) boats in Crimea and hit two other vessels of the same type.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that the Ukrainian Defence Forces successfully hit the Kerch ferry crossing with ATACMS missiles on the night of 29-30 May.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. ADNOC announced today it has signed an agreement to award a 3% participating interest in the SARB and Umm Lulu offshore concession to Azerbaijan's state oil company SOCAR, Trend reports via ADNOC.

The SARB and Umm Lulu concession deploys cutting-edge digitalization and AI technologies for remote monitoring, smart well operations and production management to optimize production efficiency, reduce emissions, enhance safety and increase production capacity.



"We are very pleased to welcome SOCAR to the SARB and Umm Lulu concession. This award supports ADNOCs strategy to leverage strategic partnerships and advanced technologies to maximize value from Abu Dhabis energy resources to ensure a secure, reliable and responsible supply of energy," said Abdulmunim Saif Al Kindy, ADNOC Upstream Executive Director.



This agreement builds upon previous collaborations between the two companies, including ADNOC's acquisition of a 30% equity stake in Absheron gas and condensate field in the Caspian Sea and a Strategic Collaboration Agreement on the potential development of low carbon energy technologies, including hydrogen and geothermal.



This is our first international upstream investment and we are particularly delighted to make this investment in Abu Dhabi, building upon our bilateral strategic relationships. We are committed to advance our energy partnership with ADNOC even further and continue cooperating in many more projects of mutual interest," said Rovshan Najaf, President of SOCAR.



Both fields at the SARB and Umm Lulu concession use Intelligent Well Surveillance (IWS) technology, allowing them to operate wells at an optimum rate to drive operational efficiency.
Extremists are reacting to Donald Trumps guilty verdicts in the New York hush-money trial with calls to violence  both overt and covert.

The news that the former president was found guilty on 34 different felony counts did not sit well with Stew Peters, a far-right shock jock who has frequently called for executing government officials, Biden family members, and journalists.

Reacting to Trumps conviction Thursday on Telegram, Peters claimed that the judicial system has been weaponized against the American people, adding: We are left with NO other option but to take matters into our own hands.  Leaving no doubt about what the crossed swords emoji signified, Peters soon posted a picture of a noose overlaid with the words Extreme Accountability. He added the text: Its Time.

The Columbus, Ohio, chapter of the Proud Boys also responded on Telegram to the news of the Trump verdicts with a single word: War. That post was shared by the state chapter of the Proud Boys, which also posted an image that read: PB Standing By  a reference to Trumps call on the group to stand back and stand by during a 2020 election debate.

Former Stop the Steal ringleader Ali Alexander was somewhat more subtle. He posted on Telegram that Trumps felony convictions were worse than the Civil War. He also posted an upside down image of the American flag  a distress symbol appropriated by the Jan. 6 rioters  with the words: No one is coming to save us. We must.

At The Donald, a Reddit-like forum for the former presidents most hardcore supporters, the chatter was extreme. One post was titled: We no longer have a viable country. We are now living under more tyranny than ever existed even in 1776. Commenters added fuel to the fire with statements like: Our forefathers would be stacking bodies by now and Ready for the Call to Arms!

Not all on the far right were ready to take to the streets, however. Notorious antisemite Nick Fuentes, leader of the Groyper movement, encouraged his followers not to engage in illegal actions, adding that the Feds will not be messing around this year.

Similarly, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones filmed a short video posted to X in which he claimed that Trump had been found guilty of kangaroo counts. Jones asserted that the next card in the playbook of the Deep State and the globalists would be to mount false flag terror attacks that could be blamed on Trump supporters angry about the verdict.

Jones insisted that attacks are not necessary: We do not want any violence. We do not want any attacks, he said. Despite claiming that the Republic is on its deathbed, Jones continued, We are  intellectually, culturally, spiritually  winning.

More from Rolling Stone

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Fact Check: About the Claim That Israel Changed Country Barcode Prefix to Avoid Boycotts on Its Products

Claim:

Israel changed the barcode prefix for the products manufactured in the country in order to skirt boycotts.

Rating:

Rating: False

Context:

Country barcode prefixes do not indicate where a product was made, only the country where the company that makes the product is registered. Also, Israel hasn't changed its barcode prefix.

Since October 2023, after Hamas launched its attack on Israel and Israel retaliated with a military campaign in the Gaza Strip, activists have called for boycotts of Israeli products and companies as a way to put pressure on the Israeli government to stop harming Palestinians. Viral social media posts claimed that an easy way for consumers to identify Israeli products was to look at the barcode, which for products made in Israel starts with the numbers 729:

All Israel knows how to do is bully and threaten and harm. Refuse this outright. Boycott every product beginning with barcode 729. US Military Out of Shannon - more action is needed. Divest from every company with any links to Israel and Spread the word #BDS https://t.co/TeVT4R8JTI  Sorcha Fox (@whoamireland) March 31, 2024

Some social media users said to pay attention to the barcode and ignore other text on the products, claiming that Israeli companies were attempting to deceive consumers by saying Israeli products were from elsewhere. In one example, X users said that while a box said it contained dates from South Africa, the barcode showed they were actually from Israel:

If a barcode starts with 729 the item is from Israel. Aldi selling Israeli dates and labelling them from South Africa. https://t.co/cCZqGflxxE  Dr Mairianna Clyde (@MairiannaClyde) March 27, 2024

In early 2024, people claimed that in order to avoid boycotts, Israel had changed its barcode digits to 841 or 871:

Israel changed its barcode from 729 to 841 and now to 871 in order to avoid boycott of its products  Emelia  (@Bernadotte22) May 31, 2024

While the first three digits of a barcode are attached to a country, they do not indicate where the products come from or where they are made. Also, our research indicates that Israel has not changed its barcode prefix to either of those numbers, which are used by other countries. For these reasons, we have rated the claim as "False."

Our 2008 article on this topic pointed out that first three numbers of a barcode show where a company is based. For example, it possible for a company in Israel to sell dates grown in South Africa. The reverse is also possible: A South African company (country codes 600-601) can sell products from Israel. Find the full list of country barcode prefixes here. GS1, the international organization that assigns barcodes to products worldwide, explains this clearly on its website:

GS1 Company Prefixes are based on the GS1 Prefixes below. Since GS1 user companies can manufacture products anywhere in the world, GS1 Prefixes do not identify the country of origin for a given product.

(To complicate matters, the United States and Canada use a different barcode system  UPC-A  from the rest of the world, which uses the IAN, formerly known as EAN, standard.)

The second thing to note is that the numbers with which activists claim Israel has replaced its country barcode are taken by other countries. Spain has all prefixes from 840 to 849, while the Netherlands has all prefixes that start with 87. Agence France-Presse debunked this claim in 2021.

Sources:

Asiedu, Kwasi Gyamfi. 'No, Israel Has Not Changed Its Bar Code'. @politifact, https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2023/nov/21/tiktok-posts/no-israel-has-not-changed-its-barcode/. Accessed 31 May 2024.

GS1 Company Prefix | GS1. https://www.gs1.org/standards/id-keys/company-prefix. Accessed 31 May 2024.

'Has Israel Changed the Barcode Number on Its Products Due to Boycotts?' Euronews, 11 Jan. 2024, https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2024/01/11/has-israel-changed-the-barcode-number-on-its-products-due-to-boycotts.

'Social Media Posts Share Misleading Claim That Barcode Prefixes Can Show If a Product Is Made in Israel'. Fact Check, 2 June 2021, https://factcheck.afp.com/social-media-posts-share-misleading-claim-barcode-prefixes-can-show-if-product-made-israel.

'The Basics of UPC Codes'. US Barcode Authority GS1 UPC, https://www.barcode-us.info/upc-codes/. Accessed 31 May 2024.
Fact Check: What To Know About Photo Allegedly Showing Israeli Soldier Posing in Front of Burning Books at University in Gaza

Claim:

A photo from May 2024 authentically depicts an Israeli soldier posing in front of burning books at a university library in Gaza.

Rating:

Rating: True

Context:

It is unclear whether the soldier pictured set the books on fire or another person present  such as whoever took the photo  started the blaze. The Israeli Military Police have opened an investigation into the incident. The location pictured appears to be the Central Library of the Islamic University of Gaza, not Al-Aqsa University (also in Gaza), as widely claimed. It is unclear to us, as of this writing, whether both universities  both now destroyed  shared the Central Library.

In late May 2024, a photo depicting a soldier sitting in front of a shelf of burning books went viral, and many claimed it was an Israeli soldier. "Israeli soldiers set fire to books in Gaza's Aqsa University, posed in front of it, then posted the photo proudly to social media. Is this still 'self defence'?" one X user captioned the image.

Israeli soldiers boast of their accomplishments as they set fire to Al-Aqsa University's library in #Gaza, documenting their actions by taking pictures of themselves in front of flames



Israel has obliterated all universities, colleges,institutes & libraries in Gaza entirely pic.twitter.com/zieom0FZbh  Nour Naim|  (@NourNaim88) May 23, 2024

Some X users questioned the authenticity of the photo, with some claiming that it was fake or digitally altered. "It's fake, come on please... there's a limit!" One X user wrote.

We looked into the claim and found sufficient evidence to conclude the photo is authentic, meaning that it was originally posted by a soldier in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF), and as far as we were able to determine, was not digitally altered in any way.

On May 24, 2024, the Israeli military announced that the Military Police were "investigating incidents in which soldiers filmed themselves burning books," according to The Times of Israel. The Israeli military's spokespersons unit said the "severe incidents" were "inconsistent with the values of the IDF and its protocols." Another photo in question depicts a soldier burning a Quran in a fire set in the mosque.

Who Originally Posted the Image?

X user @ytirawi originally posted the photo on X [archived here], citing Instagram account @tair_glisko [archived here].

Exclusive:



Israeli soldiers set fire Aqsa University [@AqsaUniversity]s library in Gaza City and took pictures of themselves in front of the flames. pic.twitter.com/9TFMsAM2LG  Younis Tirawi |  (@ytirawi) May 23, 2024

Although the account is now private, X user @ytirawi took a screenshot of the account when it was still public.

(X user @ytirawi)

The text of the post, as translated by Google Translate, is as follows:

(Screenshot via X user @ytirawi; translation via Google Translate)

Was the Photo Really Taken at Al-Aqsa University Library?

According to X user @ytirawi, the soldier took the photo at "Aqsa University's library in Gaza City." Multiple other X accounts and outlets made the same claim. Upon comparing the background of the photo in question to photos of the Central Library at the Islamic University of Gaza posted by various social media accounts, we found that the interiors matched.

It is unclear to us whether both universities shared the Central Library. The two universities sit close to each other, with the Central Library geographically located between the campuses. The Israeli military destroyed both universities: Al-Aqsa University in January 2024 and the Islamic University of Gaza in October 2023.

In the following screenshot we took from Google Earth, the Central Library lies between the universities.

(Google Earth)

Using images from the Instagram account of the Central Library at the Islamic University of Gaza, X user @JakeGodin posted a series of comparative photos illustrating the similarities to the image in question.

(X user @JakeGodin)

We were able to independently confirm the Instagram photo, which was a screenshot from a story on the "Library" highlight.

(Instagram account @centrallibrary.iug)

Clear parallels can be seen, including the numbers "38" and "37," the shelves, the tape placement on the shelves, and the ceiling fan.

How Was the Library Still Standing if the Universities Were Destroyed?

While the Israeli military destroyed both the Islamic University of Gaza and Al-Aqsa University campuses and heavily bombed the surrounding areas, it appears that the Central Library was left standing after both heavy bombardments. Agence France-Presse captured the following photo on Feb. 15, 2024. The Central Library stands directly to the left of the taller structure.

(Getty Images)

The Central Library stands to the left again in the following image of the Islamic University of Gaza from 2018.

(Wikimedia Commons)

In sum, because the photo originated from the account of an IDF soldier, because photos of the interior of the Central Library of the Islamic University of Gaza show clear parallels, and because the Israeli Military Police opened an investigation into photos of soldiers burning books, we rate this claim as "True."

Sources:

'Google Maps'. Google Maps, https://www.google.com/maps/place/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%83%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A9+%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B1%D9%83%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%A9%E2%80%AD/@31.513081,34.440847,3a,82.1y,90t/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sAF1QipOpxCvN3I7vf3VtjtkDAiv6no51NiPcc6WJT_Qx!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh5.googleusercontent.com%2Fp%2FAF1QipOpxCvN3I7vf3VtjtkDAiv6no51NiPcc6WJT_Qx%3Dw203-h152-k-no!7i1080!8i810!4m11!1m2!2m1!1scentral+library+gaza!3m7!1s0x14fd7fe4eea37a45:0x2f4dd6e9eaea1466!8m2!3d31.513081!4d34.440847!10e5!15sChRjZW50cmFsIGxpYnJhcnkgZ2F6YZIBEnVuaXZlcnNpdHlfbGlicmFyeeABAA!16s%2Fg%2F11lgmhlswd!5m1!1e4?entry=ttu. Accessed 31 May 2024.

https://earth.google.com/web/data=MkEKPwo9CiExdXJHT3ZXR19PRlNSYnYxQ1hPRjV6OEdWLXJRR254MGQSFgoUMDM2NUJCNTFBQzMwRkZCQzRFRUMgAQ. Accessed 31 May 2024.

https://www.idf.il/en/mini-sites/idf-press-releases-regarding-the-hamas-israel-war/. Accessed 31 May 2024.

Instagram. https://www.instagram.com/centrallibrary.iug/. Accessed 31 May 2024.

'Israeli Soldiers Burn Al-Aqsa University Library in Gaza Strip'. Anews, https://www.anews.com.tr/middle-east/2024/05/24/israeli-soldiers-burn-al-aqsa-university-library-in-gaza-strip. Accessed 31 May 2024.

'Which Universities in Gaza Has Israel Destroyed?' Middle East Eye, https://www.middleeasteye.net/explainer-gaza-israel-palestine-war-university-destroy. Accessed 31 May 2024.

, , and  . '     ; ": " , " "'. Ynet, 24 May 2024. www.ynet.co.il, https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/hjvhngcmc.
Fact Check: Posts Claim Walmart Announced All Its Locations Will Go Back to 24 Hours. Here's the Truth

Claim:

Walmart said it plans to resume 24-hour operations at its stores in June 2024.

Rating:

Rating: False

In late May 2024, multiple X, TikTok and Facebook posts claimed that retail giant Walmart would be resuming 24-hour operations at its stores  which the company halted during the COVID-19 pandemic  on June 3, 2024.

Walmart has announced started June 3rd all locations in the U.S. Will go back to 24hrs pic.twitter.com/WtBcg2tAMG  Mic Feel (@micfeel__) May 30, 2024

Some social media users cast doubt on the claim, however. "Walmart isn't opening 24 hours. I work there and I asked my manager. We are staying open 6am-11pm," one Facebook user commented.

We found no evidence that Walmart will be resuming 24-hour operations, and a company spokesman refuted the viral rumor. Therefore we have rated this claim "False."

Joe Pennington, a Walmart spokesman, told Snopes via email that there "are no current plans to return our stores to 24 hours of operations."

A similar rumor surfaced in 2022, receiving widespread attention. Walmart acknowledged the claim on X on July 29, 2022, telling a user who missed stores being open 24 hours that there was no plan to return to that schedule.

At this time, we have no plans to return to 24 hour store hours. However, you can shop anytime, anywhere using our website! https://t.co/v53QvJrKVZ   Walmart (@Walmart) July 29, 2022

USA Today also fact-checked the rumor in August 2022, writing that "the retail giant told USA TODAY it has no plans to return to 24-hour operations."

Sources:

Frank, BrieAnna J. 'Fact Check: Walmart Has No Plans for Immediate Return to 24-Hour Operations'. USA TODAY, https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/factcheck/2022/08/14/fact-check-false-claim-walmart-resuming-24-hour-operations/10306685002/. Accessed 31 May 2024.

Log in or Sign up to View. https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=walmart%2024%20hours%20june%203rd. Accessed 31 May 2024.

TikTok - Make Your Day. https://www.tiktok.com/discover/is-walmart-going-back-to-24-hours-in-2024. Accessed 31 May 2024.
Former President Donald Trump said he was going to hold a press conference on Friday in the wake of his Thursday conviction in Manhattan on felony charges of falsifying business records.

Instead, Trump delivered a rambling monologue that was filled with false claims on subjects ranging from the Manhattan trial to immigration to tax policy.

Here is a fact check of some of the inaccurate or unsubstantiated claims he made.

Crime in New York City

Trump repeated his familiar claim that, while Manhattan prosecutors have been focusing on him, New York City has been experiencing record-high violent crime. He said this time that you have violent crime all over this city at levels that nobodys ever seen before.

Facts First: Trumps claim is not even close to true. Violent crime in New York City  and violent crime in Manhattan in particular  has plummeted since the early 1990s and is today nowhere near record levels.

New York City recorded 391 murders in 2023, down about 83% from the 2,262 in 1990; 1,455 rapes in 2023, down about 53% from the 3,126 in 1990; and 16,910 robberies in 2023, down about 83% from the 100,280 in 1990.

Michael Cohens crimes

Criticizing key prosecution witness Michael Cohen, Trump repeated a claim he made during the trial in April. He asserted that Cohen, his former lawyer and fixer, got into trouble not because of me but because of outside deals and something to do with taxicabs and medallions, and he borrowed money, and thats why he went. He added that Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations to try to get himself a lighter penalty.

Trump continued: He got in trouble for a very simple reason: because he was involved with borrowing a lot of money and he did something with the banks  I dont know, defrauded the banks, but something happened.

Facts First: Trumps claim that Cohen got into trouble simply because of his non-Trump-related activities, such as those related to taxis and loans, is not true. First, Cohens case was referred to federal prosecutors in New York by the special counsel, Robert Mueller, who was appointed to investigate any connections between the Trump campaign and Russia. Second, Cohens three-year prison sentence in 2018 was for multiple crimes, some of which were directly related to Trump.

Most notably, Cohen was sentenced for campaign finance offenses connected to a hush money scheme during the 2016 presidential campaign to conceal Trumps alleged extramarital relationships  the same hush money scheme that was central to this prosecution against Trump. Cohen was also sentenced to two months in prison, to run concurrently with the three-year sentence, for lying to Congress in 2017 in relation to previous talks about the possibility of building a Trump Tower in Moscow, Russia, including about the extent of Trumps involvement in the aborted Moscow initiative and about when in 2016 the discussions ended. (The discussions continued into June 2016, the month after Trump became the presumptive Republican nominee, and did not conclude in January 2016 before the first votes were cast, as Cohen had claimed.)

Referring to Trump as Individual-1, Cohen said at the time of his 2018 guilty plea for making false statements to the US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence: I made these statements to be consistent with Individual-1s political messaging and out of loyalty to Individual-1. When Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to the campaign finance violations, he said he broke the law in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office, Trump.

Biden and the case

Trump repeated his frequent claim that the Manhattan case in which Trump was convicted is all done by Biden and his people and in total conjunction with white house and the DOJ, the federal Department of Justice.

Facts First: There is no basis for Trumps claim. There is no evidence that President Joe Biden, his White House aides or the federal Justice Department had any role in launching or running Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs prosecution  and Bragg, a Democrat, is a locally elected official who does not report to the federal government. The indictment in the case was approved by a grand jury of ordinary citizens.

Trump has repeatedly invoked a lawyer on Braggs team, Matthew Colangelo, while making such claims; Colangelo left the Justice Department in 2022 to join the district attorneys office as senior counsel to Bragg. But there is no evidence that Biden had anything to do with Colangelos employment decision. Colangelo and Bragg had been colleagues before Bragg was elected Manhattan district attorney in 2021.

Before Colangelo worked at the Justice Department, he and Bragg worked at the same time in the office of New Yorks state attorney general, where Colangelo investigated Trumps charity and Trumps financial practices and was involved in bringing various lawsuits against the Trump administration.

The judge and an expert in election law

Trump claimed that, because of Judge Juan Merchan, we werent allowed to use our election expert under any circumstances. He claimed that this expert on election law was ready to testify and the judge knocked him out, said you cant testify.

Facts First: Trumps claim that Merchan refused to allow Trumps team to use this witness under any circumstances is false. Merchan did not prohibit the potential witness, former Federal Election Commission chairman Bradley Smith, from testifying. Rather, Merchan limited what Smith was allowed to testify about. Merchan decided in March that Smith could provide background information about the FEC and define certain terms relevant to this case but could not opine on whether Trump broke federal election laws or offer opinions about how to interpret or apply those laws. After Merchan refused last week to change his mind, Trumps defense decided not to call Smith as a witness.

Smith wrote on social media last week: Judge Merchan has so restricted my testimony that defense has decided not to call me.

Trump, offering a hint of a clarification, did proceed to say on Friday that Smith essentially was not able to testify. But his earlier comments made it sound like Merchan had imposed a total ban on Smiths testimony.

Immigration and the Congo

Trump repeated a claim he has made before about the Congo and migration, again without specifying whether he was referring to the Democratic Republic of Congo or the neighboring Republic of Congo. He said: The Congo has just released a lot of people from jail  Congo, Africa  just released a lot of people, a lot of people, from their prisons and jails, and brought them into the United States of America.

Facts First: Trumps claim is baseless. Experts on the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo, plus both pro-immigration and anti-immigration organizations in the US, told CNN they have not seen any evidence of Congolese prisons being emptied, let alone evidence of either country somehow having brought ex-prisoners into the US. Trumps presidential campaign and an allied super PAC did not respond to requests to provide any evidence. A CNN search of two media databases turned up no evidence. And federal figures show that there is no very big influx of Congolese migrants of any kind, let alone former prisoners in particular.

Everything he is saying isnt true, Democratic Republic of Congo spokesperson Patrick Muyaya Katembwe told CNN in a text message in March. Asked specifically about Trumps claims about Congolese prisons being emptied of violent criminals, he said, Never ever, its not true. And, he said, we want him to stop telling these stories, since its very bad for the country.

Serge Mombouli, the Republic of Congos ambassador to the US, said in an email to CNN in March: There is no truth or any sign nor a single fact supporting such a claim or statement.

You can read more here.

Trump and Nord Stream 2

Trump repeated his claim that he had ended a key Russian project  the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany. He said: You know, I ended the Russian pipeline. It was dead.

Facts First: Trumps claim is false. He did not end Nord Stream nor render it dead. While he did approve sanctions on companies working on the project, that move came nearly three years into his presidency, when the pipeline was already around 90% complete  and the state-owned Russian gas company behind the project said shortly after the sanctions that it would complete the pipeline itself. The company announced in December 2020 that construction was resuming. And with days left in Trumps term in January 2021, Germany announced that it had renewed permission for construction in its waters.

The pipeline never began operations; Germany ended up halting the project as Russia was about to invade Ukraine in early 2022. The pipeline was damaged later that year in what has been described as a likely act of sabotage.

Bidens tax policy

Trump claimed while denouncing the Biden administration: They want to raise your taxes by four times.

Facts First: This is false, just as it was when Trump made the same claim during the 2020 election campaign and in early 2024. Biden has not proposed to quadruple Americans taxes, and there has never been any indication that he is seeking to do so.

The nonpartisan Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center think tank, which analyzed Bidens never-implemented budget proposals for fiscal 2024, found this: His plan would raise average after-tax incomes for low-income households in 2024, leave them effectively unchanged for middle-income households, and lower after-tax incomes significantly for the highest-income taxpayers.

The Tax Policy Center found that Bidens proposal would, on average, have raised taxes by about $2,300  but thats about a 2.3% decline in after-tax income, not the massive reduction Trump is suggesting Biden wants. And critically, Tax Policy Center senior fellow Howard Gleckman noted to CNN on Friday that 95% of the tax hike would have been covered by the highest-income 5% of households.

The very biggest burden under the Biden plan would have been carried by the very richest households; the Tax Policy Center found that households in the top 0.1% would have seen their after-tax incomes decline by more than 20%. Thats a lot, Gleckman noted, but its still nowhere near the quadrupling Trump claims Biden is looking for. And again, even this increase would have been only for a tiny subset of the population.

Biden has promised not to raise taxes by even a cent for anyone making under $400,000 per year.

This story has been updated with additional reporting.

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Fact Check: The Truth Behind Claim 'New Study' Found 10 to 27% of Noncitizens in US Are Registered to Vote?

Claim:

A new study found that "10 to 27%" of noncitizens in the U.S. are registered voters.

Rating:

Rating: False

One independent researcher, James Agresti, published a re-interpretation of a widely discredited 2014 paper to make untenable conclusions about non-citizen voting behavior in 2024. No "new study" concluded that 10 to 27% of noncitizens in the U.S. are registered to vote.

The paper on which this claim is based produced estimates of noncitizen voter participation that even its author, Jesse Richman, no longer agrees with. The scientists responsible for collecting the data Richman used say it was a wildly inappropriate use of their data.

Despite these new developments, Agresti still relies on outdated estimates from that paper that are widely considered to be useless. Nonetheless, Agresti told Snopes he stands by his work.

In mid-May 2024, several conservative influencers began posting a new voter fraud talking point on social media platforms: "A new study shows that between 10% and 27% of noncitizens are illegally registered to vote." True The Vote, an "election integrity" group with a history of promoting misinformation, posted the claim on X on May 14, 2024:

The assertion was amplified by the conservative Heartland Institute and reshared by many conservative news and conspiracy theory websites. For example, Not The Bee, the right-leaning news arm of the satirical website Babylon Bee, posted a story based on these claims with the headline "up to a third of illegal immigrants are registered to vote, according to new study."

That headline garnered a repost from tech billonaire Elon Musk, who asked if the claim was accurate:

This claim was not accurate. It was merely the latest in a long line of mathematically misguided, headline-generating assertions originating from an organization named Just Facts, which describes itself as "a research and educational institute dedicated to publishing facts about public policies and teaching research skills." President and Co-Founder James Agresti authors most of the content on the site.

Since 2017, Agresti has repurposed the findings of a controversial 2014 study about noncitizen voting, conducted by Old Dominion University political scientist Jesse Richman, to argue the plausibility that noncitizens illegally participate in U.S. elections and that noncitizen votes have swayed past elections in favor of Democrats. Agresti uses Richman's research as the primary academic foundation for his claims.

That 2014 study used as its primary dataset a survey on voter behavior carried out every two years by polling firms on behalf of a Harvard University-led initiative now known as the Cooperative Election Survey (CES). The CES asks respondents "more than 100 questions regarding electoral participation, issue preferences, and candidate choices."

In 2017, over 200 political scientists and statisticians signed an open letter rejecting the reliability of Richman's findings. "The scholarly political science community has generally rejected the findings in the Richman et al. study and we believe it should not be cited or used in any debate over fraudulent voting," they wrote. In 2018, Harvard's Stephen Ansolabehere, one of the principle scientists behind CES, testified in a trial challenging the constitutionality of a Kansas voter-registration law that Richman's estimates of noncitizen voter participation were "not statistically different than zero."

In this piece, Snopes explains why Agresti's claim that "between 10% and 27% of noncitizens are illegally registered to vote" is unsupported by the evidence he cites, and we place this new claim in the context of the long-standing, misinformation-generating debate from which it originated.

For this story, Snopes spoke by email with Agresti, Richman, and Brian Schaffner  a Tufts political scientist and another primary investigator on CES. Schaffner rejects Richman and Agresti's use of the CES to study noncitizens entirely, and Richman disputes some of Agresti's claims. Agresti told Snopes he stands by his work.

A Decade of Dubious Deductions

Through online surveys, CES generates a dataset of tens of thousands of voting-age Americans every two years. This large dataset is then adjusted to match a random sample of voting-age Americans based on census data.

In his 2014 paper, Richman studied a small subset of individuals from CES surveys for the 2008 and 2010 elections  the people who said in a voluntary survey regarding U.S. voting behavior that they were noncitizens. In 2008, from a pool of 32,800 CES respondents, 339 people indicated that they were noncitizens. Out of 55,400 respondents in 2010, 489 people indicated they were noncitizens.

Richman's conclusion that about a quarter of noncitizens are registered to vote stemmed, in 2014, principally from these two pools of self-described noncitizens. As described in the 2014 paper, his best "adjusted estimate" came from those pools of people and from a database, Catalyst, that CES uses to match respondents to voter records. The paper said in part (emphasis ours):

Our best guess at the true percentage of noncitizens registered uses the 94 (weighted) noncitizens from [the 2008 CES] for whom Catalyst obtained a match to commercial and/or voter databases to estimate the portion of noncitizens who either claim to be registered when they are not (35%) or claim not to be registered when they are (18%). We then use these numbers to extrapolate for the entire sample of noncitizens in 2008 and 2010. Because most noncitizens who said they were registered were in fact registered, and quite a few who said they were not were actually registered, the adjusted estimate is the highest of the three estimates, indicating that roughly one quarter of noncitizens were likely registered to vote.

Much of the debate surrounding the 2014 Richman study, which Snopes covered in detail in 2017, focused on the fact that this sample size was so small relative to the larger pool that it could be accounted for, in large part, by actual citizens who did indeed register to vote but hit the wrong box on the citizenship question. A 2015 study by Shaffner and other CES colleagues published in 2015 raised this issue.

Schaffner and his colleagues identified a significant number of citizens who did incorrectly state they were noncitizens in those CES surveys, as he told Snopes in 2017:

In 2012, we re-interviewed 19,000 people who had been respondents for the 2010 [CES]. We asked them the same question about citizenship status as we had asked them in 2010. Of these 19,000, 121 had claimed to be noncitizens in 2010. In 2012, 36 of the 121 had changed their response to "citizen." Additionally, 20 people who had clicked on the "citizen" option in 2010 changed to "non-citizen" in 2012. Thus, it is clearly the case that a small share of respondents were misclicking on response options to that question in at least one of the two surveys (about 0.3%).

Since 2016, when Agresti's claims about massive noncitizen election participation first went viral, the author says he has used an improved version of the method employed by the Richman study to calculate noncitizen voter registration rates in recent years.

In his most recent post, Agresti argued that "the latest available data and an enhanced version of a stress-tested methodology from a scholarly journal,"  i.e., the Richman study  "has found that about 10% to 27% of non-citizen adults in the U.S. are now illegally registered to vote:

The U.S. Census recorded more than 19 million adult noncitizens living in the U.S. during 2022. Given their voter registration rates, this means that about two million to five million of them are illegally registered to vote. These figures are potentially high enough to overturn the will of the American people in major elections, including congressional seats and the presidency.

While this latest version of the "enhanced" Just Facts method does factor in CES data from 2022, it still fundamentally relies on the analyses of datasets from 2008 and 2010. Agresti's use of this old data is crucial, because Richman himself has largely moved on from the more sensational claims made in that study.

As an expert witness in several voter fraud-related cases since 2018, Richman has stated under oath that he believes the best estimate of the registration rate by noncitizens in the U.S. is below 1 percent.

An Expert Report Complicates Agresti's Claim

Richman's 2014 paper re-emerged as a topic of discussion in March 2024  before Agresti made his most recent claim  thanks to documents produced in a 2023 case challenging the constitutionality of recently enacted voter ID laws in Arizona. As an expert witness, Richman was given access to Arizona Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV) records and voter rolls. He conducted two studies to identify noncitizens who registered to vote in Arizona using that data and an additional study with more recent CES data.

Those reports were initially filed under seal, but they were unearthed thanks to a public records request by Glenn Kessler of The Washington Post. In a March 2024 story, Kessler described what Richman found (emphasis ours):

Richman said he found [using Arizona DMV and voter records] that 1,934 voters (0.43 percent of Arizona voting-age noncitizens) had records that indicated they were not citizens at the time they registered or after registering to vote.  Richman also examined 2022 data from the Cooperative Election Study, which now has a more precise way of asking a question about a voter's citizenship and a larger sample size than the surveys he studied for his 2014 paper. He found that just under 1 percent of noncitizens indicated they had registered to vote  again, much smaller than his previous findings.

Via email, Snopes asked Richman if he felt as though these new analyses validated his critics' concerns about his earlier work. In response, Richman argued that the analyses lent some credence to the criticism, but also ameliorated other specific concerns with the work:

In terms of credence, the fact that the estimates are lower supports the possibility that there was some bias generated by response error on the citizenship status question as the critics alleged.  [But] there is no evidence in the recent [CES] data of the kind of inconsistent responses to the citizenship question that critics hypothesized, so there isn't direct evidence for the critics' main claim [of response error].

There may have been no "direct evidence" for error on the citizenship question in the 2022 CES dataset, as Richman argues, but it would be misleading to suggest this silenced critics about the possibility of response error in earlier CES datasets, on other questions within that dataset, or with clerical errors in the datasets against which they were validated. Agresti, in an email to Snopes, falsely claimed that Richman's expert report "completely debunked" the notion of incorrect answers to the citizenship question.

Factually, there is evidence of citizens incorrectly stating they were noncitizens in those earlier CES datasets. And those datasets are the ones that provided the estimates with much higher figures that Agresti continues to cite. Agresti dismissed Richman's new numbers as merely "lowball estimates" that unfairly undercount noncitizens. Even Richman told Snopes such a conclusion is in error:

I think the 10 percent figure has a foundation in my work, though it needs to be caveated more clearly to indicate the risks of being biased upwards, and I think it is absolutely inappropriate as a lower bound. The appropriate lower bound should be based upon individuals with validated registration status who said they were registered (i.e. less than one percent in 2022). I don't think the 27 percent figure is reasonable, partly because of changes in the methodology of the CES, and partly because I don't fully understand how it was calculated.

Agresti, in an email to Snopes, argued that Richman was wrong, in part because "Richman used and defended the same methodology in 2016 and 2017." The inexorable forward march of time, such as it is, often produces new information that challenges previous work. Thanks to new data and enhanced methodologies, Richman does not agree with the high-end conclusions he produced a decade ago, and Agresti continues to rely on them in spite of that fact.

'Squeezing Blood from a Turnip'

It might be easy to get lost in the minutiae of Richman's work and Agresti's apparent misuse of it. A much more simple rebuttal to the claim that up to 27% of the noncitizen voting population is registered to vote comes from the fact that the CES survey underlying the claim is fundamentally unsuited to answer any question about noncitizens. Schaffner told Snopes:

The CES  is designed to sample American adults. Once the weights are applied, it is therefore a representative sample of American adults on a wide variety of demographic, socioeconomic, and political variables. It is not designed to be a sample of noncitizen adults and therefore it is not fit for the purpose of studying that subset of respondents.

Agresti, in a Just Facts post and in discussion with Snopes, employed a rhetorical sleight of hand to justify his use of the purported noncitizen data pool in CES in spite of this criticism. In essence, Agresti argues that because the CES itself used modeling to make its sample representative, he, too, can weight his noncitizen data pool  in his case to match the demographics of the noncitizen population.

"The data used for the 2014 Electoral Studies paper and the 2017 Just Facts study were both weighted to make the results nationally representative of the non-citizen population," Agresti explained to Snopes in an email.

That's not how any of this works, according to Schaffner. There are some things you simply cannot model away. One situation in which such modeling fails is when the pool of survey respondents you draw your study group from was collected in such a way that would exclude or undercount the very group you are studying, something known as a "noncoverage bias."

"No amount of adjustment or modeling like what Agresti describes is going to actually fix the issue that the CES is never intended to include a representative sample of noncitizens," Schaffner told Snopes. "Many or even most noncitizens are not going to be eager to sign up to take a survey that requires them to provide identifying information," he argued.

"There are much better ways to analyze whether noncitizens register to vote," Schaffner told Snopes. These methods, some of which Richman used in his recent expert reports, involve looking voter rolls and other state records to identify any individuals who appear to be noncitizens. Studies like these, including the Richman expert reports, "overwhelmingly resulted in finding very few noncitizens registered to vote," Schaffner told Snopes.

"The fact that people are still trying to use the CES to do a study like this reflects that they don't like the result one gets from using a much more valid approach and therefore they are trying to squeeze blood from a turnip instead," Schaffner argued.

The Bottom Line

The claim that 10 to 27% of noncitizens in America are registered to vote is not rooted in an academic, peer-reviewed study. It is, instead, based on one person's interpretation of a controversial, decade-old paper that the political science field has since overwhelmingly rejected.

Because no "new study" has come to this conclusion, because the "groundbreaking study" from 2014 on which the claim is based has been widely rejected, and because the author of that (discredited) study rejects its present use, we rate the claim as "False."

Sources:

Ansolabehere, Stephen, et al. "The Perils of Cherry Picking Low Frequency Events in Large Sample Surveys." Electoral Studies, vol. 40, Dec. 2015, pp. 40910. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2015.07.002.

Cooperative Election Study. https://cces.gov.harvard.edu/home. Accessed 23 May 2024.

Just Facts - About Us. 25 Nov. 2023, https://www.justfacts.com/aboutus.asp.

Just Facts - Immigration. 23 May 2024, https://www.justfacts.com/immigration#electoral.

Kessler, Glenn. "Analysis | The Truth about Noncitizen Voting in Federal Elections." Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024. www.washingtonpost.com, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/06/truth-about-noncitizen-voting-federal-elections/.

Mueller, Zachary. "Fish v. Kobach Trial - Day 6  Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights." Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights, 14 Mar. 2018, https://irehr.org/2018/03/14/fish-v-kobach-trial-day-6/.

Office of Public Affairs | Court Finds That Arizona Voter Registration Provisions Violate Federal Law | United States Department of Justice. 1 Mar. 2024, https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/court-finds-arizona-voter-registration-provisions-violate-federal-law.

"Peter Schweizer: Border Crisis Could Increase Number of Illegal Ballots Cast in 2024  up to 2.7M." Breitbart, 15 May 2024, https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2024/05/15/peter-schweizer-biden-border-crisis-could-increase-illegal-ballots-cast-in-2024-up-to-2-7-million/.

"Quantifying Illegal Votes Cast by noncitizens in the Battleground States of the 2020 Presidential Election." Just Facts, 8 Nov. 2020, https://www.justfactsdaily.com/quantifying-illegal-votes-cast-by-noncitizens-in-the-battleground-states-of-the-2020-presidential-election.

Richman, Jesse T., et al. "Do noncitizens Vote in U.S. Elections?" Electoral Studies, vol. 36, Dec. 2014, pp. 14957. ScienceDirect, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2014.09.001.

"Study: 10% to 27% of noncitizens Are Illegally Registered to Vote." The Heartland Institute, 14 May 2024, https://heartland.org/opinion/study-10-to-27-of-noncitizens-are-illegally-registered-to-vote/.

Study Finds Up to a Third of All noncitizens in the United States Are Illegally Registered to Vote | The Ohio Star. 15 May 2024, https://theohiostar.com/news/study-finds-up-to-a-third-of-all-noncitizens-in-the-united-states-are-illegally-registered-to-vote/ohstarstaff/2024/05/15/.

"Study: 'noncitizens' Are Registered to Vote, Could Decide next President | WND | by WND Staff." WND, 15 May 2024, https://www.wnd.com/2024/05/study-noncitizens-registered-vote-decide-next-president/.

"Substantial Numbers of noncitizens Vote Illegally in U.S. Elections." Just Facts, 15 Dec. 2016, https://www.justfactsdaily.com/substantial-numbers-of-noncitizens-vote-illegally-in-u-s-elections.

Tesler, Michael. "Methodological Challenges Affect Study of noncitizens' Voting." Washington Post, 7 Dec. 2021. www.washingtonpost.com, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2014/10/27/methodological-challenges-affect-study-of-noncitizens-voting/.

Up to a Quarter of Illegal Immigrants Are Registered to Vote, According to New Study: "Potentially High Enough to Overturn the Will of the American People." https://notthebee.com/article/up-to-a-third-of-all-illegal-immigrants-in-the-us-are-registered-to-vote-just-in-case-you-wanted-to-know-how-2024-is-going-to-go. Accessed 23 May 2024.


U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the Middle East at the White House in Washington

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday laid out a three-phase ceasefire proposal from Israel to Palestinian Islamist group Hamas to end the war in Gaza that has killed tens of thousands and caused a humanitarian crisis.

The offer calls for a ceasefire, the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, and the reconstruction of Gaza.

A senior U.S. official said the four-and-a-half page plan had been sent to Hamas for review on Thursday, and that it was "almost identical" to a proposal the militant group had already accepted. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday that it backed the plan.

Here are the three phases as described by Biden in a speech and by U.S. officials at a briefing held later.

PHASE ONE: CEASEFIRE, LIMITED HOSTAGE RELEASE AND ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL

Biden said the first phase of Israel's offer would last for six weeks and would include a "full and complete" ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from "all populated areas" of Gaza and the "release of a number of hostages including women, the elderly, the wounded in exchange for release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners."

Biden added that in this phase, Palestinian civilians will return to their homes and neighborhoods in all areas of Gaza, while humanitarian assistance will increase to 600 trucks carrying aid into Gaza every day.

"With a ceasefire, that aid could be safely and effectively distributed to all who need it. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters, including housing units could be delivered by the international community," Biden added, saying the first phase could begin immediately after a deal is reached.

The first phase will also include talks between Israel and Hamas to get to the next stage of the proposal.

PHASE TWO: RELEASE OF ALL HOSTAGES, FULL ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL

Biden called the second phase "a permanent end to hostilities." However, he added that the negotiations to arrive at the second phase could take longer than six weeks as there were going to be differences between the two sides.

"Israel will want to make sure its interests are protected but the proposal says if the negotiations take longer than six weeks from phase one, the ceasefire will still continue for as long as negotiations continue," Biden said, which would mark a new development from previous proposals.

He added that the U.S., Qatar and Egypt will ensure that talks continue during this period until "all agreements are reached" to start the second phase.

The second phase would see a release of all remaining hostages who are alive, including male soldiers, while Israeli forces will withdraw from Gaza, according to Biden. He added: "And as long as Hamas lives up to its commitments, a temporary ceasefire will become - in the words of the Israeli proposal - the cessation of hostilities permanently."

PHASE THREE: RECONSTRUCTION, BODIES RETURNED

In the third phase, Biden said "a major reconstruction plan for Gaza would commence and any final remains of hostages who have been killed would be returned to their families."

Biden said Israel had "devastated Hamas forces over the past eight months," adding: "At this point, Hamas no longer is capable of carrying out another Oct. 7."

In the deal to rebuild Gaza, Arab nations and the international community will also participate in a "manner that does not allow Hamas to rearm," Biden said. He added Washington will work with its partners to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza, where the war has displaced nearly the entire 2.3 million population and caused widespread hunger.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Heather Timmons and Deepa Babington)
HERNDON, Va. (DC News Now)  An elementary school in Fairfax County was evacuated Thursday afternoon due to an electrical event, officials said.

FAA investigating near miss at Reagan National Airport

The Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department said crews responded to Floris Elementary School, located in the 2700 block of Centerville Road, just before 3 p.m. after receiving reports of smoke inside the school.

The elementary school was evacuated, and crews ended up finding out that the smoke had something to do with the HVAC system, officials said.

No injuries were reported and everyone was allowed back inside the school afterwards.

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.
A familys $15,000 Carnival Cruise trip was last-minute canceled due to alleged identity theft.

Two days before Tiffany Banks family was supposed to embark on their Carnival Celebration voyage, the mom of four from Kentucky received the devastating news that they were no longer registered. Banks, her husband, and their children were meant to fly to Florida the next day to set sail on the trip, which she claims to have paid in full. However, after Banks accidentally shared their booking information online in a post counting down the days to the trip, someone supposedly canceled their reservation.

On May 12, Banks took to TikTok to detail her familys situation. I have to laugh, or Im just going to sit down and cry and just absolutely lose my mind, she started. She explained how she had gotten an email from Carnival the morning before to let her know two of their excursions had been canceled.

The frustrated mother called Carnival to inquire. To her surprise, the company representative allegedly told her that Banks had canceled their $12,000 reservation for the Excel Presidential Suite on the ship. But according to Banks, neither she nor her husband had made any cancelations.

We have nearly $15,000 tied up in for this vacation including excursions. The room itself was I think $12,000 or $13,000, and then weve got a few grand tied up in excursions, and actually with almost $2,000 for flights, Banks added.

While Carnival offered to rebook the family two interior rooms because now the Excel Presidential Suite had been taken by another family, Banks declined, arguing the replacement wasnt much of a compromise considering they had planned to stay in a more expensive room.

Banks claimed Carnival had refused to give her a full refund due to their no-refund return policy within 15 days of the sail date.

In a ditch effort to see if the fate of their trip could be changed, Banks and her family flew to Miami, Florida, hoping theyd be able to board the ship. Unfortunately, things did not work out how theyd hoped, and the family of six ended up renting an Airbnb in Miami instead.

On May 13, Banks took to her social media page to address the online skeptics who accused her of not sharing the full story. To those criticizing her character and proclaiming she was wrong, Banks continued to say she was telling the truth and anyone who knew her would know she was being candid.

Finally, in a separate follow-up video with a recorded clip of her phone call, Banks revealed that she was a victim of a form of identity theft based on Carnivals investigation. Allegedly, when Banks and her partner posted their booking confirmation email on Facebook ahead of their trip, someone went on to Carnivals website, created an account, and used their trip confirmation number.

The Carnival representative could be heard telling Banks that their reservation was canceled by someone who appeared to have an IP address in British Columbia. Per Banks report, Carnival offered her $10,404 in credit for their next trip if she posted on social media to say the company had resolved the issue. However, Banks said she wasnt interested in that solution or ever booking with Carnival again.

The Independent has contacted Banks and Carnival for comment.
The family of a mental patient who died in law-enforcement custody last year at Central State Hospital is re-stressing its call for U.S. Justice Department involvement after Dinwiddies top prosecutor downgraded charges against the remaining three defendants from second-degree murder to involuntary manslaughter.

When asked by The Progress-Index late Thursday about a renewed call, Mark Krudys, co-counsel for Irvo Noel Otienos family, replied, Yes.

As a matter of fact, [Otienos mother Caroline] Ouko asked me when our statement was issued, Mark, do you think now that DOJ will get involved?' Krudys said in a text message.

Thursday, updated records in Dinwiddie County Circuit Court indicated that Commonwealths Attorney Amanda Nicole Mann reduced the single charges against former Henrico County deputies Kaiyell Sanders and Brandon Rodgers, and former CSH security guard Wavie Jones. They were the final three of originally 10 deputies and hospital security guards charged with the March 6, 2023, death of Otieno.

The downgrades also carry lesser punishments, from up to 40 years in prison on second-degree murder to a maximum 10 years for involuntary manslaughter.

Otieno

Otieno, a 28-year-old Henrico County man of Kenyan descent, suffocated to death on a CSH intake unit floor after the deputies and guards piled on top of him and held him down for more than 11 minutes. The defendants claimed that Otieno, who appeared to be incognizant of his surroundings on hospital surveillance video, resisted their restraints and attempted to escape, prompting the move to pin him to the floor.

Mann was not available for comment on the decision to downgrade the charges.

Twists and turns

The decision was the latest in a series of legal wranglings in the case.

Originally, former Dinwiddie commonwealths attorney Ann Cabell Baskervill sought charges against all the defendants after viewing the video. All 10 were indicted on the charges, but Baskerville later dropped charges against two of the ones she deemed to be less culpable in Otienos death.

Baskervill later resigned as commonwealths attorney to study overseas. She was replaced on an interim basis by Jonathan Bourlier, who in turn was defeated by Mann in last Novembers general election.

Earlier this month, Mann announced she was not prosecuting the charges against five of the remaining eight defendants  two security guards and three deputies. The move was roundly criticized by Otienos family and supporters, and relaunched calls for federal prosecution of all defendants. Baskervill had said she would have welcomed the Justice Department to assist with the case, while Mann has remained silent about it.

Trials against the remaining three defendants will begin later this year in Dinwiddie County.

Videos proof of malice

Ouko

In a statement Thursday afternoon, Krudys expressed the familys disappointment in the reduction of the charges, noting that the video showed ample evidence to show malice in the death of her son.

Ms. Ouko fears that Irvos story will become one of many instances where justice was denied for Black men whose lives were stolen through law enforcement actions, Krudys said in the statement. He added that Mann informed the family of the decision prior to filing it.

The surveillance video showed the defendants atop Otieno as he was lying face down on his stomach. It was only after a hospital staffer notice Otieno was limp and not moving that the deputies and guards rolled him over.

It is well known throughout the law enforcement and medical communities that holding a subject in a position of prone restraint for prolonged periods of time can be deadly, Krudys said. Compressing a person in a prone position with weight on their back and/or abdomen restricts their ability to breathe and can result in asphyxiation.

Indeed, many of the defendant deputies admit that Mr. Otieno was restrained for a significant amount of time while on his stomach. A witness to the incident said that the defendants were directed by staff more than once to place Mr. Otieno on his side.

A pattern of harsh treatment

This image shows Henrico County deputies and Central State Hospital personnel restraining Irvo Otieno in the hospital's admissions area Monday, March 6, 2023. Otieno later died of apparent suffocation as a result of being restrained.

Otienos family said the CSH treatment was a continuance of how deputies dealt with him while being held at the Henrico County West Jail. Video from the jail depicted Sanders punching a defenseless, pepper-sprayed Irvo an unconscionable 15 times while Mr. Otieno is laying on the floor, pinned under at least three deputies, Krudys statement read. Seven of those punches were rapidly thrown against Otienos head which bounces off of the holding cell floor with each strike, according to the statement.

Otieno had been taken into custody March 3, 2023, after being implicated in a burglary in his Henrico neighborhood. Officers found Otieno in an impaired mental state at his residence and being attended to by his mother.

He was taken by authorities to a Henrico hospital emergency room where Ouko said she was denied the opportunity to be with him by hospital personnel despite him calling for her. She said her son was removed from the emergency room through a rear door and taken to the jail, making the ER visit the last time she would see her son alive.

That action prompted the Virginia General Assembly to adopt bipartisan legislation that would permit family members of mental patients incapable of making their own decisions to be present at all times during emergency treatment. Both the House of Delegates and the state Senate unanimously passed what became known as Irvos Law, and Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed it.

Nationwide notice

The Otieno case drew notice across the nation to the 2020 incident that saw George Floyd killed after a Minneapolis police officer subdued him with a knee across Floyds neck. Floyds words of I cant breathe became the mantra of numerous demonstrations around the U.S. -- including a major days-long protest in Richmond  highlighting what the participants said was racial inequality in both the criminal justice and mental health systems.

Nationally known civil-rights attorney Benjamin Crump joined Krudys as the Otieno familys co-counsel. Civil-rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton delivered the eulogy at Otienos funeral in Chesterfield County. Otienos mother and brother were sought out as speakers and advocates at mental health events and conferences all over the U.S.

Related: USA TODAY's Women of the Year: Meet the woman who dared to charge seven Virginia deputies with murder

Related: A year after Irvo Otieno died, his mother says her heart still 'grieves for his loss'

Bill Atkinson (he/him/his) is an award-winning journalist who covers breaking news, government and politics. Reach him at batkinson@progress-index.com or on X (formerly known as Twitter) at @BAtkinson_PI.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Murder reduced to manslaughter in 2023 death of mental hospital patient
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. In a significant move to enhance its capabilities, Saipem has entered a long-term bareboat charter agreement for the state-of-the-art offshore vessel JSD6000, Trend reports via the company.

The completion ceremony for the JSD6000, designed for heavy lifting, construction, and pipelaying, was held at ZPMCs Changxing base.

Saipem, a leader in engineering and construction (E&C) services, has signed a five-year charter contract with ZPMC, a prominent Chinese state-owned manufacturer of port and naval machinery. The agreement includes two one-year extension options, positioning Saipem to leverage this advanced vessel for the foreseeable future.

The JSD6000, slated for delivery in June 2024, will join Saipems fleet, aligning with the companys capital-light strategy outlined in its Strategic Plan. This move allows Saipem to broaden its service offerings with a vessel that meets the highest safety and environmental standards, reinforcing its leadership in the deepwater subsea installation services market, which is currently experiencing heightened demand.

Boasting a DP3 dynamic positioning system and a heavy-lift capacity of up to 5,200 tonnes, the JSD6000 is capable of laying pipelines up to 36 inches in diameter in J-Lay mode and up to 60 inches in S-Lay mode at water depths of up to 3,000 meters.

Follow the author on X: @Lyaman_Zeyn
(WTNH)  The family of a dancer who died after eating cookies bought at a Connecticut supermarket has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company.

Orla Baxendale, a 25-year-old dancer from New York, suffered a fatal allergic reaction on Jan. 11, 2024, after consuming Florentine Cookies from Stew Leonards grocery store, according to a law firm representing her family.

It was later determined that the cookies contained an undeclared peanut ingredient, Connecticuts departments of Public Health (DPH) and Consumer Protection (DCP) wrote in a warning/recall notice issued after Baxendales death.

Feeding peanuts to young children could reduce allergy risk: study

The familys complaint, filed last week, alleges that Stew Leonards exhibited gross negligence and reckless indifference by failing to properly label the package of cookies, causing Ms. Baxendales death.

The cookies contained undeclared peanuts that may have led to the death of one person at a CT social gathering, according to state officials. (Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection)

Nexstars WPIX had reached out to Stew Leonards representatives, who said they could not comment on pending litigation.

In January, however, CEO Stew Leonard Jr. instead blamed the company that supplied the cookies  Cookies United, of Islip, New York  alleging they changed the recipe without notifying the chief safety officer at Stew Leonards.

Cookies United responded shortly after, but claimed they had informed Stew Leonards of the new ingredients about six months before the incident, in July 2023. The company said the cookies were shipped to Stew Leonards with updated labels, but Stew Leonards repackaged the cookies with an incorrect label.

Do you live in an allergy capital? These US cities are worst for allergies

Both Stew Leonards and Cookies United were named as defendants in the lawsuit.

Stew-LeonardsDownload

The evidence clearly shows that a deadly cookie sold and packaged by Stew Leonards killed Orla Ruth Baxendale who was in the prime of her life and caused her parents Angela and Simon Baxendale to suffer the loss of their child, yet, Stew Leonards has failed to take responsibility for the senseless and preventable tragedy of Orla Ruth Baxendales death, reads a portion of the complaint.

The lawsuit, filed by the personal injury law firm of Gair, Gair, Conason, Rubinowitz, Bloom, Hershenhorn, Steigman & Mackauf. is seeking both monetary and punitive damages, as well as attorneys fees and any other relief the court deems just and proper.

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 an Idaho jury weighs whether doomsday author Chad Daybell should get the death penalty after being convicted in the murders of his first wife and his second wife's two children, family members of the three victims gave emotional statements to the court on Friday.

The jury found him guilty on all counts in what prosecutors said was a plot to pursue "money, power and sex."

Thursday's verdict in the capital murder trial comes more than a year after Daybell's second wife, Lori Vallow, was also convicted of murdering her two youngest children -- Joshua "JJ" Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 16. Their remains were found on a property in Idaho belonging to Daybell in June 2020 after the children had been missing for several months.

MORE: Doomsday author Chad Daybell found guilty in triple-murder case

Daybell, 55, was charged with murder and conspiracy in the deaths of the two children as well as his former wife of nearly 30 years, Tamara "Tammy" Daybell, 49, with whom he had five children. She died in their home on Oct. 19, 2019, with the cause of death asphyxiation, prosecutors revealed during Vallow's trial. Daybell and Vallow were married in Hawaii two weeks later.

Prosecutors said Daybell, the author of books about the apocalypse, promoted spiritual beliefs to justify the murders and had claimed that all three were possessed and "marked" them for death so that he and Vallow could be together "unencumbered by earthly relatives, earthly obstacles."

PHOTO: Chad Daybell sits at the defense table after the jury's verdict in his murder trial was read at the Ada County Courthouse in Boise, Idaho, on May 30, 2024. (Kyle Green/AP)

Daybell was also found guilty of two counts of insurance fraud related to $430,000 in life insurance policies he had on Tamara Daybell for which he was the beneficiary, prosecutors said.

During victim impact statements delivered ahead of the jury deliberations on the sentencing, several family members recalled their grief over Tamara Daybell's sudden death on Oct. 19, 2019, and the ensuing anguish and anger to learn that, following an exhumation to conduct an autopsy, she was murdered.

"My sister should not be dead right now," Samantha Gwilliam told the court. "She should be here alive, smiling, with her family and friends. She should be doting on her grandchildren and taking care of her animals."

"It is a cruel world that has taken her from us. We need to feel some peace for the first time in five years," she continued. "I miss my sister every day. I will grieve for her for the rest of my life. I speak up for her now because she needs a voice."

Their brother, Matthew Douglas, said Tamara Daybell was the "emotional heart and glue of our siblings' group."

"I still can't wrap my head and heart around the chain of events," he said, saying this has been a "nightmare that you feel never ends."

MORE: Lori Vallow Daybell sentencing updates: 'Doomsday' mom gets life in prison without parole

Ben Douglas said the pain of losing their sister was "immeasurable" and has been compounded by also impacting their relationship with her children -- a sentiment echoed by his family.

"The tragedy of the case has harmed our family's relationship with the kids," her father, Ron Douglas, told the court. "I will remain open to rebuilding a relationship with them. It makes me angry, and it destroys me to know Tammy was treated how she was."

The eldest sibling, Michael Douglas, told the court that he did not sleep for six weeks after learning the results of the autopsy, and that his peace has been "stolen."

"I now have an angry part that has become, hopefully, not a permanent part of me," he said.

Her siblings expressed their shock and horror at learning that two children were also killed.

"I retched and sobbed over learning about JJ and Tylee," Gwilliam said through tears.

PHOTO: In this July 20, 2020, file photo, flowers, cards and pictures are shown at the Chad Daybell property, where the bodies of Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow were discovered on June 9, 2020. The two children had been missing since September, 2019. (John Todd Ogden/Shutterstock, FILE)

Ryan was a child from Vallow's third marriage while JJ was the nephew of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, whom they adopted.

Kay Woodcock, JJ's grandmother, described her "immense pain" over the boy's death, which she called a "betrayal that can't be explained."

"There's a hole in my heart, in the hearts of every member of my family, that can never be filled and will remain for the rest of my life," she said, crying.

She said JJ was incredibly smart and compassionate and cried over the fact that she could not create more memories with him.

"The constant question remains -- who would he have become?" she said. "Would he be a famous scientist with incredible math skills? What would his amazing imagination have bloomed into? Would have been the next Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs, Tim Burton, Elon Musk? We will never know. But we do know how incredibly special he was to us."

Ryan's aunt, Annie Cushing, said she and her niece bonded over their love of pop culture and she had planned to bring the teen to New York City for her 18th birthday.

"Tylee had her whole life ahead of her. She had dignity, she had dreams, she had goals," Cushing said. "The defendant stole that."

The children's brother, Colby Ryan -- Vallow's eldest child -- expressed his grief at not seeing his siblings grow up.

"It's very hard for me to put into words what it means to have lost my entire family," he told the court. "In short, I've lost everything I've ever known."

He said his three children will never know Ryan's kind heart or JJ's "silly, goofy personality."

"But more importantly, Tylee and JJ lost their lives," he continued.

MORE: Chad Daybell's pursuit for 'sex, money and power' led to 3 murders, prosecutor claims in opening statement

The jury began deliberations Friday afternoon in the sentencing on whether the circumstances of the case warrant the death penalty, being sought by the state for what they called the "heinous" manner of the deaths.

"The defendant exhibited utter disregard for human life. Tylee was only 16 years old. JJ was only seven years old. Tammy -- a 49-year-old mother of five, the mother of the defendant's kids," prosecutor Lindsey Blake told the jurors Friday prior to the sentencing deliberations. "It didn't matter the age of the victim or who relied on them and loved them. If they were in the way of Chad and his plan and/or if there was money to be gained for Lori and Chad, those individuals were marked for death."

Defense attorney John Prior meanwhile painted Daybell as a quiet, small-town man committed to faith and family before blaming Vallow as a "bomb" dropped in his life, causing chaos.

"She was the trajectory that changed the plan," he told the court Friday. "You don't go back on 29 years of marriage with nothing as far as a speeding ticket, raising five wonderful children."

Daybell did not address the court during the sentencing phase of the trial. He also did not take the stand to testify in his own defense prior to the verdict.

Vallow was sentenced to life in prison without parole in July 2023 for the murders of her two children and for conspiring to kill them and Tamara Daybell. The judge had granted the defense's motion to dismiss the death penalty in her case.

She also faces charges over the death of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow, who was shot and killed by her brother in 2019.

Since the death penalty was established in Idaho in 1864, the state has carried out 29 executions, most recently in 2012, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

There are currently eight residents on death row in Idaho, according to the state Department of Corrections.

ABC News' Jeffrey Cook contributed to this report.

Family members give emotional victim impact statements in Chad Daybell triple-murder trial originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Far right AfD cracks Germany's post-Nazi firewalls with success in the east

By Sarah Marsh and Andreas Rinke

SONNEBERG, Germany (Reuters) - In a recent discussion by the east German district council of Sonneberg about getting refugees into work, Roland Schliewe of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) said demanding jobs could not be given to North Africans because they had a low IQ.

Despite the remarks, recorded in a transcript obtained by Reuters, Schliewe was re-elected to Sonneberg's council on Sunday. The AfD won 26% of the vote across the state of Thuringia, up eight points from 2019.

In neighbouring Hildburghausen, a man who sells merchandise featuring Nazi and Ku Klux Klan motifs won 25% and is now in a run-off to become district administrator.

Such events were for decades unthinkable in a Germany so traumatised by the Nazi era that it installed checks and balances to prevent right-wing extremists ever taking power again.

But with a national election next year, and the AfD polling second at around 16%, it must face the fact that right-wing extremism is now widely accepted in the poorer eastern regions such as Thuringia and changing the shape of politics in west Germany too.

Interviews with a dozen local politicians as well as political analysts and a top intelligence official show how the discourse of extremism in Thuringia is being normalised and fomenting anger towards certain groups of society like refugees and climate activists.

The AfD portrays itself as the target of a complacent, self-serving establishment that it stands ready to sweep away.

In its heartland, formerly communist eastern Germany, incomes are lower, mainstream parties are less rooted, and democracy is only three decades old.

The party is suspected of "extremism" by the BfV domestic intelligence agency at national level and certified as such in Thuringia.

Its national surge over the past year, helped by a cost-of-living crisis, has been dented only slightly by a string of scandals.

It made gains on Sunday in district and city councils in Thuringia and reached June 9 run-offs for governing posts in nine districts.

"They are incrementally conquering the lower levels, conquering spaces," said political scientist Oliver Lembcke at the University of Bochum. "And this is possible because in some regions now, people feel freer to support the AfD openly."

As well as rejecting immigration, the AfD is an aggressive opponent of "green" measures to cut fossil fuel emissions, an issue that has spurred farmer protests across Germany and Europe.

NAZI-TYPE LANGUAGE NO LONGER TABOO

Stephan Kramer, head of Thuringia's domestic intelligence agency, said it was normalising the discourse of extremism, defined as attacking the democratic basis of Germany's constitution.

"This leads to further disinhibition and radicalisation in parts of the population," he told Reuters. "Everyday interactions are becoming increasingly aggressive."

Marcel Rocho, 44, owner of a bar in the town of Sonneberg, said an AfD city councillor had once toasted a friend with the Nazi greeting "Sieg Heil!" ("Hail Victory!"). The councillor, who was also re-elected on Sunday, denies the allegations.

"Ten years ago, you might have heard these kinds of greetings in someone's garage - but not in public, like now."

The AfD has not made it into state or federal government as other parties refuse to form a coalition with it.

But it leads surveys ahead of three eastern regional assembly elections in September, including Thuringia. It may not be able to govern afterwards - but already in Thuringia, opposition parties have passed laws with AfD support.

Nationwide, the AfD also has little chance of attaining power next year. But its role in eroding the vote of traditional parties is set to promote more strained and ultimately unpopular alliances of unlikely bedfellows, such as Chancellor Olaf Scholz's current Social Democrat-Liberal-Green coalition, just as, in Kramer's words, "hatred and agitation dominate the political climate of discussion".

"The enemies of democracy are using their democratic rights in the parliaments to delegitimise and destabilise the state by deliberately destroying trust in democracy and its institutions," he said.

Germans often nervously evoke the rise of the Nazis in the weak inter-war Weimar Republic, after the humiliating defeat of the German Reich in World War One and the Great Depression.

Kramer said today's Germany had a much more robust democratic tradition, but there were parallels in the current discontent and erosion of faith in democracy.

RACIST INSULTS AND VIOLENCE ON THE RISE

German authorities are supposed to vet candidates for extremism. Yet critics say they are failing, perhaps because they are complacent, lack resources, fear retaliation - or, more worryingly, because they are themselves increasingly right-wing.

Robert Sesselmann passed his "democracy check" last year after being elected district administrator in Sonneberg with 53%, even though Thuringia's BfV delivered a 10-page dossier on him. It was the first time the AfD had won a governing post.

Once in office, he tried to cut funds for civic education projects including trips for teenagers to the Nazi concentration camp at Buchenwald, four councillors told Reuters. Sesselmann said the district's optional services in particular are being scrutinised due to budget consolidation.

In a speech at an AfD event last October, recorded and posted on Facebook, he said refugees habitually turned to drug dealing or other illegal business when given cash, and so should only get material support instead.

He said it hurt him to spend funds on health because it was not going to "our people" but to refugees who had no health insurance.

Such rhetoric has made life hard for Sonneberg's refugees.

Ukrainian refugee Iryna Holovko, 39, said her daughter had been bullied at school, and added: "I was walking down the street when someone just stuck their middle finger up at me and told me to go back to my country ...

"Then, when I was at the hospital, people were asking why Ukrainians were always sick and needing treatment."

Last year, Sonneberg recorded 20 incidents of right-wing violence, including on refugee shelters, against four in 2022, according to the rights group Ezra.

And Heidi Buettner, former councillor for the Greens in Sonneberg, said a note was pushed through her letterbox calling her a "Dirty Green swine".

Many people are being put off political activity, Thuringia Greens chief Max Reschke said.

Mainstream parties are struggling to engage younger people, and fielded fewer candidates in Thuringia's local elections this year than in 2019.

Meanwhile the AfD, only 11 years old, has been expanding, and fielded 44% more candidates.

"We are seeing a clearing-out of established political culture," said political scientist Lembcke. "Meanwhile, the AfD doesn't face as much stigma anymore and is filling the void."

($1 = 0.9233 euros)

(Reporting by Sarah Marsh; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Israels far-right finance minister threatened on Thursday to turn Palestinian towns in the occupied West Bank into ruins like the Gaza Strip as soldiers and settlers escalate their raids against Palestinian civilians.

In a video he recorded of himself outside, Bezalel Smotrich addressed his neighbors beyond the fence in the West Banks Palestinian areas of Tulkarem, Nur al-Shams, Shuweika and Qalqilya.

We will turn you into ruins like in the Gaza Strip if the terror you are inflicting on the settlements continues. Terrorism against the citizens of Israel must stop, the extremist minister and settler said in Hebrew, referring to Israels military offensive in Gaza that in eight months has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians and displaced most of Gazas population.

Smotrichs comments come amid escalating violence in the occupied West Bank. Most of the attacks are from the Israeli military and from settlers who have carried out raids against Palestinian nearly every day since Oct. 7, when Hamas militants from Gaza attacked southern Israel and killed about 1,200 people and captured about 240 others, half of whom are still being held by Hamas.

Palestinians in the West Bank have been subjected to settler violence and forced evictions for years. But since Oct. 7, more than 500 Palestinians  including at least 130 children  in the occupied territory have been killed, and nearly 5,000 have been injured by settlers and the IDF, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. That death toll is as of May 26, due to casualty figures in the West Bank and East Jerusalem not being updated as regularly as in Gaza.

Though Smotrichs threat is concerning, it is also unsurprising for someone who has historically been outspoken about his hatred of Palestinians. Last year, Smotrich said that he believes there is no such thing as Palestinian people, and earlier this year he admitted Gaza is a ghetto and said it should be resettled for Israelis.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (right) speaks with Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich on Jan. 7 during a weekly cabinet meeting at the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv. Ronen Zvulun/Pool via Associated Press

Now, the difference, of course, is that this is coming at a moment where there is massive destruction in Gaza. And he is saying, Well, were going to do this in the West Bank, Yousef Munayyer, head of the Palestine/Israel program and senior fellow at Arab Center Washington D.C. (ACW), a nonprofit research organization, told HuffPost on Thursday. And that is threatening a level of violence that we have not seen in the West Bank yet.

I think many Palestinians in the West Bank fear that what Israel is doing in Gaza, the logical extension of it is to continue in the West Bank, Munayyer said. It is the wildest dreams of these right-wing extremists to be able to depopulate the West Bank, force those Palestinians out and further establish their control over the territory.

Israel has justified its deadly military campaign in Gaza by claiming it is trying to dismantle Hamas. But the militant group does not have a presence in the West Bank, parts of which are governed by the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority. Smotrich, who also oversees the Israeli military budget and approves land grabs in the West Bank, said last week that he would stop transferring tax revenue earmarked for the Palestinian Authority.

Early Thursday, Israeli forces opened fire during a raid on Ramallah in the West Bank, injuring at least five Palestinians and killing a 20-year-old who died of bullet wounds to the chest, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Soldiers also destroyed a major vegetable market in the city and used stun grenades and tear gas to engulf hundreds of shops in flames.

Since Wednesday night, Israeli forces have rounded up and detained at least 20 people across the West Bank, according to the Palestinian Prisoners Society, a Nablus-based nonprofit that keeps a daily record of arrests. Since Oct. 7, the Israeli military has arrested nearly 9,000 people in near daily raids in the occupied territory, according to the group.

Civil defense teams and firefighters continue extinguishing and cooling the areas where a fire broke out Thursday as a result of Israeli forces raiding the Al-Bireh area of Ramallah in occupied West Bank. Issam Rimawi/Anadolu via Getty Images

In his video, Smotrich warned of an unsafe future for Israelis should the international community establish a Palestinian state, saying that the attack on Oct. 7 can happen here as well.

This will not come to be and will not happen. We will strike at the terror, he said. We will continue to rule Judea and Samaria [West Bank], because this is the security buffer for the settlements here in the seam zone, and for the major cities located west of here within the state of Israel.

Smotrichs fearmongering will likely have more of an effect on West Bank settlers than on Israelis living elsewhere due to the occupied territory housing both Palestinians and Israelis. By comparison, Gaza is a territory that is almost entirely Palestinian, and Israelis living nearby were believed to be safe until Hamas breached the wall between them.

There is a military occupation that, demographically, is far more mixed. You have Israeli settlements right next to Palestinian villages throughout the entirety of the West Bank, Munayyer said. So the ability to gin up fear and pretext around security, I think, is even greater in the West Bank.

Now we havent seen the level of violence in the West Bank that weve seen from Gaza. But the fear there for Israeli settlers is certainly possible because they know they live in and around and among Palestinians, he said. And, of course, [settlers] are abusing these people on a regular basis. So at any moment, there can be a spark that leads to a huge uptick in violence.

Related...
A farmer who defrauded the government of $3.5 million by getting crop insurance in the names of other people has been sentenced to three years and six months in prison.

The sentence for David G. Manion, 61, included $3.5 million in restitution to the federal crop insurance program.

Manion also agreed to make an additional payment to the government of nearly $5.5 million to resolve other disputed payments, according to a court document.

In addition, Manion is under a lifetime ban on taking part in federal crop insurance, and several family members agreed to a seven-year ban.

Manion is a resident of Lafayette, Tenn., just south of the Kentucky line, but farmed in both states and was charged in federal court in Kentucky.

In 2016, as federal prosecutors considered charging him over alleged fraud in insurance claims between 2009 and 2012, Manion agreed to a deal that required him to be barred from getting federal crop insurance for five years.

Prosecutors later charged him with filing insurance claims that inflated the amount of damage to his tobacco crops in Warren, Allen and Simpson counties in Kentucky, resulting in a loss of $1.1 million to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Manion pleaded guilty in August 2016 and was sentenced him to one day behind bars, according to a sentencing memorandum by Assistant U.S. Attorney David Weiser.

Federal authorities later learned that months earlier, in February 2016, even as he was negotiating a ban on getting crop insurance in his name, Manion began having family members take out insurance in their names to cover tobacco crops that belonged to him, the prosecutor said.

That resulted in a loss of $3.5 million to the federal crop insurance program between 2016 and 2022, federal authorities said.

Federal prosecutors charged him last November in the latest case.

Manions attorney, Kyle G. Bumgarner, sought a non-custodial sentence for Manion, such as home detention, citing his serious health problems that include diabetes and heart disease.

Any time in prison will cause a decline in Manions condition and could lead to this death, Bumgarner wrote in a sentencing memo.

Bumgarner also pointed out that Manion and family members have mortgaged farmland to come up with the $8,998,023 Manion committed to paying the government at or before his sentencing.

Taking out a loan to repay $9 million may ultimately result in the Manions losing everything they have ever earned, Bumgarner said. That is the risk they have taken on to make things right with the government.

However, Chief U.S. District Judge Greg N. Stivers, who gave Manion a sentence in 2016 well below the advisory minimum, sentenced him to five months more than the prosecution sought in the latest case.

Federal authorities have prosecuted a number of Kentucky farmers, as well as some insurance adjusters and tobacco warehouse officials, over what one prosecutor called a staggering level of fraud in crop insurance.

In one case, an insurance agent and adjuster in Mount Sterling, Michael McNew, caused a loss of $23.6 million by facilitating false crop-insurance claims involving Central Kentucky farmers, prosecutors said.

In 2021, a judge sentenced McNew to seven years in prison.
POLKTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD)  West Michigan farmers are taking precautions to reduce the risk of avian flu from infecting their animals.

Green Vale Farm provides food directly to customers, and keeping them safe, along with the animals, is the top priority, according to owner Heidi Hendrickson.

How we put food on our own table is by putting food on other peoples tables so we dont want our animals to get sick. We dont want other people to get sick. If we get it, it would directly impact us, and thats why we are so sure with everything we do that were doing our best, Hendrickson said.

Second Michigan farmworker contracts avian flu

Hendrickson says they take precautions to protect the animals from many diseases.

People coming from other farms, we try to make sure that their trailers are washed, some farms are spraying their tires, boots are sanitized, especially if theyre coming from far away, Hendrickson said.

Green Vale Farm south of Coopersville. (May 31, 2024)

They monitor the health of animals by looking for signs of illness and keeping them separated.

My chickens are in this barn, and my cows are in this barn, so they never really cross paths and because I dont have like bird trailers coming to my farm and people from other bird farms. I dont really worry about it so much, and I only have a couple hundred chickens, Hendrickson said.

MDARD: 3 more dairy herds infected with bird flu

The farm also tries to do what it can to keep wild birds away.

We have a landfill a couple miles down the road, so that brings a lot of crows and a lot of pigeons, and I think thats whats carrying it the most. Theyre eating garbage and waste from anywhere and everywhere, Hendrickson said.

The state also visits the farms to make sure the livestock are healthy.

I have inspectors on my farm more often because I have my creamery, my own creamery, so theyre checking that theyre testing our cheese, Hendrickson said.

While they take precautions, farmers acknowledge there is only so much they can do.

I cant put a net around my farm, and just because Im a small farmer, Im just as susceptible to it as a bigger farm, Hendrickson said.

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I have a favor to ask you: Prosecutors zero in on Bob Menendezs relationship with his wife

They had only been dating for a few months, but Nadine Arslanian, who would eventually become Sen. Bob Menendezs second wife, had a very particular request for the New Jersey Democrat.

In a 2018 text message about his upcoming remarks at the Egyptian Embassy, Arslanian asked, could you please discuss Cairos improving relations with the International Monetary Fund and other capital projects, including the new Suez Canal.

Menendez seemed puzzled.

Really??? he replied.

One minute later, according to court documents, the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee went online and searched Egypt and International Monetary Fund. He then clicked on a page titled Frequently Asked Questions on Egypt and the IMF.

Nadine offered one final push in the exchange. Will said please just speak about the IMF. Thats important, she told the senator, referring to Wael Will Hana, a co-defendant of the senators at his corruption trial.

The third week of that sprawling trial has featured hundreds of text messages, emails, images and voicemails sent between the senator, his future wife, Hana and an array of friends and business associates with alleged roles in the bribery scheme at the heart of the governments case.

Nadine Menendez, though, has been the central character in the communications, alternately cooing in French at her new boyfriend on phone calls, trying to facilitate meetings between Menendez and Egyptian officials, and asking for Menendezs prayers  adding that his were almost always answered.

Attorneys on both sides have battled over the nature of Nadines role in what prosecutors described as the senators politics-for-profit operation  an enterprise, they say, that secured the couple hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes.

In exchange for gold bars, cash, a $60,000 luxury car and more, prosecutors allege, Menendez, 70, acted as an agent of the Egyptian government and delivered a slew of favors for friends in the US, including Hana, who enjoyed a monopoly in the lucrative business of halal meat certification.

The senator and his co-defendants have all denied any wrongdoing.

Prosecutors have called Nadine, who is also charged but is not slated to go on trial until late July, a mere go-between for Menendezs corrupt acts.

The defense has portrayed her as more involved and connected  a force behind the alleged crimes, parlaying her romance with the senator into a series of gifts and loans from local businessmen in exchange for her cajoling him to deliver, with a blinkered view of the wider arrangement, on her promises.

My very handsome senator

Over three days, prosecutor Paul Monteleoni and FBI special agent Michael Coughlin, from the witness stand, went line-by-line through hundreds of pages of correspondence. When Menendez lawyer Avi Weitzman rose Thursday to cross-examine Coughlin, he argued that the documents on display had been cherry-picked by prosecutors, stripped of context, and given to misleading conclusions.

The unique dynamics of Menendezs relationship were on display in the missives.

In late February 2018, shortly after they began dating, Nadine left the senator a voice message.

Its me calling my very handsome senator, she said, I have a favor to ask you. Hopefully, you can do it.

The ask was for Menendez to meet with Egyptian Maj. Gen. Khaled Shawky at the Arab states embassy. Even 25 minutes would do, Nadine said, mostly because Shawky would require some kind of clearance from Egypt to hold the conversation outside the building. She told the senator it would not (be) worth the trip to Washington, DC, if he couldnt be in attendance for the meeting with Shawky, before signing off, I miss you.

A few weeks earlier, before their romantic relationship had begun in earnest, Nadine texted Menendez to celebrate the Justice Departments dismissal of outstanding bribery charges against him. The case had ended in a 2017 mistrial, and the DOJ decision meant Menendez could run for another term without the specter of a retrial hanging over his head. (The couple married in 2020.)

Now re-election!!!! Nadine wrote to Menendez, who asked her if she was around on Friday? On Saturday, after they got together for dinner in New Jersey, Nadine texted with a pair of questions for Menendez.

First, she asked if he knew Albio Sires, then a US House member representing Menendezs old congressional district. Then she asked: What is your international position?

I know him well, Menendez said of Sires, before sharing his title. Im the ranking member, he wrote, which means senior democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

In response, the sender  whom Menendez presumably believed was Nadine  revealed his identity.

Senator, he wrote, Im using Nadines phone but Im Andy Aslanian. I am now the U.S. attorney for the government of Egypt ministry of defense in EPO office in Washington, D.C.

Aslanian, a New Jersey attorney, added: We can definitely help you with your election campaign. We should get together and those arrangements can be made through Nadine.

Apparently unruffled, Menendez greeted Aslanian and commented, Based on your last name, I guess youre related to Nadine. (They are not. Nadines last name was Arslanian; her friends is Aslanian.)

Still, Menendez told Aslanian he would be happy to meet him and would arrange (it) through Nadine.

More favors

There would be more favors over the coming months, as their romance took flight. For mon amour, as they frequently addressed one another, Menendez enlisted staffers in his office to spruce up Nadines resume as she tried to build up her consulting business.

And he ghost-wrote or copy edited, depending on whose story in the correspondence one believes, a letter to his own committee  on behalf of Egyptian interests who passed along the document to Nadine, who forwarded it to Menendez  about a hold on $300 million in US military aid to Cairo.

On May 7, 2018, Nadine called Menendez and the new couple spoke for 12 minutes, according to phone records.

He said hes waiting for an answer, Nadine texted Hana almost immediately after her call with the senator had ended. As soon as he gets it he will call me.

Shortly thereafter, she sent Hana details about the embassy provided to her by Menendez, who had asked a committee staffer for the information.

The defense has argued that the figures cited  regarding the number of US and Egyptian staff  were publicly available, but an exchange between the staffer and the State Department suggests the query was, at the least, unusual.

Dont know why Im asking, the staffer wrote to his colleague after passing along the question. After being pressed, though, he spilled the beans: Menendez is asking.

Over time, as the circle of alleged conspirators became better acquainted, their interactions began to sour. More often, Nadine became angry with Hana and others  and took those frustrations to Menendez.

In March 2019, Nadine texted the senator to complain about Hana.

Can you believe Wael said he does not need me to make appointments with you? she asked. The man has gone crazy after everything Ive done for him.

Menendez agreed.

He is crazy, the senator replied. Hana, seated behind Menendez now in the courtroom, smirked as Coughlin read the exchange Wednesday.

Managing their relationship with Nadine eventually became a focal point for the alleged co-conspirators and their allies. New Jersey attorney Howard Dorian, an associate of Hanas, texted another man asking him to get a carpeting job done for Nadine.

It is extremely important, Dorian wrote, we keep Nadine happy.

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(Reuters) -Sanofi and partner Regeneron Pharmaceuticals have secured the European regulator's backing for use of Dupixent in patients with a chronic lung disease even as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) extended its review.

French drugmaker Sanofi and its U.S. partner have been counting on expanding the use of the drug as an add-on maintenance treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) - also called 'smoker's lungs' as the lifelong condition commonly affects cigarette smokers.

The disease, which causes restricted airflow and breathing problems, affects nearly 16 million U.S. adults and over 35 million people in Europe, according to government data.

French drugmaker Sanofi said in April it expects the target patient population eligible for the drug to be roughly 300,000 patients in the U.S. alone. It anticipated steeper growth in Dupixent sales in 2025 after its launch for COPD in the country.

But the FDA pushed back its deadline for the review by three months to Sept. 27 as it sought additional data from the drugmakers on the efficacy of Dupixent as an add-on COPD treatment, the drugmakers said on Friday.

The drugmakers said they were still "confident" the U.S. approval would come "as quickly as possible".

On the other hand, the European Medicines Agency's advisory panel recommended approval of Dupixent in Europe for patients with COPD for whom systemic corticosteroids or surgery did not provide adequate disease control, the agency said on Friday.

In Europe, the final decision rests with the European Commission, which usually follows the guidance from the EMA's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use.

The drug is already approved in many countries for various immune system-related conditions like asthma and eczema. In 2023, Dupixent generated 10.72 billion euros ($11.63 billion) in revenue, according to Sanofi's data.

($1 = 0.9215 euros)

(Reporting by Leroy Leo in Bengaluru and Diana Mandia, editing by Tassilo Hummel and Devika Syamnath)
FDA issues warning about baby formula that may be contaminated with dangerous bacteria

The US Food and Drug Administration issued a warning Friday about baby formula that may be contaminated with a bacteria that could be dangerous for infants.

On May 24, Dairy Manufacturers Inc. recalled 12.4-ounce containers of Crecelac Infant Powdered Goat-Milk Infant Formula with Iron 0 to 12 months, Farmalac Baby Powdered Infant Formula with Iron 0 to 12 months and Farmalac Baby Powdered Infant Formula with Iron Low Lactose 0 to 12 months because the products were not in compliance with all FDA infant formula regulations, the FDA said in a news release.

The company had not submitted the products for the required premarket notification before selling them in the US, the agency said.

The products are sold in stores in Texas and, the FDA said, possibly in other locations in the United States.

However, as part of the FDAs ongoing investigation into the products, the agency said Friday, it found Cronobacter contamination in a sample of Crecelac formula. Limited sampling of other versions of the formula included in the recall did not turn up Cronobacter.

No illnesses have been reported in connection with the recall, but Cronobacter can cause serious infections of the central nervous system and the bloodstream and can lead to life-threatening conditions like sepsis and meningitis. In 2022, four cases of Cronobacter infections in infants - including two who died - triggered a large recall of infant formula that compounded a nationwide shortage.

In general, infants who get sick with Cronobacter can go on to develop brain abscesses, motor development problems, developmental delays and even death, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Early symptoms of infection can include jaundice, abnormal body movements, irritability, poor feeding and a change in body temperature.

The FDA said it is working with Dairy Manufacturers and its distributors to make sure that the recall is carried out fully.

Parents and caregivers are advised not to give these particular brands to their infants, the FDA says. Those looking for goat milk infant formulas can find options that have completed the required premarket notification process and speak with their health care providers about possible alternatives.

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The James Browning U.S. Court of Appeals Building in San Francisco (Photo by Wikimedia Commons | CC-BY-SA 4.0).

The U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals said that while it will put a challenge to one of Montanas voting laws on a expedited, or rushed, schedule, it refused to touch federal district court Judge Brian Morris decision to enjoin the law for the primary election, slated for Tuesday.

At issue is House Bill 892, which was passed during the 2023 session and required voters to declare if they were registered at another location, or face criminal penalties for not disclosing it.

Attorneys for several groups challenging the law argued before Morris that the law was overly vague and that double registration is something that has been historically processed by election workers without the threat of criminal penalties.

Groups that are challenging the measure both in state and federal court have argued that the new criminal penalties have chilled the action of get-out-the-vote and voter registration efforts because they could unwittingly be helping register residents who then would face criminal penalties.

Meanwhile, attorneys for the State of Montana, including Solicitor General Christian Corrigan, have urged the court to override Morris injunction, saying that the groups didnt dispute that double registration was illegal, so the law should be used during the primary election.

However, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit said that the State of Montana failed to demonstrate that it will be irreparably harmed by Morris injunction. The Ninth Circuit has placed a hearing on the case for its August calendar, ahead of the general election in November.

Attorneys for the State of Montana had argued that case law said that anytime a court enjoins  or stops  an act passed by a state legislature, there is harm because the will of the peoples representatives is stopped. They also argued that the plaintiffs, which include the Montana Public Interest Research Group and the states largest union, the Montana Federation of Public Employees, had failed to prove they will likely be successful in federal court, rather that they had merely just raised substantial questions.

However, the three-judge panel did not address those arguments, and instead said that the states attorneys had failed to prove they will be damaged during the primary election.

The groups challenging the voter laws have not argued that double-registration isnt a problem or shouldnt be done, rather theyve argued that House Bill 892 was vaguely written so that residents or groups could accidentally fall prey to the law, and that criminal penalties, rather than civil penalties, are an incorrect punishment.

The post Federal appeals court wont mess with judges injunction stopping voting registration law appeared first on Daily Montanan.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. In a move aimed at bolstering energy security in Southeastern Europe, Bulgaria and Turkiye are set to deepen their energy cooperation, Trend reports via Bulgarias Energy Ministry.

This was the focal point of a recent meeting between Bulgaria's Energy Minister Vladimir Malinov, and the Turkish Ambassador to Bulgaria Mehmet Sait Uyank.

"Turkiye is one of Bulgaria's key energy partners. Ensuring energy security for the region and diversifying sources are common priorities, on which we will continue working together," stated Minister Malinov during his discussion with Ambassador Uyank. He highlighted the growing importance of energy supplies via Turkiye's liquefied gas terminals following the cessation of Russian natural gas transportation through Ukraine.

The meeting underscored ongoing negotiations between Bulgargaz and BOTAS, following the Bulgarian National Assembly's directive on April 19, 2024, which instructs the Energy Minister to renegotiate the existing agreement between Bulgargaz EAD and BOTAS. Ambassador Uyank expressed his commitment to fostering a constructive dialogue to achieve the best outcomes for both nations.

The discussions also explored enhancing cooperation in the development of electricity systems and the potential for transporting green energy to the European market. Minister Malinov shared insights into Bulgaria's nuclear sector development, offering Bulgarian expertise to Turkish counterparts given Bulgaria's extensive experience in nuclear power plant operations.

Both Minister Malinov and Ambassador Uyank expressed their readiness to formalize their cooperation through a Memorandum of Understanding, expected to be signed in the coming months. This memorandum will solidify the collaborative efforts between Bulgaria and Turkiye in the energy sector, paving the way for strengthened regional energy security and diversification.

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From the base of the Mount Hope Bridge, U.S. Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse alongside Congressman Gabe Amo and Gov. Dan McKee Thursday highlighted $27 million in federal funding heading to Rhode Island to support much-needed improvements to the historic span connecting Bristol and Portsmouth.

The funding includes $17 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Laws Promoting Resilient Operations for Transformative, Efficient and Cost-Saving Transportation (PROTECT) grant, which Whitehouse helped create as a senior member of the Environment and Public Works Committee. Reed and Whitehouse also secured a $10 million earmark to support the installation of a dehumidification system on the steel wires, cables and anchors of the Mount Hope Bridge. These improvements are expected to help extend the life of the bridge by 50 to 75 years.

A view from under the Mount Hope Bridge as the sun sets

Our bridges are lifelines that connect communities and weve got to keep them in good working order. Age, deterioration from the elements, and every day wear and tear can take a real toll on our bridges. This is a smart investment in keeping this 95-year old bridge in good working order, ensuring its safety and soundness for future generations, and putting people to work in good-paying jobs in the construction trades, said Reed. I was pleased to work with Senator Whitehouse to earmark federal funds and help secure PROTECT grant funds for this project. Long before the westbound Washington Bridge went offline, Senator Whitehouse has been out in front on the need to invest in our bridges and do preventative maintenance, particularly on the Mount Hope Bridge. This federal funding will help harden our bridge infrastructure and make the Mount Hope Bridge more resilient to the impacts of climate change.

Today marks a milestone in the history of the picturesque Mount Hope Bridge as we celebrate federal funding that will help protect the integrity of the bridges cables from rising temperatures, moisture, and humidity caused by climate change. Ive advocated extensively for this Mount Hope Bridge funding to prevent another massive disruption for Rhode Islanders, which would be triggered by further deterioration of the cables. Senator Reed has been an excellent partner on the Appropriations Committee as we have worked to prepare Rhode Islands critical infrastructure for climate change and take preventive steps to keep the Mount Hope Bridge online, said Whitehouse. This investment follows the $82.5 million grant we secured to extend the life of the Pell Bridge, which was awarded from the INFRA Program I helped create.

Due to the age of the bridge and corrosion from the elements, the 700-ton cables that support the majority of Mount Hope Bridges weight have been weakened by cumulative corrosion and moisture.

I applaud the $27 million in federal funding that will go toward upgrading the Mount Hope Bridge, said Amo. Thanks to the fierce advocacy of Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse  in concert with our state and local partners  today's announcement extends the life of an iconic symbol of Rhode Island while strengthening the connections that bind our East Bay and Aquidneck Island communities together. Going forward, we must continue to build on this achievement for our state as we further our efforts to harden critical infrastructure against the effects of the climate crisis.

Investing these federal funds in repairs to the historic suspension bridge and the protective dehumidification system will make the Mount Hope Bridge safer and could save taxpayers tenfold by preventing costlier damage in the future.

Investing in the Mount Hope Bridge supports the safety of the millions of commuters and cars who use it every year, and helps keep Rhode Island running, said McKee. These much-needed improvements will create good-paying jobs, extend the bridge's life, and will reinforce the structure's integrity against climate change. On behalf of Rhode Island, I'm grateful to the tireless efforts of our congressional delegation, as well as our private partners, to secure this vital federal funding.

Built in 1929, the Mount Hope Bridge  which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places  is one of only three connections from the mainland to Aquidneck Island, and the sole connection from the East Bay. The two-lane suspension bridge serves as a critical freight corridor connecting coastal Rhode Island to southeastern Massachusetts, Boston and points north and west in the nations highway system. The Mount Hope Bridge carries an estimated seven million motorists per year, according to the RI Turnpike and Bridge Authority, a quasi-state agency responsible for the operation and maintenance of Rhode Islands four major bridges.

We are so grateful to Senator Reed and Senator Whitehouse for their relentless advocacy and support of Rhode Islands bridges, said Lori Caron Silveira, executive director of the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority. Maintaining these bridges is critical for the communities that rely on them, and we appreciate that Senator Reed and Senator Whitehouse understand the unique needs of our infrastructure.

In 2021, RITBA issued a report on bridge inspections between 1960 and 2000 showing that 744 wires on the bridge had broken out of 2,450. While most of those were repaired over the years, the report highlighted that the entire bridge could be compromised if the cables were allowed to deteriorate without fixes. The $27 million in federal funding will help keep the bridge cables in a state of good repair and significantly improve the resilience of this key connection. RITBA officials have previously estimated that replacing the cables would cost over $500 million.

RITBA conducted cable air flow testing earlier this year as part of the Mount Hope Dehumidification Project, which is one element of a multi-year project to upgrade the bridge. The cable dehumidification technology that RITBA is using has been successfully employed on other major bridges in the U.S., including the Delaware Memorial Bridge and the South Tenth Street Bridge in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: State, federal officials gather to highlight $27M for Mount Hope Bridge
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The federal government awarded $11 million to the Oregon Department of Transportation on Thursday, which will fund the states ongoing work to complete the final stretch of the Columbia River Highway Project.

The historic highway, which was built between 1913 and 1922, was sliced up into sections and partially destroyed after the construction of I-84. However, the state has spent the past two decades restoring the picturesque, 73-mile highway piece by piece.

Rep the Beavers with a new OSU license plate

Sen. Jeff Merkley called the project a win for Oregonians and the local economy.

The Columbia River Gorge is one of the most beautiful and breathtaking landscapes in our country, Merkley said. The decades-long determination to restore the iconic Historic Columbia River Highway is a testament to the vision and tenacity of many Oregonians  a vision I share and continue to push to secure federal funding for along the way. When this marvelous project is complete, it will not only be a win for our recreation and economy, but the trail will fill Oregonians and visitors alike with wonder for generations to come.

The Columbia River Highway Project. (ODOT)

The ongoing restoration includes drivable segments of the highway and hiking and biking trails managed by Oregon State Parks. The final segment under construction includes a paved, 1.7-mile bicycle and pedestrian-only trail between Mitchell Point and Ruthton Trailhead in Hood River.

Swim warning issued after high E. coli levels found in Battle Ground Lake

The State of Oregon expects to complete the restoration project by 2027. When finished, the Columbia River Highway will serve as a world-class bicycle and pedestrian experience thats expected to attract large numbers of visitors from around the world, lawmakers like Sen. Ron Wyden say.

Oregonians have been seeking respite in the grandeur of the Columbia River Gorge for centuries, Wyden said. Blending the classic infrastructure of the Historic Columbia River Highway with a need for car-free exploration options gives Oregonians and visitors a safe path to experience one of Oregons Seven Wonders firsthand, creating positive personal and economic impacts. I will continue to support projects like this that improve livability for Oregonians now and generations to come.

The $11 million in funding was awarded to the state by the U.S. Department of Transportations Federal Highway Administration.

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The federal government prohibits states from terminating subsidized health insurance for children even if their parents dont make payments. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

Quality Journalism for Critical Times

A federal judge has dismissed Floridas legal challenge to a federal rule prohibiting states from terminating subsidized health insurance coverage for low-income children if their parents dont pay the premiums.

In the suit, the State of Florida and the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration argued that the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid overstepped its authority by telling states they couldnt cut off childrens coverage for 12 months after they were enrolled in KidCare, even if the parents stopped paying.

KidCare is a health plan for low-income children who do not qualify for Medicaid, and most parents pay $15 or $20 per month for subsidized coverage, according to the programs website. More than 119,000 children in Florida have KidCare coverage, according to the complaint from the state.

Judge William Jung in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida in Tampa threw out the suit on Friday, ruling that his court lacked jurisdiction over the claims. Florida sought a preliminary injunction to stop the federal government from enforcing the rule, but Jung also denied that.

The rule went into effect on Jan. 1 and Florida filed the suit on Feb. 1.

In his 16-page order, Jung wrote that the state hadnt experienced any financial injury because of the rule yet and therefore wasnt entitled to relief from the courts. The state could file an administrative appeal through the federal government, he continued, and come back to court if its unhappy with that outcome.

The Agency firmly disagrees with todays decision and intends to appeal. Its unfortunate the Court did not address the merits of our case, wrote AHCA spokesperson Alicia Collins in an email to Florida Phoenix.

Affordable health care coverage advocates celebrated Fridays outcome.

We applaud the judges decision to dismiss this case. The new law and interpretation by CMS regarding continuous eligibility will enable tens of thousands more children and youth to receive much-needed health care without fear of early termination of coverage, Florida Policy Institute CEO Sadaf Knight said in a written statement.

No excuse

Lynn Hearn, advocacy director for the Florida Health Justice Project, urged the state to stop terminating KidCare coverage for children.

The courts decision today completely eliminates any excuse Florida believed it had beginning Jan. 1, 2024, to disenroll children from CHIP/KidCare when their parents miss a single premium payment, Hearn said in a statement. Florida must stop these disenrollments immediately and direct its resources toward expanding and improving access to health care for Floridas children rather than impeding it.

KidCare is the name of Floridas Childrens Health Insurance Program, or CHIP.

Meanwhile, the expansion of KidCare that the Florida Legislature approved in 2023 is in limbo because the agency in charge of implementing the program didnt submit the paperwork to the federal government in time. Lawmakers raised the income limit for the health care program from 200% to 300% of the federal poverty level, which is 93,600.00 for a family of four.

The attorney generals office had not responded to inquiries at the time of publishing.

The post Federal judge dismisses FL lawsuit against feds over childrens health insurance appeared first on Florida Phoenix.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Federal officials urged Floridians to prepare for a very active hurricane season in a news conference Friday.

Deputy FEMA Administrator Erik Hooks, National Hurricane Center Director Michael Brennan, and Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-FL) spoke at the NHC in Miami one day before hurricane season officially begins.

NOAA predicts very active hurricane season, issues highest ever May forecast

Last week, NOAA released its first projections for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season. Officials said season has an 85% chance of being above average.

In an average season, there are 14 named storms, seven hurricanes and three majors. NOAA is forecasting between 17 and 25 named storms, eight to 13 hurricanes and four to seven major hurricanes (Category 3 and up) for 2024.

It is the highest number of named storms, hurricanes and major hurricanes NOAA has ever issued for its May outlook.

Prepare, dont panic

It only takes one storm affecting you and your community to make it a busy hurricane season, Brennan said.

According to the NHC Director, the public shouldnt read too much into the specifics of NOAAs forecast and should prepare ahead, like they do every hurricane season.

Seeing a forecast like this, people should be concerned, but calm and measured, Brennan said. This is the time to prepare, and its the same preparation you would make every year.

Heres how you can prepare for a potential storm:

Know your risk

Everyones situation is different when it comes to hurricane season and officials say knowing your unique risk is important. Coastal communities will have different factors to consider than those residing in inland areas.

Find your evacuation zone on Floridas Know Your Zone, Know Your Home website.

Make a plan

Geographic location is only one of the factors you should consider. In the event an evacuation is ordered, your household should have an evacuation plan in place.

Consider where you will go. Do you or a member of your household have mobility issues or other medical concerns that affect your ability to evacuate? What will you bring with you?

Brennan says coastal residents only have to go tens of miles inland and away from the threat to find shelter and avoid the worst of a storm. A list of emergency shelters can be found on your countys emergency management website.

These items will be tax-free during Floridas Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday

Assemble a storm kit

If you choose to ride out the storm, have an emergency kit with water, food and other essential items ready so youre not battling last-minute crowds for supplies. Prepare for the possibility that roads may be impassible and emergency response could be limited after a storm hits.

Florida emergency officials have a detailed list of items to include in a hurricane kit on the Division of Emergency Management website.

Many of those items are sales tax exempt during the state-wide Emergency Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday beginning June 1.

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.
Feeding Our Future defendant, who made $1.3 million in single year, says he gave food away

Defendant Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff arrives at the Diana E. Murphy federal courthouse in Minneapolis on the 14th day of testimony in the Feeding Our Future trial Friday, May 17, 2024. Photo by Nicole Neri/Minnesota Reformer.

A defendant in the Feeding Our Future trial testified Thursday that he didnt set up shell companies to participate in the food program, that he helped serve thousands of free meals to children and didnt knowingly participate in fraud.

Mukhtar Mohamed Shariff, 33, is the only defendant of seven who opted to testify in the case, in which theyre charged with fraudulently getting reimbursed $49 million in federal funds by vastly inflating the number of meals served at 50 locations across Minnesota during the pandemic. Prosecutors say they used the reimbursement money to buy luxury cars, houses, jewelry and property overseas  and very little food.

Shariff created an annual Somali Diaspora Conference, started a podcast called Nomadic Hustle and worked in software engineering in Seattle before moving to Bloomington in the fall of 2020.

A lot of people in Minnesota wanted me to do work for them because of my work with the Somali government, Shariff testified. He said he also had a lot of relatives in Minnesota, many of whom filled the courtroom Wednesday and Thursday for his testimony.

He started going to the Dar Al-Farooq mosque in Bloomington  one of largest Islamic centers in the Midwest  where he met Mahad Ibrahim in a conference room. Shariff said he was impressed with Ibrahim, who had a Ph.D from Berkeley and was a trusted consultant in the community.

Everybody trusted him, Shariff said. My first message to him was I want you to be my mentor.

Ibrahim was the president of ThinkTechAct Foundation, a nonprofit that would go on to create dozens of food distribution sites statewide and receive more than $18 million in federal child nutrition program funds. He is also named in the same indictment as Shariff, but is not part of this trial due to a scheduling conflict.

Ibrahim and other community leaders got Shariff involved in a project to build Afrique, an East African community center, in Bloomington. They bought a building at 1701 American Blvd., just a few minutes from the mosque, and were trying to decide what to do with about 20,000 square feet of space. They wanted him to lead the project and become the face of it to the world, Shariff said.

He agreed to get on board and was excited about trying to get it off the ground, he said. They envisioned a restaurant, cafe, event space, business incubator, coworking space and library.

An Afrique promotional pitch showed photos of Shariff with the former president of Somalia and former Daily Show host Trevor Noah, apparently at a conference. Even though the Afrique marketing materials said the company would be financially buttressed by large, consistent revenue with high profit margins from the child nutrition program, Shariff testified he had no idea what that meant at the time.

Ibrahim had extensive experience in food service, Shariff said. Anything food service was on him, he said.

Within two weeks, Shariff was made CEO of Afrique Hospitality Group. Ibrahim was the CFO.

Shariff said the first time he heard anything about the child nutrition program was in December 2020, when Ibrahim and others were working to set up a food program at the mosque, as many members lost their jobs, especially in businesses like hotels and Uber drivers.

Shariff said the first thing Ibrahim asked him to do was file paperwork transferring the Dar Al-Farooq food distribution site from nonprofit Partners in Nutrition to another nonprofit, Feeding Our Future  two nonprofits now at the center of the sprawling federal criminal case. The two nonprofits were supposed to oversee food distribution sites, but prosecutors say they enabled and participated in a massive fraud.

Shariff and the six other defendants  Abdiaziz Shafii Farah, Mohamed Jama Ismail, Abdimajid Mohamed Nur, Said Shafii Farah, Abdiwahab Maalim Aftin and Hayat Mohmed Nur  are the first to go on trial out of 70 people charged in the case so far. Federal prosecutors have said it was the nations largest pandemic relief fraud, in which $250 million in U.S. Department of Agriculture funding was misused.

Tons of food coming in

In addition to trying to get Afrique off the ground, Shariff oversaw the logistics of getting food from warehouses to distribution sites, where they were ostensibly given to people. His attorney showed the jury several photos of him and masked volunteers filling bags with food  which a prosecutor later derided as an attempt to support their fraudulent meal counts.

Shariff said he wasnt involved in preparing billings, invoices and meal counts reported to the state for reimbursement, saying that was the job of the CFO, Ibrahim.

In the summer of 2021, Afrique switched from subcontracting in the food program to directly contracting as a vendor under Feeding Our Futures sponsorship. Soon, the mosque and a Bloomington school were claiming reimbursement for nearly 2,000 breakfasts and lunches, which escalated to 3,500 within months.

Even though his name was listed as the site supervisor on attendance records for the mosque site, Shariff said he didnt sign the forms and had no involvement in preparing them, although he testified he thought 3,000 was a reasonable estimate of how many people were given food at the mosque and school.

I dont know exactly how many children were served, he said. I know it was a lot of food  We had a large-scale food operation (with) tons and tons of food coming in.

$250,000 payment to Feeding Our Future employee wasnt a kickback

U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger showed up in the federal courtroom briefly to watch with reporters, spectators and families of the defendants, as Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Thompson began the cross-examination.

Thompson asked Shariff question after question about check after check written to Afrique by various entities now charged in the case, and about various invoices, attendance rosters and meal counts submitted to the state  which was supposed to be overseeing the federal program  for reimbursement.

Over and over, Shariff deferred to Ibrahim, the CFO, but said he had no reason to believe the numbers were inaccurate, given how much food he was handling.

One big question: Why did Shariff send a $250,000 cashiers check from Afrique to a woman named Ikram Yusuf Mohamed?

Earlier in the trial, former Feeding Our Future employee Hadith Ahmed  who described himself as Feeding Our Future Executive Director Aimee Bocks right hand man  testified that he took kickbacks to help others get millions in federal funds. After Ahmed was fired by Bock, he was replaced by Mohamed, who he said also took kickbacks. Mohamed is charged with multiple charges of wire fraud, bribery and money laundering.

Shariff said Afrique loaned Mohamed the $250,000 to open a child care facility in south Minneapolis because Afrique construction was taking longer than expected.

You decided that your startup company that had no revenue outside of the food program would invest $250,000 in a child care company? Thompson asked.

The child care center never opened, and Shariff said he didnt know what Mohamed did with the money. Thompson said she used it for walking-around money.

Shariff denied it was a bribe, and his attorney showed jurors a $59,000 loan repayment check Mohamed wrote. Thompson noted, however, that the check was written three months after the FBI raids in January 2022, which unveiled the federal investigation, froze bank accounts and ended food payments.

Shariff said Afrique was going through bankruptcy by then, and admitted the cashiers check was never funded.

When Thompson said Shariff was CEO of a company that only got revenue by acting as a vendor to entities involved in the food program, Shariff disputed that, saying he didnt know about the extent of their operations, how many children they claimed to be feeding and how much money they were making. He said he didnt know much about other defendants getting rich, buying homes and cars.

Asked if he found it odd that he left a tech job and made more money working for Afrique, his most lucrative job, Shariff said he worked hard and was fairly compensated.

Thompson said Shariff took home $1.3 million in 2021 working for Afrique and as a consultant to other entities involved in the food program, and invested over $1 million into cryptocurrency for Afrique  but in his own name.

My investors and everybody trusted me, Shariff said. They understood.

Shariff said Afrique had a number of investors, too, opening up a whole new line of questioning.

Defense witness took $250,000 loan from another defendant

Since prosecutors made much of the fact that most of Afriques money came from people making money in the child nutrition program, Shariffs attorney called as a witness one of the companys investors, Sulekha Farah Hassan.

Hassan swiveled back-and-forth in the witness stand chair as she answered questions through an interpreter.

She talked about moving from Somalia to the U.S. while she was pregnant, and working overnights at Target for about a decade, then working a second job at a small market, saving money to buy an adult home care business in 2008, which she owned until 2021. She and her business partner since 2004, Raaho A. Adan, invested in Afrique.

Hassan told Shariffs attorney the $460,000 she invested in Afrique was my own money, and that none came from the child nutrition program.

During cross-examination by Assistant U.S. Attorney Chelsea Walcker, Hassan said she had nothing to do with the child nutrition program. But she acknowledged she opened Mimis Bakery in December 2021, and one month later received a $250,000 loan from someone named Hamdi.

Walcker: Was that other person Hamdi Omar?

Hassan: I dont know the last names  she goes by the name Hamdi.

Walcker: Are you aware those individuals are in a company called Feeding Our Youth?

Hasan: I did not know what they were involved in.

Walcker: Are you aware that Hamdi Omar has been indicted in this investigation?

Hassan: I dont know about her but Ive heard a number of people were indicted.

Omar is a St. Paul woman who ran a food distribution site in Waite Park that claimed to have served more than a half million meals, for which she was reimbursed over $1 million, prosecutors say. She is charged with wire fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Hassan acknowledged she has not yet gotten a dime back on her investment.

God willing, we will get some returns, she testified.

The upshot: The defenses effort to show a legitimate investment in Afrique wound up illustrating yet another connection to a person indicted in the alleged fraud.

Closing arguments in the case begin Friday, and the jury is expected to begin deliberations early next week.

The post Feeding Our Future defendant, who made $1.3 million in single year, says he gave food away appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
The highest court in Texas has rejected a historic challenge to the states anti-abortion laws from a group of 22 women  some of whom nearly died during pregnancy  demanding urgent clarity on whether emergency medical exceptions to abortion bans include life-threatening pregnancies.

On Friday, a unanimous Texas Supreme Court decided that the state law was broad enough.

Plaintiffs in Zurawski v Texas had urged the state to allow doctors to use their best medical judgment without fear of prosecution under the states severe anti-abortion laws, after providers denied them emergency abortion care during complicated pregnancies that put their health and lives at risk.

The women argued that providers would be too afraid to act, potentially facing decades in jail, tens of thousands of dollars in fines, and the loss of their medical license for violating Texas abortion bans.

Last year, after a court heard harrowing testimony from women who detailed their traumatic pregnancies and what they characterized as the states failure to care for them, a judge issued a temporary injunction that allowed doctors to make a good faith judgment on whether to provide emergency abortion care. The order was immediately appealed by the states Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Texas Supreme Court justices then overturned the lower courts ruling on Friday, claiming that it departed from as written without constitutional justification.

The court did clarify that exceptions can be made for life-threatening conditions like preterm premature rupture of membranes, known as PPROM, but the justices did not say when it could apply.

A life-threatening physical condition is not necessarily one actively injuring the patient; it is a condition that has the potential to kill the patient. The condition must arise from or be aggravated by the pregnancy, but death need not be imminent, according to the Texas Supreme Court.

Frankly this ruling feels like a gut punch, according to lead plaintiff Amanda Zurawski, speaking to reporters on Friday. Not just for pregnant Texans but doctors in our state.

Amanda Zurawski, the lead plaintiff in a challenge to Texas abortion law, speaks to a state medical board on March 22 2024. (AP)

After she became pregnant in 2022, Zurawski dilated prematurely, and soon after her membranes ruptured, draining amniotic fluid and endangering the life of her expected child.

Doctors informed her there was nothing they could do under what was recently enacted state law, despite knowing with complete certainty that her daughter would die.

The condition led to life-threatening sepsis. Doctors ultimately induced labor. Her daughter, which she named Willow, was not alive when she delivered.

This ruling is heartbreaking but it is not the end, she said on Friday. We will not be silenced We are the faces of women across the country who are standing up to be heard.

Samantha Casianos expected child was diagnosed with anencephaly, a fatal birth defect in which a baby is born without parts of a brain or skull. She was forced to give birth to a three-pound baby who died hours later.

Theres more women just like us, she said on Friday. I hope that they hear us and make a change.

The Supreme Courts ruling does not mention Casiano or the lawsuits 20 other plaintiffs, except for Zurawski.

The opinion erases the women  as though their pain and experiences dont exist or matter, according to Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, the legal group that represented the women.

Center for Reproductive Rights attorney Molly Duane added that the court wrote our clients  entirely out of the decision.

Abortion rights protesters march in Austin, Texas following the US Supreme Courts decision to revoke a constitutiona right to abortion care in June 2022. (AP)

The ruling utterly fails to provide the clarity doctors need to when they can provide abortion care to patients, and lays bare the consequences of the Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v Wade in 2022, according to Northup.

This kind of suffering will keep happening in Texas every day, she said.

Dr Austin Dennard, an obstetrician-gynecologist and a plaintiff in the case, was moved to tears on Friday.

Im actually surprised at how upset I am because I felt like Texas showed their cards with Kate, said Dennard, referencing another Texas Supreme Court decision that blocked an emergency abortion for Kate Cox. She ultimately left the state to seek care.

I love Texas, but its really hard to love Texas right now. And to know that people in a position of power feel that pregnant individuals should simply be vessels, and lose their rights entirely, and feel the type of pain we all felt, and to risk their lives the way we were all at risk, and to not have any rights whatsoever, is really hard to believe, she added.

Texas is among more than a dozen states that have effectively outlawed abortion in most cases in the wake of the US Supreme Courts ruling in Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization in June 2022.

The decision to overturn Roe v Wade has upended access to care for millions of Americans now forced to travel to states where abortion is protected, compounding the already-fractured and patchwork system for abortion care across the country.
The felony conviction of Donald Trump says no one is bigger than our democracy | Opinion

People react after former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was convicted in his criminal trial, outside of Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City on May 30, 2024. The jury convicted Donald Trump on all 34 charges.

Donald Trumps conviction Thursday on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, all designed to hide his affair with a porn star from the voting public, will not alter the outcome of the presidential election this November here in California. But something much bigger feels at stake for both our state and nation.

The moment merits some careful reflection by all of us, regardless of ones political beliefs.

American democracy is going to be tested in ways we cannot now fully appreciate or anticipate. This conviction may now lead to a possible prison sentence for a former president while he is frantically seeking to regain office and avoid other, greater trials of alleged wrongdoing. Trump is rejecting the institution that convicted him.

This is unprecedented. This is no milestone; this is a turning point.

Opinion

The public has become anesthetized to the daily assaults by a national leader against the legal system, the voting system and the political system. Bashing the United States has become a sickening loop of background music in our daily lives. Our fragile democracy relies on a degree of faith in these institutions that Trump has spent years debasing. And now this?

A business record is neither Republican nor Democrat. It is a document with numbers, facts, and time stamps. What made these documents key to felony convictions in the eyes of the jury was the intent behind contained within them. It took the jury very little time to study the meaning of these documents and come to a unanimous verdict: Donald Trump was secretly paying Stormy Daniels to try to hide an affair from the public for public reasons.

When a divided United States Supreme Court nearly 24 years ago ended a vote recount in Florida and awarded the presidency to Republican George W. Bush, Democratic candidate Al Gore accepted the controversial outcome, and the nation moved on.

We are not going to quickly move on from this Trump verdict. Our nation will divide more deeply into factions. A close race for the presidency will grow even more bitter. It may feel that there is nothing united about our 50 states.

Benjamin Franklin once said, Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters.

Freedom is hard, but it and our most sacred public institutions are worth fighting for. We still have in common a belief in freedom. It survives due to the best in us and despite our worst demons. What is important to our nation is that no one is above the law or the institutions enforcing the law.

We are going to have to remember what is important about our country  in this critical and emotional moment  to keep our shared democracy alive.
On Friday, former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a press conference at Trump Tower after deliberations Thursday resulted in a guilty verdict on all counts in his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

May 31 (UPI) -- Former president and convicted felon Donald Trump's presidential campaign said Friday his conviction on 34 felonies by a unanimous jury decision in New York resulted in $34.8 million being raised by the campaign.

In a statement, the Trump campaign said, "President Trump and our campaign are immensely grateful from this outpouring of support from patriots across our country. President Trump is fighting to save our nation and November 5th is the day Americans will deliver the real verdict."

A day earlier, Trump was found guilty of paying hush money to a porn actress to influence the 2016 election and covering up the payments with fraudulent business records.

The Manhattan jury unanimously convicted him on 34 felony counts. He will be sentenced July 11.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said Thursday after the verdict that the jury's voice is the only one that matters.

Former president Donald Trump speaks at a press conference at Trump Tower Friday, where he said his presidential campaign had raised a record $34.8 million after a jury convicted him on 34 felonies the previous day. He was found guilty of paying hush money to a porn actress to influence the 2016 election and using fraudulent business records to cover up the payment. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

"Our job is to follow the facts and the law without fear or favor," Bragg said. "I did my job. We did our job. Many voices out there. The only voice that matters is the voice of the jury, and the jury has spoken."

The Trump campaign said it nearly doubled the previous single-day fundraising record after the jury delivered its verdict.

Former President Donald Trump pulls out a note card when he arrives to speak at a press conference at Trump Tower in New York on Friday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

Senior campaign advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles said in a campaign press release that nearly 30% of the donors were new to the campaign.

Trump attacked the judge in the case Friday and lied about not being able to call witnesses in the trial as he falsely claimed the state trial in New York was rigged.

Trump supporters gather outside as former President Donald Trump speaks at a press conference at Trump Tower in New York on Friday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

He announced the fundraising total and said he will appeal the criminal guilty verdict.

In a statement, the Biden-Harris campaign said, "America just witnessed a confused, desperate, and defeated Donald Trump ramble about his own personal grievances and lie about the American justice system, leaving anyone watching with one obvious conclusion: This man cannot be president of the United States."

Former President Donald Trump leaves a Friday press conference at Trump Tower. The Biden-Harris campaign said after the press conference "America just witnessed a confused, desperate, and defeated Donald Trump ramble about his own personal grievances and lie about the American justice system, leaving anyone watching with one obvious conclusion: This man cannot be president of the United States." Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

The Biden-Harris campaign added that Trump is "unhinged by his 2020 election loss and spiraling from his criminal convictions" while being consumed "by his own thirst for revenge and retribution."

Before delivering remarks about a Gaza cease-fire proposal on Friday, President Joe Biden said Trump's complaints about the trial's outcome are "reckless."

Former President Donald Trump departs from a press conference at Trump Tower on Friday. Photo by John Angelillo/UPI

"It is reckless, it's dangerous and it is irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don't like the verdict," Biden said.

"Our justice system has endured for nearly 250 years and it is literally the cornerstone of America," the president said before adding that the "justice system should be respected."
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  On Thursday, the Oklahoma Senate voted to approve House Bill 1792, which would rewrite the states criminal code to classify felony offenses based on severity.

HB 1792, also called the Oklahoma Sentencing Modernization Act, would organize 2,000 felony offenses into 14 classes based on the severity of the offense. First degree murder would be designated as Class Y, while all other violent and nonviolent felonies would be assigned to 14 classes, from Class A1 to Class D3.

Oklahoma Senate votes to override Gov. Stitt veto of police pension bill

Aside from first degree murder, Class A1 would include the most severe offenses, such as sexual abuse of a child and domestic abuse committed against a pregnant woman. Class D3, the least severe classification, would include offenses such as unlawful transport of livestock and removal of timber from state lands.

This needed reform creates a uniform and consistent felony classification system while still prioritizing the safety of all Oklahomans, said Senator Dave Rader (R-Tulsa). Thanks to everyone who provided input and played a role in shaping this legislation that will ensure Oklahoma takes a balanced approach to modernizing our justice system and reducing the number of people in our prisons.

HB 1792 will now head to the governors desk for a signature.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
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Rep. Mark McBride speaks during day 67 of legislation in the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the Oklahoma Capitol in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

A divided Oklahoma House of Representatives approved a bill Thursday that includes sections designed to act as guardrails for the some of the financial practices of the state Department of Education under state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters.

As the legislature moved toward adjournment, the House spend more than an hour discussing Senate bill 1122, which passed by a 57-35 vote, even after Walters argued in an email to legislators that it contained sections that were unconstitutional and could result in catastrophic consequences for nearly every single division in the agency.

One section of the bill forbids the agency from using money under its control to secure media interviews or other public promotional purposes. Another would require the agency not to decline, refuse participation in or choose not to apply for any federal grant funding that the agency had received before fiscal year 2023 without legislative approval.

Rep. Justin Humphrey sits on his desk during day 67 of legislation in the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the Oklahoma Capitol in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

Both sections were included in the bill due to actions taken by Walters, according to Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, the chair of the House Appropriations and Budget education subcommittee.

His conduct has shown in the past that hes not willing to do what the Legislature asks, McBride said. Hes thumbed his nose at the attorney general.  I just dont think that hes trustworthy.

This is about somebody that is an agency head and the way that theyre conducting their agency. It is our job, the House and the Senate, to make sure that those funds are spent correctly, instead of passing it off to somebody else. Its our job to deal with this.

The bill, approved by the Senate on Wednesday, now heads to Gov. Kevin Stitt. Should Stitt veto it, an override would require a two-thirds majority, which the measure did not receive on passage.

On Friday, Stitt didn't commit one way or the other when asked if he'd sign or veto the bill.

"If someone is using state resources for self-promotion, that's wrong. I want to stop that," Stitt said, noting his first executive order in 2019 was to ban state agencies from hiring lobbyists. "I may do another executive order to stop state agencies from hiring outside PR firms. I don't like it. I don't like it. But I also don't like picking on one executive agency, or the Department of Education. If there's a rule that's good for one agency, maybe let's have it across the board for all state agencies. Let's not pick on just one agency. So we're still reviewing that. It's part of the budget in some kind of limits bill. We're looking at that. I know that was a very controversial piece of legislation on the (House) floor."

Stitt also said if an agency has an internal communications department -- as the state Department of Education does -- "then why are we hiring a PR person? I think it's a waste of taxpayer money all across the board."

In his email to lawmakers, Walters said the agencys legal counsel was of the belief that all departments and programs will need to be shuttered as an implementation of this law. He said the agencys offices of school security, teacher recruitment and retention, SoonerStart, school choice and legal services will be negatively impacted, or potentially shut down if the bill becomes law.

Rep. Justin Humphrey speaks during day 67 of legislation in the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the Oklahoma Capitol in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

Walters also said the agencys website, state Teacher of the Year program and Teacher Signing Bonus programs also could be shut down. He attached a seven-page legal opinion signed by the agencys new general counsel, Michael Beason.

After the vote, Walters issued a scathing statement.

What weve seen today is an unprecedented political attack against our agency by Mark McBride along with his hard left allies among the democrats, teachers unions, and LGBT groups, Walters said. This is a sad and embarrassing day for the Oklahoma Legislature. If their concern were truly for good government, they would apply the same restrictions on all state agencies. Instead, we have seen a term-limited politician ignore the Constitution to blow a going away kiss to the unions.

Walters has hired outside firms to produce controversial videos, schedule national media appearances

On at least three occasions since he took office, Walters has contracted with outside public relations or marketing firms. Last year, he contracted with a Houston company, Precision Outreach, to produce what he has referred to as public awareness videos that depicted teachers unions in a negative light and insinuated that transgender students were a threat to other students. Those videos, which were shown at public state Board of Education meetings, cost $22,500 in taxpayer money.

A $50,000 contract between the agency and Precision Outreach, signed Jan. 3, includes the production of 10 social media posts and two videos a month.

Rep. Andy Fugate speaks during day 67 of legislation in the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the Oklahoma Capitol in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

Investigative news website Oklahoma Watch and Oklahoma City television station KOKH reported in March the state Department of Education had spent $50,000 with Virginia-based Vought Strategies to set up national media interviews for Walters. Last week, Oklahoma Watch reported the agency had paid Vought Strategies $20,000 for the firms work from September through January and agreed to pay $30,000 more for work from March through June.

Earlier this year, after the first such reports about the contract with Vought Strategies surfaced, House Speaker Charles McCall suggested the Legislature could develop guidelines to end that practice. The language in SB 1122 forbids money appropriated to the state Department of Education or under the control of the agency to be encumbered or expended for the purpose of securing media interviews, public relations, or other public promotional purposes unless expressly required to participate in a federal grant program.

One legislator tried to end session abruptly rather than vote on the bill

Those opposing the bill argued that public relations was an expansive term and, echoing language from Walters email, said its approval would negatively affect agency programs. Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, said the bill was about censorship and, at one point, made a motion to adjourn the House session sine die, which would have ended the entire session immediately. Legislators voted overwhelmingly to continue.

Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, asked his colleagues to not believe the doomsday scenario painted by Walters and said it was an absurd interpretation of what might happen.

Rep. Mark McBride speaks to Rep. Justin Humphrey during day 67 of legislation in the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the Oklahoma Capitol in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

Earlier this week, McBride told The Oklahoman its his expectation that any current contracts between the agency and those public relations or marketing firms should be immediately terminated, should the bill become law.

Another section of SB1122 declares that (t)he State Department of Education shall not decline, refuse participation in, or choose not to apply for any federal grant funding that had been received by the Department prior to fiscal year 2023  without joint approval from the President Pro Tempore of the Oklahoma State Senate and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.

The section reiterates a law passed by the Legislature last year. But in mid-May, investigative website The Frontier reported the agency had failed to apply last year for a crisis-intervention team grant from the U.S. Department of Justice thats worth nearly $1 million. The agency had first applied for the grant in 2019, The Frontier reported, but last spring  just months after Walters became superintendent  the state agency failed to reapply for a grant through the same USDOJ program.

Last week, reporters asked Walters why the grant deadline was missed, and whether the agency apply for it this year. Walters chastised reporters for bringing up the issue and didnt answer the questions.

Rep. Marilyn Stark speaks during day 67 of legislation in the Oklahoma House of Representatives at the Oklahoma Capitol in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

Weve been really clear  we are not going to take federal dollars that dont align with Oklahoma values, said Walters, who didnt define what he believes to be Oklahoma values. Weve also had the media dredge up stories from over a year ago. So were talking about a grant from over a year ago, when we were coming into office. Wed fired all of these terrible employees that were over here undermining the agency.

Weve continued to show a great track record of making sure that every dollar in the state of Oklahoma aligns with our values. We have an emphasis on student outcomes and getting money directly to schools. So were asking questions about stuff from over a year ago. Im focused on what were going to do in the future and Im going to tell you every time, we will tell the Biden administration no in trying to socially engineer our classrooms.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Bill aimed at Ryan Walters to limit spending near final approval
Washington State Ferries is short on boats as the busy summer season begins. New ferries wont arrive before 2028. (Photo by Tom Banse)

Washington State Ferries on Thursday published an invitation to bid on building five new hybrid-electric ferries, an overdue achievement that promises to eventually bring more reliability to cross-Sound ferry service.

Its the first time in more than 50 years that the state will accept bids from shipyards nationwide to construct its vessels. Going out to bid on this contract also represents a major step toward electrification of the WSF fleet. But its been choppy getting to this point with a years-long delay and rising costs. And the difficulties procuring the new boats have gubernatorial candidates in both parties suggesting it could make more sense to stick with diesel power in the near term.

This is a great milestone for Washington State Ferries as well as the national shipbuilding industry that has shown strong interest in this program, said Matt von Ruden, the ferry systems electrification program manager. These new vessels are urgently needed as WSF works to restore full service and reduce our environmental impacts.

For frustrated riders, dealing with delays and cancellations, relief for the ferry systems boat shortage cant come soon enough.

WSF has long stated that it needs 26 ferries to provide reliable service on every route, with allowances for maintenance tie-ups and a vessel in reserve.

Entering this summers busy season, the beleaguered ferry system has 21 car ferries in its fleet, of which 15 are presently in service on a reduced schedule. Five aging boats are undergoing maintenance or breakdown repairs. Last but not least, the Wenatchee is in drydock in Seattle for conversion to hybrid-electric propulsion. The Wenatchee will be WSFs first plug-in ferry when it re-launches sometime in the fall.

Bids from shipbuilders on the brand new hybrid ferries will be due in January and the contract awarded in February 2025. WSF declared a preference to split the contract between two low bidders so that two shipyards could go to work simultaneously to deliver new boats faster.

Under this approach, WSF could achieve delivery of two vessels in 2028, two in 2029, and the final one in 2030 (subject to final bid prices and available funding). These ferries will serve the Clinton/Mukilteo and Seattle/Bremerton routes, WSF spokesperson Suanne Pelley said in an email Thursday.

Responsibility to reduce our emissions

The bid request published by WSF included the high-level design for a plug-in ferry capable of carrying up to 160 cars and 1,500 passengers. Drawings showed boats that resemble a slightly elongated version of the diesel-powered Olympic class ferries delivered between 2014 and 2018. The latest design has just one passenger deck stacked on top of the two auto decks though. The center of the ships hold will be packed with racks of water-cooled rechargeable batteries so the ferry can sail fully on electric power most of the time. The engine room will also feature twin diesel generators as a backup source of propulsion power.

Using green electricity to charge, the nations largest ferry system may achieve a 76% reduction in fuel consumption and emissions when it fully transitions its fleet to hybrid-electric vessels, said von Ruden.

We have a unique responsibility to reduce our emissions, von Ruden said during a webinar for potential bidders. We are the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions in state government. Before COVID, we were burning 19 million gallons of diesel fuel per year.

Over the last two legislative sessions, state budget writers set aside close to $1.3 billion to pay for new ferries over the next six to eight years. That works out to roughly $250 million per new ferry.

If bids come in high, ferry system managers may end up having to pick a poison. They might only be able to acquire four new boats in this round. Or they could plead to the Legislature for even more money. Or try to pare back the design to reduce costs.

The four leading candidates to replace outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee have all expressed willingness to revert to diesel power for at least the first couple of new ferries to get them built faster and cheaper.

If that means that we have to extend our reliance on diesel-powered ferries in the short-term, then we should do that while taking advantage of new, cleaner, hybrid ferries downstream, wrote GOP frontrunner Dave Reichert in an open letter that blasted Inslee for what Reichert called a mismanaged nightmare on the governors watch.

WSF and Inslee contend that going back to conventional diesel propulsion would only delay matters even more because the bid documents and ferry design would have to be reworked.

Another wrinkle is that legislators made nearly $200 million of the new boat and terminal electrification spending contingent on voter rejection of a ballot measure this November. The initiative measure, I-2117, seeks to repeal the states cap-and-trade program. The ferry money is among a raft of spending that is hanging in the balance depending on whether or not voters want to sustain the states carbon pollution permit auctions that bring in the dough.

Who might bid?

In previous procurements, the Washington Legislature required that new state ferries be built in-state to keep the jobs and money close to home. However, that approach backfired beginning five years ago when there was just one local shipyard in the mix to assemble large car ferries. The state and that shipbuilder  Vigor Marine  reached an impasse over pricing and liability issues.

WSF said at least 15 potential prime contractors and subcontractors from coast to coast registered formal expressions of interest in the new ferry procurement. Some of them allowed their names to be made public. Among the noteworthy names on the list are Fincantieri Marine Group, a major shipbuilder and defense contractor in Wisconsin, and Conrad Shipyard of Louisiana, which boasts an extensive portfolio of ferry construction, including for the states of Texas and North Carolina and the Marthas Vineyard and Nantucket ferry authority. Shipbuilder Gunderson Marine, which operates a large shipyard in Portland, Oregon, also put its hand up.

Vigor delivered the last twelve new ferries to WSF from its Harbor Island shipyard, in some cases outsourcing large sections such as the superstructure to partners in Tacoma or Freeland, Washington. Despite the snafus that grounded its previous planned contract extension with WSF, Vigor put its name on the interested parties list too. A Vigor spokesperson said Thursday that company management needed more time to study the new ferry bid specs before offering reaction.

Another local shipyard group interested in bidding is the holding company for Nichols Brothers Boat Builders on Whidbey Island and its sister shipyard Everett Ship Repair. However, CEO Gavin Higgins expressed concern in an interview about the competitiveness on price of Washington state shipyards.

Higgins said Washington shipbuilders would be hamstrung in national competition because they have to follow a range of public works contracting laws that out-of-state shipyards might not face. These include apprentice utilization requirements, small business set-asides and union-level wage floors, aka prevailing wage rates.

Im not begrudging this, but just pointing out this is where the costs are, Higgins said. The prevailing wage jacks up the cost dramatically.

The Legislature kept a finger on the scale to favor ferry construction locally by including a 13% bid credit for work performed in state. But Higgins estimated he would need a credit on the order of 25% to compete on price with a shipyard on the Gulf Coast, for example.

Foreign shipyards are ineligible to bid even though contracting with an overseas builder would likely save taxpayers large sums. The new state ferries have to be built in America because of a century-old federal maritime law.

In neighboring British Columbia, BC Ferries is also acquiring hybrid-electric ferries to meet emissions reduction goals. In January, the peer ferry system to Washington awarded a contract to European shipbuilder Damen to build four plug-in interisland ferries at a yard in Romania. No price was released, but the Office of the BC Ferries Commissioner indicated the cost was more than CA$50 million ($35.7 million U.S) per vessel. BC Ferries is now moving on to a new procurement to replace up to seven of its largest vessels, beginning in 2029, with 360-car boats that would run on biofuels and battery power.

The largest hybrid ferries in the world are being outfitted in China for France-based Brittany Ferries. The 460-car sister ships Saint-Malo and Guillaume de Normandie will enter service next year on English Channel routes using a combination of liquified natural gas and battery power.

Correction: This story was updated to correct the number of passenger decks proposed in the hybrid-electric ferries bid package. Its one, not two.

The post Finally! State ferry system goes out to bid for new hybrid-electric vessels appeared first on Washington State Standard.
(FOX40.COM)  Pancake Palace in North Highlands is closed until further notice after a fire broke out at the breakfast restaurant early Friday morning, the business told FOX40.com.

Sacramento Metro Fire said the fire at the Watt Avenue restaurant happened at 1:32 a.m. and generated much smoke.

Houseboat catches fire at Sacramento River boat launch

When crews went inside, officials said they located a small fire in the kitchen that traveled to the attic space.

The fire was extinguished and no one was injured in the fire. The cause of the fire remains under investigation, officials 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 FOX40.
Fire crews rescue man clinging to tree limb above river in Ohio

Fire crews rescued a man clinging to a tree limb above a river in Ohio last week, according to a Facebook post from the Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department.

On May 24, Cuyahoga Falls fire crews were dispatched to a reported water rescue in the Cuyahoga River.

>> 54-year-old flown to hospital after vehicle overturns

The man fell into the river while fishing and couldnt get out due to the rushing water, the post said.

A bystander photographing birds and wildlife noticed the man and called 911.

The bystander was getting ready to go in the water to help, but dispatchers told him to wait for fire personnel.

When crews arrived, they tossed a rope to the man and pulled him to shore, the post said.

The department wants to remind people that flowing water is quicker and more powerful than it appears and only several inches can knock a person down.
Fire damages home near Gallivants Ferry; 1 person taken to hospital

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  One person was taken to the hospital after an early morning fire damaged a home near Galivants Ferry, according to Horry County Fire Rescue.

HCFR responded at 12:25 a.m. to the 5000 block of Dock Ridge Road. One person was taken to the hospital to be evaluated, and damage from the fire was mostly contained to one room.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Displaced residents will be offered assistance from the American Red Cross of South Carolina.

No additional information was immediately available. The cause of the is under investigation.

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.
Firefighters contain brush fire in Lake County

6:30 p.m. Update:

The Florida Forest Service said the fire is 100% contained.

Crews will monitor the area for several days, and residents will see smoke.

Previous story:

The Florida Forest Service said Thursday afternoon that firefighters are battling a brush fire that is threatening nearby structures near Clermont.

The agency said the wildfire, which is of an unknown size, is burning near Laguna Road in Lake County.

Residents are asked to stay clear of the area.

Read: Remains of woman found in alligators jaws after she was reported missing

UPDATE: 5/30/2024 3:00 PM

Laguna and John's Lake Rd wildfire. Please advise there are structures in danger we have the Florida Forest Service Helo with a Bambi Bucket in route. You will see smoke in the area. Please stay clear of the area.

Lake County Fire Rescue - Official pic.twitter.com/3Xrtdf2Am1  FFS Withlacoochee (@FFS_Withlacooch) May 30, 2024

Watch live updates on Channel 9 Eyewitness News at 4.

See a map of the scene below:

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Guilty on all counts: Last night, a jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts. He was convicted of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, with whom he had a tryst, in the lead-up to the 2016 election.

Sentencing, which may include prison time but does not necessarily, has been set for July 11. Trump still has appeals to exhaust, and Judge Juan M. Merchan could also choose to seek probation instead of throwing the presidential candidate in the slammer. In other words: There are a lot of different ways this could play out which would still allow Trump to campaign for president (and be elected).

Since this happened last night, we do not yet have polling data on how this verdict will affect the presidential race. But a recent Quinnipiac University poll found that 6 percent of Trump voters would be less likely to vote for their favored candidate if convicted, while "24 percent say they would be more likely to vote for him" and an impressive "68 percent say it would not make a difference." That 6 percent could be consequential in a tight race.

Critics on the left, many of whom are hungry for Trump to receive jail time, and those on the right who are willing to excuse his criminal and norms-shattering behavior time and time again are both frequently wrong, but in this particular case, the legal argument was mighty dubious, writes Reason's Jacob Sullum, and the verdict was perhaps reached too swiftly, providing fodder for the argument that this was politically motivated.

"In legal terms, the quick verdict is hard to fathom," writes Sullum. "That's not because there were so many counts to consider, each related to a specific invoice, check, or ledger entry allegedly aimed at disguising a hush-money reimbursement as payment for legal services. Once jurors accepted the prosecution's theory of the case, it was pretty much inevitable that they would find Trump guilty on all 34 counts. But that theory was complicated, confusing, and in some versions highly implausible, if not nonsensical."

The basics: One of the prosecution's basic arguments was that Trump falsified business records with "an intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal the commission thereof." That other crime would be a violation of Section 17-152, a New York state election law that considers it a misdemeanor for "two or more persons" to "conspire to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means."

But Judge Merchan told jurors they did not have to agree on what "unlawful means" were used, or what that even means, to reach a unanimous verdict. And prosecutors needed to convince jurors that Trump "knowingly and willfully" engaged in such criminal conspiracy with his fixer, Michael Cohen, which strains credulity: One argument, put forth by prosecutors, was that Cohen "made an excessive campaign contribution, thereby violating the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), when he fronted the money to pay Daniels" (per Sullum)an offense Cohen pleaded guilty to several years ago and a piece of evidence jurors heard but were instructed to use "to assess Cohen's credibility" but not his guiltbut it is in fact quite plausible that Trump did not know that instructing Cohen to pay Daniels was illegal.

"The prosecutors zapped a dead misdemeanor back into life by claiming a violation under New York's election law 17-152," writes Jonathan Turley at The Hill. "The argument is that the crime was committed to further another crime as an unlawful means to influence the election. However, that other crime can be the falsification of business records. So the jury (or some jurors, at least) could find that some documents were falsified as an unlawful means of falsifying other documents."

HOODWINKED: It's all legally shaky, but that didn't stop prosecutors from making wild arguments (as they do), like one that the hush-money payment (also called "[an] effort to hoodwink the American voter") "could very well be what got President Trump elected" in 2016, and that the cover-up of the Daniels affair amounted to "a subversion of democracy" meant to "manipulate and defraud the voters."

The payment to Daniels "turned out to be one of the most valuable contributions anyone ever made to Trump," Prosecutor Joshua Steinglass argued at one point. But, ultimately, jurors were convinced by these argumentseven if much of the conservative legal movement and punditry (even those who aren't Trump fans) were not.

As far as appeals, Trump has plenty of "material to work with" writes Ankush Khardori at Politico. "What he's got has almost nothing to do with the salacious and supposedly extraneous details offered by Daniels about her sexual encounter with Trumpafter all, Trump and his legal team foolishly invited that testimony themselves by denying its existencebut with the underlying legal architecture of the case, which imported complex principles of federal election law into a state law case about false business records."

Scenes from New York: That's enough New York for today.

QUICK HITS

It's pretty fun to play with this toolcalled "Build a Trump Voter"/"Build a Biden Voter"from The Economist.

Bill Ackman preps for Pershing Square IPO.

I'm here for all shots fired at baby boomers but am not sure whether stinginessalso termed frugality or fiscal prudenceis the concern. Why are we trying to audit an entire generation's consumer spending habits? Who cares?

Inside the world of TikTok influencers who instruct their lady followers on how to snag a rich guy.

Ukraine is now allowed to hit targets within Russia using American-made weapons in order to defend itself from its aggressors.

Not sold on the term "climate refugees" (or apocalypticism about what the future will hold) but Brazilian flooding is displacing hundreds of thousands of people, leaving the government scrambling.

Are you a libertarian left wondering who Chase Oliver is? Ask no more. Watch Just Asking Questions (and send us hate mail/love letters, vows of loyalty, notes of criticism, anything you desire). Some have said my views, espoused within, are "based" but I still do not know what this word means nor will I investigate.

The post First Felon appeared first on Reason.com.
DARLINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Its time for another edition of First Responder Friday as News13 honors Grand Strand and Pee Dee first responders.

This weeks nominee is Kaylee Ethridge from Darlington County. Ethridge holds multiple positions within the county, including as a part-time EMT with the Darlington County Ambulance Service and also as a firefighter with Darlington County Fire Rescue.

On top of that, she works full-time as a game warden with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, where she underwent several months of training. Ethridge is described as a hard worker who goes at anything she does with her whole heart.

Those close to her say she has a heart of gold and is one of the most caring people youll ever meet. Ethridge works long and hard hours to achieve both her career and life goals. She also takes pride in being very family-oriented.

If you would like to nominate someone for First Responder Friday, send an email to NEWS@WBTW.COM. Tell us why you chose that person and attach a photo.

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.
SINGAPORE (Reuters) -Australia, Britain, Malaysia, New Zealand and Singapore have agreed to stage more complex military drills in the region this year involving drones, fifth-generation fighter planes and surveillance aircraft.

The announcement on Friday by defence ministers from members of the 53-year old Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue defence meeting in Singapore comes as the tempo of military exercises in Asia increases along with tensions between global powers.

"We are increasing the assets that we are bringing to bear in exercises so (at) Bersama Lima later this year, for the first time, Australia will be contributing F-35 Joint Strike Fighters," said Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles.

Bersama Lima, "Five Together" in the Malay language, is an annual military exercise held by the five powers. It was held last year in Malaysia.

Marles said running more complicated exercises were an example of increasing ambition in the agenda of the FPDA. New Zealand's Defence Minister Judith Collins said a P-8 Poseidon would be deployed to Singapore for the first time as part of the drills.

The P-8 aircraft is the premier U.S. submarine hunter-tracker and is increasingly deployed in the region against China's submarine patrols.

Singapore is close to important submarine channels in Indonesia linking the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean.

Marles said the FPDA was "not about China" but rather about "our desire to work closely together". Malaysian Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said this year's exercises would involve drones, among other "non-conventional" elements.

British representative Paul Wyatt, director general for security policy, said Britain planned sending an aircraft carrier to the region in 2025 and had discussed how the tour might fit with the FPDA's exercise programme.

(Reporting by Tom Westbrook; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan)
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. The World Bank plans to discuss with the Azerbaijani government the possibilities of monetizing carbon dioxide emission quotas, World Bank energy specialist Florian Kitt said, Trend reports.

He made the statement at the second annual reporting meeting on the Azerbaijan Rapid Technical Assistance Facility (AZTAF) program funded by the European Union (EU) and managed by the World Bank (WB).

As I mentioned at the beginning, carbon and climate finance will be key to making the energy transition more affordable. We recently held our first workshop, where we looked at the entire carbon and climate finance landscape globally. This landscape, admittedly, can sometimes be quite confusing if you are not working in depth in this area, he emphasized.

Kitt noted that there are several instruments, such as carbon taxes and carbon markets.

We strive to find the best solution for Azerbaijan together with the government. Our goal is not just to copy someone else's experience but to develop an approach that will be effective for the country and its economy. As part of the preparation of a power transmission project called Azure, which involves connecting one gigawatt of wind and solar power plants, we plan to discuss with the government the possibilities of monetizing carbon dioxide emission quotas. At the same time, we will take into account the existing legislation of Azerbaijan to ensure the successful implementation of the project, he added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Five-storey residential building destroyed and 20 more damaged in Kharkiv  Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine

The Russians struck the city of Kharkiv around midnight on the night of 30-31 May, killing three people and wounding 23 others. This strike was carried out with S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft missiles, fired from the territory of Russias Belgorod Oblast. A total of five strikes were recorded in Kharkiv, all in the Novobavarskyi district of the city.

Source: Oleksandr Filchakov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor's Office, on Telegram

   , : 

A damaged residential building in Kharkiv

Photo: Suspilne news outlet

Details: One missile hit a five-storey residential building. The other missiles struck the area next to this building.

   , : 

A scene of the strike in Kharkiv

Photo: Suspilne news outlet

In total, more than 20 multi-storey residential buildings were damaged and premises belonging to a private company were destroyed.

   , : 

A scene of the strike in Kharkiv

Photo: Suspilne news outlet

Three civilians were killed and 16 others, including two children, sustained injuries of varying severity.

   , : 

A scene of the strike in Kharkiv

Photo: Suspilne news outlet

Criminal cases were opened under Part 2 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Background: On the night of 30-31 May, the Russians hit a residential building in Kharkiv, killing three people and injuring 16 others, including a 12-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy. A fire broke out.

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Florida deputy who fatally shot an airman was fired after an investigation found that his use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable and that he had violated department policy.

The Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office launched an investigation into deputy Eddie Duran after he fatally shot Roger Fortson on May 3. The internal investigation is separate from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement criminal investigation, which is still ongoing.

This tragic incident should have never occurred, Sheriff Eric Aden said in a statement. The objective facts do not support the use of deadly force as an appropriate response to Mr. Fortsons actions. Mr. Fortson did not commit any crime. By all accounts, he was an exceptional airman and individual.

Fortson, 23, had no criminal record, and there is no evidence he was involved in the disturbance that led to the deputy being called to the apartment complex. Fortson was alone in his apartment, and his girlfriend has said she and Fortson were having a normal video conversation when the deputy began pounding on the door.

Ben Crump, the familys attorney, has called the shooting an unjustifiable killing, and Matt Gaetz, the areas staunchly Republican congressman, said Fortson did nothing wrong.

Just before 4:25 p.m. on May 3, a female employee of the Elan Apartments in the Florida Panhandle community of Fort Walton Beach called the sheriffs office, saying a resident had reported a loud argument that had been going on for 20 minutes. It was said that it sounded like it was getting physical and that it happens often.

She gave Fortsons fourth-floor apartment as the location of the disturbance, but he was home alone. At the operators suggestion, the employee walked near Fortsons unit and reported that she didnt hear anything.

She responded that there was an apparent argument in one of the apartments and it is getting out of hand.

He asked which apartment.

I dont know. So Im not sure, she responded. She then told the deputy that two weeks earlier she heard someone yelling and cursing in the apartment, followed by a noise that sounded like a slap, but she hadnt reported it.

The deputy again asked which apartment, and this time the woman gave Fortsons apartment number. The deputy repeated the number. She confirmed the apartment was on the fourth floor and gave the deputy directions.

Fortson lived alone and had no visitors at the time of the shooting. That has raised questions over whether the deputy was directed to the wrong apartment. County 911 dispatch records show deputies had never been called to his apartment before. However deputies had been called to another fourth-floor apartment 10 times in the previous eight months, including once for a family disturbance.

The deputy arrived outside Fortsons door less than three minutes after he got to the complex. He listened silently for 20 seconds outside, but no voices inside are heard on his body camera.

He then pounded on the door, but didnt identify himself. He then moved to the side of the door, about 5 feet away (1.5 meters). He waited 15 seconds before pounding on the door again. This time he yelled, Sheriffs office  open the door! He again moved to the side.

Less then 10 seconds later, he moved back in front of the door and pounded again, announcing himself once more.

Fortson opened the door, his legally purchased gun in his right hand. It was at his side, pointing to the ground. The deputy said Step back then immediately began firing. Fortson fell backward onto the floor.

Only then did the deputy yell, Drop the gun!

Fortson replied, Its over there.

The deputy called for paramedics, but Fortson died a short time later at the hospital.

This story includes background reporting from the Associated Press.

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.
A sheriff's deputy who fatally shot a Florida airman at his apartment earlier this month has been fired, authorities announced Friday.

Deputy Eddie Duran was "terminated" following an investigation by internal affairs, the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office reported in a news release.

The investigation determined that Duran's "use of deadly force" in the shooting death of Senior Airman Roger Fortson "was not objectively reasonable and therefore violated agency policy," the sheriff's office said.

"The firing of the officer who shot and killed Roger Fortson is a step forward, but it is not full justice for Roger and his family. The actions of this deputy were not just negligent, they were criminal," family attorney Ben Crump said in a Friday evening statement. "While the criminal investigation is still ongoing, we fully anticipate charges to be filed against this officer. The video footage provides damning proof that this was a brutal and senseless killing of a young man who was simply enjoying time alone with his dog while video chatting with his girlfriend."

On May 3, the 23-year-old Fortson was in his apartment in the Florida Panhandle city of Fort Walton Beach when he was fatally shot by Duran. Fortson was based at the Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field, about five miles from his apartment.

Sheriff's investigators determined that Duran had initially been dispatched to an "in-progress physical disturbance" at Fortson's apartment complex, the sheriff's office said in its news release Friday.

Chantemekki Fortson, mother of Roger Fortson, a U.S. Air Force senior airman, holds a photo of her son during a news conference regarding his death, along with family and attorney Ben Crump, May 9, 2024, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida. / Credit: AP Photo/Gerald Herbert

The sheriff's office says that when Duran arrived at the complex, he was directed by a complex employee to unit 1401, where the employee stated was "the location of the disturbance," and added that "there had been recent unreported disturbances at or around the same apartment," the sheriff's office reported.

A statement previously released by the family, however, contradicts that assertion, claiming that Fortson was on a FaceTime call with his girlfriend leading up to the shooting, and alleged that the deputy was directed to the wrong apartment.

Body camera video released by the sheriff's office earlier this month showed a deputy knocking on the door of Fortson's apartment and announcing he was with the sheriff's office. When the door opens, the deputy yells for Fortson to step back.

In the bodycam video, the deputy initially knocks without announcing himself. About 30 seconds later, he knocks again, saying he's with the sheriff's office and to open the door. He knocks and announces himself approximately 10 seconds later. Within seconds of Fortson opening the door, the deputy shoots Fortson, who is seen holding what appears to be a handgun at his side.

Crump previously stated in a news conference that Fortson was on FaceTime with his girlfriend and went to retrieve his legally owned gun after hearing the knock on the door and not hearing who was there.

Crump's firm also previously released a video of the FaceTime call that appears to start after the shooting, showing the ceiling of Fortson's apartment.

"I can't breathe," Fortson says in the video while groaning.

Sheriff's investigators allege that when Fortson opened the door, Duran saw Fortson "holding a firearm in his right hand," but that the gun "was pointed at the ground sufficiently enough for the former deputy to clearly see the rear face of the rear sight."

Fortson "did not physically resist" Duran "in any way, and the investigation concluded that Mr. Forston did not point the gun in the former deputy's direction," the sheriff's office said Friday.

Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden said in a statement Friday that "this tragic incident should have never occurred. The objective facts do not support the use of deadly force as an appropriate response to Mr. Fortson's actions. Mr. Fortson did not commit any crime. By all accounts, he was an exceptional airman and individual."

 Alex Sundby contributed to this report.

Supreme Court allows NRA free speech lawsuit to move forward

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Trump found guilty on all 34 counts in "hush money" trial
Detra Shaw-Wilder seemed like a shoo-in when President Joe Biden nominated the prominent attorney as a federal judge in Miami.

As the former managing partner of a top South Florida law firm, she came highly recommended by a nominating committee handpicked by the influential Miami Sen. Marco Rubio. She also drew broad support from members of the conservative Federalist Society, the Cuban American Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and business and civic leaders across the political spectrum.

Yet despite such widespread backing and the White Houses behind-the-scenes lobbying, Shaw-Wilders nomination has run aground in the murky waters of judicial politics. Floridas two Republican senators  Rubio, in an about-face, and Rick Scott  have held up her nomination as a presidential election looms between Biden, the Democrat, and former president Donald Trump, the putative GOP nominee.

Three South Florida nominees get Senate backing

The blocking of her nomination has upset Shaw-Wilders backers, some of whom question how three other federal judicial nominees from South Florida sailed through the Senate earlier this year, including a Hispanic woman, a non-Hispanic woman and the nephew of auto magnate Norman Braman, a multimillion-dollar donor to Rubios presidential bid in 2016.

Miami Democratic Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, who has championed Shaw-Wilders nomination, said she feels personally responsible for the appointment of Detra Shaw-Wilder to the bench.

Wilson pointed out that the late U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke, who died last year after serving in Miami as the first African-American woman appointed to the federal bench in Florida, asked the congresswoman to promise that she will make sure that a Black woman replaces me.

I made a promise to the late Judge Marcia Cooke and I plan on upholding that promise, Wilson said in a statement. Recent developments dictate that I need to have another conversation with Senator Scott and find out exactly what we can do to mitigate any opposition.

READ MORE: A prominent Black lawyer in Coral Gables nominated as federal judge in South Florida

Scott: White House didnt consult him properly

In an interview, Scott says hes blocking Shaw-Wilders nomination in the U.S. Senate because he believes the Biden administration did not properly consult with him before formally announcing her appointment in late March. Rubio now says hes putting her nomination on hold, too.

Scott, who interviewed Shaw-Wilder last year and still considers her a viable candidate for a federal judgeship, told the Miami Herald that White House staffers did not act in good faith by discussing potential nominees with him and reaching an agreement before Biden announced his selection of her in March.

Theres supposed to be good-faith consultation between the Senate office of the home-state senator and the White House, Scott said Wednesday in an interview with the Herald. So, they havent worked with us. And so until they work with us, Im not moving forward. ... Theres a process, they just said, Heck with the process, [and] didnt go through it.

Asked if the upcoming rematch between Biden and Trump played a factor in his decision, Scott said hes not putting Shaw-Wilders nomination on hold to spite the Democratic president.

Nevertheless, legal observers say this trend has been playing out in certain states such as Missouri, Mississippi and now possibly Florida, where Republicans dominate the political landscape. So far, the Biden administration has seen about 200 judicial appointments confirmed by the Senate, which is comparable at this stage to Trumps total when he was president.

Rubios change of heart

Despite his initial support for Shaw-Wilder, Rubios office says the senator is not moving forward with her nomination, echoing Scotts position.

As Senator Rubio has said before, the White House needs to work collaboratively with both senators if it wants the process to move forward, a spokesman said in a statement provided to the Herald on Wednesday. Asked to elaborate, the spokesman did not respond.

As U.S. senators, Rubio and Scott have the power to block a presidents nomination of any federal judge in the Southern District of Florida and elsewhere in the state, preventing a review by the Senate Judiciary Committee and full Senate. Under Senate rules, each has the power to veto a nomination by refusing to issue a so-called blue slip to start the confirmation process.

In this instance, both have refused to do so, which is holding up Shaw-Wilders nomination as she goes through the final stage of a government background check.

White House says Rubio, Scott were informed

A senior Biden administration official disagreed with the Florida senators claims that the White House has not consulted with them on the Shaw-Wilder nomination. The official said Scott and Rubio were informed that Biden intended to move forward with Shaw-Wilder as the presidents choice for the federal judge opening in Miami in the weeks before her nomination was officially announced in late March.

Moreover, the official said, her name was part of discussions on potential nominees with both senators as far back as July 2022, and that she remained among the leading candidates from January 2023 until her nomination was announced. Scott interviewed Shaw-Wilder in January 2023, after the senators general counsel had interviewed her in August 2021, according to her Senate Judiciary Committee questionnaire.

The White House stands fully behind Detra Shaw-Wilders nomination for the Southern District of Florida, said Phil Brest, special assistant to the president and senior counsel, calling her a consensus pick.

Ms. Shaw-Wilder is an accomplished attorney who has the experience, qualifications, and skill set to be a tremendous asset to the people of the Southern District [of Florida], Brest said. The vast majority of the Southern Districts docket is made up of civil cases, including the type of complex civil cases that Ms. Shaw-Wilder has handled in her decades of litigation experience.

Shaw-Wilders supporters are staying focused on moving her nomination forward rather than openly questioning the motives of Floridas two Republican senators.

Harley Tropin, co-founder of the Coral Gables-based law firm Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton that hired Shaw-Wilder 30 years ago, said her strong background in complex civil litigation and her history as a Miami native who rose to the top of the legal community would bring tremendous value to the federal court.

From working with Detra Shaw-Wilder for decades, I know that she is superbly qualified for this position  by temperament, intellect and integrity, Tropin told the Herald on Thursday. She will be a wonderful federal judge and I pray the senators see it that way and help her get confirmed.

During his interview with the Herald, Scott suggested that he might be willing to find a way forward with Shaw-Wilders nomination if the White House considers her and other candidates  not only for the vacancy in Miami but for other openings on the federal bench in the Middle District of Florida. That district includes the Tampa, Orlando and Jacksonville regions.

The way forward is I propose nominees, they propose nominees, we talk through our nominees, and we come to an agreement, said Scott, without saying whether he would agree to let Shaw-Wilders nomination go forward in Miami if he could pick one candidate for three current federal judge openings in the Middle District of Florida.

According to people familiar with Shaw-Wilders nomination, the White House has indicated to the senators that it is open to a negotiated package of federal judicial nominees that would include her for the opening in Miami and a candidate for the Middle District of Florida.

Miami native

Shaw-Wilder has Miami and Florida in her blood.

She was born at Jackson Memorial Hospital, grew up in Miami Gardens and graduated from Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High. She received her law degree from the University of Miami School of Law and her bachelors degree from the University of Florida, before joining the Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton law firm in Coral Gables in 1994.

She became a partner in 2002 and later served as managing partner of the firm. She is currently its general counsel. The high-profile law firm was involved in securing a $1 billion settlement for the families of victims killed in the Surfside condo building collapse in June 2021.

Shaw-Wilder, 54, who lives with her family in Davie, had been on a short list of candidates recommended by a nominating committee picked by Rubio, the Miami Republican. However, she was overlooked during the previous round of Biden nominations for federal judgeships in South Florida  to the disappointment of local Black leaders.

Detra Shaw-Wilder, managing partner of the Kozyak Tropin & Throckmorton law firm in her office in Coral Gables on Monday, April 13, 2015. Florida GOP senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott have blocked her nomination as a Miami federal court judge, saying the White House didnt consult with them. The White House says it did. Some have suggested politics is behind this in a presidential election year.

In late February, the U.S. Senate confirmed three candidates  all former U.S. prosecutors  as federal judges in the Southern District of Florida. One was Jacqueline Becerra, who grew up in Hialeah, and is a graduate of the University of Miami and Yale University Law School. She was a magistrate judge in Miami and previously worked as a prosecutor in the U.S. attorneys office and as a partner with the Greenberg Traurig law firm.

The Senate also confirmed David Leibowitz, who obtained his bachelors and law degrees from the University of Pennsylvania and then served in the U.S. attorneys office in Manhattan before working as general counsel for his uncles auto empire, Braman Motors, based in Miami. His uncle was Rubios biggest benefactor when he ran for president in 2016.

READ MORE: Senate confirms Hialeah native and Bramans nephew as federal judges in Miami

Melissa Damian, who worked in the U.S. attorneys office before serving as a U.S. magistrate judge in Miami, was also confirmed after them. Damian, a graduate of Princeton University and UM law school, clerked early in her career for former U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro, who championed her bid for the federal bench.

Also in late February, the Senate confirmed a Black magistrate judge, Julie Sneed, as a federal judge in the Middle District of Florida.

Scott, a former Florida governor who faces reelection to the Senate in November, said the White House was more collaborative on the nominations of these four federal judges and two U.S. attorneys in recent years than on Shaw-Wilders recent appointment.

Although no one has accused the two Florida senators of racial discrimination in holding up Shaw-Wilders nomination for federal judge, that highly sensitive view is simmering in the minds of several legal and political observers in South Florida, according to interviews with the Herald.

It also is dredging up bitter memories dating back a decade when Rubio blocked the Obama administrations nomination of Miami-Dade Circuit Judge William Thomas, an openly gay Black man, for the federal bench.

We are disappointed that the nomination appears to have been stalled for inexplicable political reasons, the Judicial Diversity Initiative, a coalition of Black Bar Associations in South Florida, said in a statement issued on Thursday. Many people in the community will be disappointed with such an outcome, including Floridas Black community.

The group stressed that Shaw-Wilder was eminently qualified to serve on the federal bench, noting that business owners, entrepreneurs, community leaders, and lawyers on the right side of the spectrum and the left have written in support of her nomination.

Strong support for her

Among them: a retired Miami-Dade Circuit Court judge, a member of the Federalist Society and a former publisher of the Herald who founded a nonprofit to help young children before entering school.

Ms. Shaw-Wilder is well known and respected in our legal community for her keen legal intellect, calm demeanor and tireless efforts to make our profession more accessible and civil, former Circuit Judge Alan Fine wrote to Sens. Rubio, Scott, Lindsay Graham and Richard Durbin in April. I endorse her nomination without any hesitation or concern. She will be a fantastic judge if confirmed.

As a business lawyer within the financial services industry, I have worked with Detra and can confidently attest to her exceptional qualities that make her suited for the bench, Erica Bartimmo, a member of the Federalist Society in South Florida, wrote to Scott.

One of Detras most admirable qualities is her dedication to fairness and justice, Bartimmo wrote, copying the White House on her letter. She is not swayed by personal biases or political agendas but instead approaches each case with an unwavering commitment to the principles of justice and equity.

Detra Shaw-Wilder is simply among the finest people I have known anywhere and at any time, former Herald publisher Dave Lawrence wrote to Scott, describing her as a paragon of professionalism.

Reached by phone, Lawrence said Shaw-Wilder is a person who ought to be embraced by everyone ... a significant human being who believes in this countrys values.

She ought to be confirmed quickly so she can start work, he said. Shes always impressed me as a person of genuine decency that I trust fully about making decisions about the lives of other human beings.
Police officials in Lakeland, Florida are reviewing an incident in which officers punched and tased a teenager after he allegedly trespassed at an apartment complex pool and refused to leave when police ordered him to do so.

Lakeland police charged the 16-year-old boy with misdemeanor trespassing and two felony counts of battery on a law enforcement officer and resisting an officer with violence, according to an arrest affidavit obtained by ABC News.

Christopher McKee, one of the two arresting officers in the May 26 incident, stated in a police report that he was responding to a 911 call from the apartment complex management complaining that several people were at the apartment pool who weren't allowed to be there because they weren't tenants. Once officers arrived, the apartment complex manager notified them that all non-residents of the complex were trespassing.

PHOTO: Lakeland police officers in a physical altercation with a 16-year-old boy who they claim wouldn't leave an apartment complex after being informed he was trespassing. (Darryiell Bowman)

ABC News is not naming the teen because he is a minor.

"I gave [the subject] several more lawful orders to exit the property or he would be arrested," McKee stated in the affidavit. "[The subject] continued to ignore my verbal commands and stuck his hand in my face, while stating 'I don't have to talk to you.' I decided at this time to take [the subject] into custody for trespassing."

The officer claims in the report that after making physical contact with the teen to bring him into custody, the teen struck the officer in the face with a closed fist. In cell phone video of the incident obtained by ABC News, two officers can be seen punching, pulling the hair of and tasing the teen before he submits to being handcuffed. The video does not show what led up to the incident.

MORE: Family speaks out after teen with autism tased by police

Ja'Tae Lewis, the boy's mother, told ABC News that her son and his friends were leaving the property, as requested by police. At that point, one of the officers followed behind them and told her son that the next time he came to the complex he should take his "fat a--" to the gym to work out, rather than the pool.

Lewis said that her son told her that he replied to the officer but allegedly doesn't remember what he said. The officer then approached her son, according to Lewis, who in turn raised his hand up toward the officer's face to establish distance. That is when the officer became physical with her son, according to Lewis.

Lakeland police told ABC News that body camera video of the incident is not available to the public at this time. The teen was transported to a local hospital and then to a juvenile assessment center, according to the arrest affidavit.

"Chief of Police Sam Taylor has already requested an administrative review by our Office of Professional Standards," Lakeland police told ABC News through a statement. "We will not be able to release any other material related to this case until the administrative review is closed."

Florida police punch, tase teen after he allegedly trespasses at pool originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Florida Republicans vying to be Trumps running mate lashed out Thursday after President Donald Trump was convicted in his Manhattan hush money trial.

The jury for the trial  based on charges that Trump falsified business records to cover up a payment to keep a porn star quiet in the lead up to the 2016 election  found the former president guilty on all charges, making him a felon.

Trump, who is expected to appeal, called the trial rigged in brief remarks to reporters after the verdict was announced.

U.S Senator Marco Rubio, among a number of politicians reportedly in the running to be chosen as Trumps Vice President, said in a post on X that the verdict was a travesty and makes a mockery of the countrys justice system.

A political show trial conducted by an openly pro-Biden judge whose daughter makes money off the case, a jury from the most liberal county in America, absurd and ridiculous charges and outrageous jury instructions that guaranteed guilty verdicts. Biden and the Trump deranged left will stop at nothing to remain in power, wrote Rubio.

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, who is also rumored to be contending for the spot as Trumps running mate, called the verdict a disaster.

Donald Trump is innocent. To hell with what the jury said, wrote Donalds on X. America. This is what a political prosecution looks like. Remember in November!

U.S Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar, a Miami Republican who CNN reported could be Trumps VP pick, said the verdict was an injustice and that voters will respond accordingly at the ballot box in November.

Today is a profoundly sad day in American history. Like in a banana Republic, the justice system was politicized against a presidential candidate; this is unacceptable, wrote Salazar, a former journalist.

Other Florida Republicans reacted similarly.

Florida GOP Chairman Evan Power released a statement calling the trial election interference and a political witch hunt. And Floridas incoming House Speaker Daniel Perez, R-Miami, also had a few words to say about the verdict.

From the outset, this case has been a verdict in search of a crime. Our justice system isnt perfect, but when we allow it to be weaponized for political purposes, we undermine our nations integrity. This election should be decided by the people of the United States not by a handful of Manhattanites, said Perez in a post on X.
Republican Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, son of Cuban-born parents, went too far on Fox News Thursday night in comparing Donald Trumps conviction to the horrific, open-air stadium trials ordered up by Fidel Castro to punish Fulgencio Batista officials and supporters in a post-1959 revolution Cuba.

Rubio was among a long line of Republicans who, after Trumps conviction on 34 felony counts, shouted the party line that the U.S. legal system was weaponized against Trump to impact the November presidential elections. We get that Rubio is a possible vice-presidential candidate.

But leave the suffering and tragedy of the Cuban people, the horrors of the aftermath of the Revolution  and the reason Ernesto Che Guevara is so despised by exiles  out of it, Senator.

Dont use it to appease Trump.

Heres what Rubio said on Hannity:

This is a quintessential show trial. This is what you see in communist countries. This is what I grew up having people in the [Cuban exile] community tell me about. It happened in the days after the Castro revolution. Obviously, those led to executions. This, on the other hand, is an effort to interfere in an election. 

Invoking such a loaded term as show trial and directly comparing our legal process to Cubas needlessly undermines public faith in the integrity of our justice system.

And there was more. Rubio posted on X a black-and-white clip of the televised trial of Jesus Sosa Blanco, a notorious Batista military officer. In the clip, one sees Sosa Blanco standing on a stage in the middle of a Havana sporting stadium, his accusers yelling and screaming for justice from the stands. Im in the Roman coliseum, he was quoted as saying. It was borderline barbaric.

Sosa Blanco was executed on Feb. 18, 1959. He was one of the best known among the 500 Cubans Guevara is credited with sentencing to death in the months after the Revolution.

And, that resembles what happened to Trump in a New York courtroom?

After the verdict, Trump called a news conference at Trump Tower in Manhattan on Friday in which he spoke freely about his trial, even attacking the judge in his case. Hes vowed to appeal his conviction and, if hes successful, he could even have it overturned.

Sosa Blanco and so many others in Cuba never had such rights.

Rubio represents many of the views of the conservative branch of Miamis Cuban exile community, especially their anti-communist stance, but he lost his way here. A request for comment from his office was not answered as of Friday afternoon.

Rubio should apologize to the community and to every political prisoner thrown in a Cuban prison for his trivializing of the injustice they suffered. To compare that to the conviction of a former president found guilty of taking part in a scheme to pay off a porn star is an insult.

Trump might not serve any jail time, even though the charges he faced carry a sentence of up to four years of prison. Those thrown into the Cuba regimes legal system are sentenced freely. Case in point: The recent 15-year sentencing of a young mother who posted videos of 2022 anti-government demonstrations on social media.

The show trials that occurred in Cuba were Roman-style executions. Trumps trial was conducted by an impartial judge and jury in a court of law, applying centuries of legal precedent.

Rubio is free to disagree with the verdict. Still, the fact is that witnesses testified, evidence was presented from both sides, and the jury deliberated privately before reaching its decision  all hallmarks of a functioning justice system.

Try any of that in Cuba.

The regimes military show trials were intended to intimidate and terrorize. Verdicts were decided in advance to send a message of fear, not justice. Executions often followed with no appeal or mercy. There are no equivalencies between these kangaroo courts and Trumps trial.

As an elected leader, Rubio has a responsibility to choose his words carefully.

Ill-considered comparisons only undermine faith in the rule of law. Just ask any Cuban exiled in Miami.
FILE - Chantemekki Fortson, mother of Roger Fortson, a U.S. Air Force senior airman, holds a photo of her son during a news conference with attorney Ben Crump, Thursday, May 9, 2024, in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. A Florida sheriff fired a deputy who fatally shot a Black airman who was standing in his doorway while holding a handgun pointed to the ground. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, file)

A Florida Panhandle sheriff on Friday fired a deputy who fatally shot an airman at his home while holding a handgun pointed to the ground, saying the deputy's life was never in danger and he should not have fired his weapon.

Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden fired Deputy Eddie Duran, who fatally shot Senior Airman Roger Fortson on May 3 after responding to a domestic violence call and being directed to Fortson's apartment.

Duran shot Fortson, 23, multiple times two seconds after he opened his door. Fortson was holding his legally owned gun in his right hand, body camera video shows. It was pointed directly at the ground. Fortson was Black. Duran, 39, listed himself as Hispanic on his voter registration.

A sheriff's internal affairs investigation released Friday concluded that, Mr. Fortson did not make any hostile, attacking movements, and therefore, the former deputys use of deadly force was not objectively reasonable. Outside law enforcement experts have also said that an officer cannot shoot only because a possible suspect is holding a gun if there is no threat.

This tragic incident should have never occurred, Aden said in the statement. The objective facts do not support the use of deadly force as an appropriate response to Mr. Fortsons actions. Mr. Fortson did not commit any crime. By all accounts, he was an exceptional airman and individual.

No criminal charges have been filed, but a Florida Department of Law Enforcement investigation is ongoing.

Duran did not return a voicemail left at a number listed to him. Email and phone messages seeking comment from his attorney John Whitaker were not immediately returned.

According to the internal affairs report, Duran told investigators that when Fortson opened the door, he saw aggression in the airman's eyes. He said he fired because, Im standing there thinking Im about to get shot, Im about to die.

It is him or me at this point and I need to, I need to act as opposed to react, he told investigators.

Attorney Ben Crump, who is representing Fortson's family, said in a statement that Duran's firing is a step forward, but it is not full justice for Roger and his family.

The actions of this deputy were not just negligent, they were criminal, Crump said.

Sabu Williams, president of the Okaloosa County NAACP, applauded Adens action.

We appreciate what the internal investigation has shown and what the sheriff has done to this point, Williams told The Associated Press. We dont think this is the end of it, obviously.

He said the NAACP has a good relationship with the Republican sheriff.

Some of us may have wanted things to happen a lot quicker, but I know due diligence has to take place, Williams said.

Duran is a law enforcement veteran, his career beginning as a military police officer in the Army. He was hired by an Oklahoma police department in 2015 after his military discharge. He Joined the Okaloosa County sheriffs office in July 2019, but resigned two years later. He rejoined the sheriffs office 11 months ago.

The apartment complex where Fortson lived is about 8 miles (13 kilometers) from Hurlburt Field, where Fortson was assigned to the 4th Special Operations Squadron as a special missions aviator serving on an AC-130J Ghostrider gunship. One of his roles was to load the planes 30mm and 105mm cannons during battles. He earned an Air Medal with combat device, which is typically awarded after 20 flights in a combat zone or for conspicuous valor or achievement on a single mission.

The events leading to the shooting began shortly after 4 p.m. on May 3 when a tenant who lived near Fortson in Fort Walton Beach's Elan Apartments called the management office to say she heard what sounded like an argument coming from his apartment.

The woman, whose name has not been released, told investigators after the shooting she believed Fortson was in a relationship because she often heard a womans voice coming from the apartment. She said she had heard previous arguments, but none like the one that Friday afternoon.

Before it was just, usually banter back and forth, she told investigators. Nothing was ever to the extent it was on (May 3)." She also thought a child was present.

But Fortson, who had no criminal record, lived alone and had no guests that afternoon. He was on a video call with his girlfriend, who told investigators they had not been arguing. She said Fortson was playing a video game.

An apartment complex manager called the sheriff's office at 4:24 p.m. and Duran arrived three minutes later. He met the manager in the parking lot and she directed him to Fortson's fourth-floor apartment, telling him there are frequent arguments, body camera video shows.

However, 911 records show deputies had never been called to Fortson's apartment previously but they had been called to a nearby unit 10 times in the previous eight months, including once for a domestic disturbance.

When Duran arrived outside Fortsons door, he stood silently for 20 seconds outside and listened, but no voices inside are heard on his body camera.

He then pounded on the door, but didnt identify himself. He then moved to the side of the door, about 5 feet away (1.5 meters). He told investigators he feared that the person inside might fire through the door or open the door and push him over the rail and to the ground about 40 feet (12 meters) below.

He waited 15 seconds before pounding on the door again. This time he yelled, Sheriffs office  open the door! He again moved to the side. A muffled voice can be heard on the video  Duran said he heard someone cursing at the police.

Less then 10 seconds later, Duran moved back in front of the door and pounded again, announcing himself once more.

Fortson's girlfriend told investigators that the airman asked who was there but did not get a response. She said Fortson told her he was not going to answer the door because no one comes to his apartment. She said neither of them heard the deputy yell that he was with the sheriffs office.

After the third knock, she said Fortson told her, Im gonna go grab my gun because I dont know who that is.

When Fortson opened the door holding his gun, Duran said Step back, and then immediately began firing. Fortson fell backward onto the floor.

Only then did the deputy yell, Drop the gun!

Fortson replied, Its over there.

The deputy called for paramedics, but Fortson died a short time later at the hospital.

When other deputies arrived, Duran walked into the breezeway outside the unit and struck a wall with his right fist, the internal affairs report said.

F-, he yelled.

___ Spencer reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. AP writers Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale, David Fischer in Miami and Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed to this report.
Students from the University of North Florida and Edward Waters University attended the first ever College Media Day at The Florida Times-Union office in downtown Jacksonville. They participated in a mock press conference with City Council members Jimmy Peluso and Rahman Johnson.

Give them more time! Theyre just getting started!

Words journalists never hear during a press conference.

But, what a welcoming introduction to the media landscape for 18 students from the University of North Florida and Edward Waters University.

I took the students to City Hall as part of the first ever College Media Day at the Florida Times-Union in April where they participated in a mock press conference with City Council members Jimmy Peluso and Rahman Johnson.

The students were inquisitive and persistent, but they were also nervous and sometimes shy. Thats why they needed the practice  as we all do.

I organized the media day as a way to bring students together and help them put the tools they learn in school to practical use while also networking with journalists already in the field. They participated in beat sessions with some of Jacksonvilles best journalists across mediums and outlets  including the Times-Union, First Coast News, News4Jax, The Tributary and WJCT.

Students from the University of North Florida and Edward Waters University attended beat sessions from local journalists at The Florida Times-Union College Media Day, including this one on television journalism from WJXT's Marilyn Parker and First Coast News' Andrew Badillo.

When I began planning the event earlier this year as part of my participation in the Poynter-Koch Media Fellowship, I never could have imagined it going so well  and thats because of the students.

They asked detailed questions about everything from source building to TV contract negotiations. I talked with one student at length about what can be learned by simply listening to local zoning hearings.

The feedback I received from them at the end of the day strengthened my resolve to grow the event: the majority of students said their biggest criticism was they did not have enough time to learn more.

Journalists are oftentimes overworked and under-paid (its a cliche for a reason), and these days, jobs can be scarce. Sometimes it seems as if every other Twitter notification I get is from another reporter being laid off or another beloved local outlet shuddering.

WOW! What a day. It was amazing to welcome 18 future journalists from UNF and EWU to @jaxdotcom for the very first College Media Day.



The students had beat sessions from fantastic Jax journalists across mediums and outlets and participated in a mock presser at City Hall. pic.twitter.com/psufpsjodn  Hanna Holthaus (@HannaHolthaus) April 12, 2024

Weve gotten lucky in Jacksonville as of late. Some journalists have accepted buyouts, but our 21-person staff has largely remained unchanged. But, we all recognize the industry is constantly changing, and security is not always guaranteed.

The students willing to enter this field are strong. They are driven. They aspire to find the important stories in their communities and create change with their words.

Journalism is essential to democracy. We have to protect it  and we have to cultivate the talent within the students willing to take on the task.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville welcomes UNF, EWU students to College Media Day
Despite 34 felony convictions Thursday for Donald Trump, two U.S. Congressmen who represent parts of Lee and Collier counties lauded the former president and current Republican presidential candidate.

Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, said in an interview Wednesday he would support Trump even if convicted. Diaz-Balart represents District 26, which includes eastern Collier County. That has not really been a trial. That has been a political assassination, Diaz-Balart said in an interview at VFW Post 7721 in Naples. This has nothing to do with an actual, you know, real criminal case.

U.S. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, stands next to Collier County Commissioner Burt Saunders of District 3 at VFW Post 7721 in Naples May 29, 2024. Both men are seeking re-election this year.

Byron Donalds, R-Naples, posted on X: "Donald Trump is innocent. To hell with what the jury said. America, this is what a political prosecution looks like. Remember in November!" Donalds, who represents District 19, attended the trial, and is one of several Trump loyalists presumed to be in contention for Trumps VP pick if he runs.

Trump, 78, was found guilty on all counts in his New York criminal hush money trial, which centered on allegations that he falsified business records to hide a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Trump is the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime.

Prosecutors initially charged Trump with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. They alleged Trump falsified the records to conceal unlawfully interfering in the 2016 presidential election through the $130,000 hush money payment, making the falsification charges felonies.

Diaz-Balart said the trial was akin to the actions of dictators.

The case against former President Trump is an obvious and blatant travesty of justice and a political witch hunt.



This is a direct threat to our democracy. This case should never have seen the light of day.



More on my statement below. pic.twitter.com/rQhgtaHmxK  Mario Diaz-Balart (@MarioDB) May 30, 2024

This is the most obvious aggressive using the state for campaign interference. And I think it's so obvious. So, I'm hoping he doesn't (get convicted), because he doesn't deserve to be convicted of any of these false things, he said in the Wednesday interview. This is this is a really dramatic, sad and offensive and dangerous example of using the power of government to go after your political opponents.

Asked about trusting the U.S. legal system, Diaz-Balart, who's seeking his 12th term, said, I'm a strong believer in  the American legal system. But, I also am a very, very strong believer in making sure that it's not abused."

"We've seen abuses in the past, throughout our history.  This is not the legal system. This is a legal system, run amok, amok. For strictly political reasons. I would call it what we're seeing now in New York. I don't dare call it a kangaroo court because I don't want to afford kangaroo process. Or a banana republic because I don't want to insult banana republics and kangaroos. Because it is it is that obviously, flawed, corrupt, and corrupted.

U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., addresses a crowd during an event hosted by the Naples Republican Club at Stix Sushi and Seafood in Naples on Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2023.

Donalds agreed. "Through the whole trial they wouldnt identify what the underlying crime is and the only time they do it is in closing arguments when the defense has already made their closing arguments? That is a travesty," he told Fox.

'We are better than this.' Byron Donalds scorches Democrats at Trump trial in New York

"There is a reason why we have constitutional protections  to be able to have your case adjudicated in a court of law  not like this. Not where the fix is in from Day 1."

What happened in NY is disaster verdict by a crooked judge and a crooked prosecution. Donald Trump is innocent. To hell with what the jury said.



America, this is what a political prosecution looks like. Remember in November!  Byron Donalds (@ByronDonalds) May 30, 2024

And, Donalds said, "Democrats better chuckle now, because what is going to happen is people are going to see this for what it is. This is political prosecution  Remember this stuff in November because if theyre going to go after their political rival to stop him, what do you think theyre going to do to you to get you to bend a knee to their crazy agenda?"

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Diaz-Balart, Donalds react to Donald Trump conviction in New York
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. The UN is providing coordinated support to the COP29 Presidency in three parallel tracks, UN Resident Coordinator in Azerbaijan Vladanka Andreeva told Trend.

First UNFCCC support COP29 Presidency on all organizational aspects of the Climate Conference that will take place in November in Baku. Secondly, we have activated a UN Global Task Force that I co-chair together with Special Adviser to the Secretary-General on Climate Action and Just Transition Selwin Charles Hart. Within this UN Global Task Force, we have 25 UN agencies to support the COP29 Presidency with their initiatives. We are going to have a follow-up discussion in Bonn next week to ensure that those initiatives are being finalized, she said.

Andreeva noted that the third track is the UN country team that she leads in Azerbaijan.

We have an engagement strategy. We are already organizing the 29 climate conversations leading to COP29. We also discuss how every sector of the society can support climate action. Finally, as a UN country team, we would really like to support the climate ambition of Azerbaijan. We see this as building the momentum of COP29 to continue to achieve greener, sustainable development in Azerbaijan, she concluded.

Azerbaijan will host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in November this year. The decision was made at the plenary meeting of COP28 held in Dubai on December 11 last year. Within two weeks, Baku, having become the center of the world, will host about 70,000-80,000 foreign guests.

The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change is an agreement signed at the Rio Earth Summit in June 1992 to prevent dangerous human interference in the climate system. The acronym COP (Conference of Parties) stands for Conference of Parties, which is the highest legislative body overseeing the implementation of the Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The parties to the convention are 198 countries. Unless the parties have decided otherwise, COP is held annually. The first COP event was held in March 1995 in Germany's Berlin, and its secretariat is located in Bonn.
File cabinets. (Getty)

One of the less noticed features of the Virginia Way is the long-running tendency of the commonwealths leaders to conduct their decision-making behind closed doors. While the Virginia Freedom of Information Act presumes all government business is by default public and requires officials to justify why exceptions should be made, too many Virginia leaders in practice take the opposite stance, acting as if records are by default private and the public must prove they should be handled otherwise.

In this feature, we aim to highlight the frequency with which officials around Virginia are resisting public access to records on issues large and small  and note instances when the release of information under FOIA gave the public insight into how government bodies are operating.

Payroll error cost Petersburg schools $140K

Richmond-area TV station WTVR obtained public records showing that a Petersburg Public Schools payroll mistake cost the school division $140,000.

In a January pay cycle, the school division failed to make deductions to employees paychecks for money going to health insurance and retirement, leading to an unexpected pay bump for employees. Instead of getting the money back, according to WTVR, former Superintendent Tamara Sterling allowed employees to keep the extra money.

Sterling was mysteriously placed on leave earlier this year and officially resigned as the school divisions leader in late April.

Emails obtained by WTVR suggested the Petersburg School Board was unaware of how much the error, and Sterlings decision to let it slide, would cost the division.

<infobox>The Mercurys efforts to track FOIA and other transparency cases in Virginia are indebted to the work of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, a nonprofit alliance dedicated to expanding access to government records, meetings and other state and local proceedings.</endbox>

Youngkin lawyer appointed to citizen seat on FOIA council

The Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council is supposed to be a mix of public officials, private citizens and media professionals. But those arent always distinct categories.

A lawyer working in Gov. Glenn Youngkins administration was appointed late last year to fill a citizen seat on the council, which studies FOIA issues and publishes advisory opinions on how FOIA laws should be interpreted.

Lindsay Fisher, a deputy counselor to the governor, was selected to serve a four-year term on the council by former House of Delegates Speaker Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah on Dec. 27, shortly before Gilbert handed over the office to current Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth. Fisher previously served as Gilberts policy director.

Youngkins administration routinely denies FOIA requests for records related to the governor, often using broad transparency exemptions shielding the governors working papers and correspondence.

The state law creating the FOIA council doesnt define citizen to mean someone who doesnt work in government. Instead, it defines a citizen as anyone whos not a member of the General Assembly.

In a newsletter published this week, Megan Rhyne, executive director of the Virginia Coalition for Open Government, argued officials should do a better job of finding actual citizens to serve on the FOIA Council.

Its hard to imagine citizen-forward proposals coming out of the FOIA Council when citizens are not part of the process, Rhyne wrote.

Garren Shipley, a spokesman for Gilbert, who now serves as the House Minority Leader, called Fisher a smart and talented person.

Leader Gilbert trusts her to do a good job, he said.

Records reveal new Loudoun schools superintendents busy travel schedule

In his first academic year in charge of Loudoun County Public Schools, Superintendent Aaron Spence has spent about a month traveling to various conferences, according to records obtained by TV station WJLA.

Over the course of three months, Spence went to conferences in Miami, San Diego, Puerto Rico and Richmond, WJLA reported. Hes taken at least 10 trips this academic year and spent 24 school days at conferences in the same period.

Neither Spence nor Loudoun School Board Chair Melinda Mansfield responded to WJLA reporter Nick Minocks questions about the superintendents travel.

Have you experienced local or state officials denying or delaying your FOIA request? Tell us about it: info@virginiamercury.com

The post FOIA Friday: Government lawyer fills citizen seat, Petersburg schools let payroll error slide appeared first on Virginia Mercury.
Following 1st nitrogen execution in U.S., Alabama puts man to death via lethal injection

Jamie Mills was sentenced to death for the 2004 murders of Fred and Vera Hill. (Alabama Department of Corrections)

ATMORE, Ala.  Alabama executed a man Thursday in the 20-year-old murder of a retired couple in the states first execution since conducting the nations first capital punishment using nitrogen gas earlier this year.

The governors office announced the death of Jamie Ray Mills, 50, using lethal injection for the 2004 murders of Floyd Hill, 87, and his wife Vera Hill, 72. Mills died at 6:26 p.m.

Almost 20 years ago, the grandchildren of Floyd and Vera Hill, worried for their grandparents, filed a missing-person report only for police to discover the couple had been brutally and horrendously beaten to death, Gov. Kay Ivey said in a news release. The Hills lives were taken at the hands of Jamie Mills. The evidence in this case is overwhelming, and Mr. Mills is undoubtedly guilty.

Tonight, two decades after he committed these murders, Jamie Mills has paid the price for his heinous crimes. I pray for the victims and their loved ones as they continue to grieve.

Media witnesses reported no complications with the execution.

Speaking before the state carried out his punishment, Mills left final messages for members of his family and one of his attorneys, Charlotte Morrison.

I love my family, Mills said according to media witnesses. I love my brother and sister. I couldnt ask for more. Charlotte, you fought hard for me. I love you all. Carry on.

Mills had maintained his innocence, according to his attorneys with the Equal Justice Initiative.

Jamie Mills becomes another person needlessly killed by state officials who comfortably tolerate state deception, violation of the law and breach of fundamental, constitutional rights to carry out a death sentence they claim upholds the rule of law, Mills attorneys said in a statement. There will come a day when governments recognize the perverse injustice of this process and the wrongfulness of this punishment. It will be a day that is too late for Jamie Mills which makes his death tragically regrettable and mournfully unjust.

A jury convicted Mills in 2007 on three counts of capital murder: two in the deaths of the Hills, and a third allowed under state law because the killings happened in a single act. The jury voted 11-1 that he should be sentenced to death, and the judge agreed with the sentence.

Mills was 30 at the time of the killings and didnt have a job, court filings show. He had last worked at a service station Floyd Hill frequented, according to the court documents, and employees at the station knew Hill carried a lot of cash, which he used to pay for gas.

The Hills were retired, prosecutors said, and lived off Social Security and proceeds from yard sales.

According to court documents, Mills and his common-law wife, JoAnn Mills, drove to the Hill residence in Guin, about 80 miles northwest of Birmingham near the Mississippi line, on June 24, 2004. The Hills let them in after they said they needed to use a phone.

JoAnn Mills would later testify that her husband said they were going to talk to a man about some money. She also said it was obvious Floyd Hill recognized her husband, because he called him by name.

The four then walked to the shed located on the premises where the Hills stored items to sell as part of an upcoming yard sale, according to court documents. Mills beat Floyd, then proceeded to strike Vera with a hammer. Mills then stole about $140 worth of items during the incident.

Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm confirmed the time of death to journalists Thursday and read a statement from the Hills family.

In the past 20 years, our family has been seeking justice, the statement said. Today justice has been served. However, it took 20 years to do so. Our family believes in the judicial system, no matter how long it takes. Our family, now, can have some closure from this heinous crime he committed and our loving grandparents can rest in peace.

Only hours before Thursdays execution, the U.S. Supreme Court denied Mills appeal, clearing the states final obstacle to have him executed. The orders on both of his appeals did not cite a reason for the denials.

Mills attorneys had asked the nations top court to consider that prosecutors had not revealed to Mills defense team a plea deal with his wife to avoid a death sentence.

The Supreme Courts denial is the most recent episode in which the courts rebuffed Mills efforts to at least have his execution delayed if not overturned, and for his case to be reopened.

Mills attorneys had also asked the Supreme Court to intervene, claiming Alabamas lethal injection protocol violated his Eighth Amendment right against cruel and unusual punishment because he must remain strapped in a gurney for hours.

The Supreme Court let a lower courts ruling denying that claim stand.

Civil rights and human rights groups objected to Mills execution as they have for prior executions.

Executions go against the values the state holds, said Tabitha Isner, vice chair of the Alabama Democratic Party. We say we are a Christian state, but it doesnt appear that the state believes in redemption. It doesnt believe in salvation.

Many delivered petitions to the governors office signed by thousands of individuals hoping to stop the execution.

Abraham Bonowitz, with the anti-execution group Death Penalty Action, called Mills punishment unnecessary.

We can hold people who have done awful crimes accountable and punish them severely without executions, he said. And we know that because that is what we do in the vast majority of cases.

Mills was Alabamas second execution of 2024. The state allows people on death row to choose either lethal injection or nitrogen gas in their executions. Kenneth Eugene Smith was executed using nitrogen gas in January.

Opponents of using nitrogen in execution say its difficult to administer the gas through a mask, which could let in oxygen and keep someone alive longer while they struggle to breathe.

The state plans two more executions this year:Keith Edmund Gavin by lethal injection in July, and Alan Eugene Miller by nitrogen gas in September.

The post Following 1st nitrogen execution in U.S., Alabama puts man to death via lethal injection appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  A woman who worked at a daycare in Columbus was arrested and charged with three counts of simple battery on Thursday.

According to the Columbus Police Department, Pamela Marie Cook, 61, was taken into custody following allegations of abuse at Childcare Network.

Officers investigated three incidents involving victims under 11 months old. Police say the investigation supported criminal charges in two of the three cases.

Cook was identified by CPD as the suspect in those incidents. Cook quit her job before the completion of the investigation.

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.
Former Screven Co. contracted employee charged after accusations of inappropriately communicating with minors

SCREVEN COUNTY, Ga. (WJBF)  A Former Screven County contracted employee was arrested after being accused of inappropriately communicating with several students.

According to the Screven County Sheriffs Office, Screven County School staff was alerted by several students reporting that Karry Thompson Jr. inappropriately communicated with them.

Administrators state that Thompson was a paid contract employee and a volunteer with the schools band.

ALSO ON WJBF: Richmond Co. man sentenced to nearly 15 years in federal prison after drug trafficking, gun possession conviction

Authorities say that the criminal investigation showed that over the course of the 2023-2024 school year, Thompson had electronically communicated with several students furnishing obscene material to two minors over this time period.

According to the Sheriffs Office, Thompson was taken into custody on May 15th at the Screven County Sheriffs Office and was charged with two counts of Electronically Furnishing Obscene Material to Minors.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJBF.
Jack ODonnell, the former president and chief operating officer of the Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, N.J., said the guilty verdict in former President Trumps hush money case is going to put a strain on his health.

To other peoples point about the way he looked in court, I mean, his health, you know  this is going to put a strain on his health, and I hate to say that, ODonnell told CNNs Erin Burnett Thursday evening. That will be not interesting to see, but, you know, hes not a very healthy man.

So, this is going to be very stressful for him, whether he puts on that face or not, he said.

Trump made history Thursday by becoming the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony. The 12-person New York jury found him guilty on all counts of falsifying business records.

Judge Juan Merchan set the sentencing hearing for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention where he is slated to become the partys official presidential nominee.

Burnett asked ODonnell what he thinks Trumps next steps and next reactions are going to be. The former president still faces a gag order in the case.

Well, he got caught  you know, with his hand in the cookie jar, so to speak, so hes not happy, he responded.

ODonnell worked for Trump for three years and released a book titled Trumped!: The Inside Story of the Real Donald Trump-His Cunning Rise and Spectacular Fall with James Rutherford in 1991 detailing doing business with the billionaire.

He acknowledged to Burnett that theyve spoken anecdotally for years about the way Trump ran his businesses, and how the former president will handle the verdict is not going to be a surprise.

This is how the man runs his business, and I dont think hes going to change who he is, quite frankly, ODonnell said. Hes never going to show remorse, you know, over this conviction. And  hes going to continue to be Donald Trump.

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.
Former Williamson Mayor Charlie Hatfield was CEO of Williamson Memorial Hospital in Mingo County, W.Va., from 2018-2019. He pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges of theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds during that time. (Google Maps screenshot)

Former Williamson Mayor Charlie Hatfield pleaded guilty Thursday to federal charges of theft or bribery concerning programs receiving federal funds for actions taken during his time as CEO of Williamson Memorial Hospital.

Hatfield served as the rural hospitals interim CEO for one year, from September 2018 to 2019. He was first elected as Williamsons mayor in 2017. According to local media reports, he voluntarily resigned from that position earlier this month in light of the upcoming federal charges and a probe by the FBI.

Will Thompson, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia, said Hatfields elected position was not pertinent to the case or the charges filed against him this year.

According to court filings, Williamson Memorial Hospital received thousands of dollars in federal funds in both 2018 and 2019 while Hatfield was serving as CEO. In May 2019, Hatfield used more than $9,000 of hospital funds to purchase a cashiers check, which he then sent to a man in Florida.

That money, Thompson said during a news briefing Thursday, was used to pay off debts relating to a personal lawsuit, real estate taxes and property fees for a condominium owned by Hatfield in Venice, Florida.

In September 2019, Hatfield again directed nearly $26,000 from the hospitals accounts to Mid Mountain Properties, a real estate firm he has owned and operated since 2001, according to the Secretary of States office.

Nearly a month after that second transfer, on Oct. 21, 2019, the owners of Williamson Memorial Hospital filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy. Following the bankruptcy filing, the hospital  one of only a few remaining in the rural southern coalfields, where residents already struggled with health care access  issued WARN notices to all employees and quickly began layoffs and the termination of specialty programs. In March of this year, reports indicated that the hospital was beginning work to reopen, but an official announcement of such could not be found.

Whats really disturbing on this is this transaction occurred just days prior to the hospital filing for bankruptcy and it also occurred at the time when the hospital did not have enough funds to appropriately fund its employee benefit programs, retirement and health care, Thompson said. Mr. Hatfield abused a position of trust in diverting funds for personal gain from a hospital that was providing a good resource for the community of Williamson and surrounding areas.

Hatfield admitted to investigators, according to a news release, that he told his then-business partners about using the hospital funds to pay a personal obligation. He also admitted that he never requested authorization from the hospitals board to direct the funds to his own endeavors.

As noted by Thompson, this is not the first time Hatfield has come against the government regarding his actions as CEO at Williamson Memorial. In 2019, the U.S. Department of Labor took legal action against Hatfield for his failure to forward contributions to the hospitals self-insured health plan for medical costs incurred by his employees.

That investigation  which covered the period between July 2018 and October 2019  found that, despite warnings from the plan administrator, Hatfield did not alert employees that a significant amount of claims were going unpaid and that the provider was to stop processing claims come November.

Unaware of the cancellation, employees continued to incur unpaid medical expenses until Dec. 11, 2019, when they were notified of the termination of their health plan, according to a news release from the federal department.

Hatfield will be sentenced for his most recent charges on Sept. 12. He faces a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. He also owes $34,872.62 in restitution for the money taken from Williamson Memorial Hospital.

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The post Former Williamson mayor pleads guilty to charges for diverting hospital funds for private use appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
SPOONER, Wis. (WFRV)  A former police officer in western Wisconsin was officially charged with multiple crimes.

The Spooner Police Department posted on its Facebook page that charges were filed against a former officer. On October 9, 2023, the Spooner Police Department said it became aware of allegations of an inappropriate relationship involving a minor and the former officer.

The officer was then placed on paid administrative leave and an investigation was started. The Burnett County Sheriffs Office was asked to conduct the investigation.

Police in Waupaca arrest man accused of committing multiple crimes over past two months

Before the investigation was closed, the officer reportedly resigned from his position. This reportedly happened on December 11, 2023. The matter was then turned over for review to the Burnett County District Attorneys Office which served as special prosecutor.

The Spooner Police Department says that on May 30 it was notified that criminal charges were filed in Washburn County court against the former officer. This was reportedly a result of the criminal investigation.

No additional information was provided.

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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
PARIS  France has banned Israeli firms from participating in Eurosatory, Europes largest defense show, a little over two weeks before the event kicks off in Paris, with the government citing Israels military actions in Gaza.

At the request of the French authorities, Israeli companies will not be present at Eurosatory, the French Armed Forces Ministry said in an emailed statement on Friday. Conditions are no longer suited to welcome Israeli companies to the French show, in a context where the President is calling for Israeli operations in Rafah to stop.

French President Emmanuel Macron this week repeatedly called for Israel to halt operations in the Palestinian city of Rafah, saying on Monday he was outraged by Israeli strikes that killed many displaced people. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been a topic of hot debate in France, and Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu has faced multiple questions from lawmakers in recent months about the countrys defense exports to Israel.

More than 70 Israeli companies had been scheduled to participate in the Eurosatory defense show, which officially kicks off in Paris on June 17. That included Israels three largest defense firms, Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems and Rafael Advance Defense Systems. Elbit has been planning to present its PULS multiple-rocket launcher and the Sigma next-generation howitzer, the firm told Defense News before news of the ban.

In line with the French government decision, there will be no stand from the Israeli defense and security industry at Eurosatory 2024, according to show organizer Coges Events, which declined further comment.

Israel was the worlds ninth-largest arms exporter in the 2019-2023 period, accounting for an average 2.4% of global arms exports , according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

The countrys defense exports rose 9.7% to a record U.S. $12.5 billion in 2022, according to the most recent figures reported by the Ministry of Defense, with $3.67 billion for Europe. Unmanned aerial vehicles and related drone systems made up a quarter of Israels 2022 defense exports, with missiles, rockets and air-defense systems accounting for about a fifth.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. Generation and transportation of renewable energy from Azerbaijan to global markets stand among the main goals, an energy expert Arif Demirov told Trend.

He also indicated that, in recent years, Azerbaijan has seen a growth in the amount of investments made in renewable energy sources.

"Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (NAR) is one of our regions with significant potential in this area. The fact that Nakhchivan borders Turkiye and Iran also increases its green energy export potential. Nakhchivan has been designated as a green energy zone along with Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur by President Ilham Aliyev. A special development concept has been elaborated to turn Nakhchivan into a green energy zone. This region of the country is rich in wind and solar resources, which also attracts the attention of foreign companies working in the energy sector. Nakhchivan's favorable geographical location creates opportunities for renewable energy production. It is planned to create 1,500 MW of wind and solar energy production capacities in Nakhchivan at the expense of foreign investments," Demirov said.

The expert noted that the construction and commissioning of the 36 MW Ordubad hydroelectric power plant, which is expected to produce 190 million kWh of electricity per year, will also contribute to environmental safety.

To note, the potential of renewable energy sources in NAR is estimated at 5 GW. The Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan encourages foreign investors to create such sources. Particularly, the TotalEnergies and Nobel Energy companies are expected to build SPPs with a total capacity of 650 MW, Masdar (UAE) - a SPP of 150 MW, Germany's Notus energy - a 70 MW SPP in the north-west of the NAR. Additional projects are also being considered.
Political rally of the list "Reveiller l'Europe" for the European elections in Nantes

Political rally of the list "Reveiller l'Europe" for the European elections in Nantes

By Elizabeth Pineau

PARIS (Reuters) - The leading candidate for France's Socialists in European elections, who is riding a surprise surge in opinion polls, on Friday pitched himself and his left-wing allies as the resistance to the rise of the far-right in Europe.

Voters in the 27 countries of the European Union will elect 720 lawmakers to the European Parliament for the next five years on June 6-9 and are expected to deliver a shift to the right.

France is no exception, with surveys showing voters handing Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party a record score in a European campaign with as much as 34% of voter intentions.

But the rise in polls of the French Socialists under Raphael Glucksmann, a moderate on the left, has been the surprise of the campaign, with his party surging to within a single point of Emmanuel Macron's second-placed Renaissance party, as the president's rightwards policy shift alienates some voters.

"We will be the leaders of the resistance," Glucksmann told Reuters in an interview. "The liberals and the conservatives are tempted to strike an alliance with the far-right, we need a group that blocks that," Glucksmann, 44, said.

"We will be this dam," he added.

Discontent over immigration, crime and the cost of living will boost the far right, while pro-EU groups around the centre - the centre-right EPP, centre-left S&D, Greens and liberal Renew Europe - will likely lose voter share, polls show.

Glucksmann said the potential for deal-making between conservatives and far-right or nationalist parties threatened Europe.

Glucksmann, whose Socialists are polling at around 14%, said his rise in the polls from 10% in December was in part the result of his choice to distance himself from the hard left, which failed to condemn the Palestinian militant group Hamas as a terrorist organisation at the start of the Gaza war.

The conflict in Gaza has become a flashpoint during the campaign and fractured the left in France.

"I have never hesitated to condemn Hamas, a terrorist organisation," Glucksmann said. "However, I have also never flip-flopped when it came to condemning the burning to ashes of the Gaza Strip and the endless spread of colonies (Jewish settlements) in the West Bank."

The projected slim majority for the conservative, liberal and socialist groupings means Ursula von der Leyen, who heads the EU's executive arm, may not be assured of a second term should some of their lawmakers not endorse her. She needs the support of the EU's 27 leaders and a majority in parliament.

Asked whether he would support Von der Leyen, Glucksmann said he backed Nicolas Schmit, the Social Democrats' lead candidate, and Luxembourg's current European Commissioner.

The potential dominance of right-wing and nationalist parties in the EU parliament threatened European cohesion and efforts to combat climate change, Glucksmann said.

"Do we press 'pause' or move on to another phase of the green transition? Will we have a Parliament dominated by a conservative-nationalist right coalition that will jeopardize European integration?"

(Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau; Writing by Michel Rose; Editing by Ros Russell)
Against the glittering blue backdrop of the Detroit River shining through the Renaissance Center's glass windows, and the sound of zooming cars completing lap after lap, hundreds of racing fans lined up for free autographs from their favorite IndyCar drivers.

The autograph signing is just one of numerous free activities at the 2024 Detroit Grand Prix, including the annual Comerica Bank "Free Prix" day to kick off the weekend on Friday. A sponsorship from Comerica Bank offers grandstands 1 and 9 to the public on Friday, but seven free viewing platforms along East Jefferson Avenue are also available to the public all weekend.

"Over half of this racetrack is open for free," Detroit Grand Prix Chairman Bud Denker said during a public address on Thursday. "Name me another location in any motorsports, football, baseball, basketball, or hockey that lets the crowd come in for free. And we do that here in Detroit. So, inclusiveness is very, very important for our communities and for everything we do here."

More: Here's what's free at the 2024 Detroit Grand Prix (freep.com)

Free Prix day allows even more people to come in and meet the revered racers with armfuls of any and all racing merchandise you could imagine  admittedly one of the highlights of the weekend, besides the actual races.

For Kyle and Jessica Breen-Bondie and their three kids, Sebastian, Luca, and Josie, all of Oak Park, Friday has been the only day they've been able to make it to the Grand Prix in recent years, even though they're such big racing fans that their sons are named after drivers.

"It's pretty much a staple for us to take Friday off of work and come down here. ... It's super special to be able to open it up for everybody to get a chance to see what it's like," Kyle said. "Motorsports isn't usually the most accessible thing but when it's brought downtown where all the people are. ... Most people don't even know how fortunate they are to be able to go to a race like this right downtown, 20 minutes away."

Dozens of fans lined up during the NTT IndyCar Series Drivers Autograph Session at the 2024 Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Free Prix Day inside the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit on Friday, May 31, 2024.

Even though his kids are young, Kyle says they all enjoy racing to an extent: Luca, the middle child, is especially into racing right now, while Sebastian would love to meet one of the five race car drivers that inspired his name, and toddling Josie in her black-and-white-checkered hair bows just likes to watch the cars fly by.

But for Kyle, now that Josie has joined the family on their yearly excursion, the best part is to have all of his kids with him at the races.

"Every year, I take the same picture. It started with me holding Sebastian in the grandstands on Belle Isle, but this year, I've got all three of them," he said.

For Luis Padilla and his daughter, Madison, of Brownstown, it's a very similar experience.

Padilla has attended the Grand Prix since the early 1990s, but in 2018, it became more of a father-daughter activity when Madison joined him.

"I would see him watching it at home and then one day it just caught my eye," Madison, now 21, said. "Ever since then we've watched everything together."

Through their years attending the Grand Prix, they've developed a tradition: take pictures with their favorite IndyCar racers each year, and then when they return the following year, have the driver in the picture autograph the photo.

Since 2018, the two have traveled for the Indianapolis 500 and other events, but despite the thrilling races and astonishing racers, Padilla says the best part has been making memories with his daughter.

More:2024 Detroit Grand Prix: Tickets, schedule, more (freep.com)

A fan takes a selfie with Alex Palou during the NTT IndyCar Series Driver's Autograph Session at the 2024 Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Free Prix Day inside the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit on Friday, May 31, 2024.

For others, like Veri Farrow, of Raleigh, North Carolina, it was their first time at the Detroit Grand Prix or any race.

"I've been into racing not long, a couple months, but it was very much like 'I fell in, now I can't get out.' Down the rabbit hole," said Farrow. "I saw a TikTok edit of Lando Norris to a Taylor Swift song, and I said, 'Who is that?' From there I found (Pato O'Ward), love Pato, and now I've just stuck with McLaren because I like all of their drivers. I'm a fan."

And truth be told, while many fans in line wore jerseys or T-shirts they'd bought in merchandise shops outside, Veri sported a shirt that said "I  McLaren."

Firestone mascot Firehawk hugs Nino Allega during the NTT IndyCar Series Driver's Autograph Session at the 2024 Detroit Grand Prix presented by Lear Free Prix Day inside the GM Renaissance Center in Detroit on Friday, May 31, 2024.

On the other hand, Umair and Fuzail Ahmed, brothers from Troy, wore bright Honolulu blue Detroit Lions jerseys.

Not only repping their team, the brothers wore the jerseys in support of Nolan Allaer, a driver from Grosse Pointe who wears a Lions racing helmet.

"We're pretty new to this, but he's one of the ones we know because of his Lions helmet," said Umair.

"Whatever it is, we love the Lions, so we decided to match him," added Fuzail.

However, it was their cousins, Safa Kaladgi and her sister, Simra Kaladgi of Toronto, who dragged them to the Grand Prix.

Safa's fascination with racing goes back the furthest, she said: "I got into it 2020-ish, and if you ask anybody, we don't really know where it came from, it just went from zero to 110% really quick."

After years of Safa's begging, Simra joined in her sister's passion after the two attended the Indianapolis 500 last year. The two later started an Instagram podcast, and one of their favorite racers, Scott McLaughlin, took notice.

"He reposted us, so when we were just talking to him, he was like, 'Oh I actually remember you guys, you posted that video,' so that was really cool," said Safa. "And then Marcus Ericsson happened to remember me as well, and he's one of my favorites. ... The accessibility that IndyCar gets you is unreal."

There will be more free autograph opportunities on Saturday, June 1, with WeatherTech SportsCar Championship series drivers from 1 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and with INDY NXT racers from 2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Free autographs from Grand Prix drivers a highlight of 'Free Prix' day
FILE - Police wait for the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron at the central police station in Noumea, New Caledonia, Thursday, May 23, 2024. French authorities in New Caledonia regained full control of their Pacific territory's capital, the French interior and overseas minister said on Friday May 31, 2024 after two weeks of unrest that had left seven people dead and significant destruction in the archipelago with decades of tensions between those seeking independence and those loyal to France. (Ludovic Marin/Pool Photo via AP)

French authorities in New Caledonia regained full control of their Pacific territory's capital, the French interior and overseas minister said on Friday after two weeks of unrest that had left seven people dead and significant destruction in the archipelago that has seen decades of tensions between those seeking independence and those loyal to France.

Gerald Darmanin said in a post on X Friday that a major police operation has taken place successfully in the Riviere-Salee district of Noumea, the last area of New Caledonias capital that was under the protesters control.

Darmanin said 400 members of French and New Caledonias security forces were involved in the operation, including members of the French elite anti-terrorism and anti-organized crime police unit and its counterparts of the French military. Twelve people were arrested in the operation and 26 roadblocks were dismantled and cleared, the minister said.

The violence flared on May 13 in response to attempts by French President Emmanuel Macron's government to amend the French Constitution and change voting lists in New Caledonia. France declared a state of emergency in its Pacific territory on May 15 and rushed hundreds of troop reinforcements to help police quell the revolt that included shootings, clashes, looting and arson.

Both sides of New Caledonias bitter divide  Indigenous Kanaks, who want independence and those loyal to France  erected barricades, either to revolt against authorities or to protect their homes and properties. Pro-independence protesters built up barricades of charred vehicles and other debris, turning parts of the capital, Noumea into no-go zones.

French President Emmanuel Macron decided on Monday to lift the state of emergency in New Caledonia to help facilitate dialogue between local parties and French authorities for the future of the 270,000 residents of the archipelago and restore peace.

Pro-independence parties and Kanak leaders have urged Macron to withdraw the electoral reform bill if France wants to end the crisis. Opponents fear the voting legislation will benefit pro-France politicians in New Caledonia and further marginalize the Indigenous Kanaks who have long pushed to be free of French rule amid sharp economic disparities and decades of discrimination.

Although violence has subsided in the past days, tensions remain as pro-independence leaders have called on supporters to and "remain mobilized" and maintain resistance against France.

While emergency measures have been lifted, an evening and overnight curfew is still in place. Travel is banned in New Caledonia between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. except for health emergencies, and a ban on public gatherings, transport and carrying of weapons and sale of alcohol remains in place.

The main international airport, La Tontouta, will remain closed to commercial traffic at least until Monday, and schools will not resume before mid-June, according to local authorities.

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.
Participants in a demonstration against climate change and for climate justice stand on the square of the Old Synagogue in Freiburg. The Fridays for Future movement aims to demonstrate for climate protection and democracy in Germany on 31 May. With the European elections scheduled in nine days, protests are to take place in around 100 cities in Germany, the organization says. Protests are planned in 13 other EU countries by 07 July. Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa

The Fridays for Future movement aims to demonstrate for climate protection and democracy in Germany on Friday.

With the European elections scheduled in nine days, protests are to take place in around 100 cities in Germany, the organization says.

Protests are planned in 13 other EU countries by July 7.

The movement is calling for an EU-wide phase-out of coal, oil and gas by 2035 and a doubling of investment in renewable energies and climate-neutral industries.

The new European Parliament must take a clear stance in favour of climate protection and democracy, Frieda Egeling, spokeswoman of Fridays For Future Berlin, said in a statement.

Larger demonstrations and rallies are to take place in front of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, as well as in Hamburg and Munich.

In Berlin, 10,000 participants have been registered. Some 15,000 protesters are expected in Hamburg and some 8,000 are expected in Munich.

Climate activists want to use the upcoming rallies to draw attention to the importance of the EU in tackling the climate crisis.

In Germany, the European elections will take place on Sunday, June 9.
Gallup hospital says it is indigent ahead of court order to find more than $100M

Rehoboth McKinley Medical Center in Gallup is facing a historic medical malpractice judgment of about $70 million, plus an order to post a bond approximately double that amount. The hospital has struggled for several years with financial shortfalls. (Photo Courtesy C. A. Sarath)

A New Mexico District Court judge has ordered a struggling rural hospital staring down one of the states biggest-ever medical malpractice judgments to put up a bond of more than $100 million before it can file an appeal.

A lawyer for Rehoboth McKinley Medical Center in Gallup told a judge Thursday in Santa Fe that the hospital has nowhere near that kind of money. In fact, as of early February, the hospital had a negative net worth of more than $25 million, attorney Larry J. Montano told the court.

In January, jurors awarded a Gallup man and his family more than $68 million, including $50 million in punitive damages. The 2019 lawsuit stemmed from a botched hernia surgery that left the patient, who cares for young children, with life-long complications.

The patients lawyers attribute much of the size of the jurys award to what the lawyers said was a cover-up by doctors and attempts by the defendants lawyers to slow-walk the civil case.

The judgment occurs as the hospital, one of two serving much of northwestern New Mexico, struggles to stay afloat after years of financial difficulties and allegations of mismanagement.

State lawmakers gave the hospital $12 million to cover shortfalls this legislative session, and the city of Gallup and McKinley County have given it about $5 million to make payroll. But the hospital still has outstanding debts to vendors, the interim CEO has said.

The hospital intends to appeal the verdict, but before it can do so, it is required to offer up more than $100 million in bond for the expected length of the appeal in court. An appeal could take three years or longer.

Akin to an indigent defendant

The hospital will have to put up a bond worth the $68 million for the judgment, plus about $6 million in pre-judgment interest and tens of millions in post-judgment interest that will accrue over the next three years. The judgment is likely the second-biggest for medical malpractice in New Mexico history, according to Vargas.

The hospital will be on the hook for the entire amount of the bond if it does not succeed in its appeal, said Ray Vargas II, one of the patients lawyers.

The exact figure will be calculated based on an updated judgment expected soon from Judge Maria Sanchez-Gagne. It could easily exceed $130 million, lawyers said.

Once the judge issues a final judgment, the hospital will have 60 days to come up with the money, Vargas said.

Montano did not respond to emailed questions from Source New Mexico after the hearing about what the hospital will do next or what its appeal will entail.

But he did describe in filings and in court Thursday a precarious financial situation at the hospital, part of the hospitals effort to convince the judge to set bond at less than $21 million or offer it a reprieve from the judgment.

The filings contained affidavits from two recent chief financial officers at the hospital, as well as from Curi Insurance, the hospitals insurance provider.

The insurance company will cover, at most, $34 million of the verdict, Montano said, which is the limit of the policy. The insurance pool covering Rehoboth also covers 16 other rural hospitals, including six that have their own pending medical malpractice claims, a Curi official wrote.

The hospital has negative net worth of $25.7 million, and it leases, not owns, the hospitals building from McKinley County. That leaves it few options to come up with the rest of the bond required and threatens the hospital.

Even without the additional requirements of the bond, Montano wrote, the judgment could still mean an existential threat for the hospital.

Were plaintiffs allowed to execute on the judgment, he wrote, Rehoboth might need to seek bankruptcy protection, lay-off employees or cease operations.

And the amount of the bond could cause irreparable harm to the hospitals constitutional rights to appeal the judgment.

Due to its precarious financial position, Rehoboth is akin to an indigent defendant who should not be prevented from appealing an adverse judgment because it lacks the financial resources to post bond, Montano said.

The hospital gets 56,000 patient visits a year, he wrote. Apart from Gallup Indian Medical Center, Rehoboth is the only medical provider for the town of 20,000 people and others within a 60-mile radius.

Case looms over Council meeting

The judgment loomed over a meeting of the Gallup City Council on Wednesday night.The hospitals interim CEO, Bill Patten, asked for and unanimously received approval from councilors for an additional $2 million for payroll.

After months of changes, Patten predicted the hospital could soon be in a position to pay off its debts and then its employees.

Still, he acknowledged that the judgment could mean his efforts could all be for nothing, and that the hospital was on a tightrope.

Im confident in the strategies that the legal team has presented to me that there are options there that give us more than even money that were going to be able to survive this, he said. And so all that all the work that Im doing is with the assumption that the lawsuit isnt going to tip us over.

And Patten expressed hope that the patient and his legal team dont want to push the hospital into closing.

I dont believe that either the plaintiff or the plaintiffs attorneys want to be responsible for closing us, he said. And in essence, if the judgment as initially handed out  is not changed, thats what would happen.

The post Gallup hospital says it is indigent ahead of court order to find more than $100M appeared first on Source New Mexico.
An overnight missile attack on occupied Luhansk Oblast has damaged a gas pipeline in Pervomaisk, occupation authorities reported on May 30.

Moscow-installed head of Pervomaisk, Serhiy Kolyagin, wrote on Telegram that the two shelling attacks were "carried out presumably by HIMARS rockets."

Kolyagin confirmed that emergency services extinguished the fire caused by the missile strike and that the pipeline was shut off.

No casualties were reported, and information on infrastructure damages is still being clarified.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify all the claims. The Ukrainian military has not yet commented on the reports.

Russia has occupied Luhansk and a significant part of the region since the start of its war in 2014.

Read also: Oil depot fire, casualties reported in Russias Krasnador Krai following drone strike

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Gas stations slowly reopening after protest led to shortage in Tijuana

SAN DIEGO (Border Report)  Gas stations in Tijuana are operating at 50 percent capacity as they slowly recover from a gas shortage that shut down many stations for days, according to Alejandro Borja Robles, with the National Chamber of Commerce in Tijuana.

He says it will take about 10 days to get back to normal.

Fortunately things are progressing, all stations report having some gas, although they are still not offering full tanks of gas to customers, he said.

Gas stations in the region began reporting shortages on May 19, when residents blockaded a refinery in the coastal town of Rosarito, about 20 miles south of Tijuana.

Close to half of gas stations in Tijuana closed due to gasoline shortage

They were demanding the state of Baja California grant them full title to lands where they had settled and built their homes.

The residents claim Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador promised them full land ownership six years ago when he campaigned for president.

Protesters decided to end their blockade after negotiating with Baja and federal government officials last week.

Mexico sends 600 soldiers to border states amid spike in violence

In recent days, trucks have been leaving the refinery 24 hours a day as they try to resupply gas stations in the Tijuana area.

By next week for sure well be back to normal with gas inventory, Borja Robles said.

He reports that during the gas shortage, prices went up slightly.

Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border

Gas went up by two pesos (about 13 cents per liter) we expect prices to start dropping and be on par with prices we saw before the blockade.

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.
Not only did Gavin Gavino Garza overcome academic barriers and family trauma in pursuit of higher education, but he graduated from Fresno City College in May as the Deans Medallion of Excellence Award recipient for Humanities Division.

Garza, who was raised within two distinct cultures, didnt have a traditional education growing up.

His mother, who was Anglo-Irish, removed him from public schools after he finished the first grade. His father sent him to work as child laborer with his paternal grandfather in the fields to learn proper work ethic, Garza wrote in his application for the deans medallion.

Garza pursued higher education when he came of age. But the lack of high school transcripts excluded him from applying to many colleges and programs.

Kerry McCutcheon, dean of instruction for FCC Humanities Division, said given Garzas background it is rare to have a student like him graduate from FCC in three years.

Youre an inspiration, an amazing asset to our campus, said McCutcheon during the deans medallion recognition ceremony.

Gavin Gavino Garza (center) graduated from Fresno City College in May as this years Deans Medallion of Excellence Award recipient for Humanities Division. Pictured are FCC president Dr. Robert Pimentel (left) and Kerry McCutcheon, dean of instruction for FCC Humanities division (right).

As a college student, Garza spent numerous hours each semester closing the gaps left by his non-traditional education.

He was raised in the Institute of Basic Life Principles (IBLP), which Garza described as a non-denominational Christian cult.

Garza said he also overcame significant trauma of the dogmatic teachings of being raised in that institute.

While he has worked with specialists, the trauma still impacts him in a variety of ways, such as memory loss.

These influences have shaped his work as a poet and as a political activist, said McCutcheon.

Two cultures at odds

Garza, who identifies as a bicultural Chicano, said the hardships he endured growing up molded him to be the person he is today. Now he uses his knowledge to serve others.

Having grown up Christian fundamentalist, I have begun reclaiming my Chicanismo through volunteerism at Arte Americas, said Garza who is of Anglo-Mexican descent.

Garza said his father found himself in a lot of trouble and wasnt around much.

Garza said his grandfather was the person who loved him unconditionally but also taught him empathy, leadership, and worker solidarity.

It was difficult learning how to carry a picking bag half your body weight, Garza said of working in the fields.

He worked in the fields with his grandfather for seven years before he died in 2016.

He used to tell me how he marched with the UFW and how he couldnt work an office job afterwards, Garza said.

Garza said his grandfathers death left him with nothing but his mothers family, who try to erase his Mexican heritage.

I view Chicanismo not just as a noun but also a verb. My cultures are, and have been, at odds with each other, Garza said.

Gavin Gavino Garza graduated from Fresno City College in May as this years Deans Medallion of Excellence Award recipient for Humanities Division.

While he was accepted to UC Berkeley and UC Santa Barbara College of Creative Studies, Garza will start at UC Berkeley in the fall as English major. He also wants to pursue an MFA in creative writing.

I see myself becoming both an English college professor and a community organizer, Garza said. Education is a form of activism because it uses ones knowledge in service of others.

Despite the barriers, Garza has been an Assembly Delegate for the California Democratic Party, has been published in several literary journals, and earned a fellowship with the California Youth Leadership Corps. He won the Latino Faculty and Staff Association Scholarship for tutoring.

My future career goals are built on what Im already doing, Garza said. Id like to have more intimate dialogues with community members so we can actualize our visions and needs for Fresno. I want to nurture the city that nurtured me when no one else did.

La Abeja, a newsletter written for and by California Latinos

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ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 31. The European Commission has lifted all restrictions on flights to EU countries from Kazakhstan, Trend reports.

Meanwhile, it became known after the meeting of the Committee on Flight Safety of the European Commission with the participation of representatives of aviation authorities from 27 countries of the European Union (EU).

During the meeting of the Committee, the delegation of aviation authorities of Kazakhstan, headed by Vice Minister of Transport Talgat Lastaev, discussed the current state of affairs regarding flight safety in the country.

With the assistance of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in Belgium, during the committee meeting, the Kazakh delegation presented the actions taken to eliminate previously identified comments, which were positively assessed by the European Commission.

According to the decision of the committee meeting, adopted by the 27 EU member states, given the significant progress in ensuring flight safety, all restrictions on flights to the European Union countries were lifted by Kazakhstan and Kazakhstani carriers.

In his letter dated May 30, 2024, Filip Cornelis, Director of the Aviation Department of the Directorate General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission, notes that the European Commission has decided to complete the enhanced monitoring of Kazakhstan's activities.

This meeting of the committee was preceded by a great deal of work carried out since 2009, as well as a successful technical assessment of the functioning of the flight safety system by the aviation authorities of Kazakhstan in February 2024 by EU experts.

Furthermore, it should be mentioned that in 2022, there was a high risk of Kazakhstani airlines being blacklisted by the European Commission.

Generally, EU experts note significant improvements in the effective functioning of the system of certification, control, and supervision in the field of flight operations, maintenance of airworthiness, training, and licensing of aviation personnel.

During the period of monitoring of Kazakhstan from 2021 by the European Commission, the new model of functioning of aviation authorities in the country shows positive dynamics of development and effective establishment, which also creates favorable conditions for the development of domestic air carriers, which do not have any restrictions for flights to Europe.

Based on information from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the European Commission, Kazakhstan is a successful example of civil aviation governance reform.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Politics truly makes strange ex-bedfellows. Just ask George Conway and Kellyanne Conway.

The pair had been married for more than two decades when they announced in March 2023 that they were divorcing, following Kellyanne Conways work as a top adviser to Donald Trump during his presidency and her lawyer husbands anti-Trump activism.

This week, the former Republican power couple showed little chance of reconciliation, at least politically, after Kellyanne Conway reacted to Thursdays guilty verdict in Trumps hush money trial by doing some whataboutism toward those danged Democrats  in particular, President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

This Verdict Wont Change One Fundamental Thing, she wrote Friday on social media, echoing remarks shed also made on Fox News. It wont make @JoeBiden any less 81 years old. [It] wont make @KamalaHarris smarter. [It] wont excuse the fact that @JoeBiden crushed the American Dream for so many. [It] wont excuse the millions, including terrorists and Chinese nationals, Biden has let walk into our country.

This Verdict Won't Change One Fundamental Thing:



 It won't make @JoeBiden any less 81 years old



 won't make @KamalaHarris smarter



 won't excuse the fact that @JoeBiden crushed the American Dream for so many



 won't excuse the millions, including terrorists and Chinese pic.twitter.com/tvPAIzGjcH  Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) May 31, 2024

George Conway was one of many people who mocked her spin on Trumps verdict, and the attorney responded with one snarky sentence: maybe his lawyers should put these points in their pre-sentencing memo.

maybe his lawyers should put these points in their pre-sentencing memo  https://t.co/zeu5I4Q0aG  George Conway (@gtconway3d) May 31, 2024

Naturally, George Conway attracted lot of attention by quote-tweeting his ex.

 I can't believe you 2 were married once.  Jurgen ..  (@Jurgen80048425) May 31, 2024

If its wrong to respond with this gif I dont wanna be right. pic.twitter.com/ElTUK1HO5o  Jo (@JoJoFromJerz) May 31, 2024

Boys and girls, think long and hard before marrying someone whos your opposite.   Cameron Tousi (@CameronTousi) May 31, 2024

George, its a conflict of interest to quote tweet your wife. You need to delete this or face federal charges.  Burt Macklin (@BurtMaclin_FBI) May 31, 2024

Related...
A boar moves on Lake Lanier near Cumming, Ga., on Dec. 28, 2023. Credit - Mike StewartAP

A Georgia man fishing at Lake Lanier drowned on Wednesday, marking the latest in a series of tragedies at the notorious lake rumored to be haunted. There were 13 deaths at Lake Lanier in 2023, compared to 3 at Allatoonathe lake with the next highest number of deaths in the state.

The victim, identified as 73-year-old Matthew Mayo of Gainesville, was fishing out of a bass boat with his wife at the time of the incident. When the man tried to sit down in the seat, it became unbolted from the floor and caused him to fall into the water, according to a statement from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Mayo did not resurface. Game Wardens then located his body in six feet of water, and Hall County Fire made a recovery of the body.

All swim areas at the lake are swim at your own risk as there are no lifeguards on duty. Outside of swimming areas, Lake Lanier is known to be one of the most dangerous lakes because of boating traffic and submerged debris, per their information page.

Some 12 million people still visit Lake Lanier annually, though it also had the highest number of boating incidents, injuries, and boating under the influence (BUI) incidents in 2023. There have been two recorded drownings so far at Lake Lanier this year, a representative from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources confirmed to TIME.

Lake Lanier is a man-made lake that was built over the historically Black town of Oscarville. Although the community had a strong culture and economy, Oscarville residents were also subject to intense racial violence after 19-year-old Mae Crow, a white woman, was found dead in the nearby woods in 1912. Four Black people were blamed for the crime. One of them, Robert Big Rob Edwards, was lynched shortly after his arrest. (Ernest Knox and Oscar Daniel, who were also blamed for Crows death, were later tried and hanged.) Mobs also came into the town to drive Black residents out from Forsyth County. Churches and businesses were destroyed, leading Black residents to abandon their homes. More than 1,000 people were displaced, according to the information page.

Afterwards, Oscarville, as the Black community knew it, was no longer. The government purchased 56,000 acres of private land to create Lake Lanier, which was funded with the $45 million Congress allocated for the project. Construction of Lake Lanier was completed in the 1950s and it is currently owned by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

There are a number of conspiracy theories about the lake being haunted due to its devastating racial history. Part of that is due to the high number of accidents that have occurred because many of the structures that made up Oscarvilleincluding cemeteries and school buildingswere not completely removed before the lake was filled

In 1958, two young girls, Delia May Parker Young and Susie Roberts, skidded off a bridge while crossing over Lake Lanier and disappeared, according to the Oxford American. Locals claim to have seen one of the victims, Parker Young, haunting the lake. Known as the Lady of the Lake, visitors allege that she drags people to the bottom of the lake.

The lake also sits near Forsyth County, which was part of the Cherokee Nation before the U.S. government forcibly displaced indigenous people out of their homes, and on a journey known as the Trail of Tears, according to the Oxford American.

Lake Lanier has also been the subject of an episode on the Netflix investigative series Files of the Unexplained. The lake also won Best Operated Lake of the Year in 1990, 1997, and 2002.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
President Joe Biden Friday appointed former state Rep. Calvin Smyre to an independent board that advises the White House on intelligence issues.

Smyre, a Democrat from Columbus who served for 48 years in the Georgia House of Representatives, will join the Presidents Intelligence Advisory Board, which offers the president objective, expert advice on the conduct of U.S. intelligence.

During decades in the General Assembly, Smyre rose to become the dean of the House, serving as chairman of the House Rules Committee and chairman of the House Democratic Caucus. He played a key role in making Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s birthday a state holiday, replacing the 1950s-era state flag and its Confederate battle symbol with a new state flag, passing a hate crime law, and repealing Georgias 19th-century citizens arrest law.

Biden nominated Smyre in 2021 to serve as U.S. ambassador to the Dominican Republican and switched it to ambassador to the Bahamas the following year. However, the U.S. Senate thus far has declined to confirm the nomination.

Last year, the State Department appointed Smyre to serve as the United States representative to the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly.

Smyre retired in 2014 from an executive position with Columbus-based Synovus Financial Corp. He earned a bachelors degree from Fort Valley State University and an honorary doctorate from the Morehouse School of Medicine.
U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff is vowing to put maximum pressure on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to improve service at the regional mail processing center in Palmetto.

This is not on postal workers, Ossoff, D-Ga., said Thursday after touring the facility and meeting with local postal service officials. This is a question of management, competent management.

Ossoff first raised the issue of delays in mail processing at the Palmetto center during a Senate committee hearing in mid-April. At the time, he cited statistics showing that only 36% of the first-class mail processed at the facility was being delivered on time.

DeJoy told the committee the delays were the result of problems encountered during the rollout last winter of a restructuring plan aimed at making the postal service economically self-sufficient. The plan was first implemented at the processing center in Palmetto and at a second center in Richmond, Va.

The Atlanta-area consolidation involved moving nearly 10,000 employees from 10 locations to the new Palmetto distribution center.

This transition for our region was not well thought out, not well planned, and not competently executed, Ossoff said.

The restructuring plan is on hold for now. DeJoy announced two weeks ago that the postal service would pause the plan at least until next year to give the agency a chance to figure out what went wrong and how to fix it.

Days later, he unveiled specific solutions for the Palmetto center, including bringing in more than 100 personnel from other centers and revising transportation schedules between the Palmetto facility and other local mail processing centers.

Since the first week of March, our service performance scores in the region have shown consistent improvement, according to a statement issued by the postal service Thursday. While we are not entirely satisfied with the current levels, this positive trend indicates that the challenges we faced in March are being actively addressed.

While on-time delivery has improved to about 60%, Ossoff he will keep monitoring the situation.

I will continue to apply maximum pressure so that seniors in Georgia are not going without prescriptions, so that small businesses in Georgia are not unable to receive supplies or get products to market, so that voters in Georgia are not unable to cast their ballots timely by mail, he said.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius characterised Berlin's decision to enable Ukraine to employ German weaponry against Russian military facilities as a "strategic adaptation to the changing situation".

Source: Pistorius during a visit to Moldova on 31 May, writes ZDF, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Pistorius emphasised that he believes it was the correct decision to allow Kyiv to attack individual military facilities in Russia with German weaponry.

Quote: "This is what we have always done since the beginning of the war that Putin is waging against Ukraine. We adapted to the situation, adapted our strategy in each case," he said at a meeting with his Moldovan counterpart Anatolie Nosatii.

At the same time, Pistorius stated that Germany will not renew conversations regarding the supply of German Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine. He explained that these conversations would once again involve weapons with a range of several hundred kilometres.

"And this limit remains unchanged, even after the statements of our partners and our own," he stressed.

The German government stated that they authorise Ukraine to utilise the weaponry provided by Germany for assaults on Russian military facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation in the context of the Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast.

According to the European Commission, Ukraine has the right to defend itself from armed aggression under international law, including striking military targets on Russian territory.

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German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (r) is greeted by his Moldovan counterpart Anatolie Nosatii. Moldova has had EU accession candidate status for around two years. At the same time, however, Russia continues to have great influence in the poverty-stricken ex-Soviet republic with around 2.5 million inhabitants. Jorg Blank/dpa

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius was visiting Moldova on Friday against the backdrop of the Russian invasion of neighbouring Ukraine.

He was received with military honours by his Moldovan counterpart Anatolie Nosatii in the capital Chisinau on Friday. Afterwards, Pistorius was scheduled to visit a barracks which forms part of German development projects to make the country more resilient in the face of Moscow's attempts at destabilization.

Pistorius was also to be shown several armoured transport vehicles paid for by Germany. The German government has also provided the country with medical equipment.

Moldova's pro-European President Maia Sandu wants to push ahead with the country's integration into the European Union. The country has had EU accession candidate status for around two years.

At the same time, however, Russia continues to have great influence in the economically poor former Soviet republic, which has around 2.5 million inhabitants. Russian soldiers have been stationed in the breakaway region of Transnistria since the 1990s.

There are renewed fears that Moscow could use unrest in the region as a pretext for escalation in the wake of its war against Ukraine.

German Minister of Defense Boris Pistorius (4-R) and his delegation meet with his Moldovan counterpart Anatolie Nosatii (3-L). Moldova has had EU accession candidate status for around two years. At the same time, however, Russia continues to have great influence in the poverty-stricken ex-Soviet republic with around 2.5 million inhabitants. Jorg Blank/dpa
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (R) and Anatolie Nosatii, Minister of Defense of Moldova, talk in front of a Piranha transport vehicle. Jorg Blank/dpa

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius assured Moldova on Friday of Germany's continued support against threats from Moscow.

He was visiting the country against the backdrop of Russia's war in neighbouring Ukraine.

Pistorius was received with military honours by his Moldovan counterpart Anatolie Nosatii in the capital Chisinau.

"Together we will oppose Russian efforts at hybrid warfare to destabilize other countries," Pistorious said, describing Moldova as part of "the European family" and praising the "impressive steps" it had taken on the path to EU accession negotiations.

Hybrid warfare is understood to mean that attackers rely on a combination of traditional military operations, economic pressure, computer attacks and propaganda in the media and on social networks.

Pistorius said that further defence help for Moldova is on the way. Contracts have been signed for the delivery of a further 14 German-made Piranha-3H armoured transport vehicles, adding to 19 such vehicles delivered in 2023.

The delivery of shoulder-mounted air defence systems is expected to begin next year. Germany is also supporting Moldova with drone defence, Pistorius said.

He added that medical equipment for the entire Moldovan armed forces was also being provided, including first aid kits worth almost 1 million ($1.1 million), which are to be supplied by Germany to strengthen defensive readiness.

Nosatii thanked Germany for its support through aid projects and in the logistics sector over the past three decades. So far, more than 430 Moldovan soldiers have benefited from training courses in various fields such as medicine, artillery and military instruction.

There is nothing more important than "having sufficient defence capabilities, maintaining peace and ensuring a stable and prosperous security environment for the citizens of the Republic of Moldova," he said, according to the official translation.

Moldova's pro-EU President Maia Sandu wants to push ahead with the country's integration into the European Union. The country has had EU accession candidate status for around two years.

At the same time, however, Russia continues to have great influence in the economically poor country of about 2.5 million residents, which was once a republic of the Soviet Union.

Russian soldiers have been stationed in the breakaway Moldovan region of Transnistria since the 1990s.

There are renewed fears that Moscow could use unrest in the region as a pretext for escalation in the wake of its war against Ukraine.

German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius attends a joint briefing with Minister of Defence of Ukraine Rustem Umerov in Odesa, southern Ukraine. -/Ukrinform/dpa
Police officers are deployed during an incident on Mannheim's market square. A knife-wielding attacker who injured several people on a market square in the south-western German city of Mannheim has been shot by police. Rene Priebe/dpa

A German policeman stabbed in a knife attack on the market square in Mannheim suffered life-threatening injuries and is being operated on in hospital, security sources told dpa on Friday.

A knife-wielding attacker injured several people on the square in Mannheim, located in south-western Germany, before being shot by police. The attacker was wounded.

Authorities have not disclosed how many other people were injured by the attacker or provided information about the severity of their injuries.

A police spokeswoman said early on Friday afternoon that there was no further danger to the public.

Police and firefighters are deployed in an incident on Mannheim's market square. A knife-wielding attacker who injured several people on a market square in the south-western German city of Mannheim has been shot by police. Rene Priebe/dpa
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, 31 May. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev held a phone talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trend reports via the Kazakh president's office.

During the talks, the sides discussed the current state and prospects of Kazakh-Russian cooperation, noting its progressive development in the spirit of strategic partnership and alliance.

President Tokayev highly appreciated the well-coordinated interaction between the governments of the two countries on the implementation of the agreements reached in trade-economic, investment-industrial, and cultural-humanitarian areas.

The presidents also talked about current international challenges and planned their schedules for future meetings.
Member of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) Daniel Halemba takes part in the Bavarian state parliament's act of remembrance for the victims of National Socialism organized by the Bavarian state parliament and the Bavarian Memorials Foundation. Peter Kneffel/dpa

A politician from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Bavaria has been criminally charged with a range of allegations including incitement, the use of banned extremist symbols, money laundering and coercion.

Daniel Halemba, 22, was elected to Bavaria's state parliament in 2023. His fellow lawmakers have already lifted his parliamentary immunity to allow the criminal case to move forward.

The national AfD party organization has also initiated expulsion proceedings against Halemba for allegedly violating party rules.

Prosecutors have been investigating Halemba for months. The fraternity to which Halemba belonged at the university in Wurzburg, Teutonia Prag, was raided by police in September 2023.

The fraternity has a reputation for far-right politics, and authorities cited suspicions that it was using banned extremist symbols and violating laws against incitement.

In April of this year, the public prosecutor's office also began investigations into suspected money laundering, damage to property and coercion.

Halemba has repeatedly denied the allegations. His lawyer announced on Friday that the public prosecutor's office had already had to drop large parts of the original investigation.

He said his client should also be acquitted of the charges now brought against him.

Halemba announced in December that he would resign from all party offices and suspend his membership of the party until the allegations had been clarified.

In April, he wrote to the AfD's group in the Bavarian parliament that he would refrain from public activities connected to the faction until the criminal case is concluded.
Germany allows arms sent to Ukraine to be used on targets in Russia

Minister of Defence of Ukraine Rustem Umerov (R) and German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius hold a joint briefing in Odesa, southern Ukraine. -/Ukrinform/dpa

The German government has authorized Ukraine to use German-supplied weapons against military targets in Russia, government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit announced on Friday.

Ukraine has pressed supporters in recent weeks for permission to use weapons supplied by the West to strike Russian forces on Russian territory.

Several other countries, including the United States, have recently made similar moves to give Ukraine more leeway in its use of Western-supplied weapons, after previously specifying that they should only be used against targets within Ukraine itself.

"In recent weeks, Russia has prepared, coordinated and carried out attacks from positions in the Kharkiv area in particular from the immediately neighbouring Russian border region," Hebestreit said on Friday.

Hebestreit said there is consensus that Ukraine has the right under international law to defend itself against these attacks.

"It can also use the weapons supplied for this purpose in accordance with its international legal obligations, including those supplied by us," said Hebestreit.

In theory, several weapons systems supplied by Germany could be used to counter Russian attacks from the border region, including the Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzer and Mars II rocket launchers.

Many Western countries initially put conditions on military aid packages that limited Ukraine to use those weapons only Ukrainian territory. Those conditions were intended to avoid escalation with Russia and prevent Ukraine's allies from being drawn directly into the conflict.

But Ukraine has contended recently that Russian forces are exploiting those limitations to mass troops near the border and stage attacks against Ukrainian territory.

On Thursday evening, the US government confirmed that it had authorized Ukraine to use American weapons in limited situations against targets on Russian territory. The weapons are to be used to defend against attacks on Kharkiv and to hit Russian forces that are preparing attacks.

The shift in the movement by Western allies came after the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Germany held intensive high-level discussions earlier this week on the use of Western weapons.
Germany allows arms sent to Ukraine to be used on targets in Russia

The German government authorized Ukraine on Friday to use German-supplied weapons against military targets in Russia.

Ukraine has pressed supporters in recent weeks for permission to use weapons supplied by the West to strike Russian forces on Russian territory.

Several other countries, including the United States, have recently made similar moves to give Ukraine more leeway in its use of Western-supplied weapons, after previously specifying that they should only be used against targets within Ukraine itself.

Those conditions were intended to avoid escalation with Russia and prevent Ukraine's allies from being drawn directly into the conflict. But after over two years of war and renewed Russian aggression, the situation has changed.

German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck told dpa: "Ukraine does not have enough defensive weapons to protect the lives of its people. It is only logical that Ukraine should defend itself by being able to prevent attacks from Russia. Prohibiting it from doing so would mean the death of more people."

In theory, several weapons systems supplied by Germany could be used to counter Russian attacks from the border region, including the Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzer and Mars II rocket launchers.

German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said: "In recent weeks, Russia has prepared, coordinated and carried out attacks from positions in the Kharkiv area in particular from the immediately neighbouring Russian border region."

Hebestreit said there is consensus that Ukraine has the right under international law to defend itself against these attacks.

"It can also use the weapons supplied for this purpose in accordance with its international legal obligations, including those supplied by us," he added.

According to military officials, one of the previous conditions for military aid was that Ukraine was not allowed to shoot down Russian fighter jets in Russian airspace with Patriot missile systems.

It remained unclear to what extent those restrictions remain.

Ukraine had contended recently that Russian forces are exploiting those limitations to mass troops near the border and stage attacks against Ukrainian territory.

On Thursday, the US confirmed that it had authorized Ukraine to use American weapons in limited situations against targets on Russian territory. The weapons are to be used to defend against attacks on Kharkiv and to hit Russian forces that are preparing attacks.

The shift by Western allies came after the United States, France, the United Kingdom and Germany held intensive high-level discussions earlier this week on the use of Western weapons.

French President Emmanuel Macron had already publicly spoken out in favour of a change of course at a meeting with centre-left German counterpart Olaf Scholz on Monday.

Sources in government circles in Berlin described tensions within the German government leading up to the announcement on Friday.

The sources said that Scholz in particular had previously insisted that restrictions should not be eased prematurely, while Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock had signalled their openness to lifting restrictions some time ago.

Scholz has repeatedly expressed serious concerns about escalating the conflict with Russia and drawing Germany into the war.

He pointed to those concerns when refusing to send long-range Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine despite repeated requests, and has also publicly ruled out deploying German troops to Ukraine.

Pistorius said Germany would not reconsider its decision against sending Taurus missiles in light of Friday's announcement.

Scholz has described Germany's stance on supplying weapons to Ukraine as a "course of prudence," despite facing allegations from abroad and the centre-right Christian Democrats that he is being too cautious.

He has also faced criticism from others in Germany, particularly on the political left and far-right, for his strong support of Ukraine. Left-wing populist politician Sahra Wagenknecht on Friday accused Scholz of bringing Germany "frighteningly close to World War III."

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, however, has put pressure on Scholz in recent days and welcomed the news from Berlin on Friday.

Stoltenberg once again made it clear that he did not fear any irresponsible risks of escalation or retaliatory strikes by Russia against NATO countries.

He told journalists in Prague on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly threatened consequences since the beginning of the invasion if other countries supported Ukraine.

But Stoltenberg said only Russia is escalating the conflict, most recently by opening a new front against Ukraine around Kharkiv.

Minister of Defence of Ukraine Rustem Umerov (R) and German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius hold a joint briefing in Odesa, southern Ukraine. -/Ukrinform/dpa

Minister of Defence of Ukraine Rustem Umerov (R) and German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius hold a joint briefing in Odesa, southern Ukraine. -/Ukrinform/dpa
Germany says weapons sent to Ukraine can be used on Russian targets

Minister of Defence of Ukraine Rustem Umerov (R) and German Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius hold a joint briefing in Odesa, southern Ukraine. -/Ukrinform/dpa

The German government has authorized Ukraine to use German-supplied weapons against military targets in Russia, German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit announced on Friday in Berlin.

Ukraine has pressed supporters in recent weeks for permission to use weapons supplied by the West to strike Russian forces on Russian territory. Several other countries, including the United States, have recently made similar moves to give Ukraine more leeway in its use of Western-supplied weapons.

Many Western countries put conditions on military aid packages that limited Ukraine to use those weapons only Ukrainian territory. Those conditions were intended to avoid escalation with Russia and prevent Ukraine's allies from being drawn directly into the conflict.

But Ukraine has contended recently that Russian forces are exploiting those limitations to mass troops near the border and stage attacks against Ukrainian territory.
FILE PHOTO: Gilead Sciences Inc pharmaceutical company is seen during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in California

By Deena Beasley

(Reuters) -Gilead Sciences' Trodelvy failed to improve survival for patients with advanced bladder cancer and only modestly extended the lives of previously treated patients with late-stage lung cancer in a pair of clinical trials, raising questions about growth prospects for the medicine.

Trodelvy has accelerated U.S. approval for treating advanced urothelial cancer, but Gilead on Thursday said a large trial failed to confirm that the drug improved survival.

The study also linked Trodelvy to a higher number of deaths compared to chemotherapy due to side effects including infection.

On Friday, trial data presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology meeting in Chicago showed that Trodelvy improved survival by just 1.3 months more than chemotherapy for patients with advanced lung cancer, a difference that was not statistically significant.

The company in January said that the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) trial had failed to meet its main goal.

"We believe that Gilead's Trodelvy will likely lose its FDA-labeled indication for metastatic urothelial carcinoma, or bladder cancer," Leerink analyst Daina Graybosch said in a research note on Friday.

The bladder indication is estimated to account for about 10% of Trodelvy sales, which totaled just over $1 billion in 2023.

Gilead's shares were down 1% at $63.20 on Nasdaq.

Trodelvy, an antibody-drug conjugate, is currently approved in the U.S. for patients with two specific types of advanced breast cancer and bladder cancer.

Gilead said the 603-patient lung cancer trial showed a survival improvement of 3.5 months for patients given Trodelvy whose tumors had not responded to a last round of immunotherapy.

For patients whose lung cancer had responded to their last immunotherapy, overall survival was a month longer for the chemotherapy group.

"We remain cautious on the potential for Gilead to get Trodelvy on the market in lung cancer based on this study," RBC Capital Markets analyst Brian Abrahams said in a note on Friday.

Serious side effects were reported by 67% of Trodelvy patients and 76% of chemotherapy patients. The most common side effects for Trodelvy were fatigue, diarrhea and hair loss.

Gilead is also studying Trodelvy in combination with Merck's immunotherapy Keytruda as an initial treatment for patients with NSCLC, the most common lung cancer.

Results for a small subset of patients in one of those ongoing studies has shown they lived a median of 13.1 months before their cancer worsened. That is an improvement over the seven- to eight-month progression-free survival seen in Keytruda trials, Bilal Piperdi, Gilead's vice president of clinical oncology, said.

(Reporting By Deena BeasleyEditing by Bill Berkrot)
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. (WJHL)  The girlfriend of a murder suspect captured in Louisiana last week has been charged with accessory after the fact and coercion or persuasion of a witness in connection with the case and is now in jail.

21% Washington County property tax hike looks likely

According to a Carter County Sheriffs Office news release, Amanda Quillen, 30, of Hampton was arrested in New Orleans on May 24 along with Jim Chambers, and the pair was extradited to Carter County. Chambers, 37, faces a first-degree murder charge in the death of 64-year-old Edward Elliott, whose body was discovered buried in a freezer May 15  likely more than three months after he died.

Quillen and Chambers, who is also charged with abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence, were scheduled to be arraigned in Carter County Sessions Court Friday. Chambers and Joey Lee Guinn are suspected of killing Elliott in Hampton around Feb. 1, then burying his body in a remote area.

While Guinn was arrested on May 15, Chambers was not. Authorities learned he might be in Louisiana, and he and Quillen were captured with the aid of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Louisiana State Police and the Jefferson Parish Sheriffs Office. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation was also involved.

Chambers is being held without bond at Carter County Detention Center. Quillens bond is $350,000. Guinn remains jailed with a $5 million bond.

Carter County Sheriffs Office (CCSO) investigators began looking into Elliotts disappearance at the end of March after family members reported him missing. Weeks of investigation and interviews ultimately led the department and partners from the Elizabethton Police Department and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to conduct a search of several properties near Guinns home on Mike Clawson Road.

Carter County Sheriff Mike Fraley said the investigation into Elliotts death remains active and that law enforcement hasnt been able to solve the case alone.

We  cannot stress enough how important the help we received from the public was in investigating this case, Fraley said. The tips and information we received helped to move this investigation along, developing the suspects, and ultimately capture two suspects who had fled to try and avoid prosecution for their crimes.

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.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A fundraiser was started this week following the deaths of a mother and her daughter in a car accident in south Austin last weekend.

Three people taken to hospitals after crash in south Austin traps car

The Austin Police Department identified the victims of the crash as Cynthia Boone, 41, and Miraj Parson, 18.

A fundraiser was started this week following the deaths of a mother and her daughter in a car accident in south Austin last weekend. (Courtesy Hermione Granger/GoFundMe)

A fundraiser was started this week following the deaths of a mother and her daughter in a car accident in south Austin last weekend. (Courtesy Hermione Granger/GoFundMe)

A fundraiser was started this week following the deaths of a mother and her daughter in a car accident in south Austin last weekend. (Courtesy Hermione Granger/GoFundMe)

A verified GoFundMe fundraiser, which family members started, identified Miraj as a recent graduate of Austin High School, and Cynthia as her mother, who was also an Austin High alumna.

The crash happened Saturday, May 25 around 9:18 p.m. in the 500 block of East Oltorf Street.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

APD said an 18-wheeler made a left turn out of a shopping center in the area and was hit by a sedan. The Austin Fire Department said firefighters extricated at least three people from vehicles at the scene, and Austin-Travis County EMS said there were a total of five patients involved.

APD said the driver of the sedan and one of the three passengers in the car were taken to a local hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

Austin Fire and Austin-Travis County EMS responded to a vehicle crash in south Austin Saturday night (Kevin Baskar/KXAN News)

Austin Fire and Austin-Travis County EMS responded to a vehicle crash in south Austin Saturday night (Kevin Baskar/KXAN News)

The two other passengers were also taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the 18-wheeler stayed on the scene, wasnt impaired, wasnt injured, and is cooperating with the crash investigation, APD said.

The GoFundMe page stated donations will go towards honoring the life of Miraj and her mother Cynthia.

The page said Miraj graduated from Austin High this year and said she was known on campus as a fun, loving, and kind student.

She was born with the biggest heart and loved spending time with family. She had the most beautiful smile and was known throughout the Austin High campus for her joyous spirit, the fundraiser said.

According to the GoFundMe, Miraj was accepted to Austin Community College and had plans to transfer to Colorado University in the future. She was also a member of the Classical Academy at Austin High a contributing member of the Black Student Alliance.

The fundraiser description said Miraj was the youngest sister of five and was a daughter, cousin and aunt.

She brought her very best self to every encounter, she was an all-around good person with the biggest heart. Miraj will be deeply missed, and our prayers and heartfelt condolences go out to her family and loved ones.

Services honoring Miraj and Cynthia will be held June 8 at 10 a.m. at Sweethome Missionary Baptist Church.

APD said the crash is being investigated as Austins 31st fatal crash of 2024, resulting in 32 fatalities for the year.

Anyone with any information should contact APDs Vehicular Homicide unit at 512-974-8111. You may submit your tip anonymously through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting austincrimestoppers.org or calling 512-472-8477.

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 KXAN Austin.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 31. Kazakhstan has started to create a fair, inclusive, and competitive economy, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during a speech at a meeting with scientists, Trend reports.

A country that relies only on raw materials has no future. We need scientists, engineers, and inventors. Our specialists must be educated and qualified to withstand global competition. In this difficult period, when rivalry between states in all spheres has intensified, our country has begun the transition to a new economic model. We have begun to create an equitable, inclusive, and competitive economy. It should be based on science and innovation, he said.

According to him, Kazakhstan needs to become one of the leading, not the slave country.

In a word, it is necessary to increase our scientific potential. In general, work in this direction is underway. At the meeting of the National Council on Science and Technology, I gave some specific instructions. The solution to all problems is carried out under my direct control. The bill On Science and Technology Policy is currently under consideration in Parliament. Yesterday, the Senate approved it in the first reading. This is a very important and long-awaited document. It is necessary to improve the system of science management. The issue of social support for scientists is of particular importance. Therefore, the law will take into account the interests of the scientific community as much as possible, Tokayev added.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
GOLDTHWAITE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A man from Goldthwaite received a 15-year sentence after pleading guilty to failing to stop and provide assistance in a deadly accident.

District attorneys presented evidence that on Saturday, December 10, 2022, Kerry Coates Kavanaugh was driving a pickup truck that struck and killed tow truck driver Patrick Morin. Morin was parked off the roadway, towing a vehicle outside of Goldthwaite at the time of the incident. After the crash, Kavanaugh and a passenger fled the scene and went to a house outside of Lometa.

The crash investigation was conducted by the Department of Public Safety and the Mills County Sheriffs Department. Kavanaugh surrendered himself a day after his passenger contacted the investigators.

After Morins death, his family lobbied for stricter penalties for failure to slow down and move over for emergency vehicles. These increased penalties were implemented in 2023.

The 35th Judicial District Attorneys Office oversaw the case and sentenced Kavanaugh to 15 years. Cara Landers, Assistant District Attorney, released this statement:

We are so honored to have advocated for justice for the family of Patrick Morin, and we hope that a sentence of this magnitude, despite a lack of criminal history on the part of Mr. Kavanaugh, can bring some comfort to the many lives that Mr. Morin touched. We are proud to live in a community surrounded by law enforcement that thoroughly investigates crimes and allows us to pursue justice and we continually encourage those who drive on Texas roads to respect and honor the work of our first responders by following the law.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
The Minnesota Capitol Building. Courtesy of Minnesota House Public Information Services.

The Minnesota Legislatures 2024 session ended in chaos. Over a cacophony of objections from Republicans in both chambers, and with just minutes to spare before the 11:59 p.m. May 19 deadline, the DFL majority rammed through a 1,430 page mega-omnibus that combined nine committee reports into one massive bill.

Despite exaggerated cries of democratic decline, the 11th hour strategy is nothing new: GOP social media accounts were prepared with past quotes from Democrats, denouncing similar last-minute tactics when they were used by Republicans in 2018.



Although intended as a gotcha, the alleged hypocrisy only proves the problem is bigger than either party: The 5-month legislative session (even fewer in a non-budget year) is simply not enough time to complete the legal business of the state. Furthermore, the part-time status of legislators limits their capacity to oversee policy implementation and opens up a wealth of potential conflicts of interest.



When we talk about funding government, our minds go to the classrooms, hospitals and roads that comprise our basic public infrastructure. But recent events remind us of the importance of the system responsible for overseeing those systems. Here are three reasons why Minnesota should commit to a full-time Legislature.



State governance is a big job.

Minnesota, like most states in the U.S., is the size of a substantial country, with an economy that would rank among the 50 largest in the world and a population roughly equal to Norway or Finland.

Although state legislators share power with federal and local authorities, the most intensive governing, administration and finance happens at the state level. Heres a brief list of the states key responsibilities:



Overseeing these complex systems is full-time work. But right now, legislators are given just a narrow window of time in which to meet. This contributes to the sort of backlog that resulted in last weeks frenzied end of session, but more importantly it limits the capacity of legislators to act as effective liaisons to their communities and expert stewards for the public good.



Despite the folksy appeal of citizen legislators clocking into the Capitol for a few months before returning to the office, hospital or classroom, the reality is that becoming an expert in any one policy area takes years of effort and experience. The 3- or 5-month session is barely enough time to assemble, consider and pass a slate of reforms, let alone follow up on how past policies are being implemented, connect with constituents, or plan for the long-term.



This lack of capacity not only stymies legislative effectiveness, it is a major threat to the public interest.



Legislators should work for us (and only us).

In his 2019 book State Capture, University of Columbia political scientist Alex Hertel-Fernandez describes the rise of the American Legislative Exchange Council  a corporate-backed conservative network dedicated to disseminating conservative policies across state governments. The book argues convincingly that ALECs success was driven largely by the limited capacity and expertise of state legislators.



Rather than come up with their own ideas, under-resourced and time-strapped legislators jumped at the offer of ready-made legislation that would help demonstrate their effectiveness in office. And while ALEC focuses on conservative legislators, it is no secret that lobbyists representing interest groups on both sides of the aisle are perhaps the most common source of ideas and expertise in St. Paul.



The influence of unelected actors poses a substantial threat to democracy, and these conflicts are greatly intensified by the economic reality of serving as a state legislator.



At around $50,000 per year plus expenses, the salary of a Minnesota legislator is roughly equal to Minnesotas per capita median income, which is not commensurate with the skill, experience, and effort required to do the job effectively. During session, legislators work far more than a conventional full-time job, while outside of sessions they still carry many year-round responsibilities, including constituent services and prep for the next session. And thats to say nothing of the uncompensated effort and expense of running for re-election.



On a per-hour basis, legislators earn less than many of their constituents in retail and restaurants, and considerably less than business owners and lobbyists who seek to influence them. This is a problem for the recruitment and retention of hard-working legislators without independent wealth.



The result is a Legislature slanted towards older and wealthier lawmakers who have more time and personal resources to devote to the work. Less affluent legislators (more often people of color) hold multiple jobs and are resultantly more likely to burn out, leading to higher turnover and less effective representation.



Putting aside the personal burden on legislators, the necessity of additional employment creates substantial risk for conflicts of interest. Whether working in private business or public service, personal dependence naturally skews the priorities of politicians who should ideally remain impartial. Legislators will never be without the biases created from personal experience, but ensuring economic independence would at least mitigate these dynamics.



Paying legislators a full-time salary would increase the time they have to put towards their work, and would greatly reduce employer-based conflicts of interest. Granting them more time to work would slow the reckless pace of each session and make it more tolerable for electeds and their staff. Ultimately, this would help ensure that policies are made in the best interests of all Minnesotans.

A more responsive, effective state government.

As the primary feedback mechanism for state policy, and the one most accountable to each individual voter, the Legislature is like Minnesotas political nervous system, receiving feedback from communities across the state and relaying the necessary messages to implementing agencies. The stronger the Legislature, the more effective our policies will become and the more they will reflect legislative intent and the desires of voters.



Right now, the Legislature passes laws and executive agencies are left largely to their own devices to put them into action. This creates an imbalance between branches of government and leaves a gap in oversight. Last fall, for example, federal EPA inspectors found dangerous emissions and insufficient pollution control at the Smith Foundry in the East Phillips neighborhood of south Minneapolis. How could the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, with hundreds of millions of dollars in annual operating budget, fail at such a basic function of its mission? State legislators are the natural investigators in such instances, and many of them stepped up in outrage. But limited capacity curtails their ability to remain engaged year round.



Probably the most common argument against a full-time Legislature is the additional cost. But if your goal is to limit the size of government, then the state Legislature would be a very silly place to skimp. At $120 million per year  or about 0.3% of the general fund  the Legislatures budget is small relative to its influence.



Put another way: If we are going to spend tens of billions on public programs, it would stand to reason that we should spend tens of millions to ensure those expenditures are accountable to the people of Minnesota.



A bipartisan idea?

Happily, Minnesota is already committed to a strong legislative branch: We rank in the top half of states in terms of legislative professionalization according to University of Missouris Squire Index and we invest in substantial government accountability infrastructure, including the Office of the Legislative Auditor, regular legislative commissions, and other executive offices devoted to results management. The OLA completes comprehensive studies of government programs and have been key contributors in the ongoing Funding Our Future fraud case.



Creating a more full-time Legislature would take us further towards the bipartisan goal of government accountability but would require a constitutional amendment. The measure to put the requisite referendum on the ballot did not materialize this year, despite the efforts of House Majority Leader Jamie Long, who told me via email:



The current legislative schedule makes it very difficult to recruit and retain legislators from diverse backgrounds and experiences. The constitutional amendment I proposed would give future legislatures the flexibility to set their own schedule, without the constraints put in place in the 1880s that dont align well with the modern needs of a legislature.





Although the idea of a full-time Legislature is more usually associated with left-of-center politics, there is at least one Minnesota Republican who is sympathetic to the idea. Rep. Walter Hudson, R-Albertville, doesnt support Longs current proposal but shared his general interest via direct message:



Serving in the Legislature requires sacrifice from anyone with a moderately successful private sector careerI would like to see thoughtful reform to legislative compensation and interim expectation, which acknowledges the full-time commitment that serving in the Legislature requires.





For supporters and skeptics alike, theres value in doing the job of state government right.

The post Good governance is not a part-time job appeared first on Minnesota Reformer.
(Photo by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

The water at a Storm Lake beach this week had about 50 times the amount of bacteria that triggers a swim warning from the state, according to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.

The cause? Geese feces, said Kim Woltman, the citys public services program manager.

We do have a heavy goose population here, and Ive noticed (the parks are) pretty thick lately with them, she said. Their babies have all started coming, and theyre hanging around pretty close.

Sampling at the beach at Frank Starr Park on the lakes northwest side on Tuesday revealed more than 11,000 viable bacteria in less than a half cup of lake water. A one-time test that measures 235 can result in a state swim warning.

Animal feces can be washed into a lake by rainfall and contaminate the water, and bacteria concentrations can rise and fall significantly over the course of several days.

An example: Beach water at Twin Lakes in western Iowa had a concentration of 24,000 bacteria per 100 milliliters last week, which plummeted to 430 this week.

Because the Storm Lake beaches are not managed by the state, the DNR does not issue swimming warnings for them. Woltman said the citys beaches have signs posted year-round that warn about potentially elevated bacteria concentrations, which can cause illnesses and infections.

Two other beaches on the south shoreline of Storm Lake  Casino and Bel Air  also had elevated bacteria concentrations but were far less than Frank Starr.

The DNR tests the states lakes once each week for elevated bacteria and their toxins. There are three where swimming is not recommended this weekend:

 Backbone State Park in Delaware County

 Beeds Lake State Park in Franklin County

 Prairie Rose State Park in Shelby County

There were eight state beaches with swim warnings last week, including Backbone and Beeds.

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The post Goose poop blamed for excessive bacteria at Storm Lake beach appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
An irrigation pivot sits in a crop of canola near Echo. About 85% of all the water diverted from rivers, streams and aquifers in Oregon is used for irrigated agriculture. (Kathy Aney/Oregon Capital Chronicle)

Gov. Tina Kotek is calling on lawmakers to modernize Oregons water laws following guidance from four prominent water attorneys.

Kotek and her natural resources advisor, Geoff Huntington, asked the lawyers late last year to make recommendations for improving water policy. On Thursday, they presented their concerns and recommendations to the House Committee on Agriculture, Land Use, Natural Resources, and Water and the Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Wildfire.

They said the state needs to improve data collection, consistency and access around Oregon water use and water quality; make permitting less rigid and more efficient; get natural resource agencies to coordinate on record keeping and planning and integrate indigenous knowledge in state water policy development and administration.

Read the attorneys letter:

An appeal for gubernatorial leadership to modernize Oregons water laws

In response to the lawyers guidance, Kotek recently paused efforts to revise the states Integrated Water Resources Strategy and added another natural resources advisor, Chandra Ferrari, an attorney who specializes in water law.

The four lawyers behind the guidance and call to action are Adell Amos, a law professor at the University of Oregon; Janet Neuman, a retired Lewis and Clark Law School professor; David Filippi, a partner at law firm Stoel Rives in Portland; and Josh Newton, a partner at law firm Best Best & Krieger in Bend. Each has experience litigating cases focused on water protection, tribal natural resource law and water cases for agricultural and industrial use.

Oregons water management is at a tipping point necessitating decisive action and adaptation. We respectfully urge gubernatorial attention and leadership to address these needs, the lawyers wrote in their appeal. Oregons water laws and the administrative structures implementing those laws are simply not suited to meet the present and future needs of our state, whether for current water right holders, those seeking new water supplies, those looking to sustain and enhance the natural environment, or all of the states residents who depend on and value the states water resources.

Concerns and recommendations

To produce their recommendations, the lawyers analyzed 11 different state water reports developed over 14 years.

Big problems that continue to plague the water resources department include lack of funding and lack of consistent reporting from the states water right holders.

Only about 17 percent of the states 90,000 water right holders are required to measure and report their water use, and about 20 percent of those do not report despite being required to do so, Filippi said. The department has a backlog of more than 100 contested cases over water permits, some of which were submitted to the agency more than 30 years ago, the lawyers said.

In short, Oregons water, which belongs to the public, is being mismanaged despite the best efforts of state employees trying to carry out their public obligations, the lawyers wrote in their appeal.

Overdue updates

A statewide water analysis of water quantity and use in each of the states 20 basins has not taken place since the 1980s. In 2021, the Legislature directed the water resources department to undertake such an analysis with the passage of House Bill 2018, but the work is still ongoing.

A bipartisan duo on the House agriculture and water committee, Rep. Ken Helm, D-Beaverton, and Rep. Mark Owens, R-Crane, last year unsuccessfully proposed halting all new water permitting until the agency completed a full water budget for the state.

Meanwhile, during the last 20 years, Oregon has experienced some of the driest conditions on record. Over 80% of water rights recently approved by the water resources department are in areas where groundwater levels are declining, Danielle Gonzalez, policy section manager at the department, previously told the Capital Chronicle.

About 85% of all the water diverted from rivers, streams and aquifers in Oregon is used for agriculture, according to a 2022 report by the department.

The post Governor, bipartisan group of lawmakers issue call to action on Oregon water policy appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  Governor Justice stopped by Tamarack in Beckley to sign a bill to approve funding for highway projects across the Mountain State.

Senate Bill 1002 allocates 150 million dollars toward statewide highway maintenance.

Governor Justice came to the Tamarack to ceremonially sign the bill with other officials present.

National Weather Service confirms microburst hit Fayette County Sunday

59News spoke to Jimmy Wriston, Secretary of the West Virginia Department of Transportation.

He said this additional money prolongs the life of the roadways through needed maintenance.

Every time you see these floods and these rain storms. 10 years ago, a flood like we had just a little while back, would have been tens of millions of dollars of damage to the roadway. The core maintenance activities that we perform with this general revenue surplus money, takes us away from that. The ditches will take care of the water, moves it away from the roadway. The pipes are being replaced, said Wriston.

After speaking to Wriston, 59News spoke to West Virginia Governor Jim Justice.

One person dead after shooting in Raleigh County

He said this funding makes West Virginia a more attractive state to tourists.

You gotta have real commitment in dollars going toward highways. All the different things we are doing, the travel plazas, everything thats going on behind you right nowbasically that just makes us better. It makes us more desirable. All of a sudden, it just starts really clicking, said Governor Justice to 59News.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
When Donald Trumps Thursday morning started with a former producer of The Apprentice accusing him of using a racist slur to describe a Black contestant, the former president didnt know that was going to be the best news of his day.

That afternoon, a jury of his peers handed down a 34-count conviction. Quite the bookends for a man who a year ago was also found liable for sexual assault and defamation by a jury. In 2022, two of his companies were convicted of fraud.

Read more: Litman: Does it matter that Donald Trump just became a convicted criminal? Of course it does

As if all that werent enough reason to be concerned about the corruption a potential second Trump term could bring, there are now reports that the former president is buddying up with Elon Musk. In fact, Trump is said to be considering adding Musk as an advisor if he wins in November.

Read more: Opinion: The guilty verdict only makes Donald Trump stronger

Imagine: one of the richest men in the world joining forces with a convicted felon running for president. Its the kind of pairing Ian Fleming would have appreciated. A duo of villains worthy of Bond.

Musk wants to put a computer chip in your brain , and Trump said he wants to be a dictator for a day . Musk prevented Ukraine from using Starlink internet services in its fight against Russia. Trump admires Russian President Vladimir Putin and said he would encourage Russia to attack NATO countries .

Read more: Ali: The jury has spoken. What happens next will be a great test of American democracy

Musk grew up affluent in apartheid South Africa and today speaks ill of diversity efforts in the workplace.

According to Trumps niece Mary, racist slurs like Trump is accused of using on set were common in the Trump household. Antisemitic slurs as well, which probably explains why Trump said that white nationalists  the ones carrying torches and chanting, Jews will not replace us  were  very fine people .

That was 2017, back when Trump was calling himself the law and order president. Im pretty sure his supporters didnt take that to mean that he and many of the people he brought with him to the White House  Paul Manafort, Stephen K. Bannon, Mike Flynn, Roger Stone  would be facing jail time.

But then again, if Republicans really cared about law and order, Trump never would have made it to the Republican debate stage back in 2015. He and his businesses had already been involved in thousands of lawsuits. In fact, when Trump initially announced his candidacy, he was concurrently dealing with a class action suit filed against Trump University. (Alleging fraud, in case you were wondering.)

Republicans like House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana, who after the verdict on Thursday said today is a shameful day in American history, can try to characterize the hush money trial as the weaponization of our justice system, but the reality is Trump has been in trouble with our legal system since Johnson was in diapers. Im not joking. The saga began in 1973 with the Nixon administration. By now, Trumps been involved in 4,095 lawsuits and counting .

He is not a victim being unfairly targeted by Democrats.

Trump is a con artist who keeps getting caught.

When he first ran for president, he told supporters not to worry about his lack of political experience because his business pedigree qualified him for the job. And then we found out that his companies had been cooking the books for decades and that Trumps father repeatedly bailed him out of bad financial decisions. No shame in having help, unless youve been claiming to be self-made and successful.

And many believed his boasts, even though he became a millionaire at the age of 8 , not through shrewd deals but because of his familys wealth.

The guilty verdict on Thursday marked the first time a former president has been convicted of a felony. That is indeed historic.

However, Trump himself being found guilty in a court of law should not surprise anyone.

Especially not in New York, where Trump grew up, made his name, made his money and had most of his run-ins with the law.

Perhaps in 2016, because of his charisma and celebrity, it was easy to overlook just how corrupt Trump was. Now, his corruption is hard to avoid.

None of this is to suggest he cant still win the White House. However, this time around, there is no plausible pretense of draining the swamp or making America great.

No, this time around voters know Trump is a criminal. Now weve got the receipts.

@LZGranderson

If its in the news right now, the L.A. Times Opinion section covers it. Sign up for our weekly opinion newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Last week, next years state budget is being hammered out by the House Finance Committee with the expectation of a vote very soon. I have been working hard this year to see that it contains funding to plan proactively for a seismic shift that we can clearly see coming: a rapid increase in the number of older Rhode Islanders.

Currently, more than 240,000 Rhode Island residents are age 60 or older. That number is expected to increase to almost 265,000 by 2040, constituting an increase of nearly 75% since 2010.

Whether or not Rhode Island has the services to support that many people is a question we have yet to answer, but must address sooner rather than later. Since last September, I have a led a study commission that been looking at the matter, and we know the state needs a master plan that maps out both the expansion in services that will be necessary, and the efficiencies we could achieve if we expand them collaboratively, maximizing our resources.

Lauren Carson, House District 75 (Newport), Democrat

As it is, we know we dont have the right mix of housing to meet the needs of older Rhode Islanders who want to remain in their community. The level of support available, including physical and mental health care, transportation, recreational and social opportunities and much more, varies greatly from one community to another. Were going to need to build up these resources to meet the increased demands for them.

This session Ive sponsored a resolution seeking $250,000 for our state to develop a comprehensive and actionable plan that addresses the needs of our aging population. Our commission has laid solid groundwork for this plan, but this is a critical job that warrants the skills of planning professionals rather than a volunteer commission. That funding would support the services of a planning consultant as well as the necessary resources that our states Office on Healthy Aging and the State Division on Planning would need to map out an effective route that takes us from the various patchwork of services we currently have for older Rhode Islanders to where well need to be by the end of this decade and beyond.

Fortunately, of course, Rhode Island is not alone in our changing demographics or our need for a plan to adjust our services for them. The nonprofit, nonpartisan Center for Health Care Strategies offers a roadmap that six other states have used to successfully establish their own strategic plans on aging.

I am very eager to see funding for this planning project included in the budget bill and believe that my legislative colleagues  who, in the House, have already voted to extend the life of my commission into 2026 to allow us to see this plan through  will support this effort to ensure that our state is prepared to support our older residents in the near and more distant future.

I also want to invite Rhode Islanders to join the conversation as our commission hits the road this summer. We are planning three meetings around the state seeking public input, beginning July 23 at Community College of Rhode Islands Newport campus. Well be at the Warwick Senior Center on Sept. 18, with one additional meeting in South Kingstown at a later date yet to be determined.

Rhode Island cant be caught flat-footed for the massive demographic shift that we can see years ahead of time. We need to get a plan in place, so all Rhode Islanders can live safely and comfortably in their golden years.

Rep. Lauren H. Carson (D-Dist. 75, Newport) is the chairwoman of the Special Legislative Commission to Study and Provide Recommendations Pertaining to Services and Coordination of State Programs Relating to Older Adult Rhode Islanders.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Guest View: Rhode Island needs plan for coming silver tsunami
Donald Trump is now a felon, busted for and convicted of stealing the 2016 election from Hillary Clinton and the American people. Our criminal justice system has worked, and there will almost certainly be some political fallout to both Trump and the GOP.



Nonetheless, odds are he wont see a day in jail or even a particularly punishing fine and will probably be long dead before his lawyers finish with his inevitable years, perhaps decades, of appeals.

But what will this mean for America? How will it affect our political system and the Republican Party, which he has so thoroughly corrupted?

A deep concern about Trump taking back the White House is legitimateparticularly given the number of billionaires whove thrown in with him recently. But a fear that America will never recover from Trump and Trumpism probably is less so. The reason has to do with the difference between a movement and a cult.

Movements are organized around ideas and have lasting power long after those who initiated them are dead or gone.

Barry Goldwater, for example, once led a movement to enshrine white supremacy in U.S. law and turn control of our politics and economy over to the morbidly rich. It was the 1960s incarnation of a movement that stretched back to the revolutionary era, when some of the richest plantation owners and bankers argued that only the wealthy should be able to vote or hold public office. It was revisited in 1920 by Warren Harding with his massive tax cuts for the rich, ultimately leading to the Great Depression.

The movement survived Goldwaters defeat in the 1964 election because it was based on an idea: that society should be run with classes and orders and the privileged few should have the greatest say in running government. In 1980, Ronald Reagan picked up that mantle, and its been the Mitt Romney GOPs core animating principle ever since.

Even the Confederacy was a movement rather than a cult; thats why its ideas of white racial superiority and using violence to achieve political power live on in todays Republican Party. You can argue that there were heroes of the movement like Robert E. Lee (recently praised by RFK Jr.), but the movement lived on long past their short lifetimes.

The Trump movement, however, is an altogether different thing. Its only core organizing principle is loyalty and fealty to one man: Donald Trump.

Hes been in favor of a national health care system, and against it. Campaigned on raising taxes on the rich so much my friends will hate me but then cut their taxes to the tune of $2 trillion. Supportive of labor unions when campaigning and then appointing one of the most anti-labor lawyers in the country to run his Labor Department. In favor of, and then against, masks and vaccines. The list of flip-flops goes on and on.

Like his followers, Trump has been all over the map policy-wise. Theres no coherent organizing principle or philosophy of governance in Trumps world: He changes positions on a whim and then demands that his devotees follow his new postures.

This is the definition of a cult: a demand for absolute loyalty to one person. And its why cults can be so fragile.

When cult leader Jim Jones died in Guyana, what was left of his cult back in the United States died. When Charles Manson was sent to prison, his cult lost its ability to recruit new members and collapsed within a year. Huey Long had created a substantial political cultprobably one of the closest analogies to Trumps (except Long was on the left rather than the right)which died when he was assassinated.

The reason for these dynamics are easily explained. A movementbeing about ideashas specific, achievable goals. While they may evolve over timelike the movement for a more perfect union and egalitarian democracy in the U.S.theyre clear and focused.

A cult, on the other hand, is mainly about devotion and faithfulness to one person. Cult followers sublimate their own wants and needsto the point of surrendering their wealth and giving their livesto the cult leader.

They find safety, status, and security in the belief that theyre insiders to secret knowledge; are superior to the average plebe; and will always have a family, a community, with fellow cult members. The cult relieves their anxiety, and submission to the cults leader gives their lives a sense of purpose. They perceive it as a form of love.

Cult leaders, demanding absolute loyalty, are typically psychopaths, putting their own needs and desires above those of their followers. They drain them of their money and mercilessly exploit them for power, sex, adulation, and status. They dont give a damn about their followers beyond what the followers will do for or give to them.

This is often deadly to cult members, emotionally, spiritually, and even literally.

Consider how at least 400,000 American followers of Trumps cult eschewed masks and later vaccines in the face of a deadly pandemic and paid for their loyalty with their lives. Or how many have drained their bank accounts in response to Trumps daily insistent demands for more and more of their money.

Even cult insiders are rarely spared from the psychopathic demands of their cult leader. Herman Cain, elderly and in poor health, went to a packed rally during Covid to show his loyalty to Trump; he died of the disease, and Trump didnt even bother to attend his funeral. Both Michael Cohen and Allen Weisselberg went to prison for Trump, as did hundreds of January 6 rioters; dozens of fake electors around the nation may soon follow.

A final, classic defining characteristic of a cult is intolerance for even the faintest dissent. Cults typically punish disloyalty by banishment; just ask Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger, or any of the other Republicans whove dared speak out against Trump.

The good news is that cults are typically self-limiting and usually disintegrate when the cult leader collapses. The bad news, as noted, is that cults are usually extraordinarily destructive to the lives of their followers, and sometimes to the larger society within which they operate.

Trump is now a convicted felon. For his cult followers, this probably wont matter much: Hitler went to prison too, and that just made him a martyr in his cult followers eyes. But for those who havent yet fully committed to Trumps cult, this may well be the cautionary moment that limits its growth.

As a result, this conviction may well helpalong the marginsto tip the election to President Biden.

As far as I can tell, there arent any other Trump types queuing up in the GOP. Ron DeSantis, J.D. Vance, and Vivek Ramaswamy have Trumps psychopathy but lack his salesmanship. Nikki Haley has Trumps charm but lacks his psychopathy. Chris Christie has neither. The other usual suspects lack Trumps charm and salesmanship, even if many share his psychopathy.

The right-wing billionaires and Project 2025 neofascists will lose much of their power when the spell of Trumps cult is torn asunder. Normal Republican politicians will find it much more difficult to run on platforms of gutting Social Security, more tax cuts for billionaires, and increasing pollution without Trump essentially blotting out the sun and blinding people to their real agenda.

This isnt to minimize their ongoing danger to our republicparticularly the ones who own social mediabut without the accelerant of Trumps leadership and his credulous followers, their path to destroying our democracy will become significantly more difficult.

That doesnt mean we can relax. If Trump is elected this fall, America will go through a hell that will seem familiar to elderly Germans, Chileans, and todays Russians. Itll take decades, at least, to recover from it. But we most likely will, just as did Germany, Italy, Spain, Chile, etc.

When that time passes, or when Trump loses in 2024or dies in office or is incapacitated by ill health or old age like Pinochet and Francohis cult will almost certainly come to an end and the GOP will revert to simply being a vehicle for billionaires and big business to feather their nests, as it was before Trump took the stage.

And America will have learned a hell of a lesson.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 31. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR, or Middle Corridor) opens up huge opportunities for global trade, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said during a speech at a meeting with scientists, Trend reports.

The country's enormous transit and logistics potential should be effectively used. Huge opportunities for world trade are opened by the Trans-Caspian international transportation route. By 2027, we plan to increase the volume of freight traffic along this corridor to 10 million tons per year, the head of state said.

According to him, it is necessary to develop road, air, and rail transportation to strengthen Kazakhstan's position as a transit hub in Eurasia.

Meanwhile, the Middle Corridor links the container rail freight transportation networks of China and the European Union countries through Central Asia, the Caucasus, Turkiye, and Eastern Europe.

A multilateral multimodal transportation infrastructure links the ferry terminals of the Caspian and Black Seas with the railway systems of China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkiye, Ukraine, and Poland.

The Middle Corridor facilitates the flow of cargo from China to Turkiye, as well as to Europe and vice versa.

A route train along this corridor delivers cargo from China to Europe in an average of 2025 days, and this is one of the main advantages of this transport corridor.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Mourners gather at the house of Ousmane Sylla's mother after his burial in Matoto Bonagui, a suburb of Conakry, Guinea, Tuesday, April 9, 2024. In Italy, he found despair. He spent months in a crowded, squalid migrant detention center, unable to contact his family. He died by suicide in February after other detainees said he became depressed and withdrawn. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

Ousmane Syllas final journey home came not with joyful celebration, but with mourning.

The 21-year-olds body was flown in a metal coffin from Rome to Conakry, Guineas coastal capital.

On a hot day in April, his family collected him from the airport. It was Ramadan, so no one had eaten. But they walked for miles through the crowded streets with more of Syllas friends, shouting justice for Ousmane! along the way.

Their beloved Ousmane was aways full of cheer, even when he left to join his brother in France, hoping to get a job and send money home. He traveled through the Malian desert to Algeria and through Tunisia, and crossed the Mediterranean on a smugglers boat.

In Italy, he found despair. He spent months in a crowded, squalid migrant detention center, unable to contact his family. He died by suicide in February after other detainees said he became depressed and withdrawn.

Mariam Bangoura didnt know her son was in pain. His sister, Mariama Sylla, blames the Italian government.

They abandoned him like hes not a human being, Mariama Sylla said.

Sylla had scribbled on the wall before he died that he wanted to be returned to Africa, and to his mother.

So they bid him farewell in his home, with love and hopes to see him again.
There is a whole shady industry for people who want to monitor and spy on their families. Multiple app makers market their software  sometimes referred to as stalkerware  to jealous partners who can use these apps to access their victims phones remotely.

Yet, despite how sensitive this data is, an increasing number of these companies are losing huge amounts of it.

According to TechCrunchs tally, counting the latest hack on Spytech, there have been at least 21 stalkerware companies since 2017 that are known to have been hacked, or leaked customer and victims data online. Thats not a typo: At least 21 stalkerware companies have either been hacked or had a significant data exposure in recent years. And four stalkerware companies were hacked multiple times.

In 2024 alone, there have been at least four massive stalkerware hacks. The most recent breach affected Spytech, a little-known spyware maker based in Minnesota, which exposed activity logs from the phones, tablets, and computers monitored with its spyware. Before that, there was a breach at mSpy, one of the longest-running stalkerware apps, which exposed millions of customer support tickets, which included the personal data of millions of its customers.

Previously, an unknown hacker broke into the servers of the U.S.-based stalkerware maker pcTattletale. The hacker then stole and leaked the companys internal data. They also defaced pcTattletales official website with the goal of embarrassing the company. The hacker referred to a recent TechCrunch article where we reported pcTattletale was used to monitor several front desk check-in computers at a U.S. hotel chain.

As a result of this hack, leak and shame operation, pcTattletale founder Bryan Fleming said he was shutting down his company.

Consumer spyware apps like mSpy and pcTattletale are commonly referred to as "stalkerware" (or spouseware) because jealous spouses and partners use them to surreptitiously monitor and surveil their loved ones. These companies often explicitly market their products as solutions to catch cheating partners by encouraging illegal and unethical behavior. And there have been multiple court cases, journalistic investigations and surveys of domestic abuse shelters that show that online stalking and monitoring can lead to cases of real-world harm and violence.

And thats why hackers have repeatedly targeted some of these companies.

Eva Galperin, the director of cybersecurity at the Electronic Frontier Foundation and a leading researcher and activist who has investigated and fought stalkerware for years, said the stalkerware industry is a soft target.

The people who run these companies are perhaps not the most scrupulous or really concerned about the quality of their product, Galperin told TechCrunch.

Given the history of stalkerware compromises, that may be an understatement. And because of the lack of care for protecting their own customers  and consequently the personal data of tens of thousands of unwitting victims  using these apps is doubly irresponsible. The stalkerware customers may be breaking the law, abusing their partners by illegally spying on them, and, on top of that, putting everyones data in danger.

A history of stalkerware hacks

The flurry of stalkerware breaches began in 2017 when a group of hackers breached the U.S.-based Retina-X and the Thailand-based FlexiSpy back to back. Those two hacks revealed that the companies had a total number of 130,000 customers all over the world.

At the time, the hackers who  proudly  claimed responsibility for the compromises explicitly said their motivations were to expose and hopefully help destroy an industry that they consider toxic and unethical.

Im going to burn them to the ground, and leave absolutely nowhere for any of them to hide, one of the hackers involved then told Motherboard.

Referring to FlexiSpy, the hacker added: I hope theyll fall apart and fail as a company, and have some time to reflect on what they did. However, I fear they might try and give birth to themselves again in a new form. But if they do, Ill be there.

Despite the hack, and years of negative public attention, FlexiSpy is still active today. The same cannot be said about Retina-X.

The hacker who broke into Retina-X wiped its servers with the goal of hampering its operations. The company bounced back  and then it got hacked again a year later. A couple of weeks after the second breach, Retina-X announced that it was shutting down.

Just days after the second Retina-X breach, hackers hit Mobistealth and Spy Master Pro, stealing gigabytes of customer and business records, as well as victims intercepted messages and precise GPS locations. Another stalkerware vendor, the India-based SpyHuman, encountered the same fate a few months later, with hackers stealing text messages and call metadata, which contained logs of who called who and when.

Weeks later, there was the first case of accidental data exposure, rather than a hack. SpyFone left an Amazon-hosted S3 storage bucket unprotected online, which meant anyone could see and download text messages, photos, audio recordings, contacts, location, scrambled passwords and login information, Facebook messages and more. All that data was stolen from victims, most of whom did not know they were being spied on, let alone know their most sensitive personal data was also on the internet for all to see.

Other stalkerware companies that over the years have irresponsibly left customer and victims data online are FamilyOrbit, which left 281 gigabytes of personal data online protected only by an easy-to-find password; mSpy, which leaked over 2 million customer records in 2018; Xnore, which let any of its customers see the personal data of other customers targets, which included chat messages, GPS coordinates, emails, photos and more; MobiiSpy, which left 25,000 audio recordings and 95,000 images on a server accessible to anyone; KidsGuard, which had a misconfigured server that leaked victims content; pcTattletale, which prior to its hack also exposed screenshots of victims devices uploaded in real time to a website that anyone could access; and Xnspy, whose developers left credentials and private keys left in the apps code, allowing anyone to access victims data.

As far as other stalkerware companies that actually got hacked, there was Copy9, which saw a hacker steal the data of all its surveillance targets, including text messages and WhatsApp messages, call recordings, photos, contacts and browser history; LetMeSpy, which shut down after hackers breached and wiped its servers; the Brazil-based WebDetetive, which also got its servers wiped, and then hacked again; OwnSpy, which provides much of the back-end software for WebDetetive, also got hacked; Spyhide, which had a vulnerability in its code that allowed a hacker to access the back-end databases and years of stolen around 60,000 victims data; Oospy, which was a rebrand of Spyhide, shut down for a second time; and the latest mSpy hack, which is unrelated to the previously mentioned leak.

Finally there is TheTruthSpy, a network of stalkerware apps, which holds the dubious record of having been hacked or having leaked data on at least three separate occasions.

Hacked, but unrepented

Of these 21 stalkerware companies, eight have shut down, according to TechCrunchs tally.

In a first and so far unique case, the Federal Trade Commission banned SpyFone and its chief executive, Scott Zuckerman, from operating in the surveillance industry following an earlier security lapse that exposed victims data. Another stalkerware operation linked to Zuckerman, called SpyTrac, subsequently shut down following a TechCrunch investigation.

PhoneSpector and Highster, another two companies that are not known to have been hacked, also shut down after New Yorks attorney general accused the companies of explicitly encouraging customers to use their software for illegal surveillance.

But a company closing doesnt mean its gone forever. As with Spyhide and SpyFone, some of the same owners and developers behind a shuttered stalkerware maker simply rebranded.

I do think that these hacks do things. They do accomplish things, they do put a dent in it, Galperin said. But if you think that if you hack a stalkerware company, that they will simply shake their fists, curse your name, disappear in a puff of blue smoke and never be seen again, that has most definitely not been the case.

What happens most often, when you actually manage to kill a stalkerware company, is that the stalkerware company comes up like mushrooms after the rain, Galperin added.

There is some good news. In a report last year, security firm Malwarebytes said that the use of stalkerware is declining, according to its own data of customers infected with this type of software. Also, Galperin reports seeing an increase in negative reviews of these apps, with customers or prospective customers complaining they dont work as intended.

But, Galperin said that its possible that security firms arent as good at detecting stalkerware as they used to be, or stalkers have moved from software-based surveillance to physical surveillance enabled by AirTags and other Bluetooth-enabled trackers.

Stalkerware does not exist in a vacuum. Stalkerware is part of a whole world of tech-enabled abuse, Galperin said.

Say no to stalkerware

Using spyware to monitor your loved ones is not only unethical, its also illegal in most jurisdictions, as its considered unlawful surveillance.

That is already a significant reason not to use stalkerware. Then there is the issue that stalkerware makers have proven time and time again that they cannot keep data secure  neither data belonging to the customers nor their victims or targets.

Apart from spying on romantic partners and spouses, some people use stalkerware apps to monitor their children. While this type of use, at least in the United States, is legal, it doesnt mean using stalkerware to snoop on your kids phone isnt creepy and unethical.

Even if its lawful, Galperin thinks parents should not spy on their children without telling them, and without their consent.

If parents do inform their children and get their go-ahead, parents should stay away from insecure and untrustworthy stalkerware apps, and use parental tracking tools built into Apple phones and tablets and Android devices that are safer and operate overtly.

Recap of breaches and leaks

Heres the complete list of stalkerware companies that have been hacked or have leaked sensitive data since 2017, in chronological order:

Updated on July 25 to include Spytech as the latest spyware to be breached.

If you or someone you know needs help, the National Domestic Violence Hotline (1-800-799-7233) provides 24/7 free, confidential support to victims of domestic abuse and violence. If you are in an emergency situation, call 911. The Coalition Against Stalkerware has resources if you think your phone has been compromised by spyware.
Israel has degraded Hamas military capabilities significantly since October, and the militant group no longer poses a major threat to Israel, President Joe Biden said Friday.

Biden offered that analysis while outlining a new three-phase cease-fire proposal Israel has offered Hamas, which would lead to the release of all hostages and a permanent end to fighting.

The people of Israel should know they can make this offer without any further risk to their own security, because they've devastated Hamas forces over the past eight months, Biden said. At this point, Hamas is no longer capable of carrying out another Oct. 7.

He was referring to the militant groups surprise attack on Israeli soil in October, which killed some 1,200 people and led to the hostage-taking of 250 people. Israel retaliated with an all-out invasion of Gaza, which has plunged the territory into famine-like conditions for 2.2 million Palestinians.

The Biden administration has faced mounting pressure domestically and internationally to push Israel to stop its operations in Gaza, which have killed more than 35,000 people since October, according to Hamas-led Gazan authorities. Publicly, Israeli officials said they wont agree to a permanent cease-fire until Hamas military is entirely destroyed.

Earlier this week, Israeli national security adviser Tzachi Hanegbi said he expected the war to last at least another seven months  right up to the end of the year.

Administration officials hope that Israels latest deal will provide the opening needed to quiet the guns and prompt the final exchange of all remaining hostages.



The deal does stop the war, said a senior administration official, who briefed reporters on the situation on condition of anonymity. But, the official said, Whats on the table now is very close to the deal Hamas said they would take in earlier negotiations.

Hamas rejected previous cease-fire deals, as they didnt offer a pathway to end the war for good.

The first phase of the three-phase deal would last six weeks and include a complete cease-fire, a withdrawal of Israel forces from all populated areas in the Gaza Strip, the exchange of a number of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, and the return of the bodies of Israelis killed by Hamas, Biden said.

Palestinian civilians would also be allowed to return to their homes across the enclave, and humanitarian assistance would surge, with 600 trucks carrying aid into Gaza daily, he said. Hundreds of thousands of temporary shelters would also be delivered.

All that and more would begin immediately, he said. After the fighting ends, Biden said the U.S. would work with partners to rebuild homes, schools and hospitals in Gaza and repair communities that were destroyed.

There were no immediate statements from Hamas or Israeli officials on the proposal.

Bidens remarks come as Israeli troops and tanks pushed deeper into the southern Gazan city of Rafah on Friday, advancing into the central part of the city despite international pushback against the operation.

In his remarks, Biden offered some of his most pointed criticism of Israel's military strategy in Gaza since the war began.

You can't lose this moment. Indefinite war in pursuit of an unidentified notion of total victory will only bog down Israel in Gaza  and further Israels isolation in the world, Biden said, adding that its ultimately up to Hamas to negotiate and agree to the deal.

In recent days, Israeli troops have entered Rafahs most populated areas and razed scores of buildings along the way, radically altering the areas geography, according to satellite imagery analyzed by The Washington Post.

The Israeli operation, according to the outlet, is similar to the size of one Israel conducted in the southern city of Khan Younis that left the area in ruins. This week, the Biden administration said Israels offensive in Rafah hasnt crossed its red line  stressing that it's not yet on the scale of operations in Gaza City and Khan Younis.

The National Security Council didnt respond to a request for comment when asked about the comparison to Khan Younis.
New Hampshire safety officials on Thursday upheld the license suspension of a commercial truck driver who was acquitted in the 2019 deaths of seven motorcyclists but said another hearing will be held to determine how long the suspension will last.

A jury in 2022 found Volodymyr Zhukovskyy not guilty of multiple manslaughter and negligent homicide counts stemming from the June 21, 2019, collision in Randolph that killed seven members of the Jarheads Motorcycle Club, an organization of Marine Corps veterans and their spouses in New England.

Zhukovskyys Massachusetts license was automatically suspended in New Hampshire after his arrest following the crash, but he sought to get it reinstated at a hearing earlier this month.

In an order Thursday, an administrative law judge for the Department of Safety said Zhukovskyy is subject to a state law that allows his license to be suspended for up to seven years and that a dispositional hearing will be scheduled later.

The evidence clearly supports a finding that the respondent operated his truck and trailer in a negligent matter which was unlawful and caused or materially contributed to the accident, wrote Ryan McFarland.

At his trial, prosecutors argued that Zhukovskyy  who had taken heroin, fentanyl and cocaine the day of the crash  repeatedly swerved back and forth before the collision and told police he caused it. But a judge dismissed eight impairment charges and his attorneys said the lead biker was drunk and not looking where he was going when he lost control of his motorcycle and slid in front of Zhukovskyys truck, which was pulling an empty flatbed trailer.

Zhukovskyys trial lawyers also said there was no evidence he was impaired at the time of the crash and that police did not make any observations in the hours afterward suggesting he was.

At the time, Zhukovskyys license should have been revoked because he had been arrested in Connecticut on a drunken driving charge in May 2019. Connecticut officials alerted the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles, but Zhukovskyys license wasnt suspended due to a backlog of out-of-state notifications about driving offenses. The Connecticut case is pending.

Zhukovskyy, who came to the U.S. as a child from Ukraine and had permanent residency status, was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after the 2022 verdict. A judge ordered his deportation last year, but the U.S. has paused repatriation flights to Ukraine due to the war with Russia and authorized Temporary Protected Status for qualified Ukrainians.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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TechCrunch

This is a philosophical question as much as a practical one, but a new paper making the rounds Friday suggests that the answer is, at least for now, a pretty clear "no." A group of AI research scientists at Apple released their paper, "Understanding the limitations of mathematical reasoning in large language models," to general commentary Thursday. Then he picks 58 kiwis on Saturday.
a couple stands in a home under construction

The National Low Income Housing Coalition reports that there are 326,751 extremely low-income households in North Carolina, but only 130,930 affordable rental homesPhoto: Getty Images

The New Hanover Community Endowment has launched an Affordable Housing Investment Strategy to allocate $19.1 million to support existing and future affordable housing in the coastal county. The investment is intended to mitigate the countys ongoing affordable housing crisis by helping to facilitate the rehabilitation of existing properties and the construction of new affordable housing units.

The investment strategy comes as reports show that 35% of households in New Hanover County are cost-burdened, which means more than 30% of household income is spent on housing expenses.

Terri Burhans

Terri Burhans, an NHCE network officer who oversees community development, said a comprehensive, long-term strategy is needed to address the affordable housing crisis.

You wont be able to build your way out of this, Burhans said. Attacking this in different ways, meaning raising income, lowering expenses in our community, will have to work alongside this investment strategy in order for it to be a success.

New Hanover Countys housing crisis is being driven by land prices and the coastal regions desirability, both of which have led to higher housing costs, Burhans said.

By 2032, Burhans said, studies project the county will need more than 12,000 new rental units and nearly new 17,000 homes to meet demand.

The investment strategy has three key focus areas:

Stabilization: The NHCE has allocated $8.1 million in core operating support over three years to nonprofit housing providers identified in the 2023 grant cycle to support existing housing and prevent displacement.

Production: The NHCE will spend up to $11.5 million in 2024 on production and rehabilitation of affordable housing units. A rolling grants cycle is established to identify eligible projects and guide applicants through the application process.

Capital: NHCE will also explore creating a fund to provide low-cost capital for development projects aligned with the goal of increasing and preserving affordable housing. The study will be a collaborative effort that involves city and county authorities, convening housing partners, and consulting subject matter experts to develop actionable recommendations.

With over $50 million in grant requests from the housing community, the 2023 grant cycle solidified the need for us to create this investment strategy, Chris Boney, chair of the NHCEs Grants committee said in a news release. Our residents deserve a path to safe, stable, and affordable housing, and were eager to be part of the solution.

NHCEs 2024 grant cycle will support nonprofit housing providers along with other organizations aligned with the Endowments pillars of education, social and health equity, community development, and community safety.

The affordable housing crisis is a nationwide issue, and one that impacts so many in our New Hanover County community, said Bill Cameron, chairman of the NHCE board. This comprehensive strategy represents a collaborative effort between the Endowment and the community, presenting solutions that help foster a thriving environment for all residents.

NHCE was established from the sale of the County-owned New Hanover Regional Medical Center to Novant Health in 2020. From its sale, the New Hanover County Board of Commissioners invested nearly $1.3 billion to form the endowment to benefit the community.

The post New Hanover Community Endowment launches affordable housing strategy appeared first on NC Newsline.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  Check out community events around New Mexico from May 31-June 6.

Albuquerque

New Mexico

Albuquerque Notices

 Registration open for Albuquerque Little Theatre summer camps  Albuquerque Little Theatre Education and Youth Program offers classes, workshops, and summer camps that cater to students of all ages. Kids can register for Disneys Descendants musical camp, the play actors mini camp, the Play Builders summer camp, and more.

 Free microchipping from Animal Welfare Department  Free microchipping and pet tags will be available for Albuquerque residents from June 1 through July 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Westside and Eastside shelters. No appointment is needed.

 Bernalillo County offering free movie nights at local community centers  The free movie nights will include family-friendly films like 101 Dalmatians and Wonka. The movies will be shown on weekends starting at sundown. Gates open at 7:00 p.m., and moviegoers are welcome to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and snacks.

 Bernalillo County in need of fosters for tiny kittens  The kittens are too young to eat on their own, so they need bottle feeding every few hours. County staff will provide training and supplies for foster volunteers. The county says theyve taken in 121 stray kittens in the last month.

 Free summer lunch program returns in Bernalillo County  Beginning June 3, free lunch will be served daily to children at different locations around Bernalillo County. Children must be between the ages of 1 to 18 years old to receive a meal. Meals must be consumed at the meal site (except for non-congregate sites), all meals are first come, first served, and participants must receive the entire meal.

 Albuquerque Police launch program to bring back retired officers  In early 2024, lawmakers passed House Bill 236, which allowed public safety employees to return to work while keeping their retirement pensions. The program targets officers who retired before the end of 2023 and who have been retired for 90 days or more.

 Explora hosting Mosaic of Marks, Words, and Material exhibition  The exhibition runs from May 15  August 16. The exhibit will include an art studio where young visitors, their families, and educators can explore hands-on mark-making materials.

 New Mexico State Fair holding auditions to sing the National Anthem  The live auditions will be at the Boxcar Stage from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the EXPO New Mexico on August 6. To audition live, you must sign up by August 5.

 ABQ RIDE looking for volunteers to help clean bus stops before Pride Parade  The event will be the third annual Adopt-A-Stop community cleanup on June 1. The goal is to clean bus stops in the citys International District before the Albuquerque Pride Parade, which is scheduled for a week after the cleanup.

 Registration open for Bernalillo County summer camps  The summer camps run from June 10 to July 26, and registration is now open at this link. The seven-week program costs $290. The summer programs run from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

New Mexico Notices

 Forest road near Cuba, New Mexico closed for elk calving  Spring brings the annual calving season for elk in New Mexico. To protect the animals, forest officials are closing Forest Road 69. The road reaches into the Santa Fe National Forest. It will be closed to all vehicles from May 15 to June 30.

 New Mexico Environment Department invested over $11 million in water projects last quarter  The latest quarterly performance assessment from the New Mexico Environment Department shows an investment of over $11 million in the third quarter of fiscal year 2024, and a total of more than $50 million so far.

 Santa Fe National Forest now offering Scan and Pay system at some campgrounds  The pilot program will be at the Vista Linda and Redondo Campgrounds in the Santa Fe National Forest. The program, called Scan and Pay offers an optional payment system to pay campground fees. To use the system, visitors scan a QR code at the campground kiosk that lets them pay through recreation.gov.

 New Mexico expanding medication-assisted treatment at public health offices  The New Mexico Department of Health will start offering medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder at more than 30 public health offices around the state. The state previously offered outpatient opioid use disorder treatment in Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and Roswell. Now, the Department of Health is expanding those sorts of services.

 Western New Mexico University dedicates new educational center in Deming  Construction began in 2022 and will now support the local community. The building will house nursing, phlebotomy, pharmacy technician, and certified nursing assistant programs. The new facility cost more than $10 million and was supported by funding from the states legislature as well as bond funds. Federal funds also supported furnishing the building.

 New community hospital coming to Farmington, New Mexico  A Texas-based hospital group, Exceptional Healthcare, is bringing a new facility to Farmington. The hospital is set to open in 2025. The plan is to bring a full-service emergency department, an onsite lab, and single-occupancy inpatient rooms. The emergency department will be open 24 hours a day, Exceptional Healthcare says.

 Former Santa Fe priest accused of sexual abuse dies awaiting case  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.

 New Mexicans seeing heat illness with hot spring temperatures  The New Mexico Department of Health says the state has seen 51 heat-related emergency room visits since April 1. And with summer just around the corner, officials are warning locals to take precautions against high temperatures.

 Summer events in Cloudcroft, New Mexico  From art festivals to local beer, Cloudcroft is inviting visitors all summer. The 51st Annual May Fair Juried Art Fair will be May 25  26 at Zenith Park. The Cloudcroft BeerFest will be June 22  23. July 13  14 at Zenith Park is the Christmas in July Jamboree.

 New Mexico legislature taking applications for internships  Applications are now open for undergraduate students and those who have recently graduated from college. Interns help with day-to-day staff work and are paid $17 per hour.

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.
Harriet Tubman raid to free more than 700 in South Carolina to be honored

A monument to Harriet Tubman, which Tabernacle Baptist Church leaders will unveil in Beaufort, South Carolina, on June 1, the anniversary of the raid in which Tubman helped free more than 700 slaves. Photo provided by the Tabernacle Baptist Church.

A historic Black church in Beaufort, South Carolina, will unveil a sculpture this weekend of Harriet Tubman on the 161st anniversary of the raid she led that freed more than 700 slaves from Lowcountry plantations.

The June 1 unveiling of the sculpture, which has been eight years in the making, will add to the long history of Tabernacle Baptist Church, where Civil War hero and South Carolina lawmaker Robert Smalls was buried in 1915.

Born enslaved on the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 1822, Tubman is the best-known conductor of the Underground Railroad, as she led at least 70 slaves in Maryland to freedom before the Civil War.

But her work in South Carolina during the Civil War often gets overlooked, said the Rev. Kenneth Hodges, the churchs pastor for 29 years.

The monument will be the first in the state marking her daring mission in June 1863 along the Combahee River, he told the SC Daily Gazette earlier this month.

The raid made Tubman, sometimes called the Moses of Her People, the first woman ever to lead a major military operation in the U.S., according to the Smithsonian. She remained the only African American woman to lead troops in the Civil War, according to the National Park Service.

Harriet Tubman is a world-renowned figure, and right now, South Carolina isnt putting any resources into the fact that she was here, Hodges said.

In 2016, the members of Tabernacle Baptist Church decided to change that. Despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the church raised $600,000 for the sculpture itself, plus another $100,000 for other expenses such as landscaping.

The money, all private donations, also covered the funding for an interpretive center on church grounds nearby, where people can go to learn more about Tubman.

The church will unveil the sculpture as part of a three-day celebration of the anniversary of the Combahee River Raid. The celebration, beginning Friday, will feature speeches from experts on Tubman, as well as her great-great-great-grand niece, said Hodges, who represented that area of Beaufort and Colleton counties for 12 years in the South Carolina House.

The festival will also have food trucks, a nod to the fact that Tubman once worked in a bakery in Beaufort, Hodges said.

Tubman, who escaped slavery alone to Philadelphia in 1849, first arrived in South Carolina in 1862. Using a network of spies, the abolitionist spent the following year gathering information about the plantations lining Beauforts Combahee River, where thousands of slaves farmed rice, according to the National Park Service.

The night of June 1, 1863, Tubman led three steamships up the river that carried several hundred African American soldiers from the 2nd South Carolina Volunteer Infantry, a regiment consisting largely of freed men from the sea islands. Using Tubmans knowledge of the area, they avoided explosives and navigated to strategic points.

From the river, the ships sounded their whistles, and hundreds of slaves, including children, came running to the river. Soldiers waiting in rowboats took them to the steamships, where they escaped to safety.

Infantrymen burned the plantations behind them, striking a blow to the Confederacy with the destruction of several million dollars worth of homes and crops, according to the National Park Service.

The 14-foot-tall sculpture will show Tubman flanked by soldiers, with people running toward them, just as the slaves ran toward the boats.

The story was so evocative, the design came easily, said sculptor Ed Dwight, who lives in Colorado.

That was the fun part, going back in history and seeing her being commissioned by the U.S. government, Dwight said.

Dwight finds that his sculptures, which include the African American History Monument on South Carolinas Statehouse grounds, teach white and Black people alike about parts of history they didnt know. Often, they walk away with more empathy than they had before, he said.

Thats the ever-so-quiet effect of doing memorials down there in the South, said the Black sculptor.

People might forget Tubmans operation in South Carolina without reminders like the sculpture or the bridge over the Combahee River bearing Tubmans name, Hodges said. In 2006, while he was a state representative, Hodges sponsored the resolution to name the bridge before its construction.

If we didnt put emphasis on that, that part of her life would be void, Hodges said. Its going to be a big, big thing for South Carolina.

He said Tabernacle Baptist Church, officially organized the same year as the raid, is known for its historical connections. The church itself is part of the Reconstruction Era National Historic Network.

Smalls, who was a state legislator and five-term congressman along with being a Civil War hero, is buried on the churchs ground.

Born enslaved in Beaufort, Smalls hijacked a Confederate ship to steer his family to freedom and deliver the ammunition on board to the Union on May 13, 1862. Last year, legislators approved designating every May 13 as Robert Smalls Day in South Carolina. Lawmakers agreed unanimously this year to create a commission tasked with recognizing Smalls on Statehouse grounds.

The monument will be the first to memorialize an individual Black person on the capitol complex.

Tabernacle is ahead of the state, Hodges pointed out: The church already has a bust commemorating Smalls.

Tabernacle has always been associated with history and culture, Hodges said. Thats just an extension of our ministry, of our service to the community.

The post Harriet Tubman raid to free more than 700 in South Carolina to be honored appeared first on Maryland Matters.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, May 31. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have discussed the implementation of the climate strategy of the government of Kazakhstan, Trend reports.

Discussions took place during a meeting between Deputy Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan Zhomart Aliyev and representatives of the IMF.

Zhomart Aliyev spoke about the preparation of the roadmap for the Strategy for Achieving Carbon Neutrality in Kazakhstan until 2060 by the end of this year. Along with this, the ongoing work within the framework of regulatory instruments was noted, such as the emissions trading system, the introduction of the best available techniques, and others.

The IMF's main focus was on the investment policy for implementing the strategy and climate projects. IMF representatives described activities in the field of macroeconomic analysis that reflect economic diversification in the climate change field.

To note, the International Monetary Fund is a specialized UN agency established on December 27, 1945, to develop international cooperation in the monetary and financial sphere, work together on economic problems, lend and advise debtor countries, and collect and publish international financial statistics.

Kazakhstan has been a member of the IMF since 1992. During this time, a number of mutually beneficial agreements have been concluded between our country and the Fund. The IMF mission annually visits Kazakhstan for consultations.
A hearing officer with the Kansas Department of Education recommended the Kansas State Board of Education reject a petition filed to force the Prairie Hills public school district to surrender 80 acres of territory to the Nemaha Central school district.

A hearing officer with the Kansas Department of Education recommended the Kansas State Board of Education reject a petition filed to force the Prairie Hills public school district to surrender 80 acres of territory to the Nemaha Central school district. (Tim Carpenter/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  A Kansas Department of Education attorney recommended Friday the Kansas State Board of Education reject a petition filed by the Nemaha Central school district to seize education instruction territory under the jurisdiction of the Prairie Hills district.

Scott Gordon, general counsel to the department who served as hearing officer in this dispute, submitted a report that concluded the state Board of Education should deny the petition submitted by Nemaha Central in February to take control of about 78 square miles of territory. He pointed to state Board of Education guidelines and state law on land transfers in his report tied to years of controversy linking the northeast Kansas public school districts.

Prairie Hills superintendent Todd Evans, who opposed the unilateral maneuver by Nemaha Central, said Gordons recommendation should be accepted by the 10-member state Board of Education.

We respectfully urge the state Board of Education to follow their policy with fidelity, respect the democratic process, honor local control and follow Mr. Gordons thoughtful recommendation by voting to dismiss this land grab petition, Evans said.

He said authorization of a contested land transfer from one district to another district, without a significant change in operational circumstances, could create chaos for school districts statewide and disempower local boards of education.

The advisory opinion was expected to be the subject of an executive session by the state Board of Education during a June meeting in Topeka.

Gordons report indicated he reviewed briefs submitted by attorneys for both school districts as well as written and oral testimony gathering at a four-hour public meeting in March.

In 2010, the Axtell and Bern school districts merged to form Prairie Hills. Some residents of the Bern community, the report said, believed the school in Bern would remain open. Prairie Hills, which includes Sabetha, closed the Bern attendance center in 2012.

Landowners within Prairie Hills territory affected by the Bern closure requested transfer of land to the Nemaha Central district, which includes Seneca. However, the Nemaha Central and Prairie Hills couldnt reach agreement on a jurisdictional transfer of territory.

The report said Prairie Hills decision to close a school in Wetmore in 2023 prompted some of the districts students to transfer to the Nemaha Central, Vermillion and Jackson Heights districts. In May, the state Board of Education approved land transfers from Prairie Hills to Jackson Heights and Vermillion based on negotiated agreements that take effect July 1.

Mediation failed to resolve disagreements involving the Nemaha Central and Prairie Hills districts, which led to filing of the petition, the public hearing and consideration of the territory transfer by the State Board of Education, the report said.

The post Hearing officer urges rejection of Nemaha Centrals petition to take nearby districts territory appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
Dutch-born David de Jong, 38, formerly with Bloomberg News in New York City and now a Middle East reporter based in Israel, will be in metro Detroit on Sunday to talk about his acclaimed book, Nazi Billionaires: The dark history of Germanys wealthiest dynasties, published in 2022.

The book tells how the richest German families before World War II, particularly those identified with Germany's main industry  auto manufacturing  remain the richest, and that the triumphant Allies punished them hardly at all after the war, despite their having supported Adolf Hitlers war machine while using slave labor, and despite their having significantly added to their wealth before the war by using Nazi race laws to seize Jewish interests in factories, mines, foundries and ships. They took from Jewish partners entire brands such as Porsche automobiles, buying them at deep discounts, and keeping what they expropriated even after the war.

The book "Nazi Billionaires" shows how Germany's top business tycoons fueled Hitler's rise to power, seized Jewish assets and used slave labor during the war, then kept their profits coming post-war by switching back to making VW, Porsche, BMW and Mercedes-Benz cars.

Truly sinister is the book's description of a secret meeting early in 1933, when Hitler addressed two dozen of the nations wealthiest business leaders. Relying on archival research, the author says that Hitler offered a deal: If they'd support his continuing rise to power, he'd ensure the political stability the tycoons needed to keep raking in profits. He'd do it by smashing the labor riots that socialists and Communists were planning to stage. But to do that, Hitlers almost-bankrupt Nazi party needed lots of cash to enable victories in the upcoming parliamentary elections, after which there would be no more elections, he promised. That night, the tycoons gave Hitler what he needed  so theyd get what they needed.

The following Q&A previews what de Jong will discuss on Sunday, 2:30-4:30 p.m., at the Zekelman Holocaust Center, 28123 Orchard Lake Road in Farmington Hills. Admission to the event is $10 (free for center members). To register, see www. holocaustcenter.org/june.

David de Jong will be in Farmington Hills on Sunday to discuss his book, "Nazi Billionaires: The dark history of Germany's wealthiest dynasties."

Q. Your book tells a Nazi-era history of familiar car makers and of the families that, for the most part, still control such brands as BMW, Volkswagen, Porsche, and Mercedes-Benz, as well as less-known marques, including Audi, Bentley, and Lamborghini. To those who say your book revisits a distant past that has no relevance today, you point out in your book that "statues of Confederate generals, slave traders, and Christopher Columbus are being torn down" and yet the evil history behind familiar German brands stayed hidden. What do you say to car dealers who just want this history, and you, to go away?

A. This book is an argument for transparency. These families celebrate their grandfathers for their business success, but they leave out their Nazi associations and their war crimes. The families behind BMW, VW, whatnot  they support global foundations and media prizes and academic chairs, and museums, in the name of their grandfathers, but they do it without any reckoning with history. I would say to car dealers, you're contributing to this whitewash of history. And I would say to consumers, be aware of what you're spending your money on.

Q. What got you started on this book?

A. When I was a reporter in New York, I was asked by my American bosses to be part of an investigative team, and I went to Europe. I started visiting the Bloomberg News bureaus, and I discovered that these families that ran the biggest companies in Germany had a history that wasn't getting any attention. For example, the academic studies on the millions of slave laborers were just sitting on shelves. I wanted to shine a light on that.

Q. How long did it take to write the book?

A. After I moved to Berlin in 2017 to conduct the research on the book  I was freelancing on the side for Bloomberg  it took me four years. I did wide-ranging archival research but also (looked at) memoirs, letters, academic studies  a lot of primary research, actual historical documents. I also did research at the National Archives at College Park, in Maryland.

Q. Do you see parallels between Germany in the 1930s, a time that led to the Nazi dictatorship, and the political climate of today?

A. Yes, I see the wave of discontent in the 1930s in Germany as similar to the wave of discontent after the financial crisis of 2008 to 2012. We saw candidates use that, with disinformation spreading around the world, and the far right gaining power around the world, from Europe to America to the Middle East.

Q: Your books shows that Hitler didn't so much grab power as he was given it by the voters, following a disinformation campaign financed by these same uber-wealthy German families. He didn't have social media. How did he do it?

A. His propaganda campaigns were very effective. You had a very vulnerable population in Germany, with major unemployment and people looking for scapegoats, whether it was the Jews or the Communists. Hitler provided easy answers. Today, we see other people offering easy answers.

Q. Why did the victorious Allied forces, led by American generals and diplomats, give such lenient treatment to Germany's tycoons after the war? After all, many had been Nazi party members. They used slave labor. They stole entire factories from Jewish owners. But instead of execution or prison terms, as the Nazi military leaders got, these tycoons received what you term "a slap on the wrist." And they got to keep what they stole.

A. This happened because of the Cold War. In early 1947, the Truman administration changed from punitive measures. The Nazi war became old news. The new priority was to make West Germany an economic powerhouse and a liberal democracy, as a bulwark against Communism. Where that went wrong is that the Allies handed the former Nazis back to German authorities, at the de-Nazification trials. And the German authorities were thinking, "We need to put this behind us, and we need these (industry leaders) to restart the economy. So there was very limited return of assets to Jewish owners. Some of these disputes are still in the courts today."

Q. You're living in Israel at a tumultuous and controversial time. Has the conflict in Gaza put you in any danger?

A. I'm a reporter. I was in the kibbutzes (Israeli farm towns) following the Hamas attack in October. I saw the destruction with my own eyes. Am I in danger? The entire region is in turmoil. I'm just doing my job. It's an incredibly grim situation for all involved. I will go back to the Netherlands eventually (to rejoin his family). But for now, I'm so immersed in war coverage, I don't really think about the future.

Q. You say the Zekelman Holocaust Center is paying for your visit. In a statement emailed to the Free Press, the center's CEO, Rabbi Eli Mayerfeld, called your book "a perfect match" for the center, "where visitors learn from the past, become alert to the dangers of antisemitism, and take action to ensure that good prevails over evil." How is the book doing?

A. Very well. It's been translated into 18 languages. The fourth edition is coming out soon in Germany.

Contact Bill Laytner: blaitner@freepress.com

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Book: Heirs of Nazi profiteers still control big German car makers
Cassandra Jackson, the outgoing City of Tallahassee attorney, reflects on her time as City attorney while being interviewed in her home Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Cassandra Jackson was at ease as she sat in a cherry wood-trimmed accent chair inside the living room of her grand Golden Eagle home, ready to talk. Her legal career with the city of Tallahassee will soon sunset. A new chapter awaits.

Yet, she never sought out to be the top legal counsel for the city of Tallahassee, let alone the first woman or first Black person to hold the position in the city's 200-year history. All she ever wanted to be was "a great lawyer."

The appointment was an honor, although she admits feeling the weight of being the first. It conjured stories of pain and prejudice. Like the time her father, a mechanic by trade, attempted to earn extra money at an apartment complex in Jacksonville through his lawn care business. He worked a one-day tryout from sunup to sundown. Despite being told he did a good job, he was rejected.

Another story involved her mother, who responded to a help wanted ad at a dry cleaners. She showed up for the interview and was told she "was too dark" to be seen out front interacting with customers. In a hurt voice, Jackson said this was the early 1960s. Jim Crow South.

Decades later, even with lived lessons from her own family's history, Jackson said becoming the city attorney wasn't just an accomplishment for her.

"I get this honor, and I'm just thinking 'I am standing on the shoulders of my ancestors, and I'm showing what we can do," Jackson said. "We can be professional if you just get the opportunity to do it.'"

Cassandra Jackson, the outgoing City of Tallahassee attorney, reflects on her time as City attorney while being interviewed in her home Thursday, May 23, 2024.

In February 2018, Jackson was appointed as city attorney and she officially retires on June 1. In a rare interview with the Tallahassee Democrat, Jackson shares what drove her to practice law, particularly with the city of Tallahassee for nearly 21 years, and what ultimately made her leave.

Until now, Jackson has not openly talked about her reaction to text messages between a top city official and a developer's attorney that disparaged her expertise on development matters or the dark cloud days of cooperating with the FBI during its years-long undercover probe into public corruption at City Hall.

Nor has she gone into great detail about the Florida Supreme Court's landmark ruling that said Marsys Law can't be used to categorically withhold the identity of police officers who use deadly force. Jackson's legal team prevailed after arguing that a few officers led by the police union were transforming Marsys Law into a cloak of anonymity for police conduct to the detriment of the public these officers serve.

As she looks back on her stellar career, Jackson is proud of the work she's done and what she brought to the legal table.

"I want to go out on a high note," Jackson said. "I'm not saying I'll never be a lawyer for a city again. I won't be doing it in 2024 (as she plans to travel much of the year) ... I loved helping people. I think that's why I went into public service."

Cassandra Jackson: 'I wasn't seeking, I was always found'

She grew up in Jacksonville and remembers when in elementary school the idea of practicing law began to shape who she wanted to be in life.

Jackson's great-grand mother lived with her family. After school, young Jackson would find the matriarch watching the famed "Perry Mason," show featuring a brilliant criminal defense attorney.

"He's helping people," Jackson recalled. "He's getting stuff done. He figures out where's the right way to go."

It stuck. In 1984, Jackson received her bachelor's degree in political science from Stetson University in Deland and her law degree two years later from her alma mater.

Cassandra Jackson, the outgoing City of Tallahassee attorney, reflects on her time as City attorney while being interviewed in her home Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Most of her legal career has been spent in the public sector. She passed the Florida Bar in 1987 and, the same year, cut her teeth as an assistant city attorney for the city of St. Petersburg for three years.

As Jackson, 62, talked about her passion for the law, politics and people, a stack of inspirational and biographic books were at her side. Books like "The Most Important Thing I Know" featuring life lessons from Colin Powell, Stephen Covey and Maya Angelou and Michelle Obama's "The Light We Carry" offer a glimpse into how she wanted to show up in the world and for her family.

The mother of three grown children will celebrate her 39th wedding anniversary this year with her husband, Jesse Jackson, a former school superintendent in Central Florida who also served as superintendent for the Florida State University School.

As her career progressed, Jackson focused on labor and employment law. In 1990, the Jacksons moved to Tallahassee when her son was 6 months old and she worked as a part-time hearing officer for the Public Employees Relations Commission, which specialized in labor union disputes.

From 1991 to 1996, she served as an assistant county attorney for the Leon County Board of County Commissioners. Jackson left the county when she gave birth to her second child and went to private practice for a short stint. By 1998, she was appointed by the late Gov. Lawton Chiles to serve as a commissioner at the Public Employees Relations Commission.

Cassandra Jackson, the outgoing City of Tallahassee attorney, poses for a portrait at her home Thursday, May 23, 2024.

She spent much of the latter part of her career with the city of Tallahassee, with the exception of a year as the city of Lakeland's assistant city attorney. In Tallahassee, she served as human resources manager, assistant city attorney, senior assistant city attorney and deputy city attorney before being named as the city's top counsel.

"I wasn't the person trying to get to know someone so that I could somehow get moved up. I just always did my best," Jackson said. "And, I have to say, I was always found. I wasn't seeking, I was always found."

Marsy's Law, a landmark moment for Jackson and Florida

For Jackson, the city of Tallahassee's moment before the Florida Supreme Court was a career highlight.

The 2020 case involved two Tallahassee Police Department officers whose identities were shielded after a spate of police shootings that fueled local protests in the days after the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer.

Tallahassee City Attorney Cassandra Jackson.

In 2023, the Court ruled Marsy's Law couldn't be used to protect the identities of police officers who used deadly force  a decision that would impact police accountability across Florida and potentially influence others states.

The conservative high court, in a 6-0 decision, opined Marsys Law, an amendment to the state constitution approved by voters in 2018 that granted a number of rights to crime victims, doesn't guarantee anonymity for police officers  or any victim of crime.

TPD, managed by the chief of police, and the city manager's office were at odds about the disclosure of the officers' names. Jackson led the charge in ensuring there wasn't a secret police force in such cases  a move also supported by the Tallahassee Democrat and other media outlets.

"It is very rare that the press and government are on the same side," Jackson said. "It was a milestone, right? We were seeing things the same way.

As I said, I majored in political science. I'm about the process. I believe the press has a role. The press needs to help us get information to the public and so, I was just like 'This is fantastic.' Quality lawyers on both sides, all sides. It was a great experience."

FBI investigation at City Hall was uncharted territory for Jackson

When federal grand jury subpoenas dropped at City Hall in June 2017, it was like a bomb went off. Jackson, who was appointed a year later, was the city attorney through most of the federal probe as prosecutors interviewed city employees and potential witnesses.

The feds were investigating disgraced former mayor and commissioner Scott Maddox, his former longtime chief of staff and romantic partner Paige Carter-Smith and noted businessman J.T. Burnette in a bribery scheme that ultimately stained the city's reputation.

It was Jackson's first time interacting with the FBI. She said when she came on board, the relationship between the FBI and the city improved and the agency viewed itself and the city to be "on the same side."

Cassandra Jackson, the outgoing City of Tallahassee attorney, reflects on her time as City attorney while being interviewed in her home Thursday, May 23, 2024.

"That was very good for us, because that means we're not the target. The office, the city, its executives," said Jackson, adding the FBI at times called her directly for records. "I just said, 'Hey, whatever you need, we are here to provide it.'"

She describes that period involving the FBI investigation as "a tremendous growth opportunity."

"I got a chance to work in an area of criminal law ... I don't do criminal law," Jackson said. "I wasn't familiar with it, so I had to kind of bone up on it a little bit.

I think they just wanted to know that the city was good, and we're not about doing wrong. And, I told them that ... They just thanked me all the time for my cooperation ... It was a great experience, not one I want to repeat."

Jackson opens up about text messages, disappointment in city leaders' silence

As city attorney, Jackson's office dealt with an array of legal matters. Her background was rooted in labor and employment law, but she was proficient in other areas that included land use law.

Yet, some saw a series of text messages from Assistant City Manager Wayne Tedder's city-issued phone to Gary Hunter, an attorney for Green Pointe Developers, as a direct attack on Jackson's legal acumen.

Jackson said she was stunned to read the Sept. 27, 2023, text exchange. Hunter's Jacksonville-based client plans to build the largest master planned community in northeast Tallahassee in recent years at what's being called "The Heel."

City Attorney Cassandra Jackson attends a commission meeting where members take the oath of office on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.

A Planned Unit Development Agreement said the 900-acre development, located on Welaunee Plantation land, calls for the buildout of a new road that will cut across a portion of the Miccosukee Greenway, which alarmed cyclists and other greenway users.

In a text exchange, Tedder commiserates with the developer's attorney and tells him it's "pretty dang obvious the city attorney believes staff has given away the farm."

"Unfortunately she lacks the credentials, knowledge and experience with the issues to make a positive contribution to this level of work," Tedder writes in the text.

When asked if Tedder's text exchange played a role in her decision to leave the city, Jackson said, "Oh, yes."

She had no knowledge about the exchange until a public records request was made for them, adding the city attorney's office reviews all record requests.

"My mouth fell open," said Jackson, when she first read the comments. "Wayne Tedder was one of the most supportive people of me when I started as the city attorney."

She said Tedder's texts played a role but so did the lack of public response from the city manager's office and the City Commission. She was disappointed to see little acknowledgment of the texts by the full commission, including the Power 3 of Mayor John Dailey and Commissioners Curtis Richardson and Dianne Williams-Cox.

City Manager Reese Goad said nothing publicly about the texts. Nor did most of the City Commission, outside of praising Jackson for her service and contributions. City Commissioner Jeremy Matlow, who first revealed the text messages, posted them on social media and blasted Tedder for what appear to be a far-too cozy relationship with a developer's attorney. He maintained that a "toxic" and divisive culture at City Hall drove Jackson out.

When asked what she thought the response should have been, Jackson said, "I can't say, but I do think there should have been one" from the city brass, along with accountability.

Mayor Pro-Team Dianne Williams-Cox hugs City Attorney Cassandra Jackson during a commission meeting where members take the oath of office on Monday, Nov. 21, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.

In an interview with the Democrat, Tedder said the text exchange was never about Jackson's legal ability but rather about "a concurrency issue that was very, very technical."

"We only have one individual in the entire organization who understands this stuff and does that part of the negotiation for us because it's complicated," said Tedder, referring to Keith Burnsed, assistant director of city's Growth Management Department. "In fact ... he's recognized across the state as the leading concurrency specialist in the entire state of Florida.

That text was about concurrency. Never, ever ever was it about her abilities as an attorney. Never."

Tedder said the "private conversation," which is a public record under Florida's Sunshine law, was never meant to become public and it become "politicized."

"It's sad to see her go because, like I said, we've had a great working relationship over the years," Tedder said. "I only wish her the best. I don't know what she has in mind in the future. But, this work is hard, and when it got as political as it did, for a lot of reasons, not related to she nor I, it's hard work. This job is very hard when it gets in the political arena."

Jackson said she never talked to Tedder again after she read the texts. She said he called her and left a message. She never responded.

Soon after the texts were made public, Jackson resigned effective Nov. 24  more than a month ahead of when she planned to announce her retirement on Jan. 1, 2024. There was no resignation letter, only a contract amendment in which Jackson retained her full pay and benefits as she became a legal advisor to her retirement date.

Former peers say Jackson was well researched, committed and looked out for people

Former City Attorney Lew Shelley's retirement from the city opened the door for Jackson to be named as his successor. He was pleased by the appointment and thought she was more than capable of taking the legal reigns.

Like many, he learned about the text controversy by reading the Democrat.

"I was very surprised that anybody in the city manager's office would be talking about Cassandra not knowing anything about land use or development because that was just clearly not the case," said Shelley, adding Jackson worked with the city management members on a number of developments in his five years as city attorney.

He leaned on her quite a bit in other areas as well  even matters in which he had expertise, like the contract negotiations process with the police union and with the firefighters.

"During that period of time that she was city attorney, I think she's served the city, its elected officials and its managers greatly," Shelley said, "Despite the obvious conflict between the five members of the commission."

He's referring to the often 3-2 voting dynamic at the City Commission that pits Dailey, Richardson and Williams-Cox against Matlow and Commissioner Jack Porter. At times, commissioners are seen bickering, bristling and talking over one another on the dais. Matlow, meanwhile, turns his grievances with his colleagues into often scathing social media posts.

Jackson herself noted the climate at City Hall "doesn't seem to be getting better." Yet, through it all, she maintained her commitment to serve the office and was seen as a "rock star" among other lawyers.

Rebecca O'Hare, deputy general counsel for the Florida League of Cities, said she admired Jackson. She wears many hats that include serving as an officer for the Florida Municipal Attorneys Association; Jackson served on its executive committee and helped craft educational seminar topics.

The statewide roles allowed her to see Jackson interact with professionals beyond the capital city and offer guidance on complicated issues. In addition, if O'Hare ever reached out to Jackson on a prickly issue, she knew she'd get a well researched response.

"She's just been a great resource in that regard," O'Hare said. "Nobody gets paid for doing any of this, and she did this, in addition to serving as the full-time city attorney for the city of Tallahassee, which is a total round-the-clock job."

Hetal Desai, an administrative law judge for the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings, worked in the city attorney's office in Tallahassee from 2005 to 2013. Desai got to know Jackson well and said she was the kind of person who didn't just "off the cuff tell you something."

"She would research it," Desai said. "If she gives you an answer, you know that she's looked into it."

As for Jackson's management style, Desai said, "she hires good people, and she trusts them. But, she also has an open door policy so you can always go and just talk about stuff with her."

They'd go for walks at work. One memory of Jackson made Desai laugh, adding "this is how classy she was." When Desai was pregnant with her first child, Jackson was already a working mother.

Hetal Desai is one of the 25 Women You Need to Know for 2024.

"I really didn't know how to be a professional and be pregnant at the same time," Desai said. "So one day, she came into my office and she gave me a box and said it was a gift for me. It was a maternity dress and she said, 'Hetal, it's time.'"

That was Jackson's gentle way of saying Desai couldn't keep wearing the typical lawyer suits she'd been accustomed to, adding "she was just very classy about how she would give me advice."

Whether it was life experiences or her heart, Jackson understood people. She often approached her work the same way.

Cassandra Jackson, the outgoing City of Tallahassee attorney, reflects on her time as City attorney while being interviewed in her home Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Back in her living room, Jackson shares stories of her childhood, her competitive streak and her pursuit of excellence as a high school valedictorian and college graduate with honors. She laughs a lot, showing her softer side. But, she was no-nonsense about how she wants people to view her legal legacy and her time at the city of Tallahassee.

As Jackson retires, she wants people to know she'll be just fine.

"Sometimes I run into people and they go, 'You left," Jackson said. "I was like, 'You know, it was just time to go.'

I really believe I gave my all, probably more  and I'm just going to say, I think more than any appointed official. I put in the time. I put in the stress. I put in the prayer to be the best I could be for the city."

Contact Economic Development Reporter TaMaryn Waters at tlwaters@tallahassee.com and follow @TaMarynWaters on X.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: City Attorney Cassandra Jackson talks about retirement, texts, FBI
Hillary Clinton is serving up some tea  hawking mugs that say she was right about everything  following former President Trumps conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money case.

We recently had some new merch made based on a phrase I hear a lot. The design happened to be finalized today, the former secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee wrote Thursday in an Instagram post following Trumps guilty verdict.

The $22 ceramic mugs feature an illustration of Clinton sipping from a cup with the phrase, Turns out she was right about everything, printed on it in blue writing. Clinton said proceeds from the sales would benefit her political action organization.

With your purchase, youll support Onward Together groups defending democracy and get a pretty great mug to sip tea from, the former first lady said.

The mug pitch from Trumps 2016 rival in the White House race came after the 45th president became the first former commander in chief to be convicted of a felony. A jury of 12 New Yorkers found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his former fixer, Michael Cohen, made to porn actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election, which Clinton lost to Trump.

In the hours after the verdict, the former New York senator delivered a speech at the Vital Voices Global Partnerships annual awards gala in Washington. At the top of her remarks, Clinton, the groups co-founder, deadpanned to the audience, Anything going on today? and grinned.

Its not the first time that Clinton has eyed a fundraising opportunity  and a potential chance to troll the ex-president  when Trumps legal woes have dominated headlines. In 2022, she highlighted a line of hats bearing the phrase, But Her Emails, following a report that Trump disposed of documents in the toilet of the White House. She hawked the hats again last year following an announcement of a federal indictment over his handling of classified documents.

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.
Hillary Clinton Hints at Trumps Guilty Verdict with New Merch: Turns Out She Was Right About Everything

We recently had some new merch made based on a phrase I hear a lot, Clinton shared on Instagram after Trump's guilty verdict

Paolo Blocco/WireImage; Angela Weiss - Pool/Getty Hillary Clinton (left); Donald Trump

Hilary Clinton is seemingly poking some fun at Donald Trumps felony conviction.

The former presidential candidate, 76, appeared to address the former presidents guilty verdict on Thursday, May 30 after taking the podium at the Vital Voices Global Leadership Awards in Washington D.C.

In a video shared on X (formerly known as Twitter) of the event, Clinton could be seen getting applause as she took the stage. She thanked the audience before quipping, Anything going on today? appearing to reference his criminal trial. The audience could be heard cheering in response.

She also shared an Instagram post promoting a mug that featured a painted version of herself sipping tea with the words turns out she was right about everything printed on top.

Related: Donald Trump Found Guilty on All Counts in Historic Criminal Trial, Making Him a Convicted Felon

We recently had some new merch made based on a phrase I hear a lot, she captioned the photo of the mug. The design happened to be finalized today.

The words seemingly stemmed from Clintons previous comments. She previously called Trump an illegitimate president in a CBS Morning interview in 2019 and suggested that he may have had a hand in rigging the 2016 elections in his favor.

ANGELA WEISS/POOL/AFP via Getty Donald Trump

Related: Is Donald Trump Going to Jail After Guilty Verdict? What to Know About Sentencing on July 11

I believe he understands that the many varying tactics they used, from voter suppression and voter purging to hacking to the false stories  he knows that  there were just a bunch of different reasons why the election turned out like it did, she said at the time.

The Manhattan District Attorney's Office argued during Trumps criminal trial that he falsified documents in order to mask hush money payments to Stormy Daniels in the final days of his 2016 presidential election. In falsifying the records, the DA's office argued, Trump was more broadly attempting to bury evidence of an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 election.

Trump was ultimately found guilty in a New York court on Thursday, May 30, of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records  becoming the first president in history to become a convicted felon.

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Following the guilty verdict, Trump told reporters of the trial, "This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt." He also vowed that he was an innocent man and would fight the verdict to the end, per CBS News.

Trump faces up to four years in prison, though he is also eligible for a lesser probation sentence and a fine. He is expected to appeal the verdict.



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Read the original article on People.
Hillary Clinton seems to be enjoying Donald Trump's historic feat as the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime.

The diplomat, who served as the 67th United States secretary of state, dropped new merchandise that could be seen as her reaction to Trump's guilty verdict. Needless to say, her fans loved it.

Hillary Clinton has been going head-to-head with Trump for years, repeatedly calling him out for his controversial words and actions. Now, she gets to sip tea from a mug that says she has always been right!

Hillary Clinton Teases Donald Trump's Guilty Conviction With The Perfect Slogan

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In her latest Instagram post, Clinton shared a picture of her new merch  a mug with a vector illustration of herself holding a mug to where her mouth should be. Above her head were the words: "TURNS OUT SHE WAS RIGHT ABOUT EVERYTHING."

Although she didn't mention Trump's name, Clinton stressed that purchasing her new merch would support her journey to defend democracy  a jab that seemingly referenced the former president's guilty verdict. Her caption read:

"We recently had some new merch made based on a phrase I hear a lot. The design happened to be finalized today. With your purchase, you'll support Onward Together groups defending democracy... and get a pretty great mug to sip tea from."

Fans Love Hillary Clinton's Post Amid Trump's Conviction

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hillary Clinton (@hillaryclinton)

Clinton's "petty" merch scored significant points with fans, many of whom believed her words were directed at Trump. "At least he finally got the popular vote," someone teased, with another declaring:

"The saddest part of 2016 was [that] people believed the worst rumors about a woman and ignored the worst facts about a man."

"If only we could have had you. You are and have always been the most worthy. We love you," a third penned. A fourth echoed similar sentiments to the merch's slogan, writing:

"Hillary was right. What she went through to stand up against lies and deceit to protect our Democracy has been heroic."

"Dear Hillary, You are stronger than steel and softer than a cloud. Love the merch!! And yes, you were right! about everything," a fan applauded Clinton.

The Former President Slammed His Guilty Verdict

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Trump is famous for being vocal about his opinions, even if they are unpopular with most people. The Blast reported that he wasted no time addressing his guilty verdict in a lengthy statement, venting his emotions about the jury's decision.

As stated, Trump is the first president in U.S. history to be convicted of a crime after a jury found him guilty of 34 counts of felony in his hush money trial. However, the politician declared he wouldn't back down without a fight.

"Our whole country is being rigged right now. This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound, to hurt an opponent. A political opponent," Trump told the press outside the courtroom, adding:

"And I think it's just a disgrace, and we'll keep fighting, we'll fight till the end, and we'll win because our country has gone to hell. We don't have the same country anymore; we have a divided mess."

Trump Blamed The 'Rigged' System For His Conviction

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The former president vehemently denied his guilt in the hush money case and blamed his conviction on the poor state of the country and its legal system. In Trump's words:

"We are a nation in decline, serious decline of people pouring into our country right now. From prisons and from mental institutions. Terrorists, and they're taking over our country."

He continued: "We have a country that's in big trouble, but this was a rigged decision right from day one. With a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case, never."

Trump seemingly implied that his lawyers would appeal the case, saying: "We will fight for our constitution. This is more from over. Thank you very much."

Donald Trump May Face Up To Four Years In Prison

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The hush money trial garnered much attention, given the severe allegations against Trump. He was accused of falsifying business records in payments made to former adult film star Stormy Daniels.

The case featured several dramatic moments, including multiple outbursts from Trump, about the gag order placed on him at the start of the criminal trial. He also refused to testify, claiming he didn't need to because the prosecution "had no case."

Now, Trump is facing up to four years in prison for all 34 counts against him. However, as a first-time offender, the billionaire mogul could be given a lighter sentence.

The outcome of Trump's punishment will be unveiled at his sentencing hearing on July 11, 2024.
The president of The Spanish Airline Association (ALA) Javier Gandara appears to assess the claim of Consumer Affairs in relation to cabin hand luggage, at the Tinkle offices. The Spanish government has imposed fines totalling over 150 million ($163 million) on four low-cost airlines for charging an additional fee for hand luggage and other practices deemed unlawful. Matias Chiofalo/EUROPA PRESS/dpa

The Spanish government has imposed fines totalling over 150 million ($163 million) on four low-cost airlines for charging an additional fee for hand luggage and other practices deemed unlawful.

The companies affected are Ryanair, EasyJet, Vueling and Volotea, the state television channel RTVE and other media reported on Friday, citing the Ministry for Social Rights and Consumer Protection in Madrid. The left-wing government confirmed the story, but initially refused to provide details.

The Spanish consumer protection organization FACUA, whose complaint prompted the ministry to initiate sanction proceedings last year, have described the penalty as "historic."

"This is exactly what we are campaigning for - to put an end to fraud and illegal practices," FACUA Secretary General Ruben Sanchez told journalists in Seville.

"For the first time in our history, we can say that we are satisfied with the amount of a fine."

Spain's aviation industry body ALA - which says it represents more than 60 airlines operating in the EU - criticized the decision, which in practice amounts to a ban on the hand baggage fees charged by some airlines.

This will harm consumers, especially "the 50 million passengers who do not carry hand luggage in the cabin," it said in a statement.

The investigations into various controversial rules were launched after several low-cost airlines tightened their hand luggage regulations.

According to the ministry, this violated Spanish law because services that were traditionally included in the ticket price were now charged separately.

That allowed the airlines to position themselves better in search engine results due to the low prices offered without hand luggage included, the ministry said last year.

The probe also looked into surcharges for seat reservations, especially for people accompanying minors or people in need of assistance.

An appeal can be lodged against the ministry's decision.

The president of The Spanish Airline Association (ALA) Javier Gandara appears to assess the claim of Consumer Affairs in relation to cabin hand luggage, at the Tinkle offices. The Spanish government has imposed fines totalling over 150 million ($163 million) on four low-cost airlines for charging an additional fee for hand luggage and other practices deemed unlawful. Matias Chiofalo/EUROPA PRESS/dpa
Supporters of the former US President Donald Trump continue their vigil outside the Trump hush money trial waiting for the verdict. Andrea Renault/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

A jury in New York on Thursday found Donald Trump guilty of falsifying business records in a trial over the concealment of hush money payments in the run-up to the 2016 election, making him the first former US president convicted of a criminal offence.

Trump, who is seeking the White House again in this November's election, was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records as part of a scheme involving his former lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen to conceal a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

Judge Juan Merchan is set to announce Trump's sentence on July 11, just days before the Republican Party Convention, where his nomination as presidential candidate for the party will be made official.

The former president faces a maximum sentence of several years behind bars, but most legal experts expect he will get a fine. Trump is likely to appeal - and could run in the presidential election even after a final conviction as the US constitution does not prevent a felon from running for the country's top office.

Trump, who had appeared calm in the courtroom in the afternoon, accepted the verdict outwardly unmoved and with a petrified expression.

In brief remarks outside court, he described the decision as a "disgrace," claiming without any evidence that Merchan was "corrupt."

"The real verdict is gonna be November 5th by the people," he added, referencing the date of the US presidential election. "I am a very innocent man."

The campaign of US President Joe Biden, who is set to face Trump in the elections in November, said "In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law."

"There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box," the campaign's communications director Michael Tyler said in a statement. "Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president."

Daniels said the money was given to keep her quiet about an affair she had with the Republican in 2006. Trump has admitted to paying her on the eve of the 2016 election to stop her "false and extortionist accusations" but denies any sexual encounter.

The seven men and five women of the jury had listened to the statements of more than 20 witnesses since mid-April. The jury's deliberations began on Wednesday.

At the trial, Cohen testified over the course of several days that he worked at Trump's direction to orchestrate the payments to buy the silence of Daniels.

Cohen made the $130,000 payment out of his own pocket.

Although the payment itself - which was not disputed by either side - was not illegal, Trump is alleged to have manipulated documents when reimbursing the amount to Cohen in order to conceal the true reason for the transaction.

Crucially, the prosecution argued that because the pay-off was made to keep the public from learning about the alleged sexual encounter ahead of the election, the cover-up involving the financial records amounted to illegal campaign financing. This allegation elevated what would have been a lower-level misdemeanour case to felony charges.

Trump has claimed without any evidence that he is a victim of political persecution orchestrated by Democrats to keep him from the White House.

Prominent Republicans and ardent Trump supporters reacted indignantly to the guilty verdict.

"Today is a shameful day in American history," Mike Johnson, the Republican chairman of the House of Representatives, wrote on social media, calling the verdict "wrong" and "dangerous."
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has been criticized for a flag flown at his New Jersey vacation house that has ties to both the American Revolution and far-right ideologies. The Appeal to Heaven flag, as it is commonly called, also stands outside of House Speaker Mike Johnsons office in the Capitol building and has been proudly displayed by other Republican lawmakers. It has also appeared among crowds at far-right rallies and at the January 6 Capitol insurrection.

Like many flags and historical symbols, the Appeal to Heaven flag has multiple meanings and has been used in differing capacities. The flag served as a naval ensign in Massachusetts until 1971, and until recently, flew outside San Franciscos city hall alongside other historic flags.

Heres a look at its long history, and why it is controversial for some people now.

What is An Appeal to Heaven?

The Appeal to Heaven flag, or Pine Tree flag, features a green pine tree on a white field, with the words An Appeal to Heaven in black text above it.

It was originally commissioned under George Washingtons leadership of the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, a history that Alito, Johnson and others point to when defending their own use of the flag against claims of right-wing extremist views. The phrase An Appeal to Heaven comes from a passage of British philosopher John Lockes Second Treatise on Government that outlines his interpretation of a peoples right to 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, then they have a liberty to appeal to heaven, whenever they judge the cause of sufficient moment.

As for the pine tree, it became a symbol of American resistance after the Pine Tree Riot, one of several clashes between American colonists and British royal powers that led to the American Revolution. The pine tree retained this meaning of resistance, and has appeared on some state flags and seals. The pine tree is also still a beloved regional symbol in New England. A similar flag  with a green pine in a white canton on a red field  is flown throughout the region.

How the flag came to be associated with far-right politics

The Appeal to Heaven flag is now also associated with American far-right movements and supporters of former President Donald Trump. The flag has appeared at Trump rallies, and it appeared among crowds at the January 6 insurrection. It is also ingrained into the rhetoric of Christian Nationalism.

However, its gradual integration into far-right politics actually started far before the Trump era  and its significance during the American Revolution is a key reason why.

An Appeal to Heaven flag, center left, is pictured at a rally in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2021, in support of President Donald Trump. - Carolyn Kaster/AP

This flag is part of a broader effort by the far right to recall the principles of the American Revolution and import them into antidemocratic efforts, says Jemar Tisby, an author and professor at Simmons College in Kentucky who studies Christian nationalism.

The American Revolution, Tisby says, is seen by these groups as a righteous rebellion against an unjust, intrusive government, and thus a fertile ground from which to reap symbols and ideologies for their current political aims.

This theme can be traced back to the emergence of the tea party movement (another homage to the American Revolution), the conservative political movement that took root in the early days of President Barack Obamas first term around 2009.

The Tea Party movement called for a reduction in government influence, but was also closely related to far-right populism and racial animus in response to Obamas election to office. It greatly influenced the Republican party and was leveraged by Trump during his victorious 2016 presidential campaign.

Around this time another Revolutionary-era flag, the Gadsden flag, also began to see a resurgence. Depicting a black snake on a yellow background with the words Dont Tread on Me, the Gadsden flag is now a common symbol among libertarian and conservative groups  and it, too, is often flown during far-right gatherings.

In 2015, the Appeal to Heaven flag was given another boost in popularity by Dutch Sheets, an influential conservative Christian author and pastor. Sheets organized a nationwide tour that year called An Appeal to Heaven during which he specifically linked the flag, and the American Revolution, to concepts of Christian nationalism.

At a tour stop in Ohio in 2015, Sheets invoked the Supreme Courts recent decision on same-sex marriage and ongoing political battles about abortion rights.

Its not settled law until God says its settled law and were going to change these things, Sheets said. Theres got to be a hope that comes. If we appeal to heaven, he can turn this thing around.

This, Tisby says, is another way the flags message can be co-opted by Christian nationalists.

This is why the Appeal to Heaven flag is also a symbol of White Christian nationalism, because it links their cause to Gods will as an appeal to heaven or a higher power, he says. That way, the movement appears to transcend political earthly authority, and becomes a divine right.

Recent events have shed new light on the flags meanings

Until recently, the Appeal to Heaven flag was relatively unknown in the public consciousness. When the Associated Press asked Speaker Mike Johnson about the one displayed outside his office, he said he wasnt aware the flag was associated with far-right politics or the Stop the Steal movement.

An "Appeal to Heaven" flag is seen among a crowd of supporters of President Donald Trump in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021. - Carlos Barria/Reuters/File

People misuse our symbols all the time. It doesnt mean we dont use the symbols anymore, he said.

Alito said the flag seen flying outside his vacation home was selected by his wife and was an homage to George Washington.

I was not aware of any connection between that historic flag and the Stop the Steal Movement, and neither was my wife, Alito told lawmakers in a letter stating his refusal to recuse from cases involving the 2020 presidential election or the January 6 insurrection. She did not fly it to associate herself with that or any other group, and the use of an old historic flag by a new group does not necessarily drain that flag of all other meanings.

Alito is also under scrutiny for an upside-down American flag that was spotted outside his home in early 2021  a universal symbol of a country in crisis. Alito said this, too, was his wifes decision.

However, the polarizing recent history of the Appeal to Heaven flag is starting to become known. This week, the city of San Francisco made the decision to remove an Appeal to Heaven flag that flew alongside several other flags over City Hall.

This flag was originally used during the American Revolutionary War, flown by George Washingtons cruisers, and is associated with the early quest for American independence, San Francisco Recreation and Parks communications manager Daniel Montez told CNN. Its since been adopted by a different group  one that doesnt represent the citys values, so we made the decision to swap it with the American flag.

CNNs Josh Du Lac contributed to this story.

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State Sen Adam Hollier (D-Detroit) | Ken Coleman photo

An appeal filed by former state Sen. Adam Hollier (D-Detroit) on his disqualification from the August primary ballot for the 13th Congressional District has been denied.

According to a letter Thursday from Michigan Director of Elections Jonathan Brater, he said he was adopting the previous finding by Wayne County Clerk Cathy Garrett that Hollier had less than the 1,000 valid signatures needed to make the ballot,

Garrett had been acting on a petition challenge mounted by U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit), the first-term incumbent. According to the letter, Hollier claimed that due to the substantial fraud and forgery present in his nominating petitions, Wayne County should review the nominating petitions filed by his opponents, including Thanedar.

In other words, you attempt to submit a challenge to your opponents nominating petitions, wrote Brater, who noted that Michigan Election Law sets a seven day deadline to file.

If you wished to submit challenges against your opponents, the deadline to submit them was April 30 (to the Wayne County Clerk, as the filing official for that office). To the extent your appeal is actually a challenge to other nominating petitions and was submitted untimely and to the wrong filing official, that aspect of your appeal is denied, said Brater.

The initial determination by Garretts election staff found that only 863 of the 1,553 signatures submitted by Hollier were valid, leaving him 137 signatures short of the 1,000 needed to qualify for the ballot as a U.S. House candidate. Garrett then concurred and disqualified Hollier.

The signatures were collected by Londell Thomas of Harper Woods, a paid circulator and co-owner of Groundmind Strategies in Southfield. While Hollier had called Thanedars challenge a bad faith effort, he nonetheless admitted that the signatures Thomas turned in on his behalf appeared to have been forged.

Brater also rejected Braters contention that Wayne County should not have accepted the initial challenge as it was brought under a section of state election law that applies to candidates filing with the Secretary of State and not a county clerk. However, he said the first page of Thanedars challenge was correctly addressed to the Wayne County Clerk and correctly indicated it was being submitted under the correct statute.

Therefore, there is no question that the challenge to your nominating petitions was submitted properly to the County Clerk, Brater said. Even if there were some question about the submission of the challenge, this office would not entertain an appeal of the filing officials decision to accept a timely filed challenge; it would accept an appeal only of the determination on the nominating petitions sufficiency and your resulting qualification to the ballot. This aspect of the appeal is also denied.

Brater indicated that his office has recommended for investigation and referral to law enforcement those petition sheets showing clear indications of fraud. So will the allegations Hollier made concerning the petitions of his opponents.

Earlier Thursday, Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan endorsed Detroit City Councilwoman Mary Waters ahead of the Democratic primary in November. Waters, a former state lawmaker, and attorney Shakira Lynn Hawkins are challenging Thanedar in the August primary. Republican Martell Bivings, who opposed Thanedar in the 2022 election, is the sole Republican seeking the primary.

The post Holliers appeal of congressional ballot disqualification denied appeared first on Michigan Advance.
The Charles Mix County Jail in Lake Andes. (John Hult/South Dakota Searchlight)

A double stabbing that left one man dead and another hospitalized led to a rare extradition order to state custody from the Yankton Sioux Tribe this week.

Mackenzie Antelope, 18, of Lake Andes, is charged with alternate counts of first- and second-degree murder and first-degree manslaughter in the death of 22-year-old Lake Andes resident Quinlan Ream.

Antelope is accused of stabbing Ream and 33-year-old Dylan Oulette of Lake Andes in a motel in that Charles Mix County town. Hes facing an aggravated assault charge for the Oulette stabbing.

Oulette stumbled into the Lake Andes Gus Stop on May 21 at 10:41 p.m. with multiple stab wounds and reported the stabbing, according to an affidavit signed Tuesday in Antelopes criminal case file. He was soon taken to a hospital in Sioux Falls.

Sheriffs deputies followed a trail of blood to the Landing Strip hotel, located across a highway from the Gus Stop, to find Reams body on the floor of one of the rooms.

Police later interviewed two witnesses whod been drinking with the victims and suspect that evening, the affidavit says, and heard a description of a verbal altercation that ended with Antelope stabbing the victims. From his hospital room, Oulette identified Antelope as his assailant.

Antelope fled from the scene onto Yankton Sioux tribal land after the stabbing. State and county officers typically cannot arrest those suspected of committing state crimes if the suspect crosses onto Native land, and tribal officers cannot arrest suspects on state charges.

The Yankton Sioux Tribes jurisdiction is checkerboard, meaning tribal and other lands intermingle. Some of South Dakotas nine tribal nations, including Rosebud and Oglala, are situated on larger reservations with encompassing boundaries.

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Recent controversies over jurisdictional challenges

Jurisdictional challenges have framed controversies between Gov. Kristi Noem and tribal leaders in recent months. Noem has called upon tribal leaders to ink memoranda of understanding with the state to allow outside law enforcement to assist tribal law enforcement.

Tribal officials, meanwhile, have bristled at Noems accusations that some of them are personally benefiting from an infiltration of drug cartels onto tribal lands  something many tribal leaders dispute, even though drugs originally produced by cartels are widely available.

Attorney General Marty Jackley and Noem collaborated to launch a tribal law enforcement academy recently as a way to encourage more recruits to join tribal agencies. That basic certification course begins in Pierre on Monday.

Noem also recently called a tribal law enforcement summit and invited tribal leaders, even as the governments of all nine tribes have voted to banish her from their lands.

On Thursday, Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out said in a press release that the summit is a divide and conquer tactic, and said he would not attend.

Jackley, meanwhile, has begun meeting with tribal officials on law enforcement issues. He met with the Lower Brule Tribal Council on Thursday.

In a recent opinion column, Jackley stressed that state and tribal law enforcement work together when necessary to overcome jurisdictional challenges.

I do not accept jurisdiction as an impediment to the ability and responsibility of law enforcement to collectively protect everyone in South Dakota, on and off reservations, Jackley wrote, in part. We can always strive to do better. Recent publicity has shed light on the importance to build upon and strengthen what law enforcement is already doing to protect all South Dakotans.

Stabbings prompt rare level of cooperation

Antelopes arrest stands as an example of how such collaborations play out in the absence of formal agreements between state and tribal agencies.

To facilitate Antelopes Wednesday arrest across the jurisdictional border, the tribes chairman first needed to sign an extradition order, Yankton Sioux Tribal Police Chief Edwin Young said Friday.

That order, once ratified in tribal court, allowed Youngs department to apprehend Antelope on Wednesday. Antelope waived an extradition hearing and will make his first appearance in court next week in Lake Andes.

Young, who started with the YST police in 2016, says he can only recall two other times when such an extradition order was signed. Misdemeanors and lower-level felonies typically dont see intervention from the tribes chairman, he said.

The county government and tribal government dont always see eye-to-eye, but on a major incident like this we have to work together, Young said.

In a press release, Charles Mix County States Attorney Steve Cotton said the Charles Mix County Sheriffs Office, the state Division of Criminal Investigation and Yankton Sioux Tribal Police worked together to conduct interviews on both sides of the state-tribal border and across two counties.

Cotton lauded the cooperation.

This case is a prime example of tribal, state, and county governments working together, Cotton wrote. Due to this collaborative effort, law enforcement officers from multiple agencies were able to act swiftly in order to protect the public.

Ream, according to his obituary, attended college in Kansas after graduating high school in Montana. He had worked at Fort Randall Casino, and recently became a father.

The post Homicide investigation sparks rare level of state-tribal cooperation appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Homicide vs. murder: Do you know the difference?

Five people have been shot to death in Wichita Falls so far in 2024. All of the deaths are homicides  but not all are necessarily murders.

Although the terms are often mistakenly used interchangeably, they dont mean the same thing. 

Homicide would be a general term of someones life being taken by another person, said Sgt. Charlie Eipper, public information officer for the Wichita Falls Police Department. Murder is knowingly and intentionally taking a life.

Wichita Falls police work the scene of a homicide in February that turned out to be a murder.

Eipper said, Homicide could be an officer-involved shooting but through investigation might be determined to be a legal use of force. The same would be true for anyone else who might take a life in a justified manner.

Here are the homicides in 2024 that Wichita Falls Police are investigating as murders:

Jourdyn Jones, 23, was shot to death Tuesday during a robbery allegedly committed by two men. Traquan Cox Eliand, 17, of Wichita Falls was arrested Thursday in connection with the killing.

Deron Edward Royster, was shot through the eye with a pellet gun May 12. Darren Jerome King was arrested and charged with murder.

Stanley Ralicki, 69, was shot to death Feb. 22 at a home on Marsha Lane. His brother Raymond Ralicki was arrested and charged with murder.

Here are the homicides in 2024 that police have not labeled as murders:

Quincy Roman Moore and Sydney Terrell Brown were both shot at an apartment complex Jan. 21. Jamal Leron Locke was wounded by gunfire and told police he shot the men in self-defense.

Here are occurrences that fall under the broad umbrella of "homicide" according to Texas satutes:

Capital Murder. Can carry a death penalty, but thats seldom requested by Texas district attorneys. Conviction carries a mandatory life sentence with no parole. To be "capital" a murder must meet certain criteria, such as occurring during the commission of another crime or involving the death of a child.

Murder. Without the "capital" enhancement can carry a prison sentence of five years to life.

Manslaughter. Recklessly causing the death of a person without premeditation. Can carry a prison sentence of two to 20 years. The charge encompasses these sub-categories:

Voluntary Manslaughter. Causing the death of someone by way of intentional but non-premeditated harm. Involuntary manslaughter. Causing the death of someone unintentionally without malice or intent to cause serious harm. Intoxication Manslaughter. Causing the death of a person by driving under the influence. Vehicular Manslaughter. Causing the death of another person through negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Can be considered a felony or a misdemeanor depending on the circumstances. Criminally Negligent Homicide. Occurs when a person ought to be aware of a substantial risk that their conduct will kill another person. Can carry a state jail sentence of 180 days to two years. If a weapon is used, the sentence can be two to 10 years in prison.

Texas law also recognizes some homicides as justifiable when committed in self-defense, for the protection of others or for protection of the home.

Whether a death moves through the legal system is usually determined by a grand jury with the authority to return criminal indictments.

This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Homicide vs. murder: Do you know the difference?
(Bloomberg) -- Election results from South Africa have left investors swinging between anxiety over the permutations of a potential coalition and lingering hopes that it will all lead to a market-friendly government.

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Before the vote, investors were bullish, confident the ruling African National Congress would secure enough votes for an alliance with a smaller party. That drove gains in the rand and the nations other assets.

However, going into the second day of tallying, and with more than 70% of voting districts counted, indications are that the ANC may not only lose its majority, but do so by a margin wider than expected.

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We remain in something of a no-mans-land at present, with the still-sizable uncertainty over the ANCs final tally keeping most options for the next government on the table, said Ivailo Vesselinov, chief strategist at Emso Asset Management.

South African assets are likely to remain volatile until investors got clarity about which of the coalition outcomes will transpire, he said.

Below is a quick summary of South African markets as investors await the final results due by the weekend:

South Africas benchmark stock index slipped 0.5% by 4:20 p.m. in Johannesburg, following three days of losses.

That reflected some uncertainty around the election, but also global themes including a stronger dollar, weaker commodity prices and a selloff in China, said Malcolm Dorson, the head of emerging-markets strategy at Global X. An ANC coalition with a market-friendly party would help the sentiment recover, he said.

The gauge though is set for a rise in May, its third month in a row, a streak last seen in February 2022.

The yield on South Africas local-currency bonds maturing in 2035 rose 15 basis points to 12.24% on Friday, building on Thursdays three basis-point increase.

The extra yield investors demand to buy South African sovereign dollar bonds rather than US Treasuries widened on Thursday by 11 basis points, the most since April 11, data from JPMorgan Chase & Co. showed.

However, regardless of the election outcome, the bonds remain an investor favorite. As global central banks move into an easing phase, South Africas double-digit yields are proving attractive. Investor demand was robust at South Africas weekly bond sale earlier this week, with foreigners net buyers of billions of rands worth of securities.

The rand briefly surrendered its monthly gains but recovered after news that president Cyril Ramaphosas allies want him to pursue a coalition with the opposition Democratic Alliance. The currency gained 0.3% to 18.6984 per dollar.

Its going to be highly erratic until we finally get some idea of what parliament looks like, said Warrick Butler, the head of foreign-exchange trading at Standard Bank. We could be at 17.80 or 20.00. Its that binary.

But the rands losses in the wake of early results shouldnt be taken as a harbinger of a sustained selloff, according to Lee Hardman, senior FX strategist at MUFG Bank.

External conditions remain supportive for carry currencies such as the rand, he said.

You can follow Bloombergs reporting on Africa on WhatsApp. Sign up here.

(Updates with Friday market moves and Standard Bank quote)

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Members of Illinois House Speaker Emanuel Chris Welchs staff filed a lawsuit against him on Friday alleging he deprived them of their rights to organize as a union.

About 20 House staff members have pressured Welch, a Democrat from Hillside, to recognize their efforts to form a union for more than a year, leading the speaker to sponsor a measure that would allow legislative staffers working at the state Capitol to organize. The measure passed through the House last year but has since stalled in the Senate.

We will not be put off, ignored or gaslit any longer, the Illinois Legislative Staff Association said in a statement announcing the lawsuit.

Staff members who formed the group accuse the speaker of violating the Workers Rights Amendment, which declared forming a union as a fundamental right when it was enshrined in the state constitution after the November 2022 election. ILSA and Welch staffer Brady Burden are named plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which was filed in Cook County Circuit Court. Welch, whos signaled his support for the amendment in the past, is the lone defendant.

At the time Welch filed the bill in September that would allow his staff to unionize, his office said that even with the Workers Rights Amendment, state law specifically prohibits legislative staff from forming a union, necessitating new legislation.

But the plaintiffs allege that the legislation violates their rights under the amendment by, among other things, not authorizing collective bargaining until mid-2026, and seeks to ratify by law the Defendant Speakers deprivation of the constitutional right prior to that time. They also accuse Welch of violating their constitutional rights by refusing to bargain.

The plaintiffs are seeking relief that includes the appointment of a mediator to confer with the parties and assist them in the collective bargaining process and an order barring Welch from any act to forestall bargaining with the purpose or intent of depriving them of the constitutional rights guaranteed by the Workers Rights Amendment.

The Defendant Speaker has unlawfully created a climate of fear among the Speakers staff and within the ILSA and sought to chill the open exercise by the ILSA and its members and Plaintiff Brady (Burden) of their right to seek and demand good faith bargaining, the plaintiffs allege in the suit.

A spokeswoman for Welch said the office has not yet seen the lawsuit and had no comment.

The lawsuit was filed after ILSA on May 21 released a lengthy statement that placed the blame on legislative leaders for allowing the legislation opening the door to efforts to organize to stall after it was passed by the House.

It was not voted on, it was not debated, it was not assigned to a committee, it was not so much as considered, ILSA said. And when we reached out to (Senate President Don) Harmons staff to begin a dialogue on October 25, 2023, November 28, 2023 and February 9, 2024, we were ignored.

The handling of (the legislation)and the return of leadership to their former policy of stonewalling usconfirms what we already suspected, that there was never any intention of this bill becoming law, the association said. It is clear to us that Speaker Welch and President Harmon had an understanding: Welch would pass a bill to deflect rising criticism, and Harmon would make sure that the bill went no further.

Under the House measure, legislative employees would be allowed to collectively bargain through representatives of their choosing on questions of wages, hours and other conditions of employment.

The bill also says the General Assembly would establish an office of state legislative labor relations to manage the interests of the legislature in union-related matters with the employees. It would also give the state panel of the Illinois Labor Relations Board jurisdiction over collective bargaining matters between employee organizations and the legislature.

The proposals definition of legislative employee does not include upper-echelon staffers such as the chief of staff, deputy chief of staff, legal counsel or other staffers who work in high-profile supervisory roles.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  In Central Fresno, new real-estate development plans are looking to give Fresno renters a chance to be in Fresnos iconic Manchester Center for the first time in history.

According to District 7 Councilmember Nelson Esparza, the owner of the property is going to convert the top floor of the mall into 600 market-rate housing units.

Esparza says the Manchester Center is a staple of Fresno and this new proposal could potentially revitalize the area and allow new visitors and tenants alike to create memories.

The Manchester Center has such a rich history here in our city, Esparza said. So many have memories of what it was when they were growing up and going there or shopping there.

Esparza says in the last five to 10 years Manchester has seen an uptick in activity and popularity. The proposal to renovate the malls second floor into housing only stands to revitalize Manchester even more.

When you go to other big cities, other downtowns, and sites, you see commercial or retail on a floor or two and then you have housing right above it and at the same structure.

The plans are still in the early stages. A timeline for tenants to move into the Manchester Center has not been established.

But right now, Esparza says each new phase of construction is supposed to add 200 new single-housing units to the Manchester Centers second floor.

The hope of the project is for new tenants to live above thriving commercial and retail spaces, offer housing for more people in Central Fresno, and bring the entire area into a new era.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Houthis Say US and UK Carried Out Deadliest Strike Yet on Yemen

(Bloomberg) -- Houthi militants said the US and UK killed at least 16 people with airstrikes on Yemen on Thursday, in the deadliest assault on the group since the start of a campaign in January to prevent its attacks on ships around the Red Sea.

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The Iran-backed militant organization on Friday said it targeted a US aircraft carrier in the area, the Dwight D. Eisenhower, in response. Though, there was no attack in the vicinity of the ship and it wasnt hit, a Politico reporter said, citing a US Defense Department official.

The Houthis have regularly aim at US naval vessels this year with drones and missiles, all of them missing or being intercepted.

Biden Sticks to Tightrope Israel Policy as Rafah Deaths Mount

The US and UK militaries struck 13 Houthi targets in Yemen with their latest assault. The Houthis said some of those who died were civilians in the port city of Hodeida. Sanaa, the capital, and other areas were also struck, the Houthis said.

The US military said that, in addition to the strikes, it destroyed eight unmanned aerial vehicles in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and surrounding waters on Thursday.

It was determined that these UAVs and sites presented a threat to US and coalition forces and merchant vessels in the region, US Central Command, which oversees US forces in the Middle East, said.

Houthi missile and drone attacks in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden started in November and have disrupted global trade. Many major shipping firms are avoiding the area, which links with the Suez Canal, and sending ships going between Asia and Europe on much longer voyages around southern Africa. Thats sent freight rates soaring.

The militants have vowed to continue their attacks in solidarity with Palestinians and are calling on Israel to stop its war against Hamas in Gaza.

The assault comes as Israeli troops pursue Hamas militants in Rafah. The US, European Union and other allies have either urged Israel to stop its operations in the southern Gaza city or do more to protect civilians.

(Updates with Politico report on US official saying there was no attack in the vicinity of its aircraft carrier.)

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Former US President Donald Trump address the press before entering the court as closing arguments are made in civil fraud trial. A jury in New York on 30 May found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in a trial over the concealment of hush money payments in the run-up to the 2016 election, making him the first former US president convicted of a criminal offence. Laura Brett/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Hungary's right-wing populist Prime Minister Viktor Orban has praised former US president Donald Trump following his criminal conviction.

"Ive known President Donald Trump to be a man of honour. As president, he always put America first, he commanded respect around the world and used this respect to build peace," Orban wrote on X. "Let the people make their verdict this November! Keep on fighting, Mr. President!"

A jury in New York on Thursday found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of concealing hush money paid to a porn star. It is the first time in the history of the United States that a current of former US president has been held criminally accountable.

Trump and Orban regularly publicly praise each other. Orban was the only head of government of an EU country to openly declare his support for the Republican even before Trump's election as president in 2016.

In a visit they raised eyebrows in the US and EU, Orban travelled to meet Trump at his luxury Florida resort in March.

The two right-wing populists have a lot in common politically. Trump's former chief adviser Steve Bannon once described the Hungarian as "Trump before Trump." Orban has been in power in Hungary since 2010.
A man from Huntington Beach has been arrested for allegedly making antisemitic threats targeting synagogues in North Carolina and threatening to bomb law enforcement there.

Kevin Dunlow, 62, was arrested on May 24 after he made numerous threats targeting multiple entities and individuals, including an elected official, members of law enforcement, and several synagogues located in North Carolina, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release.

He faces charges of using any form of communication to send a threat to harm or kidnap another person intentionally and knowingly making false reports about bombs. Each charge carries a sentence of up to five years in federal prison.

Hate-fueled, violent threats endanger the safety of individuals and entire communities, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in the release. This defendant is accused of making explicit and detailed threats, ranging from making a bomb threat against the Wake County Sheriffs Office, to threatening an elected official, to telling a Rabbi, I am coming to the Temple to kill all the Jews and the children. The Justice Department will prosecute anyone who makes illegal threats motivated by antisemitism or bias of any kind.

Garland was referencing Dunlows actions on May 7, when he allegedly said, Jews didnt deserve to live. Jews didnt deserve to be on this earth. Im going to kill the Jews. Im coming to the Temple to kill all the Jews and the children.

He also made a false bomb threat to the Wake County Sheriffs Office in North Carolina.

We will not normalize violent threats in America, whether targeting law enforcement, elected officials, or average citizens, said U.S. Attorney Michael F. Easley Jr. The complaint alleges the defendant made violent threats against people of faith, cops, and public servants. These cases will always receive our highest attention.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, May 31. Construction of the first solar panel equipment manufacturing plant commenced in Tajikistan, Trend reports.

According to the official website of the President of Tajikistan, President Emomali Rahmon laid the foundation stone for the construction of the country's first solar panel equipment manufacturing plant.

The plant is being built in the Dangara Free Economic Zone. The project calls for four phases of construction of the industrial complex by Tajikistan and Global Solar Wafer, a South Korean business.

Upon the full implementation of the project in four phases, more than 8,000 people will be employed, 95 percent of whom will be Tajik citizens. The enterprise will focus on producing equipment for solar panels, with a total investment of $2 billion over the four phases.

To support the favorable business and investment climate, 22 hectares of land in the western part of the Dangara Free Economic Zone have been allocated to build this enterprise. Construction work for the first phase is scheduled to begin in July of this year.

The first phase of construction is expected to be completed by March 2025, resulting in the production of solar panel equipment with a capacity of 5,000 megawatts. The establishment of solar panel production at this facility will create a solid foundation for achieving the goals of the "green economy" development strategy by building power plants using renewable energy sources and increasing alternative "green energy" production capacities to at least 1,000 megawatts by 2030.

Currently, 34 entities are registered in the Dangara Free Economic Zone, eight of which are operational and produced goods worth 73 million somoni ($6.777 million) in 2023.
Hutto should have been gearing up for a runoff election in June after five candidates ran for one City Council place and no one earned more than 50% of the vote.

But the runoff was canceled after incumbent Dana Wilcott, the top vote-getters for Place 5 with 33% of the vote, resigned after the May 4 election, saying she has lost faith in the mayor. Evan Porterfield, who won the second-highest number of votes with 19%, took her place on the City Council.

Wilcott did not respond to requests for comment this week.

Hutto City Hall

The city secretary received a letter from Wilcott on May 10 that was addressed to Mayor Mike Snyder. "As much as I'd like to stay and fight for the residents of Hutto I've come to the painful realization that this 'Hutto' is beyond redemption under your leadership," the letter said.

"Your toxic presence has poisoned our community and I refuse to be complicit in your destructive agenda any longer. I hope that my resignation serves as a wake-up call to the good people of Hutto to rise up and reclaim our community from the clutches of bigotry and incompetence."

Dana Wilcott, Hutto City Council

The letter went on to say "the fight is far from over, and I pray Hutto becomes one we can be proud of again."

"And it goes far beyond roads, water and infrastructure," it said.

More: Judge rules against new racial discrimination trial, but reduces amount Hutto must pay

The City Council accepted her resignation without comment at its May 16 meeting. Council members serve three-year terms. Wilcott had served part of one term after she won a runoff election in June 2023 to fill the unexpired term of former Council Member Krystal Kinsey.

Mike Snyder

Snyder said this week that he made a post on Facebook before the May 4 election asking people not to vote for Wilcott. He said Wilcott often twisted his words to make it seem like he was a racist but that he is not.

During a previous City Council meeting, Snyder said, he expressed concern about a trend he had noticed in which investors were buying homes and then renting out the rooms to multiple unrelated people. "People buying homes in the suburbs are not expecting to have a dozen people that change out every three months living in a house," Snyder said.

Wilcott told him he was discriminating against "people of color and low income," Snyder said. He said he was not.

More: Hutto mayor faces calls to resign after accepting gift that critics say represents racism

There also have been allegations that Snyder made racist comments from witnesses in a trial over a discrimination lawsuit filed by former City Manager Odis Jones against the city.

Former Assistant City Manager Byron Frankland testified in the 2023 trial that Snyder once told him something disparaging about Jones, one of Jones' lawyers has said. "He (Snyder) told him Black people were crooks and Odis Jones was a crook," Holt Lackey has said.

The jury awarded Jones $12.5 million in its verdict but the judge later reduced the award to $7.5 million in January. The judge said in the ruling that Frankland also said during the trial that Snyder told him that when Snyder was working in Kansas City, he "got really good at spotting crooks," which he described as "Black guys that he knew were coming into the store and stealing."

Snyder has denied saying anything racist about Jones or Black people. The city of Hutto has appealed the case to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Snyder also faced criticism when he accepted a gift in August during a City Council meeting that critics said is a well-known racist symbol against Black people. The gift was a fruit stand with bananas hanging from it and a figurine of a monkey perched by it. A community group called Black Families of Hutto called for the mayor's resignation and a Black council member reprimanded Snyder.

Snyder, who is white, said he did not know that the bananas and the monkey were racist symbols.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Hutto council member resigns, saying mayor has 'toxic presence'
Last spring, I wrote about the Department of Water Resources change to the methodology  or process  they use to estimate water shortalls and determine curtailments. The Departments new methodology, which entirely ignores reasonable use of Idahos water, is designed to ensure that shortall predictions and curtailment orders will be both more frequent and more severe.

I warned that this would place every acre within the boundaries of the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer, along with adjacent industries, countes, and cites, in constant jeopardy of widespread curtailment.

Yesterday afternoon, that threat became very real for thousands of farmers across the Snake River Plain, who were greeted by an order from the department that they must immediately cease irrigating crops on approximately 500,000 acres. This means that farmers must abandon fields that have been planted, fertilized and cultivated, at the cost of several millions of dollars, or face steep fines.

This order, in the absence of an emergency stay, will upend the local and regional economies of eastern Idaho as family farms, grain merchandisers, potato warehouses, food processors, truckers, input suppliers and equipment dealers see their business models evaporate, and as banks face the prospect of widespread defaults. The realities of our interconnected economy guarantee that widespread disruptions will be felt throughout the state, including in the Magic Valley, whose huge dairy industry, for example, relies on alfalfa from their neighbors to the east.

And many of those same banks, equipment dealers, and processors that this order will put out of business are also found in the Magic Valley and across the state. This order hurts individuals and families who have poured their lives into these businesses, owners and employees alike.

What emergency could possibly prompt such an outsize response from IDWR?

Over the last several months, our reservoir system has completely filled, over 200 billion gallons of water have been released to prevent flooding and our rivers have swollen beyond their banks. Our snowpack is above average; we have good soil moisture; and we have enjoyed a cool spring.

Yet the department, using a process intentionally designed to overestimate shortfalls, declared last month that one canal in the Magic Valley may experience a 74,100-acre-foot shortall this year. In order to avoid that possibility, the director is shutting off approximately 1 million acre-feet of irrigation. This despite the fact that the canal in question loses 660,000 acre-feet per year to inefficiencies, according to department calculations.

Yesterday afternoon, the department cynically painted groundwater users as unwilling to take action to avoid curtailment, but this portrayal is blatantly false. From 2016 through 2022 groundwater pumpers, on average, conserved (through pumping reductions and aquifer recharge) over 312,000 acre-feet of water annually  much more than was required under the 2015 settlement agreement between canal and groundwater users.

Groundwater users have offered, several times, to pay to modernize the Twin Falls Canal, but that offer has been repeatedly rejected. About five months ago, our groundwater district submitted a robust mitigation plan to the department that included aggressive reduction in groundwater-irrigated acreage, ambitious investments in system improvements, and other activities. Other groundwater districts also submitted mitigation plans to the department, but the director has ignored each one, refusing to even set a hearing date for them.

This spring, groundwater pumpers worked with neighboring canals to maximize aquifer recharge. And in May, at no small cost, groundwater irrigators leased enough storage water to fully cover our portion of the projected shortall. That mitigation water, ultimately, was rejected by the director. In short, groundwater pumpers mitigation and conservation efforts have been repeatedly blocked by the director.

Its hard to understand why the department chooses to be so openly hostile to groundwater irrigators or why they decided to inflict widespread, massive curtailment on the state in a year when water is abundantly plentiful. This is not what sound resource management looks like. Its time for Idahos elected officials to step up and demonstrate true leadership on this crucial issue. This is not how Idaho water law, which relies on both priority of time and the public policy of reasonable use of water, was ever intended to work.

Adam Young is a third-generation barley, wheat, and alfalfa grower and a member of the Bingham Ground Water Districts board of directors. His family operates 2,700 acres of irrigated farmland in Bingham County.
The South Fork of the Snake River runs for more than 60 miles across southeastern Idaho. (Courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management).

Last spring, I wrote about the Department of Water Resources change to the methodology  or process  they use to estimate water shortfalls and determine curtailments. The Departments new methodology, which entirely ignores reasonable use of Idahos water, is designed to ensure that shortfall predictions and curtailment orders will be both more frequent and more severe. I warned that this would place every acre within the boundaries of the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer, along with adjacent industries, counties, and cities, in constant jeopardy of widespread curtailment.

On Thursday, that threat became very real for thousands of farmers across the Snake River Plain, who were greeted by an order from the Department that they must immediately cease irrigating crops on approximately 500,000 acres. This means that farmers must abandon fields that have been planted, fertilized, and cultivated, at the cost of several millions of dollars, or face steep fines. This order, in the absence of an emergency stay, will upend the local and regional economies of eastern Idaho as family farms, grain merchandisers, potato warehouses, food processors, truckers, input suppliers, and equipment dealers see their business models evaporate, and as banks face the prospect of widespread defaults. The realities of our interconnected economy guarantee that widespread disruptions will be felt throughout the state, including in the Magic Valley, whose huge dairy industry, for example, relies on alfalfa from their neighbors to the east. And many of those same banks, equipment dealers, and processers that this order will put out of business are also found in the Magic Valley and across the state. This order hurts individuals and families who have poured their lives into these businesses, owners and employees alike.

What emergency could possibly prompt such an outsize response from IDWR? Over the last several months, our reservoir system has completely filled, over 200 billion gallons of water have been released to prevent flooding, and our rivers have swollen beyond their banks. Our snowpack is above average, we have good soil moisture, and we have enjoyed a cool spring. Yet the department, using a process intentionally designed to overestimate shortfalls, declared last month that one canal in the Magic Valley may experience a 74,100-acre-foot shortfall this year. In order to avoid that possibility, the director is shutting off approximately 1 million acre-feet of irrigation. This despite the fact that the canal in question loses 660,000 acre-feet per year to inefficiencies, according to department calculations.

Map ESPA Groundwater Districts

Yesterday afternoon, the department cynically painted groundwater users as unwilling to take action to avoid curtailment, but this portrayal is blatantly false. From 2016 through 2022 groundwater pumpers, on average, conserved (through pumping reductions and aquifer recharge) over 312,000 acre-feet of water annually  much more than was required under the 2015 settlement agreement between canal and groundwater users. Groundwater users have offered, several times, to pay to modernize the Twin Falls Canal, but that offer has been repeatedly rejected. About five months ago, our groundwater district submitted a robust mitigation plan to the department that included aggressive reductions in groundwater-irrigated acreage, ambitious investments in system improvements, and other activities. Other groundwater districts also submitted mitigation plans to the department, but the director has ignored each one, refusing to even set a hearing date for them. This spring, groundwater pumpers worked with neighboring canals to maximize aquifer recharge. And in May, at no small cost, groundwater irrigators leased enough storage water to fully cover our portion of the projected shortfall. That mitigation water, ultimately, was rejected by the director. In short, groundwater pumpers mitigation and conservation efforts have been repeatedly blocked by the director.

Its hard to understand why the department chooses to be so openly hostile to groundwater irrigators or why they decided to inflict widespread, massive curtailment on the state in a year when water is abundantly plentiful. This is not what sound resource management looks like. Its time for Idahos elected officials to step up and demonstrate true leadership on this crucial issue. This is not how Idaho water law, which relies on both priority of time and the public policy of reasonable use of water, was ever intended to work.

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The South Fork of the Snake River runs for more than 60 miles across southeastern Idaho. (Courtesy of the Bureau of Land Management).

Idaho Department of Water Resources Director Mathew Weaver issued a curtailment order Thursday afternoon that requires 6,400 junior groundwater rights holders who pump off the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer to shut off their water.

The order would affect groundwater users that the Idaho Department of Water Resources said are not in compliance with state mitigation plans, according to a news release the department issued Thursday.

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It is surprising to us that six groundwater districts would choose not to live by the terms of either of their approved mitigation plans and subject their members to curtailment, said Brian Patton, deputy director of Idaho Department of Water Resources, in a written statement.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little issued a statement supporting the order on Thursday afternoon.

Water curtailment is never desired, but the director must follow Idaho law and the Constitution in issuing this order, Little wrote.

The order would affect about 500,000 acres of agricultural land in eastern Idaho and the Magic Valley if the groundwater water users do not come into compliance. Groundwater users who have not participated in a groundwater district for mitigation purposes will have 15 days to join a plan or face curtailment, the Idaho Department of Water Resources said.

In a statement released Thursday night, the Idaho Groundwater Appropriators criticized the order, which it described as the single largest curtailment of water use in state history. The Idaho Groundwater Appropriators said the order would dry up hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland and could cause a hit to the states economy totaling hundreds of millions of dollars in economic losses.

What remains is an utterly absurd situation, where hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland, and their associated economic benefits, are thrown away during a wet year to cause a small amount of additional water to overflow from the aquifer into the Snake River, Idaho Groundwater Appropriators attorney TJ Budge said in a written statement Thursday night.

Under Idaho law, Weaver will issue an updated order in July that takes into account the new water supply and crop needs, the department said.

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Water rights in Idaho are governed by what is referred to as the doctrine of prior appropriation, which means first in time, first in right. When there isnt enough water to go around the senior water rights holders get their water first and junior water rights holders get shut off  or curtailed  if there is not enough water to go around.

Idaho must maintain our water sovereignty and not turn out like other western states in the Colorado River Basin, such as California, where the federal government stepped in to supersede the states control of its water, Little said in his written statement. We absolutely must conserve water for future generations, which is why the Legislature and I championed half a billion dollars in historic investments in recent years to modernize water infrastructure statewide.

My administration has been engaged on this issue for years, most recently through the formation of a Groundwater Management Plan Advisory Council, Little added. The users should determine their own destiny, and the creation of the council will continue to help them to find solutions outside government. Idahoans have always and will continue to solve our own problems, and we remain committed to working with all water users in Idaho to ensure we have a sustainable supply of water for this generation and future generations.

If we continue the status quo with water use on the Eastern Snake Plain, we are setting our children and grandchildren up for failure, Little said.

How do water rights work in Idaho?

Generally in Idaho, surface water users have senior rights, while groundwater users have junior rights.

For example, the Twin Falls Canal Co. holds senior water rights dating back to 1900. The curtailment order that Weaver issued Thursday affects groundwater users who hold junior water rights to 1954.

On April 18, Weaver issued a water methodology order for the 2024 irrigation season that determined a shortfall of 74,100 acre-feet of water to the Twin Falls Canal Co. Weaver gave junior water rights holders until May 2 to supply notices to the Idaho Department of Water Resources that they are in compliance with their approved mitigation plans, the Idaho Department of Water Resources previously announced in a May 10 press release.

Thursdays new curtailment order would apply to groundwater users that the Idaho Department of Water Resources has determined are not operating under an approved mitigation plan. Those groups include the Bingham Groundwater District, Carey Valley Groundwater District, North Snake Groundwater District, Magic Valley Groundwater District, Bonneville-Jefferson Groundwater District and the Jefferson-Clark Groundwater District.

Several other groundwater users are operating under an approved plan and will not be curtailed, including the Coalition of Cities, Southwest Irrigation District, Henrys Fork Groundwater District, Madison Groundwater District and others.

The prospect of curtailment for junior water rights holders is not a new issue. Water issues have been litigated in Idaho courtrooms for decades, with a key settlement agreement reached in 2016. More recently, the Idaho Department of Water Resources issued an order last year that contained a curtailment order that was put on hold pending a hearing with the department, the Idaho Capital Sun previously reported. Ultimately, the department didnt shut off the water last year after finding there was no water shortfall at that point last summer.

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The Israel Defense Forces said Friday that the 20-day military operation in Jabaliya has ended. The IDF reported more than 100 Hamas fighters killed. Local civil defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal said over 1,000 homes were destroyed. Photo by Jim Hollander/UPI

May 31 (UPI) -- Israel Defense Forces said Friday the military has pulled out of Gaza's Jabalia refugee camp.

The IDF said more than 100 Hamas fighters were killed and the bodies of seven hostages were retrieved in the 20-day operation.

"Our forces also eliminated hundreds of terrorists in intense close-quarters combat and located hundreds of weapons, rocket launching compounds and launchers and over 10km of tunnels -- all of which were neutralized," the IDF said on X.

Jabalia civil defense spokesman Mahmoud Basal said over 1,000 homes were destroyed in the fighting. Tens of thousands of civilians fled the area during Israel's assault.

At least 36,224 Palestinians have been killed and 81,777 injured since Oct. 7, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.

Israeli IDF forces and Hamas battle each other in the northern Gaza Strip as seen from inside Israel on May 22, 2024. On the day when Spain, Ireland and Norway announced they would recognize a Palestinian state Israel reported three of its soldiers were killed in fighting Hamas in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo by Jim Hollander/UPI

U.N. agency said about 18,500 pregnant Palestinian women have fled the city of Rafah's "unrelenting nightmare."

Israel's military invaded Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel that killed at least 1,139 while dozens of Israeli hostages taken in that attack are still held by Hamas.

Israeli 155 self-propelled Howitzer fires from southern Israeli into Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on May 7, 2024. Israel entered Rafah and took over the Keren Shalom crossing May 6 in what appeared to be a "limited" ground offensive against Hamas. Photo by Jim Hollander/UPI

According to the IDF, Hamas turned Jabalia into a fortified combat complex, firing at Israeli troops from schools and other locations where civilians were sheltering while using tunnel networks built under civilian buildings.

The IDF said two Israeli troops were killed in the Jabaliya operation bringing the total number of troops killed in Gaza to 294.

Hamas said Thursday it won't negotiate in cease-fire talks "in light of [Israel's] aggression, killing, siege, starvation and genocide of our people."

A key aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday that the Gaza war could continue for the rest of the year.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  Several Illinois politicians on both sides of the aisle are reacting to former President Donald Trumps guilty convictions in his hush money criminal case.

Trump found guilty on all 34 counts in hush money case

Chicago mayor Brandon Johnson said justice is served after the verdict was announced.

Donald Trump is a con artist, a bigot, and an embarrassment of a former president, Johnson said on social media. And now, he is a convicted felon.

Democratic Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker echoed the mayors statement.

Donald Trump is a racist, a homophobe, a grifter, and a threat to this country, Pritzker stated on social media. He can now add one more title to his list  a felon.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) said the trial proves no one is above the law.

Consistent with the rule of law, a jury of his peers found the former president guilty on all counts, Durbin said. Todays verdict is another reminder that Donald Trump is unfit for public service. Now, it is up to the American people to decide if he is worthy of the seat behind the Resolute desk in the Oval Office.

Trump pardon power wouldnt reach hush money verdict

Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) called the judicial process a sham.

The trial, along with all the character attacks, campaign interference and Hollywood cameos that surrounded it, had one purpose: to weaken President Trump before the 2024 election, Bost said in a statement. It wont work. Even after todays verdict, he is strengthened with an American public that is fed up with liberals weaponizing the legal system for their partisan political gain.

Rep. Mary Miller agreed. She visited the courtroom during the trial earlier this month.

The Democrat judge instructed the jury to find President Trump guilty if only 4 out of 12 of them agreed on a crime, she wrote on social media. The anti-Trump witnesses admitted to lying under oath. The corrupt prosecutor was sent by the Biden DOJ!

Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) believes the conviction will be overturned on appeal.

Prosecutors are taught to prosecute crimes, not people, LaHood said. The charges brought in the NY case against President Trump by a politically motivated DA seeking to fulfill a campaign promise would not have been rendered against anyone else. Prior DAs, federal prosecutors, and the FEC chose not to move forward or indict this case.

Will Trump go to jail?

Former Democratic Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, who was found guilty of public corruption in 2008 and impeached and removed from office in 2009, said he loves Trump today more than ever. He also called for the Dem Judge and Dem prosecutors should go right to Fn jail.

When youve lived through it yourself you recognize when they do it to someone else, Blagojevich said. The political fix was in from the beginning. Disgraceful and corrupt convictions of the leading candidate from the opposition party by a handpicked politicized Dem judge who denied a former President a chance to put on a defense and allowed ridiculously unlawful jury instructions.

State Parties responses

Illinois Republican Party chairman Don Tracy said the verdict comes after democrat activist investigators hounded Trump for years.

Lets call this trial what it really is: a political prosecution the likes of which occurs in banana republics but not previously in these United States, Illinois Republican Party chairman Don Tracy said. This weaponization of the judicial system has weakened our country here and in the eyes of the world, which Im sure President Biden will savor while he vacations in Delaware as his handlers make critical decisions for the country.

Can Trump still vote after being convicted of 34 felonies?

When asked by WCIA for comment, the Illinois Democratic Party shared the Biden campaigns statement.

Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain, Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director Michael Tyler said. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.

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The jury in Donald Trumps criminal hush money trial has found the former president guilty of all 34 felony counts against him.

Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, making him the first former president to be convicted of a felony.

Illinois politicians have shared the following statements on the verdict:

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker

Donald Trump is a racist, a homophobe, a grifter, and a threat to this country. He can now add one more title to his list  a felon.

Illinois State Rep. Mike Bost

New Yorks six-week sham trial against President Trump has eroded the publics trust in our legal system in a way that will take years to overcome.

The trial, along with all the character attacks, campaign interference and Hollywood cameos that surrounded it, had one purpose: to weaken President Trump before the 2024 election. It wont work.

Even after todays verdict, he is strengthened with an American public that is fed up with liberals weaponizing the legal system for their partisan political gain.

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"I'm At A Loss For Words": People Are Shocked After Nikki Haley Wrote "Finish Them" On Artillery Shells In Israel

You know former Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley.

Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images

Over Memorial Day weekend, Haley flew to Israel, where she spoke with victims of the Oct. 7 Hamas attack...

For those who don't know, Hamas militants killed around 1,200 people in Israel during an Oct. 7 attack. Since then, Israel has responded with air and ground attacks that have killed over 35,000 Palestinians  a number that continues to grow. Amir Levy / Getty Images

...and Haley also visited an Israeli military post.

Amir Levy / Getty Images

Now, the former South Carolina governor is facing backlash for a series of photos taken at the post by her travel companion, Danny Danon, a member of Israels parliament. In the photos, Haley can be seen signing her name on Israeli artillery shells and including messages like "Finish them! and America loves Israel!

Finish them!    ,  ,           .     -    ,   ."  ! pic.twitter.com/qvLNCXPl7o  Danny Danon    (@dannydanon) May 28, 2024

Twitter: @dannydanon

And while we cannot know when, where, and how these shells will be used, Haley's actions come amidst growing sentiments for a ceasefire following an Israeli air strike (and resulting fire) on a camp meant for displaced Palestinians in the city of Rafah.

According to the BBC, at least 45 people were killed in the attack and hundreds more wounded.

In response to wide criticism the attack faced for killing everyday people, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said during a parliament address: Despite our utmost efforts not to harm innocent civilians, last night there was a tragic mishap. We are investigating the incident and will obtain a conclusion because this is our policy.

According to the BBC, over 47 million people responded to the tragedy by sharing this viral AI-generated image, including celebrities like Dua Lipa, Gigi Hadid, and Lewis Hamilton...

Twitter: @InsiderWorld_1

...which fueled outrage by the time Haley's "Finish them!" messaging started making the rounds online.

genuinely speechless at the kind of sick person youd have to be to do this. https://t.co/lZ8OlTylXY  Maria  (@mariactweets) May 30, 2024

Twitter: @mariactweets

One wonders if they know that their behavior breeds and fosters hate and desire for vengeance, and one wonders if they care. https://t.co/cJbvTDxpRY  elfaitur   (@elfaitur) May 30, 2024

Twitter: @elfaitur

everytime i see this im at a loss for words because how can someone be like this https://t.co/znKs2t0iNT  cher | active? (@chersmle) May 30, 2024

Twitter: @chersmle

who the FUCK signs goddamn bombs I'm sick of these people https://t.co/HN5PN9ZNWC  hanalia evermore guardian (@liasivygrows) May 30, 2024

Twitter: @liasivygrows

This is utterly disgusting and im fucking embarrassed that people like this are allowed to run for office. What a joke. https://t.co/eBlY369jtd  lynny | paris n1 attendes DNI (@lynlovestaytay) May 30, 2024

Twitter: @lynlovestaytay

This is depraved. This is not normal. https://t.co/hs0r3abF6s  Nina Turner (@ninaturner) May 28, 2024

Twitter: @ninaturner

Following her trip, Haley has shared her own thoughts on the war. "No other country would accept this," she wrote on Twitter, "Israel should not either."

Sean Rayford / Getty Images
For Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, attorney Meisheng Echo King discussed her efforts in promoting justice and equality in Floridas Asian American community.

King practiced immigration law for over a decade, and her passion for helping immigrants stemmed from being an immigrant and understanding the different perspectives that contribute to society.

I have many clients I know just on a personal level, King said. I know them, I understand them.

Her experience as an immigration attorney shaped her perspective on the need for a good system to support immigrants.

Now, she advocates for justice in a new way through the Florida Asian American Justice Alliance, which she co-founded and is the current president.

Read: Im here to connect: Liaison to the Asian community shares experience working for Orange County

It started with SB 264, a complex law restricting foreign immigrants from owning land, including those from China. King said that she received a text when the bill was signed into law in March 2023, and based on her background in fighting for immigrants rights, she was eager to take action.

So I read it, and then I think its not fair, its unconstitutional, she said. Its discriminatory against Chinese immigrants, and also some immigrants, some people from other countries as well.

In Feb. 2024, an appeals court decision temporarily blocked the law from being enforced on two individual plaintiffs. King said the organization has fought to amend the law for a year, and the law is still in effect for Chinese citizens and other restricted groups.

But the work of FAAJ doesnt stop there.

Read: Sparks Magazine at UCF celebrates AAPI Heritage Month

And thats how we decided to form an organization for the Asian American Justice Alliance, because we feel like our voices were not being heard, King said. And we would feel like our presence, we were not being seen, we are invisible.

The nonprofit also focuses on civic engagement, endorsing candidates, and developing youth leadership skills. King said its important to give children the avenue to understand what they can achieve.

So we are trying to provide a wider platform and also tools for the kids to develop, if they are interested in pursuing later, like, for example, (a) political career or government positions, she said.

Read: Orlando woman whose husband was killed in hate crime featured in campaign urging inclusion

King emphasized the need for more Asian American voices, given the underrepresentation in elected offices. Some issues may get overlooked, but getting involved is the first step.

She said it is not traditional for Asian families to teach practices of speaking up, and theyre typically modeled to keep their heads down, work hard and focus on education.

Thats why were hoping that through our organization, through our efforts, we can encourage more Asian American people to stand up to voice our concerns, King said. And also let the public and the elected officials and the general public know that we have issues, we have concerns, and also this type of law, when it passed, it really caused, you know, concerns and also the Asian hate, those crimes will increase as well.

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DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, May 31. The National Bank of Tajikistan and the Silk Road Fund of China discussed the establishment of a joint investment platform, Trend reports.

As per the National Bank, the chairman of the Tajikistan bank, Firdavs Tolibzoda, emphasized that strengthening and developing bilateral relations with China is one of Tajikistan's priority directions in foreign policy.

He also highlighted Tajikistan's active participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, noting that cooperation within this initiative has been growing annually.

In this regard, he urged an increase in China's capital in Tajik credit organizations and insurance companies. It was noted that Tajikistan has created favorable conditions for the opening of foreign banks and their branches, with no obstacles to investment in the banking and insurance sectors.

The General Director of the Silk Road Fund, Cai Xuejun, in turn, shared his views on China's contribution to Tajikistan's economy, the potential for foreign investment in the banking system, and other areas of cooperation.

Both parties expressed confidence that the signing of the memorandum of understanding on the establishment of the Chinese-Tajik joint investment platform would contribute to achieving the goals set forth in the meeting.
Immigration checkpoint at Tijuana airport used to extort newcomers, official says

SAN DIEGO (Border Report)  Mexicos National Institute of Migration (INM) has a checkpoint at the Tijuana airport to provide direction and information for migrants, but Enrique Lucero, director of Tijuanas Migrant Affairs Office, says the agents assigned to the area are doing anything but helping.

3 drivers killed in cartel fight for migrants flying into Juarez airport

He says the agents are using the checkpoint as a way to identify and then demand money from migrants.

This filter has been in operation for years, and its always been questioned as to why its there since the migrants have already cleared customs in Mexico, Lucero said. They should respect the migrants human rights and provide them with information instead of trying to extort money from them.

Agents search womans phone, find Telegram chat used by 1,000 smugglers

Lucero added migrants are often threatened especially those who express intentions of crossing unlawfully into the United States.

He says he has made his concerns known to directors within INM.

We cant make them feel like they are delinquents, and its important to note they are victims, we cant lie to them and then victimize them even more, Lucero said.

Biden is said to be finalizing plans for migrant limits as part of a US-Mexico border clampdown

Lucero said signs detailing migrant rights in Mexico are being posted inside terminals at Tijuanas airport, adding that information related to the CBP One app will also be made widely available.

The app provides asylum-seekers with appointments so they can gain legal access to the U.S. and begin their asylum cases instead of leaning on smugglers to get them across the border.

Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border

This information will be posted not only here but at foreign airports where the migrants are coming from, said Lucero. We need to do all of this to protect and prevent migrants from unlawfully crossing into the U.S. and becoming victims.

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Imprisoned former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder pleads not guilty to new charges

CLEVELAND (AP)  Imprisoned former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder pleaded not guilty Friday to 10 additional felony counts brought against him by the state.

Attorneys for Householder, 64, entered the plea in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court during an arraignment streamed from Elkton Federal Correctional Institution, where hes serving 20 years for racketeering in the largest corruption case in state history.

Judge Brendan Sheehan granted a request from Householders legal team to conduct the hearing remotely. Householder, wearing a prison uniform, did not speak during the hearing or look directly at the camera.

Once one of Ohios most powerful politicians, Householder was convicted in March 2023 for his role in orchestrating a $60 million bribery scheme funded by Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. to elect allies, secure power and then pass a $1 billion bailout of two of its affiliated nuclear plants and defend the bill from a repeal effort.

Ohio politicians react after Trump found guilty in hush money trial

Householder has appealed that conviction, arguing that federal prosecutors overstepped their authority and that the money was raised legally into a 501(c)(4) dark money group. Both FirstEnergy and the nonprofit group Generation Now have admitted guilt in the case, which is ongoing.

The states case charges two former FirstEnergy executives  ex-CEO Chuck Jones and Senior Vice President Michael Dowling  on a combined 22 counts, including engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, bribery, telecommunications fraud and money laundering. Both have pleaded not guilty.

Another man the state charged, Sam Randazzo, former chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, pleaded not guilty before dying by suicide this month.

Charges brought by Republican Attorney General Dave Yost against Householder include one count of theft in office, two counts of aggravated theft, one count of telecommunications fraud, one count of money laundering, and five counts of tampering with records.

The states indictment alleges that Householder misused campaign funds to pay for his criminal defense in his federal case and failed to disclose fiduciary relationships, creditors and gifts on required ethics filings, including in relation to the bailout bill, known as House Bill 6.

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FILE - A doctor checks a child, who is suffering from gastroenteritis due to hot weather, at a hospital in Hyderabad, Pakistan, on May 23, 2024. A new study by the United Nations childrens agency released on Friday May 31, 2024 says developing resilient energy systems to power health facilities in Pakistan could avert over 175,000 deaths by 2030. (AP Photo/Pervez Masih, File)

ISLAMABAD (AP)  Developing resilient energy systems to power health facilities in Pakistan could avert over 175,000 deaths in the country by 2030, a new new study by the United Nations childrens agency said Friday.

It would also contribute $296 million to the countrys fragile economy over the next 20 years by reducing maternal, adult and infant mortality, UNICEF said. Conducted by the agency's Economist Impact Unit, the study comes as Pakistan is experiencing an intense heatwave that has sickened thousands of people, further burdening the country's health care system.

Temperatures in various parts of Pakistan soared as high as 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) Friday.

Authorities were also battling forest fires, which Pakistan has been experiencing during heatwaves in recent years. Near the capital, Islamabad, a fire broke out on Thursday but officials have yet to determine whether it was caused by the high temperatures.

Plumes of smoke were seen rising from the hills around Islamabad as firefighting helicopters flew overhead to douse the flames.

Amid soaring temperatures, authorities urged people to stay indoors, hydrate and avoid unnecessary travel. Demand for power has surged because of the high temperatures, putting a strain on existing electricity sources.

UNICEF said resilient energy refers to reliable, flexible, accessible and quality power supplies that can withstand and recover quickly from unanticipated shocks, such as power outages and floods.

It said more resilient energy supplies for schools would reduce dropout rates and improve childrens learning so they can earn more in the future.

Children depend on schools, health centers and safe drinking water for their survival, yet these facilities often dont have the electricity supply to function optimally. As the current heatwave grips the country, electricity needs have skyrocketed, leading to shortfalls that can endanger childrens health, said Abdullah Fadil, the UNICEF representative in Pakistan.

UNICEF said 3.5 billion people live without reliable power worldwide.

It said climate change is contributing to the disruption of generation and distribution of energy in Pakistan, where floods triggered by climate-induced monsoon rains in 2022 killed 1,739 people. It said almost half of the water infrastructure, such as storage tanks, wells and supply lines, was damaged by the floods.

This year, Pakistan recorded its wettest April since 1961 with more than double the usual rainfall for the month. Heavy rains last month killed scores of people and destroyed property and farmland.

Daytime temperatures in May have soared as much as 8 C (14 F) above average temperatures for the month over the last 20 years, raising fears of flooding in the northwest because of glacial melting.

UNICEF said it helped restore water systems for 350,000 people in 375 locations after the 2022 floods and has also implemented several solar electrification initiatives in Pakistan.

Pakistan has an abundance of renewable resources and by investing in them we are tapping into a goldmine to help children, Fadil said. "We need the private sector to play a bigger role as public sector resources will not be enough. This is everybodys business.
A metal plated on a door at the Schara Tzedeck synagogue is blackened, Friday, May 31, 2024, in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver says an "incendiary device" was thrown at the front doors of the synagogue and police are investigating. (Ethan Cairns/The Canadian Press via AP)

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (AP)  The Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver said Friday an incendiary device was thrown at the front doors of a synagogue in what Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called a disgusting act of antisemitism.

Vancouver police said the case was being investigated as an act of arson and possible hate crime.

The federation said in a statement the incident occurred at the Schara Tzedeck synagogue at around 9:30 p.m. on Thursday and that damage was minor and no one was hurt.

The federation calls the alleged incident a deliberate act of hate and an attempt to intimidate the Jewish community.

Rabbi Andrew Rosenblatt said people were inside the synagogue after services around 9:20 p.m. on Thursday when they heard a bang outside.

But it was a passerby who alerted them that their building was on fire, before a member of the synagogue put out the flames with his jacket, said Rosenblatt while pointing to the scorched front door on Friday morning.

The federation said the Vancouver Police Department and a fire inspector searched the building before declaring it safe to be reopened. Extra police patrols are being put in place at local Jewish institutions.

The incident comes after bullet holes were found at two Jewish schools in Montreal and Toronto in recent days.

A synagogue in Vancouver was attacked last night in another disgusting act of antisemitism," Trudeau said on X, formerly known as Twitter. "We cannot let this hate or these acts of violence stand. This is not the Canada we want to be.
At their request, Indiana Solicitor General James Barta  who defended the state's abortion ban  takes a photo of plaintiffs in the case Friday May 31 outside the Marion County Courthouse. (Mia HIlkowitz/Indiana Capital Chronicle)

Abortion providers asserted during closing arguments Friday that narrow medical exemptions and a hospital requirement under the states near-total abortion ban deprive Hoosiers of their constitutional right to get the procedure when necessary to protect their health.

Many pregnant Hoosiers have suffered and continue to suffer due to the health or life exception, said Allyson Slater, an attorney for Wilmer Culter Pickering Hale & Dorr, representing the providers.

Slater, along with Indiana Solicitor General James Barta  who represented the defense  delivered closing arguments to conclude a three-day bench trial in which abortion providers are seeking to widen medical exemptions under 2022s Senate Enrolled Act 1 and remove a requirement that stripped abortion clinics of their licenses to perform the procedure.

This doesnt interfere with doctors ability to provide good care, Barta told reporters after the trial. What doctors do when they cant provide abortions, is they treat the woman in front of them.

Owen County Special Judge Kelsey Blake Hanlon, a Republican, will issue a ruling in the case in the coming weeks or months.

Final words

Slater called abortion safe, effective health care.

She described the health or life exception  which allows a woman to receive an abortion only if the procedure is necessary to prevent death or a serious health risk  as unclear and misaligned with medical ethics.

Slater argued that abortion isnt the only treatment for physical and mental health conditions but is one option. However, she said expectant management, where a physician closely monitors a patient but does not give treatment unless symptoms appear or change, is not an appropriate option for some patients.

She also argued that the laws hospital requirement poses overwhelming and sometimes insurmountable burdens even on Hoosiers who qualify for an abortion. Some Indiana hospitals dont provide abortions, so women may travel to other states.

Abortion bans harm patients, they make pregnancy less safe and all people, including all Hoosiers, deserve access to the full spectrum of health care, Melissa Shube, an attorney for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, said following closing arguments.

The plaintiffs also argued the law will have a chilling effect on doctors who fear prosecution for delivering care.

The doctors were clear that the conditions may not require abortion for all patients and its the flexibility of the doctor to reach the right outcome and the right treatment for patient that were seeking to vindicate, Lori Martin, another attorney for Wilmer Culter Pickering Hale & Dorr, said following closing arguments.

But Barta argued the case should ultimately focus on what the Indiana Constitution and Indiana Supreme Court ruling say.

He asserted the Indiana Supreme Court set a high bar for challenges to the law when it upheld the ban in June 2023. The court ruled that the state constitution protects a womans right to an abortion if it is necessary to protect her life or from a serious health risk, but it does not protect a fundamental right to the procedure in all circumstances.

The court was very clear that if you want to challenge the health or life exception, you need to have a specific person, or specific scenario that the courts can actually evaluate, he said following closing arguments. Thats not what we have here.

Barta said said the law provides physicians with enough leeway to exercise reasonable medical judgment and decide if they need to terminate a pregnancy.

As for the hospital requirement, Barta said the state does not guarantee a right to have an abortion outside a hospital. While it may be cheaper or easier for some patients to access care in an abortion clinic, he said it is not necessary.

Final witness

Earlier in the day, the Indiana Attorney Generals Office  representing the defendants  called its final witness, Dr. Monique Wubbenhorst, an OB-GYN at St. Josephs Regional Medical Center in Mishawaka.

In her testimony, Wubbenhorst said she thinks the laws text is easily understandable, refuting plaintiff witness claims that the health or life exception is too vague.

Wubbenhorst said she believed nothing in Senate Enrolled Act 1 prevents doctors from exercising their own reasonable medical judgment in determining treatment for their patients. She described herself as pro-life during cross examination. She said human life begins at conception and was personally opposed to abortion, even in cases of rape or incest.

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Although Wubbenhorst has been an OB-GYN for more than 30 years, she acknowledged during cross examination that she does not have any certification in maternal fetal medicine. She also said she has never referred a patient for an abortion and has declined to perform an abortion in her medical residency.

But Wubbenhorst said her personal views dont impact her ability to treat patients, noting complications associated with receiving an abortion were underreported.

She also stated she did not think abortion should be referred to as health care.

Because (embryos and fetuses) are human beings, no procedure that kills human beings is health care, Wubbenhorst said.

Prominent medical groups  including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American Medical Association and World Health Organization  recognize abortion as health care, however.

The post Indianas abortion ban back in the hands of judge after closing arguments appeared first on Indiana Capital Chronicle.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita sent a letter to West Lafayette and two other Indiana cities and Monroe County on Friday, threatening to pursue legal action by July 1 if these government entities refused to rescind any sanctuary city policies they had in place.

Todd Rokita, Indiana Attorney General listens to concerned citizens regarding Indianas Economic Development Corp.'s LEAP project, at the Lafayette Army National Reserve building, on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.

In a statement, Rokita states that these letters come in response to a law that the Indiana General Assembly passed earlier this year, allowing the attorney general to file lawsuits against any Indiana colleges, universities or local governments not enforcing current Indiana laws banning sanctuary city.

The flood of illegal immigrants entering the United States is a problem that harms all of us, Attorney General Rokita said in a statement. The ones paying the price for this lawlessness are Hoosier taxpayers, who must bear increased costs for health care, education and other services used by illegal immigrants.

A sanctuary city is a term for a local unit of government that has adopted a policy to deliberately and intentionally disregard federal law and not cooperate with federal immigration authorities, according to Rokitas statement in a news release published Friday.

However, when reviewing West Lafayettes legislative history, the city never passed a policy establishing itself as a sanctuary city. Instead adopting a resolution in 2017 that stopped short of establishing that status.

The resolution indicated that local policies must not target communities based on perceived immigration status in order to support the police-community relationships built up over the years with the immigrant community, ensuring that they are comfortable reporting crime as witnesses or victim.

As well as noting that any city employee or agency of the city of West Lafayette shall not request information about or investigate or assist in the investigation of the citizenship or immigration status of any person unless a court order requires such inquiry or the investigation.

When asked to comment about Rokita's threats to take legal action on July 1, West Lafayette Mayor Erin Easter said the city was currently reviewing the attorney general's letter with the city's legal counsel.

The Journal and Courier also called West Lafayette City Councilman David Sanders, one of the original sponsors of this resolution.

Looking at what Todd Rokita is saying, there is absolutely zero reference to any unwillingness to cooperate with federal authorities, which is what hes saying that we declared in our resolution. We say nothing of the sort, Sanders said.

What we say is that we, as a city, value all immigrants. We acknowledge that people who are undocumented have violated immigration law which is mentioned in the preamble," Sanders said. But what we say is, that the city itself will not inquire into immigration status of people.

"That is not, not working with federal authorities," he said. "We say nothing of the sort. Its just that what were saying is the immigration status of people is not something we, as a city, should be inquiring into and engage in discrimination."

In 2017, political discussions over immigration status were a topic that concerned foreign students and faculty across the nation regarding their safety. This was especially true for the students and faculty at Purdue University, Sanders noted.

Due to the university's proximity to West Lafayette, the city is and was a city full of immigrant students and faculty. This, in turn, led city officials to approve the resolution in hopes of addressing the concerns of immigrant students and faculty.

Its unclear how the city will address Rokitas threat. Sanders said that before they approved the resolution, the city had its legal counsel review the resolution ensuring it did not violate Indiana code at the time.

Sanders believes Rokita's threat is ultimately just "political theater."

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Attorney General Rokita threatens to sue West Lafayette
Update: This vehicle was located. The hit-and-run crash investigation is still ongoing as of Friday.

INDIANAPOLIS  Police are asking for the publics help locating a vehicle suspected in a deadly hit-and-run crash with a go-kart Monday night.

The car is a 2007 silver or champagne Chevy Tahoe with damage to the front drivers side. It may not be carrying a license plate.

Police on Friday said their search for the SUV is in connection with the crash that struck a go-kart carrying two people on the east side of Indianapolis. One of the kart's passengers, 31-year-old Ambra Alcozer died. The other passenger, a man, was injured.

Indianapolis police are searching for a 2007 Chevy Tahoe, pictured in this stock photo, suspected in a May 27, 2024 deadly hit-and-run crash with a go-kart that killed a woman.

Indianapolis police responded to the scene, in the 1500 block of Fenton Avenue, about 10 p.m. Monday. The driver of the SUV fled after the crash.

Anyone with information can contact IMPDs Crash Investigations at 317-327-6549. Anonymous tips can be made to Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.

Contact reporter Sarah Nelson at sarah.nelson@indystar.com

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indianapolis police found Chevy involved in deadly go-kart crash
Indigenous efforts help restore ecologically important plant: 'We are spiritually connected to it'

Great Lakes tribes are reviving the wild rice population, an ecologically important wetland species, after two centuries of decline.

According to reporting in Mongabay, wild rice, native to the Great Lakes, is an important plant to the Anishinaabe people, who are composed of Ojibwe, Chippewa, Odawa, Potawatomi, Algonquin, Mississauga, and other Indigenous peoples. Natively known as manoomin or "food that grows on water," it grows in muddy, shallow lakes and rivers and is harvested in the late summer and fall.

Wild rice covered thousands of lake beds in the Great Lakes region in the 1800s. Then, in the 1900s, human interference caused the wild rice population to decline. Logging, dams, railroads, and farmlands changed the water chemistry and destroyed almost two-thirds of the wetlands. Mining and manufacturing also polluted the water with toxic chemicals.

Today, rising temperatures threaten the rice's future. The seeds are supposed to grow while submerged in snow and ice, but the lack of snow coverage has made that difficult. In addition, flooding, tornadoes, and other storms have made the species vulnerable.

That is starting to change, per Mongabay. Joe Graveen, a ricer who learned from his elders, is the program manager of the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians in Wisconsin. The group launched a program in 2017 to restore wild rice on the reservation.

Late last summer, their work had paid off. Wild rice was once again in the Lac du Flambeau's lakes. Graveen believes it was the first wild rice grown there in 20 years.

This is also good news because wild rice plays a vital role in their ceremonies. Graveen explained: "We are spiritually connected to it. It's always been a part of who we are as Anishinaabe people."

Lake Superior Chippewa Indians aren't the only tribes reviving the wild rice. Others in nearby states and Canada are doing so with the help of partners like federal, state, and intertribal agencies, as well as funding initiatives and nongovernmental organizations.

This rice also plays a huge part in biodiversity, as Mongabay reported. It's a food source for many birds, including the vulnerable rusty blackbird, trumpeter swan, and common loon. The rice beds are also a home for juvenile fish who eat insects and are sheltered from predators, while wetland mammals such as beavers, muskrats, and river otters inhabit the beds.

In addition, wild rice plays an integral part in the environment by maintaining the water quality by absorbing nutrients and preventing buildup.

Wild rice isn't the only wetland species being revived. Because of conservation efforts in Pakistan, mangroves tripled in population between 1986 and 2020. Elsewhere in California, an endangered frog is thriving thanks to a multiyear restoration program.

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Just moments following former President Donald Trumps guilty verdict on 34 counts in his hush money case in New York, WinRed, the Republican fundraising platform, crashed due to an influx of supporters flocking to the site to donate to the presumptive Republican nominee.

Minutes after the verdict, a fundraising link was posted on Trumps campaign website, reading, I was just convicted in a rigged political witch hunt trial Your support is the only thing standing between us and total tyranny.

The campaign also requested that members of Congress who had been endorsed by Trump also send out the link, according to a source familiar. Almost instantly, it was overwhelmed, shutting down WinRed for almost 30 minutes.

From just minutes after the verdict, the digital fundraising system has been hit with record numbers of supporters. The traffic is so large that it is causing intermittent delays, Brian Hughes, a Trump Campaign spokesperson, said in a statement.

The campaign is grateful for this massive outpouring of support because it shows that Americans have seen this sham trial as the political election interference that Biden and Democrats have always intended. President Trump is fighting to save our nation and every level of support helps keep the fight going. November 5th is the day Americans will deliver the real verdict!

The exact amount of how much Trump has raised since his historic conviction is unknown.

How Trumps Cheapness Over Stormy and Cohen Came to Cost So Much

However, Trump and his supporters werent the only ones who were fundraising off of the verdict. Democrats immediately started sending out emails asking for donations to their campaigns including Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Wiley Nickel (D-NC) and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

We'll keep this short because things are changing RAPIDLY: A jury just found Donald Trump GUILTY of purposefully falsifying business records AND violating election law by concealing hush money payments to prevent damaging information from coming out ahead of the 2016 presidential race, the DCCC said in an email. You helped kick Trump OUT of power. With your continued support, we can make sure his cronies in the House get kicked out too.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, May 31. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, Sirojiddin Muhriddin, and the President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Alvaro Lario, discussed bilateral cooperation in the agriculture sector, Trend reports.

According to the Tajik ministry, the meeting centered on the progress of Tajikistan's governmental strategies and programs in agriculture and food security. Additionally, discussions encompassed concerns regarding water, climate change, and the forthcoming Third Dushanbe Water Conference.

To note, these talks took place during the Third Ministerial Meeting "Central Asia  Italy" in Rome.

On the sidelines of this event, Minister Muhriddin also met with the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, Terhi Hakala. Their dialogue delved into ways to enhance cooperation between Tajikistan and the EU across political, economic, and security domains. Moreover, they exchanged perspectives on the prevailing regional and global situations.
Eugene Gino Gordon has been homeless in Miami Beach for about four years.

Each afternoon, Gordon, 45, attempts to scrape together some cash by throwing a small party on the sand in South Beach, selling wristbands to tourists and providing music and drinks. From midnight to 7 a.m., he works an informal security gig at a hotel restaurant on Ocean Drive. In exchange, the workers feed him breakfast.

During the hours in between, Gordon, a Chicago native, tries to get some sleep.

On Friday, May 3, Gordon dozed off on a beach chair near Fifth Street, covering himself with a sweater and an umbrella overhead. Shortly after 10 p.m., he was awoken by police officers and denied being homeless, according to a police report, telling the officers he didnt want to be placed in a shelter.

Gordon was subsequently arrested on two city-ordinance violations: being in a park or beach after hours  the beach closes to the public at 10 p.m.  and camping, a law that Miami Beach officials strengthened in October to facilitate the arrest of homeless people who sleep outside and decline shelter placement.

Eugene Gordon holds an umbrella on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Miami Beach.

Late last year, police arrested about 20 people under the revised camping law. But enforcement was sparse in the first few months of 2024 as public defenders and advocates questioned its application.

Now, amid growing pressure from elected officials to decrease the citys unsheltered homeless population, camping arrests have again become common in recent weeks. Thirty-one people have been charged with the offense since April 26, according to police spokesperson Christopher Bess. Some were sleeping on the beach. Some were in public parks. Others were outside business doorways.

Enforcement has intensified due to the completion of additional training sessions, Bess said. Officers have gained a greater comfort level in utilizing this tool as a result of discussions on the practical application of the ordinance during training.

Bess said there have been several documented instances of individuals accepting shelter before a camping arrest.

But Gordon, who has been arrested about a dozen times since 2021, said it represents an escalation of the already harsh treatment of homeless people by Miami Beach police. In 2019, the Miami Herald reported that two-thirds of cases under a municipal prosecutor program aimed at addressing nuisance crimes involved homeless defendants. So far this year, about 35% of arrests in the city have been of people classified as homeless, according to city records.

I dont feel like homelessness is enough of a crime to arrest somebody and turn their life upside down, Gordon said in an interview. Everybody is one step away from being homeless.

READ MORE: DeSantis praised a Miami Beach homeless law. Is it as compassionate as the mayor says?

The change to the sleeping law last year came in response to resident complaints about the citys homeless population and narrowly passed the City Commission despite concerns from advocates that it would effectively make unsheltered homelessness a crime. Gov. Ron DeSantis praised the city law at a March press conference in Miami Beach as he signed legislation seeking to prevent outdoor sleeping statewide.

Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner touted the ordinance as a compassionate approach and a form of tough love, giving people an opportunity to enter a shelter.

But Gordon  who said he ended up on the street after a bag containing all of his identification was stolen, preventing him from procuring housing  doesnt see it that way.

It is inhumane, Gordon said, adding that Miami Beach police love to arrest people that are homeless. I have seen them pass by tourists on the beach [after hours] and come to me because they know me.

In response, Bess, the police spokesperson, said Gordon has repeatedly disregarded warnings to refrain from engaging in vending activities in specified areas of the Beach.

Gordon stands by the ocean on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, in Miami Beach.

Gordon has previously faced charges that include trespassing, cannabis possession and possession of untaxed beverages. Last year, he was arrested on a charge of misdemeanor battery, a case that resulted in a withhold of adjudication. Records show that none of the arrests led to convictions.

Things are only getting harder for homeless people, Gordon said. In addition to enforcing the camping law, police have been targeting unauthorized food and beverage sales by backpack vendors on the beach, a priority of the City Commission in recent months.

It has made it a lot more difficult for people to be able to make a halfway living for themselves, Gordon said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, left, listens to Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner speak during an event at the Rum Room in Miami Beach on Feb. 2, 2024.

Im not doing anything wrong

Miami Beachs homeless population was counted at 154 people in January, a 34% decrease from a year prior, according to the Miami-Dade Homeless Trust.

On Wednesday, several unhoused people in Miami Beach told the Miami Herald they understand the challenge that city officials face in trying to cater to residents and tourists and keep them safe, particularly given the mental-health and addiction struggles within the homeless population. But they also said its unfair for police to target those who are simply trying to get back on their feet.

Jorge, 36, who declined to provide his last name, said he became homeless about a month ago after losing a job as a chef in Miami Lakes and sending his remaining money to family in Venezuela. He said he has yet to be arrested but only because he has been careful about where he sleeps, doing his best to blend in with tourists.

Im not doing anything wrong, he said in Spanish. All these people are trying to do is get a job, get ahead and move on.

On Lincoln Road, a man who identified himself as Buddha acknowledged that he sells drugs in Miami Beach and said he has been arrested dozens of times since 2016. He said he obtained a Realtor license in an effort to get off the street but has recently found himself homeless for a third time.

The man said he has made use of homeless-outreach services that the city offers. They include helping secure bus tickets and food stamps. But he said its getting really hard to be homeless in Miami Beach. In addition to the outdoor sleeping law, he pointed to a recent move by commissioners to deactivate electrical outlets on Lincoln Road to try to prevent unhoused people from being able to charge their phones.

Elected officials have been clear that making it more difficult to be homeless in the city is their intent.

We want to discourage camping and sleeping in public places, Commissioner David Suarez said during a January discussion about the electrical outlets.

Commissioner Joseph Magazine added during the discussion that there is a clear correlation between cities that provide incentives and make it easy to be homeless and the amount of homeless [people] that they attract.

Our residents have been loud and clear that we are a compassionate city, but allowing people to just charge their iPhones to live out on Lincoln Road is not the type of city that we want to be, he said.

Miami Beach City Commission approves $64,000 for "electronic timers" to deactivate electrical outlets on Lincoln Road so homeless people can't use them to charge their phones. Outlets will be deactivated except when restaurants are using them.



Details: https://t.co/23lk0vzEA0  Aaron Leibowitz (@aaron_leib) April 3, 2024

Miami Beach officials have sought to justify the camping ordinance by trumpeting $2.7 million in the city budget for a team of caseworkers and a walk-in center for the homeless population. And they have argued that, if a shelter bed is available but not accepted, arrest is an appropriate alternative. (Miami Beach does not have any shelter beds but has designated beds at facilities in the city of Miami.)

After last months killing of a homeless transgender woman, Andrea Doria Dos Passos, while she slept outside the Miami City Ballet, City Commissioner Alex Fernandez told the Miami Herald the goal of the camping ordinance is to get vulnerable individuals like Andrea into a safe space.

But some say shelter conditions  coupled with a lack of long-term affordable housing  can make the streets feel like their best option. The man on Lincoln Road said he stayed in a Miami shelter one night and found it horrible.

It was worse than outside, he said.

Gordon has never stayed in a shelter, he said, because he doesnt believe it would be safe.

I will not go because I see the people that come from the shelters, he said. They come out looking more stressed than when they went in.

On May 24 around 11 p.m., Gordon faced another arrest for lying on the sand in South Beach. He was charged with trespassing after a warning  based on his arrest three weeks earlier  and with entering a park after hours. Gordon pleaded not guilty, as he did in the camping case. Both cases are pending.

As he continues to live outdoors, Gordon said he knows the cycle of being arrested and released is likely to continue.

It is a revolving door that will continue to spin, he said.

Miami Herald photographer D.A. Varela contributed to this report.
NEW YORK  We, the jury, have reached a verdict.

After countless motions and more than five weeks of trial that saw 22 witnesses take the stand, former President Trump could no longer outrun his fate.

A jury of 12 New Yorkers returned with a verdict Thursday that shocked the political world  they found Trump guilty on every single count he had been charged with in a case that had also made him the first former U.S. president to be indicted.

At 4:20 p.m., 10 minutes before they were set to leave for the day, the jury completed its task after roughly 11 total hours of deliberations. When the announcement of a verdict was read, audible gasps rang out in the courtroom.

Trump had been laughing with his attorney, but he quickly changed his mood. He crossed his arms, occasionally whispering with his lawyers as he sat awaiting the arrival of the 12 New Yorkers.

We would like an extra 30 minutes to fill out the forms. Would that be possible? the jury wrote in its note announcing they had reached a verdict. The request was accepted, and the jurors left the courtroom in suspense.

Shortly after 5 p.m., the jurors trailed into the courtroom with the completed verdict form in hand. They passed by Trump on their way to the jury box but didnt look at him. Some glanced at the ground, while others directed their gaze anywhere but the defendant they were about to convict.

Once seated, two jurors exchanged a nervous smile. Others kept a straight face as they were asked if they had, indeed, reached a verdict.

Yes, we have, the foreperson responded.

Then came the historic moment: An aide to the judge asked for the verdict on the first count.

Guilty, the man said without emotion in his Irish accent, his neck growing red.

In rapid fashion, hed list off 33 more guilty determinations, finding Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) and his office had proved their entire case beyond a reasonable doubt. The verdict took only two minutes to read.

Four-hundred twenty-seven days after bringing the first indictment of a former president, Bragg had won the first conviction, too. Seated in the second row of the gallery, he looked straight ahead when the first guilty verdict rang out.

The conviction affirms that Trump, in seeking to conceal a hush money payment his ex-fixer made to a porn actor ahead of the 2016 election, unlawfully falsified business records.

Trump slowly trudged out of the courtroom, red in the face and biting his cheeks as he glanced around the courtroom filled to the brim with reporters.

The former president had walked out the two sets of courtroom doors, one wooden and the other metal, some hundred times before, pumping his fist or toting a stack of favorable printed-out articles. Sometimes, he was flanked by powerful lawmakers, while other times he was joined by his entourage of security and lawyers.

Now a convicted felon, Trump reached the cameras one last time in the courthouse hallway. His somber attitude turned indignant.

This was a rigged, disgraceful trial, Trump said outside the courtroom. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here.

Across the street, a raucous crowd formed larger than any other point during the trial. Most were celebrating the conviction, while others were just passing by through the streets of lower Manhattan.

The crowd was initially hushed, pressed up against barricades on the edge of the park. But the protests soon became confrontational, with a swarm of law enforcement standing by.

Pascal Hogue, 22, a Columbia University journalism student, stopped by the Manhattan Criminal Court after realizing a verdict would be reached Thursday. Earlier in the trial, he attended several days of testimony  including from star witness Michael Cohen, Trumps fixer at the center of the case.

Im not surprised that they found him guilty, ultimately, but thats obviously for the jury to decide, Hogue said.

Keith Allen, 56, a New Yorker passing by who joined up with the crowd, said he was impressed by the verdict, which he believed to be correct.

He shouldve never been president the first time around, Allen told The Hill of Trumps first term. Hes a criminal.

Though the trial is now over, it wont be the last time Trump comes to Manhattan Criminal Court.

On July 11, hell return to receive his sentence in the same spot where he once proclaimed he was not guilty.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The News

A debate between NATO allies about whether to take a more aggressive role in protecting Ukraines skies, including by directly shooting down Russian missiles and drones, has picked up steam in recent weeks.

Whether its done by NATO or NATO countries  thats one of the issues we want to have a discussion on, one European official said. A senior NATO official told Semafor that a lot of these discussions are not taking place collectively at the NATO level but rather between individual member states.

The conversation has been ongoing inside the alliance for some time but took on a little bit more realism after the US and allies shot down Iranian drones bound for Israel back in April, said Kurt Volker, a former US ambassador to NATO.

But the proposal has significant roadblocks and is a divisive idea within the alliance. Poland and Romania are very interested in the idea, Volker said, but he noted that the US and Germany have been resistant to it due to the risk of drawing NATO directly into a conflict with Russia.

When asked about the possibility of NATO air defenses shooting down missiles over Ukraine at a meeting of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly this week, Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg replied that the more you are supportive of Ukraine, the more cautious we should be to ask for things that can divide us.

Im not holding my breath right now with regard to actively providing air defense for Ukraine from NATO countries, a second European official said, citing Washingtons opposition to Western countries getting directly involved in military operations. European nations will look to the US for leadership, and I feel that we are not yet in a place where the US would seriously reconsider the whole strategy around Ukraine.

Poland, which borders western Ukraine, has repeatedly signaled that such a policy is under consideration. Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Shejnahas has said that NATO is analyzing whether missiles should be shot down when they are very close to the NATO border.

For the time being, no decisions have been made in this matter, a spokesperson for the Polish Ministry of National Defense told Semafor, noting that the possible coverage of part of Ukraines territory by allied air defense is an extremely complex issue.

The View From Ukraine

Yehor Cherniev, a Ukrainian MP and chair of the Ukrainian delegation to the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, told Semafor that we have to think about a common system of air defense.

Russian missiles have repeatedly crossed into Poland and Romania, so a joint system would help not just Ukraine, but also protect NATO states, Cherniev argued. He said that sharing alerts about missile strikes, having other countries shoot down Russian missiles, or improving interoperability with neighboring air defense forces would all be welcome steps.

In an interview with The New York Times, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also argued for similar support, saying that NATO should shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine without the aircraft entering Ukrainian airspace.

Is it an attack on Russia? No. Are you shooting down Russian planes and killing Russian pilots? No. So whats the issue with involving NATO countries in the war? There is no such issue, Zelenskyy said.

Ukraines air defenses have increasingly struggled to cope with Russias aerial campaign, as the Kremlin has ramped up its attacks, improved its tactics, and started firing harder-to-intercept weapons. According to a Wall Street Journal analysis, Ukraine intercepted just 46% of Russian missiles in the last six months, far less than its 73% success rate in the preceding six-month period.

Mathias and Morgan's View

European countries are unlikely to start shooting down Russian missiles, at least in the short-term. The military logistics required are complicated, and the politics of doing so are even trickier.

If youre going to engage targets over Ukrainian airspace, there needs to be some kind of coordination mechanism so that Ukrainian weapons dont conflict with NATO weapons and the identification of Russian missiles is clear to all sides, William Taylor, a former US ambassador to NATO, said.

The fact there would be at least two command-and-control arrangements, and that multiple countries would be involved in identifying friendly versus enemy targets, would make it difficult, Taylor said. The best case is when there is one system.

NATO countries would also be increasing their level of engagement in the war, he said, because non-Ukrainian troops would be firing weapons at Russian targets.

The second European official said the problem with air defenses is really targeting, because friendly fire happens. I dont want to compare NATO to Russia, but we saw how many friendly fire incidents Russia itself has had.

Still, the fact that this idea is even being discussed openly speaks to a growing European willingness to think seriously about how to step up support for Ukraine in ways that would have been unimaginable a year ago, and to dispense with the self-imposed red lines Western countries have previously issued.

Frances Emmanuel Macron in particular, has long grated at the Wests willingness to announce the limits for its support for Kyiv, and called on NATO to adopt a strategy of strategic ambiguity to leave the Kremlin guessing.

We have things that are actually on the table that were not on the table before, putting Moscow in a more uncertain position about what we would do and what we wouldnt do, the second European official said.

Room for Disagreement

The trajectory of the war could significantly influence the debate, particularly if the Russians make major gains despite other policy shifts.

The US has now relaxed restrictions on Ukraines use of US-supplied weapons to hit targets inside parts of Russia.

With that ban eased, if the Russians continue to target Odesa and cities and western Ukraine, and especially if they target energy infrastructure, Volker argued countries in favor of shooting down Russian missiles over Ukraine would likely push the issue more aggressively.

I dont expect NATO to adopt a policy on this, he said, but he added that countries comprising a coalition of the willing are getting closer and closer to doing it.

Notable

NATO has just 5% of the air defenses needed to protect its eastern flank in the event of an invasion, the Financial Times reported.

Ukraine will be allowed to use F-16s donated by Denmark to strike military targets in Russia, the Danish foreign minister told reporters on Thursday.
Internships are linked to better employment outcomes for college graduates  but there arent enough for students who want them

Internships can play a vital role for students looking to break into a career, but they arent always available for all the students who want them. And even when they are, they may not be high quality. Here, Matthew T. Hora, founder of the Center for Research on College-Workforce Transitions at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and Hee Song, a project assistant at the center, discuss the difficulties that students face in securing quality internships. Their insights are based on findings from the centers latest National Survey of College Internships. The survey drew from data collected from a nationally representative sample of 2,824 students attending four-year colleges and 2,531 students attending two-year colleges. The survey was done in partnership with the Strada Education Foundation.

Are there enough paid internships?

No. Only two out of three internships offer compensation for students at four-year colleges. The situation is worse for students at two-year institutions, where 50% of internships are unpaid.

Given the rising cost of college tuition, growing income inequality and the cost-of-living crisis in big cities where many internships are located, we contend that reliance on unpaid internships is untenable.

Paid internships are crucial. They help students pay for costs such as transportation and housing. They also provide legal rights and protections for students as paid employees.

Our data indicates that with only 41% of college seniors having had any internship at all, there are simply not enough positions available in the U.S. labor market to satisfy demand from the nations college students. This supply-demand imbalance is evident because of those seniors who did not have an internship: 63% of them had in fact wanted to take one but could not due to a lack of positions, intense competition and personal factors such as a heavy course load.

What difference do internships make?

A well-designed internship can make a big difference in students academic development. It can also help determine future career outcomes.

Our data shows that over 70% of the students who completed an internship reported gains in key transferable skills. These include communication, problem-solving and teamwork skills that are valued in both college and the workplace. Additionally, over 80% of these former interns say that the experience helped to expand their professional and social networks, which can lead to new job opportunities and connections.

Other studies have documented that students taking an internship were three times more likely than non-interns to enroll in graduate school. A study in Spain found that former interns were 6.5% more likely to find a job after graduation than classmates who hadnt had an internship.

Our data also reveals that internships help to clarify students career goals and boost their confidence in professional abilities. This is notable given that 80% of students in a recent Inside Higher Ed survey also stated that a college education should prepare them for a career that they truly enjoy.

Internships can help students clarify career goals. Monty Rakusen/Digitalvision via Getty Images

Isnt student hustle the real difference-maker?

While growing numbers of empirical studies on internships are showing the positive impacts of an internship on future earnings and other outcomes after graduation, it is better to think of this relationship in terms of correlation and not causation. This is because whether a student can acquire a particular job and thrive in our society is dependent on a complex intersection of personal, sociocultural and structural factors.

For instance, discrimination continues to afflict the hiring process  white applicants are 36% more likely to receive a callback than Black candidates. Studies also show that outcomes such as college attendance, future earnings and even marriage rates are strongly affected by whether one grows up in a wealthy or a poor neighborhood. This underscores the considerable impact of structural forces beyond an individuals control.

However, research shows that once a student is at college, experiences such as study abroad, an internship or undergraduate research  also known as high-impact practices  significantly increase a students likelihood of obtaining a degree. The problem is that these experiences are not equally distributed or available to all students, making equitable access to robust and authentic learning experiences a critical national issue. This is one reason why educators and researchers are increasingly focusing on work-integrated learning, where real-world and hands-on activities are embedded in college courses, as a more equitable and impactful approach than off-campus experiences, such as internships or study abroad.

What percentage of internships are high quality?

Determining the quality of an internship can be highly subjective and depends on many different factors. But based on our Internship Scorecard, approximately 67% and 62% of the internships taken by students at four-year and two-year institutions, respectively, can be considered high quality. The research and metrics behind this conclusion include the presence of a learning plan for student interns, on-the-job tasks that involve high-level skills and autonomous work, and supportive supervisors.

But a students reasons for pursuing an internship can vary. Some may want to gain experience in a chosen profession, while others may simply want to explore a variety of career options. This all makes quality largely dependent on the students goals and intentions.

Further, since some majors are more directly aligned with specific occupations, such as nursing and engineering, in contrast to majors where students are prepared to enter a broader range of careers, such as arts, humanities or social sciences, finding that perfect internship may depend on the students field and local labor market conditions.

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: Matthew T. Hora, University of Wisconsin-Madison and Hee Song, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Read more:



Matthew T. Hora receives funding for conducting research on work-based learning from the Strada Education Network.

Hee Song receives funding for assisting with research on internship studies from the Strada Education Network.
Republican lawmakers and pundits melted down on air and online Thursday after a New York jury convicted Donald Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business recordscharges that may soon land the ex-president in prison.

Trumps trial was under constant scrutiny by Trump and the majority of the GOP, who decried the treatment of their partys leaderwho was indicted four times in 2023claiming he was being targeted for political reasons. Perhaps unsurprisingly, their feelings didnt sway a smidge on Thursday.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) set the tone within minutes of Trumps verdict coming down, posting a photo of an upside-down American flagin apparent protest of the trial itself. Moments later, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) followed up with a post to X that included the link to WinRed, a Republican fundraising platform that crashed from excessive traffic after Trumps guilty verdict. The far-right firebrand later sent a statement calling the verdict the result of widespread corruption.

This verdict is the corrupt result of a corrupt trial, a corrupt judge, and a corrupt DA, Gaetz wrote. We will stand with President Trump now more than ever to save the country.

A number of other prominent Republicans also chimed in, including Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), who said he expected the verdict to be reversed on appeal; Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), who called Thursday a dark day for America; and the right-wing grifter Alex Jones, who said America as a republic is on its death bed.

Trump Found Guilty On All 34 Counts, Alex Jones Issues False Flag Alert! pic.twitter.com/RWHdfR7FLu  Alex Jones (@RealAlexJones) May 30, 2024

Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson also weighed in on X, where his streaming show now exclusively airs. He lashed out at immigrants for some reason, seemingly blaming them for the verdict.

Import the Third World, become the Third World, he said. Thats what we just saw. This wont stop Trump. Hell win the election if hes not killed first. But it does mark the end of the fairest justice system in the world.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) gave a more measured, but equally peeved statement after the verdict.

Today is a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon. This was purely a political exercise, not a legal one.

Fox's Jeanine Pirro: "We've been calling it lawfare, I think lawfare is far too soft, it's far too benign. This is warfare." pic.twitter.com/bsIELCpgvI  Lis Power (@LisPower1) May 30, 2024

On Fox News, anchors from its show The Five went into full meltdown as the verdict became public. Loud cheers could be heard on a live broadcast from the courthouse before cameras cut to right-wing pundits in studio who characterized the trial as a sham and political hit job.

This is warfare! declared Jeanine Pirro.

On the other side of the aisle, Trumps conviction was met with relief and celebration. In a statement of his own, Michael Cohen, Trumps former fixer who was the prosecutions star witness against his old pal, said Thursday was an important day for accountability and the rule of law.

While it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters, he said.

Outside the courthouse, some Trump superfans grew deranged as they watched people celebrate the verdicthugging, kissing, and chanting in joy.

NOW: TRUMP FOUND GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS



Trump supporters outside the courthouse in Manhattan react to the verdict pic.twitter.com/0r6QuMrZ0Z  katie smith (@probablyreadit) May 30, 2024

Motherfuckers, motherfuckers, one man, wearing a red Joe & the Hoe Gotta Go hat, yelled at celebrators. You suck, you suck, there is no justice in this country... Not guilty, hes not guilty, pieces of shit. Eat shit and die you fucking corrupt motherfuckers.

Others appeared to be overcome by shock and anger, with a reporter from The Daily Beast capturing one Trump supporter shout in agony after the verdict, Take me instead.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird held a news conference May 31, 2024, announcing the results of her office's audit of victims' services. (Photo by Robin Opsahl/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird announced Friday that her office will reinstate payments for emergency contraceptives, like Plan B, for victims of sexual assault and rape, but will no longer reimburse victims for abortions.

The announcement marks the end of the full audit of victims services announced by Bird shortly after winning the 2022 election against former Attorney General Tom Miller, the Democrat who held the office for 40 years.

That review involved the suspension of state payments for emergency contraception  and in rare cases, abortion  for victims of rape. The states Sexual Assault Examination Payment Program gave reimbursements to providers for these medical services through the Iowa Victims Restitution Fund, fees collected from people convicted of crimes.

Bird said that while there is no state law requiring the practice of paying for these treatments, she said she would reinstate part of the payment program moving forward.

I agree that Plan B contraceptive prescriptions for victims to prevent pregnancy should be reimbursed, Bird said at the news conference. The office will reimburse all pending victim claims for Plan B contraceptives and continue reimbursing providers moving forward. However, Iowa will not use public dollars to pay for abortions.

The announcement ends the pause on payments for emergency contraceptives  meaning roughly 400 pending reimbursement requests from the review period will be paid, Bird said. She also emphasized that while the payment program was halted, no victims were denied or delayed in getting services because of the review.

She also said that during this period, there was only one reimbursement request through the AGs office for an abortion. This request will be denied.

Bird, an outspoken abortion opponent, had faced months of criticism from Democrats and reproductive health advocates for the long process in finalizing the review and announcing whether the reimbursements would be reinstated.

Auditor Rob Sand, the only Democrat to currently hold statewide elected office in Iowa, said during a news conference in March that Bird was attempting to avoid accountability for pausing payments for sexual assault and rape victim services by categorizing the review as an audit. Neither the auditors office nor a third party conducted a review of victims services for the AGs office, he said  adding that if an audit was happening, payments would not need to be paused.

Every city, every county, every school district in the entire state of Iowa gets an audit every year, Sand said. None of them have ever suspended business while waiting for their audit to get completed. This is a policy decision the attorney general made.

In a news release Friday, Sand reiterated this point and said there was no justification provided for the need to cease reimbursements.

For a year, Iowas Attorney General inflicted even more trauma on rape victims just for politics, Sand said in the statement. We know because her report doesnt provide a single legal or financial reason to have withheld payments for emergency contraception.

Mazie Stilwell with the Planned Parenthood Advocates of Iowa said Birds decision to pause payments was unnecessary, and turned hundreds of sexual assault survivors into political pawns.

Politicizing sexual assault survivors is absolutely reprehensible and sickening, Stilwell said in a news release. These are real people who are vulnerable and deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Although state-paid emergency contraceptives will resume, those in need of abortion care will now have to shoulder the cost. This is the last thing survivors should have to worry about. Its not right, and we must demand better from the people elected to represent us.

Bird said the office encountered some roadblocks in the process of making the review and report, including problems involving missing documents or having to reconstruct certain grants. She thanked John Gish, section chief for the Victim Assistance Section at the office for taking on much of the work involved in the process.

In addition to the emergency contraceptives decision, Bird plans to make or request several changes based on the audit. These recommendations include raising pay for certified sexual assault nurse examiners from $200 to $400 per exam, the first increase since 2005, in addition to providing transportation reimbursement for trained nurses to travel for conducting exams.

Bird said these measures could ease problems caused by the shortage of nursing staff across the state. There are roughly 470 sexual assault nurse examiners currently certified in Iowa, Bird said, adding that she believed the steps would both better compensate nurses and ensure victims do not encounter long wait times.

We do not want someone whos going to a hospital to report an assault to go away without an exam, she said. They might not come back, or key evidence might be lost. We know of at least one victim who waited more than eight hours at a Polk County hospital before seeing a sexual assault nurse. Victims deserve immediate care, and our heroes in nursing deserve our support.

Other measures include restarting notification services required by state law for victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse. The system was eliminated under Miller in 2019, Bird said, and the office is working to create a new system. The service, working with Iowas judicial and prison systems, would send victims a text message or other message when a requested protective order has been issued, and 30 days before it expires.

While the new system is not up yet, Bird said she hired a coordinator to build the new system.

Bird also said the office is fixing problems with the Iowa Victim Notification System, a currently operational program that notifies victims when their abusers are released from custody. The review found that the current notifications are often inaccurate, telling victims that a person had been released from custody when they were being transported between different facilities, like county jail and state prison.

Victims have already been through enough and shouldnt be scared by false notifications, Bird said. We worked with our partners to correct the messages and to keep victims informed about the perpetrators status.

In addition to state-level changes, Bird also repeated her call for the federal government to stop a discussed cut of victim services funding provided through the Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). Iowa receives roughly $5.5 million in VOCA funding each year for a variety of victim services  42%, more than $2.3 million, of which would be cut if Congress does not act, she said.

That cut, if its allowed to happen, will go through to the advocacy agencies that we have all across the state serving victims, she said. It will cause personnel cuts, it will mean less support for victims, especially in rural Iowa. It will mean fewer resources for healing.

The post Iowa attorney general resumes funding of Plan B for rape victims, but not abortions appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Meteorological summer begins on Saturday, June 1, coinciding with the return of wet weather to Middle Tennessee. There is a low-end risk for a few severe storms on Saturday with the primary concern being gusty winds.

The region is water-logged from all the rain during the month of May. This past weeks weather has been rather quiet and pleasant, but that will change going into the weekend. Rain is likely Saturday into Sunday, with a Marginal Risk (level 1/5) for a few severe storms mainly west of I-65 on Saturday.

RADAR | Track weather across TN live

The severe storm threat will come from wind gusts, but pockets of heavy rainfall will be likely at times and some hail is possible. There is no tornado threat Saturday.

For Friday evening, showers are possible west, but rain becomes more widespread early Saturday morning.

ALERTS | Weather advisories in Middle Tennessee











Rain and storms will continue through the afternoon and evening hours. The severe threat is low on Saturday, but an isolated severe storm is not out of the question.

FORECAST: Middle Tennessee & Southern Kentucky Weather







Rain chances continue Sunday morning especially for areas east of the Plateau. These storms will exit the area by early afternoon.

FORECAST: Middle Tennessee & Southern Kentucky Weather









Rainfall amounts from storms moving through over the weekend will be highest areas westward. Amounts across Middle TN and Southern KY are not expected to exceed 1.5.

Looking into the first full week of June, rain chances continue each day, potentially lingering long enough to impact CMA Fest in Nashville. Keep in mind that this is a typical summertime pattern, and the week will not be a washout. Stay tuned for updates.

Dont forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker 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 WKRN News 2.
Israeli army says it is now operating in the centre of Rafah

An Israeli military vehicle continues on the border line near the city of Rafah, Gaza. At least 45 people were killed, mostly women and children, and nearly 250 others injured in the Israeli strike on the camp on 26 May. Saeed Qaq/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Israel's army is now operating in the centre of the Palestinian city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, the military said on Friday.

Israeli troops had discovered rocket launchers, tunnels and Hamas weapons there, the army said.

Although eyewitnesses had seen tanks in the centre of the city earlier in the week, there had been no confirmation that ground troops were deployed there until now.

The operation in Rafah has been sharply criticized internationally, including by Israel's closest allies.

Asked in March whether invading Rafah would be a "red line," US President Joe Biden told broadcaster MSNBC: "It is a red line." Speaking to CNN earlier this month, he threatened to restrict the US' supply of weapons to Israel if the Jewish state invaded Rafah.

A week ago, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague ordered Israel to end the military operation in Rafah immediately.
Israeli army says it is now operating in the centre of Rafah

Israeli military vehicles continues on the border line near the city of Rafah, Gaza. At least 45 people were killed, mostly women and children, and nearly 250 others injured in the Israeli strike on the camp on 26 May. Saeed Qaq/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Israel's army is now operating in the centre of Rafah, the military said as it pursued a much-criticized offensive in the Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip.

Israeli troops had discovered rocket launchers, tunnels and Hamas weapons there, the army said on Friday. The stated aim of Israel's operation is to completely eliminate the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which carried out the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel.

Although eyewitnesses had seen Israeli tanks in the centre of the city earlier in the week, there had been no confirmation that ground troops were deployed there until now.

The operation in Rafah has been sharply criticized internationally, including by Israel's closest allies.

Asked in March whether invading Rafah would be a "red line," US President Joe Biden told broadcaster MSNBC: "It is a red line." Speaking to CNN earlier this month, he threatened to restrict the US' supply of weapons to Israel if the Jewish state invaded Rafah.

A week ago, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague ordered Israel to end the military operation in Rafah immediately given the dire humanitarian situation there.

Rafah was the last major urban centre to be entered by Israeli forces, nearly eight months after the start of the war.

The conflict was triggered by the unprecedented massacre carried out by terrorists from Hamas and other extremist Palestinian organizations in Israel near the border with the Gaza Strip in October. They killed more than 1,200 people and abducted more than 250 hostages.

Israel responded with massive airstrikes and a ground offensive on Gaza. According to the Hamas-controlled health authority, 36,284 people have been killed so far and more than 82,057 others injured. Many areas of the densely populated territory have been left largely uninhabitable with buildings destroyed by airstrikes and bulldozed.

No imminent reopening of Rafah border

Rafah is on the border with Egypt, and the border crossing there has been vital for supplies for the Palestinian population in Gaza. The Israeli operation in Rafah, which began earlier in May, led to the border crossing being shut.

Hopes for the crossing to reopen seemed to be dashed on Friday, as an Egyptian TV channel reported that Cairo had denied the existence of an agreement with Israel to reopen the border.

Citing a high-level source, Egypt's state-affiliated al-Qahera News TV said that "there is no truth" in media reports about an Egyptian-Israeli agreement to reopen the crossing.

"Egypt insists on a full Israeli withdrawal from the crossing as a condition to resume its work," the source said.

Withdrawal from Jabalia

Earlier on Friday, Israel's army announced the end of its operation in the town of Jabalia in the north of the Gaza Strip.

Hundreds of Palestinian fighters are said to have been killed in close combat and airstrikes there.

At least 70 bodies have been found in the Jabalia refugee neighbourhood, the Palestinian coastal civil defence said.

The information from the war zone could not be independently verified.

Fierce fighting has raged in Jabalia for several weeks.

The army says the bodies of seven Israelis who had been abducted in the attack by Hamas on October 7 were found during operations on the ground in recent weeks.

The military said it had also destroyed around 10 kilometres of tunnels and found hundreds of weapons and several weapons production facilities.

The army has captured - and withdrawn from - Jabalia before. Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi recently complained that the lack of a political strategy for the post-war period meant the army was repeatedly forced to fight in places in the Gaza Strip from which it had already pulled out. He cited Jabalia as an example.
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, May 31. Tajikistan has reached out to the EU with a request to increase funding for priority sectors of the economy, including the development of economic and transport corridors, energy, the "green" economy, and digitization, Trend reports.

According to the Ministry of Economy and Commerce of Kyrgyzstan, this statement was made by the Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Zavqi Zavqizoda, during discussions with Henrik Hololei, Advisor to the Directorate-General for International Partnership of the European Commission.

During the meeting, the parties discussed expanding cooperation in trade and economics, industry, the green economy, digitization, energy, transportation and logistics, environmental protection, and climate change.

Zavqizoda emphasized that Tajikistan views the EU as a reliable and important development partner for achieving the country's strategic goals and socio-economic development.

To note, Tajikistan received 91 million euros from the EU under the first phase of the EU Multiannual Indicative Program (MIP) from 2021 to 2024 for priority projects in the country. The 20242027 EU MIP project is being developed, with financing determined in 2024.

The volume of Tajikistan's mutual trade with the EU amounted to $401.5 million in 2023, which is a decrease of 22 percent compared to 2022.
Israeli army says it has withdrawn from Jabalia in Gaza Strip

An Israeli military vehicle continues on the border line near the city of Rafah, Gaza. At least 45 people were killed, mostly women and children, and nearly 250 others injured in the Israeli strike on the camp on 26 May. Saeed Qaq/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Israel's army announced the end of its operation in the town of Jabalia in the north of the Gaza Strip on Friday.

Hundreds of Palestinian fighters are said to have been killed in close combat and airstrikes.

The information could not initially be independently verified.

Palestinian accounts said the Israeli attacks in Jabalia also claimed many civilian lives.

The army says the bodies of seven Israelis who had been abducted in the attack by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in the Gaza Strip on October 7 were found during operations on the ground in recent weeks.

The military said it had also destroyed around 10 kilometres of tunnels and found hundreds of weapons and several weapons production facilities.

This information could also not be independently verified.

Fierce fighting has raged in Jabalia for several weeks. The Times of Israel newspaper reported that a total of 10 Israeli soldiers were killed in operations there. Residents confirmed that the army had withdrawn from the town. Many have since returned to the area to check on their homes.

The army has captured - and withdrawn from - Jabalia before. Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi recently complained that the lack of a political strategy for the post-war period meant the army was repeatedly forced to fight in places in the Gaza Strip from which it had already pulled out. He cited Jabalia as an example.
Thick smoke billows following an Israeli rocket attack on the outskirts of the southern Lebanese village of Dhaira. Marwan Naamani/dpa

At least one person was killed on Friday and another was wounded when an Israeli drone targeted their vehicle, Lebanon's state-media reported.

The National News Agency (NNA) said the drone targeted the ambulance of a rescue team from the Islamic Health Authority, which are affiliated with the Shiite Lebanese movement Hezbollah in Naqoura.

The attack led to the killing of one rescue team member and the wounding of another, the agency said.

The Israeli attack came after Hezbollah carried out several attacks on Israeli posts in northern Israel.

The Israeli army said it had registered rocket launches from Lebanon and had attacked the launch sites.

There had previously been mutual fire between the Hezbollah militia and the Israeli military.

Since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip, there have been daily military confrontations between the Israeli army and Hezbollah and other groups in the border area between Israel and Lebanon.

There have been deaths on both sides.

The exchange of shelling and attacks have caused severe destruction in towns on both sides of the border. Around 150,000 people have been evacuated or left the combat zone.
By James Mackenzie

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Former general Benny Gantz faces a reckoning next week over his revolt against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been gaining ground in the opinion polls almost nine months into the war in Gaza.

On Thursday, Gantz's centrist party proposed a bill to dissolve parliament, days after he said he would quit Netanyahu's wartime unity government unless the prime minister came up with a clear day-after strategy for Gaza.

But with the latest opinion poll showing a noticeable swing towards Netanyahu, who received wide support in Israel after International Criminal Court prosecutors said they had requested an arrest warrant against the prime minister, the way ahead has become more complicated.

The poll for Israel's Channel 12 television published this week showed 36% considered Netanyahu better suited to be prime minister over 30% who favoured Gantz in a two way choice between them. The same poll showed the lead held by Gantz's National Unity Party narrowing, giving it 25 seats in parliament if elections were held now against 21 for Netanyahu's Likud party.

Gantz, a former army commander and defence minister in the previous government has held a clear lead over Netanyahu in the polls for months as the prime minister's image as a security hawk was shattered by the devastating attack on Israel by Hamas-led gunmen on Oct. 7.

He joined a unity government soon after the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, saying he was putting aside political considerations in the national interest.

But, along with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Gadi Eisenkot, another centrist former general, he has clashed repeatedly with the religious nationalist members of Netanyahu's government, who have remained adamantly opposed to any political settlement with the Palestinians.

Earlier this month, the frustrations of the generals broke into the open, when first Gallant, then Gantz demanded a clear strategy for what to do in Gaza when the fighting ends. But the demand may have come too late for the increasing number on the left who were unhappy that Gantz's presence in the government was providing cover to Netanyahu.

"In some ways, Gantz has cornered himself because he cannot retreat, he cannot back off from the ultimatum," said Aviv Bushinski, a former communications advisor to Netanyahu, who noted that within an hour of Gantz's statement, Netanyahu had dismissed his demand.

"So he is stuck there but everybody knows that nothing will happen, so why doesn't he exercise the ultimatum?" he said.

QUIT THE GOVERNMENT

Gantz's departure from government would not, on its own, endanger Netanyahu, whose coalition with a clutch of right-wing nationalist religious parties gives him a solid majority in parliament, and elections do not have to be held until 2026.

Whether it triggers a wider shakeup would have to be seen but Israeli media questioned the timing of Gantz's decision and fierce criticism of the government by Eisenkot in a separate speech on Wednesday.

"What's going on? Did you suddenly see a poll showing a dramatic drop in support for your party that woke you up?" wrote Sima Kadmon, a commentator in Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel's top-selling tabloid newspaper.

Almost nine months into the war in Gaza, Israel has become increasingly isolated internationally as the Palestinian death toll has risen among a 2.3 million population that aid agencies say faces a severe humanitarian crisis.

More than 36,000 Palestinians, including both armed fighters and civilians, have been killed since the start of the Israeli assault, according to figures from Palestinian health authorities. Much of the coastal enclave has been reduced to rubble and most of the population has been displaced.

As well as a ruling from the International Court of Justice in the Hague ordering it to halt its operation in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, prosecutors from the International Criminal Court are also seeking arrest warrants against both Netanyahu and Gallant.

Increasing numbers of European countries have either recognised a Palestinian state, or are poised to do so, and even Israel's closest ally, the United States, has become increasingly frustrated at the attitude of Netanyahu's government.

Gantz himself, as hawkish an enemy of Hamas as any other Israeli leader, would do little to end that isolation because his policy for conducting the war would differ little from Netanyahu's.

His differences with Netanyahu have centered more on issues such as the possibility of opening a path towards a political settlement with the Palestinians and doing more to ensure Orthodox Jewish Israelis serve in the military, both policies fiercely opposed by Netanyahu's allies on the right.

"I think an Israeli government headed by anybody else would have exactly the same policy in Rafah," said Michael Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to the United States. "Israelis understand that. People outside don't seem to understand that very much."

(Reporting by James Mackenzie; Editing by Sharon Singleton)
Mariama Sylla, sister of Ousmane Sylla, holds photos of him in their house at Matoto Bonagui, a suburb of Conakry, Guinea, Monday, April 8, 2024. Sylla had landed on Italian shores a year before his death in Feb. 4, 2024, one of tens of thousands of people who pay migrant smugglers hundreds or thousands of euros to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe. He had no visa, and had been ordered to leave after admitting that he had lied about being a minor. (AP Photo/Misper Apawu)

ROME (AP)  It was still dark and quiet outside when Ousmane Sylla performed his last prayer in the courtyard of an Italian migrant jail.

I miss my Africa very much and my mother too, read a scribble in French on the wall nearby. May I rest in peace."

A few moments later, the silence of dawn was shattered. Chaos took over the detention and deportation center of Ponte Galeria on the outskirts of Rome as other inmates discovered the body of the 21-year-old Sylla, who had apparently hanged himself.

Sylla had landed on Italian shores the year before, one of tens of thousands of people who pay migrant smugglers hundreds or thousands of euros to cross the Mediterranean to reach Europe. He had no visa, and had been ordered to leave after admitting that he had lied about being a minor.

Fellow detainees who discovered his body screamed for help and frantically tried to resuscitate him. When paramedics finally arrived, Sylla was gone. Enraged by his death, migrants set mattresses on fire, broke down doors and threw stones at security forces inside the jail. The riots led to the arrest of 13 people.

Syllas death in February shined a spotlight on the conditions inside these de-facto jails for migrants, which have been condemned by lawyers and migration activists as black holes of human rights violations. And yet the far-right government, led by Premier Giorgia Meloni, vowed to build more such facilities across the country as well as abroad.

I want to send a clear message to those who want to enter Italy illegally ... it is better you dont do it and you dont put your life in the hands of smugglers, Meloni said in a video posted on social media last year addressing would-be migrants. And in any case, if you enter Italy illegally you will be detained and repatriated.

The Italian government says the centers, which were established in 1999, are essential to deterring migrants like Sylla from risking their lives to cross the Mediterranean and reach Europe.

The centers are meant to detain those migrants who enter Italian territory without a visa, are not entitled to apply for asylum and are labeled as socially dangerous by law enforcement authorities. Earlier this year the Italian government extended the time foreigners can be detained, from 90 days to 18 months.

Syllas chances of being deported were minimal because Guinea has no repatriation agreement with Italy. He wanted to return to Guinea, he told officials, yet a judge extended his detention.

He had dreamed of a better life in Europe. Now he just wanted to go home.

FROM CONAKRY TO ROME

Syllas journey from the West African nation of Guinea to Italy began in 2022. One of seven children, he dropped out of school during the COVID-19 pandemic after his family could no longer afford the fees. He learned masonry but his real passion was singing. Sylla posted videos of himself on TikTok rhyming and gesturing his hands like a rapper.

His dream was to become a big star, that everyone would say his name, and he would sing for everyone, his older sister, Mariama Sylla, said from the familys modest house in the outskirts of the capital, Conakry.

He had never shown any signs that he was mentally unwell, his family said.

He was strong. He was brave. He loved our entire family. He cant do it, he cant do it. He cant leave us like that, Mariama repeated in despair.

To get to Europe, Sylla crossed the Sahara through Mali, Algeria and Tunisia, always calling his mother and sister to keep them updated on his journey. They sometimes wired him a little money when they could, and Sylla worked small jobs to pay smugglers along the way. He made his way to the Tunisian coast, where smugglers move thousands of migrants from northern Africa to Europe on rickety boats. This Central Mediterranean route is known as one the deadliest migration crossings in the world; more than 2,500 people died or went missing last year alone.

After nearly drowning in the Mediterranean, Sylla finally reached the Italian island of Lampedusa on July 29, 2023. Again, he called his family to tell them he had made it.

But his odyssey through the Italian migration and asylum system was only beginning.

TRAPPED IN ITALY

Sylla was trying to join his older brother, who lives in France. But when he reached the border town of Ventimiglia on Aug. 9, 2023, he was rejected by French authorities. After lying about his age in the hopes it would increase his chance of getting residency, Sylla was sent south, to a center for underage migrants in the town of Cassino.

But the place that was supposed to look after unaccompanied minors was violent and dysfunctional, his brother and witnesses told AP. During his time in Cassino, Sylla told them he was repeatedly beaten up by other migrants and felt unsafe. He sometimes left the center and sought shelter with neighbors who told AP that police were frequently called in to resolve scuffles.

According to witnesses working at the center, the facility lacked basic services such as proper clothing, psychological support and translators. Food deliveries, pocket money and mobile data cards were scarce, creating tensions among the young residents.

He told me he was in danger and that he was surrounded by really bad people and that they wanted to hurt him, Syllas brother Djibril Sylla told AP in Rome, where he traveled to identify Sylla's body. He last heard from his brother on Sept. 27.

In audio messages sent to employees that were obtained by AP, the Cassino centers director, Rossella Compagna, insulted the facility's residents, calling them "a hassle," and threatened to punish them or throw them out into the street. But she said the center needed them: each placement brought in money from the government.

The center was shut down for lack of proper staff by the Cassino social services office. Michelangelo Soli lawyer of Compagna, the director when Sylla was held, said her comments referred to several violent guests, and that despite shortcomings, Sylla and others weren't mistreated.

Desperate for help, Sylla attended a local municipal council meeting on Oct. 6. He repeatedly raised his hand for a chance to speak but was never given the floor. After the meeting, he eventually caught the attention of local councilor Laura Borraccio.

He lifted his shirt and actually had some bruises, Borraccio, recalled. I asked him what those bruises were and he replied that they had been from daily arguments that happened within the center with other guests.

She said Sylla, who was very agitated but not violent, showed her videos of screaming inside the center and admitted he was not a minor and was desperate to be transferred elsewhere.

He was very upset and the only thing he said was help me ... Please I want to go back to my country...He said there were bad people in Italy and didnt want to stay here any longer, Borraccio recalled.

UNFIT FOR DETENTION

A few days later on Oct. 13, Sylla received an order expelling him from the country. One day later, he was transferred to a detention and deportation center in Trapani, the first of two migrant centers where he would spend the last four months of his life, according to Dario Asta, a lawyer who assisted Sylla.

Giuseppe Caradonna, another lawyer who tried to assist Sylla, said thats when a psychologist first flagged his mental health issues.

Caradonna informed local authorities on Nov. 14 that Syllas mental and physical conditions made him unfit for detention and requested his transfer to a facility where he could receive adequate medical and psychological attention.

Ousmane Sylla continues to maintain a conduct that is completely incompatible with the conditions of the center, probably due to mental disorders resulting from traumatic experiences to the point of putting him at serious risk, Caradonna wrote in his communication, which included a psychologists report describing Sylla's aggressive behavior, both against the workers and other detainees.

But the transfer request was denied and on Jan. 5 his detention was extended by a judge for three more months.

I don't understand why nobody told him to apply for asylum in Cassino, regretted Gaetano Pasqualino, the lawyer who is now representing Sylla's family. The application would have prevented him from being detained and would have given him more time."

A fellow migrant detainee from Guinea-Bissau said that Sylla was taking daily medication provided by a doctor at the Trapani facility. In late January, when a riot broke out in the center, burning most of it, both of them were transferred to the Ponte Galeria detention center near Rome.

As Sylla boarded the bus that would transfer him, a doctor handed him his case file, urging him to show it to staff at the new center so he could get proper care.

She kissed Ousmane on the head and told him Everything will be fine, the Guinean man told AP under the condition that his name not be published over concerns about his legal status.

But there is no evidence that the file was ever seen by any professional at the Rome detention center and Sylla was never seen by the center's psychologist. The center, managed by an international detention and reception company called ORS, wouldn't comment on Sylla's treatment, but their contract confirms they had a responsibility to provide psychological care to detainees.

Four days later, the young man took his own life.

Syllas family in Guinea learned of his suicide via a Facebook post 10 days after he died. They hadnt had any news of him in months and had been worried.

At that time, communicating with the outside world was almost impossible for migrants at the Ponte Galeria center. Mobile phones weren't allowed, and only one public phone was shared by dozens of migrants.

We were never informed he was in a detention center. Never. Thats not normal, his sister, Mariama Sylla, said. He had the right at least to call his family and tell us.

SQUALID CONDITIONS, VIOLENCE

Enclosed by tall metal bars, detainees at the Ponte Galeria center near Rome, where Sylla died, walk around in circles and kick balls to pass time. Their days are cadenced only by breakfast, lunch and dinner, as well as a few medical appointments and sporadic detention hearings. Unlike normal jails and prisons where inmates work, learn and do other activities, in Italys temporary migrant centers theres only boredom.

Theres nothing to do there: you just wake up, eat, go to sleep, day after day ... People accumulate lots of rage, lose their minds, because they have no hope left, said another former detainee from Tunisia. Like many other detainees who spoke to AP, he asked to remain anonymous fearing repercussions on his application to stay in Italy.

Some of them described how many migrants hurt themselves in a desperate attempt to be released from the centers. Videos from inside the center reviewed by AP showed some of those self-harm attempts, including two detainees using an iron bar to break the ankle of another resident with his permission. His screams could be heard throughout the cavernous facility.

Although the Ponte Galeria center's management allowed AP a rare visit to the facilities, they declined to answer specific questions about the conditions of the residents and Sylla's time there.

Italy currently has 10 such migrant centers across the country with a capacity to hold 700 foreigners under administrative detention at any one time. Two of them, including Trapanis, are closed for upgrades. Only months after the death of Sylla, mobile phones without cameras were allowed in, and the public health service said it will provide a psychiatrist three times a week at the center.

In theory, the aim of the centers is deportation. But according to Interior Ministry data, only 52% of migrants in detention centers are successfully expelled. The rest are eventually released with a self-expulsion order, unable to work or regularize their situation. Many fall into the underground economy or become prey to criminal groups.

The (detention and deportation) system is a catalyst for failures, said Maurizio Veglio, a migration law expert active with the Association for Juridical Studies on Immigration, an advocacy group.

"That's because the final outcome of the repatriation process depends mainly on the will of the migrants' country of origin to cooperate with Italy. And, often, their decisions are based on all different kinds of political reasons, which have nothing to do with the behavior of the detainees," he said.

Rights groups and human rights lawyers have for years denounced and documented squalid conditions inside the migrant jails, including the lack of adequate health services, overprescription of psychiatric drugs to keep detainees sedated, and limited access for their lawyers and relatives.

From 2019 to 2024, 13 people had died - five by suicide - inside Italys detention centers, which also registered hundreds of suicide attempts and self-harm episodes.

DOUBLING DOWN ON MIGRANTS' DETENTION

Italys Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi has insisted that the expansion of the network of deportation centers is a fundamental element in the governments overall migration strategy, stressing that the difficult conditions in them are the result of riots and vandalism by detainees.

There is no intention to deny any human rights, but in these centers are people who (...) present conditions of danger that have been confirmed by judicial authorities, said Piantedosi, who has defended the migrant detention centers' effectiveness.

Italy is also trying to outsource detention to third countries. Last year, the government signed a deal with Albania for the non-EU country to hold thousands of asylum seekers on behalf of Italy. Under the five-year deal, an Italian detention center in Albania would shelter migrants rescued from international waters who would normally be taken to Italian ports. It's not clear how the system will be implemented, and the construction of the centers in Albania is undergoing major delays.

But the novel approach has sparked curiosity of a majority of other European Union member states who called for similar arrangements earlier this month. The blocs new Migration and Asylum Pact also strives to speed up asylum procedures and deportations of those not eligible to stay in the EU.

With parliamentary elections in the bloc in June, many right-to-center politicians are also eager to adopt a tough stance on the issue for fear of losing even more votes to the likes of Italian premier Meloni and other populists with an anti-migrant rhetoric.

Italy has a very low rate of effective returns: in 2023, only 12% of all migrants with expulsion orders were effectively deported home, well below the 19% recorded in the EU.

This system is a total failure. Often it doesnt reach its goal, which is to repatriate as many migrants as possible, while keeping young people in limbo, without any respect for their human rights, said Stefano Anastasia, an independent regional ombudsman for detainees.

MOURNING IN GUINEA

Back in Guinea, Syllas relatives blame the Italian government for his death.

I am so, so angry at them! What theyve done to my little brother, they abandoned him like hes not a human being. Im furious, Mariama told AP shortly after his burial in Conakry.

She vowed the family would fight for justice with the help of an Italian lawyer. Their hopes are pinned on the ongoing official probe looking into possible incitement to suicide and manslaughter, according to Attilio Pisani, one of the Rome prosecutors on the case. So far, there have been no indictments.

If I die, Id like my body to be sent back to Africa, Sylla had written on the jail wall. My mother will be happy.

On April 8 his final wish was accomplished. Paid by crowdfunding from activists at the group LasciateCIEntrare, Syllas body was flown from Rome to Conakry in a metal coffin. That evening, dozens of relatives and friends chanting justice with their fists in the air marched to the airport to receive his remains.

Following Islamic tradition, they removed his remains from the casket and buried him next to his fathers grave the next day. It was Ramadan, just like when he had left, only two years before.

Syllas house was then flooded by family and neighbors who came to give his mother Mariam Bangoura their heartfelt condolences. Surrounded by other women from her community, Bangoura wiped tears from her eyes and looked at photos of her son on a cell phone.

My child was suffering and I didnt know," she said.



Risemberg and Diallo reported from Conakry, Guinea.
ITHACA, N.Y. (WETM)  An Ithaca man has been arrested on drug charges following an investigation into narcotic sales.

According to the Ithaca Police Department, Jermaine S. Hutto, 49, was arrested on a two-count felony charge of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree on Thursday, May 30, around 9 a.m. after a search warrant was executed on his home.

Man sentenced on meth charges following investigation

The search warrant, approved by the Ithaca City Court, was executed by the Ithaca Police Department Investigations Division, along with the Ithaca Police Departments Patrol Division, on the 100-block of Cherry Street.

During the search, Hutto was arrested after police say that officials found suspected crack cocaine, fentanyl, money and digital scales which indicated narcotic sales had been taking place.

Hutto was then arraigned in Ithaca City Court and returned to the Tompkins County Jail.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
Ivanka Trump is speaking out publicly for the first time since her father, former President Trump, was found guilty of all 34 counts in his hush money criminal case.

The 42-year-old daughter of the ex-commander in chief, who served as his senior adviser in the White House, posted an Instagram Story on Thursday.

I love you dad, the message said, with a throwback photo of Trumps eldest daughter as a toddler posing with her father.

Ivanka Trumps nod to her dad came shortly after he became the first former president to be convicted of a felony. Jurors in New York City on Thursday found him guilty of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-fixer, Michael Cohen, made to porn actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

The former fashion brand executive has kept a relatively low profile since her father exited the White House. In 2022, after moving from Washington to Florida, she said she was choosing to prioritize my young children and the private life we are creating as a family.

I do not plan to be involved in politics, she said at the time.

Her older brother, Donald Trump, Jr., had a different reaction to their fathers guilty verdict.

Such bulls, he wrote on the social platform X.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Ivanka Trump had little to say after her father was convicted, while Melania remained totally silent

Ivanka Trump was a no-show during the former presidents weeks-long hush money trial. When her father was convicted on 34 felony charges Thursday, the former White House aide had little to say, offering just four words of support: "I love you dad," shared alongside a photo on Instagram of her and her dad when she was a child.

Ivanka's older brother, Donald Jr., who had filmed himself in the courthouse Wednesday, had much more to say. Within a few hours of the verdict, he fired out a slew of profane social media content: 14 posts on X, seven on Truth Social, a video on Instagram, and four more posts on Facebook for good measure. All were in support of his father, who is now the first former American president to be convicted of a crime.

Such bullshit, read his first tweet on X, just after the verdict came out.

Guilty on all counts. The Democrats have succeeded in their years long attempt to turn America into a third-world shithole. November 5 is our last chance to save it, read the next tweet. And finally, as if to tie a bow on the whole thing, another post on the matter read Sentencing is 4 days before the GOP Convention...They're not even trying to hide the ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!!!

Melania Trump, the former first lady, remained silent.

Every member of Donald Trumps immediate family has now expressed support for him, showing up at the courthouse or, in Ivankas case, posting on social media, Olivia Nuzzi, Washington correspondent for New York magazine, posted on X Thursday. The exception is Melania Trump, who never attended the trial and has said nothing about todays guilty verdict.

Trumps former White House press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, speculated on CNN that both Ivanka and Melanias absence from the trial would have absolutely bothered Trump. If Mrs. Trump wasnt at some event and it was really noted, he would definitely bring it up with her. So Im sure in this context, it's definitely really bothering him.

In fact, throughout the trial, one repeat question from reporters that the former president continued to ignore was: Where is Melania? Trump even attended a Mothers Day lunch at Mar-a-Lago on May 12 without her.
Ivanka Trump offered just four words in support of her freshly convicted felon father on Thursday, publishing to her Instagram stories a photo of herself as a child sitting on her future-convict fathers lap with the text I love you dad with a heart emoji. The post was kept to Ivankas stories, where it will disappear in a matter of hoursevidently not worth sharing as a post and soiling her highly curated influencer-style grid.

Instagram Screenshot: Donald Trump holding a toddler Ivanka Trump who seems to be wearing a birthday hat. The caption says "I love you dad" with a heart emoji.

Its the kind of thing youd expect to see from someone who forgot it was Fathers Day and who doesnt really keep in contact with their dad, not from the daughter of a former president turned convict in one of the most highly publicized trials of the century.

Despite profiting tremendously from Trumps political career, Ivanka has remained completely silent through his criminal one. And while her brothers, Don Jr. and Eric, have made appearances at the Manhattan courthouseincluding Don Jr. stuffing his face with junk food while awaiting the verdict with his dad and Eric reportedly staring a hole in the back of a court officer in the courtroom as the guilty verdicts came downIvanka didnt show up at all.

Trump was found guilty by a jury of New Yorkers of 34 felonies on Thursday, over payments he sent to Stormy Daniels to keep silent about their queasy tryst. Hes due back in court for sentencing in July.
Florida is launching a new pregnancy and parenting website that will not include any information on abortion access. (Photo by John Fedele/Getty Images)

Abortion-related bills continue to be introduced and debated in legislatures across the country, especially in states where the procedure is already banned. It can be hard to monitor them all, so States Newsrooms Reproductive Rights Today team tracks certain bills that could become law in their respective states in a biweekly legislative roundup. Depending on the partisan makeup of a states legislature and other state government officials, some bills have a higher chance of passing and becoming law than others.

Florida

With few exceptions, abortion is now banned after six weeks of pregnancy in Florida, before many individuals know they are pregnant.

House Bill 415: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed this bill into law to create a state pregnancy and parenting resources website that will include anti-abortion crisis pregnancy centers and will not include any information on abortion access. Florida health agencies will maintain the site, but it will be created by a third-party company and will launch by July 2025, Florida Phoenix reported. The site will cost $466,200 and include information about maternal health, prenatal and postnatal services, and adoption. Democrats have criticized the idea as merely a tool for anti-abortion groups, since the state already has a website with information for those who are pregnant.

Status: Law, signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis

Sponsor: Republican Rep. Berny Jacques

Louisiana

Nearly all abortions are banned in Louisiana.

Senate Bill 276: A new law categorizing mifepristone and misoprostol as controlled dangerous substances is headed to Republican Gov. Jeff Landrys desk. He is expected to sign it, according to the Louisiana Illuminator. The two drugs are used to terminate a pregnancy before 10 weeks and to treat miscarriages. Louisiana is the first state to criminalize the drugs. After Oct. 1, anyone who possesses either medication faces up to five years in prison, and those distributing the drugs face up to 10 years. The penalties do not apply to a pregnant person who takes the medication. More than 200 Louisiana doctors asked lawmakers not to proceed with the action.

Status: Passed both chambers, awaiting action by Republican Gov. Jeff Landry

Sponsor: Republican Sen. Thomas Pressly

House Bill 833: This bill would shield doctors, clinics and other health care providers from lawsuits and criminal prosecution if embryos created during the IVF process were unintentionally lost. After passing the House by a wide margin, the Senate passed it with only one no vote, and it is now awaiting final approval in the House, Louisiana Illuminator reported. The Senate added an amendment to the bill that blocks the transfer of embryos created through IVF to an out-of-state storage facility for the purpose of destruction, which may occur because the embryos are nonviable or no longer needed, according to the Illuminator. Louisiana is the only state that does not allow IVF patients to dispose of embryos in state. Its unclear if that amendment would be enforceable or if it threatens the bills final passage.

Advocates also say the bill does not adequately shield providers from criminal liability, and it still characterizes embryos as human beings, which is the language that some IVF providers in Alabama said forced them to stop providing the service because of liability concerns. The Illuminator also reported that Republican Gov. Jeff Landry has not committed to signing the legislation if it comes to his desk, saying only through a spokesman that he is reviewing it alongside many other bills passed by the legislature.

Status: Passed both chambers, awaiting final approval in the House

Sponsor: Republican Rep. Paula Davis

Michigan

Abortion is legal in Michigan without gestational age restrictions.

Senate Bill 767: Despite opposition from Republican lawmakers, Democrats passed an appropriation bill for the state health department that includes a provision to shield the medical records of those who seek reproductive health care in Michigan from out-of-state investigations where the procedure may be banned, Michigan Advance reported. Six other states, including Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, California, Vermont and Washington already have similar shield laws in place.

Status: Passed the House and Senate

Sponsor: Democratic Sen. Sylvia Santana

The post IVF bill in question in Louisiana, Florida to spend $460,000 on new pregnancy resource website appeared first on Michigan Advance.
The littoral combat ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul is shown being escorted into the Mayport basin in this 2022 photo. A former executive officer of the ship, Gregory McLean, was sentenced in federal court Thursday for production of child pornography and unlawful retention of classified nationla defense information.

A former executive officer for a Mayport-based warship was sentenced Thursday to about 13 years in prison for distributing child pornography and illegally holding onto classified documents.

Lt. Cmdr. Gregory Edward McLean, 40, called his own actions beyond deplorable before Chief U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan announced the punishment for what the judge called a very unusual, if not unique, combination of crimes.

McLean, who had been executive officer of the littoral combat ship USS Minneapolis-Saint Paul, entered guilty pleas in December to charges that carried a sentence behind bars between five and 30 years.

Navy investigators had been alerted in 2021 after a child-porn investigation in Rhode Island tied video being shared online to an email address used by McLean and a hotel he stayed in while studying at Surface Warfare Officers School at Naval Station Newport.

Jacksonville's federal courthouse (right).

220 years: Sentenced: Sex offender and fired Jaguars employee altered Jumbotron, harmed children

Federal agents who searched McLeans home off Hodges Boulevard collected items including a flash drive with child porn videos and another flash drive, from a wooden tray on the kitchen counter, that had classified information stored inside, according to the plea agreement McLean signed last year.

Investigators identified about 150 documents on the kitchen flash drive that the Navy considered secret and another 50 labeled confidential, the agreement said.

Defense attorney Jesse Dreicer tried to minimize the classified records, telling Corrigan Thursday that his client had stored the material when he was a young officer who made a careless decision, but had never tried to share or sell it.

The most recent classified record on the drive was from 2008, Dreicer said.

About the pornography, Dreicer said McLean had repeatedly offered to be polygraphed to prove he had never tried to arrange in-person contact with children, although Assistant U.S. Attorney David Mesrobian said the fact that the videos continue circulating online victimizes the children shown on them over and over.

Two of those children, whose identities werent publicly disclosed, submitted victim impact statements to Corrigan describing how being abused on the videos had affected their lives.

Mesrobian asked for a sentence inside the federal guidelines range of 151 to 188 months. Corrigans sentence was 160 months, or 13 years and four months.

Punishment: Jacksonville man gets 20-year prison for child pornography

Authorities cheered the sentence, with U.S. Attorney Roger B. Handberg saying in a release that "protecting our children from abuse and safeguarding our national security interests are of paramount importance to my office.

Coult Markovsky, assistant special agent in charge of the FBI Jacksonville Division, said in the release the sentence would "serve as a pledge to all Americans that the FBI and our partners will doggedly pursue those who exploit their position of trust and risk our national security. In addition, the FBI and our law enforcement partners will continue to identify and hold those accountable who also pose a danger to the most vulnerable members of our society.

Corrigan told McLean he had considered a tougher sentence but said Dreicers comments had helped dissuade him.

Its a serious set of crimes, the judge said.

McLean, who had reported being sexually abused as a small child, told Corrigan Im the only one responsible for his actions and that the 20 months hed spent in jail since his 2022 arrest had helped him develop spiritually and find new purpose.

McLean said he wants to pursue religious studies online while hes behind bars and has plans for a ministry.

I possess a deep desire to help other inmates find faith, he told Corrigan.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Child porn, classified records crimes get Navy officer 13-year sentence
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, May 31. The amount of mutual trade turnover between Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan from January through March this year amounted to $105 million, Trend reports.

According to an official source, this was said during a meeting between President of Turkmenistan Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, who arrived in Ashgabat city to participate in a meeting of the CIS Council of Heads of Government.

During the meeting, the sides stated that the trade turnover between the two countries increased by 28 percent over the year and amounted to $563 million last year.

Furthermore, they discussed issues of cooperation in the gas sector, as well as the implementation of joint Kazakh-Turkmen projects in the field of agriculture.

Meanwhile, the trade turnover between Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan for the whole of 2022 amounted to $438.69 million, which is 28 percent less than the value of trade turnover last year.
On Wednesday, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a new regulation, effective immediately, that significantly reduces the designated territory for jaguars in the American southwest. The new and final rule removes 64,797 acres of the jaguar's critical habitat designation, in compliance with an earlier court ruling. That leaves approximately 640,000 acres for the jaguars across Cochise, Pima and Santa Cruz counties.

While this may seem harsh, the sad reality is that jaguars (Panthera onca) have been increasingly sparse in the United States. Indeed, many people may not even realize they are native here. But in an encouraging sign for wildlife, their scarcity is slowly reversing.

This year, there have been multiple witness reports of jaguars at the U.S.-Mexico border, indicating the majestic spotted wild cat is making a steady comeback in the southwestern United States. It all comes down to conservationist groups who capture images of the animals using photographic and video recording equipment.

"We are watching jaguars reestablish themselves in the United States at a steady drum beat, in real time," said Russ McSpadden, the Southwest Conservation Advocate at the Center for Biological Diversity, recalling that the spotted cats have been trickling across the border since 2015. "Its a beautiful thing."

Jaguar footage captured on field camera 2023

To name the jaguars that keep crossing America's southwest border, McSpadden turned to local high schools, recalling how the students at Valencia Middle School chose the name El Jefe ("the chief") for a jaguar in 2015; how in 2017 students at Hiaki Highschool at the Pascua Yaqui Pueblo gave a second ca the moniker Yo'oko Nahsuareo (Jaguar Warrior in the Yaqui language); how in the same year students at the Paolo Freire Freedom School and chose the name Sombra; and how several schools on the Tohono Oodham Nation named a newly-discovered jaguar O: had Nu:kudam, which translates as jaguar protector in the Oodham language.

McSpadden said that "it was inspiring to hear the kids describe a sense of cultural power to express that word in their own native language and to have their language expressed through the living presence of a jaguar in the United States. One student told me 'this is proof that jaguars belong here and proof that our language belongs here.'"

Some experts believe that the few jaguars we have seen so far in Arizona do not represent the full population, such as Megan Turtle Southern, a jaguar recovery coordinator at The Rewilding Institute, who said that eight jaguars have been documented in the United States since 1996. "But that doesnt mean there havent been others who have gone unseen. Jaguars belong in the borderlands, historically and still today. This is their home," Southern explained.

Some of these jaguars have even become local celebrities, such as a cat known as Macho B that sadly died amidst allegations that the Arizona Game and Fish Department had unintentionally caused the animal's death. Macho B lived to be 15 years old  a fairly long lifespan for a jaguar.

"It has been eight years since the equal-in-stardom jaguar El Jefe was last seen in Arizona, having since moved south into Mexico," Southern recalled. "This new jaguar follows in their footsteps, a trail that leads through Arizona and New Mexico to vast areas of wild, rugged habitat and abundant prey."

While jaguars seem exotic to Arizonans today, McSpadden pointed out that the American southwest has historically been part of the jaguars' northern range, stretching across the Sky Island Mountains and the Mogollon Rim. While the number of cats in that region "would never have been, in the best of times, as large of a population as many would associate with more tropical stretches of the species range," McSpadden said, they still existed there until government predator control programs determined to drive them out.

"Jaguars were nearly, but never fully, extirpated from this region," McSpadden explained, adding that they are "tenacious" animals, and populations from northern Mexico have always strayed across the U.S.-Mexico border from time to time. "The recent detections of a new jaguar in at least two of southern Arizonas Sky Island mountain ranges is another beautiful example of these majestic felines reestablishing their millennia-old territory in what is now the United States. Theyve always been here. They belong here. They are an important part of the ecology of mountains and rugged canyons of the Southwest."

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The next logical question is whether jaguar populations can and should be restored to their former levels. McSpadden observed that this can happen in "multiple ways," from reintroducing populations to the "absolutely critical" goal of protecting their potential habitats like the Sky Islands, the Mogollon Rim and Gila National Forest.

"Jaguar habitat is threatened by proposed open-pit mines, transportation infrastructure and other massive developments as well as the growing threat of insurmountable border barriers," McSpadden told Salon. "The jaguars we see in the United States are part of the same population as the jaguars we see in northern Mexico. These jaguars are part of one population that is, unfortunately, threatened by politics, nationalism and fearmongering. Connectivity is critical for wildlife."

According to Ganesh Marin, a PhD candidate in Wildlife Conservation and Management at the University of Arizona, conservationists who want to restore jaguar populations need to remember that they naturally have large territories. In terms of staging an American comeback, this may be the biggest obstacle facing the jaguars.

"The principal challenge in the past was eradication by anti-predator campaigns. Today the main challenge is habitat loss, irruption of natural corridors by roads and barriers, and conflict with humans," Marin told Salon. Yet there are precedents for successfully conserving wild cats in the American southwest; Marin observed that humans are currently coexisting with pumas, "another feline similar in size to a jaguar."

Southern and McSpadden both mentioned the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone as another example of a successful rewinding. In spite of this, some groups are advocating for killing the wolves to protect cattle. McSpadden also cited the ongoing efforts to reintroduce jaguars to the southern extremity of Ibera Argentina. By contrast, public information officer Mark Hart from the Arizona Game and Fish Department threw cold water on the idea of reintroducing jaguars to Arizona.

"We do not think the American southwest is critical to the long-term survival of the species, since no females have been present here since 1963," Hart told Salon. "Conservation efforts should be focused on Sonora and elsewhere in Mexico, where females are present and breeding occurs."

When asked about the conservation challenges that exist for the jaguars that currently lived there, Hart replied that the governments needs to enforce the "protections afforded the jaguar under the federal Endangered Species Act."

Hart does not downplay the fact that jaguars currently are crossing the border. He said that "there is one confirmed new individual in the Huachuca Mountains near Sierra Vista," as well as a possible second cat that roamed the Chiricahua Mountains south of Willcox since November 2016 but has not been seen since October 2022. "There have been eight jaguars present in the region since the 1990s, all males presumed to have entered the [United States] in search of new territory after being driven out of Sonora by older, stronger males."

Marin noted that the last female jaguar in Arizona was killed in 1949, leaving the region as a veritable boys' club ever since.

"All are dispersing and coming from Mexico," Marin wrote to Salon. "These individuals are in search of new territory; however, because there are no females documented, when they become adults, they go back into Sonora looking for a mating partner."

Additionally, the jaguar migration is partially driven by the same factor fueling mass extinctions all over the world  climate change. Even if climate change brings more jaguars into the United States, to the delight of many Americans, it also is a bad omen for Earth's future.

"Global climate trends, higher temperatures, drier environments, these things are pushing many species further north and these higher elevations in the Sky Island Mountains, the Gila Wilderness, the Colorado Plateau will likely become even more critical to the survival of these big cats," McSpadden said.

Because jaguars are adaptable, they can move to diverse habitats as climate change makes their current regions inhospitable. In that sense, they set an example that our species can follow. McSpadden added that "I personally see their return as a signal of a hopeful future, where the jaguars resilience is not just ecologically valuable, but is also a compass for our own human resilience in a dangerously changing climate."

Regardless of whether jaguars can or even should make a comeback in the American southwest, their very presence at the time of this writing is welcomed by many. It is perhaps a relief that, even though humans are making an ugly mess of things along the U.S.-Mexico border with the ongoing immigration crisis, there are always big cats in the same area to set a better example. McSpadden reminds us of the children who helped name the cats.

"These students are examples of how interconnectedness with the natural world is often parallel with interconnectedness with culture. Jaguars and culture were once deeply interwoven in this region and can continue to be so," McSpadden said.
Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville zeroed in on one topic that could be to President Joe Bidens benefit if its part of his CNN debate against former President Donald Trump scheduled for June 27.

If the debate is about abortion, it will help a lot, Carville told conservative commentator Bill Kristol on the Conversations with Bill Kristol podcast Wednesday.

During the episode, Carveill noted that birth control is popular among voters despite GOP-ledmoveschallenging efforts to protect or expand access to contraceptives. He added that Biden has got to drive the issue home.

You got to keep them answering. You got to keep Trump off guard. You can do it with things like this. You cant let him get his footing, Carville said.

I just dont see him being a sufficient irritant out there, he went on. But then they have a big financial advantage. They could open up some opportunities here over the summer.

A majority of Americans are still in favor of access to abortion roughly two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, according to a Pew Research Center survey released this month.

About 63% of Americans said abortion should be legal in all or most cases, the survey found, an increase of 4 percentage points from 2021.

Of the moderate and liberal Republicans surveyed, about two-thirds agreed with that view, the survey revealed.

A separate survey recently shared by The New York Times showed that roughly 17% of registered voters in six swing states said Biden has a lot of responsibility or some responsibility for the overturning of Roe.

Over 55% of those surveyed pointed to the presumptive GOP presidential nominee having some or a lot of responsibility for the Supreme Courts decision, as well.

Carville said he doesnt think Trump will show up to the debate, pointing to his recent claim that hed testify in his hush money trial, which he ultimately did not do.

Hes paid zero price for not testifying his own path. None, Carville said. And from that, hes learned, I can do what I want. I can back out of a debate. What are they going to do to me?

Check out more of Carville on Conversations with Bill Kristol below.

Related...
Jamie Ray Mills executed in Atmorewhat his final day looked like

ATMORE, Ala. (WKRG)  The Alabama Department of Corrections announced the execution of death row inmate Jamie Ray Mills was carried out on Thursday night.

Mills was executed at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore, and he was pronounced dead by a physician at 6:26 p.m.

On Wednesday, Mills had six visitors and six phone calls.

Dangerous and deadly snakes in South Baldwin Countywhat you need to know this summer

On Thursday, he had six visitors and no phone calls. He accepted his breakfast tray, and his final meal choice was seafood.

Mills was executed for the 2004 capital murders of Floyd and Vera Hill in Marion County.

His remains will be released to the Escambia County Coroner and taken to the Mobile Lab of the Department of Forensic Sciences for a postmortem examination.

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.
Michelle Troconis, the Connecticut socialite who was convicted of helping her boyfriend Fotis Dulos murder his wife Jennifer Dulos and dispose of her remains, was sentenced on Friday to 20 years behind bars for her role in the plot.

Troconis, 49, was convicted in March on six criminal charges including conspiracy to commit murder, hindering the prosecution, and tampering with evidence. She narrowly avoided the 45-year sentence the prosecution sought for her after a heavy day in court, which brought her face to face with the parentless children of the Dulos family.

Emotions ran high as the children, who are now teenagers, faced Troconis and told her how her actions had upended their lives. At one point, Dulos son Theodore told Troconis she will be considered evil, violent, and certainly a coward, which caused Troconis to break down in tears.

At the hearing, Dulos eldest son Petros, 18, described the gaping loss he felt when his mother was taken away from him five years ago.

My mother was everything to me, he said. The defendants actions means Ill never be able to tell my mom how sorry I am for not being a better son. Ill never be able to tell mom how proud of her I am.

It Was a Mistake: Key Suspect in Fotis Dulos Case Finally Speaks

Dulos was allegedly murdered by her husband, Fotis Dulos, in 2019 at the couples New Canaan home. Prosecutors say he planned the murder with the help of Troconis, his live-in girlfriend at the time, and the two of them dumped her body somewhere.

There are feelings and thoughts that I will never be able to express again because my mom was the key to those parts of me, Petros Dulos said.

His sister Christiane, 15, focused on the pain and damage Troconis had done to their family.

Michelle is the reason why I am completely lost in the world. Shes the reason why I have blocked out my childhood, Christiane said. She was 10 years old at the time Dulos disappeared.

Shes the reason that kids in school look at me. The reason why my teachers say guardians are not parents. Shes the reason I have to sit on the bathroom floor with my little sister and try my best to comfort her.

Investigators never found Dulos remains, but declared her dead last year.

Clothes, Sponges Stained With Missing Mom Jennifer Dulos Blood Found in Trash Cans: Police

Theodore Dulos, 18, told the court Troconis deserved the maximum sentence for her role in the murder plot.

An appropriate sentence would be fifty years: ten years for each child who lost their mother, Theodore told Troconis, who was crying at that point. I will never forgive you for what youve done.

The five Dulos children lost both of their parents in the nightmare murder-scandal that consumed their childhoods: just a few weeks after their father was charged with their mothers murder, he died by suicide, leaving a note that maintained his innocence.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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New Jersey attorney general blames shore town for having too few police on boardwalk during melee

A group of young people walk peacefully along the boardwalk in Seaside Heights, N.J., Friday, May 31, 2024. On Friday, New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin blamed the city of Wildwood, N.J., for not assigning enough police officers to patrol its boardwalk over the Memorial Day weekend when crowds of rowdy teens and young adults overwhelmed the city's capability to respond to disturbances, forcing the boardwalk to be shut down overnight on Sunday, May 26. (AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, N.J. (AP)  New Jersey's attorney general on Friday blamed a Jersey Shore town for not having enough police officers patrolling its boardwalk over the Memorial Day weekend, when the force was overwhelmed and the city temporarily closed the walkway.

Matthew Platkin said Wildwood did not have enough police officers assigned to its boardwalk on Sunday of Memorial Day weekend, when the city says it was swamped with calls for help to respond to incidents of rowdy teens and young adults creating disturbances.

The disorder led the city to close the boardwalk overnight and to seek help from neighboring police departments.

Numerous local officials and police supervisors from Jersey Shore towns, as well as the president of the statewide police union, blame a series of juvenile justice reforms New Jersey has enacted in recent years with emboldening teens and giving them the sense that there is little police can do to them if they are caught with alcohol or marijuana.

But during an event to check boardwalk games of chance to make sure they comply with state regulations and give customers a fair chance to win, Platkin defended the law and placed responsibility squarely on Wildwood, which he said has hired the fewest law enforcement officers this year than they've ever hired.

I don't think we had enough law enforcement officers out in Wildwood last weekend, and we're working to correct that, he said.

Wildwood officials did not respond to an inquiry about how many officers it had assigned to the boardwalk last weekend. But it said in a statement that additional officers will join the force in a matter of days.

Every police department is shorthanded today, Wildwood Public Safety Commissioner Steve Mikulski said. "Young men and women are not going into the police or fire academy like they used to. We have people moving through police academy right now who will be coming on board in June. This is the same timeline every year.

Ocean City endured its second straight year of disturbances during Memorial Day weekend, including the stabbing of a 15-year-old boy who is recovering from non-life-threatening wounds in a case that remains unsolved.

Mayor Jay Gillian, in a note to residents posted Friday on the city's website, said Ocean City police brought 23 teens into the police station for fights, shoplifting and other infractions. The officers issued more than 1,300 warnings for alcohol, cannabis, curfew and other violations.

The teens involved in these fights were known to each other, and came to Ocean City with the intent of causing harm to each other, Gillian said. That behavior will not be tolerated, and our police department is fully prepared to address it.

Critics blame juvenile justice reforms designed to keep more juveniles out of the court system that imposed several restrictions on police officers interactions with them. In January, the law was revised to remove some of the threats of punishment for officers dealing with juveniles suspected of possessing alcohol or marijuana.

Platkin said Friday nothing in the law prevents police from arresting teens involved in violent events.

I get when you have a frustrating episode you want to look for someone to blame. But there's no state regulation that prevents law enforcement officers from doing their job, he said. The law itself is largely not the issue. We need to make sure we have the people in place with the right training, and that's what we're doing now.

___

Follow Wayne Parry on X at www.twitter.com/WayneParryAC
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 30: Former U.S. President Donald Trump appears in court for his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. Judge Juan Merchan gave the jury instructions, and deliberations are entering their second day. The former president faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. (Photo by Steven Hirsch-Pool/Getty Images)

Both Democrat Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Republican state Sen. Mike Testa said the guilty verdicts a New York jury handed down to Donald Trump made Thursday a sad day  though predictably for different reasons.

For Sherrill, who was elected to the House in the 2018 Democratic wave that was largely seen as a rebuke to Trumps first two years in office, Thursday was a sad day in our nations history because it represents the first time an American president has been convicted of a crime  but, she added, it is also a critical day for the rule of law.

The former president must be held accountable for all his illegal actions, and it is paramount that we protect the judicial process and our democratic institutions, Sherrill said.

For Testa, the sadness of the day was because of persecution via prosecution.

I will be happily awaiting the appeal of this verdict. There appears to have been a sundry of errors which are ripe for appeal, he said. I am praying for President Trump, his family, and for the United States of America.

Trump was found guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to a porn star to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. Trump, the presumptive GOP nominee for president in November, called the proceedings a rigged, disgraceful trial.

Sen. Cory Booker, a Democrat, said the verdict has reaffirmed that no one is above the law, not even a former president.

The fact is that former President Trump was afforded his due process rights and was able to mount a full defense in a court of law, like every criminal defendant should. The 34 guilty verdicts in President Trumps case mean that a jury of his peers, after impartially reviewing the evidence presented and having sworn an oath to perform their duties faithfully, unanimously determined beyond a reasonable doubt  34 separate times  that the former president broke the law, Booker said.

Jack Ciattarelli, who is seeking the GOP nomination for governor next year, said the American people will render their own verdict in November.

Regardless of what anyone thinks about Donald Trump, would these charges have ever been brought if he wasnt running for President? Legal experts on both sides are saying that these convictions are likely to be overturned on appeal. I agree.

The post New Jersey pols react to Trump verdict: A sad day appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said Friday he would demand testimony from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) and another top prosecutors who worked on former President Trumps hush money case.

A post on the social platform X from the Judiciarys weaponization subcommittee said Jordan would request an appearance from both Bragg and prosecutor Matthew Colangelo for a June 13 hearing on the unprecedented political prosecution of President Trump.

The swiftly scheduled hearing comes after a jury found Trump guilty on each of the 34 counts brought by Bragg on charges connected to falsifying records in order to conceal hush money payments made to porn actor Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.

Braggs office did not immediately respond to a request for comment but has resisted previous attempts from Jordan to seek his cooperation, including before charges were ever filed in the case.

Braggs team suggested at the time it was Jordan who was inappropriately interfering in the justice system.

We will not be intimidated by attempts to undermine the justice process, nor will we let baseless accusations deter us from fairly applying the law, a spokesperson for Braggs office said when Jordan first requested his testimony in March of last year.

While the trial is now over, Bragg is likely to resist appearing, as other matters regarding the case are ongoing. Trumps sentencing for the case is July 11, and his team has also suggested he will appeal the verdict  details that could make the prosecutor reticent to discuss his work.

Colangelo, who delivered the opening statement in Trumps New York trial, has also been a long-term target of Jordans.

Jordan first sought documents about Colangelos hiring in April of last year, launching a separate effort to get similar documents from the Justice Department last month.

Colangelo was a senior Justice Department official in the Biden administration before joining the Manhattan district attorneys office in December 2022.

His resume includes significant experience  before and after his Justice Department stint  working on cases that involve Trump.

While working at the New York attorney generals office, Colangelo was part of a team that sued Trumps charitable organization in 2018, proving it was improperly using funds, which led to its dismantling.

And during the tail end of the Trump administration, he was involved in the offices probe into the Trump Organization itself. That probe would later serve as the basis for New York Attorney General Letitia Jamess (D) fraud suit, which this year resulted in a $450 million penalty against Trump.

Colangelo left Jamess office for a high-ranking posting at the Justice Department, but he returned to New York two years later to join Braggs team.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A House subcommittee, led by Donald Trump ally Jim Jordan, has called for the district attorney who brought the charges against the former president to testify before it next month.

The House Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government announced on X that it would demand that New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg appear before the subcommittee on 13 June. Mr Jordan also serves as the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, which houses the subcommittee.

The announcement came after a jury in New York found Mr Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to corruptly influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election. The verdict made Mr Trump the first former president to be convicted of a felony.

Speaking after the verdict Mr Bragg said: The only voice that matters is the voice of the jury.

The verdict, as well as the trial as a whole, infuriated Republicans, who promised there would be consequences for Mr Braggs investigation and the eventual indictment and trial.

The subcommittee also requested Matthew Colangelo, the senior counsel in Mr Braggs office appear.

It is not the first time that the subcommittee has gone after Mr Bragg. Last year, ahead of the indictment, Mr Jordan sent a letter requesting Mr Bragg to testify before the subcommittee.

Mr Bragg has repeatedly rebuffed Mr Jordan, even filing a lawsuit asking a federal court to urge Mr Jordan from interfering into his prosecution of the former president.

Mr Jordan for his part has held Judiciary Committee hearings in New York City to falsely portray the city as being overrun by crime. That in turn led to heckling from protesters in overwhelmingly Democratic New York City, including chants of Hey hey, ho, ho, Jim Jordans got to go.

A hardline Republican and co-founder of the House Freedom Caucus, Mr Jordan played a crucial role in Mr Trumps efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. Mr Trump, for his part, endorsed Mr Jordans bid to become speaker of the House, which ultimately failed due to opposition from more mainstream Republicans.
A Johnson County family is the latest to sue the Hereford House after an employee was charged with unlawfully adulterating or contaminating food at the restaurants Leawood location.

Michael and Paula Patterson, their son John Patterson and his significant other, Kelli Sexton, all from Johnson County, and Andrew Patterson and his fiancee, Stephanie Like, from Cook County, Illinois, filed the lawsuit Thursday in Johnson County District Court against the Hereford House restaurant Company of Kansas Inc., saying they fell ill after eating at the restaurant in April.

The Patterson family contends that the restaurant was negligent and breached an implied warranty that its food would be safe. They also assert a strict liability claim alleging that the contaminated food is a defective product and the restaurant should be held liable for serving it to customers.

The lawsuit is the fifth to be filed against the Hereford House since Johnson County prosecutors charged 21-year-old Jace Christian Hanson of Kansas City with a felony of contaminating food at the restaurant at 5001 Town Center Drive in Leawoods Town Center Plaza.

According to court documents, Hanson allegedly posted videos on a website under the name Vandalizer that showed a man urinating in restaurant-style food bins and rubbing food on his genitals and buttocks.

Hanson allegedly told detectives that he contaminated food in more than 20 incidents. Prosecutors say the alleged crimes occurred between March 26 and April 25. Based on Hansons comments to police, the Hereford House narrowed the time to 12 days, roughly between April 6 and 23.

Hanson, currently being held in Johnson County jail on a $100,000 bond, is scheduled to appear in court next week.

As of Wednesday morning, 382 people who ate at the Hereford House have contacted police, Leawood Police Chief Brad Robbins said.

The lawsuit is similar to those filed by Chad Christopher of Clay County, McHarlan and Barbara Bishop of Jackson County, Blair and Dawn Hawkins of Rogers, Arkansas, and Michael and Diane Fogarty of Johnson County, who contend they also fell ill after eating at the restaurant.

Food poisoning symptoms

According to their lawsuit, the Patterson family ate dinner at the Hereford House on the evening of Thursday, April 11. Following dinner, family members fell ill with varying gastrointestinal symptoms, including diarrhea and vomiting.

Michael Patterson had diarrhea into the following week. Paula Patterson had diarrhea on Friday, and after eating leftovers the next day, she became sick again, per the lawsuit.

John Patterson and Kelli Sexton fell ill over the weekend and had diarrhea and vomiting into April 15. They were unable to work on April 15. Andrew Peterson and Stephanie Like also fell sick and had diarrhea that weekend and the following week, the lawsuit said.

The Patterson family contends the illness was consistent with food poisoning.

Since becoming aware of the contaminated food at the restaurant, the Patterson family contends its members suffered additional emotional and psychological distress. They claim they continue to experience anxiety and distress, including fear of future illness or medical harm from eating the alleged contaminated food.

The Patterson family is requesting a jury trial. The family members are seeking an unspecified amount in damages.
When former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie dropped out of the 2024 GOP presidential race in January, he looked like exactly the kind of Republican the Biden campaign should be courting for an endorsement. I am going to make sure that in no way do I enable Donald Trump to ever be president of the United States again, Christie told New Hampshire voters during his withdrawal speech. At the time, he seemed to leave the door open to voting for President Joe Biden.

Similarly, when former Vice President Mike Pence announced on March 15 that he cannot in good conscience endorse Donald Trump in this campaign, he also seemed like a prime target for outreach from President Biden and other high-ranking Democrats. A Pence vote for Biden may have been off the tableas Pence himself said in that March 15 interviewbut a phone call from the Democratic president could have at least signaled respect to Pence and other disaffected Republicans.

When Nikki Haley dropped out of the GOP primary race in March, Biden did issue a statement: Donald Trump made it clear he doesnt want Nikki Haleys supporters. I want to be clear: There is a place for them in my campaign. And his campaign later released ads highlighting Trumps insulting rhetoric about Haley.

But Haley never got a call from Biden or his top aides, a senior Haley adviser told The Dispatch (though a group of her former backers now supporting Biden did get a call last week hours after Haley endorsed Trump). Nor did Christie, who by April was telling The View it was unlikely he would back the incumbent president. And Pence told The Dispatch this week that he, too, never heard from Biden or anyone in his campaign since his Ides of March appearance on Fox News. A Biden campaign aide told The Dispatch that outreach to potential Republican endorsers is going on behind the scenesand those endorsements would be released later in the election cycle to have more impactbut provided no comment on why Christie, Haley, and Pence didnt get calls from Biden.

The radio silence with the former GOP challengers to his political nemesis is just one signal that Biden and other high-ranking Democrats are more concerned about shoring up support in their own base than they are winning over disaffected Republicans. While Memorial Day is a natural point on the calendar for a general election pivot to the center, the Biden campaign held a press conference on Tuesday outside of Trumps hush-money trial in Manhattanthe kind of event more appealing to MSNBC viewers than Nikki Haley voters concerned about the rule of law. But perhaps the most significant signal that Democrats intend to run 2024 as a base election is that theyre starting the summer by lurching left on issues ranging from Israel to attacking the Supreme Court.

Pence himself doesnt begrudge Biden for the lack of outreach, but he is growing increasingly dismayed by what he calls the Democratic Partys ongoing capitulation to the American left.

Joe Biden won his partys nomination in 2020, but Bernie Sanders won the party, Pence told The Dispatch, hitting Biden for runaway spending, an avalanche of regulation  appeasement from day one of the mullahs in Iran, [and] the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. He was particularly incensed by Bidens recent decision to halt a shipment of some weapons to Israel: Seeing the way that the administration has been going back and forth on what should be unambiguous support of Israel in their fight to defend their country against an existential threat of terrorist Hamas  should be deeply concerning to every American who cares about our standing in the world.

Robert Schwartz, executive director of the nonprofit Haley Voters for Biden that got a call from the Biden campaign last week, said one Haley voter told the presidents campaign: The Joe Biden that went to Israel after October 7, thats Joe Biden that I would vote for. The Joe Biden that halted shipments to Israel is not a Joe Biden I would vote for.

The Biden campaigns call to the group was a good kind of first step to actually engage Haley voters and listen to them, Schwartz said, and he expects more. But the view among Haley voters is that the clock is ticking, he added. I think the longer the Biden campaign waits to aggressively court Haley voters, the more people kind of fall back into their partisan camps.

Softening support for Israel is perhaps the worst foreign policy mistake Democrats could make if they were trying to court unhappy Republicans. Bungling the border would probably be the worst domestic policy mistake. While Biden and Democrats have been touting a bipartisan immigration deal scuttled by Trump and congressional Republicans, Schwartz said there is frustration among Haley voters that Biden hasnt taken executive action on immigration. Theres been all these rumors and reporting about an executive order, and I think Haley voters are like, Lets quit playing political games and actually do whatever you can to fix the border, Schwartz said. If hes considering an executive order, he should do it.

Threatening to pack the Supreme Court is yet another item near the top of the list of what not to do to win over disaffected Republicans. Yet for the past two weeks congressional Democrats have been raising the specter of court-packing and other changes intended to undermine the current Supreme Court makeup.

In the wake of a New York Times story that Justice Samuel Alitos wife flew an upside-down American flag outside her home days before Biden was inaugurated in 2020, Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey wrote on May 23: Justice Alito must recuse himself from anything related to the January 6th insurrection and we must expand the Court to ensure that Donald Trumps stolen seats dont dismantle our democracy. While few congressional Democrats have co-sponsored Markeys bill to pack the Supreme Court, most congressional Democrats havent taken it off the table. If and when we win back the House and the Senate and the White House we will look at the Supreme Court and figure out what can be done about that extremely corrupted and contaminated body, Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland told Slate. Yes we will, brother, Democratic Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island wrote in response to Raskins comments.

Biden hasnt weighed in on the Alito controversy and hasnt endorsed court packing, but the growing attacks on the court from Democrats in Congress could scare off potential Biden-backing Republicans worried about a Democratic trifecta. Court packing would be a total non-starter and would certainly alienate most Haley voters, Schwartz told The Dispatch.

Pence called court packing nothing other than a Democrat power graban attempt to compromise the independence of the judicial branch in this country. He was no less strident in his criticism of Democrats criticism of Alito.

These attacks on Justice Alito should be deeply offensive to any American who believes in the separation of powers under the Constitution of the United States, Pence said. All of this is motivated clearly by the fact that the American left and many of their acolytes in the mainstream press will never forgive Justice Alito for writing the majority opinion that sent Roe v. Wade to the ash heap of history.

Despite his dismay over the direction of the Democratic Party, Pence says he has no regrets about his decision not to endorse Trump. He and I have a continuing and profound difference over the exercise of my duties under the Constitution on January 6, but its beyond that, Pence said. I have a real concern that the Republican Party and my former running mate are shying away from American leadership on the world stage and are willing to ignore the national debt. And to have a former president relegate this debate over the right to life to the states only is an abdication of leadership.

As he has done since March 15, Pence declined to tell The Dispatch who hell vote for in November. Ill cast my vote in a manner consistent with my conscience, he said. He cares less about trying to affect the outcome of the election than speaking out about issues, without regard for which candidate that helps or hurts. The calling of my life right now is to use whatever platform I have after 20 years of public service to advocate and to champion the conservative agenda and to champion the cause of conservatism within the Republican Party.

While theres no chance Biden could win over Pence, theres still a case for him to appeal to those who respect Pence and voted for Haley in the primary. The general sentiment I hear from almost every kind of Haley voter that is open to Biden is that they prefer Biden as a decent human being [compared] to Trump. But on policy, theres a narrative out there that Joe Biden is too far to the left, Schwartz told The Dispatch. That prevents them from being able to kind of seal the deal. So what theyre hoping for over the course of the next five months is that Biden will clearly signal his commitment to running and governing as a centrist and as a bipartisan figure.

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ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, May 31. Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia discussed solutions on a number of promising projects that strengthen trade exchanges and investments between, Trend reports.

According to the official source, this topic was discussed at the seventh meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Saudi commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, which was held in Riyadh.

The delegations of the two countries were headed by the co-chairs of the commission - Khalid A. Al-Falih, Minister of Investment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Batyr Amanov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Turkmenistan for oil and gas issues.

At the meeting, the parties discussed the implementation of agreements reached and decisions on a number of promising projects that will strengthen trade exchanges and investments between the two countries, cooperation to ensure the sustainability of supply chains, connecting transport, transit routes, and energy security.

Furthermore, during the exchange of views, they voiced proposals to increase the volume of export-import products.

The negotiations ended with the signing of the protocol of the 7th meeting of the Intergovernmental Turkmen-Saudi Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.

Meanwhile, the previous 6th meeting of the intergovernmental commission was held in Ashgabat city, Turkmenistan, in 2018.

The development of cooperation between Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia is characterized by the strengthening of bilateral relations in the economic, energy, and cultural spheres, which is reflected in an increase in mutual investments, the implementation of joint projects in the oil and gas industry, as well as in the expansion of humanitarian ties and cultural exchange, which contributes to the mutual strengthening of the positions of both countries in the international arena.
Donald Trump has been destined to become the first president convicted of a felony since the day he came down the escalator at Trump Tower and announced he was running for president. The man had no respect for convention, for law or for the Constitution, and now he has been branded a criminal with the prospect of jail time for the 34 counts on which he was convicted.

Tonight is a moment to celebrate that even for Teflon Don, eventually our criminal justice system could gather itself and deliver consequences. But that celebration should be short.

Trump, speaking outside the courtroom, has already doubled down on his dishonest attacks on our justice system, alleging a presidential conspiracy to steer state officials over which Joe Biden has no authority into indicting an innocent Trump on politically motivated charges.

Already his minions are spreading the word that a Democratic prosecutor before a Democratic judge aided by a jury pulled from an overwhelmingly Democratic city cant be trusted. Even Republicans who have resisted boarding the Trump train are rallying to the message because it is true.

Trumps presidential donations site, built to capitalize on the rage of the right, is so flooded with money that it has shut down  unable to choke down the wads of cash true believers are sending the felonious former presidents way. A legion of right-leaning journalists  some ethical, some not  are desperately seeking to expose the jurors personal information so that the nation will know their political pasts and every sin in an effort to discredit the verdict.

After a night of celebration, Biden should react with caution, not just because the forces unleashed by this conviction are unpredictable, but also because while he is the Democrats president, he is also the nations president. In this unprecedented moment, he should bring the nation together by being both modest and merciful.

Modest because it is reasonable for many in the rightward half of the American electorate to doubt the justice system of New York. There was another historic unanimous decision today, this one by the Supreme Court of the United States  which ruled that New Yorks Democratic regulators must face a National Rifle Association lawsuit that they targeted the group in violation of its First Amendment rights. The decision rebuking New York was written by liberal lion Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Just as a unanimous jury said today that Donald Trump is corrupt, a 9-0 Supreme Court ruled that the Democrats of New York are not to be trusted.

The smart move for Biden is to ask the Democratic governor of New York, Kathy Hochul, to use her clemency power to pardon Trump.

First, because as much as Trump has trashed the norms of our Democratic system, we do not want to go down the road of the party of an incumbent president prosecuting his chief political opponent for paperwork infractions. Presidential campaigns produce a lot of paper, pushed by a lot of people. An ambitious prosecutor with a partisan lens can always find an indictable offense if not deliver a conviction in open court.

Second, because it most likely ends Trumps ability to appeal the verdict against him. Courts will rule any appeal moot if Trump has been pardoned and does not face jail or fines for his crimes. Democrats should not be so confident that such a complicated case will withstand appellate scrutiny at both the state and the federal level. After a pardon, the stain of conviction will be permanent.

Third, because it strips Trump of the martyrdom mantle he could well ride into the White House. Moreover, it builds up Democrats and Biden as the adults who, when offered partisan advantage against a wounded opponent, chose to put the nation first.

Biden won in 2020 because an exhausted nation turned to him for a chance at peace. This is his opportunity to deliver.

David Mastio, who served as a political appointee in the George W. Bush administration, is a regional editor for The Center Square and a regular Star Opinion correspondent. Follow him on X: @DavidMastio or email him at dmastio1@yahoo.com
Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia announced on Friday that he would leave the Democratic Party. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

Senator Joe Manchin announced on Friday that he had left the Democratic Party to become an independent as many have wondered whether he will run for governor of his home state of West Virginia.

Mr Manchin was the last Democrat in a statewide office and announced in November that he would not seek re-election. He announced his decision in a statement on Friday.

Throughout my days in elected office, I have always been proud of my commitment to common sense, bipartisanship and my desire to bring people together, he said. Its who I am. Its who I will always be. I have never seen America through a partisan lens.

Mr Manchin decried extremism on both sides of the political aisle.

He had previously flirted with running for president as an independent or as a candidate through No Labels, a centrist organization that promoted the idea of a bipartisan unity ticket.
JSO: Man dead after falling into water while night fishing on Jacksonvilles Northside

Jacksonville Sheriffs Office said a man is dead after he was found unresponsive in the water along Heckscher Drive.

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Police said that at around 10:26 p.m. on Thursday, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department pulled a man in distress out of the water. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Detectives learned that the man and a witness went out to do some night fishing when the victim became unresponsive in the water. JSOs Homicide and Crime Scene units are conducting their respective investigations, but foul play isnt expected.

The Medical Examiner also responded to the scene and will determine the exact cause of death.

Action News Jax will continue to follow the story and will update you as we learn more.

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Richard Allen Davis was sentenced to death for the 1993 murder and kidnapping of 12-year-old Polly Klaas in 1996

AP Photo/File Polly Klaas

A California judge has denied convicted killer Richard Allen Daviss motion to recall his death penalty sentence.

At a hearing on May 31, Judge Benjamin Williams denied Davis's motion, according to a press release reviewed by PEOPLE.

"I am immensely grateful to the Sonoma County District Attorneys Office, especially Deputy District Attorney Sarah Brooks, for zealously advocating for justice for my daughter Polly, and Judge Benjamin Williams for rightfully denying this latest ridiculous motion filed by Pollys murderer," Polly's father, Marc Klaas, said in the press release.



Last month, Daviss attorneys had asked a judge in Santa Clara County Superior Court to resentence the convicted killer, NBC Bay Area reported. The request came after a 2022 criminal justice reform law came into effect that invalidated some sentencing enhancements, the San Jose Mercury News reported.

Davis was sentenced to death in 1996 for the 1993 murder and kidnapping of 12-year-old Polly Klaas. Polly was abducted from her home in Petaluma, Calif., where she was having a slumber party with two 12-year-old classmates. Her strangled body was found in a wooded area about 50 miles away two months later.

Her kidnapping sparked a nationwide search with thousands of volunteers and made her a household name.

Related: Everything to Know About the Polly Klaas Murder Case 30 Years After Her Remains Were Discovered

AP Photo/Ben Margot Richard Allen Davis

After Polly's death, foundations were formed in her honor, including The Polly Klaas Foundation, which raises awareness of child abductions and has helped more than 10,000 families find their missing children, according to its website. Marc Klaas also founded the KlaasKids Foundation, which promotes prevention programs for at-risk youth, stronger sentencing for violent criminals and governmental accountability and responsibility.

Pollys murder helped prompt California voters in 1994 to adopt the three strikes and youre out law, which called for increased prison sentences for repeat offenders like Davis. The law was later modified because it unfairly targeted communities of color and incarcerated people for non-serious and non-violent offenses.

Davis was convicted of her killing in 1996 and sent to San Quentins death row.

In 2022, a law, which was enacted to help address overcrowding in Californias prison, was passed that would invalidate some criminal penalty enhancements such as for some prior convictions for nonviolent and drug convictions.

Davis' lawyers argued that Davis was entitled to have four of his felony convictions and three previous prison terms invalidated, according to the Mercury News.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

The Sonoma County District Attorneys Office had said Davis was not entitled to challenge his death penalty conviction.

If my family can be subjected to the possible recall of capital sentence of a condemned murderer who, prior to murdering Polly, had multiple convictions for violence towards women and was diagnosed as a sexually sadistic psychopath, then any victims family who thought that justice was served in the courtroom is in for a shocking new reality, Marc Klaas said in a statement in April. If Pollys killer is somehow able to prevail, this is the tip of the iceberg. Thousands of violent offenders will follow suit, so lock your doors, protect your children, and pray that your family does not fall prey to the violence and destruction that is sure to follow.

Last month, State Senator Ben Allen, who introduced the law, issued a statement saying that Davis was allowed to make whatever wild legal assertion he wants, but our law was definitely not designed to undo the death sentences of condemned child killers like him and any attempt to argue otherwise is off-base, he said, per NBC Bay Area.  This a desperate act by a despicable man."

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Read the original article on People.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A judge denied a motion Friday to dismiss the ouster proceeding against embattled Shelby County Clerk Wanda Halbert, and set a trial date of Aug. 26.

Halbert, who is fighting to keep her job after the state moved to remove her following complaints from local officials and customers over long lines and delays, also will have a suspension hearing June 25.

The county clerk was in court Friday along with Hamilton County District Attorney Coty Wamp, who is making the case against Halbert for the state.

State files to remove County Clerk Wanda Halbert from office

Halberts attorney filed the motion to dismiss May 14, a few days after Wamp, on behalf of the State of Tennessee, filed a petition to remove Halbert from office. The document cited willful neglect to perform a duty and Inaccurate and Untimely Financial Reporting as the reasons for removal.

The states motion for default judgement is still underway.

This is not a normal case and whats done normally doesnt apply here, Wamp said. For the people of Shelby County and for Halbert, getting this over with as quickly as possible is in everyones best interest for both parties.

State says problems at clerks office fixed, for now

The judge said she would make a ruling on the states motion for default judgement, which was filed Friday, after Halbert is allowed to file an answer. The deadline for that answer is Wednesday.

Judge Felicia Corbin-Johnson says a hearing to decide if Halbert will be suspended is set for June 25.

This court is going to be fair and give both parties an opportunity to prepare, the judge said.

Wamp said the state had a witness list of about 14 people, mostly from county government, for the trial. She admits the road to the final verdict may not be easy.

This standard is very hard to meet especially for willful neglect, so we are going to do our very best, she said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
CARTER COUNTY, Tenn. (WJHL)  One of two men accused of killing a Carter County man and burying him in a freezer appeared in court Friday.

Jim Chambers, 37, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 64-year-old Edward Elliott, who had been reported missing in late March but had not been seen by family members since late January. Authorities found Elliotts body buried in a freezer in a rural part of Carter County on May 15.

PREVIOUS: Carter Co. man charged with murder after missing man found dead in freezer

Chambers also faces charges of abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence. Joey Lee Guinn, 46, was arrested on the day Elliott was found and faces the same charges as Chambers. He is being held at the Carter County Detention Center on a $5 million bond.

Jim Chambers, left, and Joey Lee Guinn are accused of murdering Edward Elliott. (Carter County Sheriffs Office)

On Friday, Chambers was arraigned in court, alongside his girlfriend, Amanda Quillen, 30. The Carter County Sheriffs Office announced Friday in a news release that Quillen was arrested in New Orleans on May 24 with Chambers and extradited alongside him to Carter County.

Quillen is charged with accessory after the fact to first-degree murder and coercion or persuasion of a witness.

Amanda Quillen (CCSO)

News Channel 11 was in the courtroom Friday when the district attorneys office asked that bond be increased for both Chambers and Quillen. Judge Keith Bowers agreed and set Chambers bond at $10 million and Quillens at $1 million.

Chambers and Quillen were each appointed private attorneys due to conflicts with the public defenders office.

The pair is scheduled to appear in court for a hearing on June 5, the same day as Guinns next appearance.

Carter County Sheriff Mike Fraley said the three arrests represent months of investigative work, but the sheriffs office has more to do.

Theres an ongoing investigation right now. Theres more work to be done, Fraley said. But I am relieved that we are getting developments in this case. But were by no means finished with this case.

Fraley told News Channel 11 that his office and investigators have received help from multiple federal, state and local agencies.

Locally, weve had several agencies assisting us and the outreach has extended, like I said, to Louisiana, he said. And weve had cooperation with the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service and the Louisiana local authorities down there.

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.
Mayor Karen Bass, accompanied by her team in 2023. A judge agreed Thursday to dismiss a lawsuit challenging her emergency declaration on homelessness. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

A judge handed a legal victory to the city of Los Angeles on Thursday, agreeing to dismiss a lawsuit that sought to strike down Mayor Karen Bass' declaration of a city emergency on homelessness and housing.

L.A. County Superior Court Judge Curtis A. Kin granted a request from the city's lawyers to toss the lawsuit from Fix the City, a Westside-based organization that had called the emergency declaration a "vast and illegal expansion of mayoral power."

Bass declared an emergency on homelessness on her first day in office in December 2022, promising "a sea change in how the city tackles homelessness." In July 2023, she signed an updated emergency declaration on homelessness and housing, after the council passed a new law spelling out the criteria needed to make such a declaration.

The emergency declaration provided the mayor's team the power to award contracts, enter into lease agreements, suspend competitive bidding, commandeer property and lift regulations on the production of affordable housing, among other things.

Lawyers for Fix the City argued that Bass was prohibited from making such a declaration, in part because city law defines a local emergency as an "occurrence" beyond the control of normal government operations. An emergency, those attorneys said, applies to a sudden or unexpected event, such as an earthquake or flood.

"While tragic, homelessness and affordable housing concerns are not 'an occurrence,' and are instead chronic conditions which have plagued the city for decades," the group said in its lawsuit.

Fix the City also argued that the emergency declaration violated state laws, including the California Emergency Services Act, which defines a local emergency as the existence of conditions of "disaster or of extreme peril" caused by fire, flood, storm, epidemic, riot, cyberterrorism or various other events.

Kin sided with the city's legal team, concluding that L.A.'s law on homelessness emergencies is not in conflict with either city or state laws. He also disagreed with Fix the City's assessment that the emergency declaration ran afoul of a law aimed at ensuring that local governments engage in competitive bidding.

Bass, in a statement, thanked City Atty. Hydee Feldstein Soto for her work, saying, "baseless lawsuits will not stop us from saving lives."

"We must turn the page away from organizations that prevent housing from being built, which keeps Angelenos on the streets," she said.

Feldstein Soto, in a separate statement, said she is pleased with her office's success in defending the mayor's homeless initiatives. Those programs are "getting people the help thats so urgently needed, she said.

Mike Eveloff, president of Fix the City, called the ruling "logically, factually and legally wrong."

"We're going to appeal immediately," he said.

Under the ordinance approved last summer, the mayor has the power to declare an emergency on homelessness and housing if L.A.'s unhoused population is more than two times the number of the city's interim homeless beds. An emergency also can be declared if L.A.'s housing supply is projected to be at least 40% below its annual production goals, or if the city's homeless population has increased by more than 20% in a single year.

The emergency declaration has made it possible for Bass' team to enter into lease agreements with dozens of hotels and motels, which have been used as temporary housing as part of the mayor's Inside Safe initiative.

The declaration also allowed Bass to issue Executive Directive 1, which has dramatically sped up the city's approval of residential projects deemed 100% affordable. Last month, Bass said that more than 16,000 affordable housing units had entered the city's pipeline since the start of the ED1 program.

Fix the City has sued the city government many times, seeking to limit certain types of development. The group sued last year to stop Councilmember Katy Yaroslavsky's plan to open an interim homeless facility on Pico Boulevard on L.A.'s Westside, saying it violated state environmental law.

In its most recent lawsuit, Fix the City sought unsuccessfully to rescind not just the mayor's emergency declaration but also ED 1. That initiative has allowed 100% affordable housing projects to bypass review from the city's Planning Commission, shortening the approval process by several months.

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.
"My juror": Trump believed a loyalist on the jury could save him, until the very end

Donald Trump apparently held out hope that one juror  who he viewed as skeptical of the New York prosecutors case  would keep a guilty verdict from being imposed in his hush money trial.

Per Rolling Stone, Trump insiders were still disillusioned that a lone juror could keep the former president safe from any number of the 34 counts of felony falsification of business records. Ultimately, all 12 jurors found him guilty on each of the counts, after the weeks-long trial ended on Thursday afternoon.

Trump went so far as to call the jury member my juror in private conversations, based on his confidence in his legal teams analysis of the Manhattan residents body language, Rolling Stone reported. They were hopeful that smiles and approving nods from the juror could be enough to achieve a hung jury.

Any one juror who was not convinced, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Trump had engaged in the falsification of business records, or even that he had not conspired to commit election interference when covering up the payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels, would have been enough to save him from accountability. Even so, prosecutors successfully dispelled any doubt.

Trump and his lawyers were allowed to learn the identity of the jurors during the case, though Judge Juan Merchan did order their identities be kept from the public, instructing journalists to keep their descriptions of jurors to a minimum after a Fox News host spooked a potential juror in April. Though the legal team has claimed to the states Supreme Court that a Manhattan jury would be biased against the president, all 12 members were selected after deliberate and thorough investigation into their potential biases from the prosecution, defense, and judge.

Attacking Judge Merchan and the prosecution, led by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Trump made careful effort not to mention or criticize the jury in a press conference on Friday morning.

While his legal team plots a fight in appellate courts, Trumps most violent supporters angle for vengeance. The jurors, now dismissed from service after delivering their verdict, still face serious threats and doxxing attempts online, with some suggesting that a member of the Trump legal team should leak their identities.
Jury acquits former Uber driver of one charge in 2017 SunFest rape case; mistrial on others

WEST PALM BEACH  A jury has acquitted a former Uber driver of one count of sexual battery of a passenger in a retrial on charges stemming from an incident during SunFest in 2017.

Circuit Judge Caroline Shepherd declared a mistrial Friday morning on the other four charges that Gary Kitchings faced. They included two other counts of sexual battery and also of burglary and false imprisonment. Shepherd has scheduled a June 14 status hearing on the four undecided counts.

The six-member jury deliberated more than 15 hours starting Wednesday afternoon and told Shepherd late Thursday they could not come to consensus on any of the charges facing Kitchings, now 64. Shepherd asked them to try again, and they announced their verdict Friday morning.

"There's multiple emotions," Scott Skier, Kitchings' attorney, said after the verdict. "There's relief. We're ecstatic with regard to the count that they came back. I wish they would have found in a similar way on all the open counts."

Skier said he believed that a lack of forensic evidence persuaded the jury to acquit Kitchings on the one count of sexual battery. Kitchings faced three counts of sexual battery, each to a different part of the body of the woman who made the accusations. Jurors said they could not come to a consensus on two of the charges.

On the lam: Roofer who pleaded guilty to scamming Palm Beach County seniors now a fugitive from justice

Appellate court overturned Uber driver's initial conviction on rape charge

Jurors acquitted Gary Kitchings, seen here during his first trial in March 2018, of one count of sexual battery in the 2017 SunFest rape case. A judge declared a mistrial on the other four counts Kitchings faced.

Kitchens previously was convicted on three counts of armed sexual battery, along with one count each of burglary and false imprisonment during his first trial in 2018. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison. The conviction was overturned in 2020, and Kitchings was granted a new trial after the Fourth District Court of Appeal determined that multiple errors were committed during the initial trial.

The appellate court ruled that then-Palm Beach County Chief Judge Krista Marx should have allowed the jury to hear that Kitchings repeatedly told Jupiter police that the sex was consensual.

Defense attorneys could have used the statement to dispute a prosecutor's insinuation that Kitchings was lying when he testified in his own defense, said the West Palm Beach-based court, which hears appeals from Palm Beach, Broward, St. Lucie, Martin, Indian River and Okeechobee counties.

Hurricane season 2024: Rapid intensification forecasts improve, and then there was Otis

Kitchings, a former "house parent" at KidSanctuary, a faith-based foster home in suburban West Palm Beach, was accused of raping a then-37-year-old woman in 2017 while moonlighting as a driver for the ridesharing app Uber.

His accuser told police investigators Kitchings raped her several times at her condominium in Jupiter after he drove her home from SunFest, the music festival held in West Palm Beach each May.

Kitchings told investigators that the woman, whom The Palm Beach Post is not identifying, consented to have sex. During his retrial, prosecutors Kristen Grimes and Nicole Corring told jurors Kitchings "seized an opportunity" and entered the accuser's home with the intent to rape her.

Skier argued the case came down to competing narratives about whether the sexual encounter was consensual and told jurors there was insufficient evidence to support a conviction.

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Woman said Uber driver threatened her safety, sex was not consensual

During her testimony, Kitchings' accuser told jurors she had gone out with friends and requested a ride back home to Jupiter. She said she initially sat in the back seat of Kitchings' Nissan Versa when he arrived to pick her up, then moved to the front seat after he picked up two other passengers, a mother and daughter.

She testified that Kitchings' demeanor changed after he dropped off the other passengers. She said Kitchings began touching her and made unwanted advances as they continued the trip to her home. When she rejected his advances, Kitchings warned that he had a gun under his seat and threatened to harm the woman if she did not comply with his demands, she told jurors.

Shark tooth hunting: Check out these five beaches along Palm Beach County's coast

When they arrived in the woman's neighborhood, the woman asked Kitchings to drop her off at the front gate but he insisted on taking her to home. The woman told jurors she ran to her front door and opened it in hopes of getting to safety but turned around to discover that Kitchings had followed her.

The woman said Kitchings then went into her home and began sexually assaulting her. The incident resulted in the woman reaching a $5 million settlement with Uber, according to testimony during the trial.

The jury returned to the courtroom on separate occasions during its deliberations to hear playback of the accuser's testimony and a recording of the phone call she made to 911. The case appeared to be headed for a mistrial Thursday afternoon when jurors sent Shepherd a note saying they were unable to reach a consensus on any of the counts.

Shepherd instructed the jury to make another attempt, allowing deliberations to continue past 5 p.m. Shortly before 6 p.m., the judge paused the deliberations and instructed the jury to return Friday morning.

Julius Whigham II is a criminal justice and public safety reporter for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Former Uber driver acquitted on one count in 2017 SunFest rape case
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency's (MIGA, a member of the World Bank Group) support for energy initiatives in Uzbekistan is expected to increase consumer access to cleaner power, a source from MIGA told Trend.

According to the source, MIGAs support is expected to increase consumer access to cleaner power, by way of increasing generation capacity via modern, efficient, and reliable plants, given existing electricity shortfalls reflecting aging infrastructure and low efficiency rates on the existing plants.

"Focus on the renewable energy sources would help bring in additional green power into the countrys energy mix, which would have positive outcomes, including new job creation, access to power in underserved areas of the country, further energy efficiency, and economies of scale, among others," the source noted.

In addition, the source emphasized that the agency is not only committed to supporting renewable energy projects in the solar and wind sectors of Uzbekistan but also in hydrospace.

"MIGA is committed to support foreign investors who would have developed proven, more efficient, and cutting-edge technologies and solutions to advance Uzbekistans green energy cooperation. This was already the case with the Sirdarya project which used cutting-edge CCGT technology," the source from the agency added.

Meanwhile, Uzbekistan has joined the list of nations evaluated for their effectiveness in addressing climate change. The country stands in 48th place among 67 countries.

Hydropower remains the dominant renewable source in the electricity system, providing 1.85 GW of capacity, with other renewable sources accounting for no more than 1 percent. Overall, the share of renewable sources, including hydropower, is 8 percent of the energy balance.
People react after former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump was convicted in his criminal trial outside of Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, on May 30, 2024. A New York jury convicted Donald Trump on all charges in his hush money case on May 30, 2024 in a seismic development barely five months ahead of the election where he seeks to recapture the White House.

Donald Trump was found guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying his company's business records to keep information from voters that he knew would harm his 2016 presidential campaign. Lying on official business filings is a serious criminal offense and another clear example of Trumps pattern of doing anything to gain or stay in power. No one is above the law, and any other American would be punished if they committed the same crime.

Despite the guilty verdict, Trump is still very much running for president. If he is elected to a second term, our democracy would be in serious peril. Dont just take my word for it: Trump has pledged to weaponize the Department of Justice to seek revenge against his political opponents, pardon himself and his allies for crimes they commit, and deploy the military against demonstrators exercising their First Amendment rights  all while purging the federal government of anyone who doesnt agree with him.

Theres too much at stake to let Trump return to the Oval Office. Its up to us to make sure we hold Trump accountable at the ballot box in November.Phyllis Johnson Boykins, Mount Airy

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Despite guilty verdict, Trump is still running for president
Jury finds Madalina Cojocaris stepfather guilty of failing to report her missing

On Friday, a jury found the stepfather of missing Cornelius girl Madalina Cojocari guilty of failing to report her missing.

After days of testimony, it took jurors just 14 minutes to deliberate.

#Breaking: Christopher Palmiter is found guilty.  Hunter Saenz (@Hunt_Saenz) May 31, 2024

Madalina was 11 years old when she disappeared in November 2022.

9 FOCUS STORIES: Find Madalina

Madalinas mother, Diana Cojocari, pleaded guilty to failure to report the disappearance of a child to law enforcement on May 21 and was released from jail the next day. Last month, her stepfather Christopher Palmiter pleaded not guilty to the same charge.

PALMITER TRIAL:

The trial for Palmiter began on May 21. He even took the stand in his own defense this week.

Christopher Palmiter, the stepfather of missing Cornelius girl Madalina Cojocari, took the stand this week in his criminal trial.

Christopher Palmiter, the stepfather of missing Cornelius girl Madalina Cojocari, took the stand this week in his criminal trial.

Christopher Palmiter, the stepfather of missing Cornelius girl Madalina Cojocari, took the stand this week in his criminal trial.

Prosecutors said workers at Bailey Middle School repeatedly tried contacting Palmiter and Diana Cojocari when Madalina didnt show up for school for three weeks in 2022. When Diana eventually went to the school and told them Madalina was missing, police were called, including Det. Cpl. Bradley Nichols.

Christopher Palmiter, the stepfather of missing Cornelius girl Madalina Cojocari, took the stand Tuesday in his criminal trial.

Madalinas student enrollment form was shown in court Friday. Lampkin took a minute to wipe tears from her cheeks.

The first witnesses have been called to the stand in the trial for Christopher Palmiter, the stepfather of missing Cornelius girl Madalina Cojocari.

The first witness has been called to the stand in the trial for Christopher Palmiter, the stepfather of missing Cornelius girl Madalina Cojocari.

Jury selection has begun in the trial for the Christopher Palmiter, the stepfather of missing Cornelius girl Madalina Cojocari.

Closing arguments began Friday in the trial for Christopher Palmiter, the stepfather of missing Cornelius girl Madalina Cojocari.

Closing arguments began Friday in the trial for Christopher Palmiter, the stepfather of missing Cornelius girl Madalina Cojocari.

The case was sent to the jury before 1 p.m. Friday after closing arguments wrapped.

Palmiter stood still as the verdict was read. Twelve of his peers said he did in fact fail to report the disappearance of Madalina Cojocari, who was missing for 23 days before her mother reported it.

The verdict was welcomed by detectives on the case who are still working to find her.

We are glad to put this behind us and renew our focus on the efforts of finding Madalina, said Cornelius Police Deputy Chief Jennifer Thompson.

After the verdict came down, the attorneys discussed Palmiters sentencing.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

Judge Matthew Osman sentenced Palmiter to at least six months and no more than 17 months in prison. Palmiter will have 244 days credit.

But based on the states sentencing guidelines, for this type of felony, the judge could not sentence Palmiter to prison time based on the seriousness of the crime and the defendants prior record (Palmiter doesnt have one).

Therefore, Osman said that sentence is suspended and Palmiter will serve 30 months of supervised probation  thats two and a half years.

Judge Osman sentences Palmiter to 30 months of supervised probation. Regular conditions of probation. @wsoctv  Hunter Saenz (@Hunt_Saenz) May 31, 2024

Palmiter is expected to appeal the decision.

Assistant District Attorney Austin Butler simplified the prosecutions case for jurors in a passionate closing argument.

She didnt pick him to be the person she would call dad. He picked her, Butler said, adding, He was the person in the role of supervising her and he failed. Thats why hes sitting in this seat.

Palmiters defense attorney, Brandon Roseman, put the blame on Madalinas mother, Diana Cojocari.

Diana was the one that reported her missing and the only one who knew how long she had in fact been missing, Roseman said. Chris does not supervise Madalina. Diana made all the decisions for Madi.

But in the end, the jury didnt buy that. After he was sentenced, Palmiter and his team left the courthouse late Friday.

Mr. Palmiter maintains his innocence. Weve made a notice of appeal. Were disappointed with the decision, Roseman said.

Though the trial is over, the biggest question still remains: Where is Madalina?

(WATCH BELOW: Madalina Cojocaris mother pleads guilty to failing to report her disappearance)
In a verdict that shook the 2024 presidential campaign, former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts in his New York criminal hush money trial. He was convicted of falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election. Trump is the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime.

Prosecutors charged Trump with falsifying business records. They alleged Trump falsified the records to conceal unlawfully interfering in the 2016 presidential election through the $130,000 hush money payment, making the falsification charges felonies. The crime carries a penalty of up to four years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for July 11, but legal experts previously told USA TODAY the presumptive Republican nominee is likely to get only probation or a shorter sentence.

Trump called the outcome a "disgrace" and vowed to keep fighting his conviction.

The more-than six weeks-long trial against the presumptive Republican presidential nominee  which featured dramatic clashes between lawyers and witnesses, the judge and Trump  was the first criminal trial in U.S. history against a former president.

Trump's conviction marks another historic moment, with an uncertain impact on the 2024 presidential election. He is not disqualified from running for office and while polls have suggested a conviction would harm his prospects, prominent Republican supporters quickly rallied to his side.

Follow along with USA TODAY's live coverage here:

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg: 'I did my job'

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg said he did not have any response to Donald Trumps repeated attacks on the prosecutor and his staff, but he praised his office.

I did my job. Our job is to follow the facts and the law without fear or favor. Thats exactly what we did here, Bragg said. I did my job. We did our job. Many voices out there. The only voice that matters is the voice of the jury and the jury has spoken.

 Bart Jansen

Will Donald Trump go to jail?

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg dodged a question about whether he would seek jail time when Trump is sentenced July 11.

We will speak at that time, Bragg said.

Bragg also declined to say whether he would oppose a request from Trump to remain free while he appeals the verdict. Bragg said prosecutors would respond formally at sentencing July 11.

Im going to let our words in court speak for themselves, Bragg said.

 Bart Jansen

Trump still faces criminal prosecution in these other three cases

With Donald Trump guilty on all charges in his Manhattan hush money trial, he still faces criminal charges in three other cases, including two for allegedly trying to illegally steal the 2020 election he lost to President Joe Biden.

In all, Trump faced a combined 88 criminal counts, including the 34 in Manhattan that he was convicted of Thursday by a jury. That leaves 54 counts between the three other cases, two of them in federal court that were brought by special counsel Jack Smith on behalf of the Justice Department.

One of those involves the retention of classified documents. The other federal case overseen by Smith accuses Trump of trying to subvert the 2020 election results.

The fourth case, in Fulton County, Ga., accuses Trump and 14 co-defendants  including some of his former lawyers, and administration aides  of trying to overturn Trump's loss in the Peach State in 2020.

Trump has pleaded not guilty in all of the cases. None of them have trial dates scheduled, and legal experts largely concur that it's unlikely that any will begin before election day on Nov. 5, a likely rematch between Biden and Trump as the presumptive Republican nominee.

Josh Meyer

Watch DA Alvin Bragg's press conference live

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. will hold a press conference Thursday evening following the conviction of Donald Trump.

The press conference is scheduled to be held at 6:30 p.m. ET at the 8th Floor Training Room in New York, the DA's office said in a release.

You can watch his comments live here.

 Anthony Robledo

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg Jr. will holds a press conference on Thursday evening, May 30, 2024 following the conviction of former President Donald Trump. The Republican presidential front runner was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records, making him the first former president convicted of a crime.

What was Trump found guilty of?

Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records.

Each count is tied to a different business record that prosecutors argued Trump was responsible for changing in order to either conceal or commit another crime.

Those records include 11 checks paid to former lawyer Michael Cohen, 11 invoices from Cohen and 12 entries in Trump's ledgers.

The jury found that Trump authorized a plan to reimburse Cohen for the $130,000 hush money payment issued to Stormy Daniels and spread the payments across 12 months disguised as legal expenses.

 Kinsey Crowley

'Trump is in a deep hole here': Former federal prosecutor reacts to verdict

Kevin OBrien, a former federal prosecutor now practicing at Ford OBrien Landy, said Trump could appeal whether the evidence was sufficient to convict him. But Trump can no longer challenge the credibility of witnesses such as former lawyer Michael Cohen and porn actress Stormy Daniels because the jury believed them, OBrien said.

Trump is in a deep hole here, OBrien said. Its not like he gets to start over. Thats not how the appeal system works.

The jury weighed the evidence and decided that witnesses such as former lawyer Michael Cohen and porn actress Stormy Daniels were credible.

The counts each carry maximum sentences of four years, but legal experts say Judge Juan Merchan could give him probation or a shorter sentence as a first-time offender to a non-violent offense. The felony convictions dont prohibit Trump from campaigning or potentially winning the White House.

He could still easily wind up president of the United States, OBrien said. Theres nothing that would prevent that from happening.

 Bart Jansen

Can Trump run for president now?

Yes, even after being convicted on felony counts, the Thursday verdict does not impact Donald Trump's ability to seek another term in the White House. The Constitution is pretty clear  here are the qualifications to serve as president.

Be a natural-born citizen of the U.S.

Have lived in the U.S. for at least 14 years

Be at least 35 years old

 Marina Pitofsky

What happens to Trump now? Trump sentencing date

Judge Juan Merchan has scheduled Trump's sentencing for July 11, and Trump is out free until then.

Because this is Trump's first felony offense, his sentence is likely to be as light as probation or home confinement. If he does receive a sentence, it would probably be less than a year.

Trump is likely to appeal the conviction. That would push any jailtime until after the election.

 Kinsey Crowley

Who were the key witnesses in Donald Trump's historic trial

Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen was a significant witness testifying that he submitted invoices for legal expenses that Trump knew were to reimburse him for paying $130,000 to silence porn actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. But Trump lawyer Todd Blanche accused Cohen of lying on the stand when he testified he notified Trump about the payment to Daniels. In closing arguments, Blanche called Cohenthe MVP of liars and the embodiment of reasonable doubt.

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, described the alleged sexual encounter in enough detail that Merchan questioned why defense lawyers didnt object more to block her testimony. Trump has repeatedly denied he had sex with Daniels and Blanche argued the payment started out as an extortion whether the allegation was true or not.

David Pecker, the former CEO of American Media Inc., which owned the National Enquirer, said he agreed in a meeting with Trump and Cohen in August 2015 to be the eyes and ears of Trumps presidential campaign to buy negative stories about the candidate and never publish them.

Pecker acknowledged paying former Playboy model Karen McDougal $150,000 for her story and then refusing to pay for Daniels because Trump hadnt reimbursed him. Cohen provided a recording, which prosecutor Joshua Steinglass called jaw-dropping, of Trump mentioning the $150,000 figure.

 Bart Jansen

Can Trump go to prison?

Yes. Each felony count of falsifying business records  elevated to a felony because prosecutors proved their purpose was to commit or conceal another crime  carries a maximum sentence of four years. However, New York caps such sentencing the type of felonies Trump faced  Class E felonies  at 20 years.

But given Trump doesn't have a criminal record and wasn't convicted of a violent crime, such a high sentence is very unlikely, according to legal experts. Several spoke to USA TODAY ahead of the trial about what could happen if Trump were convicted. Nearly all predicted that, if convicted, Trump would get a sentence ranging from just probation to up to four years in prison, and likely falling within the lower end of that range.

 Aysha Bagchi

Donald Trump reacts to guilty verdict

Donald Trump quickly reacted to the jury's decision finding him guilty on all 34 criminal counts.

This is just a disgrace, Trump told reporters in the hallway outside the courtroom. We didnt do anything wrong. Im an innocent man.

Trump ignored shouted questions about whether he would drop out of the presidential campaign.

This is long from over, Trump said. Well keep fighting. Well fight to the end and well win.

 Bart Jansen

People surrounding courthouse react

Outside the courthouse, anti-Trump demonstrators cheered and drivers honked their horns as news of the guilty verdicts spread. Guilty! several people shouted out.

 David Jackson

Jury reaches a verdict

The jury has reached a verdict in former President Donald Trump's New York criminal hush money trial, which centers on allegations that he falsified business records to hide a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

Jurors confirmed that they had reached a verdict in a note signed by the foreperson at 4:20 p.m. local time. Jurors have requested an extra 30 minutes to fill out forms and take other steps, according to Judge Juan Merchan.

The former president, his attorneys, prosecutors reporters and others were waiting in near silence in the courtroom as the jury entered the courtroom.

 Aysha Bagchi

A drama-filled trial

The six-week trial featured dramatic clashes between lawyers and witnesses, the judge and Trump.

The testimony included tense moments, such as defense lawyer Todd Blanche accusing Trumps former lawyer Michael Cohen, of lying on the stand and former Trump spokesperson Hope Hicks breaking into tears.

Meanwhile, Judge Juan Merchan threatened to jail Trump if he continued to violate a gag order against talking about witnesses participating in the case. Merchan also scolded Blanche for an outrageous statement in closing arguments that the jury shouldnt send someone to prison based on Cohens testimony.

A flock of Republican surrogates showed up to support Trump, and one conspiracy theorist set himself on fire outside the courthouse.

 Bart Jansen

Correction: A previous version of this story quoted Trump as saying "this is far from over."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump guilty verdict recap: What happens now? Can he still run?
CALLAHAN COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  One person has died, and another has been airlifted following a crash in Callahan County.

The crash occurred Friday, May 31, at 3:40 p.m. at the intersection of Highway 36 and US 283.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), a Kia Optima was traveling north on US Highway 283, and a Ford pickup was traveling east on State Highway 36. The driver of the Kia failed to stop at the stop sign and yield the right of way. As a result, the pickup struck the Kia on the drivers side.

The driver of the Kia was pronounced dead on the scene and has been identified as 21-year-old Wylie Howard Parker III of Troy, Ohio.

The driver of the pickup was airlifted to a hospital in critical condition with incapacitating injuries. According to the report, both drivers were wearing seatbelts, and the weather conditions were clear and dry.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
At a Black outreach event packed with Democratic heavyweights on Wednesday, it was Kamala Harris who proved the unexpected star of the show.

The vice president has been pilloried in the past for her awkward and stilted delivery at events. But at Girard College in Philadelphia as the warm-up act for Biden, she seemed far more at ease, cracking jokes and responding to applause.

She also received some of the biggest reactions during a slick performance where she rattled off a list of the Biden administrations accomplishments that specifically benefit the Black community - from a $35 cap on the cost of insulin and student debt forgiveness to record investments in historically-Black colleges.

She underlined how the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v Wade disproportionately affected Black women. And today, one in three women and more than half of Black women of reproductive age live in a state with an abortion ban - a Trump abortion ban, she noted.

Vice President Kamala Harris introduces President Joe Biden during a campaign rally at Girard College on May 29, 2024 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Getty Images)

She also delivered a few pugnacious lines that landed well with the majority Black crowd. When she decried Trumps Supreme Court picks, she described it as the court of Thurgood, referencing the first Black justice, Thurgood Marshall, which elicited a strong, positive response.

The star turn didnt go unnoticed among those gathered in the boarding schools gymnasium.

Aminah Shabazz, from Philadelphia, commented on Bidens lack of swag, but noted how Harris had also visited Philadelphia only last week, making trip to Jims in West Philadelphia - a local favorite for cheesesteaks opposed to the more commercially popular Pats or Genos.

Im curious why it wasnt tapped into earlier. Just something as simple as Kamala going to Jims Steaks was huge, she told The Independent. Its little things going a long way to make it more relatable.

Biden and Harris, along with prominent Black surrogates - Representative Barbara Lee of California, Representative Jasmine Crockett of Texas, and Maryland Governor Wes Moore - came to the City of Brotherly Love this week at a critical juncture for the campaign.

Recent polling shows that Biden continues to struggle with Black voters. A New York Times/Siena College poll earlier this month found that Biden only has a 53 per cent approval rating among Black voters, a dismal statistic for a Democratic incumbent president. Donald Trumps campaign has made overtures to the voting bloc after he improved with Black male voters in 2020, and has been promoting Black surrogates like Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and Representative Byron Donalds of Florida.

A number of those in attendance at the Philadelphia event dismissed concerns about Bidens struggles with Black voters. Tony Pritchette, a pastor at Provision of Grace World Mission Church, told The Independent that he heard about concerns about Black turnout only in the news, not in the community.

Not in the neighborhood, people are going to show up, he told The Independent. We understand the importance of this. This election, really, we know what would happen if Trump gets back.

Shabazz said that Biden may lack the same it factor of his Democratic predecessors Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and wished that he had begun investing in the community sooner.

But this might be where Harris could be a secret weapon. An alumnus of Howard University, she has regularly toured the country visiting other historically Black colleges and universities. In the past, polling had shown many voters did not think Harris was ready to be president. But now, more voters feel confident in her ability to assume the job should Biden not be able to.

Governor Roy Cooper of North Carolina, who has known Harris since she was an attorney general in California, told The Independent last month that the vice president was a powerful force this election cycle - particularly as it comes to the key issue of abortion rights.

She can obviously relate to women and what they are going through he said. [S]he has been on the front lines of protecting womens healthcare, both as attorney general, as a United States senator and now as vice president.

Given that abortion rights will be a defining issue of the 2024 election, and Democrats likely will depend on it to hold the Senate, Harris might have found her calling card just in time.
Kan. Man Tracked Ex on Snapchat While She on Date, Then Killed Her When She Got Home

Aldrick Scott was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Cari Allen

DOUGLAS COUNTY SHERIFFaS OFFICE;SHAWNEE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE Cari Allen, left, and Aldrick Scott

A Kansas man convicted of killing his ex-girlfriend in Nebraska was sentenced to life in prison on May 30.

Aldrick Scott was found guilty of first-degree murder in March, more than a year after the disappearance of his ex, Cari Allen, 43, according to reports from KETV, WOWT and KMTV.

Allen vanished in November 2022, the outlets reported, and Scott was initially charged with kidnapping. Police later determined that Scott tracked her location on Snapchat and drove from Topeka, Kan., to her home in Omaha, where he then waited until she arrived before shooting her, KMTV reports.

KETV reported that prosecutors had argued that Allen had been on a date at a restaurant when Scott tracked her location.

"It's that typical thing with regard to domestic violence, cases of control, and if I don't have control or if I can't have you, no one will, Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said, according to the outlet.

Related: A Nebraska Mom Vanished Over a Week Ago. Authorities Just Charged Her Ex-Boyfriend with Kidnapping

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Scott fled the country and was eventually arrested in Belize, according to KMTV and WOWT. Allens body was found in a shallow grave.

According to her obituary, Allen had one teenage son from a previous marriage.

Scott was sentenced to life in prison plus 45 to 60 years in prison, the outlets reported.

If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
A tree trimmer was rescued from a tree in Raytown by Kansas City firefighters on Friday, the second man to be stuck in a tree in the Kansas City metro this week.

In a yard in the 9800 block of 81st Terrace, the man had been using boot spikes and a rope system to climb the tree, Officer Michael Hopkins, a spokesman for the Kansas City Fire Department said on Friday afternoon. After losing control of the rope and dropping it, the man waited in a fork in the tree about 65 feet up in the air for fire personnel to arrive.

He had all the appropriate equipment, Hopkins said. He just had a little snafu while he was up there and got caught.

KCFD delivered a new rope and harness to the man using a drone around 10:15 a.m. He was able to secure himself to the harness with instructions from the rescue captain, and climbed down with no injuries.

The man appeared to have professional experience trimming trees, Hopkins said. However, KCFD is unsure whether he worked for a lawn care company or whether he is self-employed.

In this instance, it worked in KCFDs favor that the individual was familiar with rope systems and harnesses because of his profession, Hopkins said.

Kansas City firefighters also pulled a man from a tree on Tuesday, where he was found dangling from one leg. The man was stuck for about 40 minutes and has been hospitalized for injuries to his leg and foot, and for the effects of blood rushing to his head, according to Hopkins.

It is unclear whether the man, who was wearing a harness, was doing cosmetic work on the tree or trying to address storm damage, Hopkins said.

His biggest issue is he hung upside down for 40 minutes, which isnt good for you, Hopkins said.

Missouri residents dont need a special certification to cut their own trees. However, the Kansas Arborists Association offers a training program for aspiring tree trimmers.

Whether professionals or do-it-yourself tree surgeons, Hopkins advises Kansas City residents to work in pairs when trimming trees.

Be cautious and have a partner with you, Hopkins said. Just be vigilant, make sure youve got the appropriate safety equipment.
Video above: Former President Donald Trump speaks outside of court following his conviction

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Former President Donald Trump was found guilty by a jury in New York of 34 counts of falsifying business records, making him the first former president to be convicted of a felony.

The jurors reached a verdict in the late afternoon after less than 12 hours of deliberation in the hush money criminal case.

Kansas lawmakers reacted to the decision on Thursday. Senator Roger Marshall made a post on X and called it a miscarriage of justice.

The political persecution of Donald Trump is the most egregious miscarriage of justice in our nations history.



This happens in banana republics, under authoritarian regimes, not here in America.



The true judge and jury will speak loudly in November, and Donald Trump will be the next President of the United States. Sen. Roger Marshall

Congressman Tracey Mann took to Facebook and called it the biggest sham in the history of Americas judicial system.

Politically charged, partisan NY prosecutors just performed the biggest sham in the history of Americas judicial system. This trial was never about justiceit was about weaponizing our judicial system to keep President Bidens leading opponent off the campaign trail and in a courtroom away from voters. Americans are not fooled by this overly political ruling. I am looking forward to President Trumps appeal. Congressman Tracey Mann

Former Wesley employee charged with transporting stolen human remains

Former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt, who is running for Congress, released the following statement:

Show me the man Ill show you the crime was coined by Stalins Soviet Union and that mindset sadly lives on today in New York City. This is a dark day for the American justice system. This prosecution, in a state where the attorney general campaigned for office on a promise to prosecute Trump, was unjust from the outset, and I believe this conviction for a victimless crime will be overturned on appeal. But without waiting for appeal, the American people should enter their own verdict. No contrived prosecution can deny the rest of the country our choice for President of the United States, and I look forward to voting for Donald Trump again on November 5. Derek Schmidt

Rep. Ron Estes issued the following statement after the verdict was handed.

Most Americans can see through the politically motivated trial against President Trump, and they know that a prosecutor who ran specifically against the former president, a judge with a heavy anti-Trump bias, and a highly partisan venue could not produce a fair outcome, said Rep. Estes. Whether someone supports or opposes President Trump or his policies, the verdict today paints a sad state of affairs in this great nation, and the relentless attacks against President Trump for political gain are only further dividing the country and sowing doubt about our federal institutions. Rep. Ron Estes

KSN will add more lawmaker reactions and they make them.

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.
Kansas Rep. Carl Maughan, a 52-year-old Colwich Republican, ended his re-election campaign Thursday night  a week after he was charged with possessing a loaded firearm while driving under the influence of alcohol.

Maughan announced the decision on Facebook.

For personal and family reasons, I will be terminating my campaign for re-election as State Representative for District 90, he wrote. It has been an honor and privilege to serve the citizens of the 90th. I will complete my term and remain active in politics in order to continue to serve our state and nation in whatever small way that I can.

Maughan was arrested in Topeka in March but was not charged until last week, after the legislative session ended.

Rep. Carl Maughan was arrested in Topeka on Monday

He has not responded to The Eagles request for comment.

Maughan was elected in 2022 to represent Colwich, Maize, Bentley, Valley Center and parts of northwest Wichita, in the Kansas House of Representatives. He ran unopposed. After his arrest, Maughan stepped down from his role as vice chair of the House Judiciary Committee.

He was charged with two misdemeanors: possession of a firearm while under the influence and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated by alcohol. He was also cited for two traffic infractions: failure to maintain a single lane while driving and failure to properly signal a lane change.

Maughan had filed for re-election but faced a primary challenge from Republican Darren Pugh.

Prior to his time in the Kansas House, Maughan ran for judge in the Kansas 18th Judicial District, Division 3, but lost in the Republican primary to Gregory Keith.

Maughan is also awaiting a Kansas Supreme Court ruling on whether he can continue to practice law in Kansas. He faces a yearlong suspension after being accused of misconduct while representing 57-year-old Bret Blevins in a deadly 2016 crash in Wichita that killed two Starkey clients, Dirk MacMillan, 46, and Leonard Dusty Atterbery, 25.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump appears in court for his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024, in New York City

Former U.S. President Donald Trump appears in court for his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024, in New York City. (Pool photo by Steven Hirsch/Getty Images)

We all know he did it.

Of course he did. Of course Donald Trump, that broken promise in human form, paid hush money to a porn star and covered it up for the benefit of his campaign. All the ink spilled over his trial in New York state court couldnt obliterate the fact that anyone with a fair mind could listen to the allegations and say: Sure, that sounds like him.

So now that the once and potentially future president has been found guilty of 34 felony charges, of course Kansas Republicans have decided to distance themselves from him. They put law and order ahead of individual gratification and believe in adhering to scrupulous moral codes, after all.

As representatives of the heartland, surely these brave men put virtue and the civic good ahead of political expedience.

Nah, Im just kidding. They rushed to the side of the felon, loudly proclaiming their undying allegiance to a 77-year-old New York real estate developer who has made continual crudeness the cornerstone of his personal brand.

Here are a few of the notable reactions that landed shortly after Trumps conviction Thursday afternoon.

The political persecution of Donald Trump is the most egregious miscarriage of justice in our nations history. This happens in banana republics, under authoritarian regimes, not here in America. The true judge and jury will speak loudly in November, and Donald Trump will  Dr. Roger Marshall (@RogerMarshallMD) May 30, 2024

Really, Sen. Roger Marshall? The most egregious miscarriage of justice in our nations history? What about chattel slavery? How about the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II? For that matter, what about the death of Emmett Till?

Does the conviction of Trump actually outweigh those injustices?

Also, unlike those mentioned earlier who were sold into slavery, or sent to concentration camps, or murdered, Trump actually broke the law. (He likely broke it in many more cases than this one, but his strategy of running out the clock has been more successful in courtrooms outside New York.)

Partisan NY prosecutors just performed the biggest sham in Americas judicial history. This trial was never about justiceit was about weaponizing our judicial system to keep President Bidens leading opponent off the campaign trail & in a courtroom away from voters.  Tracey Mann (@RepMann) May 30, 2024

Not to be outdone by his Senate college, U.S. Rep. Tracey Mann piled on the hyperbole as well.

Personally, I might nominate the Dred Scott decision or Plessy v. Ferguson as the biggest shams in Americas judicial history. You might also consider Bowers v. Hardwick, which upheld the constitutionality of sodomy laws. All of these genuinely harmed large numbers of Americans, as opposed to finding a guilty man guilty.

For that matter, does anyone actually think that Trump has actually been prevented from engaging with voters? Seems as though Ive heard an awful lot from him recently, and I dont even want to.

Show me the man Ill show you the crime was coined by Stalins Soviet Union and that mindset sadly lives on today in New York City. This is a dark day for the American justice system. This prosecution, in a state where the attorney general campaigned for office on a promise to  Derek Schmidt (@DerekSchmidtKS) May 30, 2024

Former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt served as the states chief law enforcement officer. Does he actually believe that a man who committed adultery with an adult film actress and then conspired to conceal hush money payments deserves leniency? How about if the man had been found liable for the rape of another woman?

If that man were a Democrat, rather than a Republican, would he feel the same way?

But sure, reference the USSR. Because that demonstrates a level-headed attitude toward our countrys justice system as Schmidt runs for the 2nd Congressional District.

This is lawlessness meted out by a kangaroo court. Biden should be ashamed. Third world dictators prosecute their opponents, not American Presidents. This strengthens my resolve to ensure Trump is re-elected so we can restore Americas faith in our legal system. #ksleg  Jeff Kahrs (@Kahrs4Congress) May 30, 2024

Schmidts opponent in the Republican primary contributes this little masterpiece of sanity.

Trump faced these charges in a state court, and they were brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, not the current president of the United States. Unlike Trump, Joe Biden has made a point of staying out of court cases involving his rival. If youll recall, Trump was impeached the first time for trying to dig up dirt on Biden during a phone call with Ukraines president.

Look, I dont know whats going to happen in the wake of this verdict, and neither does anyone else.

If the jury had deliberated for weeks, if it had been unable to reach a decision, if it had found Trump not guilty, the presidential election would likely continue unchanged. But a unanimous guilty verdict on all charges after less than two days of deliberation? Sounds like a big deal to me. Sounds like the rule of law has prevailed and our institutions held a powerful, petty man to account.

I could be wrong, of course. In the meantime, Kansas Republicans should consider whether they really want to fall in lockstep behind a convicted felon.

Clay Wirestone is Kansas Reflector opinion editor. Through its opinion section, Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary, here.

The post Kansas Republicans fall over themselves defending convicted felon Donald Trump appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
Officials are trying to find the bodies of two men who have been missing for decades after a man in prison admitted to burying them both, Butler County Undersheriff Daimon Cundiff said Friday.

The Butler County Sheriffs Office is offering what it called a substantial reward for tips that lead them to the bodies of Franklin Punkie Harrod Jr. or Ricky L. Nelms.

The reward amount was not disclosed.

Sheriff Monty Hughey told investigators last year to look further into finding the location of Harrods remains when they learned about Nelms, according to a news release. Cundiff said the man in prison admitted to burying the bodies years apart, but not killing either person.

Based on what he told them, they dug in one part of southwest Butler County last summer and used ground-penetrating radar in that area too, Cundiff said.

He said its possible the bodies are there and that they were just feet away.

Harrod, of Rose Hill, was killed in 1997 when he was 24. His wife reported him missing. It took four years before family found out he was killed, a former Butler County detective told Oxygen.

Three people, including his former wife, were sentenced to prison in that case after she convinced another couple that lived with them to kill her husband, according to previous Eagle reporting. Witnesses at her trial painted a picture of a love triangle between the suspects.

The only person still in prison in that case is Jerry Wayne Trussell, who is now 61.

Trussell was found guilty by a jury and sentenced in 2007 to at least 37 years in prison before he could be eligible for parole after his wife and Harrods took plea deals and testified against him, according to The Butler County Times-Gazette.

Kelly Harrod, who went by the last name Bishop at her 2006 sentencing after filing for divorce, received 32 months in prison; Tammy Trussell received about 11 years.

No one has been charged in the disappearance of Nelms.

Nelms mother filed a missing person report in Sedgwick County in 1988 after not hearing from him for six months after he came to Wichita from Moulton, Alabama, to work in roofing, the Times-Gazette reported.

Harrod left behind three daughters, a former Butler County prosecutor told Oxygen.

His mother, Blanca Harrod, told Oxygen the only thing I want, is if somebodys out there that knows anything, or if they helped Jerry (Trussell), or if theyve heard about where Jerry put my sons remains, thats what I would like, to put him to rest, to lay him down to rest and say our goodbyes and have a little bit of closure. Thats the only thing that I look forward to. And I wont rest until I see that.

Cundiff said they have also been in contact with Nelms family, who want closure as well.

Anyone with information about the cases can contact the sheriffs office at crimetips@bucoks.com, message the departments Facebook page or call anonymously at 316-322-8817.
Kansas Supreme Court finds Kansans have no fundamental right to vote. What it means

The Kansas Supreme Court has ruled that voting is not a fundamental right protected by the Kansas Constitution.

The landmark decision on voting rights Friday is likely to weaken legal challenges to future voting restrictions in Kansas.

The majority opinion reversed a 2023 appeals court decision that recognized any restrictions on the fundamental right to vote would be subject to the highest legal bar for evaluation, or strict scrutiny.

Justice Caleb Stegall wrote for the majority, saying voting is instead a political right under the Kansas Constitution that has a lower bar for regulation than fundamental rights.

But just because the right to vote is not protected in our Bill of Rights does not mean that constitutional voting guarantees are somehow weak or ineffective, Stegall wrote. Quite the contrary.

Stegall wrote that for a voting law or regulation to be found unconstitutional, it must pass the Butts test, which means the law must be shown to unreasonably burden the right to suffrage. If voting were found to be a fundamental right, the burden would be on the government to show new voting laws or regulations are narrowly tailored and necessary to achieve a compelling state interest.

Three justices wrote dissenting opinions, arguing the majority opinion overturns longstanding case law and will have wide-ranging consequences for voting rights in Kansas.

The decision clears a path for lawmakers and officials to pass laws and regulations limiting advance voting, access to the polls and mail-in ballots.

Republican state legislatures across the country have pursued additional restrictions on mail-in, ballot collections and advance voting since former President Donald Trump repeatedly and falsely claimed the 2020 presidential election was stolen. Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab has maintained that Kansas had fair, secure elections in 2020.

The Kansas Legislature passed three such voting laws in 2021 that were challenged by the League of Women Voters, Loud Light and other civic groups, who claimed the laws violated the right to free speech, stifled the right to vote, and violated the constitutional guarantees of equal protections and due process.

One law would make it a felony to impersonate an election official. Another would add new signature matching requirements for absentee ballots. The courts 96-page opinion ruled these laws did not inhibit free speech nor did they place additional qualifications for voters to meet. Both were sent back to lower courts.

A third law, which was upheld by the court, restricts the number of absentee ballots that could be delivered on the behalf of others to 10.

The Supreme Court opened the door for a lower court to block the state from enforcing the false representation of an election official law. The lower court originally decided against blocking it.

Today, we hold the plaintiffs have met their burden to demonstrate a likelihood of prevailing on the merits of their claim that the false representation statute is constitutionally infirm, Stegall wrote. Therefore, the district court erred in denying their request for a temporary injunction. We reverse and remand this claim to the district court to consider the remaining temporary injunction factors.

After Republicans overrode Democratic Gov. Laura Kellys veto of the policy, the groups halted their voter registration efforts in 2021.

Martha Pint, the president of the League of Women Voters of Kansas who challenged the false representation law, said the ruling confirms their allegation the law is likely unconstitutional.

For three years now, Kansas League of Women Voters volunteers have been forced to severely limit their assistance of voters due to this ambiguous and threatening law, Pint said. The Leagues critical voter assistance work is not a crime, and we are confident this provision will be quickly blocked when the case returns to the district court.

While the court did agree that signature verification was a valid effort by the Legislature to provide proof that a voter is valid, justices sent the case back to district court to determine whether the law complied with the constitutions guarantees of equal protection and due process. That clause prevents state governments from enacting discriminatory criminal laws and requires notice to be given to those the law affects.

Pint, a plaintiff, said she welcomed the Courts decision to reverse the lower courts dismissal of their signature verification law challenge, adding that they looked forward to making their case in district court.

The court allowed one law to stand that civic groups argued unfairly disenfranchised sick or disabled voters who rely on others to deliver their ballots to the polls. The law restricted the number of absentee ballots an individual could deliver on behalf of another voter to 10 ballots.

But the majority opinion issued by the Court asserted ballot collection and returns were not a form of political speech or free expression and it dismissed the claim that the law was constitutionally infirm.

Restrictions on the number of advance ballots one person may deliver does not, in isolation, inhibit speech because delivering ballots is not speech or expressive conduct, Stegall wrote in the majority opinion.

Pint said the decision on the ballot collecting law did not provide the relief they were looking for in fighting alleged voter disenfranchisement.

Lets be clear: this law is meant to target the rights of Kansans to make their voices heard, Pint said. The League will continue to empower and aid Kansas voters in whatever way we can.

Blistering dissent

Justices Eric Rosen, Dan Biles, and Melissa Standridge agreed with the majority decision to overturn the lower courts rulings but strongly disagreed with the majoritys interpretation of the constitution.

They each wrote blistering dissents against the ruling that Kansans have no fundamental right to vote.

Today the court majority strips Kansans of our founders ultimate promise that the majority will rule and that the government it empowers will answer to its calls, Rosen wrote in a dissenting opinion. It staggers my imagination to conclude Kansas citizens have no fundamental right to vote under their state constitution. Admission to the United States was predicated on a constitutional guarantee of a republican form of government. Over 160 years later, this court removed that guarantee. I cannot and will not condone this betrayal of our constitutional duty to safeguard the foundational rights of Kansans.

Standridge called Stegalls determination that voting is not a fundamental right a troubling decision with far-reaching implications.

She wrote that the majority departs from this courts long-standing precedent recognizing voting as a substantive right grounded in the essence of a republican form of government.

Biles wrote that he very much agree(s) with Rosen and Standridge and that the Kansas Constitution explicitly sets forth  and absolutely protects  a citizens right to vote as the foundation of our democratic republic, so it is serious business when a government official in one of our 105 counties rejects an otherwise lawful ballot just by eyeballing the signature on the outside envelope.

Justices Marla Luckert, Evelyn Wilson and Keynen Wall Jr., did not attach their names to the decision but would have each had to agree with Stegall to reach a majority opinion.

Recent Republican efforts on voting

Since 2020, Kansas Republicans have sought to change the states election systems to combat unfounded claims of election fraud nationwide and in the state.

This year, they did not override Kellys vetoes of two bills changing the states election systems.

One would have added a label on advance ballots warning voters it is illegal to deliver more than 10 ballots on behalf of other voters and would have recorded the deliverers personal information. It also would have enacted more signature requirements for those delivering ballots for someone else.

Republicans did not attempt to override that bill.

The other would have prevented government officials from accepting federal funding related to elections in an attempt to limit Democratic presidential administrations such as President Joe Bidens from directly giving money to the states election administration practices. Those include activities like voter registration.

Republicans were unable to override Kellys veto of the federal funding bill, falling short by a few votes.

Kansas lawmakers this year also considered and then rejected a law that would have overhauled the states election system by banning electronic voting machines, remote ballot boxes and eliminating the three-day grace period for mail-in votes.
Kansas Supreme Court Justice Caleb Stegall authored the majority opinion in Kansas Supreme Court issues decision in complex challenge of three state election laws adopted in 2021 by the Republican-led Kansas Legislature in wake of unproven claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election cycle.(Pool photo by Evert Nelson/Topeka Capital-Journal)

TOPEKA  The Kansas Supreme Court delivered a nuanced response Friday to a tangle of constitutional disputes prompted by unproven claims of election fraud and enactment of state laws broadening the crime of false representation of an election official, limiting advance ballot collection by individuals and imposing a system of confirming voter signatures on advance ballots.

The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part lower court decisions emerging from litigation initiated by voting advocacy organizations and individuals alleging the 2021 statutes violated the Kansas Constitution. In oral argument with the Supreme Court, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach asserted each law was constitutional. The crossfire of appeals in response to actions by Shawnee County District Court Judge Teresa Watson, an appointee of Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, and several panels of the Kansas Court of Appeals led the Supreme Court to consolidate the appellate case.

Justice Caleb Stegall, also an appointee of Brownback, wrote the majority opinion that was accompanied by separate concurrences and dissents by Justices Eric Rosen, Dan Biles and Melissa Standridge, who were each appointed by Democratic governors.

The Supreme Court unanimously held the League of Women Voters and other plaintiffs demonstrated there was a substantial likelihood of prevailing on their claim the law on false representation of an election official was unconstitutional. The district courts rejection of this conclusion was reversed by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court remanded the issue to district court for consideration of motions on a temporary injunction blocking implementation of the law criminalizing use of mail, email, telephones or websites that give the appearance of being an election official or causes a person to falsely believe they were communicating with an election official.

We hold the plaintiffs have met their burden to demonstrate a likelihood of prevailing on the merits of their claim that the false representation statute is constitutionally infirm, Stegall wrote in the majority opinion.  Therefore, the district court erred in denying their request for a temporary injunction.

Martha Pint, president of the League of Women Voters of Kansas, said that law had served to inhibit the organizations ability to promote voter participation in elections.

Todays decision confirms that the 2021 laws false representation provision is likely unconstitutional, Pint said. For three years now, Kansas League of Women Voters volunteers have been forced to severely limit their assistance of voters due to this ambiguous and threatening law. The Leagues critical voter assistance work is not a crime, and we are confident this provision will be quickly blocked when the case returns to the district court.

On advance ballots

Secondarily, a majority of Supreme Court justices agreed advance ballot signature verification requirements adopted by the Legislature, which sought proof the signature matched the signature on file at the election office, was a valid attempt to obtain evidence a person was a qualified voter. The states highest court did order the district court to consider whether this law, as well as regulations implementing the statute, met constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process.

Stegall concluded: The signature verification requirement is a valid effort by the Legislature to provide proper proofs of the right to be a qualified elector, which is permissible under this courts precedent.

Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a defendant due to his role as the states top elections official, said the state Supreme Court was right to preserve signature verification standards in election law.

The justices got it right, Schwab said. Signature verification has been the law for over a decade. This vital security measure is essential to our election system and the integrity of every vote.

On the third issue, the Supreme Court agreed with the district courts decision to grant a motion filed on behalf of Schwab, dismissing the plaintiffs challenge of the state law limiting a person to collection from other voters of no more than 10 advance ballots for delivery to an election office.

The justices said the statute was constitutional because the act of delivering a ballot was not political speech or expressive conduct.

We affirm the district courts grant of defendants motion to dismiss on the claim that the ballot collection restriction is constitutionally infirm, Stegall said in the opinion.

Kobach lauded the Supreme Court for rejecting the assertion by plaintiffs attorneys that limiting the number of ballots a person could deliver was a restriction on free speech.

Kansas law limiting the number of ballots a person delivers to 10 is an important way of limiting ballot harvesting, the attorney general said.

Constitutional challenges

The plaintiffs in the lawsuits were the League of Women Voters of Kansas, Loud Light, Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, Inc., Topeka Independent Living Resource Center, Charley Crabtree, Faye Huelsmann, and Patricia Lewter.

The three laws approved by the Legislature in 2021 were brought forward without evidence Kansas elections were tainted by corruption. Lawmakers who voted for the reforms pointed to allegations by former President Donald Trump and his allies that the 2020 election had been stolen through a national conspiracy leading to election of President Joe Biden.

In the Kansas case, plaintiffs asserted the false representation provision related to election officials violated the free speech provision of the state constitutions Bill of Rights. The plaintiffs contended the signature verification mandate for advance ballots was contrary to the right to vote outlined in several sections of the state constitution. They argued this law interfered with voters rights to procedural due process and the right to equal protection.

Elisabeth Frost, an attorney representing several voting rights advocacy groups in oral arguments to the Supreme Court, said signature matching is worse than flipping a coin, in terms of accuracy.

On the ballot collection restriction, the plaintiffs said it violated the right to vote and the free speech sections of the state Bill of Rights.

In 2021, the Legislature passed the election reform provisions within House Bill 2183. It was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, but the Legislature voted to override her objection.

Kobach said during oral argument to the Supreme Court in November that the justices shouldnt consider voting rights, in the context of the three challenged election laws, in the same manner constitutional rights to speech and religion were framed by the states Bill of Rights.

A three-judge panel of the Kansas Court of Appeals had declared voting to be a foundational constitutional right in the same way the Kansas Supreme Court declared five years ago that abortion rights were secured within the state constitution.

However, Stegalls majority opinion says the right to vote wasnt an unenumerated natural right protected by the Kansas Constitutions Bill of Rights. Instead, the opinion says, suffrage is universally understood as a political right.

Majority misses the mark

Justice Rosen wrote in his own opinion Section 2 of the states Bill of Rights shielded the right to vote and the signature-verification requirement and the ballot-collection restriction violated constitutional protections. He said Stegalls majority opinion endangered basic rights of Kansas voters.

The court majority strips Kansans of our founders ultimate promise that the majority will rule and that the government it empowers will answer to its calls, he said. It staggers my imagination to conclude Kansas citizens have no fundamental right to vote under their state constitution. Admission to the United States was predicated on a constitutional guarantee of a republican form of government. Over 160 years later, this court removes that guarantee. I cannot and will not condone this betrayal of our constitutional duty to safeguard the foundational rights of Kansans.

Specifically, regarding mandates on signature verification, Rosen said the majority is in a china shop swatting with a hammer at imaginary flies. I have problems with this policy-laden endeavor.

Justice Biles likewise concluded the state constitution set forth a citizens right to vote as the foundation of a democratic republic, so it is serious business when a government official in one of our 105 counties rejects an otherwise lawful ballot just by eyeballing the signature on the outside envelope.

He said the majority opinion was written with lengthy sections lacking citation to legal authority as a means of preserving a shaky four-vote majority of the court.

Justice Standridge, who agreed with arguments shared by Biles and Rosen, said it was a troubling decision by the majority to characterize Section 2 of the state constitution, which referenced power as inherent in the people, as a mere general declaration.

The majoritys Section 2 decision defies history, law and logic, and is just plain wrong, Standridge said. Thus, while I join the majority in holding that the plaintiffs demonstrated a likelihood of prevailing on the merits of their false representation claim and in remanding the plaintiffs signature verification requirement to consider whether it complies with constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process, I dissent from the majoritys analysis and decision on the plaintiffs Section 2 claims.

The post Kansas Supreme Courts opinion tries to unsnarl web of challenges to 2021 state election laws appeared first on Kansas Reflector.
TOPEKA (Kansas Reflector)  The Kansas Supreme Court delivered a nuanced response Friday to a tangle of constitutional disputes prompted by unproven claims of election fraud and enactment of state laws broadening the crime of false representation of an election official, limiting advance ballot collection by individuals and imposing a system of confirming voter signatures on advance ballots.

The Supreme Court affirmed in part and reversed in part lower court decisions emerging from litigation initiated by voting advocacy organizations and individuals alleging the 2021 statutes violated the Kansas Constitution. In oral argument with the Supreme Court, Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach asserted each law was constitutional. The crossfire of appeals in response to actions by Shawnee County District Court Judge Teresa Watson, an appointee of Republican Gov. Sam Brownback, and several panels of the Kansas Court of Appeals led the Supreme Court to consolidate the appellate case.

Justice Caleb Stegall, also an appointee of Brownback, wrote the majority opinion that was accompanied by separate concurrences and dissents by Justices Eric Rosen, Dan Biles and Melissa Standridge, who were each appointed by Democratic governors.

The Supreme Court unanimously held the League of Women Voters and other plaintiffs demonstrated there was a substantial likelihood of prevailing on their claim the law on false representation of an election official was unconstitutional. The district courts rejection of this conclusion was reversed by the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court remanded the issue to district court for consideration of motions on a temporary injunction blocking implementation of the law criminalizing use of mail, email, telephones or websites that give the appearance of being an election official or causes a person to falsely believe they were communicating with an election official.

We hold the plaintiffs have met their burden to demonstrate a likelihood of prevailing on the merits of their claim that the false representation statute is constitutionally infirm, Stegall wrote in the majority opinion.  Therefore, the district court erred in denying their request for a temporary injunction.

Martha Pint, president of the League of Women Voters of Kansas, said that law had served to inhibit the organizations ability to promote voter participation in elections.

Todays decision confirms that the 2021 laws false representation provision is likely unconstitutional, Pint said. For three years now, Kansas League of Women Voters volunteers have been forced to severely limit their assistance of voters due to this ambiguous and threatening law. The Leagues critical voter assistance work is not a crime, and we are confident this provision will be quickly blocked when the case returns to the district court.

On advance ballots

Secondarily, a majority of Supreme Court justices agreed advance ballot signature verification requirements adopted by the Legislature, which sought proof the signature matched the signature on file at the election office, was a valid attempt to obtain evidence a person was a qualified voter. The states highest court did order the district court to consider whether this law, as well as regulations implementing the statute, met constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process.

Stegall concluded: The signature verification requirement is a valid effort by the Legislature to provide proper proofs of the right to be a qualified elector, which is permissible under this courts precedent.

Secretary of State Scott Schwab, a defendant due to his role as the states top elections official, said the state Supreme Court was right to preserve signature verification standards in election law.

The justices got it right, Schwab said. Signature verification has been the law for over a decade. This vital security measure is essential to our election system and the integrity of every vote.

On the third issue, the Supreme Court agreed with the district courts decision to grant a motion filed on behalf of Schwab, dismissing the plaintiffs challenge of the state law limiting a person to collection from other voters of no more than 10 advance ballots for delivery to an election office.

The justices said the statute was constitutional because the act of delivering a ballot was not political speech or expressive conduct.

We affirm the district courts grant of defendants motion to dismiss on the claim that the ballot collection restriction is constitutionally infirm, Stegall said in the opinion.

Kobach lauded the Supreme Court for rejecting the assertion by plaintiffs attorneys that limiting the number of ballots a person could deliver was a restriction on free speech.

Kansas law limiting the number of ballots a person delivers to 10 is an important way of limiting ballot harvesting, the attorney general said.

Constitutional challenges

The plaintiffs in the lawsuits were the League of Women Voters of Kansas, Loud Light, Kansas Appleseed Center for Law and Justice, Inc., Topeka Independent Living Resource Center, Charley Crabtree, Faye Huelsmann, and Patricia Lewter.

The three laws approved by the Legislature in 2021 were brought forward without evidence Kansas elections were tainted by corruption. Lawmakers who voted for the reforms pointed to allegations by former President Donald Trump and his allies that the 2020 election had been stolen through a national conspiracy leading to election of President Joe Biden.

In the Kansas case, plaintiffs asserted the false representation provision related to election officials violated the free speech provision of the state constitutions Bill of Rights. The plaintiffs contended the signature verification mandate for advance ballots was contrary to the right to vote outlined in several sections of the state constitution. They argued this law interfered with voters rights to procedural due process and the right to equal protection.

Elisabeth Frost, an attorney representing several voting rights advocacy groups in oral arguments to the Supreme Court, said signature matching is worse than flipping a coin, in terms of accuracy.

On the ballot collection restriction, the plaintiffs said it violated the right to vote and the free speech sections of the state Bill of Rights.

In 2021, the Legislature passed the election reform provisions within House Bill 2183. It was vetoed by Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly, but the Legislature voted to override her objection.

Kobach said during oral argument to the Supreme Court in November that the justices shouldnt consider voting rights, in the context of the three challenged election laws, in the same manner constitutional rights to speech and religion were framed by the states Bill of Rights.

A three-judge panel of the Kansas Court of Appeals had declared voting to be a foundational constitutional right in the same way the Kansas Supreme Court declared five years ago that abortion rights were secured within the state constitution.

However, Stegalls majority opinion says the right to vote wasnt an unenumerated natural right protected by the Kansas Constitutions Bill of Rights. Instead, the opinion says, suffrage is universally understood as a political right.

Majority misses the mark

Justice Rosen wrote in his own opinion Section 2 of the states Bill of Rights shielded the right to vote and the signature-verification requirement and the ballot-collection restriction violated constitutional protections. He said Stegalls majority opinion endangered basic rights of Kansas voters.

The court majority strips Kansans of our founders ultimate promise that the majority will rule and that the government it empowers will answer to its calls, he said. It staggers my imagination to conclude Kansas citizens have no fundamental right to vote under their state constitution. Admission to the United States was predicated on a constitutional guarantee of a republican form of government. Over 160 years later, this court removes that guarantee. I cannot and will not condone this betrayal of our constitutional duty to safeguard the foundational rights of Kansans.

Specifically, regarding mandates on signature verification, Rosen said the majority is in a china shop swatting with a hammer at imaginary flies. I have problems with this policy-laden endeavor.

Justice Biles likewise concluded the state constitution set forth a citizens right to vote as the foundation of a democratic republic, so it is serious business when a government official in one of our 105 counties rejects an otherwise lawful ballot just by eyeballing the signature on the outside envelope.

He said the majority opinion was written with lengthy sections lacking citation to legal authority as a means of preserving a shaky four-vote majority of the court.

Justice Standridge, who agreed with arguments shared by Biles and Rosen, said it was a troubling decision by the majority to characterize Section 2 of the state constitution, which referenced power as inherent in the people, as a mere general declaration.

The majoritys Section 2 decision defies history, law and logic, and is just plain wrong, Standridge said. Thus, while I join the majority in holding that the plaintiffs demonstrated a likelihood of prevailing on the merits of their false representation claim and in remanding the plaintiffs signature verification requirement to consider whether it complies with constitutional guarantees of equal protection and due process, I dissent from the majoritys analysis and decision on the plaintiffs Section 2 claims.

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Kansas voters have no fundamental right to vote under the bill of rights in the state constitution, the Kansas Supreme Court has ruled.

A four-person majority on the seven-justice Kansas Supreme Court issued the opinion Friday as part of an ongoing lawsuit challenging three election laws.

Justice Caleb Stegall wrote the majority opinion, which Chief Justice Marla Luckert and Justices Evelyn Wilson and K.J. Wall supported.

Kansas Supreme Court Justice Caleb Stegall, seen here asking questions during oral arguments for an election law case, wrote the majority opinion ruling that the Kansas Constitution's bill of rights has no fundamental right to vote.

"One gets the impression reading the dissents that they think of the 'right to vote' in talismanic terms, as though it were a kind of superpower of citizenship, to be wielded in times of trouble whenever and wherever desired," Stegall wrote. "Our view is both more realistic and practical as well as more legally and constitutionally precise."

Justices Eric Rosen, Dan Biles and Melissa Taylor Standridge all wrote separate opinions that concurred in part and dissented in part.

"It staggers my imagination to conclude Kansas citizens have no fundamental right to vote under their state constitution," Rosen wrote.

Standridge called it "a troubling decision with far-reaching implications."

Because voting isn't considered a fundamental right, it means that courts won't use strict scrutiny when analyzing the impact of election laws. That will make it more difficult for plaintiffs to argue a law affecting voting is unconstitutional.

However, the majority did say another part of the constitution still protects the right to vote.

"But just because the right to vote is not protected in our Bill of Rights does not mean that constitutional voting guarantees are somehow weak or ineffective," Stegall said.

Biles raised concerns that the majority opinion "provided meager direction for applying its standard," while "the district court needs to sort all this out in short order as the election season looms."

"I suspect the majority opinion is written as it is  with lengthy sections lacking citation to legal authority  to preserve its meager four votes," Biles wrote.

Why voting is not protected by Kansas bill of rights

The Kansas Constitution's bill of rights states that "all political power is inherent in the people, and all free governments are founded on their authority." Standridge said the majority's decision means that part of the constitution "does not, in fact, protect the right to vote."

Stegall wrote that the bill of rights refers to "delegated power," and that "the mechanisms of delegation often require voting by the populace, but not always." Stegall pointed to his own position on the Supreme Court, which was initially appointed rather than elected, as an example of political power conferred without elections.

"As a matter of political philosophy, the broad and foundational concept of delegated power does not necessarily even include elections," Stegall wrote.

While the court ruled the bill of rights doesn't make voting a "natural right," they did hold that a different part of the constitution makes suffrage a "political right."

The majority and the dissenters disagreed on how to interpret case law on voting rights and how to apply rules of constitutional construction.

Stegall cited where the Kansas Supreme Court in 1952 said "political rights" include the right to vote, and the U.S. Supreme Court in 1886 said that voting is "not regarded strictly as a natural right, but as a privilege merely conceded by society."

Standridge said the right to vote should be implicitly protected by the bill of rights.

"By its very nature, the right to vote is an essential feature of democracy because it allows the people to influence government decisions and actions by electing (and removing) their representatives and expressing preferences on public policy matters put before the electorate," she wrote.

Kansas Supreme Court Justice Melissa Standridge questions aspects of arguments from lawyers in the League of Women Voters, et al v. Schwab case.

What does Supreme Court ruling mean for election law challenges?

The plaintiffs are the League of Women Voters of Kansas, Loud Light, Kansas Appleseed and the Topeka Independent Living Resource Center.

The defendants are Secretary of State Scott Schwab and Attorney General Kris Kobach.

At issue are three pieces of election law that the Republican-led Legislature enacted in 2021 over the veto of Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly in the wake of former President Donald Trump sowing doubt about the integrity of elections.

One provision of House Bill 2183 makes it a crime to impersonate an election official. Supporters said it was necessary to combat financial scams by people giving the impression they are election officials in order to steal money. Opponents said it was written too broadly, potentially criminalizing voter registration drives because people sometimes mistakenly believe civic groups are official election officers.

The court's majority sided with the opponents' interpretation.

"We discern from the plain language used by the Legislature that it included no intent to misrepresent or deceive requirement in the statute," Stegall wrote. "As such, it sweeps up protected speech in its net. That is, the League is correct that the law criminalizes honest speech which is 'known' to cause occasional misunderstandings or misperceptions on the part of the listener."

More: Kansas officials want to amend election law after Supreme Court sided with voter advocates

Another provision restricts the number of advance ballots that a single person can deliver, making it a crime to deliver more than 10. Supporters said it was necessary to prevent so-called ballot harvesting. Opponents said it could disenfranchise some voters, particularly residents of nursing homes who have a difficult time going in-person to a polling place, and violated freedom of speech.

The high court upheld dismissing the claim against that provision "because the actual collection and return of a ballot, in isolation, is not political speech or expressive conduct."

Another provision on signature verification prohibits election officials from counting advance ballots that don't have a signature or ones where the signature does not match the one on file.

The majority held that signature verification can't be unconstitutional because it is a "reasonable imposition of a proper proof," citing case law on "steps to be taken in order to ascertain who and who are not entitled to vote."

While signature verification will be allowed, the plaintiffs will have another opportunity in district court to argue that it is not uniformly enforced, which could lead to it being struck down.

The high court remanded the case back to Shawnee County District Court for further proceedings.

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: Kansas Supreme Court rules voters have no fundamental right to vote
A wave of well wishes continues to flow towards Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, as she enters the most encouraging stage of her cancer journey: recovery.

The princess announced on September 9, 2024, via a video message posted on social media, that she is cancer free following nine months of treatment. The footage, showing Kate with her husband, Prince William, and their three children spending quality time together throughout the summer months, offered viewers a reminder of just how grueling the cancer experience is  royal or not.

"The cancer journey is complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you," Kate said in a voiceover as the video captured sweet moments shared with her children, husband and parents. "With humility, it also brings. you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything."

Keep scrolling to take a closer look at Kate Middleton's health journey and cancer treatment.

Kate Middleton announced her cancer diagnosis in March 2024

In a video message on March 22, 2024, Kate announced undergoing "early stages" of preventive chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer. While the specific type of cancer was and has remained unknown, Kate did disclose that the diagnosis came as a surprise following major abdominal surgery in January. The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present, she said in the video. This news marked Kate's first public address since the surgery. Watch her announcement below:

Kate Middleton had abdominal surgery before her cancer diagnosis

On January 16, 2024, Kate underwent a planned abdominal surgery. A statement released by Kensington Palace the following day confirmed the surgery's success. It anticipated a 10 to 14-day hospital stay followed by a two to three-month recovery at home. The statement further indicated that Kate wouldn't resume public duties until after Easter and that only "significant" updates would be provided, respecting the princess's privacy.

For weeks following the surgery, before her cancer diagnosis became public, speculation and rumors swirled about Kate's well-being. The secrecy surrounding the nature of the surgery fueled online conspiracies.

Kate Middleton made rare public appearances during cancer treatment

The Princess of Wales stayed behind closed doors for the majority of her cancer treatment, though she did attend Trooping the Colour, the annual celebration of the monarch's birthday, in a much celebrated appearance. She also offered an update about her condition at the time, telling the public that she was making strides towards health, but still had a ways to go.

"I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days," Kate wrote in a letter shared by Kensington Palace. "On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well," she continued, noting that her treatment will continue "for a few more months" as she is not "out of the woods yet."

"On the days I feel well enough, it is a joy to engage with school life, spend personal time on the things that give me energy and positivity, as well as starting to do a little work from home," she additionally shared, before turning her attention to her first official appearance since December 2023.

"I'm looking forward to attending The King's Birthday Parade this weekend with my family and hope to join a few public engagements over the summer, but equally knowing I am not out of the woods yet," she said. "I am learning how to be patient, especially with uncertainty. Taking each day as it comes, listening to my body, and allowing myself to take this much needed time to heal."

Will Kate Middleton be returning to royal duties?

Getty

In the same video message announcing her cancer-free status, Kate shared with followers that she will slowly start to return to public-facing royal duties, as and when her health allows her to do so.

"I am ... looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can," the princess shared. "Despite all that has gone before, I enter this new phase of recovery with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life."

Kate concluded her message by reinforcing her support for those currently facing their own cancer battles, before thanking the public for their unwavering well wishes. "William and I are so grateful for the support we have received and have drawn great strength from all those who are helping us at this time," she said. "Everyone's kindness, empathy and compassion has been truly humbling."

Watch the full video message below:

For more on the royal family, read through these stories below:

King Charles First Official Portrait Has Been Released: Everything You Need to Know About the Painting

How to Achieve Kate Middletons Gorgeous Hairstyles + the $13 Product Her Hairstylist Uses on Her

Three Princess Diana Dresses Sold for $1.6 Million at Auction  Read the Heartwarming Story Behind Them
Rep. Savannah Maddox, whose outspokenness makes her a Frankfort facsimile of U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, called the primary election results a wholesale rejection of business as usual in the state capital. (LRC Public Information)

Some of Kentuckys Republican primaries for the legislature were the latest chapter in a three-decade struggle between traditional, establishment elements of the state GOP and those who want it to be more conservative. The latter faction is gaining ground, but is making too much of its modest gains in low-turnout elections influenced by local quirks and other factors.

Rep. Savannah Maddox, whose outspokenness makes her a Frankfort facsimile of U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., called the results a wholesale rejection of business as usual in the state capital. Her post on X was retweeted by 4th District U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie; he and U.S. Sen. Rand Paul are thought leaders in the self-defined Liberty Caucus of Republican insurgents.

Maddoxs claim hung on two hooks: the 4.4-percentage-point loss of House Agriculture Committee Chair Richard Heath of Mayfield and the overwhelming defeat of moderate Rep. Kilian Timoney of Nicholasville. She would have a stronger case if House Health Services Committee Chair Kim Moser of Taylor Mill had not won renomination (by just 84 votes out of 3,000 cast).

Heath, a veteran legislator who had nearly won two statewide primaries for agriculture commissioner, lost to Liberty-branded challenger Kimberly Holloway by 161 votes out of 3,647 cast. Even Holloway said she was surprised, but Heath was undercut by lawsuits he had taken  a traffic-accident case that some saw as frivolous and one that threw Holloway off the 2022 ballot.

Timoney lost by almost 3 to 1 to Thomas Jefferson  whose name evokes a higher plane than his campaign and an allied group, which sent mailers labeling Timoney Groomer Killian and insinuating that he was a sexual predator because he voted against Senate Bill 150, the anti-transgender law of 2023, and a ban on transgender athletes. (Moser became a target when she voted against SB 150 and said, To the rest of the world who is watching Kentucky: We are not Neanderthals.)

Some of the money behind Jefferson came from supporters of gray machines, gambling devices that were banned by a 2023 bill Timoney sponsored. But the really big money in legislative elections came from establishment sources such as the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce and a moderate-establishment group that labeled itself the Commonwealth Conservative Coalition.

Maddox said the CCC wasted $846,818 trying to defeat rock-solid incumbents, and EVERY incumbent whom the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce endorsed AGAINST won.

Those establishment groups and Senate leaders backed Ed Gallrein against fellow Shelbyville resident Aaron Reed and incumbent Sen. Adriene Southworth, a right-wing election denier who ran third because of her extreme views and a radical redistricting that gave her all new voters except those in her home county of Anderson.

Reed had wanted to run in 2022 but the redistricting put him in an odd-numbered district in a year when only even-numbered districts were on the ballot. He had been campaigning since 2022, and won Anderson, a key to his victory. Establishment Republicans expect him to be more of a disrupter than she was. He told Joe Sonka of Louisville Public Media, They kind of have to eat a little bit of crow now, and they have to come to me if they want to bring me into the fold.

Reed and Jefferson both have Democratic opponents, who could have a chance in an election that will have a much larger turnout than the 13 percent statewide in the primary.

But low turnout does not fully explain the election results. Most of the energy in the Kentucky GOP is clearly with those who want it to move farther right, who reject the leadership of U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, and who look to Paul and Massie for ideological guidance and inspiration. Maddox was probably right when she said after the election that the insurgents successes will energize them for the next round of legislative elections in 2026.

What she didnt say, and what is also likely, is that some incumbent Republicans will likely move further right to fend off intra-party opposition. That could provide openings for Democrats to begin rebuilding their legislative influence, a task that will take time and more leadership than Gov. Andy Beshear has shown in his role as party leader.

One more note about the primary: I engaged in wishful thinking before the election by saying I would be watching the presidential vote for signs that former president Donald Trumps support might be eroding in the face of his hush money trial. But Kentucky Republicans gave only 6.4 percent of their vote to Nikki Haley, who had suspended her campaign but not endorsed Trump. (She said later in the week that she would vote for him.) Her votes and those for Chris Christie (who still hasnt backed Trump) and uncommitted totaled only 11 percent, making Kentuckys Republican voters look even more Trumpy that West Virginias.

This column is republished from the Northern Kentucky Tribune, a nonprofit publication of the Kentucky Center for Public Service Journalism.

The post Kentuckys Republican insurgents gain a little traction appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Kershaw man charged with attempted murder after former SC solicitor shot as bystander: SLED

Kershaw man charged with attempted murder after former SC solicitor shot as bystander: SLED

LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A Kershaw man was charged with attempted murder Thursday in connection to the shooting of a former Lancaster County court official.

The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division charged 23-year-old Tyrone Lamar Gilford, 23, with two counts of attempted murder. The warrant demonstrates that on the night of May 29 he fired a handgun in the direction of one of the victims near the intersection of North Matson and North First Street, following a verbal altercation.

SC Cop: Allergies prevented me from smelling alcohol on deputy later charged with drunk driving

SLED officials say that during the argument, the unidentified victim ran from the home and was chased by Gilford, who reportedly fired shots at the victim running down North Matson Street (U.S. 521). Two of the rounds entered the front windshield of a Chevrolet pickup truck driven by Doug Barfield, who is the attorney for the Lancaster County Sheriffs Office and was driving down the same street.

Barfield was struck in the left arm. The sheriffs office says he was off-duty at the time and not on official business.

The other victim was not struck and fled the scene, determined to be a grocery store parking lot.

SLED says a 911 caller told dispatchers that Gilford was the one who shot Barfield.

When Lancaster County deputies arrived, they found Gilford in a bedroom, having just existed the shower at the shooting scene, and arrested him.

Gifford was booked into the Lancaster County Detention Center. The case will be prosecuted by the 6th Circuit Solicitors Office.

Barfield, a former solicitor himself, is expected to make a full recovery.

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.
Speaking at Trump Tower, the former president claimed he was the victim of a conspiracy between the White House and Manhattan's district attorney - Julia Nikhinson/AP

Less than 24 hours after becoming the first US president to have been criminally convicted, Donald Trump spent some 40 minutes insulting the judge, attacking his rivals and making questionable claims about the trial.

Speaking at Trump Tower, the former president claimed he was the victim of a conspiracy between the White House and Manhattans district attorney. He had been unanimously convicted by a jury of 12 New Yorkers.

Trump exaggerated the length of a potential prison sentence by 183 years and overstated his campaign contributions since the verdict by more than $4 million.

He also spoke for the first time about his decision not to testify in his own defence  a question that experts say could have led to a perjury indictment. At other points, he launched into segues about electric cars and his poll numbers.

The Telegraph has rounded up some of the key moments from Trumps landmark speech  and debunked some of his claims.

JOE BIDEN

Trump complained that the New York court was working in 'total conjunction with the justice department and the White House - Andrew Kelly/Getty Images

Trump claimed that Joe Biden, his rival in the presidential election in November, was behind his conviction in the hush money case.

Claiming that a group of fascists was running the country, he said: This is all done by Biden and his people. Maybe his people more importantly, I dont know if Biden knows too much about it. Because I dont know if he knows about anything.

Trump complained that the New York court was working in total conjunction with the justice department and the White House.

He went on to blame Mr Biden  a man that cant put two sentences together  for the gag order that stopped him attacking witnesses and jurors during the case.

The case against Trump was brought by Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney, who has been elected and does not report to the federal government. Mr Biden  who has largely avoided commenting on the trial while it was underway  does not wield any authority over the district attorney.

TESTIFYING

'I wanted to testify. And the theory is you never testify,' he claimed - WIN MCNAMEE/AFP via Getty Images

Trump spent some time justifying why he did not give evidence in his criminal trial, having previously declared that he absolutely would.

I wanted to testify. And the theory is you never testify, he claimed. Anybody  if you were George Washington dont testify. Because they can get you on something that you said slightly wrong and then they sue you for perjury.

He added: You could go into every single thing that I ever did. Was he a good boy here, was he a bad boy there?

Trump had a legal right to speak in his own defence at the criminal trial, something he was reminded of in court by the judge.

The prosecution would likely have questioned him if he had ever had an affair with porn star Stormy Daniels  something Trump has denied for years. Lying in court would have exposed him to a perjury indictment.

JUDGE JUAN MERCHAN

Trump said Justice Juan Merchan 'looks like an angel but he's really a devil' - Jane Rosenberg/Reuters

Trump has repeatedly attacked the judge as highly conflicted outside court, but on Friday he sharpened those attacks against Justice Juan Merchan.

You saw what happened to some of the witnesses that were on our side, they were literally crucified by this judge  who looks like an angel but hes really a devil, he said.

He looks so nice and soft. People say Oh he seems like such a nice man  no, unless you saw him in action.

Referring to Robert Costello, a defence witness, Trump said: You saw that with a certain witness that went through hell.

He added: When we wanted to do things, he wouldnt let us do those things. But when the government wanted something they got everything.

ROBERT COSTELLO

Trump claimed that Mr Costello  one of the two witnesses that the defence called  had been literally crucified by Justice Merchan.

Mr Costello had grown frustrated as the prosecution issued objections while he gave evidence, and was eventually reprimanded by the judge.

He sighed as Justice Merchan sustained multiple objections, muttered ridiculous directly into the microphone, and at one point said: Jeez. The judge eventually ordered the court to be cleared to warn Mr Costello, who had attempted to stare him down, about his contemptuous behaviour.

The judge was a tyrant and you got to see that with Bob Costello  a fine man, Trump said.

Ive never seen anything like it anybody that was in the media if youre fair youll say wow that was anger, that was crazed. [Justice Merchan] was crazed.

The reason that Bob Costello acted a little bit upset, which I think he has a right to, was that every question he was being asked was being objected to by the other side.

DEFENCE WITNESS

Trump claimed the trial was very unfair because we werent allowed to use our election expert under any circumstances.

He was referring to Bradley Smith, a former head of the Federal Election Commission, whom his defence had planned to call to speak about federal campaign finance law.

We had the best expert, most respected expert, head of the Federal Election Commission, he was all set to testify, he was waiting for two days, Trump said.

Justice Merchan said he would allow him to give evidence, but imposed limits on his testimony  saying it was not the job of a witness to interpret the law for a jury.

Mr Smiths evidence would be restricted to general definitions and terms, such as what constitutes a contribution in campaign finance law, he ruled.

ALVIN BRAGG

Trump described Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan DA, as 'a failed DA' - Kena Betancur/Getty Images

After lashing out at Mr Biden and Justice Merchan, Trump turned his attention to Alvin Bragg  the Manhattan district attorney who brought the hush money case.

We had a DA who was a failed DA. Crime is rampant in New York, violent crime  thats what hes really supposed to be looking at, he said.

Yesterday in McDonalds you had a man hitting them up with machetes... who can imagine even a machete being wielded in a store, in a place where theyre eating.

He has previously labelled the district attorney Fat Alvin. Mr Bragg refused to rule out seeking a prison sentence for the former president at a press conference on Thursday.

187 YEARS IN PRISON

Trump claimed that he was supposed to go to jail for 187 years after being found guilty of falsifying hush money payments.

Trump is convicted of a Class E felony, which is punishable by up to four years in prison. He was convicted on 34 charges but these would run simultaneously, rather than being stacked on top of each other.

Experts believe it is unlikely that the former president will be sent to prison following his sentencing hearing in July, given that he is 77 years old and has never previously been criminally convicted.

John C Coffee, a professor at Columbia Law School, told The Telegraph: The betting is no jail time, but a high fine and a sentence to probationary conditions.

UPSET WITH LAWYERS

Shining a light on private talks with his legal team, Trump said he was very upset with them because he did not know what he was being charged with.

Even my own lawyers, I get very upset with them because they dont say what it is, he said.

They say, Well, falsification of business records is only a misdemeanour But they [prosecutors] try and bring it up to a felony if theres new crimes.

He added: The other thing is they missed the statute of limitations by a lot. Because this is very old. They could have brought this seven years ago instead of bringing it right in the middle of an election.

Mr Trump was charged with falsifying business records, which is normally classed as a Class A misdemeanour in New York.

However, prosecutors argued that there was a secondary crime  attempting to corrupt the result of the 2016 presidential election  which elevated it to a Class E felony. This also extended the statute of limitations.

$39 MILLION IN DONATIONS

Supporters across the street from Trump Tower before the former president made his address - KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images

Towards the end of his speech, Trump repeatedly claimed to have raised a record $39 million after his guilty verdict from small-money donors.

I like those people, he said as the crowd at Trump Tower whooped and applauded.

The former president went on to claim that his hush money trial was backfiring, adding: I want to win this thing legitimately not because they were stupid they shouldnt have brought this case.

In fact, his campaign said on Thursday that it had raised $34.8 million after Trump was convicted, causing its fundraising platform to crash.

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His voice gets heavy and even starts to crack when he talks about the abuse claims that have engulfed an unlicensed boarding school in his southeast Missouri county.

I didnt know, Wayne County Sheriff Dean Finch says, referring to former students yearslong allegations of physical and mental abuse at the school. I didnt.

When in 2014 Finch scooped up a runaway from Lighthouse Christian Academy, the skin on his feet starting to peel away from frostbite, the teen didnt divulge any abuse. Neither did a boy who ran away from the Wayne County boarding school three years later, the sheriff said. Same thing with the boy who ran away two years ago.

Kids didnt say a word, said Finch, who has been the sheriff since 2013. I tried to get it out of them, why they were running away. But they never said anything.

Boys would tell him, the sheriff said, that they were forced to do jumping jacks, intense exercises and stand at the wall for hours as punishment. Or they just didnt like the school run by ABM Ministries because staff members were mean. But nothing they shared with him, he said, led him to believe a Missouri law had been broken.

Until earlier this year.

After five boys ran away from the secluded boarding school near Piedmont over a three-week period in January, one boy told him something I could sink my teeth into, Finch said. And once the sheriff spoke to a former student from more than 15 years ago, all the dominos started to fall, he said.

A mailbox for ABM Ministries, which operates Lighthouse Christian Academy boarding school, is still in place though the southeast Missouri school closed in March amid abuse allegations.

Since March, hes traveled to 10 states, interviewed about 25 former students and spoken to many others on the phone. In the coming days, he plans to speak with dozens more. Now in their 20s and 30s, many of these men and women are telling the sheriff what theyve told The Star. They said staff members put them in headlocks and at times hit them, that food and water were withheld and they were made to exercise for hours and work in extreme temperatures.

Others described what they call emotional torture at the school owned by Larry and Carmen Musgrave.

Im going to investigate this thoroughly, Finch told The Star in a series of interviews over the past two months. Every victim will be interviewed. Every victim will have their say, they will be able to tell their story.

Until the end, I am here. And if theres charges there, those charges will be filed.

In early March, Larry and Carmen Musgrave were charged with kidnapping and another staffer faces one count of physical abuse of a student. The sheriff said he expects additional charges.

The couple pleaded not guilty and their attorney did not respond to multiple calls for comment.

Larry Musgrave denied that students were mistreated or abused at the school, Finch said.

Whenever we interviewed him, he laughed about it, Finch said. And he said, That is not going on. That never happened.

Soon after the Musgraves were arrested, Lighthouse closed. The husband and wife were released on their own recognizance and required to wear GPS monitoring devices.

Were very happy and proud that (the sheriff) is standing up and saying this is wrong, said Rebecca Randles, a Kansas City attorney who has handled many boarding school abuse cases. Weve never had that response from any law enforcement before.

Indeed, when it comes to boarding schools, many say Missouri hasnt seen a sheriff like Finch. And they hope his actions will spur real, lasting change in a state that had become a haven for unlicensed boarding schools during the past few decades.

Robert Knodell, director of the Missouri Department of Social Services, said his agency embraces the partnership with Wayne County authorities.

Its not always been the case everywhere weve had these cases, Knodell said. Sometimes local law enforcement is cooperative, and sometimes theyre not.  The ability to address ongoing issues is much greater when theres full cooperation across the spectrum.

The Star began investigating Missouris unlicensed boarding schools and abuse allegations at Circle of Hope Girls Ranch and Agape Boarding School  located in southwest Missouris Cedar County and now closed  in late summer of 2020. Former students at those schools said they had told local authorities for years about the abuse, but nothing ever happened.

Those who attended Lighthouse Christian Academy, most of whom were there before Finch became sheriff, said they hoped to draw attention to the school years ago by posting testimonials on social media. They urged families online to not send their kids there, but the pleas never gained much traction.

Until Finch started investigating.

Weve never had anyone pull so hard for us, said Michael McCarthy, who attended Lighthouse Christian Academy from August 2010 to August 2012. It feels surreal because we had tried. Its almost like why now?  Its almost hard to believe.

Child advocates have also been surprised by the actions in Wayne County.

Its a complete 180 from what we experienced when the schools in Cedar County were revealed, said Jessica Seitz, executive director of the Missouri Network Against Child Abuse, formerly known as Missouri KidsFirst. The response of seeking out justice and believing kids is exactly what we would hope for.

Law enforcement is one of the parties responsible for protecting kids from abuse.

Concerns of conflict had surrounded the investigation at Agape Boarding School in Cedar County because the son-in-law of the late founder, James Clemensen, was a deputy with the sheriffs department. That deputy, a former Agape student, had also worked at the school for years and on multiple occasions was sent there to respond to a call, The Star found.

When asked what motivates him in Wayne County, Finch, 62, pauses and speaks slowly.

Sheriff Dean Finch sits behind his desk at the Wayne County Sheriffs Office in Greenville, Missouri.

Because theyre victims, the sheriff says, his voice breaking before he apologizes for getting emotional. Because they were mistreated and because it happened in my county.

I feel like my department let these kids down, although it wasnt me.  They deserve better than what they got in the past. They deserve to have their story heard. And its just like any victim  they deserve their day in court.

These kids, dammit, they deserve justice.

Liable to freeze to death

Finchs cellphone rang late one frigid night in early February 2014. A call had just come in from ABM Ministries, a dispatcher told him.

A teen boy at the boarding school had run away and been gone 3  hours.

The grandfather of five at the time, who had been sheriff for about a year, called in deputies and alerted the fire department. Search dogs were brought in. The frigid temperatures outside filled him and others with a rising sense of urgency.

I got a kid out here, thats run off, out in the middle of the woods and its subzero weather, Finch said of what was going through his mind that night. He didnt have a coat. He didnt have anything. We got to find this boy because hes liable to freeze to death.

The sheriff also alerted Union Pacific Railroad, telling officials they had a missing child and to be on the lookout. Finch worried the boy could be on the tracks between Piedmont and Williamsville and wanted to make sure the train wasnt going to come flying through.

As the railroad crew moved slowly through the the area and looked for the boy, so did Finch and all those he called to help with the search.

I had search teams in the woods all over, the sheriff said. We were all over. Running the roads, running through the woods, looking in the woods.

A couple of hours into the search, Union Pacific let the sheriff know that a crew had found the boy and was transporting him to a nearby crossing. Finch was waiting with an ambulance.

The sheriff lifted the teen, who was wearing pajamas and a fleece jacket, off the train. He didnt have any socks on and had lost his flip flops they wore at the school. He had used his jacket to wave down the train, the sheriff said.

His feet were, in all reality, black, Finch said. And the skin had peeled off of them from frostbite.

When the sheriff first encountered the young teen, he asked why he ran away. He just shook his head, the sheriff said.

Im assuming he was just so cold and disoriented that he didnt talk, Finch said.

He would try again later at the landing zone with a helicopter waiting, and as first responders tended to the teens injuries.

I was trying to get him to say, Why did you run away? Finch said. Just dont like it. Just dont like it. Thats all he would say. Just dont like it.

The teen was airlifted to St. Louis Childrens Hospital where he was treated for severe frostbite, and according to a news article at the time, his family was told he would face a slow recovery. That article, in the Wayne County Journal Banner on Feb. 13, 2014, quoted the mother as saying she believed her son was mistreated at the school.

She told the newspaper that her son said the physical and mental abuse was unbearable and that he felt running away was his only alternative, the article stated.

The teen didnt speak to the sheriff again. But his mother told a reporter that he had given a full report to the Missouri Department of Social Services.

The sheriffs office also reported the incident to DSS, Finch said.

Lighthouse Christian Academy, run by ABM Ministries, was closed in March after its owners were charged with kidnapping. The Wayne County school is still under investigation amid abuse allegations.

In the years since, other students at ABM Ministries have run. In 2017, the Wayne County Sheriffs Department was called out again. Then again two years ago.

Thats when Finch started to look deeper and have unanswered questions.

Something is going on here, he said he thought about two years ago. Something isnt right. These kids, there is no reason for these kids to be running away.  But I had nothing to go on. I literally had nothing to go on.

Until, he said, late January of this year.

Former students tell their stories

After Julianna Davis, of Alabama, heard about the boys who had run away from ABM Ministries earlier this year, she called the Missouri Highway Patrol.

For years, she and other former students had tried to let the public know about what they say they experienced at the school. Now, she thought, maybe someone in authority would listen.

At the southeast Missouri school, Davis said that she had been told not to trust law enforcement, that authorities wouldnt believe her and other students because they were just troubled kids.

Weve tried this for 15 years plus, she said. I already kind of had the impression that nobody was gonna listen to us.

But the patrol sergeant she spoke to did. And then he referred her to Finch.

Something Davis told the sheriff matched what a current student had told him. Because he doesnt want to jeopardize the case, Finch wont say what that is. But it did cause the dominos to fall and prompt the investigation that continues today.

I knew that something had happened there, he said. I knew something illegal had happened to a child who was defenseless, who had been sent to this home for rehabilitation, so to speak, or whatever you want to call it. She was sent there by the parents to be helped.

Davis also told Finch that Carmen Musgrave locked her in a room on her 18th birthday and she was kept at the school for months after. It was Davis experience that led to the kidnapping charges against the Musgraves.

Ive just been continuously impressed at how hard hes trying to help, Davis said of Finch. But at the same time, surprised in the sense that like, weve tried this before, you know, and it just never got anywhere.

After talking with Davis, the sheriff knew that more former students would reach out. He told dispatchers to expect a few. That grew to 10 or 15. Then 25 to 30.

I got my 81st call this morning, Finch said in early May. By the end of that month, he received another six or seven calls.

In-person interviews have lasted anywhere from minutes to hours, he said. A few of the former students attended the school in recent years, but the majority hes talked with have been gone from ABM for 15 or so years.

Now I know, looking back at the runaways that we had in the past, and doing this investigation, I now know why they didnt say anything, Finch said. Because they were scared.

It was instilled in them and drilled in their heads that unfortunately, I didnt care about them, that they (boarding school leaders) have law enforcement in their back pocket. Well, that pocket has a big hole, and I slipped out of that pocket.

Former students of Lighthouse Christian Academy, run by ABM Ministries in Wayne County, Missouri, say owners forced them to do manual labor for many hours at a time.

The sheriff drove to Oklahoma in March to speak with Aralysa Baker, who went to ABM in 2005 when she was 13 and stayed for two years.

For seven hours, over two days, Baker told the sheriff what she was unable to tell an investigator who went to the school during her last year. Her great-grandparents had called Wayne County and asked authorities to do a welfare check. She told the officer she was OK because she feared what would happen if she said more.

Baker told Finch how her life had been impacted because of the school. The nightmares. The flashbacks. And the anxiety over food.

For all of her adult life, shes feared that there wouldnt be enough to eat. First, just for herself. And now that shes a wife and mom, for her family.

While at ABM, she said the owners and staff used food as a punishment. When in trouble, she and other former students said staff would withhold food and sometimes they would go to bed hungry. Several students said they would have to sneak food or water at times.

Baker told the sheriff and The Star that she now hoards food. There are chips and cookies stashed behind her pots and pans. Stacks of canned goods, boxes of pasta, and macaroni and cheese in the garage. The trunk of an old Honda that doesnt run is full of snacks.

I always want something stashed away, squirreled away, she said. I need to be able to get to it quickly.

Baker and Davis want people, especially lawmakers, to realize that Missouri must do more to keep abuse, both physical and mental, out of boarding schools in their state.

I hope they take it seriously and change the laws to make it harder for people to abuse children and not have any consequences whatsoever, Davis said. And then, of course, I hope that theres some sort of justice or closure for all of us. I have been hurt for so long. But Ill be happy as long as it doesnt happen again.

Theyre just being bull-headed

Hours before Finch served the arrest warrants on the Musgraves, someone issued him a warning about the past.

Dont forget about Heartland Christian Academy, he was told, a reference to a decades-old case that to this day haunts those who have tried to place regulations on religious-based boarding schools in Missouri.

Operated by the late millionaire Charles Sharpe, a prominent Republican who made his fortune after founding Kansas City-based Ozark National Life Insurance Co., the Christian school for troubled youth drew national attention in 2001. A call to the state hotline reported students were being forced to stand in ankle-to chest-deep cow manure as a punishment.

Several months later, after receiving two more allegations of abuse, authorities raided the northeast Missouri school and removed 115 children, prompting a series of lawsuits and challenges that took years to wind through the courts.

In the end, felony child abuse charges against five employees were either dropped or the staffers were acquitted. Sharpe and his school also were cleared of any wrongdoing and the state settled with Heartland, agreeing to pay extensive attorney fees and court costs.

Ever since, the Heartland case has cast a shadow over attempts to address concerns inside boarding schools  especially proposals that would require them to be licensed. A law passed in 1982 allows religious-based schools to claim an exemption from Missouris licensing requirement.

Randles, the Kansas City attorney who has represented the families of abused children, said the arguments against licensing dont hold water.

Theyre just being bull-headed over this particular issue, she said. Were not asking them to change their religious affiliation or to change the manner in which they teach their religion. As a matter of fact, Im a graduate of Southwest Baptist University, and Southwest Baptist University is accredited, its licensed, it goes through all of the processes that are required.

And it doesnt change the way that Southwest Baptist University delivers its teaching. Its still a faith-based Christian education university. It can be done.

In response to abuse allegations at Cedar County schools, lawmakers passed legislation in 2021 to implement some oversight over religious boarding schools but shied away from requiring them to be licensed.

Boarding schools that are abusing children, Randles said, are not Christian institutions.

That has nothing to do with Christianity, she said. And so theres no reason that the state cant act on these individuals who are acting well outside the law. Because theyre claiming and cloaking themselves under religious authority. Theres no religious authority that says you can beat children and make them eat their own vomit. There is nothing in the Bible that says anything of the sort.

Carmen and Larry Musgrave moved their boarding school from the Tennessee and Kentucky area to Patterson in southeast Missouri in 2004, corporation records show. One former student said that the Musgraves loaded students into a blue 15-passenger van and drove them to the Show-Me State.

The Patterson site had previously been home to another controversial boarding school  Mountain Park Baptist Boarding Academy.

That schools owners, Bob and Betty Wills, were running the Bethesda Home for Girls in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, when a former student sued Bethesda in federal court in 1982. Child welfare officials conducted an investigation, and the Willses closed the school in 1987 after a judge ordered authorities to remove students.

They headed to southeast Missouri and opened Mountain Park Baptist Boarding Academy. The school gained notoriety in 1996 when two students murdered another student because they feared he would reveal their plot to take over the school and escape.

In 2003, the school was sued in federal court by five former students and two sets of parents. They accused school officials of abusing and falsely imprisoning students. The school closed in 2004, and the Musgraves then opened Lighthouse Christian Academy on that property. Lighthouse later moved to its current location near Piedmont, and former students say they were forced to do much of the construction work.

An overhead view of Lighthouse Christian Academy, an unlicensed boarding school in Wayne County, Missouri. The school closed in March 2024 and an investigation into abuse allegations by the sheriffs department continues.

Ginger Koller Joyner, the Wayne County prosecutor who formerly served as the Guardian Ad Litem for the 42nd Judicial Circuit, said seeing whats happened at Lighthouse has convinced her that a licensing law is necessary to keep children safe in these schools.

I think both my background in the juvenile system and this experience has strengthened my opinion that there really needs to be a legislative push to regulate these types of places to ensure that theres uniformity and consistency of care across our state, Joyner said. I dont think we want this anywhere in our state.

The key, she said, will be for legislators to get involved.

We can have every sheriff on board, we can have every prosecutor on board, but the bottom line is until we change the legislation about how these facilities are licensed, were not going to see the depth of change thats needed to protect the vulnerable people, she said.

DSS Knodell said he anticipates that Missouri lawmakers will continue to consider whether they want to go down that road and take that approach.

Many other states have, he said. I think its time to take a close look at it. Absolutely.

Trying to get them justice

Before the runaways and subsequent investigation, Finch said he didnt know much about other boarding schools in Missouri. He didnt follow what happened across the state with Circle of Hope and Agape.

In his decade as sheriff, Finchs department has called the states child abuse and neglect hotline multiple times, he said. And in January, after the runaways, several residents who live near ABM also reported the school. At least two of them said they were told they didnt provide enough information to warrant an investigation.

After The Star reported that, Knodell said in March that DSS was looking into whether hotline calls about the school were properly handled over the years.

When asked the status of that internal inquiry and what, if anything, came of it, DSS said it was ongoing.

Finch hopes to eventually go to Jefferson City and talk with legislators and share his opinion that every one of these schools should be licensed. But first, he said he needs to remain focused on the case in his county.

The sheriff often meets with Joyner, the county prosecutor, to make sure the two are on the same page. He keeps her updated after new interviews with former students.

Joyner praised Finch for his dedication in making sure former students have the opportunity to report what they say happened to them. And she shares that motivation.

Our law enforcement is committed, I am committed, said Joyner, who first filled in as the county prosecutor in 2021 and took office in early 2023. I realized that some of these students arent necessarily residents of our county, but they were in our county and were dedicated to protecting them and trying to get them justice.

Many of the students who have come forward alleging physical and emotional abuse attended the school years ago, and their cases may no longer be inside Missouris statute of limitations.

The prosecution piece is going to be, in some cases, difficult, Joyner said. That doesnt mean that were not going to try, but you know, I have to abide by the ethics in terms of what I can prosecute. And if I can prosecute it, and believe that I can prove it, then I absolutely will.

Early last month, Finch was preparing for another week of travel, driving to several states in his Ford F-150 to interview more former students of ABM.

Im headed for Colorado Springs, Vail, Colorado, he told The Star. And then Im going to shoot up into Montana, Wyoming (and) come back across into Nebraska, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois and theres one other one that Im gonna hit.

All while hes in the middle of running for reelection.

A sign to reelect Dean Finch for sheriff is displayed in Wayne County, Missouri.

On that trip early last month, Finch stopped in a Chicago suburb and interviewed Inesa Kolberg, who attended ABM from late 2005 to June 2007.

He gave one of the best hugs, she said. His hug was so tight, and it was just full of compassion. I didnt cry during the interview, but (at the end) it brought me to tears because it felt so comforting.

He has a heart of gold. He is doing Gods work. He is a true example of what a Christian is.

Finch said what fuels him on the long days and long weeks is knowing that for so long students at ABM were told they couldnt trust law enforcement, that he and his department were on the schools side.

Im going to tell you something  thats not me, the sheriff said. I dont give a damn who you are or what your last name is. If you break the law, you break the law and Im going to come after you.

Now, in the end, its up to the jury and the system. But I am going to do my job. And I am going to bring these people to justice for these kids.
(L-R) Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson speak during a press conference of the Nordic Prime Ministers on the occasion of the Nordic Summit. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa

Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners again for the first time in months on Friday, but any hopes of de-escalation in the war were dashed by early morning attacks from both sides.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky was meanwhile in Stockholm to sign security agreements with Sweden, Iceland and Norway as the West kept up its support for the country invaded by Moscow back in February 2022.

The meeting came as the German government said it had authorized Ukraine to use German-supplied weapons against military targets in Russia.

Seventy-five Russian soldiers "who were in mortal danger" have been sent back by Ukraine, the Defence Ministry in Moscow said.

In return, 75 prisoners of war were handed over to the Ukrainian armed forces, Zelensky confirmed.

Both sides also exchanged the bodies of dead soldiers. Ukraine received 212 remains back and the Russian side received 45 bodies.

The last major prisoner exchange between the two sides took place in February. Just two days ago, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova accused the Ukrainian side of sabotaging the exchange, saying that Kiev was "constantly making new demands."

Ukraine attack on Russian oil terminal

Kiev has also been trying to counter-attack against Moscow for months, and a night-time Ukrainian drone attack led to a fire breaking out in an oil terminal at the Russian Black Sea port of Port Kavkaz, the local governor said.

"Three cisterns with oil products were damaged and are on fire," the governor of the Krasnodar region, Veniamin Kondratyev, announced on his Telegram channel. Two employees of the oil terminal were slightly injured, he added.

The flames could be seen on the nearby Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014 in violation of international law.

Ukraine has been increasingly attacking oil refineries and transport infrastructure in Russia, in addition to purely military targets.

At least five killed in Kharkiv

But Russia continued its bombardment of Ukraine's second city of Kharkiv. At least five people have been killed and more than two dozen injured in Russian missile attacks in the north-eastern city, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram on Friday.

Most of the victims lived in a five-storey apartment block. The attacks also damaged a fire engine and an ambulance, he said.

At least 20 residential buildings were damaged as a result of the attack involving five missiles.

The capital Kiev was also hit with at least one cruise missile, the authorities said, adding that a car repair shop, a car wash and half a dozen vehicles were damaged by falling rocket debris.

A transformer station was damaged, the energy company DTEK said, but the power supply has already been restored. There were no casualties.

Zelensky signs security deals in Stockholm

With no end it sight to the war, Zelensky flew to Stockholm for the third Ukraine-Northern Europe Summit where the pacts with Iceland, Norway and Sweden were signed.

"Only together can we stop the madness from Moscow," he said.

The agreements are initially valid for 10 years. Ukraine has already signed similar security deals with Denmark and Finland.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said: "The agreement is a powerful signal to Russia that it is basically pointless to continue the war with the assumption that Western countries will tire."

Kristersson described supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia as a "fundamental, existential task" for the countries of Northern Europe, whose security is also threatened by Russia's actions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a press conference of the Nordic Prime Ministers on the occasion of the Nordic Summit. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa

(L-R) Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store speak during a press conference of the Nordic Prime Ministers on the occasion of the Nordic Summit. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa
(L-R) Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson speak during a press conference of the Nordic Prime Ministers on the occasion of the Nordic Summit. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa

Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners for the first time in months on Friday, but any hopes of de-escalation in the war were dashed by attacks from both sides and Moscow boasting of its gains throughout May.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky was meanwhile in Stockholm to sign security agreements with Sweden, Iceland and Norway as the West kept up its support for the country invaded by back in February 2022.

The meeting came as the Germany said it had authorized Ukraine to use German-supplied weapons against military targets in Russia.

Seventy-five Russian soldiers "who were in mortal danger" have been sent back by Ukraine, the Defence Ministry in Moscow said.

In return, 75 prisoners of war were handed over to the Ukrainian armed forces, Zelensky confirmed.

Both sides also exchanged the bodies of dead soldiers. Ukraine received 212 remains back and the Russian side received 45 bodies.

The last major prisoner exchange between the two sides took place in February. Just two days ago, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova accused the Ukrainian side of sabotaging the exchange, saying that Kiev was "constantly making new demands."

Ukraine attack on Russian oil terminal

Kiev has also been trying to counter-attack against Moscow for months, and a night-time Ukrainian drone attack led to a fire breaking out in an oil terminal at the Russian Black Sea port of Port Kavkaz, the local governor said.

"Three cisterns with oil products were damaged and are on fire," the governor of the Krasnodar region, Veniamin Kondratyev, announced on his Telegram channel. Two employees were slightly injured, he added.

The flames could be seen on the nearby Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014 in violation of international law.

Ukraine has been increasingly attacking oil refineries and transport infrastructure in Russia, in addition to purely military targets.

At least five killed in Kharkiv

But Russia continued its bombardment of Ukraine's second-largest city of Kharkiv. At least five people have been killed and more than two dozen injured in Russian missile attacks in the north-eastern city, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram on Friday.

Most of the victims lived in a five-storey apartment block. The attacks also damaged a fire engine and an ambulance, he said.

At least 20 residential buildings were damaged as a result of the attack involving five missiles.

The capital Kiev was also hit with at least one cruise missile, the authorities said, adding that a car repair shop, a car wash and half a dozen vehicles were damaged by falling rocket debris.

A transformer station was damaged, the energy company DTEK said, but the power supply has already been restored. There were no casualties.

Overall in May, Russian forces captured 28 Ukrainian towns and villages as part of a renewed assault, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov said.

"The enemy has retreated by 8 to 9 kilometres in various important sections of the Kharkiv region," Belousov said at a meeting of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a Moscow-dominated military alliance, in the Kazakh city of Almaty.

He added that Russia has conquered 880 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory since the beginning of the year. This figure cannot be independently verified.

Belousov said the losses of the Ukrainian army in May totalled 35,000 soldiers and 2,700 units of military equipment - numbers that could not be verified either. The defence minister did not comment on Russian losses, but repeated the Kremlin's mantra that Moscow would achieve its war aims.

Zelensky signs security deals in Stockholm

With no end it sight to the war, Zelensky flew to Stockholm for the third Ukraine-Northern Europe Summit where the pacts with Iceland, Norway and Sweden were signed.

"Only together can we stop the madness from Moscow," he said.

The agreements are initially valid for 10 years. Ukraine has already signed similar security deals with Denmark and Finland.

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said: "The agreement is a powerful signal to Russia that it is basically pointless to continue the war with the assumption that Western countries will tire."

Kristersson described supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russia as a "fundamental, existential task" for the countries of Northern Europe, whose security is also threatened by Russia's actions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a press conference of the Nordic Prime Ministers on the occasion of the Nordic Summit. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa

(L-R) Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store speak during a press conference of the Nordic Prime Ministers on the occasion of the Nordic Summit. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa
Kim Jong Un has overseen drills involving nuclear-capable rocket launchers to show the countrys ability to preemptively strike South Korea, state media reported.

North Korea has simulated nuclear strikes on South Korea numerous times, but the latest drills came after animosities on the Korean Peninsula rose over North Koreas recent failed spy satellite launch.

North Korea test launches several 600mm super-large rocket artillery - KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images

The Norths official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported that the drills were meant to demonstrate North Koreas resolve to not hesitate in launching a preemptive strike on South Korea if threatened. It cited Mr Kim as saying that the drills will serve as an occasion in clearly showing what consequences our rivals will face if they provoke us.

Photos showed Mr Kim watching from a distance as at least 18 projectiles were launched.

KCNA suggested the drills came as response to a South Korean aerial exercise performed hours before North Koreas failed attempt to place its second spy satellite into orbit on Monday night.

North Korean missiles hit a target during testing - KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images

The launch attempt drew strong condemnation from South Korea, the United States and others because the UN bans any North Korean satellite launches, viewing them as covers for testing missile technologies. North Korea reacted angrily, arguing that it has the sovereign right to launch satellites.

Also this week, North Korea flew hundreds of huge balloons into South Korea carrying manure and other trash, and allegedly jammed GPS navigation signals in the South. There were no reports of any substantial damage.

South Koreas Unification Ministry responded in a statement Friday that North Korea must stop absurd, irrational provocations directed at us or face unspecified unbearable consequences. Ministry spokesperson Kim Inae said separately that South Korea strongly condemns North Korea for threatening preemptive strikes against the South.

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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un oversaw a firing drill of 600mm super-large multiple rocket launchers in a "power demonstration" to South Korea, state-run media reported Friday. Photo by KCNA/UPI

JEJU ISLAND, South Korea -- May 31 (UPI) -- North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guided a firing drill of 600mm super-large multiple rocket launchers as both a warning to South Korea and a rehearsal for a preemptive strike, state-run media reported Friday,

The exercise, held Thursday, was a "power demonstration" that showed North Korea "will not hesitate to carry out a preemptive attack by invoking the right to self-defense at any time," the official Korean Central News Agency reported.

The rockets "accurately hit an island target 365 km [227 miles] away and successfully carried out their task for power demonstration firing," KCNA said.

South Korea's military said Thursday it detected a launch of around 10 short-range ballistic missiles from the Pyongyang area.

The United States and South Korea refer to the 600mm rocket system as the KN-25 and characterize it as a short-range ballistic missile. North Korea has claimed since October 2022 that the weapon can be fitted with a tactical nuclear warhead.

The North said that the firing drill was conducted in direct response to a recent show of force by South Korea, which held an aerial exercise Monday ahead of Pyongyang's failed attempt to launch a spy satellite.

South Korea "committed a hideous act of infringing upon the sovereignty of the DPRK that can never be overlooked by staging a clumsy counteraction of dangerous armed demonstration against the exercise of legitimate sovereign right of the DPRK," the KCNA article said.

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is the official name of North Korea.

Kim "stressed that the nuclear forces of the DPRK should be more thoroughly prepared to promptly and correctly perform the important mission of deterring a war and taking the initiative in the war at any time and under sudden situation," KCNA said.

Washington has repeatedly offered to meet with North Korea without preconditions but analysts believe that Kim has no interest in returning to the negotiating table under the administration of President Joe Biden, which has emphasized a stance of deterrence over diplomacy.

"Kim Jong Un is absolutely not interested [in talks]," Sue Mi Terry, a senior fellow with the Council on Foreign Relations, said. "Kim is going to increase his leverage by advancing his missile program first."

Terry, a former U.S. intelligence official, added that she expects North Korea to continue with a series of provocations in the coming months.

"Because there's not going to be a lot of a chance for diplomacy, North Korea's goal is to perfect its weapons capability," Terry told reporters at the Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity on Wednesday. "So they will have to continue their missile tests and their weapons testing."

A spokeswoman for South Korea's Unification Ministry, which oversees inter-Korean affairs, condemned the latest launch and the North's menacing rhetoric Friday.

"We strongly condemn North Korea's habitual violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, blatantly targeting [South Korea] as its main enemy and committing all kinds of threatening language and illegal provocations, including talk of a preemptive strike," spokeswoman Kim In-ae said at a press briefing.

The firing drill comes during a tense week on the Korean Peninsula, with the North attempting to launch a satellite on Monday and floating hundreds of trash- and manure-filled balloons across the border on Tuesday and Wednesday.

An unnamed official from the South's Joint Chiefs of Staff told reporters Friday that the military expects more balloons to be launched this weekend based on wind forecasts and the North's continuing threats.

The official called the balloons "very low-level behavior" but said the military currently has no plans to shoot them down or intercept them.

North Korea said its actions were a "tit-for-tat" retaliation against activists floating leaflets across the border from the South.

Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of Kim Jong Un, on Wednesday called the balloons "'sincere presents' to the goblins of liberal democracy who are crying for the 'guarantee for freedom of expression,'" in a statement carried by KCNA.
Police and firefighters are deployed in an incident on Mannheim's market square. A knife-wielding attacker who injured several people on a market square in the south-western German city of Mannheim has been shot by police. Rene Priebe/dpa

A knife-wielding attacker in the German city of Mannheim injured six people on Friday when he targeted a gathering by the anti-Islam right-wing group Pax Europa.

Police shot the so far unidentified attacker, with security sources telling dpa he suffered life-threatening injuries. Anti-terror investigators have taken over the case.

Five Pax Europa members were hurt and a policeman also suffered severe injuries when the attacker stabbed him in the back of the head several times, authorities said. All of the injured were taken to hospital and some had to undergo emergency surgery.

Pax Europa board member Michael Sturzenberger was among those hurt in the attack, according to the group's treasurer, Stefanie Kizina.

"He was hit in the leg and face and is undergoing emergency surgery. There is apparently no danger to life," Kizina told Bild newspaper.

A video apparently of the attack in the south-western city's main market square circulated online, showing a man stabbing several people at the Pax Europa event. He can also be seen stabbing the policeman.

People can be heard shouting "get the knife away" in the video.

The video also shows another officer shooting at the attacker. Several police officers then restrain him on the ground.

The square was later cordoned off with red and white police tape, screens had been erected and a nearby tram station was closed as investigators combed the area searching for evidence.

A rescue helicopter was even deployed to treat the injured and take them to hospital.

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser suggested that religious and political extremism might have motivated the attacker.

"If the investigations reveal an Islamist motive, then this would once again confirm the great danger posed by Islamist acts of violence, which we have warned about," Faeser said.

Mannheim's mayor, Christian Specht, went further by calling it a "terrorist" attack.

"On behalf of the city of Mannheim and Mannheim society, I condemn this vile, brutal terrorist attack during an event critical of Islam in the strongest possible terms," the centre-right politician said.

But Thomas Strobl, the interior minister for the region of Baden-Wurttemberg where Mannheim is situated, said it was too early to speculate on the motive.

Germany has seen sporadic acts of Islamist violence in recent years.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his shock at the incident.

"The images from Mannheim are terrible. Several people have been seriously injured by an attacker," Scholz wrote in on X.

"My thoughts are with the victims. Violence is absolutely unacceptable in our democracy. The perpetrator must be severely punished."

A spokeswoman for German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier appeared to back Pax Europa for holding an event criticizing Islam.

"There must be no place for violence in our democracy - violence destroys democracy. Freedom of expression is a valuable asset," Cerstin Gammelin wrote on X.

A forensics officer inspects the crime scene where a knife-wielding attacker in the German city of Mannheim on Friday targeted a gathering by the anti-Islam right-wing group Pax Europa, according to members of the group. Uwe Anspach/dpa

Police officers are deployed during an incident on Mannheim's market square. A knife-wielding attacker who injured several people on a market square in the south-western German city of Mannheim has been shot by police. Rene Priebe/dpa
Police officers are deployed during an incident on Mannheim's market square. A knife-wielding attacker who injured several people on a market square in the south-western German city of Mannheim has been shot by police. Rene Priebe/dpa

A knife-wielding attacker who injured several people on a market square in the south-western German city of Mannheim on Friday has been shot by police.

The suspect was injured, according to a police statement.

One of the people injured in the knife attack was a police officer, but authorities did not immediately provide additional information about how many others were injured or the severity of their injuries.

A police spokeswoman said early on Friday afternoon that there was no longer a danger to the public.

Police in Mannheim swarmed the square in the city centre on Friday in response to what was initially described as a major incident. A helicopter was also deployed.

Police and firefighters are deployed in an incident on Mannheim's market square. A knife-wielding attacker who injured several people on a market square in the south-western German city of Mannheim has been shot by police. Rene Priebe/dpa
A forensics officer inspects the crime scene where a knife-wielding attacker in the German city of Mannheim on Friday targeted a gathering by the anti-Islam right-wing group Pax Europa, according to members of the group. Uwe Anspach/dpa

A knife-wielding attacker in the German city of Mannheim on Friday targeted a gathering by the anti-Islam right-wing group Pax Europa, according to members of the group.

Police shot the attacker, who sources told dpa suffered life-threatening injuries and is awaiting a medical operation.

A policeman also suffered severe injuries and is being treated in hospital.

Pax Europa board member Michael Sturzenberger was also injured in the attack, according to the group's treasurer, Stefanie Kizina.

"He was hit in the leg and face and is undergoing emergency surgery. There is apparently no danger to life," Kizina told the Bild newspaper regarding Sturzenberger's injury.

A video apparently of the attack circulated online on Friday, showing a man stabbing several people who appeared to be participants at the Pax Europa event. He can also be seen stabbing the policeman.

People can be heard shouting "get the knife away" in the video.

The video also shows an officer shooting at the attacker. Several police officers then restrain him on the ground.

Mannheim's market square, where the incident happened, is located in the centre of the city.

Police did not immediately confirm whether the attack was on the Pax Europa gathering, but a spokeswoman for the city of Mannheim confirmed that the group had registered an event on the market square for Friday.

The square was later cordoned off with red and white police tape, screens had been erected and a nearby tram station was closed as investigators combed the area searching for evidence.

Emergency services and a rescue helicopter were deployed to treat the injured.

Many questions remain unanswered. The police were initially unable to say how many people were injured or had been taken to hospital.

A police spokesman described the injuries as "serious in some cases."

Details about the identity of the suspect or his motive for the attack also remains unclear. A police spokesman said authorities were looking into whether there was a potential political motive for the attack.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed his shock at the violence.

"The images from Mannheim are terrible. Several people have been seriously injured by an attacker," Scholz wrote in a post on X. "My thoughts are with the victims. Violence is absolutely unacceptable in our democracy. The perpetrator must be severely punished."

German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser also expressed horror at the images of the attack, and wished all the victims a speedy recovery.

"My thoughts are especially with the police officer who was seriously injured by knife wounds. I would like to thank the police officers who intervened immediately and the doctors and paramedics who are fighting for the lives of the victims of this terrible crime," Faeser said.

Mannheim's mayor, Christian Specht, said: "This brutal attack shakes and shocks us, it leaves us speechless."

Specht said his thoughts are with the injured police officer and other victims.

At the same time, he called on people not to speculate about the attacker's background or motives, but instead to wait for the results of the investigation.

Faeser, however, suggested that religious and political extremism might have motivated the attacker.

"If the investigations reveal an Islamist motive, then this would once again confirm the great danger posed by Islamist acts of violence, which we have warned about," Faeser said.

Police officers are deployed during an incident on Mannheim's market square. A knife-wielding attacker who injured several people on a market square in the south-western German city of Mannheim has been shot by police. Rene Priebe/dpa

Police and firefighters are deployed in an incident on Mannheim's market square. A knife-wielding attacker who injured several people on a market square in the south-western German city of Mannheim has been shot by police. Rene Priebe/dpa
Police shoot man who stabbed far-Right activist and five others at political rally

The attack, with the knifeman pictured on the left, was captured on video

German police have shot a knifeman who stabbed six people in Mannheim during a live stream by a prominent critic of Islam.

A video that captured the entire attack showed bystanders stepping in to try to stop the attacker, but he broke free and stabbed a police officer in the back before being shot by another officer.

The first victim was named as Michael Sturzenberger, a 59-year-old hard-Right blogger who once compared the Koran to Hitlers Mein Kampf.

German media reports said the officer was in critical condition, while Mr Sturzenberger received surgery for wounds to his face and leg, which were not life-threatening.

Mannheim's market square was cordoned off following the knife attack - Rene Priebe/dpa via AP

Mr Sturzenberger was taking part in a demonstration by the Citizens Movement Pax Europa (BPE) in Mannheims market square at around 11.30am local time when he was attacked.

The activist and blogger was formerly the press spokesman for the CSU, the Bavarian sister party of the opposition CDU.

He has previously come under scrutiny from anti-extremism authorities in Germany between 2013 and 2022, and has convictions for insulting the police and inciting hatred.

He was fined for calling Islam a cancer in a blog post before being acquitted, and was successfully prosecuted for saying all Muslims were potential terrorists at a rally.

Footage of the attack, shared on social media, showed the attacker, a bearded man with glasses, attacking another man close to a van and posters for the demonstration in the square. As people ran to help, the man attempted to get away from his attacker but was pursued and stabbed.

Bystanders intervened to try stop the knifeman

Both men fell to the ground, where the knifeman continued his assault, appearing to stab his victim in the body and leg. More bystanders ran to help and the attacker lashed out at them with his blade.

An officer entered the melee and the knifeman stabbed him in the back before he was shot at close range by another officer as more police arrived on the scene.

One of the bystanders threw the dropped knife away from the attacker, who could be seen lying prone on the cobbled square. The square is in the middle of the centre of Mannheim, a city of 300,000 inhabitants.

The attacker was shot by police and arrested

A rescue helicopter was deployed during the incident, which police described as a large-scale operation. They said that three people were wounded, including the police officer, and that the attacker had been arrested after he was shot. They are investigating whether the motive was political.

Stefanie Kizina, the BPE treasurer, told the German tabloid Bild: This was not an attack, but an act of terror. The attack happened before the event even started  it must have been planned well in advance. Criticism of religion must be allowed  it is a core element of the European Enlightenment.

Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, said he was appalled by the footage of the attack and called for the perpetrator to be severely punished.

Michael Sturzenberger was prosecuted for saying all Muslims were potential terrorists at a rally

Mr Sturzenberger first came to public attention through a petition against the construction of a mosque in Munich and standing for election on anti-Islam platforms.

A former journalist, he became the press spokesman for the centre-Right CSU but was radicalised after a friend died in the 2008 Islamist terror attacks in Mumbai.

He joined the now defunct Die Freiheit party and spoke at rallies for the anti-Islam Pegida movement.













Police have shot a knifeman who stabbed three people at a political rally in Mannheim, south-west Germany, including a hard-Right activist who once compared the Koran to Adolf Hitlers Mein Kampf.

A video which captured the entire attack showed bystanders stepping in to try to stop the attacker, but he broke free and stabbed a police officer in the back before being shot by another officer.

The first victim was named as Michael Sturzenberger, a 59-year-old blogger and activist who is known for his anti-Islamic views.

German media reports said the officer was in critical condition, while Mr Sturzenberger received surgery for wounds to his face and leg which were not life-threatening.

Bystanders intervened to try stop the knifeman

The attacker was shot by police and arrested

Mr Sturzenberger was taking part in a demonstration by the Citizens Movement Pax Europa (BPE) at about 11.30am local time in Mannheims market square when he was attacked.

He was formerly the press spokesman for the CSU, the Bavarian sister party of the opposition CDU.

The activist has previously come under scrutiny from anti-extremism authorities in Germany between 2013 and 2012, and has convictions for insulting the police and for inciting hatred.

He has also been fined for calling Islam a cancer in a blog post before being acquitted, and successfully prosecuted for saying at a rally that all Muslims were potential terrorists.

Disturbing footage of the attack shared on social media showed the attacker, a bearded man with glasses, attacking another man close to a van and posters for the demonstration in the square. As people run to help, the man attempts to get away from his attacker but is pursued and stabbed.

Both men fall to the ground, where the knifeman continues his assault, appearing to stab his victim in the body and leg. More bystanders run to help and the attacker lashes out at them with his blade, while people shout to take the knife from him.

An officer enters the melee and the knifeman stabs him in the back, before he is shot at close range by another officer, as more police arrive on the scene.

One of the bystanders throws the dropped knife away from the attacker, who is seen lying prone and still on the cobbled square. Mannheim square is located in the middle of the city centre, which has 300,000 inhabitants.

Mr Sturzenberger has been fined for calling Islam a 'cancer' in a blog post before being acquitted, and successfully prosecuted for saying all Muslims were potential terrorists at a rally

The crime scene on Mannheim's market square is cordoned off - Rene Priebe/dpa via AP

A rescue helicopter was deployed during the incident, which police described as a large-scale operation.

Police said that in total three people were wounded, including the police officer, and that the attacker had been arrested after he was shot. They are investigating whether the motive is political.

Stefanie Kizina, treasurer of the BPE, told German tabloid Bild: This was not an attack, but an act of terror. The attack happened before the event even started, it must have been planned well in advance. Criticism of religion must be allowed, it is a core element of the European Enlightenment.

Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, said he was appalled by the video footage of the attack and called for the perpetrator to be severely punished.

Mr Sturzenberger first came to public attention through a petition against the construction of a mosque in Munich and standing for election on anti-Islam platforms.

A former journalist, he became the press spokesman for the centre-Right CSU but was radicalised after a friend died in the Islamist terror attacks in Mumbai. He joined the now defunct Die Freiheit party and spoke at rallies for the anti-Islam Pegida movement.

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What we know about the D.C. law firm representing DA Garza in removal effort

What we know about the D.C. law firm representing DA Garza in removal effort

AUSTIN (KXAN)  The law firm Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza retained to represent him during a petition to remove him from office has done similar work for at least two other DAs across the country, both of whom faced intense criticism related to their progressive approach to crime, according to court records and numerous news reports. The firms attorney working on Garzas case also has a history in Central Texas, court records show.

The first hearing related to the petition to remove Garza is set to take place Tuesday, June 11 in the 201st District Civil Court, according to court records.

RELATED: Petition to remove Travis County DA Jose Garza accepted, judge appoints prosecutor

According to a pro hac vice motion requesting an out-of-state attorney in Garzas removal case, Garza has rehired Michael Satin, an attorney with D.C.-based law firm Miller & Chevalier, as well as Austin-based attorney William Christian, with the Graves Dougherty Hearon & Moody law firm.

KXAN emailed and called both firms once court records confirmed who would represent Garza and requested a comment regarding the allegations cited in the removal petition.

KXAN will update this story once a response is received.

RELATED: Legal fees related to DA Jose Garza removal petition could cost Travis County taxpayers $50K

Satin and Christian initially represented Garza in December of last year related to a similar removal petition that was ultimately dismissed, according to Travis County court records.

At the time, Satin had not appeared as a pro hac vice, or out-of-state attorney, in any case in Texas in the previous two years, according to the pro hac vice motion filed in the first petition case to remove Garza.

KXAN found Satin has since been retained to represent the Bexar County District Attorney as well as The Wren Collective, LLC, an Austin-based criminal justice reform group, according to Bexar County court records.

Records of electronic communications obtained by KXAN through public information requests and various sources show Wren has ties to both Bexar and Travis County DAs.

D.C. law firm tied to Austin-based criminal justice reform group

Satin filed a pro hac vice motion as an out-of-state attorney in the Garza petition case on May 15, citing two Texas cases hes been involved in.

The first was when he was previously retained to represent Garza, and the second is related to an ongoing felony case in Bexar County against James Brennand, a former San Antonio Police Department officer who was re-indicted earlier this year on charges of aggravated assault by a public servant, according to court records.

RELATED: Person who filed petition to remove Travis County DA steps forward

KXAN obtained the motions related to Satins involvement in Brennands case, which show Satin listed as the attorney on behalf of non-party witness The Wren Collective, LLC, an Austin-based criminal justice reform group associated with California non-profit organization Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs.

According to SEEs website, its mission is to empower, encourage, and catalyze projects so that we can collaborate and facilitate progressive change in areas of social and environmental justice.

KXAN emailed Wren and SEE asking about its connection to the Travis County DAs office, Wrens affiliation with SEE, and requested a comment regarding the current removal petition against Garza. KXAN will update this story when a response is provided.

Wrens motion to admit Satin as counsel on its behalf came less than a month after a KSAT investigation first revealed Wrens significant influence on Bexar County DA Joe Gonzales administration.

KSATs investigation relied on hundreds of pages of communications showing DA Gonzales, his first assistant and Wren Collective founder Jessica Brand had extensive discussions about Brennands case.

Days after KSAT uncovered its findings, Brennands defense filed a subpoena request for all communications between the Gonzales office and Wren Collective concerning Brennands case, according to Bexar County court records.

Records KXAN obtained confirm Wren Collective is also actively involved in the Travis County DAs office. Email communications along with records of Garzas calendar show dozens of meetings and hundreds of email correspondences with Wren since 2021 about a variety of topics from media appearances to office policies.

KXAN requested all electronic communications between Wren Collective, Travis County DA Garza and his staff. KXAN is currently waiting for complete records of these communications as the request was sent to the Texas Attorney Generals office for a ruling.

The DAs office claimed some of the requested information is exempt from public disclosure due to details related to the investigation or prosecution of a crime, attorney work product prepared in the course of anticipated criminal litigation, or internal records that reflects the mental impressions or legal reasoning of an attorney representing the state, according to the request for a ruling sent to the AG by Garzas office.

Bexar County DA retains Miller & Chevalier

Nearly a month after Wren Collective retained Satin as its attorney related to Brennands case, a contract was approved to hire Satin as the outside legal council representing both the Bexar County DA as well as Bexar County, according to Bexar County Commissioner court records.

On April 9, the Bexar County Commissioners Court heard agenda item No. 56 brought by DA Gonzales office surrounding the need to retain outside legal counsel to represent the interests of Gonzales in his official capacity, as well as the county.

The need for outside legal counsel relates to the DA and county facing a potential challenge to an administrative rule proposed by the Texas Attorney General, according to commissioner meeting records.

The referenced rule proposed by Attorney General Ken Paxton would enhance District Attorney reporting requirements to promote accountability and rule of law, according to the Texas Attorney General website.

The commissioners discussion on the topic took place in executive session before being approved with three Ayes and one Nay, Commissioners Court records show.

A professional services agreement between Bexar County and Miller & Chevalier, specifically Satin, was signed the same day the commission approved Gonzales request, according to records KXAN obtained from Bexar County.

READ: Bexar County agreement with Miller & Chevalier Download

Other DAs represented by Miller & Chevalier

Within the last two years, Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner and currently suspended Florida State Attorney Monique Worrell both hired Miller & Chevalier to serve as counsel in efforts to remove them from office, according to court records.

In November 2022, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives voted 107-85 in favor of impeaching Krasner, according to House legislative records.

According to the amended and adopted resolution, Krasner was cited on seven separate articles of impeachment, including dereliction of duty and refusal to enforce the law.

Nearly a month after Krasner was impeached, a Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court judge issued an order stating Krasners actions did not meet the states constitutional requirements for impeachment, according to court records.

The order was ultimately upheld following a split decision between Democrats and Republicans on the Commonwealth Court panel, records show.

In 2023, Florida State Attorney Monique Worrell also retained the D.C. law firm to represent her when Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he was suspending Worrell for neglect of duty and incompetence, according to the Governors website.

The people of Central Florida deserve to have a State Attorney who will seek justice in accordance with the law instead of allowing violent criminals to roam the streets and find new victims, DeSantis stated in his announcement.

Worrell addressed these criticisms in a news conference following her suspension by highlighting her accomplishments to ensure public safety and expressing her disagreement with those advocating for harsher approaches, according to KXANs Tampa sister station, WFLA.

According to the Florida Bar Worrell is seeking to regain her seat and has filed for reelection in 2024.

I plan to continue to run and rewin my seat by the will of the voters the way democracy works in this country. And be the duly elected state attorney once again, Worrell told CNN.

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.
What we know so far about the Minneapolis police shooting

A Minneapolis police officer, another person and a suspected shooter are dead following a double shooting in south Minneapolis Thursday evening that left the Whittier neighborhood in chaos.

Minneapolis is mourning the loss of the first police officer to be shot and killed in the line of duty in more than 20 years.

Here's what we know about the shooting so far:

What happened?

Around 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Minneapolis police arrived at the scene of a double shooting at an apartment building in the 2200 block of S. Blaisdell Avenue. in the Whittier neighborhood. Police officer Jamal Mitchell, 36, was among the first officers to arrive and was aiding two people he believed to be wounded when one of them "ambushed" him, according to the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

Inside the apartment, officers found one man dead and another with life-threatening injuries. Outside the building, a man was found shot while in his vehicle.

Mitchell died at the scene. Another officer sustained injuries and is recovering at HCMC in downtown Minneapolis.

A Minneapolis firefighter was hurt during the incident and was treated for injuries without being hospitalized.

Neighbors gathered at intersections wondering when they would be able to re-enter their buildings as police tape closed off several blocks and officers searched for more victims.

Around 9 p.m., hundreds of officers from Minneapolis and law enforcement departments across the metro area gathered outside HCMC where Mitchell was taken. They saluted his flag-draped casket as it was loaded into the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's van.

Who were the victims?

Three people died and four were wounded in the shooting. Along with Mitchell, a bystander was killed. The person believed to have killed Mitchell died in an exchange of gunfire with police.

Two of the wounded suffered life-threatening injuries and are in critical condition, a police spokesman said Friday morning.

Of those injured or killed, Mitchell is the only victim to be identified by officials.

What do we know about Jamal Mitchell?

The Fifth Precinct officer was a father and fiance. He received a medal for rescuing elderly people from a fire three days after he started on the job.

What have officials said?

Around 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Governor Tim Walz said the State Patrol was on the scene in South Minneapolis assisting local law enforcement and that the state was ready to provide any resources necessary, in a statement posted to X. Several hours later he followed up with a post naming Mitchell and thanking first responders for their bravery.

"Our entire state is mourning as Minneapolis reels from this tragedy," he said.

Early Friday morning, Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said Mitchell lived a life of purpose and made a difference in other people's lives.

"As police officers, we know dying in the line of duty is always a possibility, but the harsh reality hurts very deeply when it happens," he said.

Have any arrests been made?

Police said no arrests have been made in connection with any of the gunfire, whether inside the apartment or on the street.

How many Minnesota police officers have been killed or hurt in the line of duty?

The fatal shooting marks at least the 11th time in less than 14 months that law enforcement officers have been killed or wounded by gunfire in or near Minnesota.
For over 20 years Florida school board races have been non-partisan, but voters will have a chance this election season to once again place party labels on school board candidates.

Placed on the November ballot by state lawmakers, Amendment 1 aims to make school board races across the state partisan, specifically at a time where schools have become a political battleground in Florida.

State Rep. Spencer Roach, a Republican from North Fort Myers, sponsored the resolution that pushed the proposed constitutional amendment onto this years ballot. He said the proposal aims to provide more information about school board candidates to voters.

Its not about advancing the prospects of Republicans or Democrats, said Roach. If this becomes law, in some red counties its going to mean that more Republicans get elected and in some blue counties its certainly going to mean more Democrats get elected. My intention in filing the bill was not to put an advantage for one political party over another, rather I would say my motivation is transparency.

Howard Hepburn, right, walks back to his seat on the dais after being sworn into the office of superintendent of Broward County Public Schools on Wednesday, May 29, 2024, inside the boardroom of the Kathleen C. Wright Administration Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. On the left, Broward School Board Chair Lori Alhadeff raises a thumbs-up in the air.

READ MORE: What you need to know about the six constitutional amendments on Floridas 2024 ballot

If 60% of voters support the ballot question, it would return Florida to an era when school board candidates ran under party labels. It would reverse a change that voters made a quarter-century ago by passing an amendment in 1998 that required candidates to run without party labels.

Those who oppose Amendment 1 fear that bringing back party labels to local school board elections will further politicize education in Florida.

Amid his push to ban some books and lessons related to critical race theory and other woke ideas in classrooms, Gov. Ron DeSantis has had a heavy hand in local school board races, backing more than 30 candidates in 2022, all of whom were Republican.

Senator Rosalind Osgood, a South Florida Democrat and former Broward County School Board member, voted against Roachs proposal in the Legislature and said that bringing back partisan school boards is a bad idea.

Without partisan school board elections, we can have healthy debate, healthy discussions, and then govern with all of that information coming together. Now people are going to be pressured to vote based on their party affiliation rather than on the issue, said Osgood.

If passed favorably, Amendment 1 would take effect in 2026, beginning in August, when voters cast ballots for school board members.

READ MORE: What to know about Floridas Amendment 2, the hunting and fishing ballot question

What do proponents say?

Roach said that his push to get Amendment 1 on the ballot began after hearing complaints from his constituents about the happenings of their local school boards. He points to the COVID pandemic as the beginning of divisive, politicized school board conflicts, given that parents had access to see what their children were learning in school during virtual classes.

Largely, parents were outraged in Florida and around the country about what they believed were a clash between the values being taught in school and values that they were teaching their children at home, said Roach.

EXPLAINER: What does the marijuana amendment that Floridians will vote on actually say?

He said that Amendment 1 would better allow voters to be able to pick candidates that were in line with their personal values. He said the Democratic and Republican parties have big differences in how they think about schooling, saying that theres a partisan divide on topics ranging from school curriculum and school funding to bathroom policies.

I think that the value already is that the average Florida voter is going to have a better idea of who theyre voting for, what their ideology is, what their belief system is, and they can evaluate for themselves whether this person who wants to manage their childs education and whether their values are consistent with what theyre teaching the child at home, said Roach.

Roach also said that the amendment would give voters who wish to keep things nonpartisan a chance to do so by being able to identify independent candidates who are no-party-affiliated, or NPA.

If you truly are one of the voters that says I dont want any Democrat or Republican politics to influence education, I want to vote for an NPA candidate, you should support my bill because now youll be able to know who those people are on the ballot, said Roach.

LEARN MORE: What you need to know about Floridas Amendment 5, the property-tax ballot question

What do critics say?

Osgood says bringing back partisan school board elections will move the focus away from the needs of students and make peoples political beliefs the center of the decision-making process.

She fears that school board members will feel pressured to vote on issues based on their partys positions rather than what they believe is the best thing to do for students.

Broward County District 5 School Board Member Rosalind Osgood speaks to other board members during a meeting Tuesday to discuss their search for a superintendent.

When youre on a board and you have conflict, it can be negative or positive in the sense that it forces you to discuss the different ideologies and then that discussion becomes a part of the framework of your decision making. But it becomes destructive when its entrenched in a certain political party, said Osgood.

She pointed to COVID as an example of how bringing in peoples political ideologies onto a school board can be dangerous. For example, she said that as the COVID positivity rate rose in Broward, Republicans were pushing not to have masks.

Osgood believes that keeping school boards nonpartisan allows for more of a balance to exist and creates a true representation of all of the families within a school district.

We have to focus on education. We dont need political wars in our school board. Many people died during COVID because of political wars and all of the misinformation. They were forced to choose a side, instead of just focusing on making decisions thats going to position all people to be as healthy and as safe as they possibly can, said Osgood.
What We Know About Giant Pandas Arriving in the U.S.

Giant panda, Xiao Qi Ji, is seen in his enclosure at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 22, 2023. The pandas were sent back to China in November 2023. Credit - Matt McClainThe Washington Post/Getty Images

Four giant pandas will be coming to two U.S. zoos later this year, an announcement that comes after three beloved bears in the nations capital were returned to China last November.

The Smithsonians National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute announced Wednesday that two giant pandas will be coming to the zoo by the end of 2024. And in April, the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance announced that it will also be getting two giant pandas this summer.

Heres what we know about the pandas that are coming to the U.S.

Who are the pandas coming to D.C.?

The National Zoo will be welcoming two new pandas, named Bao Li and Qing Bao, as part of its conservation partnership with the China Wildlife Conservation Association. The zoo announced the news in a video posted on X with the U.S. First Lady Jill Biden and zoo officials.

For more than 50 years, the zoos pandas have brought joy to everyone who has seen them and are one of our biggest conservation success stories, Brandie Smith, John and Adrienne Mars Director of the National Zoo, said in the video.

Its especially meaningful to have them at the National Zoo, where people can visit the pandas in person for free or watch them on the panda cam with millions of people across the globe, Smithsonian Institution Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III said in the video.

Its official: the pandas are coming to D.C.!



Alongside @FLOTUS, were thrilled to announce that by the end of this year, the Zoo will once again be home to two giant pandas. #DCPandas pic.twitter.com/BGJjjaUVve  National Zoo (@NationalZoo) May 29, 2024

Bao Li is a male panda, born on Aug. 4, 2021. In Mandarin, Bao means precious and treasure, and Li refers to vitality and strength. His name means an active and vital power, according to the zoos website.

Qing Bao is a female panda, born on Sept. 12, 2021. In Mandarin, her name means green and treasure, the zoo said on its website.

We cant wait to celebrate this historic moment here in our nations capital, the First Lady said in the video. Its official! The pandas are coming back to D.C.!

Read More: The National Zoos Giant Panda, Bao Bao, Has Left for China

Who are the pandas coming to San Diego?

The San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance announced on April 29 that its conservation and care team leaders had recently visited China for a meeting with conservation partners from the China Wildlife Conservation Association. While there, they met the two bears, named Yun Chuan and Xin Bao.

Yun Chuan is nearly five years old, and is a male panda. Officials said in a press release that he is mild-mannered, gentle and lovable. His mother, Zhen Zhen, was born at the San Diego Zoo in 2007. Zhen Zhen was returned to China in 2010, according to NBC San Diego. Yun Chuan is named partly after his grandmother, Bai Yun, who lived at the San Diego Zoo for 23 years. Bai Yun was returned to China in 2019, according to NPR. The second character of his name, Chuan, is a reference to his home province of Sichuan, China.

Xin Bao is a female panda who is almost four years old. She was born in Wolong Shenshuping Panda Base in Sichuan. Officials said she is a gentle and witty introvert with a sweet round face and big ears. Her name means a new treasure of prosperity and abundance, according to the zoos press release.

It was an honor to see Yun Chuan and Xin Bao in person and meet our conservation partners caring for them at the Wolong and Bifengxia Panda Bases, Dr. Megan Owen, vice president of conservation science at the San Diego Zoo, said in the press release. Yun Chuans lineage has deep connections to the San Diego Zoo and were excited by the prospect of caring for them.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
What to know about the revised designs for Three Leaf Partners' proposed apartments in Tosa

Development group Three Leaf Partners will present its revised plans for an apartment development at the St. Bernard congregation site to the Wauwatosa Design Review Board Thursday, June 6.

A developer has amended its plans for a proposed three-story apartment development at the site of the St. Bernard congregation in the Wauwatosa Village, scaling back the number of units from 163 to 153 and adding community space to the design.

Three Leaf Partners submitted its revised designs for the proposal for 7474 Harwood Ave. to the city of Wauwatosa May 28 and will present them to the Design Review Board June 6.

The groups first proposal designs were turned down by the Wauwatosa Design Review Board at a meeting April 18 attended by about 150 residents, most of whom expressed their disapproval of the plans.

Heres what to know:

What's different about Three Leaf Partners' revised apartment plan for the Tosa Village?

While the first plans for the apartment building boxed in a residential courtyard, the newest design eliminates the south wall of apartments to make way for more community space. Those revisions call for an enclosed patio for residents alongside a public plaza that connects to the city-owned pocket park on the southernmost part of the property.

That change is meant to better connect the public to the property and be more visually appealing for people in the Village, according to Jordan Michalkiewicz, Three Leaf Partners vice president of development and acquisition.

Development group Three Leaf Partners will present its revised plans for an apartment development at the St. Bernard congregation site to the Wauwatosa Design Review Board Thursday, June 6.

Weve heard from residents that they didnt even know that it was a public park," Michalkiewicz said. "What we're trying to do is really make this more of a destination."

By essentially expanding the park with the plaza area, he said both building residents and city residents can have an additional space to gather. Local businesses could use the space for events like farmers markets, he added.

Mixed-housing at St. Bernard proposal would include studios, three-bedrooms, 'townhome entry' units

About 73% of the 153 units would be either one-bedroom or one-bedroom plus den units, according to the revised proposal.

Knocking the south wall off the original plan lost Three Leaf some square footage, leading them to decrease apartment units by ten from the original 163 units proposed, Michalkiewicz said.

Here's what the new design proposes:

Two studio units that are 550 square feet

35 one-bedroom units that are 650 square feet

62 one-bedroom units that are 750 to 850 square feet

15 one-bedroom "plus a den" units that are 850 to 950 square feet

37 two-bedroom units that are 1150 to 1250 square feet

Two three-bedroom units that are 1400+ square feet.

A revised multi-family development proposal by Three Leaf Partners will be presented at the Wauwatosa Design Review Board meeting June 6.

Four of the one-bedroom plus a den units will be built with "townhome entry," meaning they'll have direct entry from Harwood Avenue and a patio while still being connected to other apartments in the complex.

That change came after Three Leaf listened to members of the public who said they want "more of this connected feel, not a secluded residential complex," Michalkiewicz said.

For the facade, the development group also tried to "break down the structure" as if there were multiple, different buildings using a variety of brick, patterns and colors, Michalkiewicz said.

The building's newly proposed look takes cues from nearby businesses' architecture, including reflective windows, balconies and brick design at Vendetta Coffee Bar, Jose's Blue Sombrero and the Village Cheese Shop, according to architectural plans.

Parking at Three Leaf Partners' proposed Wauwatosa Village site remains about the same in revised design

In the proposed development's redesign, the number of residential parking spots increased by six while public spaces remained the same.

Below the three levels of apartment units, a basement garage would provide 193 parking spots for residents. Twenty-three parking spots north of the building are planned for visitors, providing a total of 216 parking spots.

What about other developments in the Village?

Three Leaf Partners is one of three housing developments currently in progress in the Wauwatosa Village.

At the city-owned Blanchard Street parking lot, the Mandel Group has gained initial approval in the first of many public meetings seeking approval to build the 157-unit Harlow & Hem apartment building. The Mandel Group was also asked by the Design Review Board to return with a revised design.

The developments, if approved, are projected to bring hundreds of more residents to the area and support the citys tax base. They also would fill a demand for multi-family housing Wauwatosa highlighted in Wauwatosa's 2023 Housing Study and Needs Assessment.

On the west end of the Village, Wauwatosas Community Development Authority plans to close a sale in June with an LLC owned by Joseph Galbraith of Galbraith Carnahan Architects to redevelop a lot at 7746 Menomonee River Parkway into three condos, according to the city's development website. The condos are listed for sale for almost $1.4 million on Zillow.

Some business owners told the Journal Sentinel the developments feel like "too much, too soon," especially those who are located between the Three Leaf and Mandel multi-family apartment proposals and worry how construction will affect parking for customers.

Timeline for apartments at St. Bernard site

Three Leaf Partners will present the redesign at the Design Review Board meeting on Thursday, June 6 at 7 p.m. in Committee Room 1 at Wauwatosa City Hall. Design Review Board meetings include opportunities for public comments in person or online. The meetings are not livestreamed or recorded.

Three Leaf Partners group shared the first proposal for the apartments in April after the St. Bernard congregation pastor announced the parish would sell its hilltop spot in the Wauwatosa Village to a developer to merge with its sister parish Christ King.

Michalkiewicz said Three Leaf Partners worked hard to incorporate feedback from the last Design Review Board meeting in their redesign.

"We did truly listen to the comments that were made at the public Design Review Board meeting, not only from the public but from the (board) and the mayor... and we look forward to the next meeting," Michalkiewicz said.

The reporter Bridget Fogarty can be contacted at bfogarty@gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Three Leaf Partners submits new design for apartments at St. Bernard
Kratom has given me something precious  hope. The Legislature can promote access | Opinion

Living with chronic pain is an isolating journey, one often fraught with desperation and despair. For me, kratom has been the lifeline that saved me from the abyss of agony and hopelessness. Now its future regulation in California is in the hands of the State Legislature.

Kratom, derived from the leaves of a tree native to Southeast Asia (mitragyna speciosa), has been used for centuries in traditional medicine as a mood booster and pain reliever. However, its regulatory status in the United States has been a subject of debate, leaving many like myself in limbo, uncertain of its future availability and legality.

My journey with pain is one marked by numerous surgeries, complications, and a constant battle against my own body. Diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome, neuralgia, multiple organ failure, and a myriad of other conditions, I faced a bleak prognosis. All of these health problems were compounded by the mental and physical challenges from the loss of a limb when I was younger.

The opioid epidemic further complicated my plight. Stripped of access to effective pain management, I found myself teetering on the edge of despair, contemplating ending my own suffering. It was in this darkest moment that kratom entered my life.

Opinion

After thorough research and consultation with medical professionals, I decided to give kratom a try as a last resort. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, I ordered pure kratom leaf powder from a reputable source. Skeptical yet desperate, I awaited its arrival.

When the package finally arrived, I was moments away from carrying out my final decision. But something inside me urged me to try kratom first. Within minutes of consumption, I felt a shift  a glimmer of relief amidst the relentless pain.

Kratom didnt erase my suffering, but it made it bearable, offering me a reprieve I had long thought impossible.

Beyond pain relief, kratom has bestowed upon me something equally precious: Hope. It has allowed me to reclaim aspects of life I once thought lost, from spending time with loved ones to engaging in social interactions online.

Kratom not only alleviated my physical agony, it also restored my sense of purpose and dignity. Despite being told I wouldnt live past 30, here I am at 61, a testament to sheer determination and the resilience of the human spirit.

Now, the California legislature is in a position to help countless Californians like me. Assemblymember Matthew Haney, D-San Francisco has proposed Assembly Bill 2365 that would regulate the kratom industry in California, ensuring both safety and accessibility for consumers.

AB 2365 calls for packaging and labeling requirements, age restrictions for purchase and enforcement measures for violations further underscore the bills commitment to responsible regulation.

The legislation will define standards for leaf kratom and its extracts, and prohibit dangerous synthetic derivatives. This is important because not all kratom products are alike: Some are from simple leaf kratom, which has been used for centuries. Others are highly concentrated extracts, and more recently there are synthetic isolates being sold and marketed as kratom. The safety of these products is unknown.

AB 2365 mandates registration and adherence to rigorous testing protocols for kratom processors, holding them accountable for product quality and purity.

Overall, AB 2365 strikes a sensible balance between consumer safety and access to kratom, recognizing its potential benefits for individuals like myself.

As a California resident who has experienced firsthand the transformative power of kratom, I urge lawmakers to support AB 2365. This legislation represents a crucial step forward in ensuring the safety, quality, and responsible sale of kratom products in California.

Dijon Evans lives in Sacramento.
The Kremlin said former President Trump is being politically targeted, stating theres an elimination of political contenders taking place, a day after the presumptive GOP nominee was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his hush money case.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov initially refrained from commenting about the Manhattan criminal case but later said there is an obvious plan in place to get rid of Trump by any means possible.

We do not like it very much when somebody from the outside world says something about the decision of our courts, Peskov said during a Friday conference call with reporters, according to The Washington Post. And we, in turn, try not to comment.

The press secretary later said, But in general, if we talk about Trump, there is a de facto elimination of political rivals by all possible legal and illegal means, it is obvious. The whole world can see it with the naked eye.

The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony charges Thursday by a New York jury. In his first criminal case, he was convicted of falsifying business records to conceal alleged affairs during the 2016 presidential election that he ended up winning. His sentencing will be July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has often gone after activists and political dissidents, has criticized the four criminal cases that Trump faces. Putin, who won the countrys election in March, has decried the cases as an example of the rottenness of the U.S. political system.

As for the prosecution of Trump, for us what is happening in todays conditions, in my opinion, is good because it shows the rottenness of the American political system, which cannot pretend to teach others democracy, Putin said last year during a speech at the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok.

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.
Kremlin troops were 'laughing' at Ukraine's inability to strike inside Russia, Zelensky says

President Volodymyr Zelensky said he thinks Moscow's troops were "laughing" at Ukraine and were able to "hunt" its soldiers because of a ban on using Western-supplied weapons to strike inside Russia.

Speaking to the Guardian before Kyiv confirmed the ban had been partially lifted on May 31, Zelensky said it was "absolutely illogical to have (Western) weapons and see the murderers, terrorists, who are killing us from the Russian side."

"I think sometimes they are just laughing at this situation," he said in the interview published on May 31, adding: "Its like going hunting for them. Hunting for people."

"They understand that we can see them, but we cannot reach them."

The U.S. gave Ukraine permission to strike Russian territory with American-supplied weapons, but only near Kharkiv, Zelensky's spokesperson, Serhii Nykyforov, confirmed to the Kyiv Independent.

Citing unnamed American officials, Politico reported on May 30 that President Joe Biden's administration had given the go-ahead for Kyiv to attack targets inside Russia but "solely near the area of Kharkiv." The report was then confirmed by other outlets, including ABC News and the Associated Press (AP).

"It will significantly boost our ability to counter Russian attempts to mass across the border," Nykyforov told the Guardian in response to the question about permission from the U.S. to strike on Russian soil.

The Biden administration's decision allows Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weapons to strike Russian soldiers and command, as well as control centers, the Guardian said.

The Pentagon, in contrast, insisted on May 30 that there has been "no change" in policy regarding the use of U.S. arms without specifically mentioning attacks near Kharkiv Oblast.

Washington still prohibits Ukraine from using long-range weapons for strikes deeper inside Russia.

Zelensky wanted to use long-range weapons such as the British-made Storm Shadow missiles, but the U.K. has not given "100% permission" to do so, he told the Guardian.

Read also: Presidential Office confirms Washington allowed Kyiv to strike inside Russia with US arms near Kharkiv

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
(Bloomberg) -- Kuwaits revived plans to finish a port meant to act as a major trading hub for the northern end of the Persian Gulf.

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A Chinese delegation traveled to the oil-rich Gulf state this week, meeting Kuwaiti officials for in-depth technical and field discussions over the construction of the Mubarak Al-Kabeer port and other projects, Kuwaits state news agency reported.

The resurrection of the project some 10 years after building stopped  when it was only partially complete  was sparked in part by neighboring Iraqs ambitious plan for a $17 billion road and rail network to boost trade in the region. Turkey, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates are working on that proposal, with Kuwait being sidestepped.

It has become clear that if Kuwait doesnt move forward it will be left behind, said Kristin Smith Diwan, senior resident scholar at the Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington. That is already happening.

Kuwaits Ruler Suspends Parliament to End Political Deadlock

Kuwait is a key US ally in the Middle East and one of the worlds richest countries thanks to its abundant oil reserves. Yet its development goals have long been blighted by political dysfunction, underscored most recently by the ruling emir suspending parliament.

The revival of the port plan may be a signal that the emir, Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, plans to use the suspension to push through projects stalled by disputes between lawmakers and ministers.

On Tuesday, the prime minister said the country is on the verge of a huge number of development projects.

There are still plenty of obstacles. The Persian Gulf also has several major ports already, including those in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. And the economies of Syria and Iran  which the port was initially supposed to serve  have been hammered by war and Western sanctions, limiting the benefits of any trade corridor with them.

Mubarak Al-Kabeer also poses direct competition to Iraqs nearby Faw Port and Baghdad has nullified a maritime agreement that gave Kuwait access through the Khor Abdullah waterway, causing a dispute between the two countries.

Kuwait is centering its strategic planning on the northern port and city project, which will encourage trade-led development and  it hopes  cement its leadership in the northern Gulf, Diwan said. That will be impossible if the maritime problem with Iraq remains unresolved.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. Former Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, Ali Larijani is running for president in the early election, Trend reports.

On May 30, the commencement of presidential candidate registration was announced by Ahmad Vahidi, Iran's Minister of the Interior.

Anyone interested in seeking public office has five days from the date of this notice to apply with the Ministry of the Interior. Afterwards, all registered candidates will have their candidacy examined within seven days.



On June 11, it will announce the final roster of accepted candidates, and there will be fifteen days for each candidate to run for office after the list is published.

The special presidential election in Iran will be held on June 28.

In the event that no candidate obtains a minimum threshold of votes, the top two finishers will advance to a runoff election on July 5.

To note, due to the May 19 helicopter disaster that killed President Ebrahim Raisi and eight others, including Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and several state officials, Iran is holding its 14th presidential election.

According to Iran's constitution, a new election must be held within the next 50 days following the death of a president.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
A service station and car wash have caught fire in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv, with six cars and warehouse premises damaged, as a result of falling wreckage from downed aerial targets.

Source: Kyiv City Military Administration on Telegram

Quote: "The aftermath of a missile strike on Kyiv. The following were damaged by fire: a private residential building serving as a service station; a car wash; six cars; and a warehouse. The fire affected an area of approximately 120 square metres."

Details: No information about casualties has been received.

Background:

An air-raid warning was issued in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast for a second time on the night of 30-31 May and a loud explosion was heard.

The Russians launched a missile strike on Kyiv. Early reports indicate that cruise missiles were used. Ukraines air defence destroyed all targets.

Earlier that night, Shahed drones reached Kyiv Oblast.

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Labour has become embroiled in a fierce row this week as as party officials moved to bar several parliamentary candidates on the left of the party from standing at the upcoming general election.

Long-standing MP Diane Abbott was readmitted into the party on Tuesday after a suspension that lasted over a year. Despite her future as a Labour MP being cast into doubt this week, it appears she may now stand for the party after leader Sir Keir Starmer said she was free to do so.

The case has drawn strong criticism from local Labour members and anti-racism campaigners. It comes alongside the barring of Faiza Shaheen, former Labour candidate for Chingford and Woodford Green.

Being only a few weeks away from the general election, it is Labours National Executive Committee (NEC)  and not local party members  that will select candidates for the upcoming election.

Follow The Independents live coverage for the latest political updates ahead of the general election

Faiza Shaheen, Jeremy Corbyn, and Diane Abbott (L to R) (Getty Images)

This is Labours governing body, comprised of representatives from each section of the party and democratically elected.

Following her and Ms Shaheens suspension, Ms Abbott said the party under Sir Keir was undertaking a cull of left wingers.

The Labour leader has denied having any influence in the cases of either politician. He told reporters he has not blocked left-wing candidates from standing, saying I want the highest quality candidates.

Amidst the Labour infighting, heres whos in  and whos out  of the party ahead of the upcoming general election:

Whos out

Out: Faiza Shaheen, Chingford and Woodford Green

Jeremy Corbyn with Faiza Shaheen in 2019 (AFP via Getty Images)

Faiza Shaheen is an academic and economist who specialises in inequality. Born in 1982 to immigrant parents, she grew up in Chingford, east London. Her first job was at a Greggs bakery.

Since 2007, Ms Shaheen has held positions in policy research, charity, and academia with a focus on economic inequality.

The left-winger was selected to run for her hometown seat of Chingford and Woodford Green at the 2019 election. Ms Shaheen did not win the seat, but managed to secure Labours largest ever vote share in the constituency, coming second by just over 1,000 votes.

In July 2022, she was selected by local members to contest the seat again. Nearly two years later, in April 2024, she was deselected by the NEC.

Im in a state of shock, to be honest, she told BBCs Newsnight in an emotional interview just hours after she was deselected.

It is alleged Ms Shaheen had liked fourteen tweets  several before she was a Labour party member  which were called into question. Some were purported to contain antisemtic content while others were perceived to be against the Labour party, for instance by supporting the Green party.

One of the tweets was a retweet of a Jon Stewart sketch. I dont even remember liking that tweet, she said, while acknowledging that it could be perceived by some as offensive, and apologising.

Ms Shaheen has vowed to take legal action against the Labour party, arguing that she has been subjected to a campaign of prejudice, bullying and spiteful behaviour and that she was added to the list of those not welcome in the candidate club.

Out: Jeremy Corbyn, Islington North

Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (Belinda Jiao/PA) (PA Wire)

Labour leader from 2015 to 2020, Jeremy Corbyn is one of Labours longest serving MPs, holding the seat of Islington North for the party since 1983.

A longtime backbench parliamentarian, Mr Corbyn was propelled to the forefront of Labour when he was selected leader in 2015. He was leader during the partys unsuccessful general election campaigns in 2017 and 2019.

The veteran MP was suspended from Labour in October 2020 after asserting that the scale of antisemitism within the party was dramatically overstated for political purposes.

He was readmitted as a party member the following month with a formal warning. However, Sir Keir decided not to restore the whip, meaning Mr Corbyn was not in the parliamentary party.

In March 2023, the NEC resolved to block Mr Corbyn as a candidate for the next election. In May 2024, when it became clear the governing body would not renege on the move, he announced he would stand for his seat as an independent candidate.

Since this is strictly against party rules, Mr Corbyn was expelled from Labour on the same day.

Out: Lloyd Russell-Moyle, Brighton Kemptown

Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP (Yui Mok/PA) (PA Wire)

Lloyd Russell-Moyle was elected as MP for Brighton Kemptown in 2017, and retained his seat at the 2019 election.

Mr Russell-Moyle garnered headlines in 2018 when he seized the ceremonial mace in protest at the governments decision to delay a key Brexit vote. The same year, he became the first MP to disclose that he is HIV positive in a parliamentary speech.

The Brighton MP was suspended from the party in May 2024 over a complaint about his behaviour made eight years prior. He called the complaint vexatious and politically motivated.

Due to the timing of his suspension, Mr Russell-Moyle will be unable to contest his seat for a third time.

Speaking to the BBC, he said he has been made a sacrificial lamb by the Labour party, adding: it is one system if you are very at the top or in the clique, and another system if youre not.

Whos in?

In?: Diane Abbott, Hackney North and Stoke Newington

Diane Abbott stands on the steps of Hackney Town Hall on Wednesday (Getty Images)

Diane Abbott was born in 1953 in London to Jamaican immigrant parents. She made history by becoming the first Black woman elected to the British parliament in 1987.

Throughout her political career, she has been outspoken on race issues, human rights, and civil liberties.

The veteran left-wing MP was first suspended from the party in April 2023 following a letter she penned about racism for the Observer newspaper.

After a lengthy investigation into her comments, she was readmitted to the party in May 2024 after undergoing a disciplinary process.

But the question of whether or not Ms Abbott would be able to stand at the upcoming general election remained mired in uncertainty over the days following the restoration of the Labour whip. Ms Abbott said she had been barred from standing  a claim that Sir Keir called not true.

However, as a days-long row over her political future overshadowed the partys campaign, the Labour leader on Friday gave the green light for Ms Abbotts candidacy, stating that she is free to stand as a Labour candidate in the general election.

Labour sources said Ms Abbott will be the Labour candidate in her long-held London constituency, with the NEC expected to ratify the decision when it meets on Tuesday.

Ms Abbott has represented Hackney North and Stoke Newington since 1987, making her the fifth longest-serving Labour MP in parliament. She has been returned to the seat at nine elections, securing a majority of over 33,000 in 2019.

In: Luke Akehurst, Gurinder Singh Josan, Michael Wheeler and more

Adding fuel to the row around Labours recent candidate deselections is who the NEC has selected to take unfilled seats, with five of their own members gaining Labour candidacies.

NEC member Luke Akehurst has been selected as Labours candidate for North Durham. He is the director of lobby group We Believe in Israel and secretary of the Labour First network, which has the stated aim of keeping the party safe from the organised left.

Meanwhile NEC members Gurinder Singh Josan and Michael Wheeler have been selected as the candidates of Smethwick, and Worsley & Eccles. Both men were part of the three-person panel that determined Ms Shaheen should be deselected.

The two other NEC members with Labour candidacies are chair James Asser and Unisons Mark Ferguson for West Ham and Beckton, and Gateshead Central and Whickham.

Candidates are selected through an interview with a panel of three NEC members. It is unclear how or whether an NEC member will still participate in the selection process when they are proposed as a candidate themselves.

Among the other NEC candidate selections are former adviser to Sir Keir, Chris Ward (Brighton Kemptown), former adviser to shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, Heather Iqbal (Dewsbury & Batley), and director of pro-Starmer think tanks Labour Together, Josh Simons (Makerfield).

The Labour Party and NEC have been approached for comment.
Lacey police ask for help finding bus stop assault suspect

The police are asking for the publics help in identifying the suspect of a bus stop assault in Lacey.

According to the Lacey Police Department, the man in question assaulted a random citizen, unprovoked, at a bus stop in the 4700 block of Corporate Center Drive Southeast.

Anyone with information is asked to call (360) 704-2740 and reference case 2024-2758.

Do you know this man?He assaulted a random citizen, unprovoked, at a bus stop in the 4700 blk of Corporate Center DR SE If you have any information, please call us at: (360) 704-2740 and reference case 2024-2758. #FindEmFriday #PleaseHelp #LaceyPD pic.twitter.com/abfRxrvQLt  Lacey Police (@LaceyPolice) May 31, 2024




The suspect accused of killing 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley was arraigned on murder charges Friday in connection with the slaying on the University of Georgia campus.

An Athens-Clarke County judge entered a plea of not guilty for Jose Ibarra, 26, following his indictment earlier this month on malice murder and felony murder and other offenses. The judge said the trial in the case will likely be scheduled for the fall.

PHOTO: Jose Ibarra appears in court for his arraignment in Athens, Georgia, May 31, 2024. (ABC News)

Ibarra did not speak and wore headphones during the arraignment. His attorney asked for 90 days to review the preliminary discovery. The state said they are awaiting cellphone reports and other scientific reports but will be ready for trial in the fall.

Riley's family also sat in the courtroom for the arraignment.

MORE: Grand jury indicts Laken Riley murder suspect on 10 counts

Riley, a student at Augusta University, was found dead in a wooded area on the Athens campus on Feb. 22 after she didn't return from a run. The indictment alleges that Ibarra killed her by "inflicting blunt force trauma to her head and by asphyxiating her" and seriously disfigured her head by striking her "multiple times" with a rock.

PHOTO: Laken Riley is seen in an undated photo. (Augusta University)

Additional charges in the 10-count indictment include aggravated battery, kidnapping with bodily injury, aggravated assault with intent to rape, obstructing or hindering a person making an emergency telephone call and tampering with evidence. The latter charge alleged that he "knowingly concealed" evidence -- a jacket and gloves -- involving the offense of malice murder.

He was also charged with a peeping tom offense. The indictment alleges that on the same day as Riley's murder, he spied through the window of a different person who lived in an apartment on campus.

MORE: FBI director says agency doing all it can to get 'justice' for Laken Riley

Ibarra was denied bond following his arrest on Feb. 23 and is being held at the Clarke County Jail.

Police have said they do not believe Ibarra -- a migrant from Venezuela -- knew Riley and that this was a "crime of opportunity." Her death has become a rallying cry for immigration reform from many conservatives.

Laken Riley murder suspect pleads not guilty in University of Georgia campus slaying originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Landry declines to reappoint Louisianas prison chief but will keep him in the job

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Gov. Jeff Landry left state corrections leader Jimmy LeBlanc off the list of dozens of officials hes submitted for Louisiana Senate confirmation, raising questions about how long LeBlanc will remain in the job he has held for 16 years.



Landrys office declined to comment on why the governor didnt reappoint LeBlanc as secretary of the Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections, but the governor expects LeBlanc to stay in the position even without Senate confirmation.

According to the law, every public officer shall serve until his successor is inducted into office. Secretary LeBlanc was never appointed or submitted to the Senate for confirmation, therefore he can continue to serve in his capacity until a successor has been appointed, Kate Kelly, Landrys spokesperson, said in a written statement.



Ensuring strong leadership at the Department of Public Safety and Corrections is top priority for our office, she said. We would not allow this position to become vacant.

There is a disagreement about whether the governors move is legal.



Terry Ryder, former lead attorney for Govs. Mike Foster and Kathleen Blanco, agrees with this interpretation of the law. He said in an interview Landry must submit LeBlancs name for confirmation, and the Senate must vote to approve his selection or else LeBlanc will have to be removed from his job in a few days, according to state law.

Jimmy LeBlanc

Even if keeping LeBlanc without Senate confirmation is allowed, its still unusual. LeBlancs job is one of the most high-profile and complex in all of state government. The person who holds that type position nearly always goes through the Senate confirmation process.



LeBlanc oversees Louisianas sprawling prison system, with more than 28,000 incarcerated people, and manages the states probation and parole operations serving another 43,000 people. His department also has oversight of Louisiana State Police, the Office of Juvenile Justice and the Office of Motor Vehicles, although the secretarys tasks have largely become clerical in nature.



The state prison system alone has 2,100 employees and an annual budget of more than $1 billion when juvenile justice services are included.

Unlike many state agencies, turnover in prison system leadership is also rare. There have been just two corrections secretaries over the past 30 years and five governors terms.

LeBlanc has served in the position for Govs. Bobby Jindal and John Bel Edwards. His predecessor, Richard Stalder, held the job for 16 years under Govs. Edwin Edwards, Mike Foster and Kathleen Blanco.

Parish sheriffs, a powerful constituency for statewide elected officials, pressured Landry to commit to keeping LeBlanc in charge before he became governor. They find LeBlanc direct, honest and easy to work with.

Landry has made public safety and a tough-on-crime approach top priorities of his administration, but he has never appeared enthusiastic about working with LeBlanc, the states top public safety official.

The governor quietly announced he would keep LeBlanc on as prisons chief in January, but he didnt hold a news conference to make an announcement about the appointment as he did with other cabinet secretaries.

As John Bel Edwards prison system leader, LeBlanc advocated for the former governors criminal justice overhaul in 2017, which shortened prison sentences for thousands of people and reduced the states highest-in-the-country incarceration rate.

Landry vehemently opposed these criminal justice changes and successfully pushed to undo large portions of that package earlier this year.

Its unclear whether any of the other people Landry submitted to the Senate for review would be up for LeBlancs job if he was removed. LeBlanc didnt return phone calls or texts for comment Friday.



Mike Ranatza, with the Louisiana Sheriffs Association, said in an interview Friday he was confident LeBlanc would continue to run the prison system, whether he received Senate confirmation or not.

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The post Landry declines to reappoint Louisianas prison chief but will keep him in the job appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
Democrats lost control of Iowa's 3rd U.S. House district in 2022 by just over 2,000 votes. Their nominee this year will be tasked with taking it back.

Lanon Baccam, a military veteran who has worked at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and on Democratic campaigns, and Melissa Vine, a nonprofit leader and small business owner, are vying for the party's nomination.

The winner will face Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, running for his second term in the district that includes Des Moines, Adel, Ottumwa and Red Oak in southcentral Iowa.

Republican U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn is being challenged for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District seat by Democrats Lanon Baccam, left, and Melissa Vine.

In interviews with the Des Moines Register ahead of Tuesday's primary election, the two shared their views on a range of policy issues facing Congress, as well as their pitch to voters on why they were the best choice to hold the Democratic banner in a race that will be critical in a closely divided House.

Baccam is a Mount Pleasant native and the son of Tai Dam refugees from Laos. He enlisted in the Iowa National Guard before deploying to Afghanistan and later joined the USDA under former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack. He has worked as an operative for Joe Biden's 2020 campaign, as well as several other Iowa-based races.

"I think people really understand and appreciate that I have a history of service," Baccam said. "I did that in the military, I've done it in public service, and I'm ready. I'm ready right now to represent Iowa's 3rd District, and I think people are really responding to that message."

He's earned support from an array of elected Democrats across the state, as well as Vilsack and the House Democrats' campaign arm.

Vine, who serves as executive director of The Beacon nonprofit for women recovering from trauma, has also been enrolled as a law student at Drake University and previously started and sold a series of small businesses. She's a single mom of four sons.

"There are 268 millionaires in Congress, and 37 moms of minors," Vine said. "I don't think millionaires are paying attention to the price of eggs, or access to child care. We need more everyday people in Congress who can speak to the issues that keep families laying awake at night."

More: Meet the 2 Democrats challenging Zach Nunn for Iowa's 3rd Congressional District seat

Lanon Baccam, Melissa Vine hone in on abortion as top issue

Both Democrats have put abortion front and center as they campaign for the nomination, with Iowa's ban currently sitting before the state supreme court and Democrats grappling with the best way forward post-Roe.

Vine pledged to support codifying Roe v. Wade under federal law "day one" if she is elected.

"I think even for people who have differing views on abortion, we need to understand the impact of banning abortion," Vine said, pointing to the departure of OBGYNs and physicians from the state.

Baccam said he would do "everything I can to fight for restoring the rights under Roe vs. Wade," and also called for legislation protecting in vitro fertilization.

"I think there's a lot of work that can be done, and people are just tired of their rights being taken away, and they want a representative who will help restore that," he said.

Farm bill, mental health resources top priorities for federal spending

Both candidates emphasized the importance of passing a new farm bill, as negotiations continue under an extended version from last year.

Baccam also pointed to key nutrition programs funded under the bill, in addition to programs and services to support the agricultural industry.

"There are add-on benefits for supporting these nutrition programs," Baccam said. "Not just helping people make their ends meet."

Vine said further investment in mental health through federal spending was necessary.

"I am hearing in urban, suburban and rural areas of our district that we are in a mental health crisis," Vine said. "Investing in our people invests in our economy."

How Baccam, Vine would approach immigration and border policy

The two Democrats both said that the current immigration system at the southern border was flawed, but that many previous approaches had failed.

Vine called for a plan that emphasized "empathy and responsibility," including expediting the citizenship process and allowing migrants to fill gaps in the workforce.

"We could solve two problems with one solution," Vine said. "But in order to do that, we also need to have means to filter out people who would not be here for those kinds of reasons."

Baccam said the issue was one of "national security" and "economic security," but said lawmakers needed to be willing to compromise on a bipartisan plan.

"The reality is, how do we ever get things done if if people are just waiting for perfect?" Baccam said. "Not everyone's going to get everything they want."

How Baccam, Vine view conflicts abroad and U.S. aid for them

Vine and Baccam both supported continued congressional aid for Ukraine as their war with Russia continues. Both said it was in the U.S. interest to prevent further aggression from Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"If Russia wins this battle, it'll be a much more dangerous place for Americans around the world," Baccam said.

Vine called the war in Ukraine "chapter one" in Putin's playbook, warning that "this idea of democracy across our globe and here at home" were at stake.

Asked about the Israel-Hamas war, Baccam said Israel has "every right to defend" itself, but that "they need to follow international law."

"I carried a little card in the breast pocket of my uniform when I was in Afghanistan, it gave me the rules of engagement," Baccam said. "Israel should follow the rule of law here."

He said humanitarian aid reaching Gaza "was in the best interest of everyone," and said Hamas "have to release the hostages."

Vine also defended Israel's right to defend itself, but said there was "no justification for the thousands of innocent lives that have been lost in Gaza as a result of the widespread bombings." She said she'd like to work toward a ceasefire in which all hostages are returned.

"Ultimately, though, I don't think the conflict is going to end until Palestinians have their own state that can peacefully exist next to the Jewish state of Israel," Vine said.

Galen Bacharier covers the Statehouse and politics for the Register. Reach him at gbacharier@registermedia.com or (573) 219-7440, and follow him on Twitter @galenbacharier.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa 3rd District race: How Vine, Baccam would tackle top issues
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Despite assurances in court Tuesday, the owners of Sycamore Townhomes and Apartments in south Lansing have not pay nearly $50,000 in court-imposed fines for failing to bring a sprawling complex into compliance with the citys housing laws.

On Tuesday, 54-A District Court Judge Anthony Flores ordered Woodside Meadows, a New Jersey company, to pay the city $14,250 by Wednesday at 4 p.m. That money had been ordered deposited in an escrow account in April, but the company failed to put the money into an escrow.

The city had asked Flores for a contempt of court order against the company for failing to deposit the money into an escrow account, but Flores declined to act Tuesday.

A door to a townhome at Sycamore Townhomes and Apartments apparently kicked in. (WLN)

Flores told a city attorney that if the company failed to comply by Wednesday at 4 p.m. he expected a contempt filing to follow promptly from the city.

An attorney representing the company in court Tuesday assured Flores and city attorneys the company was prepared to transfer the money immediately.

City spokesman Scott Bean confirmed Friday the $14,250 had not been paid.

On Tuesday afternoon, Flores received and signed an order requiring the company to pay $500 for each of the 67 buildings in the complex that was not up to housing code. The total fine is $33,500. Those fines were due, Flores told the company during a hearing Tuesday, as soon as he signed the order.

Bean confirms that $33,500 had not been paid as of noon Friday.

He declined to say what actions were next for the city as it works to bring the property into compliance.

Woodside Meadows City of Lansing registerDownload

The city sued the company in September of last year to force it into compliance under the citys housing laws, including having all the units inspected, registered and certified as rentals.

In February, officials from the Office of Code Compliance swept into the property and issued red and pink tags on every unit and building in the sprawling complex, located in a portion of the city in Eaton County.

Of the 344 individual units in 67 buildings, 146 were red-tagged by the city. The remaining 198 units were pink-tagged. A red tag means the property is deemed unsafe to live in or enter. A pink tag means a property requires significant repairs as well as registration and certification. While a resident of pink-tagged property can remain, if they move out; property owners are prohibited by city laws from renting the property to a new tenant.











6 News visited the property last week. A drive through the property found broken windows, boarded-up windows, and overgrown grass, and at one property the back door apparently kicked in.

A pile of construction debris was also dumped in the parking lot in front of the complexs leasing office. Third Ward Councilmember Adam Hussain, where the property is located, tells 6 News the debris has been deposited in front of the leasing office in protest by a contractor who told him they were not being paid.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. After surviving an assassination attempt, Robert Fico, prime minister of Slovakia, will require a few more months to recuperate completely before getting back to work, nation's Minister of Foreign Affairs Juraj Blanar said, Trend reports.

"Although Robert Fico's health is on the upswing, he will still need a few more months to recuperate completely before he can get back to work," the minister stated.

Fico was discharged from the Banska Bystrica hospital in Central Slovakia on May 30. Treatment is being administered to him at home at the moment.

To note, on May 15, Slovakia's Prime Minister was the target of an assassination attempt.

Juraj Cintula, a 71-year-old writer, fired several shots at Robert Fico, causing severe injuries, after he exited the building where a Cabinet meeting was held. The wounded prime minister was promptly transported to the hospital, while the perpetrator was detained.

The perpetrator is facing attempted murder charges, and the inquiry will be handled discreetly.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Rocks alone couldn't cut it.

Now colossal concrete pyramids, clams, seagrass and fill sand will soon blunt the Indian River Lagoon waves that have eaten into A. Max Brewer Memorial Parkway in Titusville for decades.

Storms eroded away space for those who fish and hang out there  rocket-launch spectators and wildlife included.

A groundbreaking was held Wednesday morning on the east side of the Max Brewer Bridge for the Titusville Causeway Multi-Tropic Restoration and Living Shoreline Resiliency Action Project. In the foreground is a WAD (Wave Attenuation Device). These will be placed along the shoreline to prevent erosion and help sand build up.

More: Concrete, clams to guard causeway Brevard plans to guard Max Brewer causeway spot with sand, seagrass, concrete and clams

Officials broke ground Wednesday on a $4.2 million project, designed by DRMP engineers, of Gainesville, to be built by the aquatic restoration firm Sea & Shoreline. It includes removing existing shoreline rip-rap rocks. Then workers will install almost 2,000 feet of what Living Shoreline Solutions calls Wave Attenuation Devices  large concrete structures that break up waves before they hit the causeway shore.

"They dissipate the energy from storms, daily weather coming in, so that line of defense allows the water to go through them but not the energy," Andi Risi, vice president of solutions for Sea & Shoreline, said at Wednesday's groundbreaking.

Brevard is touting the project as the first of its kind in Florida that will combine shore-protection methods across multiple habitats to prevent erosion caused by rising sea level. In addition to the concrete wave breaks, the project plants four-acres of seagrass, seeds the area with one million clams, and restores and regrades 4,150 cubic yards of sand on the shoreline. New palm and mangrove trees will follow. It's expected to be completed within 280 days and will be monitored for three-years.

"By combining multiple solutions across multiple habitats, the project will realize synergistic ecosystem benefits, Ryan Mitchell, of DRMP engineers, said in a press release.

The Wave Attenuation Devices will be installed in the water about 400-feet from the shoreline and will be visible about one-and-a half-feet above the water level at high tide. They will include gaps for manatees to pass in between and navigational lights for boater avoidance.

The Florida Department of Transportation installed similar large pyramid-shaped concrete structures last year to prevent erosion along the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay.

What is the rate of sea-level rise?

In the past two decades, federal data shows that the rate of sea-level rise has tripled to almost 1 centimeter per year due to warmer temperatures. That's made coastal communities such as Brevard have to conceive of new ways of guarding shorelines, beyond just the granite boulders or concrete slabs that only work for so long and can impede public access.

At least 1 in 5 miles of Brevard's roads (excluding minor and local roads) are impacted by shoreline erosion, a 2023 regional transportation study found. That means those roads either washed out in the past or there's threat they will in the near future, because they go through a 200-foot buffer from the lagoon, Banana River or the Atlantic Ocean.

The restored area will provide a beautiful and safe area for thousands of residents and visitors who visit the area annually to recreate and to watch launches from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Brevard County Commissioner Rita Pritchett said in a release.

At Wednesday's groundbreaking, Dani Richter, director of philanthropy for the Fish & Wildlife Foundation, said the foundation got involved in 2021 with Sea & Shoreline to restore seagrass in lagoon tributaries, due to all the manatees dying of starvation in the lagoon.

"The manatees were kind of the iconic species that got people to show up and show out for this project but a lot of people who also love fishing  and redfish and seatrout  were very passionate about this project," Richter said.

How much will it cost and who's paying?

The A. Max Brewer Causeway project will cost more than $4 million. Half of the money came from the Resilient Florida Program. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Senate Bill 1954 into law on May 12, 2021, creating "the largest investment in Floridas history to prepare communities for the impacts of sea level rise, intensified storms and flooding."

Grants will pay for most of the project, including:

$2.3 million from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

$1.2 million from the St. Johns River Water Management District $500,000 from Brevard's Tourist Development Council

$64,336 worth of sand the Florida Inland Navigation District

$525,000 from the nonprofit Fish and Wildlife Foundation.

Contact Waymer at (321) 261-5904 or jwaymer@floridatoday.com.

Sen. Debbie Mayfield was one of the speakers Wednesday, along with Virginia Barker and Commissioner Rita Pritchett, at the groundbreaking for the $4.2 million shoreline restoration project along A. Max Brewer Causeway.

Brevard County has embarked on a $4.2 million project to restore the shoreline along A. Max Brewer Causeway in Titusville.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: A $4.2 million 'living shoreline' breaks ground on Max Brewer Causeway
Largest stegosaurus fossil ever found to be auctioned by Sotheby's in New York

The largest stegosaurus fossil ever found is heading to auction next month with an estimated value of up to $6 million.

The specimen, known as "Apex," was excavated near Colorado's Morrison Formation, close to the town of Dinosaur, in 2023, according to the Sotheby's auction house.

A part of the armored dinosaur was first discovered on the nearby property of commercial paleontologist Jason Cooper, according to the auction house. In total, it measures 11 feet tall and 20 feet long and includes 247 fossil bones. The dinosaur is believed to be between 146 million and 161 million years old.

Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby's senior vice president and global head of science and popular culture, told ABC News she recalls getting a call from Cooper about the finding.

"Oh my goodness we have got something incredible on our hands," Hatton said about the discovery at the time.

PHOTO: 'Apex' stegosaurus fossil to be auction by Sotheby's. (Matthew Sherman/Sotheby)

Sotheby's will auction the specimen on July 17 with an estimated value of $4 million to $6 million in New York. Sotheby's sold a 200-pound Tyrannosaurus rex head in 1997 for $8.3 million.

As for how Apex earned its name, Sotheby's says its considered the largest and most complete stegosaurus ever discovered.

For nearly a decade, a stegosaurus specimen named Sophie, located in the National History Museum in London, held the title of the largest and most complete stegosaurus ever discovered. Apex is 30% larger than Sophie, based on the femur length of 45 inches, according to Sotheby's.

"Through the careful process of excavation, preparation, and installation, 'Apex' sets a new standard for all future discoveries of this magnitude, and further reinforces the enduring appeal of Stegosaurus and its vaunted status in popular culture," said Hatton in a press release.

But the Sotheby's sale next month could also stir up a longstanding debate about whether or not dinosaur fossils should be sold to private collectors.

Paul David Polly, a professor of earth and atmospheric sciences at Indiana University, said auctions often put the focus on finding complete dinosaurs versus studying the surrounding environment, giving an incomplete picture of the specimen.

PHOTO: 'Apex' stegosaurus fossil to be auction by Sotheby's. (Matthew Sherman/Sotheby)

"[An auction] fetishizes the complete skeletons of dinosaurs over a good careful scientific study," said David Polly

Additionally, at the hands of private collectors, fossils may not be available to the public which prevents scientists from studying them.

"Because [the fossils] are in a private collection, they can't contribute to the diversity of things we know about the world," said Canadian paleontologist Greg Funston.

Regardless, it is legal to sell fossils that were found on private property in the U.S. Other countries like Canada, Brazil and South Africa restrict the sale and export of fossils found in those countries.

David Polly said private landowners will grant access to the person who can pay the most, which often is not the scientists. "People come to perceive fossils as having monetary worth and scientists who work for nonprofits don't have money to buy fossils," he said.

Hatton says there are other issues to consider amid the debate over the private sale of fossils. "I think the debate is more whether dinosaurs should be considered property and that's a much larger conversation," said Hatton.

Spencer G. Lucas, an American paleontologist with the New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, said commercial paleontology can preserve fossils for science and education.

"My hope would be that [the fossils] would be available for scientific research," he said.

Prior to its sale on July 17, Apex will be on exhibition at Sothebys galleries in New York, the auction house says. The exhibition will be free and open to the public.

Largest stegosaurus fossil ever found to be auctioned by Sotheby's in New York originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The family of the man accused of stalking Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo, spreading the false claim the governor committed murder, says it is a good thing the 28-year-old is in jail to get the help he needs.

Stanley Weaver III, 28, is accused of threatening Lombardos family  and breaking a window of a home where he believed the governor lived  all because he suspects the state leader murdered his neighbor, the 8 News Now Investigators first reported in March.

Earlier this year, a Clark County grand jury voted to indict Stanley Weaver on charges including aggravated stalking and first-degree arson.

According to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained, Stanley Weaver believes the governor killed Stanley Weavers former neighbor, Billy Vosburg, who the 8 News Now Investigators confirmed was alive and well.

After allegedly harassing his neighbor for months, a Las Vegas man never received a protection order filed against him, leading him to then stalk Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo and his family and spread the wild claim the governor committed murder. (KLAS)

On Sunday, March 3, Las Vegas Metro police were called to a home in the west Las Vegas valley about a man banging on a door yelling that Governor Joe Lombardo had killed someone, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained.

While investigating the incident, a neighbor told police a person broke a window at his neighboring home. According to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained, it appears Weaver believed the governor lived in the home with his family.

The governors family member also told police she suspected Stanley Weaver attempted to call her on Instagram in the days before, documents said. Thirty-seven other Instagram posts about the governor included a picture of an unknown person with Stanley Weaver allegedly saying the person works for the governor and moved him into the dead mans condo, documents said.

Hes a good kid. He shouldnt be treated like a criminal, Stanley Weavers mother, Melissa Weaver, said, alongside her husband, Stanley Weaver Jr. and her daughter, Brittany Weaver. The Weavers said they apologize for their sons and brothers actions, adding that was not the Stanley Weaver they know.

A post from Stanley Weaver, the man accused of stalking Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo and his family. (KLAS)

Was it almost like a relief that he was going to get help? 8 News Now Investigator David Charns asked the family.

Yes, it was a relief that he was going to get help. It was a big relief, Melissa Weaver said.

The Weavers moved from Sacramento, California, to Las Vegas, they said. During that transition, Stanley Weaver would sometimes be in the apartment alone. Weaver allegedly harassed Billy Vosburg, his upstairs neighbor for months in 2023, before Vosburg decided to move.

At what point did you want to move? Charns asked Vosburg in an interview that aired in April.

It was around the time that he chased me in my car around the neighborhood, Vosburg said.

Records the 8 News Now Investigators obtained show Vosburg called police on Weaver seven times in the spring of 2023. Vosburg set up cameras, which prosecutors said show Stanley Weaver throwing rocks at the upstairs window.

He was just messing with that man, doing stuff thats not normal, breaking out the windows and  people that he doesnt know, Melissa Weaver said.

Other documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained reveal police wrote Stanley Weaver was a constant problem in the neighborhood. The harassment culminated with a temporary protection order (TPO) signed that June. The order required Weaver to stay 100 feet away from Vosburg.

Damage from the fire Weaver allegedly set in his apartment. (KLAS)

The order was never served, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained. A Metro spokesperson said officers made several attempts to find Stanley Weaver to serve him.

Last year, Stanley Weaver appeared in competency court on a misdemeanor DUI charge. A judge ruled him incompetent to stand trial, meaning two psychologists determined Stanley Weaver did not understand the charge against him.

The State of Nevada is going to consider dismissing the charges against you if you go to the hospital, talk to the doctors, go to all your appointments and stay out of trouble. Can you do that? Clark County District Court Judge Cristy Craig asked Weaver in the November 2023 hearing.

Yes, Weaver replied.

The harassment culminated with a temporary protection order (TPO) signed that June. The order required Weaver to stay 100 feet away from Vosburg. The order was never served after several attempts, according to documents the 8 News Now Investigators obtained. (KLAS)

Several months later, as Stanley Weaver was posting videos about the claim Lombardo killed his neighbor, court records show he finished a misdemeanor diversion program, where he received treatment, but did not attend a follow-up appointment.

The day he came home from the program, Stanley Weaver wrote a note to his father, his parents said.

He wrote a note to his dad, Dad, should I burn down the house? Melissa Weaver said.

Without knowledge of the continued harassment or the apartment fire, the judge dismissed Weavers original case without any opposition.

Records the 8 News Now Investigators reviewed show while the fire happened on Jan. 12, 2024, Weaver was not charged with the arson until after this stalking arrest in March.

His parents said there were no witnesses to the fire nor direct evidence their son was the one who set it. Months after that fire, the Weavers were still cleaning up from the smoke and water damage.

Throughout last winter, Stanley Weaver continued to post videos, including several where he called 911 in several states to report Lombardo for murder. By March 2024, a doorbell camera recorded as Weaver shows up to the home where he believed the Lombardos lived.

By then, documents reveal the governors security team was aware of Weavers attempts to contact the family and officials were planning to contact him on Monday, March 4. Weaver showed up at the home where he believed the governor lived on Sunday, March 3, police said.

Documents also reveal Stanley Weaver searched Google dozens of time for terms and phrases like: Where does Governor Joe Lombardo live now? Donna Lombardo, Joe Lombardo kids and a Las Vegas address. (KLAS)

Nobody got hurt but he went after the right person  he wanted his voice heard he was crying out for help, Melissa Weaver said. Members of Stanley Weavers family told police they are fearful that Weaver may harm or kill a member of [the governors] family and that they took steps to hide all the knives in the apartment so that Weaver could not access them, documents said.

While in custody, officers noted Stanley Weaver was placed on a mental health hold in January for attempting to set an apartment fire, documents said.

I asked myself, How did I not see it? but he lived his own life  how did I not see it? Melissa Weaver said. Judge Eric Goodman set Stanley Weavers bail at $1 million. A note in his docket said he has refused all court appearances.

The grand jury indictment means the case will bypass Las Vegas Justice Court and begin proceedings in district court.

Last month, Craig deemed Stanley Weaver not competent once again. In her ruling, Craig ordered the state to take him to a psychiatric facility to regain competency within seven days, which is a Nevada guideline.

As of Thursday, Stanley Weaver has been waiting in the Clark County Detention Center for 43 days.

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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Police have arrested a man accused in an August shooting that left another man with gunshot wounds in both legs, according to documents obtained by 8 News Now.

On August 29, 2023, at around 8:30 p.m., officers with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department responded to a shooting that left a man with five gunshot wounds. Officers learned that before the shooting, the victim was standing next to a truck, talking to a woman in the inside, when a man walked up and shot him several times, documents said.

The victim was shot twice in his right leg and three times in the left leg. Medical personnel took him to a local hospital.

The victim told police that while he attempted to get away from the suspect, the suspect kicked him in the head before leaving the scene. The victim also told police he knew who shot him, but he only knew the suspect by a nickname, the report stated.

The victim thought the suspect shot him because of a fight earlier in the year where the suspect fought another man over a woman. The victim thought the suspect targeted him because the victim did not help the suspect during the fight or help break up the fight, according to the report.

In a follow-up interview with the victim, he said he recognized the suspects voice and told police he had known him for a long time. He also told police that the suspect previously shot at him, the report stated.

Using a Facebook page belonging to the suspects family member, police identified the suspect as Columbus Barbee, 37.

Columbus Barbee, 37, faces numerous charges, including attempted murder. (LVMPD)

A records check showed there was an active fugitive warrant for Barbee by the United States Marshalls Service. Additionally, Barbee is a convicted felon for an offense in 2011 in Indiana. The offense was redacted in the documents.

Detectives showed the victim a photo lineup of suspects, including Barbee, and the victim identified Barbee as the person who shot him, the report stated.

On May 23, police arrested Barbee outside of an apartment.

Barbee faces one count of attempted murder with the use of a deadly weapon, five counts of battery with the use of a deadly weapon, assault with the use of a deadly weapon, and eight counts of discharging a gun where a person might be endangered.

He was being held at the Clark County Detention Center on a $100,000 bail. If Barbee makes bail, he will need to stay out of trouble, not have any weapons, and have no contact with the victim.

His next court appearance was scheduled for June 11.

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.
Former President Donald Trump prepares to speak to reporters after hearing the verdict in his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on Thursday. Jurors found the former president guilty on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records in connection with payments made to an adult film actress in 2016. Pool Photo by Justin Lane/UPI

May 31 (UPI) -- After Thursday's conviction of former President Donald Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in New York, what comes next?

Trump's legal team will likely appeal the verdict. "We will fight for our Constitution," Trump said following the jury's announcement. "This is long from over." A sentencing hearing for Trump is set for July 11.

The Conversation U.S.' politics and society editor Amy Lieberman spoke with Gabriel J. Chin, a scholar of criminal law and procedure, to better understand the verdict.

1. Why were there so many different felony counts in this case?

The essence of the offenses Trump was convicted of is falsifying documents or records. Accordingly, each check, invoice or other document that the jury found had been falsified was a separate offense, which can be the basis of a separate count and punished separately. The prosecution wanted to make sure that the jury saw the full scope of the scheme it alleged had occurred -- which is that Trump covered up the fact that he paid hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels by disguising the payment as a legal fee to his lawyer, Michael Cohen. Cohen then allegedly used Trump's money to pay Daniels to stop her from talking about her alleged affair with Trump.

2. What is most important for people to understand about this conviction?

It is historic and groundbreaking for a former or future president to be convicted of felonies in the United States. There will be debate, and people will have to judge whether this prosecution is an example of the principle that no person is above the law, or whether this is an example of political persecution.

As a technical legal matter, this conviction has a significant effect on all of Trump's other criminal and civil cases. At a minimum, it means that if Trump takes the stand to testify in any case, opposing lawyers will be able to attack his credibility with this conviction. Lawyers can argue that any witness with a felony conviction might well be lying.

Practically speaking, this verdict also means that Trump -- who is registered to vote in Florida -- cannot vote there until completion of his sentence. Under federal law, he cannot possess a firearm. But he can still run for president and serve in office, because nothing in the Constitution disqualifies people with convictions -- or who are in prison -- from running for, or serving as, president.

3. What can we know, if anything, about what his sentence might look like?

New York judge Juan Merchan will decide the sentence alone, without a jury.

It is not surprising that sentencing has been set for July, rather than sooner. As in other cases, the probation office will prepare a report that lays out Trump's background and history, and the facts and circumstances of this case. Trump has no criminal record, which is generally a favorable sentencing factor. On the other hand, he does have negative results from lawsuits, including a civil finding in 2023 that determined he committed sexual assault. One issue to look out for is whether the prosecution or the probation department argues that Trump's other criminal charges and civil cases should be considered in sentencing.

One sentencing factor which sometimes comes into play is lack of remorse; it is often a reason judges impose a more severe sentence. It certainly does not seem that Trump has in any way acknowledged that he did something regrettable, or committed a crime. Trump's violation of the gag orders in this case, which the judge has already punished him for, could also be a factor used to argue for or impose a higher sentence.

4. Given this verdict, is it likely that Trump will serve time in prison?

The offense of falsifying business records is deemed a "Class E" felony in New York state -- and each felony has a potential sentence of up to four years. Probation is available instead of incarceration, or probation plus a short term of incarceration. Sentences may be imposed concurrently or consecutively, so theoretically Trump could get a sentence of 136 years if maximum sentences on all counts are imposed consecutively. But, while the sentence is up to the judge, based on past practice it is reasonable to speculate that Trump will not be sentenced to a long prison term, and may well receive no incarceration time at all.

A not-guilty verdict would have been final because of the Constitution's prohibition against double jeopardy -- meaning a person cannot be convicted, acquitted or punished more than once for the same offense.

This conviction will undoubtedly be challenged for years, and the appeals process could have at least two chances to get to the U.S. Supreme Court. Whether this case was appropriately tried in state court will also be an issue -- federal authority over federal elections and election crimes is likely to be examined on appeal.

In other words, this case is not over by a long shot. It is likely that even were Trump sentenced to incarceration, he would be allowed to remain free, pending appeal. This practice is not uncommon in complex and high-profile cases, at least where there are reasonable legal claims of error.

5. What made the evidence so strong in this case that it persuaded jurors?

It is in part the breadth of the New York law which, unlike the law in many states, criminalizes falsifying internal business records even when they are private and not used to cheat the tax system or defraud anyone. But even in New York, generally falsifying private business records is a misdemeanor. It becomes a felony only if, as the jury found here, the actions are used to cover up or conceal a crime.

In this case, the jury may well have been persuaded by the prosecution's argument that the crime covered up was essentially a scheme to defraud the American people by concealing information about the character and conduct of a presidential candidate.

Because Trump was alleged to have deceived voters, perhaps the jury was unwilling to simply shrug this off as business as usual. Another factor is the remarkable investigation that went into preparing this case. The prosecution had so many witnesses and documents that it could tell the story in highly specific detail.

The Conversation

Gabriel J. Chin is a professor of criminal law, immigration, and race and law at the University of California, Davis. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
A man on Zoom on a screen above a committee hearing testifies. The man's name is Charles Longshore and he's the author of the Judicial Discretion Act, which allows judges to consider resentencing prisoners serving long terms.

Charles Longshore, author of the Judicial Discretion Act, testifies at a committee hearing while incarcerated at Washington Corrections Center. (Charles Longshore)

Washington Senate lawmakers on Thursday discussed legislation that would enable judges to review and shorten long prison sentences, including life sentences.

House Bill 2001, also known as the Judicial Discretion Act, was written by Charles Longshore, a criminal justice activist incarcerated in a prison north of Olympia. Its sponsored by Rep. Tarra Simmons, D-Kitsap, the first formerly incarcerated lawmaker in Washington.

Theres nothing more [the Department of Corrections] can offer me. Ive been deemed a low risk to re-offend, said Longshore, who is serving time for killing two people in 2012. Ive reconciled all broken relationships. Ive taken responsibility for my actions, and Ive heard the words I forgive you from survivors in my case.

But even after this message I give you, I still have two decades to serve, Longshore said. At what point is our state going to begin taking a second look at sentences imposed?

The Judicial Discretion Act passed the House but did not make it to a Senate committee hearing during the 2024 legislative session, derailing the bill this year. During the interim, lawmakers can still hold work sessions to learn more about legislation. The next session begins Jan. 13, 2025.

Under the Judicial Discretion Act, people convicted of aggravated first-degree murder or considered persistent offenders would not be eligible for resentencing. Otherwise, prisoners are eligible if theyve served 10 years if convicted as an adult or 7 years if convicted as a juvenile. Petitioners would have to demonstrate substantial rehabilitation, minimal risk of reoffense or evidence of facts that werent available at the time of the conviction.

The state abolished parole in 1984 with few exceptions during the national tough on crime movement. Prosecutors can petition for a new sentence under a law that took effect in 2020, Senate Bill 6164, but have only filed 43 petitions out of 1,292 requests, according to data from public records requests presented by the Washington State Office of Public Defense.

6164 is frankly a low priority, said Chad Enright, representing the Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys in front of lawmakers on Thursday. We do not have the staffing to do substantial resentencings.

The impact on victims, people in prison

Enright said he supports the bill but worries about the implications for crime victims, who may have to relive trauma during a prisoners petition, and prosecutors, who are struggling with staffing shortages. Enright said a third of the positions in his office in Kitsap County are empty. The Washington State Association of Counties said that if the bill is passed, the Legislature will need to provide counties with significant resources to implement it.

One sexual assault survivor, identified only as Lynne, pleaded with lawmakers to not allow those convicted of sexual assault to be eligible under the act should it pass.

Should conduct in prison outweigh the gravity of the crime? Must sexual assault victims break open old wounds in order to respond to an offenders petition for early release? Lynne said. We must not heap more wrongs on innocent survivors.

But groups representing survivors testified in support of the legislation and praised the victim fund it would also create to support survivors through services and training. Em Stone, public policy director at the Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, referenced surveys suggesting crime victims are twice as likely to support rehabilitation over incarceration.

What we hear most from survivors is that they want the abuse to stop, and for the person who harmed them to get help, said Stone, who also pointed out that the majority of women incarcerated are survivors of domestic violence, and many of them are in prison for crimes related to their abuse.

Currently and formerly incarcerated people said the Judicial Discretion Act would give prisoners hope and encourage rehabilitation. Jacob Schmitt, who was freed from prison under Senate Bill 6164, called the system created by the 2020 law a failed process and said his release took an enormous amount of leveraging.

I dont know how we make this into a recipe that works well for county prosecutors or for defense attorneys, Schmitt said. But I want to emphasize to the committee those should not be the deciding factors on how we administer justice  particularly when we know better.

The Washington State Office of Public Defense, the Washington Defender Association and the Washington State Minority and Justice Commission also testified in support, pointing to the disproportionate impacts of incarceration on communities of color and cases where theyve seen people grow and change in prison.

We dont have discussions on how much it costs to imprison people, said King County Superior Court Judge Veronica Galvan, co-chair of the Minority and Justice Commission. When it comes to correcting injustice, its always correcting our errors is too great a cost. I submit that not correcting them is an even greater cost.

The post Lawmakers look at allowing judges to resentence people serving long prison terms appeared first on Washington State Standard.
The Montana State Capitol in Helena on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. (Photo by Mike Clark for the Daily Montanan)

The 2023 legislative session saw an unprecedented number of bills, and lawmakers are considering changes to avoid backlogs and staff burnout in 2025.

The Legislative Council Subcommittee on Logistics and Appropriations on Thursday voted 3-1 to recommend to the full committee moving two big deadlines during the session, as well as raising the amount of money a bill needs in order to be considered by the House Appropriations Committee.

Legislative sessions will still remain 90 working days long.

Lawmakers decided to leave the decision on whether to hold committee meetings on Saturdays to leadership, with one Jewish lawmaker telling the Daily Montanan he hopes the Sabbath would be considered in their decision-making.

Lawmakers recommended moving the transmittal deadline  typically at the halfway point in the legislative session where bills without an appropriation must have passed to the other chamber or they cant advance  from Day 45 to Day 48.

The deadline for appropriation bills, previously Day 67, would be pushed to Day 69, if Thursdays recommendations are adopted.

Legislators also recommended upping the funding requirements to be considered an appropriation bill, from $50,000 to $500,000, which would lighten the load of the House Appropriations Committee, one of the busiest legislative committees.

If the threshold amount changes, House Appropriations would see a reduction in 63 bills from 199 heard in the 2023 session and Senate Finance and Claims would hear 53 fewer bills than the 167 bills that committee heard last session.

A graph produced by the Legislative Services Division shows the unprecedented increase in bill hearings during the 2023 legislative session, with every committee seeing an increase from the 2021 session.

Director of the Legislative Fiscal Division Amy Carlson attributed the increases to a number of unique factors to the 2023 legislature  Gov. Greg Gianfortes Red Tape Relief bills, a high number of revenue bills because of the unprecedented budget surplus, as well as an increase in policy bills in the House Judiciary Committee.

There wasnt a person in the building who didnt experience that high number of bills in one place or another, she said.

Another fiscal division graph showed how there was a massive increase in action taken on bills before each of the big deadlines, and legislators hope moving the deadlines back might spread out that activity.

Legislators also considered the cost of holding committee hearings on Saturdays during the session, which Legislative Services Executive Director Jerry Howe said wouldnt cost much as legislators arent paid if they arent gavelled in in either chamber, and staff typically work Saturdays on bill drafts.

Also regularly working on Saturdays outside the break following the transmittal deadline and the Easter holiday weekend would push up sine die, or the last day of session, from May 15 to April 25.

House Speaker Matt Regier, R-Kalispell, said he thought the decision should be left to leadership, saying Saturdays can be a flexible tool, even to allow staff to get caught up on bill drafts.

Rabbi Rep. Ed Stafman, D-Bozeman, told the Daily Montanan he hopes there are no legislative working days on Saturdays, the Sabbath.

We dont meet on Sundays, out of respect for Christian tradition, and I believe we ought to give equal treatment for members of other religious traditions, Stafman said in an email.

Stafman noted the legislature doesnt meet on Sundays to respect Christians going to church, and the often Christian prayer legislators stand for before floor sessions, which he said he feels left out of but stands to be respectful.

Stafman said he reluctantly participated in Saturday sessions during the 2023 legislature so as to not be disruptive. He said proxy votes  or giving your votes to another legislator in your absence  would not be an effective solution as using them would still deprive my constituents of representation in the floor discussions which are an essential part of my participation in the process.

I was not happy about Saturday sessions, but I didnt want to be seen as a troublemaker when leadership was trying hard to figure out how to do what we needed to do in a timely manner, he said. I resolved to call appropriate attention to it for the next session (the upcoming session), and, at a personal level, I doubled down on other aspects of my sabbath observance as a compromise.

The subcommittee will present its recommendations to the full Legislative Council committee during their next meeting, which has not been scheduled, according to the committee website.

The post Lawmakers recommending changing session deadlines, leaving Saturday sessions to leadership appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Leaders looking to crack down on reckless activity of ATVs, dirt bikes in Ohio

Leaders say it is time to go after the reckless activity of some ATVs and dirt bike riders.

>>RELATED: Crackdown on reckless operation of ATVs, dirt bikes coming to Dayton with newly-passed ordinance

People in Columbus say groups of riders speed up and down busy streets, disrupting business during the day and waking them up at night, according to our news partner WBNS in Columbus.

The city says they are dangerous and both a nuisance and illegal.

They have no regard for community norms, said Zach Klein, attorney. On top of that, theyre threatening all of us because you could lose control of those vehicles immediately and injure yourself, kill yourself, or somebody else.

He told WBNS that if Columbus police catch riders, there will be no plea deals.

Riders would have to pay every fine and impound cost.

>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Summer means the return of ATVs, dirt bikes taking over city streets, Dayton police say

News Center 7 previously reported back in March that the City of Dayton is cracking down on illegal ATVs and dirt bikes.

Dayton City Commissioners unanimously passed an ordinance labeling riding non-street legal vehicles on city streets as reckless operation.

It was passed as an emergency ordinance, meaning it goes into place immediately.
New Delhi  More than 50 deaths have been blamed on scorching early summer heat in India over the last week alone, as temperatures in northern and eastern regions have soared to record highs. After arriving early this year, the summer heat has been unrelenting, with temperatures climbing over the 50 degree Celsius mark, or 122 degrees Fahrenheit, in several cities many times.

Capital New Delhi recorded the country's highest ever temperature of 52.9 degrees Celsius (127.22F) on Wednesday, though it may be revised down as the weather department suspects sensors at the local weather station may have been faulty.

At least one person died in the capital on Wednesday, a 40-year-old laborer suffered heat stroke. Ten other locations across the country recorded temperatures over 117 degrees on the same day, and at least two of them simmered over 122 degrees.

A man sleeps on his rickshaw on a street in New Delhi, India, amid a deadly heat wave, May 31, 2024. / Credit: ARUN SANKAR/AFP/Getty

The scorching heat has resulted in deaths of more than 50 people across India, most dying of suspected heat stroke and other heat-related symptoms. At least 29 people died of suspected heat stroke in the eastern states of Bihar and Odisha on Thursday, where temperatures over 113 degrees were recorded.

Ten of the 29 victims were general elections workers in Bihar, according to a report by news outlet India Today. India nearing the end of its massive, seven-phase general elections, virtually all of which have been conducted amid scorching heat. The last of the seven phases will see voters cast their ballots on Saturday.

In the eastern state of Jharkhand, at least four people died due to heat-related symptoms on Thursday when the mercury rose to over 117 degrees.

Villagers gather around a community tap water supply point to fetch drinking water on a hot day in a village on the outskirts of Ajmer, in India's western Rajasthan state, May 27, 2024. / Credit: HIMANSHU SHARMA/AFP/Getty

In the central Indian states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, at least five people, including two children aged 12 and 14 years, died due to suspected heat stroke, and in the western state of Rajasthan, more than half of which is covered by the Thar desert, at least eight people, including two newborns, died of heat-related symptoms, according to Dr Ravi Prakash Mathur, the state's public health director.

Making matters worse for the 32 million inhabitants of India's sweltering capital, the extreme heat has created a water crisis, with more being consumed and less available from parched rivers. With taps running dry in some areas, authorities have been forced to truck in water tankers to set up public distribution points.

A boy drinks water from a tanker truck tap amid a scorching heat wave in New Delhi, India, May 30, 2024. / Credit: Raj K Raj/Hindustan Times/Getty

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned that severe heat wave conditions will continue in eastern parts of the country for some time and it issued a "red alert" for the northern states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, urging people to avoid heat exposure.

Last year, severe heat waves killed more than 100 people in India and neighboring Pakistan in April and May alone. The scorching temperatures also destroyed hundreds of thousands of acres of crops, affecting millions of people in India's vast agriculture sector.

Scientists have linked the killer heat waves on the Asian subcontinent directly to the rapid rate of global warming. Last year, scientists said climate change was making heat waves 100 times more likely to occur.

Reality, as Trump supporters see it

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. Macron's policy towards New Caledonia is not working; a new path is needed, an article by Jimmy Naouna, advisor to the Kanak Socialist Front for National Liberation (FLNKS), in the prestigious British publication Guardian said, Trend reports.

According to him, the unrest in New Caledonia is a direct result of Emmanuel Macron's biased and persistent political maneuvers to derail New Caledonia's self-determination process.

Naouna noted that the electoral reform bill passed in the French National Assembly in Paris two weeks ago provoked riots in Noumea (the capital of New Caledonia).

Since the introduction of the electoral reform bill in the French Senate in April this year, peaceful rallies, demonstrations, marches, and sit-ins have taken place in the city center of Noumea and in the whole of New Caledonia, involving more than 10,000 people. But the French government still put forward a legislative initiative despite clear signs that the law would cause unrest and violent reactions at the local level, the article reads.

The article notes that Macron's behavior in the situation in New Caledonia has been controversial among political groups in France.

Naouna emphasized that Macron's visit to New Caledonia last week was also a propaganda move for political gain.

Even within his party, Macron lost support for getting the electoral reform bill through the Versailles Congress (a joint session of parliament), Naouna wrote.

The article also mentions that, after returning to Paris, Macron considered putting electoral reforms to a national referendum as part of the French constitution. After the visit, FLNKS issued a statement reiterating the demand to suspend or cancel the electoral reform process. Additionally, it demanded that a high-level, independent mission be sent to New Caledonia to reduce tensions and create a more favorable environment.

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At least five people killed in Russian missile attacks on Kharkiv

Rescuers remove the rubble at a block of flats damaged by the overnight Russian missile attack in the Novobavarskyi district of Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine. Five people have been killed and 25 injured after Russian forces launched five S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft guided missiles from Russias Belgorod region at Kharkiv on the night of May 31. -/Ukrinform/dpa

At least five people have been killed and more than two dozen injured in Russian missile attacks in the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram on Friday.

Most of the victims lived in a five-storey apartment block. The attacks also damaged a fire engine and an ambulance, he said.

At least 20 residential buildings were damaged as a result of the attack. The Russian military fired five missiles at the city, he said.

The capital Kiev was attacked with at least one cruise missile, the authorities said, adding that a car repair shop, a car wash and half a dozen vehicles were damaged by falling rocket debris.

A transformer station was damaged, the energy company DTEK said, but the power supply has already been restored. There were no casualties.

Ukraine has been fending off a full-scale Russian invasion for over two years. Due to Russian attacks on the Ukrainian power supply, there are repeated power cuts.

Cars crushed by the rubble are pictured outside a block of flats damaged by the overnight Russian missile attack in the Novobavarskyi district of Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine. Five people have been killed and 25 injured after Russian forces launched five S-300 and S-400 anti-aircraft guided missiles from Russias Belgorod region at Kharkiv on the night of May 31. -/Ukrinform/dpa
For the last two years lawmakers worked to get as many of their priorities on legislation passed while ensuring legislation they didnt favor stagnated. From the anti-transgender bill and constitutional carry to raising pay for teachers, Republicans said it was an extremely successful 2023-2024 session.

Democrats, however, say approving constitutional carry and preventing healthcare for transgender people should not be celebrated.

Either way, both parties have regrets on what they didnt get done. With 228 bills signed into law by Gov. Henry McMaster so far, the Democratic, Republican, Family, Freedom and Black caucuses each have a different outlook. Heres some of what they wished had happened.

Conservative family-related policies pass

State Rep. John McCravy, R-Greenwood, chair of the Family Caucus, said a lot got done and felt it was very successful considering their main priorities, including passing the Help not Harm bill and six-week abortion ban.

I think we were very successful in passing bills that helped our children. It helped them in the womb, it helped them after they were born and it protects them from what I would call child abuse after theyre born, he said.

However, McCravy said there were things he and the Family Caucus wanted to pass. For one, McCravys own bill, the Human Life Protection Act, which would not allow the sale of any type of medicine used for an abortion, as well as ban abortion at conception with exceptions.

We came very close, McCravy said. Were not giving up on that, and we will be back.

He also said he was disappointed the social media restriction bill did not pass the Senate.

More Republican successes

Rep. Davey Hiott, R-Pickens, said the Republican Caucus had one of the most successful sessions he had ever seen. Hiott cited similar successes as McCravy, including the Help not Harm bill. He added taking care of teachers, school resource officers in schools and tax relief were some other wins.

Judicial reform and energy, however, were not. Hiott said both of these are a big deal for South Carolinians. Both have been assigned conferees, or members of the legislator who will be on the conference committee. A date, however, has not been set for either conference.

State Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, said the past two years, even four years, have been very successful because they were able to move on lots of things that five years ago, no one would have thought they could, like school choice and reducing income taxes.

However, Massey said one of the disappointments was not passing the fentanyl bill (S. 1), which would have created a felony offense for anyone who committed a drug-induced homicide.

I am a little bit disappointed that we were not able to get S. 1, which was a number one priority, but it dealt with trying to prevent more fentanyl deaths, Massey said. Im disappointed that the House wasnt able to move that across the finish line.

Not conservative enough

The Freedom Caucus said it was a very successful session in pushing more conservative legislation, said RJ May, vice chairman of the Freedom Caucus.

If not for Freedom Caucus members, you wouldnt have as strong of a bill that we do now, May said of constitutional carry. I would also say that, you know, the reason Gov. McMaster signed the Help Not Harm bill today is because of Freedom Caucus.

May said he was disappointed about closed primaries and universal school freedom not

Having closed primaries wasnt even discussed even though it was over 85% of folks during the referendum said they wanted closed primaries. I think that goes to speak to the lack of disrespect that leadership has for the people of South Carolina, May said.

Republican infighting delays

The Democratic Caucus listed Republican+ infighting that halted progress among their regrets. Todd Rutherford, D-Richland, House Minority leader, said the perfect illustration was moments before Sine Die, when the Freedom Caucus rejected the health bill because they claimed it would create a health czar.

Last year, their boogeyman was critical race theory, something they couldnt define, they couldnt show that it was being taught in schools, but they had to ban it anyway, Rutherford said. The fact is many Republican legislators are not interested in making progress on the actual issues facing our state and until people stop voting for these Republicans, that will not change.

Numerous hours were consumed this session with Republican in-fighting between House Republican Caucus members and the Freedom Caucus. Caucuses disagreed on its impact.

Things got done because of the pressure that the Freedom Caucus put on the establishment, May said.

Hiott, however, said the Republican caucus passed the legislation that was a priority for them, and they didnt need any help. They passed what they wanted because they have the numbers to do so.

We didnt have any problems, Hiott said. I mean we have 72 members in our caucus and 72 can pass anything we wanna pass. We dont need any help from anybody. We passed everything we wanted to with our members.

The infighting wasnt the only issue Democrats cited.

So what did Republicans do this session? They banned abortion, they banned books, they banned health care for transgender people. We did that in a state that ranks at the bottom of the list for health care, education, you name it, Rutherford wrote via text.

While Democrats were able to work on policy related to public education and infrastructure, it was not a successful session, he added, because Democrats define success as as passing laws that make peoples lives better. Certain Republican politicians who want to sell bumper stickers might call it a successful session, but I do not.

Still no Hate Crime bill

The Black Caucus expressed similar views on success, emphasizing the many things the caucus wished had passed and wish didnt pass.

Ivory Thigpen, D-Richland, chair of the Black caucus said he was glad about teacher pay, but diversity on the bench is a main concern as well as getting a hate crime law passed.

I personally believe we were without excuse, especially considering what happened June 16 at Mother Emmanuel ... we should have been one of the first states after such a horrible incident happened on our soil to pass hate crimes legislation, Thigpen said.

Thigpen said how constitutional will affect communities and law enforcement is a growing concern.
Legislative workers to file lawsuit against IL Speaker of the House for not cooperating with unionization efforts

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA)  Illinois Speaker of the House Chris Welch is facing a lawsuit from his own staff. They claim he has stalled efforts to recognize their labor organization.

The lawsuit was filed in Cook County Circuit Court on Friday.

Welch has sponsored a bill to create a framework for collective bargaining with legislative staff and their bosses. It passed the House, but has yet to be voted on in the Senate.

Illinois House passes budget, sends it to Gov. Pritzkers desk

In an press release issued Friday, the Illinois Legislative Staff Association accused Welch and his staff of obstruction, stonewalling, insincere engagement, political theater and gaslighting the union leaders attempts to negotiate.

We are done waiting for Speaker Welch to take responsibility for the lack of action on the part of himself and his aides, ILSA said in a statement. We are done waiting for him to take the initiative to do what is best for his caucus and the people of Illinois. We are done waiting for something more than reluctant half-measures and poorly written messaging bills. Enough is enough.

Carbon Capture regulations pass Senate, head to Governors desk

The association also criticizes his hypocrisy for not coming to the table despite his advocacy for the Workers Rights Amendment in 2022.

A spokesperson for Welchs office said neither the Speaker nor the Speakers office has received the lawsuit, but they will review it once they get it.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.
Lincoln County residents are being asked for money from people pretending to be from sheriffs office

LINCOLNTON, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Yet another local law enforcement agency is warning against fraudulent calls.

Deputies say that on Friday, the Lincoln County Sheriffs Office received numerous tips from residents about an attempted scheme in which the caller was impersonating a member of the department.

Bear spotted on Lake Norman; believed to have swam across the lake

Callers say they were advised they had been contacted by an employee of the sheriffs office informing them they had an outstanding warrant, and the warrant may be resolved by paying with gift cards, Venmo or Apple Pay.

The alleged caller is using an actual employees name with the Sheriffs Office.



The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office says deputies will never call to solicit funds in any way from citizens to resolve outstanding warrants. And that law enforcement does not accept money in order to cancel a warrant or an order for arrest. All warrants are served in person and not by telephone.

If you receive a call from the scammers, simply hang up.

These types of calls also have been reported in Mecklenburg County, Caldwell County and York County, S.C. For the latter, some callers also have falsely offered to sell ankle monitors for bail purposes.

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.
LINDEN  Mayor Derek Armstead has issued an apology for making disparaging comments about Hasidic Jews, while also claiming to be the victim of extortion by a former school district administrator, a complaint that police said they investigated and determined did not warrant further action.

Armstead's apology came in response to comments made in a meeting with former Linden Assistant Superintendent of Schools Paul Oliveira. Oliveira cited the comments in a civil lawsuit the school administrator filed last week against the mayor, Linden Board of Education and other school officials, alleging he was forced to quit his job because he objected to an "antisemitic and illegal scheme" that was aimed at excluding Jews from being hired.

The lawsuit alleges Armstead said only to hire African American or Haitian applicants because "That is what has to happen in order to keep our community from being taken over by guys with big hats and curls."

Linden Mayor Derek Armstead

Armstead, a Democrat who is seeking the District 10 Congressional seat vacated by the April 24 death of Donald Payne Jr., said he remains committed to diversity and inclusivity in the community.

The mayor said he was advocating for a workforce that reflects the diversity of the Linden student body, where about 32.4 percent of the Black students at Linden High School are of Haitian descent and only speak Creole, which has created a need for Creole-speaking teachers.

In the lawsuit, Oliveira said he took protected medical leave due to the stress and anxiety caused by a conspiracy to exclude Hasidic Jewish people from being employed by the Linden school district. Armstead said Oliveira's claims lack evidence of any Hasidic Jewish candidates applying for school district positions.

Oliveira's lawsuit also includes accusations that he was directed to prioritize African American or Haitian applications, allegations the mayor denies.

Armstead alleges Oliveira and his attorney Armen McOmber tried to extort $950,000 from Linden taxpayers and students to settle Oliveira's "whistleblower" complaints before the lawsuit was filed.

"The core of Oliveira's accusations involved a secretly recorded meeting between himself and the implicated officials. McOmber threatened a legal and public relations campaign if his $950,000 ransom demands were not met," Armstead's team said a news release, which also questioned the timing and motivation behind the release of the recorded conversation while Armstead in seeking a congressional office.

The alleged extortion claim was reported by school officials to the Linden Police Department for investigation. Armstead also called for a criminal investigation by the Union County Prosecutor's Office.

Linden police said a report was made in reference to the allegation, which was reviewed by the police department's Investigative Bureau, in conjunction with the Union County Prosecutors Office, and it was determined that further investigation was not warranted.

In the meantime, it appears Oliveira is looking to move on. According to Armstead's release, Oliveira has a new job as the chief administrator at the Academy for Urban Leadership, a charter school in Perth Amboy, with a salary of $190,000 per year. An email sent to the interim administrator at the Academy for Urban Leadership has not yet been returned.

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Linden NJ Mayor Derek Armstead sorry for comments about Jews
Lithuania would be willing to send its personnel to train Ukrainian soldiers on Ukrainian soil if needed, Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte told Bloomberg on May 31.

The notion of Western troops being sent to Ukraine has been hotly debated since French President Emmanuel Macron said that Western military presence in Ukraine cannot be "ruled out" in the future.

The U.S. and multiple European allies, as well as NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, have distanced themselves from Macron's statement.

"This is a long-standing exercise in which we train Ukrainian soldiers. We trained them before this invasion, and this is a long-lasting cooperation between our military forces and the Ukrainian military forces. We train them in third countries, and we train them in Lithuania," Simonyte said.

"Lithuania, if needed, maybe would train them also in Ukraine in partnership with countries that would be willing to do so."

Some NATO member states were discussing the possibility of sending military instructors or contractors to Ukraine to train Ukrainian troops and assist with equipment repairs, the New York Times reported in mid-May.

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur said earlier that the idea of sending Western troops to Ukraine has not advanced either in Estonia or at the EU level since "there is no clear understanding among the allies what it would bring."

In turn, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said Poland should not rule out sending its troops to Ukraine.

According to Reuters, France may announce its decision as early as next week to send military instructions to Ukraine.

Read also: Reuters: France could soon send its military instructors to Ukraine, sources say

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Lithuania is ready to send its military contingent to Ukraine to assist in troop training, stated the country's Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte.

Source: European Pravda, citing Simonyte in an interview with Bloomberg

Details: Simonyte reiterated that Lithuania had been helping with training Ukrainian military personnel even before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and there has been a long-standing cooperation between the Lithuanian and Ukrainian armed forces.

Quote from Simonyte: "We train them (Ukrainian soldiers  ed.) in the third countries. We train them in Lithuania. If needed, maybe, we would train them also in Ukraine in partnership with other countries who would be willing to do so."

Details: Simonyte emphasised that everything must be done to help Ukraine that is defending its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the war against Russia.

Background:

On 30 May, Reuters reported that France may soon send military instructors to Ukraine, despite concerns from some allies and criticism from Russia, media reports indicate.

According to Le Monde, French President Emmanuel Macron aims to form a coalition of countries willing to send military instructors to train Ukrainian soldiers directly in Ukraine.

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Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis believes that if Russia puts valid military targets in Belarus, Ukraine has the right to strike them.

Source: Landsbergis before a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague in response to questions from the Belarusian service of Radio Liberty, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Landsbergis stressed that Ukraine "must be able to defend itself".

Quote: "If Russia, fearing that targets in Russia could be struck, moves them somewhere else, I feel that the choice of target should also be changed accordingly" the Lithuanian foreign minister added.

Ukraine recently confirmed media claims that the administration of US President Joe Biden had secretly approved Ukraine's strikes on Russian territory using US-supplied weapons, but only near Kharkiv Oblast.

Furthermore, the German government stated that they authorise Ukraine to utilise the German weaponry for assaults on Russian military facilities on the territory of the Russian Federation in the context of the Russian offensive in Kharkiv Oblast.

According to the European Commission, Ukraine has the right to defend itself from armed aggression under international law, including striking military targets on Russian territory.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 31. A jury in New York found former US President Donald Trump guilty of falsifying documents, Trend reports.

According to the information, the jury found Trump guilty on all 34 charges. Now the court must determine the punishment for the former US President.

It is noted that the hearings in the case of the 45th president of America began in April of this year.

This is the first time in US history that a former head of state has been put on trial in a criminal case.
Its of course true that come Nov. 5, the nation's voters could well decide to shrug off the historic guilty verdict that a Manhattan jury rendered against Donald Trump on Thursday afternoon. And that is the conclusion many have already reached about the seismic event that just took place in Room 1530 of the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse: It's hollow unless it ignites the will to deliver a popular denunciation of the former president this fall.

That analysis is, in my view, myopic.

Its always been the case that the American people can override the rule of law  a normally slight risk that has roared forward in recent years under the whip hand of a would-be tyrant. Thats the message that a furious and ashen Trump delivered when he emerged from the courtroom where a jury of seven men and five women gave the prosecution all it asked for by convicting him on 34 felony counts. The real verdict, Trump barked, is going to be November 5th by the people.

In fact, the jury that delivered the real verdict, and the judge who presided over the hush money trial and is expected to sentence him in July, did their work conscientiously and even doggedly under a hailstorm of insults and threats from the defendant and his supporters. We have for years hoped for such a measure of accountability for the unrepentant former president. It finally arrived, and the center held.

Read more: Litman: Trump's hush money trial is about to go to the jury. What's the most likely verdict?

Unlike the insults, the accolades showered on the jurors and Judge Juan M. Merchan are more than deserved. Having attended most of the trial, I think their seriousness of purpose matched the gravity of their duties.

But it wasnt just the determination of the jury, judge and prosecutors that forced Trump to endure weeks of damning testimony in person and to now face at least the possibility of a short prison term. And it wasn't just the resolve of the witnesses, some of whom retain loyalty or at least affection for Trump but understood their legal duty to testify truthfully.

Merchans firm hold of the reins bolstered his authority, but what really made the difference was his robe, or what his robe represents. Trump was forced to submit to a whole regime that ultimately springs from our deepest constitutional values of fairness and equality before the law. How galling for a man who holds such deep contempt for  indeed seems incapable of apprehending  the rule of law rather than men.

Read more: Litman: Trump is finally facing a criminal trial  and a judge determined to keep it on track

Now what? First of all, Trump is an altered figure in the eyes of that law. No longer presumed innocent, he is proven guilty, a convict, a serial offender. And like any other convict, he will have to sit down for an interview with the probation office, which will prepare a report and recommendation for the judge based on its assessment of Trumps offenses and his acceptance of responsibility, among other factors. That doesnt augur well for a man who has spent a lifetime failing to own up to misconduct.

Merchan set sentencing for July 11, when he may well take into account Trump's perverse lack of remorse and contempt for the system that convicted him. The sentence will be at the discretion of the judge, who will no doubt strive to handle it as he would for any other similarly convicted felon.

Next will come the inevitable appeal of the conviction, in which Trump's lawyers will likely allege that the trial was tainted by several serious errors. And the legal issues here were complicated enough to present a risk of reversal regardless of how Merchan handled them.

But the measured pace of justice has finally ceased to serve Trumps interests in this case. It will be a year and a half or more before there is any possibility of a reversal of the sentence or conviction. By then, Trump figures to be either a convict in other forums  and todays groundbreaking result can only make convictions in his three other criminal cases more plausible  or a president taking a wrecking ball to the entire legal system.

Again, though, that prospect has always been on the horizon. The full and fair operation of the rule of law to hold a former president accountable, however, was not.

On the contrary, it has often seemed over the last few years as if some combination of power-mongering, legal bluster, friends in high places (some of them wearing judicial robes) and bizarre good luck would invariably combine to insulate Trump from the law that is supposed to apply to all of us. Indeed, we can fairly expect that at some point in the coming weeks, the U.S. Supreme Court will render an opinion that will serve both to elevate future presidents above the law to an extent and to forestall the most important trial Trump faces, the federal Jan. 6 case, until after the election.

Today, though, the law prevailed in a fashion that was at the same time basic and majestic. Trump received a fair trial and due process, no more and no less than the next defendant who will be in the same seat in the same dilapidated courtroom where he spent most of the last six weeks. Given all the powerful forces aligned against the rule of law in recent years, we should see that as nothing less than a triumph in and of itself.

Harry Litman is the host of the Talking Feds podcast and the Talking San Diego speaker series. @harrylitman





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, L, and his delegation meets with Chinese defense officials on Friday. Photo courtesy of Department of Defense/ X

May 31 (UPI) -- U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III expressed "concern" to his Chinese counterpart about its activities in the Taiwan Strait after its recent actions in the region during a bilateral meeting Friday.

Austin sat down with China's Defense Minister Adm. Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Shangri-La security summit in Singapore, a continuation of high-level talks between United States and Chinese officials during the Biden administration.

"[Austin] expressed concern about recent provocative PLA activity around the Taiwan Strait, and he reiterated that the PRC should not use Taiwan's political transition -- part of a normal, routine democratic process -- as a pretext for coercive measures," said a readout of the meeting released by the Defense Department.

Austin said in the 75-minute meeting that the United States is firm on the need for "peace and stability" in the Taiwan Strait.

"The secretary underscored that the United States remains committed to its longstanding One China policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three U.S.-China Joint Communiques and the Six Assurances."

Lai Ching-te, a strong supporter of Taiwan's democracy, was elected the island's president in January, sending a signal that he will continue its move to remain autonomous from mainland China.

The readout also said that Austin reaffirmed the United States' access to the South China Sea according to international law and China's support of Russia in its invasion of Ukraine.

The secretary made it clear that the United States will continue to fly, sail and operate -- safely and responsibly --- wherever international law allows," the readout said. "He underscored the importance of respect for high seas freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea."

Dong condemned the United States for a congratulatory message to Lai, calling on it to "correct its mistakes" it believes encourage Taiwan independence. He also criticized a U.S. deployment of a missile system during military drills with the Philippines, claiming it was a "threat to regional security," according to CNN.

Wu Qian, the Chinese defense ministry spokesperson said after the meeting that there were "positive effects" with the face-to-face and they gained greater understanding of issues such as Taiwan.
A local police officer was recently honored at a Cincinnati Reds game.

>>K9 officer retires after serving 8 years at Ohio police department

Lieutenant Jay Phares is retiring from the Miami Township Police Department after 34 years and celebrated it with family and friends.

The department posted photos and a video on its social media page.

The Reds honored Lt. Phares with a special ceremony.

He even appeared on the jumbotron.
ALABAMA (WKRG)  Many Alabama politicians have broken their silence after former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts in his hush-money case.

Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen said the appeal that Trumps team files should be a slam dunk.

Todays verdict is a perfect example of why our judicial system has an appeals process in place. It is a fail-safe for every American citizen against errors made in the court system, said Allen. Every citizen has a right to a fair appeal and President Trumps appeals case should be a slam dunk for any unbiased and fair appellate court. It is obvious to anyone paying attention that todays verdict is a travesty of justice. This verdict will not stand!

Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz said, This verdict is the corrupt result of a corrupt trial, a corrupt judge, and a corrupt DA. We will stand with President Trump now more than ever to save the country.

Clock ticking down until moving date for Baldwin County horse rescue

Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville also released a statement saying in part, Its a very dark day in American history. This trial was a political witch hunt from the start. The fact that the Biden campaign staged a press conference outside the court tells you everything you need to know.

Another local politician who released a statement after the verdict was announced was Alabama Representative Barry Moore who described the court as a kangaroo court.

This will go down in history as a sad day for America. This verdict is a travesty of justice in a kangaroo court, and it proves Joe Bidens sole focus is not to help the American people, but instead to weaponize against his political opponents to help his reelection during a failing administration, said Moore. Americans will be outraged by this obvious weaponization because they now know that anyone can be targeted. They deserve better than a President who convicts his opponent because hes too afraid to face him at the ballot box.

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.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Nevadas elected officials reacted Thursday to the guilty verdicts in former President Donald Trumps trial. Trump was convicted on 34 felony charges by a New York jury after 12 hours of deliberation.

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo (Republican):

I respect the work of the jury but believe that this has been a political witch-hunt in a hostile courtroom. The rule of law should always be applied fairly and without prejudice. President Trump will have an opportunity to appeal, and I expect an unbiased process will vindicate President Trump.

U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.). Nevadas senior senator:

We know that Donald Trump is willing to do anything to protect his own interests, including undermining our elections. No one is above the law, and Im glad to see justice served today.

U.S. Rep. Dina Titus (D-Nev.):

Today, for the first time in our nations history, a former president was found guilty of committing multiple felonies. This is a critical moment for our nation. We must recognize that Donald Trump, a twice-impeached, four-times indicted, morally bankrupt individual is undeniably the greatest threat facing our democracy. Trumps agenda would tear down the social and economic progress we have made in the last few years, and the seeds of hate he sows would once again divide us, not unite us.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford (Democrat):

I applaud Judge Juan Merchans oversight of this trial and his pursuit of the rule of law. I know emotions may run high in the aftermath of this verdict, and I urge everyone to remain calm as our justice system continues its work.

Nevada Republican Party:

We strongly condemn the wrongful conviction announced in todays verdict. While this conviction will be appealed immediately, and we anticipate an immediate stay of any penalties or sanctions pending the appeal, it was clear from the beginning that this trial was a politically motivated witch hunt.

This trial stood as smoke and mirrors while Nevadans and the American people are facing issues such as the rising cost of living brought on by Bidenflation and a weak, dangerous Southern Border. This is an attempt to distract voters from Democrat created problems in our nation, matched with record low polling in the case of Biden.

The partisan farce that unfolded today can be described as nothing short of a radicalized campaign stunt born of a highly conflicted trial. We stand in complete support of President Donald J. Trump and resist the charges upheld in todays judgment.

Notwithstanding the local reactions, for and against the former president, Trump issued the following statement Thursday afternoon on another social media platform, Truth: My civil rights have been totally violated with this highly political, unconstitutional, and election interfering witch hunt. Our failing nation is being laughed at all over the world! Trump also called the trial and the verdict a disgrace, and said to a collection of news reporters and photographers, the real verdict is going to be on November 5 by the people.

Trump is scheduled to be sentenced in state court in New York on July 11. The Republican National Convention begins four days later, July 15, in Milwaukee.

Republican challengers for some offices currently held by Democrats also weighed in on the verdicts. Their opponents statements will be added when available.

Sam Brown, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate

First, they tried to keep Donald Trump off the ballot. Now, they are trying to keep him off the campaign trail. This has been a sham political trial from the beginning, all because DC Democrats are afraid of LOSING and answering for their failures this November.

John Lee, Republican candidate for Congressional District 4:

The real verdict will come on November 5th. #Trump2024

Dan Schwartz, Republican candidate for Congressional District 3:

Joe Biden and his political allies set in motion a prosecution against President Trump. The charges against President Trump were a disguised political ploy against the former President who is leading in virtually all polls in battleground states. Let me be clear: weaponizing our judicial system against a political opponent is wrong and fundamentally un-American. The American people can see through this charade. We must make our voices heard loud and clear this November by re-electing President Trump.

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 KLAS.
BE ON THE LOOKOUT: Suspect at large after attempted murder on I-20 in Mitchell County

MITCHELL COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A suspect is on the run after an attempted murder on I-20 in Mitchell County Friday morning.

Kristopher Adams, 47, of Azle, Texas sustained a single gunshot wound on the interstate near mile marker 224 just after 10:30 a.m., according to a press release from the Texas Department of Public Safety.

The press release states Adams was hospitalized, where he remains in stable condition, and the suspect involved in this crime is now wanted and on the run.

She is described as a Hispanic female with brown-black hair and tattoos on her forearm. She was last wearing a blue shirt, black shorts, and a gray sweatshirt. This suspect could be driving a 2012 GMC Yukon with Texas license plate SXF2364.

Anyone who sees this suspect is asked to call the Mitchell County Sheriffs Office at (325)728-5261.

Texas Rangers are now assisting with the investigaiton.

No further information is available at this time.

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True crime is more popular than ever, with the anniversaries of dark deeds greeted rapturously by fans and journalists alike. So this being almost 50 years on, inevitably it was time for someone to dig up once again the story of how 39-year-old Richard John Bingham, the seventh Earl of Lucan, vanished in November 1974, allegedly after murdering Sandra Rivett, his childrens nanny, and injuring his wife Veronica.

He has since been sighted in places as far-flung as Paraguay, an Australian sheep station, a Johannesburg hospital and, my favourite, backpacking on Mount Etna. It is highly unlikely, but for all we know he is still alive. One of the more exotic tales of his demise involved him killing himself with a shotgun, and then being fed to one of his chum John Aspinalls tigers at his private Kentish zoo.

That splendid and weird novelist Muriel Spark outdid all the frantic speculation with a novel, Aiding and Abetting, about two men claiming to be Lord Lucan who so annoyed a fraudulent psychiatrist that she had them invited to meet a chief in central Africa where one of them was eaten by cannibals.

There will be a podcast series next week called The Trial of Lord Lucan where two barristers will debate the evidence provided by a rediscovered 1975 60-page Scotland Yard dossier on the case. This seems to point to Lucan having been so deranged by a custody battle with his wife that he was telling friends he intended to kill her. The unfortunate Mrs Rivett was collateral damage. Omerta was the code of his loyal friends.

A whole new generation of conspiracy theorists will be busy reinventing the past assiduously. They shouldnt bother.

We are all guilty of saying sometimes that truth is stranger than fiction, but it often isnt. Lucans life was a disappointment. Evacuated to a millionairesss estate in New York in 1940, he came home in 1945 grumpily to grey weather and rations. He disliked the life provided by his high-minded austere, Left-wing parents, and at Eton, during National Service, and as a young banker, he took to gambling so enthusiastically that he turned professional in his mid-20s.

His life revolved around the casino, his obsession made him terrible company, his marriage turned sour, his estranged wife neared breakdown, his children lived with their mother, and after a long losing streak so disastrous that he acquired the nickname Lucky, he seems to have seen murder as his only way out. Almost certainly, having killed the wrong woman, he panicked, fled and drowned himself in the Channel.

This brought back the memory of another famous disappearance around the same time, when the MP John Stonehouse  who had several ministerial jobs until Ted Heath defeated Harold Wilson in 1970  was presumed dead in a swimming accident off the Miami coast.

He, however, did survive, and with the help of stolen passports began a new life in Australia with his beautiful mistress, only to end up in jail back home when he was caught. On release he wrote an autobiography called Death of an Idealist, had a mundane few years, and started a company manufacturing electronic safes.

Quite often, truth is duller than fiction.

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(KRON)  Los Altos native Saskia Lagergren will become the citys new police chief. She will begin serving as Los Altos top cop on Monday overseeing 32 officers.

Lagergren is returning to her hometown after serving as a police captain for the Santa Clara Police Department.

Over her two decades serving the Santa Clara community, Lagergren steadily rose through the ranks, serving as an undercover narcotics detective, temporary holding facility sergeant, sexual assault detective, and field training officer sergeant. Lagergren also championed officer and professional staff well-being by creating and leading an employee wellness committee at SCPD.

Saskia Lagergren (Photo courtesy City of Palo Alto)

She said, I am both honored and humbled to lead the Los Altos Police Department. Having grown up in this community, I have a profound appreciation for its unique character and values.

City Manager Gabriel Engeland said, We are thrilled to welcome Chief Lagergren. Her exceptional leadership in public safety and proven ability to form genuine, long-standing relationships with the community make her an ideal fit.

Who is the new Oakland Police Chief?

Lagergren holds a masters degree in business administration from Loyola Marymount University, and she played Division I softball at Furman University. Additionally, she is an alumna of Saint Francis High School.

Lagergren succeeds former Los Altos Police Chief Angela Averiett, who resigned in April to assume the position of San Leandro Police Department interim police chief.

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 potential end of the vaccination requirement mirrors other local governments' policies and comes as cases have begun to rise slightly in California. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles could soon end its requirement for city employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

City officials are recommending that the Los Angeles City Council halt the requirement as soon as early June, according to a newly released report. The COVID vaccination rule was first approved by city leaders nearly three years ago as public health officials urged vaccination to protect people from the coronavirus.

In a report, City Administrative Officer Matt Szabo noted that other local government agencies  including the cities of Long Beach and San Diego and Los Angeles County  had stopped requiring COVID vaccination as a condition of employment. Szabo said L.A. employee groups had not opposed ending the requirement.

The L.A. ordinance defined "fully vaccinated" as workers having received either one dose of a single shot vaccine, such as the Johnson & Johnson shot, or both doses of a vaccine that required two shots, such as the Moderna or Pfizer vaccines, but said the definition "may be expanded" if health officials required boosters. Under the city ordinance, workers could seek an exemption if they had "a medical condition or restriction or sincerely held religious beliefs."

If city leaders approve ending the requirements, employees who resigned or were terminated because of the vaccination rule may be eligible to be rehired in the same positions as before.

Eighty-six city workers were terminated under the rule, Szabo said; it is unclear how many employees resigned over the COVID vaccination requirement because they do not have to report their reasons.

Read more: COVID is rising in California. Here's how to protect yourself from FLiRT subvariants

Los Angeles has faced numerous lawsuits over its COVID vaccination rule. In one of the latest suits, filed last week in federal court, a woman formerly employed as a city accountant said she was denied a religious exemption from the vaccination requirement and ultimately discharged from her position. She accused the city of discrimination, saying it had ignored its policy of "accommodating sincerely held religious beliefs."

The move to halt the vaccination requirements comes as the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has seen a slight uptick in COVID cases, although they cautioned that it was too soon to say if it would become a sustained increase.

Read more: Despite its 'nothingburger' reputation, COVID-19 remains deadlier than the flu

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles woman arrested again on suspicion of attempted kidnapping in Koreatown

Yara Vanessa Pineda, who was arrested Tuesday, was previously held on suspicion of trying to kidnap a boy from a Target store in February. (LAPD)

For the second time this year, a Los Angeles woman with a mental health disorder has been arrested on suspicion of attempting to kidnap a child in Koreatown.

Her previous sentencing for attempted kidnapping resulted in a diversion program for a mental health disorder that the court believed had a role in her initial crime.

But police say she tried another abduction Tuesday, when L.A. Police Department officers responded to reports of a woman approaching children about 5 p.m. at Seoul International Park in the 3200 block of San Marino Street, according to the department.

Witnesses who spoke to officers said the woman, identified as Yara Vanessa Pineda, approached several children, picked them up and then let them go, KTLA-TV Channel 5 reported.

Pineda, 27, allegedly put the children down after their parents confronted her, and then she fled.

Read more: Suspect in clubbing of two women near Venice canals arrested in San Diego

Officers saw Pineda running down Normandie Avenue and tried to arrest her, said Jader Chaves, an LAPD spokesperson . She resisted, and officers used a Taser to subdue her, Chaves said.

The LAPD had arrested her Feb. 28 on suspicion of trying to kidnap a young boy from a Target.

On Feb. 25, Olympic Division officers responded to a report that Pineda allegedly grabbed a 4-year-old child from behind and carried him out of the store, according to a police report.

Pineda allegedly put the child down after his parents confronted her outside. The family told officers they didn't know Pineda.

Three days later, officers in the North Hollywood area got a call from a person who saw Pineda and recognized her from a community alert issued by police. She was found and arrested in the attempted kidnapping.

On May 21, Pineda was sentenced to two years of a mental health diversion program. It was unclear from court records why she was released so recently after the previous arrest.

Read more: Some who are mentally ill remain in L.A. County jails after charges are dropped, report says

A court is allowed to grant a mental health diversion for individuals with a felony charge if they are diagnosed with a mental health disorder and do not pose a significant safety risk if treated in the community, according to the California Department of State Hospitals. The charges, however, can't be murder, voluntary manslaughter, rape or lewd and lascivious acts with a child under the age of 14.

The diagnosis can be of schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder.

Pineda's diagnosis was not disclosed in court documents.

A mental health diversion is granted when the court deems that a mental health disorder played a role in the criminal behavior.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
After unveiling a new form of multi-coloured ceramic called chroma ceramic in March 2024, Swiss Haute Horlogerie manufacturer Audemars Piguet is proud to present a new material called chroma gold with a camouflage motif

This patented polychrome gold is obtained thanks to the latest Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technology, which enables the rapid sintering of powered gold, and which has already been used in the development of chroma ceramic. Created by Audemars Piguets R&D teams, this new blend of gold alloys opens up new creative horizons. This unprecedented material is presented on a prototype at the Seek Beyond: Shaping Materials exhibition in Milan.

A PATENTED INNOVATION

Always experimenting with innovative materials, Audemars Piguet has developed and patented a new precious blend. Like the polychrome ceramic presented at the beginning of the year, the new chroma gold has been obtained by using Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) technology, which significantly reduces the sintering time from several hours to just a few dozen minutes.

Chroma gold is presented on a 34 mm Royal Oak with a camouflage motif combining yellow, white and pink gold.  Audemars Piguet

To create this multi-coloured camouflage motif, the different colours of gold are transformed separately: the gold is first melted before the droplets are atomised into powder. Each powder is then carefully placed in a circular graphite mould to create the desired pattern. The mould is then sintered by passing a powerful electric current through the graphite. This current creates a meteoric rise in temperature which, combined with the mechanical pressure on both sides of the mould, allows extremely rapid sintering to take place. The resulting disc reveals the various shades of gold that have been harmoniously combined during the powder distribution process.

A first for the watchmaking industry, this process required the mastery of SPS technology and involved numerous tests to find the right distribution of gold hues to achieve the desired aesthetic effect. In addition, the compression of the gold powders during the sintering cycle makes each piece unique, as the pattern varies slightly from model to model. Despite these subtle variations, this technique ensures visual consistency between the different components. Each disc produced can be used to create a case, a bezel or bracelet links, enhancing the unique appearance of the whole.

The various components are then pre-polished and pre-satin-brushed before being meticulously hand-finished to create the Manufactures trademark alternation of satin finishing and polished chamfers. These finishes enhance the play of light typical of the Royal Oak collection and bring out the nuances of yellow, white and pink gold.

Chroma gold is presented on a 34 mm Royal Oak with a camouflage motif combining yellow, white and pink gold.  Audemars Piguet

CONSTANT RESEARCH INTO INNOVATIVE MATERIALS

Audemars Piguet has always combined avant-garde, if not disruptive, materials and aesthetics. This creativity reflects the pioneering spirit that the Manufacture has nurtured for generations and it is thanks to the meticulous work of its artisans that some materials, such as steel, titanium, carbon or ceramic have been ennobled and given a place in the world of watchmaking.

Since the launch of the Royal Oak (5402ST) in 1972, with its steel armour featuring high-end finishes hitherto reserved for gold, Audemars Piguet has used a wide range of materials over the years. The Royal Oak Offshore collection has served as a platform for the introduction of new materials, including titanium in 1998, forged carbon in 2004 and ceramic in 2008, a material first used in the Bamboo collection in the late 1980s. The Royal Oak Concept took the quest for material innovation even further when it was launched in 2002 with a case combining titanium and Alacrite 602, a light and extremely resistant high-tech alloy. In 2008, the Royal Oak Carbon Concept Tourbillon and Chronograph marked a new milestone in avant-garde design. In 2023, Audemars Piguet introduced a precious form of Bulk Metallic Glass (BMG), which premiered on a Royal Oak Jumbo Extra-Thin model (ref. 16202XT), a new first in the watchmaking industry.

Today, the Manufacture extends its range of possibilities with the launch of chroma gold. This blend of gold hues opens up new horizons in terms of the combination of precious materials, personalisation and design, heralding a colourful future.

This multi-coloured gold opens a new chapter in exploring precious materials to offer unprecedented design to both our creations and our clients.

Lucas Raggi, Research and Development Director, Audemars Piguet
FILE - Workers repaint a Ten Commandments billboard off of Interstate 71 on Election Day near Chenoweth, Ohio, Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. Louisiana could soon become the first state to require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom  in another expansion of religion into day to day life by a Republican-dominated legislature. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP)  Louisiana could soon become the first state to require that the Ten Commandments be displayed in every public school classroom  in another expansion of religion into day-to-day life by a Republican-dominated legislature.

The legislation received final approval from the states GOP-dominated Legislature earlier this week and is headed to the desk of Republican Gov. Jeff Landry. It mandates that a poster-sized display of the Ten Commandments in large, easily readable font be required in all public classrooms, from kindergarten to state-funded universities.

The GOP-authored bill comes during a new era of conservative leadership in Louisiana under Landry, who succeeded two-term Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards in January. The state's reliably red Legislature also has a GOP supermajority and Republicans hold every statewide elected position, paving the way for lawmakers to push a conservative agenda. That includes a package of anti-LGBTQ+ bills, tough-on-crime policies, migrant enforcement measures and legislation mirroring conservative plans in Texas and Florida.

Similar bills requiring the Ten Commandments be displayed in classrooms have been proposed in other statehouses  including Texas, Oklahoma and Utah. However, with threats of legal battles over the constitutionality of such measures, no state has had success in the bills becoming law. If signed into law in Louisiana, legal challenges are expected to follow.

Legal battles over the Ten Commandments in classrooms are not new.

In 1980, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a similar Kentucky law was unconstitutional and in violation of the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution, which says Congress can make no law respecting an establishment of religion. The high court found that the law had no secular purpose, but rather served a plainly religious purpose.

In Louisiana, a state ensconced in the Bible Belt, proponents of the bill argue that the measure is constitutional on historical grounds.

GOP state Sen. Jay Morris said Tuesday that the purpose is not solely religious to have the Ten Commandments displayed in our schools, but rather its historical significance." He went on to say that the Ten Commandments is "simply one of many documents that display the history of our country and the foundation for our legal system.

The law also authorizes  but does not require  the display of the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence and the Northwest Ordinance in K-12 public schools.

Opponents continue to question the bill's constitutionality, warning that the state is sure to face lawsuits.

Democratic state Sen. Royce Duplessis argued that while supporters of the legislation say the intent of the bill is for historical significance, it does not give the state constitutional cover and has serious problems.

The lawmaker questioned why the Legislature was focusing on the display of the Ten Commandments, saying there are many more documents that are historical in nature.

"I was raised Catholic and I still am a practicing Catholic, but I didn't have to learn the Ten Commandments in school," Duplessis said on Tuesday. It is why we have church. If you want your kids to learn about the Ten Commandments take them to church.

The author of the bill, GOP state Rep. Dodie Horton, argued earlier this session that the Ten Commandments do not solely have to do with one religion.

This is not preaching a Christian religion. Its not preaching any religion. Its teaching a moral code, Horton said during a committee hearing in April. Last year, the lawmaker sponsored another law that requires all schools to display the national motto In God We Trust in public classrooms.

Some opponents noted that while schools may soon be required to display the Ten Commandments, the Legislature has also recently passed a bill that broadly bars teachers from discussing gender identity and sexual orientation in public school classrooms.

The measure, which is expected to be signed into law, would bar teachers from discussing their own sexual orientation and gender identity in K-12 public schools. It would also prohibit discussion of those topics in a manner that deviates from state content standards or curricula developed or approved by the public school governing authority. In addition, the bill prohibits covering the topics of sexual orientation or gender identity during any extracurricular activity that is under the jurisdiction of the school.

And while lawmakers are debating what can and can't be discussed in school and what should be displayed, some say there are more pressing education issues plaguing the state.

We really need to be teaching our kids how to become literate, to be able to actually read the Ten Commandments that were talking about posting. I think that should be the focus and not this big what I would consider a divisive bill. Duplessis said.

Louisiana routinely reports poor national education rankings. According to the State Department of Education in the fall of 2022 only half of K-3 students in the state were reading at their grade level.
Lowell students facing assault and battery charges in stomping attack of 16-year-old, girls father

Five Lowell teenagers are being summonsed to court on assault and battery charges after allegedly punching, dragging, and stomping on a 16-year-old sophomore and her father.

It happened after school last Friday at a Subway on Merrimack Street near Lowell High.

Walther Mendizabal told Boston 25 News that it went down minutes after his daughter met him there.

He said that he tried to protect her, but the two quickly found themselves outnumbered by a group of students who were determined to fight.

Cell phone video shows punches being thrown in the doorway of Subway before the beating spilled outside.

Shortly thereafter, the father and daughter both ended up on the concrete shielding themselves from repeated kicks.

I want people to see the video to see the brutality, said Mendizabal. It was over 10 to 15 kids screaming and escalating the fight.

His daughter managed to get up off the ground at one point and rushed to her fathers aid.

She was thrown back to the concrete and assaulted again by several fellow students.

They were kicking her over and over on the back of the neck, recalled Mendizabal. I was shocked. I couldnt believe it.

A police report said that Mendizabal was sucker punched many times before fighting back.

It describes his teen daughter defending herself in a cradle position while being stomped on.

Mendizabal and his daughter were checked out and treated on scene by paramedics.

They each have scrapes and gashes but neither suffered serious injuries.

I believe the kids are organizing and planning fights to share on social media, said Mendizabal. It needs to stop.

Mendizabal said that his daughter has been taunted on multiple occasions at Lowell High School since late September.

Hes convinced she was targeted as part of a violent social media trend.

Its called Fight Friday, he explained. They find someone vulnerable. The kids knew that it was going to happen Friday. This was clearly planned.

A spokesperson with Lowell Public Schools sent the following statement to Boston 25 News:

Lowell High School administrators are not aware of any Fight Fridays trend. However, when they do hear that an altercation may be brewing between students, they do they best to resolve it before something happens. Off-campus issues can be difficult to resolve because they can include LHS students, non-LHS students and sometimes even adults.

The district said that the students involved were reprimanded according to school policy, and safety plans were put in place.

Lowell Police have increased patrols at the high school and the surrounding area following last weeks attack.

Three of the students involved are facing charges of assault and battery.

Two of them are being charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon  the weapon being their shoes used to stomp.

Mendizabal added that his daughter hasnt returned to school since the beating and likely wont return to close out the school year.

He said hes still talking with his child to decide if shell return to Lowell High School next year.

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LPD searching for woman who went missing four months ago

LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR)  The Lynchburg Police Department is searching for a missing woman.

Police say Patricia Ann Robertson was last contacted over the phone by a family member on Feb. 14, 2024. She has a medical condition that requires medication, and it is unknown if she has it with her at this time.

LPD describes Robertson to be around 56, weighs 230 lbs., with brown eyes and brown hair. She has tattoos of a dolphin on her ankle and a Dallas Cowboys star on her chest.

Nelson County Sheriff searching for 22-year-old man wanted in sexual battery investigation

This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information about the whereabouts of Patricia Robertson is asked to contact SGT B. Gibson at (434) 455-6101 or Crime Stoppers Crime Stoppers at (888) 798-5900. Enter an anonymous tip online at http://p3tips.com, use the P3 app on a mobile device, or Text CVCS to 738477 to receive a link to our anonymous tip form.

WFXR News will update this story as further information is released.

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Im going to miss her, said Lt. Governor Deidre Henderson, speaking of the 7-foot-3-inch statue of Martha Hughes Cannon standing outside the historic Supreme Court Chambers at the Utah Capitol. She means so much more to me than just an important figure in the past, Henderson said. The statue is finally on her way to Washington, D.C.

Henderson visits Martha and, on occasion, gives her a fist bump. Shes someone that I identify with on a lot of levels and someone that I admire for knocking down barriers that made it possible for me to be where I am, said Henderson.

Cannon was the first female Senator, elected in 1896. Henderson was the 27th, elected in 2012. Thats not even enough to fill Utahs 29 current Senate seats. You could say that the two women elected to the Utah Senate 116 years apart are friends. Henderson said she does feel a special kinship with the nations first elected state senator and has looked to Cannons example multiple times during her time in elected office, especially during difficult, challenging and lonely times, drawing courage and strength from her predecessors example.

I have gleaned a lot of inspiration from Marthas story and while everyone is going to take away something different from her story, for me, Martha represents the idea that you dont have to solve all the problems yourself, Henderson told the Deseret News. Its OK to do your part and hand it off to the next person. Its OK that not all the barriers have been removed, but following Marthas example, I try to remove a few of those bricks from the brick wall for the women coming behind me.

She laughs when asked to explain the process behind the legislation to send Martha to Washington. It ended up being the most controversial bill I worked on in my eight years in the Senate, she said.

The effort began with then-Rep. Adam Gardiner and was taken over by Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross, when Gardiner left the Legislature. Henderson was all-in on supporting the effort. When legislation ultimately passed in 2018, she showed up on the morning of the vote with a yellow rose boutonniere for every member of the Senate.

Then she told the story of the war of the roses in Tennessee in 1920, when wearing yellow roses meant support for womens suffrage and red roses meant opposition. By all appearances, those wearing red were going to defeat the bill. But young Harry Burn, influenced by his mothers letter urging him to do the right thing and support womens suffrage, changed his vote from no to yes and then escaped angry colleagues by leaving through an upstairs window. Tennessee became the final state needed for ratification of the 19th Amendment.

Henderson said that the beauty in overcoming the controversy about sending Martha to Washington was that they were able to shine light not only on the woman Martha, but also on the issue of Utahs involvement in the womens suffrage movement. We were able to build a beautiful army of supporters that may not have even heard about it if it hadnt been so controversial, she said.

Henderson said that no one can honestly tell the story of equal rights in America without talking about Utahs participation and influence. In fact, her favorite quote of Cannons is this: The story of the struggle for women suffrage in Utah is the story of all efforts for the advancement and betterment of humanity.

That powerful vision is part of who we are and where we are today, Henderson said. Cannons influence is still being felt today. She sponsored the legislation creating what is now the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, housed in a building that bears her name. In perhaps a karmic twist of fate, the year her statue was originally meant to be placed in Statuary Hall is the year a global pandemic shut everything down.

Martha got an extra four years to inspire Utahns with her trailblazing legacy. Now, she will have to opportunity to do that for a global audience. The U.S. Capitol Visitors Center has an average of 3 million visitors each year, roughly the same number as the entire Utah population.

The farewell party for the Martha Hughes Cannon statue, co-hosted by Better Days and the Utah Historical Society, will be June 5, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m on the south steps of the Utah Capitol. There will be music, activities and food trucks, with a short program at 7:30 p.m. And then she will be on her way.

The Martha Hughes Cannon statue at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
(KRON)  Save Mart Supermarkets, LLC, a California company that owns and operates 194 retail grocery stores around the state, including Save Mart, Lucky, Lucky California, FoodMaxx, and Maxx Value Food, is being fined $1.6 million for violating state health and safety laws, Sonoma County District Attorney Carl Rodriguez said on Thursday. According to prosecutors, the company did so by selling over-the-counter expired products beyond their use-by dates to customers.

The district attorneys of El Dorado, Marin, San Joaquin, Solano, Sonoma, and Yolo counties filed the case in Yolo County Superior Court.

Chemical distribution company receives multiple hazardous waste violations by CoCo County health officials

Prosecutors said they found a recurring failure by the company to remove expired over-the-counter medications, baby food, and infant formula beyond their use-by dates since at least 2018. The company, however, cooperated with the investigation, prosecutors said.

Upon notice of the violation, Save Mart has since conducted internal checks for expired products at all of its California retail locations, prosecutors said. Save Mart also invested time and resources to retrain store personnel. Prosecutors said there was no evidence of the expired products resulting in harm to consumers.

DA Rodriguez stated, Consumers expect that the products they purchase at supermarkets are not expired or beyond the use by date provided by the manufacturer of the product. We are proud to partner with other district attorneys around the state in bringing this important consumer protection action.

Save Mart was ordered to pay $1,560,000 in civil penalties and costs as well as another $40,000 in restitution to a trust that funds future consumer-related prosecutions.

The District Attorneys Office also encourages consumers to pay close attention to expiration dates when purchasing the types of items involved here.

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It was ludicrous: The civil servant who saw the scandal of Britains benefits fraud unfold

A civil servant who vetted thousands of benefit claims has told how failings in the Department for Work and Pensions allowed a multi-billion pound fraud to be perpetrated against the taxpayer.

The DWP employee, who asked not to be named, said staff missed obvious signs of fraud and processed suspicious claims.

Thousands upon thousands of fraudulent claims for Universal Credit  including those linked to a Bulgarian gang jailed for stealing at least 50m  were not taken seriously, the worker said.

He says basic inconsistencies in letters of evidence supporting benefit claims were missed by staff who were responsible for checking the applications. Fraudsters stole billions of pounds of taxpayer cash during the pandemic as more than a hundred checks were lifted to allow families in need to access financial support.

The DWP worker told Telegraph Money that fake documents were routinely overlooked by those who approved benefit handouts  and a scheme that promises benefits in advance to pay for replacement fridges or washing machines was widely abused.

It is understood the Government does not recognise many of the allegations and maintains its teams treat fraud as a matter of the utmost importance.

The account comes after a Bulgarian crime ring was this week jailed for a total of 25 years after using an array of false documents to carry out the biggest benefits fraud operation ever uncovered in Britain. The court heard that gang members joked of the DWPs inability to catch them in messages shared on WhatsApp.

Judge David Aaronberg, sentencing the gang on Thursday, said woefully inadequate checking systems at the DWP, which failed to identify repeated use of the same names, addresses and telephone numbers, enabled their crimes to continue for so long.

Patritsia Paneva, Gyunesh Ali and Tsvetka Todorova were among three who admitted stealing upward of 50m

The government official, who worked in the DWPs benefits team during the pandemic, said staff who raised concerns about suspicious documents used to claim Universal Credit were told by superiors that they were not allowed to look at fraud and should focus on paying claims instead.

One such claim is said to have later been identified as among thousands made by the Bulgarian gang who stole millions between 2016 and 2021.

Fraudsters game flaws in the system

The DWP worker said the lack of checks during the pandemic meant the system was fraudster-friendly.

They said: [An agent] asks for these documents to be provided so they can verify the claim but they dont know what they are looking at. They just take it for granted that [a claimant] has uploaded birth certificates and theyve uploaded a tenancy agreement. But the children dont exist and there is no housing, or its a false tenancy agreement.

Claimants receive an additional 333 a month from Universal Credit for their first child and 288 for each additional child but they must supply legitimate birth certificates.

One letter supposedly from a landlord, seen by The Telegraph, is said to have been accepted as evidence for a housing benefit payment of almost 1,300 a month despite a discrepancy between the name of the claimant in the subject line and the person named in the main body of the letter.

Other inconsistencies in the letter, such as the property being larger than official records showed, were also said to have been overlooked.

The DWP worker said the successful claim was said to be typical of how scammers could game inherent flaws in the system to defraud the taxpayer.

The DWP official also warned that many of the weaknesses in Universal Credits protections against fraud identified by officials during the pandemic are still in place to this day despite increased anti-fraud measures within the DWP.

They said: It was just absolutely ludicrous. I knew what [pay] nurses were on at that time and the work and the stress that they were going through. You could see these people living in better housing than what NHS staff were and they were getting money with it. They were getting paid for because there were no checks done on the actual system.

They put down a landlords name for a housing benefit [but] the landlord didnt exist or the landlords wasnt that address or the landlords number. When we did a search on the phone number on our systems, that number would bring up 10 different names.

Claimants would call up on eastern European dialling codes

But they said anti-fraud teams were fighting a battle with people within the DWP to suspend benefits payments to claimants who had submitted suspicious evidence.

They added: If [claimants] rang up and complained about it you had people within Universal Credit lifting the suspension.

They said the claimants often returned investigators calls on Bulgarian and other eastern European dialling codes.

Other areas where the Universal Credit system is said to be open to abuse is the advance payments feature, which allows claimants to receive up to 100pc of their benefits early to pay for emergency household costs, such as broken washing machines and boilers. Money is taken off future benefits payments to repay the advance.

Claimants are said to be able to register for multiple advances in one month and then change their circumstances, for example add a child to their claim, and then receive more money the next month  with the extra cash making up for the cost of the advance repayment.

The DWP maintains that relaxations introduced during the pandemic were intended to ensure people were supported financially during lockdown and that counter-fraud measures started in recent years were responsible for a 10pc drop in fraud in the benefits system between 2022 and 2023.

This workers account comes as there have been repeated calls to reform Universal Credit due to persistently high levels of fraud. The Resolution Foundation, a think tank, has said whoever wins the general election will inherit a system that is currently buckling under the weight of 2.3 million workers claiming long-term sickness.

Potentially discriminatory practices against Bulgarian nationals

In January 2022, following the establishment of the risk review unit within the DWP to look into cases of fraud, a Labour MP accused investigators of potentially carrying out discriminatory practices against Bulgarian nationals during a debate in Westminster Hall.

Kate Osamor, MP for Edmonton in north London, said at the time: While we remain in the dark about how this opaque team conducts its business, and with the cases that I know about being so overwhelmingly concentrated among Bulgarian nationals and other EU nationals, it is impossible not to suspect that potentially discriminatory practices are being carried out.

She also wrote to then-work and pensions secretary Therese Coffey saying she had received dozens of letters from Bulgarian and Polish nationals, her constituents, complaining about having their benefits frozen.

Her intervention came as a growing team of fraud investigators were tasked with clawing back money wrongly paid out before and during the pandemic in thousands of claims for Universal Credit.

Ms Osamor told Telegraph Money: Any investigation into serious crime cannot justify suspending the benefits of innocent families with no explanation for months on end leaving them destitute and relying on food banks.

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, who pioneered Universal Credit during his tenure as Work and Pensions secretary in David Camerons cabinet, said the DWP employees allegations of the failures within the department were astonishing.

He said: Prior to Covid, Universal Credit had very stringent checks and was pretty tight. It was all eased off too much I thought at the time and said so. It needs tightening up even more now to stop such fraud.

During the UKs first national lockdown in 2020 civil servants were inundated with 10 times the number of claims for the benefit than they would have normally received.

Ministers took the unprecedented decision to lift more than a hundred checks on applications. The move was intended to get money as quickly as possible to those who needed it, according to the DWP statement of accounts for 2021 to 2022.

Most of the lifted restrictions on application have now come back into force.

Taxpayers lost more than 8bn to fraud in Universal Credit between 2020 and 2021, more than double the number in the previous financial year. Overpayments in the scheme due to fraud alone were worth 5.6bn in the financial year ending in 2024, a rise of 14pc from 4.9bn between 2022 and 2023.

This is in spite of a push by ministers to toughen up anti-fraud measures used to police the benefits scheme for fraud.

The DWP last month announced that a 2,500-strong team will be tasked with vetting claims for Universal Credit. The move comes as controversial legislation is set to come into force requiring banks to share some customer information with the Government to check claimants eligibility for the benefit.

It would enable civil servants to identify applicants with savings of more than 16,000, who cannot make a claim under current rules.

Previous efforts to curtail fraud have included retrospective checks on applicants who were granted payments during the pandemic and the restoration of the rules that were relaxed during lockdown.

However, there is growing concern among senior MPs that criminals are continuing to abuse the system, costing the taxpayer billions of pounds every year.

Sir Jacob Rees Mogg, a former cabinet minister, and Dame Meg Hillier, chairman of the public accounts committee, called in May for officials to reimpose all rules designed to vet applicants for Universal Credit.

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Arguably, no street epitomizes Austin's aura and culture more than restaurant and retail-lined South Congress Avenue. However, as luxury chains flock to capitalize on the hype, local businesses  often with niche offerings  are starting to look elsewhere.

The latest examples of this are Mi Casa Gallery, Good Company and Sunroom. Each of the three were long-time or local tenants and each has recently made the decision to move to cheaper locations or simply close their SoCo location.

The South Congress Avenue shopping district Thursday May 30, 2024.

Mi Casa Gallery

With the longest tenure of any of the recently closed SoCo businesses, Mi Casa Gallery, an art gallery and mercado known for its Talavera pottery and bedazzled steer skulls, announced in late April that it would be ending its 28-year run on the street.

While we are sad to end this chapter, we're very excited to be starting a new journey, a post on the business's Instagram account said. We want to give all the thanks in the world to every single person who's supported our store, our artists, vendors, friends and family.

With the closure of its SoCo location, the post said the business would be moving all of its inventory to a new location in Johnson City. The gallery has not announced when it would be opening its new location, but did say an opening is close.

Mi Casa Gallery has left its space on the corner of South Congress Avenue and Milton Street in the South Congress shopping district. Photographed Thursday May 30, 2024.

Good Company

Since 2019, the womans clothing and accessories store, Good Company, has been running its location on SoCo. At the beginning of May, owners announced that the store would be calling it quits at the SoCo location to focus on other storefronts.

We feel so lucky to have been able to open this store in 2019 and be a part of the South Congress legacy. But as SoCo evolves into a more corporate shopping experience, we are one of the many small businesses affected by these changes, a post on the company's Instagram account said.

Good Company already has a location on 12th Street and the brand is establishing a presence in Round Top. The business space on SoCo officially closed on May 27.

Good Company has closed its store on South Congress Avenue. Photographed Thursday May 30, 2024.

Sunroom

A boutique offering curated jewelry and clothes, Sunroom made the move to SoCo in 2014, a year after opening on South Lamar. In May, the company announced via its website that it would be closing its only Austin location after starting the company in the city.

That said, we consider it an incredible gift to have landed in this magical city at such a perfect moment in time, a note on the company's website said.

The Austin location was one of only two physical locations the company offered  the other is located in Malibu. In a note written on the Sunroom website, the business made no mention of continuing its presence in Austin.

Sunroom will soon be closing its shop on South Congress Avenue. Photogtraphed Thursday May 30, 2024.

SoCo shuffle in 2024

The slow-burn retail shuffle on SoCo has been in the works for years as major clothing brands like Reformation, Madewell and Lululemon have all made the street home.

However, this year, various homegrown companies have moved out. In April, Austin-HQd Outdoor Voices suddenly announced it would be closing all of its retail stores. Also, in December Maya Star announced it would be closing after almost 30 years in its location.

A few months later, it was announced that legendary boot brand Lucchese would be filling that space, adding more ammunition to the already formidable boot selection on SoCo.

Beck Andrew Salgado covers trending topics in the Austin business ecosystem for the American-Statesman. To share additional tips or insights with Salgado, email Bsalgado@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: More small businesses leaving Austin's South Congress shopping district
Im angry: Dunedin senior pays $5K for deposit on new roof, gets nothing

Im angry: Dunedin senior pays $5K for deposit on new roof, gets nothing

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Mary Rossi put down a $5,000 deposit on a new roof more than nine months ago, but has only received headaches in return, and now her roof is leaking, she said.

After throwing down the deposit, Rossi owed a balance of $23,991. But the company, the Tampa franchise of Honest Abe Roofing, stopped returning her calls and then shut their doors.

Retrospectively, Im thinking they may have already bee realizing that theyre having issues, she said. And the lack of communication and the back and forth.

A number of customers called Better Call Behnken for help after they said liens were filed on their homes by suppliers who claim the company failed to pay them.

Sleepless nights: Multiple customers of roofing company have liens placed on homes

At the time, a spokesman at its corporate headquarters told Consumer Investigator Shannon Behnken that each franchise was locally owned with no shared responsibility from the corporate office.

However, he did agree to have other Florida franchises chip in to help customers with unfinished projects.

But Rossi said her project fell through the cracks after she was notified that her financing fell through. She said she wants her money back.

Im not a person of a lot of financial means, she said. Im a senior citizen. Im 75 years old. Im angry.

It was raining inside: Roofing job turns into nightmare, company MIA, customer says

Rossi said after many calls, the company sent someone to collect materials that had been secured to the roof in February. She said the roof was punctured and now it leaks.

The Tampa franchise of Honest Abe Roofing filed for bankruptcy protection in April.

Pinellas County Consumer Protection confirms it will mediate Rossis case. A spokesman for the corporate office said they will check to see what else can be done.

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.
A-m-a-z-i-n-g: NC teen spells her way to the final three of the National Spelling Bee

A North Carolina speller hasnt won the National Spelling Bee since 1970.

But on Thursday night, a seventh-grader from Cary came very, very close.

Ananya Rao Prassanna, 13, walked away from the nationally televised finals tied for third place out of a field of 245 spellers.

Her impressive bid to be crowned the top speller in the nation ended when she tried to spell murrina, a disease carried by Central American horses and mules. She spelled it marina.

Bruhat Soma, a 12-year-old from Florida, was crowned champion after defeating Faizan Zaki, a 12-year-old from Texas, in a fast-paced spell-off.

But Prassanna, in the national Bee for her third consecutive year, made her mark as she made it to the finals for the first time. The Wake County teen had the highest finish for a North Carolina speller since Sreethan Gajula of Union County finished in 7th place in the 2021 Spelling Bee.

And her moments of joy when she correctly spelled her words made her a fan favorite.

Mary Brooks, the head Bee judge, praised her before she exited the stage.

You have shown us in your three appearances how dedicated you are, and you give a lot of credit to others, Brooks told Prassanna. Just one shout-out for you. That principal who couldnt get a flight here and drove all the way just to be here for you, thats the kind of person you are. Congratulations.

Michael Hokenberg, the principal of Davis Drive Middle School in Cary, traveled to National Harbor, Maryland, this week to cheer the seventh-grader on.

Ananya Rao Prassanna, a student at Davis Drive Middle School in Cary, N.C., competes in the Finals of the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, MD, on May 30, 2024.

Spelling prodigy

Prassanna has been a spelling prodigy for years. She qualified for her first National Spelling Bee in 2022 when she was an elementary school student in Nebraska. She tied for 49th that year.

Prassanna moved to North Carolina after her family relocated for her fathers job. Her father, Prassanna Rao Rajgopal, has said they picked Davis Drive Middle in part because of the schools strong support for the Spelling Bee program.

Great to see all the smiles after years of hard work! Hokenberg posted Wednesday on X, formerly called Twitter. The @DDMSBuzz and @wcpss communities are behind you, Ananya.

Last year, Prassanna tied for 74th place.

Ananya Rao Prassanna reacts with joy after successfully spelling a word in the Semifinals of the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 29, 2024. Prassanna, a student at Davis Drive Middle School in Cary. N.C., is one of eight spellers to qualify for the finals.

Winning Spelling Bee words

Prassannas experience paid off this year as she spelled words such as reclame, conyrine and rusa to advance to the preliminary rounds, quarterfinals and semifinals.

She entered Thursday among the elite eight spellers who qualified for the finals.

In Round 9, the opening round of the finals, she spelled morbilliform , which resembles the eruption of measles.

In Round 10, she correctly answered the vocabulary question for the word velocipede , meaning a lightweight wheeled vehicle propelled by the rider.

in Round 11, Prassanna correctly spelled saltigrade, meaning having the feet or legs adapted to leaping.

In Round 12, she correctly spelled martaban , which is a large green glazed pottery jar originally made in Lower Burma.

In Round 13, she spelled tennesi, which are coins of a monetary unit from Turkmenistan.

Congrats Ananya and thanks for making us proud! state Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, a Raleigh Democrat, posted Thursday night on X.

Prassanna will have a chance to appear in her fourth National Spelling Bee next year.

We expect to see that trademark smile here on that stage next year, Paul Loeffler, the Bees co-host, said as Prassanna left the stage.

Life is thrice as nice for #Speller155 Ananya Prassanna! The proof is in the reaction she has nearly every time she spells. Plus, she's making her third Bee appearance this year. Impressively, that's true for half of our #Elite8! #spellingbee pic.twitter.com/CsNBpVEVZ3  Scripps National Spelling Bee (@ScrippsBee) May 31, 2024
A-m-a-z-i-n-g: NC teen spells her way to the final three of the National Spelling Bee

A North Carolina speller hasnt won the National Spelling Bee since 1970.

But on Thursday night, a seventh-grader from Cary came very, very close.

Ananya Rao Prassanna, 13, walked away from the nationally televised finals tied for third place out of a field of 245 spellers. Shell receive a cash prize of $12,500.

Her impressive bid to be crowned the top speller in the nation ended when she tried to spell murrina, a disease carried by Central American horses and mules. She spelled it marina.

Bruhat Soma, a 12-year-old from Florida, was crowned champion after defeating Faizan Zaki, a 12-year-old from Texas, in a fast-paced spell-off.

But Prassanna, in the national Bee for her third consecutive year, made her mark as she made it to the finals for the first time. The Wake County teen had the highest finish for a North Carolina speller since Sreethan Gajula of Union County finished in 7th place in the 2021 Spelling Bee.

And her moments of joy when she correctly spelled her words made her a fan favorite.

Mary Brooks, the head Bee judge, praised her before she exited the stage.

You have shown us in your three appearances how dedicated you are, and you give a lot of credit to others, Brooks told Prassanna. Just one shout-out for you. That principal who couldnt get a flight here and drove all the way just to be here for you, thats the kind of person you are. Congratulations.

Michael Hokenberg, the principal of Davis Drive Middle School in Cary, traveled to National Harbor, Maryland, this week to cheer the seventh-grader on.

Ananya Rao Prassanna, a student at Davis Drive Middle School in Cary, N.C., competes in the Finals of the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, MD, on May 30, 2024.

Spelling prodigy

Prassanna has been a spelling prodigy for years. She qualified for her first National Spelling Bee in 2022 when she was an elementary school student in Nebraska. She tied for 49th that year.

Prassanna moved to North Carolina after her family relocated for her fathers job. Her father, Prassanna Rao Rajgopal, has said they picked Davis Drive Middle in part because of the schools strong support for the Spelling Bee program.

What a run!! Hokenberg posted Friday on X, formerly called Twitter The @DDMSBuzz and @wcpss family are so proud of you, Ananya! 3rd place at this years @ScrippsBee. Congrats to all of the spellers. Outstanding.

Last year, Prassanna tied for 74th place.

Ananya Rao Prassanna, a student at Davis Drive Middle School in Cary, N.C., competes in the Finals of the 2024 Scripps National Spelling Bee in National Harbor, MD, on May 30, 2024.

Winning Spelling Bee words

Prassannas experience paid off this year as she spelled words such as reclame, conyrine and rusa to advance to the preliminary rounds, quarterfinals and semifinals.

She entered Thursday among the elite eight spellers who qualified for the finals.

In Round 9, the opening round of the finals, she spelled morbilliform , which resembles the eruption of measles.

In Round 10, she correctly answered the vocabulary question for the word velocipede , meaning a lightweight wheeled vehicle propelled by the rider.

in Round 11, Prassanna correctly spelled saltigrade, meaning having the feet or legs adapted to leaping.

In Round 12, she correctly spelled martaban , which is a large green glazed pottery jar originally made in Lower Burma.

In Round 13, she spelled tennesi, which are coins of a monetary unit from Turkmenistan.

Congrats Ananya and thanks for making us proud! state Sen. Jay Chaudhuri, a Raleigh Democrat, posted Thursday night on X.

Prassanna will have a chance to appear in her fourth National Spelling Bee next year.

We expect to see that trademark smile here on that stage next year, Paul Loeffler, the Bees co-host, said as Prassanna left the stage.

Life is thrice as nice for #Speller155 Ananya Prassanna! The proof is in the reaction she has nearly every time she spells. Plus, she's making her third Bee appearance this year. Impressively, that's true for half of our #Elite8! #spellingbee pic.twitter.com/CsNBpVEVZ3  Scripps National Spelling Bee (@ScrippsBee) May 31, 2024
Hollywood actress Natalie Portman, 42, was spotted in the company of her 28-year-old colleague Paul Mescal. The couple stirred up the Internet after the paparazzi published a photo of the stars  they went for a smoke break near the London bar 69 Colebrooke Row, smiling and chatting.

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The photos were published by the British newspaper Daily Mail and can be found here. The celebrities wore casual outfits. Portman wore a white T-shirt and blue jeans, while Mescal also wore a light T-shirt, pairing it with dark classic pants.

The meeting of the actors aroused curiosity among netizens. Fans suggested that the celebrities might have more than just a friendly relationship. The rumors emerged against the backdrop of Portman's divorce: in March 2024, the star finally broke up with French choreographer Benjamin Milpierre.

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The couple had been together for 11 years. The reason was her husband's infidelity  the dancer was caught with a 25-year-old mistress. Initially, Portman and Milpierre decided not to separate because of their children, but later the actress filed for divorce.

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As you know, Paul and Natalie "got together" after a joint interview for Variety, which was recorded about six months ago. During the conversation, Mescal described the actress as "brilliant" and confessed: "If I had known in theater school that I would be talking to you, I would have pinched myself many, many times!"

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In addition, the 28-year-old Irishman praised Portman for her steamy scene in May, December. While Natalie complimented the young star for his scene with actor Andrew Scott in "All of Us Strangers," saying they were "very hot, but also very tender." The stars have not officially commented on the rumors, but according to media reports, this is not their first one-on-one meeting.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
He was naive. His wife was a liar. His daughters bedroom light was always on.

Christopher Palmiter, the stepfather of missing North Carolina girl Madalina Cojocari, pleaded clueless during his two-week trial. He maintained that he had no idea that the 11-year-old girl  the one he had supported for nearly eight years  was missing from his home for three weeks in 2022.

It didnt work.

After less than 15 minutes of deliberation, the jury of 11 men and one woman found the 61-year-old guilty of failing to report the disappearance of a child on Friday.

Madalina  who is still missing at 13  was last seen in Cornelius on Nov. 23, 2022, police say. Palmiter and Diana Cojocari, who is Palmiters wife and Madalinas mother, did not report her missing until after school administrators confronted them on Dec. 14, 2022.

Palmiters court-appointed defense attorney tried to explain away the silence by taking jurors inside Palmiters unusual family.

Cojocari was a Moldovan bride who moved to the U.S. in 2015 for a visa after meeting Palmiter in 2008 on a website called GlobalLadies. Brandon Roseman, Palmiters lawyer, called her delusional, manipulative and 100 percent in charge of Madalinas schooling and development.

That didnt matter, argued assistant district attorney Austin Butler.

He said the couple was rightfully charged with a Class I felony for failing to report Madalina missing.

Under North Carolina law, failing to report a childs disappearance is a chargeable offense when the parent or other person providing supervision of a child does not know the location of the child and has not had contact with the child for a 24hour period.

Palmiter testified that he treated Madalina as his own daughter. He never turned her down when she wanted to play Star Stable, her favorite horse video game, and he routinely checked on her when she got home from school. He was just as responsible for her safety as her mother, Butler said, and Cojocari pleaded guilty to the charge last week.

In an undated photo released by authorities, Madalina Cojocari is shown with a horse. The 11-year-old Cornelius girl went missing before Thanksgiving 2022 and her mother and stepfather were arrested for not reporting her disappearance.

[Madalina] didnt pick him to be the person she would call dad, Butler told the jury, pointing to Palmiter. He picked her. He promised to protect her, and for 23 days he failed to protect her, failed to act as required by the laws of this state.

Mecklenburg County Superior Court Judge Matthew Osman sentenced Palmiter  who had already served 244 days in jail  to 30 months of supervised probation. The highest sentence would have been 17 months in jail, but Palmiters otherwise clean record kept him from a cell.

After filing a motion to appeal the case Friday, Roseman said he still believes Palmiter is innocent.

Christopher Palmiter, the stepfather of missing girl Madalina Cojocari, testified before a jury in Mecklenburg Countys Superior Court Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

Hiding Madalina

While testifying in his own defense, Palmiter maintained he didnt know Madalina was missing until he was sitting in front of Bailey Middle Schools resource officer. Then he started to put things together.

Surveillance video from 11-year-old Madalina Cojocaris school bus shows she got off at her stop on November 21, 2022, at 4:59 p.m. This is the last time police have independent confirmation of when she was last seen

Cojocari was convinced Russian entities were watching her and wanted to marry her for land she had back home, Palmiter testified in court this week. She had talked about a scheme to hide herself and Madalina away somewhere, he said.

He had even asked his family back home in Lansing, Michigan, to take in Madalina and Cojocari.

That plan faded, to Palmiters knowledge, but after a solo trip to Michigan around Thanksgiving 2022, he never saw Madalina again. While under oath, Palmiter testified that he went alone to Michigan to retrieve her winter clothes that had been left there.

Cojocari had demanded he go that weekend.

For nearly two weeks after he returned, Palmiter told police, and later the jury, he thought Madalina was under Cojocaris care, going to school during the day and resting in her room when hed get home after an hour-and-a-half commute from work each day.

After pleading guilty last week, Cojocari was expected to be deported back to her home country of Moldova, but was subpoenaed to be a witness in Palmiters case.

She was never called, but she spent the night at their house Tuesday evening, Palmiter testified during cross examination. She was in the courthouse Wednesday, but not in Palmiters courtroom, and stayed in a hotel the rest of the week. During the trial, Palmiter never wore a wedding ring.

Palmiters defense

To fully understand Palmiters defense, Roseman said, one must first understand his unique home life.

The couple, Palmiter said while testifying, had never been physically intimate. Since their marriage in 2015, theyd kissed on the lips only on birthdays or holidays. They had a companionship, sharing a bed only until 2017, when Cojocari moved into Madalinas room.

Madalina Cojocari has been missing from Cornelius, North Carolina since Nov. 23, 2022.

They were an odd couple, family and friends testified over four days when lawyers called witnesses and presented evidence.

But in 2021, things took a turn.

Cojocari, who had been spiritual since the couple initially met in 2008, became engrossed in the teachings of controversial American spiritual leader Elizabeth Clare Prophet. Prophet headed the cultlike Church Universal and Triumphant and has more than 75 books of teachings and several videos on YouTube.

Cojocari had probably listened to all of them, Palmiter said, and would spend hours screaming at the top of her lungs as she recited chants, manifestations and prayers, teaching Madalina to do the same.

Both Roseman and Butler called Cojocari crazy and delusional when speaking to the jury, but neither claimed she was mentally ill. The line between religious beliefs and mental illness was thin in the eyes of the law, the judge cautioned during a conference preceding each sides closing argument.

Her unstable behavior extended beyond religion, though, Roseman earlier argued.

She dented their kitchens bamboo floor by smashing a coffee mug into the ground. It had a snowflake on it, Palmiter said, and she didnt like symbols on anything that would touch food.

She sabotaged Palmiters passion project: engraving plaques and mugs with his laser machine, usually for veterans.

She burned furniture, litter boxes and eventually photos of Madalina.

Where is Madalina?

Both Cojocari and Palmiter have been extensively interviewed by police, but neither have offered any explanation as to why they didnt report the girl missing, prosecutors said in a previous court hearing.

Cornelius Police Department Detective Gina Patterson, the lead detective on Madalinas case, said authorities had already heard most of what Palmiter, his family and his attorney shared in court.

Cojocari told investigators she believed Palmiter put their family in danger. She also told police she did not report her daughter missing sooner because she feared conflict with him, investigators wrote in the documents in the court file. In court in August, Palmiters lawyer said Palmiter believes Madalina is now being cared for by someone assigned by Diana Cojocari.

Palmiter previously posted a $25,000 bond, which was originally $200,000. Cojocari remained in jail under a $250,000 bond until she pleaded guilty and was released Tuesday. At a court date in February, she refused to leave her jail cell and come before a judge.

Madalinas parents are now both convicted felons and out of jail. She is still missing.

Have you seen Madalina?

Madalina Cojocari was 11 years old in November 2022 when she was last seen wearing jeans, pink, purple and white Adidas shoes, and a white T-shirt and jacket. She is 4 feet, 10 inches tall and weighs about 90 pounds. She is now 13 years old.

Anyone with information on Madalinas whereabouts is asked to call the Cornelius Police Department at 704-892-7773 or the FBI at 1-800-CALL FBI. Anyone who wishes to remain anonymous can call North Mecklenburg Crime Stoppers at 704-896-7867.
The man accused of fatally carjacking a Homestead woman at a Central Florida intersection, who attorneys say could face the death penalty, pleaded not guilty Friday morning to the federal charges brought against him.

Jordanish Torres-Garcia, 28, tapped his chained foot and occasionally scanned the gallery during his arraignment inside an Orlando federal courtroom. Magistrate Judge Robert M. Norway took note of the plea and set a hearing for June 20.

READ MORE: Homestead womans carjacking death unveils tangled web of drugs and murder beyond Florida

Torres-Garcia was charged with carjacking resulting in death, kidnapping and possession of a firearm in the commission of a crime resulting in death. Prosecutors allege that he was the fully masked man caught on video on April 11 pointing a semiautomatic rifle at the drivers side door of 31-year-old Katherine Altagracia Guerrero De Aguasvivas white Dodge Durango.

A photo of Katherine Altagracia Guerrero de Aguasvivas.

Hours later, Guerrero De Aguasvivas was found shot to death inside her torched Durango at a construction site in nearby Osceola County.

READ MORE: Unveiling a drug nexus? A look at the probe into Homestead womans deadly carjacking

Outside the courthouse, Torres-Garcias legal team told reporters that prosecutors are weighing the possibility of pursuing the death penalty.

READ MORE: Feds take control of probe into deadly carjacking of Homestead woman. More arrests expected

All three of the charges could carry a life or death sentence, attorney Robert Weeden said. The Justice Department  and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody  would have to approve the death penalty.

Jordanish Torres-Garcia

While a tentative trial date was set for July 1, the trial is unlikely to occur for years, Torres-Garcias lawyers said.

Every capital case is always a complicated case, defense attorney Todd Doss said.

Federal prosecutors have only sought the death penalty once during the term of President Joe Biden, the first president in office to openly oppose capital punishment. Earlier this year, federal prosecutors announced that they planned to pursue the death penalty in the hate crime case of the gunman convicted of killing 10 Black shoppers at a Buffalo, New York, grocery store in May 2022.

Federal capital punishment cases take years, and Torres-Garcias case is early in the process, the attorneys said. Reviewing the evidence  and sifting through specifics  in such cases can delay trials considerably.

Torres-Garcia, court records show, admitted to federal agents that he kidnapped Guerrero De Aguasvivas but claimed that someone paid him $1,500 to deliver the Homestead woman to another individual half an hour before the kidnapping.

READ MORE: Man admits he was paid to kidnap Homestead woman in Central Florida, FBI says

At least four other people were arrested in connection to the probe. They include:

 Kevin Ocasio Justiniano, 28, who is accused of driving the green Acura that the carjacker hopped out of during the ambush.

 Giovany Crespo Hernandez, 27, who, investigators say, was the last person Guerrero De Aguasvivas spoke with before her death. He was initially arrested on state drug charges, though he has since pleaded not guilty to charges in federal court.

Monicsabel Romero Soto, 28, the live-in girlfriend of Crespo Hernandez. Romero Soto was surveilled by federal agents after three bricks of cocaine were found in a lamp in a package sent from Puerto Rico to a St. Cloud home in Osceola County.

Francisco Estrella Chicon, an Orange County deputy accused of illegally accessing the personal and professional profile information of the lead Seminole County detective on the case and sharing that information with Guerrero De Aguasvivas husband, Miguel Angel Aguasvivas of Homestead.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A man accused of breaking into a home and stabbing someone then fleeing naked, assaulting others as he attempted two carjackings in southeast Bakersfield, has been ordered held without bail.

Court Commissioner Sally Ackerknecht noted Ronald Lawrence Lamb II has no prior criminal history, but found his behavior alarming enough to deny bail. She said the Public Defenders Office can file a motion for bail review.

Lamb, 38, pleaded not guilty to two counts of attempted murder, three assault-related counts, false imprisonment with violence, elder abuse, burglary, two counts of carjacking and resisting arrest.

Hes due back in court June 10.

The crime spree happened Tuesday afternoon.

Deputies dispatched to the 500 block of East Casa Loma Drive found a man suffering from a stab wound and learned the suspect, Lamb, had run to a nearby elementary school campus, sheriffs spokeswoman Lori Meza said.

Bakersfield police officers arrived at the school and Lamb was arrested, Meza said. Other details  including that Lamb was naked  were revealed during Thursdays hearing, but a full account of what occurred has not yet been made public.

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SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  A suspected drug dealer was arrested Thursday on felony distribution charges after police seized over 50 pounds of methamphetamine at multiple locations in Salt Lake County.

Fermin Castro Tovar, 25, was booked into Salt Lake County Jail on three counts of distribution of a controlled substance (second-degree felony).

Castro Tovar delivered controlled substances to a confidential source in May, according to a probable cause statement, and police monitored Castro Tovars activities following the transaction. On May 30, agents with the Davis Metro Narcotics Strike Force, along with FBI agents, served search warrants at three different locations tied to Castro Tovar.

Progressively worse: Cracks in Eagle Mountain home growing, family unable to relocate

Police served the first warrant at Castro Tovars storage unit. In it, agents found around 25 pounds of suspected methamphetamine.

Castro Tovar was later arrested while on his way back to his residence. After agreeing to talk with police, Castro Tovar admitted to having six pounds of meth at his home.

Police informed Castro Tovar that they were conducting an investigation on him, as well as the drug trafficking organization he was allegedly working for. Castro Tovar admitted to police that he had coordinated dropping off the meth in the storage unit and that he had been responsible for the drugs.

He advised being coordinated and directed by a source of supply in Mexico, the affidavit states. He admitted to distributing methamphetamine about two times a week in the Salt Lake County area.

Police also asked Castro Tovar about an apartment he visited, which, after being told he was followed to this apartment frequently, Castro Tovar said he used the apartment to store drugs and that nobody lived there.

Inside the apartment, officers found around 15 pounds of meth in a large trash bag and around five more pounds in a case.

Castro Tovar admitted this was the pounds of methamphetamine he had brought into the target apartment after picking them up two days prior from a drug courier, the affidavit states.

U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) agents said Castro Tovar has a history of deportation and have put an ICE hold on him for the immigration side of this investigation.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

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Ukrainian filmmaker, playwright, and activist Olena Apchel has joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After 4 years in exile, she returned home and could not stay away from the struggle of her people against the Russian invaders.

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This conscious Ukrainian woman wrote about it on her Facebook page. She is currently undergoing training and participating in some cultural events.

"The path to the army was long and difficult for me, which made me even more convinced of its validity. Six months ago, after four years in exile, I returned to Ukraine on purpose to join our common struggle. Please forgive everyone whom I have refused to meet or ask to take on a project for these six months. I just needed time to adapt to the new reality," the director explained.

She promised to implement all her planned projects after Ukraine's victory, and now she asked for emotional, intellectual, and financial support.

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"I am proud of my new brothers and sisters. It won't be easy, but I consciously choose this path because I want to go home to Crimea and Donetsk region, I want Kharkiv to survive, I want Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia to survive, I want to rebuild Volnovakha and Mariupol, I want all our people in all cities to be protected. And for this we have to fight. I also want to fight for a space to remember the dead and respect the living," the playwright emphasized.

She also added that she decided to stand up for the state "not for the sake of politicians and corrupt officials, but for the sake of people and home." She encourages others to do the same but does not campaign for it.

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A 34-year-old man has been charged with a shooting that left another man injured near Tacomas Wright Park in Tacoma.

The man is accused of shooting the victim multiple times Sunday in the area of South 5th Street and Tacoma Avenue South. The victim survived. A suspect was not immediately identified, according to a previous News Tribune story.

A 34-year-old man was arrested Wednesday at North Yakima Avenue and North 11th Street by Tacoma police and SWAT. He was booked into Pierce County Jail, and prosecutors charged him with first-degree attempted murder, first-degree assault and first-degree unlawful possession of a firearm, court records show.

A plea of not guilty was entered on the mans behalf at his arraignment on Thursday. Pierce County Superior Court commissioner Barbara McInvaille set his bail at $700,000, records show.

Detectives identified the suspect through surveillance footage, witness statements and speaking with the victim, court records show.

A witness told police she heard shotsthat day and saw a man running away through Wright Park with a ski mask. A ski mask was found in the park, and detectives noted some long hair strands. The 34-year-old man had long hair prior to the shooting, according to charging documents.

Detectives spoke to the victim later on at the hospital. He said the man had been trying to shoot him because he thinks the victim is a serial killer. The victim said the man lived in a clean-and-sober house off Yakima Avenue. The victim also stated that he recognized the man during the shooting from his voice and walk, documents show.

Detectives were aware of the man from an unrelated investigation and knew he lived in a halfway house, prosecutors wrote.

Detectives contacted the manager of the halfway house, who said the defendant shaved his head on Sunday or Monday, prosecutors wrote. The man told the house manager he shaved his hair for a job interview.

Detectives searched the mans room and found a jacket that appeared to match the one that the shooter was wearing. They also discovered ammunition, prosecutors wrote.

Following his arrest, the man allegedly told detectives he believed there was a group of serial killers on the loose. He claimed that the victim was a serial killer. The man denied being the shooter or being in the area. He admitted to going to the crime scene after seeing the shooting reported on Facebook, documents show.

The man has previously been convicted of second-degree assault, records show.
DENVER (KDVR)  Fort Collins Police Services reported Thursday that their officers arrested a man at about 2 a.m. on suspicion of setting a fire in his own apartment.

The arrest stems from a fire reported at about 10 p.m. on Wednesday at an apartment complex on Stanford Road.

Fort Collins police and the Poudre Fire Authority were told by multiple people that the fire was started by a current tenant.

Video shows deadly Aurora police shooting of suspect on May 4

However, officers were unable to find the suspect because he had fled the area. The fire was contained to the suspects apartment and the rest of the building was evacuated.

Spencer Butler, 36, was arrested on foot near College Avenue and Bockman Drive at about 2 a.m. on Thursday, according to the department. In addition to failure to appear charges from two active warrants that were issued for his arrest before the fire, Butler is now facing charges of first-degree arson and fourth-degree arson.

According to the Colorado Courts docket website, charges have not been officially filed in this case. Butler is scheduled to appear for arraignment on June 3. According to the Larimer County Sheriffs Office, Butler is in custody at the detention center where he has not been given a bond.

The police department reported that firefighters extinguished the fire, and no injuries were reported from the blaze. Residents were allowed back into their homes after the building was ventilated. At least one apartment was extensively damaged by the fire, the agency reported.

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A Canton man will have to leave Cherokee County once he finishes 12 years of his 35-year prison sentence.

Cherokee District Attorney Susan Treadaways office announced Thursday that Adam Josef Cromer, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of false imprisonment, two counts of battery, hindering an emergency telephone call and criminal trespass.

Prosecutors say the charges stem from two domestic violence incidents that involve two different women.

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The first happened in August 2021 in Woodstock when he fired two shots at his on-again, off-again girlfriend.

Deputies found his 9mm Ruger in the seat of his car and it smelled like burnt gunpowder.

Two years after that, while he was out on bond in June 2023, Cromer and another woman got into an argument that turned physical.

He put the woman in a chokehold and threw her phone when she tried calling 911. He strangled her a second time and she nearly went unconscious.

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She was able to escape into the bathroom, lock the door and call 911 from her smartwatch.

Cromer had left before police arrived, but he was arrested at his home the next day.

This defendant terrorized not one, but two women. While he was out on bond for shooting at his girlfriend, he went on to strangle another woman, said Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Rachel Ashe.

Cromer was sentenced to 35 years, but will serve 12 of them in prison. He was also banned from Cherokee County and will not have contact with either of the victims.

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The third of three defendants convicted in the 2022 firebombing of a Planned Parenthood clinic in Southern California  a 22-year-old Irvine man  was sentenced Thursday to six years in prison, the US Attorneys Office for the Central District of California said.

Tibet Ergul and his co-defendant Chance Brannon used a Molotov cocktail in March 2022 to damage a Planned Parenthood clinic in Costa Mesa, a city in Orange County, California, because it provided reproductive health services, the US Attorneys Office for the Central District of California said in a news release. Another man, Xavier Batten, was recently sentenced for allegedly advising the pair on how to use the Molotov cocktail.

This defendants hatred toward others led him to plotting and carrying out violence, said United States Attorney Martin Estrada. We will not allow bigoted intolerance to divide us. My office will continue to aggressively investigate and prosecute crimes motivated by hate in order to keep our community safe.

They also planned to attack an electrical substation with firearms or a Molotov cocktail to debilitate Orange Countys power grid, the release said.

At another point, Ergul had sent Brannon a letter saying: The rifle is in a box in my room waiting to be used in the upcoming race war, according to the US Attorneys Office. And in the summer of 2023, Ergul and Brannon discussed and researched how to attack the Dodger Stadium parking lot or electrical room on a night celebrating LGBTQ pride, including by using a device that could be detonated remotely, Ergul said in his plea agreement.

Ergul pleaded guilty on February 29 to one felony count of conspiracy to damage an energy facility and one misdemeanor count of intentional damage to a reproductive health services facility, the release said.

In addition to the prison sentence, Ergul is also required to pay $1,000 in restitution.

Erguls attorney Sheila Mojtehedi said in an email to CNN that her client appreciates the government and the Courts consideration.

He looks forward to closing this chapter and moving on with his life, Mojtehedi said.

Mr. Ergul chose violence and destruction while targeting a wide array of innocent victims with whom he disagreed ideologically, putting their lives at risk, said Amir Ehsaei, the Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBIs Los Angeles Field Office, in a statement.

The sentence will prevent further acts of violence by Mr. Ergul, said Special Agent in Charge Todd Battaglia of the NCIS Marine West Field Office.

How the alleged firebombing happened

Ergul and Brannon, who at the time was an active-duty US Marine, wanted to make a statement about abortion, scare pregnant women away from obtaining abortions, deter doctors, staff, and employees at the clinic from providing abortions, and intimidate the clinics patients, the release said.

They allegedly assembled the Molotov cocktail in Erguls garage on March 12, 2022. On the morning of March 13  disguised in dark clothing, masks, hoods and gloves  the two allegedly ignited the Molotov cocktail and threw it at the clinics entrance, starting a fire. Because of the damage, the clinic was forced to temporarily close and reschedule approximately 30 patient appointments, according to the release.

Ergul said in his plea agreement that in June 2022  following the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade  he and Brannon planned to use a second Molotov cocktail to attack another Planned Parenthood clinic, but they abandoned their plan after seeing law enforcement near the clinic, according to the attorneys office.

Ergul has been in federal custody since June 2023, and was the final defendant to be sentenced in the case.

Last month, Brannon was sentenced to nine years in federal prison for his role. He pleaded guilty in November 2023 to one count of conspiracy, one count of malicious destruction of property by fire and explosives, one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of intentionally damaging a reproductive health services facility in violation of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.

On May 13, Batten, 21, of Florida, was sentenced to 3.5 years in federal prison for advising Ergul and Brannon on how to construct the Molotov cocktail used in the Planned Parenthood attack. He had pleaded guilty on January 19 to one count of possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of intentional damage to a reproductive health services facility.

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Man fatally shot on South Side after knock on his door

CHICAGO  A man was fatally shot by a person who knocked on his door on the citys South Side, according to police.

The shooting happened around 9:50 p.m. Thursday in the 200 block of East 69th Place in the Greater Grand Crossing neighborhood.

Police said a known man went to the residence and knocked on the door of the 28-year-old victim, then fired shots through the door. He then fled the scene.

The 28-year-old man was shot on the left side of the chest and was transported to the University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition, where he was later pronounced dead.

CPD assists Matteson police in SWAT incident

No one is in custody. Area One Detectives are investigating.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD)  A man was hospitalized after a house fire in Muskegon Friday afternoon.

Neighbors reported the fire on Forest Avenue near 5th Street shortly after 3 p.m. Muskegon Fire Department Battalion Chief Jim Diffell said when firefighters arrived, they found smoke and flames coming from four windows.

They found a 79-year-old man inside, unconscious. He was breathing when he was hospitalized, Diffell said.

The man lives in the home alone, he said.

The cause of the fire has not yet been released, but the fire department said that the preliminary investigation shows that it started in the kitchen. The front of the home sustained extensive damage.

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Diffell said firefighters were able to respond quickly because they were already nearby downtown for a training event.

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YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) A man who killed a mother and a child in a York County mass stabbing in 2022 pled guilty, but mentally ill, to murder.

Online court documents say Keith Kretzer, 33, of Maryland, pled guilty but mentally ill Thursday to two counts of murder of the third degree and two counts of aggravated assault.

Kretzer was then sentenced to spend between 42 and 82 years in prison, court documents state.

Two counts of murder of the first degree and two counts of criminal attempt  murder of the first degree, were both dismissed.

Christine Fousek, 34, and her daughter Rylee Reynolds, 5, both of Stewartstown, were fatally stabbed on August 22 inside a home in the first block of Firebox Court in Hopewell Township.

Two other people were rushed to the hospital for treatment of their serious injuries from the stabbing. Kretzer was identified by officials as Fouseks boyfriend.

Kretzer told investigators something took control of him while he was making dinner, leading to him grabbing a kitchen knife and stabbing people inside the home, court documents say. Kretzer then said he snapped out of it and ran out of the house.

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Drugs, including psychedelic mushrooms, were found inside the home by investigators, court docs noted.

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PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  The Prince William County Office of the Commonwealths Attorney sentenced a man Thursday for a shooting that happened in April 2023.

Sean Hughes, 20, was sentenced to 28 years in prison after he was found guilty on Feb. 2 of attempted malicious wounding, gang participation, shooting into an occupied dwelling and other related charges.

Man killed in late-night shooting in Prince Georges County

On April 19, 2023, police said Hughes and a juvenile co-defendant opened fire at a home in Triangle, Va. A woman inside was shot multiple times.

A detective and another bystander were also almost struck as they stood outside.

Hughes and the juvenile fled, and were later found and arrested in Maryland. At the time, police said they had one of the guns involved in the shooting.

The Office of the Commonwealths Attorney said Hughes was a member of the Bloods  he was found guilty earlier this year of his participation in the gang in addition to charges related to the shooting itself.

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Man sentenced to prison for 2018 killing of Shawnee, Kansas, woman in possible hate crime

Ronald Lee Kidwell was sentenced to more than 18 years in prison Wednesday for killing a Shawnee, Kansas, woman in 2018 in what many have called a hate crime.

Kidwell pleaded guilty to the fatal stabbing of MeShon Cooper, 43, on July 6, 2018, before hiding her body in a trash can at his home. Kidwell had a prior history of physically and sexually assaulting women of color, and his family has spoken at length about his ties to white supremacist organizations.

Kidwell was initially charged with second-degree murder in July 2018. In January of this year, he pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter.

Cooper, who was Black, was last seen on her way to work at Subway, according to court documents. She was reported missing on July 7 after her car was found abandoned.

Kidwell confessed to killing Cooper when he was arrested 6 days later, according to court documents. Police tracked Coopers phone to Kidwells home in Shawnee after discovering blood in Coopers abandoned car, court documents show.

Coopers body was found in a trash can in Kidwells garage, wrapped in trash bags, court documents show. Police reported that Kidwells house smelled strongly of bleach. They also found blood-stained bedding in his garage.

Kidwell told police that Cooper attacked him first at his home, pulling a knife out and threatening to tell everyone that he was HIV positive, The Star reported in 2018. When Cooper hit him in the hand, Kidwell claimed he retaliated, fatally stabbing Cooper, The Star reported.

Kidwell told police, When I get mad, I make the exorcist look like a bitch, The Star reported.

Shawnee man allegedly told police he killed MeShon Cooper in anger after HIV threat

He initially told police that another person slit Coopers throat during an argument, court documents show, at which point he drove her home and hid her body.

Kidwell previously worked at a Little Caesars pizza parlor in Shawnee, according to court documents. Police believe Cooper and Kidwell knew each other, and Kidwells neighbors reported seeing the two interact, The Star previously reported.

The case was complicated by the fact that Kidwell was not read his Miranda rights before he first spoke to police at his home, court documents show. Since 2018, Kidwell filed multiple complaints with Johnson County courts against Judge Timothy P. McCarthy, who sentenced him Wednesday.

Those who know Kidwell and Cooper have called Coopers death a hate crime. Kidwells estranged daughter, Crystal Foster, said Kidwell was a member of the Ku Klux Klan, The Star reported in 2018.

True definition of evil: Alleged Shawnee murderer is white supremacist, family says

Foster told The Star in 2018 that Kidwell had threatened to kill her, along with her three children, saying he would kill his daughter and her three children if I ever spoke to a person of color.

Kidwell spent 15 years in prison on various assault charges before killing Cooper, The Star reported. He was most recently incarcerated from 2011 to 2016 after pleading guilty to raping a Black woman, according to court documents. Kidwell told police that he had been diagnosed with HIV, and that he did not use a condom during the assault, The Star reported.

Cooper is survived by an adult son.

Previous reporting by Katie Bernard, Max Londberg, Aaron Randle and Tony Rizzo was used in this article.
A husbands strangulation of his wife was justifiable as it was triggered by the vile nonsense of a drunken woman, a judge has said.

Stuart Robertson strangled his wife Dawn, 62, before placing a crucifix in her hands and boarding a bus to St Helens town centre, in Merseyside, where he got a coffee, before handing himself in to police.

Robertson, 69, was cleared of murder by a jury but had admitted manslaughter at the start of his trial.

Last week at Liverpool Crown Court, he was sentenced to six years in prison after judge Andrew Menary KC said the case bore hallmarks of classic battered spouse syndrome, after Robertson suffered years of abuse.

Robertson told jurors during his trial that he had attacked his wife on Nov 15 2023 after feeling a burning anger and rage after she told him he was her slave.

Horrible person

Sentencing him, Judge Menary said that what had started as a happy marriage had deteriorated principally because of the abuse of alcohol.

The judge added that it seemed Dawn was a delightful person when sober, but a horrible person after she had a drink.

Explaining his reasons for the sentence, he said: I am satisfied that the correct basis for sentence is that you did have the necessary intention for the offence of murder, but that the killing was the result of your loss of control in circumstances where there was a sufficient trigger and your response was justifiable.

I do not accept that there was, in the circumstances, a very high degree of provocation.

Dawn Robertson was, to an extent, a vulnerable, slightly built, pathetic drunk who represented no threat to you and who was killed in her own home.

Many arguments

The court heard that the couple had struggled with alcoholism for years and there were many arguments.

Jurors were told Robertson stopped drinking more than a decade ago but his wife had not.

During the week-long trial, the court heard there had been a long history of police call-outs to the couples home.

The retired warehouse manager said Dawn, who was his second wife, used to drink up to two and a half bottles of brandy every day and would start drinking as soon as she got up in the morning.

That day, she verbally abused him and came towards him, pointing her finger at him and said he was her slave, the jury heard.

Robertson put his hands around her neck and squeezed.

The next thing I knew she was dead, he told the court.

Asked why he had strangled her, he said he had just wanted her to shut up with the abuse.

Robertson, who must serve two thirds of his sentence before becoming eligible for release on licence, nodded when he learnt of his prison term before mouthing the words thank you before he was led down to the cells.

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The last five years have brought many changes to European royal families. During this time, young monarchs have managed to graduate from school, move to other cities, and even start preparing for their future duties.

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According to HELLO, Crown Prince Christian of Denmark became the first in line to the Danish throne, and Princess Leonor of Spain began her three-year military training course. Read on to find out what else is known about the heirs and how the young royals have changed since 2019.

The royal family of Denmark

Life for the Danish royal family has changed in recent months since King Frederik came to the throne. His eldest son, 18-year-old Christian, became Crown Prince of Denmark and has already served as regent, while his parents, King Frederik and Queen Mary, were abroad.

Christian and his younger sister, 17-year-old Princess Isabella, now attend the Ordrup Gymnasium in Copenhagen. Meanwhile, 13-year-old twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine have just become teenagers.

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The royal family of the Netherlands

It's been a tough few years for the future queen, 20-year-old Princess Catharina-Amalia, who was forced to leave her university accommodation in 2022 due to kidnapping threats. It was recently revealed that the royal had lived in Spain for a year to complete her studies, but she has since returned to Amsterdam to continue her studies in politics, psychology, law, and economics.

In 2023, the princess made her first official foreign tour, accompanying her parents, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, on a visit to the Caribbean.

Meanwhile, Princess Alexia, 18, passed her International Baccalaureate course at UWC Atlantic College in May 2023, and Princess Ariane, 17, enrolled at WC Adriatic in Italy last summer.

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The royal family of Monaco

Prince Albert and Princess Charlene's twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, often join their parents at large-scale events such as Monaco's National Day.

Charlene noted that her children were assigned to different classes at the beginning of the school year and spoke about their personalities, "Gabriella is spontaneous, she is quite confident. I think this is the difference between boys and girls at this age, when girls are perhaps more expressive. They complement each other and explore their new environment, but they are still young and change from day to day."

The royal family of Spain

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The proud parents, Queen Letizia and King Felipe, said that their eldest daughter and future queen, Princess Leonor, 18, has entered military school, and 17-year-old Sofia moved to UWC Atlantic College last summer to study for a two-year international bachelor's degree program.

The royal family of Sweden

In this 2019 family photo, Prince Oscar was just a toddler. Five years later, the young prince, now eight, is a copy of his father, Prince Daniel, and attends the Manilla Campus at the Royal Djurgarden with his older sister. Meanwhile, the future Queen Estelle is a copy of her mother Crown Princess Victoria.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A 24-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman were arrested and charged with burglary of habitation following an investigation conducted Tuesday, May 28, according to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office (EPCSO).

EPCSO said that on May 28 deputies and detectives began investigating a burglary of habitation case and subsequently located and identified the unknown offenders at the 600 block of Plata Place.

Surveillance was conducted leading to the arrest of Ricardo Garcia, 24, and Meranda Hernandez, 32, according to EPCSO.

Additionally, EPCSO said deputies recovered two stolen vehicles and obtained information on other stolen property from within El Paso County.

Garcia and Hernandez were both booked into the El Paso County Detention Facility for burglary of habitation under a $40,000 bond. according to EPCSO.

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Sen. Joe Manchin, who announced he was leaving the Democratic Party this week to become an unaffiliated voter, shows a form changing his party affiliation at the West Virginia Secretary of State's office this week. (Office of Sen. Joe Manchin | Courtesy photo)

In what is becoming an election tradition, West Virginians are again being left to wonder what longtime Democrat Joe Manchin will do politically come November as the U.S. senator on Friday announced that he has left the Democratic Party and changed his voter registration to unaffiliated.

The registration change means Manchin, 76, could enter the race for either governor or senator as an independent candidate for the November general election.

Manchins party change came just days after he pledged support for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Huntington Mayor Steve Williams in his race against the Republican nominee for the office, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. In those comments, Manchin said he would not be seeking office as governor. This quieted rumors that have been circulating for weeks that several Republicans, unhappy with Morriseys primary win, have contacted Manchin to urge him to enter the race.

If he entered the race for senate, he would be up against Gov. Jim Justice, the Republican nominee, and Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, who Manchin has endorsed in the race.

I am very appreciative of [Manchins] support and have no reason to believe he is interested in entering this Senate race, Elliott said in a social media post Friday. From my many conversations with the Senator, I believe he is sincere in his desire to focus his energy on unifying the country from beyond the constraints of elected office. And I wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.

In a news release Friday, Manchin  who said in November that he would not be seeking another term in the senate  said his party switch is the result of partisan extremism. His comments this week reflect those hes been making for months criticizing the political divide in the United States and his goal to unite the middle of America.

Today, our national politics are broken and neither party is willing to compromise to find common ground, Manchins statement read. To stay true to myself and remain committed to put country before party, I have decided to register as an independent with no party affiliation and continue to fight for Americas sensible majority.

The party change was not well-regarded by the West Virginia Democratic Party. In a news release, Party Chair Mike Pushkin thanked Manchin for his support of Williams two days prior. The support of an independent politician such as Manchin, the release reads, shows the appeal Steve Williams has across the political spectrum.

Clearly the Senator thinks his new role as the head of Americans Together, an organization dedicated to bridging the divide between the two major parties, can best be served in the final 8 months of his term as an Independent, Pushkin said.

Americans Together is a political nonprofit formed last year by Manchin and his daughter, former pharmaceutical executive Heather Bresch. The organization aims to unite Americans who consider themselves to be in the middle of the two major political parties and push centrist policies.

After serving as West Virginias governor for six years, Manchin joined the senate in 2010. He was elected to his first full term as senator in 2012 and has served there ever since.

As a senator, Manchin has recently found himself in the national spotlight, often being the deciding vote in the politically split body. Democrats have lamented his lack of support on various initiatives that come down from President Joe Bidens administration, specifically in regards to energy and tax policies.

Its not new that political rumors surround Manchin in the lead up to elections.

Last year, as the 2024 primary approached, there were talks nationally that Manchin would enter the race for president as an independent. In 2020, he teased a gubernatorial bid against Justice. Justice was elected as a Democrat in 2016  with heavy support from Manchin  before he changed his party registration to Republican in 2017 while on stage at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Huntington.

If Manchin chooses to enter any statewide or federal race for the 2024 general election, he will have to start work soon to gather the signatures necessary to appear on the ballot as an independent candidate. According to the Secretary of States office, potential candidates not affiliated with a recognized political party must collect signatures from at least 1% of people who voted in the previous election for the seat they are seeking by Aug. 1.

The post Manchin registers as unaffiliated as deadline approaches to run as independent in November general appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Sen. Joe Manchin, who announced he was leaving the Democratic Party this week to become an unaffiliated voter, shows a form changing his party affiliation at the West Virginia Secretary of States Office this week. (Courtesy of Sen. Joe Manchin's office)

In what is becoming an election tradition, West Virginians are again being left to wonder what longtime Democrat Joe Manchin will do politically come November, as the U.S. senator on Friday announced that he has left the Democratic Party and changed his voter registration to unaffiliated.

The registration change means Manchin, 76, could enter the race for either governor or senator as an independent candidate for the November general election.

Manchins party change came just days after he pledged support for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Huntington Mayor Steve Williams in his race against the Republican nominee for the office, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. In those comments, Manchin said he would not be seeking office as governor. This quieted rumors that have been circulating for weeks that several Republicans, unhappy with Morriseys primary win, have contacted Manchin to urge him to enter the race.

If he entered the race for Senate, he would be up against Gov. Jim Justice, the Republican nominee, and Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott, who Manchin has endorsed in the race.

I am very appreciative of [Manchins] support and have no reason to believe he is interested in entering this Senate race, Elliott said in a social media post Friday. From my many conversations with the Senator, I believe he is sincere in his desire to focus his energy on unifying the country from beyond the constraints of elected office. And I wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.

Blames partisan extremism

In a news release Friday, Manchin  who said in November that he would not be seeking another term in the Senate  said his party switch is the result of partisan extremism. His comments this week reflect those hes been making for months criticizing the political divide in the United States and his goal to unite the middle of America.

Today, our national politics are broken and neither party is willing to compromise to find common ground, Manchins statement read. To stay true to myself and remain committed to put country before party, I have decided to register as an independent with no party affiliation and continue to fight for Americas sensible majority.

The party change was not well-regarded by the West Virginia Democratic Party. In a jeering news release, Party Chair Mike Pushkin thanked Manchin for his support of Williams two days prior. The support of an independent politician such as Manchin, the release reads, shows the appeal Steve Williams has across the political spectrum.

Clearly the Senator thinks his new role as the head of Americans Together, an organization dedicated to bridging the divide between the two major parties, can best be served in the final 8 months of his term as an Independent, Pushkin said.

Americans Together is a political nonprofit formed last year by Manchin and his daughter, former pharmaceutical executive Heather Bresch. The organization aims to unite Americans who consider themselves to be in the middle of the two major political parties and push centrist policies.

Often the deciding vote

After serving as West Virginias governor for six years, Manchin joined the Senate in 2010. He was elected to his first full term as senator in 2012 and has served there ever since.

As a senator, Manchin has recently found himself in the national spotlight, often being the deciding vote in the politically split body. Democrats have lamented his lack of support on various initiatives that come down from President Joe Bidens administration, specifically in regards to energy and tax policies.

Its not new that political rumors surround Manchin in the lead-up to elections.

Last year, as the 2024 primary approached, there were talks nationally that Manchin would enter the race for president as an independent. In 2020, he teased a gubernatorial bid against Justice. Justice was elected as a Democrat in 2016  with heavy support from Manchin  before he changed his party registration to Republican in 2017 while on stage at a rally for former President Donald Trump in Huntington.

If Manchin chooses to enter any statewide or federal race for the 2024 general election, he will have to start work soon to gather the signatures necessary to appear on the ballot as an independent candidate. According to the Secretary of States Office, potential candidates not affiliated with a recognized political party must collect signatures from at least 1% of people who voted in the previous election for the seat they are seeking by Aug. 1.

This article first appeared in the West Virginia Watch, a sister site of the Nebraska Examiner in the States Newsroom network.

The post Manchin registers as unaffiliated as deadline approaches to run as independent in November general appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
A manhunt is on after suspect shot at officers and took a hostage in Nebraska, authorities say

A manhunt is on for a suspect who took a woman hostage and fled after opening fire on officers trying to serve an arrest warrant Thursday night in Omaha, Nebraska, authorities said.

The suspect is Jason Davenport, 42, of Council Bluffs, the Nebraska State Patrol said in a news release. He is about 6-foot-3, between 170 and 200 pounds and took off in a gray Ford Fusion with Iowa plates, the Omaha Police Department said on X.

Davenport is believed to be armed and may be injured, and anyone who sees him should call 911 immediately, they said.

Davenport was believed to have fled from law enforcement last week and is the subject of an active arrest warrant, state police said.

On Thursday night, while troopers attempted to make contact, Davenport exited the residence firing a handgun, they said.

Troopers and an Omaha Police officer returned fire, but Davenport managed to take a woman hostage and escape in the Ford Fusion, troopers said. No officers or troopers were injured.

Officials did not give any details on the identity of the hostage, including whether she has any connection to Davenport.

Troopers and officers pursued, but they lost visual as the vehicle drove through Upland Park, troopers said. Officers from multiple agencies searched the area with assistance from NSP and OPD helicopters, but were unable to locate Davenport, the vehicle, or his hostage.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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The cause of death for the 19-year-old son of former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki has been revealed. He died of an accidental overdose, according to the Alameda County Sheriffs Office.

Marco Troper was found dead around 4 p.m. in his dorm room at the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), on Feb. 13, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office said. Esther Wojcicki, an American journalist and educator, further confirmed her grandson's death in a Facebook post shared in February saying, "Tragedy hit my family yesterday My beloved grandson Marco Troper, age 19 passed away yesterday. Our family is devastated beyond comprehension."

Troper's autopsy found high concentrations of cocaine, amphetamine, alprazolam (Xanax), a medication prescribed to manage panic and anxiety disorders, and hydroxyzine, an antihistamine used to treat allergies and anxiety, in his system, according to the Alameda County Sheriff's Office's Coroner Bureau's investigator's report.

Marco Troper's mother's death: Susan Wojcicki, former YouTube CEO, dies at 56 from lung cancer

The levels of alprazolam and cocaine in Troper's blood were high enough to cause death, according to the coroner's report. Low levels of delta-9, a more abundant form of THC, were found in the college student's blood, the report shows.

Troper suffered from "chronic substance abuse" and he had a fractured right wrist from a scooter incident that occurred two weeks before his death, the report says.

Marco Troper

Marco Troper's death ruled 'accidental'

Troper's official cause of death was ruled "acute combined drug toxicity," according to the report, which also declared the overdose as "accidental."

Authorities found illegal and prescription drugs, including Percocet and Oxycodone" in "abundance" at the scene of the incident, the report says. No evidence of physical trauma was observed, the report continued.

Brandi Foscalina, with the Alameda County Sheriffs Office Coroners Bureau, told USA TODAY that the investigation into Troper's death is "considered closed."

'Macro's life was cut too short'

In Esther Wojcicki's Facebook post, she described her grandson as the "most kind, loving, smart, fun and beautiful human being."

"Marco's life was cut too short," Wojcicki wrote in the Facebook post. "And we are all devastated, thinking about all the opportunities and life experiences that he will miss and we will miss together. Marco, we all love you and miss you more than you will ever know."

Before Troper's death, Wojcicki said he was beginning his second semester as a freshman at UC Berkeley and majoring in math. She also called Troper's fraternity Zeta Psi and dormmates at Stern Hall on the college's campus his "strong community."

"At home, he would tell us endless stories of his life and friends at Berkeley," Wojcicki wrote in her Facebook post.

Who is former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki?

Troper is the son of Susan Wojcicki, who served as CEO of YouTube from 2014 to 2023.

Susan Wojcicki has over 20 years in the tech industry dating back to when she became involved in the creation of Google in 1998 by renting out her garage as an office to the company's founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, according to The Guardian. She would go on to become Google's first marketing manager in 1999 and later became the head of the company's online advertising business and original video service, the outlet said.

"Twenty-five years ago I made the decision to join a couple of Stanford graduate students who were building a new search engine," Susan Wojcicki wrote in a blog post on Feb. 16, 2023, announcing her resignation. "Their names were Larry and Sergey. I saw the potential of what they were building, which was incredibly exciting, and although the company had only a few users and no revenue, I decided to join the team."

You Tube CEO Susan Wojcicki gestures during a session at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos on May 24, 2022.

Wojcicki's blog post continued to say how after 25 years, she plans to step back from her role at YouTube and "start a new chapter" focused on her "family, health, and personal projects (she is) passionate about."

"I always dreamed of working for a company with a mission that could change the world for the better," Wojcicki wrote in the blog post. "Thanks to (Page's and Brin's) vision, I got the chance to live that dream. It has been an absolute privilege to be a part of it, and Im excited for whats next."

Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cause of death released for Marco Troper, former YouTube CEO's son
(Bloomberg) -- As soon as it became clear that Ferdinand Marcos Jr. had won the Philippine presidential election in May 2022, the nations ambassador to the US was asked by the White House when President Joe Biden should give him a congratulatory call.

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The sooner you make the call, the better for our relationship, Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez, a cousin of Marcos recalled in an interview. Biden called from Air Force One two days after the election, holding a friendly ten-minute exchange with Marcos that really set the tone for our relationship with the United States, Romualdez said.

The tone, from the US perspective, desperately needed changing. Rodrigo Duterte, who preceded Marcos had tilted away from Washington and repeatedly questioned the Southeast Asian nations decades-old alliance with the US.

Yet even American officials have been surprised by just how much Marcos has shifted the Philippines back toward the US since he took office roughly two years ago. While Marcos in no way wants to be seen as a US pawn, one official said, he was disillusioned by Chinas actions in the South China Sea and is fully on board with strengthening ties with Washington.

Many expected Marcos to shift back toward the Philippines traditional close ties with the US, said Gregory Poling, director of the Southeast Asia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington D.C. think tank. But he has gone much farther, undertaking a generational modernization of the alliance to defend against Chinese aggression.

Marcos outspoken pushback on China, highlighted by his efforts to publicize confrontations between the two countries in the South China Sea, has turned him into somewhat of a star among the US and its allies. He had the rare honor of addressing the Australian parliament, and on Friday, hell deliver the keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual security conference in Singapore that brings together defense chiefs from the US, China and other nations.

I can feel it in DC, you know, Romualdez said, where hes based. Hes really the most sought after leader now, worldwide and in the United States, the envoy said.

The Wests embrace of Marcos is a remarkable shift from his familys pariah status after his father was ousted from power almost four decades ago. Some observers initially thought he would hold a grudge against the Americans for prompting his familys exile to Hawaii after the 1986 revolt that ended his fathers dictatorship.

Bidens phone call to Marcos in May 2022 was soon followed by high-profile visits from the US secretaries of state and defense, as his administration made it a priority to revive longstanding alliances in a bid to compete with China. Biden met Marcos on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in September of that year, and two months later his vice president was in Manila.

Within six months of his inauguration, Marcos had completed an almost total overhaul of Manilas policy towards the US  and by extension, China. Shortly afterward, he handed Washingtons military planners something they greatly coveted: access to four additional bases in the Philippines, three close to Taiwan.

U-Turn

Duterte had largely ignored a 2016 ruling by a UN-backed tribunal that had declared Chinas expansive claims illegal, aiming instead for better relations with Beijing  a position Marcos appeared to back on the campaign trail.

But Marcos shifted course once in office, repeatedly citing the 2016 ruling and putting the blame on Beijing for boosting tensions. China claims much of the South China Sea for itself, has built military facilities over reclaimed disputed areas and has conducted large military exercises near Taiwan.

We have not instigated any kind of conflict. We have not instigated any kind of confrontation, Marcos told Bloomberg in a March interview. Since the threat from China has grown, he said, we must do more to defend our territory.

Early into his term, Marcos appeared to want to balance ties as much as possible. He met Chinese President Xi Jinping in January 2023 on a state visit to Beijing, where the two leaders amicably discussed maritime differences and restarted talks on oil and gas exploration.

Read: Xis Fleet Is Winning the South China Sea Energy Fight

But everything changed a few weeks later. During a visit by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the Pentagon announced it had secured access to four additional bases in the Philippines, reinvigorating their decades-old military ties.

It was seen by Beijing as positioning the US to interfere in the Taiwan contingency because of the location, said Ngeow Chow Bing, director of the Institute of China Studies at the University of Malaya. It was very hard for Beijing to feel that the Marcos government had any good intention.

Two weeks after the expanded military deal was announced, the gloves came off. On Feb. 14, 2023, the Philippines protested Chinas flaring of a military-grade laser on a Coast Guard vessel, temporarily blinding the crew and forcing it to retreat.

The Squad

Since then, dangerous encounters in the South China Sea have become increasingly routine. Beijings armada of fishing boats and Coast Guard vessels have often blocked Philippine ships and even collided with them, raising the risk of a conflict with China that could potentially draw in the US.

China has repeatedly warned the Philippines about involving external forces into their dispute, while maintaining that its maritime actions are reasonable and professional.

The US and its allies have given the Philippines steadfast diplomatic support, while providing it with real-time intelligence. US planes routinely circle overhead on Philippine resupply missions to a dilapidated World War II-era ship that serves as a military outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal.

The US recently assembled a grouping privately called the Squad with the Philippines, Australia and Japan to conduct maritime drills and provide greater security assistance to Manila. The Philippines is also working on troop visits with France, in addition to deals with Japan and Australia. In recent weeks, it conducted one of the largest joint exercises ever with the US.

Manila is hoping to leverage the enhanced military relationship to win more US investment and diversify from China, its top trading partner.

The US recently promised $1 billion in tech and energy investments, and a deal to boost the Philippines role in the nickel supply chain to cut Chinas dominance is also under discussion. The US and Japan have also committed to build rails, ports and factors in a so-called economic corridor on the Philippines main island.

Our alliance with the United States has become stronger, bolstered by our economic engagements, Marcos said last month during his fourth trip to the US in two years.

Marcos has sought to use the clashes in the South China Sea to his advantage, inviting media from across the world to view Chinas actions. And that strategy is showing some signs of paying off, according to Chong Ja Ian, an associate professor of political science at the National University of Singapore.

Some of the PRCs behavior at sea may have become more careful and restrained as a result of the Philippines efforts, he said, using an acronym for China. This suggests that amid the friction and intensifying differences, even Beijing wishes to be able to manage escalation and is acting more carefully than it otherwise could.

--With assistance from Rebecca Choong Wilkins, Cliff Venzon and Colum Murphy.

(Updates with comments in 5th para)

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Marine vet who hurt cop at US Capitol sentenced to 5 years in prison

A military veteran who was convicted of injuring a police officers hand during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol was sentenced on Friday to five years in prison.

John George Todd III declined to address the court before U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell sentenced him. The judge said Todd, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, hasnt shown any remorse for his role in damaging the countrys fragile democratic institutions.

Read more Military Times coverage of extremism and disinformation

This is not a patriot. This is not conduct becoming of a Marine, the judge told Todd, 34.

Prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of 12 years and seven months for Todd, who traveled from his Missouri home to attend then-President Donald Trumps Stop the Steal rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6.

As the country approaches anther contentious election year, one that will see a rematch of the 2020 Presidential election that was at issue for the rioters on January 6, every January 6 sentencing sends a message about the importance of democratic values and the rule of law, prosecutors wrote.

After entering the Capitol, Todd repeatedly pushed against officers inside the Rotunda, ignored commands to leave and screamed profanities at police.

Todd was carrying a fiberglass pole attached to a flag. When a Metropolitan Police Department officer tried to grab it from him, Todd and the officer wrestled for control of the pole until it splintered and cut the officers hand.

The officer, Noah Rathbun, needed seven stitches and missed nine days of work. Todd argued that the officers injuries were self-inflicted.

A different rioter, retired New York Police Department officer Thomas Webster, was sentenced to 10 years in prison for attacking Rathbun outside the Capitol earlier that day. Webster swung a flagpole at Rathbun and then tackled him and grabbed his gas mask.

Jan. 6 convict asks for light sentence in order to remain in Navy

Todd has been jailed since a jury in February convicted him of six counts, including obstruction of the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress for certifying President Joe Bidens 2020 electoral victory over Trump.

This was a dangerous first, where the peaceful transition to a new presidential administration was disrupted, the judge said.

Todd initially was charged with only misdemeanors, but a grand jury indicted him on felony charges after prosecutors discovered video of him assaulting Rathbun.

After his arrest, Todd repeatedly violated the terms of his pretrial release. He moved from Blue Springs, Missouri, to South Carolina to be in his sisters care.

Todds attorneys said he is a combat veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder who needs mental health treatment, not incarceration.

Incarceration would only exacerbate Mr. Todds health and mental health problems, a defense attorney wrote last year.

Todd was a Marine from 2009 to 2013 and served in Afghanistan, his family said. Todd received an other than honorable discharge from the military related to his abuse of alcohol, according to prosecutors.

More than 100 police officers were injured during the riot. Over 1,400 people have been charged with Capitol riot-related federal crimes. Nearly 900 of them have been sentenced, with roughly two-thirds of them receiving a term of imprisonment ranging from a few days to 22 years.
Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene posted a picture of an upside down flag in the wake of former president Donald Trumps conviction on Thursday.

The upside-down flag has become a symbol for the Stop the Steal movement that the former presidents supporters brandished at the US Capitol on January 6. Its also the same symbol that was spotted at Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alitos home in Virginia, three years ago and recently brought to the publics attention, sparking a controversy and calls for his resignation.

The 45th President of the United States had been convicted of all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records following a six-week criminal trial in New York shortly before Ms Greene posted the image on X.

The jury of 12 New Yorkers handed down the verdict following two days of deliberation.

The former president covered up a $130,000 payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election.

Greene, a Republican representative and longtime Trump backer, wrote on X: Joe Bidens campaign orchestrated a rally outside of the courthouse in New York City supporting a potential conviction of President Trump.

This case has been rigged from the start and we all knew it. This isnt a prosecution, its a persecution. We must end the weaponization of government in America. This is what happens in third world countries!

Protestors were seen outside the courthouse as a verdict was reached in the trial. Trump echoed Greenes remarks in a statement posted to Truth Social on Thursday.

Marjorie Taylor Greene posted a picture of an upside down flag in the wake of Former President Donald J Trumps conviction on Thursday. They are pictured together in March. (AFP via Getty Images)

THIS WAS A DISGRACEA RIGGED TRIAL BY A CONFLICTED JUDGE WHO IS CORRUPT, he wrote. WE WILL FIGHT FOR OUR CONSTITUTIONTHIS IS LONG FROM OVER!

He followed that up with: VICTORY ON NOVEMBER 5TH. SAVE AMERICA!!!

Trump is the presumptive Republican nominee for president and his sentencing is set for four days before the Republican National Convention.

Throughout the trial, numerous Republicans made the trek to New York City to show their solidarity with the twice-impeached-quadruple-indicted former president. Everyone from back-bench members of the House of Representatives, to governors and attorney generals appeared at the courthouse.

Many Republicans did so in the name of circumventing the gag order that Judge Juan Merchan placed on Mr Trump.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who visited the court earlier this month in support of Trump, also denounced the verdict on Thursday.

Today is a shameful day in American history, he said. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one.

Representative Matt Gaetz, the hard-right Republican from Florida who also travelled to New York to support him, baselessly claimed that the ruling was corrupt.

This verdict is the corrupt result of a corrupt trial, a corrupt judge, and a corrupt DA, he said. We will stand with President Trump now more than ever to save the country.

Mr Gaetz also posted a link to Trumps campaign on X.

Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, who had also turned up in New York, called the trial a witch hunt.

Whether you consider the lopsided jury, the gag order issued to silence only President Trump, the prosecutions failure to outline the alleged underlying crimes, or the lack of a unanimous verdict required for conviction, this trial was a complete joke and a massive misuse of taxpayer dollars, he said.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whom the Texas house of representatives impeached but whom the state senate did not convict, pledged to assist the former president.

As Attorney General of Texas, I will unleash every tool at my disposal to fight this blatant corruption and political persecution spewing from New York and the Biden administration, he said.

Arizona Republican senate candidate Kari Lake denounced the ruling, saying that the case was politically motivated.

We just witnessed the most egregious example of election interference and an outright mockery of the rule of law in the 246-year history of our Republic, she said in a statement.

Representative Nancy Mace, the South Carolina Republican who had previously criticised Trump before she endorsed him, said the verdict was an example of government weaponization.

This is a VERY dark day for American democracy when the law is weaponized against its own citizens, she said.

Senator Josh Hawley, who led the charge to overturn the 2020 electon results, blamed President Joe Biden and said he tried to criminalize his strongest political opponent.

Congrats, Joe Biden. Youre the worst president ever, he said.
The historic mansion built for Newport's founder, James Taylor V, was recently listed for sale.

The former home of Newport's founder, James Taylor V, recently hit the market in Northern Kentucky for $2.49 million.

The mansion, which Taylor named Belle Vue (French for beautiful view), is more than 8,700-square-feet and sits atop a hill overlooking the Ohio River at 335 E. 3rd St., in Newport's East Row Historic District.

The mansion is also known as the General James Taylor House in reference to his service as a quartermaster general in the Northwestern Army during the War of 1812.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the mansion was originally built in 1837 and is the oldest home in the Newport historic district.

The mansion was rebuilt in 1845 after a fire burned Taylor's original home to the ground during a slave rebellion, The Enquirer previously reported.

Taylor owned an estimated 40-50 slaves at the time of his death in 1848. Ironically, the mansion was used as an Underground Railroad safe house after his death.

The mansion, which sold for just over $1 million in 2022, has about $1.4 million in upgrades, according to the most recent listing from Robinson Sotheby's International Realty.

Upgrades include heated floors in the primary bathroom, inoperable fireplaces converted to gas and new HVAC systems.

The mansion has six bedrooms, three full baths and two half-baths with Italian marble surfaces. It features stained-glass windows, detailed millwork and moldings, more than 17-foot-high ceilings on the first floor and a grand staircase.

"The whole house has been extraordinarily updated. It's stunning,'' said Lee Robinson, the listing agent with Sotheby's.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: On The Market: Newport's Gen. James Taylor House listed for $2.49M
Archaeologists have re-examined a mysterious granite tomb found under the floor of a religious center in east-central Egypt. As a result, it was found that the sarcophagus fragment once belonged to Ramses II, one of the most famous ancient Egyptian pharaohs.

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The discovery was made possible by the study of a fragment of this sarcophagus by Frederic Pairaud, a professor and researcher of Egyptology at the Sorbonne University. The scientist made this discovery while studying a large fragment of a granite sarcophagus found in 2009 in a Coptic building in Abydos, an ancient city in east-central Egypt, the scientific journal La Brujula Verde writes.

The decoration and texts of this sarcophagus showed that it was used twice, the second time by the high priest of the XXI Dynasty Menkheperre (about 1000 BC). Its first owner, however, remained a mystery, although the quality of the object indicated that it belonged to a very high-ranking person in the Egyptian New Kingdom. By studying the newly engraved hieroglyphic texts, Frederic Pyro was able to establish that they contained a cartouche by Ramses II himself.

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Ramses II was the third ruler of the 19th Dynasty of Ancient Egypt and reigned from 1279 to 1213 BC. He is known for expanding the Egyptian empire to the territory of modern-day Syria and for his building projects, including the expansion of the Karnak Temple.

In 1881, Ramses II's mummy and coffin were found in a "secret" hiding place at Deir el-Bahar, a temple complex outside Luxor that contained the remains of 50 other members of the nobility, including his father, according to the Egyptian Museum. According to the American Research Center in Egypt, his highly decorated coffin is considered "one of the most striking coffins in ancient Egypt."

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Before Ramses II was placed in the sarcophagus, he was buried in a now-lost golden coffin and moved to an alabaster sarcophagus that archaeologists found destroyed in his tomb. It was later moved to a granite sarcophagus that Menkheperre moved to Abydos to use for himself.

"This discovery is new evidence that at that time the Valley of the Kings was not only the subject of looting but also the reuse of funerary objects by subsequent rulers," the study participants commented.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
A dentist assigned to Ohio's Air National Guard checks an X-ray during a routine visit at the U.S Naval Hospital Okinawa, Japan, in July 2023. Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Beth Holliker/U.S. Air National Guard.

Maryland has about 70 dentists per 100,000 residents, according data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2020, but that doesnt mean that they are equally distributed across the state.

State health officials and dental health advocates say that Baltimore and parts of the Eastern Shore and Western Maryland not only lack dentists, but have other barriers that make it difficult for residents to keep up with their oral health.

The Maryland Department of Health aims to change that with a new program urging dental students to launch their careers in areas with dental health care shortages.

The Pathways to Bright Futures program, which launched Wednesday, will educate those students about the dentistry profession in hopes of easing shortage in targeted areas.

Dr. Nilesh Kalyanaraman, the health departments deputy secretary for public health services said Wednesday that fixing the workforce shortage wont be easy and is not going to happen overnight, but improving access to dental services will help improve overall health equity in Maryland.

When I think about our vision for health equity in Maryland, I see everyone in our state having a fair and just opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Its going to take hard work  to ensure that health equity includes healthy mouths, teeth and gums for all Marylanders, he said.

Dr. Debony Hughes, director of the departments Office of Oral Health, said that many areas in Western Maryland, the Eastern Shore and Baltimore have fewer than 20 dentists per 100,000 residents, well below the national average of 61 dentists per 100,000 residents.

This program is a collaborative effort to work with students and foster their interests in the oral health field and provide support to those who know they want to practice in the profession, Hughes said Wednesday during the program kickoff at the Dr. Samuel D. Harris National Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore

Pathways to Bright Futures is funded by a grant to the state from the federal Health Resources and Service Administration. At Wednesdays event, six dental health students were awarded funds to help pay their dental school tuition.Each of the students plan to practice dentistry in one of the states dental shortage areas.

Cavities in children and adults, and gum disease especially in adults, are among the most prevalent chronic diseases in the United States, Kalyanaraman said. The main reason why oral disease is so prevalent is that far too many Marylanders experience barriers to preventative and essential dental care.

He noted that when Maryland dentists set up their practice, they tend to gather in more populated and higher income areas, creating significant gaps in access to dental care across other regions of the state.

This shortage creates an uneven distribution of dental professionals across the state, which leads to decreased access to dental care, especially in already underserved communities, Kalyanaraman said.

Dr. George Shepley, a general dentist in Baltimore since 1978 who previously served as president of the American Dental Association, said dental care can help identify other health needs.

Theyre connected. Totally. Especially with things like diabetes and cardiac disease, Shepley said Wednesday. And in the world of dentistry, youll get insight into well-being overall. Youll help diagnose other conditions and empower people to really take responsibility for their lives.

Mary Backley, CEO of the Maryland Dental Action Coalition, said there are a multitude of logistical and economic barriers that can make it challenging for some Marylanders to get to a dental appointment.

Besides a lack of equal access to the states 4,300 registered dentists, another issue in dentist shortage areas is transportation, particularly for the more rural communities in Western Maryland and on the Eastern Shore.

The biggest barriers, rural-wise, is the distance  It can take miles and miles and miles to get to a provider, Backley said after Wednesdays event.

Baltimore residents are more likely to be face a long waitlist to get a dental appointment, according to Backley. And both rural and city residents may struggle to afford child care or take time off work to go to the dentist in the first place.

There are also financial hurdles that make it harder for families to afford a trip to the dentist.

As of January 2023, Medicaid in Maryland began to cover certain dental services for adults. And the General Assembly this year passed legislation to study the feasibility of including full and partial dentures under Medicaid coverage. Gov. Wes Moore (D) signed the bill in May.

The state Medicaid expansions can help many low-income families receive dental health care, so long as they have access to a provider that accepts Medicaid. Not all dentists in Maryland do.

Backley hopes that the Pathways to Bright Futures program will encourage more young people to look to dentistry as a career path and help fill in some of the coverage gaps in the state.

On the bright side, Backley said that residents and Maryland health officials are taking dental health care seriously.

Its been incremental, but each year there has been progress, she said. People understand the importance of oral health. And the importance of oral health to overall health.

The post Maryland hopes to recruit young dentists to workforce shortage areas appeared first on Maryland Matters.
For the first time in my life, sectarian politics has become a part of English political life. The rigid adherence to a narrow set of beliefs  whether religious or ethnic  is beginning to cause serious problems. This intolerance seems to be growing in tandem with votes being cast en masse along certain lines.

Evidence is not hard to find. Just this month after a local election in Leeds a Green Party councillor called Mothin Ali shouted Allahu Akbar! after being elected to a city council. This shocked many people and outraged others. On Wednesday, a pro-Palestinian protest near Downing Street turned violent after thousands of people staged an emergency rally. A policewoman suffered facial injuries from a glass bottle. In the summer of 2022, there were ugly clashes in Birmingham between Hindus and Muslims.

Political disagreements from other parts of the world have been imported into this country, principally from the Middle East and the Indian sub-continent. Those of us who live here are being forced to deal with the consequences.

The major worry is that sectarianism often leads to extremism. Sectarian beliefs are a breeding ground for terrorist groups who may then commit atrocities at will. We should all be fearful of that.

According to a poll published by JL Partners in April and commissioned by the Henry Jackson Society, 23 per cent of 18-34 year old British Muslims support the concept of jihad. One in three Muslims in this age bracket want Sharia Law to be imposed in Britain  that is, death for apostasy; amputation of a hand for theft; stoning or lashing for adultery. Granted, this was just one poll of 1,000 people, but those statistics should ring a very loud alarm right around the country.

If anybody doubts the extent to which political parties are now in thrall to this phenomenon, just consider how a few days ago Angela Rayner, the deputy leader of the Labour Party, sat in a room full of Muslim men in her Ashton-under-Lyne constituency begging them for their vote on 4 July and thanking them for getting her over the line in 2019.

Rayner, whose 4,000 majority is being targeted by George Galloways Workers Party of Britain, promised her audience that Labour supports the International Criminal Courts decision to arrest Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu  and Hamas leaders  over allegations of war crimes in Gaza.

The paradox here is that some groups are perfectly relaxed about women being reduced to second class citizens with no vote at all. And so what this country faces is a situation where the democratic rights of women risk being set back by almost a century, universal suffrage having been achieved in 1928.

Can the situation be reversed? That is a very hard question to answer. Perhaps in the first instance it would be best to say that we should all be working to make sure it doesnt get any worse.

My view is that mass immigration over the past 25 years under Labour and the Tories is responsible for the rise in sectarian politics. Nobody voted for mass immigration; taxpayers have had no say in it; and everybody has been told in no uncertain terms that they must accept it. But in so many ways it has caused more problems than it has solved.

A third of a million people from the subcontinent and 140,000 from Nigeria came to live in Britain in the last year alone, according to the ONS last week. Will they all integrate fully into British society?

What is more, these islands have never before experienced large numbers of young people living here who not only refuse to adapt to our way of life but who wish for their way of life to become the norm for everybody else as well.

An uncomfortable reality must be confronted. No matter how long he has left in power, Sunak must address it head-on. Sir Keir Starmer had better have something meaningful to say and do about it as well if, as the bookmakers reckon, he is going to be in Number 10 from 5 July. I for one will hold his feet to the fire if he is in charge.

Nobody else in this election campaign but me would dare to make these points but I suspect that in the privacy of their own homes, many politicians from the Left and the Right are as concerned as I am about this disturbing trend. They owe it to the country to have an honest debate before things get any worse.

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Massive loss of power for ANC after elections in South Africa

South Africans vote in most competitive election since end of apartheid, with opinion polls suggesting the African National Congress (ANC)could lose its parliamentary majority after 30 years in government. Manash Das/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

A coalition government is emerging in South Africa for the first time in the country's history following parliamentary elections.

With just under 52% of the votes counted, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party had 41.93% of the total on Friday morning, according to the National Electoral Commission (IEC).

The preliminary result means a large-scale loss of around 15 percentage points for the ruling party, which secured 57.5% of the vote in the last parliamentary elections held in 2019.

If the former party of anti-apartheid campaigner Nelson Mandela remains below the 50% mark, as is now considered likely, it will have to form a coalition.

In the past 30 years, since the beginning of democracy in 1994, the ANC has always won an absolute majority and ruled the continent's strongest economy alone.

In the preliminary results the economically liberal Democratic Alliance (DA) is on 23.43%, while the party founded only six months ago by former President Jacob Zuma, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), is on 10.58%. The Marxist-influenced Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party follows close behind with 9.78%.

According to the preliminary results, the ANC will also lose its absolute majority in the country's economically strongest province, Gauteng, which includes the capital Pretoria and the economic centre of Johannesburg.

The ANC is also expected to fall below 50% in KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma's home province.

Members of 52 parties competed for the 400 seats in the National Assembly on May 29. The newly elected parliament must form a government and elect a president within 14 days of the announcement of the final results.
South Africans vote in most competitive election since end of apartheid, with opinion polls suggesting the African National Congress (ANC)could lose its parliamentary majority after 30 years in government. Manash Das/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

A coalition government is emerging in South Africa for the first time in the country's history following parliamentary elections.

With just under 52% of the votes counted, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party had 41.93% of the total on Friday morning, according to the National Electoral Commission (IEC).

The preliminary result means a large-scale loss of around 15 percentage points for the ruling party, which secured 57.5% of the vote in the last parliamentary elections held in 2019.

If the former party of anti-apartheid campaigner Nelson Mandela remains below the 50% mark, as is now considered likely, it will have to form a coalition.

In the past 30 years, since the beginning of democracy in 1994, the ANC has always won an absolute majority and ruled the continent's strongest economy alone.

In the preliminary results the economically liberal Democratic Alliance (DA) came in at 23.43%, while the party founded only six months ago by former President Jacob Zuma, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), is on 10.58%. The Marxist-influenced Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party follows close behind with 9.78%.

According to the preliminary results, the ANC will also lose its absolute majority in the country's economically strongest province, Gauteng, which includes the capital Pretoria and the economic centre of Johannesburg.

The ANC is also expected to fall below 50% in KwaZulu-Natal, Zuma's home province.

The country's second strongest province economically, the Western Cape, where Cape Town is located, has been governed for years by the DA. The preliminary results suggest it will retain its absolute majority there.

Members of 52 parties competed for the 400 seats in the National Assembly on May 29. The newly elected parliament must form a government and elect a president within 14 days of the announcement of the final results.

The ANC's historic electoral losses can be attributed to its weak record in government. The country of 61 million people is currently facing an ailing economy, mass unemployment and struggling state-owned companies. There are regular power cuts as well as high levels of crime and corruption.
The Navy kept up its operations to counter Iran-backed Houthi militants in the Middle East in May, largely engaging with missiles and aerial weapons as a spate of American drones reportedly went down in the region.

Go here for Navy Times up-to-date tracker of incidents between the Navy and the Houthis.

As the month came to an end, U.S. officials told The Associated Press that American and British forces struck 13 Houthi targets in Yemen on Thursday in response to a recent surge in attacks by the militia against ships in the Red Sea and the neighboring Gulf of Aden.

All the Houthi-US Navy incidents in the Middle East (that we know of)

According to the officials, American and British fighter jets and U.S. ships hit a wide range of underground facilities, missile launchers, command and control sites, a Houthi vessel and other facilities. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to provide early details of an ongoing military operation.

Also struck by the U.S. were eight air drones in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen and over the Red Sea that were determined to be presenting a threat to American and coalition forces.

While the Navy reportedly engaged with fewer assets launched by the Yemen-based group in May than in some earlier months of the conflict, the sea service continues to be occupied by nearly daily interactions with the rebel organization, which kicked off its campaign of assaults in the fall after the war between Israel and Hamas began.

As of publishing time, U.S. and coalition forces destroyed, or tracked the firing, or the intent to launch, of at least 15 Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles, 38 air drones, a land attack cruise missile and two missile launchers in May that the Houthis launched or were prepared to use, according to a tally of incidents announced by U.S. Central Command, as well as reporting by Military Times and The Associated Press.

That all comes as at least three U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drones were purportedly downed in May alone, according to The Associated Press. While not immediately clear what brought down the drones, the outlet reported that U.S. Central Command, which oversees military operations in the region, acknowledged seeing reports of the most recent incident.

Meanwhile, the Navy destroyer Carney returned home after a lengthy deployment to the Middle Eastern waters, where the warship fended off, or participated in, at least a dozen incidents with the Houthis.

Jean-Loup Samaan, a nonresident senior fellow with the Atlantic Council, wrote recently that a key challenge for the White House in responding to the continued Houthi threat against international shipping in the Red Sea has been rallying its allies and partners. That in part reflects concerns from Europeans over strategic objectives with the U.S. operation, he said, as well frustration from Gulf countries over the conflict in Yemen, which predated the current circumstances in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The U.S. supports peace in Yemen, but a peace agreement can only proceed after the Houthis stop their reckless attacks on international shipping in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways, State Department deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said during a briefing in May.

All of our partners are united around the need for Houthi attacks to cease before an agreement can be signed, he said.
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.), who has steadfastly refused to comment about the presidential race or his long-running feud with former President Trump, came to his defense Thursday night.

Hours after the jury rendered its guilty verdict, McConnell declared that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) should never have brought the case and predicted the conviction would be overturned.

These charges never should have been brought in the first place. I expect the conviction to be overturned on appeal, McConnell wrote in a post on the social platform X.

McConnells surprise decision to weigh in on the outcome of a court case he has refused to talk about for months may indicate that Trumps conviction could have a unifying effect on the GOP  rallying even his biggest skeptics within the party to his defense.

McConnell has let Trump twist in the wind by staying silent on other big occasions.

The Senate GOP leader stayed notably silent in April of last year, when Trump pleaded not guilty to the 34 felony counts brought by Bragg.

A key difference between now and then is that a year ago, Republicans who werent Trump fans had hope that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis or another Republican might win the partys nomination for president.

Instead, Trump steamrolled his opponents in this years primary and is the presumptive GOP nominee.

He has had trouble unifying the party, however, as significant shares of GOP primary voters in Indiana and other states have voted instead for former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, even though she dropped out of the presidential race in March.

Thursdays verdict may bring skeptical mainstream Republicans closer to Trump.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a leading Senate GOP moderate who voted to convict Trump on the impeachment charge of inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, criticized Bragg on Thursday for waging a politically motivated prosecution.

It is fundamental to our American system of justice that the government prosecutes cases because of alleged criminal conduct regardless of who the defendant happens to be. In this case the opposite has happened. The district attorney, who campaigned on a promise to prosecute Donald Trump, brought these charges precisely because of who the defendant was rather than because of any specified criminal conduct, Collins said in a statement Thursday evening.

The political underpinnings of this case further blur the lines between the judicial system and the electoral system, and this verdict likely will be the subject of a protracted appeals process, she said.

McConnell and Collins were two of the biggest Trump skeptics in the Senate GOP conference to slam the Bragg decision to prosecute the former president, but other Republican senators not especially close to Trump also rallied to his defense.

Ive been on a flight, but just landed and saw the news. This case was politically motivated from the beginning, and todays verdict does nothing to absolve the partisan nature of this prosecution, said Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.), who opposed Trumps effort to block the certification of Joe Bidens 2020 election victory and whose career Trump later tried to end in an act of retaliation.

Trump tried to drum up a conservative primary challenger to knock Thune out of office in 2022, but the effort fizzled.

That past bad blood appeared entirely forgotten by Thune on Thursday after news of the verdict.

Regardless of outcome, more and more Americans are realizing that we cannot survive four more years of Joe Biden. With President Trump in the White House and a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate, we can finally end the disastrous Biden-Schumer agenda thats crushing American families and businesses, Thune said in reaction to the verdict.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) delivered his own response shortly after McConnell criticized the successful prosecution of Trump.

No one is above the law. The verdict speaks for itself, Schumer said in a short 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 The Hill.
Rep. Mary Madison is running as an incumbent for another term to represent Iowa House District 31 in West Des Moines.

The Democrat is running unopposed in the party's primary and does not face a Republican challenger on the ballot in the general election.

To help voters, the Des Moines Register sent questions to all federal and Des Moines area legislative candidates running for political office this year. Their answers have been lightly edited for length and clarity.

The primary election is scheduled for June 4 ahead of the Nov. 5 general election.

More: Early voting has started for Iowa's June 4 primary election. Here's what you should know:

Who is Mary Madison (incumbent)?

Mary Madison

Age: 74

Party: Democrat

Current town of residence: West Des Moines

Education: Bachelor of Arts from St. Peter's College, Master of Arts from Seton Hall University, Master of Education from Tarleton State University, Master of Divinity from Interdenominational Theological Center

Occupation: Ordained minister, retired educator and school counselor

Political experience and civic activities: State legislator and community advocacy. League of Women Voters, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, The Links Inc., Children & Families First Inc.

What would be your top issue should you be elected?

Madison: Fully funded public schools, which will provide quality education for all students. Make the public school a priority by increasing the budget and give the school districts budget information in a timely manner, so that they can plan ahead. Stop the extreme behavior and instead encourage an environment that will help our students reach their full potential. Increase reading levels and help students with career options. State funding has not kept up with rising costs for 11 of the 12 years. Yet the Legislature provided $142 million of taxpayer funds for the first year of a private school voucher program.

What policies would you support to improve Iowas education system?

Madison: Make sure that every child that needs special education has what they need. Work to improve reading scores. The AEA system has been an excellent partner for families and local schools both rural and urban. I would restore the relationship, the confidence and security that the AEA once provided. Increase the number of school counselors.

What do you think Iowas tax policy should be? Do you believe the states priority should be on lowering rates or spending on services for Iowans?

Madison: I think everyone should pay their fair share in taxes. Corporate profits are at a record high and corporate tax remains low. We should raise the minimum wage. We can expand the tax free holiday for an additional two weeks. As a community we should not fear collective bargaining. When workers have a living wage they are able to save, pay taxes and purchase the things they need. We should make child care more affordable. Why sit on an excess of reserves and allow Iowans to wait on the disability rolls for years without resources or why pay direct service workers a fast food salary? Especially when we can and should do better.

What policies would you support to improve school safety in Iowa?

Madison: Common sense gun laws would help greatly. Even most gun owners support common sense responsible gun safety. Make recruiting qualified mental health therapists and expanding mental health beds a priority. Making sure guns are securely locked, cabinets and trigger locks are required and available. Limit access to guns for high risk individuals who are considered a danger to self and others. Background checks for gun purchases should be required. Insurance companies should not be allowed to limit liability for those carrying a gun in schools and public spaces.

What next steps do you believe the Iowa Legislature should take when it comes to abortion?

Madison: The Legislature should stop micromanaging a woman's health care decisions. Give the reproductive freedom women need to access their reproductive care. Bring midwives into Iowa's health care system as an option for those who choose it. Everyone should make their own health care decisions. Allow birth control to be available over the counter. Extend postpartum care to 12 months after the mother gives birth on Medicaid. Give medical decisions back to doctors and the women who need the care.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Meet incumbent Rep. Mary Madison, running for Iowa House District 31
As Tiffany Trump, Eric Trump, and Donald Trump Jr. stood in support of their father, Donald Trump, at the courthouse where he was standing trial earlier this month, a reporter could be heard shouting distinctly, Wheres Melania?

Its a question that echoed around the courtroom for weeks as Trump endured day after day in Manhattan criminal court, accusedand on Thursday, found guiltyof falsifying business records in order to cover up a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in the lead-up to the 2016 election.

Over the six-week trial, the former president was repeatedly askedand always ignored the questionWheres Melania?

All of Trumps childrenwith the notable exception of Ivanka and 18-year-old Barronappeared at the trial. And even though she never showed her face at the proceedings, Ivanka still posted a four-word message on Instagram Thursday night in support of her father: I love you dad.

Hours later, Melania still has yet to speak out.

Whats Melania Thinking During Trumps Criminal Hush Money Trial?

Every member of Donald Trumps immediate family has now expressed support for him, showing up at the courthouse or, in Ivankas case, posting on social media, Olivia Nuzzi, Washington correspondent for New York magazine noted on X Thursday.

The exception is Melania Trump, who never attended the trial and has said nothing about todays guilty verdict.

As Tiffany Trump, Eric Trump, Lara Trump and Don Jr stand behind Donald Trump at the courthouse today, reporter shouts the obvious question: Wheres Melania? pic.twitter.com/znsESEXOGi  Mike Sington (@MikeSington) May 28, 2024

In the hours following her husbands historic conviction, social media lit up with theories of where the former first lady might be: Hopping on a plane out of Mar-a-Lago? Popping the champagne? Heading into hiding?

On April 26, speaking outside the courtroom, Trump wished his wife a happy birthday, while bemoaning the fact he couldnt be with her due to his court appearance. The trial, of course, centered around Trumps alleged affair with Danielssaid to have which occurred while wife Melania was looking after baby Barron.

The former presidents wife has been a notable no-show not just at the trial, but elsewhereher absence raised eyebrows when Trump took part in a Mothers Day lunch at Mar-a-Lago on May 12 without her.

Trump at his Mothers Day event. No Melania. pic.twitter.com/PGyNCEkS5K  Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) May 13, 2024

Melanias recent public comments are also vague at best. On Memorial Day, she paid tribute to the brave souls who sacrificed their lives for our freedom. Their selfless acts of courage will forever be remembered and honored.

And on Mothers Day, despite the no-show at the Trump event, she did release a statement that could be interpreted as being about her own situation.

Mothers are the cornerstone of a flourishing society. I take great pride in embracing this responsibility. And, although nothing makes me prouder than the relationship I have built with my son, only a mother knows that some of our efforts remain unnoticed, she wrote.

Motherhood exists as the bedrock of the American family, and mothers tend to wear several hats: emotional support, inspirational growth, health, love, humor, education, and more. We strive to provide our children with the building blocks to create meaningful relationships, plus the tools to eventually grow into mindful adults who thrive.

When moms are healthy, our communities are too.

Ivanka Offers Just Four Words of Support After Dad Becomes a Felon

The Daily Beast has contacted the Trump Organization for comment.

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Melania Trump remains conspicuously silent following her husband, Donald Trump's guilty verdict in his New York hush money trial. However, her former aide, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff, has shared that her reaction to the news will not be one of shock.

Wolkoff also weighed in on whether Melania would finally appear in court on July 11th, when Trump will be sentenced. The former first lady has notably distanced herself from the case, but her former assistant thinks she'll make it to court on D-day to act as a "distraction."

Since the start of the trials of Donald Trump, Melania Trump has opted to stay far away from the courtrooms.

Melania Trump Will Reportedly Not Be Shocked With Donald Trump's Guilty Verdict

MEGA

In a recent appearance on CNN, Wolkoff shared her thoughts as to how the former first lady would react to her husband's guilty verdict in his New York hush money trial.

Trump was found guilty yesterday on all 34 count charges for falsifying company records to cover up a $130k payment he made to former adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Wolkoff, who served as a former senior advisor to Melania, shared that the mother-of-one would not be taken aback by Trump's guilty verdict.

"Melania knew exactly who she married. She knew that this was a transactional marriage. She became a top model. He became a loving, doting father, and it set them up for their win for the White House," Wolkoff told the news outlet, per DailyMail.

She went further to predict that Melania is "telling him exactly how she feels" with her continued indifference about the whole issue.

Would The Former First Lady Appear In Court For Her Husband's Sentencing?

MEGA

Going on to weigh in on whether Melania would appear in court for the billionaire politician's July 11th sentencing, the 53-year-old fashion executive noted that Melania would be seen in court, acting as a "distraction."

"I do believe she will show up, and it will be the art of distraction. It will shine a bright light on Melania when it's needed the most, when other things that are happening in Donald's life need to be shaded," she said.

Melania and Wolkoff used to be close pals before Trump's 2016 election win but soon fell off years into his administration.

Donald Trump Is 'Bothered' By His Wife's Absence

MEGA

An aide to the former president shared that he's "absolutely" bothered that his wife and daughter chose to distance themselves throughout his trial.

In an interview on CNN Wednesday, Trump's former press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, disclosed that the presumptive Republican party nominee is perturbed by the lack of support from Melania and Ivanka, having not shown up in court as he pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Three of his other children, Donald Jr., Eric, and Tiffany, attended at least once to support their father, much to his liking.

"Absolutely, I know it bothers him. That kind of thing would bother him. If Mrs. Trump wasn't at some event and it was really noted, he would definitely bring it up with her," Grisham said. "So I'm sure in this context, it's definitely really bothering him."

She went on to note that she believes Ivanka chose to stay away from the courtroom to keep the case away from her children and that the pair is "both thinking of their own optics" by staying away.

The Convicted Ex-President Called The Verdict A 'Disgrace'

MEGA

In the moments after he was found guilty of the felony crimes, Trump lashed out at the verdict, telling reporters outside the courtroom that it was a "disgrace" and insisting that he was innocent.

"This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt," Trump told reporters outside the courtroom after the verdict.

While his lead counsel, Todd Blanche, already shared that they planned to appeal the judgment "as soon as we can," Trump now faces a four-year jail term for each count of the felony crime when his sentencing is held on July 11th.

He makes history as the first US president to be convicted of a felony crime, leaving his 2024 hopes of a potential return to the White House hanging on a thread.

Donald Trump's Son Said It Was A 'Sad Day' For America

MEGA

One of Trump's family members has already spoken out about the ex-president's conviction. Donald Trump Jr. broke his silence on his father's guilty verdict, proclaiming that it is a "sad day for America."

Donald Jr said, "Obviously [it's] just a sad day for America. Crazy what's going on in this country. Obviously [no one was] probably expecting anything different with this jury, with this biased judge, whose daughter is profiteering from this stuff."

He later added, "The Democrats have succeeded in their years-long quest to turn our country into an absolute cr-p hole. They've done that. They've been trying for a long time. There's literally no other way about it at this point."
The European Union (EU) is considering imposing duties on Russian goods that are not subject to sanctions. The turnover of such imports is up to 42 billion euros, and the restrictions may include food, nuclear fuel, and medicines.

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This was reported by the Financial Times. It is noted that:

"Sweden took the initiative;

the revenues thus generated are to be transferred to Ukraine.

"The EU is considering imposing duties on Russian imports worth up to 42 billion euros that have not been affected by the sanctions regime. Although most of the EU's trade with Russia has been halted due to the war in Ukraine, some imports are still allowed, either because there are no alternatives for supply or because of fears of causing disruptions in global markets," the analysts explained.

It is emphasized that, according to Swedish Trade Minister Johan Forsell, the proposal for new duties for the EU "met with 'very strong support. Moreover, even though "in some areas it will be sensitive."

"I believe that the revenue from these tariffs could be spent to help Ukraine win this war," Forssell added.

ADVERTISIMENT

For his part, Lithuanian Minister of Agriculture Kestutis Navickas said that the EU should extend the restrictions to all agricultural products of this origin. After all, "by selling food products on the EU market, Russia earns billions that it can use to finance the war it has unleashed in Ukraine."

He emphasized that in 2023, the EU imported 2.7 billion euros worth of agricultural and food products from Russia. This is 2% more than in 2021. At the same time, grain accounts for only about half of this amount.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, earlier the Council of the European Union decided to introduce prohibitive duties on grain products imported from Russia and Belarus starting July 1. The relevant resolution increases the duties so much that in practice the import of these products will be stopped, the EU believes. Until July 1, trade will continue in the current format.

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Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Memorial Day weekend saw a rise in drownings this year, Texas Parks and Wildlife says

AUSTIN (KXAN)  Texas saw a rise in drownings across the state over the Memorial Day weekend, but a decrease in boating accidents, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife officials.

TPWD released details on the number of water-related incidents game wardens responded to over the holiday weekend. Between Friday and Monday, 379 wardens conducted 11,609 vessel checks across Texas, issuing 1,528 citations and 2,301 warnings for various boating safety law violations, according to a release from the department.

Game wardens responded to seven boating accidents, one boating fatality and seven drownings, TPWD said.

Travis County Sheriffs Office says intense heat boosts lake danger

The fatality happened at Taylor Bayou, near Port Arthur. The drownings happened at Benbrook Lake, Lake Bridgeport, Canyon Lake, Eagle Mountain Lake, Lake Lewisville, Sabine Lake and Lake Texoma.

TPWD also said 37 people were arrested for boating while intoxicated (BWI), and one of those was classified as a state jail felony for boating while intoxicated with a child passenger.

Another 55 people were arrested for various other crimes, according to TPWD.

The department also said game wardens were involved in search and rescues, and engaged numerous people on personal watercrafts, kayaks and stand-up paddleboards who were not wearing life jackets.

Game wardens were involved with medical emergencies, boat assists, an overturned vessel, tornado response efforts, broke up multiple fights that resulted in several arrests, collaborated with partner agencies and more, the release noted.

TPWD said wardens also assisted the Marine Theft Investigation Unit with party boat enforcement on Lake Travis, boarding eight party boats, with seven having violations.

In the Austin area, Austin-Travis County EMS responded to two water rescues, four drownings, and 54 heat-related illnesses. ATCEMS said none of the drownings were fatalities and all of them happened at private pools.

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.
Sen. Bob Menendez's attorney Avi Weitzman argued Thursday that the collection of messages an FBI agent has spent much of this week testifying about includes errors and omits crucial context. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

On the 10th day of Sen. Bob Menendezs corruption trial, Menendezs attorney attempted to cast doubt on the importance of a group of texts and other messages sent by Menendez and his co-defendants that prosecutors say are evidence of their guilt.

Menendez attorney Avi Weitzman argued Thursday that the collection of messages an FBI agent has spent much of this week testifying about  including very personal texts between Menendez and his wife, Nadine  includes errors and omits crucial context. Weitzman blamed prosecutors for leaving out information to make the messages seem more damning than they are.

It leaves misimpressions left and right, Weitzman said. I am being an advocate for truth here because there are some misimpressions left.

At issue is whats called a summary chart, a document created by prosecutors that summarizes the thousands of texts, emails, voicemails, and other messages authorities say offer a timeline of the alleged crimes at the center of their case  with many of the messages transcribed verbatim.

Michael Coughlin, the FBI agent who has been on the stand since Tuesday, has been tasked with reading a lot of the messages aloud to jurors.

Weitzman attempted numerous times to refute the information in the summary chart by identifying errors  the charts first exchange between Menendez and his wife, Nadine, in December 2017 lists a 12-hour time gap, but in reality, it was 59 minutes  or claiming the chart omits context. Weitzman cited one example from Feb. 26, 2018.

That day, Nadine Menendez left a voicemail for Sen. Menendez, referring to him as her very handsome senator and asking him to meet with an Egyptian general (prosecutors allege Menendez provided aid to Egypt to benefit a co-defendant). The transcription of the call on the summary chart leaves out a portion of the voicemail where Nadine Menendez stressed that she didnt want to fly to Washington, D.C., just to meet with the general.

Weitzman noted that prosecutors made the decision on what to include and exclude from the summary chart.

You didnt make that decision to excerpt and not include that portion in the summary chart, Weitzman said. That was the prosecutors decision, correct?

Thats correct, yes, replied Coughlin.

Menendez and his wife are accused of accepting gold bars, cash, a luxury car, and more in exchange for the senators intervention in criminal prosecutions, disbursements of military aid, and international negotiations, among other things. Their co-defendants are Egyptian American businessman Wael Hana and real estate developer Fred Daibes. They have all pleaded not guilty. A fifth defendant, Jose Uribe, has pleaded guilty and is expected to testify for the prosecution.

Weitzman on Thursday said confusion over which Fred Sen. Menendez referred to in a text to his wife illustrates prosecutors aim to mislead jurors.

In the text, the senator told Nadine Menendez he got a late start for dinner with Fred, who tells me he has been texting with you. The next day, per the summary chart, the senator emailed the text of an Egypt-related bill to Fred Daibes.

Do you know who the Fred is that hes referencing? Weitzman asked Coughlin about the text.

My assumption is Fred Daibes, Coughlin responded.

But it was an entirely different Fred, Weitzman contends  Fred Turner, Menendezs former chief of staff.

It is a different Fred. We know it is a different Fred. Its Fred Turner and we can prove it, Weitzman said.

Prosecutors objected, calling Weitzmans line of questioning argumentative.

They brought up the email and left a misimpression, your honor, Weitzman said.

Coughlin will face a fourth day on the stand on Friday for cross-examination from lawyers for Daibes and Hana.

The post Menendez attorney calls prosecutors evidence deeply misleading appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
Witnesses gave conflicting testimony on Indiana's strict abortion law. (Getty Images)

Witnesses for the Indiana Attorney Generals Office on Thursday pushed back on claims that the states abortion ban harms womens physical and mental health.

It was the second day of a bench trial in which abortion providers are seeking to broaden exemptions under Indianas near total abortion ban. The Attorney Generals Office, which represents the defendants in the case, called two expert witnesses Thursday.

The ACLU of Indiana  which filed the lawsuit on behalf of IU Health OB-GYN Amy Caldwell, Indianas Planned Parenthood, Womens Med Group and All-Options Pregnancy Resource Center  is seeking to widen medical exemptions under Senate Enrolled Act 1 and strike down a requirement that stripped abortion clinics of their licenses to perform the procedures.

Facial and as-applied challenges

The plaintiffs already lost a facial challenge to the law, in which they claimed it was unconstitutional in its entirety. Now they are pursuing an as applied challenge focusing on specific context..

But the state countered the suit doesnt address a specific pregnant persons situation, rather asserting the law should not be enforced against any pregnant Hoosiers in the future. While plaintiff witnesses testified that there were several situations where they were not able to provide abortions, the complaint does not name any specific patients or incidents.

Dr. Steven Ralston, a witness for the plaintiffs, said during his testimony Wednesday, the law will force physicians to delay care for many hours in order to seek clarification on how to comply with the law.

However, IU Riley Childrens Health Chief Physician Executive Dr. Elaine Cox, a witness for the defense, said in her testimony that IU Health provides various resources and procedures for providers who are unsure if their patient meets the laws exceptions to receive an abortion. One way providers can seek clarification is through IU Healths Reproductive Health Rapid Response Team  a team of physicians, legal experts and ethicists who can advise how providers should comply with the law.

The defense also asked Cox to read parts of several IU Health documents, including policies outlining how providers should handle potential abortion complications and filing appropriate documents.

During her testimony, Cox stated that abortion clinics are not as well-equipped to deal with potential complications as hospitals. She said that while many clinics have knowledgeable staff and physicians, hospitals have a wider range of physicians and emergency equipment in case of complications.

Additionally, Cox said she is not aware of any criminal investigations into IU Health physicians for performing abortions that have occurred after SEA 1 went into effect. She said she is aware of one licensing investigation regarding a physicians potential violation of HIPAA but not related to performing the abortion itself.

Exclusion of mental and emotional conditions

The law allows abortions when necessary to prevent death or a serious health risk to the mother. But that exception does not extend to patients with mental health conditions who may require abortions either to protect their own mental health or continue taking necessary medication.

Dr. Leena Mittal, a Boston-based womens psychiatrist and the plaintiffs final witness, said abortion is considered part of a range of care for mental health conditions. She testified that mental health conditions can evolve to become life threatening to the pregnant person. Mittal also said some serious mental health conditions  including postpartum psychosis and depression  can emerge after a patient gives birth.

When the state asked her if she would recommend abortion to treat lesser mental health conditions, such as minor depressive symptoms, Mittal emphasized that more context would be needed to decide if abortion was a reasonable treatment. Still, she said even minor depressive symptoms could still evolve to become life threatening.

However, Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, a California psychiatrist and witness for the defense, rebutted some of Mittals statements during his testimony. Kheriaty is the director of the Bioethics and American Democracy program for the Ethics and Public Policy Center, an institution dedicated to applying Judeo-Christian moral traditions to contemporary issues. For instance, Kheriaty said that, in his experience, symptoms associated with specific mental health conditions do not significantly vary between pregnant and non-pregnant women.

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Kheriaty also said there is no empirical evidence to support any claims that receiving an abortion can improve mental health outcomes. Instead, he said his experience and clinical research  some of which he cited during testimony  show some patients can experience negative mental health outcomes after receiving an abortion, though he cautioned that the litigants should not generalize all womens experiences.

Even if the abortion was decades before, the grief, the tears, the feelings of regret right there can manifest, he said about his experience speaking with patients who received abortions.

During cross examination, he said he has never referred a patient for an abortion and has not published any scientific articles on abortion.

During the first day of the bench trial, the ACLU called three plaintiff witnesses  Caldwell, Ralston and All-Options Pregnancy Executive Director Jennifer Parker Dockray. The witnesses testified that an exception allowing a person to receive an abortion only if the procedure is necessary to prevent death or a serious health risk to the pregnant persons life was vague and narrow, leading to some patients not receiving care and a chilling-effect for doctors.

The plaintiff witnesses also described how a requirement that terminated licenses for abortion clinics and only allows the procedure to occur in a hospital or ambulatory surgical center restricted Hoosiers from accessing care.

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An aerial view shows high voltage power lines on May 16, 2024, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Twenty-one states are joining a push by President Joe Bidens administration to modernize the nations aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing mix of power generation and severe weather. (Photo by Joe Raedle / Getty Images)

Twenty-one states are joining a push by the Biden administration to modernize Americas aging electric grid, which is under pressure from growing demand, a changing power generation mix that includes lots of wind and solar and severe weather.

The administration, which has set a goal of a carbon-free power sector by 2035, announced Tuesday that the states had joined what it called the Federal-State Modern Grid Deployment Initiative, which is intended to help drive grid adaptation quickly and cost-effectively to meet the challenges and opportunities that the power sector faces.

In exchange for federal technical and financial assistance opportunities, participating states will prioritize efforts that support the adoption of modern grid solutions to expand grid capacity and build modern grid capabilities on both new and existing transmission and distribution lines.

That means in part focusing on ways to get more out of existing transmission lines, since building new ones can take a decade or more in some cases.

There are technologies we can use to optimize the current infrastructure we have, said Verna Mandez, director of transmission at Advanced Energy United, a clean energy trade group.

Those include reconductoring existing lines to handle more juice as well as so-called grid-enhancing technologies, a suite of tools that include sensors, power-flow controls, software and hardware that can better deliver real-time weather data, among other technologies.

In many cases, those technologies have been adopted in other countries but uptake has lagged here, in part because utilities arent incentivized to adopt them and generally dont face consequences as a result of grid congestion, which costs electric customers billions of dollars each year.

Most transmission providers get more money when they build transmission projects, Mandez said.

The White House said in a news release that adopting newer technologies means that renewables and other clean sources of power can be integrated sooner and more cost-effectively than waiting for new transmission construction, which will address load growth challenges more rapidly, create good-paying jobs and lower Americans utility bills.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has also in several orders prodded utilities and grid operators to consider more use of grid-enhancing technologies.

And some states are taking action on their own. Virginia, which did not join the initiative announced Tuesday, passed legislation signed by GOP Gov. Glenn Youngkin that requires utilities to consider grid-enhancing technologies in their planning. Last year, Montana passed legislation aimed at increasing use of advanced reconductoring. Minnesotas legislature also voted this month to add grid-enhancing technologies to the states transmission planning process and require some utilities to evaluate the tools for highly congested lines.

More tools than ever

To get a more reliable and cleaner electric grid, as well as accommodate electric demand thats growing for the first time in more than a decade, the U.S. needs lots of new transmission capacity, experts agree.

Last year, the U.S. Department of Energy found that almost all regions of the country would benefit from more transmission lines and a National Renewable Energy Laboratory study estimated that getting to 100% carbon-free electricity by 2035 could require anywhere from 1,400 to 10,100 miles of new high capacity transmission lines per year starting in 2026.

Thats why the Biden administration has been pushing hard to remove roadblocks to new transmission lines, which can take a decade or more to develop in some cases, and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission published a landmark new rule on regional transmission planning and cost allocation. Last month the administration also announced a public-private partnership to upgrade 100,000 miles of transmission lines over the next five years and the Department of Energy has identified 10 potential national interest electric transmission corridors, a designation that would help expedite the projects and give developers access to federal financing.

The power sector, which is responsible for a quarter of annual U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, now has more tools than ever  including unprecedented financial support, efficient permitting, and long-term regulatory certainty  to reduce pollution and upgrade the grid to support more factories, electric vehicles and other growing sources of electricity demand, the White House said.

The states joining the effort are Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wisconsin.

The post New Mexico and 20 other states join Biden administration in bid to modernize nations aging grid appeared first on Source New Mexico.
(Bloomberg) -- Mexico Citys convenience stores are selling out of ice  or limiting purchases when they have supply  as the country faces record high temperatures.

Most Read from Bloomberg

On late Thursday and early Friday, only four out of a dozen Oxxo and Circle K locations in the capital had ice available for purchase. Radio Formula reported this month that there was a shortage in Mexico City and other states in the country.

The Oxxo stores that had ice available were asking customers to limit themselves to a maximum of three bags, according to signs. In an emailed statement, parent Fomento Economico Mexicano SAB de CV said during times of high temperatures Oxxo places limits on certain products to ensure their supply, and the measure could be implemented in other cities with high temperatures and high demand.

A representative for Circle Ks Mexico operations couldnt immediately be reached.

Sweltering temperatures are expected to continue this weekend, as Mexico voters head to the polls. Highs in Mexico City are expected to reach 32.7C (91F) on Saturday and Sunday, according to AccuWeather Inc. senior meteorologist Dan Pydynowski.

Read more: Mexico Swelters Through Record Hot Days in Lead-Up to Election

Already, there were nearly a dozen days in May when temperatures in the capital hit a record high.

Really the whole country has been abnormally hot for a lot of the month of May, he said.

Pydynowski said this months hot weather looks like its going to continue into June.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Mexico likely to elect its first woman president Sunday. Heres where Mexican nationals can vote in Chicago

CHICAGO  Mexico is expected to elect its first woman president Sunday in the election between center-left Xochitl Galvez and progressive Claudia Sheinbaum. For the first time, Mexican nationals living in Illinois and northern Indiana can cast a vote in person at the Consulate General of Mexico of Chicago to decide who will succeed Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.

About 225,000 Mexican nationals have registered to vote in person, online or through mail to cast a ballot in the U.S., Canada and France, according to the latest reports from the National Electoral Institute.

Lopez Obrador, a populist colloquially known as AMLO, finishes his term as one of the most popular and controversial leaders in modern history after taking the reins from established major parties in Mexico.

Sheinbaum, a scientist and former Mexico City mayor, is the front-runner, representing Morena, the countrys current ruling party. Her opponent, Galvez, is a former senator now representing a coalition of the National Action Party, the Institutional Revolutionary Party and the Party of the Democratic Revolution.

Sheinbaum, Lopez Obradors protege, has promised to continue current policies of expanding social programs for the countrys low-income and working class. Meanwhile, Galvez has emerged as the opposing candidate promising to quell violence and corruption, harshly criticizing AMLOs failed policies to stop cartel violence.

A third, less popular candidate, Jorge Alvarez Maynez of Citizens Movement, is also running.

Chicago has the second largest number of registered Mexican voters in the U.S., according to Arturo Castillo, electoral adviser of the National Electoral Institute. The latest census data indicates that 1 in 5 Chicagoans identify as Mexican. Los Angeles has the most registered Mexican voters, with Houston in third place.

Voters will also have a say in nine gubernatorial races, including the states of Chiapas, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Morelos, Puebla, Tabasco, Veracruz, Yucatan and Mexico City, 128 senators of the republic, and all 500 members of the Chamber of Deputies.

Each Mexican consulate will have 1,500 ballots available for people who did not register but have a valid Mexican voters identification and wish to vote in person. The ballots will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

In the United States, in-person voting will take place at Mexican consulates in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Fresno, Houston, Los Angeles, New Brunswick, New York, Oklahoma, Orlando, Phoenix, Raleigh, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Santa Ana, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

The Mexican consulate in Chicago will open its doors at 9 a.m. Sunday. Polls close at 7 p.m. Voters still in line by 6 p.m. will be allowed to cast their vote.

Online voting: Those registered to vote online can cast their ballots through the INE platform through June 2 at 6 p.m.

Mail-in ballots: The INE sent a package for those who choose this modality to vote. The package contains the ballots for casting the votes and a prepaid envelope to send back to Mexico at no cost. The package must be returned as soon as possible to make sure the INE receives it by June 1st at 8 a.m.

In-person voting: Those who registered to vote in person will have a ballot reserved at their preferred consulate. For those who did not register, 1,500 ballots will be available.

____
On Sunday, Mexico is likely to elect its first woman president: a left-wing climate scientist, contributing author to a report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and former mayor of Mexico City. Claudia Sheinbaum, whos running in a coalition led by her ruling Morena party, is widely favored to succeed her longtime ally Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, known as AMLO. Sundays elections will also come on the heels of a deadly heat wave and a dire, climate-fueled water crisis that could see Mexico City run out of water as early as next month. So what could a prospective Sheinbaum administration mean for Mexicos climate policies?

The water crisis hasnt become a top issue in this election, says Edwin Ackerman, a sociology professor specializing in Latin American studies at Syracuse Universitys Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs. Thats thanks in part, he explains, to the fact that states governed by parties across the political spectrum have faced their own water crises in recent years, so its not really politicized in a concrete way. While opposition candidate Xochitl Galvezs center-right coalition has tried to focus the election on questions of crime and violenceespecially that related to drug traffickingmuch of the debate domestically has revolved around the future of a suite of popular social programs implemented by AMLOs government, including a universal pension for Mexicans over the age of 65 as well as cash transfers to students, working mothers, and people with disabilities. Its electorally unviable to openly criticize them, Ackerman says. Galvezwhose National Action Party voted against those programsis now in the awkward position of both defending their existence while criticizing them as wasteful, clientelistic handouts to the poor.

Sheinbaum, who served as AMLOs environment secretary, is looking to build on the success of those social programs, which have also involved raising the minimum wage and making it easier to organize new unions. One of the areas where shes likely to differ the most from her predecessor is in her approach to climate and environmental issues.

Sheinbaum unveiled her climate platform on March 18, a national holiday commemorating the 1938 nationalization of Mexicos oil reserves. Her platform includes a goal to have 50 percent of Mexicos electricity demand met through zero-carbon sources by 2030, using a mix of wind and solar as well as hydroelectric and geothermal power; investing $13.6 billion in renewable energy; adding nearly 2,400 miles of transmission lines; and expanding on her work as mayor of Mexico City in expanding electrified mass transit via buses and passenger trains.

Sheinbaums climate campaign leans heavily on strengthening and transforming Mexicos state-owned enterprises, including beleaguered oil producer Pemex and the utility Comision Federal de Electricidad, or CFA. This might sound odd for readers in the United States, wherewith notable exceptionsboth electricity and energy production are largely controlled by for-profit companies. Mexicos Constitution, though, stipulates that the countrys transmission and distribution lines must be state-owned, while generation and retail capacitiesi.e., who makes the power and who you pay your bills tocan be run by the private sector. AMLOs government has looked to reverse power-sector liberalization carried out by Enrique Pena Nietos government starting in 2013, which guaranteed private companies a segment of that market. Now more than 60 percent of power generation must be state-owned.

Private energy developers that have launched legal challenges to AMLOs reforms under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, or USMCA, have argued that these changes threaten both their profits and climate and environmental goals. They point to the fact that the state-owned utility CFAs generation capacity is largely fossil fuelpowered. By that narrative, public energy is dirty and green energy is coming from the private sector, says Ackerman. The reality is more complicated. While AMLO has certainly emphasized a largely fossil fuelpowered vision of energy sovereignty, Ackerman notespushing through a refinery development in the southern state of Tabasco, and other infrastructure projects that have been controversial among environmental advocatestheres no straightforward reason why state-owned companies are fated to be dirtier than private-sector energy developers.

Alonso Romero, the Sheinbaum campaigns energy ambassador of dialogues for transformation, sees Mexicos state-owned enterprises as an asset not just for the energy transition but for building competitive green export sectors. An early step will be refinancing Pemexs considerable debt; the worlds most indebted oil producer, Pemex has $6.8 billion in bonds coming due next year. In renegotiating Pemexs debt, Sheinbaum has stated that she intends for its long-term plans to include new investments in lower-carbon lines of business. In the face of climate change, she said last month, Pemex has to enter new markets.

A Sheinbaum government, Romero told me during our conversation last Saturday, will emphasize coordination among Mexicos state-owned firms so as to best play to their strengths. Mexico, for instance, has massive geothermal energy reserves, which can be accessed with drilling techniques already utilized by Pemex workers and engineers. That zero-carbon power could then be used for green hydrogen development in partnership with CFE, which can leverage its own expertise in scaling up wind and solar power. Having holistic planning across government departments and state-owned enterprises, Romero told me, can help to meet todays energy needs while planning for the future and protecting ratepayers from volatility.

Its cheaper and more efficient to implement these policies through state-owned companies, Romero told me. We believe that state-owned companies have a longer-term horizon that can sustain these kinds of investments. Sometimes private companies dont, or the investment and return horizons are not within the range that investors are expecting, so they need to be incentivized and subsidized, he added. These investments will still involve a sizable role for the private sectorparticularly for financingbut higher-level coordination, Romero argues, can offer investors, certainly in terms of pricing and scheduling, things that private sectorled projects often cant. In the U.S., for instance, several high-profile offshore wind projects have been canceled in recent months by developers citing supply chain constraints, insufficient subsidies, and related disinterest from investors seeking larger and steadier returns.

Energy transitions are faster if implemented by the state, Romero said, and better at meeting goals other than profit, like expanding access to cleaner and more affordable electricity. Its not that its not possible with the private sector only, but its faster, easier, and cheaper to mandate a public company do something rather than incentivize and subsidize private companies to do something they might not end up doing. Theres evidence to back up that approach, even if it might seem a bit alien in the U.S. Researchers at MITs Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research found that state-owned utilities in the European Union had a significantly higher tendency to invest in renewables than their private-sector counterparts.

Not all of Sheinbaums plans will be great news for climate advocates. Her plan for PEMEX involves boosting refinery capacity, investing heavily in petrochemicals, and increasing oil production to 1.8 million barrels per day before stabilizing it there. We believe that Pemex needs to continue to produce oil and gas, Romero told me, noting that Pemex wont follow a similar path to Dong Energy, the Danish state-owned fossil fuel firm that has transformed into a major wind power developer, rsted.

Private investors may also be angry, since they stand to lose market share to state-owned competitors. Though the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement excised many of the dubious investor-state dispute settlement clauses found in its predecessorthe North American Free Trade Agreement, or Naftainvestors in Mexicos energy sector are still eligible to sue the state for infringing on their expected profits. Fourteen of the 16 claims brought against governments under the USMCA have been brought against Mexico, many of them asserting that the governments preference for state-owned generation unfairly targets their own, cleaner energy projects. The U.S. itself, in 2022, requested consultations under that treaty in the name of the climate, alleging (among other things) that amendments to Mexicos electricity law would prioritize the distribution of CFE-generated power over cleaner sources of energy provided by private sector suppliers, such as wind and solar.

How the U.S. might react to a state-led energy transitionand how successful that transition will beremains to be seen. The more immediate concern for a Sheinbaum government over trade with its northern neighbor relates to a country very far away from either: China. As the U.S. implements increasingly punitive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, semiconductors, and renewables, that is, politicians here have fretted that Chinese firms will see Mexico as a place to sneak their products into the U.S. under the auspices of its free trade partner just to the south. Given that the United States is Mexicos most important trading partner, AMLOs government has trodden carefully on this front, declining, for example, to extend incentives like cheaper land and tax breaks to Chinese automaker BYD as it looks to build a plant there. In any case, Mexico stands to see considerable investment as companies look to chase U.S. clean energy incentives requiring that an escalating percentage of components to green technologies, including E.V.s, be sourced either in the U.S. or from countries with which it has a free trade agreement.

Romero stressed that Sheinbaums government would be keen to avoid Mexico being merely a source of cheap labor and resources in the energy transition, for companies either from the U.S. or who are looking for ways to access that market. We want to have high-paying jobs here, he told me. We lived through that with the first wave of nearshoring with Nafta. Very high up on the agenda is to invest in technology and basic science. Its going to be an industrial policy more like the Entrepreneurial State, he said, referencing Mariana Mazzucatos 2011 book on the central role of governments in fueling innovation. The state must take risks. The state must be a de-risking agent, but also the state must grow capacities in the public sector.

Part of that approach will be developing the countrys lithium sector. Unlike in the nearby lithium triangle, spanning Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia, the vast majority of Mexicos comparatively modest lithium reserves are held in clay in the Sonoran Desert. Accessing those resources is extraordinarily difficult, which is why Sheinbaum is championing a government-led research effort led by the Mexican Petroleum Institute, or IMP. As of 2022, Mexicos lithium is legally treated as a public utility there, and its extraction will be overseen by the newly created state-owned firm Litio Para Mexico, or LitioMx. Other South American governments have similar arrangements, and Romero signaled that Sheinbaums team would be keen to learn from them. In the long run, the hope is for Mexico not just to extract and export lithium but to refine it in-country, as well, as part of fully developed supply chains that include battery production and electric vehicle manufacturing for both export and internal consumption.

As Sheinbaum continues to enjoy a commanding lead over Galvez, Mexico is poised to make history this weekend in electing its first woman as president. Depending on the success of Sheinbaums plans, it could also break new ground in another way: by forging a new balance between the public and private sectors respective roles in navigating the energy transition.
Supporters of presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum crowd the Zocalo during her closing campaign rally in Mexico City, Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Mexico's general election is set for June 2. | Matias Delacroix

An earlier version of this article was published in the On the Trail 2024 newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox on Tuesday and Friday mornings here. To submit a question to next weeks Friday Mailbag, email onthetrail@deseretnews.com.

Hello, friends. Some monumental news: Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts in his Manhattan business fraud trial, becoming the first former president in U.S. history to be convicted of a felony. I wrote about the effect on Trumps electability here.

3 things to know

The Big Idea

Mexicos first female president

This Sunday, millions of Mexicans will bring an end to a chaotic election cycle. It was the most violent campaign in Mexicos history. Since Sept. 23 of last year, either 32 or 34 candidates for office have been murdered. Another dozen have been kidnapped. Hundreds of campaign officials have been the subjects of violence.

Much of the press coverage in Mexico, two days ahead of Election Day, focuses on the violence, largely instigated by cartels. (Just on Wednesday, a mayoral candidate in Guerrero was shot at point-blank range at a rally, which dominated headlines across the country.) Much of the International press, though, is focused on another aspect of the elections: Mexico will likely elect its first female president.

If polls are any indication, Claudia Sheinbaum  the former head of government of Mexico City, akin to a state governor  will likely be the winner. Polls consistently show her with a comfortable lead. The leading opposition candidate is a woman, too: Xochitl Galvez, the former mayor of Miguel Hidalgo, a borough near the capitol.

If either woman wins, as is predicted, they would become the first female elected head of state in North American history. (Canadas Kim Campbell served as prime minister for four months, but she was appointed following a resignation.)

Americans should be paying attention. The election will likely impact the U.S. in significant ways:

Immigration. The Biden administration has made cooperation with Mexico a central part of its immigration policy. U.S. officials, including Biden, have made frequent trips to Mexico City to discuss migration. When the U.S. resumed deportations via flights to central Mexico, Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador cooperated, and even launched a busing program of his own. When the Biden administration toyed with asylum policy and explored its authority to shut down the border entirely, it relied heavily on Mexicos approval  which would bear the brunt of stalled border crossings. However, Obrador hugs, not bullets approach to cartels has dismayed the U.S. efforts to limit the flow of fentanyl.

The Biden administration has targeted root causes to address migration through Mexico, largely from Central American countries. Sheinbaum has vowed to help. But migration from Mexico is another issue entirely, as demographic decline has put Mexico on the verge of its own labor shortage. Some day pretty soon Mexico will not have the capacity to provide labor for this nation, former Mexico President Vicente Fox said in Salt Lake City last week. That is the big change thats coming. Mexico will not have the capacity to export labor.

Trade. Mexico is now the U.S. No. 1 trade partner after a record-setting 2023. The Trump administration helped revamp the North America Free Trade Agreement in 2020, replacing it with the United StatesMexicoCanada Agreement. Mexico could benefit as Biden administration heightens tariffs against China, including on electric vehicles. Sheinbaum, an environmental scientist, has called on Mexico to become an International leader in mining and energy production, thanks in part to the countrys significant lithium deposits. A number of auto companies recognize the upside  Ford, Jetour, BMW, General Motors, and Tesla are building or re-purposing factories to produce EVs in Mexico, Forbes reports. If Sheinbaum wins, Mexico will likely attempt to cement itself as a world leader in natural energy production and EV manufacturing  in line with the Biden administrations environmental priorities.

Democracy. Obrador guided Mexico through a turbulent chapter. His allies will remember him for his systemic welfare reforms; his critics, for widespread instability. One of his biggest failures, his opponents say, was his disregard for the countrys democratic institutions. Obrador proposed sweeping changes to weaken the National Electoral Institute, the government agency that oversees and conducts elections. (Ive written about these proposals here.) Most of the proposed changes were eventually scrapped, but the incident demonstrated how close a Mexican head of state could steer the country to democracys edge.

Weekend reads

A new poll of young voters  ages 18 to 30  is, uh, depressing. Young voters do not look at our politics and see any good guys, the lead pollster said. They see a dying empire led by bad people. Poll finds young voters despairing over U.S. politics (Shelby Talcott, Semafor)

Democrats are united behind Biden  in public, at least. This report suggests that some high-profile Dems are showing palpable trepidation about Bidens sulking polls and Trumps popularity: This isnt, Oh my G--, Mitt Romney might become president, one Democratic operative said. Its Oh my G--, the democracy might end. Dems in full-blown freakout over Biden (Christopher Cadelago, Sally Goldenberg and Elena Schneider, Politico)

The most influential, yet most invisible, force in Washington? Lobbying firms. The nations capital is filling with well-connected individuals, including ex-officeholders, making bank off of their friendships. Revolving-door practices  leaving government jobs and parlaying insider connections into lucrative lobbying work  (are) part of the system. The Real Deep State (Franklin Foer, The Atlantic)

One last thing: I joined Phoenixs NPR affiliate to talk about Latter-day Saints in Arizona and how they might affect the 2024 race there. Take a listen.

See you on the trail.

Editors Note: The Deseret News is committed to covering issues of substance in the 2024 presidential race from its unique perspective and editorial values. Our team of political reporters will bring you in-depth coverage of the most relevant news and information to help you make an informed decision. Find our complete coverage of the election here.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The New Mexico Department of Health (DOH) has confirmed the first incidence of measles since 2021. Two children from Taos County have confirmed cases, DOH says.

The two children are under the age of 10 and were not vaccinated against measles, DOH says. The two children live in the same home and recently returned from international travel.

Bernalillo County Commission expanding school-based health services

The DOH says the only known public exposure occurred at the Aspen Medical Center Urgent Care in Espanola on Sunday, May 26 (11:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.) and Tuesday, May 28 (9:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.). DOH has already identified and contacted potentially exposed people, NMHealth Secretary Patrick Allen said in a press release.

If someone was at this urgent care location at the above days and times and has not yet been contacted by the department, please call the NMHealth Helpline at 1-833-SWNURSE (1-833-796-8773), Allen said.

Measles spreads easily and symptoms can develop seven to 21 days after exposure, DOH says. Measles is extremely contagious and can remain in the air up to two hours after a person with measles leaves the room, Dr. Miranda Durham, NMHealths chief medical officer, said in a press release. Fortunately, the measles vaccine is safe and very effective at protecting against measles.

Accused DWI drivers back on New Mexico roads after officer no-shows

Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes, followed by a red spotted rash that usually starts on the head or face and spreads downward to cover the rest of the body, DOH says. Complications can occur, particularly in children under the age of five and in adults over the age of 20.

To prevent measles infections, DOH recommends making sure children and adults are vaccinated with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine. That includes:

One or more doses of MMR vaccine for preschool-aged children and adults not at high risk.

Two doses of MMR vaccine for school-aged children and adults at high risk, including college students, healthcare personnel and international travelers.

Adults born before 1957 are considered immune to measles, DOH says. Adults who need a measles vaccine can contact their doctor, pharmacy or the NMHealth Helpline at 1-833-SWNURSE (1-833-796-8773). Children can receive free vaccinations (even without insurance) through New Mexicos Vaccines for Children Program at the DOH. You can find office locations at this link.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Does fatherhood make the heart stronger and the brain smaller? Several studies have shown that the brain loses volume after becoming a parent.

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In a new study that examined changes in the brains of first-time parents, experts found that brain volume loss was associated with greater involvement in parenting, as well as greater sleep problems and mental health symptoms. These results may point to the costs of care, which have traditionally fallen on women, but increasingly on men, The Conversation writes.

Caring for an infant requires new motivations and skills, so it is not surprising that it can also affect the brain. Studies on rodents first revealed a restructuring of both brain structure and function during pregnancy and parenthood. The new study also found similar effects in men.

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Most research on the brains of fathers has focused on women, but new evidence suggests that similar brain changes may occur in new fathers. Researchers have previously found a loss of brain volume in men transitioning to fatherhood in similar parts of the brain to those of mothers. However, it is worth noting that men showed less statistically significant brain changes than women.

Fathers vary in how much they invest in childcare, so as a next step, the researchers wanted to know how men's brains change as they transition into their fatherhood experience.

To test this question, the experts studied 38 men in California before and after the birth of a child. During his wife's pregnancy and three, six, and 12 months after the birth, the researchers asked the fathers how they felt about their babies and how they slept. They also asked about symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues.

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As before, the researchers observed significant brain differences between the prenatal and postpartum periods throughout the cortex, the brain's outer layer that performs many higher-order functions such as language, memory, problem solving, and decision making. On average, men in the sample lost about 1% of their gray matter volume during the transition to fatherhood.

According to the study, the decrease in men's brain volume is indeed related to involvement in parenting. If men felt more connected to their unborn child during pregnancy, they subsequently lost more gray matter volume, especially in the frontal and parietal lobes, parts of the brain involved in executive functioning and sensorimotor processing, respectively.

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Greater volume loss was also found among fathers who said they spent more time with their infants three months after giving birth, enjoyed more bonding time with their infants, and experienced less stress in parenting. The results are consistent with previous research on mothers and suggest that more motivated, hands-on fathers have lost more gray matter with the onset of fatherhood.

Also interesting were the results of the study in terms of the impact of fatherhood on mental health and sleep quality. Men who lost more brain volume also reported greater depression, anxiety, overall psychological stress, and poorer sleep both six and 12 months after birth.

It is important to note that this study is preliminary: it involved a small number of men. These results now need to be replicated in larger and more representative groups of fathers.

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Nevertheless, as one of the first studies of male brain changes during the onset of first fatherhood, these findings suggest that perinatal brain changes may reflect both adaptation and vulnerability. The same changes associated with greater parental investment in care also seemed to increase the risk of sleep problems and mental health issues.

However, numerous studies show that children whose fathers are involved in their upbringing do better in all areas: academically, economically, and emotionally. And men themselves say that fatherhood makes their lives richer and more meaningful.

In turn, such results support public health priorities that invest in men - and fathers in general - through policies that reduce stress for new fathers in the first months after birth, such as paid leave and workplace efforts to normalize leave for men.

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Mexico's drug cartels and gangs appear to be playing a wider role in Sunday's elections than before

Relatives and friends carry the coffin that contain the remains of man slain in a mass shooting, during a funeral procession in Huitzilac, Mexico, Tuesday, May 14, 2024. The shooting in the mountain township beset by crime just south of Mexico City resulted in several deaths, authorities said Sunday. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

COTIJA, Mexico (AP)  Mexicos drug cartels and gangs appear to be playing a wider role than before in Sundays elections that will determine the presidency, nine governorships and about 19,000 mayorships and other local posts.

The countrys powerful drug cartels have long staged targeted assassinations of mayoral and other local candidates who threaten their control. Gangs in Mexico depend on controlling local police chiefs, and taking a share of municipal budgets; national politics appear to interest them less.

But in the runup to Sundays vote, gangs have increasingly taken to spraying whole campaign rallies with gunfire, burning ballots or preventing the setting up of polling stations, and even putting up banners seeking to influence voters.

Security analyst David Saucedo says it's likely some drug gangs will try to force voters to cast ballots for their favored candidates.

It it is reasonable to assume that the cartels will mobilize their support bases during Sunday's elections, Saucedo said. They have loyal voters who they have won over through the distribution of food packages, cash, medicine and infrastructure projects. They will use them to support narco-candidates.

In some places, it appears the gangs are encouraging people to vote while discouraging voting in areas controlled by their rivals.

On Friday, electoral authorities reported that assailants burned a house where ballots were being stored ahead of Sunday in the violence-wracked town of Chicomuselo, in the southern state of Chiapas. While they did not say who was behind the attack, the town is completely dominated by two warring drug cartels, Jalisco and Sinaloa.

On May 14, gunmen apparently linked to a cartel shot and killed 11 people in a single day in Chicomuselo. On May 17, five people were killed along with a mayoral candidate when gunmen opened fire on a crowd in the town of La Concordia, Chiapas, about 45 miles (75 kilometers) east of Chicomuselo.

Targeted assassinations of local candidates continued. On Wednesday, dramatic video images showed a mayoral candidate in the southern state of Guerrero being shot in the head at point-blank rage with a pistol. A total of 31 candidates, almost all running for mayorships, have been killed this year.

But mass attacks on campaign rallies, once exceedingly rare in Mexico, are becoming common, and have killed many more supporters than candidates this year. The effect is intimidating.

On Wednesday, the last official day of campaigning, unidentified gunmen opened fire a couple of blocks away from a mayoral candidate's final campaign rally in the western state of Michoacan, sending hundreds of people scrambling for safety.

It seemed like a normal evening, like the campaign closers of other candidates, said Angelica Chavez, a homemaker who was at the rally in Cotija. Then there were gunshots, several rounds of gunfire very close. And then people started running and diving to the ground, crouching.

Chavez was hurt in the stampede and had to take refuge in a local church.

In Celaya, a city in Guanajuato, gunmen opened fire on a campaign event in April, killing a mayoral candidate and wounding three of her supporters.

Saucedo, the analyst, sees the shootings as a sign that narco gangs are no longer willing to see their handpicked candidates lose.

Rather than allow the victory of a candidate who is not in line with their criminal interests, or allow a candidate linked to a rival drug gang to win, they use this tactic, Saucedo said. What we're seeing in the final stretch is pretty desperate strategy on the part of some groups of drug traffickers.

Saucedo said that such attempts at narco-control of local politics had been seen previously in some particularly violent states, like Tamaulipas. What was once limited ... is now spreading to include the whole country, he said.

The National Electoral Institute says it has had to cancel plans for 170 polling places, mostly in Chiapas and Michoacan and mostly because of security problems. In Chiapas, electoral authorities say there are places they can't even go to. While that's a tiny fraction of the country's 170,858 polling places, it's disturbing.

And in the northern border city of Nuevo Laredo, a shadowy group that local media reports link to the dominant Northeast drug cartel has put up posters claiming one mayoral candidate is linked to the rival Gulf drug cartel.

Authorities have not confirmed the origin of the crude poster, which includes a photoshopped image of the candidate waving an assault rifle and wearing a bulletproof vest with the Gulf cartel's insignia.

In the state of Morelos, just south of Mexico City, residents awoke this week to find a banner strung over a road claiming a gubernatorial candidate was tied to rival drug gangs. The banner was signed by a local drug boss whose name is unknown, the Commander of the Three Letters.

Another apparently gang-related banner threatened that anyone trying to buy votes would be punished severely. That banner was signed by Those who have always called the shots here.

Such events appear to indicate that past calculations by the cartels  take out the strongest candidate you don't like, and the remaining major-party candidate will win by default  have become more complicated.

In one town in Michoacan, Maravatio, the gangs apparently tried to eliminate any doubts as to who will win this year; they killed off three candidates for town mayor who were apparently not to their liking.

___

Sanchez reported from Mexico City. Associated Press writers Mark Stevenson in Mexico City and Edgar H. Clemente in Tapachula, Mexico, contributed to this report.
Presidential candidate of the ruling MORENA party Claudia Sheinbaum attends a campaign rally in Mexico City

Presidential candidate of the ruling MORENA party Claudia Sheinbaum attends a campaign rally in Mexico City

By Diego Ore

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - When Claudia Sheinbaum - the frontrunner to become Mexico's next president - was just six years old, her parents were active participants in protests during one of the darkest periods of the country's modern history.

It was 1968, the Institutional Revolutionary Party had governed Mexico with an iron fist for decades and the country was swept by large demonstrations pressing for democratic change. In one horrific incident, as many as 400 students at a protest were killed by soldiers and paramilitary forces.

The tragedy only galvanized her parents and Sheinbaum grew up in a family steeped in activism.

Now the clear favorite to succeed popular President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in Sunday's election and likely make history as Mexico's first female president, Sheinbaum, 61, says she owes much to her chemical engineer father and cellular biologist mother.

They bestowed a passion for politics, a love for nature and a deep interest in science, she said in a biopic released last year that was directed by her son.

"I grew up with that duality - a belief that politics can transform the world alongside an academic and scientific mindset," reflected Sheinbaum.

Looking back, it seems only natural that she would go on to be a student protester, a climate scientist and a politician.

Sheinbaum's values aligned with Lopez Obrador's policies which she has pledged to continue.

She wants to assume his mantle as a defender of the state, cement public control of natural resources, as well as strengthen his welfare programs and flagship infrastructure projects. In a slight departure, she has called for a greater emphasis on renewable energy usage.

FROM PROTESTS TO POLITICS

The second of three children, Sheinbaum hails from a Jewish family, including her mother's parents who migrated to Mexico from Bulgaria as they fled Nazi aggression in the 1930s.

Growing up in Mexico City, Sheinbaum learned to play the guitar and studied ballet, details that her critics have used to paint her as elitist and out of touch with ordinary Mexicans.

Her activism started early.

At 15, she volunteered to help groups of mothers searching for their missing children, a long-standing plight in a country with a history of raging gangland violence.

Around that time she met leading human rights activist and leftist politician Rosario Ibarra, who would later be the first woman to run for president in 1982. Sheinbaum later would go to say that her ruling left-wing MORENA party had taken on Ibarra's struggles.

Sheinbaum became an active participant in student movements during the 1980s, joining protests against state intervention in education policies.

In 1995, she earned her doctorate in energy engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. As she prepared her doctoral thesis, she spent time at the University of California at Berkeley in the United States, where she polished her fluent English.

Sheinbaum pursued a teaching and academic career in the years that followed, including a stint on the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which would later share a Nobel Peace Prize with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore.

Her political career kicked off in 2000, when Lopez Obrador, then-Mexico City's newly elected mayor, tapped her to be his environment chief. He had only recently met her, but was clear he wanted a scientist with progressive values to help deal with the megacity's acute pollution and transportation snarls.

She left City Hall to take on the role of chief spokesperson for Lopez Obrador's first campaign for president in 2006 which he narrowly lost.

In 2015, she was elected to run Mexico City's largest borough, Tlalpan.

In that post, she faced allegations of poor management after a 2017 earthquake caused the collapse of an elementary school, killing 19 children. The school had only recently been expanded with an extra floor.

But that did not stop her from notching up a historic election victory as the capital's first woman mayor in 2018, the same year that Lopez Obrador's third run for the presidency proved successful in a landslide win.

During her tenure, she won plaudits for improving security with the capital's murder rate falling 50%.

But she was also criticized for a 2021 subway accident that left 26 dead, an incident that was later blamed in part on insufficient safety inspections and deferred maintenance on her watch. Sheinbaum denied maintenance was to blame.

(Reporting by Diego Ore; Editing by David Alire Garcia and Edwina Gibbs)
Former Trump lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen said that his former boss will seek to cause violence after his historic hush money conviction, but that most Americans wont care.

Will he look to create violence? Sure, he said during a Thursday evening interview with MSNBC. Will it happen? I dont think so. I dont believe that the American people are as invested in him as he believes.

No one is going to allow him to create the havoc that he wants everyone to believe he has the ability to create, he added.

The Independent has contacted the Trump campaign for comment.

Cohen has no love lost for his former boss.

During the hush money trial, in which Trump was ultimately found guilty on 34 counts, the lawyer testified that Trump directed him to pay $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels weeks before the 2016 presidential election so she wouldnt go public with allegations of a past alleged affair, then conceal the payment through a series of reimbursements.

The trial saw some embarrassing moments for the attorney, and numerous attacks from the Trump defense team seeking to undermine his credibility.

On the stand, he admitted to stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the Trump Organization as part of the reimbursement scheme for the hush money payments he made.

Cohen also told jurors he had once been knee-deep in the cult of Trump, when Trumps lawyers asked about his past praise for his old boss.

Following the verdict, Cohen claimed the decision was an important day for accountability and the rule of law and warned the various political leaders vying to be Donald Trumps vice-president about the risks of working for him.

Anybody that goes into his orbit loses everything, Cohen said.

I was not a rags to riches story thanks to Donald, he added. I was a riches to rags story thanks to Donald.

The lawyer was sentenced to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to lying to Congress and campaign finance and tax violations in 2018, in part related to the hush money scheme.
MSNBC

Michael Cohen, in his first live television interview since Donald Trump was convicted Thursday on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, criticized the strategy of the former presidents lawyer, Todd Blanche, whom he dubbed a SLOAT: Stupidest Lawyer of All Time.

Cohens remark on MSNBC was in response to the way Blanche, in his closing argument Tuesday, described Cohen as the GLOAT: Greatest Liar of All Time.

When asked by Rachel Maddow what he thought about the defense seeming to make the trial a referendum on him, Cohen, who came across modestly rather than boastful about the outcome, dismissed Blanches approach.

I didnt really care, nor do I care, what Todd Blanche says about me, Cohen said, adding he feels the same about members of the Trump family. I know who I am, and I knew what I needed to do, so in this specific case it was a veryand I have said itit was a very foolish strategy, and he is not really known as a defense attorney. I think it is only his second defense trial. Not a good strategy, and proof positive of that is the 34-count verdict.

Maddow then told Cohen about a post-verdict interview that Blanche gave to Fox News in which he said that he essentially consulted with his client for every substantive decision.

Cohen, indicating that he wasnt surprised by that, explained that the inclusion of the term GLOAT in Blanches remarks was evidence of Trumps involvement.

Its a Donald Trump, fourth-grade, playground-bullying type of tactic, Cohen said, after which his lawyer, Danya Perry, prompted him to reveal his own acronym for Trumps attorney.

I was going to call him a SLOAT, which is the Stupidest Lawyer of All Time, Cohen said, drawing some chuckles from others on the panel.

You cannot listen to your client when youre trying to create a defense, he continued, before giving Blanche a less favorable review than other lawyers who have represented Trump, without naming names.

That is not how you run a good defense. I would never have allowed it if I was still with him.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Michael Cohen turned an insult from one of Donald Trumps attorneys right back at him on Thursday night after the former president was convicted Thursday on all 34 charges in his criminal hush money case in New York City.

MSNBCs Rachel Maddow noted that Trump attorney Todd Blanche had said the former president was heavily involved in every substantive decision in his defense and asked Cohen if he saw Trumps fingerprints on those tactics.

Cohen, a former private attorney and fixer for Trump and a star witness in the Manhattan trial, pointed to a moment during closing arguments when Blanche called Cohen the GLOAT, or greatest liar of all time.

Its a Donald Trump fourth-grade playground bullying type of tactic, he said, then he put his own spin on that acronym for Blanche.

I was going to call him a SLOAT, which is the stupidest lawyer of all time, he said, specifically because of how Blanche allowed Trump to remain involved in his own defense. You cannot listen to your client when you are trying to create a defense  a defense that is as important as this one is.

Michael Cohen responds to Todd Blanche's "G.L.O.A.T." insult with an acronym of his own: S.L.O.A.T. (Stupidest Lawyer Of All Time), for taking too much direction from Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/f6pUluqPYQ  Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) May 31, 2024

He said Blanche is now the attorney who lost the first criminal case against a former president.

It was definitively the stupidest lawyer of all time, he said. It just made no sense at all... thats not how you run a good defense.

See his full conversation with Maddow below:
For a decade, Michael Cohen served as Mr Trumps lawyer and backroom fixer, working, in his own words, to cover up his ex-bosss dirty deeds.

But Mr Trumps one-time henchman transformed from arch-defender to arch nemesis when he stepped up as a key witness in the former presidents Manhattan hush money trial.

It was testimony that was too compelling for the jury to ignore, as Mr Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts.

Cohen facilitated the $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, which he was later jailed for, that led to Mr Trump becoming the first former president to be convicted of a crime.

Cohen hailed the guilty verdict against the former president on Thursday.

Today is an important day for accountability and the rule of law, he said on X. While it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters.

Donald Trump in Manhattan Criminal Court during jury deliberations - Mark Peterson

The hush money trial is not the first time Cohen has testified against Mr Trump, as he also stepped up last year in his $250 million civil fraud trial.

A key figure for the prosecution, he told the court that he worked to boost the supposed value of assets belonging to the Trump Organization. Mr Trump was ultimately ordered to pay more than $355 million in penalties after a judge ruled he had lied about his wealth for years.

Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to campaign finance violations over the hush money and other charges, including tax evasion and lying to Congress about a Trump business deal.

He served more than a year in jail and testified in court that Mr Trump directed him to commit a crime by making the hush payment with the express intention of influencing the election.

After Mr Trumps indictment last year, Cohen said his goal in cooperating with prosecutors was to speak truth to power.

A copy of a cheque paid to Michael Cohen by Donald Trump is central to the case against the ex-president - Chip Somodevilla/Getty

During opening statements, Mr Trumps lawyers told the jury that Cohen cannot be trusted and was obsessed with the idea of seeing President Trump go to prison.

Described as a former mega fan of Mr Trump, Cohen landed a job with the real estate mogul and reality TV star in 2006 after impressing him with his ability to anticipate his needs.

Cohens career route to becoming the personal lawyer for a US president was far from orthodox.

A native of Long Island, New York, Cohen attended Western Michigan Universitys Cooley Law School, which has since earned a reputation as one of the worst in America.

He worked as a personal injury lawyer for a time, but built his wealth buying and selling taxi medallions in New Yorks murky taxi badge industry.

Later, as the personal lawyer to one of New Yorks biggest real estate magnates, he handled business deals worth considerably more.

Cohen believed his remit extended beyond official business. Im the guy who stops the leaks. Im the guy who protects the president and the family. Im the guy who would take a bullet for the president, he told Vanity Fair during Mr Trumps first year in office.

However, Cohen was said to be hurt that Mr Trump did not offer him a role in the White House.

Pressure mounted on Cohen when the FBI raided his home and offices and seized hundreds of items in relation to investigations into Mr Trump.

A row over who would foot the bill for his legal fees and the looming threat of a lengthy stretch in prison then paved the way for Cohen to later turn on his former boss.

He has since taken a scorched-earth approach, publishing a book titled, Revenge: How Donald Trump Weaponized the US Department of Justice Against His Critics.

In an interview with The Telegraph in 2022, Cohen hinted at what is driving his continued animus toward his former boss.

Donald has never accepted responsibility for any of his improper actions and never will, he said.

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.
Robinson died 'peacefully' on Friday, her family announced

Miller Mobley Michelle Obama and her mother Marian Robinson

Michelle Obamas mother, Marian Robinson, has died.

Robinson, the mother of the former first lady, died on Friday, May 31, her family told NBC News in a statement. She was 86 years old.

Following the news, Michelle shared a message on X, formerly Twitter, remembering her mother.

"My mom Marian Robinson was my rock, always there for whatever I needed," she wrote. "She was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share she passed away today."

My mom Marian Robinson was my rock, always there for whatever I needed. She was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share she passed away today. We wanted to offer some reflections on her remarkable life: https://t.co/F7T6q625PC  Michelle Obama (@MichelleObama) May 31, 2024

Related: All About Michelle Obama's Parents, Fraser and Marian Robinson

She passed peacefully this morning, and right now, none of us are quite sure how exactly well move on without her," NBC's statement read.

Andy Wong-Pool/Getty Marian Robinson and Michelle Obama

It added that the lifelong Chicago resident left her hometown with "a healthy nudge" when her daughter moved into the White House with former President Barack Obama after he won the 2008 election.

"We needed her. The girls needed her. And she ended up being our rock through it all," the family said.

"She relished her role as a grandmother. ... And although she enforced whatever household rules wed set for bedtime, watching TV, or eating candy, she made clear that she sided with her 'grandbabies' in thinking that their parents were too darn strict."

The statement, which was shared by Michelle and Barack; Michelle's brother Craig Robinson and his wife, Kelly; and Marian Robinsons grandchildren, Avery, Leslie, Malia, Sasha, Austin and Aaron, continued, "There was and will be only one Marian Robinson.

Alex Wong/Getty Barack Obama, with his daughters Sasha and Malia, mother-in-law Marian Robinson, and Michelle Obama at the 2010 National Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on December 9, 2010 in Washington, DC.

"In our sadness, we are lifted up by the extraordinary gift of her life. And we will spend the rest of ours trying to live up to her example."

Barack, 62, also expressed his condolences on her passing in a separate statement.

There was and will be only one Marian Robinson. In our sadness, we are lifted up by the extraordinary gift of her life. And we will spend the rest of ours trying to live up to her example, the former president wrote in a tweet.



Michelles father, Fraser Robinson, died in 1991. The author has often talked about her childhood and the lessons that both parents taught her.

Speaking to Chicagos ABC 7 in 2022, the Princeton University and Harvard Law School graduate said she came from humble beginnings but that didnt stop her from knowing her worth.

We were poor. We lived in a small house, but what they gave us was a feeling of importance, a belief that our voices mattered at a very young age, a sense of understanding, of pushing through, resilience, she said.

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.

That same year, Michelle told NPR that even as a young child, her parents taught her responsibility  buying her and her brother alarm clocks at 5 years old and allowing them to walk to school on their own.

And what that does for a kid - when your parent trust you, it encourages you. It tells you that if my mom thinks I can do this, that I must be capable, Michelle said.



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Read the original article on People.
Michelle Troconis, who was convicted of helping her boyfriend, Fotis Dulos, cover up the murder of his estranged wife, Jennifer Dulos, was sentenced Friday to 20 years in prison, with execution suspended after 14 1/2 years, as well as five years of probation. Troconis' lawyer said they will appeal.

Prosecutors asked for a sentence of 45 years.

Before the sentencing, Judge Kevin Randolph listened to emotional victim impact statements from Jennifer Dulos' children, friends and family, as well as pleas for mercy from Troconis and her relatives.

Petros Dulos, who was 13 when his mother died in May 2019, told the court, "I've been left with a hole inside of me I know I will never be able to fill."

"My mother was everything to me. But during the divorce, I became very bitter with everyone around me, especially mom, because she was always trying to help me," he said. "This meant that I hurt the person closest to me because I didn't know how else to voice my pain. The defendant's actions mean I will never be able to tell my mom how sorry I am for not being a better son when she needed me. I will never be able to tell mom how proud of her courage I am. Most importantly, how much I love her. This fact haunts me every day."

PHOTO: An undated photo of Jennifer Dulos and her son Petros is shown on the screen while Petros Dulos speaks during the sentencing for Michelle Troconis, May 31, 2024, in Stamford, Conn. (POOL/ABC News)

Petros Dulos said Troconis, a mother herself, "has desecrated" the meaning of the word mother.

The case began on May 24, 2019, when Jennifer Dulos, a Connecticut mother of five, disappeared amid a contentious custody dispute with her estranged husband, Fotis Dulos.

PHOTO: Jennifer Dulos, 50, of Connecticut, is pictured with her five children in an undated family photo. (Family of Jennifer Dulos)

Prosecutors alleged Fotis Dulos killed his estranged wife in her garage, and Troconis, his live-in girlfriend, helped him cover up evidence.

On March 1, Troconis was found guilty of all counts against her: conspiracy to commit murder, tampering with physical evidence, conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence and hindering prosecution. On Friday, the judge threw out one of the counts of conspiracy to commit evidence tampering.

PHOTO: Michelle Troconis listens as a verdict of guilty on all counts is read on the final day jury deliberation for her criminal trial at Connecticut Superior Court in Stamford, Conn., March 1, 2024. (Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool, FILE)

At trial, police testified that surveillance footage showed Fotis Dulos driving, with Troconis in the passenger seat, in Hartford later on the day Jennifer Dulos vanished, with Fotis Dulos making stops to throw out alleged evidence in trash cans, the Hartford Courant reported. In court, jurors were shown zip ties, gloves and stained clothing prosecutors said were pulled from the trash cans.

Prosecutors said Troconis also helped her boyfriend with an alibi and helped him clean a truck believed to have been used in the crime, according to The Stamford Advocate.

Troconis maintained her innocence, with the defense arguing Troconis never denied being in the car with her boyfriend, but she did deny having any involvement in or any knowledge of crimes Fotis Dulos may have committed.

Fotis Dulos died by suicide in January 2020, weeks after he was charged in Jennifer Dulos' murder.

PHOTO: In this Jan. 8, 2020 file photo, Fotis Dulos, center, the estranged husband of missing mother of five, Jennifer Dulos, is arraigned on murder and kidnapping charges in Stamford Superior Court in Stamford, Conn. (Erik Trautmann/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool, FILE)

Christiane Dulos, who was 10 when her mother died, said in court that after her parents separated, she asked her dad about cheating on her mother. She said Fotis Dulos responded, "When you really love somebody, sometimes you can't wait."

"This affair was why my mom took us and left, why she cried at night and why we were no longer a family," she said. "From then on, Michelle was a part of my life with my dad. Later on, my dad told us that Michelle was not allowed to be around us anymore, and that if we wanted to keep seeing her, we could not tell mom that Michelle was at our visits."

Overcome with emotion, Christiane Dulos said, "Michelle Troconis, to me, is the reason I feel completely lost and alone on nights when I cannot sleep. She's the reason why I blocked out my childhood and that day so much I can barely remember it. She's the reason kids at school look at me with pity, the reason my teachers say 'guardians' and not 'parents.'"

"The reason I've had to sit on the bathroom floor with my little sister and try my best to comfort her. She's the reason I had to visit my dad at the hospital knowing what he did and knowing he chose to leave us," she said. "She's the reason I no longer feel I have a real beginning, a home to always come back to, parents I will always belong to."

PHOTO: An undated photo of Jennifer Dulos and her daughter Christiane is shown on the screen while Christiane Dulos speaks during the sentencing for Michelle Troconis, May 31, 2024, in Stamford, Conn. (POOL/ABC News)

Christiane Dulos said she can only feel her mom's presence through memories, her mom's writings and stories from her grandmother and Jennifer Dulos' friends.

"I hold onto these moments of her life knowing it should be her telling me these stories," she said.

Theodore Dulos, who was 13 at the time of his mother's death, said in court Friday, "My life now is nothing like it used to be. I no longer have my mother, my hero. I'll never talk to her again. I'll never do my homework with her again. I'll never ask her for advice again."

MORE: Doomsday author Chad Daybell found guilty in triple-murder case

"Michelle, you caused this damage," he said. "You not only knew about, but conspired, to murder a daughter, sister, friend and mother of five kids. That day you took away five children's source of comfort, our protector. You showed no remorse and you've yet to show any."

Jennifer Dulos' body has never been found but a judge has declared her legally dead.

Theodore Dulos asked Troconis to reveal what happened the day Jennifer Dulos vanished and the location of Jennifer Dulos' body.

"I'll never forgive you ... and until you give us more answers, you'll be considered evil, violent and most definitely a coward," he said.

The children's nanny, Lauren Almeida, said after Jennifer Dulos' disappearance, she put her own goals on hold and left her career, family, friends and relationship in Connecticut to help care for the kids.

"My relationship ended, I lost the place I called home, I've lost friends and time with my family. I had to rethink what my life would be like now that I had five kids to help look after," she said in court.

"These kids have become my whole world and they've taught me what unconditional love is," she said, overcome with emotion.

PHOTO: The Dulos family's nanny Lauren Almeida speaks during the sentencing for Michelle Troconis, May 31, 2024, in Stamford, Conn. (POOL/ABC News)

Almeida said Troconis "took away the most genuine, thoughtful, funny and kind person I have ever met. She took away a mother who sang silly songs to her kids, who was always there when they fell to lift them back up."

She said the kids' feeling of safety and security is gone.

Almeida speculated about Troconis' motive.

"To take Jennifer's place? Because you could never," she said. "To live this lavish lifestyle Fotis promised? We'll never know, because I believe Michelle will never be honest."

"We don't even have the comfort of knowing where [Jennifer Dulos] is," Almeida said. "Where is she, Michelle?"

MORE: Michelle Troconis trial: Woman convicted of helping boyfriend cover up Connecticut wife's murder

Noelle Dulos, who was 8 when her mother died, said she's now constantly terrified something bad will happen to her loved ones.

"I feel betrayed by Michelle," she said. "I remember trusting her. I don't understand how she could be so selfish and it scares me to put my trust in other people."

Jennifer Dulos "only wanted to give and to get love, and to be a loving mother," her mother, Gloria Farber, said at the sentencing hearing. "She lived in fear of her life. In fear that her husband might abduct her children."

PHOTO: Gloria Farber, Jennifer Dulos' mother, speaks during the sentencing for Michelle Troconis, May 31, 2024 in Stamford, Conn. (POOL/ABC News)

"Every year we honor Jennifer on her birthday -- Sept. 27, 1968," her mother said in court Friday. "On that day in September, her children, her sister, her friends and I cross the street from my apartment and we walk to Central Park carrying purple balloons -- Jennifer's favorite color. We sit on benches, and, using markers, we write messages to her. Then we let the balloons go."

"Jennifer filled her children with love, wisdom and humor," she said. "Jennifer would have been very proud of her children's accomplishments. They will always have their memories of her, as do I."

Petros Dulos added in court, "I'm upset that I will never know the man I could have become if my mom was still here to guide me. She was my hero. And now I often feel lost without her comforting smile and her meaningful discussions."

"I wish she could see me mature from a boy to a young man. I wish I could hug mom again," he said. "But I can't now."

MORE: Co-worker of slain General Hospital actor speaks out: Felt completely helpless

Troconis briefly addressed the judge herself on Friday, saying through tears, "I am deeply saddened by this tragedy that has affected so many lives. I found out things before and during trial about a man, Fotis Dulos, I thought I knew and loved. I deeply regret ever being in a relationship with Fotis Dulos. ... I will continue to pray for those who suffered and still suffer."

Troconis' daughter, Nicole, 17, spoke to the judge in her mother's defense, expressing her love for her mom and her trust in her.

"She's my best friend, my rock and my guiding light," Nicole said.

"I am begging you ... I need my mom in my life," she wept.

Troconis' father addressed the court, describing her as a compassionate woman who was devoted to her daughter.

Dr. Carlos Troconis asked the judge for mercy, saying "she could continue to be a valuable member of society, providing care and restorative therapy to children and adults."

Michelle Troconis' mother, Marisela Arreaza, wept, saying her daughter misplaced trust in her boyfriend.

PHOTO: Michelle Troconis listens during her sentencing, May 31, 2024, in Stamford, Conn. (POOL/ABC News)

A sister, Daniela Troconis, said Michelle Troconis was her biggest supporter.

Michelle Troconis has an "unwavering dedication to helping those in need," and even over the last five years "remains there for me," she said.

Through tears, Daniela Troconis said to the judge, "I am begging you to consider Michelle's many positive contributions to the community,"

Another sister, Claudia Troconis, described Michelle Troconis as the pillar of their family.

"She would never intentionally harm anyone," she said.

"My sister is a loving and exceptional human being who unfortunately fell in love with the wrong man," Claudia Troconis said.

Troconis' pastor, the Rev. Christopher Solomini, spoke in court on her behalf, saying Troconis was a church volunteer who he would trust with his life.

"Empathy and compassion are at the center of her being, in my estimation," he said.

"Michelle was always especially affirming and loving to young children, and genuinely affectionate to all," he said.

"I've heard her prayers for Jennifer and her children," he added.

Fotis Dulos' friend and former lawyer, Kent Mawhinney, is also accused of helping cover up the crime. He pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder and is awaiting trial.

Kids of Connecticut mom Jennifer Dulos give emotional statements; Michelle Troconis gets 14.5 years originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Michigans Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers is taking Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) and her fellow Michigan Democrats to task for refusing to condemn an anti-Israel conference  featuring speakers with links to terrorist groups  that Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) addressed lastweekend.



Rogers, who is facing Slotkin in the competitive race for retiring Sen. Debbie Stabenows (D-MI) seat, told Jewish Insider that Michigan Democrats were failing their Arab constituents who reject antisemitism by avoiding conversations about the behavior of Tlaib and her far-left colleagues.



What youre doing is silencing those Arabs and those Muslims in that district who dont believe [what Tlaib is saying], Rogers said, noting that many of them came to the United States because they celebrate Western values. He accused Tlaib and others who preach the same message of bringing the hatred that happens in some of these places around the world to their doorstep.



Elissa Slotkins refusal to condemn Rashida Tlaib while she continues to spread antisemitism and attends an event with terrorist organizations is pure cowardice, he told JI. Slotkins astounding lack of judgement and the consequences as a result only lead to more antisemitism and violence towards Jews. America desperately needs leaders who will stand up to this hatred and support the entire Jewish community.



Slotkins campaign spokesperson declined to comment in response.



Asked about Tlaibs incendiary rhetoric in the days immediately following Oct. 7, Slotkin told CNN that, I handle my issues with other members of Congress privately, but for me it shouldnt be hard to condemn terrorists and terrorism.



Rogers described this period in history as a Martin Niemoller moment, referencing the German pastor who authored the famous 1946 poem First they came, and said that leaders have an obligation to stand up to hatred in all forms.



Hatred is hatred. They are standing up, preaching hatred to Jewish Americans, certainly Israeli citizens, and promoting and encouraging this behavior on college campuses, he said. Not to stand up may be the worst sign of leadership, if not an act of cowardice, to me. And thats exactly what we see. We see that lack of condemnation of the event in Detroit, a lack of condemnation of the rhetoric that we know is encouraging, inciting violence and hatred of Jews by Rashida Tlaib.



Rogers, who served in the House from 2001 to 2015 and chaired the House Intelligence Committee,said he believes Slotkin and other Democrats staying silent on Tlaibs rhetoric is harmful because it continues to feed into the misinformation thats out there about Israel and the Jewish people. All of that would be disturbing if it werent so dangerous, he said.



Them staring at their navels is complicit in what you see happening on college campuses. Theyre afraid to walk in and talk about the truth, Rogers said.



Tlaib appeared last weekend at the Peoples Conference for Palestine, where pro-terror messages were celebrated and an activist with ties to a group designated by the U.S. as a foreign terrorist organization was welcomed.



The conference was organized by The Peoples Forum, a far-left advocacy group funded largely by Neville Roy Singham, a businessman with ties to the Chinese Communist Party and a long history of donating to Marxist and socialist causes.



Wisam Rafeedie, an activist with ties to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which is designated in the U.S. as a terrorist organization, was a guest at the event. Sana Daqqah, the widow of Walid Daqqah, the PFLP terrorist who was lionized in the Palestinian community for dying in an Israeli prison, was the keynote speaker.



Attendees took part in chants of From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,, and We want justice, you say how? End the siege on Gaza now, in between speeches and discussions on Confronting Zionism in Higher Education and Zionism and U.S. Imperialism.



In her remarks, Tlaib accused President Joe Biden of being complicit in what she described as a genocide in Gaza and doing the bidding of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who she referred to as a murderous war criminal.



President Biden says whats happening [in Gaza] is not a genocide. Where is your red line, President Biden? Tlaib told the crowd.





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Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz speaks at the Mackinac Policy Conference, May 30, 2024 | Anna Liz Nichols

Its not enough to attract students to learning opportunities at colleges and universities in Michigan. Leaders around the state have to build bridges across sectors to keep talent in the state after graduation, university presidents in Michigan said on a Thursday panel at the Mackinac Policy Conference.

Connecting students to companies and organizations while theyre in college, equipping them to build relationships with creators and changemakers in Michigan can help Michigan schools achieve the common goal for graduates of keeping them out of Ohio, Ferris State University President Bill Pink said with a laugh.

We have to have some of those learning opportunities, those internships, those externships, those opportunities, Pink said. If they can already make that connection while theyre at our university with many of your companies and we can expose them  to great companies  getting them connected to incredible businesses that we have here in the state, prior to graduation, to make those connections before theyre done, we have a better opportunity to keep them here, so that they understand what it means to stay in the state of Michigan.

For years, Michigan has struggled to grow its population and keep young people in the state. Some projections show that the population decline will continue and leaders in Michigan are trying to change that. Last year, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the creation of the Growing Michigan Together Council to come up with solutions to grow Michigans population.

Michigan is the place to get an education as the state ranks high across its schools for generating talent in health and STEM careers, University of Michigan President Santa Ono said. Talent is not the issue in Michigan, the issue is connecting all these new graduates to all the careers in innovation and development that are being created every day by leaders in Michigan.

Im just so excited about whats happening.  And when youre talking about the governor and state Legislature and different communities, mayors, business leaders in Michigan.  Its extraordinary how people are converging. There is an overall strategy that is emerging, Ono said. We have responsibility and we can actually meet the demand for talent.  Thousands of jobs are going to come here.

The University Research Corridor, an innovation careers collaboration between the University of Michigan, Wayne State University and Michigan State University, has produced 1.7 million graduates, Ono said. More than half of them have stayed in Michigan.

Universities have to keep up with the changing needs of students as traditional majors arent going to be the best path to in-state employment for all students, new Michigan State University President Kevin Guskiewicz said. Just as the state and local governments work to establish new opportunities to grow the state and create new workforce opportunities, educational institutions need to facilitate educational paths that were unheard of in decades past.

Many of us in the room here today have probably graduated from college with a single major with very little experiential education alongside that. Thats what I think is a big difference today, Guskiewicz said.

At Michigan State University, 78% of graduates get an internship opportunity, Guskiewicz said. Many are studying abroad and stacking their majors and minors, such as the schools entrepreneurship and innovation minor to contribute to the changing workforce needs of the world.

But higher education has a bad reputation of not being worth the cost, Oakland University President Ora Hirsch Pescovitz said, and schools need to do a better job of dispelling myths.

During the conference, the Detroit Regional Chamber released findings from a statewide poll of 600 registered Michigan voters which found that half of respondents didnt believe a four-year degree was worth it.

The public, when they hear about that. They hear that college is not important, its not necessary for jobs.  Theyre not thinking about our institutions where the average tuition is $16,000 a year, Pescovitz said. When they graduate from our institutions, theyre going to earn an income which is substantially higher over the course of their lifetimes. The jobs of the future require that our students graduate from one of our institutions.

Wayne State University President Kimberly Andrews was slated to be on the panel as well, but amid a controversy over police dismantling an on-campus pro-Palestinian encampment on the schools Detroit campus, she did not appear on the panel.

College encampments have been cropping up all around the country, with students demanding institutions divest from companies connected to Israel. The University of Michigan and Michigan State University had encampments on their campuses in recent weeks. Police removed the University of Michigan encampment and some arrests were made, while protesters at Michigan State University left campus willingly.

Ono said though college campuses are the place for new ideas and social issue discourse, but the safety of students to learn on campus is a priority.

This is very complicated. Its more challenging than previous tense moments on campus, but its up to us, not only on campus, but government foundations to come together to address the root causes of antisemitism [and] Islamophobia, Ono said. Theres a lot of bad actors that are involved. We know that for sure.

The post Michigan university presidents talk higher educations role in building the states economy appeared first on Michigan Advance.
On May 30, a fire broke out at the residence of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin in the Altai Territory of the aggressor country Russia. One of the buildings burned down completely.

ADVERTISIMENT

This was reported by Russian media, publishing the relevant photos. The residence is located in the Ongudaysky District of the Altai Republic.

Formally, Putin's residence in Altai is registered as a Gazprom sanatorium. However, according to the Russian opposition media, the so-called "Putin's bunker" was located there, which can allegedly accommodate up to 100,000 people.

The Sirena publication writes that the photo of the burned building was published by Russian blogger Amyr Aytashev and activist Aruna Arna. The journalists analyzed the footage and found no signs of editing.

The color of the facade, the location of the buildings, green spaces, the relief and the roof in the activists' photos match the elements in the previous photos of the residence.

ADVERTISIMENT

The Main Directorate of the Ministry of Emergency Situations in the Republic of Altai refused to answer journalists' questions about the fire in the area.

According to media reports, information about a classified construction project in the Ongudaysky District of Altai appeared in 2010, with up to 3 billion rubles allegedly spent on the project. In 2011, journalists tried to get into the sanatorium, but the guards refused, citing the special status of the facility intended for the country's top officials.

It is also noted that there is a closed special farm near the residence, where marals (large red deer) are allegedly bred to extract blood from their antlers. In 2022, the Proekt publication wrote that Putin allegedly likes to take such blood baths, believing them to be therapeutic.

ADVERTISIMENT

As reported, Putin has a "secret dacha" on the shores of Majalahti Bay of Lake Ladoga in Karelia (Russia). This land is supposed to be part of a national reserve, but three mansions, two helipads, a water bath, and a personal gazebo opposite a four-meter waterfall were built for the dictator.

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Days after posting bond on a charge of felony burglary, a visibly impaired Mickal Johnson fielded questions from a Springfield detective shortly after a man had been shot and killed in front of a home on East Atlantic Street.

Johnson, 22, wasn't supposed to be in possession of a firearm the night 42-year-old Christoper L. Kuder was fatally shot in the chest on June 10, 2021 after attempting to break up a dispute. He wasn't supposed to be under the influence or drugs or alcohol either, as terms of his probation.

But Johnson, who had previously been convicted of violent offenses, said he felt threatened when Kuder, a disabled man who moved with a walking cane, approached him in the street, prompting Johnson to fire a single bullet from point-blank range.

Evidence suggested Johnson killed Kuder  an acquaintance dating the woman whom Johnson was said to be threatening at 2 a.m.  in cold blood before fleeing the scene. On Thursday, Greene County Judge Kaiti Greenwade sentenced Johnson to 22 years in prison for second-degree murder.

In his three years of incarceration at Greene County jail following Kuder's death, Johnson has also been accused of two vicious assaults against inmates, one resulting in additional charges.

Greenwade reminded Johnson that he was given ample opportunity to turn his life around before the shooting, but proceeded to go in a different direction, even as he was given due process.

"While knowing this (homicide case) was pending, while knowing what is at stake, you're still not concerned with the safety of others," Greenwade told Johnson, who pleaded guilty earlier this year. "That pieces the puzzle for me as far as protecting the community, and weighs strongly on my mind in making this decision"

Greene County prosecuting attorney Nick Bergeon told the court Thursday that on the night of the shooting Johnson had been acting erratically and had told a woman, Kuder's girlfriend, that he had hoped for an opportunity to kill someone.

Johnson and the woman were later in a heated altercation outside of Kuder's home on North Pickwick, where investigators said he was threatening the woman, prompting Kuder, a man with a host of health problems, to intervene.

Prosecutors showed video of the emergency services giving aid in the street to Kuder, who died roughly an hour after being shot in the heart. Footage of Johnson's arrest, which came within 30 minutes of the incident, and questioning were also presented to the court, appearing to show an indifferent Johnson appearing to give inconsistent accounts of what transpired.

Johnson told detectives he noticed Kuder had a cane, but thought he was reaching for knife. The victim's uncle, Mike Rogers, said his nephew was not a threatening figure.

"Chris in no way could have ever beaten this man," Rogers told the court. "He had a pacemaker, defibrillator, and walked with a cane and couldn't walk very fast, but his heart was pure."

Kuder's family said he housed friends and acquaintances to help get them on their feet, either charging them no rent at all or at a very low price. Johnson's attorney, James Hayes, described it as house with a high volume of illegal drug activity.

Hayes said that his client had spiraled since losing his mother several years ago in an auto accident and his father had his own of issues. He told the the court that if his client wasn't high under the influence of drugs, things would have ended differently.

Johnson wrote a short letter to the court, apologizing to Kuder's family. One of Johnson's relatives showed up to court as a character witness and to discuss his upbringing, but left the courtroom early for unknown reasons before she could be called to speak.

"I did the unthinkable and I'm ready to serve what seems fit," Johnson said in a letter read by Hayes.

Kuder's death was among 26 homicide cases in Springfield in 2021.

Ryan Collingwood covers a wide range of topics for the News-Leader with an emphasis on public safety. He can be reached by phone at 417-258-8174 and email at rcollingwood@news-leader.com. You can also follow Ryan on social media at X.com/rwcollingwood

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Springfield man sentenced to 22 years for 2021 shooting death
Migrant fights at Logan: what Governor Healey and migrant housing advocates say needs to happen

Hundreds of migrants spent another night at Logan Airport where Boston 25 News has learned that a fight broke out between two migrant families.

Its something Governor Maura Healey says she is aware of.

Yeah, I understand there was an altercation last night. The officials there dealt with it, so thats good, but again we are focused on calling on Congress to act, said Gov. Healey.

The number of migrants sleeping at Terminal E has been an issue for months. Sources tell Boston 25 News nearly 250 migrants stayed overnight Wednesday at Logan.

The crowding led to a physical altercation inside the terminal at 7 p.m. Wednesday. State Police were called in and confirmed the following:

A disagreement between 2 families

Over the use of a power outlet

EMS evaluated a juvenile

One family was relocated from Terminal E

Governor Healey says that this is why the Feds need to do their part and help the state.

Ive said from the beginning we dont want families staying at Logan Airport. We continue to call on Congress to act to deal with whats happening at the border in terms of reform here, said Gov. Healey.

In the meantime, the overcrowding issue at Logan has forced the state to convert the former Bay State Correctional Facility in Norfolk into emergency housing. Its a place housing advocates say while not perfect  is a better place than the airport.

Logan is not designed to house people  that we all know. But its a place of last resort right now for people have nowhere to go.

Jeff Thielman runs the International Institute of New England, an advocacy group for migrants. They have a contract with the state to find housing for migrants but Theilman says the tight housing market makes that difficult.

Its a slow process so far. Its a struggle to find apartments, he said.

The state is now converting the former Bay State Correctional Center in Norfolk into its next emergency shelter slated to open in mid-June.

It could be a place to put people for the short term to give them someplace to stay, some help some support while theyre trying to figure out what to do, said Thielman.

He says the better idea because of a lack of housing is to look outside of greater Boston.

We are encouraging the clients we are serving to think about living outside the city of Boston where there are more housing opportunities that are more affordable.

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A migrant indicted for raping a 15-year-old girl at a Rockland hotel being used an emergency shelter in March remained held without bail following his arraignment on Friday.

Cory B. Alvarez, 26, of Haiti, pleaded not guilty in Brockton Superior Court to the charges of aggravated rape of a child with a 10-year age difference and rape of a child by force, Plymouth County District Attorney Tim Cruz said in a statement.

In March, the court ruled Alvarez to be dangerous after his arrest on March 13. He currently remains held without bail, Cruz said.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement placed an immigration detainer on Alvarez in March. The court earlier ordered that Alvarez surrender his passport and have no contact with the victim while in custody.

At approximately 7:06 p.m. on March 13, police responded to the Comfort Inn at 850 Hingham St. in Rockland for a report of a sexual assault, Cruz said. The Comfort Inn is part of a government program to house migrant families, and Alvarez lived at that address.

When officers arrived, they found the teenage victim, who was then taken by ambulance to South Shore Hospital for treatment, Cruz said.

Cory B. Alvarez, 26, of Haiti, accused of raping a teenage girl at a migrant shelter in Rockland, appears in court on April 22, 2024.

The girl, who only speaks Haitian Creole, told investigators through a translator she went to Alvarezs room so he could help her with apps on a tablet before he forced himself on her.

Alvarez is due back in court on June 11.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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Migrant missing in ocean after trying to swim around border barrier

SAN DIEGO (Border Report)  The search continues for a migrant who has been reported missing after trying to swim around the border barrier Wednesday night.

Tijuana lifeguards say a person notified them that they had lost sight of a woman who was in the process of getting around the border fence that sticks out into the ocean between Tijuana and San Diego.

Juan Hernandez, head of the Tijuana Lifeguard Service, said their counterparts north of the border have also provided assistance.

In the past, migrants have been warned about strong currents, cold water and undertows in the area where the female migrant and others have gotten in trouble.

Migrants on Juarez streets coping with high temperatures

This is the seventh time this year that weve had to look for someone who was unlawfully trying to enter the United States swimming around the barrier. said Hernandez. We have been able to find and rescue five of them, but two drowned.

Hernandez also said they are convinced others have also tried crossing the border in the water, something he doesnt recommend.

We havent gotten more reports, but we know there have been others.

Coincidentally, during a teleconference with reporters on Thursday, Luis Miranda, a Department of Homeland Security spokesman, asked migrants to refrain from making dangerous crossings into the U.S. including by water.

Border agents lead hiking tour of migrant-smuggling routes in San Diego mountains

He warned of high temperatures and other dangers along the southern border.

Dehydration is likely in desert zones and difficult access areas, theres also the possibility of sustaining injuries when falling from the border wall and drowning in rivers and waterways, he said.

Miranda also asked migrants to forgo contact with criminal organizations and not to believe misinformation being put out about crossing the border unlawfully.

Visit the BorderReport.com homepage for the latest exclusive stories and breaking news about issues along the U.S.-Mexico border

Illegally crossing is a violation of United States immigration law and it has consequences that include deportation, prevention from getting legal entry in the future, and at times, criminal proceedings, he said.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
House Speaker and fascist elf Mike Johnson called in to Fox and Friends on Friday to express his desire for the Supreme Court to step in and overturn the criminal convictions handed down by a Manhattan jury against Trump on Thursday.

During the segment, which Johnson published to his official YouTube channel, Johnson intimated that hes spoken with Supreme Court justices who are deeply concerned about the criminal justice system functioning properly for once. I think that the justices on the courtI know many of them personallyI think they are deeply concerned about that, as we are. So I think theyll set this straight.

Johnson, either from wishful thinking or showing his hand, shifted from what he thinks and hopes the Supreme Court will do to essentially speaking on behalf of the courts conservative bloc, promising viewers, This will be overturned, guys, theres no question about it; its just going to take some time to do it.

Trump has plans to appeal his conviction, after issuing a variety of false statements about the trial over its duration. Per New York penal law, he has 30 days to submit the appealwhich would come just weeks before his July 11 sentencing hearing. That appeal would begin at the New York Court of Appeals. If that state-level court denies his appeal, Trump can petition to ask the Supreme Court to review the case. Considering the conservative majority on the court, with its three justices directly appointed by Trump, theyll likely hear the case and potentially overturn the conviction. How long that process takes can range from months to years.
A former King County jail guard from Milton pleaded guilty Thursday in U.S. District Court to taking bribes to smuggle methamphetamine and fentanyl into a correctional facility for the benefit of two inmates.

Mosses Ramos, 40, brought about a pound of meth and 100 fentanyl pills into the jail between March and May last year in exchange for $5,000, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Washington said Thursday. Ramos pleaded guilty to bribery and conspiracy to distribute controlled substances.

Ramos had been a jail guard in King County for 17 years before he was fired in 2023.

Bribery is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and the drug-distribution charge carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. A sentencing date was set for Sept. 13.

Prosecutors said Ramos brought drugs into the King County Correctional Facility for the benefit of two inmates, Michael Anthony Barquet, 37, and Francisco Montero, 25. The men remain incarcerated. Barquet is facing trial in King County for a double homicide, according to prosecutors, and Montero has a trial for drug and bribery charges scheduled to begin in October.

Ramos crimes were part of a web of bribes and drug trafficking that extended outside of the jail and included three women alleged to be associates of Barquet and Montero, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Neca Silvestre, 38, of Kent; Katrina Cazares, 38, of Burien; and Kayara Zepeda Montero, 27, of Seattle remain charged in the case.

The drugs brought into the jail were given to Ramos in a beverage tumbler through a chain of hand-offs, according to the defendants plea agreement with prosecutors. Court records dont describe how the former guard smuggled them into the facility.

Cazares allegedly gave the tumbler filled with meth and fentanyl to Kyara Montero on March 24, 2023, along with $5,000 in cash intended as a bribe payment. The same day, Kyara Montero gave Ramos the goods. Records state Silvestre also made a $220 bribe payment to Ramos that day in the form of a Cash App transfer.

Ramos brought the drugs into the jail the next day, according to court records. Investigators later seized about 59 grams of meth from Barquet and the jail cell he shared with Montero.
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Officials at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction did not mince words in its letter warning Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Keith Posley that millions of dollars in school funds are in jeopardy because of his districts failure to provide statutorily required financial data.

Not only are many required reports incredibly late, Deputy State Superintendent John Johnson wrote to Posley, in a letter shared with school board members and the public, MPS has demonstrated a pattern of submitting incomplete data, as well as requesting data changes without having the required documentation for the request.

DPI warned MPS it might withhold the districts June special education aid payment, which totaled $15.7 million last year, as well as future state aid payments, because the district still hasnt filed basic information, including an audit due last December and an annual report due last September.

You can feel the frustration radiating from the letter.

In an effort to collect the missing financial data from MPS, DPI staff has been meeting with MPS quarterly since April 2023, then monthly as of February 2024, then weekly as of March 15 2024, and now daily as of May 2024.

Its an unusual, scathing public scolding of a school district administrator by the state. More unusual still, it comes from an agency that works closely with a pro-public-education Democratic governor and makes a point of championing public schools.

Politically, the financial mismanagement at MPS is a disaster. It comes on the heels of an announcement by the federal government that the districts Head Start funding will be suspended for 30 days because of deficiencies in staff conduct and supervision of children.

Milwaukee, the birthplace of school vouchers, is a perennial target of school privatizers who have been claiming for decades that public schools are a failure and should be abandoned altogether in favor of privately run academies.

Voters in the district narrowly passed a $252 million public school funding referendum in April which district administrators said was needed to avoid drastic cuts.

It doesnt sit well with taxpayers to learn that the district cant seem to manage the most basic tracking of its finances.

Still, the referendum was the right thing, says the Wisconsin Public Education Networks Milwaukee organizer Jenni Hofschulte. However our reports go to DPI, it doesnt change the need for that community support.

Hofschulte is worried that outrage over the districts administrative failures will overshadow all of the other funding issues Milwaukee schools face.

However this shakes out, it doesnt change the fact that MPS has a deficit like everyone else around the state, she adds.

Still, she acknowledges, the district now faces a serious problem. Not only is a significant reduction in state aid to Milwaukee schools likely because of MPS errors in reporting shared costs, according to DPI, Milwaukees failure to file its financial information on time impacts every school district in the state, by disrupting the agencys ability to accurately calculate state aid for all districts.

As the school board meets to discuss the budget and Posleys contract this week, theres reason to worry the district could be torn apart. Thursday nights board meeting was halted when board members called in police to remove people who booed and interrupted Posley and the districts financial officers.

I hope cool heads prevail, says Hofschulte. Its unfortunate that it might turn into a call to fracture the district, when thats probably not the solution to this problem.

State Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) expressed a similar sentiment in a Facebook post:

Meanwhile, the Milwaukee school board issued a statement acknowledging the gravity of the situation: We are aware of the matter and are working closely with DPI and multiple stakeholders to resolve the situation as quickly as possible, board members said. We are committed to ensuring all requested information is submitted in a timely manner. The Board remains committed to its obligations to our students, their families, and the people of Milwaukee. We take this matter seriously and we are confident that we will be able to course correct promptly.

There are pretty profound challenges in the administration of that organization, which I think the board understands, DPI Executive Director Sachin Chheda said in a phone interview Thursday.

The state is also committed to working with the district, Chheda added. We want MPS to succeed.

As for critics who say the MPS troubles show the failure of public schools generally, Chheda responded that the tough love DPI is showing the district demonstrates the strength of a publicly accountable system.

The public school system has a lot of resilience and strength and where something is an outlier, we transparently do something about it, he said. Were demonstrating public accountability in spades here.

The post Milwaukee public schools face serious fallout from financial mess-up appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
A 68-year-old minister at a Fillmore church has pleaded guilty to two felony counts related to inappropriate online communication with a minor.

Barry Don Fike of Fillmore admitted to sending harmful material to a child and arranging to meet with a minor for sex, according to a release from the Ventura County District Attorneys Office.

Fike, who officials say worked as a minister at the Fillmore Church of Christ and previously taught at both Oaks Christian High School in Westlake Village and Pepperdine University, was involved in an online relationship with a person whom he believed to be a 15-year-old girl but was in fact an undercover officer.

He was arrested on July 17, 2023, a week after he began communicating with the undercover officer. During those conversations, which were sexual in nature, Fike sent explicit photos of himself and attempted to arrange a meetup with the underage girl.

The chatroom where the communication occurred did not have any safeguards to verify a persons age, and Deputy District Attorney Ben Moreno said the case was a powerful reminder for parents to stay vigilant and protect their children by keeping tabs on what theyre doing online.

The defendant was a minister and teacher, showing that no one is above suspicion and trust should not be given lightly when it comes to our children, Moreno said.

Fike is scheduled to be sentenced on July 15 in Ventura County Superior Court.

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.
Minneapolis Police Officer Ambushed and Shot Dead by Man He Thought Needed Help, Say Authorities

Officer Jamal Mitchell was shot dead after trying to help victims during a shooting on May 30

Minneapolis Police Department/Facebook Jamal Mitchell

A Minneapolis police officer has died after being "ambushed" by a shooter he was trying to help.

On Thursday, May 30, Minneapolis Police Department responded to reports of a double shooting in the 2200 block of Blaisdell Avenue South, Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell confirmed during a news conference.

Blackwell stated officers received and exchanged gunfire immediately upon arrival before Officer Jamal Mitchell was injured and taken to HCMC hospital, where he later died.

The Assistant Chief confirmed a second officer received non-life-threatening injuries during the shooting, and the suspect was pronounced dead at the scene despite officers rendering first aid on them.

During the conference, Blackwell confirmed two adult victims with gunshot wounds were located on the scene; one was pronounced deceased, and a second was "gravely injured."

Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune via AP Law enforcement officers salute Minneapolis police Officer Jamal Mitchell as he is escorted to a waiting medical examiner's vehicle in Minneapolis

Blackwell added that a firefighter had also received non-life-threatening injuries during the gunfire.

Mayor Jacob Frey said during the news conference, "Today the city of Minneapolis lost a hero in police officer Jamal Mitchell. This officer gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect and save the lives of others."

Today is a devastating day in the city of Minneapolis, he added, calling the victim a "courageous hero." Per NBC News, Mitchell was a father and engaged to be married.

Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension Superintendent Drew Evans added during the conference, "This is happening far too often in the state of Minnesota and something definitely needs to change."

"What we had today is another police officer that was killed in the line of duty ... was rushing towards danger, who answered a call for service and the first thing he did when he got out of his car was try to help victims ... and he was ambushed," Evans said.

He confirmed an innocent bystander was believed to have also been shot in the area where Mitchell was injured about two blocks away from the original calls' area. The bystander is thought to be in critical condition, per Evans.

Christopher Mark Juhn/Anadolu via Getty Jamal Mitchell's vigil

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He confirmed they believed there was "some level of acquaintance" among the people in the apartment, but officers still "need to uncover the motive" for the shooting.

Minneapolis Police Department didn't immediately respond when contacted by PEOPLE.

Minnesota senator Amy Klobuchar was among those paying tribute to Mitchell on X (formerly known as Twitter), writing, "Devastated to learn about the MPD officer killed and another critically injured this evening as they were working to keep our community safe. [My husband] John [D. Bessler] and I are praying for both their families and all those impacted by this tragedy."



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Relations between the countries of the European Union (EU) have deteriorated over Russia. For example, Sweden may unilaterally block imports of Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) if Hungary succeeds in removing this restriction from the next package of sanctions.

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According to Bloomberg, Swedish Energy Minister Ebba Busch announced such a scenario. At the same time, she proposed to rely on nuclear energy, which is also cleaner than hydrocarbons.

"If the package of sanctions does not achieve its goal, we are ready to act independently. This is not the optimal solution, but we are considering finding a way to further suspend and impose sanctions on Russian imports, particularly LNG," Busch said at a meeting of energy ministers held on May 30 in Brussels.

The Swedish minister did not specify how her government would demand restrictions on Russian energy imports. At the same time, she called the new measures that allow individual EU member states to ban Russian LNG supplies without imposing new sanctions insufficient.

"Russia's goal in this war is to divide and conquer. But Sweden will not stand by and wait if we do not succeed with the 14th package of sanctions," she warned.

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In addition, Stockholm proposed to impose additional duties on Russian imports, transferring the proceeds to Ukraine. Similar measures are already in place in the US, UK and Canada.

Busch proposes to compensate for Russian gas by increasing investment in nuclear energy development, which is also in line with the EU's Green Deal.

"The EIB has to answer the question why it is actually neglecting the issue of European competitiveness. Because this is exactly the effect (of the bank's actions - Ed.)," Busch emphasized.

As previously reported, Hungary has threatened to block any EU sanctions that raise energy prices in Europe. However, the country's authorities have not yet openly stated their position: the matter is limited to statements during individual meetings.

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!

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Minneapolis shooting at least 11th incident of officers hit by gunfire in region since April 2023

Thursday's fatal shooting of Minneapolis police officer Jamal Mitchell marks at least the 10th time in less than 14 months that law enforcement officers have been killed or wounded by gunfire in or near Minnesota.

"As tragic as this is," Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said in a statement Friday, "I know we are not alone in Minneapolis. We know that attacks on police officers are on the rise across our country, and Jamal just happened to be the latest victim of this senseless and troubling trend. It's become too easy and to attack our police, and it needs to stop."

April 10: Hennepin County Sheriff's deputy Christopher Heihn was shot in the hand during an exchange of gunfire with 28-year-old Clint Hoyhtya, while several deputies were attempting to serve a warrant. Hoyhtya was killed.

Feb. 18: in Burnsville, police officers Paul Elmstrand and Matthew Ruge, both 27, and firefighter/paramedic Adam Finseth, 40, were shot and killed at a home early in the morning after an hourslong standoff following a domestic abuse call. The gunman then killed himself.

Dec. 7, 2023: St. Paul police officer Michael Tschida was shot in the leg during an exchange of gunfire with Brandon Daleshaun Keys, 24, of Maplewood, who was killed.

Oct. 12, 2023: In Glenwood Township near Princeton, five officers with a search warrant were shot during an exchange of gunfire with a man who was inside his home with numerous guns. The suspect, 65-year-old Karl Thomas Holmberg, was wounded before his apprehension and was charged with six counts each of attempted murder and first-degree assault of a police officer.

Sept. 13, 2023: In Algona, Iowa, police officer Kevin Cram was fatally shot while trying to arrest Kyle L. Ricke, 43, of Algona over an active warrant for harassment. About four hours later, Ricke was apprehended roughly 110 miles to the north in Sleepy Eye, Minn.

Aug. 11, 2023: Minneapolis police officer Jacob Spies was shot and wounded by automatic gunfire while pursuing a robbery suspect in an unmarked car on the North Side. Four people were arrested that night.

July 14, 2023: Fargo police officer Jake Wallin, 23, was killed and two fellow officers and a civilian were wounded by gunfire from Mohamad Barakat, 37, of Fargo. A fourth officer shot and killed Barakat.

May 6, 2023: In western Wisconsin, St. Croix County sheriff's deputy Kaitie Leising, 29, was fatally shot just outside of Glenwood. Leising was answering a call about a drunken driver stuck in a ditch. The suspect, Jeremiah D. Johnson, 34, of Shakopee, was found dead nearby with a gun close to his body.

April 15, 2023: In western Minnesota, Pope County sheriff's deputy Joshua Owen was killed on his 44th birthday while responding to a domestic dispute call. Two other officers were wounded. The suspected shooter, Bryan Nygard, 34, of Cyrus, Minn., died when officers returned fire.

April 8, 2023: In western Wisconsin, two police officers were shot and killed in Barron County during a traffic stop in Cameron: officers Emily Breidenbach, 32, of the Chetek Police Department, and Hunter Scheel, 23, of the Cameron Police Department. The suspect, Glenn Douglas Perry, 50, of New Auburn, Wis., died in an exchange of gunfire.
This article was originally published in Minnesota Reformer.

Early education providers and teachers from the Iron Range piled on a bus headed south on Monday morning, shuttering their child care centers for the day so they could lobby lawmakers at the state Capitol in the final week of the legislative session.

Lawmakers have all but crushed the hopes of child care advocates with a minimalist session, but advocates continue to push for increased spending as part of the Day Without Child Care, a national campaign coordinated by the progressive organization Community Change.

Were closer to closing our centers permanently than people think, said Amanda Reed, the director of two child care centers in Virginia, Minn.

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As independent child care providers struggle to make ends meet, Minnesota families are paying some of the highest rates in the country  and early education staff make far less than the cost of living. Across the state, there is a shortage of child care slots and a need for new providers to enter the industry.

The coalitions highest priority this session was a bill to establish the Great Start Child Care Affordability Program, which would have subsidized child care costs for families making less than 150% of the states median income. If fully funded  the bills authors estimate it would cost around $500 million per year  it would cap qualifying families child care expenses at 7% of their household income and stabilize income for child care providers.

The bill received hearings in both chambers but will not pass this session due to the cost.

With tighter budgets looming on the horizon, DFL leadership  including Gov. Tim Walz have taken a more cautious approach to spending this year; of the $540 million supplemental budget agreement, around $59 million was earmarked for spending on children and families.

Which means neither parents nor child care workers can expect much help in the foreseeable future.

Cody Lupich, a school-age teacher and classroom lead at Iron Range Tykes in Mountain Iron, said his $16 an hour wage is above average for the industry and region  but hes about to start a third job in order to save up for a down payment on a home.

Im here today because this is a job I want to stay in for a long time, Lupich said.

Last year, the DFL-controlled Legislature spent more than $1 billion on early education, including about $575 million to continue a federal COVID-era program that boosted teacher pay.

The Great Start compensation supports have been fantastic. We needed the funding. We still need the funding, said Pat Ives, director of Kiddy Karousel child care center in Hibbing.

Ives listed off institutions that receive public funding: the Minnesota Zoo, the Science Museum of Minnesota, public schools and community colleges.

Why isnt child care on that list? she asked.

(Child care does receive significant public spending, but not nearly enough to ensure families arent paying more than 7% of their income on child care, which is a goal set by the federal government.)

At a rally in the Capitol rotunda, Rep. Carlie Kotyza-Witthuhn, DFL-Eden Prairie, promised the child care workers and advocates that she would continue pushing for the Great Start Child Care Affordability Program.

Many advocates wore purple shirts  representing the mixing of red and blue  calling not for living wages but thriving wages for child care workers.

Minnesota Reformer is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Minnesota Reformer maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor J. Patrick Coolican for questions: info@minnesotareformer.com. Follow Minnesota Reformer on Facebook and Twitter.
A Springfield Saint Victor AR-15 rifle is displayed during the National Rifle Association annual convention in Houston on May 27, 2022. Credit: REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

ASHEVILLE - A teenager who shot an AR-15 at least 50 times, hitting homes occupied by families and seriously wounding one man, has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison.

Derek Matt Espinoza-Rangel, 18, of Asheville, pleaded guilty May 28 to three counts of discharging a weapon into occupied dwellings, and one count of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury, according to District Attorney Todd Williams.

Buncombe County Superior Court Judge Steve Warren sentenced Espinoza-Rangel to nine to 13 years in prison, plus more than two years probation, Williams said in a news release.

Alejandro Cedillo Morales was in his house when he was shot in the neck, rib cage and flank during the Feb. 3, 2023, rampage north of Woodfin in which bullets hit three homes and multiple vehicles, according to Williams and a GoFundMe page. Morales, who worked for the award-winning downtown restaurant Curate, underwent multiple surgeries and was released from the hospital three weeks later, those sources said. The Citizen Times was unable to contact Morales. It also reached out to restauranteur and Curate owner Katie Button who started the GoFundMe page, which has raised nearly $110,000 for him.

The degree of Morales' injuries and of his recovery were not clear. Williams told the Citizen Times he did not feel it was his place to go into detail about Morales' health but said he believed he had "made a pretty good recovery."

Many homes in the neighborhood of the shooting were occupied by multigenerational families with children less than 10 years of age, the district attorney said. Morales' family members present in the home included six children and his sister. No one else was injured.

Morales was an "unforeseen" and "unforeseeable" victim, Williams told the Citizen Times May 30. The DA declined to comment on Espinoza-Rangel's motivation or if he had a target. He also declined to comment on how Espinoza-Rangel, who was 17 at the time, got the gun.

Deputies found more than 50 shell casings at the scene that were fired from a .223 caliber AR-15 rifle. An AR-15 was later located in Espinoza-Rangels home, along with "significant" amounts of .223 and 9mm ammunition, Williams said. The AR-15 was seized and ordered destroyed.

Assistant District Attorney Katie Kurdys who prosecuted the case said it served as a "staggering reminder of the importance of securing firearms and the elevated dangers presented when guns are left unsecured and accessible by minors."

The Citizen Times reached out to Espinoza-Rangel's attorney Assistant Public Defender Timothy Henderson as well as Buncombe County Public Defender Sam Snead.

Espinoza-Rangel was initially charged in juvenile court where proceedings and records are not public.

The District Attorneys Office submitted the case to a Grand Jury for indictment and transferred it to Superior Court to prosecute Espinoza-Rangel as an adult.

Williams said Espinoza-Rangel's attorneys in court said their client didn't foresee the impact of his actions due to his age and that he fully accepted responsibility, weeping during the presentation of crime scene photographs and other evidence.

"The victims remain deeply affected by this incident but were consulted about the disposition and expressed satisfaction with the result," the DA said in the release. Espinoza-Rangel was ordered to have no contact with prosecuting witnesses and to pay nearly $20,000 for property damage.

Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Minor shot AR-15 into homes, hit downtown Asheville restaurant worker
Mismanagement and overspending but no fraud in SC school district, inspector general finds

(File/Getty Images)

COLUMBIA  A Laurens County school district spent nearly $1 million more than it should have on expenses like food, travel and gift cards over the past four years, according to a report from the state Office of Inspector General.

The investigation into Laurens County School District 55, which includes schools in the city of Laurens, did not uncover anything criminal or fraudulent. However, the district did waste as much as $973,000 on unnecessary expenses, often originating from questionable record-keeping and policy loopholes, according to the report.

Legislators who represent the district of 5,100 students asked for the investigation in December, after the school board raised concerns about the districts speech language pathologist program.

Once inspectors started reviewing four years worth of records, they discovered outdated policies and lenient enforcement that put the district at risk of potential fraud, according to the report.

That was the bad news, said Rep. John McCravy, R-Greenwood, a member of the Laurens County delegation.

The good news was that the report concluded employees had not been stealing or otherwise intentionally misusing taxpayer dollars, he said.

Nothing dishonest was done, McCravy told the SC Daily Gazette on Friday.

The problem was more about the districts culture, particularly under the most recent superintendent, the report found.

During interviews, officials often told investigators that this is the way weve always done it, despite the fact that former employees said that was not the case. That sort of laissez-faire attitude opened the door to extra spending that could have gone to better use, investigators wrote.

Tone at the top matters, the report reads.

Superintendent Ameca Thomas headed the district during the years investigators examined. She resigned in January without publicly giving a reason, following months of dysfunction among board members, according to the Greenwood Index-Journal.

Last week, the district board appointed co-interim Superintendent Jody Pendland to the position permanently.

The report called for the state Department of Education to audit the district and recommended the district update its policies to prevent the possibility of someone taking advantage of outdated rules.

District officials plan to implement those suggestions, according to a statement signed by Pendland and co-interim Superintendent Rhett Harris.

The findings gave a road map for the Districts leadership team and the Board to improve its delivery of a quality education, the statement reads.

Superintendent Ellen Weaver has received the report, a department spokesperson confirmed Thursday.

She looks forward to working on any remediation needed with the school district, spokesperson Laura Bayne said in an email.

Overspending

Stanley stainless steel tumblers, steak dinners and electronic picture frames were among expenses charged to an account intended for student meals, the investigation found.

In the Laurens County district, where 78% of students live in poverty, the federal government pays to cover the cost of student meals, as well as the labor and maintenance needed to support them.

That includes one free meal for cafeteria workers per shift, according to state rules.

But Laurens County staff used $12,600 to pay for birthday meals and end-of-year dinners at sit-down restaurants including Saskatoon Steaks Fish and Wild Game in Greenville and the Arizona Handcrafted Fare and Drink Company in Simpsonville, the investigation found.

Staff members spent another $8,500 on gift cards and giveaways, investigators found.

Keeping up with the rules about what is and isnt covered by federal programs like that one can be difficult, McCravy said.

In some cases, the report pointed out, employees interviewed did not seem to know or understand the districts financial policies, leading them to misuse money without realizing it.

Theres so much officials have to comply with, its an incredible task, McCravy said.

Other problems came from a lack of policies on how to use district money and lax enforcement of policies that did exist, according to the report.

For instance, the district reimbursed employees for over $36,000 worth of expenses that did not follow district policy, such as trips taken without the proper approvals. In some cases, the district did not provide the forms employees were supposed to fill out before taking a trip, adding to the confusion.

With rare exception, anything received by the Finance Department was reimbursed to the employee without question or ensuring compliance with the districts policies, the report reads.

District policies require a traveling teacher or staff member to try to find the cheapest hotel room possible within reason, such as booking in a block at a discounted rate for a conference. But employees either didnt know about that policy or ignored it, according to the report.

Kingston Plantation Resort, in particular, was a favorite among teachers traveling to Myrtle Beach for professional development conferences. Often, the beachfront condos were their first choice, and the district spent a total of $45,500 there over the course of two years.

Officials using purchasing cards, also known as p-cards, also ignored the districts reporting policies. During the investigation period, they charged over $46,000 to the district cards without getting the correct approvals or providing documentation, the investigation found.

The district p-card policies were part of the problem, as they were murky.

For example, the policy says nothing about gift cards. The district spent $47,000 on gift cards in four years, despite repeated warnings from the districts chief financial officer not to do so.

Much of that came from a program known as Spirit of 55, in which one teacher and one staff member each month received a $55 gift card. The former superintendent also liked to give higher-ups $50 gift cards as birthday presents.

Investigators also found a general culture and expectation of providing food at meetings, adding up to more than $201,700 over four years for staff meals.

One official acknowledged the district spent more than its policies might allow on food but told auditors that culture drives everything, and offering meals during meetings rewarded hard-working teachers and administrators.

State Inspector General Brian Lamkin called the spending excessive. Auditors suggested the district tighten up its policies and enforcement, as well as trim costs that arent needed.

We need to be careful with taxpayer money, McCravy said.

Contract workers

Between July 2020 and January 2024, the district failed to execute basic contract management, according to the report, paying more than $531,000 to three vendors without official contracts.

Contracts are in place to protect the district, giving officials a baseline for services and payment rates they can use to make sure the company is doing the work the district is paying for, the investigator wrote.

The execution of a contract enables the District to establish agreed upon terms for service and ensures the prescribed terms are met before payment is made to the vendor, the report reads.

Without them, the inspector generals office could not determine whether the money was spent appropriately, so the report deemed it wasteful.

Even in the case of established contracts, the district spent more than it should have, the report found.

For instance, officials hired a speech language pathologist assistant in October 2022 at a rate of $55 per hour, according to the contract the district signed. For the next seven months, however, the district paid the assistant $75 per hour.

That extra $20 per hour added up to $11,105, which the report suggested the district should try to get back.

Officials also included contract workers in district-wide bonuses, even though school board members intended the money only for teachers and other workers employed directly by the district, board members told investigators.

Altogether, contract workers received more than $63,400 in bonuses not required in their contracts between 2020 and 2024.

Uncertified teachers

Investigators found that an uncertified speech therapist had been teaching at the district, using a speech pathology license registered to someone with a similar name and another persons teaching certificate.

Once the districts special education director realized the speech therapist did not have the state-required license, the employee was barred from the districts campuses. The contractor responsible for hiring the worker with fake credentials fired the person and reimbursed the district for that workers time in classrooms, according to the report.

The contractor should have checked that the person was legitimately licensed, and the district handled the problem correctly, the report found.

What it did not handle correctly were the teachers it knew to be uncertified for the grade level or subject area they were teaching, according to the report.

Under state law, a district is required to notify a parent if their child is being taught for four weeks or longer by a teacher without the proper certifications.

The Laurens County district had 103 instances of teachers without correct certifications teaching between 2020 and 2024. Officials sent out only 15 letters to parents in that time. The human resources department told principals to send out the letters but did not follow up to make sure they did, according to the report.

After the inspector generals office pointed this out to district officials, they sent out letters for this school years uncertified teachers in April, a month before classes ended.

The district also failed to report uncertified teachers to the state. Instead, it partnered them with certified teachers, who officials then reported as the primary teachers in a classroom, even if they were not.

Administrative staff told auditors they thought they were not allowed to report uncertified teachers. The inspector generals office suggested they follow state regulations in the future to avoid the appearance of circumventing state and federal requirements regarding the disclosure of teaching assignments of uncertified teachers, the report reads.

Once the district adopts the changes laid out in the report, it will be able to improve those problems, McCravy said.

This will benefit the district in the long run, McCravy said.

The post Mismanagement and overspending but no fraud in SC school district, inspector general finds appeared first on SC Daily Gazette.
UPDATE 6/3/24 10:53 a.m.  The Columbus Police Department announced Kimora Bonner has been located and is safe.

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  The Columbus Police is asking for locals help to locate a missing 15-year-old girl who was last seen 16 days ago in south Columbus.

Police say Kimora Bonner was last seen near Simmons Avenue at 6 p.m. on May 16. At the time of her disappearance, Columbus Police said she wore a dark blue GAP jacket, black leggings, black socks, and black slides.

CPD urges anyone with information concerning Bonners disappearance to contact 911, CPDs Special Victims Unit at 706-225-3165, or lead investigator detective K. Maymi at 706-225-4173.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
DAVIE COUNTY, N.C. (WGHP)  A woman and the man suspected of her possible kidnapping have been found dead, according to the Davie County Sheriffs Office.

An Ashanti Alert was issued for Cynthia Cindy Roberson Gobble, 60, of Mocksville, on Thursday after she reportedly disappeared from a home in Mocksville. The suspect was identified as Gregory Wayne Gobble, 59, of Mocksville.

The family said that it was odd for her to be out of touch for this long, and her personal belongings were found in her vehicle.

Citizens are asked to be on the lookout for Cynthia Roberson Gobble. There is evidence of physical endangerment, abduction or kidnapping, the alert read.

On Friday, the Davie County Sheriffs Office said Cynthia and Gregory Gobble were found dead in a wooded area on the Iredell County side of the Iredell-Davie line. The sheriffs office did not release additional information about the state or context in which they were found.

Iredell County and Davie County detectives are currently processing the scene, the sheriffs office said. We do not suspect that any other persons were involved in this incident and there is no continuing danger to members of the public.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Mississippi man files lawsuit alleging he was beaten by a member of the Goon Squad and others

A Mississippi man has come forward saying he was beaten by a known member of the Goon Squad and other law enforcement officers, according to a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday.

The lawsuit alleges Brett McAlpin  a former Rankin County deputy and a member of the Goon Squad who is serving 27 years in prison for brutalizing two Black men  as well as Deputy Ricky Davis and seven unidentified deputies and trustees beat Christopher Mack for 45 minutes while he was in their custody at the Rankin County Jail. Rankin County is also named as a defendant in the lawsuit.

Mack was transported to the jail on May 27, 2021, after being arrested in the city of Pearl, the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit alleges McAlpin, along with another deputy, tried to interrogate Mack about information he had about drugs and gangs.

Mack exercised his Constitutional right to remain silent, the lawsuit said.

Mack was then hit in the back of the head with a set of heavy steel jail keys, by a deputy who was not fully identified, according to the filing. McAlpin then joined the deputy and Ricky Davis in beating Mack.

According to the lawsuit, after the three deputies beat Mack, he was then dragged by the officers into Central Pod 6 where six unknown officers, and/or trustees  beat Mack for forty-five minutes.

As a result of the beating, Mack says he sustained broken ribs, a broken nose and was throwing up blood. Photos of the purported injuries were also part of the court filing.

Once Mack was released from the hospital (Rankin County) Sheriff Bryan Bailey asked Mack Who did that to you? Mack responded, some of your other deputies and trusties. Sheriff Bailey replied, F*ck!! and walked off, according to the lawsuit.

McAlpin was the highest ranking of six law enforcement officers who pleaded guilty in 2023 to beating and torturing two black men, Michael Jenkins and Eddie Parker. McAlpin and the others, who had previously worked for the Rankin County Sheriffs department, were part of a group that called themselves the Goon Squad because of their willingness to use excessive force and not report it, according to a federal charging document.

McAlpin is incarcerated at Federal Correctional Institution McDowell in southern West Virginia for the incident involving Jenkins and Parker. He is appealing his sentence, according to court filings.

During the sentencing, federal prosecutors compared McAlpin to a mafia don, saying, Without McAlpin, the Goon Squad would not exist. He was the one calling the shots.

None of those named in the civil lawsuit have been criminally charged with beating Mack.

An attorney for Rankin County declined to comment on the allegations.

CNN has reached out to the attorney for the sheriffs department about the lawsuit and the incident involving Mack but has not received any comment.

CNN has been unsuccessful in attempts to reach those fully identified in lawsuit.

CNN also reached out to the office of Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi Todd W. Gee, the prosecutors who secured the pleas against the Goon Squad. The state attorney general did not respond, and Gee declined to comment.

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On the night of May 31, Russian troops once again attacked Kharkiv with ballistic missiles. Russian terrorists hit an apartment building in the middle of the night. Six people were killed.

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A fire broke out and there was destruction. This was reported by Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov. The first explosions occurred at about 23:50, and at 00:15 repeated explosions were heard.

As Terekhov wrote, two arrivals were recorded in the area of dense residential buildings. According to preliminary information, the second arrivals were to the same place as the first.

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As of 04:00, 23 people have been reported injured as a result of Russian shelling. Among them are two children  a boy and a girl aged 12  and an emergency medical worker.

The head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, reported on Telegram that the enemy had again used double-strike tactics while medics, rescuers, and law enforcement officers were already working at the scene.

According to preliminary data, the occupiers fired S-300 missiles in the Novobavarskyi district of Kharkiv. All the hits were to civilian infrastructure.

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The Kharkiv regional prosecutor's office later reported that more than 20 multi-story residential buildings were damaged and a private enterprise was destroyed.

At 07:25 in the morning, the State Emergency Service reported that five fire centers had appeared at the site of the attack at different addresses with a total area of about 1200 square meters. The explosions damaged residential buildings, outbuildings, vehicles, private businesses, and commercial facilities.

One of the rockets hit a five-story residential building, destroying the structures from the 3rd to the 5th floors of one of the entrances. A fire broke out over an area of 80 square meters. Rescuers rescued six people from the dilapidated building, including one child. A missile strike on Kharkiv killed three people and injured at least 24 others.

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Emergency search operations at the site of the destroyed residential building continue.

At 07:56, the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, Oleh Syniehubov, said that the number of victims of the enemy attack had increased to 25 people, and three people were killed.

According to him, at 23:50, enemy rocket attacks took place in several locations:

 A five-story residential building: the 3rd to 5th floors were partially destroyed, and a fire broke out. Two people were killed and 25 people were injured, including two children  a boy and a girl aged 12.

Also, a fire truck and an ambulance were damaged as a result of the repeated shelling at 00:15.

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 A man born in 1959 was killed when a rocket hit the ground on the territory of a civilian enterprise.

Another missile hit a three-story administrative building. Currently, the consequences of the enemy shelling are being eliminated.

As of 08:20, Oleh Syniehubov reported that the number of victims had increased to 4.

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"Unfortunately, another body was found in the destroyed house. At the moment, there are four dead," he said in a statement.

At 09:30, the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration announced that the number of victims had increased to five.

"The death toll has increased, another body of a man has been unblocked from the rubble. In total, five people died during the night of the Russian terrorist attack. The rescue and search operation continues. All services are working at the scene," said Syniehubov.

As of 3:19 p.m., the Kharkiv Regional Prosecutor's Office reported that the death toll in Kharkiv had risen to six.

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According to Serhiy Bolvinov, head of the Investigative Department of the Kharkiv Regional Police, the victims of the Russian strike include a mother and daughter. The 69-year-old woman, who lived on the fifth floor of the building destroyed by the Russian strike, and her 39-year-old daughter, who stayed overnight, were thrown out of the apartment by the explosion. The mother was found in the morning, and her daughter was discovered a few hours later. The woman's body was so mutilated that DNA testing will be required to confirm her identity.

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At 16:24, the Kharkiv regional police said that the bodies of a 69-year-old woman and an unidentified man were found at night. In the morning, a 29-year-old resident of the house was found, and a few hours later, rescuers retrieved the bodies of a 39-year-old woman and a 41-year-old man. Another man, born in 1959, died not far from the site of the second missile hit on the territory of a private enterprise.

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Missouri House Chief Clerk Dana Miller speaks Friday outside of the Cole County Courthouse about a lawsuit filed against Speaker Dean Plocher. (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent)

The top staff member of the Missouri House filed a lawsuit Friday accusing Speaker Dean Plocher and his chief of staff, Rod Jetton, of harassment and intimidation during battles over ethics charges and hiring decisions.

House Chief Clerk Dana Millers lawsuit follows months allegations about misconduct by Plocher and a House Ethics Committee investigation that ultimately was dismissed as the chairwoman released documents accusing Plocher of obstructed an investigation

In her lawsuit, filed in Cole County Circuit Court, Miller cited the statute protecting whistleblowers from retaliation as the basis of her complaint. Miller, who is a nonpartisan officer elected by all 163 members of the House, said during a news conference that she did not intend to seek another term when a newly elected House is seated in January.

We have a culture of fear now in that building with the staff that work there, and its time for me to speak up and say something, Miller said.

Neither Plocher nor Jetton could be reached by telephone Friday. The House Communications staff was unable to immediately provide a response to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit seeks an order finding Plocher, a Republican, violated Millers rights, to direct him to stop and award her monetary damages for suffering emotional and mental distress, embarrassment, humiliation, and loss of enjoyment of life.

The lawsuit, which names the House, Plocher and Jetton as defendants, cites disputes between Miller and Plocher that began last year when the speaker was pushing for the purchase of expensive constituent communication software. In the lawsuit, Miller accuses Plocher of pushing for the purchase because it would mean large donations for his statewide campaign for lieutenant governor and access to communications to the House for campaign use.

Dana Miller Unredacted Whistleblower Lawsuit

Until she opposed the purchase because it was too expensive and duplicated internal House-created systems, she had a good working relationship with Plocher, Miller said.

I got along with the speaker until I told him no, Miller said.

Miller has worked in state government for 31 years, with 23 years as a member of the House staff. She became chief clerk in 2018.

I care about that institution, Miller said. I care about the house. I care about the people who work in the house and they just want to be able to do their jobs.

The lawsuit is being filed, Miller and her attorney, Kevin Baldwin said, because obstruction and intimidation by Plocher and Jetton scuttled an ethics inquiry of Plocher. An investigators report detailed how some potential witnesses allegedly refused to speak out of fear Plocher would use his power as speaker to retaliate against them, while others did not appear because Plocher decided who the committee could compel to testify. And Plocher refused to cooperate with the attorney hired to collect evidence for the committee.

Lori Hughes, director of administration for the Missouri House, sent an email March 5 to Ethics Committee Chairwoman Hannah Kelly where she detailed events over several months that she said were designed to intimidate her and other nonpartisan legislative employees.

In my over 21 years of state government service, I have never witnessed or even been involved in such a hostile work environment that is so horrible that I am living in fear every day of losing my job, Hughes wrote in the March 5 email to the committee chair.

In her court filing, Miller goes into deeper detail about the events surrounding the ethics inquiry than had previously been made public.

Plochers troubles spilled out into the public in September, when The Independent obtained emails from Miller that stated she was worried Plocher had engaged in unethical and perhaps unlawful conduct as part of the months-long push for the contract to a company called Fireside to manage constituent information.

Miller had been pushing back on the purchase plan but Plocher was determined to get it in place.

During a discussion with state Rep. Dale Wright, chair of the Administration and Accounts Committee, the lawsuit states, Wright told her he had concerns that Speaker Plochers push to purchase Fireside was directly related to a large campaign donation he expected.

A month after reporting on the software contract, The Independent also reported that Plocher had, on numerous occasions over the last five years, illegally sought taxpayer reimbursement from the legislature for airfare, hotels and other travel costs already paid for by his campaign.

The lawsuit states that Plochers demands for reimbursements was another point of contention between him and Miller.

In October, the lawsuit states, Miller met with Plochers then-chief of staff Kenny Ross, who told her that Plochers campaign consultants, David Barklage and Jon Ratliff, believed she was leaking negative information to the media and wanted her to back off.

Within a month, Ross had been fired. The lawsuit states Ratliff told Ross the reason was because he didnt stop Danagate.

Ross has previously declined requests from The Independent to discuss his dismissal.

The allegations in the lawsuit are not based on hearsay or conjecture, said Baldwin.

Everything thats in there can be substantiated through emails, recordings, allegations, threats and things that have been said, he said. Theyre not simply the statements of Dana Miller, but they are supported by documentary evidence.

Jetton said to Miller in a meeting he was there to make peace between Miller and Plocher, the lawsuit states, and Jetton said Plocher was seeing a lot of ghosts and he felt that he could get things calmed down.

The relationship soured, Miller said at the news conference, when she tried to protect another employee from retaliation.

When I took some steps to protect a particular employee who was in a very vulnerable position, that changed and it changed overnight, Miller said.

The lawsuit details a Dec. 21 meeting between Jetton, Plocher, Wright, House General Counsel Bryan Scheiderer and Danyale Bryant, a staffer of the accounts committee.

At the meeting, the lawsuit states, Jetton said to Bryant that they needed to choke the Chief Clerks authority. Bryant said Jetton made a physical choking gesture with both hands as he made this statement. This event particularly concerned Plaintiff given the prior allegations against Jetton for his alleged physical assault on a woman.

Plocher hired Jetton, himself a former House speaker from southeast Missouri, despite a past that included pleading guilty to assault after a sexual encounter where Jetton was accused of choking a woman until she passed out and admissions from Jetton that he became addicted to alcohol and the power inherent in the speakers office.

The lawsuit also describes instances of Plochers attitudes toward women, noting that she counseled him in May 2022, when Plocher was House Majority Leader, about complaints from female House members.

Plaintiff had also overheard Plocher refer to State Representative Sara Walsh as stupid in the House Chamber during a session of the House, the lawsuit states. Rep. Plochers reaction to Plaintiffs sharing of those concerns was to be dismissive. He replied, They are like an invasive species. When Plaintiff expressed her confusion over that statement, then Rep. Plocher clarified, Stupid Republican womenthey are an invasive species.

Walsh, an Ashland Republican, was a House member from 2017 until 2023. In a text message to The Independent, Walsh confirmed that Plocher had called her stupid when she tried to get the House to repeal a fuel tax enacted in 2021.

Plocher was upset that I introduced the amendment to repeal the gas tax hike and he said I was too stupid to draft it myself, Walsh wrote.

In a statement, Miller said the ethics investigation of Plocher failed because of his obstruction.

What I have discovered is that the very mechanism that is designed to find the truth has failed, she said. You have heard the chair and vice chair speak of obstruction that limited their ability to complete a full and thorough investigation.

Holly VanOstran, one of the attorneys assisting on the case, said she had worked in human resources and she was appalled by the conditions Miller and other House employees have endured.

Things that would never be tolerated in a corporate environment have been allowed to run rampant here, VanOstran said. There are politicians who believe that theyre above the law and that they cant be held accountable for their actions.

This article has been updated to correct the human resources role held by VanOstran.

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NEW YORK  The jury in Donald Trumps criminal hush money trial has found the former president guilty of all 34 felony counts against him.

Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, making him the first former president to be convicted of a felony.

Missouri and Illinois politicians have shared the following statements on the verdict:

Missouri

Missouri U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley

This trial has been from beginning to end a complete and total sham, a mockery of the criminal justice system, and one of the most dangerous abuses of our political process in American history.

Not since the Alien and Sedition Acts in the 1790s has a president tried to CRIMINALIZE his political opposition. Congrats, Joe Biden. Youre the worst president ever

If you thought it couldnt happen in America, you were wrong.

Missouri U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt

Soviet-style show trials have predictable results.

What happened in New York today is no different.

The American people will reject this unprecedented lawfare in November.

Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey

I am outraged by the sham verdict finding President [Donald Trump] guilty on all counts. This is the result of a rigged system, where the judge manipulated the process to turn jurors against President Trump.

Donald Trump is an America First patriot who has tirelessly worked for the good of the American public. I refuse to stand idly by while this gross injustice unfolds. This politically motivated attack is an outrage. The Democrats have left a permanent scar on this country with their blatant witch hunt. I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure President Trumps good name is cleared in this outrageous weaponization of our justice system.

Enough is enough.

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft

A dark day in America. Joe Biden has weaponized the justice system to go after one of the greatest Presidents in our history. The democrats are trying to steal another election. This lawfare must not stand. This wont stop [Donald Trump] from winning. APPEAL!

Illinois

Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker

Donald Trump is a racist, a homophobe, a grifter, and a threat to this country. He can now add one more title to his list  a felon.

Illinois State Rep. Mike Bost

New Yorks six-week sham trial against President Trump has eroded the publics trust in our legal system in a way that will take years to overcome.

The trial, along with all the character attacks, campaign interference and Hollywood cameos that surrounded it, had one purpose: to weaken President Trump before the 2024 election. It wont work.

Even after todays verdict, he is strengthened with an American public that is fed up with liberals weaponizing the legal system for their partisan political gain.

This is a developing story Check back for additional statements.

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Missouri man accused of threatening to shoot up pain clinic after he was told he had no appointment

JASPER COUNTY, Mo.  A Sarcoxie man is facing a criminal charge after a threatening call to a local medical facility.

Arnulfo Arredondo, 83, is accused of making a terrorist threat earlier this month. Court documents show it started with a call to the Mercy Carthage Pain Management Clinic to confirm an appointment.

But he was told he didnt have one and would have to schedule one through the VA.

Arredondo then allegedly made threats, with the probable cause statement saying he would bring a shotgun to the pain clinic and shoot everyone and that they would not know when it was going to happen.

The call led authorities to a lockdown at Mercy Carthage but no further action was taken.

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Children made up 56% of the net decline in Medicaid enrollment between June 2023 and April 2024 (Joe Raedle/Getty Images).

Missouris Medicaid enrollment has shrunk by around 200,000 people since last summer, as the state continues the process of undoing a COVID-era pause on eligibility checks.

The federal suspension on annual renewals expired last year and since then, states have been undergoing the process of re-verifying each participants eligibility.

From June to April, Missouris net enrollment in Medicaid  which is also called MO HealthNet  dropped by 197,525 people.

Over half  56%  of that net decline was among children, according to recent state data and analysis by the Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy & Economics Research at Washington University in St. Louis. There were 110,938 kids who lost coverage in that period.

The number of kids being removed has been a source of concern over the last few months among advocates. Although kids make up around half of the states caseload, they are also eligible at much higher household income level than adults.

As the state evaluates hundreds of thousands of current Medicaid recipients each month and processes their updated information, it continues to receive new applications.

Federal data released earlier this month showed Missouris application processing times have been among the worst in the nation.

Medicaid applications are generally required to be reviewed within 45 days. Nationwide, most applications were processed within 24 hours last year.

Missouri and New Mexico had the highest rates of late Medicaid determinations last year, according to the federal data, which covers October through December.

In December, more than half of Missouris applications took longer than 45 days to process.

Long processing times can mean low-resource and low-income patients must delay or forego needed medical care and prescriptions.

And Missouri has struggled to meet that limit in the past: In summer 2022, the federal government initiated a mitigation plan with the state to get the wait time down.

At the quarterly MO HealthNet Oversight Committee meeting last week, chair Nick Pfannenstiel, a dentist, raised concerns about processing times.

Pfannenstiel said as a provider, he has been told by state eligibility workers that the current average processing time is 60 to 90 days. Though he knows the state is working to fix those delays, thats causing a lot of frustration, not necessarily from a provider standpoint only but from a patient standpoint.

Todd Richardson, director of MO HealthNet, said that there are a number of strategies and a lot of focus right now trying to bring that back down to the 45 day window that is federally mandated.

Part of the issue is the agency is receiving a large number of applications, Richardson added.

From November to mid-January, during open enrollment season for the federal insurance marketplace, the state generally sees an uptick in Medicaid applications and then a decline and plateau, he said.

We are not seeing that now, Richardson said. [Family Support Division] is continuing to experience a high number of daily new applications, and as a result, you can see that increase in the number of pending applications that we have.

The number of pending applications reached nearly 53,000 in January and stands at just under 18,000 as of April.

I know [Family Support Division] has been working exhaustively, trying to bring that number of pending applications down and I know theyve had some success, he said, but there will continue to be kind of an intense review on the states part to make sure that were getting those applications as current as we possibly can.

Baylee Watts, DSS communications director, said the division has focused its staff and resources on processing applications that have exceeded 45 days and continues training staff across several programs and strategically reallocating staff to manage the workload effectively.

There can be issues when a patient is on Medicaid but needs to change the category of coverage they qualify for, Pfannenstiel also noted, referring to a patient trying to convert to postpartum Medicaid as causing providers confusion as to whether the person is eligible for services.

A patient previously told the Independent she spent more than a month just trying to switch from adult Medicaid to Medicaid for Pregnant Women. In the meantime, she didnt go to any doctors appointments.

Richardson said it is currently a manual process for state workers to move Medicaid participants into the postpartum category. Since last year, women can receive postpartum coverage for a full year rather than 60 days.

It is also a manual process for children to receive whats called continuous eligibility, which went into effect this year after it was federally required. That policy allows kids to stay insured for the full year after they are renewed, rather than be potentially stripped of coverage between renewals, due to something like temporary changes in income.

There are system changes to automate those processes planned for June, Richardson said.

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Attorneys for a man facing a June 11 execution date have asked Missouri Gov. Mike Parson to grant clemency to the 69-year-old veteran.

David Hosier was sentenced to death in 2013 for the murder of Angela Gilpin, 45. She and her husband, Rodney Gilpin, 61, were found dead Sept. 28, 2009, in the hallway of her Jefferson City apartment building.

Angela Gilpin and Hosier had been in a relationship before she ended up reconciling with her husband.

In a 19-page clemency petition, Hosiers legal team says his life should be spared because he suffered a life-changing trauma as a teen when his father was killed in the line of duty as a police officer. They argued Hosier has a record of public service and has suffered recent health problems.

David Russell Hosier grew up in Indiana. He was 16 when his father, a state trooper, was shot and killed while attempting to apprehend a murder suspect.

David poses no threat to anyone else and executing an elderly man with heart failure does nothing to further the interests of justice, his attorneys said in the clemency application.

Additionally, before he went to trial, prosecutors presented a plea offer of life in prison without parole, which Hosier rejected.

It seems that if the prosecutor thought such a sentence was appropriate given all the facts, such a sentence should now be seriously considered, the petition said.

Hosiers attorneys met with Parsons office this week.

Governor Parson will review the case alongside his legal team and make his decision regarding clemency, said Johnathan Shiflett, a spokesman for the governors office. We will announce the Governors decision once it is made, typically at least 24 hours prior to the scheduled execution date.

Parson has denied clemency in all 10 of the death penalty cases that have come across his desk. The state has executed five people since January 2023, including a man in April.

We remain hopeful

As a boy, Hosier was particularly close to his father, Glen Hosier. They hunted and camped together, and went on ride-alongs in Glen Hosiers patrol car.

When his father was shot in April 1971, the trajectory of David Hosiers life changed. His mother was dealing with her own grief and wasnt able to help her children through that emotional time, the petition said. David Hosier would sit by his fathers grave at night and cry, his family said.

David would not be here but for the tragic murder of his father in the line of duty, the petition said.

David Hosier, right, with his parents Glen and Martha in April 1971, two days before his father was shot.

After his fathers death, David Hosier was sent to military school, where he was socially isolated.

At 19, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He served six years, including in the naval communications unit where he had Top Secret clearance, the petition said.

After he was honorably discharged, he became a firefighter in Jefferson City.

Around 1986, Hosiers mental health began to deteriorate. He was diagnosed with depression with psychotic features and bipolar disorder during an involuntary stay at a state hospital.

In 1992, he was arrested for battering his then-girlfriend. He was sentenced to eight years in prison and paroled in 1997.

Ten years later, he suffered a stroke which resulted in brain damage, according to the petition. Jurors were provided medical records about the stroke, but no experts testified. Four jurors that Hosiers legal team spoke to said more information would have helped them decide the sentence.

The clemency application also said Hosier has had four violations since he arrived in prison in 2013 and has qualified for the Honor Dorm for much of his incarceration.

We remain hopeful that Gov. Parson will spare the life of a veteran so close to Memorial Day, Hosiers attorney Jeremy Weis said.
Mobile man turns himself in for alleged involvement in March apartment shooting

MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG)  A Mobile man has turned himself over to police in connection with a March shooting that left a male victim with non-life-threatening injuries.

Woman accused of stealing from Belk twice: Mobile Police

Lorenzo Marco Harris, 18, turned himself in on Wednesday in connection with the shooting.

Lorenzo Marco Harris (Photo courtesy of the Mobile County Sheriffs Office)

According to MPD, officers responded to a shooting at 6964 Airport Blvd., Linx Apartments.

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Officers said they learned at the scene that the male victim was shot following a dispute with another person.

Their injuries were non-life-threatening.

Harris faces charges including first-degree assault, tampering with physical evidence and attempting to elude.

Hes scheduled to appear in court on Friday for a bond hearing.

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Mobilization in Ukraine ramps up as new law comes into effect, Zelensky says

After a new mobilization law in Ukraine came into effect in late-May, the number of soldiers enlisted has increased, President Volodymyr Zelensky said at a press conference in Stockholm on May 31.

Ukraine's parliament adopted an updated mobilization law in mid-April in order to ramp up mobilization amid Russia's ongoing war. The new law simplifies the process for identifying eligible conscripts and included additional penalties for those dodging the draft.

Another law, signed by the president just before the mobilization law was passed, lowered the minimum age of compulsory military service from 27 to 25.

Speaking to the press conference, Zelensky said that the country has "never stopped mobilizing" since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, but that mobilization "has increased" after the law came into effect.

The president did not provide any figures as to how many new conscripts had been mobilized.

According to the law, all military-aged men, with some exceptions, must update their military documents within 60 days from May 18 at public service centers and enlistment offices, or via the online application Rezerv+. Over 1 million men have updated military documents through the application as of May 31.

Technologically, everyone can register today... This does not mean that all these people will be mobilized, Zelensky added.

Moscow's troops launched a new offensive into northeastern Kharkiv Oblast through the Russo-Ukrainian border on May 10, which has reportedly been halted by the first line of defense.

Russia is also forming another grouping of forces near Ukraine's northern border, according to Zelensky. The Ukrainian military did not rule out a similar Russian offensive in Sumy Oblast.

Read also: Ukraine is digitalizing its military ahead of a new mobilization wave

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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW)  South Carolina leaders are reacting after former President Donald Trump was found guilty Thursday on all 34 counts in his Manhattan hush money case.

South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, Sen. Lindsay Graham and Attorney General Alan Wilson were among those who reacted in support of Trump.

The decision to bring charges against President Trump was fueled by political motivations instead of the rule of law, Wilson said. I believe these charges would never have been pursued against anyone not named Trump, which makes a mockery of the judicial systems and causes the public to doubt the integrity of all prosecutors. The jury has made its decision, and now Ill be one of the first in the fight in support of Trumps appeal.

The American people understand that this trial was nothing more than a political attack on President Trump, McMaster said in a post on X, formerly Twitter. We will respond decisively at the ballot box in November and return him to the White House.

Graham released a more lengthy statement, calling the verdict a mockery of justice.

I expect this case to be reversed on appeal. The outcome of this case should surprise no one.

This verdict says more about the system than the allegations. It will be seen as politically motivated and unfair, and it will backfire tremendously on the political Left. The Manhattan legal system has become a joke in every sense of the word. This is a mockery of justice. I fear we have opened up Pandoras box on the presidency itself.

Not everyone was in support of the former president, however, with current President Joe Bidens campaign saying that no one is above the law.

Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality, Bidens campaign said. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.

Trumps sentencing is set for July 11.

* * *

Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

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A Muslim woman is casting her vote in the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) at a polling station during the sixth phase of the Indian General Elections in New Delhi, India, on May 26, 2024. Credit - Kabir JhangianiNurPhoto/Getty Images

More than two years have passed since a picture of me, picked up from my personal social media handles, was put up with a price tag for auction on the internet. It was part of a website called Bulli Bai, a religious slur used for Muslim women in India.

Why was I targeted? Likely because of my reporting. The perpetrators wanted to shame and humiliate a journalist who was determined to expose the failures of the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Partys gender, caste, and religion-based violence. But more importantly, they wanted to shut up a Muslim woman who had dared to be vocal in Modis India.

When the photo was posted, I wondered how the main perpetrator, a 21-year-old student from Assam, who created Bulli Bai could be so consumed by his hatred that he felt compelled to auction Muslim women online for their outspoken criticism of the BJPjournalists, social workers, actors, and politicians. A recent meeting with my lawyer about my case against the Bulli Bai creators, who are still being investigated by the Delhi police, was a painful reminder of the targeted harassment faced by outspoken Muslim voices critical of the ruling BJP.

As the ongoing election in India is set to finish on June 1, it has once again offered deeper insight into how political dialogue is fueling this culture of hate.

Particularly, the political campaign of Prime Minister Narendra Modis BJP has leaned into anti-Muslim sentiment, progressively making Islamophobia one of the defining features of this election.

It was most prominently on display when Modi, in a thinly veiled reference to Muslims, referred to the 200 million Indian Muslim population as infiltrators at a BJP campaign rally while addressing voters in the Western state of Rajasthan on April 21. The Prime Minister also accused the opposition Congress party of planning to distribute the countrys wealth to Muslims.

Modi, in his speech, asked, Earlier, when his [ former Prime Minister and Congress Party member Manmohan Singhs] government was in power, he had said that Muslims have the first right on the countrys property, which means who they will collect this property and distribute it tothose who have more children, will distribute it to the infiltrators. Will the money of your hard work be given to the infiltrators? Do you approve of this?

Read More: How Indias Hindu Nationalists Are Weaponizing History Against Muslims

This 2006 statement by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh emphasizing that minorities, particularly Muslims, should have the first claim on resources to help uplift their socio-economic status, has been often quoted out of context in political rhetoric, distorting its original intent to uplift marginalized communities.

The reemergence of conspiracy theories like Love Jihad, alleging a covert agenda by Muslim men to ensnare and convert Hindu women, by Modi, has surged back into public attention, prominently surfacing at an election rally on May 28, days before the seventh and last phase of the ongoing elections, in the Eastern state of Jharkhand.

The alarming rhetoric about Muslim population growth too have dominated the election discourse, fueled by the BJP's top leader, Modi, who has been criticized for his Islamophobic remarks, evoking memories of Gujarat's 2002 riots. While he later denied singling out Muslims in an interview with an Indian news channel, his history of linking them to population growth fuels a Hindu-majoritarian conspiracy theory.

Following the 2002 anti-Muslim riots in Gujarat during his tenure as chief minister, Modi faced scrutiny regarding his administration's lack of assistance to relief camps, predominantly established by non-profit organizations and Muslim communities. During a campaign rally, Modi then insinuated that these camps might transform into "baby factories," implying that Muslims could potentially have families as large as 25 children.

In his Jharkhand rally in May of this year, Modi spoke of "unseen enemies" working to divide society and claimed that the opposition parties were playing into the hands of infiltrators. He warned against "Zalim (cruel) love," alluding to Love Jihad.

As the elections progressed, Modis speeches transformed slowly from issues such as development to anti-Muslim rhetoric. Unlike previous elections, Modi's campaign strategy this time has shifted towards overt Hindu-Muslim politics, drawing attention to his past record and raising concerns among Indian Muslims, as evidenced by the Election Commission's intervention in a campaign video by the BJP inciting hatred against Muslims.

The video, shared by BJP Karnataka wing with a cautionary message in Kannada, depicted a cartoon version of Congresss Rahul Gandhi placing an egg marked "Muslims" into a nest alongside smaller eggs labeled with categories such as "Scheduled Castes," "Scheduled Tribes," and "Other Backward Castes. The narrative unfolds as the "Muslim" hatchling is shown being nourished with financial resources, eventually growing larger and displacing the other hatchlings from the nestimplying that a Congress government will give away all resources to Muslims.

This came days after another animated video shared by the BJPs official Instagram handle was removed on May 1 after a large number of users of the platform reported the video for false information and hate speech. The video repeats the BJPs rhetoric on the Congress party, who they allege areempowering people who belong to the very same community [of] invaders, terrorists, robbers and thieves [who] used to loot all our treasures while the voice-over says, If Congress comes to power, it will snatch all the money and wealth from non-Muslims and distribute them among Muslims, their favorite community.

Despite its controversial content, the video amassed over 100 thousand likes before being removed.

Both videos come after claims by Modi during his campaign speeches that Congress was planning to steal reservations in educational institutes and government jobs among other benefits from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Castes and redistribute them to Muslims.

Modi may be the foremost leader, but he's not alone in setting the tone; other top-tier BJP leaders are also walking in his footsteps. Home Affairs Minister Amit Shah's remarks linking voting for the Congress party to "jihad" in the South Indian state of Telangana have also stirred controversy.

Read More: The Modi-fication of India Is Almost Complete

The India Hate Lab, a Washington D.C.-based group that documents hate speech against Indias religious minorities, in its report of 2023 paints a grim picture of rising hate speech incidents against Muslims, totaling 668 documented cases.

These incidents, often featuring calls for violence and spreading divisive theories, were predominantly concentrated in regions governed by the BJP, particularly during key election periods like in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Chhattisgarh. Additionally, the report highlighted stark differences in hate speech content between BJP and non-BJP-governed areas, with BJP leaders more frequently involved in non-BJP territories as they strive to expand political footholds.

When leaders resort to fear-mongering, it legitimizes the dehumanization of minorities, creating a fertile ground for extremists. This often isnt just about one app or incident. Its about the pervasive atmosphere of intolerance that such rhetoric by the BJP leaders breeds. And those who oppose this type of hate speech want to ensure that no oneregardless of their faith, gender, or castehas to live in fear of being targeted for who they are.

Modis statement received widespread criticism from the opposition, the intelligentsia community including authors, writers, scholars, academics, and the minority Muslim population of India. The Congress party even filed a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging that Modi's remarks violate electoral laws that prohibit appeals to religious sentiments. Despite public outcry and demands from activists and citizens for action, the Election Commission has so far taken no appropriate action.

Modi's Islamophobic statements, which have fueled fears over and over again among India's Muslim population, must be viewed within the broader context of his party's strategieswhich often invoke religious and communal sentiments to galvanize their voter base. And this time, the aim is to break all previous records by securing 400 plus seats in the 543 seat parliament.

If the BJP is able to secure such a huge majority in the parliament, Hindu majoritarianism will remain unchecked. The hostility towards the minorities could escalate even more, and opposition parties may bear the brunt of state agencies and crackdowns if they ask questions.

During Modis previous terms, Muslims have seen an increased marginalization and discrimination fueled by Hindu nationalist agendasranging from difficulty in securing a rented accommodation in urban cities, erasure of Muslim names from roads, cities and railway stations, to the underrepresentation in government jobs and discrimination and vandalism of shops of small Muslim vendors.

Today, India, a country which once took pride in its ganga-jamuni tehzeeba term used to refer to the fusion of Hindu-Muslim cultureshas become a global epicenter of divisive politics. While elections will come and go, the impact of the irresponsible words of Modi and the BJP will stay with the 200 million plus Muslims in the country.

These words have real and dangerous implications for the safety and security of India's Muslim population. Muslims in India currently face increased social ostracism, economic boycotts, and even physical violence. And another victory with an overwhelming majority will only mean more trouble.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
The Moldovan Parliament adopted a declaration on May 30 condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine as genocide, referring to the forced deportation of Ukrainian children.

At least 19,500 Ukrainian children have been confirmed as abducted by Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and less than 400 have been brought home, according to the Ukrainian government's Children of War database.

Sixty members of parliament, including 59 from the ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), voted in favor of the declaration. Parties with close ties with Moscow refused to participate in the vote.

"By this resolution, the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova declares that the denial of the existence of the Ukrainian nation, as well as all inhumane policies pursued by the Russian Federation against the children of Ukraine, fall under the definition of genocide, by the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide," Deputy Speaker of the Moldovan Parliament Doina Gherman said.

Regina Apostolova, a lawmaker from the opposition Sor party, accused President Maia Sandu's Party of Action and Solidarity of "double standards," saying the chamber should also condemn the suffering of children in the former Yugoslavia.

Lawmaker Radu Marian of the Party of Action and Solidarity rejected the opposition's objections.

"These (Ukrainians) are our neighbors. Thousands of Ukrainian children, refugee children, have been placed here (in Moldova)," Marian said.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Russian Presidential Commissioner for Children's Rights Maria Lvova-Belova and Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 17, 2023, over the deportation of Ukrainian children.

The 123 member states of the ICC are required to arrest Putin if he steps foot on their territory.

Putin previously praised Lvova-Belova for her work overseeing the deportation of Ukrainian children, portraying it as a so-called "humanitarian effort" to "protect Russian citizens."

Read also: Ukraine passes list of 561 Ukrainian children held in Russia to Qatar, ombudsman says

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On the afternoon of May 31, the Telegram messenger experienced a glitch. Some users complained that messages were not sent to chats.

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For some Internet users, the program worked as usual. The cause of the errors is still unknown.

According to the Downforeveryoneorjustme.com portal, users from Ukraine and neighboring Belarus complained about the failure after 15:00 on Friday.

The last significant problems with Telegram were recorded on April 27, 2024. They lasted for about an hour and were widespread.

As a reminder, in late April, it became known that Ukraine was considering adding Telegram to the list of digital platforms subject to regulation. The announcement was made after the messenger blocked Ukrainian official chatbots on April 28, which were used to transmit information from the temporarily occupied territories and track enemy actions. The Russians took advantage of the situation and quickly created their own "clones."

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Telegram justified itself and called "false positives" the reason for the blocking.

On April 29, Ukrainian official Telegram bots, which help in the fight against Russia, resumed their work.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Don't fall for fakes!
Its every man for themselves in the Wild West of the Republican Party, with convicted felon Donald Trump warning other party members to stay far away from his fundraising efforts.

The presumptive GOP presidential candidates campaign wasted no time Thursday leveraging his hush-money conviction for its fundraising efforts, raising $34.8 million in a small-dollar haul in the hours after Trump became the first former president turned convicted felon in U.S. history. In emails to his supporters, a free-walking Trump described himself as a political prisoner and questioned if the verdict would be the end of America.

But Trump has made it abundantly clear that he doesnt want any down-ballot Republicans to join his crusadefor fear that they could line their own pockets with donations that might instead have gone to him.

Any Republican elected official, candidate or party committee siphoning money from President Trumps donors are no better than Judge Merchans daughter, Trump cocampaign manager Chris LaCivita told Politico. Were keeping a list, well be checking it twice, and we arent in the spirit of Christmas.

The Trump campaign had already delivered an unusual notice to GOP vendors in April requesting that other campaigning Republicans who choose to use President Trumps name, image, and likeness share a minimum of 5 percent of their fundraising solicitations with the former president.

This includes but is not limited to sending to the house file, prospecting vendors, and advertising, LaCivita and his campaign co-manager Susie Wiles wrote in the letter.

But the ongoing money-grubbing is a stark sign for the health of the Trump campaign. Trumps previous grifts included launching a remarkably ugly sneaker and selling NFT trading cards of himself dressed in superhero costumes and astronaut suits. And, on top of maintaining some GOP megadonors post-conviction, Trump is well on his way to morphing the RNC into his personal piggy bank.

In March, he installed his daughter-in-law Lara Trump to co-run the organization alongside North Carolina GOP Chairman Michael Whatley. In an interview with Real Americas Voice, Lara Trump vaguely promised that every single penny of every dollar donated will go to causes that people care about.

But Republicans saw through that.

There will be zero money available for any candidates down ballot. Zero, Liz Mair, a Republican strategist, told USA Today at the time. All of it will be funneled into the presidential, and despite what Chris LaCivita says, Im pretty sure as much of it as can be will actually be funneled into covering Trump lawsuit costs.
Montana Sen. Steve Daines speaks to reporters after being elected to Republican leadership in the U.S. Senate on Nov. 16, 2022. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt of States Newsroom).

WASHINGTON  U.S. Republican Sen. Steve Daines of Montana is blocking the nomination of a lawyer who, if confirmed by the Senate, would be the first Native American to serve as a federal judge in the state.

Daines objected to the White Houses nomination of Danna Jackson, a tribal attorney for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes in Pablo, Montana, because the Biden administration did not consult with him prior to her nomination, Rachel Dumke, a spokesperson for Daines, said in an email to States Newsroom.

Daines did not return his blue slip on Jacksons nomination to the Senate Judiciary Committee. The slip is given to senators of the same state as a federal judicial nominee so they can express an opinion about the nomination.

In the Senate, its a long-standing tradition for both senators to agree on a judicial nominee before moving forward with the confirmation process.

Daines objection to Jacksons nomination was first reported by Bloomberg Law.

Senator Daines believes confirming federal judges with lifetime tenure is among the most important decisions he will make and that these individuals must be trusted to not legislate from the bench and protect the Montana way of life, Dumke said.

However, the White House pushed back on Daines objections.

Daines team interviewed Jackson six months ago, but Daines refused to meet with her, White House senior deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said in an email to States Newsroom.

This claimed lack of consultation seems to be little more than pretext, and its shameful that Senator Daines is depriving Montana of the talents of a principled, fair, and impartial jurist like Danna Jackson, who would make history as Montanas first Native American federal judge, Bates said.

Nominated in April

The White House announced her nomination on April 24. Jackson did not appear during Senate Judiciary Committee nomination hearings on May 22.

A spokesperson for the committee deferred to the White House and Daines office on Jacksons consultation process, as thats between them.

Jackson did not respond Thursday to a voice mail message left with the legal office for the Salish and Kootenai Tribes. Judicial nominees usually do not talk to the media.

Following her nomination, Jackson had the support of Montanas Democratic Sen. Jon Tester.

As a born-and-raised Montanan, her extensive experience at every level of Montanas legal system makes her well qualified to serve our state and Im looking forward to getting her nomination across the finish line with bipartisan support in the Senate, Tester said in a statement in late April.

Legal experience

Jackson previously worked at the U.S. Department of the Interior as a senior counselor to the director of the Bureau of Land Management.

She also worked as the chief legal counsel at the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation in Helena, Montana, and as an assistant U.S. attorney and tribal liaison in the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Montana.

According to her biography from the White House, Jackson also worked as a counsel at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP from 2005 to 2010, after serving as a legislative assistant in the U.S. Senate from 2002 to 2005 and a staff attorney at the National Indian Gaming Commission from 2000 to 2002.

She received her bachelors degree and law degree from the University of Montana.

The Biden administration has worked to boost a diverse judiciary bench, appointing 201 federal judges as of last week.

There are four federal judges who are Native American and two who identify as partly Native American, according to the American Bar Association. Those judges represent four-tenths of 1% of federal judges, according to the ABA.

But there is still more work to be done, and President Biden remains steadfast in his commitment to nominate and appoint individuals who have excelled in their professional careers, who reflect the communities they serve, and who apply the law impartially and without favoritism, the White House said in a statement following the milestone of a 200th federal judge confirmation.

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The post Montana senator holds up nomination of states first Native American federal judge appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
From left to right: Cody Carnley of Crenshaw County, Alabama; Carrie McNair of Mobile; Veronica Wehby-Upchurch of Birmingham and Lindsey Shaw of Birmingham hold signs at a rally in support of legislation to protect in vitro fertilization on Feb. 28, 2024 in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

When the Republican-dominated Legislature passed a bill in March to protect in vitro fertilization (IVF) services in the state, legislators said they planned to form a commission to study the issue further.

Almost three months later, that commission has yet to form.

I dont really have an update right now. I think over the next couple of weeks, were going to actually tour some IVF centers and get more information, said Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, who carried the bill in the House, after the bills passage in the Senate.

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Following a Feb. 16 Alabama Supreme Court decision that declared frozen embryos children, the Legislature moved quickly to protect IVF clinics from criminal and civil liability. After critics called the legislation a Band-Aid fix, Republican legislators signaled they would study the issue further.

The courts ruling stemmed from a lawsuit regarding the unauthorized destruction of frozen embryos at a Mobile clinic in 2020. It decided that the parents could seek damages under an 1872 state law for the deaths of their children.

Following the ruling, several IVF programs closed due to legal risks to patients and providers. The Mobile health care system that provided in vitro fertilization (IVF) care said the clinic will stop the services at the end of the year, citing lawsuits over the fertility treatment.

Collins, who sponsored Alabamas near-total abortion ban in 2019, said that there are a few different groups that will tour the clinics, but she did not name groups or individuals involved.

Its been different people that have been able to meet the different times. I dont know whos going to go to each of the meetings, Collins said.

She also did not say who would be in the study commission.

I dont know who will be a part of the entire thing  no, I dont, Collins said, adding that once those meetings happen and they start to talk about legislation, shell know better whos going to be a part of it.

Charles Murry, spokesperson for House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said in a text the office should have an announcement on that in the next week.

Betsy Campbell, chief engagement officer at RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, said that Collins has been in contact with the organization and is interested in making sure that access to IVF is protected in Alabama.

We havent had any detailed conversations, Campbell said, and added that the organization offered to be a resource as they explore a more permanent solution for full and permanent protection of IVF in the state.

The court also based its decision on a 2018 Sanctity of Life amendment to the Alabama Constitution, passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature in 2017 and approved by voters in 2018. The amendment says that it is the public policy of this state to recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children, including the right to life.

House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels, D-Huntsville filed an amendment to address the issue by another constitutional amendment. It was co-sponsored by all 28 Democratic House members, but it did not come up for a committee vote.

Daniels did not return a request for comment.

Campbell said the legislation was designed to be a short-term solution to ensure access to IVF, but everyone agreed that it didnt address the underlying issue of the [state] Supreme Court ruling  that embryos have the same rights as living children.

That issue still needs to be addressed, or theres a shadow hanging over patients and providers during IVF that could still impact the standard of care, she said.

She said she hopes the issue is resolved next year, as the uncertainty around the temporary solution could hurt people and providers.

We want to make sure that whatever legislation that passes is not passed in haste, but really done thoughtfully. At the same time, you dont want this to drag on and have patients concerned about whether they should embark on this medically necessary treatment in their home state, Campbell said.

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The post Months after court ruling, commission to study IVF issues in Alabama hasnt formed appeared first on Alabama Reflector.
Former President Trump delivers an address during the California Republican Convention in September in Anaheim. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)

Most of the Republican candidates for Congress in California's most competitive districts reacted to the news of former President Trump's historic criminal conviction with radio silence.

A New York jury deliberated for 9 hours over two days before convicting Trump of 34 counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex.

After the verdict, California's Republican leaders quickly cast doubt on the verdict's legitimacy and argued it would boost Trump's chances of reelection in November.

Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield said that Trump's "only 'crime' is running against Joe Biden in 2024."

Jessica Millan Patterson, the chair of the California Republican Party, said the prosecution was "a politically motivated case brought by a far-left district attorney" and that the guilty verdict "never should have happened."

San Diego-area Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Bonsall) called the verdict and the trial "a disgrace."

Democrats, by contrast, praised the verdict as proof of the American legal system functioning as it should. Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank), who is running for Senate, said that "the rule of law prevailed" despite Trump's efforts to "distract, delay and deny."

Read more: Column: Trump is officially a convicted felon, but that may not stand in his way

In California's most hotly contested congressional races, though, few wanted to publicly tangle with the question of Trump's conviction.

Representatives for Reps. Young Kim (R-Anaheim Hills), Michelle Steel (R-Seal Beach), Mike Garcia (R-Santa Clarita), David Valadao (R-Hanford) and John Duarte (R-Modesto) did not return requests for comment. Nor did representatives for Matt Gunderson, who is challenging Rep. Mike Levin (D-San Juan Capistrano) in coastal Orange and San Diego counties, or Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln, who is running against Rep. Josh Harder (D-Tracy) in the Central Valley.

A representative for Republican Steve Garvey, who is running for Senate against Schiff, said he had no comment on the verdict.

One exception was Scott Baugh, who is running to flip the coastal Orange County seat held by Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine). Baugh, the former chair of the Orange County GOP, characterized Trump's trial as a political prosecution and said the verdict "should surprise no one."

"A politically motivated prosecutor and a hostile judge set the trial up for so many prejudicial errors," Baugh said in a prepared statement. "President Trump will have his opportunity to appeal and I am confident that a fair hearing will expose and resolve these issues."

And longtime Riverside Rep. Ken Calvert (R-Corona), who is fighting to retain his once-safe seat in a now-competitive swing district, said in a statement on Thursday evening that Trump's prosecution was political  but his comment was more muted than the loudest GOP voices.

Calvert said that Americans who believe that "justice should be blind to politics" should be "concerned" by the trial's outcome. He continued: "Its alarming that our criminal justice system continues to be taken advantage of by partisan prosecutors who want to use the power of their office to influence our democratic elections."

Whether to lock arms with Trump has been a fraught question for Republicans in California for nearly a decade, but especially this year. Republicans hold such a razor-thin majority in the House of Representatives that a handful of hyper-competitive races in the Golden State could determine which party controls the chamber. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report has rated 10 California races as competitive.

Remaining silent on the verdict makes sense for Republicans in those competitive battleground districts, said Dan Schnur, a politics professor at USC, UC Berkeley and Pepperdine.

"You'll notice that the loudest voices supporting Trump on this tend to be Republicans in very safe seats," Schnur said. "Candidates who need to reach swing voters don't have that luxury."

One challenge for candidates, said UC San Diego political science professor Thad Kousser, is that partisan allegiances determine how voters viewed the trial.

Polling has found that Democrats overwhelmingly saw the trial as fair, while only a tiny percentage of Republicans agreed. Independents were evenly split. A Trump-like message about a rigged, unfair trial that might resonate with a candidate's Republican base could also turn off independents, Kousser said.

"Anyone trying to win a November race in a competitive district needs to worry about both mobilizing their base through more Trump-like rhetoric, but also the cost of alienating the middle," he said.

Read more: Q&A: Yes, Trump could be elected president as a convicted felon

Rob Stutzman, a GOP strategist who isn't involved in any congressional races, said that while the verdict can be used as a tool by both parties to turn out voters in November, it's a "touchy subject."

"You may have independents in congressional seats who are indifferent to the verdict, but don't necessarily want to see Republican incumbents defending Trump or decrying the verdict," Stutzman said.

But Shawn Steel, who represents California on the Republican National Committee and is married to Steel, of Orange County, said the verdict will have "absolutely no impact" on California's House races.

"The White House got the verdict they planned years ago," Steel said. "The Manhattan jurors who convicted Trump did it out of malice and hate. Today's verdict, along with the not-guilty verdict of the O.J. Simpson criminal trial, proved the steep decline of trust in the American criminal justice."

Harmeet Dhillon, a San Francisco attorney who also represents California on the Republican National Committee and whose law firm represents the Trump campaign, said Californians are more concerned with quality-of-life issues, such as homelessness, crime and illegal immigration than they are with the trial.

"People are fed up," she said. "People are much more motivated in this election to vote because things are getting bad here in California."

While California Republican House candidates were largely quiet, some of their allies in other states, such as Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake and vice presidential hopeful Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina, were not.

"This was a rigged, disgraceful trial," Trump told reporters after leaving the courtroom. "The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people."

The Biden campaign said Thursday's verdict showed that the law applied to everyone, but warned that the only way to keep Trump out of the White House is voting in November.

"Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president," campaign spokesman Michael Tyler said. "The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator 'on Day One' and calling for our Constitution to be 'terminated' so he can regain and keep power."

In the wake of Trump's conviction, Democrats seized upon 23 vulnerable House Republicans who had endorsed the former president, including Duarte, Garcia, Calvert and Steel.

House Republicans have continued to put Donald Trump first and the American people last," said Courtney Rice, a spokesperson for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. "Their districts deserve better than their cult-like adherence to a wannabe dictator. Each and every one of them should rescind their endorsement, but won't."

Trump's trial, which began in April in New York City, was one of four felony cases that Trump was facing, though it was thought to be the only one likely to see a trial before the November election.

Read more: Polls say a conviction could cost Trump a fifth of his support. Should we believe them?

The verdict hinged on whether Trump falsified business records to hide a $130,000 hush money payment that Michael Cohen  Trump's lawyer and, later, a witness for the prosecution  made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels, who alleged she'd had a sexual encounter with Trump a decade prior.

Manhattan Dist. Atty. Alvin Bragg had to convince the jury that Trump not only commanded Cohen to make the payments, but that he did so in order to influence the outcome of the 2016 election, rather than to shield his family from the story. Trump pleaded not guilty and denied the sexual encounter with Daniels; Cohen testified that he had been deeply involved in the scheme.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Most major Oregon counties plan to have new drug addiction programs ready by September

Oregon counties are preparing to start new programs to guide people into drug addiction treatment instead of jail. (Getty Images)

A dozen urban and rural Oregon counties plan to have new drug addiction treatment programs available in September, when the states new misdemeanor penalty for drug possession takes effect.

When Oregon lawmakers passed House Bill 4002, which recriminalizes low-level drug possession starting in September, they asked counties to step up with new deflection programs to help drug users avoid jail and criminal charges and start down the path to treatment and recovery.

During the last legislative session, 23 of Oregons 36 counties said they were willing to participate  and be eligible for a portion of state funding to start the programs. All other counties are still eligible to apply for funding in the second round of grants, which is open.

Oregon lawmakers on Thursday received an update from police, providers and the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, which is responsible for doling out the grants. The behind-the-scenes work will lay the groundwork for changes in Oregon communities after the rollback of Measure 110, which Oregon voters passed in 2020 to decriminalize possession of hard drugs and put a share of cannabis revenue toward drug treatment programs.

Ken Sanchagrin, executive director of the Oregon Criminal Justice Commission, said counties are enthusiastic about the potential to start new programs. At the same time, officials have concerns about the tight timeline with the new misdemeanor  and the programs  starting in September.

Were all trying to sprint together on this, and thats what we tell folks, Sanchagrin told the Joint Addiction and Community Safety Response Committee on Thursday.

Since Measure 110 took effect in 2021, police officers have been powerless to arrest people publicly using drugs. Once the new law takes effect, theyll be able to help people using drugs connect to new programs  with potential criminal charges as a motivating factor if they decline to participate.

This session, state lawmakers allocated $20.7 million for counties and tribes to start deflection programs. Thats part of a wider package of $211 million lawmakers allocated to fight drug addiction, much of it spurred by the fentanyl overdose crisis.

The programs will be designed on the local level and each county will have flexibility to tailor their programs based on geography and needs. At the same time, theyre also sharing ideas. In a symposium earlier this month in Salem, county officials and treatment providers gathered to trade ideas and discuss the work ahead.

Sanchagrin said some counties, especially rural ones, have concerns about long-term viability of the programs. Under the funding formula, counties with small populations receive at least $150,000. For rural counties that cover large swaths of land, thats not much money.

But Sanchagrin said he encourages counties to start small and scale up.

Kevin Campbell, executive director of the Oregon Association of Chiefs of Police, told lawmakers that counties are all different with various challenges.

Some have resource challenges, some have partnership challenges theyre having to work through, said Campbell, who also testified on behalf of Oregon sheriffs. I think that the good news about this is, in a way, what were doing is were creating this laboratory of effort around the state, where counties are going to have to innovate.

The counties planning to start programs in September include Washington, Clackamas and Multnomah, as well as Baker, Clatsop, Deschutes, Gilliam, Grant, Jackson, Klamath, Morrow and Umatilla. Marion County already has a similar program in place.

Crook, Harney and Lane counties plan to have their programs start in October, while Hood River, Wasco and Benton counties are aiming for early 2025 starts.

Those timelines are just estimates at this point.

The post Most major Oregon counties plan to have new drug addiction programs ready by September appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
The new rule, which is set to take effect in 2026 for urban facilities and 2027 in rural sites, requires a nurse to be on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. (Getty Images)

This story was updated Monday, June 3, 2024 to include comments from U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster.

A new analysis from one of the countrys leading health policy research organizations confirms what the states long-term health care providers have warned: The states nursing homes dont have nearly enough staff to meet the Biden administrations new staffing rule.

According to KFFs analysis released last week, just 26 percent of New Hampshires long-term care nursing facilities, 19 of 73, could meet a new rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services with current staffing. KFF noted that CMS has estimated that closing the staffing gap will be costly for the countrys nursing homes: $43 billion in the 10 years after the final rule takes effect.

Its just impossible, especially in a rural state like New Hampshire, said Brendan Williams, president and CEO of the New Hampshire Health Care Association. You just cant find those people. You cant find the licensed nursing assistants. You cant find the registered nurses.

Patients and their families have told CMS they support the rule as a means to improve patient care. A Milford clergyperson was among those who submitted nearly 50,000 comments on the rule after it was first proposed in 2023.

I have witnessed first hand the difficult conditions in various nursing homes due to inadequate staffing levels, wrote the Rev. Hays Junkin. This is tragic; our seniors and those who care for them deserve a safe and well staffed residence. I urge you to push for adequate staffing and ignore the nursing home industrys opposition.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services current staffing rule requires 24-hour clinical staffing and sets standards for patient care but leaves facilities discretion on staffing specifics. For example, in most cases a facility must employ a registered nurse for at least eight consecutive hours a day, 7 days a week.

The new rule, which is set to take effect in 2026 for urban facilities and 2027 in rural sites, requires a nurse to be on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Each patient must receive 33 minutes of care a day from a registered nurse and 147 minutes of care from a nurse aide. Facilities could request hardship exemptions if they met several requirements.

The KFF analysis found that New Hampshire is closest to meeting the registered nurse staffing requirement with 79 percent of facilities able to provide each patient 33 minutes of care from a registered nurse each day. Only 30 percent of facilities meet the requirement for nurses aides, it found.

Williams said CMSs new one-size-fits-all staffing rule ignores New Hampshires hellscape of a workforce crisis and the scarcity of affordable housing and child care that makes recruiting new workers difficult. Added to that, the states unemployment rate is low, and Medicaid reimbursement rates fail to cover the cost of providing care, he said.

Nursing facilities across the state are already limiting admissions because they dont have the staff to fill all their beds. Williams said meeting the new staffing rule will leave long-term care facilities with no good options. The state and counties would have to increase taxes. Private facilities would have to charge more. Or, facilities will close.

The rules critics include U.S. Rep. Chris Pappas, who joined a number of other members of Congress in voicing concerns to CMS twice in 2023, before the rule was finalized, about the impact to nursing facilities.

We believe the rule as proposed is overly burdensome and will result in additional closures and decreased access to care, he wrote. It continued: We recognize CMS as a crucial partner in identifying, mitigating, and preventing future health and safety problems in nursing homes. We stand ready to work with your agency on proposals to improve long-term care for patients.

In an email last week, Pappas said he continues to have concerns and is disappointed CMS did not incorporate the feedback he passed on from worried health care providers in New Hampshire.

I have the utmost faith and confidence in the health care workers of New Hampshire who do incredible work to keep our communities healthy, and I remain committed to supporting access to high quality care for individuals residing in nursing home facilities, Pappas said.

He added: Without additional support from Congress and CMS for our long-term care facilities and seniors, these new regulations have the potential to seriously impact a long-term care system already under tremendous strain. We must provide long-term care facilities with the resources and funding to stay open, recruit and retain a strong workforce, and provide residents with the best care possible.

Gov. Chris Sununu has raised concerns, too, and joined 14 other governors in 2023 in calling on the Biden administration to abandon the rule.

Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan were two of three Democrats to join nearly 20 Republicans and independents that year in urging CMS to pause and rethink the rule.

A spokesperson for Hassans office said she and Shaheen are evaluating changes to the rule CMS has made since first introducing it.

Those include a phased-in approach to give facilities more time to complete initial staffing assessments; a new exemption for facilities that would not be able to fulfill the registered nurse requirement; and clarification that physician assistants, physicians, and other supervisory clinical staff can play a role in fulfilling staffing requirements.

A spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster said in an email that she proposed allowing licensed practical nurses to fulfill some of the hourly registered nursing requirements and exempting long-term care facilities facing workforce shortages from the staffing requirements.

The Bulletin could not reach the states long-term care ombudsman. Jake Leon, spokesperson for the Department of Health and Human Services, said the agency has not heard much from the public about the new rule. He said the departments Bureau of Health Facilities will monitor facilities for compliance once the rule is in place.

The post Most NH nursing homes wont meet new federal staffing rule and doubt they can appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin.
Most Wanted fugitives for week of May 31, 2024

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Crime Stoppers of El Paso, Inc. distributes pictures of fugitives wanted by the El Paso Police Department and the El Paso County Sheriffs Office weekly through the Most Wanted feature. The following fugitives are individuals, which attempts to locate have been unsuccessful.

Diaz, Alberto H/M

Lackey Jr., Felipe Rafael H/M

Padilla, Christopher Alexander H/M

Blanco, Juan Carlos H/M

Garcia, Luis Javier H/M

Alcala, David

Rodriguez, Carlos Marcos

Herrera, Steve Anthony

Jolley, Dan Patrick

Sandoval, Miguel Angel

El Paso Police Department

Alberto Diaz: Age 37; 5-foot-6; 155 pounds; black hair and brown eyes; wanted for arson intend to damage habitat/place of worship; $100,000 bond.

Felipe Rafael Lackey Jr.: Age 27; 5-foot-8; 215 pounds; black hair and brown eyes; wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; $50,000 bond.

Christopher Alexander Padilla: Age 39; 5-foot-11; 260 pounds; black hair and brown eyes; wanted for evading arrest/detention with vehicle or watercraft; $20,000 bond.

Juan Carlos Blanco: Age 35; 5-foot-8; 180 pounds; black hair and brown eyes; wanted for pre-revocation warrant; no bond.

Luis Javier Garcia: Age 35; 6 feet; 186 pounds; black hair and brown eyes; wanted for pre-revocation warrant; no bond.

El Paso County Sheriffs Office

David Alcala: Age 40; 5-foot-4; 150 pounds; wanted for aggravated assault of a child; $250,000 bond.

Carlos Marcos Rodriguez: Age 22; 5-foot-2; 160 pounds; brown hair and brown eyes; wanted for evading arrest detention with previous conviction; $100,000 bond.

Steve Anthony Herrera: Age 53; brown hair and brown eyes; wanted for evading arrest detention with a vehicle; $5,000 bond.

Dan Patrick Jolley: Age 56; 5-foot-10; 185 pounds; black hair and brown eyes; wanted for theft of property with two or more previous conviction; $100,000 bond.

Miguel Angel Sandoval: Age 28; 5-foot-8; 150 pounds; black hair and brown eyes; wanted for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon; $100,000 bond.

Anyone with information on the location of any of these fugitives should call Crime Stoppers of El Paso immediately at (915) 566-8477 (TIPS), or submit the information on-line at www.crimestoppersofelpaso.org.

You will remain anonymous, and if your tip leads to an arrest, you can qualify for a cash reward.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Opinion editor's note: Editorials represent the opinions of the Star Tribune Editorial Board, which operates independently from the newsroom.



Jamal Mitchell was a Minneapolis police officer for only about a year and a half. But his courage and character were revealed just three days into his service, when he dashed into a burning building to help rescue an elderly couple, a valorous act that won him a lifesaving award.

"That's what I got into law enforcement to do," Mitchell said in February 2023. "Save lives and serve the community."

That ethos was on display again Thursday as Mitchell responded to a shooting in the Whittier neighborhood. The 36-year-old officer stopped to aid a victim and was himself shot, according to authorities. Despite efforts  heroic in their own right  to save him, Mitchell died, leaving behind a grieving child, a fiance, a police force, a broader law-enforcement and first-responder community, and the citizens of the city and state.

Three people, including the alleged assailant, were killed, and four were wounded in an attack authorities labeled an "ambush"  echoing a similar tragedy in February in Burnsville when two police officers and a medic were killed responding to a domestic abuse call.

In many ways the region itself feels ambushed by the proliferation of such incidents, with at least 11 in the last 14 months in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and Wisconsin.

"I am angry and hurt by an attack on our officers, but this is a tragedy I was praying we would not have to face," Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara said in a statement. "As police officers, we know dying in the line of duty is always a possibility, but the harsh reality hurts very deeply when it happens."

The hurt was readily apparent in the reverence and sorrow shown by hundreds of officers from multiple jurisdictions who lined the streets near the Hennepin County Medical Center Thursday night when Mitchell's flag-draped coffin departed in a Hennepin County Medical Examiner's van.

Mitchell "exemplified unmatched dedication, bravery and service in defense of the public," Brian Peters, executive director of the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, said in a statement. "The officer's unwavering commitment to safeguarding others will leave a legacy of service that will always be remembered."

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described Mitchell as "a courageous hero." The mayor spoke at a late-night news conference attended by other officials, including Gov. Tim Walz, who said in a statement that "our first responders are first to step in during crisis. We must never take their commitment for granted, and we must ensure they can answer their call of duty without fearing for their own lives."

Many members of the City Council also were present. While their support was appreciated, unfortunately some at times have taken law enforcement's commitment for granted. That's just one of many reasons the city's law-enforcement staffing levels are so perilously low.

Indeed, Minneapolis needs more police officers and people like Jamal Mitchell, who until his final moments lived up to his creed to save lives and serve the community.
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) expressed frustration Friday over what she called the distractions of former President Trumps legal dramas and declared a Republican nominee without this baggage would have a clear path to victory.

It is a shame that this election has focused on personalities and legal problems rather than a debate about policies that would lift up Americans. These distractions have given the Biden campaign a free pass as the focus has shifted from Bidens indefensible record and the damage his policies have done to Alaska and our nations economy to Trumps legal drama, Murkowski said in a statement.

Murkowski broke with some of her usual Senate Republican allies, including Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Sen. Susan Collins (Maine), who on Thursday criticized Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for bringing a case against Trump after pledging to prosecute him when he ran for the DAs office in 2021.

These charges never should have been brought in the first place. I expect the conviction to be overturned on appeal, McConnell posted on social platform X.

Former Vice President Mike Pence, who fell out with Trump over Trumps effort to stop the certification of the 2020 election, called the Manhattan jurys verdict an outrage.

Murkowski said Friday the trial and verdict is the first step in the legal process.

The former president has the right to appeal and I fully expect him to exercise that right, she said, stopping well short of the barrage of attacks that fellow Republicans have aimed at Bragg, Judge Juan Merchan and the Manhattan criminal court.

Former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who is running for Senate in Maryland, was one of the few Republicans to call on fellow Americans to respect the verdict.

At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leadersregardless of partymust not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship, Hogan said Thursday. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law.

That prompted a sharp response from former Trump adviser Chris LaCivita, who predicted that Hogan would face a backlash from Trump voters.

You just ended your campaign, LaCivita wrote on X above a repost of Hogans comments.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
On May 31, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Stockholm, Sweden, to participate in the third Ukraine-Northern Europe Summit. The guarantor named the provision of weapons and equipment to our soldiers, including air defense, joint arms production, and global work to force Russia to peace as priority topics.

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The President shared his expectations on his official Telegram channel on Friday morning. On this day, Kyiv will sign three security agreements at once, which will fix the projected defense and other comprehensive support for a long period.

"Today will strengthen Ukraine thanks to the support of our principled and consistent allies and thanks to new security agreements," the guarantor wrote.

He is scheduled to meet with:

- Carl XVI, King of Sweden;

- Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden;

- Alexander Stubb, President of Finland;

- Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark;

- Jonas Gahr Stre, Prime Minister of Norway;

- Bjarni Benediktsson, Prime Minister of Iceland;

- representatives of defense companies.

"We will communicate both within the framework of the summit and bilaterally," Zelenskyy said.

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As reported, earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron said that Volodymyr Zelenskyy would take part in the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings and the Battle of Normandy. The event is scheduled for June 6.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
The city is launching an independent investigation into the Metro Nashville Police Department following explosive allegations in a complaint from a retired police lieutenant detailing an alleged culture of mismanagement, failure to investigate misconduct and an overall lack of transparency.

The complaint was filed against the MNPD on May 22 by Garet Davidson, 37, who joined the department in 2011. Davidson retired earlier this year after serving for two years in the departments Office of Professional Accountability, which is the internal affairs division.

The Tennessean late Wednesday obtained a copy of Davidson's full 61-page report, which details misconduct allegations against some of the departments top brass. The department has since released a redacted version.

Mayor Freddie OConnell in a statement Friday said the city will conduct an independent investigation into the allegations headed by former U.S. Attorney Edward L. Stanton III of the Butler Snow law firm in Memphis.

Stanton formerly served as the top federal prosecutor in West Tennessee during the Obama administration. He has since been tapped to handle critical roles, including monitoring the Memphis Police Department in a political surveillance case. Gov. Bill Lee tapped Stanton to review the state's death penalty procedures.

Recognizing that these are allegations, which are unproven at this time, I, Chief of Police John Drake, Community Review Board director Jill Fitcheard, and the Department of Law Director Wally Dietz all have a strong interest in ensuring the integrity of the investigation, the mayor said.

Dietz said Friday that despite the complaint being filed with the Office of Professional Accountability, there will be only one investigation and the police department will cooperate with Stanton's inquiry.

The mayor in a roundtable with reporters on Friday said Stanton has "impeccable credentials including decades of experience conducting internal investigations and complex governance matters."

"He will have access to resources from Metro Legal, MNPD, Metro Human Resources, the civilian review board, and anything else necessary to conduct a thorough investigation," the mayor said.

Stanton and a team of attorneys will also work with Lt. Jerry Hertenstein in the police department's Office of Professional Accountability. Dietz said Friday that Hertenstein came to the unit after the events contained in the complaint.

"I've spoken with Chief Drake more than once about this complaint over the weekend and recently. He expressed his full and complete cooperation," Dietz said. "I will stay involved only to the extent that I can help coordinate obtaining witnesses, documents and information."

When asked if participation in the investigation is voluntary, Dietz said: "Well, some things are voluntary and then some things are less than voluntary. I do not anticipate any adverse reaction or failure to cooperate."

Metro Police Chief John Drake said in a statement the department has been reviewing the complaint and will conduct its own investigation.

"As this occurs, we will look at whether our administrative processes for internal investigation and discipline need any refinement," he said. "A periodic review of practices and procedures in a large police department such as ours is healthy for the organization."

Metro Police Chief John Drake delivers remarks during the Nashville Remembers candlelight vigil to mourn and honor the victims of The Covenant School mass shooting at Public Square Park Wednesday, March 29, 2023 in Nashville, Tenn.

The complaint was first mentioned in a special Nashville Community Review Board meeting this week after members of the board obtained a copy.

Board members were alarmed to read allegations by Davidson that two high-ranking police officials worked behind the scenes with state lawmakers to pass legislation in 2023 that abolished community police oversight boards in Tennessee.

In his complaint, Davidson said a deputy chief was even presented with a small, laser engraved crystal-style award in the department for his efforts.

The allegations come as the Community Review Board, formed after the state law passed, is working on a memorandum of understanding with the police department to resume investigating officer misconduct under the outlines of the new law.

But members last week said their trust has been broken. They have called for a federal investigation.

"No citizen would say, 'Go ahead and negotiate with someone you don't trust,'" board member Mark Wynn, a former police officer, said in the meeting.

Other allegations in the report include:

Rank-biased investigations and poor decisions

Davidson said the department has a pattern of rank-biased investigations that led to more favorable outcomes for high-ranking personnel.

Davidson said high-ranking officials accused of misconduct are often permitted to resign rather than face discipline. He noted the case of a former deputy chief who was permitted to resign without taking responsibility for an alleged aggressive confrontation with a training instructor.

Davidson said the department has also failed to implement a zero tolerance policy regarding harassment and discrimination of employees.

In one example, he said a lieutenant had a pattern of treating female employees differently and allegedly placed his hands on them. One female training officer was significantly injured after the lieutenant carelessly moved academy equipment and later said she was made to feel ignored and invisible after the incident.

The lieutenant was not demoted but was later reassigned to a position where he was not supervising anyone.

Mishandling Covenant School leak

Davidsons report also accuses an assistant chief of mishandling the internal investigation into leaked photographs of the Covenant School shooters journal.

The department initially placed seven officers on administrative assignment during the investigation, but ultimately were unable to identify who leaked the images. In total, 10 officers were reassigned from their positions in the specialized investigation unit.

According to Davidson, an assistant chief hovered over the investigation to find the leaker, encouraging a hasty process jeopardizing the investigation. Ultimately the investigation showed the officers removed from their positions had nothing to do with the leak, but they were reassigned nonetheless, Davidson said, giving the public perception of guilt where there was none.

Seeing how the 'sausage was made'

Davidson in a podcast said he retired from his job earlier this year and filed the complaint because he believed it was the right thing to do, though it meant less financial stability.

He is now a writer and has published his first fantasy novel. He said he began compiling his complaint while he was still employed with the department.

There are moments in our lives where we face decisions about doing what is right, he said in the podcast. I need to be able to live with myself.

Davidson said his leadership role in the office tasked with overseeing police misconduct allegations gave him an inside view into how the sausage was made and it often wasnt pretty.

He said he wondered whether the department was protecting itself instead of the public.

Increasingly I realized that it was just the department protecting itself and often it was just certain people within the department - command staff protecting command staff.. and thats not fair, he said. The MNPD got so many things right, but there were still too many things wrong.

Metro Council's chair of Public Safety Committee reacts

District 12 Metro Council member Erin Evans, who chairs the council's Public Health and Safety Committee, said Friday it's likely too early to define Metro Council's role in the investigation or its aftermath.

She sent a letter seeking member input for a potential council request for an independent investigation shortly before O'Connell announced Stanton's leadership of the probe.

"I am very glad that the administration was ahead of us on this because I do think that that's the only path forward," Evans said.

The council may play a role after the investigation is complete, reviewing potential policy considerations. It also depends on whether Vice Mayor Angie Henderson decides to change committee makeups on an annual basis (as has been done historically). The current Public Health and Safety Committee may have a different approach than the council members who could be appointed later.

Traditionally, Evans said, the council has influenced policing policy, but it's not the body's mandate. They can make suggestions and "invite" change.

"If there's a potential to codify certain things, I know we'll do the best due diligence that we can on these issues, but I think historically, there's always been a kind of tension between the council's role and the police's role, and it has not really been a council-led process," she said. "But these allegations feel differently to me, because I think there are some things specific to disparate policies. So I think if any of the allegations are accurate ... there's going to be a lot of requirements or requests for MNPD to demonstrate that they're making change, and then what does that look like."

Craig Shoup contributed to this report

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Metro Nashville taps former US attorney to review police oversight complaint
LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Historic Arkansas locations are being honored with their addition to a national register.

The Arkansas Historic Preservation Program announced Friday that 11 sites across the state have been added to the National Register of Historic Places. Officials said that in addition to historical recognition, being added to the register opens a site to financial assistance, such as grants or tax credits.

Arkansas man works to recover, preserve lost history

Several houses of worship are on the list, including the 1977-completed prison chapel at the Cummins Unit, listed for its modern architecture in Lincoln County. The Island of Hope Chapel in Jefferson County and the Centerville United Methodist Church were also added to the list.

The Asher Avenue Overpass in Pulaski County was named. It was built in 1940 as part of a statewide effort to provide safe railroad crossings in the state, officials said.

History on Hinges: Locals working to preserve, restore historic Little Rock homes

Also on the list is a 1964 motor hotel in Hot Springs, a campground in Columbia County with early 20th-century roots, a 1972 gazebo in North Little Rock, and a roadside park in Madison County.

Island of Hope Chapel, Tucker vic., Jefferson County The Island of Hope Chapel, which was built in 1969 and designed by architect Raymond Branton, is an unusual and significant example of modern architecture in rural Jefferson County.

Asher Avenue Overpass, Little Rock, Pulaski County  The Asher Avenue Overpass, which was built in 1940 by the Ottinger Brothers of Oklahoma City, was built with assistance from the Public Roads Administration, and was part of a statewide effort to provide safe crossings of railroad lines across the state.

Cummins Prison Chapel, Grady vic., Lincoln County  The Cummins Prison Chapel was designed by architect Raymond Branton and built c.1973-1977. The modern design of the chapel, with its rounded forms and central metal spire, was an unusual and significant example of modern architecture in Lincoln County when it was built in the 1970s.

Centerville United Methodist Church, Greenbrier vic., Faulkner County  The Centerville United Methodist Church was initially built in 1917 and then altered with a stone veneer c.1940. The building is a significant representation of the influence of the work of the WPA during the 1930s on local stone construction during the 1940s.

St. Anthonys Catholic Church Historic District, Weiner, Poinsett County  The St. Anthonys Catholic Church Historic District consists of the Colonial-Revival-style church, which was designed by Memphis architect Henry J. Kramer and built in 1937, and its associated rectory, school, nuns house, pumphouse, garage, shrine, and basketball court.

Capitol-Main Historic District Boundary Increase, Little Rock, Pulaski County  The boundary increase adds the buildings at 609 and 615 Main Street to the existing Capitol-Main Historic District. The two buildings, which have both been recently restored, were both designed by prolific architect Charles Thompson.

Arkansas State College Historic District, Jonesboro, Craighead County  The Arkansas State College Historic District, which forms the historic core of the Arkansas State University Campus, is significant for its contribution to the progress of higher education in northeast Arkansas. Its also important for its International Style and Art Deco style architecture, which was built from the 1920s through the 1960s.

Wharton Creek Roadside Park, Wharton vic., Madison County The Wharton Creek Roadside Park, which was built in c.1965-1966, is one of several park projects in Arkansas that were built by the Green Thumb program. Green Thumb was a program that employed impoverished senior citizens in order to combat poverty.

Laman Plaza Gazebo, North Little Rock, Pulaski County The Laman Plaza Gazebo was built in 1972 and designed by noted architect Fay Jones.

Magnesia Springs Campground, Magnolia vic., Columbia County  The Magnesia Springs Campground is a site at Logoly State Park that contains remnants of the Duke Hotel, Bathing Basin, and other features that are associated with an early-twentieth-century religious campground.

Velda Rose Tower Motor Hotel, Hot Springs, Garland County  The Velda Rose Tower Motor Hotel, which was built in 1964, represents a significant example of an International Style hotel in Hot Springs, and illustrates how the tourist facilities in Hot Springs continued to modernize to be able to continue to attract tourists and visitors throughout the twentieth century.

Deputy state historic preservation officer for the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program Ralph Wilcox said the recent additions reflect diversity in Arkansas history.

The current batch of properties that has been listed on the National Register stands out to me due to the fact that they are located all over the state, illustrating that there is important history and significant properties all over Arkansas, Wilcox said. Also, they range in age from the turn of the twentieth century to the 1970s showing that the states important history isnt just nineteenth-century history or antebellum history, its recent history as well.

What happened to these Arkansas counties and why do they no longer exist?

A full roster of properties listed on the national register, as well as details about the program, may be found at ArkansasHeritage.com.

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NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg talks to the media during the second and last day of Informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Prague. Kamaryt Michal/CTK/dpa

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is asking members of the military alliance to "commit to a multi-year financial pledge for Ukraine," he said in Prague on Friday.

"Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, allies have provided approximately 40 billion worth of military support to Ukraine each year," Stoltenberg said. "We must maintain at least this level of support each year for as long as necessary."

NATO foreign ministers met in Prague on Thursday and Friday to discuss how they coordinate aid to Ukraine. The informal talks are intended to help prepare the ground for a summit of NATO countries' leaders due to be held in Washington in July.

In the spring, Stoltenberg outlined plan to transfer responsibility for coordinating aid from an informal, United States-led initiative to the formal structures of NATO itself. Tied to that plan was a proposal to supply 100 billion ($108 billion) over the next five years.

So far, NATO member states have been coordinating military aid not through NATO itself, but through the US-led Ukraine Contact Group. NATO's position is that it is not a party to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

"NATO plans to play a greater coordinating role in the provision of equipment and training," Stoltenberg said on Friday. "Practically all military aid to Ukraine - 99% - comes from NATO allies. So it makes sense that NATO should play a greater role in these efforts."

But the spring proposal has met resistance, in part because some allies prefer to continue supplying military aid outside of NATO. Another is that commitments made through NATO could be more strongly binding.

On Thursday, dpa reported that Stoltenberg is now asking the alliance's member states guarantee they will at least maintain their current level of support over the next few years.

He told reporters on Friday that long-term commitments are needed because "Russia must understand that it cannot wait us out."

"We have already spent roughly 40 billion per year so far. What I'm asking all us to do is to commit that for the following years," Stoltenberg said.

Foreign ministers also discussed the possibility of one day allowing Ukraine to join the alliance.

US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told reporters in Prague that at the Washington summit, "we'll be taking concrete steps to bring Ukraine closer to NATO and ensure that there's a bridge to membership, a bridge that's strong and well-lit."

Another on-going question is what conditions NATO countries should impose on how their weapons are used by Ukraine. Some, such as Italy, stipulate that their weapons must only be used against targets on Ukrainian territory. Others, such as Poland, impose no such restrictions.

On Thursday, the US decided to lift this restriction from its own weapons, allowing Ukraine to attack some targets on Russian territory. Germany followed suit on Friday.

The Kremlin has said there would be "consequences" if such strikes were to occur.

Friday also marked the end of a four-month NATO military exercise called Steadfast Defender 2024, the largest live exercise it has conducted for decades.

"More than 90,000 forces, more than 50 ships, more than 80 aircraft flying hundreds of sorties, and more than 1,100 combat vehicles from all 32 NATO Allies were involved in the exercise," a NATO press release said.

Steadfast Defender was a show of force as the alliance's European members move to rearm in the face of Russia's war against Ukraine, reversing the atrophying of military spending that followed the end of the Cold War.

The exercise demonstrated the incredible strength of the trans-Atlantic bond between NATO allies in Europe and those in North America, NATO's European commander, General Christopher G Cavoli, said in the press release.

The highly complex military activities conducted over the course of this exercise have demonstrated that this alliance is capable and ready to conduct our core mission of collective defence, Cavoli said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg talks to the media before the beginning of second and last day of Informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs in Prague. Tomas Tkacik/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg arrives ahead of the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. NATO foreign ministers will meet in Prague on 31 May to discuss how they coordinate military aid to Ukraine -/NATO/dpa
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg arrives ahead of the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council. NATO foreign ministers will meet in Prague on 31 May to discuss how they coordinate military aid to Ukraine -/NATO/dpa

NATO foreign ministers will meet in Prague on Friday to discuss how they coordinate military aid to Ukraine.

In the second day of a two-day meeting, ministers will try to make progress in talks over a 100 billion ($108 billion) proposal by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to transfer responsibility for coordinating aid from an informal, United States-led initiative to the formal structures of NATO itself.

So far, NATO member states have been coordinating military aid not through NATO itself, but through the US-led Ukraine Contact Group. NATO's position is that it is not a party to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

But the contact group's reliance on US coordination has European allies worried that it could falter if November's presidential election returns Donald Trump to the White House, because they doubt his willingness to support Ukraine's war effort.

In April, Stoltenberg refused to be drawn on whether his proposal had anything to do with the possible return of Trump. He said the point is to make military aid to Ukraine more stable and predictable.

The proposal met resistance, in part because some allies prefer to continue supplying military aid outside of NATO. Another is that commitments made through NATO could be more strongly binding.

On Thursday, dpa learned that Stoltenberg is now asking the alliance's member states guarantee they will at least maintain their current level of support over the next few years.

He puts the total value of allies' support over the last two years at 80 billion ($87 billion) - an average of 40 billion per year.

Another open question is what conditions NATO countries should impose on how their weapons are used by Ukraine. Some supply arms without conditions, but others stipulate they must only be used against targets on Ukrainian territory.

Stoltenberg said on Thursday that allies should consider lifting restrictions on the striking of targets in Russia. He argued that fighting has recently moved closer to the border, making it easier for Russia to launch attacks from inside its own borders.

The Kremlin said on Thursday there would be "consequences" if such strikes were to occur.
NATO Secretary General says there is nothing new in Kremlin's latest threats of "escalation"

Russia has been threatening the West with an "escalation" due to defence cooperation with Ukraine since 2022, but these threats have not been implemented and are groundless.

Source: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg before the start of the Alliance's ministerial meeting; European Pravda correspondent from Prague

Details: The secretary general stressed that threats from Russia are not fundamentally new.

"NATO allies are providing providing support to Ukraine, President Putin is trying to threaten us not to do that. The day of invasion, he gave a speech where he threatened all countries that were going to provide any support to Ukraine, that that was dangerous and that would would have consequences," the secretary general said.

"That has been the message every time," Jens Stoltenberg added.

The secretary general also repeated the statement made before the start of the NATO meeting that Ukraine must hit Russia to defend itself: "Ukraine has the right to self-defence " (with NATO weapons) and that does not make NATO allies part to the conflict."

Jens Stoltenberg also stressed that Russia is responsible in the event of an escalation, as it has happened more than once since 2022. "Russia has escalated by invading other country. Russia has escalated, by opening a new front (near Kharkiv)," Jens Stoltenberg said.

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A NATO flag flies in the wind during the "National Guardian 2024" exercise as part of the "Quadriga" series of Bundeswehr exercises at the Oberlausitz military training area. Robert Michael/dpa

The NATO military alliance on Friday concluded a four-month military exercise called Steadfast Defender 2024, the largest live exercise it has conducted for decades.

"More than 90,000 forces, more than 50 ships, more than 80 aircraft flying hundreds of sorties, and more than 1,100 combat vehicles from all 32 NATO Allies were involved in the exercise," a NATO press release said.

Steadfast Defender was a show of force as the alliance's European members move to rearm in the face of Russia's war against Ukraine, reversing the atrophying of military spending that followed the end of the Cold War.

The exercise demonstrated the incredible strength of the trans-Atlantic bond between NATO allies in Europe and those in North America, NATO's European commander, General Christopher G Cavoli, said in the press release.

The highly complex military activities conducted over the course of this exercise have demonstrated that this alliance is capable and ready to conduct our core mission of collective defence, Cavoli said.
A Navy Selected Reserve officer died earlier this month after collapsing during an annual physical readiness test, the Navy confirmed this week.

Cmdr. Martin P. Schaefer was assigned to Navy Reserve Center Kitsap, Washington, on May 5, when he collapsed during a run, according to officials.

A Navy corpsman was on scene and provided care to Schaefer until he was transported to a local hospital.

We extend our deepest condolences to family, friends and shipmates as they grieve during this difficult time, Navy Reserve Forces said in a statement.

Schaefer enlisted in 1990 and commissioned in 2006, according to service records.

As an enlisted sailor, he served aboard the submarines Louisiana and Omaha.

Schaefer transitioned to the reserves after nine years on active duty, and later commissioned, according to his obituary.

He is survived by his wife and two children.

Schaefer loved skydiving, cooking and the Buffalo Bills, his obituary states. He saw the Bills play the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium while stationed at Naval Submarine Base New London, Connecticut.

Only Martys smile and personality allowed him to survive sitting in the middle of the local season ticketholders, cheering for the Bills, the obituary recalls.

Marty was a loving husband, devoted father, beloved son, loved and admired by all who knew him, the obituary reads. His smile and infectious laugh was an invitation to all to enjoy life with him.
Although North Carolina is not a border state, the Republican-led General Assembly is working to create state law that would require all sheriffs to report to Immigration and Customs Enforcment (ICE) in House Bill 10. The contentious bill, if passed, would go into effect just months before North Carolinians head to the polls for the November presidential match-up.

The bill, in essence, would require sheriffs to report to and cooperate with ICE when they cannot determine whether a person in jail is a legal resident of the United States. The detained person could be held for up to 48 hours.

As of now, some sheriffs in North Carolina, including Wake County Sheriff Willie Rowe, do not cooperate with ICE and do not support the bill.

Primary sponsor of the bill Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, Watauga, said the lack of cooperation from sheriffs is why this bill, which was originally filed last January, is necessary. He called the bill commonsense and pleaded to committee members in April to support it after citing safety of officers and North Carolinians as a concern.

This bill would only apply to those in jail for the following: felonies, class A1 misdemeanors, which could include assault with a deadly weapon, child abuse, sexual battery and violations of a protective order, according to the bill.

Registering Latino voters: From trailer parks to night clubs, this NC group is on a mission to get out the Latino vote

Immigration legislation in a non-border state

Although North Carolina is over 1,000 miles from its closest border state Texas, there is a substantial immigrant population, which has dramatically increased in the past 30 years.

The percentage of North Carolinians who are immigrants rose from 2% in 1990 to 8% in 2024 -- most coming from Latin America or Asia, according to a report from Michael Cline, North Carolina State demographer.

Rick Su, immigration law professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, has been working at the intersection of immigration and local and state government for about 15 years.

The immigrant population increase, the General Assembly's Republican supermajority that has veto power against the Democratic governor and a brewing election, could all be factors in HB 10s resurfacing, Su said.

Part of the topics sway on voters has to do with the persuasive and fear-inducing rhetoric that is often used, Su said.

Words like invasion and messaging about safety and the identity of the country have "been proven to really resonate, Su said.

He said before the mid-2000s it was unique for state and local government to be involved in immigration, but fear of immigrants has always been a part of American politics.

The fact that were talking about this with North Carolina policy and local sheriffs, thats kind of new, but that fact that xenophobia sort of motivates you know every era in American politics is not, Su said.

Not only has the percentage change of immigrants in North Carolina increased, its also a presidential election year, Su said, and immigration has proven to be a top-ticket issue.

Its possible, he said, that North Carolina Republican legislators are expecting Trump to be re-elected and they want to be ready when he asks, Where are my state helpers at?

Effects on the Latino community

Some worry that when the bill is implemented, it will disproportionately affect the Latino population due to racial stereotyping.

Its very likely that theyre going to rely on essentially stereotypes and racial profiling," Su said.

This bill is an attack on a community that significantly supports the Tar Heel State through labor and taxes, said Kelly Morales co-director of Siembra NC, a nonprofit working toward economic and political justice for Latinos.

What we know is that the North Carolina GOP has been using bills like HB 10 to spread fear in the community about our fellow neighbor immigrant families, Morales said.

Its a ploy to get Republicans to the polls this year, she continued.

They're trying to bring the border to us, Morales said. Right. We see the GOP using the border as a way to try to gain votes.

Support for the legislation based in safety concerns

Despite intense backlash from Democrats and community advocates, some sheriffs and North Carolina politicians remain supportive of tighter immigration legislation.

Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page said during a committee meeting that he supports the bill 100 percent."

It's about protecting America, Page said. It's about protecting our state, it's about protecting our citizens.

His concerns around safety are echoed by national politicians like Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump who has said made several remarks about the threat to safety he believes immigrants pose, even saying immigrants are poisoning the blood.

Although fear of immigrant-related crime has found a spotlight in the 2024 presidential election and American politics overall, in 2019 the Marshall Project reported that undocumented immigrant population increase is not correlated with an increase in violent crime.

Questions about the bills constitutionality

Sheriffs and lawyers alike have expressed concern over the legal and financial burden enforcing this could have on sheriffs.

Holding someone for ICE after their state law conditions of release have been met could be unconstitutional, said Sejal Zota, lawyer and co-founder of Just Futures Law.

The state requirement could conflict with the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Hall, the bills sponsor, addressed this concern during a committee meeting citing sheriffs would not be held liable.

No state or local law enforcement officer or agency shall have criminal or civil liability for action taken pursuant to an order issued under subsection (b1) of this section, according to Section 1 b3 of the bill.

Additionally, the cost of detaining someone for ICE would fall on the county, not the federal government. An amendment was suggested that would have provided funding for this concern, but it was tabled, according to reporting from NC Newsline.

An amended version of the bill was recently rejected by the House and thus requires adjustments to be made before being sent to Gov. Roy Cooper.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: NC bill requiring sheriffs to cooperate with ICE makes headway
NC Republicans had a lot to say about Trump verdict  and most of it was dangerous | Opinion

A jury unanimously found Donald Trump guilty in his New York hush money trial Thursday  making him the first president in U.S. history to be criminally convicted, let alone convicted of a felony.

And North Carolina Republicans had a lot to say about it.

In the wake of the verdict, they took to social media to defend their partys leader and presumptive presidential nominee, calling the trial a sham and insinuating the whole thing was a political orchestrated by Joe Biden and his Democratic allies.

U.S. Sen. Ted Budd called it a rigged charade and encouraged his followers to donate to Trumps campaign to join him in fighting back. U.S. Rep. Virginia Foxx called it a political witch hunt. Said Rep. Greg Murphy: We are officially now a banana republic.

Others more brazenly chose to lay false blame directly at the feet of Democrats.

The American people know that this verdict is election interference and the Biden admin is behind all of it, Rep. Richard Hudson said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

(Of course, the Biden administration had nothing to do with this case, as it was brought by the Manhattan district attorney and the conviction was unanimously agreed upon by a jury of 12 New Yorkers.)

North Carolina Lt. Gov. and GOP gubernatorial nominee Mark Robinson said, The Democrats know they cant beat President Trump at the polls so they weaponize our government against him.

Those half-truths and lies are dangerous enough. But some Republicans, like Rep. Dan Bishop, opted for even more sinister rhetoric.

Lawfare has reached its Waterloo, Bishop said in an X post. A reckoning is coming for gangster government.

Waterloo, of course, was a bloody battle that marked the final defeat of Napoleon. Nearly 50,000 lives were lost. Is that the kind of reckoning Bishop wants to see?

How interesting  and revealing  to see the crowd that constantly cries about law and order turn on that very principle when their ally is the one being brought to justice. Its particularly rich coming from Bishop, who is running to be the states chief law enforcement officer yet seems to be directing strangely ominous threats toward the government itself.

No one should be above the rule of law, not even an American president. Law and order means that everyone must be held to the same standard. Yet Republicans continue to undermine the publics faith in our justice system, egged on by Trump himself, who insists he is a political prisoner and has repeatedly likened himself to Mother Teresa. The lies, the false accusations, the hints of violence  those words carry especially dangerous weight when spoken by those with power and a platform.

But we shouldnt be surprised. Nothing, so far, has been enough to cause most Republicans to stray from the man who demands their absolute fealty, despite the severity of his crimes and moral transgressions. They stood by him through an insurrection, the mishandling of classified documents, through credible sexual assault accusations for which he now owes more than $80 million. Theyve bent over backwards and forwards to justify why they still support him, no matter what the truth says. A felony conviction was never going to change that.
Vilnius is not ruling out the option of sending instructors to Ukraine to train soldiers of the Defense Forces. Lithuania could take such a step if its Western partners joined it.

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Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte commented on this issue. She gave an interview to Bloomberg in Singapore on Friday, May 31.

"We train them [Ukrainian recruits] in third countries, we train them in Lithuania. Lithuania, if necessary, would probably train them in Ukraine in partnership with countries that would be ready to do so," the Baltic prime minister said.

Prior to the full-scale war unleashed by the Russian Federation, Lithuanian troops had been training in Ukraine. There is a long-standing cooperation between our countries, Simonyte said.

Earlier, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda noted that 18 countries have joined the Czech initiative to purchase shells for the Armed Forces, but only four of them are keeping their statements. Nauseda will raise this issue at the International Peace Summit in Switzerland.

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It is expected that our defenders will receive the first batch of 155-millimeter shells purchased outside of Europe as part of the Czech initiative in the near future.

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
NELSON COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  The Nelson County Sheriffs Office is looking for a wanted man who is allegedly connected to a sexual battery investigation involving a minor.

The sheriff says that on May 30, deputies, along with the Nelson County Animal Control, and Virginia State Police responded to the area of Hughes Lane in Shipman to locate 22-year-old Nathan Ryan Wooten.

Wooten is currently wanted in Nelson County for two counts of Aggravated Sexual Battery of a Victim Less than 13 years old and Object Sexual Penetration of a Victim Less than 13 Years Old.

Man hospitalized with critical injuries after shooting, crash in Northwest Roanoke

He was allegedly last seen at a home in the area fleeing from law enforcement. A search of the area was conducted but he was not found.

The sheriffs office described Wooten to be around 510, weighs 160 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

This remains an ongoing investigation. Anyone with information regarding the incident(s) or Wootens location is encouraged to contact the Nelson County Sheriffs Office immediately.

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.
Trump in court May 20. (Photo by Steven Hirsch-Pool/Getty Images)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

Several Nevada candidates and elected officials issued statements  and several didnt  following the announcement Thursday that a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up payments to a porn star to keep her quiet before the 2016 election.

Democrats

Among Democrats issuing statements Thursday afternoon, a common refrain was that no one is above the law:

U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto: We know that Donald Trump is willing to do anything to protect his own interests, including undermining our elections. No one is above the law, and Im glad to see justice served today.

U.S. Rep. Dina Titus: For the first time in our nations history, a former President is found guilty of committing multiple felonies.

Today our justice system has proven that Donald Trump, a twice-impeached, four-times indicted, morally bankrupt individual is not above the law.

Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford: Todays verdict is a win for our justice system and a signal that no one is above the law, not even former presidents. At the core of our countrys legal system is the idea that a person must be held accountable for their actions, regardless of their political career.

I applaud Judge Juan Merchans oversight of this trial and his pursuit of the rule of law. I know emotions may run high in the aftermath of this verdict, and I urge everyone to remain calm as our justice system continues its work.

Republicans

The common refrain among Republican candidates and elected officials who issued statements was an echo of the allegations Trump has been making, without evidence, that the New York trial was politically motivated to hurt his campaign for president.

Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo: I respect the work of the jury but believe that this has been a political witch-hunt in a hostile courtroom. The rule of law should always be applied fairly and without prejudice. President Trump will have an opportunity to appeal, and I expect an unbiased process will vindicate President Trump.

U.S. Rep. Mark Amodei: Its now pretty clear that politics are the major motivator in the Manhattan DAs office. If you think justice is blind in New York City, better think again. It is an embarrassing and sad day for a Country that has for hundreds of years operated on the premise that prosecutions and politics should never be mixed.

Well, those two things have been put in a blender in Manhattan, and I think the end result will reenergize the Trump campaign and take it to new achievement heights. Stay out of New York State if you dont agree with the lefts political views.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Sam Brown: First, they tried to keep Donald Trump off the ballot. Now, they are trying to keep him off the campaign trail. This has been a sham political trial from the beginning, all because DC Democrats are afraid of LOSING and answering for their failures this November.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jeff Gunter: The baseless and corruption (sic) conviction of President Trump marks a dark day for America.

This sets a perilous precedent, where political adversaries are targeted and silenced through corrupt legal maneuvers.

Judge Merchan, a biased political operative, must be disbarred and prosecuted.

We must unite behind President Trump, fight this injustice, and restore integrity to our legal and democratic institutions.

This November, we reclaim our country.

Nevada U.S. House district 3 candidate Drew Johnson: President Trump has been found GUILTY of fraud by a New York court. This is an unfathomable miscarriage of justice. I will continue to proudly stand by his side. In Congress, I will fight the far-left extremists who work to attack Trump and undermine our justice system.

The post Nevada pols react to Trump guilty verdict appeared first on Nevada Current.
TV news networks broke into special coverage across the board as a historic guilty verdict was delivered in Donald Trumps criminal fraud trial on Thursday in Manhattan.

Broadcast networks preempted planned programming for special news coverage of the 34 felony charges, which came back guilty one by one and were read by each network live on air. Meanwhile, cable news networks initiated additional special coverage plans for the evening following the verdict, after airing coverage of the trial relentlessly for weeks.

Jury deliberations began Wednesday morning, putting in just over 11 hours before reaching a unanimous guilty decision on all counts. Sentencing for Trump will take place on July 11, just days ahead of the Republican National Convention, where the former president is expected to officially be crowned the partys nominee for the third time in a row.

Broadcast Network plans:

NBC:

NBC News announced there was a verdict at 4:37 pm ET during Meet the Press Now and went up on the broadcast network with a special report for the verdict at 4:46 pm ET, with coanchor of Today and the networks chief legal correspondent Savannah Guthrie and Nightly News anchor Lestor Holt anchoring. Guthrie and Holt were joined by senior legal correspondent Laura Jarrett, who began reading all 34 counts at 5:06 p.m. ET. Senior Washington Correspondent and NBC News Now anchor Hallie Jackson also joined the special report to offer political analysis. There will be further coverage of the verdict on NBC Nightly News, which began at 6:30 p.m. ET, with the networks streaming service airing a one-hour special at 9 p.m. ET helmed by Top Story anchor Tom Llamas.

ABC:

ABC News took over the broadcast network with their special report at 4:48 p.m. ET, with World News Tonight anchor and managing editor David Muir helming coverage. Senior investigative correspondent Aaron Katersky and ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl were also contributing to the networks special coverage, with chief legal affairs correspondent Dan Abrams joining by phone.

CBS:

CBS News initiated network-wide verdict coverage at 4:49 p.m. ET after breaking into a special report on their streaming service at 4:43 p.m. ET. CBS Evening News anchor and managing editor Norah ODonnell anchored the networks special coverage with contributions from chief election and campaign correspondent Robert Costa, chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford, chief Washington correspondent Major Garrett, congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane and senior White House and political correspondent Ed OKeefe. Coverage of the verdict decision continues on The Daily Report with John Dickerson, CBS Evening News on the networks streaming service and Friday morning.

Cable News:

MSNBC:

MSNBC broke the news that a verdict had been reached in the criminal trial of the former president at 4:37 p.m. ET, breaking the guilty verdict at 5:06 p.m. ET, with Deadline: White House anchor Nicolle Wallace helming the cable networks special coverage. MSNBC anchors Rachel Maddow and Ari Melber joined Wallace, as did legal analyst and cohost of the networks Prosecuting Donald Trump podcast Andrew Weissmann. Special coverage will continue throughout the night on the cable network, with Maddow taking over at 8 p.m. ET, leading a panel of hosts including Wallace, Melber, Joy Reid, Chris Hayes, Alex Wagner, Lawrence ODonnell and Stephanie Ruhle. Special coverage will continue on MSNBC throughout the night and the following day to break down the jurys decision.

CNN:

CNN has regularly been in live special coverage mode to cover updates in this trial. It broke Trumps guilty verdict decision at 5:06 p.m. ET, with The Lead anchor Jake Tapper helming the network. Tapper was joined by CNN chief political correspondent and anchor Dana Bash, The Source anchor Kaitlan Collins, national correspondent Kristen Holmes, chief legal affairs correspondent Paula Reid and anchor Anderson Cooper. The networks coverage included contributions from legal and political experts from outside the New York courtroom including correspondent Kara Scannell. CNNs primetime coverage of the trial verdict will continue with where Erin Burnett, Anderson Cooper, Kaitlan Collins, Abby Phillip, and Laura Coates, who will all dive in-depth into the decision and subsequent ramifications.

Fox News:

Fox News broke the guilty verdict decision in special coverage at 5:07 p.m. ET, with chief legal correspondent Shannon Bream reading off the counts against Trump. Bream was joined by The Five cohost Harold Ford Jr., Trey Gowdy and legal analyst Jonathan Turley. The network will have continuous coverage on Thursday night with contributions from the networks top anchors and legal analysts.

The post News Networks Wipe Evening Slates to Cover Trump Guilty Verdict appeared first on TheWrap.
Former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower, Friday, May 31, 2024, in New York. A day after a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee addressed the conviction and likely attempt to cast his campaign in a new light. | Julia Nikhinson

Former President Donald Trump made history Thursday as the first American president to be convicted of a felony. At Trump Towers in Manhattan on Friday, he spoke to a crowd regarding his guilty verdict.

This is a case where if they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone, he said, per The Associated Press. Regarding the case itself, it was very unfair, Trump added, emphasizing that it was rigged and that no one has ever seen anything like it in legal history.

However, a guilty verdict will not stop the presumptive Republican presidential nominee from continuing his fight for the White House in the 2024 presidential election  hes made that clear. His likely political opponent, President Joe Biden, made statements Friday morning from the White House regarding the guilty verdict and Trumps actions following the end of the trial.

Donald Trump was given every opportunity to defend himself, Biden said, according to CNN. A state case, not a federal case, was heard by a jury of 12 citizens. Twelve Americans. Twelve people like you, like millions of Americans who served on juries.

Its reckless, its dangerous, its irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they dont like the verdict, Biden added. Our justice system has endured for nearly 250 years, and it literally is the cornerstone of America.

What will Trumps sentencing look like?

Following the confirmation from all jurors Thursday that they found Trump guilty of all 34 criminal accounts he was accused of in the case brought on by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Judge Juan Merchan announced a sentencing date of July 11. That comes four days before the Republican National Convention when the party is expected to set Trump as its 2024 presidential candidate.

Thats the big event. They have the balloon drop, the candidates family shows up (and) it gets the party excited, journalist Megyn Kelly said on her podcast Thursday evening. Adding that Merchan is corrupting it by choosing a sentencing date just before the convention begins in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There is a decent chance hes going to be wearing an ankle bracelet.

Could Trump face prison time? Thats uncertain.

The charges center around a $130,000 payment made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels that the prosecution argued was used to silence Daniels from speaking out about an alleged sexual encounter she claimed she had with Trump in her testimony during the trial. Bragg accused Trump of falsifying business records to cover up the hush money payment as a legal expense. Trumps defense argued that marking it as a legal expense was correct because it was a reimbursement to his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, who apparently gave the money to Daniels.

Manipulating business records is a class E felony in the state of New York, which is also the lowest-ranking felony. Trump could possibly face as much as four years in prison for each guilty charge. However, it is unknown whether Merchan will sentence the presidential nominee to time behind bars, and Braggs office has not commented on whether they will seek a prison sentence.

Before sentencing, the former president would have to meet with a probation officer for an interview to create a pre-sentencing report for the judge, per Fox News. The report, which can take six to eight weeks to complete, would include a short biography of Trump and a recommended sentence. It would be sent to all parties, and the defense would have an opportunity to suggest its own sentencing terms. Merchan would not be bound by the sentencing report.

Trump and his defense team have made clear that they will appeal the guilty conviction, but that action cannot be taken till after sentencing on July 11.

In Florida, where Trump currently resides, as a convicted felon, he will not be barred from voting for himself in the upcoming election, but theres nothing in the law that says a convicted felon cant run for public office or be prevented from taking office if they win.
Nine Georgia school districts get millions from feds for more for electric buses

Clayton, Douglas and Hall counties are among nine school districts in Georgia to be awarded millions from the latest bucket of federal money intended to replace the nations diesel and gas-powered school buses with cleaner vehicles.

The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday the recipients of $900 million in funding for clean buses  mostly electric, some propane  part of a five year, $5 billion program created by the bipartisan infrastructure law.

Its about the bigger picture, said EPA administrator Michael Regan in a call with reporters. We are improving air quality for our children, reducing greenhouse gas pollution and expanding our nations leadership in developing the clean vehicles of the future.

Regan said with the latest funding, the program has provided about $3 billion so far to buy approximately 8,500 electric and alternative fuel buses in more than 1,000 communities nationwide. In Georgia, most of the districts receiving funding in this wave of grants are in rural parts of the state. The other county school districts receiving funds in this wave are: Atkinson, Baldwin, Brooks, Jeff Davis, Madison and Oglethorpe.

In most places, those buses will replace diesel- or gasoline-powered vehicles. Diesel and gasoline are both derived from crude oil  a fossil fuel that releases carbon and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere when burned.

For years, diesel has been favored for heavy vehicles like trucks and buses because it packs more energy per gallon than gasoline, which is more refined. But diesel burns dirtier than gas, making its exhaust more harmful to human health, particularly for children whose lungs are still developing. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified diesel engine exhaust as a carcinogen.

The biggest beneficiary in Georgia in this wave of funding is the Clayton County School District, which is slated to receive $8.7 million in this latest round. Thats on top of $9.8 million it received in the first round of federal funds. The school board also kicked in $2.9 million for charging infrastructure and Georgia Power provided some material support, according to the districts executive director of transportation, Denise Hall.

Hall said the district had 467 buses prior to receiving funding from the EPA. She did not respond to a question about how many new electric buses they have purchased so far, but said they have installed 28 fast chargers and plan to have electric buses in service for the upcoming school year.

Hall said the district does not have a specific goal of completely electrifying its bus fleet, but will find balance.

This process is new to all and together we are training staff, identifying strengths and weaknesses, in addition to staying focused on providing the best transportation for our scholars, Hall said in a statement provided by a district spokeswoman.

Baldwin County Schools, which includes Milledgeville in central Georgia, will get $2 million. Eric Little, transportation director for the Baldwin district, said this would be the first time the system has received funding for electric buses and charging infrastructure.

Currently, the schools fleet consists of 63 buses, 61 of which run on diesel and two on gas. The district hopes to buy six electric buses and charging infrastructure.

My goal for the district is to hopefully obtain a mixed fleet of buses, while envisioning using electric buses on as many routes as feasible within the current operating range, Little said in an email. [T]his would be the first step in the direction of operating a cleaner bus fleet.

The federal push for electrification also could provide a big boost to an iconic Georgia company. Fort Valley-based Blue Bird, one of the top school bus manufacturers, makes electrified and propane-powered models. According to its most recent annual report, Blue Bird said it sold nearly two-thirds of all alternative powered school buses from its fiscal year 2014 through fiscal year 2023. Last fiscal year, Blue Bird opened its Electric Vehicle Build-up Center in Fort Valley to meet increasing demand for electric buses.

Clean school bus grants

Nine Georgia school districts received funds in the latest round of federal grants to purchase electric and alternative-fueled buses:

Atkinson County: $210,000

Baldwin County: $2 million

Brooks County: $315,000

Clayton County: $8.7 million

Douglas County: $5 million

Hall County: $625,000

Jeff Davis County: $1.7 million

Madison County: $175,000

Oglethorpe County: $100,000

A note of disclosure

This coverage is supported by a partnership with Green South Foundation and Journalism Funding Partners. You can learn more and support our climate reporting by donating at ajc.com/donate/climate/

This story is a result of a news partnership with The Atlanta Journal Constitution and the Ledger-Enquirer
Raymond Emery searched for his dog Brandon, on the left, in the rubble of his trailer after the tornado. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)

HOPKINS COUNTY  Raymond Emery has spent the past few nights leaning back in the front seat of his green minivan to stay close to his chickens and dogs. Theyre among his few remaining possessions after a powerful EF-3 tornado, winds reaching 160 mph, ripped through his rented trailer the evening of May 26.

One of his dogs, Brandon, keeps a watchful eye on Emery.

I think hes watching over me. I think people been mean to him in his life, but hes a stray, Emery said Thursday, noisy hens and roosters strutting around him. He found Brandon on the street about five months ago chasing his chickens and hungry, so he adopted him along with his other animals.

The remains of Raymond Emerys trailer as volunteers tear it apart, May 30, 2024. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)

The 60-year-old hid under his coffee table as the trailers walls and roof collapsed on top of him. In the dark, he dug through the debris of what was his home searching for Brandon.

Chickens eat the corn thrown by Raymond Emery next to a chicken coop. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)

I thought Brandon was gone because I couldnt find him, but he was hiding in the woods somewhere, he said.

This isnt his familys first loss from a powerful tornado. He said his sister lost her home when a long-track EF-4 tornado tore through the Hopkins County community of Barnsley in December 2021.

That tornado outbreak destroyed hundreds of homes across Western Kentucky in a more than 100 mile-track that devastated the cities of Dawson Springs and Mayfield. Seventy-four Kentuckians died in that outbreak.

The Sunday tornado took a similar path as the 2021 tornado but veered slightly north of Dawson Springs, putting more scattered homes along rural roads in the path of demolishing winds. He said his sisters rebuilt home was spared this time in Barnsley. Others in Barnsley were not as fortunate and are again facing the prospect of rebuilding. One person in Hopkins County died from the May 26 storms, among five Kentuckians killed across the state.

Raymond Emery found his dog Brandon about five months ago as a stray. Emery believes Brandon was abandoned because Brandon was already house trained. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)

Emerys story of survival is one of several in a county recovering from its second violent tornado in less than three years. Neighbors who were spared in 2021 and came to the aid of others now face the shock and long journey of disaster recovery themselves  in a disaster that at least one official predicts will garner less attention and fewer resources than the earlier one.

Emerys trailer wasnt insured, and hes not immediately sure what his nephew, who owns the property, has planned. His nearby family has offered him places to stay, but for now hes decided to stay by his chickens. Feeding and taking care of them is what keeps him going. Brandon, too, stayed close by the tin- roofed coop, a chorus of rooster crows surrounding them.

You got to keep going. You never know when time is going to stop, Emery said.

Finding support for the long path forward

Snapped trees and tornado debris litter the landscape of rural Hopkins County. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)

On Thursday, a crew of volunteers with an Illinois-based Christian youth ministry were tearing down the remains and rubble of Emerys trailer one piece at a time, dishes and clothing stacked in piles next to metal and wooden shards.

Rebecca Resillez with the Salem United Church of Christ said volunteers came to Hopkins County on Sunday expecting to work with a housing nonprofit on home rebuilds from the 2021 tornado, only to be thrust into cleaning up debris from the latest tornado.

Other volunteer groups handling debris removal and bringing supplies have come to Hopkins County in the days after the storms. A church in the unincorporated community of Charleston is serving again as a hub for packaged food, bottled water and cleaning supplies.

We opened the doors and God walked in, said Margaret Purdy, a member of the Charleston Missionary Baptist Church who was ushering tornado survivors to various supplies.

The church served as a resource hub for the area an entire year after the 2021 tornado.

She said the impacts of this tornado may be different because homeowners hit recently may be more likely to have home insurance. But she believes local resources will be there for her fellow community members regardless.

You give me what I can do and Ill do it to the best of my ability to do it, and thats all of us, Purdy said.

The costs that will fall to individual disaster survivors this time are still being calculated as county and state officials push to open up federal disaster assistance to survivors.

Nick Bailey, the emergency management director for Hopkins County, told the Lantern the damage to his countys bridges, roads and other infrastructure plus the cost of cleaning up debris will total more than $4.5 million.

Bailey is confident those costs will qualify for Federal Emergency Management Agency assistance to repair public infrastructure. But qualifying for FEMA assistance to individuals is a different story.

Having enough damage across the state to qualify for FEMA assistance to disaster survivors, particularly to help uninsured or under-insured Kentuckians, isnt guaranteed. The Brookings Institute, a Washington D.C.-based think tank, found that only about a third of disasters that are federally declared qualify for individual aid for disaster survivors.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has previously urged Kentuckians to document damage and report it to local officials to make a stronger case to FEMA for the need for individual assistance.

Bailey also said because of the much larger scale and timing of the 2021 tornado, compared to the latest tornado he generally expects less funding to aid survivors this time. He said relying on local resources, such as through the countys long-term recovery committee, will be key moving forward. As of Friday afternoon, he said Hopkins County had 89 damaged structures with 29 completely destroyed.

We still have people that are going to need help. Theres going to be people that will likely fall through the cracks. But were going to do everything we can on the local level to support as many as we can and try to help as much as we can, Bailey said.

There is some aid coming to Hopkins County in the coming weeks: Kentucky Realtors, an association representing thousands of realtors across the state, announced Friday it was providing $200,000 to help recent disaster survivors pay for one month of housing expenses. Bailey said theres also a large need for more volunteer groups to help clear debris in the weeks ahead.

A near miss and hard memories

The tornado shelter that Franklins family huddled into during the May 26 storm in Hopkins County. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)

Sharon Franklin, 70, lost her house in Caldwell County in the 2021 tornado. She then lived in the garage of her daughters home while dealing with an insurance company that wasnt willing to build back her house. Her memories of that 2021 tornado never leave her mind, remembering the screams of family members as they huddled in the basement.

Eventually, she decided to move to a new home just north of Dawson Springs instead of rebuilding.

The small tornado shelter where Franklin, her family members and a chicken stayed for hours Sunday evening. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)

You just want to get somewhere and call it home again, and this is all I could find, Franklin said.

Next to her ranch-style home in Hopkins County, she had installed a brand new concrete storm shelter only about a week before she had to use it.

Seven people including her daughter, her grandchildren, and great grandchildren  along with a backyard chicken  all huddled in the shelter as the tornado came within less than a mile of her home. Trees fell on top of the storm shelter, trapping them for hours after the storm.

While the pecan trees she loved in her yard had to be cut down due to damage, her new home is still intact.

People right up the road lost everything. I dont know them but I still feel bad for them, she said. Nothing will ever be home anymore.

Utilities install and repair utility poles in tornado-struck Hopkins County. (Kentucky Lantern photo by Liam Niemeyer)

The post No guarantee of federal aid for latest survivors in tornado-struck Western Kentucky appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Donald Trump was found guilty on Thursday (on all 34 counts) for falsifying business records, in a historic conclusion to his seven-week criminal trial. Hes made the record books for becoming the first former president to ever be officially declared a convicted felonand while Republicans might be furious at the news, late-night host Jimmy Kimmel could not be more thrilled.

Early into his Thursday night monologue, Kimmel donned a judges robe to play out how the jurys decision went down. Having his sidekick, Guillermo Rodriguez, play the jury foreman, Kimmel asked him how they found Trump on the first few charges.

Guillermo yelled Guilty! for the first three, before Kimmel sped things up and asked about the final 31 charges. Guilty, guilty, guilty! Guillermo yelled, to massive cheers from the audience.

Seven weeks of sleep farting, all down the drain, all for nothing, Kimmel said. You do have to hand it to him, no president has ever been convicted more than Donald Trump. How long before he starts bragging about this? Maybe he isnt Teflon, maybe hes one of those sticky traps for rats. We dont know.

Kimmel played a clip of Trumps response to the verdict outside the courtroom, in which Trump declared the case to be rigged and assured his fan base that hed win his appeal to get the charges dropped. Kimmel responded, And if we dont win, well say we won anyway.

The late-night comedian took a moment to speculate on what Trumps punishment could be, with a sentencing date set for July 11. Will the judge send him to Rikers Island? Kimmel mused. Will he get probation? Maybe theyll put him under house arrest. Oh man, for Melania, a double whammy with cheese is what that is.

For Kimmel, one option stood out clearly above the rest: apparently Trump might be sentenced to community service. The judge could make him pick up trash along the side of the road. No joke, I vote for that. I mean, that is a beautiful image. Imagine Trump with a hefty bag, picking up ketchup packets with one of those grabber pole things. A big truck goes by, blows that cotton candy hair flap to the other side of his head.

Kimmel showed viewers Eric Trumps post-verdict tweet, which claimed that, May 30th, 2024 might be remembered as the day Donald J. Trump won the 2024 Presidential Election. Kimmel responded, Or it will be remembered as the day a jury in New York spanked your dad even harder than Stormy did with that Forbes magazine.

It is very satisfying to finally see this guy get some comeuppance, Kimmel said. He later added, Oh, it has been a long road to this conviction. And dont forget, there are three more trials to come.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Jose Manuel Carrera is the first in ways other street vendors say they cannot be.

After beginning to sell fruit drinks  referred to as aguas frescas in Spanish  at outdoor events in Clark County over a decade ago, hes now clinking his cup with his 16-year-old son, Alan Carrera, as the two prepare to set up shop without the fear of police interference. Clark County awarded them the first street vendor business license on Wednesday.

Now, no one can bother us. I can be there and, you know, just do our thing, sell whatever we have to sell, Jose said with a smile, standing in front of his cart Thursday afternoon.

I hope to get more than 50 (people) a day. Thats a good number, Alan said while providing a tour of the carts interior. As long as people come and I can serve the community, I mean, Id be happy.

Jose already owns LV Michoacana in North Las Vegas. It will now double as a commissary for their street cart business, Paletas y Aguas.

Jose Manuel Carrera, left and his 16-year-old son Alan flash smiles in front of their street vendor cart business, Paletas y Aguas, as the first awarded the necessary local business license in Clark County. (KLAS)

This saved the Carreras time as their street cart business was simply added to the stores already-obtained state business license. It will also save them money, as they do not need to retrieve their ingredients from a third-party commissary as required by the necessary licensing.

The duo plans to officially begin vending at the Circle K gas station on Cactus Avenue and Dean Martin Drive early next week, thanks to a deal they say was made with the private propertys owner.

The Carreras have reason to celebrate, though other vendors say they have reason to keep operating illegally.

Clark County commissioners approved their own rules for street vendors in mid-April after Gov. Joe Lombardo signed a law requiring certain Nevada jurisdictions to do the same last year. On April 30, those rules went into effect in unincorporated Clark County.

They specify where and when vendors are allowed to sell  rules that some vendors believe are too restrictive. They also dictate licensing and liability insurance requirements, which 8 News Now analyzed to be around $1,500 in total at the start.

Jose said he paid more than that.

Well, its a lot of money when we dont have it, especially for someone thats working hard, trying to apply for this permit, Jose said.

The first street vendor business license awarded in Clark County on the ledge of the Paletas y Aguas cart. (KLAS)

Other vendors have pleaded with county leaders to reduce these rules, which several referred to as barriers during public meetings and workshops with Clark County. The initial licensing and liability costs are among their biggest concerns.

Vendors have also told 8 News Now that the only way they can earn that kind of money is by continuing to operate, technically illegally, for the time being. Others say due to their living circumstances, they would likely not be able to ever save that kind of money while adhering to other financial responsibilities.

Clark County says 74 written warnings have been issued to vendors since the rules went into effect. Metro police told 8 News Now their officers plan to educate and warn the vendors of these rules before potential arrest or citation when a vendor disregards an officers warning and continues to operate without proper licensing.

As other applications make their way through Clark County Business Licensing, Jose says the Carreras are proud to be an example for other vendors to follow. Hes also not paying too much attention to the other vendors that could be operating nearby.

If I, you know, tell them to leave, I dont want to get into no issues with nobody. So, Id rather leave it alone, Jose said. I think (the rules are), you know, something they need to do.

Only two other applications have been submitted since April 30, according to Clark County, indicating more vendors are operating illegally than legally in the valley. The three other valley jurisdictions have yet to enact their own rules as SB 92 requires them to.

The cities of Las Vegas and Henderson are discussing the creation of their rules at the respective city council meetings next week. North Las Vegas has told 8 News Now that they do not yet have a timeline to implement their rules.

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.
On the night of May 31, the Defense Forces struck oil terminals in the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation, and the ferry crossing of the "Kavkaz" port was also disabled. A strike group of the Ukrainian Navy in cooperation with other components of the Defense Forces of Ukraine conducted a successful attack on targets on the territory of the aggressor state.

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The "Neptune" coastal missile system and attack drones were used to hit the targets. This was stated by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

One of the affected oil terminals is located in the port of "Kavkaz".

"A strike group of the Ukrainian Navy struck a ferry crossing and an oil terminal at the Kavkaz port in the Krasnodar Territory of the Russian Federation. It happened early in the day on May 31, the next night after the Ukrainian Defense Forces had put out of action the ferries of the Kerch ferry crossing in the occupied Ukrainian Crimea, which were running to the port of Kavkaz and were used for the aggressor's military logistics," the statement said.

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The General Staff added that the oil terminal near the "Kavkaz" port was hit by several Ukrainian-made missiles from the Neptune coastal missile system.

"The results of objective control confirm the explosions at the targeting locations. The accuracy of target destruction is being investigated. The complex operation was conducted in coordination with other components of the Ukrainian Defense Forces," the General Staff said.

The Defense Forces' strike UAVs also hit another oil terminal in the Krasnodar Territory.

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"The 'modern' and 'effective' Russian air defense was once again powerless against our missiles and unmanned systems and failed to protect important facilities used for logistics and supply of the Russian army," the General Staff summarized.

Earlier it became known that after a series of explosions on the night of May 31 in the Krasnodar region of Russia, an oil depot caught fire: three tanks with oil products were damaged.

The governor of the region, Veniamin Kondratiev, said that the facility was attacked by drones, which were allegedly "suppressed by air defense forces." There were also reports of casualties.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!

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'No reason to justify the distrust and attitude' of Niger, Benin president says

COTONOU (Reuters) - Benin President Patrice Talon said Niger has not responded to his country's concerns and his Nigerien counterpart did not meet with Benin's mining minister on a visit this week amid a dispute over exports of crude oil from Niger via a port in Benin.

Relations between the West African neighbours have been strained since a July 2023 coup in Niger led the regional bloc ECOWAS to impose strict sanctions for more than six months.

Trade flows in the region were expected to normalise after the bloc lifted sanctions, but Niger has kept its borders closed to goods from Benin.

In a televised address on Thursday, Talon said that during meetings in Niamey earlier this week, Benin reiterated its customs agency was ready to cooperate with its counterpart in Niger to allow regular shipments of Nigerien oil through its port terminal.

But, he said, that would only be possible if the border was formally opened, at least to oil shipments.

He said the Nigerien delegation did not make any response to the concerns his mines minister, Samou Seidou Adambi, raised in Niamey.

"As I speak, I have not received any clarification or information from our Nigerien brothers along the lines expected by everyone," Talon said.

On May 15, Benin provisionally reversed a decision to block exports of Nigerien oil via its port and agreed to hold a meeting between the two countries, Adambi said at the time.

But a long-term solution has not yet been agreed.

Talon said he wrote a "letter of appeasement" to junta leader Abdourahamane Tchiani and asked Adambi to deliver it in person, but that Tchiani did not receive the minister.

"I go around the world asking people to come and invest in Africa ... and here I am, witnessing what makes investors reluctant," Talon said in the televised address.

"But I remain hopeful that the calming of relations between Niger and Benin will not be delayed any longer, because there is no reason to justify the distrust and attitude of our brothers in Niger; the time of protest and sanctions due to the coup that took place in Niger has passed."

The nearly 2,000 km (1,243-mile) PetroChina -backed pipeline was officially launched in November linking Niger's Agadem oilfield to the Benin port of Cotonou.

(Reporting by Pulcherie Adjoha; Writing by Portia Crowe; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
ST. LOUIS  FOX 2 has learned of a heavy police presence in Normandy, specifically on Bermuda Drive. The area is blocked off due to ongoing police activity.

Police have confirmed that there is a barricaded suspect in a home, and Normandy police have requested backup. The staging area is at the Bethesda Temple Church of Apostolic Faith, located just north of Interstate 70 at Bermuda. Multiple police departments are on the scene.

Whistleblower lawsuit alleges retaliation by Missouri House speaker

This is an area you will want to avoid for now. Police are working to resolve the situation peacefully. We will continue to follow this story and provide updates as more information becomes available. For now, please avoid the area at Bermuda just north of Interstate 70.

This is a developing story, and FOX 2 will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
North Carolina Republicans rush to defend Trump following guilty verdict on 34 felony counts

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, Donald Trump, and candidate Hal Weatherman pose for a photo over the Memorial Day weekend. (Photo: @HalWeathermanNC account on X.com)

Hours after a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to ultimately influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election, Republicans politicians in North Carolina continued to defend the former president.

Gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson, who Trump has endorsed, called the trial a sham.

The Democrats know they cant beat President Trump at the polls so they weaponize our government against him, said Robinson on his Twitter/X account.

U.S. Senator Thom Tillis said he was shocked by the verdict.

From the beginning, it was clear that a radical, politically-motivated state prosecutor was using the full weight of his office to go after President Trump at the same time he turned a blind eye to violent criminals, said Tillis.

Tillis also questioned whether the Manhattan D.A. had jurisdiction on a federal election matter.

A total disgrace is how North Carolinas junior Senator Ted Budd summed up the proceedings.

Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05) said the District Attorney engaged in brazen legal alchemy.

This decision will inevitably be thrown out by an appeal, but the damage will be done. A political opponent will have grounded a presidential candidate and branded his candidacy, said Foxx in a statement.

Congressman Dan Bishop (NC-09), who is running as the Republican nominee for state Attorney General, said the case was election interference to get Trump.

Its never been about justice  its about rigging and weaponizing our justice system against anyone who threatens their grip on power. We must end the leftist lawfare in November, Bishop shared on social media, signing off with the hashtag #MAGA2024.

Congressman Greg Murphy (NC-03), who is recovering after having a tumor removed from the base of his skull, tweeted, We are officially now a banana republic.

Addison McDowell, who Trump endorsed for Congress in North Carolinas 6th District, called the verdict a travesty and linked to a campaign donation page in which the former president referred to himself as a political prisoner. Trump has not been sentenced yet.

North Carolina democratic Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) countered the Republican narrative with this simple assessment.

This is how our legal system is supposed to function. A jury of his peers deliberated the facts and came to this unanimous decision. The bottom line is that no one is above the law.

Sentencing is set for Tuesday, July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention.

The post North Carolina Republicans rush to defend Trump following guilty verdict on 34 felony counts appeared first on NC Newsline.
A North Georgia sheriff has been arrested and charged with sexual battery and public indecency.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation started an investigation into Rabun County Sheriff Chad Nichols last week. On Friday, he turned himself in.

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Rabun County jail records show Nichols faces charges of public indecency, sexual battery and violation of oath by a public officer.

The Rabun County Sheriffs Office has no comment on the ongoing and active investigation being conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations, Rabun County Sheriffs Office Public Information Officer Kevin Angell said to Channel 2 Action News.

Were managing through it. Its new territory so were doing the best we can, Major Beth Darnell with the Rabun County Sheriffs Office told Channel 2s Audrey Washington.

The GBI did not release any victim information. This case is still being investigated.

Nichols was booked into the Rabun County Detention Center by his own deputies.

In a statement, the sheriffs office wrote in part,

With the Georgia Bureau of Investigations arrest of Sheriff Chad Nichols and the coinciding conditions of his bond, which state he not be involved in any law enforcement activity in his capacity as sheriff, the Rabun County Sheriffs Office will rely on Major Beth Darnell as its Acting In-Charge.

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Were handling this as business as usual. We have a great support team in Rabun County, said Major Darnell.

Neither the GBI nor the Rabun County Sheriffs Office would go into any further detail about the alleged sexual battery, but Major Darnell said she is concerned about her team, who she considers family.

We have a lot of people who are praying for us, and we are supporting one another as a team. Were coming together. Were offering counseling, Major Darnell explained.

The GBI says once the investigation is complete, the case file will be handed over the Mountain Judicial Circuit District Attorney.

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This undated photo provided on Friday, May 31, 2024 by the North Korean government, shows what it says firing drills at an undisclosed place in North Korea. Independent journalists were not given access to cover the event depicted in this image distributed by the North Korean government. The content of this image is as provided and cannot be independently verified. Korean language watermark on image as provided by source reads: "KCNA" which is the abbreviation for Korean Central News Agency. (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  North Korean leader Kim Jong Un supervised drills involving the firing of nuclear-capable multiple rocket launchers to show the countrys ability to carry out a preemptive attack on rival South Korea, state media reported Friday.

North Korea has simulated nuclear strikes on South Korea numerous times, but the latest drills came after animosities on the Korean Peninsula rose over North Korea's recent failed spy satellite launch.

The Norths official Korean Central News Agency reported that the rocket firing drills were meant to demonstrate North Koreas resolve not to hesitate in launching a preemptive strike on South Korea if threatened. It cited Kim as saying that the drills will serve as an occasion in clearly showing what consequences our rivals will face if they provoke us.

Photos showed Kim watching from a distance as at least 18 projectiles were launched.

KCNA suggested the drills came as response to a South Korean aerial exercise performed hours before North Koreas failed attempt to place its second spy satellite into orbit on Monday night.

The launch attempt drew strong condemnation from South Korea, the U.S. and others because the U.N. bans any satellite launches by North Korea, viewing them as covers for testing missile technologies. North Korea reacted angrily, arguing that it has the sovereign right to launch satellites.

Also this week, North Korea flew hundreds of huge balloons into South Korea carrying manure and other trash, and allegedly jammed GPS navigation signals in the South. There were no reports of any substantial damage.

South Korea's Unification Ministry responded in a statement Friday that North Korea must stop absurd, irrational provocations directed at us or face unspecified unbearable consequences. Ministry spokesperson Kim Inae said separately that South Korea strongly condemns North Korea for threatening preemptive strikes against the South.

Observers speculate the South Korean retaliatory steps could include a resumption of loudspeaker broadcasts into North Korea that include criticism of its human rights situation, world news and K-pop songs. North Korea is extremely sensitive to such broadcasts because most of its 26 million people are not allowed access to foreign TV and radio programs.

The North Korean firing exercises appeared to be short-range ballistic missile test-launches that South Korea detected from North Korea's capital region on Thursday. Experts say North Koreas large artillery rockets blur the boundary between artillery systems and short-range ballistic missiles because they can create their own thrust and are guided during delivery.

Since the start of 2022, North Korea has been engaged in a series of provocative weapons tests to increase its nuclear capabilities to cope with what it calls an intensifying U.S. military threat. Foreign experts say North Korea eventually aims to use its larger nuclear arsenal to wrest greater concessions from the U.S. when diplomacy resumes.

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Associated Press writer Kim Tong-hyung contributed to this report.

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Follow AP's Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific
North Texas woman sentenced for beating, burning 2-year-old girl who died in her care

A North Texas woman has been sentenced to 60 years in prison by a Tarrant County court for her role in the death of a 2-year-old girl who was left in her care.

Shamonica Jackson, 39, was sentenced Friday after she pleaded guilty to injury to a child in the death of Aniyah Darnell, according to the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorneys Office.

Aniyahs body was covered in bruises and burns, investigators said. The toddler was unresponsive and also dehydrated when police found her with those severe injuries at an Arlington apartment in November 2018. She died the same day at Medical City Arlington Hospital.

Jackson and her boyfriend had custody of the toddler from August 2018 until her death.

Jackson punished the child by spanking her with a belt, police said.

Her boyfriend, Derick Roberson, was sentenced last year to three years of probation for failing to intervene in the abuse. He pleaded guilty to injury to a child by omission. Robersons sentencing came after a judge declared a mistrial in his case.

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The couple had faced charges of capital murder before their guilty pleas.

Jackson told Arlington police she had grown frustrated with the child for going to the bathroom in her clothes. According to an affidavit obtained by the Star-Telegram in 2018, Jackson hit the child with a belt and her hand to teach the girl a lesson.

Jackson told police Aniya had a bad injury, described as a burn, on her rear, but she had not taken the girl to the hospital. Instead Jackson tried home remedies to treat the injury and continued to discipline the girl by hitting her, according to the affidavit.

During the period in which they had custody of Aniyah, Roberson was aware that Jackson repeatedly struck the girl, and gave her a bath that caused severe burns to her buttocks and foot, prosecutors alleged.

A forensic pathologist determined the cause of her death was battered child with dehydration and the manner was homicide.

This article includes information from the Star-Telegrams archives.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Buffalo police have arrested a North Tonawanda man, charging him with second-degree murder.

John Rudes, 28, was accused of killing 59-year-old Buffalo resident Terry Jackson early in the morning on Sept. 17.

Police said Rudes stabbed Jackson on Kenmore Avenue, resulting in the victim dying at the scene. Authorities said he had more than one stab wound.

Latest Local News

Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award, JANY Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
Poland is working on another aid package for Ukraine. It will be the 45th package provided by Warsaw since Russia's full-scale invasion.

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This was stated by Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski during a meeting of NATO foreign ministers that is taking place in the Czech capital Prague today, May 31, Reuters reports. According to the head of Polish diplomacy, Poland has already allocated about 4 billion euros for Ukraine for military assistance alone.

Sikorski noted that Poland is currently working on the next, 45th aid package to Ukraine.

"Poland has sent 44 aid packages to Ukraine, and now we are organizing our 45th... we think that we have provided about 4 billion euros in military aid alone," the diplomat said.

Earlier, Sikorski said that Poland should not rule out sending troops to Ukraine. At the same time, he emphasized that it is extremely important to keep the real intentions of our country's Western partners secret so that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin does not know what the West's next step will be.

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Sikorski has spoken about the need to keep Putin in constant suspense many times before.

Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber . Do not fall for fakes!
FILE - Judge Juan M. Merchan poses in his chambers in New York, March 14, 2024. On Friday, May 31, 2024, The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly claiming Merchan told the jury in former President Donald Trumps hush money trial that they dont need a unanimous verdict to convict Trump. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

A roundup of some of the most popular but completely untrue stories and visuals of the week. None of these are legit, even though they were shared widely on social media. The Associated Press checked them out.

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Questions swirl around whether Trump can vote for himself in the 2024 election

CLAIM: Former President Donald Trump wont be able to vote for himself in the 2024 presidential election because he was convicted in his hush money trial.

THE FACTS: Trump, a Florida resident, will be able to vote in the election if he stays out of prison in New York, as Florida defers to other states disenfranchisement rules for residents convicted of out-of-state felonies. New York law only removes the right to vote for people convicted of felonies when theyre incarcerated  once theyre out of prison, their rights are automatically restored, even if theyre on parole.

After a New York jury on Thursday found Trump guilty of all 34 felony charges in his hush money trial, social media users claimed that the decision will prevent the former president from voting for himself in the upcoming election.

The guy who ran his 2016 Campaign on LOCK HER UP is about to be locked up, reads one Instagram post. Also worth noting that as a conflicted felon, Trump can no longer vote in his own home state for himself or anyone else.

The post, which misspelled the word convicted, had received more than 18,900 likes as of Friday.

Trump cant legally vote for himself now!!! reads one X post that had received approximately 9,200 likes and 5,800 shares as of Friday. I love Karma! Its a good day for America!

But Trumps ability to vote in the 2024 race will depend on his sentence.

Thats because Florida  in which Trump established residency while president in 2019  defers to other states disenfranchisement laws when it comes to residents convicted of out-of-state felonies. In Trumps case, New York law states that people convicted of felonies are not allowed to vote only when theyre incarcerated. Once out of prison, their rights are automatically restored, even if theyre on parole, per a 2021 law passed by the states Democratic legislature.

So as long as Trump isnt sent to prison, he can vote for himself in Florida in Novembers election. His sentencing date is July 11, four days before the opening of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where GOP leaders are expected to formally make him their nominee.

His conviction, and even imprisonment, would not bar Trump from continuing his pursuit of the White House. Rules for the convention adopted last year dont include any specific provisions about what happens if its presumptive nominee is convicted of a crime.

Delegates could move to change the rules before formalizing Trumps nomination, but theres no evidence that a significant faction of the party would try to replace the former president on the GOP ticket. Trump commands loyalty across the GOP base, and the Republican National Committee is run by his loyalists, including his daughter-in-law Lara Trump as co-chair.

Trump was convicted on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. The former president is expected to appeal the verdict.

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Posts misrepresent New York judges instructions to jury in Trump hush money trial

CLAIM: New York Judge Juan M. Merchan told the jury in former President Donald Trumps hush money trial that they dont need a unanimous verdict to convict Trump.

THE FACTS: Merchan said that to convict Trump the jury would have to find unanimously, on each of 34 felony counts, that he falsified business records and that he did so with the intent of concealing another crime  in this case, violating a state election law during his 2016 campaign. The judge said jurors could consider three different ways the law may have been broken and that they dont have to be unanimous on this decision.

As jury deliberations began Wednesday in Trumps trial, social media users spread false information about Merchans instructions to the seven men and five women who will determine the outcome in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president.

How is this even a fair trial? reads one Instagram post that had received more than 13,500 likes as of Thursday. The judge just announced that the jury does not even have to be unanimous in their judgment to convict President Trump! This entire process was rigged from the start.

An X post reads: Judge Merchan has told the jury that they do NOT NEED unanimity to convict. They do not have to all agree on what occurred. 4 can agree on one crime, 4 on a different one, and the other 4 on another. He will treat 4-4-4 as a UNANIMOUS verdict.

But these claims, which were echoed by Trump on Truth Social, distort Merchans instructions.

The judge told the jury that to convict Trump on any given charge, they will have to find unanimously  that is, all 12 jurors must agree  that the former president created a fraudulent entry in his companys records or caused someone else to do so, and that he did so with the intent of committing or concealing a crime.

Prosecutors said the crime Trump committed or hid is a violation of a New York election law making it illegal for two or more conspirators to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means.

Merchan gave the jurors three possible unlawful means they can apply to Trumps charges: falsifying other business records, breaking the Federal Election Campaign Act or submitting false information on a tax return.

For a conviction, each juror had to find that at least one of those three things happened, but they did not have to agree unanimously on which it was.

Trump was charged with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first degree as part of a scheme to bury damaging stories that he feared could hurt his 2016 campaign, particularly as his reputation was suffering at the time from comments he had made about women. He was convicted on all charges Thursday.

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Statue of Liberty image was created using Photoshop. It is not a structure made of ruins from the artists home

CLAIM: An image shows a sculpture resembling the Statue of Liberty, built by a Syrian artist out of the ruins of his house. This is the freedom they brought us, states a slogan associated with the image.

THE FACTS: The image is a digital photomontage by Tammam Azzam, a Syrian artist now based in Berlin. Azzam told The Associated Press that he created the image in 2012 using Photoshop to combine fragments of photographs showing destroyed buildings in Syria. He said it represents freedom sought by the Syrian people.

Social media posts are giving new life to yearsold claims that misrepresent the image using erroneous details about its origin and meaning.

This was built by a Syrian artist from the ruins of his house, reads one X post that included the image and had received approximately 31,000 likes and more than 10,200 shares as of Thursday. With the slogan: This is the freedom they brought us.

Others shared similar posts along with the Palestinian flag emoji, appearing to compare the impact of the Israel-Hamas war on Palestinians to the ongoing civil war in Syria. One such Facebook post had received more than 9,700 reactions and 3,600 shares.

But the image, titled Statue of Liberty, was created digitally and has nothing to do with the supposed slogan spreading online.

I created the image using Photoshop by scanning and piecing together various fragments of photographs of destroyed buildings in Syria, Azzam told the AP in an email. Regarding the misrepresentation, it is unfortunate that the image has been falsely attributed to a specific narrative. It was not built from the ruins of any house, nor does it carry the slogan attributed to it.

The photomontage was intended to comment on the themes of freedom and oppression, according to Azzam. He said he created it in 2012 as a symbol of the freedom that the Syrian people have sought and continue to seek in a country that has been devastated by the regimes response to their demonstrations.

Azzam posted the image on his Facebook account as part of what he described as a broader series he worked on while living in Dubai. He wrote that it was not printed or exhibited in a gallery or similar venue, though it has been widely shared and discussed online.

Syrias civil war, now in its 14th year, has killed nearly half a million people and displaced half the countrys pre-war population of 23 million. It began with peaceful protests against the government of President Bashar Assad in March 2011, part of the Arab Spring popular uprisings that spread across the Middle East that year.

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Find AP Fact Checks here: https://apnews.com/APFactCheck
NEW YORK  New York City is bracing for Canadian wildfire smoke to potentially roll in over the five boroughs again this summer, and Mayor Eric Adams pledged Thursday his administration is going to engage in greater outreach with residents during future air quality emergencies to make sure they know what precautions to take.

For starters, Adams  who faced heat last summer over what some saw as their sluggish reaction to the city being blanketed in wildfire smoke blown in from Canada  said in an afternoon press conference in Brooklyn that his team has developed a new internal air quality response protocol.

Adams and several top advisers said they couldnt share details because the protocol is still in draft form, but said itll enhance communication and outreach to vulnerable populations and noted it was drafted in collaboration with officials in San Francisco, who often deal with wildfires.

The mayor also acknowledged that not enough New Yorkers are signed up for Notify NYC, the primary tool the city uses to alert residents about weather emergencies in real time via text messages. He said his administration needs to perform an analysis of how to bring up the number of subscribers.

How do we get people to be more forward-thinking on signing up for a great tool, Notify NYC, but its not being used as the way we would like to across the city, he said.

Adams and his aides also said theyve updated their air quality emergency guidelines.

Zach Iscol, the mayors commissioner of Emergency Management, referred to a page on the Department of Healths website that offers tips on what to do during an air quality emergency like stay indoors with windows and doors closed if temperatures allow and limit activities that can worsen indoor air, like frying or broiling foods, smoking or vaping tobacco or cannabis products, vacuuming, burning candles or incense, or using a fireplace.

The mayor and the other officials at the press conference didnt elaborate on how the new guidance will be disseminated.

Meantime, Iscol confirmed the city is expecting a potential repeat of last Junes emergency, when plumes of acrid smoke from massive wildfires raging through Canada enveloped the Big Apple in an orange hue that made it dangerous for some New Yorker to breathe without masks on.

It is looking like its going to be an active wildfire season, so it is something were looking at and preparing for, he said. It looks like there are a lot of very dry areas of Canada right now that can lead to increased amount of smoke when you have those types of wildfires.

Wildfire season in Canada typically runs through October.

Pressed for more details on how exactly the city will improve outreach to vulnerable New Yorkers, Iscol acknowledged to the Daily News after the press conference that there arent any specific new emergency digital communication initiatives in the pipeline.

But he mentioned that his agency is operating Ready New York, an in-person public education campaign that involves Emergency Management staffers fanning out across the city to hand out informational pamphlets on what to do during crisis events.

Iscol also said its incumbent on individuals outside of the Adams administration to help with emergency response.

Its not just putting stuff on a website, its conversations with loved ones, its making sure that [elected officials] are messaging to their constituents, its the ready New York presentations we do, its social media, its the press  you guys are a huge part of educating the public, he told The News.

After last years Canadian wildfire emergency, public school parents and some local Democratic elected officials blasted the mayor for not publicly warning New Yorkers earlier about the dangers of the smoke and waiting nearly a full day after it first started blowing in before announcing outdoor school activities would be cancelled the next day.

At Thursdays press conference, Adams said last years emergency showed how quickly dangerous wildfire smoke could blanket our city.

It was really amazing to see how something so far away can impact our city and impacting the breathing of everyday New Yorkers, he said.

_____
MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11)  The 59th annual Israel Day parade in Manhattan this weekend will feature new security tactics the NYPD says its never done before.

PIX11 News was the only camera inside an all-hands-on-deck meeting on Thursday ahead of the parade, which is scheduled for Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on Fifth Avenue.

Officials and survivors of gun violence vow a safer summer

NYPD officials discuss security plans for the 2024 Israel Day parade amid concerns about pro-Palestinian protesters. (credit: PIX11)

We are very concerned about all of the protests; we have been dealing with over 3,000 protests since [the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas], Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey said.

Pro-Palestinian protesters have disrupted several other major New York City traditions in recent months, including the Thanksgiving Day parade.

The NYPD, along with all other city agencies, state and federal agencies, and community leaders, added their input to the parade security plan. This year, police will block the west side of Fifth Avenue and only allow spectators to line the east side of the street.

Its just about safety with whats going on around the world, Maddrey added.

Tens of thousands of people have taken part in the Israel Day parade since 1965.

The NYPD is using its experience with other parades and large events in the planning process for this parade.

More US and World News

While the NYPD says there are no credible threats to the parade, police will not take any chances. They want to secure the safety of all participants and Chief Maddrey said he expects to have a safe event.

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.
NEW YORK  The NYPD is on high alert for Sundays Israel Day on Fifth parade in Manhattan, warning that extremists across the ideological spectrum and other grievance-driven malicious actors may look to strike the high-profile event, according to a police department threat assessment.

There will be extra security measures in place due to the war in Gaza, which was sparked by the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas terrorists against Israel, but Police Commissioenr Edward Caban said there is no specific or credible threat to the parade or New York City in general.

Still, protective fencing is being installed along the parades route from E. 56th to E. 74th streets on Fifth Ave., and drones will be used to watch for the potential onrush of troublemakers or protesters who dont plan to demonstrate peacefully.

Mark Treyger, head of the Jewish Relations Council of New York, said Sundays parade is the most consequential in his lifetime and that he expects more than 200 different groups to take part.

Still, he acknowledged that the spike in antisemitic hate crimes in the city 154 this year through May 26, up 60% from 96 at the same time last year  could scare off those who have attended past parades.

My message to them is your love and support is demonstrated in many ways, he said. It is through their prayers, it is through showing up to their synagogues and it is expressed through their Jewish heritage as they walk through the streets of New York.

On Wednesday morning a cabbie passing a yeshiva in East Flatbush, Brooklyn verbally assaulted a group of Jewish people before driving up on the sidewalk and trying to run them down, police said.

The 58-year-old suspect was arrested but on hate crime charges but police said there is no connection to the parade.

-------
Former President Obama offered his endorsement of the Israel-Hamas cease-fire road map that President Biden announced Friday, arguing it can save lives and provide some security for both Israel and Palestinians in Gaza.

Obama called it a realistic and just plan to end the Israel-Hamas war, bring hostages home and increase aid into Gaza to relieve dire conditions facing Palestinians almost eight months into the war.

A ceasefire alone wont ease the terrible pain of Israelis whose loved ones were butchered or abducted by Hamas, or the Palestinians whose families have been shattered by the subsequent war. It wont resolve the longstanding conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, or answer contentious issues surrounding a two-state solution or continuing settler activity in the West Bank, Obama said in a Friday post on social platform X.

But what it can do is put a stop to the ongoing bloodshed, help families reunite and allow a surge of humanitarian aid to help desperate, hungry people. It can save lives, here and now  and it can lay the foundation for what will be a long and difficult road to a future in which Israel is secure and at peace with its neighbors, and Palestinians finally have the security, freedom and self-determination that they have sought for so long.

Biden shared an Israeli-led proposal Friday that features a three-part road map that would stop the fighting and release the remaining hostages taken by Hamas when it attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing some 1,200 people and kidnapping about 250.

The plan has been shared with Hamas through Qatar, he said. During his speech on Friday, Biden urged all Israeli leaders to back the road map, arguing that Hamas has been decimated to the point it could not repeat another Oct. 7 attack. He also called for global pressure on Hamas to accept the deal.

The proposal has three phases. The initial one constitutes a six-week cease-fire during which the Israeli military withdraws from Gaza and Hamas releases an initial round of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners.

Phase two would involve the release of all remaining hostages and a permanent cessation of hostilities. The third phase would be the reconstruction of Gaza.

The proposal came less than four weeks after cease-fire talks stalled between Israel and Hamas. The Friday proposal also came as the Israeli military has expanded operations in central Rafah, the city in the south of the Gaza Strip, despite caution from the Biden administration against targeting a densely populated area that housed more than a million Palestinians before the early May incursion.

As the tragedy in Gaza has unfolded over the past eight months, weve witnessed an often fierce public debate here at home  and around the world  regarding how the United States should respond, Obama said. But no matter where each of us stand in these broader debates, an enduring ceasefire is something we should all support  for the sake of Israelis, Palestinians and the world at large.

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.
UnityPoint Health-Jones Regional Medical Center is a 22-bed critical access hospital in Anamosa, Iowa. It averages about seven inpatients a night and provides emergency services to the small community northeast of Cedar Rapids. (UnityPoint Health)

UnityPoint Health-Jones Regional Medical Center is a 22-bed critical access hospital in Anamosa, Iowa. It averages about seven inpatients a night and provides emergency services to the small community northeast of Cedar Rapids. (UnityPoint Health)

Facing ongoing concerns about rural hospital closures, Capitol Hill lawmakers have introduced a spate of proposals to fix a federal program created to keep lifesaving services in small towns nationwide.

In Anamosa, Iowa  a town of fewer than 6,000 residents located more than 900 miles from the nations capital  rural hospital leader Eric Briesemeister is watching for Congress next move. The 22-bed hospital Briesemeister runs averages about seven inpatients each night, and its most recent federal filings show it earned just $95,445 in annual net income from serving patients.

Yet Briesemeister isnt interested in converting the facility into a rural emergency hospital, which would mean getting millions of extra dollars each year from federal payments. In exchange for that financial support, hospitals that join the program keep their emergency departments open and give up inpatient beds.

Eric Briesemeister, chief executive of UnityPoint Health-Jones Regional Medical Center, isnt interested in converting the facility into a rural emergency hospital, despite the prospect of receiving millions of extra dollars each year from federal payments. (UnityPoint Health)

It wasnt for us, said Briesemeister, chief executive of UnityPoint Health-Jones Regional Medical Center. I think that program is a little bit more designed for hospitals that might not be around without it.

Nationwide, only about two dozen of the more than 1,500 eligible hospitals have become rural emergency hospitals since the program launched last year. At the same time, rural hospitals continue to close  10 since the fix became available.

Federal lawmakers have introduced a handful of legislative solutions since March. In one bill, senators from Kansas and Minnesota list a myriad of tactics, including allowing older closed facilities to reopen.

Another proposal introduced in the House by two Michigan lawmakers is the Rural 340B Access Act. It would allow rural emergency hospitals to use the 340B federal drug discount program, which Congress created in 1992.

The 340B program, named after its federal statute, lets eligible hospitals and clinics buy drugs at a discount and then bill insurance companies, Medicare, or Medicaid at market rates. Hospitals get to keep the money they make from the difference.

Congress approved 340B as an indirect aid package to help struggling hospitals stay afloat. Many larger hospitals say the cash is used for community benefits and charity care, while many small hospitals depend on the drug discounts to help cover staffing and operational shortfalls.

Currently, emergency hospitals are not eligible for 340B discounts. According to a release from U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Mich.), the House proposal would correct this oversight. Backers of the House bill include the American Hospital Association and the National Rural Health Association.

In Iowa, Briesemeister said the 340B federal drug discount program can be used for tremendous good. The small-town hospital uses money it makes from 340B to subsidize emergency services and uninsured and underinsured patients who frequent the emergency department, he said.

Chuck Grassley, Iowas longtime Republican senator, shepherded the Rural Emergency Hospital program into law. His spokesperson, Gillie Maddox, did not respond directly to questions about why the federal law creating rural emergency hospitals omitted the 340B program. Instead, Maddox said the designation was a product of bipartisan negotiations.

A survey conducted by the health analytics and consulting firm Chartis, along with the National Rural Health Association, found that nearly 80% of rural hospitals had participated in 340B and nearly 40% said they reaped $750,000 or more annually from the program.

Sanford Health, a largely rural health system headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, considered converting a handful of smaller critical access hospitals into rural emergency hospitals.

Martha Leclerc, vice president of corporate contracting for Sanford, said the system analyzed how much revenue would be lost by closing inpatient beds, which is also a requirement of the emergency hospital program, and by being unable to file for drug discounts.

In the end, she said, switching did not make a lot of sense.

While many rural hospitals are clamoring for the 340B provision to be added to the rural emergency hospital program, opponents have said 340B can be a cash cow for hospitals that dont serve enough vulnerable patients.

Nicole Longo is deputy vice president of public affairs for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, the nations largest, most influential pharmaceutical lobbying group. She wrote in a recent blog post that hospital systems and chain pharmacies are exploiting the program and said patients have not benefited from the growth in the program.

In an interview, Longo said PhRMA supports rural emergency hospitals being able to access 340B because they are treating vulnerable patients in underserved communities and are true safety net providers.

PhRMA, she said, wants to encourage a thoughtful conversation about which types of hospitals should be in the program. Last year, PhRMA formed an unlikely pact with community health centers to create the Alliance to Save Americas 340B Program, or ASAP 340B.

Vacheria Keys, associate vice president of policy and regulatory affairs at the National Association of Community Health Centers, said, There is a new day of openness, from all parties.

Use of the drug discount program skyrocketed after provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, passed in 2010, allowed hospitals and clinics to contract with an unlimited number of retail pharmacies, such as Walgreens and CVS, which are paid a fee to dispense the discounted drugs.

Adam J. Fein, president of the industry research organization Drug Channels Institute, reports that the 340B program is the second-largest federal drug program, trailing Medicare Part D. The flow of drugs purchased under the 340B program reached $53.7 billion in 2022, about $9.8 billion more than in 2021.

In response to the exploding use of contract pharmacies, pharmaceutical manufacturers have restricted the drugs they offer at a discount through the pharmacies. That throttling is affecting rural hospitals like Labette Health, a Kansas hospital whose president asked President Joe Biden for help in dealing with the pharmaceutical companies.

Rena Conti, an associate professor of markets, public policy, and law at Boston Universitys Questrom School of Business, has studied the drug discounts for years and said she has significant worries about expanding the 340B program.

There is a lot of money being generated in this program that we really cant understand exactly how much that really is and exactly who it is benefiting, Conti said.

At the same time, said Conti, a health care economist, giving rural hospitals access to the federal drug discounts makes sense because they are hospitals that are serving particularly vulnerable patient populations.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF  the independent source for health policy research, polling, and journalism.

The post An obscure drug discount program stifles use of federal lifeline by rural hospitals appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
The front entrance to LAPD headquarters on First Street in downtown Los Angeles. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

An off-duty Los Angeles police officer shot and killed a man in San Bernardino County after what police there described as an altercation that left one dead and the cop hospitalized.

Police responded to a shooting near Euclid Avenue and 6th Street on Thursday evening in Ontario and discovered that an off-duty officer with the Los Angeles Police Department had shot an unarmed man during an altercation, according to an Ontario Police Department spokesman.

The man who was shot died of his wounds at the scene.

Ontario Officer Bill Lee said it is "a slow-moving investigation as the off-duty officer is still in the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries."

An LAPD internal report and sources initially said the shooting involved a traffic collision, but Lee said that detail is unconfirmed.

"When officers were there last night there was talk of a collision but we cannot confirm a collision at this point," Lee said.

Lee said when the altercation occurred "no one was in a vehicle." Lee said because the officer remains hospitalized investigators haven't been able to get a full statement from him about the shooting. Lee said the off-duty officer has not been arrested.

In a post on the social media site X, Ontario police said the shooting led to the closure of an area around Euclid Avenue and the 10 Freeway and encouraged motorists to find alternative routes. The post doesn't provide any identifying details about the shooter or the deceased.

In a brief statement, an LAPD spokesperson said the department was "aware of the shooting and is fully cooperating with the investigation," but declined to comment further.

Ontario PD is investigating a shooting at Euclid Ave/ Sixth St. The scene is safe, but please stay out of the area. Southbound Euclid Ave from the 10frwy is closed until further notice. Please use alternate routes.  Ontario Police Dept. (@OntarioPD) May 31, 2024

Ontario police responded to the scene about 8:30 pm and found the man with a gunshot wound, according to Cpl. Eliseo Guerrero.

According to law enforcement sources not authorized to discuss the shooting, the officer is Victor Corral and is assigned to LAPD Central Division. Corral, who joined the department in May 1995, had been off work because of an injury for the last year or so, the sources said.

Corral did not immediately respond to a request for comment that was sent to his department email. It's unclear whether he has hired an attorney.

One law enforcement source, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the case, said the officer had not regularly qualified on the shooting range as required with his department weapon because he was off work for an extended period. Under department policy, in such circumstances, an officer's privileges to carry a concealed weapon are meant to be withdrawn, but that had not happened in this case, according to the source.

The incident was at least the 13th off-duty shooting by an LAPD officer since 2017, according to a Times database.

In July 2010, while on duty, Corral in South Los Angeles responded to a disturbance call with his partner and shot and wounded a man who police said opened the front door and pointed a gun at the officers.





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Joe Biden's delay in authorizing the use of Western weapons against targets in Russia has led to the occupiers laughing at Ukraine and getting the opportunity to "hunt" its people. The White House's ambiguity cost the lives of civilian Ukrainians.

ADVERTISIMENT

In this regard, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the US President to overcome his long-standing fears of a possible nuclear "escalation" with Moscow. He said this in an interview with The Guardian.

On Thursday night, it emerged that after months of lobbying, the US took a small but symbolic step  and for the first time allowed some US-made weapons to be used by the Kyiv military to fire into Russian territory while defending Kharkiv.

But in his interview, Zelenskyy made it clear that he needed to be able to use "powerful" long-range weapons that could hit targets deep inside Russia  a red line that the White House refused to lift.

The United States, he said, needs to "have more faith in us."

Without this green light, Zelenskyy said, other allies, such as the United Kingdom, may also not allow Ukraine to use its long-range weapons.

ADVERTISIMENT

"Believe us, we have to respond. They understand nothing but force. We are not the first and not the last target. I think it's absolutely illogical to have [Western] weapons and see murderers, terrorists, killing us from the Russian side. I think sometimes they just laugh at this situation. It's like a hunt for them. A hunt for people. They realize that we see them, but we can't get to them," he said.

It is worth noting that US President Joe Biden, under pressure from his advisers and key allies, allowed Ukraine to conduct limited strikes inside Russia using US-made weapons. This change in White House policy could be a new chapter in the war for Ukraine. American officials expect that the first attacks on Russian territory could begin within hours or days.

The German government has also authorized Ukraine to attack targets in Russia with German weapons. However, this applies only to the Russian territory bordering the Kharkiv region of our country.

ADVERTISIMENT

As OBOZ.UA wrote, on May 30, the American newspaper Politico reported that Biden secretly authorized Ukraine to strike at Russia with American weapons, but the permission applies only to the defense of Kharkiv.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces can open fire on Russian forces that attack or intend to attack the Kharkiv region, the Biden administration confirmed.

At the same time, The Washington Post reported earlier, citing sources, that the United States does not mind Ukraine shooting down planes and missiles over Russian territory with air defense systems provided by Washington. The authorization is valid if these targets "pose a threat to Ukraine."

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Wolfgang Buechner, Deputy Government Spokesman, answers questions from journalists during the government press conference in front of the Federal Press Conference.Buechner has rejected concerns that the country could be seen as a party to the conflict in Ukraine as a result of its decision to allow Ukraine to use German-supplied weapons to strike military targets in Russia. Wolfgang Kumm/dpa

A German government spokesman has rejected concerns that the country could be seen as a party to the conflict in Ukraine as a result of its decision to allow Ukraine to use German-supplied weapons to strike military targets in Russia.

"It was always clear that by providing weapons to Ukraine, we would not become part of the war and not a party to it," Deputy Government Spokesman Wolfgang Buchner said in Berlin on Friday.

It had also never been disputed under international law that Ukraine was allowed to defend itself against Russia's ongoing invasion, which violates international law, Buchner said.

The German government announced on Friday that it was lifting conditions that had restricted Ukraine from using German-supplied weapons to strike Russian territory.

Several other Western countries have also made similar decisions in recent days. Germany and others cited Russia's current military offensive against the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, which is located near the Russian border, to justify the change.

When asked if the German decision explicitly applied to the defence of Kharkiv, Buchner said there was a "factual connection."

The change of course had something to do with "the development of the war and with close coordination with [Germany's] closest partners," he said.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  Reaction is coming in from national and state level government officials after Donald Trump was found guilty of all 34 felony counts in his criminal hush money trial.

A New York jury found him guilty Thursday of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election.

Trump, who called the decision a disgrace and said he was a very innocent man, was already the first U.S. president in history to face criminal charges, and Thursdays historic decision means hes also the first to be a convicted felon.

He now faces three other upcoming criminal trials related to his handling of classified documents and election interference cases from Georgia and in connection to the Jan. 6 insurrection.

The latest reaction

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin weighed in on the verdict, saying on X that it was a politically motivated prosecution by people out to get the former president.

The American people see this for what it is: a politically motivated prosecution orchestrated by those who want to get President Trump.



On November 5th, Americans will render their verdict on Joe Bidens failed leadership based on the issues that affect them everyday.  Glenn Youngkin (@GlennYoungkin) May 30, 2024

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares said on X that while others declined to prosecute the case, the case still moved forward only because the defendant was named Donald Trump.

No one in America is above or beneath the law, and everyone has a right to a fair and impartial trial.



To be clear, the FEC declined to prosecute this case. The US Attorneys Office declined to prosecute this case. This case was moved forward by a far-left prosecutor who  Jason Miyares (@JasonMiyaresVA) May 30, 2024

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina said that he was shocked by the verdict considering the case should have never been brought forward.

I am shocked by the verdict considering that this case should have never been brought forward. From the beginning, it was clear that a radical, politically-motivated state prosecutor was using the full weight of his office to go after President Trump at the same time he turned a  Senator Thom Tillis (@SenThomTillis) May 30, 2024

Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia said that the Trump verdict is proof that no one is above the law in this country. Its also tragic in this wayAmericans put the reins of leadership in the hands of a person whose character is so far beneath the office that no rational adult would ever encourage young people to emulate his behavior. Trumps lack of character has caught up to him. And Americansonce againhave received a clear warning about a person who wants to seize leadership once again. I pray that we heed the warning.

Virginias other senator, Sen. Mark Warner, said that every American deserves their day in court. President Trump got his.

Democratic Rep. Bobby Scott of Virginia said on X that it is a somber day when a former president is convicted of numerous felonies, but it also shows that no one is above the law.

Rep. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat running for Virginia governor, said on X that we are a country of laws. Today, our justice system held someone accountable for his crimes. In the wake of this verdict, responsible lawmakers must lead by example and not deny the truth or stoke anger. We must demonstrate principled leadership and uphold the rule of law.

Rep. Jen Kiggans, on X, said that todays verdict is not about justice; its about revenge. Democrats continued attempts to discredit and silence their opponents is shameful. The American people have a sacred right to a fair and unbiased justice system; unfortunately, days like today make that ideal hard to believe in.

No amount of rigged trials can cover up the damage that Joe Biden and the Democrats have done to our country. In November, well put an end to their disastrous leadership once and for all.

Former Virginia Speaker of the House, Republican Del. Todd Gilbert, said that the save democracy crowd should be ashamed of the depths to which those in power will stoop in order to prevent Donald Trump from becoming President again. You will reap what you sow.

Del. Aaron Rouse said on X that today was a solemn reminder that nobody is above the law  whether youre a Democrat, or youre a Republican, or even if youre President of the United States. For the first time in our nations history, a former President is a convicted felon.

State Sen. Louise Lucas said that I am hopeful that the newly convicted thug will still be legally allowed to waste his time campaigning in Virginia so he can continue costing Republicans multiple elections for running on his platform.

In a statement from Biden-Harris 2024 Communications Director Michael Tyler on the verdict, we saw that no one is above the law.

Tyler added that Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.

The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater. He is running an increasingly unhinged campaign of revenge and retribution, pledging to be a dictator on day one and calling for our Constitution to be terminated so he can regain and keep power. A second Trump term means chaos, ripping away Americans freedoms and fomenting political violence  and the American people will reject it this November.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
TOLEDO, Ohio (WJW)  A Celina man who recorded himself sexually abusing, torturing and killing several animals and who also was found in possession of child pornography now faces more than eight years in prison.

Lucas Russell Vanwoert, 27, of Celina, Mercer County, was sentenced on Thursday, May 30, to 97 months in prison on the charges, which were investigated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security investigations unit in Cleveland.

Actor charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing estranged girlfriend

According to authorities, Vanwoert in August 2022 created whats called an animal crush video  in which animals are recorded being hurt, killed or sexually abused  and tried to distribute the video.

Authorities searched his Celina home the following September and seized several devices found to have the videos as well as pornographic materials involving children. They also rescued three severely emaciated dogs from the backyard of the home.

Ultimately, it was discovered that Vanwoert sexually abused, tortured and killed at least four dogs and shared videos of his crimes with multiple individuals around the world, reads a news release from Homeland Security Investigations.

Vanwoert will also face 15 years of supervision after his release from prison. He was also ordered to pay $9,000 in restitution and will be prohibited from owning any animal for the rest of his life.

Ohio man admits to making animal crush torture videos

Last month, Ronald P. Bedra of Etna, in Licking County, pleaded guilty to creating and distributing videos depicting acts of extreme violence and sexual abuse against monkeys alongside conspirators, according to a news release the U.S. Department of Justice.

He and others use encrypted chat apps to send money to people in Indonesia who then tortured the animals on request and recorded it. Bedra mailed a thumb drive containing 64 videos to a co-conspirator in Wisconsin.

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.
An Ohio man was sentenced to prison for hiding cameras inside his ex-girlfriends daughters room and bathroom.

Brian Trissel, 52, of Grandview Heights was sentenced to four to six years in prison, but the judge said he could be released for good behavior as soon as nine months, our news partners at WBNS-10 TV reported.

Trissel was convicted of illegal use of a minor in nudity=oriented material, voyeurism, and tampering with evidence.

He confessed to placing four hidden cameras to record his ex-girlfriends daughter who was 11-year-old when he was arrested last year.

>> Guy Fieri opens his first Italian restaurant in Ohio

Trissel, a former nurse, had raised the victim since she was 18 months old and acted as a father figure.

The victims mother read a statement in court on behalf of her daughter.

You caused me to be scared and insecure, she said to Trissel.

As the judge was weighing the factors of the case, in deciding whether to give Trissel jail time, the victims mother stormed out.

You better give him **** time, she said to the judge.

>> Mother speaks out after ex-best friend accused of sexually abusing son

She came back a few moments later and apologized, but Judge Serrott said the outburst had him reconsidering his sentencing decision.

Dont interrupt me when Im speaking, Judge Serrott said to the victims mother. When you get elected to do this job, you can do it. I am elected to do this job. You dont like what I do, go vote. You didnt even know what I was going to do, you didnt listen.

Judge Serrott sentenced Trissel to serve jail time anyway.

I am going to send him but he is getting out early if he has a good prison record. I dont care what you say when you come back, the judge said to the victims mother.

The judge then directed his sentencing to Trissel.

>> School talent show takes twist as student and 3 teachers surprise everyone with AC/DC song

You are gonna go to prison, sir. I am giving you a four-year sentence. You will probably do nine months to a year in prison, you do well in prison, I will let you out early. These are serious offenses, my thoughts are you dont place cameras in front of a little child you are a father of, said Judge Serrott.

After court, the victims mother said this is justice for her family and talked about the emotional trauma this case has caused her and her daughter.

A lot of anger and I dont mean to show it against anybody else just anger that someone I trusted like that could do something like that to my daughter when we had a family, she said.

Trissel apologized to the family in court. The judge said he is in support of Trissel getting out of prison early, so he can access rehabilitation programs.




Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, during the Ohio Senate session, February 28, 2024, at the Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Graham Stokes for Ohio Capital Journal. Republish photo only with original article.)

The Ohio Senate signed off on a pair of bills Friday to get President Joe Biden on Ohios ballot, and to criminalize foreign influence in statewide ballot issue campaigns. The measures have prompted sharp criticism from Democrats who contend Republicans are leveraging presidential ballot access to kneecap future statewide initiatives.

With Democrats already planning a virtual convention, they add, the precipitating crisis has been averted and theres no need to fast track legislation.

After the Senate adjourned, Senate President Matt Huffman said some in his caucus had heartburn over approving Biden for the ballot.

But we also understood this was, one, the right thing to do, two, it was gonna happen anyway, and three we should be in control of the decision, he said.

When the bill passed the House yesterday, dozens of Republicans voted against the measure clearing Bidens path to the ballot.

The entire exercise began with Secretary of State Frank LaRose reminding officials in April that Ohios presidential nomination deadline comes before the planned Democratic National Convention. In the past, lawmakers have approved temporary fixes to shift the deadline. But this year, GOP leaders in the Senate determined not to let the opportunity go to waste, and attached the deadline change to a proposal banning foreign influence in citizen initiative campaigns.

The House balked. The governor called a special session.

Since Tuesday, lawmakers have been haggling over what theyll send to the governors desk. In large part theyve landed where the Senate wanted, linking the ballot fix with foreign influence legislation. But the House extracted a handful of concessions.

As Rep. Bill Seitz, R-Cincinnati, described, the penalty for a first offense will be a first degree misdemeanor rather than a fifth degree felony. The bill also leaves local ballot issues outside its scope and doesnt apply penalties to campaign treasurers  they manage rather than solicit funds, Seitz argued.

One other concession got rolled back on the House floor. Rather than follow the federal definition of foreign national, House lawmakers chose to use a more expansive definition that sweeps in lawful permanent residents  green card holders. The change aligns with what Senate negotiators had in mind.

Senate Debate

As the senate session began, lawmakers first had to suspend the rules requiring legislation be heard on multiple days.

Sen. Bill DeMora, D-Columbus, attempted to amend the measure into a streamlined prohibition on foreign contributions. He argued it does what the majority has wanted to do and the minority has never been against. Sen. Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, criticized its lack of penalties and the amendment was defeated.

Echoing a criticism leveled by Rep. Seitz, Sen. Niraj Antani, R-Miamisburg, warned applying campaign spending prohibitions to green card holders would make the measure vulnerable to court challenge. He laid out a simple equation: the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled money is speech, and it has ruled lawful permanent residents have free speech rights.

That is going to get sued over, in this bill Antani argued, and the entire thing is going to get struck down because we in the legislature are overreaching.

Sen. Catherine Ingram, D-Cincinnati, proposed removing a provision empowering the Attorney General to investigate and prosecute any potential foreign influence incidents. Democrats in both chambers have bristled at giving a political actor greater jurisdiction over campaigns. They have contended it is the Ohio Elections Commission made up of three Republicans, three Democrats, and one independent, that should have authority.

In a statement, Attorney General Dave Yost himself said, I did not ask for the authority in this bill, and I dont care whether it is my office or someone else that does the work  but the work must be done.

McColley dismissed Ingrams amendment arguing the Attorney Generals office is better equipped to handle complex cases.

These cases are inherently complex, McColley argued. These cases are inherently international. These cases are inherently going to take an awful lot of time and difficulty, and are going to need the full force and effect of the state government behind them.

Ingrams amendment failed.

The Senate next turned to the bill extending the deadline for parties to submit their presidential nominees. McColley again handled the bills introduction and argued Ohioans deserve the choice in this election.

DeMora offered an amendment making the changes permanent. He noted presidential races and summer Olympics run on the same four-year cycle, meaning political conventions are competing for limited television airtime.

Instead of having to worry about this every four years, he argued, why dont we just fix it permanently, why dont we just make it so that its 60 days or three days after the end of the presidential partys nominee convention whatever comes latest and solve this once and for all?

Unlike the changes related to foreign influence, with the ballot fix McColley counseled patience. Lawmakers shouldnt rush to make a sweeping policy without a a more thoughtful deliberative process that includes input from the Secretary of States office.

DeMoras amendment failed, and the Senate voted to approve the one-time deadline changes.

Aftermath

Speaking to reporters after the fact, Huffman dismissed concerns including green card holders in the definition of foreign nationals. Like other lawmakers, he pointed to a 2022 ballot measure barring non-citizens from voting that passed with nearly 77% support.

Ohioans spoke very clearly in the issue a few years ago, that those folks cannot vote, Huffman said, which of course is the fundamental participation to political system. So I dont think its inconsistent with that at all.

He acknowledged a court challenge is likely coming but argued that was going to happen anyway.

As for proceeding with the deadline fix despite plans for a virtual convention, Huffman argued it was a worthwhile contingency. Sometimes people say theyre going to do things and then they dont, he said. He added its always possible someone could challenge a virtual convention.

We just want to get the question answered and move on, he said. Echoing McColley, he said a permanent fix is a good idea, but not without input from the Secretary of State.

Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio described the deadline changes as insurance but couldnt say whether the party would call off its virtual convention. On the argument, leveled by Antani that foreign national definition will lead to court challenges she said he could be right, and that the measure is questionable  absolutely.

Follow OCJ Reporter Nick Evans on Twitter.

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The post Ohio Senate approves Biden ballot fix and foreign influence legislation appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Lawmakers finalized a bill on Friday to ensure President Joe Biden is on Ohios November ballot and another to ban noncitizens from donating money to statewide campaign issues.

The Ohio Senate approved House Bill 1 with a vote of 24 to seven on Friday, legislation to prohibit foreign nationals for contributing to voter-lead issue campaigns. However, Democrats who rejected the measure argue the bill was prioritized by the Statehouses Republican majority to stifle a redistricting amendment and a minimum wage initiative voters could see on Novembers ballot.

Its a red herring, said Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) of the Republicans effort to ban foreign donations. It was used to frighten people. This is often the case when the majority is trying to really push and usurp power. It was a power play more than anything else.

Still, Sen. Rob McColley (R-Napoleon) said the bill is necessary to implement punishments so people wanting to fund campaigns from out-of-state are deterred. McColley argued those actors could ignore the statute and still aim to influence Ohios elections if a measure does not include a penalty.

Lets keep in mind that were talking about multi-million dollar schemes, sometimes orchestrated by groups that have over a billion dollars  or billionaires who are trying to come in and put their thumb on the scale in Ohio, said McColley.

Statehouse Republicans advanced H.B. 1 as a trade-off for also passing House Bill 2 on Friday with a vote of 30 to one, legislation that moved Ohios filing deadline from 90 days before the election to 65 days. The two bills now head to the governor, who convened lawmakers for a special Statehouse session after the legislators failed to agree on a solution to place Biden on the ballot.

Sen. President Matt Huffman said DeWine helped get H.B. 1 across the finish line and protect our elections. He said, I am grateful for the governors strong statement supporting the Senates efforts to ban foreign contributions to ballot initiative campaigns, and noted the legislature needed to ensure that President Biden is on the ballot in November and it needed to be done legislatively.

Biden is not set to be nominated until the Democratic National Convention on Aug. 19, nearly two weeks after Ohios original filing deadline of Aug. 7. Nearly all senators supported the deadline change, though Senator Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) said it is tempting to say to the DNC that if you cant follow Ohio existing law you dont deserve to have your candidate on the ballot, but two wrongs dont make a right.

Roegner said bring it on, Ohio is Trump Country.

The Ohio legislators solution could be moot given the Democratic National Committee announced it will hold a virtual roll call ahead of its Aug. 19 convention to choose Biden as their nominee. Still, Republican lawmakers forged ahead with the special session to advance H.B. 1, which Democrats also said is redundant given its already illegal for non-U.S. citizens to donate to candidates in Ohio.

Antonio called the measure a poison pill, and said she believes there is enough poison in this bill to kill the will of the people as they go and bring forth ballot initiatives. The minority leader also railed against the provision allowing the states attorney general to prosecute foreign money violations, arguing Attorney General Dave Yost has shown himself to be partisan on many issues thats he taken up.

McColley noted a previous statewide ballot initiative where Ohioans approved a measure preventing non-citizens from voting. I suspect the will of the people would also be that non-citizens shouldnt be able to donate in Ohio elections, said McColley.

H.B. 1 also departs from federal law by including Green Card holders in the bills definition of foreign nationals. Sen. Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg) introduced a failed amendment on Friday to remove the Green Card provision, arguing Democrats could choose to bring a lawsuit against the H.B. 1 given it differs from federal law. Antani was also the lone member of the Senate to vote against H.B. 2, arguing Biden had plenty of time to adequately qualify for the Ohio ballot and I will not support a special favor for him.

However, Bidens scheduling snafu is not the first time a presidential candidate has run into the issue in Ohio. In the past, both Democratic and Republican nominees have had to find workarounds to the states filing deadline. Despite lawmakers on both sides of the aisle signaling the possibility of passing a bill to implement a permanent solution, the legislation did not advance.

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.
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  The Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office announced on Facebook Friday it has terminated the deputy who shot and killed Senior Airman Roger Fortson.

Deputy Eddie Duran was terminated following the completion of OCSOs administrative internal affairs investigation into the death of Roger Fortson on May 3.

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OCSO opened the investigation immediately after the shooting. It is separate from the active criminal investigation that is ongoing with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

An administrative investigation by the OCSO Office of Professional Standards is inclusive of reports prepared and submitted by OCSO investigators, response to the scene, documented evidence, and official statements, the post read. It is limited in scope to determine whether the former deputy violated agency policy.

The administrative investigation determined these objective facts in the incident:

The former deputy was dispatched to an in-progress physical disturbance at an apartment complex located at 319 Racetrack Road NW. Dispatch records confirm the location of the disturbance was reported to be taking place in Unit 1401.

On arrival at the apartment complex to which he was dispatched to, the former deputy met with an employee of the apartment complex who identified Unit 1401 as the location of the disturbance and relayed to the former deputy that there had been recent unreported disturbances at or around the same apartment.

The former deputys interaction with the apartment complexs employee and all further actions were recorded by his body-worn camera.

Upon arriving at the door to Unit 1401, the former deputy listened for sounds of any disturbance inside the apartment. Hearing none, the former deputy knocked without announcing and listened for a response. When describing what he heard, the former deputy said he heard: Something to the effect of its the f****** police.

The former deputy knocked loudly two more times and announced Sheriffs Office both of those times. The administrative investigation found that the former deputy knocked three times and announced his presence two times within approximately 40 seconds.

When Mr. Fortson opened the door, the former deputy stated he saw Mr. Fortson holding a firearm in his right hand. The firearm was pointed at the ground sufficiently enough for the former deputy to clearly see the rear face of the rear sight.

The former deputy confirmed Mr. Fortson did not physically resist him in any way, and the investigation concluded that Mr. Forston did not point the gun in the former deputys direction.

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Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric released a statement in the post:

This tragic incident should have never occurred, Aden said. The objective facts do not support the use of deadly force as an appropriate response to Mr. Fortsons actions. Mr. Fortson did not commit any crime. By all accounts, he was an exceptional airman and individual.

Our mission at the Okaloosa County Sheriffs Office is to ensure fair and equal administration of the law, safeguard civil liberties and preserve public safety; doing so with professionalism and unity of purpose, while being good stewards of the public trust.

As your Sheriff, I am committed to this mission and to ensure our deputies adhere to the professional and safety standards that come with the inherent risk of being a first responder who, by the very nature of their calling, must respond to potentially dangerous situations where they cannot know what they are about to encounter. In this case, the former deputy did not meet the standard of objective reasonableness and his use of control to resistance was excessive.

Mobile man sentenced to prison after found acting erratically with firearm as a convicted felon: USDOJ

I want to thank our dedicated team for their around-the-clock effort to ensure a thorough review of the facts here. Since the tragedy occurred, our office has been fully accountable and transparent in its compliance with statutory requirements, providing numerous public statements, making accessible the available body-worn camera footage and other related records, meeting with Mr. Forstons family and legal counsel, and communicating openly with the U.S. Air Force and our community-at-large. We continue to wish Mr. Fortsons family comfort and peace.

OCSOs Internal Investigation:

May-31-OIS-Internal-Investigation-Results-Download

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OCSOs Final Report:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRG News 5.
OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  As Revive Awareness Day approaches, Okaloosa County is partnering with the Florida Department of Health and community partners to address the opioid epidemic that officials say continues to impact too many lives in Okaloosa County.

Florida Department of Health Health Officer Elizabeth Smith noted the importance of the action since Drug overdose deaths due to opioids continue to rise each year in Okaloosa County.

Gulf Shores Surf Rescue team rescues 7, finds 18 missing people over busy Memorial Day weekend

According to a release, one of the ways to combat the opioid epidemic is through funding.

Okaloosa County recently executed plans to use Opioid Settlement funding to establish the Coordinated Opioid Recovery (CORE) Network in the County. CORE is a comprehensive addiction care initiative in Florida that disrupts the cycle of addiction and provides patients with tools for recovery, the release said.

Funds have been allocate to the following prevention, intervention, treatment, and recovery programs:

Bridgeway Center, Inc.: will provide critical, life-saving services by expanding the current 12-hour availability of outpatient detoxification to 24/7. This expansion will bring various new resources to Okaloosa County including access to 24/7 substance misuse information; 24/7 access to Medication Assisted Treatment for Opioid misuse; and rapid access to integrated patient care for first responders.

Community Paramedicine Program by Okaloosa County: Community Paramedics, specially trained and equipped to engage in opioid-related patient assessments, will visit with at-risk patients in their homes or other convenient setting, to treat and screen for the effects of opioid use disorder and associated comorbidities. Educational opportunities and referrals to additional support programs through strategic partners set this model apart from traditional home-based care.

The Okaloosa County Health Improvement Partnership: worked to develop a post overdose response team initiative. The team includes a law enforcement officer, community paramedic, and behavioral health clinician. They will respond to the homes of residents who have overdosed within 24 to 72 hours, and provide them linkage to local substance use treatment and support services. The program will pilot with the Fort Walton Beach Police Department in mid-June and then expand county-wide.

It is amazing to see so many of our community partners working together to develop new programs to create better outcomes and access to services for individuals affected by substance use, Smith added.

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Along with programs, officials say it is important that the public can recognize and help those who are overdosing.

Signs someone is overdosing:

Small, constricted pinpoint pupils

Falling asleep or losing consciousness

Slow, weak, or not breathing

Choking or gurgling sounds

Cold or clammy skin

Discolored skin, especially lips and nails

Limp body

What to do if someone is overdosing:

Call 911 immediately

Administer naloxone (Narcan) if available

Lay the person on their side to prevent choking

Try to keep the person awake and breathing until emergency assistance arrives

For more information on what is being done to address the opioid epidemic in Okaloosa County, officials and community partners are preparing to host a press conference at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 6 at the Florida Department of Health in Okaloosa County.

LOCATION:

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Information for those struggling with addiction or those who know someone struggling with addiction in Okaloosa County can be found on the CORE Networks 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 WKRG News 5.
OKCPD seeks help identifying suspects in connection to assault

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  The Oklahoma City Police Department is seeking the publics help in identifying individuals in connection to an assault.

Alleged suspect in connection to assault, Image courtesy OKCPD

Alleged suspect in connection to assault, Image courtesy OKCPD

Alleged suspects in connection to assault, Image courtesy OKCPD

Alleged vehicle in connection to assault, Image courtesy OKCPD

According to authorities, individuals located in the photos are wanted for questioning in connection with an assault that took place at an apartment complex swimming pool (near SW 15th/Mustang Road).

Headlines

If you have any information contact crime stoppers at 405.235.7300.

A cash reward is possible.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
One dead, one injured and no arrests made after Biloxi shooting, authorities say

One man died and another was injured after a shooting Thursday evening in Biloxi, police said.

Police said they contacted a person of interest in the shooting but have made no arrests. Authorities have not released the identity of the deceased, and Harrison County coroner Brian Switzer said Friday morning he was working to notify next of kin.

A call came in at 6:43 p.m. Thursday about a person with a gun in the 2000 block of Fernwood Road, police said.

While officers rushed to the scene, police said they received reports of shots fired and that a person was shot.

Officers found two men suffering from gunshot wounds, police said.

Authorities rushed both men to an area hospital.

One man died in the hospital and police said the other is receiving treatment but did not disclose his condition.

Police ask anyone with information about the incident to contact the Biloxi Police Department Criminal Investigation Division (228) 435-6112, Biloxi Police Department Dispatch (228) 392-0641, Biloxi Police Criminal Intelligence Unit ciu@biloxi.ms.us, Mississippi Coast Crime Stoppers (877) 787-5898 or submit a tip online at mscoastcrimestoppers.com.
Ukraine has signed the 14th Agreement on Security Cooperation and Long-Term Support. Iceland signed the document with us on Friday, May 31.

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The ceremony in Stockholm (Sweden) was held by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister of Iceland Bjarni Benediktsson. This was reported by the OP website.

What does the agreement between Kyiv and Reykjavik provide for?

Iceland has pledged to provide comprehensive and long-term economic, humanitarian, and defense support; to facilitate our country's accession to the EU and NATO.

During 2024-2028, Iceland will annually allocate at least 4 billion Icelandic kronor (about $30 million). Support for Ukraine will continue throughout the term of the agreement.

Iceland is ready to finance, purchase, and supply defense materials and equipment; and cooperate in the development of the Ukrainian defense industry.

The agreement is unique in that Iceland undertakes to continue transporting military supplies and equipment from NATO allies to Ukraine by chartered cargo aircraft. The state will also pay special attention to equipping women soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

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Certain sections of the agreement support the Ukrainian peace formula, sanctions against Russia, compensation for damages, and bringing the aggressor to justice. The agreement also provides for the strengthening of social and civilian infrastructure, particularly in the areas of education and energy security.

Iceland undertakes to strengthen its diplomatic mission in Kyiv.

In total, our country has signed 14 bilateral security agreements: with the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden, and Iceland.

The full text of the agreement between Kyiv and Reykjavik can be found here.

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As previously reported by OBOZ.UA:

 On May 31, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Stockholm to participate in the Ukraine-Northern Europe summit and a series of bilateral meetings.

 On the same day, Ukraine signed a security agreement with Sweden.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
One man is dead after overnight shooting in downtown Columbus, authorities say

One man has died following an overnight shooting in downtown Columbus, according to authorities.

The victim has been identified as Derrick Jordan, 39, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds, according to Muscogee County Coroner Buddy Bryan.

Bryan said the shooting occurred around 3rd Avenue and 12th Street.

Jordan was pronounced dead at a local hospital at 11:12 p.m., Thursday night, according to Bryan.

Bryan said an autopsy will be performed.

The Columbus Police Departments Violent Crimes Unit is investigating, according to a post on CPDs X page.
In our Reality Check stories, Herald-Leader journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Read more. Story idea? hlcityregion@herald-leader.com.

Autopsy findings are still incomplete from the state medical examiners office on the May 10 death of 17-year-old Henry Clay High School student, the countys coroner said.

Gary Ginn said the Emeka Emmanuel Mwakadi case is considered an open death investigation.

He died at the University of Kentucky Medical Center after having a medical emergency in a Henry Clay High School classroom.

The records along with the police report, the autopsy report, the toxicology report are incomplete, Ginn said. Well wait for those in order to make any further comment.

Mwakadis family, through its attorney Justin Peterson, issued a new statement Thursday:

We are continuing to investigate the matter as we await the coroners final results and review medical records and other reporting from various local agencies. We continue to receive calls from concerned parents and students that we are looking into as well. Any further action in this matter will be the result of thorough review and investigation.

The statement continued: The family is appreciative of the call for change in Fayette County Schools voiced by many and hopes to continue to lead the effort to affect that change so that no family has to suffer this tragedy ever again.

Fayette school officials did not immediately comment Thursday night.

Peterson additionally said Thursday that before his death, Mwakadi was planning on participating in Henry Clays graduation ceremony scheduled for Friday night. He said Mwakadi had been accepted for enrollment at Bluegrass Community and Technical College.

His name was called at graduation along with the names of other students who received a diploma Friday night at Rupp Arena.

Peterson initially said, and the Herald-Leader reported, Mwakadi had broken up a fight on the day he died, according to witness statements.

Fayette Superintendent Demetrus Liggins then told families his investigation showed Mwakadi was not involved in a fight on the day he died.

We launched an investigation that thoroughly tracked Emmanuels movements throughout the building on the morning of Friday, May 10, Liggins said in his email.

It is important to clarify that Emmanuel never entered a restroom on May 10, nor was he involved in a fight, or the act of breaking up a fight, he added. Nonetheless, these facts do not lessen the impact of his loss, and we want to move forward by honoring and remembering Emmanuel.

The family and attorney said in a later statement they agreed with Liggins the fight did not occur on the day of Emmanuels death as they originally told the Herald-Leader based on witness reports.

Actually, they said, it happened in the days prior to his death.

The family said through their attorney that a fight occurred at Henry Clay High school. Peterson has a video that shows Emmanuel intervened to break up the fight in the hallway.

During his intervention, Emmanuel was struck multiple times including a blow to the head, Peterson said.

Peterson said Emmanuel complained of head and neck pain after breaking up the fight, and that preliminary autopsy findings, among other things, included a frontal lobe brain injury.. Ginn, however, has not confirmed those claims to the Herald-Leader.

Peterson has said he is investigating the exact day of the fight.

Lexington Fire Major Derek Roberts has said firefighters, responding to a call of a student suffering a seizure, was dispatched to the school at 10:09 a.m. May 10.

Emmanuel died that day at the University of Kentucky Medical Center.

An autopsy was performed May 11. The cause and manner of death will be determined once the final autopsy report is completed, the Fayette County coroners office previously said

Its still unclear whether Mwakadis death resulted from blows the family said he received breaking up a fight shown in a video provided by Peterson.

Earlier in May, the family asked Liggins and the school board to commit resources to improve student safety within the school.

District officials previously declined to comment on the video that the family said showed Mwakadi sustaining blows. Peterson requested the school district preserve and produce all video from Henry Clay from the past 30 days.
The Trump verdict continues to send shockwaves across the American political landscapeand on Friday, at his rambling Trump Tower press conference, the convicted felon continued to complain, decrying (absurdly, falsely) a rigged court that had done him wrong. As Joe Biden said afterward, It is reckless, it is dangerous, it is irresponsible for anyone to say this was rigged just because they don't like the verdict. The justice system should be respected and we should never allow anyone to tear it down.

This, of course, is precisely what Trump and his supporters want to do to the rule of law, as revealed in the widely differing reactions of Americas two political parties to the verdict. The GOP offered a coordinated message condemning the verdict, amplifying its impact and making it clear that attacking the rule of law in America is now a platform plank of the party. Democrats from the White House on down largely offered measured responses praising the judge and jurors and celebrating that our system of justice worked as it should.

The word from the folks at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue immediately after the verdict was, We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment. The Biden campaign offered a terse No one is above the law. Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic House leader asserted, according to the Huffington Post, that responsible leadership requires the verdict to be respected. The article went on to quote a Democratic aide as saying, What is the point of crowing? As an important fact, it makes its own point.

However, after Trump had spoken Friday, the Biden campaign wrote to supporters in a fundraising appeal, Donald Trump is threatening our democracy.

GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS! Trump a Convicted Criminal

There is also a growing chorus of voices arguing that Democrats should play up the guilty verdict. USA Today columnist Rex Huppke wrote, Democrats should make sure (Trumps status as a convicted felon is) all but stamped on his forehead. They should shout it from the rooftops, blast it out in every ad on every available platform. No voters should enter a polling place without knowing full well their options are between Democratic President Joe Biden and a convicted felon.

At The New Republic, Greg Sargent argued persuasively that because Trumps conviction shatters the myth of his invincibility it should be used against him ruthlessly and effectively. (Note: my company produces Greg Sargents daily TNR podcast The Daily Blast.)

In another instance of a critique of the comparatively low-key Dem response, one democratic strategist texted Semafor that the party was making a mistake by not attacking Trump more directly over his conviction.

In this instance, both sides of this debate are correct.

It is appropriate and also necessary for Democratic office holders, especially the president and those directly associated with him, to offer the subdued reaction they did. First, because thats how senior officials who have sworn an oath to the Constitution traditionally react to such matters in the judiciary and therefore the remarks stand in stark contrast to the orchestrated litany of GOP attacks on the rule of law in America that emanated from every corner of the GOP during the hours immediately following the verdict.

Next, it is vitally important that the White House underscore through its actions that as in all judicial matters it plays a hands-off rolethat this trial and all other trials involving Trump are not in any way being interfered with for political reasons despite GOP lies to the contrary. (The fact that the Hunter Biden trial begins next week neatly and compellingly provides evidence of that fact.)

Finally, as the commentator in the Huffington Post noted, there is no need for the president, the vice president, or the White House to emphasize that Trump is a convicted felon because it is a label that has been forever affixed to his name. Those who dont care, wont care. But for those to whom it matters, the news was so massive that it cannot be ignored and it will not be forgotten.

Should the President make passing reference to it when it is relevant? Of course. Should he and his surrogates condemn the orchestrated MAGA GOP attack on the rule of law in America, on the jurors who did their duty, on the prosecutors who diligently compiled and presented the evidence in the case? Definitely. The disgraceful Republican onslaughtcoordinated across all 50 GOP state partiescuts to one of the core issues the White House does intend to emphasize: the threat Trump and his MAGA followers pose to our institutions and to democracy in America. It should be highlighted from dawn to dusk because it is so pernicious and dangerous.

But we should also be clear on the fact that campaign 2024 is not solely about pronouncements by the presidential candidates. The public debate will include, thanks to social media, millions of voices. The most prominent of thoseand average Democrats with just a handful of followerson the leading web-based platforms do not work within the constraints that should and do affect the president and other senior officials.

The fact that Trump is a felon, sexual abuser, fraudster, and a traitor, the fact of all of his 91 felony indictments, the intersection of his criminal and legal record with his two impeachments, and his lifetime of deceit, corruption, and business failure, his role as a coup plotter, as author of the big lie, his theft of national secrets all these things compose the picture of who Trump is that must be conveyed as Huppke and Sargent and others argue.

Down-ballot Democrats, senatorial and congressional candidates who see the benefit of hammering home the terrible reality of what another Trump term would mean should definitely incorporate this weeks verdict into their messaging. So too should independent political groups, the producers of the videos and other statements that will populate our information ecosystem from now through Election Day.

In those cases, it is not merely about presenting the fact that Trump is a convicted felon. It is about weaving that fact into the broader narrative of his shameful character and of the threat another four years in office of this reprobate would mean.

So, yes, while the president and senior officials conduct themselves with the dignity and responsibilities their offices demand and thus distinguish themselves from their unprincipled opponents, we should hear a chorus of voices from across the entire Democratic Party emphasizing that whereas Trumps conviction was a historical first, we cannot afford to set another precedent by making Trump the first convicted felon to be elected president of the United States.

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A student looks at questions during a college test preparation class in 2016. The limited number of SAT testing sites in Northern California is causing some people to travel hundreds of miles to take the exam. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press)

I live in Northern California, but Im traveling to Texas to take the SAT on Saturday.

Its not due to lack of planning on my part. I went on the College Board site to register for the June SAT the first hour of the first day that students could sign up. But within minutes, all the seats in my county and across Northern California were gone. Registering for the SAT in the Bay Area is as difficult as snagging tickets to a Taylor Swift concert.

Im not the only one in California going to extremes to find a place to take a college entrance exam. One mom in my community posted on her Facebook page, It took two months of effort and three calls into ACT to get a spot that is over 100 miles away! Other California families joined the conversation explaining: Same thing in SoCal. Last year we had to drive 100 miles for an 8AM test so we spent the night so irritating.

Read more: Editorial: Why it's smart for universities to bring back the SAT requirement

I know SAT and ACT tests are controversial. Im not here to debate whether they should exist. The fact is, they still matter whether we like it or not. As it stands for the 2025 college application cycle, only 4% of four-year colleges are test blind, meaning they dont accept test scores. Most schools (87%) are test-optional (a.k.a. test-preferred) and the remaining 9% are test-required, according to Fairtest . If a good test score could potentially increase my chances of getting accepted to 96% of four-year colleges, I want access to that test. And as long as most colleges are test-optional, those exams should be readily available to all high school students.

So yes, I am traveling 1,800 miles to take the SAT . (We chose Dallas because they had lots of seats available and cheap flights.) Having parents with the financial means and the flexibility in their work schedules to get me to a testing site far from home is an advantage many others dont have. The lack of testing sites in California is not just an inconvenience, its an equity issue.

Read more: Letters to the Editor: If the inequitable SAT is back, bring test prep to all high schools

California students who cant take the test because of lack of access will miss out on admission opportunities to some colleges and to scholarships that consider or require SAT/ACT scores in their decisions. For many students, especially those from low-income families, this could mean losing out on aid that would make college affordable.

Lack of adequate testing sites seems to be especially problematic in Northern California. Looking at the Aug. 24 SAT testing date demonstrates this. If youd searched the College Board website earlier this week for testing centers within 100 miles of San Francisco, Dallas and New York City, youd have found 103 testing sites in the New York area, 49 of which still had available seats. In the Dallas area there were 69 testing sites and 65 of them still had availability. But in the Bay Area, there were only 12 testing sites and they were 100% booked for the August test. In fact, the nearest test center to San Francisco with availability was 405 miles away. This lack of access puts Northern California students at a disadvantage.

California obviously needs more testing sites. But I would advocate for college entrance exams to be offered to every high school student at their own school during a regular school day, as is done with other standardized tests such as the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress.

After my family and others raised the issue of lack of available testing sites to our superintendent, our school district agreed to host an SAT School Day in October. This will allow the students in the district to take the SAT at their school during regular school hours. But change in one school district is not enough. Students and parents across California need to demand more testing sites at more schools so that more California kids can pursue their college dreams.

Sebastian Gillmore is a junior at Tamalpais High School in the San Francisco Bay Area.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
On Sunday, Mexicans will go to the polls to vote on more than 20,000 elected positions in the largest election in a generation. This years vote will also likely yield the countrys first woman president  former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum or Sen. Xochitl Galvez. As elections experts and democracy professionals, we are watching this historic democratic exercise with excitement  and concern. Mexicos electoral machinery is struggling in the face of violence and threats. The quality of the Mexican vote matters to the United States because the challenges our ally and biggest trading partner faces  northward migration, economic development and narcotrafficking  are our challenges too. Solving them starts with free, fair elections that deliver a strong mandate to Mexicos leaders.

Read more: Mexico making history: The country is on track to elect its first woman as president

This electoral cycle in Mexico is already the most violent in recent memory. In the seven months from September to May 2, 560 victims suffered lethal and nonlethal electoral violence; there have been at least 195 election-related killings, including at least 34 candidates. In the last election cycle, 2020-21, among 299 victims of election-related violence, there were 88 killings. Turf wars in recent months between battling cartels and organized crime syndicates are putting candidates and politicians in the crosshairs at the local level and in a handful of states in central and southern Mexico.

These trends mean that many of the candidates who survive the campaign and win office in regions most affected by electoral violence will be at least suspected of responding not to voters, but to the interests of those that allowed them to take office. Gregorio Portillo Mendoza, a former mayor of Zirandaro, in the state of Guerrero, was kidnapped and tortured by members of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generacion for refusing to take sides in their turf war with the Familia Michoacana. Here, the mayors do not govern, he told the newspaper El Universal. It is the cartels that govern.

Read more: Mexico owes its young democracy to its elections institute. The president wants to dismantle it

Meanwhile, Mexicos widely respected National Electoral Institute, which oversees state and federal elections, is on the defensive. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his Morena-party-led majority in Congress has been working to undermine the institutes independence and power through reputational attacks, by not making key appointments, and by staff reductions and successive budget cuts .

Mexicos Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judicial Power, which is responsible for certifying results at the federal and state level, is also in disarray. Appointments meant to fill two of its magistrate vacancies were blocked, and the magistrate-president, Reyes Rodriguez Mondragon, was forced to resign just six months before the elections. State and local tribunals have also been hollowed out; more than a third of state magistrate positions remain vacant (36 of 107).

Read more: Thousands rail against Mexico's president and ruling party in 'march for democracy'

Aware of its own limitations in a highly charged political and social environment, the Electoral Tribunal partnered with more than 40 nongovernmental, academic and private sector organizations, as well as National Electoral Institute councilors and representatives from local electoral bodies, to create a watchdog group to preserve electoral integrity. The National Agreement for Electoral Integrity and other civil society groups are no replacement for strong and independent state institutions, but they play the critical role of encouraging transparency of institutions like the institute and the tribunal.

The United States can help Mexicos electoral institutions by first publicly calling on the Mexican government to protect the candidates and their campaigns. Even at this late hour, the Biden administration can help mobilize funding for election observers throughout the country. It can specifically aid watchdogs such as the electoral integrity coalition, as they monitor, document and report irregularities. Following the elections, the U.S. can make it a diplomatic priority to encourage Mexico to reinvigorate its key electoral institutions. Even if organized crime succeeds in influencing election outcomes  via violence or fraud  these institutions are critical to investigating, punishing and rectifying electoral crimes and corruption moving forward.

Antonio Garrastazu is the senior director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the nonpartisan International Republican Institute. Patrick Quirk is vice president for strategy, innovation and impact at the IRI. From 2018 to 2019, he served on the U.S. secretary of States policy planning staff.





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Editors Note: Frida Ghitis, a former CNN producer and correspondent, is a world affairs columnist. She is a weekly opinion contributor to CNN, a contributing columnist to The Washington Post and senior columnist for World Politics Review. The views expressed in this commentary are her own. View more opinion on CNN

A recent visitor to Israel told me about a conversation in which he noted that Benjamin Netanyahu is the worst prime minister in modern Israels history. His Israeli interlocutor disagreed.

No, he responded, Bibi, as he is known, is the worst leader in the history of the Jewish people.

Frida Ghitis - CNN

Almost eight months have passed since Hamas breached Israels border with Gaza on October 7, brutally massacring more than 1,000 people, kidnapping hundreds, sexually assaulting countless women, and triggering a horrific war in Gaza  all during the leadership of Netanyahu.

He was in charge on the deadliest day for the Jewish people since the Holocaust. And he is now the prime minister on whose watch Israel is enduring a massive international backlash over its campaign to uproot Hamas that has resulted in unimaginable suffering in Gaza, a wave of global isolation, slanderous accusations against Israel in international courts and a dangerous split in support in the United States.

How is he still in power?

In 2016, Netanyahu told CNNs Fareed Zakaria, My first responsibility is to ensure the safety and security of the one and only Jewish state. Thinking he was succeeding, he proclaimed with false modesty, I would like to be remembered as the protector of Israel. Thats enough for me.

He failed at his first responsibility.

And even though there were many others who failed that day, it was his policy of allowing Hamas to strengthen in Gaza as a counterweight to the Palestinian Authority that let the strip become a terrorist stronghold, essentially an Iranian satellite just yards from Israeli population centers.

Benjamin Netanyahu and Israel are becoming increasingly isolated internationally, though experts say this could fortify the prime minister domestically. - Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images

The suffering in Gaza is, above all, Hamas fault, which has cynically surrounded itself with civilians, no doubt aware that such casualties create pressure on Israel to stop its offensive. But Israels rushed campaign also failed to secure the flood of foods and basic supplies it should have ensured, and Netanyahu responded weakly when extremists interfered with efforts to improve humanitarian conditions, or used the opportunity to wreak havoc in the West Bank.

But even if October 7 never happened, Netanyahu had already inflicted serious damage to his country. The disaster underscored how lacerating his self-serving policies had become.

Israels longest-serving prime minister had been largely successful politically, but his personal style and alleged corruption turned many Israelis against him. It seems that staying in power became his top priority; higher, I believe, than the interests of the country.

Last year, Netanyahu ignited unprecedented acrimony among Israelis. Week after week, month after month, Israelis, sometimes by the hundreds of thousands, protested plans to reform the judiciary so the governing coalition could control all branches of the government.

It was the result of another repugnant decision by Netanyahu, joining forces with extreme right-wingers. It was the only way to cobble enough support for him to become prime minister, so Netanyahu invited the former political pariahs, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir into his government. To satisfy their demands, he agreed to plans that would have undercut Israeli democracy.

That plan suffered a sharp setback when the high court struck down one of its key components.

Netanyahu had also politicized Israels crucial relationship with the United States, eroding the bipartisanship that has been one of the last remaining areas of agreement in polarized Washington by ostentatiously aligning himself with former President Donald Trump. Trump and Netanyahu helped each other, and in the process weakened Americas unified support for Israel.

President Joe Biden is a strong backer of the Jewish state, but younger Americans, and some Americans with intensely negative views of Trump, now color their views of Israel through that lens.

If Trump becomes president again, it will worsen that problem for Israel. In the short term, Trumps unquestioning support for Israel may be reassuring, but in the long run, it accelerates the trend, making support for Israel a partisan issue.

Trump became angry at Netanyahu after he congratulated Biden for his 2020 victory, but theres little doubt that he would stand by Netanyahu if he wins in November

Meanwhile, Hamas is still holding about 100 living hostages  including American citizens. Some 60,000 Israelis are still displaced from their homes in the north, where Iran-allied Hezbollah is still launching rockets; the Gaza war continues and Israels international isolation grows.

But every time Israel is held to a standard that no other country at war ever has, it strengthens Netanyahu within his own country. Accusations of genocide in a defensive war against a terrorist group committed to Israels destruction only fortify him.

For Netanyahu to lose power, he would have to resign voluntarily, or at least 5 of the 64 members of his coalition in the Knesset  Israels parliament  would need to join the opposition in a vote of no confidence.

On July 28, the Knesset goes on a three-month recess. If Netanyahu is still in power then, he will likely remain prime minister well into next year, because even if a vote of no confidence occurs in November, it will take 90 days before new elections, and many weeks longer to form a government.

The polls have consistently shown that most Israelis want Netanyahu gone, with most surveys suggesting that elections would put the opposition, under the leadership of Benny Gantz, a centrist currently in the war cabinet, as prime minister.

On Thursday, Gantzs National Unity Party proposed a bill to dissolve the Knesset and hold new elections this fall. But Netanyahu  who leads a coalition with a comfortable majority  may survive this challenge, as he has so many others over the years.

The proposed bill comes days after Gantz issued an ultimatum. Netanyahu, he declared, has not made crucial decisions to guarantee victory.

A small minority, he said, has taken over the Israeli ship, and is sailing it toward a wall of rocks.

By June 8, Gantz said he will bolt the cabinet and work to topple Netanyahu unless Netanyahu formulates a plan to achieve six goals  including bringing back the hostages, creating an international civilian government framework for Gaza and advancing normalized relations with Saudi Arabia.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant has just issued a similar challenge. He said Hamas has largely stopped functioning as a military organization, but the end of the military campaign must come together with political action.

Netanyahu has been reluctant to spell out any post-war plans for Gaza because his far-right allies want to build settlements there and previously threatened to withdraw their support if he stops the war. Netanyahu has vowed to keep fighting until Hamas is destroyed. But Gantz says Israel will be fighting the remnants of Hamas for years.

Last week, families of hostages released a harrowing video of seven young Israeli women, soldiers bloodied and battered, as they are being captured by Hamas. With their friends bodies lying before them, they bravely try to find a way to survive their ordeal.

Months later, five of them are still hostages of Hamas.

Are there five courageous members of Likud willing to take the necessary action to move Israel beyond Netanyahu?

Politicians are scrambling to find a path forward. If they succeed, Israel can soon start its next chapter. Find a new Arab-led civilian administration in Gaza; look to a formula for existence with Palestinians, develop relations with Saudi Arabia, and repair its relations with the rest of the world.

That is unlikely to happen, however, as long as Netanyahu remains in power.

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Life in rivers is changing. The rate of decomposition of the organic matter in rivers and streams is being disrupted by the increase in temperature and the greater availability of nutrients. Using canvas (the kind used by painters), hundreds of scientists have measured the rate at which plant debris degrades in more than 500 waterways on six continents. In addition to achieving a standard and valid method for the entire planet, the authors of this enormous research have detected the global patterns by which the carbon present in leaves and other plant residues is released into the atmosphere in the form of CO or is trapped at the bottom of lakes and seas that meet rivers. The former pathway accelerates climate change, the latter helps slow it down.

If the seas are the arteries of the planets circulatory system, the rivers are its capillaries. Enormous amounts of organic matter  an estimated 720 million tons per year  reach rivers from terrestrial ecosystems. This plant debris has several destinations on its way to the sea. A lot of it is incorporated in the microorganisms that degrade it, in the microbes that feed on the remains of plants and form the base of the food chain, of the circle of life. As plant compounds degrade into their essential components  a process called catabolism  a large part is released into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide or as methane, a greenhouse gas that is a lot worse than CO.

A third of these millions of tons ends up trapped where rivers end their journey, such as floodplains, lakes and oceans, where it remains for decades, centuries or millennia. The distribution depends on the rate of decomposition; the faster it is, the lower the percentage that is trapped and mineralized. But measuring the rate of decomposition and doing so in a universal and comparable way seemed impossible. It involves dozens of factors that are highly dependent on local conditions, from the acidity of the soil and the temperature to the leaf characteristics and existing microorganisms. Now, more than 800 experiments in hundreds of waterways have found, first, a model to predict the decay and then, with it, the global patterns that govern it. And the researchers have released the model so that other scientists in their field can use it.

Of the more than 100 variables measured in the work, which was published in Science, the researchers verified that temperature and nutrient availability are among those that most critically affect the speed of decomposition. Temperature has a direct effect on microbial decomposition, more or less, as predicted by the metabolic theory of ecology, recalls Luz Boyero, from the Department of Plant Biology and Ecology at the University of the Basque Country in Spain, who is a co-author of the research. The thermal variable could explain the main global pattern observed: the rate of organic decomposition increases as latitude decreases. Hence, the highest rates of degradation have been found in Central America, Western Africa (through which the Congo River flows) and Southeast Asia. But the relationship with total decomposition is not so direct, adds Boyero. What they have observed is that while the average air temperature does not seem to change the rate of degradation, it is impacted by water temperature.

Another critical variable is the presence of nutrients. Cellulose is basically carbon, but in order to degrade it, microorganisms need other elements not present in plants, such as nitrogen or phosphorus, explains Antonio Camacho, professor of ecology at the University of Valencia in Spain, whose research team participated in the study, providing data from Iberian rivers in the Mediterranean basin and from Antarctic water courses. Much of the green revolution of the last century and the continuous rise in agricultural production is due to the use of fertilizers. But many of them end up in rivers or lakes and change the microscopic ecosystems in a process known as water eutrophication, which has become a global threat. Camachos team went to the headwaters of the rivers to isolate the natural presence of nutrients from the anthropogenic one. In this way, we have been able to determine that the availability of elements such as nitrogen or phosphorus is critical for the decomposition rate, concludes the professor.

Although many other elements are involved, the human impact via fertilizers could explain some results of the work. The area of the great lakes of North America and the rivers of central Europe, being in mid-latitudes, degrade organic matter at almost the same rate as the Congo River or the Ganges, considered one of the most degraded on the planet. Meanwhile, the large Amazonian bodies of water, such as the Orinoco or the Amazon, have comparatively lower ratios. What do the Danube and the Brahmaputra have in common? They run through densely populated areas, maintained by agriculture that heavily uses fertilizers. The geographical pattern is also seen in higher latitudes. The rivers of Canada, the Nordic countries and, to a lesser extent, those of Siberia, degrade organic matter at a very slow rate, only surpassed by that observed by Camachos team in a watercourse on the Antarctic island where one of their bases is located.

The study was carried out by hundreds of scientists using canvas. It is a standardized material, with a set cellulose percentage and fabric tension, says Camacho. Canvas is made with cotton fibers, rich in cellulose, the vegetable polymer most present in plants. Using it, scientists were looking for a standard method that would be valid for the entire planet and independent of local variables. We determine the decomposition rate with the loss of tension in the strips, an indication that the cellulose is degrading, explains Camacho. The main product of this degradation is carbon. By repeating these experiments with leaves of 35 plant genera (coupled with previous data from local studies) the researchers were able to validate this cellulose-based method to predict the decomposition rate of almost any river.

The director of the Catalan Institute for Water Research (ICRA), Vicenc Acuna, points out that trees are a CO sink, their wood retains carbon for centuries, but there are also the leaves. A good part of leaf litter ends up in the rivers, either because they are deciduous or due to their natural renewal. It was believed that most ended up in other carbon sinks, such as the bottom of lakes and oceans, he adds. But now we know that it decomposes in rivers and the carbon reaches the atmosphere, feeding back into climate change. For Acuna, the biggest contribution of the new study is that it has found a model to predict the pace of this process in practically all rivers.

David Costello, from Kent State University, who also authored the study, points out another impact of these changes, explaining that faster decomposition in rivers means more CO returns to the atmosphere rather than moving downstream to lakes, estuaries and oceans, where it could potentially become buried and stored long-term.

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CNN Opinion asked our contributors to weigh in on Trumps conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records. The views expressed in these commentaries are their own. View more opinion on CNN.

Patrick Brown: Trump verdict is a pyrrhic victory for Democrats

Patrick T. Brown - Courtesy Patrick T. Brown

The ranks of the anti-Trump #Resistance havent celebrated this hard since November 7, 2020. Whatever the polls have said up until Thursday about the odds this November, progressives might tell themselves, being found guilty of all 34 charges of falsifying business records could be the silver bullet that prevents a second Trump term.

But lets think about that logic: Trumps personal eccentricities and baggage have been well-known for years. The act for which hush money was proffered  allegedly cheating on his postpartum wife with an adult film actress  has been known since 2018. Are there really that many voters whose view of Trump as a man, or politician, could be altered by bookkeeping irregularities? How many would-be Trump voters will be swayed against him because of miscategorized business expenses?

It seems far more likely that this will be just another event that confirms Republicans preconceptions. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and all progressives in good standing get their wish: seeing convicted felon after Trumps name.

Republicans will continue to argue, as Trump did outside the courthouse after the verdict, that this case was a rigged verdict since day one. (The Biden campaigns decision to add to the partisan slant of the trial by holding a press conference in front of the courts building featuring actor Robert De Niro on Tuesday adds fuel to that fire.)

This verdict may ding Trumps poll numbers slightly in the short run. But by November it will almost certainly be long forgotten. Or, perhaps more likely, it will only be remembered by Republicans as more proof the elites were willing to bend every rule in the book to go after Trump, and he refused to back down.

Patrick T. Brown is a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center, a conservative think tank and advocacy group based in Washington, DC. He is also a former senior policy adviser to Congress Joint Economic Committee.

Stacy Schneider: How Trump could end up at Rikers

Stacy Schneider - CNN

This case is so unprecedented that its hard to predict whether Judge Juan Merchan will give former President Donald Trump jail time. Ive appeared before the judge, but this is the most unusual sentencing situation Ive seen and its impossible to predict how hell react. Theres a good chance that Merchan wont give Trump jail time in the end.

However, in other financial crime or business crime cases in New York, well-established businessmen have been sent to prison. Within the bounds of the laws limits, sentencing is purely within the discretion of the judge, and every judge sentences differently.

The sentencing options for Trumps offenses include time served, probation, a fine or a maximum range of 1 and 1/3 years to 4 years in prison for each of the 34 counts. If he gives Trump a jail sentence, however, it is my strong prediction that it will be for no more than 1 and 1/3 years. But the judge could sentence Trump to less than a year in prison, or even a couple of months if he wanted to.

According to the standard practice in New York, if Trump were to be given less than a year, he would serve the time in the city jail, the notorious Rikers. This jail is literally isolated on an island. It is one of the most depressing and frightening prisons I have ever visited. If he gets more than a year, he would be sent to a New York state prison many miles from Manhattan, likely upstate.

In my experience in this type of case, the most typical sentence would be five years probation. However, that would mean Trump would have to frequently report to his probation officer who would monitor him to make sure he was obeying the law. Every time he traveled, hed have to get permission from his probation officer. That doesnt make sense for a presidential candidate or a former president.

I do expect that Trumps anticipated appeals will be unsuccessful. Theres always grounds for appeal on evidentiary rulings or jury instructions, but it doesnt mean that the grounds would be strong. In fact, I did not see anything egregious done by the court that prejudiced the defendant so badly to justify a clearly winnable appeal.

Stacy Schneider is a criminal defense attorney in Manhattan and former contestant on the reality show The Apprentice.

Timothy C. Parlatore: The defense bungled the case

Tim Parlatore - Courtesy Tim Parlatore

The bottom line is that this was a very defensible case that was not well defended. From the beginning, the defense lacked a coherent and easily understandable theme, and that lack of direction carried through the cross-examinations and closing arguments.

The defense needed to simplify its argument and get the jury to focus on the weakest point of the case. That was clearly the lack of evidence  aside from Michael Cohens unreliable testimony  showing that Trump knew about the falsification of business records. Spending any time on the alleged affairs with Karen McDougal or even Stormy Daniels (which Trump denies), gave more oxygen to the prosecutions case tying the catch-and-kill schemes to election interference.

While Trump is sure to appeal, a ruling is unlikely to happen until well after the election. While there are potential avenues for appeal, ineffective assistance of counsel will not be one of them because the standard is way too high.

One of the most surprising things about todays guilty verdict was the speed with which the jurors made their decision. It was also surprising that former President Donald Trump was found guilty of all counts. I had expected that the jury would, at most, split the charges to convict on some and not others.

Timothy C. Parlatore is a is a CNN legal commentator, criminal defense attorney, managing partner of Parlatore Law Group, LLP and Navy veteran. He has represented clients in high-profile cases in various courts throughout the country.

Paul Begala: Democrats should put Trump on trial for things that actually matter to voters

Paul Begala - CNN

Now that a jury has convicted former President Donald Trump, can we please spend the next 159 days focusing on the other 335 million Americans who were not found guilty of falsifying business records to cover up hush money payments to an adult film actress in an attempt to influence the 2016 election?

Polls show that most American voters minds will not be changed by the verdict and for good reason. Presidential elections are not a reward for good moral character; they are a job interview. The essential question voters ask is not: guilty or innocent? It is: What are you going to do for me?

Trumps reaction to the conviction will likely be his patented toxic mix of vengeance, grievance and conspiracy. Instead of validating Trumps narcissism, Democrats should turn the camera away from Trump and toward the American people.

Democrats should focus on voters lives, not Trumps criminality. Democrats should put Trump on trial for suggesting he was open to cutting Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid; for wanting to kick millions of Americans off Obamacare; for promising to roll back environmental rules and policies if oil executives raised $1 billion to return him to the White House; for stacking the Supreme Court with right-wing partisans who overturned Roe v. Wade and might come after gay marriage and contraception next. They should hammer Trump for tanking the strongest border security bill in decades; for kowtowing to the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, and for wanting to cut taxes for his fellow billionaires.

Campaigns should be about the voters lives, not the politicians. Democrats should make the case that Trumps policies would decimate the middle class and that ought to be a (metaphorical) crime.

Paul Begala, a Democratic strategist and CNN political commentator, was a political consultant for Bill Clintons presidential campaign in 1992 and served as a counselor to Clinton in the White House.

Jennifer Rodgers: Proof that Trump is not above the law

Jennifer Rodgers - CNN

The conviction is not a surprise, given the strength of the evidence and the law as recited to the jury by Judge Juan Merchan.

Prosecutors put forth a solid case, and the jurors appeared serious and diligent, working while the eyes of the world were on them in this historic case.

This is not just a victory for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his prosecutors, but for democracy and the rule of law. Despite former President Donald Trumps attempts to undermine the case by calling it a witch hunt, what happened in that courtroom was the epitome of what our criminal justice system should be: a fair-minded judge, an unbiased jury  even including one juror who gets the news from Trumps Truth Social  and a reasoned result.

Now the attention turns to sentencing, which is scheduled for July 11. During the trial, Merchan repeatedly said he did not want to imprison Trump for violating the gag order barring the former president from making public statements about the witnesses, jurors and others. Now, Merchan will be forced to decide whether Trumps 34 felony convictions warrant that penalty. This is an unenviable task to say the least, and Merchan will be vilified no matter what he decides. Will he treat Trump more like a 77-year-old first time, non-violent offender? Or as a felon 34 times over, who not only has zero remorse but who will certainly continue his constant attacks on the system that dared to seek accountability for his crimes? Time will tell.

Jennifer Rodgers is a former federal prosecutor, adjunct professor of clinical law at NYU School of Law, lecturer-in-law at Columbia Law School and a CNN legal analyst.

SE Cupp: GOP voters should care but probably wont

SE Cupp - CNN

Thursday marked an unprecedented event in American history and a sad day for our democracy. A former president and current presidential nominee for the Republican Party was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records. And yet, Donald Trump, now officially a convicted felon, will likely retain the support of the GOP and his voters.

But what an ironic and utterly avoidable unforced error on the part of Trump. Was the hush money even necessary? In hindsight, knowing his voters and how much they were and still are willing to forgive him, its likely they wouldnt have even cared in 2016 if theyd learned that hed had an affair with an adult film star a decade earlier  which he denies. After all, they were already aware of many of his personal peccadillos and loved him anyways.

As Trump even said during the 2016 campaign, I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldnt lose any voters. But its never the crime, its the cover up, as they say. Will his voters care now that theyre about to elect a convicted felon? Probably not. But how this will impact swing and undecided voters is the looming question  they might not be so forgiving.

SE Cupp is a CNN political commentator.

Joey Jackson: Cohens testimony was too much for Team Trump to overcome

Joey Jackson - CNN

Former President Donald Trumps hush money trial was hotly contested, with the defense arguing that the prosecutions star witness, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, was the only direct link to establish the former presidents guilt.

In order to convict, they argued that the jury had to accept Cohens version of events. Team Trump called Cohen the Greatest Liar of All Time (the GLOAT for short) in addition to being a biased witness that hated Trump and had a huge axe to grind. The defense lambasted him, asserting that the jury could not convict based upon his word.

With the first note that the jury sent to Judge Juan Merchan, it became apparent that they did not disregard Cohens testimony at all  as the jury instructions would have permitted. Instead, they appeared to be looking for information that would support Cohens claims, as well as other evidence that would be suggestive of Trumps guilt based upon the surrounding circumstances.

Ultimately, the corroboration for Cohens testimony was just too much for Team Trump to overcome, and for the jury to ignore. The reasonable inferences that could be drawn from Trumps actions were simply way too damning.

Joey Jackson is a criminal defense attorney and a legal analyst for CNN.

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The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board voted in 2023 to approve the creation of St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, a Catholic charter school, in Oklahoma City. The plan has been held up by lawsuits by those who say its creation violates the State Constitution.

Opponents of what is proposed to be the nation's first religious public charter school have asked a district court to issue a temporary injunction preventing the school from opening in Oklahoma City and receiving state funds.

The request was filed Friday in Oklahoma County District Court, meeting a deadline set by District Court Judge Richard Ogden. The judge had declined earlier to require backers of the proposed St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual Charter School to provide immediate depositions to plaintiffs in a lawsuit seeking to block the school's formation. He also declined to grant a protective order against depositions to the defendants.

However, Ogden said the plaintiffs could file a motion for a temporary injunction to stop the school from moving forward with its plans. He also set a tentative date for an evidentiary hearing on July 23-24.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit are The Oklahoma Parent Legislative Action Committee, a non-partisan public school advocacy group, and nine other parents, faith leaders, and public-education advocates. They are represented by Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the American Civil Liberties Union, Education Law Center, and Freedom from Religion Foundation, as well as by Oklahoma-based counsel Odom & Sparks PLLC and J. Douglas Mann.

More: Reading, math, Hindu scripture, Baphomet  non-Christians, others explore charter schools

The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board drew national attention when it voted 3-2 in June 2023 to approve the schools creation.

The case already has seen legal tumult. The original judge assigned to the case, Oklahoma County District Judge Brent Dishman, declined to recuse himself from the case after being asked to do so by plaintiffs' attorneys, who cited a conflict of interest. The plaintiffs appealed and in January, District Judge Amy Palumbo, the countys chief district judge that month, ruled Dishman should be removed.

Dishmans sister-in-law is the co-founder of the OPLAC. Dishman also serves on the board of College of the Ozarks, a private religious school in Point Lookout, Missouri, that previously hired several of the defense attorneys in a separate case with similar issues.

According to the state Education Department website, charter schools are defined as public schools that are allowed greater flexibility for greater accountability. Catholic officials contend, however, charter schools are private schools, despite their reliance on taxpayer dollars, and a faith-based institution shouldn't be excluded from the state's charter-school funding. Critics argue the concept of a government-funded religious school violates the separation of church and state and could result in discrimination against certain groups.

In March, Ogden received dueling filings from each side, with three requests for dismissal and another to force St. Isidore to agree to provide representatives to be deposed by attorneys for the plaintiffs.

State schools Superintendent Ryan Walters and the agency he leads, the Oklahoma State Department of Education, also are defendants in the case. Attorneys for Walters said they supported St. Isidore's request to have the deposition requested by the plaintiffs delayed.

Similar lawsuit also pending in Oklahoma Supreme Court

A second lawsuit involving St. Isidore, filed by Oklahoma Attorney Gentner Drummond, is awaiting a ruling from the Oklahoma Supreme Court after justices heard oral arguments in the case on April 2.

During those oral arguments, justices seemed skeptical of the claims of attorneys for the Statewide Virtual School Charter School that what would be the nations first Catholic virtual charter school would actually be a private entity, and not a public school.

More: Oklahoma Supreme Court appears skeptical of argument that St. Isidore would not be a public school.

Drummond said Article 2, Section 5 of the Oklahoma Constitution was at the heart of his case: No public money or property shall ever be appropriated, applied, donated, or used, directly or indirectly, for the use, benefit, or support of any sect, church, denomination, or system of religion, or for the use, benefit, or support of any priest, preacher, minister, or other religious teacher or dignitary, or sectarian institution as such.

Attorney Phil Sechler, representing the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter Board, told justices St. Isidore is not a public entity because it is privately owned and operated by representatives of the Catholic Church. He said to not allow the school to receive public funds like Oklahomas 32 other charter schools would amount to religious discrimination that would violate the U.S. Constitution.

Both the District Court and Supreme Court cases are being eyed closely due to their religious overtones and potential for a precedent-setting ruling.

In filing for the injunction on Friday, the plaintiffs said, Oklahomas public schools must remain free from discrimination and religious indoctrination. And Oklahoma taxpayers, including our plaintiffs, should not be forced to financially support a religion that many of them do not share. The law is clear, and were hopeful the courts will soon agree: Charter schools are public schools that must be secular and serve all students."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma religious charter school opponents ask to stop opening
Oregon state officials are looking for new ways to fund transportation projects and maintenance as fuel tax revenues decline. An Oregon Department of Transportation road grader works on clearing Oregon 11 between Pendleton to the Washington state border. (Oregon Department of Transportation)

Oregon lawmakers are mapping out a transportation package for the 2025 legislative session to address the states long-term needs, from sustainable funding to new projects so Oregonians can safely travel throughout the state.

As an initial step, the Legislatures Joint Committee on Transportation is planning a dozen meetings from June to September in communities throughout Oregon to get input about improving the states transportation system with stable funding to complete major projects and maintain whats already in place.

Attend a meeting

Transportation meetings will be held across the state, with times and locations announced at a later date.

Downtown Portland , Tuesday, June 4

Tillamook , Tuesday, June 18

Albany , Tuesday, July 16

Eugene , Wednesday, July 17

Coos Bay , Wednesday, Aug. 7

Medford , Thursday, Aug. 8

Ontario , Wednesday, Aug. 28

Hermiston , Thursday Aug. 29

Bend , Thursday, Sept. 12

The Dalles , Friday, Sept. 13

Happy Valley , Thursday, Sept. 26

Hillsboro, Friday, Sept. 27

State officials say Oregon struggles to maintain the system of roads, highways and bridges with the available funding. Last December, Gov. Tina Kotek asked the state lawmakers to allocate another $19 million to the Oregon Department of Transportation for winter maintenance. Lawmakers provided the one-time funding, but its not a permanent answer for long-term needs.

At the meetings, committee members will hear from local officials and the public about the problems they face as they navigate the states roads and highways. Lawmakers will use that feedback to put together a transportation package for the 2025 legislative session that will give the Oregon Department of Transportation a pathway to complete major highway projects and maintain whats already in place, officials said in a release.

Were talking about clearing snow off highways, filling potholes, making sure our bridges dont collapse and reducing traffic jams, Sen. Chris Gorsek, D-Troutdale and the joint committees co-chair, said in a statement. Our transportation systems impact the lives of Oregonians in every corner of our state and they need to be safe and efficient for years to come.

Gov. Tina Kotek, Senate President Rob Wagner, D-Corvallis, and House Speaker Julie Fahey, D-Eugene, have urged the joint transportation committee to identify stable transportation funding. Amid the surge in fuel-efficient vehicles and electric-powered vehicles, fuel tax revenues used for transportation have declined, creating a long-term budget challenge for Oregon and other states that need steady funding to maintain existing roads, highways and bridges and build new infrastructure in growing regions.

First and foremost, we must provide stable and predictable funding for the Oregon Department of Transportation so the agency can provide the essential maintenance and safety services that Oregonians deserve, Kotek and the legislative leaders wrote in a May 6 letter to transportation committee leaders.

The post Oregon lawmakers will seek community feedback as they plan a transportation package appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Mussel harvesting is closed across the entire Oregon coast due to elevated levels of biotoxins that sickened more than 20 people, officials announced Thursday.

The closure comes after recent mussel samples showed elevated levels of Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning, a naturally occurring biotoxin caused by phytoplankton.

Officials from the Oregon Department of Wildlife, Oregon Health Authority, and the Oregon Department of Agriculture held a joint press conference on Friday, stating the closure marks an unprecedented event that has never been seen in Oregon based on the number of species impacted and individuals getting sick from PSP.

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Other shellfish, including clams and oysters, are also impacted by the event and have their own closures.

As of May 30, razor clamming is closed from Yachats to the California border for elevated levels of PSP and domoic acid.

Additionally, recreational and commercial bay clam harvesting, for all clam species, is closed from the Washington border to Cascade Head for elevated levels of PSP.

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The Oregon Department of Agriculture also shut down commercial oyster harvesting in Netarts and Tillamook bays.

Officials will continue testing for shellfish toxins at least twice per month as tides and weather allow.

In order to reopen an area closed by biotoxins, two consecutive tests with biotoxin results below the closure limit are required.

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Officials urge harvesters to throw out their mussels because the toxin cannot be cooked out of the shellfish.

ODFW shellfish biologist Matthew Hunter said there is a centuries-long history of PSP on the Pacific coast  noting he wouldnt be surprised if other closures occurred on the Washington and California coasts during this event.

On May 23, officials initially closed a stretch of Oregon Coast to mussel harvesting from Seal Rock State Park north to Cape Lookout due to high levels of PSP. On Sunday, the mussel harvest closure was extended from Seal Rock State Park north to the Washington border.

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At least 20 people were sickened from the PSP outbreak after harvesting mussels from Short Beach near Oceanside, Hug Point, and near Seaside, authorities said  noting some have been hospitalized.

During Fridays press conference, Dr. Emilio DeBess with OHA explained PSP poisoning symptoms can include tingling in the face, mouth, and fingers, along with vomiting and diarrhea.

OHA is conducting a survey to find others who have experienced PSP, including those who may have had mild symptoms.

Authorities added that climate change will impact the frequency of PSP as harmful algae increases in frequency and toxicity.

KOIN 6 also heard from ODFW officials who say shellfish harvesting is popular among the local Vietnamese community  so theyve created notices in Vietnamese and other languages.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A unanimous jury found former President Donald Trump guilty on all counts in the New York hush money trial, making the Republican candidate in the 2024 election a convicted felon.

His sentencing will not take place until July 11, but the charges involving falsifying business records could lead to four years in prison. However, it is not clear whether Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the trial, will choose to do so.

WATCH LIVE: Jury finds Trump guilty; first U.S. president convicted of felony crimes

In the meantime, politicians around the Northwest have taken to social media as the nation responds to what marks a historic day in the U.S.

Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley also took to the social media site to say justice had a good day.

The jury has spoken. Trump broke the law and used his money, power, and privilege to conceal the crime, Merkley said. For the first time in his life, Trump has been held accountable for his misdeeds.

Warmer weather builds, atmospheric river on the way for Oregon, Washington

Oregon Rep. Suzanne Bonamici said, Donald Trump was convicted in a court of law by a jury of his peers. Even former presidents must be held accountable for criminal acts.

Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal added that no one is above the law, not even a former president. This is an important moment for accountability in America.

Rep. Rick Larsen said Thursdays verdict is the result of the justice system at work.

In the United States, no one is above the law, Larsen said. Our justice system is designed to bring the facts and evidence to light and impartially determine if a crime occurred.

Rep. Derek Kilmer said, equal justice under law is more than a slogan  its a foundation of Americas justice system that means that no one is above the law, including a former president.

Rep. Jeff Merkley said, Trump broke the law and used his money, power, and privilege to conceal the crime. For the first time in his life, Trump has been held accountable for his misdeeds. Justice had a good day.

On their social media page, the Oregon GOP called the ruling a perversion of justice.

Trumps sentencing is expected to take place just four days before the Republican National Convention in July, where he represents the party as the Republican nominee.

Stay with KOIN 6 News as this story develops.

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View a Yellow Springs growing facilitys inaugural crop of recreational marijuana in the video player above.

POMEROY, Ohio (WCMH)  After making changes to the website advertising a Meigs County marijuana festival in its first year, the team behind it spoke to NBC4 to explain how recreational cannabis will appear there.

An earlier version of the Stargazer Cannabis Festivals website  preserved by the Wayback Machine  advertised a farmers market as a component of three days of love and weed from July 26 to 28. Against a video backdrop of rows of marijuana plants, a logo advertised baked goods, seeds, flowers, seedlings and all your favorite cannabis products and supplies.

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But Chad Thompson, the agent for the company behind the festival, told NBC4 in a Thursday interview that his team wasnt referencing recreational marijuana in the ad.

Everything that we talked about there is all available in legal products, Thompson said. So there is low THC and its classified as hemp  in reality, those products are made from legal cannabinoids from hemp plants, so there are hemp flower companies in Ohio that are going to be there.

The advertisement for the farmers market did not use words like hemp, CBD or Delta-8. But Thompson said he assumed people knew that the language pointed to the cannabis variation with less than 0.3% THC.

I didnt put a ton of time into thinking about that.  We are celebrating the cannabis plant and you know, I guess just in my mind it was a given that we were going to be completely compliant and legal, Thompson said. We just thought it was pretty obvious we would have legal products, and I did notice like in some communities online, like Reddit and so forth, people did understand that thats exactly what were what were having. You know, I guess not everybody actually knows the law, but its a well-known fact that you cant sell.

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Since then, the organizer  also involved in the Sensible Movement Coalition  decided to remove the farmers market advertisement from the festival website.

We had some backlash from the event site just based on what they thought came from us, Thompson said. Quite honestly, it caught us by complete surprise when weve seen that and we didnt want any other misunderstanding or any other articles.

Jason Shambo, a spokesman for the Wisteria Campground where Stargazer is being held, also said that only cannabis products legal under the U.S. Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 would be sold at the festival. This bill cleared industrial hemp plants and products for growth, sale, transportation and consumption at the federal level.

Some of the products Stargazer Festival intends to host sales for may not be legal forever. Since the start of 2024, Gov. Mike DeWine has put what he called intoxicating hemp in his sights, asking the Ohio Legislature to ban it. In January, he detailed a sting operation that saw minors purchasing Delta-8 candy from a gas station in the state.

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It is intoxicating, it is something that needs to be banned, and again, the legislature could ban it, said DeWine. These hemp products can be sold anywhere in the state of Ohio, and we have no jurisdiction, we have no laws to prohibit that, we can do absolutely nothing.

Recreational marijuana will still have a presence at Stargazer in other forms. Thompson noted that vendors will also be allowed to sell cannabis seeds, legal even at the federal level, and which Ohioans can grow up to six plants with under the states current law. Festival-goers will be allowed to use their homegrown marijuana at the campgrounds as well.

Im sure that there will be attendees that have legal cannabis with THC and will be consuming it, but theres going to be no person-to-person sales, Thompson said.

There will also be a festival-sponsored event that permits attendees to use their own marijuana. On Saturday, competitors will engage in a joint-rolling contest.

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Itd be completely legal to be homegrown cannabis, or they may roll it with hemp or they may not, Im not gonna ask, Thompson said. Were not going to smoke the joint, its actually a contest on the art of rolling the joint itself  maybe well get some cross joints or some swans.

Thompson added that as of Friday, sales on Stargazer tickets  priced at $80 per person to camp, $130 to camp by their car or $180 to camp with an RV  just went through the roof.

It really kind of caught fire throughout the state.  I definitely think that we wont even make it to get to sell tickets at the gate, Thompson said. I think its going to sell out even before the event.

The announcement of Stargazer Festivals launch comes as industry players simultaneously anticipate the start of recreational marijuana sales in Ohio. On the growing side, Cresco Labs in Yellow Springs has already planted its inaugural crop of marijuana intended for recreational sales. And medical marijuana shops like Sunnyside in Chillicothe have already signaled intent to apply to become a dual-use dispensary.

All of this motion on the recreational front has come after a lawmakers committee hinted that sales could start faster than anticipated. The Division of Cannabis Control proposed the states medical dispensaries could apply to also sell recreationally, with licenses going out by September 7. But when lawmakers approved the DCCs plan, they went a step further, telling reporters that licenses authorizing sales to start could arrive sooner.

I think we will see that by mid-June, said Republican Rep. Jamie Callender, co-chair of the Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review. Im hoping thats the case.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Donald Trump made U.S. history Thursday as the first former President to be criminally convicted after he was found guilty by a Manhattan jury of 34 counts of falsifying business records related to hush money payments to a porn star. But compared to his counterparts around the world, Trumps not alone, joining a long list of heads of states who have been found guilty of crimes, ranging from corruption to abuse of power.

Read More: Republicans and Democrats Try to Cash In on Trumps Conviction

Here are some other countries that have convicted their former leaders, and what happened to them:

Argentina

Former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who led the country from 2007 to 2015, was sentenced to six years in prison and banned from holding public office in 2022, after being convicted in a billion-dollar fraud case. Fernandez de Kirchner, who said that she would appeal the verdict, continued to serve as Vice President until her term ended last December.

Brazil

Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Brazils incumbent President who previously led the country from 2003 to 2010, was jailed in 2018 for corruption. However, he had his charges overturned in 2021, which allowed him to run for the presidency in 2022.

Read More: Lula Talks to TIME About Ukraine, Bolsonaro, and Brazils Fragile Democracy

Croatia

Ivo Sanader, who served as Prime Minister from 2003 to 2009, has been in jail since 2011, having been extradited after fleeing the country and sentenced to prison in a series of convictions including for corruption and war profiteering.

Egypt

Along with his two sons, former dictator Hosni Mubarak was sentenced to three years in prison in 2015 for embezzling state funds. Mubarak, who was ousted during the Arab Spring in 2011, was also convicted for inciting the killings of protestersthough he was acquitted of that crime and released in 2017. He died in 2020.

Read More: Why the Arab Spring FailedAnd Why It May Yet Succeed

France

Jacques Chirac, who served as President from 1995 to 2007, was handed a suspended two-year jail sentence in 2022 after being convicted of corruption. He died in 2019.

Nicolas Sarkozy, who succeeded Chirac as President from 2007 to 2012, was found guilty of bribing a judge with a job to access confidential information involving another trial. He was handed a three-year prison sentence in 2021two years suspended and one served under house arrestwhich was upheld despite Sarkozys appeal. In February, Sarkozy also lost his appeal against a six-month prison sentence for overspending in his 2012 reelection campaign and illegally charging it to his party.

Georgia

Former President Mikheil Saakashvili is currently serving a six-year prison sentence after being arrested in 2021. He had been convicted in absentia of abuse of power, including for ordering riot police to beat up an opposition member of parliament in 2005 and pardoning four officials who had killed a man.

Israel

Former Israeli President Moshe Katsav, who served from 2000 to 2007, was sentenced in 2011 to seven years in prison for raping an aide while he was a minister in the 1990s and sexually harrassing two women while he was President. He served five years before being released in 2016 on parole.

Ehud Olmert, who was Prime Minister from 2006 to 2009, was sentenced to 27 months in prison in 2016 for fraud. He was released in 2017 after serving part of his sentence.

(Israels current Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, was indicted in 2019 in a series of charges including for fraud, bribery, and breach of trust, and his trial continues amid the countrys war in Gaza.)

Italy

Four-time Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who died last year at 86, has been charged in over 30 criminal cases, though he only had one lasting conviction. He was found guilty in 2013 of paying for sex with a minor, but his conviction was overturned in 2014. He was also acquitted of tax evasion, bribing judges, and corruptionthough in some instances the acquittals came after his administration changed the law such that his initial charges no longer constituted a crime. In other cases, he was convicted but managed to evade serving his sentence because the statute of limitations had run out.

In the only punishment he could not evade, he was sentenced to one year of community servicethanks to Italys lenient penalties for the elderlyin 2014 for tax fraud related to his media company.

Malaysia

Former Prime Minister Najib Razak, who led the country from 2009 to 2018, was found guilty of corruption in the multibillion-dollar 1MDB scandal and sentenced to 12 years in prisonthough his term was later halved. He has been in prison since 2022, and remains on trial for other charges related to 1MDB, the state development fund that was used to funnel over $4 billion to accounts linked to Najib.

Read More: Voters in Malaysia Jaded by Corruption Charges Are Turning More Toward Identity Politics

Myanmar

After Myanmars military seized power from the countrys elected civilian government in a 2021 coup, Aung San Suu Kyi, who had been the State Counsellor since 2016, was convicted of multiple charges including corruption, election fraud, and breaching a state secrets law. She is serving a combined 27-year prison sentence for the charges, and was moved to house arrest in April amid a heat wave and concerns about her health.

Read More: Why Southeast Asia Just Cant Seem to Cut Off Myanmars Junta

Pakistan

Former Prime Minister Imran Khan is currently in jail on convictions of corruption and leaking state secrets. The convictions, which came in January ahead of a national election in April, was decried by Khan and his supporters as politically motivated.

Read More: Pakistans Military Used Every Trick to Sideline Imran Khanand Failed. Now What?

Peru

Former President Alberto Fujimori, who ruled the country from 1990 to 2000, was released from prison last December after spending over 15 years incarcerated for human rights violations and abuse of power. He was convicted on charges including bribery, embezzlement, and sanctioning the killing and kidnapping of anti-government guerrilla fighters and activists.

South Africa

Jacob Zuma, who served as President from 2009 until he was forced to step down due to corruption allegations in 2018, was sentenced to 15 months in prison in 2021 for contempt of court, after he refused to testify during an investigation into corruption in his administration.

South Korea

Lee Myung-bak, South Koreas President from 2008 to 2013, was sentenced to 17 years in prison in 2020 for bribery and embezzlement. However, he had his prison term cut short after being granted a pardon in 2022 by current President Yoon Suk-yeol.

Park Geun-hye, who took over as President from 2013 but was impeached in 2017 amid a landmark corruption scandal, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for bribery and coercion. She was similarly pardoned in 2021.

Sudan

In 2019, former President Omar Hassan al-Bashir was sentenced to two years in a social reform facilitya treatment reserved for elderly offenders like then-75-year-old Bashirafter being convicted of corruption. He is also facing an ongoing trial related to a 1989 coup that brought him to powerwhich he has publicly taken responsibility forfor which he could, if found guilty, receive the death sentence.

Taiwan

Former President Chen Shui-bian, whose term ran from 2000 to 2008, was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2009 for embezzlement, money laundering, and bribery, but later had his sentence reduced to 20 years through appeal. He was released on medical parole in 2015.

Thailand

Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who led Thailand from 2001 to 2006 and fled after he was deposed in a military coup, was convicted in absentia of abuse of power. He was jailed upon his return from self-exile last August, but was released on parole in February.

His sister Yingluck, who served as Prime Minister from 2011 until she was similarly ousted and went into self-exile in 2014, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2017 for criminal negligencethe court found that she had mishandled a rice subsidy scheme that led to billions of dollars in losses. However, while still living abroad to avoid detention, she was cleared in March.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
Former Vice President Mike Pence weighed in on Donald Trumps 34 felony count conviction, undermining the verdict of 12 New York jurors who found that the former president falsified business records.

"The conviction of former President Trump on politically motivated charges is an outrage and disservice to the nation," Pence told Fox News. "No one is above the law, but our courts must not become a tool to be used against political opponents . . . To millions of Americans, this was nothing more than a political prosecution driven by a Manhattan DA who ran for office on a pledge to indict the former president and this conviction undermines confidence in our system of justice."

With this verdict that Pence is railing against, the Manhattan District Attorneys office, led by Alvin Bragg, became the first municipality to prosecute the former president, convincing jurors  who proved themselves to be unbiased enough to avoid dismissal by Trumps legal team during selection  beyond a reasonable doubt.

Bragg rejected claims that the prosecution was politically motivated during a Thursday press conference, noting the years of investigation ramping up to the verdict, saying, I did my job.

Pence, whose faith in the justice system was seemingly unshaken after his former boss bucked all accountability and went so far as to allegedly call for his execution as his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021, said the jury verdict would further divide the country.

The search for his replacement on the third Trump ticket is still underway, with a running mate expected in time for the July Republican National Convention.
More than 100 journalists, attorneys, professors and watchdog groups signed a letter urging the top brass of the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance a press protection bill as soon as possible.

The Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying (PRESS) Act would limit the federal governments ability to compel journalists and telecommunication providers to disclose sources or records a journalist obtained or created as part of their work.

The PRESS Act is a bipartisan shield bill that would protect journalist-source confidentiality, subject to common-sense exceptions, such as cases involving terrorism, other serious emergencies, or journalists suspected of crimes, according to the letter.

Signatories include organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists, Freedom of the Press Foundation, the Motion Picture Association and ProPublica, as well as lawyers and legal experts including Cahill Gordon & Reindels Floyd Abrams, who represented The New York Times in the 1972 Pentagon Papers case.

The Act would also protect journalists against government surveillance through their phone and email providers.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and ranking member Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) have both co-sponsored the bill, which the House passed earlier this year.

But a markup has not been scheduled in the Senate committee since the measure was introduced last June. The Hill has reached out to spokespersons for Durbin and Graham for comment.

This threat is not hypothetical, the letter says, pointing to the recent example of a federal judge who held journalist Catherine Herridge in contempt of court after she refused to reveal her sources for reporting for Fox News.

News outlets and First Amendment advocates decried the chilling effect of the judges decision on journalism.

Less than a month after the judges ruling, the Freedom of the Press Foundation enlisted former Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) of law firm Baker Donelson to lobby for the passage of the PRESS Act as the number of legislative days and vehicles shrinks.

The organizations and legal experts urged the committee to advance the bill, which they said would immeasurably fortify Americans First Amendment rights.

Journalists need protection from compelled disclosure of their sources and newsgathering materials, to ensure their ability to report on matters of public interest.

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During a joint TV interview to promote Spider-Man: Far From Home, Tom Holland (Spider-Man) and Jake Gyllenhaal (the villain) were asked which director they would like to work with in the fall of 2021. Gyllenhaal answered: Pedro Almodovar.

This was one of the last appearances by Gyllenhaal when he was still considered an art film actor, because in recent years his priorities have been testosterone-packed movies where he can show off his impressive physique, as in the remake of Road House, which premiered on Prime Video and is a film with the flimsiest of storylines revolving around fights. Such is the latest drift of an actor whose resume includes classics such as Donnie Darko, Brokeback Mountain, Okja and Nightcrawler, but who has recently been turning to filmmakers such as Michael Bay and Guy Ritchie. Why have his tastes changed, or has he always harbored a passion for biceps and brawls?

The success of Road House on Amazon Prime has been astounding: at the beginning of April, after its first two weekends, 50 million viewers had seen it, according to unspecified calculations made by the platform; at the end of May, that number has reached 80 million and, according to updated data from the Nielsen consulting firm, it is the most watched film on Prime so far this year. On the back of this triumph, the actors production company, Nine Stories, has signed a three-year agreement with Amazon MGM Studios, a contract that specifies that the studio will have first option on the fiction films that Nine Stories intends to produce both for movie theaters and streaming. Also to consider is that Gyllenhaal came to Road House after the initial development of the script by MGM; later, the studio and all its content was swallowed by the online sales platform.

Gyllenhaals previous role in Guy Ritchies The Covenant was also released under the Amazon MGM Studios umbrella, although it was initially in movie theaters. With Nine Stories, Gyllenhaal had already produced Antoine Fuquas The Guilty (2021) for Netflix, a remake of the Danish thriller in which he plays a cop who doesnt move from the phone. Clearly, the actor has a firm grasp of how to work the new cinematic playing fields to his advantage: his next release will be the series Presumed Innocent, on AppleTV+ on June 12, in which he plays a Chicago prosecutor accused of a brutal murder. Sound familiar? Well, thats because its the serialized version of the Alan J. Pakula film of the same name that starred Harrison Ford in 1990. Zero creativity. Yet another remake.

What is curious about all this is that LA-born Jacob Gyllenhaal, comes from a family very much rooted in auteur films. He is the son of director Stephen Gyllenhaal (Waterland, A Dangerous Woman) and screenwriter Naomi Foner (Running on Empty). His older sister, actress Maggie Gyllenhaal, is now a prestigious director (The Lost Daughter). Jake began his career at age 11, in City Slickers as the son of Billy Crystal, who met him at a dinner party at the Gyllenhaals home. After several performances in films and episodes directed by his father, he starred in October Sky in 1999, a drama based on a true story about a miners son who ended up designing rockets, making him an emerging actor to watch.

Peter Sarsgaard, Jake Gyllenhaal and Maggie Gyllenhaal at a party for the Pussy Riot and The Voice Project at The Spotted Pig in February 2014. Getty (WireImage)

Apparently, Gyllenhaal auditioned twice to play Frodo in Lord of the Rings. In the first audition, he was not supposed to speak, just pick up the ring. Not understanding the symbolic value of the ring, his off-kilter performance drove director Peter Jackson to despair. Some time later, he went back to the director, with equally dissatisfying results: Jackson became angry when he heard Gyllenhaal recite the dialogue and told him he was the worst actor in the world. This might have had something to do with the fact that Gyllenhaal had not been told by his agents that he had to speak with a British accent. Another, less embarrassing rejection came for the role of Christian in Moulin Rouge! that was between Heath Ledger, with whom he would later star in Brokeback Mountain, and Ewan McGregor, who took the role. This despite director Baz Luhrmanns remark that Gyllenhaal is really a great musical artist.

Those failures were offset by the success of Donnie Darko (2001), the quintessential teen melancholy drama that turned him into indie actor par excellence. His rise to stardom continued when he played Dennis Quaids son in the blockbuster The Day After Tomorrow, though it faltered when he lost the chance to play Batman in The Dark Knight trilogy  both Christopher Nolan and Baz Luhrmann actually called a grateful Gyllenhaal to explain why he had not been successful, as the actor explained during the promotion of Road House. But his upward trajectory regained momentum when he was chosen to star alongside Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain (2005), for which he won his only Oscar nomination. The love story between the two cowboys and Gyllenhaal and Ledgers shared approach to it gave rise to a friendship between them that was cut short by Ledgers death from an overdose of prescription drugs: Gyllenhaal is the godfather of Ledger and Michelle Williams daughter, Matilda.

Since then, Gyllenhaal has starred in all kinds of acclaimed movies, including Prisoners and Enemy directed by Denis Villeneuve, Jarhead by Sam Mendes, Zodiac by David Fincher, Demolition by Jean-Marc Vallee and Brothers by Jim Sheridan. He then began to veer towards action, although Southpaw  his first collaboration with Antoine Fuqua  didnt work out. But at least it didnt bomb like Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time in 2010, to the astonishment and pain of Disney. Gyllenhaal had never experienced anything like it, and even today he recalls the dimensions of the failure: in his childrens book co-authored by his best friend Greta Caruso, The Secret Society of Aunts and Uncles, illustrator Dan Santat depicts a person with a sign that ominously reads The Persians during 10-year-old Leos dance audition  a moment that Gyllenhaal recognizes as a low point for his protagonist, though he didnt notice the detail until the book was out.

Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal in 'Brokeback Mountain' (Ang Lee, 2006). Focus Films/Everett Collection

Throughout, Gyllenhaal continued to act in stage plays and came close to an Oscar with Nightcrawler in which he plays a stringer who records violent events late at night in LA and sells the footage to local TV stations. He then took risks in offbeat movies such as Okja (2017), by South Korean Bong Joon-ho that streams on Netflix; Nocturnal Animals, by Tom Ford, and Prisoners, by Paul Dano. With a beard, he looked older and more intellectual; without it, he appeared youthful and lighthearted. In the Spanish Pyrenees, he took photos in a Golden State Warriors jersey with the locals during the filming of the western The Sisters Brothers (2018), bonding with his creative team: director Jacques Audiard and screenwriter Thomas Bidegain. Few could have predicted what was to follow.

Conor McGregor and Jake Gyllenhaal, in 'Road House.'

After The Sisters Brothers, Gyllenhaal steered clear of serious cinema. With Spider-Man: Far From Home, he threw himself into projects that revolved around shootings and fights. And then there were the remakes. The only time it seemed that the indie Gyllenhaal was going to bounce back with a role in Bidegains Suddenly, he himself abandoned the project.

The offer to play opposite Vanessa Kirby in the English adaptation of the French novel Soudain seuls, came during the Covid lockdown. Suddenly tells the story of a couple struggling to survive on an island while enjoying the trip of their dreams. For a year, via Zoom, Gyllenhaal and Bidegain polished the script in collaboration with David Lindsay-Abaire, and the actor joined the production team.

From left, John C. Reilly, Joaquin Phoenix, Riz Ahmed and Jake Gyllenhaal with Jacques Audiard on set in Spain for 'The Sisters Brothers.'

In Variety, Bidegain explains, We had just done a new version of the script that incorporated the latest changes, and I did a lot of Zooms with Jake and Vanessa, so I thought the three of us were on the same page. So when we met in Iceland, I assumed that we would just put the finishing touches on it.

With eight weeks to go, the three got together in Iceland, which is where the dynamics fell apart. Gyllenhaal had an epiphany during a walk in which he encountered a horse and decided that it shouldnt be a film about love, but a film about love of nature. Bidegain says Kirby, for her part, insisted that the film have a more definite feminist edge with a radical ending. The screenwriter says his vision for the film was somewhere in the middle: Its a film about love, but also about love of nature, and it does have a strong female character.

On the fourth day, Bidegain returned to Paris, shot the movie with French actors on half the budget, and released it in France last December. In Variety, Bidegain insists the problem was that he had never worked with an actor who was also a producer. Its a very strange experience when you work with an actor-producer who doesnt have the same vision as the director: in France, the director is the one in charge of telling the story; and hes in charge of the script, the set design, etc. Interestingly, this is something Gyllenhaal might have grasped as he has been living in Paris for several months a year for some time now because of his relationship with French model Jeanne Cadieu.

In the U.S., Gyllenhaal makes headlines for his relationships: in 2009, he and Taylor Swift were a couple for three months. The breakup inspired Swifts song All Too Well, from the album Red, which was released in October 2012. In November 2021, Swift released a remastered edition of Red with an extended version of the track and a video short, directed by Swift herself, in which actor Dylan OBrien is a carbon copy of Gyllenhaal. A wave of rage against Gyllenhaal flooded the internet for weeks.

In a profile on Gyllenhaal in Esquire in March 2022, Villeneuve said, Jake is definitely happier, more at peace. And Fuqua stated he was much calmer, a little more open and seems to be having more fun. And I think thats maturity. That may be why he wants to appear in more playful movies: his next release will be the action thriller In The Grey, directed by Guy Ritchie. Later, in spring 2025, Gyllenhaal will play Shakespeares villain Iago to Denzel Washingtons Othello in the Shakespeare play of that name, which will be Gyllenhaals third Broadway production. So at least his love of theater endures.
You never know what an old barn might holdincluding a stash of automotive gold.

Police in Canada have arrested two people accused of hiding several stolen cars in a barn in southwestern Ontario, according to Global News. The group of ill-gotten automobiles, some of which date back to the first half of last century, are estimated to be worth over $2 million.

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The big-money find is the result of a tip Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received late last year about stolen vehicles in Lambton County. Following a months-long, multi-department investigation, a search warrant was issued on May 14 for a property in Stirling, a small rural community located 15 miles north of the city of Belleville. It was there that officers located the stolen vehicles in a barn.

Stolen vehicles found in a barn in Stirling, Ontario

Posts on the OPPs official social media channels state that the officers who conducted the search located a number of classics and seized 16 vehicles from the accused perpetrators as proceeds of crimes. Authorities did not identify what vehicles they had found, but photos accompanying the post show a few first-generation Chevrolet Corvettes, as well as hot rods and pickup trucks dating back to the pre-war era. The OPP put the total value of the vehicles at approximately $3 million Canadian, or around $2.2 million.

Robert Bradshaw and Gary Leblanc, both residents of Stirling, were arrested following the search of the property. Both were charged with theft of motor vehicles over $5,000, fraud over $5,000, and using forged documents and conspiracy to commit an indictable offense. Leblanc was also charged with uttering threats.

Collaboration across our organization and with our partner agencies is imperative to combat the prevalence of auto theft and related fraud within Ontario, OPP detective superintendent Paula Milne was quoted as saying by Global News. This investigation is another testament to the surge we have seen in auto theft and financial crimes over the last few years and the need for subject matter expert involvement in these investigations.

This isnt the first time that Bradshaw and Leblanc have run afoul of the law. Both men pleaded guilty to multiple charges in December 2003 under Ontarios Motor Vehicle Dealers Act. There could be more consequences related to the current investigation, which, as of last week, was still ongoing.

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A dog owner was placed into handcuffs after Florida deputies discovered he kept his familys three dogs in their garage without air conditioning or food and water.

On May 21, the Lee County Sheriffs Office showed up at the home of John Joseph Cuomo, 34, in Cape Coral after the Dalmatian Rescue of South Florida reported an animal abuse incident.

Palm Harbor child porn suspect hit with additional charges of sexual battery, video voyeurism: deputies

The rescue center told officials that Cuomo arranged to surrender his sons three Dalmatians; Argo, Stella, and Red. The dogs were taken to Fetch Animal Hospital.

When deputies arrived at the home, located on the 900 block of Southeast 23rd Avenue, they discovered the dogs had been kept in the homes garage, which did not have air conditioning.







Deputies said the animals were also living in deplorable conditions in an unsanitary environment, in poor health without access to food or water.

Man sets himself on fire inside Plant City Publix

On Thursday, Cuomo was arrested on a warrant. He is being charged with three counts of aggravated animal cruelty, three counts of abandonment of animals and for resisting arrest.

According to the sheriffs office, Cuomo is no stranger to the Lee County Jail. This is his fifth time being booked at the jail, as he had previous arrests involving battery and firing a missile into a home.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Pa. budget idea would help those with autism, intellectual disabilities

The online version of this story has been changed to include updated figures provided by the Barber National Institute, and to correct the spelling of Maureen Barber-Carey's name.

The Barber National Institute employs 442 people in Erie as direct support professionals, trained staff who spend their day in the community or in homes with the center's adult clients.

There are so many people 21 and older in the Erie area with autism or intellectual disabilities that the demand for services far exceeds the supply of these professionals, said Maureen Barber-Carey, the institute's executive vice president.

The institute currently has 111 job openings for direct support professionals at its Erie location.

"If we had the funding to raise the wages (which currently start at around $15-$18 an hour, depending on location), we could recruit more employees," Barber-Carey said.

Help could be coming soon as part of the 2024-25 Pennsylvania state budget. The proposed budget calls for a $483 million investment of state and federal funds to home and community-based service providers like the institute.

These providers could then hire more direct support professionals to help eliminate long waiting lists for services throughout the state.

To draw attention to the proposed budget and encourage state legislators to pass it, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Secretary Dr. Valerie Arkoosh visited the institute Thursday.

Dr. Valerie Arkoosh, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, discusses how the 2024-25 state budget will increase funding for adults with intellectual disabilities and autism during a news conference Thursday at the Barber National Institute. Also pictured are, from left, Robert Barber, the institute's senior vice president; and Maureen Barber-Carey, the institute's executive vice president.

"We need to end the adult emergency waiting list," said Arkoosh, referring to a waiting list of families who are in dire need of help for an adult with intellectual disabilities. "Gov. Josh Shapiro's 2024-25 budget will provide the money to make this happen."

The demand is particularly acute for adult clients because younger ones receive help through public schools, Barber-Carey said.

Also, adult clients usually have older parents who sometimes struggle to provide the support for their child that they did in previous years.

The proposed budget also calls for an investment of $78 million dollars in federal and state funds to allow 1,500 more Pennsylvanians to receive services.

Proposed budget must still be passed by state House, Senate

Shapiro's proposed budget must still be passed by the state house and senate. Four Erie-area state legislators visited the institute with Arkoosh and all spoke in favor of the funding, including two Republicans.

"This is actually one thing that the governor and I agree on," said state Sen. Dan Laughlin, of Millcreek Township, R-49th Dist.

"It's about priorities," said state Rep. Jake Banta, of LeBoeuf Township, R-4th Dist. "This is a no-brainer."

Contact David Bruce at dbruce@timesnews.com. Follow him on X @ETNBruce.

This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Barber Institute could help more autistic adults with proposed budget
Pa. Man Allegedly Threw Toddler into Pack-n-Play So Hard that Family's Chihuahua Was Killed

Bryan Morales Gracia, 34, of Altoona, is facing child endangerment and animal cruelty charges, police said

Altoona Police Department Bryan Morales Gracia

A Pennsylvania man is facing criminal charges after being accused of throwing a toddler so hard into a Pack-n-Play that their pet Chihuahua was fatally crushed, say authorities.

On May 26, Bryan Morales Gracia, 34, of Altoona, was arrested and charged with aggravated assault, endangering the welfare of a child, recklessly endangering Another person, cruelty to animals, simple assault and harassment.

Authorities learned about the incident on May 25 at about 10:57 p.m., when Altoona police officers responded to a call about an adult male allegedly assaulting an 18-month old in an apartment, the Altoona Police Department said in a statement.

A witness who parked outside the building and could see into the bedroom window of Morales Gracias apartment called police, claiming a man  later identified by police as Morales Gracia  could be seen repeatedly striking the child before throwing the child into a Pack-n-Play, police said.

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Officers got to the apartment and found an injured toddler and a dead Chihuahua, per the statement.



It was determined that the child and Chihuahua are often placed into the Pack-n-Play together and were on this night, police said. During this incident, the child was thrown into the Pack-n-Play with such force that it fatally wounded the Chihuahua.



The witness told police she ran up to the window and yelled at Morales Gracia to stop hitting the child, police said, according to the affidavit of probable cause, obtained by the Altoona Mirror.

The witness alleged the suspect was smacking the child repeatedly, the affidavit states, according to the Mirror.

The child was taken to a local hospital for treatment.

According to the affidavit of probable cause, Morales Gracia told police he struck the child for hitting the dog, which he said the child often does, the Mirror reports.

He said he placed the child on top of the dog by mistake, the affidavit said, according to the Mirror.

Morales Gracia remains held at the Blair County Prison on $25,000 straight cash bail.

He is scheduled to return to court on July 5.

It is unclear whether he has retained an attorney who can speak on his behalf.

If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.



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Read the original article on People.
EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU)  The Attorney General announced a Pennsylvania State Trooper was convicted of vehicular homicide for causing a deadly crash, killing a teacher, when he was off-duty.

A Tioga County jury gave a verdict against Michael J. Brown, 36, on Friday afternoon following a week-long trial regarding the February 11, 2023, collision that killed 47-year-old Christine Woodward.

According to the investigation, Brown attempted to pass a vehicle, illegally across double yellow lines, on Route 6 in Tioga County. In doing so, his vehicle struck an oncoming vehicle, killing the driver, 47-year-old Christine Woodward.

Tamaqua police officer charged with soliciting minors on Snapchat

The investigation revealed Brown was headed to work at his barracks in the PSP Mansfield unit. Police say Brown tried to remove Woodward from the burning car but was unsuccessful.

Woodward was pronounced dead on the scene after sustaining significant injuries. Woodward was an elementary school teacher at East Troy, WR Croman, and Intermediate Schools for 15 years.

Brown was convicted of felony homicide by vehicle and summary traffic violations.

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 PAhomepage.com.
James McGill, 33, of Palm Coast, was arrested Thursday on 10 counts of possession of child pornography, according to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office.

A Palm Coast man was arrested Thursday on charges of possession of child sexual assault material, according to the Flagler County Sheriffs Office.

James McGill, 33, was charged with 10 counts of possession of child pornography. McGill was arrested without incident and transported to the Sheriff Perry Hall Inmate Detention Facility, which the sheriff calls the Green Roof Inn, where he was being held on $150,000 bail.

The investigation began after the sheriffs office received a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

On Jan. 11, detectives searched McGills home where they seized multiple electronic devices.

Investigators found 10 electronic files of videos and photos portraying children in sexually exploitative situations. The victims were estimated to range in age from 5 to 11 years old.

I want to commend Detective (Sierra) Held, our lead investigator in our Cyber Crimes/ICAC Unit, in building a case to put this pervert behind bars at the Green Roof Inn, said Sheriff Rick Staly.  This type of perverted behavior will not be allowed in Flagler County, and we will come after you.

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Florida man charged with possession of child pornography
SYDNEY (Reuters) -Papua New Guinea (PNG) Prime Minister James Marape on Friday made his first visit to a remote village hit by a deadly landslide last week and thanked international aid donors for their support.

Officials are still trying to pinpoint how many people are buried under parts of a mountain which collapsed onto the Yambali village in the Enga region a week ago.

More than 2,000 people may have been buried alive, according to the PNG government. A U.N. estimate put the death toll at around 670.

Marape apologised to residents for not visiting earlier, The Papua New Guinea Post Courier reported.

"I'm sorry," Marape was cited as saying. "The country is with you in your time of sorrow."

He has pledged 20 million kina ($5.1 million) for emergency response and initial recovery measures.

Marape also inspected the disaster site by helicopter, the United Nations migration agency said.

Heavy equipment and aid have been slow to arrive because of treacherous terrain and tribal unrest in the area. As of Thursday, PNG government officials had ruled out finding survivors under the rubble and said that they would shift their focus onto recovering bodies.

"The priority now is twofold: safe search operations to be carried out as soon as possible while addressing the immediate needs of the affected and displaced population," Richard Howard, the U.N. Resident Coordinator in Papua New Guinea, told reporters via video link from Port Moresby.

The U.N. migration agency said the disaster site will be quarantined by PNG authorities after 14 days and access will be restricted in a bid to prevent the spread of diseases from decaying bodies.

The United Nations has said water flowing under the debris had contaminated the village's water sources. Those who remain undiscovered will be declared missing, the agency said.

($1 = 3.9479 kinas)

(Reporting by Renju Jose and Stella Qiu in Sydney; Additional reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber in Geneva; Editing by Stephen Coates and Sharon Singleton)
Papua New Guinea's prime minister visits the site of a landslide estimated to have killed hundreds

CORRECTS DATE - In this image taken from video, drone footage shows the landslide in Yambali village, in the Highlands of Papua New Guinea, Monday, May 27, , 2024. Emergency responders say that up to 8,000 people might need to be evacuated as the mass of boulders, earth and splintered trees that crushed the village of Yambali in the nation's mountainous interior on Friday, May 24 becomes increasingly unstable. (Juho Valta/UNDP Papua New Guinea via AP)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP)  Papua New Guineas prime minister on Friday visited the site of a major landslide, which is estimated to have buried hundreds of villagers in the South Pacific island nations mountainous interior a week ago and left the ground too unstable for heavy earthmoving machines to help clear up the mess.

James Marape told hundreds who had gathered near the devastated Yambali village that the list of governments and world leaders who had sent their condolences included the United States, China, India, France, Malaysia and the Czech Republic. First on the list was U.K. King Charles III, Papua New Guineas constitutional head of state.

My people are simple people. I want to say thank you for them to the global friends of PNG, Marape said.

The first mechanized excavator arrived at the scene on Sunday, but it hasn't been permitted to start removing the boulders, rocks and splintered trees that have buried a 150-to-200-meter (500-to-650-foot) stretch of the Enga provinces main highway.

The nations military had expected up to 10 excavators and bulldozers to be on the scene this week to help villagers who have used spades and farming tools to painstakingly retrieve bodies from the rubble, but have so far only found seven.

The United Nations estimates that 670 villagers died in the disaster, which immediately displaced 1,650 survivors. Papua New Guineas government has told the United Nations it thinks more than 2,000 people were buried.

Marape said that geotechnical reports in recent days found the area remains unstable.

Thats why we havent used heavy machinery in case it triggers something, Marape said. A full assessment of the stability of the place will be carried out before we use heavy machinery."

A dispute between local landowners and a nearby gold mine, plus the sensitivities of grieving villagers, are also obstacles to the mechanized removal of a huge quantity of debris.

Enga Gov. Peter Ipatas has urged local landowners not to deny access to the disaster site to earthmoving equipment owned by the Porgera Gold Mine, which is 30 kilometers (19 miles) away, as part of their financial dispute with the mines owner.

The mine has been isolated by the landslide and has offered equipment to help clear the highway.

The mines manger, Karo Lelai, confirmed that an offer had been made, but didn't respond to questions from The Associated Press about what equipment had been proposed and what the obstacles were to its deployment.

Local politician Jaman Yadam told the countrys The National newspaper that unless the mines owner met the landowners financial demands, the landslip site will remain a mass burial site, cutting off road access to the mine.

Some of the disaster survivors want the highway debris left as a memorial where they can place flowers to remember their dead, the International Organization for Migration reported.

Angela Kearney, who leads UNICEF in Papua New Guinea, visited Yambali on Friday and said that she was concerned by the traumatized children's unwillingness to interact.

More than 40% than of the region's population is under 16 years old, and around half of Papua New Guinea's children are undernourished, UNICEF said.

A shock like this can turn them into severe-acute malnutrition very quickly, so we need to get supplies and trained people to make sure we measure the kids, and we look at the most vulnerable ones very quickly, Kearney said.
It is not uncommon for a doctor to check with your insurance if he or she can do a knee infiltration, a colonoscopy if it hasnt been long since your last one, or even a laryngoscopy. Sometimes the insurance refuses to pay for these procedures because they do not consider them necessary and their payment depends entirely on the client. Therefore, it is advisable to save for medical expenses. You never know when a medical emergency will arise.

In addition to possible extraordinary expenses arising from medical procedures not covered by insurance, there are other fixed expenses that insured people have to face when using medical services. These costs must be paid out of pocket and they are:

Copayments

It is a fixed fee that is paid before using a medical service. Its cost is determined by each insurance plan and is usually around $26 in the case of visits to a general practitioner, and between $40 and $50 in the case of specialists. Obamacare eliminated copayments for preventive services such as annual health exams, mammograms and immunizations.

Deductible

It is the amount that the policy holder has to pay before the insurance begins to pay. If the deductible is $3,000 for individual insurance or $7,000 for family insurance, that is the amount the client will pay out of pocket before the insurance covers the costs. The amount depends a lot on the premium, the lower it is, the higher the deductible. There are medical visits that are not included in the deductible, especially preventive ones, such as the annual gynecological check-up. Once the deductible has been paid, the patient only pays the copayment or coinsurance.

Coinsurance

It is a percentage of the medical expense that the client shares with the insurance once the total deductible has been paid. For example: If your dermatologist performed a biopsy for which he bills you $1,000 and you have 90/10 coinsurance, then the insurance will pay $900 and you will pay $100, after you have met your deductible on previous medical visits and procedures. . Until when are there copayments? Until the year as a policy-holder is over or you have reached the out-of-pocket limit established by your insurance (Important! There are limits, so check your contract). As with deductibles, insurance with low premiums typically has a high coinsurance, while those that cost more monthly have a lower cost in this shared bill.

The reality is that taking care of your health is not cheap, and a person who needs treatment will find themselves signing checks or pulling out their card repeatedly. To meet these payments there are two types of accounts that enjoy advantageous tax treatment.

The first is the Health Savings Account (HSA). This option has three important advantages. The first is that pre-tax income is deposited in it and is deductible, which helps lower the tax base. The second is that you can invest that money and potentially increase your savings. Finally, if the amount is not used in the fiscal year, it can be used in the next. You cannot pay the premium with it, but you can pay other health expenses.

The Health Savings Account is designed for those who have high deductibles, above $1,600 in individual cases and $2,300 in family cases, in addition to a maximum out-of-pocket limit of the insured of $8,050 each year, which doubles in the case of families.

The account is owned by the employee and both the employee and his or her employer can contribute up to a maximum of $4,150 per year, or double if the insurance is family-based. All of these amounts are reviewed annually and you have to pay attention to what the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says in that regard. Self-employed people can also have this type of account.

The second type of account is the Flexible Spending Account (FSA). These accounts are opened by employers for their employees. A fixed portion of your salary can be allocated to this account for medical expenses and, as with HSAs, it is pre-tax and deductible money. The money deposited in this account must be used in the fiscal year, with a grace period of two and a half months.

Up to $3,200 can be saved in this account in 2024. (Review the amount each year, as it changes.) With the Flexible Spending Account you can also cover the health expenses of the spouse and children of the person whose name the account is in. For more details on how to use one of these accounts, it is advisable to inquire through your employer's human resources department.

Some companies offer Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs). These are from the employer itself to reimburse medical expenses, including insurance premiums, in some cases, of workers. It is deductible for employers and the money that the insured receive is also deductible.
Parents have up to 30 days to surrender infants under Floridas expanded Safe Haven law

Parents have up to 30 days to surrender infants under Floridas expanded Safe Haven law

Related news: After two newborns abandoned, Polk Fire Rescue promotes Safe Haven Law

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Parents in Florida can now surrender unwanted infants up to 30 days after birth due to a new expansion to Floridas Safe Haven laws.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 775 on Wednesday, giving a larger grace period for parents to surrender newborns with no questions asked. The new law takes effect July 1.

What are Safe Haven laws?

All 50 states have implemented Safe Haven laws, which provide safe places for parents to relinquish newborn infants to prevent them from being abandoned, according to the Child Welfare Information Gateway. Texas was the first state to enact a Safe Haven law back in 1999.

An analysis of the Florida bill said the timeframe in which infants can be surrendered varies by state, with approximately 23 states accepting infants up to 30 days old. Other states range from 72 hours up to one year.

When did Florida adopt its Safe Haven law?

Florida first adopted Safe Haven laws in 2000, allowing newborns up to three days old to be surrendered at a hospital or fire station.

In 2008, the limit was extended to seven-day-old babies. Hospitals would also have to remove the mothers name from the babys birth certificate if the mother expressed the intent to leave the baby at the hospital after birth.

What changes are made by the expansion?

The new bill, which was passed unanimously by the Florida House and Senate, expands Floridas Safe Haven laws as follows:

Newborn infant is renamed infant throughout the law

Parents will be able to anonymously surrender infants for up to 30 days, rather than seven

Parents without transportation to a Safe Haven location may call 911 and arrange for an EMS professional to come and accept the infant

A parent who has just given birth may surrender the child to medical staff at the hospital

The definition of which healthcare professionals may accept a surrendered baby at a hospital has been increased

A criminal investigation into the surrender of an infant cannot be conducted under the Safe Haven law unless there are signs or suspicion of child abuse. Medical staff that accept a surrendered infant in good faith are also immune from criminal and civil liability.

What happens to infants who are surrendered?

Once surrendered, fire station and EMS personnel who accept the surrendered infant are required to provide emergency services as needed and then take the baby to the hospital.

The hospital then will contact a local licensed child-placing agency or the central abuse hotline for placement assistance unless there is any evidence of abuse or neglect, in which case the hospital must report the abuse to the statewide central abuse hotline to begin a criminal investigation.

A total of 457 infants have been surrendered in Florida since former Gov. Jed Bush enacted the Safe Haven law in 2000, according to the nonprofit A Safe Haven for Newborns. Of those 457 infants, 392 of them were surrendered at safe haven sites.

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.
Parents, attendees speak on early shutdown of this years Arkansas Girls State due to health concerns

Parents, attendees speak on early shutdown of this years Arkansas Girls State due to health concerns

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Arkansas Girls State announced the cancellation of this years session on Wednesday due to health concerns.

The organization said its been advised by the Arkansas Department of Health to end the session early to keep the infection from spreading.

Arkansas Girls State shuts down early following Arkansas Department of Health recommendation, 70-plus infections

Organizers with Arkansas Girls State, an annual summer civics education program, said the decision to end the week-long program came after conferring with the Arkansas Department of Health.

ADH officials said they knew 70 sick individuals but added that the number could change. As of Thursday, they say the results of two samples tested were positive for norovirus.

The CDC states that norovirus is fast-spreading through contact with infected individuals or consuming contaminated food or drink. Norovirus is also a contagious stomach virus, according to the CDC.

Several parents of students attending like John Dickins say they have mixed feelings on how it was handled.

The frustration I had was the only updates I was getting was from her (his daughter), he said. Overall its a good program. I hope its not damaged going forward but really they need to learn from this situation and make sure they are better adequately able to deal with this should it pop in the future.

Amelie Dickins said she left early because she was uncomfortable with the amount of people getting sick.

My counselor got sick on Monday and left and then the day after that another person in my group got sick, she said.

Arkansas mother living with lupus aims to raise awareness of the disease

Karen Liebhaber, whose daughter Abby Liebhaber attended Girls State, said that she was shocked but understood why the cancellation happened.

I felt like they did a good job of trying to make sure the girls were safe, she said. Have the girls all meet up and say this is the deal and I know they were worried about everyones safety.

Abby Liebhaber said she was excited to go to Arkansas Girls State but noted it was clear that other attendees were getting sick.

It wasnt a secret that everyone was getting sick, Abby Liebhaber said.

Lucy Cleveland, a Girls State delegate who was elected as her citys senator in the program, said she was sad to leave but understood the reasoning. She said despite everything she will still take away good memories.

All the delegates were very emotional. I was saddened by it. I felt like I had learned and grew so much, Cleveland said. I really enjoyed my time there.

Arkansas flu activity remains at low levels after months of high case numbers

KARK 4 News has reached out multiple times to Arkansas Girls State and is waiting on a response.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
Decked out in their kelly green caps and gowns, the graduates of Gulf High School on Friday kicked off commencement ceremonies for nearly 6,000 Pasco County seniors. Later in the day, the class of 2024 from Anclote, Cypress Creek and Pasco high schools celebrated at the Yuengling Center at the University of South Florida. The events are scheduled to continue through Wednesday, when Pasco eSchool seniors will hold the districts final graduation event. Anyone interested in watching can find livestreaming information on the Pasco County school districts website.

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A passenger with 'no clothes on' ran through a plane mid-journey, causing chaos and knocking over a flight attendant

A passenger with 'no clothes on' ran through a plane mid-journey, causing chaos and knocking over a flight attendant

A Virgin Australia flight turned around after a man ran naked through the cabin.

The flight from Perth to Melbourne was already delayed over an hour before taking off.

Australian Federal Police arrested the man, who was later taken to a local hospital.

A Virgin Australia flight had to turn around after a man is said to have run naked through the cabin, The Guardian reported.

Monday's flight from Perth to Melbourne was already more than an hour late taking off, according to data from Flightradar24. It also shows the Boeing 737 made a U-turn less than an hour into the journey.

A spokesperson for the Australian Federal Police told The Guardian that its officers, "arrested a man after he allegedly ran naked through the aircraft mid-flight and knocked a crew member to the floor."

One witness told the radio station 3AW that, "a male passenger suddenly went bananas, running up and down the aisle and bashing on the cockpit door."

"All of a sudden, I hear this running up the aisle and the guy's got no clothes on, and he's just charging towards the front of the plane," another passenger told The Guardian.

He added that a "good Samaritan, this big guy in business class" intervened, and two others helped tackle him to the ground.

The Guardian reported that the man was taken to a local hospital after the incident.

In a statement shared with Business Insider, a Virgin spokesperson said the flight turned around due to a "disruptive passenger" who was "offloaded" by police.

"The safety of our guests and crew is our top priority and we sincerely apologize to guests impacted," they added.

Statistics from the Federal Aviation Administration show unruly-passenger incidents have increased since the pandemic  rising nearly six-fold in 2021 compared to 2019.

While numbers have since been falling, they have remained at more than double the pre-pandemic frequency.

Read the original article on Business Insider
GOOCHLAND, Va. (WAVY)  A man from Newport News is dead after a Thursday night crash involving a pedestrian.

Virginia State Police were dispatched around 10 p.m. in reference to a crash on Patterson Avenue in Goochland County.

Officers arrived to the scene and found Newport News resident Dennis Wayne Parton II dead at the scene.

According to state police, Parton II was working in a construction zone when a 2007 Kenworth Dump Truck, driven by a 47-year-old man, pulled into the construction zone. Police said the driver of the truck hit Parton II while backing up.

The crash remains under investigation. No additional information has been released.

Check with WAVY.com 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 WAVY.com.
(WHTM)  Political leaders across Pennsylvania are reacting Thursday after former President Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 felony charges in New York connected to hush money payments made to a porn star.

Dave McCormick, Republican U.S. Senate nominee  This is a terrible day for America and for trust in our justice system. As CNNs Fareed Zakaria said, I doubt the New York indictment would have been brought against a defendant whose name was not Donald Trump. This case should never have been brought in the first place, and this miscarriage of justice is despicable. I look forward to the appeal.

Congressman Scott Perry (R-PA)  These are the actions of a dictator, plain and simple. Joe Biden has corrupted the awesome power of the U.S. government. His and his radical Left minions weaponization of lawfare to destroy their political opponents is nothing more than a Soviet-style show trial, replete with fake charges, the impossibility of innocence, and a predetermined outcome; its clear to anyone who even remotely values and respects our Constitution. Donald Trump has been persecuted relentlessly at the hands of the Left for political gain, and the American People know it  which is why hes even more strongly supported around the Nation. Joe Biden has crushed our economy, imperiled our national interests and security, and emboldened our enemies. His actions set us squarely in line with the Third World. Today its Trump. If they can manufacture the crime to fit the man, guess what? Youre next. Joe Biden and his minions must be defeated in November. America cant withstand any more tyranny. This is breathtaking outrage, and far beyond the bounds of politics and elections. The future of our Democratic Republic has never been more at risk.

Congressman Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA)  Joe Biden and Alvin Bragg weaponized our judicial system, turning our nation into a banana republic filled with kangaroo courts designed to target their political rivals. Its the worst abuse of power in American history. Pray for our nation and President Trump.

Congressman Lloyd Smucker (R-PA)  Joe and Hunter Biden get special treatment, Trump is dragged through a sham trial. Two justice systems. Very sad day for the country and rule of law.

Congressman John Joyce (R-PA)  From day one, far left prosecutors have targeted President Trump and carried out a brazen political attack against the Republican nominee for President. Todays decision does nothing to change the fact the President Biden has failed the American people and the President Trump WILL WIN back the White House this November!

Congressman Dan Meuser (R-PA)  The prosecutions frivolous case against Donald Trump was a weaponization of our justice system and a blatant attempt to undermine democracy. They just convicted a former President of the United States in a trial where most people do not even know what crime was alleged. This trial never would have happened if Trump were not running for president. There was no crime committed, and the evidence, or lack thereof, in no way supported this verdict. The jury believed, and the case rested on, Michael Cohen, a convicted felon, liar, and self-admitted thief. District Attorney Alvin Bragg campaigned endlessly on getting Trump, and today, he lived up to his promise. Every progressive in the country is likely toasting right now, yet they have no idea the damage they have caused to our constitutional republic. Prosecuting political opponents happens in third-world countries, not in America. Our adversaries around the world are viewing this as a failure of democracy. Americans should take notice. If the Biden Administration can do this to a former President and the leading GOP candidate for President, Americans should ask whos next? The Left has succeeded in poisoning our Justice System, and as President Trump said, the real verdict will be delivered on November 5th.

Congressman Dwight Evans (D-PA)  No one should be above the law in America, and todays verdict is an affirmation of that important principle.

Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-PA)  Donald Trump is a convicted felon. He should be in prison, not the White House.

State Representative Barb Gleim (R-Cumberland)  Political agenda of the left indeed, to use a rigged legal process to attempt to win an election. Sad and despicable. Weaponizing the legal system will harm our countrys future and I pray every American citizen sends a message with their vote in November. God help America.

State Representative Russ Diamond (R-Lebanon)  Looks like Ill be voting 34x harder for this fellow in November.

State Representative Malcolm Kenyatta (D-Philadelphia)  Today a former President has been found guilty of 34 felony charges. But make no mistake, this election will be won at the ballot box, not in a courthouse.

Tom OBrien, Lancaster County Democratic Committee Chair  We are pleased that the judicial process and the rule of law has been protected. This verdict proves that no one person, even a President, is above the law.

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Pentagon says 'no change' in policy banning Ukraine from striking Russia with US arms

The Pentagon on May 30 insisted there has been no change in policy after several U.S. news outlets reported the White House had secretly partially lifted the ban on Ukraine striking Russian territory with American weapons.

Citing unnamed American officials, Politico reported on May 30 that President Joe Biden's administration had given the go-ahead for Kyiv to attack targets inside Russia but "solely near the area of Kharkiv."

The report was then confirmed by other outlets, including ABC News and the Associated Press (AP).

"The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S. weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv, so Ukraine can hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them," an unnamed American official told Politico.

The source added that Washington's policy of allowing long-range strikes "has not changed," and Ukraine cannot use U.S. weapons to hit military targets deep inside Russia.

When asked by reporters on May 30 if there had been a shift in Pentagon policy, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said there had been "no change," without specifically mentioning attacks near Kharkiv Oblast.

"The security assistance that we provide to Ukraine is to be used within Ukraine and we don't encourage attacks or enable attacks inside of Russia," she said.

"We believe that Ukraine can be effective by focusing on tactical and operational targets that directly affect the conflict within its boundaries without going after larger geopolitical targets within Russia," she added.

Singh was then pressed by a reporter on why the policy was not changing, given Moscow was launching attacks from Russian territory into Ukraine.

"Again, this is our policy, and nothing has changed. We have always said from the beginning that the security assistance that we provide Ukraine is for use within Ukraine, and if anything changes, we will let you know," she said.

"But right now, that still remains our policy, and we believe that we've given them the capabilities and the systems to be effective on the battlefield right now," she added.

Calls for Ukraine to be allowed to strike military targets on Russian territory with Western weapons have grown after Russia launched a new offensive in Kharkiv Oblast on May 10, with 30,000 troops reportedly involved in the operation.

"We see every point of concentration of Russian troops. We know all the areas where Russian missiles and combat aircraft are launched," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 26.

Politico had reported that Ukraine was now allowed to use American-provided arms such as rockets to shoot down Russian missiles heading toward Kharkiv, at troops massing over the Russian border, or aircraft launching bombs at Ukraine's territory.

Read also: Politico: Biden quietly allows Ukraine to strike Russia with US arms but solely near Kharkiv

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PETA, parents join forces to protect Cabarrus Co. school after migratory bird nest found in chimney

Efforts to stop the closure and demolition of a Cabarrus County elementary school have gained some avian allies.

I think its just irresponsible to demolish it when theres a lawsuit thats pending, one parent said.

MORE: Class action lawsuit tied to plans to close Cabarrus County school

A flock of Chimney Swifts have decided to call Beverly Hill Elementary their home for their 2024 nesting season, which is set to last until the fall.

The nest was discovered by parents this week, and hundreds of the small, migratory birds have turned the elementary school chimney into their temporary home.

The birds will start to kind of form and move around the chimney; theyre usually kind of diving and swarming the chimney, another parent said.

Experts explained that the birds will migrate back down to Peru after all of their eggs hatch. Theyll stay in the South American country through the winter before returning for next years nesting season.

Photo shows Chimney Swifts quickly returning to nest at Beverly Hills Elementary School.

President of the Beverly Hills Elementary Save Our School (SOS) Association, Lee Shuman, says he was pleasantly surprised to see the species is protected by the Federal Migratory Birds Act.

That was something we felt needed to be exposed in some way, shape, or form, to the people who are in the process of demolishing the school, Shuman said.

News of the swifties nest has made it to the North Carolina Wildlife Commission and the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

The simple, human solution is just to delay the demolishing of the chimney by just a couple of months, Gemma Vaughn, a captive animal care specialist with PETA, said.

Vaughn says PETA reached out to the Cabarrus County School Superintendent, telling him about the Chimney Swifts protected status. She explained that relocating the birds is not an option; they naturally build their nests where they think its safest.

Animal experts say this isnt the first time the small birds have chosen Beverly Hills Elementary as their home.

I would think that if a thorough study had been done on this facility and what could have been done to renovate it, you would certainly know that the chimney swifts were here, Vaughn said.

(WATCH BELOW: Families of SouthPark construction fire victims file wrongful death lawsuit)




















West Fulliam will be closed to through traffic from just east of Green Acres Drive to the 2100 block of West Fulliam starting at 7 a.m. Monday, June 3, as Phase 2 of the West Fulliam Reconstruction Project begins in Muscatine, according to a news release.

Substantial completion of this phase is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 16, 2024.

Westbound through traffic will be detoured at Logan to Cedar and then to Houser. Eastbound through traffic will be detoured down Houser to Cedar and then to Logan.

Eastbound local traffic will be permitted for residents to access their homes from Houser to the construction site including residents on Green Acres Drive and Meadow Lane.

This phase will be completed in three sections to maximize residents ability to access their residents. The first section will be the one-half of the West Fulliam intersection with Green Acres Drive and Meadow Lane.

Once completed, work will begin on the second half of the intersection and West Fulliam up to the midpoint of the intersection with Westfield Drive. Access for residents on Green Acres Drive and on Meadow Lane will then switch from the west off of Houser to the east off of Logan or Kindler. The third section to be completed will be from the second half of the Westfield Drive intersection up to 2716 West Fulliam.

Phase 2 will include reconstruction of pavement, installation of sidewalk, and replacement and installation of ADA-compliant pedestrian crossings from West Acre Drive to approximately 2716 West Fulliam Avenue.

City staff and representatives from the contractor anticipate meeting onsite with residents to keep them informed of the progress and timetable as to when they might be affected by the construction. A timetable has not been established as yet for those meetings but residents will be notified in advance of the time and place.

Heuer Construction, Inc., was awarded the $702,915.00 contract for Phase 2 at the May 16 Muscatine City Council meeting.



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Phenix City prepares to bring Starbucks and other brands to the community

PHENIX CITY, Ala. (WRBL)  In Phenix City, city officials gathered for a groundbreaking for a new development that will bring Starbucks, Chipotle, and other brands to the city.

The citizens of Phenix city have had to travel to Columbus to enjoy certain restaurants and services. Phenix Citys new project with Lindstrom & Company intends to prioritize the convenience of visitors and the community.

Shaun Culligan, the Phenix City Economic Development Manager, told WRBL the impact this project will have on Phenix City.

Sales tax are the lifeblood of any community in Alabama. Property tax tend to be much lower. And so we live off of sales taxes. And so we tend to see a lot of our sales taxes leave the community every day, Culligan said.

Culligan continues, And so we want to do our job of keeping those sales tax as much as we can back home, while at the same time giving our citizens an opportunity to be able to shop at the places that they want to shop at.

As the Phenix City community have been in anticipation for this project for years, Mayor Eddie Lowe of Phenix City weighed in on the significance it has for the relationship between the cities leadership and citizens.

Well they see the seriousness of it. It is also helping validate what the council has stated that would be common here so now it has been validated, Lowe said. So we are very proud of that and we just pray and hope that we can continue to strive. But basically striving in the right manner.

Phenix City leadership is confident that this project will bring growth and competition to the city.

City Councilman, Steve Bailey of District One, weighed in the new competition coming to local business owners in Phenix City.

Bailey says, We all win from it and any time we can have something of this magnitude moving out of the city, were all going to benefit from it.

Bailey finishes, Im one of those local businesses too and if I have to step up my game to be part of it, I just have to step my game up. But competition makes all of us better.

The owner and developer of Lindstrom & Company says the citizens of Phenix City can expect the project to be completed in the Fall.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
Charles Michel is awaiting the European elections with an unusual sense of calm regarding the strength of extremism. Contrary to the warnings issued by other leaders, the liberal politician, 48, plays down the polls and is confident that the pro-European forces will remain at the helm in the next EU legislature. Beyond expressing this hope, the leader of the European Council  the institution that brings together the leaders of the member states  is elusive about whether or not it is a good idea to make a pact with the far-right forces of the European ecosystem. He is much more emphatic about the war in Gaza. The former Belgian prime minister warns Benjamin Netanyahus government that not complying with international law could have consequences on the association agreement that regulates the relationship between the community bloc and Israel. Michel, on a visit to Spain on May 30 to meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, receives EL PAIS shortly before heading to La Moncloa, the Spanish seat of government.

Question. Macron says that Europe is now in a deadly situation. Do you perceive that risk for the first time in the face of the European elections?

Answer. We are in a world where weaknesses are exposed. But the EU has strengths and advantages. What makes me optimistic  realistic, but also optimistic  is that there is a political awareness in the 27 countries of what is essential: that we must strengthen the European project to make it resilient and capable of influencing the world. That is not enough. We have to implement measures. And my role is to work for the unity of this project, which is unique in history.

Q. During the 2019 European elections, you began to warn of the rise of extremism. Why is the situation more critical now?

A. Even then, there was a lot of pessimistic analysis. Afterwards, the reading was that the pro-European forces had resisted well, that the European Parliament was clearly dominated by parties that support integration and values. We must remain calm. Citizens see that the EU brings stability. Without the EU, there would have been a risk of the division of the continent after Russias war against Ukraine. And with Covid, we saw joint solidarity and investment projects. I hope that we can form a stable majority in favor of European integration and support for Ukraine.

Q. So you dont anticipate the ascent of extremism shown by different studies and polls?

A. I dont want to look the other way. I look at the polls. But looking at the polls, Brexit would not have happened. Looking at the polls, Trump would not have been president of the United States. My experience is that polls are wrong on a regular basis.

Charles Michel during the interview. Claudio Alvarez

Q. You were one of the first European leaders, in 2014, to integrate a populist formation, the N-VA (the Flemish nationalist party), into the Belgian government. Did that experience contribute to normalizing the phenomenon?

A. I refute that the N-VA is a populist or extremist party. It is a party with which we undertook structural reforms. This government supported, without the slightest ambiguity, European integration, multilateralism, a migration policy that was both firm and very humane

Q. But it was precisely differences over migration that ended up breaking up the government.

A. That shows my personal coherence. I was convinced that Belgium should defend a mechanism for regulated and orderly migration.

Q. Migration is now inflaming public opinion, and the European response seems to be to tighten policies. Doesnt that strengthen extremist forces?

A. Europe has made progress. We have agreed on the migration pact, which means more solidarity among Europeans after years of deadlock. And we have started to do what we said we had to do: cooperate with third countries to get to the root causes of migration. And this is very important: we have made it clear that we want to work on legal migration channels. We have to be consistent. If we are firm in combating irregular migration and the business model of traffickers, in parallel we have to open legal channels.

Q. But there is much less commitment to that option, it is less visible.

A. I dont agree. Since the European Council issued its guidelines, the path to identifying [legal migration] pathways for students, entrepreneurs or people who come to train and return to their countries to contribute to development has accelerated.

Q. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has opened the door to an understanding with some extremist forces. What is your position, and that of the liberals, in this regard?

A. My role is to be the guardian of EU unity. Lets wait for the results of the elections; we cannot anticipate them.

Q. But in your experience as president of the European Council, is the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni a person with whom you can make a pact?

A. Without wishing to personalize, I note that in my mandate we have had storms to face, at first the difficulties in maintaining climate ambition, then Covid, which destabilized the world, and then the wars in Ukraine and in the Middle East. All were potentially very divisive issues. On each of them there was a risk of EU implosion. The Council has been the cement that has guaranteed European unity.

Charles Michel during the interview. Claudio Alvarez

Q. Do you fear Russian interference in the European elections?

A. We know that Russia is determined to make all electoral processes difficult because they are about democracy, about legitimacy: everything that Russia detests. Undoubtedly there will be interference. But we are much more realistic than on other occasions, we are better prepared. We have decided to task all our national [election] services to cooperate as closely as possible in detection, prevention and transparency for voters.

Q. Regarding Ukraine, is it realistic to think of the EU integrating a country at war, with all the challenges that entails?

A. It is certainly a challenge, I dont downplay it. But it is a deliberate, strategic, geopolitical decision. We see a very strong will in Ukraine to make the necessary reforms. Europe will be stronger as it enlarges. There will be financial and political challenges, but I am sure we will find solutions. We hope that Ukraine will no longer be at war when we make the decision [for Kyiv to join the EU].

Q. Do you support the idea of sending European military instructors to Ukraine?

A. I dont want to make a public pronouncement on the details of this proposal. It is not wise to give Putin clues about what we are willing and unwilling to do.

Q. It was a red line and it is being talked about more and more frequently.

A. Every time there has been a debate on Ukraine I have maintained a maximalist position. And the facts have proven me right. When we decided not to go that far with the decisions we took, several weeks later we did. We saw it with tanks, with fighter jets, with long-range missiles. We have to defend the interests of our citizens. It is not just a question of generosity towards Ukraine; it is in the EUs interest not to tolerate a Russian victory.

Q. Is what is happening in Gaza genocide?

A. I take note of the language of the international justice institutions, which speak of the risk of genocide. As a European, I support international justice, which began in Nuremberg. But beyond that, the war has to stop, there has to be an immediate ceasefire. It is difficult because in the EU there are different sensitivities, but the two-state solution must be found. For that, the Palestinians have to make the necessary reforms and pressure has to be put on Israel because the Israeli government is doing everything possible to make it difficult for the Palestinians to have more authority, credibility and legitimacy. The finances blocked by Israel do not allow the Palestinian Authority to provide the necessary services to the Palestinian population. We must try to convince them to return to the two-state solution.

Q. Israel says the war will be long. Is a ceasefire realistic?

A. We cannot resign ourselves. On the one hand, we are partners with Israel, which is a democratic country. On the other hand, we have an association agreement that foresees the respect of international law. I am in favor of discussing the association agreement, [Josep] Borrell has managed to reopen it and involve the Israelis in a dialogue in which we will be able to ask very serious questions about respect for this clause of the agreement. If it is not respected, there must be consequences.

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Pig organ transplants are 'not going to be easy,' researcher says after latest setback.

Lisa Pisano, the fourth person to ever receive an organ from a pig, had to have the kidney removed after doctors decided it was doing more harm than good.

The other three patients who have received pig organs, two who lived with pig hearts and one with a pig kidney, all died within eight weeks of their surgeries.

All three were quite ill and chose the experimental procedure as a last hope. But the three deaths and now this removal represent a setback for the field of xenotransplantation, just as it seemed poised to finally become a reality.

For at least four decades, researchers have worked to understand the human and animal immune systems well enough to make organs transplantable across species.

Lisa Pisano (right), with her daughter Brittany Harvill, was near death earlier this month when she agreed to receive a heart pump and pig kidney in place of her own. This week, she had to have the kidney removed.

Researchers have hoped that using organs from pigs would address the shortage of human organs available for transplant. Right now, more than 100,000 people are waiting on organ transplant lists, mostly for kidneys, and many more, like Pisano and the other three patients who volunteered for the pig organ transplants, never qualified to be on the lists.

The pigs whose organs were used for transplant have gene edits to make them less likely to be rejected by the human immune system. Researchers have said they are close to requesting Food and Drug Administration approval to begin clinical trials with the pig organs, however, it's not clear whether these deaths and the removal will delay such approval.

All four patients who've gotten pig organs were approved as one-off situations, for people who were otherwise out of treatment options.

None of the four suffered an immediate rejection and rejection seems to have been the cause of only one of the deaths  heart transplant patient Lawrence Faucette, 58, who died about six weeks after his transplant at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

The first patient, David Bennett Sr., 57, transplanted in Maryland in 2022, was found to have a pig virus in his transplanted heart, which may have contributed to his death.

Richard Slayman, 62, the first person to receive a pig kidney, died suddenly, nearly two months after his procedure at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is the only one of the patients healthy enough to have been released from the hospital.

Dr. Tatsuo Kawai, professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School and the chair of transplant surgery at Mass. General, said he saw Slayman the morning of his May 11 death and he seemed "completely fine." He walked 250 yards between the clinic and the hospital twice that day, so his death that night, of an apparent heart attack, was "so unexpected."

Although Slayman had suffered a series of health problems before his Mar. 16 transplant, Kawai, who treated him for more than a decade, had been confident of his continued well-being. "I was thinking he can go years," Kawai said.

Kidney was 'no longer contributing'

Pisano, 54, received an artificial heart pump on April 4 and the pig kidney in place of her own failing organ on April 12.

Doctors at NYU Langone Health, where her earlier procedures were performed, decided on May 29 to remove the genetically engineered pig kidney  47 days after the transplant  and put her back on dialysis.

"On balance, the kidney was no longer contributing enough to justify continuing the immunosuppression regimen," Dr. Robert Montgomery, who directs the NYU Langone Transplant Institute said in a statement.

A surgical team at the University of Maryland School of Medicine works to give patient Dave Bennett, 57, of Maryland, a gene-edited pig heart.

The combination of the heart pump, called a left ventricular assist device, or LVAD and the kidney, "resulted in multiple episodes where the blood pressure she could generate" was not enough to provide adequate blood flow to the kidney, which over time reduced its ability to function, according to Montgomery. "A recent biopsy did not show signs of rejection, but there was significant injury to the kidney from episodes of insufficient blood flow."

Montgomery said he and his team will study the removed pig kidney to get a better understanding of why this happened.

In the meantime, he said, Pisano, a New Jersey grandmother, "is in stable condition after the surgery and her LVAD is functioning."

Getting the pig kidney enabled her to come off dialysis long enough to become a candidate for the LVAD, which saved her life, Montgomery said.

The field responds

A number of experts in the field of xenotransplantation said work would continue despite the deaths and setbacks.

"I don't think anything has changed dramatically. This experience certainly highlights that it's not going to be easy," said Dr. Alfred "Joe" Tector, a transplant surgeon at the University of Miami, who has not been involved in the human trials, but has worked in the field for decades.

It's crucial to keep making modifications to the pigs used for the transplants, said Tector, who is working on that, as well as carefully choosing patients who don't have existing antibodies to the pigs.

Patient selection will be key going forward, according to Kawai and Dr. Muhammad Mohiuddin, who co-led the University of Maryland Medicine transplant teams. The four patients who have received transplants all had quite serious health problems.

Mohiuddin hopes the Food and Drug Administration will allow his team and others to transplant patients who are less sick but still ineligible for a human organ transplant, perhaps because they have already received more than one prior transplant.

"I'm sorry for this loss," Mohiuddin said about Pisano having the organ removed, "but it's a great learning opportunity."

For his part, Montgomery praised Pisano for volunteering to receive the pig kidney.

"Her strength and bravery in the face of adversity inspires and drives us as we continue pursuing the hope and promise of xenotransplantation," he said in a statement. "Lisa knew the world would learn a great deal through her altruism, and we will apply what she has taught us as we seek to make xenotransplantation a solution for the inadequate supply of human organs."

Karen Weintraub can be reached at kweintraub@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pig kidney transplant update: Organ removed to avoid harm
MANHATTAN (KSNT)  A 67-year-old man from Los Laureles, Dominican Republic had to make a hard landing after an airplane malfunction in Manhattan.

At 6:39 p.m. on Thursday, the landing gear indicator on a Piper PA-32R malfunctioned and didnt completely deploy on the nose of the airplane. The pilot had to make a hard landing at Manhattan Regional Airport, according to the Kansas Highway Patrol (KHP).

May be insurmountable: Midwest energy suppliers concerned over EPA rule change

The 67-year-old had no apparent injuries, according to the KHP.

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The LSU Library sits in the middle of campus on Monday, March 20, 2023, in Baton Rouge, La. (Matthew Perschall for Louisiana Illuminator)

Louisiana lawmakers are moving forward with a plan to divert state savings to a new fund to fix a lengthy list of crumbling infrastructure on state college and university campuses.

The Legislature approved House Bill 940 by Rep. Chris Turner, R-Ruston, which would provide money for maintenance work without going through the annual state construction budget. The bill cleared both chambers Friday unanimously.

Presently, each university system gets a few million dollars each year to address these deferred maintenance projects, far from enough to keep up with new projects added to the list each year. In total, there are approximately $2 billion worth of repairs needed at public colleges and universities in the state.

Turner said higher education leaders have asked instead for a set amount of money annually, which they could then decide how to spend themselves. This would prevent long-needed maintenance projects from filling up House Bill 2, the state construction budget, he said.

Lawmakers are considering using some money that would typically go into a state savings account to set up the College and University Deferred Maintenance and Capital Improvement Fund. About $70 million destined for the Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund will be diverted to the new fund, Senate President Cameron Henry said. The Revenue Stabilization Trust Fund currently has about $2.3 billion in it.

The nearly $2 billion deferred maintenance backlog presents a considerable problem on university campuses. Poor infrastructure manifests in Americans with Disabilities Act compliance issues, leaky libraries, disruptions in laboratories and myriad problems that impact student life, working conditions and faculty research.

Turners bill sets up a 10-year program through which the Legislature could appropriate up to $2 billion dollars, approximately equal to deferred maintenance costs for all four state higher education systems, excluding those at university hospitals that could be paid for with federal dollars.

Of that amount, the Southern University System would be allocated $153 million, the Louisiana Community and Technical College System would get $253 million, the University of Louisiana System would receive $523 million, and $1.07 billion would be set aside for the LSU System.

Turner also wants to use funds from the states 1998 settlement with tobacco companies, though it would take a constitutional change to do so because the money is currently set aside for other purposes.

If a constitutional convention or a special session on constitutional amendments isnt convened this year, Turner said he would consider filing a constitutional amendment next year to access the tobacco funds. The settlement fund can yield up to $98 million annually, a spokesperson for the state Treasury said, which could all go into the campus repair fund if lawmakers and voters amend the constitution.

Further funds could also be borrowed.

Turner said he hoped the fund could clear deferred maintenance backlogs within seven to 10 years.

Addressing the deferred maintenance backlog is an important tool for recruiting and retaining students, he said.

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The worldview exposed in Margaret Atwood's novel is eerily similar to that of Trump's defenders, writes Teri Carter. Protesters, above, dressed as Handmaids in 2018. (Getty Images)

For a literary, nonpolitical project, I recently had to reread Margaret Atwoods 1985 novel and re-watch the Hulu TV series of The Handmaids Tale, a dystopian story about a new United States which adheres not to the Constitution but to a strict, twisted, patriarchal interpretation of the Bible.

In this new U.S., all women are subjects of the regime and, since the wives of powerful men are unable to reproduce, fertile females known as handmaids are held prisoner for the sole purpose of producing babies.

As I watched the TV version, it occurred to me that Kentucky Republican legislators like Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, Reps. Josh Calloway and Nancy Tate, and all of those in our Republican supermajority seemingly obsessed with religion as it relates to sex, sexual deviance and public education, should be required to watch at least seasons one and two and then explain what is so appealing about this worldview that seems so eerily close to their own.

I again considered this as I watched Kentuckys GOP response to former president and presumptive 2024 presidential nominee Donald J. Trumps conviction on all 34 felony counts related to secretly paying hush money to a porn star (a campaign finance violation) in order to hide the story from voters days before the 2016 election.

Here are some of those statements from the alleged party of family values and the rule of law:

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell: These charges never should have been brought in the first place. I expect the conviction to be overturned on appeal.

Congressman James Comer:   another example of Democrats being relentless in their pursuit to weaponize the courts  and target President Joe Bidens political opposition.

Congressman Andy Barr:   corrupt New York district attorney  sham trial  outrageous.

Kentucky House GOP primary winner TJ Roberts reposted Alex Stone on X, whose lengthy statement began, Its a sad day where we can no longer sing certain lines of God Bless The USA without it being true. We arent free. This isnt what freedom looks like. I know that this is cliche and so many people have said it before, but we ALL need to rise up against this evil, tyrannical system that has plagued the United States of America.

State Sen. Lindsey Tichenor:   circus of a trial and verdict  political witch hunt  veil has been pulled back for the world to see clearly. Theyre running out of options and growing Trumps base of support every move they make.

Retiring state Sen. and longtime Republican Floor Leader Damon Thayer:   best described by invoking  the horse who finished second to Secretariat  #Sham.

A lengthy statement from the Republican Party of Kentucky began, Today is a shameful day in American history that should send chills down the spines of anyone who respects a fair and impartial judicial system.

Chills are running down spines, all right, because Donald J. Trump, the national leader of the Republican Party, is now a convicted felon.

And, lest we forget, that is not all.

A pro-Trump mob breaks into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 in Washington, D.C. as Congress held a joint session to ratify Joe Bidens 306-232 Electoral College win. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

He tried to overturn a federal election that he lost, seemingly not caring that his followers attacked U.S. Capitol Police and chanted about hanging his vice president, while he continues to falsely claim the election was stolen.

He took boxes and boxes of sensitive national security documents when he left the White House and, when politely and quietly asked for months, refused to return them, resulting in federal agents having to go and get them.

It was just months ago that Trump was found liable in civil court for sexual abuse and defamation of E. Jean Carroll for which he owes a judgment of more than $90M.

And it is not like Trumps behavior is new.

Early in his first presidency, a judge awarded a $25 million settlement to students of Trump University, which was not an actual university but a for-profit seminar series, and former students waged a years-long battle claiming the course misled them with claims of teaching real estate success. The program ended in 2010. Some elderly plaintiffs who paid $20,000-plus in tuition died waiting to receive their checks from the settlement.

At some point  and, based on initial lawmaker reactions to his conviction on 34 criminal counts, we are now at that point  we have to assume that what the Kentucky Republican Party most reveres in their leader is his sexual debauchery and blatant, nose-thumbing criminality.

Not a bug but a feature, as the kids say.

I recommend Kentucky lawmakers watch, at minimum, the first two seasons of The Handmaids Tale and let us know which parts of the story do not apply or appeal to their quickly evolving, biblically twisted, women are second class citizens, laws are for other people platform.

But if they continue watching into season three, they might most enjoy the episode in which the Washington Monument is converted into a cross under which hundreds of subservient handmaids  with their mouths now stapled permanently shut  kneel before their corrupt commander and silently pledge allegiance to him.

I promise it will sound familiar.

The post Pledging allegiance to their corrupt commander, KY Republicans quickly kneel to convicted felon appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
BECKLEY, WV (WVNS)  A Pocahontas County man was sentenced to prison for a federal drug crime in Raleigh County.

42-year-old Jose Dominguez, of Snowshoe, was sentenced on Friday, May 31, 2024 to seven years and six months in prison, followed by three years of parole, for possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Fayette County man sentenced to life in prison for First-Degree Murder

According to statements made in court, a traffic stop was performed by members of law enforcement on a car Dominguez was driving in the Beckley area of Raleigh County on August 29, 2022.

When law enforcement held the traffic stop, a police K-9 signaled that there were controlled substances in the car. An open bag of methamphetamine was found on the drivers side floorboard. Dominguez acknowledged that around 659 grams of methamphetamine were in his possession, and that he planned to distribute it in southern West Virginia.

Dominguezs criminal history included a dozen previous felony convictions, six of which were drug-related in Florida and California.

Two child predators receive multiple life sentences in Tazewell County, VA

The announcement was made by United States Attorney Will Thompson, who thanked the Raleigh County Sheriffs Office, the Beckley Police Department, the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for their work on the investigation.

Members of the Beckley Police Department, the Raleigh County Sheriffs Office, and the West Virginia State Police make up the Beckley/Raleigh County Drug and Violent Crime Unit.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
Detectives on Wednesday night arrested a Davis resident accused of selling fentanyl, a dangerous synthetic opioid, that led to the February death of a 33-year-old man in Citrus Heights.

Collin Reed Holcomb, 34, was arrested on suspicion of homicide in the death of Bradley Mitchell, the Citrus Heights Police Department announced Thursday night in a news release.

Holcomb was taken into custody at his Davis apartment and booked at the Yolo County Jail, where he remained Friday morning awaiting to be returned to face criminal charges in Sacramento County.

About 4:45 p.m. Feb. 15, authorities were called to a home in the 7900 block of Madison Avenue for a report of a man who was having a medical emergency and not breathing. Officers went to the home and found a man, later identified as Mitchell, who was dead.

Police said others at the home told investigators that Mitchell had likely overdosed, and that the naloxone they administered had not revived him.

Authorities have said as little as two milligrams of fentanyl can provide a lethal dose. Fentanyl can shut down breathing, cause cardiac arrest and kill within minutes.

Detectives began investigating Mitchells activity in the several days leading up to his death. Police said the detectives uncovered evidence that showed Holcomb had sold fentanyl to Mitchell.

Working closely with the Sacramento County District Attorneys Office, the police detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Holcomb on a homicide charge. Police said detectives conducted surveillance at Holcombs Davis apartment before they arrested him Wednesday.

Along with the arrest warrant, the detectives served a search warrant at the home. Police said detectives recovered illegal narcotics found in Holcombs apartment. The Police Department did not indicate specifically what drugs were found or the amount of narcotics recovered.

Yolo County Child Protective Services was called to the Davis apartment care for a child living there, police said.

Investigators asked anyone with relevant information about this homicide to call the Citrus Heights Police Departments Crime Tip Line at 916-727-5524.
Police in riot gear stand off against pro-Palestinian demonstrators at the UC Santa Cruz campus on Friday. ( Kevin Painchaud / Associated Press)

Police in riot gear entered the UC Santa Cruz campus early Friday morning, arresting approximately 80 pro-Palestinian protesters who set up an encampment and blocked the main entrance to campus.

Video taken after midnight showed a line of police with raised batons standing at the UC Santa Cruz encampment just a few feet from protesters who linked arms. Many protesters wore helmets and goggles and covered their faces with keffiyehs and masks.

Leave the area immediately, a law enforcement officer instructed protesters. But his instructions were drowned out by the crowd.

Cops off campus! the demonstrators chanted. Glory to the martyrs!

One of the arrested students said Friday afternoon that officers beat her and other students with batons.

They smashed a baton into my ribs and chest  and that was not a one-off, they did it repeatedly, said Laaila Irshad, 20, a UC Santa Cruz student and organizer with Students for Justice in Palestine. They were just using brute force.

Mask-wearing pro-Palestinian protesters link arms in standoff with police at UC Santa Cruz on Friday. (Kevin Painchaud / Associated Press)

Irshad, who was released Friday afternoon with a citation for failure to disperse, said one student had a concussion after hitting her head when a police officer pulled her to the ground.

After the students were zip-tied and arrested, Irshad said, they were kept in a bus for more than two hours before they were taken to a processing center. They were not allowed to use the bathroom, she said, while they waited for three hours.

By 2 p.m., dozens of students had been arrested  but the extraordinary long showdown between police and protesters continued.

Some students who had been arrested, like Irshad, returned to the encampment area  taking pains to avoid stepping on university property to comply with a condition of their release: that they stay off campus for two weeks.

"The encampment is not over," Irshad said as she stood across the street watching police face off with protesters."People are still trying to defend the encampment."

The clash came as university leaders switched to remote learning this week after protesters blocked the main entrance to campus. Students have joined forces with hundreds of striking academic workers at UC Santa Cruz, who allege the University of Californias response to pro-Palestinian demonstrators has violated their free speech rights.

University officials said Friday they brought in law enforcement after protesters repeatedly ignored their instructions to stop blocking campus entrances.

"It is imperative that we restore full access to our campus and end other unlawful, unsafe actions as demonstrators continued to disrupt campus operations and threatened safety, even delaying access of emergency vehicles," said Scott Hernandez-Jason, the assistant vice chancellor for communications and marketing, said. "It was impossible to do so without law enforcement intervention."

The standoff between protesters and law enforcement began around 1 a.m. as officers from the California Highway Patrol  some from as far away as Sacramento  descended on the encampment.

A livestream feed from Estudiantes Oaxaquenos de Ahora at UCSC showed protesters setting up wooden pallets between themselves and the officers.

You dont scare us! they chanted. Shame!"

Police tore away the barricade and then inched closer toward the protesters.

Livestreams from the UC Santa Cruz Student Union Assembly showed law enforcement descending on the encampment in the dark, shining strobe lights on students, looking inside tents and dismantling campers' equipment.

Free, free, free Palestine, the protesters chanted, one waving a Palestinian flag as officers approached a line of protesters.

Read more: How pro-Palestinian protests led to a massive UC strike, injecting new fuel into antiwar activism

Police could be seen on livestreams making an arrest around 3 a.m. Two hours later, the protesters were still at the encampment, issuing calls for supporters to come to the campus and provide backup.

SHOW UP NOW, Students for Justice in Palestine UC Santa Cruz said on Instagram. 5AM AND WE ARE STILL HERE. WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER. GET HERE BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY.

Videos from the scene showed protesters screaming as police officers scuffled with protesters who resisted arrest, in one case pulling a student from the crowd by the leg. Students tried to pull those being arrested back in to their circle.

"Don't hurt students!" the protesters chanted. "Don't hurt students!"

About 7:30 a.m., a white bus carrying protesters left campus and the crowd jeered.

"Let them go!" they chanted.

It was not clear exactly how many protesters have been arrested. Inquiries to local law enforcement agencies were not returned.

In a Friday morning note to the campus community, UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive urged students and faculty to avoid the area, saying some demonstrators remained at the main entrance after law enforcement removed the encampment and the barricade.

Larive also warned that there would be more law enforcement on campus.

This decision was not made because individuals demonstrated, Larive wrote. It was because they have chosen to do so through unlawful actions. The road blockades, with fortified and chained barricades made of pallets and other materials, and other unlawful actions disrupted campus operations and threatened safety, including delaying access of emergency vehicles.

Police in riot gear stand off against pro-Palestinian demonstrators at UC Santa Cruz on Friday. Dozens were arrested, the university said, after being warned not to block campus entrances. (Kevin Painchaud / Associated Press)

Larive cited a particularly worrisome incident. On Tuesday, she wrote, an emergency medical vehicle was prevented from entering a facility in which a toddler was in distress.

Throughout negotiations with the school, Larive said, protesters had refused to compromise and made demands that contradicted the university's mission. They insisted the college pull out of relationships with organizations that support Jewish students, divest from companies affiliated with Israel, and condemn the use of funding from certain federal agencies.

Functionally, the encampment wanted to prevent our researchers from pursuing research related to topics with which they disagree, Larive said. This is a dangerous precedent and to give in to it would undermine academic freedom and make our academic community vulnerable to the values of whatever political force seeks to prevent free inquiry.

Lauren, 18, a first-year student at UC Santa Cruz who was at the encampment until 4 a.m. and did not want to give her last name, said she felt disappointed reading the chancellor's note.

"She's saying these things that are going to protect her and her own interest, but she's calling funding for Israel research, Lauren said. That's not what it is. It's funding a genocide. The language that she's using, it's very manipulative, and it's very clever and manufactured in order to make her position look like the right one, when in 20 years they're going to call students who were doing this, they're going to call us brave."

Lauren, who said she didn't want her tuition dollars going to the war, said the university and police response only made her more committed to the cause.

Their resistance, it only makes us stronger, she said. When we see members of our community being brutalized, it helps us channel more passion and empathy for our community.

As the sun beat down on the protesters late Friday morning, a student documenting the conflict on her phone said she was exhausted.

Im not going to lie, guys, Im falling asleep, the student livestreaming for Estudiantes Oaxaquenos de Ahora at UCSC said as she sat on the road pointing her phone at law enforcement officers.

Police in riot gear moved in after midnight to dismantle the protesters' encampment on the UC Santa Cruz campus. (Max Chun / Associated Press)

She had already been given a battery pack from a community member after putting out requests for a phone charger. But soon she stopped broadcasting.

Another livestreamer with UCSC Students for Justice in Palestine carried on, eventually retreating from the sidewalk to shelter under the shade of a tree.

There is only one solution, the protesters bellowed. Intifada revolution!

As the standoff continued, UCSC Students for Justice in Palestine issued a statement Friday afternoon on Instagram.

The chancellor organized this violence against her students, and it will cost her legacy, it said. We will not forget.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Police Failed Mom of 2 Who Lay Dying Beside Boyfriend's Body for 3 Days After 2015 Crash: Inquiry

Lamara Bell and John Yuill had been camping with friends when their car veered off the side of the road and into an embankment

Andrew Milligan/PA Wire/AP Police searching near where John Yuill and Lamara Bell were found

Police in Scotland failed a mother of two who died after she was left lying beside the body of her boyfriend, a father of five, for three days following their car crash in 2015, according to an inquiry into the incident.

Lamara Bell, 25, and John Yuill, 28, were in a Renault Clio on July 5 of that year when they veered off the M9 motorway near Stirling and went down an embankment, the BBC, The Telegraph and The Guardian reported this week, citing the inquiry.

The couple had reportedly been camping with friends and left the site that July morning.

Yuill died at the scene. But Bell was seriously injured in the crash and survived for three days until police finally arrived at the scene on July 8, per Sky News. However, Bell died at the hospital on July 12.

Related: 13-Year-Old Boy Dead After Being Struck by Truck While Riding Bike Home from Convenience Store

Sheriff James Williamson said the deaths were the result of organizational failure within Police Scotland that led Bell to experience almost incomprehensible suffering, according to The Guardian.

The deputy chief constable, Alan Speirs, repeated Police Scotlands previous apology to the couples loved ones.

We did not keep them safe in their time of need, as was our duty, and for that I am truly sorry, Spiers said following the inquiry.

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A farmer was first to report the crash the same morning it occurred, according to the BBC, The Telegraph and The Guardian.

But the incident was apparently not recorded properly at the call center, so no officers were sent to the scene.

Bell was experiencing hypothermia when she was finally found by a second farmer who heard the woman faintly say help me and get me out, according to The Telegraph.

Related: Mich. Mom Dies While Saving Her Toddlers Life from Oncoming Out-of-Control Jeep: Authorities

The inquiry determined Bell could have probably have survived had police responded in a timely manner.

Police only responded after another member of the public reported seeing the car down the embankment, per the reports.

Williamson determined more than one error was made by Police Scotland in handling the incident, according to The Telegraph. These failures, he added, took place over a lengthy period of time, during which the opportunity to resolve them was lost.

In December 2021, Bells family was granted 1 million (or more than $1 million) in damages from Police Scotland as part of a civil settlement, per the reports. The department was also fined for corporate criminal liability.

Related: 15-Year-Old Boy Died 9 Days After He Was Hit by Car: 'We Talked to Him Until His Heart Stopped Beating'

Speirs said Police Scotland fully participated with all inspections, investigations and inquiries established since July 2015, according to The Guardian.

The deputy chief constable said the way Police Scotland currently responds to 999 and 101 calls is incomparable to how we dealt with them in 2015.



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A 28-year-old Minneapolis police officer is dead, as are another person and the suspected shooter, after an exchange of gunfire Thursday evening in south Minneapolis, according to statements from police and public officials.

A second police officer, a firefighter, a bystander and another person also were wounded in the chaotic scene that unfolded in and around an apartment building in the 2200 block of Blaisdell Avenue, in Minneapolis' Whittier neighborhood, officials said.

The deceased Fifth Precinct officer was identified as Jamal Mitchell, 28, who received a commendation for rescuing people from a fire three days after he started.

Mitchell "is a courageous hero, and today is a devastating day for the city of Minneapolis," said Mayor Jacob Frey at a 10 p.m. news conference, flanked by Gov. Tim Walz, police leaders and City Council members.

Mitchell, a father and fiance, was among the first officers who arrived at the scene of a double shooting shortly after 5 p.m. He was attempting to give medical assistance outside the building to two people he believed had been wounded when one of them "ambushed" him, according to Drew Evans, superintendent of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.

"I'm using the term for a reason," Evans said. "I've seen the video, and [Mitchell] was ambushed," though he didn't explain exactly what transpired.

Around 9 p.m., several hundred officers from Minneapolis and law enforcement departments across the metro area gathered outside HCMC in downtown Minneapolis, where Mitchell was taken. They stood vigil, saluting his flag-draped casket as it was loaded into the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's van.

Doctors and nurses, many dressed in scrubs, watched from the hospital skyway above. Fifth Precinct Inspector Christie Nelson wiped her eyes. Police then headed for their squad cars to form a procession to the medical examiner's office in Minnetonka.

The area of the shooting remained cordoned off as the sun set amid an army of police, investigators and first responders from numerous agencies.

"The public is not in danger," the police statement said. "Please continue to avoid the area."

Details were still emerging Thursday evening in what became the first shooting death of a Minneapolis police officer in the line of duty in more than 20 years. Walz said State Patrol troopers were assisting Minneapolis police, and officials with the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension were also on the scene.

One uniformed officer was face down on the street among squad cars and fire trucks as at least 11 shots rang out, according to a man who witnessed part of the incident and showed his cellphone video to a reporter.

By the time the gunfire ended, a figure in plainclothes could be seen face down on the street as well.

Outpouring at HCMC

Upon hearing that officers were down, dozens of uniformed and plainclothes officers rushed to HCMC in downtown Minneapolis, where they wept and comforted each other in an ambulance bay. Among them were Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt.

Chief Brian O'Hara was out of town for a conference but was said to be headed back to Minneapolis.

The hospital entrance on 7th Street was lined with squad cars and covered with yellow crime scene tape as a parade of squad cars from departments across the metro rolled in, with Minneapolis Park Police Chief Jason Ohotto directing traffic.

A woman stood at the intersection outside the hospital holding a giant "Blue Lives Matter" flag, wiping tears from her eyes.

Frey arrived on the scene as well, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with officers.

Members of the officers' families also arrived at HCMC, walking through a line of more than a hundred uniformed officers standing at attention in the ambulance bay. They were escorted inside by members of the department's honor guard.

Shooting scene

The shooting appears to have begun inside an apartment, according to one witness and police.

Reuben Molina said he was in his apartment when he heard four or five shots from an apartment on the floor below him. He and his girlfriend heard a woman tell a 911 dispatcher that two people had been shot in the head, including her boyfriend.

Molina saw two men walk out the back door of the complex and split up in the alleyway, going in opposite directions. They looked, he said, like they were "trying to be nonchalant."

Molina went outside to get officers to check on the apartment shooting when he began hearing more shots nearby, he said.

"I could hear the bullets ricocheting and bouncing off stuff as I'm trying to get somebody to come inside to check on the people who were shot," he said. He saw one wounded person being carried away.

Cory Jones, 36, was biking south on La Salle Avenue toward Franklin Avenue at about 5:23 p.m. when he heard the gunshots.

"I heard boom-boom-boom, and then I see a cop on the street," he said.

Jones dashed to the parking lot across from the Park Nicollet Clinic on Blaisdell Avenue, pulled out his phone and began recording. Several police officers huddled behind a fire truck parked on Blaisdell facing south.

As Jones approached the group, he saw an officer face down on the west side of the street and a man in plain clothes laying on the east side as pops of gunfire erupted around him  at least 11 shots, according to the audio and video captured on his phone.

What happened

The rapidly evolving series of events created a confusing narrative that included a misstatement by police, who suggested at one point Thursday evening that four people were dead. It turned out to be three.

The violence played out like this, according to Evans, Blackwell and a police statement issued after midnight:

It started with a report of two men shot inside the apartment around 5:15 p.m.  the incident that Mitchell responded to.

Outside the apartment and down the street, Mitchell saw two people he believed were wounded in the shooting and began to provide medical assistance.

One of those people shot Mitchell  what Evans described as an "ambush," though the details remain murky.

At least one other Minneapolis police officer arriving at the scene exchanged gunfire with the shooter, and an officer was wounded with non-life-threatening injuries. The shooter was fatally wounded.

In addition, a civilian  whom Evans described as "an innocent bystander, we believe" was wounded critically. A firefighter was also wounded with non life-threatening injuries.

Inside the apartment building, officers found two men who had been shot. One was dead and the other was "gravely" injured, Evans said.

As of late Thursday, three people were dead: Mitchell, the suspected shooter, and one of the people found in the apartment. Four people were wounded but alive: the second officer, the firefighter, the bystander, and the other person found inside the apartment.

Residents kept out

Minneapolis police sent out an alert just before 6 p.m. telling residents to avoid the area around 22nd Street and Blaisdell because of an active incident. About 40 people gathered nearby as numerous police cars from several agencies arrived. Police yelled to observers to move back down the block and taped off the area, allowing only buses to go through.

Several people who live in the apartment building where the shooting took place were still waiting at 8 p.m. to get word they could go back inside. One woman told police to check on her children who were still inside her apartment.

About a dozen apartment residents began arguing with two officers who told them that police were going unit to unit, kicking doors in to check for additional victims. Several said they were annoyed that police told them they would have to find somewhere else to stay for the next few hours.

Commuters and nearby residents were blocked in their vehicles as officers with assault weapons told them to get down and keep their doors locked.

"I thought it was fireworks first," said one man, who left to walk his dog moments before gunfire began at his apartment building. The man, who declined to give his full name, said he had recently moved there and wasn't sure when he would be able to go home.

The shooting Thursday was the second this year to result in the death of a Twin Cities police officer. In February, two police officers and a medic were shot and killed in Burnsville after an hours-long standoff following a domestic abuse call. A man who had barricaded himself in his home with a woman and seven children shot and killed the officers and medic, and died after turning his weapon on himself.

The last Minneapolis police officer shot and killed in the line of duty was Melissa Schmidt, who was killed in a public housing complex in the Lyndale neighborhood in 2002.Minneapolis Park Police officer Mark Bedard was killed In 2007 while responding to a drive-by shooting. He was chasing a suspect on foot when he was struck by a Minneapolis police squad car. He died a week later.

Staff writers Josie Albertson-Grove, Eder Campuzano, Kim Hyatt, Zoe Jackson and Paul Walsh contributed to this story.
Three years ago, Juan Manuel Corchado boasted of being the fourth best scientist in Spain and one of the 250 best on the planet in the field of computing, but he achieved this brilliant rise in the rankings by cheating on an industrial scale. The academic official, who has just been appointed rector of the University of Salamanca (the equivalent of university president in the U.S.), became one of the most cited scientists in the world because, among other fraudulent practices, he organized what is known as a citation cartel: a group of scientists colluding to cite one another in their papers. EL PAIS has had access to internal messages from Corchados group that reveal their bad practices.

Their tricks are so crude that anyone who takes a look can easily spot them. In science, references included at the end of papers work like currency. The more other scientists cite you in their work, the greater your prestige, which leads to promotions, salary increases and even million-dollar projects. Corchado is quoted a lot, but only by a few close collaborators. On January 9, 2019, the mathematician Roberto Casado Vara signed a paper on computer security in electrical distribution networks, and 94% of the references (29 out of 31) were citations of Corchados work, even if it had nothing to do with the papers subject matter: the references included studies on the risk of bladder cancer, CO in the ocean, oil spills, and red tides of microalgae.

For years, Corchado has been instructing his workers to include in each publication references to himself or to the journal that he edits: Advances in Distributed Computing and Artificial Intelligence Journal (ADCAIJ). In this way he falsified his own scientific impact and that of his journal in the rankings. On June 7, 2017, one of Corchados assistants wrote this message to her subordinates: Collect everything you have (masters thesis, final projects, dissertations, etc.) and include in them 20 references from among those that I have attached in the Word document as well as 10 articles from ADCAIJ. The attached file included almost 50 Corchado publications. The aide later insisted: As I know that we are all working hard now, to make it easier, I am attaching the references to just copy and paste.

Similar messages were constant. On July 26, 2017, a different aide wrote to the group: Hello everyone. Please, Juan Manuel tells me that we should reference these articles of his in the next papers that we send to magazines or conferences. Ive attached the list here, dont forget to add some. Next, she attached a list of Corchados works, headed by one about oil spills.

On January 9, 2019, Roberto Casado Vara published three papers in which between 97% and 100% of his references cited Corchado or ADCAIJ. Corchado, born in Salamanca 53 years ago, is one of the most cited scientists in the world according to Stanford Universitys annual list. The most surprising thing is that Casado Vara, who is much younger, also entered that prestigious classification in 2022, just three years after defending his doctoral dissertation with Corchado as his research supervisor. This newspaper has asked both about these practices, without receiving a response.

The messages were often multitudinous. On February 1, 2018, the instructions from one of the assistants was: Corchado has asked me to tell you to cite articles from ADCAIJ when you write your articles, whatever they are (conferences, masters final projects, magazine articles, etc.). On March 12, 2018, one of the professors closest collaborators sent an email message to 40 people with instructions to manipulate publications from recent conferences organized by themselves: We will tell you this week what acknowledgments, references and final authors you have to upload in the Camera_ready [print-ready] versions. Corchado was in copy in all these messages. Dozens of the recipients, many of whom felt coerced, ended up leaving the group.

The mathematician Roberto Casado Vara authored a publication on computer security in electrical distribution networks, in which 94% of the references (29 out of 31) are citations to works by Corchado, including some on cancer and ocean CO.

The professor used the conference records published by the Springer publishing house as a way to include strings of self-quotes. Informed by this newspaper, Springer Natures Research Integrity Director, Chris Graf, stated that they are going to very carefully examine the case of the Salamanca professor. If appropriate, we will take editorial action once this investigation has concluded, Graf said. Another publisher, Elsevier, has already retracted a study published by Corchado and three collaborators in 2019 for plagiarizing a masters thesis.

The researcher cheated in different ways to rig various rankings. He published documents full of self-citations in the scientific repository of the University of Salamanca, so that they would be indexed by the Google Scholar search engine, which in turn feeds rankings such as Guide2Research, in which Corchado was close to the top position at the national level. Occupying fourth place in Spain and 247th worldwide fills me with pride, as it represents the good work we are doing as a group, he posted on May 25, 2021 on his social media accounts. Corchado once published a single paragraph with 227 self-quotes and another 139 references to his magazine ADCAIJ.

After EL PAIS began publishing news stories about his practices in March, the Spanish Research Ethics Committee opened an investigation into Corchado, as announced on Friday, May 17, by the Ministry of Science. That same day, Corchado used the official channel of the University of Salamanca to issue an unsigned statement, at 10:22 p.m., in which he defended his honorability and scientific integrity and encouraged people to assess the impact of his publications in two of the databases most widely used by the scientific community: Scopus, from the Dutch publisher Elsevier, and Web of Science, from the London multinational Clarivate.

An analysis of who cites Corchado in Scopus reveals that in only 75 publications, his collaborators mentioned the Salamanca professor almost 1,700 times and referenced his magazine ADCAIJ 520 times. One of these papers is signed by Pedro Tomas Nevado-Batalla, who teaches law at the University of Salamanca and is a former regional government official of the Spanish region of Extremadura, where he served under a Popular Party (PP) administration. In his study, which dealt with the need to modernize public administration, there were 42 citations to Corchados work and seven to ADCAIJ, including studies on bladder cancer, oil spills and microalgae tides. Fully 92% of the citations in that paper are to Corchados work or else to his magazine. Nevado-Batalla has stated that he was unaware that these references had been added to his work, and said that he is going to request clarification. There must necessarily be some explanation for something so extravagant as this, he said.

Juan Manuel Corchado, wearing glasses, standing next to Salamanca Mayor Carlos Garcia Carbayo (right), at a public event in that city on May 23. Raquel J. Santos / USAL

The mathematician Domingo Docampo, former rector of the University of Vigo and an expert in citation cartels, expresses indignation. It is petty and despicable. They are insubstantial publications, without any real content, that constitute vehicles for citations in a network that clearly shows the pyramidal nature of a citation farm headed by someone who has influence over those who sign the papers, he laments. Corchado should never have run for a position of this category, to represent an institution as prestigious as the University of Salamanca, he says about an institution that was founded in 1218.

The solemn inauguration ceremony of the new rector took place on Friday at the university auditorium. Corchado won the elections on May 7, after taking advantage of the strange surprise resignation of the previous rector, and presenting himself as the only candidate. He received the support of 6.5% of the 33,000 university members who were called to vote, with half of the faculty voting blank as a sign of protest. In 2018, the professor created the AIR Institute, a private entity that manages projects worth millions of euros awarded by the regional government of Castilla y Leon.

Docampo urges the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, academic authorities and individuals responsible for scientific journals to take action. We have a serious problem. We must protect the careers of the youngest students, who can be contaminated. This is happening worldwide, he warns.

The epidemiologist Alberto Ruano, an expert in scientific misconduct, is adamant: This is a textbook case of a citation cartel. Ruano, a professor at the University of Santiago de Compostela, also urges Corchado to resign. It is likely that he will have to resign, because he is damaging the institution he represents, a damage that affects the credibility of the University of Salamanca and is also affecting all Spanish university professors, says the epidemiologist, who urges the Ministry and the Conference of Rectors of Spanish Universities (CRUE) to take measures to avoid cases like this one.

This is a textbook case of a citation cartel Alberto Ruano, professor at University of Santiago de Compostela

In addition to adding thousands of self-citations to his own publications and requiring his workers to also cite him, Corchado has benefited from a multitude of false online accounts of non-existent scientists, such as Devika Rout and Marcus Ress, dedicated to compulsively mentioning Corchados studies in the ResearchGate repository. Since March, Corchado has carried out a massive deletion of these fraudulent profiles, and he has also deleted the publications with obvious tricks that he had uploaded to the Gredos scientific repository of the University of Salamanca.

Since April 23, Corchado has denied multiple requests from EL PAIS to explain his practices, but on March 13 he did grant an interview to this newspaper. In that telephone conversation, the professor from Salamanca stated that there were 20 or 30 false online accounts dedicated to citing him and, in just two minutes, he offered two contradictory explanations: that they had been created by former disgruntled workers to harm him, and that a young man had created them to demonstrate that ResearchGate could be rigged. Next, Corchado assured that he had deleted those profiles thanks to his knowledge in cybersecurity. A ResearchGate spokesperson, however, explained that they are not aware of any computer attack and that only the creator of a profile can delete it with their password.

One of the international leaders in scientific evaluation methods, Ismael Rafols, points to the system. This corruption occurs because there is an evaluation system that values publishing a lot and being cited often. In Europe we have started a reform process and Spain still has a lot of work ahead of it, says Rafols, from the University of Leiden (Netherlands).

The watchdog agency of the Spanish university system is the National Agency for Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA), directed for a year now by a new director, Pilar Paneque, who is promoting changes to stop measuring researchers based on production volume. ANECA is going in the right direction, but it faces resistance from traditional professors who have reached the top, like this man. The Corchado case is like a parody, and it shows that it is necessary to reform the evaluation system that generates the corruption, says Rafols.

Pilar Paneque herself believes that her reforms will discourage bad practices and reduce pressure on researchers, especially the younger ones. We have a lot of progress to make towards scientific integrity and ethics in research, and everything has to start with the commitment and control of each institution. Every university knows perfectly well what each of its researchers produces and can easily detect any type of anomalous behavior, says Paneque. In the case of Corchado, Friday was his coronation as rector of the University of Salamanca.
San Francisco Sheriff Paul Miyamoto spoke with concerned San Bruno residents after a training exercise led to dozens of children being sickened. (Jeff Chiu / Associated Press)

Nearly 30 children and one adult became ill last week when a plume of tear gas used at a police training exercise drifted to a nearby elementary school in San Bruno, Calif., according to authorities.

In a report published Friday, the San Francisco Sheriff's Office said windy conditions and a lack of fog allowed for the cloud of tear gas to drift less than half a mile to Portola Elementary School on May 21.

"Usually, conditions are less windy and foggy, so the water droplets from the fog weigh down the [tear gas]," the report read, "which could explain why this exposure was an unprecedented event in the [department's] 20-year history of doing such training on site."

At the time of the incident, nearly 30 students at the school reported symptoms including coughing, watery eyes, wheezing and trouble breathing, said Matthew Duffy, superintendent of the San Bruno Park School District. There were also news reports of vomiting and rashes.

More than a week later, we still have some students who are suffering adverse effects from the exposure to the tear gas and pepper spray in the air that day, Duffy said. It is now well-documented that some families needed to get emergency medical assistance to support their children who were suffering from the effects of the gas in the air.

San Francisco Sheriff's Office said the crowd control training exercise on May 21 took place in an isolated area of the San Francisco County jail in San Bruno, less than half-a-mile from Portola Elementary School. The department plans to release findings of its investigation soon. (San Francisco Sheriff's Office via Google satellite)

The Sheriffs Office, which oversaw the crowd-control training exercise and launched an investigation into the incident, has since apologized to the students and their families as well as to faculty. Although the department informed the San Bruno police and fire departments of the training exercise, it said it plans to additionally send out alerts to residents in the future.

But Duffy said the district would be sending a "formal letter" to sheriff's officials requesting a halt to all "gas-related" training at the facility.

Parents became more distressed this week when the San Francisco Chronicle reported that some chemical canisters used during the training exercise dated as far back as the 1960s.

Tara Moriarty, spokeswoman for the Sheriff's Office, said a preliminary investigation into the incident revealed that the canisters that the UC Berkeley Police Department used for the training did not have expiration tabs.

We believe, however, that these canisters had been pulled from storage," Moriarty said.

She did not say how long the canisters had been in storage.

She said its common for law enforcement agencies to use stored products for training exercises and that there appears to be no greater health risk than using the same product that has been recently manufactured.

But experts say there have been few studies that look into the long-term health and environmental effects of tear gas exposure.

Sven Jordt, an associate professor of anesthesiology and pharmacology and cancer biology at Duke University School of Medicine, said most research studies were conducted in the 1960s and '70s and excluded groups such as women, children and elderly people, including those with health conditions.

He said there have been a few studies in recent years, including ones conducted by the military, showing that long exposure to tear gas can have various deleterious health effects, including respiratory tract damage, reproductive health problems, and physical and psychological issues.

But Jordt said there are almost no research studies on expired tear gas canisters, and if there were, they would have been conducted by companies manufacturing the gas.

Jordt said one U.S. Army study looked at the toxic byproducts that form when the cartridges are burned and found some that were concerning.

"When these cartridges are expired, the expectation is that there are likely more of these byproducts formed," he said. "That's why there's an expiration date."

Jordt said the children vomiting is a sign of severe exposure to the tear gas.

"That usually doesn't happen to protesters," he said. "They must of been in quite significant distress."

The two-hour multi-agency training class for crowd control started at 12:45 p.m. and ended at a shipping container in an isolated area of the San Francisco County Jail in San Bruno, according to the department's report. At the time, winds were at 12 mph and climbing to 16 mph by 3:45 p.m.

During the training exercise, police officers deployed tear gas and pepper spray inside the structure.

San Francisco Sheriff's Office said the crowd control training exercise on May 21 took place in an isolated area of the San Francisco County jail in San Bruno, less than half-a-mile from Portola Elementary School. The department plans to release findings of its investigation soon. (San Francisco Sheriff's Office v)

But the cloud of tear gas did not stay within the structure, instead drifting to the nearby elementary school.

Moriarty said after the incident that the Sheriffs Office paused all future training exercises as it reviews its practices to make sure the community isn't endangered.

The Bay Area Air Quality Management District and San Mateo County Environmental Health Services said in separate statements that they were each investigating the incident.

"While there are no indications of any lingering environmental hazards at the site or in the surrounding area," the health department wrote, "the investigation will determine if all reporting requirements to the appropriate agencies were followed subsequent to the incident and whether appropriate contingency plans were in place to mitigate any release."

Since the incident , Duffy said, the school district has washed down the outside areas of the campus as a safety precaution. School officials also are continuing to gather information about the health of students and adults who were affected that day. The district also held a town hall meeting with Sheriff Paul Miyamoto to address community concerns.

We will also be writing a formal letter to the S.F. Sheriffs Department requesting the immediate end to all gas-related training at the facility, Duffy said. We appreciate the time the S.F. Sheriffs Department has dedicated to understanding the events of that day, and we look forward to a partnership that sheds light on any inappropriate actions taken as well as needed steps to remedy the situation.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Police searching for suspect who shot man during a fight in northwest Atlanta

Police are investigating a shooting that left a man injured.

On Wednesday night, Atlanta police were called out to the 3000 block of Middleton Road Northwest.

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They arrived at the location and found a man who had been shot.

He was taken to the hospital for treatment.

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According to the investigation, the victim was shot by another man during a fight.

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Radosaw Smigulski, the former director of the Polish Film Institute (PISF), is facing allegations of mishandling funds during his tenure after he was fired in April.

According to a statement shared by PISF with Variety, on Tuesday a notice was filed with the District Prosecutors Office in Warsaw on suspicion of a crime committed by the former director of PISF.

More from Variety

The notice concerns an alleged attempt to extort money on a fictitious business trip, as well as the improper and inconsistent awarding of prizes and bonuses by the former director, Mr. Radosaw Smigulski.

The institute has stated that the Central Anticorruption Bureau has been notified of the suspected crime.

In another statement shared by PISF, Smigulskis alleged illegal spending of the institutes public funds for private purposes included paying for private court cases, the purchase of alcohol, undocumented catering services, improperly documented foreign trips, the purchase of gifts, perfume, cosmetics and clothing, and visits to nightclubs.

The institute also decided to publicly address Smigulskis rebuttal in an interview for local publication Wprost, entitled Confession of the Former Director of PISF: I Spent PLN 150,000 on a Dinner in Los Angeles.

In the article, Smigulski  who in the past made Varietys 500 list  admitted he wasnt surprised by his firing. I expected such behavior right after the result of the October elections, he said. Recent parliamentary elections ended the domination of the right-wing party PiS (Law and Justice). He also denied all the accusations. In the meantime, Kamila Dorbach, now acting director of PISF, has taken over his duties.

The total amount of Mr. Smigulskis business card expenses for the first quarter of 2024 amounted to PLN 327,000, while the amount of PLN 245,000 is the amount of expenses not yet accounted for by him, the institute responded.

By way of commentary, the Polish Film Institute questions whether a public official  should hold late-night talks with film industry representatives in such establishments as Raspoutine in Los Angeles, Toy Room in Mumbai or even Dollys Bar in Cannes.

Earlier this month, former Minister of Culture and National Heritage Bartomiej Sienkiewicz revealed during a press conference that Dorbach has drawn up motions detailing activities grossly exceeding public finance discipline.

I mention this not only to say that we are dealing with a scandal, but that this is going on and will continue both in the prosecutors office and the National Tax Administration, Sienkiewicz said. These violations are serious, indisputable, provable in a clear way, and I expect that this will not last long.

As Dorbach confirmed to Polish press agency PAP, We managed to obtain information and secure documents justifying the filing of a notice to the prosecutors office on the possibility of a crime committed by the previous director of the Institute, not only for the expenses of official cards or paying for private court hearings from the PISF budget. The notice will be filed immediately after the completion of formal legal actions.

Variety has reached out to Dorbach and PISF for further comment. Smigulski could not be immediately reached for comment.

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The Polish Press Agency (PAP), a state-run media outlet, was hit by a cyberattack on May 31, which authorities have claimed was a Russian-backed operation.

Russian intelligence services have been accused of carrying out cyberattacks against Ukraine and many countries in the West. The EU and NATO condemned Russia's "malicious cyber campaign" against Germany and Czechia earlier in May following a spate of attacks.

Earlier on May 31, messages appeared on PAP's website saying that Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk had ordered a "partial mobilization" to begin on July 1.

Deputy Prime Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski then said the message was "false" and that the incident was under investigation.

"Everything points to a cyber attack and planned disinformation!" he added.

Jacek Dobrzynski, a spokesperson for the Polish security service, also said that it was a "probable Russian cyberattack."

Gawkowski told the Polsat news agency that the goal of the likely Russian-backed operation was to spread "disinformation before the (upcoming EU parliamentary) elections" and "paralyze society." He added that the false message was identified within two minutes and thanked the media for labeling it as disinformation and not spreading it further.

Echoing comments from other European leaders, Gawkowski said that Poland is in something of a "cold war" with Russia, which "affects every EU country."

Gawkowski also said that Tusk had been informed of the incident immediately.

Read also: FT: Czechia warns Russia is trying to sabotage railways in Europe

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
For the first time in history, a former U.S. president has become a convicted felon  34 times over. As expected, his most outspoken supporters in Washington, D.C. didnt take the news well.

After the reading of Thursdays verdict, bombastic Colorado congresswoman Lauren Boebert took just minutes to express her outrage on social media.

As we all knew, this was ALWAYS about election interference and stopping President Trump from winning his rightful re-election to the White House, the right-wing firebrand posted on X. We stand with PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP!

An hour before the verdict was read, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene  a conspiracy theorist and election denier  wrote that Trumps trial was unfair.

This case has been rigged from the start and we all knew it, she said. This isnt a prosecution, its a persecution.

She later followed that post with an image of an upside-down U.S. flag  a symbol of Trump supporters Stop the Steal movement.

Trump emerged from the courthouse after being convicted to say he was a very innocent man who was the victim of a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt.

But theres no evidence to refute the legitimacy of the seven-week trial that ended with the former president becoming a convicted criminal.

This verdict is the corrupt result of a corrupt trial, a corrupt judge, and a corrupt DA, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz raged on X. We will stand with President Trump now more than ever to save the country.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson called Thursday a shameful day in American history.

Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon, he said, referring to former Trump lawyer and prosecution witness Michael Cohen. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one.

Democrats meanwhile celebrated Trumps conviction as a win for the rule of law.

New Yorks 12th District Rep. Jerry Nadler  who, as House Judiciary Committee chairman, led both of Trumps impeachments  said justice had been done on Thursday.

Former President Trumps relentless attempts to subvert the justice system and undermine the rule of law were unable to overcome the overwhelming, damning evidence presented by District Attorney Alvin Bragg, he wrote in a statement. I couldnt be more proud to be a New Yorker now that Manhattan has led the way in convicting him as a felon.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said Thursdays verdict reaffirms that no one is above the law, while assuring New Yorkers her administration has been working with local and federal law enforcement to make sure the city remains safe while emotions run high.

Across the country, outspoken California Rep. Eric Swalwell wrote that verdict is not a win for any single person. Its a win for an idea. The idea that we all follow the same rules.

His Golden State colleague Adam Schiff echoed those sentiments along with a laundry list of other court rulings that have gone against Trump.

First, a court found Donald Trump to be a sexual abuser, the liberal lawmaker wrote on Facebook, referring to an NYC jury last year finding Trump liable for sexually abusing writer E. Jean Carroll.

He was then found to be a fraudulent business owner, Schiff continued. Now Donald J. Trump is a convicted felon. All are an affirmation of the rule of law. And Trumps unfitness for office.

President Joe Biden used his likely opponents bad fortune as a campaign opportunity.

In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law, read a statement from the campaigns communication director. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. Theres only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box.

A Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on dozens of counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in a plot to silence claims of an affair that could have harmed his presidential campaign.

Trumps punishment will be doled out at a July 11 sentencing hearing. Hes expected to appeal the verdict.

_____
Kentucky Republican state officials and lawmakers cried foul at former President Donald Trumps felony convictions in a New York court Thursday on 34 counts of falsifying business records ahead of his 2016 presidential campaign.

Its politics  not the law  behind New Yorks prosecution of President Trump, Republican Attorney General Russell Coleman said in a statement Friday.

Coleman, the commonwealths top law enforcement official, has long defended and endorsed Trump and his policies, including Make America Safe Again  a plan that involves cracking down on illegal immigration and securing the countrys borders  which Coleman vowed to help carry out. Before being elected attorney general in 2023, Coleman was a Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky.

The American people want to focus on the issues that matter and will render their own verdict on November 5th, he said in a statement.

Colemans comments echoed the response of Kentuckys mostly Republican Congressional delegation and Trump himself minutes after the verdict was rendered.

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During a Friday news conference, Trump put the blame on President Joe Biden and his people.

This is a scam. It was a rigged trial, he said. This cant be allowed to happen to other presidents.

Kentucky State Treasurer Mark Metcalf, a former county prosecutor, agreed with Trump, saying in a statement the conviction disgraced America.

The indictment, trial and verdict ignored basic rules of due process and equal protection, which are the beating heart of our justice system, Metcalf said.

I stand firmly behind President Trump and will continue to fight for the values and vision of national greatness that he represents, he added, accusing the New York District Attorney of being George Soros-sponsored.

Soros, a billionaire who often donates to Democratic causes, has become in recent years a target for largely conspiracy theories peddled by the political right. Trump, too, claimed that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg was handpicked and funded by by Soros.

In contrast to some of his other GOP constitutional officers, Secretary of State Michael Adams said he did not wish to comment, according to a spokesperson for his office.

Adams has repeatedly defended the integrity of the states elections after Trump and many of his supporters falsely claimed that election interference was the reason why the former president lost his 2020 re-election bid.

In part for being an outspoken defender of elections, Adams is being awarded the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museums 2024 Profile in Courage Award.

Adams was noticeably the only Republican constitutional officer to not issue a joint endorsement of Trump earlier this year. Coleman, Metcalf, Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell and Auditor Allison Ball made their support of the former president known in March.

Kentucky can't afford four more years of President Biden.



To secure our borders and protect our families, we are united in endorsing President Trump. pic.twitter.com/zZDiRa4Lop  Russell Coleman (@RCforAG) March 5, 2024

The Republican Party of Kentucky also had harsh words for the verdict.

The case against President Trump has been twisted and manufactured to meet the political agenda of the Biden Administration, including its strategic placement in one of the most liberal legal venues in the country, the party posted to X, calling the means by which Trump was charged corrupt and nefarious.

Sen. Lindsey, Tichenor, R-Smithfield, agreed, calling the trial and guilty verdict a circus and a witch hunt in a post on X Thursday evening.

This circus of a trial and verdict is what Trump has always said it was, a political witch hunt, she said. Those with (Trump Derangement Syndrome) have been salivating for a conviction and have gotten their wish. But now the veil has been pulled back for the world to see clearly.

Theyre running out of options and growing Trumps base of support every move they make.

Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, who opted not to seek re-election in 2024, called the verdict a sham.

This trial is best described by invoking the name of the horse who finished second to Secretariat in the 1973 Kentucky Derby, Thayer posted to X. My horse racing followers will know it instantly. My political followers will agree.

The horses name? Sham.

TJ Roberts, a Liberty Republican and political operative who beat former state Rep. Ed Massey in the primary election earlier this month, said in an X post, They could have accused Donald Trump of assassinating Julius Caesar, and a Manhattan jury would have convicted him.

Conservatives, its time to fix the justice system, before asking people to pray for Trump, justice and America.

At least one Kentucky Republican doesnt believe the verdict to be a sham or corruption of justice.

Re-posting a statement from U.S. Rep Andy Barr, R-Kentucky, Republican state Sen. Whitney Westerfield said he was disappointed that Barr called it a sham trial.

Disappointed in this statement, Congressman, Westerfield, a former prosecutor, said. The courts function as they should, and a jury decided the outcome, for better or worse.

We absolutely cannot risk further eroding confidence in our justice system.

Westerfield, arguably more than any other sitting Kentucky Republican, has not shied away from criticizing Trump at times, and in doing so has distanced himself from some in his party.

Kentucky Democrats were largely quiet, but a few had fun with the verdict.

Rep. Rachel Roberts, D-Newport, re-posted a Dictionary.com post that simply defined guilty.

Rep. Daniel Grossberg, D-Louisville, shared a response from New York Rep. Alex Bores, a Democrat, who said, As the assemblymember for Trumps NY residence, Id like him to know that we get many, many requests for clemency letters. I apologize for any delay in responding.

Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear did not respond to the Herald-Leaders request for comment.

Trump is the Republican Partys presumptive nominee for president, setting the stage for a 2020 rematch against Biden, the Democrats presumptive nominee. Both men are expected to be formally nominated by their respective parties at this summers national conventions.
Polk State College has notified students in its aerospace program that it has temporarily halted some of its coursework after the vendor providing instrument rating and commercial pilot certification had its certificate suspended by the FAA.

Some pilot training courses have been temporarily halted at Polk State College as the vendor providing portions of the aerospace program coursework had its certificate suspended by the Federal Aviation Administration.

Sunrise Aviation is suspending all (FAA) Part 141 flight training for the Instrument Rating and Commercial Pilot certification until further notice, Maria Jodoin, coordinator for the college's aerospace program, wrote in a May 20 email to students.

Ormond Beach-based Sunrise Aviation Inc. had been providing the instruction under contract with Polk State. Sunrise did not return phone messages seeking comments on Wednesday.

Ian Gregor, public affairs specialist with the FAA, would not speak about the suspension. But in an email to The Ledger, he said, "Speaking generally and not in relation to any specific case: Companies can generally get their suspended certificates back when they fix the issue(s) that led to the suspension. The timeframe depends on how long it takes the company to fix the issue(s)."

What happened with Sunrise?

In a letter obtained by The Ledger, which Sunrise had shared with Polk State College, the FAA said the company had gone more than 60 days without a chief flight instructor and candidates for the position who were interviewed by the FAA were unprepared for the position.

"During the oral portion of the checks, several discrepancies were discovered," the FAA letter said. "Some discrepancies relate to the entire operation of Sunrise Aviation, while others were deficiencies presented by both Chief Instructor candidates."

The FAA met with two candidates for the chief flight instructor position on May 13 in Lakeland, but they failed to pass questions related to safety and the curriculum to be taught, the letter said. The next day marked a 60-day period without a chief instructor so the company had to forfeit its certificate.

Concerning safety procedures, the letter said: "There were three copies of Safety Practices and Procedures, one for each location, and procedures contained within varied from location to location. Neither Chief Instructor candidate was knowledgeable regarding the contents of the documents for the locations other than Lakeland."

With regard to what the candidates would be teaching in the approved training course, "Neither Chief Instructor candidate was aware of all the courses which Sunrise Aviation (FPQS) holds approval for. Therefore, they were unable to demonstrate the objectives and approved course completion standards for the courses they seek to obtain designation of."

According to FAA Part 141 regulations, a flight school "must, after 60 days without a chief instructor, ceaseoperations and surrender its certificate to the Administrator; this office requests youimmediately cease 141 operations and place your 141 Air Agency Certificate on deposit untilyou are able to comply."

The FAA can reinstate its certificate once the discrepancies have been addressed and a chief instructor can be approved, the letter said.

In state records, Sunrise Aviation Inc. is run by Devon Dorato and Jeff Lefever at Ormond Beach Airport. The letter from the FAA was addressed to Lefever, president of Sunrise.

The company was first incorporated in 2002. The companys website shows it operates out of two other airports in Florida  in Lakeland and Jacksonville. Pilot training in Jacksonville is through Florida State College.

The Sunrise Flight Academy website says since 1983 it has trained professional pilots from more than 50 countries and has one of the best safety records in the industry. The website also displays several aircraft painted with the words, Polk State College, on the side.

What can students do?

In her letter to students, Jodoin said other courses, including Private Pilot, Certified Flight Instructor (CFI), and Multi-Engine, will continue without interruption.

Polk State team: All-women Air Race Classic takes off from Lakeland Linder

We are currently working on developing a plan to resume the Instrument and Commercial training as soon as possible, she said. Updates will be provided regularly, and we encourage students to stay in close contact with their instructors and the Aerospace office for the latest information.

Madison Fantozzi, associate vice president of communications at Polk State, told The Ledger in an email Wednesday that immediate action was taken by the college to secure a secondary flight training provider to ensure that flight training will resume as soon as possible.

She said 71 students from the spring and summer semesters have been affected because the courses cannot be offered.

Students taking the impacted courses are being provided other options, including full refunds, an extension to complete program requirements and a means to address incomplete grades, Fantozzi said.

"Safety remains a top priority and there is no indication from the FAA notice that students or instructors were at risk," Fantozzi said.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Company providing some flight training at Polk State suspended by FAA
Donald Trump has become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a felony (34, in his case). Not only that: Trump is also the Republican Partys candidate for the November 5 presidential election and is leading the polls to return to the White House. Never before has a convicted felon been a major party candidate with a chance of winning the election. The landmark ruling against Trump has triggered an unprecedented political earthquake, with unpredictable aftershocks.

Trump has already made it clear that he wants to turn the U.S. electorate into a jury  one composed not of 12 members, but of the more than 150 million voters in the country. The real verdict is going to be November 5, by the people, was one of the first sentences Trump uttered as he left the courthouse after hearing the jury foreman declare him guilty to each of the 34 felony counts against him. The former president was found guilty of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels that was paid in exchange for her staying quiet about her alleged affair with Trump, which threatened to ruin his campaign in the 2016 presidential election.

After learning of the jurys decision, Trump called the judge in charge of the case corrupt and said  without providing any evidence  that it was a rigged decision right from day one. He argues is that he is being politically persecuted by the government of Joe Biden, although the president has kept out of the proceedings and the Stormy Daniels case was brought by the Manhattan District Attorney, not federal prosecutors from the Department of Justice.

On November 5, U.S. voters will be faced with the choice of either re-electing a president who is clearly unpopular or voting for a convicted felon. Thats how Trump is set to be labelled in the just over five months that are left in the campaign, a period that is even shorter if early voting is taken into account. The U.S. Constitution, however, does not prevent a convicted felon from running for office or from being elected.

At a different period in time, it would have been unthinkable for a criminal to have a chance of winning the White House, but Trump has managed to break all the rules of U.S. politics. He has survived sex scandals, his business convictions for fraud, two impeachments in Congress, his political responsibilities for the assault on the Capitol, and four indictments. He is capable of also overcoming a conviction. His fundraising website crashed after the guilty verdict due to the large number of supporters who wanted to donate. Even before the conviction, Trump had described himself a political prisoner in fundraising appeals.

Presenting himself as a victim of the system has so far worked for Trump. Each of his four indictments led to a rise in donations and gave him a boost in the polls. Trump swept the Republican primaries, with most of his rivals saying they were willing to support him even if he was convicted. And he has surged to the top of the polls.

The big question is whether the verdict against Trump, and the judges sentencing on July 11, four days before the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, will significantly sway voters. Although polls before the verdict indicated that the vast majority of Republicans would still support him even if he was convicted, the election is expected to be so close that just a small shift from Republican voters and independents could tip the balance. An NPR/PBS poll released Thursday indicated that 10% of Republicans and 11% of independents said they were less likely to vote for Trump if he was convicted. However, given these were polls about a hypothetical situation, their value is relative.

In six swing states, Trump has a relatively small lead over Biden. A small shift in votes could change everything. If Joe Biden retains the states that he clearly won in 2020 and wins Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, where the difference with Trump is small, he could afford to lose Georgia, Arizona and Nevada, where the former president has a bigger lead.

The July 11 sentencing will hardly stop the Republican candidate from campaigning. In theory, each of the 34 counts of which he has been convicted carries a maximum of four years in prison, but the judge can decide that the sentences be served concurrently, which would effectively reduce the maximum prison time to four years. However, given Trump has no criminal record, the judge may decide against jail time, and sentence him to probation. And even if he were to decide that he should serve the sentence in prison, he would most likely not do so until the sentence is final, which could take years.

The former president is facing three other criminal cases and will likely have to attend some hearings, which he will use as an opportunity to continue to present himself as a victim. The three cases include one in Florida for illegally withholding classified documents, and two others, in Georgia and Washington, for his attempts to subvert the election results of the 2020 election and stop the certification of Bidens victory.

However, Trump has succeeded in his strategy of stalling the trials, which have faced one delay after the other. It is unlikely that any of the three trials will be held before the Nov. 5 election. Whats more, Trump has claimed his actions following the 2016 election are covered by presidential immunity (a claim that does not apply to the Stormy Daniels case). The Supreme Court is set to rule on his immunity, and a ruling in favor of Trump would reduce the charges against him.

Biden, for his part, has given a measured response to the verdict. The U.S. president learned of the jurys decision in Delaware, where he had gone for the anniversary of the death of his son Beau. Following the news, he posted a message from his personal account on X  not the presidential one: There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box, without referring to the trial.

The White House avoided immediately responding to the jurys verdict, which could have backfired, and left it to the Joe Biden and Kamala Harris campaign to weigh in. In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law, Biden-Harris campaign communications director Michael Tyler said in a statement, which highlighted the importance of beating Trump at the polls. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater.

Biden successfully used the defense of democracy in his campaign for the midterm legislative elections in November 2022. Now, he is set to repeat that argument in his presidential campaign, which is also focusing on reproductive rights.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Prairie dogs will not be returning to the El Paso Zoo.

A mystery solved at the zoo in November of last year revealed that two separate colonies of the animals were killed by a rare bacterial infection and tunnel collapse, according to a report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

KTSM first learned of that report thanks to Borderzine, the news magazine from the University of Texas at El Paso.

In November of 2023, the zoo fully excavated the prairie dog exhibit after a second colony of a dozen of the animals disappeared shortly after being introduced a few months earlier in August.

With those efforts, they were able to find all but three of the animals dead. The surviving three were in poor condition, and one of them died shortly-after, according to the report.

The remains of a colony of 14 prairie dogs that had disappeared in 2021, were also discovered. A report by the USDA in 2023, concluded that 14 animals were likely taken by predators.

We never quite agreed with it at the zoo because there arent many predators like hawks that could take a prairie dog because theyre pretty big animals and it would have to be repeated like a dozen times or so and then they go underground pretty quick, said the director of the El Paso Zoo, Joe Montisano.

Montisano said that they had excavated the perimeter of the exhibit when the first colony of the animals went missing, but that they found no breaks in the underground perimeter or any indication that the animals might have dug out.

The zoo spent nearly a year putting up netting atop the exhibit to deter predators and comply with the USDA guidelines.

Before fully excavating the exhibit last November, the zoo first installed motion-activated cameras in the exhibit and used a pipe camera to explore the tunnels underneath to see if they could detect any activity from the animals.

Those efforts rendered no success, and a report from the USDA in December of 2023, contended that the zoo was slow in their efforts to locate the animals.

More animals might have been found alive if the facility did not delay more intensive measures to actually locate and observe them, the report read.

But Montisano explained that they had to be cautious about excavating.

We certainly did everything we could in our power there to do some things. When you deal with wild animals, there are just some unknowns that we cant control sometimes. And unfortunately, that was at the demise of the prairie dogs this time. But theres nothing else we could have done, or we couldnt have dug faster, harder, brought in more machinery, said Montisano.

Montisano said that another point of contention the zoo has had with USDA is that they were demanding that they monitor the prairie dogs daily, but he explained that it is impossible.

Look, theyre saying that we need to see these animals every day, and thats not possible with underground animals. So what would you like? How could we accomplish that? Or are you saying USDA, that youre outlawing prairie dogs? Its across the country, basically, because theres no way to physically see these animals every day. They live underground in their own tunnels and burrows, said Montisano.

The zoo does not have any desire to bring back prairie dogs, according to Montisano.

The exhibit will instead be redesigned and is likely to feature native Chihuahuan-Desert birds.

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.
FILE - Charlotte, a round stingray, in an undated photo at the Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO in Hendersonville, N.C. The aquarium that said it had Charlotte, a pregnant stingray with no male companion, now says that the fish has a rare reproductive disease. The statement from the Aquarium and Shark Lab in Hendersonville on Thursday May 30, 2024, did not say what disease the stingray, Charlotte, has or comment on the status of her pregnancy. (Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team ECCO via AP)

HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (AP)  A North Carolina aquarium that said it had a pregnant stingray with no male companion now says the fish has a rare reproductive disease.

Thursday's statement from the Aquarium and Shark Lab in Hendersonville did not say what disease the stingray, Charlotte, has or comment on the status of her pregnancy. The aquarium did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking more information.

Charlotte has developed a rare reproductive disease that has negatively impacted her reproductive system," the aquarium said. The findings are truly a sad and unexpected medical development. Our priority is to focus on Charlottes health and well being.

The aquarium in the Blue Ridge Mountains had announced Charlotte's pregnancy in February, stating that she hadn't shared a tank with a male of her species in at least eight years. The aquarium said at the time that she was pregnant with as many as four pups and could give birth within two weeks.

The pregnancy was thought to be the result of a type of asexual reproduction called parthenogenesis, in which offspring develop from unfertilized eggs, meaning there is no genetic contribution by a male. The mostly rare phenomenon can occur in some insects, fish, amphibians, birds and reptiles, but not in mammals. Documented examples have included California condors, Komodo dragons and yellow-bellied water snakes.
HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (AP)  A North Carolina aquarium that said it had a pregnant stingray with no male companion now says the fish has a rare reproductive disease.

Thursdays statement from the Aquarium and Shark Lab in Hendersonville did not say what disease the stingray, Charlotte, has or comment on the status of her pregnancy. The aquarium did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press seeking more information.

Charlotte has developed a rare reproductive disease that has negatively impacted her reproductive system, the aquarium said. The findings are truly a sad and unexpected medical development. Our priority is to focus on Charlottes health and well being.

The aquarium in the Blue Ridge Mountains had announced Charlottes pregnancy in February, stating that she hadnt shared a tank with a male of her species in at least eight years. The aquarium said at the time that she was pregnant with as many as four pups and could give birth within two weeks.

The pregnancy was thought to be the result of a type of asexual reproduction called parthenogenesis, in which offspring develop from unfertilized eggs, meaning there is no genetic contribution by a male. The mostly rare phenomenon can occur in some insects, fish, amphibians, birds and reptiles, but not in mammals. Documented examples have included California condors, Komodo dragons and yellow-bellied water snakes.

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.
'We prepare for the worst': Authorities urge SWFL ahead of hurricane season start

Lisa Lahners, co-owner of The RUDE Shrimp, 450 Harbor Ct., speaks during a Thursday, May 30, 2024, hurricane preparedness press conference outside the eatery.

A Fort Myers Beach business owner who packed her bags and moved from Nebraska months before Hurricane Ian slammed ashore shared her story of resilience Thursday.

"It was great to see the community come together [and] have a sense of normalcy," The RUDE Shrimp co-owner Lisa Lahners said.

She along with local and state officials called for preparedness amid the looming hurricane season.

Hosted by Sen. Rick Scott, the news conference saw other politicians and community leaders take the stand to share their thoughts ahead of this year's hurricane season, which begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.

Lahners explained she and TJ Holzapfel opened The RUDE Shrimp, 450 Harbor Court, in March 2022 after moving in January from Nebraska to Fort Myers Beach.

They lost their home, and the building housing their eatery on floated away with the storm surge.

"As we all know, Sept. 28, [2022,] came and turned our world upside down," Lahners explained Thursday.

Lee County, which bore the brunt of the storm, had the highest number of deaths at 67, followed by 10 deaths each in Sarasota and Collier counties. The storm claimed the lives of 144 people.

Lahners said that after being in Southwest Florida for six months, they "weren't ready to pack up." She gasped and sighed as she recalled the destruction the storm brought nearly two years ago.

Sen. Rick Scott: Could take 6 years to rebuild

Sen. Rick Scott, a Republican and former governor of Florida for eight years, said he was recently on Mexico Beach, in Northwest Florida, which took between five and six years to rebuild since Hurricane Michael's impact in 2018.

Sen. Rick Scott speaks during a Thursday, May 30, 2024, hurricane preparedness press conference outside The RUDE Shrimp, 450 Harbor Ct., on Fort Myers Beach.

He urged residents to visit ready.gov, a federal website that provides preparedness ahead of natural disasters.

"You can rebuild the house," Scott said. "You can't rebuild your life."

Sheriff Carmine Marceno: 'We prepare for the worst'

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said living in paradise comes with a cost.

"We pray for the best, but we prepare for the worst," Marceno said. "And we're ready at any given time."

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno touched base on a Lehigh Acres incident during a hurricane preparedness press conference on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

Marceno said he remembers his first glance at Hurricane Ian's aftermath in September 2022 as if it happened yesterday. As Hurricane Ian approached Southwest Florida, it became a Category 5, but had fallen to a Category 4 by time it hit land.

"I looked at the shrimp boats that were stacked up on each other; buildings washed away; personal clothing; debris," Marceno said. "And when I got out of that helicopter, I couldn't believe what I looked at."

Marceno said nothing can be done during a storm and urged residents to plan ahead. He said they had approximately 6,500 calls to 911 when they redeployed after the 2022 storm. Of those, 3,000 calls were welfare checks, he noted.

"We had to identify the property and figure things out," Marceno said. "It's a lot of investigative time."

Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis: 'Film the outside of your house'

Jimmy Patronis, state fire marshal and chief financial officer, urged residents to film the outside of their homes ahead of potential storms for documenting purposes.

Jimmy Patronis, state fire marshal and chief financial officer, speaks during a Thursday, May 30, 2024, hurricane preparedness press conference outside The RUDE Shrimp, 450 Harbor Ct., on Fort Myers Beach.

"Point out what day it is, what time it is, and point out that there's no debris on your house," Patronis said.

Patronis compared creditors with "parasites" and urged residents not to sign paperwork in the heat of the moment.

FMB Fire Chief Scott Wirth: From staff of 10 to 1,000

Fort Myers Beach fire Chief Scott Wirth said after Hurricane Ian the fire district incremented from a staff of 10 to 1,000 first responders after firefighters from across the country pitched in to help.

"That doesn't happen by accident," Wirth said.

Fort Myers Beach fire Chief Scott Wirth speaks during a Thursday, May 30, 2024, hurricane preparedness press conference outside The RUDE Shrimp, 450 Harbor Ct., on Fort Myers Beach.

Wirth said that with many moving to Florida every day, most of them will have likely never experienced a hurricane before.

"We already know what we're gonna go if we have to get out of the way of the storm," Wirth said, as he urged residents to do the same.

Fort Myers Beach mayor Dan Allers: 'I got to see things that nobody should ever have to see'

Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said he made "one of the dumbest" choices by staying when Hurricane Ian. Thankfully, he said, he wasn't impacted.

Fort Myers Beach mayor Dan Allers speaks during a Thursday, May 30, 2024, hurricane preparedness press conference outside The RUDE Shrimp, 450 Harbor Ct., on Fort Myers Beach.

"I got to see things that nobody should ever have to see," Allers said.

State Rep. Spencer Roach lost his home

State Rep. Spencer Roach, a Republican, said he lost his home after Hurricane Ian and lived in a trailer for about nine months.

State Rep. Spencer Roach talks about his experience living in a trailer for months after Hurricane Ian in 2022 during a Thursday, May 30, 20204, hurricane preparedness press conference outside The RUDE Shrimp, 450 Harbor Ct., on Fort Myers Beach.

"I'm a veteran of many, many, many hurricanes," Roach said. He added he was in Southwest Florida for Hurricane Charley in 2004 and Hurricane Irma in 2017.

Tomas Rodriguez is a Breaking/Live News Reporter for the Naples Daily News and The News-Press. You can reach Tomas at TRodriguez@gannett.com or 772-333-5501. Connect with him on Threads @tomasfrobeltran, Instagram @tomasfrobeltran and Facebook @tomasrodrigueznews.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Plan ahead for hurricane season, authorities say
Preschool Teacher Donates Liver to Save Former Student's Life: 'We Are Completely Overwhelmed with Her Kindness' (Exclusive)

"We are very fortunate that they were able to get him approved to be listed when they did, rather than waiting until he's critically ill," the child's mother exclusively tells PEOPLE

gofundme Carissa Fisher and Ezra Toczek.

Ezra Toczek, 5, is suffering from end-stage liver disease and is in need of a liver transplant

While he remained on the transplant list for the past few months, his former preschool teacher, Carissa Fisher, applied to be a living donor

Ezra's mother, Karen, exclusively tells PEOPLE how "overwhelmed" the family is by Fisher's act

Five-year-old Ezra Toczek is receiving the ultimate gift from his former teacher.

The young boy suffered liver damage at birth and has since been fighting ongoing health challenges, leading to his recent diagnosis that his liver is failing due to end-stage liver disease.

But Ezra has been given a beacon of hope since joining the transplant list in February. His former preschool teacher, Carissa Fisher, learned of her students condition in March, and without letting Ezras family know, she applied to become a living donor. (A living-donor liver transplant occurs when a patient with a healthy liver donates a portion of theirs to someone whose liver no longer works properly, per the Mayo Clinic.)

Fisher applied following the trek Ezra and his mother Karen took from Western New York to New York City, where they learned he was in desperate need of a liver transplant.

After Fishers application was submitted, she also traveled to New York City, where she underwent the required testing. After weeks of waiting, Fisher learned on Friday, May 24, that she had been approved to donate a portion of her liver to help Ezra.

gofundme Ezra and his mother Karen Toczek

Related: 10-Year-Old Girl Dying of Kidney Disease to Receive Transplant From Teacher

Fisher didnt wait long to share the good news with the Toczek family, and by Saturday, May 25, she headed straight to the familys home with a stuffed animal, balloons, and a sign in tow sharing the great news.

We are completely overwhelmed with her kindness and generosity and sacrifice, and it keeps hitting us unexpectedly that its really happening and were really going to be able to move forward, and were so grateful, Karen exclusively tells PEOPLE.

She explains to PEOPLE that there are no set dates regarding the transplant because, Carissa is required to sit through a two-week reflection period before the donor team can work with her to schedule a date for surgery.

gofundme Ezra Toczek

Related: Teacher Fosters His 13-Year-Old Student in Need of Kidney to Help Him Make Transplant List

As for Ezras condition, Karen tells PEOPLE he is hanging in there.

We are very fortunate that they were able to get him approved to be listed when they did, rather than waiting until hes critically ill, Karen shares. He has struggles, fatigue, sleep difficulties, and days where he just isnt feeling well, but overall he is a trooper, and finds joy and every day.

After seeing Carissa Saturday, Karen shared the news on Facebook later that day. My brain literally couldnt process what I was reading until she said it out loud. Miss Carissa is a perfect match! I cant even begin to express our gratitude!

She continued: The tears keep coming, and though I knew wed be relieved to get the news eventually, I had no idea just how it would hit me! There has been no shortage of love, generosity, and genuine kindness from our family, friends, and community - but this? The most amazing gift!!

gofundme Ezra Toczek

Related: Teacher Donates Plasma to Student, 9, in Need of Multiple Organ Transplants: 'Whatever It Takes'

"You never know who's life you are going to be changing," Fisher told WKBW. "It was emotional. It made me very happy to see both of them happy."

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.

Along with Karens Facebook post, she has shared the update to the GoFundMe page raising money for her sons transplant. She shared the exciting news on Tuesday, May 28 and concluded the post by adding, Thank you for your continued support - we have a long road ahead of us, and its getting real now.

In addition to Karens GoFundMe, Fisher has also begun raising money in a separate GoFundMe page, which will raise money for flights, food, lodging and other travel expenses for me and my caregivers that will be there with [her] helping through the [donation] process.

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Read the original article on People.
Some prescription drugs are hard to fill. A pair of bills could make it easier.

A bill by Sen. Alana DiMario would quicken access for patients who take drugs scheduled by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), by making Rhode Island follow a 2023 federal rule that OKs the electronic transfer of prescriptions for such drugs. Seen here is Ritalin, a Schedule II drug and at one time the most commonly prescribed treatment for ADHD. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Stimulants can make life calmer and easier for people with ADHD. But filling these prescriptions is often stressful for patients, thanks to a compound problem thats one part drug regulatory, one part supply and demand.

Electronic prescribing confines stimulant prescriptions to a single pharmacy. Once a script is written and sent, it stays at the pharmacy that received it. If the drug is out of stock, the patient can call their doctor for a new prescription. Or they could wait, and go unmedicated.

We have CVSs all over the state, Sen. Alana DiMario, a Narragansett Democrat, told Rhode Island Current. We should be able to refill a prescription at one CVS just as easily as the other one without having to jump through a lot of extra hoops.

The Rhode Island Senate agreed when on Thursday, May 23, it voted 36-0 to pass a bill by DiMario that would help patients get and take their ADHD medications, like Adderall, Ritalin and Vyvanse.

DiMarios bill, which now goes to the House Committee on Health and Human Services, would require the Rhode Island Department of Health to adopt a July 2023 regulation revised by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The revised federal rule allows patients to transfer from one pharmacy to another their prescriptions for certain tightly regulated psychoactive drugs, including stimulants.

I think this is something that a lot of people in my chamber, when Ive explained the rationale behind the bill, understand, DiMario said in a phone interview before the floor vote. They have somebody in their family, they have somebody in their community, who has highlighted the difficulty that this poses for them.

DiMarios bill would take effect on Jan. 1, 2025, the same date a companion bill by Rep. Kathleen Fogarty, a South Kingstown Democrat, would take effect.

Sen. Alana DiMarios bill is just waiting on the feds to change their electronic prescription standards. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

On Wednesday, May 29, every member of the House Committee on Health and Human Services agreed to send Fogartys bill to the House floor for a vote. The respective bills need to pass the opposite chamber before they can appear on Gov. Dan McKees desk. Fogartys bill will likely hit the House floor during the week of June 3, said Larry Berman, a spokesman for the Rhode Island House, with the DiMario hearing coming sometime after that.

The DEA first announced an Adderall shortage in 2022. As of February 2024, 87% of community pharmacists claimed they were still struggling to stock the amphetamine-based drug, according to a survey from the National Community Pharmacy Association.

The shortage has further pressured an already restrictive prescription process, as most ADHD medicines are scheduled by the DEA. Under the feds and most states regulations, most stimulants fall under Schedule II  the second-most restrictive tier, reserved for drugs that have accepted medical uses but can also be highly reinforcing or addictive to consume.

Prescriptions for ADHD meds are capped at a 30-day supply and cant be refilled  although doctors can write up to three separate prescriptions, each for a one-month supply, at the same time. The prescription cant be switched to a different pharmacy, even one within the same chain, so a doctor will have to write and sign an entirely new prescription.

Those hoops present an obstacle course for everyone involved: patients, pharmacies and doctors. Phone calls boomerang between pharmacies and patients as the latter try to find a place that can actually fill their prescriptions. The DEA seemed to agree that the hoops are too many for people already struggling with behavioral health issues.

This rule is likely to benefit patients in many other ways, including reducing stress, the DEA wrote in July 2023, and added that a major rationale for changing the regulation is to prevent treatment delays and reduce patient burden.

Said DiMario: This is one of those no cost changes that can improve quality of life for people in our communities.

In fact, the DEA estimated in its final rule that patients might even save money  $2.60 specifically, which the agency calculated as the cost of a five-minute phone call a provider for a new prescription.

At the Rhode Island Department of Health, seen here on Capitol Hill, state health officials are still waiting on their federal counterparts for the technology update that will allow electronic transfers for scheduled drugs. (Alexander Castro/Rhode Island Current)

Rhode Island pioneered treatment

Stimulants have not always been warmly received by the public, partly because of their widespread use among a vulnerable population: Children. Coincidentally, it was at East Providences Bradley Hospital in 1937 that psychiatrist Charles Bradley first discovered stimulants help kids be attentive and interested in schoolwork. Stimulants saw use in juvenile populations during the postwar years, but it wasnt until after 1987, when the ADHD diagnosis was revised and neuroscience revitalized psychiatry that pharmaceutical companies saw a new market  kids with ADHD  who could be served with updated versions of older drugs.

A DEA-commissioned report from 2023 found that overall dispensing of stimulants increased nearly 58% from 2012 to 2022. In that same time span, prescription rates nearly tripled for two specific age groups: people aged 31 to 40, and people 71- to 80-years old.

Thats a lot more people vying for Vyvanse and the like  some of them are DiMarios constituents. One of them in fact first alerted DiMario to the 2023 change in DEA regulations, the senator explained when she introduced her bill at a March 5 hearing of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services.

That leaves a lot of families calling around, DiMario testified on March 5.

Maura Cotoia is one of those parents glued to the phone. Some pharmacies will reveal if they have the drug on hand. Others will not. A not insignificant chunk of ones day can be spent trying to find out. Cotoia testified for DiMarios bill and said her family has been chasing medications all over the state for her 10 year-old son who has ADHD.

Weve traveled to Warwick, Newport, Hopkinton, just to ensure my son is properly medicated, Cotoia said.

Since Cotoias son was diagnosed at age seven, there has not been a single pharmacy who could fill his prescription for three consecutive months.

This is wild to me, as local pharmacy chains such as CVS can communicate with one another and transfer prescriptions internally. They can even transfer prescriptions across state lines, Cotoia said.

While the DEA is ready to relax regulations on prescription transfers, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is not.

CMS regulates prescriptions for Medicare patients, and that includes choosing the information technology used for electronic prescriptions. CMS current standard can support the electronic transfer of non-scheduled drugs, but not scheduled drugs.

Dr. Utpala Bandy, who at the time was interim director of the Rhode Island Department of Health before she retired in March, submitted testimonies for both DiMarios and Fogartys bills, advising that the legislation needed slight retooling.

The health information technology industry is not yet able to support these transfers until further action is taken by [CMS], Bandy wrote.

DiMario said before the May 23 Senate vote that she revised the bill per the recommendations of the health department. The departments spokesperson, Joseph Wendelken, confirmed May 24 that the department supports DiMarios revised bill.

Massachusetts pharmacy officials maneuvered quickly to accommodate the DEA change and issued a policy in October 2023 that allows prescription transfers.

But Massachusetts is not much farther ahead than Rhode Island, according to an email from Omar Cabreba, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health: The Board of Registration in Pharmacy does have a policy on the transfer of unfilled prescriptions, but the technology standard needed to transfer electronic prescriptions in accordance with DEA rules is currently not in place.

The National Council for Prescription Drug Programs manages the SCRIPT standard used by CMS for electronic prescriptions. A May 2024 document from the Council noted that while a newer version of SCRIPT supports the updated DEA rule, the version still used by CMS does not.

The shortage, meanwhile, is seeing some signs of abatement after two years, with manufacturers like Teva having refreshed their supply of generic ADHD drugs as of May.

So DiMarios and Fogartys bills could fast-track adoption of the necessary technology when it does arrive. But that doesnt mean any changes for ADHD patients in the immediate future. They may have to keep waiting and calling.

The post Some prescription drugs are hard to fill. A pair of bills could make it easier. appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
The News

On Thursday, Donald Trump became the first former US president to be convicted of a felony crime, with a New York jury finding him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records. The response from all corners was swift, and loud  but not from Trumps main opponent in the presidential race, Joe Biden.

The reaction from Biden and his camp followed the same path of the last several months: Muted. Despite rumors last week that he might address the Trump verdict from the White House, Semafor was told shortly after the guilty verdict came in that the president, who is in Delaware for the anniversary of his sons death, has no plans to give a speech tonight.

If he does speak on the verdict, it more likely would be informal  in response to a question from a reporter, for example  as opposed to in official White House remarks or a high-profile campaign speech. And the administration, which has been careful to avoid the appearance of interference in legal affairs, is unlikely to get involved.

We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment, Ian Sams, a spokesman for the White House counsels office, told reporters.

Bidens campaign offered its most direct comment yet on Trumps legal issues, but gave little indication it would change its approach of largely ignoring them in favor of other topics.

In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law, Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler said in a statement shortly following the verdict. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.

The statement went on to bring the focus back to a main campaign theme from team Biden: The argument that Trump poses a threat to democracy. The campaign is expected to keep the focus on the arguments theyve continued to make to voters  safeguarding rights, lowering healthcare costs, abortion, and more.

The campaign did send out a fundraising text to supporters about the verdict, but once again the focus was not on the substance of the case: Instead, the message was that Trump was likely setting fundraising records from fired-up conservatives and that Democrats should give in response.

The View From Democrats in Congress

Democratic members of Congress, who do not face Bidens unique concerns as chief executive, were able to get a little friskier while echoing the administrations defense of the legal system in the face of Republican attacks.

No one is above the law, including a former President of the United States, Rep. Norma Torres, a California Democrat, told Semafor. The prospect of a criminal running for the highest office of the land is an affront, and frankly dangerous, for the integrity of our democracy.

Guidance from the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee advised partisans to stress that our justice system worked as it is supposed to and shows that Republicans will bend the knee to former President Trump, but included no specific attacks around the facts of the case.

It does not look likely to be much of an issue going forward as well  especially if theyre not getting a signal from the top of the ticket to drive the point home.

I dont think [Minority Leader Hakeem] Jeffries or leadership will use leadership capital to talk about Trump, one senior Democratic aide said.

Shelbys view

Its unsurprising that Biden and his campaign will likely continue shying away from attacks against Trump on this topic: As Semafor reported back in January following the E. Jean Carroll ruling, many Democrats close to the White House believe that voters already know who Trump is, know that hes under legal scrutiny, and that Biden would be better off focusing on issues that are affecting Americans day in and day out.

Democratic strategist Eddie Vale told my colleague Morgan Chalfant that the Biden camp should continue handling the situation as they have been.

They should cut surgically with a scalpel and not swing wildly with a machete like Trump will do, Vale said. Trump being a convicted felon liar will have an impact but the economy and abortion will be the ultimate issues still, so they wont let that core message get away from them.

The campaign got mixed reactions after dipping their toe into trial coverage earlier this week by holding a press conference  largely on unrelated issues  outside the courthouse with actor Robert De Niro and two former Capitol Police officers. While they argued the event was successful in driving coverage of their message, team Trump used it to bolster their case that the trial was politically motivated. Leaning fully in now that a verdict has been reached could serve as more fodder for Trump to air out those claims, and is likely a distraction that Biden and his team dont want.

Room for Disagreement

One Democratic strategist texted Semafor that the party was making a mistake by not attacking Trump more directly over his conviction. Piercing Trumps sense of invulnerability and telling a story about how 12 average Americans finally stood up to him could help sway voters at the margins.

Trump trauma syndrome has led Dems to artificially divide issues into kitchen table issues and Trump behavior issues, which totally misses the gray area where the voters who will decide this election live, the strategist argued. Its all about vibes and trajectory.

Notable

For more on the Trump verdict, check out Semafor Signals, which is gathering reactions and insight in response to this breaking story.
Theres no guarantee Donald Trump will end up behind bars, but with him convicted on felony counts Thursday while still staring down a trio of separate indictments, the once remote possibility of a former U.S. president being incarcerated is inching closer to reality.

Thats sparked a common question: Just how would Trump hold up in prison, and what would his life behind bars look like?

The prison consultant Sam Mangel, who counts Trumps locked up pal Peter Navarro as a client, told The Daily Beast on Friday that an imprisoned Trump would be a nightmare for the country and prison system, but would be especially hellish for the attention-craving former president.

Should he be sentenced to prison for his New York conviction, Mangel said Trump and his U.S. Secret Service detail would have to be squeezed into an already overcrowded NYC facility thats sure to have a media circus outside its gates and scores of news helicopters swarming overhead.

Logistically, it would be a nightmare, he said. So when I hear interviews that the New York Department of Corrections has everything taken care of, that to me is a statement made out of ego.

That headache would only be the beginning of issues for corrections officials, Mangel said. Guards and administrators would have to walk a tightrope of putting special protections in place to keep Trump safeand avoid a PR catastrophe should he be injured by a fellow inmatewhile also trying to maintain the appearance of him receiving the same treatment as every other prisoner.

Trump Is a Convicted Criminaland Bars Are Cashing In

Treating Trump the same as other inmates is important to prevent other prisoners from rising up in anger at any perceived special treatmentanger that, in a worst-case scenario, could lead to violence.

Because Trumps charges for falsifying business records are considered white-collar, Mangel said he would be placed in a low-security facility thats largely empty of people recently convicted of violent crimes. He said Trumps team would likely advocate that he be housed alongside senior inmatesa request that would surely be granted.

Trump likely wouldnt be navigating prison gangs and dodging sketchy characters like in the movies, but life as hes known it for decades would be turned on its head, Mangel said.

Mangel, who was imprisoned himself as recently as 2020 for financial crimes, said Trumps days in lockup would be nearly identicalawoken by an alarm every morning followed by him standing in front of his bed while a role call is taken.

When youre in prison, I dont care who you are, youre a number, Mangel said. Youre told when to get up, when to eat, when to go to sleep. And its humiliating, its degrading.

Mangel said guards tend to not care how important or famous or well known someone was on the outsideeveryone on the inside is treated more or less the same.

Inside you get up at six in the morning, you go to your meals as dictated, you get the same phone time, the same lights out at four oclock in the afternoon, you have to stand next to your bed for count, he said. So it is a humiliating situation. And especially for somebody like the former president.

Trump Dubs Himself Political Prisoner in Frantic Donation Plea

Trump has already shown that he doesnt take well to being told what to do by anyone. But being ordered around a prison yardand working a prison job, should he take onewouldnt be the worst of it for Trump, Mangel predicts. It would be his lack of information and the absence of an audience.

Gone would be the days of Trump being able to freely tweetor post to Truth Socialthe second a thought comes into his head. Instead, Mangel said Trumps communication would be limited to monitored daytime visits, attachment-less and character-capped emails that take over an hour to send, and phone calls that are often limited to just 15 minutes each day.

Its that loss of touch with society that drives Mangels high-profile clients mad, he said, and Trump, as a 77-year-old billionaire, likely would be no different. Mangel said his clients often reach out to him for ways to get more time on the phone, but their requests are often denied.

Its been asked to me from other clients, Can you please get me more minutes? I need more minutes,said Mangel. Theres a sense of entitlement and a sense of, Do you know who I am?

It doesnt matter whether youre an executive or a politician. It doesnt matter that youre used to unfettered phone access Youre a president. Why should you have more than the next guy?

Mangel said he hopes that Trump isnt placed in a prison, but not for political reasons. He said he fears a locked up Trumpand the flaws of the U.S. prison system exposed under a media microscopewould be a stain on the country itself, and that authorities should explore the possibility of him being sentenced to be in confinement at a military base if hes to be sent somewhere.

On a base, Mangel said his safety could be ensured, full privacy could be achieved, and New Yorks crowded prison facilities wouldnt be burdened with housing perhaps the worlds most high-profile criminal of the 21st century.

If he has to be incarcerated, Mangel said, there are places that can handle it more appropriately and in a more professional, protected manner than a Bureau of Prisons or department of corrections facility.

Trump Verdict Gives MSNBC Its Highest Ratings of 2024

Trump could be sentenced to up to four years in a New York prison for Thursdays conviction. Records show, however, that criminals convicted of Class E felonies, the lowest level in New York, are often not sentenced to spend time behind bars if it is their first conviction. Instead, they are often fined and placed on probationsomething that could also be quite the headache for Trump.

Trump will learn his fate in a sentencing hearing slated for July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention. Judge Juan Merchan will be the person who decides Trumps sentence.

The ex-presidents legal team has been given 30 days from Thursday to file notice of appeal and six months to file the full appeal to the conviction, which theyre expected to do.

In the meantime, Mangel said hes been working behind the scenes with those in Trumps orbit to prepare them for potential prison time. He declined to say exactly who he was working with, but, with Trump pal Navarro already on his client-list, he said hed be thrilled to advise Trump on what to expect in lock-up should it ever come to that. After all, he said hes based just 20 minutes away from Trumps Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Im not playing politics, Mangel said. I just think everybody deserves the most information possible to make it through the worst experience of their lives other than death.

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Donald Trumps hush-money trial in New York was remarkable for many reasons. It was remarkable to see a former president sit through his own court case. Remarkable because of the gag orders that the presiding judge placed on the defendant. And remarkable because much of the American public actually zoned out of the trial.

While the US media portrayed it as the trial of the century, the actual case revolved around something that the American public have known about for eight years, which is that decades prior Trump allegedly had encounters with the porn star Stormy Daniels  and that ahead of the 2016 election she had been persuaded to sign a non-disclosure agreement (now reframed as hush-money) in order not to go public.

Of course, Stormy Daniels did go public. Very public. For a time even her lawyer was a household name in the United States, before he himself went to prison.

Since Trump left office he has faced a slew of legal battles. The victorious case brought in New York by district attorney Alvin Bragg was predicated again on the old Stormy Daniels affair, while now claiming that the money paid to Daniels came from campaign funds and was thus illegal. That seemingly was the basis of the trial.

The prosecution did everything they could not just to convict Trump but to humiliate him. This included inviting Stormy Daniels to the stand  something that wasnt legally necessary. She then described in lurid detail the alleged encounters.

The idea that the trial comprised the latest round of a political and legal witch-hunt was only enforced by such details. And while the media ate this up, it was clear that the majority of the public did not.

This might baffle some British readers, but there is an important fact worth mentioning here. American voters long ago reckoned with Trumps checkered past when it came to his fitness for office.

He came to win the 2016 election, after all, in the aftermath of the Billy Bush tape in which he could be heard (again many years earlier) boasting about the advantages with women which could accrue to male celebrities.

While the Democrat media hoped that such details would scare off voters, the American electorate apparently hated the attacks more than they hated Trumps locker-room talk. He won the election.

Now there is a question of whether this verdict of guilty on all counts in the hush-money trial will be a watershed moment for the 2024 race, or what Americans call a nothing-burger.

In some ways the trial was good for Trump. It kept him in the news, locking him down in a NY courthouse but without preventing him from campaigning. In fact, it acted as an accelerant for his political battle, showing him to be a victim of a system that many Americans believe is rotten through and through.

The guilty verdict has the potential to change all that. Trump will of course try to appeal, but its unlikely to be heard before the election. And there is a serious prospect of him actually going to jail for a period. With his various social-media outbursts necessitating gag orders, he has not exactly made friends with the presiding judge  who is unlikely to be in a forgiving state of mind. Trump said the highly conflicted judge, Juan Merchan, looks like an angel but is really a devil.

As so often with Trump, we are now in the realms of the unknown. A spell in jail may be the sign many Republicans and others need to say Its all just too much trouble. Lets ditch him.

On the other hand, it may sufficiently appall voters that they develop feelings of sympathy for Trump, voting him back into the White House.

But it is a perilous path, and America is now  as so often in the age of Trump  in deeply uncharted political waters.

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A student draped with an Israeli flag listens as University of Texas at Austin professors Pavithra Vasudevan and Karma Chavez lead students in a discussion during a pro-Palestinian teach-in on campus on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune

In early April, Jadd Hashem and Elijah Kahlenberg sat at a table between the Texas Hillels annual Israel Block Party at the University of Texas at Austin and a demonstration organized by the Palestinian Solidarity Committee. A sign taped at the front of their table read: One Palestinian. One Jew. Two Brothers. Ask us anything.

For three and a half hours, Kahlenberg and Hashem talked to anyone who was interested about the Israel-Hamas war and the decades-long tensions in the Middle East. Most exchanges were cordial but toward the end a conversation got heated with a person who said she had survived the Oct. 7 attack Hamas launched on Israel.

Kahlenberg said a crowd of Israel supporters soon gathered around them, not just criticizing the two friends views on the conflict but questioning his Jewishness. He said he was called a self-hating Jew and a Kapo, a term referring to Jewish inmates in concentration camps who were appointed to oversee other prisoners.

Jadd is Palestinian, of course, he's gonna have these views and they're gonna be against it, Kahlenberg said. But for me, they were like, oh, Elijah, this guy is a traitor.

Since tensions exploded on U.S. campuses in response to the Israel-Hamas war, some Jewish students at UT-Austin have urged state and university leaders to express their support for Israel while others have participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations. The rift has left many Jewish students with a wide range of views on the conflict feeling unsafe, highlighting the difficulty of holding discussions about the Middle East conflict at Texas universities.

On Oct. 7, Hamas, a Palestinian militant group, attacked the Tribe of Nova music festival in Re'im, Israel, killing more than 1,100 people and taking 253 hostages. Israel responded with a siege on Gaza that has killed about 35,300 Palestinians and left over 79,000 injured.

Student protesters, confronted by a heavy police presence, link arms to stymie arrests on the University of Texas campus on April 24, 2024. Credit: Julius Shieh/The Texas Tribune

The war sparked fierce pro-Palestinian demonstrations across U.S. campuses. At UT-Austin, hundreds of students walked out of class on April 24 to protest the siege on Gaza, leading to the arrest of 57 people after police ordered them to disperse. Five days later, 79 more people were arrested after protesters tried to set up an encampment on campus grounds.

Some students, faculty and free speech experts have criticized the university and law enforcement response as heavy-handed. UT-Austin officials defended their actions saying encampments are against university rules and some state leaders lauded the police crackdowns while blasting the demonstrations as antisemitic.

The protests have also triggered different feelings, reactions and opinions among Jewish students.

Levi Fox, a sophomore at the University of Texas at Austin, said he was in his Jewish fraternity house on Oct. 9 when he got a call that one of his friends was among the victims of the Hamas attack.

I collapsed to my knees crying, he said. To know someone that was murdered in such a brutal way  it gave me a whole new perspective on what's going on.

Since then, Fox has participated in several counter-protests in response to the pro-Palestinian demonstrations. During a May 14 hearing before the Texas Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education to discuss the protests, Fox said hes had pennies thrown at him, a student told him to go back to Germany and a professor told him theyll come after you and put you in the ovens next. He said he gave the professors name to senators but didnt want to share it publicly because the university is investigating the incident.

Fox told lawmakers some students have taken off their yarmulkes or hidden Stars of David hanging around their necks to avoid being harassed.

When someone, of any faith, feels like they need to hide their faith, that is a failure on all of us, Fox said. State leaders have a responsibility to ensure that everyone can express their faith without fear.

Seats fill in the hearing and overflow rooms at the Texas Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education hearing on free speech on May 14, 2024. Credit: Leila Saidane for The Texas Tribune

Fox said he felt the pro-Palestinian demonstrations were inherently antisemitic and applauded the university and law enforcement for their response.

When you say, There is only one solution, Intifada revolution, you are saying that the only solution is a brutal and violent series of terrorist attacks targeted toward civilians, Fox said. You cannot blame the state of Texas and the university for working to ensure the safety of civilians when violent threats like that are made. That has no place here at UT-Austin or anywhere in the world for hate or violence.

Barri Seitz, a UT-Austin sophomore, said she was also grateful for the swift action against the demonstrators. She said some people at smaller protests have called her slurs and told her to go back to Poland.

She said she believed protesting against Israel is antisemitic, stating that Judaism and Zionism are intrinsic parts of one another and that someone Jewish who doesnt support Israel is denying a large part of their identity.

Carla Robinson, a Jewish UT graduate student whos been protesting in support of Palestinians, said that statements like these have been hurtful and frustrating to hear. She said Israel and Zionism are not the same as Judaism.

I think antisemitism is being weaponized to stifle criticism of the state of Israel and the genocide it's carrying out against Palestinian people, Robinson said. It makes antisemitism meaningless when you expand the definition in that way to include critique of Israel, which then makes it harder to address real antisemitism that's happening, along with Islamophobia and racism and sexism.

Sam Law, a Jewish UT-Austin graduate student, said he was proud of participating in pro-Palestinian demonstrations and angered at the universitys decision to call the police on their own students. He was among the protesters arrested at UT-Austin on April 29.

Law said many of his relatives were killed in concentration camps in Poland during World War II and that hearing those stories from his family made him empathize with Palestinians suffering.

Sam Law, a Jewish doctoral student at UT-Austin who is sympathetic to the Palestinians' plight in Gaza, poses for a photo in the Fine Arts Library on May 23, 2024. Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune

Sam Law smokes a cigarette shortly after being released from the Travis County Jail on April 30, 2024. Law was arrested the previous day at a demonstration on the UT campus in support of Palestinians. Credit: Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribune

Many lawmakers and alumni have thanked UT-Austin President Jay Hartzell for his response to the protests on campus. A letter published by Alums for Campus Fairness, an alumni group that seeks to counter antisemitism and the demonization of Israel on college campuses, said the protests have sought to silence Jewish students.

Law said people like Harlan Crow  a GOP mega-donor and a UT-Austin alum who has been criticized for owning a collection of Nazi artifacts and was among the signatories of the Alums for Campus Fairness letter  are the ones that make him feel unsafe. He also condemned the university for allowing some speakers like Kate Hopkins, a far-right personality who has stirred controversy for echoing Nazi rhetoric and was invited by a student group to visit the campus in 2018.

Lawmakers, university officials and the alumni can claim all they want that what they're doing is about protecting Jewish safety, but this is not true, Law said. The people who've made me feel unsafe are them.

Difficult conversations

Aaron Sandel, a UT-Austin professor in anthropology who is Jewish, said he saw many Jewish students struggle to sort their thoughts and voice concerns about their safety in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war. Believing that complex feelings should be processed privately and with friends, he offered to facilitate an open discussion at his home one day in October. Sandel wanted to help students distinguish between feeling unsafe and uncomfortable, which he said are often confused.

Discomfort should be reduced and addressed, and we don't want people feeling uncomfortable if it's stressing them out and distracting them. But discomfort can sometimes be a necessary part of thinking through difficult issues, he said.

About 10 Jewish graduate students, faculty members and friends sat in Sandels living room voicing different opinions and feelings about the Middle East conflict and the discomfort they have felt on campus.

While there were disagreements, Sandel said the conversation never turned tense. He said it was similar to a classroom discussion in which people disagree without becoming disrespectful.

Sandel believes the discussion allowed students to find others they could turn to when they need someone to confide in.

Law attended the discussion Sandel hosted and said it was one of the hardest conversations hes had. But he felt it helped attendees better understand each others stances.

Kahlenberg, the student who set up a table with his Palestinian friend in April, said he founded the student group Atidna two years ago also in hopes of fostering an open dialogue about the Middle East conflict and advancing the idea that Jews and Arabs dont need to be enemies.

While Kahlenberg says Atidna is an apolitical organization, he and Hashem, the groups vice president and Kahlenbergs best friend, have participated in pro-Palestinian demonstrations calling for a ceasefire.

Kahlenberg said hes felt less welcome in Jewish spaces lately because of his views. Its a feeling that has made him stay home rather than celebrate holidays with others in the Jewish community.

I do not want to be in a holiday setting or in a Shabbat or adjacent setting where I have to justify why I think Palestinians deserve to live, Kahlenberg said. To me, that's not worth my time and not worth my safety. There are people that might be very abrasive to me being in that space, so there is always a risk of violence.

Sitting in two lawn chairs on UT-Austins campus, just days after police cracked down on two massive protests at the university, two visiting poets  Naomi Shihab Nye, who is Palestinian-American, and Edward Hirsch, who is Jewish-American  lamented how the divide over the Israel-Hamas war had led to a gulf of silence between students with opposing views on the conflict.

Chants like From the river to the sea, are commonplace in pro-Palestinian demonstrations but they can be polarizing and leave little room for understanding and compassion, Hirsch said.

From the river to the sea alludes to the stretch of land from the Jordan River on the eastern flank of Israel and the occupied West Bank to the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Pro-Palestinian activists say the chant advocates for peace and equality in the Middle East. But Jewish groups have described it as a call for the eradication of Israel.

Israeli-American poet and author Edward Hirsch poses for a photo on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Austin. Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune

Palestinian-American poet and author Naomi Shihab Nye poses for a photo on Wednesday, May 1, 2024, in Austin. Credit: Maria Crane/The Texas Tribune

People are not using words more in this moment of catastrophe, Shihab Nye said. I havent heard any eloquent talks from anyone on either side being exchanged or suggestions of dialogues.

Shihab Nye said its important to highlight the diverse perspectives within the protest movement.

More needs to be made of Jewish people who are protesting for a ceasefire. I am profoundly grateful for that, Shihab Nye said.

The conflict has also led some Jewish students to reflect on some of the core values of Judaism.

The highest principle in Judaism is called Pikuach Nefesh, which calls for the protection of life over all other religious considerations. Law said he was raised with this belief and that empathy as Jews doesnt end with other Jewish people. Thats why hes continued to protest in support of Palestinians, he said.

Fox also reflected on the same commandment and said hes horrified at the loss of civilian life on either side of the conflict.

Students with opposing views on the war have acknowledged the value of dialogue during this time, despite how difficult it can be to talk with one another.

Most people Hashem and Kahlenberg spoke to during the Israel Block Party acknowledged the importance of basic human rights, no matter the stance they took on the issue. The pair hopes that more conversations can be had in the future and said this kind of dialogue is vital for peacebuilding on campus and beyond it.

This is really how you break down the hate on campuses  by meeting the other  and I think many are recognizing that, Kahlenberg said.

Sneha Dey contributed to this report.

Disclosure: University of Texas at Austin has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here.

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On July 11, Judge Juan Merchan will read the sentence he plans to give Donald Trump after the former president was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records by a New York jury Thursday in a case stemming from hush money paid to the porn actress Stormy Daniels during the final stage of the 2016 election that brought Trump to the White House. In another concatenation of unprecedented events in U.S. history, four days later, on July 15, the Republican National Convention will begin in Milwaukee at which Trump will almost certainly be officially named the conservative partys candidate for the November 5 presidential election.

Never before has a former U.S. president faced a criminal case, much less four, nor been convicted, so far just in the first of them. Nor has a presidential hopeful ever faced such a predicament: a verdict that could land him in jail (he faces a maximum of four years), although that is unlikely to happen. Of the many questions that have arisen in the wake of the landmark verdict, which Trump can appeal, one stands out: will the sentence in any way hinder Trumps aspirations to return to the White House for a second term?

The short answer is no. Unless negative news about his legal troubles influences voter sentiment (and, according to the latest polls, that seems unlikely), not only does the U.S. Constitution not prevent Trump from running for office; it also does not prohibit a person convicted by the federal justice system from becoming president, even if they end up in jail, unless they are in prison for a very specific crime: insurrection. And that has been ruled out: in the four open cases against him, the former president faces 91 charges, but none of them is for insurrection. However, it could be debated whether his role in the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 fits that definition.

A woman writes the word "guilty" 34 times in chalk on the sidewalk across the street from Trump Tower after a jury found former U.S. president Donald Trump guilty. PETER FOLEY (EFE)

Trump is also shielded by a recent ruling by the Supreme Court, which ruled against the effort of some states, with Colorado in the lead, to remove him from the ballots based on the Third Section of the 14th Amendment of the Constitution. This is an addendum approved in 1868, three years after the end of the Civil War (1861-1865). It served to grant full rights to enslaved people and to introduce a rule that would prevent the Confederate rebels from being able to hold public office again, and destroying the system from within.

If Trump is sentenced to prison  which many experts see as unlikely given he has no criminal record  this could have consequences in states that prohibit people convicted of a criminal offense from voting. This is not the case in Florida, where the tycoon resides in Mar-a-Lago, his mansion in Palm Beach. A felony conviction in another state makes a person ineligible to vote in Florida only if the conviction would make the person ineligible to vote in the state where the person was convicted. Trump was convicted in New York, which does not deprive prisoners of their electoral rights.

Secret Service agents behind bars?

Another unsuspected consequence of Trump being sent to prison is that members of the Secret Service designated for his protection would have to join him there. U.S. law requires them to protect the former president 24 hours a day, seven days a week, regardless of where he is.

A man holds a placard outside Manhattan criminal court following the verdict in former U.S. president Donald Trump's criminal trial. Mike Segar (REUTERS)

To find any precedent for what happened on Thursday with Trump and how it will impact his bid for the White House, one must go back more than a century, to the obscure case of a candidate named Eugene Debs. He campaigned from prison in 1920, as leader of the Socialist Party of America, while serving a sentence for violating the Espionage Act of 1917. He was convicted for making speeches critical of the United States role in World War I. He did not make it to the White House; Republican Warren Harding won the election overwhelmingly. And those numbers invalidate the power for precedent of the case: unlike Trump, who leads in a good handful of polls over U.S. President Joe Biden, who is running for re-election, Debs never had any chance of winning.

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NEW YORK (Reuters) -Pro-Palestinian protesters took over parts of the Brooklyn Museum on Friday, hanging a banner above the main entrance, occupying much of the lobby and scuffling with police, witnesses said.

The art museum in the New York City borough of Brooklyn said it closed an hour early because of the disruption, including skirmishes between police and protesters that took place inside and outside the building.

Some arrests were made but a New York Police Department spokesperson said there would be no official count until after the protest concluded. A demonstration continued outside the museum hours after the initial confrontation, but the spokesperson could not say whether any protesters remained inside.

One of the arrests was of a man who defaced an outdoor sculpture with graffiti, a Reuters witness said. Several protesters scrawled messages on the OY/YO sculpture on the plaza outside the entrance.

"There was damage to existing and newly installed artwork on our plaza," a museum spokesperson said in an email. "Protesters entered the building, and our public safety staff were physically and verbally harassed.

"Out of a concern for the building, our collections, and our staff, the decision was made to close the building an hour early," and the public was asked to vacate peacefully, the statement said.

Hundreds of demonstrators were marching through Brooklyn when some of them rushed the entrance, according to the Reuters witness. Security guards prevented many from entering but some managed to get inside.

A banner was hung from atop the neoclassical facade proclaiming, "Free Palestine, Divest From Genocide."

A pro-Palestinian organization named Within Our Lifetime urged demonstrators to "flood Brooklyn Museum for Gaza." It said activists occupied the museum to compel it to disclose any Israel-related investments and to divest any such funding.

Demonstrations against Israel's prosecution of the war in Gaza have continued in the United States, largely on university campuses.

At Columbia University in upper Manhattan, demonstrators on Friday set up an encampment on campus during an alumni reunion to show support for Palestinians. Video on social media showed campus security taking down the tents. As of Friday night, police were not involved, as they had been in taking down the camp and evicting or arresting protests twice before.

"We are aware of the encampment erected this evening and are monitoring the situation. We remain committed to hosting a successful weekend for our alumni," Columbia spokesperson Samantha Slater said in a statement.

The Israeli-Palestinian war began when Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people.

Palestinian health authorities estimate more than 36,280 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel responded.

(Reporting by Eduardo Munoz and Jonathan Allen in New York, Kanishka Singh in Washington and Daniel Trotta in Carlsbad, California; Editing by Cynthia Osterman and Tom Hogue)
SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  Two women described by police as prolific retail thieves were caught in the act in the Mission District, according to the San Francisco Police Department.

Undercover SFPD officers were inside a pharmacy store on Wednesday as part of a blitz operation combating retail theft. The undercover officers watched two young women enter the store on 24th and Castro streets.

The suspects went to the makeup aisle and began filling up shopping bags with makeup from the shelves. Both suspects exited the store with no attempt to pay for the items, SFPD wrote.

Stolen makeup recovered (Image courtesy San Francisco Police Department)

Officers stopped one of the women, 19-year-old Andrea Glaser, and arrested her. The second woman, 24-year-old Angenique Kyer, attempted to run away from officers, SFPD said. Kyer was captured after a brief foot chase.

Stolen makeup recovered (Image courtesy San Francisco Police Department)

Police officers said they recovered nearly $4,000 worth of stolen makeup from Glaser and Kyers shopping bags. Their gold Acura TL was towed and additional suspected stolen property was recovered for the car.

Alameda County Sheriff seeks help from feds after DA declines to file charges

The duo also had outstanding warrants in other counties for theft, police said.

Stolen makeup recovered (Image courtesy San Francisco Police Department)

Stolen makeup recovered (Image courtesy San Francisco Police Department)

Any business that would like to participate in a San Francisco Police Department blitz operation can email sfpd.retailtheft@sfgov.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 KRON4.
About 100 people attended a public hearing about a proposal to eliminate about a dozen Kanawha County bus routes Friday, May 31, 2024. (Lori Kersey | West Virginia Watch)

Dozens of people spoke against a proposal to eliminate more than 10 bus routes to Kanawha County communities during a public hearing Friday afternoon.

The Kanawha Valley Regional Transportation Authority is considering ending 11 routes that take passengers to Sissonville, Clendenin, Campbells Creek and Tyler Mountain, among other places.

The affected routes have a higher cost per passenger than the KRTs remaining routes. The changes altogether would save the agency about $1.9 million in operating costs, according to a presentation on the KRT website.

KRT would replace the eliminated routes with an on-demand, app-based ride service thats available to take passengers from their homes to bus routes or points of interest such as airports. Those without internet access could schedule the service by calling a KRT operator or schedule days and weeks ahead while they do have internet access, Hill said.

More than 30 people gave public comments during the meeting, most expressing concerns that eliminating the bus routes would keep people from getting to jobs, doctors appointments, grocery stores and other places. Hill read about 20 written comments into the record. About 100 people attended the hearing.

Kimberly Davis was among those who spoke against the proposed changes. Davis uses a wheelchair and has been riding the KRT since 1988. She takes the Sissonville and Tyler Mountain routes, both of which the agency is considering eliminating.

Davis said the changes will affect six workers at her daughters place of employment. None of them could attend the meeting, so Davis came to speak, she said.

I am here because Im literally stuck, Davis said. My mom and dad take me out seven miles one way, either Cross Lanes or Sissonville  theyre taking both my buses.

She worries the on-demand service will cost the agency more in the long run and that older people will not know how to use the technology associated with it.

I dont go to the library, she said. I mean how are they supposed to access the internet, a phone, be able to even make a call out because theres hardly any payphones anymore.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, KRT executive director Sean Hill said the agency expected the reaction from riders. Theres a lot to learn about the on-demand service, and change is hard, he said.

We hope and we think that individuals being picked up at their homes and taken to a bus route, in time theyll gain acceptance of that and that would actually be more convenient for them, he said. And also opens the door to KRT to individuals across Kanawha County who may not ride a bus but they would get picked up and taken to an airport or home from downtown.

Its achieving a lot of things but what its doing, the most important thing is its making us more financially responsible so that KRT can operate for years to come with the funding we have available, Hill said.

He added that the agency planned to put out more information via social media and additional meetings to calm fears about the new service.

We just need to do a better job of explaining what it is and showing use case examples of where this has worked across the country, he said. This is happening all over the country, and entities are looking to do what were looking to do, which is how do we provide the same or more level of service with a fixed budget?

Hill stressed that the proposals are not final. He did not give a timeline for when the KRTs board would make final decisions about the routes.

KRT is continuing to accept public comments about the proposed changes. People can fill out a survey about the proposal on its website through the end of June. Comments may also be submitted via email to operations@rideonkrt.com.

The post Proposal would eliminate several Kanawha County bus routes, replace them with on-demand service appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Prosecutors expect to file new evidence to be filed against Shanna Gardner, Mario Fernandez Saldana

Prosecutors said Friday that they plan to present new evidence against the defendants in the Jared Bridegan murder case.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Shanna Gardner and her estranged husband Mario Fernandez Saldana were in court this morning for a pretrial hearing. Gardner is accused of conspiring with Saldana and his tenant Henry Tenon to kill her ex-husband Jared Bridegan.

Bridegan was killed in a targeted shooting in February 2022 while driving home. He was shot and killed when he got out of his car to move a tire out of the road while his daughter was in the car. Prosecutors say that the tire was put there on purpose to get Bridegan out of his car.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

Tenon, who prosecutors believe fired the shot that killed Bridegan, has already pleaded guilty. He is set to testify against Gardner and Saldana in their trials in exchange for a second-degree murder charge.

This morning, prosecutors told Judge London M. Kite that they have uncovered new evidence in the form of jail calls and digital evidence found by the Florida Department of Law Enforcements cyber team. They said the evidence should be filed by Tuesday next week.

Read: Bond denied for woman accused in murder for hire plot in Jacksonville Beach

Judge Kite made it clear that the state needed to provide disclosure related to the penalty phase early, and prosecutors assured her that the evidence to be disclosed is guilt related.

Gardner and Saldana are due back in court on June 25 at 9:30 a.m.

Action News Jax will continue to follow the story and will update you as we learn more.

Read: Never-before-seen interview with Shanna Gardner a year before her arrest for Jared Bridegans murder

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Prosecutors not seeking death penalty against man accused in Laken Rileys murder at UGA

Prosecutors with the Clarke County District Attorneys office will not be seeking the death penalty against Laken Rileys accused killer, Jose Ibarra.

According to court documents obtained by Channel 2 Action News, the prosecution is seeking a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.

On Friday, Ibarra appeared in court where he pleaded not guilty.

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A grand jury indicted Ibarra on 10 charges: malice murder, three counts of felony murder, kidnapping with bodily injuries, aggravated assault with intent to rape, aggravated battery, obstructing or hindering a person from making an emergency telephone call, tampering with evidence and Peeping Tom.

Rileys parents and sister were there for the plea hearing.

Her family could be heard crying as soon as Ibarra walked into the courtroom. Deputies brought him inside with chains and cuffs around his waist and hands.

Rileys mother was in tears as he stood up to sign the document that said he denies killing her daughter.

Well waive formal arraignment and enter a plea of not guilty, said Kaitlyn Beck, Ibarras court-ordered defense attorney.

District Attorney Deborah Gonzalez published a memo on her first day in office, promising that she would not seek the death penalty while prosecuting cases.

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Judge Patrick Haggard said to plan for a trial in a matter of months.

I would plan to have a status on the case in early August with a view toward trial this Fall, said Haggard.

The Fall is definitely reasonable, and the state will stand ready for trial, Special Prosecutor Sheila Ross told the judge.

Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student, was attacked while she was running on the University of Georgias intramural fields Thursday, according to the UGA Police Department.

Ibarra, 26, was in the U.S. illegally from Venezuela.

He has been charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing in connection to Rileys death.

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House Bill 237 would increase penalties for protesters who block traffic as well as for protesters who choose to wear a mask or face covering during a protest. (Photo: Clayton Henkel)

Vibrant, effective protest movements throughout American history have helped secure the rights and freedom we now take for granted. Without the Civil Rights Movement, for instance, our -children  who are Black and white  would not be able to attend school together nor receive equal access to quality books or facilities. Everything from the five-day work week to protections for immigrants to marriage equality were won with the help of community-driven protest movements.

In North Carolina today, our state legislators are counting on us to forget the successful history of protest in this country, along with the First Amendment, so that they can vote against democracy. For the past few years, state elected officials have introduced multiple bills that would restrict the right to protest by increasing penalties on protesters or else imposing limits on how people protest.

The latest anti-democratic bill of this ilk is House Bill 237. It would increase penalties for protesters who block traffic as well as for protesters who choose to wear a mask during a protest. HB 237 follows on the heels of earlier attempts to impose greater penalties on people who wear masks or hoodies and are accused of criminal activity. The new bill would repeal the health and safety exception to the states ban on wearing masks in public, thereby criminalizing protestors who choose to wear a mask for any reason.

HB 237 has passed the Senate and failed the House concurrence vote which means its headed to a conference committee for negotiations between chambers. Civil rights organizations across the state have condemned the anti-protest bill and uplifted how the bill not only unconstitutionally restricts protestors rights but the enhanced mask ban also opens the door for increased racial profiling against Black, Indigenous, and communities of color. BIPOC communities in North Carolina already experience disproportionately higher rates of being unlawfully stopped as a result of their appearance by law enforcement, which this bill has the clear potential to exacerbate.

HB 237 is unfortunately one of dozens of bills introduced around the country since 2017 that seek to quash dissent and limit the constitutionally protected rights of protesters. Since the beginning of 2024, weve already seen 41 anti-democratic bills attempting to restrict protest introduced at the federal level and across 16 states.

The good news is that the vast majority of anti-protest bills introduced since 2017 have not been able to pass in the face of communities mobilizing nationwide to protect democracy by protecting protest. In 2017, we helped stop the passage of a state bill that would have eliminated civil liability for drivers if they injure a protester who is blocking traffic. In 2021, we stopped an anti-protest bill that attempted to increase penalties for protesting. Though a problematic measure passed last year, we pushed elected officials to reduce the harm to our communities in the bills final language.

A remarkable thing about protest movements is that the people are nearly always proven correct. The injustices that we spotlight through protest are injustices that society will collectively deem abhorrent and ultimately legislate against and move to eliminate from our society. We saw this with the global movement that ended apartheid in South Africa and the 2020 uprising in defense of Black lives which led to new investments in community-driven public safety  including the growth of alternate response units introduced in North Carolina cities like Durham and Raleigh, where mental health specialists are dispatched in moments of crisis, instead of the police.

Emancipate North Carolina and North Carolina For the People Action have joined with the NC NAACP and ACLU of NC to condemn HB 237, the current anti-protest bill being discussed in the state legislature. Rather than wait for the people to be proven correct, we urge the conference committee members and Governor Cooper to protect democracy and protest today. The past few years have been too tumultuous for our democracy and we cannot withstand any further attempts to weaken the power of peoples voices. Protest is critical to ensure everyday community members can speak up about their needs and priorities.

The post Protecting the right to protest is how we protect democracy in North Carolina appeared first on NC Newsline.
Some providers will offer low-cost internet even as federal program ends, White House says

Friday, May 31, 2024 is the official last day of the pandemic-era Affordable Connectivity Program, which has provided up to $30 in discounts on internet bills for eligible families and as much as $75 on qualifying tribal lands. (Photo by Mayur Kakade/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  With Friday marking the official last day of the pandemic-era Affordable Connectivity Program, the Biden administration is spotlighting commitments from over a dozen internet service providers to offer plans at $30 or less to low-income households through 2024.

This comes as Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said the short-term program had to end due to a lack of funding, which both she and President Joe Biden are continuing to urge Congress to restore.

For over 23 million households, the Affordable Connectivity Program has provided up to $30 in monthly discounts on internet bills for eligible families and as much as $75 a month for those on qualifying tribal lands.

The (Affordable Connectivity Program) filled an important gap that provider low-income programs, state and local affordability programs, and the Lifeline program cannot fully address, Rosenworcel wrote in letters to congressional leaders on Thursday.

Millions of ACP households nationwide, and households that may be eligible but have not yet enrolled, are looking to Congress to provide the funding needed to keep the ACP up and running.

Separately, the Lifeline program provides a $9.25 monthly broadband service benefit for eligible households, according to the FCC.

But the commission said this is not an ACP replacement, and that not all ACP households will qualify for Lifeline, and by statute, many ACP providers are not eligible to participate in the Lifeline program.

Rosenworcel has sent monthly letters to congressional leaders outlining the need for additional funding to keep the low-cost internet program running.

Her additional letters on Thursday went to the chairs and ranking members of House and Senate appropriations panels, including Reps. David Joyce of Ohio and Steny Hoyer of Maryland and Sens. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland and Bill Hagerty of Tennessee.

Rosenworcel also sent another round of letters to the chair and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Sens. Maria Cantwell of Washington and Ted Cruz of Texas, and the chair and ranking member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington and Frank Pallone of New Jersey.

In her most recent letter, Rosenworcel said it was regrettable that the FCC must end the most successful broadband affordability program in our Nations history.

She highlighted some of the possible impacts of the program ending for many military families and millions of households with school-aged children enrolled in the program.

Additionally, Rosenworcel said the end of ACP will also impact approximately 3.4 million rural households and over 300,000 households in Tribal areas.

Meanwhile, the administration said over a dozen providers committed to offering their current ACP subscribers and other eligible households a high-speed internet plan for $30 per month or less, with no fees and data caps, until the end of 2024.

The providers include: Allo Fiber; Altafiber (and Hawaiian Telcom); Astound Broadband; AT&T; Comcast; Cox; IdeaTek; Mediacom; MLGC; Optimum; Spectrum (Charter Communications); Starry; Verizon; and Vermont Telephone Company, per the administration, which noted that, together, the providers cover up to 10 million households enrolled in the program.

In October, Biden asked Congress for $6 billion in a supplemental funding request to keep the ACP funding running through the end of 2024.

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Close-up of a pregnant woman's belly in the hospital bed with an IV tube in hand

Getty Images

A year-long reporting project to examine barriers to maternal health care access in rural Louisiana has received support from the renowned Pulitzer Center, the organization announced Friday.

New Orleans-based freelance journalist Lorena ONeil and the Louisiana Illuminator are one of nine Fellows and news partners chosen for the Pulitzer Centers inaugural StoryReach U.S. cohort. The project will involve reporting in-depth stories and exploring innovative engagement activities to expand the reach and impact of journalism with audiences across the United States.

Unlike other fellowships, the project will entail identifying audiences and engagement strategies from the outset of the StoryReach Fellowship, ensuring the people who most need to be reached can benefit from the published reporting.

The Story Reach U.S initiative responds to challenges faced by local and regional news outlets across the United States. It represents the Pulitzer Centers commitment to staying at the forefront of the worlds most innovative and consequential reporting, with journalism and engagement as the key elements for mobilizing society.

We are tremendously honored to have the support of the Pulitzer Center for this endeavor, Illuminator editor-in-chief Greg LaRose said. Its backing reflects the importance of the issue were exploring as well as a key mission of our news organization  explaining how policy impacts people by telling their stories.

ONeil is a Paraguayan-American freelance journalist who writes narrative features, in-depth profiles, and investigative news stories on culture, gender, inequity and politics. Her work has appeared in publications including Rolling Stone, the Los Angeles Times, Elle and The Guardian. One of her most recent projects, Defending a Vanishing Home, looks at how the loss of Louisianas coastal wetlands affects the indigenous people whove lived there for centuries.

Given the high maternal mortality rates in Louisiana, particularly for Black women, I look forward to having this incredible support to investigate how rural communities are impacted as the reproductive health space changes in the state, ONeil said. As hospitals increasingly rely on technology in health care, Im interested in seeing how this affects medical inequity. Im honored to work on this with the Pulitzer Center and the Illuminator.

The Pulitzer Center, based in Washington, D.C. was founded in 2006 to provide support for enterprise reporting in the United States and across the globe. Thousands of journalists and educators are part of its networks that span more than 80 countries.

Work from Pulitzer Center-supported journalists and newsrooms reaches tens of millions of people each year through its news media partners and an audience-centered strategy of global and regional engagement.

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The post Pulitzer Center backs Illuminator project on maternal health care access, racial equity appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator.
For the next seven days The Telegraph is running a series of exclusive essays from international commentators imagining the consequences if Russia were successful in its war.

The first, by former Ukrainian MP Aliona Hlivco, considered the devastating impact for the Nato alliance. Then historian Dr Thomas Clausen assessed the fallout on European politics.

Today, Karolina Hird of the Institute of the Study of War in Washington DC considers the price for ordinary Ukrainians.

Over 800 days into Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it is easy to see the war as merely lines and colour-coding on a map. While the lines and the military movements they represent matter, those abstractions obscure the human realities behind those lines.

To be clear from the start: Russia is actively, undeniably carrying out a genocide to destroy Ukrainian identity and independence. It does this by utilising ethnic cleansing campaigns, sexual violence, and the mass deportation of Ukrainian children as part of a forced Russification effort. I have been following this from Washington ever since the war began.

As such, if Russia wins, the worst genocide on European soil since the Holocaust is almost guaranteed.

The Kremlin has loudly proclaimed its intent to destroy Ukraine as a state and a nation. Russian President Vladimir Putins 2021 essay On the historical unity of Russians and Ukrainians, called Ukrainians a confused people, unjustly and forcibly torn away from Russia by nefarious external forces. The Kremlin-controlled Russian Orthodox Church frequently espouses the trinity doctrine, the idea that Ukrainians (and Belarusians) belong to the Russian nation and must be reunified.

Russian politicians and pundits frequently call Ukraine an artificial concept and a fake country that does not deserve to exist. Russia has adopted a whole-of-government approach to build the narrative that Ukraine and Ukrainians have no right to exist as a sovereign people in a sovereign state.

Given these officially stated aims, are the genocidal actions Russia has taken to pursue them any wonder? The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide defines genocide as acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part a specific group.

The destruction need not be accomplished physically  actions taken to destroy a groups identity without killing all members of the group also constitute genocide. The Russian genocidal project includes horrific acts of violence, to be sure, including summary executions, sexual assaults, arbitrary detentions, and torture. It includes the forcible deportation of children from Ukraine to Russia, which the Genocide Convention explicitly specifies also constitutes genocide.

Bodies being removed from a mass grave of Ukrainians killed by Russian forces in Bucha

The deportation of Ukrainian children is a key component of Russias genocidal project  one that would only be extrapolated if Russia were to win the war and the rest of the country were seized by force. The Ukrainian government has verified the deportation of 19,546 Ukrainian children as of April 29, 2024. The true number is likely much, much higher considering that Ukrainian officials can only verify the deportation of children who have someone to vouch for their identity, leaving orphans and children without guardians unaccounted for.

The Kremlin has facilitated and celebrated the deportation of children to Russia, claiming it offers children an opportunity to rest and rehabilitate after living in a war zone (which Russia created by invading Ukraine). These children are subject to Kremlin-approved re-education programmes along Kremlin-accepted social, linguistic, and cultural lines and sometimes forced into military training.

Russian authorities have deported children to rest and relaxation camps throughout Russia, one of which in Russias Primorsky Krai is closer to Alaska than to Ukraine. High-ranking Kremlin officials, including Putins Commissioner on Childrens Rights Maria Lvova-Belova, have personally adopted deported Ukrainian children. She now has an arrest warrant, issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian young people are growing up under Russian military occupation, forcing them to abandon their language, culture, and history as the Kremlin seeks to destroy in whole or in part Ukrainian identity. This would become an entire generation were Moscow to subjugate Ukraine. Those already living under Russian occupation suffer daily efforts by Russian occupation authorities to strip them of their Ukrainian identity.

Russian authorities co-opted the school system in occupied Ukraine under the euphemism of bringing it up to the Russian standard: teaching only the Kremlin-approved version of Russian history in which Ukraine has no independent identity and depriving children of access to Ukrainian-language education. Russian occupation authorities also use schools to militarise children, instilling in them Russian military-patriotic ideals and establishing a direct pipeline into Russian militaryaffiliated organisations to facilitate their future recruitment into the Russian military to fight against their compatriots.

200 difficult teenagers from various regions of Russia and occupied Ukraine being taught 'patriotic education'

The thread of destruction and eradication runs through daily life in occupied Ukraine. Russian occupation officials have discussed forcibly deporting or summarily executing civilians who display characteristics deemed to be pro-Ukrainian or anti-Russian. Russian administrators use the threat of withholding access to basic goods and services to coerce Ukrainians to give up their Ukrainian passports for Russian ones, permanently changing the Ukrainian spelling of their names to the Russian version. Russian economic enrichment and infrastructure development projects cripple the ability of occupied areas to exercise economic self-sufficiency, generating devastating dependencies on the Russian federal government and driving a wedge between Kyiv and occupied territories.

Again, this constitutes genocidal behaviour, even when it is not exterminating people.

That said, Russias efforts to destroy Ukraine include ethnically-cleansing occupied Ukraine by replacing Ukrainians with Russian citizens. Russian officials claim that Russia has accepted over 4.8 million Ukrainians, including 700,000 children, since the beginning of the war.

There is no way to verify this number, but it emphasises the scale of movement to Russia from Ukraine since 2022, all of which occurred in the coercive context of Russian military occupation. The Kremlin is repopulating occupied Ukraine with Russian citizens to fundamentally alter its demographics and complicate future reintegration efforts. Based on examples of similar ethnic cleansing in the past, many will have inevitably died as a consequence. And that is before one even considers the blatant executions of innocent civilians by Russian soldiers, or the deliberate targeting of civilian population areas.

International legal procedure is set up to deal with atrocities after they happen. This is why Russian war crimes in Bucha, Izyum, Kherson City, and other liberated settlements have received widespread international attention and condemnation, and deservedly so. This is why the ICC has issued arrest warrants for Putin and Lvova-Belova, as their crime of facilitating the deportation of children is visible and evident.

The international humanitarian community is less effective, however, at addressing what happens daily behind the frontlines. In many cases, Russias genocidal project in Ukraine is banal, mundane, and hard to track and prove. But every aspect of Russias occupation of Ukraine is deliberate and flows from Putins initial justification for the invasion. It is meant to make real the Kremlin lie that Ukraine has no right to exist and that there is no such thing as a Ukrainian people.

An aerial view shows destructions in the frontline town of Bakhmut

Ukraine is fighting a war for the survival of the Ukrainian people. Russias genocidal project is the purpose of Russias military operations, and Ukraines supporters must not separate the two. Should Ukraine fall to Russia on the battlefield, the rest of its people will fall victim to the genocidal project Russia is conducting in the lands it already controls, which only constitutes about 20 per cent of the countrys legal territory. Imagine how many millions would be victims of this abhorrent behaviour if it reaches 30 per cent, 40 per cent, or even 100 per cent.

Indeed, many military experts would argue that Nazi-style tactics would be the only way to quell a population so vehemently opposed to Russias control. We would see horrors unfold daily.

We must face this reality squarely and stop blithely talking about offering territorial concessions to stop the fighting without forcing ourselves to confront the horrors that such concessions will inflict on the people living in those lands.

Putins invasion was never about seizing limited bits of land. It was always about destroying a people. Ukraines supporters must therefore recommit themselves to the project of saving this people and showing that they will resist and defeat aggression and genocide on this scale.

Karolina Hird is Russia Deputy Team Lead and Analyst at the Institute for the Study of War in Washington DC.

She has contributed to the Telegraphs daily podcast Ukraine: The Latest, your go-to source for all the latest analysis, live reaction and correspondents reporting on the ground. With over 85 million downloads, it is considered the most trusted daily source of war news on both sides of the Atlantic.

You can listen to one of her extended interviews on Russian war crimes here.

Other essays in the What If Putin Wins? series:

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.
Reaction to former President Donald Trumps conviction came swiftly from Democrats and Republicans across the country and here at home in the QCA.

Our Quad Cities News reporter Victoria Frazier spoke with some local party leaders and voters and has their responses to the verdict.

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.
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Radio-Canada's Enquete and CBC's The Fifth Estate made public the stories of several young women who say Robert G. Miller paid them for sex when they were minors, between 1994 and 2006. Miller was arrested in Montreal on Thursday. (Forbes/Lumisculpt/Asbed - image credit)

Reclusive Quebec billionaire Robert G. Miller, who allegedly paid several young girls large sums of money in exchange for sexual favours, was arrested Thursday afternoon and faces 21 charges, including sexual assault, obtaining sexual services for consideration and several counts of sexual exploitation of minors.

The former owner of Future Electronics was arrested at his home in the Montreal neighbourhood of Westmount.

Miller is alleged to have committed the offences against 10 victims between 1994 and 2016, Montreal police said at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

The Service de police de la Ville de Montreal (SPVM) said Miller was released with conditions on a promise to appear in court on July 3.

The SPVM said its investigation into the offences is ongoing and appealed for any victims to come forward.

The charges are the culmination of a year-long police investigation, which was triggered by a CBC/Radio-Canada investigation that aired in February 2023.

According to the SPVM, after the story aired, more victims came forward, which allowed police to reopen an investigation.

More to come
A Malden man and his stepdaughter are dead after an apparent murder-suicide. The Middlesex District Attorney said the two were found dead inside a car near the childs Acton home. The DA said the suspect was expected in court at the end of July for rape charges against that same girl.

I am a mother angry I am a citizen angry and frustrated, said Cristina Morales, victims neighbor.

Morales said she has questions after her neighbors 16-year-old daughter was allegedly shot and killed by her stepfather.

Why do we speak up, why, who is going to hear, who is going to help, she said.

The DA said 49-year-old Juliano Santana of Malden abducted the victim while she was walking home from school Thursday around 4 p.m. The DA said he took her to a parking lot on Great Road in action and allegedly shot her and then himself.

The Acton-Boxborough Superintendent said mental health counselors were available for students and staff.

We are heartbroken to have learned that one of our high school students died last night. Our thoughts are focused on the student, their family, friends, and our staff, said Peter Light, Superintendent of Schools.

Boston 25 News obtained Malden District Court documents that show on September 7th, 2021, the victims mom told police Santana raped her daughter. She said her daughter wrote in a small gray diary about the attacks that happened over several months while they were all living in Malden.

According to the documents Santana was arrested that day and charged with six counts of aggravated rape of a child. He was released on $30,000 bail and given a GPS monitor and no contact order with the victim or anyone else under 18 years old. The victim also had a restraining order.

Its tragic that hes been out on bail for three years after an incident and was allowed to make contact with her Im dumbfounded, said David Bedroisian, who lives in the same complex as the victim.

The DA said Santana was expected to appear in court for these charges on July 29.

Everyone failed that little girl and that family everyone, everyone who was involved I dont know how the system works but in my book the system failed she didnt deserve that, said Morales.

Boston 25 reached out to the States Probation office to see if Santana had broken his retraining order prior to this.

According to their records, Santana was in compliance with his pretrial conditions prior to the alleged murder-suicide.

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Rachel Maddow thinks Donald Trump is about to come out swinging even harder for the U.S. legal system as his presidential campaign continues in the aftermath of his historic Thursday conviction. Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts in his New York criminal trial, making him the first ex-president to become a convicted felon.

During an MSNBC segment directly following the breaking news, Maddow addressed the question Trump is going to have to answer throughout the rest of his campaign  why should Americans vote for a convicted felon?  with a prediction that hell seek to delegitimize the system that made him one.

His answer will be that hes only a convicted felon because the American legal system is illegitimate, and Vote for me and Ill destroy it, being the implication. I mean, this is where we are right? That hes not running against Joe Biden. Hes running against the American system of government, and that will become more acute.

I mean, its been pretty acute for a while, Maddow continued with a chuckle. That hes not running against Democrats, hes running against the democratic process. But in this case, hes going to be running by saying that the American system of government, the fundamental thing that makes us who we are as a country, that we are governed by laws and not by men, he is going to say that that needs to be overturned and if you pick him he will do it. Its just now become even more stark.

Shortly after his conviction Trump took to his social platform Truth Social, saying, This was a disgracea rigged trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt. We will fight for our constitutionThis is long from over!

Maddow also put the focus on what the Republican Party will do next, saying the part is the real decision maker.

I mean, Donald Trump doesnt get to by acclamation just decide that hes going to be the nominee of a major party in this country, Maddow said. The Republican Party decided that he alone, among all other citizens in this country, is the person they would most like to put forward as the best leader in this country. The person who is best positioned to represent their values and to be their nominee to lead this country. The Republican Party could change its mind and decide that somebody who has been convicted of 34 felonies shouldnt be, cant be their nominee for office.

The MSNBC host also highlighted incongruencies in the prospect of a convicted felon becoming president of the U.S. when systems in place prevent it in lower offices.

If youre a member of Congress, and youre indicted, you are removed from your committees. If you are convicted of a felony, you are removed from Congress, and that is the decision that the parties make. Thats a self-policing, she said. If they choose to leave Donald Trump as their nominee, having been convicted of 34 felonies, you have to ask what theyre for, what they exist for, whats the role of the party in this case, rather than just to be his Caboose?

Trump will be sentenced on July 11, just four days before the 2024 Republican National Convention kicks off in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The post Rachel Maddow Predicts Trump Will Campaign Against American Legal System After Conviction: Vote for Me and Ill Destroy It appeared first on TheWrap.
Last week in this space, we targeted efforts by Florida's governor and legislature to dilute Black voting power in northern Florida. This week we shift sights to South Florida, where the same state leaders have redrawn political maps improperly along racial lines once again to solidify their Republican supermajority.

A lawsuit, filed May 23 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleges that state leaders improperly reconfigured four congressional and seven Florida House districts, in a way that, they would have us believe, just coincidentally accrues benefits to the Republican Party.

The techniques employed to cheat voters out of equal say in our democracy were different in each region but served the same purpose: to tilt elections even before the first vote is submitted.

Gov. Ron DeSantis signs a bill banning state funding for diversity, equity and inclusion programs at Florida's public universities during a signing ceremony at New College in Sarasota.

In northern Florida, the gerrymandering dispersed Black voters, who tend to vote Democratic, by attaching their addresses to surrounding districts to weaken the electoral impact of their community.

More on election fraud: How the anti-election-fraud Governor cheated Florida voters | Editorial

In South Florida, the new maps stretched district lines acrobatically, to string together Hispanic voters. Congressional District 26, held by Republican Mario Diaz-Balart, now leaps from the Gulf of Mexico, near San Marco Island, to the Intracoastal Waterway in Miami-Dade County  almost to the Atlantic Ocean.

The South Florida case was filed by Cubanos Pa'lante Corp., a Miami-Dade nonprofit that describes its mission as educating and mobilizing progressive Cuban Americans. Joining them were Engage Miami Inc., a nonprofit aiming to fight corruption in local politics and develop a culture of civic participation; a Florida International University-based affiliate of the ACLU; and five individual plaintiffs. The plaintiffs are suing the Florida House of Representatives and Secretary of State Cord Byrd.

More on Gerrymandering: Florida's outrageous,illegal gerrymander

Electoral district maps are tweaked once a decade, based on demographic changes identified in the U.S. Census. Abdelilah Skhir, senior strategist for ACLU of Florida, notes that caselaw surrounding the federal Voting Rights Act and Florida's Fair Districts Amendments allow race to be considered in redrawing the maps but only in narrowly tailored circumstances. The South Florida suit alleges however, that the legislature and governor used race as their overriding factor, to connect disparate neighborhoods, divide communities and create districts of non-compact shapes unjustified by law.

Hispanic voters were lumped together on the basis of their race, Skhir says. However, the Hispanic community  made up of Cuban Americans, Puerto Ricans, Venezuelans and many others  cannot be considered as one politically cohesive group in South Florida. That community "is nuanced, multifaceted, and diverse with respect to political behavior and preferences," the lawsuit argues. "The legislature ignored this diversity and assumed that Hispanic voters in South Florida were politically homogenous and monolithic. This assumption was false. The legislature was not entitled to draw race-based districts based on uninformed assumptions of racial sameness."

This racial gerrymandering undermines democracy by signaling to elected officials that they represent a racial group rather than their constituency as a whole, the suit asserts under a 1993 case, Shaw v Reno. It causes further harm, the suit says, because "lawmakers sacrificed genuine communities of interest, unnecessarily dividing some that share commonalities and lumping others together that diverge."

The suit alleges the redistricting deprived voters of their constitutional right to equal protection of the law in Florida congressional districts 19, 26, 27 and 28; as well as in Miami-Dade's Florida House districts 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 118 and 119.

Meanwhile, a separate racial gerrymandering suit is challenging Florida Senate districts 16 and 18 in the Tampa Bay area. The northern Florida case is headed to the Florida Supreme Court.

Tilting elections by ignoring the fairness required in plain English by the Florida and U.S. constitutions is undemocratic. Just as troubling is that those who perpetrate this injustice feel justified in doing so by the reality that it takes years to sort out these inequities. And while the courts work at their regular glacial pace rather than expedite the proceedings, illegally seated representatives make law in Tallahassee and Washington for years. Florida voters deserve better.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: South Florida gerrymandering tilts elections. We deserve better
Marie Scott who was a serving Wren and switchboard operator at the time of D-Day, at her home in London, Thursday, April 25, 2024. D-Day, took place on June 6, 1944, the invasion of the beaches at Normandy in France by Alied forces during World War II. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

LONDON (AP)  On D-Day, Marie Scott experienced British forces landing on the Normandy coast through her earphones.

Stationed in an underground tunnel 100 feet (30 meters) below the south coast of England, Scott was safe from the carnage. But she heard it all.

As a 17-year-old radio operator in the Womens Royal Naval Service, she relayed messages to the Normandy beaches and waited for the recipient to open his channel and reply.

And when he did, in my earphones, in my head, I was in the war because what I heard was machine gun fire going continuously. The heavier ones, like cannons. Men shouting. Men shouting orders. Men screaming, she told The Associated Press. It must have been horrifying on those beaches. The Germans had machine gun nests that were very well concealed and they just mowed them down as they went on the beaches, and I could hear all that.

Scott was one of some 700 people who worked at Fort Southwick, the communications center for D-Day, where military personnel gathered information about the landings and kept senior officers informed about what was happening on the beaches and in the English Channel.

Operating a radio set on the most important day of the war was a big job for a teenager who had joined the Wrens less than three months earlier.

Scotts formal education ended when Nazi bombers began pounding London. She soon went to work for the General Post Office, which ran Britains telephone system, and was trained as a switchboard operator.

That gave her skills the military needed as Britain prepared for D-Day, and the Wrens snapped her up even though she wasnt yet 18, the normal age of enlistment.

The military trained her in the then-revolutionary technology of VHF radio, in which only one party could transmit at a time. After delivering their message, operators had to stop and listen to the response. Think of old movies where speakers end transmissions by saying over as a signal for the other party to speak.

Deep underground at her duty station, Scott worked 48-hour shifts with 24 hours off in between.

Then came June 6, and the sound of war filled her ears.

The signaler who was sending messages back from the beaches, he must have been so courageous. Just to sit there sending messages when all around him fireworks were going off. I mean, cannon, everything. Guns of every description. So, yes, I take my hat off to that signaler that day. Incredible, Scott said.

I mean, I was deep underground, very safe, but he wasnt.

She never knew his name or whether he survived.

He was a voice, just a voice. As was mine."

After the war, Scott got married and raised a family. She put her well-tuned ears to use indulging her love of opera.

On her wall is a picture of La Scala opera house in Milan. Maybe one day shell go.

Scott, now 97, isnt bitter that the contributions women made to the war effort have received little attention. The way she sees it, men made the bigger sacrifices.

But there is also pride in having been awarded the Legion dHonneur, Frances highest order of merit, for her role on D-Day  even if the letter informing her of the prize was addressed, Dear Sir."

Some wars just have to be fought," she said. And I think, quite honestly, World War II was just such a war.
A man stands on the seashore after Cyclone Remal made landfall in Bangladesh. Abu Sufian Jewel/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

More than half a million people have been marooned after vast swathes of land were inundated in the north-eastern Bangladeshi district of Sylhet by sudden flooding triggered by heavy rain upstream, officials said on Friday.

The government opened nearly 550 temporary shelters as the flooding affected some 533,202 residents in remote villages and townships in the district, according to the local administration.

We are trying to move the flood-affected people to safety, said Sheikh Rasel Hasan, chief administrator of the district, adding that some 4,802 villagers were shifted to the shelters in the last couple of days.

The Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB) said the major rivers  Surma and Kushiyara  were breaking their banks because of heavy rainfall in the hills across the border.

The major rivers in the north-eastern region of the country are in rising trend, which may remain steady in the next 24 hours, the BWDB said in its morning bulletin Friday.

If there is no further rain and onrush of waters from across the border, the situation may improve in seven days, Dipok Ranjan Das, a hydrologist in the district, said.

He said there was no rain reported in Sylhet for Friday.

A 10-day forecast for the overall nationwide situation by the Flood Forecasting and Warning Centre said that water in the major Brahmanputra-Jamuna and Ganges-Padma river systems would continue to decrease.

Natural calamities like flooding and cyclones are very common in Bangladesh. A month-long flooding affected an estimated 7.2 million people in nine north-eastern districts in the monsoon of 2022.

A tropical cyclone lashed the Bangladeshi coastline earlier this week, killing at least 13 people and damaging thousands of thatched housed alongside other infrastructure.

People rescue a tractor on the seashore in Kuakata after Cyclone Remal made landfall. Abu Sufian Jewel/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa
The IT Coalition of Ukraine's allies led by Estonia and Luxembourg has already raised more than 58 million euros in financial and material contributions.

Source: Ukraine's Defence Ministry press service

The IT Coalition Steering Group met in Tallinn this week, where the initiative's participants and observers summed up the first supplies of equipment to Ukraine.

During the meeting, Spain also announced its intention to join the IT Coalition in the near future. In addition, the member countries of the initiative confirmed new contributions of 22 million euros from Luxembourg, Iceland, Estonia and Belgium.

Quote: "At the beginning of May, the first laptops, monitors and other communication devices arrived in Ukraine. Estonia makes an additional contribution of 2 million euros. This will be mostly used for the development of the Oberih system, which enables the registration of those who are eligible to the Ukrainian military service," said Tuuli Duneton, Deputy Defence Minister for Policy Planning of Estonia.

In total, the initiative has already raised more than 58 million euros in financial and material contributions. The IT Coalition currently includes 12 countries working to support the Ministry of Defence and the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the areas of IT, communications and cybersecurity.

Background: Denmark allocated DKK 91 million (about US$13.3 million) for projects to support cybersecurity and defence of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

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How does a poor kid from a struggling working-class family find success in America? What about the kid whose parents arent around and where there is little guidance or the newly minted American citizen who wants desperately to succeed in their new country?

In the 20th century, the simple answer was hard work. But that was a different time. In the 21st century, with its advanced technology, along with hard work the answer is more often education  specifically, education beyond high school.

Education has always been the great equalizer. But for many Americans, especially those who have limited means, access to higher education is often out of reach.

Despite substantial financial aid, few low-income kids can consider the staggering costs of a four-year college education. Even a local community college can be prohibitive with tuition, fees, books and supplies costing close to $8,000 a year. Now that might not sound like a lot of money, but for a family barely making ends meet, that number can slam the door shut on someones dreams.

Today, Massachusetts faces a double-edged problem: thousands of young people who graduate from high school and then wander aimlessly without direction, and employers who cant find skilled employees to fill thousands of vacant positions. The answer, at least in part, to these problems is community college.

Fortunately, our state Senate has a plan to tackle the problem  free community college tuition.

MassEducate

Currently, Massachusetts offers free community college tuition for those attending nursing programs and for students over 25. Almost immediately, those programs reversed a long trend of declining enrollment, adding more than 5,000 students to the states 15 community colleges.

To add to that success, the members of the state Senate recently unveiled MassEducate, a proposal for tuition-free community college for all Massachusetts students. Additionally, students who make 125% or less of the states median income would also qualify for a stipend to help with books, supplies and other costs.

The Senates proposal is hardly groundbreaking. In 2015, Tennessee initiated the countrys first free community college tuition program, Tennessee Promise. Today, about two-thirds of the states offer free community college programs.

Massachusetts senators deserve considerable credit for insisting that this program be included in the current state budget deliberations. State Sen. Michael Moore, D-Millbury, called the program a game changer, putting higher education within reach for countless students who may otherwise be unable to pursue it.

In addition, the Senates budget includes other investments in higher education, including an historic $105 million investment in providing additional tuition assistance to be used by Massachusetts residents attending public colleges.

Why free tuition makes sense

Heres why the Senates plan makes sense.

First, community colleges help produce trained employees for area businesses, something many businesses need desperately. Today, the fastest-growing sectors of the economy  health care, computers, and information technology  all require a college credential that can be filled by our community colleges. If Massachusetts is going to continue to grow and compete, it must provide employers with the skilled labor force that they need.

Second, community colleges serve those most in need of help. They provide the bridge that brings low-income students and students of color into higher education, reducing income and racial disparities. In Massachusetts, about half of the students attending community college demonstrate significant financial need and 70% are only able to attend part time. Additionally, more than half are students of color.

Further, free tuition programs have proven to dramatically increase graduation rates. In Rhode Island, free tuition led to a graduation rate that tripled and increased graduation rates for students of color ninefold.

Third, research shows that the private and public benefit of free community college tuition outweighs the program costs. Experts estimate that the Senates free community college program would increase tax revenue and reduce unemployment costs to the state by about $25 million. The program is also estimated to increase enrollment by as many as 40,000 students and increase earnings for participants by approximately $170 million annually.

Oh, I almost forgot the best part. All of this is being paid for by the new so-called millionaires tax. So unless you fit into that category, it wont cost you a penny. In fact, youll benefit from the increased taxes and reduced costs generated.

Free community college tuition isnt a good idea  its a great idea! Its not a handout. Its a hand-up. Equally as important, it will provide companies across the state with the trained workers that they so desperately need.

Yes, I know that there will be some who will bust a blood vessel screaming about giving anything away for free to those in need. When I was growing up, no one handed me anything. Ive heard it a thousand times.

But those of us who live in the present realize that the education and training requirements of the current workplace demand that we do more.

Think of it this way. There was a time in America when high school was not available to every child. Fortunately, our leaders realized that if we wanted our country to compete with the rest of the world, we needed to do more. Had our leaders listened to the negative voices, America would not be where it is today.

Strengthening all of the members of Americas team gives our country the greatest chance of continuing to lead the world. All of the dopey hats and useless political slogans wont make America great. But a college education, for those who might otherwise be left behind, just might.

Email Raymond V. Mariano at rmariano.telegram@gmail.com. He served four terms as mayor of Worcester and previously served on the City Council and School Committee. He grew up in Great Brook Valley and holds degrees from Worcester State College and Clark University. He was most recently executive director of the Worcester Housing Authority. His column appears weekly in the Sunday Telegram. His endorsements do not necessarily reflect the position of the Telegram & Gazette.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Ray Mariano on advantages of free community colleges in Massachusetts
Former U.S. President Donald Trump walks to speak to the media Thursday after being found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City. (Seth Wenig-Pool/Getty Images)

Reactions by Missouri politicians to the felony conviction Thursday of former President Donald Trump fell predictably along partisan lines, with Republicans condemning the verdict and Democrats expressing satisfaction or trolling their partisan foes.

Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a candidate for the GOP nomination for governor, blamed President Joe Biden for the state of New Yorks prosecution of Trump for hush money payments to a porn star to keep the story of their sexual liaison private.

Joe Biden has weaponized the justice system to go after one of the greatest Presidents in our history, Ashcroft wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. The democrats are trying to steal another election.

Ashcrofs statement echoed Trumps false claim that he won the 2020 election over Biden.

New York state prosecutors charged 34 felonies against the former president for each of the 11 invoices, 11 checks, and 12 ledger entries tied to reimbursing his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen.

Cohen, often referred to as Trumps former fixer, said during trial testimony that he wired $130,000 to adult film star and director Stormy Daniels days before the 2016 election to silence her about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.

The two other Republicans running for governor who are registering in primary polls also used social media to proclaim their loyalty to Trump.

This entire trial was a political stunt and a complete weaponization of our judicial system, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe wrote on his X account.

State Sen. Bill Eigel posted a video on his X account accompanied by text saying: RIGGED! This is a disgraceful sham. I stand 100% with Trump.

Missouri solidly backed Trump in both the 2016 and 2020 elections, giving him almost 57% of the vote in both years. His endorsement was aggressively sought by candidates in the 2022 Republican U.S. Senate primary, but he withheld any preference until the day before the election and then put out a vague statement that did not specify a single candidate.

Trump has all the votes in Missouris delegation to the Republican National Convention, set for July in Milwaukee, which is expected to nominate him for a third run for the White House.

On the Democratic side, glee was suppressed by those who were moved to comment.

U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, a Kansas City Democrat, said in a statement from his office that the conviction was not something to celebrate. It shows the strength of the American justice system, he said.

Today is a victory for justice and the rule of law, Cleaver said. Just as every American is entitled to the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, we are equally guaranteed that no individual, including a former president, is above accountability.

State Rep. Doug Mann of Columbia noted the historic nature of the event  Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a felony after leaving office  and then considered the political impact:

Will this affect the campaign?, he wrote on X. Likely not, but it is good to see the judicial system work and see powerful people held accountable for their misdeeds

Democratic state Rep. Keri Ingle, a Lees Summit Democrat, didnt directly comment on the verdict, instead relying on snark to express her feelings.

So, anything interesting happen today? Ingle wrote on X.

From Washington, U.S. Sens. Josh Hawley and Eric Schmitt, both Republicans, expressed their support for Trump.

In one post, Hawley joined Ashcroft in blaming the prosecution on Biden. In a separate post, Hawley attacked the proceedings in New York City.

This trial has been from beginning to end a complete and total sham, a mockery of the criminal justice system, and one of the most dangerous abuses of our political process in American history, Hawley wrote.

Schmitt compared the trial to the staged proceedings in the Soviet Union used by Communist dictator Josef Stalin to cement his power in the 1930s.

The American people will reject this unprecedented lawfare in November, Schmitt wrote.

State Rep. Sarah Unsicker, a Shrewsbury Democrat, shot back at Schmitt that he was just making things up.

Thats a conclusion with no supporting evidence, Unsicker wrote. Too many Missourians know what a Soviet-style show trial is like, from their own experiences. And youve done nothing to correct that.

Other Republicans weighing in reflected the comments of the party leaders.

State Sen. Holly Rehder, a candidate for lieutenant governor, said in a statement that the case was brought in a biased system manipulated by those who fear the power and influence of the MAGA movement.

Attorney General Andrew Bailey called the outcome an illegal conviction and predicted Americans will overwhelmingly reelect President Trump in November.

Annelise Hanshaw contributed to this report. This article has been updated since it was initially published.

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The post Reactions to Trump conviction fall along party lines in Missouri appeared first on Missouri Independent.
KYODO NEWS - May 31, 2024 - 14:38 | All, World, Japan

The second-ranking diplomats of Japan and the United States held an inaugural meeting Thursday on infrastructure development cooperation in other countries, a move widely seen as linked to the two allies' efforts to counter China's inroads into Southeast Asia and elsewhere.

The Diplomacy and Development Dialogue meeting in Washington was led by Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, who discussed policy coordination related to emerging and developing countries in the so-called Global South.

Okano and Campbell confirmed that the two nations "will work together to address issues in the areas of diplomacy and development by effectively utilizing the respective strengths," the Japanese Foreign Ministry said in a press release.

The launch of the dialogue was agreed by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden in Washington in April to bolster a free and open international order based on the rule of law as "global partners."

During the trip, Kishida and Biden also held a three-way meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and agreed that Tokyo and Washington would advance "high-impact infrastructure projects" in the Southeast Asian country, including the modernization of ports and railways.

The dialogue meeting took place ahead of trilateral talks Friday at which Okano, Campbell and South Korean First Vice Foreign Minister Kim Hong Kyun are expected to discuss North Korea, Russia's war against Ukraine and other major security challenges.

On Thursday, Okano met with Kim and agreed that diplomats of the neighboring countries will work closely toward upgrading relations in the coming year, according to Japan's Foreign Ministry.

Japan and South Korea in 2025 will mark the 60th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic ties.

Among other issues, the ministry said that Okano and Kim "frankly" exchanged views on North Korea's failed attempt to launch a military reconnaissance satellite and test-firings of over 10 suspected short-range ballistic missiles earlier this week.

Related coverage:

U.S., Australia, Britain eye defense tech cooperation with Japan

U.S. says Biden, Kishida to agree on defense equipment development

U.S. military to strengthen functions of Japan command headquarters
A Manhattan jury found Donald Trump guilty of all 34 charges of falsifying business records Thursday, an unprecedented and historic verdict that makes Trump the first former president in American history to be convicted of a felony.

Read the jurys verdict sheet here:

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NEW YORK (AP)  A day after a New York jury delivered a historic guilty verdict in Donald Trumps criminal hush money trial, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee held a press conference Friday where he spoke publicly about the conviction and his White House bid.

Following his conviction on Thursday, Trump had angrily denounced the trial as a disgrace, telling reporters he was an innocent man.

Former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a news conference at Trump Tower, Friday, May 31, 2024, in New York. A day after a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee addressed the conviction and likely attempt to cast his campaign in a new light. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Former President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a news conference at Trump Tower, Friday, May 31, 2024, in New York. A day after a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee addressed the conviction and likely attempt to cast his campaign in a new light. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower, Friday, May 31, 2024, in New York. A day after a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee addressed the conviction and likely attempt to cast his campaign in a new light. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower, Friday, May 31, 2024, in New York. A day after a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee addressed the conviction and likely attempt to cast his campaign in a new light. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower, Friday, May 31, 2024, in New York. A day after a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee addressed the conviction and likely attempt to cast his campaign in a new light. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower, Friday, May 31, 2024, in New York. A day after a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee addressed the conviction and likely attempt to cast his campaign in a new light. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower, Friday, May 31, 2024, in New York. A day after a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee addressed the conviction and likely attempt to cast his campaign in a new light. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower, Friday, May 31, 2024, in New York. A day after a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee addressed the conviction and likely attempt to cast his campaign in a new light. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Former President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump Tower, Friday, May 31, 2024, in New York. A day after a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee addressed the conviction and likely attempt to cast his campaign in a new light. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

A crowd gathers across the street from Trump Tower, Friday, May 31, 2024, in New York. A day after a New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of 34 felony charges, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee will address the conviction and likely attempt to cast his campaign in a new light. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson)

Former US President Donald Trump, center left, and Todd Blanche, attorney for former US President Donald Trump, center right, speak to members of the media after the verdict was read at Manhattan criminal court in New York, US, on Thursday, May 30, 2024. A New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of multiple felonies at his hush-money trial, making him the first former US president to be convicted of crimes. Photographer: Mark Peterson/New York Magazine/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Former US President Donald Trump after the verdict was read at Manhattan criminal court in New York, US, on Thursday, May 30, 2024. A New York jury found Donald Trump guilty of multiple felonies at his hush-money trial, making him the first former US president to be convicted of crimes. Photographer: Justin Lane/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images

NEW YORK, NEW YORK  MAY 30: Former U.S. President Donald Trump departs the courthouse after being found guilty on all 34 counts in his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. Trump has now become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes. (Photo by Justin Lane-Pool/Getty Images)

His supporters were quick to echo those sentiments while many of his critics  political and otherwise  applauded the verdict.

Trump was convicted of 34 felony charges in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through a hush money payment to a porn actor who said the two had sex. The hush money trial and subsequent conviction mark the first time a former U.S. president has ever been tried or convicted in a criminal case.

He still faces three other felony indictments, but the New York case was the first to reach trial and likely the only one ahead of the November election.

Judge Juan M. Merchan scheduled Trumps sentencing for July 11. The charges are punishable by up to four years in prison, though the punishment would ultimately be up to Merchan. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg declined to say whether prosecutors would seek prison time.

Can Trump pardon himself if he wins presidency in 2024?

HOUSE REPUBLICANS DEMAND THAT MANHATTAN DA, INVESTIGATOR APPEAR BEFORE SELECT COMMITTEE

House Republicans announced Friday that they will demand that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Matthew Colangelo, the lead investigator of the Donald Trump hush money case, appear before lawmakers next month.

Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, said that the House Select Committee on weaponization will host a hearing with the two witnesses on June 13.

Jordan, one of Trumps closest allies in Congress, had previously opened an investigation into Bragg and his case against the former president. He and other lawmakers also traveled to New York City in April 2023 for a hearing on the prosecutions case.TRUMP: WERE LIVING IN A FASCIST STATE

Donald Trump circled back on Friday to a lot of the same authoritarian themes he has repeatedly focused on in speeches and rallies, painting the U.S. under President Joe Biden as a corrupt and fascist nation.

He called the committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol thugs and also called Biden a Manchurian candidate, a phrase implying the president is corrupt and being used as a puppet by a political enemy.

Theyre destroying our country, Trump said. Were living in a fascist state.TRUMP SPOKE FOR 33 MINUTES

Hes largely been off the campaign trail, but Donald Trumps posttrial remarks served as a condensed version of many of the themes he traditionally hits during his rally speeches.

Deviating from his vow to appeal the hush money verdict and characterization of the trial as a scam, Trump also repeatedly went after President Joe Biden for failures on border security and record levels of terrorists who come into our country.

He also falsely claimed that tens of thousands of military-age Chinese men have recently come into the U.S., looking like perfect soldiers.

Since late 2022  when Chinas three-year COVID-19 lockdown began to lift  the U.S. has seen a sharp rise in the number of Chinese migrants. But there has been no evidence that they have tried to mount a military force or training network.

As is standard at his rallies, Trump also appealed to supporters to contribute financially to his campaign.TRUMP WRAPS PRESS CONFERENCE

Donald Trump has wrapped his Friday press conference where he delivered a rambling response to the guilty verdict in his hush money trial a day before.TRUMP CRITICIZES COMMITTEE RESPONSIBLE FOR INVESTIGATION JAN. 6 CAPITOL RIOT

As he characterized what he sees as a failing country, Donald Trump on Friday also briefly hearkened back to Jan. 6, 2021, and what he said are false accusations that are at the center of another case against him.

He leveled specific critiques toward members of Congress who held committee meetings probing the Capitol assault. Trump also denied that he had tried to physically direct a Secret Service agent to drive him to the Capitol, which was part of testimony before the Select Committee.

He further called former GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger, among his critics, the most emotional human being I think Ive ever seen.TRUMP LIGHTS INTO BIDEN

Donald Trump called President Joe Biden the worst president in the history of our country during a press conference late Thursday morning.

He further labeled him as the most incompetent and most dishonest.

You take a look at the way he treats China, Russia, so many others, Trump said. Hes a very big danger to our country.TRUMP CITES HIGH NEW YORK CRIME RATE, BUT DATA SAYS OTHERWISE

At a press conference on Friday, former President Donald Trump said Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg should be looking at crime, saying it is rampant in New York City, at levels no one has ever seen before.

He cited a man being stabbed by a machete in Times Square on Thursday.

However, crime in New York City is nowhere near the levels seen in the 1990s. The latest crime data from the NYPD shows major crime reports are down this year compared to the same period last year. Through the first week in May, the number of murders was down more than 15% from the same period last year, and down 26% from 2021.

Shootings have dropped 41% since 2021.TRUMP TOUTS FUNDRAISING NUMBERS

Donald Trump said Friday that he thinks he broke a record in the history of politics by raising $39 million dollars since the guilty verdict in his criminal hush money trial was announced.

He said it happened over 10 hours with small money donors.

Earlier Friday morning, his campaign noted a different figure: $34.8 million.TRUMP REPEATS FALSE CLAIM ABOUT CAMPAIGN FINANCE

Donald Trump incorrectly stated during a press conference that the New York prosecutors who charged him in his criminal trial were not allowed to look into alleged federal campaign finance violations.

Manhattan prosecutors didnt charge Trump with federal violations  thats not allowed  but they listed the allegations as one of three unlawful acts that jurors were asked to consider as they weighed the charges. To convict Trump, jurors had to find that not only did he falsify business records, but also that he did so to commit or conceal another crime.

Prosecutors said the other crime was a violation of a state election law barring conspiracies to promote or prevent an election by unlawful means. Jurors then had three alleged unlawful means to choose from.

One of them involved federal campaign finance violations.TRUMP TESTS THE LI

MITS OF HIS GAG ORDER

During a press conference Friday morning, Donald Trump tested the limits of the order that prohibits him from publicly critiquing witnesses in his hush money case  including Michael Cohen.

Trump called his former fixer a sleazebag, adding, everybody knows that.

Cohen testified against Trump during the trial, saying his former boss directed him to handle the hush money payments and was aware of all that he was doing.

Trump didnt use Cohens name, saying, Im not allowed to use his name because of the gag order.

Calling Cohen effective as a lawyer, he said the former lawyer got into trouble because of outside deals involving taxi cabs.THE PROSECUTIONS SALACIOUS WITNESS

Donald Trump on Friday called the witnesses who testified against him salacious and said their words against him demonstrated that the entire case was politically motivated.

It had nothing to do with a case, but it had to do with politics, Trump said.

Stormy Daniels, the porn actor at the center of the hush money case against Trump, gave several days worth of testimony that included intimate details of their alleged 2006 encounter.TRUMP WANTED TO TESTIFY  AND COULD HAVE IF HE HAD CHOSEN TO

Donald Trump insisted Friday that he wanted to testify in his criminal trial  and he could have, had he chosen to do so. All criminal defendants have a constitutional right to testify on their own behalf. By opting not to testify, Trump waived that right.

Trump said he wanted to testify but claimed the judge wanted to go into every detail of the case and that he feared being prosecuted for perjury if he made a verbal misstep.

I would have liked to have testified, he said. But you would have said something out of whack like, It was a beautiful sunny day, and it was actually raining out.TRUMP REPEATS UNFOUNDED CLAIM CONNECTING BIDEN AND HUSH MONEY PROSECUTION

Donald Trump repeated unfounded claims Friday morning that President Joe Biden and the Justice Department influenced his New York hush money prosecution.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is a state-level prosecutor. His office, which prosecuted the hush money case, operates independently and is not under the direction of Biden or the federal government.TRUMP RIPS INTO BIDEN, MERCHAN

Donald Trump began his day-after-verdict press conference by launching into a critique of his general election opponent, as well as the highly conflicted judge who presided over his historic case.

From his namesake building in Manhattan, Trump argued that President Joe Biden and the bunch of fascists who back him are failing to secure the U.S.-Mexico border.

But he also marked the moment by, as he has done repeatedly, blaming Judge Juan M. Merchan for a nasty gag order that prevented Trump from levying public criticism against witnesses and many others affiliated with his case.TRUMPS PRESS CONFERENCE BEGINS

At the outset of a press conference held at Trump Tower on Friday morning, Donald Trump complained about his criminal trial and subsequent conviction.

If they can do this to me they can do this to anyone, he as he took to the podium.

He had notes with him, two pages written in black Sharpie.TRUMP MEDIA SHARES SWING WILDLY AND THEN TUMBLE

Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group swung wildly at the opening bell Friday, falling rapidly after it appeared that the owner of social networking site Truth Social would bounce back despite Donald Trumps hush money conviction a day before.

After rising more than 2% at the opening of trade, shares slid 7%  about the levels they were trading at immediately after the conviction was announced during off-hours trading Thursday evening.TRUMP STILL FACES 3 MORE FELONY INDICTMENTS

Donald Trumps hush money case, though criticized by some legal experts who called it the weakest of the four prosecutions against him, takes on added importance not only because it proceeded to trial first but also because it could be the only one to reach a jury before the election.

The other three  local and federal cases in Atlanta and Washington that accuse him of conspiring to undo the 2020 election, as well as a federal indictment in Florida charging him with illegally hoarding top-secret records  are bogged down by delays or appeals.UPSIDE-DOWN FLAGS

Donald Trump supporters and right-wing pundits have flown and shared images of upside-down flags in protest of the former presidents conviction. At least one was spotted outside Trump Tower in Manhattan Friday morning and elected officials including Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene shared the image online Thursday.

The symbol, once a signal of distress for sailors, has come to represent the Stop the Steal movement, which falsely claimed the 2020 presidential election was stolen. The symbol was also spotted outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alitos home in Virginia, though Alito said it pertained to a dispute between his wife and his neighbors.

Other incendiary rhetoric on social media referred to the verdict as a declaration of war or a sign of the coming of a civil war. The words RIP America trended on X, formerly known as Twitter, immediately after the verdict.TRUMP RAISES $34.8 MILLION FOLLOWING CONVICTION

Donald Trumps campaign said it has raised a record $34.8 million in small-dollar online contributions off his hush money conviction  nearly double its previous largest haul.

From just minutes after the sham trial verdict was announced, our digital fundraising system was overwhelmed with support, and despite temporary delays online because of the amount of traffic, President Trump raised $34.8 million dollars from small dollar donors, said Trump campaign senior advisers Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles in a statement.

Fundraising emails have employed stark language, including I am a Political Prisoner and JUSTICE IS DEAD IN AMERICA!

The campaign advisors said nearly 30% of Thursdays donors were new to the fundraising platform.THE SCENE FROM TRUMP TOWER

Dozens of reporters and TV news crews are huddled in the lobby of Trump Tower in Manhattan ahead of the former presidents planned postconviction remarks at 11 a.m.

Its the same very 1980s brass-and-rose marble lobby where Donald Trump descended his golden escalator to announce his 2016 campaign nine years ago next month.

Five American flags have been set behind a small lectern where hell speak.TRUMPS CONVICTION AND ITS IMPACT ON THE 2024 ELECTION

Donald Trumps conviction in his New York hush money trial is a stunning development in an already unorthodox presidential election with profound implications for the justice system and perhaps U.S. democracy itself.

But in a deeply divided America, its unclear whether Trumps status as someone with a felony conviction will have any impact at all on the 2024 election.

Trump remains in a competitive position against President Joe Biden this fall, even as the Republican former president now faces the prospect of a prison sentence in the run-up to the November election.

In the short term at least, there were immediate signs that the unanimous guilty verdict was helping to unify the Republican Partys disparate factions as GOP officials in Congress and state capitals across the country rallied behind their presumptive presidential nominee, while his campaign expected to benefit from a flood of new fundraising dollars.REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS RALLIED TO TRUMPS DEFENSE

Several Republican lawmakers reacted with fury to Donald Trumps felony conviction on Thursday and rushed to his defense  questioning the legitimacy of the trial and how it was conducted.

House Speaker Mike Johnson said it was a shameful day in American history and labeled the charges as purely political.

South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, who has been one of Trumps most frequent allies, said, This verdict says more about the system than the allegations.

When will Donald Trump be sentenced after guilty verdict?

And while Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell refrained from attacking the judge or jury, he said the charges never should have been brought in the first place.

Many GOP lawmakers, including Johnson, visited the courthouse in New York to support Trump during his criminal trial.UNLESS HES SENT TO PRISON, TRUMP CAN STILL VOTE

Donald Trump may have been convicted of a felony and reside in Florida, a state notorious for restricting the voting rights of felons, but he can still vote as long as he stays out of prison in New York state.

Thats because Florida defers to other states disenfranchisement rules for residents convicted of out-of-state felonies. In Trumps case, New York law only removes their right to vote when incarcerated. Once theyre out of prison, their rights are automatically restored  even if theyre on parole, per a 2021 law passed by the states Democratic legislature.

If a Floridians voting rights are restored in the state of conviction, they are restored under Florida law, Blair Bowie of the Campaign Legal Center wrote in a post explaining the state of law, noting that people without Trumps legal resources are often confused by Floridas complex rules.THE FIGHT IS FAR FROM OVER

Donald Trumps conviction Thursday on 34 felony counts marked the end of the former presidents historic hush money trial.

Now comes the sentencing and the prospect of a prison sentence. A lengthy appellate process could follow, especially as Trumps legal team has already been laying the groundwork for an appeal.

And all the while, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee still faces three more criminal cases and a campaign that could see him return to the White House.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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MARQUETTE, Mich. (WJMN)  Petition language has been filed to recall a Marquette woman from the Marquette Board of Light and Power, accusing her of violating her fiduciary duties to the public in her effort to trademark the local high schools new nickname.

On Friday afternoon Local 3 received notice from the Marquette County Clerks Office of another meeting of the local election commission to review recall petition language. That makes two in one week, with Margaret Brumm filing to recall two Marquette Area Public Schools board members for voting to change Marquette high Schools nickname from Redmen to Sentinels.

Brumms latest act follows months of efforts to persuade the MAPS board to halt or reverse its rebranding process, claimingamong other thingsthat board members had rushed the process and that mistakes made could cost the district a significant amount of money.

A large element of Brumms efforts, who has a decades-long career as a patent attorney, has been to file trademark applications on the schools new nickname, and has claimed that her filings have been an effort to influence the school board.

Earlier this year, a trademark lawyer working pro bono for the school district on the issue said he was doing so because we observed what we believe to be a bad actor improperly leveraging the trademark system to force their desired outcome.

Other lawyers Local 3 spoke with in previous reporting have compared Brumms efforts to that of trademark trolls.

Brumm, who is now an adjunct professor at northern Michigan University, is also vice-chair on the MBLP board.

Filed by Nathan Joyal, the reason on his petition to recall Brumm from the MBLP reads:

She has threatened to enforce her trademark of the name Marquette Sentinels for the stated purpose of coercing the Marquette Area Public Schools to change the nickname to Redmen, which costs the public money and represents a violation of her fiduciary duty to the public.

A hearing to review the recall language by the election commission has been scheduled for 3 p.m. June 12 at the Henry A. Skewis Courtroom Annex, an hour after Brumms recall language hearing regarding the two school board members.

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 WJMN - UPMatters.com.
There are parts of this city that hold historical significance many born and raised in Sacramento may not know about.

The Wells Fargo Center on Fourth Street, the Downtown Commons parking lot, apartment buildings, office towers and more in the surrounding area are not the original buildings that inhabited those plots of land. These buildings were once Sacramentos Japantown.

Its been 82 years since Japanese inhabitants were forcibly removed from Sacramento and sent to internment camps. Recently, their descendants have taken up the call to rebuild and reclaim Japantown.

This week, members of the Reclaim Sacramento Japantown group dedicated a mural meant to raise the visibility and to make people aware that Sacramento Japantown actually existed here, because not many people knew about it, said facilitator Jim Tabuchi.

Reclaim Sacramento Japantown formed to educate and raise awareness about the former existence of Japantown, a neighborhood in Sacramentos segregated West End district.

Artist Karen Tsugawa makes a rakkan-in, an artists signature, on the Sacramento Japantown mural located at Capitol Mall and 4th Street on Wednesday.

Japantown, also known as Sakuramento, incorporates the Japanese word sakura which means cherry blossom. It was once home to the one of the largest Japanese communities in the country.

People could easily find Japanese pharmacies, restaurants, hotels, medical offices and more in this 15-block area that centered around Fourth Street and Capitol Avenue (formerly M Street).

At its peak, Japantown contained 3,500 residents and 450 businesses, the Reclaim Japantowns website says.

Back in 1942, Japanese residents in the U.S. were evacuated and detained to internment camps during World War II. An estimated 120,000 Japanese Americans and Japanese nationals were incarcerated. This decimated Sacramento Japantown.

While the neighborhood was able to rebuild years later, Japantown residents were again forced to relocate when the Sacramento City Council proposed the Capitol Mall Project in 1950. The project was meant to connect the riverfront to the state Capitol which would have cut straight through Japantown

This redevelopment project encompassed the entirety of the 15 blocks that made up Japantown and cited eliminating blight as the reasoning for choosing the specific location, according to Grinnell College.

While a majority of the businesses moved to other areas of Sacramento, today, only a few of the original businesses remain in their historic home. Osaka-Ya, a Japanese confectionery shop, and Nisei Barbershop, are among the handful that endured.

What does the Japantown mural look like?

The actual mural has three different viewpoints and utilizes the street corner it is placed on. The mural is meant to be visible to the public regardless of where they are standing.

The centerpiece of the mural is an expansive Japanese cherry blossom tree that spells out Sakuramento in Katakana  one of the three Japanese alphabets  down the center. Bright colors such as light pink, golden yellow and orange catch passerbys attention.

Karen Tsugawa, the creator of the mural, said the design mimics traditional Japanese playing cards called hanafuda. Drawn to the the colors and the stylization, Tsugawa replaced the playing card images with renderings of historic photographs taken in Japantown.

Eight different panels in the mural depict specific Japantown businesses like Ouyes pharmacy and Sun Rise Laundry, both of which are not in operation today.

Tsugawa also made sure to add in relevant Japanese motifs such as the Manchurian crane. She incorporated aspects of herself as well to honor her heritage.

Japanese community members gather in front of a new Sacramento Japantown mural located at Capitol Mall and 4th Street on Wednesday.

In the mural, the painting of a peacock represents her grandparents and a phoenix is a nod to Tsugawas Chinese heritage.

Similar to many inhabitants of Sacramento, Tsugawa did not know Sacramento had a Japantown. She said having the opportunity to learn about her culture and familys history has been informative, not only as an artist, but as a Japanese American.

Although this was her first time doing such a big project in a high visibility area, she said its really been an honor to create the mural in the place where her grandparents grew up.

Working on the mural Fridays-Sundays every week, Tsugawa was able to complete it in a month, with the help of volunteers.

The mural is located on land owned by the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians. Tabuchi said Reclaim Sacramento Japantown reached out to the tribal council and was granted permission to use their vacant lot as the display site for the mural.

While the location for the mural is temporary, Tsugawa hopes that once the mural is taken down they are able to give it a permanent home where it could grow, expand and be super accessible, she said.

The mural is in a high traffic spot, just blocks away from Tower Bridge. Tabuchi said its an optimal selfie spot.

We hope that the view of the mural will spread worldwide and give people from outside of Sacramento a reason to stop, Tabuchi said.

In attendance at the dedication ceremony was Sacramento Councilwoman Katie Valenzuela.

I know I was not on the city council, obviously, when the displacements occurred back then, but the city of Sacramento did hold a role in what happened here, Valenzuela said. On behalf of the city of Sacramento, I do want to apologize to everybody who was alive then, (and) to everyone who has come after.
This article is made possible through Spotlight PAs collaboration with Votebeat, a nonpartisan news organization covering local election administration and voting. Sign up for Votebeat Pennsylvanias free newsletters here.

Fewer mail ballots were rejected for voter errors overall in this years primary election, a Votebeat and Spotlight PA analysis shows, an achievement that the state credits to a modified ballot return envelope designed to help voters avoid mistakes.

But state data points to a new type of voter mistake affecting ballot rejections. And the way counties have diverged in their response to this error has opened up a new avenue for litigation ahead of Novembers presidential contest.

Compared with the 2023 primary, counties rejected 9.6% fewer ballots for the kinds of errors that the redesign sought to address: a missing date or signature on the return envelope, an incorrect date, or ballots returned without an inner secrecy envelope. (See the methodology for the data analysis at the bottom of this article.)

I think it is clear that the ballot redesign resulted in fewer voters making errors, Secretary of the Commonwealth Al Schmidt said.

Pennsylvanias Election Code requires that mail voters place their ballot in a secrecy envelope before placing it in the return envelope. They must then sign and date the return envelope.

But since Pennsylvania implemented its no-excuse mail voting law, Act 77, in 2020, thousands of ballots have been rejected because of procedural errors by voters, such as missing dates and signatures. Courts have gone back and forth on which errors should cause a ballot to be rejected. So far, the divided legislature hasnt successfully stepped in to clarify the rules.

After the 2023 municipal elections, the Department of State announced a redesigned ballot return envelope that it hoped would cut down on the number of rejected ballots. The April 23 primary was the first to see that envelope used.

But with the redesigned envelope, officials noticed a new error cropping up: voters who put a date on their envelopes but left the year only partially filled in. Some counties rejected those ballots on that basis, while others, heeding advice from state officials, accepted them.

Redesign made date and signature box stand out

The Department of States redesign of the mail ballot return envelope sought to address four of the most common errors that require counties to reject ballots: a missing date, an incorrect date, a missing signature, or a ballot not returned in a secrecy envelope.

In the new design, the area where a voter is to sign and date the envelope is shaded, to make it stand out, and it has the digits 20 prefilled for the year, to prevent voters from writing their birth date. Secrecy envelopes were also changed to yellow and included new watermarks to make them stand out.

Overall, the rate of ballots rejected for these reasons, as a proportion of all mail ballots returned, went down, which officials claim as success for the new design. But when the categories are broken apart, the success of the effort is less clear.

The rejection rate for ballots lacking a date or being returned without a secrecy envelope went down. But the rates for those returned with an incorrect date or no signature went up, and those errors now represent a greater proportion of rejected ballots.

In the 2023 primary, they were the third and fourth most common errors that led to ballot rejection. Now they are No. 1 and 2. Aside from voter errors, the top overall reason for rejection in both elections was ballots that arrived after Election Day.

There are some limitations to the more detailed data. Schmidt noted that the system counties use to track mail ballots allows them to enter only one code denoting the reason for rejection. So if a ballot lacks both a signature and a date, they can record it as rejected for only one of those reasons.

He added that there is not a consistent method across counties for what order to check for errors, and which code to use first. Some counties might also change the order in which they check the fields from year to year.

Thats why the overall number is most reliable in my opinion, he said.

In the 2023 primary, 1.35% of returned ballots were rejected for the four reasons that the redesign sought to address. That rate dropped to 1.22% for Aprils primary, according to Votebeat and Spotlight PAs analysis. In total, just under 16,000 ballots were rejected, for any reason.

A date detail: The last two digits of the year

One feature of the redesigned envelope was a date field with the first two digits of the year  20  prefilled. But as Election Day approached, voters were returning ballots without writing 24 after the prefilled 20.

On the Friday before the election, Deputy Secretary for Elections Jonathan Marks sent an email to counties advising them to count ballots even if the envelope didnt have the last two digits of the year. Courts have interpreted the states dating requirement to mean it needs to have a date between when the ballot was sent to the voter and Election Day.

It is the Departments view that, if the date written on the ballot can reasonably be interpreted to be the day upon which [the voter] completed the declaration, the ballot should not be rejected as having an incorrect date or being undated, Marks wrote.

Not all counties followed that advice.

Colin Sisk, Beaver Countys election director, said that the county viewed the departments choice to prefill the 20 in the year field as an indication that the voter was meant to fill in the year section. He also said that if a voter last year had only written 20 for the year, the ballot likely would have been rejected, as it would have been assumed they meant 2020. So for consistency, the county chose not to accept the ballots.

The advice also came late in the election cycle.

I know a lot of us [directors] were like Holy crap, this is late and Holy crap, this change is something that can be litigated, Sisk said of his reaction when he received the email on April 19, four days before the election.

Sisk was right. A candidate sued Luzerne County over its decision to count the ballots, and the Centre County GOP did the same there.

The Court of Common Pleas judge hearing the Centre County case dismissed it Friday as improperly filed, without addressing the countys decision to count the ballots. In Luzerne County, the judge ruled the county was correct to count the ballots, but that decision is now on appeal in Commonwealth Court.

Counties were split over whether or not to accept the ballots, and that decision appears to have had an impact on their rejection rate.

Votebeat and Spotlight PA looked at 36 counties that had suitable data to determine the change in rejection rates from year to year. Among them, counties that decided to count ballots with a missing 24 for the year had lower average rejection rates than in the previous primary election, while counties that chose not to count these ballots on average had virtually no change in the rejection rate, and most saw an increase.

I think they were trying to make it easier for people so they didnt put their birth year, but it confused people in my opinion, said Karen Lupon, chief clerk and election director for Jefferson County, although she added she thinks the redesign was successful in reducing naked ballots that were returned without a secrecy envelope.

November is the next big test

The Department of State would not say whether it plans to make any changes to the envelope before the November election as a result of the issue.

Whether the lower rejection rate holds in November will be the next big test, both for the redesigned envelope and recent educational efforts from the department, campaigns, and other groups looking to inform them on how to properly cast their ballot.

Its a good sign to see rejections going down, said Kyle Miller, a policy advocate with the nonpartisan group Protect Democracy. Im really interested to see what happens in the general, when you have more casual voters.

Compared with general election voters, those who participated in Aprils primary  during which many high-profile races were uncontested  were more likely to be tuned into the rules and educational efforts.

At least one county foresaw the missing 24 as an issue. In Bucks County, election officials opted to preprint the full year on the ballot, rather than just 20 as the Department of State recommended.

As a result, I think we saw lower numbers of errors on the date than we would have, Bucks County Solicitor Amy Fitzpatrick said at an April 30 election board meeting.

Lycoming County may follow suit. Its election director, Forrest Lehman, said he has been in contact with the vendor who prints his return envelopes to ask if it would be possible to add the 24 on envelopes that were already printed.

The issue could be moot come November if the ACLU of Pennsylvania and Public Interest Law Center prevail in their lawsuit seeking to nullify the requirement that voters write a date on the return envelope.

About this Data: The Department of State calculated the reduction in the rejection rate from the 2023 primary to the 2024 primary to be 13.5%. The department used a method of analysis that adjusted rejection figures from the 2023 primary to match what they likely would have been had that election seen the same turnout as 2024. After consultation with several political scientists who regularly analyze election data, Votebeat and Spotlight PA opted to use a different method that directly compared the actual rejection percentage from each election, though the political scientists said both methods are legitimate. Votebeat and Spotlight PAs calculation also included ballots marked with pending codes in the states mail ballot tracking system, which the Department of State did not. All but one county had certified its election at the time of Votebeat and Spotlight PAs analysis, which was not the case at the time the department opted to exclude pending ballots.

BEFORE YOU GO If you learned something from this article, pay it forward and contribute to Spotlight PA at spotlightpa.org/donate. Spotlight PA is funded by foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results.
Dmytro Khyliuk, a correspondent for the news agency UNIAN who was abducted by the Russians over two years ago, has sent greetings to his parents and says he hopes to be released. His message was passed on by one of 75 Ukrainians who have been liberated from Russian captivity.

Source: UNIAN

Quote: "I spent nearly 11 months in the same prison cell as Khyliuk  Dmytro Khyliuk from the UNIAN agency. He sends his best wishes to his parents and brother and says [to tell them] he is alive. He hopes to be released."

Details: Khyliuks mother Halyna told UNIAN she had received "the best news in the world".

Quote: "I have mixed feelings: indescribable joy, and sorrow, and worry, and shock. These emotions are visible on my face Ive had no news about my child for two years and three months. Today I learned at least a little bit of information. A tiny bit. Very vague. But it still brought me joy."

Details: Dmytro Khyliuk and his father were abducted by Russian occupiers in early March 2022 during the occupation of Kyiv Oblast. Dmytros father was later released, while Dmytro was illegally deported to Russia.

Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraines Human Rights Commissioner, said in December 2023 that the Russians had not confirmed whether Khyliuk was in Russia.

Early in April 2024, the media outlet Graty cited a letter from the Russian Defence Ministry confirming the detention of the Ukrainian journalist. It said that as of mid-March 2024, Khyliuk had been "detained and is on the territory of the Russian Federation".

Background: The NGO Media Initiative for Human Rights has reported that Ukraine is aware of 31 Ukrainian journalists who were abducted and are now being held in captivity in Russia.

The NGO says Khyliuk was abducted by Russian forces on 3 March 2022 near his home in Kozarovychi, a village in Kyiv Oblast. He was sent through Belarusian territory to Novozybkov, Bryansk Oblast, Russia, which is where most of the citizens who were detained in Kyiv Oblast during the occupation were taken.

Information was recently received about Ukrainian journalist and freelance writer for Ukrainska Pravda Viktoriia Roshchyna, according to Lina Kushch, first secretary of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine. The Russian Defence Ministry has confirmed to Viktoriia's father that she is currently being held in Russia.

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A study has revealed environmental injustice in the U.S. prison system, with many facilities using water potentially contaminated with toxic chemicals that are endangering inmates' health.

What's happening?

New research reveals that nearly half of U.S. prisons draw water from sources likely contaminated with toxic PFAS "forever chemicals," as reported by the Guardian.

PFAS, which stands for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are often referred to as "forever chemicals" because they're incredibly persistent in the environment and in our bodies.

The study looked at how likely it is that the water in over 6,000 prisons across the U.S. is contaminated with PFAS. Researchers focused on areas near prisons close to airports, military bases, landfills, wastewater plants, and factories, which are common sources of these chemicals.

Around one million incarcerated individuals, including 13,000 juveniles, are especially vulnerable to these chemicals because they have little control over their environment.

"Increased monitoring of [prison] drinking water is needed to identify the extent of PFAS contamination," the study authors wrote, suggesting that far more prisoners are drinking contaminated water than we know.

Why is prison water contamination concerning?

The presence of PFAS in water supplies at prisons is alarming due to the severe health risks these chemicals pose.

Research suggests that high levels of certain PFAS may contribute to increased cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of kidney or testicular cancer. They might also affect the growth, learning, and behavior of infants and older children, lower a woman's chance of getting pregnant, and interfere with the body's natural hormones.

PFAS contamination is a significant threat to the already vulnerable prison population, which generally has poorer health compared to the general public. The fact that inmates often cannot access alternative water sources highlights the dehumanization and neglect faced by incarcerated individuals.

What's being done about prison water contamination?

Efforts to address this crisis include calls for better monitoring and testing of prison water supplies. As the Guardian reported, the study's authors stressed the need for comprehensive testing, as current assessments have only covered a few hundred of the identified water sources.

Highlighting cases like a women's prison in Florida, where groundwater was contaminated by firefighting foam, the researchers urge authorities to provide clean water and alert incarcerated people to the dangers. Advocacy groups and researchers are pushing for policy changes to ensure safer living conditions for prisoners.

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Kevin Virgil (left) is challenging U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra in the 4th Congressional District. (Photo illustration by Jared Strong/Iowa Capital Dispatch)

CHEROKEE  A political newcomer who is challenging 4th District Congressman Randy Feenstra in next weeks Republican primary election said Thursday the federal government should phase out requirements for refiners to incorporate ethanol into the nations fuel supply.

In a candidate forum hosted by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association  which advocates for the ethanol industry  challenger Kevin Virgil bemoaned various government assistance that picks winners and losers and said he supports ending the Renewable Fuel Standard program.

In general, Im in favor of any industry to stand up on its own two feet as fast as it can, Virgil said.

Feenstra, who is seeking a third term, said the program should be expanded and derided Virgils comments.

Lets destroy the ag industry, Feenstra said.

The associations executive director, Monte Shaw, later told the Iowa Capital Dispatch the program is necessary to break through the petroleum monopoly on fuel distribution.

More than half of Iowas corn is used to produce ethanol, and Iowa is the top ethanol-producing state. Both candidates said the industry is important to the states economy but diverged on what will ensure its future success.

Feenstra, 55, of Hull, is a two-term incumbent who defeated former longtime Congressman Steve King in a Republican primary in 2020. King had been admonished for comments about white nationalism that he claimed were taken out of context.

Virgil, 51, of Sutherland, is a military veteran and entrepreneur who has made his opposition to carbon dioxide pipeline projects a focus of his campaign. He disagrees that the pipelines should be eligible for eminent domain to force easements on unwilling landowners, which is the jurisdiction of state regulators.

The association that hosted the forum supports a pipeline proposal by Summit Carbon Solutions. The candidates were not directly asked about the project, but Virgil criticized Feenstra for supporting the expanded federal tax credits that might eventually fuel its operation.

He repeatedly votes against the Constitution to help his big donors, Virgil said of Feenstra.

Virgil claimed Feenstra was submitting to the will of Bruce Rastetter, an agriculture mogul who has helped spearhead the pipeline project.

Feenstra did not respond to the accusation and did not mention carbon dioxide pipelines during the forum. After, he declined to tell Capital Dispatch whether he supports Summits project, but he insinuated the widespread opposition to it doesnt make sense given its potential benefits for Iowa.

Leading that opposition, Feenstra said, are environmental advocates who want to destroy agriculture.

He declined to comment further about the issue.

A benefit of Summits project is the potential for Iowa ethanol  with a lower carbon score  to be used to produce sustainable aviation fuel. That might increase demand for Iowa corn, which Feenstra predicted will be produced in increasing amounts in the future.

You wanna grow Iowa? Its a massive opportunity, he said.

Virgil said its a pipe dream that the new fuel market will appreciably benefit farmers. He said captured carbon dioxide from the ethanol plants should be used to produce methanol rather than being piped out of state. There is a pilot project to test the nascent technology in Illinois.

The candidates largely agreed on agricultural issues aside from Virgils reluctance to support federal subsidies. Feenstra said they are allowable when they yield a sufficient return. Both want to see the expanded use of ethanol in vehicles.

The winner of the Tuesday primary will likely face Ryan Melton, of Nevada, in the November election. He is the only Democrat who filed a nomination petition.

Feenstra defeated Melton in the last election in 2022 with more than double Meltons votes.

The district includes most of the northwest quadrant of the state and extends south along the Missouri River all the way to the Missouri border. It includes larger cities such as Ames, Council Bluffs and Sioux City.

Thursdays forum was co-hosted by the Agribusiness Association of Iowa and Iowa Biodiesel Board.

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The post Republican 4th Congressional candidates diverge on ethanol assistance appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
KYODO NEWS - May 31, 2024 - 15:15 | All, Japan

Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida was forced to make concessions to the leader of the junior coalition partner on Friday to pursue his goal of political funds reform, following the failure of arrangements between the ruling parties.

But some lawmakers of Kishida's Liberal Democratic Party criticized him for conceding too much to the Komeito party as he seeks to boost his Cabinet's approval ratings, which have plunged to their lowest levels since it was launched in October 2021.

Earlier this month, Komeito, whose slogan is "clean politics," rejected the LDP's proposals to amend the political funds control law, saying Kishida lacks seriousness in reforming rules on money in politics despite the recent fundraising scandal.

Kishida met with Natsuo Yamaguchi, chief of Komeito at the prime minister's office on Friday. Yamaguchi told reporters that Kishida has "made a crucial decision," which would "open the door" for enacting the revised law.

Their agreement is likely to set the stage for the passage of the bill to amend the political funds control law by the end of the ongoing parliamentary session on June 23, as Kishida, who heads the LDP, has pledged to achieve.

Critics point out that the political funds control law, which has been revised several times after money scandals involving LDP members were revealed, still contains loopholes that enable politicians to maintain slush funds.

Later Friday, Kishida also signed an agreement on the LDP's revised blueprint for reforming the political funds control law with Nobuyuki Baba, the leader of the country's second-largest opposition Japan Innovation Party.

But other opposition parties have called for more drastic amendments to the law, including banning corporate donations to political parties and introducing guilt by association, which could punish lawmakers if their staff members are convicted.

The conservative LDP does not hold a majority in the House of Councillors. Komeito, backed by Japan's biggest lay Buddhist organization, initially formed a coalition government with the LDP from 1999 to 2009 and later regained power together in 2012.

The LDP, which has been in power for most of the period since 1955, has come under scrutiny after some of its factions neglected to report portions of their incomes from fundraising parties and accumulated slush funds for years.

The current law does not require the names of buyers of fundraising party tickets up to 200,000 yen ($1,280) to be recorded in political funds reports. The LDP had proposed lowering the threshold to 100,000 yen.

On Friday, Yamaguchi told reporters that Kishida said his LDP is considering reducing the threshold to 50,000 yen, as demanded by Komeito, to enhance the transparency of the use of political funds.

The LDP has also been urged to review the rules on how to report the usage of the so-called policy activity funds provided by parties to their senior lawmakers. The funds are not subject to disclosure, even when expenditures reach hundreds of millions of yen.

Some LDP heavyweights have been accused of accepting significant amounts of policy activity funds. In 2022, the party distributed more than 1.4 billion yen in such funds, with around 971 million yen allocated to Secretary General Toshimitsu Motegi.

Kishida, meanwhile, confirmed with Baba that they will aim to make it mandatory to disclose the receipts of all payments from the policy activity funds 10 years after they are used and to set an annual cap on the usage of the money.

Related coverage:

LDP submits own bill without Komeito to reform political funds rules

Japan PM says no plan to dissolve Diet after defeat in by-elections

FOCUS: Kishida may have hard time being reelected as PM after by-elections
Trump became the first US president to be convicted of a felony in a New York trial - UPI / Barcroft Images

Republican megadonors have flocked to Donald Trumps aid after he became the first US president to be convicted of a felony in a New York trial focused on hush money payments to a porn star.

Trump, 77, gave a furious rebuttal to his conviction for 34 felonies on Thursday night, launching a fresh bid for donations that appeared to have won the support of well-heeled businessmen.

Within minutes of his conviction, a Super PAC supporting the former presidents reelection bid sent a text message to supporters declaring: JUSTICE IS DEAD IN AMERICA!

The message contained a link to a garish fundraising website that used the verdict to convince Trump supporters to donate more.

I was just convicted on 34 felony counts. THEY SAY IM GUILTY! BUT I DID NOTHING WRONG! read a message from Trump himself.

YOUR SUPPORT IS THE ONLY THING STANDING BETWEEN US AND TOTAL TYRANNY! So I need 10 MILLION TRUE MAGA PATRIOTS to chip in and proudly shout: I STAND WITH TRUMP!

The website suggests that supporters donate different amounts of money, depending on their view of the verdict.

Those who are supporting president Trump in 2024 are urged to vote $20.24, while those who think he is the greatest president ever should donate $47 to mark his position as the 47th US president.

Supporters who think he did nothing wrong should give $100, it says.

The conviction brought a flood of support from some Republican megadonors, including Miriam Adelson, a casino billionaire, and the hotelier Robert Bigelow.

Robert Bigelow has already given over $9 million to an outside group supporting Trump - John Raoux

Mr Bigelow, who is one of Trumps top supporters having already given over $9 million to an outside group supporting him, said criminal proceedings against Trump were a disgrace.

Im sending President Trump another $5 million as I promised him, Bigelow told Reuters, a news agency.

Don Tapia, a former Trump ambassador to Jamaica, said he and a small network of family and friends had planned to give around $250,000 this election to support Trump.

After Thursdays conviction, the group upgraded its donation to more than $1 million. Were going to go all-in for him, said Tapia.

Shaun Maguire, a Silicon Valley tech investor, posted online after the verdict that he had donated $300,000 to support Trump.

I believe our justice system is being weaponized against him, he said.

Peter Thiel who is the founder of PayPal has already rejected Trump's advances - Roger Askew/The Oxford Union/Shutterstock

In the last few weeks, Trump has hit the fundraising trail hard, hosting high-end events from Texas to New York, after trailing Joe Biden in the first campaign finance reports of the year.

He is due to host three fundraisers in California next month, including one in left-wing San Francisco hosted by tech venture capitalists.

Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman is also considering endorsing Trump, in a sign Wall Street may be warming to his campaign.

Every event that Im involved with is exceeding budget, George Glass, a Trump fundraiser, told Reuters.

Elon Musk, who is being considered for a role in a Trump administration should he win on November 5, condemned the verdict.

Great damage was done today to the publics faith in the American legal system, he said. If a former President can be criminally convicted over such a trivial matter  motivated by politics, rather than justice  then anyone is at risk of a similar fate.

Other donors, including the PayPal founder Peter Thiel, have already rejected his advances.

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Rep. Richard Hudson called the verdict in former President Donald Trumps hush-money trial a complete and total SHAM after a jury found Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records.

Rep. Deborah Ross, a Democrat from Wake County, said the historic conviction shows that no one is above the law.

On Thursday, Trump became the first former U.S. president convicted of a felony.

North Carolina lawmakers reacted quickly in both social media posts and news releases. Many defended Trump, insulted the prosecution and spread conspiracy theories. Others applauded the functioning of the judicial system.

And Rep. Dan Bishop, a Republican from Waxhaw, created a stir on social media by posting: Lawfare has reached its Waterloo. A reckoning is coming for gangster government.

Bishop chose not to run for reelection and instead is running for state attorney general.

Hudson, who leads the National Republican Congressional Committee, posted on social media: The American people know that this verdict is election interference.

He repeated false conspiracy theories about President Joe Biden, who will face Trump in the general election. I stand with President Trump, Hudson wrote.

The trial was in a state-level case spearheaded by a New York district attorney, not one brought by the Biden administration at the federal level.

Trump faces another 54 charges across three cases, including some stemming from his role in the attempts to overturn Bidens election.

Trumps New York hush money trial

Since April 22, jurors have listened to evidence and testimony accusing Trump of falsifying business records connected to $130,000 spent to stop adult film star Stormy Daniels from discussing an alleged sexual encounter she and Trump had prior to the 2016 election.

On Thursday, those jurors found Trump guilty on all counts. The verdict announcement came just moments before the judge was set to send them home for the evening.

The prosecution laid out a case to the jurors that Trump made the payments to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election and committed tax fraud.

Defense attorneys argued that Trump, who pleaded not guilty, made the payments to shield family members from embarrassment.

Rep. Deborah Ross, a Democrat from Wake County, wrote on social media that this is how the legal system is supposed to work.

A jury of his peers deliberated the facts and came to this unanimous decision, Ross posted on social media. The bottom line is that no one is above the law.

Trump served as president from 2017 to 2021, but lost his 2020 reelection bid to Biden. That led to conspiracy theories of voter fraud and an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, where supporters of Trump tried to stop the certification of Bidens election.

Trump will be sentenced in this case at 10 a.m. July 11, just days before the Republican National Committees convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Trump, who is 77, could face penalties from fines to probation to several years in prison.

Reaction from NC politicians

Sen. Thom Tillis, a Republican, posted that he was shocked by the verdict and that the case should have never been brought forward.

From the beginning, it was clear that a radical, politically-motivated state prosecutor was using the full weight of his office to go after President Trump at the same time he turned a blind eye to violent criminals, Tillis said. I expect and hope that President Trump will appeal this verdict to address fundamental questions, including whether President Trump received a fair trial and whether the Manhattan D.A. even had jurisdiction on a federal election matter.

Republican Sen. Ted Budd called the verdict, a total disgrace and said other officials turned down prosecuting the case because Trump committed no crime.

President Trump deserves the same Constitutional rights as any American, Budd said. But from the start, this was a rigged charade designed to weaponize the justice system to interfere in the presidential election and hurt President Trump. If Americans can be found guilty of a crime based on underlying allegations that were never charged, all of our constitutional rights are at risk.

Rep. Virginia Foxx, a Republican, said in a news release that the district attorney engaged in legal alchemy that has set a very damning precedent and said that the verdicts are steeped in partisan animus.

She said she believes the verdicts will be thrown out on appeal, but the damage to Trump has been done.

This is beyond outrageous, Foxx said. The rule of law has long served as the foundation for our country, but today, a dark, new chapter has been opened  one where judicial warfare is given a higher priority than fairness.

Rep. David Rouzer, a Republican, said the trial had weak evidence, questionable witnesses and bent rules. He called it a failure of what is suppose to be an impartial judicial process.

Bishop also posted on X, formerly Twitter, that Americans will have the ultimate verdict when they vote Trump back into office.

Election Day is Nov. 5, and the conviction does not prevent Trump from running for office.

Rep. Greg Murphy, a Republican recovering from surgery on a tumor near his brain, said, We are officially now a banana republic, a derogatory term used to describe tyrannical countries in the tropics.

Rep. Wiley Nickel, a Democrat, said in a news release that the American people had been lied to enough by the former President.

Its no wonder that trust in government is at an all-time low, Nickel said. Im glad to finally have some honesty and truth from this verdict so that our country can begin to heal from President Trumps divisive rhetoric and extremism. Donald Trump should never be in a position of power again.

The case

Trumps trial began on April 15 with jury selection. Trump was required to attend each day, and was the first former president to ever be held in contempt of court for violating a gag order. The judge found Trump in violation of the gag order 10 times.

Video cameras were not allowed in the courtroom, leaving the public to rely on reporters inside to detail what was happening.

Trump chose not to testify during the trial.
The News

Almost as soon as the final guilty count was read in Donald Trumps historic conviction on Thursday, the former Republican president set the tone for his party by decrying the trial and the justice system as rigged. The real verdict would be in November, he said, and his campaign has sent out fundraising emails to that end.

His Democratic rival President Joe Bidens re-election campaign made the same argument from a different vantage point: There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box, it said in a statement.

A New York jury found the presumptive Republican presidential nominee guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records as part of a conspiracy to mislead voters ahead of the 2016 US presidential election. He will be sentenced on July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention begins.

The View From THE RIGHT

Top Republican lawmakers leapt to Trumps defense, with House Speaker Mike Johnson describing Thursday as a shameful day in American history. Many accused Democrats, without evidence, of weaponizing the judicial system against Trump to stop him winning in November: Joe Biden and his liberal cronies have advanced their election interference plot, GOP Rep. Jim Banks of Indiana said in a statement.

Republicans made sure to restate their loyalty to the former president, too. We will stand with President Trump now more than ever to save the country, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz posted on X.

Gaetz and other Republicans have made pilgrimages to the trial over the last few weeks, and the Manhattan court became the hottest venue in town for those hoping to curry favor with Trump ahead of a potential second term. Vice presidential hopefuls such as Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance came by, as did Johnson, the embattled Speaker who has worked hard to get in Trumps good graces.

One Republican taking a slightly different tack: Maryland Republican Sentate candidate and former governor Larry Hogan, who appealed to Americans to respect the verdict" on X, words to which one GOP strategist replied suggested Hogan had essentially ended his Senate campaign.

The View From THE LEFT

Democratic lawmakers applauded the verdict and the legal system for delivering justice, emphasizing that no one is above the law, as many members of Congress posted verbatim on X. Accountability is welcome and long overdue, Massachusetts Rep. Ayanna Pressley said in a statement. Several lawmakers emphasized the fact Trump was convicted by a jury of his peers, and not by Biden or Democrats in Congress, while others seemed to appeal to the other side in the wake of the verdict. Ours is a nation of laws, and for our democracy to function as intended it is incumbent on all of us to respect the jurys verdict, New Hampshire Rep. Ann McLane Kuster posted on X.
Republican lawmakers were apoplectic about the Trump verdict Thursday, with many joining the MAGA chorus in declaring it a political, sham trial, in an effort to delegitimize the jurys decision.

Some reactions were brief: Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) tweeted an image of an upside-down American flag, a symbol associated with the Stop the Steal movement, which treats President Joe Bidens 2020 election win as illegitimate.

House GOP Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) echoed oft-repeated spin from Trump and his legal team, calling it a zombie case brought before a highly conflicted Judge that relied on testimony of a convicted felon who was disbarred for lying.

Todays verdict shows how corrupt and rigged the American justice system has become under Joe Biden, Stefanik said in a statement. I fully support President Trump appealing this decision and look forward to the New York Court of Appeals delivering justice and overturning this verdict.

.@RepStefanik on the Trump verdict: Todays verdict shows how corrupt and rigged the American justice system has become under Joe Biden. I fully support President Trump appealing this decision and look forward to the New York Court of Appeals delivering justice and overturning  Juliegrace Brufke (@juliegraceb) May 30, 2024

House Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who co-led the failed impeachment inquiry into Biden, called the Trump verdict a travesty of justice.

The Manhattan kangaroo court shows what happens when our justice system is weaponized by partisan prosecutors in front of a biased judge with an unfair process, designed to keep President Trump off the campaign trail and avoid bringing attention to President Bidens failing radical policies, Jordan said in a statement on X.

The verdict is a travesty of justice.



The Manhattan kangaroo court shows what happens when our justice system is weaponized by partisan prosecutors in front of a biased judge with an unfair process, designed to keep President Trump off the campaign trail and avoid bringing  Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) May 30, 2024

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who voiced his support for Trump outside the trial while it was underway, reiterated his argument that the trial was lawfare.

The weaponization of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden administration, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents, Johnson said.

My statement on President Trump trial verdict:



Today is a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon. This was a purely political  Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) May 30, 2024

Outside of Congress, former Trump rival and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) defended the man who ritually humiliated him.

It is often said that no one is above the law, but it is also true that no one is below the law, DeSantis said in a statement. If the defendant were not Donald Trump, this case would never have been brought, the judge would have never issued similar rulings, and the jury would have never returned a guilty verdict.

Todays verdict represents the culmination of a legal process that has been bent to the political will of the actors involved: a leftist prosecutor, a partisan judge and a jury reflective of one of the most liberal enclaves in Americaall in an effort to get Donald Trump.



That  Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 30, 2024

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From the Dispatch Politics on The Dispatch

Happy Friday! As you might have heard, former President Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 counts yesterday in his criminal trial. Be sure to check out special editions of The Collision newsletter and the Advisory Opinions podcast for more coverage of the verdict.

Up to Speed

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission Wednesday, alleging that CNN was colluding with the campaigns of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump in its June 27 debate. CNN is making prohibited corporate contributions to both campaigns and the Biden committee and the Trump committee have accepted these prohibited corporate contributions, a lawyer for Kennedy wrote in the complaint. Kennedy accused the network of designing qualifications ensuring only the two presumptive major-party candidates would appear in the debate, which CNN denied in a statement to the Associated Press.

As Trumps hush money trial entered its final stages, the Biden campaign has appeared jealous of the attention news outlets have given to it. The President just spoke to approx 1,000 mostly black voters in Philly about the massive stakes in this election, campaign adviser T.J. Ducklo wrote on X Thursday afternoon before Trumps jury reached its verdict. @MSNBC @CNN & others did not show it. Instead, more coverage about a trial that impacts one person: Trump. Then theyll ask, why isnt your message getting out? Campaign communications director Michael Tyler used a similar rationale to justify a press conference outside the trials courthouse Tuesday. Youve been incessantly covering this day in and day out, and we want to remind the American people ahead of the first debate on June 27 of the unique, persistent, and growing threat that Donald Trump poses to the American people and toward our democracy, he told reporters. So, since you all are here, were here communicating that message as we will day in, day out until the debate in Atlanta.

Trump led Biden in six out of seven swing states, with the two tied in Wisconsin, in a Thursday poll from the Cook Political Report. The former presidents lead was as wide as 9 points in Nevada and as narrow as 1 point in Arizona. In the same poll, Democratic Senate candidates led their GOP counterparts, most by 5 points or more. The exception was Rep. Elissa Slotkin, the presumptive Democratic nominee for Michigans seat, who led a to-be-determined Republican opponent by 2 points.

The Biden administration is preparing to address one of the presidents biggest political liabilities by issuing restrictions that would automatically close the southern border to new asylum applicants if authorities encountered a certain number of migrants per day, the Associated Press reported Thursday. Some of the policies under consideration appeared in the bipartisan border deal Republicans in Congress have twice rejected. Now Biden is looking at instituting them via executive order.

Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia on Friday switched his party affiliation from Democrat to independent. Doing so enables the longtime moderate to run for reelection as an independent in his states Senate election this fall against Republican Gov. Jim Justice and Democrat Mayor of Wheeling Glenn Elliot. Manchin has not formally declared candidacy for any office, but a local media outlet recently reported that Republicans who are unhappy with their nominee to succeed Justice as governor have courted Manchin to run in that race.

In more Senate news, Keystone Renewal, the super PAC supporting Dave McCormick as he runs to unseat longtime Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey, has reserved $30 million worth of TV ad space, the New York Times reported Thursday. The super PAC has thus far spent about $3.6 million in positive ads for McCormick but will soon shift its focus toward attacking Casey, according to the report. Pennsylvania is a key race the GOP has focused on as one of four contests through which the partys path to control of the Senate runs.

Trump Sets Tone for Republican Rebuke of His Guilty Verdict

Supporters raise Trump-themed flags across the street from Trump Tower before the former president and Republican presidential candidate holds a press conference on May 31, 2024. (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images)

The email fundraising appeals from Donald Trump hit fast and furious Thursday evening after the former president was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up an extramarital affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

I am a political prisoner.

I was just convicted in a rigged trial!

Darkest Day in American history!

Never Surrender!

They say Im guilty!

On Friday morning, the Trump campaign claimed to have raised $34.8 million in small-dollar donations since the verdict was announced.

Elected Republicans and other prominent figures in the party followed suit with similar expressions of outrage and doomsaying, taking their cues directly from the presumptive GOP nominee and his campaigns digital push to raise badly needed resources for the battle to topple President Joe Biden in November. It might not have been coordinated or prearranged. But it may as well have been.

Today is a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one, House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a prepared statement. The weaponization of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden Administration, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents.

The American people rightfully see this is lawfare, and they know it isand dangerous. President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdictand he WILL WIN, the Louisiana Republican added.

Hung Cao, a Republican running for the Senate in Virginia, echoed the Trump-driven GOP messaging, declaring the United States no better than a banana republicclaims the former president has been making since last year, when he was indicted in four separate criminal cases. What has become of America? Cao said in a statement. This is the kind of thing you see in third-world countries. I never thought Id see it here. We will have our voices heard on November 5th. We will re-elect President Trump and save America.

Then, of course, there were the Republicans competing to be selected as Trumps running mate ahead of the partys mid-July nominating convention in Milwaukee.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, in a Fox News interview: I think people get that its impossible for President Trump to get a fair trial in New York.

Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, in a post on X: The verdict in New York is a complete travesty that makes a mockery of our system of justice.  Biden and the Trump deranged left will stop at nothing to remain in power.

Rep. Elise Stefanik of New York in a post on X: Joe Biden, Far Left Democrats, and their stenographers in the mainstream media have made it clear they will stop at nothing to prevent President Trump from returning to the White House. We must work around the clock to ensure President Trump is victorious this November to save America from  the illegal weaponization of the justice system against the American people.

To be fair, not every Republican critique of the trial was funneled through Trumps hyperbolic megaphone. Even top Republicans who are hardly chummy with the former president or hustling for his affection accused Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg of playing politics with the justice system in a predetermined effort to take down the leader of the GOP.

The American people see this for what it is: a politically motivated prosecution orchestrated by those who want to get President Trump, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin said.

Added Sen. Susan Collins of Maine: The district attorney, who campaigned on a promise to prosecute Donald Trump, brought these charges precisely because of who the defendant was rather than because of any specified criminal conduct.

These charges never should have been brought in the first place. I expect the conviction to be overturned on appeal, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a lawyer whose relationship with the former president remains rocky after his failed bid for the GOP presidential nomination, also offered a measured condemnation of the case and the verdict (worth reading in full).

Silent as of early Friday afternoon: Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who was the last Republican standing between Trump and the nomination, and former Vice President Mike Pence, Trumps running mate in 2016 and 2020.

Meanwhile, the Democratic reaction remained somewhat muted as of Friday morning.

The Biden campaign issued a single statement in response to the verdict, from communications director Michael Tyler. The president, making only a passing reference to Trumps new status as a convicted felon, said in a fundraising appeal posted on X that theres only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot boxa line that echoed a key portion of the statement from Tyler. But otherwise, the Biden campaign has been silent.

Even among other prominent Democrats regularly critical of Trump, the response was relatively muted.

No one is above the law. The verdict speaks for itself, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer of New York said, in a statement. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, also of New York, offered a three-sentence statement: America is a nation built upon the rule of law. The jury has spoken and carefully rendered a decision. Responsible leadership requires the verdict to be respected.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, on the other hand, issued a sharp rebuke. Republicans continue to support their convicted felon presidential nominee, the campaign arm for House Democrats said. The American people have made it clear they dont want a criminal as president, yet Republicans continue to be all in on Trump and his MAGA agenda  lets get rid of these enablers once and for all.

Some rank-and-file Democrats heaped scorn on Trump and the Republicans post-verdict, ignoring the example set by Biden and their partys senior leadership. Its simple. He broke the law. He got caught. He got convicted, Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut said in comments posted on X. Is this crime as serious as the others he committed? No. But the rule of law applies to everyone. And this wont be the last conviction.

Joe Biden Stays Focused on His Base

Does Joe Biden even want support from disaffected Republicans? His campaigns actions over the last several months suggest hes still more interested in placating his base.

Over on the site today, John McCormack takes a look at the perfunctory approach being taken by the Democratic president to woo the sort of big-name Republicans who have expressed everything from skepticism to opposition to electing Donald Trump again. McCormack reports that Biden and his campaign have made no formal outreach to former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, or former Vice President Mike Pence. Heres more:

The radio silence with the former GOP challengers to his political nemesis is just one signal that Biden and other high-ranking Democrats are more concerned about shoring up support in their own base than they are winning over disaffected Republicans. While Memorial Day is a natural point on the calendar for a general election pivot to the center, the Biden campaign held a press conference on Tuesday outside of Trumps hush-money trial in Manhattanthe kind of event more appealing to MSNBC viewers than Nikki Haley voters concerned about the rule of law. But perhaps the most significant signal that Democrats intend to run 2024 as a base election is that theyre starting the summer by lurching left on issues ranging from Israel to attacking the Supreme Court. Pence himself doesnt begrudge Biden for the lack of outreach, but he is growing increasingly dismayed by what he calls the Democratic Partys ongoing capitulation to the American left. Joe Biden won his partys nomination in 2020, but Bernie Sanders won the party, Pence told The Dispatch, hitting Biden for runaway spending, an avalanche of regulation  appeasement from day one of the mullahs in Iran, [and] the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. He was particularly incensed by Bidens recent decision to halt a shipment of some weapons to Israel: Seeing the way that the administration has been going back and forth on what should be unambiguous support of Israel in their fight to defend their country against an existential threat of terrorist Hamas  should be deeply concerning to every American who cares about our standing in the world.

Theres even some simmering frustration from Robert Schwartz, the leader of a group called Haley Voters for Biden, over the presidents less-than-fulsome courting of these gettable swing voters:

The Biden campaigns call to the group was a good kind of first step to actually engage Haley voters and listen to them, Schwartz said, and he expects more. But the view among Haley voters is that the clock is ticking, he added. I think the longer the Biden campaign waits to aggressively court Haley voters, the more people kind of fall back into their partisan camps. Softening support for Israel is perhaps the worst foreign policy mistake Democrats could make if they were trying to court unhappy Republicans. Bungling the border would probably be the worst domestic policy mistake. While Biden and Democrats have been touting a bipartisan immigration deal scuttled by Trump and congressional Republicans, Schwartz said there is frustration among Haley voters that Biden hasnt taken executive action on immigration. Theres been all these rumors and reporting about an executive order, and I think Haley voters are like, Lets quit playing political games and actually do whatever you can to fix the border, Schwartz said. If hes considering an executive order, he should do it.

Read the whole thing here.

Notable and Quotable

Prove it, b-. You cant, because its a fake and bulls story your dumb ass is peddling because Biden is hemorrhaging support from Black Americans. Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung in an X post responding to an allegation that a tape exists of the former president saying the n-word.

Read more at The Dispatch

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Republican allies of former President Trump expressed outrage after a New York jury found him guilty on all 34 charges in his hush money criminal trial.

Thursday marked a first in American history when Trump became the first former or current president to claim the moniker of convicted felon after a Manhattan jury found him guilty of falsifying business records.

The verdict has injected uncertainty into an already tumultuous election cycle, though members of the party rushed to his defense and slammed the decision. In brief remarks after the verdict was announced, Trump called it a rigged decision and vowed this is far from over.

Many of his allies agreed.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said the trial was a purely political exercise and made unsubstantiated claims that the Biden administration was responsible for the conviction in New York.

Today is a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon, Johnson said.

The weaponization of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden Administration, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents, Johnson added. The American people see this as lawfare, and they know it is wrongand dangerous. President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdictand he WILL WIN!

Chris LaCivita, one of Trumps senior campaign advisers, said in a post on social platform X that The FIX was always in 

Matt Schlapp, chair of the American Conservative Union, described the events as a tragic day in American history and vowed that Trump would win office again.

Republicans also took aim at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) and Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case.

This verdict is the corrupt result of a corrupt trial, a corrupt judge, and a corrupt DA, Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said. We will stand with President Trump now more than ever to save the country.

Some Republicans who have been floated as potential vice presidential contenders for Trump also slammed the decision.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) called the verdict a complete travesty that makes a mockery of our justice system and suggested it was politically motivated. He also attacked Merchans family.

Biden and the Trump deranged left will stop at nothing to remain in power, he added.

Even Republicans who previously had a frosty relationship with Trump defended the former president. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R)  whose relationship with Trump suffered as a result of a bitter primary battle for the 2024 GOP nomination  railed against the verdict in a post on X.

Todays verdict represents the culmination of a legal process that has been bent to the political will of the actors involved: a leftist prosecutor, a partisan judge and a jury reflective of one of the most liberal enclaves in Americaall in an effort to get Donald Trump, DeSantis said.

It is often said that no one is above the law, but it is also true that no one is below the law. If the defendant were not Donald Trump, this case would never have been brought, the judge would have never issued similar rulings, and the jury would have never returned a guilty verdict, he continued. In America, the rule of law should be applied in a dispassionate, even-handed manner, not become captive to the political agenda of some kangaroo court.

Trump is leading President Biden in polling in a handful of battleground states as the president suffers underwater approval ratings and an ongoing crisis over the Israel-Hamas war where Democratic primary voters have cast protest ballots against him.

But a Trump conviction raises questions over how that could impact his own standing among voters, particularly those who backed Trump primary rival Nikki Haley.

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 new analysis in the journal Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease revealed that a commonly contracted mosquito-borne illness may be more harmful than previously thought, leading to concern for travelers in increasingly mosquito-prone climate zones.

What's happening?

The chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne disease. It was first detected in 1952 and is now widespread in tropical areas including Africa, Asia, and the Pacific, with confirmed cases in nearly 115 countries.

Although scientists have known about CHIKV for decades, a new analysis found that it has more severe health impacts than previously thought, including that it "can cause pain for years."

The study found that 86% of travelers diagnosed with CHIKV experienced severe joint pain that could be categorized as "significantly impacting their quality of life." CHIKV also interacts with pre-existing illnesses like chronic arthralgia, causing symptoms to re-emerge.

Why is this concerning?

Scientists are particularly concerned about mosquito-borne diseases like CHIKV  as well as even deadlier ones, like malaria, zika, and dengue fever  because of the correlative relationship between mosquitoes and global heating.

Each year, more than 700 million people contract a mosquito-borne illness; of those, over 1 million die. As the planet's temperatures increase, more regions will become breeding grounds for disease-transmitting mosquitoes, putting more people at risk in new parts of the world.

Beyond that, the transmission season will lengthen as warmer temperatures create extended breeding environments. One study found that transmission seasons for malaria and dengue fever could extend by up to an additional four months per year by 2080.

Other environmental factors are contributing to the growth of disease-carrying pests as well. "Everything we're doing as we alter our world puts us more at risk: They breed in the plastic waste we discard; they thrive in urban environments, and they like it hot," said Stanford professor Desiree LaBeaud.

What's being done about this?

Part of limiting the spread of mosquito-borne illness is staying on top of disease surveillance and outbreak response. The World Health Organization launched the Global Arbovirus Initiative in 2022, which aims to "ensure efficient response, evidence-based practice, equipped and trained personnel, and engagement of communities."

Additionally, working hard to curb harmful air pollution and reduce plastic waste can help prevent mosquitoes from breeding, ensuring that future generations won't see exponentially higher transmission rates.

And if you're traveling to a mosquito-prone area, make sure to always check the vaccination recommendations for your destination, and go prepared with tools like bed nets, bug spray, and proper clothing.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet.
A former U.S. Navy vice chief of naval operations was arrested Friday on charges that he accepted bribes to steer government contracts to a company in exchange for a future job while still in service, Justice Department (DOJ) officials announced in a statement.

Retired Navy Adm. Robert Burke, 62, of Coconut Creek, Fla., and two business executives, Yongchul Charlie Kim and Meghan Messenger, both of New York, were each charged with bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery, according to the unsealed indictment.

In addition, Burke is charged with performing acts affecting a personal financial interest and concealing material facts from the United States, the DOJ statement notes.

If convicted, Burke faces a maximum penalty of 30 years in prison, while Kim and Messenger each face a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Burke, who has served aboard attack and ballistic missile submarines, rose through the ranks to eventually become the 40th vice chief of naval operations in June 2019 before taking command of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa and Allied Joint Forces Command in June 2020.

Kim and Messenger, meanwhile, were co-CEOs of a business, referred to by the Justice Department as Company A that provided a workforce training pilot program to a small component of the Navy from August 2018 through July 2019. A website for services firm NextJump lists a Charlie Kim and a Meghan Messenger as co-CEOs.

The Navy ended a contract with Company A in late 2019 and directed it not to contact Burke.

In July 2021, however, while Burke was overseeing thousands of Navy civilians and military personnel in Europe and Africa, Kim and Messenger allegedly met with him in Washington, D.C., in an effort to reestablish Company As business relationship with the Navy, according to the statement.

At the meeting, the charged defendants allegedly agreed that Burke would use his position as a Navy Admiral to steer a sole-source contract to Company A in exchange for future employment at the company, the Justice Department said. They allegedly further agreed that Burke would use his official position to influence other Navy officers to award another contract to Company A to train a large portion of the Navy with a value Kim allegedly estimated to be triple digit millions.

Several months later in December 2021, Burke allegedly ordered his Navy staff to award a $355,000 contract to the company to train personnel under Burkes command in Italy and Spain, according to the statement.

Company A then performed the training in January 2022 and shortly thereafter Burke allegedly promoted the firm in a failed effort to convince a senior Navy Admiral to award another contract to the business.

To conceal the scheme, Burke allegedly made several false and misleading statements to the Navy, including by creating the false appearance that Burke played no role in issuing the contract and falsely implying that Company As employment discussions with Burke only began months after the contract was awarded, the statement said.

After retirement in summer 2022, Burke began working at Company A in October that year, starting with a salary of $500,000 and a grant of 100,000 stock options.

Navy spokesperson Rear Adm. Ryan Perry said the service has fully cooperated with the investigation since it began.

We take this matter very seriously and will continue to cooperate with the Department of Justice. As this is an ongoing legal case we would refer you to the DOJ for any further information regarding this matter, Perry said in a statement to The Hill.

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.
KYODO NEWS - May 31, 2024 - 18:07 | World, All

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed concern about China's "provocative" military activity near Taiwan during his talks with Chinese counterpart Dong Jun on Friday in Singapore, after Beijing conducted a two-day military drill around the self-ruled island last week, according to the Pentagon.

In the first in-person talks between the two countries' defense chiefs since November 2022, Austin also underscored the importance of respecting freedom of navigation in the South China Sea, where Beijing has been involved in territorial rows with the Philippines and other countries.

Their meeting was held on the sidelines of the three-day Asia Security Summit, better known as the Shangri-La Dialogue, in Singapore as Washington and Beijing try to facilitate communication and prevent their geopolitical rivalry from veering into conflict.

China conducted the military exercise encircling Taiwan following the May 20 inauguration of the island's President Lai Ching-te, whom Beijing condemns as a separatist, as a "strong punishment" for those seeking the territory's independence.

Austin told Dong that China "should not use Taiwan's political transition -- part of a normal, routine democratic process -- as a pretext for coercive measures," U.S. Defense Department spokesman Pat Ryder said in a statement.

While reaffirming the importance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, the defense secretary underscored that the United States "remains committed to its long-standing one-China policy," under which Washington recognizes Beijing as the sole legal government of China.

Dong warned Austin that the United States should not interfere in China's internal affairs, Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Wu Qian told reporters.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory and aims to bring it into its fold, by force if necessary. The two sides have been governed separately since they split as the result of a civil war in 1949.

Austin also discussed China's alleged role in supporting Russia's defense industrial base amid Moscow's war against Ukraine and expressed concerns about North Korea's "direct contributions to Russia's ongoing assault on Ukraine," according to the statement.

Washington claims Beijing and Pyongyang have been assisting Moscow's war efforts but they deny the U.S. allegations.

In April, Austin and Dong, who became China's defense minister last December, held a virtual meeting and discussed the situations around the Taiwan Strait and in the South China Sea, as well as the Ukraine crisis and North Korea's weapons development programs.

Austin met with then Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe in November 2022 in Cambodia.

High-level bilateral military communication channels had been closed since Beijing protested a visit to Taiwan made in August 2022 by then U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Related coverage:

U.S., Chinese defense chiefs to hold 1st in-person talks since 2022

Japan, 3 nations concerned with China's "dangerous" actions at sea

Japan, U.S., Australia sign defense technology cooperation pact
Editors note: This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

A former Navy vice chief of naval operations faces up to 30 years in prison after he was arrested Friday along with two business executives on criminal charges involving a U.S. government contract bribery scheme while in uniform, according to the Justice Department.

An indictment unsealed Friday alleges that retired Adm. Robert Burke, 62, took part in the scheme from 2020 to 2022, while serving as commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa from 2020 until his retirement in 2022.

The alleged crimes also involve Yongchul Charlie Kim and Meghan Messenger, both of New York, who are the CEOs of a company referred to only as Company A in the Justice Departments indictment announcement.

Burkes civilian defense attorney, Timothy Parlatore, told Navy Times that Burke vigorously contests these charges, and that there was no quid pro quo.

The timeline in the indictment is inaccurate, Parlatore said. We look forward to going to trial and expect that he will be found not guilty.

Burke turned himself in to local authorities earlier on Friday, he added.

Attorneys for Kim and Messenger could not immediately be reached for comment.

Burke, Kim and Messenger are each charged with bribery and conspiracy to commit bribery, while Burke faces additional charges of performing acts of a personal financial interest and concealing material facts from the United States.

According to the Justice Department, the alleged crimes started when Company A provided a training pilot program to a small component of the Navy from August 2018 to July 2019.

The Navy terminated a contract with that company in late 2019 and directed Company A not to contact Burke, according to the Justice Department.

Burke served as the vice chief of naval operations, the second-highest officer in the Navy, from June 2019 to June 2020, according to his official biography.

But Kim and Messenger allegedly went on to meet with Burke in Washington, D.C., in July 2021, part an alleged effort to reestablish the companys ties to the Navy.

At the meeting, the charged defendants allegedly agreed that Burke would use his position as a Navy Admiral to steer a sole-source contract to Company A in exchange for future employment at the company, the Justice Department said. They allegedly further agreed that Burke would use his official position to influence other Navy officers to award another contract to Company A to train a large portion of the Navy.

Kim allegedly estimated that that contract would be worth triple digit millions, according to the Justice Department.

Burke allegedly ordered his staff in December 2021 to award a $355,000 contract to the company to train personnel under his command in Spain and Italy, according to the Justice Department, and Company A carried out the training in January 2022.

Burke allegedly tried to convince a fellow senior Navy Admiral to award another contract to the company. That senior admiral is not identified in the Justice Departments indictment announcement.

To conceal the scheme, Burke allegedly made several false and misleading statements to the Navy, including by creating the false appearance that Burke played no role in issuing the contract and falsely implying that Company As employment discussions with Burke only began months after the contract was awarded, the Justice Department said.

Burke retired after handing over command of U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa in the summer of 2022, according to the Navy.

A few months later, in October 2022, Burke went to work for Company A at a yearly starting salary of $500,000 and a grant of 100,000 stock options, according to the Justice Department.

Before leading the Navy in Europe and Africa, Burke was the vice chief of operations from June 2019 to June 2020, and also served as the chief of naval personnel.

In a statement Friday, the Navy said has fully cooperated with this investigation from the onset.

We take this matter very seriously and will continue to cooperate with the Department of Justice, the Navy said.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will ask NATO allies to provide a minimum of 40 billion euros ($43.3 billion) in annual military funding for Ukraine, a source within NATO told Reuters on May 30.

The funding proposal comes as NATO foreign ministers gather in Prague for talks on May 31, ahead of the NATO's Washington summit on July 9-11. Foreign ministers will discuss concrete long-term support efforts for Ukraine, as well as changes to how weapons and ammunition is supplied.

Stoltenberg has not yet publicly proposed an amount for the annual funding package. NATO officials have previously proposed 100 billion euros ($108.3 billion) over five years, or 20 billion euros ($21.6 billion) annually.

Stoltenberg has also sought for more consistent approaches in delivering military aid for Ukraine. NATO is seeking to take over the operational duties of the U.S.-led Ukraine Contact Defense Group, which coordinates weapons deliveries by about 50 countries to Ukraine.

While being united as a bloc against Russias full-scale invasion, levels of support between NATO member states, as well as their public statements on the threat to European security that the Kremlin poses, vary.

Ukraine is not expected to advance further towards NATO membership at this years annual summit due to concerns that the alliance could be drawn into a war with Russia, the Telegraph reported on May 28.

Despite setbacks to Ukraine's NATO aspirations, partners assured Kyiv that the Washington summit would define a specific position for Ukraine's membership in NATO, namely its irreversibility and the roadmap toward it, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna said on May 29.

Read also: NATO summit declaration to contain new language on Ukraines membership, US ambassador says





Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Tuesdays primaries are a window into a possible new era in New Jersey politics  one where party bosses are a touch less powerful and primaries are more competitive. (Daniella Heminghaus for New Jersey Monitor)

The article is published through a collaboration between Bolts and the New Jersey Monitor.

As New Jersey Democrats vote in Tuesdays primaries, theyll encounter a revamped ballot, stripped of a unique design that critics say has given party leaders the ability to hand-select primary winners.

To people living anywhere else in the nation, the new ballot would look very familiar. Offices will appear on the ballot as distinct blocks, inviting voters to consider them separately from each other. But in New Jersey, this design is overhauling a longstanding practice.

A federal judge in March barred county clerks from printing Democratic primary ballots that use the county line, a bespoke New Jersey ballot system that grouped candidates who are seeking separate officesfrom president down to sheriff  into single rows or columns. Within each county, candidates gained a spot in the most advantageous grouping  where they were paired with well-known incumbents running for higher offices  through an endorsement by that countys party. That prominent placement came with a powerful boost; candidates with support from party leaders seldom failed to win a nomination.

The ruling was a preliminary stay that only applies this spring; courts are still weighing whether to permanently end the county line.

But the upcoming primaries already offer a window into a possible new era of New Jersey politicsone where party bosses are a touch less powerful, even if theyll retain other tools in their arsenal, and where primaries are more competitive.

In the places where we have contested races, I think well get a more accurate depiction of where voters stand and not one thats skewed particularly in favor of the party-endorsed candidates, said Brett Pugach, one of the attorneys who argued the case against the county line.

Research has found that the line confers a measurable advantage to candidates who receive it. Julia Sass Rubin, director of Rutgers Universitys public policy program and an expert witness in the lawsuit, found that gaining an endorsement by a county party organization, and a spot on the county line, boosts a candidate by about 12 percentage points on average.

Josh Pasek, another expert witness and a political science professor at the University of Michigan, reported similar findings. His study assessed that the line conferred an advantage of 10 to 11 points; the effect was far larger in primaries with no incumbents and candidates with little name recognition.

The line undergirds an ability of political machines to control politics and policy of the state, said Rubin. Thats fundamentally the impact of the line.

Good government groups and grassroots Democrats have long protested the use of the line, alleging that the boost it provides to party-backed candidates is unfair. In late 2020, a coalition of groups headed by the New Jersey branch of the League of Women Voters launched a campaign to educate voters on the line and call for the state to adopt a more traditional ballot design. That same year, a group of former candidates filed a federal lawsuit alleging that the line system violated their constitutional rights, though the case has moved very slowly and remains unresolved.

The issue came to a head this fall when first lady Tammy Murphy decided to run for the states U.S. Senate seat after a federal grand jury indicted Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez on bribery charges, among other allegations. Democratic county chairs in some of the states most populous counties lined up to endorse her over U.S. Representative and fellow candidate Andy Kim.

What followed was a surprisingly effective revolt from Kims supporters and longtime line opponents, who forced new scrutiny on these practices. After Kim and two other congressional candidates filed a new lawsuit against the line, New Jerseys attorney general agreed that the line was unconstitutional. A judge in March ruled that the case had a substantial chance of succeeding, enjoining the line from use in upcoming Democratic primaries while the case awaits a final resolution.

Ironically, the ruling is unlikely to have a major effect on the Senate race since Murphy unexpectedly dropped out of the race shortly before the judges decision.

But it thrust two Democratic congressional primaries that might otherwise be perfunctory into fierce competition. Five Democrats are vying for Kims 3rd District seat as he campaigns for Menendezs spot in the upper chamber. Had lines still existed, Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-Burlington), a physician who won endorsements from Democrat organizations in all three of the districts counties, would be overwhelmingly favored to win the nomination for Kims House seat.

But absent the line, Assemblywoman Carol Murphy (D-Burlington) poses a credible threat to her former running mates House bid, as does civil rights attorney Joe Cohn, a relative outsider.

I think the race, as far as when the race begins  and to some degree ends  has shifted, said State Sen. Troy Singleton (D-Burlington), who represents their legislative district in the state Senate and is not picking sides in their primary.

Singleton, an influential figure in the suburban and increasingly Democratic Burlington County who backed abolishing lines in February, said the lack of a line had broadened other candidates paths to victory.

He stressed that the ruling doesnt just affect how voters behave when theyre filling in their ballots. The effects were felt immediately, he said. It allowed some candidates, like Cohn, to appear on debate stages that might have been barred to them if organizational support was among the qualifications to appear.

The dynamics are a little different in the 8th District, centered in Hudson County, where Democratic Rep. Rob Menendez, the son of the now-indicted senator, faces a primary challenge from Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla, one of the candidates who joined the lawsuit against the county line alongside Kim. The race is unfolding in the shadow of the fathers ongoing corruption trial.

Though Hudson County Democrats swiftly dropped support for the elder Menendez after the senator was indicted in September, they have not hesitated to throw their resources behind his son.

That support could be key even absent a line. Hudson County Democratic leaders like North Bergen Mayor Nicholas Sacco  a former state senator who is one of the countys numerous power brokers  wield vast ranks of canvassers that grassroots campaigns have, historically, failed to match.

When you have organizations such as Nick Saccos on your side, youre a big favorite, said Hudson County Democratic Chairman Anthony Vainieri.

In the 3rd District, by contrast, the Burlington County Democratic Party, which accounts for roughly two-thirds of the districts Democratic primary vote, has not thrown its organizational weight behind Conaway, even though the party had given him a spot on the county line. Singleton said the presence of two popular incumbents limited the partys active involvement.

Earlier research conducted by Sass-Rubin assessed the effects of party support without teasing out the line from the other resources that come with it; she found candidates that received both performed 38 points better on average. But the strength of institutional get-out-the-vote operations absent organizational lines remains untested.

This is the underlying problem: We dont know what a likely voter looks like in a competitive Democratic primary in New Jersey because we havent had one in more than 10 years, said Dan Cassino, director of the Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll.

The advantages granted by the party support under the line system are stark enough that, in the past, even incumbents who havent gotten it have opted to not seek reelection rather than run off-the-line.

That was the case for former Assemblyman Nicholas Chiaravalloti, a Hudson County Democrat who did not seek reelection after Bayonne Mayor Jimmy Davis in 2021 awarded the county line to William Sampson through a longstanding tradition that lets Hudson County mayors pick members of their legislative delegation. Sampson was elected handily and he remains in the Assembly.

The ruling applies only to Democrats, so voters taking part in GOP primaries will still see the old design. This has made for a remarkable split screen in recent weeks, as New Jersey residents have received sample ballots with sections that look starkly different for each partys primary.

A state judge in April ruled that Republicans could keep using the county line this year on their ballot since it was too close to the election to make further changes. Burlington County is the only county that will use office-block ballots, which group candidates by office sought, for both parties primaries due to a decision by the local clerk.

The system of grouping candidates togetherits called bracketingcame into being in 1941, when Governor Charles Edison signed a bill allowing candidates to group themselves on the ballot under a common slogan. That law barred slogans from indicating a candidates party affiliation, but that prohibition was removed when the bracketing statute was rewritten in 1985.

Still, state statutes meant to denude party leaders of their influence on primary elections kept the system in check until the late 1980s. New Jerseys current system of county lines spawned after the U.S. Supreme Court in 1989 ruled a California ban on party primary endorsements impermissibly violated parties free speech and associational rights.

Over the succeeding 15 years, New Jersey courts struck down laws limiting candidates ability to bracket or seek party backing, first eliminating statute that required candidates for governor and U.S. Senate appear separate from others on the ballot before voiding an already unenforced law that barred parties from endorsing primary candidates in 2004.

Party leaders have broadly defended county lines, arguing candidate screening processes in some counties lead to better nominees more likely to win in November. The process for awarding lines varies from county to county. In some, chairs award them unilaterally, and in others, they are awarded by a vote of county committee members elected during primaries.

Its easier for the voter to support a team of candidates rather than looking all over the ballot for their choice, said Vainieri.

But opponents of the system argue that it stifles competition and deprives voters of a choice. Its not just that it influences the result, they say; it also dissuades people from even running in the first place.

You need to kiss the ring in order to have any chance of winning, said Henal Patel, a policy director at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice, who penned amicus briefs in both lawsuits for the League of Women Voters and other groups. Thats the first hurdle, and that, in and of itself, does kill participationof course it does.

The courts ruling this year came too late to change that dynamic and get more candidates to run since the judge issued it days after the states filing deadline for the 2024 elections.

One of the impacts is that more people will get into primaries to run, said Rubin. But youre not seeing that in this cycle because the decision came after the cutoff to file to run this cycle.

If courts confirm the lines demise, its opponents hope that itll encourage more residents to challenge incumbents and run for open seats.

The filing deadline for New Jerseys 2025 primaries for governor and legislatureelections that have long been dominated by local party bossesare less than one year away.

The post A revamped ballot design jumpstarts democracy in New Jersey appeared first on New Jersey Monitor.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has joined the chorus of Republicans attacking the conviction of former President Donald Trump, calling the verdict "profoundly undemocratic" in a social media post.

The Democratic Party's strategy is to beat President Trump in the courtroom rather than the ballot box. This will backfire in November. Even worse, it is profoundly undemocratic, Kennedy wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Trump welcomed Kennedys support on Truth Social, reposting the independent presidential candidate.

Many Republicans quickly made public statements of support for Trump, who was convicted Friday in New York City on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide payments for an alleged affair with a porn star. Kennedy's criticism that the Democratic Party is trying to use the legal system to win the November election echoes GOP support for their presumptive nominee.



Trump has previously slammed Kennedy, who was a prosecutor in the New York district attorneys office about 40 years ago, as a radical leftist to try to discredit his candidacy. It is unclear which major party candidate Kennedy will hurt more in the general election, but regardless of election calculus, Trump promoted Kennedys defense of his legal problems.



Kennedys defense of Trump was also shared by his running mate, Nicole Shanahan, and campaign manager, Amaryllis Fox Kennedy, in their own posts on X.

The Democratic National Committee called Kennedy a useful idiot for his comments.

With no path to victory for himself, RFK Jr. is parroting MAGA talking points and carrying Trumps water  further proving that he is in this race for one reason and one reason only: to throw the election to Donald Trump, said Mary Beth Cahill, a DNC senior adviser, in a statement.
After the hush money verdict was announced Thursday, Donald Trump was not the only presidential candidate to criticize the courts decision  Robert F. Kennedy Jr. took a jab, too.

The Democratic Partys strategy is to beat President Trump in the courtroom rather than the ballot box, Kennedy said in a statement posted to X. This will backfire in November. Even worse, it is profoundly undemocratic.

Kennedys criticism echoed Trump and the outcry of Republicans after the verdict was read, saying it was compromising our governments separation of powers or weaponizing the courts.

The Democratic Party's strategy is to beat President Trump in the courtroom rather than the ballot box. This will backfire in November. Even worse, it is profoundly undemocratic.



America deserves a President who can win at the ballot box without compromising our governments  Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 30, 2024

He also attempted to draw a contrast between his campaign and President Joe Bidens, claiming he is running against Trumps track record, such as the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns and increasing the national debt.

Ill challenge him on these things, but the Democrats wont. You know why? Because they pursue the very same policies, he continued.

RFK Jr.s running mate, Silicon Valley billionaire Nicole Shanahan, did not explicitly mention Trump or the hush money case in her X post about the verdict, instead gesturing to the weaponization of the justice system for political gain.

Weaponizing the press, the judiciary and each other puts us all in the barrel, Shanahan said.

Our country is deeply divided. Under the last two administrations Americans have witnessed the weaponization of the justice system for political gain. The result: anger and division in America. Weaponizing the press, the judiciary, and each other puts us all in the barrel.



No  Nicole Shanahan (@NicoleShanahan) May 30, 2024

Even RFK Jr.s campaign director Amaryllis Fox seized the opportunity to take a shot at the verdict, and like Shanahan, appeared to reiterate their boss claim of Biden weaponizing the courts.

Some know full well the demons they unleash. Others content themselves that ends justify means, Fox wrote on X. Until, predictably, inevitably, the monster theyve created is turned upon them.

The road to tyranny is paved with good intentions, she concluded.

Notably, Kennedys own friends, family and former colleagues have said his candidacy could be a spoiler campaign and hand the election to Trump, who has himself said he would be a dictator if re-elected (but only on Day One in office). In April, one of RFK Jr.s own staffers admitted their campaign could throw the election to Trump  and was promptly fired.

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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. slammed the jurys verdict in former President Trumps New York hush money case Thursday, calling it profoundly undemocratic and warning it will backfire against Democrats in November.

America deserves a President who can win at the ballot box without compromising our governments separation of powers or weaponizing the courts. You cant save democracy by destroying it first, Kennedy wrote on the social platform X. The Democrats are afraid they will lose in the voting booth, so instead they go after President Trump in the courtroom.

Im also running against President Trump in this election. The difference is Im challenging him on his record. His lockdowns during Covid. His atrocious environmental record. His cozy relationship with corporate America, he added, also listing Trumps support for the war machine and service to the billionaire class as aspects of his record that should be scrutinized.

Kennedy claimed that Democrats wouldnt challenge Trump on his recor,d because they pushed for the same policies he did.

Trump became the first former or current president to become a convicted felon Thursday when a Manhattan jury found him guilty of falsifying business records. He was found guilty on all 34 counts, marking a watershed moment in U.S. history.

Trump slammed the verdict, calling it a rigged trial by a conflicted judge. Allies of his rushed to his defense, as did Republicans long considered to be at odds with the former president.

These charges never should have been brought in the first place. I expect the conviction to be overturned on appeal, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said on X.

Kennedy is running a long-shot, independent campaign to take on both Trump and Biden.

The verdict has injected uncertainty into the race, with its impact voters heading into the November election unclear, including third-party voters and those who voted for Trump rival Nikki Haley. Many Republicans, however, believe it will only strengthen the former president politically.

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.
RIers have gotten creative following Global Entry closure. The wait may soon be over

Word on the street is that Rhode Islands long Global Entry humiliation is about to end.

For years, weve been one of the only states without an interview office to get that golden status of speeding through customs lines coming back into the country. Its basically TSA PreCheck for the borders.

But for years, ever since they closed down our U.S. Customs Global Entry office in Warwick during COVID-19, you had to schlep to Logan to get an interview. Or worse, to a place like tiny Calais, Maine,  population 3,116. Admittedly that's a border crossing point with customs agents already there, but still. Youre telling me with a million people Rhode Island doesnt rate?

As for the Logan option, I found there were no slots for months, and at times, they werent even accepting new interview requests.

Which is why I havent done it.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Global Entry kiosks stand at San Diego (Calif.) International Airport. Global Entry is a program that allows expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States.

But it seems things are about to change.

Nobody official is confirming it, but Ive heard a crew is at work converting a space in Warwick as a Global Entry interview center to be opened in a few months.

Thats what I was told by John Cregan, who runs the Paramount Properties Group and has long been the leasing agent for the three-story office building at 300 Jefferson Blvd. in Warwick where its happening.

He tells me the building has 25,000 square feet per floor, with Homeland Security leasing around 10,000 feet on level one.

Thats where the Global Entry office used to be, and where Cregan says they are now setting up a space to bring it back.

Another source confirmed it but didnt want to be named.

Thats because the feds prefer making these announcements themselves.

I tried to give them the chance, calling Bostons Government Services Administration, which oversees federal offices, but they didnt get back to me.

I also asked the office of U.S. Rep. Gabe Amo, since, along with U.S. Rep. Seth Magaziner and Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse and Jack Reed, they sent a letter two weeks ago to Troy Miller, head of Customs and Border Protection, saying they want answers about Rhode Island getting a local Global Entry place.

But no official word yet.

I also called Bill Wilbur, who manages the Jefferson Boulevard building. He was very nice, but said any comment would have to come from the government.

But unofficially, Cregan, told me, It looks like its on track to happen in the next few months. By which he means construction is moving along.

Rhode Islanders get creative to gain Global Entry

This will be a relief to many folks. After I wrote a column about Rhode Island having no Global Entry office, I heard from a ton of frustrated readers.

One was Anne DelNigro who  get this  paid the $100 fee, found there were no interviews available even in Boston, and later was told her application expired, forcing her to pay a second $100 fee. And shes still trying to find an interview slot.

Barbara Fletcher of Coventry wrote to say she also lost her original fee for similar reasons.

Memo to the U.S. Customs: Thats not cool.

Bill and Karin Friedman told me they got such a runaround trying to schedule a Logan interview that they gave up, found an opening at the Customs office in Derby Line, Vermont, on the Canadian border and drove 282 miles there from Warwick.

For a 10-minute interview! Bill wrote.

Coincidentally, a reader named Diane Guillemette went to Derby Line, too  a good decision, she said. It sure beat waiting in long lines in Boston or going to New York or New Jersey.

Richard Donelly took a less stressful approach  he and his wife saw the inconvenience as an opportunity, booked a bed and breakfast near Calais and, after their interview there, poked around the Maine coast.

Others including Carol Lukowski and Jean Beveridge also had a good strategy  when they returned from overseas trips, they found available customs folks to  forgive the pun - interview them on the fly for Global Entry at their re-entry airports.

Fly away: Breeze Airways adding more flights, including international, to PVD. What to know.

A few readers said they did get the interviews done at Logan, but it was a pain to fight the traffic and pay an arm and leg for parking. Alice Neves said it took her seven months to get it done there.

And Michele McGovern Gilbert told me she had a heck of a time finding a scarce Global Entry interview slot anywhere, so she finally grabbed one that popped up in Hartford and drove there.

Others like Catherine Cummins of East Greenwich just gave up, writing off her paid $100 fee.

I relate.

But now, after four years, it seems we at last will be getting a local Global Entry office back.

At least according to word on the street.

Hopefully  are you listening, federal government  well soon hear it officially.

mpatinki@providencejournal.com

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Warwick Global Entry office under construction to open later this year
What rights does Trump lose as a felon? And more of your questions, answered

A version of this story appears in CNNs What Matters newsletter. To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here.

Donald Trumps conviction by a New York jury on 34 felony counts is historic and unprecedented. No former president or major party presidential candidate has also been a felon.

When CNN asked readers for their questions, a flood came in. Some of the more interesting and most-asked questions are below. And if theres something we didnt get to, ask us here.

It varies by state. In New York, where Trump was convicted, there are collateral consequences of being convicted of a felony. Importantly, felons in New York cannot hold many public offices, including elected positions. But Trump is no longer a New York resident.

In Florida, felons lose civil rights, including the ability to hold public office and serve on a jury.

While he cant hold office in Florida or New York, theres nothing in the Constitution to bar him from running for president.

In New York, a felon can apply for a Certificate of Good Conduct to restore all rights after a certain period of time. The charges against Trump are Class E felonies, for which the period is three years. Florida requires felons to apply for clemency through a special board, but in the case of out-of-state convictions like Trumps, it defers to the state where the person was convicted.

Not in this case. Presidents have the power to issue pardons for federal offenses. Trump has been convicted of a felony in New York state court. That would require the pardon of New Yorks governor, Democrat Kathy Hochul, who has praised his conviction.

Most likely. Trump is a Florida resident, and Florida defers to New York law on the question of felons voting. New York allows felons to vote as long as they are not incarcerated.

His sentencing is set for July 11, four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. Judge Juan Merchan could technically impose prison time  felony falsifying business records can be punished with up to four years in prison. But Trump has been convicted of Class E felonies, the lowest level in New York law. He is also a first-time offender. That said, Merchan could take into account that Trump has repeatedly violated a gag order.

Heres what Secret Service chief of communications Anthony Guglielmi told CNN after the jury reached the guilty verdict: Todays outcome has no bearing on the manner in which the United States Secret Service carries out its protective mission. Our security measures will proceed unchanged.

No one knows exactly. Time in prison still seems relatively unlikely for this offense. One can imagine the US Supreme Court getting involved or the sentence being delayed until after his term, or even a pardon by the New York governor in the interest of the country. But these are all just possibilities.

Yes. A survey of past cases by the legal website Just Security found numerous examples of prison time being imposed for this offense. These types of convictions do not usually lead to jail time.

Trumps conviction does not automatically prevent him from holding a US passport. But it could make it difficult to travel to some countries.

Thirty-eight countries dont allow felons to enter their borders, according to World Population Review, which says that some of those countries deny entry to felons up front while others do so only after such a conviction is discovered. That list includes Canada and Mexico, as well as Australia, China and South Africa.

Federal law bars individuals convicted of a felony from possessing a firearm, and most states have analogous prohibitions. A case challenging the federal prohibition has been appealed to the US Supreme Court, but the justices have not yet said whether they will hear the challenge.

In New York, convicted felons cannot obtain a permit to possess a firearm. Its possible for Trump to later petition a state judge to have his firearm possession rights restored.

In Florida, where Trump is a resident, the Sunshine State has a similar felon disarmament law on the books. That law bars people convicted of a felony in Florida courts from possessing a firearm and also extends that prohibition to individuals found guilty of a felony in another state.

But under Florida law, the states Clemency Board will not consider requests for firearm authority from individuals convicted in federal or out-of-state courts, according to the state.

Technically. But not likely. The Supreme Court ruled this year that Congress could keep Trump off ballots if it passed a special measure determining he took part in an insurrection. Thats not at issue in this New York case, and its not going to happen when Republicans control the House as they currently do.

The Constitution also allows for people who are impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate to be barred from federal office. Trump was impeached twice as president but acquitted twice in the Senate.

Yes. Appeals and the sentencing process are ongoing, so the gag order remains in effect. That means every time Trump criticizes a key witness like Michael Cohen, he dances up to the line of violating the gag order, which could lead to penalties like fines or even jail time.

The trial has been delayed by allegations of impropriety against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis for her relationship with a former prosecutor on the case. As a result, a trial date has not been set.

Trumps two federal trials are also on ice. The judge in Florida overseeing the case in which federal prosecutors allege he mishandled classified documents and tried to hide them from the National Archives has proceeded very slowly and has allowed procedural questions to pile up. The trial is currently postponed indefinitely. In the federal election subversion case in Washington, DC, the Supreme Court has yet to weigh in on whether Trump should enjoy immunity from prosecution as a former president.

The hush money payoff took place just before the 2016 election. The fact of the payments was discovered in 2018. Federal prosecutors ultimately decided not to pursue charges against Trump related to the payments and so did a previous Manhattan DA, Cy Vance Jr. It was seen as a gamble when current Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg ultimately announced charges in April 2023.

It would be difficult for anyone with a felony conviction to get security clearance. But presidents do not need to obtain security clearance. The voters have essentially given them access to all the countrys secrets.

Falsifying business records is a misdemeanor in New York unless the crime is committed with intent to commit another crime. In this case, the other crimes were federal campaign violations.

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I appreciate that Im going to come off as a lazy, foolish, over-privileged degenerate for divulging this, but thats exactly what I (along with a sizeable proportion of young people) was at the tender age of 18. I dropped out from university not once but twice: squandering time, money, and my mothers sanity, in the lacklustre pursuit of a Mickey Mouse degree. Rishi Sunak is exactly right that we should be purging them from our nation.

I shouldnt even have moved onto higher education in the first place. What was I thinking? I despised school. I had no interest in academia. And yet, it was never even a question at the time. First comes school, then university, then a proper job. I was also at a private all-girls school in Oxford  it would have been very unusual to announce that I was opting out of the Ucas application process.

The reason why I received offers from three of the UKs top ten universities to read Classics was simple: I perform well in exams and filled my personal statement with a load of guff. I was anything but the passionate, dedicated student I claimed to be; on the contrary, I skipped more lessons during sixth form than I attended, never did my homework, and was in near-constant trouble with teachers for my profound apathy towards every subject. But at the same time, Im a good crammer.

I chose Edinburgh first, and lasted less than two terms. While I did have a substantial amount of fun drinking and making a handful of friends I kept long-term, the syllabus bored me witless and I missed England.

So I re-applied to Bristol and got a place to read History of Art; a subject viewed by my peers, along with sociology, as a total doss. I found it even more boring than Classics, and I cant have attended more than five lectures in the first year. Again though, I passed the exams and progressed to year two; bailing shortly thereafter, much to my mothers horror, having finally concluded that academia was simply not for me.

Sincerely, the best thing for me probably would have been a year in the Army (another of Sunaks not entirely mad proposals should he win the upcoming election). Because out of the student-loan funded bubble of campus and into the real world, I had to work to earn a living.

Much like nursery is for toddlers, the university experience serves a limited purpose in terms of socialisation, networking, and play time (which is why I dont regret going) but is by no means necessary, certainly not for three or more years, and should not be the prerequisite for a successful career (barring, of course, subjects like science and law).

Indeed, when my own son reaches that age and isnt sure what he wants to do next, I will encourage him to get into a good university. But only for a term or two, and only to exercise his hedonism and forge a band of comrades, before leaving, as I did, and becoming a functioning member of society. I happen to share this view with Elon Musk. I dont consider going to college evidence of exceptional ability, he said at the Satellite 2020 conference. In fact, ideally you dropped out.

The problem, of course, is that I got lucky, and few employers take Musks approach. So many jobs now require that applicants have a degree. Why? Isnt it more impressive to have a keen candidate, fresh out of school, who doesnt want to spend several years learning about gender studies or obscure Spanish literature before mounting their chosen ladder?

The Government is right to try and divert young people away from Mickey Mouse degrees, but it will need to incentivise companies to drop this requirement from their screening processes at the same time. There has to be smarter ways to find talent. Aptitude tests? Trial periods?

It is time, especially in our current economic climate, that Britons started treating frivolous university degrees with all the seriousness that most of their students do: which is, lets be honest, not very much at all.

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KYODO NEWS - May 31, 2024 - 09:03 | All, World, Japan

The western Japanese city of Hiroshima has urged Israel to cease its offensive in Gaza in its invitations to the country's representatives to the Aug. 6 annual peace ceremony marking the atomic bombing of the city, a local government official said Thursday.

The invitations to Israeli President Isaac Herzog and the ambassador of Israel to Japan include a call for an immediate cease-fire to the conflict in the Palestinian territory that has drawn increasing international opposition.

The letters written in Japanese, made available to Kyodo News, state it is "deeply regrettable that the lives and everyday existences of many people are being taken away."

The Hiroshima city government has been accused of double standards by some residents and activists after it emerged in April that while it will invite Israel, it will bar Russia and Belarus from the ceremony for a third straight year over the invasion of Ukraine.

The city official said it is "not the case that we accept the offensive in Gaza."

Israel began military operations in the Gaza Strip in retaliation to attacks on civilians by the militant group Hamas on Oct. 7. Japan is among the countries to have urged against continued violence, making calls for an "immediate cease-fire."

Hiroshima's invitations urge Israel to "engage with the wish for peace from atomic bomb survivors who believe no one should have to experience the horrors of war, and to take a step toward peace including by abolishing nuclear weapons."

They conclude by asking Israel to consider attending after reflecting on its message.

Hiroshima and Nagasaki became the first cities to have an atomic bomb dropped on them on Aug. 6 and Aug. 9, 1945, respectively. Each year, delegates from countries and regions across the world are invited to attend the peace ceremonies to pray for the victims and affirm that humanity cannot coexist with nuclear arms.

The Nagasaki city government has said it is yet to make a decision regarding participation from Russia, Belarus or Israel at its Aug. 9 ceremony.

Related coverage:

Palestinians rally in Tokyo to mark 76 years of displacement

Asia short film festival shines light on global conflicts, AI

Israel launches retaliatory attack on Iran
Treated water supplied to Riviera Beach residents tested positive for a possible fecal indicator twice last year, and the city's Special Utility District failed to do proper follow-up testing and later "disseminated false and misleading information" in televised comments about the need to issue a public notice.

Those are three of the 13 findings from a Florida Department of Health review of the special district's testing and notification procedures, which came under scrutiny in January, when it announced it had failed to timely report that water from a well tested positive for E. coli on June 27.

DOH has proposed a consent order fining the district $70,795 and charging it another $10,048 in administrative fees. Riviera Beach has until June 15 to formally let DOH know whether it accepts the proposed order.

Riviera Beach mayor: Fecal contaminant was in city water in summer; investigation demanded

"We take full responsibility for the failures in our system and communication," the city said in a statement to The Palm Beach Post. "The trust and confidence of our customers are of utmost importance to us. We have implemented changes to address past issues and to prevent future problems in our sampling process and communication with both the Department of Health and our customers."

The district's Jan. 19, 2024, public notice made no mention of having found - on June 6 and again on Dec. 22 - a possible fecal indicator, total coliform, in treated water supplied to customers.

Instead, the public notice gave residents the impression that the safety of the drinking water was not threatened because the E. coli-tainted water it discovered on June 27 was in a well and water from that well and "all other groundwater wells are treated at the Water Treatment Plant by filtration and disinfected prior to being sent to the consumer."

DOH said Utilities Director MIchael Low diminished the importance of the Janaury 19 public notice and provided "false and misleading information" when he told a television interviewer that there hadn't been a need to issue an earlier notice.

The special district's notice said the safety of the drinking water was unknown only on June 27 and June 28, when it failed to collect follow-up samples within 24 hours.

A view of the future of Riviera Beach's new water treatment facility from Avenue L and Blue Heron Blvd.

Utility's public notice didn't come until 6 months after E. coli was found

Residents, however, were not assuaged by the district's public notice, and they  along with Mayor Ronnie Felder and City Council members  were angered by the fact that the notice came six months after the positive test.

An incredulous and angry City Council member, Tradrick McCoy, read aloud from the public notice during a meeting on another topic.

Felder launched an investigation after learning from Palm Beach County water quality officials that E. coli was found in two wells, not one, and that the fecal contaminant did make it into the city's drinking water system.

DOH's separate investigatory findings appear to confirm at least some of the information provided to Felder, and they are a sledgehammer blow to the special district's credibility and possibly to Low's continued tenure.

Citing ongoing investigations, Low has been circumspect under questioning from City Council members demanding answers about the positive test and the special district's response.

Residents worried they weren't being told the truth, and DOH's findings indicate the special district was not transparent with them.

The roughly $81,000 in DOH fines and administrative costs might not be all the city ends up paying because of questions about the safety of its water.

More: Riviera Beach man sues city utility district, claiming contaminated drinking water made him sick

Riviera Beach could pay more than $81,000 over water

Attorney Nicholas Johnson (left) seated next to his client, Jose Rivera.

Riviera Beach truck driver Jose Rivera filed suit against the special district in February, claiming he was sickened after months of unknowingly drinking water the utility failed to tell residents had tested positive for E. coli, a fecal contaminant that can cause intense stomach pain, diarrhea and more serious problems in people who are already sick with other conditions.

"Sometime in the middle of September, early October, I was going through different type of things, like sweating," Rivera said during a news conference about the lawsuit. "Every time I tried to eat something, I could not hold it. I could not go anywhere. I had to go to the bathroom. The minute something touch on my stomach, it was horrible."

Rivera's lawsuit alleges negligence and breach of contract and seeks damages of more than $50,000.

DOH said the special district failed to adhere to proper protocol in collecting follow-up samples within 24 hours of "receiving a total coliform and fecal indicator positive sample result from treated water supplied to the customers."

Total coliform, which can come from material other than fecal matter but is often an indicator of some sort of pollutant, was found in two samples collected at different sites  on June 6 at 4822 Caribbean Blvd. and on Dec. 22 at 570 W. 34th St. There were fecal indicators in the June 6 sample.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency states on its website that "the presence of coliform bacteria in tap water suggests that there could be a problem with existing equipment or treatment systems, contamination of the source water or a breach in the distribution system that could introduce E. coli contamination."

The EPA also notes that "E. coli is a more specific indicator of fecal contamination and is a potentially more harmful pathogen than other bacteria typically found in the total coliform group."

Pepsico does its own filtration of the water

Riviera Beach residents have long complained about the color of their drinking water, and one of the city's largest employers, PepsiCo, runs it through its own separate filtration process before using it.

The city, however, insists its drinking water is safe.

"Yes, our water currently meets all primary drinking water standards," it said in a statement to The Post. "To ensure our water continues to meet those standards, the Utility Special District (USD) has developed a new microbiological sampling plan detailing procedures for routine sampling and follow-up actions for any total coliform or E. coli-positive samples."

The city's water treatment facility is 66 years old, and estimates for building a new one have soared past $300 million, alarming elected officials contemplating hundreds of millions in other infrastructure spending.

DOH's findings point not only to problems with the existing water treatment facility but also with the special district's testing and notification process.

In addition to failing to adhering to proper protocol in collecting follow-up samples after discovering the fecal indicator on June 6, the special district also:

 Failed to issue a boil water notice after the June 6 discovery of the fecal indicator.

 Failed to stay within the maximum E. coli containment standard.

 Failed to notify DOH within 24 hours of the discovery of the fecal indicator.

 Failed to conduct an assessment within 30 days of not staying within the E. coli containment standard.

 Failed to issue a public notice within 24 hours of the June 27 E. coli positive well water test result.

 Failed to notify DOH within 24 hours of that June 27 positive test result.

 Failed to adhere to proper protocol in collecting follow-up samples after that June 27 positive test result.

 Failed to submit its June 2023 bacteriological report by July 10, 2023.

 Failed to adhere to proper protocol in collecting follow-up samples after the Dec. 22 positive test result for total coliform fecal indicator.

 Failed to issue a public notice within 30 days of the botched follow-up samples.

Riviera Beach has acknowledged receipt of DOH's proposed order and said the special district has already acted on changes the department requested.

"As part of the corrective measures, the USD has developed a revised sampling plan," the city said in a May 24 statement. "The USD has also taken operational steps to improve its processes. Moving forward, the USD will maintain direct communication with the DOH to resolve the fines and ensure efficient operations. The USD remains committed to adhering to all regulatory requirements and providing safe, reliable service to the community."

Wayne Washington is a journalist covering West Palm Beach, Riviera Beach and race relations at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at wwashington@pbpost.com. Help support our work; subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Riviera Beach water had 'fecal indicator.' Residents misled about safety
Roaches, flies and other insects were found at a Myrtle Beach area restaurant, among other violations discovered at Grand Strand eateries.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control routinely inspects Horry County and Myrtle Beach area restaurants for health violations, and its reports are up-to-date as of May 29, 2024.

These restaurants received the worst scores.

National House of Pancakes

Address: 211 North Kings Highway in Myrtle Beach

Grade: 79 percent

SCDHEC inspected the National House of Pancakes May 23, 2024, and found several violations. The report found roaches, flies and insects in the kitchen, and containers and equipment were soiled and covered in grime.

SCDHEC also found the kitchen ceiling missing tiles and walls covered in grease. Among other violations, SCDHEC found, the report noted National House of Pancakes found cardboard used as a shelf liner, which was dirty and food stored on the floor.

Despite the initial 79 percent grade, SCDHEC returned to the National House of Pancakes May 28, 2024, and the eatery received a 100 percent upon the follow-up inspection.

Athenas

Address: 407 Yaupon Drive in Myrtle Beach

Grade: 84 percent

SCDHEC inspected Athenas May 22, 2024, and found several violations. Apart from a lack of hand towels provided at the hand sink, SCDHEC also found small flies and a leaking three-compartment sink.

SCDHEC also found chemicals improperly placed next to a three-compartment sink. The agencys inspection concluded Athenas must have a follow-up onsite inspection within 10 days.

TGI Fridays #745

Location: 500 Highway 17 North in North Myrtle Beach

Grade: 84 percent

SCDHEC inspected TGI Fridays North Myrtle Beach location May 20, 2024, and found some violations, mostly regarding the eaterys warewashing equipment, specifically its dish machine. Warewashing is the process by which restaurants clean their dishes and utensils.

SCDHECs inspection found the dish machine wasnt working properly; the pressure gauge needle was broken, internal parts were in poor repair, and soiled and build-up on the inside.

TGI Fridays #745 must have a follow-up onsite inspection within 10 days, SCDHECs report concluded.
SALEM, Va. (WFXR)  Roanoke College has announced that it has contracted with an independent, national environmental services company to investigate a file of a cancer cluster, from former alumni on the schools campus.

According to the university, an article released by Air Mail claims that more than a dozen alumni who graduated from Roanoke College between 2011 and 2019 have been diagnosed with cancer. This article stemmed from a TikTok posted in Oct. 2023 in which a 2015 alumna stated she and six of her college friends had been diagnosed with various types of cancer within five years after their graduation. She states that a cancer cluster investigation report was filed with the Virginia Department of Health (VDH), but the health department declined to investigate.

National Cancer Institute defines a cancer cluster as the occurrence of a greater than expected number of cancer cases among a group of people in a defined geographic area over a specific time period.

In a statement by University President Frank Shushok Jr. posted on its website, the University announced that it has contracted with an independent, national, and esteemed environmental services company to assist the school in this topic. The company is set to begin its work soon, which may involve collaboration with an independent epidemiologist and scientist at the VDH.

University of Lynchburg lays off 40 employees, dissolves 12 programs

Roanoke Colleges top priority remains the safety and health of all students and this is necessary to help determine its next steps in preserving its mission.

In a statement to WFXR News, Roanoke College says it has not found any evidence to question the safety of the campus:

After multiple conversations with epidemiologists, physicians and public health professionals about cancer incidence rates, we have no evidence to suggest that our campus is not a safe place to live, work and learn. Still, we are working with a national environmental services company with significant expertise and experience in testing. Representatives from that company were on campus Tuesday to begin gathering information and developing a plan. This work may also involve other experts, including independent epidemiologists, industrial hygienists, and scientists. Their scientific, data-driven guidance will inform the timeline, scope, and strategy. We commit to moving as quickly as we can while being thoughtful, responsible, and transparent every step of the way. -Roanoke College

The University will continue to update the community and student body with the investigation, including any test results, analysis, and other information.

To read the full statement from President Shushok Jr., visit Roanoke Colleges website.

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DOUSMAN, Wis. (WFRV)  A man armed with a machete, and wearing a Halloween mask, attacked and injured a southeastern Wisconsin pub patron during an attempted robbery early Thursday morning.

According to the Summit Police Department, the attack and attempted robbery happened around 2 a.m. on May 30 inside the Dousman House in the 100 block of North Main Street.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Seven Wisconsin teenagers arrested for allegedly running ghost gun manufacturing operation

Officers say a 53-year-old man entered the establishment armed with a machete and wearing a Halloween mask, and demanded money from the bartender. Shortly after, the man allegedly suddenly swung the machete at another man sitting at the bar. The attack reportedly caused cuts to the victims head, arm, and abdomen.

The suspect then reportedly ran to a nearby vehicle and fled north. A detective with the Summit PD, who was responding to the Dousman House, saw the suspect vehicle driving in a grassy ditch northbound on Dousman Road.

After attempting to stop the vehicle, the suspect allegedly increased speed, once again leaving the road, just north of Genesee Lake Road. That is when the vehicle hit a ditch, went airborne, and hit a pole before coming to a stop against a tree.

Wisconsin man beaten and robbed of vehicle after being dropped off at Park & Ride

The 53-year-old man was ejected from the vehicle and reportedly sustained non-life-threatening injuries. He was arrested after officers reportedly found evidence from the vehicle, allegedly tying him to the attack at Dousman House.

Officers did note in the release that the victim was taken to a local hospital and is expected to survive.

The suspect was arrested on the following charges:

Attempted First-Degree Reckless Homicide

Attempted Armed Robbery

Operating While Intoxicated (3rd Offense)

Violation of Probation

The incident will be reviewed by the Waukesha County District Attorneys Office. No additional information was provided. Local 5 will update this story when new details are 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 WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
The city of Rock Island is receiving almost $1.5 million to fix the Rock Island-Milan Beltway

Illinois Con. Eric Sorensen presented the city with $1,466,279 in federal funds for the 35th St. W. and Rock Island Pkwy. intersection. The city is planning to turn that section of the road into a roundabout.

The move is part of infrastructure projects in the QCA.

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.
The Stockton Police Department is located at 22 E. Market Street in Stockton on Apr. 10, 2024.

Here's a roundup of recent announcements and incidents involving the Stockton Police Department.

Video of officers shooting armed robbery suspect released

Video footage was released Tuesday of an officer-involved shooting that left a 28-year-old man injured in the backyard of a central Stockton home.

Stockton police said on April 12, Javion Holmes entered a business in the 5700 block of Pacific Avenue while wearing a ski mask, took out a handgun, and demanded money. Holmes ran away with the money before officers arrived, according to police.

Shortly after, police said there was a report of a person on West Swain Avenue trying to hide under vehicles and possibly get into homes. Officers searched the area and Holmes was found in the backyard of a home.

The suspect refused to leave the yard despite numerous efforts and means of communication with him, police said. These included the use of PA systems and police dogs.

The video showed Holmes hiding behind debris in a narrow walkway. At one point, Holmes extended his arm out in front of him while holding what appeared to be a black shirt and ran toward officers. The police department said they believed he simulated pointing a gun.

One officer used a less-than-lethal shotgun and another used a firearm in an attempt to subdue Holmes, according to police. He was shot at least once and fell to the ground, police added.

Holmes was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment where he was listed in critical condition.

Police said they found a "Glock-style replica handgun, and a sum of money believed to belong to the business" in Holmes' possession.

In April, the department told The Record it couldn't provide more information about where officers found the fake gun and money, nor about why officers used live rounds following the less-than-lethal ones.

The officers involved were put on paid leave pending a routine investigation, police said. Only officer Ruben Meza, who fired the firearm, was identified.

In January 2023, Meza was one of five officers who pulled the trigger in the fatal shooting of Rico Ruiz-Altamirano, 33, of Stockton.

Officials said Holmes is now in stable condition and he is expected to survive.

A multi-agency critical incident investigation with investigators from the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Bureau of Investigations and the California Department of Justice remains ongoing.

56-year-old man dies after fight on Hazelton Street

A 56-year-old man was found dead in Stockton on Tuesday night.

The man was located after the Stockton Police Department received a call around 9:45 p.m. about a physical altercation in the 2300 block of East Hazelton Avenue.

Police said the man was unresponsive when they arrived. He was pronounced dead at the scene by medical personnel.

The man's name hasn't been released, pending notification of family by the San Joaquin County Medical Examiner's Office.

Detectives are investigating his death as a homicide.

23-year-old man arrested in connection with woman's death in March

A man was arrested on May 23 for a shooting that left a woman dead in Stockton.

Francisco Ramirez, 23, was arrested by border patrol officials last week. Ramirez was interviewed by detectives with the Stockton Police Department and booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on suspicion of homicide Tuesday.

The arrest stems from a shooting on March 22 in the 4100 block of Logan Lane. Officers responding to a welfare check found Kaitlyn Valdovinos, 18, with a gunshot wound. She died at the scene.

Officers also found a 20-year-old woman nearby with non-life-threatening gunshot wounds. She was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Police have not said what led up to the deadly shooting. The homicide remains under investigation.

Second teen arrested in Lakeview neighborhood shooting

A second teenager has been linked to a deadly shooting in the Lakeview neighborhood.

Rafael Galvan, 18, was arrested by the Long Beach Police Department on May 24 after local law enforcement issued an arrest warrant. Galvan has since been transported back to Stockton and was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail on suspicion of homicide Tuesday.

Galvan's arrest comes three weeks after Jadari Benson, 18, was arrested by sheriff's deputies during a traffic stop on May 6 near North Filbert Street and East Waterloo Road.

Galvan and Benson are believed to be connected with the homicide of 21-year-old Boivae Martinez Jr., a Stockton resident who was found by officers lying in a vehicle on April 6 near Wood Duck Circle and Quail Lakes Drive. Police said Martinez had suffered from a gunshot wound, and he was pronounced dead by medical personnel at the scene.

Law enforcement shared no information about a potential motive. It's unclear if the shooter, or shooters, knew the victim.

Galvan and Benson are expected to appear in court on June 4.

Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: Roundup: Stockton PD nab homicide suspects, release video of police shooting
(Bloomberg) -- A disciplinary board in Washington on Friday recommended that Rudy Giuliani, a former lawyer and ally to Donald Trump, should be disbarred for frivolously arguing the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

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The Board on Professional Responsibility concluded that Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, made unsupported claims as he unsuccessfully argued that election officials in Pennsylvania had failed to protect against voter fraud.

He urged a federal judge to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania voters even though he had no objectively reliable evidence that any such scheme existed, or even that any illegal mail-in ballots had been counted, wrote the board, which acts as the disciplinary arm of the DC Court of Appeals.

We conclude that disbarment is the only sanction that will protect the public, the courts, and the integrity of the legal profession, and deter other lawyers from launching similarly baseless claims in the pursuit of such wide-ranging yet completely unjustified relief, the panel wrote.

This is the second-to-last step toward Giulianis official disbarment in Washington. The case now goes to the DC Court of Appeals for a final ruling.

Giuliani had contested a previous report released last year finding he committed misconduct by pursuing destructive court challenges to President Joe Bidens win in Pennsylvania. Disbarment is the most severe possible punishment. Giulianis law license has been temporarily suspended since 2021.

Ted Goodman, an adviser to Giuliani, labeled the recommendation a partisan effort by Democrats aimed at discouraging lawyers from representing Trump or anyone else who is willing to take on the prevailing political establishment.

We recognize that disbarment has not been imposed in other frivolous litigation cases, but none of those cases involve the aggravating factors presented here, the board wrote.

In the wake of the 2020 election, Giuliani worked with other lawyers to file suits challenging the results in multiple states on behalf of then-President Trump. Giuliani and his lawyers have defended his work, arguing his legal strategy was legitimate and reasonable.

(Updates with Giuliani advisers response in seventh paragraph.)

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(File/Getty Images)

COLUMBIA  A regulation on age-appropriate books in South Carolinas schools that was widely assumed to be dead for the year will instead take effect in a month, unless a supermajority of legislators agree to block it.

The proposed rules governing whats age and developmentally appropriate for K-12 classrooms and libraries never got a vote on either the House or Senate floor before the regular session ended May 9.

But theyre set for approval anyway on June 25  120 days after the State Board of Education submitted them for legislative review. By law, thats when the window for legislators to weigh in  either to approve or reject them  will expire.

Yet the automatic approval caught even GOP legislative leaders by surprise. Some were incensed when they found out in the waning hours of the session  if only because the regulation slipped through by an apparent fluke.

Such a significant regulation skipping a legislative vetting is a problem, Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey told the SC Daily Gazette on Thursday.

I would prefer they not go through. I would prefer that regulations of any type be vetted in the legislative branch before they go into effect, said the Edgefield Republican. Thats even more the case when you have significant and impactful regulations. We spend a lot of time in the Senate vetting regulations, most of which dont matter that much.

This one will matter, he said.

A vagueness problem

The regulation bars books that describe sexual conduct and creates a statewide system for parents to challenge books they think violate the rules, with an appeals process that gives the State Board of Education final say. Parents must have a child in the district to complain and must first talk with school- or district-level staff for a potential resolution before escalating their concerns.

The problem, say teacher advocates, is that the definition of whats inappropriate is so broad, even The Scarlett Letter, classics by William Shakespeare, and the Bible could be stricken from classrooms.

The regulation ties the definition to the states obscenity law, but only to a portion of the code that lists sexual activities. Books and other classroom materials that describe or depict whats on that list are barred.

During hearings in the House, the state Department of Educations attorney said the rationale for the wording was to eliminate vagueness.

It actually does the opposite, creating a vague, unworkable standard, said Patrick Kelly, a lobbyist for the Palmetto State Teachers Association.

The Bible makes references to two people becoming one flesh. Thats a description of intercourse, he said.

He actually credits the State Board of Education for fixing most of his groups issues with the proposed regulation before submitting it to the Legislature. But the vagueness of the definition could bog down a local school board with frivolous challenges, he said.

The regulation limits the number of complaints but still allows up to five a month per parent. Thats a lot for someone who might have a political agenda, he said.

I worry about a chilling effect on teachers. If Im a teacher considering whether to assign (Shakespeares) A Midsummer Nights Dream, do I worry that it runs afoul of a vague ban? asked Kelly, also a high school teacher of Advanced Placement government courses.

Its an easy fix, he said: A possible solution would be to simply add the word explicit in the definition.

After all, that would match the stated goal of state Superintendent Ellen Weaver.

In an email to teachers in March, Weaver attempted to assuage teachers concerns.

What I want to stress is that the heart and purpose behind this regulation is to create certainty by providing consistency and clarity for both parents and educators, she wrote. I am confident that this uniform process to remove the potential of sexually explicit content being provided to children  will ultimately help lower the temperature and foster trust and partnerships between parents and our public schools.

Kelly said he agrees with her goal, but the problem is that the regulation doesnt say explicit.

They were so close to producing a pretty strong product  just a little more time and a little more thought, he said. If they could just come back in January and tighten up the language.

A moving expiration date

Thats exactly what Senate Education Chairman Greg Hembree said he expected to happen.

We were all operating under the belief it would time out, the Little River Republican told the SC Daily Gazette.

Hembrees committee never took it up at all. He said he proposed sitting down in the off-session with Weaver and House Education Chairwoman Shannon Erickson to try to put some polish on the regulation before putting it before senators in January.

As initially filed, the regulation itself indicated legislators had until March 2025 to reject or approve it. It was assumed  wrongly, it turned out  that the normal 120-day window wouldnt apply once the regular session ended.

And then someone  its not clear to the Gazette who  realized the language to stop that clock was missing from the legislation governing the sessions adjournment.

GOP senators chalk it up to an apparent oversight in the writing of that resolution, combined with an unfamiliarity with the process. Hembree, in his sixth year as education chairman, acknowledged regulations are not something his committee normally handles, certainly not such a controversial one.

On May 13, four days after the regular session ended, the timeline on the regulation was revised. Instead of setting an expiration date of March 1, 2025, it gave June 25, 2024, as the date for automatic approval.

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Teachers who are aware are worried, said Sherry East, president of the South Carolina Education Association.

Weve received calls from teachers asking how this will impact their instruction next year, and we dont have an answer for them, said East, whos also a high school science teacher in Rock Hill. Were in a wait-and-see operation right now.

Rep. Spencer Wetmore, a member of the House panel that held the only legislative hearing on the regulation, said shes sure most people have no idea the regulation is set to go through: How could they?

Its happening in the most untransparent way something could possibly take effect, said the Folly Beach Democrat.

The regulation was touted as something that wont ban the average book, but if school boards must apply this brightline rule of whats considered age-inappropriate, then classics like George Orwells 1984 (published in 1949) and Ayn Rands 1943 novel The Fountainhead will and should be banned, Wetmore said.

I dont know that Genesis and Leviticus will make the cut, she said, referring to the Old Testament books of the Bible. This is going to go in effect and people who are likely to challenge a book will know and librarians will not.

There are a few possible ways the Legislature could still stop the regulation from automatically taking effect, all of which require supermajority approval before June 25. So, the chances of any of them happening could be slim.

The state Department of Education could also pull the regulation on its own and resubmit it in January. But an agency spokesperson confirmed Friday thats not going to happen.

Im not going to stand in the way of blocking the regulations approval date, if thats what Senate Republicans want to do, Hembree said.

But that could be an uphill battle, an attempt he likened to throwing a hand grenade into the mix of what legislators still need to accomplish, primarily finalizing the state budget.

He said hes confident the Department of Education will send guidance out over the summer answering questions and easing concerns.

And if the regulation does cause problems, he said, legislators will fix it when they return in January with a law that would override the agencys regulation.

If this has a fatal flaw that reveals itself between now and January, well fix it, Hembree said. Instead of blowing stuff up and bringing more stress (to the coming weeks), lets let it be.

To teachers, he said, I wouldnt panic. I dont think theres anything you need to worry about.

Laura Bayne, a deputy superintendent for communications, said the education department is confident in the State Board of Educations work on the regulation.

The agency looks forward to providing clear, collaborative guidance to districts on implementation procedures whenever the regulation becomes final, she said in a statement late Friday afternoon.

Editors note: The article has been updated with a response from the state Department of Education.

Let us know what you think...

The post New rules on age-appropriate books in SC classrooms set for automatic approval appeared first on SC Daily Gazette.
Russia continues its attempts to disrupt Ukraine's peace summit next month, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 31 during the joint press conference of the Nordic-Ukrainian summit's participants in Stockholm.

The global peace summit will be held on June 15-16 in the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland.

"Our diplomacy must be as effective as our weapons. The most important thing right now is the peace summit. It should become a truly global summit," Zelensky said.

"At this moment, we already have about 100 states and international organizations that will participate in the summit, but Russia is blackmailing some leaders and trying to block the participation of some countries."

The president said that Kyiv is still waiting for the responses from some of the partners.

"Today, we discussed how we can strengthen our peace efforts together," he added.

Zelensky previously ruled out Russia's participation in the event, as it continues to attack Ukraine on a daily basis.

Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also said Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to disrupt the upcoming summit.

"Putin is desperately trying to derail the peace summit in Switzerland on June 1516. He is scared of its success," Kuleba wrote on X.

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said that Moscow has to be at a peace summit "sooner or later," even if it does not attend its first meeting.

Read also: China wont attend Ukraines global peace summit, Reuters reports

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During the night of May 31, Kyiv was targeted by a Russian missile attack.

Serhii Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration, said in a post on Telegram that according to preliminary data, Russian forces likely used cruise missiles.

All missiles were successfully intercepted and destroyed by anti-aircraft defense.

Debris from the missiles caused a fire in a non-residential building in the Holosiivskyi district, with emergency services responding promptly.

Currently, there are no reported casualties.

A Kyiv Independent reporter in the city center was woken around 3:20 a.m. local time by an air raid alert, with reports on local Telegram channels reporting a single Shahed drone in the area.

The all clear was given 15 minutes later but a second alert sounded at 4:50 a.m. followed shortly after by an explosion in the distance.

The Kyiv City Military Administration provided an overview of the consequences of the attack around 7:40 a.m.

According to the administration's statement, the missile attack resulted in a fire that covered an area of 120 square meters and damaged a car wash, six cars, a warehouse, and a building of a car repair shop.

Missile debris also destroyed a transformer substation and damaged power lines in the Holosiivskyi municipal district, said DTEK, Ukraine's largest private energy company.

The company's employees managed to restore much of the power supply by 8:10 a.m. local time, with only around 10 houses and one company building remaining without electricity.

Missile and drone attacks have increased in frequency and intensity in recent months throughout Ukraine.

The European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, recently urged EU member nations to supply Ukraine with additional anti-missile systems, sounding the alarm on escalating Russian strikes.

Read also: Updated: Russian missile attacks on Kharkiv kill 3, injure 23

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Russia and Ukraine exchange prisoners for first time since February

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a press conference with Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo (Not Pictured) after their meeting. Zelensky is visiting Belgium to sign a bilateral security agreement in Brussels. Dirk Waem/Belga/dpa

Russia and Ukraine have exchanged prisoners again for the first time in months.

Seventy-five Russian soldiers "who were in mortal danger" were returned, the Defence Ministry in Moscow said on Friday.

In return, 75 prisoners of war were handed over to the Ukrainian armed forces.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed the exchange on his Telegram channel.

Both sides also exchanged the bodies of dead soldiers. Ukraine reportedly received 212 remains of its soldiers back. The Russian side, in turn, received 45 bodies.

The last major prisoner exchange between the two sides took place in February. Just two days ago, Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova accused the Ukrainian side of sabotaging the exchange, saying that Kiev was "constantly making new demands."
Russian troops attacked the village of Drobysheve in Donetsk Oblast on May 31, killing one person and injuring three other, Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

Drobysheve is located some 35 kilometers (21 miles) from Kramatorsk, one of the key Ukrainian-held cities in Donetsk Oblast.

The village reportedly came under Russian attacks four times in the morning. Five houses, an administrative building, and other facilities were damaged, while four more houses and four cars were "completely destroyed," the governor said.

Settlements in Donetsk Oblast suffer from daily Russian strikes due to their proximity to the front line. Heavy fighting continues in Donetsk Oblast as Russia seeks to occupy the entire region.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian attacks against Donetsk Oblast have destroyed and damaged at least 116,000 residential buildings, including over 7,000 high-rise apartment blocks, Filashkin told the Kyiv Independent in an interview published on April 19.

Read also: Smelling weakness, Russia presses advantage in Donetsk Oblast

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Russians prepare for second phase of offensive in Kharkiv Oblast and redeploy reserves  ISW

The build-up of Russian forces in Kharkiv Oblast has indicated that they are likely to make efforts to push Ukrainian forces out of critically important areas of the battlefield in Ukraines east and create a so-called buffer zone in the north of Kharkiv Oblast. By doing so, the Russians are intending to launch the second phase of their offensive in Kharkiv Oblast.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Details: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on 30 May that Russian forces were redeploying their troops from other fronts and training grounds to the Strilecha-Lyptsi area (to the north of Kharkiv) and Vovchansk (to the northeast of Kharkiv).

Syrskyi reported that the Russian forces concentrated in the north of Kharkiv Oblast did not have enough manpower to carry out a full-scale offensive and break through Ukraines defences there.

Oleh Syniehubov, Head of Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, declared that Russian troops were moving reserves to the Lyptsi and Vovchansk fronts in order to draw and entrench as many Ukrainian forces as possible in the north of Kharkiv Oblast and maintain the current pace of the Russian offensive there.

Russian forces are likely planning to start the second phase of their offensive operations in the north of Kharkiv Oblast after the planned capture of Vovchansk.

The ISW estimated that Russian forces were likely to hold back many of its Northern Grouping of Forces's reserves. The grouping would not have the manpower to mount a successful operation to surround or capture the city of Kharkiv, even at the upper end of its stated final number of 50,000-70,000.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 30 May:

US President Joe Biden reportedly approved a policy change that will permit Ukraine to use US-provided weapons, including GMLRS rockets  but not longer-range ATACMS missiles  to strike within Russian territory near the border with Kharkiv Oblast.

Ukraine's European allies continue to announce their support for allowing Ukraine to use Western-provided weapons to strike military targets in Russia.

Senior Ukrainian military officials reported that Russian forces are transferring forces to northern Kharkiv Oblast from other sectors of the front line, indicating that the Russian military continues to prioritise efforts to draw and fix Ukrainian forces in northern Kharkiv Oblast.

French officials reportedly may soon announce that France is sending military trainers to Ukraine.

Western countries continue efforts to increase artillery production and procurement for Ukraine.

NATO member states reportedly lack sufficient air defene capabilities to protect members of the Alliance in Central and Eastern Europe in the event of a full-scale attack.

The Russian government approved a package of amendments to the Russian tax code on 30 May that will introduce a progressive income tax scale starting in 2025, marginally placing some of the financial burdens of Russia's long-war effort in Ukraine onto Russia's wealthy elite.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin continued efforts to address Russias ongoing demographic crisis as part of the "Year of the Family" 2024 domestic policy initiative.

Russian peacekeepers in Moldova's Russian-backed breakaway republic of Transnistria are reportedly conducting a month-long unauthorised inspection of their armoured vehicles and may conduct further provocations in the coming months.

Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Vovchansk, and Russian forces recently advanced near Chasiv Yar, Avdiivka, and Donetsk City and in the east (left) bank of Kherson Oblast.

Russia formed a new unnamed airborne (VDV) regiment based in occupied Crimea, which currently operates on the Zaporizhzhia front.

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On the evening of 31 May, the Russian military attacked the port infrastructure of Odesa, injuring two people.

Source: Oleh Kiper, Head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram

Quote: "In the evening, the enemy struck Odesa. According to preliminary information, it was a ballistic missile carrying a cluster munition. Russian terrorists targeted port infrastructure.

Two people received shrapnel wounds: a 28-year-old woman and a 37-year-old man."

Details: According to Kiper, the victims were hospitalised in a state of moderate severity.

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UK Defence Intelligence estimates that the total number of Russian losses (killed and wounded) since the beginning of the full-scale invasion has likely reached 500,000.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence review dated 31 May, as reported by European Pravda

Details: In 2024, the Russian losses remained at a high level, and in May, the average Russian casualty rate was over 1,200 per day, the highest reported since the start of the war.

An increased level of losses is likely a reflection of Russias ongoing gruelling offensive, which is being conducted across a wide front.

It is highly likely that most Russian forces receive only limited training, and they are not capable of carrying out complex offensive operations, the UK Defence Ministry estimates. As a result, Russia has been conducting small-scale but costly wave attacks in an attempt to weaken Ukrainian defences.

Russia continues to recruit additional forces to sustain this approach. However, the need to continuously replenish frontline personnel will almost certainly continue to limit Russias ability to form units with higher levels of combat capability.

Background:

On 30 May, Ankur Narayan, Counsellor for Politico-Military Affairs at the UK Delegation to the OSCE, stated that the losses of Russian forces exceeded 465,000.

On 31 May, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced the number of Russian losses at over 507,000.

The North Atlantic Alliance estimates that as of April, the total losses of Russian forces during the full-scale war in Ukraine amounted to more than 350,000.

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MOSCOW (Reuters) -Senior Russian security official Dmitry Medvedev said on Friday that Russia was not bluffing when it spoke of the possibility of using tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine and warned Moscow's conflict with the West could escalate into all-out war.

Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council and a former Russian president, said Moscow's conflict with the West was developing according to the worst case scenario and that "nobody today can rule out the conflict's transition to its final stage."

"Russia regards all long-range weapons used by Ukraine as already being directly controlled by servicemen from NATO countries. This is no military assistance, this is participation in a war against us," Medvedev said.

"And such actions could well become a casus belli (an act that provokes a war)."

Medvedev, who has become one of the Kremlin's most hardline hawks, was commenting after four U.S. officials told Reuters on Thursday that U.S. President Joe Biden had quietly authorised Kyiv to launch U.S.-supplied weapons at military targets inside Russia that are supporting an offensive against the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv.

Medvedev, whose statements diplomats say give a flavour of what senior people in the Kremlin are thinking, said it would be a "fatal mistake" on the part of the West to think that Russia was not ready to use tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine.

He also spoke of the potential to strike unnamed hostile countries with strategic nuclear weapons.

"This is, alas, neither intimidation nor bluffing," said Medvedev.

"The current military conflict with the West is developing according to the worst possible scenario. There is a constant escalation when it comes to the firepower of NATO weapons being used. Therefore, nobody today can rule out the conflict's transition to its final stage," he said.

(Reporting by ReutersEditing by Andrew Osborn)
By Rini Dutta, KYODO NEWS - May 31, 2024 - 10:43 | World, All

A Hindu temple in northern India inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January was long awaited by the country's majority Hindus, but minority Muslims hold bitter memories of a 1992 uprising that razed an Islamic mosque at the site and sparked communal violence resulting in over 1,000 deaths nationwide.

In Ayodhya, several Hindu residents expressed frustration over the government's development efforts, particularly as their homes were forcibly demolished. This occurred amid the growing popularity of the temple, which has reportedly solidified many Hindus' support for Modi's party forecast to win a general election wrapping up soon.

The seven-phase election in the world's largest democracy began April 19, with its last phase to be held on Saturday and vote counting of all seven polls to occur next Tuesday. Opinion polls indicate that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party will win to allow Modi to secure a third five-year term.

The development of the area surrounding the Ram Mandir temple, a symbol of the BJP's Hindu nationalism, has been on the party's agenda. The controversial temple was built on the site of a 16th-century mosque, which was destroyed by the 1992 Hindu mob.

Azizullah, the Muslim owner of an eyeglasses shop located 3 to 4 kilometers from the temple, said he witnessed the Hindu mob on Dec. 6, 1992, which tore down "every single part of the construction" of the Babri Mosque in several hours.

"I remember there was an orphanage where many Muslims lived and (there was) another establishment. When the demolition started, many Muslims started running away from there and started coming to this area for their safety," said Azizullah, going by only his first name.

"Many were killed in that process, while many Muslims' houses were also burned," the 70-year-old said.

The optician later joined a campaign to protest those who demolished the mosque and demand the return of its area to Muslims. Although Hindus consider the site as the birthplace of their god Rama, claiming it previously had a temple that was displaced by Muslim rulers in the 16th century, Muslims maintain no Hindu temple existed there before the Mughal ruler built the mosque.

After years of legal wrangling, India's Supreme Court in 2019 issued a ruling allowing a Hindu temple to be built on the disputed holy site. The court also decided to provide an alternative five-acre site, much smaller than the temple's, to build a mosque.

Azizullah believes that the court's ruling on the temple was influenced by the Hindu majority population seeking its establishment, but said he accepts the decision.

"For Masjid (meaning mosque), we got a small land, which is 20 to 22 kilometers away from the main city," he said in a regretful tone.

Most of India's over 1.4 billion people are Hindus, but it reportedly has around 200 million Muslims.

Not all the Hindus, however, were excited about the temple as many nearby houses and markets were destroyed by authorities to revamp the town.

Surekha Pandey, who lives with her Hindu priest husband, said more than half of their house was demolished due to its proximity to a road leading to the main temple.

The 36-year-old said local authorities came last year, without prior notice or consultation, and bulldozed some houses in the area, including hers, in order to broaden the road.

Following the demolition, the couple, who continued living in what was left of their house, was paid 540,000 rupees ($6,500) as compensation by the local government, but the amount of money is too small to buy a new house and land, Pandey said.

"Now it's been one year but the road construction has not yet started. All the pipelines are broken," she lamented.

When the government held the ceremony for the temple's inauguration on Jan. 22, leaders of the Indian National Congress, country's main opposition party, did not attend it. Since then, the BJP has been portraying it as an "anti-Hindu" party.

Congress, which has not publicly opposed the construction of the temple, has accused the BJP of using "one particular issue" on social media to attract voters, urging the Election Commission to take note of it, according to local media reports.

At a rally in Madhya Pradesh on May 7, when the third of the seven-phase polls was held in the central state, Modi said Congress called for "vote jihad" against him, according to a Press Trust of India report.

"India is at a turning point in history -- you have to decide if vote jihad will work or Ram Rajya," Modi was quoted as saying, labeling Congress as pro-Islam and referring to the Hindu god enshrined at the temple.

Nilanjan Mukhopadhyay, a journalist based in New Delhi, said the BJP, which once prioritized policies for the populace over political gains derived from religious matters, has changed.

"It has become more aggressive and more hungry for political power," said Mukhopadhyay, the author of a book about the demolition of the mosque and the temple construction.

If the BJP wins the election, greater alienation of the Muslim minority will happen, Mukhopadhyay said.

Earlier this year, for example, Modi's government enforced a discriminatory citizenship law, which was passed in 2019 and allows members of non-Muslim minorities facing persecution in neighboring countries to acquire Indian nationality.

With Modi's government cracking down on political dissident, there are concerns about further erosion of democracy if the BJP maintains its overwhelming majority of 303 out of the 543 constituency seats in the lower house of parliament.

But Mukhopadhyay said if the BJP wins less than 270 seats, it needs the support of other parties to pass bills, meaning it would be difficult for it to do whatever it wants.

The 73-year-old Modi has served as prime minister since 2014.

Related coverage:

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Protesters march to the Arkansas Capitol on Aug. 22 to deliver a letter to Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders office detailing the difficulties they have had with the states Medicaid program. Millions of people have been removed from Medicaid rolls since April, when pandemic-era protections ended. (Tess Vrbin/Arkansas Advocate)

One of Montanas largest health clinics that serves people in poverty has cut back services and laid off workers. The retrenchment mirrors similar cuts around the country as safety-net health centers feel the effects of states purging their Medicaid rolls.

Billings-based RiverStone Health is eliminating 42 jobs this spring, cutting nearly 10% of its workforce. The cuts have shuttered an inpatient hospice facility, will close a center for patients managing high blood pressure, and removed a nurse who worked within rural schools. It also reduced the size of the clinics behavioral health care team and the number of staffers focused on serving people without housing.

RiverStone Health CEO Jon Forte said clinic staffers had anticipated a shortfall as the cost of business climbed in recent years. But a $3.2 million loss in revenue, which he largely attributed to Montana officials disenrolling a high number of patients from Medicaid, pushed RiverStones deficit much further into the red than anticipated.

That has just put us in a hole that we could not overcome, Forte said.

RiverStone is one of nearly 1,400 federally funded clinics in the U.S. that adjust their fees based on what individuals can pay. Theyre designed to reach people who face disproportionate barriers to care. Some are in rural communities, where offering primary care can come at a financial loss. Others concentrate on vulnerable populations falling through cracks in urban hubs. Altogether, these clinics serve more than 30 million people.

The health centers lifeblood is revenue received from Medicaid, the state-federal subsidized health coverage for people with low incomes or disabilities. Because they serve a higher proportion of low-income people, the federally funded centers tend to have a larger share of patients on the program and rely on those reimbursements.

But Medicaid enrollment is undergoing a seismic shift as states reevaluate who is eligible for it, a process known as the Medicaid unwinding. It follows a two-year freeze on disenrollments that protected peoples access to care during the covid public health emergency.

As of May 23, more than 22 million people had lost coverage, including about 134,000 in Montana  12% of the states population. Some no longer met income eligibility requirements, but the vast majority were booted because of paperwork problems, such as people missing the deadline, state documents going to outdated addresses, or system errors.

That means health centers increasingly offer care without pay. Some have seen patient volumes drop, which also means less money. When providers like RiverStone cut services, vulnerable patients have fewer care options.

Jon Ebelt, communications director of the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, said the agency isnt responsible for individual organizations business decisions. He said the state is focused on maintaining safety-net systems while protecting Medicaid from being misused.

Nationwide, health centers face a similar problem: a perfect financial storm created by a sharp rise in the cost of care, a tight workforce, and now fewer insured patients. In recent months, clinics in California and Colorado have also announced cuts.

Its happening in all corners of the country, said Amanda Pears Kelly, CEO of Advocates for Community Health, a national advocacy group representing federally qualified health centers.

Nearly a quarter of community health center patients who rely on Medicaid were cut from the program, according to a joint survey from George Washington University and the National Association of Community Health Centers. On average, each center lost about $600,000.

One in 10 centers either reduced staff or services, or limited appointments.

Health centers across the board try to make sure that the patients know theyre still there, said Joe Dunn, senior vice president for public policy and advocacy at the National Association of Community Health Centers.

Most centers operate on shoestring budgets, and some started reporting losses as the workforce tightened and the cost of business spiked.

Meanwhile, federal assistance  money designed to cover the cost of people who cant afford care remained largely flat. Congress increased those funds in March to roughly $7 billion over 15 months, though health center advocates said that still doesnt cover the tab.

Until recently, RiverStone in Montana had been financially stable. Before the pandemic, the organization was making money, according to financial audits.

In summer 2019, a $10 million expansion was starting to pay off. RiverStone was serving more patients through its clinic and pharmacy, a revenue increase that more than offset increases in operating costs, according to documents.

But in 2021, at the height of the pandemic, those growing expenses  staff pay, building upkeep, the price of medicine, and medical gear  outpaced the cash coming in. By last summer, the company had an operational loss of about $1.7 million. With the Medicaid redetermination underway, RiverStones pool of covered patients shrank, eroding its financial buffer.

Forte said the health center plans to ask state officials to increase its Medicaid reimbursement rates, saying existing rates dont cover the continuum of care. Thats a tricky request after the state raised its rates slightly last year following much debate around which services needed more money.

Some health center cuts represent a return to pre-pandemic staffing, after temporary federal pandemic funding dried up. But others are rolling back long-standing programs as budgets went from stretched to operating in the red.

Californias Petaluma Health Center in March laid off 32 people hired during the pandemic, The Press Democrat reported, or about 5% of its workforce. Its one of the largest primary care providers in Sonoma County, where life expectancy varies based on where people live and poverty is more prevalent in largely Hispanic neighborhoods.

Clinica Family Health, which has clinics throughout Colorados Front Range, laid off 46 people, or about 8% of its staff, in October. It has consolidated its dental program from three clinics to two, closed a walk-in clinic meant to help people avoid the emergency room, and ended a home-visit program for patients recently discharged from the hospital.

Clinica said 37% of its patients on Medicaid before the unwinding began lost their coverage and are now on Clinicas discount program. This means the clinic now receives between $5 and $25 for medical visits that used to bring in $220-$230.

If its a game of musical chairs, were the ones with the last chair. And if we have to pull it away, then people hit the ground, said CEO Simon Smith.

Stephanie Brooks, policy director of the Colorado Community Health Network, which represents Colorado health centers, said some centers are considering consolidating or closing clinics.

Colorado and Montana have among the nations highest percentages of enrollment declines. Officials in both states have defended their Medicaid redetermination process, saying most people dropped from coverage likely no longer qualify, and they point to low unemployment rates as a factor.

In many states, health providers and patients alike have provided examples in which people cut from coverage still qualified and had to spend months entangled in system issues to regain access.

Forte, with RiverStone, said reducing services on the heels of a pandemic adds insult to injury, both for health care workers who stayed in hard jobs and for patients who lost trust that theyll be able to access care.

This is so counterproductive and counterintuitive to what were trying to do to meet the health care needs of our community, Forte said.

KFF Health News correspondent Rae Ellen Bichell in Longmont, Colorado, contributed to this report.

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. Learn more about KFF.

The post Safety-Net Health Clinics Cut Services and Staff Amid Medicaid Unwinding appeared first on Missouri Independent.
The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribal Council welcomed U.s. Department of Transposrtation Assistant Secretary for the Office of Tribal Government Affairs Arlando Teller to cultivate a partnership focused on improving transportation infrastructure in Akwesasne.

The Tribal Council and Colleen Thomas, on behalf of Planning and Infrastructure, reviewed roadway conditions on the southern portion of Akwesasne. Assistant Secretary Arlando Teller listened to concerns raised by the Tribe and toured sites in need of repair.

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The Akwesasne community experiences a significant amount of traffic from local, international and domestic travelers passing through the territory. High traffic volumes combined with north country winters, leads to substantial deterioration of local roadways. Therefore, the Tribe is rebuilding a working relationship with the NYS Department of Transportation to address areas of concern.

The Tribe is grateful for Assistant Secretary Tellers time and suggestions for possible pathways that would lend much needed support to the Tribes roads program. Assistant Secretary Tellers personal tour included Cook Road, McGee Road, the Frogtown Road intersection, Drum Street, and Raquette Point Road.

Aheehee niitsago (a sincere thank you) for the amazing hospitality from St. Regis Mohawk Leadership. My visit to your Nation demonstrates continued efforts in improving transportation connectivity through partnership and collaboration," Teller said. "Your Planning and Infrastructure team are dedicated professionals who dedicate their time in the safe transportation of community members and the traveling public.

The Tribal Council is hopeful that positive changes will emerge from this meeting, and looks forward to the next visit from representatives from the U.S. Department of Transportation, as well as the New York State Deputy Secretary for First Nations and Deputy Secretary forTransportation for Governor Hochul to review the Tribes transportation needs. The Tribal Council remains committed to protecting the safety of community members and visitors traveling through the Akwesasne Territory.

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
Justice Samuel Alito, in a letter to Democratic senators on Wednesday, gave his fullest defense yet of his flag-related brouhahas. Some of his explanations are persuasive. Others are not. And as it happens, his defense is at odds with an opinion he himself wrote in a flag controversy in Boston that the Supreme Court ruled on two years ago.



The New York Times reported in recent weeks that two politically charged flags flew outside Alitos residences: an upside-down American flag outside his D.C.-area residence soon after the January 6 attack on the Capitol, and an Appeal to Heaven flag outside his familys Long Beach Island vacation home last summer.

Some observers saw the flags as an expression of sympathy with the election denialists whose actions led to January 6 and called for Alito to recuse himself from two cases related to those events: a challenge to some January 6 sentences, and former President Donald Trumps immunity case. In a letter to Democratic Senators Dick Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse on Wednesday, Alito laid out his full version of events and said they did not justify recusal.

The Supreme Courts Code of Conduct, which it formally adopted last year, says that justices should disqualify themselves in a proceeding in which the justices impartiality might reasonably be questioned, that is, where an unbiased and reasonable person who is aware of all relevant circumstances would doubt that the justice could fairly discharge his or her duties. Alito said that both flag-related incidents [do] not meet the applicable standard for recusal.

First, Alito told the senators that the upside-down flag was attributable to his wife, not to himself. As I have stated publicly, I had nothing whatsoever to do with the flying of that flag, Alito claimed. I was not even aware of the upside-down flag until it was called to my attention. As soon as I saw it, I asked my wife to take it down, but for several days, she refused. He noted that his wife possesses the same First Amendment rights as every other American.

As for the Appeal to Heaven flag, also known as the Pine Tree flag, Alito again attributed the decision solely to his wife. My wife is fond of flying flags, he wrote. I am not. He noted that his wife flies a wide range of national, international, civic, historical, and patriotic flags, and that he was not aware of the Appeal to Heaven flags other meanings when she flew it at their beach house. She did not fly it to associate herself with that or any other group, and the use of an old historic flag by a new group does not necessarily drain that flag of all other meanings, he added.

Ill start with the second one. I initially assumed that the decision to fly the Appeal to Heaven flag was an ideologically charged one. It is not a commonly flown flag these days, and when it is flown, it is typically done to express a certain political viewpoint. If flown in isolation, an observer could reasonably assume that it was for its modern political appropriation. That assumption would be stronger if the flag were flown on multiple days, by itself, or on specific days that might be politically significant.

However, if the justices wife is a genuine flag enthusiast and she flew the Appeal to Heaven flag in combination with other patriotic and historic ones, then it is more plausible that she flew it for its historical significance. Flying multiple flags always diminishes their individual meanings. Raising an individual Mexican flag or Confederate flag or French flag in Texas, for example, sends a different message than flying the six flags over Texas in combination with each other. A reasonable person would also not assume that the United Nations is expressing favoritism for any particular country because it flies all of its member flags outside its headquarters in New York.

Context helps Alitos case with that episode. But it does not help him with the upside-down flag outside his home. The justice said his wife flew the flag to signify distresswhich the upside-down flag signified long ago when hoisted by sailorswith some of her neighbors, one of whom displayed a sign outside their home that personally criticized the Alitos after January 6. According to Alito, one of those neighbors also berated her in my presence, including what I regard as the vilest epithet that can be addressed to a woman.

The neighbor disputes some but not all of these details, if you care to read further. (The Times is very much on it.) Nonetheless, the problem with Alitos defense is self-evident: He had to explain the context to everyone because nobody could discern it on their own. Imagine, for a moment, that you are jogging through the Alitos neighborhood on January 20, 2021. President Joe Biden is being sworn in at the Capitol that day. You saw a report that mentioned Alito would not be attending the ceremony. And when you pass by the Alitos house, you see the flag flown upside down.

A reasonable observer would not logically conclude that the Alitos are in actual distressflying an upside-down flag to convey that specific message makes no practical sense in a world where you can simply call 911. The observer would instead assume that it was to signal distress in a more emotional and metaphorical sense. Indeed, that is the sense in which Alito claims it was used.

But that same passerby would have no knowledge of the neighborhood disputes that purportedly led the justices wife to raise it in the first place. Its not like there was a large sign outside the house explaining that particular reason for flying it. Instead, it would have been more understandable if someone thought they were raising a distress flag as a form of political protestwhether in sympathy with the Stop the Steal crowd or just generally against the incoming Biden administration.

The justice knows how public perception of flags works because he has written about it in his official capacity. Two years ago, the Supreme Court heard a flag-related case known as Shurtleff v. Boston. For many years, the city of Boston had a program for flying flags from private citizens outside City Hall alongside the national and state flags. In 2017, the city rejected a request from local activist Harold Shurtleff to fly a Christian flag as part of the program, citing the establishment clause.

Shurtleff sued the city on First Amendment grounds and argued that the city had engaged in viewpoint discrimination by refusing to fly his flag, despite flying other citizens flags. Boston argued that the decision to fly it counted as government speech and was therefore not constrained by the First Amendment. The Supreme Court unanimously sided with Shurtleff that the flag-flying program reflected private speech in a public forum and therefore fell under the First Amendments requirements.

Alito wrote separately to say that he concurred with the courts ultimate decision but not with how it reached it. Justice Stephen Breyer, writing for the majority, looked to three factors to decide whether this expressionand future onescounted as government speech: the history of the expression at issue; the publics likely perception as to who (the government or a private person) is speaking; and the extent to which the government has actively shaped or controlled the expression. Because Boston had a history of flying other citizens flags, a bystander likely would conclude that flying the Christian flag was a private persons speech, not Bostons. And because Boston had not previously denied this form of expression, its denial of Shurtleff violated his free speech rights, the court concluded.

Alito rejected all three of these factorsmost importantly, in the context of this weeks flag flap, the one pertaining to public perception. Unless the public is assumed to be omniscient, public perception cannot be relevant to whether the government is speaking, as opposed [to] merely appearing to speak, he wrote.

He and Breyer both acknowledged that, without further context about the Boston program, the public was likely to conclude that it was government speech. As the Court rightly notes, [a] passerby on Cambridge Street confronted with a flag flanked by government flags standing just outside the entrance of Bostons seat of government, Alito wrote, would likely conclude that all of those flags convey some message on the governments behalf.

Alito, by his own admission, realized that flying the distress flag at his Virginia home was a mistake. Once he noticed it, he said that he told his wife to take it down and that she refused. In Alitos telling, There were no additional steps that [he] could have taken. (It is unclear why he didnt simply take it down himself.) In any event, he likely recognized that while his wife had every constitutional right to fly a flag of her own choosing on their jointly owned property, the publics lack of omniscience meant that a passerby would likely attribute it to him. Given his exalted position in American governance, that would be inappropriate.

Does any of this mean Alito should recuse himself from the January 6related cases? Perhaps not, but the question itself doesnt seem to matter. In his letter on Wednesday, Alito engaged in some subtle rewriting of the Supreme Courts ethics code to tilt things in his favor. I am confident that a reasonable person who is not motivated by political or ideological considerations or a desire to affect the outcome of Supreme Court cases would conclude that the events recounted above do not meet the applicable standard for recusal, he wrote.

That is not what the courts code says. It only mentions an unbiased and reasonable person who is aware of all relevant circumstances. By reworking it, Alito suggested that anyone calling for his recusal in this situation is trying to engineer specific outcomes on the court. Under this upside-down articulation of the courts ethics code, the burden of proof is not on the justice who is supposedly bound by it but on the justices critics to show they can question his impartiality in the first place. The message here is simple: Alito will do whatever he wants, and theres nothing that anyone else can do about it.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  A San Angelo man charged for shooting a woman in the leg through a car door has taken a plea deal, court records say.

19-year-old Jeremiah Martinez had a second-degree felony charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon filed against him on July 20, 2022, according to Tom Green County court records. In exchange for a guilty plea, Martinez has received a sentence of 5 years confinement in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

The sentence for a second-degree felony is imprisonment in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice for any term of not more than 20 years or less than 2 years, as per the Texas Penal Code. The offender may also be punished with a fine not to exceed $10,000.

According to a complaint document filed by a San Angelo Police Department detective in relation to the case, police were dispatched to a residence on Chestnut Street on or about July 19, 2022, in reference to a shooting victim. Law enforcement learned that a verbal altercation occurred at the Stripes located at 2718 Sherwood Way between a witness and Martinez.

The victim left the Stripes in a vehicle occupied by the witness involved in the argument as well as two other passengers. The victim departed to the Chestnut Street residence, where one of the other passengers exited the vehicle, before driving to the area of Howard Street and Glenna Street with the remaining occupants.

The victim began following what was described by the witnesses as a black jeep that Martinez was a passenger in. Both vehicles were driving southbound on Glenna Street, and the victim pulled her vehicle next to the passenger side of Martinezs vehicle near the intersection of Glenna Street and Childress Street.

When the victim did this, Martinez began to shoot at the vehicle. One bullet penetrated the drivers side door, striking the victim in her lower left leg. The victim and the occupants of her vehicle then returned to the Chestnut Street residence and awaited the arrival of police. The victim was transported to Shannon Medical Center to be treated for her wound.

SAPD officers later located Martinez at a residence on Guthrie Street. He was then transported to the Criminal Investigation Division Annex building, where law enforcement interviewed him. During the interview, Martinez confessed to shooting the gun at the victims vehicle and admitted that he was the only subject firing a gun.

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San Francisco removes Pine Tree flag, says it's tainted by something 'abhorrent and disgraceful'

The "Appeal to Heaven" flag, here carried by Trump supporters in Philadelphia in 2020, has been taken down outside San Francisco City Hall. (Michael Perez / Associated Press)

A Pine Tree flag, a symbol originally from the Revolutionary War but more recently linked to groups who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, has been removed from the San Francisco Civic Center Plaza.

The simple white flag with a green pine tree in the center and the words "An Appeal to Heaven" at the top had flown in the city's Pavilion of American Flags for 60 years, but it was taken down after the mayor's office said the flag, and its meaning, was co-opted by extremists.

"The Pine Tree flag, or the Appeal to Heaven flag, has recently been adopted to represent a different meaning by extremists who led the insurrection at the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021," said Jeff Cretan, a spokesperson for San Francisco Mayor London Breed. "This was an abhorrent and disgraceful moment in our country's history that threatened the very fabric of our democracy and continues to affect those who lived through the violence and the assault on our fundamental values."

The decision to take the flag down outside City Hall came just days after the New York Times reported that the flag was flown outside of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.'s home in Virginia last year.

Read more: Supreme Court gives National Rifle Assn. a 1st Amendment win in suit against New York officials

The news outlet also reported that in 2020, after the presidential election, the United States flag was flown upside-down outside Alito's home. U.S. flag code, which is not enforceable, specifies the Stars and Stripes should be flown upside-down only "as a signal of dire distress in instances of extreme danger to life or property." The inverted flag was used as a symbol by supporters of former President Trump who contested the results of the presidential election.

The Pine Tree flag has been flown and spotted at right-wing events and was carried by rioters during the Jan. 6 insurrection.

After the New York Times report about the controversial flag being flown at the justice's home, Alito told Congress on Wednesday in a letter that he would not recuse himself from upcoming Supreme Court cases stemming from the Jan. 6 attack.

In San Francisco, city officials took down the controversial flag over the weekend.

Cretan, the spokesperson for the mayor's office, said there was no legislative requirement to take the flag down.

In 1964, the city also took down the Confederate battle flag shortly after it was first flown.

The city has flown 18 flags at the Pavilion of American Flags since June 14, 1964, and each is meant to represent a significant moment in American history.

But the Pine Tree flag is not the only controversial flag in the pavilion that has been used by extremist groups.

The yellow Gadsden flag, which has a coiled rattlesnake and the words "Don't Tread on Me," is also displayed at the pavilion.

The flag has been used by right-wing organizations, including militia groups that have been linked to armed standoffs with federal authorities.

A spokesperson for Breed's office said it was reviewing whether that flag should be removed as well.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
SAN MARCOS (KXAN)  A development of over 200 micro homes is coming to San Marcos soon.

Earlier this month, Casata broke ground in what will be a community of 210 homes ranging from 500 to 800 square feet. Casata CEO Aaron Levy said this will be the largest community of microhomes in the region and potentially in the U.S.

What weve been working towards, and what were finding from residents that currently live in our community, is that there is a different quality of life when you have your own independent home regardless of size, Levy said. Youre not sharing walls, not sharing corridors or stairs to get to your home  you pull up to your home that is your home.

A development of over 60 micro homes opened in South Austin in 2021. Levy said residents have also appreciated the smaller living spaces.

What we believe to be true is theres just a difference in interest in how much space people really need  how much space they need to accommodate for the things they need in their life, he said.

The community, which is around three miles north of San Marcos, will have several dog parks, six acres of trails and park space, a pool, a gym and much more. Levy said people will likely move into the new neighborhood in Summer 2025.

Affordability in San Marcos

Like many communities along the Interstate 35 corridor, San Marcos in recent years has dealt with affordability issues.

We have in San Marcos a higher poverty rate than other communities on the corridor between Austin and San Antonio, said Page Michel, the President & CEO of the San Marcos Area Chamber of Commerce. Both renters and homeowners will find a lack of Supply in their range.

Michel said increasing the supply of rental units and properties to buy is important in tackling the affordability problem.

[The Casata] development is going to be great for supply certainly for renters, but also to help out all people of all ages that are saving for their first homes or second homes, she said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
QUEENS, N.Y. (PIX11)  A New York City sanitation worker is accused of posting an ex-girlfriends photos online, according to police sources.

Xavier Murray, 28, was arrested Friday in Queens and charged with unlawful dissemination of an intimate image after the victim found the photos of herself on the internet, according to sources and the NYPD. No other information was immediately available.

More Local News

Murrays arraignment was pending Friday, according to court records.

The Department of Sanitation could not immediately be reached.

Mira Wassef is a digital reporter who has covered news and sports in the New York City area for more than a decade. She joined PIX11 News in 2022. See more of her work here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
(KRON)  Police are seeking the publics assistance in identifying an elderly woman, the Santa Rosa Police Department announced Thursday. Around 1:05 p.m., the woman was seen wandering on the 2800 block of Dutton Meadow.

Nearby residents did not recognize her, and the woman seemed disoriented, police said. She was unable to tell police where she lived or what her name was.

The woman was taken to the hospital for treatment of unknown injuries. The woman is described as an Asian woman in her 70s, wearing a yellow long-sleeve top and black pants. She was wearing slippers and a brown hat.

Local leaders react to Trumps guilty verdict

A woman was found wandering on Thursday, May 30 in Santa Rosa (Santa Rosa Police Department).

SRPD says anyone with information about this womans identity is asked to call the department at 707-528-5222. The case number is 24-6516.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
SAN ANGELO, Texas (Concho Valley Homepage)  The San Angelo Police Department has given additional details regarding a 4-vehicle collision that occurred May 30 on Christoval Road near Chadbourne Street.

The motor officer who investigated the incident stated that a white Ford Explorer turned south onto Christoval Street as it was heading west in the 3900 block of South Chadbourne Street. Meanwhile, in the 3800 block of South Chadbourne Street, a black Toyota 4Runner was heading east. The Explorer turned left in front of the Toyota without yielding the right of way, causing a collision.

A black Chevrolet Tahoe was at a stop light in the 3600 block of Christoval Road. Additionally, a black Dodge Challenger was seen in the 3600 Block of Christoval Road, turning right onto South Chadbourne Street before coming to a halt at the yield sign. Following the first crash, the Explorer slammed into the Tahoes front end and the Toyota struck the Challengers driver-side door.

The Challengers driver was taken to Shannon Medical Center with injuries that did not pose a threat to his life. Doctors examined the other drivers and cleared them to leave the scene.

The Explorers driver received a citation for failing to yield the right of way when turning left.

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KYODO NEWS - May 31, 2024 - 10:38 | All, Japan

Japan faces growing risks to its food security due mainly to climate change and a rapid decrease in the number of domestic farmers, an annual government report on the agricultural industry said Friday.

Also citing factors such as an unstable grain supply following the Russian invasion of Ukraine and high competition in food procurement amid an increase in global population, the report said Japan's food security is "at a historic turning point."

According to the report, endorsed by the Cabinet on Friday, the number of people in Japan who mainly engage in agriculture was some 1.16 million in 2023 down by more than half from 2.4 million in 2000.

Of the total, only some 20 percent were under 60 years of age, it said, noting the need for measures to boost the number of farmers and introduce more advanced technology into the industry.

The report said that more than 90 percent of Japan's agriculture, forestry and fisheries products as well as foods were transported by truck in fiscal 2023, which ended in March, and that the use of trains and ships has been enhanced in the current year.

Related coverage:

World wasted 20% of food produced in 2022: U.N. report

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Driver shortages a concern for Amao premium strawberry growers
(Aaron Sanderford/Nebraska Examiner)

BELLEVUE  Nebraskas fast-growing Sarpy County has taken an extra step to provide an anonymous third-party path for its employees and citizens to report harassment, waste and suspected mismanagement.

(Courtesy of Getty Images)

The county, as of late May, is offering the resource, called IntegrityCounts, which is operated independently by a Canadian company called WhistleBlower Security Inc.

Under an annual $13,700 contract, the contractor is to confidentially accept information around-the-clock. It is to deliver that information to a committee of county officials, which then is to evaluate the confidential report to determine next steps.

This platform will help Sarpy County maintain the highest ethical standards in serving the public  and promotes a speak-up culture, said Sarpy County Board Chair Angi Burmeister.

Jon Cannon, executive director of the Nebraska Association of County Officials, and Lynn Rex, executive director of the League of Nebraska Municipalities, said they were unaware of another local government in the state that uses an outside company to accept whistleblower complaints.

Cannon considers it worth exploring as a possible suggestion for other counties.

Transparency, accountability

Sarpy County officials said they took the step to promote transparency and accountability.

Previous avenues of reporting suspected personnel complaints, mismanagement of funds, fraud, waste or abuse remain options, as well, the county says. Those include raising concerns directly to a county manager, elected official or the Human Resources department.

This initiative recognizes the importance of providing an additional outlet for reporting these types of concerns, the county said in a statement.

Ultimately, problems cant be solved if they dont see the light of day.

 David Klug, Sarpy County Board member

Sarpy County, the third largest county in the state, has dealt with a few high-profile personnel controversies over the past few years.

In 2023, the former director of the Sarpy County Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program, which helps children who are wards of the state, was sentenced to six months in prison. Paula R. Creps was accused of fraudulently taking about $45,000 in goods and services from county funds funneled to her through a charitable group, Lift Up Sarpy County.

In 2021, the Sarpy County Board fired Brian Zuger as county treasurer three years after he had been elected to the post. The move followed a report by the Nebraska Auditor of Public Accounts that detailed numerous accounting errors in his handling of the countys books, including miscalculated tax payments to school districts.

Also that year, the County Board passed a resolution objecting to behavior by County Public Defender Tom Strigenz, following allegations of sexual misconduct with a subordinate employee on county property.

The Omaha World-Herald reported that the board received three anonymous complaints about the situation but that Strigenz rejected all allegations, including that he had intimidated witnesses.

Sarpy County Commissioner David Klug. (Courtesy of Sarpy County)

Sarpy County Commissioner David Klug said Thursday that the new outside whistleblower contract was recommended by the countys audit committee, which said it was viewed as a best practice nationally.

Klug described the move as an effort to promote trust and to operate at the highest standard of government, to make sure the county is looking at things that need to be looked at.

Ultimately, problems cant be solved if they dont see the light of day, Klug said.

The County Board approved the service agreement earlier this year without public discussion.

The service launched May 23.

Reports can be made by phone, email or online via a five-step process. Those who submit a report are not required to provide their name or personal information. The committee that later looks at the anonymous complaint is made up of the county human resource director, chief financial officer and chief deputy county attorney, Klug said.

Elsewhere in the state

The City of Omaha does not have an outside whistleblower service, a mayoral spokeswoman said, but offers the Mayors Hotline for citizens to report concerns and an online hotline for city employees to report suspected fraud.

In the City of Lincoln, there is no external contractor for whistleblower complaints either. Concerns would be received by an internal city department or commission, a spokesman said.

The Nebraska State Capitol in Lincoln (Paul Hammel/Nebraska Examiner)

On a state level, the Nebraska State Government Effectiveness Act, more commonly known as the state Whistleblower Act, designates the State Ombudsmans Office as the investigator for alleged wrongdoing at a state government level, said Ombudsman Julie Rogers.

That offices jurisdiction does not extend to city or county governments, except for county jails, she said.

State Auditor Mike Foley said his state office offers an anonymous whistleblower hotline as well as an anonymous email link to pass along suspicions of fraud or waste.

Sometimes, he said, those voicing the concern verbally or by email identify themselves, but more often the concern is left anonymously.

We take them all seriously and filter them through our own processes to determine legitimacy, Foley said. Over the years we have found these tips to be enormously helpful in our work.

The post Sarpy County seeks to step up trust, transparency by hiring third-party whistleblower contractor appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
A lot can happen in eight years.

Its something Alyssa Knight knows better than most.

I first met Knight in June 2016, in a place that was foreign to me but agonizingly familiar to her: the Washington Corrections Center for Women (WCCW)  or Purdy as its more commonly known, where she arrived in 2004.

Knight was roughly halfway through the 22.5-year sentence she received for her part in a robbery-turned-murder. But at 33  and with a teenage daughter waiting on the outside  Knights redemption story was underway.

Knight, who grew up in Idaho but got into trouble in Spokane, as she put it, graduated with an associates degree the day we met, in front of her mother, who embraced her after the simple ceremony as only a proud parent whos been put through the emotional wringer can.

In prison, Knight was one of the founders of what eventually blossomed into the nonprofit Freedom Education Project Puget Sound (FEPPS). She was also a member of the groundbreaking prison education programs first-ever graduating class, which is how our paths crossed in Purdy, surrounded by razor wire and armed guards.

Today, Knight is the executive director of FEPPS.

Governor Jay Inslee signed off on Knights clemency and granted her release in 2021.

Recently, she took the reins of a program she helped create  and the timing couldnt be better.

On Saturday, June 1, FEPPS will celebrate another milestone at the Washington Corrections Center for Women: the graduation of the programs first cohort of incarcerated students to receive four-year bachelors degrees.

Knight will be there, she said, watching a new class of incarcerated students cross the stage.

I cant imagine my life in this prison without being in a college program, Knight told me back in 2016, her associates degree in hand and her early release still a dream.

Im just going to keep going, she said.

Prison education movement

Knight and I spoke by phone this week. She was driving, a task that allows for some of her best thinking, she said.

After being released from prison, Knight, now 41, took a job as a dog groomer, a trade she picked up while incarcerated. She also applied to UW Seattle, determined to make good on her pledge to keep going.

When she arrived on campus, Knight already had a firm grasp on her academic calling, she said: the intersection of gender, identity and the criminal justice system.

Building on the associates degree she received at the Washington Corrections Center for Women, Knights work at UW was motivated by the challenges and disparities shes encountered in her personal life, she said, particularly the 18 years she spent behind bars.

She graduated from UW last year with a degree in gender, women and sexuality studies.

When I went to school (at UW), I thought, Theres gonna be no jobs for me and I dont care. I get to study the thing Im passionate about, and well see how it lands, Knight said.

I was able to take these things I care about  like gender studies, power structures and how we change cultures and educate people  and pursue them. And I had incredible support along the way, even after I graduated.

Knight brings a similar drive to her role as FEPPS new executive director, where shes positioned to champion a program shes already validated through her individual success while building on a national prison education movement.

In 2019, FEPPS launched its bachelors degree program, aided by funding provided by the Mellon Foundation. The creation of the bachelors program, which originally included 15 students  ten of whom will graduate on Saturday  is part of an ongoing collaboration with the University of Puget Sound. Nationally, its the seventh B.A. program offered in a womens prison. In Washington, its the first.

Meanwhile, the 2020 expansion of the federal Pell Grant program has opened a stream of financial aid to would-be students in prisons across Washington and much of the nation  not to mention academic institutions eager to offer Pell-eligible programs.

FEPPS currently serves approximately 70 incarcerated students, including those pursuing associates degrees currently accredited by Tacoma Community College and those working toward bachelors degrees accredited through UPS.

Associate professor Tanya Erzen, a former FEPPS executive director who played a critical role in creating the prison education program, teaches religion and gender studies at UPS.

Roughly 15 members of UPSs faculty taught classes as part of the BA program, said Erzen, who began working with students at the Washington Corrections Center for Women more than a decade ago.

FEPPS is in the process of transitioning to a Pell Grant-based funding model that will allow even more students to enroll in college degree programs, she indicated.

According to Erzen, theres growing recognition of the value of prison education programs like FEPPS, both for their ability to provide second chances that improve the lives of students and effectively reduce criminal recidivism rates.

It creates a critical opportunity, she said, and a chance for FEPPS to lead the way.

Since the majority of people are going to leave prison, theres a question for all of us: Do we want them to return to prison, or do we want them to have tools and support so they can be successful? said Erzen.

As an educator, I believe education should be accessible to everyone thats outside and inside prison, she added.

I hope this will be a model.  (FEPPS) doesnt just impact a person in prison, it impacts their families and communities. Theres a ripple effect.

Knight agrees  but perhaps that goes without saying.

This week, she told me she expects to get emotional during Saturdays graduation ceremony.

Next year, FEPPS hopes to welcome roughly twice as many prospective bachelors degree students into the program.

For now, Knight is focused on celebrating  and continuing to support  those following in her footsteps.

If youre telling a story, this is a full circle, Knight said of the last eight years of her life and what shes accomplished.

But the thing is, Im not unusual. There are a ton of brilliant minds and a lot of people who just are not getting the opportunity, Knight added.

Everybody inside has the ability to be transformed.  It just takes the public  and us as a society  to support it.
Drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) destroyed a Russian Nebo-SVU long-range radar system in Crimea overnight on May 30, a source in Ukrainian intelligence services told the Kyiv Independent on May 31.

The system, worth around $100 million, was positioned near Armiansk, a town in the north of the occupied Crimean peninsula, the source said.

According to the source, the radar was monitoring a 380-kilometer-long (around 235 miles) sector of the front and helped to protect Russian military facilities in Crimea.

After the attack, satellite intelligence recorded that the radar was shut down and has not been brought back online since then, the source said.

"This operation 'blinded' Russian air defenses on a large segment of the front," the source said.

The reported attack came a day before Ukrainian forces carried out a missile strike on a ferry crossing and an oil depot at Port Kavkaz in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, according to the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces.

The recent attacks were the result of a "several-days-long operation aimed at destroying the logistics crucial for Russian forces in Crimea," sources in the SBU told the Kyiv Independent.

The previous week, a Ukrainian drone struck an early-warning Voronezh M radar in the Russian city of Orsk, in Orenburg Oblast, a source from Ukraine's military intelligence agency told the Kyiv Independent.

The Washington Post then reported some days later, citing an unnamed U.S. official, that the U.S. was concerned about Ukraine striking radar stations on Russian territory as it could "dangerously unsettle Moscow."

Read also: Naval drones destroyed 2 Russian patrol boats in occupied Crimea, military intelligence says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Scholz: Far-right AfD must be countered on the merits, not with a ban

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits the Katholikentag in Erfurt and takes part in a panel discussion entitled "Strengthening community - shaping society. Our responsibility for democracy" at the Erfurt Theater. Kai Pfaffenbach/REUTERS POOL/dpa

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken against potential efforts to outlaw the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), at least for the time being.

"A ban is a very difficult thing in a democracy and therefore there are very high hurdles," Scholz said in remarks on Friday to German Catholics in the central German city of Erfurt.

In his view, Germany's BfV domestic intelligence agency should do its job in investigating potential threats to the country's democracy and implement the law.

Scholz said efforts to make Germany's constitution more robust in the face of potential anti-democratic threats is more promising. He pointed for example to recent changes to how political parties are funded in Germany in order to deny public financing to extremist groups.

"That is the setting in which I would move for the time being," said Scholz. "I don't think a ban is on the cards now."

Scholz emphasized that right-wing populist parties have also grown in other countries such as Finland, Sweden and Austria, even though those countries are not plagued with major crises or problems.

Right-wing populists are capitalizing on the uncertainty about the future and focusing on division rather than solutions, the chancellor said.

The key question is how the political appeals of far-right populism can be countered, Scholz said. In his view, this could only succeed on the merits.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visits the Katholikentag in Erfurt and takes part in a panel discussion entitled "Strengthening community - shaping society. Our responsibility for democracy" at the Erfurt Theater. Kai Pfaffenbach/REUTERS POOL/dpa
State Representatives and their families gather on the House floor on the opening day of the 88th Legislative Session at the state Capitol in Austin on Jan. 10, 2023. Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune

Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton waged parallel crusades against Texas House Republicans this primary season.

After a bloc of Republicans joined with Democrats to kill Abbotts priority school voucher legislation, the governor vowed revenge. He spent generously and campaigned aggressively against those anti-voucher Republicans in an effort to replace them with members who would support the measure next year.

Similarly, Paxton took aim at every Republican who voted to impeach him on charges of bribery and corruption. He was ultimately acquitted by the Senate. Paxton leaned on his far-right allies, including West Texas oil billionaires Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks, to attack his enemies and prop up ultra-conservative challengers.

Incumbent Republicans under attack defended their votes during the legislative session, saying theyd done right by their districts and passed some of the most conservative bills in House history.

Heres how the primaries shook out.

Weve added new speakers to the stellar lineup of leaders, lawmakers and newsmakers hitting the stage at The Texas Tribune Festival, happening Sept. 57 in downtown Austin. Get an up-close look at todays biggest issues at Texas breakout politics and policy event!
A graphic shows where the new Schwan's and CJ Foods facility will be located at Foundation Park in northwestern Sioux Falls. (Courtesy of Sioux Falls Development Foundation)

A graphic shows where the new Schwan's and CJ Foods facility will be located at Foundation Park in northwestern Sioux Falls. (Courtesy of Sioux Falls Development Foundation)

Three years after it was first announced, Schwans Co. is taking the next step in its investment in South Dakota after closing on 142 acres of land in northwest Sioux Falls.

The company plans to construct a 700,000-square-foot Asian food production facility at Foundation Park, including a wastewater treatment facility on the manufacturing site. The wastewater treatment facility will allow the company to discharge water to the city with the least amount of impact on the citys operations, according to a news release.

The company, based in Minnesota and a subsidiary of South Korea-based CJ foods, originally announced its plans in 2021. The project at that time would have cost about $500 million and created 600 jobs in South Dakotas largest city. Gov. Kristi Noem called it the largest project in the history of the Governors Office of Economic Development at the time. A similar description has since been applied to a potential $1 billion sustainable aviation fuel facility in Lake Preston.

The newest Schwans announcement does not have an official estimate for the cost of the facility, though itll still employ 600 people.

Noem welcomed the news Friday in a press release, saying, South Dakota just keeps growing. Our Open for Business mindset is transforming our state into an economic powerhouse.

South Dakotas unemployment rate in April 2024 stood at 2%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. South Dakota tied with North Dakota for the lowest unemployment rate in the nation at the time.

The new manufacturing facility will produce Asian-style foods, primarily for the Schwans bibigo brand, using automated production lines. The campus will also include a warehouse and distribution center, shipping and receiving docks, and office space.

The company also plans to open a regional office in downtown Sioux Falls to support its continued expansion and operations at the new manufacturing facility, according to a news release from the company. That office will employ another 50 people initially with potential to grow to 100 employees.

Schwans outgoing CEO Dimitrios P. Smyrnios said state and local officials helped the company make great progress on the project, which will increase production capacity for Schwans. The companys bibigo brand is sold nationwide, including at Costco stores. The facility will join Asian food facilities for CJ Foods on the East and West coasts.

I want to personally thank Governor Kristi Noem and her team for their leadership and commitment to our plans, Smyrnios said in the news release. Without her unwavering support, this project would not be possible. Its clear to me that the State of South Dakota is open for business.'

State officials did not immediately respond to South Dakota Searchlight messages seeking information on any assistance offered to Schwans. The company directed questions about that topic to state officials.

Bob Mundt, president and CEO of the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, told Searchlight the organization does not disclose incentives given to potential business partners unless the company does.

The post Schwans purchases Sioux Falls land for new food production facility appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight.
Search Continues for S.C. National Guard Sergeant Who Went Missing While Tubing: 'Saddened Beyond Words'

"Its been a whole lot to take in," said Porsha Griffin's mom

Facebook Porsha Griffin.

Authorities in South Carolina are continuing to search for a National Guard sergeant who went missing while tubing at a lake over Memorial Day weekend.

The victim has been identified as National Guard Staff Sgt. Porsha Griffin, NBC affiliate WYFF, Fox affiliate WHNS and CW affiliate WIS reported.

Griffin was tubing behind a boat on Lake Greenwood without a life jacket on Saturday, May 25, and didn't resurface, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) posted on X (formerly known as Twitter). They added that authorities responded the same day and that divers were dispatched.

According to WHNS, Griffin went tubing with three other people, with authorities confirming to the outlet that the others were safe.

Related: 21-Year-Old Missing Kayaker's Remains Found in Colorado After Falling into Lake Granby amid 'Heavy Winds'

On Friday, May 31, the SCDNR provided an update on the ongoing search, posting on X, "Our officers, investigators and divers will be on scene conducting surface searches, utilizing side scan sonar and dives."

"Over the last few days, we have also flown our airplane to assist in surface searches and brought in cadaver dogs," the department added. "Recovery efforts began Saturday afternoon following an incident where a woman went under after tubing. Our priority remains to bring closure to her family."

The SCDNR and the South Carolina National Guard did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's requests for comments.

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.

Griffin's commander, Col. Linda Riedel, said in a statement obtained by WIS that the South Carolina National Guard is "saddened beyond words."

Well continue to pray the search for her yields answers for all who care about her, as well as for peace for her daughter and extended family," she added.



Related: Body of Missing Duck Hunter Found in Illinois Lake

Amicka Griffin, Porsha's mom, told WHNS that she was "hysterically shocked" when authorities told her that her daughter was missing. "Its been a whole lot to take in," she added.

Porsha, who is also the mom of a 9-year-old girl, had just received her degree in nursing in December, according to the outlet.

Her mom added, "She was that supportive person [that you] could call on for anything."

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
Insights from Foreign Affairs, The Washington Post, Politico

The News

A New York jury found ex-US President Donald Trump guilty of all 34 counts against him in a hush-money trial, marking the first time a former or serving American president has been convicted of a crime.

The Republican frontrunner for Novembers presidential election could return to the White House for a second term, and Thursdays verdict has bolstered his base. Elsewhere, world leaders are preparing for what a second Trump presidency could mean for international politics.

Coverage about the verdict has plastered North American and European news sites  but it is noticeably absent from some international front pages, including The Times of India, Hong Kongs South China Morning Post, Singapores The Strait Times, and The Global Times, a state-affiliated newspaper in China.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

America first policies could impact world order

Source: Foreign Affairs

Trump reached the White House last time in part due to his America first policies, which centered the US in decision-making and deprioritized Washingtons role on the world stage. A second Trump presidency would likely see the same policies enacted again, Hal Brands, a global affairs professor at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, wrote in Foreign Affairs. The results would not be pretty, he wrote. A US-centered foreign policy would also mean a more vicious and chaotic world. Countries like Ukraine, which rely heavily on US intervention, would suffer. But the US itself might not do so badlyat least for a while, he added.

Israel, Russia could welcome Trumps return

Source: The Washington Post

Some nations may be eager for Trump to return to office. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu benefited immensely from Trumps first term, [and] is arguably hoping for a similar dividend in the event of a second, The Washington Posts Ishaan Tharoor wrote in the papers Todays WorldView newsletter. Hes not the only world leader that would welcome another Trump presidency: Russian President Vladimir Putin, too, would benefit. Trump has previously supported a peace plan between Ukraine and Russia that would cede some territory to Moscow, a key objective of Putins. It would cement the Republican turn away from Europes security at a time when Western resolve around Ukraine is flagging, Tharoor wrote.

Trump allies rush to his defense

Sources: Politico, AFP

Some right-wing politicians in Europe have already thrown their support behind Trump following his guilty verdict. In Hungary, Prime Minister Viktor Orban, long a supporter of the former president, called Trump a man of honour who commanded respect around the world and used this respect to build peace. In Italy, Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini said that Trump was a victim of judicial harassment. Moscow, too, rallied behind Trump: On Friday, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov claimed that the guilty verdict was evidence that the White House is eliminating its political rivals by all possible legal and illegal means.
A secretive Peruvian society abused its recruits with impunity, say critics who hope the Vatican will bring victims justice

Like many victims of sexual abuse, it took years for Santiago to acknowledge that he was raped as a teenager.

You get into a kind of mental confusion there is something that is not right, but it is not clear at that time, Santiago, who is being identified only by a pseudonym to protect his privacy, told CNN in an exclusive interview.

Four decades on, he is still waiting for a measure of justice to address his claims against Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV), a secretive Roman Catholic society founded in Peru that has been mired in scandal since its layman founder Luis Fernando Figari and other senior members were accused of sexually abusing numerous adult and minor recruits.

Santiago says that he was sexually abused by Figari at least three times in the 1970s, when he turned 17. He recalled Figari leading him to a room and raping him, saying it was the only way to correctly see his aura.

He doesnt clearly remember other incidents. It is difficult to count because your brain starts to block things, I have tried, but there are some memories that are blocked, he said.

CNN has reached out to Figaris legal team as well as SCV for comment. Figari has denied all the allegations against him.

Santiago is among the dozens of reported victims who have been waiting eagerly for the Vatican to reveal its findings about the SCV allegations, after a months-long investigation.

SCV has already admitted that sexual, physical and psychological abuse took place. In 2017, it removed Figari from the group and published a two-part report by international experts that found that more than a dozen men and three women alleged being sexually abused by SCV members when they were young adults.

In the reports preface, SCV asked for forgiveness from each person that has been hurt by a member or a former member of the Sodalitium, and said the organization was committed to a process of self-examination and of change.

Now the case has moved into the hands of church authorities in Vatican City, whom victims hope will be able to take serious measures including disbanding the entire organization.

As part of the ongoing investigation, the Vatican sent letters to several SCV members in February giving them 45 days to respond to allegations of abuse, according to a source familiar with the investigation. Vatican top abuse investigators, Archbishop Charles Scicluna and Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu, made a surprise visit to Lima in July 2023, interviewing victims including Santiago and SCV representatives, among others.

SCV told CNN via email the organization received specific guidance from the Vaticans mission in March to open investigations against former members, but the information is confidential.

For now, it is unclear when the investigation results will be delivered, or in what form. But in August last year, Pope Francis confirmed to reporters, We are working on this. We are trying to bring the situation to light.

A photo posted to the Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana's Instagram account last year showing an organizational meeting with the Vatican. The caption reads: "Our General Superior Jose David Correa just met with the Holy Fathers envoys to Peru: Mons. Charles J. Scicluna, and Mons. Jordi Bertomeu. We thank them for this place of dialogue about our communitys reality. We also thank Pope Francis for his concern about the Church and the Sodalitium." - From Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana/Instagram

Decades of impunity

SCV was founded in 1971 in Peru and has chapters across Latin America. In Peru, the lay organization, under Figaris charge, recruited mostly young White boys from elite Catholic schools and upper and middle-class families with political or business links, journalist and SCV victim Pedro Salinas told CNN. Many of them came from families with divorced or single parents, according to former members.

An explosive 2015 book by journalists Salinas and Paola Ugaz revealed 30 anonymous testimonies from SCV victims including Santiagos, shocking conservative Peruvian society but only resulting in failed leadership reforms and an ongoing court case against the group that has largely gone nowhere.

In the book, titled Half Monks, Half Soldiers, former SCV members detailed that once the recruits reached the legal age, 18, they were encouraged to leave home and cut ties with family and friends.

Teenagers who were recruited were brainwashed to become a kind of zombie, a robot, a fanatic, where there is a syncretism that mixes the Catholic religion with fascist ideas  Spanish fascism, according to Salinas, who says he himself was physically and psychologically abused at the Sodalitium when he was a teenager.

Figari was seen as a charismatic figure, but he was also described by former and current members as vulgar, vindictive, manipulative, racist, sexist, elitist, and obsessed with sexual issues and the sexual orientation of SCV members, the 2017 SCV report found.

It added that Figari committed multiple acts of sodomy of a minor male and a young adult male, filmed young recruits in their underwear or bathing suits, and directed them to perform sex acts on each other and himself, all under the justification of it being part of their spiritual formation.

Figari denied all the allegations publicly for the first time in 2016. Im innocent, totally innocent. I come here to tell the truth because the authorities have not allowed me to speak, Figari told reporters in Rome.

CNN has requested an interview with Figaris lawyer but has not received any response. It is believed he still resides in Italy.

Pedro Salinas speaks with the press outside the Nunciatura Apostolica after meeting with Vatican investigators about alleged abuse by the Catholic lay group Sodalitium Christianae Vitae (SCV) in Lima, Peru, Tuesday, July 25, 2023. - Martin Mejia/AP

Military training and alleged sexual abuse

When Santiago first joined the group as a curious student, he was keen to learn not only about religion but also about mysticism and the power of the mind, he told CNN.

At the age of 15, Figari told him he had great mental powers and offered to train him in ancient techniques, Santiago said. Part of this training involved Santiago only wearing underwear and sitting on Figaris leg, he said. On another occasion, Figari made Santiago and another minor sit in the lotus position and asked them to touch each other, including their genitals, Santiago said.

Years later, Santiago first reported his abuse to SCV members and filed a complaint against Figari at Limas Archdiocesan Tribunal in 2011. He did not get an official response or follow up, he said.

According to the 2017 SCV report, Figari also imposed military training, gleaned from movies he watched, on the young recruits: Young boys were ordered to swim in cold ocean waters for several hours at a time late at night or very early in the morning, run long distances in severe weather and sleep on floors or stairs.

Another victim, Oscar Osterling, now 51, told CNN that when he was 18 he and three other recruits were made to form a line naked and were filmed.

He eventually joined SCVs team as community leader 10 years later but said he regrets potentially playing a part in the psychological abuse of other young recruits. After making my complaint I thought: How many people I have also affected?, he said, adding that he has since called many people to ask for forgiveness.

SCV declined to be interviewed for this article, saying they are fully cooperating with the Vaticans inquiry and highlighted a private audience between its General Superior Jose David Correa and Pope Francis on December 1, when they shared updated information about the organization.

The search for justice

According to Salinas and other victims, the steps toward accountability taken by SCV so far are not enough. They want to see the perpetrators formally punished and the organization dissolved.

The Peruvian legal system so far has not led to any resolution. A criminal case in Peru against Figari and other SCV members was dropped by Perus prosecutors office in 2017, with prosecutors saying none of the alleged sexual abuse victims had come forward and that the alleged crimes fell outside the statute of limitations. A separate case on allegations of kidnapping, serious psychological injuries, and illicit association to commit a crime, is still working its way through the justice system.

After so many years, this legal case is about justice for the victims and not about money, and that also means no impunity for those who have committed those crimes, Dr. Jose Ugaz, former ad-hoc state attorney who represents seven of the victims, told CNN.

His clients demand this organization to stop and (that) harm does not continue to be caused to new children, teenagers or young people in Peru and in other several countries where it has expanded, he said. Sodalitium is still active.

Salinas, who has written to Pope Francis about the case, is pinning his hopes for justice on the Vaticans investigation.

The Vatican has the power to dissolve SCV  a measure that Peruvian Cardinal Pedro Barreto has already called for. Pope Francis could also order sweeping reforms of the group, including the expulsion of members and special measures that must be followed.

And the Pope recently changed the churchs Code of Canon Law in 2021 to make lay people who hold an office in the church accountable for abuse, which would appear to apply to Figari, who is not a cleric. Church penalties for him could include fines, removal from all offices and expulsion from SCV.

For the victims, its about being heard and recognized after so many years.

I felt privileged, I felt listened to  (with) that phone call, Santiago told CNN about when he first learned the Popes envoys wanted to meet him.

CNNs Vatican Correspondent Chris Lamb contributed to this report.

EDITORS NOTE: Anyone affected by sexual violence can reach out to the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit online.rainn.org to receive support via confidential online chat.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
KYODO NEWS - May 31, 2024 - 08:06 | All, World

Donald Trump on Thursday was found guilty on charges related to a coverup of hush money paid on his behalf to a porn star ahead of the 2016 election, making him the first former U.S. president to be convicted in a criminal case.

The 77-year-old, set to be nominated as the Republican presidential candidate for the Nov. 5 election at the party's national convention in July, was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the trial at a court in New York.

The jury reached the verdict through two days of closed-door deliberations following weeks of hearings in the first of four cases in which the former president has been indicted.

"This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt," Trump told reporters at the court after the verdict. He has maintained that all the indictments against him are groundless.

"The real verdict is going to be November 5 by the people," he said, referring to the upcoming election, adding, "We didn't do a thing wrong -- I'm a very innocent man."

Trump's sentencing date of July 11 falls just days ahead of the Republican national convention, set to begin on July 15 in Wisconsin.

President Joe Biden's campaign team said the United States has seen that "no one is above the law" in a statement released in reaction to the verdict.

"Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain," it said.

"But today's verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box," the statement added.

Trump was indicted in March last year in the hush money case stemming from a payment of $130,000 to the porn star Stormy Daniels, with whom he was believed to have had an affair, to suppress the story before the 2016 election.

The charges were related to falsifying business records to mask reimbursement for the payment, made by his one-time close aide and lawyer Michael Cohen, as legal fees.

Prosecutors said the actions constituted a bid to conceal information that could have affected his chances in the election, in which he beat Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.

Cohen admitted in a hearing for the case that he paid Daniels the hush money at Trump's direction.

The former U.S. president has also been indicted over accusations that he mishandled classified documents at his residence in Florida as well as in two cases related to attempting to overturn his 2020 election loss -- a federal case over actions that led to the fatal Capitol riot in January 2021, and another in Georgia for efforts to undermine that state's election processes.

But it appears unlikely that verdicts will be forthcoming in any of the other three cases before the Nov. 5 election, as there appear to be no signs of trial dates being set in the near future.

Related coverage:

Ex-Japan PM Aso meets Trump in New York ahead of Nov. election

U.S. court begins historic criminal trial of ex-President Trump
Security agreement between Ukraine and Poland can be signed before NATO summit in July

The bilateral security agreement between Ukraine and Poland, which is a continuation of the Vilnius G7 Declaration, can be finalised and signed before the NATO summit on 9-11 July.

Source: Radosaw Sikorski, Polands Minister of Foreign Affairs, in a comment to the media in Prague, writes PAP, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Sikorski stated that he briefed NATO allies about the ongoing negotiations on the bilateral security arrangement with Ukraine.

He said that the negotiations are "going well" and that the parties expect to sign the agreement before the NATO summit in Washington, which begins on 9 July.

On 31 May, during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to Washington, the signing of bilateral agreements with Norway, Sweden, and Iceland was announced.

The number of bilateral security agreements between Ukraine and its partners under the Vilnius G7 Declaration has risen to 15.

Before this, Kyiv had signed bilateral agreements with Portugal, Spain, and Belgium.

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Jacqueline Charles has been a witness to Haitis pain and triumphs. She has seen and reported on assassinations, earthquakes, hurricanes, culture, people, and now violent gangs trying to take over the country.

On Thursday night, the Miami Heralds Haiti and Caribbean correspondent brought her expertise and experience to the South Florida community in a discussion at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center in Liberty City.

An Evening with Jacqueline Charles, sponsored by the Herald, celebrated Haitian Heritage Month and offered a behind-the-scenes view of her exclusive reporting on the country.

Kerby Altizor, 40, has heard Charles speak before, and he appreciates the depth of her work.

Its phenomenal, Altizor said. For the community to come here and support her, I think is wonderful.

MORE: Read the work of Jacqueline Charles

Jacqueline Charles, Haiti/Caribbean Correspondent for the Miami Herald, right, speaks to the community during an interview with Jay Weaver, Miami Herald editor, left, about Haitis past and future during An Evening with Jacqueline Charles on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at African Heritage Cultural Arts in Miami.

Charles, a Pulitzer Prize finalist and Emmy Award winner, was honored by the turnout and the communitys eagerness to hear about whats happening inside Haiti.

What I found to be most enlightening about tonight is that you have people who came out who truly follow the coverage and want to find a solution to the Haitian crisis, she said. Sometimes as a reporter, you dont know what kind of impact your coverage has.

The two-hour discussion, moderated by Miami Herald federal courts reporter Jay Weaver, touched on the ins and outs of Haitis most historic events.

MORE: UN expert, former prime minister is named to lead Haitis transitional government

Lenworth Anglin, center, asks Jacqueline Charles, Haiti/Caribbean Correspondent at the Miami Herald, a question during An Evening with Jacqueline Charles where she speaks to the community about Haitis past and future on Thursday, May 30, 2024, at African Heritage Cultural Arts in Miami.

I want people to see Haitians as human beings

After the discussion, people asked questions about Charles reporting and how she perceives cultural and political situations.

What do you want non-Haitians to know about Haiti?

Charles said she believes there is a slight contempt when people speak about Haiti, and that Americans arent as educated about the country.

I want people to understand that Haitians are just like everybody else, she said. They have hopes. ... I want people to see Haitians as human beings.

She said some journalists, including herself, can give a sanitized version of gang violence.

We really do not tell you how or what happens to somebody when they are either kidnapped or killed, she said. Its really barbaric.

MORE: Theres an arms race in Haiti, and its fueled by Floridas pipeline of weapons of war

In her writing, Charles said she tries to humanize the Haitian experience because these are people like you and I.

Charles was also asked if she sees hope for Haiti in the future.

I always see hope because I do not need to be hopeless, she said.

Charles said Haitians also are hopeful, wanting to invest in improving the country.

People look to me to tell them that there is that one shred of hope, she said. If I didnt think that things could change, then why am I doing this?
Home care workers in 2021 petitioned for the creation of a labor board focused on their industry. (Photo: April Corbin Girnus/Nevada Current)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

SEIU Local 1107 on Thursday unveiled its new legislative priorities for home care workers. Most prominent among them: setting their minimum hourly wage at $20.

The union in recent years has pushed to increase pay rates for the workforce whose average wage had hovered around $11 for nearly a decade. Last year, Nevada state lawmakers passed a bill establishing a $16 an hour minimum wage for home care workers.

Sixteen is great, said Clark County Commissioner William McCurdy, a former SEIU organizer who spoke at the event Thursday. It shows the power of collective mobilization. But I think that we are going to do a little bit better next legislative session.

An increase to $20 per hour for home care workers would be possible by adjusting the Medicaid reimbursement rate for the employers who provide home care services to $30 per hour.

Before last year, the states home care reimbursement rate had remained stationary for two decades. But even with the recent bump, Nevadas per capita spending on home and community-based services remains among the lowest in the nation  43rd, according to Medicaid data.

DK Loving, who has been a home care worker for 19 years, said she went from making $11.30 per hour to making $16 per hour overnight, a jump that immediately made life a little less stressful.

She now has a little more leeway when buying groceries, she added.

Loving said she was drawn to the profession after being the unpaid caretaker for two elder members of her family before they died. Home care workers are often what allows seniors and people with disabilities to remain in their home, living as independently as possible. Home care worker duties can include things like bathing and feeding the client, as well as things like taking them to doctors appointments or grocery shopping.

Its important work that ultimately saves public dollars by keeping people out of Medicaid-funded nursing homes, but the industry is plagued with low wages and a lack of benefits like paid time off for workers.

State Sen. Dina Neal (D-North Las Vegas) spoke at the event of one home care worker who was until recently housing insecure.

You shouldnt have to sit on the sidelines and wish you could have a porch that belongs to you, she said, speaking directly to the room of home care workers. You shouldnt have to wish that you could have a backyard for your kids to sit in. That shouldnt be the dream deferred for your life.

Neal continued, I see so much pain. Im working all day and I dont got nothing for myself. Im working all day and aint nobody calling me and asking me how Im doing. Im serving this family and aint nobody asking me what I gotta do to make sure I can eat.

Other policy priorities for SEIU include finding ways to increase the number of client service hours for those who need it, improving training quality and opportunities for home care workers, and addressing employee misclassification issues. Several home care workers said existing training does not properly prepare new workers. Often, training is conducted virtually rather than in-person and hands-on.

Popular support

Nevada has an estimated 13,000 home care workers. They are predominantly women (85%) and people of color (59%). Half of all home care workers leave the industry within the first year, according to a report from the Guinn Center.

McCurdy highlighted results from a union-commissioned poll of 1,000 likely Nevada voters that found 8 out of 10 are concerned about the shortage of home care workers. The Silver State has one of the fastest aging populations in the country, according to data from the U.S. Census.

The poll also found 85% of Nevadans support raising the minimum wage for home care workers and 88% support those workers having medical insurance and paid sick days. Support crossed political ideologies.

Richard Whitley, director of the state Department of Health and Human Services, who was honored by SEIU at the event, said one thing that stuck with him after meeting with home care workers was how many of them qualified for income-based safety net programs like SNAP and Medicaid.

DHHS built the $16 home care minimum wage and related Medicaid reimbursement rate increase into its budget request before the last legislative session. That budget line went unaltered by the Legislature and was signed into law by Gov. Joe Lombardo.

Along with Whitley, SEIU leaders recognized Neal and fellow Democratic state Sen. Rochelle Nguyen for championing their cause. Nguyen led the effort last year to set the hourly minimum wage for home care workers at $16. Neal sponsored a 2021 bill that led to the creation of a Home Care Employment Standards Board, which made a series of legislative recommendations, including setting the minimum wage.

Neals bill did not directly establish the standards board. It only authorized for the board to be created if 50 home care workers formally petitioned the Nevada Department of Health and Human Service, which they did in October 2021. Once created, the board had one year to meet and submit policy recommendations to lawmakers.

Home care workers could reconstitute the board by submitting another petition to DHHS, but Neal hopes the Legislature can instead make the board permanent.

Leslie Frane, executive vice president of SEIU, described the Home Care Employment Standards Board as fundamentally revolutionary because it improved working conditions for all of the industrys 13,000 workers, not just the 1,000 who have formally unionized. Home care workers in Nevada are divided across approximately 300 different agencies  many of them incredibly small  which makes organizing employer by employer challenging, she added.

Frane said efforts to improve conditions for home care workers are happening all over the country. In Washington, for example, home care workers can receive paid time off and health care benefits for themselves and their dependents. Elsewhere, SEIU has helped secure higher minimum wages and wage scales that allow more experienced senior workers to be paid more, incentivizing people to stay in the industry.

Nguyen called the home care minimum wage bill one of the most impactful bills shes worked on during her time in the Legislature. Nguyen said she grew up in a multigenerational home where home care workers assisted with her grandfather, and now her 78-year-old father and 77-year-old father-in-law both live in her home.

I know therell be a day when I need you, she told the room full of home care workers.

The post SEIU celebrates $16 home care worker minimum wage, readies to lobby for $20 appeared first on Nevada Current.
Seminole County leaders prepare for hurricane season; urge residents to do the same

Hurricane season begins Saturday, and its important for Central Florida residents to take some time to prepare.

Just as were preparing here today, were encouraging every resident to also prepare, Jay Zembower, Chairman for the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners, said.

County leaders across the region are also taking steps to keep you safe.

Read: More than 1-in-4 Floridians would ignore evacuation warnings, new survey shows

Friday, the Seminole County Office of Emergency Management hosted its Annual Hurricane Exercise.

This was in partnership with more than 40 agencies like the Seminole County Sheriffs Office, Duke Energy, and the seven cities within the county.

More than 600 calls, some with scenarios that have happened before and some that have not, came through the operations center while each agency worked to respond.

We want to learn some things today, we want things to break today, not when a hurricane is approaching, Alan Harris, the Director for the Seminole County Office of Emergency Management, said.

Read: What you should do now to prepare for hurricane season

The county is also taking lessons learned to better help its residents.

The Seminole County Fire Department is adding to its fleet to help those in flood prone areas.

We now have two new, 6x6 highwater multiuse rescue vehicles, Matthew Hettler, the Deputy Chief for the Seminole County Fire Department, announced. This was paid for through ARPA federal funds.

Read: Floridas 2-week hurricane sales tax holiday begins this weekend

Leaders are urging planning and preparing ahead of this hurricane season.

We really believe this is important, Harris said. Planning and training is where its at. Its not a matter of if, its a matter of when a hurricane will come here to the Central Florida area.

If youd like to receive emergency alerts in Seminole County, you can sign up at PrepareSeminole.org.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Seminole voters may get the chance in November to erect higher hurdles for developers who hope to build in the countys protected rural lands.

A panel called the Charter Review Commission is moving toward recommending a pair of Nov. 5 ballot measures that would require a supermajority of four votes from the Seminole County Commission to approve denser development in the rural area than is currently authorized, and maintain development protections within the countys natural lands.

It now takes a simple majority of three votes of the five-member commission to change development restrictions within the rural area, and remove conservation protections within Seminoles nearly 7,300 acres of natural lands.

Conservationists, and many residents of Seminoles rural area, say the extra protections would go a long way toward preserving those areas, and natural lands, from urban sprawl for decades to come.

It would mean a much-higher hurdle for a developer to climb to have to convince four commissioners instead of three, said Richard Creedon, a longtime Geneva resident and supporter of the countys rural area.

Every six years, the county assembles a Charter Review Commission of 15 residents. The groups task is to review the charter  similar to a constitution for the county  and propose revisions. Any changes must be approved by a majority of voters countywide in the general election.

Property values in Seminole County continue to soar

Residents of Seminoles eastern rural outskirts have long been fiercely protective of the countys rural boundary  established by voters in 2004 and covering the area mostly east of the Econlockhatchee River and Lake Jesup. Development densities within the rural area are limited to either one home per five acres or one home per 10 acres.

In 2018, developer and former state Rep. Chris Dorworth proposed removing from the rural area nearly 700 acres of pastureland  known as High Oaks Ranch  just north of the Orange County line to build River Cross  a megadevelopment of 520 single-family homes, 270 townhouses, 500 apartments and 80 estate homes along with 1.5 million square feet of shops, restaurants and office space.

County commissioners unanimously rejected River Cross development plans at an August 2018 meeting attended by scores of east Seminole residents opposed to it.

The River Cross controversy was brought up several times by many of the dozens of residents supporting the ballot referendums who attended Thursday evenings meeting of the Charter Review Commission.

But Orlando attorney Joseph Kovecses Jr., who represents High Oaks Ranch LLC, spoke out against the proposal to require a supermajority to remove land from the rural area. He noted the requirement infringes on the private property rights of landowners within the rural area compared to other areas of the county.

It will have a real impact on property owners in the rural area, Kovecses said. It will have a real impact on the value of properties.

He said he didnt know if the owners of High Oaks Ranch were actively seeking a buyer for their property or planning to submit a development proposal.

One of the ballot measures being considered by the charter review commission would require supermajority approval from Seminoles commission to remove property from the countys rural boundaries so it can be more intensely developed. The second would require the same vote margin to remove the natural lands protection from county property held in preservation.

But some residents want the charter review panel to add a third referendum requiring a supermajority of the commission to change development restrictions within the rural area. Currently, only three votes are needed. That proposal failed on a 7-7 vote at the April 25 meeting.

Whys there an old bank vault sitting near a Seminole County highway?

Cathy Swerdlow, vice president of the League of Women Voters of Seminole County, said at Thursdays meeting requiring a supermajority for easing development restrictions is vital.

The voters now should be allowed to determine whether it needs a higher level of protection, Swerdlow said in support of the third referendum. Not requiring a supermajority for land-use changes is like locking the front door and leaving the back door wide open, diminishing the whole purpose of the rural boundary.

The pressure from developers can be intense and relentless.

Several at the meeting said they were frustrated seven members of the panel didnt even attend.

I am insulted that half of them didnt bother to show up, said Pat Southward, a Lake Mary resident. It was an insult to public hearings.

County staff said some of those absent were ill and others were on vacation.

The Charter Review Commission is set to meet again Thursday and June 20. It will then send recommendations for referendums to the county commission  which votes on which ones to put on the ballot.

Even though David Nash lives in the heavily urban area of Casselberry, he supports proposed referendums benefiting the less-populated east side of Seminole. He said the county needs rural areas where people can enjoy a relaxed lifestyle.

It just doesnt make sense to continue that urban sprawl into the rural area, Nash said.

mcomas@orlandosentinel.com
Manchin was a rare Democrat representing West Virginia in the Senate. He previously announced that he would not run for reelection in 2024, but now some are wondering if he's changed his mind

Anna Moneymaker/Getty West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin switched his party registration to independent

West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin  a longtime moderate Democrat  has switched his party registration to independent mere months before he was expected to leave the Senate, raising questions about whether he intends to mount another campaign.

On Friday, May 31, Manchin posted a photo on X that appears to show him holding an updated voter registration form.

In a follow-up statement released on Friday, Manchin said, "Throughout my days in elected office, I have always been proud of my commitment to common sense, bipartisanship and my desire to bring people together. Its who I am. Its who I will always be. I have never seen America through a partisan lens."

"Today, our national politics are broken and neither party is willing to compromise to find common ground," he continued. "To stay true to myself and remain committed to put country before party, I have decided to register as an independent with no party affiliation and continue to fight for Americas sensible majority."



Manchin, 76, revealed in November that he did not intend to seek reelection in 2024, which would almost certainly hand his Senate seat to Republicans in the deep-red state of West Virginia. At the time, he had teased running for president on a third-party ticket, but then he ruled that out, too.

Related: Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin Says He's 'Thinking' About Becoming an Independent

The former West Virginia governor is a rare Democrat who has found success in the Mountain State, touting his moderate values and willingness to challenge his own party to win over conservative voters. He has long entertained the idea of leaving the Democratic Party, but never took steps toward changing his registration.

The timing of his party switch  months before his presumed retirement from politics and just ahead of the deadline to file as an independent in West Virginia  quickly ignited murmurs that he may cave to pressure from Democrats at the last moment and run for another term in Senate, to prevent the seat from turning red.

Another theory is that he could be eyeing his old job as governor.

Related: Sen. Joe Manchin Says He Can Handle Attacks from Both Sides That Paint Him as 'the Hero and the Villain'

Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Manchin, who currently chairs the Senate Energy Committee, was elected to Congress' upper chamber in 2010, after serving nearly six years as West Virginia governor.

He rose through the ranks of West Virginia politics the old-fashioned way, beginning as a state delegate in the '80s, then serving in the state Senate for 10 years, then becoming secretary of state before launching his gubernatorial bid.

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Read the original article on People.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Kansas lawmakers, the former Kansas Attorney General and a congressional candidate comment on Donald Trumps guilty verdict Thursday.

May 30, U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Kansas Congressional District 2 candidate Jeff Kars, Representative Ron Estes (R-Kansas) and Former Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt (R), shared their opinions of Donald Trumps guilty verdict. According to a news release from Schmidt, today is a dark day for the American justice system.

Show me the man Ill show you the crime was coined by Stalins Soviet Union and that mindset sadly lives on today in New York City.

This is a dark day for the American justice system. This prosecution, in a state where the attorney general campaigned for office on a promise to prosecute Trump, was unjust from the outset, and I believe this conviction for a victimless crime will be overturned on appeal.

But without waiting for appeal, the American people should enter their own verdict. No contrived prosecution can deny the rest of the country our choice for President of the United States, and I look forward to voting for Donald Trump again on November 5. Statement from Schmidt

Most Americans can see through the politically motivated trial against President Trump, and they know that a prosecutor who ran specifically against the former president, a judge with a heavy anti-Trump bias, and a highly partisan venue could not produce a fair outcome, Estes said .Whether someone supports or opposes President Trump or his policies, the verdict today paints a sad state of affairs in this great nation, and the relentless attacks against President Trump for political gain are only further dividing the country and sowing doubt about our federal institutions. Kars said this verdict is a war on democracy. This is a war on democracy. Its lawlessness meted out by a kangaroo court. President Biden should be ashamed. Third world dictators prosecute their political opponents, not American Presidents. This strengthens my resolve to ensure President Trump is re-elected so we can restore Americans faith in our legal system, Kahrs said. The political persecution of Donald Trump is the most egregious miscarriage of justice in our nations history. This happens in banana republics, under authoritarian regimes, not here in America. The true judge and jury will speak loudly in November, and Donald Trump will be the next President of the United States. Senator Roger Marshall X post

Kansas counties could receive federal help for damage caused by severe storms

Thursday afternoon, the presidential candidate was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records.

For more national 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.
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, speaks as President Donald Trump looks on at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Dec. 4, 2017. After former president Donald J. Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts, Utah lawmakers including Sen. Mike Lee and Rep. Burgess Owens reacted to the news. | Jeffrey D. Allred

After former President Donald J. Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts, Utah lawmakers including Sen. Mike Lee, Reps. Burgess Owens, Celeste Maloy, Blake Moore and John Curtis reacted to the news.

Trumps conviction Thursday makes him the first president in American history to be convicted of a felony. He will have a sentencing hearing on July 11.

Calling it a sad day for America, Lee said, The verdict against Donald Trump, marred by unclear charges and irregular jury instructions, sets a dangerous precedent. This was a political prosecution to help Joe Biden, a weaponization of our justice system that threatens the very fabric of our Republic.

Owens said the justice system has become a sham. The American people know this crooked case was never about the rule of law, but a political witch-hunt perpetrated against the Democrats top political opponent, President Trump, continued Owens.

Moore said in an interview the Deseret News that he thinks most Americans see it as partisan.

Its unfortunate to see District Attorney Alvin Bragg go down this path of leveraging the Justice Department for a very, very partisan reason. The timing of this, its right before the presidential nomination for the Republican Party, said Moore, adding he thinks itll only make Trump more popular. So, its a disappointing attempt from our side of the world to try to weaken him as we go on to a presidential election. And I think most Americans can kind of see through that.

Maloy released a statement saying she hopes voters will be able to retain the right to vote for their nominee. The justice system was weaponized in this case to keep President Trump off the ballot. This has been about politics, not law, from the beginning.

Curtis said in a statement to the Deseret News, It is up to the American people to choose their leader this November. I am deeply disappointed any time there is an appearance of the politicizing of our justice system. We are facing serious issues overlooked by the Biden administration, including inflation, rising energy prices, the crisis at the southern border, and global instability. I am ready to work with President Trump to address these real challenges and continue to promote Utah and the United States as beacons of hope and democracy.

Gov. Spencer Cox said in a statement he has consistently expressed concerns about the charges since they were initially filed.

Several other prosecutors looked at the allegations and declined to prosecute because the circumstances and witnesses were deeply problematic. The DA further used a novel legal theory to turn misdemeanors into felonies, said Cox. No one is above the law, but in this case I believe the indictment was a mistake and should have never been brought forward. This outcome is a dark day for our country.

Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson said, Praying for the safety of those jurors and their families.

The justice system worked, said state Sen. Nate Blouin, D-Salt Lake City. Now who knows what happens. Trumps disgraceful treatment of the justice system should be a touchstone for law & order Republicans.

Utah Democratic Party said, No comment.

Rob Axson, chairman of the Utah GOP, released a statement saying justice not electoral motivations should guide legal actions. In an election characterized by profound political divisions, the decline of Americans real wages, and the current administrations consistent blundering of critical domestic and foreign policies, it is disappointing  though not surprising  to see the targeting and attempted silencing of a political rival, said Axson.

Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, said, Today is a sad day for America and a sad day for democracy. From the beginning, this trial has been a calculated political move aimed at bolstering Joe Biden. Whether or not you support President Trump, what happened today is wrong and sets a bad precedent of prioritizing partisan agendas over truth, fairness, and justice. Weaponizing the judicial system for political purposes undermines the foundation of our democracy and the Constitution.

Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Blanding, who is also a candidate for governor, said, Severe, weaponized TDS (Trump derangement syndrome) does have its upsides. Lyman was quote-tweeting a man who said Trumps fundraising site has crashed.

Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs, who is running for Sen. Mitt Romneys seat, said, Unbelievable, we now live in a 3rd world judicial system. This manufactured conviction isnt because hes guilty its because they cant beat him in the ballot box. Now more than ever, we need to come together and make sure hes our president again.

State Sen. Mike McKell, R-Spanish Fork, posted screenshots of the guilty counts with the mind blown emoji three times.

How much will these convictions actually help Trump? questioned state Sen. Todd Weiler, R-Woods Cross. Alec, Ill take weaponization of the justice system for $1,000, said Weiler.

Former Utah House Speaker and current senate candidate Brad Wilson said the verdict makes a mockery of our criminal justice system.

This trial has been a sham orchestrated for one reason: Democrats know that Joe Biden is losing, said Wilson. This is nothing more than an attempt to interfere with the American peoples right to decide for themselves who our next President should be.

Rep. Brian King, D-Salt Lake, who is running for governor, said the verdict reaffirms the importance of our judicial system. Continuing, King said, This conviction will mark a critical point for many in our state. If you voted for former President Trump in 2016 or 2020, but find this conviction to be your tipping point, know that you are not alone.

Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo, said he hopes Trumps conviction is appealed and overturned. His office has shown time and time again politics is more important than public safety, said Clancy about Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.

No one is above the law, said Jeff Merchant, executive director of Alliance for a Better Utah, in a statement. Former President Trump has consistently shown a blatant disregard for the law and the truth, and a jury of his peers has held him accountable for his fraudulent behavior. The verdict marks a significant development in a legal saga that does not end today, but is only beginning.

Colby Jenkins, candidate for Utah 2nd Congressional District, said, Unreal. The N.Y. judicial system coupled with Joe Biden influence makes third-world justice look like the gold standard.

Former Utah State Senate Minority Leader Scott Howell said no one is above the law, but as a Democrat, hes not celebrating the verdict.

However, I believe that our justice system, with a trial by ones peers and a unanimous verdict by all jurors, reaffirms that justice exists in America, Howell said. While its unfortunate that the former president faced such criminal charges, justice has been served. Despite this, it is not a good day for America.

The United Utah Party released a statement, The concerns about the motives of the prosecuting attorney do not, in our view, outweigh the fact that former President Trump was convicted by a jury of his peers after a full trial in which he was given the opportunity to raise every possible legal defense. We must respect the outcome of the legal proceedings, including former President Trumps right to a full and fair appeal. We must also take this opportunity to renew our focus on putting reforms in place to strengthen the independence of our judicial branch of government.

Contributing: Gitanjali Poonia
State law allows for the transfer of water rights claims in the Klamath Basin. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Flickr)

Despite pushback, the Oregon Senate approved two controversial candidates to serve on the state Board of Forestry and as the director of the Oregon Water Resources Department.

Heath Curtiss and Ivan Gall were among dozens of Oregonians confirmed Friday to a litany of governor-appointed positions on state boards and councils, as well as state agencies. Curtiss, a lawyer and former lobbyist for Hampton Lumber, will serve on the Board of Forestry despite pushback from environmental groups in early May that initially caused Gov. Tina Kotek to withdraw his nomination.

The board has in recent years become a battleground for conservation groups and the timber industry, vying for greater power to preserve or log state forests. Bob Van Dyk, a former policy director for the nonprofit Wild Salmon Center, was also struck from Koteks nomination list inexplicably and then resubmitted this week.

Gall, a 30-year veteran of the Oregon Water Resources Department, will lead the agency after two years as deputy director. Kotek announced Gall was her nominee in early May, after two nationwide searches within the last year failed to turn up a candidate she preferred.

The water resources agency faces criticism from some industrial and agricultural water users over permitting backlogs while also dealing with an urgent need to account for remaining groundwater supplies that have declined dramatically in many parts of the state over the last century. Gall and other agency leaders have faced criticism from lawmakers over their willingness to permit more water use in many areas where there is little existing data about how much groundwater is available.

The governor takes the appointment process seriously and is satisfied that these appointments would best serve the public interest, Elisabeth Shepard, a spokesperson for Kotek, said in an email.

The Senate considered Galls appointment separately from other nominees and confirmed his appointment on a 17-10 vote with all Republicans opposed. The Forestry board nominees were approved without discussion and with only one senator, Republican Art Robinson of Cave Junction, opposed.

New water director

In a meeting of the Senate Interim Committee on Rules and Executive Appointments Wednesday, Sens. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, and Elizabeth Steiner, D-Portland, grilled Gall about what hed do to turn the agency around in his first 100 days.

Hansell asked case-specific questions about ensuring water rights for agriculture in his district while Steiner wanted to know how hed regain trust from some Oregonians who feel the agency is unwilling to take on complex permits or to enforce penalties when a water user violates their permit.

Gall said hed spend his first few months on the job talking to water users around the state and getting feedback on their needs, but pushed back on the accusation that the agency is unwilling to take on hard cases or to enforce regulations.

I can say with a high level of certainty that our team really has not avoided some of the tough issues. Weve taken on a lot of those, particularly in more recent years, and I think we have plenty to document there, he said.

No one on the committee asked Gall about the urgency of dealing with declining groundwater supplies in parts of the state, which was the topic of several other natural resource and agriculture committee hearings this week, as well as bipartisan calls from top water lawmakers and Kotek to get an accurate accounting of the states groundwater reserves and to overhaul the states water permitting policies.

All Republicans in the Senate voted against Gall on Friday.

Sen. Lynn Findley, R-Vale, conceded that Gall was technically highly qualified, but he said Gall hasnt proven he can do the job Oregon needs him to do.

We need somebody to come in and change the direction of this agency, Findley said.

Steiner, who voted for Galls confirmation, said she expects lawmakers to watch him closely and that hell need to turn the agency around or lose his job. The agency needs the stability of a permanent director after 18 months without one, she said.

We have to give him a chance and we have to give this agency a chance to get back on its feet and change direction, Steiner said.

New Forestry Board members

Curtiss, who is general counsel for Portland-based Hampton Lumber, affirmed at his hearing Wednesday that he would not, despite some reports to the contrary, work to overturn a landmark state conservation plan passed by the forestry board earlier this year. The Western Forests Habitat Conservation Plan reduces logging in Oregons western state forests over the next 70 years to protect threatened species. Curtiss and Hampton were vocal opponents of the plan throughout its development and passage.

Im not interested in re-litigating the issue, he told the committee. The decision has been made to proceed. At this point, Im principally interested in realizing the benefits of an HCP (habitat conservation plan) on the terms approved as soon as possible without making it worse.

The seven-member board is charged with overseeing the Oregon Department of Forestry, including rulemaking on plans that dictate logging and habitat conservation in state forests. Curtiss will replace outgoing forestry board member Karla Chambers, who also serves on the board of Hampton Lumber. Three members of the board are, under state law, allowed to maintain financial ties to the timber industry.

A coalition of eight conservation groups wrote to Kotek in early May urging her not to nominate Curtiss.

Mr. Curtiss was a leading opponent of the Western Oregon State Forest Habitat Conservation Plan, a key strategy for the state to avoid violating the Endangered Species Act on state forests and a plan that you have worked to shepherd through to completion, they wrote.

But conservationists will get a counterbalance in Van Dyk of the Wild Salmon Center, who was also confirmed to the forestry board Friday after being removed from Koteks initial list of nominees without explanation. Hell serve the remaining year of board member Chandra Ferraris term. Ferrari is an environmental lawyer and former administrator at the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife who now serves as one of Koteks natural resource advisers.

Van Dyk also sought to dispel conflicts of interest in his hearing.

I want to note that I see a clear distinction between my earlier work as an advocate and the work of a board member, he told the committee Wednesday. The board work requires wanting to find a public interest by hearing and considering a wide range of views. I will strive to work with any and all of the parties who seek to shape business before the Board of Forestry.

Deputy Editor Julia Shumway contributed to this story.

The post Senate approves controversial appointments to Oregon water department, forestry board appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Senate conservatives led by Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), the chair of the Senate Steering Committee, say they will oppose nonsecurity funding increases that would allow the Department of Justice and other agencies to engage in partisan lawfare after a Manhattan jury convicted former President Trump on 34 felony counts Thursday.

Lee joined vice presidential aspirants Sens. JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and other Senate GOP colleagues in pledging to retaliate against what they say has been the Biden administrations weaponization of the Justice Department.

The eight senators who signed the statement say they wont vote to confirm the administrations political and judicial appointees or allow expedited consideration on the Senate floor of Democratic bills not directly related to public safety.

The White House has made a mockery of the rule of law and fundamentally altered our politics in un-American ways. As a Senate Republican conference, we are unwilling to aid and abet this White House in its project to tear this country apart, the senators said in a joint statement.

Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) also signed the letter.

Strongly worded statements are not enough. Those who turned our judicial system into a political cudgel must be held accountable. We are no longer cooperating with any Democrat legislative priorities or nominations, and we invite all concerned Senators to join our stand, Lee posted on the social platform X along with a copy of the letter.

The senators said: We will not 1) allow any increase to non-security related funding for this administration, or any appropriations bill which funds partisan lawfare; 2) vote to confirm this administrations political and judicial appointees; and 3) allow expedited consideration and passage of Democrat legislation or authorities that are not directly relevant to the safety of the American people.

Trump was convicted in a Manhattan criminal court Wednesday on 34 charges of falsifying business records. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) brought the case.

Special counsel Jack Smith, working under the Justice Departments authority, has also charged Trump with attempting to overturn the results of the 2020 election and mishandling classified documents after leaving the White House.

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.
KYODO NEWS - May 31, 2024 - 08:39 | World, All

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered and guided a demonstration drill of "super-large multiple rocket" launchers aimed at South Korea, the country's official Korean Central News Agency reported Friday.

The report on the drill followed the launch by North Korea of more than 10 suspected short-range ballistic missiles toward the Sea of Japan on Thursday, just days after an unsuccessful satellite rocket launch by Pyongyang.

KCNA did not mention when the "power demonstration firing" by the super-large multiple rocket sub-units took place. Pyongyang claims its super-large multiple rocket launchers are capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads.

According to the KCNA report, they hit an island target 365 kilometers away.

The drill aimed to show that North Korea will not "hesitate to carry out a preemptive attack by invoking the right to self-defense," the news agency added.

Related coverage:

North Korea fires over 10 suspected short-range ballistic missiles

North Korea's Kim vows to continue military spy satellite development

Kim's new rocket quest linked to possible Trump return: think tank
Senate Republicans on Thursday widely panned the guilty verdict against former President Trump for falsifying business records, arguing that it was a disgrace, a sham and that the true verdict will come in November.

Republicans wasted no time laying into the decision after a jury found Trump guilty of all 34 counts. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who is looking to succeed Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in the partys top spot next year, called on Republicans to rally around the former president.

This verdict is a disgrace, and this trial should have never happened, Cornyn wrote on the social platform X. Now more than ever, we need to rally around @realdonaldtrump, take back the White House and Senate, and get this country back on track. The real verdict will be Election Day.

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the No. 2 member of leadership and also a top contender to replace McConnell atop the conference, said that the case was politically motivated and looked ahead to the November election as the chance to boot President Biden from office.

This case was politically motivated from the beginning, and todays verdict does nothing to absolve the partisan nature of this prosecution, Thune said. Regardless of outcome, more and more Americans are realizing that we cannot survive four more years of Joe Biden. With President Trump in the White House and a Republican majority in the U.S. Senate, we can finally end the disastrous Biden-Schumer agenda thats crushing American families and businesses.

Sen. John Barrasso (Wyo.), the No. 3 Senate Republican, accused the Biden administration of weaponizing the judicial system against the presumptive GOP presidential nominee.

The case in New York against President Trump has never been about justice, Barrasso said in a statement. Democrats are weaponizing the justice system against a political opponent. Elections are decided in voting booths, not courtrooms.

President Trump will keep fighting to get America back on track, he continued.

Trump allies lined up behind him immediately after the verdict, which made him the first former president to be a convicted felon.

This verdict is an absolute miscarriage of justice, said Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), a potential running mate selection for the ex-president. While the outcome of this trial will no doubt be subject to appeal, its a disgrace to our judicial system that such measures will be necessary.

The partisan slant of this jury pool shows why we ought to litigate politics at the ballot box and not in the courtroom, he continued. Ultimately, I have faith that the 2024 election will be decided by the American people, not corrupt judges and prosecutors.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of Trumps foremost backers, said he expects the verdict to be overturned on appeal and said he is worried about what this means for the presidency writ large.

The Manhattan legal system has become a joke in every sense of the word. This is a mockery of justice, Graham said. I fear we have opened up Pandoras box on the presidency itself.

Even those who have not been among Trumps most ardent supporters chimed in to back the former president.

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said in a statement that he was shocked by the verdict and laid blame at the feet of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), whom he called a radical, politically-motivated state prosecutor [who] was using the full weight of his office to go after President Trump at the same time he turned a blind eye to violent criminals.

I expect and hope that President Trump will appeal this verdict to address fundamental questions, including whether President Trump received a fair trial and whether the Manhattan D.A. even had jurisdiction on a federal election matter, Tillis continued.

Even Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who voted to convict Trump in his Jan. 6 impeachment trial, said that while he wasnt surprised by the verdict, he disagreed with it.

The jury was led to believe that two misdemeanors make a felony and that a state court could enforce federal law. None of this seems right. The rule of law should apply equally to both parties, Cassidy said. I disagree with the verdict.

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.
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL)  Republican elected officials representing Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia were quick to react to Thursdays conviction of former President Donald Trump in his New York hush money trial.

A jury convicted the former president of all 34 counts he faced, making him the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes.

U.S. Representatives

Northeast Tennessee Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R) reaffirmed her support of the former president in a statement.

Today is a heartbreaking day for our beloved nation. The conviction of President Trump is an absolute travesty and a stain on our justice system. This verdict is not just an attack on President Trump; it is an attack on every American who believes in fairness and justice. Will Trump go to jail? The Biden administration and the radical left have crossed a line. They have weaponized our legal system in a desperate attempt to prevent President Trump from returning to the White House. This is not justice; this is political persecution. Its clear election interference, plain and simple. I stand with President Trump and all true American Patriots who know he did nothing wrong. We will not let this injustice stand. We will fight to restore justice, and President Trump will be back, stronger than ever. Rep. Diana Harshbarger (R-Tenn.)

In a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, Southwest Virginia Congressman Morgan Griffith (R) blamed the verdict on trial errors.

The verdict reached today in New York concerning President Trump is a bad decision, Griffith said. This decision in large measure was due to trial errors by the judge. Based on what was presented, I do not see evidence of a crime taking place.

U.S. Senators

Tennessees two Republican U.S. Senators, both adamant supporters of Trump, were quick to condemn the verdict.

In a post, Tennessee Sen. Bill Hagerty, who previously served as Trumps ambassador to Japan for about two years, called on people to support the Trump campaign.

America has a front-row seat to what Democrats do when they know theyre losing, Hagerty said. They cant beat him, so they convict him. @realDonaldTrump needs our full support NOW.

Can Trump pardon himself if he wins presidency in 2024?

Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn said the verdict was the result of an undemocratic and un-American weaponization of our justice system.

Joe Biden and the radical Left have made it clear they will do anything they can to keep President Trump out of the White House, and that ought to frighten every American. There was no way President Trump was going to get a fair trial in New York City with a liberal DA who campaigned on targeting him, a partisan judge who has donated to the Biden-Harris campaign, and a prosecutor who was a paid political consultant for the DNC and former top Biden DOJ official. This is an undemocratic and un-American weaponization of our justice system against Trump, who Joe Biden knows he cant beat at the ballot box. If they can do this to a former President who will be the 2024 Republican nominee, they can do it to anyone. Today is a sad day for the American justice system and the American peoplethis is what youd expect in places like Russia, China and North Korea, but not America. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.)

Democratic Virginia Sen. Mark Warner offered a terse response.

Every American deserves their day in court, Warner said in a post on X. Former President Trump got his.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  The Memphis Police Department is investigating an overnight shooting in North Memphis and another at a gas station near the airport area.

According to reports, officers responded to an aggravated assault on Clarksdale Avenue in North Memphis around 1:30 a.m.

The victim stated he was sitting on his porch when three vehicles passed his house going eastbound on Clarksdale Avenue.

That is when the car stopped and five men got out shooting at five men and three women who were standing at the northeast corner of the intersection, the victim said.

Shooting downtown on Main Street leaves 1 dead, 1 detained

During that time, the victim says he was grazed by a bullet on the right hand.

One of the suspects reportedly dropped his gun while shooting and limped to pick it up. All three vehicles then left the scene going southbound on Hyde Park.

While at the scene, officers say a witness also told them a White Nissan Altima, gray or black Mercedes, and an unknown green vehicle opened fire on a group of people at the intersection.

On Clarksdale Avenue, a total of eight cars and one house were struck by gunfire. 110 casings were collected by police and tagged at 201 Poplar.

A concerned citizen told officers on the scene that one of the vehicles possibly involved in the incident was located at Troy Avenue and May Street.

Officers searched the area and found a white Ford Expedition with several bullet holes in the front windshield. The truck was towed to the city lot with a hold for the Violent Crime Unit.

Man shot at 9 times while driving in Frayser overnight

Police say shortly afterward four victims arrived at Methodist North Hospital in a black Mercedes with several bullet holes and a shot out back window.

The victims stated that they were driving in the area of Hollywood Street and Chelsea Avenue when unknown individuals started firing shots at them.

One victim was shot in the lower back. Another victim was shot in the lower back and possibly grazed in one leg, reports state.

They were both taken to Regional One Hospital in critical condition.

When officers checked the area of Hollywood and Chelsea, they were unable to locate a crime scene.

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Another shooting took place before midnight at Loves Travel Stop gas station at 3371 Lamar Avenue. Officers responded to the scene around 11:18 p.m.

A man was found at the scene and taken to Regional One Hospital in critical condition. MPD says this possibly happened in Parkway Village at Getwell Road and American Way.

No suspect information is available at this time.

If you have any information regarding this incident, call Memphis CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

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Serbs will head to the polls again after fraud reports led to tensions during a December ballot

A man walks in front of a pre-election billboard showing Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, right, and Belgrade mayor candidate Aleksandar Sapic in Belgrade, Serbia, Wednesday, May 29, 2024, ahead of the municipal vote set for June 2. Voters in Serbia go to the polls this weekend in a municipal election for dozens of cities and towns, including a rerun vote in the capital Belgrade where ruling populists were accused of a fraud at a previous vote in December. The right-wing Serbian Progressive Party of President Aleksandar Vucic is seen as a favorite ahead of the Sunday balloting which could further secure the strongman's already vast hold on power. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic)

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP)  Voters in Serbia will go to the polls this weekend for a municipal vote in dozens of cities and towns, including a rerun ballot in the capital of Belgrade where ruling populists were accused of an election fraud in December.

The right-wing Serbian Progressive Party of President Aleksandar Vucic is seen as a favorite ahead of the Sunday balloting, aiming to further cement an already vast hold on power.

The populist strongman is formally seeking to have his troubled nation join the European Union but has steadily drifted away from pro-EU democracy values while nurturing close ties with Russia and China.

Vucic's opponents remain weak. A pro-Western opposition alliance that was behind big anti-government street protests last year has splintered and turned against each other, lowering chances for an upset.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

Some 6.5 million voters will choose local authorities in all key cities in Serbia: the capital of Belgrade, the northern regional center of Novi Sad and Nis in the south, as well as nearly 80 town halls or local councils throughout the country.

The governing party has for over a decade firmly controlled all levels of power in Serbia, so if the opposition manages to wrestle away at least some of the local councils, not to mention big cities, it would be a significant success.

Analysts, however, warn that disagreements among opposition groups have led to huge disappointment among their supporters and that voter apathy is widespread ahead of Sunday's ballot.

WHO ARE THE KEY PLAYERS?

Governing right-wing Serbian Progressive Party is dominant. Firmly led by Vucic, the populists have presented themselves as the only political force capable of running the country and keeping it safe at a time of global turmoil.

Vucic and his party have refuted reports of widespread irregularities during the previous election that came from both international and local election observers. Populists have sought to portray an image of a strong national state defying powerful enemies in the West under Vucic's leadership  he has featured strongly in the campaign even though this is not permitted by the law.

Pro-Western opposition groups have accused Vucic of crime links, rampant corruption and a crackdown on democracy. The opposition groups split over whether to take part in the ballot or press on with demands for free and fair elections.

Those taking part in the vote go under the slogan: We choose to fight!

Adding to the confusion is the fact that some opposition parties that are not competing in Belgrade are running in other cities. Analysts say this has left voters baffled.

WHAT WERE THE REPORTED IRREGULARITIES ?

International election observers have said that the December election was held in unjust conditions, in part because of the presidents involvement and systemic advantages for the ruling party.

The report by an office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said the ballot was marred by harsh rhetoric, bias in the media, pressure on public sector employees and misuse of public resources.

Reports also emerged of voters from other parts of the country being bused into Belgrade to vote for the ruling party and being registered at bogus addresses.

WHAT HAS BEEN DONE TO AMEND THIS?

Nothing, according to election observers from the Center for Research, Transparency and Accountability, or CRTA.

Under EU pressure, the government has formed a working group with watchdog organizations and opposition representatives. A law on voter registration has been amended but nothing really improved, CRTA's program director Rasa Nedeljkov said.

We have evidence to show that things that we documented in previous electoral cycle, we are documenting now again, he said, along with "new types of pressure, manipulation, especially with those (voters) working in public sector."

Things are going in a really, really wrong direction," Nedeljkov said.
This artist's sketch shows accused serial killer Robert Pickton taking notes during the second day of his trial in B.C. Supreme Court in New Westminster, British Columbia, Jan. 31, 2006. Convicted Canadian serial killer Pickton has been hospitalized and is in a life-threatening condition after an assault at a Quebec prison, authorities said Tuesday, May 21, 2024. (Jane Wolsack/The Canadian Press via AP)

TORONTO (AP)  Canadian serial killer Robert Pickton, who took female victims to his pig farm during a crime spree near Vancouver in the late 1990s and early 2000s, has died after being assaulted in prison, authorities said Friday. He was 74.

The Correctional Service of Canada said in statement that Pickton, an inmate of Port-Cartier Institution in the province of Quebec, died in hospital following injuries in the May 19 assault involving another inmate. He was one of Canadas most notorious serial killers and his case made international headlines.

A 51-year-old inmate was in custody for the assault on Pickton, police spokesman Hugues Beaulieu said earlier this month.

Robert Willie Pickton was convicted of six counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in 2007, with the maximum parole ineligibility period of 25 years, after being charged with the murders of 26 women.

Police began searching the Pickton farm in the Vancouver suburb of Port Coquitlam more than 22 years ago in what would be a years-long investigation into the disappearances of dozens of women from Vancouvers seediest streets, sex workers and users of drugs abandoned on the margins of society.

The remains or DNA of 33 women were found on the farm. Pickton once bragged to an undercover police officer that he killed a total of 49 women.

During his trial, prosecution witness Andrew Bellwood said Pickton told him how he strangled his victims and fed their remains to his pigs. Health officials once issued a tainted meat advisory to neighbors who might have bought pork from Picktons farm, concerned the meat might have contained human remains.

Cynthia Cardinal, whose sister Georgina Papin was murdered by Pickton, said Picktons death means she can finally move on from her sisters murder.

This is gonna bring healing for, I wont say all families, Ill just say most of the families, she said. Im like  wow, finally. I can actually move on and heal and I can put this behind me.

Vancouver police were criticized for not taking the cases seriously because many of the missing were sex workers or users of drugs.

Canada's correctional service said it was conducting an investigation into the attack on Pickton.

The investigation will examine all of the facts and circumstances surrounding the assault, including whether policies and protocols were followed, the service said in the statement. We are mindful that this offenders case has had a devastating impact on communities in British Columbia and across the country, including Indigenous peoples, victims and their families. Our thoughts are with them."

Picktons confirmed victims were six: Sereena Abotsway, Mona Wilson, Andrea Joesbury, Brenda Ann Wolfe, Papin and Marnie Frey.

Earlier today, I was made aware of the death of an inmate at Port-Cartier Institution," Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc said in statement. "At this time, my thoughts are with the families of the victims of this individuals heinous crimes.

At the time of Picktons sentencing, British Columbia Supreme Court Justice James Williams said it was a rare case that properly warrants the maximum period of parole ineligibility available to the court.
Services for missionaries killed in Haiti set for next week in Neosho

NEOSHO, Mo.  Funeral arrangements for a missionary couple from Neosho killed while serving in Haiti have been announced.

The visitation services for Natalie and Davy Lloyd will be held Monday from 3-7 p.m. at the Bible Holiness Church in Neosho.

Remembering the lost missionary couple: Prayer vigil held in Neosho

The funeral will take place at ten Tuesday morning at the same location.

Natalie and Davy Lloyd were murdered by gangs in Haiti a week ago on Thursday. Natalie is the daughter of Missouri State Representative Ben Baker.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A man who was shot by police after a warrant was served on a Northeast Portland home early Wednesday morning has been identified, authorities said.

According to Portland police, this all began just after 4 a.m. when detectives from the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit and the Special Emergency Reaction Team (SERT) served the warrant at a home on Northeast 137th Avenue.

After more than an hour of communication between a man in the house  identified by police as 44-year-old Patrick W. Myers  and the Crisis Negotiation Team, Myers stopped communication, prompting SERT to enter the home.

Armed bank robberies in Salem under investigation for possible connection

At the same time, Myers exited out the back door with a rifle, officials said.

As SERT was breaching the front door of the home where the suspect was located, this individual went out the back door, Mike Benner with the Portland Police Bureau said. He was armed with a rifle, and one of our SERT members shot him.

Authorities said Myers was shot by a member of SERT and was quickly taken to a nearby hospital, where he is expected to survive. Once recovered, he will then be booked into the Multnomah County Detention Center.

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No officers were injured and the SERT member involved is now on paid administrative leave per standard protocol.

The search warrant served was related to a recent indictment for six counts of second-degree encouraging child sex abuse and one count of encouraging sexual assault of an animal.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Portland police.

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BEIRUT, May 31 (Xinhua) -- A paramedic from Hezbollah's Islamic Health Authority was killed, and another was wounded on Friday in an Israeli airstrike targeting an ambulance in the western sector of southern Lebanon, a Lebanese military source said.

The source, who spoke anonymously, said the ambulance was burned after an Israeli drone targeted it with two air-to-surface missiles when it was traveling from the Lebanese town of Naqoura to the city of Tyre.

Civil defense teams worked to extinguish the fire and transported the body of the victim and the injured individual to a hospital in Tyre, the source said.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah said on Friday that it had launched a combat drone attack on Israeli artillery units in al-Zaoura bunkers, causing damages.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah towards Israel in solidarity with Hamas's attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. 
SF man accused of retail heists, stealing over $16K worth of merchandise arrested in Colma

(KRON)  A San Francisco resident who authorities said was responsible for more than $16,000 worth of grand theft was arrested by the Colma Police Department this week.

The arrest occurred around 9:05 p.m. on Tuesday. Colma police officers received an automated license plate reader notification that the vehicle associated with a suspect that committed several grand thefts was near Serramonte and Junipero Serra boulevards.

Photo: Colma Police Department

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Responding officers located the suspects vehicle in a retail stores parking lot on Colma Boulevard. Colma PD received confirmation that the suspect was in the store. According to Colma PD, the businesss loss prevention officers informed police that the suspect had stolen approximately $4,781.67 from the store.

Officers located and detained the suspect. The suspect was identified as 52-year-old San Francisco resident James Garcia. According to the police investigation, Garcia has stolen more than $16,000 worth of merchandise from other retail stores within the Bay Area.

Garcia was arrested and booked into the San Mateo County Jail for grand theft, burglary and organized retail theft with intent to sell.

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SAN FRANCISCO (KRON)  An upcoming San Francisco mayoral debate coming up in June featuring all five major candidates will be hosted by KRON4 News Reporter Terisa Estacio. The debate, which is being put on by the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee (SF DCCC), will take place on Monday, June 17 at 7:30 p.m.

Candidates set to take part in the debate include incumbent SF Mayor London Breed, former mayor Mark Farrell, Levis scion Daniel Lurie, and current SF Board of Supervisors members Aaron Peskin and Ahsha Safai. The debate will take place at the University of California College of Law, San Francisco and is free and open to the public.

Anchor Brewing Company purchased by billionaire Chobani founder

The San Francisco Mayors race is one of the most important contests on the ballot this

November, said Nancy Tung, Chair of the San Francisco Democratic Party. Its

important that San Francisco voters have the opportunity to hear directly from the

candidates to understand their vision for the city and their positions on the critical issues

facing San Francisco today. By hosting this debate, the Party hopes to provide important

information about the candidates positions so voters can make informed choices at the

ballot box this November.

Criteria for the debate was established by a Mayoral Debate Committee consisting of five members of the SF DCCC appointed by Chair Tung. The debate will be 90 minutes long and include individual statements from candidates along with questions poised by the debate moderator.

The debate is an exciting opportunity for voters to get a closer look at the candidates and their positions and for the candidates to square off and answer some of the pressing issues facing the City of San Francisco, said KRON4s Terisa Estacio. Its an honor and a privilege to be participating in such an important function of the democratic process.

Participating campaigns will be allowed to submit up to five questions for consideration by the committee to be included in the debate. Chartered San Francisco Democratic Clubs co-hosting the debate will also have a chance to submit questions for consideration.

While the debate is free and open to the public, advance registration to obtain a ticket is required at sfdemocrats.org/debate.

Seating at the debate will be based on a first come, first serve basis.

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Gov. Josh Shapiro

SOUDERTON  In an effort to meet the needs of Pennsylvanias growing population of older citizens, Gov. Josh Shapiro on Friday unveiled his administrations Aging Our Way, PA 10-year strategic plan.

Pennsylvanias older population is growing quickly, Shapiro said during an appearance at Generations of Indian Valley in Montgomery County, noting that 3.8 million Keystone State residents are projected to be 60 years and older by the end of the decade.

Pennsylvania is the fifth oldest state in the nation; one in four residents are senior citizens. Thats projected to grow to one in three Pennsylvanians by 2030.

This is a report thats going to sit in the middle of the conference table and something that were going to be able to go back to year after year after year on to the next decade, operating as a roadmap for how we are going to effectively deliver services for seniors all across Pennsylvania, Shapiro said.

The Aging Our Way, PA plan is a bold vision of a future where older adults can age with dignity and independence with the support they need in order to succeed, he added.

The plan is broken down into three levels of details, which include five priorities, 36 strategies, and 163 tactics. The five priorities are unlocking access; aging in community; gateways to independence; caregiver supports; and education and navigation.

Shapiro is requesting $11.7 million in his budget proposal to begin implementing the plan.

One year ago, Shapiro signed an executive order directing the Department of Aging to map out the plan. Since that executive order, officials said on Friday, more than 200 listening sessions were conducted across the state to receive feedback on what should be included in the plan.

According to Shapiros office, Pennsylvania joins California, Colorado, Massachusetts, and Vermont as the only states that have crafted and released a master plan on aging.

State Sen. Maria Collett, (D-Montgomery) Chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Aging & Youth Committee, said that the plan sends a clear message to seniors that they matter.

This comprehensive and innovative plan will address some of those most pressing issues head on, making sure that older and disabled Pennsylvanians can remain in their homes and communities, she said.

Collett cited affordable and safe housing, reliable transportation, social opportunities, mental health care, plus caregivers having the resources they need as crucial parts of the plan.

Shapiro on Trumps felony convictions

During a Q&A with reporters following the announcement, Shapiro answered a question about Thursdays guilty verdict against former President Donald Trump.

In this country, no one is above the law, and the rule of law matters, Shapiro said to applause. As your former attorney general, the rule of law needs to be applied without fear and without favor.

Shapiro said he respected the work of the jury and added hes focused on his work leading Pennsylvania, not a courthouse in New York.

At the end of the day, the voters this fall will ultimately have the final say in who they want to lead the nation and how what happened in New York yesterday impacts that decision, Shapiro said.

I recognize that there will be two names on the ballot, at least two names on the ballot for president, but in many ways, I think this election is a referendum on all of us and how much we value freedom, how much we value our democracy, how much we value our institutions and I think every American, certainly here in Pennsylvania, should keep that in mind as they go to vote this fall, he added.

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As a New York jury found former President Trump guilty of 34 felony counts Thursday, the Rev. Al Sharpton said his thoughts were with the Central Park Five.

Trumps trial, which began in April, took place in the same courthouse where the five Black and Brown boys were tried and wrongfully convicted of raping and murdering a white woman in 1989. A judge vacated the convictions in 2002.

This is the same building that Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise all passed into, day after day, as they endured a show trial for a crime they did not commit, Sharpton said in a statement.

These children had to hear vitriol from people whose anger was incited by a man who spent a small fortune on full-page ads calling for their execution. Now the shoe is on the other foot. Donald Trump is the criminal, and those five men are exonerated. Im reminded of Dr. Kings proverb that the arc of history is long, but it bends toward justice.

During the trial of the Central Park Five  today known as the Exonerated Five  Trump placed multiple full-page advertisements in New York newspapers, including The New York Times, calling for the state to reinstate capital punishment. Trump refused to apologize for his actions when a reporter confronted him in 2019.

But in February, Trump said Black voters would find him appealing for being wrongfully prosecuted as so many Black Americans have been.

Late Thursday afternoon, 12 jurors found Trump guilty on counts of falsifying business records  after less than 12 hours of deliberation.

Trump has insisted that he is a very innocent man and has vowed to keep fighting.

Derrick Johnson, president and CEO of the NAACP, said Thursday was a monumental step toward justice for the American people.

Whether its an attempt to steal an election or overthrow our government, one thing has long been apparent  Donald Trump is unfit to represent American democracy, Johnson said. The NAACP strongly believes that anyone who has been found guilty of criminal offenses of this magnitude is unfit to occupy the Oval Office. As Black Americans have been denied basic human rights due to less offensive crimes, any attempt to advance Donald Trumps nomination for Presidency would be a gross advancement of white supremacist policy.

But Sharpton also issued a warning Thursday, cautioning critics of Trump against gloating his conviction.

What happens next is crucial. We cannot allow the hate speech that Donald Trump spewed in 1989, 2016, or 2024 to be mimicked by those who have stood against his actions, Sharpton said. A lot will be said about the first conviction of a former president in our nearly 250-year history. The discourse will carry on for weeks, months, and years. We cannot allow it to be guided by sore winners who gloat over this conviction, when it only stands to ignite the Donald Trumps all over this nation who still want to take us back to the pre-1964 era. Cheering this conviction with malice will only empower those who committed violence on January 6th to do it on May 31st. Instead, celebrate by casting votes for leaders who will protect democracy  not who want to kill it.

Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, just four days before the GOP conventions start in Milwaukee, Wis.

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She's likely to be Mexico's next president. Can she save the country from cartel violence?

A recruit practices firearm technique at the Mexico City police academy. Presidential front-runner Claudia Sheinbaum, former mayor of the city, aimed to change its policing practices and reduce crime.

As mayor of Mexico City, Claudia Sheinbaum celebrated a dramatic drop in violent crime, including a 50% plunge in homicides.

Now the front-runner in Mexico's presidential election, Sheinbaum says she is uniquely qualified to bring peace to a nation battered by nearly two decades of cartel violence. "We already did it," she said. "Of course we will continue."

If she wins Sunday's election as expected, she will confront a country in crisis, one plagued by a largely inept criminal justice system, one of the world's highest homicide rates and a dangerous patchwork of well-armed gangs that control wide swaths of territory and even some local governments.

Presidential front-runner and former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum greets supporters at a campaign rally at the Zocalo this week. (Matias Delacroix / Associated Press)

Experts say the novel security strategies that Sheinbaum embraced in Mexico City  improving investigations, professionalizing cops and implementing community policing models developed in U.S. cities such as Oakland  may be difficult to repeat elsewhere in the country, where organized crime is more violent and more deeply embedded than it is in the capital.

Her efforts to improve policing in Mexico City were also expensive  and would be costly to reproduce on a wider scale.

"The Mexico City model is not replicable," said Carlos Perez Ricart, a political scientist at Mexico's Center for Research and Teaching in Economics, citing the high costs of hiring and training officers. Still, he said, Sheinbaum's experience suggests that, if elected, she may refocus attention on improving the country's notoriously incompetent police, a goal long sought but also long neglected by previous governments who opted instead for a top-down militarized approach.

Read more: What to know about Mexico's massive elections on Sunday

"At a time when the country needs a model of nonmilitarization, the Mexico City example is useful," Perez Ricart said. "It says: Hey, there is another way to do this."

Mexico City police officers monitor activity on the streets through 75,000 video cameras placed throughout the city. Legal reforms under Sheinbaum gave police more intelligence-gathering powers and vastly expanded the city's video surveillance system. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times)

But there are many potential roadblocks, security experts say, including the legacy of Sheinbaum's mentor, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who abandoned promised efforts to strengthen Mexico's civilian police.

After taking office in 2018, Lopez Obrador eliminated Mexico's federal police force and slashed funding to local and state law enforcement agencies, ceding much of the country's public security to the military, marines and the newly created National Guard.

That leaves the next president of Mexico with limited tools in the face of a gaping problem.

"There are glimmers of hope that Sheinbaum is willing to work more methodically than those in the past," said Falko Ernst, a senior analyst on Mexico at the International Crisis Group. "But this is not an easily fixable problem, and nobody should expect it to be swept off the table anytime soon."

Read more: Bullets before ballots: Dozens of Mexican candidates have been killed as cartels seek more control

::

When Sheinbaum was elected mayor of Mexico City in 2018, the capital was gripped by the worst violence it had experienced in years.

An average of five people were killed by homicide each day. Armed robberies were common even in the toniest neighborhoods. The outgoing mayor, Miguel Mancera, refused to acknowledge that major cartels were operating in the city even as several high-profile gang leaders were arrested here.

Sheinbaum, an environmental engineer who did doctoral research in California, came in with what her colleagues described as a systematic approach. She raised the salaries of officers by more than 50% and set a goal that half of new police academy recruits be women. She pushed a legal reform that gave the police department more investigative and intelligence-gathering powers and vastly expanded the city's video surveillance system.

Read more: Soldiers and civilians are dying as Mexican cartels embrace a terrifying new weapon: Land mines

Mexico City police investigate the fatal shooting of a taxi driver in Mexico City's Vista Hermosa neighborhood last summer.

She hired Omar Harfuch, an expert in organized crime, as her police chief and adopted a slew of new policing initiatives inspired in part by visits to the U.S.

On a 2018 trip to Oakland, Sheinbaum learned about a program called Operation Ceasefire, which sought to connect social services with a small group of individuals deemed most likely to be involved in a shooting.

Police in Mexico City mimicked the program, identifying likely perpetrators of violent crimes, particularly homicides, and then sought to redirect them.

Read more: A single mother in Mexico was blamed for her own death. Now a well-connected playboy has been charged

Theres nothing that rips apart the social fabric more than a homicide," said Pablo Vazquez Camacho, who helped oversee Sheinbaum's social programs and who was recently named Mexico City police chief by her successor.

Inside a city auditorium on a recent morning, another program launched by Sheinbaum was on display. Dozens of young people who had been arrested for nonviolent crimes such as drug possession and theft had been given the chance to avoid jail time by attending a months-long rehabilitation course. They sat in small circles alongside therapists and police officers, discussing their upbringings, their hopes for the future and swapping techniques for dealing with sadness and stress.

Mexico's police department said graduates of the program were five times less likely to commit another crime compared with somebody who had been incarcerated.

Her tenure was not without major violent incidents, including a brazen attack on Harfuch in 2020 on one of Mexico City's main boulevards that injured the then-police chief and killed two of his bodyguards.

But by the time Sheinbaum stepped down as mayor in the summer of 2023 to run for president, statistics showed a precipitous drop in many crimes, including robberies and assaults. Federal data also indicated that city residents felt much safer, with the percentage of people reporting that they felt unsafe dropping from 92% in 2018 to 57% in 2023.

Two Mexico City police officers patrol along Avenida Francisco I. Madero in the city's historic center last summer. As mayor, Sheinbaum set a goal that half of new police academy recruits be women.

Sheinbaum celebrated a drop in homicides, which according to city data occurred just twice daily on average by then, the lowest rate since 1989. She said Mexico City was safer than many U.S. cities, including New Orleans and Philadelphia.

But the homicide data were more complicated than they appeared.

Researchers pointed out that a large number of violent deaths in the capital  nearly a third  were classified as undefined." Some asked whether some of those deaths might in fact be slayings that had been miscategorized in order to obscure a higher homicide rate.

Academics and journalists pounced on the topic, with many calling on city authorities to do more to define the cause of all violent deaths in the city.

But many also noted that the large number of unclassified deaths in Mexico City was nothing new  they had been recorded that way since 2011. And other data, including the decrease in assaults, did suggest that violent crime had indeed dropped under Sheinbaum, said political scientist Rodrigo Pena Gonzalez.

Ernst said Sheinbaum's team in Mexico City "did better than most other security forces I've seen in Mexico over the past decades, especially in being more systematic about their approaches and thinking about how to get lethal violence down in very pragmatic ways."

But Mexico City's police force is one of just a few law enforcement agencies nationwide that have improved in recent years, experts say, in part because it is one of the few that is well-funded. The federal government has cut the subsidies that many police departments depend on as it plows more money into the armed forces.

When President Felipe Calderon first deployed soldiers and marines to fight organized crime in 2006, they were seen as a temporary supplement to police, who in many parts of the country were viewed as corrupt and complicit with drug traffickers.

Members of the Mexican National Guard keep watch on the Mexican side of the Ciudad Juarez-El Paso border. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times)

But Mexican leaders have failed to make necessary investments to reform police, prosecutors and judiciaries.

Lopez Obrador slashed crucial federal funding for local law enforcement, forcing some municipalities to disband their police forces. The number of municipal police officers in Mexico fell 4% between 2018 and 2021, according to the National Census on State Security.

Sheinbaum, a protege of Lopez Obrador's for years, has studiously avoided criticizing her mentor's security strategy. And she has offered only a vague sense of how she would tackle crime as president aside from pledging to hire more police investigators, create more social programs for poor youth and expand the National Guard.

Pena, a researcher at El Colegio de Mexico, said Sheinbaum's apparent success in Mexico City has been a rare bright spot in a country that has become accustomed to impunity for criminals and regular atrocities, but said she must lay out a more concrete plan for tackling crime.

"We see any sign of hope and we embrace it," he said. "But there is no real discussion about how this could be carried out on a national scale."

These days, experts in violence in Mexico rarely talk about how to reduce the stranglehold of organized crime, he said. They focus instead on how best to reduce the violence associated with it.

"The history of the last 30, 40 years of international drug trafficking teaches us that there is no sign that the consumption or sale of drugs will disappear, but rather that it will become more complicated and more sophisticated," Pena said.





::

Jaime Llera, a photojournalist with La Prensa, files images from a Mexico City crime scene using his cellphone. People gather on the street while police investigate the shooting death of a taxi driver. Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times

Last month, Sheinbaum was forced to cancel a planned campaign stop in rural Michoacan state after an outbreak of gang violence there. It was  along with the slayings of more than 30 political candidates across the country this election season  a stark reminder of the vast security challenges that await her nationally if she is victorious on Sunday.

An increase in crime in Mexico City in the months after Sheinbaum stepped down is another reminder of the fragility of security gains.

On a rainy night several months after Sheinbaum left office, photojournalist Jaime Llera sped through a hilly working-class neighborhood on the city's north side toward the street where a man had just been killed.

Llera, who has covered crime for more than three decades, smoked a cigarette while he snapped photographs of a taxi spattered with blood. The body of the driver, whom police said may have been shot to death in relation to extortion payments to a local gang, had already been removed.

Members of a nearby church stood and gaped. A man peered out the doorway of a billiard hall.

Llera spoke with several neighbors who had gathered at the crime scene. One of them, Maricella Arzate, 59, said life in the area still felt precarious. Her young granddaughter agreed. "We still hear bullets at night," she said.

They didn't speak highly of the police. As Llera returned to his car to send his pictures to his editors, a police officer approached. The officer had taken photographs of the body of the victim. He wanted to make a quick buck by selling one to Llera.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
DENVER (KDVR)  One man was killed and another was injured after a confrontation ended in a shooting in Longmont.

On Thursday at 11:28 p.m., Longmont police were called about a shooting at a home in the 4000 block of Hawthorne Place next to the Dry Creek Community Park.

When officers arrived, they found a 27-year-old man who had died from a gunshot wound.

According to investigators, a confrontation broke out between four males, however, investigators arent sure what led to the argument.

2 seriously injured in hit-and-run crash on Colfax Avenue in Denver

During the altercation, police said both parties discharged firearms, killing one and injuring another man. The man who was injured was shot in the arm and taken to a local hospital where his injury was determined to be non-life-threatening.

Longmont police are interviewing the two other people connected to the shooting. They are also asking for surveillance video from anyone in the area. Those living nearby should take their cameras from Thursday between 11-11:30 p.m.

Anyone with information can contact Detective Ryan Williams at 303-774-4839.

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.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  December 2023, the Colorado River District signed a purchase and sale agreement with Xcel Energy to secure and protect the historic and critical Shoshone Water Rights.

The agreed price for the Shoshone Water Rights is $99 million. The river district has until December of 2027 to secure the $99 million but is more than halfway there. West slope partner organizations have contributed a little more than $10 million in local funding, the Colorado River District`s community funding partnership grant program committed $20 million, and the Colorado General Assembly recently appropriated another $20 million through the Colorado Water Conservation Board projects bill.

Then, last week, Glenwood Springs contributed $2 million towards the Shoshone Water Rights Preservation Campaign. Most recently, commitments from Eagle River Water and Sanitation District and the Upper Eagle Region Water Authority for a total of another $1 million, as well as a few more coming in here and there. Overall, theres been 18 different west slope entities contributing with their total commitment being over $11 million.

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 WesternSlopeNow.com.
By Shivam Patel

KHADOOR SAHIB, India (Reuters) - A jailed Sikh separatist leader is contesting India's general election from prison and drawing good support, his campaign managers said, in what could become a concern for New Delhi which has sought to stamp out any revival of Sikh militancy.

Amritpal Singh, 31, is detained in a high-security prison in Assam, nearly 3,000 km (1,865 miles) from his Khadoor Sahib constituency in Punjab state, where villages and towns are dotted with posters depicting him with swords and bullet-proof vests.

Singh was arrested last year and jailed under a tough security law after he and hundreds of his supporters stormed a police station with swords and firearms, demanding the release of one of his aides.

A win for him in an election to parliament could give Singh some legitimacy and spark concerns of a revival of a militancy that killed tens of thousands of people in the 1970s and 1980s.

"People will make their decision on June 1," Singh's father Tarsem, 61, said referring to the voting in the constituency on Saturday. "They will send an important message to those who have maligned his image, to those who are defaming our community and our Punjab."

Tarsem Singh spoke inside a Sikh temple set beside wheat fields and a river canal. Portraits of Sikhs who were killed during the militancy in Punjab, called "martyrs" by Singh's supporters, were pinned on the walls.

Sikhs are the majority community in Punjab but they constitute just 2% of India's 1.4 billion people. Sikh militants began agitating for an independent homeland in the 1970s but the insurgency was largely suppressed by the early 1990s with harsh crackdowns.

However, Sikh separatism has made global headlines in the last year as Canada and the United States have accused India of being involved in assassination plots against Sikhs in those countries, charges New Delhi has denied.

Singh said in a 2023 interview that he was seeking a separate homeland for Sikhs and the people of Punjab, where the religion was founded more than 500 years ago.

SINGH'S 'TSUNAMI'

To be sure, Singh's campaign is focused on fighting Punjab's drug problem, freeing former Sikh militants from prison and protecting the Sikh identity in Hindu majority India. His father and aides are careful to avoid any mention of the idea of a Sikh homeland.

"There is a tsunami in the name of Amritpal Singh, anyone who stands against him will be swept off," said Imaan Singh Khara, 27, Singh's lawyer.

Community leaders pushed Singh to contest from Khadoor Sahib, a historical centre for Sikhs on the border with Pakistan, despite his initial hesitation, his aides said. Indian law allows undertrials to contest polls.

Singh is contesting as an independent and his main rivals - also all Sikhs - belong to the opposition Congress party, the Sikh-centric Shiromani Akali Dal, Punjab's ruling Aam Aadmi Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Amritpal Singh may have some support but not enough to win, said BJP candidate Manjit Singh Manna. "People have seen the militancy days, they don't want those days to return," Manna said.

Demand for a separate Sikh nation has more support abroad, but a rise in support for Singh risks giving new legs to extremist politics at a time when mainstream parties are wrapped in their own rivalries, analysts say.

"Once you weaken the moderates, people get articulation through these fringe radicals, which is a danger signal," said Pramod Kumar, chairperson of the Institute for Development and Communication, based in the city of Chandigarh.

"Amritpal may win, in a four-cornered contest he may win."

(Reporting by Shivam Patel in Khadoor Sahib; Additional reporting by Sunil Kataria; Editing by YP Rajesh and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
Silver Necklace Saved Man's Life by Stopping Bullet Which 'Would Have Ended Up' in His Neck: Police

A ten-millimeter-wide silver chain is being credited as "the only reason the victim of a shooting" survived

Commerce City Police Department Silver necklace that police say saved a man's life following a shooting in Colorado on May 28.

Police in Colorado are encouraging jewelry shoppers to "think twice before you knock a knockoff" after an apparent fake silver necklace saved a man's life earlier this week.

According to a statement shared by the Commerce City Police Department on Facebook, a man was shot with a .22 caliber bullet following an "argument" on Tuesday, May 28, and miraculously survived thanks to his choice of jewelry, "We'd say he really dodged a bullet  but in reality, he LODGED a bullet," the department noted in their post.

"This silver chain  approximately ten millimeters in width  is likely the only reason the victim of a shooting we responded to yesterday is still alive."

Related: 2 Texas Teens Charged After They Posted Snapchat of Themselves Stealing Necklace from Dead Body

Sharing two images of the bloodied necklace, the department added that the victim only suffered a puncture wound and that the bullet "would have ended up in the victim's neck had it not instead become lodged in the chain."

The unidentified suspect in the case was arrested on the scene and is facing attempted homicide charges, with the Commerce City PD adding that after further inspecting the life-saving necklace, it is "likely not pure silver." The suspect was scheduled to make a court appearance on Monday, per the Associated Press.

"Just incredible," authorities added.

Locals on Facebook then proceeded to call the necklace "Vibranium," while others noted that the victim "better go buy a lotto ticket with that luck."



While this week's shooting in Colorado may mark one of the rare instances a necklace contributed to someone's safety in times of emergency, jewelry has certainly saved lives before. Back in March 2019, a Massachusetts woman who suffered a serious leg injury after a car crash was aided after using a small charm  featuring a panic button  to request help.

After Jenelle Valdina told KMGH that she "hydroplaned on a patch of ice" and was "praying" to "not die," she reached for an invisaWear charm bracelet that her aunt gifted her weeks earlier to send an emergency alert to her contacts. Even with poor cell service in the area, she was able to reach emergency crews. The product, which provides a "text message with your location sent to emergency contacts" or an optional 911 call, is still being sold today.

Getty A stock image of the roof of a police vehicle

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

In other necklace news, earlier this year, an Oklahoma teenager opened up about being electrocuted when his cross necklace made contact with an exposed prong of a plug.

Rayce Ogdahl's mom Danielle Davis detailed the ordeal, noting that her 16-year-old son was asleep when he woke up with "scorch necks around his neck" and smelling of "burnt hair and skins and electrical burns."

The teen was treated at a burn unit and suffered second, third and fourth-degree burns, which left him with scarring around his neck. "The incident has definitely made Rayce a lot more self-aware, Davis said. "We're just so grateful he's okay. He could've easily died that night. It was amazing he was still conscious and could still alert us. It would've been a different story.

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Sinaloa cartel leader, a U.S. fugitive, is shot dead in Mexico

Sinaloa cartel leader, a U.S. fugitive, is shot dead in Mexico

Gunmen killed a high-ranking member of Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel wanted by the United States for drug trafficking, a source in the Sinaloa state government said Friday, confirming Mexican media reports.

Eliseo Imperial Castro, alias "Cheyo Antrax," was the nephew of cartel co-founder Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. Both are U.S. fugitives and the State Department has offered a $5 million reward for information leading to Zambada's arrest.

Eliseo Imperial Castro / Credit: U.S. Treasury Department

According to Mexican media, Imperial Castro was ambushed on a highway in Sinaloa, in northwestern Mexico, on Thursday.

The U.S. Treasury Department had previously described him as "a high-ranking member of the Los Antrax organization, the enforcement group of the Sinaloa Cartel."

In 2016, it said he had been charged by a U.S. court with methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana trafficking, as well as money laundering.

Last year, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned three Mexican citizens  including a fugitive dubbed "The Anthrax Monkey"  for alleged involvement in the production and trafficking of the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl.

In 2015, a high-ranking Sinaloa cartel member known as "Chino Antrax" pleaded guilty in federal court, admitting that he coordinated the transportation of tons of cocaine and marijuana into the U.S. and ordered or participated in cartel-related violence.

The Sinaloa Cartel is one of Mexico's most powerful and violent criminal organizations.

Its founder Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman is serving a life sentence in the United States.

Just last week, a suspected top assassin in Mexico's Sinaloa drug cartel was extradited to the United States, where he will face charges linked to drug and weapons smuggling, the Justice Department announced.

Nestor Isidro Perez Salas, known as "El Nini," was one of the Sinaloa Cartel's "lead sicarios, or assassins, and was responsible for the murder, torture and kidnapping of rivals and witnesses who threatened the cartel's criminal drug trafficking enterprise," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement.

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Fumio Kishida, president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and prime minister, meets with Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, in Tokyo, Japan, May 29, 2024. Liu led a CPC delegation to visit Japan from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

TOKYO, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, led a CPC delegation to visit Japan from Tuesday to Friday.

During the visit, Liu met and exchanged views with Fumio Kishida, president of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and prime minister, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa, Natsuo Yamaguchi, leader of the Komeito Party, LDP Secretary-General Toshimitsu Motegi, Kenta Izumi, leader of the Constitutional Democratic Party, Mizuho Fukushima, leader of the Social Democratic Party, Toshihiro Nikai, former LDP secretary-general and chairman of the Japan-China Friendship Parliamentarians' Union, Makoto Koga, former LDP secretary-general, and Governor of Fukuoka Prefecture Seitaro Hattori.

Liu also attended panel discussions with major Japanese media, friendly people from all walks of life in Fukuoka, as well as teachers and students of Kyushu University, and delivered a speech at the dialogue on "China-Japan Relations under the Great Changes."

The two sides agreed to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, intensify party-to-party exchanges, enhance China-Japan friendship and comprehensively advance the strategic and mutually beneficial relations between China and Japan. 

Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, delivers a speech at the dialogue on "China-Japan Relations under the Great Changes" in Tokyo, Japan, May 29, 2024. Liu led a CPC delegation to visit Japan from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)

Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attends a panel discussion with teachers and students of Kyushu University in Japan, May 31, 2024. Liu led a CPC delegation to visit Japan from Tuesday to Friday. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaoyu)
Cancer survival has doubled in the past 40 years, but around 167,000 people still die of the disease in the UK every year

The NHS has started vaccinating patients against their own cancer, in world-first trials designed to prevent the return of the disease.

The breakthrough treatment uses cutting-edge DNA sequencing that may help millions of people and will be rolled out to eligible cancer patients in the coming years.

The programme, called the NHS Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad, will use a match-making service to partner eligible cancer patients with appropriate trials at nearby hospitals.

The jabs will be given to patients who have already undergone surgery in an attempt to prevent the disease from returning.

Cancer survival has doubled in the past 40 years, but around 167,000 people still die of the disease in the UK every year. Much of this is down to ever-growing waiting lists  health officials are now considering ways for patients to skip the GP stage and go straight to see specialists.

Cancer cells before, left, and after being treated with the AOH1996 drug - City Of Hope Hospital/PA Wire

The new cancer jabs are one of many recent exciting steps forward in medical science. Kevin Harrington, a professor of biological cancer therapies at The Institute of Cancer Research and an honorary consultant oncologist at the Royal Marsden (RMH) and St Georges Hospital in London, is optimistic that advances in treatment will improve outcomes.

In 20 years, I confidently expect we will cure a substantially larger number of cancer patients, he said. And we will cure them with far smarter and kinder treatments than current approaches.

This does not mean there will ever be a single cure for cancer, says Dr Claire Bromley, a senior science communications manager at Cancer Research UK.

Cancer is not a single disease, she adds. There are over 200 types of cancer, and all of them can be split into different subtypes. Its unlikely that there will be one silver bullet. However, a combination of many different treatments means we can ultimately beat cancer for everyone.

Here are the newest breakthroughs to celebrate:

Vaccines that can cure cancer  and prevent it coming back

What are they?

We tend to think of vaccines as treatments we have when we are well. They teach the immune system to recognise a virus so it is destroyed before it can make us sick  or at least make us less sick than we would otherwise be.

However, cancer immunisations are different. While some are being developed to prevent the disease in high-risk patients, most are given when a person has been diagnosed. And they are bespoke treatments, tailored to the patients own unique cancer.

Cancer vaccines may be able to cure even advanced, previously terminal cancers and stop cancer coming back and spreading after it has been treated.

Three out of four cancer deaths occur because cancer spreads to other organs, which often happens after a period in which stray cancer cells go to sleep, becoming undetectable before waking up and forming tumours.

A cancer vaccine not only trains the immune system to recognise and fight off the initial cancer, but also teaches the immune system to recognise any stray cells so they can be picked off if they become active.

The key to effective anti-cancer treatments is to create an immunological memory response, said Prof Harrington. We want the patient to have a standing army of immune cells trained to recognise and kill cancer if it wakes up.

There are several different types of cancer vaccines in development which all work in slightly different ways. Many employ the mRNA technology used to create Covid vaccines.

What will they treat?

More than 20 mRNA-based vaccines entered clinical trials by 2021 targeting hard-to-treat cancers including bowel cancer, pancreatic and the brain cancer glioblastoma.

When will they be ready?

One patient, a 55-year-old lecturer with bowel cancer, has already become the first to take the vaccine. In a national first, father-of-four Elliot Phebve received the developmental jab at University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, one of several sites taking part in the colorectal cancer vaccine trial sponsored by BioNTech SE.

In July last year, the Government signed an agreement with the pharma company to provide up to 10,000 UK patients with precision cancer vaccines by 2030.

The pill that stops lung cancer in its tracks

What is it?

A daily pill, called lorlatinib, could stop cancer from spreading in lung cancer patients.

Trial results suggest that it works for at least five years in 60 per cent of patients, including just over half of the participants whose cancer had already spread to the brain by the time they joined the trial.

For comparison, an alternative cancer growth blocker crizotinib (branded as Xalkori and offered to some NHS patients) works in just 8 per cent of patients for five years.

Researchers have been unable to calculate exactly how long lorlatinib typically works for because most study volunteers have not seen their cancer progress since they began taking the medication.

Cancer experts say the results are a really major step forward in lung cancer care.

What will it treat?

It was trialled in patients who have ALK-positive lung cancer, which stands for anaplastic lymphoma kinase. ALK is a gene that is switched off in the womb but can turn back on for some people and cause cancer.

Around 49,000 people are diagnosed with lung cancer in the UK each year but only around 350 people have the ALK-positive type.

When will it be ready?

Lorlatinib is already available on the NHS but only for patients who have not had success with other treatments, but is only given to around 80 patients a year. The pill costs around 167 per day based on its list price.

It was rejected for wider use last year by spending watchdog, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), owing to a lack of evidence but could be reconsidered soon in light of the new data.

The breast cancer prevention treatment

What is it?

Anastrozole is a type of drug called an aromatase inhibitor. It cuts down the amount of the hormone oestrogen that a patients body makes by blocking an enzyme called aromatase. Oestrogen can stimulate the growth of some cancers in the body.

Anastrozole is already licensed in Britain as a treatment for breast cancer, but now its licence has been extended to be used as a preventative measure.

What will it treat?

NHS England said the drug will be available for post-menopausal women at moderate or high risk of breast cancer. They will include women with a family history of the disease, or who have faulty genes such as BRCA1, the so-called Angelina Jolie gene, that put them at greater risk.

Studies have shown that anastrozole can nearly halve the chances of breast cancer if taken daily for five years.

If post-menopausal women are concerned about their breast cancer risk because of their family history, its best they speak to their GP to decide whether this treatment is appropriate, said Melanie Surtevant, Associate Director of policy, evidence and influencing at Breast Cancer Now.

When will it be ready?

The drug is available now. Its been recommended since 2017, but uptake has been low. However, the fact that it is now licensed for prevention should lead to an increase.

The tumour annihilator

What is it?

The AOH1996 drug is named after Anna Olivia Healy, who was born in 1996 and died aged nine after being diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer affecting the nerves.

Researchers in the US have developed a molecule that appears to annihilate all solid tumours in preclinical research  while leaving healthy cells unharmed.

The experimental cancer-killing pill is taken twice a day and blocks a protein called proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). In a mutated form, PCNA is critical to the growth and repair of tumours.

PCNA is uniquely altered in cancer cells, and this allowed us to design a drug that targeted only the form of PCNA in cancer cells, killing tumours while leaving healthy cells untouched, said Prof Linda Malkas of the department of molecular diagnostics and experimental therapeutics at the City of Hope Hospital, Los Angeles.

What will it treat?

PCNA is found in all cancers, and AOH1996 has shown promise in 70 cell lines, including breast, prostate, brain, ovarian, cervical, skin and lung cancers. It is now being trialled in people for whom standard treatments, such as chemotherapy, have not worked.

When will it be ready?

Prof Harrington said that the drug is extremely promising. However, AOH1996 has only just entered phase 1 human trials.

Even with accelerated trials and evaluation to test AOH1966 for safety and effectiveness, the treatment will take at least five to 10 years to gain approval in the UK, he said.

A drug to supercharge your immune system

What is it?

Immunotherapy, which harnesses the power of our immune system to attack cancer, has revolutionised cancer treatment.

Nicholas Turner, a consultant medical oncologist at The Royal Marsden NHS Trust and professor of molecular oncology at The Institute of Cancer Research, said: Twenty years ago, metastatic melanoma [skin cancer that has spread to other organs] had an average survival of around seven months with virtually nobody cured.

Today, thanks to immunotherapy, survival rates are around 40 per cent.

But cancers are wily: they can reach out to press off switches on our immune cells, calling off their attack. As a result, said Prof Harrington, cures occur in far too few patients.

New drugs called checkpoint inhibitors block cancers ability to hit off switches on the immune system. The best-known checkpoint inhibitors target an off-switch protein called PD-1.

Prof Harrington said: The problem is that there are dozens of these off switches. If we find a way to block one, cancer will find another. We need drugs to back cancer into a corner by blocking all the ways it turns off the immune system.

A new drug, relatlimab, blocks an off-switch protein called LAG-3, making immunotherapy likely to work on more people and more types of cancer.

What will it treat?

Opdualag, a new drug which combines relatlimab with a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor called nivolumab (Opdivo), has recently been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for advanced melanoma which cannot be removed by surgery or has spread to other parts of the body.

Other drugs targeting LAG-3 are being trialled for the treatment of multiple myeloma, oesophagal and gastric cancer, among other types of cancers. Opdualag is also being studied in clinical trials of other cancers, including lung, colorectal and liver cancer.

When will it be ready?

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence is currently evaluating these drugs to treat advanced melanoma with a decision due in December, with more approvals expected in the coming years.

The Government and BioNTech signed a deal to provide up to 10,000 UK patients with precision cancer vaccines by 2030 - Reuters/Wolfgang Rattay

Flash radiotherapy

What is it?

Radiotherapy is often considered an old-fashioned treatment. It uses X-ray energy to kill cancer cells but can also burn and damage healthy tissue in vital organs such as the brain and heart.

However, in flash radiotherapy, radiation is delivered a thousand times faster than in conventional radiotherapy.

A therapeutic dose can be given in a fraction of a second. This intensity damages the DNA in cancer cells but is up to 50 per cent less damaging to normal cells.

Cancer Research UK-funded scientists in the UK have found that flash radiotherapy speeds up oxygen use in the tissues being treated. In normal cells, this creates a condition called hypoxia, and this protects the normal cells from DNA damage.

This protection means clinicians could potentially increase radiation doses to levels that would cause unacceptable side effects with conventional radiotherapy.

An alternative to conventional radiotherapy could be around the corner - Baran Ozdemir/E+

What will it treat?

In future, flash could be used for hard-to-kill cancers in the brain, lungs or gastrointestinal area, where healthy tissue surrounding tumours is particularly vulnerable to damage from radiation exposure. The potential is enormous, said Dr Bromley.

When will it be ready? So far, flash radiotherapy is only being used in trials. Dr Bromley added: It could take as long as 10 years before flash becomes routine.

Super-viruses that can infect cancers

What is it?

What could be cleverer than giving cancer a disease? Thats the premise of a new breed of engineered viruses created to infect cancer cells but not healthy ones. The viruses essentially trick cancer tumours into destroying themselves.

First, the virus is injected directly into tumours. It then hijacks and replaces the tumour DNA to replicate itself. As the virus grows within cancer cells it bursts them open, and then spreads to other cells while also prompting the immune system to combat the cancer throughout the body.

A new therapeutic virus, RP1, has been created from the herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores. Tumours are categorised as hot or cold depending on how much they trigger an immune response. Melanoma is hot while breast, pancreatic and prostate cancers are cold.

RP1 is designed to work on hotter tumours, including in patients for whom immunotherapy hasnt worked. Sister viruses RP2 and RP3 have been designed to treat more immunologically cold tumours.

What will it treat?

In trials, researchers have used an engineered virus to make immunotherapy more effective on brain tumours. It is also being trialled on patients with organ transplants who often develop skin cancers. A quarter of patients saw their cancer disappear.

It has also been trialled in the UK on a small number of last-chance patients with advanced cancers including skin, eye, oesophageal and head and neck cancer. All had failed to respond to other treatments, including immunotherapy.

A quarter saw their cancers shrink and one patient with salivary gland cancer saw his tumour disappear completely. He remains free of cancer 15 months after starting treatment.

When will it be ready?

Availability will depend on the benefit of treatment and the cost of therapy. In the next three to five years, RP viruses could be available to NHS patients, said Prof Harrington.

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At 12 years old, Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weir stabbed classmate Payton Leutner 19 times on May 31, 2014

Morry Gash, Pool / AP ; Michael Sear/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP, Pool Anissa Weier listens during the jury selection in the trial to determine her competency at Waukesha County Courthouse on September 11, 2017. ; Morgan Geyser appears in court in Waukesha, Wisconsin on September 29, 2017.

Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier were 12 years old when they stabbed their close friend 19 times in an effort to please the mythical horror figure Slender Man (also called Slenderman).

The Slender Man character is believed to have originated in an illustration from 2009 of a tall, thin man with tentacle-like arms and abilities including mind control and teleportation. Slender Man went viral on Creepypasta sites, which share horror stories.

Together, Weier and Geyser grew obsessed with Slender Man and plotted to kill their classmate, Payton Leutner, in an effort to become "proxies" for the character, who they believed was real. Luring Leutner into the woods on May 31, 2014, Weier and Geyser stabbed Leutner 19 times before leaving her for dead  but she survived. The case inspired an HBO documentary and the 2018 feature film Slender Man starring Joey King.

Here's everything to know about the Slender Man stabbing and what happened to Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser  and survivor Payton Leutner  in the decade since.

Who are Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser?

Michael Sears/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel / AP, Pool Morgan E. Geyser is escorted into a Waukesha County Court on November 11, 2016.

Geyser, Weier and Leutner were all students at Horning Middle School in the Milwaukee suburb of Waukesha, Wis.

Leutner and Geyser had actually become friends first. In an episode of 20/20, Leutner recalled that she befriended Geyser after seeing her eat alone at lunch. She also described her former friend as funny and a little lonely.

However, Leutner said their relationship changed after Geyser befriended Weier in sixth grade in 2014. Weier and Geyser grew obsessed with Slender Man, leading Leutner to want to distance herself from Geyser.

"I thought it was odd. It kind of frightened me a little bit, but I went along with it," Leutner ABC anchor David Muir on 20/20 in 2019. "I was supportive because I thought thats what she liked."

However, in time, Leutner started considering ending her friendship with Geyser. "I saw the change from fifth to sixth grade when she met Anissa," she added. "That's when I was really wanting to get out of that friendship."

According to The New York Times, Geyser and Weier believed that Slender Man was real and that he lived in the woods of northern Wisconsin.

What did Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser do?

Michael Sears/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel / AP, Pool Anissa Weier appears via video link from the Washington County Secure Detention Center where she is being held, during a hearing in Waukesha County Court on November 11, 2016.

Over the course of several months, Geyser and Weier devised a plan to murder Leutner to try to become "proxies" for the fictional horror character, The New York Times reported. Using code words like "cracker" for knife and "camping trip" for the woods where they believed Slender Man resided, in February 2014, Weier and Geyser chose May 31 of that year for the attempted slaying.

According to police, Weier and Geyser lured Leutner into a Wisconsin park and took turns encouraging one another to stab Leutner, with Geyser actually stabbing her 19 times while Weier watched. They then left Leutner for dead, but Leutner survived. Leutner crawled to a nearby bike path, where a passerby called 911 and stayed with her until paramedics arrived.

Local police found Weier and Geyser  who were both 12 at the time  walking on the side of the road miles away from the crime scene and picked the girls up. They reportedly were nonchalant when they informed investigators that they killed their friend to appease Slender Man, who they thought would kill them or their families if they didn't kill Leutner. Geyser, covered in blood, told police, "I might as well just say it. We were trying to kill her."

What was Anissa Weier's sentence?

C.T. Kruger /Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel / AP, Pool Anissa Weier passes a note to defense attorney Joseph Smith Jr. during closing arguments in her case on September 15, 2017.

Geyser and Weier were each charged with first-degree intentional homicide. Despite their age, they were tried as adults.

In August 2017, Weier pleaded guilty to second-degree attempted homicide as a party to a crime with the use of a deadly weapon. The following month, a jury ruled that Weier was mentally ill at the time of the murder attempt and found her not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.

Per her plea agreement, Weier was sentenced to a maximum of 25 years in a psychiatric facility. She was mandated to spend at least three years in a psychiatric hospital before she could apply for supervised release, which would be part of the commitment order. She was also credited for the three years that she served in a juvenile detention facility.

What was Morgan Geyser's sentence?

Michael Sears/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel / AP Morgan Geyser is led into the courtroom at Waukesha County Court on August 19, 2016.

Geysers attorneys argued in court documents that she suffered from schizophrenia and psychotic spectrum disorder, which made her prone to delusions and paranoid beliefs. She pleaded guilty in October 2017, sobbing in court, and was committed to a mental hospital.



Despite her plea deal, she was found not guilty by reason of mental disease or disorder. She was sentenced to 40 years in a psychiatric hospital, the Associated Press reported, which Judge Michael Bohren said was because it was "an issue of public protection."

Where is the Slender Man stabbing survivor Payton Leutner now?

Leutner was hospitalized for 10 days after the attack, and in the following months had as many as eight medical appointments per week during her recovery. She returned to Horning Middle School for seventh grade in September 2014. A representative for the Leutner family said that Leutner excelled academically, participated in school music programs and volunteered at an animal shelter as she had before Weier and Geyser's attack. She and her family each sought counseling to cope with the trauma of the stabbing.

In October 2019, Leutner spoke publicly for the first time about the Slender Man stabbing, telling Muir in a 20/20 interview that she still slept with broken scissors under her pillow five years after the attack. She also revealed that she was actually somewhat grateful for what had happened to her.

"Just because of what she did, I have the life I have now," Leutner said. "I really, really like it and I have a plan. I didn't have a plan when I was 12, and now, I do because of everything that I went through. I wouldn't think that someone who went through what I did would ever say that, but thats truly how I feel. Without the whole situation, I wouldn't be who I am."

Where are Anissa Weier and Morgan Geyser now?

Michael Sears/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel / AP, Pool Anissa Weier appears in court on February 20, 2017.

After applying for conditional release in March 2021, then 19-year-old Weier was released from Winnebago Mental Health Institute in Oshkosh, Wis., on Sept. 13, 2021. She spent more than four years in inpatient psychiatric treatment. She must reside with her father and isn't permitted to access the Internet outside of his home. The Department of Corrections monitors her Internet use and activity.

Weier is also subject to 24/7 GPS tracking and is mandated to continue psychiatric treatment.

On April 21, 2024, Judge Bohren denied Geyser's petition for early release from Winnebago Mental Health Institute after two court-appointed psychologists recommended she remain in inpatient psychiatric care. One of the psychologists said that Geyser claimed in a 2022 evaluation she was "faking" her psychotic symptoms in an effort to avoid being released to her father's care, alleging he abused her.

If you or someone you know need mental health help, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.

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(Bloomberg) -- Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, recovering from injuries sustained in an assassination attempt this month, was released from hospital to undergo treatment at home.

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The premier now faces physically and time-consuming rehabilitation, the hospital in the central Slovak city of Banska Bystrica said in a statement posted on Facebook Friday. He was moved to his home in the capital Bratislava.

The Slovak leader, 59, was shot four times at close range on May 15 after a government meeting in Handlova, northeast of Bratislava. A 71-year-old suspect was arrested at the scene as authorities cited a politically motivated crime, the first such attempt on a European leader in more than two decades.

The shooting sent shockwaves across Europe and stoked tensions in one of the most politically polarized countries in the region, with Fico allies accusing the opposition and media of generating hostility against the Slovak premier. The opposition has warned the government not to exploit the attack to sideline criticism.

While popular in Slovakia, Ficos administration has faced scrutiny over rewriting the criminal code to weaken corruption-fighting tools and seeking to take control of the countrys public television and radio.

The assailant has been taken into pre-trial custody and charged with attempted murder. If found guilty, hell face up to 25 years in prison or life imprisonment.

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Small fire forces YMCA to be closed in Darke County

A local YMCA will be closed today after a fire late Thursday afternoon.

>>School talent show takes twist as student and 3 teachers surprise everyone with AC/DC song

Versailles firefighters and medics were dispatched just after 5:50 p.m. to the Versailles Branch of the YMCA on initial reports of a fire.

Initial scanner traffic indicated that the fire was in the gym.

The Versailles YMCA branch wrote on social media that the facility closed early Thursday evening, due to a small fire in the building.

They provided an update and said that the facility would be closed today.
Joshua trees, such as this 25-foot-tall specimen that is 150 to 200 years old, are threatened with removal for a solar project in Boron. Residents worry that construction dust will spread valley fever. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

A renewable energy company will soon begin clearing thousands of protected Joshua trees just outside this desert town, including many thought to be a century old, to make way for a sprawling solar project that will generate power for 180,000 homes in wealthier coastal neighborhoods.

The 2,300-acre project has angered residents of Boron and nearby Desert Lake, two small Kern County towns where the poverty rate is twice the California average. Residents say their concerns about construction dust, as well as the destruction of the mostly pristine land that is habitat for endangered desert tortoises, have been ignored by the county and state officials who approved it.

Workers install a fence around the Aratina solar project in Boron. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Lets destroy the environment to save the environment. That seems to be the mentality, said Deric English, who teaches at Boron Junior-Senior High School. Its hard to comprehend.

English was part of a group that found the fungus that causes valley fever in samples of soil from the five parcels surrounding the two towns where the solar panels will be built.

How are kids going to be able to play outside? asked Melanie Richardson, a nurse who has sons at schools near the site. So many people from our community were begging them not to approve this project, and they passed it regardless.

The controversy over the Mojave Desert project is an example of the trade-offs being made in California as state and local government officials press for a rapid expansion of clean energy. Although solar and wind fields are expected to help mitigate climate change, they are also tearing up undeveloped land, harming threatened plants and wildlife and causing concern in nearby communities, which are often small and far from the states cities.

Rural communities that dont have political power just get ramrodded over, English said.

The site, known as the Aratina Solar Project, is being developed on private land by Avantus, a California company that is mostly owned by KKR, the global private equity firm.

Crews have been scheduled to start clearing the site of the iconic Joshua trees Monday, said a person who was briefed on the project. The person declined to be named since they were not authorized to discuss it.

A tanker truck spreads water on a dirt road to reduce dust near the Aratina solar project. Boron residents worry the construction work will increase the risk of contracting valley fever. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

The company decided to take the extra step of shredding the trees onsite, rather than leaving them in piles or hauling them away whole, the person said, to reduce the visibility of the tree clearing.

Avantus executives would not confirm the June 3 date but said that the contractors had begun site preparations this month and will soon begin selectively clearing the area of vegetation and other large natural obstacles approved for removal by the county and state wildlife officials.

The company said the massive solar and battery storage project will have environmental benefits that outweigh the destruction of the Joshua trees and habitat of protected wildlife.

While trees will be impacted during project construction, vastly more Joshua trees are being threatened by climate change caused by rising greenhouse gas emissions, which the Aratina solar project directly addresses, the company says on its website .

Avantus takes care on all projects to minimize any unnecessary impacts such as noise, dust, or traffic throughout all phases of the project, the company told The Times in a statement. It added that it was committed to being a good neighbor.

Read more: Solar sprawl is tearing up the Mojave Desert. Is there a better way?

The Kern County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the project in October 2021 despite comments and letters from dozens of residents.

It was like the decision had already been made, Richardson said.

Aratina will be the ninth solar project that Avantus, formerly named 8minute Solar, has built in Kern County.

During the board meeting, Alexander Sundquist, a company executive, said the benefits of the project to the county included $3 million in sales taxes and $73 million in property taxes.

When asked why the company decided to put the project on land next to the two towns, Sundquist said that executives wanted to keep the solar field in Kern County rather than farther south in San Bernardino. We like doing business here, he said.

In 2019, San Bernardino County Supervisors voted to ban the construction of large solar and wind farms on more than 1 million acres of private land.

A giant dump truck greets visitors in Boron. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times)

Kern County, home to the state's largest oil patch, has long been friendly to energy companies. Lorelei Oviatt, director of Kern County Planning and Natural Resources, has repeatedly spoken at industry conferences to emphasize how the county tries to quickly approve projects.

Oviatt told The Times that so far the county has approved 160,000 acres of solar and wind energy projects. Most of those projects are in the desert, she said, because of the easier access there to electric transmission lines.

I am pro Kern County not necessarily pro solar, Oviatt said. There was an over 18-month process and nothing was rushed. My recommendation (to approve the project) carefully considered all the community comments.

Land use is always a balance of private property rights and peoples viewpoints, she said.

Read more: New law to protect Joshua trees from climate change imposes fees on desert developers

The county said that Avantus had put $1.4 million into a fund that will be used to protect Joshua trees in other areas of the state.

To mitigate the damage from Aratina and several other solar projects, Avantus has also purchased the grazing rights on 215,000 acres of federal land in Kern County and is working with government officials to preserve it.

Avantus declined to disclose the details of where the power would be sent. But earlier the company signed contracts to send some of the power to Silicon Valley Clean Energy and Central Coast Community Energy, nonprofit agencies that deliver green energy to homes in those regions .

The generated energy doesnt even stay here, English said. Its shipped to other communities hundreds of miles away.

Joshua trees, with their twisted, otherworldly shape, are often said to look like they were taken from the pages of a Dr. Seuss book. They grow just 1 to 3 inches a year, which means a 16-foot tree could be more than 100 years old.

The environmental impact statement for Aratina said that nearly 4,700 Joshua trees were found on the site during a survey. More than 500 of those trees are at least 16 feet tall.

Im not aware of other projects where this many trees will be removed, said Kevin Emmerich of Basin and Range Watch, an environmental group.

Avantus agreed to reduce the projects original footprint to create more space between the solar panels and the two communities. The person with knowledge of the project said the companys plan now included destroying 3,500 Joshua trees.

Last year, state legislators passed the Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act, which bans unpermitted killing of the trees, while also providing a mechanism for the construction of green energy and housing projects.

Read more: Regulators approve sweeping change to the way most Californians are billed for electricity

State officials approved the Aratina project, however, before that law and before an earlier state decision to make the Joshua tree a candidate for protection under the California Endangered Species Act.

In 2020, the California Fish and Game Commission agreed that Aratina and 14 other green energy projects would not be subject to the increased measures to protect the tree.

Unfortunately, said Brendan Cummings, conservation director at the Center for Biological Diversity, thousands of Joshua trees will be sacrificed.

State wildlife officials told The Times that the company must still relocate any desert tortoises or Mohave ground squirrels, which are listed as threatened under California law, that are found during construction.

English said little attention has yet been paid to his groups discovery on the site of the soil-dwelling fungus Coccidioides, which causes valley fever.

Valley fever has been found repeatedly to infect workers building solar fields in California.

On Thursday, half a mile from Boron's Little League field, a construction crew, wearing yellow vests, was building a fence at the edge of the site, while a truck sprayed water, trying to keep the dust down.

Antje Lauer, professor of microbiology at Cal State Bakersfield, worked with English and Richardson to test the soil samples.

Desert land is really cheap and there are not that many regulations, Lauer said. We need renewable energy, but it needs to be done correctly.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
An Army major is celebrating one year of having earned approval to wear his hair and tribe-specific regalia items in a way that honors his Native American heritage during appropriate service ceremonies.

Maj. Patrick Sorensen, a marketing and operations officer in the Armys Training and Doctrine Command, shared photos online displaying his longer hair adorned with eagle feathers meant to commemorate fallen soldiers.

In a recent interview, the soldier shared more about the accommodation and the meaning behind the approved hairstyle and regalia.

Maj. Patrick Sorensen poses in uniform while displaying regalia items he received approval to wear. (Fort Eustis Photo Studio | Sorensen's Facebook)

Portions of this interview have been edited for length and clarity.

Can you discuss your background, service history and tribal affiliation?

I bounced around a lot as a kid, but I grew up mostly in Northern California, around the Humboldt County area.

I went to Humboldt State, where I got my bachelors degree in chemistry. And after that, I couldnt find a job I thought I would be able to get after college, being a first generation four-year college student.

So, I joined the Army to do the student loan repayment program. Turned out I was pretty good at it, so I continued on and eventually went to Officer Candidate School and became a signal officer. I did that for about 10 years. In the last few years, Ive transitioned to this marketing officer role.

To give more background, my mother, she is white. My father, hes Native American and German. He grew up on the reservation in Grand Ronde, Oregon. Im a member of The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, which is our federally recognized tribe. Being a confederated tribe means during the consolidation period  several tribes were brought together onto one reservation.

So, by blood Im both Umpqua and Rogue River. Altogether, we have over 30 tribes and bands in our one federally recognized tribe, so its kind of a melting pot, even for one tribe.

Why was it important to you, your community and faith to request this accommodation? What was that process like?

I joined the Army in 2006.  I was a specialist. My mother passed away in 2009. And after that, I shaved my head and I actually kept my head shaved for about the next 10 years.

I was taught that our hair represents our spirit and our strength. There are a lot of different beliefs across North America about whether it actually physically holds power. Is it more symbolic in the religious sense of that growth, or that power, or that strength or that courage? For me, I do believe in the importance of hair. Now, if a little bit gets cut off, do I feel like something weird is going to happen? No. But its really important, culturally.

Aside from the hairs own specific spiritual, religious significance, its also  if were using military terms  the fastening device thats necessary to wear eagle feathers. And eagle feathers are the second part of the accommodation that I received. There are also different beliefs around eagle feathers  they can mean multiple things. For me, I wear my feathers in military uniform to represent my fallen soldiers. I have one additional feather that I wear, which I received from the spiritual leader of the Seneca Nation.

The group aiming to stop endemic suicide among Native American vets

I was doing recruiting activities for West Point at a large Native American organization that focuses on STEM education for Natives. While I was there I met some Air Force women in charge of INET, which is the Indigenous Nations Equality Team. They actually were there speaking about religious accommodations for Native Americans in the Air Force. As soon as I heard them speak a light bulb went off, because I didnt really think that was something that would be possible. I had wanted to grow my hair longer than regulation for a while, but I didnt think that I could.

Theres no new regulations. This is actually the same religious accommodation under AR 600-20 as anyone else would follow. The difference is, because we have such a diversity of different beliefs, and backgrounds and cultures as Natives, it makes it a lot more complicated. We have different regalia items, which is kind of like our religious decor that wed wear. And the hair can be cut in different ways. And so each accommodation is going to be a little bit different.

When were you granted approval? And what was your reaction?

It was signed on May 20, 2023. I was extremely excited. I was overjoyed.

(Fort Eustis Photo Studio | Sorensen's Facebook)

Have others in the Indigenous community expressed interest in following your example?

What really happened was, my photos went viral. It was not on purpose. I originally posted it to Facebook  and then it kind of took off from there.

I am now up to 58 Native American soldiers who have reached out to me for support. And Im not counting a handful of sailors and airmen who also reached out.

Can you discuss the importance of service in the American Indian/Alaskan Native community?

Native Americans serve at a higher rate than any other racial demographic. And the simple explanation for that is were a warrior culture. Its kind of baked into our culture.

A Warrior Tradition: Why Native Americans continue fighting for the same government that tried to wipe them out

Of course, we can be warriors in other ways. We can be leaders in the community without picking up weapons.

But as far as the military force is concerned, that is our modern equivalent to being warriors and being able to serve as warriors.

Are there other challenges or opportunities youre interested in sharing for Native American troops?

You know, there are a lot of mixed feelings about military service in the Native community. Like I said, we generally are a warrior culture, and a lot of us choose to serve. But some tribes and some communities are a little bit against service. One of the reasons might be because of leaving your tribe or leaving your family  it can be hard.

For me, it was an opportunity to up my income, based on what was probably expected from my family background, and to be able to buy a home and do some of these things that I think every American dreams about.

When it comes to making higher ranks and having a seat at the table for large decision making discussions, I would love to see more Native Americans in positions like that.
Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 of 34 felony counts in New York court on Thursday afternoon. That would be an absolute day-ruiner for most people. But dont worry: Hes hanging in there.

We didnt do a thing wrong. Im a very innocent manits OK, Trump told the press after the verdict was read. Im fighting for our country, Im fighting for our Constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now. The real verdict, he said, is going to be Nov. 5. (Thats Election Dayhell be on the ballot, running for the presidency. Of all things!)

Other Republicans of repute, however, are distinctly not doing OK.

Donald Trump Jr. is not doing OK. He described the verdict as such bullshit, posted that the Democrats have succeeded in their years long attempt to turn America into a third-world shithole, and said of the sentencing hearing scheduled for July 11, four days before the start of the Republican National Convention, Theyre not even trying to hide the ELECTION INTERFERENCE!!!

Having suitably cleared his throat, he then got down to business by posting a fundraising link and tweeting out his livestream, where he would be Taking Your Questions Live for as long as it takes.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has finally patched things up with Trump after a bruising primary, performed the ever-so-subtle jab of immediately releasing a lengthy prewritten statement about Trumps guilty verdict the instant it was read. It is often said that no one is above the law, DeSantis wrote, but it is also true that no one is below the law. Something to chew over when you cant fall asleep this evening.

How are the vice presidential hopefuls presenting themselves? New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, a member of House Republican leadership, is presenting herself in italics (luckily not visible in the embedded tweet version here). Its too painful on the eyes to look at for more than a few seconds at a time, but all of the requisite adjectives and proper nouns appear to be there.

My statement on the rigged verdict in the New York City Biden Trial against President Trump:



Todays verdict shows how corrupt, rigged, and unAmerican the weaponized justice system has become under Joe Biden and Democrats. I fully support President Trump appealing this decision  Elise Stefanik (@EliseStefanik) May 30, 2024

Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance echoed his pal Donald Trump Jr.s talk of election interference.

This decision is a disgrace to the rule of law and our Constitution.



Dems invented a felony to "get Trump," with the help of a Soros funded prosecutor and a Biden donor Judge, who rigged the entire case to get this outcome.



This isn't justice, it's election interference.  J.D. Vance (@JDVance1) May 30, 2024

South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott went with a video insta-reaction. Thats why hes the betting favorite, folks. Since hes not a guy who raises his voice or gets that visibly angry, watching him feign it is a delight. Unbelievable! he says. Un-fricking-believable!

Absolute injustice. This erodes our justice system.



Hear me clearly: You cannot silence the American people. You cannot stop us from voting for change.



Joe Biden  youre fired. We the People stand with Donald J. Trump. pic.twitter.com/lqylAh1Bze  Tim Scott (@votetimscott) May 30, 2024

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio compared the trial and its outcome with the show trials in Cuba under the Castro regime, which hed heard about growing up. Show trial isnt too creative, but well give him a B-minus for the personal touch.

South Dakota Sen. John Thune, meanwhile, is in the running to replace Mitch McConnell as the next Senate Republican leader. And he wanted to make clear, at 6:55 p.m., that he would have been publicly mad much earlier had the dang plane Wi-Fi worked.

Ive been on a flight, but just landed and saw the news. This case was politically motivated from the beginning, and today's verdict does nothing to absolve the partisan nature of this prosecution. Regardless of outcome, more and more Americans are realizing that we cannot  Senator John Thune (@SenJohnThune) May 30, 2024

Among those few Republicans who actually have interesting calculations to make here is Larry Hogan, the Republican Senate nominee in Maryland. Despite being a strong candidate as Republican Senate candidates in Maryland go, he still has to find a way to win all Republicans in the state while winning over another million or so Biden voters. His reaction, then, was lacking a certain crispness in its plea that we all be nice to one another.

Regardless of the result, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leadersregardless of partymust not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation  Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) May 30, 2024

Trump and his campaign have, for the most part, given Hogan some leeway to say what he needs to say to remain competitive in Maryland. But the Trump campaigns top adviser, Chris LaCivita, didnt let this one slide. You just ended your campaign, he responded to Hogan.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, meanwhile, checked the box.

What else? Heres one more The REAL verdict is Nov. 5which, sure!to send you home.

From the beginning, this prosecution and trial have been driven by partisan politics.



Despite todays events, the ultimate verdict is up to the American people on November 5th when they will have a clear choice on the future of our country.  Brian Kemp (@BrianKempGA) May 30, 2024
Here Are the Latest Verified Results From South Africas Election

(Bloomberg) -- These are the latest verified results from South Africas national election, released by the Electoral Commission of South Africa.

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The tables show support for the African National Congress, Democratic Alliance, uMkhonto weSizwe Party, Economic Freedom Fighters and some smaller parties.

About 27.7 million people registered to vote.

For 2024, voters received two national ballots:

A national ballot contested solely by political parties  200 National Assembly seats will be allocated from here. It contained 52 parties

A new national-regional ballot, where independent candidates can  for the first time  contest for the remaining 200 National Assembly seats together with political parties. This paper differs from province to province, and there are six independents running in four provinces

NOTE: The partial results may not be an accurate indication of the final outcome because counting from rural areas and townships where the ANC has historically had more support tends to take longer. Population density in the different voting districts can also be a variable.

Sign up here for the twice-weekly Next Africa newsletter

NOTE: The portion of results completed reflects the percentage of voting districts that have completed their count of the national ballot.

Percentage share of vote on national and national-regional ballots

For national, 16.2 million votes counted and verified, and 23,274 of 23,292 voting districts completed

For national-regional, 16 million votes counted and verified, and 23,274 of 23,292 voting districts completed

*Did not contest previous election

Gauteng

Registered voters: 6.54 million

Votes tallied: 3,929,342

2,786 of 2,797 voting districts counted

*Did not contest previous election

KwaZulu-Natal

Registered voters: 5.74 million

Votes tallied: 3,547,892

All 4,974 voting districts counted

*Did not contest previous election

Western Cape

Registered voters: 3.31 million

Votes tallied: 1,983,137

All 1,572 voting districts counted

*Did not contest previous election

Eastern Cape

Registered voters: 3.44 million

Votes tallied: 1,811,937

4,866 of 4,868 voting districts counted

Mpumalanga

Registered voters: 2.03 million

Votes tallied: 1,155,811

All 1,811 voting districts counted

*Did not contest previous election

Limpopo

Registered voters: 2.78 million

Votes tallied: 1,429,386

All 3,216 voting districts counted

North West

Registered voters: 1.77 million

Votes tallied: 896,609

All 1,738 voting districts counted

Free State

Registered voters: 1.45 million

Votes tallied: 837,188

All 1,586 voting districts counted

Northern Cape

Registered voters: 655,286

Votes tallied: 400,185 for voter turnout of 61%

All 730 voting districts counted

*Did not contest previous election

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Results are displayed at the Results Operation Centre (ROC) in Midland, Johannesburg, South Africa, Friday May 31, 2024. South Africa is heading closer to the reality of a national coalition government for the first time as partial election results put the ruling African Nation Congress, fourth from top left, well short of a majority. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

JOHANNESBURG (AP)  South Africa was heading closer to the reality of a national coalition government for the first time and a series of complex negotiations to achieve that, as partial election results Friday put the ruling African National Congress well short of a majority.

With more than 65% of votes counted across the country's nine provinces, the ANC  which has held a majority for 30 years since the end of apartheid  had received just under 42% of the national vote in Wednesday's election, according to the partial results as counting continued. That represented a huge drop from the 57.5% it received in the last national election in 2019, although there was still some way to go.

The ANC was still widely expected to be the biggest party, but its being so far off 50% at this stage of an election was unprecedented, analysts said.

The commission that runs the election has said the final results will be announced by Sunday, possibly sooner. While all the major parties indicated they would wait for those final numbers before entering any coalition talks, the country's focus now was firmly on whom the ANC might approach to jointly govern Africa's most developed economy if it loses its majority.

ANC deputy secretary general Nomvula Mokonyane said the partys leadership would meet on Friday and reflect on what is good for the country.

It was anyone's guess what the ANC might do, given it has said so little about any coalition plans and that there are dozens of opposition parties contesting the election. The three other major parties are the centrist main opposition Democratic Alliance, the far-left Economic Freedom Fighters and the new MK Party led by former South African President Jacob Zuma, who once led the ANC.

Should the ANC lose its majority, it would also have implications for President Cyril Ramaphosa. South Africans vote for parties in elections and the president is then chosen by lawmakers in Parliament. If it loses its majority, the ANC would need help from other parties to reelect Ramaphosa for a second term.

There is time pressure because Parliament must sit within 14 days of the election results being announced to choose a president. Also, the longer it takes to form a coalition, the more chance of market instability.

Democratic Alliance leader John Steenhuisen said he was open to working with the ANC, although he would have to first speak with a group of other smaller parties with which he has a preelection agreement. He said the possibility of the country's biggest political shift in 30 years "opens up a whole new universe for politics in South Africa and to start building something better for the people of South Africa.

Steenhuisen had said on election day: All bets are off in this election. Were heading into coalition country.

With votes counted from more than 15,000 of the 23,000 polling stations, the ANC led by some way, as expected. The Democratic Alliance was second on around 23% of the vote. Zuma's MK Party had 12% and the EFF around 9%.

Coalition negotiations could depend on how far the ANC falls short of a majority in the final results, if indeed it remains under 50%. If its just short of a majority, it could approach several smaller parties to get past 50%. If it is some way off  as it was in the latest results  it might have to work with one of those three main opposition parties. They have very different ideologies.

Analysts say an ANC-EFF or an ANC-MK coalition could spook investors given EFF and MK pledges to nationalize parts of South Africa's economy, the most developed on the African continent. The inclusion of the business-friendly DA in a coalition government would be welcomed by investors, according to Aleix Montana, the southern Africa analyst at the British-based risk intelligence company Verisk Maplecroft.

The ANC has had a clear majority for all of South Africa's democracy since the party swept to power in a 1994 election which officially ended the apartheid system of white minority rule, leading Nelson Mandela to become the country's first Black president. It has been the dominant political force and slipping below 50% would be a momentous change for South Africa, even if the signs were on the wall.

The ANC's support has steadily declined from a high of nearly 70% of the vote 20 years ago as South Africa grapples with deep socioeconomic problems, including widespread poverty and now one of the worst unemployment rates in the world at 32%. Poverty and unemployment disproportionately affect South Africa's Black majority that make up 80% of the population and were the core of the ANC's support over the years.

While the inequalities of apartheid were always going to be hard to solve, and the ANC was praised for making progress in its first 10 years in government, it is now being blamed by many for failures in basic government services, numerous corruption scandals and most recently an electricity crisis that led to rolling blackouts across the country of 62 million.

A projection from a government agency and national broadcaster SABC, based on vote returns, was estimating on Friday that the ANC would end up with just over 40%, a drop of around 17 percentage points, which would be a stunning result in the context of South Africa.

___

AP Africa news: https://apnews.com/hub/africa
GAZA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Israeli army has withdrawn from Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza Strip after nearly three weeks of military operation there, Palestine TV reported on Friday. 
South Carolina New-Indy plant reaches $103 million settlement over environmental concerns

LANCASTER COUNTY, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Its been described as terrible, like rotten eggs and even a sweet urinal cake.

Were in a situation where the stench will come in the house and I would suffer from headaches and nausea, nosebleeds, sore throats, and we couldnt live like that, says class-action complainant Jackie Baker.

Three years ago, the Bakers wouldve never thought theyd be living in a toxic environment. Nearly every day since February 2021, the couple suffered from a smell theyve said was similar to fecal matter and rotten eggs  outside and eventually inside their homes.

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NEW INDY LAWSUIT

State health officials determined the source of the stench was from the New-Indy Catawba Containerboard plant across the river in York County.

Its one thing to have to check to see if its raining so you know whether you can go outside or not, Baker said. But when you have to also check the wind direction and make decisions about your life, if the wind is coming from the southwest. We couldnt enjoy our property.

The Bakers are joined by thousands of other neighbors from York and Lancaster counties in a class-action lawsuit to hold the paper mills owners accountable.

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On Wednesday, the plaintiffs filed an unopposed motion for preliminarily approval of a $103 million settlement, with $18 million headed to 6,000 affected neighbors.

Neighbors are set to receive about $3,000 apiece from that $18 million settlement. Its going to be paid in three installments: The first will be paid within five days of the preliminary approval. the second installment a year from the approval, then the third on the second anniversary of that preliminary approval.

Baker and her husband Reed arent concerned about the proposed payout, though.

Whats important is that that we can live now going forward and that no ones going to get sick and our environment is safe, Jackie Baker said.

The other $85 million in the settlement will go to remediating the impact of the plants emissions in several counties.

New-Indy has to take ownership as to what they need to do to correct the issue and thats what the lawsuit is forcing them to do, Reed Baker said. Theyre going to fix the ponds. Theyre going to put a new stripper in. They are going to be good corporate neighbors.

The following is a statement on behalf of Interim Co-Lead Class Counsel in the New-Indy emissions litigation:

New-Indy Catawba and Plaintiffs have reached an agreement to resolve all pending litigation concerning the New-Indy Catawba Paper Mill, subject to the Courts approval of the settlement of the class action lawsuit. The terms of the settlement are described in the public filing. The Parties will not have any further comments as the Court considers the Motion for Preliminary Approval that was filed on May 29. New-Indy Catawba Interim Co-lead Class Counsel

New-Indy declined to comment at this time.

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Pee Dee governments get millions in infrastructure grants from South Carolina Office of Resilience

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WBTW)  Several local governments in the Pee Dee have been awarded millions of dollars worth of infrastructure grants for stormwater and drainage improvement, the South Carolina Office of Resilience said Friday in a news release.

Darlington County was granted $8.2 million for drainage improvements on Chestnut Street, while the city of Marion received $2.5 million for stormwater improvements on the Catfish Canal. The town of Pamplico was awarded $1.7 million in stormwater improvements, and Georgetown County is getting $1.9 million for the drainage study, design, and construction of Graves Station Fairfield.

The grants were announced when the South Carolina Office of Resilience held its U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant-Mitigation Steering Committee meeting on Wednesday.

Seventeen counties in South Carolina were eligible for CDBG-MIT funding, including: Berkeley, Calhoun, Charleston, Chesterfield, Clarendon, Darlington, Dillon, Dorchester, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Lee, Marion, Marlboro, Orangeburg, Sumter, and Williamsburg.

* * *

Taylor Ford is a digital journalist for News13. She joined the News13 team in January 2023. Taylor is a Florence native and covers the Pee Dee out of News13s Florence Bureau. Read more of Taylors work here.

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NEWTON COUNTY, Mo.  Newton County authorities are searching for a suspect in a deadly Joplin shooting.

It happened shortly after midnight Thursday when deputies were called to Freddy Ln. in response to a shooting. There, they found Eric Whittington, 50, deceased outside on the ground.

Detectives are now seeking Joshua Taft, 42, in the case, and filed a felony warrant for the following charges against him: second degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm, and first degree endangering the welfare of a child.

Taft is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached. Anyone with information on Tafts whereabouts is asked to contact the Newton County Sheriffs Office at 417-451-8300.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A man who threatened a mass shooting at a Las Vegas courthouse will serve at least eight years in prison, a judge ruled Thursday.

Earlier this year, a jury found Solomon Brooks, 39, guilty of making threats or conveying false information concerning an act of terrorism. In court Thursday, District Court Judge Tara Clark Newberry sentenced Brooks to 8-20 years in prison.

On Sept. 1, 2023, Brooks made a threat to shoot up the courthouse during a call to another person who was making a supervised child custody visit. Brooks is a member of the sovereign citizen movement and used the moniker King Solomon, prosecutors said.

We will raise hell. We will raise hell. There will be a mass shooting at the next court date, Solomon said during the call, according to court documents.

This case comes at a time when law enforcement in Nevada and across the country are seeing an increase in threats to judges and public officials, Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Dickerson said in a statement. The sentence in this case reflects the impact of these threats on our justice system and the serious consequences that will come to those seeking and threatening to do harm to our system of justice. This case also exposes the domestic threat and pitfalls of sovereign citizen radicalization, which is a toxic artifice that leads adherents to harm others and, ultimately, their own best interest due to their refusal to recognize the authority of the laws and courts that we all rely upon to uphold our social contract for maintaining a civilized society.

According to prosecutors, before Solomon made the Sept. 1 threat, he had conveyed numerous threatening and intimidating communications to people involved in the child welfare case, documents said.

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Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on Thursday blasted former President Trumps conviction in his New York hush money case, predicting Trump will successfully appeal the absurd verdict.

Today is a shameful day in American history, Johnson said in a statement released minutes after Trumps guilty verdict was read in court.

The American people rightfully see this is lawfare, and they know it is  and dangerous, he added. President Trump will rightfully appeal this absurd verdict  and he WILL WIN.

A 12-person jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records Thursday afternoon after roughly 11 hours of deliberations that followed weeks of testimony. The judge set a sentencing date of July 11, which is days before Trump is set to formally become the GOP presidential nominee at the Republican National Convention.

Johnson, a close Trump ally, traveled to New York earlier this month to stand with the former president at the courthouse, becoming the highest-ranking lawmaker to appear alongside Trump in Manhattan amid his ongoing legal proceedings.

The Speaker has consistently railed against the hush money trial, denouncing it as a sham trial that is meant to hurt the former president politically as he seeks another term in the White House, a sentiment he reiterated in the wake of Trumps guilty verdict.

The weaponization of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden Administration, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents, he said.

Johnson specifically took aim at the reaction from Democrats, many of whom cheered the guilty verdict shortly after it was read in the courthouse. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), for example, wrote YES! on the social platform X, with a scales of justice and American flag emoji, and Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.) posted a GIF of Seth Myers saying guilty as hell.

Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon, Johnson wrote. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one.

Other top Republican lawmakers quickly piled on with their own criticism of the guilty verdict, slamming the case and denouncing the weaponized justice system.

Todays verdict shows how corrupt, rigged, and unAmerican the weaponized justice system has become under Joe Biden and Democrats, Rep. Elise Stefanik (N.Y.), the chair of the House GOP conference, said in a statement.

We must work around the clock to ensure President Trump is victorious this November to save America from Bidens failed Far Left Democrat agenda and the illegal weaponization of the justice system against the American people, she added.

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Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Friday that the Supreme Court should step in on former President Trumps appeal following the presumptive GOP presidential nominees conviction on 34 felony counts in his New York hush money case.

I do believe the Supreme Court should step in, Johnson said during his appearance on Fox Newss Fox and Friends.

He later added that the justices on the nations highest court, many of whom he knows personally, are deeply concerned about that, as we are. So, I think they will set this straight, but its gonna take a while.

Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony charges Thursday in Manhattan by a 12-person jury.

The presumptive GOP nominee was convicted of falsifying business records to conceal alleged affairs during his 2016 run for president. Judge Juan Merchan said the sentencing hearing will be July 11, just four days before Trump is expected to be officially named as the partys nominee at the Republican National Committees convention.

The former president has to be sentenced first, and then he and his legal team are expected to appeal the case. Johnson said the developments are unprecedented and undermining the publics trust in the justice system.

The House leaders comments regarding the justices stepping in come as the Supreme Courts most conservative members have faced scrutiny over whether they can impartially consider decisions regarding Trump and the 2020 election.

Justice Samuel Alito was criticized after an initial report in The New York Times showed an upside-down American flag, a symbol of the movement that argues the election was stolen from Trump, being flowed outside of his home in Virginia.

Later, an Appeal to Heaven flag, another symbol associated with the conservative movement, was seen at his beach home in New Jersey, the Times reported. Alito has been called on to recuse himself from cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. He has refused, saying the facts do not do not meet the conditions for recusal.

Justice Clarence Thomas, another conservative justice, has also faced calls to recuse himself from Jan. 6 cases due to his wife, Ginni, taking part in political activities seen as leading up to the attack on the Capitol.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
He could have been governor, and almost was  more on that later. He could have had a score of other titles in addition to the several he had. But he is mostly just a legislator. Often called the "Lion of the Senate," 85-year-old Democratic N.H. state Sen. Lou D'Allesandro has announced he won't run for reelection this November. Elected in 1998, he's been "Dean of the Senate," a term given to the senator serving the longest.

He's not "retiring," though he can still fight and win with the best of them. He'll just continue to help people in different ways that may not necessitate driving to Concord in snow storms, attending midnight legislative meetings, and walking through the three lonely and moist underground tunnels connecting the large buildings making up the legislative complex.

Jim Splaine

I first met Lou D'Allesandro in 1971 as I was finishing up my first term in the New Hampshire House. I was 23, and the youngest member of the legislature. That was a time when only a couple of dozen legislators were under age 35, and 32-year-old Lou D'Allesandro was joining the crowd. I had heard about him from my Manchester friends who said a young up-and-coming Republican would change the state, and the Republican Party.

Yes, Republican. During Lou's first years in politics he was a Republican. Of course, those were the days of other good Republicans like Gov. Walter Peterson. As full disclosure, I should mention that I had been elected as a Republican from Portsmouth my first term. There's a story about that waiting to be told another day.

Lou D'Allesandro has that "certain something" that impresses all who he meets. A firm handshake, penetrating eye contact, a strong voice, an image of strength. And that was just the obvious.

Everyone who knows him praises his commitment to good government, his passion in support for democracy, impeccable ethics, and his eloquent cheerleading for his state whenever presidential candidates visit. They frequently drop by his office to seek his endorsement, or at least his advice. As he steps down from the Senate, 2028 hopefuls will still find him.

Lou D'Allesandro has a special talent to be persuasive, even with those of opposing political philosophy. In my more recent years of being in the House, I would frequently go to the Senate chamber floor to observe debate, maybe lobby a bit. As a former senator I could do that. Several times I saw him turn a loss into a victory just by the art of persuasion. It was golden to see him do it.

News stories the past two weeks cover his many accomplishments and deeds that have helped our vulnerable population, served our children, improved mental health, and comforted seniors in need. He led fights for working families and supported unions when they were threatened.

When I think of Lou D'Allesandro, I'm reminded that people involved in politics can choose different roles that fit them best. He didn't need a higher office or grander title to help others and do his job. He was just a good legislator.

A lawmaker. A mighty good one.

Addendum. An addendum is needed here, because not so widely known about Lou is how things could have been different. After serving in the New Hampshire House and on the Executive Council, in 1982 D'Allesandro ran for the Republican gubernatorial nomination. John Sununu won the nomination that year, beating Lou by only three percentage points, and went on to be elected governor. Incidentally, D'Allesandro topped Sununu in Portsmouth.

Who knows? Just a little more campaigning, perhaps an extra mailing to voters, D'Allesandro's political path may have been different. Perhaps better? Maybe. As governor, Lou would have been good.

But his best days were ahead for him. His constituents elected him to do what he has done well: just being a legislator, using his skills to make laws that will help people far into the future.

I love this guy.

Today's quote: "For everything, there is a time."  Lou D'Allesandro, announcing he will not run for reelection. He promises to write, and to stay involved in causes of importance to him.

Next time: Is "regionalization" part of our future?

Variously since 1969, Jim Splaine has been New Hampshire state senator for six years, representative for 24 years, Police Commission and School Board member, Portsmouth assistant mayor for 12 years and city councilor for 18 years. He can be reached at jimsplaineportsmouthnh@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Splaine: Sen. Lou D'Allesandro  simply a good legislator
Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) walks to a luncheon with Senate Republicans at the U.S. Capitol Building on February 27, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Despite a tepid history with former President Donald Trump, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is among the Republican lawmakers who are trying to dismiss the jury trial and verdict that declared the presumptive GOP nominee guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records in order to sway the 2016 election.

In the hours after the news broke on Thursday, Maine Republicansand those across the country  rushed to brand the trial as politically motivated.

In a statement sent to The Hill, Collins said, It is fundamental to our American system of justice that the government prosecutes cases because of alleged criminal conduct regardless of who the defendant happens to be. In this case the opposite has happened.

Collins went on to say that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg campaigned on a promise to prosecute Donald Trump and brought these charges precisely because of who the defendant was rather than because of any specified criminal conduct.

The political underpinnings of this case further blur the lines between the judicial system and the electoral system, she added, noting the verdict likely will be the subject of a protracted appeals process.

Her response mirrored that of many Republican officials, and Trump himself, who have painted this and other trials pending against the former president as a sham and a witchhunt.

However, according to PolitiFact, Collins characterization of Bragg is not accurate.

The investigation into the Trump Organizations role in hush money payments made to actress Stormy Daniels began in 2019 under Braggs predecessor, Cyrus Vance, Jr. During the campaign for that office, Bragg and other candidates were routinely asked how they would handle the investigation.

Braggs responses usually centered on his previous work as a chief deputy attorney general for New York state investigating Trump and his administration.

In one oft-cited exchange, Bragg said, Im ready to go wherever the facts take me, and to inherit that case.

When asked if he believes Trump should be convicted, he replied: I believe we have to hold him accountable. I havent seen all the facts beyond the public, but Ive litigated with him and so Im prepared to go where the facts take me once I see them, and hold him accountable.

Collins office did not immediately respond to a question about whether she stands by her statement regarding Bragg.

Unlike many of her Republican colleagues, Collins has not always publicly backed the former president. While Collins has never said whether she voted for him in the 2020 election, earlier this year she endorsed his rival, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, and said she would not be voting for him in November.

In 2021, she was one of just seven Republicans who voted during the impeachment trial to convict Trump of inciting an insurrection after his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 to stop the counting of electoral votes.

In response to the verdict, the other members of Maines congressional delegation issued statements upholding the trial process and focused on the severity of the conviction.

This process, +the trials to come, has reaffirmed that no one is above the law, U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, a Democrat, wrote on X. She added that shes grateful for the fortitude and courage of the jurors who spent many long days fulfilling their civic duty.

While our country is facing many challenges, now is a moment to have some faith in our democracy and this important exercise of the rule of law, Pingree said.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Golden issued a statement saying that he respects the jurys decision.

In this case, former President Trump has had his day in court and has been found guilty by a jury of his peers, Golden said.

U.S. Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with Democrats, said the trial was an example of equal justice under the law.

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Star on the Mountain will be glowing with rainbow colors, celebrating Pride Month and the LGBTQ community.

According to the news release by the El Paso Chamber, the special illumination will begin at 8:45 p.m. on Friday, May 31 and will last throughout the month of June.

The El Paso Chamber Foundation also announced that half of the proceeds raised will be donated to the El Paso Sun City Pride.

El Paso has always been a welcoming, inclusive, and diverse community. The lighting of the

iconic El Paso Star on the Mountain in Pride colors for the first time ever will ensure that everyone everywhere sees the beauty of our community. We are incredibly proud to stand as allies with the LGBTQIA+ community, and the Star is a perfect reflection of our El Paso values, said County Commissioner Iliana Holguin.

El Paso is the outlier of Texas, and we are a family. Its the perfect time of year to show the world that we are #ElPasoStrong. As we launch our annual celebration of diversity, inclusion, and unity, we invite you to take a look at the brilliance of the Star and the array of diverse colors that come

together to create a masterpiece of hope. EPSCP wants you to remember one thing this June: You are seen, you matter, you are loved, and you are so, so worth it, said the President of El Paso Sun City Pride Christopher Eck.

For more information of the Star on the Mountain or to dedicate a lighting, visit the El Paso Chambers website here or call at (915) 534-0500.

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A visitor walks past a 3D interactive projection of a forest environment during a media preview of the "Earth Matters: Rethink the Future" exhibition at Science World in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on May 30, 2024. "Earth Matters: Rethink the Future" is the latest exhibition at Science World in Vancouver, where visitors can explore planet's changes through immersive, interactive exhibits on biodiversity, climate change, and sustainability. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

An interactive 3D projection map of a coral reef demonstrates changes in its ecosystem during a media preview of the "Earth Matters: Rethink the Future" exhibition at Science World in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on May 30, 2024. "Earth Matters: Rethink the Future" is the latest exhibition at Science World in Vancouver, where visitors can explore planet's changes through immersive, interactive exhibits on biodiversity, climate change, and sustainability. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

An interactive exhibit showcases the amount of carbon emission used by different transportation during a media preview of the "Earth Matters: Rethink the Future" exhibition at Science World in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on May 30, 2024. "Earth Matters: Rethink the Future" is the latest exhibition at Science World in Vancouver, where visitors can explore planet's changes through immersive, interactive exhibits on biodiversity, climate change, and sustainability. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

People use pedal generators to produce energy to light up a model townscape during a media preview of the "Earth Matters: Rethink the Future" exhibition at Science World in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on May 30, 2024. "Earth Matters: Rethink the Future" is the latest exhibition at Science World in Vancouver, where visitors can explore planet's changes through immersive, interactive exhibits on biodiversity, climate change, and sustainability. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

A woman looks at an interactive exhibit showcasing the changes of Arctic sea ice distribution by years during a media preview of the "Earth Matters: Rethink the Future" exhibition at Science World in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on May 30, 2024. "Earth Matters: Rethink the Future" is the latest exhibition at Science World in Vancouver, where visitors can explore planet's changes through immersive, interactive exhibits on biodiversity, climate change, and sustainability. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

An interactive exhibit showcases how the garbages affecting the marine ecosystem during a media preview of the "Earth Matters: Rethink the Future" exhibition at Science World in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on May 30, 2024. "Earth Matters: Rethink the Future" is the latest exhibition at Science World in Vancouver, where visitors can explore planet's changes through immersive, interactive exhibits on biodiversity, climate change, and sustainability. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)
The next time you go to Starbucks for an iced latte, you might want to bring a book. Customers at some locations are beginning to face extensive wait times. We're talking lines that can take up to 40 minutes.

According to a new report in Bloomberg, the reason behind the slow down is understaffing. The locations are reportedly so understaffed because an algorithm Starbucks uses to determine how many workers should be at each location and when. The algorithm takes into account factors like order forecasts and product availability to staff the location.



Employees have also claimed that a new company policy making baristas work at least 12 hours per week has cut down on how many employees are available at certain locations.

Starbucks has denied allegations about its locations being understaffed. The company's chief reinvention officer, Frank Britt, told Bloomberg News that the chain improved its algorithm in the last year and a half so there was enough capacity to meet demand."

Despite this staffing algorithm, wait times at many stores are rivaling that of a hot new ride at Disney, and customers are becoming increasingly fed up about it.

Reddit is littered with posts from frustrated users questioning if 30-minute waits have become the new normal at the cafe.

In one thread, a Starbucks customer recalled waiting over 30 minutes for an iced coffee when there were just three people in front of them in line.

"At the worst my old store would sometimes be at 45 mins...I'm sure it's even worse now with how much they've cut labor to increase corporate profits," said one Redditor in response to their query.

@Starbucks epic meltdown at your store 50480-274944. 40+ minute wait for 2 drinks. Sounds like a failure to plan for Mothers Day BOGO during a 6 hour window. No help. Lines out the door. #fail  Jim Oser (@jimoser37) May 12, 2024

Dont even try to get a Mothers Day coffee at @Starbucks - theyre out of almost everything and its a 1.5 hour wait for a drink. Awful.  Suzi Voss (@SuziVoss) May 12, 2024





On X, people have also expressed their frustration with lengthy waits. In what might be the worst example yet, one user claimed they were faced with a two-hour wait.

"Nah the way @Starbucks had a 2 hour wait for some drinks & they didnt let me just cancel my order," they wrote.

Have you noticed that Starbucks are longer now? Just how long are you willing to wait for a drink at Starbucks?

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(Bloomberg) -- Keir Starmer said veteran Member of Parliament Diane Abbott is free to stand as a candidate for his Labour Party in the UK election, as he tried to draw a line under a row that was threatening to derail his campaign.

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Abbott, who was the first Black woman to be elected to the House of Commons, was readmitted to the parliamentary party this week following a suspension over comments she made about racism last year. But reports by media including the Times and the BBC that she was barred from standing again in the London district of Hackney North and Stoke Newington she has held since 1987 led to escalating pressure on Starmer to let her run.

The move against her was perceived as part of a purge of the Labour left, which has become increasingly isolated since Starmer took over the party in 2020 and suspended his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn months later.

Despite leading by about 20 points in national polls, the very public dispute threatened to derail Starmers campaign, knocking his message about the National Health Service and the economy from the newspaper front pages.

Ahead of UK general elections, its normal for political parties to find so-called safe seats for trusted advisers, and Abbotts is in the upper tier of any Labour list of sought-after districts.

Read more: Starmer Purge of Labour Left Risks Undermining UK Campaign

There had been widespread speculation that Abbotts return from suspension would be followed by a retirement announcement. But after the media reports that she was not going to be allowed to stand, Abbott responded by indicating her intention to continue as an MP.

That set off a chaotic few days, with Starmer repeatedly saying no decision has been made about Abbotts candidacy, and that it was a matter for Labours National Executive Committee.

But the pressure ramped up on Starmer when his deputy, Angela Rayner, who is more aligned with the left of the party, intervened to say Abbott should be allowed to stand. In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, though, Rayner also indicated that Labour was under the impression Abbott intended to retire.

By Friday, Starmer appeared to have decided its time to try to restore calm to Labour.

The whip has obviously been restored to her now and she is free to go forward as a Labour candidate, he said in an interview carried by the BBC.

(Updates with background from third paragraph.)

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Nasser Beydoun (left) addresses the Michigan State Board of Canvassers meeting with his campaign manager, Lexi Denazeidan (left). May 31, 2024. Screenshot.

The race for the Democratic nomination for Michigans soon-to-be-open U.S. Senate seat is now officially down to just two candidates after the Michigan Board of State Canvassers on Friday formally rejected the petitions of Dearborn businessman Nasser Beydoun.

The decision leaves actor Hill Harper and U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Holly) to battle each other for the opportunity to succeed U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Lansing) who is retiring.

The board, made up of two Democrats and two Republicans, accepted a staff report issued last week that said Beydoun improperly used a post office box on all 2,924 petition sheets, which require a street address. Thus, staff invalidated all of his sample signatures and said he was ineligible for the ballot.

Beydoun argued to the board that while the petition forms supplied by the Secretary of State made clear a P.O. Box could not be used by those who circulate or sign the petition, but it doesnt specify that the header of the petition itself cannot have a post office box in it.

For you to remove us from the ballot because of an issue on an address that has no material bearing whatsoever on the outcome of the petitions, I find that unjust and does not support democracy and allowing the citizens of the State of Michigan to choose when the primary comes on August 6th, said Beydoun.

Michigan Elections Director Jonathan Brater pointed out that state law requires a residential address, which has been supported in past court decisions.

Just to clarify, its not us putting it on the form. This is in the Michigan election law, Brater said. This is the language that the Michigan Legislature requires us to put on the form, and that that language, street address, has been interpreted by a court to mean not a P.O. Box. So, its not a definition that were providing. Its a definition thats in the law that we are obligated to follow.

Several board members also expressed regret for Beydouns circumstance, but said their duty was to follow the law, and unanimously rejected his petitions.

A separate challenge against Slotkin made by the Harper campaign was rejected, with her petitions approved.

Meanwhile, the board rejected a request by Democrats to investigate claims of apparent fraud in GOP Senate petitions, noting the requests by the Michigan Democratic Party and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee were filed past the challenge deadline and did not sufficiently refute the petition sampling procedure used by the Board of Elections staff.

Republican board member Tony Daunt questioned Brater about that process.

I think its clear that the fraud has been happening across the board, said Daunt. With random sampling, how confident are we that random sampling is able to catch the fraud thats in these petitions?

100% confident, responded Brater, who noted that while third-party claims about the U.S. Senate petitions were completely irrelevant to their determination of whether they have 15,000 valid signatures, that doesnt mean the issues arent being looked at.

Were reviewing these letters, and as we did two years ago, well refer anything suspicious for law enforcement investigation, but it has no impact on our projection of validity of these candidates, said Brater, referencing an 2022 incident of a signature fraud scandal that resulted in five Republican gubernatorial candidates in Michigan being kicked off the August 2022 primary ballot.

This year, questions about fraudulent signatures have resulted in derailing the candidacy of former Democratic state Sen. Adam Hollier of Detroit, whose candidacy for the 13th Congressional District was challenged by incumbent U.S. Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Detroit).

The canvassers decision to reject the Democrats request cleared four GOP candidates to be on the ballot: 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.

Congressional candidate challenges

The board also heard from representatives of 10 Congressional campaigns that had challenges lodged against their nominating petitions.

Former state Sen. Curtis Hertel (D-East Lansing) had his candidate petitions for the 7th Congressional District challenged for not correctly listing the office he is seeking. Because Hertel wrote U.S. Congress instead of the U.S. House, former canvassers board member Norm Shinkle, a Republican, filed to have Hertel disqualified.

Shinkle recalled past instances that the board rejected petitions for what were seemingly minor errors, but still in violation of the law.

Everything weve done today is under the notion of strict compliance, said Shinkle. We got rid of a fake Tea Party because they didnt use the word the correctly. That was strict compliance. And strict compliance should be used today. This petition should be disallowed.

Board Vice Chair Richard Houskamp, a Republican, pointed out that when Shinkle was on the board in 2022, he voted to approve a number of petitions for Congress, including U.S. Rep. Lisa McClain (R-Bruce Twp.) who listed U.S. Congress. When Shinkle said that was because those werent challenged, Houskamp was skeptical.

Even though they werent challenged, they were no issue for you, he replied.

Brater agreed.

In this case, with all due respect to our esteemed former board member, we did not find that Congress was inappropriate here. It is clear what office is being referred to, he said.

The board agreed and unanimously approved Hertels petitions. He is now the lone Democrat seeking the nomination, and is expected to face off against former state Sen. Tom Barrett (R-Charlotte) for the 7th Congressional District seat being left open by Slotkin due to her Senate run.

For 8th District Republican candidate Nikki Snyder, who currently serves on the State Board of Education, the board unanimously accepted the staff recommendation that she lacked the required valid petition signatures for a variety of reasons, including invalid dates by the signer, the signers submitted signatures for other candidates, were not registered at the address they indicated on the petition, or had illegible signatures.

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.

In the 12th District, three candidate petitions were determined to have insufficient valid signatures, including that of Democrat Ryan Foster, the only challenger for the nomination faced by incumbent U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Detroit).

Foster pleaded his case, noting he didnt pay for circulators to gather his signatures, which he turned in March 17, but wasnt challenged by Tlaibs campaign until May 2nd.

I did this myself in two months in the snow, in the rain, walking around, said Foster. I did everything the right way. In America, this system is falling apart because the only time you can run for a race is if you have money, or you have name recognition, or you are the right color. I did everything right. And then I have some incumbent with a lot of money to pay somebody to challenge my signatures? It makes me very upset

When told that a representative from the Tlaib campaign was present via Zoom, Foster addressed him directly.

I hope youre proud of yourself, that youve helped a candidate that got people chanting Death to America to get another person that loves America off the ballot, said Foster as he gathered his papers and left.

The reference was to an April rally in Dearborn in which the chant arose from the crowd, a video of which went viral, and was denounced later by Dearborns mayor and other leaders. Tlaib was not present at the rally.

Tlaib will now run unopposed for the Democratic nomination. The board also voted that insufficient valid petition signatures were turned in by two Republican candidates for the 12th District: Steven Elliott and Hassan Nehme, leaving two Republicans in the race for the GOP nomination: James Hooper and Linda Sawyer.

In the 1st District, the board unanimously accepted the staff report that Republican candidate JD Wilson had insufficient signatures because he did not use petition forms that met state election law requirements including improper formatting and language errors.

Fellow GOP candidate Josh Saul, however, proved to be a more difficult decision. All of his 1,221 signatures were recommended to be invalidated because each of the petition sheets stated the title of the office as House of Representatives, and the district line as 1st, potentially confusing signers that he was running for state House.

But in discussion, Saul argued no one could reasonably conclude he was running for anything other than for the U.S. House as the two districts dont overlap, which seemed to have an impact on board members. Brater then offered to have staff review the petitions, which several hours later produced a result that put Saul over the top for required valid signatures. The board then voted unanimously to reject the original staff report and approve Sauls inclusion on the primary ballot, where he will run against Incumbent U.S. Rep. Jack Bergman (R-Watersmeet) for the GOP nomination. Two Democrats, Callie Barr and Bob Lorinser, will battle it out to take on the winner in November.

And finally, in the 10th District, the board concurred with staff recommendations that 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. As they did with Saul, they tabled a vote to allow elections staff time to do a review. However, that second look failed to provide enough valid signatures and the board voted to accept the staff recommendation and invalidate his petitions, as they did for Powell, who rejected as immaterial her claim that a supplemental submission turned in by consultant Londell Thomas gave her enough signatures, especially since elections staff said there was no record of such a submission.

Thomas was also at the center of the petition scandal that disqualified Hollier, who admitted the signatures Thomas turned in on his behalf appeared to have been forged.

Thomas name is one of 22 listed by bureau staff as circulating petition sheets with clear indications of fraud, all of which are being referred for further investigation.

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 post State canvassers finalize Michigans U.S. Senate and U.S. House races appeared first on Michigan Advance.
State Education Department rules expected to pass as Oklahoma House hands them to the governor

The Republican majority in the Oklahoma House decided internally not to vote on administrative rules from the state Department of Education. The lack of legislative action means Gov. Kevin Stitt gets to decide whether to pass the rules. (Photo by Janelle Stecklein/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  There was one glaring exception to the dozens of bills and resolutions the state House considered on its final day of the 2024 legislative session  administrative rules from the Oklahoma State Department of Education.

Lawmakers did not take up the controversial set of 20 rules, meaning they will go straight to Gov. Kevin Stitt, who gets to decide whether to approve them. Stitt has yet to deny any rules from state Superintendent Ryan Walters administration.

The usually dry rulemaking process gained significant attention because of the potential impact the regulations could have on school accreditation. One of the rules would tie a schools state test scores to its accreditation status, meaning low-performing schools could see their standing with the state drop.

Walters said the rule is necessary to place a greater focus on academic results. Critics of the rules said it would unfairly punish schools with higher numbers of students living in poverty and children with disabilities.

As the days ticked down before the Legislatures final day of session, it became increasingly clear the rules would not get a hearing on the House floor.

House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, speaks with news reporters in his office at the state Capitol on Thursday during the final day of the 2024 legislative session. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, said the Republican majority decided internally not to vote on the matter after the rules passed out of committee.

Our caucus decided not to, McCall said. And so with respect to the rules for the state Department of Education, those will go into effect as the (Oklahoma State Board of Education) passed them.

Had the House approved them, the Senate then would have had a similar decision to make  vote on the rules or let the governor decide.

The Senates leader, President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said he thinks his chamber would have voted on the rules if it had the opportunity to do so. But he said the Republican caucus had a mixed bag of opinions.

There were some people disappointed they didnt get a chance to vote on it, but there were some other people that were equally glad that they didnt have to vote on it one way or another to be honest with you, Treat said.

Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, said the state House shirked its responsibilities when it passed Oklahoma State Department of Education administrative rules to the governor. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice)

House Democrats voiced frustration at their chambers inaction. Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, said lawmakers received overwhelming requests to block the accreditation rule.

This shirks the responsibility of the Oklahoma Legislature, Provenzano said.

Some fear that lowering schools accreditation paves the way for school closures or a state takeover in struggling districts, though the rules do not describe this scenario.

Other regulations bound for the governors desk include a rule even Republican lawmakers hoped to eliminate.

Some GOP members of the House Administrative Rules Committee opposed allowing the Classic Learning Test, which isnt widely accepted at Oklahoma colleges, to count toward academic scholar and seal of biliteracy awards. It was the only Education Department rule the committees Republican majority agreed to reject.

But the committees resolution never made it to the House floor, so the entire package of rules will instead continue to Stitt, who is expected to have a friendly pen.

The lengthy list of regulations adds new foundational values for the state Education Department that make multiple references to the Creator.

Other rules include potential punishment for schools that continue to employ educators under investigation of wrongdoing, permission to fire teachers who engage in acts that promote sexuality within view of a minor and the removal of automatic approval for the Oklahoma State School Boards Association to give school board training, among several others.

In a social media post, Walters said the rules would raise academic standards, protect students from predators, and remove unethical favoritism towards 3rd-party education associations.

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The blood, it seems, is everywhere.

Splattered on the covered boots of the biologists. Pooled in the folds of the massive black tarp on the ground. Smeared across the bodies of the dead whitetail deer lying in orderly rows.

Its past 10 p.m., but bright lights tower over the improvised field laboratory, bringing the operation into near-daylight brightness.

A generator thrums the air, a constant backdrop to the quiet work of about 50 state biologists. The workers, wearing matching all-white or all-blue biohazard suits, are a blur of coordinated motion, moving deer from one place to the next.

The deer, the former inhabitants of RW Trophy Ranch in Hunt County, were killed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, in order to manage a highly contagious deer-specific disease called chronic wasting disease. Parks and Wildlife staff have said in legal filings that the outbreak is the largest the state of Texas has ever seen.

State-hired biologists carry a whitetail deer carcass during a deer depopulation at RW Trophy Ranch in Terrell on Tuesday, May 28, 2024. The deer of Williamss ranch in Hunt County were killed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in order to manage a highly contagious deer-specific disease called chronic wasting disease.

Robert Williams, a whitetail deer breeder for four decades, has spent years fighting the states order, even as the department reported more and more CWD cases on the ranch. Williams, 85, says he isnt done fighting. He plans to continue his long-standing lawsuit, and maybe file more suits, too.

But the killing of his herd, on Tuesday night, was an ending of sorts.

Williams walks away from the field laboratory, from the bodies of the deer he spent years raising. Hes backlit by the bright stage lights, the generator still humming, a slight chill in the air left behind by the storm system that pummeled the state in the previous day.

Well, he says, into the darkness, to no one in particular. I lost.

The legal battle

The first positive CWD test on Williams farm came from a routine testing, after a deer died in the February 2021 freeze.

Texas whitetail deer breeders are subject to a host of testing requirements, put in place by the state to track and contain CWD spread. The disease is a major threat to breeders, who spend years selectively breeding their deer to produce bigger and more aesthetically pleasing bucks, which are then sold either to other breeders or for trophy hunting.

CWD is an always-fatal neurological disease. Its essentially the deer version of mad cow disease, although there are no known cases of CWD jumping from deer to humans.

The state Parks and Wildlife Department takes positive cases seriously, in an attempt to keep the disease under control and prevent it from spreading to other deer herds. In Williams case, the rancher and the department couldnt agree on a disease management plan. Instead, in spring 2022, the department issued a full depopulation order for the farm.

Williams and his attorneys sued the state, claiming the department was overreaching and had no right to kill the deer. Legally, though, the deer didnt actually belong to Williams; under Texas state law, whitetail deer are considered wild animals and, as such, belong to the state even when theyre held in captivity and bred by ranchers.

Over the course of two years, the legal case wound its way through several courts, including the Texas Supreme Court. The hearings, which have so far focused on whether the state can depopulate the ranch even as the court case is ongoing, were sometimes dramatic. At one point, state workers were en route to the farm to carry out a depopulation, until a last-minute court order stopped them in their tracks and prevented them from entering the property.

In mid-April, after months of back-and-forth, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that the Parks and Wildlife Department can go onto Williams ranch and kill his deer. Texas Sen. Bob Hall, R-Edgewood, along with the Texas-based Deer Breeders Corporation  of which Williams is a board member  submitted documents in support of the rancher, but to no avail.

Parks and Wildlife staff, along with other organizations that are in favor of the depopulation, describe the process as an unfortunate necessity.

In a November legal filing, the state wrote that RW Trophy Ranch now hosts the worst-ever CWD outbreak in Texas. In a mid-March filing, the department notified the state Supreme Court that there had been 208 positive CWD cases at the ranch over the previous three years. Parks and Wildlife staff said this week that the number continued to rise, and reached 254 by Tuesday morning.

The Texas Deer Association, a professional organization and lobbying group for deer breeders, penned an April letter in support of the depopulation. The letter, co-signed with the Texas Wildlife Association, marks a shift for the deer association, which opposed the killing of Williams deer shortly after the first positive was found.

Kevin Davis, the executive director of the Texas Deer Association, said the disease was too far out of control at RW Trophy Ranch.

If we truly market ourselves as science-based and part of a long-term solution to CWD, then we also have to understand that some situations can be unsalvageable, Davis said.

While the association lobbies on behalf of deer breeders, that also means taking into account whats best for the entire industry, Davis said.

The outbreak at RW Trophy Ranch has shown just how bad CWD spread can be, said Jody Phillips, the president of the Texas Deer Association.

If you have a problem that exists at your farm, you cant turn a blind eye, Phillips said. As an industry, weve all learned from this.

The shooting

Williams and his daughter, who manages the ranch, didnt want their deer to be shot.

They didnt want them killed at all, of course, but they wouldve preferred the animals be corralled and euthanized rather than shot with firearms. But the state Parks and Wildlife Department determined shooting was the most effective method. And, under a state law passed last year, the department will cover the cost of a deer depopulation, but only if the department conducts the depopulation itself.

That means Williams wouldve been left with the bill if he had opted to euthanize the deer on his farm.

Instead, Williams and his daughter euthanized just three deer on Tuesday. They darted and put down two bucks  15-year-old Monarch Supreme and 13-year-old Bambi Remington  plus a doe named Amethyst. They couldnt bear for those three, favorites of the family, to be shot.

When the state workers began arriving at RW Trophy Ranch on Tuesday afternoon, Williams was clear  with the media, with his senator and with workers themselves  that he didnt want them there. But he didnt have a choice. Under Texas state statute, the biologists and wardens carrying out the operation had a right to enter his property to manage the outbreak.

Boyd Nutt, a local deer breeder, consoles his close friend Robert Williams after Williams saw the dead bodies of his deer after the depopulation commenced at RW Trophy Ranch in Terrell on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

Williams ranch spreads across hundreds of acres and includes numerous houses and other buildings. The Williams family and friends were stationed on Tuesday at the lodge, just outside the safety zone enforced by Texas game wardens.

The deer pens were across a field from the lodge, blocked from view by a stand of trees but still within hearing distance. The shooting started shortly before 7 p.m., and then stopped for a long stretch.

The group at the lodge puttered around. The storms from earlier in the day had left the evening air cool. In the field around the lodge, as dusk fell, a wren sang. From somewhere else in the high growth, cicadas buzzed.

And then, the shots began again.

There was nothing to do but wait. Williams, as the property owner, was allowed closer to the pens, accompanied by a game warden. He left the lodge for a while and, when he came back, his guests crowded around him and listened for updates. Williams ranted, in short bursts, about the overreach of the state.

As the last of the days light left the sky, someone started a bonfire. Hall, the senator, asked if he could take home some antlers for his golden retriever to chew on. People milled about outside, eating pizza and swatting at mosquitoes.

Originally, Parks and Wildlife staff had said the shooting could continue through the night. But by 10 p.m., word came up to the lodge that the depopulation itself was over. The 250 deer left on Williams ranch were dead.

The dissections

With all the deer dead, Williams and his many guests  including the media and Hall  were allowed to watch the state biologists process the bodies.

The states temporary field lab was set between the deer pens, a short drive down the dirt ranch road. Williams and his entourage, plus state game wardens, parked at the gate of the pens and walked the rest of the way in the dark.

Still a little ways from the setup, a sharp smell  like pool chemicals  tinged the air. Two shallow dishes set on the ground came into view, a scrub brush laid nearby and a bottle of bleach sat off to the side. A little further along, the bleach smell gave way to something else  something earthier, mustier. Something like blood.

The staging area itself was lit bright as day, visible from across the ranch in the dark. A wide swath of the muddy ground was covered in thick black tarps, with about 15 deer bodies laid in neat rows in the center. Trailers  covered in the same thick black tarps  backed up to the staging area, with four wooden tables set directly in front of them.

The state biologists, in their plastic protective gear and double gloves, moved smoothly, efficiently, gathering around the dissection tables and the trailers.

A biologist works on a whitetail deer carcass during a deer depopulation at RW Trophy Ranch in Terrell on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

As the biologists worked, Williams and some of his guests  including Halls staff  circled the tarps and took video. Some of them reprimanded the staff for participating in the depopulation. Williams at one point called his attorney and then asked to meet the wildlife veterinarian on the scene. The workers  with the exception of top staff who spoke with Williams  largely ignored the commotion; they hauled deer bodies around, made quick cuts with scalpels and spoke to each other in quiet questions and answers.

The process for each deer went like this: Three workers grabbed a dead whitetail deer from the line, one carrying each set of legs and the other carrying the head. They hauled the animal onto a wooden table, and a team cut up the animal precisely, gathering a prescribed set of samples.

Each ear, cut from the body with the tags still in place. A vial of blood, from a slice to the neck. Two lymph nodes, from the throat. A specific portion of the brain stem, called the obex. A whole eyeball.

And then state workers hauled the deer body off the table and into the back of the trailer. The workers repeated the process about 250 times, an efficient dissection for each dead deer. The state workers expected to fill five trailers with deer carcasses, which were later hauled away to a landfill equipped to dispose of biohazard waste.

A blood sample is taken from one of the carcasses of a whitetail deer during a deer depopulation at RW Trophy Ranch in Terrell on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

The original plan  according to the state Parks and Wildlife Departments big game director, Alan Cain  was to haul the trailers to a landfill in the Terrell area, near the farm. But the storms had flooded the landfill, forcing the department to instead drive the bodies to a landfill near Waco, about a two-hour drive away.

A total of 68 staff were on the ranch to process the deer bodies, according to a Parks and Wildlife spoksperson. Cain said the department called in a large number of workers in part to speed up the work. The biologists didnt want to be conducting a depopulation any more than Williams wanted them on his property, Cain said.

You didnt become a wildlife biologist to do this, Cain said. None of them want to be here.

The last of the Parks and Wildlife workers left the ranch at about 3:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Cain said. The operation took more than 12 hours and, by the end, the Williams ranch was emptied of deer.

Out of business

On Tuesday, as the day dragged into evening and then night, Williams didnt say how he was feeling, exactly.

He said, first, that hes already dug a new pond on his ranch property, using a bulldozer that he likes to drive himself. In the aftermath, with his herd gone, he thinks hell spend a lot of time fishing. Bass, mostly.

He said hes been having a hard time sleeping. He said his blood pressure has been high, and that his doctor ordered him anxiety medication. He said he hates the Parks and Wildlife staff who killed his deer, even more than he hates President Joe Biden, and that hes told them so, too.

He said he isnt a crier, not around other people, but he might have a moment once hes by himself.

The next day, Williams said in a phone interview that the reality of the depopulation had started to sink in. He drove out to the empty deer pens on Wednesday, he said, and regretted that he hadnt let the deer out of the pens before the state got there.

It made an old man cry, he said.

He felt furious, he said, at the state and at the way his deer were killed.

George Courtney, the vice president of the Texas-based Deer Breeders Corporation, said he spent hours with Williams on Thursday, and could see that the reality of the depopulation was beginning to set in.

This is the first time in 40 years the man hasnt had deer, Courtney said of Williams, who he called one of the forefathers of Texas deer breeding industry.

And now, after four decades, Williams said he used to be  heavy emphasis on the past tense  a whitetail deer breeder.
A university professor addressing his students during a lecture. Getty Images.

Over the past few years, Republican state lawmakers have introduced more than 150 bills in 35 states that seek to curb academic freedom on campus. Twenty-one of these bills have been signed into law.

This legislation is detailed in a new white paper published by the Center for the Defense of Academic Freedom, a project established by the American Association of University Professors, or AAUP. Taken together, this legislative onslaught has undermined academic freedom and institutional autonomy in five distinct and overlapping ways.

1. Academic gag orders

As detailed in the report, state legislators introduced 99 academic gag orders during legislative sessions in 2021, 2022 and 2023. All of the 10 gag orders signed into law were done so by Republican governors. These bills assert that teaching about structural racism, gender identity or unvarnished accounts of American history harm students.

These gag orders are widely known as divisive concept or anti-CRT bills. CRT is an acronym for critical race theory, an academic framework that holds racism as deeply embedded in Americas legal and political systems. The partisan activists, such as Christopher Rufo, have used this term to generate a moral panic as part of a political response to the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests.

For example, in April 2022, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 7, the Stop Woke Act. The law defines a divisive concept as any of eight vague claims. They include claims that Such virtues as merit, excellence, hard work, fairness, neutrality, objectivity, and racial colorblindness are racist or sexist.

U.S. District Judge Mark Walker described this law as positively dystopian. He noted that the governments own lawyers admitted that the law would likely make any classroom discussion concerning the merits of affirmative action illegal. The vague wording of these gag orders has a chilling effect, leaving many faculty unsure about what they can and cannot legally discuss in the classroom.

2. Bans on DEI programs

The expansion of diversity, equity and inclusion  or DEI  services on campus was a major outcome of the racial justice protests in 2020. By 2023, however, the legislative backlash was in full swing. Forty bills restricting DEI efforts were introduced during the 2023 legislative cycle, with seven signed into law.

For example, Texas Senate Bill 17 drew directly from model policy language developed by Rufo and published by the Manhattan Institute, a right-wing think tank. SB 17 banned diversity statements and considerations in hiring. It also restricted campus diversity training and defunded campus DEI offices at Texas public universities.

As detailed in the AAUP white paper, only a handful of people testified in favor of SB 17, and almost all had stated or unstated affiliations with right-wing think tanks. In contrast, more than a hundred educators and citizens testified, or registered to testify, against the bill. Since its passage, Texas public universities have seen the closing of DEI programs and reduced campus services for students from minority populations. For example, after the Legislature accused the University of Texas-Austin of violating SB 17, the school was forced to shut down its DEI office. This involved laying off 40 employees.

3. Weakening tenure

Tenure was developed to shield faculty members from external political pressure. The protections of tenure make it possible for faculty to teach, research and speak publicly without fear of losing their jobs because their speech angers those in power. As detailed in the report, however, during the 2021, 2022 and 2023 legislative sessions, 20 bills were introduced, with two bills weakening tenure protections signed into law in Florida and another in Texas.

In Florida, for example, SB 7044 created a system of post-tenure review, empowering administrators to review tenured faculty every five years. The law further empowers administrators to dismiss those whose performance is deemed unsatisfactory. The law also requires that faculty post course content in a public and searchable database.

The AAUP criticized the law, noting that SB 7044 has substantially weakened tenure in the Florida State University System and, if fully implemented as written, would effectively eliminate tenure protections. Now even tenured faculty have reason to fear that what they teach might be construed as a divisive concept, as CRT, or as promoting DEI.

4. Mandating content

Lawmakers in several states have also passed legislation mandating viewpoint diversity, establishing new academic programs and centers to teach conservative content and shifting curricular decision-making away from the faculty.

For example, Floridas Senate Bill 266 expanded the Hamilton Center for Classical and Civic Education at the University of Florida, without faculty input or oversight. The original proposal for the Hamilton Center stated that the centers goal was to advance a conservative agenda within the curriculum.

SB 266 also gave the governing boards overseeing the university and college systems the authority to decide which classes count toward the core curriculum. This power was exercised in November 2023 after Manny Diaz, the education commissioner in Florida, requested that the boards remove an introduction to sociology course. He stated on social media that the discipline had been hijacked by left-wing activists and no longer serves its intended purpose as a general knowledge course for students.

5. Weakening accreditation

The accreditation process is an obscure area of academic governance whereby colleges and universities regularly subject themselves to external peer review. Nonprofit accrediting agencies conduct these institutional performance reviews.

As detailed in the report, during the 2021-23 legislative cycles, six bills were introduced  three of them were passed into law  weakening the accreditation process, thereby making it easier for political interests to shape university policy.

For example, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hills accreditor, the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, warned the schools board of trustees that establishing the School of Civic Life and Leadership without faculty oversight and consultation raised serious concerns about institutional independence. The Legislature responded with Senate Bill 680, which would require that North Carolina public universities choose a different accrediting agency each accreditation cycle. Eventually passed as part of the omnibus House Bill 8, this policy allows schools to shop for an accrediting agency less likely to object to such political interference in the curriculum.

These five overlapping and reinforcing attacks on academic freedom and institutional autonomy threaten to radically transform public higher education in ways that serve the partisan interests of those in power.

The Conversation

Isaac Kamola, Associate Professor of Political Science, Trinity College

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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The Conversation

The post State laws threaten to erode academic freedom in US higher education appeared first on Ohio Capital Journal.
In the Spotlight is a Modesto Bee series that digs into the high-profile local issues that readers care most about. Story idea? Email tips@modbee.com.

State Sen. Marie Alvarado-Gil has requested an investigation into Stanislaus County Supervisor Channce Condit for violation of county ethics and conflict of interest policies.

Alvarado-Gil made the request in a letter sent Tuesday to county to Chief Executive Officer Jody Hayes.

The letter from Alvarado-Gil to Stanislaus County alleges ethics violation and conflict of interest by county Supervisor Channce Condit.

The letter, sent to Chief Executive Officer Jody Hayes on Tuesday, is a formal complaint, requesting a thorough investigation into Condits conduct as per the boards conflict of interest policy and code of ethics.

It is my position that Supervisor Condit has eroded public trust with my office and the State of California by engaging in self-dealing with my former Chief of Staff, Chad Condit. Supervisor Condit is the son of Mr. Condit and both were cohabitants at the time of the transaction and both were in positions to benefit financially, reads the letter from Alvardo-Gil.

This follows the senators inquiry into the approval of $5 million in state funding of infrastructure improvements in south Modesto.

The letter states that in April 2023, Channce Condit allegedly violated county and state regulations by leveraging familial connections and special treatment from his father as the supervisor sought state funding.

Alvarado-Gil said this was brought to her attention in August 2023, after which she said she made a formal complaint to Senate Rules. A complaint into the actions of Chad Condit has been referred to the Office of the Attorney General for further investigation, according to the letter.

She states that Channce Condit launched a public smear campaign aimed at disparaging her and the Office of Senate District 4 this past week, by sending multiple public emails to community members and media. She also accuses the supervisor of making several inflammatory remarks about her disability.

These rants were inappropriate to say the least, and intentionally attacked my character in the most disrespectful and unprofessional manner, Alvarado-Gil wrote in the letter. Supervisor Condits egregious conduct creates a hostile partnership between my office and the County of Stanislaus, specifically harming the people and communities of [the countys] District 5. His lack of regard for personal integrity, truthfulness and honesty raises the question as to whether or not he is fit to carry out the duties of an office holder for Stanislaus County.

The letter ends with her stating that there is currently a legal matter pending further internal investigation.

In response, Condit has submitted a cease and desist letter, denying all allegations. The letter claims that the Senator is making these allegations maliciously in retaliation for Supervisor Condits fathers pending human relations complaint against Alvarado-Gil.

Condit said that she potentially wrongfully terminated his father based on his health conditions.

It is unacceptable that you are willing to sacrifice Supervisor Condit as collateral damage as part of your retaliation, the letter reads.

The letter warns that if the Senator ignores Condits cease and desist demand, litigation will be initiated against Alvarado-Gil in California Superior Court.

Supervisor Condit questioned how it is possible he could have been in violation if the county is on track to go on bid next month. He said that they plan to move forward with the projects, with an independent bidding process.

He also points out that Alvarado-Gil claimed to have known about the issue with the money in August 2023, but still mentioned the south Modesto project in her annual report at the beginning of the year, which features Condits photo.

Condit also denies making any defamatory comment about the senators disability, saying that he was not aware she had one.

Shes been operating in the dark while Ive been standing in the light, so I dont know how I violated anything, Condit told The Bee Thursday evening. The senator has acted shamefully, trying to murky the waters with political games, and shes using the community of south Modesto as political pawns.

CEO Hayes office declined to comment on the letter. The State Attorney Generals Office had not responded to The Bees request for comment as of Friday morning.
RowVaughn Wells, mother of the late Tyre Nichols, makes a point as she addresses Sen. Brent Taylor, R-Memphis. (Photo: John Partipilo)

A Tennessee Republican senators request for the governor to hire an outside consultant to rein in Memphis crime is erupting into a bit of a turf war.

Sen. Brent Taylor sent a letter to Gov. Bill Lee this week suggesting he bring in Teneo, headed by former NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton, who served under former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, using the broken window philosophy that called for arresting offenders for even the smallest crimes, back when New York was said to be the safest big city in America. (Oddly enough, Brattons attitude toward guns could run counter to the policies adopted by Tennessees Republican-controlled Legislature.)

In his letter, Taylor calls Memphis a war zone and says if things dont change, the citys middle class will disappear and only the rich and poor will live there. He points out reports show 25 people were killed there last month.

The group is needed to come in and work with Memphis and serve as eyes and ears to the governor to make recommendations in advance of the 2025 session, Taylor said.

Taylor claims hes not dissing local law enforcement agencies but insists someone such as Bratton, who is experienced with turning around New York and Los Angeles, could provide expertise without acting as a crime-fighting force. He wasnt sure how much a consultant would charge the state.

Weve been trying this now for several years, trying to turn crime around, and weve been about as successful as an Amish electrician, Taylor said.

For those who might have forgotten, Taylor also said on the Senate floor this year that Memphians worked harder than an ugly stripper to pass a hotel/motel tax increase. Maybe it wasnt the best choice of words, since strippers are people too.

Shelby County already has a crime commission headed by former Tennessee Safety Commissioner Bill Gibbons with 50 members from the public and private sector. Some question its effectiveness, since Memphis continues to struggle with violent crime.

Overall, crime rose 6% in Shelby County in 2023 from the previous year but is at roughly the same rate as in 2006, according to the Crime Commissions statistics.

Major violent crimes also jumped 6.3% in 2023, mirroring the same figure in 2021. Violent crimes dipped from about 2,000 incidents in 2006 to about 1,500 in 2011, then jumped to about 2,600 in both 2021 and 2023, the commissions report shows.

Republican policies have flooded our streets with rapid-fire weapons of war and starved our families of the resources we need to address the root causes of crime. The only solutions Republican politicians want to endorse are to lock everybody up, shovel tax dollars at building jail cells, and then throw them back on the street.

 Sen. London Lamar, D-Memphis

Major property crimes in Memphis saw a similar trend, dropping from about 8,700 in 2006 to 5,900 in 2020 then saw an increase back to about 8,700 last year.

Taylor sponsored several tough-on-crime bills this year, including one that preempted the Memphis City Councils ordinance designed to stop police from making pretextual traffic stops that can escalate into deadly confrontations, which sounds sort of like what New York police were doing under Bratton. It stemmed from the death of motorist Tyre Nichols, who was beaten by officers after they tried to pull him over for reckless driving.

Democratic Sen. London Lamar of Memphis responded to Taylors suggestion with disdain, arguing the state should concentrate on the genesis of crime such as poverty instead of hiring a crime consultant.

Republican policies have flooded our streets with rapid-fire weapons of war and starved our families of the resources we need to address the root causes of crime. The only solutions Republican politicians want to endorse are to lock everybody up, shovel tax dollars at building jail cells, and then throw them back on the street, Lamar said.

Attainable house, health care, mental health, better schools and better jobs are key parts of the equation, she said.

Democratic Rep. G.A. Hardaway of Memphis wasnt quite as poetic, saying Thursday he wants Gov. Lee to make a crime-fighting grant to Memphis and Shelby County, but only with local officials deciding how to use it. He expects other lawmakers to make recommendations in the coming days.

Meanwhile, Lamars press release points out Bratton made statements to the media such as saying arming teachers is the height of lunacy, and, Politicians rewrite regulations so anybody can apply for a permit. Nothing changes until they rework these rules. Its the Wild West. More guns, more violence, more suicides.

To put it lightly, those dont match the philosophy of the Tennessee Legislature.

Bratton also missed the mark a bit on that last one, because the state didnt just change its gun permitting law, it dropped the requirement for a handgun permit  period.

Critics of the law say the increase in Shelby County murders can be traced to the Gov. Lees permit-less carry bill because even though it prohibits felons from going armed, the law makes it harder for police to determine whos carrying legally and whos not.

Taylor is right about one thing, though. Shelby and Memphis officials have been trying to cut crime for decades but with only moderate success.

The biggest problem could be that local folks spend more time talking over coffee and doughnuts than they do getting out in the streets and working with kids. Its easier to go to board meetings and burnish your social standing than to a community center in south Memphis where nobody wants to see or hear you.

Headed for the AG

The Tennessee Registry of Election Finance this week sent a collusion complaint against the Bobby Harshbarger campaign in upper East Tennessee to the state Attorney Generals office for investigation, initially reported by the Tennessee Journal.

Sen. Ken Yager, chairman of the Senate Republican Caucus, filed the complaint against Harshbarger, saying the East Tennessee Conservatives PAC, U.S. Rep. Diana Harshbarger and her sons campaign are colluding illegally to defeat Sen. Jon Lundberg in the 4th District Senate race. The PAC and Rep. Harshbarger share the same treasurer, Thomas Datwyler, and Yager says they could be a little too cozy.

Harshbarger is attacking Lundberg as too liberal, and a barrage of text messages in recent weeks hit him over stances on in-state tuition for immigrant children and a bathroom bill that could have spurred lawsuits for use of the wrong toilet.

Jon Lundberg is a man of strong character with unwavering conservative values, including school choice for families, & Im proud to support his reelection to the @tnsenategop. pic.twitter.com/yyfAq4g3Rc  Bill Lee (@BillLeeTN) May 29, 2024

Yet Gov. Lee came to Lundbergs defense this week, giving his endorsement to the senator who continued to try to sell the governors private-school voucher plan this session, even as it was reported to be dead. Lundberg, chairman of the Senate Education Committee, didnt give up on negotiations until the governor relented at the sessions bitter end.

Lee has indicated he plans to talk to candidates about the importance of passing the voucher bill, although were certain he wont twist any arms.

Thursday afternoon, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally defended his education leader in a lockstep statement saying hes glad the board sent the matter to the AGs Office.

I strongly believe the complaint brings up issues of collusion that need to be legally clarified, McNally said, calling the registry boards decision an indication of the seriousness.

Complaint refiled

The registry board dismissed a complaint filed by Republican state Rep. Robert Stevens of Smyrna against Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland, Smyrna Mayor Mary Esther Reed and Tennesseans for Greater Accountability, a political action committee, in part because it wasnt a sworn complaint. Stevens responded by refiling, according to Bill Young, executive director of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance.

Murfreesboro Mayor Shane McFarland. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Stevens accused McFarland of exceeding a $1,600 maximum contribution by donating another $7,500 to the PAC, which made a $7,500 contribution to the Smyrna mayor.

In addition, registry board members let former state Rep. Matthew Hill off the hook even though his campaign account didnt match a bank statement. The former East Tennessee Republican lawmakers statement said he has $13,000 in his account, yet the bank account said it zeroed out.

Hill, a confidant of former House Speaker Glen Casada, could never reconcile the two, but the registry board let him close it anyway, according to Young.

Sometimes its better to go before the board and plead your case than to sit home and throw darts.

Tax bill backfires

Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carrs two-year effort to push an impact fee through the Legislature failed miserably this session. Now he says a school facilities tax increase could wind up hampering county revenue.

Rutherford County Mayor Joe Carr, who rode into the legislature in 2010 as part of the Tea Party movement, may be finding that running a fast-growing county is tough. (Photo: Rutherford County)

Carr lobbied lawmakers repeatedly but wound up irritating some of them. And instead of giving Rutherford the same authority as Williamson and Wilson counties to enact an impact fee, the Legislature approved a higher amount on the facilities tax, up to $1.50 per square foot on residential construction and $1.50 per square foot on commercial buildings. The Senate version of the bill was sponsored by Sen. Shane Reeves, a Murfreesboro Republican.

Other Rutherford County lawmakers said it was the best they could do, considering Carrs effort backfired.

Carr, however, sent out a statement this week saying the new law, which he says was sponsored by the same interest groups that opposed Rutherford County, prohibits the county from collecting fees until a certificate of occupancy is issued. Previously, the most of the fees were collected up front.

Thus, for 2024-25, the county wont gain any new revenue and could suffer a $5 million to $6 million setback, according to Carr. Meanwhile, the county will have to spend an extra $11 million for charter schools without being able to reduce spending for its own school system, which is constantly growing, according to Carr.

Carr entered the Legislature about 15 years ago as part of the Tea Party wave. But in trying to operate one of the fastest-growing counties this side of the Mississippi River, hes finding out reality is much harsher than he reckoned.

The burgeoning county just southeast of Nashville saw its population jump to 361,000 from 262,000 in 2010 and raised taxes by 16% in 2023.

Theyll have to do some budgetary magic to avoid another tax increase this year.

Make sure the fortune that you seek is the fortune that you need. Ben Harper, Diamonds On The Inside







The post Stockard on the Stump: Memphis crime fight devolves into argument over consultant appeared first on Tennessee Lookout.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Beneath the beauty of the Sun City, lies a harsh reality.

El Pasos extensive storm drain system, spanning over 300 miles, has become a conduit for human smuggling; presenting significant challenges for both migrants and Border Patrols Confined Space Entry Team (CSET).

Border Patrol Agent Efrain Mercado has been working with CSET for 11 years. He tells KTSM that smugglers have been exploiting the storm drains for years, but recently they have seen an increase in entries.

KTSM joined CSET to get a firsthand look inside the storm drain system.

Mercado said they often conduct sweeps where they check for signs of footing.

Sometimes when we go in there, theyve been using it for a couple of weeks, maybe a few days, said Mercado.

Migrants, including children as young as five, are often forced into the storm drains by smugglers.

These smugglers, which are part of transnational criminal organizations, charge migrants thousands of dollars with the promise of entry into the United States. However, the reality is often far grimmer.

A lot of these migrants are scared. They dont know where they are going. They just push them in, give them their blessing sometimes, and they are on their own. So, sometimes they are even happy to see us, Mercado explained.

CSET faces numerous challenges including exposure to toxic gases, venomous animals and flash flooding.

They just throw them in there and tell them where to go. Sometimes they have a guide. Sometimes they dont. When we enter a tunnel, there must be at least two entrances to be safe. We encounter groups of up to 20-40 migrants, and its just two of us down there. Another challenge is our communications are not great down there, Mercado said.

The CSET constantly has to stay one step ahead of smugglers who find new entry points using tools like electric cutters and gas-powered saws to break cement and get from one tunnel to another.

Weve seen them dig from the south side underneath the Rio Grande and tap into a storm drain, said Mercado.

Equipped with helmets, hip waders, boots, and air quality monitor systems, the CSET must navigate hazardous conditions. The air quality monitor systems help them detect harmful gases lingering in the area.

It picks up combustibles, any gasoline in the water or anything that we stir up. Itll pick it up, and as soon as that goes off, were out of there, Mercado said.

For many migrants, the storm drains are a desperate path to salvation.

Ive seen them go into 18-inch storm drains out of desperation, and then we have to get in there and back them out, calm them down, Mercado said.

Despite the dangers, Mercado and his team remain dedicated to their mission.

We do this because we see these migrants come into these tunnels, we see bad outcomes, and we try to do our best to help these people, Mercado said.

When asked if he ever felt scared for his own safety, Agent Jeremiah Blount said:

No, our training is top-notch. We have good equipment. There have been situations where we get tired and exhausted, but nothing we cant handle. We have been trained for the best.

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.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres (L) attends a wreath laying ceremony at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 30, 2024. (Mark Garten/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

Peacekeepers are often engaged in countries or areas where there is no peace to keep. Despite direct attacks by armed groups, harsh operating environments, and the emergence of new weapons of war, UN peacekeepers persevere, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. "And we must support them."



UNITED NATIONS, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Thursday held events at its headquarters in New York to honor the memory of the UN peacekeepers who lost their lives since 1948.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres laid a wreath at the Peacekeepers Memorial on the premises of UN Headquarters in New York to pay homage to the more than 4,300 UN peacekeepers who lost their lives since 1948. He later presided over a ceremony at which Dag Hammarskjold Medals were awarded posthumously to 61 peacekeepers from 33 countries who died last year serving under the UN flag.

The world is going through a difficult and dangerous time. The international community is deeply divided. Conflicts rage; divisions are rife; and there's an alarming lack of political support for solidarity and practical solutions. At every step, civilians -- children, women and men -- bear the brunt, said Guterres at the Dag Hammarskjold Medal ceremony.

"Our UN peacekeepers are more important than ever. Our Blue Helmets hail from all corners of the globe. But they are united in their mission of peace, carrying out their essential work in some of the world's most dangerous places," he said. "What began with the deployment of a small number of unarmed military observers to the Middle East in 1948 has grown to be a global force for peace. Today, more than 76,000 women and men from 121 countries are deployed in 11 operations."

Peacekeepers represent multilateralism in action. They protect the most vulnerable, preserve fragile cease-fires, defuse local conflicts, remove landmines and explosive remnants of war, strengthen the local institutions and democratic systems, and promote conflict prevention, he said.

A wreath laying ceremony is held at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 30, 2024. (Mark Garten/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

Peacekeepers are often engaged in countries or areas where there is no peace to keep. Despite direct attacks by armed groups, harsh operating environments, and the emergence of new weapons of war, UN peacekeepers persevere, he said. "And we must support them."

Guterres presented the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award for 2023 to Maj. Radhika Sen of India, who served in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Guterres hailed Maj. Sen as "a true leader and role model," saying her service is a true credit to the United Nations as a whole.

Thursday's events formed the annual observance of the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, which falls on May 29. 
Stormy Daniels Praised For 'Taking Down' Donald Trump After Guilty Verdict: 'The Savior of America'

Former adult film star Stormy Daniels is receiving praise online for the role she played in the hush money criminal trial which just saw to the conviction of former President Donald Trump.

In a conviction that is considered to be a historic first, Trump was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records. A jury of seven men and six women from New York deliberated for two days before coming to a decision.

Trump has since spoken out on the verdict, branding it a disgrace and implying his intention to appeal the ruling as he has done for previous cases.

Stormy Daniels Branded 'Savior Of America' After Donald Trump's Guilty Verdict

Since Trump's guilty verdict was revealed, netizens took to X, formerly Twitter, to praise former adult film star Daniels, noting how instrumental she was in the hush money trial.

Daniels, who had received the $130,000 hush money for which Trump has now been convicted after falsifying business records, took to the stand during the trial on two occasions to testify.

As expected, Daniels' testimony was filled with scandalous details about her sexual encounter with the ex-president, which many believe helped put the nail in the coffin of Trump's criminal case.

"The utter catharsis of Stormy Daniels taking down Trump after getting slut-shamed on the witness stand," Laura Bassett, a columnist for The Cut, wrote on X.

MEGA

Another X account said, "Donald Trump wanted Stormy Daniels to f--k him. She f--ked him alright," alluding to the outcome of the hush money trial.

A third person joked, "Stormy Daniels!!!!! Thanks for taking one (inch) for the team!"

"Stormy Daniels. The savior of America," a fourth person proclaimed.

One more X user said, "It must be said that Stormy Daniels is a f--king icon: funny, unapologetic, and now a woman who helped convict former President Toadstool. SLAY."

Stormy Daniels Received Death Threats From MAGA Supporters

MEGA

Before the guilty verdict was revealed, Daniels claimed that she was the subject of increased death threats from emboldened Trump supporters who did not bother to hide their identities.

"Back in 2018, there was stuff like 'liar,' 'slut,' 'gold digger.' This time around, it's different. It is direct threats. It is 'I'm going to come to your house to slit your throat,'" Daniels said in the documentary, per The Mirror.

Daniels added that "they're not even using bot accounts" to threaten her; "they're using their real accounts."

"I compare them to suicide bombers," she stated. "They legitimately think that what they're doing is right. Those people who see me as a villain. It just makes me scratch my head and really question how they would want their daughters treated, or their sisters, or their mother."

She also read out some examples of the unpleasant messages she'd received from her critics.

One stated, "Even if you'd have been raped, you should have kept your mouth quiet for the greater good," as another text read, "You're nothing but a fat hillbilly, Trump would never touch you, stop lying, before I'm forced to shut you up myself."

The Former President Was Found Guilty Of 34 Felony Counts

MEGA

On Thursday, May 30, the jury in Trump's hush money trial found him guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide payments made to former adult film star Daniels.

The jury pronounced the verdict after deliberating for only two days. The hush money trial was filled with dramatic moments, including multiple outbursts from the presumptive Republican presidential nominee about the gag order placed on him at the start of the criminal trial.

The jury's shocking verdict makes Trump the first president in history to be convicted of a crime.

Trump's sentencing hearing is now set for 10 am, July 11, 2024. He faces up to four years in prison, but as a first-time offender, the billionaire mogul might be given a lighter sentence, which could include a fine and probation.

Donald Trump Calls His Guilty Verdict A 'Disgrace'

MEGA

Trump was very vocal in his condemnation of the guilty verdict in his hush money trial, claiming it was orchestrated by President Joe Biden to "hurt" him.

"Our whole country is being rigged right now," Trump stated after the trial. "This was done by the Biden administration in order to wound, to hurt an opponent. A political opponent."

He added, "And I think it's just a disgrace, and we'll keep fighting, we'll fight till the end, and we'll win because our country has gone to hell. We don't have the same country anymore, we have a divided mess."

Donald Trump Says It Was A 'Rigged Decision'

MEGA

Still, in his statement, the ex-president emphasized that Judge Juan Merchan should never have been allowed to preside over the historic criminal trial, branding him "conflicted."

Trump said, "We are a nation in decline, serious decline of people pouring into our country right now. From prisons and mental institutions. Terrorists, and they're taking over our country."

He noted, "We have a country that's in big trouble, but this was a rigged decision right from day one, with a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case. Never!"

The 77-year-old concluded his statement: "We will fight for our constitution. This is far from over. Thank you very much."
MANHATTAN, N.Y. (PIX11)  Thousands of people will march up Fifth Avenue in Manhattan on Sunday to demonstrate support for the people of Israel during the annual Celebrate Israel parade.

The parade will be held on Fifth Avenue between 52nd and 74th streets. It starts at 11:30 a.m.

Major BQE closure this weekend: What to know

For security purposes related to ongoing protests over the Hamas-Israel War, the NYPD will block people from entering the parade on the west side of Fifth Avenue. Spectators will be allowed to line the east side of the street.

Pro-Palestinian protesters have disrupted several other major New York City traditions in recent months, including the Thanksgiving Day parade. While the NYPD says there are no credible threats to the parade, police are stepping up security out of an abundance of caution.

The following streets are expected to be closed at the discretion of the NYPD:

5th Avenue between 52nd Street and 55th Street

West 52nd Street between 6th Avenue and 5th Avenue

East/West 52nd Street between Park Avenue and 6th Avenue

East/West 53rd Street between Park Avenue and 6th Avenue

East/West 54th Street between Park Avenue and 7th Avenue

East/West 55th Street between Park Avenue and 6th Avenue

East/West 56th Street between Park Avenue and 6th Avenue

5th Avenue between 52nd Street and 74th Street

5th Avenue between 74th Street and 79th Street

East 74th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue

East 75th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue

East 76th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue

East 77th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue

East 78th Street between 5th Avenue and Madison Avenue

Ben Mitchell is a digital content producer from Vermont who has covered both local and international news since 2021. He joined PIX11 in 2024. 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 PIX11.
Teachers across the country are reporting an increase in physical violence and verbal harassment by students, according to a new study released Thursday by the American Psychological Association.

The data shows its become a problem after the pandemic.

The group heard from thousands of educators through two surveysone in 2020, asking about what educators experienced pre-pandemic, and another in 2022.

This month, in our series Teachers under Attack, 9 Investigates has revealed the harsh realities teachers are facing in the classroom.

Read: What Florida teachers told 9 Investigates about violence in the classroom

In our exclusive survey, we heard from more than 8,000 teachers nationwide. 2,500 of them teach in Florida. Many of them told us, theyre afraid to go to school and have considered quitting because of violence from students.

Ive been hit and kicked, pushed a lot, pinched, bitten, scratched. I have had things thrown at me a lot, said Brevard County teacher Christa Luke.

Luke agrees the violence in schools has only gotten worse.

Shes been a teacher for more than 20 years. Shes taught in Brevard County Public Schools for 10 of those.

Read: Florida lawmakers respond to survey that shows over half of educators have faced violence at school

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

9 Investigates gathered comments from teachers across Central Florida.

She said the increased violence has pushed her-- at some points-- to consider quitting the profession.

It was like a volatile storm every single day, on top of the crazy amounts of paperwork that I had to do and the actual trying to actually teach and caring, Luke said. Its like being abused every day.

Despite having supportive staff and administrators, Luke said she asked her supervisor for a different position at her school-- because of the violence. Now, shes taking it year-by-year on whether shell stay in the profession.

According to the study, 42% of teachers surveyed reported at least one attack prior to the pandemic. That number rose to 56% by the time pandemic restrictions were lifted.

Dr. Susan McMahon helped lead the study. Shes the chair of the American Psychological Association task force on Violence against Educators and School Personnel. McMahon believes the increase in violence is caused by stresses produced by the pandemic.

With going remote and teaching online, and then you combine that with learning losses, all of the challenges that we experienced in during the pandemic with loss of life and stress-- think that those kinds of things contributed to an overall, even more challenging time in schools, McMahon said.

Teachers are also reporting more verbal attacks by students.

Pre-pandemic, 65% of teachers surveyed reported verbal harassment or threatening behavior from a student. By 2022, 80 percent of teachers reported it.

I get called an idiot by, you know, on a daily basis, in other things that you cant see on camera, Luke said. I might be doing breakfast duty and saying, hey, we cant go there or clean up your mess and it becomes a tirade.

The study found the verbal harassment isnt only caused by students-- but parents too!

Pre-pandemic, 53% of teachers surveyed reported at least one incident of verbal harassment or threatening behavior from a parent or guardian.

By 2022, 63% of teachers reported it.

McMahon says verbal harassment and threatening behavior can include intimidation, bullying, threats, or even sexual harassment.

You just have some parents who are like, my kid wouldnt do that or, well, what did the teacher do? The big thing is that teachers are looked at as the enemies, Luke said.

The study found parents bad behavior towards teachers have gone beyond verbal harassment. Prior to the pandemic, only 1 percent of teachers reported violent encounters with parents. That number jumped to 26% post-pandemic.

McMahon says the data points to the need for schools to develop relationships with parents.

Survey: Majority of Florida teachers say not enough resources to combat student violence

In our exclusive nationwide survey, two-thirds of the teachers surveyed blame lack of parent involvement or discipline as a key factor in student behavior.

McMahon added there also needs to be more awareness about the violence teachers experience.

If we can recognize whats going on for them, we might be able to have more empathy and might be less likely to lash out when theres an issue, McMahon said.

Teachers need support from parents. Were on the same side, Luke said.

Read: Survey: 60% of teachers are afraid to go to school

As weve reported earlier in our series, 58 percent of Florida teachers who took our survey said they have considered retiring or quitting because of the violence.

The study by the APA is reporting a large amount as well.

McMahon says they found teachers are feeling unprepared for the violence and harassment they experience. She said all of this points to the fact policy changes are urgently needed from the school districts to the state level. Teachers consistently asked for more training in de-escalation strategies, threat assessments, and trauma-informed strategies.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
The News

Donald Trump is a convicted felon.

Benjys view

When it comes to predicting the political fallout from any Trump crisis, I will defer to Socrates: I know that I know nothing.

The safe bet is usually to assume voters have relatively fixed opinions on Trump and that any story that normally would destroy another politician has little impact. That feels like a cop out, though: Its not every day a former president is convicted of nearly three-dozen felonies, and theres reason to ask whether this might be different.

Lets start with one data point that Im not too impressed with: Polling around the conviction. The numbers arent consistent, but there are at least some surveys showing a small but significant percentage of committed Trump voters would withdraw their support if he were found guilty of a felony. Hypotheticals are tough to poll in general, and whether conscious or not, partisans are very likely to come home after a scandal  if they leave in the first place  just as they did after the Access Hollywood tape in 2016. Even less useful: Polls that ask voters whether they are more likely or less likely to vote based on an issue, which rarely say much about the overall state of the race.

A better reason to think there might be a real shift are the people who havent been paying close attention to the trial, or who have only a vague sense of Trumps legal problems as an issue, or who assumed that Trump would easily survive his various charges.

These low-engagement voters look like the main characters in this election and the news could be a shock to the system that plays out in unpredictable ways  especially when his sentencing is set to take place on July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention, providing another high-drama moment just as they might be starting to tune in even more to the race.

As Democratic pollster Will Jordan noted after the verdict, a survey this month from Navigator Research found only 36% of voters and just 30% of independents believed Trump would ever be convicted of crime, let alone the Manhattan trial. And despite widespread cable coverage, a CBS/YouGov poll found only 39% of independents had heard a lot about the case. In both polls, those numbers were notably far below the majorities who thought Trump was likely guilty of a crime.

I think one thing we see with disengaged voters is a sense of Oh, if its really so bad why hasnt he been convicted of anything? Leah Greenberg, co-founder of the liberal grassroots group Indivisible, told Semafor. Well, now he has been convicted of something.

In theory, piercing that Teflon Don image could feed into a variety of concerns beyond the underlying charges. In 2016, the idea that Hillary Clinton might be hampered by legal issues as president  and not just the substance of the legal issues themselves  was considered a drag with swing voters, especially when James Comey reopened the FBI investigation right before the election. Seeing Trump convicted and sentenced (even if jail is unlikely this time), could affirm that the long queue of pending trials over more severe allegations are worth taking seriously.

It wont be a public opinion earthquake, Sarah Longwell, a Trump critic on the right known for her focus groups with swing voters, said on X. But in an election where inches will matter, this just created a new barrier for undecided swing voters: voting for a convicted felon.

It may take time for this to play out. Low-information voters take the longest time to get and process new facts, but several polling experts also warned that the initial surveys after the verdict could also be distorted. Partisans will be fired up and that could lead to differential response rates in polls: Trump haters might be eager to pick up that phone and answer questions about a conviction; Trump fans might be annoyed and hang up or they might be even likelier to pick up the phone to vent.

Public opinion doesnt form in a vacuum, though, and one of the biggest question marks going forward is how much Democrats decide to center Trumps conviction and potential future legal peril in their campaign messaging.

Whether out of political calculation, a sense of duty, or learned helpness, the Biden campaign has typically ignored Trumps legal problems in favor of issues like abortion, health care, and democracy writ large. Their response on Thursday was more direct, but still relatively muted. Its not clear that will change going forward the party is still split on the relative upside of raising on this issue. One Democratic strategist told Semafor a recent focus group of female swing voters had found a Trump conviction might help them decide on Biden as the lesser of two evils and they suggested outside groups might eventually start running advertising on that basis.

Meanwhile, Republicans are far louder in accusing the entire justice system of corruptly persecuting Trump, a theme the newly convicted nominee pounds on a daily basis.

There are risks to these approaches: Polls show voters still suspect Trumps guilt despite his martyrdom claims; the same polls still show Biden losing to Trump despite focusing on infrastructure over indictments. Swing voters will be hearing more from both sides as the election nears, and the bets theyre each placing on their response will matter in shaping their views.

Notable

For more on the Trump verdict, check out Semafor Signals, which is gathering reactions and insight in response to this breaking story.
Sun Country Airlines has settled a lawsuit filed by a former employee accusing the Minneapolis-based carrier of humiliating and retaliatory treatment for pumping breast milk on the job.

Hani Ali, represented by St. Paul-based Gender Justice, filed a lawsuit against the airline in November, alleging Sun Country violated the state's Human Rights Act and Women's Economic Security Act. Ali said the toxic environment got so bad she had to quit within months of being hired as a customer service agent at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

Through a jury trial, Ali was seeking compensation for lost wages, emotional distress and mental anguish, and an injunction to ensure Sun Country and other airlines do not subject new parents to similar mistreatment.

"The parties have resolved the case in a manner that is satisfactory to both parties," Sun Country and Gender Justice announced in a joint statement. "The parties are proud to say that Sun Country has committed to implement nursing mother accommodations beyond those required under federal and state law, including a new lactation space."

Ali joined Sun Country in September 2021 shortly after giving birth. According to the complaint filed in Hennepin County courts, during her training, a Sun Country manager told her to use the baggage storage office when she needed to pump.

The claim states supervisors who were aware that Ali was instructed to use the office did not inform other supervisors and employees. When she began work and used the office, Ali said a male coworker was staring at her through a window. The man claimed he kept looking at Ali even though her chest was exposed because she did not have a badge and "he needed to verify who she was," according to the complaint.

The coworker left and brought back a male manager, who told her to use a public bathroom. The two men then filed a complaint with the company's human resources department against Ali, and she was told she could no longer enter the baggage claim office for any reason. Ali said she began using the airport's public lactation room, but the wait for availability and moving through security checkpoints took up to an hour.

Ali said she was instructed to take fewer and shorter pumping breaks. She also said supervisors stopped scheduling her to work inside the terminal  which was closer to the only place she could pump. When she asked one supervisor why she wasn't assigned inside the terminal, she was told it was because of her pumping.

"In Minnesota, nursing and pumping parents have a legal right to be supported and protected against discrimination on the job, and Minnesota employers have a legal responsibility to protect them and provide the basic accommodations they need," said Sara Jane Baldwin, senior staff attorney for Gender Justice.

Ali stated she repeatedly requested Sun Country's human resources team to intervene, but saw no improvements. She resigned in March 2022.

Prior to the settlement, Sun Country denied in court filings several assertions and legal allegations in Ali's complaint, which the airline's attorneys said did not have enough facts to meet the legal requirements for a lawsuit.

Dorsey & Whitney, a Minneapolis law firm representing Sun Country, declined to comment. Sun Country officials declined to make further comments.
Auroras could appear over the next week as solar activity increases

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Colorful auroras could appear again soon over parts of the United States  including northern and upper Midwest states from New York to Idaho  due to a solar storm that may affect Earth, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Space Weather Prediction Center.

The center, a division of the National Weather Service, issued a modern geomagnetic storm watch, known as a G2, for Friday and Saturday. Unlike the G5, or extreme geomagnetic storm, that occurred on May 10, moderate storm watches are not uncommon, according to the center.

But the aurora-causing solar flares and coronal mass ejections currently spewing from the sun are a result of the same sunspots that triggered solar activity in May, according to Dr. Ryan French, solar physicist at the National Solar Observatory in Boulder, Colorado.

Coronal mass ejections are large clouds of ionized gas called plasma and magnetic fields that erupt from the suns outer atmosphere. When these outbursts are directed at Earth, they can cause geomagnetic storms, or major disturbances of Earths magnetic field.

As the sun nears solar maximum  the peak in its 11-year cycle, expected this year  it becomes more active, and researchers have observed increasingly intense solar flares erupting from the fiery orb.

Increased solar activity causes auroras that dance around Earths poles, known as the northern lights, or aurora borealis, and southern lights, or aurora australis. When the energized particles from coronal mass ejections reach Earths magnetic field, they interact with gases in the atmosphere to create different colored lights in the sky.

The sun rotates on its axis once every 27 days, which scientists have learned by tracking sunspots. These dark regions, some of which can reach the size of Earth or larger, are driven by the stars strong and constantly shifting magnetic fields.

The northern lights were visible over Rochester, New York, on May 11. - Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

The large, complex clusters of sunspots on the suns surface that drove increased solar activity in May have survived their rotation around the sun. The European Space Agencys Solar Orbiter mission, currently studying the backside of the sun, was able to monitor the progress of the sunspots while they were out of view of Earths telescopes.

Now, the sunspots are returning to the side of the sun facing Earth, which means the chances for dazzling auroral displays could increase over the next week, experts say.

The birth of solar storms

While its typical for sunspot clusters to survive two to three rotations around the sun, they typically decay after one rotation and become less active, French said.

The sunspot cluster coming back around now is still capable of producing X-class flares, the largest of solar flares, but the frequency appears to have decreased, he said.

French observed two X-class flares per day for about six days in May.

Its probably the highest cluster of X-class flares that weve had in a couple of decades, French said. This current solar cycle seems to be more active than the 2014 peak, but not as active as the 2003 peak.

The sunspots responsible for the May 10 solar storm began much larger (left) before they completed a rotation around the sun. Now, the sunspots (right) have reappeared and are less complex, solar physicist Dr. Ryan French said. - Ryan French/Solar Dynamics Observatory

Now, the sunspots are producing flares every two days, so the frequency has gone down, and the complexity of the sunspot cluster has decreased, French said.

Earth is predicted to just catch the very edge of the coronal mass ejection currently en route, French said.

The sunspots will face Earth in a more direct way between Tuesday and Thursday, French said.

Any larger eruptions during that time, and a few days outside of that window, could cause an eruption heading our way and that could cause a geomagnetic storm, French said. The frequency of things is decreasing, but you only need one to cause a large geomagnetic storm. Whether that one will be large enough to cause something matching what we saw in mid-May I think is unlikely.

Keep an eye out for auroras during that Tuesday to Thursday window as well as a few days after it, French said. The auroras could be visible to millions, but the locations depend on if any coronal mass ejections affect Earth.

A panel of experts typically declare the peak of solar maximum well after it has passed, so scientists cant say whether solar maximum is occurring right now. But an increased chance of solar activity is expected over the next two years, French said.

The thing about solar cycles is sometimes they kind of have a twin peak, said Shawn Dahl, service coordinator for the Space Weather Prediction Center. Sometimes the (suns) southern hemisphere or the northern hemisphere will kind of peak first.

Near the peak of solar maximum, sunspots tend to gather around the equator. But the sunspot clusters that have been active over the past month were in the northern and southern hemispheres of the sun, Dahl noted.

While scientists can track active sunspot clusters, others could appear at any time during the lead-up to solar maximum.

We can have a new sunspot group emerge right in front of us, Dahl said. We have no way of knowing thats about to happen until we see it. Thats just the way its going to be over the course of this year all the way through next year and even into 2026.

Lessons learned from solar storms

The May 10 storm was a historic one, but fortunately it didnt reach the level of the Carrington Event of 1859, which caused telegraph stations to spark and catch fire and remains the most intense geomagnetic storm ever recorded.

Before May 10, the last G5 storm to hit Earth occurred in 2003, resulting in power outages in Sweden and damaging power transformers in South Africa.

Since then, governments have taken measures with legislation, research and operations to mitigate the potentially negative impacts of solar storms, Dahl said.

The solar storm on May 10 was the most successfully mitigated space weather storm in history, Dahl said.

All this work and preparation led to this moment, and the nation could not have been any more prepared for a space weather storm, he said.

With these events, theres always a chance that communications, the electric power grid, navigation, and radio and satellite operations will be affected. During the May 10 storm, power grid and satellite operators kept satellites in order and properly in orbit and managed the buildup of intense geomagnetic currents on the grid systems.

Extreme solar storms can cause Earths atmosphere to swell, which changes the level of drag that satellites experience, so its more difficult for operators to keep them within their specific trajectories, according to the European Space Agency.

There were a lot of effects that people arent going to hear about because things were successfully mitigated where we werent seeing direct impacts as much, Dahl said.

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Election Judge Benda Roy processes ballots for the presidential primaries on Super Tuesday at the Denver Elections Division in Denver, March 5, 2024. (Kevin Mohatt for Colorado Newsline)

The Republicans running to represent Colorados 4th Congressional District on Thursday broadly expressed willingness to support presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trumps plans for mass deportations of Americas 11 million undocumented immigrants  even as they ducked questions about the specifics of carrying out such a program and repeated false claims about a link between immigration and crime.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, who has moved across the state and switched to the 4th District race after nearly losing her 2022 bid for reelection in the 3rd District, which she still represents, described the entry of migrants from Central and South America, many of whom are refugees lawfully seeking asylum, as an invasion, echoing Trumps rhetoric.

We need President Trump back in office to ultimately see this through, Boebert said during a debate hosted by 9News. But I take this so seriously that I led the charge to impeach Joe Biden for his dereliction of duty at the southern border.

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The winner of the June 25 Republican primary in the 4th District will be heavily favored to win election in November to the seat previously held by former U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, who resigned from office in March. Before then, the district, which encompasses Douglas County and much of Colorados Eastern Plains, will be represented by the winner of a special election, also on June 25, contested by Democrat Trisha Calvarese and Republican Greg Lopez, a self-described placeholder candidate.

Running against Boebert in the 4th District GOP primary are former state Sen. Jerry Sonnenberg, a 16-year statehouse veteran who has been endorsed by many Republican insiders; state Rep. Richard Holtorf of Akron; state Rep. Mike Lynch of Wellington; Deborah Flora, a conservative talk radio host; and Peter Yu, a finance and mortgage consultant.

All six candidates indicated through a show of hands at the start of Thursdays debate that they would continue to support Trump, who was hours earlier convicted by a New York jury on 34 felony fraud charges related to a scheme to influence the outcome of the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn star.

Trump has vowed that on the first day of his second presidential term he would begin the largest domestic deportation operation in American history, and laid out plans in an April interview with Time magazine to use local police departments and the U.S. military to carry out his program.

Trump has frequently compared the scope of his plans to a 1954 U.S. government operation named after a racial slur for Mexican-Americans, which deported an estimated 1.1 million people to Mexico. The crackdown resulted in conditions on trains, trucks and cargo ships that a later congressional investigation likened to slave ships and led to the deaths of at least 88 deportees.

Boebert and other Republican hopefuls mostly declined during Thursdays debate to offer detailed plans for how such a mass deportation effort would be carried out in Colorado communities.

Bringing in out-of-state national guardsmen or the U.S. military in Douglas County  do you feel like that would work? moderator Kyle Clark asked Flora.

Not into Douglas County. Thats not what Im talking about, Flora said. What I mentioned is to secure our border  that is what is required.

When it comes right down to it, (the) mass deportation that Im talking about is shipping the ones that have been bused into Denver, busing them back out, said Sonnenberg. Absolutely, I would use the police, I would use the National Guard.

The number of undocumented immigrants in Colorado was estimated at 190,000 by the American Immigration Council in 2020. The number has likely grown recently with the arrival of over 40,000 new migrants in Denver since December 2022, although city officials say that roughly half have moved on to other cities and that the influx has slowed dramatically in recent months.

Sonnenberg baselessly claimed that those recently arrived migrants arent the ones working and instead are the ones causing the crime to go up in Denver in the area around. Decades of research has shown that immigrants, including undocumented immigrants, are far less likely to commit crimes than people born in the U.S.  and rates of violent and property crimes in the Denver area have in fact been on a sustained decline since late 2022, when unusually high numbers of migrants began arriving.

Boeberts electability

Boebert sent shockwaves through Colorado politics when she announced her district switch in late December, amid mounting fears that she would lose a rematch with Democratic challenger Adam Frisch in the 3rd District. Frisch, who shattered fundraising records while campaigning against the nationally-known and highly controversial Boebert, came just 546 votes short of victory in the 2022 race.

The 4th District is Colorados most conservative congressional district, with 58% of voters in the district having backed Trump in the 2020 election, compared to 39.5% for Biden. But a majority of Boeberts opponents said Thursday night that they feared that nominating her could imperil Republicans chances of holding the seat.

I do think it is vulnerable. I think the day (when that would) never happen in Colorado is long gone, Flora said. And I think its time that we have someone in this seat  which is one of the reasons why Im running  where we can rebuild the party, where we can make it the big tent again.

We just want people who are elected who actually represent our values, Boebert replied. I do not believe that I will make this seat vulnerable. This is a Republican district, and they want a Republican who has a 100% conservative voting record, as I do.

Boebert, who has been endorsed by House Republican leadership and enjoys a substantial fundraising advantage over her rivals, was the frequent target of attacks throughout the debate. Lynch, while responding to a question about his 2022 drunk driving arrest  the revelation of which earlier this year led to his ouster as House minority leader  made an oblique reference to theater incidents or anything else that was embarrassing to folks.

Boebert made national headlines last year when she and a companion were escorted out of Denvers Buell Theatre after patrons complained that they were vaping and causing a disturbance.

I owned up to my night out in Denver, and you know, Ive gone on that public apology tour, she said Thursday night. Im grateful for the mercy and grace that has been shown.

Holtorf doubled down on comments he made earlier this month when he told a conservative radio host that Boebert dresses like a sex worker.

I raised five daughters, Holtorf said during the debate. And Ill tell you what, women in my humble opinion, particularly if theyre a congresswoman, need to dress respectfully and professionally.

Holtorf was responding to questions about his history of controversial comments, including referring to a Black colleague at the Legislature as Buckwheat, and telling another lawmaker, whose son was killed in the 2012 Aurora theater shooting, You have to let go.

Most people know that Im a straight, no-nonsense conservative, Holtorf said. And I say things that oftentimes are misinterpreted or misunderstood.

Primary ballots will be mailed to Colorado voters beginning June 3.

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PRINCETON, WV (WVNS)  A milestone in robotic-assisted surgery was achieved by a surgeon at WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital.

WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital (PCH) general surgeon, Gene B. Duremdes, M.D., M.B.A., F.A.C.S., finished his 1,000th case using the da Vinci robotic surgical system. Dr. Duremdes completed his medical school training and residency at West Virginia University School of Medicine in Morgantown, and became a general surgeon at PCH in 1993.

Pocahontas County student chosen as statewide Kids Kick Opioids contest winner

For ten years, Dr. Duremdes used the da Vinci system to perform surgeries such as anti-reflux surgery, colorectal surgeries, and hernia repairs. Surgeries performed using the da Vinci robotic system resulted in patients spending less time in the hospital compared to traditional open surgery and laparoscopic surgery.

Robotic-assisted surgeries done by Dr. Duremdes in the last year showed that the average length of a hospital stay for patients after robotic-assisted colon resection surgery was less than the published national data averages for laparoscopic surgery and traditional open surgery.

The average hospital stay lasted two days for robotic-assisted colon resection surgeries performed by Dr. Duremdes, compared to five days for laparoscopic surgery, and eight days for traditional open surgery.

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Not only does the robotic-assisted surgery help decrease the amount of time patients spend in the hospital, it also helps reduce the amount of complications.

National data shows the complication rate for laparoscopic surgery is 16%, versus 32% for traditional open surgery. Reports from Dr. Duremdes showed that there were no complications in the last year from colon resections performed with robotic-assisted surgery.

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Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), one of the Senates most prominent and respected moderate Republicans, came to former President Trumps defense Thursday by criticizing the political underpinnings of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs (D) decision to prosecute Trump.

Collins was one of seven Senate Republicans to vote to convict Trump on the impeachment charge of inciting insurrection in 2021 and said earlier this year she would not endorse Trump, even if he won the GOP nominee for president.

But Collins argued that Trumps conviction by a Manhattan jury on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records raises serious concerns.

It is fundamental to our American system of justice that the government prosecutes cases because of alleged criminal conduct regardless of who the defendant happens to be. In this case the opposite has happened. The district attorney, who campaigned on a promise to prosecute Donald Trump, brought these charges precisely because of who the defendant was rather than because of any specified criminal conduct, she said in a statement.

The political underpinnings of this case further blur the lines between the judicial system and the electoral system, and this verdict likely will be the subject of a protracted appeals process, she warned.

During a 2018 interview, Collins said she didnt know much about the circumstances of the hush money payments Trump paid to porn actor Stormy Daniels through his lawyer Michael Cohen.

Well, I dont know the circumstances of it, she said when asked about Trumps affair with Daniels told CNN at the time. In some ways this sounds like an issue thats between the president and Mrs. Trump. It doesnt seem to be a workplace issue, as far as I know.

Collins is one of many Senate Republicans who have a lot riding on the outcome of the 2024 election with Trump atop the GOP ticket.

If Republicans regain the Senate majority, she would be in line to chair the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee.

The senior senator from Maine is highly respected by colleagues on both sides of the aisle for her thorough study and careful deliberation of weighty issues. She was the pivotal vote in deciding whether to confirm Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court after he was accused by Christine Blasey Ford of committing sexual assault decades earlier.

Other members of Maines delegation defended the jurys guilty verdict against Trump.

Today in New York City an event took place that was historic: a former President found guilty on felony charges  an incredibly consequential decision after weeks of evidence and testimony. However, the event was also a typical day in courthouses across the country 12 men and women, from all walks of life, coming together to do their civic duty. As we face a world of uncertainties and conflict, the infrastructure of our shared American identity remains sturdy so long as we are vigilant in remembering our founding principles, including equal justice under the law, Independent Sen. Angus King (Maine) said in a statement Thursday.

Democratic Rep. Chellie Pingree (Maine) called for colleagues and constituents to have faith in what she called an important exercise in the rule of law.

I am grateful for the fortitude and courage of the jurors who spent many long days fulfilling their civic duty. While our country is facing many challenges, now is a moment to have some faith in our democracy and this important exercise of the rule of law, she said in a statement.

Updated at 9:02 a.m. EDT

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The only thing that was more fun yesterday than watching the Trump verdict come in was watching Republicans and assorted right-wingers sputter in outrage. I flipped on Fox News not long after the verdict was announced and caught Jeanine Pirro in the middle of an unhinged rant. We have gone over a cliff in America, she howled, concluding: And in the end, with all this smoke and mirrors, at 34 counts, and a hooker, and a guy [who] according to a federal judge is a serial perjurer, we have convicted a former president of the United States of America.



In a way, she got that last part right, even if her description of Stormy Daniels is unfair. But yes, Jeanine: Thats how the legal system works. If a jury returns 34 guilty counts in less than 10 hours of deliberation, its pretty clear that the prosecutor made his case. The jury of Donald Trumps peers found Daniels and Michael Cohen to be credible witnesses. That must really frost the MAGA elites on Fox. Trump lawyer Todd Blanche tried and tried to discredit them, especially Cohen. Obviously, the jury wasnt buying what he was selling.

And by the way: If Cohen and Daniels were such terrible witnesses, you know what action by the defense could have immediately canceled them out? Having Trump take the stand! He threatened that he was going to, but that was obviously bullshit, just like everything he says. Trump cant take a witness stand, as any credible lawyer knows, because he lies every time he opens his jowly mouth. But if the alternate universe they live in on Fox was real, then Trump should definitely have taken the stand, because he would have obliterated Cohen and Daniels with his righteous truth-telling.

But of course he didnt. Because every word he has said about this is a lie. He had sex with her. He paid her off. It was obviously about the 2016 campaign. Weve known all these things for years, but, the law being what it is, we had to say allegedly and if proven and things like that, and we had to print Trumps disavowals. Now we dont. He did it.

Not in that alternate universe, though. Republicans  well, you know what they did after the verdict. Especially the vice presidential supplicants. Senator Tim Scott was maybe the most extreme, but actually all of themMarco Rubio, Tom Cotton, Elise Stefanik, J.D. Vance, and morewere over the top.

That, wed expect. More interesting were the elder statespersons of the party, who are to a person moral cowards but arent exactly card-carrying MAGA-heads. Senator John Barrasso: The case in New York against President Trump has never been about justice. Democrats are weaponizing the justice system against a political opponent. Mitch McConnell: These charges never should have been brought in the first place. I expect the conviction to be overturned on appeal.

But the dumbest of them all was Susan Collinss statement, especially this part: The district attorney, who campaigned on a promise to prosecute Donald Trump, brought these charges precisely because of who the defendant was rather than because of any specified criminal conduct.

She got pounded on X/Twitter all night. Its pretty hard to say that criminal charges are corrupt and illegitimate after a jury handed down an unequivocal thunderclap of a verdict like that. We should pause for a moment and think about the contempt for the justice system inherent in Collinss words. Maybe she became disillusioned after her buddy Brett Kavanaugh voted to overturn Roe.

Her smear of Alvin Bragg is a common one on the right. The reality is more complicated. Bragg was running for district attorney in 2021. Of course, Trump came up during the campaigna lot. The incumbent D.A. at the time, Cy Vance, had opened an investigation into the Trump Organization. So naturally, Bragg and his main opponent were frequently asked what theyd do about Trump. And Bragg did boast about his prior work in the office of the state attorney general bringing hundreds of actions against Trump. But he did not say he was going to pursue Trump, and the campaign also turned on other issues.

And when Bragg did take office, what did he do? He ended the Trump Organization probe that Vance had opened. Two of his top prosecutors resigned in disgust over it. That probe was taken up by Letitia James, and it resulted, as we know, in a judge ruling that Trump had committed fraud for years and levying a hefty fine.

One has to wonder why Collins went out of her way to make this kind of statement. Maine isnt exactly MAGA-land. Shes probably in her last term. On a personal level, Trump probably has very little use for her, and she probably doesnt care much for him. So  why?

Because the cancer runs so deep now in the organs of the Republican Party that no officeholder is cancer-free. Did one GOP officeholder say we should respect the jury system? Yes, I know of Larry Hogans statement. But he is not currently an officeholder, with constituents to offend. And look at what Trumps campaign manager said in response to Hogan. That guarantees that no one else will try to say anything measured.

The party is an appendage of one man. Republicans want to talk about banana republics? They are the Banana Republicans. This is like Argentina under Peron or the Philippines under Marcos.

And to what manner of man are they appended? Lets review. Hes a rapistyes, a judge used that word and said it was accurate, after, remember, another jury of Trumps peers ruled against him. Hes a massive tax cheat. Six of his political associates, plus Allen Weisselberg (and Cohen, if you want to count him), have been sentenced to prison. Three took plea deals to avoid prison. And now, hes a convicted felon.

The emperor is stripped barer and barer with each passing month, and the Republican response is to praise his finery more passionately than ever.

This article first appeared in Fighting Words, a weekly TNR newsletter authored by editor Michael Tomasky. Sign up here.




Players of Japan celebrate winning the preliminary match between China and Japan at the Women's Volleyball Nations League 2024 Macao in Macao, south China on May 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Lui Sui Wai)

MACAO, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Japan beat China 25-22, 19-25, 25-18, 25-17 in the FIVB Women's Volleyball Nations League (VNL) on Friday night.

China won the second set after losing the first one, but Japan took two sets in a row locking the victory.

Japan's captain Sarina Koga scored a game-high 25 points, while China's Li Yingying got 23 points.

"We played relatively passive in the whole game and did not have a good rhythm," said Li after the match, adding that the defense of Japan was tenacious, and there were many high-quality saves.

After the match, Japan narrowed the points gap with China, moving up from eighth to seventh, while China remained sixth in the world rankings.

In the other two matches on Friday, Thailand defeated France 3-2 and the Netherlands beat the Dominican Republic 3-1.

China will take on Thailand on Saturday. 
Suspect accused of exposing, touching himself while watching shoppers at Abilene stores arrested

ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  A suspect accused of touching himself inappropriately while watching shoppers at multiple Abilene stores has been arrested.

Jacory Dearis Brown was taken into custody for Indecent Exposure Thursday in connection to the allegations.

Court documents reveal a victim was shopping on Walmart on Southwest Drive May 26 when she noticed a suspect, later identified as Brown, lingering in the boys section while exposing his genitals and touching himself inappropriately.

He ran from the store when she confronted him, according to the documents.

Investigators learned a similar report had been made at Kohls a few days prior, and Brown had been detained as a suspect at that scene.

The victim from Walmart was then able to identify Brown as the suspect she saw once police showed her a photo lineup.

Browns criminal history reveals he also has two convictions for Indecent Exposure in the past.

Brown now remains held in the Taylor County Jail on a $150,000 bond.

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Suspect in Chautauqua County hit-and-run found nearly one year later

Suspect in Chautauqua County hit-and-run found nearly one year later

LAKEWOOD, N.Y. (WIVB)  Police have made an arrest in a July 2023 hit-and-run in Chautauqua County.

Last year, one day after Independence Day, Lakewood-Busti police said a woman was injured after being struck by an SUV while leaving the villages Walmart. Police said the driver left the scene.

On Thursday, the police department announced the arrest of 37-year-old Clarence resident David Legg, whos been charged with reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of a personal injury accident, reckless driving and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

According to police, Legg was found in Alexandria, Virginia before being extradited to Lakewood to face charges. He was taken to the Chautauqua County Jail.

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Evan Anstey is an Associated Press Award, JANY Award and Emmy-nominated digital producer who has been part of the News 4 team since 2015. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

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MILAN  Sweden plans to acquire anti-aircraft guns for its fast-assault boats to counter drones and helicopters, as officials have warned that the Baltic Sea could become a flashpoint with Russia.

The Swedish Ministry of Defenses equipment branch, dubbed FMV, has launched a call to purchase eight anti-aircraft guns under a contract valued at over $176 million.

The weapons will be placed on the Swedish-made Combat Boat 90, a high-speed and sharp-turning assault craft for the countrys amphibious units, according to recently published tender documents. They are slated to operate in all naval geographical areas of interest, and will include 12 years worth of ammunition designed to damage aircraft.

Anti-aircraft guns can be a lower-cost alternative to missile interceptors when it comes to protecting troops against drone attacks, a scenario that has become ubiquitous in Ukraines defense against Russian attacks.

While some Russian boats are already armed with these types of air defenses, Moscow was also reported to be creating mobile anti-aircraft gun units, where each truck would be equipped with Soviet-era anti-aircraft cannons.

The Swedish procurement comes amid concerns expressed by Micael Byden, commander of the countrys armed forces, over Russias ambitions in the Baltic Sea region.

Of specific interest, he noted in a recent interview with German media network RND, is the island of Gotland, located in the middle of the Baltic Sea, around 330 kilometers from the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad.

I am confident that Putin even has both eyes on Gotland  his goal is to gain control of the Baltic Sea, and who controls Gotland controls the Baltic Sea, Byden said.

Given its tactical importance for Sweden, now a NATO member, and the wider region, the Scandinavian country has stationed permanent troops on the island.

Earlier this month, the Russian government floated plans to revise its maritime borders around the countrys islands in the Gulf of Finland and around Kaliningrad, a move that would open territorial disputes with nearby NATO members.
Russian forces attacked the village of Shestakove and the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv Oblast, injuring three people, including a volunteer from Switzerland, the Kharkiv Oblast Prosecutor Office reported on May 31.

The Swiss volunteer had come to Ukraine to help evacuate people and animals from the areas of active combat operations. He was injured on May 30 during a humanitarian mission in embattled Vovchansk and received medical treatment, the prosecutors said.

Ukrainian forces control about 70% of the town as of May 31, Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson of the Khortytsia group of forces, told Hromadske Radio. Vovchansk is described by Ukrainian officials as almost destroyed, while Russia keeps attacking other neighboring settlements, inflicting civilian casualties.

Russia reportedly attacked Shestakove in the Chuhuiv district on May 31, damaging houses and farms. Two men, aged 29 and 38, suffered injuries, the prosecutors said.

Moscow launched a new offensive on May 10 in northern Kharkiv Oblast. Moscow's forces had reportedly managed to advance as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles) into the region but had been halted by the first line of defense.

Read also: Russias latest offensive into Kharkiv Oblast is stretching Ukrainian defenses

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The former executive director of a Tacoma nonprofit offering job training to 21 member tribes was sentenced this week to five months in custody for embezzling nearly $100,000 in federal funds, court records show.

Debbie Rawle, 69, led the now-defunct Western Washington Indian Employment Training Program for several years until October 2019, a month after a division of the U.S. Department of Labor began investigating suspicious purchases from the nonprofits debit card at a Macys, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

Rawle pleaded guilty in October to embezzlement that extended beyond personal purchases made at the department store, including an above-ground swimming pool and cedar pavilion from Costco and motorcycle accessories from Amazon.

The funds used stemmed from dollars paid to the nonprofit through the Labor Departments Employment and Training Administration, Division of Indian and Native American Programs. In 2018 and 2019, the nonprofit received more than $1.4 million in federal money to provide employment and training services to eligible tribal members, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

Rawle, who agreed to pay the $99,990 back that she embezzled, was scheduled to serve her sentence at the federal detention center in Seattle, federal court records show. She was also sentenced to three years of supervised release.

Vicki Kruger, an elder with the Squaxin Island Tribe and former board member of the nonprofit, said during Rawles sentencing hearing Thursday that Rawles actions caused substantial harm and took away from money meant for tribal members to better their lives, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office.

As the former executive director of the program, Rawle violated the trust of those she served by personally enriching herself with those funds, Kruger said.

The charge Rawle pleaded guilty to  embezzlement from a program receiving federal funds  carried a sentence up to 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

Rawles defense counsel asked the court to impose only probation with requirements that she continue mental health treatment, according to a sentencing memo filed in federal court. The filing noted that Rawle faced lifelong mental health struggles and trauma, with the embezzlement occurring at her darkest period when she suffered from domestic violence, substance abuse and suicidal thoughts.

In August, her adult son died.

I carry this burden with me every waking moment and the pain equals the loss of my son. I only wish I had done things much more differently than I did, Rawle said in a statement within the memo. I ask daily for forgiveness to my higher power and from my family and a few friends that I have left.
EYEWITNESS NEWS (WBRE/WYOU)  An officer with the Tamaqua Police Department is charged with having unlawful contact with minors on Snapchat.

Tamaqua Police Department stated Officer Christopher Cordes, 29, of Bloomsburg, was arrested Friday by the Pennsylvania Attorney Generals Office on 21 charges that include child pornography and unlawful contact with a minor.

In 2023, detectives began investigating after they received information about suspicious activity on a cellphone reported by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

Through further investigation, police said Cordes was posting images of child exploitation material on Snapchat with a username haytherecowboy.

Man allegedly found with gun at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport

After a search warrant was served, investigators said they learned that Cordes had numerous messages with other users where he would profess his sexual attraction to children. As stated in the affidavit, police found Cordes had conversations with multiple minors on Snapchat and tried to solicit child pornography from the victims.

Chief Michael Hobbs of the Tamaqua Police stated in part the following regarding Cordes charges;

Our office only just became aware of this situationhowever, we are cooperating fully and we will continue to cooperate fully in the Attorney Generals investigation of Officer Cordes. We are not aware of any allegations of inappropriate activity while Officer Cordes was on duty. Micahel Hobbs, Chief of Police at the Tamaqua Police Department

Cordes has been suspended indefinitely without pay. He remains in the Columbia County Prison on a $250,000 bail.

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 PAhomepage.com.
The News

Donald Trumps criminal conviction in New York threw the Republican Party into a state of rage.

Congressional Republicans and their leaders called the verdict  guilty, on 34 different counts of falsifying business records  unAmerican, rigged, and a sham. Rivals who Trump crushed in the GOP presidential primary called it an injustice from a kangaroo court. Candidates on the 2024 ballot raced to condemn it; Maryland U.S. Senate nominee Larry Hogan, who alone urged respect for the verdict, was instantly denounced by Trump campaign manager Chris LaCivita.

As Trump left the courtroom, the WinRed donor portal preferred by Republicans crashed. Every single one of my friends has donated, said Carlos Trujillo, a former ambassador for the Trump administration. Scores of elected Republicans had pointed to the home page for Trumps joint fundraising committee, which spent millions of dollars on his legal fees this year.

Know More

The Republican reactions to the conviction of their presumptive nominee fit into five categories. Heres a taxonomy, roughly arranged by intensity  from suggesting that Trump made this problem for himself, to asking whether twelve New York jurors just ended the American experiment.

Time for plan B. In 2018, Alabama Rep. Mo Brooks lost a Senate primary after Trump allies TV ads attacked his 2016 presidential endorsement of Ted Cruz. In 2022, Brooks ran and lost again; Trump, who initially supported him, flipped and endorsed now-Sen. Katie Britt. Now retired, Brooks said that his party could do better than Trump: Keep Trump as nominee & gamble USAs future, OR Replace Trump with a good character nominee & BEAT THE STEW OUT OF BIDEN!

Brooks was on his own. Within two hours of the verdict, all but one Republican whod run against Trump for the GOP nomination  Nikki Haley  had spoken out. Just one of them suggested that the verdict was fair.

Respect the process. Two Republicans whod never disparaged the case said that they respected the verdict. Hogan, who has said he wont vote for Trump in November, urged all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process, and called on his fellow politicians not to pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. (LaCivita wasnt the only Republican who disagreed.)

Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who had said during his presidential primary bid that the party should not nominate a convicted felon, had the same basic take as Hogan. It is not easy to see a former President and the presumptive GOP nominee convicted of felony crimes; but the jury verdict should be respected, he wrote. An appeal is in order but lets not diminish the significance of this verdict.

Its a travesty. Most Republican responses denounced the verdict as an abuse of power designed to swing the 2024 election against Trump. And most of the Republicans who said that predicted that the tactic wouldnt work.

Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one. In the hour after the verdict, dozens of House Republicans posted on X with similar views, including links to the Trump donation site. Candidates for governor posted pictures of themselves with Trump, promising to fight for him.

Ohio Sen. JD Vance, who like Johnson had traveled to Manhattan to support Trump in court, wrote that Dems invented a felony to get Trump, with the help of a Soros funded prosecutor and a Biden donor Judge, who rigged the entire case to get this outcome. North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, who is considered more independent from Trump, had the same dark view of the DAs office: From the beginning, it was clear that a radical, politically-motivated state prosecutor was using the full weight of his office to go after President Trump at the same time he turned a blind eye to violent criminals.

How can I help? Texas Attorney Gen. Ken Paxton, who also traveled to Manhattan to support Trump, said mysteriously that he might use his office to help the former president. I will unleash every tool at my disposal to fight this blatant corruption and political persecution spewing from New York and the Biden administration, he wrote; Paxtons willingness to sue swing states over their handling of the 2020 election, in the hope of halting Joe Bidens victory, had deepened the bond between himself and the former president.

In the run-up to the verdict, multiple Republicans, including Vance and House Conference Chair Elise Stefanik, had called for criminal investigations into DA Alvin Bragg or ethics investigations into Judge Juan Merchan. (On Thursday, Vance told Fox News that Merchan should be subpoenaed, and asked: Did George Soros ever talk to Alvin Bragg about prosecuting Trump?) Abe Hamadeh, a Republican running for a safe House seat in Arizona, joined that chorus: Merchan needed to be disbarred and prosecuted for his role in the trial.

Its the end of democracy. Other Republicans were even more apoplectic about what the jury had done. Millions of Nazi and Imperial Japanese soldiers could not take down America but one Scumbag New York judge just did, wrote Wisconsin Rep. Derrick Van Orden, a freshman who Democrats are targeting in November.

Biden and the MARXIST CLOWNS in his NYC Circus just declared WAR ON DEMOCRACY and the American people!! wrote Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson, a former White House physician who Trump helped elect to Congress, on X. They just convicted their political opponent in order to win an election! This is no different than what happens in Communist China, North Korea, or the former Soviet Union.

In states and districts that have yet to hold primaries, the Trump verdict reaction became a differentiator. Blake Masters, whos facing Hamedeh in the race for a suburban Phoenix House seat, shared an X post from Tucker Carlson, warning that Trump would win the election if hes not killed first. That had been a refrain for part of the pro-Trump right  that the ex-presidents opponents would simply not let him win again, and would stop him by means legal or otherwise.

Thats a little tough, as a son, to read, Donald Trump, Jr. said after reading the post on Triggered, his live show on the conservative video network Rumble. Thats a little hard. But probably not wrong.

Davids view

Thirteen months ago, near the end of a candidate cattle call in South Carolina, Vivek Ramaswamy announced an emergency press conference. What Im about to say has nothing to do with Donald Trump, he explained, and everything to do with the election integrity of a self-governing democracy. Trump had just predicted that Alvin Bragg would indict him; Ramaswamy condemned that, and wanted every other GOP contender to join him.

I didnt appreciate it at the time, but this was the end of the Republican primary. You can ask Ron DeSantis: Weeks before losing the Iowa caucuses, he told the Christian Broadcasting Network that Trumps indictments sucked out all the oxygen out of the race. Hed tested whether the news could pry votes away from Trump, first joking that I dont know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star, then promising to protect Trump  I will not assist in an extradition request given the questionable circumstances at issue with this Soros-backed Manhattan prosecutor.

What explained that quick, strange turnaround? DeSantis found out that Republican voters considered the Bragg case, like all of the Trump cases, an election-rigging sham. Ramaswamy, who knew that immediately, never figured out a way around the issue either; he closed out his own campaign with the slogan Save Trump, Vote Vivek, a convoluted, podcast-ready argument that the MAGA movement needed him as a backup, in case the deep state took out Trump.

It wasnt obvious that Trump would be convicted, but it was clear that conviction wouldnt change these facts. Democrats used to panic about Hillary Clintons legal problems, worrying (correctly) that swing voters would be squeamish about electing a president under occasional threat of indictment. Republicans dont think that way about Trump. Most voters have told pollsters that Trump committed a crime, when he directed a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels to prevent her story of a sexual encounter with him from being told before the 2016 election. Republicans, almost to a man, say otherwise. Their goal isnt changing public opinion about Trump, but attacking the verdict from so many angles that those nervous voters think again.

Notable

In Slate, Jeremy Stahl reports from the courtroom, where gasps could be heard.

Elsewhere in Semafor, Shelby Talcott and Kadia Goba look at the first Democratic response: The administration, which has been careful to avoid the appearance of interference in legal affairs, is unlikely to get involved.

In New York Magazine , Gabriel Debenedetti asks whether the Biden campaign can benefit off of what, in other elections, would be a gift to an incumbent: Democrats have wrestled for years now with a broad public feeling that Trump always skates politically when it comes to his personal scandals.

In National Review, Rich Lowry agrees with Trump that the trial was basically rigged, and that Alvin Bragg failed in his duty as a prosecutor by flagrantly distorting the process to manufacture the 34 felonies he charged Trump with.
Tennesseans with epilepsy relied on state funding for transportation. Then it got cut

Liza Miggo darts over to greet her favorite customer  a tall older gentleman with a long white beard and mustache  as he picks up his order at Bad Ass Coffee in Hillsboro Village. Shes isn't working this morning in late May but loves chatting with him about old films whenever they meet.

The 22-year-old is vivacious and passionate about film  from the industry to the art of it. She took acting lessons in high school, and then dipped her toes into the world working on music videos around Nashville after high school. When looking for places to live, she knew she wanted to be close to the Belcourt Theater.

Liza Miggo, a 22-year-old Nashvillian who has epilepsy at Bad Ass Coffee in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, May 23, 2024.

But Miggo doesnt live within walking distance of the theater just because she loves it.

She chose the walkable neighborhood because she is living with myoclonic epilepsy, a condition that causes seizures and prevents her from safely driving.

I was one of the most ambitious people in high school, Miggo said. I was like, Im going to do this  move to the city and everythings going to be great  Im gonna be like Carrie Bradshaw or something.

But because of the diagnosis and the surveillance and transportation needs it entails, her life hasnt gone exactly as shed planned. Right now, she works as a barista at Bad Ass Coffee instead of the film sets she dreams of, and works to maintain a social life, despite transportation difficulties. When she needs to stock up on groceries, she occasionally calls her mother, Melissa Lagrandeur, for a ride to get things home.

Im kind of stuck  and I hate to say that its because of epilepsy, but I know that my life would be so different and amazing if I didnt have it, she said. Thats what sucks. I try not to think about that.

Melissa Lagrandeur drives her daughter Liza Miggo to her local grocery store to pick up her medication in Nashville, Tenn., Friday, May 24, 2024.

She said its hard to watch the friends she graduated high school with now graduating college and moving into careers.

The hardest thing about epilepsy is that its an invisible disease, Lagrandeur said. People dont understand when she may have some brain fog or memory loss  and all those things have been because of her medications that keep her seizure free.

But there was a bright spot. Earlier this year, Lagrandeur connected with the Epilepsy Foundation of Middle Tennessee, and Miggo was able to use the groups Uber transportation voucher program to help get around town.

[Epilepsy has] definitely affected my social life as well, being an imposition to people for rides," Miggo said. "Ive definitely lost a lot of friends, just because people move on, you know?

So, taking an Uber to meet friends or go to Target  without breaking the bank  offered Miggo a new kind of freedom. She looked into joining the YMCA, and planned to start volunteering at the humane society.

Liza Miggo, a 22-year-old Nashvillian who has Epilepsy at Bad Ass Coffee in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, May 23, 2024.

But then, state funding that supported the Epilepsy Foundations budget was cut, and the Nashville office was forced to close its doors.

It all kind of came to a screeching halt, Lagrandeur said.

'Other initiatives took priority'

Until about 10 years ago, the Tennessee Department of Health funded a statewide grant to the Epilepsy Foundation of East Tennessee that supported a range of services to support people with epilepsy. But about 10 years ago, lawmakers made the money non-recurring, and it's been that way ever since.

We were told it was an oversight or an accident, and that we would be able to get it back the following year, Epilepsy Foundation Executive Director Pam Hughes, told The Tennessean, recounting conversations with the Department of Health.

Nonrecurring funds have been added at various times over the last decade, including in 2017 and 2018. But despite efforts by Hughes, lawmakers have yet to restore any recurring funding.

In 2022 and 2023, after Hughes worked with Sen. Bo Watson, R-Hixson, and Rep. Michele Carringer, R-Knoxville, the legislature approved a $900,000 one-time grant to the Epilepsy Foundation of East Tennessee to be used equally across the three Grand Divisions of the state.

With that funding, the group was able to open offices in Memphis and Nashville, in addition to supporting work at Knoxville and Chattanooga branches. Funds supported public education initiatives  1 in 26 people will have a seizure in their lifetime  as well as services for thousands of clients statewide, including neurology appointments, diagnostic testing, transportation, seizure medications, support groups, a summer camp for kids with epilepsy, and seizure alert technology.

We have people who've been able to get out of their homes and participate in life," Hughes said. "We have people that have been able to get a job  and maintain it  because they had transportation to get to and from work."

The foundation has served 9,983 people with epilepsy in Middle and East Tennessee since July 1, 2022.

State funding also powered the program that offered $400 each month in Uber ride vouchers for people  including Miggo  to get to and from work and other engagements reliably and safely.

Hughes met with many lawmakers this year, seeking to continue the funding. But with state revenues flattening, the funding was cut.

What we were told is that other initiatives took priority, Hughes said.

Lawmakers passed a state budget that they argued had to be limited due to flattening state revenues. Despite budget constraints, lawmakers approved a massive tax cut and change to the state's franchise tax. The $1.5 billion in refunds and $400 million restructure of the tax were the largest combined new budget item this year.

Lawmakers also opted not to approve a sales tax holiday on groceries and food, as they have in recent years. In 2023, Tennesseans enjoyed a three-month holiday on those items.

Living with the decision

The Epilepsy Foundation of Middle Tennessee had to shut its doors after the state grant funding was not included in the budget, cutting two jobs.

Since we didnt get the money, we have basically had to do anything and everything so we could try to keep everything running, Hughes said, adding that shell be working to seek the funds again next year.

Liza Miggo, walks her roommates dog, Socks, in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday, May 23, 2024.

Lagrandeur received an email from the foundation in April notifying her that the Uber voucher program was terminated directly due to state funding cuts.

Miggo was devastated.

Its been tough becoming somewhat agoraphobic, especially not having the Uber rides, Miggo said. Just not being able to get anywhere by myself  I dont think people understand what a big deal that is to being an adult and having independence  I cant afford that.

Vivian Jones covers state government and politics for The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee cuts grant funding for epilepsy transportation program
Tennessees Bill Lee and Kentuckys Andy Beshear are rivals. They should work together.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear warned his residents not to travel south to Tennessee just a few weeks after the COVID pandemic emerged in the states.

The Democrat was at odds with his Republican counterpart Gov. Bill Lee over coronavirus restrictions and because Volunteer State deaths in late March 2020 numbered three times greater than in the Bluegrass State.

"We have taken very aggressive steps to try to stop or limit the spread of the coronavirus to try to protect our people, but our neighbors from the south, in many instances, are not," said Beshear, according to a story in The Louisville Courier Journal, a sister publication of The Tennessean.

Four years later, the pandemic is over, although COVID has lingered, and Beshear is coming to Tennessee on a political mission to talk at a June 21 event called Championing Reproductive Freedom" and taking on his southern neighbor's near total abortion ban on Lee's home turf.

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, left, and Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee.

As remote as the odds might sound, it would be an opportunity for Lee to offer an olive branch to Beshear on the issues they do agree upon. It sounds bonkers, perhaps, but hear me out because the Tennessee governor recently opened a door to finding common ground with his political opponents.

Can we get Lee and Beshear on stage for a 'Disagree Better' convo?

On May 14, Lee spoke on stage at the Omni Hotel in downtown Nashville with fellow Republican Gov. Spencer Cox of Utah for the National Governors Association's "Disagree Better" presentation.

Gov. Bill Lee and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox participate in a roundtable discussion for the Disagree Better Initiative at the Omni Nashville Hotel in Nashville, Tenn., for the National Governors Association, Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

Im not an expert on civility, and I dont have this figured out any more than a lot of people do  but I want to. Its very much part of what I want to be as a person, said Lee, according to a report in The Tennessean. To exercise and model this idea of treating people with equal dignity that I believe we all share  I think it can be done.

Lessons Rep. Justin J. Pearson of Tennessee Three learned from his expulsion and comeback

Cox, the NGA chair, has famously touted Disagree Better and given interviews with his Democratic counterpart Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado about how they can come together on some issues, disagree on others and still respect each other's humanity.

In fact, Cox and Polis appeared as guests on the March 27 episode of the "You Might Be Right" podcast hosted by former Tennessee governors Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, and Bill Haslam, a Republican.

Who was missing on stage with Lee for that NGA presentation was a Democrat with whom he could model thoughtful disagreement and creative ways to find common ground.

Calling your neighbor, Andy Beshear.

Contrary to popular belief, Tennessee enacted firearm safety laws. Here's what happened.

Admittedly, some topics may be difficult to broach such as abortion policy or the guilty verdict of former President Donald Trump on Thursday.

But Polis and Cox said on the podcast that governors of both political parties see common ground on the issue of housing affordability, for example. That is also true for Tennessee as it is for Kentucky.

Just as important is economic development and the investments of Ford and SK Innovations in both Kentucky and Tennessee that are creating nearly 11,000 jobs and spurring the economies of regions.

Both governors are national figures who could decrease division

Lee and Beshear would be fascinating on stage.

Both are highly partisan. Both govern in a state with Republican super majorities. Both were comfortably reelected to a second term in office.

Finally, they are both national figures.

BlueOval SK Battery Park in Glendale, the future home of Ford's electric vehicle battery production, opened its job training center Wednesday, May 8, 2024.

Lee visited the southern U.S. border with other governors who sent members of the National Guard units with the aim of providing security assistance to the U.S. Border Patrol. Immigration is the top issue facing the U.S., according to citizens polled by Gallup.

Earlier this year, Beshear created a political action committee called In This Together to "elect more Democrats in swing states and Republican strongholds," according to The Associated Press.

They have plenty to disagree on and the polarized nature of our politics and the upcoming presidential election are already disruptive and divisive.

That's why their collaboration on modeling civil discourse, respect and humanizing one another could go a long way for a majority of Americans who do not feel represented by the extremes in either party.

What civility is and what it isn't and why it matters

If our elected officials are going to discuss civility and respect, they need to model it, not just talk about it.

Nearly seven years ago, The Tennessean launched the Civility Tennessee campaign to promote, model and encourage civil discourse, and the principles have guided our editorial work since then, from the way we comment on issues to how we engage communities in Nashville and across the state of Tennessee.

Discussion of the new podcast "You Might Be Right" at the Rotary Club of Nashville, Sept. 12, 2022, at the Wildhorse Saloon. From left to right, former Gov. Phil Bredesen, Tennessean Opinion and Engagement Director David Plazas, and former Gov. Bill Haslam.

Civility is not about acquiescence, subjugation or compromising one's values. Democracy is messy and can be loud and sometimes critical. It is, however, about taking actions and steps that may be uncomfortable, but could lead to finding greater common ground, understanding and forgiveness.

Governors Haslam and Bredesen might consider inviting them on their podcast. Consider this an invitation for Lee and Beshear to appear on mine: Tennessee Voices, which emerged out of the COVID pandemic and recently exceeded 400 episodes.

Since Beshear's comments in 2020 about avoiding travel to Tennessee, neighbors have spent time getting reacquainted with each other, and it's a perfect time for a Tennessean and Kentuckian to seek to do the same.

David Plazas is the director of opinion and engagement for the USA TODAY Network Tennessee. He is an editorial board member of The Tennessean. He hosts the Tennessee Voices videocast and curates the Tennessee Voices and Latino Tennessee Voices newsletters. Call him at (615) 259-8063, email him at dplazas@tennessean.com or find him on X at @davidplazas.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee, Kentucky governors could show us a new way to do politics
A participant visits the exhibition booth of China Mobile at the 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland, May 30, 2024. The 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Global Summit began on Thursday in the Swiss capital of Geneva. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

The humanoid robot Desdemona created by Hanson Robotics is seen at the 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland, May 30, 2024. The 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Global Summit began on Thursday in the Swiss capital of Geneva. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

A participant plays chess with a chess-playing robot developed by China Mobile at the 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland, May 30, 2024. The 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Global Summit began on Thursday in the Swiss capital of Geneva. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

A participant takes photos of the robot artist Ai-Da at the 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland, May 30, 2024. The 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Global Summit began on Thursday in the Swiss capital of Geneva. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

A participant plays the violin during the AI-inspired artistic performance "Meeting of Minds" at the 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland, May 30, 2024. The 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Global Summit began on Thursday in the Swiss capital of Geneva. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

Robot artist Ai-Da draws at the 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland, May 30, 2024. The 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Global Summit began on Thursday in the Swiss capital of Geneva. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)

Participants interact with a robot for social care at the 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Global Summit in Geneva, Switzerland, May 30, 2024. The 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Global Summit began on Thursday in the Swiss capital of Geneva. (Xinhua/Lian Yi)
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn is up for reelection in 2024. (Photo: John Partipilo)

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn is up for reelection (Photo: John Partipilo)

After a New York jury convicted former President Donald Trump on 34 felony counts on Thursday, Tennessees Republican lawmakers wasted no time responding.

The historic verdict  the first time a former president has been convicted of a felony  drew outrage.

U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn posted from her campaign account on X, formerly Twitter, a two word message: WITCH HUNT. In a statement posted on the platform  one of seven tweets within an hour  she elaborated, writing If they can do this to a former President who will be the 2024 Republican nominee, they can do it to anyone. This is a sad day for the American justice system and the American people  this is what youd expect in places like Russia, China and North Korea, but not America.

In a statement, 1st Congressional District Rep. Diana Harshbarger, who traveled to New York to support Trump during his trial, called Thursday a heartbreaking day for our beloved nation.

The conviction of President Trump is an absolute travesty and a stain on our justice system. This verdict is not just an attack on President Trump; it is an attack on every American who believes in fairness and justice, Harshbarger said, predicting President Trump will be back stronger than ever.

Memphis Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen, the sole Democrat in Tennessees federal delegation, tweeted the word YES! accompanied by emojis of the scales of justice and and American flag. In a second tweet, he wrote, The rule of law, which the United States is founded upon, shone bright today. In America, no one is above the law.

"A truly horrible precedent," said Lt. Gov. Randy McNally of the Trump verdict. (Photo: John Partipilo)

State lawmakers also weighed in.

A politicized justice system does nothing to serve the American people, wrote Gov. Bill Lee on X. Voters in Tennessee and across the country recognize this verdict for what it is  a political attack  and theyll bring a change on Election Day in November.

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally called the verdict a truly horrible precedent.

No matter what you think of President Trump, this is a sad day for our nation. A politically motivated prosecution has yielded a politically desired result, wrote McNally.

Metro Councilmember Courtney Johnston, who is running against 5th District Rep. Andy Ogles in the Aug. 1 Republican primary, said in a statement, The continued weaponization of the judicial system should concern every American. Activist prosecutors continue to come after President Trump to score political points, but the American people see this for what it is. I believe the backlash will lead to a huge red wave in November.

Trump was charged by New York prosecutors with falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election in exchange for her silence about their affair.

The post Tennessee Republican lawmakers outraged by Trump guilty verdict appeared first on Tennessee Lookout.
What we saw today  as sad and as shocking as it is,  is unfortunately nothing new. For decades, the left has been using the court system to enact its radical will and to systematically transform our nation. They havent just aggressively trampled on the rights of President Trump, they have trampled on the very Constitution itself. Today was just another battle in the lefts war to destroy and transform the very foundation and fabric of America.

But the good news is the news that has been good since 1787: the Constitution is the supreme law of the United States.

And according to the Constitution, the people have a right to speak and, if we so desire, to change the course of American history.

Im confident that on Election Day  November 5, 2024  We The People will do just that.
AUSTIN (Texas Tribune)  Texas efforts to make elections more transparent allows the public  in limited instances  to pierce the anonymity of the ballot and find out how people voted, undermining the secrecy essential to free elections.

The choices voters make in the private voting booth can later be identified in some cases using public, legally available records, a review by Votebeat and The Texas Tribune found.

Since 2020, requests for such records have skyrocketed, fueled by unsubstantiated concerns about widespread voter fraud, and Texas lawmakers have supported changes to make election records easier to access soon after elections.

County elections administrators, trying to fulfill activists demands for transparency, have also made information public that can make it easier to determine how specific people voted.

An effort to link a voter to specific ballot choices is more likely to succeed in circumstances involving less populous counties, small precincts, and low-turnout elections.

What bothers me is that people cannot vote in secret in the United States, said Williamson County District Attorney Shawn Dick about the potential lapses in ballot secrecy. If peoples ballots dont remain anonymous, thats a huge affront to our system of government and our system of elections.

Several election officials said there have been concerns and ongoing discussions about the possibility of people exploiting public records and data to detect or narrow down how individuals voted, particularly in smaller counties.

And the Texas Secretary of States office has been aware that publicly available information could be used to link a particular ballot to the voter who cast it, according to sources who spoke to Votebeat and the Tribune on the condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to speak publicly on the issue. Nonetheless, state lawmakers have spent the last several years making it easier to mine voter and ballot data.

Votebeat and the Tribune were able to verify and replicate a series of steps to identify a specific persons ballot choices using public records. But to protect the secrecy of the ballot, the two news outlets are not detailing the precise information needed or the process used to match ballot images with individual voters.

Election administration experts and voter advocates say Texas lawmakers need to find a better balance between transparency and voters ballot privacy  and clarify the roles county elections administrators and the Secretary of States office play in getting there.

If we dont share this information, were not able to determine whether or not the ballot is secure, said Bob Stein, a political science professor at Rice University and an election administration expert. On the other hand, if people think that these are things that shouldnt be shared, then their confidence goes down.

Earlier this month, the independent news site Current Revolt published what it said was the image of the ballot that former Republican Party of Texas Chair Matt Rinaldi cast in the March 5 GOP primary, provided by a source it did not name.

The site did not explain in detail how its source was able to find the ballot and connect it to Rinaldi.

State and county elections offices maintain an array of election records that are available via open records requests and even published online in some instances. That includes which candidates won individual precincts, where and by which method people voted, the original ballots they cast, and electronic images of those ballots. To be clear, voted ballots do not contain a voters name or identifying information such as identification numbers or Social Security numbers. Many kinds of identifying information must also be redacted from other election records before they are released.

But in certain circumstances, finding someones ballot is possible by identifying and cross-referencing a series of variables that are public.

There was no personally identifying information printed on the ballot Current Revolt claimed was Rinaldis, so its impossible to say with 100% certainty that it was his. Rinaldi has neither confirmed nor denied that it was his ballot.

Rinaldi did not respond to requests for comment from Votebeat and the Tribune. The Republican Party of Texas referred Votebeat and the Tribune to a statement it released on social media saying that the partys legal counsel advised Rinaldi not to comment and that it was investigating potential civil and criminal acts including defamation against Current Revolt.

The states chief elections officer is Secretary of State Jane Nelson, who is appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Senate. Her agency declined to comment on whether officials there knew about the vulnerability in ballot secrecy. In a public statement last week, Nelsons office said county elections administrators need to balance ballot secrecy with election transparency  but the statement provided them no guidance on how to do that.

On Tuesday, after Votebeat and the Tribune told her office about vulnerabilities with ballot secrecy, Nelson said in an emailed statement that she was advising county elections administrators that they have a duty to redact personally identifiable information but did not detail what that includes or what information may be redacted.

No one should have their ballot privacy compromised, Nelson said.

Texas election records are an open book

Texas stands out among other states for its expansive approach to making election records public, an effort to provide transparency in a state where unsupported theories about election fraud are widespread.

The public can obtain data from electronic poll books used at individual voting precincts, showing which voters have cast ballots and detailing exactly when they did so; cast vote records, the electronic representation of how voters voted; and ballot images, which are copies of actual ballots as marked by voters.

By law, counties are supposed to redact identifiable information such as Social Security numbers, state identification numbers, birthdates and or phone numbers. In the case of ballots, they are also supposed to redact names.

The push for increased transparency gained momentum after the 2020 presidential election when former President Donald Trump launched a campaign, bolstered by two fellow Republicans, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, to convince voters the 2020 election was stolen from him.

Conservative activists searching for proof of voter fraud routinely began requesting original voted ballots and cast-vote records in almost every Texas county.

At the time, voted ballots, by law, had to be kept secure and were not available for 22 months after an election. But in August 2022, Paxton  who had tried unsuccessfully to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in four battleground states outside his jurisdiction  released a nonbinding legal opinion advising county officials to release voted ballots as soon as they are counted, while redacting any information that could identify the voter.

After at least three counties challenged Paxtons advice in court, the Texas Legislature rewrote the law.

During the 2023 legislative session, lawmakers overwhelmingly passed House Bill 5180, allowing public access to ballot images, cast-vote records, and the original voted ballot just 61 days after election day.

This is about giving our citizens confidence in their elections while protecting our election administrators, the bills author, state Rep. Terry M. Wilson, R-Marble Falls, said during a committee hearing on the legislation in April 2023.

Supporters argued this bill was necessary for third-party groups to conduct audits of elections in a timely manner.

Christina Adkins, then acting director of the Secretary of States elections division, told lawmakers during the hearing that the bill provided much needed clarity for the state agency.

But opponents of the legislation noted that election departments in Texas and across the country had seen an increase since the 2020 presidential election in records requests seeking more technical information about an election.

Stephanie Swanson, the issue chair of voting rights for the League of Women Voters of Texas, warned that the legislation would result in an even greater flood of public records requests, which could be used as a means of voter intimidation.

If election records are no longer under the control of election officials, this can lead to a significant risk of the records being lost, stolen, altered, compromised, or destroyed, Swanson said.

Election administrators look to the Legislature for help

One potential solution pits the state against the counties in terms of where the responsibility lies to fix the problem.

On Friday, the Texas Association of Election Administrators as well as county and district clerks sent a letter to the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee, which deals with voting issues, suggesting that there could be changes to whats considered identifiable information.

County election officials are working with the Secretary of States office to improve the redaction of information that can be used to identify a voter and his/her precinct, the letter reads.

Dick, the Williamson County prosecutor, said his county is aware of possible ballot secrecy issues and said that the attorney generals office is looking into the matter. A spokesperson for Paxtons office did not respond to requests for comment.

A ballot Dick previously cast in a Texas election was apparently included as evidence in an unrelated lawsuit filed earlier this year, also accusing Texas of ballot security vulnerabilities.

That lawsuit alleges that Nelson and election officials from three Central Texas counties violated voters equal protection rights by allowing the public to track down a voters ballot through a unique identification number. The plaintiffs did not describe the method in the lawsuit and declined to share it with Votebeat and the Tribune. It could not be verified.

The plaintiffs in the lawsuit, including Laura Pressley, have made similar allegations in past lawsuits that courts have dismissed. Since at least 2014, when she lost a race for the Austin City Council, Pressley has frequently sued counties, election administrators, and the Texas Secretary of State for not following the Texas Election Code as she interprets it. She rarely succeeds in court.

She and her allies have long pushed for the state to get rid of the popular countywide polling place program  used by more than 90 jurisdictions in the state. The Texas Senate State Affairs Committee is set to hear testimony on election issues, including the use of the program on Wednesday in Austin.

Pressley has also advocated for counties to stop using electronic voting equipment and has demanded the use of sequentially numbered, preprinted ballots, which experts say could further threaten ballot privacy.

If businesses or politicians are able to track down how individuals voted, Dick said, it would change the way those entities target voters for profit and campaign purposes  and could open the door to voter intimidation.

Dick said the issue needs to be resolved immediately but he doesnt believe the answer is to shut down public access to ballot records and voting information.

Other states, too, have grappled with whether and when to make cast vote records and ballot images public.

In South Carolina, a judge earlier this month shot down a groups request to examine voters cast vote records from the 2020 presidential election. The judge determined that if the documents become public under the Freedom of Information Act, it would violate voters right to a secret ballot in the state.

In North Carolina, the State Board of Elections recently removed the precinct-level details of election results for each county from its website. The state argued that because of the particularly low turnout in the states recent primary, it could be too easy to determine how some people voted.

In Texas, some county elections administrators say the Legislature needs to craft a law that settles what information must be made public so elections administration is transparent  as well as what can be withheld, so ballot secrecy is protected. Without that, they say, vulnerabilities will persist.

In addition, there are other steps lawmakers could take that would make it harder to breach voters privacy, said Jennifer Doinoff, Hays County elections administrator and the president of the Texas Association of Elections Administrators.

For example, she said, they could change the law to raise the minimum number of voters allowed in a precinct, which would make it more difficult to link a ballot to a specific voter. Lawmakers could also rethink how to release information about voters in small precincts, or not release specific polling location records, she said.

As things stand now, Doinoff said, Its going to be a lot of attorney general opinions, and its going to be a lot of working with the state legislators to figure out what is releasable and whats not.

This article originally appeared in The Texas Tribune at www.texastribune.org. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans  and engages with them  about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.

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.
Protesters outside city hall in Houston, Texas, during a Bans Off Our Bodies rally on 14 May 2022.

Protesters outside city hall in Houston, Texas, during a Bans Off Our Bodies rally on 14 May 2022. Photograph: Mark Felix/AFP/Getty Images

Texas Republicans are open to applying the death penalty to abortion providers, a new proposal from the state party indicates.

Over the weekend, during the Texas GOP convention, Republican delegates voted on a party platform for 2024 that proclaims abortion is not healthcare, it is homicide and suggests striking a state law that protects abortion providers from being charged with homicide. In Texas, capital murder is punishable by the death penalty. Killing a child under the age of 15 can qualify as capital murder, the most severe form of homicide.

Related: Texas doctor who said nine-year-olds can safely give birth appointed to maternal mortality committee

Elsewhere in the platform, the Texas GOP calls for legislation to abolish abortion by immediately securing the right to life and equal protection of the laws to all preborn children from the moment of fertilization.

That language, as highlighted by the feminist writer Jessica Valenti, who first called attention to it earlier this week, draws from the rhetoric of abortion abolitionists, a fringe, hardline segment of the anti-abortion movement that has inched closer to the mainstream in recent years. While the mainstream anti-abortion movement typically supports exempting women seeking abortions from punishment, abortion abolitionists adhere to what they consider a more consistent line of logic: if a fetus is a person and abortion is murder, then abortion patients deserve to be punished like murderers.

Abortion patients are not mentioned in the provision in the proposed platform that redefines abortion as homicide, making its implications for abortion seekers unclear. Abortion bans typically target abortion providers for punishment, not patients.

Punishing women for abortions is a politically toxic stance, particularly as support for abortion rights has surged in the wake of the overturning of Roe v Wade. Even before Roe fell, Texas lawmakers repeatedly introduced bills that would have instituted the death penalty for abortion patients. They all stalled out in the Republican-dominated state legislature.

Regardless of the platforms implications for abortion patients, adding language that in effect defines fetuses as people, complete with full legal rights and protections, could have vast implications for wide swaths of Texas law, including cutting off access to in vitro fertilization. Efforts to establish fetal personhood have sped up in anti-abortion circles in recent years, but experts say that the full implications of this ideology have never been realized. Earlier this year, IVF treatments in Alabama temporarily ground to a halt after the state supreme court ruled frozen embryos were intrauterine children.

As the home to one in 10 American women of reproductive age, Texas has long been a key laboratory for activists and lawmakers looking to fine-tune bills that restrict reproductive rights  many of which are exported to other state legislatures across the country.

In the 50-page platform, the Texas GOP also calls homosexuality an abnormal lifestyle choice and says providing gender-affirming care to minors is child abuse. The platform demands that the recent renaming of military bases be reversed in order to publicly honor the southern heroes, and confirms the platform supports affirmation of God, including prayer, the Bible, and the Ten Commandments being returned to our schools, courthouses, and other government buildings.

Although Republicans voted over the weekend on the proposed platform, the votes were set to be tallied this week. The Texas GOP did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether the platform has been formally adopted or on its approach to abortion. The party platform is not a legislative slate; these proposals may never make their way into bills, much less pass.

The Texas state legislature, which meets only in odd-numbered years, will open for business in January 2025.
Texas wildlife officials killed 249 captive deer on a private ranch this week, ending the longest-running challenge in recent years to the states policy of euthanizing breeder-cultivated deer herds infected with chronic wasting disease, or CWD.

The slaughter ends a three-year standoff with game rancher Robert Williams, 85. His tenacious legal challenges had raised the prospect that the deer breeders who supply the states high-fenced game ranches with big-antlered bucks might impede a strict euthanasia policy aimed at shielding wild deer from new CWD infections.

A herd of captive deer stands beneath the shade of a tree at RW Trophy Ranch on July 27, 2023. Roque Planas/HuffPost

Like mad cow disease in cattle or scrapie in sheep, CWD causes brain proteins known as prions to misfold, leading to a prolonged death by neurodegeneration. Biologists widely view the spreading disease as the single greatest threat facing North Americas herds of wild cervids, a family that includes deer, elk, moose and caribou. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends against eating CWD-contaminated meat due to concerns that the disease could jump to humans, like mad cow did.

Texas wildlife officials generally kill all captive deer at sites where any deer tests positive for CWD, then require extensive sterilization procedures that include removing a layer of topsoil from deer pens and burying it six feet deep. CWD-contaminated sites cannot host captive deer for at least five years.

Williams, a CWD skeptic who eats infected venison without concern, waged a three-year legal battle to keep the state from killing the deer on his ranch southeast of Dallas, enlisting the support of Republican Texas state legislator Bob Hall and right-wing rocker Ted Nugent. Williams encouraged other breeders to follow suit. He implored Texas officials to let him release his bucks for wounded veterans to hunt for free.

The states ability to enter privately owned breeding pens to euthanize diseased deer is well established in Texas law, which regards the deer as wildlife and, therefore, public property. But a Kaufman County judge repeatedly granted restraining orders to avoid the slaughter, and ordered a trial to determine whether Williams had a property interest that could impede depopulation.

After months of legal wrangling, the Texas Supreme Court ruled last month that the depopulation could proceed, though the dispute with the Kaufman County court did not resolve until May 24.

This is a task we never take lightly and that is always a last resort, but that has proven the most prudent and standard practice for managing prion diseases in wildlife, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department wrote in a statement.

The legal battle ultimately proved financially disastrous for Williams, who absorbed the cost of feeding approximately 500 captive deer that he could neither sell nor turn loose for paying hunters. The lands value, which was tied to its attractiveness for deer hunting, has tumbled.

I won some battles, but I lost the war, Williams said. They just ruined me.

Robert Williams admires mounts made of sheds from captive deer he bred at RW Trophy ranch on July 27, 2023. Roque Planas/HuffPost

He and his daughter, Maree Lou, put down three deer themselves  including a tame doe that they viewed as a pet and allowed to enter the house  to avoid having wildlife officials shoot them.

Texas wildlife officials prohibited the Williams family from entering the breeder pens as the deer were euthanized on Tuesday, according to Williams. But he said they could hear the muffled sound of what he believed were subsonic pistol rounds firing repeatedly.

Texas wildlife officials dispatched most of the deer using suppressed centerfire rifles, according to an agency spokesperson. In three cases, they used pistols to dispatch individual deer.

When I walked by and looked at those empty pens where those bucks used to be, I just cried, Williams said. I couldnt help it.

Wildlife conservationists, however, applauded the euthanization of Williams herd, viewing it as a necessary measure to protect native wildlife.

Euthanizing those deer is very good for wild deer, said Kip Adams, communications director for the National Deer Association. We know CWD was on this place ... The longer those deer are allowed to live, the more they have the opportunity to affect other deer.

The state of Texas has struggled for the last three years to contain a CWD outbreak in deer-breeding facilities. Deer typically spread the disease to one another through body fluids like saliva.

Williams ranch is one of the first in a series of unexplained cases to crop up in breeder pens since the spring of 2021. Williams RW Trophy Ranch was located in a CWD-free county and had not sent or received any new deer for several years before the outbreak.

Captive deer represent a small but lucrative corner of the Texas hunting industry. Federal law generally classifies wildlife as a public resource administered by the states. Texas is one of about a dozen states that allow private citizens to breed deer, while classifying the animals as wildlife rather than livestock.

Breeders like Williams use selective breeding and high-protein feed to raise bucks with antlers far larger than those that deer typically grow in the wild. Breeders then sell those bucks to high-fenced game ranches that charge prices into the tens of thousands of dollars to shoot one.

The small size of breeder pens unnaturally concentrates deer, which can facilitate the spread of CWD once the disease appears. Over the time that Williams avoided depopulation, some 254 of the deer he bred tested positive for the disease, with a prevalence rate of 72%, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife.

The ranchs pens held 637 deer at the time the first case of CWD was discovered in March 2021. The herd dwindled by more than half in the three years that followed  a rate of 2% per week, according to state officials.

The state is still waiting for test results showing how many of the 249 deer euthanized at RW Trophy Ranch this week had been infected with CWD, but wildlife officials expected many to test positive.

During a May 14, 2024 inspection of the deer at the ranch, TPWD staff observed a number of deer displaying general signs of clinical CWD, including droopy ears and disorientation, Texas Parks and Wildlife wrote in a statement. One deer was visibly shaking and had tremors.

Another 12 deer tested positive at release sites on or associated with RW Trophy Ranch, including at least one wild doe.

Mortality surveillance results at RW Trophy Ranch show the devastating effect of an uncontrolled CWD outbreak in a breeding facility, TPWDs statement said.

Related...
June 14 UPDATE: The Texas Supreme Court has denied the petition for review in this case.

The Alabama Supreme Court sent shockwaves through the country in February when it ruled that frozen embryos created through in vitro fertilization are unborn children under wrongful death statutes. Afterward, several major fertility clinics shut down until the Alabama Legislature passed a law relieving them of legal liability for embryo destruction or damage.

Now, the Texas Supreme Court is weighing whether to hear a case that experts say could similarly impact IVF access in a state where thousands of IVF babies are born annually.

Whether the justices  all nine of whom are Republicans  decide to take on the lawsuit or not, the case highlights the patchy legal framework that undergirds the multibillion-dollar IVF industry and cuts to the heart of one of the most consequential decisions a parent can make: whether, and how, to have biological children.

More: Does Alabama embryo ruling impact in vitro fertilization in Texas? What you need to know.

At the center of the dispute is a contract that Caroline and Gabriel Gaby Antoun signed in 2019, stipulating that all frozen embryos  legally considered property in Texas and other U.S. states  would belong to the husband in case of divorce. (In IVF, eggs and sperm are combined in a laboratory setting, then left to develop for several days before being frozen as embryos.)

The former couple was in the thick of divorce proceedings in June 2022 when the U.S. Supreme Court dismantled the nationwide right to an abortion established in Roe v. Wade. About two months later, after a trial court upheld the contract, Caroline Antoun challenged the ruling on the embryos, and after the 2nd Court of Appeals affirmed long-standing legal precedent classifying embryos as property, she appealed to the Texas Supreme Court.

In their petition for review, Caroline Antouns lawyers argued that embryos are unborn children under the states new abortion bans and that as such custody proceedings should determine which parent has rights over frozen embryos  and not contracts specifying property division.

Now that Roe is no longer law, the Court has the opportunity to reclassify embryos as unborn children rather than property, and to, after far too long, recognize and protect the rights of those unborn children and their parents, states the petition, filed in September 2023. The lawyers declined to comment, citing firm policy on ongoing litigation.

The states high court has not yet rejected the case, nor has it scheduled a hearing for oral arguments. However, in December 2023 it requested merit briefs, indicating at least three justices said they were interested in potentially taking up the matter, and friend-of-the-court briefs have been filed this year in support of both sides.

More: Texas GOP committee considers IVF restrictions at convention: 'Maybe a later fight'

If the Texas Supreme Court sets a date for oral arguments in Antoun v. Antoun, University of Texas law professor Elizabeth Sepper said, people should take their embryos out of the state immediately.

In an interview with the Statesman, Caroline Antoun said her motivation for the case has nothing to do with the politics of abortion. Rather, she feels people should be more informed about what IVF contracts mean and be afforded the opportunity to have parental rights over a child born from embryos containing their genetic material. (Under the contract she signed, Caroline Antoun would have no parental rights to children born from the embryos currently under dispute.)

I would be doing this whether Dobbs happened or not, she said, referring to the decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which toppled the precedent set in Roe v. Wade. I dont think kids should be considered property.

Gabriel Antoun's lawyer, Patrick Wright, argues that Dobbs and current Texas law do not apply to the status of embryos in divorce proceedings. Deciding whether embryos are people "is a legislative function, not a judicial function," Wright told the Statesman.

Gabriel Antoun and his attorney are urging the court to keep the trial and appellate court's decisions upholding the contract in place.

"(Caroline and I) were two educated adults who knew what they were reading, and we both made an educated decision," Gabriel Antoun told the Statesman. "We should respect that contract, otherwise any other contract shouldn't be upheld."

While the case remains in limbo, there isnt an imminent risk that IVF embryos will be put in jeopardy, said Elizabeth Sepper, a University of Texas law professor who specializes in health law.

Sepper also noted that this lawsuit is messier than the one in Alabama because it asks the high court to apply statutes in the Family Code that do not specifically address IVF embryos, and because of the contractual aspect.

Even if I were a highly motivated Supreme Court justice who wanted to make steps toward embryonic personhood, I would not want to touch this case, she said.

More: Amid Texas abortion ban, Democratic AGs meet in Austin to strategize on reproductive rights

People rally in February in support of in vitro fertilization in Alabama.

The lawsuits contention that a contract should be made invalid because of a new law could also have ramifications that go far beyond IVF, according to Sean Tipton, chief advocacy and policy officer at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

It would potentially undo every contract ever executed in the state of Texas, Tipton told the Statesman. ASRM submitted a friend-of-the-court brief urging the Supreme Court not to review the case, and to uphold the current classification of embryos as property if it does.

But if the court sets a date for oral arguments, Sepper said, people should take their embryos out of the state immediately.

There's no reason for them to take this case and side with the respondent (Gabriel Antoun), she said. If the Texas Supreme Court takes this case  that would suggest very strongly a move in the direction of embryonic personhood.

Caroline Antoun said what she is requesting in the lawsuit "should not have a negative effect on IVF and should not prohibit access."

Sepper, however, believes the added liability to IVF clinics from a personhood decision would cripple the industry.

"A decision that an embryo is a person and has statutory rights under a wrongful death statute or the Family Code doesn't mean that all reproductive technology is unavailable, but it does mean that it would make it so expensive that it would effectively end it," Sepper said.

Other groups involved with legislation and litigation over IVF have also raised alarm about the case.

The case has the potential to backfire, said Sarah London, an attorney at Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein who represents families in individual and class action lawsuits against fertility clinics.

She cited a law the Alabama Legislature passed after IVF clinics closed after the state Supreme Court decision that provides civil and criminal immunity to clinics for "death or damage to embryos," leaving the state with fewer protections for parents undergoing IVF than they had before the ruling.

"We dont want to see consumers' rights taken away," she said. "We should focus on common-sense regulations."

She said IVF is already a "largely unregulated industry," making it difficult for families harmed by clinics' failures  such as equipment issues that lead to embryos being destroyed  to seek justice.

Whether the court takes up the case or not, Caroline Antoun said she plans to fight for new laws around IVF in Texas. She feels, for example, that parents should undergo counseling so that they understand the implications of the contracts theyre signing.

She also said she encourages people to look at the situation with empathy, instead of seeing it as a political battle.

"IVF is the most pro-choice and pro-life thing you can do," she said. "I hope we can have some kind of bipartisan agreement, if we can get past our pro-choice and pro-life views."

Gabriel, for his part, wants the litigation to end. He worries that a ruling that embryos should be divided under custody agreements would lock them into years of further legal disputes.

"If I start thinking about that," he said, "I'm going to lose way more sleep than I am right now."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Supreme Court could hear case arguing IVF embryos are children
FILE - Amanda Zurawski introduces President Joe Biden to speak at an event on the campus of George Mason University in Manassas, Va., Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024, to campaign for abortion rights. The Texas Supreme Court on Friday rejected a challenge to one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the U.S. following a lawsuit by women who had serious pregnancy complications during their pregnancies. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

AUSTIN, Texas (AP)  The Texas Supreme Court on Friday rejected a closely watched challenge to the state's restrictive abortion ban, ruling against a group of women who had serious pregnancy complications and became the first in the U.S. to testify in court about being denied abortions since Roe v. Wade was overturned.

In a unanimous ruling, the all-Republican court upheld the Texas law that opponents say is too vague when it comes to when medically necessary exceptions are allowed. The same issue was at the center of a separate lawsuit brought last year by Kate Cox, a mother of two from Dallas, who sought court permission to obtain an abortion after her fetus developed a fatal condition during a pregnancy that resulted in multiple trips to an emergency room.

Abortion rights activists have struggled to stem the tide of restrictions that have taken effect in most Republican-led states since the U.S. Supreme Court in 2022 overturned Roe vs Wade, which for nearly 50 years had affirmed the constitutional right to an abortion.

The court said the law's exceptions, as written, are broad enough and that doctors would be misinterpreting the law if they declined to perform an abortion when the mothers life is in danger.

Texas law permits a life-saving abortion, the court wrote in the order signed by Justice Jane Bland.

The decision appeared to close, at least for now, another pathway for opponents who have sought to force the state to provide more clarity about when exceptions are allowed. Last year, plaintiffs in the lawsuit gave emotional accounts in an Austin courtroom over how they carried babies they knew would not survive and continued pregnancies that put their health in worsening danger.

Now we know the courthouse doors are closed to them, said Molly Duane, a staff attorney for the Center for Reproductive Rights, which represented the Texas women. It seems Texans have nowhere to go but the voting booth, in terms of what comes next.

Under the law in Texas, doctors who perform abortions risk life in prison, fines of up to $100,000 and revocation of their state medical licenses.

A lower court in 2023 had granted a temporary injunction preventing Texas from enforcing the ban against doctors who in their good faith judgment ended a pregnancy that they determined was unsafe because of complications. But that was immediately blocked by an appeal from the Texas attorney generals office to the states Supreme Court.

Amanda Zurawski, the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit, had been told that she had a condition that meant her baby would not survive. The Austin woman said she was forced to wait until she was diagnosed with a life-threatening case of sepsis before being provided an abortion.

She spent three days in intensive care and was left with a permanently closed fallopian tube from an infection, affecting her ability to have more children.

The court ruled that state law does not require that a womans death or serious impairment be imminent when being evaluated by a doctor for an abortion.

Ms. Zurawskis agonizing wait to be ill enough for induction, her development of sepsis, and her permanent physical injury are not the results the law commands, the court wrote.

Zurawski called the ruling heartbreaking."

I am outraged on behalf of my fellow plaintiffs who the Court deemed not sick enough, Zurawski said. We all deserve bodily autonomy. Every day, people in Texas are being told that they have no options. Its sickening and wrong.

Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose office defended the law in the case, applauded the ruling.

I will continue to defend the laws enacted by the Legislature and uphold the values of the people of Texas by doing everything in my power to protect mothers and babies, Paxton posted on X.

Earlier this month, two University of Texas professors signed onto Paxton's federal lawsuit against the Biden administration over regulations that expand protections for pregnant students in federally funded education programs. Those include accommodations for students who need to miss class for abortion care.

Philosophy professor Daniel Bonevac and business professor John Hatfield said they would accommodate students only in cases of medically necessary abortions when a mothers life or health is threatened.

The state lawsuit decided Friday argued that exemptions under the Texas law, which allow an abortion to save a mothers life or prevent the impairment of a major bodily function, create confusion among doctors, who were turning away some pregnant women experiencing health complications because they feared repercussions.

The plaintiffs said the abortion ban has made medical professionals wary of facing liability if the state does not consider the situation a medical emergency.

Last year, Cox ended up leaving the state for an abortion before the court ruled that she hadnt shown her life was in danger. In the ruling, the court also called on the state medical board to offer more guidance.

New guidelines proposed by the medical board earlier this year, though, offered little beyond advising doctors to meticulously document their decision-making. And Texas Republican-led Legislature is not expected to make any changes to the laws language.

Plaintiff Kaitlyn Kash, whose fetus developed severe skeletal dysplasia, was told even the simplest movements could break its bones in utero. While her life was not threatened, she chose to leave Texas to get an abortion.

I wanted to end my child's pain before it could begin, Kash said. The state just told me that as a mother, I don't have the right to make those decisions for my child. ... If you want to grow your family, if you want to have children, you should get out of Texas.

___

Stengle reported from Dallas. Associated Press writer Paul J. Weber contributed from Austin, Texas.
JIESHOU, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The making of Jieshou painted pottery can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Tianying Township in Jieshou City of east China's Anhui Province was the main production site of Jieshou painted pottery in history. The technique of making Jieshou painted pottery was inscribed as a national-level intangible cultural heritage in 2006.

To inherit and revive the technique, the local inheritors have innovated the shape and carving patterns to meet the demand of modern society. The cultural and creative products designed by these inheritors are also favored by consumers.

Nowadays, Tianying Township not only remains as a production place of Jieshou painted pottery, but also accommodates a museum for displaying potteries and a base for inheriting and reviving intangible cultural heritage, which makes the township a popular destination for study tours.

Instead of being a local-made handicraft, the Jieshou painted pottery is integrated into school courses, decorations in parks, and museum exhibits. The ancient Jieshou painted pottery is reviving in modern time.

Xing Hui (front), an engraver and painter of Jieshou painted pottery, demonstrates her techniques at the painted pottery museum in Tianying Township of Jieshou City in east China's Anhui Province, May 29, 2024. (Jieshou Integrated Media Center/Handout via Xinhua)

Lu Yilin, a city-level inheritor of Jieshou painted pottery, shapes clay in Jieshou City of east China's Anhui Province, May 23, 2024. (Xinhua/Fu Tian)

Xing Shuqin, a provincial inheritor of Jieshou painted pottery, shows a tea pot made by herself at the painted pottery museum in Tianying Township of Jieshou City in east China's Anhui Province, May 23, 2024. (Xinhua/Fu Tian)

Xing Shuqin (2nd L), a provincial inheritor of Jieshou painted pottery, instructs students of a study tour on the engraving and painting of pottery at the painted pottery museum in Tianying Township of Jieshou City in east China's Anhui Province, May 29, 2024. (Jieshou Integrated Media Center/Handout via Xinhua)

Lu Yilin, a city-level inheritor of Jieshou painted pottery, checks on painted pottery works outside the kiln in Jieshou City of east China's Anhui Province, May 23, 2024. (Xinhua/Fu Tian)

Lu Hua, a provincial inheritor of Jieshou painted pottery, makes a painted pottery craft at Jieshou City in east China's Anhui Province, May 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

Students learn about Jieshou painted pottery making at Fuyang Science and Engineering School in Jieshou City of east China's Anhui Province, May 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

Lu Qunshan, a national inheritor of Jieshou painted pottery, introduces painted pottery works at Jieshou City in east China's Anhui Province, May 24, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhou Mu)

Xing Hui (front), an engraver and painter of Jieshou painted pottery, demonstrates her techniques to children of a study tour at the painted pottery museum in Tianying Township of Jieshou City in east China's Anhui Province, May 29, 2024. (Jieshou Integrated Media Center/Handout via Xinhua)

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
The Texas Supreme Court on Friday morning upheld the states near-total abortion ban, ruling against 20 women who said they were denied medically necessary abortions and stating that the law's exception for women facing "life-threatening conditions" is sufficiently broad.

The unanimous decision vacates an Austin state district judges August 2023 ruling blocking the states abortion bans for women facing serious pregnancy complications and finds that questions about exceptions for women carrying fatally ill fetuses must be handled by the Legislature.

Filed in March 2023 by the Center for Reproductive Rights, an abortion rights advocacy organization, the lawsuit was the first patient-led legal action to be filed after the U.S. Supreme Court in July 2022 reversed Roe v. Wade, the landmark decision establishing a nationwide constitutional right to abortion.

Authored by Justice Jane Bland, Friday's majority opinion states the lower court overstepped its judicial authority and affirms the language in the state's post-Roe trigger ban allowing doctors to intervene when women are at risk of death.

It also upholds a narrow interpretation of the law, stating a pregnant patient must have a "life-threatening condition" before they can qualify for an abortion, regardless of whether their health is at risk. The opinion affirmed, however, that death need not be imminent.

"Under the Human Life Protection Act, a woman with a life-threatening physical condition and her physician have the legal authority to proceed with an abortion to save the womans life or major bodily function, in the exercise of reasonable medical judgment and with the womans informed consent," Bland wrote.

The decision directs women's concerns about the laws to state lawmakers, who do not reconvene for a legislative session until January.

"The law can beand has beenamended to reflect policy choices on abortion," Bland wrote.

Plaintiffs in Zurawski v. State of Texas stand outside the Capitol after the Texas Supreme Court heard oral arguments in their case Nov. 28. The court ruled against them Friday. The plaintiffs were 20 women who were denied abortions despite severe pregnancy complications and two OB-GYNs suing on behalf of their patients.

In a separate concurring opinion, Justice Deborah Lehrmann noted that the Legislature "has enacted one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the country" while affirming the majority's finding.

"Whatever my personal views may be about how restrictive abortion statutes in Texas 'should' be," Lehrmann wrote, "It is the Legislatures prerogative to make that determination."

All nine of the high court's justices are Republican; six are men and three are women.

Strikingly, the court found that only one plaintiff, Houston OB-GYN Dr. Damla Karsan, had standing to sue over the bans' enforcement  rejecting the claims of 20 patients and another OB-GYN.

In a news conference after the ruling was released, several of those patients described the decision as "a gut punch."

Plaintiff Samantha Casiano, who carried a child that was developing without a brain to term because Texas law does not allow abortion in such cases, said she was "devastated" by the ruling. She also put blame on state lawmakers.

"Back in July, we testified in court for hours recounting the medical torture we went through, Casiano said in a news release. "I dont know how the court could hear what I went through and choose to do nothing. Texas lawmakers claim to care about protecting the unborn, but, in reality, they made my family suffer. ... I'm devastated that the court is allowing this cruelty to continue."

In a news conference, she spoke of watching her child suffocate after it was born. "There was no mercy for my daughter," she said.

The ruling changes little from the courts decision in the case of Kate Cox, a Dallas mother who, a doctor testified, was at risk of losing her fertility if she continued to carry a fatally ill fetus  one that her doctor said had "virtually no chance of surviving." The court in that case found Cox's doctor had not asserted with "reasonable medical judgment" that Cox had a "life-threatening condition" and overturned a lower court's authorization of the abortion. Ultimately, Cox traveled out of state to terminate her pregnancy.

Both lawsuits brought national attention to Texas lack of abortion ban exceptions for fatal fetal diagnoses and contributed to a yearslong push for the Texas Medical Board to issue clearer guidelines on exceptions.

Physicians who violate current abortion laws can face severe penalties, including first-degree felony charges, punishable with up to life in prison, and fines of more than $100,000.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton celebrated the state Supreme Court ruling in a news release Friday afternoon.

I will continue to defend the laws enacted by the Legislature and uphold the values of the people of Texas by doing everything in my power to protect mothers and babies," Paxton wrote.

More: Texas OB-GYNs slam proposed TMB abortion rules: 'Dead mothers do not lead to live babies'

The Texas Supreme Court hears oral arguments for Zurawski v. State of Texas on Nov. 28. The justices on Friday unanimously upheld the states near-total abortion ban.

'Unalienable rights'

The case is named for its first plaintiff, Austin resident Amanda Zurawski, who nearly died of sepsis after she was denied an abortion to treat a premature water break at 17 weeks pregnant. The petition states that one of her fallopian tubes remains permanently closed as a result of the damage.

Other plaintiffs in the case testified that they had been denied abortions after doctors determined their fetuses were incompatible with life, even in cases in which physicians said their health was at risk if they continued with the doomed pregnancies.

"The State does not contest that at least some of these complications present life-threatening conditions for which an abortion may be indicated," Bland wrote.

Since the lawsuit was filed, lawmakers have tweaked the Texas Health Code to give an affirmative defense to doctors who use "reasonable judgment" to treat a premature water break  the same complication that Zurawski faced.

The justices in their opinion nod to the health code update and the plaintiff who was affected by its absence, saying "the Legislature expressly permitted abortion for one of the pregnancy complications presented in this case." However, critics have noted that while the law gives doctors a defense in court, it does not protect them from being sued or prosecuted for terminating a pregnancy in this case.

"Using (legislative) power to limit and penalize abortion affects the unalienable rights of mothers and their unborn children to life and the unalienable rights of physicians and third parties to liberty from criminal confinement," Justice Brett Busby wrote in another concurring opinion. "But courts ... cannot substitute their own views of wise public policy for the words chosen by the Legislature."

Austin resident Amanda Zurawski nearly died of sepsis after she was denied an abortion to treat a premature water break at 17 weeks pregnant. "This ruling is heartbreaking, but I don't think it's the end," Zurawski said of Friday's court decision. "This is not the last that you will be hearing from us in this fight for justice."

In Friday's news conference, Zurawski said she and other women who have been affected by the abortion bans would continue fighting for change on behalf of women in Texas and across the country.

"This ruling is heartbreaking, but I don't think it's the end," Zurawski said. "Although the state wants to pretend that we are invisible and wants to take away our names and our voices, let me be clear that we will not be silenced. ... This is not the last that you will be hearing from us in this fight for justice."

You can read the Court's majority opinion below.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas Supreme Court rejects challenge to near-total abortion ban
All nine Republican justices of the Texas Supreme Court rejected a challenge to the state's strict abortion ban on Friday that was brought by a group of women who said their lives were put at risk when they suffered serious pregnancy complications and could not access the necessary medical care.

The lawsuit, brought on by five women in March 2023, was the first legal challenge to the states ban to focus on women with complicated pregnancies, NBC News reported. The plaintiffs said that they were denied abortions even though the issues that arose during their pregnancies endangered their lives. They claimed this happened because the state's abortion law isnt sufficiently clear when exceptions are allowed; the Texas court maintained that exceptions to the law as written might be broad but are definitely not unclear.

Texas law permits a life-saving abortion, read the court order, signed by Justice Jane Bland.

The case, Zurawski v. Texas, grew to include 20 women and two doctors. The plaintiffs also wanted medical professionals to have more autonomy to intervene should complications in pregnancies arise. In August, women in Texas gained a bit of respite when district court Judge Jessica Mangrum, who previously heard the case, issued a temporary injunction that prevented the state from enforcing the law against doctors who terminated unsafe pregnancies.

Mangrum's ruling stated: The Court finds that there is uncertainty regarding whether the medical exception to Texas abortion bans  permits a physician to provide abortion care where, in the physicians good faith judgment and in consultation with the pregnant person, a pregnant person has a physical emergent medical condition.

It's that ruling that was overturned Friday by the Texas Supreme Court, despite harrowing testimony from plaintiffs last year.

Amanda Zurawski, the lead plaintiff, had testified that she nearly died in August 2022 because doctors delayed giving her a medically necessary abortion after serious complications in her 18-week pregnancy. She later went into sepsis, which is caused by an infection, and spent three days in the ICU. Doctors later advised her not to carry a baby again.

Texas' highest court ruled that the state law never required that the risk to a mothers life be imminent when weighting whether they are eligible for an abortion. Because of this, the court wrote: Ms. Zurawskis agonizing wait to be ill enough for induction, her development of sepsis, and her permanent physical injury are not the results the law commands, the Los Angeles Times reported.

Zuawaski shared her anger with the decision in a statement Friday.

I am outraged on behalf of my fellow plaintiffs who the Court deemed not sick enough, she said after the ruling, the Associated Press reported. We all deserve bodily autonomy. Every day, people in Texas are being told that they have no options. Its sickening and wrong.

The Texas law bans all abortions unless they save the life of a pregnant patient. In fact, doctors can lose their medical license, face up to 99 years in prison, or incur a $100,000 fine at minimum should they violate the law. And this is exactly the plaintiffs point  the ambiguity in the abortion ban of what precisely constitutes a medical emergency intimidates doctors, who may deny technically legal care because they fear liability.

Ken Paxton, whose office defended the abortion ban before the Supreme Court, took to social media to praise the ruling. I will continue to defend the laws enacted by the Legislature and uphold the values of the people of Texas by doing everything in my power to protect mothers and babies, the Republican attorney general posted on X.
The Texas Supreme Court unanimously rejected a challenge to the states abortion laws Friday, overturning a lower courts decision that would have allowed women within Texas to actually access abortions granted within the confines of the states ban.

The case, Zurawski v. Texas, began with five women and eventually grew to represent 20 women and two doctors. It became the strongest challenge to the constitutionality of the states myriad abortion restrictions implemented since Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.

The Center for Reproductive Rights, which brought the suit last year, argued that while the states laws technically left room for abortions in urgent circumstances, they were also so vague that they practically restricted all medical practitioners from actually considering the procedure as an option. Specifically, people could undergo abortions during complicated pregnancies so long as their doctor made a good faith judgment that it was medically necessary.

But opponents to the laws have argued that good faith is too subjective for language determining medical accessand could potentially open doctors up to lawsuits brought by anyone who didnt believe the procedure was required. The court, however, did not see that complication.

A physician who tells a patient, Your life is threatened by a complication that has arisen during your pregnancy, and you may die, or there is a serious risk you will suffer substantial physical impairment unless an abortion is performed, and in the same breath states but the law wont allow me to provide an abortion in these circumstances is simply wrong in that legal assessment, wrote Justice Jane Bland in the courts opinion.

The ruling effectively leaves people in need of abortions within the state just two options: either leave, or risk death.

Sadly, what we know is that there are anti-abortion advocates who will always question [a doctors] decision, Molly Duane, senior counsel for the Center for Reproductive Rights, told The Texas Tribune. I dont know how all of this will actually function in practice  the fact that true exceptions do not exist in practice will continue to be the norm.

The brief opinion made no mention of the 20-plus women who were represented by the lawsuit and who individually suffered under Texass nearly airtight abortion restrictions. Lauren Miller, a Dallas mother who was forced out of state after learning that one of her twin fetuses had a complication that threatened her health as well as the health of her other child, told the Tribune that the decision felt like a gut punch.

I read the ruling. I felt like I had missed something. And so I immediately reread it, and I realized what was missing in those pages was us. We werent there. We didnt exist, Miller told the publication.

One member of the court, Justice Brett Busby, left enough wiggle room in his concurring opinion for a broader challenge to the law. But legal challenges are time-consuming, and in the meantime, more patients could be forced to wait until their symptoms are life-threatening before doctors can offer them abortions.

Texas has recently turned up the heat on its anti-abortion policies, forcing the issue into the center of the Lone Star States politics. Over the weekend, a policy agenda proposed by the GOP convention in San Antonio included calls for legislation that would transform the fetal personhood ideology into law, a move that would effectively categorize any person receiving an abortion at any stage as a murderer.
H5N1 has so far spread to 68 cattle herds in nine US states - Jim Vondruska/REUTERS

A third dairy worker in the US has been diagnosed with H5N1 bird flu, this time with respiratory symptoms  suggesting the virus has got into their lungs.

The unnamed dairy worker from Michigan is the first US case to display acute respiratory illness from an H5N1 infection contracted from a cow. The two previous cases suffered only from conjunctivitis, an irritation and swelling around the eyes.

Influenza in humans typically spreads via respiratory droplets, for example through coughing or sneezing. Now that the latest mutation of H5N1 has shown it can infect the upper respiratory tract, experts fear there is a greater risk of human-human transmission.

If we were to observe the gradual emergence of a new pandemic pathogen, these are the sort of signals we could expect to see, Adam Kucharski, co-director of the Centre for Epidemic Preparedness at the London School of Tropical Hygiene and Medicine said on X (formerly Twitter).

H5N1  which has killed millions of animals since it began re-circulating in 2020  has so far spread to 68 cattle herds in nine US states.

Experts expect the human case number to rise significantly in the coming weeks, as state health authorities up their surveillance efforts to try and curb the spread. After a slow start, the US authorities recently instigated a program of financial incentives designed to get farmers to cooperate with testing.

In Michigan, the state with the highest number of infected dairy herds, around 220 people are being monitored because of potential exposure to the virus, Dr Nirav Shah, deputy director of the CDC said at a briefing on Thursday

The state is also beginning to conduct blood testing to see how many workers may have antibodies to the H5N1 virus, which would reflect past infections or exposures.

The CDC still considers the risk of H5N1 to humans to be low but has encouraged anyone who works directly with cattle or poultry to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) and report any symptoms to health authorities.

Meanwhile, the US government is said to be in talks over a multimillion-dollar investment in mRNA H5N1 vaccines produced by Moderna.

According to an unnamed source involved in the discussions, tens of millions of dollars of funding from the US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) could be made available as soon as next month.

The deal would include a commitment to stockpile millions of vaccines if the trials were successful, the Financial Times reported on Thursday.

Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security

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Third person shot by police in KC metro this year identified as Jason Burk

The man killed in a Kansas City, Kansas, car chase that ended in a police-involved shooting Monday has been identified by police as Jason A. Burk, 41.

Burk, who lived in Kansas City, had been driving a blue GMC Terrain that he allegedly stole at gunpoint near East 24th Street and Highland Avenue earlier that evening. A caller reported the carjacking to Kansas City, Missouri, police around 6:45 p.m., according to Melissa Underwood, a spokeswoman for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation.

Kansas City police spotted the car in the 1500 block of The Paseo around 8 p.m. and gave chase. Burk led officers across state lines into Kansas, where the Kansas City, Kansas, police department, along with the Kansas Highway Patrol and Mission Police Department, joined in.

A 21-year-old passenger exited the car at 8:17 p.m. and was taken into custody, Underwood said. A highway patrol trooper brought the GMC to a stop a few minutes later by forcing it to spin and hit a guardrail around U.S. 69 Highway and the 18th Street Expressway.

Burk allegedly began shooting at officers from the stopped car, according to police. Officers from both Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas, returned fire, fatally striking Burk multiple times.

Seven officers shot at Burk overall, including five from Missouri and two from Kansas, Underwood said. No one else was killed or injured.

Eight fatal officer-involved shootings have taken place statewide in Kansas so far this year. Mondays shooting was the second in Kansas City, Kansas, both involving a stolen car.

Police fatally shot Jordan Cole, 18, on the night of May 10 after he fled a stolen Hyundai Sonata in the area of 7th Street Trafficway and Interstate 35. Cole ran into some bushes near the southbound on-ramp to Interstate 35, where he shot at police and was then shot by an officer.

A third officer-involved shooting took place in Kansas City, Missouri, on the night of March 30, when a Gladstone police officer and two Clay County sheriffs deputies shot and killed a man during a traffic stop. The Kansas City Police Department said the officers fired after an altercation with the driver at North Garfield Avenue and Northeast Englewood Road.

Burk, who was pronounced dead in a KCK hospital Monday, was charged in 2017 with breaking into a car and tampering with it, according to court documents. Other previous charges include resisting arrest, breaking into two residential buildings and driving with a suspended license.

The 21-year-old passenger has not been publicly identified.

18th Street Expressway was closed overnight Monday as a result of the chase.

Armed events, including carjackings and shootings, accounted for 6.1% of calls to Kansas City, Missouri, police last month, according to KCPD data. In Kansas City, Kansas, 129 auto thefts have been reported this year, which is 43% less than this time last year, according to police data.

The Kansas Bureau of Investigation is looking into the officer-involved shooting and plans to present its findings to the Wyandotte County district attorney.

Burks death was the 12th homicide in Kansas City, Kansas, this year, according to data collected by the Star. The Star counts police-involved shootings as homicides when collecting data.

At this time last year, 10 homicides had been reported in KCK, including two police-involved shootings, according to Star data.

Previous reporting by Andrea Klick was used in this article.
The United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) is fast-tracking patients for its upcoming cancer vaccine trials  and each one will be tailored to every individual's needs.

As The Guardian reports, patients who meet eligibility criteria need only sign off on having their blood and tissues sampled to gain immediate access to the vaccine trial, which will use cutting-edge mRNA technology to customize each jab to the DNA of the people getting them.

The NHS told the newspaper that dozens of people have already been enrolled in the program, called the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad, and thousands more will be able to get into the trials at 30 sites around the UK. To start, the agency is looking for patients with bladder, colorectal, kidney, lung, skin, and pancreatic cancers, but more types will be added as the program progresses.

"As more of these trials get up and running at hospitals across the country," explained NHS England head Amanda Pritchard, "our national matchmaking service will ensure as many eligible patients as possible get the opportunity to access them."

Announced ahead of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (Asco) conference in Chicago, the NHS program is working in tandem with German vaccine maker BioNTech, whose mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have paved the way for the technology to be applied to all manner of illnesses and diseases.

At the conference, BioNTech is also slated to present preliminary evidence on research suggesting that measuring circulating tumor DNA could help early detection of colorectal cancer, which accounted for an estimated 930,000 deaths globally in 2020 alone.

The program's first patient, 55-year-old Elliot Pfebve is also suffering from colorectal cancer. As The Guardian reports, the man had no symptoms and only learned that he had it during a routine doctor's appointment.

Pfebve had his cancerous tumor and part of his large intestine removed and went through chemotherapy prior to enrolling in the NHS pilot, which saw him getting the world's first jab of the same type of mRNA vaccine that was used in Pfizer and BioNTech's COVID vaccine.

Victoria Kunene, the trial's principal investigator, told The Guardian that it's too soon to tell if Pfebve's cancer has been completely cured, but she is "extremely hopeful" about the outcome.

"Based on the limited data we currently have of the in-body response to the vaccine, this could prove to be a significant and positive development for patients," Kunene told the newspaper, "but more data is yet needed and we continue to recruit suitable patients to the trial to establish this further."

For his part, the groundbreaking lecturer seemed to be thrilled at the chance to help cure cancer and make history in the process.

"Being part of this trial has been a really important decision in my life, both for me and my family," Pfebve enthused. "Having been through the difficulty of diagnosis and debilitating chemotherapy, it felt wonderful to be able to take part in something which could lead to a new way of treating cancer, and if others can benefit from what the trial might discover, then thats great, too."

More on next-gen vaccines: New Vaccine Could Protect Against Any Strain of a Virus With One Shot
People take part in a demonstration by the "Fridays for Future" climate movement for the 2024 European elections. Alina Schmidt/dpa

Thousands of people gathered in Berlin on Friday for a demonstration organized by the climate activist movement Fridays for Future.

Police estimates placed the crowd at more than 5,000 people, while organizers estimated a turnout of more than 13,000.

The rally started in front of the Brandenburg Gate in the heart of Berlin's government district. Participants at the demonstration demanded more urgent action to address climate change.

Organizers also called for the defence of democratic values and a fight against far-right extremism.

With the European Union elections scheduled in nine days, Fridays for Future has called for protests to take place in around 100 cities in Germany.

Protests are planned in 13 other EU countries by July 7.

The movement is calling for an EU-wide phase-out of coal, oil and gas by 2035 and a doubling of investment in renewable energies and climate-neutral industries.

The new European Parliament must take a clear stance in favour of climate action and democracy, Frieda Egeling, spokeswoman of Fridays For Future Berlin, said in a statement.

Further demonstrations are to take place in the likes of Hamburg and Munich.

Some 15,000 protesters are expected in Hamburg and around 8,000 in Munich.

Climate activists want to use the upcoming rallies to draw attention to the importance of the EU in tackling the climate crisis.

In Germany, the European elections will take place on Sunday, June 9.

Participants in a demonstration against climate change and for climate justice stand on the square of the Old Synagogue in Freiburg. The Fridays for Future movement aims to demonstrate for climate protection and democracy in Germany on 31 May. With the European elections scheduled in nine days, protests are to take place in around 100 cities in Germany, the organization says. Protests are planned in 13 other EU countries by 07 July. Philipp von Ditfurth/dpa
Thousands of Ukrainian prisoners apply to join army in return for parole

By Max Hunder

KYIV REGION (Reuters) - In its quest to fill the dwindling ranks of its infantry, Ukraine has turned to recruiting prisoners to join the fight against Russia, and more than four thousand have applied so far.

Under a deal offered to inmates by the government, prisoners will have their remaining sentences cleared - regardless of length - if they agree to serve in the army without leave until the end of the war.

At that point they would be granted parole.

"My mother was in hysterics ... I've been here for five years  a year left and I'm going off to war," one of those who signed up, Mykola Rybalka, told Reuters in the yard of his prison in Kyiv region.

Rybalka, who said he was in for theft, is one of 129 prisoners in a colony of 700 who have applied to join the military, according to the justice ministry.

"You know, five years behind these walls leave their mark. You've seen a lot and understood a lot. You're not scared of anything anymore," he said.

Ukraine, whose population of about 38 million compares with Russia's 144 million, has struggled to recruit enough soldiers, particularly to fight in frontline positions where they bear the brunt of enemy attacks and suffer heavy losses.

Its troops are outnumbered and exhausted, and a new law has recently been signed aimed at mobilising several hundred thousand more soldiers - although it will likely take months for significant numbers of new troops to be ready.

"There is competition between military commanders to hire (prisoners) since there is a lack of manpower, so they really want to have access to these people," Justice Minister Denys Maliuska told reporters visiting the prison on Thursday.

Recruiters from Ukraine's 3rd and 5th Assault Brigades who were present at the press event both rated the motivation of the prisoners as generally high.

The 5th Brigade's representative, who introduced himself as Vladyslav, told Reuters his brigade had recruited around 90 people from the prison, and were recruiting in others.

He said those who joined his brigade would be put into separate, prisoner-only units, and that commanders would keep a close eye on them.

There was, however, little scope for them to desert considering the amount of fire Russia could aim at a disorderly withdrawal, Vladyslav added.

The 3rd Brigade's representative, Oleh Petrenko, said his brigade would not treat convicts differently to other men.

"We don't see any difference between normal mobilised (men) and prisoners."

THOUSANDS APPLY

Early on in the full-scale war, private Russian mercenary group Wagner recruited tens of thousands of Russian prisoners to fight in Ukraine, offering them a full pardon if they survived six months at the front.

Russia's Defence Ministry has since continued recruiting convicts from prisons for its own Storm-Z formations.

In Ukraine, prisoners convicted of certain offences are barred from serving. These offences include the murder of two or more people, manslaughter through drink-driving, sexual crimes, treason and corruption.

The justice ministry said 4,564 prisoners had applied to join the army so far. They need to pass medical checks and have their application approved by a court  more than 1,700 already have the green light.

The minister has previously said he expects between 10,000 and 20,000 inmates to sign up in total.

Maliuska said he hoped most applicants would be serving in about two months. Reuters was invited into a local courthouse, and saw how a judge approved the application of a man serving a sentence for armed robbery.

He appeared via video link from prison, and the process took about 10 minutes.

The judge, Dmytro Tkachenko, said the prison made sure it only sent applicants who met the law's criteria, and that he and two other judges had been hearing between 10 and 20 such cases a day over the past week.

Of about 100, two had been rejected, both due to the applicants changing their mind.

Under the new law, 782 prisoners have already been freed from prison and handed over to the armed forces.

"They (will be) in the media spotlight, and if there is a single deserter or a single crime, that would be the type of thing in the media that would be bad PR for us," Maliuska said.

Twenty-three-year-old Vitaliy Yatsenko, who is halfway through a seven-year sentence for selling drugs, said he had hoped to sign up at the beginning of Russia's invasion but had not been allowed at that point.

He has now submitted his application to join the army.

"First of all, I want to help my country. And I want society to understand that people have the ability to rehabilitate."

(Reporting by Max Hunder; Editing by Mike Collett-White and Gareth Jones)
KIEV, May 31 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden's administration has given Ukraine permission to strike certain areas inside Russia with U.S.-provided weapons, the Ukrayinska Pravda media outlet reported Thursday, citing foreign media.

According to the report, Washington allowed Kiev to use American-provided weapons for counter-fire purposes and solely against sites near Russia's border with Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region.

The decision was adopted due to "worsening conditions" for Ukraine on the battlefield following Russia's advances and improved position in the Kharkiv region, the report said.

The U.S. policy regarding long-range strikes inside Russia has not changed and Ukraine was not given permission to use American weapons for attacks deep into Russia, it said. 
RIO ARRIBA COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE)  Three individuals who did not follow the terms of probation were arrested in the Espanola area on Tuesday.

The arrests were made as part of a warrant operation led by New Mexico State Police officers and the New Mexico Corrections Department.

Accused DWI drivers back on New Mexico roads after officer no-shows

Police arrested the following individuals:

Benito Chavez, 32, was arrested for a felony absconder warrant, with an original charge of battery on a household member.

Matthew Trujillo, 42, was arrested for a felony absconder warrant, with an original charge of trafficking.

Alfonso Quintana, 42, was arrested for a felony absconder warrant, with original charges of trafficking, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, and felon in possession of a firearm.

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.
Three Rivers Health Center in Coos Bay, Oregon (Photo/Courtesy)

The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI) announce the grand opening celebration of the new Three Rivers Health Center at 150 S. Wall Street in Coos Bay, Oregon. This state-of-the-art facility will officially open its doors on Saturday, June 1, 2024, with a grand opening event from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The new facility includes a health clinic and pharmarcy.

The grand opening celebration will feature a variety of family-friendly activities and an opening ceremony followed by an official ribbon-cutting. This event marks a significant milestone in providing comprehensive healthcare services to CTCLUSI tribal members and the local community.

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Event Details:

Date: Saturday, June 1, 2024

Time: 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Location: 150 S. Wall St., Coos Bay, OR 97420

Event Activities:

10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Festival Explore what services CTCLUSI and Three Rivers Health Center offer to our tribal members and non-tribal neighbors in the local community Meet our friendly staff and learn more about the care we offer our patients The first 200 attendees will take home a free Three Rivers Health Center t-shirt Enroll as a new patient or transfer your prescriptions right on site

11:00 a.m.  Ceremony Welcome from CTCLUSI Chief Doug Barret, Council Chair Brad Kneaper, and CEO Lee Ann Wander Enjoy a cultural performance by CTCLUSI tribal members Get the first sneak peek inside Three Rivers Health Center

11:30 a.m.  Ribbon Cutting Well officially cut the ribbon and open the doors to Three Rivers Health Center Continue enjoying the festival activities!



"We are excited to welcome the community to Three Rivers Health Center," Iliana Montiel, CTCLUSI Assistant Director of Health Services said. "This grand opening is more than a celebration; its the beginning of a vibrant new chapter in healthcare for our community!"

Learn more about the Grand Opening Celebration at: http://threerivers.health/grand-opening/.

Three Rivers Health Center is currently open to CTCLUSI tribal members and is scheduling appointments for the public beginning Monday, July 1, 2024. To learn more and enroll as a new patient, visit: http://threerivers.health/patients/.

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
Three Russian soldiers accused of stabbing and blowing up body of woman from Luhansk Oblast to stand trial in Russia

A military court in the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don will try three Russian soldiers accused of abducting and murdering a woman from Luhansk Oblast. She was stabbed, and then her body was blown up in an attempt to cover up the crime.

Source: BBC News Russian

Details: The murdered woman was 23-year-old Valentyna Davronova, from a village in the Novoaidar district (Luhansk Oblast). It was under Ukrainian control before the full-scale Russian invasion.

The investigation suggests that Senior Lieutenant Aydin Zhamidulov and his subordinates first stabbed the girl with a knife on his orders, after which they blew up her body in an attempt to hide the crime.

The media outlet successfully reached out to Tetiana Davronova, the mother of the deceased, and interviewed her about her daughter and the details surrounding the case.

The cases of three soldiers have been brought to court. Another one died in the summer of 2023 under unclear circumstances.

Valentyna joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2018, immediately after coming of age. That same year, she got pregnant, went on maternity leave and gave birth to a daughter. She resigned from the Armed Forces in 2021.

The region was seized by Russian forces at the very beginning of March 2022. Once the Russians occupied the area, Davronova "went through the FSB interrogations and all the detectors", her mother said.

The Russians detained Valentyna for the first time on 11 March 2022. She was released shortly afterwards but was detained and checked more than once.

Valentyna was celebrating the Old New Year (an informal Orthodox holiday celebrating the New Year by the Julian calendar) with a friend in the settlement of Shchastia on the evening of 13 January 2023 when she received a call from a Russian serviceman she knew who insisted that she come to Luhansk to the Raduha cafe.

Afterwards, the woman stopped getting in touch, and three days later, her mother turned to the local police. The woman said they assumed that her daughter was "out drinking somewhere". They formally accepted her statement of disappearance but later "waved away" all her questions.

Subsequently, Valentyna's mother turned to the so-called Investigative Committee Department in Luhansk, where a case was initiated.

Soon, the investigation detained the following Russian servicemen: Senior Lieutenant Aydin Zhamidulov, a platoon commander of the airborne troops, Alexei Dorozhkin, a private who served as a senior airborne troop scout (he was drafted less than two weeks before the woman's murder), and Sergeant Roman Pleshcheev, a combat vehicle commander of a reconnaissance platoon.

The fourth Russian, with the nom de guerre Bugor, was also purportedly arrested but later discovered dead under unclear circumstances. This probably was Nikolai Gorshkov, an air assault platoon gunner who died on 1 June 2023.

The arrested soldiers explained the whereabouts of the womans body.

According to Russian media, Valentyna was taken from the Raduha cafe on the evening of 13 January 2023 and placed in the back of a KamAZ lorry. "The officer bound her hands with tape. The senior lieutenant instructed Alexei Dorozhkin, who accompanied them, to cover Valentyna's eyes, which he did."

At the same time, Zhamidulov informed his subordinates that Valentyna served in the Ukrainian army and reportedly gathered intelligence in the interests of the Armed Forces.

Valentyna was taken to a soldier's sauna, where "Zhamidulov stabbed her around two dozen times in various places of her body. Sergeant Roman Pleshcheev, commander of the reconnaissance platoon combat vehicle, entered the sauna around this time. Zhamidulov told him to finish off the victim. Roman Pleshcheev struck Valentyna Davronova with his knife in the left shoulder and right leg, not wanting her to die but dreading the senior lieutenant's wrath. At 0:20, Alexey Dorozhkin entered the sauna, and Aydin Zhamidulov told him to finish what he had started. Roman Pleshcheev left the room, and Alexei Dorozhkin fatally stabbed the victim in the heart."

Making sure that the woman was dead, "Zhamidulov instructed his subordinates to transport the body outside the temporary deployment area and blow it up with three F-1 grenades so that the deceased and the cause of her death could not be identified."

The first court hearing in the lawsuit is set for 5 June 2024. The case of Roman Pleshcheev will be handled independently.

According to media sources, Zhamidulov is 28 years old, from Kazakhstan, lives in Pskov Oblast, and formerly worked as a welder. In January 2022, he signed a contract with the Russian Federation's Ministry of Defence and assumed command of a parachute platoon of the 76th Airborne Division's airborne assault regiment as a senior lieutenant.

In November 2022, the Russian Ministry of Defence's official channel released a video in which Zhamidulov delivered his own poetry devoted to the members of the so-called "special military operation" (as the Russians call the war in Ukraine). "Difficult times create heroes, and heroes create new poetry," he declared in the poem. The media said that he had two daughters. The post has yet to be removed from Russia's Ministry of Defence channel.

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Wu'er Kaixi, former student and demonstrator on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, gives an interview. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre. Johannes Neudecker/dpa

Wu'er Kaixi is still angry when he thinks about the June 4 tragedy that shocked the world 35 years ago, he told dpa during an interview in a tea house in Taichung, Taiwan, on a sunny day in May.

The 56-year-old prominent Chinese exile was one of key figures leading tens of thousands of students who protested on Tiananmen Square in Beijing in 1989, demanding democracy and government reforms.

The protest ended in a bloodbath, a subject that remains taboo in China, even decades on.

All documents and files about the truth are still kept by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime.

To this day, images of the person known as "Tank Man" - the man who stood alone in the path of the approaching tanks - are a symbol of the protest by ordinary people against the authoritarian regime.

He was the man who stood in the way of tanks sent by the authorities to crush the protests, halting their progress by staying directly in their path, a stand-off that became one of the most iconic images of the events that summer.

"The gunshots were loud," Wu'er Kaixi said, recalling the night of June 3 to 4, 1989, when soldiers arrived. The violent crackdown brought a bloody end to weeks of peaceful protest led by students calling for political and economic reform.

"We want dialogue. We want to have a say. We want to be heard," he said. The protestors demanded that the democratic student movement be recognized and that political elections be held.

Looking at today's China, under head of state and party leader Xi Jinping, these demands still seem like an impossible dream.

But the problem is not the Xi, but the system itself, says 68-year-old Wu Renhua, who was also one of the demonstrators at Tiananmen Square in 1989.

"If the Communist Party in China does not take the initiative to start democratic transformation, then eventually one day it will be overthrown by the people like the Communist regime in the Soviet Union and in Eastern Europe," Wu told dpa in a small cafe in New Taipei City, close to the Taiwanese capital Taipei.

Early hopes for an opening

In the 1980s, China's economic modernization gave rise to hope for reforms. Many people looked to Hu Yaobang, then general secretary of the Communist Party who worked with reformer Deng Xiaoping. But that democratic opening never came about. Hu was deposed in 1987 then died in April 1989.

Wuer Kaixi's memories are still vivid of the incidents in Tiananmen Square 35 years ago. The pro-democracy rally took place right in front of the portrait of Mao Zedong, once the most powerful revolutionary leader of the communists, whose picture is emblazoned above the entrance to the Forbidden City.

One of the greatest inspirations back then was Poland's Solidarity movement, says Wu'er Kaixi, of the trade union that challenged the government and won elections. "We were hoping, you know, a similar situation in Beijing could happen," he said.

A "bloody scene"

In May 1989, the demonstrators underscored their demands by carrying out a large-scale hunger strike. By that time, even Beijing was unable to control the protests. On May 15, the demonstrators even prevented Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev from appearing on the square, where state guests are usually received with pomp.

Shortly afterwards, around 1 million people, including workers and citizens, young and old alike, joined the students to protest together. China's leadership, faced with the demonstrations that took place before the world's press, was humiliated. The party eventually called in the People's Liberation Army.

"Early in the morning of June 4, 1989, I and about 2,000 students were guarding Tiananmen Square until we were driven away by troops," said Wu, who was teaching at a university at the time. Tanks pursued them as they ran west.

"One of the tanks, number 106, sped out from behind, killing 11 people on the spot and injuring many more," Wu says. "The scene was so bloody," he added.

Escape in an ambulance

Wu'er Kaixi also fled the square in the heart of Beijing that night "in the last ambulance," he says. In the same vehicle, a student with a serious head wound died before his eyes. "Anger is one of many feelings that I had," he says.

It is still unclear how many people were killed in the suppression of the peaceful protest, which in China is officially referred to only as an "incident." Hundreds are believed to have died. Researchers also pointed to an estimate by the Chinese Red Cross at the time, of 2,600 deaths. "The truth will be revealed one day," says Wu'er Kaixi with certainty.

Many former demonstrators left China and now live in exile. This is the only way they can talk about their experiences. "Such a massacre that shocked the world, even 35 years later, the Chinese people are still not allowed to talk about it. I feel very sad," Wu says.

The significance of June 4 is well known in China. But the people exchanged their silence for the prosperity that followed through Deng's reforms and opening. Today, people can only get into Tiananmen Square with a reservation and undergo strict bag checks. No commemorations are held of the massacre.

Arrests before day of remembrance

In Hong Kong, tens of thousands of people came to vigils held annually from 1990 to 2019 to commemorate the victims of the pro-democracy movement in 1989.

However, in 2020, Beijing tightened controls there in response to protesters demanding more democracy. The strict national security law further silenced dissent and made public remembrance of June 4 impossible.

This year, days before the 35th anniversary of the Tiananmen massacre, Hong Kong's police detained several people, who were accused by the authority for posting messages on social media about a "sensitive date," reported locally as the Tiananmen Square anniversary on June 4.

In China, efforts to promote democracy face ever more repression. Some were hopeful after protests in 2022, when people in many places took to the streets with white paper against the government's tight Covid-19 restrictions.

Known as the "White Paper Movement," it was the largest collective protest calling for political change since 1989, Wu says. Even if the scale is incomparable to the 1989 pro-democracy movement because of the brevity of the protests, they were nevertheless of great value, he said.

Hope for change lives on

The people are still there, Wu'er Kaixi says. "And also the demand for government transparency, for a balance of power and for having a say in public affairs." The question now is how the government will deal with these desires, he says.

"Our ultimate goal is democracy in China, a multi-party system, freedom of expression, open elections," says Wu'er Kaixi. Although it will not be easy with Beijing's policy of fear, "pressure always works," he says.

The world has been appeasing China for the past 35 years but this will not help, Wu'er Kaixi says. "You can either be on the side of the tanks or on the side of the Tank Man. There is nothing in between."

The regime will eventually collapse, Wu says. "From ancient times to the present, there has been no regime that can last forever, especially such an evil authoritarian regime. It cannot exist forever," he says.

Wu Renhua, former demonstrator on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, gives an interview. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre. Johannes Neudecker/dpa

A member of the Chinese People's Liberation Army raises the Chinese flag on its mast during the first national flag raising ceremony in 2018 at Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, 01 January 2018. Photo: ---/TPG via ZUMA Press/dpa ---/TPG via ZUMA Press/dpa

Wu'er Kaixi, former student and demonstrator on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, gives an interview. This year marks the 35th anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen massacre. Johannes Neudecker/dpa

Demonstrators light candles Candles in Victoria Park during a vigil to mark the 31st anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests. Willie Siau/SOPA Images via ZUMA Wire/dpa
Time Magazine Literally Brings The Gavel Down On Donald Trump In Brutal New Cover

Time magazine wasted little, well, time in showing off an upcoming front page after former President Donald Trumps hush money trial conviction on Thursday.

The publication posted the cover of its June 24 edition  featuring a new illustration by Cuban American artist Edel Rodriguez  several weeks early on X, formerly Twitter.

The image showed a gavel being brought down on a sound block styled as an abstract interpretation of the presumptive GOP presidential nominees face:

TIME's new cover: Donald Trump found guilty on all counts https://t.co/70OiNKeKF7pic.twitter.com/BkMv0tSLvk  TIME (@TIME) May 30, 2024

Rodriguez has mockingly portrayed Trump for the outlet on multiple previous occasions, showing the convicted ex-POTUS as literally melting down, as a peach during his first impeachment for extorting Ukraine, and as a wrecking ball dismantling the national government.

In 2018, Rodriguez marked Trumps first year in office with this illustration of the then-presidents hair as fire:

He also tackled Trumps disastrous handling of the coronavirus pandemic with this image of him sporting a misplaced face mask:

TIME's new cover: There are sensible ways to reopen a country. Then there's America's approach https://t.co/Il7plhj6Bxpic.twitter.com/BzQPR4zpN3  TIME (@TIME) May 14, 2020

For Germanys Der Spiegel, meanwhile, Rodriguez has illustrated Trump as a Statue of Liberty-decapitating lunatic, an asteroid headed for Earth, and a menacing figure in a Ku Klux Klan hood.

Rodriguez, who fled Cuba for America as a child, told HuffPost in 2017 that his antipathy toward Trump stemmed from growing up under a brutal dictatorship on the Caribbean island.

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Hilary Clinton; Donald Trump

Say what you want about Hillary Clinton, but you can't deny that her timing is impeccable.

On Thursday, the former U.S. Secretary of State released a brand new merch product on Thursday, May 30coincidentally the same day that her former opponent Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in his hush money trial.

Clinton, 76, took to Instagram later on Thursday to share her new product, which she said was inspired by a phrase she's heard a lot since the 2016 election.

The mug, which features a decal depicting the politician sipping on her own drink, reads, "Turns out she was right about everything."

Clinton said the design just "happened" to be finalized on Thursday, a subtle reference to the irony of releasing the product just hours after Trump's verdict was read.

"This is so magnificent," one of her followers applauded under the post, while another person chimed in to say, "Always Hillary ."

"Kris Jenner works hard but HC's team works harder," someone else quipped.

"Love you sister" comedian and actress Amy Schumer also added in the comments.

In case you missed it, the former president was found guilty of all the charges related to falsifying records to cover up a sex scandal that threatened to influence his 2016 presidential campaign.

Trump, 77, spoke out after the verdict to call the trial "rigged" and "disgraceful," despite the jury's unanimous decision.

The conviction makes Trump the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes. His sentencing is scheduled to take place on July 11.

Next: King Charles and Queen Camilla Mourn Loss of Old Friend at Service in London
Donald Trump certainly made history Thursday when he became the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes. However, experts say his attorney, Todd Blanche, might have been able to avoid a conviction if he'd led a better defense.

Dave Aronberg, state attorney for Palm Beach County, Florida, said that he "wasnt too surprised by the way things turned out. But, appearing on MSNBCs Way Too Early," he argued that Blanche is at least party to blame.

"The prosecution successfully established a firewall around Michael Cohen, and that was important because it neutralized Trump's best defense, which is to call Michael Cohen a liar and to say you've got to just reject the case built around Michael Cohen," he said.

Blanche committed "crucial errors," Aronberg continued, when he failed to rebut the prosecution and adequately wound Cohen on the stand. He also faulted the defense team for continuing to insist that Trump barely knew Stormy Daniels. That undermined Blanche's credibility, Aronberg said, because no one believed that the sexual encounter didnt happen.

Second, Blanche claimed that the monthly $35,000 payment to Cohen was a legal service and not a reimbursement for the hush money he paid Daniels. That blocked "Trump's best defense," he said, "which is that the legal services actually covered the reimbursement to a lawyer-slash-fixer and Trump didn't intend to deceive. But Trump's defense made it easier for prosecutors to prove that Trump acted deceptively and turned an obvious $130,000 reimbursement into a bogus $420,000 legal expense."

A former Trump lawyer, Tim Parlatore, also felt Trump was poorly defended in a case that was incredibly defensible, as he told a a panel on CNN Thursday evening.

A major reason for the defenses failure is the amount of time it spent discussing Playboy model Karen McDougal, the "catch-and-kill" scheme with the National Enquirer and other things that had nothing to do with the actual charge of falsified business records," Parlatore told anchor Wolf Blitzer. I think that they really fell into the trap of fighting all these things they didn't need to," he said.

Blanche, however, argues he did nothing wrong. Asked by Fox News' Jesse Watters if he would do anything differently, now that there's a verdict, he laughed. "I wouldn't change anything that we did," he said.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita sent letters to West Lafayette, East Chicago, Gary and Monroe County on Friday, threatening to pursue legal action by July 1 if these government entities refused to rescind any sanctuary city policies they had in place.

Todd Rokita, Indiana Attorney General listens to concerned citizens regarding Indianas Economic Development Corp.'s LEAP project, at the Lafayette Army National Reserve building, on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023.

In a statement, Rokita states that these letters come in response to a law that the Indiana General Assembly passed earlier this year, allowing the attorney general to file lawsuits against any Indiana colleges, universities or local governments not enforcing current Indiana laws banning sanctuary city.

The flood of illegal immigrants entering the United States is a problem that harms all of us, Attorney General Rokita said in a statement. The ones paying the price for this lawlessness are Hoosier taxpayers, who must bear increased costs for health care, education and other services used by illegal immigrants.

A sanctuary city is a term for a local unit of government that has adopted a policy to deliberately and intentionally disregard federal law and not cooperate with federal immigration authorities, according to Rokitas statement in a news release published Friday.

However, when reviewing West Lafayettes legislative history, the city never passed a policy establishing itself as a sanctuary city, instead adopting a resolution in 2017 that stopped short of establishing that status.

The resolution indicated that local policies must not target communities based on perceived immigration status in order to support the police-community relationships built up over the years with the immigrant community, ensuring that they are comfortable reporting crime as witnesses or victim.

It also noted that any city employee or agency of the city of West Lafayette shall not request information about or investigate or assist in the investigation of the citizenship or immigration status of any person unless a court order requires such inquiry or the investigation.

When asked to comment about Rokita's threats to take legal action on July 1, West Lafayette Mayor Erin Easter said the city was currently reviewing the attorney general's letter with the city's legal counsel.

The Journal and Courier also called West Lafayette City Councilman David Sanders, one of the original sponsors of this resolution.

Looking at what Todd Rokita is saying, there is absolutely zero reference to any unwillingness to cooperate with federal authorities, which is what hes saying that we declared in our resolution. We say nothing of the sort, Sanders said.

What we say is that we, as a city, value all immigrants. We acknowledge that people who are undocumented have violated immigration law which is mentioned in the preamble," Sanders said. But what we say is, that the city itself will not inquire into immigration status of people.

"That is not, not working with federal authorities," he said. "We say nothing of the sort. Its just that what were saying is the immigration status of people is not something we, as a city, should be inquiring into and engage in discrimination."

In 2017, political discussions over immigration status were a topic that concerned foreign students and faculty across the nation regarding their safety. This was especially true for the students and faculty at Purdue University, Sanders noted.

Due to the university's proximity to West Lafayette, the city is and was a city full of immigrant students and faculty. This, in turn, led city officials to approve the resolution in hopes of addressing the concerns of immigrant students and faculty.

Its unclear how the city will address Rokitas threat. Sanders said that before they approved the resolution, the city had its legal counsel review the resolution ensuring it did not violate Indiana code at the time.

Sanders believes Rokita's threat is ultimately just "political theater."

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Todd Rokita threatens to sue Indiana 'sanctuary cities'
'Too much heat' hits Delhi courts, judges asked to let lawyers ditch robes

FILE PHOTO: A lawyer looks into his mobile phone as another walks past, in front of India's Supreme Court in New Delhi

By Arpan Chaturvedi

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - Soaring temperatures in India's capital have proven to be too much for some courts and are putting to the test a law in place since 1961 that requires lawyers to wear heavy black robes and coats.

At least three High Courts have permitted lawyers to discard the robes and coats for the summer, although the Supreme Court is being urged to make it a general rule for all lawyers in the country.

Judges at one New Delhi court postponed a case this week until later in the year, complaining about a lack of air conditioning and water supply.

While India's Supreme Court and most High Courts have air conditioning, many lower courts and consumer forums depend on fans and have poor ventilation.

New Delhi recorded temperatures of around 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) for the first time this week, forcing authorities to restrict water supply, shut schools and set up heatstroke units at hospitals.

They have also deployed paramedics to polling stations for the final day of India's massive general election on Saturday in case any voters fall ill as they queue in the heat. A 40-year-old labourer died of heat stroke on Wednesday.

The northwest of India has been experiencing high temperatures for several weeks. India's Meteorological Department has predicted two or three times the usual number of heat wave days in the region this month, or days defined by abnormally hot weather.

For Delhi, that means sweltering temperatures that are effecting people across the city, including its legal system.

At a consumer court in the southwestern district of Dwarka, which Reuters visited on Thursday, judges presided over cases against insurance companies in a courtroom fitted with two non-functioning air conditioners. Ceiling fans and open windows offered the only respite from the weather.

Three of the court's judges issued a written order this week stating they had declined to hear a case due to high temperatures in the court room. They adjourned the case for the cooler month of November.

"There is neither air conditioner nor cooler in the court room ... There is too much heat. There is no water supply even to go to the washroom to ease ourselves ... In these circumstances, arguments cannot be heard," the order said.

In 2021, India's then chief justice said courts "still operate from dilapidated structures without proper facilities", which was "severely detrimental" for both litigants and lawyers.

A Delhi-based lawyer, Shailendra Mani Tripathi, has taken the matter to the Supreme Court, asking justices to change the decades old dresscode.

Black coats absorb more heat and endanger health, Tripathi says in his filing, which the justices have yet to hear.

Forcing lawyers to wear them "is neither fair nor reasonable," he says.

(Reporting by Arpan Chaturvedi; Editing by Aditya Kalra and Neil Fullick)
WASHINGTON, May 30 (Xinhua) -- China's envoy to the United States stressed the indispensability of bilateral cooperation to global climate governance, according to a press release published Thursday by the Chinese embassy.

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the China-U.S. High-level Event on Subnational Climate Action on Wednesday, the release said.

In the face of climate change, all countries share weal and woe, said Xie, adding that only through cooperation can we achieve win-win results, and no one will emerge as a winner from a zero-sum game.

China is a doer in tackling climate change, and it has been honoring its commitments and has adhered to a path of green, low-carbon and sustainable development, Xie said.

As the largest developing and developed countries, China and the United States have respective strengths in energy transition and circular economy, the envoy said.

He added that the two countries have every reason to draw on each other and complement one another, and their climate cooperation enjoys huge potential and bright prospect.

The vision of China-U.S. climate cooperation needs to be translated into real action at the subnational level, which requires the participation of enterprises, think tanks and social organizations from both countries, Xie said.

Held in California, the China-U.S. High-level Event on Subnational Climate Action is an important step by the two countries to implement the consensus reached between the two heads of state at the San Francisco summit and to expand bilateral climate cooperation. 
A newly released report found thousands of families in Northeast Florida are struggling to pay their rent, utilities, or grocery bills. Some of these people have to work two jobs and they are still living paycheck to paycheck.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

We first told you about the ALICE report findings last week.

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

The report showed that 187,000 families were defined as asset limited, income constrained, employed.

Thats a lot of words to say these are people who are working and are still struggling financially, Melanie Patz said. In some cases, theyre working more than one job.

Patz is the CEO and President of United Way, located in Downtown Jacksonville.

RELATED: An inflation gauge closely tracked by Federal Reserve rises at slowest pace this year

We took 75,000 calls last calendar year, Patz said. A lot of those calls are financial in nature.

When people call into the United Way, the non-profit can connect families to affordable food options, like food banks or summer lunch programs for kids. The organization also receives donations and funding to provide rental assistance and it partners with JEA to help with utility bills.

These are not people who are not trying. These are people who are trying and still struggling, Patz said. They are worthy of support and of assistance.

To get assistance or give assistance, whether it be a donation or volunteering you can visit https://unitedwaynefl.org/. You can also call 211 to be connected with resources.

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We took out so many of them: Ukraine stabilizes Kharkiv front after brutal Russian offensive

Editors note: In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first names and callsigns only.

KHARKIV OBLAST  In battles fought under a sky swarming with enemy drones, even the most minimal movement, even the quickest dash from one house to another, is more often spotted than not.

Look, you can see three of them, those black figures moving down the street, says Nazar, Artist, a softly-spoken young artillery commander from Ukraines 42nd Mechanized Brigade.

The livestream, fed from a Ukrainian reconnaissance drone to an online feed of all the aerial vision in the battalions sector, jitters and cuts out briefly, but what is depicted on the screen is clear enough.

The Russian soldiers skirt quickly along a line of fences on the main street of an empty village.

This is the visual cue that Artists crew has been waiting for; that basement was already known to be host to several Russian soldiers.

Ukrainian artillerymen at positions in Kharkiv Oblast, on May 19, 2024. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent)

Ukrainian artillerymen at positions in Kharkiv Oblast, on May 19, 2024. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent)

When it is just one or two infantrymen on the move, there is no point shooting at them, the 21-year-old commander said to the Kyiv Independent.

But when a group like that enters a basement or dugout then we get to work.

On their commanders word, the team of five artillerymen spring into action, sprinting the short distance between the dugout and the 122mm Soviet-era Gvozdika howitzer.

The weapon is already well-concealed by the thick May foliage of the forest, but another net needs to be first pushed aside: a more recent innovation, designed to protect against attacks from Russias Lancet loitering munitions.

Three take their positions inside the great metal machine, while the other two work to prepare shells and charges.

The howitzer lurches violently with each shot, spitting out balls of flame from the muzzle that singe the nearby bushes.

Artist watches everything from the bunker.

A total of eight shells are fired, some landing very close to the basement, setting the neighboring house on fire, though the decades-old gun doesnt manage a direct hit.

They are definitely feeling it in there, Artist said.

This is the once-peaceful village of Starytsia in Kharkiv Oblast: little more than a single street of houses nestled in a shallow valley between gently rolling forested slopes.

Occupied by Russian forces without much fighting at the start of the full-scale invasion and liberated six months later in September 2022, Starytsia hasnt yet been flattened systematically, as is the case with many front-line villages in Donetsk Oblast, where fighting has raged for months or years.

With the village now straddling the front line of Russias new offensive on Kharkiv Oblast, the destruction is coming thick and fast.

Beginning on May 10, Moscows long-anticipated opening of this new front in the north was met with fear and concern in Ukraine, especially in the city of Kharkiv itself, which came under threat of once again being in range of Russian artillery.

Kyiv responded swiftly though, with a handful of battle-hardened Ukrainian brigades and top drone units sent to reinforce the region, on top of those, like the 42nd, which had been moved to Kharkiv Oblast a few weeks earlier in anticipation of such an attack.

After making rapid initial gains, the offensive soon began to run out of steam.

As of May 30, Russian forces continue to control a handful of settlements on two separate axes, one near the town of Vovchansk and the other towards the village of Lyptsi, where they have advanced a maximum of just 10 kilometers from the state border.

According to open source mapping, little to no further gains have been noticeable in the past week; on May 24, Ukraines General Staff announced that Ukrainian forces had already begun counterattacking operations in the area.

It has already stabilized, said Artist.

We stopped the enemy, they are not going any further, now we will push them back to the border.

In a charming summer house further west, a three-man Ukrainian FPV (first-person view) drone team also looks for Russian movements in the rolling fields north of Kharkiv.

This unit, belonging to the Khartiia Brigade of Ukraines National Guard, has been fighting in this sector, near the village of Lyptsi, since being redeployed here from Donetsk Oblast a few days after the offensive started.

Well-known for its emphasis on incorporating technology and NATO standards into its workflow, Khartiia is also based in Kharkiv Oblast.

As drones in the Ukrainian military are often bought with volunteer-crowdfunded money, the tools and training available to the pilots, navigators, and technicians depend a lot on a unit and their resources.

A Ukrainian self-propelled howitzer fires in Kharkiv Oblast, on May 19, 2024. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent)

This team is well equipped: on some days, they fly up to 20 suicide drone missions per day, said 23-year-old drone pilot Vladyslav Kara to the Kyiv Independent.

They are mostly moving with infantry, they understand that using armored vehicles isn't effective in the area.

The ease with which Russian infantry groups seemed to initially cross the border and advance into Kharkiv Oblast caused a stir in Ukrainian society, at odds as it was with the idea that the command had long prepared for such an attack.

Particular scrutiny was placed on the apparent failure of Ukrainian fortifications along the border in Kharkiv Oblast, the defenses of which had been singled out for praise by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Scanning the screen on Artists tablet in the artillery dugout, rows of dragons teeth anti-tank obstacles and roughly dug trench systems are clearly visible.

These, as he admits to quietly, are positions that had been overrun by Russian forces in the first days of the offensive.

We are not idiots and they are not either, there is this wide gray zone on the border where there is no chance to dig in, he added. They entered that gray zone and we met them.

Ukrainian drone operators of the Khartiia Brigade at positions in Kharkiv Oblast, on May 21, 2024. (Francis Farrell/The Kyiv Independent)

Kara, who hails from the town of Derhachi  north of Kharkiv and itself just 22 kilometers from the border  is a lot less forgiving.

They were telling us that everything was defended, in reality, it wasn't at all. When we fly around these fields, we can see exactly how things were built, he said.

A proper dugout should not be visible, it should be hidden as best as possible, and these are just out in the open, saying to the enemy, 'look, here we are!'

Mid-sentence, Kara is interrupted by the radio, which notifies his team of a Russian car spotted next to a treeline about 10 kilometers away.

Shrapnel or incendiary? he asks.

Upon the answer of incendiary, a large plastic bottle, essentially a Molotov cocktail for a drone, is mounted with zip ties to the FPV airframe.

While Kara dons his goggles, not one but two drones are launched: the FPV for hitting the target and the retranslator: a DJI Mavic equipped with a powerful antenna that enables the FPV to fly much further.

The journey towards the target takes about seven minutes, but once they get close, the video signal begins to break up dramatically, as Russian electronic warfare assets in the area are turned on.

With an expert touch on the remote, Kara rises and circles, still searching for an angle of approach even while flying almost blind.

Even so, it isnt enough: the battery dies before Kara can attempt a diving attack. A second attempt meets a similar fate.

Their EW is very strong in this area, said Kara with a tone of pure acceptance.

Especially here after lunch, they have clearly turned it on, and we seem to always get stuck on it.

The initial stabilization of the front line in Kharkiv Oblast came as a relief to residents who were under the threat of a second Russian occupation.

But in the big picture, while Moscow may have hoped for more gains, it achieved its goal to up the overall pressure on Kyiv and force them to pull units away from the other sectors.

I think they wanted to draw as many forces as possible here, and then start something in another direction, maybe in Donetsk Oblast, said Artist, whose brigade was moved to Kharkiv Oblast from Chasiv Yar, which remains a major hotspot.

As Russian advances slowed in the rolling fields defended by Ukrainian units including the 42nd and Khartiia, focus shifted to the urban fight in Vovchansk, a town just five kilometers from the border.

Here, Moscow was able to concentrate its firepower, most notoriously its air-dropped gliding bombs, to a devastating effect, razing the town almost completely to the ground in just a few weeks of fighting.

Under cover of bombardment, Russian infantry groups, made up of a mix of contract soldiers, paratroopers, and even Chechen Akhmat fighters, assaulted the city one ruined building at a time, said Andrii Khotabych, a reconnaissance soldier of the 82nd Air Assault Brigade, which was transferred to Vovchansk from Zaporizhzhia Oblast, where it had played a key role in the Ukrainian summer counteroffensive.

They are everywhere, they are like ants, said Khotabych, 39.

It's very tough, the level of destruction is crazy, I didn't see this intensity of shelling and fighting in Bakhmut.

Khotabychs team travels in and out of the city on missions lasting several days, using both drones and old-school boots-on-the-ground reconnaissance tactics, twice coming into close-quarters firefights with Russian forces.

We took out so many of them, all their equipment is burning, he said.

According to Khotabych, Russian forces had, at one point, taken over two thirds of Vovchansks urban area, but had now been pushed back across the Vovcha River into the northern suburbs of the town.

In this screengrab taken from aerial video footage smoke rises from the Ukrainian border town of Vovchansk, Kharkiv Oblast, which has been under heavy bombarded daily since Russia launched a new offensive in the region, on May 17, 2024. (Libkos/Getty Images)

Control over Vovchansk remains contested, and although Ukrainian forces are holding firm with time, Russias brutal tactics do still threaten to pose a challenge for the overstretched defending units.

The toughest thing is the way you just get exhausted after a while. They just keep coming and coming, said Khotabyvch.

We don't have enough people, and even the strongest person just runs out of strength after a while; both physically and mentally.

Two days after speaking to the Kyiv Independent, Khotabych and his reconnaissance team were targeted by Russian FPV drones in Vovchansk. One of the group was killed, while Khotabych and another soldier received multiple shrapnel wounds. His condition is stable.

Note from the author:

Hi, this is Francis Farrell, cheers for reading this article. I hope that news about Russia making gains across the front line hasn't come as a surprise to you. Things are moving fast, and not in the direction we would like, but whatever happens, we are dedicated to continue being Ukraine's voice to the world, no matter how dangerous and dark this war gets. Please consider supporting our reporting.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
After Donald Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts in his hush-money trial Thursday, Republicans threw a fit. Old criticisms of Trump were immediately forgotten, and full-throated defenses of the first president to be convicted of a crime began.



Former Representative Justin Amash, one of the few conservatives who supported Trumps impeachment over the Ukraine scandal during his presidency, surprisingly came out swinging, calling the verdict an affront to the rule of law. Amash probably seeks to get more Republican support for his run for the Senate in Michigan.



Tweet Screenshot Justin Amash

Senator Marco Rubio, who Trump derisively called little Marco during the 2016 presidential elections, said that Biden leftists in New York made a mockery of our criminal justice system, and predicted Trump would win anyway.



Tweet Screenshot Marco Rubio

Senator J.D. Vance, a Trump V.P. contender and one of the first Republican politicians to react to the news, called the verdict election interference.



Tweet Screenshot J.D. Vance

Hours after the verdict was delivered, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell saw fit to chime in.



Tweet Screenshot Mitch McConnell

And, in a case of poor timing, Senator Chuck Grassley tweeted out a picture of himself enjoying ice cream not long after the verdict.



Tweet screenshot Chuck Grassley eating ice cream

(More than an hour later, he condemned the verdict and said he expected it to be overturned.)


A former Russian president on Friday warned that Moscow is not bluffing about its willingness to use tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine and said Kyivs international backers are making a fatal mistake if they think otherwise.

Dmitry Medvedev, an ally of Vladimir Putin and the deputy chairman of Russias Security Council, made the menacing remarks in reaction to reports that Western countriesincluding the U.S.have given Ukraine permission to use their supplied weapons to strike targets inside Russia. The current military conflict with the West is developing according to the worst possible scenario, Medvedev wrote on Telegram.

Panicked Russia Is Now Telling Reluctant Soldiers They Will Be Resurrected

Russia regards all long-range weapons used by Ukraine as already being directly controlled by servicemen from NATO countries, Medvedev wrote. He claimed that such activity does not constitute military assistance to Ukraine, but rather active participation in a war against us.

Medvedev claimed such actions could well become a casus belli, meaning an action which provokes war.

He went on to claim that NATO countries who control Ukraines long-range weapons or send a contingent of troops to support Kyiv would be committing a serious escalation of the conflict.

Ukraine and its NATO allies will receive a response of such destructive force that the Alliance itself simply will not be able to resist being drawn into the conflict, he said.

Medvedev also said retired NATO farts who claim that Russia would never use a tactical nuclear weaponbombs designed for use on the battlefield which have typically lower yields than strategic nukeshad previously miscalculated by asserting that Russia would not enter into an open military conflict with Ukraine.

A similar error of judgment could also be happening about Russias readiness to use a tactical nuke, Medvedev said. This, he claims, would be a fatal mistake.

After all, as the President of Russia rightly noted, European countries have a very high population density, Medvedev said, referring to Putins threats earlier this week amid reports that European nations would allow Kyiv to attack Russian territory with weapons theyd supplied.

Medvedev said there is also a potential for Russia to strike hostile countries with strategic weapons. This is, alas, neither intimidation nor bluffing, he said.

There is a constant escalation when it comes to the firepower of NATO weapons being used, Medvedev added. Therefore, nobody today can rule out the conflicts transition to its final stage.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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Republican governor candidates Kelly Armstrong, left, and Tammy Miller participate in a debate May 30, 2024, in Fargo. (Contributed by Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce)

North Dakotas two Republican candidates for governor  U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong and Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller  have consistently put their support for former President Donald Trump at the center of their campaigns.

That trend continued Thursday during a televised debate as they denounced Trumps conviction by a Manhattan jury, which just a few hours earlier found him guilty on 34 felony counts related to falsifying business records.

Miller called it typical politics and said the only reason Trump was charged in the first place was to harm his chances of reelection.

More primary coverage

Read more of the North Dakota Monitors election coverage here.

Armstrong, a former criminal defense attorney, said he struggled to understand the conviction.

I talked to President Trump this morning and just told him to keep his head up, Armstrong said.

Armstrong was endorsed by Trump earlier Thursday. Miller, meanwhile, has been endorsed by Gov. Doug Burgum.

The showdown was broadcasted by WDAY and hosted by the Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce.

Here are other top takeaways from the debate:

Tax reform

Armstrong and Miller both named tax reform as a main goal, but said they would take different paths to get there.

Armstrong said if elected, his first priority would be reducing property taxes.

People are angry, people are frustrated, he said. People dont want long-term property tax relief  they want immediate tax relief, and they want reform.

Miller said she supports exploring options for reducing property taxes, but that her main focus would be eliminating North Dakotas income tax  an idea Burgum has also been a vocal proponent of.

We do need to make sure there is still local control for property tax solutions, Miller said.

Both Armstrong and Miller said they do not support a proposed ballot measure that would eliminate taxes based on property value in North Dakota.

Tribal issues

The candidates were also asked to speak on issues facing the five Native American tribes that share geography with North Dakota.

Miller called economic development a leading concern, noting an important source of revenue for the tribes  gaming  has taken a hit in the past few years.

Miller highlighted her experience chairing the Indian Affairs Commission while Burgum was campaigning for president, as well as attending government conferences with tribal communities.

Armstrong agreed, but also called attention to school funding, substance abuse, mental health and criminal justice reform.

Drawing from his time as a criminal defense lawyer, he said people who are arrested on reservations are often tried in federal court  and therefore may face harsher sentences than those convicted of equivalent offenses in state court.

You steal a lot of people in the young adult age, from 18 to 20, for 10 years of their life, he said. That doesnt necessarily happen with the same equivalent in the state court.

Marijuana legalization

A petition to let voters decide whether to legalize the adult recreational use of marijuana has been circulating in North Dakota since late April.

When asked for her take on the measure, Miller took a neutral stance. She said she has some concerns about legalization, but if the proposal goes to the ballot, she would embrace whatever choice voters make.

Armstrong said if the measure is on the ballot in November he will vote no, and that he thinks North Dakota has already done a good job reducing penalties for marijuana-related offenses.

Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller participates in a debate May 30, 2024, in Fargo. (Contributed by Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce)

Term limits

Candidates also weighed in on a measure approved by voters in 2022 that sets term limits for state lawmakers and the governor.

The measure bars lawmakers from serving more than eight years in the House of Representatives and eight years in the Senate. Up to 69 legislators could reach the end of their term limits in 2028, and another 72 in 2030, according to research by Legislative Council.

Miller said she supports the law, and feels that all elected offices should have term limits.

It is going to be kind of an exciting time with term limits, because we will bring in folks with a lot of new ideas, Miller said.

Armstrong said the governors office and other department heads in the state government should work to build trust with freshman lawmakers, who will be reliant on state institutions to learn the ropes of the legislative process.

The vast majority of people who run for office, run for office on one issue, he said. But when they get to that seat, whether its in the North Dakota House or the North Dakota Senate, they dont only get to deal with one issue.

Legacy Fund

The candidates spoke about the Legacy Fund, which acts as a trust fund for the state  providing a source of revenue in the event North Dakotas energy economy goes downhill. The fund was created through a constitutional amendment approved by North Dakotans in 2010. Its value recently surpassed $10 billion.

Armstrong said North Dakota is addicted to energy money and needs a plan for when its natural resources run out.

That fund absolutely has to replace that revenue stream, because no matter what we get out of it, sooner or later, its a finite resource, Armstrong said.

However, he said the Legacy Fund should be more transparent.

Miller was complimentary of the fund, and didnt speak to her position on Legacy Fund transparency. She has said previously that she feels the state is sufficiently forthcoming about the funds investments.

I do think the Legacy Fund is making some good investments in our state, and the earnings are also making some good investments as well, she said.

Positive comments

The candidates, who have run negative ads against one another, were asked by moderators to say one positive thing about their opponent.

Miller said she does not know Armstrong particularly well, but that he seems to be a good father.

U.S. Rep. Kelly Armstrong participates in a debate May 30, 2024, in Fargo. (Contributed by Fargo Moorhead West Fargo Chamber of Commerce)

Armstrong said Miller has been an incredibly successful business person and he thinks she has North Dakotas best interest at heart.

Armstrong has served in Congress since 2019. Hes a former state senator, criminal defense lawyer and the former vice president of Armstrong Corp., an energy and agriculture company.

Miller is a former CEO of Border States Electric. She joined Burgums office in 2020, and was appointed lieutenant governor in early 2023.

Armstrongs running mate is Rep. Michelle Strinden, R-Fargo, who was endorsed for lieutenant governor at the convention. Miller is running alongside Commerce Commissioner Josh Teigen.

Armstrong was endorsed by the North Dakota Republican Party at its state convention in April. Miller did not seek the partys endorsement, choosing to hold campaign events instead.

State Sen. Merrill Piepkorn, D-Fargo, is running as a Democratic-NPL candidate. His running mate is Patrick Hart, who owns a construction business and is a former state employee.

The post Top takeaways from Republican governor candidate debate appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Topeka police arrested a store employee Thursday after she allegedly pointed a gun at a person.

The Topeka Police Department (TPD) was called around 9 a.m. on May 30 to a business located in the 100 block of southeast 37th Street. Officers arriving at the location were told a person entered the business and a shop employee pointed a gun at the individual.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Lieutenant Mike Hren with the TPD said officers found the employee and found out she was prohibited from possessing a firearm. The 33-year-old shop employee was arrested and taken to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections on charges of aggravated assault and felon in possession of a firearm.

$25,000 loss reported at Topeka thrift store fire

For more crime news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  A local rescue mission comments on this years official homeless count.

On Friday, May 31, the City of Topeka released its Point in Time Homeless Count. The count shows homelessness is on the rise. The Topeka Rescue Mission (TRM) issued a response to the count.

Since 2023, the City of Topeka saw a 31% increase in homelessness. Of particular concern, TRM highlighted concerning numbers of homeless in Topeka who were born in Topeka or averaged over 15 years of living in the city.

We, at TRM, are not surprised by these findings. With the decreases of monies available during COVID, such as SNAP benefits, and additional child tax credits, plus increases in the cost of rent and food, TRM has recognized an increase in the number of individuals and families seeking multiple types of services, TRM executive director La Manda Broyles said. These findings also correlate with the steady increase of needed assistance since 2020.

Kansas conservative rancher Shawn Tiffany files for congress

According to TRMs quarterly survey:

65% of homeless in Topeka have were either born in or have lived in the city for 15 years or more.

94% of individuals were willing to access low barrier shelter or tiny home villages.

40% of people had an income.

A fourth survey is planned for June of this year.

TRMs information, the Point in Time count, as well as the comprehensive findings of the Homelessness Innovation team needs to be considered in immediate and long-term next steps and utilized within a multi-sector coalition, Broyles said.

To see the Point in Time Homeless Count conducted by the city, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSNT 27 News.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  After a four-day trial, a jury found Mariann Belair, 24, guilty of murder and reckless endangerment.

On Friday, The Shawnee County District Court found Mariann Belair guilty on two counts. She was convicted for the following:

Count 1: Murder in the first degree

Count 2: Aggravated endangering of a child

Police arrest one Topekan in shooting under Kansas Bridge

The sentencing date for Mariann Belair has not yet been set.

On Oct. 14, 2023, 4-year-old Lawrencia Perez Belair died from a gunshot wound. Four days later, Shawnee County District Attorney Mike Kagay told 27 News Mariann Belair was charged with several counts, including felony murder.

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.
Photo illustration by Getty Images.

Caught up in the swirling tides of a presidential election year, citizens are rightfully concerned that much of what were seeing from candidates are actions primarily intended to influence voters. Thats quite different than formulating good, sound public policy that relies less on politicians or their Republican vs. Democrat battles and more on actually providing the greatest good for the greatest number.

The examples are legion right now, including absolutely off-the-charts crazy moves such as Texas preparing to endorse the death penalty for abortion providers and patients. Or how about Floridas benighted governor Ron DeSantis mandating that teachers take training to instruct students in Christian Nationalism  despite the Constitutions clear separation of church and state?

Of course up here on the northern tier we can shake our heads and say, Well, its the South and theyve been batst crazy for a long time. But the unfortunate truth is, political expediency taking priority over good public policy is endemic across the nation.

Here in Montana, for instance, our Congressional delegation continues to support Colstrips archaic and massively polluting coal-fired plants. Given the cheapest power available to Montanans comes from wind and solar, both of which are significantly on the rise, one might credibly ask why our politicians would continue to support dirty and expensive coal power. The answer, of course, is they think theyll garner a few votes for protecting Montana jobs.

The same goes for the timber industry, where suddenly the closure of Pyramid Lumber in Seeley Lake is a crucial, election-year issue. Only its not. As the mill owners explained, the real problem is finding housing for their work force and the cost to upgrade (job killing) automation  neither of which will be changed anytime soon no matter for whom you vote.

Political expediency will soon be on full display since the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed halting private grazing on National Wildlife Refuges and ranchers are already howling about losing access to tens of thousands of acres on the C.M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge  while continuing to claim cattle are necessary to meet some management goals.

Whats not said is that we have an abundance of wild buffalo in Yellowstone National Park that would dearly love to go to the refuge instead of being shot or sent to slaughter when they cross the invisible park boundary. Doing so would meet the purpose for which the Refuge was established, solve the problem of what to do with Yellowstones wandering bison, and fulfill any management goals purportedly achieved by large ungulate grazing.

But Montanas politicians wont do whats right. Instead, seeking votes, theyll promise to defeat the proposal, undoubtedly led by Democratic Sen. Jon Tester since hes up for election, to show hes not in thrall to the Biden administration as hes done before with any number of issues that would have benefitted Montanans.

Likewise, Republican Sen. Steve Daines just killed the nomination of Montanas Danna Jackson, an attorney for the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, who would be the first Native American federal judge in Montana. Why? For exactly no credible reason except perhaps to show how political expediency is oh so bipartisan. Who loses? Montanans, who are now deprived of a tremendously talented and experienced judicial candidate.

The more you look, the more youll find political expediency crushing good public policy decisions. The more you find, the more repulsive it becomes as the stupid battle between Republicans and Democrats increasingly ignores doing the right thing for their constituents in favor of pandering for votes.

The post The tragedy of sacrificing good public policy while pandering for votes appeared first on Daily Montanan.
BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- From June 1, Shanghai will include 12 types of assisted reproduction technology (ART) in basic health insurance to ease infertile couples' burden from the once expensive fertility treatments, in a move to raise the birth rate.

Besides Shanghai, the new policy will also take effect in the provinces of Qinghai, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi starting from next month. In the past year, six other provincial-level regions, including Beijing, have already included ART in basic health insurance.

The coverage of ART means basic health insurance will pay for at least 50 percent of the fertility treatment expense. In Shanghai, a whole cycle of in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) costs about 30,000 yuan (4,220 U.S. dollars), according to Chen Miaoxin, a senior fertility doctor at the Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital.

The Shanghai Healthcare Security Bureau estimates that hospitals in the city receive 100,000 patient visits for ART each year, and the health insurance coverage of ART will save each patient about 9,000 yuan on the treatments on average.

Before ART was covered in basic health insurance, China's National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) issued a set of guidelines in June 2023 to intervene in fertility treatment pricing. According to the guidelines, hospitals need to provide ART at guidance prices or at prices not higher than the government's price limitation.

The reduction of ART expenses is aimed at expanding access to treatments for a growing number of infertility couples with fertility desire, as the country is facing a declining birth rate, especially in large cities.

Sun Yun, vice president of Shanghai-based Renji Hospital and director of the hospital's reproductive medicine department, said China's infertility rate has risen from 2 percent in the 1950s to 18.5 percent, and currently, every one in eight couples of reproductive age needs ART.

In Beijing, where ART has been included in basic health insurance since July 2023, 32,000 patients had received ART by the end of March 2024. The total expense was 280 million yuan, among which 190 million yuan was paid by basic health insurance.

Xue Qing, director of the Center of Reproductive Medicine at the Peking University First Hospital, said the hospital saw a significant increase in patients undergoing egg retrieval after the new policy came into effect.

"The health insurance coverage (of ART) has lowered the threshold for patients to receive the treatments in terms of finance," Xue said. "Some patients waited until ART is included in basic health insurance to undergo egg retrieval."

In recent years, China has also added several types of fertility medication, such as ovulation-inducing drugs, to its national reimbursement drug list.

In July 2022, 17 authorities, including the NHSA and the National Health Commission, jointly issued a set of guidelines, calling for local governments to gradually include appropriate labor pain management methods in health insurance.

Shanghai began including labor analgesia in basic health insurance in January 2022. Since then, the city's health insurance funds have paid nearly 100 million yuan to approximately 70,000 people.

The NHSA said it will establish a set of national standards regarding the reimbursement of ART and encourage more provincial-level regions to include ART in basic health insurance. 
Tree DNA helps solve case of illegal tree harvesting: 'Another great tool ... to combat the theft of natural resources'

Using DNA to solve a crime is not a new concept  but using tree DNA certainly is. The United States Department of Agriculture's Forest Service just used tree DNA to solve a federal timber poaching case, KRCG reported. It was the first time that the technology was used in that way.

The Forest Service was investigating the poaching of black walnut trees in Mark Twain National Forest, located in southern Missouri. Black walnut, a high-quality dark hardwood, is considered a "premium domestic hardwood" and commands high prices, according to The Wood Database, making it attractive to lumber poachers.

The poaching in Mark Twain National Forest was first spotted in 2019. A Forest Service special agent then found the likely culprit while investigating a local lumber mill and finding a log with identical dimensions to a freshly cut stump in the forest.

But to be sure, the special agent contacted Richard Cronn, a USDA Forest Service research geneticist, to match the log to the stump using DNA.

"Coincidentally, our lab was developing a DNA test to identify individual black walnut trees at the Forest Service's Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center," Cronn said. "There's an enormous interest in selectively breeding black walnuts to improve growth characteristics of the tree. Because of this project, we were able to quickly meet this request."

While the DNA technology was not initially developed to solve tree crimes, the Forest Service was excited about the implications.

"Timber theft investigation is a priority for Forest Service Law Enforcement and Investigations on the Mark Twain National Forest, and I'm excited because using DNA evidence gives us another great tool in our toolbox to combat the theft of natural resources from public lands," said Mark Twain National Forest patrol captain Casey Hutsell.

While animal poaching tends to get much more mainstream attention, tree poaching  or illegally removing any type of protected plants or wildlife  is also a big problem. In Australia, one property owner was recently issued a large fine for bulldozing a mile of national parkland to create a path to his property.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont also recently came under fire for hiring a landscaper to clear out 180 trees and thousands of bushes near his home. A neighbor and a neighborhood organization were also involved.

In the case of the walnut trees, the individual culprit was eventually tracked down and pleaded guilty to one felony count of depredation of government property. He was sentenced to five months time served, three years of supervised parole, and restitution for the timber's value and damage to the forest.

The successful use of DNA analysis in the fight against timber theft is a heartening display of how scientific breakthroughs contribute to the protection of our planet.

In addition to providing shelter for wildlife, plants in our parks and forests soak up heat-trapping gases linked to destructive and devastating extreme weather events. Supporting programs and initiatives that protect our resources can contribute to a brighter future for all.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A repeat sexual offender was found guilty on 31 counts of invasion of privacy after recording a multitude of women using the bathroom at Portland Community College and local businesses.

Jared Walter, the convicted sexual offender banned for life from TriMet, will be sentenced in August.

Portland officials launch internal investigation into citys delayed payroll system

Between April 26-30, 2023, Portland police learned a man was entering different womens bathrooms across the city. Investigators connected Walter, 37, to those bathrooms and the recordings.

Those incidents happened just two months after Walter was released from custody for different crimes. In September 2021, he was sentenced to nearly 2 years in prison after admitting to taking a picture of a woman inside a bars bathroom.

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.
Former President Trumps adviser Chris LaCivita knocked College Republicans for issuing a statement arguing the outcome of Trumps New York trial, in which he was convicted on 34 felony counts, should be respected.

Todays convictions are the result of a politically motivated prosecution, but a verdict was handed down by jurors whose decisions were made in accordance with our criminal justice system. As such, the outcome of this trial should be respected. Just like the decision of voters on November 5th, College Republicans said in a post on the social platform X.

Opinions are like aholes everyone has one . LaCivita replied.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), a staunch Trump ally, piled on.

Im sorry, but this is a horrendously bad take. The verdict should be condemned as a stain on our nation and our justice system. It was the outgrowth of a rigged, corrupt process, Gaetz wrote.

Trump became the first former president to be convicted of a felony when a Manhattan jury decided Thursday to convict him on all counts in the case related to a hush money payment made in 2016. He quickly blasted the verdict as rigged and labeled himself a very innocent man  and his team moved to raise money off the jurys decision as he runs to get back to the White House.

Trump is set to face sentencing in July, just before the Republican National Convention. A felony conviction isnt a barrier to seeking the presidency, but the development is set to roil the race as Trump readies for a rematch with President Biden in November.

After former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who is running for the Senate, said the verdict should be respected regardless of the outcome, LaCivita argued Hogan had just ended his campaign.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Trump adviser on Hogans verdict remarks: You just ended your campaign

Former President Trumps adviser Chris LaCivita said that former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who is running to become one of the states next senators, has just ended his campaign with remarks he shared in the lead-up to the decision in the former presidents hush money case.

Minutes before Trump, the Republican presumptive nominee, was found guilty on all 34 felony counts in the Manhattan hush-money case, Hogan shared a Thursday post on the social media platform X, saying that regardless of the outcome, Americans should respect the legal process and the verdict.

At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leadersregardless of partymust not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship, Hogan said. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law.

In a little more than an hour, LaCivita, a veteran consultant, who has been overseeing day-to-day operations of the Republican National Committee (RNC) since March, fired back at the former governor, saying You just ended your campaign.

Hogan, a frequent Trump critic, is looking to become the first GOP politician to win a seat in Maryland, a blue-leaning state where he served as governor for two consecutive terms.

The moderate Republican, who launched his Senate bid in February, said in March that he would not vote for Trump or for President Biden in 2024.

Hogan is looking to build a diverse coalition of voters as he tries to win the race in November while also stressing that neither Republicans nor Democrats in the upper chamber can count on his vote, showcasing his commitment to being an independent voter.

Hogan won the Maryland GOP primary in May and will square off against Prince Georges County Executive Angela Alsobrooks, who beat Rep. David Trone (Md.) in the Democratic primary.

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Team Trump isnt taking too kindly to dissent within the ranks.

Responding to former Maryland governor and moderate Republican Larry Hogans appeal for Americans to respect the verdict and legal process after Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts in his New York criminal trial, a senior campaign adviser to the former president and presumptive presidential nominee showed where power lies in the GOP, writing: You just ended your campaign.

The stark warning from Chris LaCivita spoke to the challenge ahead for Hogan if he is to convince Republicans in Maryland, the state he governed for eight years, to back him for U.S. Senate.

Hogan ran Maryland from 2015 to 2023 and remains popular with voters but already stands apart from most of his own party, having said he will not vote for Trump in November.

That stance makes political sense in a deep blue state where Hogan must appeal to Democrats and independents in his race against Angela Alsobrooks, a Democratic county executive.

Accordingly, on Thursday, after Trump was found guilty, becoming the first former president ever convicted of a crime, Hogan appealed for moderation.

Regardless of the result, Hogan wrote on social media, I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process.

At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leadersregardless of partymust not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law.

Hogans words echoed a brief statement from the White House, where Ian Sams, a spokesperson for the White House Counsels Office, said simply: We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment.

A spokesperson for Hogan did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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(The Hill)  Former President Trump in a new video is asking his supporters to join him in his fight for America after he was found guilty in his New York hush money trial.

This is the final battle. With you at my side, we will demolish the deep state. We will expel the warmongers from our government. We will drive out the globalists; we will cast out the communists, Marxists, and fascists. We will throw off the sick political class that hates our country, Trumps voice says over an ominous black-and-white clip of the former president walking toward the camera.

We will rout the fake news media. And we will liberate America from these villains once and for all, Trumps narration continues. The audio appeared to be pulled from one of his rallies.

Jury finds Trump guilty on all counts in hush money case

The 35-second video concludes with a call to join President Trumps fight for America.

After a jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, Trump quickly decried the verdict as rigged and pitched himself as a very innocent man.

He also moved quickly to raise money off the jurys decision, writing to his base that he was the victim of an unfair trial as he runs to return to the White House in November.

Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a felony, and is set to face sentencing in July, just before the Republican National Convention. Prison time is a possibility, though experts have said thats unlikely. He could also be barred from casting a ballot in his home state of Florida.

A felony conviction isnt a barrier to seeking the Oval Office, but the development is nevertheless set to roil the presidential race as Trump and President Biden are set to go toe-to-toe in a November rematch.

The former president faced 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his ex-fixer, Michael Cohen, made amid the 2016 cycle to adult film star Stormy Daniels to quiet her allegations of an affair with Trump a decade prior. Trump pleaded not guilty and denies the affair.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Former President Trump in a new video is asking his supporters to join him in his fight for America after he was found guilty in his New York hush money trial.

This is the final battle. With you at my side, we will demolish the deep state. We will expel the warmongers from our government. We will drive out the globalists; we will cast out the communists, Marxists, and fascists. We will throw off the sick political class that hates our country, Trumps voice says over an ominous black-and-white clip of the former president walking toward the camera.

We will rout the fake news media. And we will liberate America from these villains once and for all, Trumps narration continues. The audio appeared to be pulled from one of his rallies.

The 35-second video concludes with a call to join President Trumps fight for America.

After a jury found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, Trump quickly decried the verdict as rigged and pitched himself as a very innocent man.

He also moved quickly to raise money off the jurys decision, writing to his base that he was the victim of an unfair trial as he runs to return to the White House in November.

Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a felony, and is set to face sentencing in July, just before the Republican National Convention. Prison time is a possibility, though experts have said thats unlikely. He could also be barred from casting a ballot in his home state of Florida.

A felony conviction isnt a barrier to seeking the Oval Office, but the development is nevertheless set to roil the presidential race as Trump and President Biden are set to go toe-to-toe in a November rematch.

The former president faced 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his ex-fixer, Michael Cohen, made amid the 2016 cycle to adult film star Stormy Daniels to quiet her allegations of an affair with Trump a decade prior. Trump pleaded not guilty and denies the affair.

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.
In remarks that could best be described as a rant, former President Donald Trump spoke out Friday against a very unfair trial wherein a devil"  Judge Juan Merchan  supposedly prevented him from being exonerated.

I would have testified, I wanted to testify, Trump told reporters. He said the prevailing theory is that one must should never testify, even if it were George Washington, because a single untruth could be charged as perjury, but he didnt care and still wanted to testify.

Trump then launched into another bizarre attack against the judge in his case, claiming he was the reason he never took the stand in his own defense.

Was he a bad boy here? Was he a bad boy there? Trump said, claiming Merchan let prosecutors "go into everything that I was ever involved in." That's why he didn't speak, Trump asserted: "I would have loved to have testified. To this day I would have liked to have testified.

He again returned to Merchan, who will decide Trump's sentence at a July 11 hearing.

You saw what happened to some of the witnesses who were on our side, they were literally crucified by this man who looks like an angel but hes really a devil, Trump said. He looks so nice and soft, the former president continued, but he put people through hell.

Trump, who faces the prospect of prison, did not help himself with his remarks, Georgia State University law professor Anthony Michael Kreis commented on social media.

This press conference is not helping Trump," Kreis wrote. "Hed be better just keeping quiet but hes begging for incarceration at this point."
Former President Donald Trump is firing up his fundraising machine after being found guilty on all 34 counts in his hush money trial -- attending a campaign fundraiser with top Republican donors an on the Upper East Side Manhattan Thursday night and blasting out fundraising emails to small-dollar donors just minutes after the verdict dropped.

The Manhattan fundraiser was an intimate event, attended by a little more than a couple dozen people including staff, described by one attendee as Very upbeat. Very positive.

In attendance was top Republican donors like Blackstone CEO Steve Schwarzman, who, after the 2022 midterms, had called for a new generation of leaders in the Republican Party but more recently indicated that he would back Trump again.

Other attendees included longtime friend and donor Steve Witkoff, who had joined Trump at court several times throughout the trial, and WABC radio owner John Catsimatidis.

He was in very high spirits, Catsimatidis said on his his radio station Thursday night after attending the fundraiser, noting that Trumps son Eric Trump was at the fundraiser as well.

This is not the  not the A List  It was a AAA List, Catsimatidis said of the donors that attended the fundraisers. He said Trump went around the donors asking who they think his running mate should be, adding Sen. Tim Scott, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeos names were floated.

A lot of people said to Trump, we don't like Nikki Haley, but she might make a difference, Catsimatidis said.

Overall, it was a relatively short fundraiser -- Trump departing the venue less than two hours after his arrival, giving a wave to the public who gathered to get a glimpse of the former president.

Never surrender! one native New Yorker yelled, and Trump smiled from his motorcade.

He was fired up, a man exiting the fundraiser told ABC News.

In addition to mingling with high-dollar donors, the Trump campaign immediately began appealing to small-dollar donors off of his verdict, blasting out online fundraising messages, telling his supporters he had been convicted in a "rigged" trial.

"I was just convicted in a RIGGED political Witch Hunt trial: I DID NOTHING WRONG!" read a fundraising email, which was sent out minutes after the former president left the courthouse.

"They've raided my home, arrested me, took my mugshot, AND NOW THEY'VE JUST CONVICTED ME!" the email continued.

PHOTO: Former President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump arrives to speak to the press after he was convicted in his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, May 30, 2024. (Seth Wenig/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

On Friday, the campaign claimed it had raised $34.8 million in small dollar donations since the verdict in the hush money trial came out on Thursday.

The campaign says that's double the previous highest amount the campaign has raised on their WinRed platform.

"Fundraising has taken a new direction," said former Trump-appointed ambassador to Switzerland Ed McMullen, who raises money for the Trump campaign. "People calling wanting to write checks in ways Ive never seen. This is a huge eye opener for fence sitters!!"

The fundraising page for Trump's campaign went down for a few minutes after it was made public following the verdict. The campaign is claiming the platform was shut down "due to overwhelming amount of support."

"WinRed is down due to the overwhelming amount of support out there, all across America! Stay strong, and thank you," Trump senior adviser Dan Scavino wrote on X. "The site will be up and running again soon!"

Trump's co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita wrote on X: "If you are one of the millions of American Patriots wanting to donate to Donald Trump's campaign and you get an error message from @WINRED don't give up! Log back on and try again ! or Text TRUMP to 88022 Help us send weak @JoeBiden packing !!!"

MORE: Can Trump still be elected president after being convicted in hush money case?

Donors and fundraisers for Trump and the Republican National Committee told ABC News that this is an indication that the verdict is firing up Trump supporters.

"President Trump's donation site just crashed. People are sending money like crazy. People are fired up," said Bill White, a longtime friend and fundraiser of Trump.

White said a donor pledged $50,000 to the Trump campaign just 10 minutes after the verdict came out.

"I have a friend of mine in California, and he just texted me, I said, 'Look I'm gonna get together some people for fundraising,' and he said, 'Count me in for $50,000,'" White said.

"[My husband] and I will be making another contribution in light of this  I don't accept the jury verdict," White continued, saying the verdict has fired himself up to contribute more as well. "It will 100% be overruled on appeal, and it may need to go to the Supreme Court."

"Given WinRed was overwhelmed and shut down, I'd say so far positive indication on the fundraising side," Ozzie Palomo, a former Haley bundler now raising money for the RNC told ABC News. "You've had some big donors come out days before the verdict knowing full well a guilty verdict was a possibility. If it didn't scare donors then can't see how it will scare them off now. There will be an appeal and it plays into Trump's narrative."

PHOTO: Illustration (ABC News )

MORE: Trump trial live updates: Trump found guilty on all counts in historic case

It took the jury 10 hours to come to their decision.

Trump, who was impeached twice while in office and found not guilty in both cases, has faced four indictments for much of the 2024 race. The case in Manhattan dealt with a hush money payment to a porn star and his attempt to hide salacious allegations from voters to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.

The former president pleaded not guilty and denied all wrongdoing, including ever having had an sexual encounter with Daniels. After the verdict was read, Trump railed against the judge, and called the trial "rigged [and] disgraceful."

Sentencing is scheduled for July 11.

Trump attends NY fundraiser with top Republican donors right after guilty verdict originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
GAZA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Hamas politburo chief Ismail Haniyeh on Friday accused Israel of using negotiations to continue the war in Gaza, stressing the movement's adherence to all paths that protect the Palestinian people and stop the "aggression" completely.

Speaking at the Arab National Conference in the Lebanese capital Beirut, Haniyeh said Hamas had informed mediators from Egypt and Qatar that "its established rules cannot be waived," which include the cessation of the "aggression," the comprehensive withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip, the lifting of the siege, reconstruction, and the implementation of "a complete prisoner swap deal."

Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported on Tuesday that Israel had handed over a document outlining its proposal to Qatar and Egypt to resume negotiations for a prisoner-hostage exchange with Hamas and to achieve a ceasefire in Gaza.

The previous round of ceasefire negotiations in the Gaza Strip, which took place in Egypt, collapsed earlier this month.

Fighting continued in the southernmost Gazan city of Rafah despite international condemnations of the Israeli offensive.

The Hamas-run media office in Gaza on Friday warned of an unprecedented humanitarian disaster in the enclave due to the closure of land crossings.

"We warn of the intensification of the food, water, and medicine crises and the worsening of famine and thirst due to the Israeli army's ban on bringing aid and fuel into the Gaza Strip, and we hold it fully responsible for an imminent humanitarian disaster," the office said in a press statement.

It added all crossings and exits leading to the Gaza Strip had been closed by the Israeli army for the past 24 days, preventing 22,000 wounded and sick people from seeking treatment outside Gaza, the office said.

Moreover, the statement highlighted that more than 98 percent of the enclave's bakeries had ceased operations due to a lack of cooking gas, while more than 700 water wells had been shut down.

Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 were taken hostage. 
Former President Trumps attorney Will Scharf said Thursday that the former presidents legal team is considering all options to appeal his hush money conviction.

This case is replete with reversible error going back to the very first day, continuing through jury instructions. Every aspect of this case is ripe for appeal. We are going to appeal as quickly as we can. We will seek expedited review of this case, Scharf told Fox News.

And were going to trust that the appellate courts in New York understand the dangerous Pandoras box that this lawless judgment has opened and that they understand the potential ramifications to our legal system if this unjust verdict is allowed to stand, Scharf continued.

In a historic verdict Thursday, Trump was found guilty of all 34 counts of falsifying business records in New York, making him the first former U.S. president to become a convicted felon.

When asked if it is possible the appeal will be brought to the U.S. Supreme Court, Scharf said, All options are on the table.

And we are actively considering all options that could lead to justice for President Trump here, because justice has not been done in this New York courtroom today, Scharf added.

The former president is slated to be sentenced on July 11, just four days before the 2024 Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. He could face jail time, though first-time offenders on charges like Trumps are rarely incarcerated.

Shortly after the conviction came down, Trump called the case a rigged, disgraceful trial.

The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here, Trump said, portraying himself as a victim.

The former president is facing additional criminal cases in Washington, D.C., Georgia, and Florida, none of which are currently on track to go to trial before Election Day.

Scharf, who is also a Republican candidate for Missouris attorney general, told Fox News that Trump is an optimist, and poured cold water over the verdict impacting him too greatly.

President Trump believes that we are going to take back the country next November, that the American people will ultimately have their say, and that they want him back in the White House, where we  he can go about making this country great again, he said.

I doubt if this is going to really affect him in that way all that much, because he knows that he has the American people on his side, he continued.

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Former President Trumps fundraising page crashed shortly after he was convicted on 34 felony counts by a New York jury, an issue his campaign attributed to an influx of donations.

The American people see through Crooked Joe Bidens rigged show trial, Trumps campaign posted on the social platform X. So many Americans were moved to donate to President Trumps campaign that the WinRed pages went down. We are working on getting the website back online as quickly as possible.

Trumps campaign website redirected visitors to WinRed, the official GOP fundraising site. But the page to donate to the former president said it was under maintenance. The campaign briefly redirected to a different donation processor amid the technical difficulties.

Trump campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita urged supporters to log back on and try again if they received an error message.

The former president has made it a habit of turning his legal problems into campaign fundraising pitches. He used his mug shot after his Georgia indictment last year to bring in millions of dollars in campaign cash, and his campaign is expected to try and capitalize on outrage over Thursdays verdict.

Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, making him the first former president to be convicted of a felony.

The 12-person jury in the hush money trial returned their verdict late Thursday afternoon after deliberations went for approximately 11 hours.

Trump has denied the affair and had pleaded not guilty. He is expected to appeal the verdict.

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Trump carries the stain of conviction like a crown. Will the verdict matter to voters?

WASHINGTON (AP)  The bravado behind Donald Trump' s boastful hypothesis in 2016  I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldnt lose any voters"  is headed for a real-world reckoning.

Until now, at least, he's been uncannily right. Through his two impeachments, his desperate agitations to stay in power after losing the last election and the far-ranging series of criminal charges against him from Florida to Georgia to Washington to New York, Trump has held sway with his acolytes and the bulk of the Republican Party.

But now he's the first president in history to carry the stain of felony conviction. Will it matter in the November election?

After the damning verdict, everyone seemed to rush for the partisan ramparts. But this is untraveled territory for Americans  this finding of criminal behavior signed, sealed and delivered by unanimous jurors against the only man who has been the subject both of a presidential portrait and a mug shot.

Even some firm anti-Trumpers aren't counting on the convictions making a difference. Get ready for a felonious president," said Joan Marks, a 58-year-old Democrat who offered her glum prediction of a Trump victory while standing outside Manuels Tavern, a popular liberal hangout near Jimmy Carters presidential library in Atlanta.

Contributions flowed in to the Trump campaign  more than $1 million for each for the 34 convictions, his people said.

The case will go down in history as The People of the State of New York vs. Donald J. Trump. But after the verdict, just as before it, leading Republicans and a variety of likeminded voters wrote it off as just another egregious example of Us vs. Them.

Political persecution at the highest level, said West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, the Republican nominee for governor. Republican party chairs in South Carolina, Illinois and New York each assailed banana republic justice.

There was plenty of talk from other high places in the party about a sham" trial, rigged verdict," kangaroo court and Soviet-style shenanigans, as if apparatchiks had delivered the 34 convictions, not a jury whose 12 members were selected by the defense as well as the prosecution.

Even Moscow weighed in, on Trump's side. As regards Trump, its quite obvious that the effective removal of political opponents by all lawful and unlawful means is going on and the entire world can see it with a naked eye, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Trumps early reaction to the verdict suggested he will wear his conviction like a crown, and there were already signs of retribution against any Republican who dared to stand up for the trial.

Shortly before the verdict, Larry Hogan, the anti-Trump Republican Senate candidate in Maryland and a former governor, posted an appeal for all Americans to accept the jury's decision, whatever the outcome, and added: At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leaders  regardless of party  must not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship.

Chris LaCivita, a senior Trump campaign adviser, shot back on X: You just ended your campaign."

Among voters, Justin Gonzalez, a 21-year-old student and tutor in the border city of McAllen, Texas, said he did learn something quite troubling about Trump in the trial. Hes a lot of things, but I never personally thought of him as a liar, he said. I guess this would change my perception of him.

Yet as he prepares to vote in his first presidential election, Gonzales cares more about immigration enforcement than the icky business centered on the cover-up of payments to silence a porn actor. Out of all the other issues, this is still bad but its not enough to sway me to vote for Biden."

An ABC-Ipsos poll conducted in late April found that 80% of Trumps supporters said they would stick with him even if he were convicted of a felony in the hush-money case. Only 4% said they would withdraw their vote, though 16% said they would reconsider it. In an election that is expected to be close, even small shifts in support could make a difference.

In the Lower Manhattan courthouse, the first president to come to power propelled by tabloid fame and reality TV faced the ultimate tabloid kind of charges and yet, in a story of our time, he is the Republicans' presumptive nominee for president.

With his ever-present sense of spectacle  though there was no televising of the proceedings  Trump turned the trial into a campaign stage for reelection as best he could.

He has succeeded in other contexts by the use of his bullhorn  shouting down his opponents, savaging them on social media, branding them with humiliating nicknames  but this time some of his normal moves weren't available to him. He did not have control of the situation. He couldnt simply hector away the constraints of a courtroom and the clear language of the law. He tried on occasion and the judge ordered him to be silent, slapped him with fines and the threat of worse. Mostly he glowered and, at times, looked Zen or sleepy.

New Yorkers weren't used to seeing this happen to Trump. Love him or hate him  and there's little in between  they have long considered him an escape artist through career-spanning thickets of legal, business and political thorns.

This time he didn't get away.

Finally, some accountability, said Nadine Striker, who celebrated the verdict at a public pond across the street from the courthouse, a mile from Fifth Avenue. She held up a big banner reading TRUMP CONVICTED and wore a headband propping up a hand-sized cutout of Alvin Bragg, the prosecutor.

Back in November 1973, Richard Nixon famously declared to a meeting of newspaper managing editors in The Associated Press cooperative: I am not a crook. At the time, in the Watergate scandal that ultimately consumed his presidency, it looked like he might be just that.

But for Nixon that question was never put to the test in court. With Trump, it has been.

Still, with Trump, you never ever know. He may have some Harry Houdini left in him.

Anybody else would go to jail," Striker said. I dont expect him to.

___

Associated Press writers Cedar Attanasio in New York, Bill Barrow in Atlanta, John Raby in Charleston, West Virginia, and Valerie Gonzalez in McAllen, Texas, contributed to this report.
Donald Trump has been cashing in on his new title of convicted felon.

Rolling Stone reported earlier this week that the former presidents team expected a guilty verdict in the hush-money trial and were preparing a fundraising blitz as soon as the jury handed down a decision. The blitz came just minutes after Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records with which he was charged, and on Friday morning, his campaign announced they had raised a whopping $34.8 from small-dollar donations following the verdict.

From just minutes after the sham trial verdict was announced, our digital fund-raising system was overwhelmed with support, and despite temporary delays online because of the amount of traffic, President Trump raised $34.8 million dollars from small-dollar donors, Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles, senior advisers on the Trump campaign, said in a statement. President Trump and our campaign are immensely grateful from this outpouring of support from patriots across our country.

It wasnt just Trump. The National Republican Senatorial Committee says Thursday was its highest fundraising day ever, with donations tripling after the verdict came in, giving them $360,000 on the day. The National Republican Congressional Committee said it raised $300,000, its best fundraising day of the cycle, almost doubling the $175,000 that they raised the day Mike Johnson was elected House Speaker.

The totals are chump change compared to the $34.8 million Trumps campaign says it raised, and thats just from small-dollar donors. Hours after the jury convicted Trump, Cuban billionaire Pepe Fanjul hosted a fundraising for Trump in New York City, with Steve Schwartzman, the billionaire Blackstone CEO, attending, according to Politico. Meanwhile, Shaun Maguire, a partner at Silicon Valley venture capital firm Sequoia Capital, wrote on X that the conviction inspired him to donate $300,000 to Trump. Fairness is one of my guiding principles in life and simply, these cases havent been fair for Trump, he wrote in a lengthy screed in which he said he believes the 2020 election was manipulated.

The worlds richest man also expressed his at the conviction, although its unclear if hes throwing any money toward Trumps campaign. Indeed, great damage was done today to the publics faith in the American legal system, Elon Musk wrote on X. If a former President can be criminally convicted over such a trivial matter  motivated by politics, rather than justice  then anyone is at risk of a similar fate.

The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this week that Musk and Trump have grown cozy in recent months, noting that Trump is considering making Musk a White House adviser if he wins in November. Matthew Belloni of Puck News reported on Friday that X will soon host a town hall with Trump. Its unclear whether Musk is giving financial support to Trumps campaign.

Trumps campaign is scoring a sizable cash influx as a result of his conviction, but its unclear what role his criminal status will ultimately have on the election. Regardless, the wealthiest Americans are shaken that the nations justice system dared to come after one of their own.

More from Rolling Stone

Best of Rolling Stone
Trump Convicted on 34 Felony Counts in Hush-Money Case. What Happens Now?

On May 30, 2024, a New York jury found former U.S. President Donald Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records. He is the first U.S. president to be convicted of a felony.

All major news outlets covered the news in different ways and answered different questions about the verdict. For more background on the case, NPR's coverage outlined the arguments made by both prosecution and defense.

But many people want to know what happens next. Here's a summary of the main points:

While Trump has been found guilty, he has not yet been sentenced. Judge Juan Merchan has scheduled Trump's sentencing hearing for July 11. That hearing is when any punishments, including potential prison time, will be decided. Trump is expected to appeal the decision, which could delay the start date of his punishment, whatever it may be, until after the November presidential election.

Both NBC and CBS spoke to experts who believed that Trump will likely not face any prison time for numerous reasons. Trump is the Republican nominee who will be facing incumbent Democratic President Joe Biden.

Trump is still eligible to run for president and hold that office  nothing in the U.S. Constitution prevents him from doing so. As reported by Politico, he is far from the first criminal to run for the office. He could also theoretically lose his right to vote, as reported by CNN, however, this is unlikely, since it would require him to receive prison time.

The conviction is not likely to significantly shift public opinion, according to analysis from ABC News. The election is still five months away, which is an incredibly long time in politics  the ABC story noted that the notorious Access Hollywood tape, in which Trump openly talked about himself groping and sexually assaulting women, was released about a month before the 2016 presidential election, and Trump quickly recovered any support he lost.

Sources:

Bromwich, Jonah E., and Ben Protess. "Live Updates: Trump Guilty on All Counts in Hush-Money Case." The New York Times, 30 May 2024. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/05/30/nyregion/trump-trial-verdict.

"Donald Trump Was Convicted on Felony Charges. Will He Go to Prison?" NBC News, 30 May 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-prison-hush-money-trial-verdict-rcna153963.

Feuerherd, Ben. "Yes, Donald Trump Can Still Be President as a Convicted Felon." Politico, 30 May 2024, https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/30/can-trump-still-be-president-00160433.

Hubbard, Kaia. Is Trump Going to Prison? What to Know about the Possible Sentence after His Conviction - CBS News. 30 May 2024, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-convicted-prison-sentence-new-york-criminal-trial/.

"Live Updates: Donald Trump Guilty on All 34 Felony Counts in Hush Money Trial." NBC News, 30 May 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/live-blog/trump-trial-jury-deliberations-hush-money-case-rcna154607.

News, A. B. C. "How Trump's Guilty Verdict Will Impact the 2024 Presidential Election." ABC News, https://abcnews.go.com/538/trumps-guilty-verdict-impact-2024-presidential-election/story?id=110650906. Accessed 30 May 2024.

Wolf, Zachary B. "Analysis: Can Trump Still Run for President? Can He Still Vote? | CNN Politics." CNN, 30 May 2024, https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/30/politics/can-trump-still-run-for-president-what-matters/index.html.

X, et al. "Former President Trump Is Found Guilty in Historic New York Criminal Case." NPR, 30 May 2024. NPR, https://www.npr.org/2024/05/30/nx-s1-4977352/trump-trial-verdict.
WASHINGTON  Republican leaders blasted Donald Trumps guilty verdict on Thursday  and casually trashed the entire U.S. justice system.

This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said in a statement, falsely suggesting that President Joe Biden orchestrated the case.

The weaponization of our justice system has been a hallmark of the Biden Administration, Johnson said, and the decision today is further evidence that Democrats will stop at nothing to silence dissent and crush their political opponents.

Absolute injustice, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who is vying to be Trumps vice presidential pick, said in a statement. This erodes our justice system. Hear me clearly: You cannot silence the American people. You cannot stop us from voting for change.

Their comments were typical for GOP lawmakers in the aftermath of Trumps verdict. Its the latest sign that top Republicans are ditching their law and order brand in their efforts to suck up to Trump amid his post-presidential legal woes. Johnson, Scott and other GOP lawmakers have spent the last few weeks flocking to Trumps trial in New York City to appear on television with him, and to attack the judge, the court and the rule of law itself.

Its also a continuation of the hole-digging Trump has forced Republicans to do to excuse his continuous flouting of norms and laws  a project that has accelerated considerably in the years since Trump lost the 2020 election.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) as he stands behind Trump speaking outside of his criminal trial. via Associated Press

After Trump incited a riot at the U.S. Capitol as part of his schemes to illegally remain in power, Republicans have increasingly downplayed the attack. In 2023, after they retook the House of Representatives, Republicans launched a Weaponization of Government committee to put all depredations against the Trump movement in one giant category, with the criminal cases against Trump himself always front-and-center.

On Friday, the committees chairman, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), demanded Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, who led Trumps prosecution, testify about the case in June.

This hearing will examine actions by state and local prosecutors to engage politically motivated prosecutions of federal officials, in particular the recent political prosecution of President Donald Trump by the Manhattan District Attorneys Office, Jordan said in a letter to Bragg.

Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide election-year hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, an adult film star who said she had sex with Trump in 2006. Trumps former attorney, Michael Cohen, testified that he sent money on the former presidents behalf and disguised it as payments for other services.

For all their fuming, Republicans arent denying the allegations against Trump. Instead, they are blaming Biden, calling the case a selective prosecution, whining that Cohen is a liar (while not disputing his actual testimony), complaining that the charges should have been misdemeanors rather than felonies or saying that the judge was corrupt because his daughter earns a living in Democratic politics.

We need to understand what are the connections between big Democratic money and this sham prosecution, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) said on Fox News, baselessly planting the idea that Democratic donor George Soros told Bragg to go after Trump.

Trump still faces additional state and federal charges for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, as well as a federal case targeting his hoarding of classified government documents after he left the White House. For Republicans, those cases are just more evidence of the Democratic conspiracy against Trump, and its not possible that Trump could have committed a criminal offense.

In the Republican version of the universe, in which the Justice Department only exists to persecute Trump, there is no ongoing criminal prosecution against the presidents son, Hunter Biden. Meanwhile, the public corruption cases against two Democratic members of Congress, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas), are effectively window dressing.

New York is a liberal shit hole.Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.)

If Trump retakes the White House this November, his allies have been plotting how to transform the Justice Department into an attack dog for right-wing causes. At least one lawmaker called for legal revenge after Trumps verdict.

Time for Red State AGs and DAs to get busy, Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) said on social media, referring to state and local prosecutors.

Republicans have also glossed over the fact that Trumps guilty verdict was decided not by Democratic politicians, but by a jury of 12 New York residents, who Trump personally helped to pick for his trial.

Trump was very much involved in selecting his jury, his attorney, Todd Blanche, said Thursday night on Fox News. He was right there with the whole team talking about the potential jurors.

And even as the jury delivered a unanimous guilty verdict, Blanche said the jurors were great.

They showed up on time every day. They were committed. They paid attention, he said. But, were in a situation where we had a very limited number of people we could strike.

But Republicans rejected the idea that Trump had been tried by a jury of his peers, suggesting that New York residents simply cant be fair because the state tends to vote Democrat.

As Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) put it on social media, New York is a liberal shit hole.

Larry Hogan, the former governor of Maryland and a current U.S. Senate candidate, was the only high-profile Republican on Thursday to make a statement about respecting the outcome of the trial and the rule of law, regardless of what happened.

I urge all Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process, Hogan posted on social media before the verdict was announced. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leadersregardless of partymust not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship. We must reaffirm what has made this nation great: the rule of law.

He was swiftly condemned by Trump supporters  and directly by Trump senior advisor Chris LaCivita.

You just ended your campaign, LaCivita replied to Hogans message.

Related...
Donald Trumps first act on becoming a convicted criminal was to launch a raging new attack on the rule of law, laying bare the gravity of the choice awaiting Americas voters.

In one sense, Trumps conviction on all counts in his first criminal trial affirmed the principle on which the United States is founded  that everyone is equal and that no one, not even a billionaire and former and possibly future president, enjoys impunity.

But Trumps authoritarian outburst minutes after the guilty verdict in New York and a race by top Republicans to join his assault on the justice system underscore how threatened those bedrock values now are.

This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be November 5, by the people, and they know what happened here and everybody knows what happened here, Trump said minutes after a jury foreperson announced he was guilty on 34 felony charges of falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to an adult film star. After returning to Trump Tower and greeting supporters with a clenched fist, Trump issued a written statement that made clear that he views his own fate and the nations as indistinguishable  a familiar hallmark of a dictatorial leader. Im a very innocent man, and its okay, Im fighting for our country. Im fighting for our Constitution. Our whole country is being rigged right now, Trump wrote.

President Joe Bidens campaign echoed his opponents belief that the ultimate judgment on the former president will come in the general election.

Todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality, said campaign communications director Michael Tyler. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president, Tyler said. The threat Trump poses to our democracy has never been greater.

A moment of personal anguish with national consequences

Trumps conviction by a unanimous New York jury was the most painful low of a tumultuous life of denying accountability that has seen financial boom and bust, three marriages, television stardom, frequent brushes with the law, the triumph of his outsider 2016 election win, a norm-shattering presidency and an attempt to destroy democracy to stay in power after losing in 2020.

Judging by his red-faced shock outside the courtroom, the verdict was a moment of personal anguish. Given that hes got a good chance of being the next president, it is sure to become a grave national test as well.

Trump had pleaded not guilty in a trial that is one of four criminal cases entangled with the 2024 presidential election and the only one likely to see a jury before the election. Responses to any motions from the defense in the hush money case are due by June 27  the day of the first presidential debate, hosted by CNN. Trumps sentencing hearing is set for July 11, just days before hell secure the nomination at the Republican National Convention and around when hes said hed announce his vice presidential pick. Already, his legal defenses have morphed with his political strategy in a narrative of political persecution, and he is vowing that he will devote a possible second term to retribution against his foes.

Among an electorate that Trump has constantly polarized, the verdict is likely to be greeted with fury by his supporters and jubilation by his critics. But in truth, this is a somber and even tragic passage of US history. Americans have never seen an ex-president convicted of a crime, and a country already torn apart by bitter political and cultural polarization is likely in for a rocky time.

The implications are enormous.

They begin with the potential consequences for an election in five months that could be decided by the shift of just a few thousand votes in a few states. Trump has been preparing voters for months for the possibility that he would be found guilty in a case that prosecutors said centered around a bid to mislead voters in 2016. Hes claimed his four criminal indictments are a plot by Biden to destroy him. In essence, hes been working to shatter his greatest norm yet  the idea that it would be unthinkable for a felon to serve as president.

Supporters hold placards and flags following the announcement of the verdict in Trump's criminal trial. - Andrew Kelly/Reuters

No one can know how voters will react to Trumps latest moment of ignominy. His conviction will certainly energize his loyal base and his campaign will try to create a backlash to the verdict among more moderate voters. If they succeed, Thursday could come to be remembered as the day Biden lost the election.

Or, the guilty verdict could play into Bidens campaign theme that his predecessor is too corrupt and extreme to serve as president again. Moderate and suburban voters whom Trump has always struggled to attract could be further alienated.

But Trumps tactics and his capacity to shape the views of his supporters  with the aid of the conservative media machine  will inevitably mean that the legal system will join the electoral system as another essential institution of American governance that is now viewed as illegitimate by millions of citizens.

And if it is Trump who raises his hand to swear to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution on January 20 as the 47th president, America will be led by a criminal whose duties will include being the symbolic head of the justice system. The danger is acute because with his attempt to stay in power after losing the 2020 election, Trump has already shown he will do what it takes to save himself, even if his actions catastrophically hurt democratic institutions.

Profound reverberations of the Trump trial verdict

CNN presidential historian Timothy Naftali said Thursday that Trumps call to arms for a campaign against the legal system will mean that every Republican will be forced to put it at the center of their 2024 campaigns. That is going to create, in my view, a torrent of poison that will be likely worse than we saw in the Stop the Steal campaign that preceded January 6. And that is going to further unsettle an already sensitive country, Naftali said. I worry about it because the Stop the Steal campaign created widespread doubt about the honesty of our electoral system and led many people to believe that fraud had been committed in 2020.

A question that long hovered over this trial is whether the crime  falsifying financial records to hide a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels to mislead voters in 2016  was sufficiently serious for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to risk the extraordinary political consequences of indicting an ex-president. Prosecutors use of Trumps former fixer Michael Cohen as their star witness, despite his own conviction on tax charges and for lying to Congress, was deeply controversial. Trumps lawyer Todd Blanche told CNNs Kaitlan Collins Thursday that the timing of the trial  in the middle of an election campaign  was unfair to the ex-president.

But the charges were not just cooked up by prosecutors as Trump claimed. They were brought by a grand jury. The ex-president was offered the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and he was judged by a jury of his peers. Even now, the Constitution he claims has been hijacked will protect him with a full array of appeals, as in all of his other criminal cases.

But once a jury has delivered a verdict, justice is considered served. So the immediate Republican attacks on the judge, the court and the verdict represent an extraordinary effort by one of the countrys two major political parties to turn against the integrity of the legal system.

Eric Trump listens as former President Donald Trump speaks to the media after being found guilty on all 34 counts in his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024. - Justin Lane/Pool/Getty Images

The GOP is showing  after failing to convict Trump in two impeachments and after many of its most prominent members repeated his lies about the 2020 election  that there is nothing that he can do that will sever the partys cult-like embrace of its leader. This suggests that any Trump second term would feature even fewer constraints than his wild first one. And it raises questions about his claim to be running a law and order campaign.

One of the first Republicans to react was New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, the House GOP conference chair who is seen as a possible Trump vice presidential pick. Todays verdict shows how corrupt, rigged, and un-American the weaponized justice system has become under Joe Biden and Democrats, Stefanik said. From the start, the weaponized scales of justice were stacked against President Trump.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who traveled to support Trump during his trial and helped to fuel false claims of electoral fraud in 2020, brought the symbolic weight of his office to support Trump and attack the legal system. Today is a shameful day in American history. Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges, predicated on the testimony of a disbarred, convicted felon. This was a purely political exercise, not a legal one, the Louisiana Republican claimed.

Another top Trump ally, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, said there was never a chance of a fair trial in a city which drew its jury pool from one of the most liberal areas in America. This verdict says more about the system than the allegations. It will be seen as politically motivated and unfair, and it will backfire tremendously on the political Left, Graham said. This is a mockery of justice.

Grahams comment promoted an idea thats taken hold among conservatives that a Republican leader can only get a fair trial if they are judged in a jurisdiction where they are popular  a proposition that would effectively permanently politicize justice.

One Republican who refused to join the rush to trash the verdict is former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, whos running for Senate. At this dangerously divided moment in our history, all leadersregardless of partymust not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship, Hogan said in a statement ahead of the verdict being announced. Chris LaCivita, a senior adviser to Trumps campaign wrote on X: You just ended your campaign.

Hogans comment would once have been a standard Republican reaction to the conviction of a top-level politician. In another age, a guilty verdict would have immediately ended Trumps campaign. The fact that the newly convicted criminal is already using it as a springboard to power speaks to volatile days ahead.

This verdict shows two different things, Naftali said.

The first is that the former president can be indicted and found guilty by a group of his peers. And that shows the strength of our system. The other verdict, though, hasnt come in and the other verdict is, can the powerful use our political system to escape the consequences of being found guilty? And that verdict is in November.

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YANGON, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar earned 967 million U.S. dollars from the manufactured goods export between April 1 and May 24 of the current fiscal year 2024-25, according to the Ministry of Commerce on Friday.

During the cited period, the export of manufactured goods generated 442 million dollars from the government sector and 525 million dollars from the private sector, the ministry's figures showed.

The export of manufactured goods during the period was down compared to 1.1 billion dollars registered in the same period a year earlier, the figures showed.

The Southeast Asian country's total export value during the period this year was 1.9 billion dollars, according to the ministry's figures.

Myanmar mainly exports agricultural, animal and marine products, minerals, forest products and manufactured goods, the ministry's figures showed. 
European allies of former US President Donald Trump have rallied around him in support following his historic conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

The conviction  which has been heralded as a somber moment for America with wide-reaching implications  has been painted by Trumps allies in Europe as political persecution, aimed at derailing his bid to return to White House.

Italys Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini called Trumps conviction judicial harassment in a post on X, while Hungarian President Viktor Orban urged him to keep on fighting for the presidency.

But other countries declined to comment on the development  a conventional response for governments when asked about another nations domestic matters.

A Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of all 34 charges of falsifying business records on Thursday, an unprecedented verdict that makes him the first former president in American history to be convicted of a felony. The verdict was announced after jurors deliberated for nearly 12 hours over two days.

It will ultimately be up to voters in November to decide the significance of the guilty verdict delivered by 12 ordinary New Yorkers, which, on a legal basis, does not prevent him from being elected president again.

Salvini, who is a long-time supporter of the former president and visited him in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during his first presidential campaign, said Trump was a victim of judicial harassment and a process of political nature.

He wrote on X that in Italy, we are sadly familiar with the weaponization of the justice system by the left, which he said has for years tried to eliminate political opponents through legal means.

I hope Trump wins; it would be a guarantee of greater balance and hope for world peace, he added.

Orban said he knew Trump to be a man of honour.

As president, he always put America first, he commanded respect around the world and used this respect to build peace, he said Friday in a post on X.

Let the people make their verdict this November! Keep on fighting, Mr. President! he added.

Meanwhile, Russia suggested there was a political conspiracy at play, despite Trump being convicted by a jury.

In general, if we talk about Trump, it is obvious that political rivals are being eliminated there through all legal and illegal means, President Vladimir Putins spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, said in a daily call to journalists.

This is visible to the whole world with the naked eye.

Other countries, sticking to protocol, declined to comment on Trumps conviction. Asked in a press briefing Friday whether he would potentially be willing to work with a convicted felon, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak avoided the question, stating that his focus was squarely on the election here at home, talking to people across the country about the choice at our election.

Germanys Foreign Office spokesperson Christian Wagner, meanwhile, told journalists in a daily briefing: We do not comment on this.

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Trump is first convicted former US president. Which other democracies convicted ex-leaders?

Former President Donald Trumps felony convictions Thursday marked the first time in U.S. history that an ex-president was convicted of a crime, sending shockwaves from the marbled halls of power to the dinner tables of everyday voters. While its a stunning development for Americans, citizens of more than a half-dozen democracies worldwide likely have a more muted reaction: been there, done that.

More: Who else from the White House has faced criminal investigation?

In the 21st century alone, more than a dozen democracies have either convicted or indicted their ex-leaders, most of them presidents but also including prime ministers. A handful of liberal democracies  Argentina, France, and South Korea  have convicted more than one former president and, in one instance, convicted the same leader twice.

Heres a list of 10 democracies that have brought charges against their former leaders in recent years:

Argentina

Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, former president and vice president of Argentina, was convicted of fraud in 2022, sentenced to six years in prison, and is banned from holding political office. She was president from 2007 to 2015 and vice president from 2019 to 2023.

Brazilian president-elect for the leftist Workers Party (PT) Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva holds the hand of his wife, Rosangela "Janja" da Silva, while delivering a speech to supporters at the Paulista avenue after winning the presidential run-off election, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Oct. 30, 2022.

Brazil

The current Brazilian president, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who also led the country from 2003 to 2010, was convicted in 2017 on charges of money laundering and corruption. The conviction was overturned in 2021, opening the door to running for president again and unseating former President Jair Bolsonaro in 2022.

Croatia

Former Croatian prime minister Ivo Sanader was found guilty of corruption in 2020 and sentenced to eight years in prison, and is currently serving out his term behind bars.

France

In France, whose constitutional preamble is inspired by the American Declaration of Independence and has long been one of the United Statess closest allies, not one but two former presidents have faced criminal charges. They are Presidents Jacques Chirac, who was in office from 1995 to 2007, and Nicolas Sarkozy, president from 2007 to 2012.

Chirac was convicted of corruption in 2011 and given a two-year suspended jail sentence. A decade later, former President Sarkozy was convicted of corruption in 2011 and also given a suspended jail sentence. However, a few years later, Sarkozy faced another set of chargesthis time over allegedly hiding illegal overspending during his 2012 campaign. In February, a French appeal court confirmed the conviction, handing down a six-month jail sentence.

Israel

Former president Moshe Katsav, in office from 2000 to 2007, was convicted in 2011 of rape and served five years of a seven-year jail sentence. He was released in 2016 at the age of 71.

Israels prime minister between 2006 and 2009, Ehud Olmert, was convicted of fraud in 2016 and was released from prison early in 2017. Meanwhile, current Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 for a series of charges, including fraud and bribery. His trial is ongoing.

Italy

Former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi served in office three separate times over four governments between 1994 and 2011. He amassed more than two dozen criminal charges over the years, becoming one of Europes most scandalous political figures. He largely avoided punishment after a series of acquittals, including on charges of paying for sex with a minor, tax evasion, corruption and bribery.

Portugal

The coastal nations former prime minister, Jose Socrates, was indicted on corruption charges in 2017, encompassing tax fraud, bribery, money laundering. Some of the larger corruption charges were dismissed in 2021.

Romania

Prime Minister Adrian Nastase served in office from 2000 to 2004, and has faced two convictions and two jail sentences over corruption. He was released from jail early both times, most recently in 2014.

South Africa

Former South African president Jacob Zuma is entangled in an ongoing corruption trial over money laundering and racketeering charges. The 2021 charges allege Zuma accepted hundreds of bribes before becoming president, including cash from a French arms dealer. A pre-trial hearing is scheduled for mid-August, with a trial not expected until April 2025.

Former South African President Jacob Zuma, stands in the High Court in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa. Jacob Zuma has demanded to be acquitted of corruption charges because of the alleged abuse he has suffered at the hands of his prosecutors on October 26, 2021

South Korea

In the past ten years, South Korea has convicted two former presidents: Lee Myung-bak, in office from 2008 to 2013, and his successor, the nations first woman president, Park Geun-hye, in office from 2013 to 2017. Both were convicted on corruption charges but have since been pardoned.

Taiwan

Former President Chen Shui-bian ran the country from 2000 to 2008, and the year after he left office, he was charged with bribery, money laundering, and embezzlement. In 2015, he was released from prison for medical reasons.

The list goes on

Several other nations with either teetering democracies or semi-democratic systems have indicted or charged former leaders in recent years, including Ecuador, Malaysia and North Macedonia. Ex-leaders of several countries such as Lithuania, Latvia, Philippines and Taiwan who once faced prosecution have been acquitted or seen their charges dropped.

Kathryn Palmer is an elections fellow for USA TODAY. Reach her at kapalmer@gannett.com and follow her on X @KathrynPlmr.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Trump may be first convicted US president, but it's not a global first
Michael Cohen, Donald Trumps former fixer and star witness for the prosecution at his hush money trial, celebrated the former presidents historic felony conviction on Thursday.

Guilty On All Counts! #TeamCohen, he posted on X just moments after the verdict was announced.

The disbarred attorneys celebration comes after a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records for reimbursements to Cohen over payments he made to porn star Stormy Daniels to cover up the story of her affair with Trump ahead of the 2016 election.

The jury unanimously convicted the former president of all 34 felony counts on 30 May.

Today is an important day for accountability and the rule of law, Cohen said, in a later social media post. While it has been a difficult journey for me, the truth always matters.

Cohen provided key testimony tying Trump to the hush money payment. During their nine-and-a-half-hour deliberations, the jury asked Justice Juan Merchan to re-listen to Cohens testimony transcripts.

The former lawyer testified that Trump directed him to pay $130,000 to Stormy Daniels weeks before the 2016 presidential election so she wouldnt go public with a story about having sex with Trump a decade earlier in 2006. Trump has denied the affair.

Michael Cohen pictured leaving Manhattan Criminal Court after testifying in Donald Trumps hush money trial on 13 May. The ex-attorney is now celebrating Trumps felony conviction (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Cohens four-day testimony bolstered the prosecutions argument that Trump had warned the former fixer to be prepared for stories about women when he launched his 2016 campaign; instructed him to pay them off; then signed the checks that reimbursed him - all as part of a plan drawn up by his accountants and finalized from the White House.

Trumps reimbursement payments to Cohen were covered up across 34 business records - 12 ledger entries, Cohens 11 invoices, and 11 checks, most of which included Trumps signature.

Trumps defense sought to discredit Cohens testimony by depicting him as an aggrieved, selfish and fame-hungry opportunist and a convicted liar.

Cohen has not been shy about his hatred for the former president, and he at least partially blames Trump for his own prison sentence. Cohen spent three years in federal prison and paid a $50,000 fine after pleading guilty to lying to Congress and campaign finance and tax violations in 2018.
NEW YORK  Donald Trump is the first former U.S. president to become a convicted felon after a jury on Thursday found him guilty on all counts of falsifying business records to conceal alleged affairs during his 2016 campaign.

The 34-count conviction deals the most striking legal blow yet to a man who dodged criminal scrutiny for decades, now unable to fend off a guilty verdict in the city that fostered the fame that catapulted him into the nations most powerful office.

Trumps conviction does not prevent him from running for the office of the presidency or returning to the White House should he win in November, but it hurls the country into uncharted waters as he has firmly secured his spot as the presumptive Republican nominee.

His July 11 sentencing date comes just four days before he is set to officially become that nominee at the Republican National Convention.

This was a rigged, disgraceful trial. The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, and they know what happened here, and everybody knows what happened here, Trump said outside the courtroom shortly after the verdict was read.

Trump could face jail time, but first-time offenders on charges like Trumps are rarely incarcerated. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), whose office brought the case against Trump, declined to say whether prosecutors will seek jail time for the former president, insisting that prosecutors would speak through their court filings in coming weeks.

The only voice that matters is the voice of the jury. And the jury has spoken, Bragg said.

Judge Juan Merchan, who oversaw the case, withstood a cascade of attacks from Trump throughout the trial. After jurors delivered their verdict, the judge said he would meet them personally to thank them for their work.

The 12 New Yorkers returned with their verdict after roughly 11 hours of deliberation. When the judge announced that a verdict had been reached, gasps echoed throughout the courtroom. Trump sat stone-faced in the courtroom, mainly motionless, only occasionally turning to face the jury.

Trumps charges stemmed from bogus reimbursements he made to his then-fixer, Michael Cohen, who paid a porn actor $130,000 days before the 2016 election to stay quiet about her alleged affair with Trump, which he denies.

Prosecutors charged Trump over 11 invoices Cohen filed, 12 general ledger entries, and 11 checks Trump paid his then-fixer, saying each amounted to lying in New York business records.

To secure the felony conviction, prosecutors also persuaded jurors beyond a reasonable doubt that the hush money cover-up was to conceal or further some other crime, portraying the payoff as part of a broader catch-and-kill scheme to quash negative, salacious stories about Trump that ran afoul of state and federal election laws.

Over roughly four weeks of testimony, prosecutors built that narrative through testimony from top 2016 campaign aides, Trump Organization employees and star witnesses at the center of it all. Both Cohen and porn actor Stormy Daniels took the stand to testify against Trump.

The trial captivated nonstop national attention, playing out moment by moment on cable news channels, despite no cameras being allowed inside during the proceedings. It forced Trump to spend weeks inside the gritty, wood-paneled courtroom in Lower Manhattan, further cementing his legal battles as a cornerstone of his campaign.

For several days during the trial, Trump was joined at the courthouse by political allies, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.); Sens. JD Vance (R-Ohio) and Rick Scott (R-Fla.); and Reps. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) and Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.).

Minutes after the verdict was read, the park across the street from the courthouse was swarmed with cameras including civilians and media seeking interviews with those gathered outside.

While several people wandered to the area, others had been camping out behind a barricade since the afternoon.

One man wearing a freedom shirt pretended to hang himself on a tree before a police officer told him to stop.

New Yorker Ketih Allen, 56, said he lived in the neighborhood and was impressed with the verdict, which he deemed the right one.

He shouldve never been president the first time around, Allen told The Hill of Trumps first term. Hes a criminal.

Trump also faces three other sets of criminal charges. Special counsel Jack Smith indicted Trump in Florida for allegedly mishandling classified documents and in Washington, D.C., on charges of conspiring to subvert the 2020 election results. Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) has also charged Trump for allegedly subverting the 2020 election in Georgia.

The verdict may be the only one of Trumps criminal cases to go to trial before Novembers election. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denies any wrongdoing in those other cases.

Updated at 8:30 p.m. EDT

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.
After the May 30, 2024, conviction of former President Donald Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in New York, what comes next?

Trumps legal team will likely appeal the verdict. We will fight for our Constitution, Trump said following the jurys announcement. This is long from over. A sentencing hearing for Trump is set for July 11.

The Conversation U.S. politics and society editor Amy Lieberman spoke with Gabriel J. Chin, a scholar of criminal law and procedure, to better understand the verdict.

A courtroom sketch depicts Judge Juan Merchan, Donald Trump, prospective jurors and other court and legal personnel. Christine Cornell via AP Pool

1. Why were there so many different felony counts in this case?

The essence of the offenses Trump was convicted of is falsifying documents or records. Accordingly, each check, invoice or other document that the jury found had been falsified was a separate offense, which can be the basis of a separate count and punished separately. The prosecution wanted to make sure that the jury saw the full scope of the scheme it alleged had occurred  which is that Trump covered up the fact that he paid hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels by disguising the payment as a legal fee to his lawyer, Michael Cohen. Cohen then allegedly used Trumps money to pay Daniels to stop her from talking about her alleged affair with Trump.

2. What is most important for people to understand about this conviction?

It is historic and groundbreaking for a former or future president to be convicted of felonies in the United States. There will be debate, and people will have to judge whether this prosecution is an example of the principle that no person is above the law, or whether this is an example of political persecution.

As a technical legal matter, this conviction has a significant effect on all of Trumps other criminal and civil cases. At a minimum, it means that if Trump takes the stand to testify in any case, opposing lawyers will be able to attack his credibility with this conviction. Lawyers can argue that any witness with a felony conviction might well be lying.

Practically speaking, this verdict also means that Trump  who is registered to vote in Florida  cannot vote there until completion of his sentence, although there are many variables that could affect his ability to vote and legal experts appear somewhat divided on the question. Under federal law, he cannot possess a firearm. But he can still run for president and serve in office, because nothing in the Constitution disqualifies people with convictions  or who are in prison  from running for, or serving as, president.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks during a news conference about former President Donald Trumps arraignment on April 4, 2023. Kena Betancur/Getty Images

3. What can we know, if anything, about what his sentence might look like?

New York judge Juan Merchan will decide the sentence alone, without a jury.

It is not surprising that sentencing has been set for July, rather than sooner. As in other cases, the probation office will prepare a report that lays out Trumps background and history, and the facts and circumstances of this case. Trump has no criminal record, which is generally a favorable sentencing factor. On the other hand, he does have negative results from lawsuits, including a civil finding in 2023 that determined he committed sexual assault. One issue to look out for is whether the prosecution or the probation department argues that Trumps other criminal charges and civil cases should be considered in sentencing.

One sentencing factor which sometimes comes into play is lack of remorse; it is often a reason judges impose a more severe sentence. It certainly does not seem that Trump has in any way acknowledged that he did something regrettable, or committed a crime. Trumps violation of the gag orders in this case, which the judge has already punished him for, could also be a factor used to argue for or impose a higher sentence.

4. Given this verdict, is it likely that Trump will serve time in prison?

The offense of falsifying business records is deemed a Class E felony in New York state  and each felony has a potential sentence of up to four years. Probation is available instead of incarceration, or probation plus a short term of incarceration. Sentences may be imposed concurrently or consecutively, so theoretically Trump could get a sentence of 136 years if maximum sentences on all counts are imposed consecutively. But, while the sentence is up to the judge, based on past practice it is reasonable to speculate that Trump will not be sentenced to a long prison term, and may well receive no incarceration time at all.

A not-guilty verdict would have been final because of the Constitutions prohibition against double jeopardy  meaning a person cannot be convicted, acquitted or punished more than once for the same offense.

This conviction will undoubtedly be challenged for years, and the appeals process could have at least two chances to get to the U.S. Supreme Court. Whether this case was appropriately tried in state court will also be an issue  federal authority over federal elections and election crimes is likely to be examined on appeal.

In other words, this case is not over by a long shot. It is likely that even were Trump sentenced to incarceration, he would be allowed to remain free, pending appeal. This practice is not uncommon in complex and high-profile cases, at least where there are reasonable legal claims of error.

5. What made the evidence so strong in this case that it persuaded jurors?

It is in part the breadth of the New York law which, unlike the law in many states, criminalizes falsifying internal business records even when they are private and not used to cheat the tax system or defraud anyone. But even in New York, generally falsifying private business records is a misdemeanor. It becomes a felony only if, as the jury found here, the actions are used to cover up or conceal a crime.

In this case, the jury may well have been persuaded by the prosecutions argument that the crime covered up was essentially a scheme to defraud the American people by concealing information about the character and conduct of a presidential candidate.

Because Trump was alleged to have deceived voters, perhaps the jury was unwilling to simply shrug this off as business as usual. Another factor is the remarkable investigation that went into preparing this case. The prosecution had so many witnesses and documents that it could tell the story in highly specific detail.

This story was updated on May 31, 2024, to include more details about Trumps ability to vote.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and analysis to help you make sense of our complex world.

It was written by: Gabriel J. Chin, University of California, Davis.

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Gabriel J. Chin 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.
Trump found guilty on all counts: 5 takeaways from the verdict

Trump found guilty on all counts: 5 takeaways from the verdict

Twelve New York jurors made history Thursday when they convicted former President Trump on all counts in his hush money trial.

Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a felony  or, in his case, multiple felonies. He was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records in a case revolving around a $130,000 payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels.

The verdict came faster than many legal observers expected, given the complexity of the case and hard questions over the credibility of the prosecutions main witness, former Trump attorney Michael Cohen.

The emphatic nature of the verdict is a powerful vindication for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D), whose judgment was widely questioned when he first brought the case.

Emerging from court, Trump attacked the case as a disgrace. He also accused Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over proceedings, of being corrupt and conflicted.

Trump remains all but certain to be crowned as the GOPs presidential nominee at his partys national convention in July.

Here are the big takeaways from a dramatic day.

Historic verdict deals blow to Trump

Slice and dice it however you like, a guilty verdict is a blow to Trump.

A man who has spent much of his adult life burnishing his image now stands as a convicted felon. He faces at least the theoretical possibility of jail time, though most first-time offenders found guilty on similar charges are not incarcerated.

Politically, the verdict hands President Biden and his Democratic allies a weapon that they badly needed. Biden, who has been trailing in battleground state polls, can now argue the American people must not vote for a criminal as president.

Moments after the verdict, Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler said the verdict proved no one is above the law.

Tyler contended that Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law but also asserted that there is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box.

Biden himself is not expected to speak about the verdict immediately.

To be sure, the hurdle that the verdict erects for Trump is surmountable, both legally and politically. Legally, he is widely expected to appeal. Politically, the verdict could damage him but is unlikely to force an instant sea change.

Still: Trump is a convict. Its not a good thing.

MAGA pushes back hard

Trump led the charge against the verdict and the judge.

But he had plenty of allies helping him push back.

His eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., wrote on social media that Democrats had succeeded in their years-long attempt to turn America into a third-word shole, and said Election Day would be our last chance to save it.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said that Thursday was a shameful day in American history, predicted the American people would view the verdict as dangerous and forecast Trump would emerge victorious on appeal.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) called the verdict a complete travesty.

There was much more in a similar vein, underscoring just how firmly Trump holds the GOP in his grasp.

Among the voting public, Trumps most fervent loyalists  who have stood with him through an abundance of furors, including the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot  will only rev up their support. A flood of donations is expected to his campaign.

The big question is what happens to the small sliver of soft Trump support.

An Economist/YouGov poll released the day before the verdict asked whether people thought the investigation that underpinned the hush money case was fair or unfair.

Seventy-two percent of surveyed Republicans said it was unfair. But 12 percent said it was fair, and 16 percent said they werent sure.

How do they react to Thursdays verdict? No one really knows the answer.

Trumps fate rests in Merchans hands

Trumps sentencing is set for July 11. Each charge carries a maximum sentence of four years in prison.

It would stun the world if Trump received the maximum sentence.

But the surreal reality is that Trumps fate now rests in the hands of a judge against whom he has made repeated verbal attacks.

Trump has also lashed out at Merchans daughter, Loren, for her work with a Democratic consulting firm.

Merchan would no doubt assert he can mete out an appropriate sentence unaffected by personal animus.

Beyond the fact that jail time is unusual for people convicted on the same charge as Trump, there are logistical complications around how a former president  entitled to Secret Service protection  would serve any term of incarceration.

Still, New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) earlier this month said that the authorities who manage the notorious Rikers Island prison would be ready if Trump were indeed sentenced.

Verdict shakes up election calendar

An election campaign that had been somewhat dreary  two aging candidates, well known to the public and with mediocre approval ratings  just got a massive jolt.

The conviction itself delivers part of the shock. But the elections timeline also got a massive shake-up.

Biden and Trump recently agreed to an unusually early televised debate: a CNN-hosted clash in Atlanta on June 27.

That is two weeks exactly before Trumps sentencing date.

The sentencing, in turn, is right up against the Republican National Convention, which will take place in Milwaukee. The convention begins July 15.

In other words, Trump will be sentenced on a Thursday, with the event officially crowning him as the GOPs nominee starting the following Monday.

Trump wont lose the right to vote  unless hes imprisoned

One of many questions that lit up social media in the wake of the verdict was whether Trump, as a felon, would be barred from voting in this years presidential election.

The answer appears to be no  unless he goes to prison.

Trump changed his official residency from New York to Florida in 2019.

A guide prepared by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on voting with a criminal record in Florida notes that a person convicted outside of the Sunshine State has their voting rights governed by the state where you were convicted.

In Trumps case, that throws the matter back to New York, where  again, according to the ACLU  a person convicted of a felony can vote unless they were sentenced to prison and are still serving their sentence.

The question appears to be ultimately governed by whether the person in question is in prison on Election Day itself.

So, Trump likely will be able to vote for himself as president of the United States  unless hes sitting in a cell at the time.

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Trump found guilty on all counts: Will he go to prison?

(NEXSTAR)  Former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a New York courtroom Thursday, but we dont yet know what his punishment will be.

While the jury announced the verdict Thursday, the sentencing hearing isnt until July 11. Thats when Judge Juan Merchan will decide on what punishment is appropriate.

Each felony charge carries with it a potential prison sentence of four years. While a prison sentence is possible, it is not required. Its largely up to the judges discretion what comes next.

Trump lashes out after jury announces guilty verdict: This is far from over

So while prison time isnt out of the question, its far from a guarantee, legal analysts say. At 77 years old, the former presidents age may be a factor in deciding on prison time, the Washington Post reports. He would also be a first-time offender, making a prison sentence less likely. Judge Merchan will also consider other factors, such as if Trump poses a danger to the community or if letting him walk free would send a bad message to others tempted to commit the same crimes.

Even if he were sentenced to multiple prison terms  one for each of his 34 guilty verdicts, for example  Trump would likely serve the terms concurrently, Politico reports.

Judge Merchan could decide to issue a lighter sentence, such as home confinement, probation or conditional discharge, which means he would be set free on certain conditions set by the judge.

Here are the crimes Trump committed in NYC hush-money case

To further complicate things, Trump is expected to appeal the verdict, further dragging out the legal process.

The guilty verdict does not bar Trump from continuing his bid for presidency in the 2024 election. If he does win, and once again becomes president, he also could not pardon himself in this case, NPR reports, because its a state, not federal, crime.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Trump was found guilty of crimes in New York. Can he still vote in Florida?

Former President Donald Trump may officially be a convicted felon, but hell still likely be able to vote for himself in Florida this November.

While Florida law bars people convicted of most felonies from voting until theyve fulfilled all terms of their sentence, Trump, a lifelong New Yorker who changed his residency to Florida in 2019, was convicted Thursday in his former home state.

The Florida Secretary of States website states that a felony conviction in another state makes a person ineligible to vote in Florida only if the conviction would make the person ineligible to vote in the state where the person was convicted. Under New York state law, even convicted felons are allowed to register to vote, so long as theyre not currently in prison.

For now, its unclear what kind of punishment Trump could receive. His sentencing hearing is currently scheduled for July 11. New York state law calls for a maximum four-year prison sentence for each of the 34 counts of falsifying business records that Trump was found guilty of on Thursday.

Trump could avoid prison time altogether, according to The New York Times, if the judge overseeing the case imposes a sentence of probation. Trump has also promised to appeal his conviction, which would have an effect on his voting status.

A 1977 memo by an assistant state attorney general to then-Florida Secretary of State Bruce Smathers says that convicted felons are not disqualified from voting during an appeal.

Glenn Burhans Jr., a Tallahassee attorney who practices election law, said that if Trump appealed the conviction, it would stay any potential incarceration, making him eligible to vote. Similarly, Jerry Goldfeder, the director of Fordham Law Schools Voting Rights and Democracy Project in New York, said the judge wont incarcerate him if its on appeal.

Still, the jurys decision has left some wondering about Trumps voter status. Some have said outright that he would lose his right to vote.

Trump cant vote for himself in the November election. He can thank Florida Republicans for that, state Sen. Jason Pizzo, a South Florida Democrat and attorney, posted Thursday evening on the social media site X.

In an interview with the Herald/Times on Thursday evening, Neil Volz with the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition said we are in uncharted territory regarding whether former President Donald Trumps felony conviction would prevent him from voting for himself in the Florida November election.

Volzs group led the work on Floridas 2018 constitutional amendment that allowed Florida felons to regain the right to vote.

Typically, Florida will defer to the rules in the state in which the person got the conviction, Volz said. Were going to have to walk this one out because we are in uncharted territory and let New Yorks process play out.

Volz added: After New York goes through their process, whether President Trump can vote with a felony conviction will depend on what the state of Florida does.

He said that the U.S. Constitution was clear, however, in that Trump could still run for president and get votes in Florida.

The Constitutions pretty clear that he can run, Volz said. For the federal office, the presidency is mentioned in the constitution. He added that the federal constitution would override anything in Florida law.

Volz said his organization saw Trumps predicament as an opportunity to shine a light on voter eligibility for convictions.

He added: We believe that no one should be above the law or below the law when it comes to voter eligibility for convictions. Everybody should be held to the same standard.

Trump is widely seen as the favorite to win the state in November. Polls show him running well ahead of President Joe Biden, and his singular vote almost certainly wont have an impact on the overall election results.

An NPR/PBS/Marist College poll released Thursday found that 67% of voters said that a guilty verdict in Trumps trial would not affect their vote, while 17% said it would make them less likely to vote for him in November. Another 15% said a guilty verdict would make them more likely to vote for Trump.

Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Wendy Sartory Link did not respond to phone calls and text messages requesting comment on Trumps voting status. A spokesperson for Trumps campaign didnt respond to a request for comment.
Trump fundraising site crashes after influx of donors following guilty New York hush money verdict

Donald Trumps historic conviction in his New York hush money case on Thursday may put the former president in prison, but it hasnt slowed done the enthusiam for his campaign.

Shortly after the verdict was announced, the official GOP fundraising site connected to his 2024 effort crashed.

The American people see through Crooked Joe Bidens rigged show trial, the campaign wrote on X. So many Americans were moved to donate to President Trumps campaign that the WinRed pages went down. We are working on getting the website back online as quickly as possible.

Major Trump supporters said they were not detered by the conviction; in fact, they appeared energised by it.

"All of the charges are contrived," Robert Bigelow, who has given over $9m to an outside group supporting Trump, told Reuters.

Within minutes of Trump being convicted, his campaign sent out a fundraising email claiming the former president was a political prisoner.

Trumps donation site immediately was updated to declare that his guilty verdict makes him a political prisoner (Donald Trump)

I was just convicted in a RIGGED political Witch Hunt trial: I DID NOTHING WRONG! the email reads.

The message also boasted that Joe Bidens chances of a 2nd term END TODAY!

Seventeen per cent of voters in a new poll said a guilty verdict would make them less likely to vote for Trump, while 67 per cent said a guilty verdict would make no difference in their choice in November.

Trump supporters rally outside the criminal court where former President Donald Trump is on trial on May 29, 2024 in New York City. (Getty Images)

Trump has fundraised off his legal troubles before.

Last year, following the publication of his mugshot in his ongoing 2020 election conspiracy case in Georgia, the Trump campaign used the image to rake in millions in donations.

Trump later gave away pieces of the suit worn in the photo alongside trading cards as part of his fundraising efforts.

Trump may be the first president in US history to be convicted of a crime, but his campaign is steamrolling ahead, with a slight lead over Joe Biden in national poll averages.
Native Vote 2024. The presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, former President Donald J. Trump, 77, was convicted on 34 counts by a jury yesterday in a hush-money case.

With the conviction, Trump becomes the first U.S. president ever to be convicted of a felony. He was convicted of 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, an adult-film star.

The jury deliberated for nine and a half hours in a New York court and returned the verdict just after 5 p.m. on Thursday afternoon.

Trump faces sentencing on July 11, 2024, just days before the beginning of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Trump faces a maximum sentence of one and a half to four years in prison. Legal experts say that given his lack of a prior criminal record and the fact the counts were not violent or drug-related, he will be sentenced to short jail time or no jail time at all.

The conviction of the Republican partys choice for this presidential election will now test whether or not American voters want to have a convicted felon become the leader of the country.

President Biden has remained silent on the case during the five-week trial. On Thursday, the White House said: We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment.

The Biden-Harris campaign released the following statement after yesterdays verdict:

In New York today, we saw that no one is above the law. Donald Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But todays verdict does not change the fact that the American people face a simple reality. There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.

Trump, who has consistently made disparaging and abusive comments about the judge and the court proceedings, spoke to reporters after the verdict.

This was a disgrace. This was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who is corrupt. ... Well keep fighting. Well fight to the end, and well win. ... The real verdict is going to be November 5, by the people. They know what happened here. I am a very innocent man, Trump said.

Congressional Republicans called the system rigged and contended the trial was political as if to justify their support for their presidential candidate. However, none of them maintained Trumps innocence.

Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. echoed the Republican reaction to the verdict.

The Democratic Partys strategy is to beat President Trump in the courtroom rather than the ballot box, Kennedy wrote on X. This will backfire in November.

About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net."

Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net
A nurse prepares medicine for patients at the inpatient department of a hospital in Changde, central China's Hunan Province, May 12, 2024. (Photo by Bai Yipu/Xinhua)

BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- From June 1, Shanghai will include 12 types of assisted reproduction technology (ART) in basic health insurance to ease infertile couples' burden from the once expensive fertility treatments, in a move to raise the birth rate.

Besides Shanghai, the new policy will also take effect in the provinces of Qinghai, Zhejiang, and Jiangxi starting from next month. In the past year, six other provincial-level regions, including Beijing, have already included ART in basic health insurance.

The coverage of ART means basic health insurance will pay for at least 50 percent of the fertility treatment expense. In Shanghai, a whole cycle of in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) costs about 30,000 yuan (4,220 U.S. dollars), according to Chen Miaoxin, a senior fertility doctor at the Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital.

The Shanghai Healthcare Security Bureau estimates that hospitals in the city receive 100,000 patient visits for ART each year, and the health insurance coverage of ART will save each patient about 9,000 yuan on the treatments on average.

Before ART was covered in basic health insurance, China's National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) issued a set of guidelines in June 2023 to intervene in fertility treatment pricing. According to the guidelines, hospitals need to provide ART at guidance prices or at prices not higher than the government's price limitation.

The reduction of ART expenses is aimed at expanding access to treatments for a growing number of infertility couples with fertility desire, as the country is facing a declining birth rate, especially in large cities.

Sun Yun, vice president of Shanghai-based Renji Hospital and director of the hospital's reproductive medicine department, said China's infertility rate has risen from 2 percent in the 1950s to 18.5 percent, and currently, every one in eight couples of reproductive age needs ART.

In Beijing, where ART has been included in basic health insurance since July 2023, 32,000 patients had received ART by the end of March 2024. The total expense was 280 million yuan, among which 190 million yuan was paid by basic health insurance.

Xue Qing, director of the Center of Reproductive Medicine at the Peking University First Hospital, said the hospital saw a significant increase in patients undergoing egg retrieval after the new policy came into effect.

"The health insurance coverage (of ART) has lowered the threshold for patients to receive the treatments in terms of finance," Xue said. "Some patients waited until ART is included in basic health insurance to undergo egg retrieval."

In recent years, China has also added several types of fertility medication, such as ovulation-inducing drugs, to its national reimbursement drug list.

In July 2022, 17 authorities, including the NHSA and the National Health Commission, jointly issued a set of guidelines, calling for local governments to gradually include appropriate labor pain management methods in health insurance.

Shanghai began including labor analgesia in basic health insurance in January 2022. Since then, the city's health insurance funds have paid nearly 100 million yuan to approximately 70,000 people.

The NHSA said it will establish a set of national standards regarding the reimbursement of ART and encourage more provincial-level regions to include ART in basic health insurance. 
(Bloomberg) -- The guilty verdict in Donald Trumps Manhattan criminal trial injects an explosive and unpredictable new variable into a presidential race locked in stasis, distinguished primarily by voter frustrations with their choice of two well-known and unpopular major candidates.

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After running in largely non-competitive and drama-free primary races, President Joe Biden and Trump now enter the general election campaign navigating a sudden and unprecedented scenario in US political history: the leading candidate in the presidential race is a convicted felon.

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Such a seismic development almost certainly would have changed the trajectory of the presidential race in the past, and it still might. Yet few experts are confident it will.

The former president, they note, has survived two impeachments and numerous other scandals and still leads Biden in most polls.

You need a high-powered microscope to see the effects of any big news events on the race, said Michael Podhorzer, the former political director of the AFL-CIO.

Presidential campaign strategists in both parties agree that the guilty verdict provides a new opening for Biden, whose lackluster performance and sagging poll numbers are a source of rising concern among many Democratic lawmakers and party officials.

Biden campaign communications director Michael Tyler said Thursday in a statement the result shows no one is above the law and that Trump has always mistakenly believed he would never face consequences for breaking the law for his own personal gain. But Biden also acknowledged the legal system alone wont keep Trump from winning back the White House in November.

Theres only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: At the ballot box, Biden said in a fundraising pitch.

Trumps felony conviction provides Biden an opportunity to shake up the race by refocusing voters attention on Trumps conduct.

It would be malpractice not to fully lean into the verdict, said Alex Conant, a Republican strategist and veteran of Marco Rubios 2016 presidential campaign. Id expect President Biden to give a major address and have Democratic officials fan the country and do everything possible to make the race a referendum on Trump.

Voter Shifts

Trump sought to capitalize on the verdict to motivate hardcore supporters, who largely buy into his claims that the prosecution was a politically motivated effort to keep him out of power. The former president, like Biden, sent out a fundraising appeal minutes after the jury reached its decision with the subject line, I was just convicted in a rigged trial!

The real verdict is going to be November 5th by the people, and they know what happened here, Trump said in brief comments to reporters outside the courtroom.

Trump used a similar strategy last year, harnessing Republican anger about his indictments to drive his primary opponents out of the race. Its unclear that will work in a general election, though.

James Carville, a senior strategist on Bill Clintons 1992 presidential campaign, said the most important element of the guilty verdict is that it was delivered by an impartial jury  and thus could resonate with marginal and undecided voters, who generally ignore partisan messengers.

Trump cant win with just his people, Carville said. And it will definitely have a blocking effect on everyone else.

Surveys conducted prior to the verdict indicate that Trump will indeed pay a price for the jurys conclusion that he knowingly falsified business records to hide an extramarital affair with adult-film actress Stormy Daniels from voters during the 2016 presidential campaign.

A May 23 Marquette Law School poll of registered voters found that a guilty verdict would produce a 4-point Biden lead in a national head-to-head match-up with Trump, while a not guilty verdict would have resulted in a 6-point Trump lead.

Read More: Trump Is Guilty in Hush-Money Case. Now What?: QuickTake

In a race thats been so close to tied all year, those would be nontrivial moves  if they actually materialize after the verdict, said Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette poll.

Franklin, however, is uncertain they will, advising people to be appropriately skeptical. While theres no historical precedent for Trumps felony conviction, Marquette measured public sentiment throughout his last impeachment trial.

Not a damn thing changed, said Franklin. So we should be very cautious about assuming even mid-single digit effects from the guilty verdict in the New York criminal trial.

Whether the race shifts could depend more on Biden than on Trump. At least some strategists in both parties expect Trumps newfound status as a felon to have a lasting impact  provided Biden and his campaign do enough to highlight the conviction to people mostly tuned out of national affairs.

There are practical questions as well for Trumps campaign, which has long desired to ramp up travel to battleground states free from the constraints of the court schedule. His sentencing is scheduled for July 11, four days before the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.

Already, evidence of internal strife surfaced in the aftermath of the verdict, with Trump surrogates clashing on social media with former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan - now the GOP candidate for the states US Senate race - after he urged Americans to respect the verdict and the legal process.

You just ended your campaign, responded Trump aide Chris LaCivita.

People Have Spoken

One Trump adviser, who requested anonymity to speak candidly about the candidate, said that before the verdict, the campaign was feeling confident about a repeat of 2016. But, the adviser said, the title convicted felon would rattle the low-propensity, low-information voters who are the source of Trumps lead right now.

Despite the Trump campaigns public claims it was unconcerned about the trial, Trump had privately expressed to allies and advisers that he did not want to become a convicted felon.

Strategists said thats a sound instinct for any candidate, but particularly for Trump.

I dont care if its Manhattan, Kansas, or a Manhattan bar room  the jurys opinion carries a lot of weight because its not tainted by politics, said Carville. These people sat in a courtroom for four weeks, listened to every word of every witness, and returned a guilty verdict. Now Biden can point to them and say, The people have spoken  and Donald Trump is now a convicted felon.

--With assistance from Stephanie Lai, Hadriana Lowenkron and Josh Wingrove.

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Donald Trumps hush money trial has concluded with a guilty verdict on all 34 counts.

But that isnt likely to be the end of the matter. The former president has had a symbiotic relationship with a legal system he frequently denounces but routinely uses to his advantage. That almost guarantees the case will continue to be part of his tale of grievance, persecution and a rigged system arrayed against him  and, by extension, against his supporters.

Because Trump is facing three other criminal indictments, he and his supporters will undoubtedly persist in charging President Joe Biden with weaponizing the justice system against him  while Trump uses it to escape a day of reckoning.

Two of Donald Trumps attorneys, Emil Bove and Susan Necheles, return to the courtroom after a break in Donald Trumps hush money trial on May 21, 2024, in New York City. Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

In a deeply polarized country, Trumps narrative works. It stokes anger and deepens commitment among fiercely loyal supporters. It also generates cash to pay his legal bills and fuel his campaign.

The evidence shows his claims are false. Anyone who paid even the slightest attention to the trial saw a complex yet quite routine, sometimes mind-numbingly boring process at work. That process has evolved over centuries and rests on the belief that it is better to let the crime of a guilty person go unpunished than to condemn the innocent, as the Supreme Court put it over a century ago.

For six weeks, prosecution and defense attorneys presented a mountain of documents, texts and recordings. They examined and cross-examined more than 20 witnesses. Judge Juan Merchan blocked prejudicial testimony. At one point, he did defense attorneys work for them, objecting to a salacious question prosecutors asked a key witness.

A process designed to ensure fairness was covered nonstop by the media. And as commentators frequently reminded us, Trump would be convicted only if 12 jurors unanimously concluded he was guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

Trumps own actions show faith in the system he denounces. He routinely employs rules designed to guarantee due process to his own advantage.

Trumps federal election interference trial was scheduled to begin March 4, 2024. Claiming he is immune for acts done as president, his attorneys have used the appeal process to delay the case, making a trial before the election unlikely.

Its a victory that has been replicated in the federal case against the former president for mishandling classified documents and the Georgia election interference prosecution. Trumps attorneys have delayed both for months, likely ensuring that voters wont know the outcome when they go to the polls to elect a president in November.

By focusing on the facts, the public can avoid being distracted by baseless allegations that undermine institutions designed to ensure  not weaponize  justice.

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: Donald Nieman, Binghamton University, State University of New York

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In 2024, I have contributed $190 to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, $75 to the Democratic National Committee, and $25 to a Democratic senatorial candidate.
For a brief moment, Donald Trump allowed himself a glimmer of hope.

For much of the past year, lawyers to Trump had counseled their client that it was basically a foregone conclusion that the jury in his Manhattan trial would convict the former president, as they did early Thursday evening.

Throughout the trial, the Trump team claimed that the jury pool in a deeply Democratic New York City prevented the former president from receiving a fair trial. The claims fell on deaf ears at New Yorks State Supreme Court, which rejected Trumps appeal to have the case moved elsewhere. But the arguments, which several members of the Trump legal team firmly believed, helped convince them that conviction was inevitable.

That is, until smiles from one juror sent hearts aflutter among Trump aides.

In recent weeks, some on the legal team, and Trump himself, convinced themselves that one of the jurors might have actually been on their side.

Body language from the juror throughout the trial, studied closed by the former presidents counselors, led some to believe that the juror was warming to the defenses views. The warm smiles and tics, they hoped, suggested that there could be a hung jury that would help Trump evade conviction.

According to two people familiar with the matter, Trumps faith in the amateur body language analysis of the supposedly MAGA-curious juror was so pronounced that at times he took to calling the person my juror in discussions with close allies.

Even as the jury deliberated, some in Trumpland were still assessing whether or not they had a diehard supporter on the panel. I think the juror is going to get beat up in the jury room, one Trump adviser said to Rolling Stone shortly before news of the verdict hit, wondering how strong the juror would be.

In the end, any glimmer of hope Trump had was misplaced. The 12 Manhattan residents chose not just to convict Trump, but convicted him across all 34 counts in his original indictment.

Another Trump adviser, moments after the verdict came down, summarized the situation for Rolling Stone. The Trump juror wasnt Trumpy enough I guess! the adviser wrote in a message.

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At the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas, supporters of former President Trump were undeterred by his criminal conviction in a scheme to hide payments to a porn actor. (Mackenzie Mays / Los Angeles Times)

About an hour after Donald Trump was convicted of felony crimes on Thursday, a cyclist rode past his towering golden hotel on the Las Vegas Strip in 99-degree heat to celebrate the New York jury's verdict.

"We got you, Trump! We got you!" he screamed.

But inside the opulent Trump International Hotel Las Vegas, under crystal chandeliers and fanned by raging air conditioners, a bartender called it a "witch hunt" and the former president's supporters remained undeterred by his new title of convicted felon.

"I don't care about that," Amanda Ripley, of Washington state, said of Trump's 34 felonies for falsifying business records  part of a hush money scheme during his 2016 campaign to cover up a sex scandal with a porn actor.

Ripley was celebrating her 37th birthday at Trump's hotel with her husband, and said she plans to vote for him again despite the convictions, in part because of his hard-line immigration policies.

"Absolutely he could still be elected," she said. "That would be fantastic."

The perspective here is no surprise. Inside the hotel, Fox News blared on TV at the bar, the gift shop was selling Trump hats, and the menu at the DJT restaurant featured a rum cocktail called "Death by Trial."

Still, many questions remain about how the felony convictions will impact Trump's presidential campaign going forward. Thursday's unprecedented verdict makes Trump the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes, but that doesn't disqualify him from becoming president if elected in November. Based on the charges, Trump could go to prison or be sentenced to home probation.

Read more: Column: Trump is officially a convicted felon, but that may not stand in his way

For some of the tourists from across the country who were staying at the Vegas hotel in his name, Trump's conviction was viewed as a boost  not a deterrent  in his run against Democratic President Biden.

An ABC News/Ipsos poll conducted this month found that 16% of Trump supporters would reconsider their support if convicted as he was Thursday, and 4% would not vote for him.

Don Dutra, a Republican veteran visiting Vegas from San Antonio who used to reside in Fresno, said he plans to vote for Trump again  but won't if he's in prison.

While Dutra said "no way" should Trump be allowed to be elected president from prison, he said he believes that he's not much different from presidents past  he's just the one who got caught.

"Clinton did worse, far worse in my opinion," Dutra said outside the Trump hotel Thursday, noting the Monica Lewinsky scandal and echoing unfounded right-wing conspiracy theories about the Clintons.

Read more: Most California Republicans in competitive congressional races are silent on Trump's conviction

Not everyone in the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas was a fan of the former president  some just got a deal.

Duane Baker, a City Council member in Bellevue, Ohio, who plans to vote for Biden, said he "despises" Trump. He was having a drink at the bar in the Trump hotel only because a friend had won a trip after sitting through a timeshare presentation.

Asked whether he believes Trump's convictions could keep him from being elected again, Baker at first laughed, recalling his "lock her up" chants about his rival Hillary Clinton in 2016.

But he turned serious thinking ahead to November.

"This to me is probably the first election  and I've been voting since '77  that it's really the lesser of two evils," he said. "It really is: Who is the best choice out of two bad choices?"

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Members of Ohios congressional delegation began issuing statements Thursday evening in reaction to former President Donald Trump being found guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex.

Trumps 34 felony convictions handed down in New York makes him the first president to be convicted of felony crimes.

>> RELATED: Trump found guilty of all charges in hush money trial

U.S. Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio: This verdict is an absolute miscarriage of justice. While the outcome of this trial will no doubt be subject to appeal, its a disgrace to our judicial system that such measures will be necessary. The partisan slant of this jury pool shows why we ought to litigate politics at the ballot box and not in the courtroom. Ultimately, I have faith that the 2024 election will be decided by the American people, not corrupt judges and prosecutors.

U.S. Rep. Greg Landsman, D-Cincinnati, 1st District: No one is above the law. Not even Donald Trump.

>> RELATED: Trump found guilty - national reaction

U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, 4th District, the Republican chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, said, via X, The verdict is a travesty of justice. The Manhattan kangaroo court shows what happens when our justice system is weaponized by partisan prosecutors in front of a biased judge with an unfair process, designed to keep President Trump off the campaign trail and avoid bringing attention to President Bidens failing radical policies. Americans see through Democrats lawfare [sic] tactics and know President Trump will be vindicated on appeal.

U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson, R-Zanesville, 12th District: When Democrats cannot win on the campaign trail, they fight dirty in the courts. President Trump was right, even Mother Teresa couldnt beat these ridiculous charges. Tha trial was rigged from the get-go, but I am confident President Trump will be vindicated at the ballot box.

>> PHOTOS: Trump found guilty of all charges in hush money trial

U.S. Rep. Mike Carey, R-Columbus, 15th District: This trial has eroded Americans faith in their justice system. Todays decision is proof that these charges were always political. Make no mistake: The voters, not a judge, will decide the next election.

U.S. Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Troy, 8th District: The law, I say, not only turned from its proper purpose but made to follow an entirely contrary purpose! The law become the weapon of every kind of greed! Instead of checking crime, the law itself guilty of the evils it is supposed to punish!, observed Frederic Bastiat. Alvin Bragg is simply the front man for this unjust weaponization of our judicial system against President Trump. Its a disgrace to our justice system. This is a sad day. An appeal must be filed and heard swiftly.

Sentencing has been announced for July 11. Trump is expected to appeal.

We will update this developing report as more reactions are made public.




Trump hush money trial: I think shocked is really the word to use, political scientist says

The conviction of former President Donald Trump for falsifying business records prompted a well-known area political scientist to shake his head and respond with one word when asked for his reaction to the New York jurys finding of guilty on all 34 felony criminal counts.

I think shocked is really the word to use, Mark Caleb Smith, director of Cedarville Universitys Center for Political Studies, told News Center 7s Gabrielle Enright via Zoom on Thursday night.

>> RELATED: Trump found guilty on all charges in hush money case

Not that he was found guilty necessarily, the professor said, but the fact that we have a former president of the United States whos now a convicted felon, is shocking.

America has a lot of bumpy episodes in its history, he said, but never a former president found guilty in a criminal case: Its new territory.

If people think they know whats going to happen next, theyre just pretending, Smith said.

Before Trump is sentenced at a hearing scheduled for July 11, New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan has a lot of decisions to make based on the aggravating circumstances of the case, Trumps behavior in the courtroom, his approach to the gag order and his repeated violations of that order.

From a political perspective, Smith said he suspects the verdict wont move the needle much among voters. Each candidate has his loyal supporters and even in prison, Trump could run for the presidency from a jail cell. There is nothing legally or constitutionality that prevents it.

>> RELATED: Trump hush money trial: Ohios congressional delegation weighs in

Smith, to offer an example of voter loyalty, recalled James Traficant, a Democratic member of the U.S. House from Ohio (1985-2002) who was convicted in 1983 on felony charges that included taking bribes and forcing his staff to perform chores on his farm in Ohio. Traficant was elected to Congress in 1984, then charged and convicted a second time in April 2002 and expelled from the House in July 2002. He served a seven-year sentence. He died in 2014 following a tractor accident on his farm in Green Twp., Ohio.

People should care about the Trump case because it is a test case for America and its institutions. Trump has the right to appeal his conviction and has said he will do so. There are more layers to go in this case, Smith said, noting the case is far from over.

>> RELATED: Here are the 34 criminal counts for which Trump was found guilty

Do we believe in the rule of law, the judicial system, how the law works? Smith asked rhetorically.

From a citizens perspective, America should care about Trumps legal standing because there is a sizeable chunk of the electorate that cares how they view him as a political candidate.

Its going to be interesting to watch it unfold as a citizen and as a political scientist, Smith said.




Will Trump Go To Jail? What His Conviction Means for the Wannabe POTUS

Former U.S. President Donald Trump and attorney Emil Bove attend his trial for allegedly covering up hush money payments at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 20, 2024 in New York City. Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records last year, which prosecutors say was an effort to hide a potential sex scandal, both before and after the 2016 presidential election. Trump is the first former U.S. president to face trial on criminal charges. - Photo: Mark Peterson-Pool (Getty Images)

Everyones asking the same questions. Will former President Donald Trump go to jail following his guilty conviction? Will being a convicted felon affect his chances at winning office? Well, theres an answer to those, but we aint sure youre gonna like it...



On Thursday afternoon, a Manhattan jury convicted the Cheeto on 34 felony counts in connection to a hush money case (or, more specifically, falsifying business records to conceal an alleged affair during his 2016 campaign). According to state law, the charges warrant a sentence of 16 months to four years in prison.

At the moment, its unclear if he will go to jail. Lauren-Brooke Eisen, senior director at Brennan Center for Justice, toldNPR it may be unlikely that he does any time at all because hes had no prior criminal record. The report says he may just face probation time or a fine.

As Trump awaits his sentencing hearing on July 11, his attorney requested his client doesnt get sent to the bing.

I have no idea, look, theres a system in place where you rely on precedent, and somebody like President Trump should never, never face a jail sentence based on this conduct, said attorney Todd Blanche to CNNs The Source host Kaitlan Collins.

Now, what does this conviction mean for his next run at Trumps America Part 2?

In an odd paradox, the sentencing may only affect Trumps ability to vote for president but not to run for president. The only requirements to be a running candidate for president is to be a natural born U.S. citizen, a U.S. resident for at least 14 years and at least 35 years of age.

...Thats it.

However, thanks to the 14th Amendment, a conviction for participating in an insurrection could throw a wrench in his presidency run. The case examining his involvement in the Jan 6. U.S. Capitol insurrection is still pending, and theres no certainty that it will go to trial before the November election.

Surprisingly, Trump to continue his bid for president behind bars. For example, CNN reported Eugene Debs ran his presidential campaign from federal prison back in 1920.

The likelihood of Trump winding up behind bars following his Julysentencing is low: he has 30 days to file a notice of appeal of the verdict, per The Washington Post. The full appeals process would go six months...well past the day we have to cast our ballots.

For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Fox News

Donald Trumps lawyer, Todd Blanche, ran straight to Fox News following his clients conviction on 34 counts of business fraud, going through a laundry list of grievances while host Jesse Watters consoled him that things will get better.

On Jesse Watters Primetime, Blanche at one point reacted to a clip from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs post-verdict press conference by trying to depict prosecutors and reporters as laughing at Trump rather than at the length of prosecutor Joshua Steinglass summation earlier this week.

In the clip, a reporter asks Steinglass, Many people have said the prosecution was masterful and flawless. I just wanted to know how you feel in this moment?

After Steinglass declined to answer the question, Bragg responded on his behalf.

Mr. SteinglassI think some of you saw him speak for a little bit the other day, he said jokingly, clearly referring to Steinglass more than four-hour closing argument on Tuesday. Several prosecutors behind Bragg were smiling, while Steingalss and some reporters in the room laugheda moment which Blanche took offense at.

They won today and theyre having their celebration right now and I suppose theyre entitled to that, he said at first, before claiming that that brief moment kind of confirms the point in many waysthat this is not fair.

How Trumps Cheapness Over Stormy and Cohen Came to Cost So Much

This is not what this country should be doing to its political leaders past and present, and then when you see it happen and when you see it celebrated and you hear laughter from the reporters at somebody who has just been convicted of 34 felonies, he went on, not quite finishing his thought.

After calling Trump amazing, Blanche said he was emotionally harmed by Braggs press conference.

When you see that happen to himI was standing right next to him todayits heartbreaking because theyre laughinglaughing!at a man, at a father, at a husband, at a grandfather, and as somebody who is running for president and looks like will win, thats something that people should be troubled with, no matter who you are going to vote for, he claimed.

After being consoled by Wattersit didnt work out the way it should have, but thats life, and things will get betterBlanche went over to CNNs The Source, where he was asked if he accepted that Trump had had his day in court in front of a jury of his peers.

No, not at all! Blanche exclaimed, claimingagainthat it was very hard for us to get a fair trial.

Relatedly, Blanche later said that he and Trump were prepared for a conviction, and that the two worked together to devise a defense strategyone that revolved around one of the prosecutions witnesses, former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen.

Cohen also sat for a television interview Thursday night. On MSNBC, he described Blanchewho had dubbed him in court a GLOAT: Greatest Liar of All Timeas a SLOAT, or, the Stupidest Lawyer of All Time.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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SEOUL, May 31 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's unsold homes rose for the fifth successive month, fueling concerns about the sluggish real estate market, government data showed Friday.

The number of unsold homes nationwide advanced 10.8 percent from a month earlier to 71,997 at the end of April, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.

The number rebounded in December last year as builders struggling with credit crunch began to bring new homes into the market despite low housing prices.

The number of unsold homes in the capital Seoul and its surrounding metropolitan area, in which about half of the country's population resides, jumped 22.4 percent from a month earlier to 14,655 at the end of April.

The number in other areas gained 8.2 percent to 57,342 in the cited month.

The number of home transactions stood at 58,215 in April, up 10.2 percent from the previous month.

For the first four months of this year, housing permits totaled 102,482 in number, down 21.1 percent compared to the same period of last year.

The number of housing starts soared 29.6 percent to 89,197 in the four-month period across the country. 
Donald Trump is a convicted felon.

His legal fight is not over, and his political campaign is ratcheting into high gear  but for now, the former president cant deny that hes been found guilty on all 34 guilty counts of falsifying business records in order to keep a porn star silent ahead of the 2016 election.

To explain how we got here and whats coming next, Kyle Cheney, a senior legal affairs reporter at POLITICO, and Ankush Khardori, a senior staff writer and legal columnist for POLITICO Magazine, sat down for a very timely conversation on the Playbook Deep Dive podcast.

They discussed how Trumps defense team may have repeatedly harmed its own case, how Trumps conduct during the trial could influence Justice Juan Merchans sentence and Trumps best hopes for an appeal.

This conversation has been edited for length and clarity by Deep Dive producer Kara Tabor and senior producer Alex Keeney. You can listen to the full Playbook Deep Dive podcast interview here:



Kyle, you were inside the courthouse when the verdict was announced. Set the scene for us as the jury entered the room to deliver the news.

Kyle Cheney: The moment really started just before they came in, because everyone was packing up to go home for the day. There had been no word from the jury at all. And the judge, Juan Merchan, said, We're going home. We're going to send the jury home at 4:30, that they're not going to have a decision today.

He left to go check on them. And then he was gone for a while and we were all thinking,What's taking so long?

Suddenly he comes back and says, Actually, we're not going home today. There's a verdict.

So it was this kind of whiplash moment that I think added to the suspense and the drama of it, which was already high, of course. But then you had the jury come out and they confirmed they had reached their verdict.

Got it. Explain to people your vantage point, watching this unfold.

Kyle Cheney: I was in the overflow room of the courthouse, which is where the majority of the press corps is situated. There are some people in the courtroom itself. But in fact, I actually prefer the overflow room because you have a screen where you can see Donald Trump's face. You can't see the jurors, but you can see Donald Trump. And so the biggest thing is, what's his reaction to this going to be?

And so you're hearing the judge address the jury and say You've reached a verdict?

They confirm that. And then they just went through very businesslike, orderly, one-by-one, count one guilty, count two guilty. And of course, the first one is the [big] moment, because it doesn't really matter what happened to the other 33 counts, though they all turned out to be guilty. You get the first one and you say, He's a convicted felon now. The power of that moment was immediate. And of course, you could feel it in the courthouse because it was so tense.

Wow. The advantage of that room you were in is that you have a line on to Trump's reaction. What was your memory of how he reacted and anything else you saw in the first seconds after they said guilty?

Kyle Cheney: Similar to the whiplash that we felt, even added to that was that Trump, moments before the judge came back and said theres a verdict  he seemed in the best spirits we've seen him in the entire trial. He was laughing, talking very animatedly with his lawyers, but seemed happy. And I think in that moment, when they thought the jury was going home for the day, he was starting to maybe get a little hope that the jurors were not on the same page.

The abrupt change for him was also apparent when he suddenly went quiet and was not having this happy, animated conversation anymore. I think he was realizing what was coming. Immediately after the verdict, he didn't have a huge reaction. There was sort of, I think, a bit of a wince. He was staring intently at the jury as this verdict was being read.

Then after all 34 counts were read, he looked straight ahead and seemed to be sort of lost in a moment of thought, maybe contemplating what had just happened. Then the judge asked each individual juror to confirm that they agreed with the verdict. And so he looked back over at them and watched each one of them, and they all said, Yes, we agree with that. That's the correct verdict.

Fascinating. Alright, Ankush, lets talk about the case itself. We're going to be as politics-free as a conversation like this can be, because I just don't think we know the political fallout here. So, how did the prosecution win this case?

Ankush Khardori: It looks like they managed to win this case by persuading jurors that Michael Cohen was credible enough on the key elements of his testimony, including descriptions of some key conversations that he had with Trump, for which there were no other witnesses. And also by shoring up his testimony by sort of beating home this theme that he was being corroborated by documents and other witnesses, text messages, financial records and things like that. It wasn't entirely true that his testimony could be fully corroborated by other evidence in the case, but a lot of it could and that strategy looks like it paid off.

I don't think it's actually much of a surprise. Well, it is a surprise anytime you get a jury note. But the fact that they asked about circumstantial evidence in particular was a good sign for the prosecution because that was a key component of their case, which was presenting this as a story that just made logical sense and logically led to a conviction. I think that they had a pretty fulsome and consistent narrative that they sort of unspooled over the course of the trial. It had its gaps and weaknesses, in my estimation. But, it does appear to be the case that the jury accepted it.

Kyle, anything to add to that view?

Kyle Cheney: In addition, I think in the closing argument, they did a good job of yes, shoring up Cohen's credibility, but also talking about how it was kind of, in a weird way, beside the point  that there was so much corroborative evidence and documents that they should focus on. And then, as Ankush pointed out, the inferences they could draw, even just from the stuff that was independent of Cohen, that they could reach a conviction without needing too much of Cohen. And I thought  whether you buy that or not, because I actually think there were some aspects of the case that only Cohen could speak to  it was persuasive in the closing argument, and I think may have been effective with the jury.

This speaks to what both of you just said, there was this moment where the jurors asked Justice Merchan to repeat his rain analogy. And that seemed to be a good clue about where this was going. Either of you want to explain what I'm talking about and its significance in hindsight?

Ankush Khardori: There are a variety of these very common metaphors that judges use to explain circumstantial evidence and inferences. Rain is one. I don't know exactly how to formulate it but 

I think it was basically, If you wake up and you don't see rain, but you see people with umbrellas and it's wet outside and they're wearing rain gear, a fair inference is that it rained overnight.

Ankush Khardori: Or like, You wake up and you see snow on the ground, a fair inference is that it snowed overnight. There are a bunch of these.

So this is common?

Ankush Khardori: It is very common.

And so this was a sign that the jury was trying to make those inferences with the evidence that didn't require the Michael Cohen testimony?

Ankush Khardori: I mean, that's what I drew from it. And look, we don't know how many people had the question. For all we know, it was one juror who had the question and the other jurors were happy to put it to the judge in hopes that 

Right, you don't have to be unanimous on the question that goes to the judge.

Ankush Khardori: Correct. I did think it was a good sign for the prosecution. Obviously in hindsight it's easy to say that, so I don't really want to oversell it. But it did seem to be a positive indicator.

Kyle Cheney: The point you make, Ankush, is interesting, too, because I think there was so much psychoanalysis of the jurors and every little word of the question is, What does this mean? And you saw a lot of the pro-Trump people saying, Oh, that question is good for Trump because it means someone is confused about the instructions or maybe not buying that they can make these inferences, so therefore, the other jurors said, Hey, let's give the instruction again to try to convince this person  

Yeah, it's a holdout.

Kyle Cheney: Right. In hindsight, I think that analysis is correct. But in the moment, we're saying, Is that because someone's saying they can't make the inference and therefore is holding out? Maybe that was true. Maybe there were a couple of jurors who said, I'm a little uncomfortable about that. And they said, We'll show you. We'll read the instructions again and you'll see that you can do it.

Ankush, this is a subject that's near and dear to your heart, I believe. And that is: how did the defense blow this?

Ankush Khardori: Alright. I think that, again, hindsight is 20-20, so I don't want to oversell this. This is actually very similar to the end of a political campaign where everybody retroactively decides that the winner was a genius the whole time, and that the loser was destined to lose the whole time.

Totally.

Ankush Khardori: The same thing happens in a trial, too. So I don't want to oversell it. But I do think even in the moment, as the pretrial proceedings and the trial proceedings unfolded, there were just some very conspicuous missteps.

In the run-up to the trial, they just could not stop talking in their court filings about how they thought that Donald Trump was being persecuted by the Democrats and the Biden administration. That was for public consumption, obviously. But it went to the judge, too. And it made all of their briefs weaker and easier to set to the side. Also, this was a complicated case with lots of intricate pieces that provided some novel legal issues. I never felt like the defense's briefs did a particularly effective job of explaining just how much there was in the way of new prosecutorial imagination, if you will, not to suggest that it was inappropriate or anything. But a lot of this was untested in the architecture of the legal case.

Then as we got to the trial, you know, I did a whole column on this. It was just completely idiotic. For Todd Blanche, Trump's lead counsel, to deny that Trump had had a sexual encounter with Stormy Daniels, they were just asking to get beaten over the head with her testimony. That's exactly what happened

Throughout, there were also these cross-examinations of every single witness. Again, this is a very Trumpian strategy. You just have to attack everything, deny everything. And the early witnesses  take someone like Keith Davidson, who was Stormy Daniels lawyer. He had no contact with Trump. His dealings were all through Michael Cohen. So, the cross of him could have been: How many times did you talk to Donald Trump? OK, zero? Thanks. Or some variation on that.

Instead, it was like this whole thing about how he's a sleaze merchant and potentially extorted Trump and all that. That may be good for political theater, but it is not the way to defend a white collar case, which usually requires a very strategic judgment about what to contest and what not to contest. And then we get to the cross of Michael Cohen, which I think was always sort of the main event in this case. I've never seen a government witness in any serious criminal prosecution with this much material for a defense lawyer to work with as Michael Cohen.

Really? I mean, people talk about Sammy "the Bull" Gravano putting away John Gotti. He was a murderer. Worse than that kind of criminal?

Ankush Khardori: I mean in white collar cases.

Fair enough.

Ankush Khardori: But he's lied to so many people. Hes lied to every branch of the federal government. He lied to his banks. He lied to the IRS. He just provided an extraordinary amount of fodder for a defense lawyer. Obviously he's had reams of material in the form of podcast and television interviews that could have been used across him. And some of that was, at least the podcast stuff.

The cross itself, on paper, I thought Blanche actually did a good job of extracting some key points. And particularly, there's no denying whatever the result was, the cross on the call to Keith Schiller and the revelation that it may have been about a 14-year-old kid harassing Michael Cohen, rather than Michael Cohen apprising Donald Trump about Stormy Daniels  that is an excellent cross-examination moment, despite the fact that they lost the case.

He pulled out that material. But I heard from people who were in the courtroom, that it was not landing because Blanche was all over the place. He didn't moderate his tone very well. You can see this on paper, too, but it jumped around in time and even thematically. And you have to pick one if you want jurors to follow what you're doing. A cross examination either needs to move thematically or temporally or some combination thereof.

So then we get to the closing arguments. And the column I did prior to the closing, what I truly believe, was that this case could actually come down to the closing arguments. Because had the defense really rearranged all the material from Cohen's cross and jettisoned some of their silly mistakes, like denying the encounter with Stormy Daniels, they could have put together a very, very good closing.

And then the closing. You know, I hate to beat down on the losing party here, but the closing was bad. It was really bad. And the scuttlebutt going around among the legal analysts and commentators for the last week or two: The closing sort of solidified that Todd Blanche did not do his best work on this case, and that another set of lawyers plausibly could have gotten Trump off.

Listen to this episode of Playbook Deep Dive on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

I want to ask Kyle about the complicated jury instructions that confused everyone earlier this week and gave the jurors these multiple options that people on the right found infuriating. Could you just explain that for us, Kyle?

Kyle Cheney: Sure. I think it is a fair criticism of this case overall that they relied on this law that has so many layers and is somewhat untested in the way that it was used against Trump. That will be a matter on appeal and it may be a serious appeal. But the prosecutors had to show that Trump falsified the business records in the commission of another crime.

So in other words, he broke New York election law, but by one of these three methods?

Kyle Cheney: Right. There's a kind of a menu of ways in which the jury could have found that he attempted to do that or intended to do that.

And the jurors did not have to agree on which method?

Kyle Cheney: And that's what became the firestorm on the right because everyone is very familiar with the concept of jury unanimity to convict someone of a criminal offense and to potentially take away their liberty. It's got to be overwhelming. And that's true.

And the judge was very clear. You need to unanimously agree that he falsified records. You need to unanimously agree that he violated New York state campaign finance law. What you don't need to unanimously agree on is how he attempted to violate New York state campaign finance law. There are several different ways the prosecutors offered to show that Trump attempted to do or intended to do that.

At the end of all this, Justice Juan Merchan set sentencing for July 11. That's four days before the Republican National Convention starts in Milwaukee. Let's distill everything we know about sentencing and what the range of options are here.

The conventional wisdom I see among the legal analysts is on one side, Oh, it's a class E felony in New York. That's minor. And most of the time, there's no jail time. On the flip side, Trump was found to be in contempt of court 10 times during this trial. He was found guilty on all 34 counts. It doesn't seem like he's likely to show much remorse. And that weighs more toward the side of a stronger sentencing. What's your view of all this?

Ankush Khardori: I think that is correct. First of all, the maximum sentence on a charge that he's been convicted of is four years per count. They're not going to stack. So, I would think the judge would be thinking about this as a maximum four-year term of imprisonment.

Not four-times-34?

Ankush Khardori: No. For a first-time offender in New York, where white collar defendants are treated pretty well by sentencing judges  and Trump has a history of serving as U.S. president, which is not nothing by any means  he would have a very good case for probation in the ordinary course. Or potentially getting off with some combination of probation and fines or something like that.

But to me at least, the factor that I think is the wild card here is his own behavior during the trial. And I'm sure we're going to see more of it after.

We saw it immediately after the verdict.

Ankush Khardori: Yeah. I mean, he used every single day to rail against the judge and the case. And that's all well and good fine, rail away. But it was extremely dishonest claiming that the case was orchestrated by the Biden White House, that it was political enemies coming after him. That undermines the New York criminal justice system. And it undermines the integrity of the proceedings. I'm sure there are plenty of people who are happy for that to have happened. But I guarantee you the judge was not happy for that to have happened. And one of the things he's supposed to do is to guard the integrity of the legal system, the court proceedings and to promote respect for the law.



I don't know what he'll do, obviously, in terms of actually rendering a sentence. But if I were him, that part of it would give me a very serious pause, because I would be thinking, It's all well and good that he was convicted on this. We don't usually give people prison time, thats very, very significant and important. But how can we let someone just treat the justice system this way?

I literally cannot think of a precursor for the way in which Trump behaved. We'd have to go to mobsters, I guess. But even them, they don't get every day to speak to the national media and have their words broadcast around the country. That's what Trump did.

They often listen to their lawyers. Kyle, what do you think? Is Trump going to go to jail?

Kyle Cheney: One factor here too is over the next few weeks, we're going to see a bunch of filings and submissions, including from the DA, recommending a sentence. And Trump will actually have to sit for a probation interview with a probation official, who will also contribute to the potential recommended sentence.

So Ankush, the appeals can start after sentencing. What does that process look like? Is it likely that if he is sentenced  even if it's to community service or home confinement  is it very likely that that would be suspended during an appeal, or is that an open question?

Ankush Khardori: So the process would follow a fairly standard process of just [going] through first the Appellate Division, which is the intermediate court in New York, and then, potentially up through the Court of Appeals, and it would be briefs and potentially oral arguments at the judge's discretion. I would imagine on this, there would be oral arguments. In terms of whether or not he would be allowed to suspend his sentence pending appeal, I'm sure he will ask. I do not know if it will be granted.

I do think he would have a pretty good argument under the circumstances, simply because there are some novel legal issues here, and that tends to be the best argument for defendants to stay out pending appeal, which is to say, you don't quite know how this is going to resolve itself, and particularly when the sentence might be significantly shorter than the time it would take for the appeal to run. I think he'll have a pretty good argument in this case, but I don't know how it'll unfold.

Kyle, what do you think the best avenues for an appeal are? Ankush, feel free to jump in as well.

Kyle Cheney: There are a couple. I think one is what we talked about earlier, which is that they're going to challenge this idea that the jury could choose from that menu of choices to decide how Trump violated campaign finance law [and it didnt have to be] unanimous. They'll say that that's a violation of Supreme Court precedent. Ankush may have a better grasp on whether that's even plausible. But I think that's talking point 1 for them on appeal.

Then I think there's also going to be some question about some of the testimony that came in from Stormy Daniels and whether it was prejudicial in the sense that it wasn't related to the actual crime itself. Even the judge got upset at a couple points when the prosecutors kept eliciting testimony from her that was really salacious. It's sort of fortuitous for Trump that the high court in New York ruled that Harvey Weinstein should be retried in part because his trial was prejudiced by similar evidence coming in that shouldn't have come in that may have been inflammatory. I don't think these are analogous cases in any respect, but Trump's people are very well aware of that ruling and might point to it to say Stormy Daniels testimony was so prejudicial he should get a new trial at least.

Ankush Khardori: I agree with Kyle. It does seem to be some of the avenues that they're pursuing. They don't sound terribly promising to me, those particular two. I'll take them one at a time.

The structure of the decision-making that the jury did here  is he guilty of this offense and providing multiple means by which you could reach that conclusion without the jurors having to agree  is extremely common in criminal cases and particularly conspiracy cases. I would be surprised if that had legs legally. But New York courts can surprise from time to time. I do understand why Trump and his supporters have tried to mislead the public into thinking that this is unusual because it sounds counterintuitive, but it's in fact quite common in the criminal system.

As for the analogy to the Weinstein case, I completely agree with Kyle. There are significant differences. The most obvious one, which I think just is the whole ballgame to me at least, is that the Weinstein conviction was overturned because there was testimony from women accusing Weinstein of misconduct that had not been charged in the case, meaning it was extrinsic to the charges that have actually been brought. In this case, we're not talking about a totally different witness being allowed to testify about some other event. We're talking about a single witness potentially offering some extraneous details, which is very different in kind.



The issues that I think actually might have some legs are the issues surrounding the interaction between New York and federal law. Let's say that for instance, the crime that elevated this from a misdemeanor to a felony was this New York state law that prohibits promoting the election of someone through unlawful means. The unlawful means included potential violations of federal campaign and finance law. Is that a permissible object of a New York criminal statute of that nature? Can that object of that statute be a federal offense, or does that overlap with federal jurisdiction in the area and campaign finance law more generally?

That is an actual intricate issue that I don't think is particularly well resolved in New York courts. And also this question of what does it mean to have the intent to commit another crime? That was hotly contested in the run up to the jury instructions. That is an area where there was really not much guidance for the parties to work with in terms of figuring how to instruct the jury and that can be an area of vulnerability on appeal as a result.

Now that Donald Trump is a convicted felon, what are all the ways in which being a convicted felon will affect his life? From his ability to vote to any other kind of restrictions like what it might mean for the other three cases that are still ongoing. Without asking you the political question that we're all going to be debating over the next few weeks in terms of what this means for the election, what does it mean to be a convicted felon for him?

Kyle Cheney: I think being a convicted felon for Trump is going to mean something different than it would for most people in the world, and a lot of things are.

It's going to mean he's going to raise a lot of money.

Kyle Cheney: Right. Exactly. I got a text message while we're on this podcast talking about, I'm a political prisoner. Donate here. I think they'll make hay out of this for a while, in part because of what we just talked about. There's a good chance the sentence will be suspended pending appeal and he may not feel a real consequence from this for quite a while. That said, he's not going to be the typical convicted felon who has too many restrictions on his travel or his movements.

I'm very curious how they factor in  because the court system is not supposed to factor in the political side of things  whether they account for the fact that he'll be in the home stretch of a campaign when his sentence is supposed to be effectuated and that actually trying to sentence him to prison in that moment might have bigger repercussions than just putting someone in jail.

Ankush Khardori: I totally agree with Kyle. In the ordinary course, you know, there might be some collateral effects in terms of his ability to vote in Florida. And other than that, what does it mean to be a felon? Well, it's usually harder to get a job if you're looking for a job, but he's not going to have that problem. It's supposed to be a huge stigma and an embarrassing thing, but we'll see if that is the case here. Certainly he's not going to present himself as someone who's suffered some actual stigma. And I agree with Kyle, I wouldn't expect too much in the way of any types of restrictions on his movements or any sort of particularly onerous conditions on him, but we'll see.

It may be that if the judge decides to sentence him to some form of probation that he does impose or attempt to impose some constraints along those lines in order to sort of make it a little bit more burdensome than probation might ordinarily be. But the practical effects, I agree with Kyle. I don't think those are going to materialize  at least the worst ones  just yet and not until the appeals process plays out and if he's in office when that happens, I don't think there will really be any effect.

Kyle Cheney: I think it goes away [if hes elected president]. I was just going to make that point that I think there's a constitutional argument that constraints put on him by a state court would be unconstitutional while he's president. He has duties to the country that require him to be uninhibited and unshackled from certain restrictions that probation might impose, and they would supersede any interest a state might have in effectuating its sentence immediately. In Georgia, Trump said if he's elected, the trials there should be postponed until 2029. I think they'd make a similar argument for the effectuation of a sentence in New York.

Ankush Khardori: Yeah. And I would say I know a lot of people like to fantasize  and I don't mean that pejoratively, but sincerely  about like, Oh, could he be president from prison? That would be bad for the country. Whatever one thinks about Donald Trump, like him or dislike him, his worst impulses would just get worse if he had to serve as a president from prison. That is not going to happen.

Yeah. Doesn't seem like a good thing.

Ankush Khardori: Exactly. It'd be bad for all of us.

Kyle Cheney: I mean, the president has to conduct foreign policy. That means going around and meeting world leaders. You can't do that from jail.

Ankush Khardori: I was going to say, are they going to set up a Situation Room down the hall in Rikers or something? I just think that's practically inconceivable and the legal argument that Kyle sketched out is I think the one that would be the principal one.

So not completely out of the realm of possibility that the Supreme Court has to think through an issue like this at some point in the near future.

Ankush Khardori: Actually, it's plausible that Trump tries to take it from the New York state court system if he loses in the Court of Appeals to even the Supreme Court. There's a lot of string left to play here. We're not dwelling on the politics here, but November is really going to be crucial in terms of whether and to what extent this process really plays out to its natural conclusion.

Listen to this episode of Playbook Deep Dive on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Rudolph Giuliani, Trumps former lawyer, may soon be barred from practicing law for anyone.



The exNew York City mayor is facing disbarment after the D.C. Board on Professional Responsibility recommended that he lose his law license over his involvement in lawsuits alleging election fraud in 2020.



We conclude that disbarment is the only sanction that will protect the public, the courts, and the integrity of the legal profession, and deter other lawyers from launching similarly baseless claims in the pursuit of such wide-ranging yet completely unjustified relief, the boards recommendation reads.



In the rest of its 62-page decision, the board highlighted Giulianis weaponization of his law license and criticized his efforts to overthrow the election results in Pennsylvania in particular. The decision follows Giulianis law license being suspended nearly three years ago over his support of Trumps efforts to claim that he didnt really lose in 2020. Now the final decision to disbar Giuliani permanently goes to the D.C. Court of Appeals.



Giuliani will likely soon join a list of other prominent Trump 2020 lawyers who have been disbarred, including Jenna Ellis. John Eastman may soon join them, as well.

It hasnt been a good year for Giuliani, although hes in deep denial about it, not including his thoughts on the 2020 election. He filed for bankruptcy last year but is still spending lavishly and ignoring his many creditors. Hes desperately trying to make money, even resorting to selling his own brand of coffee. He cant find a new accountant after his old one dropped him, and one of his ex-cronies, Lev Parnas, spilled the beans on how Giuliani tried to manufacture a Biden-Ukraine scandal, something that Giuliani still hasnt given up on.



On top of that, Giuliani has to deal with more fallout from his 2020 election efforts. After being indicted in Arizona for his election machinations there, he doubled down on his allegations of fraud and had a pitiful defense for his actions: highlighting all of the states where he challenged election results. He even taunted the Arizona attorney general in trying to dodge a subpoena, only to be served near his Florida residence anyway. And Trump still hasnt paid him for all of that legal work, either.



Its easy to see why Giuliani should be disbarred, as he doesnt seem to know when to stop, no matter how much trouble hes in. But hey, its something that he has in common with his most famous client.


Can Trump pardon himself if he wins presidency in 2024?

Can Trump pardon himself if he wins presidency in 2024?

(NEXSTAR)  Donald Trump became first former American president to be found guilty of felony crimes in the nations history on Thursday. A jury in New York convicted him on all 34 counts of falsifying business records.

After 9.5 hours of deliberations, the jury determined Trump had falsified business records to cover up hush money payments to Stormy Daniels, the porn actor who said she had sex with Trump in 2006.

While the crimes each carry with them the potential of prison time, its not yet clear what sort of punishment the former president will face. A sentencing hearing has been set for July 11. Trumps legal team is also expected to appeal the decision.

Trump found guilty on all counts: Will he go to prison?

After the verdict was read, Trump called the trial rigged and disgraceful.

The real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people, he said, referring to Election Day.

The guilty verdict does not prevent Trump from continuing his bid for the presidency this November. However, if he were to win, and take office next year, he would not be able to purge the conviction from his record.

Presidents can grant pardons for federal crimes, but not for state crimes such as this one, under the U.S. Constitution. Other presidents, for that matter, also would not have the power to pardon Trump for these crimes.

Can Trump still vote after being convicted of 34 felonies?

Trump is facing three other felony indictments, and some of those pending cases do involve federal crimes.

But those indictments are not as likely to be resolved before the November election. All three criminal proceedings  local and federal charges in Atlanta and Washington that he conspired to undo the 2020 election, as well as a federal indictment in Florida charging him with illegally hoarding top-secret records  are bogged down by pending rulings or other delays.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
You could describe former President Donald Trump in many ways: ex-reality television personality, unsuccessful businessman, wannabe king. Also: felon.

On Thursday, a Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a hush-money scheme involving the adult film star Stormy Daniels. Hes the first former president in U.S. history to be convicted of a crime.

While this is one of those rare moments when a white and powerful person is being held to account, Trumps guilty verdict also brings to mind the wrenching racial inequalities of felony disenfranchisement, a Jim Crow-era relic that continues to prevent Black and brown people from achieving the so-called American Dream.

The Republican Partys presumptive presidential nominee, Teflon Don can still vie for the White House. He also is unlikely to lose his right to cast a ballot in the November election, even though Black people convicted of felonies are disproportionately disenfranchised  lose their right to vote  for more benign crimes.

The NAACP strongly believes that anyone who has been found guilty of criminal offenses of this magnitude is unfit to occupy the Oval Office, Derrick Johnson, the president and CEO of the NAACP, said in a statement. As Black Americans have been denied basic human rights due to less offensive crimes, any attempt to advance Donald Trumps nomination for Presidency would be a gross advancement of white supremacist policy.

The importance of the day wasnt lost on Yusef Salaam, a member of the New York City Council.

He was one of five Black and brown teenagers who were wrongly convicted of raping a Central Park jogger in 1989. At the time, Trump demanded that New York bring back the death penalty.

We should be proud that today the system worked. But we should be somber that we Americans have an ex-President who has been found guilty on 34 separate felony charges, Salaam said in a statement. We have to do better than this. Because we are better than this.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought the charges against Trump. Hes one of several Black prosecutors leading investigations against the former president.

Trumps sentencing is scheduled for July 11, four days before the start of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. As the country waits until then, keep scrolling to clear up some of the lingering questions you might have about Trumps guilty verdict.

Why can Trump still become president?

The U.S. Constitution has three requirements for presidential candidates: that they be a natural-born U.S. citizen, that they be at least 35 years old, and that they be a U.S. resident for a minimum of 14 years.

Trump meets each criterion.

Notably, the 14th Amendment, which Congress passed after the Civil War, prohibits from seeking the presidency anyone who has engaged in insurrection or rebellion. This stipulation was designed to keep former Confederates from regaining control of the levers of power.

However, in a major victory for Trump, the U.S. Supreme Court in March rejected the attempt to use the insurrectionist clause to remove him from the ballot for trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

For many Black Americans, the privilege Trump enjoys touches a raw nerve.

The truth is that no Black person with Trumps resume or rap sheet would ever be taken seriously as a candidate for president, Keith Boykin, the co-founder of the National Black Justice Coalition, a civil rights organization focusing on Black LGBTQ communities, said toward the start of the trial.

Why is Trump unlikely to lose his right to vote?

Trumps ability to vote in Florida  where hes a resident  hinges on whether he receives prison time and can complete that sentence by Election Day.

In 2018, Floridians approved a constitutional amendment automatically reenfranchising most voters with prior felony convictions once they satisfy the terms of their sentences. Then, in 2019, Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed into law a bill requiring returning citizens to pay off all legal financial obligations in order to cast a ballot  what some call a pay-to-vote system.

Yet, legal observers doubt that Trump will go to jail.

For one, hes a first-time offender. Additionally, he could receive a sentence such as probation that doesnt mandate time behind bars, and Florida allows the state of conviction to determine whether someone can vote  in New York, people with felony convictions can cast a ballot as long as they arent incarcerated.

Plus, theres the fact that Trumps legal team can still appeal, and this process would probably drag on beyond November.

Why does Trumps verdict recall the inequality of felony convictions?

Trump is expected to keep his right to vote, despite his felony conviction. Meanwhile, disenfranchisement disproportionately burdens Black people with felonies. This practice dates back to the Jim Crow era.

Consider that, last month, Mississippi state Sen. Angela Burks Hill, a Republican, defeated a bipartisan legislative effort to return voting rights to people with nonviolent felony convictions after they serve their sentences. Mississippis law permanently disenfranchising people convicted of certain low-level felonies harms Black Americans more than others. Its also rooted in the states 1890 constitutional convention, the purpose of which was to secure to the state of Mississippi white supremacy and eliminate the [N-word] from politics.

A similar battle rages in Virginia. In March, a federal judge allowed a lawsuit challenging the states permanent felony disenfranchisement law to move forward. The plaintiffs argue that the law violates the Virginia Readmission Act, enacted following the Civil War to protect the rights of newly freed Black Americans in former Confederate states. More specifically, it was created to control felony disenfranchisement and limit state attempts to target Black Americans.

Read More: Alvin Bragg Isnt the Only Black Prosecutor Taking on Trump

Draconian felony disenfranchisement laws arent only a problem in Mississippi and Virginia. Especially across the Deep South, millions of Americans voices are muzzled because of felony convictions.

The most INSANE part of all this is that there is no law or nothing in the Constitution that would prohibit [Trump from] running for president as a convicted felon, one X user noted. Yet, millions of convicted felons are discriminated against from basic jobs and benefits.

This isnt to suggest that the outcome of the case is insignificant.

Trump is guilty. It matters, Sherrilyn Ifill, the former president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund Inc., underscored on Threads. She added, DA Alvin Bragg managed to do what no other prosecutor has yet managed. There were so many naysayers about this case.

On Thursday, the country saw that theres at least some corner of the criminal legal system where no one is above the law. Also: that system remains far from ideal.

The post Trump and the Racial Inequality of Felony Convictions appeared first on Capital B News.
Donald Trump's campaign reported record fundraising after he became a convicted felon.

The former president's campaign said it raised $34.8 million from small donors.

President Joe Biden's reelection campaign also tried to fundraise off of the news.

Former President Donald Trump raked in record cash after he became a convicted felon, a sign of how his legal troubles resonate with his most loyal followers.

Trump's campaign said they raised $34.8 million online from small donors. The campaign added that it was the best day ever on the WinRed platform, referencing the digital payments processor that most Republicans use. Due to federal campaign finance deadlines, the campaign's claims could not be immediately verified. Trump's campaign did not define what small donors mean, but it typically refers to Americans who donate $200 or less.

It's not a surprise that the day provided a major boost to Trump's fundraising. His campaign has embraced his outlaw image, even selling merchandise with his mugshot emblazoned. A Politico analysis previously found that Trump's legal struggles coincided with the biggest fundraising days of his campaign.

Trump's team struggled to keep up with the demand. There were multiple reports that Trump's main site crashed or struggled to fully load in the minutes after a Manhattan jury announced it had found him guilty on all 34 felony counts related to a scheme to falsify business records to cover up a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.

The former president desperately needs the cash. Last month, Trump and Republicans outraised President Joe Biden and Democrats. But Biden and his allies still held a $58 million cash-on-hand advantage. Biden has benefited from facing little serious primary opposition. Trump had a much more competitive primary. The former president has also raided his political fundraising network to pay his legal fees.

Biden's campaign seemed to gird itself against the possibility that the verdict would boost Trump's fundraising. The president's campaign sent its appeals out after the verdict. One of its messages made clear Trump could set records.

"[T]here is one other certainty  as you read this, Donald Trump's supporters are fired up and likely to set fundraising records for his campaign," a Biden campaign fundraising text read.

It wasn't just Trump. Senate Republicans' campaign arm said it had its biggest fundraising day of the cycle, raising $360,000 online. Republicans hope a more favorable map will help them retake the Senate majority.

It's not just about fundraising.

There could be political peril for Trump in the verdict. It's too soon to have any definitive take on what it means for Trump to be the first former president to be convicted of a felony. As longtime Republican strategist Karl Rove noted, even a small shift among the electorate in swing states could doom Trump.

"If he is found guilty, let's not underestimate that there is a problem," Rove said on Fox News before the verdict was in.

Read the original article on Business Insider
(NewsNation)  Former President Donald Trump, now also a convicted felon, held a news conference in front of Trump Tower in New York on Friday following the unprecedented verdict in his trial.

Trump said he had wanted to testify in the trial, but did not because it would have allowed the lawyers to dig into everything hes ever done. Ultimately, he did not take the stand, which is his right as a defendant. He announced his team would be appealing the decision as expected.

In his remarks, Trump began with comments regarding immigration and the Biden administrations policy before moving on to his remarks on the case. Those echoed comments he has made previously about his case, many of which have been disproven.

The former president railed against the gag order in the case, which prevents him from attacking court employees, who are not politically appointed or elected, or the families of those involved. He repeated claims that the case was part of a conspiracy and that Judge Juan Merchan was biased, though both of those claims have been disputed.

Trump attacked Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg along with Merchan, accusing them of ruining peoples lives with their work in the justice system. He also continued to profess his innocence, saying his actions were not criminal.

The jury reached the verdict Thursday after nearly 12 hours of deliberation over two days, alerting Merchan to their decision just before they were set to be dismissed for the day. Trumps sentencing has been set for July 11, where he could face up to 20 years in jail or be given a lighter sentence, with options including fines, probation, home detention and community service.

Trump railed against the verdict immediately after exiting the Manhattan courthouse where the trial had been held, calling it a political witch hunt and blaming President Joe Biden for the case. His campaign sent out fundraising emails after the verdict, raising $34.8 million, an amount the campaign said was almost double the biggest day of donations recorded.

His attorneys are almost certain to file an appeal in the case and are also likely to ask the court to stay any sentence until the appeals process is finished.

The criminal case was the first of four against Trump to go to trial and may be the only one to be decided before the election in November. The case centered around hush money payments made to Playboy model Karen McDougal and adult film star Stormy Daniels who said they had affairs with Trump and were paid to stay quiet ahead of the 2016 election. Trump then allegedly paid his former attorney and fixer Michael Cohen back for the payments.

Trump was charged with 34 counts related to falsifying business records to conceal damaging information from voters ahead of the election. Cohen previously pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance laws for orchestrating or making the hush money payments.

Trumps conviction does not prohibit him from running for or holding office. Depending on how things play out, however, it may prevent him from being able to vote for himself in November.

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.
Can Trump still run for president? Local legal expert weighs in on guilty verdict

Can Trump still run for president? Local legal expert weighs in on guilty verdict

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  Thursdays verdict finding former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 felony counts could leave voters with questions about whether this will legally impact the presidential campaign.

News 4 spoke with one local legal expert on what this case means not only for the nation, but for voters.

The historical significance now of the prosecution of a president, showing that you can successfully have a trial of a president, legal expert Barry Covert said.

It took a jury of 12 New Yorkers two days of deliberation to reach a verdict on Thursday, which found Donald Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records.

Just extraordinary that they were unanimous on that many counts that quickly, Covert said. It really is going to change the landscape when it comes to prosecuting politicians, former politicians, what we think we can do as a jurist in our society, what we think we can pull off in the courtroom.

Trump is now tabbed with the lowest level felony in New York State, which carries a maximum prison term of four years.



However, Covert said for a first time offender like Trump, prison isnt likely.

No client of mine that had no criminal history that was charged with something similar to this ever really faced the possibility of incarceration, he said.

Neighbors News 4 spoke to feel that the right precedent was set, showing no one is above the law.

That was the biggest thing for me, holding people accountable, Buffalo resident Joshua Bullock said. If I have to follow the rules, everyone has to.

A big question for voters is whether Trump can vote for himself in the upcoming election. Covert said he can, provided he remains out of prison in New York State.



Although Trump is a resident of Florida, the Sunshine State defers to other states disenfranchisement rules for residents convicted of out-of-state felonies.

Lets also keep in mind that he has the right to appeal this, Covert added. Theres every possibility that, as in any of the cases, a possibility that this case could be brought back if there were any errors that the appellate division agrees with.

Trumps name will still be on the ballot for the office of president in November.

Nothing in the U.S. constitution doesnt allow a felon from running or becoming the president of the United States.



Covert said Trump can even run from behind bars.

I think its definitely going to lead to more money that he gets, he said. Is it going to take the marginal voters and theyre not going to want to vote for a felon? We dont know that. That is all to be seen.

The sentencing for Trump is scheduled for July 11, just days before the Republican Party is set to formally nominate him for president, before the Nov. 5 election.

Latest Local News

Dillon Morello is a reporter from Pittsburgh who has been part of the News 4 team since September of 2023. See more of his work here and follow him on Twitter.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to News 4 Buffalo.
GAZA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- With rapid steps, Aseel al-Shiekh Ali, a Palestinian child from the northern Gazan city of Jabalia, tried to escape with her mother after being informed by the Israeli army that their house would soon be attacked.

Like many other Palestinians racing against death, Aseel, her mother, and their neighbors were gripped by fear and panic, unsure of where to go.

Just a few weeks ago, Aseel had returned to her house after months of displacement, hoping to finally stay in her home at least until the end of the current war.

However, once again, the 10-year-old girl was forced to flee with her family into the "unknown," uncertain of their future amid the intensifying fighting between the Israeli army and Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip.

"I do not want to die. I am a little girl. I want to live, play, and enjoy life," Aseel told Xinhua with a trembling voice while walking barefoot.

Suddenly, before she could finish speaking, a huge explosion shook the street. Screaming aloud, she called for her mother, trembling with fear.

The little girl ran frantically, without knowing where she was going, until her uncle picked her up, comforting her with the reassurance that her mother and everyone else were safe.

"This frightened child you see is one who loves life. Despite her fear, she constantly reminds us that we will survive and one day return to our normal lives," Mohammed al-Sheikh Ali, Aseel's uncle, told Xinhua.

Two hours later, Aseel and her family reached a refugee shelter in the Jabalia refugee camp.

The Israeli army launched a large-scale war on the Gaza Strip after Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack on Israeli towns and sites on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and holding about 250 others as hostages.

Since then, the Israeli army killed more than 36,200 Palestinians and wounded about 82,000 others in the Gaza Strip, with a significant number being children and women, according to the health authorities in Gaza.

Despite the ongoing conflict, Aseel continues to hold onto hope that the conflict will end soon and she will return to her home again to find her doll and books.

"After the war ends, my father and uncles will rebuild our house, while the neighbors will build the school and hospital. Gaza will once again be beautiful, with places to play," she said with a hopeful smile.

Ibrahim Shaath, another resident from Khan Younis city in southern Gaza, shares the same hope for an end to the war to alleviate the suffering of all Palestinians in Gaza.

Thirteen-year-old Ibrahim lost his parents, two siblings, and his right leg during an Israeli airstrike on their home in Khan Younis a few weeks ago.

"I didn't hear any explosion or missile, but I felt like the house was collapsing above my head. At first, I thought I was dead, but then I heard men's voices telling me that I was still alive," the boy recounted.

Currently, Ibrahim is receiving medical care at al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah refugee camp, with his elder sister caring for him.

"Despite losing my family, home, and neighborhood, I'll carry on with my life and achieve my dream of becoming a doctor, as my parents hoped, to serve my people in the future," the boy said, his eyes brimming with tears.

"We love life and want to live in safety. My family was killed simply because we live in Gaza, while children elsewhere live free from fear, enjoying their rights without worry," he said.

Sama Abu Zayed, from Al-Maghazi refugee camp in central Gaza, shared those same dreams, but tragically, she was unable to realize any of them, as she was killed in an Israeli raid targeting her family's home two months ago, according to Haniya Abu Zaida, Sama's mother.

"My child dreamt of becoming a painter one day. But the Israeli army killed her, killed her dreams, and killed the life inside me," said Haniya, with tearful eyes.

"What sins did our children commit to deserve such brutal killings? And what is our fault for enduring this oppression and injustice?" she questioned, urging the international community to halt the bloodshed in Gaza. 
Can Trump still run and be president of the United States?

Can Trump still run and be president of the United States?

NEW YORK (PIX11)  Former President Donald Trump was found guilty of all 34 counts in his historic hush money trial on Thursday. People may now be wondering if he can still run and serve another term as president of the United States.

The conviction will not bar Trump from continuing his campaign for the White House.

Here are the crimes Trump committed in NYC hush-money case

Nothing in the U.S. Constitution states that a convicted felon or someone convicted of a crime cannot be a presidential candidate.

The U.S. Constitution states for someone to be a candidate for president, they must:

Be a natural-born citizen of the U.S.

Be at least 35 years old

Have been a resident of the U.S. for 14 years

Anyone who meets these requirements can declare their candidacy for president, reads the U.S. General Services Administration website. Once a candidate raises or spends more than $5,000 for their campaign, they must register with the Federal Election Commission. That includes naming a principal campaign committee to raise and spend campaign funds.

So, yes, Trump can still run for presidential office.

However, if he were to win and take office next year, he would not be able to erase his conviction from his record. Under the U.S. Constitution, acting presidents can grant pardons for federal crimes but not for state crimes such as this case.

Legal requirements for presidential candidates have remained the same since the year George Washington accepted the presidency, according to the Library of Congress.

This story comprises reporting from The Associated Press and Nexstar Media Wire.

Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here.

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NEW YORK CITY (NEXSTAR)  On Thursday afternoon, the jury in the hush money case of Donald Trump found the former president guilty on all 34 charges of falsifying business records in connection to porn actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

The verdict marks a historical moment, as its the first time a former president  who pleaded not guilty  was convicted of crimes. Thats in addition to a current major political partys candidate being convicted before an election. Trump currently faces a fine up to $5,000 and a maximum of four years in prison for each felony count.

Trump found guilty in NYC hush money trial

Though experts have indicated the case will likely be appealed by the Trump team, the conviction presents several new questions Americans have never had to think about.

For instance: can the former president still vote after being convicted of these crimes?

While its not an across-the-board rule that a convicted felon will lose their right to vote, its common enough for individuals to lose the right for a certain period of time. And the rules differ from state to state.

In Florida, where Trump has lived since 2019, the U.S. Department of Justice explains that while convicted felons do lose their rights to vote if theyre convicted of murder or a sexual offense, other felons will regain their voting rights once theyve completed their sentences. This means that once former Pres. Trump pays any fines or serves any potential prison time (though this is unlikely), his rights will be restored.

Additionally, as explained by the Florida Division of Elections, a Florida resident convicted of a non-murder/non-sexual crime in another state only loses their right to vote in Florida if their conviction would make them ineligible to vote in the state where they were convicted.

Reactions to former President Donald Trumps hush money trial

As Forbes reports, since Trump was convicted in New York, we need to look at New Yorks voting laws. According to the DOJ, felons only lose their rights to vote while they are incarcerated. This means that unless former Pres. Trump is in prison on Election Day  which again, is unlikely  he can vote.

You also may be wondering why felony convictions wont keep Trump off the 2024 ballot. Per the U.S. Constitution, Trump meets all requirements of age, birth, and residency. Qualifications for the Presidency have but few requirements and no limitations based on criminal records.

One right the former President may lose, however, is his right to own a gun. The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms plainly indicates that anyone convicted in any court of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.

New York Judge Juan Merchan has set Trumps sentencing for July 11.

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.
One of the most bizarre things about the Donald Trump era has been the persistence of his aura of invincibility. Trump, who never reads books but somehow harbors deep knowledge of what history tells us about how autocrats succeed, cultivates this aura relentlessly. The nonstop lying about his poll strength, the absolute refusal to concede the slightest error in any situation, the endlessly hallucinogenic fabrications about his crowd sizesall of it flows from his seemingly instinctual sense that conceding any hint of weakness must be resisted at all costs, lest it unleash forces that shatter him entirely.

The guilty verdict that a Manhattan jury handed to Trump in his hush-money trialhe was convicted on all 34 felony countsis surely such a powerful spectacle in part because it upends that dynamic. Only hours ago, it was possible to still see Trump as a seemingly untouchable figure on the verge of defying us all again. An entire political party had lined up behind him to cast the proceedings as illegitimate. No matter how sleazy, grotesque, and damning the revelations, his grip on the GOP seemed to only grow stronger. His poll numbers refused to budge. He was violating his gag order with impunity, insulting the judge and his family, hypnotizing millions of rank-and-file Republicans into seeing him as a victim of overzealous law enforcement, and generally unfurling a big, fat middle finger at the justice system and at the rule of law itself.

He was getting away with all of it. Again.

Until he didnt.

The force of this truth should inform how Democrats proceed now. Democratic operatives sometimes say theres no sense in talking about Trumps criminal trials, because his negatives are baked in, as the grating consultant-speak has it. Indeed, according to a source familiar with the situation, the Biden campaign has no plans for any paid ads on the verdict. The campaign did put out a powerful statement about the verdict, and its somewhat understandable that Biden himself is cautious about commenting on Trumps legal travails, given that his own Justice Department is prosecuting Trump.

But that cant set the tone for the whole party. Other Democratic groups and elected officials must do all they can to make sure that voters know about this conviction, and, importantly, that Republican lawmakerswho are running for reelection as we speaklined up like little robots to savage the justice system, all to put Trump above accountability and the law.

After all, Republicans are in a terrible trap. Look what happened when Larry Hoganwho is running for Senate in deep blue Marylanddared to say the absolute minimum of whats responsible here, that the system should be respected:

Donald Trumps campaign manager says Larry Hogan just ended his campaign by urging respect for the Trump guilty verdict pic.twitter.com/5X4TMQ6pEQ  Aaron Fritschner (@Fritschner) May 30, 2024

What that really shows is how devastating it would be for Trump if more Republicans follow suit. Chris LaCivita, Trumps campaign manager, knows perfectly well that nothing about any of this is baked in. In a way, the baked-in idea is just another version of the invincibility thesis. And its nonsense: A guilty verdict is powerful new informationthe fact that one of the major party nominees is a convicted felon is an unprecedented and deeply jarring situation. We should hold institutional Democrats responsible if they dont use it, and use it ruthlessly and effectively.



True, the hush-money affair is less serious than Trumps alleged crimes related to the insurrection and the theft of national security documents. But it shouldnt be hard to make the case that an extremely serious offense lurks beneath the tabloid trash: Trump committed extensive fraud to deceive the American people about a tawdry affair and cheat his way into the most powerful position in the world, one he never should have been granted in the first place. The GOP presidential nominee is now a convicted criminal. As Dan Pfeiffer put it, Democrats should call Trump a convicted felon at every opportunity.

The larger story is also a powerful one. The system sought to hold Trump accountable despite a roar of second-guessingand in the face of incredible strains inflicted on it by Trump and his GOP enablers and media propagandists, who make up an extraordinarily powerful elite cadre. The system held. That reflects positively on our country. There is time for the Biden campaign to figure out how to tell that story as well.

No question, Trump could still defy political and legal gravity in plenty of ways. Though some polls suggest Trump will pay a political price for his conviction, its anyones guess whether voters will make good on that, and a lot rides on whether Democrats succeed in driving it all home. Beyond that, Judge Aileen Cannon seems to have delayed Trumps trial for theft of state secrets. The Supreme Court could still stall Trumps insurrection-related trial until after the election. But I suspect that has now become somewhat less likely: Now that Trump has been branded a felon, dubiously helping Trump delay justice will become harder to justify, and will come at a greater political and institutional price.

Trumps aura of invincibility has never been earned. He was impeached more times than any other president in U.S. history. He presided over the worst string of GOP electoral losses in many decades. He lost reelection after only a single term, which he won only after losing the popular vote. He has never once commanded majority support in this country. He had already been losing in court alreadyhes been nailed for sexually assaulting E. Jean Carroll, and his company was found to have systematically lied about its wortheven though he enjoys the priciest legal representation, funded partly by donor money that he fleeced from his own party, another privilege that pretty much no other defendant has enjoyed, ever.

And now, after Trump and his elite enablers attempted mightily to wreck the whole system to keep him beyond accountability at all costsan effort that for a time looked like it just might succeeda jury of ordinary Americans heroically stood up and said: No.
By Joseph Tanfani, Ned Parker and Peter Eisler

Supporters of former President Donald Trump, enraged by his conviction on 34 felony counts by a New York jury, flooded pro-Trump websites with calls for riots, revolution and violent retribution.

After Trump became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime, his supporters responded with dozens of violent online posts, according to a Reuters review of comments on three Trump-aligned websites: the former president's own Truth Social platform, Patriots.Win and the Gateway Pundit.

Some called for attacks on jurors, the execution of the judge, Justice Juan Merchan, or outright civil war and armed insurrection.

Someone in NY with nothing to lose needs to take care of Merchan, wrote one commentator on Patriots.Win. Hopefully he gets met with illegals with a machete, the post said in reference to illegal immigrants.

On Gateway Pundit, one poster suggested shooting liberals after the verdict. Time to start capping some leftys, said the post. This cannot be fixed by voting."

Threats of violence and intimidating rhetoric soared after Trump lost the 2020 election and falsely claimed the vote was stolen. As he campaigns for a second White House term, Trump has baselessly cast the judges and prosecutors in his trials as corrupt tools of the Biden administration, intent on sabotaging his White House bid. His loyalists have responded with a campaign of threats and intimidation targeting judges and court officials.

This was a disgrace, this was a rigged trial by a conflicted judge who was corrupt, Trump told reporters afterwards, echoing comments he often made during the trial.

A 12-member jury found Trump guilty on Thursday of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn stars account of a sexual encounter ahead of the 2016 election. Sentencing is set for July 11, days before the Republican Party is scheduled to formally nominate Trump for president ahead of the Nov. 5 election. Trump has denied wrongdoing and is expected to appeal.

Trump continued his attacks online after the verdict.

On Truth Social, he called Merchan HIGHLY CONFLICTED and criticized his jury instructions as unfair. One commentator responded by posting a picture of a hangman's platform and a noose with the caption: TREASONOUS MOBSTER OF THE JUSTICES SYSTEM!!

Jacob Ware, a co-author of the book God, Guns, and Sedition: Far-Right Terrorism in America, said the violent language used by Trumps followers was testament to the former presidents ironclad ability to mobilize more extreme supporters to action, both at the ballot box and through violence.

Until and unless he accepts the process, the extremist reaction to his legal troubles will be militant, said Ware, a research fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

A spokesperson for Truth Social said, Its hard to believe that Reuters, once a respected news service, has fallen so low as to publish such a manipulative, false, defamatory and transparently stupid article as this one purely out of political spite.

All three sites have policies against violent language, and some of the posts were later removed. Representatives of Patriots.Win and Gateway Pundit did not immediately return requests for comment. A Trump spokesperson also did not respond to an email seeking comment.

HANG EVERYONE

After Thursday's verdict, many of his supporters also said that his conviction was proof that the American political system was broken and that only violent action could save the country.

1,000,000 men (armed) need to go to Washington and hang everyone. That's the only solution, said one poster on Patriots.win. Another added: Trump should already know he has an army willing to fight and die for him if he says the words...Ill take up arms if he asks.

Other posts specifically urged targeting Democrats, in some cases suggesting they be shot. AMERICA FULLY DESTROYED BY DEMOCRATS. LOCK AND LOAD, wrote a commentator on Gateway Pundit.

While the posts identified by Reuters all called for violence or insurrection, most fell short of the legal standard for a prosecutable threat, which typically requires evidence that the comment reflects a clear intent to act or instill fear, rather than simply suggesting a frightening outcome.

Still, one researcher who studies extremist militias said the guilty verdict could inspire violence by reinforcing a conviction among some of Trump's supporters that he's a victim of a conspiracy orchestrated by his enemies.

I do think a lot of these folks have been looking for an excuse to maybe mobilize for a while, said Amy Cooter of the Middlebury Institute of International Studies Center on Terrorism, Extremism and Counterterrorism. I hope Im wrong. Ive said for a long time, though, that I would not be shocked to see violence result from a guilty verdict, either directed toward the jurors or others connected to the case.

(Joseph Tanfani and Peter Eisler reported from Washington. Ned Parker reported from New York. Editing by Jason Szep)
Trump is trending on Chinese social media, and many are rejoicing

Editors Note: Sign up for CNNs Meanwhile in China newsletter which explores what you need to know about the countrys rise and how it impacts the world.

As Donald Trump became the first former US president to be convicted of a felony on Thursday, the historic verdict sparked huge interest  and a fair amount of schadenfreude  in China.

As a rising authoritarian superpower, China has long sought to project its political system as superior to American democracy.

But while Trumps trial has been a boon for that narrative, its also offered a potential window into something unimaginable and dangerous to the ruling Chinese Communist Party  an elected leader held accountable by independent courts and prosecutors, convicted by a jury of his peers.

For months, Chinese propagandists have attempted to use Trumps indictments to strengthen Beijings narrative of a United States in decline, citing the months-long legal battle as a prime example of the polarization and dysfunction of American politics.

And as China woke up Friday to the news of Trumps conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, the countrys heavily censored social media lit up.

On Weibo, Chinas X-like platform, the verdict became the top trending topic, racking up more than 120 million views by the afternoon.

Trumps supporters, hurry up and mobilize, storm the Capitol, said a top comment under a news brief by state news agency Xinhua.

Another said: Comrade Nation Builder Trump should not be fighting alone.

On the Chinese internet, the former US president earned the nickname of Chuan Jianguo, or Trump, the (Chinese) nation builder during his time in office  a quip to suggest his isolationist foreign policy and divisive domestic agenda were actually helping Beijing to overtake Washington on the global stage.

Some nationalist influencers gleefully mocked the verdict. It seems that in 2024, a civil war in America is not just a dream! said one such blogger with 4 million followers.

Under leader Xi Jinping, Chinas most assertive leader in decades, the countrys social media platforms have become increasingly dominated by anti-American, nationalistic voices.

Although he is guilty, he can still run for president. A criminal can become president  this is the ridiculous aspect of Western-style democracy, said another.

Hu Xijin, former editor-in-chief of state-run nationalist tabloid Global Times, also weighed in.

Naturally, Chinese people are watching the spectacle with amusement, he said on Weibo. Heres what everyone is most concerned about: First, will Trump actually go to jail? Second, can he still run for president?

But analysts say Trumps conviction could be a tricky topic for Chinese state propagandists to navigate.

On the one hand, it highlights a rotting and fracturing American democracy. On the other hand, it highlights that a former top leader can be arrested, put on trial, judged by jury of peers and convicted, for relatively small acts of corruption, wrote Bill Bishop, a China watcher and author of the Sinocism newsletter.

Chinas judicial system remains tightly beholden to the ruling Communist Party, according to legal observers, and has a conviction rate of around 99%.

The timing of the conviction also added to the sensitivity, coming just days before the 35th anniversary of Beijings bloody crackdown of the pro-democracy Tiananmen movement in 1989, according to Bishop.

So far, Chinese state media outlets have yet to publish the kind of blistering commentaries that previously appeared alongside news coverage of Trumps legal entanglements.

Alfred Wu, an associate professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, said Chinas state media is unlikely to play up the coverage in the days ahead.

They dont want to attack Donald Trump because if he becomes the president, they know the consequences. Instead, theyre likely to use it to showcase the problems of the US system, said Wu, a former reporter in China.

They need to be really careful about that.

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Trump trial: From roads to social media, home county breaks along party lines over verdict

PALM BEACH  In Palm Beach County, Donald Trump's home, supporters and critics faced off on street corners and social media following the former president's conviction on Thursday.

About a dozen people stood along a roadside parking strip along Southern Boulevard between Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach and the county mainland, waving flags and holding up competing signs. Commuters whizzing by honking in support or against them.

Guilty! Guilty! Guilty one man chanted. You should be ashamed of yourselves, another yelled as he drove by.

Enraged over Trumps conviction, 60-year-old hedge fund worker Debbie Macchia, a Republican from Boynton Beach, joined friends to fly giant Trump flags, including one saying LOCK & LOAD, with two revolver pistols.

Macchia said she felt flabbergasted and confused by the verdict.

"What was the crime? she asked.

More: Trump convicted on all 34 counts. Can a convicted felon run for president?

New York trial: Trump guilty on all charges. Read reaction from across Florida.

When a reporter started to explain that Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records to hide a campaign cash payment to porn star Stormy Daniels to stop her from revealing their affair before the 2016 election, she interrupted.

He paid legal fees (to attorney Michael Cohen) to do legal work for him!" she retorted. "Nice try.

When an anti-Trump driver slowed down to yell, F*** Trump! Macchia replied, Go to Gaza! I hope they murder you there! as her friends nodded and cheered.

Across the street, an anti-Trump demonstrator from Palm Beach, Luke Waterman, held a homemade LOCK HIM UP sign, a dig at the Trump's rallygoers chant against Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. He smiled at Macchiato and her friends.

I dont like that theyre the only ones out here, he said.

But Waterman said he didnt think Trump should be locked up for the crimes for which he was found guilty.

Its just the phrase they shouted at Hillary, he said.

Partisan response to a 'somber verdict,' sad moment in U.S. history

People wave flags and hold signs near Mar-a-Lago on May 30, 2024 in Palm Beach, Florida after former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all counts in his New York criminal hush money trial.

Reactions from Palm Beach County political leaders were sharply divided along partisan lines.

Republican Congressman Brian Mast, whose district includes communities in the northern part of the county, said on X, formerly Twitter, that "America's judicial system was Killed In Action tonight."

Hours before the jury came to its decision, Trump's daughter-in-law, Republican National Committee vice chair and Jupiter resident Lara Trump, insisted in a defiant social media post that "no matter what witch hunts and lawfare the Left throws against President Trump, he will never stop fighting for the American people!"

Outspoken Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg said the verdict was reasonable and pointed to the "strong case" against Trump.

The prosecution put on a strong case, and the jury followed the evidence and the law, he said. Michael Cohen was a key witness for the State, and despite his flaws, there was ample corroboration for his testimony.

State Sen. Lori Berman, a Palm Beach County Democrat, raised the question of whether Trump, as a convicted felon, now can cast a vote in Florida since state law disenfranchises convicted felons.

Berman also called attention to Amendment 4 passed in 2018, which is aimed to restore voting rights to the states convicted felons. It represented one of the biggest voting rights victories in recent history. Then, Florida Republicans gutted it. Now, Trump cant vote in his own home state. Call it poetic justice, she wrote.

But in Florida, where Trump is registered to vote, felons have the right to vote if the state where they were convicted, in this case New York, allows it. New York only removes a felons right to vote while they are imprisoned, and as Trump may not receive jail time at all, let alone before the election, he likely will remain eligible.

Also, a Florida Attorney Generals advisory opinion from 1977 suggests Trump can vote, at least until he runs out of appeals. As of Thursday night, Trump's legal team has not said whether they will appeal the verdict.

A felon  is not convicted within the meaning of the constitutional disqualification from voting while an appeal from such conviction is pending or while the time for an appeal from the judgment or sentence has not yet expired, stated the opinion, written by Pat Gleason, now the offices special counsel for open government.

Democrat Lois Frankel, who represents a Palm Beach County district that includes Trump's Mar-a-Lago, spoke somberly of the moment.

Putting politics aside, this is a somber verdict that speaks to the fact that for our democracy to work, no person should be above the law, she wrote.

Palm Beach Post reporter Hannah Phillips and Jim Rosica of the USA Today Florida Network contributed to this story.

Antonio Fins is a politics and business editor at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at afins@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Trump trial: In Palm Beach County, anger, vindication over conviction
A Manhattan jury found Donald Trump guilty of all 34 felony charges of falsifying business records, a historic verdict in the first ever criminal trial of a former U.S. president. This is Yahoo News' succinct update on the criminal and civil cases against Trump. Here are the latest developments.

 What happened Thursday

At the conclusion of the second day of deliberations, a New York jury that heard the case brought against Trump by District Attorney Alvin Bragg notified Judge Juan Merchan that it had reached a verdict. Read aloud in the lower Manhattan courtroom with Trump and Bragg looking on, the jury found the former president guilty of all the charges. The presumptive Republican presidential nominee reacted to the verdict by vowing to fight against what he said was a rigged trial against him.

 Zoom in

Jury starts the day hearing testimony read aloud: Day two of deliberations began with the jury back in the courtroom. They had asked the judge to have some witness testimony read aloud (juries can take notes during a trial, but cannot make recordings). Tellingly, a portion of that testimony concerned an August 2015 meeting at Trump Tower between former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker and Trump. This was the meeting at which Cohen and Pecker testified that the three men hatched a scheme to keep negative stories from appearing so as to help Trumps 2016 presidential campaign. Merchan also repeated his instructions to jurors on how to come to a verdict in the case.

Waiting game: After the jury left the courtroom to continue deliberations, Trump returned to a holding room in the courthouse, where he was joined by his sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. In a post to his social media network while the jury was at work, Trump asserted that Peckers testimony absolved him.

"Testimony conclusively showed that I clearly stated, 'I DONT BUY STORIES!'  Not that there would be anything wrong with doing that  NDAs are PERFECTLY LEGAL AND COMMON!" Trump wrote.

The verdict: As the hours passed, it appeared that the jury might be excused Thursday without having reached a verdict. Merchan said he would excuse the jury at 4:30 p.m. ET if they hadnt reached a verdict. Moments later, however, Merchan informed the courtroom that the jury had in fact reached verdicts. "Please let there be no reactions, no outbursts of any kind," the judge told the courtroom audience before the jury was seated once more.

The jurors, whose identities Merchan ordered be kept anonymous, voted unanimously that Trump was guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records.

"I do want to personally thank you for your service," Merchan told the jury after the verdicts were read.

Initial reactions: Trump, who expressed his outrage throughout the trial at being charged, did so again outside the courthouse. "We'll keep fighting, we'll fight till the end and we'll win, because our country's gone to hell," he said.

The Trump campaign sent out an email that quoted Trump saying, I am a political prisoner! while also requesting money.

Bragg posted a message on X responding to the verdict: "Today, a jury found Donald J. Trump GUILTY on ALL 34 felony counts."

Cohen released his own statement that read, Today is an important day for accountability and the rule of law. While it has been a difficult journey for me and my family, the truth always matters.

The Biden campaign also saw fit to comment on the outcome of the trial.

"There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box, Michael Tyler, communications director for the campaign told the New York Times. "Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president."

 Whats next?

Trump will be sentenced on July 11. His lawyers have vowed to appeal the guilty verdicts, a process that could drag on for several months. The maximum possible sentence, which will be decided by Merchan, would be four years in prison, but the judge could also simply fine the former president and place him on parole. Trump announced he will hold a press conference about the trial on Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

 The background

 Trump's trials and legal cases
Trump verdict was about one thing: Democrats being able to call him convicted felon | Opinion

Donald Trump, convicted felon.

In the end, those four words are all that matter about the verdicts delivered Thursday against the former president. Democrats have lusted for the phrase, eager to use it to try to bail out one of the most poorly positioned incumbents ever seeking reelection.

No one really cares if Trump paid a former porn star to be quiet about a sexual encounter (one that Trump, for what its worth, still denies). No one really cares how the books at the Trump Organization were filed. If a crime was committed, it was a misdemeanor, and the statute of limitations had expired.

And spare us the pearl-clutching about how the payment to Stormy Daniels was an effort to rig the presidential election. We didnt exactly hear that when Bill Clintons fixers bragged about squelching bimbo eruptions in 1992.

Nope, its entirely about getting Trump, as Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg pledged as a candidate. Hey, at least one politician is keeping a campaign promise!

It was shameful, but it worked. And a Manhattan jury eagerly complied despite a baffling case built on the testimony of a known perjurer and decorated with all kinds of distractions, such as the testimony of Daniels herself.

Note that the case is constantly described in media shorthand as a hush money trial. But paying hush money  usually through the much nicer term nondisclosure agreement  isnt a crime. Its a business deal. Prosecutors didnt try to hang Trump for that, but by calling Daniels, who knew nothing about the record-keeping, they were happy to keep the unseemly original sin front and center for the jury.

Trumps legal team has several grounds for appeal. Should Judge Juan Marchan, a Biden donor, have recused himself? Why was only Trump subject to a gag order? How about prosecutors leaving it open what crime the bookkeeping machinations were meant to conceal, so jurors could play Dial-A-Felony? For the people who claim to be defenders of norms and the rule of law, it sure seems like twisting the rules to get one guy.

This is a travesty, and as certain as I have been on air that the former president would be convicted, I'm just as certain the conviction will be reversed.



Some of the grounds for reversal:

--the charging document did not specify the "second crime";

--the judge had made a  Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) May 30, 2024

In terms of politics, were in uncharted territory. Weve never had a convicted felon as a major-party nominee. We dont know if Trump will land in jail at some point and how those images would hit typical voters.

Besides, theres so much more to all elections  and this one in particular.

Many voters have already chosen sides between the two men who theyve seen as commander in chief, a level of exposure to both candidates thats nearly unprecedented. Few have yet to make up their minds, and even fewer live in the states where the election will be decided.

Americans know Trump is, at best, ethically challenged. Many are wary of re-inviting his brand of chaos. But they have seen enough chaos from Joe Biden to know they want something else. Theyve seen groceries skyrocket to unaffordable levels, housing increasingly out of reach, elite college campuses in revolt, and unchecked illegal immigration encouraged by the presidents policies.

Oh, and they know Bidens not getting any younger, either.

All of that is chaos that factors in every bit as much as what Trump brings.

Maybe repetition will have an effect. A billion dollars of ads repeating Donald Trump, convicted felon could move the needle.

And if you believe in karma, maybe this is Trumps, arriving all at once for a lifetime of business, legal, personal and political sins. It doesnt appear hell face specific reckoning any time soon on his Jan. 6 abuses, his mishandling of national secrets or his pressure on Georgia election officials to flip the states results.

In that sense, Trump can primarily blame the person who got him into all those messes: Donald Trump, convicted felon.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Hamad at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Xi and Hamad witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Friday announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, a new milestone in bilateral relations.

The announcement came as Xi held talks with Hamad, who is in China for a state visit. Hamad also attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing on Thursday.

Bahrain is a good friend and partner of China in the Gulf region, Xi said, adding that although the two countries have different national conditions, they have always treated each other sincerely and enjoyed friendly relations.

As this year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Bahrain, Xi said China is ready to work with Bahrain to develop their comprehensive strategic partnership and to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

China firmly supports Bahrain's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, security and stability, and supports Bahrain's path of independent development, as well as Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030 and its diversified development strategy, he said.

China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Bahrain in the fields of energy, investment, transportation, new energy and digital economy, and achieve more results in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, Xi said. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa witness the signing of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Hamad at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Hamad at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Hamad at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Hamad at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Hamad at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Hamad at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Hamad at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)
Lawmakers under consideration to join former President Trump on the Republican ticket in November rushed to his defense after a New York jury found him guilty on 34 felony counts in his hush money trial.

Trumps allies and those jockeying for a spot on the ticket have for weeks echoed his criticisms of the case, with several potential vice presidential contenders appearing at the courthouse in support of the former president. Following the verdict Thursday, they unleashed attacks on the judge, the district attorney and the legal system.

Todays verdict shows how corrupt, rigged, and unAmerican the weaponized justice system has become under Joe Biden, Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) said in a statement. I fully support President Trump appealing this decision and look forward to a higher New York Court to deliver justice and overturn this verdict.

Stefanik echoed many of Trumps own complaints about the trial, attacking the district attorney, the gag order that prevented Trump from attacking witnesses and court staff and painting the case as an effort to hinder Trumps reelection bid.

This Lawfare should scare every American, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) posted on the social platform X. The American people will have their say in November.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) called the verdict a complete travesty that makes a mockery of our system of justice.

Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio), another contender to be Trumps vice president, called the verdict a disgrace to the rule of law and our Constitution.

This isnt justice, its election interference, he posted on X.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), who The New York Times reported is quickly rising in the ranks of potential Trump running mates, railed against the judge in the case in a post on X.

The American people will see right through Joe Biden and the Democrats weaponization of the legal system, he wrote.

Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records, making him the first former president to be convicted of a felony.

The 12-person jury in the hush money trial returned its verdict late Thursday afternoon after deliberations went for approximately 11 hours.

Trump was found guilty of counts that included general ledger entries in his business records that prosecutors said covered up repaying his then-attorney Michael Cohen, who paid porn actor Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an alleged affair.

Trump has denied the affair and had pleaded not guilty. He is expected to appeal the verdict.

The judge has set a sentencing date of July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention in which Trump is expected to be officially named the 2024 GOP nominee for president.

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.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Republican-led states have historically made it difficult for those convicted of a felony to vote or barred it altogether. Now the Republicans presumptive nominee for president, who lives in one of those states, is among them.

Donald Trumps conviction in the New York hush money case puts a spotlight on a wider movement to restore rights that has been gaining momentum in recent years, with the notable exception of Trump's newly adopted state of Florida and a pair of its Southern neighbors.

Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2018 restoring the right to vote for the estimated 1.8 million people in the state who had felony convictions, but the Republican-controlled Legislature watered that down by making the payment of all fines, fees and court costs part of the requirement before voting rights would be restored. That had the effect of making it complex, expensive and risky for people convicted of felonies to try to cast ballots.

It's unlikely those rules will ensnare Trump, experts say, because he was convicted in New York state, not Florida.

When its residents are convicted of felonies in other states, Florida allows them to vote if they would be allowed to in the state of their conviction. In New York, Democrats passed a law in 2021 allowing people convicted of felonies to vote as long as they're not in prison. So as long as Trump stays out of a New York prison while he appeals his conviction, he will be allowed to vote in Florida.

If Trump had been convicted in Florida, he likely would have needed intervention from his former Republican presidential primary opponent, Gov. Ron DeSantis, to retain his voting rights. Those who advocate for the rights of people convicted of felonies say they hope Trump's case convinces the public of the need to make regaining voting rights simple and straightforward.

We think this highlights the need for a standard for everybody, whether youre a former president or youre a citizen who simply wants to participate in voting, said Neil Volz, deputy director of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition.

The movement to let people convicted of felonies vote once they're done serving their sentence has been growing in recent years and is sometimes the rare issue that generates bipartisan support. Some conservative states have restored voting rights for people convicted of felonies, including recently Nebraska and Oklahoma. Bills are pending in the Democratic-leaning states of Massachusetts and New York.

Only one state, Virginia, permanently disenfranchises people convicted of felonies. There, the governor must intervene to restore voting rights. Nine others, including Florida, have some form of permanent disenfranchisement unless reinstated by government action, according to research from the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University.

Generally, the consensus is that people should have the right to vote, especially if theyre living in their community and paying taxes, said Blair Bowie of the Campaign Legal Center.

The Sentencing Project, which advocates for restoring voting rights, says roughly 4.4 million people remain unable to vote because of past felony convictions, with 1.1 million of those in Florida. But that's fewer than the roughly 6 million the group estimated a decade ago, a sign of how states have been making it easier for people convicted of felonies to regain their rights.

Expanding voting rights is popular, it is taking hold across the country, said Bob Libal, a consultant for the project. I hope this is a moment when we can address this issue in a serious way, including Florida.

Bowie said Florida's intransigence on restoring voting rights may be inspiring other nearby states that also are controlled by Republicans. Tennessee has implemented strict rules making it hard for people convicted of felonies to regain their rights, she said, and Alabama recently expanded the list of crimes for which voting rights can never be restored.

My fear is Florida gave states permission to roll back, Bowie said.

Floridas 2018 amendment that restored voting rights for people convicted of felonies also required those convicted of murder and sex crimes to petition before their rights could be restored.

DeSantis, who signed the law the next year that added the fines and fees condition, also created a unit to target election crimes in 2021, piggybacking on Trump's false allegations that voter fraud cost him reelection the previous year. The unit arrested 20 former felons but also highlighted the bewildering process Florida uses to determine whether people convicted of felonies can vote. Several of the defendants said they were confused by the arrests because election officials had allowed them to register to vote.

Felony disenfranchisement laws date back to the Jim Crow era and mainly targeted Black people, according to experts. The only two states that experts say have never limited voting by people convicted of felonies, even in prison  Maine and Vermont  are two of the whitest in the nation.

But Bowie noted that, while Black people make up a disproportionate share of the people prohibited from voting because of felony disenfranchisement, the majority of those convicted of felonies who have lost their rights are, like Trump, not Black.

Bowie also runs the Restore Your Vote campaign, advising people convicted of felonies about how to regain the right to cast a ballot. She said many of the recent calls to the program have come from Trump supporters who were convicted in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

This can really illuminate the issue for a lot of people, she said of Trumps jeopardy.

___

Riccardi reported from Denver, Colorado.

__

This story was first published on May 31, 2024. It was updated on June 3, 2024, to correct that the provision that required people convicted of murder and sex crimes to petition before their rights could be restored was part of a 2018 ballot initiative approved by voters.
After deliberating for a little more than a day, a Manhattan jury on Thursday found Donald Trump guilty of falsifying 34 business records to aid or conceal "another crime," an intent that turns what would otherwise be misdemeanors into felonies. If you assumed that the jury's conclusions would be driven by political animus, this first-ever criminal conviction of a former president is the result you probably expected in a jurisdiction where Democrats outnumber Republicans by 9 to 1. But in legal terms, the quick verdict is hard to fathom.

That's not because there were so many counts to consider, each related to a specific invoice, check, or ledger entry allegedly aimed at disguising a hush-money reimbursement as payment for legal services. Once jurors accepted the prosecution's theory of the case, it was pretty much inevitable that they would find Trump guilty on all 34 counts. But that theory was complicated, confusing, and in some versions highly implausible, if not nonsensical. Given the puzzles posed by the charges, you would expect conscientious jurors to spend more than an afternoon, a morning, and part of another afternoon teasing them out.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's case against Trump stemmed from the $130,000 that Michael Cohen, then Trump's lawyer and fixer, paid porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election to keep her from talking about her alleged 2006 sexual encounter with Trump. When Trump reimbursed Cohen in 2017, prosecutors said, he tried to cover up the arrangement with Daniels by pretending that he was paying Cohen, whom he had designated as his personal attorney, for legal work.

Cohen testified that Trump instructed him to pay off Daniels and approved the plan to mischaracterize the reimbursement. Cohen was the only witness who directly confirmed those two points, and the defense team argued that jurors should not trust a convicted felon, disbarred lawyer, and admitted liar with a powerful grudge against his former boss. But even without Cohen's testimony, there was strong circumstantial evidence that Trump approved the payoff and went along with the reimbursement scheme.

The real problem for the prosecution was proving that Trump falsified business records with "an intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal the commission thereof"the element that was necessary to treat the misleading documents as felonies. Prosecutors said the other crime was a violation of Section 17-152, an obscure, little-used provision of the New York Election Law. Section 17-152 makes it a misdemeanor for "two or more persons" to "conspire to promote or prevent the election of any person to a public office by unlawful means." But prosecutors never settled on any particular explanation of "unlawful means," and Juan Merchan, the judge presiding over the trial, told the jurors they could find Trump guilty even if they could not agree on one.

According to one theory, Cohen made an excessive campaign contribution, thereby violating the Federal Election Campaign Act (FECA), when he fronted the money to pay Daniels. Cohen pleaded guilty to that offense in 2018 as part of an agreement that also resolved several other, unrelated federal charges against him. Cohen therefore had a strong incentive to accept the characterization of the Daniels payment as an illegal campaign contribution. While jurors heard about Cohen's guilty plea during the trial, CNN notes, Merchan instructed them that they should consider it only "to assess Cohen's credibility and give context to the events that followed, but not in determining the defendant's guilt."

It is unclear whether Trump violated FECA by soliciting Cohen's "contribution," a question that hinges on the fuzzy distinction between personal and campaign expenditures. Given the uncertainty on that point, it is plausible that Trump did not think the Daniels payment was illegal, which helps explain why he was never prosecuted under FECA: To obtain a conviction, federal prosecutors would have had to prove that he "knowingly and willfully" violated the statute.

The New York prosecutors said Cohen and Trump conspired to promote his election through "unlawful means." Under New York law, a criminal conspiracy requires "a specific intent to commit a crime." Trump's understanding of FECA was relevant in assessing whether he had such an intent, meaning he recognized the nondisclosure agreement with Daniels as "unlawful means." Trump's understanding of FECA therefore also was relevant in assessing whether he falsified business records with the intent of covering up "another crime."

That theory assumed three things: 1) that Trump recognized the Daniels payment as a FECA violation; 2) that he knew about Section 17-152, a moribund, rarely invoked law; and 3) that he anticipated how New York prosecutors might construe Section 17-152 in light of FECA. The first assumption is questionable, the second is unlikely, and the third is highly implausible. Yet you would have to believe all three things to conclude that Trump approved a plan to misrepresent his reimbursement of Cohen as payment for legal services with the intent of covering up a FECA-dependent violation of Section 17-152.

According to a second theory, Trump facilitated a violation of New York tax law by allowing Cohen to falsely report his reimbursement as income. Although that violation is described as "criminal tax fraud," Merchan said it did not matter that Cohen's alleged misrepresentation resulted in a higher tax bill. The judge noted that it is illegal to submit "materially false or fraudulent information in connection with any return," regardless of whether that information benefits the taxpayer.

Putting aside that counterintuitive definition of tax fraud, this theory required believing that Trump, when he reimbursed Cohen, not only contemplated what would happen when Cohen filed his returns the following year but also thought that "unlawful means" somehow would influence an election that had already happened. The logic here was hard to follow.

Likewise with the third theory of "unlawful means." Prosecutors suggested that Trump's falsification of business records was designed to aid or conceal the falsification of other business records. CNN reported that the latter records could involve, among other things, the corporate bank account that Cohen created to pay Daniels, Cohen's transfer of the money to Daniels' lawyer, or the Trump Organization's 1099-MISC forms for the payments to Cohen.

Since the 1099 forms were issued after the election, it is hard to see how they could have been aimed at ensuring Trump's victory. And although the other records predated the election, this theory involves a weird sort of bootstrapping.

Prosecutors said the records related to Cohen's dummy corporation, for example, were falsified because they misrepresented the nature and purpose of that entity, which by itself is a misdemeanor. That misdemeanor was the "unlawful means" by which Trump allegedly sought to promote his election, another misdemeanor. And because Trump allegedly tried to conceal the latter misdemeanor by falsifying the records related to Cohen's reimbursement, those records are 34 felonies instead of 34 misdemeanors.

The theory that Trump falsified business records to conceal the falsification of business records was "so circular as to produce vertigo in the jury room," George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley said. If so, the jurors seem to have quickly recovered from their queasiness. They accepted either this dubious theory, one of the others, or possibly some combination of them. Since unanimity was not required, it is possible that some jurors bought the FECA theory, some preferred the double falsification theory, and some concluded that the case was clinched by a tax fraud with no pecuniary benefit.

To disguise the difficulties with its dueling theories, the prosecution averred that Trump committed "election fraud" when he directed Cohen to pay Daniels for her silence, thereby concealing information that voters might have deemed relevant in choosing between him and Hillary Clinton. "This was a planned, coordinated, long-running conspiracy to influence the 2016 election, to help Donald Trump get elected through illegal expenditures, to silence people who had something bad to say about his behavior," lead prosecutor Matthew Colangelo told the jury in his opening statement. "It was election fraud, pure and simple."

During his summation, prosecutor Joshua Steinglass called the nondisclosure agreement with Daniels "a subversion of democracy." He said it was an "effort to hoodwink the American voter." He told "a sweeping story about a fraud on the American people," as The New York Times put it. "He argue[d] that the American people in 2016 had the right to determine whether they cared that Trump had slept with a porn star or not, and that the conspiracy prevented them from doing so."

Did the American people have such a right? If so, Trump would have violated it even he had merely asked Daniels to keep quiet, perhaps by appealing to her sympathy for his wife. If Daniels had agreed, the result would have been the same. As the prosecution told it, that still would amount to "election fraud," even though there is clearly nothing illegal about it.

The jurors evidently bought this cover story. During deliberations, they revisited the testimony of former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker, a Trump buddy whom prosecutors implicated in that "long-running conspiracy to influence the 2016 election." Pecker's arrangement with Trump, which he described as mutually beneficial, was not the basis for any of the charges against Trump. But his testimony reinforced Bragg's legally dubious claim that Trump engaged in "election interference" when he sought to avoid bad press.

Pecker said he agreed to help Trump in several ways. He would run positive stories about Trump and negative stories about his opponents. He also would keep an eye out for potentially damaging stories about Trump and alert Cohen to them. The latter promise resulted in two agreements that the Enquirer negotiated with Dino Sajudin, a former Trump Tower doorman who falsely claimed that Trump had fathered a child with a woman hired to clean the building, and former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal, who described a year-long affair with Trump. After paying $30,000 to Sajudin and $150,000 to McDougal for exclusive rights to their stories, the Enquirer sat on them.

Again, Trump was not charged in connection with any of this, and much of what Pecker did was constitutionally protected, albeit journalistically unethical. The fact that the jury nevertheless wanted to be read excerpts from Pecker's testimony suggests they accepted the prosecution's commodious understanding of "election fraud," which did not necessarily require any actual lawbreaking, let alone any attempt to interfere with the casting, counting, or reporting of votes.

In short, there was a glaring mismatch between the charges against Trump and what prosecutors described as the essence of his crime, which is not a crime at all. Since they could not charge him with "election fraud" merely because he tried to hide embarrassing information, they instead built a convoluted case that relied on interacting statutes and questionable assumptions about Trump's knowledge and intent.

That approach suggests several possible grounds for appeal. It is not clear, for example, whether a violation of federal campaign finance regulations, even when filtered through Section 17-152, counts as "another crime" under the state law dealing with falsification of business records. Nor is it clear that Section 17-152 applies in the context of a federal election, where federal law generally pre-empts state law. There are also questions about what is required to prove that Trump had "an intent to defraud" when he signed the checks to Cohen.

Bragg's predecessor, Cyrus R. Vance Jr., after lengthy consideration of possible state charges based on the Daniels payment, decided they were too legally iffy to pursue. Mark Pomerantz, a former prosecutor in Vance's office who worked on the Trump investigation, concluded that "such a case was too risky under New York law." In a 2023 book, Pomerantz noted that "no appellate court in New York had ever upheld (or rejected) this interpretation of the law."

Last week, New York Times columnist David French worried about the consequences of a conviction that is overturned on appeal. "Imagine a scenario in which Trump is convicted at the trial, Biden condemns him as a felon and the Biden campaign runs ads mocking him as a convict," he wrote. "If Biden wins a narrow victory but then an appeals court tosses out the conviction, this case could well undermine faith in our democracy and the rule of law." In his desperation to prevent Trump from reoccupying the White House, Bragg has already accomplished that.

The post Trump's Conviction Suggests Jurors Bought the Prosecution's Dubious 'Election Fraud' Narrative appeared first on Reason.com.
Trump's family furious about the historic conviction of the former president  with at least one exception

Trump's family furious about the historic conviction of the former president  with at least one exception

Donald Trump is now a convicted felon after a jury found him guilty in the hush-money trial.

His two eldest sons immediately took to social media to denounce the verdict.

"Such bullshit," Donald Trump Jr. wrote on X.

Former President Donald Trump's eldest sons immediately posted on social media to denounce their father's historic conviction Thursday in the New York hush-money trial.

"Such bullshit," Donald Trump Jr. wrote on X. He later published more posts criticizing the verdict and baselessly painting the trial as an attempt to interfere with the 2024 election.

This case was rigged from the start. Remember, the same hacks in the media demanding Justice Alito recuse himself because of a flag, have zero problem with the corrupt judge in this case being a donor to Joe Biden or his daughter making millions from Democrats!#RiggedSystem https://t.co/VwimHP5iNd  Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 30, 2024

Eric Trump, Trump's second-oldest son and the only Trump family member present in the courtroom on Thursday, wrote on X that the date of the verdict might be remembered as the day his father won the coming election.

May 30th, 2024 might be remembered as the day Donald J. Trump won the 2024 Presidential Election.  Eric Trump (@EricTrump) May 30, 2024

A few hours after the verdict, Ivanka Trump posted a story on her Instagram featuring what appeared to be a photo of her as a child sitting on her father's lap. The photo was captioned with a brief message: "I love you dad."

The rest of Trump's family remained silent on social media, but some were also present near the Manhattan Criminal Court.

Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Eric's wife, Lara, the Republican National Committee cochair, spoke with the press near the courthouse condemning the verdict.

"This was never a case about prosecuting an actual crime," Lara Trump told reporters. "This is a case about politics, pure and simple."

As of Thursday evening, neither Trump's wife, Melania, nor Ivanka Trump's husband, Jared Kushner, had released public statements on the outcome of the trial.

Kimberly Guilfoyle, Donald Trump Jr.'s fiancee, lent public support to the former president, writing on X that "the only verdict that matters is at the ballot box on November 5th."

Only one member of Trump's family lauded the guilty verdict: his estranged niece, Mary L. Trump.

"This scumbag finally got what was coming to him," she said in a YouTube livestream, "granted, in a very limited way."

Read the original article on Business Insider
California Democrats indulged in some schadenfreude over Donald Trumps guilty verdict Thursday, but when it comes to pivotal House races, they shouldnt be celebrating prematurely. Theres no guarantee that his legal troubles will sink California Republicans down-ballot.

Yes, Trump is toxic in California, even in the battleground districts that could determine control of the House. Of the six most competitive swing seats in the state, five of them went for Biden in 2020  four of them by double digits.

But even as voters in those districts picked a Democrat for president, they werent necessarily sticking with the party down ballot.

GOP Rep. David Valadao, for example, eked out a win in his Central Valley seat in 2020, even when that district backed Biden by 11 points. His seat tilted more Democratic after redistricting, yet Democrats were unable to oust him in 2022.

Orange County Rep. Michelle Steel is another Republican who was able to topple a Democrat in 2020, even as the district narrowly sided with Biden. She held her seat in 2022.

Democrats are quick to point out that the 2020 election is an imperfect historical guide. The party opted out of traditional field campaigning because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and down ballot contests like House races were more likely to be affected by the freeze in organizing efforts.

And certainly Trump has spelled trouble for Republican House candidates in the past  the historic blue wave of 2018 shows that California voters have been more than willing to blame the GOP writ large for their frustrations with the MAGA leader.

Few would argue its good for the GOP to have a presidential nominee who has just been found guilty of 34 felony counts. Instead, the key question is whether voters will satisfy their anti-Trump itch by voting against him in the presidential race while keeping an open mind about Republicans in other races.

California Republicans in swing seats have largely stayed silent about the verdict so far. Those who have commented, such as Rep. Ken Calvert, echoed Trumps complaint that the trial was a partisan frame-up  an argument that reinforces Democrats messaging about Republicans doing Trumps bidding.



For the most part, Rob Stutzman, a Republican Trump critic, said he expects GOP House contenders to stay away from the former presidents legal troubles. Probably not much of a factor by [November] in House races, he said.

The onus is on Democrats to keep the issue fresh in voters minds and obliterate any distinctions between Trump and the individual GOP members.

Shortly after the verdict, Democratic House candidate Will Rollins tweeted a video clip of his opponent, the GOP's Calvert, previously urging Republicans to rally around Trump. The Palm Springs Democrat added, We deserve a representative who cares more about the 750,000 of us in Riverside County than one convicted felon in New York.

Coby Eiss, Rollins campaign manager, predicted the verdict could help Democrats flip Calverts seat due to the larger number of independent voters in the inland district that is sandwiched between Los Angeles and San Diego. He argued voters want the government to look more like what you see on CSPAN, less like a soap opera.

Other Democrats, like Dave Min, who is running to replace Rep. Katie Porter in a hotly-competitive Orange County seat, tried to use Trumps loss in court to dredge up their adversary's baggage.

My Republican opponent Scott Baugh is now officially supporting a convicted felon, Min said, adding a dig about Baughs own brush with the law  a 1990s political misconduct case for which he paid $47,900 in civil fines. (Min has notoriously also had legal woes stemming from his drunken driving arrest that dominated his primary campaign.)

One hope for Democrats is the frenzy over Trumps convictions overwhelms GOP messaging hitting Biden on vulnerable issues like the economy and the border.

Good luck running as the party of law and order with a convicted felon as your partys standard bearer, said Orrin Evans, an LA-based Democratic consultant working for Min and Derek Tran, who is also running in a swing Orange County seat against Steel. If Republicans want to run on public safety - they have a pretty big messenger issue.

Christopher Cadelago contributed to this report.

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Turkish Foreign Ministry supports provision of weapons to Ukraine, but not NATO's "participation" in war

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that while Ankara does not want the North Atlantic Alliance to "participate" in the war in Ukraine, it does favour the provision of military assistance to Kyiv.

Source: Fidan after a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague on 31 May, writes AFP, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Fidan says Turkiye "supports continued assistance to Ukraine and Ukraine's ability to deter Russia".

Quote: "However, we do not want NATO to join this conflict. We feel that there should be a balance between these two things, both on the part of the member nations and NATO," Fidan said and went on to warn that the unrest could expand throughout the region and exacerbate existing crises.

His statement came after a decision by a number of Alliance countries, particularly the United States and Germany, to authorise Ukraine to attack Russian military facilities with the weapons they provided, but on certain conditions.

According to the European Commission, under international law Ukraine has the right to defend itself from armed aggression, including striking military targets on Russian territory.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg insisted that Ukraine has the right to strike Russian territory and emphasised that more and more allies agree with this.

Despite being a NATO member, Turkiye has maintained diplomatic and economic connections with Russia since its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

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BANGKOK, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The Asia Pacific Rail 2024 was held in the Thai capital with the aim of sharing latest technologies and development trends in railway transportation across the Asia-Pacific region, discussing challenges and opportunities in achieving sustainable development goals, reducing carbon emissions, and promoting eco-friendly railway solutions.

The two-day exhibition concluded on Thursday and was attended by over 200 railway and transit companies from nearly 20 countries worldwide.

Sixteen Chinese enterprises, including CRRC, Huawei, and China Railway, showcased their innovations at the exhibition.

Thai train fans visited the CRRC booth to eagerly explore the Chinese new energy locomotive models on display.

Napat Kuhapunya, a local train fan, told Xinhua: "Having experienced a hydrogen fuel cell hybrid locomotive in China earlier this year, I was deeply impressed by its low noise, safety, and environmental friendliness."

"I hope Thailand can introduce such new energy trains to promote green transportation," Napat added.

Huang Gui, locomotive general designer of CRRC Qishuyan Co., Ltd., said that in addition to electric multiple units and multi-track trains, CRRC also displayed hydrogen fuel cell hybrid, diesel-electric hybrid, and centralized electric locomotives at this exhibition.

"Currently, China's new energy locomotives are operating on many domestic routes and have gained international recognition," he said. "In June, we will export our first unit of hydrogen fuel cell hybrid locomotives to Chile."

The exhibition covered a range of areas from railway infrastructure, track technology, electrification equipment, safety monitoring, traffic management systems, to railway vehicles and trains.

Multiple specialized forums were held during the event, where experts from around the world engaged in in-depth discussions and exchanges on the topics of Digital Rail, Signaling Communications, Operations, Maintenance Asset Management, Mainline, and Metro. 
Israeli military vehicles continue on the border line near the city of Rafah, Gaza. At least 45 people were killed, mostly women and children, and nearly 250 others injured in the Israeli strike on the camp on 26 May. Saeed Qaq/SOPA Images via ZUMA Press Wire/dpa

Egypt has denied it has agreed with Israel to reopen the vital Rafah border crossing with the Gaza Strip, an Egyptian TV channel reported on Friday.

Earlier this month, Israel took control of the Gaza side of the Rafah crossing with Egypt, in an operation that halted aid deliveries via the facility into the heavily populated coastal strip.

Citing a high-level source, Egypt's state-affiliated al-Qahera News TV said on Friday that "there is no truth" in media reports about an Egyptian-Israeli agreement to reopen the crossing.

"Egypt insists on a full Israeli withdrawal from the crossing as a condition to resume its work," the source said.

Since the closure of the crossing, Egypt has indicated it will not coordinate aid transports through Rafah until the Israeli forces withdraw.

Egypt was the first Arab country to sign a peace treaty with Israel in 1979. But, the ongoing military campaign in Gaza has inflamed anti-Israeli sentiment in the Arab world's most populous nation, and apparently strained their decades-old ties.

Cairo is also concerned that an expansion of the Israeli offensive in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, crowded by refugees fleeing the fighting, could trigger a mass exodus into Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

Israel deems Rafah the last stronghold of the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, which killed hundreds of civilians in Israel in October last year.
Two arrested at Florence store after DTF finds large amount of controlled substances

FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT)  Two Florence store operators were arrested after a search found a large amount of controlled substances, according to the Lauderdale County Sheriffs Office.

On Thursday, the Lauderdale County Drug Task Force agents searched the HT General Merchandise. The search warrant was obtained due to the drug dealing activities of the owners

and/or employees of the business.

Former Alabama player Isaiah Buggs turns himself over to police following animal cruelty charges in Tuscaloosa

The sheriffs office was that they had received numerous complaints about the abuse and selling of Tianteptine and Kratom. Both substances are considered controlled substances in Alabama.

LCSO says agents found over 200 bottles of Tianteptine and several packs of Kratom, all of which were hidden in an ice machine, and $12,000. The money and drugs were both hidden where customers could not see them.

Within that sum of money, the sheriffs office says that agents found money that the drug task force had used to buy the drugs.

Phuong Van Trinh, 43, was charged with trafficking in controlled substance and five counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance. Trang Thuy Trinh, 45, was charged with trafficking in controlled substance and six counts of unlawful distribution of a controlled substance.

LCSO says that more, or upgraded, charges are expected.

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.
TAZEWELL, VA (WVNS)  Two child predators received multiple life sentences in Tazewell County Circuit Court on Thursday, May 30, 2024.

Joshua Adam Keen, 41, of Richlands, Virginia and Herbert Junior Sparks, 50, of North Tazewell, Virginia were sentenced in the Tazewell County Circuit Court after being found guilty of child sexual assault crimes earlier this year, announced Tazewell County Commonwealths Attorney J. Christopher Plaster.

Joshua Adam Keen was found guilty via a jury on February 21, 2024 on three counts of aggravated sexual battery of a child under the age of 13, two counts of taking indecent liberties with a child by a custodian, and one count of forcible sodomy of a child under 13 years of age. Keen also pleaded guilty to escaping custody after being transported to an area hospital and running out of the door and remaining at large for nearly a year.

Tazewell County man charged with multiple felonies after hit-and-run in Richlands

Herbert Junior Sparks was found guilty by a judge on February 22, 2024 on two counts of child endangerment, two counts of rape of a child under the age of 13, two counts of sexual penetration with an object, two counts of aggravated sexual battery, two counts of forcible sodomy, two counts of indecent liberties of a child by a custodian, one count of producing or making child pornography, and one county of displaying child pornography or grooming video to child under the age of 13.

Keen received a life sentence and an additional 70 years in prison. Sparks received six life sentences and an additional 95 years in prison.

During the sentencing hearing for Keen, Kati Asbury, Assistant Commonwealths Attorney presented evidence by incorporating victim impact statements where one of the victims stated, He (Keen) betrayed my trust and my innocence. I will never fully recover from what was done to me. I felt like I got the justice I have been waiting for, for so long.

Additionally, Ms. Asbury argued for the maximum sentence, stating No sentence, no amount of time will ever give them back what he took from them.

During the sentencing hearing for Sparks, Ms. Asbury also argued for the maximum sentence, stating, He deserves every day this court can give him. Victim impact statements were introduced in this hearing as well. One victim told Sparks, You are a monster, and in general, a terrible person.

Two men arrested in Tazewell County due to violation of probation

Another victim in this case told Sparks, we thought we were getting a father, but instead we got a monster. Sparks was defiant during the hearing. He rolled his eyes at the statements of the victims and also refused to participate in the preparation for his hearing.

The Tazewell County Commonwealth Attorneys Office thanked the agencies that assisted in both cases and convictions: Tazewell County Sheriffs Office, Richlands Police Department, Virginia State Police, the Department of Social Services, April Morefield and the CARE Center, Clinch Valley Medical Center, Ultra Health, Cumberland Mountain Community Services, and District 43 Probation and Parole Office.

Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Kati Asbury prosecuted both cases. Chief Deputy Brandon Goins and Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Phillip Foy assisted in prosecuting the cases.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WVNS.
Two fires in a week both intentionally set in uptown Charlotte neighborhood

Two fires in a week both intentionally set in uptown Charlotte neighborhood

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Investigators say two fires set at one Charlotte address this week were both intentionally set.

The latest blaze, a three-alarm fire that occurred early Thursday morning, burned the home to the ground and caused significant damage to nearby townhomes along Margaret Brown Street in the Gateway area of Uptown.

Six residents at the location were treated as a result of Thursdays fire, with one taken to the hospital for further treatment.

Getting the shaft: CATS Silver Line expansion through Matthews gets derailed

One of the residents displaced in the fire, Frank Wohlfarth, said that he could not leave through his front door because of the fire.

I immediately smelled smoke, woke up and was wondering what the heck was going on, he said. I noticed the flames everywhere, so I went out the back stairs, and I had to jump over the fence in order to get to safety, because I could not get out my front door, there were flames everywhere.

Charlotte Fire officials noted the home that caught fire was undergoing a complete renovation at the time.

They also noted that the same address had been the scene of another intentionally set fire Wednesday morning.

While fire officials have not explicitly said the fires are connected, neighbors believe that they are.

They came back to finish the job, said Wohlfarth.

The American Red Cross was at the scene assisting those who were displaced.

About $390,000 in damages has been estimated by Charlotte Fire.

There is no word yet on any arrests or charges 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 Queen City News.
A 28-year-old Minneapolis police officer is dead, as are two civilians and the suspected shooter, after an exchange of gunfire with a suspect Thursday evening in south Minneapolis, according to sources and a statement from police.

A second officer was critically wounded in the chaotic scene around an apartment building in the 2200 block of Blaisdell Avenue S, in Minneapolis' Whittier neighborhood, sources said.

The statement from Minneapolis police said two officers were taken to the hospital, but did not confirm that one had been killed or the condition of the other. A statement from the Minnesota Fraternal Order of Police said one officer had died.

The area remained cordoned off as the sun set amid an army of police, investigators and first responders from numerous agencies.

"The public is not in danger," the police statement said. "Please continue to avoid the area."

Details were still emerging Thursday evening in what would be the first shooting death of a Minneapolis police officer in the line of duty in more than 20 years.

Mayor Jacob Frey, Gov. Tim Walz and police officials were expected to address the media around 10 p.m. in downtown Minneapolis.

"Praying for all the first responders on the ground working to keep the community safe," Walz said in a tweet, adding that the state "stands ready to provide any resources necessary."

Walz said State Patrol troopers were assisting Minneapolis police, and officials with the state Bureau of Criminal Apprehension were also on the scene.

The police statement said the officers "responded to a shooting" but offered no other details on what led up to the shooting or how events unfolded.

One uniformed officer was face down on the street among squad cars and fire trucks as at least 11 shots rang out, according to a man who witnessed part of the incident and showed his cellphone video to a reporter.

By the time the gunfire ended, a figure in plainclothes could be seen face down on the street as well.

The identities of the police officers, civilians or suspected shooter had not been released as of 9:30 p.m.

Outpouring at HCMC

Upon hearing that officers were down, dozens of uniformed and plainclothes officers rushed to HCMC in downtown Minneapolis, where they wept and comforted each other in an ambulance bay. Among them were Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell and Hennepin County Sheriff Dawanna Witt.

Chief Brian O'Hara was out of town for a conference but was said to be headed back to Minneapolis.

The hospital entrance on 7th Street was lined with squad cars and covered with yellow crime scene tape as a parade of squad cars from departments across the metro rolled in, with Minneapolis park Police Chief Jason Ohotto directing traffic.

A woman stood at the intersection outside the hospital holding a giant "Blue Lives Matter" flag, wiping tears from her eyes.

Frey arrived on the scene as well, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with officers.

Members of the officers' families also arrived at HCMC, walking through a line of more than a hundred uniformed officers standing at attention in the ambulance bay. They were escorted inside by members of the department's honor guard.

Shooting scene

The shooting appears to have begun inside an apartment, according to one witness.

Reuben Molina said he was in his apartment when he heard four or five shots from an apartment on the floor below him. He and his girlfriend heard a woman tell a 911 dispatcher that two people had been shot in the head, including her boyfriend.

Molina saw two men walk out the back door of the complex and split up in the alleyway, going in opposite directions. They looked, he said, like they were "trying to be nonchalant."

Molina went outside to get officers to check on the apartment shooting when he began hearing more shots nearby, he said.

"I could hear the bullets ricocheting and bouncing off stuff as I'm trying to get somebody to come inside to check on the people who were shot," he said. He saw one wounded person being carried away.

Cory Jones, 36, was biking south on La Salle Avenue toward Franklin Avenue at about 5:23 p.m. when he heard the gunshots.

"I heard boom-boom-boom, and then I see a cop on the street," he said.

Jones dashed to the parking lot across the street from the Park Nicollet Clinic on Blaisdell Avenue, pulled out his phone and began recording. Several police officers huddled behind a fire truck parked on Blaisdell facing south.

As Jones approached the group, he saw an officer face down on the west side of the street and a man in plain clothes laying on the east side as pops of gunfire erupted around him  at least 11 shots, according to the audio and video captured on his phone.

Jones recorded for more than a minute before police told him to move along.

Residents kept out

Minneapolis police sent out an alert just before 6 p.m. telling residents to avoid the area around 22nd Street and Blaisdell because of an active incident. About 40 people gathered nearby as numerous police cars from several agencies arrived. Police yelled to observers to move back down the block and taped off the area, allowing only buses to go through.

Several people who live in the apartment building where the shooting took place were still waiting at 8 p.m. to get word they could go back inside. One woman told police to check on her children who were still inside her apartment.

Around that time, a group of about a dozen apartment residents began arguing with two officers who informed them that police were going unit to unit, kicking doors in to check for additional victims. Several said they were annoyed that police told them they would have to find somewhere else to stay for the next few hours.

"I'm annoyed because they're telling us to find other resources, find somewhere else to go, but who's to say we have anywhere?" said Artaesha McGraw as she stood outside the police tape with her kids.

Commuters and nearby residents were blocked in their vehicles as officers with assault weapons told them to get down and keep their doors locked.

The shooting Thursday was the second this year to result in the death of a Twin Cities police officer. In February, two police officers and a medic were shot and killed in Burnsville after an hours-long standoff following a domestic abuse call. A man who had barricaded himself in his home with a woman and seven children shot and killed the officers and medic, and died after turning his weapon on himself.

The last Minneapolis police officer shot and killed in the line of duty was Melissa Schmidt, who was killed in a public housing complex in the Lyndale neighborhood in 2002.

Check back with startribune.com as more details become available in this developing story.

Staff writers Josie Albertson-Grove, Eder Campuzano, Kim Hyatt and Paul Walsh contributed to this story.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Two Portland State University students intend to file a lawsuit against the school alleging unlawful use of force by officers during an on-campus protest against violence in Gaza, according to tort claim notices obtained by KOIN 6 News.

The students claim they were part of a peaceful protest near the Neuberger Center on campus May 23 when officers engaged in unlawful use of force, including battery and assault, against the protesters, as first reported by The Oregonian/OregonLive.

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In a three-minute video of the incident obtained by KOIN 6 News from the students attorney, protesters appear to block a garage entrance before officers started pushing protesters back, and at least one student was tackled to the ground.

The situation has since become a chicken or the egg scenario with major legal implications: Portland police say they used force after protesters were violent and blocked medical attention from getting to the campus police chief. However, video appears to show he led the charge against protestors long before his medical emergency  and without provocation.

In it, demonstrators can be seen locking arms in the east garage before officers  led by Campus Police Chief Willie Halliburton  started to push the assembly.

This is how attorney Michael Fuller said both his clients were injured.

Oregon law says that officers certainly can use physical force, but before using physical force, they have to consider options, Fuller said. That would include options like waiting or options like giving a verbal warning. And the video was pretty clear; the officers could have waited and chose not to, and the officers didnt give any clear verbal warning prior to using physical force.

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In a tort claim notice  sent to Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and PSU President Ann Cudd on Wednesday informing them about the intent to file the suit  Fuller said one of the students suffered pain, mental suffering, and mental distress as a result of the incident.

A second tort claim notice on behalf of the other student claims they stopped to attend a peaceful assembly of students near the east garage on campus. Like many other PSU students, our client condemns acts of violence in Gaza, and has never participated in any acts of violence on campus.

The notice also references a confrontation between protesters and police on campus in which PSU students were accused of kicking PSU Police Chief Willie Halliburton during the May 23 protest.

The university previously said Halliburton was taken to the hospital later that night after a medical emergency.

Portland police Chief Bob Day said officers were spit on, assaulted and harassed during the protest, adding that 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.

Oregon, Washington politicians react to Donald Trumps guilty verdict in hush money trial

But Fuller claims PPBs statement appears to be in direct conflict with what is seen on the video.

Contrary to initial reports by PPBs Strategic Communications Unit, officers used physical force against nonviolent students who were in no way involved with any purported attempts to delay medical services to Chief Halliburton, the tort notice claimed.

The notice further alleges the video of the confrontation appears to show Chief Halliburton initiated the use of physical force against the peaceful assemblers.

The students seek a total of $7,000 to settle. Fuller said the money sought by his clients will help cover medical bills, but added that the point is to send a message that they will take action if they find officers used force contrary to the law.

These are not anti-police cases. Its very easy to look back and say it could have been done better  doesnt mean the police are bad people, Fuller said. In this case, we looked back and it actually could have been done better. And thats the only reason were serving these notices.

KOIN 6 News reached out to both PSU and the City of Portland for a response, but neither were able to comment on pending litigation. PSU did, however, say Halliburton will recover at home.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
TAZEWELL COUNTY, Va. (WJHL)  Two Virginia men received life sentences and additional years in prison on Thursday after being found guilty of child sexual assault crimes in February, according to the Tazewell County Commonwealths Attorneys office.

Herbert Junior Sparks, 50, of North Tazewell, Virginia, received six life sentences plus an additional 95 years to serve in prison after being convicted of several charges, including child endangerment, rape of a child under the age of 13, forcible sodomy, producing or making child pornography, and more, according to the commonwealths attorney.

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Joshua Adam Keen, 41, of Richlands, Virginia, received a life sentence plus an additional 70 years in prison after being convicted of charges including aggravated sexual battery of a child under 13 and forcible sodomy of a child under 13, according to the commonwealths attorney.

Keen also pleaded guilty to escaping custody after being transported to an area hospital and then allegedly being at large for nearly a year.

Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Kati Asbury prosecuted both cases.

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.
After evacuation from Azovstal steelworks, the young lady spent over two years in Russian captivity. Photo: PRYIMAK_YULIIA/INSTAGRAM

Mariana Checheliuk, a 24-year-old investigator with the National Police of Ukraine (NPU) from the city of Mariupol, was among the prisoners of war (POWs) that Ukraine liberated as part of the 52nd POW swap. Mariana had been in captivity for more than two years.

Yuliia Pryimak, Head of the Central Regional Centre of the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, has spread the news.

After the start of the full-scale invasion, the young lady and her younger sister were hiding from Russian bombardment in the walls of Azovstal steelworks. After the evacuation of civilians from the steelworks, the sisters were separated in a Russian filtration camp.

    Instagram ,    (@pryimak_yuliia)

The Russians, having learnt about Mariana's profession, took her to the Donetsk pre-trial detention centre. Later, she was held in a POW camp in Olenivka and then in prisons in Taganrog and Mariupol.

"They were trying to lure my daughter to the Russian side with both sweet promises of a big salary and intimidation. But she refused," Mariana's mother, Nataliia Checheliuk, told ZMINA news outlet in January 2024.

The mother said that Mariana went through numerous tortures in captivity - she was starved, beaten, and subjected to other forms of abuse. Due to the conditions of detention, Mariana's health deteriorated: respiratory diseases and a sore throat progressed to a chronic form of bronchitis.

"Mariana lost a lot of weight, her immune system weakened, her hair began to fall out, and her periods disappeared," her mother described Mariana's condition.

The daughter received no letters from her mother, who constantly sent them. The young lady knew absolutely nothing about her family, what happened to them or where they were.

Later, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War published the video showing the soldiers, brought back from Russian captivity, on their native land. The video shows Mariana crying and calling her mom for the first time.

A total of 70 men and five women have been brought back to Ukraine as part of the swap. At least a third of the POWs have been injured, seriously ill or disabled.

Background: An 11-year-old boy who had been in the temporarily occupied territory of Donetsk Oblast for more than two years has been brought back to the territory controlled by Ukraine.

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U.S. energy secretary praises completion of Plant Vogtle, says US needs more nuclear reactors

U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm says more nuclear reactors as she celebrated the completion of reactors 3 and 4 at Plant Vogtle.

Granholm said the United States needs 98 more reactors with the capacity of units 3 and 4 at Plant Vogtle to produce electricity while reducing climate-changing carbon emissions. Each of the two new reactors can power 500,000 homes and businesses without releasing any carbon.

It is now time for others to follow their lead to reach our goal of getting to net zero by 2050, Granholm said. We have to at least triple our current nuclear capacity in this country.

The federal government says it is easing the risks of nuclear construction, but the $11 billion in cost overruns at Plant Vogtle near Augusta remain sobering for other utilities. Chris Womack is the CEO of Southern Co., the Atlanta-based parent company of Georgia Power. He said he supports Granholms call for more nuclear power generation, but he added that his company wont build more soon.

I think the federal government should provide a leadership role in facilitating and making that become a reality, Womack said. Weve had a long experience, and were going to celebrate what weve gotten done here for a good little while.

Fridays event capped a week of celebrations, where leaders proclaimed the reactors a success, even though they finished seven years late.

Channel 2s Fred Blankenship spoke with Gov. Brian Kemp as he toured the facility on Wednesday.

We are the only state in the country right now that can say we have two new nuclear reactors putting green energy and clean energy into the grid, Kemp said.

Channel 2 Action News first took you on a tour of the plant last month when Channel 2s Justin Farmer got exclusive access just days before the plants fourth and final reactor went online.

The two newest units at the plant are expected to operate for the next 60 to 80 years.

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What these reactors are going to allow us to do in the future from recruiting businesses high users of electricity but also being able to provide that clean energy, Kemp said.

Georgia Power CEO Kim Greene echoed that sentiment.

I have, fortunately, had the opportunity to run into many of my peers and a lot of people all over the country who are, quite frankly, talking about Georgia as being the envy of the country right now, Greene said.

Electric customers in Georgia already have paid billions for what may be the most expensive power plant ever. The federal government aided Vogtle by guaranteeing the repayment of $12 billion in loans, reducing borrowing costs.

On Wednesday, President Joe Bidens administration held a meeting to promote nuclear power, saying it would create a working group to ease the challenges that dogged Vogtle.

The Biden administration promised that the military would commission reactors, which could help drive down costs for others. It also noted support for smaller reactors, suggesting small reactors could replace coal-fueled electric generating plants that are closing. The administration also pledged to further streamline licensing.

Granholm said that she believed others could learn from Vogtles mistakes, like starting construction before plans were completed. She also predicted additional models of the Vogtle reactors, which were the first of their kind built in the United States, could be built at a lower cost.

So the question is, how do you learn from the new design in the second and the third and the fourth and the fifth plant? If you dont vary the design, it gets 30% less expensive every time you build it, Granholm said.

In Georgia, almost every electric customer will pay for Vogtle. Georgia Power owns 45.7% of the reactors. Smaller shares are owned by Oglethorpe Power Corp., which provides electricity to member-owned cooperatives, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and the city of Dalton. Utilities in Jacksonville, Florida, as well as in the Florida Panhandle and parts of Alabama also have contracted to buy Vogtles power.

Regulators in December approved an additional 6% rate increase on Georgia Powers 2.7 million customers to pay for $7.56 billion in remaining costs at Vogtle, with the company absorbing $2.6 billion in costs. That is expected to cost the typical residential customer an additional $8.97 a month in May, on top of the $5.42 increase that took effect when Unit 3 began operating.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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The office of U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, said this week that federal funding is being sought to help restore a small pond at Reservoir Park in Massillon. If approved, the $1.28 million project would include rehabbing the old pumphouse at 770 Reservoir Drive NE.

MASSILLON  A funding pitch for federal dollars has been made that aims to cover the cost to restore a small Reservoir Park waterway and rehabilitate the historic pumphouse.

The $1.28 million request for the "Rezzy" is part of a $38.1 million total offered by U.S. Rep Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, which aims to fund more than a dozen Northeast Ohio projects per the 2025 U.S appropriations bill.

Also included on Sykes' list is $1.5 million for the Ohio and Erie Canal Heritage Area restoration effort overseen by the Stark County Park District.

"Im proud to submit these 15 local projects that would bring millions of taxpayer dollars back to Ohio's 13th Congressional District," Sykes said this week in a news release. "Over the next few months, Ill keep working to pass a responsible federal budget that includes funding for these vital priorities."

'Rezzy' redo: Massillon aims to seek state funds for 'Rezzy' park, pumphouse rehab work

Federal funding is being sought to improve the old pumphouse building near the current spillway at Reservoir Park in Massillon. City officials are hopeful a project can start in 2025 for the repair effort, as well as restoring a small pond at the park.

Issues tackled at Massillon's Rezzy Park

In 2017, Massillon complied with a state order to reduce the water level in the Reservoir Park reservoir by 4 feet as a safety measure. Three levels of sandstone block were ripped out from the park's dam  forming a spillway  to allow water to flow more efficiently, and decreasing the chances of a structure failure due to extreme rainfall and flooding.

Mayor Jamie Slutz said he's making upgrades to the park a priority. He noted a meeting with Sykes' staff weeks ago about acquiring necessary funds for the effort.

"People have come up to me wanting the reservoir restored and their park back," said Slutz on Wednesday, noting that a small pond would total approximately 4.6 acres and be 5-to-10-feet deep. "This is a main (goal) we're focusing on."

Part of the proposed project will improve safety along the Reservoir Park walking path and streambank, where soil erosion is taking place. But reintroducing a small pond and renovating the adjacent pumphouse are the highlights of the effort.

The small pond planned for Reservoir Park is to encompass about 4.6 acres at a depth of 5 to 10 feet.

Additional perks for the project are constructing a pedestrian dock at the pond, Slutz said, which could be used for fishing. New walkways, water quality and safety measures are other planned enhancers.

The earliest any work could start to restore the waterway and refurbish the pumphouse at 770 Reservoir Drive NE is 2025, according to Development Director Ted Herncane.

"As soon as any (approved) funds come in, we're going to get the ball rolling on Reservoir Park," he said.

Stark Parks aims to upgrade towpath trails for disabled users, seniors using federal funds

Stark Parks is seeking $1.5 million for an upcoming restoration effort that would benefit the Ohio and Erie Canal Heritage Area with a focus around Canal Fulton.

The district wants to make improvements to the towpath, including repaving the trail to allow for easier access for seniors and those with disabilities, as well as upgrading a parking lot and nearby facilities.

"(We're) excited about the potential to make such an important improvement to the (towpath)," said Daniel Moeglin, executive director of Stark Parks, in a news release via Sykes' office. "These improvements would facilitate economic development in the Canal Fulton area, and are critical to ensuring our facilities are accessible to the public."

Reach Steven at steven.grazier@indeonline.com. On X: @sgrazierINDE

This article originally appeared on The Independent: U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, requesting $1.28M for Reservoir Park
ADDIS ABABA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian officials have praised Chinese companies for the effective construction of high-quality infrastructure projects in Ethiopia and their timely completion.

The officials made the remarks on Thursday in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on the sidelines of an ongoing international construction exhibition dubbed "BIG 5 Construct Ethiopia 2024," the largest construction event in the East African country.

Noting that China is one of the fastest-growing countries and is introducing advanced construction technologies to the world, Wondimu Seta, Ethiopia's state minister for the Ministry of Urban and Infrastructure, said Chinese companies are now handling complex and large infrastructure projects in Ethiopia and other parts of the world.

Highlighting that Ethiopia and China have established a strong and long-standing partnership in the construction sector, the state minister called on Chinese construction firms to come in large numbers and invest in the construction sector in the country.

Mesfin Negewo, director general of the Ethiopian Construction Authority, said Chinese companies are playing an important role in the construction of high-standard, aesthetic buildings in Ethiopia.

"Chinese companies have undertaken several huge projects in Ethiopia, including the Ethiopia-Kenya Electricity Highway Project, the recently inaugurated Abay River Bridge, which is the longest road bridge with the largest span in the country, and the construction of the biggest stadium in Ethiopia," Negewo said.

Appreciating their professionalism in construction projects, Negewo said Chinese enterprises contribute a lot to the construction industry in Ethiopia in terms of the supply of construction materials and technology transfer.

The exhibition, which Ethiopia hosted for the second time, aims to showcase the overall development of the construction industry, ranging from building materials to smart construction technologies.

The exhibition, held from May 30 to June 1, has attracted 150 international firms from 24 countries and 41 local exhibitors, decision-makers, facility management professionals, and construction management experts. 
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez, D-New Mexico, has requested $2.5 million in federal funding to renovate the Camino Real Regional Utility Authority (CRRUA) well to deliver safe drinking water to Dona Ana County residents, according to a press release sent by Vasquezs office.

CRRUA provides water service to Sunland Park and Santa Teresa.

The announcement was made during a meeting held Friday, May 31 where residents, the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED), CRRUA and local officials came together to discuss solutions to ensure safe drinking water for residents.

CRRUA board votes to increase water, wastewater rates

Ensuring the safety of our drinking water is non-negotiable. The residents of Dona Ana County deserve nothing less than full accountability, transparency and reliable solutions to fix the ongoing issues with our water infrastructure, Vasquez said. Todays meeting is just one step in our continued efforts to protect our communitys health and well-being. Thats why Im also proud to announce that Ive requested $2.5 million in federal investments to renovate CRRUAs well to deliver safe drinking water to Dona Ana County residents.

Vasquez will continue to work to guarantee safe drinking water for residents of Dona Ana County and hold CRRUA accountable for repeated safety violations and mismanagement, read the press release. He has called on the Biden Administration to improve and increase investments in our water infrastructure systems.

In December 2023, Vasquez convened an emergency meeting with CRRUA leadership to address a contamination issue.

In February, Vasquez wrote to CRRUA demanding an action plan for how CRRUA would address systemic failures and ensure all infrastructure was up to date.

In April, Vasquez wrote to NMED, calling for increased testing and public engagement to keep residents safe.

The following are NMED enforcement actions against CRRUA:

On March 1, NMED issued $251,580 in penalties to CRRUA for violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act.

On March 26, NMED received sampling results from CRRUAs distribution system that showed arsenic levels above the federal maximum contaminant level (mcl) at one location.

On March 27, NMED issued an information demand letter to CRRUA as part of an investigation into failures with their arsenic treatment plant.

As we previously reported, the utility has been under fire for months over concerns about water quality and discolored water. Some residents have told KTSM that the issues have been going on for years.

CRRUA under scrutiny again for water quality issues

KTSM reached out to the utility which provided the following information.

The utility said the meeting was an opportunity for Executive Director Juan Crosby to brief Vasquez on CRRUA operations, crucial issues and improved communications.

CRRUA executive Director Juan Crosby (right) provides a utility update to U.S Rep. Gabe Vasquez in Santa Teresa, NM on May 31.

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (second from left) meets with CRRUA officials and other interested parties in Santa Teresa, NM on May 31.

According to CRRUA, Crosby informed Vasquez the following:

CRRUAs four arsenic treatment facilities are producing water below the federal limit for arsenic, which is 10 parts per billion (ppb).

CRRUA has passed the last five arsenic tests in a row including the most recent quarterly test conducted by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED).

CRRUA voluntarily conducts arsenic testing twice monthly as a self-governance practice and to help restore customer confidence.

CRRUA passes 5th arsenic water sample test in a row

Crosby also addressed discolored water saying primary causes include hydrant flushes and periods of peak water use that disturb naturally occurring sediments in water lines and water storage tanks. Reports of discolored water by customers are down 75 percent from February to April 2024, according to the utility.

CRRUA reports decrease in discolored water calls

Crosby said that constraints facing CRRUA include limited revenue associated with the current rate structure.

The utilitys board voted on May 13 to increase water and wastewater rates for the first time since 2019.

According to NMED data for water rates, CRRUA is 50 percent below the statewide average and rates do not provide for capital reinvestment of CRRUAs $81 million infrastructure. A rate adjustment approved in 2019 by a previous board of directors will go into effect July 1, 2024. Residential water rates will go from $15 to $17.83 for the first 3,000 gallons. Residential wastewater rates will go from $20.62 to $27 minimum on the first 7,000 gallons, according to the utility.

Third-party performs evaluation on CRRUA

Crosby also said that the utility serves a population of 21,752 in 36 square miles and four separate service areas: Sunland Park, Santa Teresa, Santa Teresa Industrial Park and Border Region with an arsenic treatment facility for each area.

Water is supplied by 14 wells and seven ground storage tanks through 120 miles of transmission/distribution lines, according to the utility.

Additionally, improved customer communication includes the timely posting of information on CRRUAs website, Facebook page and YouTube channel, according to CRRUA.

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Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts announces the results of the vote on the second article of impeachment during impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol on February 5, 2020 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Senate Television via Getty Images)

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. told leading Democrats on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday he will not meet with them to discuss the courts code of ethics, following revelations of displays of politically oriented flags at the homes of Justice Samuel Alito.

Individual justices will continue to decide their own recusals, Roberts wrote to Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, a Democrat of Illinois, and Subcommittee on the Federal Courts Chair Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, in a letter obtained by States Newsroom.

Durbin and Whitehouse had asked Roberts a week earlier to force Alito to recuse himself from upcoming decisions related to the 2020 election and to meet to discuss proposals to strengthen Supreme Court ethics rules.

I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting, Roberts wrote in the two-paragraph letter dated Thursday. Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances.

Justices rarely meet with legislators, particularly those who have expressed an interest in matters before the court, Roberts wrote.

Meeting with members of only one party would be especially problematic, he said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Durbin rejected Roberts reasoning, saying Durbin only sought to address the lack of public confidence in the court.

The Chief Justice is wrong to say that simply meeting with members of Congress to discuss the Supreme Courts ethics crisis threatens the separation of powers or judicial independence, the spokesperson wrote.

Due to the Chief Justices intransigence, Chair Durbin will continue his efforts to pass legislation establishing an enforceable code of conduct for all nine Supreme Court justices  regardless of which President appointed them.

Immediately take appropriate steps

Durbin and Whitehouse wrote to Roberts on May 23, asking him to immediately take appropriate steps to ensure that Justice Alito will recuse himself in any cases related to the 2020 presidential election and January 6th attack on the Capitol.

Flags at two Alito homes appeared to promote former President Donald Trumps baseless claims that his loss in the 2020 election was the result of a rigged election. That claim spurred the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

A May 22 New York Times report documented that a flag at Alitos Virginia home flew upside down in the weeks following the 2020 election. Alito told the Times that his wife displayed that flag in reaction to a neighborhood dispute.

A New Jersey vacation home belonging to the Alitos was photographed in the summer of 2023 flying an Appeal to Heaven flag, which bears that slogan above a simple pine tree design. The second flag was also first reported in the New York Times.

Both flags were carried by rioters during the Capitol attack, raising questions for Durbin and Whitehouse about Alitos ability to be objective in cases concerning former President Donald Trumps role in the attack.

The court heard oral arguments last month in a case about whether presidential immunity shielded Trump from prosecution on federal charges he sought to overturn the legitimate election results.

The Democratic senators specified that the case was one from which Alito should recuse himself.

Roberts letter said Alito had written to the committee himself on that issue. That letter was not immediately available Thursday.

The post U.S. Supreme Court chief declines to discuss Alito flag uproar, ethics with Senate Dems appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts announces the results of the vote on the second article of impeachment during impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 5, 2020, in Washington, D.C. (Senate Television via Getty Images)

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. told leading Democrats on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday he will not meet with them to discuss the courts code of ethics, following revelations of displays of politically oriented flags at the homes of Justice Samuel Alito.

Individual justices will continue to decide their own recusals, Roberts wrote to Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, a Democrat of Illinois, and Subcommittee on the Federal Courts Chair Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, in a letter obtained by States Newsroom.

Durbin and Whitehouse had asked Roberts a week earlier to force Alito to recuse himself from upcoming decisions related to the 2020 election and to meet to discuss proposals to strengthen Supreme Court ethics rules.

I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting, Roberts wrote in the two-paragraph letter dated Thursday. Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances.

Justices rarely meet with legislators

Justices rarely meet with legislators, particularly those who have expressed an interest in matters before the court, Roberts wrote.

Meeting with members of only one party would be especially problematic, he said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Durbin rejected Roberts reasoning, saying Durbin only sought to address the lack of public confidence in the court.

The Chief Justice is wrong to say that simply meeting with members of Congress to discuss the Supreme Courts ethics crisis threatens the separation of powers or judicial independence, the spokesperson wrote.

Due to the Chief Justices intransigence, Chair Durbin will continue his efforts to pass legislation establishing an enforceable code of conduct for all nine Supreme Court justices  regardless of which President appointed them.

Durbin and Whitehouse wrote to Roberts on May 23, asking him to immediately take appropriate steps to ensure that Justice Alito will recuse himself in any cases related to the 2020 presidential election and January 6th attack on the Capitol.

Flags at two Alito homes appeared to promote former President Donald Trumps baseless claims that his loss in the 2020 election was the result of a rigged election. That claim spurred the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

Flags at Alito homes

A May 22 New York Times report documented that a flag at Alitos Virginia home flew upside down in the weeks following the 2020 election. Alito told the Times that his wife displayed that flag in reaction to a neighborhood dispute.

A New Jersey vacation home belonging to the Alitos was photographed in the summer of 2023 flying an Appeal to Heaven flag, which bears that slogan above a simple pine tree design. The second flag was also first reported in the New York Times.

Both flags were carried by rioters during the Capitol attack, raising questions for Durbin and Whitehouse about Alitos ability to be objective in cases concerning former President Donald Trumps role in the attack.

The court heard oral arguments last month in a case about whether presidential immunity shielded Trump from prosecution on federal charges he sought to overturn the legitimate election results.

The Democratic senators specified that the case was one from which Alito should recuse himself.

Roberts letter said Alito had written to the committee himself on that issue. That letter was not immediately available Thursday.

The post U.S. Supreme Court chief declines to discuss Alito flag uproar, ethics with Senate Dems appeared first on Nebraska Examiner.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts announces the results of the vote on the second article of impeachment during impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol on February 5, 2020 in Washington, D.C. (Senate Television via Getty Images)

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. told leading Democrats on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday he will not meet with them to discuss the courts code of ethics, following revelations of displays of politically oriented flags at the homes of Justice Samuel Alito.

Individual justices will continue to decide their own recusals, Roberts wrote to Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, a Democrat of Illinois, and Subcommittee on the Federal Courts Chair Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, in a letter obtained by States Newsroom.

Durbin and Whitehouse had asked Roberts a week earlier to force Alito to recuse himself from upcoming decisions related to the 2020 election and to meet to discuss proposals to strengthen Supreme Court ethics rules.

I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting, Roberts wrote in the two-paragraph letter dated Thursday. Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances.

Justices rarely meet with legislators, particularly those who have expressed an interest in matters before the court, Roberts wrote.

Meeting with members of only one party would be especially problematic, he said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Durbin rejected Roberts reasoning, saying Durbin only sought to address the lack of public confidence in the court.

The Chief Justice is wrong to say that simply meeting with members of Congress to discuss the Supreme Courts ethics crisis threatens the separation of powers or judicial independence, the spokesperson wrote.

Due to the Chief Justices intransigence, Chair Durbin will continue his efforts to pass legislation establishing an enforceable code of conduct for all nine Supreme Court justices  regardless of which President appointed them.

Immediately take appropriate steps

Durbin and Whitehouse wrote to Roberts on May 23, asking him to immediately take appropriate steps to ensure that Justice Alito will recuse himself in any cases related to the 2020 presidential election and January 6th attack on the Capitol.

Flags at two Alito homes appeared to promote former President Donald Trumps baseless claims that his loss in the 2020 election was the result of a rigged election. That claim spurred the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

A May 22 New York Times report documented that a flag at Alitos Virginia home flew upside down in the weeks following the 2020 election. Alito told the Times that his wife displayed that flag in reaction to a neighborhood dispute.

A New Jersey vacation home belonging to the Alitos was photographed in the summer of 2023 flying an Appeal to Heaven flag, which bears that slogan above a simple pine tree design. The second flag was also first reported in the New York Times.

Both flags were carried by rioters during the Capitol attack, raising questions for Durbin and Whitehouse about Alitos ability to be objective in cases concerning former President Donald Trumps role in the attack.

The court heard oral arguments last month in a case about whether presidential immunity shielded Trump from prosecution on federal charges he sought to overturn the legitimate election results.

The Democratic senators specified that the case was one from which Alito should recuse himself.

Roberts letter said Alito had written to the committee himself on that issue. That letter was not immediately available Thursday.

The post U.S. Supreme Court chief declines to discuss Alito flag uproar, ethics with Senate Dems appeared first on West Virginia Watch.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, Feb. 5, 2020. (Photo by Senate Television via Getty Images)

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. told leading Democrats on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday he will not meet with them to discuss the courts code of ethics, following revelations of displays of politically oriented flags at the homes of Justice Samuel Alito.

Individual justices will continue to decide their own recusals, Roberts wrote to Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, a Democrat of Illinois, and Subcommittee on the Federal Courts Chair Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, in a letter obtained by States Newsroom.

Durbin and Whitehouse had asked Roberts a week earlier to force Alito to recuse himself from upcoming decisions related to the 2020 election and to meet to discuss proposals to strengthen Supreme Court ethics rules.

I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting, Roberts wrote in the two-paragraph letter dated Thursday. Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances.

Justices rarely meet with legislators, particularly those who have expressed an interest in matters before the court, Roberts wrote.

Meeting with members of only one party would be especially problematic, he said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Durbin rejected Roberts reasoning, saying Durbin only sought to address the lack of public confidence in the court.

The Chief Justice is wrong to say that simply meeting with members of Congress to discuss the Supreme Courts ethics crisis threatens the separation of powers or judicial independence, the spokesperson wrote.

Due to the Chief Justices intransigence, Chair Durbin will continue his efforts to pass legislation establishing an enforceable code of conduct for all nine Supreme Court justices  regardless of which President appointed them.

Immediately take appropriate steps

Durbin and Whitehouse wrote to Roberts on May 23, asking him to immediately take appropriate steps to ensure that Justice Alito will recuse himself in any cases related to the 2020 presidential election and January 6th attack on the Capitol.

Flags at two Alito homes appeared to promote former President Donald Trumps baseless claims that his loss in the 2020 election was the result of a rigged election. That claim spurred the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

A May 22 New York Times report documented that a flag at Alitos Virginia home flew upside down in the weeks following the 2020 election. Alito told the Times that his wife displayed that flag in reaction to a neighborhood dispute.

A New Jersey vacation home belonging to the Alitos was photographed in the summer of 2023 flying an Appeal to Heaven flag, which bears that slogan above a simple pine tree design. The second flag was also first reported in the New York Times.

Both flags were carried by rioters during the Capitol attack, raising questions for Durbin and Whitehouse about Alitos ability to be objective in cases concerning former President Donald Trumps role in the attack.

The court heard oral arguments last month in a case about whether presidential immunity shielded Trump from prosecution on federal charges he sought to overturn the legitimate election results.

The Democratic senators specified that the case was one from which Alito should recuse himself.

Roberts letter said Alito had written to the committee himself on that issue. That letter was not immediately available Thursday.

The post U.S. Supreme Court chief declines to discuss Alito flag uproar, ethics with Senate Dems appeared first on Kentucky Lantern.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts announces the results of the vote on the second article of impeachment during impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol on February 5, 2020 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Senate Television via Getty Images)

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. told leading Democrats on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday he will not meet with them to discuss the courts code of ethics, following revelations of displays of politically oriented flags at the homes of Justice Samuel Alito.

Individual justices will continue to decide their own recusals, Roberts wrote to Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, a Democrat of Illinois, and Subcommittee on the Federal Courts Chair Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, in a letter obtained by States Newsroom.

Durbin and Whitehouse had asked Roberts a week earlier to force Alito to recuse himself from upcoming decisions related to the 2020 election and to meet to discuss proposals to strengthen Supreme Court ethics rules.

I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting, Roberts wrote in the two-paragraph letter dated Thursday. Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances.

Justices rarely meet with legislators, particularly those who have expressed an interest in matters before the court, Roberts wrote.

Meeting with members of only one party would be especially problematic, he said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Durbin rejected Roberts reasoning, saying Durbin only sought to address the lack of public confidence in the court.

The Chief Justice is wrong to say that simply meeting with members of Congress to discuss the Supreme Courts ethics crisis threatens the separation of powers or judicial independence, the spokesperson wrote.

Due to the Chief Justices intransigence, Chair Durbin will continue his efforts to pass legislation establishing an enforceable code of conduct for all nine Supreme Court justices  regardless of which President appointed them.

It is frustrating that the Chief Justice of the United States refused to address the aspect of our letter addressed to him as chair of the Judicial Conference, said Whitehouse in a statement. Close reading of text is an attribute of a good judge. Simply ignoring text is often a sign that theres not a good answer.

Whitehouse said the Judicial Conference is a body created and funded by Congress, enforcing laws passed by Congress.

It is an administrative body, not an adjudicative body, Whitehouse added. Even if there were a proper separation of powers argument here, which I dont believe, it would not extend to the Conference. All this means is that the work must continue until we have a Supreme Court that applies to itself basic tenets of rule of law: honest fact-finding and neutral decision-making. That really should not be hard.

Immediately take appropriate steps

Durbin and Whitehouse wrote to Roberts on May 23, asking him to immediately take appropriate steps to ensure that Justice Alito will recuse himself in any cases related to the 2020 presidential election and January 6th attack on the Capitol.

Flags at two Alito homes appeared to promote former President Donald Trumps baseless claims that his loss in the 2020 election was the result of a rigged election. That claim spurred the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

A May 22 New York Times report documented that a flag at Alitos Virginia home flew upside down in the weeks following the 2020 election. Alito told the Times that his wife displayed that flag in reaction to a neighborhood dispute.

A New Jersey vacation home belonging to the Alitos was photographed in the summer of 2023 flying an Appeal to Heaven flag, which bears that slogan above a simple pine tree design. The second flag was also first reported in the New York Times.

Both flags were carried by rioters during the Capitol attack, raising questions for Durbin and Whitehouse about Alitos ability to be objective in cases concerning former President Donald Trumps role in the attack.

The court heard oral arguments last month in a case about whether presidential immunity shielded Trump from prosecution on federal charges he sought to overturn the legitimate election results.

The Democratic senators specified that the case was one from which Alito should recuse himself.

Roberts letter said Alito had written to the committee himself on that issue. That letter was not immediately available Thursday.

The post U.S. Supreme Court chief declines to discuss Alito flag uproar, ethics with Senate Dems appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts announces the results of the vote on the second article of impeachment during impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol on February 5, 2020 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Senate Television via Getty Images)

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. told leading Democrats on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday he will not meet with them to discuss the courts code of ethics, following revelations of displays of politically oriented flags at the homes of Justice Samuel Alito.

Individual justices will continue to decide their own recusals, Roberts wrote to Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, a Democrat of Illinois, and Subcommittee on the Federal Courts Chair Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, in a letter obtained by States Newsroom.

Durbin and Whitehouse had asked Roberts a week earlier to force Alito to recuse himself from upcoming decisions related to the 2020 election and to meet to discuss proposals to strengthen Supreme Court ethics rules.

I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting, Roberts wrote in the two-paragraph letter dated Thursday. Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances.

Justices rarely meet with legislators, particularly those who have expressed an interest in matters before the court, Roberts wrote.

Meeting with members of only one party would be especially problematic, he said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Durbin rejected Roberts reasoning, saying Durbin only sought to address the lack of public confidence in the court.

The Chief Justice is wrong to say that simply meeting with members of Congress to discuss the Supreme Courts ethics crisis threatens the separation of powers or judicial independence, the spokesperson wrote.

Due to the Chief Justices intransigence, Chair Durbin will continue his efforts to pass legislation establishing an enforceable code of conduct for all nine Supreme Court justices  regardless of which President appointed them.

Immediately take appropriate steps

Durbin and Whitehouse wrote to Roberts on May 23, asking him to immediately take appropriate steps to ensure that Justice Alito will recuse himself in any cases related to the 2020 presidential election and January 6th attack on the Capitol.

Flags at two Alito homes appeared to promote former President Donald Trumps baseless claims that his loss in the 2020 election was the result of a rigged election. That claim spurred the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

A May 22 New York Times report documented that a flag at Alitos Virginia home flew upside down in the weeks following the 2020 election. Alito told the Times that his wife displayed that flag in reaction to a neighborhood dispute.

A New Jersey vacation home belonging to the Alitos was photographed in the summer of 2023 flying an Appeal to Heaven flag, which bears that slogan above a simple pine tree design. The second flag was also first reported in the New York Times.

Both flags were carried by rioters during the Capitol attack, raising questions for Durbin and Whitehouse about Alitos ability to be objective in cases concerning former President Donald Trumps role in the attack.

The court heard oral arguments last month in a case about whether presidential immunity shielded Trump from prosecution on federal charges he sought to overturn the legitimate election results.

The Democratic senators specified that the case was one from which Alito should recuse himself.

Roberts letter said Alito had written to the committee himself on that issue. That letter was not immediately available Thursday.

The post U.S. Supreme Court chief declines to discuss Alito flag uproar, ethics with Senate Dems appeared first on Source New Mexico.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts announces the results of the vote on the second article of impeachment during impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol on February 5, 2020 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Senate Television via Getty Images)

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. told leading Democrats on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday he will not meet with them to discuss the courts code of ethics, following revelations of displays of politically oriented flags at the homes of Justice Samuel Alito.

Individual justices will continue to decide their own recusals, Roberts wrote to Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, a Democrat of Illinois, and Subcommittee on the Federal Courts Chair Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, in a letter obtained by States Newsroom.

Durbin and Whitehouse had asked Roberts a week earlier to force Alito to recuse himself from upcoming decisions related to the 2020 election and to meet to discuss proposals to strengthen Supreme Court ethics rules.

I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting, Roberts wrote in the two-paragraph letter dated Thursday. Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances.

Justices rarely meet with legislators, particularly those who have expressed an interest in matters before the court, Roberts wrote.

Meeting with members of only one party would be especially problematic, he said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Durbin rejected Roberts reasoning, saying Durbin only sought to address the lack of public confidence in the court.

The Chief Justice is wrong to say that simply meeting with members of Congress to discuss the Supreme Courts ethics crisis threatens the separation of powers or judicial independence, the spokesperson wrote.

Due to the Chief Justices intransigence, Chair Durbin will continue his efforts to pass legislation establishing an enforceable code of conduct for all nine Supreme Court justices  regardless of which President appointed them.

Immediately take appropriate steps

Durbin and Whitehouse wrote to Roberts on May 23, asking him to immediately take appropriate steps to ensure that Justice Alito will recuse himself in any cases related to the 2020 presidential election and January 6th attack on the Capitol.

Flags at two Alito homes appeared to promote former President Donald Trumps baseless claims that his loss in the 2020 election was the result of a rigged election. That claim spurred the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

A May 22 New York Times report documented that a flag at Alitos Virginia home flew upside down in the weeks following the 2020 election. Alito told the Times that his wife displayed that flag in reaction to a neighborhood dispute.

A New Jersey vacation home belonging to the Alitos was photographed in the summer of 2023 flying an Appeal to Heaven flag, which bears that slogan above a simple pine tree design. The second flag was also first reported in the New York Times.

Both flags were carried by rioters during the Capitol attack, raising questions for Durbin and Whitehouse about Alitos ability to be objective in cases concerning former President Donald Trumps role in the attack.

The court heard oral arguments last month in a case about whether presidential immunity shielded Trump from prosecution on federal charges he sought to overturn the legitimate election results.

The Democratic senators specified that the case was one from which Alito should recuse himself.

Roberts letter said Alito had written to the committee himself on that issue. That letter was not immediately available Thursday.

The post U.S. Supreme Court chief declines to discuss Alito flag uproar, ethics with Senate Dems appeared first on North Dakota Monitor.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts announces the results of the vote on the second article of impeachment during impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol on February 5, 2020 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Senate Television via Getty Images)

Policy, politics and progressive commentary

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. told leading Democrats on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday he will not meet with them to discuss the courts code of ethics, following revelations of displays of politically oriented flags at the homes of Justice Samuel Alito.

Individual justices will continue to decide their own recusals, Roberts wrote to Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, a Democrat of Illinois, and Subcommittee on the Federal Courts Chair Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, in a letter obtained by States Newsroom.

Durbin and Whitehouse had asked Roberts a week earlier to force Alito to recuse himself from upcoming decisions related to the 2020 election and to meet to discuss proposals to strengthen Supreme Court ethics rules.

I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting, Roberts wrote in the two-paragraph letter dated Thursday. Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances.

Justices rarely meet with legislators, particularly those who have expressed an interest in matters before the court, Roberts wrote.

Meeting with members of only one party would be especially problematic, he said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Durbin rejected Roberts reasoning, saying Durbin only sought to address the lack of public confidence in the court.

The Chief Justice is wrong to say that simply meeting with members of Congress to discuss the Supreme Courts ethics crisis threatens the separation of powers or judicial independence, the spokesperson wrote.

Due to the Chief Justices intransigence, Chair Durbin will continue his efforts to pass legislation establishing an enforceable code of conduct for all nine Supreme Court justices  regardless of which President appointed them.

Durbin and Whitehouse wrote to Roberts on May 23, asking him to immediately take appropriate steps to ensure that Justice Alito will recuse himself in any cases related to the 2020 presidential election and January 6th attack on the Capitol.

Flags at two Alito homes appeared to promote former President Donald Trumps baseless claims that his loss in the 2020 election was the result of a rigged election. That claim spurred the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

A May 22 New York Times report documented that a flag at Alitos Virginia home flew upside down in the weeks following the 2020 election. Alito told the Times that his wife displayed that flag in reaction to a neighborhood dispute.

A New Jersey vacation home belonging to the Alitos was photographed in the summer of 2023 flying an Appeal to Heaven flag, which bears that slogan above a simple pine tree design. The second flag was also first reported in the New York Times.

Both flags were carried by rioters during the Capitol attack, raising questions for Durbin and Whitehouse about Alitos ability to be objective in cases concerning former President Donald Trumps role in the attack.

The court heard oral arguments last month in a case about whether presidential immunity shielded Trump from prosecution on federal charges he sought to overturn the legitimate election results.

The Democratic senators specified that the case was one from which Alito should recuse himself.

Roberts letter said Alito had written to the committee himself on that issue. That letter was not immediately available Thursday.

The post U.S. Supreme Court chief declines to discuss Alito flag uproar, ethics with Senate Dems appeared first on Nevada Current.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts announces the results of the vote on the second article of impeachment during impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 5, 2020, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Senate Television via Getty Images)

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. told leading Democrats on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday he will not meet with them to discuss the courts code of ethics, following revelations of displays of politically oriented flags at the homes of Justice Samuel Alito.

Individual justices will continue to decide their own recusals, Roberts wrote to Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, a Democrat of Illinois, and Subcommittee on the Federal Courts Chair Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, in a letter obtained by States Newsroom.

Durbin and Whitehouse had asked Roberts a week earlier to force Alito to recuse himself from upcoming decisions related to the 2020 election and to meet to discuss proposals to strengthen Supreme Court ethics rules.

I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting, Roberts wrote in the two-paragraph letter dated Thursday. Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances.

Justices rarely meet with legislators, particularly those who have expressed an interest in matters before the court, Roberts wrote.

Meeting with members of only one party would be especially problematic, he said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Durbin rejected Roberts reasoning, saying Durbin only sought to address the lack of public confidence in the court.

The Chief Justice is wrong to say that simply meeting with members of Congress to discuss the Supreme Courts ethics crisis threatens the separation of powers or judicial independence, the spokesperson wrote.

Due to the Chief Justices intransigence, Chair Durbin will continue his efforts to pass legislation establishing an enforceable code of conduct for all nine Supreme Court justices  regardless of which President appointed them.

Immediately take appropriate steps

Durbin and Whitehouse wrote to Roberts on May 23, asking him to immediately take appropriate steps to ensure that Justice Alito will recuse himself in any cases related to the 2020 presidential election and January 6th attack on the Capitol.

Flags at two Alito homes appeared to promote former President Donald Trumps baseless claims that his loss in the 2020 election was the result of a rigged election. That claim spurred the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

A May 22 New York Times report documented that a flag at Alitos Virginia home flew upside down in the weeks following the 2020 election. Alito told the Times that his wife displayed that flag in reaction to a neighborhood dispute.

A New Jersey vacation home belonging to the Alitos was photographed in the summer of 2023 flying an Appeal to Heaven flag, which bears that slogan above a simple pine tree design. The second flag was also first reported in the New York Times.

Both flags were carried by rioters during the Capitol attack, raising questions for Durbin and Whitehouse about Alitos ability to be objective in cases concerning former President Donald Trumps role in the attack.

The court heard oral arguments last month in a case about whether presidential immunity shielded Trump from prosecution on federal charges he sought to overturn the legitimate election results.

The Democratic senators specified that the case was one from which Alito should recuse himself.

Roberts letter said Alito had written to the committee himself on that issue. That letter was not immediately available Thursday.

The post U.S. Supreme Court chief declines to discuss Alito flag uproar, ethics with Senate Dems appeared first on New Hampshire Bulletin.
UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths briefs a Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria at the UN headquarters in New York, on May 30, 2024. (Rick Bajornas/UN Photo/Handout via Xinhua)

UNITED NATIONS, May 31 (Xinhua) -- UN relief to Syria has been increasingly underfunded amid escalating humanitarian demands, the outgoing UN relief chief said Thursday, calling for international support.

"Over the past three years, we have seen a steady reduction in funding for the Humanitarian Response Plan -- from 55 percent funded in 2021 to only 39 percent last year," the biggest gap since the crisis began, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths said in a farewell address.

In Syria, 16.7 million people require humanitarian assistance, more than at any time during the conflict, he said at the Security Council briefing on the humanitarian situation in Syria.

"Children continue to be killed, women and girls continue to fear for their safety," and more than 7 million people remain displaced, he said.

Violence has also disrupted daily humanitarian efforts, posing persistent risks to civilians and aid workers, he added.

Despite challenges, Griffiths welcomed the Syrian government's recent extended use of key border crossings, which is crucial for delivering aid to millions in the northwest, but voiced concerns over the upcoming deadlines.

Though humanitarian efforts are crucial, they are not a solution to the crisis, he said.

The "only sustainable solution" is "via an inclusive and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the people of Syria and encourages the meaningful participation of all spheres of society, in particular of Syrian women," he said.

"We cannot wait for the next cataclysm to make genuine progress towards ending this catastrophe," he said, warning that the deepening economic crisis and the conflict in Gaza threaten to spill across the region. 
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts announces the results of the vote on the second article of impeachment during impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol on February 5, 2020 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Senate Television via Getty Images)

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. told leading Democrats on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday he will not meet with them to discuss the courts code of ethics, following revelations of displays of politically oriented flags at the homes of Justice Samuel Alito.

Individual justices will continue to decide their own recusals, Roberts wrote to Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, a Democrat of Illinois, and Subcommittee on the Federal Courts Chair Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, in a letter obtained by States Newsroom.

Durbin and Whitehouse had asked Roberts a week earlier to force Alito to recuse himself from upcoming decisions related to the 2020 election and to meet to discuss proposals to strengthen Supreme Court ethics rules.

I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting, Roberts wrote in the two-paragraph letter dated Thursday. Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances.

Justices rarely meet with legislators, particularly those who have expressed an interest in matters before the court, Roberts wrote.

Meeting with members of only one party would be especially problematic, he said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Durbin rejected Roberts reasoning, saying Durbin only sought to address the lack of public confidence in the court.

The Chief Justice is wrong to say that simply meeting with members of Congress to discuss the Supreme Courts ethics crisis threatens the separation of powers or judicial independence, the spokesperson wrote.

Due to the Chief Justices intransigence, Chair Durbin will continue his efforts to pass legislation establishing an enforceable code of conduct for all nine Supreme Court justices  regardless of which President appointed them.

Immediately take appropriate steps

Durbin and Whitehouse wrote to Roberts on May 23, asking him to immediately take appropriate steps to ensure that Justice Alito will recuse himself in any cases related to the 2020 presidential election and January 6th attack on the Capitol.

Flags at two Alito homes appeared to promote former President Donald Trumps baseless claims that his loss in the 2020 election was the result of a rigged election. That claim spurred the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

A May 22 New York Times report documented that a flag at Alitos Virginia home flew upside down in the weeks following the 2020 election. Alito told the Times that his wife displayed that flag in reaction to a neighborhood dispute.

A New Jersey vacation home belonging to the Alitos was photographed in the summer of 2023 flying an Appeal to Heaven flag, which bears that slogan above a simple pine tree design. The second flag was also first reported in the New York Times.

Both flags were carried by rioters during the Capitol attack, raising questions for Durbin and Whitehouse about Alitos ability to be objective in cases concerning former President Donald Trumps role in the attack.

The court heard oral arguments last month in a case about whether presidential immunity shielded Trump from prosecution on federal charges he sought to overturn the legitimate election results.

The Democratic senators specified that the case was one from which Alito should recuse himself.

Roberts letter said Alito had written to the committee himself on that issue. That letter was not immediately available Thursday.

The post U.S. Supreme Court chief declines to discuss Alito flag uproar, ethics with Senate Dems appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts announces the results of the vote on the second article of impeachment during impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol on February 5, 2020 in Washington, D.C. (Senate Television via Getty Images)

U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. told leading Democrats on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday he will not meet with them to discuss the courts code of ethics, following revelations of displays of politically oriented flags at the homes of Justice Samuel Alito.

Individual justices will continue to decide their own recusals, Roberts wrote to Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin, a Democrat of Illinois, and Subcommittee on the Federal Courts Chair Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, in a letter obtained by States Newsroom.

Durbin and Whitehouse had asked Roberts a week earlier to force Alito to recuse himself from upcoming decisions related to the 2020 election and to meet to discuss proposals to strengthen Supreme Court ethics rules.

I must respectfully decline your request for a meeting, Roberts wrote in the two-paragraph letter dated Thursday. Separation of powers concerns and the importance of preserving judicial independence counsel against such appearances.

Justices rarely meet with legislators, particularly those who have expressed an interest in matters before the court, Roberts wrote.

Meeting with members of only one party would be especially problematic, he said.

In a statement, a spokesperson for Durbin rejected Roberts reasoning, saying Durbin only sought to address the lack of public confidence in the court.

The Chief Justice is wrong to say that simply meeting with members of Congress to discuss the Supreme Courts ethics crisis threatens the separation of powers or judicial independence, the spokesperson wrote.

Due to the Chief Justices intransigence, Chair Durbin will continue his efforts to pass legislation establishing an enforceable code of conduct for all nine Supreme Court justices  regardless of which President appointed them.

Immediately take appropriate steps

Durbin and Whitehouse wrote to Roberts on May 23, asking him to immediately take appropriate steps to ensure that Justice Alito will recuse himself in any cases related to the 2020 presidential election and January 6th attack on the Capitol.

Flags at two Alito homes appeared to promote former President Donald Trumps baseless claims that his loss in the 2020 election was the result of a rigged election. That claim spurred the Jan. 6, 2021, attack.

A May 22 New York Times report documented that a flag at Alitos Virginia home flew upside down in the weeks following the 2020 election. Alito told the Times that his wife displayed that flag in reaction to a neighborhood dispute.

A New Jersey vacation home belonging to the Alitos was photographed in the summer of 2023 flying an Appeal to Heaven flag, which bears that slogan above a simple pine tree design. The second flag was also first reported in the New York Times.

Both flags were carried by rioters during the Capitol attack, raising questions for Durbin and Whitehouse about Alitos ability to be objective in cases concerning former President Donald Trumps role in the attack.

The court heard oral arguments last month in a case about whether presidential immunity shielded Trump from prosecution on federal charges he sought to overturn the legitimate election results.

The Democratic senators specified that the case was one from which Alito should recuse himself.

Roberts letter said Alito had written to the committee himself on that issue. That letter was not immediately available Thursday.

The post U.S. Supreme Court chief declines to discuss Alito flag uproar, ethics with Senate Dems appeared first on Missouri Independent.
Striking members of the UC Santa Cruz academic workers union and pro-Palestinian protesters carry signs in front of the Santa Cruz campus May 20. Workers at Santa Cruz, UCLA and UC Davis have walked off the job after filing unfair labor practice charges against the University of California over the system's handling of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images)

Academic workers on strike at UCLA, UC Davis and UC Santa Cruz chanted this week about "workers rights under attack," referring to pro-Palestinian union members who were arrested and suspended after recent protests. Some on the picket line wore kaffiyehs, traditional scarves used to express solidarity with Palestinians.

Others waved Palestinian flags, shouting, "free Palestine," and pressed union demands that the University of California divest from ties to Israel and the war in Gaza and grant all protesters amnesty from campus discipline.

The merger of union accusations alleging workplace mistreatment with the goals of a wider pro-Palestinian campus movement has not only injected new fuel into antiwar activism, but also become a challenging and potentially volatile labor dispute at three of the most prominent public universities in the nation.

The unique demands of United Auto Workers Local 4811 have labor experts debating over how the widely watched strike  which has canceled some classes, blocked parking lots and prompted protests that disrupted classes  could come to a precedent-setting end.

While unions typically strike over pay demands or benefit improvements during contract negotiations, this walkout is far different. The union alleges that its rights have been violated. The university accuses union members of manipulating labor law to support political goals unrelated to everyday work and says it is breaking a no-strike agreement in its contract.

The escalating situation  union leaders said Friday that strikes would expand next week to UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine  could have a lasting impact on how one of the country's largest university systems deals with one of the biggest higher education unions.

That's one reason why UC leaders said they are asking the state labor authority  the Public Employment Relations Board, or PERB  to order the union to halt its strike during a critical ending period of the term with finals and grading at hand.

"If what UAW has put together creates a precedent and a framework that PERB says is allowable, that will change all of our understanding about negotiations and what the framework looks like for labor," said Melissa Matella, UC's associate vice president for systemwide labor relations. "Because if, for example, this is allowed, and if PERB says this is a lawful strike, then the University of California, the state of California, all of the public employers in the state of California will need to understand that labor peace is not guaranteed during contracts, even with a no-strike agreement.

What led to the strike

The 48,000-member union includes graduate teaching assistants, researchers and other academic workers at UC's 10 campuses and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory who lead discussion groups, grade papers and administer exams, among other responsibilities.

Read more: Kaffiyehs and pickets: UCLA, UC Davis workers strike over treatment at pro-Palestinian protests

They walked off the job alleging that their free speech rights to speak out about their workplaces were violated when UC leaders called in police to remove pro-Palestinian encampments at several campuses, resulting in arrests and suspensions. They also contend the university violated their rights as workers by failing to protect them when a violent mob attacked protesters at UCLA, including union members, and police took hours to intervene.

The union bases the charges on the experiences of dozens of members who protested at UCLA, UC San Diego and UC Irvine. The union also says universities unilaterally changed their job conditions when classes were moved online amid protests instead of bargaining over those work-related decisions.

The UAW filed unfair labor practice charges with the state labor board May 10.

On May 15, 79% of the 19,780 members who cast ballots voted to authorize the strike. The total voter participation amounted to 41% of all union members  meaning 33% of the total membership approved the authorization. The rates were significantly lower than a 2022 strike vote, in which 76% of members voted and 97% approved of a strike that led to increases in wages and benefits.

"It was always likely that the strike vote and participation would be lower than in the 2022," said John Logan, a professor in the department of labor and employment studies at San Francisco State University. "These things do matter, but it's arguably a respectable turnout and maybe even a higher than expected strike authorization, given that it's... not a strike over pay and benefits."

The university contends that the current strike is illegal because the union has a valid contract with a no-strike clause. Last week, the state labor board denied UCs request to halt the strike on grounds that it was causing irreparable harm to students, research and operations.

The university doubled down on its injunction request Wednesday, filing evidence citing the spread of strikes this week to UCLA and UC Davis and arguing that union members have disrupted classes and access to campuses. The strikes, it said, were "to the detriment of tens of thousands of students, faculty and other campus community members."

In a response filed Thursday evening, the union said "the university has failed yet again" to prove its point and that its allegations are "speculative" and "unsubstantiated." In some cases, the UAW put the blame for campus disruptions and blockages on pro-Palestinian undergraduates or other nonunion groups.

Union leaders also say the no-strike provision is irrelevant to the alleged violations they are claiming.

The state board is expected to again decide on the matter soon.

"We are urging the university to come to an agreement as soon as possible so we can resume teaching courses and research," UAW 4811 President Rafael Jaime said.

Matella said in an interview that strikes were the wrong way to go.

Read more: UC worker strike to hit UCLA, Davis next. A looming question: Is this walkout legal?

"We have many arbitrations pending with UAW right now. So they absolutely have other mechanisms for resolving this conflict," said Matella. "They've just chosen not to use them.

Other academic worker unions, including those at USC, Harvard and New York University, have also filed unfair labor practice charges against their employers related to worker treatment during pro-Palestinian protests.

Union demands

The union is launching campus strikes one by one and has threatened to call on members on all campuses to strike through June 30.

Some of the union's demands, such as amnesty from discipline for all people who took part in protests  union members or not  are relatively straightforward.

Others, including a demand that the University of California divest billions of dollars from "weapons manufacturers, military contractors, and companies profiting from Israels war on Gaza" are harder because UC leaders have declared opposition to divestment that targets Israel. Individual campuses have been more favorable to the demands  to a degree.

In an agreement with protesters to end their encampment at UC Berkeley, outgoing Chancellor Carol Christ said she supported examining Berkeleys investments in a targeted list of companies due to their participation in weapons manufacturing, mass incarceration, and/or surveillance industries and would push University of California regents on divestment.

Read more: UC Berkeley to consider divesting from weapons makers as pro-Palestinian protesters break camp

In a similar pact at UC Riverside, Chancellor Kim Wilcox said he would form a task force to explore the removal of UCR's endowment from the management of the UC Investments Office, and the investment of said endowment in a manner that will be financially and ethically sound for the university with consideration to the companies involved in arms manufacturing and delivery.

Another union demand is for the researchers it represents to receive transitional funding so they can opt out from "funding sources tied to the military or oppression of Palestinians." That would include those working for departments that were given portions of the $333 million the University of California received last year from the Department of Defense.

Legal debate

The strike reflects a growing national labor movement in which younger, liberal workers are increasingly unionizing and taking political stands, said David Lewin, a professor emeritus of management, human resources and organizational behavior at the UCLA Anderson School of Management.

Unions have long played a role in elections and even supported foreign policy positions, Lewin said, "but this is different."

"Striking workers are taking a risk in supporting one side of a two-party conflict. It looks opportunistic because you have employees of the university striking at the end of a quarter or semester when final exams are being given, grades are due and people have to graduate. It puts a lot of pressure on the university."

Time is running out for a resolution, Lewin said, because "as soon as most students are gone for the summer, the union's leverage significantly decreases."

He thinks the university's claim that the strike is illegal is "stronger" than the union's argument over free speech violations because "there are a lot of interpretations of what free speech means," including protest rights that UC currently affords students and workers who continue to rally in support of Palestinians.

Some other labor experts take a different view.

The universitys messaging "is meant to intimidate the workers into not going on strike, said Tobias Higbie, a UCLA professor of history and labor studies. I wish the University of California would be a different type of employer, but apparently its not the way they want to go with this.

Noah D. Zatz, a UCLA professor of law and labor studies, said union members were within their rights to stop working. Unfair labor practice strikes have precedent, he said, and go beyond seemingly all-inclusive" no-strike clauses in contracts. That's because because they rest on a unions allegations that the employer violated labor law  in this case, Californias Higher Education Employer-Employee Relations Act  and not simply contract terms, he said.

UC "expresses incredulity that this has anything to do with employment and work. Thats strange considering the university is a massive employer," Zatz said. You have people who are employees engaging in protest activity on employers grounds suffering at the hands of their employer. The idea that this has nothing to do with employer relationships is very hard to take."

What workers say

That's the position workers promoted this week during pickets at UCLA.

Speaking at a rally, union member Yunyi Li called for "no business as usual until UC leaders face up to alleged "unlawful actions."

"UC can be on the right side of history by taking accountability for their actions by coming to an agreement with encampment organizers over amnesty, divestment and policing, Li said to a crowd of hundreds gathered near the Bruin Bear statue. We are all here because no worker or student should be forcefully expelled from their workplace or their school for peaceful protest, especially in the fight for something as righteous and as fundamental as a free Palestine.

At UC Irvine, where no strike has been called, union member Mark Gradoni said he supported the members rallying elsewhere. Gradoni, a doctoral student in the history department, was arrested May 15 when police broke up a pro-Palestinian building occupation and encampment in Irvine.

On May 21, the university notified Gradoni of his interim suspension for violating campus policies on disruption and disorderly or lewd conduct, among others. A letter banned Gradoni from campus, in housing, or where any university programming is taking place and directed him to teach remotely.

"Its pretty clear that the university feels threatened by students, faculty and workers asking for greater transparency and a greater stake in shaping our terms of employment and the way our university works, Gradoni said.

Is there a way out?

Jaime, the union president, said all of the union's demands were important but singled out one that he said would "do a lot to lower the pressure."

"They could start by dropping the charges against workers  police and discipline charges," he said. "Both completely have the potential to derail people's lives."

On divestment, Jaime pointed to deals struck at UC Berkeley and UC Riverside as "models" but said it was "too early to tell" what the results in those cases would be.

Amnesty from discipline, such as suspensions, has been promised to protesters at several universities across the U.S. as a condition of taking down pro-Palestinian encampments.

Mediation between UC and the UAW is ongoing, part of a multistep process that could drag far beyond the end of this quarter, which is mid-June at several campuses.

UC has also filed its own unfair labor practice charge against the union, saying it violated its contract by striking.

Last week, the labor board issued a complaint against the union based on those allegations. The complaint sets in motion a process under which both sides will make their case. The complaint indicates the labor board's view that, if the facts presented by UC are shown to be accurate, then the strike could be ruled illegal. The case is slow-moving  both sides have until mid-June to submit paperwork  and does not itself halt the strike.

Times staff writers Suhauna Hussain, Grace Toohey and Caroline Petrow-Cohen contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Insights from KFF, Scientific American, and The Lancet

The News

The UK government announced a ban on private prescriptions of puberty blockers for under-18s in one of its final acts before Julys general election, a move that could be closely watched by lawmakers in the United States.

The emergency ban comes into force for three months from June 3 and follows a decision to end routine prescriptions of puberty blockers  drugs that suppress sex hormones during puberty  for children with gender dysphoria by Britains National Health Service.

US lawmakers have often cited UK and EU restrictions on gender transitions for young people to justify similar bills in America, the Associated Press reported in March, noting that at least 23 states have tightened or removed access to transgender health care for minors.

In April a national review on the use of puberty blockers in the UK said there was no good evidence on the long-term outcomes of such interventions. But the review was criticized by organizations including the World Professional Association for Transgender Health, while Amnesty International said it was being weaponised by anti-trans groups.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Bans on gender-affirming care risk a chilling effect on physicians

Source: KFF, Williams Institute, Association of American Colleges

Mizy Clifton/Semafor

Half of all US states now ban or limit young peoples access to gender-affirming care, a seven-fold increase in eight months according to the nonprofit health policy organization KFF. Thats created a legal limbo for physicians, who are forced to straddle state bans and federal laws that prohibit discrimination in health care on the basis of gender identity, the legal director of Williams Institute argued. Some doctors say they feel caught between breaking the law and helping patients: Its terrible to know what people need to live authentically, what kids need to be healthy and sometimes even to save lives, but not be able to provide that care, a family physician told the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Trusting the science is often political

Source: The Verge, Scientific American

Critics of gender-affirming care for young people often insist they are simply following the science, but they are ignoring what all the scientific associations are doing, a jurist and bioethicist told Verge. Bans are based on inaccurate information that is there to create drama and make people take a side, a professor of pediatrics told Scientific American. Denying care is not a neutral option: Current research suggests puberty-pausing hormones offer children a safe environment to explore their identities in the present, another pediatrician added.

Double standards

Source: Vice, The Lancet

Puberty blockers have long been used to treat precocious puberty in cisgender children, and bans in both the US and UK leave this exception intact: This [US] legislation is out there to try to suppress a population that is already particularly vulnerable from obtaining medical care, an assistant director of a transgender youth program in New York told Vice. For all their talk of protecting children, these new laws in the UK and US actually appear designed to preserve traditional gender norms, The Lancet argued.
The University of Kentucky Markey Cancer Center is expanding its precision medicine unit, but losing its leader.

Precision medicine tailors treatment to individual patients by taking into account genetic markers. By identifying the mutations that caused that cancer, treatment can be more targeted.

Markey Cancer Center Director Dr. Mark Evers said precision medicine is like teaching a patients immune system to better defend itself.

Its a much more precise way of really attacking the tumor, as opposed to the earlier chemotherapeutic agents which would not only attack the tumor but normal tissues as well, he said.

As Markey prepares to expand from four precision medicine infusion chairs to 12, Dr. Jill Kolesar, 58, the director of the precision medicine program, is leaving UK to take over as dean of the University of Iowa College of Pharmacy.

Those additional chairs will be in the new Cancer and Advanced Ambulatory Building, set to open in 2027.

Kolesar came to UK in 2016 to build the precision medicine program from the ground up, which she had done previously at her alma mater, the University of Wisconsin. She said shes excited about the prospect of cultivating another collaborative program in Iowa.

UKs precision medicine treatments play an important role for adult cancer patients across the state, Evers said.

Theres a huge need for that. If you look at our patient population that we treat, many of our patients come from Appalachia and Eastern Kentucky just dont have the opportunities for these types of therapies in many other places, he said.

A replacement for Kolesar has not been identified, Evers said, but the institution has strong internal potential leaders.

This program has been built through a lot of different people, including Jill. It just keeps getting stronger. Were not just gonna be beached, were full guns ahead, he said. Weve got other great leaders who are waiting at the wings for opportunities like this. Nothing changes.

Markey treated about 93,000 patients in 2023, a jump from 60,000 in 2009.

A precision medicine pioneer

Jill Kolesar

Kolesar said Markey taught her the importance of collaboration. She holds leadership roles on the molecular tumor board and translational oncology programs, both housed within Markeys precision medicine program.

Bringing together people from cancer and medicine and nursing and all kinds of the health professions to really advance our mission and to improve the health of Kentuckians, she said. Im going to bring that approach to Iowa.

Shes also the chair of the Oncology Research Information Exchange Network (OREIN), a national network of academic cancer centers focused on collaboration to advance cancer research. She has written over 150 peer-reviewed research articles and received more than $15 million in research funding from the National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society and other sources.

During her time at UK, Markey received a designation as a comprehensive cancer center, the only one in Kentucky.

Im working extensively with university leadership and particularly (Evers) to ensure a seamless and successful transition., she said. The University of Iowa looks forward to collaborating with the University of Kentucky.
Ukraine has confirmed that the United States authorised the limited use of its weapons to strike Russian territory.

Source: Serhii Nykyforov, spokesman for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to The Guardian; European Pravda

Details: Nykyforov confirmed media reports that appeared the day before that the administration of US President Joe Biden had secretly approved Ukraine's strikes on Russian territory using US-supplied weapons, but only near Kharkiv Oblast.

"It will significantly boost our ability to counter Russian attempts to mass across the border," Nykyforov said.

In a comment to European Pravda, Nykyforov said: "We have started to receive positive signals through diplomatic channels about the limited use of weapons from the United States in the region bordering Kharkiv."

For his part, in an interview with the Guardian, Zelenskyy made it clear that Ukraine needed the ability to use powerful long-range weapons that could hit targets deep inside Russian territory  a red line that the White House had refused to lift.

Without this green light, Zelenskyy said, other allies, such as the United Kingdom, might also not allow Ukraine to use its long-range weapons.

"Believe us, we have to retaliate. They dont understand anything but force. We are not the first and not the last target," Zelenskyy stressed.

Background:

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg asked the allies to review the constraints on Ukraine's ban on using Western weaponry against the Russian Federation in the midst of border fighting in Kharkiv Oblast.

Some European states have already openly stated that they support this position.

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Ukraine could soon fire Western-supplied missiles at targets in Russia. But don't expect that to tilt the war in its favor.

Ukraine could soon fire Western-supplied missiles at targets in Russia. But don't expect that to tilt the war in its favor.

Ukraine's allies look set to approve its use of their weapons on targets inside Russia.

A growing number of NATO allies have backed the move, prompting the US to also reconsider.

Ukraine could attack Russia's border forces, experts told BI, but it's no silver bullet.

As more of Ukraine's allies say it can use weapons they've supplied to hit targets in Russia, under certain conditions, experts say the move will open up new targets, but may not be the silver bullet Ukraine hopes.

Lifting the restrictions will help Ukraine repel Russian attacks, especially at its borders, but comes late, with Ukraine facing major ammunition and manpower shortages, war analysts and experts told BI. For these missions, Ukraine is also likely to lack the Western intelligence support useful to locate high-value targets far beyond the front lines.

"It is so late," Keir Giles, a senior consulting fellow at Chatham House's Russia and Eurasia Programme, told BI. "It is more than two years after a decision like that should've been taken," he said, blaming delays from the US and slow decision-making.

The ability to strike within Russia would strengthen Ukraine's hand, but it was unclear if it would fundamentally alter the course of the war, Alexander Libman, a professor of Russian and East European politics at the Free University of Berlin, said.

"The military logic of allowing Ukraine to use weapons against targets in Russia is straightforward," he said, but "there are structural limits, which Ukraine is now facing."

An overdue shift

Ukraine's allies have sent it billions of dollars in military aid since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, but with the caveat that it wasn't allowed to use the weapons to go after targets on Russian soil.

Many worried that crossing that line would provoke Russian President Vladimir Putin and escalate the conflict. That's meant that Ukraine has had few ways to strike attack aircraft or troop build-ups that threaten it from Russian territory.

But this calculation seems to have changed with the launch of a border offensive near Kharkiv in Ukraine's northeast.

On Tuesday, France said Ukraine should be allowed to use Western weapons to hit targets in Russia  but only sites that Russia is using to launch attacks on Ukraine.

A day earlier, lawmakers from all 32 NATO states adopted a declaration urging alliance members to allow strikes on military targets inside Russia.

And the US, which has repeatedly stated it won't allow Ukraine to use weapons it's supplied to strike Russia, appears to be changing its tune.

Three unnamed officials told Politico on Thursday that Ukraine can now use US-supplied weapons to strike inside Russia.

One of the officials said that Ukraine could use US-provided weapons only to hit back at Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them in Kharkiv, where Russia has seized more territory and threatens the country's second-largest city.

No more 'sanctuary zones'

In recent weeks, Ukraine has faced renewed Russian offensives, especially in Kharkiv.

One Ukrainian commander told The Times of London that his unit had Russian troops in their sights for weeks as they gathered across the border, but hadn't been allowed to attack.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, has repeatedly begged the country's partners to let it use Western weapons to target the Russian soldiers across the border.

According to Giles, lifting the restrictions would be of "huge" assistance to Ukraine in repelling incoming Russian offensives, as well as in targeting Russia's war-making capabilities.

"This would be a major step forward because Russia would no longer have the sanctuary zones from which it could prepare and launch these attacks," he said.

He also said that Ukraine could launch the same kind of military campaign it has been conducting against Russia's Black Sea Fleet, where Ukraine has successfully held back Russia's far superior navy despite having no real navy of its own.

This is a "demonstration of what Ukraine could achieve if it did not have these restrictions for striking into Russian territory itself," Giles said.

Going after Russia's air operations

John Hardie, the deputy director of the Russia program at the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies, said letting Ukraine use Western-provided tube artillery and rocket systems like the US-supplied HIMARS to hit Russian artillery across the border was a "no-brainer."

"It's unfair to make Ukraine sit on its hands until after Russian forces cross the border, or to make Ukrainian guns stay silent when Russian artillery is firing from across the border," he said.

Western-provided missiles like Storm Shadow and ATACMS could also go after some Russian air bases that launch aircraft for glide bomb attacks.

However, he said that this alone won't be enough to turn the tide in Ukraine's favor.

Ukraine could also struggle to develop the intelligence needed to find and quickly strike targets farther inside Russia.

Earlier this month, unnamed Ukrainian officials told The New York Times that they needed more real-time intelligence and information from the US and EU allies about targets in Russia.

It's far from clear whether the US will reverse its position and offer intel to support these strikes. Without it, Ukraine's targeting will be limited to satellite imagery, drone surveillance, and what its informants can spot on the ground.

This is not the only pressing issue. Libman, the Free University of Berlin professor, said that if Ukraine's lack of troops and dwindling artillery shells remain unresolved, it will continue to face "major" problems on the battlefield.

"This does not mean that allowing Ukraine to hit targets in Russia will not help  but it is clearly not a silver bullet to win the war," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Iceland's Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson signed a long-term bilateral agreement between the two countries in Stockholm on May 31.

The two leaders signed the treaty on the occasion of the third Nordic-Ukrainian summit, shortly after Kyiv signed a similar deal with Sweden.

According to the agreement, Iceland will allocate almost $30 million per year in aid to Ukraine from 2024 until 2028. The Nordic country will help to finance the purchase and supply of defense equipment and cooperate with the Ukrainian defense industry.

Iceland will pay special attention to the support and equipment of Ukrainian women in the Armed forces.

As a special point in the agreement, Iceland will help to transport military cargo and equipment from NATO allies to Ukraine by chartered cargo planes.

The country has also pledged to support Ukraine's peace formula, sanctions against Russia, compensation for war damages, and efforts to bring the aggressor to justice.

Iceland becomes the 14th country to sign such a deal, along with Sweden, Belgium, Spain, the U.K., Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Finland, Portugal, and Latvia.

The treaties are based on a pledge made by the Group of Seven (G7) countries last July and are designed to help Kyiv fend off Russian forces and deter future aggression.

Read also: Ukraine, Sweden sign bilateral security agreement

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BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The China National Archives of Publications and Culture (CNAPC) on Friday welcomed new collections donated by public institutions and private collectors.

This latest donation marks the second of its kind since the CNAPC's inception in July 2022, comprising over 15,000 physical objects and a staggering 131 terabytes of digital data.

It follows the CNAPC's initial receipt of donated collections in August 2023. 
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, and Bjarni Benediktsson, Prime Minister of Iceland, have signed an agreement on security cooperation and long-term support on 31 May in Stockholm.

Source: press service of Zelenskyy, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Under the agreement, the text of which was published on the website of Zelenskyy, Iceland committed to provide comprehensive and long-term economic, humanitarian and defence support for Ukraine, as well as to facilitate Ukraines future EU and NATO membership.

Iceland has committed to a minimum of 4 billion ISK (almost US$30 million) annually during the period 2024-2028.

Support for Ukraine will last while the agreement is valid.

Iceland is also ready to fund, procure and supply defence materials and equipment. Moreover, Iceland will cooperate with Ukraine to develop the defence industry of the latter.

The unique nature of the agreement is that Iceland undertakes to continue transporting military supplies and equipment from NATO allies to Ukraine by chartered cargo aircraft.

Moreover, Iceland will pay special attention to supporting and equipping Ukrainian women in the Armed Forces.

Separate sections of the agreement are about support for the Ukrainian Peace Formula, sanctions against Russia, compensation for damage and holding the aggressor accountable.

The agreement also provides for strengthening social and civilian infrastructure, specifically in the education and energy security sectors.

Iceland commits to strengthening its diplomatic representation in Kyiv in order to deepen cooperation with governmental institutions, the parliament, civil society and the private sector in Ukraine.

In total, Ukraine has signed 14 bilateral security agreements: with the UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, Sweden and Iceland.

Earlier on 31 May, Zelenskyy signed a security agreement with Sweden.

Among other things, the agreement also provides for the prospect of supplying Ukraine with Gripen fighter jets in the future.

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Ukraine can use Netherlands' F-16s to strike inside Russia as self-defense, Dutch minister says

The Netherlands would not object to Ukraine using Dutch-supplied F-16 fighter jets to strike targets inside Russia as a means of self-defense, Dutch Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot said on May 31.

"If you have the right to self-defense, there are no borders for the use of weapons. This is a general principle," she said at an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague in comments reported by RFE/RL.

Bruins Slot's comments come a day after Denmark said Ukraine may use Danish-supplied F-16 jets to strike military targets in Russian territory, as this would be "within the rules of war."

Over recent weeks, Ukraine has called for its partners to allow strikes on Russian territory with Western weapons.

The Pentagon on May 30 insisted there has been no change in policy after several U.S. news outlets reported the White House had secretly partially lifted the ban on Ukraine striking Russian territory with American weapons.

Citing unnamed American officials, Politico reported on May 30 that President Joe Biden's administration had given the go-ahead for Kyiv to attack targets inside Russia but "solely near the area of Kharkiv."

The Netherlands plans to start delivering its F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine this autumn after Denmark begins transferring its aircraft already in the summer, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren said during a press briefing in Vilnius, Delfi reported on May 6.

Previously, the Netherlands has pledged to deliver 24 of its fourth-generation U.S.-made jets to Ukraine as Kyiv seeks to bolster its Air Force.

The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Belgium have pledged to supply Ukraine with dozens of F-16 jets.

Denmark, the Netherlands, and the U.S. have led an international coalition established last year to provide Kyiv with F-16 fighter jets and train Ukrainian pilots.

Read also: Pentagon says no change in policy banning Ukraine from striking Russia with US arms

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Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere signed a bilateral security agreement in Stockholm on May 31.

Oslo pledges to provide Ukraine with at least $1.3 billion in military aid in 2024.

Overall, Norway invested about $6.9 billion in the long-term Nansen Program, covering the period between 2023 and 2027, the agreement says.

Together with other allies, Norway will also help Ukraine develop its F-16 capacities. The country has affirmed readiness to transfer its F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, but the agreement did not specify their number or expected date of delivery.

Ukraine recently signed a similar deal with Belgium, under which the western European country promised to deliver 30 F-16s by 2028, with the first aircraft expected to arrive this year.

Norway further agreed to help Ukraine develop maritime capabilities in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov and to continue providing NASAMS air defenses, including relevant equipment and training.

The agreement also affirms Norway's support for Ukraine's peace formula, sanctions against Russia, compensation of war damages, and the efforts to bring the aggressor to justice.

Oslo will also provide economic and humanitarian support, back Ukraine's NATO aspirations, and help Kyiv counter Russian propaganda.

Iceland becomes the 15th country to sign such a deal, along with Iceland, Sweden, Belgium, Spain, the U.K., Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Finland, Portugal, and Latvia.

The treaties are based on a pledge made by the Group of Seven (G7) countries last July and are designed to help Kyiv fend off Russian forces and deter future aggression.

Read also: Ukraine, Sweden sign long-term security agreement

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Ukraine to receive 1st tranche of frozen Russian assets revenue this summer, EU official says

Kyiv is likely to receive the first tranche of frozen Russian assets revenue from the European Union this summer, EU Sanctions Envoy David O'Sullivan said in an interview with RBC Ukraine published on May 31.

"We are talking about summer. I would not like to promise when exactly the money will be transferred to the account, but decisions will be made in the next few weeks, and the payment will be made later," O'Sullivan said in answer to the question of when the first tranche might arrive.

The EU Council agreed on May 21 to use profits from the frozen Russian sovereign assets to aid Ukraine. According to the statement, the proceedings could amount to 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 legal framework within which the funds will be transferred is still in progress, according to O'Sullivan. The EU sanctions envoy hopes that the decision will be made in "a few weeks."

"The important thing is that we, on the EU side, have immobilized this money, and one way or another, it will be used for Ukraine. So, in the short term, there will probably be a tranche for military procurement," O'Sullivan added.

The EU sanctions envoy said if the G7 states decide that it will be better to use these assets to get more money through a loan, this decision can be made later.

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Ukraine's Western partners and other allies froze around $300 billion in Russian assets at the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022. Roughly two-thirds are held in the Belgium-based financial services company Euroclear.

While the U.S. proposed seizing Russian assets outright, the EU has been more hesitant, fearing legal and fiscal pitfalls of confiscation.

Instead, Brussels proposed to use windfall profits generated by the frozen assets and funnel them to Ukraine.

In March, the European Commission submitted a proposal on using 90% of the generated funds to purchase weapons for Ukraine and allocate the remaining 10% to the EU budget to support the country's defense industry.

After many weeks of debates, EU ambassadors reached a political agreement on the proposal on May 8.

Ukraine's needs for foreign aid only grow as Russia ramps up pressure along the front and continues in aerial attacks against population centers and critical infrastructure.

Read also: G7 announces progress on Russian frozen assets but work still to be done

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The Ukrainian General Staff released satellite imagery of what it says was a U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile System ( ATACMS ) strike on Russian ferries in Kerch. That city is home to the bridge connecting Crimea to the Russian mainland and which has been targeted on several occasions before . The ferries have been critical for transporting Russian troops and materiel heading to the front lines, especially during interruptions with traffic on the bridge.

"Tonight, the Defense Forces of Ukraine attacked the Kerch ferry crossing with ATACMS missiles, which was actively used by the enemy to secure its grouping of troops in temporarily occupied Crimea," the General Staff announced Thursday on its Facebook page . "As a result of the impression of significant damage, two ferries carrying out railway and car transportation suffered. One of them sat on a mill, which blocked the functioning of the entire Kerch crossing."

Additional images released later show the limited extent of the damage, which includes scorched wooden decks with small square holes.

Before the images were released, Crimeas Russian-installed transportation chief Nikolai Lukashenko said debris from downed Ukrainian missiles damaged a car ferry and a railway ferry and described local air defenses as repelling an enemy attack on transport infrastructure. The two ferries have been named in unconfirmed reports as the Conroe Trader and the Avangard.

https://www.twitter.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1796117834738577884

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that its air defenses brought down eight ATACMS missiles over the Sea of Azov and that eight drones were intercepted over the Black Sea near the Crimean coast. Russian authorities repeatedly claim the destruction of ATACMS in the wake of Ukrainian attacks, but rarely if ever provide solid evidence of that.

One things is for certain. There was a lot of activities in the skies over Crimea.

https://www.twitter.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1796011681274900616 https://www.twitter.com/Maks_NAFO_FELLA/status/1796128333429633350 https://www.twitter.com/chrisschmitz/status/1795968408808202658

Telegram channels reported that Kerch residents heard as many as 20 explosions overnight. Videos uploaded to social media that purport to show the attacks also include multiple explosions.

https://www.twitter.com/TreasChest/status/1795949090582196584 https://www.twitter.com/Osinttechnical/status/1795944669114663240

Astra, a Russian independent journalist-run Telegram channel, claimed that a pilot boat  named by some sources as Mechta  was also sunk during the attack on Kerch.

https://www.twitter.com/blyskavka_ua/status/1796101417054228779?s=12 https://www.twitter.com/exit266/status/1795978606381879540

There have also been reports of four KS-701 Tunets class patrol boats having been destroyed or damaged in Kerch. The Tunets class vessels are understood to be used to protect the bridge itself. However, this may well also be the result of confusion with an attack elsewhere in Crimea. The Ukrainian Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) claimed the destruction overnight of two KS-701 patrol boats, and damage to two more , using uncrewed surface vessels (USVs). This reported attack took place in Yevpatoriia district on the western side of the peninsula.

https://www.twitter.com/DefenceU/status/1796084525832839297

As for Kerch, this is located on the eastern tip of Crimea, across the water from Russias Krasnodar region. Crimea is connected to the Russian mainland via the Kerch Bridge, which was constructed after Moscow annexed the peninsula in 2014.

The bridge is vital for the flow of logistics and military materiel between the Russian mainland and Crimea, from where they supply Russian forces fighting in southern Ukraine.

The Kerch Bridge. Photo by STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images

For this reason, and its symbolic importance, the 12-mile-long span has been attacked by Ukraine several times in the past. The bridge was damaged in a USV attack in July 2023 , while in October 2022 a bomb was detonated on it, causing significant damage.

Clearly, the Kerch Bridge remains a key objective for Ukraine, and putting it out of action would force Russia to transport military supplies by road through occupied southern Ukraine or by ferry, although the latter is now clearly targeted as well.

Finally, if ATACMS were indeed used, the damage to the ship appears to have been made by a unitary warhead, or it at least appears that way, looking more like a Storm Shadow cruise missile strike than anything else. If it was an ATACMS strike, it would signal Ukraine is now using the missile sub-type equipped with a single unitary warhead instead of cluster munitions. This could also be the first use of ATACMS against a maritime target.

The Latest

On the battlefield, Russia in continuing to push toward Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, located 20 miles from the border.

Russian forces recently "marginally advanced north of Kharkiv City near Lyptsi amid continued ground assaults in the area on May 29," the Institute for the Study of War wrote in its latest assessment . Geolocated footage published that same day "indicates that "Russian forces recently marginally advanced within southeastern Hlyboke (north of Lyptsi and Kharkiv City)."

Russian forces are also "accumulating personnel near Hlyboke using light vehicles such as motorcycles and ATVs to bring infantry close to the frontline," wrote ISW, citing the commander of a Ukrainian battalion operating in the Kharkiv direction.

In addition, Russian forces recently advanced northeast of Kharkiv City near Vovchansk as Russian forces, ISW reported.

On Thursday, we reported how the U.S. will finally allow its weapons to be used inside Russia, albeit limited to near Kharkiv. Several NATO allies had previously said they have no concern about Ukraine using their weapons on targets in Russia.

Now France appears poised to put boots on the ground in Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel "Macron is expected to unveil Frances plan to send army trainers to Ukraine when he hosts President Zelensky in Normandy along with other leaders, including President Biden, on the 80th anniversary of D-Day," Foreign Policy reported .

There were reports of a Ukrainian aerial drone attack near Kerch, this time apparently targeting the seaport of Taman, which also includes an oil depot. This would be consistent with the broader offensive against Russian oil infrastructure that Kyiv has been pursuing for many weeks now.

https://www.twitter.com/bayraktar_1love/status/1796083746778550291

The Defense Intelligence Agency on Thursday released its report concluding that "Russia used ballistic missiles produced in North Korea in its war against Ukraine. North Korean missile debris was found throughout Ukraine."

"Through careful analysis of open-source imagery, DIA analysts confirm the debris found in Kharkiv on Jan. 2, 2024 is missile debris from a DPRK short-range missile," the report states, using Pyonyang's official Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) acronym. The investigation provided "a comparative analysis of publicly available images of North Korean missile debris and known North Korean missiles. The report shows that the missile debris in Ukraine is almost certainly of a North Korean ballistic missile."

The report backs up assertions U.S. officials made at the time about the origin of that missile, which you can read about here . To coincide with that announcement, the White House National Security Council released a map of where that missile was launched from, which you can see below.

NSC/White House

Defense officials in NATO member Poland presented plans on Monday for fortifying its eastern border with Moscow ally Belarus.

"The government says that Poland, which supports Ukraine in its defense against Russias aggression, is being targeted by hostile actions from Russia and Belarus," The Associated Press reported . "They include cyberattacks, attempted arson and migrants being pushed illegally across the border, which officials describe as intended to destabilize the European Union, of which Poland is a member."

The Gomel Region of Belarus, which borders Ukraine, is ready to switch to martial law, Belarusian Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations Alexander Khudoleyev said during the inspection of regional civil protection units, the official Russian TASS news agency reported .

Chief among the reasons that Ukraine so badly wanted U.S.-made Abrams M1 main battle tanks were its 120mm main gun and optics that help zero its shells in on targets. You can see those in effect in this undated video below, showing one Abrams firing into the Avdiivka coke plant.

Of course, given those advantages, the Abrams have become a prime Russian target. So far, out of 31 donated by the U.S., Ukraine has lost at least eight, according to the latest figures from the Oryx open-source tracking group . At least three have been destroyed, one damaged and four damaged and abandoned. Those figures could be higher, because Oryx only tabulates losses for which it has visual confirmation.

Ukraine has also greatly appreciated using U.S. donated Bradley Fighting Vehicles , whose thick armor and devastating Bushmaster M242 25 mm automatic cannon have protected many crews during pitched battles. You can see one example of that in the video below.

The mood of the troops improves greatly when they see a Bradley roll up, the Ukrainian soldier in the video below extols.

Like Abrams, though, they have become prized targets for Russian artillery, drones, mines and anti-tank weapons. Of the more than 300 donated by the U.S., Ukraine has lost at least 81 according to Oryx . That includes at least 38 destroyed, 24 damaged, 15 destroyed and abandoned and four captured. Actual numbers are likely significantly higher as Oryx only tallies losses that have visual confirmation.

While both sides have been relying heavily on armor, there are still brutal fights going on in the trenches. This video below shows the harrowing scene of a Ukrainian soldier, under fire, trying to fire his RPG-7 grenade launcher at Russians. The first attempt failed and you can see below what happened next.

Drones too continue to menace both sides. Russia appears to have boosted its arsenal with Iranian-made Shahed-101 loitering munitions. They are similar to U.S.-made Switchblade series drone s. A pro-Russian Twitter site claims they have electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors for guidance and eight-kilogram warheads.

And finally, while Ukraine was finally given approval to use U.S. long-range strike weapons on targets inside Russia , it has been using its own drones and artillery to rain down cross-border attacks. The situation below, involving a tractor trailer pulling a so-called Russian Turtle Tank , could be illustrative of that, or just bad Russian driving, we don't know for sure. Either way, the truck - pulling the armor vehicle which is sheathed in added metal for greater protection - was seen in the video below engulfed in flames.

That's all for now.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
Ukraine should strike Russia because it is self-defence  NATO Secretary General

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has insisted that Ukraine has the right to strike Russian territory and emphasised that more and more allies agree with this.

Source: European Pravdas correspondent from Prague, where a NATO ministerial meeting is taking place

Quote: "Ukraine has the right for self-defenceRussia has escalated by invading another country and Russia has escalated just [in the] last weeks by opening a new front [in Kharkiv Oblast]."

Details: Stoltenberg emphasised that his conviction is based on the defensive nature of the Ukrainian strikes on Russia.

"Ukraine must be able to defend their territory," Stoltenberg pointed out, separately emphasising that Ukraine should utilise modern NATO weapons for effective defence.

He also added that more and more NATO member states are granting permission to Ukraine to use their weapons, but did not disclose the conditions under which Ukraines Armed Forces are allowed to do so.

"We expect this [strikes on Russia] to be conducted responsibly," Stoltenberg concluded.

Background:

Key NATO member states have adjusted their positions in recent days. In particular, the White House has authorised strikes on Russia, but with limitations. Germany also announced that it would consider allowing the use of its weapons to strike Russia.

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Ukraine and Sweden signed a bilateral security agreement on May 31, the Presidential Office announced.

President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Stockholm earlier in the day for the third Nordic-Ukrainian summit, where he met Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

According to a press release from the Presidential Office, Sweden will provide Ukraine with around 2.2 billion euros ($2.38 billion) per year through 2024-26, an amount that will increase during the 10-year term of the agreement.

Sweden and Ukraine are also looking into ways to jointly produce Archer artillery systems and CV90 combat vehicles.

"In addition, Sweden clearly confirmed its support for Ukraine on the way to membership in the EU and NATO," the press release said.

The president is also due to meet Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, and Icelandic Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson.

"Ukraine will sign three security agreements in one day, establishing predictable and long-term defense assistance and comprehensive support," Zelensky said before the signing of the agreement.

Sweden becomes the 13th country to sign such a deal, along with Belgium, Spain, the U.K., Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Finland, Portugal and Latvia.

The treaties are based on a pledge made by the Group of Seven (G7) countries last July and are designed to help Kyiv fend off Russian forces and deter future aggression.

Read also: Zelensky arrives in Sweden for Nordic-Ukrainian summit

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This photo taken on Dec. 17, 2023 shows exhibits during an exhibition featuring Syrian cultural relics at the Ningxia Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Li Xulun)

BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- A collection of cultural relics from Syria is on display at the Nanjing City Wall Museum in east China's Jiangsu Province, which started on May 18 and runs until Oct. 18.

This exhibition highlights Syrian culture and civilization and is part of a touring series jointly organized by Art Exhibitions China and the Directorate General of Antiquities and Museums (DGAM) in Syria. The tour began in 2021, commemorating the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Over the past three years, a total of 195 pieces or sets of Syrian treasures, including statues, reliefs and lapis lazuli necklaces, have been exhibited in museums across more than 10 Chinese cities like Shenzhen and Chengdu, attracting more than 1 million visitors.

Extensive preparations were made to welcome the arrival of these treasures, including planning the transportation route and arranging various display cases to provide the relics with a safe and stable environment with ideal temperature and humidity conditions, said Jin Lianyu, director of the Nanjing City Wall Museum.

"It is a big and complicated exhibition project as the relics are in large quantity and various sizes, with the largest one measuring over 1 meter in height and weighing 679 kilograms, while the smallest one measuring 1.7 centimeters in length and weighing a few grams," said Xiao Fahua, a staffer of the museum.

"People are lucky to see the precious cultural heritage," said Jin, adding that they managed to find the perfect angles to present the details of these relics by adopting various display methods such as moving display cases and placing mirrors.

Mohammed Nazeer Awad, head of the DGAM, noted that he was impressed by the professionalism and credibility of the Chinese management team, as well as the technology used in exhibitions to protect the relics and highlight their cultural significance.

"China is a popular tourist destination, making it an ideal location to showcase the Syrian civilization to a diverse audience," said Awad, adding that they have decided to extend the exhibition period.

Earlier this year, the exhibition was held by the Guyuan Museum of Ningxia in the city of Guyuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.

Located at the intersection of Asia, Africa and Europe, Syria was an important country on the ancient Silk Road, and Guyuan was also a vital trading location on the ancient Silk Road.

"During the heyday of trade on the ancient Silk Road, Guyuan was a link between Syria and China," said Wang Xiaojun, director of the Guyuan Museum of Ningxia, adding that visitors would find that there are many similarities among cultural relics unearthed from the two areas, representing rich cultural and trade exchanges between China and Syria in history.

"The Silk Road is what established those important cultural relationships with China more than it established important trade relationships, and the Silk Road continues now in one way or another," said Awad, noting that the exhibition is an extension of the Silk Road as well as an extension of cultural relations with China.

Chen Kuan, deputy director of Jiaxing Museum in east China's Zhejiang Province, one of the host museums of the exhibition tour, said that visitors to the exhibition can also observe similarities between the ancient Chinese and Syrian cultures, particularly in their shared pursuit of exquisite craftsmanship, reverence for ancestors, and aspiration for a better life.

"The exhibition is another proof that the two nations share flourishing cultural exchanges, which can help facilitate mutual understanding and boost the awareness for cultural relics protection," said Liu Xinlu, dean of the School of Arabic Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University. 

This photo taken on Dec. 17, 2023 shows a man copying an artifact during an exhibition featuring Syrian cultural relics at the Ningxia Museum in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. (Xinhua/Li Xulun)
Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Ulf Kristersson on 31 May in Stockholm. Photo: Getty Images

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, who is currently on a visit in Stockholm, and Ulf Kristersson, Prime Minister of Sweden, have signed an agreement on the cooperation in the security sector between the two countries.

Source: European Pravda

Details: No details concerning the agreement have been disclosed.

Background:

Zelenskyy announced that three security agreements in total would be signed during his visit to Stockholm.

Earlier, Zelenskyy signed an agreement on cooperation in the security sector in Portugal with its PM Luis Montenegro. The agreement stipulates long-term support for Ukraine by Portugal.

Portugal became the twelfth country with which Ukraine signed this agreement. Similar documents have been recently signed with Spain and Belgium.

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By Anastasiia Malenko

(Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Friday that Ukraine using any Western weapon to strike Russian territory is "a question of time".

Outgunned and outmanned on the battlefield, Kyiv has been increasing pressure on its Western allies to be able to launch offensive strikes at military targets inside Russia to better repel Russian advances.

"I think that using any weapon, Western kind of weapon, on the territory of Russia is a question of time. Otherwise, it is not about just peace," Zelenskiy told reporters on a visit to Stockholm.

Ukraine has stressed the urgency for the use of Western-supplied arms to conduct strikes inside Russia as it defends against Russian advances in the northeastern Kharkiv region.

This spring, Ukraine has found itself on the back foot in the 27-month-old full-scale invasion as it faces delays in military aid from the U.S., increased attacks on its energy infrastructure and Russia's push to expand the frontline.

U.S. President Joe Biden has quietly authorized Kyiv to strike military targets inside Russia which support the offensive in the Kharkiv region.

Zelenskiy said Ukraine "got message from the American side early in the morning" on Friday which signified a "step forward" in defending people in villages near the border with Russia. He did not disclose additional details on the communication with the U.S.

Zelenskiy said he did not yet know the possible restrictions related to the use of long-awaited F-16 fighter jets but appealed to the question of fairness in deliberations, saying Ukraine should be able to retaliate against Russian strikes.

Germany, another major ally, signalled its openness to Ukraine's use of its weapons to strike military sites fueling attacks on Kharkiv region.

France has taken a similar stance, saying Ukraine should be allowed to strike military sites Russia is using to attack its territory.

(Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko; Editing by Nick Macfie)
Ukraine war latest: President's Office confirms Washington allowed Kyiv to strike inside Russia with US arms near Kharkiv

Key updates on May 31:

Presidential Office confirms Washington allowed Kyiv to strike inside Russia with US arms near Kharkiv

75 Ukrainian prisoners brought back from Russian captivity

Ukraine signs security agreements with Sweden, Norway, Iceland

Ukraine strikes ferry crossing, oil depots in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, General Staff says

SBU drones destroyed Russia's long-range radar in Crimea, sources say

The U.S. gave Ukraine permission to use American-supplied weapons to strike targets in Russia located near the border with Kharkiv Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky's spokesperson, Serhii Nykyforov, confirmed for the Kyiv Independent on May 31.

Washington still prohibits Ukraine from using ATACMS and other long-range U.S.-supplied weapons for strikes deeper inside Russia, U.S. officials said.

Moscow launched a new offensive on May 10 in Kharkiv Oblast. While the Ukrainian military said it has managed to largely stabilize the situation, Russia has continued to launch attacks at the city of Kharkiv and the surrounding area.

Citing unnamed American officials, Politico reported on May 30 that President Joe Biden's administration had given the go-ahead for Kyiv to attack targets inside Russia but "solely near the area of Kharkiv." The report was then confirmed by other outlets, including ABC News and the Associated Press (AP).

Nykyforov previously welcomed this move in an interview with the Guardian, published on May 31.

"It will significantly boost our ability to counter Russian attempts to mass across the border," Nykyforov told the Guardian in answer to the question about permission from the U.S. to strike on Russian soil.

The Biden administration's decision allows Ukraine to use U.S.-provided weapons to strike Russian soldiers and command, as well as control centers, the Guardian said.

The Pentagon, in contrast, insisted on May 30 that there has been "no change" in policy regarding the use of U.S. arms without specifically mentioning attacks near Kharkiv Oblast.

Zelensky wanted to use long-range weapons such as the British-made Storm Shadow missiles, but the U.K. had not given "100% permission" to do so, according to the Guardian.

The Ukrainian president suggests the U.K. is waiting for the White House's decision. But the recent American shift is unlikely to change the position either, the Guardian said.

"We raised this issue twice. We did not get confirmation from him (David Cameron, the foreign secretary)," Zelensky said, adding that the final decision by the U.K. and other states will depend on the "consensus," including the crucial position of the U.S.

Read also: Ukraine urges allies to lift Western arms ban on hitting targets inside Russia. Will they?

75 Ukrainian prisoners brought back from Russian captivity

Ukraine brought back 75 people from Russian captivity, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 31.

This includes service personnel of the Armed Forces and the National Guard, border guards, and four civilians.

The former captives were exchanged for 75 Russian soldiers, RIA Novosti claimed, citing the country's Defense Ministry.

"Throughout all of this time, we have not stopped working for a single day to bring everyone home from Russian captivity," Zelensky said on X.

"We remember about every person. We are making every effort to find each and every one of our people. I am grateful to the team responsible for the exchanges."

The released captives include 70 men and five women, including 19 defenders of Snake Island, 14 personnel who defended the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant, and 10 defenders of Mariupol, the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported, confirming that they were released as part of an exchange.

This is the 52nd prisoner exchange since the outbreak of the full-scale war. As of May 31, 3,210 Ukrainian soldiers have been freed from Russian captivity, the headquarters said.

The headquarters thanked the United Arab Emirates for their role in facilitating the latest exchange.

Zelensky named a possible all-for-all prisoner of war (POW) exchange as one of the ideas to be discussed during the upcoming global peace summit in Switzerland in June.

The previously reported prisoner exchange occurred on Feb. 8, with 100 Ukrainian POWs freed from Russian captivity.

Before that, on Jan. 3, 230 prisoners were exchanged in the largest prisoner exchange since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion.

Read also: Zelensky: Ukraine open to considering all-for-all POW exchange

Ukraine signs security agreements with Sweden, Norway, Iceland

President Volodymyr Zelensky signed bilateral security agreements between Ukraine and Sweden, Iceland, and Norway on May 31.

The treaties are based on a pledge made by the Group of Seven (G7) countries last July and are designed to help Kyiv fend off Russian forces and deter future aggression.

"Ukraine will sign three security agreements in one day, establishing predictable and long-term defense assistance and comprehensive support," Zelensky said.

According to a press release from the Presidential Office, Sweden will provide Ukraine with around 2.2 billion euros ($2.38 billion) per year through 2024-26, an amount that will increase during the 10-year term of the agreement.

Iceland will allocate almost $30 million per year in aid to Ukraine from 2024 until 2028. The Nordic country will help to finance the purchase and supply of defense equipment and cooperate with the Ukrainian defense industry.

Oslo pledges to provide Ukraine with at least $1.3 billion in military aid in 2024. Overall, Norway invested about $6.9 billion in the long-term Nansen Program, covering the period between 2023 and 2027, the agreement says.

Ukraine has signed similar deals with Belgium, Spain, the U.K., Germany, France, Denmark, Italy, Canada, the Netherlands, Finland, Portugal, and Latvia.

Read also: FT: US close to signing bilateral security agreement with Ukraine as relations fray

Ukraine strikes ferry crossing, oil depots in Russia's Krasnodar Krai, General Staff says

Ukrainian forces struck a ferry crossing and an oil depot at Port Kavkaz in Russia's Krasnodar Krai with missiles overnight on May 31, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reported.

Port Kavkaz lies at the Kerch Strait, which divides Russia from occupied Crimea. Only one day earlier, the Ukrainian military reported a strike against the ferry crossing at the Kerch port on the Crimean side of the strait with ATACMS missiles.

Telegram channels and Russian authorities reported a fire at the oil depot earlier in the day. The General Staff said that the depot was damaged by several Ukrainian-made Neptune missiles but did not elaborate on the extent of the damage.

The military added that explosions at targeted areas were confirmed, but "the accuracy with which they were hit is being investigated."

Russian authorities claim that there are multiple casualties among the employees of the oil depot as a result of the strike. The Kyiv Independent could not verify all the claims.

Another oil depot in Krasnodar Krai was hit in a drone attack, according to the General Staff.

The recent attacks were the result of a "several-days-long operation aimed at destroying the logistics crucial for Russian forces in Crimea," sources in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) told the Kyiv Independent.

"According to preliminary information, a comprehensive strike targeted substations and power supply grid, as well as oil product supplies in Russia's Krasnodar Krai," the source noted.

The operation was carried out jointly by the SBU and other units of Ukrainian defense forces, the source said.

First, the military launched a missile attack on two ferries traveling to Port Kavkaz, which were used by Russia for military logistics. SBU drones subsequently carried out an attack against substations that supply energy to occupied Crimea and against ports in the Kerch Strait, according to the sources.

The same night, the SBU and the Navy reportedly attacked the oil depot at the Kavkaz Port, which stored oil products destined for Crimea, according to the source.

Read also: Naval drones destroyed 2 Russian patrol boats in occupied Crimea, military intelligence says

SBU drones destroyed Russia's long-range radar in Crimea, sources say

Drones operated by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) destroyed a Russian Nebo-SVU long-range radar system in Crimea overnight on May 30, a source in Ukrainian intelligence services told the Kyiv Independent on May 31.

The system, worth around $100 million, was positioned near Armiansk, a town in the north of the occupied Crimean peninsula, the source said.

According to the source, the radar was monitoring a 380-kilometer-long (around 235 miles) sector of the front and helped to protect Russian military facilities in Crimea.

After the attack, satellite intelligence recorded that the radar was shut down and has not been brought back online since then, the source said.

"This operation 'blinded' Russian air defenses on a large segment of the front," the source said.

The previous week, a Ukrainian drone struck an early-warning Voronezh M radar in the Russian city of Orsk, in Orenburg Oblast, a source from Ukraine's military intelligence agency told the Kyiv Independent.

The Washington Post then reported some days later, citing an unnamed U.S. official, that the U.S. was concerned about Ukraine striking radar stations on Russian territory as it could "dangerously unsettle Moscow."

Read also: Ukraine hits Russian ferry crossing with ATACMS in Crimea, General Staff says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief tells US general about needs of Ukrainian army

Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, had a telephone conversation with General Charles Quinton Brown, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the United States.

Source: Oleksandr Syrskyi on social networks

Details: Oleksandr Syrskyi says such a conversation took place for the second time in a month.

During the conversation, they discussed the urgent needs of the Ukrainian army, taking into account the operational situation at the line of contact and the strategic tasks of Ukraine.

Syrskyi also thanked the general for "extremely important military and technical aid: ammunition, missiles and engineering equipment."

He noted that each unit of military equipment and weapons received is tested in real combat situations, which strengthens our partners' military potential.

For his part, General Brown thanked Syrskyi for the Ukrainian initiatives that our state has been implementing in international security.

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The Defence Forces of Ukraine, jointly with the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), have conducted a several-days long operation of destroying the supply routes for the Russian troops in temporarily occupied Crimea.

Source: sources of Ukrainska Pravda in the SSU

Details: Early reports say a complex strike on substations and power supply networks was launched, as well as on the stocks of light oil products in Russia's Krasnodar Krai.

At first, the Defence Forces launched a missile attack on two ferries that headed to the Kavkaz port and were used for the purpose of military logistics of the Russians. Then the SSU drones struck the substations, which supplied the Crimean peninsula and the water area of the Kerch Strait, including ports, with energy directly.

On 30-31 May at night, the SSU, jointly with the Ukrainian Navy, launched a strike on a transfer tank farm in the Kavkaz sea port. Light oil products were sent to Crimea through it. After an efficient operation, a massive blaze broke out, which could be visible even from the satellite, an Ukrainska Pravda source adds.

Photo: Telegram

Background:

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said that the Ukrainian Defence Forces successfully hit the Kerch ferry crossing with ATACMS missiles on the night of 29-30 May. Two ferries engaged in rail and road transport had suffered considerable damage in the attack. One of them ran aground, blocking the functioning of the entire Kerch ferry.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine also confirmed that Neptune missiles hit a ferry crossing and an oil terminal at Port Kavkaz in Russia's Krasnodar Krai on the night of 30-31 May.

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Ukraine's special forces have developed new tech that allows drones to fly without GPS, so Russia can't jam them: report

Ukraine's special forces have developed new drone tech that Russia can't jam.

Drones can now fly and hit targets without GPS or operator input, The Economist reported.

Russia and Ukraine are in a drone and electronic warfare arms race.

Ukraine's special forces have developed new software that allows drones to fly without the use of GPS, limiting the impact of Russian jamming.

The software, called Eagle Eyes, allows unmanned drones to travel using sight rather than satellite-based GPS navigation, The Economist reported.

It uses AI to compare live video of the area below the drone to a map made from photos and video that a reconnaissance aircraft previously collected, the report said.

This means that drones can keep flying even if Russia tries to jam them.

The software can also recognize targets, like missile launchers and tanks, and can drop bombs or fly into them without the drone operator needing to give the order, according to The Economist.

Kurt Volker, a former US ambassador to NATO and former special representative for Ukraine, told the outlet that the technology could be a big factor in helping Ukraine turn the tide against Russia, but that it will take time to see how effective it is.

A Ukrainian serviceman launches a drone in northern Ukraine. Kirill Chubotin / Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images

A commander in a special forces corps called White Eagle, which is helping develop the technology, said the software is already being used widely, and is cheap enough to be used on kamikaze drones: drones that are destroyed on impact, making them ill-suited to expensive upgrades.

A White Eagle captain told The Economist that Russian jamming stations are the primary target, and Russia's S-400 air defense systems the second.

More drones have been used in Russia's invasion of Ukraine than in any other conflict in history.

Both sides use them to conduct reconnaissance and to attack troops and weaponry  all while developing electronic warfare to try to make the other side's drones less effective.

That has led to a new arms race, as both countries try to develop better drones and drone jamming technology.

In May 2023, the Royal United Services Institute, a UK think tank, said that Ukraine could be losing 10,000 drones a month , mostly due to jamming.

Ukrainian soldiers watch a drone feed from an underground command center. AP Photo/Libkos

James Patton Rogers, a drone expert at the Cornell Brooks Tech Policy Institute, described the situation to Business Insider as "a battle within a battle."

"It's basically a cat and mouse game," Fabian Hinz, a drone warfare expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told BI, with both sides frequently making big technological leaps.

Ukraine has used cheaper, civilian-grade drones for much of the war, but those are particularly vulnerable to electronic warfare, making new and affordable software like Eagle Eyes key.

Ukraine had responded to Russian jamming efforts by building new types of drones and drone software.

This includes a new drone that Mykhailo Fedorov, Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine for Innovation, Education, Science, and Technology, said late last year had a "powerful GPS antenna" that was resistant to Russian jamming and electronic warfare.

A Ukrainian company also said last year that it had developed drones resistant to Russian jamming technology and delivered the first batch to Ukraine's military.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Ukrainian air defence responds to Russian attack in Kyiv Oblast

Ukrainian air defence was responding to a Russian attack on Kyiv Oblast on the night of 30-31 May.

Source: Kyiv Oblast Military Administration on Telegram

Details: Kyiv Oblast Military Administration noted that the movement of Russian attack UAVs had been detected in Kyiv Oblast, so air defence units were responding to the attack.

People were asked to stay in shelters until the all-clear was given.

At 03:36, the all-clear was given.

Background: On the night of 30-31 May, Russian Shahed attack drones reached Kyiv Oblast.

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The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has confirmed that Neptune missiles hit the ferry crossing and oil terminal at Port Kavkaz in Russia's Krasnodar Krai on the night of 30-31 May.

Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Quote: "A strike group from the Ukrainian Navy has struck a ferry crossing and an oil terminal at Port Kavkaz in Russias Krasnodar Krai. It happened on the early morning of 31 May  the night after the Ukrainian Defence Forces had put out of action the ferries working the Kerch ferry crossing in occupied Crimea, which were running to Port Kavkaz and were being used for the aggressor's military logistics."

Details: The General Staff reported that the oil terminal near Port Kavkaz was hit by several Ukrainian-made missiles from the Neptune coastal missile system.

It is reported that the results were confirmed by explosions at the targeted facilities, and the accuracy of the targeting is currently being investigated.

The operation was conducted in coordination with other units of the Ukrainian Defence Forces. In particular, attack UAVs from the Defence Forces have hit another oil terminal in Russias Krasnodar Krai.

The General Staff emphasised that the so-called "modern" and "effective" Russian air defence system was once again powerless against Ukrainian missiles and unmanned vehicles and failed to protect important facilities used for logistics and supply of the Russian army.

ASTRA Telegram channel reports that, in addition to the Taman Neftegaz oil depot in the village of Khvylia, at least two other facilities were attacked, which local authorities have not reported. In particular, as a result of the attack on Port Kavkaz, a pumping station caught fire, and its employees were evacuated.

In addition, a power substation in the village of Belyi in Temryuksky district, which is part of the so-called energy bridge to Crimea, was attacked. The substation was damaged but continued to operate.

For reference: The Port of Kavkaz is the fifth largest port in the Russian Federation by cargo turnover and the second largest port in the Black Sea-Azov basin after the port of Novorossiysk.

Read more: Sinking the Moskva: previously undisclosed details. How the Ukrainian Neptune destroyed the flagship of the Russian fleet

Background:

The Russian authorities reported that on the night of 31 May, UAVs attacked an oil depot in the Temryuksky district of Russias Krasnodar Krai, and a fire broke out there. Three tanks containing petroleum products were reported to have been on fire. The head of the oblast said that the fire had been given a high complexity rating.

Telegram channel Krymskyi Viter (Crimean Wind) also reported that on the night of 31 May, a series of explosions had occurred in occupied Crimea, and Port Kavkaz on the Chushka Peninsula in Russias Krasnodar Krai was on fire.

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BANGKOK, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese tech giant Huawei announced its collaboration with Thailand's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation and the Ministry of Labor on Friday, aiming to strengthen the country's digital talent ecosystem and create value-added job opportunities.

Gathering over 200 participants from across government, academia and industries, the Thailand Digital Talent Summit and Job Fair held in Bangkok unveiled the new strategic partnerships with multiple stakeholders from China and Thailand, marking a crucial step for the Southeast Asian country towards becoming a regional digital economy hub.

By collaborating with more than 20 universities to offer Huawei digital and cloud developer courses, the three parties have set the goal of training 10,000 information and communications technology (ICT) professionals, 5,000 cloud artificial intelligence developers, and 2,000 green engineers by 2025.

With the Huawei ASEAN Academy platform, the company focuses on four critical areas for developing digital talents, including business school, technical school, engineering school and digital inclusion, covering all the bases from fostering digital leadership for organization executives to initiatives to provide equal access to digital learning for disadvantaged groups, said David Li, CEO of Huawei Thailand.

In his opening speech, Li said Huawei has collaborated with various partners to develop more than 96,000 digital talents so far while providing free training for rural students and residents. The company also signed ICT Academy cooperation agreements with 42 Thai leading universities.

Underscoring the importance of partnerships in fostering digital talents, Supamas Isarabhakdi, minister of higher education, science, research and innovation, said the ministry is on a mission to build manpower that meets the needs of the nation's development and joining forces with Huawei will drive digital innovation and research policies that are specifically designed for incubating qualified personnel.

Through academic exchanges and knowledge sharing, it emphasized the importance of experiencing and observing China's distinct work ethic and competitiveness, which could inspire improvements in Thai work practices, said Sumet Prabhavat, assistant professor at the Faculty of Information Technology, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang.

The collaboration also highlights the potential for Thai students to benefit from exposure to diverse knowledge and career opportunities in China, possibly leading to the exploration of new career paths, Sumet told Xinhua. 
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry released a statement on May 30 condemning recent "anti-Ukrainian" remarks made by Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

Tensions between Georgia and the West, as well as with Ukraine, have increased since the ruling Georgian Dream party reintroduced its controversial foreign agents law in April.

The law, which was passed by the parliament earlier in May, requires organizations that receive foreign funding to be labeled as "foreign agents" and is widely thought to lead to a crackdown on civil society and independent media.

Speaking at the opening of a new bridge in Tbilisi on May 30, Kobakhidze said that Georgian Dream would not allow a "Maidan" to happen in Georgia. Kobakhidze was referring to the 2014 EuroMaidan Revolution in Ukraine in which more than 100 protesters were killed by security forces and culminated in pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych fleeing the country.

Kobakhidze then went on to falsely claim that subsequent Ukrainian governments had been appointed by "the outside." International organizations like the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) have found that Ukrainian presidential elections in 2014 and 2019 were "competitive and fundamental freedoms were generally respected."

"The statements of the head of Georgia's government regarding our state, (EuroMaidan), heroism, and struggle of the Ukrainian people for freedom and independence are unacceptable and outrageous," Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said.

"It is notable that the word 'Russia' was never mentioned" in Kobakhidze's remarks, the statement continued.

"It is regrettable to observe the consistent and permanent degradation of political statements of (Kobakhidze), which have recently become difficult to distinguish from the statements of the Russian leadership."

It was not the first time Ukraine has criticized comments made by Kobakhidze and other members of Georgian Dream.

Following the introduction of the foreign agents law in April, Kobakhidze said the legislation was required to prevent the "Ukrainization" of Georgia.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said the comments were "disturbing."

"Russification, but not mythical "Ukrainization," is a real threat to Georgia," and Ukraine "continues to support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within its internationally recognized borders," the ministry said at the time.

Read also: Explainer: Whats behind ongoing protests in Georgia?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The national uncommitted campaign pushing for protest votes against President Biden in the White House race says his endorsement of a new Israeli proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza is a welcome development but will likely fall flat.

On Friday, Biden announced the terms of a three-phase, Israeli-led plan toward ending the fighting and releasing all hostages, a major step toward a potential end to the war. He said the proposal has been transmitted via Qatar to Hamas, the U.S.-designated terrorist organization that runs the Gaza Strip.

Bidens endorsement of a six-week ceasefire is a welcome development, but will likely fall flat as long as he arms [Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahus war crimes. We need a permanent ceasefire now, Layla Elabed, spokesperson for the uncommitted movement, said in a statement.

Bidens calls for Netanyahu to accept the deal shows hes slowly grasping the political fallout of his backing of Israels horrific assault on Gaza, but it isnt enough, Elabed said.

The uncommitted movement, which grew out of a push in Michigan to urge Biden toward a cease-fire call, has siphoned votes from the president in several state Democratic primaries.

Progressives and Muslim Americans are frustrated over the administrations actions around the Israel-Hamas war, as Biden tries to balance supporting Israels right to defend itself and decrying the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The uncommitted vote scored at least five delegates in Kentuckys Democratic primary earlier this month and is up to 30 delegates overall. Though thats well below Bidens 3,613 figure, it underscores the notable upset toward the presumptive Democratic nominee.

For months, Netanyahu has played Biden like a fiddle as the window to save lives  and the fate of American democracy  closes on all of us, Elabed said.

The first phase of the new Israeli proposal would include a six-week cease-fire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from all populated areas of Gaza, plus the release of a number of hostages  and work up to a cessation of hostilities, permanently in phase two, Biden announced Friday.

A major reconstruction plan for Gaza would start in the third and final phase.

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.
Under the Dome: The reaction in NC to Trumps conviction

Good morning!  Heres what you need to know in North Carolina politics today.

Jurors have been listening since April 22 to the evidence against former President Donald Trump during his New York hush money trial. Their historic guilty verdict was announced Thursday, just before the judge was about to send them home for the evening. Heres what North Carolina lawmakers said about the verdict.  Stephanie Loder, correspondent

TRUMP SENTENCING SLATED FOR JULY 11

The guilty verdict in former President Donald Trumps New York hush money trial on Thursday was met with reaction from both sides of the political aisle.

Rep. Deborah Ross , a Democrat from Wake County, wrote on social media, this is how our legal system is supposed to function.

Rep. Dan Bishop , a Republican from Waxhaw, posted on social media, Lawfare has reached its Waterloo. A reckoning is coming for gangster government.

Republican Rep. Richard Hudson called the verdict a complete and total sham.

Republican Sen. Thom Tillis posted on social media that he was shocked by the verdict.

Republican Sen. Ted Budd called the verdict a total disgrace.

Trump was accused of falsifying business records connected to $130,000 spent to keep quiet adult film star Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, regarding an alleged sexual encounter she and Trump had prior to the 2016 election.

Jurors found Trump guilty on all counts.

Trump, 77, will be sentenced at 10 a.m. July 11. He faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Get the full story from Danielle Battaglia here.

WHO ARE FSU OFFICIALS ACCUSED IN MISSPENDING?

The North Carolina auditor released a report this week after finding nearly $700,000 in questionable purchases by the Fayetteville State University communications staff.

Heres what we know so far about employees referred to in the report:

Joy Cook: Between 2022 and 2023, Cook was the associate vice chancellor for strategic communication at Fayetteville State, a position in which she led the universitys Office of Strategic Communication. She later briefly worked for the state House Democratic Caucus, which hired her earlier this month but said she resigned last week.

Morgan Osley-Pratt: The universitys former director of digital strategy, according to the Fayetteville Observer and CityView.

Tina Raines: The assistant vice chancellor for marketing and creative services.

According to the auditors report, the employees in the Office of Strategic Communication spent $692,239 that was not allowed under university policy or that didnt have the proper documentation.

Among the questionable expenditures were:

$13,650 spent on items not allowed under policy like IT hardware and software, travel and gifts.

$5,506 spent on Amazon.com

A $1,009 bill to arrive early and fly first class to a conference in New York City.

A $287 rideshare to a spa while at the conference.

SBI spokesperson Anjanette Grube said the agency plans a review of the auditors report and will consult with the local District Attorneys office.

Get the full story from Avi Bajpai and Vivienne Serret here.

PAC RUN BY MARK MEADOWS WIFE CLOSING AFTER FEC ALLEGES VIOLATIONS

A political action committee run by Debra Meadows, the wife of former President Donald Trumps last chief of staff, Mark Meadows, faces a nearly $10,000 fine and is closing amid accusations of federal election law violations.

The Right Women PAC faces a $9,500 fine because it failed to report spending more than $191,871 on a campaign ad in 2022 for former Rep. Stella Yvette Herrell, a Republican from New Mexico, who was seeking reelection against Democratic Rep. Gabe Vasquez.

Election law requires any spending over $10,000 that happens 20 days or more before an election to file a 48-hour expense report. The PAC agreed to pay $9,500 by Monday.

The fine and closure resolve a dispute with the Federal Election Commission through an agreement between Right Women PACs attorney, Thomas Datwyler, and officials in the FECs Alternative Dispute Resolution Office.

Its not unusual for a super PAC to terminate itself following a significant FEC penalty, said Brett Kappel, an attorney with Harmon Curran focused on campaign finance, lobbying and government ethics law cases.

The committee agreed to shut down by July 27 and to close out its federal accounts.

Get the full story from Danielle Battaglia here.

CHILD CARE FUNDING

Senate Democratic Leader Dan Blue and House Democratic Leader Robert Reives called on their Republican colleagues to expand funding for child care providers as federal grant money nears its expiration date at a press conference Thursday morning.

Democrats contrasted the child care funding they sought with Republicans aim to spend more money on private school vouchers known as Opportunity Scholarships. The state Senate voted May 2 to approve a bill providing more than $400 million in additional voucher funding over the next two years. GOP lawmakers said wealthy families should be allowed to decide how to allocate their childrens educational funds from their taxes, as previously reported by The News & Observer.

How much more of an impact would hundreds of millions of dollars for childcare centers have on our state than handouts to wealthy families for private school tuition, Reives said. With the money proposed for the taxpayer funded voucher scheme, we could invest in child care subsidies to wipe away the current waitlist of more than 5,000 children. We could create a statewide rate floor that helps ensure rural, low-wealth communities can afford child care.

Kim Shaw, founder of A Safe Place Child Enrichment Center, noted that hundreds of her colleagues face the devastating possibility of having to close their doors due to the funding gap.

According to Shaw, her administration is putting together a plan and has raised funds through bake sales to supplement the centers budget.

 Vivienne Serret

Thats all for today. Check your inbox Sunday for more #ncpol news.

You can sign up to receive the Under the Dome newsletter at newsobserver.com/newsletters . Want your friends to get our email, too? Forward them this newsletter so they can sign up.

We want to know what you would like to see in the Under the Dome newsletter . Do you like highlights from the legislature? Political analysis? Do you have a question youd like The News & Observer team to answer? Tell us here. You can also email us at dome@newsobserver.com

Dont forget to follow our tweets and listen to our Under the Dome podcast for more developments.
Students walk to and from classes on the Indiana University campus, in Bloomington, Ind. The state just enacted a new law calling on all Indiana public universities to study how they would implement a three-year bachelors degree program, if accreditors agree, to save students money and get them into the workforce more quickly. (Darron Cummings/The Associated Press)

With college costs rising and some students and families questioning the return on investment of a four-year degree, a few pioneering state universities are exploring programs that would grant certain bachelors degrees in three years.

The programs, which also are being tried at some private schools, would require 90 credits instead of the traditional 120 for a bachelors degree, and wouldnt require summer classes or studying over breaks. In some cases, the degrees would be designed to fit industry needs.

Indiana recently enacted legislation calling for all state universities there to offer by next year at least one bachelors degree program that could be completed in three years, and to look into whether more could be implemented. The Utah System of Higher Education has tasked state universities with developing three-year programs under a new Bachelor of Applied Studies degree, which would still need approval by accreditation boards.

More than a dozen public and private universities are participating in a pilot collaboration called the College-in-3 Exchange, to begin considering how they could offer three-year programs. The public universities include the College of New Jersey, Portland State University, Southern Utah University, the Universities of Minnesota at Rochester and at Morris, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and Utah Tech University.

Proponents of the three-year degree programs say they save students money and set them on a faster track to their working life. But detractors, including some faculty, say they shortchange students, particularly if they later change their minds on what career path they want to follow.

We think if we are partnering with industry and they help us develop it, I dont think it cheapens the degree. I think it creates a very specific degree.

 Geoff Landward, commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education

The Utah Board of Higher Education in March approved the new three-year degree category. Various areas of study would be tied to specific industry needs, with fewer electives required. These degrees are broader than two-year associate degrees, but narrower than a full four-year bachelors.

We told the institutions to start working on them now and developing the curriculum, Geoff Landward, commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education, said in an interview. Also, we want them to find industry partners that would be willing to hire people with bachelors degrees of this type.

He added: We created a sandbox for our institutions to play in.

Once created, individual programs would need both national accreditation and state Board of Higher Education approval.

Landward said he has taken note of criticism that the three-year programs might cheapen the bachelors degree by shortchanging students who wouldnt receive a broad college education. But he said students could save on tuition, get a head start in the workforce and meet the needs of industries that are looking for certain skilled workers to address shortages in the state.

That includes nursing, he said, where requiring a four-year degree means taking lots of electives that have nothing to do with the career.

Utah State Universitys current four-year nursing program, for example, suggests several electives along with the required anatomy, math and biology courses as prerequisites during freshman and sophomore years.

We think if we are partnering with industry and they help us develop it, I dont think it cheapens the degree, Landward said. I think it creates a very specific degree.

Robert Zemsky, a University of Pennsylvania professor and founding director of the universitys Institute for Research on Higher Education, began proselytizing for the three-year college movement about a dozen years ago.

He said the idea has gotten traction recently because we are wading in the deep waters of righteous anger at colleges and universities because of the perception that four-year degrees are not worth their high costs.

A Pew Research Center survey released last week found only 1 in 4 American adults said it is extremely or very important to have a four-year college degree as a means to getting a good-paying job. Only 22% of the respondents said the cost is worth getting a four-year degree even if the student or their family has to take out loans.

Zemsky suggested that a shorter time span also would lead to higher college completion rates. More than a third of students who began seeking a bachelors degree in fall 2014 at a four-year school failed to complete their education at the same institution in six years, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Zemsky said 27 colleges and universities have embarked on creating three-year pilot programs and predicted 100 would be doing so in another year.

Over the past 10 years, Zemsky said, schools have been ignoring the desires of students and instead creating their curricula around the preferences of faculty  which is where most of the opposition is coming from.

Last year, at a conference of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, a bargaining unit for professors, President Kenneth Mash said the overwhelming number of college faculty nationwide have a visceral disdain for the idea.

In an interview with Stateline, he said three-year programs would hurt students too, creating a two-tiered system under which wealthy students would get a full four-year education and lower-income students a cheapened three-year degree.

If its not going to be a four-year degree, they should name it something that indicates its not a B.A., said Mash, who also is a political science professor at East Stroudsburg University. We dont know that employers will treat them the same.

Im on board, as most faculty are, with the notion that people want to increase their job opportunities. But thats not all there is to a college degree, he said. Degrees prepare you to be a better citizen, a better parent, and on and on.

And he said a broad education is what makes it possible for students to change jobs and careers many times during their working lives. Its really that baking in liberal arts  that makes it possible for people to do different things in their lifetimes.

Indianas new law

Indiana enacted a law in March that requires each public institution that offers bachelors degrees to review all the four-year degrees with an eye toward making some of them three years. And the law requires that by July 1, 2025, each state university offer at least one bachelors degree that can be completed in three years.

Indiana state Sen. Jean Leising, a Republican who sponsored the measure, pointed out that every extra year of college costs the students, their parents and the state.

But she noted that not all degrees lend themselves to compressed curricula. If youve got a kid in pharmacy [studies], they are not going to able to get through it in three years. Engineers arent going to be able to do it in three years. But some of the other kids will.

Chris Lowery, Indianas commissioner for higher education, said the law will encourage schools to think about how to create 90-credit-hour bachelors degrees: How feasible is this, would you still have the quality, would you still have the agency?

Three-year degrees allow for choice, he added. His daughter, for example, had enough AP credits after high school to make a college degree feasible in three years, but opted to go to school for four, because she wanted to have enough time to study so that she could get straight As as well as to have time for extracurricular activities.

But for a lot of students, the finances are tighter, he acknowledged.

Credentialing requirements

At both public and private universities, the new three-year degree programs that require fewer credits would need national accreditation.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, a regional credentialing agency, accredited several three-year bachelors degrees at two private schools, Brigham Young University-Idaho and Ensign College, last year. The degrees are in applied business management, family and human services, software development, applied health and professional studies.

Sonny Ramaswamy, the commissions president, said in an interview that the three-year programs underwent two years of evaluation before being awarded accreditation.

He said the evaluation showed that competency in many professions could be attained in three years instead of four, and that graduate schools were willing to accept three-year bachelors as a credential for the pursuit of higher degrees. He noted that European college degrees often are completed in three years.

We said, We will approve you, but this is a pilot, Ramaswamy said. The schools will provide data to show their students have earned a good education, he added.

My intuition is that it will head in the right direction, he said. The public is calling for innovation.

Michael Poliakoff, president of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, a nonprofit organization that says its mission is promoting academic freedom, excellence and accountability at colleges and universities, said fluff courses strengthen the case against a 120-credit hour bachelors degree.

Let people get a good foundation with a strong general education core, strong skills and some electives, Poliakoff said in an interview. Thats what a responsible university should be doing.

The council does an annual survey of higher education institutions and grades them A through F on what the group calls core curricula  the proportion of courses dedicated to mathematics, literature, composition, economics, laboratory science, American history and government, and foreign languages.

Poliakoff said the amount of debt students are accumulating over four years is sinful and unnecessary. Colleges and universities must meet the concerns of students and their families, he said.

A 90-credit baccalaureate degree is a pretty good way to tighten up the bolts, he said.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Universities try 3-year degrees to save students time, money appeared first on Rhode Island Current.
Students walk to and from classes on the Indiana University campus, in Bloomington, Ind. The state just enacted a new law calling on all Indiana public universities to study how they would implement a three-year bachelors degree program, if accreditors agree, to save students money and get them into the workforce more quickly. Darron Cummings/The Associated Press

With college costs rising and some students and families questioning the return on investment of a four-year degree, a few pioneering state universities are exploring programs that would grant certain bachelors degrees in three years.

The programs, which also are being tried at some private schools, would require 90 credits instead of the traditional 120 for a bachelors degree, and wouldnt require summer classes or studying over breaks. In some cases, the degrees would be designed to fit industry needs.

Indiana recently enacted legislation calling for all state universities there to offer by next year at least one bachelors degree program that could be completed in three years, and to look into whether more could be implemented. The Utah System of Higher Education has tasked state universities with developing three-year programs under a new Bachelor of Applied Studies degree, which would still need approval by accreditation boards.

More than a dozen public and private universities are participating in a pilot collaboration called the College-in-3 Exchange, to begin considering how they could offer three-year programs. The public universities include the College of New Jersey, Portland State University, Southern Utah University, the Universities of Minnesota at Rochester and at Morris, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and Utah Tech University.

Proponents of the three-year degree programs say they save students money and set them on a faster track to their working life. But detractors, including some faculty, say they shortchange students, particularly if they later change their minds on what career path they want to follow.

We think if we are partnering with industry and they help us develop it, I dont think it cheapens the degree. I think it creates a very specific degree.

 Geoff Landward, commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education

The Utah Board of Higher Education in March approved the new three-year degree category. Various areas of study would be tied to specific industry needs, with fewer electives required. These degrees are broader than two-year associate degrees, but narrower than a full four-year bachelors.

We told the institutions to start working on them now and developing the curriculum, Geoff Landward, commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education, said in an interview. Also, we want them to find industry partners that would be willing to hire people with bachelors degrees of this type.

He added: We created a sandbox for our institutions to play in.

Once created, individual programs would need both national accreditation and state Board of Higher Education approval.

Landward said he has taken note of criticism that the three-year programs might cheapen the bachelors degree by shortchanging students who wouldnt receive a broad college education. But he said students could save on tuition, get a head start in the workforce and meet the needs of industries that are looking for certain skilled workers to address shortages in the state.

That includes nursing, he said, where requiring a four-year degree means taking lots of electives that have nothing to do with the career.

Utah State Universitys current four-year nursing program, for example, suggests several electives along with the required anatomy, math and biology courses as prerequisites during freshman and sophomore years.

We think if we are partnering with industry and they help us develop it, I dont think it cheapens the degree, Landward said. I think it creates a very specific degree.

Robert Zemsky, a University of Pennsylvania professor and founding director of the universitys Institute for Research on Higher Education, began proselytizing for the three-year college movement about a dozen years ago.

He said the idea has gotten traction recently because we are wading in the deep waters of righteous anger at colleges and universities because of the perception that four-year degrees are not worth their high costs.

A Pew Research Center survey released last week found only 1 in 4 American adults said it is extremely or very important to have a four-year college degree as a means to getting a good-paying job. Only 22% of the respondents said the cost is worth getting a four-year degree even if the student or their family has to take out loans.

Zemsky suggested that a shorter time span also would lead to higher college completion rates. More than a third of students who began seeking a bachelors degree in fall 2014 at a four-year school failed to complete their education at the same institution in six years, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Zemsky said 27 colleges and universities have embarked on creating three-year pilot programs and predicted 100 would be doing so in another year.

Over the past 10 years, Zemsky said, schools have been ignoring the desires of students and instead creating their curricula around the preferences of faculty  which is where most of the opposition is coming from.

Last year, at a conference of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, a bargaining unit for professors, President Kenneth Mash said the overwhelming number of college faculty nationwide have a visceral disdain for the idea.

In an interview with Stateline, he said three-year programs would hurt students too, creating a two-tiered system under which wealthy students would get a full four-year education and lower-income students a cheapened three-year degree.

If its not going to be a four-year degree, they should name it something that indicates its not a B.A., said Mash, who also is a political science professor at East Stroudsburg University. We dont know that employers will treat them the same.

Im on board, as most faculty are, with the notion that people want to increase their job opportunities. But thats not all there is to a college degree, he said. Degrees prepare you to be a better citizen, a better parent, and on and on.

And he said a broad education is what makes it possible for students to change jobs and careers many times during their working lives. Its really that baking in liberal arts  that makes it possible for people to do different things in their lifetimes.

Indianas new law

Indiana enacted a law in March that requires each public institution that offers bachelors degrees to review all the four-year degrees with an eye toward making some of them three years. And the law requires that by July 1, 2025, each state university offer at least one bachelors degree that can be completed in three years.

Indiana state Sen. Jean Leising, a Republican who sponsored the measure, pointed out that every extra year of college costs the students, their parents and the state.

But she noted that not all degrees lend themselves to compressed curricula. If youve got a kid in pharmacy [studies], they are not going to be able to get through it in three years. Engineers arent going to be able to do it in three years. But some of the other kids will.

Chris Lowery, Indianas commissioner for higher education, said the law will encourage schools to think about how to create 90-credit-hour bachelors degrees: How feasible is this, would you still have the quality, would you still have the agency?

Three-year degrees allow for choice, he added. His daughter, for example, had enough AP credits after high school to make a college degree feasible in three years, but opted to go to school for four, because she wanted to have enough time to study so that she could get straight As as well as to have time for extracurricular activities.

But for a lot of students, the finances are tighter, he acknowledged.

Credentialing requirements

At both public and private universities, the new three-year degree programs that require fewer credits would need national accreditation.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, a regional credentialing agency, accredited several three-year bachelors degrees at two private schools, Brigham Young University-Idaho and Ensign College, last year. The degrees are in applied business management, family and human services, software development, applied health and professional studies.

Sonny Ramaswamy, the commissions president, said in an interview that the three-year programs underwent two years of evaluation before being awarded accreditation.

He said the evaluation showed that competency in many professions could be attained in three years instead of four, and that graduate schools were willing to accept three-year bachelors as a credential for the pursuit of higher degrees. He noted that European college degrees often are completed in three years.

We said, We will approve you, but this is a pilot, Ramaswamy said. The schools will provide data to show their students have earned a good education, he added.

My intuition is that it will head in the right direction, he said. The public is calling for innovation.

Michael Poliakoff, president of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, a nonprofit organization that says its mission is promoting academic freedom, excellence and accountability at colleges and universities, said fluff courses strengthen the case against a 120-credit hour bachelors degree.

Let people get a good foundation with a strong general education core, strong skills and some electives, Poliakoff said in an interview. Thats what a responsible university should be doing.

The council does an annual survey of higher education institutions and grades them A through F on what the group calls core curricula  the proportion of courses dedicated to mathematics, literature, composition, economics, laboratory science, American history and government, and foreign languages.

Poliakoff said the amount of debt students are accumulating over four years is sinful and unnecessary. Colleges and universities must meet the concerns of students and their families, he said.

A 90-credit baccalaureate degree is a pretty good way to tighten up the bolts, he said.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org. Follow Stateline on Facebook and Twitter.

The post Universities try 3-year degrees to save students time, money appeared first on Wisconsin Examiner.
KABUL, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Over 900 Afghan refugees have returned to their homeland of Afghanistan from neighboring Pakistan over the past two days, the country's Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation said in a statement Friday.

The refugees returned via Torkham and Spin Boldak border crossing points, according to the statement.

It added that the Afghan caretaker government has provided necessary facilities, including temporary shelters and other essential aid packages to the returnee's families at the crossing points.

According to the ministry's report, more than 1.5 million Afghan refugees have returned from neighboring Pakistan and Iran over the past year from March 21, 2023 to March 19, 2024.

The Afghan caretaker government has been urging Afghan migrants living abroad to return home and contribute to rebuilding their war-ravaged country. 
Students walk to and from classes on the Indiana University campus, in Bloomington, Ind. The state just enacted a new law calling on all Indiana public universities to study how they would implement a three-year bachelors degree program, if accreditors agree, to save students money and get them into the workforce more quickly. (Darron Cummings/The Associated Press)

With college costs rising and some students and families questioning the return on investment of a four-year degree, a few pioneering state universities are exploring programs that would grant certain bachelors degrees in three years.

The programs, which also are being tried at some private schools, would require 90 credits instead of the traditional 120 for a bachelors degree, and wouldnt require summer classes or studying over breaks. In some cases, the degrees would be designed to fit industry needs.

Indiana recently enacted legislation calling for all state universities there to offer by next year at least one bachelors degree program that could be completed in three years, and to look into whether more could be implemented. The Utah System of Higher Education has tasked state universities with developing three-year programs under a new Bachelor of Applied Studies degree, which would still need approval by accreditation boards.

More than a dozen public and private universities are participating in a pilot collaboration called the College-in-3 Exchange, to begin considering how they could offer three-year programs. The public universities include the College of New Jersey, Portland State University, Southern Utah University, the Universities of Minnesota at Rochester and at Morris, the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh and Utah Tech University.

Proponents of the three-year degree programs say they save students money and set them on a faster track to their working life. But detractors, including some faculty, say they shortchange students, particularly if they later change their minds on what career path they want to follow.

We think if we are partnering with industry and they help us develop it, I dont think it cheapens the degree. I think it creates a very specific degree.

 Geoff Landward, commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education

The Utah Board of Higher Education in March approved the new three-year degree category. Various areas of study would be tied to specific industry needs, with fewer electives required. These degrees are broader than two-year associate degrees, but narrower than a full four-year bachelors.

We told the institutions to start working on them now and developing the curriculum, Geoff Landward, commissioner of the Utah System of Higher Education, said in an interview. Also, we want them to find industry partners that would be willing to hire people with bachelors degrees of this type.

He added: We created a sandbox for our institutions to play in.

Once created, individual programs would need both national accreditation and state Board of Higher Education approval.

Landward said he has taken note of criticism that the three-year programs might cheapen the bachelors degree by shortchanging students who wouldnt receive a broad college education. But he said students could save on tuition, get a head start in the workforce and meet the needs of industries that are looking for certain skilled workers to address shortages in the state.

That includes nursing, he said, where requiring a four-year degree means taking lots of electives that have nothing to do with the career.

Utah State Universitys current four-year nursing program, for example, suggests several electives along with the required anatomy, math and biology courses as prerequisites during freshman and sophomore years.

We think if we are partnering with industry and they help us develop it, I dont think it cheapens the degree, Landward said. I think it creates a very specific degree.

Robert Zemsky, a University of Pennsylvania professor and founding director of the universitys Institute for Research on Higher Education, began proselytizing for the three-year college movement about a dozen years ago.

He said the idea has gotten traction recently because we are wading in the deep waters of righteous anger at colleges and universities because of the perception that four-year degrees are not worth their high costs.

A Pew Research Center survey released last week found only 1 in 4 American adults said it is extremely or very important to have a four-year college degree as a means to getting a good-paying job. Only 22% of the respondents said the cost is worth getting a four-year degree even if the student or their family has to take out loans.

Zemsky suggested that a shorter time span also would lead to higher college completion rates. More than a third of students who began seeking a bachelors degree in fall 2014 at a four-year school failed to complete their education at the same institution in six years, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

Zemsky said 27 colleges and universities have embarked on creating three-year pilot programs and predicted 100 would be doing so in another year.

Over the past 10 years, Zemsky said, schools have been ignoring the desires of students and instead creating their curricula around the preferences of faculty  which is where most of the opposition is coming from.

Last year, at a conference of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties, a bargaining unit for professors, President Kenneth Mash said the overwhelming number of college faculty nationwide have a visceral disdain for the idea.

In an interview with Stateline, he said three-year programs would hurt students too, creating a two-tiered system under which wealthy students would get a full four-year education and lower-income students a cheapened three-year degree.

If its not going to be a four-year degree, they should name it something that indicates its not a B.A., said Mash, who also is a political science professor at East Stroudsburg University. We dont know that employers will treat them the same.

Im on board, as most faculty are, with the notion that people want to increase their job opportunities. But thats not all there is to a college degree, he said. Degrees prepare you to be a better citizen, a better parent, and on and on.

And he said a broad education is what makes it possible for students to change jobs and careers many times during their working lives. Its really that baking in liberal arts  that makes it possible for people to do different things in their lifetimes.

Indianas new law

Indiana enacted a law in March that requires each public institution that offers bachelors degrees to review all the four-year degrees with an eye toward making some of them three years. And the law requires that by July 1, 2025, each state university offer at least one bachelors degree that can be completed in three years.

Indiana state Sen. Jean Leising, a Republican who sponsored the measure, pointed out that every extra year of college costs the students, their parents and the state.

But she noted that not all degrees lend themselves to compressed curricula. If youve got a kid in pharmacy [studies], they are not going to be able to get through it in three years. Engineers arent going to be able to do it in three years. But some of the other kids will.

Chris Lowery, Indianas commissioner for higher education, said the law will encourage schools to think about how to create 90-credit-hour bachelors degrees: How feasible is this, would you still have the quality, would you still have the agency?

Three-year degrees allow for choice, he added. His daughter, for example, had enough AP credits after high school to make a college degree feasible in three years, but opted to go to school for four, because she wanted to have enough time to study so that she could get straight As as well as to have time for extracurricular activities.

But for a lot of students, the finances are tighter, he acknowledged.

Credentialing requirements

At both public and private universities, the new three-year degree programs that require fewer credits would need national accreditation.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, a regional credentialing agency, accredited several three-year bachelors degrees at two private schools, Brigham Young University-Idaho and Ensign College, last year. The degrees are in applied business management, family and human services, software development, applied health and professional studies.

Sonny Ramaswamy, the commissions president, said in an interview that the three-year programs underwent two years of evaluation before being awarded accreditation.

He said the evaluation showed that competency in many professions could be attained in three years instead of four, and that graduate schools were willing to accept three-year bachelors as a credential for the pursuit of higher degrees. He noted that European college degrees often are completed in three years.

We said, We will approve you, but this is a pilot, Ramaswamy said. The schools will provide data to show their students have earned a good education, he added.

My intuition is that it will head in the right direction, he said. The public is calling for innovation.

Michael Poliakoff, president of the American Council of Trustees and Alumni, a nonprofit organization that says its mission is promoting academic freedom, excellence and accountability at colleges and universities, said fluff courses strengthen the case against a 120-credit hour bachelors degree.

Let people get a good foundation with a strong general education core, strong skills and some electives, Poliakoff said in an interview. Thats what a responsible university should be doing.

The council does an annual survey of higher education institutions and grades them A through F on what the group calls core curricula  the proportion of courses dedicated to mathematics, literature, composition, economics, laboratory science, American history and government, and foreign languages.

Poliakoff said the amount of debt students are accumulating over four years is sinful and unnecessary. Colleges and universities must meet the concerns of students and their families, he said.

A 90-credit baccalaureate degree is a pretty good way to tighten up the bolts, he said.

Editors note: This story has been corrected to restore dropped text in Kenneth Mashs quote on what to call three-year degrees.

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 Universities try 3-year degrees to save students time, money appeared first on Arkansas Advocate.
LYNCHBURG, Va. (WFXR)  University of Lynchburg President Dr. Alison Morrison-Shelter responded following the layoffs announced at the college on Thursday.

According to the University, 70% of their undergraduate population are studying in eight of their majors programs, and 95% of students are in 21. After deciding to close 12 undergraduate majors and five programs, resulting in the departure of 40 staff positions and four members of the executive team, President Dr. Morrison-Shelter told WFXR News that these cuts are to focus their efforts on supporting the majors that most of the student body is taking.

What we are doing is focusing that 95% of the students because there are programs that are doing very well, said Dr. Morrison-Shelter. As they later increase, we will add additional faculty and staff to support that.

RELATED STORY: University of Lynchburg lays off 40 employees, dissolves 12 programs

University President Dr. Morrison-Shelter told WFXR News the university is still dealing with the lingering effects of COVID and the recent issues with the Federal Application for Student Aid (FASFA). She states shes seen multiple small colleges that have struggled with issues closing daily.

However, she believes this hard step will help the University succeed.

Even though its a difficult day today, said President Dr. Morrison-Shelter, Its a great day to be Hornet because we are going to be here for the next 120 years because of what we are doing to make sure our institution thrives into the future.

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.
The Upper Tampa Bay Park in Oldsmar is closed until further notice after a controlled burn turned into a brush fire on Thursday afternoon.

The fire started as a controlled burn at the park, located at 8001 Double Branch Road. Controlled or prescribed burns are used to manage forest growth and prevent large, devastating wildfires in the future.

Around 2:45 p.m., Hillsborough County Fire Rescue was called to a smoke investigation along West Hillsborough Avenue, the fire department said in a news release. Crews tracked the smoke to the controlled burn, and officials on the scene asked them to stand by for assistance.

Due to an unexpected wind shift, the prescribed burn spotted over into another area of the park, the news release states.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue called 16 units to the park and worked with the Florida Forest Service to contain the blaze. The Hillsborough County Sheriffs Office and Tampa Police Department also provided air support.

As of 8:30 p.m. Thursday, the fire was over 90% contained and involved 100-125 acres. No injuries or evacuations were reported, and no further information was immediately available.
The US allows Ukraine to use its weapons to strike inside Russia, but it is unlikely to be a game-changer

The story of the past 27 months since Russia invaded Ukraine has been one of crumbling taboos. After repelling Russias initial march on Kyiv, Ukraine has asked its Western allies for greater and greater support: first ammunition, then tanks, then cluster munitions, then fighter jets.

Each time, the West has agonized over whether to grant Kyivs latest request, fearing escalation and a potential Russian response. Each time, the taboo was broken  and nothing happened. What seemed beyond the pale one week had become banal the next.

But the rhythm of deliberation and delay has been hard to shake. Despite securing more weapons from the United States last month, Ukraine has not been able to use them as it pleases. As Moscow this month launched its surprise assault on the northeastern Kharkiv region, Washington forbade Kyiv from using US weapons to strike targets inside Russia.

This too crumbled. President Joe Biden this week gave Ukraine permission to carry out limited strikes using US weapons in Russian territory around Kharkiv, after several European nations had removed restrictions on how the weapons they have given to Kyiv can be used.

Over the past few weeks, Ukraine came to us and asked for the authorization to use weapons that were provided to defend against this aggression near Kharkiv city, including against Russian forces that are massing on the Russian side of the border, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Friday on a visit to Prague, the Czech capital. He confirmed Biden had approved Ukraines request.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the decision as a step forward which will help his forces to defend the embattled Kharkiv region.

While the decision may mark a new phase of the war, analysts have questioned whether the new freedoms will significantly bolster Ukraines ability to repel Russias invasion.

Some are bullish. This month, the calls for the US to remove the restrictions became more desperate, as Russia continue to pummel Kharkiv city with missiles and make gains elsewhere in the region.

Firefighters work at a hardware store targeted by a Russian air strike in Kharkiv, May 25, 2024. - Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters

In a CNN op-ed, Adam Kinzinger and Ben Hodges described the bizarre effect of the US taboo: We have heard Ukrainian soldiers repeatedly tell stories of Russian columns attacking, being repelled, and retreating to safe Russian territory to regroup, have a hot meal, plan and attack again.

Ukraine cannot win if Russians can attack civilian targets with impunity and call time out in their own territory, they wrote, urging Biden to call his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putins bluff.

But military analysts have tempered expectations, partly because the US is standing firm in not allowing Ukraine to use the most formidable munition it has been given to fire into Russia: the long-range missiles known as ATACMS that can hit targets 300 kilometers (nearly 200 miles) away.

Instead, Ukraine can only use shorter-range missiles known as GMLRS, which have a range of around 70 kilometers (around 40 miles).

Kateryna Stepanenko, an analyst at the Institute for the Study of War in Washington, told CNN the policy change will blunt Russias offensive in Kharkiv, but still preserves the majority of Russias sanctuary space.

The policy still protects Russias operational and deep rear sufficiently that this change near Kharkiv Oblast is insufficient to bring about a turning point in the war. Ukraine particularly needs the capacity to strike deep rear areas to defeat the Russian ground and air threats, as many Russian airfields that support strikes against Ukrainian cities are located outside of the allowed GMLRS range, she said.

Elderly Ukrainians wait to be evacuated from the city of Vovchansk as Russia advances in Kharkiv region, May 20, 2024. - Narciso Contreras/Anadolu/Getty Images

Franz-Stefan Gady, an associate fellow at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told CNN the GMLRS cross-border strikes will allow Ukraine to hit some Russian staging areas, command and control centers, as well as supply depots. It will not stop but complicate Russian military operations against Kharkhiv.

We need to be realistic about what can be expected from this policy change, since the Russian armed forces have already adapted to the introduction of ground-based precision fires, he said.

Mathieu Boulegue, a researcher at the Center for European Policy Analysis, said the policy change would allow Ukraine to be more efficient when it comes to repelling attacks and pushing back preemptively.

Its not a game changer, per se. Its an add-on, a steroid, an extra booster for Ukraine to defend itself, he said.

Red lines fade

The US is joining the United Kingdom, France, Germany and several others in removing restrictions on how Ukraine uses the weapons it is given.

Before Biden gave the green light, Putin had made veiled nuclear threats to countries considering allowing Ukraine to strike Russia with their weapons. He warned the move could lead to serious consequences, particularly for small and densely populated countries.

As well as making nuclear threats, Putin also signaled earlier this month that he was open to peace talks.

All of these false narratives deliberately aimed to discourage Western decisionmakers from allowing Ukraine to preempt Russias attack on Kharkiv city, Stepanenko said.

While the removal of this taboo appears to mark a new chapter in the war, Russia has previously experienced Ukrainian strikes with Western weapons on territory it considers its own.

Ukraine has frequently targeted occupied Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014, using Storm Shadow missiles provided by the UK.

Ukraine also launched strikes on Kharkiv and Kherson in late 2022, as it sought to liberate the regions occupied by Russia in the early weeks of the full-scale invasion.

In both cases, Russia had warned Ukraine and its Western allies not to cross its red line. In both cases, Ukraine and its Western allies ignored the warning.

The Kremlin already regards strikes against occupied Crimea and Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhia oblasts as strikes against Russia, but the reality is that there are few things that Russia can do to further escalate its war in Ukraine without incurring major risks, Stepanenko said.

CNNs Alex Marquardt, Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood, Niamh Kennedy and Anna Chernova contributed reporting.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin testifies before a House Armed Services Committee hearing about his failure to disclose his cancer diagnosis and subsequent hospitalizations, on Capitol Hill

By Idrees Ali

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet with his Chinese counterpart on Friday for the first time since 2022 to discuss contentious issues such as Taiwan and the South China Sea, but also the importance of communicating, Pentagon officials said.

U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have sought to manage tensions, and in November the two leaders agreed to resume direct military talks.

Since then the two sides' militaries have held discussions, but Austin's meeting with Minister Dong Jun on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore will be the most senior in-person engagement on military matters since Biden and Xi met.

"The secretary is going to again emphasise the importance of continuing military to military communications, talking to each other not just when things are relatively calm, but it's especially important to talk when we have differences on important issues," said a senior U.S. defence official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore runs from Friday to Sunday, and both Austin and Dong will deliver remarks.

In October, the U.S. military said Chinese military aircraft had carried out risky or reckless manoeuvres close to U.S. aircraft nearly 200 times since 2021. Since then, however, such unsafe manoeuvres involving the two countries have drastically decreased.

Austin last had an in-person meeting with his Chinese counterpart in 2022, when he met China's defence minister at the time, Wei Fenghe. He spoke with Dong this year by phone.

The official said Austin would also bring up "regional and global security issues".

That includes rising maritime tensions in the South China Sea between Manila and Beijing, as the Philippines has accused China of using water cannons and blocking manoeuvres through disputed shoals and reefs.

Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr will deliver a keynote address on Friday night at the security summit in Singapore where he is expected to address those issues.

China claims sovereignty over the shoals and almost all the South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam, despite a 2016 ruling by The Hague-based Permanent Court of Arbitration that found Beijing's sweeping claims have no legal basis.

The two defence leaders are also likely to discuss Taiwan. Austin will reiterate the United States' longstanding "One China" policy but also bring up China's military activities near Taiwan.

Last week 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," detailing a surge of Chinese warplanes and warships.

Beijing said the exercises were "punishment" for Taiwan President Lai Ching-te's inauguration speech, in which he said the two sides of the Taiwan Strait were "not subordinate to each other".

The United States is also increasingly concerned about China's support for Russia's war effort in Ukraine and have been closely watching for movement of weapons from Beijing to Moscow.

Experts say that engagement between U.S. and Chinese military leaders is important to protect against miscommunication, but that a single meeting is unlikely to make major progress.

"I don't think that they're going to have much time to have any kind of substantive dialogue," said Derek Grossman, a Rand Corporation defence analyst. "Those types of discussions usually happen when they are not sideline events to the main event."

(Reporting by Idrees Ali. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
Insights from South China Morning Post, The Diplomat, and Foreign Policy

The News

US and Chinese defense chiefs held their first face-to-face talks in 18 months in Singapore on Friday, discussing issues that have been at the center of their fraught relations, including Taiwan and Chinas role in the Ukraine war.

Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun told his US counterpart Lloyd Austin that the two countries should adhere to the bottom line of non-conflict and non-confrontation, the South China Morning Post reported. Beijings spokesman told reporters the discussions were positive, practical and constructive, but cautioned that one meeting was not enough to resolve all bilateral disputes.

The two defense chiefs confirmed plans to renew military communications and to convene a crisis-communications working group by the end of the year.

SIGNALS

Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories.

Setting up hotlines wont be enough

Source: Semafor

Creating a hotline for military-to-military communication between the US Indo-Pacific Command and Chinas Eastern Theater Command would be a positive move but is a limited step because of how China approaches crisis communications, a senior fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute told Semafor: Every single thing that is said by the PLA [Peoples Liberation Army], at any level, has to be vetted, approved, and run up the chain in Beijing.

US and China cant break out of their competitive dynamic

Sources: Brookings Institute, Center for Strategic International Studies

China and the US are caught in a Thucydides Trap dynamic that forces them to live with the contradictory imperatives of both competition and cooperation, national security expert Graham Allison  who more than a decade ago popularized the notion that the two countries are locked in such a dynamic  wrote for the Brookings Institution. So far, the astronomical costs of conflict has kept things stable, a senior advisor at the Center for Strategic International Studies argued. But the Biden administration also needs to institutionalize its China strategy in the lead up to the US elections, he wrote.

China may be rooting for Trump

Sources: South China Morning Post , The Diplomat, Foreign Policy

Bilateral ties risk becoming more confrontational and entering a new round of decline if Donald Trump is re-elected, a professor of international relations at Peking University told the South China Morning Post. But China is well-prepared for any hardline policies Trump might introduce and may even be able to reap some benefits, The Diplomat argued. Indeed, from the perspective of Beijings long game vis-a-vis the West, China may be rooting for the chaos, the divisions, and the hit to US prestige that [a Trump victory] would unleash, a columnist wrote in Foreign Policy.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin leaves after a US-China bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin leaves after a US-China bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore

By Idrees Ali and Xinghui Kok

SINGAPORE (Reuters) -The U.S. and Chinese defence chiefs locked horns on Taiwan in their first face-to-face meeting in two years on Friday, while Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr slammed "illegal, coercive actions" in the South China Sea, a clear censure of Beijing.

The exchanges at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Asia's biggest defence forum, came amid reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy would fly in to attend the meeting on Saturday.

He is expected to try to drum up support for a Ukraine peace conference to be hosted by Switzerland in mid-June. Russia has not been invited and China has confirmed it will not attend.

Zelenskiy has urged U.S. President Joe Biden to attend, but Washington has not confirmed who it will send.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and China's defence minister, Dong Jun, met on the sidelines of the Singapore conference earlier in the day, reiterating their differences on Taiwan and other issues but emphasising the need to keep military-to-military communications open.

Austin expressed concern about Chinese military activity near Taiwan, including after the island's presidential election and the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te this month, U.S. Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder said in a statement.

"The secretary expressed concern about recent provocative PLA activity around the Taiwan Strait, and he reiterated that the PRC should not use Taiwan's political transition - part of a normal, routine democratic process - as a pretext for coercive measures," Ryder said after the 75-minute meeting.

He was referring to the People's Liberation Army and the People's Republic of China.

Dong warned Austin that the U.S. should not interfere in China's affairs with Taiwan, defence ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told reporters. China claims the democratically governed island as its own territory.

The U.S. approach to Taiwan violates commitments made by the United States and sends the wrong signal to "separatist forces" in Taiwan, the spokesperson quoted Dong as saying. Beijing calls the new president, Lai, a "separatist".

A senior U.S. defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the meeting marked an "important step" in opening lines of communication.

The official said Austin was "firm but professional" and also brought up China's nuclear, space and cyber developments.

The two sides also discussed the South China Sea and the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza.

SOUTH CHINA SEA DISPUTE

Marcos, making a keynote address at the meeting, said that the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries had a vision for "peace, stability, and prosperity" in the disputed South China Sea, but that this was being undermined by other actors, although he did not name China.

"Illegal, coercive, aggressive, and deceptive actions continue to violate our sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction," Marcos said.

Encounters between the Philippines and China in Asia's most contested waters have grown more tense and frequent over the past year as Beijing presses its claims on shoals sitting in waters that Manila says are well within its territory.

China's coast guard has stepped up so-called "grey-zone" activities such as use of water cannons, collisions and ramming tactics to try to stop the Philippines patrolling and resupplying its troops.

The Philippines' dispute with China coincides with an increase in its security engagements with the United States under Marcos, including expansion of U.S. access to Philippine bases. The U.S. and the Philippines are treaty allies.

Marcos, however, underlined that both Beijing and Washington had a major role in keeping peace in the region.

"The continued stability of this region requires China and the United States to manage their rivalry in a responsible manner," he said. "Their contest is exacerbating flashpoints

and has created new security dilemmas."

China claims sovereignty over almost all of the South China Sea, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia, Taiwan and Vietnam.

Taiwan Defence Minister Wellington Koo told reporters in Taipei on Friday that increased tensions around the island would diminish if Beijing's military drills there ceased.

"If China stops its provocation and intimidation then peace and stability can be maintained," he said.

The region has seen a sharp uptick in such exercises in recent years, according to a report by the London-based International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) released on Friday.

Although both the United States and China have significantly increased the volume of military exercises across Asia, Beijing's drills still lag in scale and complexity, the study found.

The Shangri-La Dialogue, in its 21st iteration, is held every year in Singapore by IISS, gathering military and political leaders to discuss security issues.

Austin addresses the meeting on Saturday and Dong on Sunday. Indonesia's President-elect Prabowo Subianto is scheduled to speak to delegates on Saturday.

(Reporting by Idrees Ali, Xinghui Kok, Fanny Potkin, Joe Brock and Tom Westbrook in Singapore, Mikhail Flores in Manila and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Writing by Gerry Doyle; Editing by Jamie Freed and Raju Gopalakrishnan)
The US-China military relationship is in tatters. This is one of the last chances to save it.

The US-China military relationship is in tatters. This is one of the last chances to save it.

The US and China's defense chiefs met for the first time in two years.

They discussed China's intimidation of Taiwan and issues around Ukraine.

Tensions are increasing between China and the US' east Asian allies.

US and China defense chiefs held their first face-to-face meeting for two years amid escalating tensions over Taiwan and Ukraine.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met his Chinese counterpart, Minister of National Defense Adm. Dong Jun, at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, the US Department of Defense said Friday.

The meeting was part of a bid to repair the China-US relationship, which has become severely strained. Last month, China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, said there was a risk relations could "return to a downward spiral."

The meeting may be among the final opportunities to reset relations and deter Chinese aggression.

Taiwan tensions

Austin discussed China's military exercises around the Taiwan Strait, according to the Pentagon, and "reiterated that the PRC should not use Taiwan's political transition  part of a normal, routine democratic process  as a pretext for coercive measures."

The independent island is the main flash point between Washington and Beijing, with the US signaling that it would help defend it from China, which has long sought to bring it under its control.

Dong said that China opposes any US government intervention and that it regards Taiwan as an internal matter.

A central issue on the agenda was reestablishing communication channels between the militaries to head off potential misunderstandings that could result in direct conflict between the nuclear-armed powers.

Beijing's military drills last week, which were among the most threatening China has launched yet, were in response to the inauguration of President William Lai, a champion of Taiwan's independence who is hated by China's government.

China has also menaced US fighter planes and warships in the region, accusing Washington of seeking to encircle China and curtail what it claims to be its rightful regional ambitions.

The Pentagon said that "both sides will resume telephone conversations between theater commanders in the coming months," and Austin "welcomed plans to convene a crisis-communications working group by the end of the year. "

Ukraine remains a flash point

China and the US also clashed over Beijing's support for Russia in its invasion of Ukraine, which analysts believe China sees as a way of damaging US global power. The US has accused China of supplying Russia with vital dual-use components for its military industry, but China argues that the trade is legitimate.

But amid a steep downturn in the Chinese economy, China's President Xi Jinping has also softened his stance toward the US in recent months as he seeks US investment.

At a meeting on the fringes of the APEC summit in San Francisco last year, Xi and President Joe Biden agreed to reopen military communication channels.

In April, in a meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Xi said that the relationship between the US and China should be founded on "mutual respect, peaceful coexistence."

Analysts say the meeting between Austin and Dong is another positive indication of the desire to establish better communications.

"Even when direct diplomacy fails to resolve key issues, Washington's openness to engage demonstrates to the world that the United States is acting responsibly," Paul Triolo, an analyst at the Albright Stonebridge Group, posted on X.

"Moreover, such engagements provide opportunities to press the Chinese government to change its harmful policies, including support for Russia's war in Ukraine and other threatening actions."

The Pentagon emphasized in its statement that dialogue would continue.

"Department officials will continue active discussions with their PRC counterparts about future engagements between defense and military officials at multiple levels," it said.

But serious challenges remain."The trend for this year has been more engagement, more communications, but not more trust," Ian Bremmer, the president and founder of the political-risk consultancy Eurasia Group, told Bloomberg TV last month.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Photo taken on May 29, 2024 shows a celebration for the resumption of Hainan Airlines' operations in Austria in Vienna, Austria. (Xinhua/He Canling)

VIENNA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- A direct air route linking south China's tech hub Shenzhen and the Austrian capital Vienna has been resumed, Hainan Airlines, the flight's operator, said on Friday.

The first flight on the route took off from Shenzhen Baoan International Airport early Wednesday morning (local time) and arrived at Vienna International Airport at 7:55 a.m. (local time) on the same day, marking the resumption of Hainan Airlines's operations in Austria after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Flughafen Wien, operator of Vienna International Airport, held a grand welcome ceremony for the flight at the airport. The flight service on the route is scheduled every Wednesday and Saturday.

Noting that Austria is a key transport hub connecting Eastern and Western Europe, Hainan Airlines said in a press release that the resumption of its Vienna-Shenzhen flight will provide more options for people traveling between China and Europe and help promote the China-Austria friendly strategic partnership to a higher level.

So far, Hainan Airlines has launched direct flights linking Shenzhen with major overseas cities such as Vancouver, Paris, Rome, Milan and Brussels. 
(Bloomberg) -- A top US spy chief said China is increasingly using its companies to find vulnerabilities in their own computer networks and then tapping that knowledge to target foreign nations and industries.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Were really seeing China be very aggressive, General Timothy Haugh, the director of the National Security Agency and head of Cyber Command, said in an interview with Haslinda Amin on Bloomberg Television.

In response, the US is rapidly working with any number of nations to expose wherever we can what vulnerabilities exist in systems and also Chinese actions to take advantage of that, Haugh added in the interview Friday on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

In March, the US, UK and New Zealand accused China of sponsoring malicious cyber activity in targeting democratic institutions. London and Washington said hackers backed by Beijing had targeted politicians, companies and dissidents for years, and stole troves of British voter data.

China, too, sees itself as a victim of cyber attacks from the US and its allies, and routinely rejects accusations of hacking. Beijing specifically disputed the US, UK and New Zealand claims earlier this year, calling them groundless and irresponsible.

Read: Chinas Spy Agency Sees Threats Everywhere in Data Security Push

President Xi Jinpings government has said it confronts unprecedented risks and challenges in safeguarding national secrets and has stepped up training at government agencies, universities and state-owned enterprises on how to safeguard state secrets.

China also recently began a sweeping reorganization of its cyber forces, announcing that it will terminate the Strategic Support Force that was created more than eight years ago to enhance capabilities in space, cyber, political and electronic warfare. Instead, Xis government is creating a new branch called the Information Support Force.

Haugh succeeded retired General Paul Nakasone as the head of both NSA and Cyber Command early this year. Before taking on those roles, Haugh warned about the threats AI could pose to the 2024 election and Chinas potential exports of AI technology to control civilian populations.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  The U.S. Department of Agriculture released $824 million to assist in monitoring the nations poultry flocks and dairy herds, as well as rapid response to newly identified infected livestock as the bird flu outbreak continues.

This cash is added to $1.3 billion already approved.

The agency also announced the formation of a voluntary monitoring program for the nations dairy herds.

FILE  Dairy cows stand together at a farm, Monday, April 1, 2024, in Clinton, Maine. Federal health and agriculture officials pledged new spending and other efforts Friday, May 10, 2024, to help track and contain an outbreak of bird flu in the nations dairy cows that has spread to more than 40 herds in nine states. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty, File)

Two Michigan farm workers have been diagnosed with active infections of the virus. A Texas farm worker was diagnosed as well.

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) reports the current outbreak began in February 2022.

Since February 2022, the virus, the agency reports on its website, has been detected in domestic birds from Bay, Branch, Cass, Eaton, Genessee, Gratiot, Ingham, Ionia, Kalamazoo, Lapeer, Livingston, Macomb, Menominee, Montmorency, Muskegon, Newaygo, Oakland, Ottawa, Saginaw, Sanilac, Tuscola, Washtenaw, and Wexford counties.

Counties where bird flu has been detected in Michigan. Screenshot of Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development website. May 30, 2024. (WLNS)

Beginning in April of this year, the virus began being detected dairy cattle from Barry, Calhoun, Clinton, Gratiot, Ionia, Isabella, Montcalm and Ottawa counties.

U.S. Congresswoman Elisa Slotkin (D- Mich. 7) praised the response is a statement Friday.

This is a big deal. Hundreds of millions of dollars will now be focused on assisting our producers in identifying cases of avian flu, mitigating its spread, and compensating impacted operations, which remains a top concern in my district. We know that food security is national security, so I applaud this step to free up additional resources that will meet the threat of this virus head on. U.S. Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich. 7) statement May 31, 2024

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
U.S. Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo warned China about the consequences of supporting in a speech in Berlin on May 31.

China has denied giving Russia military assistance in its full-scale against Ukraine. At the same time, the U.S. has previously accused China of giving Russia "every support behind the scenes" towards its war in Ukraine, describing its actions as "destabilizing in the heart of Europe."

Adeyemo, who just visited Kyiv two days prior, said that China must decide between maintaining economic ties to the West and an alliance with Russia.

"We must make the choice stark for China: Chinese firms can either do business in our economies or they can equip Russia's war machine with dual-use goods. They cannot do both," Adeyemo said.

The secretary said that the partnership "may seem like a distant threat" to the West but that "we should not be blind to the fact that a growing Russian military with material support from Chinese companies will only grow in ambition."

At the same time, Adeyemo acknowledged that the U.S. goal is "not to shut down all bilateral trade between Russia and China."

"Our goal is to convince China to stop sending Russia a set of dual-use goods that are actively being used to prosecute a war Beijing has told us they want to see end."

The failure to do so could result in Russia posing a greater threat to the West, he added.

Adeyemo said that the U.S. would be prepared to use sanctions and export controls against China and Chinese companies to prevent the trade of dual-use technologies but conceded that China is not "sending tanks or missiles to Russia."

U.K. Foreign Secretary Grant Shapps said earlier in May that he was declassifying new intelligence to reveal the "quite significant" development that the U.K. and U.S. had reports that "lethal aid is now, or will be, flowing from China to Russia and into Ukraine."

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan subsequently distanced himself from Shapps' assertion, saying that the U.S. had seen no evidence of it either in the past or "to date."

Read also: China wont attend Ukraines global peace summit, Reuters reports

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US doesn't allow Ukraine to use long-range ATACMS missiles against Russia  WSJ

The US has authorised Ukraine's Armed Forces to use HIMARS multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS), GMLRS missiles and artillery on Russian territory, from which the Russians are attacking Kharkiv Oblast, The Wall Street Journal reports, citing sources. However, this permission does not apply to using long-range ATACMS missiles.

Source: European Pravda, citing The Wall Street Journal

Details: The new US policy allows Ukrainian forces to use artillery and fire short-range missiles from HIMARS launchers to target command posts, weapons storage points and other facilities on Russian territory used by Russian forces to attack Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast.

However, regardless of the change in its position, Washington has not permitted Ukraine to use longer-range ATACMS missiles in Russia.

The narrow geographical scope of the US-supplied weapons usage is an attempt by the Biden administration to help Ukraine better defend itself against Russia's offensive in Kharkiv Oblast while limiting the risk of the war escalating into a direct clash between Washington and Moscow, the newspaper said.

"The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use US-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them," the WSJ quoted a US official as saying.

"Our policy with respect to prohibiting the use of ATACMS or long-range strikes inside of Russia has not changed," the official added.

The weapons that the US will allow the Ukrainians to use in Kharkiv Oblast include GMLRS guided munitions, HIMARS systems and artillery systems, US officials said.

Background: Since February 2022, the United States has refused to allow any weapons it supplies to Ukraine to be used for strikes in Russia. Ukraine was allowed to strike targets in Crimea because it is located within Ukraine's internationally recognised borders, and Washington considers Moscow's annexation of the peninsula to be illegal.

Ukraine has confirmed a limited authorisation to strike Russia with US-supplied weapons.

However, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was careful to comment on how this would be implemented in practice.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken believes it is right to adjust restrictions on the use of weapons Ukraine receives from the United States.

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The United States is imposing new visa restrictions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials over guilty verdicts in the National Security Law trial of pro-democracy organizers in Hong Kong, the State Department said on Friday.

Fourteen Hong Kong pro-democracy activists were found guilty and two were acquitted on Thursday in a landmark subversion trial that critics say could deal another blow to the city's rule of law and its reputation as a global financial hub.

"The United States is deeply concerned by the guilty verdicts announced in the National Security Law trial of pro-democracy organizers in Hong Kong," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.

"The defendants were subjected to a politically motivated prosecution and jailed simply for peacefully participating in political activities protected under the Basic Law of Hong Kong."

As a result, the United States will impose new visa restrictions on the Chinese and Hong Kong officials responsible for implementing the security law, Miller said.

The verdicts in Hong Kong's biggest trial against the democratic opposition come more than three years after police arrested 47 democrats in dawn raids at homes across the city. They were charged with conspiracy to commit subversion under a national security law imposed by China.

The U.S. urges Chinese and Hong Kong authorities to stop using the "vague national security laws to curb peaceful dissent," Miller said.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; editing by Philippa Fletcher)
FILE - Protesters attend a rally against a death sentence given to a popular rapper in Iran and to support to the women of Iran, in Berlin, Germany, April 28, 2024. Lawmakers are introducing legislation targeting Iranian officials involved in the prosecution and planned execution of rapper Toomaj Salehi, who rose to fame with lyrics about the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini and for criticism of the Islamic Republic. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation Friday targeting Iranian officials involved in the prosecution and death sentence of a rapper who came to fame for his lyrics about the 2022 death of an Iranian woman and his criticism of the Islamic Republic.

The proposal would impose sanctions on the judges, prosecutors and investigators of Iran's Revolutionary Courts in response to Tehrans continuing crackdown against dissenters  including rapper Toomaj Salehi  after years of mass protests in the country. It would also codify into law that the U.S. views any judgments issued by Iran's courts against political prisoners as violations of human rights.

Toomaj Salehi has used his platform to give a voice to the voiceless and bravely speak out against the Iran regimes torture, abuse, and crackdown against the free will of the Iranian people," Rep. Young Kim, R-Calif., one of the bill's lead sponsors, said in a statement to The Associated Press. Unfortunately, he is just the latest victim of the regimes cruelty.

She added that the bill  titled the TOOMAJ Act  will allow the U.S. to stand side by side with Toomaj and other peaceful protesters demanding basic human rights and take targeted action against the Iran regime.

It marks the latest congressional action against the Islamic Republic in recent months as Democratic and Republican lawmakers have united in decrying the country's human rights record as well as its role in the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, including the Israel-Hamas war. Leading the legislative effort with Kim are Reps. David Trone, D-Md., Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

News of the death sentence ordered against 33-year-old Salehi by a Revolutionary Court in Isfahan, a central Iranian city, came down in late April. A lawyer for the rapper confirmed the sentence to The Associated Press as Iranian officials have yet to publicly announce it. Revolutionary Courts in Iran often involve closed-door hearings, secret evidence and few rights for those on trial.

Salehis lawyer, Amir Raisian, told AP last month that he planned to file an appeal in his client's case. The sentencing comes months after the artist was released from prison in mid-November after spending more than a year in custody. He faces charges, including spreading corruption on the Earth that his supporters say stem from the hip-hop artists music and participation in the protests that broke out in Iran over the September 2022 death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the countrys morality police after being detained for wearing her hijab too loosely.

United Nations investigators have said that Iran was responsible for Aminis death and that it violently put down largely peaceful protests in a monthslong security crackdown that killed more than 500 people and saw over 22,000 detained.

Salehi was arrested again a few weeks after his release following a video message that he posted about being tortured during his time in prison. State media at the time released a video showing him blindfolded and apologizing for his words.

He had put out several songs and music videos where he rapped about Amini, singing in one video, "Someones crime was dancing with her hair in the wind. His music also veered into heavy criticism of the Islamic regime, going as far as predicting the downfall of Irans theocracy.

Your whole past is dark, the government that took the light out of the eyes. ... We go from the bottom of the pyramid and knock to the top. ... Forty-four years of your government, this is the year of failure," one verse said.

Other targets of his music have included the all-volunteer Basij wing of Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and the Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Toomaj Salehi was wrongfully sentenced to death by the Islamic Revolutionary Court in Iran. His crime? Calling for accountability for the Iranian regime through music," Schiff said in a statement.

___

Associated Press writer Jon Gambrell in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report.
The U.S. Central Command says the military has not airdropped humanitarian aid into Gaza since May 9, with a Pentagon spokesperson blaming weather and Israels offensive in the southern city of Rafah.

The lack of U.S. airdrops comes as a U.S.-built pier to deliver aid by sea broke apart in strong winds and heavy seas just over a week after it became operational.

US-built pier will be removed from Gaza coast, repaired after damage

The solution is to open the land routes, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said Thursday. We need to see those land routes open. We need to see more trucks getting in.

Gazas land crossings are now entirely controlled by Israel. Fighting in Rafah has made it nearly impossible for humanitarian groups to import and distribute aid to southern Gaza, and the Rafah crossing with Egypt has been closed since it was seized by Israeli forces on May 6.

The Israeli military says it has allowed hundreds of trucks to enter through its nearby Kerem Shalom crossing during the Rafah operation, but aid groups say its extremely difficult to access that aid on the Gaza side because of the fighting.

Although strong winds and weather have been an issue for the airdrops, the ongoing challenge is the Rafah operation in Gazas south, Singh said.

We cannot do some airdrops when the IDF is conducting operations, she said, using an acronym for the Israeli military. We dont want civilians running into an active battlespace. So there hasnt been airdrops recently.

Amid clear skies Thursday, a Jordanian-flagged military cargo plane could be seen airdropping aid to the city of Khan Younis in central Gaza.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are dependent on the aid to survive, and U.N. officials say parts of the territory are experiencing famine. The chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court is seeking arrest warrants for two of Israels top leaders for allegedly using starvation as a weapon of war and other crimes related to the fight against Hamas in Gaza.
US has not changed its position on striking Russia with US-supplied weapons  Pentagon

The US Department of Defense has stated that the US government has not changed its official position on Ukraine's use of US-supplied weapons to attack Russian territory.

Source: Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh at a briefing

Details: Singh said that there had been no changes in Washington's policy, and the security assistance it provides to Kyiv should be used within Ukraine.

Quote: "We don't encourage attacks or enable attacks inside of Russia. We believe that Ukraine can be effective by focusing on tactical and operational targets that directly influence the conflict within its boundaries rather than, you know, going after larger geopolitical targets within Russia."

More details: At the same time, Singh said that if anything changed regarding US policy on this issue, Washington would let everyone know.

Background:

The day before, Politico, citing three informed sources, said that US President Joe Bidens administration had privately approved Ukraine's strikes on Russian territory using US-supplied weapons on condition that they would only be used from the close vicinity of Kharkiv Oblast.

Media outlets previously reported that Joe Biden was inclined to change his position and allow Ukraine to strike Russian territory with US-supplied weapons.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg asked that the allies review the constraints on Ukraine's ban on using Western weaponry against the Russian Federation in the midst of border fighting in Kharkiv Oblast.

Some European states have already openly stated that they support this position.

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US philanthropist to fund the restoration of Kharkiv's printing house, destroyed by Russia

The Howard G. Buffett Foundation will finance the restoration of Kharkiv-based Faktor Druk printing house, destroyed in a Russian missile attack, Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said on May 31.

Russian troops struck the printing house on May 23, killing seven people and injuring 21. The attack destroyed over 50,000 books and printing equipment. The Faktor group of companies includes publishing house Vivat  Ukraines third largest printing house.

U.S. philanthropist Howard Buffett has already contacted Serhii Polituchyi, the Faktor Druk printing plant owner, to look for the necessary equipment and will help pay for it, Svyrydenko said.

According to Svyrydenko, Ukrainian publishing and printing houses can also receive a grant of up to Hr 8 million ($197,000) from the government, but this sum is not enough to restore Faktor Druk.

"So we turned to a good friend of Ukraine, U.S. philanthropist Howard Buffett. And he generously agreed to restore Faktor Druk at his own expense," the minister said at the International Book Arsenal Festival in Kyiv.

The Russian attack will significantly impact Ukraine's book publishing industry, reducing its overall capacity by 30-40%, Polituchyi told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Under favorable conditions, the printing house is expected to be restored in four or five months, he said.

Read also: What will Russias attack on Kharkiv printing house mean for Ukraines publishing industry?

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BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Malaysia's King Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar on Friday exchanged congratulations on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

China and Malaysia are neighbors with a millennium-old friendship, friends whose hearts are connected, and partners for win-win cooperation, Xi said.

Over the past half a century, the two countries have always treated each other with sincerity, supported each other in solidarity, and sought development together, Xi said, adding that China-Malaysia relations have always been at the forefront of regional countries.

The Chinese president noted that in 2023, the two sides reached important consensus on jointly building a China-Malaysia community with a shared future, ushering in a new historical stage in bilateral relations.

The friendship between China and Malaysia is deeply rooted in the hearts of the people, providing an inexhaustible driving force for the continuous development of bilateral relations, he said.

Xi said he recently received a letter from Malaysian students studying at Tianjin University in China, who are determined to be messengers and promoters of China-Malaysia friendship and aspire to use their knowledge to help build the China-Malaysia community with a shared future.

He said he is pleased to see that the cause of friendship between the two countries has inheritors.

Stressing that China-Malaysia relations have reached a new historic starting point, Xi expressed readiness to work with King Sultan Ibrahim to guide the building of the China-Malaysia community with a shared future for new accomplishments, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples, make greater contributions to regional prosperity and stability, and jointly usher in the next 50 brilliant years of China-Malaysia relations.

For his part, Sultan Ibrahim said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago, Malaysia and China have always respected and trusted each other, and bilateral relations have constantly achieved new development.

Since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership in 2013, bilateral cooperation and exchanges in economy and trade, investment, culture, as well as people-to-people exchanges have been further deepened and expanded, he said.

On the occasion of jointly celebrating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties, Malaysia will always work hand in hand with China to bring prosperity and deliver benefits to the two peoples, he added.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang exchanged congratulations with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

China is willing to join hands with Malaysia to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as a new starting point from which to deepen the docking of development strategies, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, promote mutual understanding and amity between the two peoples, and continuously enrich the connotation of the China-Malaysia community with a shared future, Li said.

Anwar said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, Malaysia-China relations have achieved milestone achievements on the basis of mutual respect and trust.

The two sides held high-level visits and various commemorative activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, fully demonstrating the strategic significance of the high-level bilateral partnership, he said. 
US reps for Polk County react to conviction of former President Trump in NY trial

Polk Countys four members of the U.S. House of Representatives reacted promptly to Thursdays announcement that a jury in New York had found former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to his presidential campaign in 2016.

Its a dark and stunning day in America, Rep. Scott Franklin, R-Lakeland, posted on X, formerly Twitter. When a former president is convicted of illegitimate charges in a sham trial based on the testimony of a hooker and a felon, everyone should be terrified. They can and will come for you, too, unless we retake our country on Nov. 5.

That is the date of the presidential election, when Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, will face President Joe Biden, a Democrat, in a rematch of 2020.

"DA (Alvin) Braggs case against President Trump was nothing but a partisan political sham put on by Democrats, Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Brandon, wrote in a statement. The entire prosecution should have never taken place and is very clearly politically motivated, led by a rogue prosecutor and conflicted judge.

Polk County's U.S. representatives, from left: Daniel Webster, R-Clermont; Scott Franklin, R-Lakeland; Laurel Lee, R-Brandon; and Darren Soto, R-Kissimmee.

"As a former prosecutor and judge, I am deeply disappointed that our justice system was manipulated and politicized this way. Its disheartening to see the outcome of this case that was supported by neither facts nor the law."

Lee served as an assistant U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Florida and as a circuit judge in Hillsborough County.

This is a sad day for our country  the latest example of the two-tier justice system being weaponized against President Trump, Rep. Daniel Webster, R-Clermont, said in a written statement. This sham trial should have been thrown out before it even started. Blinded by partisan rage, District Attorney Alvin Bragg failed to present a specific crime committed, with the prosecution unable to present credible evidence.

The road ahead: After Donald Trump convicted on 34 counts in hush money trial, what's next?

Make no mistake, there was no crime, no victim, and the star witness is a convicted liar. Despite this, the effort to take down Donald Trump continued thanks to the aid of a partisan judge. Since this trial began in April, its been clear that the trial is nothing more than a witch-hunt against President Trump. The American people see through this politicization of the rule of law and see it as nothing more than an effort to interfere in the 2024 election.

Rep. Darren Soto, D-Kissimmee, issued a brief statement on X:

Fmr Pres Trump had his day in court and finally faced justice. This case proves once again that no one is above the law in our country. We must respect the jurys decision and let the appeals process play out.

Sotos district includes small parts of eastern Polk County.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk County's US reps react to Trump's conviction in New York
New US rules aim to crack down on toxic air pollution by steelmakers

Aerial view of US Steel factory with smokestacks in Granite City, Illinois. Photograph: Joe Sohm/Visions of America/Universal Images Group/Getty Images

New Environmental Protection Agency rules aim to crack down on toxic air pollution from US steelmakers by limiting pollutants such as mercury, benzene and lead that have long poisoned the air in neighborhoods surrounding the plants.

The rules target contaminants released by steel facilities coke ovens. Gas from the ovens creates an individual cancer risk in the air around steel plants of 50 in 1,000,000, which public health advocates say is dangerous for children and people with underlying health problems.

Related: New bill could bail out US farmers ruined by forever chemical pollution

The chemicals do not travel far from the plant, but advocates say they have been devastating for public health in fenceline low income neighborhoods around steel facilities, and represent an environmental justice issue.

People have long faced significant health risks, like cancer, due to coke oven pollution, said Patrice Simms, Earthjustices vice-president for healthy communities. The rules are crucial for safeguarding communities and workers near coke ovens.

Coke ovens are chambers that heat up coal to produce coke, a hard deposit used to make steel. Gas produced by the ovens is classified by EPA as a known human carcinogen and contains a mix of hazardous chemicals, heavy metals and volatile compounds.

Many of the chemicals are linked to serious health issues, including severe eczema, respiratory problems and digestive lesions.

Amid increasing evidence of the gass toxicity in recent years, the EPA did little to rein in the pollution, critics say. Environmental groups have been pushing for new limits and better monitoring and Earthjustice in 2019 sued the EPA over the issue.

Coke ovens have especially plagued cities in upper midwest industrial regions and Alabama. In Detroit, a coke plant that for a decade has violated air quality standards thousands of times is at the center of continuing litigation that alleges sulfur dioxide produced by coke oven gas has sickened nearby residents in a predominantly Black neighborhood, though the new rules do not cover that contaminant.

The rules, published on Friday, require fenceline testing around the plants, and, if a contaminant is found to exceed the new limits, steel makers must identify the source and take action to lower the levels.

The rules also remove loopholes industry previously used to avoid reporting emissions, like exempting emissions limits during malfunctions.

Testing outside a Pittsburgh plant operated by US Steel, one of the nations largest producers, found levels of benzene, a carcinogen, that were 10 times higher than the new limits. A US Steel spokesperson told the Allegheny Front the rules would be virtually impossible to implement and would have unprecedented costs and potentially unintended adverse environmental impacts.

The costs would be unprecedented and unknown because there are no proven control technologies for certain hazardous air pollutants, the spokesperson said.

Adrienne Lee, an Earthjustice attorney, told the Guardian the rule is based off industry data provided to the EPA, and she noted the rules generally will not reduce emissions, but prevent exceedances.

I find it hard to believe [the limits] will be difficult to meet, Lee said.
US says it could act against China firms, banks over Russian war support

By David Brunnstrom

WASHINGTON, Virginia (Reuters) -The United States and other nations could take steps against Chinese firms and financial institutions over Beijing's backing for the Russian war against Ukraine, a top U.S. official said on Friday.

The Biden administration has stepped up warnings about China's backing for Moscow and issued an executive order in December that threatened punitive measures against financial institutions helping Russia skirt Western sanctions.

"I think where we are primarily focused are on Chinese companies that have been involved in a systematic way in supporting Russia," U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell told reporters near the Virginia town of Washington when asked if the Chinese leadership and banks could be targeted.

"We've also looked closely at financial institutions."

The State Department's second-ranked official spoke at the start of a meeting with the vice foreign ministers of Japan and South Korea, Masataka Okano and Kim Hyong Kyun. The three allies have stepped up cooperation in the face of shared concerns about China, North Korea and Russian's war in Ukraine.

Earlier this week Campbell said there was an urgent need for European and NATO countries to send a collective message of concern to China.

"There will be steps that are taken, not just by the United States, but other countries, signaling our profound displeasure about what China is seeking to do in its relationship with Russia on the battlefield in Ukraine," he said on Friday.

Campbell met China's Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu on Thursday and raised U.S. concerns about Beijing's support to Russia's defense industrial base undermining European security, the State Department said.

Campbell said his talks with his South Korea and Japanese counterparts would prepare the way for a trilateral leaders' summit later this year. He said the date wasn't yet set, but the meeting was of the "highest priority."

In a joint statement from Friday's meeting, the allies reaffirmed their commitment to use their "collective capacity to strengthen security and maintain peace and stability across the Indo-Pacific."

They pledged to continue working closely to boost economic security, including through Minerals Security Partnership projects, which are aimed at lessening reliance on China and Russia for critical resources needed in high-tech applications.

The allies also committed to work "ever more closely to support Ukraines energy infrastructure, recovery, and efforts to hold Russia accountable for its actions," the statement said.

Campbell welcomed "renewed diplomacy" between China, Japan and South Korea, after leaders from the three countries met on Monday for the first time in four years. The two U.S. allies had offered a "very deep and sincere debrief" on their three-way meeting with China, he said.

He also commended Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr for a speech he gave at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense summit in Singapore, where the Asian leader alluded to "illegal, coercive and aggressive" actions by China in the disputed South China Sea.

Campbell praised the speech as strong and purposeful, but would not directly answer a reporter's question on whether any incident involving China's Coast Guard that resulted in a Philippines service member being killed would trigger Washington's mutual defense treaty with Manila, calling it "hypothetical."

Encounters between the Philippines and China in Asia's most contested waters have grown more tense and frequent in the past year as Beijing presses its claims to shoals in waters that Manila says are well within its exclusive economic zone.

"We fundamentally believe that the United States and the Philippines are moving towards a closer set of relations in which we will be able to deepen our security partnership," Campbell said.

(Reporting by David Brunnstrom, writing by David Ljunggren and Michael Martina; Editing by Doina Chiacu, Chizu Nomiyama and Cynthia Osterman)
US Secretary of State says US will continue to adjust conditions on Ukraine's use of US weapons

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Photo: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE on Facebook

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken believes it is right to adjust restrictions on the use of weapons Ukraine receives from the United States.

Source: Blinken to journalists after a NATO ministerial meeting, European Pravda reports from Prague

Details: Commenting on Biden's limited permission to target Russian territory near the border of Kharkiv Oblast, the Secretary of State recalled that this is not the first time this has happened.

"Our support for Ukraine over the years has been adjusting to what Ukraine needs," he said, recalling that the United States initially had much tighter restrictions on arms sales.

"We will continue to adapt and adjust. We will provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs," Blinken said. The Secretary of State does not believe that this change in policy will lead to an "escalation".

As European Pravda has reported, Ukraine has confirmed that it has limited permission to strike Russia with US weapons.

However, President Zelenskyy has been careful to comment on how this would be implemented in practice.

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US Supreme Court strikes down oil companies' tactics to delay lawsuits against them from going to trial: 'Now they have to face the music'

As climate awareness continues to grow, all eyes are on Big Oil. The U.S. Supreme Court rejected petitions from oil companies to move lawsuits from state courts to federal courts, which are considered more pro-business.

According to Grist, around 30 lawsuits against Big Oil have been filed in the United States, a trend that began in California six years ago as the state tried to make oil giants pay for misleading the public about the dangers of burning polluting fuels.

Most of the cases have been delayed as oil companies tried to keep them out of state courts. However, the Supreme Court struck down their request regarding three different cases, including one in Minnesota, which means oil executives could soon have to answer to a jury.

"It's the industry's worst nightmare to have to explain their lies in front of a jury," Richard Wiles, president of the environmental advocacy organization The Center for Climate Integrity, told Grist.

And now that the cases can move forward, there's even more damning evidence that could be presented to a jury based on researchers' findings. For example, just last year, a study by Harvard University and the University of Potsdam researchers found that Exxon's own scientists predicted the warming climate with just as much accuracy as independent scientists nearly 40 years ago.

Also, Grist reported that hundreds of documents obtained by congressional investigators showed oil companies were trying to backtrack on commitments to reduce pollution. Meanwhile, a leaked email from a Shell employee revealed the company had no intention of meeting net-zero targets despite publicly agreeing to the plan.

The outlet said more evidence could also surface in the discovery process before trials. A case filed in Massachusetts against Exxon Mobil in 2019 is already in this stage and is expected to go to trial as soon as 2025, as Alyssa Johl, vice president for the CCI's legal program, told Grist.

If oil giants are forced to pay for the damage they've caused to the planet and communities, it will send the message that companies can no longer act against the public's best interest. As climate science continues to advance, it's clear that pollution-free clean energy is the future, which will create a healthier, safer world for everyone.

"Last year was a really pivotal year in terms of getting past the industry's big push and their delay tactics," Johl told Grist. "That issue and that effort has been put to rest, and now they have to face the music."

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A Utah bat tested positive for rabies. How to prevent exposure to the rabies virus

Bats are the most common carrier of rabies in Utah. State officials have confirmed discovery of the first bat to test positive for rabies in 2024. | Utah Division of Wildlife Resour

A Utah bat found in early May tested positive for rabies, state public health officials have confirmed.

This is a reminder to every Utah resident to avoid contact with bats and other wildlife they may encounter, per a press release from the Utah Department of Human and Health Services. In Utah, bats are the primary carrier of the rabies virus, but you can get rabies from any infected animal.

The rabies virus can be transmitted through bites, scratches or saliva from any infected animal. Note that bats have small claws and teeth, so a bite or scratch from a bat might leave minimal damage. This does not mean you are free from rabies exposure. Anyone who has been around a bat is considered at-risk of exposure to the rabies virus, the release stated.

Once exposed to rabies, symptoms of the virus can be fatal. If you suspect you have been exposed to rabies, take immediate action by contacting a medial professional for help.

If you are uncertain if you were exposed to rabies, the Utah Department of Human and Health Services has a free assessment tool that can aid in determining if you are at risk of rabies.

What is rabies?

Rabies is a fatal virus that can be treated through medical care, per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus is primarily spread through exposure to infected animals.

In the U.S. the animals most commonly founds with rabies include: bats, raccoons, skunks and foxes, reports the CDC.

You cannot tell an animal is rabid by looking at it. But changes in behavior can indicate an animal has been exposed.

Signs of rabies in animals can include obvious changes in normal behavior, such as aggression, foaming at the mouth, no interest in food or water, staggering, or paralysis, according to the Utah Department of Human and Health Services.

In humans, a rabies infection slowly attacks the central nervous system, it typically takes two weeks for symptoms to begin.

According to the CDC, a rabies infection in humans can cause the following symptoms:

Confusion.

Agitation.

Anxiety.

Insomnia.

Hallucinations.

Delirium.

Hypersalvation.

Seizures.

Hydrophobia (fear of water).

How to protect yourself from rabies

The Utah Department of Human and Health Services recommends a handful of simple precautions to follow in order to avoid exposure to the rabies virus.

Keep your pets up-to-date on their rabies vaccinations.

Supervise your pets when they our outside. This way you will know if they have made contact with wild animals.

Report stray dogs and cats to your local animal control.

Seal cracks and gaps in your home where a bat could get in.

If traveling to a country where rabies is common, considering getting a pre-exposure rabies vaccine.

If bitten or scratched by an animal  domestic or wild  take immediate action. Wash the wound with soap and contact a medical professional for help.
Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and first lady Abby Cox, speaking from a podium at a news conference, call on Utahns to consider foster care amid biggest shortage of licensed families in decades.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and the first lady Abby Cox call on Utahns to consider foster care amid biggest shortage of licensed families in decades on May 28, 2024. (Screenshot of livestream)

It has been decades since Utah had a similar crisis; the number of foster parents is at an all time low, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said on Tuesday. Now, he and the first lady Abby Cox are calling on Utahns to consider opening up their doors for foster children

There are 1,756 children needing foster care in Utah, Nikki MacKay, CEO of Utah Foster Care said. But, only 822 families are licensed to foster them. This is the lowest number the state has experienced in 25 years.

Cox is following in the steps of former Gov. Mike Leavitt, he said, who responded to that crisis by calling a news conference and sending letters to faith leaders to share the message with their congregation.

We live in the most generous state in the nation. We live in the most religious state in the nation. Whether youre religious or not, we live in a state that cares about giving back and taking care of our neighbors, Cox said.

He hopes that with the help of the communities, Utah can reverse a trend ubiquitous in the nation.

We truly believe that Utah can become the first state where there are families waiting for kids, instead of kids waiting for families, Cox said, highlighting that while it may be one of the toughest jobs, its rewarding.

Abby Cox added that while fostering may not be for everyone, a foster parent can come from any background; they could be single or married, homeowners or renters, LGBTQ, religious or non-religious, families with or without children, or empty nesters.

I think it would shock so many of you to know that there are children without families in this state, in Utah, she said. And thats our call today.

Children older than 9 years old and those in sibling groups experience the biggest need for foster care in the state, she said.

The majority of the kids have siblings, 1 in 3 are teenagers, 1 in 4 are Latinos, and 1 in 3 identify as LGBTQ, MacKay said. Many of them are hoping to return home to their family, whereas others wait to be adopted.

When theres a shortage of families to care for them, the kids end up staying in dormitories. In other states, children have stayed in hotels or at their caseworkers offices.

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We do not want to see that here in Utah. Outcomes are better for children when they have options to best fit their individual needs. And we know that children do better when theyre with families, MacKay said. The kids in Utah need you and we need you.

During the news conference, advocates, faith leaders, foster parents and former foster kids spoke about the challenges and joys of the experience. Natalie Clark was one of them.

Clark spent some essential years between foster homes. She learned to clean a house, wash her laundry the right way, and to condition her hair halfway down and not from the scalp from families that took her into their homes, she said.

There are impacts on each side of the equation, she said. She had a space to grow and learn. Her families got a stellar big sister, and an active participant at all games at the park.

Her community showed up when she needed it the most and now shes an advocate for other kids in the foster care system.

It doesnt necessarily mean forever and I think thats the beauty of it. If even just for a season, the learning, the bond, the trust can be unbreakable, unforgettable and irreplaceable, Clark said. Its not forever, but foster care to me is my forever village. My forever people and my lifelong cheerleaders.

More information about foster care is at Utahfostercare.org.

Utah News Dispatch is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Utah News Dispatch maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor McKenzie Romero for questions: info@utahnewsdispatch.com. Follow Utah News Dispatch on Facebook and Twitter.

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The post Utah Gov. Cox calls on Utahns to consider foster care amid large shortage of licensed families appeared first on Idaho Capital Sun.
Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Tunisian President Kais Saied in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Zhao Leji, China's top legislator, met with Tunisian President Kais Saied in Beijing on Friday.

Zhao, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that China and Tunisia have always been good friends who treat each other with sincerity, and good brothers who support each other. China is willing to work with Tunisia to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries.

Taking the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity, the two sides should make good use of important platforms such as the joint-construction Belt and Road, the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to cultivate new driving forces for bilateral cooperation, Zhao said.

He noted that China and Tunisia are both countries in the Global South, and that they should strengthen their coordination and cooperation on multilateral occasions to promote a more just, equitable global governance system.

Zhao said China's NPC is willing to enhance exchange and cooperation with the legislature of Tunisia to provide legal guarantees for pragmatic cooperation between the two countries and facilitate deepened bilateral relations.

Saied said that Tunisia has the unwavering will to develop friendly relations with China. Tunisia adheres to the one-China principle and stands ready to strengthen pragmatic cooperation in various fields, opening broader prospects for bilateral relations. 

Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, meets with Tunisian President Kais Saied in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A Weber County man has been charged after he allegedly sold the fentanyl that led to a mans death in December.

Cullin Anthony Bullen, 37, of Roy, was charged in May with distribution of fentanyl resulting in death. His initial court appearance was Wednesday, May 29, the Utah District Attorneys Office said.

Chad Daybell found guilty on all counts in doomsday prophet murder case, sentencing starts Friday

According to court documents, Bullen was contacted on December 19, 2023 by the victim in a death resulting drug case. The victim had allegedly purchased roxies (short for Roxicodone prescription pills) from Bullen.

The DAs office noted Bullen purchased 25-30 pills from a third individual for $20 each and sold them to the victim for $25 each.

On December 20, 2023, the victim was found dead. The medical examiners preliminary report determined the cause of death to be fentanyl intoxication, the DAs office said.

About the drug that has saturated the market

According to the DEA earlier this month, fentanyl has saturated Utahs drug market. It is cheaper, more potent, and more widely available than ever before.

The synthetic opioid is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine, and is a major contributor to fatal and non-fatal overdoses in the U.S. More than 150 people die every day from synthetic opioids like fentanyl, according to the CDC.

Over the last few years, Utah has experienced a rise in overdose/poisoning incidents, and fentanyl has been the primary catalyst, the U.S. Attorneys Office said.

According to the most recent data by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, 603 Utahns died as a result of drug overdose in 2021. That same year, 67% of Utah overdose deaths were related to opioids and 29% were related to fentanyl.

Fentanyl is the deadliest drug threat the United States has ever faced, and Utah is no exception, said U.S. Attorney Trina A. Higgins of the District of Utah.

Because of this, the U.S. Attorneys Office, in partnership with the DEA, announced the first Utah Drug Overdose Task Force to combat fentanyl and other illicit drugs in the Beehive State last month.

It is also our goal to raise awareness, Higgins said. Through the Utah Drug Overdose Task Force, I am confident we can make a difference.

The task force is reportedly made up of 10 state, local, and federal law enforcement offices throughout the Wasatch Front.

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.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Salt Lake City Police have issued road closures in downtown Salt Lake City for Pride events this weekend, with an estimated 100,000 people expected to attend the festivities.

The Utah Pride Festival will start at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, and will end at 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 2. The event will be held in and around downtowns Washington Square.

Several roads near the City and County Building will be fully closed or will have reduced lanes of traffic, including 200 East in-between 400 South and 500 South, which is currently closed as crews set up, a press release from SLCPD states. An estimated 100,000 people are expected to attend the Utah Pride Festival over the two-day event. As such, drivers are reminded to take additional precautions.

Man arrested, 50 pounds of methamphetamine seized in Salt Lake County

As for Sunday, the annual Pride Parade will begin at 10 a.m. from 100 South West Temple St. The parade route heads east on 100 South, turns south on 400 East, west on 700 South, and ends at 700 South 200 East.

Here is a map of the 2024 Utah Pride Parade route:

Courtesy of Utah Pride Center

SLCPD recommends that members of the community carpool, use public transportation, or a rideshare device when possible to reduce congestion in the area. Police also say that if you witness a hate crime, it is important to report it so the case can be investigated, and support and resources can be offered.

If you are involved in a hate crime:

Call 9-1-1: If the crime is in-progress or there is an immediate threat to the safety of yourself or others.

File a police report by calling 801-799-3000 and asking to speak with an officer about filing a hate crime report.

Request assistance from an SLCPD Victim Advocate. You can call 801-799-3000 and ask to speak with a victim advocate or call 801-580-7969 24/7.

The Salt Lake City Police Department recognizes our responsibility to investigate hate crimes thoroughly and impartially to hold offenders accountable and ensure justice for survivors. The Salt Lake City Police Department educates its officers and detectives and works with our community to recognize, and condemn, hate crimes, and works to prevent them from occurring in the future, SLCPD stated in the release.

For more information about Utah Pride Events, visit their website 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 ABC4 Utah.
U.S. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Nov. 17, 2020 in Washington, D.C. (Photo By Bill Clark-Pool/Getty Images)

A New York jury on Thursday found former President Donald Trump guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, and Utah politicians have something to say about it.

The historic verdict marked the first felony conviction of a former U.S. president, and drew a flurry of public outrage from two of Utahs all-Republican congressional delegation. So far, no one has been as vocal as Mike Lee, Utahs senior senator, who made 12 social media posts in the hour following the verdict.

Welcome to the Banana Republic of America, Is this an insurrection? I dont respect this verdict. Nor should anyone, and What theyre doing to him is wrong, Lee wrote in separate X posts, adding that the verdict guaranteed Trumps election.

In an official statement, Lee said Thursday was a sad day for America.

The verdict against Donald Trump, marred by unclear charges and irregular jury instructions, sets a dangerous precedent. This was a political prosecution to help Joe Biden, a weaponization of our justice system that threatens the very fabric of our Republic, Lee said.

Utah GOP Rep. Burgess Owens also took to social media, where he called the countrys justice system a two-tiered sham.

The American people know this crooked case was never about the rule of law, but a political witch-hunt perpetrated against the Democrats top political opponent, President Trump, Owens wrote.

In Utah, a number of state politicians and candidates also took to social media, with Democrats suggesting the verdict delivered justice, while Republicans mostly echoed the sentiments from Lee and Owens.

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has for months criticized the charges and on Thursday reaffirmed his opinion that the case was deeply problematic.

The DA further used a novel legal theory to turn misdemeanors into felonies. No one is above the law, but in this case I believe the indictment was a mistake and should have never been brought forward. This outcome is a dark day for our country, Cox said in a statement.

Salt Lake City Democrat and gubernatorial candidate Rep. Brian King said in a statement that Thursdays conviction reaffirms the importance of our judicial system. Beyond the verdict itself, the process demonstrates the validity of our system of justice.

Many Utahns feel abandoned by their political party, experiencing a sense of political homelessness. This conviction will mark a critical point for many in our state. If you voted for former President Trump in 2016 or 2020, but find this conviction to be your tipping point, know that you are not alone, said King. I invite you to join our coalition of pragmatists  individuals seeking trustworthy leadership that strives to improve our lives, rather than perpetuating chaos and uncertainty.

Let us know what you think...

As of Thursday evening, Reps. Celeste Maloy, Blake Moore and John Curtis had not made public statements regarding the verdict. Nor had outgoing Sen. Mitt Romney, who has been a thorn in Trumps side but has been skeptical of the trial. In an interview with MSNBC earlier this month, Romney said Biden made an enormous error not pardoning the former president, a move that would have given Biden the upper hand.

However, candidates vying for Romneys soon-to-be-empty Senate seat waded into the discourse on X  Riverton Mayor Trent Staggs, who Trump endorsed, called the conviction the single, most vivid example of election fraud in our countrys history.

And former Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson said the verdict makes a mockery of our criminal justice system, calling it an attempt to interfere with the American peoples right to decide for themselves who our next President should be.

Trump was charged by New York prosecutors in connection with a number of invoices, checks and ledger entries related to reimbursements to his former attorney Michael Cohen. Cohen told the court he wired $130,000 to adult actress Stormy Daniels leading up to the 2016 election in hush money payments to keep her from going public about an alleged affair with Trump.

Trump is also facing three additional criminal cases in Washington, D.C., Florida and Georgia.

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Last year, Vermont suffered a catastrophic series of torrential rains that washed out major cities like Montpelier, the state's capital, and the nearby municipality of Barre. Many businesses took months to rebuild and many homeowners were left stranded. Some Vermonters said it was the worst natural disaster to hit the state since a 1927 flood killed dozens of people.

Now, Vermont has become the first state to require oil companies to compensate the public for damages caused by climate change. On Thursday, the Vermont legislature passed a law requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a share of damages caused by climate change.

The bill is controversial. Vermont's Republican governor, Phil Scott, issued a public statement saying, I understand the desire to seek funding to mitigate the effects of climate change that has hurt our state in so many ways." He allowed the bill to become law without his signature because he expressed concern about the costs of what is expected to be a prolonged legal battle.

Scott Lauermann, a spokesperson for the American Petroleum Institute, told the National Review that this is a "punitive new fee" that is part of "a coordinated campaign to undermine Americas energy advantage and the economic and national security benefits it provides. Rather than work collaboratively with the industry to further our shared goal for a lower carbon future, state lawmakers opted to pass a bill designed by activists to further their own interests.

While this may be seen as a win for anyone hoping for better regulation of fossil fuel companies, it will likely entail a long legal battle, the Guardian reports. We know that big oil will fight this in the courts, Martin LaLonde, chair of the states house judiciary committee, told the outlet. But, as an attorney myself, and having worked closely with many legal scholars in shaping the bill, I believe we have a solid legal case.
Vermont will become the first state in the nation to require oil companies to pay for the impacts of climate change after the states GOP governor, Phil Scott, allowed a new bill to become law without his signature.

The states Climate Superfund Act is modeled on federal Superfund law and seeks to assess financial penalties for emissions generated between 1995 and 2024, which could total billions of dollars.

The bill passed the state House in a 94-38 vote May 7, a margin just shy of a supermajority. In an earlier procedural vote, it received a veto-proof 100 votes, suggesting the Legislature had the votes to override a veto from Scotts office.

The Climate Superfund Act is the first of several similar state bills to become law. The New York state Senate passed its own legislation earlier this month, but earlier this week New York Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D) was leery of the measure, telling reporters he believed it would hurt utility customers.

Ive never in my life seen corporations choose the ratepayer over the stockholder, Heastie told reporters Thursday, according to WXXI. Asking these companies to pay more, its going to be, of course, taken out on the ratepayer.

In a statement accompanying his decision to allow the bill to become law, Scott expressed concerns about the logistics of proceeding with the law alone, noting Vermonts low population and gross domestic product relative to states such as New York and California.

He also suggested that the law, which appropriates $600,000 to conduct an analysis of how the program will work and be defended in court, is not positioning [us] for success.

However, he wrote, I understand the desire to seek funding to mitigate the effects of climate change that has hurt our state in so many ways. I also note Attorney General [Charity] Clark and Treasurer [Mike] Pieciak have endorsed this policy and committed to the work it will require. Im also comforted by the fact that the Agency of Natural Resources is required to report back to the Legislature in January 2025 on the feasibility of this effort, so we can reassess our go-it-alone approach.

Vermont saw catastrophic flooding last summer, with rainfall in excess of 9 inches in parts of the state. Climate change is associated with more intense weather events and phenomena and has been particularly impactful in regions ill-prepared for those effects, such as an extreme cold snap in Texas in 2021 or record heat in parts of the Pacific Northwest, where air conditioning is not commonplace.

A spokesperson for the American Petroleum Institute, the primary oil and gas trade group, blasted the decision in a statement.

This punitive new fee represents yet another step in a coordinated campaign to undermine Americas energy advantage and the economic and national security benefits it provides, the group wrote. Rather than work collaboratively with the industry to further our shared goal for a lower carbon future, state lawmakers opted to pass a bill designed by activists to further their own interests.

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Vince McMahon - Credit: Photo by Alexandra Wyman/WireImage

The former employee who accused WWE founder Vince McMahon of sexual abuse has paused her lawsuit against McMahon, former WWE exec John Laurinaitis, and the WWE itself, as the Department of Justice continues its own investigation.

Janel Grant filed her suit in January, alleging among other things that McMahon and Laurinatis sexually assaulted her in Laurinatis office at the WWE headquarters. By February, news had surfaced that McMahon had faced a federal probe since 2022.

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Ms. Grant has consented to a request by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York to stay her case against Mr. McMahon, WWE and Mr. Laurinaitis, pursuant to a pending non-public investigation, Grants attorney Ann Callis said in a statement provided to Rolling Stone. We will cooperate with all appropriate next steps.

McMahon originally stepped down from his role at the WWE in 2022 after an internal probe detailing allegations of hush-money payments to a former employee, but McMahon returned to his post in 2023, stepping down once again after Grants lawsuit in January. Aside from the assault allegation, among other claims, Grant alleged that McMahon used her as a sexual pawn to retain an unnamed WWE superstar while negotiating a new contract.

While McMahon resigned, hes denied the allegations.

In a statement to The Wrap, McMahons attorney said we remain confident the evidence will prove Ms. Grants allegations are false and her complaint is nothing more than a fabricated, vindictive narrative from a disgruntled former girlfriend.

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Virginia Fallen Firefighters and EMS Memorial Service to be held on Saturday

RICHMOND, Va. (WAVY)  The Virginia Department of Fire Programs (VDFP) is set to host the 2024 Virginia Fallen Firefighters and EMS Memorial Service on Saturday.

The service is expected to begin at noon at the Richmond Raceway Complex in the Main Exhibition Hall.

Emergency response personnel, government officials and public safety members will be in attendance to celebrate the honorees.

During the service, there will be a keynote address, a Virginia Fire Services Honor Guard procession, a musical performance and a fire and EMS apparatus display from departments throughout Virginia.

Virginia Beach Fire Captain Matt Chevy Chiaverotti will be among the 2024 honorees.

Fallen Virginia Beach firefighter remembered for smile, impact on others

The service is free and open to the public.

Those who are unable to attend in person will be able to watch a live stream on VDFPs website here.

Check with WAVY.com 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 WAVY.com.
FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE)  The Visalia Police Department conducted tobacco compliance inspections Tuesday at several businesses in the City of Visalia.

Police say they conducted the inspections to ensure businesses were complying with California State Laws regarding the sale of tobacco and tobacco products.

During the inspections, police say four warnings were given for having improper signage and four warnings were given for having banned flavored tobacco products for sale.

On Thursday, officers say they conducted a tobacco minor decoy operation to check if businesses in the City of Visalia sold tobacco products to minors. Under the supervision of officers, police say the minor decoys were told to go into stores and try to buy tobacco products.

Officials say one business was cited for selling tobacco to a minor. One additional business was cited for having banned flavored tobacco products for sale.

A retailer found guilty can be charged with a misdemeanor or subject to a fine of up to $1,000. Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Department of Justice.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to YourCentralValley.com | KSEE24 and CBS47.
Visitors look at products from Malaysia at the fourth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, capital city of south China's Hainan Province, April 16, 2024. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

Cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects has provided an additional platform for the two countries to elevate their partnership to even greater heights.

by Dato' Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan

On May 31 of this year, Malaysia and China will mark a signature milestone in their bilateral relations as the two countries commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. It has been a journey of deepening mutual trust, respect and partnership since the signing of the Malaysia-China joint communique in Beijing on May 31, 1974, between second Malaysian Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak and then Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai.

This anniversary is not just another number or event but embodies the achievement of both Malaysia and China in managing and nurturing the relationship and letting it develop into what it is today, healthy and robust. It is a relationship based on a strong foundation of multifaceted cooperation in all sectors. This year also marks the Malaysia-China friendship year as well as the 11th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Malaysia and China.

Malaysia and China are connected by history, trade and cultural contacts over thousands of years. The golden era of this contact and cooperation was during the Malacca Sultanate and the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). Trade flourished during the Malacca Sultanate with deepening diplomacy, cultural and economic relations between the region and China. Malacca played host to the fleet of Admiral Zheng He for five times. His voyages became a symbol of China's friendship with the world. Today, many legends and historical sites related to Zheng can be found in Malacca and other parts of the world. As Malaysia-China relations were further strengthened through the formal ties established in May 1974, Malacca once again became a popular tourist destination for travelers from China.

The evolution and transformation of Malaysia-China relations following the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1974 is one of Malaysia's most successful diplomatic stories and an exemplary one, particularly to neighbors of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Relations have been beneficial not only for Malaysia and China but to the ASEAN region as well. Hence, in commemorating this auspicious historical diplomatic milestone, we must salute the leadership of both Malaysia and China for their vision, courage and commitment to their bilateral friendship.

Over the past 50 years, both Malaysia and China underwent several tests and challenges in the pursuit of establishing mutual trust and confidence. The pace of normalization was slow at the beginning as the legacy of the Cold War was still alive.

As a young diplomat in Beijing in the 1980s and later as the ambassador to the People's Republic of China, I witnessed this challenging task first hand, as the officials of both countries did their best to break down various barriers to kickstart bilateral exchanges at all levels. Mutual suspicions then were still hindering the progress of normalization. China's reform and opening-up policy signalling China's readiness to engage with the world and to do business was a game changer. Malaysia responded positively to these developments and opened the way for facilitating and enhancing successful bilateral cooperation.

Over the years, as Malaysia and China have seen different administrations, and their interactions, particularly in the economic sector as well as regarding people-to-people exchanges flourished. This was made possible as mutual trust and recognition regarding each other's sensitive points became a focal point for further promoting bilateral relations.

Today, economic collaboration, trade, investment, tourism, education and infrastructure as well as people-to-people exchanges are the drivers of bilateral dynamism as the two countries welcome the golden jubilee of the establishment of diplomatic relations. Cooperation in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects has provided an additional platform for the two countries to elevate their partnership to even greater heights.

This aerial photo taken on April 26, 2023 shows a construction site of the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), a major infrastructure project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in Kelantan, Malaysia. (Xinhua/Zhu Wei)

The East Coast Railway Link and the Malaysia-China "Two Countries, Twin Parks," as two signature BRI projects, will further strengthen regional connectivity and economic integration between China, Malaysia, and ASEAN as well.

The benefits to Malaysia in terms of increased employment, technology transfer and growth are clear. As the BRI moves to another phase emphasizing high-quality development, Malaysia is expected to further benefit in terms of technology transfer.

The recent visa-free travel waiver has proven itself to be an effective catalyst in promoting people's mobility. It is expected that these measures will further boost the flow of tourists, students and people from all walks of life, providing more effective knowledge-sharing, cultural understanding and unique experiences for the people of the two countries.

The visa-free travel policy together with the establishment of the Xiamen University branch campus in Malaysia clearly show that Malaysia-China relations have reached maturity with mutual trust and respect firmly in place. This was indeed a far cry from restrictions in the past when people's mobility faced numerous obstacles. It is expected that cultural exchanges and business interactions will further flourish and contribute to greater mutual understanding between Malaysia and China.

An inheritor of intangible cultural heritage shows paper-cutting techniques at the Xiamen University Malaysia (XMUM) in Selangor state, Malaysia, Nov. 24, 2023. (Xinhua/Cheng Yiheng)

The joint communique between Malaysia and China continues to be the fundamental principle underpinning the relations of Malaysia and China.

Over the past five decades, our two countries have remained committed to the provisions of the communique, particularly relating to peaceful co-existence despite the differences in social systems. This adherence has contributed to the enduring friendship between Malaysia and China.

Despite changes in the leaderships of the two countries in the past half century, the policy of forging strong bilateral ties and mutual trust remains unchanged. In Malaysia, all the prime ministers after Tun Abdul Razak have not only enjoyed the legacy of maintaining firm ties with China, but they have all successfully built upon the achievements of their predecessors in further consolidating bilateral ties.

Malaysia's 10th and current prime minister, Anwar Ibrahim, who took office one and a half years ago, has made several positive remarks reiterating Malaysia's commitment to strong Malaysia-China ties and reemphasizing Malaysia's strategic independent foreign policy, reflecting the spirit of the 1974 joint communique.

In conclusion, as the two nations move ahead to further build upon the achievements of the last 50 years, we can be optimistic that the prospects will be bright indeed. The two countries are expected to remain committed to the spirit of the Malaysia-China joint communique and will strive to build an interconnected future with both peoples enjoying shared prosperity.





Editor's note: Dato' Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan is president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association.

The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Xinhua News Agency. 
New Hampshire Republican lawmakers are continuing to push to require residents to produce a birth certificate, passport, or other citizenship document to register to vote. Proponents say the measures would ensure that people could vote only if they had definitively proven they were eligible.

But according to some experts, the proposed laws would also be unique to the Granite State.

No other state has a law requiring documentary proof of citizenship in order to register to vote, said Alex Tischenko, senior policy adviser for the Institute for Responsive Government, speaking against the bills at a press conference May 24. And the one state to pass one in recent history  Kansas  saw it struck down in federal court, he noted.

New Hampshire Republican lawmakers are continuing to push to require residents to produce a birth certificate, passport, or other citizenship document to register to vote.

Every other state allows voters to register and vote by attesting under penalty of perjury to their U.S. citizenship, said Tischenko, who previously served as an attorney in the civil rights division of the U.S. Department of Justice under Presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump. And theres a good reason for that: Requiring everybody to retrieve a rarely used document that proves U.S. citizenship is guaranteed to disenfranchise thousands of U.S. citizens.

The proposals to tighten voter registration requirements have appeared in two separate bills this year, both of which passed the Senate last week. One is heading to Gov. Chris Sununu; the other is set for further negotiations between the House and Senate.

The first bill, House Bill 1569, would require a birth certificate, passport, or other proof of citizenship in order to register to vote for the first time in New Hampshire, and also eliminate any exceptions to the states voter ID law on Election Day, and require a voter to obtain their identification or not vote at all. That bill is heading to the governors desk.

The second, House Bill 1370, creates similar requirements to the first bill. But it also directs the Secretary of States Office to create a hotline-style service with the Attorney Generals Office and the Division of Motor Vehicles that would in theory allow town election officials to ask state officials whether there are state documents proving a voter at the polls is a citizen and eligible to vote.

Sen. James Gray, a Rochester Republican and the chairman of the Senate Election Law and Municipal Affairs Committee, said the hotline could be effective.

It is estimated that using the databases that we came up with in meetings with the Secretary of State, the Attorney Generals Office, and the DMV, that there will be very, very few people who will not be able to answer the questions about citizenship, about age, and about domicile, Gray said on the Senate floor on May 16.

HB 1370 will not head directly to Sununu; the changes must survive committee of conference negotiations with the House and Senate. The House has already requested a committee of conference; the Senate will decide Thursday whether to agree to that request and open and send negotiators.

Senate Republicans have presented the bills as an opportunity for Sununu to choose between two options: a more rigid version without compromises for voters who dont have documents, and a more flexible version intended to allow state officials to help voters prove their citizenship if their documents are lost.

But voting rights supporters say even with the addition of the hotline, HB 1370 would create risks of preventing certain residents from voting due to a lack of clear documents. The state databases would not help people who were born in other states and did not have a birth certificate, they noted. And they say the hotline itself would likely face functional challenges, particularly for remote towns on Election Day.

Both HB 1569 and HB 1370 are worded to take effect immediately, meaning they would affect the state primary on Sept. 10 and the general election on Nov. 5.

When asked about them, Sununu has suggested he doesnt support the bills, telling reporters that he does not see any need for new election laws. But he has not explicitly promised to veto them.

Supporters of the bills say they will help close loopholes that allow people to cast ballots and sign legally binding affidavits to attest that they are who they say they are and eligible to vote at that polling place, on penalty of perjury. Even though the Attorney Generals Office can follow up with an investigation and prosecute anyone who lied about their voting qualifications after the election, the bills advocates say that enforcement cant stop the vote from being counted.

But Tischenko and others say the bills as worded could go too far in the other direction and block thousands of people who should be allowed to vote from doing so.

To substantiate that, Tischenko has pointed to the experience of Kansas. The state passed a law in 2013 that required residents to submit citizenship paperwork to register to vote, and a state legal expert found that between 2013 and 2018, more than 30,000 people in the state were prevented from registering to vote, according to the Associated Press.

After the American Civil Liberties Union and other organizations filed a lawsuit, a U.S. District Court struck down the law in 2018. That decision was upheld by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2020, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal.

Similar to the proposals in New Hampshires HB 1370, the state of Kansas also attempted to assist residents with proving their citizenship and identity in the months up to Election Day, Tischenko said, but those efforts did not stop thousands from being blocked from voting.

Meanwhile, opponents of the bills have also been skeptical about how effective the assistance hotline might be in practice  especially on Election Day.

The state hotline would necessitate reliable internet service at every polling place, argued Dan Healey, the Nashua city clerk and current president of the New Hampshire City and Town Clerks Association. The community I came from prior where I was a clerk for quite a few years, one of the polling locations had no cell phone service, he said, speaking at the May 24 press conference. It was very spotty. You had to go into the parking lot, the middle of the parking lot, to get any reception.

Some residents who moved within the state might have documents held by the city or town they had moved away from, but accessing another municipalitys database often incurs fees, Healey said.

And the bill would require additional training for election workers, Healey said.

We have many of our voters that come in that dont have their proof with them, but they are eligible, Healey said. They are citizens. They do live in Nashua, but they dont always bring that proof.

But those advocating for the bills say that they would simply require additional steps for new registrants. Those who were motivated to vote would take those steps, they argue.

Certainly, this bill recognizes that its hard for people, said Gray. But remember, it is still the person who needs to prove that they are meeting the criteria. And all this bill does really is it takes the affidavit out of the process.

This story was originally published by New Hampshire Bulletin.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Voting bill would make NH only state to require citizenship documents
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY)  Joe Samaha became a victims advocate after his daughter, Reema Samaha, was among the 32 people killed at Virginia Tech back on April 16, 2007.

Theres not a day, obviously, I dont think of her, Joe Samaha said from his northern Virginia home. I work on this every day. Im a victim advocate for the foundation. I am an outreach expert, and I will never get over it.

Complete Coverage: Virginia Beach Mass Shooting

Samaha established VTV Care to help fund the physical and psychological trauma related to mass shootings, and he now advocates for Virginia Beachs 5/31 victims.

Statements found on the VTV Care Facebook page speak to the organizations purpose to leave no one behind, while healing broken bodies, broken minds and broken hearts.

Carl Britt remembers the moment he was shot and left a paraplegic.

He [the shooter] said theres a guy walking around with a gun, Britt said.  I turned to look at him, and I hadnt realized he was concealing a gun at his side. The next thing I knew I was lying on the floor. When I came to the realization what my situation was, I called Cynthia, and I told her I didnt think I can live like this.  I guess its the everyday things that wear on you as a person.

Britt also speaks of how workers compensation failed him in the rehabilitation of his home.

The renovations that were done to our home were done without us ever seeing a sketch or discussing it with the contractor, Britt said, adding that we had relatives that would ask the contractor about what they were doing, and his answer would be I dont work for you, I work for workers compensation,' Britt said.

Samaha, responding to the Britt interview, said that well take care of you the rest of your life was a promise that was not kept, and his home is non-ADA compliant and in Carls words, my bedroom is a fire trap.'

James Moore also appears and now suffers from seizures and PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder). He blames the city, that supervisors knew there was something wrong with the shooter.

They [the city supervisors] knew he [the shooter] was wrong, Moore said. I do not get this because, in certain situations, they will not look at it and hold people accountable. And thats not right.

Said Samaha: If you listen to the stories of the survivors, there is a common thread throughout that five years later, and that is we are still suffering. We are still traumatized.

Dwight Browns sister, LaQuita Brown, was killed that day, and so was Mary Louise Gayle.

The therapy was cut off before the statute of limitations expired, and for the first two years we were waiting to receive some type of settlement, said her daughter, Sarah Gayle Leonard.

Ned Carlstrom saw the shooter who, for whatever reason, spared him. He still suffers emotionally with PTSD and survivors remorse.

It was about 3 minutes later  after I saw him, Carlstrom said in an emotional sit-down interview with 10 On Your Side. If I had my gun, I could have shot him.  We werent allowed to bring guns to work.  I heard gun shots that I found were the shots that killed Ryan.

Ryan Keith Cox was killed.

In the VTV Care interview, Carlstrom said he needed therapy sessions, and was checking out and was told,

We will take care of you for the rest of your life, Carlstrom said. I was at one of my therapy appointments and my therapist said we will go ahead and cover this. I need you to start paying for your appointments. I said why? She said the city stopped paying. I got on the phone with the city managers office, and they said you did not fill out the paperwork [for lifetime benefits] and I said, what paperwork are you talking about?

Said Samaha: He was being given the run around, and not fully, you know, led down the [right] road, he was given a promise.

Thanks to Carlstroms persistence, the city changed course and honored lifetime benefits.

They felt that it was in the best interest of all parties involved and in public opinion that they give my lifetime benefits back, Carlstrom said.

Carlstrom said the city was also heavy-handed.

We were threatened with disciplinary action just for talking about the shooting in the days and weeks after coming back to work, Carlstrom said.

Kate Nixon was also killed, leaving behind her husband Jason and their three daughters. She spoke to Jason right after she was shot.

I got a call 15 minutes later, he said, remembering the call. Jason I have been shot.'

Samaha said that, of all Virginia Beach Council members, only Councilwoman Sabrina Wooten would sit down with him to discuss issues and concerns.

Wooten believes the city did its best to address the tragedy, however, she said, based on those concerns and issues, I would like to make sure we address them. So, I think there is more we can do absolutely.

Samaha said city employees were given false leads.

They were told their care would be paid for, Samaha said. There were promises made and promises were not kept.

To that, Wooten said that no one in that predicament should have to beg for services. So thats concerning to me, and its the first time that Ive heard of that. And in that circumstance, I would think that promises made would be promises kept.

Councilwoman Sabrina Wooten: I think that families of victims who still need continuous services, I think its important that they get those services in.

WAVY: And that the city should help provide?

Wooten: Sure.

WAVY: And reach out?

Wooten: Absolutely.

WAVY: Make it an ongoing partnership because of this tragedy?

Wooten: Absolutely. I think there should be ongoing outreach.  If there are folks who are still in need, we should make sure that were finding ways to help them and address their concerns.

Samaha said the city must embrace the tragedy, not push the tragedy away and forget about it. It is theirs. They own it.

In the end, Samaha thinks the city of Virginia Beach needs to do a reboot.

These survivors are frustrated, Samaha said. I think part of the healing will be for the city to do a reboot, to do a reset and reach out to these families and survivors again and again and again and put their arms around them and be in this together. Theres so many, so many things that the city could do.

More information

For more information about VTV Care, you can find the organization on Facebook and on YouTube.

City resources

The city said it is still providing services to employees affected by the 5/31 mass shooting. They include:

The City has caringly planned employees return to campus. An internal transition team has been created to ensure the move is thoughtfully communicated and delivered from a trauma-informed lens.

The Virginia Beach Police Department opened the new First Police Precinct, Building 11, and Building 2 was formally retired January 2024. The new facility opened in 2023 after extensive renovations, which include a new Real Time Crime Center to enhance existing capabilities and leverage technology to actively monitor information and incidents that have the potential to impact public safety on campus and throughout the city. A memorial plaque is installed in the entrance to honor those we lost and those who heroically responded that day.

Whats Next:

Public Utilities, Planning, Public Works and IT departments are in the process of back to the municipal campus in conjunction with finalizing building renovations.

A memorial site has been selected and funding has been approved. Clearing work is in process to pave the way for future construction.

In February 2022, the City held the first 5/31 Memorial Committee Meeting. The committee was made up of 12 members of the community and two Council liaisons who met 18 times to create a consensus to honor legacy and lives. There were two family representatives apart of the memorial process and a dedicated family outreach liaison.

Five listening sessions were held for survivors and one townhall for the community/public to share input. More than 1,000 individuals shared opinions either by phone, online or in-person on the memorial planning process, location, and design elements.

A nationwide search led the City to choose Dills Architects for memorial design in 2023. The site, 2408 Princess Anne Road in front of Building 30, was ultimately chosen and funded ($1.2 million for design, $8.5 million for construction).

Whats Next: A site dedication will be held Friday, May 31, 2024 as part of annual remembrance activities. While we are disappointed that there were no responses to our May 2024 construction RFP, we are optimistic that the second issuance in June 2024 with extended delivery timeline will meet the needs of interested contractors; therefore, the completion timeline is yet to be determined.

A resilience center, VB Strong Center, stood for five years to support the ongoing needs of families, survivors and those directly impacted.

The original grant was for two years and was extended to support ongoing needs of the impacted population.

Whats Next: The VB Strong Center will close in September 2024, with various mental health services transitioning back to the City for the continuity of support through a dedicated in-house mental health professional.

While not a comprehensive list , several key organizational changes have taken place to address recommendations from independent investigations.

An extension of the Office of Volunteer Resources, the Recovery division was created to uplift and remember the lives forever impacted on 5/31.

At the time of the incident, the City did not have a centralized system for tracking employee complaints, and it was recommended that the City implement such system. In January 2021, the R.E.S.P.E.C.T. (Report Employee Situations Promptly to Enable Change Together) online reporting system was established as a centralized, standardized system for tracking incidents of potential workplace violence and complaint investigations.

Through the Citys New Member Orientation program, the City educates new employees about 5/31 and how to be supportive colleagues.

Emergency Management created a Security Division to oversee enterprise security. For example, a mobile-friendly alert program was implemented -the Rave Panic Button app- to instantly notify employees of key hazards in City facilities.

In addition to VB Strong Center access, below is a high-level overview of other 5/31 benefits:

United Way Tragedy Fund (approx. $4.7 million)

Workers Compensation (to include Death Benefits (wage, burial and transportation expenses), Indemnity Benefits, Medical Expenses)  total paid on claims to date more than $10.5 million

Group Life and Accidental Death Insurance

Virginia Retirement System- Death Benefits or Disability Retirement

Final Wage and Leave Payouts

Deferred Compensation (457 Plan)

Extended Medical and Dental Insurance Coverage through 2019

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Access: 10 free confidential counseling sessions free through 2019

Legal Resource Benefits  free to employees for two years

Virginia Victim Fund

VB Strong Center

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
A fifth-grade teacher in the Peninsula School District charged with molesting his female students is back in Pierce County Jail for allegedly violating the condition of his pretrial release.

Jordan Roy Henderson, 34, is facing nine counts of first-degree child molestation and is alleged to have molested three of his students numerous time while they were in his fourth- and fifth-grade classes, records show.

A plea of not guilty was entered on Hendersons behalf on April 19 in Pierce County Superior Court. His bail was set at $100,000, and he was released the same day on a electronic home-monitoring device after posting a bond, court records show.

Henderson was ordered not to have contact with minors, except for his biological children. He was also not allowed to attend church. Henderson is a deacon at Wellspring Fellowship Church in Key Peninsula where his father, Chris Henderson, is the pastor, a previous News Tribune story reported.

Prosecutors allege that Henderson broke the pretrial services order when he allegedly hosted religious services at his Gig Harbor home where juveniles were present, documents show.

A neighbor reported to police that since Henderson cannot go preach at his church, he is hosting services at his home. The neighbor has seen a large number of cars parked at his house and on the streets every Sunday. She alleged that numerous juveniles that were not his own children entered and exited the home.

At one point on May 10, the neighbor saw Henderson cleaning his front yard when a young girl about 4 to 5 years old approached him. Henderson allegedly said, Oh my god, there she is in a cute little skirt. The neighbor said the girl was not Hendersons child.

Hendersons hearing details

Henderson was taken into custody Thursday on the alleged bail violations.

At a Friday afternoon hearing in Pierce County Superior Court, prosecutors Lindsay Chenelia and Christine Dickson requested that Court Commissioner Barbara McInvaille increase his bail to $750,000 for the alleged violations.

Hendersons attorney, Brett Purtzer, denied that his client violated the pretrial services agreement and urged the court not to raise his bail.

Purtzer said in court Friday there were not any children at the religious services at Hendersons home. The prosecution argued that the neighbor confirmed the children going to the services were not Hendersons children because she knows what they look like.

Purtzer and the prosecution went back and forth about the neighbor witnessing Henderson speak to a child.

Purtzer said that Hendersons home has Ring camera video footage that shows the neighbor walking her dog and a child approaching his client. He said that the little girl was Hendersons daughter.

Chenelia argued that it was possible the neighbor was referencing some time earlier or later that day. She also added that the neighbor was not specific on what time it happened.

Purtzer also told the court there is an ongoing investigation into whether Henderson has accessed child pornography.

Detectives allegedly recovered child pornography that was accessed in 2017 on Hendersons computer. There was also allegedly an extensive search history for child pornography. Purtzer said there is no indication that Henderson was the one to access the pornography. Chenelia argued that the laptop the pornography searches came from was logged in with Hendersons Google account.

McInvaille increased bail to $750,000 and said that the developments of the case concerned her greatly, including the alleged child pornography.

I am most concerned about what was discovered because even the possession of those kinds of materials is against the law, she said.

McInvaille ruled that if Henderson posts bail he is not allowed to have religious services inside his home. Purtzer argued that the court was denying Hendersons right to practice his religion. McInvaille said she is not denying his right, and that he is free to practice his religion but just cannot have services inside his home.

Hendersons father posted on the churchs Facebook on April 18 that the church supported him. It was the last public post the church has made.

While some would have you focus on alarm bells and your greatest fears about what you do not know, I want to encourage you with confidence about what I do know, the Facebook post read. I know Jordan to be of the highest quality and character as a man. He is a great husband, a great father, a great teacher.

The church and his family supported to Henderson at his arraignment. Parishioners, Hendersons parents, his in-laws and wife filled the first three rows of the courtroom gallery. Hendersons family members were also present during Fridays hearing.

Henderson was arrested April 18 following a two-month investigation into the allegations. He is on administrative leave, according to the Peninsula School District.

One of the alleged victims spoke at his arraignment, saying that she has nightmares and trauma.

Its horrible. Like, I cant sleep without crying. I fall asleep crying, and I cant look at a school building without getting triggered, the child said while in tears. Im scared hes gonna come back.
A Wake County elementary school instructional assistant has been arrested on charges of injuring a student under her supervision.

Court records show that Zebulon Police charged Shirley Richardson, 62, on Thursday with two counts of misdemeanor child abuse while working at Wakelon Elementary School. Shes accused of bruising a students forearm and putting the child at additional risk of physical injury by pinning him between mats and a bookshelf on May 2.

The safety of our children is of the utmost importance, the Zebulon Police Department said in a Facebook post Thursday. We appreciate the cooperation of the Wake County Public School System as our staff conducted the investigation.

Richardson was released from the Wake County jail on a $1,000 on secured bond.

Richardson works in special programs at Wakelon. But its not immediately clear whether the child shes accused of abusing is a special-needs student.

Richardsons job status was not immediately known. But the Wake County school system typically suspends employees with pay after criminal charges are filed against them.

3 Wake school workers arrested

Richardson is at least the third Wake County elementary school employee charged this school year with abusing or assaulting a student. All three employees work with students with disabilities.

 In December, an instructional assistant at East Garner Elementary School was charged with one count each of misdemeanor assault on a child under 12, misdemeanor assault on an individual with disabilities and misdemeanor child abuse.

Tiffany Krystine Ebron is accused of dragging a 9-year-old student by the feet across the floor after having lifted him by the feet, which caused his head to hit the floor.

 In February, a teacher at Carver Elementary School was charged with one count of misdemeanor child abuse and one count of misdemeanor assault on an individual with a disability.

Lori Miller Holland is accused of unlawfully assaulting a student with a disability by dragging the child down the hallway at the school.

The criminal cases against Ebron and Holland are pending. Its not immediately clear whether both women, who were suspended with pay when they were arrested, are still employed by the school system.
Want to visit Savannah, Ga.? No need to leave Indiana. Hit Noblesville's Hamilton Town Center

The Surprisingly Savannah Mobile Tour is officially underway after debuting in Cincinnati May 25-26, with sights set for Indiana this weekend.

The tourism marketing venture hopes to inspire visitors from around the United States to experience "their classic charm" and what the city has to offer by making 11 tour stops this summer across multiple states, according to a press release.

A fully immersive marketing experience has been designed to inspire consumers to consider heading to Georgia for their next getaway, focusing on making a stop in Savannah.

"Not only do we want these communities to experience a taste of what Savannah has to offer, we also hope to leave them with a desire to come stay at one of our iconic hotels, enjoy our famous restaurants, and take in the history, art, and culture that make Savannah a truly unique place to visit.," said Joseph Marinelli, President and CEO of Visit Savannah.

Indiana concerts 2024: Dave Matthews, Creed and the New Kids: All the acts coming to Ruoff Music Center this summer

Here's what you need to know:

What is the 2024 Surprisingly Savannah Mobile Tour?

The tour is an immersive marketing experience visiting 11 states in hopes that visitors will consider Savannah, Ga., for their next getaway.

The Surprisingly Savannah Mobile Tour is making 11 stops across the United States in hopes Savannah, Ga., will make the list for your next getaway.

When is the Surprisingly Savannah Mobile Tour coming to Indiana?

The Suprisingly Savannah Mobile Tour will be in Indiana this weekend, June 1-2.

Where is the Surprisingly Savannah Mobile Tour in Indiana?

The Suprisingly Savannah Mobile Tour will be at Hamilton Town Center, 13901 Town Center Blvd. in Noblesville, Ind.

What are the 11 cities on the 2024 Surprisingly Savannah Mobile Tour?

Official tour stops are mostly locations offering non-stop flight service to and from Savannah:

What do tickets cost for Surprisingly Savannah Mobile Tour admission?

The event is a free, family-friendly offering.

What are things to do at Surprisingly Savannah Mobile Tour?

Create-your-own salt scrub experience with Salacia Salts

Free giveaways such Savannah's Candy Kitchen pralines and Savannah Insider's Guide

Honey tastings fromSavannah Bee Company

Live music

Photo booth

Prizes for answering Savannah trivia including Savannah hotel stays, attraction tickets and more

For more information, visit VisitSavannah.com/tour or follow Visit Savannah on social media for tour updates.

Chris Sims is a digital content producer at Midwest Connect Gannett. Follow him on Twitter: @ChrisFSims.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: Surprisingly Savannah 2024: Mobile tour offers slice of Georgia to Indiana
Despite his best efforts, President Joe Biden just plunged the U.S. deeper into the fight in Ukraine.

Soon, Ukraine will be using U.S.-made weapons to strike inside Russia  a nuclear-armed power  with a U.S. presidents blessing.

Bidens decision is a stark admission that his efforts to defend Ukraine fully so far have fallen short  a reality laid bare by Russia's advancements deeper into Kharkiv, the countrys second-largest city. And it is a sign of how far Biden has been pushed from his early efforts to be helpful, but hands-off in Ukraine.

The White House has stressed that only certain weapons can be used on targets in and around the Kharkiv region, including just over the border on Russian soil. Still, for a man who entered office seeking to stabilize relations with Russia, and then directed his staff to avoid World War III after Moscows all-out attack on Ukraine, thats quite the risk to take.

Biden made the decision after being prodded by aides, Democrats and foreign leaders to  slowly, incrementally  push past every red line hed drawn on Americas involvement. And when Biden and his team saw the unfolding crisis in Kharkiv, the president was convinced to change course yet again.

Theres a real sense that the Ukrainians are in trouble. Theres a sense something needed to be done to weaken the Russian advances. The idea is to slow the Russian advances long enough for the Ukrainians to recover, buying them some time, said a U.S. official familiar with the battlefield situation. The official, like others, was granted anonymity to explain the thinking behind a policy change that was done in secret. POLITICO first reported the news on Thursday.

In more than two years of defending Ukraine, Biden has progressively escalated support, first by pumping the country full of American arms before, most recently, allowing Kyiv to strike Russian forces in Ukraine using donated long-range weapons. With every move, Washington cautioned that it was just helping Ukraine protect itself, not launching a shadow proxy war against an enemy.



That remains the main message now, but a harder one for the U.S. to maintain.

All the veils are getting pulled off, exposing where weve been for a very long period of time, said Fiona Hill, a prominent Russia expert who led that portfolio in former President Donald Trumps White House.

War, she said of the Biden administration, has found them.

Russia, meanwhile, continues to bring the war to Ukraine. Oleh Syniehubov, Kharkivs regional governor, said Friday on Telegram that Moscows forces struck a five-story apartment, killing three people and injuring another 16  including children. Its already clear that Russian President Vladimir Putin will fight on despite Bidens green light, and may choose to launch more weapons and send more fighters to the battlefield in the days ahead.

Bidens choice to cross the line on striking inside Russian territory is likely to lead to pressure to go further. Inevitably, Ukrainian and other European officials will clamor for Biden to change his policy once again, this time allowing Kyiv to attack the whole of Russia.

In fact, its already happening. This was a very limited lifting and the Russians will quickly adapt, said a person close to the government in Kyiv.

Some European leaders already want Ukraine to have that authority. Kyiv has the right to attack targets on the side of the aggressor if they are military targets," Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen told POLITICO on Friday, vowing to bring up the issue during a meeting of top NATO member diplomats in Prague this week.

A day earlier, Espen Barth Eide, Norways foreign minister, told a state broadcaster we believe that Ukraine can also use weapons it has received from Western countries against military targets that are relevant to the warfare in Ukraine." Any limit, he continued, "makes it more difficult to win.

Biden has taken foreign policy gambles before, namely the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan that ended Americas involvement in the 20-year war. The move paved the way for the Talibans return to power, reversed steady improvements in womens rights and prompted a chaotic evacuation that left behind Americans clamoring to escape. But that decision, for all its strategic calculations and faulty execution, was to end a conflict, not potentially escalate an existing one.

Biden administration officials immediately tried to downplay the shift, noting that Biden approved a limited relaxation of a longstanding restriction.



Ukraine can use American arms to protect itself from a Russian offensive against the city of Kharkiv by striking at incoming missiles or troop concentrations just over the border. Kyiv cant target Russian military sites or civilian infrastructure far away from that urban warzone.

This is defensive in nature, not offensive, a U.S. official said.

The Foreign Policy Research Institutes Rob Lee agreed, saying the administration's conditions suggest that they seek to limit escalation risks, but recognize that a complete ban on using U.S.-supplied weapons to counter Russia's Kharkiv offensive was unduly restrictive.

Still, even that limited moved highlighted, once again, how Biden often changes his mind on once-taboo Ukraine policy ideas after battlefield conditions shift or, most persuasively, allies move first. That was especially true when the U.S. followed Britain and France in sending long-range missiles for Ukraine to use deep behind Russian front lines. Even then, the U.S. transferred the weapon quietly in March, letting Ukraine strike two targets before confirming the delivery in April.

The shift on striking targets inside Russia came in part because of pressure from Congress. Behind the scenes in recent weeks, Democrats pleaded with the administration to ease the weapons restrictions. It made no sense to fellow party members to restrict Ukraines defenses during a major attack on its second-largest city. It was a necessary decision, said Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), a lawmaker deeply fearful about the risk of nuclear escalations.

Top Biden aides, however, had long resisted suggestions that the administration moves too slowly and that it assists Ukraine incrementally out of fear of making matters worse. Once Russia launched its offensive in Kharkiv, those same aides began to reevaluate and proposed to Biden that a policy shift was needed. Secretary of State Antony Blinken  who had long advocated for sending weapons to Ukraine swiftly and when Kyiv requested them  also played a key role in making the argument to Biden, according to a senior administration official.

Speaking to an audience last summer, national security adviser Jake Sullivan insisted Bidens team was, and always would be, open to testing limits.

That is belied by the sheer magnitude of the breadth and sophistication of the capabilities that we have provided, he said during the Aspen Security Forum. We have been prepared to take risks, and we will continue to be prepared to take risks to provide support to Ukraine.
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Va. (WFXR)  Deputies in Charlotte County say three people are facing several charges for allegedly distributing marijuana.

According to the Charlotte County Sheriffs Office (CCSO), on May 29, deputies, the Tri-County Drug and Gang Task Force, and state police served multiple search warrants at A Smoke Zone LLC. The sheriffs office says the LLC was located at an apartment complex near the Town of Keysville.

During the search, investigators allegedly discovered several pounds of marijuana, packing material, and more than $31,000 in cash.

Man charged with murder in deadly Pittsylvania County shooting

The business owner, 51-year-old Abdul R. Abuzaid, of Kaysville, was charged with Distribution of Marijuana and Money Laundering.

The sheriffs office says 21-year-old Hood A. Abuzaid and 19-year-old Kyra Howard were arrested and charged with the Distribution of Marijuana to a minor. It was also revealed that Hood Abuzaid was wanted in Prince Edward County for Failure to appear in court.

I would like to thank the Task Force Members, Investigators, Deputies, Troopers, and our Commonwealths Attorney for their assistance in this successful investigation. The Task Force and its partner agencies will continue to aggressively enforce Virginias drug laws and safeguard the citizens of our community. said Sheriff Grissom.

Wythe Co. Sherriff arrests and charges wanted woman connected to drug investigation

The Sheriffs Office says additional charges are forthcoming.

Anyone with information on the distribution of drugs is encouraged to call the Tri-County Drug and Gang Task Force through the CCSO non-emergency number at 434-542-5141, Lunenburg County Crime stoppers at 434-696-3100, or the Lunenburg County Sheriffs Office at 434-696-4452.

(Photo Courtesy: Charlotte County Sheriffs Office)

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
Warsaw is considering forming and training a unit of draft-aged Ukrainian men living in Poland, Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said in Prague on May 31, the Wnp.pl media outlet reported.

Sikorski believes that this move will help Kyiv more than sending a Polish training mission to Ukraine.

Kyiv has been discussing with France and other states the possible presence of foreign instructors on the ground in Ukraine, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on May 27. Paris may reportedly soon send its military trainers to the country, despite concerns of some Western allies.

Poland considered Ukraine's request for training, but we came to the conclusion that it would be both safer and more effective to train a Ukrainian unit formed of Ukrainians in Poland who are subject to conscription into the Ukrainian army, the minister said.

With some exceptions, Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 are prohibited from leaving Ukraine during the war while martial law is in effect.

Kyiv announced in late April that Ukraine was temporarily suspending new applications for consular support for military-age men abroad due to the new law on mobilization. Less than a month later, the Foreign Ministry said it would restore consular services.

Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said then that Poland would help Ukraine bring its draft-aged men back, while Sikorsky called the move ethically ambiguous.

He said that Poland would wait for Ukraine to "take the initiative" on how to approach sending Ukrainian men back to Ukraine.

"Although, of course, we understand that Ukraine needs its defenders to defend its homeland," the minister added.

Read also: Sending troops to Ukraine shouldnt be ruled out, Polish FM says

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Warsaw proposes to train unit of military-age Ukrainians residing in Poland on its territory

Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski has said his country is not considering sending its instructors to Ukraine, and proposes to train a unit of military-age Ukrainian men residing in Poland on its territory.

Source: Polish news agency PAP, citing Sikorski in a conversation with journalists in Prague

Details: Sikorski noted that Poland had considered Ukraine's request to send its instructors involved in training the Ukrainian military directly to Ukraine.

"We came to the conclusion that it would be safer and more effective to train a Ukrainian unit in Poland, formed of Ukrainians residing in Poland who are subject to conscription into the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and that would be a more effective way to help Ukraine," Sikorski said.

The foreign minister further stressed that Poland, unlike many other countries, had not initially prohibited Ukraine from launching strikes on Russian territory using Polish-supplied weaponry.

Background: Last week, Sikorski said he did not support providing social security to Ukrainians who evaded the draft, but believed that the decision on them should be a pan-European one.

Olha Stefanishyna, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, has stressed that Ukraine will not forcibly bring military-age Ukrainian men back from other countries.

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TOPEKA  (KSNT) Orientation for new Washburn students is in full effect.

Since April, incoming freshman and transfer students have been participating in conferences and workshops to get the feel of becoming a future Ichabod. Students are also able to browse multiple clubs the university has to offer and tour buildings on campus.

Construction in NOTO inconveniences business owners

Vice President of strategic enrollment management for Washburn, Alan Bearman, told 27 News hes thrilled to see what the new students willo bring to the university.

Theyre full of ideas, theyre full of hope, theyre full of energy, Bearman sad. Theyre ready to do something great with their life, and we get to be a part of it.

Registration for orientation and fall enrollment is still open.

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.
BRUSSELS, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Council of the European Union (EU) on Thursday green-lighted the EU and Euratom (European Atomic Energy Community) to withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty.

The decision came after the European Parliament approved the withdrawal in April.

The Energy Charter Treaty (ECT), which entered into force in 1998, contains provisions on investment protection and trade in the energy sector. The treaty is no longer in line with the Paris Agreement and the EU ambitions regarding the energy transition, said the EU Council.

In July 2023, the European Commission submitted the withdrawal proposal, as it considered the treaty no longer compatible with the EU's climate goals under the European Green Deal and the Paris Agreement, predominantly due to concerns over continued fossil fuel investments.

The decisions on the withdrawal of the EU and Euratom, as well as the decisions on the modernisation of the treaty, enter into force on Thursday, said the EU Council. 
A new study, published in JAMA Network Open this week, has found that since the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision, when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, Washington has seen a 50% increase in out-of-state patients seeking abortions. (A PDF of the Supreme Courts Dobbs opinion can be viewed here.)

UW Medicine stated the study tracked the number of abortions performed at the Cedar River Clinics, a network of care sites in Washington, both before and after the 2022 Dobbs decision. Researchers reviewed numbers from Jan. 1, 2017, to June 23, 2022, and compared the totals with June 24, 2022, to July 31, 2023.

The study found there was a total of 18,379 abortions from January 1, 2017, to July 31, 2023. Out of those abortions, 3,378 occurred after the Dobbs decision.

Of those out-of-state patients, 27% are from Texas, 26% are from Alaska and the rest are largely from Idaho, Louisiana, and Florida, according to a news release from UW Medicine. Before Dobbs, 52% of out-of-state abortions were from Alaska, 9% from Montana, 8% from Idaho, 6% from Oregon and 6% from Texas.

Washington abortion numbers: Patients traveling from Idaho surge

Of the patients the study followed 31% were white, 23% were Black, 14% were Hispanic, and 13% were Asian.

The study also found delays in care for abortion patients

The study also found an average one-week delay in care for all abortion patients. Those who experienced a significant delay included Latina, white, and Black individuals.

While a week delay does not sound significant, any delays in receiving abortion care are problematic because it adversely affects the health of the pregnant person, UW Medicine family medicine doctor, OB-GYN, and the papers senior author Dr. Emily Godfrey stated, according to UW Medicine.

The studys lead author and UW graduate student in the Department of Epidemiology Taylor Riley added that delays could lead to larger issues.

This has concerning health and economic implications because delayed abortion care is associated with increased risk of complications and negative mental health impacts, and later abortion care is more expensive, she said, as reported by UW Medicine.

Washington insurance: Health plan prices may rise; new rule set to begin

Washington allows abortions up to the point of fetal viability or to protect the health of the pregnant individual. Researchers found post-Dobbs, more abortion patients sought procedural abortions, instead of medication, to ensure they were not pregnant with 100% certainty.

UW Medicine cited the study which found Washington has become a safe haven for people seeking abortions. Riley added this could lead to expanding the number of abortion-providing centers and strengthening existing abortion care services within the state.

The University of Washington Population Health Initiative funded the study. Godfrey noted that the next steps would be to gather information from more clinics.

The next step is to include more abortion facilities in this study to confirm our findings so that we can continue to provide critical information needed to effectively address health disparities related to abortion care in Washington state, she said, according to UW Medicine.
TAMPA, Fla. (WLFA)  Cliff Scott, the owner of Angles Touch, an assisted living facility in Riverview, said he is receiving thousands of unwanted and unordered Covid test kits a week.

This is a waste of taxpayer money, Scott said.

Scott said his facility served as a test site during the pandemic, but the delivery of test kits, paid for by the government, never stopped. And now, the deliveries have ramped up, he said, and sometimes two boxes show up a week. The tests, he said, are always expired.

Each box contains hundreds, sometimes thousands of test kits, he said.

We cant get anyone to stop them, Scott said. The impact may seem small to some people because were just one facility, but I look at it on a national basis.

The shipping label offers few clues.

Scott said he calls the phone number listed on the label, but gets no answer. The label said theyre from HHS, likely Heath and Human Services, the very department where an Inspector General is tasked with investigating Medicare Covid testing fraud.

Theres an address on Winchester Road in Memphis, Tennessee, but its for an industrial warehouse used by numerous businesses.

Ive even spent money and sent two shipments back to them and then they came back the next week, Scott said.

You may recall previous Better Call Behnken investigations about individual Medicare recipients receiving Covid tests and Medicare footing the bill.

Those reports spawned several ongoing criminal fraud investigations. So now, Consumer Investigator Shannon Behnken reached out to the Inspector General to ask about the shipments arriving at Angles Touch and the taxpayer money being wasted.

A spokeswoman HHS said she cant speak on an individuals case but asked that Scott, and any other viewer with a similar issue, contact their fraud hotline. You can find that information by visiting tips.hhs.gov or calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS (1-800-447-8477).

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 WFLA.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  SeaWorld San Diego has announced a baby dolphin that was found stranded on the beach in Cardiff with severe injuries has defied all odds and is making a miraculous recovery.

The SeaWorld San Diego rescue team responded to reports of a stranded male dolphin calf on Cardiff Beach in mid-January 2024. After rescuing the dolphin, the team found it was only a few months old and had a broken jaw in three places and head trauma.

PHOTOS: Rescued baby sea otter deemed non-releasable, now at SeaWorld San Diego

Named Cardiff, the long-beaked common dolphin is covering well after the SeaWorld rescue team has been working for the past few months to rehabilitate the orphaned calf.

According to SeaWorld, stranded cetaceans typically have up to a 10% chance of survival depending on age, body condition, any underlying disease or problems, and the extent of their injuries. Orphaned calves have a slightly higher chance of survival as they are often more resilient during rehabilitation.

SeaWorld San Diego takes in cold-stunned sea turtle found stranded in Oregon waters

After his rescue this winter, the SeaWorld rescue and animal care specialist teams placed the dolphin in a flotation vest to assist with buoyancy as they assessed him and provided 24-hour care.

They then performed two rare poolside jaw surgeries to address the traumatized broken jaw within the first three weeks of his rehabilitation.

Thanksgiving rescue: Baby sea lion saved from highway

Cardiff was also tube-fed with a special fish formula to ensure he was receiving the appropriate nutrients.

SeaWorld Rescues and Rehabs Orphaned Common Dolphin Calf with Traumatic Jaw Injury (Photo courtesy SeaWorld San Diego/Jennifer Crespo)

SeaWorld Rescues and Rehabs Orphaned Common Dolphin Calf with Traumatic Jaw Injury (Photo courtesy SeaWorld San Diego/Jennifer Crespo)

SeaWorld Rescues and Rehabs Orphaned Common Dolphin Calf with Traumatic Jaw Injury (Photo courtesy SeaWorld San Diego/Jennifer Crespo)

SeaWorld Rescues and Rehabs Orphaned Common Dolphin Calf with Traumatic Jaw Injury (Photo courtesy SeaWorld San Diego/Jennifer Crespo)

SeaWorld Rescues and Rehabs Orphaned Common Dolphin Calf with Traumatic Jaw Injury (Photo courtesy SeaWorld San Diego/Jennifer Crespo)

SeaWorld Rescues and Rehabs Orphaned Common Dolphin Calf with Traumatic Jaw Injury (Photo courtesy SeaWorld San Diego/Jennifer Crespo)

Because of his ongoing recovery from the jaw injury and acclimation to people, Cardiff has been deemed non-releasable by NOAA. He is now with the other dolphins at SeaWorld San Diego.

Bottlenose dolphins found at SeaWorld weigh around 330 to 440 pounds and grow to be around 6 to 12 feet in length, according to their website.

Humboldt penguins are at SeaWorld San Diego for the first time in over 40 years

In the ocean, they around found throughout the world in offshore and coastal waters.

Though they are not listed as endangered or threatened, they are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA), as they face many threats in the ocean including entanglement in fishing gear, disease, ocean pollution, human activities and disturbances, habitat alteration, and oil spills, according to NOAA.

Learn more about dolphins at SeaWorld San Diego at seaworld.com/san-diego.

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.
Representative Lauren Boeberts attempts to highlight her congressional track record may have unintentionally damaged her reelection campaign.

Fending off criticism Thursday night during a Republican debate for Colorado District 4 representative hopefuls, Boebert attempted to draw attention to her work in the Housebut ended up having to admit to her minimal accomplishments.

For Ms. Boebert, how many bills did you prime-sponsor  in the U.S. Congress that actually were signed by the president of the United States? asked state Representative Richard Holtorf, noting that anybody can put their name on a bill after it passes and become a co-sponsor.

Boebert immediately attempted to dodge the question, hitting the local conservative and primary competitor for having a failing Liberty score, a measure of a conservatives policy stances.

Would you like to answer the question, or would you like to talk about Liberty scores? pressed Holtorf. You can answer the question, maam, its OK. I asked a very specific question, please answer it.

I certainly will. One of my favorite pieces of legislation that has been signed into law is my Pueblo Jobs Act that creates at least 1,000 jobs in Pueblo, Colorado, Boebert said, not revealing that that is actually the only bill shes prime-sponsored that has become law.

But there are also many other pieces of legislation that Ive passed through the House she continued, before getting cut off by Holtorf, who clarified that it doesnt matter if its passed through the House. If the president doesnt sign it, maam, then it doesnt get passed.

But the debate moderators gave Boebert one more chance to elucidate her congressional scorecard after her speaking time ran out.

So my Pueblo Jobs Act she started, before the moderator insisted on a number.

That is one, Boebert finished weakly.

Rep Lauren Boebert's GOP opponents criticized her as ineffective and uninformed. After much prodding, Boebert acknowledged how many of her own bills (prime sponsor) have become law: one. pic.twitter.com/2bn1YGn8n1  Kyle Clark (@KyleClark) May 31, 2024

Boeberts time in Congress, instead of being spent working on legislation for her constituents, has been sprinkled and seasoned with scandal. In September, the gun-toting Republican was caught vaping, recording, loudly singing along, and fondling her date during a performance of Beetlejuice in Denver, causing her and her date to get kicked out of the theater for causing a disturbance. And in February, the Colorado representatives son was arrested in the city of Rifle over a string of thefts.

Boebert has also used her national platform to call Representative Ilhan Omar a terrorist, joined fellow conspiracy theorist Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene in heckling President Joe Biden during his 2022 State of the Union address, and faced calls for her resignation after she tweeted out the location of Nancy Pelosi as the former speaker of the House escaped charging rioters on January 6.
Watch: Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg says he did his job after Trump guilty verdict

Watch: Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg says he did his job after Trump guilty verdict

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg is holding a press conference after a jury declared former President Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts for falsification of business records. Trump is the first former president to be convicted of a felony.

Watch the video above.

Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In this popular phone scam, bad actors are seeking to learn your credentials to steal your money and identity. Illustration:Jianan Liu/HuffPost; Photo:Getty Images

Weve noticed a balance of $11.69 remaining on your record. To prevent a late fee of $50.00, please visit _______ to settle your balance.

A text from someone alleging to be your states toll collection agency may not immediately ring alarm bells. Summer is road trip season, and if you drive, you know how easy it can be to pass through a toll road and incur an unexpected fee.

But you should be wary if you receive a text about a sudden outstanding toll charge.

Theres a new, increasingly popular scam in which bad actors impersonate state toll collection services, saying theyre from New York SUNPASS or NJ Turnpike toll services, for example. They want to trick you into giving up your credit card and drivers license to pay them for fake toll charges. And its working.

Transportation authorities in Kansas, New Jersey, New York, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Louisiana, and Nebraska have all recently warned people about a rise in toll text scams. Reports are also surfacing in North Carolina and Pennsylvania. FBI Baltimore supervisory special agent Keith Custer told HuffPost that the agencys Internet Crime Complaint Center has received over 10,000 complaints about these toll scam texts in the past few months.

Although most people who are reporting the complaints recognize the scam as a scam, Custer said a number of people did click through on the links that were in the text messages.

He noted that the scammers appear to move from state to state after their domains get shut down; Custer said the FBI is seeing the most complaints from Oregon, Connecticut, Michigan and Washington at the moment.

The scammers usually want you to just pay a nominal fee  thats by design. Amy Nofziger, the director of victim support for the AARP Fraud Watch Network, said a text asking you to pay $10,000 is more obviously a scam, but one for a smaller amount may catch people off-guard, she said, because how many times have any of us in real life maybe underpaid something?

What scammers are seeking is actually more important than your money. Custer said the biggest danger with this scam is credential harvesting credit card data or personally identifiable information.

When you get to the fraudulent toll collection website, the first thing youll do is be asked to log in with the username and password, Custer explained. And then the bad guys are going to take that username and password and attempt to use that at major financial institutions.

How to avoid being scammed by a fake toll text

Some states do inform people about outstanding toll fees by text, but many do not, so one big red flag is getting an unsolicited text about a toll fee. Nofziger said the majority of toll fee notices come through the mail.

When tolls scan your license plate with their cameras, that goes to your vehicle registration, which has your address on it, not necessarily your phone number, said Melanie McGovern, the director of public relations for the Better Business Bureau, a nonprofit that tracks misleading advertisements and customer complaints in North America.

One other way to prevent being fooled is to think before you click on a website for a toll collection service. Take a few seconds to remember whether or not you were driving in the area that the toll is from.

Nofziger said to ask yourself: Was I on the toll road that day? ... You can look at your calendar and go, Oh, yes, I was going to the mountains that day.

And dont panic if you see this kind of text, because that is when you stop listening to common sense.

Any time we see something that claims its from the government or any kind of authority, I think a lot of peoples tendency is to click on it and see what it is, McGovern said. So resisting the urge to act immediately is really important.

Scammers want you to panic, so you stop listening to common sense. Take a deep breath and verify your state's toll collection service. Oscar Wong via Getty Images

What you can do if you got fooled by the toll scam

Prevention is the best form of scam protection. But if you have paid for a fake toll fee, there are immediate steps you can take to protect your privacy and wallet:

Monitor your bank accounts.

If you clicked any link or provided your information, keep an eye on your financial accounts and dispute any unfamiliar charges with your credit card company. You can also place a free fraud alert notice via major credit bureaus Experian, TransUnion and Equifax, which will make it harder for someone to open an account at a credit card company in your name.

And if you havent done so already, you should enable two-factor authentication for your accounts, Custer recommended.

Report what happened to authorities.

If you do believe your identity has been compromised, go to Federal Trade Commission website IdentityTheft.gov, which will walk you through a recovery plan.

You can also file a complaint with the Internet Crime Complaint Center. For your complaint, youll want to remember the phone number from where the text originated and the website listed within the text. Custer said these complaints can inform when the FBI needs to send out a public service announcement for a state.

Delete the fraudulent text.

After you report the text, delete it so you do not accidentally click the link by accident, McGovern recommended.

Custer said reporting the text as spam also helps telecommunication providers filter out these texts.

Learn your states actual toll collection service.

This scam is particularly effective because many of us do not know what our local toll collection service is called. In New York, the states Thruway Authority warned on its Facebook that a text linking to nytollservices.com is not legitimate  but that tollsbymailny.com/ptn could be real.

The best way to not get fooled by this scam is to confirm the name and website of your areas toll collection service, and check your account using the toll services legitimate website.

Taking these extra few minutes to verify information may be more of an inconvenience, but in the long run, they could be saving you from the bigger headache of getting scammed.

Related...
Weather Service warns pineapple express aimed at Whatcom Co. with the fury of a winter storm

A strong storm headed for Western Washington defines the Northwest colloquialism Juneuary, forecasters at the National Weather Service in Seattle said.

An entire Junes worth of rain is possible over three days next week in the Whatcom County lowlands, with heavier rainfall in the Cascade Mountains.

About the only difference between June and January next week will be that temperatures will hover in the low 60s, meteorologist Harrison Rademacher said.

We typically get these storms in the winter. This is very similar to a winter system, Rademacher told The Bellingham Herald in an interview.

An atmospheric river will drop 1 to 2 inches of rain in the Whatcom County lowlands from Sunday to Tuesday, Rademacher said. Normal June rainfall is 1.61 inches.

Such storms are sometimes called a pineapple express because they carry a huge amount of rain from the South Pacific.

Its looking like Sunday night into Monday is so far the best chance for the heaviest rain, Rademacher said.

This storm will be windy, with a gusty southwest breeze about 20 to 25 mph.

Rivers are expected to rise sharply across much of Western Washington next week, and several will approach flood stage, Rademacher said.

But predictions from the Northwest River Forecast Center show the Nooksack River will remain below flood stage at key locations  including Acme, Nugents Corner, Everson and Ferndale.
WeHo Pride is around the corner. Which roads are going to be closed?

Zerrick Payne dances at the NYX Makeup booth and celebrating at the 2023 WeHo Pride festival in West Hollywood. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

Pride Month is almost here, meaning there will be parades, marches and other events to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community.

Throughout the month, some streets will be closed in and around Los Angeles to accommodate the festivities, including this week in West Hollywood.

WeHo Pride kicks off with "Friday Night at OUTLOUD," a concert with performances by Kesha, Adam Lambert and additional artists at West Hollywood Park.

The Women's Freedom Festival and the Dyke March are scheduled for Saturday, with the WeHo Pride Street Fair opening both Saturday and Sunday at noon.

Read more: After WeHo-L.A. split, many expected 'Pride wars.' Instead, it's a fight for survival

The WeHo Pride Parade will start at 12:30 p.m. Sunday and traverse Santa Monica Boulevard from Crescent Heights Boulevard to San Vicente Boulevard.

For WeHo Pride celebrations, the following streets will be closed, according to city officials:





North San Vicente Boulevard from Melrose Avenue to Santa Monica Boulevard from 7 p.m. Thursday until 10 a.m. Monday

Eastbound Santa Monica Boulevard from North La Cienega Boulevard to North Doheny Drive from noon Friday until 7 a.m. Monday

North Robertson Boulevard from Santa Monica Boulevard to Melrose Avenue from noon Friday until 7 a.m. Monday

Westbound Santa Monica Boulevard from North La Cienega Boulevard to North Doheny Drive from 6 a.m. Saturday until 7 a.m. Monday

North San Vicente Boulevard from Santa Monica Boulevard to Cynthia Street from 6 a.m. Saturday until 7 a.m. Monday

Santa Monica Boulevard from North Fairfax Avenue to North Doheny Drive, including side streets one block north and south, on Sunday from 5 a.m. until 5 p.m.

These parking facilities will also be closed:





West Hollywood parking structures and lots from 7 p.m. Thursday until 10 a.m. Monday

Plummer Park south lot from 7 p.m. Thursday until noon Monday

Robertson parking lot from 7 p.m. Thursday until 10 a.m. Monday

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
They went on a honeymoon to Europe. Then 60 seconds of hell in the air turned it into an experience they'll never forget.

Ade Tan and Amos Chan were among the passengers aboard Singapore Airlines flight SQ321 on May 21.

Their flight was hit by severe turbulence while flying over Myanmar, and later diverted to Bangkok.

Tan and Chan, both doctors, described the horrors in mid-air  and what they did to help.

When they felt their plane lurch and plummet, Ade Tan and Amos Chan, both 28, barely had time to react.

"The last thing I saw was Amos trying to put on his seatbelt, and the next thing I registered was that he was no longer in his seat," Tan told BI.

"I must have been thrown off because when I next opened my eyes, I was actually on the aisle," Chan said. "I had slammed into another passenger two rows behind us."

The Singaporean couple had spent the past month honeymooning in Italy and Iceland. On May 20, they boarded their flight home from London.

"We came back because Amos' grandfather was celebrating his 100th birthday. We were planning to continue our honeymoon after that, so we were coming back just for a day," Tan said.

Tan and her husband were among the 211 passengers and 18 crew members aboard Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight SQ321, which ran into severe turbulence en route to Changi Airport.

The Singapore Airlines Boeing 777-300ER airplane that was headed to Singapore from London. SQ321 made an emergency landing in Bangkok after it was hit by severe turbulence. Lillian Suwanrumpha/AFP via Getty Images

SQ321 had been flying for around 10 hours when it was hit by severe turbulence while traveling over the south of Myanmar on May 21, per Singapore's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau.

The Boeing 777-300ER airplane was cruising at an altitude of 37,000 feet when it was thrust up and down rapidly for 62 seconds. Officials said the turbulence was so severe that the plane dropped 178 feet in four seconds. The plane was forced to divert to Bangkok because of the incident.

"There were a lot of oxygen masks dropped from above where people had crashed into the ceilings. Many were injured, people had blood on their heads, and some were lying in the aisle as well," she added.

"I smashed into the ceiling so all the oxygen masks dropped in front of me as well," Tan said. Ade Tan

Rushing to help passengers

Dozens of passengers were injured in the incident, with some suffering from brain and spinal cord injuries. One passenger, a 73-year-old British man named Geoffrey Kitchen, died of a suspected heart attack. Kitchen had a pre-existing heart condition.

Being trained medical doctors, Tan and Chan went around the cabin to tend to injured passengers.

"We could hear people calling out for medical help. I went more toward the front of the plane while Amos went to the back," Tan said.

That was when she noticed Kitchen had collapsed. Besides Tan, two other doctors and a nurse were tending to him.

"I remember shouting to the rest of the cabin, asking if anyone else is CPR trained," she said, adding that two men came forward to help with CPR.

Tan said the group spent about 20 to 30 minutes trying to resuscitate Kitchen, but their attempts weren't successful.

Sustaining injuries themselves

Tan told BI that she began to feel the pain in her neck worsen after the plane landed in Bangkok.

"I think when I first smashed up into the ceiling, the pain didn't register to me," Tan said.

Back home in Singapore, both Tan and Chan underwent CT scans on their brain and neck.

"Amos' one was completely clean, but because he had blacked out, he needed to be admitted for monitoring," Tan said.

Tan was later diagnosed with a cervical spine fracture.

"I stayed in the hospital for about a week mainly because it was quite difficult to mobilize myself with the fracture," she said, adding that she will have to wear a cervical collar for the next few weeks.

Tan and Chan said the incident hasn't made them afraid of flying. Tan, for one, commended SIA and the Bangkok medical and airport teams for their response to the crisis.

On Friday, SIA announced that 34 passengers are still in Bangkok, with 23 receiving medical treatment in the hospital. The airline said in an earlier statement on May 27 that all crew members had returned to Singapore.

When approached for comment, a representative for SIA pointed BI to a May 29 Facebook post, which the airline published after Singapore's Transport Safety Investigation Bureau released their preliminary investigation findings on Wednesday.

"The safety and well-being of our passengers and staff are our top priorities," SIA said in that post.

"We are committed to supporting our passengers and crew members who were on board SQ321 on that day, as well as their families and loved ones. This includes covering their medical and hospital expenses, as well as any additional assistance they may need," the airline added.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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Even by Donald Trumps standards, the ex-Presidents and newly-minuted felons Friday morning free-association session in the lobby of his Midtown Manhattan tower was a doozyand a warning that the march toward Election Day could be just as befuddling.

Without evidence, Trump claimed once more that the dozen jurors who voted unanimously to convict him on 34 felony charges a day earlier were working at the behest of his political opponent, President Joe Biden. He veered into some really extraneous sideshows, like the one where he says Democrats want to ban Americans from having cars, are responsible for the end of Little League games and luxury hotels, and are to blame for multilingual schools with languages where very few people have even heard of these languages; it is not like Spanish or French or Russian. Oh, and for good measure and without prompting, he invoked one of the three other pending criminal trials on his docket, the one related to his alleged involvement with the attempted override of democracy on Jan. 6, 2021.

It was, to be frank, a reminder that Trump is simultaneously a figure of seemingly endless self-confidence in his abilities to persuade his audiences that facts are pesky while also serving as his worst enabler. The next five months before Election Day, if Friday is a hint, stand to be just as truth challenged and mind blowing. Americans have been through two national campaigns starring Trump before, but this may set new levels of inanity. After all, which voters are going to decide their presidential preference based on Trumps claims that one of his Secret Service agents is a Karate expert who could have poked him in the eye on Jan. 6 if he got too aggressive?

A day earlier, Trump sulked in a Lower Manhattan courtroom as a jury found him guilty on charges stemming from dodgy bookkeeping used to conceal hush-money payouts to a porn star who alleged a tryst with the billionaire reality-show star back in 2006. Jurors agreed with prosecutors that the payouts from the Trump Organization were to help Trumps 2016 presidential bid avoid a messy scandal in the middle of a campaign, and were in effect illegal campaign contributions. Trump has denied the tryst and payoffs, but on Fridaynow found guilty by his peersseemed to drop that pretense altogether. "Was he a bad boy here? Was he a bad boy there? Trump asked of himself.

Trump has enjoyed narrow but consistent leads in national and swing state polls for some time, and its not clear his convictions this weekor potentially in other cases about election fraud, democracy interference, or classified documents down the roadmake any dent with his die-hard supporters. "Everybody says there's no crime here, Trump said, working once again to delegitimize the New York jurors who disagreed and said, in fact, there were 34 crimes no matter what his sycophants in the conservative echo chamber put forward.

But surely there has to be some breaking point for some voters who are just tired of Trumps dirge of fabricated realities. Well, at least thats the hope among Democrats who were completely under-prepared to watch Trump collect more than $34 million in donationsroughly a million dollars per felony convictionin the hours after learning he was now a felon facing a June sentencing date back in the courtroom of Judge Juan Merchan, whom Trump called the devil and a tyrant. Public and private polling alike shows Trump supporters have grown less wobbly on their support if he were convicted. Democrats, from the White House to individual candidates, are still telling themselves that abortion and democracy were the more salient topics to mine with voters, not a criminal docket.

For his part, it doesnt seem like Trump recognizes the very real peril ahead of him. If Trump does comprehend his plightwhich could involve jail timehe is not one to let on. Remember, Nov. 5 is the most important day in the history of our country, Trump told reporters whose questions went unanswered in the gilded lobby. Thank you, Trump said curtly, as though he was merely ordering a taco salad from the commissary down the hall. For a figure replete with bombast and armed with endless self-worth, Trump seems to think he can bluster his way out of this pickle, and he mightnt be entirely irrational. Up until this week, Trump had tangoed through troubles with little more than a scratch. And, given this nations seemingly limitless capacity to indulge Trumps excesses, grievances, and bravado, Trump may well be proven correct.

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Write to Philip Elliott at philip.elliott@time.com.
Jens Stoltenberg, North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General, speaks at a press conference after an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Prague, the Czech Republic, on May 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Lin Hao)

PRAGUE, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said here on Friday that he has proposed a multi-year financial commitment for Ukraine and urged NATO allies to share the burden equitably.

Speaking at a press conference after an informal meeting of NATO foreign ministers, Stoltenberg said the allies agreed that maintaining support for Ukraine should remain a top priority.

He said NATO countries have provided nearly 40 billion euros (43.48 billion U.S. dollars) worth of military support annually to Ukraine since 2022, emphasizing that this level of support must be maintained each year for as long as necessary. He also called on allies to share the burden equitably to enhance accountability.

The allies are currently discussing the framework and rules of the joint commitment. Stoltenberg mentioned that there are other methods available, citing the existing model where defense contributions are based on each member's gross domestic product.

The ministers also discussed Ukraine's path to NATO membership. "Allies agree that Ukraine's future is in NATO. And we are determined to make progress in charting this path," he said.

NATO foreign ministers gathered in Prague for a two-day meeting to discuss support for Ukraine and preparations for the July NATO summit in Washington, D.C.. Stoltenberg said he anticipates new decisions on aid to Ukraine at the July summit.

On the first day of the meeting, several dozen anti-war demonstrators gathered in Prague's Hradcany square on Thursday afternoon to protest the Czech Republic's involvement in the Ukraine conflict. Protesters carried drums and banners with slogans such as "Stop guns," "Let's get out of NATO" and "Stop NATO," according to the Czech News Agency. 
The West Nile Virus has been found in Allegheny County mosquitos.

The Allegheny County Health Department said the virus was found in mosquitos in Garfield on May 21.

The last reported human case of West Nile Virus was in Sept. 2023, health officials say.

Generally, the species of mosquitoes that carry West Nile Virus are active from dusk to dawn, explained ACHD Vector Control Specialist Nicholas Baldauf. Residents can deter mosquito bites by using insect repellent on exposed skin or choosing to wear long sleeves and pants. Both methods are effective at reducing or eliminating the possibility of getting a mosquito bite.

The Health Department said it will set mosquito traps to help prevent infection.

County residents play an important role when it comes to reducing the areas mosquito population, said Baldauf. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a half inch of stagnant water, so residents should pay close attention to potential breeding sites like stagnant water in tires, unused swimming pools, buckets, corrugated piping, and clogged gutters.

Larvicide will be placed in known breeding sites for mosquitos throughout Allegheny County.

Officials say less than one person of people who are infected develop a serious illness.

A small portion of people, 1 in 100 or less, can develop an infection that involves the brain or area around the brain or spinal cord. those infections can be severe, said Dr. Graham Snyder, Medical Director of Infection, Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology for UPMC

There are no current vaccines or medications for the West Nile Virus but Snyder said protection is as simple as being cautious with your clothing.

A small portion of people, 1 in 100 or less, can develop an infection that involves the brain or area around the brain or spinal cord. those infections can be severe, said Snyder.

Residents can report possible mosquito breeding sites to the Allegheny County Health Department on an online form or by calling 412-350-4046.

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What went wrong with Google's new AI search feature  and what the company is doing to try to fix it

Over the last two weeks, Google started rolling out AI Overviews to users in the U.S. The feature uses generative artificial intelligence to gather information from around the internet and summarize it in a concise synopsis at the top of its first page of search results.

For over a year, Google has been upfront with its plans to incorporate AI into its platform. In May 2023, the company detailed its plans to integrate AI into its search engine  which controls 91% of the search market online.

Following the launch of the new feature, users have been complaining about the results and mocking the AI-generated answers on social media platforms. Google employees have since manually corrected some of the AI Overviews answers, and the tech giant has detailed what engineers are doing to improve the system.

 Search queries have gone viral

Since the AI Overviews rollout, social media users quickly pointed out apparent flaws in the search results. In an example that went viral, someone searched cheese not sticking to pizza, and AI Overviews suggested adding 1/8 cup of non-toxic glue to the sauce to give it more tackiness. Users traced the information back to a humorous comment on an 11-year-old Reddit post.

In a May 30 blog post, Liz Reid, the vice president of Google Search, called the viral AI Overviews examples circulating online odd and erroneous and alleged a very large number of them were faked screenshots.

We hold ourselves to a high standard, as do our users, so we expect and appreciate the feedback, and take it seriously, she wrote. At the scale of the web, with billions of queries coming in every day, there are bound to be some oddities and errors.

Some AI mistakes, however, are more serious than the answer generated by a search of whether dogs have ever played in the NBA. One reported example illustrated how Googles AI regurgitated a widely circulated piece of misinformation that former President Barack Obama is Muslim.

 Why are some of the Google AI Overviews wrong?

Google struck a $60 million deal with Reddit and said in a policy update in 2023 that it would use publicly available information to train its AI models. But AI is not infallible  it pulls results from anywhere, including low-quality sites that may not be fact-checked, such as Reddit comments, and even the satirical news website the Onion.

AI does not recognize the difference between a joke or sarcasm and facts. This becomes especially difficult when the search query is obscure enough that there arent many available sources.

Its not an issue exclusive to Googles AI practices. Other popular AI tools like OpenAIs ChatGPT have produced wrong answers. A Purdue University study found that the app presented wrong information as facts 52% of the time, especially when presented with more complex or complicated questions.

 Medias potential future problem with Google AI Overviews

Googles ecosystem has been built on presenting links to other content and platforms to help users find answers to their questions. As the leading global search engine, with tens of millions of visitors daily, Google Search is responsible for an estimated 63% of all U.S. website traffic referrals.

Not only does AI Overviews push other publishers and links down the first page of search results, but it also paraphrases content taken directly from other websites by writers who do not get credited.

Following the release of AI Overviews, the News/Media Alliance, which represents more than 2,000 print and digital news media companies, called Googles incorporation of AI into its search engine catastrophic to our traffic. Danielle Coffey, the nonprofits chief executive, said Google has created a product that directly competes with our content, using our content to fuel it.

Gartner, a tech research firm, estimated that publisher traffic generated from search engines will fall 25% within the next two years.

 What is Google doing to try to fix AI Overviews?

Social media users have noticed that some of their previous Google searches that were generating weird and inconsistent answers were suddenly no longer offering an AI Overviews answer  some just hours after their original search.

According to the Verge, a Google spokesperson said the company is removing AI Overviews on certain searches and using those failed AI Overviews answers as examples to develop broader improvements to our systems.

 Is trust in Google compromised? Experts say its possible.

For the search engine that processes approximately 99,000 queries per second, this uncertainty and misinformation could slowly erode our trust in Google, Chinmay Hegde, associate professor of computer science and engineering at NYU, told Yahoo Finance.

In an announcement on May 21, Google also shared that it would start testing placing search and shopping advertisements in its AI Overviews answers to boost ad sales. Google said it would mark ads as sponsored within the AI Overviews results.

 Can you turn off Google AI Overviews?

Users cannot turn off the feature, but there are work-arounds.

Use a web browser that isnt Google Chrome. This trick only works with desktops, but using Safari or Firefox should eliminate AI Overviews in Google searches. Click the Web tab that displays above Google search results. Next to tabs like All and Images, there should be a section titled Web that will eliminate the Overviews section from view and only show you links. This should work on desktop and mobile browsers. Someone created a Hide Google AI Overviews Chrome extension. You can download the extension here.
Heres your weekly roundup of the latest retail, business and restaurant activity in and around Whatcom County:

New nightclub proposed

A new nightclub, Parliament Tavern, may be opening at 1313 N. State St. in Bellingham, next door to the previous location of Simmering Tava and State Street Bar. The business filed a permit with the city of Bellingham for a new nightclub May 21, though it had not been approved as of May 24.

Dougs Burgers opens

Dougs Burgers, a food truck that opened last November, is now operating out of its new brick-and-mortar space. The restaurant started serving takeout in May.

Bellinghams newest food truck, Dougs Burgers at 1301 N State St. in Bellingham, Wash.

The restaurant is now offering takeout from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday at 2527 Meridian St. in Bellingham, the previous location of El Rey Latino Restaurant and next door to Menace Brewing.

New proposed restaurant in Lynden

Graze and Gather, a charcuterie board business, has filed for a new license for a takeout and delivery endorsement, as well as a spirits, beer and wine rest lounge under the name Graze and Gather Charcuterie and Bistro. The restaurant space is at 115 S Duffner Drive Unit D in Lynden across the street from the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds. The business previously operated without a retail location.

Restaurant reopening in Blaine

Paso Del Norte, a Mexican restaurant in Blaine, is promising to reopen this year after a kitchen fire caused the restaurant to close its doors. The restaurant announced the closure back in March in a Facebook post, which stated the closure would only be a week or so. Now, the restaurants Facebook page announced that they are planning to reopen this fall.

The restaurant is at 758 Peace Portal Dr. in Blaine.

Current and Furbish closing

Current and Furbish, a gift and furniture store in Fairhaven, announced it would be permanently closing back in April. Now, the store has reached its final days and is offering a closing sale.

Current and Furbish store at 1115 Harris Ave. in Fairhaven, Bellingham, Wash. on April 3, 2024.

The store will have its last day of business on Friday, May 31, and is offering a retirement clearance sale of 45% off with card or 50% off with cash, according to a Facebook post by the Fairhaven Association.

Current and Furbish is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1115 Harris Ave. in Bellingham.
What's the best time of day to mow in Oklahoma? How to help your lawn (and neighbors)

With summer on its way, and plenty of rain keeping lawns growing at a steady pace, Oklahomans are officially in lawn-mowing season.

It's a dreaded chore that some choose to outsource to professionals, while many others take it on themselves to mow their own lawn. But at times it seems there's really no convenient time to mow the lawn. It's either too early, too late or, especially with the rainy spring Oklahoma has had, the grass is too wet.

Here's everything you need to know about the best time to mow your lawn in Oklahoma City, including what regulations exist about mowing early or late in the day.

What time of day can I mow the lawn in Oklahoma City?

Jim Byram mows his Edgell Road home in Framingham, Massachusetts, May 14, 2024.

While Oklahoma City's noise ordinance does not specifically address lawn mowing, it's understandable that most neighbors wouldn't appreciate a wake-up call from your mower.

While there are no times of day given as a framework for when certain noises can and cannot occur, a noise disturbance in Oklahoma includes noise that "annoys or disturbs a reasonable person of normal sensitivities."

A man who was mowing his lawn at 4:30 in the morning was arrested in 2011 when a neighbor called the police to complain about the noise.

Best time of day to mow the lawn for best results

According to Lawn Love, there's more than just your neighbors to worry about when it comes to choosing the best time to mow your lawn.

You want to have dry grass, cooler temperatures and enough time for your grass to recover before night falls.

Here's what the lawn care company had to say about each time of day as it relates to lawn mowing:

Early morning (before 8 a.m.): Not recommended. While you'll beat the heat, your grass will likely still be dewy from the overnight hours, making it difficult to mow. Also, your neighbors probably won't be very happy.

Mid-morning (8 a.m. to 10 a.m.): The best time to mow, according to Lawn Love. Your grass should be dry, temperatures should still be in the cooler range and your lawn will have plenty of time to recover before nightfall. Of course, this is an inconvenient time to mow during the week for anyone who works a 9-5 job.

Midday to early afternoon (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.): Not recommended. This is the hottest time of the day, which is harmful both to person mowing and for the grass. According to Lawn Love, grass mowed during the heat of the day can get stressed out and become damaged.

Late afternoon (4 p.m. to 6 p.m.): Second-best option for those who can't mow mid-morning. By mowing in the late afternoon, you avoid the hottest temperatures of the day, have dry grass and still gives your grass time to recover before nighttime.

Evening mowing (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.): Not recommended. Mowing in the evening, around dusk or nightfall, is bad for your lawn. This is because the cut grass needs time to heal before dark falls and dew develops and the grass is exposed to disease.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: What's the best time of day to mow the lawn in Oklahoma this summer?
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer delivers her keynote address at the 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference. | Kyle Davidson

After calling back to the creations of Michigan innovators  including the snowboard, Vernors ginger ale and of course, automotive manufacturing  Gov. Gretchen Whitmer pitched her plan to make Michigan more friendly to entrepreneurs and startups.

In her keynote address at the 2024 Mackinac Policy Conference hosted by the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, Whitmer focused on three components she identified as the drivers of innovation: culture, capital and creativity.

The truth is entrepreneurs need all three of these things to survive and to thrive, the Democrat said. They need to feel represented in the culture, and capital to make audacious bets on their ideas. And fewer barriers to creativity.

The state needs to create a culture of innovation to ensure entrepreneurs feel seen and heard, Whitmer said, noting this effort needs partnerships and pointing to the work of organizations like Black Tech Saturdays and the Michigan Founders Fund.

As the Michigan Advance first reported, Whitmer also announced Ben Marchionna as the states first chief innovation ecosystems officer through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to ensure individuals starting businesses feel represented in the state.

In addressing the second component, capital, Whitmer pointed to her proposal in her 2024 State of the State address for an innovation fund to invest in high growth startups. She also announced a statewide pitch competition, PitchMI, which will solicit pitches from investors looking to address issues within Michigan, with the first competition awarding $100,000 for innovations in roads and mobility.

While touching on creativity, Whitmer noted that testing new efforts takes resources.

To research, test, develop and commercialize a new idea, you need equipment, facilities, tools and expertise. Sometimes those fundamentals just cost too much or are completely inaccessible. And while access doesnt guarantee success, lack of access is a complete barrier, She said.

In response, Whitmer called for a build out of the Infrastructure for Innovation which her office previously defined as shared technology or resources that entrepreneurs and businesses can use to grow in Michigan.

Earlier, I signed an executive directive instructing state agencies to catalog technology, equipment and facilities all across our state and work with the owners to make it available to innovators who need it, Whitmer said.

She also touched on her earlier announcement expanding Project DIAMOnD, also first reported by the Advance. Its a network of 3D printers launched in Oakland County intended to provide manufacturers with printer access and training.

The state will also enter a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs to make its infrastructure available to Michigan innovators so they can test their ideas.

Michigan is gonna be the first state in the nation to get this done and the only one to take such a strategic, proactive approach to open the infrastructure for innovation, Whitmer said. Together, these three actions will strengthen our comprehensive economic development strategy.

She also pointed to a quote from Republican Gov. Kim Sigler in 1947 where he said many of the factories have left Michigan. One of our greatest corporations is building 14 new plants  seven of them in Ohio but none in Michigan. Western and Southern states particularly are doing their utmost to lure industry from Michigan.

What was Siglers solution?

It was assembling a working committee of research talent in agencies, colleges, and institutions to coordinate the states economic fields and utilize all of its research facilities in economic development.

Sound familiar, Whitmer asked, in a reference to the states own economic development strategies.

As she looked to the future, Whitmer recounted her administrations accomplishments from the past year, including providing public school students with free breakfast and lunch, protecting reproductive rights and repealing the states criminal ban on surrogacy.

She also pointed to the states support for clean energy projects, the establishment of a clean energy standard, and the governments ongoing investment into affordable housing, noting the state had recently increased its goal to 115,000 units by 2026.

Whitmer touted the states plan to restart the Palisades Nuclear Plant as the first effort of its kind within the U.S. and its success in winning manufacturing projects from companies including Corning and Piston Automotive.

In closing her speech, Whitmer called on Michiganders to take control of the next chapter in the states story.

Lets get to work building an innovation ecosystem that is the envy of other states. Lets keep growing Michigans economy and our population. Lets build a bridge to the future and create a more innovative, prosperous, and strong Michigan. I know together, theres nothing we cant do, she said.

The post Whitmer touts Michigans history of innovation, announces support for entrepreneurs appeared first on Michigan Advance.
Sen. Alex Padilla didnt love bucking his party last week when he joined most Republicans in refusing to pass a bipartisan immigration and border security bill.

It wasnt fun, it wasnt easy, but it was the right thing to do, he said Thursday.

Padilla said too much of it was going back to failed Trump policies on immigration, including the former presidents attempts to raise the standard for migrants to qualify for asylum and allow for border closures under certain circumstances.

The freshman Democratic senator said he was most concerned by what was missing from the package: protections for undocumented residents.

This was the first time I can recall that Democrats almost unified behind anything (related to immigration or border policy) without fighting for protections for Dreamers or farmworkers or other long-term undocumented members of our community, he said.

Padilla made the remarks Thursday during a virtual conversation with Tani Cantil-Sakauye, president and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California. The event was originally slated for downtown Sacramento but was moved online. The PPIC said the change was made out of an abundance of caution but did not elaborate further on security threats.

This cant be the Democratic platform now, Padilla said of his party colleagues willingness to exclude Dreamers, or residents protected by the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, from the package, which was negotiated by Sens. Chris Murphy, D-CT, Kyrsten Sinema, I-AZ, and James Lankford, R-OK.

This cant be the starting point for the next round of negotiations when it comes to border and immigration.

The bill needed 60 votes to pass and, without support from Republicans who said it did not do enough to secure the border, would have likely failed even without Padilla peeling off. But his opposition solidifies Padillas standing as a fierce advocate for migrants and people living in the United States without legal status.

He often speaks about his experience as the son of Mexican immigrants who worked as a cook and a housecleaner in the San Fernando Valley, and the responsibility he feels representing the state with the largest number of Dreamers in the country.

In a fervid speech he gave before voting against the bill last week, Padilla spoke of an increase in hateful rhetoric, pointing to remarks from former President Donald Trump  echoing words by Adolf Hitler  that immigrants are poisoning the blood of the county.

Every time political leaders villianize immigrants, communities like mine feel the effects, Padilla said on the Senate floor. Just ask any Latino kid whos been told to go back to where they came from. Ask anyone speaking Spanish in America whos been told to speak English. Ask any Asian American who was harassed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

His vote also illustrates a break with an election-year shift among Democrats, including President Joe Biden, to embrace tighter border security.

Californias other Democratic senator, Laphonza Butler, also voted against the bill, saying in a statement that it failed to provide comprehensive solutions for critical communitiesDACA recipients, farmworkers, and long-term U.S. residents. While there are elements of this bill I support, including funding for our border communities and efforts to prevent the flow of fentanyl, this measure simply misses the mark.

Padilla opposed a similar version of the bill, which was brought up in February as part of a deal to secure aid for Ukraine and Israel.

He told Cantil-Sakauye his vision for federal immigration reform includes making it easier for people to obtain legal status, which he said would reduce the number of people who enter illegally. He also argued it would help the U.S. economy.

I talk to employers that are desperate for more workers, he said, suggesting more work visas be extended to migrants who want to work. Its sort of a win-win-win. But some of these common-sense solutions are not feasible right now because of the political climate that were in and rhetoric from Trump.

Behind closed doors, Republicans tell Padilla they agree that modernizing the countrys immigration system would reduce illegal immigration. But he said theres one big hurdle to getting it done: the GOPs presumptive presidential nominee.

As long as the Trump factor is out there politically, its not going to happen, he said.
While Republicans blasted the guilty verdict in Donald Trumps hush money cover-up trial as a weaponization of the justice system, Democrats had a much more cautious response to the first criminal conviction of a former president.

Many Democrats seemed to be wary of coming off as gloating in the wake of Trumps conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records  so they either said nothing or released short statements calling Thursday a sad day for the country.

We respect the rule of law, and have no additional comment, White House spokesman Ian Sams said in a statement.

President Joe Bidens reelection campaign said no one is above the law, adding the verdict doesnt change the fact that Trump can only really be beaten at the ballot box.

Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president, Biden-Harris spokesman Michael Tyler said.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), meanwhile, called it a shameful day in American history and said Democrats cheered as they convicted the leader of the opposing party on ridiculous charges.

His counterpart in the House, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), said simply that the jury has spoken and that responsible leadership requires the verdict to be respected.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) called the verdict a somber moment for America.

Trial by a jury of peers is a fundamental principle of democracy, which must be respected, Pelosi said on social media.

Pelosis tone recalls how, in 2019, after she banged the gavel on the first article of impeachment against Trump, the then-speaker used a slicing hand gesture and death stare to stop her Democratic colleagues from clapping.

It makes sense why Democrats, who face tough odds of keeping control of the Senate and the White House in November, are trying to stay low-key: Trumps legal problems are not likely to sway most independents one way or the other. And if progressives try to fundraise off the verdict or make it the outcome of the trial itself a big campaign issue, that might validate Johnsons accusation that Democrats were cheering for Trumps conviction all along.

What is the point of crowing? one Democratic aide said of Trumps guilty verdict. As an important fact, it makes its own point.

Besides, the aide said, the election is five months away and Trump will remain a convicted felon the entire time, so its not necessary rush out a message about it.

Sens. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and John Tester of Montana, the two most vulnerable Senate Democrats, hadnt said anything as of Thursday night  something that was noted by the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which is fighting to elect Republicans to their seats.

Democrats know they cant beat President Trump at the ballot box so theyre trying to put him behind bars before the election  and Jon Tester and Sherrod Brown are letting it happen because theyre too scared to stand up to their own party. Tester and Brown should do the right thing and immediately rescind their endorsements of Joe Biden as he turns the country into a banana republic, NRSC spokesman Philip Letsou said.

Still, some Democrats put out forceful statements denouncing Trump, like progressive leader Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), who lauded the jury and said no one is above the law.

Trump is now a convicted felon and he remains an existential threat to our democracy, Jayapal said online.

Another Democrat who cheered the news: Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.). He made a TikTok of himself dancing and sent out a fundraising appeal alongside a celebratory message: BONG! Today, our justice system beat Donald Trump!

Related...
Why didnt storm siren sound in Valley View for tornado? Would it even have helped?

In Reality Check stories, Star-Telegram journalists dig deeper into questions over facts, consequences and accountability. Read more. Story idea? RealityCheck@star-telegram.com.

When a tornado warning was called for Valley View and the surrounding area on Saturday night, firefighters rushed to the towns lone storm siren to alert residents to the coming storm. But the siren did not sound.

We tried to troubleshoot and, in just a minute or two the storm was coming in, we abandoned that idea, said lets just get in the truck, lets go seek our own shelter because it was coming for us, said Valley View Fire Chief Zack Kupper.

The tornado ended up touching down about four miles south of town. It cut a path of destruction southeast, ripping an Shell gas station at Interstate 35 to shreds before moving on to make a direct hit on the Ray Roberts Marina about six and a half miles away.

The tornado left seven people dead and at least 100 injured near the city about 50 miles north of Fort Worth.

Sam Lee cleans up the debris of his brothers RV at Ray Roberts Marina in Sanger on Sunday, May 26, 2024.

What caused the failure of Valley Views storm siren?

When the sirens failed to work, the Valley View Fire Department posted the malfunction on Facebook and advised residents to take cover.

That post has since been taken down, but the department said in a statement posted Wednesday evening that the Valley View siren malfunctioned.

Kupper told the Star-Telegram that this was due to faulty wiring.

We found that out after the fact, he said. This siren is connected to city hall, and city hall just has been going under renovations. And every time weve tested the siren, its been fine. There was one time several several months ago where we tested it didnt work, and within two days, they had it fixed, it was retested, everything was good to go.

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However, as the department said in Wednesdays statement, the siren was not tested on the two months before the weekends storms due to weather conditions on the scheduled testing days.

Valley View tests its siren on the first Thursday of each month, but on the two previous first Thursdays, stormy conditions prevented those tests from being performed, so as not to send mixed signals.

If there is a forecast of storms or showers, if theres heavy clouds in the sky, we dont test the siren, because that would just cause confusion, Kupper said. People are going to hear, theyre going to see clouds or see its raining, theyre going to be like, Oh, the sirens going off. It must be bad. But were doing a false warning at that point.

Debris surrounds a home in Valley View on Sunday, May 26, 2024, after severe storms moved through Denton and Cooke counties.

Considering North Texas was gearing up for tornado season at the time of the canceled tests, the department should have rescheduled them, according to Michael Smith, a retired board certified meteorologist and former senior vice president of AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions.

It is not necessarily true that rescheduling the test would cause confusion, Smith said. The Wichita, Kansas, resident said that the sirens in his county of Sedgwick are tested weekly, ensuring that if one test day is missed, residents will have another coming in six days.

Having missed the test in April, and having missed the test in May, thats just far too long, he said. The sirens need to be treated as mission critical equipment, and they need to be tested every month.

Any problems that are identified in the system need to be fixed immediately, he said, adding that residents need to be kept in the loop about what is going on with the outdoor warning system.

People need to be notified that theres a problem and not to depend on the sirens even if youre outdoors until they get them fixed, and from what I can determine that notice was not sent out to the public, he said.

Kupper said the fire department followed town policy regarding the monthly tests, but it is reviewing that policy and will revise it if it is determined that changes are needed.

A horse grazes next to one that appears to have died amid destruction from severe storms on Lone Oak in Valley View on Sunday, May 26, 2024.

Would Valley Views storm siren have helped saved lives?

The Valley View siren is a Thunderbolt outdoor warning siren, a discontinued product made by Illinois-based Federal Signal. The company makes emergency alert and public address systems, among other products.

The Thunderbolt siren first came on the market in the 1950s as a Cold War-era air raid siren and was later reissued as a multipurpose warning system for all kinds of disasters, both natural and man-made. It was discontinued in 1990, but many are still in operation across the country, especially in small municipalities with limited budgets, such as Valley View.

While Randy Lane, a resident in the path of the tornados destruction about four miles south of town, told the Star-Telegram on Sunday that he usually can hear the Valley View siren, Kupper said that may be true on a testing day with clear conditions, but it would be all but impossible on a night like Saturday with high winds and rain.

So if you imagine the wind, the rain, and all that, and being inside your home, youre not going to hear it that far out, he said, adding that the siren is only meant to alert people who are outside.

Lane said he can usually hear a siren operated by the city of Sanger at an RV dealership about the same distance from him as the Valley View siren.

I can usually hear it because Im running between both of them four miles away, Lane said. He went outside of his home to try and listen for them. I couldnt hear neither one of them.

Amber Bryant stands near her RV on Sunday, May 26, 2024, after it was flipped during severe storms that moved through the area on Saturday night.

The Sanger siren, however, did sound, according to a statement from the Sanger Fire Department on Facebook.

Kupper said that the storm siren should be considered one more link in the chain that provides warnings to people that are within range, and highlighted the importance of other warning methods, such as cell phone notifications and television and radio alerts.

But Smith said that the sirens role in public safety should not be sold short.

This is a mission critical device, meaning lives are at stake, he said. The general public depends on it, just like they depend on the other elements of the warning system.

Kupper noted that the people killed were hunkered down in their homes, but their homes were unfortunately in the direct path of the tornado.

People sought shelter, people were inside their houses, and they would have never heard this siren to begin with, he said.

Smith said it is hard to know how much of a difference the siren would have made, but pointed to video of two women who were caught in the tornado in their vehicle.

Knowing that there were at least some people who didnt know where the tornado was, where it was going, who should take shelter, I think we can say at minimum, the siren sounding would have been helpful, he said. At minimum.

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Former President Donald Trump and his attorney, Todd Blanche, exited the courthouse and spoke to the media after Trump was found guilty following his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024, in New York City. The former president was found guilty on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. Trump has now become the first former U.S. president to be convicted of felony crimes. Mark Peterson via Getty Images

Donald Trump is guilty.

On Thursday afternoon, after less than 10 hours of deliberating, 12 ordinary jurors hailing from New York City found the former president guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal alleged affairs that threatened to implode his 2016 presidential campaign.

Trumps reaction was as expected: The soon-to-be convicted felon emerged from the Manhattan courtroom defiant, declaring the verdict a disgrace while attacking the judge, the venue, the prosecutors and the judicial process itself.



Reactions from rank-and-file Republicans were just as predictable. Members of the so-called party of law and order were quick to defend their presumptive presidential nominee, shamelessly echoing his outright lies that the case was a purely political exercise, a sign of a corrupt and rigged justice system, and election interference brought forward by Joe Biden and his allies.

Senator, podcast guy and Cancun aficionado Ted Cruz went on Fox News to share that in the wake of Trumps unanimous conviction, he is furious and heartbroken.

While its reassuring to witness a judicial proceeding live up to the far-too-often fallacious claim that no one is above the law, Im not celebrating. Instead  like the GOP Texas senator who apparently loves the NRA more than protecting fourth graders in their classrooms I am also furious and heartbroken.



Dont get me wrong: I disagree with MSNBC host Jen Psaki and other Democrats who are choosing to meet this historic moment with serious reverence simply because a former president was found guilty. Whatever a convicted felon running for the highest office in the land does to this countrys political, cultural and social fabric, it was and will be done by Trump and his allies  not the prosecutors, judge and jury who simply did their jobs. May 30, 2024, is not a sad and somber day for America but a flicker of hope that some of the best of this countrys ideals are, in fact, not dead and buried.



No, I am furious and heartbroken because a twice-impeached, convicted felon found liable for sexual assault put three judges on the U.S. Supreme Court who ultimately destroyed the Constitutional right to bodily autonomy and abortion access.



Im angry that despite three women  E. Jean Carroll, Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal  holding Trump legally accountable when damn near all of our elected officials have not or will not, the majority of white women voted for a man who bragged about groping and kissing women without their consent, both in 2016 and 2020. According to a recent 2024 Quinnipiac University poll, female support for the former president has only dropped 5%.



Im grieving the undeniable fact that a man who attempted to subvert a free and fair election and who has three additional pending criminal cases levied against him was successfully buoyed into the Oval Office, only to irreparably harm this countrys political process, democratic future and, as I type, the most marginalized among us.



There is no denying that the American electorate has long known who Trump is a criminal in deeds and words. As a candidate, Trump vowed to elect Supreme Court judges with the sole intent of overturning Roe v. Wade. Now, one in three women no longer has access to abortion care, one in five abortion patients are forced to travel out of state for that care, and story after painful story of pregnant people forced to carry unsafe and nonviable pregnancies to term  risking their health and their lives  have become an unforgivable norm.



As insurrectionist flags fly outside Justice Samuel Alitos homeand Justice Clarence Thomas continues to serve on the bench despite his wifes involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, Americans are waiting for a corrupt high court shaped by Trump to decide if a president has immunity from any and all prosecution if pregnant people can access emergency, life-saving abortion care and if people can access medication abortion pills safer than Penicillin, Tylenol and Viagra.

Because Trump was gifted the executive power to embolden conservative anti-abortion zealots, the Supreme Court and Republican lawmakers have set their sights on birth control, emergency contraception, IVF and surrogacy. At one point, a Republican bold enough to claim a womans body has a way of avoiding pregnancies in cases of legitimate rape would end their career. Now, Republican lawmakers are proudly championing legislation that forces rape victims as young as 10 to carry their traumatic pregnancies to term.



The right to marry who you love, regardless of gender, is also on the proverbial chopping block, as the highest court in the land continues to whittle away at our fundamental right to privacy and Republicans continue to demonize trans and LGBTQ+ youth.

Under a Trump presidency, hate crimes surged 20%. A man who believed there were very fine people on both sides of the 2019 Nazi rally in Charlottesville; whose 2016 presidential rallies caused a 226% increase in hate crimes in the area; who consistently spews antisemitic rhetoric and continues to evoke the same language regurgitated by Adolf Hitler and other white supremacists, has forever altered how politicians conduct themselves on the campaign trail and inside the halls of Congress. For the foreseeable future, hate and fear are the sole platforms of a major political party, to the apparent delight of that partys members.



After Trump and his Republican cohorts spread conspiracy theories about the 2020 election outcome even before voters cast their ballots, only to continue peddling the Big Lie that the election was stolen, an untenable amount of Americans do not trust the electoral process and only 37% of Americans believe the 2024 election will be honest and open. He has likened himself to Mother Teresa,Nelson Mandela and Abraham Lincoln, successfully creating a cult of personality where up is down, wrong is right and an alternative reality reigns supreme.



So yes, I am too furious and heartbroken to celebrate Trumps unanimous guilty verdict. While I am grateful he has been held legally accountable for his actions, I cannot ignore how much damage has been done because a man as corrupt, self-obsessed and drunk with power as Trump was handed the keys to the White House. That everlasting and punishing damage will long remain  Trumps ultimate legacy  no matter how many times a jury declares the former president of the United States guilty.



Related...
There is nothing to stop him from campaigning for president after his conviction - Mark Peterson

Donald Trumps conviction in New York has plunged the US into uncharted legal territory.

On Thursday, the Republican nominee was convicted by a New York jury on all 34 charges of falsifying business records after six weeks of testimony.

The historic conviction comes at a sticky time for Trump, given he is also in the middle of an election campaign to take back the White House.

Polls currently show that Trump is only a fraction ahead of Mr Biden. However, the former president is leading in several swing states, which could be critical on Nov 5.

But  is Trump even still allowed to run for president now that he is a convicted criminal? The Telegraph answers your questions below.

Can Trump still run for president?

Trump can still run for president even though he has been convicted of a felony.

Presidential candidates have to meet a few requirements to be eligible to run under the US Constitution.

They must:

Be a natural-born citizen of the US

Be at least 35 years old

Have been a US resident for 14 years

There are no stipulations about a criminal record included in these guidelines.

If Trump is jailed, there is nothing to stop him from campaigning for president from behind bars and exploiting the publicity it would give him.

Can Trump appeal?

Trump can try to appeal the conviction and his lawyers will have 30 days to file a notice of appeal, and six months to file the full appeal.

The entire process would most likely extend far beyond the presidential election.

Trumps team have four likely avenues for appeal: Stormy Daniels testimony, the ambiguity of the law he was convicted under, the judges ruling limiting the testimony of a potential defence expert witness and the argument of Trumps presidential immunity.

Susie Coen unpacks the four arguments Trumps team might try to make here.

Can Trump pardon himself?

Presidents can pardon anyone for a conviction in a federal court, but they cannot interfere in state matters.

Trumps hush money trial was brought by New York state, not the federal government, so the only people with the power to overturn it are the Democrat-controlled state authorities.

Two of the prosecutions against Trump, over classified documents in Miami and election interference in Washington DC, are federal cases. The remaining case against him, in Georgia, is also a state prosecution.

Have any other presidents been convicted?

Trump has become the first ever former president to be convicted of a felony.

The only other presidential run-in with the law, other than Watergate and the failed impeachment of Bill Clinton, involved Ulysses Grant.

The military hero turned president was pulled over by two Washington DC police officers for speeding in his buggy on April 9 1866.

The president, having offered to pay the fine, had second thoughts and sped off, questioning the authority of the officers to arrest him.

He eventually answered the warrant, appearing before the Justice of the Peace and paying the fine.

How precedent was set

The precedent for criminals in elections was set by Eugene Debs, a socialist candidate for the White House who was running for president for the fifth time in 1920.

Debs was serving 10 years for violating the Sedition Act, having opposed Americas involvement in the First World War.

On May 13 1920, the Socialist Party unanimously nominated Convict 2253 as its presidential candidate. His convict number was changed and his campaign buttons  something of a tradition in the US  read: For President, Convict No. 9653.

Eugene Debs the Socialist Party candidate in 1920

While Warren Harding, the eventual winner of the election, ran a front porch campaign from his home in Ohio, Debs announced he would run a front cell campaign from the Atlanta penitentiary.

The media-savvy socialist even invited newsreel cameras to film a Socialist Party delegation arriving at the jail to officially inform him that he had been chosen as their candidate.

He was also filmed accepting a floral tribute from socialist women voters, before heading back to his cell.

The encounters were shown in newsreels at cinemas across the country, with some of the audience cheering and others booing.

Debs may not have won. But he still garnered the backing of more than 913,000 voters, three per cent of the total.

Even if he did not win the Oval Office, the incumbent, Harding, did commute his sentence.

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.
EU tariffs on Chinese EVs harm European development long-term, analyst says

Xinhua) 08:15, May 31, 2024

This photo taken on Feb. 1, 2024 shows a Chinese electric car MG4 on display at an MG sales center in Ljubljana, Slovenia. (Xinhua/Zhou Yue)

The tariffs, which have historically proven "harmful" to the global economy, will continue to negatively impact the electric automotive industry.

ZAGREB, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The European Union's (EU) high tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs) could negatively impact the long-term development of the European automobile industry, warns a Croatian political analyst.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Kresimir Macan stated that the United States' (U.S.) influence on the EU's tariffs for Chinese EVs would not benefit the European economy.

He noted that the tariffs, which have historically proven "harmful" to the global economy, would continue to negatively impact the electric automotive industry.

On May 14, U.S. President Joe Biden announced new tariffs on a variety of imports from China, including EVs, in addition to existing tariffs under Section 301. The additional levy will raise tariffs on Chinese EV imports to 100 percent this year.

Last October, the European Commission launched an anti-subsidy investigation into the imports of EVs from China, and is set to determine whether punitive tariffs should be imposed to protect EU manufacturers from Chinese competitors.

Robots weld bodyshells of cars at a workshop of Chinese electric vehicle (EV) maker Li Auto Inc. in Changzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, Jan. 10, 2024. (Xinhua/Ji Chunpeng)

According to statistics from the European Federation for Transport and Environment, around 20 percent of all-electric cars sold across the EU last year, or 300,000 units, were made in China. More than half of them come from Western carmakers, such as Tesla, Dacia and BMW, which produce them in China for export.

Macan argued that European consumers will ultimately suffer from the EU's tariff policy which would only lead to European products being more expensive and less technologically advanced. This, he argues, will make them less attractive compared to their Chinese counterparts.

"Only healthy competition to produce a quality and affordable product can sustain the world economy," Macan said.

Moreover, Macan expressed concerns about the broader implications of the tariffs on the global green transition. He said that such measures could undermine efforts to stimulate the production of environmentally friendly cars.

This photo taken on Nov. 15, 2023 shows part of the European Commission building in Brussels, Belgium. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe)

Despite the EU's potential tariff hike, Macan said he believes Chinese EVs will find markets elsewhere due to their competitive pricing and quality. He urged the EU to focus on cooperation with China rather than imposing high tariffs, suggesting that collaboration would lead to better results for the development of the EV industry.

"High tariffs harm cooperation and healthy competition, but cooperation benefits all and always yields great results," Macan said, adding that for the EU, cooperation with China and other countries in this sector is "more than necessary" to boast the production of high-quality, technologically advanced EVs.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
LA PAZ, May 30 (Xinhua) -- An international ring of online scammers based out of the east Bolivian city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra has been dismantled by police, the Bolivian Prosecutor's Office said Thursday.

Prosecutor Mirtha Mejia told reporters that the criminal ring targeted victims in Bolivia, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru and Chile, extorting them by pretending to run a polling firm.

Police on Wednesday searched the building housing the fake firm and arrested nine of the suspected ring leaders, with some others still at large, said the prosecutor.

Mejia said the criminal ring initially operated in Peru. After being dismantled in the country, its network was relocated to Bolivia, where it continued its activities in 2023.

The suspects will be investigated for the alleged crimes of extortion and others, the prosecutor added. 
Why Mexicos election is more important than ever for the United States

With more than 98 million eligible voters, some 70,000 candidates and over 20,000 public offices being contested, Mexicos general election on June 2 will be the largest in the countrys history.

But its not just the massive scale of the event that makes it so important in the eyes of observers across the border in the United States.

For the first time in history, the country looks set to elect its first female president. The two front-runners are both women  Claudia Sheinbaum, of the Morena party, who is backed by the governing coalition Sigamos Haciendo Historia, and Xochitl Galvez, who is backed by an coalition of opposition parties.

The vote is also important because it falls in the same year as the US presidential election  something that happens only once every 12 years  and comes at a time of transition in the relationship between the two countries.

Xochitl Galvez, presidential candidate for an alliance of opposition parties, meets supporters in Mexico City on May 17. - Quetzalli Nicte-Ha/Reuters

Claudia Sheinbaum, the presidential candidate of the ruling Morena party, at a campaign rally in Mexico City on May 16. - Raquel Cunha/Reuters

The years when all the US wanted was a safe and stable Mexico are over. Now it is also interested in a country with good public policy, said Rafael Fernandez de Castro Medina, director of the Center for US-Mexico Studies at the University of California, San Diego, pointing to the increasing number of Latinos in the US and the two countries growing ties.

Here are a look at some of the biggest issues affecting the US-Mexico relationship that will be influenced by Sundays vote:

Its the economy, stupid

Mexico became the United States top trading partner last year, surpassing China and Canada.

Experts say this is largely because geopolitical issues such as the pandemic, the legacy of Trumps trade war against China, and the war in Ukraine all encouraged near-shoring  the relocation of supply chains nearer to home  which boosted US imports from Mexico and its investment in the country.

Key to facilitating this shift was the creation of the USMCA trade agreement, which came into effect in 2020 between Mexico, the United States and Canada.

The USMCA offered, in that favorable context, a legal regulatory framework that provided a lot of certainty to the three North American countries, and Mexico has seized the opportunities and strengthened its preferential tariffs to make this happen, explained Lila Abed, director of the Mexico Institute at the Wilson Center.

However, its not all been plain sailing. Mexicos compliance with the USMCA has been an issue of contention between the administration of Mexicos current President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and those of both US President Joe Biden and his predecessor Donald Trump.

The next president of Mexico will have to deal with a series of legal disputes that the United States, supported by Canada, has filed within the framework of the USMCA, Abed points out.

These range from [Lopez Obradors] ban on the import of transgenic corn for human consumption; the shift towards a nationalist energy policy, which has affected US investments in electricity and hydrocarbons, as well as the little importance given to clean energies, Abed said.

According to Abed, whoever wins the Mexican presidency on June 2 will have to deal with a lawsuit filed by the United States on these issues. They will also have to renegotiate the agreement when it comes up for renewal in 2026.

Workers pack avocados for export at the Los Cerritos avocado group ranch in Ciudad Guzman, state of Jalisco, Mexico, February 10, 2023. Mexico became the United States top trading partner in 2023. - Ulises Ruiz/AFP/Getty Images

Many analysts believe the US is currently playing down disputes over the USMCA in the hope that this can ease differences in other areas, both in domestic Mexican issues  such as alleged human rights violations, the governments treatment of journalists, and the increase in political assassinations  and bilateral concerns such as immigration and the drug trade.

Its very transactional. Mexico agreed to partially manage the immigration crisis in the US, keeping immigrants in Mexican territory and taking care of their deportation, in exchange for the United States not activating these lawsuits, said Raquel Lopez Portillo Maltos, executive secretary of the youth group of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations (Comexi) think tank.

Jorge Alberto Schiavon Uriegas, vice president of the Center for Studies and Analysis on Mexicos Foreign Policy, said Lopez Obrador followed a quid pro quo policy towards both Trump and Biden, and this would possibly continue with Sheinbaum, if elected.

Mexico committed to addressing the two main Mexican issues affecting the United States and that will determine the next election: migration and fentanyl. In exchange, the United States dramatically reduced its criticism of Mexicos democratic and institutional weakness, and reduced its interventions, leaving more room for Lopez Obradors domestic policy, said Schiavon Uriegas.

Migration: Mexico, part of Trumps wall

While migration across the countries 1,933 miles long border is a shared concern, the issue is much lower on Mexican politicians agenda than in the US  where it could be a decisive factor in the November vote, according to Carin Zissis, editor-in-chief of the Americas Society/Council of the Americas website.

The speeches of Sheinbaum and Galvez on migration are neither very strong nor very different from each other, nor do they address too much what to do with migrants in the country, she said.

Proof of this is that, during the last presidential debate, when migration was addressed, the main angle was Mexican migrants currently living in the US; they were talking to their potential voters north of the border and to the Latino community in general, which is large and powerful due to remittances.

The rub for US politicians is that they need buy-in from their Mexican counterparts if their own immigration policies are to succeed.

Zissis gave the example of how Lopez Obrador had made Mexico part of Trumps wall by sending thousands of members of the National Guard and the Army to take care of migration control.

Trump didnt have to build the wall because Mexico is the wall, said Zissis.

A Mexican security guard is seen across the border in Piedras Negras, a city in Mexico, as immigrants wait to be processed at a US Border Patrol transit center after crossing the border at Eagle Pass, Texas, on December 22, 2023. - Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images

Abed, of the Mexico Institute, said Mexicos next president would face a different conundrum to previous leaders, because the country had changed from being merely a transit country, which immigrants passed through on their way to the US, to being in many cases their final stop.

The reaction of the Lopez Obrador government has been to transport migrants who are waiting at the border between Mexico and the United States to the southeast of the country and leave them there. The migration authorities are overwhelmed, the Mexican Refugee Aid Commission (Comar) is also overwhelmed, the centers where migrants stay are very precarious, migrants  specifically unaccompanied minors and women, as well as young people  are at risk from organized crime and human traffickers, and their human rights could be violated, Abed detailed.

She said the next Mexican government will need to assume responsibility for this large migrant population, and decide whether to give them a temporary visa, whether to allow them to work, whether they will have access to medical services, etc.

Fentanyl and the drug trade

Security is another pillar of the bilateral relationship, particularly in terms of the thriving cross-border drug trade that blights both countries.

While the United States has been grappling with a domestic health crisis due to the amount of fentanyl on its streets, Mexico faces increasing cartel-linked violence  including in the run-up to the election which has been marred by dozens of assassination attempts and other political violence.

Mexico has made progress in dismantling clandestine drug laboratories, but the next government must do more to stop the entry through maritime ports of precursor chemicals mostly coming from China, because after that is when they fall into the hands of organized crime to produce these synthetic opioids, Abed said.

But the United States also has to dismantle the network of traffickers within (its own borders). That is, once fentanyl arrives, its distribution throughout the territory is not magical. There is a significant network of organized crime in the United States that the administration must arrest, bring to trial, and whose activities it must restrict, she added.

Mexican Army and National Guard members take part in Operation Juarez, aimed at reducing violence in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on February 17, 2024. - Jose Luis Gonzalez/Reuters

One issue the US may be keen to revisit with whoever wins on June 2 are the reforms to Mexicos National Security Law that the Lopez Obrador government implemented in 2018 as one of its first measures, which limited the activity of foreign agents operating on Mexican territory.

It was a symbol, a sign that the Mexican government was not going to open the door so easily to security agencies such as the DEA, the CIA, and others. He removed the diplomatic immunity (and) they had to register all their activities with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, etc, explained Abed.

Experts who spoke to CNN said, however, that much of Lopez Obradors confrontational discourse with the United States was a facade that, at times, hid a well-oiled process of negotiations with both the Republican and Democratic administrations.

Lopez Obrador often speaks to his Mexican base and then negotiates. He knows that the US needs him on migration and security matters, said Zissis at the Americas Society website.

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An Israeli airstrike on the refugee encampment at Tal al-Sultan, in the Gaza Strip, resulted in the death of at least 45 Palestinian civilians on the night of May 26, 2024. It is a matter of dispute in this case as to whether the attack was deliberately intended to target civilians. A week before, however, the International Criminal Court charged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with the intentional targeting of civilians in the course of the conflict in Gaza; such targeting is a war crime under international law.

The ICCs document, however, also charged three leaders of Hamas with war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, torture and the taking of hostages, during the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks.

The decision to charge both the Israeli leadership and that of Hamas has led to widespread condemnation, much of which used the concept of moral equivalence.

President Joe Biden described the implication of such equivalence as outrageous. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement saying that the indictment was a noxious attempt at moral equivalence from a rogue kangaroo court.

Some commentators have similarly deployed the concept of moral equivalence  to condemn, instead, the decision to charge Hamas leadership alongside Israels. Tim Anderson, director of the Center for Counter-Hegemonic Studies, wrote that the violence of Hamas was in service of a legitimate struggle against colonialism and apartheid, and any assertion of moral equivalence here would wrongly aid the colonizer.

As a political philosopher, I am interested in how concepts like moral equivalence are used in political discussions. Those who use this concept generally do so as a way of asserting that someone is at best deceived  and, at worse, deliberately deceptive  about the moral wrongs done by one side in a conflict.

Moral equivalence as moral criticism

Jeanne Kirkpatrick, a top foreign policy adviser to President Ronald Reagan, did much to popularize this notion of moral equivalence in the 1980s. She understood the term to be a critique of those who, like many Soviet Union apologists, used American moral failures as sufficient reason to ignore or minimize Soviet violations of human rights.

In response, Kirkpatrick argued that there was good reason to distinguish between different types of moral failures, based upon notions of scale and of origin. American excesses were, she thought, less frequent and less horrific than Soviet human rights abuses; and the American system defended the natural rights of the individual, in a manner the Soviet system could not.

We need not agree with Kirkpatricks take on the United States to see how this analysis explains contemporary reactions to the ICC. Those who condemn the ICC as engaging in moral equivalence argue that one side has done a more profound wrong, in the service of a more malignant worldview, than the other.

They are, like Kirkpatrick, insisting that one side is clearly better than the other and should be described as such. They disagree, of course, about which side should be described in such terms.

Not an argument for nonintervention

When people denounce moral equivalence, then, they mean that the target of their criticism is falsely claiming that both sides are equally bad  and, often, that any intervention in the conflict would be neither justified nor useful.

When the Soviet Union responded to American criticism by invoking Americas own moral failures, it intended to encourage other countries to see moral criticism as a useless endeavor.

Not all acknowledgments of moral fault, though, are rightly understood as ways of arguing in favor of neutrality or nonintervention.

When President Barack Obama said after Hamas attack upon Israel that both this attack and the Israeli occupation were unjustified, he was condemned by many  including attorney Alan Dershowitz  as refusing to condemn and counter the atrocities of Oct. 7. Dershowitz, who has written passionately in defense of Israels political legitimacy, took an acknowledgment of Israeli wrongdoing to imply that Hamas response was morally right.

Obama, however, did not intend his criticism of Israel to imply that no military response to Hamas was justified. Indeed, he later insisted that one could both defend a robust military response to Hamas and criticize Israeli policy as dangerous and morally wrong.

Human rights and moral action

Moral equivalence only defends inaction, then, if the acknowledgment of wrongdoing on each side is taken to indicate the impossibility of finding any meaningful moral difference between the sides.

It is possible, however, for an observer to say both that each side has done wrong and that one side is doing more wrong, and should be stopped from doing such wrong. Political theorists like Stephen Hopgood have demonstrated how human rights practitioners too often demand that victims of human rights abuses be morally perfect, before their human rights claims are defended.

Palestinians flee from the southern Gaza city of Rafah during an Israeli ground and air offensive on May 28, 2024. AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi

This is, however, a moral mistake. Human rights are valid moral claims and can be asserted even on behalf of those who are not themselves morally perfect. Those who use the charge of moral equivalence might themselves sometimes be guilty of demanding that we ignore or deny some moral wrongdoing before we can offer a forceful response to the situation we encounter.

Both victim and victimizer

The thought that one cannot be both a wrongdoer and the victim of wrongdoing is surprisingly common in contemporary political discourse.

After the Hamas attack, a number of Harvard University students wrote a public letter arguing that the Israeli regime  because of its wrongdoing toward the Palestinians  was entirely responsible for the unfolding violence. This response, too, depends upon a refusal to acknowledge the possibility that Hamas was both right to condemn Israeli policy toward Gaza and deeply wrongful in how it chose to respond to that policy.

Bioethicist Ezekiel Emanuel, in discussing this letter, notes that ethical evaluation is rarely a matter of black and white. An accurate analysis of the conflict in Gaza would require moral courage and moral skill. Both are needed, if the analyst is to acknowledge the ways in which both parties to a dispute may have done wrong  and, after that acknowledgment, to continue to act on behalf of justice in the world.

Moral equivalence is, then, a useful phrase with which to criticize those who want to make it more difficult to identify and acknowledge moral wrongdoing. Such criticism, however, should not extend to those who seek to acknowledge moral complexity  and the fact that, in many real-world conflicts, both parties might be guilty of moral wrongdoing.

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: Michael Blake, University of Washington

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Michael Blake receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The award for the most courageous politician so far in this election? Step forward John Swinney, first minister of Scotland and, for now at least, leader of the SNP.

Throwing caution and media scrutiny  not to mention public disapproval  to the wind, Swinney started the first full week of general election campaigning by suggesting he would oppose Holyroods standards committees recommendations to suspend his nationalist colleague, Michael Matheson, from the chamber for 27 days, after the former transport secretary claimed back 11,000 of roaming charges he had racked up on his iPad during a family holiday.

It was a bold, principled stand for Swinney to take, offering support to a beleaguered friend and colleague. Unfortunately, having marched his troops to the top of the hill, he was forced to march them straight back down again, announcing he would abstain from the final vote, as did all his SNP colleagues. Not a good look when voters are perennially unhappy with the behaviour of politicians when it comes to expenses claims. And Mathesons case is a particularly egregious one. But party before country, and all that.

Undeterred by this ignominious start to his partys general election campaign, the first minister then announced that his predecessor-but-one, Nicola Sturgeon, would be welcome to join the partys campaign efforts. Now, at first glance, this is an odd comment to make.

Sturgeon is, after all, still the subject of a police investigation into SNP finances and she has already been arrested and questioned once, and subsequently released without charge. Her husband, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, meanwhile, has been charged in connection with embezzlement of funds from the party.

Nevertheless, her own stated willingness to lend a hand in at least some constituencies from time to time between now and July 4 plays into the ongoing Crisis? What crisis? strategy that she seems to have been pursuing with some enthusiasm since everything went pear-shaped. Sturgeon could have chosen to keep a low profile until all these legal matters had been resolved. She could have decided that discretion was the better part of valour and that every public appearance risked reminding voters of the various allegations that have been thrown around since she left office.

That she remains, at this time of crisis for Scotlands ruling party, the go-to figure in the SNPs pantheon of former leaders who can be relied upon to gee up the troops says a great deal about how deep the crisis actually is. Scottish Labour, so comprehensively routed by Sturgeons party when she was leader, looks set to make a comeback at the expense of dozens of nationalist MPs, raising a question mark over whether the SNP will be able to continue to govern at Holyrood after 2026.

The shine has come off Sturgeon. The failures in her domestic programme still haunt her successors. But while she may have achieved nothing in office, she can talk a good game, a talent that few in her party have. The problem with inviting Sturgeon back on to the campaign trail is that it looks like a desperate attempt to remind voters of the partys former glory days.

On the other hand, in a party whose central appeal is to nostalgia and history, perhaps the return of Sturgeon isnt such a bad idea. Nationalism always looks backwards, whether to famous victories like Bannockburn in 1314, or, more frequently, to famous defeats like 2014. The past, unlike the future, is comforting and predictable.

The SNP is all too aware of the danger that awaits them. In 2017, swathes of SNP voters who had helped deliver the partys landslide two years earlier, stayed at home, allowing the opposition parties to snatch more than 20 seats from them. Labour increased its tally from one to seven MPs with an overall increase in the number of votes of barely 9,000, half of which went to one candidate, Ian Murray in Edinburgh South. If those who voted Yes in 2014 and SNP since then decide that the partys current offering is too uninspiring, the same thing will happen again, except on a much greater scale.

That must be what keeps John Swinney awake at night. Sturgeon, meanwhile, finds herself in the relatively happy position of knowing that whatever calamity befalls her partys MPs on polling day, it is the current leader, not she, who will take the blame. Whether that is a fair assessment is a matter of debate.

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Heres why the US has more tornadoes than any other country

Heres why the US has more tornadoes than any other country

Editors Note: The CNN Original Series Violent Earth with Liev Schreiber explores the harrowing weather events that are increasingly frequent in our changing climate. The premiere investigates tornadoes and airs on Sunday, June 2 at 9pm ET/PT.

The US averages over 1,150 tornadoes every year. Thats more than any other country. In fact, its more than Canada, Australia and all European countries combined.

Within the US, every state has had at least one tornado, and some have dozens each year.

The US is special in terms of producing so many tornadoes, especially violent ones.

In the US, the average number of tornado fatalities per year is 73. But in Europe, where the tornadoes are usually much weaker, the fatalities are estimated to be between 10 and 15 annually.

Some states are deadlier than others

Texas on average has 140 tornadoes every year  the most of any state. Kansas, Florida, Oklahoma, and Nebraska round out the top five.

But the total number of tornadoes does not always tell the whole story. For example, despite Alabama having on average 42 tornadoes per year  more than three times fewer than Texas  it is at the top of the list for tornado fatalities.

Alabama averages 14 tornado fatalities per year, almost double the next highest  Missouri with eight deaths per year.

The time of day and the topography where the tornado occurs makes a big difference in the fatality rate.

The topography in Alabama and other Southern states often includes rolling hills, plateaus, and many more trees than the Plains states like Kansas, Texas, and Nebraska, where a tornado often can be seen from miles away. The more likely a tornado can be seen often leads to the tornado being reported faster, allowing more time for people to be warned and seek shelter.

Southern states such as Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas also see more tornadoes overnight versus any other state. This can lead to higher fatalities, since many people are sleeping and unaware that a tornado is approaching.

Tornadoes in the Southeast tend to be more dangerous than their Great Plains counterparts, says Brandon Miller, CNN Meteorologist. There are a number of reasons for this, some weather and some geographic. Southeastern tornadoes often travel faster, moved by a faster jet stream.

All of these factors can lead to higher fatality rate in Southern states compared to the Plains. But all of these states have a few things in common: the ideal atmospheric conditions for tornadoes to form.

The basic ingredients for severe thunderstorms that can make tornadoes are warm, moist air near the ground, relatively dry, cool air aloft (about 10,000 to 30,000 feet), and horizontal winds in the environment the storm forms in that increase as you go from the ground up and change direction with height, blowing from the equator near the ground and from the west aloft, says Dr. Harold Brooks, senior scientist with the NOAA National Severe Storms Laboratory.

Low pressure systems in the US pull warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and cool, dry air aloft from the Rocky Mountains or the High Desert in the southwest. The states that fall in between those two regions end up being in the ideal location for severe weather to ignite.

No place else in the world has the large warm water on its equatorward side with a wide high range of mountains extending from north to south to the west of it, Dr. Brooks said. All the other tornado prone regions have at least one feature suboptimal.

CNN Weather

The US leads every other country for tornadoes

Other countries experience tornadoes, including Germany, Australia, South Africa, eastern China, Japan, Bangladesh, Argentina, and more.

Europe as a whole is comparable to the size of the US, but there is a vast difference in number of tornadoes and tornado fatalities.

From 2011 to 2020, the US averaged a preliminary total of 1,173 tornadoes per year, and Europe around 256. However, Dr. Pieter Groenemeijer, Director of the European Severe Storms Laboratory (ESSL), cautions that the European number may be on the low side.

Weaker tornadoes are likely still under-reported in some countries, such as France and the UK, Groenemeijer says.

European Russia (which is the part of the country west of 58 degrees East longitude), tops the list at 86 tornadoes annually. Germany comes in second with an average 28 tornadoes annually.

The peak density of tornado reports coincides with the high population density over Belgium, the Netherlands, and northern Germany, according to a study on severe storms in Europe published in December 2020.

The study also reports that thunderstorms are twice as frequent over the United States, with as many as four times more storm reports, compared to Europe.

CNN weather

One thing most countries have in common is the time of day that tornadoes occur, which is most frequently during the afternoon and early evening. But the peak season is not the same. In the US, spring is the peak for tornado activity. For central and northern Europe the main tornado season is in summer, whereas it is autumn for the western and central Mediterranean region, and winter in the eastern Mediterranean.

Outside of the US, Canada actually ranks second on the list for most tornadoes, with an average of 100 per year.

Tornadoes are not limited to the Northern Hemisphere. Australia has dozens every year, and South Africa also reports annual occurrences. South America, much like other continents, has its own tornado hotspot, known as pasillo de los tornados. This tornado corridor includes Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and a portion of Brazil.

According to the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research in New Zealand, tornadoes are relatively rare there. On average, around seven to 10 moderate to strong tornado events are reported in New Zealand every year.

Southern Hemisphere tornadoes typically rotate clockwise, which is the opposite of how tornadoes primarily spin in the Northern Hemisphere.

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Wisconsin man accused of stealing cattle in middle of night valued at $20K

ALMA, Wis. (WFRV)  A 20-year-old Wisconsin man was arrested early Tuesday morning after allegedly stealing cattle valued at around $20,000.

According to the Jackson County Sheriffs Office, on May 28, deputies received a report of cattle theft at a farm in Alma. The cattle, valued at around $20,000, had been taken in the middle of the night.

During an investigation, deputies identified a suspect, 20-year-old Jennings Christenson from Sparta. Christenson was arrested and taken to the Jackson County Jail. The cattle were recovered and returned to the farm.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Jackson County Sheriffs Office. No additional details were provided.

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(KRON)  Police arrested a man in Vallejo for driving under the influence (DUI) and attempting to flee after he crashed into another car on Thursday, the Vallejo Police Department said.

Chemical distribution company receives multiple hazardous waste violations by CoCo County health officials

Police received reports of a two-car collision near Maple Avenue and Webb Street in Vallejo on Thursday. Multiple callers reported a man, who was driving one of the cars, attempting to flee the scene, and witnesses were trying to hold him down, police said.

Another caller reported that the man attempting to flee was in possession of a gun. The brave and heroic witnesses were also trying to take the gun away from the man, police said.

Officers responded to the scene and arrested the man whom police said witnesses were pinning down to the ground. Witnesses also turned in the mans fully loaded, unserialized gun and marijuana to officers, police said.

Photo Courtesy: Vallejo PD

Police said the man hit a car occupied by two people. The two victims were taken to a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

While police were arresting the man, they observed he showed objective signs of being under the influence of marijuana, police continued, based on the positioning of the two severely damaged vehicles, it appeared that the male was responsible for this collision due to his impairment and making an unsafe turning environment.

The man was then taken to a local hospital for medical clearance for incarceration before being booked into the Solano County Jail.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
Woman arrested, accused of forcing childs head onto cot at day care, Nassau deputies say

A woman was arrested after deputies said she forcefully restrained a child to a cot during nap time at a day care in Fernandina Beach.

Kelly Fullwood, 26, of St. Marys, Ga., was arrested Thursday on a charge of child abuse without great bodily harm, according to a Nassau County Sheriffs Office arrest report.

NCSO responded to Step By Step Learning Center, located at 95734 Amelia Concourse, on Thursday morning, according to the report.

A father told a deputy that he picked his 3-year-old daughter up on Tuesday and said she was wearing a different shirt than they were dropped off in and had a bruised lip.

The father said he received a note that said the child had a fit, hit their face against the edge of the cot, bruised their lip, and had a lite (sic) bloody nose.

READ: Goal is de-escalate: Behind the scenes of St. John County Sheriffs Office recruitment training

The deputy watched surveillance video of the incident, showing Fullwood trying to place the child down for a nap.

Fullwood used techniques consistent with common practices such as talking to the child, patting her on the back, and placing a blanket over her top half of her body, the arrest report said.

However, the deputy noted, Fullwood used other techniques she knew or should have known were not acceptable and could cause harm to the child, such as forcefully restraining the child to the cot with her arms, as well as forcing the childs head down, the report said.

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The deputy witnessed Fullwood several times, forcing the childs head down into the cot and holding it there, the report said.

In the video, the report said, Fullwood notices the childs face is bleeding and takes the child to another room to clean up.

NCSO noted in the arrest report that the shirt the child was originally wearing has not been located as of this investigation.

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The deputy spoke to Fullwood and read her Miranda rights. Fullwoods response is blacked out, or redacted, from the arrest report released by NCSO.

Fullwood has been in this profession for more than seven years and has attended several continuing education classes and knew or should have known what she was doing could cause harm to the child.

Fullwood was placed under arrest and as of Thursday night, she was still in the Nassau County Jail.

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Project Summary:

This story is part of KXANs Preventing Disaster investigation, which initially published on May 15, 2024. The project follows a fatal car crash into an Austin hospitals emergency room earlier that year. Our team took a broader look at safety concerns with that crash and hundreds of others across the nation  including whether medical sites had security barriers  known as bollards  at their entrances. Experts say those could stop crashes from happening.

AUSTIN (KXAN)  The woman who drove into St. Davids North Austin Medical Center in February, killing herself and seriously injuring at least five others, had a blood-alcohol level between three and four times the legal limit to drive, along with the chemical compounds of cannabis found in her system, according to an autopsy report released Thursday in response to a KXAN public records request.

Michelle Holloway, 57, died from blunt head trauma, according to the Travis County Medical Examiners Office, which lists the manner of death as an accident. She suffered skull and rib fractures and brain bleeding.

KXAN Investigates: Preventing Disaster

The immediate aftermath of the Feb. 13 crash at St. Davids North Austin Medical Center (Courtesy Diane Warmoth)

Toxicology results found between 0.25% and 0.30% of ethanol in Holloways system, which a doctor, criminal defense attorney, and law enforcement tell KXAN is the same as a persons blood-alcohol content. The report said tests for cannabinoid came back presumptively positive.

St. Davids declined to comment.

An email and voicemail left with a manager at the medical examiners office were not immediately returned. A woman who answered the phone said they could only answer questions about an autopsy with next-of-kin.

KXAN requested the autopsy report, along with other records from the crash, to better understand how it occurred. Requests for 911 calls and police body camera video were denied citing the investigation, or prosecution of an open or pending criminal matter.

An Austin police spokesperson later said the investigation into the crash is contingent on the pending autopsy and toxicology results. KXAN sent a copy of the autopsy to APD asking about the status of the case now but did not immediately hear back. APD also did not immediately comment on the amounts found in Holloways system and whether that may have led to the crash.

Read the autopsy reportDownload

Injured family files lawsuit in fatal Austin hospital crash

The day after the crash, APD said there was no evidence that this was intentional nor the result of a medical episode.

New bollards installed at St. Davids North Austin Medical Center (Courtesy Howry, Breen & Herman)

According to a more than $1 million lawsuit filed by the Bernard family against St. Davids HealthCare, Holloway arrived at the hospital with her niece to visit a sick family member. According to the lawsuit, Holloway, a passenger, was asked to move the 2016 white Acura TLX, which was parked at the hospitals north entrance. The lawsuit alleges Holloway was unfamiliar with the car and accidentally lost control, crashing into the vulnerable and unprotected ER entrance and into the lobby, running over and seriously injuring all four members of the Bernard family, including their two toddlers. The youngest went through the cars windshield and received hundreds of stitches.

The Austin familys lawsuit accuses the hospital of gross negligence for not having any vertical security posts, called bollards, arguing that could have stopped the car and prevented the deadly crash from happening.

The safety of our patients and their families, as well as our employees and visitors, is always our top priority, St. Davids HealthCare previously said in a statement, adding, per policy, we do not comment on pending claims or litigation.

KXAN began looking into hospital safety after the crash. We found St. Davids North Austin Medical Center did not have bollards at its ER entrance prior to the crash despite having them at some of its other medical facilities. Afterward, the hospital installed a dozen, including five that appear to have been added after KXANs investigation.

KXAN investigators visited 34 major area hospitals with emergency rooms across Central Texas. We found 18 hospitals had bollards, nine had partial coverage and seven had none.

Our recent investigation revealed hundreds of similar crashes across the country in the past decade that could have been avoided with crash-rated bollards, according to experts. KXAN investigators traveled to Texas A&M Transportation Institute near College Station to watch crash-tests and see, firsthand, how effective they can be at stopping the equivalent of a Dodge Ram pickup truck traveling 20 miles per hour.

After our reporting, state and local policymakers are now looking at the possibility of requiring crash-rated bollards at medical facilities. Austin City Council Member Mackenzie Kelly, citing KXANs investigation, said she will introduce a resolution on July 18 requiring safety barriers, known as bollards, to be constructed at any new medical facility in the city. Council Member Vanessa Fuentes office said she would be glad to co-sponsor that.

The day after the crash, St. Davids credited a large lobby fish tank for absorbing the impact and saving lives.

I thank God for intervening there and giving us that protection, St. Davids North Chief Medical Officer Dr. Peter DeYoung said.

I wish it was thanking God that there were bollards in front of the building, Levi Bernard, who was injured in the crash, countered. Not the thing that attracted us to the center of the lobby.

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An International Agricultural Forum concluded in Thailand's Nan Province on Wednesday to explore the connection between biodiversity, sustainable community development and agricultural trade.
Woman lay dying beside boyfriends body in crashed car for three days after police failings

Police eventually attended the scene three days after the accident - ANDREW MILLIGAN/PA

A mother of two died after enduring three days of incomprehensible suffering, while laying next to the body of her boyfriend in a crashed car, because of police failings, an inquiry has ruled.

Lamara Bell, 25, was seriously injured when the Renault Clio being driven by her partner, John Yuill, careered down an embankment on the M9 near Stirling on July 5, 2015.

Mr Yuill, 28, died at the scene. While Ms Bell survived the accident, she died in hospital following a huge delay in the emergency services attending.

The crashed car was spotted by a local farmer on the morning of the collision. He reported it to police, but blunders in the call centre meant no officers were sent to investigate.

It was only when another local farmer spotted the car, on July 8, that the couple were discovered.

Both Mr Yuill and Ms Bell died as a result of the accident - POLICE SCOTLAND/PA

The second farmer heard a gravely injured Ms Bell say help me and get me out before he called police.

By that point, Mrs Bell was suffering from hypothermia. She died on July 12.

A fatal accident inquiry, the Scottish equivalent of an inquest, stated that she would probably have survived had she received help in the hours after the crash.

The initial call made to police was taken by Brian Henry, a sergeant, who had agreed to do overtime.

He made notes but failed to log the incident on to police systems, meaning no action was taken.

Sheriff James Williamson said he had been poorly trained, that there was confusion about call handling systems and that processes had allowed his human error to go undetected.

Mr Henry, who has since retired, told the inquiry he was tortured by his mistake, but the inquiry ruled he had also been failed by Police Scotland.

Fatal consequences

The failings of Police Scotland had fatal consequences for Lamara Bell, Sheriff Williamson said in a 199-page ruling.

Her suffering over a period of three days, terribly injured but conscious, is almost incomprehensible.

That suffering is compounded by the fact that she was trapped in the wreckage of a car, open to the elements, alongside her dead partner throughout that time.

Ms Bells family was awarded more than 1 million in damages from Police Scotland in a civil settlement in December 2021.

Police Scotland was also fined 100,000 after admitting corporate criminal liability for its part in the tragedy.

Ms Bell and Mr Yuill had been on a camping trip with friends when they left early. Mr Yuill had been drinking and smoking cannabis and did not hold a full driving licence.

Sheriff Williamson found the incident was the result of more than one error by Police Scotland and these failures took place over a lengthy period of time, during which the opportunity to resolve them was lost.

However, he said drastic improvements had since been made to the call handling system.

Following the ruling, Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said: Police Scotland failed Lamara and John in 2015 and I repeat the personal apology made previously to their loved ones. We did not keep them safe in their time of need as was our duty and for that I am truly sorry.

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SOCORRO, N.M. (KRQE)  New Mexico State Police is looking for a driver involved in a deadly hit-and-run crash in Socorro on Friday.

Officers were dispatched to the crash on I-25 near mile marker 161 around 5:30 a.m. NMSP said the driver of a Chevrolet pickup swerved to avoid hitting a deer and crashed. The vehicle rolled over, and the driver and the passenger were able to get out.

Story continues below

Adriana Jurado, one of the individuals who was in the vehicle, was attempting to pick up debris and belongings from the crash in the northbound lanes when she was hit by a white sedan that was traveling northbound. The white sedan fled, and Jurado, 22, was pronounced deceased on scene.

New Mexico State Police is asking the public for help in identifying the vehicle that hit Jurado. The make and model of the vehicle is unknown, but it will have heavy front-end damage on the drivers side, police said.

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A kidnapping suspect was arrested after leading officers on a lengthy pursuit across Southern California.

The suspect was identified as Lorenzo Isaiah Haynes, 29, from San Diego, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department.

On May 25 at around 9:23 p.m., deputies received a call from a victim who had allegedly been held hostage by Haynes for two weeks.

The victim said Haynes held her against her will and forced her to perform multiple sexual acts through fear and coercion, officials said. The sexual incidents took place throughout multiple counties across Southern California.

When the victim called deputies, she was hiding from Haynes near the 3600 block of Riverside Drive in Chino.

Deputies responded to the area and spotted the suspects car. As they attempted to pull him over, he refused to yield and sped off instead, leading authorities on a chase.

Southern California woman arrested again for attempting to kidnap children at park

Haynes continued driving away, leading a pursuit that began in Riverside County and eventually ended in San Diego County.

During the chase, a patrol car collided with two uninvolved motorists. That deputy was transported to the hospital for injury treatment.

Haynes vehicle was eventually disabled in San Diego County. He exited his car and attempted to run away but was caught and taken into custody.

He was arrested on multiple charges including:

Kidnapping

False imprisonment

Rape by force/fear

Oral copulation by force

Pimping

Human trafficking

Resisting or delaying an officer resulting in great bodily injury

Neither the victims age nor identity was released as the incident remains under investigation. Anyone with additional information can contact Chino Hills Police at 909-364-2000.

Anonymous tips can be provided to We-Tip at 1-800-782-7463 or online at wetip.com.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Police officers can be seen behind barrier tape during an operation on a street after a woman had a knife in her hand was injured by police firearms in Cologne on Friday. Sascha Thelen/dpa

A woman armed with a knife was shot by police in the western German city of Cologne on Friday.

It was not immediately known how severe the woman's injuries were, a police spokesman said.

According to an initial assessment from police, officers responded after people reported that the woman was carrying a knife. The woman allegedly threatened the police and officers then opened fire.

She was injured by a single gunshot and is being treated in hospital.

The scene of the incident was in a quiet street in the Deutz district of Cologne. The area was cordoned off after the shooting.

A police team from the nearby city of Bonn have been called in to investigative the incident for reasons of neutrality.

Police officers can be seen behind barrier tape during an operation on a street after a woman had a knife in her hand was injured by police firearms in Cologne on Friday. Sascha Thelen/dpa
CHARLOTTE (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The Department of Labor issued a citation and a fine to Wooden Robot Brewery following the tragic death of co-founder Dan Wade.

Wade fell through a skylight while working on the roof of the building in February of this year.

Three months ago, Wooden Robot co-founder Dan Wade fell and lost his life while at the business South End location. Just over a week ago, the brewery received a citation from the North Carolina Department of Labor.



Inspectors who were out on the scene the day of the tragic accident determined there were no proper covers, guardrails, travel restraint systems, or personal fall arrest systems in place to protect someone from falling through a hole, such as a skylight.



It goes on to say because of that, employees accessing the roof were exposed to a nearly 19-foot fall to the concrete floor below. Reps. with the Department of Labor say the maximum penalty for each serious violation is $15,625.

MORE FROM QUEEN CITY NEWS

Continuing Coverage

The brewery was penalized $2,000 for the infraction. Penalties are in no way designed to make up for loss of life, and will ultimately be distributed to the public school system.



Wade was well-known and well-liked in the community. He helped expand the Charlotte beer scene and was admired by many because of the way he treated others.



Just a month and a half before his death, he and his wife Samantha welcomed their first child.

Dan helped create this community, the Charlotte beer community, friend and head brewer at Suffolk Punch, Brad Maas said. Hes one of the great pillars of it. He displayed in the body this sense of community and friendship and being there when people needed you.

I knew Dan, professionally, said Amanda Buckley, general manager at Monday Night Brewing. It was our remote office for four months before we opened, the (assistant general manager) and I were there pretty much every day. Very welcoming. Great guy. Super hands-on.

Wooden Robot has another location in NoDa. The company has 15 days from receipt of the citation to file a notice of contest with OSHA or to pay the fine.

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.
Top US and Chinese defense officials seek to restore communications as tensions rise in Indo-Pacific

U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin, center, walks out after a bilateral meeting with China's Defence Minister Dong Jun on the sidelines of the 21st Shangri-La Dialogue summit at the Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore Friday, May 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)

SINGAPORE (AP)  U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met with his Chinese counterpart for more than an hour Friday, as the two countries seek to repair lines of communications between their militaries that could be critical as tensions continue to rise between the two in the Indo-Pacific region.

The meeting behind closed doors between Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun was the first in person between the top defense officials since contacts between the American and Chinese militaries broke down in 2022 after then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan, infuriating Beijing.

It came on the sidelines of the Shangri-La defense forum, Asia's premier security conference, which features defense officials, government leaders and diplomats from around the world.

The weekend talks are being held as wars rage in Gaza and Ukraine, and at a time of increasing tensions and competition for influence between the United States and China in the Indo-Pacific region.

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose country has had escalating hostilities with China in the disputed South China Sea, underscored the dangers of the regional flashpoint at the forum.

If a Filipino gets killed in the conflict by a willful act, he said, that is "very, very close to what we define as an act of war."

That would certainly increase the level of response, Marcos said.

Beijing in recent years has been rapidly expanding its navy and is becoming growingly assertive in pressing its claim to virtually the entire South China Sea, which has led to an increasing number of direct conflicts with other countries in the region, most notably the Philippines and Vietnam.

The U.S., meantime, has been ramping up military exercises in the region with its allies to underscore its free and open Indo-Pacific concept, meant to emphasize freedom of navigation through the contested waters, including the Taiwan Strait. China also claims the democratic self-governing island of Taiwan and has said it would not rule out using force to take it.

Austin, who is due to address the conference on Saturday, reiterated the American position to Dong during their talks, according to Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder.

The secretary made clear that the United States will continue to fly, sail, and operate -- safely and responsibly -- wherever international law allows, Ryder said. He underscored the importance of respect for high seas freedom of navigation guaranteed under international law, especially in the South China Sea.

Since territorial hostilities with China surged last year in the South China Sea, Marcos Jr.s administration has taken steps to forge new security alliances with a number of Asian and Western countries and allowed a U.S. military presence in more Philippine bases under a 2014 defense pact.

Marcos opened this year's conference, hosted by the International Institute for Strategic Studies, with his keynote address. He restated concerns over a new law issued by China giving its coast guard license to seize foreign ships that illegally enter Chinas territorial waters and to detain foreign crews for up to 60 days. The same law also made new reference to 2021 legislation that says Chinas coast guard can fire upon foreign ships if necessary.

Attempts to apply domestic laws and regulation beyond ones territory and jurisdiction violate international law, exacerbate tensions and undermine regional peace and security, Marcos said, without naming China.

With Philippines ships now regularly confronted by the Chinese, there are concerns that a low-level confrontation could lead to an escalation, said Eugene Tan, a professor of international law at the Singapore Management University.

I don't think these countries are really looking to go to war with each other, but the concern with these skirmishes is that sometimes when you have a miscalculation, then things could rapidly deteriorate into the use of force, he said.

And I think the last thing that countries in the region would want, particularly as they focus on the post-pandemic recovery, would be to have a regional conflict at the doorstep.

This year's conference comes just a week after China held massive military drills around Taiwan, staging a simulated blockade of the island after it inaugurated a new government that refuses to accept Beijing's insistence that the island is part of China.

China regards Taiwan as a renegade province that must come under its control, by force if necessary.

The U.S., like most countries, does not have formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan but is bound by its own laws to provide the island with the means to defend itself.

In his talks with Dong, Austin reiterated that the United States remains committed to the one-China policy, but expressed concern about the recent Chinese exercises, Ryder said.

Austin told Dong that China should not use Taiwan's political transition -- part of a normal, routine democratic process -- as a pretext for coercive measures, Ryder said.

China and the U.S. have been gradually restoring defense contacts since they broke down over Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, and Austin and Dong already talked with each other by video conference in April.

In their meeting Friday, Austin emphasized the importance of keeping open lines of military-to-military communication between American and Chinese commanders, and said both sides will resume telephone conversations between theater commanders in the coming months, Ryder said.

Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Wu Qian told reporters after the meeting that it showed the decline in military relations had now stabilized and that the resumption of direct communications was an important step.

The communications between the two militaries aims to enhance understanding, eliminate misunderstanding, accumulate mutual trust and achieve stability in relations, he said.

Meia Nouwens, a Chinese security and defense expert with the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said that while the resumption of direct communications is important, talking is the minimum that should be expected of two great powers.

Direct military communications will only be effective if Chinese leaders give their commanders the political leeway to respond in the moment, Nouwens cautioned.

We have to remember that there is a different political system in each of these two countries and therefore the commanders do not necessarily operate in the same way, or have the same level of political ability to make decisions in the moment or respond, she said.

Austin is due to address the forum Saturday morning, while Dong will speak on Sunday, the final day.

___

AP journalists Syawalludin Zain in Singapore, Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines and Tara Copp in Washington contributed to this story.

___

Follow AP's Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific
World unprepared for another pandemic as WHO treaty talks push on

By Emma Farge and Jennifer Rigby

LONDON (Reuters) - The world is unprepared for another health crisis like COVID-19, a leading global health expert has warned, as countries make a last push to agree a way forward for a pandemic treaty amid fears the political climate for agreement could sour.

World Health Organization member states gathered in Geneva on Friday to work out how to continue negotiations about an accord after missing this months deadline.

We only hope that... (in the) next few months, we don't have another pandemic that finds us in a world which is still unprepared for a major crisis, Muhammad Ali Pate, Nigerias health minister and a board member of the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria, told Reuters.

A major sticking point in the treaty has been provisions for low and middle-income countries to have access to 20% of tests, treatments and vaccines developed to fight the pandemic, either at no-profit costs or donated.

Ali Pate said the figure was reasonable to avoid the scramble for life-saving products that saw African countries last-in-line during COVID.

While talks on the treaty are likely to continue for several months or even years, a parallel process to update an existing set of rules that govern international disease outbreaks are closer to agreement, sources said, and could be signed off before the end of the WHOs annual meeting on Saturday.

Other negotiators and observers said there was a sense of urgency in the treaty talks, not least because of concerns that elections in a number of key countries this year could bring in right-leaning governments who fear the treaty could threaten their sovereignty, which the WHO denies and a clause in the document guards against.

This needs to be done now or else things are only going to get worse with things moving to the right, said one Western diplomat.

(Reporting by Emma Farge and Jennifer Rigby; Editing by Nick Macfie)
WWU issues apology to Arab students, agrees to some of war protesters demands

Western Washington University issued a statement Friday morning and released a memorandum of understanding that describes how the campus administration is addressing the demands of students who established a tent camp to protest the war in Gaza and the universitys ties to Israel and U.S. defense manufacturers.

In exchange, members of the student group WWU Divest Apartheid Coalition removed about 70 tents from the lawn between Old Main and Viking Union, leaving behind only square patches of yellowed grass where 100 students and others staged a two-week sit-in.

Participants will not face discipline for their actions, according to the agreement.

Student activists celebrated the pact to end their two-week demonstration on Thursday, claiming victory during a news conference timed to coincide with a university-imposed deadline to remove their tents.

WWU President Sabah Randhawa posted the full agreement online Friday, along with a letter headlined Encampment resolution and reflections.

In his letter, Randhawa offered an apology to Palestinian, Arab and Arab American students for a November statement that said the term intifada calls for violence against Jews.

In particular, my recent conversations with students from WWUs Arab Student Association have helped me realize that I misunderstood the complexity of the term intifada and misrepresented our ASA students intended use of the term, Randhawa said.

Intifada is an Arabic term that means shaking off, according to the Arab media network Al-Jazeera. Jewish organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League say that Jews hear the word as a call for indiscriminate violence because of the 2000-2005 series of attacks that killed about 1,000 Israelis and 3,200 Palestinians.

In addition to the apology, university officials negotiated a solution to the demands listed by student protesters.

In part, the agreement said:

 WWU officials will meet with students to develop a plan of action regarding university investments, establish an advisory committee for socially responsible investments and a procedure for anyone to make divestment requests.

 The university will be transparent about its interests in private industry, form a committee on socially responsible procurement and create a way to field requests for products carried in campus markets and dining halls. It doesnt specifically mention Sabra hummus, an Israeli product that protesters want removed from campus.

 WWU officials will review study-abroad programs such as the one with the University of Haifa.

 Chief Diversity Officer Jacqueline Hughes will continue a campus-wide dialogue around the interpretation and use of terms, including but not limited to anti-Arab racism, sexism, anti-Blackness, anti-trans sentiment, antisemitism, etc., and how various interpretations impact our community.

 University officials will work with the Foundation for WWU and alumni to pursue the creation of a number of full-tuition scholarships for students who have been displaced from universities in Gaza.

The WWU Divest Apartheid Coalition included members of the Arab Student Association and Jewish Voice for Peace, an anti-Zionist organization. Their name alludes to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.

Protesters demanded that WWU disclose and sever its ties to companies and institutions doing business with Israel, sought an emergency meeting of the WWU board of trustees, and urged the university to define antisemitism using language that equates Zionism with racism  a step thats called antisemitic by several major Jewish institutions and the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance.

About 100 members of the Divest Apartheid Coalition and others celebrated the agreement Thursday outside Old Main, which holds offices for the university administration.

It is important to remember that this is a very bittersweet moment, one of the speakers said. While we are celebrating this win, it is also important to remember that we are not done yet. We have so much more work to do and we dont intend on stopping here.

Toward the end of the event, organizers asked for a moment of silence to honor the estimated 36,000 Gaza residents who have been killed in the fighting that began Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas militants attacked Israel, killing about 1,200 Israelis and taking 250 hostages.

The Associated Press reported May 30 that Israels war against Hamas in Gaza since then has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry, which doesnt distinguish between combatants and civilians.

Protesters pitched their tents in the early hours of Tuesday, May 14, which is Israels Independence Day and the second day of Israel Apartheid Week on campus.

Since that time, University Police recorded several instances of vandalism with slogans protesting the war in Gaza.

A Jewish student reported to police that they were spat upon and followed home on May 17, as they walked past a Gaza war protest. That incident that was being investigated as a possible hate crime.

University officials told The Bellingham Herald that none of the incidents has been linked to encampment participants.

Last week, Jewish faculty, students and others told The Herald that the administration wasnt taking their safety seriously.

Several college and university campuses across the U.S. have seen similar protest encampments in recent weeks as the war in Gaza continues.
The China National Archives of Publications and Culture (CNAPC) on Friday welcomed new collections donated by public institutions and private collectors. #XinhuaNews
Former President Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records by a Manhattan jury on Thursday, but for many conservatives, the criminal convictions were nothing more than a rallying cry, especially in ruby-red Republican states.

In Wyoming, a state where Trump received over 70 percent of the state's presidential votes in 2020 and carried all but two of the state's 23 counties, political players from across the state's increasingly divided Republican Party have united in condemning the trial's outcome.

"Today will go down as a shameful day in American history. We now have proof that the radical Democrats will do anything it takes to hold onto the reins of power," the Wyoming Freedom Caucus wrote in a statement posted to Facebook. "Cooking up charges against your political opponent during an election cycle in which you are losing is unprecedented."

The Cowboy State's Secretary of State Chuck Gray, endorsed by Trump in 2022, echoed the sentiments of the Freedom Caucus in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.

"Today's "verdict" is absolutely bogus, disgusting, and a catastrophe to the legal system in America. The Left has weopanized [sic] the legal system against President Donald J. Trump and the American People," Gray wrote. "And this "verdict" is left-wing election interference and a threat to the very foundations of our republic."

Wyoming Secretary of State Chuck Gray

More: 'Speechless': Swing state voters react to Donald Trump's guilty verdict

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Governor Mark Gordon, who has recently clashed with Gray and was censured by Wyoming's increasingly right-leaning Republican Party at this year's state convention, had similarly harsh words for Trump's conviction on a social media post.

"I am extraordinarily disappointed that our justice system is being used so obviously in an attempt to influence our elections," Gorden wrote. "Voters will choose the next President, not a New York jury. This case has damaged Americans' confidence in an impartial judiciary."

Cy Neff reports on Wyoming politics for USA TODAY. You can reach him at cneff@usatoday.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @CyNeffNews

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump's guilty verdict sparks outrage among Wyoming politicians
FILE PHOTO: Mexico's opposition presidential candidate Xochitl Galvez visits her hometown to close her campaign activities, in Tepatepec

By Adriana Barrera

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -A rags to riches story and a penchant for publicity propelled businesswoman Xochitl Galvez into the limelight as the main opposition candidate for Mexico's presidency, campaigning on a promise to confront drug cartels and improve the economy.

Galvez, 61, who trails ruling party candidate Claudia Sheinbaum in the polls ahead of Sunday's vote, represents a coalition of opposition parties and vows to restore security to Mexico, where around 30,000 people are murdered every year and criminal groups wield far-reaching influence.

Born in Tepatepec, in the central state of Hidalgo, Galvez has described how the poverty and violence that she and her mother suffered at the hands of her father, an alcoholic rural teacher, motivated her to push forward. She is proud of her Otomi indigenous origin.

Galvez calls herself a rebel. She left home at the age of 17 for Mexico City to study and escape the social expectation in her home town that she marry young.

In Mexico City she studied computer engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico and specialized in robotics before founding technology companies.

In 1999, the World Economic Forum named her one of the 100 global leaders of the future.

Galvez is known for her casual and irreverent way of speaking, using colloquial slang in the face of a Mexican political tradition that remains largely formal.

She usually dresses in colorful huipils, a handmade embroidered garment characteristic of the country's indigenous peoples, and she is a strong proponent of bicycles, riding one when she went to register her candidacy.

"This is not the time for men," she said in an interview. She has assured that if she comes to power, she will combat the scourge of femicides and widespread violence against women.

Galvez has criticized the historic level of missing persons in Mexico and promised to end President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's policy of avoiding confrontations with organized crime and to combat the growing extortion of businesses and highway robberies.

"This government has normalized violence and wants us to get used to barbarism," she said in March at the start of her campaign in Fresnillo, a city in northern Mexico, where more than 95% of residents feel unsafe, according to official data.

In Tepatepec, the candidate's hometown of about 11,000 people where many still embrace the Indigenous Otomi culture, Galvez' success is a source of pride.

Maria de los Angeles Diaz, 73, who owns a small convenience store a few steps from the house where Galvez grew up, said she planned to vote for her even though she voted for MORENA in the last election.

Nobody from here has made it this far, she said.

(Reporting by Adriana Barrera; additional reporting by Stefanie Eschenbacher; editing by Ana Isabel Martinez; Writing by Sarah Kinosian; editing by Stephen Eisenhammer and Leslie Adler)
Hodeida, Yemen  Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis on Friday threatened to escalate attacks on Red Sea shipping after overnight strikes by the United States and Britain that the rebels said killed 16 people.

Three officials told CBS News national security correspondent David Martin on Friday that the U.S. used a 5,000-pound bunker-buster bomb as part of the joint strike against Houthi targets. The GBU-72 bomb was dropped by a U.S. Air Force jet in an effort to destroy an underground Houthi facility. One official said the bomb hit the target, but it wasn't yet clear if it had been destroyed or if there were any civilian casualties.

The Houthis, who control much of Yemen, said 16 people were killed and 40 more wounded, including an unspecified number of civilians, but there was no independent confirmation of those numbers. If confirmed, it would be one of the deadliest strikes since the U.S. and the U.K. started their campaign in January against the Houthis, whose rocket attacks have severely disrupted the vital Red Sea trade route.

Russian media claims Houthis have hypersonic missiles to target U.S. ships

The Iran-backed Houthis have carried out scores of drone and missile attacks on vessels in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden, including U.S. warships, since November, citing solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip over the Israel-Hamas war.

Protesters, largely Houthi supporters, rally to show solidarity with Palestinians and anger at the U.S. and U.K. the day after those countries carried out new joint airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen, in Sanaa, Yemen, May 31, 2024. / Credit: Khaled Abdullah/REUTERS

The U.S. Central Command, CENTCOM, said 13 Houthi sites were targeted in the latest strikes.



"The American-British aggression will not prevent us from continuing our military operations," Houthi official Mohammed al-Bukhaiti said on X, formerly Twitter, vowing to "meet escalation with escalation."



In response, the rebels launched a missile attack on the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea, according to Houthi spokesman Yahya Saree, who added that the group "will not hesitate to respond directly and immediately to every new aggression on Yemeni territories."



U.S. military officials did not immediately comment on the Houthi claim to have targeted the USS Eisenhower.

The Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower transits through the Atlantic Ocean in an Aug. 22, 2008 file photo. / Credit: U.S. Navy

Yemen's Houthi-controlled Al-Masirah TV network broadcast a video showing bloodied men wounded in a purported strike on a building housing a radio station in the western port city of Hodeida. The channel showed victims receiving treatment at a hospital, although the authenticity of the images could not be independently verified.

A hospital employee in Hodeida said many militants were among those killed and wounded in the attack but was unable to give exact figures.

The British defense ministry said its warplanes launched strikes in "a joint operation with U.S. forces against Houthi military facilities."

The ministry said intelligence indicated two sites near Hodeida were involved in the attacks on shipping, "with a number of buildings identified as housing drone ground control facilities and providing storage for very long-range drones, as well as surface-to-air weapons."

Another "command and control" site had been identified further south, it said in a statement.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said "the strikes were taken in self-defense against an ongoing threat," adding the rebels had carried out 197 attacks since November.



CENTCOM said the strikes were "necessary to protect our forces, ensure freedom of navigation, and make international waters safer and more secure."



Iran condemned the U.S.-U.K. military action, saying it aims to "spread insecurity in the region."



The "governments of the United States and the United Kingdom are responsible for the consequences of these crimes against the Yemeni people," said its foreign ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanani.



Since January, the United States and Britain have launched repeated strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen in response to the rebels' harassment of shipping. In February, the Houthis held a mass funeral in Sanaa for 17 fighters they said were killed in U.S. and British strikes.



The U.S. and British strikes have not stamped out the campaign by the rebels, who have vowed to target American and British vessels as well as all ships heading to Israeli ports.



The Houthis also said they had shot down a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone with a surface-to-air missile, claiming it was the sixth such aircraft they have downed in recent months.

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Armed rebels of the Iran-backed Houthi militia take part in a demonstration. Osamah Yahya/dpa

Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi militia on Friday claimed to have attacked a US aircraft carrier in the Red Sea in response to airstrikes in areas controlled by the group.

The Houthi military spokesman Yehya Saree said the group had fired missiles at the carrier Eisenhower, and the hit was "precise and direct."

He added that the United States and Britain had mounted a series of airstrikes in the militia-controlled capital Sana'a, and the provinces of Hodaidah and Taiz.

The strikes left civilian and military casualties, including 16 dead in Hodaidah, the official added in a televised statement.

Earlier Friday, the Houthi-run television al-Masirah reported that the overnight attack in Hodaidah in western Yemen had targeted the provincial radio building and the port of al-Salif, claiming at least 16 civilian lives.

The US army said its forces destroyed eight uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen and over the Red Sea on Thursday.

The Central Commanded added in an X post that the US and British forces had also struck 13 Houthi targets, saying the UAVs and sites "presented a threat" to US and coalition forces and merchant vessels in the region.

The Houthis, who have controlled parts of Yemen since 2014, have been targeting ships bound for Israeli ports or those owned by Israeli companies in the Red and Arabian seas and Indian Ocean for months, in what they say is retaliation for Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip.

The militia also attacked US and British ships off Yemen after the two countries began launching strikes on areas under the group's control.

The US, Britain and other Western countries have launched operations to protect ships in the region.

The European Union has also deployed a military operation to secure merchant shipping in the Red Sea, one of the most important shipping routes for world trade, as it connects the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean via the Suez Canal in Egypt.

Major shipping companies have been avoiding the route and sail the much longer journey around South Africa's Cape of Good Hope instead.
ROCK HILL, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  York County sheriff candidates answered questions from the community Thursday evening ahead of the June 11 primary.

Rock Hill Chief Deputy Michael Belk, retired York County Deputy Chris Blevins, retired York County Lieutenant Heath Clevenger, and former York County investigator and wife of current sheriff Beth Tolson took prepared questions from the crowd.

Tony Breeden, a retired lieutenant from the Rock Hill Police Department, did not attend.

The Minority Business Leaders Network hosted the event.

Organization co-leader and criminal defense attorney Twana Burris-Alcide said the information session highlights the need for accountability and transparency from whoever becomes sheriff.

We are bringing the candidates before the community, and I mean the whole community, people from all different walks of life, said Burris-Alcide.

She said all elected officials, and particularly sheriffs and solicitors, must serve and represent not just a party, but the entire community.

South Carolina county primaries are open to all registered voters in the jurisdiction. State law does not require voters to declare a party when they register.

The candidates took prepared questions from an audience of around 100 people for a little more than an hour. Attendees asked candidates about their thoughts on body-worn cameras, the department budget, and why the candidates did not file to run for the position initially.

Sheriff Kevin Tolson had filed to run again but withdrew his name on the last day of eligibility. His wife Beth Tolson then put herself up for sheriff an hour before the April 1 noon filing deadline.

The York County Republican Party decided to reopen the filing period for a week after Kevin withdrew, as Beth was left unopposed for the GOP primary.

Candidates also answered several questions about how to build bridges between the Black community and law enforcement.

Belk said has previously helped create a community engagement division focused on solutions and understanding community needs.

This is bigger than a neighborhood watch or community meeting where youre only seeing those monthly or quarterly, this is a daily exercise for us, said Belk.

Blevins said he will make himself available, in-person or over the phone, as much as possible to every person who wants to fight for justice.

Thats how you build bridges is you make yourself available, you dont make yourself scarce. You dont treat your door as a screen door and filter everything that comes through it, you make yourself available for the good and the bad, Im going to be there, said Blevins.

Clevenger said he wants to work with all communities and has a proven track record.

The reason you should vote for me and trust me is because of my history of integrity as a deputy with the York County Sheriffs Office as demonstrated time and time again, Clevenger said.

Tolson said she is looking forward to the opportunity to be a sheriff to all people and prove herself.

You might know my husband, you might know my dad, you dont know me. I have to earn your trust and Im willing to do that. I want to do that, Tolson said.

If none of the candidates receive at least 50 percent of the vote on June 11, the top two candidates go into a runoff election on June 25.

Early voting is open from May 29 through June 7.

The event also featured two candidates for county solicitor, Tyler Bratton, and incumbent Kevin Brackett.

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 York man on Thursday pleaded guilty to threatening to kill a congressional staff member and making more than 12,000 harassing calls to more than 50 members of Congress.

Ade Salim Lilly, 35, pleaded guilty to threatening to kidnap or injure someone on interstate commerce and repeated harassing telephone calls, according to court documents.

Prosecutors said Lilly made more than 12,000 telephone calls to about 54 members of Congress across the country, both to their state and D.C. offices, from February 2022 to November 2023. Of those calls, 6,526 were made to offices within D.C., prosecutors noted.

While on the calls with staff members, Lilly would become angry and use vulgar and harassing language toward them, per court filings. He was repeatedly asked by staff to refrain from calling, and U.S. Capitol Police also informed him that his phone calls were unwanted and prohibited by law due to their harassing nature.

The Hill reached out to Capitol Police for comment.

Lilly also used *67 to conceal his phone number, and in one call in October 2022 to a Maryland congressional office, he allegedly told a staffer, I will kill you, I am going to run you over, I will kill you with a bomb or grenade.

Lillys sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 28.

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.
NEW YORK  News of Donald Trumps conviction sparked a celebratory roar across the street from the Manhattan courthouse where the stunning verdict was delivered on Thursday.

Im so proud of my fellow New Yorkers, Sonni Moon told the New York Daily News. I never thought this would happen. Hes been unaccountable for so many things.

This decision proves that nobody is above the law, including the former president, added Moon, a Manhattanite who works in health care.

Chants of lock him up filled the park after the trial.

Im shocked that they found him guilty but people like him will never see the inside of a jail. This whole thing is a political circus, said Angel Aezquita. This will boost his base. All publicity is good publicity.

Donald Trump is going to be all right, added the 48-year-old Harlem man.

A former lifelong Republican swayed after the 2016 election traveled from Louisiana for the guilty verdict.

Did I expect guilty on all 34 counts? Yes, I did, said John Michael Lockhart, 61. (Trump is) a con artist. Alvin Bragg found charges he thought were a fit and 12 members of the jury found him guilty.

The evidence was overwhelming, added Lockhart, an author. I believe in the rule of law and this was indeed the rule of law.

A handful of Trump supporters jeered the verdict, which one New Jersey woman described as rigged by President Biden  echoing Trumps baseless words inside the courthouse.

The charges are manufactured that theyve pulled from old data and theyre resurrected by the person claiming to be the current president of the United States, said 57-year-old Mary Logan of Lebanon, N.J. If (Trump) does not prevail, we will not be a sovereign nation anymore.

Earlier in the day, protesters clashed outside the courthouse, where a supporter of the former president ripped a sign from a demonstrators hand.

Go to hell, b---h, one Trump supporter screeched as chaos erupted across the street from the Lower Manhattan courthouse. Knock her down. Get out of, here bh.

Tear those signs up, added another.

The demonstrator was carrying multiple signs that ended up getting snatched away and ripped apart by angry Trump supporters.

The demonstrator had signs that said Trump lies all the time and Trump is the definition of depravity.

The demonstrator was soon removed from the park by police.

A man holding up a flag showing LGBT support of Trump said some of the demonstrators got out of line.

They said some anti-gay st and then they were escorted out of here by police and now have the audacity to return, so we are not taking it anymore, he said. We are not going to put up with that bullst from that side of the fence. If you thought January 6th was bad, wait until we get through with you, Biden.

Another scuffle between a Trump supporter and a Trump critic broke out a few minutes later.

A man holding a black F--k Biden sign got into the face of another demonstrator.

Youre a loser, the demonstrator said.

F--k out of here, youre a loser! the Trump supporter shouted back.

Protester Nadine Seiler, 59, came all the way from Maryland to voice her impatience with the jury deliberations.

Convict Trump already, her sign stated.

I do feel theres a lot of evidence to support the covering up of the general election and hopefully the jurors see that and come to a complete picture, she told the Daily News. Im just hoping for the best that he is convicted and the right outcome happens.

Lily Kui, a Trump supporter from Delaware, couldnt disagree more.

This is the second time Im in New York, she said. Theyre making up stories. We people here love Trump.

A supporter in a Make America Great Again hat said the trial is standing in the way of democracy.

I hope the outcome is for the president to be a free man and to be a better America and a better world, better society for the younger generation, he said.

We have to have a country of morals and laws and dignity and respect and if we are a country and we dont have that stuff we are going to fail.

_____
The Oregon Health Authority oversees the Oregon State Hospital in Salem. (Oregon Health Authority)

On March 1, Skye Baskin was in a crisis along a highway in Douglas County, wandering in and out of traffic.

The 27-year-old from Portland alarmed motorists, who swerved to avoid him. An Oregon State Police trooper responded and arrested Baskin for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, both misdemeanors.

That was Baskins last day of freedom before he died. He languished for six weeks in the Douglas County Jail and was unresponsive when his court-appointed defense attorney visited him in the facility, court records and interviews show. And he was unable to hold up his head when Douglas County deputies unloaded him from a van into a wheelchair as they dropped him off at Oregon State Hospital, the states secure psychiatric hospital in Salem.

Baskin lived in relative obscurity, bouncing around California, Washington and Portland as a young adult after he graduated from California City High School in 2015. Early in life, he and his brother, Trai Baskin, spent time in Georgias foster care system. His path from the edge of a highway in Douglas County to the Oregon State Hospital sheds light on a frayed system that policymakers struggle to fix even after putting more than $1.3 billion toward new programs and facilities in 2021.

Skye Baskin (Provided)

Yet Baskin and others fall through the cracks.

Why are they charging these cases? asked Angelina Hollingsworth, the Douglas County public defender who represented him. Why are the police picking up someone thats clearly having a mental health issue, instead of using other resources in the community like the mobile crisis unit? They could have responded and worked this out.

At this point, officials have not said when, exactly, Baskin died. Oregon State Hospital staff found he lacked a pulse after wheeling through the facility to his room.

Oregon State Police are investigating the death and its circumstances, as is procedural for all unattended deaths at Oregon State Hospital, an agency spokesperson said. The case is complex in part because its not clear when he died on that journey from the Douglas County Jail to Oregon State Hospital, a 134-mile drive that unfolded in a transport van.

Oregon State Hospital officials on Thursday released the results of a federal inspection after the death, a 150-page record that faults the hospital for failing to flag Baskins condition sooner.

Meanwhile, Baskins brother wonders what happened as he waits for answers.

Douglas County jail stay

An Oregon State Police sergeant spotted Baskin on March 1, as he walked across Interstate 5 and vehicles braked to avoid hitting him. He peered down into the Umpqua River from a bridge, the officer wrote in his report.

Mr. Baskin seemed in a daze or fog of some sort and would not really communicate with me when I asked him if I could get him some help or find out what was going on, the report said.

The officer held his wrist to keep Baskin from traffic and he started to pull away, the report said. The report said Baskin balled up his fist and the officer grabbed his wrists. Baskin resisted arrest and tried to pull away, and the officer used a foot sweep to trip him and tried to break his fall. A passerby pulled up and helped the trooper by jumping on Baskins back as he was handcuffed.

Its unclear why he was free at that point instead of in a program. Just a day earlier, police in Sutherlin arrested Baskin for trespassing after receiving a complaint he was asking an employee at a Dutch Bros. coffee shop if he wanted to box, records show. He was taken to the Douglas County Jail and released without any charges filed.

This time was different. Baskin was booked in the Douglas County Jail and charged with two misdemeanors.

A few days later, Hollingsworth, his court-appointed attorney, went to the jail to visit him.

Mr. Baskin did not make eye contact with me during the entire interaction, Hollingsworth wrote in an affidavit obtained by the Capital Chronicle. Mr. Baskin was rocking back and forth and did not acknowledge my presence or any of my questions.

She said jail staff told her Baskin would not talk and hadnt since he arrived. Because he didnt talk and wandered aimlessly about, jail staff told her they decided to keep him in isolation, the affidavit said.

In court, Hollingsworth fought hard for her client. On April 1, she filed a motion for the charges to be dismissed, arguing that he had been in jail for 32 days already and no community programs were available to restore him to aid in his defense.

Instead, Circuit Court Judge Robert Johnson sent Baskin to Oregon State Hospital, which provides mental health treatment to people charged with crimes who are unable to aid in their defense. Under the states system, people can receive treatment and return to their community when they are well enough to face charges.

Baskin never got that treatment  or a trip back to Douglas County.

Arrival at the state hospital

Douglas County deputies drove Baskin to the Oregon State Hospital on April 18. When they opened the doors to the transport van, he was sitting in a slumped position, according to a federal report of violations the state hospital released Thursday. The document doesnt identify him, but interviews and other records obtained by the Capital Chronicle connect him to the death in the report.

Deputies told a nurse theyd need a wheelchair because he flops around like a fish, the report said. The report faults nurses who took him to his room for failing to request a doctor to determine if his unresponsive condition was behavioral, as law enforcement transporters claimed, versus medical, saying a reasonable layperson would know to do this.

Aside from Baskin briefly opening his eyes, hospital staff saw little movement, the report said. His eyes were closed when they took an identifying photo, and they held his legs up with a blanket as they moved him to keep his feet off the floor. His head slouched to one side.

When he was placed in his bed, a nurse decided to check his pulse and found none. Efforts to resuscitate him failed and he was pronounced dead 69 minutes after arriving at the hospital.

The hospital reported his death to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, which blamed hospital staff for not checking Baskins condition, including vital signs like his pulse and temperature, upon his arrival.

Federal regulators also found disorganized medical emergency supplies, but dont directly say those problems caused Baskins death in the report.

Our number one priority at Oregon State Hospital is the safety and health of our patients and staff, Dr. Sara Walker, OSH interim superintendent and chief medical officer, said in a statement.

The hospital plans to submit a plan outlining how it will improve its policies to CMS on Friday and has already started to make some changes, including more training and better organization of medical equipment.

In a memorandum to staff on Thursday, Walker said the hospital receives 25 to 30 new patients each week, and the new people often arrive with no recent medical care.

While we are not responsible for patients before they come to OSH, we are responsible for all their treatment needs, both medical and psychiatric, as soon as they enter our admissions area, Walker wrote. Youll see that called out in the CMS findings.

The Douglas County Sheriffs Office didnt respond to requests for comment.

A brother remembers

Trai Baskin, a Marine Corps sergeant stationed in Japan, told the Capital Chronicle hes waiting for answers from the government about his brothers death.

That just sounds crazy to me, but they arent really releasing any details to anyone, he said in a phone interview.

The two spent years together in foster care in Georgia, growing up in different households, often under different circumstances, he said. But Baskin, 26, is just a year younger than his brother and they were close during their childhood.

It has mostly just been me and Skye together, he said.

They were adopted together when they were eight and nine and later went to live with an uncle when their adoptive father died, he said. In high school, they eventually lived in California.

His brother played the trumpet in middle school and high school, Baskin said. The two didnt speak as often in adulthood but still kept in touch.

In January, they planned to play video games together. But through February and March, he was unable to connect with his brother and later found out he was in jail for much of that time.

Theyre just kind of playing hot potato with the blame here, he said. I doubt thatll be quick, because its already been like a month or so.

The post A young mans death exposes holes in Oregons mental health system appeared first on Oregon Capital Chronicle.
President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Stockholm on May 31 for the third Nordic-Ukrainian summit.

"Our top priorities are to ensure more air defense systems for Ukraine, joint defense industry projects, and weapons for our warriors, as well as global efforts to force Russia to make peace," Zelensky said on X.

This comes as only the latest in a series of Zelensky's international travels in recent days. Earlier this week, the president visited Spain, Belgium, and Portugal, concluding three new bilateral security agreements.

In Stockholm, Ukraine's head of state is expected to meet Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, and Icelandic Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson.

"Ukraine will sign three security agreements in one day, establishing predictable and long-term defense assistance and comprehensive support," Zelensky said.

The previous Nordic-Ukrainian summit took place in May and December 2023. Northern European countries have supported Ukraine since the outbreak of the full-scale invasion, providing extensive military, humanitarian, and other support.

Read also: Belgium signs security deal with Ukraine, pledges $1 billion in aid this year

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BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed the all-round development of children in a reply letter to students from a primary school in the southwestern province of Sichuan.

Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, encouraged them to be self-reliant and aspiring children in the new era who love the country and the Party.

In the letter dated Thursday, Xi also extended International Children's Day greetings to children nationwide.

Students from Zhijiang Primary School in Sichuan recently wrote a letter to Xi, telling the president about their studies and lives.

In his reply letter, Xi said he was delighted to hear that the school is doing very well and the students are thriving.

"Children are the future of our country," Xi emphasized, encouraging them to "become the talent capable of shouldering the mission of building a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation."

The school, previously situated in the mountainous regions of Nanchong City, Sichuan Province, was relocated and reconstructed in 2004 with the support of Zhejiang Province in east China, where Xi served as Party chief then.

Xi also laid the foundation for the school, which became operational in September 2005 and currently accommodates 287 students. 
President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to participate in the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore, which will take place from May 31 to June 2, Reuters reported, citing six undisclosed sources.

The Shangri-La Dialogue is Asia's premier defense summit, held annually in Singapore by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), an independent think tank.

Security assistance for Ukraine is expected to be one of the key issues discussed at this year's dialogue, Reuters said. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun will also join the conference.

Zelensky plans to address delegates at the event on June 1, according to the news agency's undisclosed sources.

In what appears to be a conflicting report, the German news agency DPA wrote on May 30 that, according to a diplomatic source, Zelensky is expected to visit Saudi Arabia on June 1.

The Ukrainian president will attend the Shangri-La Dialogue ahead of the global peace summit, which will be held on June 15-16 in the Burgenstock resort in Switzerland. Some 90 countries have confirmed their participation in the event, according to the head of the state.

Zelensky previously said that Russia will attempt to disrupt the summit, aiming to reduce the number of participating countries.

China will not attend Ukraine's summit in June as the terms it required to attend were not met, according to Reuters, citing several sources.

Publicly, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that attending would be "difficult" as the "arrangement of the meeting still falls short of China's requirements and the expectations of the international community."

The U.S., in turn, confirmed its participation without specifying if President Joe Biden will attend.

Zelensky ruled out Russia's participation in the event, as it continues to attack Ukraine on a daily basis.

Read also: Media: Zelensky to visit Saudi Arabia to mobilize support for peace summit

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Zelenskyy announces his visit to Sweden: he will sign three security agreements at once

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is on a visit to the Swedish capital, Stockholm, on Friday, 31 May.

Source: Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Telegram; European Pravda

Zelenskyy says he will participate in the third Ukraine-Northern Europe summit in Stockholm.

Quote: "Our key priorities are air defene for Ukraine. We must provide more systems, joint defence production facilities and provide our soldiers with weapons, as well as our global work to force Russia to peace," Zelenskyy said.

He also has a scheduled meeting with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre, and Iceland's Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson.

Quote: "We will communicate both within the summit's framework and in bilateral formats," Zelenskyy added. He also announced the signing of three security agreements that "will fix the projected defence and other versatile support for a long period."

Zelenskyy will also meet with Sweden's King Carl XVI and representatives of Swedish defence companies.

Background:

In Portugal, Zelenskyy signed a security cooperation agreement, designed to provide long-term support, with the country's Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.

Portugal became the twelfth country with which Ukraine signed this agreement. Similar documents have been recently signed with Spain and Belgium.

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Zelenskyy doesn't yet know whether Ukraine's partners will limit F-16 strikes on Russia

Ukraine currently has no information on whether its partners will impose any restrictions on the use of F-16 fighter jets for strikes on Russian territory.

Source: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a press conference in Stockholm on Friday after the Nordic-Ukrainian Summit, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The president noted that as yet he does not know the details of how the Ukrainian military will be able to use the F-16 fighter jets donated by Western partners.

Quote: "The good news is that we will have them, and we will have some of them this year. Are they enough? No. Will there be too many? No. There wont be enough to achieve parity in the sky with the Russians.

I don't know whether there will be any restrictions on using these aircraft in Russian skies. Well see. I think the use of any Western weapons on Russian territory is a matter of time.

Background: Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lkke Rasmussen has announced that Ukraine will be allowed to use Danish-supplied F-16 fighter jets to strike military targets inside Russia.

Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo has recently stated that Ukraine will be able to use the F-16 fighter jets donated by his country on Ukraines territory.

The British newspaper The Evening Standard reported on 10 May, citing a "high-ranking military source", that Ukraine would receive the first F-16 fighter jets "within weeks".

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Zelenskyy suggests UK bars use of its missiles on Russia due to US position

Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit to Sweden. Photo: Ukraine's President's Office

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has indicated that Kyiv wants to use long-range weapons to strike Russian territory, including Storm Shadow missiles provided by the United Kingdom.

Source: Zelenskyy in an interview with The Guardian, as reported by European Pravda

Details: He said that, despite reports to the contrary, the UK did not give "100% permission" to use its missiles to strike targets in Russia.

As the Guardian notes, the Ukrainian leader suggested that London is actually waiting for a decision in Washington.

"We raised this issue twice. We did not get confirmation from him [David Cameron, the foreign secretary]," Zelenskyy explained.

The president suggested that the final decision of the UK and other partners on such permission depends on "consensus," and the position of the USA is crucial.

"You know how it works," he added.

Background:

Earlier, after a visit to Kyiv, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron stated that Ukraine has the right to strike Russian territory with UK-supplied weapons.

At the same time, Ukraine confirmed that the United States authorised the limited use of its weapons to strike Russian territory.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg asked the allies to review the constraints on Ukraine's ban on using Western weaponry against the Russian Federation in the midst of border fighting in Kharkiv Oblast.

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Zelenskyy to travel to Singapore for security conference, media reports

Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Singapore this weekend to participate in the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference, according to six sources who spoke to Reuters.

Source: Reuters

Details: Two sources have informed Reuters that Zelenskyy will address delegates at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Saturday.

It is expected that Ukraine's security assistance will be one of the key topics discussed at this year's dialogue, Asia's premier security conference. Among the participants are US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe.

The Ukrainian Embassy in Singapore did not respond to Reuters' request for comment. Zelenskyy's office in Kyiv did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Reportedly, since 2022, the Russian delegation has not participated in the Singapore security meetings.

Background:

This is not the first time Ukraine has participated in the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference.

In 2022, Zelenskyy took part in the Asian Security Summit online.

And in 2023, former Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov attended the forum in Singapore.

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Its easy for artificial intelligence programs to create mimic voices of politicians such as President Biden and former President Trump, posting the risk of a rise in voter misinformation, according to a Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) study released Friday.

AI-enabled tools created convincing false statements using the mimic voices about 80 percent of the time, CCDH tests found.

Guardrails for these tools are so severely lacking  and the level of skill needed to use them is now so low  that these platforms can be easily manipulated by virtually anyone to produce dangerous political misinformation, CCDH CEO Imran Ahmed said in a statement.

Mimic voices have already been used to influence voters in the 2024 election. During the New Hampshire Democratic primary in February, robocalls using a fake Biden voice told voters to stay home in an attempt to decrease voter turnout.

Steve Kramer, who ran the scheme, said he was inspired by a need to warn the public over the dangers of AI. Last week, was charged with 13 counts each of felony voter suppression and misdemeanor impersonating a candidate. He was also fined $6 million by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

The FCC banned the use of AI voices in phone calls after the New Hampshire primary incident, and the commissions chair moved to require television ads to disclose the use of AI last week.

As artificial intelligence tools become more accessible, the commission wants to make sure consumers are fully informed when the technology is used, FCC Chair Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement last week. Today, Ive shared with my colleagues a proposal that makes clear consumers have a right to know when AI tools are being used in the political ads they see, and I hope they swiftly act on this issue.

The CCDH study found that few of the six AI tools it tested  ElevenLabs, Speechify, PlayHT, Descript, Invideo AI, and Veed  have any built-in safeguards to protect against generating political disinformation.

The group tested the tools on a plethora of politicians voices, including Biden and Trump, as well as foreign leaders such as U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Examples of the generated messages included Trump warning people not to vote because of a bomb threat, Biden claiming to have manipulated election results, and Macron confessing to the misuse of campaign funds, the CCDH said.

Only one of the tools, ElevenLab, blocked the production of mimic statements using U.S. and U.K. politicians voices, the CCDH found.

AI tools radically reduce the skill, money and time needed to produce disinformation in the voices of the worlds most recognizable and influential political leaders, Ahmed said. This could prove devastating to our democracy and elections.

This voice-cloning technology can and inevitably will be weaponized by bad actors to mislead voters and subvert the democratic process, he continued. It is simply a matter of time before Russian, Chinese, Iranian and domestic anti-democratic forces sow chaos in our elections.

AI is supercharging threats to the election system, technology policy strategist Nicole Schneidman told The Hill in March. Disinformation, voter suppression  what generative AI is really doing is making it more efficient to be able to execute such threats.

AI-generated political ads have already broken into the space with the 2024 election. Last year, the Republican National Committee released an entirely AI-generated ad meant to show a dystopian future under a second Biden administration. It employed fake but realistic photos showing boarded-up storefronts, armored military patrols in the streets and waves of immigrants creating panic.

In Indias elections, recent AI-generated videos misrepresenting Bollywood stars as criticizing the prime minister exemplify a trend tech experts say is cropping up in democratic elections around the world. The CCDH noted similar attempts at election influence in the U.K., Slovakia and Nigeria.

The issue has moved some in Congress to act as well. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced a bill earlier this year that would require similar disclosures to the FCC proposal when AI is used in political advertisements.

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 brown and white rocket carrying a white space capsule rolls out of an assembly building toward the launch pad.

Boeing's Starliner capsule is back at the launch pad.

Starliner and its rocket ride, a United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V, rolled out to the pad at Florida's Cape Canaveral Space Force Station today (May 30) ahead of a planned Saturday (June 1) liftoff.

That launch, at 12:25 p.m. EDT (1625 GMT), will kick off Crew Flight Test (CFT), the first-ever astronaut mission for Starliner and the venerable Atlas V.

Related: 'It's so complicated:' Boeing Starliner teams diagnosing helium leak ahead of June 1 astronaut launch

photo looking up at a brown and white rocket, with blue sky in the background

It was the second trip to the pad in less than a month for the Starliner-Atlas V stack. The duo first made the trip on May 4, ahead of a planned May 6 launch.

That attempt, however, was scrubbed about two hours before liftoff when team members noticed a misbehaving valve in the Atlas V's Centaur upper stage. ULA decided to replace the valve, which required rolling the rocket off the pad and back into a nearby assembly facility.

That process pushed CFT's targeted launch back to May 17. The date shifted further to the right, however, after a slight helium leak was detected in one of the reaction-control thrusters in Starliner's service module.

Boeing, NASA and ULA ultimately determined that the helium leak is a minor issue and, after a flight readiness review on Wednesday (May 29), cleared CFT for its June 1 liftoff.

closeup of a white space capsule atop its rocket with a launch tower in the background

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The mission will send NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams to the International Space Station (ISS) for about seven days. If all goes well, Starliner will be certified to fly operational, six-month crewed missions to and from the orbiting lab for NASA.

Boeing has a contract to do just that, as does SpaceX. Elon Musk's company flew its version of CFT, known as Demo-2, back in 2020 and is now in the middle of its eighth operational crewed mission to the ISS.

CFT will be the third liftoff for Starliner to date. The capsule first launched in December 2019, on an uncrewed test mission to the ISS that failed to reach its destination. Starliner succeeded on its second try, an uncrewed flight to the orbiting lab in May 2022.
While christening a new UCLA technology and research center in January, Gov. Gavin Newsom let loose with some fairly typical rhetoric about California's leading-edge role in tech development: "California is the epicenter of global innovationfrom the creation of the internet to the dominance of artificial intelligence, humanity's future happens here first."

Yet for the so-called epicenter of innovation, our state certainly doesn't give innovators a lot of room to experiment with new ideas. California lawmakers and regulators are so intent on limiting and controlling any promising new development that we've instead become the poster child for Ronald Reagan's famous quotation: "If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."

Maybe Newsom and the Democratic Legislature haven't noticed, but California has been facing a tech exodus, as many prominent firms leave for states that give them more elbow room to create the next wave of promising innovations. Given the state's dependence on capital gains revenue, it's one reason we're now facing a $45-billion or more budget deficit.

On the good news front, Crunchbase reports that the San Francisco Bay Area may be experiencing a tech resurgence based around artificial intelligence systems, with the region receiving "more than 50 percent of all global venture funding for AI-related startups." But will the state kill that boom before it takes off? Based on the latest actions of the legislature, the answer is "probably."

The Senate Appropriations Committee recently gave the go-ahead to Senate Bill 915, which would "prioritize local control in the decision to deploy autonomous vehicle services." In addition to gaining all the many state approvals, robo-taxi firms would also have to deal with exploding local regulations.

The legislation has been amended to apply to the 15 largest cities and it would forbid localities from banning self-driving cars, but that doesn't ameliorate my concern. This technology is rolling out mainly in big cities anyway. It's easy to kill a technology without outright banning it by, say, forcing these companies to face dramatically different driving rules in every different city where they go.

Like all cutting-edge innovations, self-driving cars strike many of us as an ominous and dangerous development. But most new cars already have various self-driving features (lane assist, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring). And computers are almost certainly better drivers than people. Nearly 43,000 Americans die in car crashes each year, almost all of them at the hands of human drivers. Widespread A.V. use could save thousands of lives, per research from RAND.

AVs offer fabulous benefits for disabled people, the elderly, and others who cannot or choose not to drive. Yet federal, state, and local officials are worried about a few minor and inevitable problems that have popped up as this technology experiences growing painse.g., minor accidents and concerns about traffic violations (as if ordinary drivers don't also sometimes violate traffic laws).

One advocate for S.B. 915 expressed concern about robo-taxis getting stuck at a tricky turnas if that's a good excuse to add a pointless mish-mash of local regulations to the mix. Ironically, AV development is one area where state regulators have taken an admirably low-key approach. In March, the California Public Utilities Commission gave Waymo, the Alphabet company's driverless-car division, the ability to expand operations in the Bay Area and Los Angeles region and even drive on freeways up to 65 mph. But even when the state takes a sensible approach, the locals want to step in to gum up the works.

And SB 915 isn't the only example of the California Legislature's kneejerk hostility to innovation. Many states are trying to regulate artificial intelligence technology, but California's Senate Bill 1047, which passed out of the Senate and has moved to the Assembly, is easily the most far-reaching example. The bill would create a new state regulatory division to regulate A.I. We all know how effective the state's bureaucrats are at handling complex mattersas well as the impact of lawsuit-promoting statutes.

Basically, the measure forces A.I. developers to mitigate every conceivable harm from their technology by engaging "in speculative fiction about imagined threats of machines run amok, computer models spun out of control, and other nightmare scenarios for which there is no basis in reality," opined an opposition letter from the pro-tech Chamber of Progress. The group rightly fears that the measure undermines California's leading-edge role in the tech sector.

Last week, I wrote about the legislature's effort to limit A.I. technology in a simple, real-world applicationself-checkout lanes. Under the guise of helping stores battle retail theft, Senate Bill 1446 is a union concoction designed to limit the use of this technology to protect union grocery jobs.

So, yes, California has been the epicenter of global innovation, but it's apparently not going to continue being so for long. Let's hope Newsom heeds his own words and gets out the veto pen.

This column was first published in The Orange County Register.

The post California's Regulations Might Steer Self-Driving Innovations to Other States appeared first on Reason.com.
By Krystal Hu and Sheila Dang

(Reuters) -TikTok is working on a clone of its recommendation algorithm for its 170 million U.S. users that may result in a version that operates independently of its Chinese parent and be more palatable to American lawmakers who want to ban it, according to sources with direct knowledge of the efforts.

The work on splitting the source code ordered by TikToks Chinese parent ByteDance late last year predated a bill to force a sale of TikTok's U.S. operations that began gaining steam in Congress this year. The bill was signed into law in April.

The sources, who were granted anonymity because they are not authorized to speak publicly about the short-form video sharing app, said that once the code is split, it could lay the groundwork for a divestiture of the U.S. assets, although there are no current plans to do so.

The company has previously said it had no plans to sell the U.S. assets and such a move would be impossible.

TikTok initially declined to comment. After publication of this story, TikTok in a posting on X said "The Reuters story published today is misleading and factually inaccurate," without specifying what was inaccurate.

TikTok also posted a passage from its federal lawsuit: "the 'qualified divestiture' demanded by the Act to allow TikTok to continue operating in the United States is simply not possible: not commercially, not technologically, not legally. And certainly not on the 270-day timeline required by the Act."

"We stand by our reporting," a Reuters spokesperson said.

TikTok and its Chinese parent company ByteDance sued in U.S. federal court in May, seeking to block the law forcing a sale or ban of the app by Jan. 19. A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday set a fast-track schedule to consider the legal challenges to the new law.

MILLIONS OF LINES OF CODE

In the past few months, hundreds of ByteDance and TikTok engineers in both the U.S. and China were ordered to begin separating millions of lines of code, sifting through the companys algorithm that pairs users with videos to their liking. The engineers mission is to create a separate code base that is independent of systems used by ByteDances Chinese version of TikTok, Douyin, while eliminating any information linking to Chinese users, two sources with direct knowledge of the project told Reuters.

The previously unreported plan provides a rare look into what a technical separation of TikTok's U.S. operations could be like, and shows to what lengths TikTok will go to address the bipartisan political risk it faces. U.S. President Biden and other supporters of the law argue TikTok gives Beijing far too much access to reams of data, information that could be used to spy on or influence TikToks U.S. users.

Reuters previously reported that a sale of the app with algorithms is highly unlikely. The Chinese government in 2020 added content recommendation algorithms to its export-control list, requiring a divestiture or sale of TikTok's algorithm to go through its administrative licensing procedures.

The source code for TikToks recommendation engine was originally developed by ByteDance engineers in China, and customized for operations in TikToks various global markets, including the U.S., according to a legal filing.

ByteDance has attributed TikToks popularity to the effectiveness of its recommendation engine, which bases each users content feeds on how they interact with the content they watch.

'OPEN SOURCE'

The complexity of the task that the sources described to Reuters as tedious dirty work underscores the difficulty of splitting the underlying code that binds TikToks U.S. operations to its Chinese parent. The work is expected to take over a year to complete, these sources said.

TikTok and ByteDance have vowed to battle the U.S. law in court on First Amendment grounds. Nevertheless, engineers continue to operate under orders to disentangle TikToks U.S. recommendation engine from ByteDances broader network, the sources said.

An earlier plan to silo off U.S. user data, called Project Texas, failed to appease U.S. regulators and lawmakers. Now the company is seeking to escalate its efforts to show its U.S. operations are independent of its Chinese owner.

At one point, TikTok executives considered open sourcing some of TikTok's algorithm, or making it available to others to access and modify, to demonstrate technological transparency, the sources said.

Executives have communicated plans and provided updates on the code-splitting project during a team all-hands, in internal planning documents and on its internal communications system, called Lark, according to one of the sources who attended the meeting and another source who has viewed the messages.

Reuters could not independently verify internal messages.

Compliance and legal issues involved with determining what parts of the code can be carried over to TikTok are complicating the work, according to one source. Each line of code has to be reviewed to determine if it can go into the separate code base, the sources added.

The goal is to create a new source code repository for a recommendation algorithm serving only TikTok U.S. Once completed, TikTok U.S. will run and maintain its recommendation algorithm independent of TikTok apps in other regions and its Chinese version Douyin. That move would cut it off from the massive engineering development power of its parent company in Beijing, the sources said.

If TikTok completes the work to split the recommendation engine from its Chinese counterpart, TikTok management is aware of the risk that TikTok U.S. may not be able to deliver the same level of performance as the existing TikTok because it is heavily reliant on ByteDances engineers in China to update and maintain the code base to maximize user engagement, sources added.

(Reporting by Krystal Hu in New York and Sheila Dang in Austin, additional reporting by Dawn Chmielewski in Los Angeles; editing by Kenneth Li and Anna Driver)
JAKARTA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The Indonesian government recently issued a regulation on a public housing savings scheme in a bid to accelerate its program to build 1 million houses a year across the world's fourth-most-populous country.

The regulation was signed by the country's president Joko Widodo on Monday last week, providing further instruction for the fund management agency in collecting and arranging money for public housing intended for civil servants, military and police personnel, and employees of state-owned and private enterprises.

Known locally as Tapera, the policy requires participants to set aside 3 percent of their monthly income. The employee bears 2.5 percent, while the employer 0.5 percent.

The policy applies to formal workers and individuals with monthly salaries equal to or exceeding the regional minimum wage, and those who already own a house. The regulation also obliges freelancers and those foreigners who have been living and working in Indonesia for more than six months to become participants.

The program was established and introduced in 2016. It has been implemented since 2020 after the issuance of a government regulation signed by Widodo in May that year. However, an absence of particular implementing rules at the ministerial level had caused the housing program to be temporarily inoperative.

The regulation on public housing schemes issued in May is a revised version of the 2020 regulation. Participants are enabled to use their down payments to buy a house, build a new one or renovate their existing home. Their savings can only be withdrawn for other uses after participants reach the age of 58 years. All employers are obliged to register their employees for the program no later than 2027.

However, the regulation has brought an uproar for some employers and employees. Indonesian Employers Association Chairwoman Shinta Kamdani said that the additional collection for the public housing scheme will add more burden for both employers and employees as at least 18 percent of each worker's monthly income is currently collected for benefit plans, such as retirement savings and health and social security.

"If there are more collections, the burden will be even heavier," she said on Friday, suggesting the government optimize the current retirement savings program instead of establishing new programs.

Likewise, Chairman of the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI) Said Iqbal said on Wednesday that housing would remain unaffordable for employees despite down payments in the government's public housing schemes.

The KSPI, he said, supported the social housing programs, but it refused the implementation of the Tapera program at this time because it would cause a burden on the economic conditions of the public.

The Ministry for Public Works and Housing argued that the program is aimed at helping low-income communities and underprivileged people to have livable houses.

Employees or underprivileged residents were still finding it difficult to buy or pay in installments to own a house at current prices, said the ministry's secretary general Mohammad Zainal Fatah on Friday.

They were also uneasy about getting a loan from banks because the interest is too expensive, he added.

"We only ask to hold the funds to be used as low-cost funds that can be accessed by low-income and underprivileged communities," Fatah said.

When a participant enters retirement and wants to withdraw the money, the participant can take it because it is a savings account, he stressed. 
Former SK hynix employee charged with stealing tech for Huawei  Chinese national was arrested at airport

Prosecutors in South Korea have charged a Chinese national who worked in defect analysis at SK hynix with stealing semiconductor technology. The accused allegedly took thousands of pages of information about front-end semiconductor technology for Chinese chipmaker Huawei.

The unidentified woman was arrested at a South Korean airport in April 2024, according to Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police officials. Shes charged with violating South Koreas Act on Prevention of Divulgence and Protection of Industrial Technology. The act imposes tough sentencing laws for anyone convicted of leaking or stealing technology information from South Korea.

According to prosecutors, the unidentified woman began working for SK hynix in 2013. Then, from 2020 to 2022, she worked as a team leader at a Chinese subsidiary of the company. Her role involved analyzing design flaws causing semiconductor failures.

When the Chinese national returned to South Korea in 2022, she allegedly took a position with Huawei almost immediately. Before leaving SK hynix, though, prosecutors say she printed 3,000 pages of A4 paper with solutions to core semiconductor process issues.

Police suspect the woman carried the documents out of the country in bags to turn over to Huawei. She has denied the allegations. SK hynix doesnt allow the use of USB storage devices and tracks all print jobs within the company.

When SK hynix learned of the large amount of pages the woman had printed, it reported the anomaly to the police. By then, the Chinese national had already left the country. When she entered South Korea again in 2024, police arrested her at the airport.

Under South Korean law, the woman faces up to 18 years in prison if convicted. The countrys sentencing guidelines are tougher on those convicted of smuggling designated key technologies, which include semiconductor manufacturing methods, out of the country.

South Korea has seen an increase in criminal cases relating to stealing technology on behalf of Chinese companies. In December 2023, two ex-Samsung employees were charged with stealing DRAM technology for Chinese chipmaker CXMT.
Ripped Out of Retirement

AI, which proponents say is humanity's future, is keeping the power infrastructure in the United States woefully in the past.

As The Financial Times reports, the power demand required to keep energy-guzzling AI models running is moving back the country's plans to retire heavily polluting and non-renewable coal energy.

According to the FT, major coal producers including AlliantEnergy have already moved sustainability goals by at least a few years. Electric utility company FirstEnergy also scrapped its 2030 goals entirely in February over demand concerns, as Bloomberg reported at the time.

The moving of goalposts comes as a big win for the coal industry  and a loss to national and global climate initiatives, for which reducing coal use is an essential and urgent goal. It also punctuates the desperation with which the US is trying to stay ahead in the ongoing AI race against international rivals.

AI is an endless energy pit. How far is the US willing to go, to beat the world to the AI punch?

Keeping the Factory Lights On

To put the urgency of coal reduction into context: in 2022, according to the World Resource Institute, coal was the source of 36 percent of all global power. By 2030, to stay on track for the 1.5-degree-Celsius climate threshold, the world will need to bring that 36 percent figure down to a comparatively meager 4 percent.

Between its sheer power demands  one ChatGPT query uses roughly ten times as much energy as a standard Google search  and its water-guzzling, AI is incredibly resource-intensive. This seems to be making a measurable dent: per the FT, the consultancy firm Grid Strategies predicts a nationwide "demand growth of 4.7 percent over the next five years." This forecast is reportedly double the previous year's figures, and while the number also takes cryptocurrency mining and cloud computing into consideration, AI is widely considered to be a major driving force in these shifting numbers.

Rest assured, those who have something to gain from the shift seem absolutely thrilled at the prospect that AI is the coal industry's knight in sooty, respiratory illness-causing armor.

"You can't replace the fossil plants fast enough to meet the demand," Alliance Resource Partners CEO Joe Craft, whose company holds rank as one of the US' top coal producers, told the FT. "In order to be a first mover on AI, we're going to need to embrace maintaining what we have."

"We need more energy, not less," added Indiana governor Eric Holcomb. (Indiana is one of America's top coal-producing states.) "We absolutely as Americans," he continued, "can't afford to lose the AI war."

More on AI and energy: ChatGPT Is Consuming a Staggering Amount of Water
Progressively clearer photos of one of Shenyangs prototype fighters seems to reveal key features different to those found on the carrier-based J-35, as well as on the earlier FC-31 prototypes. This raises questions about Chinas own plans for a potential land-based variant, as well as future export plans, with Pakistan known to have made official plans to acquire a version of the jet.

The best evidence has emerged of renewed work on a land-based version of Chinas FC-31/J-35 stealth fighter. Progressively clearer photos of one of Shenyangs prototype fighters seem to reveal key features different from those found on the carrier-based J-35, on which development had been more recently focused. This may well tie in with official Pakistani plans to acquire a version of the jet but raises questions about Chinas own plans for a potential land-based variant.

This would bring the program full circle, in many ways, with the first two FC-31 prototypes being land-based fighters, work on these seemingly being scaled right back amid a lack of official interest before the design was reworked for carrier operations. Now, it seems a land-based version is being pursued, once again, in parallel to the J-35.

A comparison of the wing platforms of the first two prototype land-based FC-31 prototypes, a naval J-35 prototype, and the potential land-based J-31. via Andreas Rupprecht

A recently emerged photo provides our best view yet of the mysterious prototype of an apparent new land-based version of the jet  tentatively referred to as the J-31. The photo likely shows the prototype that is known to have made its first flight on or around September 26, 2023. Earlier photos of this jet appeared soon after it took to the air, leading to rumors that it could be a land-based prototype, which now seems much more likely.

The main indicators that this is likely not another prototype for the carrier-based J-35 include a smaller overall wing surface area. While on the J-35 the horizontal tail surfaces cut into the wing, on the apparent J-31 there is clearly a small gap between the surfaces. At the same time, this area is different from that of the two FC-31 demonstrators.

https://www.twitter.com/Alfa_Particle/status/1794629448429629918

A smaller wing on the J-31 would follow the same pattern as on the F-35 stealth fighter series, in which the carrier-based F-35C version has a greater wing area than the land-based F-35A. A bigger wing for a naval fighter offers improved handling at low speeds and slower approach speeds, especially important on the approach to the carriers flight deck.

The J-31 also appears to have different landing gear, with a single nose wheel, not the twin wheels found on the J-35. A more robust and heavier landing gear is a familiar feature of a range of carrier-based aircraft. On the J-31 there is also no sign of the catapult launch bar otherwise found on the J-35, although the photo is still not of the highest quality, so the full details cant be made out.

Another composite image compares the wing platforms of the potential land-based J-31 (top) and the naval J-35 (bottom). via Andreas Rupprecht

Provided the apparent J-31 is as it appears, there are a number of reasons why Shenyang might be developing a new land-based version of the fighter.

First up, we know that there is foreign interest in a land-based version, with the export version of the aircraft being known as the FC-31. As we reported at the time , in January this year the chief of the Pakistan Air Force announced plans to purchase an undisclosed number of FC-31s.

Since the first FC-31 demonstrator, the design of the aircraft has been refined, with the next prototype exhibiting a number of changes, as you can read about here . Then the focus apparently switched to the carrier-based J-35 variant, which again introduced new features, some of them obviously dictated by its role.

The second flying prototype of the carrier-based J-35. via Chinese internet

A land-based export version would be expected to reflect this development path, so the prototype in question could be an improved FC-31, intended for export to Pakistan and other customers.

The market for mediumweight combat aircraft with stealthy features or at least some major signature-reduction measures appears buoyant right now.

The South Korean KF-21 Boramae and the Turkish TF Kaan are evidence of such programs and there are many air forces around the world that could be looking to replace their existing fourth-generation fighters with combat aircraft offering a high level of performance and advanced avionics mated with a stealthy design. This is especially true for countries that cannot acquire the F-35 or just want to avoid the tight export restrictions that are typically attached to it.

KF-21 Boramae. ROKAF

TF Kaan. via X

If China can offer a refined FC-31 at a significantly lower cost than competing designs, the Shenyang fighter could find customers beyond the Pakistan Air Force.

Then there is the possibility that the Peoples Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), and possibly the PLA Navy, too, are interested in fielding a land-based version of the jet, the so-called J-31.

So far, we only know of official Chinese interest in the J-35, to equip its fast-growing aircraft carrier fleet, in particular the latest carrier Fujian with its electromagnetic catapult launch system , but potentially also the two earlier carriers , the Liaoning and Shenyang, which have ski-jump takeoff ramps.

Mockups of the J-35 (right) and a J-15 variant (left) at the rear of the deck of the Liaoning as it heads out to sea for trials. Chinese internet via X

While the PLAAF has so far focused on introducing the Chengdu J-20 stealth fighter , apparently at the expense of the smaller Shenyang design, there are some compelling reasons for the service to introduce the J-31, too.

A J-20 stealth fighter rehearses for the Changchun Air Show in the Jilin province of China, in July 2023. Photo by Wang Jingtian/VCG via Getty Images

The dramatic modernization of all branches of the PLA often gives the impression of limitless funds and resources for advanced new equipment. While the strides made by the Chinese military do indicate deep pockets, there remains an argument for a less costly fighter that can be procured in greater numbers, and which is less expensive to operate. The J-31 could fit that bill, while still offering significant advantages over earlier equipment.

Currently, China is producing J-20s and J-16s, the last of these being a multirole fighter based on the Russian Flanker series design. Very likely, the sheer costs involved mean that the PLAAF will not be able to transition to a frontline fighter force made up of exclusively J-20s and J-16s.

A pair of PLAAF J-16 fighters. N509FZ via Wikimedia Commons

At the same time, the PLAAFs J-10 is now advancing in age and the earliest models of this single-engine fighter will start to require replacement before too long. The same goes for the services J-11s , based on the Soviet-era Su-27 Flanker and subjected to various Chinese upgrades, but likely also due for replacement in the next decade or so.

A PLAAF J-10A, representative of the early models of the Chengdu fighter. Wikimedia Commons

A PLAAF J-11 armed with unguided air-to-ground rockets. PLAAF

The opportunity to acquire a second stealth fighter, at a lower cost, would likely be attractive for the PLAAF, as it continues its modernization drive. The result would not be dissimilar to the planned U.S. Air Force fighter force structure, with smaller numbers of F-22s (and, in the future, NGAD ), complemented by larger numbers of F-35s, plus modernized fourth-generation types and collaborative air combat drones.

At the same time, it would ensure that Shenyang remains in the fighter business, while its introduction by the PLAAF would further boost the export chances of the fighter.

Many of these decisions will also rest upon the PLAAFs plans for introducing drones capable of teaming with fighters. These offer the potential to boost force size  and introduce more stealth platforms  at a lower cost compared to soley crewed fighters. There is plenty of evidence that the PLAAF is increasingly looking to shift toward using AI-infused advanced air combat drone s, including operating them using a drone-controller version of the J-20, likely based on a two-seat version .

Without a doubt, these are interesting times for Chinas military aerospace sector, which has repeatedly shown itself capable of springing surprises. While it remains not entirely certain what this J-31 prototype is, its looking increasingly likely that it is, after all, intended for land-based operations. Whether such an aircraft is part of the PLAAFs plans at this stage is unclear, but its meanwhile looking at least more likely.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
The U.S. Army awarded the manufacturer of Abrams tanks a contract this month to begin the preliminary design of its new tank variant expected to be lighter and feature high-tech capabilities so its more survivable in battle, the services head of combat vehicle modernization told Defense News.

The contract allows the Army to work closely with General Dynamics Land Systems on shaping requirements for the new M1E3 Abrams tank. The hope, according to Brig. Gen. Geoffrey Norman, is to be able to bring the new variant into the force at a similar timeline to the M30 Mechanized Infantry Combat Vehicle, which is under development.

I think that there would be real goodness for the Army if M30 combat vehicles and M1E3 tanks could be fielded simultaneously to an [armored brigade combat team], Norman said. I think the Army senior leaders are going to push us to try to align those schedules, and whether that can be done is an open question right now.

Norman said factors like technology maturation budgets will likely dictate whether that is achievable.

The Army is running a competition between two American Rheinmetall Vehicles and General Dynamics Land Systems to build the XM30 vehicle that will replace the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle. The service plans to select a winner in late fiscal 2027 or early fiscal 2028, Norman said.

The schedule for the M1E3s preliminary design and what follows is under review within the Armys acquisition branch, Norman said. In the meantime, the Army and GDLS will begin working through what the service wants in and can achieve with a new Abrams variant. A firmer timeline will likely take shape by the fall, he added.

The Army last fall decided to scrap its upgrade plans for the Abrams tank and instead pursue a more significant modernization effort to increase the tanks mobility and survivability on the battlefield. As part of the decision, the Army ended its M1A2 System Enhancement Package version 4 program.

The M1E3 from a requirement standpoint is an engineering change proposal, Norman said, but with a different design approach to meeting existing requirements. Its going to be a very differently configured Abrams than what we currently have.

Over the next 18 months, Norman said the Army will work through a series of technology maturation efforts to include autoloader capabilities, aides to enable a crew to operate fully buttoned up [inside the tank], alternate power trains, and active protection systems.

Those are the types of things where different systems are being competed to pick the best of the breed that then will be integrated into an [engineering change proposal] prototype, he added.

The Army plans to bring the weight of Abrams under 60 tons. The current variant is roughly 73 tons, according to Norman.

That might be a little aggressive, but were pretty ambitious, he said of the goal. In order to do that, we anticipate having to change the crew configuration, potentially looking at opportunities to go to a remote turret or an optionally manned turret in order to save the space under armor.

Power trains that include hybrid capability will also undergo examination in order to achieve both reduced fuel consumption as well as the desirable silent watch and silent drive capabilities to better avoid detection. The power train must still be able to reach high dash speeds, Norman noted.

The M1E3 will also have an integrated active protection system thats part and parcel to the vehicle survivability, profile and design. Thats one of the things that we know absolutely will be integral to the program, Norman said.
The U.S. Government Accountability Office says that "unplanned weight growth" and design instability have been major factors in the huge delays with the Constellation class, and that the ship's top speed could take a hit as a result.

The U.S. Navy's future Constellation class frigates could see their top speeds cut back to help mitigate unexpected growth in their overall weight. The Navy and shipbuilder Fincantieri Marinette Marine otherwise continue to grapple with the impacts of major changes in the ship's configuration compared to its Franco-Italian Fregata Europea Multi-Missione (FREMM) parent design. The entire purpose of basing the Constellations on an existing in-production frigate was to help reduce costs, delivery times, and risk, but they have shaped up to be larger, heavier, and now years behind schedule.

New details about weight growth, design instability, and other issues with the Constellation class frigate came in a report the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), a Congressional watchdog, published yesterday . Just last week, the Navy awarded a new contract to Fincantieri Marinette Marine, valued at just over $1.04 billion, for another two of the frigates. The service now has six Constellations on order, the first of which is currently under construction.

At the same time, the Navy has already confirmed that it now the first Constellation class frigate may not be delivered until 2029 , three years behind schedule. This would also be around nine years after Fincantieri Marinette Marine received its initial contract for the frigates and some seven years after the start of construction of the USS Constellation.

A rendering of the future first-in-class USS Constellation. Fincantieri

As another data point about the current state of the initial Constellation class ship, "the Navy reported that, as of September 2023, the shipbuilder had completed construction of only 3.6 percent of the lead ship as compared to the 35.5 percent it was scheduled to have completed by that point," GAO reported.

"A complicating factor in assessing new dates for frigate deliveries is the shipbuilders October 2023 reporting of unplanned weight growth in the frigate design  an increase of over 10 percent above the shipbuilders June 2020 weight estimate," according to GAO. "The Navys decision to approve construction with incomplete elements of the ship design  including information gaps related to structural, piping, ventilation, and other systems  and the underestimation of adapting a foreign design to meet Navy requirements have driven this weight growth."

It's worth noting here that by 2021, it had already become clear that the Constellation class design would be 24 feet longer and just over three and a half feet wider along the waterline compared to its FREMM parent. In addition, the Navy said at that time that the Constellation's displacement had grown by around 500 tons "for margins and future growth."

An infographic from circa 2021 already showing significant differences between the Constellation class and its parent FREMM design. USN via CRS

Whether or not the unplanned weight growth GAO has now disclosed is within the Navy's previously stated increased weight margin is unclear and The War Zone has reached out to Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) for more information.

Regardless, "resolving this weight growth adds another dimension to the shipbuilders ongoing design activities, further diminishing the predictability of these already schedule-challenged efforts," per GAO's report. "The Navy disclosed to us in April 2024 that it is considering a reduction in the frigates speed requirement as one potential way, among others, to resolve the weight growth affecting the ships design."

To date, the Navy does not appear to have disclosed its speed requirements for the Constellation class, but the ships are reportedly expected to be able to sustain a cruising speed of at least 26 knots. This is in line with the stated "max continuous speed" of the Italian Bergamini class subvariant of the FREMM design, which is in excess of 27 knots, according to Fincantieri . A speed of at least around 30 knots would be necessary for keeping up with Navy carrier strike groups.

The Italian Navy's Carlo Bergamini. Fabius1975/wikicommons

The War Zone has also reached out to NAVSEA for more details on other options being considered to help resolve and/or mitigate the weight growth issues.

On top of all this, the construction of the USS Constellation had been proceeding, at least as of last year, without a finalized design.

"Design stability is achieved upon completion of a basic and functional design in a 3D model, using reliable vendor-furnished information incorporated to support an understanding of final system design, among other things," according to GAO. However, "the Navy began frigate construction in August 2022 with an incomplete functional design, counter to leading ship design practices."

A graphical representation of assessed 3D modeling progress on the Constellation class design as of October 2023. GAO

As of August 2023, a year after work started, the Constellation's functional design and 3D model were assessed to be 92 and 84 percent complete, respectively, per GAO.

GAO's assessment of progress in finalizing the Constellation class' core design and the associated 3D model since August 2022. GAO

Overall, the design commonality between the Constellation and FREMM may now be as low as 15 percent, according to USNI News . GAO's new report says that this includes substantial changes to the combined diesel-electric and gas turbine propulsion system and associated machinery control systems, which has "increased cost and introduced integration risks, according to shipbuilder representatives."

In addition, "the Navy adapted the parent design to accommodate... [new U.S.-specific mission] systems and meet Navy habitability and survivability requirements," GAO's report notes. The War Zone did a deep dive into the Constellation class' expected capabilities, focused on questions surrounding the size of its Mk 41 Vertical Launch System (VLS) array, earlier this year, which you can find here .

An infographic highlighting various key elements of the Constellation class, including its propulsion system. GAO

Beyond all this, "unplanned weight growth during ship construction can compromise ship capabilities in the short term (i.e., upon delivery of the ship to the fleet) and in the long term, as the fleet seeks to alter and improve initial capabilities over the planned decades-long service life of the ship," GAO has warned.

Having extra margins for growth is critical. There has already been talk about integrating directed energy and other weapons , as well as other capabilities , on the Constellations down the road. Otherwise, it will be far more challenging economically to keep the ships operationally relevant over their service lives.

GAO also cited the Navy's previous experience with the Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) program . The construction of the initial examples of both LCS subclasses deliberately began without a firm design, a process commonly known as concurrency . This resulted in the first two examples of both the Independence and Freedom class designs being substantially different from the ships that followed. This, in turn, led to them quickly being relegated to training and test roles . The USS Freedom (LCS-1), the USS Independence (LCS-2), and the USS Coronado (LCS-4) have all now been decommissioned. The oldest of those ships, Freedom, had been in service for just 13 years. The Navy is now moving to retire even more LCSs from both subclasses in the coming years .

The USS Freedom, in the background, sails alongside the USS Independence, in the foreground. Both of these ships have now been decommissioned. USN

The Navy's decision to acquire the Constellation class frigates has been seen as a major rebuke of the LCS program and its persistent failure to live up to expectations . As already noted, using an established in-production parent design, a core requirement of what was originally known as the FFG(X) program , was supposed to help limit cost growth and other technical and schedule risks.

For its part, in the face of increasing criticism of the progress, or lack thereof, in the development and construction of the Constellation class frigates even before the release of the GAO's new report, the Navy has largely placed the blame on workforce issues at the shipbuilder . There has been talk about bringing in a second shipyard to help with the production of the Constellations.

An artist's depiction of the completed USS Constellation at Fincantieri Marinette Marine's yard in Wisconsin. Fincantieri

"In the case of the [Constellation class] frigate, quite frankly, it's a... recruiting and retention problem in Wisconsin," Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee at a hearing earlier this month .

However, Mississippi Senator Roger Wicker, the ranking Republican on the Committee, had already disputed this in his opening remarks at that same hearing.

"The Constellation class frigate will be three years late and will take nearly 10 years to deliver the lead ship. This is largely because the Navy cannot keep its requirements steady. Almost 70 percent of the requirements have changed since the Navy signed a contract," Wicker said. "So the outcome that we see today is no surprise. This is not an example of the industry underperforming. This is senior officials unable to manage a program. This is acquisition malpractice and a terrible waste of time and resources."

Wicker's comments are well in line with what the GAO has now reported.

How and when the Navy, together with Fincantieri Marinette Marine, will be able to finally stabilize the Constellation class' weight and other design elements, and whether the ship's top speed takes a hit as a result, very much remains to be seen.

Contact the author: Tyler@twz.com
Not exactly 'Finding Nemo,' but Pompano Beach's underwater cam is cool | Gadget Daddy

The city of Pompano Beach recently installed a high-tech underwater camera 15 feet below the Fisher Family Pier.

We'll go underwater today, substituting a keyboard and monitor for a snorkel and mask.

A few weeks ago, the city of Pompano Beach installed a high-tech underwater camera 15 feet below the Fisher Family Pier. The pier extends 900 feet into the Atlantic Ocean.

The camera, according to a city press release, offers "a real-time window into a hidden world teeming with colorful fish and fascinating creatures." The camera was "donated by Shipwreck Park, a nonprofit Pompano Beach corporation ... in recognition of the Citys support of the Wahoo Bay project."

Wahoo Bay is an environment education project. To learn more, visit this website: https://wahoobay.org.

The underwater camera can be found on this website: https://www.pompanobeachfl.gov/webcams.

There are three links on the page. One is for the beach, another the above-water view of conditions at the Hillsboro Inlet, and the third is the underwater camera feed.

The underwater camera can rotate 360 degrees horizontally and 180 degrees vertically. It also can zoom in and out. It had to be mounted and chained to one of the pier's pilings. It also needed an electrical connection and a way to link what it was looking at back to the Internet. Not exactly a plug-and-play installation.

One television reporter ended his broadcast about the camera by saying: "If you watch long enough, you never know what creature will swim past the lens!"

AI is the new HD: But what 'AI' makes a toothbrush worth $400? | Gadget Daddy

Well, seasoned scuba divers may disagree. That close to shore, the sea life would be pretty predictable: many varieties, but mostly sergeant majors, grunts, angel fish and the occasional Florida pompano.

No Jaws  or likeness thereof. No Flipper. No Charlie the Tuna. Not even a clownfish like Nemo.

But it's a little like having a saltwater aquarium without having to worry about feeding and tank maintenance.

We are thrilled to showcase the beauty below Pompano Beachs stunning ocean waters, thanks to this innovative technology, Pompano Beach Mayor Rex Hardin told a reporter.

No need to lug around fins and a scuba tank either.

Lonnie Brown can be reached at LedgerDatabase@aol.com.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Pompano Beach's underwater pier camera is pretty cool | Gadget Daddy
OpenAIs 39-page report is one of the most detailed accounts from an artificial intelligence company on the use of its software for propaganda.

OpenAIs 39-page report is one of the most detailed accounts from an artificial intelligence company on the use of its software for propaganda. Photograph: Dado Ruvic/Reuters

OpenAI on Thursday released its first ever report on how its artificial intelligence tools are being used for covert influence operations, revealing that the company had disrupted disinformation campaigns originating from Russia, China, Israel and Iran.

Malicious actors used the companys generative AI models to create and post propaganda content across social media platforms, and to translate their content into different languages. None of the campaigns gained traction or reached large audiences, according to the report.

Related: $10m prize launched for team that can truly talk to the animals

As generative AI has become a booming industry, there has been widespread concern among researchers and lawmakers over its potential for increasing the quantity and quality of online disinformation. Artificial intelligence companies such as OpenAI, which makes ChatGPT, have tried with mixed results to assuage these concerns and place guardrails on their technology.

OpenAIs 39-page report is one of the most detailed accounts from an artificial intelligence company on the use of its software for propaganda. OpenAI claimed its researchers found and banned accounts associated with five covert influence operations over the past three months, which were from a mix of state and private actors.

In Russia, two operations created and spread content criticizing the US, Ukraine and several Baltic nations. One of the operations used an OpenAI model to debug code and create a bot that posted on Telegram. Chinas influence operation generated text in English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean, which operatives then posted on Twitter and Medium.

Iranian actors generated full articles that attacked the US and Israel, which they translated into English and French. An Israeli political firm called Stoic ran a network of fake social media accounts which created a range of content, including posts accusing US student protests against Israels war in Gaza of being antisemitic.

Several of the disinformation spreaders that OpenAI banned from its platform were already known to researchers and authorities. The US treasury sanctioned two Russian men in March who were allegedly behind one of the campaigns that OpenAI detected, while Meta also banned Stoic from its platform this year for violating its policies.

The report also highlights how generative AI is being incorporated into disinformation campaigns as a means of improving certain aspects of content generation, such as making more convincing foreign language posts, but that it is not the sole tool for propaganda.

All of these operations used AI to some degree, but none used it exclusively, the report stated. Instead, AI-generated material was just one of many types of content they posted, alongside more traditional formats, such as manually written texts, or memes copied from across the internet.

While none of the campaigns resulted in any notable impact, their use of the technology shows how malicious actors are finding that generative AI allows them to scale up production of propaganda. Writing, translating and posting content can now all be done more efficiently through the use of AI tools, lowering the bar for creating disinformation campaigns.

Over the past year, malicious actors have used generative AI in countries around the world to attempt to influence politics and public opinion. Deepfake audio, AI-generated images and text-based campaigns have all been employed to disrupt election campaigns, leading to increased pressure on companies like OpenAI to restrict the use of their tools.

OpenAI stated that it plans to periodically release similar reports on covert influence operations, as well as remove accounts that violate its policies.
The rush to return humans to the Moon and build lunar bases could threaten opportunities for astronomy

The 2020s have already seen many lunar landing attempts, although several of them have crashed or toppled over. With all the excitement surrounding the prospect of humans returning to the Moon, both commercial interests and scientists stand to gain.

The Moon is uniquely suitable for researchers to build telescopes they cant put on Earth because it doesnt have as much satellite interference as Earth, nor a magnetic field blocking out radio waves. But only recently have astronomers like me started thinking about potential conflicts between the desire to expand knowledge of the universe on one side and geopolitical rivalries and commercial gain on the other, and how to balance those interests.

As an astronomer and the co-chair of the International Astronomical Unions working group Astronomy from the Moon, Im on the hook to investigate this question.

Everyone to the south pole

By 2035  just 10 or so years away  American and Chinese rockets could be carrying humans to long-term lunar bases.

Both bases are planned for the same small areas near the south pole because of the near-constant solar power available in this region and the rich source of water that scientists believe could be found in the Moons darkest regions nearby.

Unlike the Earth, the Moon is not tilted relative to its path around the Sun. As a result, the Sun circles the horizon near the poles, almost never setting on some crater rims. There, the never-setting Sun casts long shadows over nearby craters, hiding their floors from direct sunlight for the past 4 billion years, 90% of the age of the solar system.

These craters are basically pits of eternal darkness. And its not just dark down there, its also cold: below -418 degrees Fahrenheit (-250 degrees Celsius). Its so cold that scientists predict that water in the form of ice at the bottom of these craters  likely brought by ancient asteroids colliding with the Moons surface  will not melt or evaporate away for a very long time.

Dark craters on the Moon, parts of which are indicated here in blue, never get sunlight. Scientists think some of these permanently shadowed regions could contain water ice. NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Surveys from lunar orbit suggest that these craters, called permanently shadowed regions, could hold half a billion tons of water.

The constant sunlight for solar power and proximity to frozen water makes the Moons poles attractive for human bases. The bases will also need water to drink, wash up and grow crops to feed hungry astronauts. It is hopelessly expensive to bring long-term water supplies from Earth, so a local watering hole is a big deal.

Telescopes on the Moon

For decades, astronomers had ignored the Moon as a potential site for telescopes because it was simply infeasible to build them there. But human bases open up new opportunities.

The radio-sheltered far side of the Moon, the part we never see from Earth, makes recording very low frequency radio waves accessible. These signals are likely to contain signatures of the universes Dark Ages, a time before any stars or galaxies formed.

Astronomers could also put gravitational wave detectors at the poles, since these detectors are extraordinarily sensitive, and the Moons polar regions dont have earthquakes to disturb them as they do on Earth.

A lunar gravitational wave detector could let scientists collect data from pairs of black holes orbiting each other very closely right before they merge. Predicting where and when they will merge tells astronomers where and when to look for a flash of light that they would otherwise miss. With those extra clues, scientists could learn how these black holes are born and how they evolve.

The cold at the lunar poles also makes infrared telescopes vastly more sensitive by shifting the telescopes black body radiation to longer wavelengths. These telescopes could give astronomers new tools to look for life on Earth-like planets beyond the solar system.

And more ideas keep coming. The first radio antennae are scheduled to land on the far side next year.

Conflicting interests

But the rush to build bases on the Moon could interfere with the very conditions that make the Moon so attractive for research in the first place. Although the Moons surface area is greater than Africas, human explorers and astronomers want to visit the same few kilometer-sized locations.

But activities that will help sustain a human presence on the Moon, such as mining for water, will create vibrations that could ruin a gravitational wave telescope.

Also, many elements found on the Moon are extremely valuable back on Earth. Liquid hydrogen and oxygen make precious rocket propellant, and helium-3 is a rare substance used to improve quantum computers.

But one of the few places rich in helium-3 on the Moon is found in one of the most likely places to put a far-side, Dark Ages radio telescope.

Finally, there are at least two internet and GPS satellite constellations planned to orbit the Moon a few years from now. Unintentional radio emissions from these satellites could render a Dark Ages telescope useless.

The time is now

But compromise isnt out of the question. There might be a few alternative spots to place each telescope.

In 2024, the International Astronomical Union put together the working group Astronomy from the Moon to start defining which sites astronomers want to preserve for their work. This entails ranking the sites by their importance for each type of telescope and beginning to talk with a key United Nations committee. These steps may help astronomers, astronauts from multiple countries and private interests share the Moon.

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: Martin Elvis, Smithsonian Institution

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Martin Elvis is Co-Chair of the International Astronomical Union Working Group on Astronomy from the Moon
Artwork shows Zunum Aeros hybrid electric airplanes in flight over Seattle. (Zunum Aero Illustration)

A federal jury in Seattle says Boeing owes an unsuccessful electric-aviation startup called Zunum Aero $72 million for misappropriating trade secrets and interfering with its business plans.

Some of that amount could be tripled if the judge determines that the misappropriation was willful and malicious.

Zunum Aeros founders and other shareholders are pleased that the company had the opportunity to prove its case, and that the jury agreed, Scott Danner of the law firm Holwell Shuster & Goldberg, lead counsel for Zunum, said in a statement. After years of fighting, the jurys verdict is a tremendous vindication.

Boeing said it would challenge the judgment. Boeing respectfully disagrees with the jurys verdict, which is not supported by the law or the facts, the company said.

Bothell, Wash.-based Zunum Aero, which was founded in 2013, came out of stealth in 2017 and received millions of dollars in seed funding from Boeing and from JetBlues technology ventures fund. The company also won an $800,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerces Clean Energy Fund.

At the time, Zunum said it expected to put the first planes in a line of regional hybrid-electric and all-electric aircraft into service in the 2020s. In 2018, it selected Safran Helicopter Engines to provide the engine turbine for its 12-seat hybrid-electric aircraft. But less than a year later, the startup had to cut back on operations due to a cash shortage.

In 2020, Zunum filed suit in King County Superior Court, alleging that Boeing stole the startups trade secrets and interfered with its efforts to work with Safran and bring in additional investment. That lawsuit was moved to federal court and went to trial this month.

During the trial, Boeings attorneys argued that the aerospace giant did its best to support Zunum, but that the startup missed deadlines and couldnt match the claims it made for its technology. Boeing said it used Zunums technical information only for permissible purposes, such as to manage its investment.

On Thursday, the nine-member jury sided with Zunum on 11 claims relating to the misappropriation of trade secrets, and also determined that Boeing wrongfully interfered with Zunums business relationships. Jurors awarded $81.23 million relating to the misappropriation claims and $11.56 million relating to interference claims. But they said Zunum failed to mitigate $20.82 million in damages from the misappropriations, reducing the net award to $71.97 million.

Before the trial, District Judge James Robart issued a summary judgment requiring Zunum to repay $9 million in loans provided by Boeing, plus interest. That amount would be taken out of damages awarded to Zunum.

Now that the jury has rendered its verdict, Robart will consider post-trial motions challenging the award  and decide whether a portion of the award should be tripled under legal provisions relating to willful and malicious misappropriation of trade secrets.

More from GeekWire:
Sierra Nevada Corp. is preparing to receive its first commercial passenger jet to be modified into the U.S. Air Forces next doomsday planes  and readying for what it hopes will mark a new era for the defense contractor.

Brady Hauboldt, SNCs vice president of business development, told Defense News on May 29 that the first of five Boeing 747-8 aircraft that will become the Survivable Airborne Operations Center, or SAOC, will arrive at its Dayton, Ohio, facility this summer.

Over the next dozen years, the SAOC will gradually replace the Air Forces aging E-4B Nightwatch, also known as the National Airborne Operations Center aircraft. If a nuclear war or other catastrophe were to occur that destroyed the militarys command-and-control centers on the ground, the president would direct forces through an airborne E-4B or SAOC  thus the doomsday term.

The Air Force has four E-4Bs, which have been flying since the 1970s, and they are near the end of their service lives. The Air Force announced in April it awarded SNC a $13 billion contract to build SAOC and replace the E-4B by July 2036.

The deal is the largest single contract SNC has received in its more than six-decade history as a mission systems integration and aircraft modification company, Hauboldt said. The firm hopes its work on SAOC will open opportunities to larger contracts and major programs.

SNC decided to aim for larger growth in recent years, he said, with the company ramping up its spending on digital engineering tools as well as new infrastructure and facilities. That included standing up an Aviation Innovation and Technology Center in Dayton, which comes with large hangars where the 747s will receive modifications to become SAOCs.

The companys first new hangar there opened a year and a half ago. The second is expected to be done this summer, and three more hangars and other support facilities are to follow.

Developmental engineering on SAOC will largely take place at SNCs facility near Denver, Colorado. Other offices are being set up in locations such as Dallas, Texas. This will allow the firm to take advantage of hiring pools in multiple locations across the country as the company adds about 1,000 workers for the program, Hauboldt said.

All of that investment in the digital tools, the employees and the facilities for SNC have put us in a position to take on this kind of a project, like SAOC, he added.

Antennas, computers and radiation shielding

SNC plans to buy five Boeing 747-8 planes from Korean Air to convert into flying operations centers, with the last scheduled for delivery in September 2025, according to a May report by Reuters. Hauboldt told Defense News these five aircraft are all the company needs to finish the engineering and manufacturing development requirements of SAOC, but said SNC will buy more planes if the Air Force wants to further expand its fleet.

Hauboldt said SNC inspected the planes, the oldest of which was delivered in 2015, and found Korean Air has kept them in excellent condition.

SNC is using a fully digital process to design SAOC, he said, and the Air Force will own those digital models. Hauboldt said the models, along with the open-systems architecture, will make it easier for the Air Force to upgrade the planes.

The structural modifications to turn the 747s into airborne command centers will include installing communications antennas throughout the aircraft, a galley for long-haul flights, the mission systems where the crew will carry out their jobs, and the wiring and infrastructure to support those systems, Hauboldt said.

But one of the most critical upgrades will involve hardening the plane to withstand radiation and electromagnetic pulses it might encounter from a nuclear blast. Lockheed Martins Skunk Works will conduct this work as a subcontractor on the program, Hauboldt said, as well as performing other work on SAOC.

Skunk Works brings a lot of expertise in integrating advanced capabilities on airframes  in this case, the radiation hardening, Hauboldt said. They have an experience base that SNC has less experience on, so we added them to the team.

The planes will keep their General Electric-made GEnx-2B engines, he noted, and Rolls-Royce will provide the aircrafts auxiliary power systems. Collins Aerospace, which Hauboldt called a leader in the defense industry on nuclear command, control and communications systems, will also help build SAOC.

In addition to being a fresher airframe than the half-century-old E-4Bs, Hauboldt said, the new SAOC will benefit from having modern, user-friendly computers and other technologies, and the easy modification that comes from having an open-architecture structure.

The Air Force was focused on keeping down the life-cycle costs to operate and sustain SAOC, Hauboldt said  particularly after the high maintenance cost of the E-4B. So SNC tailored its proposal to address those concerns by using open-systems architecture and offering the Air Force a robust data rights package  something the service has found difficult to obtain from contractors on other aircraft, such as the Lockheed-made F-35 fighter.

Hauboldt acknowledged that could mean another company could win the contract to sustain the program. But he said SNC is confident that it can do the job well enough and efficiently enough to keep the job.

Obtaining data rights for SAOC is going to pay great dividends for the U.S. Air Force and the [Department of Defense] for decades, Hauboldt said. We recognized early on that the Air Force valued data rights  in other words, the ability to cost-effectively sustain and modify the aircraft. We were willing, as a company, to listen and offer them what they asked for.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Beijing on Friday.

Noting that this year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the UAE, Li said China is willing to work together with the UAE to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, enhance traditional friendly relations, deepen political mutual trust, advance pragmatic cooperation, and advance bilateral relations to a new level.

Li said China firmly supports the UAE in pursuing an independent development path and in safeguarding national sovereignty, security and stability.

Li said China is willing to expand bilateral trade and investment, strengthen cooperation in traditional areas, and explore cooperation in new fields such as new energy, high technology and artificial intelligence.

He added that both sides should enhance exchanges and cooperation on culture, education and tourism, promote people-to-people exchanges, and jointly host the celebrations for the 40th anniversary of bilateral ties.

China is willing to improve coordination with the UAE in multilateral mechanisms, such as the United Nations and BRICS, and promote the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future, said Li.

Mohamed said the UAE and China enjoy solid and promising relations. He added that the UAE adheres to the one-China principle and will work with China to enhance Belt and Road cooperation.

The UAE congratulated China on successfully hosting the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum, said Mohamed, adding that the country is willing to work with China to safeguard the common interests of both sides. 

Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Sheikh Mohamed, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)
Space debris from SpaceX Dragon capsule crashed in the North Carolina mountains. I had to go see it (video)

A large black piece of fiberglass covered in metal bolts and plates lies on the ground beside a trail leading into a forest. mountains can be seen rolling in the distance.

Spaceflight doesn't typically come to mind when one thinks of North Carolina's serene, verdant mountains.

It's true that, in the early 1960s, NASA built the (now-defunct) Rosman Satellite Tracking and Data Acquisition Facility among the rolling hills of Appalachia to track Soviet satellites and relay communications for the Gemini and Apollo programs. And, of course, there are a few pockets of dark skies above Western North Carolina that allow for decent satellite spotting and skywatching.

But when it comes to the contemporary private spaceflight boom, these lush mountains are about as far removed as one can get from the bustling spaceports of Florida's Space Coast. That's why it was such a shock to discover a large chunk of space debris had been identified near Canton, NC  just outside of the city of Asheville, where I live.

I had to go see it for myself.

Related: Junk from a SpaceX Dragon 'trunk' may have crashed into a Canadian farmer's field (photos)

a large black piece of fiberglass covered in metal bolts and plates lies on the ground beside a trail leading into a forest. mountains can be seen rolling in the distance

On May 22, groundskeeper Justin Clontz and his father were performing maintenance on a trail at the scenic Glamping Collective, a 160-acre luxury camping property offering private dome-style cabins on a mountaintop with panoramic views of the surrounding Pisgah and Cherokee National Forests.

Coming around a bend in the trail that day, Clontz and his father stumbled upon an odd piece of junk lying on the ground, not far from the path at all. Roughly 3 feet by 3 feet (1 meter by 1 meter), the debris consisted of shredded carbon fiber composite and scorched metal, with exposed metal bolts and plates poking out of it. It had a faint smell, similar to ozone.

a large black piece of fiberglass covered in metal bolts and plates lies on the ground beside a trail leading into a forest. mountains can be seen rolling in the distance

"It landed directly in the middle of the trail," Clontz told Space.com. "It was just wild. It was crazy-looking. I really didn't know what to think."

There was no damage to surrounding trees or grass, Clontz said. It was as if someone had placed the debris right where it could be found, on a peaceful trail through the Pisgah National Forest.

Clontz and other employees of the Glamping Collective initially thought the debris might be from a military aircraft. "I didn't know if we should be touching it," Clontz added.

Soon, scientists would weigh in.

a large black piece of fiberglass covered in metal bolts and plates lies on the ground beside a trail leading into a forest. mountains can be seen rolling in the distance

As it turned out, the piece of debris likely came from the reentry of the SpaceX Crew-7 mission to the International Space Station, which returned to Earth on March 12, 2024, according to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell of the HarvardSmithsonian Center for Astrophysics. "This definitely looks consistent with being a bit of the Crew-7 Dragon's trunk which reentered on a path right over this location on Tuesday," McDowell wrote on X after news of the debris began circulating.

The astrophysicist also posted a map tracking the reentry path of the piece of Crew-7's trunk suspected to be responsible for the debris, which shows the spacecraft hardware passing directly over Canton, NC  right where Clontz found the specimen (and, unsettlingly, also almost directly over my house).

The "trunk," as SpaceX refers to it, is the unpressurized tail section of the company's Dragon spacecraft, what other aerospace manufacturers would call a service module. This section carries cargo or small satellites, is fitted with solar panels that power Dragon when the vessel is in flight or docked to the ISS, and has fins for aerodynamic control during emergency aborts.

While Dragon capsules make their way back to Earth safely in controlled descents that are ultimately slowed by parachutes, the spacecraft's "trunk remains attached to Dragon until shortly before reentry into Earth's atmosphere," SpaceX writes on its website, after which it is jettisoned.

Further, it appears that, not only can these trunks remain in orbit for weeks longer than their host capsules, but large pieces of them can also remain intact after their fiery reentries into Earth's atmosphere.

a large black piece of fiberglass covered in metal bolts and plates lies on the ground beside a trail leading into a forest. mountains can be seen rolling in the distance

"The discovery of SpaceX Dragon trunk debris from the Crew-7 mission in North Carolina, following debris from the Ax-3 trunk in Saskatchewan and from the Crew-1 trunk in Australia, makes it clear that the materials from the trunk regularly survive reentry in large chunks," McDowell wrote on X in May in reference to two other similar-looking pieces of debris found in Saskatchewan, Canada in May 2024 and in the Australian outback in August 2022.

SpaceX ultimately sent a team to investigate the Australian debris fall, a senior director of SpaceX's human spaceflight program said following that event.

But SpaceX has not yet reached out to the Glamping Collective about the purported debris, a manager at the site told Space.com.

a large black piece of fiberglass covered in metal bolts and plates lies on the ground beside a trail leading into a forest. mountains can be seen rolling in the distance

RELATED STORIES:

 Possible SpaceX debris falls in Australia from Crew-1 Dragon spacecraft

 Junk from a SpaceX Dragon 'trunk' may have crashed into a Canadian farmer's field (photos)

 SpaceX counters FAA claims that its reentering Starlink satellites could hurt or kill people

Despite how worrying these discoveries can seem, there's no need to panic. According to the Aerospace Corporation, the chances of being struck and hurt by falling space debris are less than a one in one trillion, far less than the risk of being struck by lightning or even being bitten by a shark.

Clontz recognizes how rare the discovery is, and said finding the debris doesn't make him worry about any other pieces of space junk falling near him. "I have peeked up in the sky a few times today," he said, laughing. "But it doesn't scare me. I mean, how many planes fly over every day? How many satellites are up there in orbit?"

The Glamping Collective plans to build a display case for the debris along the trail where it was found.
Starliner launch with NASA astronauts from Cape Canaveral: How to stream coverage on iPhone, TV

Starliner, we are ready for you.

As Boeing prepares to launch its Starliner capsule on its first crewed mission from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, NASA's social media channels are preparing for viewers who can't see the historic launch in person. The next attempt is no earlier than 12:25 p.m. EDT Saturday, June 1. FLORIDA TODAY's Space Team, which consists of award-winning reporter Rick Neale, reporter Brooke Edwards and veteran visuals journalist Craig Bailey, has its own coverage plans complete with a live blog, tweets, video and photos from Cape Canaveral, near Kennedy Space Center and across Brevard County.

Who's the Starliner crew? On board the rocket will be two NASA astronauts: Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams, both Navy test pilots. They have each flown in space twice.

An earlier launch attempt took place May 6. Dubbed NASA's Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch for livestreams online, coverage started at 6:30 p.m. that day.

As of Thursday, May 30, a news release states the NASA livestream for the next attempt will be no earlier than 8:15 a.m. EDT Saturday, June 1, as the countdown milestones occur. Below is information on the long-anticipated Starliner rocket launch and how to watch FLORIDA TODAY Space Team's coverage on various platforms, from your Android or iPhone to your big screen in your living room.

Where to see liftoff (in person): If you're on the Space Coast, where to watch NASA Starliner launch send astronauts to space station

What is Boeing's Starliner?

Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore pose for the Starliner CFT crew portrait.

Boeing's Starliner spacecraft will transport NASA astronauts. The company calls it the Crew Space Transportation (CST)-100 Starliner, or simply Starliner." Set to launch no earlier than Saturday, June 1, 2024, it will make history as the first spacecraft to ferry humans from Space Launch Complex 41 in Cape Canaveral. The launch pad has been the site for historic missions beginning with the Titan rockets in 1965 and including the New Horizons deep space probe, the Voyager spacecraft, and even the Curiosity Mars rover.

Starliner will be launched with the help of a United Launch Alliance (a partnership between Boeing and Lockheed Martin) Atlas V rocket. The Atlas V rocket has launched from the site since 2002, but this will be the first time it carries astronauts to space.

Who are the NASA astronauts flying into space for Starliner launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida?

The two NASA astronauts flying this commercial crew mission are Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams. Both are Navy test pilots. They have each flown in space twice and both bring a wide variety of experiences to the flight.

Williams was originally a helicopter test pilot before switching to flying jets. She's preparing to fly to space for the third time, as the crew test flight pilot.

This will be Wilmore's third spaceflight as well. Before becoming a NASA astronaut, Wilmore was a U.S. Navy captain, fighter pilot, and test pilot, accumulating more than 8,000 hours of flight time. Wilmore flew the FA-18 Hornet and T-45 Goshawk, playing a role in missions during Operation Desert Storm, Desert Shield and Southern Watch.

Is there a rocket launch in Florida? NASAs Boeing Starliner crewed flight test

How to watch Starliner rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, online

Tune in at noon EDT Saturday, June 1, 2024, to floridatoday.com/space for USA TODAY Network's Space Team live coverage and updates on the Boeing Starliner rocket launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. You can download the free app for iPhone or Android or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser.

In Florida, we can best see this historic moment in person if you're anywhere on the Space Coast (Brevard County) or certain spots in the First Coast or Fun Coast (Volusia County) or the Treasure Coast (Indian River County, St. Lucie County and Martin County). Pro tip: If you do watch it in person, get to your viewing destination early and prepare to stay later after the launch because of heavy traffic.

How to watch Boeing Starliner rocket launch from your phone, iPad or tablet with FLORIDA TODAY Space Team coverage

When and where: Full coverage of the NASA-Boeing Starliner launch includes a live webcast with tweets and updates starting at noon EDT Saturday, June 1, 2024, at floridatoday.com/space. Ask our FLORIDA TODAY space team reporters Rick Neale and Brooke Edwards questions and strike up a conversation. You also can watch coverage via the FLORIDA TODAY app, which is available in the App Store or Google Play, or type floridatoday.com/space into your browser. FLORIDA TODAY is part of the USA TODAY Network.

How to watch NASA's Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test launch on TV, how to watch Starliner launch from Florida on YouTube

Launch day coverage includes live streaming and blog updates beginning no earlier than 8:15 a.m. EDT Saturday, June 1, 2024, on NASA's social media accounts as the countdown milestones occur. The previous Starliner rocket launch attempt, dubbed NASA's Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch, was livestreamed May 6, 2024, and still exists on NASA's social channels (you can see the YouTube livestream above).

If you have streaming services on your flatscreen, computer, tablet or phone, you can watch NASA's Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida. This will require the FLORIDA TODAY app (see above) and the option to "mirror" from your phone to the TV, or the YouTube app to watch the NASA live broadcast (which is above).

When the NASA livestream is available, from your TV apps, select the YouTube app, search for NASA's channel and click on the NASA's Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch live broadcast.

How to watch NASA Starliner launch on Twitter (and whom to follow!)

NASA will have a broadcast on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, on its account: @NASA.

Follow along with FLORIDA TODAY experts on Twitter: Space Team at @SpaceTeam, Rick Neale at @rickneale1, Brooke Edwards at @brookeofstars with amazing visuals from Craig Bailey at @cbphoto1. We'll link back to our live coverage at @Florida_Today and at floridatoday.com.

How to watch NASA Starliner rocket launch live on Facebook

NASA has posted a Facebook Watch live event and will broadcast the Starliner rocket launch livestream on its Facebook page at facebook.com/nasa.

How to watch NASA Starliner rocket launch from Roku, Amazon Fire

For viewers who have a Roku box or Amazon Fire TV Stick, select the YouTube app, search for NASA's channel and click on the NASA's Boeing Starliner Crew Flight Test Launch live broadcast when it's available.

Can you watch Starliner rocket launch from Florida on TikTok?

NASA has a voice on many social media platforms, however, NASA is not on TikTok, the popular video-sharing social media platform. There is no NASA Starliner rocket launch broadcast scheduled from TikTok. However, there will likely be TikTok videos about the launch  from the Space Coast of Florida and beyond as this is a historic event.

Can you watch NASA Starliner rocket launch on Instagram?

NASA does have an official Instagram account (@NASA), as does United Launch Alliance (@ulalaunch), but there is no announcement online if the space agency will host an Instagram livestream. Likely, NASA and possibly ULA will post Instagram Reels and an Instagram Story (or two) about the Boeing Starliner rocket launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

FLORIDA TODAY will have coverage of Starliner launch on Instagram via @Florida_Today and veteran award-winning photojournalist Craig Bailey at @crbphoto1.

Sangalang is a lead digital producer for USA TODAY Network-Florida. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram at @byjensangalang. Support local journalism. Consider subscribing to a Florida newspaper.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: NASA astronauts rocket launch live: How to watch on Twitter, YouTube
(KRON)  Thousands of Verizon users are reporting an outage for their cell phone service, the company confirmed in a series of posts on X.

As of 3:35 p.m. Pacific Time, more than 12,000 Verizon users had reported an outage, according to Downdetector. Multiple Verizon users told Nexstars KRON that they could not make phone calls.

Verizon is currently experiencing many outages in different areas, according to a the company.

We are aware of an issue impacting service for some customers, Verizon said in a statement. Our engineers are engaged and we are working quickly to identify and solve the issue.

No other information was immediately available and an estimated time for restored service was not provided.

This is a developing 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 PIX11.
Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong meets with Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister I Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Public Security Wang Xiaohong met with Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister I Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi on Friday in Beijing.

It is hoped that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the two sides will intensify high-level exchanges, work together for common development, and deepen law-enforcement and security cooperation in an all-round way, Wang said.

The two sides should also strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism, border security, and combating and controlling cross-border gambling, to promote the steady and long-term building of the China-Malaysia community with a shared future, he said.

Ahmad Zahid also expressed the hope that the two countries will deepen mutually beneficial cooperation to better benefit the two peoples. 
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People learn about salmon from China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region at the 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, May 31, 2024. The 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo kicked off at Fuzhou Strait International Conference & Exhibition Center in Fuzhou Friday, attracting nearly 500 companies from more than 30 countries and regions. The expo involves aquaculture, ocean fishing, aquatic processing and other fishery industry sectors. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

People visit the booth of Honduras, guest of honor of the 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo, in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, May 31, 2024. The 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo kicked off at Fuzhou Strait International Conference & Exhibition Center in Fuzhou Friday, attracting nearly 500 companies from more than 30 countries and regions. The expo involves aquaculture, ocean fishing, aquatic processing and other fishery industry sectors. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

People visit the 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, May 31, 2024. The 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo kicked off at Fuzhou Strait International Conference & Exhibition Center in Fuzhou Friday, attracting nearly 500 companies from more than 30 countries and regions. The expo involves aquaculture, ocean fishing, aquatic processing and other fishery industry sectors. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

People visit the 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, May 31, 2024. The 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo kicked off at Fuzhou Strait International Conference & Exhibition Center in Fuzhou Friday, attracting nearly 500 companies from more than 30 countries and regions. The expo involves aquaculture, ocean fishing, aquatic processing and other fishery industry sectors. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

People visit the 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, May 31, 2024. The 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo kicked off at Fuzhou Strait International Conference & Exhibition Center in Fuzhou Friday, attracting nearly 500 companies from more than 30 countries and regions. The expo involves aquaculture, ocean fishing, aquatic processing and other fishery industry sectors. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

People visit the 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, May 31, 2024. The 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo kicked off at Fuzhou Strait International Conference & Exhibition Center in Fuzhou Friday, attracting nearly 500 companies from more than 30 countries and regions. The expo involves aquaculture, ocean fishing, aquatic processing and other fishery industry sectors. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

An exhibitor displays the skin of a big jellyfish at the 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, May 31, 2024. The 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo kicked off at Fuzhou Strait International Conference & Exhibition Center in Fuzhou Friday, attracting nearly 500 companies from more than 30 countries and regions. The expo involves aquaculture, ocean fishing, aquatic processing and other fishery industry sectors. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan)

People visit the 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, May 31, 2024. The 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo kicked off at Fuzhou Strait International Conference & Exhibition Center in Fuzhou Friday, attracting nearly 500 companies from more than 30 countries and regions. The expo involves aquaculture, ocean fishing, aquatic processing and other fishery industry sectors. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

People visit the 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo in Fuzhou, capital of southeast China's Fujian Province, May 31, 2024. The 2024 China (Fuzhou) International Seafood & Fisheries Expo kicked off at Fuzhou Strait International Conference & Exhibition Center in Fuzhou Friday, attracting nearly 500 companies from more than 30 countries and regions. The expo involves aquaculture, ocean fishing, aquatic processing and other fishery industry sectors. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)
As smoking rates decline globally, many individuals have turned to e-cigarettes (electronic cigarettes) as a perceived safer alternative to traditional smoking. Promoted as a means to quit smoking or reduce harm, e-cigarettes have sparked a significant debate regarding their safety, particularly concerning cancer risk. While they may present fewer risks compared to traditional cigarettes, the question remains: are e-cigarettes genuinely a safer alternative when it comes to cancer? Let's see what Dr Kandra Prasanth Reddy, Radiation Oncologist, American Oncology Institute, Hyderabad wants to say on this:

Understanding E-Cigarettes

E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that heat a liquid (often containing nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals) to create an aerosol, which users then inhale. Unlike traditional cigarettes, which burn tobacco and produce a myriad of harmful chemicals, e-cigarettes eliminate combustion, theoretically reducing the intake of toxic substances.

Reduced Harm: A Complex Issue

E-cigarettes undoubtedly expose users to fewer harmful chemicals than traditional cigarettes. Research indicates that while e-cigarette vapor contains carcinogens and toxins, the levels are significantly lower than those found in cigarette smoke. For instance, the levels of nitrosamines, formaldehyde, and acrolein in e-cigarette vapor are much lower, suggesting a reduced risk of cancer. However, "reduced risk" does not mean "no risk."

Potential Cancer Risks

The long-term health effects of using e-cigarettes are not yet fully understood. However, evidence suggests that e-cigarette use may increase the risk of certain types of cancer, particularly lung, head and neck, bladder, and breast cancers. The presence of carcinogens in the body fluids of e-cigarette users inherently means that cells are at risk of oncogenic transformation. Besides cancer, nicotine can raise blood pressure, increase the risk of heart disease, and contribute to lung disease.

Emerging Research and Uncertainties

The long-term health effects of e-cigarettes are still largely unknown, as they have only been widely available for a little over a decade. Many studies focus on short-term effects, leaving significant gaps in our understanding of the potential long-term cancer risks. This uncertainty makes it difficult to definitively claim e-cigarettes as a safer alternative regarding cancer.

Recent studies have raised concerns about potential DNA damage and inflammation caused by e-cigarette vapor. Some research has suggested that e-cigarette use can induce DNA strand breaks and oxidative stress in cells, both of which are mechanisms involved in cancer development. However, these findings are preliminary and need further investigation to understand their relevance fully.

Regulatory and Public Health Perspectives

Public health authorities worldwide are grappling with how to regulate e-cigarettes. Some countries have embraced them as harm-reduction tools, while others have implemented strict regulations or outright bans. The balance between reducing harm for current smokers and preventing new generations from becoming addicted to nicotine is delicate.

The World Health Organization (WHO) and other health bodies advocate for caution, emphasizing that while e-cigarettes may be less harmful than smoking, they are not without risks. The potential for e-cigarettes to act as a gateway to nicotine addiction for young people is a significant concern, and their long-term health impacts are still uncertain.

Weighing the Risks

While e-cigarettes may offer a reduced harm alternative for current smokers, they are not entirely safe, particularly concerning cancer risk. The presence of carcinogens, albeit in lower quantities than traditional cigarettes, and the potential for nicotine to promote tumor growth cannot be ignored. Furthermore, the lack of long-term data means that the full spectrum of risks associated with e-cigarettes remains unclear.

For those looking to quit smoking, it is essential to consider all cessation options and consult healthcare professionals. E-cigarettes might be part of a harm reduction strategy, but they should not be seen as a completely risk-free alternative. Continued research and careful regulation are crucial to understanding and mitigating the potential health impacts of e-cigarettes, ensuring that they do not become a substitute health risk in place of traditional smoking.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal - who has been out on interim bail - said he will surrender before the police at Tihar Jail on Sunday, June 2. The Supreme Court had on May 10 granted 21-day interim bail to Kejriwal to enable him to campaign during the Lok Sabha polls.

Addressing the media on Friday, Kejriwal said that his health deteroriated in the jail. "I am a patient of serious diabetes for the last 20 years. I am given four injections everyday for the last 10 years but when I was in jail, they stopped my medication. My sugar levels reached around 300. Kidney and liver get affected if your sugar level remains so high for such long time. I don't know what they wanted. I lost 6 kgs while in jail. Doctor is suggesting that this can be a sign of some serious disease, many tests are needed to be done. Ketone level in my urine has also increased," says Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

Kejriwal will surrender on June 2. "I will leave from my house at around 3 pm. It is possible that they torture me even more this time but I will not break," mentioned Kejriwal. He urged Delhiites to take care of themselves and promised that no work in Delhi will stop because of his jail time. "I am always concerned about you while in jail. Your Kejriwal will be happy only if you are happy. But you don't worry, all of your work will keep happening," the CM said.

At the press conference, he added, "I have always taken care of your families like a son. Today, I want to ask something from you for my family. My parents are very old. My mother is ill. I worry about them in jail. Please take care of them, pray for them. My wife Sunita is very strong. She has always been with me in all my hardships. We are all fighting against dictatorship. Don't be saddened even if I lose my life fighting for the country."

Check Ou Kejriwal's Video Below:

Kejriwal was lodged in Tihar Jail since April 1. He was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on charges of corruption and money laundering in the execution of the Delhi government's now scrapped excise policy for 2021-22.
Tainted Janata Dal (Secular) leader Prajwal Revanna, who was on the run over sexual harassment case, landed in India from Munich, Germany and surrendered to the police in the early hours of Friday night. Following his arrest, he was handed over to the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Karnataka government to investigate the high-profile case.

The arrest came amid a huge outrage in India over sexual charges against JD(S) leader Revanna, who is also grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda.

BJP and its ally JD(S) have been facing a huge backlash over sexual charges against 33-year-old Revanna, the sitting MP from Karnataka's Hassan.

What's Next?

Prior to the hearing, Revanna was taken to the Bengaluru's local hospital where his medical test was done amid a massive security. Following this, Revanna moved to the Bengaluru court and applied for the anticipatory bail which is most likely to be rejected. Earlier, on Wednesday, the court had rejected Revanna's bail plea moved by his lawyer.

According to sources, the SIT may seek a 14-day police custody to interrogate the JD(S) MP. According to the media reports, the SIT has gathered strong evidence against Revanna based on the statements made by several victims.

The probe team also collected secondary evidence by confirming the premises where the alleged crimes took place. During the interrogation, the probe team will ask Revenna to cooperate in restoring the deleted videos and pictures of sexual crimes.

Apart from recording his statements, the SIT will also examine Revanna's WhatsApp history, emails and phone recordings.Meanwhile, the SIT has asked Revanna's mother, Bhavani Revanna, to appear before the probe team on June 1 in the alleged kidnapping case. The case was filed against Revanna's mother after the 20-year-old son of the victim lodged the complaint, claiming that her mother was tied and raped by Prajval Revanna.

Revanna's father, HD Revanna, was also arrested for barely a week in the sexual harassment case filed by a former employee of the family. Later, Revanna, who is sitting MLA from Holenarasipur constituency in Hassan district, granted conditional bail by court last month.



The Case

The case has sparked political storm across the country amid the general elections. The case, interestingly, came into limelight the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Hassan to campaign in favour of NDA candidate Revanna. On April 26, about 3,000 sex videos in pen drives linked to the JD(S) MP went viral in Hassan constituency.

On 27 April, the Karnataka government form an SIT to probe the case. On 28 April, Prajval Revanna left for Europe. Calling Revanna a "mass rapist", Congress alleged the BJP supported the Hassan MP despite knowing that "hundreds of women had been abused by him".



Will Justice Be Served in Prajwal Revanna Case?

The recent arrest of Prajwal Revanna, grandson of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, has ignited widespread skepticism about the justice system. Despite the grave sexual harassment charges against him, many fear that his influential political connections might shield him from accountability. As a member of a powerful family, there are growing concerns that Revanna might evade justice, raising questions about the integrity of the legal process. The cases high-profile nature and political implications underscore the need for transparency and impartiality in ensuring justice for the victims. Will justice prevail, or will power and influence tip the scales?


New Delhi: If the intense heatwave wasn't bad enough, the national capital is now reeling under a severe warer crisis. The Delhi Government has now approached the Supreme Court regarding the water problem. According to ANI, a petition has been filed to provide additional water to Delhi from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh for a month The petition states that "Delhi's need for water has increased in the scorching heat. It is everyone's responsibility to fulfill the needs of the country's capital.

Several areas in Delhi including Chanakyapuri's Sanjay Camp area and the Geeta colony area among those facing acute water shortages. In the blazing heat, people wait in long queues, hoping to fill at least one bucket, as tankers come and go without adequately serving the large populations in the colonies.

Delhi has been suffering from a severe heatwave for the last many days and the temperature reached more than 44 degrees Celsius. IMD has issued an alert for Delhi due to the heatwave and amidst this rising issue of water crisis is becoming a real problem for the people.

#WATCH | Delhi: Due to the water crisis, people are facing problems in many areas of Delhi. Water is being supplied to the people through tankers.



(Visuals from Chanakyapuri's Sanjay Camp area) pic.twitter.com/5HgqL7tj5O May 31, 2024

Arvind Kejriwal's Appeal To Centre

Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal on Friday made an appeal to the centre and the BJP to urge the governments of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana to help Delhi meet its water demand. Kejriwal said that the BJP should shun politics on the issue and help the state government address the issue. "In this scorching heat, the water demand has increased a lot. And the water that Delhi used to get from the neighbouring states has also been reduced. That means the demand has increased a lot and the supply has reduced. We all have to solve this together," Kejriwal wrote in a post on X. "I see that BJP colleagues are protesting against us. This will not solve the problem. I request everyone with folded hands that instead of doing politics at this time, let us come together and provide relief to the people of Delhi. If the BJP talks to its governments in Haryana and UP and gets some water for Delhi for a month, then the people of Delhi will greatly appreciate this step of the BJP. Such scorching heat is not in anyone's control. But if we all work together, can we provide relief to the people from this?" he added.

                         ,       7438 MW        8302 MW               ,   Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) May 31, 2024

Measures To Overcome From Water Crisis

AAP leader Atishi addressed a press conference on Thursday and announced emergency measures to tackle the water crisis in the city which included a ban on the use of drinking water for washing cars and at construction sites. PTI reported, she informed that a central water tanker control room is being set up in the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) to help people who are suffering from the crisis.

NDMC tanker arrived at many areas of Delhi so the people could get water in between the shortage. The individuals carrying pipes rushed towards it and some climbed on its top to fill their buckets.

AAP-led Delhi Blams Haryana Govt For Water Crisis

Now the political turmoil is taking place in Delhi due to the rising Water crisis in the Nation's Capital. The AAP-led Delhi government blamed the Haryana government for the rising water crisis in the capital and threatened to move the Supreme Court against them. Delhi Water Minister Atishi during her visit to the Wazirabad Water Treatment Plant on Thursday said that the Nation's capital should get a fair share of water. She informed me that the party is hoping to reach the central government to receive a fair amount of water. "It is the shortage of water that is causing turmoil in various parts of Delhi due to Haryana's arbitrary actions. If there is no raw water, how will water production happen?" ANI reported.

Earlier, women workers BJP stepped out to stage a protest outside AAP minister Atishi's residence against the APP government in Delhi due to the rising water crisis in the capital.

#WATCH | Women workers of BJP staged a protest outside AAP minister Atishi's residence, against the Arvind Kejriwal government over the water crisis issue in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/PEoMrRU64C  ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2024

As the tug of war continues in political front, Delhiites await respite.
Among the many practices within yoga, silent sitting meditation stands out as a powerful tool for achieving mental peace and clarity. For those interested in mastering this form of meditation, a yoga teacher training can provide the comprehensive knowledge and skills needed to incorporate it effectively into their lives.

What is Yoga Teacher Training?

A yoga teacher training in India is a structured, in-depth course designed to teach participants the fundamentals and advanced aspects of yoga. It encompasses a variety of topics, including yoga postures (asanas), breathing techniques (pranayama), meditation, anatomy, and yoga philosophy. Participants also learn about the history and ethics of yoga, as well as effective teaching methodologies.

The 200 hour yoga teacher training is a foundational course that provides a thorough introduction to yoga. This training is comprehensive yet compact, making it suitable for those with busy schedules. Completing a yoga teacher training program offers numerous benefits, such as enhanced personal practice, improved physical and mental well-being, and an internationally recognized certification that allows graduates to teach yoga worldwide.

At Gyan Yog Breath, the 200 hour yoga teacher training delves deeply into yoga's core, combining traditional teachings with modern practices. This program helps participants develop proficiency in various yoga techniques and fosters personal growth and transformation. Gyan Yog Breath's yoga teacher training in India is highly regarded for its focus on authentic yoga practices and supportive, nurturing environment.

How Yoga Teacher Training Facilitates Silent Sitting Meditation

Silent sitting meditation, also known as seated meditation or silent meditation, is a practice where one sits quietly, focusing inwardly to achieve a state of mental stillness. This form of meditation is highly beneficial for reducing stress, enhancing concentration, and promoting overall mental clarity. A yoga teacher training in India plays a crucial role in helping individuals achieve effective silent sitting meditation.

Foundation in Asanas: Yoga postures prepare the body for prolonged sitting by improving flexibility and strength. This physical readiness is essential for maintaining a comfortable and stable seated position during meditation. Breathing Techniques: Pranayama, or breathing exercises, taught during yoga teacher training help regulate the breath and calm the mind. Mastery of pranayama is vital for achieving the deep, steady breathing required for effective silent sitting meditation. Mental Discipline: Yoga philosophy and mindfulness practices instill mental discipline, teaching participants how to focus their thoughts and reduce distractions. This mental training is crucial for maintaining concentration during meditation. Stress Reduction: Regular yoga practice reduces overall stress levels, creating a conducive mental environment for meditation. A calm mind is more receptive to achieving the stillness required for silent sitting meditation. Guided Practice: a yoga teacher training often includes guided meditation sessions, providing participants with practical experience and techniques that they can apply in their personal meditation practice.

Yoga Teacher Training Courses at Gyan Yog Breath

Founded in 2008 as a non-profit trust, Gyan Yog Breath is dedicated to sharing the authentic and traditional practice of yoga with a global audience. Situated in the serene town of Rishikesh, the Gyan Yog Breath Ashram offers a range of yoga teacher training in India tailored to cater to various needs and levels of expertise.

Their 200 hour yoga teacher training serves as an ideal starting point for beginners and individuals seeking to enhance their yoga practice. Covering fundamental aspects of yoga, from poses to philosophy, this course provides a solid foundation for aspiring yoga instructors.

For those aspiring to advance their skills, the 300 hour yoga teacher training delves deeper into advanced poses, teaching techniques, and yoga therapy. Designed for graduates of the 200-hour course, the 300 hour yoga teacher training is Yoga Alliance certified and spans 21 days.

The b combines both the 200 hour yoga teacher training and the 300 hour yoga teacher training courses, offering a comprehensive learning experience for participants. The 500 hour yoga teacher training is Yoga Alliance certified and takes 40 days.

Additionally, Gyan Yog Breath offers a specialized fertility yoga teacher training focusing on yoga practices that support fertility and reproductive health. Fertility yoga aims at improving blood circulation in the reproductive system, balancing hormones and reducing stress.

All these courses, including the fertility yoga teacher training, are available as online yoga teacher training courses, too. The online yoga teacher training courses provide the same certification and comprehensive curriculum as the in-person courses, thus accommodating individuals unable to travel.

Embarking on a yoga teacher training at Gyan Yog Breath is a transformative experience offering profound personal and professional benefits. Whether opting for the 200 hour yoga teacher training, 300 hour yoga teacher training or 500 hour yoga teacher training, or fertility yoga teacher training, participants are guided by experienced instructors and supported by a nurturing community.

For more information about the yoga teacher training in India, visit www.gyanyogbreath.com

(This article is part of IndiaDotCom Pvt Ltds Consumer Connect Initiative, a paid publication programme. IDPL claims no editorial involvement and assumes no responsibility, liability or claims for any errors or omissions in the content of the article. The IDPL Editorial team is not responsible for this content.)
Prajwal Revanna Sex Abuse Case: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) inerrogated JD (S) suspended MP Prajwal Revanna, who was arrested in the obscene video case at the Bengaluru Airport soon upon his return from Germany. The 33-year-old now suspended MP, who arrived from Munich, was taken to the CID office for interrogation, sources in the SIT said. The SIT is also contemplating a potency test on Prajwal, reports PTI.

"He (Prajwal Revanna) has come to Bengaluru to come before the SIT and give his cooperation for interrogation purposes. Yesterday, he was held at immigration centre which is right as per the procedure. The reason why he has come is to cooperate with the investigation and that is what he has been doing. Additionally, he requested to media kindly not to do any media trial," says advocate Arun G, lawyer of suspended JD(S) leader Prajwal Revanna.

The anticipatory bail application filed by Revanna earlier is also expected to be considered void as the JD (S) suspended MP has already been arrested by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), as per ANI report. The report further mentions that the SIT may request the court to hand over Prajwal to their custody. Judicial custody will also result in imprisonment.

Revanna is facing a probe by the SIT over allegations of sexual harassment and criminal intimidation following a complaint by a woman who worked in his household. Revanna fled the country on April 26, Karnataka's polling day, and has been hiding in an undisclosed location for 34 days He returned to India from Berlin, Germany, nearly a month after leaving the country on a diplomatic passport and was immediately taken into custody.

Earlier, the SIT arrested two prime accused in connection with the case. The arrested have been identified as Naveen Gowda and Chetan. According to police sources, the accused were arrested when they appeared before the High Court seeking anticipatory bail. Arrested Chetan Gowda and Naveen Gowda allegedly distributed pen drives containing videos of Prajwal Revanna sexually assaulting women.

The Special Court for Public Representatives will hear the bail plea of Prajwal and his mother Bhavani Revanna on Friday. Bhavani Revanna has filed an anticipatory bail in the kidnapping case in which her husband was earlier arrested.
At least 40 suspected heat-related deaths were reported in India on Friday, with 25 of the victims being employees who were assigned on polling duties for the seventh phase of Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar during the country's widespread heatwave. The maximum number of fatalities on Friday were 17 in Uttar Pradesh, 14 in Bihar, five in Odisha, and four in Jharkhand, where officials said more than 1,300 people were hospitalised due to heatstroke.

According to the India Meteorological Department, the Kanpur (IAF) weather station recorded the highest temperature in the country at 48.2. Sirsa in Haryana was the second hottest, with a temperature of 47.8 degrees Celsius. The maximum temperature in Delhi was 47 degrees Celsius, recorded in Ayanagar.

Record-Breaking Temperatures In UP

The heat is intensifying in Uttar Pradesh, with temperatures breaking records every day. According to an Amar Ujala report, 166 people died in a single day on Thursday in UP owing to heatwave-related causes. 15 election staff died after suspected heatstroke in Uttar Pradesh's Mirzapur and Sonbhadra districts on Saturday, a day ahead of the polling for the Lok Sabha elections.

In Sonbhadra district, two polling staff died due to heat-related causes while nine personnel are being treated at a hospital. While thirteen poll personnel stationed in Mirzapur died at a hospital on Friday due to suspected heatstroke.

In Uttar Pradesh's Kaushambi, two people including an elderly woman, died following heat stroke on Thursday.

Power Outages And Protests

The frequent power outages caused by overloading and increasing demand has prompted locals to take to the streets in protest and there have also been reports of power houses being gheraoed. In some places, power supply workers were assaulted, and stores were vandalised.

Several districts, including Lucknow, Jhansi, and Lakhimpur Kheri, witnessed violent protests. Traders staged a protest in Raebareli. A similar incident took place in Ayodhya.
FUZHOU, May 31 (Xinhua) -- A multi-day meeting opened on Friday in China's coastal Fujian Province to promote seaweed cooperation between the ASEAN countries, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK).

The meeting hosted in Fuzhou, capital city of Fujian, has attracted officials, experts and business people from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK), as well as representatives of international organizations.

The six countries are among the world's leading seaweed producers and traders, and have conducted technological, industrial and educational cooperation for years.

The meeting, which will last to June 2, aims to establish a dialogue and cooperation mechanism, while promoting regional cooperation on seaweed research and industrial development, organizers said.

Attendees have praised the seaweed cooperation for being mutually beneficial for ASEAN and the three countries in East Asia.

Muhammad Safari Azis, president of the Indonesian Seaweed Association, said their seaweed farmers hope to learn new technologies and knowledge related to the seaweed industry and production.

"China has the technology in the seaweed industry and a huge market. We would like to have more cooperation with China," he said. 
The Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) are experiencing a placement crisis. IIT Kanpur graduate Dheeraj Singh's RTI application recently revealed that a startling 38% of IIT graduates across all 23 campuses are still unemployed. Singh noted that approximately 8,000 students were unsuccessful in getting hired through campus recruitment this year.

Unsettling Reality of Placements in IITs:

Only 13,410 of the 21,500 students who registered for placements in 2024 have found employment; the remaining 38% are still looking. Compared to two years ago, when 3,400 students, or 19%, were unplaced, this represents a significant increase. With 16,400 students registered for placements this year and 6,050 (37%) still unemployed, the older nine IITs are particularly affected. A slightly worse situation exists at the 14 more recent IITs, where 2,040 (40%) of the 5,100 registered students are not placed.

Changing Landscape Because of AI:

The job crisis has also sparked concern that the arrival of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has contributed to the worsening situation in India's premier talent pool. AI is considered the technology of the future due to its capacity to automate tasks and boost efficiency. Still, there's a lot of disagreement over how it will affect the labor market. It eliminates some jobs while simultaneously opening up new opportunities.

"It's been a challenging year," Dhiman Saha, assistant professor and faculty in charge of the Centre for Career Planning and Services at IIT Bhilai, said while speaking with Bloomberg.

As per a Bloomberg report, Saha said that the current job crisis is just a temporary adjustment while foreign and Indian tech companies try to resize after a hiring frenzy brought on by the pandemic, and consulting and finance firms wait for growth to resume in Western economies. For similar reasons, Harvard Business School's recruitment was down the previous year.

Although Saha declined to disclose the exact number of unemployed students, he stated that the AI challenge has not yet materialized because the jobs available have not changed. It is only the quantity that has decreased.

IITs Reaching Out to Alumni Network:

The IITs are looking to their alumni for support during these trying times. The institutes are contacting their large network of accomplished alumni and asking them to recommend, hire, and intern current students to navigate the challenging job market. The IIT Delhi Office of Career Services (OCS) emphasized how important alumni support is in assisting these students in starting their professional careers.

Other engineering schools, such as IIT Bombay and the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, are also asking their former pupils for assistance. Even with the placement process running through the end of June, 250 candidates, or roughly 10% of the IIT Bombay batch, are still waiting to be placed.


New Delhi: National-Award Winning director Hansal Mehta once again showcased his sharp wit when addressing a troll on social media. Recently, he criticized Nandamuri Balakrishna for a viral video depicting him pushing actor Anjali. However, this stance led to backlash from some fans of Balakrishna. In response, a Twitter user attempted to troll Mehta by sharing a photo of him showing affection towards his wife, Safeena Hussain.

Hansal Mehta Reacts To Troll

Director took to his social media handle to respond to a user who made an offensive remark against him by sharing by sharing a PDA picture of Hansal Mehta and his wife. The user wrote,' Who is this scumbag in this Liplock photos @mehtahansal.' To which the director wrote,'Your trolling wont work its a man kissing his wife, expressing love publicly. Not pushing a woman, displaying misogyny in public.

Check Out His Response Here:

Your trolling won't work_ it's a man kissing his wife, expressing love publicly. Not pushing a woman, displaying misogyny in public. https://t.co/26lTSsySCn May 31, 2024

The user was trying to refer to the filmmaker's previous tweet where he had criticized Nandamuri's aggressive behavior towards Anjali. By reposting the video, the The Buckingham Murders director wrote, Who is this scumbag?'

On the work front, Hansal Mehta has critically acclaimed films like CityLights, Aligarh, Omerta, and Faraaz to his credit. Besides, he has garnered praise for web series including Scam 1992, Modern Love: Mumbai, and Scoop. His latest directorial, The Buckingham Murders starring Kareena Kapoor, is slated for release in 2024.

Currently, Mehta is filming a historical series, Gandhi, with Pratik Gandhi portraying the titular role.
New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has shifted over 100 tonnes of gold from the UK to its vaults in India, Business Today reported, quoting sources. This marks the first such transfer since 1991. Currently, more than half of the central banks gold reserves are kept overseas with the Bank of England and the Bank of International Settlements while a third is stored within India. This move will help the RBI save on storage costs paid to the Bank of England.

According to RBIs annual data the central bank held 822.10 tonnes of gold as part of its foreign exchange reserves as of March 31, 2024. There is an increase from the 794.63 tonnes held during the same period last year. (Also Read: SEBI Bans THESE 5 Entities From Securities Markets For 3 Years: Check List)

The government in 1991 pledged 46.91 tonnes of gold with the Bank of England and the Bank of Japan to raise 4 million dollars between July 4 and 19. Around 15 years ago The RBI purchased 200 tonnes of gold from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). (Also Read: NSE Indices Introduces India's First Electric Vehicle Index: Check Details)

The government acquired 200 tonnes of gold valued at 6.7 billion dollars in 2009 as part of an asset diversification strategy. In recent years RBI has consistently increased its gold reserves through purchases.

The share of gold in Indias foreign exchange reserves rose from 7.75 percent at the end of December 2023 to 8.7 percent as of April 2024. Gold is stored in vaults located in the RBIs building on Mumbais Mint Road as well as in Nagpur. According to a report by the World Gold Council, global central banks possess about 17% percent of all gold ever mined with reserves totaling 36,699 metric tons (MT) as of the end of 2023.
New Delhi: Tech Giant Google has confirmed the authenticity of around 2,500 leaked internal documents related to its search feature. These documents were initially reported by SEO experts Rand Fishkin and Mike King, as per the reports

In a statement to The Verge, Google has warned people not to make incorrect assumptions about their search feature based on the leaked documents as the information might be out of context, outdated or incomplete. It further stated that it has provided a lot of information about how its Search feature works and the factors its system considers. They have also highlighted their efforts to protect search results from being manipulated.

The leaked material allegedly suggests that Google collects and potentially uses data that company representatives have said does not contribute to ranking webpages in Google Search. However, the leaked information is likely to create some panic across the SEO industry. (Also Read: Govt Issues Alert On Critical Vulnerability In TP-Link Router: Heres How To Protect Your Device)

According to Fishkin, the leaked documents outline Googles search API and break down what information is available to employees. SEO expert King said in his overview of the documents that Lied is harsh but its the only accurate word to use here. (Also Read: What Is India's EU-Like Anti-Trust Proposal That Irked Tech Giants Google, Amazon, Apple?)

While I dont necessarily fault Googles public representatives for protecting their proprietary information, I do take issue with their efforts to actively discredit people in the marketing, tech, and journalism worlds who have presented reproducible discoveries, he wrote. (With IANS Inputs)
New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit China at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, from June 4 to 8, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry confirmed on Friday.

Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif will hold meetings with the Chinese President along with other officials.

"At the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an official visit to China from June 4 to 8. The visit will have three segments," Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a press briefing.

The Pakistan PM and Chinese president will hold discussions to upgrade China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. CPEC is a USD 50 billion Pakistani component of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The 3,000 km Chinese infrastructure network project is under construction in Pakistan and aims to connect Pakistan's Gwadar and Karachi ports to China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region by land.

"The two sides will further undertake discussions to strengthen the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, upgrade China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, advance trade and investment and enhance cooperation in defence, energy space, science and technology and education," Baloch said.

Besides Beijing, the Pakistan PM will visit the cities of Xian and Shenzhen.

In Beijing, Shehbaz Sharif will meet Xi Jinping and hold delegation-level talks with Premier Li Qiang.

Further, he will also hold meetings with the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress Zhao Leji and heads of key government Department, Baloch said.

Moreover, Shehbaz Sharif will address the Pakistan-China Business Forum in Shenzhen with leading business entrepreneurs and investors from both countries.

"An important part of PM's visit will be meetings with corporate executives of leading Chinese companies, dealing in oil and gas, energy, ICT, and emerging technologies," Baloch said.

He will also visit economic and agricultural zones in China.

Foreign Affairs Ministry Spokesperson emphasised that the PM's visit is a manifestation of the iron-clad China-Pakistan friendship characterized by frequent high-level exchanges and dialogues.
VIENTIANE, May 31 (Xinhua) -- As World Environment Day approaches, Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has delivered a message to the nation, emphasizing the need for heightened awareness and collaboration to safeguard natural resources and protect the environment.

In his address, Sonexay highlighted the urgent need to combat deforestation, forest fires, and land degradation, which threaten ecosystems and human health while exacerbating the challenges of climate change, desertification, and natural disasters.

Recognizing the widespread issues of forest destruction and land degradation, Sonexay reaffirmed the government's commitment to increasing forest coverage to 70 percent of the country's area, according to a report from the local Pasaxon newspaper on Friday.

He stressed the importance of restoring soil and ecosystems to mitigate climate change impacts and protect biodiversity.

He also highlighted the necessity of balancing economic development with environmental conservation.

Sonexay further called on all sectors of society to prioritize the management and protection of natural resources. He urged individuals and organizations to adopt green and sustainable practices, including tree planting, waste reduction, and maintaining community cleanliness.

In 1972, the United Nations designated June 5 as World Environment Day to foster environmental awareness and prompt action. 
SANAA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group announced on Friday they had launched ballistic missiles at the U.S. aircraft carrier Eisenhower in the Red Sea and the attack was accurate.

The group's military spokesman Yahya Sarea said in a statement that the attack was "in response to last night's multiple airstrikes launched by the U.S.-British coalition" against Houthi positions in the Yemeni Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, the capital Sanaa, and the southwestern province of Taiz.

He added that his group "will not hesitate to respond directly and immediately to every new aggression on Yemeni territory by targeting all sources of threat and all hostile American and British targets in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea."

The U.S. military has yet to comment on the attack.

The earlier U.S.-Britain joint operations against Houthis-held positions, including the Hodeidah Radio building and a military site in al-Salif port, killed 16 people and wounded another 41, including civilians, and damaged a number of commercial ships in the port, Sarea said via the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV.

"This represents a clear targeting of civilians, a blatant violation of all international laws, and a full-fledged war crime," he said.

Since November last year, the Houthi group began to launch anti-ship ballistic missiles and drones targeting what they said were Israeli-linked ships transiting the Red Sea, to show solidarity with Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

In response, the U.S.-British naval coalition stationed in the waters has since January conducted regular air raids and missile strikes against Houthi targets to deter the group, but only led to an expansion of Houthi attacks to include U.S. and British commercial vessels and naval ships. 
BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- China's meteorological and water resources authorities issued alerts on Friday evening for rainstorms and mountain torrents in multiple regions of the country.

From 8 p.m. Friday to 8 p.m. Saturday, heavy downpours or rainstorms are expected to hit parts of Guangdong, Hainan, Fujian, Jiangxi and Zhejiang, according to a yellow alert issued by the National Meteorological Center.

Parts of these regions may experience temporary showers with maximum hourly precipitation surpassing 80 millimeters, accompanied by thunderstorms or gales, the center said.

The Ministry of Water Resources and the China Meteorological Administration issued a blue alert, saying mountain torrents are likely to hit parts of the aforementioned regions from 8 p.m. Friday to 8 p.m. Saturday.

Mountain torrents are highly likely to occur in some areas of northern Fujian during the same period, according to a yellow alert for mountain torrents also issued by the two departments.

Local governments have been urged to implement precautionary measures and ensure the safety of people.

China has a four-tier, color-coded weather warning system, with red representing the most severe warning, followed by orange, yellow and blue. 
Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, delivers a speech at a reception celebrating the 50th anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang delivered a speech at a reception celebrating the 50th anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations in Beijing on Friday.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago, the two sides have steadfastly developed friendly relations, adhered to good-neighborly friendship, mutual benefit, exchanges and mutual learning, as well as solidarity and coordination, which has brought tangible benefits to the two peoples and made important contributions to regional prosperity and stability.

Ding called on the two countries to continue to be good brothers who trust each other, good friends who seek common development, good neighbors who are close to each other and good partners for multilateral cooperation, while taking the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to embark on a new journey of building a community with a shared future for humanity.

Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister I and Minister of Rural and Regional Development Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi said in his speech that the 50th anniversary of Malaysia-China diplomatic relations is an important milestone, and Malaysia is willing to deepen cooperation with China and work together to promote the sustainable development of bilateral friendship.

Before the reception, Ding met with Ahmad Zahid. The two sides agreed to consolidate political mutual trust, deepen the synergy of development strategies, expand exchanges and cooperation on industry, science and technology, agriculture and culture, strengthen communication and coordination on regional and international affairs, and push the China-Malaysia comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level. 

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Malaysia's Deputy Prime Minister I and Minister of Rural and Regional Development Dato' Seri Dr. Ahmad Zahid bin Hamidi before a reception celebrating the 50th anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Ding delivered a speech at the reception in Beijing on Friday. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)
LOS ANGELES, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Three people, including a police officer and the suspect, were killed, and three others were injured on Thursday evening in a shooting in Minneapolis, a major city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, authorities said.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey confirmed at a news conference that the police officer killed in the shooting was Jamal Mitchell.

"This officer gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect and save the lives of others," he added.

The shooting happened as police officers responded to report of a double shooting on the 2200 block of Blaisdell Avenue, said Minneapolis Police Department's Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell.

After an exchange of gunfire with the suspect, two officers were shot and immediately brought to a nearby hospital.

Mitchell died at the hospital and another officer received non-life-threatening injuries. The suspect was also injured and pronounced dead at the scene.

Two civilians were shot as well, with one killed and another one gravely injured, said Blackwell, adding that a firefighter was also injured during the gunfire.

"The State of Minnesota stands ready to provide any resources necessary. Praying for all the first responders on the ground working to keep the community safe," Minnesota Governor Tim Walz wrote on X. 
BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- At the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan will pay an official visit to China from June 4 to 8, foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning announced on Friday.

This will be the first visit to China by Shehbaz since the establishment of the new Pakistani government this year, Mao said at a daily press briefing.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li, and Zhao Leji, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, will hold meetings and talks respectively with Shehbaz, during which they are expected to have in-depth exchanges of views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern, and make plans for the future development of China-Pakistan relations, Mao said.

In addition to Beijing, Shehbaz will also visit the provinces of Guangdong and Shaanxi, she added.

Noting that the two countries are all-weather strategic cooperative partners and ironclad friends, Mao said the China-Pakistan friendship has withstood the test of vicissitudes of times and remained rock-solid.

Under the guidance of the leaders of both countries, high-level exchanges between China and Pakistan have been close in recent years, bilateral pragmatic cooperation steadily advanced, and fruitful results achieved in the high-quality construction of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the spokesperson said, adding that the two sides maintain good communication and coordination on international and regional affairs.

She added that China looks forward to working with Pakistan to promote the bilateral all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era. 
* Since the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum 20 years ago, two-way trade has significantly increased, encompassing a wide range of sectors including energy, infrastructure, technology, and finance.

* As members of the Global South, China and Arab states have also carried out close cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

* China has always been giving support for issues concerning the Arab world, most important of which is the Palestinian issue, while the Arab countries have always been expressing their support for one-China policy publicly.

BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- China and Arab states adopted a series of outcome documents at a meeting in Beijing on Thursday, marking a significant stride towards building a community with a shared future.

The 10th Ministerial Conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF) highlighted the growing ties between China and the Arab world against the backdrop of the closely watched Palestinian-Israeli conflict, analysts said.

The opening ceremony of the conference was attended by top leaders from China, Bahrain, Egypt, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and other senior officials from Arab states.

The gathering is expected to further consolidate consensus between China and Arab states, chart the course for future cooperation, and raise a common voice from both sides on the Palestinian issue, analysts said.





SIGNIFICANT ACHIEVEMENTS

The conference adopted the Beijing Declaration, the CASCF execution plan for 2024-2026, and a China-Arab states joint statement on the Palestinian issue.

The Beijing Declaration reviews the important consensus and progress in implementing the outcomes of the first China-Arab States Summit held in 2022 and clarifies the practical path for promoting the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future.

Guests learn about a clean energy project at the sixth China-Arab States Expo in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Sept. 22, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

In his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the ministerial meeting on Thursday, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to work with the Arab side to put in place "five cooperation frameworks" to step up the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future.

He also voiced readiness to work with the Arab side to make China-Arab relations a model for maintaining world peace and stability, a fine example of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, a paradigm of harmonious coexistence between civilizations, and a model for promoting good global governance.

Since the establishment of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum 20 years ago, two-way trade has significantly increased, encompassing a wide range of sectors including energy, infrastructure, technology, and finance.

China is the largest trading partner of many Arab countries. The trade volume between China and Arab countries surged from 36.7 billion U.S. dollars in 2004 to 431.4 billion dollars in 2022.

Up till now, China has forged comprehensive strategic partnerships or strategic partnerships with 14 Arab countries and the Arab League. All the 22 Arab countries and the Arab League have signed deals with China on Belt and Road cooperation.

Speaking about joint efforts to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era, Aboul-Gheit told Xinhua in a recent interview that "there is a sense of well-grounded mutual trust, and the two sides are bound by win-win cooperation aiming at common interests."

In a recent interview, Tunisian Ambassador to China Adel Elarbi underscored the forum's role as a vital mechanism for facilitating consultation, cooperation, coordination of positions, exchanges, and mutual learning between China and Arab states.





EVER-GROWING TIES

China's engagement with Arab countries extends beyond economic scope.

In 2023, China played a pivotal role in facilitating the restoration of Saudi Arabia's diplomatic ties with Iran, marking a significant milestone that brought reconciliation among regional countries.

In April, representatives of the Palestinian National Liberation Movement (Fatah) and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) were invited to Beijing to hold talks on the promotion of intra-Palestinian reconciliation.

This year, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the United Arab Emirates joined BRICS, an emerging-market cooperative mechanism initially comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. In addition, 17 Arab countries have become members of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the first multilateral financial institution proposed by China.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Alireza Bigdeli (Front) and Saudi Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for Consular Affairs Ali Al-Yousef (C) attend a ribbon cutting at the opening ceremony of the Iranian embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 6, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Haizhou)

"Relations between China and Arab countries are constantly growing. China is willing to further build these relations, and Arab countries need to open up more to China," Aboul-Gheit told Xinhua in an interview ahead of the opening of the ministerial conference.

As members of the Global South, China and Arab states have also carried out close cooperation within the framework of the United Nations, BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. They advocate for multilateralism and aspire to establish a more just and equitable global order that safeguards the interests of developing nations.

Abdel Mohdy Motawe, a Cairo-based researcher and executive director of the Middle East Forum for Strategic Studies and National Security, said China's positions on many issues were consistent with those of the Arab countries, enabling China to win great support from the Arab world and respect for its role, especially in the UN Security Council.

The joint commitment to fostering greater equilibrium within the global order serves as a powerful impetus for the ministerial meeting to bolster relations, said Charbel Barakat, director of the international news department at Kuwait's Al Jarida Newspaper.





BRIGHT PROSPECTS

In light of the timelines of the ministerial conference, Ambassador Elarbi highlighted the opportunity it presents for both sides to discuss and exchange development experiences while jointly exploring solutions to current regional and international challenges.

In his keynote speech, Xi said China firmly supports the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital. China supports Palestine's full membership in United Nations, and supports a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference, he added.

Haba Gamal, a member of the Egyptian Council for Foreign Affairs, emphasized the necessity for Arab countries to work closely with countries in the Global South, given the ongoing international development and their shared developmental challenges.

He depicted cooperation between China and Arab countries as a model for cooperation between the Arab world and the Global South, emphasizing their mutual complementarity.

The cooperation between Arab countries and the Global South is an important factor in balancing global power and drawing developmental parameters that bring benefits for all sides, mitigating the polarization and imperialistic moves of the West, he said.

China has always been giving support for issues concerning the Arab world, most important of which is the Palestinian issue, while the Arab countries have always been expressing their support for one-China policy publicly, he noted.

Regarding the Belt and Road Initiative, he said he had seen very promising projects between the Arab world and the Global South, emphasizing win-win cooperation without interference in internal affairs, while maintaining the special characteristics and respecting the sovereignty of each side.

Salah Jumaa, deputy editor-in-chief of Egypt's Middle East News Agency, pointed out "a significant shift towards China in relations and coverage of relations with China."

"The evidence is the first China-Arab States Summit held in Saudi Arabia and the Arab world's orientation towards China, especially after the current events (in Gaza) and the exposure of the biased stance of the United States," he said.

As evidenced by the differing stances of the West on Ukraine and Palestine, Jumaa pointed to the existence of double standards in addressing global issues.

He said he believes that after the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the relations between Arab states and China will be strengthened, and this forum will be a great opportunity to develop Arab-Chinese relations. (Video reproters: Liu Chunhui, Yin Jiajie, Yang Yiran, Yu Fuqing, Yao Bing, Dong Xiuzhu)
Residents of Russian ethnic group perform folk dance on Liuxing Street in Yining City, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)

URUMQI, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Strolling through the historic Liuxing Street, tourists are greeted by the sweat echo of traditional folk tunes, accompanied by joyful dance performances from local residents and the aroma of freshly baked bread.

Located in Yining City, Kazak Autonomous Prefecture of Ili, in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Liuxing Street features a unique hexagonal layout designed by a German engineer and built in the mid-1930s.

Over the past century, residents from various ethnic groups, including Han, Kazak, Hui, Uygur, Russian and Tatar, have lived harmoniously together here. Currently, it is home to more than 3,000 residents.

In 2014, the local government allocated an investment of 30 million yuan (about 4.2 million U.S. dollars) to initiate the protective and upgrade renovation project for the old street. Five years later, an additional 130 million yuan was pooled into the preservation and restoration of Liuxing Street and the city's culture and tourism department invested over 50 million yuan in 2022 to facilitate the development of tourism, according to Ma Liying, general manager of a tourism company in charging of the operation and management of scenic spot in Liuxing Street.

Today, the old neighborhood has been transformed into an ethnic cultural area, centered around historical buildings, traditional ethnic crafts as well as music and arts.

"We've seen an increasing number of tourists from across the country, as well as foreign visitors in recent years," said Ma, adding they came here to experience the integration of multiple ethnic communities.

The surge in tourism has also benefited the local economy. During this year's May Day holiday, Yining City received 692,700 domestic tourists, an increase of 27.55 percent year-on-year. This generated a tourism revenue of 433 million yuan, which represents a year-on-year growth of 59.88 percent.

At present, the scenic spot of the street hosts more than 300 guesthouses, dining establishments, handicrafts shops, hotels and specialty product stores. These businesses have created jobs for over 1,100 local employees, 890 of which are from different ethnic groups.

In the first quarter of 2024 alone, 21 new businesses were established, creating over 50 new jobs.

Zhang Xinyu, who opened a guesthouse in August 2021, now runs 14 rooms and offers meals, coffee and wine on the first floor. The guesthouse employs 10 workers from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

Other services such as car rentals, travel photography and customized itinerary planning have been provided for tourists.

Zhang said her guesthouses received about 3,000 tourists last year, including foreign travelers from Kazakhstan, Britain, the United States, Germany and Japan, which generated nearly 3 million yuan in revenue.

"The Belt and Road Initiative has brought more tourists and investors to Ili, boosting tourism and economic development. Additionally, by promoting the culture of the Silk Road, it has helped more people understand Xinjiang. This has greatly contributed to the economic development of Xinjiang," Zhang said.

"I really like the cozy neighborhood and enthusiastic residents here in Liuxing Street. I would like to come again and bring my family to explore the beauty of the vast Xinjiang," said Sun Li, a tourist from Shanghai. She chose to travel around the region by train with her daughter for a fresh and different experience.

"Increasingly convenient transportation linking the inland region, especially the opening of new flights and railway routes, has greatly benefited Yining. It has diversified travel options for tourists, particularly with the introduction of tourist trains, which have made positive contributions to the development of Xinjiang's trade, logistics, and tourism industries," Ma said.

Among the efforts to boost the tourism, Xinjiang's railway departments have been improving its services over the years. They plan to operate 106 tourist trains this year. As of May 30, 27 trains have already successfully operated, according to China Railway Urumqi Group Co., Ltd.

Xinjiang's tourism development has shown strong momentum in recent years. In 2023, Xinjiang received 265 million tourists, an increase of 117 percent. The tourism revenue reached 296.7 billion yuan, a growth of 227 percent. 

Tourists enjoy a performance at an accordion museum on Liuxing Street in Yining City, Ili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, May 28, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Fei)
ISLAMABAD, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The foreign ministers of Pakistan and Azerbaijan on Thursday agreed to broaden the scope of cooperation in all areas of mutual interest including trade, defense, climate action, and regional connectivity among others, the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement here.

In a meeting between Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov, during the latter's two-day visit to Pakistan, the two sides also expressed strong commitment to further strengthening bilateral strategic relations.

They also agreed to enhance parliamentary exchanges, strengthen cultural cooperation, and promote people-to-people exchanges including between students, academia, and business people.

The two sides agreed to identify new areas of economic cooperation to bolster cooperation in climate action and renewable energy sector and increase bilateral investments, especially in the energy sector, the statement added.

Dar said that energy security and connectivity are top priorities for the Pakistani government, highlighting the country's strategic location for connectivity with China, South Asian countries, and beyond. 
SANAA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group said on Friday they launched ballistic missiles targeting the U.S. aircraft carrier Eisenhower in the Red Sea and the attack was accurate, the group's military spokesman said in a statement. 
GOMA, DRC, May 31 (Xinhua) -- One South African soldier was killed and 13 others injured Thursday in fighting against rebels on Thursday in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the South African National Defense Force (SANDF) said Friday.

The fighting occurred in the town of Sake, located in the eastern province of North Kivu, against the March 23 Movement (M23), the SANDF said in a statement. The injured soldiers have been hospitalized and are in recovery.

Since early 2024, a regional force of SADC, composed essentially of military elements from South Africa, Tanzania and Malawi, has been deployed in North Kivu, to counter the M23 rebels who have taken control of territories in the province.

On Thursday, violent fighting broke out between the M23 rebels and the DRC military and its allies, including the SADC, near the town of Sake, which is considered the last barrier between the rebels and Goma, the provincial capital of North Kivu and a strategic, tourist and commercial city in the region.

Heavy artillery fires were heard throughout the day in the combat zone.

The M23 rebels who occupy areas in Rutshuru territory and the Masisi territory of North Kivu, have also engaged in combats against the DRX military in the town of Kanyabayonga in the Lubero territory, where a mass civilian displacement fleeing the fights has been reported.

Kanyabayonga town, where nearly 35,000 internally displaced persons are currently taking refuge, is also considered a strategic gateway that controls access to the northern part of North Kivu province and as far as the resource-rich and war-torn Ituri province. 
Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Hamad at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Xi and Hamad witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BEIJING, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa on Friday announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, a new milestone in bilateral relations.

The announcement came as Xi held talks with Hamad, who is in China for a state visit. Hamad also attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum in Beijing on Thursday.

Bahrain is a good friend and partner of China in the Gulf region, Xi said, adding that although the two countries have different national conditions, they have always treated each other sincerely and enjoyed friendly relations.

As this year marks the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Bahrain, Xi said China is ready to work with Bahrain to develop their comprehensive strategic partnership and to bring more benefits to the two peoples.

China firmly supports Bahrain's efforts to safeguard national sovereignty, security and stability, and supports Bahrain's path of independent development, as well as Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030 and its diversified development strategy, he said.

China is willing to strengthen cooperation with Bahrain in the fields of energy, investment, transportation, new energy and digital economy, and achieve more results in high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, Xi said.

Both sides should enhance cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and facilitate personnel exchanges to continuously strengthen public support for the China-Bahrain friendship, Xi said.

He noted that China advocates mutual respect and peaceful coexistence among countries with different systems and civilizations, and supports countries in the Middle East to enhance unity and cooperation, achieve peace and reconciliation, and promote development and revitalization.

China is willing to work with regional countries, including Bahrain, to develop its relations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries further, host the second China-Arab States Summit successfully, and accelerate the building of a China-Arab states community with a shared future, Xi said.

He also called on the two sides to strengthen communication and coordination on multilateral platforms such as the United Nations, practice true multilateralism, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

Hamad said that China is a great country, and Bahrain is deeply grateful that China has provided significant support for its national construction. Bahrain hopes to take the establishment of this comprehensive strategic partnership as an opportunity to align the development strategies of the two countries, strengthen practical cooperation in various fields, and achieve its own diversified development, he added.

Bahrain has strong appreciation for and agrees fully with China's noble values and rational and wise policy propositions, Hamad said. As long as China develops well, other developing countries can do the same, and the process of global multipolarity can continue to advance. Bahrain is firm in its belief that China will realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and make greater contributions to world peace and prosperity, he added.

He noted that Bahrain abides by the one-China principle, supports China's peaceful reunification, and is willing to work closely with China through multilateral cooperation to ensure people of all countries enjoy equal rights to subsistence and development. Bahrain is ready to work with China to push for an early completion of the GCC-China Free Trade Agreement, carry forward the spirit of the Arab states-China friendship, and join hands to build an Arab states-China community with a shared future in the new era.

Hamad briefed Xi on the recent 33rd Arab League Summit, focusing particularly on the Arab states' position on the Palestinian question and the efforts they have made to push for an early end to the Gaza conflict. He expressed his appreciation and thanks to China for always upholding justice, and said he looks forward to China's greater contributions in that regard.

Xi stressed that China and Bahrain share the same stance on the Palestinian question. China appreciates the common voice the Arab states use to discuss the Palestine-Israel issue at the Arab League Summit, and stands ready to work with Bahrain and other Arab states to push for the early, comprehensive, just and lasting settlement of the Palestinian question.

After their talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signature of a number of bilateral cooperation documents in such fields as investment, green and low-carbon development, and e-commerce and the digital economy.

The two sides also issued a joint statement on the establishment of their comprehensive strategic partnership. 

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa witness the signing of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Hamad at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Hamad at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Hamad at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Hamad at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Hamad at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Hamad at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Zhang Ling)

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a welcome ceremony for Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the square outside the east gate of the Great Hall of the People before their talks in Beijing, capital of China, May 31, 2024. Xi held talks with Hamad at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Friday. Hamad, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. (Xinhua/Liu Bin)
UNITED NATIONS, May 31 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday highlighted the achievements of the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI) after the Security Council decided to renew its mandate for the last time.

The secretary-general has taken note of Friday's Security Council decision to extend UNAMI's mandate for a final 19-month period until Dec. 31, 2025, said his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Guterres notes UNAMI's significant achievements since 2003. At the request of the Security Council, UNAMI has assisted Iraq in advancing inclusive political dialogue, holding elections, promoting accountability and the protection of human rights, coordinating the safe return and reintegration of internally displaced persons, and supporting minority communities, among other key tasks, said the spokesman.

The secretary-general and UNAMI remain fully committed to effectively implementing the residual UNAMI tasks as mandated by the Security Council and to preparing a transition and liquidation plan to ensure a gradual, orderly and responsible drawdown of the mission, said the spokesman.

The United Nations remains strongly committed to supporting Iraq in its aspirations for a peaceful and secure future, said Dujarric. 
GAZA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- At least 70 Palestinians were found dead on Friday in northern Gaza's Jabalia refugee camp where Israel has just pulled out its armed forces after a nearly three-week offensive.

Local medical sources told Xinhua that ambulance and civil defense crews primitively retrieved about 70 bodies, including 20 children, from the camp, while search work continued for the missing.

The sources noted that dozens of others were reported missing under the rubble of homes, shelters, and hospitals due to Israeli air and artillery strikes in the operation.

As the Israeli forces withdrew, hundreds of residents returned from shelters to their homes in the camp to check on their properties. Some of them told Xinhua that the strikes had resulted in heavy damage to hundreds of residential units as well as roads, water supply systems, and sewage infrastructure in the camp and its surroundings.

They accused the Israeli soldiers of setting fire to apartments and residential buildings as a form of "collective punishment and revenge."

The Israeli troops of the 98th Division withdrew after completing their mission in eastern Jabalia and began preparation for continued operations in the Gaza Strip, after "rescuing seven bodies of hostages, eliminating hundreds of terrorists, and destroying a 10-km subterranean tunnel network," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday.

On the same day, the Hamas-run media office in Gaza condemned the Israeli army for adopting a "scorched earth" policy in its attack on the Jabalia camp, which left residential blocks destroyed and numerous Palestinians displaced.

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees also said Friday that it has received "horrific reports" from the agency's facilities in Jabalia, where "displaced people, including children, (were) reportedly killed and injured (when) sheltering in our school."

It said on social media platform X that the IDF had besieged a shelter converted from the agency-run school in Jabalia and set tents of people sheltering there on fire.

Israel has launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. 
This photo taken on June 1, 2024 shows a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Adloun, Lebanon. A Hezbollah member and one civilian were killed and five others wounded on Friday evening in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese military sources. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

BEIRUT, May 31 (Xinhua) -- A Hezbollah member and one civilian were killed and five others wounded on Friday evening in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese military sources.

The sources, who spoke anonymously, said one Hezbollah member was killed and another wounded in an Israeli attack in the town of Ain Qana, while another Israeli raid in the town of Adloun in the Sidon district killed a woman and wounded four other civilians.

The sources added that Israeli drones and warplanes carried out 10 raids on multiple areas within the border region and deep in southern Lebanon, reaching the outskirts of Sidon and Iqlim al-Tuffah cities.

Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah toward Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. 

This photo taken on June 1, 2024 shows a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Adloun, Lebanon. A Hezbollah member and one civilian were killed and five others wounded on Friday evening in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese military sources. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)

This photo taken on June 1, 2024 shows a building destroyed by an Israeli airstrike in Adloun, Lebanon. A Hezbollah member and one civilian were killed and five others wounded on Friday evening in Israeli airstrikes on southern Lebanon, according to Lebanese military sources. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua)
by Sabrina Zhang, Liu Yanan

NEW YORK, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The guilty verdict of former U.S. President Donald Trump, in the midst of his presidential campaign, is unlikely to lead to a big share of his supporters changing their votes in the upcoming general election, according to poll results and voters.

Trump was found guilty in the hush money trial in New York Thursday on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in a bid to hide hush money payment to a porn star in 2016, shortly before the presidential election.

Still, even a loss of supporters by a few percentage points is enough to swing the results in the presidential election this November.

Polls showed that staunch Republicans will not be swayed by the result of the trial. Prior to the verdict, National Public Radio conducted a survey regarding the impact of a guilty ruling on voters. The survey showed that 67 percent stated that a guilty verdict would not impact their vote, while 17 percent said it would make them less likely to vote for Trump.

Meanwhile, 15 percent said they would be more likely to vote for Trump if he was found guilty. That could be in response to Trump supporters viewing the trial as a political attack, with Trump himself calling it "rigged" and a "scam."

According to Republican strategist David Oman, the United States is in for a divisive several months following the trial. Speaking with KCCI News in Iowa, Oman said that for some, the trial proves that the justice system works, but for others, it may be used "as a rallying cry ... something to heat up the campaign."

It's sad that the hush money trial itself exists in the first place and has nothing to do with politics, according to Ann, a lifelong Republican in Raleigh, North Carolina, who declined to disclose her full name.

Ann, 60, said on Friday that Trump's policies better suit the country and she does not consider the trial an influential factor in voting, nor Trump's political persona.

Ann told Xinhua that she chooses to focus on the Republican Party's views on military funding and border control.

An ABC News poll, released on May 5, showed similar findings, with as much as 80 percent of his existing supporters saying they would continue to vote for Trump if he was found guilty, and only 4 percent saying they would no longer give their support.

Conner, 25, who voted for Trump in the past election, told Xinhua on Friday that he would continue to do so this year, citing laws passed and Supreme Court justices under Trump's presidency as some of the reasons.

Studying in Florida, Conner said while he followed the trial online, the result hardly affects his decision.

"Trump's kind of refreshingly real, and for better or for worse, he's very flawed, but he's very real. And it feels ... it's just nice to have that honesty," said Conner, who also refrained from giving his full name.

In comparison to his main challenger, U.S. President Joe Biden, public surveys showed that voters favor Trump in terms of mental sharpness and physical health, with 81 percent of respondents saying Biden is too old for another presidential term.

The former president gave a speech at Trump Tower in New York City Friday morning, denouncing the results of the trial and criticizing those involved, including Judge Juan Merchan.

Following the conviction, Trump is the first U.S. former president to become a felon. There are no rules in the country barring a candidate with criminal offenses to run for president, nor are there restrictions against an impeached president.

The judge has scheduled Trump's sentencing for July 11, days before the Republican Party is scheduled to formally nominate Trump for president ahead of the Nov. 5 election.

Trump ended his speech on Friday by suggesting that a real verdict will be decided on Election Day, declaring, "Remember, November 5 is the most important day in the history of our country." 
Demonstrators hold signs in support of former U.S. President Donald Trump's conviction outside Trump Tower in New York, the United States, on May 31, 2024. Former U.S. President Donald Trump Friday said he will appeal his conviction on all counts in the hush money trial in New York City. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

NEW YORK, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Former U.S. President Donald Trump Friday said he will appeal his conviction on all counts in the hush money trial in New York City.

Speaking at a press conference in Trump Tower on the Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, Trump said "We're going to be appealing this scam," one day after he was convicted in the trial.

A jury in New York City Thursday found Trump guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in a bid to hide hush money payment of 130,000 U.S. dollars in 2016 to porn star Stormy Daniels.

Trump continued to attack the judge and stressed the trial was "rigged".

"As far as the trial itself, it was very unfair," said Trump.

Trump said his team would appeal on multiple things including the allegation that the court blocked the most crucial witness from his side.

Both Trump's supporters and critics showed up outside the Trump Tower building on Friday.

A sentencing hearing for the hush money trial has been set on July 11, shortly before the Republican National Convention.

Trump and U.S. President Joe Biden are expected to have their first debate on June 27 in Atlanta, Georgia. 

Flags in support of former U.S. President Donald Trump are seen in front of Trump Tower in New York, the United States, on May 31, 2024. Former U.S. President Donald Trump Friday said he will appeal his conviction on all counts in the hush money trial in New York City. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

People wearing caps in support of former U.S. President Donald Trump are seen in front of Trump Tower in New York, the United States, on May 31, 2024. Former U.S. President Donald Trump Friday said he will appeal his conviction on all counts in the hush money trial in New York City. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)

A police officer stands guard in front of Trump Tower in New York, the United States, on May 31, 2024. Former U.S. President Donald Trump Friday said he will appeal his conviction on all counts in the hush money trial in New York City. (Xinhua/Liu Yanan)
JUBA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The South Sudan government on Friday received the first consignment of 645,000 doses of malaria vaccine, which will be introduced into the country's routine immunization program.

Minister of Health Yolanda Awel Deng said the R21 malaria vaccines will be distributed to 28 counties. "Malaria is a major concern for our country. We are committed to reducing the impact of malaria and improving the health outcomes for our children," Deng told journalists in Juba, the capital of South Sudan.

Obia Achieng, deputy representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in South Sudan, said the country faces one of the highest malaria burdens in the region, with an estimated 7,630 cases and 18 deaths daily.

He said that in 2022, South Sudan recorded a staggering 76 percent surge in reported malaria cases, highlighting the urgent need for effective intervention. "The availability of this new malaria vaccine, after nearly 60 years of development, represents a monumental breakthrough for science, malaria control and child health," Achieng said.

Janet Michael, director general of primary health care in the Ministry of Health, said that almost a quarter of all disease diagnoses in health facilities are malaria-related in the country, adding that this has contributed to the high infant and maternal mortality rate in the country. 
This photo taken on May 30, 2024 shows the construction site of a new container terminal at Ain Sokhna port in Suez Governorate, Egypt. An Egyptian executive has announced that a new large container terminal at Ain Sokhna port on the Red Sea, developed by an international consortium led by China's Hutchison Ports, will start operations by 2025.(Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

AIN SOKHNA, Egypt, May 31 (Xinhua) -- An Egyptian executive has announced that a new large container terminal at Ain Sokhna port on the Red Sea, developed by an international consortium led by China's Hutchison Ports, will start operations by 2025.

Mohamed Khalil, manager of the port development project, told Xinhua on Thursday that the terminal, spanning 2,600 meters and covering a total area of 1.6 million square meters, will be Egypt's largest upon completion. It will have the capacity to accommodate ships of up to 400 meters in length.

"The terminal was handed over to the international consortium in January after the completion of the infrastructure work carried out by Egyptian companies," Khalil said.

The consortium, consisting of China's Hutchison Ports, Chinese state-owned COSCO Shipping, and the French shipping company CMA CGM, is undertaking extensive works at Ain Sokhna port, including the installation of large cranes and the construction of administrative buildings, according to Khalil. He mentioned that the first ship is anticipated to be received in 2025.

"It is important that we establish partnerships with international companies such as Hutchison and COSCO," the Egyptian executive said. "The strategic location of Egypt serves the interests of these major companies. We also benefit from their expertise."

According to Egypt's Ministry of Transportation, Egypt and the consortium signed two agreements in March 2023 to develop and operate the container terminals at Ain Sokhna port and Dekheila port in northern Alexandria Province. The ministry estimates direct revenues from these projects to reach about 5 billion U.S. dollars over the 30-year contract period. 

This photo taken on May 30, 2024 shows the construction site of a new container terminal at Ain Sokhna port in Suez Governorate, Egypt. An Egyptian executive has announced that a new large container terminal at Ain Sokhna port on the Red Sea, developed by an international consortium led by China's Hutchison Ports, will start operations by 2025.

(Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)

This photo taken on May 30, 2024 shows the construction site of a new container terminal at Ain Sokhna port in Suez Governorate, Egypt. An Egyptian executive has announced that a new large container terminal at Ain Sokhna port on the Red Sea, developed by an international consortium led by China's Hutchison Ports, will start operations by 2025.

(Xinhua/Ahmed Gomaa)
ADDIS ABABA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- As the African Union Commission (AUC) embarks on the election process of its senior leadership, experts have underscored the crucial need to advance the transformative role of the AU in addressing Africa's existing and emerging development and security challenges.

Last week, the AU announced that the election process of the AUC's senior leadership for 2025-2028 has kicked off with the call for interested candidates to submit, to their member states, their interest along with vision statements on how they intend to advance the continental body's role in Africa's overall development.

It said all the eight senior leadership positions of the AUC are open for candidates' submissions guided by the regional allocation of the portfolios. The positions include the AUC chairperson, the deputy chairperson and the six commissioner posts, with the elections slated to take place in February 2025 during the AU Summit.

In a recent interview with Xinhua, Costantinos Bt. Constantinos, who has served as an economic advisor to the AU and the UN Economic Commission for Africa, suggested addressing the root causes of conflict and insecurity perils, augmenting Africa's human capital, facilitating member states' efforts in addressing humanitarian catastrophes unleashed by natural and man-made calamities, as well as advancing the realization of flagship continental development aspirations as potential focus areas for the incoming AUC leadership.

"The incoming leadership will be tested to alleviate the root causes of incessant conflicts and military coups destabilizing the continent, specifically in the Sahel, Central Africa, and the Horn of Africa," the expert told Xinhua.

He said while some African nations are registering "great" economic growth, further efforts are needed to meaningfully uplift the continent's human development index. He further said that the AU can play a significant contribution in realizing this continental aspiration.

"Conflicts, coup d'etats, poverty and corruption, which are often driven by lack of good governance, are the omnipotent challenges in Africa. The AU, as a leading continental institution, needs to further bolster its role in addressing these obstacles," said Costantinos, also a professor of public policy at Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia.

He said the incoming AUC leadership is also expected to boost the engagement of highly qualified and independent academia and the private sector that can drive the vision of a peaceful and developing Africa. "Such a role of the AUC as a political hub and think-tank will unleash, renovate, cultivate and develop Africa's rich natural resources through the energies of the largely unemployed young population Africa has, and to project the continent as a foreign direct investment destination in the 21st century," he said.

Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, chairperson of the AUC executive council, also underscored the need to strengthen the AU institutions to help the commission fully discharge its responsibilities and accelerate Africa's integration. "The process of selecting the leadership of the AUC in 2025 should be defined by prioritizing considerations of cohesion, equity, rationality, and a spirit of consensus," said Merzoug, also Mauritania's minister of foreign affairs.

According to the AU, the February 2025 election process will be based on the principle of inter-regional rotation of the commission's senior leadership positions. The Eastern Africa region will submit candidates for the role of chairperson, while the Northern Africa region will submit candidates for the role of deputy chairperson. The remaining three regions (central, southern and western Africa regions) will submit at least two candidates for the six portfolios of commissioners.

With each region determining its own procedure for nominating candidates for the portfolios, the AU announced that the deadline for the submission of the regional nominations to the AUC is Aug. 6, 2024.

In February this year, a Panel of Eminent Africans, composed of five personalities, one per region, was appointed to oversee the pre-selection of candidatures for the eight positions. Ahead of the elections conducted in a secret ballot, candidates vying for the AUC chairperson position will participate in a televised debate broadcasted live to African citizens.

According to the AU, the televised debate allows African citizens and other stakeholders to put forward questions to the candidates on how to propel the continent's growth and ensure Africa achieves its goals for integrated and sustainable development and becomes a major player in the global arena. 
SINGAPORE, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Friday met with Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun at Istana, the country's presidential palace.

Singapore and China have maintained close and friendly ties for a long time, with extensive and in-depth cooperation in economy, people-to-people exchanges, education, and other fields, Wong said.

The two countries have achieved continuous progress in developing an all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership, he said.

Stressing that the current international and Asia-Pacific regional situation is undergoing profound changes, the prime minister noted that Singapore is willing to provide more platforms for communication and exchanges for all parties.

Wong also hoped the two militaries could further deepen and expand practical cooperation in various fields and jointly safeguard regional peace and security.

For his part, Dong said that as close neighbors, China and Singapore share profound historical ties, highly compatible cultures, similar concepts, and common interests.

Confronted with security risks and challenges in the region, the two countries should safeguard true multilateralism, Dong stressed.

The two militaries have solid foundations for cooperation and China is willing to work with Singapore to build a new pattern of security cooperation to promote prosperity and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, Dong said.

Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen held a ceremony to receive Dong and had formal talks on Thursday.

The two ministers exchanged in-depth views on state-to-state and military-to-military relations, as well as international and regional situations.

They agreed to upgrade bilateral military relations based on the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries. 
CANBERRA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Coevolution is a driving force behind generating biodiversity on Earth, Australian research has found.

In a study published on Friday, researchers led by the Australian National University (ANU) found rare evidence of coevolution by analyzing the evolutionary relationship of cuckoo birds and the birds in whose nests cuckoos lay their eggs.

Coevolution is the process of different species that interact closely driving evolutionary changes in each other, leading to speciation - the process of a new species evolving.

It has long been considered a possible explanation for why there are so many species on Earth, but evidence of the theory has been scarce.

Naomi Langmore, lead author of the new study from the ANU Research School of Biology, said cuckoos were an ideal subject to research coevolution because they are costly to their hosts.

Cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of other birds, called hosts. Once hatched, cuckoo chicks grow faster than the host species chicks and typically evict the eggs or chicks of the host species from the nest.

In response, Langmore said hosts have learned to recognize and eject cuckoo eggs from their nests.

"Only the cuckoos that most resemble the host's own chicks have any chance of escaping detection, so over many generations the cuckoo chicks have evolved to mimic the host chicks," she said in a media release.

The research found that when a cuckoo species exploits several different hosts it diverges genetically into several different species - each of which mimics the chicks of its host.

Cuckoos that are the most costly to their hosts were the most likely to drive speciation, leading to an evolutionary race between the host defenses and cuckoo's counteradaptations.

"This finding is significant in evolutionary biology, showing that coevolution between interacting species increases biodiversity by driving speciation," Clare Holleley, co-author from national science agency the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), said.

Researchers from the University of Melbourne and University of Cambridge also contributed to the study. 
NEW DELHI, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Floods have claimed five lives and affected thousands of people in India's northeastern states of Assam and Manipur, officials said Friday.

Both states were hit by heavy rains in the aftermath of cyclone Remal, which made landfall between the coasts of West Bengal and Bangladesh on Sunday night.

The flood situation in Assam's nine districts remained grim, with the water levels of major rivers rising and inundating vast tracts of land.

Officials said around 200,000 people have been affected and two people were killed in Assam due to the flood and rain.

According to the Assam State Disaster Management Authority, over 35,000 people have taken shelter in 95 relief camps.

In the adjacent state of Manipur, three people have been killed and one was reported to be missing, while nine people were injured in the floods, local government minister Awangbou Newmai said.

Officials said 188,143 people have been affected by floods, and at least 24,265 houses have been damaged in the last few days.

The government has set up 56 relief camps and evacuated 18,103 people from flood-affected areas.

Meanwhile, the death toll in multiple landslides that hit Mizoram on Tuesday has risen to 28.

According to police, six people, including a six-month-old baby, are believed to be missing in the landslides. 
VIENTIANE, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs Maris Sangiampongsa and his delegation paid an official visit to Laos to strengthen bilateral friendship and cooperation.

During the visit on Thursday, Maris held talks with Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith, Lao News Agency reported on Friday.

The two sides highly valued their longstanding relations and cooperation, which have been enhanced with regular exchange of visits by senior officials.

They discussed and reviewed cooperation in various areas, including politics, labor, connectivity, tourism, electricity, among others.

They agreed to continue to implement agreements the two countries have signed. Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international issues of common interest. 
CANBERRA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Researchers from the Australian National University (ANU) have developed a simpler and more cost-effective method for removing salt from seawater.

In a new research, the team demonstrated a world-first thermal desalination method.

According to the study, the method could help address looming unprecedented global water shortages.

The method is based on thermodiffusion - a phenomenon discovered in the 19th century whereby salt ions slowly move to the cold side of a tube of water that is heated from one end and cooled from the other.

Juan Felipe Torres, lead chief investigator of the project from the ANU Heat for Environmental and Aerospace Technologies (HEAT) Lab, said to test if thermodiffusion could be used for desalination the team heated a narrow channel of seawater to 60 degrees Celsius from above and cooled it to 20 degrees Celsius from below.

They found that diffusion of the salt ions from the heated water took 53 days for a 30-centimeter tube.

However, by reducing the height of the tube to 1 millimeter and adding multiple channels they found that diffusion could be fast-tracked to occur in minutes.

Shuqi Xu, a PhD student at ANU and first author of the study, said that by adding channels, the device could reprocess the warmer, purified water and remove the cooler, saltier water.

"Each time the water passed through the channel, its salinity was reduced by 3 percent," she said in a media release on Thursday.

"Our research shows that after repeated cycles, seawater salinity can be reduced from 30,000 parts per million to less than 500."

Unlike current desalination technologies that require expensive materials and large amounts of electric power to filter salt through a membrane, the new method is triggered by heat generated by either direct sunlight or waste heat from appliances and industrial processes.

Torres said a paradigm shift on desalination technology was essential to sustain human life over the next century.

The team is hopeful of producing the first commercial unit using the new method within eight years. 
BRUSSELS, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Janusz Wojciechowski, the European Commissioner for Agriculture, has spoken highly of the milestone achievement and promising future of the agricultural cooperation mechanism between the European Union (EU) and China.

"I believe that our Geographical Indications (GIs) Agreement is defined by success," Wojciechowski said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua, calling it a "milestone in EU-China cooperation" as it is so far the first and only significant bilateral trade agreement in force between the two sides.

China and the EU inked the GIs agreement in late 2020, aiming to enhance bilateral trade of agri-food products and provide better protection for these products. This year marks the third anniversary of its implementation.

The initial GI list, effective since 2021, protects 100 Chinese agricultural GIs in the EU and 96 EU agricultural GIs in China.

Wojciechowski revealed that the agreement's scope will expand to include an additional 175 GIs from both sides as of March 1, 2025, demonstrating the ambition of both the EU and China regarding GIs.

In April this year, Wojciechowski led a delegation of 75 European business leaders representing EU agri-food companies and organizations from all over Europe to China, meeting with Chinese government officials to discuss agricultural collaboration, including the GI agreement.

"It is the largest delegation I have taken with me during my time as commissioner, representing the strong interest of EU agri-food businesses in the Chinese market," he said.

He noted that the visit yielded fruitful results, and praised the GIs agreement as a win-win approach that not only fosters agricultural cooperation but also enhances tourism and cultural heritage protection.

Last year, the total agri-food trade exchange value between the EU and China was close to 23 billion euros (about 25 billion U.S. dollars), according to Wojciechowski. These robust agricultural trade ties have bred business opportunities for GI producers.

He encouraged stakeholders to leverage events, conferences, and exhibitions organized in both China and the EU to showcase the merits of their food and drinks, build new contacts, and identify further areas of connection.

"In a broader sense, GIs contribute to enhancing EU-China relations, by bringing us closer through our mutual love for food," said the Commissioner. "I know that a lot of Chinese citizens enjoy EU GIs products and I know that a lot of EU citizens are eager to discover more Chinese GIs."

"For us, we are just at the beginning of a deeper long-term cooperation," he added. 
GENEVA, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese companies are under the spotlight at the venue of the 2024 Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Good Global Summit kicking off here on Thursday.

The summit is co-convened with the Swiss government and organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN), in partnership with 40 other UN agencies.

Aiming to leverage AI to advance various global development priorities, including health, climate, gender equality, inclusive prosperity and sustainable infrastructure, the summit gathered over 2,500 participants across the world, including government officials, experts and industry leaders.

In a bustling exhibition hall, booths of Chinese companies were crowded with visitors. Alibaba DAMO Academy showcased AI solutions for early cancer detection, while Chinese telecom company ZTE presented its comprehensive AI solutions for industry applications.

Hypershell, a Chinese startup specializing in exoskeletons, attracted large crowds with its mountain exoskeleton featuring its self-developed AI MotionEngine with 14 sensors. The technology optimizes control algorithms based on users' movement data, enhancing their outdoor activities.

Sara Cela, head of the unit for strategic partnerships at the Municipality of Tirana in Albania, was amazed by the product as a hiking lover. "I haven't seen other examples like this," she said, adding that the equipment could help people take adventures in nature.

Reflecting on the presence of numerous Chinese brands at the summit, Cela remarked, "China is developing rapidly in AI, and I believe it has significant potential in advancing technology."

Luo Yonggang, chief engineer of AI Lab at Chongqing Changan Automobile Co., Ltd, told Xinhua that his company was invited by the ITU to participate in the workshop to share its experiences in leveraging AI technology to enhance autonomous driving safety,

"Chinese electric vehicles and autonomous driving technologies were among the leading groups in the world," he said, "and that's why our reports garnered much attention."

In a video address at the event, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called AI a "game changer" for achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals.

He stressed the role of AI in enhancing education and health care in remote areas, increasing crop yields, and offering early warning systems for natural disasters.

However, he also emphasized that transforming its potential into reality requires AI to reduce bias, misinformation and security threats, instead of aggravating them.

"We need global coordination to build safe and inclusive Al that is accessible to all," he said.

Meanwhile, ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin called for a unified framework for AI standards that reflect diverse perspectives and the capabilities of standards developers worldwide in her keynote speech.

"There is a clear recognition of the importance of both maximizing the benefits of AI while also managing these risks," she noted.

A special event called AI Governance Day was held on the eve of the summit, bringing government leaders and the global AI community together to focus on the shift from principles to the implementation of better AI regulation. 
KIEV, May 31 (Xinhua) -- At least five people were killed and 25 others injured in Russia's missile attacks on Ukraine's second-largest city Kharkiv, local authorities said Friday.

Oleg Synegubov, governor of the Kharkiv region, said that Russian missiles hit a five-story apartment block and a two-story industrial building.

Meanwhile, a transformer substation in Kiev's southern Holosiivskyi district was destroyed by debris from intercepted missiles, Ukraine's largest private energy company DTEK said in a statement.

The Kiev City Military Administration said a car service station, a car wash and a warehouse were damaged in the attack on the capital. 
MOSCOW/KIEV, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Ukraine have each exchanged 75 prisoners who were captured during their ongoing conflict, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

The prisoner swap was carried out as a result of a negotiation process mediated by the United Arab Emirates, the ministry said in a statement.

The freed Russian soldiers will be taken to Moscow by military transport aircraft of the Russian aerospace forces, and will receive medical treatment and rehabilitation in the defense ministry's medical facilities, the ministry added.

Meanwhile, Ukraine's Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War confirmed on Friday that 71 Ukrainian military members, among them six officers, and four civilians have returned home.

A total of 3,210 Ukrainians taken captive in the Russia-Ukraine conflict have been released under 52 prisoner exchanges between the parties since March 2022, it said. 
SANAA, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The Houthi-controlled al-Masirah TV reported on Friday that at least 16 people were killed and 35 others injured in airstrikes launched by a U.S.-British coalition on the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah on Thursday evening.

Hodeidah health authorities attributed the casualties to strikes on the Hodeidah Radio building and the Salif port, according to al-Masirah.

This follows a previous report by the channel, claiming U.S. and British warplanes targeted Houthi-held Sanaa, Hodeidah, and Taiz province on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command said on Friday morning that U.S. forces shot down eight Houthi drones on Thursday, followed by a British airstrike on 13 Houthi facilities "in self-defense."

In addition, U.S. media, citing military officials, reported that American and British fighter jets and warships attacked multiple Houthi targets on Thursday, including underground facilities, missile launchers, command posts, ships, and drones, in response to recent Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

The British Ministry of Defense also confirmed in a statement joint operations with U.S. forces to target Houthi military facilities linked to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden attacks. They also conducted a joint strike on three Houthi drone and ground-to-air weapon storage sites in Hodeidah.

On Wednesday, the Houthi group claimed attacks on six cargo ships in the Red Sea, Arabian Sea, and the Mediterranean that had called on Israeli ports. They additionally claimed to have downed a U.S. MQ-9 Reaper drone. 
Deputy Director of China's National Development and Reform Commission Zhao Chenxin addresses the U.S.-China High-Level Event on Subnational Climate Action in Berkeley, California, the United States, May 29, 2024. Climate leaders from the United States and China got together on Wednesday in Berkeley, the U.S. state of California, to discuss climate action and progress at the sub-national level. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua)

SAN FRANCISCO, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Climate leaders from the United States and China got together on Wednesday in Berkeley, the U.S. state of California, to discuss climate action and progress at the sub-national level.

The U.S.-China High-Level Event on Subnational Climate Action, hosted by the California-China Climate Institute, attracted local officials, business representatives, and a delegation from China's Greater Bay Area.

The sub-national climate forum was announced in the Sunnylands Statement on Enhancing Cooperation to Address the Climate Crisis, released by both countries last November.

At the forum, leaders from both countries emphasized the action and progress under the Sunnylands Statement, stressing the critical role of subnational governments, including states, provinces, and cities, in fighting the global climate crisis. 

This photo taken on May 29, 2024 shows a scene of the U.S.-China High-Level Event on Subnational Climate Action in Berkeley, California, the United States. Climate leaders from the United States and China got together on Wednesday in Berkeley, the U.S. state of California, to discuss climate action and progress at the sub-national level. (Photo by Li Jianguo/Xinhua)
Description

Join us outside the Main Library by Udall's Pond and learn about local birdlife in a guided tour with resident birder Matt Klein. Udall's Pond is home to more than 37 bird species and several varieties of each, offering a fantastic viewing opportunity for new and seasoned bird watchers.

Matt B. Klein is a lifelong resident of Great Neck, currently residing in Great Neck Estates, where he leads the Environmental Commissioner for the Village. He has been birding for over 20 years, having discovered his passion for ornithology in his childhood friend's backyard near Baker Hill Elementary School. He borrowed his first birding book, "National Geographic Guide to Birding Hotspots of the United States," from the Great Neck Library shortly thereafter and became hooded, often traveling long distances to "add" birds to his New York State list. Matt enjoys all things nature and can be found exploring the many beautiful parks in Great Neck, usually with camera in hand. You can follow Matt on instagram@glying_objects_at_rest.

Please bring a pair of binoculars with you, or borrow a pair from our Library of Things! Registration is encouraged but not required. For more information, please contact Great Neck Library at (516) 466-8055 or email adultprogramming@greatnecklibrary.org.
The price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil is approaching the $80 per barrel mark and is likely to remain strong this year. The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects WTI oil to average $83.05 per barrel in 2024, a notable increase from last year's $77.58. Contributing to the strength of commodity prices are voluntary production cuts from the OPEC+ group and ongoing geopolitical tensions.

While crude prices remain favorable, the likelihood of the commodity reaching $100 per barrel, as seen in 2022, is extremely slim. Additionally, the EIA expects the annual GDP growth rate to remain steady year over year in 2024 and decline in 2025, consequently dampening energy demand.

3 Stocks to Gain

The current scenario highlights the need to keep a close watch on major energy companies like Exxon Mobil Corporation XOM, Chevron Corporation CVX, and ConocoPhillips COP, which are known for their strong balance sheet. These energy giants can rely on their financial stability to navigate a volatile and uncertain business environment. At present, all three stocks have a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) and demonstrate impressive free cash flow conversion. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Chevron and ExxonMobil boast robust balance sheet, enabling them to withstand challenging business environments. ExxonMobil's total debt-to-capitalization ratio stands at almost 16%, while Chevron's is at 11.9%, both significantly lower than the 24.4% average for composite stocks in the Zacks Oil & Gas Integrated International industry. Over the past three years, these industry leaders have consistently maintained lower debt-to-capitalization ratios, supported by strong oil prices that enhance their financial positions. Furthermore, both companies excel in free cash flow conversion, effectively transforming operating profits into free cash flow.

This financial strength positions them well for future gains. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ExxonMobil's earnings per share (EPS) for 2024 is $9.57, indicating a 0.5% year-over-year increase. For Chevron, the EPS estimate for this year is $13.57, suggesting a 3.4% improvement from the previous year.

ConocoPhillips has secured a promising production outlook by capitalizing on its extensive drilling inventory and diverse upstream assets. Compared to composite stocks belonging to the industry, the leading upstream energy company has significantly less reliance on debt capital. This robust balance sheet positions ConocoPhillips to better withstand adverse business conditions. Additionally, like Chevron and ExxonMobil, favorable oil prices are boosting COPs financial performance, allowing it to maintain strong free cash flow conversion.

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For ConocoPhillips, the Zacks Consensus Estimate of EPS for this year is pegged at $9.12, indicating a year-over-year improvement of almost 4%.

(We are reissuing this article to correct a mistake. The original article, issued on May 29, 2024, should no longer be relied upon.)

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The last and largest group of baby boomers are getting ready to exit the workforce. Born from 1959 to 1964, the 30.4 million peak boomers are rolling into their retirement years shortly, but according to The Peak 65 Economic Impact Study, many arent financially prepared.

Explore More: Im a Baby Boomer Who Had To Un-Retire: 3 Money Lessons I Wish Id Known

Find Out: How To Get $340 Per Year in Cash Back on Gas and Other Things You Already Buy

52.5% of peak boomers have assets of $250,000 or less and will rely primarily on Social Security as a source of income in retirement, the study found. In addition, 14.6% of peak boomers have assets $500,000 or less and most will strain to meet their financial needs.

But thats not the only concern. Boomers are losing what savings they do have for alarming reasons. Older Americans are falling for the sophisticated criminal tactics scammers pull off to trick the elderly out of their life savings. People over the age of 60 lost more than $3.4 billion from last year, according to a recent FBI report, which showed, an almost 11% increase in reported losses from 2022. In addition, there was a 14% increase in complaints filed with the Internet Crime Complaint (IC3) by older victims.

Criminals are preying on boomers by targeting them on dating apps, social media, professional networking sites, or encrypted messaging applications, using fictitious identities to develop relationships with them. Still, once trust is built, they steal their money in a variety of ways. Heres what to know.

Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them.

Fake Tech Support Scams

The most common con to swindle boomers out of their savings is illegal call centers that pretend to be tech or customer service support or government impersonations, which are responsible for over $1.3 in losses, the report stated.

According to the report, Complainants over the age of 60 lost more to these scams than all other age groups combined, and reportedly remortgaged/foreclosed homes, emptied retirement accounts, and borrowed from family and friends to cover losses in these scams. Some incidents have resulted in suicide because of shame or loss of sustainable income.

Cryptocurrency

Some seniors gambled their savings on a return from investing in cryptocurrency, but instead lost their retirement nest eggs. In 2023, over 15,000 complaints to the IC3 were from people over the age of 60 that involved Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, or Ripple, and the losses totaled over $1.1 billion, per the report.

Scammers convince targeted individuals to withdraw large sums of cash and deposit into cryptocurrency ATMs or kiosks at locations provided by the scammers, the report stated. Once cash is deposited and converted into cryptocurrency, the scammer transfers it to other cryptocurrency accounts. Over 2,000 complaints were filed by individuals over the age of 60 regarding the use of cryptocurrency ATMs and kiosks.

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Read More: Retirement 2024: These Are the 10 Worst Places To Retire in North Carolina

Romance Catfish Cons

Lonely seniors are getting caught up in romance scams where the con artist takes on a fake identity and manipulates the individual out of big money-almost $357 million, per the report.

The criminals will seem genuine, caring, and believable, with the intent to quickly establish a relationship and endear themselves to someone. They gain trust and eventually will ask for money. Scam artists often claim to be serving in the military or employed in a trade-based industry engaged in projects outside the U.S. This makes it easier to avoid meeting in person, and more plausible when they request money be sent overseas for a medical emergency or unexpected legal fee.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 3 Unexpected Ways Boomers Are Losing Their Retirement Savings
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Many Americans dread doing their taxes  especially if they know they will end up owing the IRS.

Find Out: 9 Strategies Americans Are Using To Minimize the Taxes They Pay on Retirement Savings

Be Aware: Owe Money to the IRS? Most People Dont Realize They Should Do This One Thing

If you are one of those taxpayers who owed money this year, read on to find out everything you need to know before paying your tax bill.

Be Aware of the Deadline To Pay

Though the original deadline for taxes was April 15, some taxpayers have filed an extension. The deadline to pay with an extension is Oct. 15, 2024.

Many people who owe taxes they cant afford to pay put off filing or avoid filing altogether. Unfortunately, this isnt a great strategy, said Richard Lavina, co-founder and CEO at Tickmark, Inc. The sooner you file, the better chance you have of avoiding, or at least reducing, IRS penalties.

The IRS charges penalties for failure-to-file as well as for failure-to-pay, and these penalties increase the later you are to file or pay.

If you do not file, you can be penalized up to 25% of the amount that you owe, said Morris Armstrong, founder and owner at Morris Armstrong EA LLC. Simply filing the return or an extension, and then filing by the due date removes that penalty.

This means that you should file on time, even if you cant pay your taxes by the due date.

Read Next: Billionaires vs. the Middle Class: Who Pays More in Taxes?

Know Your Options If You Cant Pay the Full Amount You Owe

You may not be able to pay all of the taxes you owe at once, but dont panic  the IRS does offer payment options.

There are payment options available for most taxpayers, especially if someone owes less than $50,000 and they dont owe any other back taxes, said Arnold van Dyk, Esq., director of tax services at TaxAudit.

The IRS offers both short-term and long-term repayment plans. If you can afford to pay the amount you owe within 180 days, you wont be charged a set up fee. However, interest and penalties will accrue until the full amount is paid. You can pay this electronically or by calling 1-800-829-1040.

If you need more than 180 days, you might qualify for a monthly payment plan. To request a payment plan, you can visit irs.gov to get the appropriate forms to fill out and send in, or use the number listed above to contact the IRS directly. A payment plan allows you to make monthly payments over time. The IRS offers various options for making monthly payments:

Direct debit from your bank account,

Payroll deduction from your employer,

Payment by EFTPS,

Payment by credit card via phone or internet,

Payment via check or money order,

Payment with cash at a retail partner.

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If you owe back taxes, van Dyke recommends seeking help from a tax professional who specializes in tax debt issues.

They can help set up an affordable payment plan, perhaps get penalties removed if there are any, and request an appeals review of the case, he said.

You might also consider seeking a professional if you really cannot pay the taxes you owe.

If youre dealing with a financial hardship and theres no way you can afford payments, you might be able to qualify for an Offer-in-Compromise (OIC) status, Lavina said. An OIC settles your tax debt for less than you owe. However, its tough to qualify for, and you really need a professionals help to apply.

Think Twice Before Paying Taxes With a Credit Card

Ideally, you will pay any taxes you owe with cash. You might be tempted to pay your taxes with a credit card, but this could end up costing you more in the long-run.

You can pay your taxes with a credit card, but you will pay interest on the amount you charge which, in some cases, will be higher than the interest charged by the IRS, van Dyke said.

Using a credit card to pay your tax bill can also come with some additional downsides.

IRS-approved payment processors charge an extra fee for paying taxes with a credit card, said Michael Benninger, banking writer at Finder.com. Paying your taxes with plastic could also hurt your credit score depending on your overall credit utilization.

If You Believe You Dont Actually Owe the IRS, Dispute the Assessment

Sometimes taxes arent so cut and dry. If you believe your tax assessment incorrectly states that you owe taxes, you have some options.

There are procedural options available for taxpayers to dispute proposed IRS assessments, and in certain cases, even after the IRS assesses a tax liability, van Dyke said. These options can include filing a petition with tax court or disputing the case through filing a request for a collection due process hearing if you have not had a previous opportunity to dispute your issue. An audit reconsideration may also be an option. Make sure you are working with a qualified tax professional who specializes in tax debt issues.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 4 Things You Need To Know Before Paying Your Tax Bill
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Any heavy-footed American driver driving across the country will tell you firsthand that highway speeding violations differ greatly from state to state. Speeding is the most common traffic ticket in the United States. However, parking tickets are more common, so much so that many municipalities nationwide rely heavily on ticket revenue and court fees to pay for government services.

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Parking tickets refer to citations issued by police officers or other government traffic officials to inactive motor vehicles for violations of local laws. Most parking tickets are issued in downtown areas and other commercial corridors. While many consider them a nuisance, they can be quite burdensome, especially for lower-income Americans in major metropolitan areas.

Interestingly, the New York City Council introduced a bill last year requiring people who are richer to pay more for violations like parking tickets and double parking. It scales it according to a persons ability to pay, which we dont have a current model for, said Antonya Jeffrey, state director of the Fines and Fees Justice Center. A $75 fine can mean going without really basic needs for one person and could just be a drop in the bucket for another.

In the future, some cities should start adopting programs that can account for the ability to pay and limit the amounts of outstanding tickets based on either income or participation in government programs.

Cities with higher costs of living tend to have more expensive parking tickets. Here are seven cities that dish out the countrys most expensive parking violation fines.

San Francisco

San Fransisco has the most expensive parking violations in the U.S. According to the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agencys (SFMTAs) fees and fines list, some of the most extreme fines include $400 for blocking wheelchair access, $866 for misuse of a disabled parking placard/license and $1,000 for obstructing of traffic without a permit. The majority of parking fines are above $100.

The city is making a ton of revenue on tickets, but as SFMTA Chief Spokesperson Erica Kato said, The purpose of parking citations are to discourage behaviors and actions that interfere with the goals of the SFMTA, such as reducing congestion, increasing pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and cleaning streets.

Because San Francisco is a Transit-First city, and to encourage non-vehicle modes, the SFMTA set its vehicle fines higher than other cities that depend on cars as the primary form of transportation, Kato added.

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New York City

Although there are steeper fines for intercity bus violations and overnight tractor-trailer parking, parking violation fines in New York City range from $180 (plus a $30 N.Y. State Criminal Justice surcharge) for parking in a zone reserved for people with disabilities (off-street) where parking is not allowed by sign, street marking or traffic control device. The price lowers to $50 for speeding in a designated school zone or getting photographed going through a red light at an intersection. The majority of fines in NYC are for either $65 or $115 and there are steeper fines for some offenses in Manhattan (96th St. and below) than for all other areas.

Chicago

Chicago is another city known for large fines. The city is home to the highest parking meter fees in the U.S., and its parking violation fines are among the highest as well. In the city, you can get a $250 fine for parking or standing in a bicycle lane, parking in a disabled parking zone or double parking in the Central Business District downtown. You can receive a $250 ticket for not having or having an improper muffler and excessive running of a diesel-powered vehicle.

San Diego

More serious parking violations in San Diego Country will cost you $342.50 for parking in a disabled parking space, access area or loading area and $262.50 for parking in a bus zone (minor infraction fines are $37.50 or $47.50). In the city, the most common violations are for disobeying street sweeping signs, not displaying current registration, expired meters, parking in a red zone, and not cramping your wheels (turning them toward the curb on a hill), according to KPBS. However, hefty fines are reserved for various misuse of disabled parking placards ($826.50).

Los Angeles

California has some of the most expensive traffic citations in the country, with California drivers paying billions of dollars in fines and fees every year. The usual suspects are expensive: parking in a disabled spot or bus stop will cost you $363 and $293, respectively, but traffic officers give out the most tickets to drivers parked in street sweeping zones, per Los Angeles Times. Also, in cities with large college campuses, like UCLA, separate enforcement officers have jurisdiction over their school parking regulations, and those fines vary from the city property too.

Portland, OR

According to officials, the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) issued around half the amount of parking tickets in 2022 as it did in years before the pandemic and there are no plans to restore the citys parking ticket numbers to pre-pandemic levels, per KOIN. However, its not due to the city giving residents a break; its because of budget cuts and fewer parking enforcement employees. Regardless, Portlands most expensive parking offenses have fines of $440 for invalid use of a disabled permit, $215 for blocking a handicapped ramp and $285 for abandoning your vehicle (a growing issue in Portland in recent years).

Be Aware: 6 Hybrid Vehicles To Stay Away From Buying

Washington, D.C.

Washington is especially tough on parking violators. Because its urbanized area is small, there are big fines for oversized, trailer, boat, and large vehicle violations. However, youll only have to pay $20 for small-time offenses like parking too close to a driveway or in front of a barricade. Youll be unpleasantly surprised at the fines given for unauthorized parking in a loading zone ($100), parking on private/public property without consent ($250), unauthorized use of a space reserved for individuals with disabilities ($500), and excessive idling (up to $500). Failure to comply with the metros tinted windows regulations (front side windows must allow more than 70% of light in; back side and rear windows must allow more than 50%) will cost you $1,000 on the first offense and $5,000 on the second.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Cities With the Most Expensive Parking Tickets
By Tim Hepher

PARIS (Reuters) - Airbus is facing new pressure on its planned production ramp-up for passenger jets as the world's largest planemaker struggles to overcome continued parts and labour shortages, industry sources said on Thursday. It was not immediately clear whether the slowdown would put at risk overall delivery targets for 2024 since deliveries lag output decisions by months, but the sources said assembly of several dozen jets could be delayed in the second half. Several airlines could see individual deliveries - already running an average of 1.5 months behind schedule - further delayed, the sources said, asking not to be identified.

A spokesperson for Airbus referred back to the group's last quarterly results, in which it reiterated a 2024 delivery target of 800 airplanes, and declined further comment.

Airbus shares were down around 2% in the wake of the Reuters report, within a flat French blue-chip index.

By the end of April, Airbus had delivered 204 airplanes since the beginning of the year. Airbus plans to raise underlying production of aircraft by about 50% to 75 narrowbody planes a month in 2026.

Sources have previously said it hopes that any delays can be recovered in time to meet the medium-term goal, but the available buffer for delays is shrinking. The supply chain is responsible for up to 80% of the content of Airbus jets and stretches as much as nine layers deep.

Details of Airbus' industrial process were disclosed in legal filings during a dispute with Qatar Airways in 2022 and in conversations with sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Each month Airbus holds an internal meeting to match industrial production to demand several years ahead.

Parts are typically ordered 12-13 months ahead for standard narrowbody aircraft like the in-demand A321neo single-aisle, or longer for variants that require more customisation. But lead times for some scarce parts like forgings have more than doubled to as much as two years, the industry sources said. Disruption to seat supplies remains an issue especially for wide-body aircraft, leading to delays in handling customised orders. The rolling forecasts are translated into fixed production plans for specific aircraft for the next three months and then final adjustments are made on a monthly basis. Suppliers said these monthly requests known as "call-offs," are being regularly deferred, which signals more delays in putting aircraft onto the assembly lines later this year. The mounting pressure comes as airline leaders prepare for a high-profile annual summit in Dubai, with concerns about plane shortages expected to be voiced publicly for a second year running by the International Air Transport Association. On a positive note, Airbus is increasingly confident of winning delayed certification for its A321XLR passenger jet in time for the Farnborough Airshow in July, industry sources said. A spokesperson for the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) said it expected to certify the aircraft by the summer and declined to comment on a specific date.

(Reporting by Tim Hepher; Additional reporting by Allison Lampert; Editing by Mark Potter)
We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Renewable Energy Penny Stocks to Invest In and in this article we will discuss whether Altus Power, Inc. (NYSE:AMPS) is the top renewable energy penny stock to buy now.

Investments in Renewable Energy

The renewable energy sector has experienced growth in recent years, driven by increased government investments in the energy transition as the world moves away from fossil fuels. However, in 2023, the sector experienced volatility due to inflation and high interest rates. Analysts believe that the renewable energy market is set to make a comeback this year, driven by growth in solar and wind power generation. Recently, on May 23, Reuters reported that the leading renewable energy company, Orsted secured an investment of $680 million in tax equity financing from JP Morgan to fund its solar battery storage projects of 250 megawatts and 300 megawatts in Texas and Arizona, respectively. This investment utilizes tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act and is an indicator of its potential to accelerate clean energy deployment in the United States. The Arizona facility will receive a one-time investment credit for the battery storage stem. Before this deal, JP Morgan had other investments in the 1.8 GW onshore portfolio of Orsted in the United States. Both projects are expected to become operational in 2024.

The renewable energy market is gaining momentum in 2024. Over the past month, prominent renewable energy-related exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have shown a surge in returns. As of May 28, the leading clean energy ETF, iShares Global Clean Energy ETF has surged 11%, while the First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund has climbed 14%. This growth also extends to solar stocks, with Invesco Solar ETF gaining 14% over the past month. The boom of solar stocks is exemplified by First Solar as it is leading the surge, with its stock soaring by more than 50% over the past month, significantly outperforming the broader market. Check out our free report on 7 Best Alternative Energy Stocks according to Analysts.

Clean Energy Powering AI

According to the International Energy Agency's projections, global electricity consumption for data centers, cryptocurrency, and AI sector could double by 2026. This provides the clean energy sector with a lucrative opportunity to capitalize on. Recently on May 24, the Chief Executive Officer of Oklo, Jake DeWitte appeared in an interview on Yahoo Finance Catalysts where he talked about the company's business model and energy landscape. Oklo is an advanced nuclear technology company, engaged in the development and design of fission power plants to provide reliable commercial-scale energy to customers in the US. The company aims to create clean energy and also has the backing of OpenAI's founder, Sam Altman. DeWitte said that Oklo employs next-generation nuclear technology which has the potential to power the planet for over a billion years. The CEO believes that the energy demand is rising as the Artificial Intelligence sectors rely on clean energy to power their operations. Oklo's business model revolves around selling the generated power through long-term agreements to major energy consumers for AI such as data centers. This will provide the company with recurring revenue to continue developing and deploying clean energy solutions.

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Moreover, the revenue stream will allow the company to utilize project financing and advantage from government investment tax credits. DeWitte also talked about the company's partnership with a data center company, Wyoming Hyperscale, which will allow Oklo to integrate clean energy with the advanced liquid cooling technology of the data center. This partnership could lead to the use of the reactor's waste heat for cooling the data center. Both companies have signed a 20-year power purchasing agreement. You can also check out our free report on 7 Unstoppable AI Stocks to Buy.

Undervalued Renewable Energy Companies with High Growth Potential

Tigo Energy is a solar and energy storage company, engaged in the development of module-level power electronics (MLPEs). The MLPEs help solar modules reach their maximum energy output. The company also offers GO Energy Storage Systems with solar storage management capabilities and energy intelligence (EI) platforms. Founded in 2007, the company provides its services to residential, utility, and commercial customers in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Africa. The company's stock is also one the cheapest clean energy stocks to buy according to analysts. On May 8, the company announced that it has launched the latest Tigo Flex MLPE product line, the Tigo TSX-4. The new MLPE is designed for large-scale commercial and industrial solar projects. It is compatible with solar modules with power of up to 800 watts. The new TSX-4 series offers increased power output, reduced cost, optimization, and advanced monitoring.

Another leading renewable energy company, Emeren operates, develops, and builds solar power projects. Its portfolio consists of a 3 gigawatts pipeline of projects and independent power producer (IPP) assets. It is also engaged in the engineering and procurement of solar modules along with other components. On April 23, the company announced that it has partnered with Nuveen Infrastructure to develop battery storage projects in Italy. The agreement finalized a collaboration of a 2.83 GWh capacity and the development of two additional battery storage projects. The construction of the projects will begin in 2024 and will be operational by 2026.

A wind turbine silhouetted against an idyllic sunset, representing clean energy projects.

Methodology

To compile our list of the 10 best renewable energy penny stocks to invest in, we used stock screeners from Yahoo Finance and Finviz, and listed the stocks trading at a price lower than $5, as of May 28. We also reviewed multiple similar rankings by Insider Monkey and various clean energy ETFs to form a list of 30 renewable energy penny stocks. We picked the 10 stocks with the most buy or buy-equivalent ratings from Wall Street analysts and the highest average upside potential, as of May 28. Finally, we sourced the hedge fund sentiment for each stock. The hedge fund data was taken from Insider Monkeys database of over 900 elite hedge funds as of the first quarter of 2024. The 10 best renewable energy penny stocks to invest in appears in ascending order of their number of hedge fund holders, as of Q1.

At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Is Altus Power, Inc. (NYSE:AMPS) the Best Cheap Clean Energy Stock?

Altus Power, Inc. (NYSE:AMPS)

Share Price as of May 28: $3.94

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 10

Altus Power, Inc. (NYSE:AMPS) is a clean electrification firm, engaged in the acquisition, development, construction, and operation of roof, ground, and carport photovoltaic solar energy generation and storage systems. Founded in 2013 in Connecticut, the company serves industrial, commercial, public sector, and community solar customers. In January, the company closed an acquisition of 84 megawatts of assets from Vitol along with 50 megawatts in New York and additional assets in New Jersey and Maine. The company expects the recently built assets to increase its annual recurring revenue by nearly $13 million, reaching $183 million. The company aims to produce 1,060 gigawatt hours of power from its year-ending operating portfolio.

On May 9, Altus Power, Inc. (NYSE:AMPS) reported its earnings for Q1 2024. It posted an EPS of $0.04, beating estimates by $0.14. Its revenue for the quarter reached $40.7 million, recording a 38.4% year-over-year increase. In the first quarter of 2024, the company generated 210 gigawatt hours of clean electricity. The leading clean energy company serves over 24,000 community solar customers, with an addition of 4,000 residential customers during Q1.

At the end of the first quarter, Altus Power, Inc. (NYSE:AMPS) was a part of 10 hedge funds' portfolios, with positions worth $32.57 million according to Insider Monkey's database. Based on the consensus of 9 analysts, the stock has a buy rating and an average price target of $6.5 which represents an upside potential of 64.25% from its current price.

Altus Power, Inc. (NYSE:AMPS is ranked 3rd on our list of the best renewable energy penny stocks to invest in. To discover more stocks, check out our free report on the 10 Best Renewable Energy Penny Stocks to Invest in.

While we acknowledge the potential of these renewable energy stocks, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVIDIA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

Read Next: Michael Burry Is Selling These Stocks and Jim Cramer is Recommending These Stocks

Disclosure. None. This article is originally published on Insider Monkey.
A proposed auto dealership with a secure parking lot came before the city of Olympias Site Plan Review Committee on Wednesday. The committee provides feedback on development proposals in their earliest stages.

The dealership has been proposed near the Olympia Auto Mall. The challenge is that the proposal also called for a secured lot for vehicles in a separate location on McPhee Road, south of Harrison Avenue in west Olympia.

The zoning in that area is known as High Density Corridor 4, according to city officials, which aims to attract businesses with pedestrian-friendly facades that the public can access. A parking lot open to the public would be an allowed use, but a secure lot falls under the category of storage, which is not an allowed use, Associate Planner Jackson Ewing said.

I dont see a great path forward with just a gated parking lot, he told the developer representatives.

After further clarification from the city, the dealership representatives stopped asking questions about the lot.

Other business happenings

Youve heard of Chick-fil-A on Marvin Road, Super Chix in northeast Lacey at the Hogum Bay Town Center, but how about Ikonic Wings in Lacey?

The fried chicken restaurant bills itself as a family-run and veteran-owned business providing excellent quality chicken wings, according to its Facebook page.

The business is at 1110 Galaxy Drive NE, Suite F, at the intersection with Martin Way East. It is open noon to 8 p.m. daily, but is closed Wednesdays, according to Facebook.

Meanwhile, the Super Chix reviews are in, according to the Facebook page Whats New Olympia?

Some comments about the fried chicken and custard business:

 It was OK  nothing special.

 Super good!

 Good, even when extremely busy.

 Weve had the chicken strips and fries and they are delicious!

 Good food, but expensive for what you get.

 Some great flavors. Hits the pocket book, though.

U-Haul Co. of Washington continues to expand, the business announced. Last week they announced the Steamboat General Store had signed on as a neighborhood dealer. Now, a Lacey business has done the same.

AYCH Electronics Lacey at 6906 Martin Way E. will offer U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, moving supplies and in-store pickup for boxes.

A Tacoma-based business that is developing a new commercial destination near Kingswood Drive and Littlerock Road in Tumwater also has interest in bringing a car wash to 6220 Tyee Drive SW, according to city information.

A TownePlace Suites hotel, fast-food restaurants Wendys, Chipotle and Starbucks, and a Valvoline auto lube business are among several businesses already planned for the site.

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Blue Star Gas is exploring a retail propane location at 821 Airport Court SE, according to city of Tumwater information. The business aims to install two 30,000-gallon propane storage tanks at the site.

People news

Deborah Vinsel, CEO of Thurston Community Media, has told the board of directors she intends to retire at the end of the year or as soon as a replacement is named, the organization announced May 26.

Deb Vinsel

Under Vinsels leadership, TCMedia has spent 34 years telling the stories of the community and is now embarking on a new phase, according to a news release.

The media business has spent the past year shifting the organizations funding model to a 100% nonprofit with no government funding, the news release reads.

Through it all, said board President Meagan Murphy Ross, Deb has demonstrated her resolve to find new avenues to fulfill TCMedias mission as she and the organization continue serving Thurston County with an entrepreneurial spirit.

It has been a distinct honor and privilege serving as the Chief Executive Officer for TCMedia, Vinsel said. I look forward to spending time with my husband and family, and cheering from the sidelines as TCMedia moves forward.

Ross said the board will start a national search for a new leader immediately but is committed to taking its time to identify the right person.

We are looking for someone with a passion and excitement for continuing the TCMedia story.

Interested in applying? Go to go to TCMedia for more details.

Towers on West Bay? Plus, a Japanese retailer is coming to Lacey and a donut biz will close

Hotel, restaurants and more coming to new commercial development in Tumwater

Thurston County, cities announce plans for broadcast after parting ways with TCMedia

If you know of a retailer, restaurant, coffee shop or other business that is opening, closing, expanding, remodeling, or changing its focus, send an email to reporter Rolf Boone at rboone@theolympian.com.
As summer travel season takes off, Boeing said it is committed to make flying safer.

It comes after a midflight scare in January when a door plug flew off a months old Boeing 737 Max 9 plane.

Thursday, top officials from Boeing including its CEO met with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) leaders in Washington, DC for three hours about its roadmap for fixing safety and quality control issues.

Read: Trump found guilty on all counts in hush money trial

Both groups agree that this is only the start of new safety efforts.

Bottom line we will continue to make sure every airplane that comes off the line is safe and reliable, said Mike Whitaker, FAA Administrator.

Today, I met with Boeings senior leadership to review their new safety roadmap. I made it crystal clear that they must follow through on implementing corrective actions and transform their safety culture. https://t.co/OSEMNqCBy9 pic.twitter.com/wbJXuYFGCw  FAA Mike Whitaker (@FAA_Mike) May 30, 2024

Over the last three months, the company developed a new safety plan that aims to help identify hazards and reduce risks. The FAA required Boeing to provide an update on completed actions as well as mid- and long-term goals such as:

 Strengthening its Safety Management System, including employee safety reporting

 Simplifying processes and procedures and clarifying work instructions

 Enhanced supplier oversight

 Enhanced employee training and communication

 Increased internal audits of production system

Read: Man dies after jumping off Icon of the Seas after it left the port in Miami

FAA leaders will also meet with Boeing weekly to review its progress.

Weve increased our oversight and Boeing on its own has reduced production levels to make sure they have the resources they need, said Whitaker.

Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said the company has increased training and improved inspections. It is also adding more oversight in its factories. Calhoun announced those plans during Boeings annual shareholder meeting earlier this month.

Today we shared our Safety & Quality Plan with @FAANews.



See full statements from @Boeing President and CEO Dave Calhoun and Commercial Airplanes President and CEO Stephanie Pope here: https://t.co/xvpu5W8agD pic.twitter.com/LhlifeLGxk  Boeing Airplanes (@BoeingAirplanes) May 30, 2024

We are deeply committed to doing everything that we can to make certain our regulators, our customers, employees and - most importantly and always - the flying public are 100% confident in Boeing, said Calhoun.

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Calhoun said the company is also listening to input from staff.

Were hosting quality stand downs to hear directly from our employees, and were committed to acting on their feedback at every step, he said.

Read: Firefighters contain brush fire in Lake County

Earlier this month, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg told our Washington News Bureau he wants Boeings culture to focus on safety.

All of the other economic concerns production, profitability, all of that has to follow from safety and quality, not the other way around, said Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg.

FAA leaders said Boeing has also agreed to strengthen its anonymous reporting system so employees can speak up freely about safety issues.

Read: Medical Examiners Office: Girl, 13, found unresponsive in Discovery Cove pool accidentally drowned

Full statements from Boeing leadership after FAA meeting:

Statement from Dave Calhoun, President and CEO, Boeing: After the Jan. 5 accident involving a 737 airplane, we took immediate containment and mitigation actions to ensure airplane safety. We also made the decision to slow production as we took a hard look across every facet of our operations. We listened to our employees, engaged transparently with our regulator, welcomed the findings and recommendations from the FAAs ACSAA panel review, and invited scrutiny from customers and independent experts. Based on that feedback and oversight, today we presented to the FAA our comprehensive plan to strengthen our safety management, quality system, safety culture and ODA responsibilities.

Many of these actions are underway and our team is committed to executing on each element of the plan. It is through this continuous learning and improvement process that our industry has made commercial aviation the safest mode of transportation. The actions we are taking today will further strengthen that foundation.

We thank Administrator Whitaker and the FAA team for their feedback today and we will continue to work under their oversight as we move forward.

Statement from Stephanie Pope, President and CEO, Commercial Airplanes: Our plan is built on the feedback of our employees who know best how to design, build and deliver safe, high-quality airplanes. We also incorporated the requirements and feedback from our regulator and welcomed the recommendations from our customers and industry experts.

Based on that feedback, our roadmap includes major investments to expand and enhance workforce training, simplify manufacturing plans and processes, eliminate defects at the source, and elevate our safety and quality culture, along with specific measures to monitor and manage the health of our production system.

We are confident in the plan that we have put forward and are committed to continuously improving. We will work under the FAAs oversight and uphold our responsibility to the flying public to continue delivering safe, high-quality airplanes. We are also grateful for our customers patience as we implement this plan and return to predictable deliveries.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
ASHEVILLE - The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority discussed the forecasted $34.3 million expected in revenue from occupancy taxes for fiscal year 2025 during its May 29 meeting as the BCTDA's finance committee suggested adding an additional $4.3 million to the fund that controls marketing and administrative expenses in a proposed budget, with staff and board members stating it would help the region to stay competitive in the tourism market.

The board also voted to modify the funding timeline for the Woodfin Whitewater Wave project, which is expected to be finished by the end of 2024.

For both fiscal year 2024 and 2025, BCTDA reported the county administrative fee to be around $1.8 million  a 260% increase from the $500,000 admin fee in 2023  and set a projected $34.3 million in occupancy tax revenue for the upcoming year, BCTDA nonprofit treasurer HP Patel said during the meeting.

Buncombe County officials announced last year that they would be updating the administrative fee from 1.5% to 5% for occupancy taxes.

The forecasted revenue for 2025 would set aside roughly $11.4 million for community capital projects and $22.9 million for marketing, advertising, sales, promotion and administrative expenses, known as the BCTDA's "operating budget." The BCTDA expects a total of $15.3 million will be available for community capital projects for the upcoming fiscal year, according to a May 29 new release.

The operating budget proposed by the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority during a May 29 meeting.

In the past few years, the operating budget has decreased after a 2022 bill changed how BCTDA occupancy taxes are distributed, favoring tourism promotion, but providing more funds for community capital projects.

The BCTDA finance committee did propose adding $4.3 million from their fund balance designation to the operating budget, a necessary move to stay competitive in the market, Patel said.

The $4.3 million, sourced from BCTDA's undesignated contingency funds, are "lodging tax revenues that were received and unspent in the operating fund in prior years," BCTDA spokesperson Ashley Greenstein told the Citizen Times May 30.

During the meeting, Patel said "marketing efforts must continue to keep our place in the market and keep our economy thriving" even as occupancy rates and sales tax revenues lag in the region.

The Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority's proposed $34.3 million budget for fiscal year 2025 was presented during the BCTDA's May 29 meeting as board members modified the funding timeline for the Woodfin Whitewater Wave project, which is expected to be finished by the end of 2024.

Under the proposed $27.3 million operating budget, $19.4 million would be put toward marketing, around a $600,000 decrease from $20 million in 2024. At the same time, the proposed budget increases BCTDA salaries and benefits from $4.1 million to $4.4 million and partnership and destination management from $500,000 to $700,000.

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Employee salary and benefits updates come as the BCTDA makes adjustments to fall in compliance with the Department of Labor overtime exemption updates and in consideration of MIT's living wage data for Buncombe County, Vice President of Culture and Business Affairs Jennifer Kass-Green said during the meeting.

Currently, MIT estimates Buncombe County's living wage to be $24.61 an hour, or roughly $51,198 before taxes, for a single person with no children working full-time. The number is roughly $2 higher than what Just Economics of Western North Carolina reports for the region at $22.10 an hour.

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Woodfin town officials say they expect to break ground on the multi-million-dollar Whitewater Wave project soon, establishing the first and only artificial whitewater wave on the French Broad River at Woodfin Riverside Park.

Woodfin Wave update: 'completed by September,' change in disbursement

Separate from the budget discussion, the BCTDA board voted to adjust disbursements and scheduling for the Woodfin Whitewater Wave project, which is part of the greater Woodfin Greenway and Blueway expansion project.

The BCTDA has also provided a total of $8.3 million in funding for a Woodfin project that is expected to bring "1,000s" of daily visitors to the region while providing a unique recreation opportunity for the area's canoeists, kayakers and playboaters.

The wave received two major investments from the BCTDA, with the nonprofit investing $2.25 million in 2017 and $5.89 million in 2022 through the Tourism Product Development Fund, allowing the project to proceed full steam.

Woodfin town officials say they expect to break ground on the multi-million-dollar Whitewater Wave project soon, establishing the first and only artificial whitewater wave on the French Broad River at Woodfin Riverside Park.

The wave element of the project, not including a Riverside Park expansion, is expected to be finished by the end of 2024, Woodfin Mayor Jim McAlister recently told the Citizen Times.

During the meeting, the BCTDA recommended adding the town of Woodfin as a party to the Woodfin Greenway and Blueway contract, a change that would allow the town to directly receive funding for the wave, rather than having Buncombe County receive and disperse funds for the project, Explore Asheville Director of Grants Tiffany Thacker explained.

The new timeline for funding disbursements to the town of Woodfin for the Whitewater Wave project.

President and CEO of Explore Asheville Vic Isley said the urgency for funding changes comes amid recent movement on the project. The June to September timeframe is the "magic time" for construction to take place, as the river's water is expected to be lower, Isley said.

"They expect the wave to be completed by September," Thacker said during the meeting.

The wave would be one of the few in the region to be readily available for Western North Carolina's whitewater paddling community, which has an active base in Asheville-area rivers and streams.

The contract changes were passed unanimously by the BCTDA board.

More: Asheville City Council floats $80M GO Bond; could help rebuild Malvern pool, fix streets

More: Graham County receives $20 million grant for Corridor K section; more funding required

Will Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at WHofmann@citizentimes.com. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Buncombe TDA makes Woodfin Wave funding update; proposes 2025 budget
Canadian border workers are bargaining for higher wages, flexible telework and remote work options, and stronger protections around disciplinary procedures. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

A strike looms for more than 9,000 workers at the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA ), which could disrupt supply chains across North America.

The work stoppage for customs and immigration agents could occur as early as Thursday after the recent release of a federal Public Interest Commission report, which set guidelines for a new collective agreement and gave the workers the legal right to strike.

CBSA personnel are represented by Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Customs and Immigration Union (CIU).

The clock is ticking, Sharon DeSousa, PSAC national president-elect, said in a news release. At every opportunity, Trudeaus Liberal government has refused to put the needs of workers first, and time is running out to avoid sweeping job action.





Mediation sessions between the union and federal officials are scheduled to begin Monday. CBSA personnel represented by the PSAC and CIU voted 96% earlier in May for taking the strike.

Taking job action is always a last resort, but the overwhelming support for our strike mandate shows that we are prepared to do whatever it takes to win a fair contract, Mark Weber, CIU national president, said in a statement.

Workers have been without a contract for over two years, union officials said.

Key issues PSAC and CIU are bargaining for include higher wages that are aligned with those of other law enforcement agencies across the country, flexible telework and remote work options, equitable retirement benefits, and stronger protections around discipline, technological change and hours of work, according to a release.





Customs and immigration agents with the CBSA are responsible for monitoring more than 100 land border crossings across Canada, as well as airports and marine ports.

Along with customs and immigration officers, CBSA personnel includes intelligence officers, investigators and nonuniformed staff.

In addition to customs and border agents, PSAC represents more than 245,000 public service workers across Canada.

Mike Burkhart, vice president for Canada at C.H. Robinson, said the Canadian government considers most customs workers essential, meaning theyre required to continue providing some services even during a strike.

What we prepare for then is a potential work slowdown, with workers sticking to the clock and performing all duties to the fullest extent, Burkhart told FreightWaves in an email.

Burkhart said the biggest impact would be to truck freight moving into Canada.

A border agent must physically be present to review the customs paperwork and scan the barcode on it, Burkhart told FreightWaves. We manage more than 650,000 shipments across the Canadian border a year, so we can say from experience that a slowdown in this process can create wait times of four to five hours. Thats what we saw during the 2021 strike.

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In August 2021, 9,000 CBSA personnel went on strike for almost two days, leaving trucks lined up at border crossings across Canada for hours.

The PSAC and CIU reached an agreement on Aug. 6, 2021, with the federal government that included pay raises over four years, averaging 2% annually. According to the unions, it also included protections against excessive discipline in the workplace.

Burkhart said if another strike begins Thursday, these delays could have a ripple effect on supply chains, particularly disrupting industries like automotive manufacturing, which relies on just-in-time delivery of parts and components.

Many of our automotive customers treat North America as one interdependent supply chain. So parts traveling to Canada are often coming all the way from Mexico, and one late part can shut down an entire production line, Burkhart said. Ocean, air and rail cargo would be less affected by a strike, because the majority of those transactions are handled electronically.

For cross-border operators, the potential CBSA strike is another headache on top of a potential strike by railway workers at CPKC, who recently voted for a work stoppage action.

The Canada Industrial Relations Board is reviewing whether a CPKC worker strike could have a negative public safety impact on the country and has pushed back the potential start date.

In the event of a strike by CBSA workers, Burkhart advised shippers to talk to their logistics providers about contingency plans.

Stock up on critical inventory ahead of time. Consider routing freight away from the busier crossings like Windsor and away from peak times. To minimize the amount of freight that has to travel by truck, convert your less time-sensitive freight to rail. For high-value and especially urgent freight, start lining up air shipping options, Burkhart said.

The post Canadian border agent strike looms as unions seek better pay, benefits appeared first on FreightWaves.
The central bank has stated that major Italian banks' technology expenditures trail behind those of their European counterparts, and it advised lenders to increase their spending to encourage innovation in the financial services they provide.

Italian banks have quadrupled their investments in modern technology since 2017. Yet, these sums are still rather small.

According to Reuters, with the goal of investing 5bn ($5.4bn) in technology between 2022 and 2025, Intesa Sanpaolo, a financial institution in Italy, plans to migrate to a cloud-based core banking IT system that it has effectively tested at a new digital bank.

The second-largest bank in Italy, UniCredit, outsourced its IT infrastructure ten years ago, plans to spend 2.8bn on technology in 20222024.

The biggest bank in Spain, Banco Santander, announced plans in 2019 that it will invest over 20bn on digital and technological projects.

Nonetheless, the Bank of Italy has increased its surveillance of IT outsourcing contracts.

In line with the Bank of Italy, technology plays a significant role in driving cost reductions and lowering customer service charges, with online accounts typically costing 60% less than traditional accounts.

To enhance their reputation and strengthen their clientele, banks must also leverage technology to provide higher-quality services and products.

Furthermore, Italy intended to establish an investment fund with a 1bn ($1.09bn) initial investment to support artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives during mid-march.

It is the year that Italy hopes to utilise its presidency of the Group of Seven major democracies to highlight the effects of AI on inequality and employment while setting guidelines for future technological advancements.

Rome would establish a body to oversee and assist in the execution of the national AI policy as part of the legislation that is scheduled to be introduced.

"Central bank urges Italian banks to make technological investments" was originally created and published by Retail Banker International, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Charlie Munger once revealed how investors can beat the stock market  here are 3 of his essential tips

Investing your money in the stock market is one of the most effective methods of growing your wealth. But is there a right way for Americans to invest?

While investing always carries a level of risk, some of the most successful investors operate in a particular manner. One person in particular who understood some of the most effective investment strategies was the late billionaire investor Charlie Munger.

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At the time of his passing in November 2023, Munger had an estimated net worth of approximately $2.2 billion, according to Forbes. He was the vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway and Warren Buffett's longtime friend and business partner. The dynamic duo had great investing success over the years.

In 1994, Munger gave a speech at USCs business school in which he expressed his belief that there are relatively few quality companies on the market. He believed that investors should concentrate their time, effort and money on the small handful of companies that fall into this category.

Here are some of Charlie Mungers tips and tricks revealed during the renowned speech.

Understanding the business

Munger underscored the significance of having an understanding of the business into which you are putting your money. You should be well aware of how the company functions, its competitive edge and relevant industry dynamics. Munger suggested that investors direct their attention to businesses focused on their "circle of competence"  areas where they possess a considerable understanding and can make informed decisions.

So you have to figure out what your own aptitudes are. If you play games where other people have the aptitudes and you don't, you're going to lose. And that's as close to certain as any prediction that you can make. You have to figure out where you've got an edge. And you've got to play within your own circle of competence, highlighted Munger.

Staying within this circle means betting on high-quality businesses that increase your chances of picking the right investments. One prime example is Berkshire Hathaways investment in Coca-Cola, which he and Buffett identified as a business with a durable competitive advantage in the soft drink industry. He generally advised against investing in companies that fall outside this circle as it only exposes investors to unnecessary risks.

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Read more: Who says you cant beat the market consistently? Meet the team of market experts whose stock picks outperformed the S&P 500 by 12%  four years running

Valuation discipline

Another point that Munger emphasized is the need for valuation discipline. Even if the company seems outstanding, its important not to overpay for its stock and instead focus on quality. He was big on the significance of a margin of safety  purchasing securities at a considerably lower cost than their actual value as a hedge against unpredictable market swings.

We've really made the money out of high-quality businesses. In some cases, we bought the whole business. And in some cases, we just bought a big block of stock. But when you analyze what happened, the big money's been made in the high-quality businesses. And most of the other people who've made a lot of money have done so in high-quality businesses, said Munger.

Implementing an investment strategy that focuses on a companys quality and cost can yield better investment results on the whole.

Maintaining a long-term mindset

Having a long-term mindset when it comes to investments can lead to more financial success. Being patient and sticking with good investments for long periods was an important pillar of success for Berkshire Hathaway.

So, there are risks. Nothing is automatic and easy. But if you can find some fairly-priced great company and buy it and sit, that tends to work out very, very well indeed, especially for an individual, explained Munger.

This strategy lets investors take advantage of compounding earnings along with capital appreciation over time. Not only that, Munger advised against the dangers that come with short-term thinking or trading frequently, which can result in more losses and less profit as a result of transaction costs and market-timing mistakes.

Metaphorically, Munger said, You have to eat the carrots before you get the dessert.

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This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Chipotle CEO Brian Niccol denies claims that the Mexican grills portion sizes have been shrinking, despite hundreds of people taking to Reddit and TikTok with their complaints.

In an interview with Fortune, Niccol said portions have not gotten smaller, and offered disappointed customers seeking an even bigger burrito or bowl a pro tip: Give the workers a secret look.

The specialty taco and burrito eatery, which is historically known for its big portion sizes, has been caught in a monthslong crossfire with angry customers who insist the portions have shrunk while prices have been hiked higher. Despite the upset, Chipotles CEO denied the claims and seemed to encourage customers to indirectly ask for more food by giving workers a "look"but the tip might just be a confusing, indirect method to get more food than asking politely, which is, of course, still an option.

One of the things I think is great about Chipotle is if you come into the restaurant and you want a little more rice or you want a little more pico [de gallo], Niccol told Fortune, who then widened his eyes slightly and nodded his head, usually our guys and women give them a little more scoop.

Niccol acknowledged how big portions are part of the image of the brand, telling Fortune that its kind of who we are.

We always want to give people big portions that get them excited about the food, he said. If you want to double the amount of meat, you gotta pay for it, but our goal is to get people really excited about what I believe is really delicious food.

Hundreds of customers who have taken to Reddit and TikTok with their gripes about the chain seem to think otherwise. On the Chipotle subreddit, one user wrote, I used to eat Chipotle 2-3x a week. I havent been in a year. Its inconsistent, expensive, and the portions are terrible.

Another user wrote, At least skimping on chicken/meat may make financial sense to them. They are skimping rice and beans on veggie bowls. Thats crazy.

The public dissent is also leading some to try other secretand questionablemethods in hopes of getting a bigger meal, like filming workers while they prepare orders. This particular method blew up on TikTok, where a handful of influencers believed they were getting more food because they were filming their meals being made, leading them to instruct others to do the same for similar results.

Theres currently a method going around for Chipotle, basically you film them while they make your food which makes them not skimp out on the portions because they don't want the bad publicity or reviews  pic.twitter.com/VU4NX7a9hz  FearBuck (@FearedBuck) May 26, 2024

The move to record workers is questionable at best, with some expressing discomfort with the trend. One Chipotle employee posted to Reddit, Im not dealing with getting videoed [because] someones sad about portions. Sorry that corporate sucks, but I cant do anything about it and I sympathize with some customers. I try to give more than Im supposed to. But a camera in my face is dehumanizing.

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Chipotle seemed to address the trend in its own post to TikTok on May 23, which conveys a crowd of people holding out their phones and appearing to take videos in front of the counter line at a Chipotle restaurant. It also released a statement saying theres no guarantee that filming your meal being made will lead to more food on your plate, or bowl.

The noise about portion sizes at Chipotle comes after the chain announced price hikes several times since 2021, which the company said was meant to offset the cost of paying employees higher wages; it plans to continue raising prices this year to keep up with the costs of goods. The eatery most recently announced price hikes last October, marking the fourth time the chain raised prices in the past two years. Other chains, including McDonalds and Taco Bell, also raised prices over the last two years.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Could a federal court decision blocking Bayer AG and two other companies from selling their dicamba herbicide boost sales for products from Corteva Agriscience, with its research facility in Johnston?

Some experts say it will.

Heres what to know about the controversy surrounding the dicamba.

What is dicamba?

Dicamba is a herbicide used to control broadleaf weeds. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, it is used on crops including soybeans, of which Iowa is the nation's second-largest producer after Illinois. The EPA says dicamba can be sprayed on genetically engineered forms of soybeans and cotton, killing the weeds that compete with them but leaving the beneficial plants unharmed.

Many farmers have turned to dicamba herbicides after struggling with weeds that can no longer be killed with glyphosate, a herbicide that is the active ingredient in Roundup and other widely used products. Weeds like giant ragweed and cocklebur compete with soybeans for sunshine and nutrients, sometimes dramatically decreasing yields and farmers' revenue.

Why is dicamba controversial?

Four environmental groups oppose the EPAs registration of dicamba products  a requirement before they can be sold  saying they drift from fields when theyre sprayed on soybeans and cotton. The drifting dicamba kills other crops not genetically modified to withstand it, as well as trees, orchards, gardens and pollinators like monarch butterflies and bumblebees. Dozens of complaints have been filed nationally.

Dicamba can vaporize relatively quickly and move long distances from its intended target when it's windy or during temperature inversions, when warm air is trapped under cold air.

Has anyone tried to fix the problems with dicamba?

An Iowa soybean field with damage from misapplied dicamba-based herbicide.

Bayer-owned Monsanto reformulated dicamba, saying it reduced its volatility, or tendency to vaporize and drift, by 90%, compared to the older chemical. Problems with drift continued, however, and companies limited when dicamba products could be applied as well as setting other restrictions.

Despite those measures, a federal judge in Arizona vacated the products registration in February, saying the EPA hadn't properly allowed public discussion and comment.

What happened after the court ruling on dicamba?

After the federal court ruling in February, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an order barring Monsanto and fellow dicamba makers BASF and Syngenta Crop Protection from selling the herbicide.

The EPA also issued an order letting farmers use dicamba they already had purchased for the coming growing season. That means they can spray it on an estimated 40 million acres of crops. But its future use, for now, is restricted.

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Is this the first time dicamba products have run into trouble?

It was the second time a court ruled that the EPA must vacate its registration of dicamba products, which have been around since the late 1960s. In 2020, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals blocked EPA registrations of dicamba products sold by Bayer, BASF and Corteva, saying the federal agency had substantially understated acknowledged risks and failed to acknowledge other risks.

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Later that year, the EPA issued new registrations for Bayer and BASF dicamba products and extended one for a Syngenta product, slated to last five years. Corteva discontinued selling its dicamba product in 2021.

What do the dicamba makers say now?

Monsanto and Syngenta each say they stand fully behind the products, adding that theyre vital to farmers trying to control weeds. Without dicamba-based products, BASF says, farmers "are estimated to lose up to $10 billion in soybean and $800 million in cotton yields annually." It says the EPA used a science-based approach to evaluate and manage ecological risks and balance the agricultural and societal benefits of dicamba-based herbicides before registering the products.

This month, Monsanto applied for EPA approval of what it said is a low volatility dicamba product that kills weeds before soybeans emerge from the soil and is not for "over-the-top" application. It also plans to seek approval for a version that can be used with cotton.

How could Corteva Agriscience benefit from the ruling against dicamba?

The Indianapolis-based company introduced a product that uses 2,4-D, a 1940s herbicide that's been reformulated to avoid past drifting problems. Corteva's seed has been modified to tolerate 2,4-D and just as with dicamba, farmers can use the chemical to kill weeds that are resistant to glyphosate and other popular herbicides without harming their crops.

So far, the Corteva products haven't run into the regulatory troubles that dicamba has, analysts say. And it has had fewer application restrictions compared to new dicamba products.

More: Iowa fought to keep Corteva. Now, the company is helping farmers battle climate change

With more U.S. crop acres becoming resistant to glyphosate every year, farmers want more options, says Seth Goldstein, a Morningstar Research Services analyst. "Farmers are looking for alternative soybean seeds ... that don't require dicamba or glyphosate use," Goldstein says. "It's benefited Corteva."

Sam Eathington, Cortevas chief technology officer, said at an analyst conference this month that the company will have ample 2,4-D seed traits and crop protection available next year for farmers who "would like to make a switch."

Donnelle Eller covers agriculture, the environment and energy for the Register. Reach her at deller@registermedia.com or 515-284-8457.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Will Corteva benefit from EPA ban of Bayer, others' dicamba products?
This undated promotional photo shows Creature Comforts co-founder Adam Beauchamp, who was named CEO of the Athens-based brewing company on Friday, May 31, 2024.

Creature Comforts recently announced during a company-wide staff meeting that CEO Chris Herron would be stepping down from his role and co-founder Adam Beauchamp would be elevated to chief executive from his previous position as COO.

Herron would remain at Creature Comforts in advisory role to ensure a smooth transition for Beauchamp, noted a news release.

The move came less than two months after the Athens-based craft brewery celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Herron had served as the CEO of Creature Comforts since Beauchamp and David Stein co-founded the company in 2014.

No specific reason was given for Herron's departure, but he was quoted in the news release as being "incredibly proud" of Creature Comforts' achievements over the past decade.

Origin story: How much do you know about Creature Comforts? Find out how the Athens brewery got started.

(L-R) Fenwick Broyard, Caitlyn Wilson, Katie Beauchamp and Adam Beauchamp of Creature Comforts Brewing Company in Athens, Ga. on Monday, Apr. 1, 2024.

Beauchamp, who graduated from the University of Georgia with Stein, was the original brew master at Creature Comforts and added finance, accounting and business operations to his beer production duties in 2021. As CEO, Beauchamp will also be in charge of human resources, sales and marketing.

Beauchamp told the Banner-Herald that Creature Comforts is "doing really well," and that he intends to carry on and continue to grow the company's presence in the Athens community with its Get Comfortable and third-grade reading programs, relationship with the University of Georgia and collaborations with emerging craft brewers. Beauchamp described Herron as a "family member" who will continue to support the company.

"Chris is like a brother to me," said Beauchamp. "We've been together at Creature Comforts since day one, and we're incredible friends. I know his future is bright because he's an amazing and talented person. And he's got a deal to consult with us, so we're going to continue to talk business."

This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Creature Comforts Brewing Company names new CEO
Key Insights

Cyclopharm's significant retail investors ownership suggests that the key decisions are influenced by shareholders from the larger public

A total of 5 investors have a majority stake in the company with 51% ownership

Institutions own 14% of Cyclopharm

If you want to know who really controls Cyclopharm Limited (ASX:CYC), then you'll have to look at the makeup of its share registry. We can see that retail investors own the lion's share in the company with 31% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

And following last week's 13% decline in share price, retail investors suffered the most losses.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Cyclopharm, beginning with the chart below.

See our latest analysis for Cyclopharm

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Cyclopharm?

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 Cyclopharm does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This can indicate that the company has a certain degree of credibility in the investment community. However, it is best to be wary of relying on the supposed validation that comes with institutional investors. They too, get it wrong sometimes. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Cyclopharm's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

It looks like hedge funds own 6.9% of Cyclopharm shares. That worth noting, since hedge funds are often quite active investors, who may try to influence management. Many want to see value creation (and a higher share price) in the short term or medium term. Anglo Australian Christian And Charitable Fund, Endowment Arm is currently the company's largest shareholder with 14% of shares outstanding. Barings Acceptance Limited is the second largest shareholder owning 12% of common stock, and Chemical Overseas Ltd holds about 9.8% of the company stock. Additionally, the company's CEO James McBrayer directly holds 5.6% of the total shares outstanding.

On looking further, we found that 51% of the shares are owned by the top 5 shareholders. In other words, these shareholders have a meaningful say in the decisions of the company.

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 is some analyst coverage of the stock, but it could still become more well known, with time.

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Insider Ownership Of Cyclopharm

The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. 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.

We can report that insiders do own shares in Cyclopharm Limited. As individuals, the insiders collectively own AU$13m worth of the AU$152m company. Some would say this shows alignment of interests between shareholders and the board, though we generally prefer to see bigger insider holdings. But it might be worth checking if those insiders have been selling.

General Public Ownership

The general public-- including retail investors -- own 31% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Equity Ownership

Private equity firms hold a 6.3% stake in Cyclopharm. This suggests they can be influential in key policy decisions. Some might like this, because private equity are sometimes activists who hold management accountable. But other times, private equity is selling out, having taking the company public.

Private Company Ownership

It seems that Private Companies own 22%, of the Cyclopharm stock. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Cyclopharm better, we need to consider many other factors. Take risks for example - Cyclopharm has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of.

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.
A Dividend Stock Yielding Over 5% To Buy And Hold Forever

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

Investing in dividend stocks requires more than chasing high yields. Companies with attractive yields are only viable investments if they can sustain their payouts.

Recent market trends have demonstrated that even strong-income stocks with impressive yields, such as Walgreens Boots Alliance and Medical Properties Trust, can reduce dividends.

Pfizer (NYSE:PFE) is a resilient choice. Despite recent challenges, long-term investors should remain confident in it. Heres why.

Pfizer Could Be Your Take, But Why?

Pfizer is a major pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry player based at The Spiral in Manhattan, New York City. Founded in 1849, by German entrepreneur Charles Pfizer and his cousin Charles F. Erhart, the company has a rich history of innovation.

Pfizer is committed to prioritizing health and well-being, aiming to deliver global breakthroughs responsibly.

Its easy to misinterpret Pfizers current financial results. In the first quarter, the company reported $14.9 billion in revenue, a 20% drop from the previous year and a 33% decrease in adjusted earnings per share, down to $0.82 compared to the first quarter of 2023.

However, the exceptional performance in 2021 and 2022 established a high benchmark. When excluding its COVID-19 portfolio, Pfizers revenue increased by a solid 11% year over year.

Pfizers Long-Term Prospects and Dividend Stability

Though the COVID-19 market is still unpredictable, Pfizers income should rise once it settles due to the launch of its new products. Pfizer has excellent long-term possibilities; it is not only a "pandemic stock."

Over the previous 10 years, Pfizer has raised dividends by 61.54%, offering a forward dividend yield of 5.87%. However, the companys cash payout ratio of 182.5% could be more sustainable, possibly due to recent acquisitions.

CFO Dave Denton stated during the first quarter earning call: "Our strategy consists of maintaining and growing our dividend over time, reinvesting in our business at an appropriate level of financial return, and making value-enhancing share repurchases after de-levering our balance sheet."

Pfizers most recent dividend increase highlights its dedication to shareholders. The companys dividend program will likely continue strong as income and net income recover, providing long-term advantages to those reinvesting dividends.

Looking For A Higher-Yield Opportunity?

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 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

This article A Dividend Stock Yielding Over 5% To Buy And Hold Forever originally appeared on Benzinga.com
The private Christian college behind South Carolinas largest charter school district says its out $1 million after the operator of several schools the district oversaw defaulted on a loan deal.

The transaction, revealed in a new lawsuit, raises the question why cash-strapped Erskine College loaned money to the holding company of a for-profit education management organization, or EMO. It also sows doubt that the taxpayer-funded Charter Institute at Erskine, which oversees more than two dozen charter schools, can objectively oversee schools in which its parent institution has a financial stake, experts said.

How do you engage in good faith oversight on behalf of the state when you have a financial interest in the thing youre overseeing? said Derek Black, a University of South Carolina law professor who specializes in education law and policy.

The colleges questionable lending practices came to light earlier this month when it sued Icelaven Development Group for breach of contract in hopes of recouping the loan, plus interest.

Icelaven is the parent company of Reason & Republic, a for-profit charter school management organization founded by James Galyean that, until recently, operated three charter schools authorized by the Charter Institute.

Galyean, who helped found the Charter Institute in 2017 and previously served as its general counsel, was a major contributor to Ellen Weavers 2022 state superintendent campaign and is currently running for an Anderson County House seat.

He declined comment on the outstanding loan through an Icelaven representative, citing the pending litigation, but said the company looked forward to its day in court.

Erskine, which failed to report the loan to Galyeans company on federal tax forms, did not respond to a request for a comment on the transaction.

A 2022 audit of the college obtained by The State newspaper shows a $1 million loan receivable listed as a related party transaction, but has scant details on its recipient and no details on its purpose.

The Due West college and its affiliated Charter Institute have come under increased scrutiny this year following reporting by the State Media Co. that shed light on its spending and operations.

Over the past several months, the newspaper has reported on the Charter Institutes formation and funding of a nonprofit called Teach Right USA, its leaders involvement in a plan to open schools in Tennessee through Teach Right USA and its approval of a new Lexington County school that plans to partner with Teach Right USA and Erskine College.

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While not explicitly prohibited by South Carolinas charter schools law, the Charter Institutes engagement in activities beyond its statutory scope has attracted the attention of state lawmakers who have requested an investigation.

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers, led by Education Committee chairwoman Shannon Erickson, R-Beaufort, recently asked the states Legislative Audit Council to look into Erskine with a specific focus on the EMO loan deal and allegations that charter school vendors and prospective vendors use donations to curry favor with the Institute.

We are concerned that if transactions like these have occurred, they may compromise the ability of Erskine to perform its duties under the (Charter Schools Act) with fidelity and/or may cause Erskine to apply inconsistent standards of accountability to different charter schools that it sponsors, Erickson wrote in a May 8 letter to Legislative Audit Council Director Earle Powell, whose agency conducts independent audits of state agencies.

Erickson said it was past time the General Assembly update the Charter Schools Act which doesnt address many of the complex issues that have emerged since colleges and universities began authorizing charter schools roughly a decade ago.

If Im going to be an all-of-the-above education choice proponent, I also have to be an all-of-the-above accountability proponent, she told The State this week. We cant afford to have silence on issues that are making the work of our school choice situations not accountable.

Erskines loan to Galyean

The loan agreement between Erskine College and Icelaven Development, signed Aug. 1, 2021, appears to have unraveled quickly.

Icelaven, which had agreed to pay back the money plus 5% interest in annual installments, missed its first payment on Dec. 31, 2021, and has repaid only $35,000 to date, according to the lawsuit Erskine filed May 9 in Anderson County circuit court.

The suit claims Icelaven failed to respond to the colleges repeated demands for the money, which have escalated in recent months, culminating in Erskine declaring the loan in default and demanding repayment in full plus interest, a sum of roughly $1.2 million, by April 30.

The financial dispute coincided with a fracturing of the once-tight relationship between Reason & Republic and the Charter Institute amid allegations that Galyeans EMO overcharged its schools for services, exerted undue control over their finances and mismanaged money.

The boards of Belton Preparatory and Summit Classical, two of the Charter Institutes most esteemed schools, recently cut ties with the EMO to align themselves with the Charter Institute, which has temporarily taken over their finances.

Charter Institute CEO and Superintendent Cameron Runyan did not respond when asked whether Erskine Colleges dispute with Icelaven had influenced the Charter Institutes treatment of Reason & Republic.

The college, which has dealt with cash flow problems for years, entered into the loan with Galyeans company at a particularly precarious time for the institution. The following year its accrediting agent denied reaffirmation of its accreditation and placed it on warning status for not meeting governance and financial management standards.

The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges, commonly referred to as SACS, dinged Erskines governing board in December 2022 for failing to exercise fiduciary oversight; failing to demonstrate a stable financial base to support its mission and programming; and failing to manage its financial resources in a responsible manner.

It isnt known whether the loan to Icelaven factored into the sanctions levied by SACS.

The accrediting body will reassess Erskine in December and decide then whether to lift sanctions, place it on probation or revoke its accreditation.
Anthony Carty, a British scholar of international law and author of "The History and Sovereignty of the South China Sea Islands." [Photo by Fu Junhua/China.org.cn]



"Archival material, in my view, is the most relevant. These are pretty conclusive with respect to the South China Sea. I do not see why there should be any dispute about the South China Sea. I think it is quite clear that all the islands belonged to China," said Anthony Carty, a British scholar of international law and author of "The History and Sovereignty of the South China Sea Islands."

The book, which was published in Chinese by New Star Press last November and is soon to be released in English, provides substantial historical evidence supporting China's sovereignty claims over the South China Sea islands.

The covers of the English and Chinese versions of "The History and Sovereignty of the South China Sea Islands." [Photo provided to China.org.cn]



Carty, a visiting professor at the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences of Peking University, spent years conducting extensive research at national archives in the United Kingdom, France and the United States. His book offers a compelling perspective on the legal status of the South China Sea islands.

In an interview with China.org.cn, Carty shared his discoveries from his initial research at the National Archives in the U.K. "In 2009, I found a major memorandum issued by Elizabeth Denzel in the British Foreign Office legal department," Carty said.

This document, approved by the British cabinet in 1974, recognized the Nansha Islands  which it refers to as the Spratly Islands  as Chinese as a matter of law. According to the professor, this discovery was significant because it was legal advice produced by "a country that has no direct interest in the matter" acknowledging China's sovereignty over the islands.

"My main findings are that in the British view, the Spratly Islands (Nansha Islands), after intensive historical research, are clearly taken to be Chinese," Carty said.

He also highlighted that the Chinese made a formal claim to the Xisha Islands (Paracel Islands) in 1909 , when a Qing dynasty naval delegation went to the islands and officially registered that they were Chinese, which was recognized by the British at the time.

The book also addresses the French stance on the Xisha Islands, with legal counsel Jules Basdevant advising that the islands were Chinese based on criteria from the Island of Palmas case, a case of territorial law.

"There had been some Vietnamese activity, which would be legally significant at the beginning of the 19th century, but that activity had lapsed," Carty noted. Despite this, the French "decided quite cynically for political reasons to go ahead and make a claim to the Paracels (Xisha Islands)," he said.

Carty's research unearthed a "valuable and interesting document" from the French archives  a special dossier dating from 1974 to 1979 that explicitly denied the Philippines any reasonable claim to the Nansha Islands.

"The Americans also agreed on that. Until in 1956, they changed their minds and started to say the Filipinos, in our view, have no claim, but it would be in our strategic interest to encourage them," Carty said.

Carty emphasized the relevance of archival research in understanding the current territorial disputes, adding that archives, especially those of Western empires, are "the most relevant."

"It took a very long time going through these archives. And I would stress that a feature of the book is to produce a historical chronology of all relevant materials," Carty said.

As an expert in international law, he suggested that China should insist that its legal position is reasonable and that geopolitical considerations should not come into play.

With the English version of the book soon to be published, Carty hopes that "British and French public opinion will start to feel compelled to take an interest and look carefully at the fact that the Chinese claims in this area, far from being contested, are pretty obviously justified."

He also expressed hope that the British and French would withdraw from all cooperation with the Americans in their naval maneuvers or operations in the South China Sea. "At the same time, (my hope is) to tell the Germans and the Dutch that if the British and the French have no business being in the South China Sea, then neither have the Dutch nor the Germans, and so on," he added.
We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Renewable Energy Penny Stocks to Invest In and in this article we will discuss whether ESS Tech, Inc. (NYSE:GWH) is the top renewable energy penny stock to buy now.

Investments in Renewable Energy

The renewable energy sector has experienced growth in recent years, driven by increased government investments in the energy transition as the world moves away from fossil fuels. However, in 2023, the sector experienced volatility due to inflation and high interest rates. Analysts believe that the renewable energy market is set to make a comeback this year, driven by growth in solar and wind power generation. Recently, on May 23, Reuters reported that the leading renewable energy company, Orsted secured an investment of $680 million in tax equity financing from JP Morgan to fund its solar battery storage projects of 250 megawatts and 300 megawatts in Texas and Arizona, respectively. This investment utilizes tax credits from the Inflation Reduction Act and is an indicator of its potential to accelerate clean energy deployment in the United States. The Arizona facility will receive a one-time investment credit for the battery storage stem. Before this deal, JP Morgan had other investments in the 1.8 GW onshore portfolio of Orsted in the United States. Both projects are expected to become operational in 2024.

The renewable energy market is gaining momentum in 2024. Over the past month, prominent renewable energy-related exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have shown a surge in returns. As of May 28, the leading clean energy ETF, iShares Global Clean Energy ETF has surged 11%, while the First Trust Nasdaq Clean Edge Green Energy Index Fund has climbed 14%. This growth also extends to solar stocks, with Invesco Solar ETF gaining 14% over the past month. The boom of solar stocks is exemplified by First Solar as it is leading the surge, with its stock soaring by more than 50% over the past month, significantly outperforming the broader market. Check out our free report on 7 Best Alternative Energy Stocks according to Analysts.

Clean Energy Powering AI

According to the International Energy Agency's projections, global electricity consumption for data centers, cryptocurrency, and AI sector could double by 2026. This provides the clean energy sector with a lucrative opportunity to capitalize on. Recently on May 24, the Chief Executive Officer of Oklo, Jake DeWitte appeared in an interview on Yahoo Finance Catalysts where he talked about the company's business model and energy landscape. Oklo is an advanced nuclear technology company, engaged in the development and design of fission power plants to provide reliable commercial-scale energy to customers in the US. The company aims to create clean energy and also has the backing of OpenAI's founder, Sam Altman. DeWitte said that Oklo employs next-generation nuclear technology which has the potential to power the planet for over a billion years. The CEO believes that the energy demand is rising as the Artificial Intelligence sectors rely on clean energy to power their operations. Oklo's business model revolves around selling the generated power through long-term agreements to major energy consumers for AI such as data centers. This will provide the company with recurring revenue to continue developing and deploying clean energy solutions.

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Moreover, the revenue stream will allow the company to utilize project financing and advantage from government investment tax credits. DeWitte also talked about the company's partnership with a data center company, Wyoming Hyperscale, which will allow Oklo to integrate clean energy with the advanced liquid cooling technology of the data center. This partnership could lead to the use of the reactor's waste heat for cooling the data center. Both companies have signed a 20-year power purchasing agreement. You can also check out our free report on 7 Unstoppable AI Stocks to Buy.

Undervalued Renewable Energy Companies with High Growth Potential

Tigo Energy is a solar and energy storage company, engaged in the development of module-level power electronics (MLPEs). The MLPEs help solar modules reach their maximum energy output. The company also offers GO Energy Storage Systems with solar storage management capabilities and energy intelligence (EI) platforms. Founded in 2007, the company provides its services to residential, utility, and commercial customers in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, and Africa. The company's stock is also one the cheapest clean energy stocks to buy according to analysts. On May 8, the company announced that it has launched the latest Tigo Flex MLPE product line, the Tigo TSX-4. The new MLPE is designed for large-scale commercial and industrial solar projects. It is compatible with solar modules with power of up to 800 watts. The new TSX-4 series offers increased power output, reduced cost, optimization, and advanced monitoring.

Another leading renewable energy company, Emeren operates, develops, and builds solar power projects. Its portfolio consists of a 3 gigawatts pipeline of projects and independent power producer (IPP) assets. It is also engaged in the engineering and procurement of solar modules along with other components. On April 23, the company announced that it has partnered with Nuveen Infrastructure to develop battery storage projects in Italy. The agreement finalized a collaboration of a 2.83 GWh capacity and the development of two additional battery storage projects. The construction of the projects will begin in 2024 and will be operational by 2026.

Is ESS Tech, Inc. (NYSE:GWH) the Best Energy Storage Penny Stock?

An assembly line of lithium-ion batteries for energy storage solutions with workers in the background.

Methodology

To compile our list of the 10 best renewable energy penny stocks to invest in, we used stock screeners from Yahoo Finance and Finviz, and listed the stocks trading at a price lower than $5, as of May 28. We also reviewed multiple similar rankings by Insider Monkey and various clean energy ETFs to form a list of 30 renewable energy penny stocks. We picked the 10 stocks with the most buy or buy-equivalent ratings from Wall Street analysts and the highest average upside potential, as of May 28. Finally, we sourced the hedge fund sentiment for each stock. The hedge fund data was taken from Insider Monkeys database of over 900 elite hedge funds as of the first quarter of 2024. The 10 best renewable energy penny stocks to invest in appears in ascending order of their number of hedge fund holders, as of Q1.

At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Is ESS Tech, Inc. (NYSE:GWH) the Best Energy Storage Penny Stock?

ESS Tech, Inc. (NYSE:GWH)

Share Price as of May 28: $0.79

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 7

ESS Tech, Inc. (NYSE:GWH) is an energy storage company involved in the design and production of iron flow batteries for utility-scale and commercial energy storage applications. Its energy storage products include energy warehouses and energy centers.

On May 7, ESS Tech, Inc. (NYSE:GWH) posted its earnings for the first quarter of 2024 and reported an EPS of -0.10, surpassing expectations by $0.01. It generated a revenue of $2.74 million in the quarter, recording a YoY increase of over 600%. The company also recently announced its partnership with a Nigerian energy generation company that boasts a 1 terawatt capacity, Sapele Power. ESS Tech, Inc. (NYSE:GWH) will provide energy storage services to the company, starting the initial deployment phase with 8 megawatt-hours of storage to improve the efficiency of Sapele's assets. This installation, supported by the Export-Import Bank of the US, will increase grid resiliency and offset backup generators. Future phases include 50 megawatts of battery storage to support a green load base. This deal emphasizes the need for long-duration energy storage and hence positions ESS Tech, Inc. (NYSE:GWH) as a strong contender in the market. This project will bring the nameplate power module capacity of the company to over 1 gigawatt-hour annually.

According to the data by Insider Monkey, 7 hedge fund managers held stakes worth $605,000 in ESS Tech, Inc. (NYSE:GWH) at the end of Q1. On May 8, TD Cowen analyst Thomas Boyes maintained a buy rating on the stock and revised his price from $2.5 to $2.

ESS Tech, Inc. (NYSE:GWH) is ranked 6th on our list of the best renewable energy penny stocks to invest in. To discover stocks ranked higher, check out our free report on the 10 Best Renewable Energy Penny Stocks to Invest in.

While we acknowledge the potential of these renewable energy stocks, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVIDIA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

Read Next: Michael Burry Is Selling These Stocks and Jim Cramer is Recommending These Stocks

Disclosure. None. This article is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Key Insights

The projected fair value for Ken Holdings Berhad is RM0.77 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

With RM0.66 share price, Ken Holdings Berhad appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value

The average premium for Ken Holdings Berhad's competitorsis currently 515%

Does the May share price for Ken Holdings Berhad (KLSE:KEN) reflect what it's really worth? Today, we will estimate the stock's intrinsic value by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex.

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. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for Ken Holdings Berhad

Crunching The Numbers

We're using the 2-stage growth model, which simply means we take in account two stages of company's growth. In the initial period the company may have a higher growth rate and the second stage is usually assumed to have a stable growth rate. To begin with, we have to get estimates of the next ten years of cash flows. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM13.9m RM12.2m RM11.3m RM10.8m RM10.6m RM10.6m RM10.7m RM10.9m RM11.1m RM11.4m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ -18.78% Est @ -12.08% Est @ -7.39% Est @ -4.11% Est @ -1.81% Est @ -0.20% Est @ 0.92% Est @ 1.71% Est @ 2.26% Est @ 2.65% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 10% RM12.6 RM10.1 RM8.5 RM7.4 RM6.6 RM5.9 RM5.4 RM5.0 RM4.7 RM4.3

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM70m

We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 10%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM11m (1 + 3.6%)  (10% 3.6%) = RM179m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM179m ( 1 + 10%)10= RM68m

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 RM138m. To get the intrinsic value per share, we divide this by the total number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM0.7, the company appears about fair value at a 15% 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

Important Assumptions

Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Ken Holdings Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 10%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.042. 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.

Next Steps:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation 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 example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For Ken Holdings Berhad, there are three important items you should consider:

Risks: As an example, we've found 1 warning sign for Ken Holdings Berhad that you need to consider before investing here. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! Other Environmentally-Friendly Companies: Concerned about the environment and think consumers will buy eco-friendly products more and more? Browse through our interactive list of companies that are thinking about a greener future to discover some stocks you may not have thought of!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every Malaysian stock every day, so if you want to find the intrinsic value of any other stock just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Key Insights

Using the Dividend Discount Model, PWF Corporation Bhd fair value estimate is RM0.70

With RM0.81 share price, PWF Corporation Bhd appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value

PWF Corporation Bhd's peers seem to be trading at a higher premium to fair value based onthe industry average of -53%

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of PWF Corporation Bhd. (KLSE:PWF) by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Models like these may appear beyond the comprehension of a lay person, but they're fairly easy to follow.

We 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.

Check out our latest analysis for PWF Corporation Bhd

What's The Estimated Valuation?

We have to calculate the value of PWF Corporation Bhd slightly differently to other stocks because it is a food company. In this approach dividends per share (DPS) are used, as free cash flow is difficult to estimate and often not reported by analysts. Unless a company pays out the majority of its FCF as a dividend, this method will typically underestimate the value of the stock. The 'Gordon Growth Model' is used, which simply assumes that dividend payments will continue to increase at a sustainable growth rate forever. The dividend is expected to grow at an annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.6%. We then discount this figure to today's value at a cost of equity of 8.6%. Relative to the current share price of RM0.8, 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.

Value Per Share = Expected Dividend Per Share / (Discount Rate - Perpetual Growth Rate)

= RM0.05 / (8.6%  3.6%)

= RM0.7

dcf

The Assumptions

The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. 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 PWF Corporation Bhd as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.6%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business.

Story continues

Looking Ahead:

Whilst important, the DCF calculation is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. 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 PWF Corporation Bhd, we've put together three essential items you should further examine:

Risks: We feel that you should assess the 4 warning signs for PWF Corporation Bhd we've flagged before making an investment in the company. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! Other Top Analyst Picks: Interested to see what the analysts are thinking? Take a look at our interactive list of analysts' top stock picks to find out what they feel might have an attractive future outlook!

PS. Simply Wall St updates its DCF calculation for every 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.
Glostrext Berhad (KLSE:GLXT) Full Year 2024 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: RM25.5m (up 18% from FY 2023).

Net income: RM1.48m (down 64% from FY 2023).

Profit margin: 5.8% (down from 19% in FY 2023). The decrease in margin was driven by higher expenses.

EPS: RM0.004 (down from RM0.014 in FY 2023).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Glostrext Berhad Earnings Insights

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 14% p.a. on average during the next 2 years, compared to a 9.3% growth forecast for the Construction industry in Malaysia.

Performance of the Malaysian Construction industry.

The company's shares are down 13% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

We should say that we've discovered 4 warning signs for Glostrext Berhad that you should be aware of before investing 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.
Grant Cardone Slams NYC After Trump Verdict: 'I Will Never Do Business In New York City'

Real estate mogul Grant Cardone said he'll never do business in New York City again after former President Donald Trump was found guilty of all 34 charges in his hush money trial.

In a May 30 post on X, Cardone asked his followers why anyone would invest in New York City real estate, noting that investors can't evict, can't raise rents, can't predict taxes, can't get fair legal treatment and can't do business in New York.

Accompanying the post is an image of a Fox News video from February in which Cardone said he would "immediately discontinue" doing business in New York City. The Fox News interview came after New York Judge Arthur Engoron ruled that Trump and his organizations owe more than $345 million in damages plus 9% interest and barred the former president from running a business as an officer or director in the state for three years.

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During that interview, Cardone said the risks outweigh the opportunities and that New York demonstrated its politicization when it comes to doing business.

"We invest for 14,000 investors at Cardone Capital that depend on cash flow. And if I can't predict the cash flow because of some ruling, or because of the migrants, or because I can't evict people, New York City just keeps doing every single thing they can to sell real estate in Florida, not sell real estate in New York," Cardone said.

After Thursday's verdict, Cardone encouraged his followers to send a message by donating to the $355M Unjust Judgment gofundme account created by his wife, Elena. So far, more than 34,000 contributions amounting to over $2 million have been raised for the effort.

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"Any amount sends a message [that] we support Donald Trump," he wrote.

"Given the circumstances, my husband and I have also now decided to cancel all future events in NY and halt all our real estate ventures there," Elena Cardone wrote on the gofundme page. "I believe NY is not safe nor a place to conduct business at this time."

In the days leading up to the verdict, Cardone indicated he had planned to invest $500 million in New York City but redirected the money to Florida because New York is too risky. He said the state violated the First Amendment, weaponized the legal system, is unfriendly to property owners and that crime is out of control.

Story continues

"New Yorkers get a handle on those in power or risk losing your great state forever," he posted.

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Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos are bullish on one city that could dethrone New York and become the new financial capital of the U.S. Investing in its booming real estate market has never been more accessible .

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This article Grant Cardone Slams NYC After Trump Verdict: 'I Will Never Do Business In New York City' originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
Homeowners insurance -- Its a necessity many may not think much about as they pay to renew their policies year after year, as reported by our sister station Boston 25.

So imagine receiving a letter from your longtime insurer highlighting several property problems that suddenly need to be addressed.

Its exactly what happened to one Malden homeowner.

I felt like I was blindsided. If you look at the things they asked me to do, it was a significant amount of money, said John DEntremont, who has owned his Malden home for more than 40 years.

Read: Watchdog report highlights trend of investor-owned rental homes in U.S. housing market

He carried homeowners insurance through the same insurer the entire time and had never been notified of any issues. But last August, he got a letter from his insurer detailing pricey repairs. They needed a plan from him within 60 days.

Get the moss off the roof, trim the tree back that had branches hanging over the house, and get some, in their case, they said get some shingles, DEntremont said.

He quickly started gathering estimates, got his tree work done, and reached out to his insurance agent to keep her updated on his progress. It wasnt enough.

Read: Look up! New drone show will dance in night sky at Disney Springs

According to DEntremont, November 3rd, I get a notification that they have decided to cancel my homeowners policy.

In Massachusetts, insurers have the right to not renew policies as long as they provide a homeowner with a 45-day written notice before the policys expiration, and specific reasons for the decision.

All of this was done in DEntremonts case. But he says, hed never filed any claims with his insurer, and had never been notified of any defects with his home. Why now? His daughter has an unconfirmed hunch that aerial images may have been used. And according to Emily Rogan with the consumer advocacy organization United Policyholders, that isnt so unusual these days.

There were a lot of big changes during COVID where there were more satellite inspections, different ways. And you know, a lot of industries really leaned into the technology. And what were seeing now is that its becoming more commonplace, whether a drone image or from a satellite, Rogan said. They have more access to data about you as a policyholder and about your property. And theyre using that to choose their customers.

An article on the website for the Massachusetts Division of Insurance confirms aerial images can be used during policy renewal decisions. And according to the cancellation and nonrenewal numbers in the Division of Insurance reports from 2019, 2021, and 2022, there has been an uptick in the number of policy cancellations and non-renewals post-pandemic due to actions taken by the insurer.

Story continues

So what can you do if you get a notice from your insurer? Emily Rogan says the first thing you should do is ask why.

Read: Palm Gardens: Orlando celebrates opening of new affordable housing complex

Ask to see the photos. The insurance companies are not required to show you the photos as of this point, Rogan said. But you can always ask. Make sure the property is not your neighbors property and make sure anything that they see isnt an error.

Rogan recommends asking your insurer if theyll change their decision if you can prove you have a contract for pending repairs. Beyond that, she says there are three things you should do. First, start shopping for a new insurer immediately.

Remember, your insurer has to provide you with 45 days notice before they drop your policy. Next, shop around. Different insurance companies have different underwriting guidelines. A no from one insurer may not elicit the same answer from another. Finally, Rogan recommends going through an independent broker.

They have access to different insurers and can make your shopping process easier. And as every industry continues to lean into technology, Rogan has this last piece of advice: dont delay your home repairs.

Its more important than ever for homeowners to stay on top of home maintenance because you never know when that insurance company is going to take that photo, Rogan said.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
AMBCrypto

TALLINN, Estonia, May 31, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The cryptocurrency landscape is witnessing a surprising shift, with an increasing number of investors showing a preference for memecoins over Bitcoin. An exclusive global survey conducted by AMBCrypto has revealed that 53.7% of investors now favor memecoins, marking a significant departure from the traditionally dominant Bitcoin.



This trend is particularly pronounced among Solana-based memecoins, which have been outperforming their Ethereum counterparts, even as Ethereum-based PEPE recently achieved a new all-time high.

The rising popularity of memecoins aligns with broader market trends and investor sentiment. For example, gaming tokens such as The Sandbox and Axie Infinity have demonstrated resilience despite a general market downturn, highlighting a complex and evolving investment landscape.

AMBCrypto's comprehensive market report provides in-depth analysis, detailing how memecoins, despite their high-risk perception, are becoming integral components of diversified investment portfolios. The report offers insights into trading volumes, market sentiment, and the broader economic factors driving these digital assets.

Additionally, the report delves into the implications of this shift for traditional cryptocurrencies, shedding light on the evolving dynamics of digital finance. It offers a thorough overview of the current state and potential future of cryptocurrencies, emphasizing the investor behaviors and market movements shaping the crypto world.

About AMBCrypto

Established in 2018, AMBCrypto cuts through crypto noise. Their passionate journalist and blockchain enthusiast team delivers breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert breakdowns on the ever-evolving crypto world. They simplify complex technical happenings, empowering users with clear insights. Trusted by tech giants (Amazon, Facebook, X, Microsoft, Tesla) AMBCrypto helps navigate the ever-changing crypto landscape.

Website | LinkedIn | X

Media Contact:

Manisha Mishra

AMBCrypto

news@ambcrypro.com

https://ambcrypto.com/




HUNTSVILLE, Ala (WHNT)  Governor Kay Ivey gathered with local and U.S. Department of Defense officials Thursday to cut the ribbon on a new $18 million Lockheed Martin Engineering facility in Huntsville.

Ivey joined officials from the company and the U.S. Army in cutting the ribbon on the 122,000-square-foot facility that Lockheed Martin says will advance national security capabilities and drive innovation in North Alabama. The company said the new facility also has space for 500 employees.

Decatur Police Chief releases plan aimed to bridge the gap between residents and police

According to Lockheed Martin, the new facility includes a new Rotary Wing Innovation Center that will work to modernize the U.S. Army Black Hawk Helicopter while also working to sustain the existing fleet. The facility will also work to support the Missle Defense Agency Command and Control, Battle Management and Communications System, a layered missile defense system.

Ivey said the state is proud to support the work Lockheed Martin is doing at the facility.

Alabama is proud to support the innovative work being done here from the band missile assembly and house stage Northern Power parts to the cutting edge technologies being developed in Troy, the governor said. Each Lockheed site here in our state reflects a dedication to excellence and mission success that we deeply appreciate.

She said Lockheeds continuing investment in the state shows the strength of the company and the states partnership.

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.
Key Insights

The projected fair value for CPE Technology Berhad is RM1.33 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

CPE Technology Berhad's RM1.42 share price indicates it is trading at similar levels as its fair value estimate

Industry average of 115% suggests CPE Technology Berhad's peers are currently trading at a higher premium to fair value

Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of CPE Technology Berhad (KLSE:CPETECH) as an investment opportunity by taking the expected future cash flows and discounting them to their present value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple!

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 CPE Technology Berhad

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. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Seeing as no analyst estimates of free cash flow are available to us, we have extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the company's last reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years.

A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars:

10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM44.1m RM50.7m RM56.6m RM61.8m RM66.5m RM70.7m RM74.5m RM78.2m RM81.7m RM85.2m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 20.03% Est @ 15.09% Est @ 11.63% Est @ 9.20% Est @ 7.51% Est @ 6.32% Est @ 5.49% Est @ 4.91% Est @ 4.50% Est @ 4.22% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 10% RM40.0 RM41.8 RM42.3 RM41.9 RM40.9 RM39.5 RM37.8 RM36.0 RM34.1 RM32.3

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM387m

Story continues

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 3.6%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 10%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM85m (1 + 3.6%)  (10% 3.6%) = RM1.3b

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM1.3b ( 1 + 10%)10= RM504m

The total value, or equity value, is then the sum of the present value of the future cash flows, which in this case is RM891m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of RM1.4, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent.

dcf

The Assumptions

We would point out that 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 CPE Technology Berhad as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 10%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.044. 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 CPE Technology Berhad

Strength

Debt is not viewed as a risk.

Weakness

Earnings declined over the past year.

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 CPETECH.

Looking Ahead:

Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. For CPE Technology Berhad, there are three relevant elements you should assess:

Financial Health: Does CPETECH have a healthy balance sheet? Take a look at our free balance sheet analysis with six simple checks on key factors like leverage and risk. Future Earnings: How does CPETECH's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing!

PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the KLSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
You are here: China

Chinese schools have been asked to specify punishments for different forms of bullying on campus, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said on Friday.

In a recent circular, the MOE asked schools across the country to set up specialized committees to deal with incidents of bullying in accordance with related laws and regulations.

Schools should also set up public hotlines and email addresses to report incidents of bullying, in addition to providing phone numbers of school management personnel responsible for addressing such issues.

Video surveillance must cover all inconspicuous venues, the circular noted.

In March, the MOE launched a campaign for schools to organize education activities to enhance students' safety awareness and improve their ability to protect themselves.

The number of arrests and indictments for crimes related to school bullying and violence on campus in China dropped significantly from 2017 to 2020, the Supreme People's Procuratorate said in 2021.
shapecharge / Getty Images

Its that time of year again. According to Louann Millar, consumer banking product management director at Wells Fargo, summer is one of the most popular times for teens and college students to open checking accounts.

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Teens are getting jobs and looking for accounts to deposit their paychecks in, which are also easy to understand and use, she said. College students are seeking convenience, as they may be leaving home, and inexpensive ways to manage their money.

A checking account can be a valuable tool, but if youve never opened and used one, it can be confusing as to which one you should choose. Heres what you need to know, including whether you should choose a student checking account over a traditional one.

Look for Free Options

When looking for a student account, the first thing to look for is to make sure it is free, meaning no monthly fees and no balance requirements, said Lori Gravitt, assistant vice president and branch manager with Addition Financial Credit Union.

If the account is not free, it is best for students to stay away. Students are already likely limited with their income, and it is very possible that this is the first financial account they have ever had and that this is an all-new experience.

Find Out: Im a Bank Teller: 9 Reasons You Should Never Ask for $2 Bills From the Bank

Make Sure It Offers Convenience

Gravitt also said that, to start, students should find a checking account with a bank or credit union that is convenient to their home or school.

Then, I recommend students deep dive into what is important to them, she said. Many students who bank with our credit union appreciate same-day debit cards. Same-day debit cards are a very convenient perk and can be a time and stress saver if an account holder runs into fraud or loses their card.

Along those lines, students should ensure the bank or credit union offers an electronic wallet option with that debit card. That way you dont have to carry your card and its more secure to tap and pay.

Lastly, students should make sure the financial institutions website and platform have everything they are looking for as far as convenience and options. Many sites offer virtual tours of what their online experiences look like.

Millar suggested making sure the bank has an app that makes it easy to monitor spending and balances, and to get help when you need it.

It Should Allow You To Opt-Out of Overdraft Fees

Gravitt said she always encourages students to look at ways to avoid overdraft fees.

Story continues

There should be an option to opt-out, she said, where the student has declined overdraft coverage for the ATM transactions and debit card transactions when they dont have the funds available. The last thing a student wants or needs is to get stuck in the overdraft hamster wheel.

Traditional Checking Accounts vs. Student Checking Accounts

According to Gravitt, traditional checking accounts are best for anyone looking for an account for their everyday spending or household bills.

They normally come with an option to write checks, use bill pay, get a debit card and possibly earn interest, she explained. These might have fees, direct deposit requirements or minimum balance requirements.

Gravitt said that student accounts sometimes come with an age requirement or proof they are enrolled in school.

These student accounts may not have fees or other requirements, which makes them great for a student learning to manage their money and use a debit card, she said. These accounts do come with limitations, but those limitations might be in the students best interest when learning to manage their money on their own. Plus, I see many times students will have a parent on the account to help them stay in line.

Should Students Always Choose a Student Checking Account?

Banks recognize students are often still learning to manage their money and want to help them on their journey, said Millar.

But whether a student should always opt for a student checking account depends on the student.

The student should look closely at their financial situation and their ability to manage their account when deciding if a student account is right for them, Gravitt suggested. If they have extra funds saved, direct deposit  and if they can manage overdraft situations  they might want to look at a traditional checking account that might offer more perks.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Im a Financial Expert: 3 Things Every Student Needs To Know About Choosing a Checking Account
Art Wager / Getty Images

Youre planning a trip to Hawaii. Spending time in this beautiful state is amazing in itself, but you might be looking for activities to spice up your trip.

Check Out: 3 Places To Travel That Are Like Hawaii but Way Cheaper

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At Royal Expression Travels, we believe that the best way to spend your money in Hawaii is by investing in experiences that are not just memorable, but truly transformative, said LaDell Carter, founder and lead travel designer at Royal Expression Travels. Each of these exclusive adventures offers a unique perspective on the islands natural beauty and cultural richness, ensuring that your Hawaiian getaway is nothing short of extraordinary.

Finding these activities on your own can be challenging, but Carter has you covered. Here are seven activities at a variety of price points and activities to enjoy on your next trip to Hawaii.

Helicopter Tour to Molokai With Cliff Landing

Average price: $400 per person and up

For those seeking an unparalleled adventure, a helicopter tour to Molokai promises a mesmerizing journey through Hawaiis untouched beauty, she said. As you soar above verdant valleys and cascading waterfalls, the islands rugged landscape unfolds beneath you.

No doubt, this view will be stunning, but theres more to come.

The piece de resistance is a cliff landing, where youll step onto a remote, breathtakingly beautiful part of Molokai, accessible only by air, she said. This extraordinary vantage point offers a sense of awe and tranquility thats simply unmatched.

Be Aware: Dave Ramsey: 7 Vacation Splurges That Are a Waste of Money

Kayak and Waterfall Hike Adventure

Average price: $150 per person

Kauais Huleia National Wildlife Refuge serves as the backdrop for an unforgettable paddle and hike excursion, she said. Drift along serene waterways, flanked by lush jungle, before embarking on a scenic hike to a secluded waterfall.

After the hike, youll have a chance to relax.

Here, amidst the symphony of nature, enjoy a leisurely picnic lunch. This private adventure combines relaxation and exploration, allowing you to connect with Hawaiis natural wonders in an intimate and personal way.

Niihau and Napali Sailing Adventure

Average price: From around $200 and up

Embark on a sailing charter towards the mysterious Forbidden Island of Niihau, a journey that unveils the dramatic beauty of the Napali Coast, she said. The coastline, with its towering cliffs and hidden sea caves, is a spectacle best admired from the water.

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Enjoy taking in the beautiful scenery, while making lasting vacation memories.

This sailing adventure offers a blend of serenity and excitement, as you navigate crystal-clear waters and marvel at the untouched splendor of one of Hawaiis most picturesque regions, she said.

Private Luxury Manta Ray Night Snorkel

Average price: From around $130 per person

The Big Islands waters come alive at night, and theres no better way to witness this than on a luxury manta ray night snorkel, she said. Begin with a scenic sunset cruise aboard a state-of-the-art catamaran, where the colors of the setting sun reflect off the ocean.

This will certainly be stunning, but the real adventure begins when nightfall begins.

As night falls, dive into the warm waters and watch in awe as graceful manta rays glide around you, illuminated by underwater lights, she said. This surreal experience is both thrilling and serene, offering a unique glimpse into Hawaiis marine life.

Private Mauna Kea Night Hike and Stargazing Expedition

Average price: $300 per person

Ascend to the summit of Mauna Kea, the highest point in Hawaii, with an expert guide by your side, she said. As you reach the top, the views are nothing short of spectacular, with the island stretching out beneath you and the sky above transforming into a blanket of stars.

She described this night hike as a must-do for any stargazing enthusiast.

This private night hike and stargazing expedition provides an unparalleled opportunity to explore the cosmos from one of the worlds best vantage points.

Snorkel Boat Trip to Molokini

Average price: From around $179 and up

Set sail for Molokini, a partially submerged volcanic crater renowned for its clear waters and vibrant marine life, she said. This chartered boat trip offers a snorkeling experience like no other.

A truly magical experience, she said youll spend the day swimming among colorful coral reefs teeming with tropical fish.

The stunning beauty of Molokini, both above and below the water, ensures a day of adventure and discovery that youll cherish forever, she said.

Cowboy-Style Sunset BBQ on a Working Ranch

Average price: From around $85 per person

Immerse yourself in Hawaiis rich ranching culture with a sunset barbecue dinner on a working ranch in the Big Islands picturesque Upcountry, she said. As the sun dips below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, savor a delicious BBQ feast prepared with locally sourced ingredients.

Enjoy feasting on authentic Hawaiian fare, while taking in the gorgeous scenery.

This authentic cowboy-style experience provides a taste of Hawaiian hospitality and the rustic charm of ranch life, set against the backdrop of the islands breathtaking landscapes, she said.

You wont regret spending money on any of these once-in-a-lifetime excursions. If you have the money to add one to your trip, do yourself a favor and schedule it.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Im a Travel Agent: This Is the Best $400 or Less That You Can Spend in Hawaii
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Friday said major U.S. airlines had declined to commit to boosting travel benefits for military personnel, the latest clash between the Biden administration and the air carriers.

Buttigieg in April had urged airlines to do more for military personnel and vowed to publicize the issue on a dashboard but he said major carriers including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and United Airlines have declined to "make clear and enforceable commitments to U.S. service members and their families."

Airlines, who employ a large number of military veterans, insist they go beyond what USDOT is measuring benefits but some say do not want to add those benefits to customer service plans, which would then open them to USDOT enforcement actions if they did not abide by those commitments.

Airlines for America, a trade group representing the largest U.S. passenger airlines, said the dashboard "shows only a fraction of what airlines offer service members" and said it "fails to reflect the numerous benefits carriers already offer."

The dashboard measures whether airlines will voluntarily commit to waiving cancellation and change fees and ensure full refunds for service members and family who cancel or reschedule travel plans due to military orders; offering some free baggage and the lowest fare for flights to visit service members recently injured in the line of duty.

"Service members and their families make extraordinary commitments and sacrifices for this country, and they deserve support and recognition whenever they fly," Buttigieg said.

Six of the 10 airlines received no green checkmarks from USDOT, including the largest three airlines along with Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines and JetBlue Airways.

Allegiant and Spirit Airlines got four checks and Frontier three.

Southwest Airlines received two checkmarks because of its existing baggage and change fee policies applying to all passengers.

Airlines and the Biden administration have repeatedly clashed on a number of customer service fronts.

Earlier this month, major airlines sued USDOT over a new rule requiring upfront disclosure of airline fees.

Airlines for America filed suit over USDOT rules last month requiring airlines and ticket agents to disclose service fees alongside the airfare, saying it would help consumers avoid unneeded or unexpected fees.

USDOT has created other dashboards since 2022 measuring other airline customer service benefits and was directed by Congress to create a new one on minimum airline seat size.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; Editing by Marguerita Choy)
After state officials went public with serious concerns about missing financial reports from Milwaukee Public Schools, school board members voted Thursday to delay a vote on the district's proposed budget for the next school year, which would cut nearly 300 staff positions.

Board members are required under state law to approve a budget by the end of June.

Marva Herndon, Milwaukee Board of School Directors President, makes remarks as the directors discuss whether to put a referendum on the spring ballot, asking voters to raise taxes for more school funding, on Thursday January 11, 2024 at the MPS Central Services Building in Milwaukee, Wis.

The decision comes as MPS is at risk of a suspension in state funding because district officials have failed to submit required audited financial reports to the state Department of Public Instruction, some of which were due over eight months ago. DPI officials warned the district in a letter on Friday that it could suspend state funds to MPS if the reports are not filed promptly.

Board members voiced frustration Thursday that they didnt have more information. Board member Darryl Jackson said he had been in the dark before DPIs letter.

Im so appreciative of DPI informing us of where we are and where we stand right now," Jackson said. "In no way, shape or form should we be in this position and the board not know.

The board members present at the meeting all voted in favor of a motion from board member Marcela Garcia to postpone action on the budget. Board members Jilly Gokalgandhi and Megan O'Halloran were absent.

MPS is also in hot water with federal officials, who suspended funding this month to the district's Head Start programs after the district has failed to correct problems after incidents of maltreatment.

Attendees at the Milwaukee School Board meeting May 30 hold up signs critical of Milwaukee Public Schools' administration.

MPS plans to bring in external financial help

Matt Chason, director of the district's Office of Accountability and Efficiency, said Thursday that MPS planned to heed the advice of DPI and hire an external financial professional to help the district complete the missing reports.

Chason said the seriousness of the letter from DPI "cannot be overstated."

"It has shattered the publics confidence in the oversight of districts financial operations," Chason said. "That is unacceptable. This needs to be restored so that we have public trust in the stewardship of public dollars."

Board member Missy Zombor, who echoed Jackson's frustration about the lack of information available to the board, thanked Chason for taking "swift and decisive action" in bringing in an outside professional.

"I think the work youre doing is going to help us get some answers," Zombor said.

In a joint statement Wednesday, board members had vowed to ensure that MPS submitted the late reports "in a timely manner."

While DPI has threatened to withhold special education and general aid funding to MPS if the district does not promptly submit its missing reports, DPI officials have said MPS will be able to recoup that funding when the reports are complete.

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MPS and DPI officials have been meeting daily.

Gov. Tony Evers said Friday that he's concerned about the delayed reports, but that "we have to wait and see what the data show us" before judging whether Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent Keith Posley should lose his job

Evers' spokesperson earlier said the governor had been in touch with officials at DPI and MPS, urging them to "work together to reach resolution quickly and avoid further financial impacts."

Evers once led the Department of Public Instruction, and said every year there were districts that were late or failed to submit data.

"We got bird dogging until we got the information," he said Friday. "Yet in my humble opinion the bird dogging should have ended a long time ago."

The MPS board also released a statement Friday morning saying that it is working with its auditors and the DPI to complete the necessary reports and documents required by law. It also said the board "has engaged other outside assistance to investigate and make recommendations regarding accountability for these financial and related matters."

"The Board has insisted upon a thorough, expedited, and timely investigation," the board's statement said.

Meeting grew heated as residents demand transparency

Attendees of Thursday's meeting shouted at district administration and board members to be transparent about the districts financial situation. At one point, two were escorted out of the meeting by police.

Angela Harris, the chair of The Black Educators Caucus MKE, said the plan was to disrupt the meeting and that the urgency to attend intensified after the DPI letter came out.

It was time for the board to really listen to the community. We felt like that the community hasnt been listened to for so long. Weve spent years coming here testifying, following the process, following Roberts Rules of Order and it really hasnt gotten us nowhere. And with all the information thats come out over the last few days as well as the information about the Head Start contracts, it just was imperative that we stood up for our students and our staff and the community and say enough is enough. You guys need to pause this process and we really need to figure out whats going on.

Board schedules public hearing for Monday on district's financial situation

As Thursday's board meeting did not offer time for public comments, Board President Marva Herndon scheduled a public hearing for Monday where members of the public will be able to share feedback about the district's financial situation.

The meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. at the district's Central Office, 5225 W. Vliet St. Members of the public can register to speak at the meeting in person or online.

It remains unclear why MPS has not submitted financial reports

District administrators have not answered questions from the Journal Sentinel about why the reports are late.

According to DPI, MPS has failed to provide an annual financial report with audits for the 2022-23 school year, as well as certified budget data for the 2023-24 school year. The documents were due in September and December of last year.

For the 2021-22 school year, MPS paid Baker Tilly to audit the district's financial statements. MPS extended its contract with Baker Tilly through June 2024, though the firm has not yet presented the school board with an audit for the 2022-23 school year.

Rob Henken, president of the Wisconsin Policy Forum, said one reason for an audit to run significantly late would be if there are serious disagreements between the auditors and MPS officials.

Nicole Armendariz, communications director for MPS, told the Journal Sentinel Thursday there were no serious disputes or serious issues with Baker Tilley, which she confirmed is working on an audit for the district.

Were working with them to ensure our financial information is accurate, Armendariz said. Theyve been a good partner to us throughout the process.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: MPS delays budget vote amid financial concerns, missing reports
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is causing a paradigm shift in today's modern technological world. AI technologies are making their presence felt in all walks of life -- be it education, business, investing, or home management. Not surprisingly, artificial intelligence has also become a major investment trend on the stock market, and has captivated the interest of both amateur and seasoned investors.

However, it is essential to understand that all AI-powered companies are not created equal. Only a few of these companies are in a position to benefit significantly from the ongoing AI rush. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (NYSE: TSM), also called TSMC, seems strategically positioned to capitalize on this opportunity, as it is playing a major role in building the hardware infrastructure required to run complex AI workloads.

Here's why TSMC could be a smart long-term pick.

AI catalyst

As the largest contract chip manufacturer in the world, TSMC is known for manufacturing chips for multiple fabless chip designers and large consumer electronic companies including Nvidia, Advanced Micro Devices, and Apple.

Not surprisingly, TSMC has become a major beneficiary of hyperscalers shifting from traditional servers to AI servers. Thanks to its cutting-edge semiconductor process technologies, the company is pivotal in manufacturing the advanced semiconductor content used in these AI servers, such as GPUs, AI accelerators, and networking processors. In fact, according to one estimate, TSMC currently manufactures nearly 90% of the world's advanced AI processors.

Although most existing AI accelerators (specialized high-performance computing machines for AI workloads) have been manufactured with 5-nanometer or 4-nanometer technology, many customers now opt for TSMC's advanced 3-nanometer process technology. Since 3-nanometer chips can fare better in processing power and energy consumption than previous-generation chips, they are better suited for power-hungry AI data centers. TSMC expects revenue from 3-nanometer chips to more than triple on a year-over-year basis in 2024. The company is also gearing up for volume production of 2-nanometer chips in 2025. Management also expects 2-nanometer chips to be bigger revenue contributors for the company than 3-nanometer or 5-nanometer chips in the first two years post-launch.

TSMC expects AI processors to be the largest contributor to its overall revenue growth in the coming years. The company expects revenue contribution from AI processors to grow annually at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 50% for the next five years, accounting for over 20% of the company's revenue in 2028.

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High-performance computing business

The surge in AI-related demand for hardware has made the high-performance computing (HPC) business the largest revenue contributor for TSMC.

In the first quarter of 2024, HPC accounted for 46% of the company's total revenue. HPC-related demand partly offset the negative impact of smartphone business seasonality in the first quarter. The HPC business is also expected to support TSMC in the long run.

Impressive financials

TSMC boasts impressive financials, despite the headwinds in the smartphone business. The company has guided for revenue to grow in the low to mid-20s percent range in U.S. dollar terms in 2024. At the end of the first quarter, TSMC had 1.9 trillion in New Taiwan dollars as cash and marketable securities and reported 255 billion in New Taiwan dollars of free cash flow.

Expanding geographic footprint

Although TSMC accounts for almost 61.2% of the global semiconductor foundry market, a big chunk of this business is concentrated in Taiwan.

To reduce its geographic concentration risk, TSMC plans to build three facilities ("fabs") in Arizona. TSMC expects volume production of 4-nanometer chips in the first fab in Arizona in the first half of 2025. The company has scheduled volume production of 2-nanometer and 3-nanometer chips at the second fab in Arizona by 2028. Finally, the company plans to start production of chips based on 2-nanometer or advanced technologies in the third fab in Arizona by the end of 2030. The U.S government is also helping TSMC in this endeavor by offering $11.6 billion in grants and loans to the company.

TSMC has also planned specialty technology fabs in Japan and Germany to further expand its geographic footprint.

Reasonable valuation

TSMC is currently trading at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 29, lower than the semiconductor industry median PE multiple of 32. Although not exactly cheap, the valuation seems quite reasonable considering that analysts expect its revenue to grow year-over-year by 24% in 2024 and by 20.4% in 2025.

These are impressive estimates considering the weakness in demand in the smartphone end market (which accounted for 38% of the company's revenue in the first quarter). Smartphone seasonality and lengthening in the smartphone replacement cycle are notable challenges for TSMC. However, the company is confident about the strong high-performance computing-related demand for its chips, which can help partly offset the adverse impact of the slowdown in the smartphone business.

Hence, TSMC now seems to be a smart pick for investors considering its critical role in building the hardware infrastructure for AI systems, its technological superiority, and its reasonable valuation.

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A political action committee run by the wife of Mark Meadows, former President Donald Trumps last chief of staff, plans to close and faces a nearly $10,000 fine over accusations of violating federal election law.

The fine and closure will resolve a dispute with the Federal Election Commission through an agreement between Right Women PACs attorney, Thomas Datwyler, and officials in the FECs Alternative Dispute Resolution Office, a program that attempts to settle administrative complaints and referrals outside standard enforcement procedures.

Brett Kappel, an attorney with Harmon Curran focused on campaign finance, lobbying and government ethics law cases, said it is not unusual to see a super PAC terminate itself after paying a significant FEC penalty.

In fact, the Commission sometimes makes termination a condition of settling the case for a lower penalty than the FEC would normally seek, Kappel said.

Right Women PAC found itself the recipient of 11 requests for additional information from the FEC in 2022 because it either failed to file reports on time or filed amended reports that failed to offer clear explanations of changes from original reporting.

Neither Datwyler nor Debra Meadows, whose husband formerly served as a North Carolina congressman, responded to emails Wednesday or a text message Thursday requesting comment for this article.

Failure to file

The PAC is facing a $9,500 fine over a particular 48-hour report it failed to file in 2022 that would have alerted the public that the PAC had spent more than $191,871 on an ad supporting former Rep. Stella Yvette Herrell, a Republican from New Mexico, in her reelection bid against Rep. Gabe Vasquez, a Democrat.

Vasquez won the election by just 1,300 votes, on Nov. 8, 2022, after New Mexico lawmakers redrew Herrells district to favor a Democratic win.

Election law requires a committee spending more than $10,000, 20 days or more before an election, to file a 48-hour expense report. That threshold drops closer to the election.

But Right Women PAC did not file a 48-hour report to the FEC for its Sept. 7, 2022, expenditure until after the November election.

In FEC documents, representatives of the PAC said the failure to file the report was because of administrative error and that they filed the report as soon as FEC notified them of the mistake.

The PAC agreed to pay $9,500 by Monday, though its not yet clear whether the payment has been made.

Because the committee chose to shut down by July 27, it also agreed to certify the closure of its federal accounts. The committee must continue filing required reports until the FEC approves its closure. In its last report, filed in April, the PAC had $148,945 cash on hand.

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Helping women candidates

Right Women PAC was founded by Debra Meadows for the 2020 election, to help fund the primary- and winnable general-election campaigns of conservative, pro-Trump candidates running for the U.S. House. That included candidates like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert, who both went on to serve in Congress.

Debra Meadows served as the executive director. Sen. Ted Budds wife, Amy Kate Budd, served on the advisory board.

Right Women PAC has shut down its website and most of its social media accounts, though on X, formerly Twitter, the groups banner still shows Debra Meadows sitting in a car with Trump.

Legal fees

Right Women PAC previously garnered attention after it switched from paying Cleta Mitchell, a lawyer at the center of Trumps attempts to retain his presidency, to paying Buckley, a high-profile law firm that handles white-collar crime and congressional investigations.

It was never clear why the PAC began making these payments, but they were timed a month after the House January 6 Select Committee subpoenaed Mark Meadows for documents and his testimony about the events leading to and surrounding the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The PAC stopped paying Buckley after July 2023, and began paying the Compass Legal Group, whose chief counsel served on Trumps White House counsel team.

Neither Buckley nor Compass have been linked to Mark Meadows after he was indicted twice on allegations that he helped in attempts to overturn the 2020 elections.

Both Mark and Debra Meadows also faced an investigation in North Carolina for voter fraud, but neither were charged.
When a single insider purchases stock, it is typically not a major deal. However, when multiple insiders purchase stock, like in Revolver Resources Holdings Ltd's (ASX:RRR) instance, it's good news for shareholders.

Although we don't think shareholders should simply follow insider transactions, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing.

See our latest analysis for Revolver Resources Holdings

The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Revolver Resources Holdings

Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Independent Non-Executive Director Brian MacDonald for AU$250k worth of shares, at about AU$0.13 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at above the current price of AU$0.075. Their view may have changed since then, but at least it shows they felt optimistic at the time. To us, it's very important to consider the price insiders pay for shares. It is generally more encouraging if they paid above the current price, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels.

Revolver Resources Holdings insiders may have bought shares in the last year, but they didn't sell any. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction!

Revolver Resources Holdings is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of under-the-radar companies with insider buying.

Insider Ownership Of Revolver Resources Holdings

Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. Our data suggests Revolver Resources Holdings insiders own 2.5% of the company, worth about AU$483k. We do note, however, it is possible insiders have an indirect interest through a private company or other corporate structure. We prefer to see high levels of insider ownership.

What Might The Insider Transactions At Revolver Resources Holdings Tell Us?

There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. But insiders have shown more of an appetite for the stock, over the last year. We'd like to see bigger individual holdings. However, we don't see anything to make us think Revolver Resources Holdings insiders are doubting the company. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Revolver Resources Holdings. For example, Revolver Resources Holdings has 6 warning signs (and 3 which are a bit unpleasant) we think 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 interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt.

For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  An internal investigation is underway after Portland officials found unexpected internal delays in the citys payroll system.

On Thursday afternoon, the City of Portland announced its plans to assess the delayed tax payouts and system updates affecting the program.

Oregon whooping cough cases increase 770%, prompting OHA to encourage vaccines

According to officials, the Bureau of Human Resources identified the issue within the past few months and subsequently launched an investigation in hopes of fixing it as soon as possible.

As a steward of public funds, the City of Portland takes financial responsibility very seriously, City Administrator Michael Jordan said in a statement. Shining a light on this payroll situation provides an opportunity to ensure that we comply with all requirements and detect any problems quickly.

Portland leaders reported the city is communicating with labor partners to address the delays impact on staff. They also claim the errors havent impacted cost-of-living or merit-based pay increases.

Officials revealed they were alerted to a similar system issue earlier in May, when the city was overdue for returning the state and local payroll taxes withheld from employees.

OHSU, Legacy Health sign definitive agreement to merge

The city learned it failed to pay $7 million to TriMet, Paid Leave Oregon, the Workers Benefit Fund and the state transit tax over two quarters. Officials said they promptly distributed the money that was initially withheld from staff.

In addition to the internal assessment, the Human Resources Bureau plans to conduct an audit and evaluation of the payroll system.

We are working quickly to fully understand and resolve this situation, Interim Human Services Director Tracy Warren said in a statement. We are committed to operating human resources programs that our employees, labor partners, and community can trust.

Jury finds Trump guilty on all counts in hush money case

Portlands investigation into the payroll system follows similar challenges within the Oregon Employment Department, which received several complaints from residents who experienced delays with the paid leave program.

The problem started when OED launched a new platform to help users navigate Unemployment Insurance benefit claims.

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.
We recently compiled a list of the 50 Richest Countries in the World by GDP and in this article we will talk about the country with the largest GDP in the world.

Global Economic Outlook of Richest Countries

The global economy has been facing strong headwinds since the COVID-19 pandemic including the world's richest countries by GDP. The major economic issues include high inflation, high interest rates, and geopolitical risks. Japans economic situation looks bleak and the countrys GDP has plunged during the last two quarters. Japan's GDP shrank by 3.3% in Q1 2024 and 0.4% in Q4 2023 year-over-year. In the ongoing economic shift, Japan lost its position as the third-largest economy with its GDP at around $6.72 trillion, as of 2024. On May 9, Reuters reported that the Bank of Japan could raise interest rates if the yen drops sharply, leading to higher inflation. Recently, the Bank of Japan ended eight years of negative interest rates, changing the policy following decades of aggressive monetary easing. Japans new interest rate ranges between 0% to 0.1%. Japans central bank board member, Seiji Adachi, said that the bank can move towards increased interest rates if excessive yen falls persist. Adachi further added:

"We must by all means avoid raising interest rates prematurely. But by focusing too much on downside risks, we could see inflation accelerate in a way that forces us to tighten monetary policy sharply later on. As long as underlying inflation continues to head toward 2%, it's important to gradually adjust the degree of monetary support reflecting economic, price, and financial developments."

In the global economic shift, another major economy that has been in the limelight for fighting the recession is the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom has been surpassed by India, Russia, Indonesia, and Brazil as the richest countries in the world by GDP. The UKs inflation is measured at 2.3% compared to 3.4% in the US and 2.4% in the eurozone. On May 27, Olli Rehn, the European Central Bank governing council member in a speech said that the inflation rate in the eurozone is falling in a sustained way. Rehn further said, The time is thus ripe in June to ease the monetary policy stance and start cutting rates.

China, the largest manufacturing country in the world, has received an upgrade on its economic outlook from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). On May 28, the IMF reported that it has revised Chinas economic outlook, increasing growth by 0.4 percentage points for 2024. As per the updated projection, Chinas economy is expected to grow by 5% in 2024 and 4.5% in 2025. One of the major reasons for the upside in Chinas economic growth is the downside expected in the property sector. Here is what the IMF's First Deputy Managing Director, Ms. Gita Gopinath, said:

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The ongoing housing market correction, which is necessary for steering the sector towards a more sustainable path, should continue. The authorities have implemented various welcome measures to guide the property market transition, including recent policy announcements regarding lending support for affordable housing.

The US economy is projected to have a 2.7% growth rate in 2024, a slightly higher growth compared to 2.5% in 2023. In 2025, the growth for the US is anticipated to decline to 1.9%. The chief US economist, Andrew Hollenhorst, in a CNBC interview, said that they are not seeing a soft landing in the US. Hollenhorst pointed, We're just not seeing (soft landing) it in the data.

Overall, the global economy is set to continue growth at 3.2% during 2024 and 2025. In advanced economies, the growth is projected to stay under 2% in 2024 and 2025, while emerging markets and developing economies expect a 4.2% growth in 2024 and 2025. As per the IMF's forecast, India will be the leading economy with an anticipated growth rate of 6.8% and 6.5% in 2024 and 2025, respectively.

China Vs United States: An Economic Tassle

China and the United States have been up against each other for decades now. Chinas stellar economic growth has led the country to directly compete with the US economy. As per the IMF, Chinas anticipated growth rate of 5% and 4.5% for 2024 and 2025 is almost double the expected growth rate of the US. However, the Chinese economy has been struggling with a property crisis, which has left a huge dent in the real estate market. On April 16, Reuters reported that the new home prices in China plunged by 2.2% in March 2024 from a year ago, representing the biggest decline since August 2015. The property downturn in China will lead to a 0.3 percentage point decline in Chinese GDP growth in 2024, as per the economists at ANZ. Whereas, property investment is expected to decline by 12% in 2024. Despite the downsides, China is on track to be the largest economy in the world by 2030. In addition, China is one of the richest countries in the world by net worth, having a total wealth of $85.10 trillion in 2021. The US had the highest total wealth of around $145.79 trillion, as of 2021.

The US economy is suffering from interest rate hikes and heading towards a potential recession. The expected growth of 1.9% in 2025 indicates recessionary risks. Moreover, the high inflation has kept the Fed to keep the interest rates between 5.25% to 5.5%. On May 21, CNBC reported that Fed Governor, Christopher Waller, pointed out that he would need to see several months of inflation data before deciding to lower rates.

Companies Backing the Largest Economies

Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is one of the largest retailers in the US. On May 16, Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) reported its earnings for the first quarter of 2025. The company posted earnings per share of $0.60, surpassing consensus estimates by $0.07. Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) reported a revenue of around $159.94 billion, beating estimates by $1.67 billion. Here are some of the comments from the Q1 2025 earnings call:

Our results were stronger than we anticipated with sales growth of 5.7% and adjusted operating profit, up 12.9% in constant currency. All three operating segments performed well. The momentum we see across the businesses driven by growth in units sold and transaction counts, as well as market share gains, including general merchandise. These are not inflation-driven results. In the U.S., like-for-like sales inflation was about 40 basis points for the quarter, including mid-single-digit deflation in general merchandise and low-single-digit inflation in food and consumables. Together with our suppliers, were making progress lowering prices.

Tencent Holdings Limited (OTC:TCEHY) is one of the largest tech companies in China. Tencent Holdings Limited (OTC:TCEHY) is supporting the economy through its next generation of low-carbon technologies. In March 2023, Tencent Holdings Limited (OTC:TCEHY) launched CarbonX to reduce its carbon footprint. The tech giant has committed over $28 million over the next three years to support innovative ideas that will focus on technology-based carbon removal. On May 23, Tencent Holdings Limited (OTC:TCEHY) reported that it will award a total of $14 million to 13 teams that won the first phase of the CarbonX program.

The worlds richest countries by GDP are backed by strong multinationals. With this context, lets take a look at the 50 richest countries in the world by GDP.

The Richest Country in the World by GDP

An expansive view of the cityscape, showing the impact of the company's activities in China.

Our Methodology

To compile the list of the 50 richest countries in the world by GDP, we shortlisted the countries based on their GDP (PPP) from the International Monetary Fund database. The countries with the highest GDP (PPP) are ranked in ascending order of their GDP, as of 2024. Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) figures are being used as PPP calculates the conversion of currency rates that equalize the purchasing power of different currencies by excluding the price level differences between countries.

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The Richest Country in the World by GDP

1. China

GDP (PPP): $35.29 Trillion

China has surpassed the US as the richest country in the world by GDP, with a GDP of $35.29 trillion, as of 2024. Chinas economy is backed by a large manufacturing capacity as it is the largest manufacturing country in the world. China has a high growth prospect with a projected growth rate of 5% in 2024 and 4.5% in 2025, while the US is fearing recession with its projected growth rate of 1.9% in 2025.

To learn about other countries that have large GDPs, check out our free report on the 50 Richest Countries in the World by GDP.

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READ NEXT: Michael Burry Is Selling These Stocks and Jim Cramer is Recommending These Stocks.

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Santander has confirmed that hackers have stolen the bank data of approximately 30 million customers.

The US bank said that there had been unauthorised access to a customer database was detected.

Santander has apologised for "the concern this will understandably cause" and said it is "proactively contacting affected customers and employees directly."

ShinyHunters, the hacking group that claimed to be behind a recent Ticketmaster breach, have taken responsibility for the hack.

The hackers have claimed to be in possession of 30 million people's bank account details, 6 million account numbers and balances, 28 million credit card numbers and the HR information for all Santander staff.

"Following an investigation, we have now confirmed that certain information relating to customers of Santander Chile, Spain and Uruguay, as well as all current and some former Santander employees of the group had been accessed," Santander said in a statement posted earlier this month.

"No transactional data, nor any credentials that would allow transactions to take place on accounts are contained in the database, including online banking details and passwords, it added.

The news comes as following an alleged hack on Ticketmaster which may have resulted in the personal details of more than half a billion customers being stolen.

The hacking group, ShinyHunters, are demanding $500,000 in ransom to prevent the information being sold, the BBC reported.

Australias Department of Home Affairs said it was working with Ticketmaster to understand the incident.

According to reports, 560 million global Ticketmaster customers have had their names, addresses, phone numbers and partial payment details accessed and stolen.

Ticketmaster, which reported a market capitalisation of $18.23bn in 2023, has not yet commented on the hack.

"Santander staff and 30 million customers hacked" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand.







The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site.
Seven EU States Provide $1.5B Funding for Hydrogen R&D

This article was first published on Rigzone here

The European Commission has approved a EUR 1.4 billion ($1.5 billion) joint state aid package put forward by Estonia, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia and Spain for research and development projects on hydrogen technologies and applications.

The IPCEI Hy2Move package, which is the fourth Important Project of Common European Interest (IPCEI) on the hydrogen value chain, supports 11 companies for 13 innovative projects. The owners share of the investment is expected to be EUR 3.3 billion ($3.6 billion), the Commission said in a statement.

In the transport sector, IPCEI Hy2Move supports applications to integrate hydrogen technologies in transport means (road, maritime and aviation) for example, fuel cell vehicle platforms for use in buses and trucks. The companies selected in this sector are Air Products in the Netherlands; Airbus and BMW in Germany; Airbus and Hydrogene de France in France; Airbus and Evolution Synergetique in Spain; Skeleton in Estonia; and Tomark in Slovakia.

The aid also supports projects to develop high-performance fuel cell technologies, which use hydrogen to produce electricity. The recipients under this theme are Airbus and BMW in Germany; Hydrogene de France and Michelin in France; and UFI in Italy.

Another technology supported by IPCEI Hy2Move is hydrogen storage tanks. Funded for this undertaking are Airbus French, German and Spanish arms, as well as BMW and Tomark.

IPCEI Hy2Move also picked projects on hydrogen production technologies, particularly those that can be used to refuel using pressurized 99.99 percent pure fuel cell-grade hydrogen. The beneficiaries in this topic are Air Products; Gen-Hy Cube and Michelin in France; and Neumann & Esser in Germany.

The participating companies will cooperate with each other as well as with the associated partner Breuer Technical Development, a Belgian SME [small and medium enterprise], and with over 200 indirect partners, such as universities, research organizations and SMEs across Europe, the Commission added.

All 13 projects part of the IPCEI are highly ambitious, as they aim at developing technologies and processes that go beyond current technology and will allow major improvements notably in the areas of mobility and transport applications, fuel cells, on-board hydrogen storage and generation of hydrogen for the use in mobility and transport, the Commission said.

Margrethe Vestager, executive vice president in charge of competition policy at the Commission, said in a statement, Hydrogen can support us to move around and transport goods with zero emissions, but investing into hydrogen powered mobility and transport technologies can be risky for one Member State or one company alone.

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This is where State aid rules for IPCEI have a role to play, Vestager added.

The EU aims to reach 10 million metric tons of hydrogen production capacity by 2030, as set out in the 27-member blocs hydrogen strategy adopted 2020.

Last April the Commission announced the results of the first auction under the European Hydrogen Bank, an EU funding program to scale up hydrogen production. Seven projects across Finland, Norway, Portugal and Spain were to receive a total of EUR 720 million ($771.1 million).

The winning bidders will produce renewable hydrogen in Europe and will receive a subsidy to bridge the price difference between their production costs and the market price for hydrogen, which is currently driven by non-renewable producers, the Commission said in a statement April 30.

Three projects in Spain with a combined output of 595 megawatts electric (mWe) were among the seven provisional recipients, which will now have to undergo individual grant agreements with the European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency. Renato Ptx Holdco will build the 500 mWe Catalina project, while the other two smaller projects are under Benbros Energy SL (the 60 mWe El Alamillo H2) and Angus (the 35 mWe Hysencia).

The two Portuguese projects in this cohort have a combined capacity of 700 mWe: Madoquapower 2xs MP2X project (500 mWe) and Petrogal SAs Grey2Green II project (200 mWe).

In Norway, the Skiga project by the namesake company has a 117 mWe capacity.

Rounding up this round is the 90 mWe eNRG Lahti project of Nordic Ren-Gas Oy in Finland.

Together, the winning bidders plan to produce 1.58 million tonnes of renewable hydrogen over ten years, avoiding more than 10 million tonnes of CO2 [carbon dioxide] emissions, the Commission said.

The renewable hydrogen they produce will be used in sectors such as steel, chemicals, maritime transport and fertilizers, it said.

The seven projects will receive subsidies of EUR 8 million ($8.6 million) to EUR 245 million ($264.4 million).

In the inaugural rollout, the producers get a fixed premium per kilogram of output, capped at EUR 4.5 ($4.9) a kilogram.

Projects throughout the duration of the Hydrogen Bank will receive a subsidy on top of the market revenues that they generate from hydrogen sales, for up to 10 years. They will have to start producing renewable hydrogen within five years upon the signing of grant agreements.

For the awardees in the first auction, the Commission expects the grant agreements to be signed by November.

To contact the author, email jov.onsat@rigzone.com

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Brands

Guess announced the appointment of Andrew Rosen as executive chair of the Rag & Bone brand. In this role, Rosen will continue to bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the brand, providing strategic direction and oversight of the Rag & Bone executive team, to drive the companys mission forward. In this work, he will partner closely with Paul Marciano and Carlos Alberini, as well as Yehuda Shmidman, WHP global chairman and CEO.

Veronica Leoni.

Calvin Klein announced Veronica Leoni as creative director of collection and a forthcoming return to the runway. Leonia 2023 LVMH Prize finalist and founder of Quirawill bring to Calvin Klein her experience working at celebrated fashion brands including Jil Sander, Celine, Moncler and The Row. As creative director of collection, she will merge her deep industry expertise with the modern aesthetic of Calvin Klein to design the ultimate representation of the brand while partnering with Calvin Klein global brand president, Eva Serrano, to bring inspiration from the collection to the mainline portfolio and the red carpet. Leoni will report directly to Serrano.

More from Sourcing Journal

Michelle Sun Choe.

VF Corp announced that Michelle Sun Choe has been appointed global brand president of Vans, beginning in late July. Choe is an accomplished apparel industry executive with nearly three decades of experience leading design and merchandising for global brands including Lululemon, Marc Jacobs, West Elm, Madewell, Urban Outfitters, Levis and the Gap. She joins VF from Lululemon, where she served as chief product officer for the past seven years, overseeing womens, mens, and accessories design, merchandising, innovation, product development, and planning and allocation.

Retail

Marks & Spencer announced Alison Dolan will join the board as chief financial officer. Dolan will take over from interim CFO Jeremy Townsend, who will remain in post until May. An exact start date for Dolan will be announced in due course. Dolan is a non-executive director on the board of Pearson and a member of the audit and remuneration committees.

Nordstrom announced that Alexis DePree has been named its chief operating officer. DePree will continue to support supply chain operations, transportation, inventory operations, enterprise operations and store operations, now with an expanded title that better reflects the breadth of the work these teams are doing. She first joined Nordstrom in January 2020 as executive vice president and chief supply chain officer, prior to which she held senior leadership roles at Amazon and Target.

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Textiles

Andreas Puchert

Spandex producer Hyosung has hired Andreas Puchert as its new European marketing manager. In this role, Puchert will work with the companys European marketing team in the promotion of Hyosungs specialty fibers and fabrics to target brands and retail accounts. Additionally, he will manage joint development and promotional programs with key industry partners. Based in Dusseldorf, Germany, Puchert has over 30 years of experience in the textile, sports, fashion and retail markets. Prior to joining Hyosung, he was director of Retailpraxis, a company that develops, produces and distributes international fashion and sportswear brands with an emphasis on sustainability.

Trade

The Fair Labor Association (FLA) announced the promotion of longtime staff member Richa Mittal to executive vice president and chief innovation officer. In this newly created role, Mittal will drive innovation across various FLA programs, including those focused on manufacturing, agriculture, knowledge management and workers voice. In her new position, Mittal will be responsible for accelerating the pace at which FLA can explore new sectors, pursue work in upstream supply chains, develop solutions-oriented collaborations, promote a just transition and take advantage of new technology.
This photo shows the two largest buildings at the River Glen Office Park, which sits on the west bank of the St. Joseph River off Columbia Street, near the downtown South Bend post office. South Bend owns the building but seeks interested developers.

SOUTH BEND  South Bend officials are seeking a buyer for a cluster of riverfront office buildings and parking lots downtown that the city purchased earlier this year.

The city paid $3.25 million this March to take over part of the River Glen Office Park. The three buildings bought by the city  on the west bank of the St. Joseph River off Columbia Street, near the downtown post office  have sat vacant since 2021, when health care firm Press Ganey moved out.

In March 2024, the city of South Bend bought 5.2 acres of office buildings and parking lots, outlined in blue, near the post office downtown. City officials plan to rebuild a grid street network and are seeking proposals for mixed-use redevelopment.

On May 23, the South Bend Redevelopment Commission voted to seek proposals to buy the 5.25 acres the city owns for a minimum price of $3,690,000 the average of two independent appraisals, as required by Indiana law. Bids are due to the Department of Community Investment by June 20.

"We're not completely opposed to the existing buildings staying, but we're also open to a larger idea of it," Joseph Molnar, a property development manager with the city, told the commission. "This first round is really just getting feelers."

Private interest in the riverfront complex will be crucial in the city's hopes to transform the area.

Today, the site is poorly connected to downtown streets and awash with empty parking spaces. South Bend leaders aim to build a grid system that connects Monroe Street, to the south, with the Jefferson Boulevard bridge. As outlined in the Monroe Park and Edgewater Neighborhood plan, officials envision new housing combining with retail and office space to form a scenic riverside neighborhood.

This building, part of land at 330 E. Jefferson Blvd. owned by an affiliate of Holladay Properties, is likely to be torn down to make way for mixed-use residential development. It previously housed the Crowe accounting firm, which has moved into a neighboring site.

Some developers have already shown interest in the area, which connects to Howard Park by way of a pedestrian bridge spanning the river.

Holladay Properties owns two buildings just to the north along the river. The northern building is home to Crowe accounting firm. But the southern one is likely to be demolished to make way for a mixed-use residential development, Paul Phair, vice president of development for Holladay, told The Tribune in March.

"We only have one river," Molnar told The Tribune. "So riverfront property, both for the community and for the (tax) values that it brings in, should really be utilized. Right now, I would say it's pretty underutilized."

This photo shows two largest buildings at the River Glen Office Park, which sits on the west bank of the St. Joseph River off Columbia Street, near the downtown South Bend post office. South Bend owns the building but seeks interested developers.

Email South Bend Tribune city reporter Jordan Smith at JTsmith@gannett.com. Follow him on X: @jordantsmith09

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend seeks buyers for riverfront office park near post office
/ SplashNews.com / / SplashNews.com

Its becoming increasingly common for women to be involved in their households financial decisions. A recent GOBankingRates survey found that among coupled women, 59% take the lead on household financial decisions and an additional 31% said they make financial decisions along with their partner. While this is great to see, that also means that 11% of women are not involved in their household decisions at all.

Check Out: Im a Self-Made Millionaire: Heres My Monthly Budget

For You: 4 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

Suze Orman believes this is a big mistake. Heres why she thinks that every married woman should be involved in her households financial decisions.

Wealthy people know the best money secrets. Learn how to copy them.

You Cant Be Financially Secure If You Are Not Financially Involved

Orman believes that every woman needs to be involved in financial decision-making to ensure their own financial security.

To not engage in and understand your familys finances is to embrace weakness, she wrote in a blog post. You cant be financially secure if you dont know what decisions are being made, and dont understand the ramifications of those decisions.

Read Next: Mark Cuban Reveals Why He Keeps a Strict Budget Everyday

You Should Be Prepared To Manage Finances on Your Own

Orman also points out that in heterosexual marriages, women are statistically likely to outlive their partners.

Even if your husband has made fantastic choices and has left a detailed blueprint of your financial records, you are going to be miserable if you find yourself engaging with all of that for the first time as a widow, she wrote.

Dont fall back on the fact that your husband has been working with a financial advisor, Orman continued. Its typical for that to be the dynamic, and its typically going to backfire. Studies show that when the husband dies, the surviving spouse often fires that advisor. Why? Because she has no relationship with the advisor! Or theres some level of distrust or caution, or just a desire to start fresh.

You Shouldnt Assume Your Husband Always Knows Best

Even if you trust your husbands intentions, this doesnt mean he will always make the best financial decisions, Orman cautioned.

Your husband might not have all the best ideas, she wrote. That doesnt mean he is wrong, or careless. But name me big decisions in your life that werent helped by you both thinking it through and deciding together. Yet you dont do this when it comes to money. That is nuts. And it needs to stop.

Methodology: GOBankingRates surveyed 1,001 American women ages 18 and older from across the U.S. between April 18 and April 20, 2024, asking 18 different questions: (1) What is your primary financial goal?; (2) What is the biggest barrier to achieving your financial goal?; (3) If you are actively investing, what is your primary investment vehicle?; (4) If you are not actively investing, whats preventing you from investing?; (5) How much student loan debt do you currently have?; (6) How much credit card debt do you currently have?; (7) What is your biggest obstacle to paying off your debts (credit card, student loan, medical, etc.)?; (8) What is your biggest source of financial worry/stress?; (9) What is your worst money habit?; (10) How involved are you in household financial decisions compared to your partner?; (11) Which of the following financial professionals have you utilized? (Select all that apply); (12) Do you consider yourself financially secure/stable?; (13) What is your biggest financial regret?; (14) Do you consider yourself bad with money?; (15) How would you describe your relationship with money?; (16) Do you consider yourself to be financially independent?; (17) Which ways do you live frugally? (Select all that apply); and (18) What actions are you taking to build long-term wealth? (Select all that apply). GOBankingRates used PureSpectrums survey platform to conduct the poll.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Suze Orman: Why Married Women Need To Be Involved in Household Financial Decisions
With a deadline looming, the Stay NJ Task Force released a 100-page report detailing recommendations for the state to implement the Stay NJ program.

Stay NJ was created during last years budget process and though it has already received funding, it is not set to launch until 2026. It has been billed as a way to cut property tax bills for seniors in the hopes of keeping them in New Jersey during their retirement years.

The report acknowledges that the task force was limited in scope and was not asked to make any recommendations related to income thresholds, alternatives to existing programs, or traditional circuit breakers such as property taxes as a percentage of income or asset tests.

The task force was designed to make recommendations for establishing and funding the program, though none of the recommendations deal with the latter and the report "suggests the governor and the Legislature consider appropriation language be included in the FY2026 budget that would allow the Director of the Office of Management and Budget to exercise a directory letter supplemental appropriation in the event the amounts projected for Stay NJ and appropriated through FY2026 are insufficient to cover the actual benefit costs."

What did the Stay NJ Task Force recommend?

The seal of New Jersey on the rotunda floor in the newly-renovated Statehouse in Trenton on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

The task force made 13 recommendations on everything from the application process to the payment timeline.

They recommend that the application process should start no later than Feb. 1 each year and even earlier if possible, with the process and application resembling that of the current Senior Freeze program and that benefits should be determined based on the year immediately preceding the application year, with the exception of the Senior Freeze first time applicants, which will remain unchanged.

The task force suggested that the income to determine eligibility for benefits for senior freeze and Stay NJ should be based on the New Jersey tax return, plus Social Security  meaning gross Social Security benefits and all items of income both taxable and non-taxable as reported on the New Jersey Gross Income Tax return while the income eligibility for ANCHOR will remain unchanged.

They also recommend a one-year residency requirement, a minimum age of 65 as of Dec. 31 of the benefit year and that legislation to implement these changes be signed into law no later than Nov. 3 of this year and for the application to be available Feb. 1, 2025.

The task force recommends for benefits for Stay NJ to be equal to 50% of property taxes to exceed $6,500 to $3,250 in fiscal year 2026  should be calculated.

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The maximum Stay NJ benefit is then reduced by Senior Freeze and ANCHOR benefits paid to eligible homeowners and any remaining benefit is paid as a separate payment after ANCHOR, the report said.

They recommend payment being paid by check or direct deposit in the first year and for the Department of Community Affairs and the Department of the Treasury to develop a standard application packet to be sent out no later than the November tax bill.

The task force also recommends those agencies to work toward the effective implementation of a credit process for future years.

They suggest for Senior Freeze and ANCHOR to be paid at the same time of year as they have been and for Stay NJ to be paid after ANCHOR benefits.

The task force is also recommending for the Division of Taxation to determine the feasibility of continued direct payments instead of a property tax credit for Senior Freeze and Stay NJ and for the divisions director to use the discretion to waive the requirement to include proof of property taxes paid when applying for the Senior Freeze benefit.

The task force was formed to review all of the existing property tax relief programs and present a report to the governor and the Legislature by the end of May.

More from Trenton: What else is NJ Legislature considering to impact government transparency?

What will Stay NJ do?

The program dominated headlines around this time last year after Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin first introduced a version of it in his chamber. Senate President Nick Scutari joined him by introducing a companion bill in the state senate.

Gov. Phil Murphy was not initially on board with the program. He said at the time that there are a few things about the bill that are concerning, with the "biggest one" being the expense added to the budget, where "we've got revenues that are softening already," and another being that it "would be for everybody," so even millionaires like Murphy would get a break.

The governors office was said to be preparing for all possibilities, including a government shutdown, though the governor himself noted that he has a great relationship with Coughlin and the Legislature overall and that both sides are "focused on seniors and making the state more affordable."

After negotiations, the bill was amended to include the expansion of the Senior Freeze program, which Murphy included in his proposed budget for fiscal year 2024. The expansion of eligibility would include seniors earning up to $150,000, a $50,000 increase, and would decrease the residency requirement from 10 years to three years. It remains in the new agreement.

The program is expected to cost about $1.3 billion and with a "significant focus on equity." The program includes around $140 million being set aside in fiscal years 2024 and 2025. The state is expected to set aside about $100 million, $200 million and $300 million for each of the next three years respectively.

There are funding caveats included for other budget priorities, though, including a full pension payment, fully fund school aid payments and maintaining a surplus of at least 12%.

While Murphy has included funding for the program in his proposed 2025 fiscal year budget, he does not meet the surplus requirement and it is up to the Legislature to make sure the budget they send to his desk at the end of June has that.

Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse.

Email: sobko@northjersey.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Stay NJ tax relief program implementation outlined
Are you a teacher looking to share insight on issues or things that are working well in your school district? Reach out to me: sunny.nagpaul@fortune.com

Brenda C., a 60-year-old teacher who asked Fortune to withhold her last name due to privacy concerns, has taught grades 7 and 8 for the last 24 years. But stress from parental expectations, combined with years of inadequate behavioral support for her students, drove her to a breaking point.

Her goal was to make it to the end of the school year before she retired, she said in a video posted on TikTok, but found the stress of navigating difficult parents to be unbearable.

Parents, she said in the video, you need to get off the backs of your teachers.

Many school teachersespecially those who work in low-income areasare struggling to manage large classrooms along with high expectations from parents that they feel are unrealistic. As high levels of burnout and stress are driving a teacher shortage (made worse by the pandemic), some teachers are encouraging those struggling not to leave the profession entirely, and instead find districts that offer both teachers and students the proper support they need to maintain a sustainable career.

Brenda spent the majority of her career teaching English language arts and social studies to middle schoolers in different districts around Californias Bay Area. She spent less than a year at her last job, which was in a district she described as lower-middle class, with a lot of children of military parents, who she described as very transient.

In the district, she said, you have more absent parents, or parents who are not as involved in their children's education because theyre in the military and they're moving. Its a stark contrast to the district she previously worked at for 12 years, which was also in the Bay Area, but was an affluent district, where students had fewer behavioral problems.

Brenda submitted her letter of resignation on February 14, months before the school year officially ends in June, because she hit a breaking point. My mom was having health issues back home and I just had a really bad parent meeting, and I had just had it, she told Fortune, adding, I had been thinking about resigning for quite a few years prior to that day, but everybodys got a breaking point in life and my mental health was more important to me at that point than continuing.

On the meeting, she said, I was going into it burnt to the crisp, and the parent said something to the affect of, youre supposed to meet my childs needs, and thats what set me off, because thats not going to happen in a room of 34 children with 34 different needs.

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There are some parents who struggle meeting the needs of one child, she said in her video. Imagine trying to meet the needs of 34 all at the same time.

Its a sentiment many other teachers can empathize with, including Sarah Pugh, a 32-year-old teacher based in the Metro East suburban area of St. Louis. Pugh, who has been teaching elementary school students for the last 10 years, believes these stresses are much harder for teachers in districts that dont offer enough support for instructors and students who may be struggling with issues that cause behavioral problems.

The issue is those extra supports cost moneyand schools are already tight on money, Pugh told Fortune, adding, that teacher talked about having 34 students in a classroom. My class sizes are normally 20 students, and we prioritize having smaller classes to help meet the students' needs better. Not everyone has the money to do that.

Pugh has taught third grade at her current school district, which covers 750 children in grades K-4, for five years now, and describes the district as very diverse, both racially and economic-wise, with a lot of low-income housing. These situations, she said, often mean children face stresses of poverty at home, including housing instability, trauma, and single-parent householdsand also means some parents arent able to spend as much time teaching their children core behavioral skills they need.

In a lot of single-parent households, parents are overstretched trying to make all the ends meet, she explained, so its not necessarily that they are expecting the teachers to do everything, but some of those things that normally a parent would be teaching gets left behind for survival instincts.

Pugh believes the biggest key to a child's success is teachers and parents working together as a team, especially when it comes to addressing behavioral issues that come as children learn how to talk about their feelings, manage their emotions, and interact with others. Students who live in economically-challenged areas, including the districts Pugh and Brenda have taught in, can have behavioral issues that arise from the stresses of poverty, including difficulty self-regulating emotions and attention-seeking behavior that can disrupt classes.

It varies from classroom to classroom because all kids are different, she said. Things like manners, taking turns in conversations, keeping hands to themselves and how to handle conflicts with another student are some of the most common behavioral issues she sees.

Pugh said she doesnt experience serious issues with the majority of her students, but has been growled at in the past during my first year of teaching.

These behavioral problems can also go unaddressed for years, creating situations where children never quite learn the basics of self-regulating their emotions and interacting with other students even as they become teenagers. Thats the situation Brenda, who has taught middle school for over two decades, found herself in.

Some children are coming into school with so many emotional, social, and spiritual deficits, she told Fortune, adding, We didnt sign up to be a glorified babysitter, psychiatrist, priest or rabbi.

To be sure, high levels of stress and burnout is driving an exodus of teachers out of the profession and has contributed to a shortage of teachers in at least one subject area or grade level in 41 states and Washington D.C., according to a 2022 U.S Department of Education report.

Studies led by researcher Tuan Nguyen, an associate professor at Kansas State University, place the current teacher shortage at 55,000 vacant positions and an additional 270,000 teaching posts currently filled by underqualified teachers.

Teachers, especially those who instruct grades K-12, also report some of the highest levels of burnout than workers in several other industries, including higher education, finance, and retail, according to a poll of over 12,000 full-time U.S. employees by consulting and research company Gallup. The poll shows about 52% of K-12 teachers report feeling burned out always or very often at work, compared to 35% of employees in higher education and 32% of employees in retail sectors.

Pugh believes more support for students with behavioral problems is paramount for reducing needless stress for teachers and actually improving the problematic behaviorsand her district could be somewhat of a model for improvements other districts could make.

At the start of the 2022 school year, her district launched a program called Character Strong, a weekly lesson that teaches kids how to speak up about their needs and handle intense emotions or frustrations in respectful and safe ways.

The education system is pushing for more social emotional learning standards, she said, and Ive seen that program help students in my class.

Pughs district also employs two full-time social workers who lead social emotional learning in small settings of two or three students, she said, while her previous district had a social worker who would come in once a week for half a day, but if you have a lot of behavior needs, thats not enough.

Other things Pugh thinks work well in her district include administrative staff that actively involves teachers in important decisions, like parent-teacher meetings and disciplinary action for students, and being given paid time to attend development training in areas like how to engage with children experiencing trauma.

For other teachers who are struggling with the stress of parental expectations and inadequate support at school, Pugh offers some tender advice: Move districts instead of just giving up the job entirely because not all schools are like that. You just have to find the good ones.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Sunrise, Sunset

In the immediate aftermath of Donald Trump's "hush money" guilty verdict, shares for his ailing social network, Truth Social, plummeted  only to jump back up and then fall once again Friday morning.

As the New York Times observes, this sort of volatility isn't exactly unusual for Truth Social owner Trump Media, but this instance is an apt example of how bad news often ends up rallying the former president's supporters  instead of scaring them away.

The size of the swing, too, seems to reflect the extenuating circumstances. In after-hours trading, the meme stock fell as much as 14 points, spiked just after the markets re-opened, and plummeted yet again.

For those who made the peculiar decision to invest in Truth Social, this wobbly value trajectory is par for the course.

"This stock has always represented a bet on Trump winning the 2024 election (and using Truth Social as his primary platform)," Matthew Kennedy, the senior IPO strategist at the Renaissance Capital firm, told CNN.

Collector's Investment

In an interview with Quartz last month, John Rekenthaler, the VP of research at the investor relations firm Morningstar, pointed out that those who bought stock in Trump Media likely weren't doing so to make money  but regardless of which way it swung, the trial's outcome likely wouldn't have made much of a difference for their bottom lines.

"I think anytime Donald Trump is in the news is oxygen for the stock, in any way," Rekenthaler remarked.

Notably, the Securities and Exchange Commission tried to warn investors ahead of time that the already-volatile stock could experience more tumult in the wake of his trial's conclusion.

"An adverse outcome in one or more of the ongoing legal could negatively impact [Truth Social]," the recent filing reads.

Beyond the stock flip-flopping, Trump's hush money verdict that found him guilty on all 34 counts related to falsifying records to cover up payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels is also slated to affect his personal net worth, with estimates suggesting he stands to lose as much as $330 million in the company because he owns a majority of its shares.

At the end of the day, it remains to be seen what far-reaching outcomes this verdict will have  but as it stands, it's not looking very good on the financial front.

More on Trump: Elon Musk Distances Himself From Possible Trump Presidency
Shares in Donald Trumps media company were down more than 6 per cent in after-hours trading on Thursday, after the former president was found guilty in a historic criminal trial in New York.

A jury convicted him on 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election. Ms Daniels says that they had a sexual encounter in 2006, which Trump denies.

The verdict marks the first time in US history a president has been criminally convicted, and Trump could be facing the prospect of prison time at the same time as he campaigns in the 2024 presidential election.

The slump is the latest round of bad news for the Trump Media and Technology Group, the parent company of the former presidents social network Truth Social.

The company reported a $327.6m first-quarter loss this month, sending Trump Media and Technology Groups stock plunging by 13.2 per cent at one point.

The drop personally cost the former president, more than $766m, according to an analysis from The Independent.

The stock has seen other precipitous declines in recent months, including an over 18 per cent drop the day that the former presidents hush money trial began.

Mr Trump will be hoping both his legal fate and his financial one improve in the coming months.

In early May, he was awarded $1.8bn worth of additional earnout shares in the company.
Shares of Trump Media & Technology Group closed lower Friday after swinging wildly over the course of the day following the conviction of former President Donald Trump in his hush money trial.

After the U.S. stock markets closed Thursday, a New York jury found Trump guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex.

After rising more than 2% at the opening of trading Friday, the shares ended the day down 5.3%.

The stock, which trades under the ticker symbol DJT, has been extraordinarily volatile since its debut in late March, joining the group of meme stocks that are prone to ricochet from highs to lows as small-pocketed investors attempt to catch an upward momentum swing at the right time.

The stock has tripled this year, in the process frequently making double-digit percentage moves either higher or lower on a single day. It peaked at nearly $80 in intraday trading on March 26. For context, the S&P 500 is up almost 10% year to date.

In a filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission before going public, Trump Media warned investors of the potential pitfalls faced by the former president and the adverse affect it might have on the stock.

President Donald J. Trump is the subject of numerous legal proceedings, the scope and scale of which are unprecedented for a former President of the United States and current candidate for that office. An adverse outcome in one or more of the ongoing legal proceedings in which President Donald J. Trump is involved could negatively impact TMTG and its Truth Social platform.

Earlier this month, Trump Media reported that it lost more than $300 million last quarter, according to its first earnings report as a publicly traded company.

For the three-month period that ended March 31, the company posted a loss of $327.6 million, which it said included $311 million in non-cash expenses related to its merger with a company called Digital World Acquisition Corp. DWAC was an example of whats known as a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, which can give young companies quicker and easier routes to getting their shares trading publicly, but with much less scrutiny.

Trump Media & Technology fired an auditor this month that federal regulators recently charged with massive fraud. The media company dismissed BF Borgers as its independent public accounting firm on May 3, delaying the filing of its quarterly earnings report.

Trump Media had previously cycled through at least two other auditors  one that resigned in July 2023, and another that was terminated by its board in March, just as it was rehiring BF Borgers.

Story continues

Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records at his company in connection with an alleged scheme to hide potentially embarrassing stories about him during his 2016 Republican presidential election campaign.

The charge, a felony, arose from reimbursements paid to then-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen after he made a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels to silence her claims of an extramarital sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. Trump was accused of misrepresenting Cohens reimbursements as legal expenses to hide that they were tied to a hush money payment.

Trump's defense contended that the Cohen payments were for legitimate legal services.
The stock price of former President Donald Trump's social media platform Truth Social made turbulent swings in the aftermath of his conviction in a New York court on Thursday.

A jury found Trump guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in an effort to conceal hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels. The verdict made Trump the first president to be convicted in a criminal trial.

In the immediate aftermath of the verdict, the stock price of Truth Social plummeted roughly 15% to a price of about $47. The stock recovered in after-hours trading, however, rallying above its pre-verdict level to about $52.

As of early trading on Friday, the price was down about 5%.

While acknowledging an overall decline since the verdict, analysts offered an optimistic view of the stock performance because in their view the stock showed resilience after the initial drop.

"The fact that it reversed right back off of that and almost immediately made new highs above where it was the day before -- that's textbook bullish," Tyler Richey, an analyst at Sevens Report Research, told ABC News.

The price movement since the verdict reflects a dynamic that bodes well for the stock going forward, Richey added.

"Die-hard Trump supporters may not care what the stock does -- they just want to support Trump," Richey said.

By contrast, opponents of Trump face the logistical barriers and financial risks involved with shorting the stock -- an investing strategy that delivers returns when a stock drops and, in turn, places downward pressure on the price.

"You have an imbalance between supporters and opponents of Trump in what they can do in the markets," Richey added.

The volatile performance since Thursday afternoon marks the latest in a series of dramatic price swings for the stock.

MORE: How will Trump's hush money trial impact the 2024 election?

Shares vaulted from an initial offering price of about $50 to a peak of nearly $80 in late March. Over the ensuing two weeks, the price fell nearly 70%, reaching a low of about $23.

As of Thursday morning, the stock had rebounded to a price of about $51 before plummeting in the aftermath of the verdict.

The stock performance holds significant financial implications for the former president, whose 60% stake in the company could ultimately deliver a multibillion dollar windfall. Truth Social shares make up a large portion of Trump's overall net worth, according to Fortune.

PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump appears in court for his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. ( Steven Hirsch-Pool/Getty Images)

Experts who previously spoke to ABC News described Truth Social as a so-called meme stock since it largely appeals to investors on the basis of ideology rather than financial outlook.

Story continues

MORE: Timeline: Manhattan DA's Stormy Daniels hush money case against Donald Trump

Truth Social generated roughly $3 million over the first nine months of 2023, government filings show. Meanwhile, the company reported $49 million in net losses over that period. By comparison, Instagram-parent Meta delivered nearly $135 billion in revenue last year, company earnings revealed.

The absence of financial underpinning leaves the stock vulnerable to major declines even in response to mildly negative or routine news, experts previously told ABC News.

A selloff in April coincided with financial challenges for Trump. Early that month, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee posted a $175 million bond in a New York civil fraud case.

"The only thing that you can predict is that there will continue to be volatility," Jay Ritter, a professor of finance at the University of Florida, told ABC News.

Trump's Truth Social stock takes turbulent swings after verdict originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
The four nuclear reactors and cooling towers are seen at the Alvin W. Vogtle Electric Generating Plant, Friday, May 31, 2024, in Waynesboro, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

WAYNESBORO, Ga. (AP)  U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm on Friday called for more nuclear reactors to be built in the United States and worldwide. But the CEO of the Georgia utility that just finished the first two scratch-built American reactors in a generation at a cost of nearly $35 billion says his company isn't ready to pick up that baton.

Speaking in Waynesboro, Georgia, where Georgia Power Co. and three other utilities last month put a second new nuclear reactor into commercial operation, Granholm said the United States needs 98 more reactors with the capacity of units 3 and 4 at Plant Vogtle to produce electricity while reducing climate-changing carbon emissions. Each of the two new reactors can power 500,000 homes and businesses without releasing any carbon.

It is now time for others to follow their lead to reach our goal of getting to net zero by 2050," Granholm said. "We have to at least triple our current nuclear capacity in this country.

The federal government says it is easing the risks of nuclear construction, but the almost $17 billion in cost overruns at Plant Vogtle near Augusta remain sobering for other utilities. Chris Womack is the CEO of Southern Co., the Atlanta-based parent company of Georgia Power. He said he supports Granholm's call for more nuclear-power generation, but he added that his company won't build more soon.

I think the federal government should provide a leadership role in facilitating and making that become a reality, Womack said. Weve had a long experience, and were going to celebrate what weve gotten done here for a good little while.

Fridays event capped a week of celebrations, where leaders proclaimed the reactors a success, even though they finished seven years late.

On Wednesday, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp floated the idea of a fifth Vogtle reactor. Although the Republican Kemp rarely discusses climate change, he has made electric vehicles a priority and has said new industries demand carbon-free electricity.

One of the first questions on their minds is: Can we provide them with what they need? Kemp said. We can confidently answer Yes! because of days like today.

The new Vogtle reactors are currently projected to cost Georgia Power and three other owners $31 billion, according to calculations by The Associated Press. Add in $3.7 billion that original contractor Westinghouse paid Vogtle owners to walk away from construction, and the total nears $35 billion.

Electric customers in Georgia already have paid billions for what may be the most expensive power plant ever. The federal government aided Vogtle by guaranteeing the repayment of $12 billion in loans, reducing borrowing costs.

On Wednesday, President Joe Bidens administration held a meeting to promote nuclear power, saying it would create a working group to ease the challenges that dogged Vogtle.

The Biden administration promised that the military would commission reactors, which could help drive down costs for others. It also noted support for smaller reactors, suggesting small reactors could replace coal-fueled electric generating plants that are closing. The administration also pledged to further streamline licensing.

Granholm said that she believed others could learn from Vogtle's mistakes, like starting construction before plans were completed. She also predicted additional models of the Vogtle reactors, which were the first of their kind built in the United States, could be built at lower cost.

So the question is, how do you learn from the new design in the second and the third and the fourth and the fifth plant? If you dont vary the design, it gets 30% less expensive every time you build it, Granholm said.

In Michigan, where Granholm was a Democratic governor, she announced in March up to $1.5 billion in loans to restart the Palisades nuclear power plant, which was shut down in 2022 after a previous owner had trouble producing electricity that was price-competitive.

But with much of the domestic effort focused on building a series of smaller nuclear reactors using mass-produced components, critics question whether they can actually be built more cheaply. Others note that the United States still hasn't created a permanent repository for nuclear waste, which lasts for thousands of years. Other forms of electrical generation, including solar backed up with battery storage, are much cheaper to build initially.

In Georgia, almost every electric customer will pay for Vogtle. Georgia Power owns 45.7% of the reactors. Smaller shares are owned by Oglethorpe Power Corp., which provides electricity to member-owned cooperatives, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and the city of Dalton. Utilities in Jacksonville, Florida, as well as in the Florida Panhandle and parts of Alabama also have contracted to buy Vogtles power.

Regulators in December approved an additional 6% rate increase on Georgia Powers 2.7 million customers to pay for $7.56 billion in remaining costs at Vogtle, with the company absorbing $2.6 billion in costs. That is expected to cost the typical residential customer an additional $8.97 a month in May, on top of the $5.42 increase that took effect when Unit 3 began operating.

___

This story has been updated to correct the amount of cost overruns to build two reactors at the Vogtle nuclear plant in Georgia. It was almost $17 billion, not $11 billion.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -United Airlines can take delivery of new airplanes as U.S. aviation regulators review the carrier, the head of the Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday.

"We are permitting them to take deliveries of aircraft. Most of those aircraft have been one-on-one replacements for missing aircraft," FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker told reporters at a briefing. "Some of it has been growth. They have provided us with their growth plan, and we're working with them on that growth plan going forward."

United did not immediately comment.

Some United certification activities were halted after the FAA said in March it was increasing its oversight of United following recent safety incidents.

The FAA said earlier this month it is requiring the presence of FAA personnel when United conducts final inspections of new aircraft replacing older models.

The FAA said this month the review, known as the Certificate Holder Evaluation Program, "is ongoing and safety will determine the timeline for completing it."

The evaluation is to ensure the Chicago-based airline "is complying with safety regulations; identifying hazards and mitigating risk; and effectively managing safety," the FAA said.

United, in a May 16 email to its employees, said the FAA was allowing the company to begin the certification process restart "after a careful review and discussion about the proactive safety steps United has taken to date."

The airline delayed the start of two new international routes last month, citing a pause on some certifications by the FAA.

The FAA's Certificate Management Office for United had raised concerns about a series of safety incidents, officials said.

(Reporting by David Shepardson; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Diane Craft)
Being a Berkshire Hathaway (BRK-A, BRK-B) board member will look a little different for Warren Buffett's eldest son Howard G. Buffett, once his legendary dad is no longer chairman.

And he knows that will change his life, which has long consisted of frequent world travel for philanthropic ventures alongside a daily routine of being a farmer who tills his own land.

"I've been to 155 countries or something. And I'm on the road a lot. I've been in Ukraine five times in 2022. And the same thing five times in 2023 and probably four or five times this year. So those are trips I won't make," Buffett told me on Yahoo Finance's Opening Bid podcast (video above).

The board is widely expected to vote Buffett  who has been on the board since 1993  in as non-executive chairman.

Buffett, 69, is seen as the "guardian" of the unique Berkshire culture that his father and longtime lieutenant Charlie Munger created over the decades. The business itself is a beast, requiring expert planning and oversight by the Berkshire board.

The business varies from operating one of the nation's most important railroads in Burlington Northern to supporting the housing market via homebuilder Clayton Homes.

Buffett has an extensive management resume, ranging from working in investor relations at commodities player Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) to being a board member of his dad's favorite drink and legacy stock investment Coca-Cola (KO). (He retired from the Coke board in 2016 after 17 years.)

Buffett is also the chairman and CEO of the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, which was founded in 1999.

Warren Buffett and Howard G. Buffett appear on NBC News' "Today" show. (Peter Kramer/NBC/NBC Newswire/NBCUniversal via Getty Images) (NBC NewsWire via Getty Images)

A good chunk of the foundation's work in recent years has been targeted at war-torn Ukraine. Buffett told me the nonprofit is on track to donate $800 million to the country this year and is eyeing another $250 million for 2025.

"I will need to keep in mind that I just need to be around to do my job [at Berkshire] and my responsibility. So I think the risk level of what I do in my life today probably gets decreased," said Buffett. "I won't be running the company as a non-executive chairman. My job will be to support [future CEO Greg Abel] in every way that I can."

Berkshire investors got a look into its future earlier this month.

Its annual shareholder meeting marked a new era for the Oracle of Omaha. It was his first without his right-hand man, Charlie Munger, who passed away on Nov. 28, 2023, just shy of his 100th birthday.

Buffett described Munger as the architect of Berkshire, and his request to shareholders to join me in applauding Charlie was met with cheers and a standing ovation. The packed house included Apple (AAPL) CEO Tim Cook, Citigroup (C) CEO Jane Fraser, and Microsoft (MSFT) co-founder Bill Gates.

Story continues

In terms of having a partner, I simply cannot think of a conversation I had with Charlie that he misled me, Buffett later said.

Succession isn't an easy thing to pull off at any company. Former longtime Cisco CEO John Chambers weighed in on how he laid the groundwork for future leaders on a recent episode of the Opening Bid podcast. Listen in below.

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Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance's Executive Editor. He is also the host of the 'Opening Bid' podcast. Follow Sozzi on Twitter/X @BrianSozzi and on LinkedIn. Tips on deals, mergers, activist situations, or anything else? Email brian.sozzi@yahoofinance.com. Are you a CEO and want to come on Yahoo Finance Live? Email Brian Sozzi.

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street view of high income single-family home neighborhood

A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded that while institutional investors may have contributed to rising home prices since 2009, the actual impact they have had on homeownership opportunities is more difficult to assess.

Large institutional investors typically emerged following a raft of defaults and foreclosures stemming from the 2007-08 financial crisis, putting inventory on the market from 2007-09. The investors, such as ex-Blackstone Group company Invitation Homes, bulk-purchased foreclosed homes, with many converting them into rental housing, and with a distinct advantage over smaller investors.

Aided by access to capital through various sources, institutional investors had a funding advantage over smaller investors at a time when mortgage lenders were generally reducing lending, the findings said. Additionally, technological advancements allowed companies to acquire and manage large portfolios of single-family homes more easily.

While initially relying on bulk purchases, institutional investors eventually shifted more toward smaller-scale purchases, merging with smaller investors or investing in the construction of single-family homes to eventually rent them out.

Studies GAO reviewed found that no investor owned 1,000 or more single-family rental homes as of late 2011, the results said. However, by 2015, institutional investors collectively owned an estimated 170,000-300,000 homes. As of June 2022, institutional investors of varying sizes made up a large portion of the single-family rental market in many cities, particularly in Sunbelt states.

However, the full impact of these holdings on homeownership opportunities was difficult to determine, and the report makes no conclusions about what impact such investors may or may not have had on the homebuying market today.

The information that could allow for such conclusions is unclear because data are limited and there is no consistent definition of institutional investor, the report said.

In a recent episode of HousingWire Daily, HousingWire Lead Analyst Logan Mohtashami examined remarks from a politician who accused institutional investors of buying up large swaths of inventory.

They dont have that kind of capital, he said, adding that Blackstone Group owns roughly 0.05% of single-family homes in the U.S. today.

A recent analysis by Resi Club, using Parcl Labs data, found that among the 100 largest metro housing markets, Oxnard, CA, San Francisco, CA, San Jose, CA, San Diego, CA and Honolulu, HI had the highest share of investor homeownership, all at roughly 20%. The vast majority of these investors are small investors, owning less than 10 total homes. Institutional investors (1,000 or more single-family homes) only own around 1% of total U.S. housing stock, according to Parcl Labs.
LAKEWOOD  Township leaders hope to add dozens of municipal parking spaces downtown after voting to buy the former Wells Fargo Bank space at Main Street and Clifton Avenues and make its lot available to the public.

Mayor Ray Coles said the additional parking will provide five blocks of uninterrupted township lot space through most of the main business center.

Former Wells Fargo Bank at 317 Main St. in Lakewood will become the newest public parking space

With this purchase, we will have a parking lot that pretty much runs from Main Street to Fifth Street between Route 9 and Clifton Avenue, Coles said. It will add a lot of parking to the area.

More: Lakewood population boom sparks $100 million township improvement plan

The move, approved at the May 17 Township Committee meeting, authorized officials to purchase the bank space and lot for $2.5 million, with plans to make the current 21 spaces public and add at least another 20 spots.

There is never enough parking here, said Amanda Sanner, who works at Remax Real Estate next to the former bank site. It is rough. If you dont get here early enough, you miss out.

Victor Lopez, who runs Victors Salon across the street, agreed.

It is going to be better for people who come to the salon, he said. I hear about the parking problems all the time.

Downtown Lakewood

The township is using state grants provided through the Urban Enterprise Zones to pay for the site. UE Zones are areas determined by the state Department of Community Affairs to need economic aid and are required to charge customers only half of the states 6.625% sales tax.

State officials then set aside half of the tax collected in the enterprise zones and distribute it back to municipalities for improvements in those locations.

Since nearly all of Downtown Lakewood is designated under the enterprise zone, that funding can go toward the Wells Fargo purchase, Coles said.

Lakewood received about $5.2 million in UEZ funds in 2023 and is expected to be granted about $7.2 million in 2024.

David Klein, executive director of the Lakewood Development Corporation, said the township is currently negotiating the final purchase of the Wells Fargo space, but has a preliminary agreement to buy the land and existing building.

The bank is one of more than 300 Wells Fargo branches nationwide, and 19 in New Jersey, that closed in 2023 as part of a massive cutback in local offices.

The (bank) lot is a decent size that would help alleviate the tight parking availability downtown, Klein said. And it would also allow the township to connect other municipal parking lots that are behind the storefronts on Clifton Avenue.

More: See what Lakewood's $5 million plan to improve downtown business area looks like

Story continues

Currently, the township operates four free lots on Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth streets between Clinton Avenue and Route 9 (Madison Avenue) that offer more than 300 spaces.

But even with those options, parking has long been a challenge in the downtown area, which also includes the Lakewood Municipal Complex and the historic Strand Theater.

We can always use parking, parking is challenging, Tom Calabro, owner of Twin City Jewelers, said earlier this year. The infrastructure is just not built to handle it.

Calabro is on the board of the newly revived Downtown Committee, which had disbanded in 2016 but reformed in late 2023.

In recent years, as Lakewoods population has skyrocketed from 92,843 in 2010 to 135,138 in 2020, more parking demands have grown, officials said.

In November, township officials launched a survey of downtown businesses to see how many retail sites were vacant and find out what issues merchants consider priorities.

Soon after, the township hired Triad Associates of Vineland to create a five-year plan for the township to utilize future Urban Enterprise Zone funds. The firm is being paid $25,000.

Downtown Lakewood

Among the proposed projects was the new larger parking lot at the Wells Fargo site, as well as more police, township employees dedicated to monitoring the downtown for cleanliness and potential repairs, new sidewalks and lights along Clifton Avenue from Route 88 to 7th Street, and exterior facade improvements for some buildings.

The former Wells Fargo building could be torn down to allow for more parking or used as a township office or for a non-profit entity, officials said.

More: Lakewood's landmark theater hosted Taylor Swift, George Carlin. What's next?

Town Hall is kind of crowded, Coles said. We could put a department over there or make it available through non-profit use.

Klein stressed that no decisions on the building use have been made: It is still to be determined what is going to be the end goal with the building.

Joe Strupp is an award-winning journalist with 30 years experience who covers education and several local communities for APP.com and the Asbury Park Press. He is also the author of four books, including Killing Journalism on the state of the news media, and an adjunct media professor at Rutgers University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. Reach him at jstrupp@gannettnj.com and at 732-413-3840. Follow him on Twitter at @joestrupp

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: How Lakewood buying a bank could help town's parking crisis
China launches communication satellite for Pakistan

Xinhua) 08:23, May 31, 2024

A Long March-3B rocket carrying a multi-mission communication satellite for Pakistan blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 30, 2024. The satellite has entered its planned orbit. (Photo by Liu Yanan/Xinhua)

XICHANG, May 30 (Xinhua) -- China successfully launched a multi-mission communication satellite for Pakistan using a Long March-3B rocket, with the launch taking place at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the southwestern province of Sichuan, at 8:12 p.m. Thursday.

The satellite has entered its planned orbit.

The launch was the 524th mission of the Long March rocket series.

A Long March-3B rocket carrying a multi-mission communication satellite for Pakistan blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 30, 2024. The satellite has entered its planned orbit. (Photo by Liu Yanan/Xinhua)

A Long March-3B rocket carrying a multi-mission communication satellite for Pakistan blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 30, 2024. The satellite has entered its planned orbit. (Photo by Liu Yanan/Xinhua)

A Long March-3B rocket carrying a multi-mission communication satellite for Pakistan blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 30, 2024. The satellite has entered its planned orbit. (Photo by Liu Yanan/Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
Colorado's second-highest court on Thursday overturned a Douglas County judge's order for $12,500 in crime victim restitution, which she issued nearly two years after the defendant's sentencing and several months after the state Supreme Court told trial judges to pay attention to the 91-day deadline in the law.
Colorado's Republican Party blasted the legal system on Thursday after a New York jury convicted former President Donald Trump on all 34 counts in a criminal hush money trial.
Teller County Commissioner Dan Williams is running for reelection this year, promising to continue advocating at the state level for more local control and to use his past experience as the county planning director to help manage growth.

"It's about public service," Williams said of his desire to run for a second term representing Teller County's first district, which encompasses much of the southern portion of the county, including Cripple Creek and Victor.

First elected to the seat in 2020, the commissioner is on track to earn the Republican party nomination in the upcoming June 25 primary election and win his bid for a second term in the Nov. 5 general election. There are no Republican challengers, Democrats or third-party candidates facing him in the race.

Williams echoed sentiments recently made by his fellow commissioner Erik Stone, who is running on the Republican ticket this year for reelection to District 3, that Teller County leaders must preserve the area's rural lifestyle.

He said Colorado lawmakers are trying to "fix problems" but often don't consider the effect on rural counties when proposing or passing new laws.

"One size doesn't fit all. We're 64 unique counties," Williams said of Colorado. "We realize that, inadvertently, the Denver metro area is causing a tyranny by majority. There's been an erosion of local control. ... We need to bridge the gap between urban and rural communities. Both parties must work together, plus work with cities and counties. That's how you develop good solutions, because I think we're all trying to serve people."

The Board of Teller County Commissioners has not shied away from making its voice heard by state legislators or proposing new laws themselves, Williams said. He promised to continue doing so during a second term.

For example, Colorado voters last November rejected a proposition that would have reduced property tax rates and allowed the state to retain and spend money that otherwise would be refunded to taxpayers under the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights. The excess dollars would have backfilled some local governments and special districts and funded school districts.

Featured Local Savings

When that bill failed, property owners faced 40% increases in their property tax bills coming due.

"One challenge we have in Teller County is the average person who lives here is 50 years old. Many live on fixed incomes, which is exactly that. ... We needed to take a hard look at ... real solutions," Williams said.

He and fellow county commissioners Stone and Bob Campbell swiftly developed a stop gap, he said. They worked with Sen. Mark Baisley, whose district includes Teller County, to write a new law allowing local governments to provide property tax relief through temporary property tax credits or by temporarily reducing the tax rate applied to the assessed value of a property.

Under the new law, Williams and his fellow commissioners voted to credit about $2.8 million in property taxes back to property owners.

Williams said he also plans to focus on building more attainable housing in Teller County, particularly in Divide. That area has been identified as ripe for growth. As Teller County's former planning director, Williams wrote the county's growth management and strategic plans that guide local development.

Divide has water supply, the county is making progress with expanding its wastewater treatment facility there, and three planned unit developments have been approved and are ready to be built.

"That's what we intend to do. We are looking at medium-income buyers, so teachers and cops can afford to live here," Williams said. "That's how we approach growth. We designate places where there's municipal water systems and then we do it deliberately  and smartly."
Colorados best speller, who left viewers spellbound, reached the Top 5 before getting eliminated on Thursday night from the Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Aditi Muthukumar, an eighth grader from Westminster, was Colorados last contender in the contest, bowing out after 13 rounds of spelling in the final round of the competition.

Muthukumar misspelled Lillooet, a word of unknown origin and which is the name of a municipality in British Columbia, Canada.

The final eight contestants, including Muthukumar, competed for a trophy and over $50,000 in cash and prizes.

At the end of the night, 12-year-old seventh-grader Bruhat Soma from Tampa, Florida, took home the crown, spelling all 29 of his words correctly.

Muthukumar was known as Speller 31 during the course of the competition. On Thursday, she disclosed that her favorite book series is Leigh Bardugos The Shadow & Bone Trilogy.

Words that Muthukumar spelled correctly included febrifuge, meaning a medicine used to reduce fever and peccant, an adjective that can describe one who has committed fault or something as diseased.

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Later in competition on Thursday, Muthukumar survived elimination by spelling molysite correctly. Molysite is a mineral consisting of native ferric chloride found in Vesuvian lava, according to Merriam-Websters dictionary.

The competition began with 148 spellers from across the United States. By the end of the first quarterfinal round, only 59 remained, and 46 advanced to the semifinals after a vocabulary round. The competition was narrowed to eight contestants by the end of the night on Wednesday.

Muthukumar was one of two Coloradans in this years bee. The other, Cooper Edwards, a fifth grader from Boulder, made it to the third round by correctly spelling echelon and defining parochial.

He was eliminated on Tuesday after misspelling butyraceous, which means of, or like butter.

The Scripps National Spelling Bee is organized by the E.W. Scripps Company and has been held annually since 1925, when nine newspapers joined together to host the event, according to event historians.

It is considered to be one of the nations oldest and most prestigious academic competitions.
A teenager accused of shooting and killing 19-year-old Trevor Branson in 2022 could avoid a prison sentence, according to a plea agreement acquired by The Gazette.

Carson Stabler, 18, shot and killed Branson on Sept. 18, 2022, in the 6000 block of Gunshot Pass Drive, according to previous Gazette reporting. Stabler was 16 years old at the time of the shooting, so his name was not released by Colorado Springs Police at the time of his arrest.

Stabler turned 18 years old earlier this month on May 26.

Following his arrest Stabler was charged with first-degree murder, possession of a handgun by a juvenile and two crime of violence sentence enhancements. According to the plea agreement , Stabler pleaded guilty to one count of second-degree murder and a crime of violence sentence enhancer April 30.

If the terms of the plea agreement are accepted by Judge Linda Billings-Vela, Stabler will avoid a prison sentence and instead serve a seven-year term in Youthful Offender Services (YOS), conditional on his acceptance into the program. If Stabler is accepted into YOS and the plea deal is accepted by Judge Billings-Vela, he will get no credit for time served, according to the plea agreement.

The plea agreement includes a stipulated 35 years in the Department of Corrections should Stabler fail to complete his YOS sentence.

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According to a 2022 story from KRDO, Branson's grandmother said that the family knew the teenager charged with the homicide, assumed now to be Stabler, and that they couldn't understand why he would shoot him.

Stabler will return to court July 15 for his sentencing hearing, where Billings-Vela will have the option to accept or reject the terms of the plea agreement.

Currently, Stabler resides at the El Paso County jail on a no-bond hold.
UPDATE: The Colorado Springs Police Department reported on social media at around 6:15 a.m. Saturday that the young girl, Chelsea Garrett and her sister, Audrey, have been found safe.

The Colorado Springs Police Department asked for community assistance in locating missing 12-year-old Chelsea Garrett.

According to a social media post made by police, Garrett was reported missing on May 24.

Garrett was last seen with her 15-year-old sister, Audrey Garrett, near the Circle K at 7492 Black Forest Road.

Both sisters were reported as runaways.
A small plane made an emergency landing in Colorado Springs early Friday afternoon, according to the Colorado Springs Fire Department.

The fire department received a call at approximately 12:45 p.m. from its partners at the Colorado Springs Airport saying there was a possible engine malfunction with an aircraft. The single engine aircraft had made an emergency landing in a field north of Airport Road and Powers Boulevard.

An officer reported possible smoke coming from the tower to CSFD. Upon arrival at the scene, there was no fire and CSPD is assuming the "smoke" was a dust cloud from landing in the field.

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According to CSPD's spokesperson Ashley Franco the plane made a steady landing and only two people with minor injuries were reported. All injuries were treated and released.

The hazardous materials unit of CSFD ensured there were not any hazardous materials or fuel leaks from the landing. No loose material or debris came off the small aircraft.

The pilot reportedly was planning to land back at the airport it had left from earlier in the morning after flying around the area, according to Franco. CSFD did not release which airport the aircraft was coming from.

The National Transportation Safety Board will take over the investigation, including determining the cause for the immediate emergency landing. The NTSB also will handle recovery of the airplane.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called on China and Arab states to deepen cooperation and step up the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future.

Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum and delivers a keynote speech at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]



Xi made the remarks in a keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum (CASCF).

China-Arab relations scaling new heights

China-Arab relations have kept scaling new heights since the beginning of the new century. At the first China-Arab States Summit in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in December 2022, China and Arab states agreed to build a China-Arab community with a shared future in the new era.

Xi said that China is satisfied with the progress that has been made in delivering on the first China-Arab States Summit's outcomes. China will work with the Arab side to enhance the role of the summit in providing strategic guidance for continued "leapfrog growth" of China-Arab relations.

Xi announced that China will host the second China-Arab States Summit in 2026, which is set to be another milestone in China-Arab relations.

As changes unseen in a century unfold rapidly across the world, both China and Arab states strive to accomplish their historical missions of national rejuvenation and faster national development. Building a China-Arab community with a shared future is a strong statement of the common desire for a new era of China-Arab relations and a better future for the world, Xi said.

Xi said China will work with the Arab side to make China-Arab relations a model for maintaining world peace and stability, a fine example of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, a paradigm of harmonious coexistence between civilizations, and a model for promoting good global governance.

It is believed that the strategic mutual trust between China and Arab states will be further consolidated, cooperation in various fields will be comprehensively promoted, and the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future will see more solid steps, said Li Chen, ambassador for CASCF affairs of China's Foreign Ministry.

Five copperation frameworks

At the first China-Arab States Summit in 2022, Xi put forward "eight major cooperation initiatives" for practical cooperation.

Early harvests have been achieved in all the "eight major cooperation initiatives," Xi said, adding that China is ready to work with the Arab side on that basis to put in place "five cooperation frameworks" to step up the building of a China-Arab community with a shared future.

The five frameworks consist of a more dynamic framework for innovation, an expanded framework for investment and finance cooperation, a more multifaceted framework for energy cooperation, a more balanced framework for mutually beneficial economic and trade ties, and a broader framework for people-to-people exchanges.

China will build with the Arab side 10 joint laboratories in such areas as life and health, artificial intelligence (AI), green and low-carbon development, modern agriculture, and space and information technology. The two sides will also enhance cooperation on AI to make it empower the real economy and to promote a broad-based global governance system on AI, Xi said.

China is ready to establish with the Arab side an industry and investment cooperation forum, Xi said, adding that China supports closer cooperation between financial institutions from the two sides, and welcomes Arab banks to join the Cross-border Interbank Payment System.

China will further enhance strategic cooperation with the Arab side on oil and gas, and is ready to work with the Arab side on new energy technology R&D and equipment production, according to Xi.

China stands ready to accelerate the negotiations on bilateral and regional free trade agreements, welcomes active participation of the Arab side in the China International Import Expo, and is willing to expand import of non-energy products from the Arab side, especially agricultural products, Xi noted.

China is ready to establish with the Arab side the China-Arab Center of Global Civilization Initiative, Xi said, adding that China plans to work with the Arab side to achieve the goal of 10 million two-way visits of tourists in the next five years.

The development of Arab-China relations has broad prospects and great potential, and both sides have a sincere desire to further enhance relations and strengthen cooperation. It is believed that the work and achievements of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum will have a pragmatic and positive role in promoting the development of both sides in various fields, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping poses for a group photo with Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Tunisia's President Kais Saied, the United Arab Emirates' President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Secretary-General of the League of Arab States Ahmed Aboul-Gheit, and heads of delegations of 22 Arab countries in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Sticking to two-state solution

The Middle East is a land bestowed with broad prospects for development, but the war is still raging on it. Since last October, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has escalated drastically, throwing the people into tremendous sufferings, Xi said.

He stressed that war should not continue indefinitely, justice should not be absent forever, and commitment to the two-State solution should not be wavered at will.

China firmly supports the establishment of an independent State of Palestine that enjoys full sovereignty based on the 1967 borders and with East Jerusalem as its capital. It supports Palestine's full membership in the U.N., and supports a more broad-based, authoritative and effective international peace conference, he added.

China will continue to provide assistance to help ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and support post-conflict reconstruction, and support the work of the U.N. Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East in providing emergency humanitarian assistance to Gaza, Xi said.

China has fully implemented the Global Security Initiative, actively promoted the political settlement of regional hotspot issues, and brokered a historic reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, a move that not only helped ease tensions within the region but also catalyzed a wave of reconciliations among Arab states and within the broader region, said Wu Sike, China's former special envoy to the Middle East.

Bahrain highly appreciates China's firm support for the just cause of the Arabs, especially on the Palestinian question, its tremendous efforts to alleviate the suffering of the people in Gaza and its full support for the establishment of an independent State of Palestine, Bahrain's King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa said.

The 10th ministerial conference of the CASCF adopted the Beijing Declaration, the CASCF execution plan for 2024-2026, and a China-Arab states joint statement on the Palestinian issue.

During the conference, China also signed a number of bilateral and multilateral cooperation documents with the participating countries and the General Secretariat of the Arab League.
Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and longtime local talk-radio host. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter.
Signs hanging on tents of the pro-Palestinian encampment at the University of Denver earlier this month in Denver. (Rebecca Slezak/Special to The Gazette)
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Palestinians are seen at the site of an Israeli airstrike on tents for displaced people near the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on May 27, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Hamas announced on Thursday that it has informed mediators of its readiness to reach a "full agreement," including a comprehensive hostages-prisoners exchange deal, if Israel stops its war in the Gaza Strip, according to a statement from the Gaza-ruling Palestinian faction.



Hamas said it has showed flexibility and positivity in response to the efforts of the mediators throughout all previous indirect negotiating rounds, but Israel used these negotiations "as a cover for the continuation of aggression" against the Palestinian people, citing military operations in Rafah and seizure of the crossing as evidence.

Hamas and other Palestinian factions will not accept to be part of this policy by continuing negotiations in light of "aggression, killing, siege, starvation and genocide of our people," it added.

Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported on Tuesday that Israel had handed over a document with the Israeli proposal to Qatar and Egypt to resume negotiations for the exchange of detainees with Hamas and a ceasefire in Gaza.

The last round of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas, hosted by Egypt for two days earlier this month, stalled after the Israeli attack on Rafah city in southern Gaza Strip.

Hamas's inclination to seek an agreement came amid continued fighting in Rafah city despite international condemnations of the Israeli attack.

Israel launched a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage.
An internal poll conducted last week for one of the three Democrats hoping to deny U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert another term in Congress shows potential challenger Ike McCorkle leading the Republican by double digits in Colorado's 4th Congressional District. However, a whopping one-third of the voters surveyed said they were undecided.
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China will work with Russia to bring more benefits to the peoples of the two countries, and make greater contributions to world security and stability through high-level strategic coordination, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Beijing on Thursday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, made the remarks via video at a high-level think tank forum for scholars from the two countries.

Wang said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 75 years ago, China-Russia relations have gone through the tests of ups and downs to become more mature and tenacious, creating a model for international relations and for relations between neighboring major countries.

Wang noted that the world is in a period of turbulence and experiencing accelerating changes unseen in a century. He said the world now requires major powers to take responsibility, and that China-Russia cooperation has become even more precious.

He said that China will remain committed to its original intentions, build on past achievements and forge ahead with Russia. The two sides should seek common development and rejuvenation through mutual support, achieve mutual benefits through opening-up and cooperation, strengthen public support through exchange and mutual learning, lead global governance with commitment, and participate in international affairs from a just position.

The forum was founded by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and the Russian International Affairs Council in 2018. This year's event focuses on such topics as China and Russia within a changing international pattern, the links between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union, bilateral connectivity, and scientific and technological innovation cooperation.
madGMAT

Twelve years ago and again five years ago, there were extended periods when Darfir Republic's currency, the pundra, was weak: its value was unusually low relative to the world's most stable currencies. Both times a weak pundra made Darfir's manufactured products a bargain on the world markets, and Darfir's exports were up substantially. Now some politicians are saying that, in order to cause another similarly sized increase in exports, the government should allow the pundra to become weak again.



Which of the following if true provides the government with the strongest grounds to doubt the politican's recommendation, if followed, will achieve its aim?



a) Several of the politicians no recommending that the pundra be allowed to become weak made that same recommendation before each of the last two periods of currency weakness.

b) After several decades of operating well below its peak capcity, darfir's manufacturing sector is now operating at near-peak levels

c) the economy of a country experiencing a rise in exports will become healthier only if the country's currency is strong or the rise in exports is significant.

d) those countries whose manufactured products compete with darfir's on the world market currently all have stable currencies

e) a sharp improvement in the efficiency of darfir's manufacturing plants would make darfir's products a bargain on the world markets even without weakening of the pundra relative to other currencies.



Can someone explain???

Plan:

another similarly sized increase in exports

Aim:

A. Several of the politicians now recommending that the pundra be allowed to become weak made that same recommendation before each of the last two periods of currency weakness.

This doesnt weaken the plan. If anything, it lends a bit more credence that these experts perhaps know what they are talking about!

B. After several decades of operating well below peak capacity, Darfir's manufacturing sector is now operating at near-peak levels.

If Darfirs manufacturing sector is operating at peak, it is very unlikely that it can support much increase in exports. So even if the currency weakens, the exports may not increase much. In previous two instances, Darfir was manufacturing below capacity so they could manufacture extra products. Hence the plan worked in those instances but this time it may not. It weakens our plan.

Correct.

C. The economy of a country experiencing a rise in exports will become healthier only if the country's currency is strong or the rise in exports is significant.

The aim is not a healthier economy but instead increased exports. So, this is irrelevant.

D. Those countries whose manufactured products compete with Darfir's on the world market all currently have stable currencies.

The point is - will allowing pundra to become weak lead to increase in exports?

E. A sharp improvement in the efficiency of Darfir's manufacturing plants would make Darfir's products a bargain on world markets even without any weakening of the pundra relative to other currencies.

What else can lead to increase in exports is irrelevant.

Answer (B)



https://youtu.be/EhZ8FKkfy0k Weaken questions are discussed here:

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It is a 'weaken the plan' question.When currency weakens, exports increase. (Foreigners can buy more using same amount of their currencies so they buy more.) Therefore, in order to cause, the government should allow the pundra to become weak again.to cause another similarly sized increase in exportsFocus on the highlighted words. The aim is to cause a similarly sized increase in exports. That is what the plan is trying to achieve. On weaken questions, we focus on the conclusion. What the plan is trying to achieve is parallel to conclusion. So we focus on trying to weaken what the plan is trying to achieve. We need to find something that tells us why we will not get a similarly sized increase in exports even if we weaken pundra.Options a, c, d and e do not talk about the reasons we will not see similarly sized increase in exports.Option B tells us that darfir's manufacturing sector is now operating at near-peak levels. If this is true, exports cannot increase much because darfir cannot manufacture more than it is manufacturing now. If there are no extra products manufactured, there cannot be extra exports. In previous instances, darfir was manufacturing below capacity so they could manufacture extra products. Hence the plan worked in those instances but this time it may not. Therefore, option (B) is correct._________________
I hate long goodbyes, but this might be the longest goodbye you've ever read. It will be full of thank you"s to many people and to you, the reader. This is in all likelihood going to be my final essay and I wanted it to come from the heart.

It has been an unbelievable honor to share my life with you. I have received emails, letters, phone calls and conversations that lifted my heart. I never knew the friendships and some enemies I would make from writing my pieces. I just know all of you touched my life. Even the angry folk who couldnt get the tar hot enough or pick enough feathers to put on me. I believe you can learn a lot from an argument.

When the Herald & Review asked guest columnists to send in their work, I never figured my writing style would resonate like it has. Yet here we are, and their resonance vibrates in a chamber that seems to have no ending, and all of it took place because of some very dear friends.

Clay Jackson, a brilliant Herald & Review photographer and artist, had read my Facebook posts and challenged me to take the passion and honesty I put on them and extend those comments into essay form. Clays unbelievable art decorates my living room, and his opinion of those social media posts decorated my mind and heart for weeks. Under his advisement, I sat down at my computer, and the articles poured out of me.

Justin Conn, whose opinion I value over all advisors in my life, has been an incredible talent for the Herald & Review forever, and he too helped germinate the seeds of my writing and pushed me to try what I thought was going to be a couple of essays into a regular gig. Justin wrote a piece about me when I was struggling with kidney failure that I could argue to the Supreme Court helped free me from my self-guilt and self-loathing and quite possibly could have saved my life.

Hes too humble and will deny part in the transplant that led to freeing me from my pain, but deep in his bones he knows the truth of his gifted writing and that article.

Allison Petty is the hard-working and talented Central Illinois Editor for the Herald & Review. She had the power and authority to pull the plug on my writing any time she wished, and I wouldnt have blamed her at all. Like a caring queen in her kingdom, she allowed a jester to dance in her court and on the pages of Decaturs wonderful newspaper, and for that, I can never say thank you to her enough.

Then theres the all-knowing, all-seeing and all-wise Wizard of the Written Page Tim Cain. You will all never know how lucky our community is to have him as an editor of our local paper. Hes a novelist, brilliant editor, a radio voice and a connoisseur of everything great in music.

Cain helped me shape, modify and gave me ideas for all my quirky editorials and he never once told me, Kevin, thats just a touch too crazy. Even though I knew in his bone marrow he shivered with fear every time I sent him an article.

Tim fanned the flame inside of me and allowed me to find catharsis from my writing. I wrote about my personal falls, flaws and fauna. He made my work better with the tweaks and twists he made to each of my creations come to life. I was the monster, and he was Dr. Frankenstein and he helped put the electrical charge into me that brought my essays to life. Not only did Tim Cain validate my writing, he gave my writing a home. I had a place and a genre to call my own.

I wrote about my fight with divorce, alcohol, homelessness and all the tender, cruel, kind, and angry events I saw take place on my life journey. I never realized Id get such an outpouring of support from all of you. Many of you walked on the same suffering highways and byways I had, and you thanked me for explaining the painful journeys we all wandered. I cannot tell you all the hugs Ive been given from recovering souls who thanked me for putting their struggles into words.

I never knew it, but the Herald & Review allowed me to deal with the untimely death of my mother when I was 14 years old and my troubled relationship with my father. I shared my story and took my armor off for all of you to read, and you all gave back understanding and approval that gave first aid to my damaged soul. I never understood the pain I was hiding, and writing allowed me to suture and amputate parts of my fractured psyche. To say thank you to all of you for that gift seems shallow, but thank you for all the kind and care you showed me as I typed about my agony on the page.

Finally, to my beautiful wife and courageous children, I want to say what a gift it was to have your blessing to share about our life journey together on the pages of this great newspaper. I have failed in many things in my life, but one thing I never quit on or failed at was creating a family. I took the job seriously and I fell down a lot. I mean, I fell down every day and my family kept reaching to pull me up.

Ill be seeing you, Decatur family. Thanks for the laughs, the thoughts and the tears. Thanks for loving a wretch. That wretch is so much better because we spent time together.
" " This painting by Mikhail Petrovich Klodt titled 'Ivan the Terrible and the Ghosts of His Victims' shows the czar surrounded by the ghosts of some of the many, many people he had killed. Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images

Key Takeaways Ivan the Terrible, a medieval Russian ruler, earned his foreboding nickname through horrifying repressions and costly wars.

Initially a peaceful and progressive leader, Ivan later became an autocrat who murdered thousands of boyars and civilians to consolidate power.

Ivan's legacy includes state-building and brutal tactics, influencing future leaders like Stalin and Putin.

History has witnessed incredible atrocities committed by world leaders, like Genghis Khan, Vlad the Impaler and Elizabeth Bathory de Ecsed, the Blood Countess. Yet only one of them is known as Terrible  Ivan the Terrible. But what did this medieval Russian icon do to earn his foreboding nickname?

For starters, he bloodied his own subjects in a series of horrifying repressions. He also fought unending wars that cost his nation dearly in life and wealth.

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But as it turns out, Ivan didn't begin his reign as a bloodthirsty tyrant.

Ivan Vasilyevich was born in 1530, and when he was just 3 years old, his father, Grand Prince Vasily III of Moscow, died of an infection. Ivan immediately became the grand prince, destined to become the country's ruler once he came of age.

Throughout his childhood he was targeted by power-hungry boyars (elites) hoping to expand their influence and wealth. Meanwhile, the boy himself was essentially neglected, sometimes to the point where he didn't even have enough food to eat.

The boyars were clannish landowners, upper-crust types who wielded control in civil affairs and the military. As they bickered and murderously conspired against each other, the young Ivan grew to dislike them. It was a sign of things to come.

When he turned 16 in 1547, Ivan was handed the reins to the country, given the title of czar and grand prince of all Russia. He was the country's first czar, a title that lent a divine element to his powers.

In his first years as leader, Ivan was less terrible and more peaceful and progressive. He attempted to reform and modernize Russia. He and his council, the Elected Rada, updated and improved the law code, created the streltsy (standing army), and implemented the practice of self-government in some regions of the country. He even embraced Christian theology and worked to improve justice throughout the nation.

Maybe Ivan was not so terrible, after all?
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Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Tunisian President Kais Saied at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. Kais Saied, who is in China on a state visit, attended the opening ceremony of the 10th ministerial conference of the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Tunisian President Kais Saied in Beijing on Thursday.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Tunisia, Li said, noting that over the past 60 years, China-Tunisia relations have maintained sound and steady development, benefiting the two peoples.

China is ready to work with Tunisia to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, carry forward the tradition of friendship and mutual trust, advance exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and work together to pave the way for an even better future for the two countries, Li said.

He noted that China firmly supports Tunisia in actively exploring a development path with Tunisian characteristics and firmly opposes external interference in Tunisia's internal affairs.

China is ready to work with Tunisia to deepen practical cooperation guided by high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, make solid progress in key cooperation projects, and expand cooperation in trade and renewable energy, Li said.

China is willing to import more quality products from Tunisia and will continue to encourage competent Chinese enterprises to invest and do business in Tunisia, Li said, calling on the two sides to strengthen people-to-people exchanges and cooperation in health, youth education, tourism and archaeology, and continue to enhance the friendship between the two peoples.

China is ready to work with Tunisia to make every effort to build a China-Arab community with a shared future for the new era and promote the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, Li said, urging joint efforts from the two sides to strengthen multilateral coordination and cooperation to safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

Saied said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties, bilateral relations have achieved rapid development and pragmatic cooperation has achieved fruitful results.

Tunisia firmly abides by the one-China principle, unwaveringly supports China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and resolutely opposes the interference of external forces in China's internal affairs, Saied said, adding that Tunisia greatly appreciates China's high-level cooperation projects in Tunisia and looks forward to strengthening cooperation with China in infrastructure construction, health care, tourism and other fields.
Special religious programs and events, June 1-9. Please see individual websites for your church, cathedral, temple or mosques regular events and services.

40th Anniversary Concert  3 p.m. Sunday, June 2, at First-Plymouth Church, 20th and D streets. This 40th Anniversary Concert, celebrating the June 2nd 40th wedding anniversary of Abendmusik Executive Director Matthew Finkner and his wife Ann, is offered free to the community. The concert will feature some of the Finkners' wedding music plus some old favorite "standards," all directed by Tom Trenney, conductor and organist.

Weekly mens coffee and grief group meetings  1 p.m. Tuesdays at Scooters, 4500 S. 70th St. Register at Tabitha.org/Hospice/Bereavement.

Weekly womens coffee and grief group meetings  2 p.m. Wednesdays at Scooters, 2901 S. 84th St. Register at www.Tabitha.org/Hospice/Bereavement.

James: Faith and Works  7 p.m. Thursdays on Zoom. Join Dr. Dave Moore for a new Bible study on the small but mighty Book of James, a New Testament text that encapsulates the vitalness of living Christian lives made up of deeds matching our faith. For James, aiding those in need is essential to a life of faith. All are welcome to join in this summer study and share in James absolute conviction of loving ones neighbor. Register at https://saintpaul.churchcenter.com/groups/adult-classes/james-faith-and-works.

Arts for the Soul concert featuring Jurana with Daniel Martinez  7 p.m. Friday, June 7, at First Presbyterian Church, 840 S. 17th St., east parking lot. Free attendance and free ice cream from the UNL Dairy Store. More details: https://fpclincoln.org/event/jarana or 402-477-6037.

Civic Saturday  11 a.m. Saturday June 8 at First-Plymouth Church, 20th and D streets. Free and open to all. Details: www.civicnebraska.org/civic-health-program/civic-saturdays.

Coming up: Vacation Bible School Camp Firelight  5:30-8 p.m. June 10-14 (dinner included) at Saint Paul United Methodist Church, 1144 M St. Saint Paul welcomes all children ages 3 through exiting fifth grade to participate in Vacation Bible School. This year's theme is Camp Firelight. Campers will join Counselor Sam and Lu the Lightning Bug to explore timeless Bible stories that demonstrate how people trusted God in the face of their own fears and went on to do great things. Each evening will include dinner, a Bible story and lesson, craft, music and other activities. Offered to all children at no charge. Register at https://saintpaul.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2207225.
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Chinese Premier Li Qiang meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, capital of China, May 30, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi in Beijing on Thursday.

Hailing China and Egypt as good friends and partners of solidarity and mutual assistance for joint development, Li said that China is willing to work with Egypt to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, carry forward the traditional friendship, continuously strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and push the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries to a new level.

Li pointed out that China firmly supports Egypt in pursuing a development path that suits its national conditions and safeguarding its national sovereignty, security, and development interests.

Guided by high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, China is ready to work with Egypt to deepen cooperation in traditional areas and foster new growth areas of cooperation, further facilitate bilateral trade and investment exchanges, and help Egypt strengthen the internal driving force for economic development to achieve win-win results, Li said.

He also called for expanding people-to-people exchanges regarding think tanks, young people, education, and tourism to consolidate public support for good friendship between the two countries.

China is ready to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Egypt in multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, BRICS and Shanghai Cooperation Organization, work together to end the fighting in Gaza and ease the humanitarian crisis there as soon as possible, and make unremitting efforts for a comprehensive, just, and lasting settlement of the Palestinian issue, Li said.

Sisi said that since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Egypt and China 10 years ago, the two countries have achieved fruitful cooperation in various fields.

Egypt firmly abides by the one-China principle, firmly supports China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and supports China in combating terrorism, he said.

Sisi expressed the willingness to work with China to further expand cooperation in agriculture, trade, new energy, communications, and high technology under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and better benefit the two peoples.
1. Yes. They look better and require less maintenance. Most high-end housing areas have them.

2. Yes. Wood fences can weather and look unsightly, plus masonry walls help to block sound.

3. No. Residents should have a choice of what kind of barriers are put up near their homes.

4. No. Allowing a variety of materials will be better for aesthetics, and costs may be lower.

5. Unsure. Its hard to say. Masonry walls may be sturdier, but mandating them is problematic.

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The National Weather Service has confirmed that more than two dozen tornadoes touched down in Nebraska during storms that raked across the state late last week, continuing what has been one of the most active tornado seasons on record in the state.

Most of the tornadoes that hit areas across the state Thursday and Friday were small and did little damage. In fact, all but one of them was an EF1 or lower on the enhanced Fujita scale, meaning they had winds of 110 mph or less.

The one tornado that rated an EF2 was the one that hit a neighborhood on the north shore of Lake McConaughy on Thursday, causing extensive damage to homes and other buildings.

Thankfully, the tornado, which had winds reaching 130 mph, was short-lived and was on the ground for less than one-third of a mile. But in that short time, it destroyed a pole barn and damaged dozens of homes.

Several other tornadoes touched down in and around Lake McConaughy, causing some damage to structures and trees.

The Lake McConaughy tornadoes were among nearly a dozen that touched down Thursday across areas in and just to the east of the Panhandle.

The weather service said the storms that spawned the tornadoes also produced hail as large as 3.5 inches in diameter.

In southwest Nebraska, an EF1 tornado with winds of 110 mph caused some minor damage near Trenton in Hitchcock County.

Farther east, an EF1 tornado with winds of up to 95 mph hit Holdrege on Thursday, causing extensive tree damage and some minor damage to structures.

EF1 tornadoes also hit areas of Howard, Merrick and Nance Counties, as well as Adams County.

The one that touched down near Blue Hill in Adams County hit two farmsteads, causing extensive damage to some farm buildings and also killing three horses, the weather service said.

A derecho that hit eastern Nebraska on Thursday night and Friday morning before moving east into Iowa spun up nine weak EF0 tornadoes in Nebraska and three in Iowa.

All did minimal damage, mostly to trees and power poles, although one that hit near an elementary school in Papillion did minor damage to some homes.

None of the tornadoes occurred in Lancaster County, which saw extensive tree damage, although one was recorded in Seward County and two were recorded in Saunders County.

Last weeks tornadoes bring the total in Nebraska so far to 63, making it one of the most active years in recorded history.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has tornado records going back to 1950, and only once  in 2004  have there been more tornadoes recorded in the state before June.

The number of tornadoes recorded so far is notably high compared to historical averages, said Clint Aegerter, a meteorologist with the weather service office in Valley, who noted that the number of tornadoes tallied so far is preliminary and may be revised.

According to AccuWeather, Nebraska has had the third-highest total of tornadoes reported so far this spring, trailing only Iowa and Texas.

The state averages about 41 tornadoes per year, according to UNL, although that average has been 51 per year over the past 40 years. Last year, there were 60 confirmed tornadoes.

While most of the tornadoes have been mild, rated EF1 or lower, there were four EF3 tornadoes during the Arbor Day tornado outbreak on April 26, which Aegerter said is the most recorded by the weather service office in Valley since 2014.

Those tornadoes potentially caused more than half a billion dollars in damage, according to real estate data firm CoreLogic.

Luckily, there have been no tornado fatalities in Nebraska so far this year and few injuries.

The question now is, will this pattern continue?

June is the most active month for tornadoes in Nebraska on average, with 14, and the state averages about 24 a year from June to December.

An average number of tornadoes the rest of the year would put the overall number somewhere around 85, which would rank as the fourth-most for a full year in the state. The record is 110 in 2004.

Aegerter wasnt willing to make any predictions for the rest of the year, but he did say that models are forecasting more calm conditions starting in the second week of June.

Photos and videos: Cleanup begins after April 2024 storms, tornadoes hit Omaha metro area, Iowa
On 30 May Haitis transitional presidential council (TPC) published the decree appointingas the countrys prime minister.

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On 30 May demonstrators took to the streets in Brazils largest city, Sao Paulo, for an annual religious rally known as the Marcha para Jesus, which the mayor of Sao Paulo city,, and the governor of Sao Paulo state,, also attended.

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UK-China arts event celebrates rich history, cultural exchanges

Xinhua) 08:33, May 31, 2024

A woman looks at photographs at a UK-China arts event in London, Britain, on May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

The event celebrates the rich history and cultural exchanges between China and the UK with exhibitions of 400 photographs, paintings, calligraphy, seal carving demonstrations, as well as outdoor activities.

LONDON, May 30 (Xinhua) -- An arts event highlighting the cultures along the Yellow River and Thames River, two iconic rivers in China and the United Kingdom (UK) in respective, began on Friday in central London.

The event, jointly organized by the UK-China Photography Association and UK-China Film Collab, is titled "Beautiful China, Beautiful Britain: Common People Along the Yellow River." It celebrates the rich history and cultural exchanges between the two countries with exhibitions of 400 photographs by more than 100 photographers, paintings, calligraphy, seal carving demonstrations, as well as outdoor activities.

Leading the photographic exhibition is, Zhu Xianmin, a Chinese photographer with the series "Common People Along the Yellow River." Zhu emphasized the symbolic significance of the Yellow River to the Chinese nation and people. He expressed excitement at seeing photographs of the "mother river" displayed in the UK.

Baron Steven von Kohorn speaks at the opening ceremony of a UK-China arts event in London, Britain, on May 30, 2024. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

Zhu said that documenting and showcasing the changes in the lives of the people living along the Yellow River over the past several decades helps younger generations in China learn their history and offers people in the UK a glimpse of China's development, especially since the reform and opening-up.

"The works that we see around here are absolutely extraordinary," Baron Steven von Kohorn said during the event's opening ceremony. He noted that the event is not just about "two rivers," there is a third symbolic "river" that joins the spirits of two great nations into one. "China and Britain are both beautiful in such different ways," he said.

People look at photographs at a UK-China arts event in London, Britain, on May 30, 2024. An arts event highlighting the cultures along the Yellow River and Thames River, two iconic rivers in China and the United Kingdom (UK) in respective, began on Friday in central London. (Xinhua/Han Yan)

As part of the event, guests can participate in a walk exploring natural and cultural heritage sites in England, including the Thames River, Hadrian's Wall, and the canals in London. The event will run until Saturday.

(Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun)
On 30 May Argentinas newly appointed cabinet chiefsaid that after formalising the appointment of former central bank president (2015-2018)to a new ministerial role, no further cabinet changes are planned.

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On 30 May Venezuelas government led by Presidentdismissed mounting international criticism of the decision to revoke an invitation for a European Union (EU) electoral observation mission to monitor the 28 July presidential election.

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Italy celebrated the return of hundreds of its antiquities from the United States this week. The property included ancient bronze statues, gold coins, mosaics and documents valued at $65 million.

The pieces were stolen years ago. They were later sold to American museums, galleries and collectors. Their return came after a successful criminal investigation.

Officials of Italys Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage presented the returned objects at a press event in Rome.

A team of American officials attended the presentation. They included U.S. Ambassador Jack Markell and Matthew Bogdanos, chief of the antiquities trafficking unit of the New York district attorney's office.

It marked the latest presentation of property return in Italys long effort to recover antiquities stolen from its territory. The thieves, called tombaroli in Italy, sold to antiquities dealers who often lied on ownership records to resell the antiquities.

Markell said that the United States is firm in its goal of returning stolen property to where it belongs...We know that safeguarding this history requires care and vigilance, and this is why we do what we do."

Among the most valuable pieces presented was a fourth-century Naxos silver coin. The coin has an image of the Greek god of wine, Dionysius. It was taken from an illegal dig site in Sicily and transported to Britain. Bogdanos said the coin was found in New York last year as part of an investigation into a noted British coin dealer. It was being offered for sale for $500,000.

Bogdanos said that other objects were returned from New Yorks Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The returned objects also included a life-sized bronze statue of a person, as well as several vases from the ancient Etruscan civilization.

Italian officials said the returned property also included paintings from the 16th and 19th centuries that once belonged to Italian museums, religious centers and private homes.

Im Ashley Thompson.

The Associated Press reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for VOA Learning English.

____________________________________________

Words in This Story

antiquities  objects from ancient times

mosaic  n. a decoration on a surface made by pressing small pieces of colored glass or stone into a soft material that then hardens to make pictures or patterns

museum  n. a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and shown to the public

gallery  n. a room or building in which people look at paintings, sculptures, etc.

vase  n. a container that is used for holding flowers or for decoration
A court in Hong Kong found 14 pro-democracy activists guilty of crimes linked to an unofficial vote in 2020. Some could face life in prison.

Hong Kong officials said the action was part of a plot to hurt the government and subvert state power. The main crime was termed conspiracy to commit subversion. The ruling ends a four-year legal case that has gained international attention.

A democracy activist

Among those convicted was 27-year-old Owen Chow, a democracy activist who has spent most of the last four years in prison.

Chow told the court that he considered withdrawing from the election after studying the security laws put in place by the government in Beijing in 2020. But he said he could not leave the masses.

In their judgment Thursday, the judges said they had no doubt that Chows purpose for taking part in the election was to undermine, destroy or overthrow the existing political system.

A former nursing student, Chow started his activism during mass protests over a disputed piece of legislation in 2019. In a separate trial, a court sentenced Chow to five years in prison for temporarily occupying Hong Kongs legislature during the protests.

Chow told Reuters that all he had done was to fight for democratic freedoms legally guaranteed under Hong Kongs law since 1997. That year Britain handed over the territory to China.

Democracy is the future of Hong Kong. This wont change regardless of those in power, Chow said in a room at a high-security prison.

Chow spoke to Reuters in 2021 before he was arrested. He said he decided to become a health care worker after his father died.

Since then, I wanted to take care of others, he said. But he suspended his studies to run in the primary election named in the court case.

Chow became interested in activism when huge pro-democracy protests started in Hong Kong. He voiced opposition to quieter plans from older democracy supporters. Chow was one of nearly 3000 people who faced charges for offenses related to the 2019 protests. More than 290 people faced national security charges.

Chow and others were denied a jury trial although Hong Kong common law permits them. Thirty-two people have spent over 1,000 days in jail without bail. Bail is a process that secures a persons release from prison while they await trial.

In March, Hong Kongs government said in a statement that all defendants have the right to a fair trial by an independent judiciary. It rejected U.S. criticism of Hong Kongs additional national security measures.

Taking things in stride

Chow said he has tried to remain healthy and strong in prison through exercise, meditation and study. He reads six books each month including works on politics, philosophy and Buddhism.

Chow said prison life is difficult, but he tried to take the difficulties in a balanced way or in stride.

If we accept that adversity is inevitable and treat adversity as a rare chance to train ourselves, to improve ourselves, we can all take things in our stride, he said.

In 2021, Chow met a reporter named Amanda. She told Reuters that the two have a relationship. She is now based in Britain.

Chow is now mainly in a one-man prison cell in Stanley Prison. He likely faces another long prison sentence. But he said he is considering what is best over the long term.

Its a sacrifice for Hong Kong. Its as if Im sitting in jail for everyone else and suffering on behalf of others.

But he added, What Ive gained is more than Ive lost.

Im Mario Ritter, Jr.

Jessie Pang and James Pomfret reported this story for the Reuters news agency. Mario Ritter, Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English.

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

conspiracy n. the action of plotting with others to commit a crime

nursing n. being a health care worker in a hospital or a service that provides such care

meditation n. spending time in thought and reflection

adversity n. difficult conditions

inevitable adj. unavoidable; sure to happen

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In the American state of California, researchers recently climbed the worlds largest tree to check on its health. The tree is a giant sequoia named General Sherman.

The climbers had good news to report when they returned to the ground.

"The General Sherman tree is doing fine right now," said Anthony Ambrose. He is executive director of the Ancient Forest Society and led the team of researchers.

They were looking for damage to the 2,200-year-old tree --- and possible evidence of a growing threat to giant sequoias: bark beetles. The insects are native to California.

No one had ever climbed the famous 85-meter sequoia tree before the researchers. But, tourists from around the world come to Sequoia National Park to see the General Sherman and others of its kind.

Giant sequoias are the largest trees on Earth. They have survived for thousands of years in California's western Sierra Nevada mountains, the only place where the tree is native.

Hot and dry weather and wildfires have threatened the trees in recent years. In 2020 and 2021, record-setting wildfires killed as much as 20 percent of the world's 75,000 mature sequoias, park officials say.

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

Researchers are growing more worried about bark beetles. The insects were not a serious threat in the past. They lived alongside sequoias for thousands of years. However, park officials say recent bark beetle attacks have killed about 40 sequoia trees, mostly within the national parks.

Ambrose said researchers believe dry weather and fires make the trees weaker and less able to survive attacks.

The insects dig holes in the highest parts of the tree. Then they move down the trunk, destroying it as they go. The beetles are extremely small in size but large in number. Working together they can kill a tree within six months.

That is why park officials permitted Ambrose and his team to climb General Sherman. The experts looked for the extremely small holes that the bark beetle makes. They reported no sign of the insects.

But it is not possible to climb every sequoia tree and look at its highest part. So, scientists are considering other ways to check the trees, such as the use of drones and satellite imagery. The technology might be able to record and measure beetle activity over large areas of forest.

The health check of General Sherman was organized by the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition, a group of government agencies, Native tribes and environmental groups. They hope to establish a health check program for the tall trees.

If they discover beetle infestations, officials say, they could try to fight the attacks with water or chemical treatments. They can also remove individual branches of affected trees.

Bark beetles have severely damaged some forests in the Western United States in recent years. But they did not threaten giant sequoias until recently.

Clay Jordan is superintendent for Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. He said the sequoias have really withstood insect attacks for a lot of years. So why now? Why are we seeing this change?" He added that researchers need to learn more to make sure they can protect the trees.

The sequoia General Sherman is named for William Tecumseh Sherman. The famous military leader helped lead Union forces to victory in the American Civil War.

Im Andrew Smith.

Andrew Smith adapted this story based on reporting from The Associated Press.

______________________________________________

Words in This Story

tourist -n. a person who visits a place for for pleasure or interest, especially when on vacation.

mature -adj. fully grown or developed

stewardship -n. the responsibility of taking care of property

restoration -n. the return of something to its original and undamaged condition

significant -adj. important

trunk -n. the central column of a tree supporting its branches

drone -n. a small flying vehicle without a pilot and controlled remotely

infestation -n. the presence of large numbers of insects or other unwanted animals causing damage
The Labour Affairs Bureau and the Federation of Workers Associations of Macau will be hosting a series of job matching sessions in early June, offering a total of 385 job vacancies across various sectors. On June 6, the morning session will focus on the security and cleaning sectors, with 126 job openings available, while the afternoon session will target the restaurant sector, offering 145 vacancies. On June 7, a retail sales session for supermarkets will be held, with 114 job openings for positions like cashier, vegetable and fruit packager, meat cutter, and transport and merchandise storage employee

Related
Chinas Commerce Ministry said it will restrict exports of some aviation and aerospace-related equipment and technology beginning July 1.

A notice seen yesterday on the ministrys website said the move was to safeguard national security and interests and fulfill international obligations such as non-proliferation. Exports of items designated under the new rules will require export licenses.

The announcement was jointly released with Chinas General Administration of Customs and the Central Military Commissions equipment development department.

It said the export controls would apply to aircraft and aerospace engines and structural parts, engine manufacturing related equipment, software and technology. They also will include tools, molds, fixtures and other processing equipment used to make certain materials such as superplastic bonded with titanium, aluminum and their alloys.

Beijing and Washington have both moved to limit exports of products, technology and equipment considered vital to national security. China has also imposed sanctions against some U.S. aerospace and defense manufacturers to retaliate against sales of weapons to Taiwan, a self-governed island it claims as its territory.

The U.S. has export controls in force on exports of aero gas turbine engines, some aircraft and instruments, navigation equipment and systems.

The Commerce Ministry notice said the controls also would apply to technologies used in the development, making and use of the equipment, including design drawings, process specifications, process parameters, processing procedures, simulation data, and the like.

The overall impact of the move is unclear. China exports engine parts and other aircraft and space components. It also has developed its own jet engines. But it still relies on foreign suppliers for key parts of aircraft it has begun to produce using its own technology and manufacturers. MDT/AP
The government of Cape Verde has officially terminated the contract with the subsidiary companies of Macau Legend Development Ltd (MLD) in the country last September following an idling on the development of the project of a casino resort at the Praia da Gamboa and Santa Maria Islet at Cidade da Praia.

According to an official letter from Cabo Verde TradeInvest, to which the Times had access, on September 7, 2023, the government entity responsible for foreign investments in the African country notified the MLD subsidiaries (MLD Cabo Verde Resorts S.A. and MLD Cabo Verde Entretenimento S.A.) of the unilateral decision to terminate the agreements with MLD due to their nonfulfillment of the contract for the development project.

In the letter signed by chairman and CEO of Cabo Verde TradeInvest (Investment and Export Promotion Agency of Cabo Verde islands), Jose Manuel Almada Dias, the agency said that, after several letters sent to the MLD regarding the monitoring and inspection of compliance of contractual obligations, the government entity was terminating the contract due to breach by MLD.

More than four years since the signing of the draft Addendum to the Convention, and without even completing the first phase of the project, there are no doubts regarding the lack of interest from you in fulfilling the commitments and executing the contractual obligations resulting from the Convention, that is, to develop the investment project Macau Legend Development, in the Bay of Cidade da Praia, which includes the Santa Maria Islet and Praia da Gamboa, in Cape Verde, the letter reads, noting that a previous letter, dated from January 18, 2023, on the same matter, was unanswered by the concessionaire.

Your excellencys negligent stance is reflected and acknowledged in your letter from October 24, 2022, in which you intended to justify the contractual delays with the negative impacts caused by both the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which is neither accepted nor acceptable, the letter continues, adding, Until now you are yet to present a proposal for the projects execution and completion schedule, including all its phases, nor a demonstration of the respective financial capacity, as you had promised and despite the successive insistences of the State of Cape Verde and the deadlines set for presenting the [mentioned documents]. The last deadline extension had been granted in the letter of January 18, 2023, to which we have not received any response.

Dias also noted in the letter dated September 7, 2023, that since it is not possible to reach an amicable and negotiated resolution, and it is not in the interest of the State of Cape Verde to maintain the situation of non-execution of this project, given the contractual non-compliance with the objectives and deadlines set out in the Convention, there is no alternative left to the State of Cape Verde other than the termination of the agreement.

The letter concludes with a reference to the intentions of the government of Cape Verde in seeking the payment of compensation for the damages suffered, which will be indicated in due course, reaffirming that, in case you do not pay this compensation, the State of Cape Verde has no alternative other than to resort to the legal channels at its disposal to claim the amount of compensation that will be set.

Confirming vs confusing statements

In early October 2023, the Chairman, CEO, and Executive Director, of MLD, Li Chu Kwan in an interview with the Hong Kong broadcaster TVB, admitted that the company would abandon their development projects in Cambodia and Cape Verde until 2025.

Li justified the decision with several issues in implementing such projects and with a new direction for the company that would exclusively focus on Macau and developing non-gaming businesses to reduce their dependency on gaming.

Such a statement comes in line with the letter from Cabo Verde TradeInvest that one month earlier, had unilaterally terminated the contracts with MLD due to breach, namely on the development of the project that started in 2016 that should have been concluded by February 2021 and progress on which had been paused for a long period.

In line with such events, Cape Verdes Premier, Ulisses Correia e Silva, also at the start of October 2023, announced that the government of Cape Verde would reverse the concession of the project for the hotel-casino after the abandonment of the project by MLD.

He also added that after that, the government would look for a solution for the investment.

First, we have to reverse the concession. This is an operation and investment concession. There had been indications for some time that there would be problems on the investors side, on their ability to complete the project, Correia e Silva said to the media in Cape Verde.

Now we are working on legal support to terminate the concession and then see how the investment can be repurposed, as it cannot remain as it is [unfinished], he added in an interview on the sidelines of the opening of the new academic year at the University of Cape Verde.

Correia e Silva also added that the government would reclaim the site that had been occupied under the concession regime and create conditions for new projects to emerge on the site.

Unexpectedly, in early May this year, Cape Verdes Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Business Promotion and Digital Economy, Olavo Correia confirmed in an interview with the local broadcaster RTC that the government of Cape Verde had the intention to revoke the license of MLD and that negotiations between both parties were underway to reach an amicable agreement that would be potentially concluded within two months, or by early July this year.

Although confirming the unfulfillment of the contractual obligations by MLD, Correia said that the government was still looking for an amicable solution while noting that they were also seeking new investors for the casino resort project and had received some interest from other parties.

The same official added that Cape Verde government aims to find a new partner capable of providing the guarantees MLD failed to deliver, particularly on financial, management, and project execution to avoid further delays.

The Times has contacted both the MLD and the government officials of Cape Verde to clarify the current status and position of the government regarding the termination of the contract but, until press time, the Times had not received any response from these entities.

Assets of the concession

Although the concession granted by the government of Cape Verde to the MLD is divided into two different parts (one, a land concession and two, a gaming operation concession), since there are no assets from the second, as the construction of the casino was never concluded and it is far from being potentially operational, the matter of the assets seems to be restricted to the first part, that is, the buildings, foundations, machinery, and others that MLD might have left in Cape Verde.

Since, as far as the Times could investigate, the MLD has not appealed the decision from September 7, 2023, of Cabo Verde TradeInvest of terminating the agreements, which include the concessions, all rights from MLD seem to have also ceased with this termination with the Cape Verde government to be able to proceed with a reclaiming of the site (without all the assets that are currently on it).

This fact can be also deduced in the words of Premier Correia e Silva when in October 2023 he noted that the government was working on reversing the concession and finding a solution to give to the site with a different partner, that is, assuming that the Cape Verde government would take immediate possession over the assets on the site as the contracts indicate and without a need to negotiate them with MLD.

These assets were lastly evaluated by the MLD in their Annual Report in 2021 as worth only some HKD35 million with the group assuming that part of the losses for the year ended 31 December 2021 was due to the impairment losses recognized for the overseas projects located in Cape Verde due to the adverse changes in economic situation under Covid-19 pandemic.

In the same report, the MLD also noted that during the year the group had an impairment loss of HKD241 million (2020: HKD79,020,000) recognized on the investment project in Cape Verde.

In the same year, the MLD noted in the chapter specifically dedicated to the investment project in Cape Verde that besides the impairment loss referred to earlier, the project was recorded for the excess of the carrying value over the estimated recoverable amount of HKD35,000,000 (2020: HKD282,000,000), which was determined to be the fair value less costs of disposal of the CGU [Cash Generating Unit] to which the assets have been allocated for the investment project in Cape Verde. The estimated fair value of the CGU in Cape Verde was determined using level 3 inputs based on the current cost of replacing the assets less deduction for physical deterioration and all relevant forms of obsolescence and optimization.

In 2022, in the same Annual Report, the company stopped having a chapter dedicated to the Cape Verde project and replaced it with a note on the Impairment Losses on Non-Financial Assets section which recapped the previous losses, adding, No impairment was recorded for the year ended 31 December 2022**, that is, acknowledging that the assets in Cape Verde have kept the same value as evaluated at the end of 2021, that is, HKD35 million.

In the 2022 report is also noted that a sum of approximately HKD12,677,000 (same as in 2021) for a gaming concession with a term of 25 years would be due from the first day of operation of the casino operated by the Group under the project in Cape Verde,** which never happened.

On April 24, this year, in the MLD Annual Report (referring to the year ending on 31 December 2023) there is no reference to the Cape Verde development project, further losses related to the assets in the country, or even an acknowledgment of no impairment regarding the same assets (like occurred in the 2022 report).

On the topic, the Times reached the Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited (HKEX) to understand the reasons for such an omission or if there was any other filing to the HKEX that would justify the non-report on the matter.

Acknowledging the inquiry, Henry Sung, assistant vice president for Corporate Communications said that HKEX does not comment on individual cases.
Two officials from the Education and Youth Development Bureau (DSEDJ) visited the Portuguese School of Macau (EPM) yesterday and conducted an inspection speaking to the schools director.

This comes as contracts of several teachers were not renewed, sparking shock and indignation among staff. The school rejects claims of a restructuring process and cites management reasons for the decision.

Earlier this week, teachers at EPM were called to make appointments on Monday and Tuesday for a personal meeting with the management. This was to tell them whether their employment relationship with the school would be renewed.

In the Portuguese department, three teachers saw their contracts ended by the schools decision. All three hold permanent resident cards and are in Macau under a special license from Portugal.

The school is in the process of restructuring at the level of departments and positions. The idea is to value the teaching component, according to what was explained to me as a reason, says one of the affected teachers, Alexandra Domingues, who has taught in Macau for 33 years, as cited in Portuguese media outlet Ponto Final

Having taught at the school practically since its inception, Domingues says she is in shock as nothing led me to believe from the school management that there was a need for someone to leave our department. As a representative of teachers on the Board of Directors, she says she has always addressed topics with the utmost civility, in the sense of investigating, knowing, trying to understand changes or any other problem.

Another anonymous professor at the institution admitted there is a huge misunderstanding with the termination of employment, arguing that the number of students is set to increase and the number of teaching staff should accordingly follow. We cannot understand how some of the teachers who will be dismissed are Portuguese language teachers [] those who are already better prepared and who perfectly understand [] needs, especially of Chinese-speaking students, the professor said.

When contacted by Lusa, director Acacio de Brito, who has been in office since December 2023, denied that any restructuring process was underway, noting only that a change in the leadership of Fundacao Escola Portuguesa and the management of the educational institution had occurred. He explained that every year there are situations where new teachers leave and enter and that there are many teachers who form part of the Portuguese Ministry of Education (ME) school staff.

The president of the Parents Association of the Portuguese School of Macau, Filipe Regencio Figueiredo, told Lusa that he has not received any official communication from the school and does not understand the controversy. He said he is interested in the school working well and his children learning, and that he will be there to check the work next year if the new teachers are not performing well. Figueiredo also represents parents and those responsible for education on the Board of Directors. Staff Reporter
In a move to bolster its transportation infrastructure, the Macau government has received approval from the State Council to extend the citys jurisdiction to a strip of land and water near the Gongbei Checkpoint in Zhuhai.

Effective from May 31, this V-shaped area will come under Macaus control, paving the way for the expansion of the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) network to the Border Gate separating Macau from mainland China.

The planned LRT East Line, spanning 7.7 kilometers with six stations, will transport pedestrians to the redeveloped Zone A and Taipa. The project covers an area of 3,700.178 square meters of tidal flat that Macaus legislature has approved for the citys extended jurisdiction.

Macaus authorities submitted the application for the land extension last December, requesting an extendable grant until December 19, 2049.

This strategic move aligns with Macaus efforts to enhance its transportation connectivity and facilitate the flow of people and goods between the city and the mainland, further strengthening its position as a key economic hub in the region. Staff Reporter
* Legendary

 Cape Verde govt to reclaim assets from Macau Legend as gaming concessions halt

* Film | Oscar nominees head to Macau for Netflix shoot

* Taste of Edesia

* Goldstein calls smart gaming tables the future of gambling, and says LVS is fully invested in using the technology in Macau, Singapore

* Govt inspects EPM as controversy erupts amid termination of teachers contracts

* IMF: Economic output expected to return to pre-pandemic levels in 2025

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Friday, May 31, 2024  edition no. 4494
The Transport Bureau has announced that it will temporarily extend the N3 bus route to service residents going to Hac Sa Beach from June 1 to August 31. The extended N3 route will add stops at the BBQ park and the beach itself, making it more convenient for people to access the area during the peak summer season. The temporary route extension is part of the governments efforts to enhance public transportation and provide better services to residents and visitors alike. Officials hope the added convenience will encourage more people to explore Macaus beaches and outdoor attractions during the summer season.

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A construction worker has tragically died after falling from the Pac On Macau Bridge site in Taipa. The Fire Services Bureau said it received a report around noon yesterday that a 55-year-old non-resident worker had fallen from Macau Bridge site and that the victim was not showing any signs of life. A statement from the Judiciary Police (PJ) said that no suspicious scars were found.

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Oscar-nominated director Edward Berger is set to take audiences on a high-stakes gambling saga in his latest project, The Ballad of a Small Player, which is heading to the casinos of Macau this summer.

Berger, who directed the widely acclaimed Netflix film All Quiet on the Western Front, which won four Academy Awards, has teamed up with the streaming giant once again for this thrilling new venture. The directors previous success with the streaming platform has set high expectations for this latest collaboration.

Joining Berger on this journey are two acclaimed actors  Golden Globe-winning Irish star Colin Farrell, who captivated audiences in Minority Report, and Oscar-winning British actress Tilda Swinton, known for her standout performance in Michael Clayton. The pairing of these esteemed performers is sure to bring depth and nuance to the films central characters.

The film, based on the 2014 novel of the same name by Lawrance Osborne, tells the story of a corrupt English lawyer who flees prosecution and seeks refuge in the gambling meccas of Macau. Shang-Chi star Fala Chen is also set to appear, with more cast members expected to be announced soon, further enhancing the international diversity of the production.

Edward Bergers time in the trenches ended with a formidable four Oscars for All Quiet on the Western Front, said a representative from Tudum, Netflixs online platform. Now hes heading to the casinos of Macau for The Ballad of a Small Player, the first project to come out of Bergers creative partnership with Netflix.

The film is written by Rowan Joffe, known for his work on 28 Weeks Later and The American, ensuring a well-crafted and suspenseful narrative to complement the visually captivating setting of Macaus vibrant casinos.

Meanwhile, a casting call has been released by Lumiere Film Production, seeking extras for various roles in the film, including dealers, croupiers, hotel guests, gamblers, and bellmen. The production company has invited interested individuals to apply via WhatsApp, underscoring the global reach and collaborative nature of this cinematic venture. Staff Reporter
Lets all be clear, if we werent already, that when it comes to Jennifer Lopez, its about the love story. Always the love story.

J.Lo the pop star, singing about rekindled love on her latest album, This is Me  Now. J.Lo the rom-com regular, making movies about seeking love (including the extremely autobiographical film of the same name.) J.Lo the real-life celebrity goddess, in countless headlines about  what else?

Love, for better or worse.

And so if we tell you that now, we have J.Lo in Atlas, playing a data analyst who travels to a planet populated solely by evil AI bots preparing to extinguish humanity, well, your only question really should be, Wheres the love story?

Glad you asked! Because there is one. It may not be with a human. It may actually be with a computer program. But there is one. Because Atlas, an often ridiculous sci-fi epic with dialogue cheesier than a Brie wheel but also an old-fashioned, human heart o gold, is a J.Lo movie. Through and through.

Well give the filmmakers some credit: Atlas, directed by Brad Peyton (San Andreas) is timely. And not just because Lopez has been in the news lately, but because the subject is AI  which has been in the news even more than Bennifer, believe it or not.

We begin our story on Earth, way off into the future, at a time where someone can say Remember there used to be things called smartphones? and everyone laughs. A montage of news reports informs us that things have not been going well for the human race. AI, created to advance humanity, has turned against it, killing over 1 million civilians.

The evil AI leader is Harlan (Simu Liu), who after turning on humanity has escaped to an unknown location far from Earth. But when an associate of his, Casca, is captured on Earth, the head of ICN, a coalition of nations fighting the AI menace, calls on Atlas Shepherd (Lopez) to help question him. Who better than the woman whos devoted her life to the hunt for Harlan?

We learn Atlas is not a happy person. Also, shes addicted to coffee  quad Americanos, to be precise. And she hates  absolutely hates  AI, for reasons unknown.

Anyway, Atlas deftly manages to obtain Harlans location from Casca, and soon finds herself begging to join a mission to his far-off planet to capture the villainous bot, with whom she shares a mysterious past connection. At first, mission commander Banks (Sterling K. Brown) objects strenuously, but quickly and rather illogically changes his mind. (Both Liu and Brown deserve much better roles than the generic, lifeless ones theyre given.)

Soon theyre off, to GR-39 in the Andromeda galaxy, where the ICN space rangers fall into a disastrous trap laid by Harlan. Its here that Atlas meets the most important other person in the movie  well, not a person. Its her AI software, who proves her crucial ally once Atlas is forced to crash land, in her mechanized battle suit, onto the planet.

The key issue is trust-building. Atlas, as we said, doesnt trust AI. As the two get to know each other, the software gives himself (he has a default male voice) a name: Smith.

Atlas: Is that really necessary? Smith: Names create an emotional reaction. Atlas: Youre a computer program.

The plan consists of finding Harlan, defeating his dastardly plot to destroy humanity and getting off the planet  all while hopefully staying alive. At every step, Smith informs Atlas with all the data at his disposal how precisely desperate the odds are. This results in some amusing banter as Smith, voiced by Gregory James Cohan, learns sarcasm and humor.

As for Atlas, she needs to learn how to let down her guard  or rather, her brain walls. Her mistrust of AI leads her to stubbornly refuse (at first) Smiths entreaties to use the neural link  a pathway into each others brains  that will vastly enhance Atlas chances of survival, combining her analytic capacity with Smiths data access.

Harlan doesnt appear until halfway into the movie, and we soon learn something about the tragic past he shares with Atlas. In any case, its Smith, not Harlan, that ultimately evokes real feeling from Atlas  and gives Lopez a chance to emote, which she does reasonably well given the mediocre dialogue. You could call it a futuristic triangle: Human, bad AI, good AI.

Who will win out? Our protocol, as Smith would say, doesnt allow us to give spoilers. But you can guess one idea that emerges shining bright: Its a four letter word starts with L. JOCELYN NOVECK, MDT/AP

Atlas, a Netflix release, has been Rated PG-13 for strong sci-fi violence, action, bloody images and strong language. Running time: 118 minutes.
Washington, DCPresident Joe Biden has lifted restrictions on Ukraine using weapons supplied by the United States against targets on Russian territory, but only to defend the under-fire Kharkiv region, US officials said Thursday.

Biden has come under increasing pressure from a desperate Ukraine to ease his ban, but had so far resisted amid fears it could drag NATO into direct conflict with Moscow.

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The president recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use US-supplied weapons for counter-fire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking them or preparing to attack them, a US official said on condition of anonymity.

Our policy with respect to prohibiting the use of ATACMS or long range strikes inside of Russia has not changed, the official said, referring to long-range missiles recently sent by Washington to Kyiv.

A second US official confirmed Bidens change of policy.

In related developments:

A new Pentagon report says Russia is using North Korean ballistic missiles in Ukraine, citing debris analysis to confirm long-standing allegations that Pyongyang has been sending weapons to Moscow.

The report by the Pentagons Defense Intelligence Agency used open-source imagery to confirm that debris found in Ukraines Kharkiv region in January this year is from a short-range ballistic missile made in North Korea.

Analysis confirms that Russia used ballistic missiles produced in North Korea in its war against Ukraine, the DIA said in a statement released with the report on Wednesday.

North Korean missile debris was found throughout Ukraine, it added.

South Korea accuses Pyongyang of sending thousands of containers of munitions to Russia, which would violate rafts of United Nations sanctions on both countries.

The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un this month denied the allegations that Pyongyang is shipping weapons to Russia, calling the claim absurd. AFP

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been pressing Kyivs supporters  chiefly the United States  to allow it to use the longer-range weaponry they supply to hit targets on Russian soil.

In Stockholm, Ukrainian President Zelensky arrived in Sweden to appeal to his countrys allies in northern Europe to supply his struggling military with more weapons.

Zelensky has been touring European capitals in recent days to appeal for more military aid for the Ukrainian army, which has been ceding ground to relentless Russian attacks in recent weeks.

Today I am in Stockholm for the third Ukraine-Northern Europe summit, Zelensky said in a statement on social media.

Our top priorities are to ensure more air defence systems for Ukraine, joint defence industry projects, and weapons for our warriors, as well as global efforts to force Russia to make peace, he added.

He said he would meet leaders from Sweden, Finland, Denmark and Norway and sign several bilateral security agreements.

Ukraine will grow stronger as a result of the support of our principled and consistent allies, as well as new security agreements, the Ukrainian leader said.

Some countries including Britain and the Netherlands say Kyiv has the right to use their weapons to strike military targets in Russia.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken had hinted on Wednesday that Biden could change course.

Blinken said the United States had adapted and adjusted as the battlefield has changed, as he spoke to reporters on a visit to Moldova on the eve of NATO talks in Prague.

Blinken, who traveled Kyiv earlier this month to see the increasingly grave situation as Russia pushes forward towards Kharkiv, had been widely reported to be pressing Biden to ease the rules.

Ahead of the NATO meeting, which starts with a dinner on Thursday, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said repeatedly it was time for members to reconsider those limits because they hampered Kyivs ability to defend itself.

French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to shift the dial forward on Tuesday when he said Ukraine should be allowed to neutralize bases in Russia used to launch strikes.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, however, remained less sure, saying Ukraine should act within the law  and Berlin had not supplied weapons that could hit Russia anyway.

Pressure has also been mounting ahead of a series of key meetings in Europe in coming weeks where Kyivs plight will be in focus.

Biden will attend ceremonies in France marking the World War II D-Day landings in early June where Ukraines Zelensky will also be present.

The US president will also meet leaders of the worlds top economies at the G7 summit in Italy. AFP
THE four-day 21st Shangri-La Security Dialogue meeting ends today in Singapore.

This security dialogue platform has become increasingly prominent among the countless such platforms around the world as tension between the two major world superpowers, China and the US, seem to be reaching a crescendo.

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Last Shangri-La dialogue in June 2023, the tension between the US and Chinese delegations was palpable, at one point Lt. Gen. Jing Jianfeng, vice chief of the Central Military Commissions Joint Staff Department said, US Defense Secretary Austin had tried to pull out of Beijings one-China principle.

A much-awaited meeting of the defense chiefs of the two superpowers never materialized.

Every year the Shangri-La Dialogue organizers await Chinas acceptance of the invitation to attend the event without which, the forum would be lackluster, and it is fortunate that China has announced its Defense Minister Dong Jun will be attending and will deliver a keynote speech on Chinas Approach to Global Security.

The Shangri-La Dialogues is convened by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) think tank focusing on defense and security issues headquartered in London and funded mainly by Western governments and its allies.

The Global South is severely under-represented in the forum. The suspected bias of the forum, including host Singapore, should be kept in mind.

Philippine President Bongbong Marcos, Jr. was also invited and slated to deliver the keynote address which the Presidential Communications Office headlines in its news release PBBM is this years world leader to deliver keynote for 21st Shangri-La Dialogue, adding Only one leader delivers this address every year, and President Marcos was given the distinct honor

It is a stretch to describe BBM as a world leader who was treated by US President Biden during the Triad or trilateral meeting in the US last April 2023 as a second class leader denied of equal honors accorded to Kishida, and seen by ASEAN, Asian and Global South leaders now as a mere sidekick of the US.

BBM is losing the country: the anti-BBM movement growing broader every week from one Maisug rally to another going around the country even as the government tries to suppress each and every site blocked with tractors and trailers, a MAD (Marcos Alis Dyan) movement just launched early this week and a third of the people losing trust in him in only the second year.

World leader BBM settled for a meeting on the aisles of the Nov. 2023 San Francisco APEC meeting, to tell President Xi Jinping hed like to ease tensions in the SCS between the Philippines and China and when Wescom chief Adm. Albert Carlos operationalizes the easing of tension, throwing him under the bus.

The AFP is simmering. YouTube Blogs of retired generals like The Generals Viewpoint, FB posts of ex-generals Orlando E. de Leon and Romeo Poquiz protesting the mismanagement of the nation are getting tens of thousands of views each day. BBM had to go around the military camps to speak out against destabilization.

All is not well, Mr. World Leader.

It is obvious the US proxy-dent, BBM, is given such an exalted role at the 2024 Shangri-La Security Dialogue by the London-based IISS to focus wider attention on the US-engineered Project Myoushu and its propaganda assertive transparency staging water cannon me forays for the Western media circus to propagate around the world.

The US wrought most of the problems the proxy-dent has on his head, the schism with the mass of Duterte supporters was by US poking of the International Criminal Court case against Duterte, the conflicted foreign policy by US military bases accepted by the proxy-dent, the dearth of investments the geopolitical-economic alienation of China.

We have supported BBM and seek to save him, as the Marcos matriarch Imelda tried making a very public visit to the new Chinese Embassy chancery opening, and Imee Marcos playing devils advocate to the administration.

We wonder if his words at the Shangri-La Security Dialogue will serve as a turnaround or a deepening of the hole he has dug. (rpkapunan@gmail.com)
Former President Donald Trump cast a wide net in his defense against felony charges that he falsified business records to cover up hush money payments to an adult film star with whom he allegedly had sex.

Wide enough from reach from New York City to Richmond, where the daughter of the judge presiding over the trial lives.

Long before a New York jury convicted Trump on 34 counts on Thursday, Loren Merchan became a target for Trump and his defense team, who tried for more than a year to force her father, Acting New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, to recuse himself from the case in part because of her work as an executive for a Chicago-based digital marketing firm that has worked for high-profile Democratic politicians, including President Joe Biden.

After the verdict on Thursday, Trump addressed the media and said Merchan was a conflicted judge who should have never been allowed to try this case. Never.

In a statement he had posted on March 28 to the Truth Social media network he owns, Trump had called the judge totally compromised because his daughter is a Rabid Trump Hater whose marketing company, Authentic campaigns, works for Biden and other prominent Democrats who oppose the former presidents campaign for the presidency.

Trump contended that the firms clients have used the high-profile trial to raise political contributions for their campaigns, including Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who was the lead manager of Trumps first impeachment trial and is now running for the U.S. Senate.

But the attacks have not worked  with the New York Advisory Committee on Ethics or with the judge.

The judge dismissed a motion last year seeking his recusal and then imposed a gag order on Trump this year that he then expanded to prohibit the former president from making disparaging public statements about the judges family or that of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, the prosecutor in the case. Trump filed notice that he would appeal the gag order to the New York Supreme Court.

Steve Benjamin, a prominent Richmond defense attorney, said before the verdict that the gag order does not violate the former presidents constitutional First Amendment right to free speech.

Trumps public attacks on court officials, witnesses and their families has never been acceptable or protected speech, said Benjamin, who is past president of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and special counsel to the Virginia Senate Courts of Justice Committee.

The law distinguishes between lawful speech and speech that intends to intimidate, he said.

Loren Merchan, whose father presided over her marriage two years ago in Chesterfield County, did not respond to requests for comment by phone, email and through Authentic campaigns website.

Her company has little history with political campaigns in Virginia. The Virginia Public Access Project shows that former Del. Hala Ayala, D-Prince William, paid the company about $26,000 for digital marketing and consulting in her unsuccessful campaign for lieutenant governor in 2021.

New York ethics opinion

Trumps legal defense team filed a motion with the New York Supreme Court on May 31, 2023, to seek the judges recusal from presiding over the case that prosecutors filed 14 months ago, alleging 34 counts of falsifying business records to conceal $130,000 paid to porn star Stormy Daniels. Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges and denied having sex with Daniels.

By the time Trump filed the motion, Merchan had already sought guidance from the New York Advisory Committee on Ethics about whether his daughters work, among other things, precluded him from presiding over the former presidents criminal trial.

The advisory committee responded on May 4, 2023, with a three-page opinion that said the matter currently before the judge does not involve either the judges relative or the relatives business, whether directly or indirectly. They are not parties or likely witnesses in the matter, and none of the parties or counsel before the judge are clients of the business.

We see nothing in this inquiry to suggest that the outcome of the case could have any effect on the judges relative, the relatives business, or any of their interests, the opinion concluded.

The judge quoted from the opinion in his ruling last August that dismissed Trumps motion for recusal. In the ruling, he confirmed that his daughter was the president and chief operating officer of Authentic campaigns, which he described as a digital marketing agency that works with Democratic Party candidates as well as nonprofit organizations.

He said Trumps legal team has failed to demonstrate that there exists concrete, or even realistic reasons for recusal to be appropriate, much less required on these grounds.

Trumps attack

The controversy did not end there, but returned to the public spotlight in late March, weeks before the trial began. Trump used his Truth Social platform to attack Loren Merchan for allegedly posting an image of the former president behind bars as her profile picture on X, formerly known as Twitter. However, court administrators said the image was bogus and had been posted on a Twitter account that Loren Merchan had deleted a year earlier.

Al Baker, spokesman for the New York Office of Court Administration, said in news accounts that the account is not linked to her email address, nor has she posted under that screen name since she deleted the account.

Rather, it represents the reconstitution ... and manipulation of an account she long ago abandoned, Baker said.

Trump made the claim the day after the judge prohibited him from attacking witnesses, jurors, prosecutors and court staff. The order, issued on March 26, initially did not apply to the judge or his family. The former president immediately attacked the judge and his daughter on social media, according to news accounts.

Justice Merchan then expanded the gag order on April 1 to prohibit public statements about his or Braggs families.

This pattern of attacking family members of presiding jurists and attorneys assigned to his cases serves no legitimate purpose, wrote the judge, referring to similar accusations that Trump made in other legal proceedings against him. It merely injects fear in those assigned or called to participate in the proceedings, that not only they, but their family members as well, are fair game for defendants vitriol.

Steven Cheung, a spokesman for Trumps presidential campaign, called the amended order unconstitutional and said it violated the former presidents right to engage in political speech, according to an account published in The New York Times.

The voters of America have a fundamental right to hear the uncensored voice of the leading candidate for the highest office of the land, Cheung said in the news story.

After an appeals court refused Trumps request to override the restrictions, his legal team filed a notice of appeal to the New York Supreme Court.

Benjamin, the Richmond defense attorney, said the law does not protect Trumps attacks on Loren Merchan.

She is not a public figure, he said.
At the African Development Banks 2024 Annual Meetings in Nairobi, Kenya, the institution showcased its role as a Solutions Bank driving Africas transformation agenda through massive investments across the continent. Six African presidents joined Bank President Akinwumi Adesina in calling for reforms to the global financial architecture to unlock more resources for Africas economic progress.

The host country Kenya announced strong support, pledging $100 million over three years to increase its shareholding in the AfDB and other development banks, as well as contributing $20 million to the Banks concessional financing window. Kenyas President William Ruto praised the AfDBs financing of major Kenyan infrastructure projects.

Several heads of state attended, expressing backing for channeling IMF special drawing rights through multilateral development banks  an initiative championed by the AfDB. Close to 5,000 delegates participated in the Meetings.

Adesina highlighted the Banks over $50 billion invested in infrastructure in nine years, and innovative initiatives like the $10 billion Alliance for Green Infrastructure in Africa partnership. Programs supporting women, youth, and agro-industrialization were also touted.

The Islamic Development Banks president outlined the banks $2.9 billion co-financing over 2017-2023. The AU Commission chair described the Meetings as an opportunity to formulate Africas position on issues like Bretton Woods reform and climate financing, which the AfDB is mobilizing $25 billion for.

With strong 2023 financial results positioning it for greater impact, the triple-A-rated AfDB demonstrated its central role in transforming Africas development landscape.
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:

Ambulances meant for people having a mental health crisis could help folks get the care they need with less confrontation and friction, a new study says.

People transported to the hospital by a "psychiatric ambulance" required fewer restraints or coercive measures than those transported by the police, according to results from an Amsterdam program.

In 2014, Amsterdam introduced a psychiatric ambulance service operated by a trained driver and a psychiatric nurse.

It looks just the same as a typical ambulance, but inside it's stripped of visible medical equipment to create a more tranquil environment. Patients can sit upright or lay on a stretcher, with a soft Velcro restraint or sedative medication available as needed.

Researchers compared nearly 500 police transports in the four months prior to introduction of the psychiatric ambulance, and more than 650 ambulance transports that occurred within six months after the service started.

They found stark differences when it came to the use of restraints:

86% of people transported by ambulance were not restrained, compared with 57% of those transported by police.

42% of people transported by police were handcuffed, compared to less than 1% who went by ambulance.

However, the occurrence of aggressive events was similarly low in both the ambulance and police groups, around 2%.

The rates of hospital admission were similar between the two groups, 36% for ambulance versus 33% for police.

But significantly more admissions were voluntary in the ambulance group39% versus 27%.

Police "usually receive limited training in managing psychiatric disorders and in responding to individuals experiencing psychiatric symptoms or crises, which may increase the risk for preventable escalation and the use of restrictive measures," said lead researcher Dr. Jeroen Zoeteman, director of treatment affairs at Emergency Psychiatry Amsterdam.

The psychiatric ambulance is one of several innovations, such as crisis intervention teams, that are designed to support police or relieve them of the burden of transporting patients in the throes of a mental health emergency, researchers noted.

Crisis intervention teams (CIT) have been successful in reducing the use of force or coercion in the United States, but patients still are sometimes handcuffed or restrained during police transport to a hospital, researchers said.

The new study was published May 29 in the journal Psychiatric Services.

"Shifting to an ambulance system to transport persons in a mental health crisis could also improve care in communities in which the CIT model is active," the researchers concluded in a journal news release.

More information: Jeroen B. Zoeteman et al, Coercion During Psychiatric Ambulance Versus Police Transport in Mental Health Crises: A Pre- and Postimplementation Study, Psychiatric Services (2024). DOI: 10.1176/appi.ps.20230571 The National Alliance on Mental Illness has more about crisis intervention teams. Journal information: Psychiatric Services

 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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:

Respondents who never had a CRC screening. Credit: BGI Genomics

According to research led by Prof. Varut Lohsiriwat, Professor of Surgery, Division of General Surgery (Section of Colorectal Surgery) of Siriraj Hospital, at Mahidol University, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in Thailand, accounting for 11% of the cancer burden. It is the only malignancy with an increased incidence in both genders in the country.

By 2040, the burden of CRC is projected to increase to 3.2 million new cases and 1.6 million deaths per year representing a 66% and 71% rise in new cases and deaths respectively relative to 2020.

To better address the global burden of CRC and reduce its impact, BGI Genomics has launched the second edition of its global CRC awareness report, covering 1,938 respondents from Brazil (306), China (367), Poland (300), Saudi Arabia (300), Thailand (362), and Uruguay (303):

CRC screening gaps vary globally: A significant 58.8% of Thai have never had a CRC screening, higher than the global average of 49.3%. In addition, 54% of Thai point out that there is not enough information about CRC available.

Preference for fecal testing over colonoscopy: Although colonoscopies are more recognized (33.4%), fecal tests at health care facilities are preferred (31.8%), reflecting a trend towards non-invasive methods.

Do you feel that there is enough information readily available about CRC? Credit: BGI Genomics

Top four factors holding back CRC screening. Credit: BGI Genomics

What sort of CRC screening service would you prefer to purchase? Credit: BGI Genomics

Professor Varut Lohsiriwat suggests, "Doctors usually will explain the pros and cons for the patient in three to five mins about different screening method. But in the end, it's the patients that makes the decision and the best screening method is the one that accepted by the patients."

Cost as the determinant in screening choices: Cost plays a crucial role in individuals' decisions regarding CRC screening in Thailand. Thailand (24.5%) and Poland (20.6%) indicate the most concern about costs, with 88.2% of Thai preferring either moderately priced options with good accuracy or inexpensive options with average accuracy.

Medical advice and family history drive CRC screening: Given that doctor's recommendations (29.1%) are the biggest single factor that makes Thai individuals more likely to undergo screening for CRC without any symptoms. Additionally, Thai with a family history of CRC are more proactive in screening (62.8%), compared to the general population (33.4%). This points to the critical role of health care professionals and familial awareness in encouraging screening.

For more region-level comparisons, access the full BGI Genomics 2024 State of CRC Awareness Report.

All data involved in this report come from the results of an online survey project conducted by BGI Genomics. It only surveys awareness related to colorectal cancer and does not involve personally identifiable data.

Provided by BGI Genomics
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

Europe's medicines watchdog Friday gave the thumbs up for the continent's first vaccine against the mosquito-born Chikungunya virus, warning climate change could boost the spread of the disease.

Chikungunya, also called CHIK fever, is an illness similar to Dengue or Zika, and causes high fever and severe joint pain which is often debilitating and varies in duration.

Symptoms also included joint swelling, muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash, the European Medicines Agency said.

The EMA has granted marketing authorization, which is the last step before the vaccine is granted permission for use by the European Commission.

Made by Valneva Austria, the Ixchiq vaccine is a single-dose powder or injection which triggers the production of neutralizing antibodies 28 days after being given to people over 18.

The vaccine lasts for up to six months after vaccination.

CHIKV, named after the virus that causes the disease, "affects people mostly in the tropics and subtropics and the majority of countries reporting high numbers of the disease... are located in Central and South America," the EMA said.

"Chikungunya is not endemic to Europe," with most patients affected during travel outside the continent," the Amsterdam-based agency added.

But it warned "there had been sporadic incidents of onward transmission by infected travelers after their return, mainly in southern Europe."

Spread of the mosquito that carries the CHIKV virus "due to climate change could lead to cases of Chikungunya in regions so far spared," the EMA said.

Currently there is no licensed treatment for Chikungunya, which means "to become contorted" in the Kimakonde language, spoken in Tanzania and Mozambique.

CHIKV was first identified in Tanzania in 1952 and has now been spotted in 110 countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe, the World Health Organisation said.

Brazil was currently experiencing outbreaks of Chikungunya in a number of regions, reporting over 160,000 cases in the first quarter of 2024, the EMA added.

"The rise in cases of vector-borne diseases transmitted through mosquitos such as Chikungunya is a clear example of the impact of climate change on health," it added.

 2024 AFP
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Credit: CC0 Public Domain

Nearly 3% of all children in the United States are diagnosed with autism, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But a collaborative team of researchers at Indiana University and Purdue University are finding ways to make the right diagnosis sooner.

"The number of children needing autism evaluations exceeds the capacity of specialists trained to provide this service," said Rebecca McNally Keehn, Ph.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine. "Children and their families are currently waiting a year or more to access evaluations. This is a problem because children miss opportunities for interventions at the optimal time of impact."

McNally Keehn is the senior author of a paper recently published in JAMA Network Open that describes the research team's study of autism diagnosis using eye tracking biomarkers at primary care clinics across Indiana. The team traveled to practices participating in the Indiana Early Autism Evaluation Hub system and conducted a blind research-grade evaluation of 146 children aged 14-48 months.

"Diagnostic biomarkers are characteristics that provide discrete and objective indication of diagnosis. Eye-tracking biomarkers that measure social and nonsocial attention and brain function have been shown to differentiate young children diagnosed with autism from those with other neurodevelopmental disabilities," McNally Keehn said. "However, despite enormous investment in eye-tracking biomarker discovery, there has been a gap in the translation of eye-tracking biomarkers into clinical benefit."

To do the eye tracking, children in the study sat in a highchair or caregiver's lap and watched videos on a computer screen, while the researchers recorded their eye movements and pupil size. When primary care clinician diagnosis and diagnostic certainty was combined with eye-tracking biomarker metrics, the sensitivity of the model was 91% and the specificity was 87%, meaning that they made a more accurate autism diagnosis.

McNally Keehn said studies like these can help address delays in access to autism evaluations by better equipping primary care clinicians with a multi-method, diagnostic approach.

"This is a public health issue, and our approach has the potential to substantially improve access to timely, accurate diagnosis in local communities," McNally Keehn said.

The team's next step is to conduct a large-scale replication and validation study of their diagnostic model using artificial intelligence. Then, they hope to conduct a clinical trial studying the effectiveness of the diagnostic model in real-time primary care evaluations.

Other study authors include Patrick Monahan, Brett Enneking, Tybytha Ryan, and Nancy Swigonski of IU and Brandon Keehn of Purdue.

More information: Brandon Keehn et al, Eye-Tracking Biomarkers and Autism Diagnosis in Primary Care, JAMA Network Open (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.11190 Journal information: JAMA Network Open
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Credit: The University of Hong Kong

In a groundbreaking development, a research team from the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology of the School of Clinical Medicine in the LKS Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong (HKUMed) have introduced robot-assisted technology in spine surgery. This is the first time this advanced approach has been used in the city to assist with guidance for instrumentation during spinal surgery.

The team has successfully performed robot-guided spinal procedures for 20 patients since October 2023. The joint-team surgeries were carried out by the Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed, Queen Mary Hospital and Duchess of Kent Children's Hospital. The use of robotic technology in spine surgery allows for unprecedented precision, safety and minimally invasive approaches, benefiting patients with enhanced surgical outcomes, reduced risk of complications and better revision rates.

Spinal fusion surgery often requires the use of spinal instrumentation, which is particularly important in the treatment of scoliosis, a spine deformity condition that is common among children.

In adult patients, instrumentation is commonly used to address issues like back pain, an unstable and/or deformed spine, or a fractured spinal column. Surgeons typically need to place screws into the deformed spine to facilitate correction and fusion of the spine.

The traditional method of screw insertion into the spine uses the freehand technique, which relies on the surgeon's anatomical knowledge, surgical experience and intraoperative X-ray checks to guide the placement. While skilled surgeons can achieve great precision with their expertise, the accuracy of screw placement has not reached 100%.

HKUMed researchers Professor Jason Cheung Pui-yin (right) and Dr. Kenny Kwan Yat-hong share details of their first robot-assisted spine surgery in Hong Kong. Credit: The University of Hong Kong

Cutting-edge robotic technology in local spine surgery

Since October 2023, 20 robotic spine surgeries have been performed with patients ranging from the teens to the 70s. One patient of note was a 72-year-old woman with degenerative kyphoscoliosis, presenting with back pain and difficulties in walking more than 10 minutes at a time. Traditionally, the surgery would be performed with freehand screw insertion, which is dependent on the surgeon's experience.

This novel technology allowed the team to utilize preoperative surgical planning software to determine the best implant strategy for optimal surgical correction. Intraoperatively, the surgery was executed according to the preoperative plan and with the assistance of the surgical robot, and the implants were inserted without stress or difficulty. Despite a lengthy surgery, it was completed smoothly and successfully.

Delivering greater precision and safer outcomes

The spine robotic system allows for preoperative planning incorporating CT images of the patient's spine as part of the system. The surgeon plans the ideal entry point, screw size and trajectory tailored to each patient's unique anatomy and the predicted screw alignment in the spine. During surgery, the spine robotic arm is precisely guided to the pre-planned position.

The robotic guidance system also provides surgeons with real-time images of the patient's spine, helping them achieve an unparalleled level of accuracy and precision when implanting the screw. This is a significant improvement over the traditional 'freehand' technique, which relies heavily on the surgeon's experience and estimates.

"This innovative technology was introduced to public hospitals in Hong Kong in October 2023, offering local patients access to cutting-edge treatment options. The technology empowers surgeons to deliver the best possible outcomes for their patients when performing complex spinal procedures," said Dr. Kenny Kwan Yat-hong, Clinical Associate Professor and Chief of Division of Spine Surgery, Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed.

"We believe this revolutionary approach is a game-changer for local patients with scoliosis or other spinal problems, improving the accuracy and safety of instrumentation during spinal surgery, reducing the rate of revision surgery, increasing operating efficiency, reducing post-operative complications, and decreasing the length of hospital stays. We believe that there will be further applications of robotic systems in spinal surgery in the near future, resulting in shorter operation times and reduced waiting lists for spinal surgery," added Dr. Kwan.

Professor Jason Cheung Pui-yin, Chairperson of the Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, School of Clinical Medicine, HKUMed, stated that the launch of this novel technology in public hospitals in Hong Kong represents a major milestone in advancing the field of spinal surgery in the city.

He explained, "The enhanced precision and predictability of robot-assisted spine surgery mean that we can provide our patients with safer, more effective treatments, leading to faster recovery and better long-term outcomes. We are truly excited about the transformative potential of this advanced spine robotic system and the doors it opens for our team to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world-class treatment of spinal disorders."

The novel robot-assisted spine surgeries were carried out by a team of surgeons from the School of Clinical Medicine at HKUMed, led by Dr. Kenny Kwan Yat-hong, Clinical Associate Professor and Chief of Division of Spine Surgery; and Professor Jason Cheung Pui-yin, Clinical Professor and Chairperson, Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology.
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Sepsis is a leading cause of death and disability and a key target of state and federal quality measures for hospitals. In-hospital mortality of patients with sepsis is frequently measured for benchmarking, both by researchers and policymakers. For example, in New York, sepsis regulations mandate reporting of risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality, and hospitals with lower or higher than expected in-hospital mortality rates are publicly identified as high or low performers.

Safety net hospitals (which face unique challenges, including fewer resources to care for a disproportionately high share of underinsured and high-risk patients) have been reported in prior studies to have higher risk-adjusted in-hospital mortality among patients with sepsis than non-safety-net hospitals.

However, among critically-ill patients, in-hospital mortality may not adequately reflect short-term mortality fairly across all hospitals. In-hospital mortality is influenced by other variables, including hospital transfer practices, which shift the attribution of short-term death from the hospital to other sites. Safety-net hospitals may have different access or ability to transfer patients compared to non-safety-net hospitals.

In a new study, researchers at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine found that safety net hospitals do have higher in-hospital mortality than non-safety net hospitals, but their 30-day mortalityan unbiased measure of short-term mortalityis actually not different. The findings appear online in JAMA Network Open.

"While the differences in mortality rates are numerically small, the difference in outcome metrics is enough to significantly affect hospital rankings. Current or future state and federal quality measures that use in-hospital mortality as a quality metric may unfairly penalize safety-net hospitals," explained corresponding author Anica Law, MD, MS, assistant professor of medicine at the school.

The researchers performed a retrospective analysis of patients with sepsis who were aged 66 and older and were admitted to an intensive care unit between January 1, 2011, through December 31, 2019, at both safety and non-safety net hospitals.

"Although in-hospital mortality is often selected as an outcome measure because of its availability in claims databases and hospital medical records without need for post-hospitalization follow-up, the 30-day measure is important to accurately understand true short-term mortality rates," said Law, who also is a pulmonologist and critical care physician at Boston Medical Center.

According to the researchers, the difference appears to be due partly to the fact that non-safety net hospitals discharge more patients to hospice, which shifts attribution of short-term mortality away from the index hospitalization. "When post-hospitalization data is incorporated, as is done in 30-day mortality analysis, you get a more accurate picture of who is actually dying in the short-term, and see that there no longer a difference between safety and non-safety net hospitals."

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has already legislated a process measure that assesses whether hospitals are performing key sepsis care steps efficiently, including initiating antibiotics. CMS is currently considering rolling out a national sepsis outcome measure; it is not yet known if CMS will be measuring in-hospital mortality or 30-day mortality.

More information: In-Hospital vs 30-Day Sepsis Mortality at US Safety-Net and NonSafety-Net Hospitals, JAMA Network Open (2024). Journal information: JAMA Network Open
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Ball-and-stick model of the serotonin molecule. Credit: Public Domain

The first new PTSD drug in over 20 years is up for approval. It will require U.S. regulators to do something they've never done before: greenlight the mind-alteringand illegalparty drug known as ecstasy.

The new drug is a version of MDMA, also known as ecstasy, made by Lykos Therapeutics Inc., an unusual drugmaker started by a nonprofit that has for decades advocated to bring psychedelic therapy to the masses.

On June 4, the public will gain the first hint of how regulators are leaning when outside experts on the Food and Drug Administration's Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee debate the data during a daylong session where both the company and FDA officials are expected to make their case. A decision on whether to approve the drug is likely by August.

"Everything about this is unprecedented," said Jonathan Alpert, chair of the council on research at the American Psychiatric Association.

Lykos, which is privately held, has proposed its pill be given in conjunction with 42 hours of talk therapy with two therapists, including three day-long sessions involving MDMA.

"We're on the precipice of integrating psychedelic medicine into mainstream medicine," Lykos Chairman Jeff George said speaking at a recent psychedelics conference in New York. Some 13 million Americans have PTSD.

Upping the ante, one influential government organization is already gearing up to provide the drug should it be approved. The Department of Veterans Affairs, which runs the country's largest health system and has an outsized PTSD patient population, says psychedelics have "significant potential." PTSD is a psychiatric disorder experienced after a traumatic event, like combat.

The FDA faces a dilemma. Controversy over Lykos' trial has exploded in recent weeks after a prominent group that assesses new treatments cited "substantial concerns about the validity of the results."

In a 44-page report released in March, the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review concluded that the evidence was "insufficient" to determine whether MDMA-assisted therapy has value. At a public meeting held by ICER, debate over whether benefit outweighed risk for Lykos' treatment was sometimes heated. In a vote, ICER advisers decided nearly unanimously that Lykos had not proven that the treatment was beneficial.

Chief among ICER's concerns was whether the trial could adequately prove MDMA worked because people on the therapy knew whether they had been given the psychedelic drug. The gold standard in research is what's known as a "double-blind" trial, meaning neither patient nor provider know who's on an experimental drug or a placebo in order to truly evaluate the difference. That wasn't the only problem.

"If you wanted to develop a study that would have every fatal flaw, you couldn't do better than what was done for MDMA," said Allen Frances, former chair of the psychiatry department at Duke University, who calls psychedelics the latest in a long series of overhyped psychiatry fads. The drug "is being rushed way too soon to commercial markets."

A need for new treatments

New treatments are badly needed for PTSD. There are just two drugs approved to treat it, and current therapies don't work for many people. In recent years, MDMA and other psychedelic drugs like magic mushrooms have been pitched as a panacea, for PTSD and a host of disorders including depression, anxiety, nicotine addiction and anorexia.

At least on paper, the results of the two phase three trials of MDMA are impressive: The treatment slashed symptoms so much that two-thirds of people no longer met the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis two months later. The drug was granted FDA breakthrough status in 2017, and was then granted priority review this year, which means the agency plans to move quickly to consider the drug for approval.

The results are "clearly better than what we have seen for the antidepressants currently approved by the FDA for PTSD," said Yale University psychiatrist John Krystal, who was not involved in the studies.

No one is quite sure exactly how MDMA helps people with PTSD or other disorders. It can cause an increased sense of well-being and social openness while altering a person's visual perceptions. Taking MDMA floods the brain with serotonin, a key mood-boosting chemical.

Some psychiatrists experimented with it as a communication enhancer during therapy sessions before it was banned by the Drug Enforcement Administration in 1985. The science suggests the drug may help the success of therapy by blunting the emotional response to traumatic memories and making it easier for people to talk through them.

But the same thing that may make the drug so powerful also makes its effectiveness difficult to evaluate. "When people know what they are receiving," Krystal said, "it can invalidate the value of placebo."

The ICER report also cited allegations that some negative patient experiences may not have been properly reported. It also said participants may have felt "pressured" to report good outcomes and suppress bad ones. The report also acknowledged an allegation of sexual misconduct during an early trial, including intimate contact between a patient and her therapists during a videotaped MDMA session, followed by alleged non-consensual sex with one of the therapists after all the sessions had been completed.

The ICER report was followed by a separate petition sent to the FDA commissioner signed over 70 independent researchers calling for an extended public hearing to address numerous issues with the way the trials were conducted.

Lykos said that the FDA okayed the design of the trials and that numerous steps were taken to minimize bias. The trials "were very rigorous; they were very well designed," said Amy Emerson, Lykos's chief executive officer. The company said it had third-party raters assess patient symptoms in order to minimize any influence from unblinding. She said the company carefully trained all the trial sites on proper reporting of adverse events. The company also said it investigated the abuse allegations and developed "policies and practices aimed to prevent, reasonably detect, and thoroughly respond to allegations of misconduct."

The first of many hurdles

The nonprofit behind Lykos, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, or MAPS, has been involved in almost all the major studies of MDMA for PTSD. That's contributed to allegations that its tight-knit culture has created a quasi-religious atmosphere where negative reports about the drug were discouraged or minimized.

In 2014, MAPS founded a for-profit public benefit company to conduct MDMA clinical trials. Earlier this year, the company changed its name to Lykos. MAPS remains the largest single shareholder. MAPS founder Rick Doblin, who's been the public face of medicalizing MDMA therapy, maintains the data is reliable.

"We did the very best we could do" to deal with the unusual challenges of studying psychedelic drugs, he said.

Cristina Pearse, a 51-year-old Boulder, Colorado, resident and child sexual abuse survivor who participated in the second phase 3 trial of MDMA in 2022 described her own experience as "miraculous." She suffered from persistent depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts for decades before being diagnosed with PTSD. Within one hour of the first MDMA dose, she started to feel better. "It undid 47 years of trauma in that first session," she said.

At the ICER meeting, Meaghan Buisson, the patient who experienced the alleged abuse, cautioned against rolling the therapy out broadly. "There is no question on whether what happened to me will happen again to someone else. It is only a matter of time," she said during the public comment period of the meeting.

"That doesn't negate the lived experience of those who say they may have benefited from this trial, this simply means they dodged a bullet."

Jesse Gould, a former Army ranger and founder of a non-profit that helps vets with PTSD, the Heroic Hearts Project, testified to the desperate need for a new treatment. "If not MDMA, there's nothing out there in the pipeline," he said. "Do these risks that are outlined in the MDMA report really outweigh the enormous potential benefit?"

ICER's outside advisers agreed that there was an urgent need for new treatments. But in a warning sign for Lykos, the advisers voted nearly unanimously that the company had failed to prove that the treatment was beneficial overall. None of the advisers thought the treatment has been shown to be any better than standard talk therapy.

Even if Lykos' MDMA gets the green light from regulators, it will only be the first of many hurdles. The DEA will have to move MDMA to a less restrictive category of controlled substances. Administering it will require special training for therapists. And the many hours of prescribed therapy mean it could cost more than $12,000 per patient, according to ICER, which may make insurers hesitant to cover it.

2024 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2024 annual meeting found that household chaos and sleep hygiene are important factors in the relationship between sleep quality and ADHD symptoms in teens.

Results of structural equation modeling show that household chaos and sleep hygiene were significant mediators of the relationship between ADHD symptoms and poor sleep quality. The results suggest that improving the daily routine and stability of the household is an important strategy to consider when seeking to improve sleep quality in adolescents with symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

"These results begin to explicate some contextual factors that may help explain the increase in sleep difficulties observed in youth with higher symptoms of ADHD," said lead author and co-principal investigator Jamie Flannery, who is a doctoral candidate in developmental psychology at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

"It suggests that when ADHD symptoms are high, aspects of the individualpoor sleep hygieneand the familial environmenthousehold chaosare associated with poor sleep quality in adolescents."

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that teenagers 13 to 18 years of age should sleep 8 to 10 hours. Healthy sleep is associated with better health outcomes including: improved attention, behavior, learning, memory, emotional regulation, quality of life, and mental and physical health.

The researchers collected data from 259 pairs of mothers and adolescents from across the U.S. Mothers used a scale to rate the severity of their adolescent's ADHD symptoms, while adolescents completed three separate surveys about sleep quality, home environment and sleep hygiene.

Flannery noted that it's important for adolescents and their families to know that it is more than just individual characteristics that can impact their sleep.

"While improving sleep hygiene in youths with ADHD may be beneficial, a household characterized by a lack of structure, routine and stability may undermine the adolescent's sleep quality," Flannery said.

The research abstract was published recently in an online supplement of the journal Sleep and will be presented Monday, June 3, during SLEEP 2024 in Houston.

More information: Jamie Flannery et al, 0989 Examining the Relation Between ADHD Symptoms and Poor Sleep Quality: The Role of Household Chaos and Sleep Hygiene, SLEEP (2024). DOI: 10.1093/sleep/zsae067.0989 Journal information: Sleep
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The 77th World Health Assembly is being held at the Palace of Nations in Geneva.

Negotiations towards a global agreement on how to handle future pandemics seemed on course Friday to be extended for up to a year as countries try to bridge their differences.

Nations meeting at the annual World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva have been trying to work out the way forward, after two years of talks concluded last week without a deal.

In December 2021, spooked by the devastation caused by COVID-19which killed millions of people, shredded economies and crippled health systemsthe WHA commissioned the drafting of an accord on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.

The ambitious deadline was before the start of this week's WHA, the gathering of the World Health Organization's 194 member states and the UN agency's top decision-making body.

On Tuesday, the assembly tasked South Africa's Precious Matsoso and Roland Driece of the Netherlands, who co-chaired the two years of talks, to lead efforts to stake out the next steps.

Matsoso updated the assembly late Friday, saying the wording for an extension had effectively been agreed.

"It is text that was greened", meaning approved, "agreed to this morning", she said.

Matsoso said that once additional operative paragraphs were finalized, the group would "present it formally as a resolution" on Saturday, the assembly's final day.

One more year

Green-highlighted text seen by AFP showed countries had agreed "to extend the mandate" of the talks to finish "as soon as possible", with the outcome submitted to the 2025 WHA, or earlier to a WHA special session, "if possible in 2024".

During Tuesday's debates, African countries wanted to seize the growing momentum and get the agreement finished in the coming months, while Washington urged more time to reach the best possible deal, saying up to two years might be needed.

The drafting group appeared to have managed a balancing act between those positions, NGOs said Friday.

"There is a decision which is basically postponing the negotiations for a year, because the deadline is to conclude by 2025," K.M. Gopakumar, senior researcher with the Third World Network, told the UN correspondents' association.

"The compromise is a reasonable one, given the differences."

James Love, the director of Knowledge Ecology International, said it appeared negotiators "give themselves, depending on how things go, all the way until next year" at the next regular WHA.

The draft pandemic agreement, as it stands, has 34 articles, of which 17 have already been approved by countries.

"We need to retain the momentum, but at the same time allow for substantive discussion on some fairly complex and technical issues that still remain," Norwegian ambassador Tormod Cappelen Endresen told AFP this week.

"It's in everyone's interest to have a more fair and equitable system for preparedness," he said.

Love said many of the original ambitions in the agreement had been weakened over time with caveats.

He urged strong provisions on transferring the technology to make counter-pandemic products to developing countries, to avoid another COVID-style "Hunger Games" scramble for vaccines, "bringing out the worst in everyone".

"It's one thing for people to say we're going to hoard products, but it's another thing for them to say we're going to hoard the manufacturing know-how... when people's lives are at stake," he said.

Revamped rules for emergencies

Parallel talks have also taken place on revising the International Health Regulations, which are very close to completion.

First adopted in 1969 and last updated in 2005, the IHR constitutes the existing, legally binding framework for responding to public health emergencies.

But COVID-19 exposed flaws in the system, with countries failing to jolt into action when the WHO sounded the IHR's highest available alarm in January 2020.

The proposed amendments include reforming the alert system so there are more, and clearer, levels of alarm, including adding a pandemic emergency level.

"We are on track for finalizing the package," IHR negotiations co-chair Ashley Bloomfield told the assembly late Friday.

"It's the final few tricky issues but there is enormous hard work going on, great good will and great progress being made, and we're celebrating every gain we make," he said.

 2024 AFP
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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Physician-scientists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine led a nationwide study to examine the role of carpal tunnel syndrome in predicting the risk of cardiac amyloidosis.

In their study published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings, UAB researchers collaborated with researchers from Weill Cornell Medicine and Columbia University to show that carpal tunnel syndrome preceded the development of cardiac amyloidosis by 1015 years and individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome were at a high risk of developing cardiac amyloidosis.

"Cardiac amyloidosis is an underdiagnosed condition that may be responsible for up to one in 10 cases of heart failure," said Naman S. Shetty, M.D., a research fellow in the UAB Division of Cardiovascular Disease and the first author of this manuscript.

"At the time of diagnosis, individuals with cardiac amyloidosis have developed severe heart failure and are at a high risk of death. Early identification of cardiac amyloidosis may allow the initiation of disease-modifying therapeutic agents that halt the progression of disease and delay the development of heart failure. Therefore, early identification of cardiac amyloidosis is essential to prevent the mortality and morbidity associated with the disease."

Shetty and his team utilized nationwide data from the All of Us Research Program to study approximately 150,000 individuals across the United States. The study unveiled a significant association between carpal tunnel syndrome and the risk of developing heart failure and amyloidosis.

"We found that individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome exhibited a 13 percent higher risk of developing heart failure and a threefold higher risk of amyloidosis compared to those without carpal tunnel syndrome," Shetty said. "Therefore, the findings of this study point toward carpal tunnel syndrome as a potential early indicator of cardiac amyloidosis."

Shetty says the development of carpal tunnel syndrome before developing cardiac amyloidosis may be attributed to the disease process in amyloidosis. Amyloidosis is characterized by the destabilization of the transthyretin protein, which leads to the breakdown of this protein into fragments. The deposition of these protein fragments in various tissues leads to the manifestations of amyloidosis.

Shetty notes that the carpal tunnel is a tight space in the wrist and the deposition of even a small amount of protein fragments leads to the development of symptoms. However, a large amount of protein deposition in the heart is required for the alteration of the function of the heart and the development of cardiac symptoms. These differences may explain why carpal tunnel syndrome precedes cardiac amyloidosis by 1015 years.

Pankaj Arora, M.D., the senior author of the manuscript and an associate professor in the UAB Division of Cardiovascular Disease, explains that cardiac amyloidosis is broadly classified as wild-type, meaning it has no identifiable genetic mutation, or hereditary, meaning it is caused by a genetic mutation in the TTR gene.

"The All of Us Research Program provided the unique opportunity to examine whether carrying a TTR mutation was associated with a higher risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome," Arora said.

"The study found that carriers of a TTR mutation have a roughly 40 percent higher risk of developing carpal tunnel syndrome, with the risk increasing notably around the age of 50-60 years.

"Our previous work showed that the risk of heart failure in individuals carrying a TTR mutation increased at nearly 75 years of age. Putting these findings together, individuals with a genetic mutation for cardiac amyloidosis develop carpal tunnel syndrome about 1015 years prior to the development of heart failure."

Arora, who also serves as the director of the UAB Cardiogenomics Clinic, is routinely involved in caring for patients with hereditary cardiac amyloidosis.

"The findings of this study have several implications for the detection of cardiac amyloidosis," Arora said. "Cardiac amyloidosis screening programs targeting individuals with CTS between the ages of 50 and 60 years may facilitate early identification of ATTR amyloidosis."

Arora notes that genetic testing for TTR variants may prove to be a feasible strategy for screening. Considering that about 34% of Black individuals carry a genetic variant, implementation of genetic testing in individuals with carpal tunnel syndrome may allow early identification of carriers of genetic mutation and permit preventive strategies. These efforts may ultimately contribute to decreasing racial disparities in cardiovascular disease.

More information: Naman S. Shetty et al, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Transthyretin Amyloidosis in the All of Us Research Program, Mayo Clinic Proceedings (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2023.11.016 Journal information: Mayo Clinic Proceedings
Fort Peck Tribes' Law and Justice Department and the Roosevelt County Sheriffs Department announced on Thursday that their search for a missing 31-year-old man has now transitioned to a recovery mission, which could take several days to complete.

The law enforcement agencies have been searching for 31-year-old Vinson Ryan Cooper, a citizen of the Fort Peck Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes, who was last seen south of Poplar on Monday late afternoon.

He is 510, has brown hair and brown eyes and was wearing a gray shirt and black shorts.

According to a joint statement issued by tribal and county law enforcement, tribal officers responded to the New Bridge area near Highway 480 south of Poplar for a man who had fallen off the bridge.

A witness told police that Cooper had entered the Missouri River and not resurfaced, according to the statement from law enforcement. The Roosevelt County Sheriffs Office, Montana Highway Patrol, Poplar EMS and Poplar Volunteer Fire Department also responded to the scene Monday.

Tribal and county police officers searched the river by boat Monday evening, and the agencies have continued searching daily. Badlands Search and Rescue, a nonprofit that provides services in North Dakota and eastern Montana, also assisted in the search, using boats and sonar technology.

Cooper grew up on the Fort Peck Reservation, attended Poplar High School and went on to work in construction.

His older sister Holly Cooler described him as a great kid with a lot of potential.

He didnt deserve this, she told Lee Montana on Thursday. Im just hoping that they find him.

Native Americans go missing and are killed at disproportionately high rates, and experts say Montana is an epicenter. While Indigenous people comprise 6.7% of Montanas population, as of Thursday, they accounted for 27% of the states active missing persons population.

If you have information on Vinson Coopers case, call the Fort Peck Tribes' Law and Justice Department dispatch at 406-653-6240.
The Crow Tribe could be receiving payments for coal once again, under a federal bill transferring more than 4,600 coal acres to the southeast Montana tribe.

The coal tracts held by a private family trust are located on Crow Reservation. The Hope Family Trust would in exchange receive a similar number of federal acres in the footprint of Signal Peak Mine, where the mining company says it is down to two years of minable coal due to federal permitting complications. The Hopes and the Crow tribe would split royalties from coal mined by Signal Peak.

The bill is being proposed by U.S. Sen. Steve Daines, a Bozeman Republican who characterized the transfer as a win for both the Crow and the mine.

There has been no indication of what the Crow might be paid for the coal. Tribal representatives who spoke with Lee Montana newspapers in April weren't familiar with the proposed transaction.

The arrangement plays on a decade-old Signal Peak plan to mine 400 million tons of coal located on Crow Reservation, but privately owned by Hope Ranch. That mining plan was hatched in 2013 as three different coal companies made plans to mine an estimated 9 billion tons of coal beneath the reservation. The deal fell through.

The new plan, spelled out in the Daines bill, would give the Hope Family Trust coal tracts in the footprint of Signal Peak mine, which is between Billings and Roundup.

The Crow Tribe was one of only two American Indian tribes mining coal, the other being the Navajo Nation. Since the early 1970s, the Crow collected revenue from Absaloka Mine, to which the Crow held mineral rights. Absaloka was mined by Westmoreland Mining LLC. In April, Westmoreland announced that it has shipped its last railcar of coal from Absaloka. The coal had been burned in the Sherburne County Generating Station in Becker, Minnesota, for decades, but after shutting down a generating unit in January, the power plant no longer needed Crow coal.

Signal Peak is facing supply challenges stemming from its loss in a federal court battle over the environmental impacts of burning coal. In February 2023, the U.S. District Court Judge Donald Molloy halted expansion of the underground mine because the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement had ignored the environmental impacts of burning the publicly owned coal.

OSMRE must complete an environmental impact statement and determine whether the additional mining of federal coal by Signal Peak warrants a permit. OSMRE argues that the delay in environmental review stems from Signal Peak's actions.

This story has been updated to reflect the revenue sharing agreement between the Hope Family Trust and the Crow Tribe.
In 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 107,941 people died from drug overdose in the U.S.

That would be the equivalent of everyone living in Burke County (88,338 people), the city of Newton (13,337 people) and the town of Maiden (3,796 people) being wiped out in a year.

Thats 107,941 people who will never get the chance to recover to become productive members of society.

But attitudes and policies toward treating those caught committing a crime who are in active addiction are changing, which could mean a better future for people with addictive tendencies.

Dr. Rahul Gupta, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, came to Morganton Thursday to meet with local and state officials, as well as health care providers for a roundtable discussion on opioid addiction at UNC Health Blue Ridge.

Medicaid being used to treat people in addiction while in jail, as well as the access and the cost of treatment were part of the conversation.

Burke County Sheriff Banks Hinceman told Gupta that county sheriffs offices and jails need money to fight addiction. He said Burke County got turned down for a Medically Assisted Treatment program grant.

We have got to get some resources, some money so we can have these programs in our jail, Hinceman said. Were seeing more and more sick people in our jail, more than we ever have. Mental health, substance abuse, just people just plain sick. Its worse than I ever saw it.

Morganton Department of Public Safety Director Jason Whisnant echoed Hinceman, saying the last thing officers want to do is put someone suffering from a substance-use disorder in jail, but the reality is their options are extremely limited for officers.

Whisnant said hes a proponent of harm reduction, but there is a very small window of opportunity to get someone into treatment when they are at rock bottom. He said what law officers need are resources and access to mobile crisis units who can respond, for example, to a call at 2 a.m. on a Saturday. Law officers wouldnt need to take that person to jail but instead be able to defer the persons charges and get them into treatment.

Whisnant said its expensive to keep someone incarcerated, but Morganton could do assertive community-based treatment for a fraction of the cost. Whisnant thanked Gupta for coming and listening but told him they need help financially.

Dr. Carrie Brown, deputy chief medical officer and chief psychiatrist for the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, said there are rules at the federal level that Medicaid could not be billed while someone was incarcerated. The state has applied for a waiver, a 1115 waiver, to allow Medicaid to be billed for people in jail so they can receive drug addiction treatment.

Brown said she hopes to hear in September from the federal government about whether the states 1115 waiver is approved.

Brown told Hinceman shes impressed with his support for medically assisted treatment programs in the jail. She told him there are additional programs with the state and offered to talk to him after the meeting about those possibilities.

Gupta said the U.S. has had a policy for more than 50 years of locking people up who are in addiction and not providing treatment. State and local communities end up footing the bill for that, he said.

And we now are realizing its way too expensive, not the right policy and theres a way to be smarter about it, Gupta said.

He said rather than turning off Medicaid or turning down Medicaid, they need to figure out a way to utilize it to help people get to the next level (treatment) so theyre not coming back to jails. Gupta said he has seen people who have gone through treatment and seek higher education and go on to change their lives.

This is a core change in the policy/protocol that weve taken for a long time that has not worked, Gupta said.

Johnnie Carswell, president of the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners and a Burke County commissioner, told the group gathered there needs to be a sense of urgency when it comes to addiction. Carswell said he has experienced how opioid addiction can devastate lives and families. He and his wife, Brenda, buried a son who overdosed in 2013.

Carswell said he doesnt want to see Burke Countys jail become a mental health facility. He said Burke doesnt have the necessary treatment facilities for people with addiction after they get out of prison or jail.

We have to get a game plan of where were going to put these people when they come out, Carswell said. They deserve better, Carswell said.

On Wednesday night, Gupta was expected to join North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein for an opioid community forum. However, Guptas flight was delayed, and he was unable to make it to Morganton in time for the forum.

To watch the community forum, search Burke County community forum on YouTube.

For individuals or families with questions or in crisis who need help with access to care, call 988.
The Committee on Trade, Industry, and Cooperatives says it will consult ministry officials and other key stakeholders in the edible oils sub-sector to tackle the rising prices of cooking oil.

Aldai Member of Parliament Marianne Kitany, the Committees Vice Chairperson, announced the decision during a meeting with a group of edible oil manufacturers in the country on Wednesday, May 29.

During their presentation to the committee, the manufacturers, led by Vimal Shah, the Chairman of Bidco Africa Ltd, cautioned that the price of this essential commodity is expected to increase further due to the high cost of production.

Shah highlighted the lack of government incentives for local manufacturers, pointing out that the state has primarily directed incentives towards international firms.

He noted that this imbalance compels local manufacturers to transfer the high production costs to consumers.

Accompanying him were Nitin Shah, CEO of KAPA Oil, Rajan Malde, Director of Pwani Oil Products, and Fathi Saeed, Managing Director of Golden Africa Kenya, all of whom echoed concerns about the elevated taxes contributing to the rising costs of production.

Kitany acknowledged the concerns raised by the manufacturers and underscored the significance of supporting home-grown industries within the multi-billion-shilling sector.

The Committees initiative seeks to promote dialogue and formulate strategies to mitigate the financial challenges encountered by local manufacturers, thereby benefiting consumers by stabilizing the prices of cooking oil.

As a committee, we have established that there is a serious disconnect between the manufacturers of edible oil and the government. We will convene a roundtable with Ministry officials and other stakeholders to find ways of reducing the cost of production of cooking oil, Kitany said.